Author's Notes:

I am in great need of an editor to help with upcoming chapters. If you like this, please PM me if you're able to commit to this long term effort.

The sun had set on the town of Ponyville though its light still shone on the horizon. The moon had risen, its glow dulled by the light still possessing the sky.

The Golden Oaks' librarian paced nervously around the bust at the center of the ground floor, her mind operating at maximum speed. "Mmh! Why hasn't the princess responded to my letter yet?!”

With a deep yawn, a tired baby dragon rolled around in his bed basket to silence the chatterbox. "I sent the letter only like, six minutes ago. Give her time to at least read it, and get some sleep; you're going to pace another rut in the floor if you keep that up."

Twilight wasn't impressed. "But how often does this happen? Once a decade, a century?" She pressed her face to the north window, glaring at the edge of the earth and sky. "Why in Equestria would Princess Celestia not lower the sun all the way? I can still see the light but not the sun."

Spike was just trying to come up with an answer to end the conversation. "Then it's a party with a lot of lights! Look, we have stuff to do tomorrow and we're gonna need the sleep, at least I will." He twisted back and drew the covers over his head.

Twilight surrendered, heaving a frustrated sigh and went straight upstairs to bed. Yet even as she lay amongst the comfortable sheets, she couldn’t help but turn over and gaze out the window to inspect the light once more. It seemed to flicker with subtle, yet great power, like a mystical flame. Eventually, the needs of her body won out over her curiosity and she slipped into slumber.

All through the night, she had sporadic dreams of creatures with warped and twisted visages. Their parts were cobbled together on their bodies with the blundering and graceless hands of a child. Most of them were standing on only two legs, waving their upper limbs through the air. Howling, screaming and performing macabre, outlandish rituals, obscured by a shifting, eerie haze.

The epicenter of the congregation was the largest being among them. It was covered in coal black metal plates trimmed in crimson, with spikes on almost every surface. The horns sprouting from its head looped upward, reminding Twilight of a minotaur. It proceeded to mount an exceptionally large stallion of some kind which bellowed unnatural sounds all the while. From the metal plate across its face, a single massive spike protruded from its forehead.

Once the biped was on, it hoisted up a banner with a large circle on the end and thrust it to the sky. Eight arrows stretched from its center in radial directions. The stallion then reeled on its hind legs and let out a thunderous roar. The metal spike began to glow a dark pink and both rider and horse burst into purple flames. The shouting of the spectators grew louder, their ragdoll-like dances intensified into grand seizures.

That morning, Twilight woke up in a cold sweat. Her horn was aching for no perceivable reason and she put a hoof to her forehead. "Boy... what a nightmare." she murmured to herself. The light pouring through the window was irritatingly bright for what should be early morning.

She noticed Spike’s bed was empty. In it was a note. Tried to wake you. Gave up. Went on errands.

It was good that he was being responsible, going without Twilight having to, but it was strange. He’s gone already? What time is it? she thought. Groggily walking out onto the balcony, Twilight looked up and saw the sun was almost directly overhead. "Shoot! It's that late!" she yelled.

By that time she'd already missed a few appointments; helping Pinkie take inventory of ingredients at Sugarcube Corner (she was glad she hadn't Pinkie Promised), and sending Rainbow Dash the newest book of Daring-Do which was finally in stock. Before she could go over the list of disappointments in her head, two ponies ran past down below as if to something very important. Behind them, a family of three was walking, the smallest with one of its legs in a splint. All had some injury and looked miserable and fearful.

"Excuse me! Where are you going?" Twilight called out from the balcony.

“Anywhere!” the father answered hastily. “It’s not safe here! Run while you can!”

“Why? What’s coming?”

The pony looked up to her, and Twilight’s eyes widened a bit at the expression of pure fear and despair on his half burnt face.

“Chaos!”

A great throng had gathered in the town square, surrounding a large covered cart with a cloaked colt standing atop it. His red robe was tied around him in twisting, barbed chains. His fur was ragged, patches of skin were exposed and chunks of meat were missing from his head. He bellowed loud and clear, madly, and ignored some of the denizens’ offers of medical or mental help.

“Can you not see the stream of refugees coming through here?” he shouted. “This place is next to feel the maw of chaos swallow it and none will be left alive! Give yourselves to the gods and be saved! Resist, and your souls will be damned!”

A tan mare with grey mane and reading glasses stepped forward. “This is an unauthorized event you’re holding here! Even that showmare Trixie had to get a permit!”

“Permits!” the madpony mocked. “What is law in the presence of chaos? Introduce just a little anarchy, do something that isn’t according to plan, and everypony will lose their head!” He laughed wildly. “What will you do if I don’t leave? What security or coercion can you bring before I am done? Listen here, and you may live once he comes to claim this place.”

“And who is—”

The mayor was interrupted as he resumed his diatribe. She angrily trotted off to request at least some means of dealing with the unlawful from Canterlot.

Twilight wormed her way into the crowd, just as disturbed by the strange sermon. A hideous stench assaulted her nose, emanating from the wagon. It smelled like a mound of rotting... something. Not fruit, she knew that smell, but this was far more foul. The mad pony preached on, slowly pacing back and forth atop the lumpy cart.

“Surrender to the dark lords and they will bestow upon you unimaginable gifts! Serve the prince of decadence and every sensation, every feeling you experience will be augmented a thousand fold! Your abilities in painting, music, handicraft, all will be unparalleled”.

“Bow to Khorne and you will defeat all enemies! Upon you, martial skill and strength beyond any non-believer warrior will be bestowed. You shall never be trifled with and you will be able to protect all that you cherish. Disease will become unknown to you. No ailment or sickness can touch you when you worship the all-loving Nurgle, the Plague Lord. Accept his invitation to join his family, and grandfather Nurgle will extend his loving grace to you as well.” He scanned over the audience, all looking on with revulsion and fear.

“Perhaps a few of you desire knowledge...”

Twilight’s ears perked up.

“Or power, though I worship the four, one stands out as closest to me.” He undid his cloak and removed it. A far more hideous creature stood there now. A second face opened its eyes on his chest, twisted like a foal set loose upon clay. His heart was visible in the face’s mouth. Several bones stuck out from his joints, winding like animalistic horns and his hind legs were backward-arched like a bird of prey, rending talons in place instead of hooves.

The throng shared a gasp of horror. Some fled in fear and a couple of lighthearted mares fainted.

“Do you see the brilliance of Tzeentch?” he said with a soul-rending grin as he cracked his head upside down. “Let him twist and reforge your body to his design!” The perched unicorn jumped down, the crowd giving him a wide berth. “This is his gift to us, look!” He held up a gnarled foreleg. The skin peeled back and out grew a serrated, lance like bone, dripping in black fluids. “Who needs weapons when the gods make you one?”

More fled at the sight of the weapon, more were disgusted. Twilight’s view was constantly obstructed by the congregation’s shifting heads. She had no idea about the freak that was slowly making his way through the crowd, parting them with his appearance like the Red Sea. The ponies separated, leaving Twilight and him glaring at one another, one in disbelief and terror, the other in cruel glee that he had found a volunteer.

He launched forward in a blur of motion; before Twilight could take even two steps back, a bladed leg was pressed to her face. The tip rested at the edge of her nose, the tiny pressure already drawing a drop of blood. He glared with burning red eyes, a depraved and gleeful madness about him. She didn’t dare to move lest he thrust the cruel blade forward.

“Another corpse for the cart.”

Twilight’s heart sank like lead. Other ponies pulled away the cover of the reeking cart and gasped at the horror within. Piled and stacked three meters high in interlocking, interwoven masses were dozens of broken corpses, festering with fat, oozing maggots. A fog of disturbed flies exploded from the wagon, their droning buzz seemed to vibrate the air.

The mutilated body of a filly fell out, its carved up orange coat peeled back like a banana down to its haunches. A fat fuzzy fly walked across the dusty gray of her unblinking eye that was sewn open and looking out with horror at something only she could see.

“Feed on them, oh lovely worms!” the mad pony screeched. He paused a moment, like he was hearing something no one else could. A frightened and regretful look cast on the purple unicorn before him. He took his blade away like she would destroy him at a glance. “Agrammon,” he whispered, and instantly lunged at Twilight in savage fury.

His normal hoof assailed her mercillesly, with a strength beyond that even of an earthpony. The cart was the last straw and the crowd quickly converged on him, tearing him from Twilight who was by then bludgeoned unconscious.

He cackled at the top of his lungs as the angry ponies dragged him away. “My duty is done! I come for my reward, oh changer of ways!” He wrestled his bladed hoof free of the crowd and dragged it hard across his own throat.