Grogar

On the eve of his plan, Grogar smiled. It took almost all of his power to bend space and time within the dream realm and trap them all in a nightmare of their own creation. The machiavellian goat was impressed he held them all in temporal ensnarement for as long as did. Nightmare Moon, Discord, Chrysalis, Sombra, Tirek, Starlight, and that child Cozy Glow all failed because they underestimated their enemy. Sombra and Cozy actually came the closest. He could use them. Discord and Starlight were lost causes. No matter. Discord wastes his power on reality bending parlor tricks and jokes. Starlight has been indoctrinated by Twilight. Light. Grogar winced internally at the near profanity of the namesakes of Equestria's "greatest protectors". Light blinds you. It betrays you. Lulls you into a false sense of security. He will use that hope against them. He had learned much. He knew their fears, how they reacted to loss, despair, and who would be most apt to sacrifice another. He knew the most resourceful of them and who could be exploited. Grogar would not underestimate his enemy. No. He might even let some of them live. Hm. That was a thought for tomorrow though. Tomorrow dawns, and Equestria will start to set. Tomorrow is another day. TO BE CONTINUED ON MY LITTLE PONY: FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC SEASON 9

Grogar sat and watched the two prior skirmishes with rapt attention. He did not intervene. He hadn't anticipated that two of the Alicorn Princesses would transfer their powers. He made a note of their resourcefulness, and also that it was based on prior experience and not a new gambit. That could be their weakness. This hamartia was the case with many seasoned leaders who didn't recognize that the world shifts in strage nuances. More accurately, what the lesser in command perceive to be brilliance is often a mere recycled idea. The longer you are in charge, the less nimble and original one tends to be. What surprised him even more was what Discord did. Among those he considered dangerous, he is definitely a concern. One to deal with at a later date. Chaos breeds originality ... or plain randomness. Still he knew Discord bypassed the glimmer he placed on the others. He also felt that Luna knew. A danger. The longer this went on, the more connected Luna and he were becoming mentally. He was genuinely impressed that the quiet one traversed his veil to reach Discord. Likely to recruit him. Another observation, these ponies will bend the rules to protect their land and each other. Still it was predicated on a past circumstance with Lord Tirek. A bombastic fool who loses all delicate designs as he amasses power. Still he and the waif will be useful. However, he desired to test them against what the opponent could muster. Let us see how they react to one final test. This was Sombra's idea. One that he thought would have a strong impact on morale. It will take much effort with his fading abilities and to keep the connection with Luna secret. You have done well against several of my charges. We have come to a final contest. The terrain changed around them to a pure hellscape devoid of life and anything that would give a being visual joy. It would be slight different for each of them. He waved his hoof as his eyes glowed crimson and his bell shone luminous. More for effect. Such gesticulations were not required, but these creatures are a superstitious lot. Tirek, large and intimidating, arrived with Cozy Glow in a hovering platform. On either side were those that had failed before. He saw the others ready, minus Fluttershy. He smiled knowing that she was probably trying to figure out how to use the power Discord gave her. He had almost enough information to proceed. He needed to see if these seven (or six) could muster enough of a fight to defeat the five he assembled, and one other trick. Equestrians, if you can defeat my army and unseat me from my throne, I will concede this challenge. Sombra, Daybreaker, Nightmare Rarity, Tirek, Cozy Glow ... all you have cast aside for crossing you. But how well will you face those whom you loved in life. He waved his hoof again, and at that moment an army of ponies, griffons, yaks, and other assorted creatures appeared in a massive herd, eyes glowing, completely devoid of self. He smiled at the sight of shock on the orange ponies face. She recognized her quaint family. Luna however, bore anger and determination. Curious. Would it be possible to turn her again under the right conditions. Nightmare Moon would be a magnificent ally. Those you vanquished in conquest once before. I give you a army of failure. Surely you can reach me. I suggest you put all your effort into this melee, afterall, I know your family and friend will do the same. FOR TAMBELON my souls, give no quarter!

Grogar smiles as his eyes glow a crimson red. She may keep that title ... for another three seconds.

Now, let us test your mettle ... my little ponies. This contest shall begin in due course. Each of you will face a minion of my choosing. But first, I believe Ponyville has business .... elsewhere. Shame really. I expected her to win. I guess the sisters are wrong, you aren't ready for the spotlight yet. My dear Twilight, time for you to go.

"Ponies of Equestria!" The sudden appearance of the imposing goat sent a chill among the remaining fourteen contestants. Winona, with an bravery as common to farm pups as sugar was to Pinkie Pie, charged forward. Her reckless loyalty was met with a wave from Grogar's right hoof. Winona didn't even register the wall of rock and dirt that rose in between her and the necromancer. If not for Twilight quickly grabbing her with a telekinetic prowess halting the dog's sprint, the poor thing would likely have been out of commission for this Final. As Twi teleported Winona next to Applejack, the wall of rock receded into the earth it came from as abruptly as it appeared -- and as effortlessly. "Trivial attacks are a bit premature, but not unexpected for a farm dog. Free will, for all of its cherished gifts, begets lazy training. I don't blame the mongrel, I blame the owner." Grogar ignored the furious countenance on the orange and blonde Earth pony, and continued. "You are no doubt drained and exhausted -- worried about your family and friends. I am simply here to provide the necessary motivation to ensure that the strongest of you wins. Take a look my little ponies ... " Grogar's eyes glowed an ominous crimson that as images of various places of Equestria surrounded the assembled teams. This was not the facsimiles that they held this game of life on, this was real. As Twilight and company watched in horror, they witnessed Canterlot, Cloudsdale, Manehattan ... every major minor location vanish. The ponies and creatures that occupied them gone in the blink of an eye. Twilight looked at the once gorgeous vista Canterlot. What replaced the cliffs, waterfalls, mountain, and trees ... horrified Twilight. The purple Alicorn heard a gasp from behind her. Starlight, like Twi, had seen this place before. The dozens of cities, townships, and villages were now replaced with a bleak and desolate wasteland. The same wasteland that Twilight finally took Starlight too in an effort to convince her to cease her mission of vengeance. For some time, Twilight wondered what was capable of causing that future. Her curiosity was given its resolution, and Twilight felt no measure of fulfillment in knowing the answer. The only place that stood, was Ponyville, and see looked at Grogar with watery eyes of anger and sadness. "Yes. All that remains of your world Princess. In order for me to remake it, and bring forth a new age for my kingdom, your entire way of life must literally be wiped off the map. Win and perhaps Ponyville will be spared. Of course, if you do ... your glorious Moon will be no more. You fancy yourself a mare of science. Do you know what becomes of a mother planet when its satellite is suddenly ripped from the heavens? The look on your face tells me you do, don't you. So, I am here to offer you a bargain. Fight with all you have. If you challenge each other with every ounce of strength and magic you have, I will spare your lovely hamlet and the celestial body. I may even make Ponyville the seat of my power. But, pull your bucks, and the last trace of your culture will be as vestigial as hope has now become. I await the champion." and with that. the cryptic necromancer vanished.

Come @Nightmare Rarity and Queen Chrysalis. I have need of your services. Princess Twilight can no longer engage the Elements of Harmony. I have two bearers. @King Sombra be sure to make good use of them. Break them if you have to. Start with the unicorn.

At present billions of souls bow follow my glory in Tambelon. Do you wish to be one of them?

This .... creature .... was not one of the chosen. Then again, pay fealty to my kingdom and I will consider sparing ... it.

Grogar took no perverse pleasure in seeing the souls vanish. It was merely a means to an end. The lesser powerbrokers of that realm of Equestria would gloat or laugh maniacally like a child who stole a weaker playmates favorite toy. No. This was simply one step that would lead to the next. He saw the tears, the pain, the confusion. They didn't know where their loved ones were. He sensed fear. Another childish emotion that doesn't relent to the passage of time. There was nothing to fear. Those who once filled this valley of dreams are in his care, and none could ask for a better steward and god than he. The horned king of Tambelon reached out with his mind. Using a tongue would be a waste. These creature's descendents did not pass along his language so his true mother tongue would be an exercise in casting pearl before swine or ant lesser being. He used his thoughts. He sent images and words, if they could be called words, to each creatures mind. Curiously, he found one who made him pause. That one .... there is a danger in that one. The being knew already, or suspected. Wise. Intelligent. Powerful. They would likely make it to the end. He relished that thought. Amidst the tears Grogar could sense the panic at the connection change to something akin to awareness. He felt all eyes upon him. He returned this honor with his own thoughts to them. Lesser beings and creatures of Equestria, welcome. I now sense you know who I am. Your friends and family are safe within my realm, which in time will resurrect. Doing so requires immense magic and power, but it also requires the spirit of those beings with an inner strength that is rare. All of you, your multitudes, are here because you have been chosen. I have waited longer that you can fathom. My last visit to your realm, I found the seeds of greatness, but it was not ready. I miscalculated when I thought your world and beings could serve as the engine of by Tambelons rebirth. I was challenged and I left, with some minor nuisance, and waited for the seed to grow. One of your kind know of me and placed a barrier that prevented me from directly influencing Equestria. However, you have proven remarkably careless. Princess Twilight Sparkle. I have you and your friends and mentors to thank for this venture. Over the years you have played with magic you haven't fully understood. Pity. If you did you might have served as a greater threat to me. Toying with universal gates, opening and closing barriers to realms of darkness like Limbo, a child doing the same, a creature of chaos magic allowed to walk free, and actually perverting the harmony of the magic of Tartarus. You do realize that Tartarus isn't actually in Equestria, right? It is the vestige of my previous experiments in YOUR world. I am amused that you actually created a prison in my playground. One that I could easily access through the barrier. Thank you for that. All I needed was a catalyst and your rather adorable friend you placed in Tartarus had accidentally opened up, albeit briefly, to my realm. Equestria has grown powerful indeed. You are all here because your spirits are the strongest of your kind. Your Tree of Harmony did well to cultivate such impressive souls. It also was the reason I was not able to pull you all fully into my realm. Your Princess Luna sensed it. I suspect something drew Discord here as well. I am still unsure what ancient magic blocked my methods, but the spirit of your tree made a bargain for your souls. You will choose champions to face me. Your greatest warriors, wizards, through all times and connected realities. Your Tree has chosen this tournament as the testing ground. As you prove yourself you will move on closer to your fate. As you fail ... I am gifted new citizens for my glorious kingdom and my strength grows. As each of your teams are defeated, their corporeal counterparts vanish from Equestria and Tambelon slowly moves into your realm. You have already lost so many. Shame that your Tree of Harmony neglected to warn you. Shame that she did not even protect the six that helped close my gate by allowed them to compete, that would have been something else. Eventually your greatest six will be tested by me. Success means I wait once more. Failure means you pay homage to my world for all time. I await your greatest. Oh, and before I leave you to your personal machinations, should I find any of you are not honoring our agreement, you forfeit and instantly belong to me. Luck be with you, my future servants.

Grogar watches Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo give everything they have. While they may fall today, they do not fall in spirit. He had warned them, and offered a deal. It pleased the Goat God of Darkness that they acquiesced to his will. One of them will do nicely. The others, are expendable.

Grogar stood among them, for days, weeks perhaps. It was hard to tell. Time had no meaning in this place. Past, present, and future or the corporeal world could be witnessed from his land. A gift of Tambalon that he often took advantage of. His glowing red eyes became a slit at the exploration of countless memories of being able to see his past failure unfold tens of thousands of times. His defeat at the claws of a lucky dragon prevented him from bringing his kingdom of souls into Equestria, and upon examination of his defeat he was able to glean much from that battle. Even though Grogar considered himself focused on the resurrection of Tambalon into the firmament, his obsession with finding a solution to his last encounter with Dragons proved a worthwhile distraction, at least at first. It was when he saw a fatal mistake of that blasted dragon that he found a solution. While Tambalon and himself could no longer manifest directly in Equestria, he could do so ... in other ways. Grogar walked into a center clearing encircled by willow trees. Trees given a ephemeral glow to their hanging dressing. A few of the young ones were in awe of them, no doubt created by someone with a rather creative imagination. The ponies deserved respect, and caution. He had previously attempted to fight the ponies, but their essences proved difficult to capture, until now. The weaker ones first ... then the others. Grogar started chanting in a language that he know was the only being left who could speak and understand it. His bell, a relic affixed around his neck, started glowing, his eyes closed as he concentrated. There was enough to start ... "Espiritu, nosventis, caligruvon diavek Tambalon!" And with this words the earth surrounding the clearing trembled. A cone shaped segment of rock topped with wild grass and flowers rose from the clearing, carrying Grogar in position to see all the areas of his fabrication. Over the rumbling of the earth, he could hear a cacophony of screams of shock and surprise. He allowed a glance downward and witnessed the pink Love Princess grab her foal in an instinctual mode of protection. She cradled the now crying baby. Grogar considered the fact that in a few seconds, the tears would cease to flow from the child, but would assuredly run freely from the alicorn matron that held her. He considered this, and though of the peace and glory that awaited the child, and the others. He activated a shield around him. He thought it prudent for the time being. Ascended to an appropriate height, Grogar ignored the knowledge that several of the more powerful ponies and creatures had affixed their gaze on him. His bell vibrated with fury and anticipation. It's glow a near coruscate emanation that would be blinding to any lesser being. His thoughts before unleashing the wave of magic flooded all of the land in this ephemeral place were only of Tambalon. Then .... it happened

Calm your heart Lord Sombra, she will be safe. I don't lower myself to the nature of others and break my word. I favor our alliance, even if it is somewhat adversarial. Radiant Hope will be spared the descent. Tambalon will spare her soul. It is the others we want most.

A shadowy figure looks over the many islands with an appraisal of master surveying his charges. He had no fear of staying hidden, though he knew that no creature would be able to see him. Any of these fools could accidentally gaze in his direction, true, but Grogar knew that their eyes would fail. They would not see the being bathed in darkness, but they would feel him. Fear. Sadness. Overwhelming and traumatizing. Those unlucky enough to feel his presence have, on occasion, been driven to madness. He considered it a shame there were so few unlucky ones. He considered his quarry, frivolous as they were weak, and planned. His thoughts were cold and deliberate. They still haven't realized. Sad really. Discord, Tirek, Chrysalis, even Sombra ... all of them failed precisely because they were impatient. The pathetic pretenders do not understand the glorious beauty of strategy. I can feel each of these souls greatest fears and weaknesses. The strongest of them, fears losing her friends. Good. Arranging that will be trivial ... albeit satisfying. He smiled, brief and ever so slightly. Soon all will dwell in darkness and his Tambalon will rise.