Original Link:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-8i35LBlufwQzzmjJy1rlurYpoXMCKT1ewjFAx8j68A/edit?usp=sharing

Warning: This my little pony fan fiction is very grimdark and contains influences from other very grimdark fan fictions. Read at your own risk.

Note: I will ignore several facts from the show to remain accurate to the standards I set up during the events of the first book.

Darkness is black. A fact only few would disagree with. Saying it is like saying that birds can fly and water is liquid. It seems to be the most obvious thing in the world. But some do know that not all birds can fly and water is not always liquid. So, darkness is not always black either. As the gates of Tartarus opened, the pony standing in front of them was one of those who knew of these facts. Therefore, it was not too surprised to be welcomed with a massive cloud of red darkness.

Cerberus growled as he stared into the demon stronghold, not sure if he really should let the pony walk in there all alone. But the pony had authority over the hellhound and was determined. Feeling far less fear than it should, knowing what it was about to do, it entered and gave Cerberus the signal to close the gate behind it again.

After just a few steps, the first glowing red eyes popped out of the red mist, glued to the pony who was so ignorant as to enter a demon stronghold all alone. If they wanted to, the demons of Tartarus could have murdered it in seconds. They were far more and far stronger than the pony, but they didn't attack. They knew it came to them knowing what it was getting itself into. It knew that entering a demon stronghold was suicide, especially when you came all alone. Still, there it was, walking on the floor made of uncountable bones and red slime.

As if this fact was not confusing them enough, they even knew this pony very well. It was famous. What business did it have with the demons, they were wondering.

The combination of both, its disregard of any kind of self-protection and the fact that nearly everypony in Equestria knew this one made the demons stay back and observe. Although the pony heard, saw and felt the demons stalking it and rushing by in the corners of its eyes, it was not scared. It kept walking deeper and deeper into the stronghold, until it finally reached a huge wall. The pony stopped, gazing at it as if it knew what it was looking at.

Finally, its glance was responded to. The stronghold warden opened its eyes and stared back down to the tiny figure below it. The pony stood completely still with a determined and serious expression. It smelled much less of fear than the warden expected. Then, one of its tentacles tore out of the wall and through the red slime, moving down just in front of the pony and opening a head-sized eye at its end just at eye height with the pony.

“I came to offer demon-kind a deal,” the pony spoke.

Now, all of Tartarus clustered around the pony, curious for what such a low creature could offer the demons and why.

---

As the sun slowly set on the horizon, the pegasi of Ponyville had already finished clustering up the gray clouds above the village and retreated into their homes. The first fine drops started falling down on the land and the soft sound caused by them landing on the wooden buildings and trees filled the village.

Soon, small streams formed together, flowing between the stones of the village’s roads. Every now and then, a raindrop made its way through the leaves and fell down on the grass beneath the trees.

On a rare occasion, a drop even managed to fall on a surface made of gold. When that drop became pulled down by gravity, it found itself hanging from the rim of a bell. Finally, it loosened itself from the smooth surface and continued falling. Upon landing on its next destination, the drop waited on the stone texture for others to fuse with it, until the water finally became heavy enough to run down the tombstone in a thin stream.

Ponyville was in peace that evening. All the townspeople were calm in their homes, dining with their families and soon preparing to go to bed. But not all would remain inside for the rest of the day.

Applejack was the first getting ready to leave. She picked up her hat, put it on her head and gave Big Macintosh a hug before she started walking towards Ponyville on her three legs.

At Carousel Boutique, Rarity put some white powder matching her coat color on her neck to cover her bite marks. After she was done, she examined her work in a mirror, adding a bit more powder here and there to perfectly hide her marks. Her eyes then jumped to the reflection of her deformed nose. She watched it for a brief moment with an indifferent expression before she turned her head away again and used her magic to let a raincoat fly over. Once she made sure she was well covered and the rain would not touch any part of her body, Rarity let the door open by magic and slowly went on her way.

Twilight Sparkle was the last to get ready. She still had to finish tidying up the library. After she was done, she went to the kitchen and made a cupboard open by magic. A bottle of pills came flying outside, the cap undoing itself and three pills lifting outside and into Twilight’s mouth. Now, the bottle closed again and landed back in the cupboard, which then as well closed itself. With another spell, Twilight turned the sink on and made a sphere of water cluster up. The sink turned off again and the sphere lifted over to Twilight, allowing her to drink it and swallow the pills. As soon as she was done, she opened the library door by magic and went outside. Moments after the door closed behind the purple mare, she used another spell to make an umbrella saddle appear on her back. Finally, she as well started walking.

None of the three mares were in any rush to go to the north-eastern border of the village, but Rarity was the first one to arrive. Only a few minutes later, Twilight arrived as well. They both gave each other a glance, but neither one spoke a word. They just remained their neutral expressions while standing next to each other, gazing along the road uphill.

Ten minutes later, Applejack joined in. Again, the three mares only exchanged a few glances with neutral expression before their focus then returned to the hill in the distance. Minutes passed by and they just stood idly in place, not caring for the gentle rain pouring down on them. As the sun went low enough to let the entire world seem to fade in gray, they finally spotted a figure walking over the hill.

Immediately, the neutral expressions of Rarity, Applejack and Twilight Sparkle became replaced with a soft smile. As the figure slowly came closer and closer, the mares could see it was wearing a black cloak. While at first, all they could hear was the rain, they later were able to hear the hoof steps of the cloaked pony approaching them. Finally, it halted right in front of them.

Several seconds passed while everypony present stood still. The three mares kept on smiling, while the cloaked pony had its head lowered. Finally, a scarred yellow front leg reached out of the cloak and moved up to the hood. A pink mane became exposed, followed by a lightly scarred female face. Finally, the mare opened her eyes. They were of a deep black and had only very little shine in them. The cloaked mare looked at the three friends with no kind of expression.

“Welcome home, Fluttershy,” Twilight greeted.

“Hello, girls,” Fluttershy greeted back.

Now, the three mares embraced their old friend. Even as Fluttershy embraced them back, she constantly remained her neutral expression.

“Let’s get going, y’all,” Applejack suggested.

With a nod, the others agreed and started walking towards Twilight’s library. On their way there, Fluttershy kept looking around. New houses had been built. Old houses had been torn down. Statues and monuments had been repaired or moved. She wouldn’t have thought so many things could change in just three years. At least her friends still looked just like she remembered them. Although this is not exactly a good thing, considering their conditions.

As they arrived at the library, Rarity and Twilight shortly shook out their bad-weather-garments and hung them up on a clothes hanger. Applejack shook the rain out of her coat and dried her mane with a towel Twilight handed to her. The purple mare then cast a spell on Fluttershy’s cloak to instantly dry it. She knew she would prefer to keep it on at all times, just like most reapers. Fluttershy bowed down shortly in response to express her gratitude. After the library door closed behind them, the four friends went over to a table and sat down.

“Would you like a cup of tea, Fluttershy?” Twilight wondered.

“No, thanks,” the yellow mare replied.

“Or maybe a hay sandwich?” the purple mare kept asking.

“No. I’m good,” Fluttershy answered.

For a moment, Twilight’s eyes wandered to the ceiling and she gained a thoughtful expression. Then, she stood up again and went over to the yellow mare.

“How about this?” she asked, offering Fluttershy her left front leg.

The yellow mare looked at it for a moment, again showing no kind of expression. Then, her glance lowered to the ground.

“It’s okay, Fluttershy. I wouldn’t offer this to you if I wouldn’t agree to it. You must be pretty starved if you don’t even accept regular food anymore,” Twilight ensured.

The reaper mare hesitated for a moment, but then agreed with a nod. She gently held Twilight’s front leg with both of her own and brought her mouth close to it.

Fluttershy opened her mouth and carefully bit into her friends leg, starting to drink her blood. Twilight showed only minimal reactions to the pain and just waited for her friend to finish. Both Rarity and Applejack were not sure if they should be watching or looking away, so they decided to lower their glances to the table in front of them.

After a few minutes, Fluttershy was done. She slowly removed her fangs out of Twilight’s leg and used her left front leg to wipe the blood of her lips.

“Thank you... and sorry,” the reaper mare spoke meekly.

“No problem. We know you need this,” Twilight commented while casting a healing spell on herself to seal the wound.

“Ah bet ya experienced quite a lot since you started yer new life. Care to share a few stories?” Applejack requested.

“What would you like to know?” Fluttershy wondered.

“First of all, how are you doing, darling?” Rarity asked.

“Well... fine, I think. It’s hard to tell when you can’t feel anymore... How are you all doing?” the yellow mare asked back.

“Since I gained the ability to use arcane magic, my skills improved a lot. I can literally feel the magic flow around me now. I don’t even need spells anymore. I just need to think of something to happen and it happens. Pretty useful when it comes to chores. I can simultaneously read a book, cook dinner and clean the house. Though there are still a few things I can’t do...” Twilight started, her voice slipping in guilt at the end while looking at Rarity and Applejack.

“It’s fine, my dear. I really don’t care too much about my scars or nose. Other ponies may give me weird looks at times, but I just ignore them. Focus on fixing your own medical condition first,” Rarity commented.

“You are still struggling with your organ damage?” Fluttershy wondered, looking at Twilight.

“Yes, sadly. The blow I got in the stomach was really hard. I had to go through multiple surgeries and am still on medication. The doctors say they don’t know if I will ever fully recover,” the purple mare answered.

“I’m sorry to hear,” the yellow mare commented with a neutral tone that made it clear she rather spoke out of formality and not because of actual emotions. Yet, her friends understood and so they didn’t care.

“Well I have to say that the fashion business is going splendid! Many magazines title me as ‘Star Designer’ by now and Filly Fashions even called me ‘the greatest artist of the century’!” Rarity explained.

“Impressive,” Fluttershy commented, then turning her head to Applejack. “What about you?”

Immediately, the orange mare let out a sign and hung her head.

“Honestly, it could be goin’ better. The farm feels so empty without Granny Smith and Applebloom. Big Mac and I really miss ‘em... and the apple business is still doin’ poorly. The new apple trees are all too young to carry fruit yet and since ah can’t buck ‘em anymore, we have to pay extra workers. I tell ya, without Rarity’s help, I’d be bankrupt by now,” she explained.

“I wished there was anything I could do for you...” Fluttershy commented.

“You got yer own duties, Fluttershy. Bein’ a reaper is hard enough, so don’t sweat it. Ah reckon I’ll just have to keep going somehow ‘n see how it all turns out,” Applejack replied.

“Okay...” the yellow mare spoke.

“Enough about us now. Tell us something about you, darling!” Rarity requested.

“Well... there really is not all that much to say... I’m still an apprentice in training, so I don’t get a lot of missions from Mistress Celestia. It’s really just a coincidence I found and consumed enough demons I could handle to make my eyes go black,” Fluttershy explained.

“Who is your mentor, by the way?” Twilight wanted to know.

“Her name is Crystal Blossom. A very experienced elder, but known for her benevolence. Mistress Celestia figured that she would suit me the most,” the reaper mare replied.

“Definitely have to agree with that,” Applejack commented. “How yer gettin’ along with the other reapers?”

“I barely met any so far. I spent most of the time on top of Death Rock Mountain. But it seems like they like me... if that can be said for reapers,” Fluttershy answered.

“Who knows. We all saw what Obsidian turned out to be capable of... Oh... I’m sorry... bad choice of words...” Twilight spoke.

“It’s okay. But now that we are speaking of him... Can we maybe go visit the graveyard? It’s been so long...” the yellow mare requested.

The three mares exchanged a few glances, then nodded in agreement.

“I don’t see why not. It’s still barely raining outside,” Rarity spoke.

“Thank you,” Fluttershy replied and got up from the table. Her friends followed immediately and they all got ready to go outside again.

---

Six minutes later, the four friends arrived at the Ponyville graveyard. Among the many graves, there were seven which were especially important to them:

“Here lies Scootaloo. May she find her idol again in the afterlife.”

“Here lies Sweetie Belle. The most innocent of souls can encounter the most cruel of fates.”

“Here lies Applebloom. She was torn out of her family too soon.”

“Here lies Granny Smith. Her body may perish, but her legend will not.”

“Here lies Rainbow Dash. She died before her dreams could come true.”

“Here lies Pinkie Pie. She will be dearly missed by many.”

While Twilight, Applejack and Rarity watched these graves first, Fluttershy went straight for the seventh.

“Here lies Obsidian Shards. He remained being an enigma until the very end.”

Minutes passed by with the gentle rain being the only thing to fill the silence. Fluttershy gazed down on the grave for a while before her head then moved up to the miniature replica of the Seven Sounds Bell on top of the tombstone.

“Somepony seems to take good care of it. Its still just as shiny as it was on his birthday,” she commented.

“We come out here every once in a while and polish it. None of us can forget all the things that happened and all the friends and family members we lost through the demons and Maledictum Insania... Seven dead ponies in just one year... Seven... and all except of Granny Smith found an end unworthy for them. Especially Obsidian... after all he had been through, he deserved to die in peace. But instead, he died in fear and insanity...” Twilight spoke.

“No. That’s not true, Twilight,” Fluttershy disagreed. “I was there up close when he died. I gave him what he, deep inside him, wished for the most. He died with a smile on his face. At the very end, he found his salvation.”

Now, the three mares came over to Obsidian’s grave as well and looked down on it for a while. Many memories filled their minds. Happy ones. Sad ones. Tragic ones and horrible ones.

“Ah still remember the golden time of yer relationship with him, Fluttershy. I really wished for things to work out for both of you. Yer both were so happy... Sometimes... ah was a lil’ bit jealous of you two,” Applejack commented.

No reply was given this time. The reaper mare just kept gazing at the grave, apparently diving into happier memories. Finally, Twilight placed her right front leg on her shoulder.

“I can’t believe how much you have become like him...” she commented. Now, Fluttershy turned her head over.

“You really think so?” she wondered.

“Yes...” Twilight replied.

“Is that... a good or a bad thing?” the yellow mare wanted to know.

“I guess its neither the one, nor the other. I would much rather describe it as... destiny,” the purple mare answered.

“Seems appropriate...” Fluttershy commented.

The four friends spent a couple of minutes more in front of the grave, remembering the year they spent with Obsidian and how much it had changed their lives. But ultimately, it got dark.

“I think we better go home now. I still have to give Opalescence her dinner. Where will you be staying, Fluttershy?” Rarity wondered.

“Mistress Celestia assured me that my cottage would become property of the local wildlife. I want to see how they have been treating it and I am pretty sure they will let me stay while I’m in Ponyville again,” the yellow mare replied.

“Sounds good to me. Well, ah better get goin’ now, too. Winona‘s waitin’ on her dinner as well. Ah’d hate to let one of the last things I can still do hangin’,” Applejack spoke.

“Alright. See you tomorrow, friends,” Fluttershy said.

“Bye, darling. It’s good to have you back, even though its just for a few days,” Rarity spoke and went on her way.

“I very much agree with that. See you tomorrow, Fluttershy,” Twilight said and started walking home, too.

---

The library door closed behind the purple mare and she hung up her umbrella saddle again. With a sigh, she summarized her feelings about this evening. It was good to have Fluttershy back, but this reunion turned out to be much more depressing than she hoped. If Pinkie Pie would still be... No. She really should not start thinking that way, Twilight told herself. Pinkamena Diane Pie was a monster in disguise. Sooner or later, she would have tortured them all to death and eaten their bodies. The idea alone still gave Twilight the chills and until now, she still could not enjoy sweets anymore. Pinkamena might have been great at throwing parties and would have been sure to turn today into a big happy celebration, but it would not have been worth it. Who knows who would have been rotting in her torture room while they were celebrating.

So much had happened. So much had changed. The events of three years ago never stopped occupying Twilight. Although Princess Celestia tried to keep her and her friends out of the secret war against the demons as far as possible and considered their role in the war to be over, Twilight did not really feel the same way. She had seen just too much. She could not just pretend to have forgotten it all and keep going through her daily routines, lying into everypony’s face about Equestria’s safety.

The purple mare was snapped out of her thoughts when Owloysius entered through a window.

“Ah! Good evening! I’m surprised you are awake already,” she spoke.

The owl hooed a few times in response and then flew over to the kitchen to pick up a plate.

“Thanks for the help. I’ll do the cooking then,” Twilight commented.

By now, she even had a few spells to create food out of magic. But they were not comparable to home-cooking and with her abilities, she didn’t even have to be in the kitchen. So, as the purple mare used her magic to fill a pot with water and slowly heated it over a magical fire in order to make vegetable soup, she was over at her history shelf, sorting back a few books ponies had been lending from her. As she was just half done, somepony suddenly knocked at her door.

“Huh? Who could that be at this hour?” she wondered and went over to the door.

As she opened it, she saw an orange brown mare wearing a red robe with three black claw mark symbols on it.

“Excuse me. Are you Twilight Sparkle?” the mare wondered.

“Um, yes. Who are you?” Twilight asked back.

“That’s not important right now. I need to tell you something. Can I come in?” the mare requested.

“Well I was just about to make dinner, but okay,” Twilight agreed and turned around.

As she went back in the middle of the library, she could hear her visitor following and closed the door.

“So, what is it that you needed to-” the purple mare started but found herself interrupted by a loud shout.

“For the demon queen!” the orange brown mare suddenly yelled and started running.

Twilight could turn around just in the last second to dodge a knife that aimed for her neck. As the mare tried to swing a second time, Twilight pulled a book out of her shelf by magic and used it as a shield.

Still not understanding what was happening right now, the purple mare started running towards the door. But the mare blocked her way. She was about to strike again when Owloysius tossed a plate against her head. Now distracted for a moment, Twilight had a chance to see the expression of this mare.

Her eyes were wide open and bloodshot while her pupils had shrunk to tiny black beads. She had a huge grin on her face and even shook lightly in excitement. Twilight knew this face just all too well by now. This mare was one of the ponies affected by Maledictum Insania. The mere fact that she suddenly switched to insanity out of thin air surprised Twilight a lot.

Now understanding that she would not get out of this situation without a serious fight, Twilight lifted up the boiling hot water pot and allowed it to come levitating behind her. As the insane mare tried to assault her again, she quickly emptied it over her face.

The insane mare screamed in agony, causing her to let her knife drop to the ground. Twilight instantly covered it with the pot and pushed both out of reach for both of them by magic. After that, she lifted the mare into the air in order to disable her.

“Why are you doing this?” Twilight wanted to know.

Instead of an answer, the mare just laughed shortly and pulled a small bottle out of her robe. It was filled with dried leaves, which she then emptied in her mouth and started chewing. Almost instantly, the mare started coughing heavily, followed by choking just a second later. As another moment passed, she stopped moving and appeared to be dead.

Instantly, Twilight dropped the mare to the ground and left the library, making a large bow around her and telling Owloysius to do the same. The mare had committed suicide with a poison and there was only one plant in all of Equestria that had such lethal properties: Basilisk Tongue.

The rest of the night, Twilight sought safety among her friends. Tomorrow, she would discover that her role and those of her friends in the secret war were far from over.