“So much snow today!” Twilight puts her hooves in the air

It’s been the third day of Twilight Sparkle’s vacation at Vanhoover city. The archmage of the city invited her to give a speech for a club of unicorn students. Twilight and her parents walk through the city’s plaza straight for Vanhoover’s school, little fillies play in the snow while their parents drink their assortment of hot drinks.

“Wow Twilight dear,” said her mother, “I say we are really proud of you!”

“Oh… it’s nothing!” said Twilight

“Don’t be so humble, this is one of the few things that makes more excited than watching the Equestrian games,” said her father

The three ponies made it to the school’s podium. There hundreds of unicorns younger than her are eager to hear her speech. While Twilight’s parents take their seats, she is greeted by the archmage as she walks towards the stand.

“It’s so good to finally meet you in person, Miss Twilight!” said the archmage as he bow down in reverence

“The pleasure is all mine Archmage Starwhirl the Sigillite!”

Star Whirl the Sigillite, distant relative of the famous Star Swirl the Bearded, walks to the side of the stand. The unicorn students whisper amongst each other as they wait for Twilight to begin.

“Hello my fellow ponies, it’s a great day to be here in your beautiful city,” said Twilight as she began her speech

Suddenly, her vision is twisted into a nightmarish world.

“Oh no, somepony help me!”

Going through this traversal nightmare at hyperactive speed, visions of death and misery flash through her mind.

The trail ended with the site of a dying man, chained to a throne. Despite looking like a skeleton, the person is somehow still alive, due to his constant screaming.

“What the hell is going on!” shouted Twilight

“I am contacting you… to warn you of the impending doom,” said the imprisoned one

“What do you mean… argh!” said Twilight as another jolt of electrocution riddled the stranger with pain!

“(Psychic screams of pain!!!!!! Followed by breathing) Listen to me, my people no longer… has their humanity, their will to live on their own and follow… gods of dark and terrifying power… ARGH!!!”

“Twilight!” said her mother as she tries to shake her out of her dreams

“Wha… What?”

“You eyes have gone cold for a while on us dear," said Twilight's father

Distinct shouts and screams can be heard coming from outside the city.

The school is located quite near the border of the city. It would be easy to hear all the commotion happening. Unfortunately, for the Element Bearer, the commotion is coming to her direction! Twilight sees a group of ponies running away from something very big.

“Run for your lives!” said a stallion

The stallion was riddle with bullets, his dead body spewing blood, turning the white snow red.

“Oh my god!” said a female unicorn as she fainted

Three mechanical monstrosities are assaulting the city. These crab-like machines have a mortar and machine gun in its chest, while its claws can spew a steady stream of unholy fire. Flesh, wood and even steel melts away as if they were like butter. Hundreds die within minutes. Resistance is futile as the beasts are impervious to all forms of pony weaponry. Even cannons and high-level spells only leave dents in its armor, which regenerate back into shape.

“Everybody run!” said Star Whirl the Sigillite as everyone joins the massive horde of civilians escaping this hellish nightmare!

The crowd runs in fear only to find their way block by ponies... running the other way.

"Oomph (Twilight Sparkle's group is stopped by the ponies in from of them)

"Why the hell are we stopping!" said by Starwhirl

"They are also coming from this side!"

Twilight manages to get a view of the second group of invaders

"No way! The enemy are ponies!"

Stuck in the plaza, the civilians see the two forces surrounding them; the machines on one end and the ponies on the other.

The horde of ponies truly wear a disgusting sight, wearing scavenged armor adorned with outright demonic symbols. These dark ponies carry two banners. One banner, bearing an eight-pointed star is foreign to the Equestrian mind. The other banner on the other hand…

“It can’t be,” said Starwhirl the Bearded as he casts a shield over him and Twilight

“What is wrong?” asked Twilight as she fires another laser at the horde of cultist

“That flag… it’s the banner of the Crystal Empire!”

Just as he said those words, the sky darkens, the very earth shook, and black mist began to pour into the city. Twilight and the ponies like her stared in fear as the dark mist coagulate and form a mechanical pony the size of a giant!

The giant mechanical pony said, “(Evil Laugh) I am King Sombra, I have returned to wreak havoc once more!”

Next Chapter: Interlude 2: Corruption of the Eldar Estimated time remaining: 8 Minutes