Author's Notes:

Greetings everypony, the name is Swiftriff. You may recognize me and this story from Fanfiction where I first started posting this little tale. Its still a work in progress but I intend to follow through to make this an awesome story for you all to enjoy. Now forgive me but this is my first time attempting here on this site but I wanted to give some headsup and pointers that first off, I do not own any characters from the MLP Universe for they are copyrighted by Hasbro and the such. Also this is Rated M for Adult content(which means there is sexual content and nudity) as well as some blood/gore. This story was based on another original story I have written years back, but I never released it due to losing the file with all the contents. So after years passed by, I wanted to recreate it under the 'boundaries' of MLP. I hope you readers really enjoy the work. Please R&R. Constructive criticism please. No Hate or flamers out there, if you can't provide a complaint without a valid point or reason behind your claim, I will simply ignore it, so if you have a good reason I will heed your words and strive to make it better for you viewers. This is Swiftriff signing off. Keep it Jammin'.
P.S. - I am currently reediting the story, polishing up a bit and will be adding more chapters to this. I'll make an attempt to continue this, though I spend my time as a digital artist for the fandom. If you wanna check my work, just look up Swiftriff on Deviantart, Furaffinity, Twitter, Instagram, or Patreon. Also have a public server on Discord as well, just send me a DM if you want a link to it ^_^

It was night time in the city of Long Beach, a typical city in the southern side of California, usually with the night bustling full of people, looking for fun, excitement, just about anything to beat the daily boredom in a busy life…that is…before misfortune soon wrought across the city, as the city was soon overrun by strange new beings, roaming our land as they created havoc and mayhem.

It all happened about a week ago, a clear sunny day with the normal daily life of city normality. Its citizen scurrying for work, seeking comfort with friends, spending time with family, or sadly struggling for survival in the poor state of our economy. Even though the day shines with a glorious shimmer, our society struggles to grow, to change, and to survive. Oppositions may occur from time to time, as well as unity. There are a short few who believe in this change for the better of our world, but there are others whom are headstrong or stubborn to accept it as a means or a solution to progress in life. During this time, strange incidents have occurred where people have gone missing or have been brutally assaulted to death. It may not seem as strange as another person bringing harm to others in possible gunpoint, or perhaps a gang affiliation or whatnot. What made these cases strange was the evidence that which were left behind, or the wounds afflicted upon some of the victims. Limbs ripped from what inspectors believe to be from sheer force, lethal burns upon the recently deceased corpses, or signs of lacerations from a bizarre-sized 'claws'. Once word got around, people began to worry. Children were kept inside, neighborhood kept watch, and even some families taking up arms. The people began to take extreme precautions, and they were right to do so.

For the short time after news released word of these events, creatures began appearing more publicly. The first incident was what someone believed was a statue, a rather huge statue in the middle of downtown area the city-folks referred to as 'The Pike'. This statue towered over the ongoing passing bystanders by an incredible 9 feet, with an enormously huge build. Its exterior had a stone-appearance to it, with a jagged feature composed of the hardened earth, with shimmering linings of what appeared to be small crystals. Reporters say that a family of three decided to take a picture in front of the figure, believing it was an 'art-piece'. When the family took their position for the picture, the figure moved and took the closer figure in front of him, which was a young male adult, possibly the son of the family, lifting him into the air by the head within its grasp before crashing him back down to the ground, crushing the poor individuals skull, spewing out blood and brain matter within the impact. The family panicked and were shortly to follow within the victims cruel fate, as the 'statue' targeted them as well, taking hold of the other two, flinging the woman of the family over to a nearby building, killing her in impact, and then with both hands, crushed the other male adult as if he was toothpaste.

Another incident occurred involving two other creatures, a being adorned in a dark tattered cloak with two horns protruding from its shoulder blades was seen around a school district. A teacher approached the being, requesting it to take its leave until he was gorged by the creature's horns, lifted from his feet and then, to viewer's disbelief, incinerated from the inside. As some of the school took notice and attempt to evacuate the premises, flying creatures appeared about the size of a petite adult but all were very well toned despite the small figures. These monsters began penetrating they're victims with their sharpened wings as they landed and pinned their victims to the ground, while the cloaked individual was incinerating more people by spouting flames from its horns.

Total chaos has occurred ever since then and has been only getting worse. Now, in present time, the city was run down by these minions, which was discovered to be known as Netherlings, savages that have come to our home world, terrorizing and slaughtering humanity in a battle of dominance. Nobody knows of their true purpose, or why they have come to our world and are wiping us out one by one. But in the midst of the city, an alarm was blaring, resounding its call to all that can hear, alerting the unwanted presence in this hectic night. Usually when you hear the sound of an alarm, it's under the pretense that a crime has been committed. But what has taken place was not an act of selfish desire or vanity, but an action motivated to set things right, and end this madness. Unfortunately, this night is but the beginning of a tale so climatic and perilous for a young man running for his life, running away from the Netherlings for what he possesses in his satchel strapped tight over his shoulder and held for dear life. For what lies inside is something that could bring this nightmare to an end and save humanity from extinction, or so he believes.

I am this poor fool running with my life on the line for something led by a mere rumor that I heard out of the street by possibly a deranged old man. My name is Vincent Valor, and to best describe what I look like, I'm 5' 11" tall, a slight light-tan skin tone, black hair with bangs draped above my eyebrows, slightly wavy and straightens at the ends, and pretty fit if I say so myself, but not too much. Dressed in my usual opened black collared-dress shirt with a white t-shirt under, fitted low-boot jeans, and a silver runic-block necklace.

As to the reason why I'm running and became a target to all Netherlings, well I took a glass vial, and from what an old man told me as I was passing by, struggling to survival, this vial is said to be feared by all known Netherlings. Now I don't see why it deems frightening to them to this extent of being in a manhunt, but I intend to use it against them and save my home.

I was running away from a school district, which was apparently the new 'camp' of these creatures, where I have snuck in and 'stole' this glass vial that is now kept safe within my satchel I held by me. As the sound of the alarm blazing into the night sky, I crossed paths with some of these creatures. Making my way down a simple street, I saw a colossal creature that was covered with hardened-stone blocking my path. It raised its arm in an attempt to smash where I'd be in place, but I made a quick dash and slid under it, barely avoiding the tonnage of death-impending impact and resuming with a mad dash once more.

Turning to a residential street to avoid the colossal beast, I regretted my decision to make that turn as I made an encounter with one of the horned creatures, and three fliers. The horned creature must have noticed me, as it directed its horn to me. I made a frantic search for an escape, looked upon a house and made for the door as the fliers were taking to the air, giving chase after me.

Crashing through the door just in time before I was scorched by a raging black flame, landing on the floor, I quickly got back up and resume with my quick escape as I hear a squeal of one of the fliers.

"Must have got caught in the crossfire, lucky me." I thought to myself. Seeing a glass door, I didn't even bother stopping to open the door properly as I tucked myself in to brace for the impact as I crashed through the glass panel, breaking through the door and have made my successful escape, resuming my way down until I came to a main street.

Keeping a close hold of my satchel while running for dear life, I knew I had to find safety where I can lay low and examine this vial to see if it's worth opening, let alone if I can even use whatever was inside. I looked behind me to see if the abominations were chasing after me. Looking back ahead, I noticed a fence ahead while I was dashing out of the building, I leapt off the ground and took hold of the top of the fence to vault myself over with the momentum of my jump. I made a quick right turn once I was on the main street and ran towards the bridge.

"All I have to do is just cross it, run down the hill, and make way towards a residential area, there are shops nearby where I can lose em and be home free." While planning this out mentally, I failed to have noticed that the other side of the bridge was blocked off by a swarm of Netherlings of all sorts, just as I was halfway across too.

"God damn, fuck my luck!" I cursed in agitation. I tried to turn to find another route, but to my dismay, I was trapped, both sides of the bridge were blocked off and I was smack dead in the middle.

As the Netherling's drew closer, driving me closer to the railing, I looked around to find no room for escape, I had nowhere to go. Then a red burst of light appeared in front of me, blinding me for a brief moment as I veered my eyes away, hearing a distinct whir followed by a sizzle. I looked to see what the flash of light was, and what I saw was something not like any of the Netherlings.

Unlike the others, this being looked more human than the others. Adorned in a dark green tunic, with black slacks and a red sash wrapped around his waist, he had a collection of throwing knives around his legs, and two larger curved daggers hanging on each hip, with a red, short-buzzed hairstyle, a very intricate styled goatee, purple blazing eyes with a slight scar on his left eye, and a wicked, malicious smile to compliment his sadistic vibe he displays as he approaches me with knives ready in each hand.

"Oooo my dear little boy, we grow tired of this game of 'Cat n' mouse', and demand you give back what you stole at once," this man says with that malicious smile, and a tone that was both mocking and sadistically playful. Seeing my options, I look at him straight in the eye and reply.

"Why should I? Either way, I die here. Isn't that how you play your 'game'?"

"If you really want it to be that way, it can be arranged," the being states, readying his knife cocked back behind his head. I didn't have a choice, if I continued talking like I had the advantage like this, I was sure to be dead on the spot.

"At least give me a name of the one giving me a choice." I hissed back, hoping to buy a little time to see my options.

Lowering his knife, he places it under his chin in deep thought.

"Hmm, why not," he shrugs. "My name is Trick, loyal servant of the Mighty King…" As Trick was making his 'grand' introductions, my attention went elsewhere as I was looking around myself without being too conspicuous. Just then I noticed a dim light just below me, just under the bridge.

"Maybe this is my ticket out of here." I mentally stated. As I climbed the railing, ready to make my jump, I assumed Trick must have noticed my intention… per-se.

"If you're going to take a leap of faith…" As soon as he made that statement, I felt the cold thrust of his knife against my back, and felt warmth wrap around the surface of where his knife made contact with my flesh, throwing me off the railing. "Then take this with you on your merry trip. Bwahahaha." Trick cackles maniacally.

As I dropped off the bridge, all I heard from him was a barely audible, but maniacal laughter. Out of sheer luck, I have slipped through the bright light, and felt a wave of pressure wrap around me, squeezing my body and pulling me in before the feeling of being gripped tightly has left me. I landed on something soft and cool with a fresh scent that swept in my lungs. As my face was buried into the soft grass, I hear the sound of clopping approaching me. Barely able to pick my head up with what little dwindling strength I could muster, with my vision blurring out of consciousness, I only made out something yellow and pink approaching me.

"Oh my…injured…help you…hospital." It sounded like a girl. But I couldn't confirm it, let only make out what she was saying as my sense of hearing was giving out. As I was slipping from consciousness, the last thing I saw was the yellow form before I passed out.