Feathers swished about his powerful, sweeping legs as the massive stallion covered ground in record time. Mirage's upper lip was pulled back in disgust at what he saw. Was this the best that this place had to offer? Trees with no leaves? A huge mountain obscuring the view? At least there was no sunlight streaming down on his discolored coat. Sunlight was the enemy of all things dark. It gave life; providing the vegetation a reason to flourish. Chocolate eyes rolled over the dilapidated forest. He had already crammed his body into every nook and cranny of this place and this seemed to truly be the only forest in the area that still stood. He closed his eyes and the place before him transformed inside of his imagination. The cracked and worthless gray earth crumbled away and he was standing atop a tall rocky cliff surveying a lush green field teaming with life.
Life that he had all control over.

'Take these lands before it is too late!' Inside of his demented mind a voice spoke; clawing, prying at his subconscious and conscious mind trying to escape into reality.
"Hush yourself." The great stallion hissed to the voice that was inside of his head. He was busy deciding what to do with the place he found himself in.
His eyes snapped open, lips cracking apart and forming a devilish smirk. This was not the place of his youth but he was beginning to figure it was as close as ever. Sure, it wasn't full of edible vegetation or large masses of horses under his control, but it could be. With him in charge perfection could be brought to this little slice of the kingdom. Yet again his eyelids batted themselves closed and he detached his mind from everything else. Mirage saw these lands the way that they currently stood, still just as gray, dismal and dark with the exception of some new things added to the picture.

Beautiful mares all delicious in their own special ways dashing about stomachs bulging with Mirage's foals. Stallions standing about muscles flexing as they galloped about protecting the land that they were lucky to even have permission to stay on. And there it stood; the most amazing spectacle of it all.
My Mirage standing on top of his little cliff-like perch observing it all.

That was the life that he wanted, needed, had to have.
'Pay attention you blundering fool!' The voices began to scream inside of his head trying to snap him out of his trance.
In a flurry of angered movement he rose up into an unmistakable rear flinging his legs about. How he despised the voice that refused to leave his head. Massive plumes of dust were kicked up as he ended his angry strike at the world.
"When will you ever leave me alone?" His scream seemed pointless for the voices gave him no reply.

Mirage's expression quickly contorted into an angry glare; eyes shining bright daring any creature to interfere with his mission.
This old creaking forest?
It was his now. He would make sure of it. Ivory and ebony flesh swam fluidly over top of his bulging muscles the moment he lifted his foreleg to begin his trot. Lips cracked into a shattered smile as each dinner-plate sized hoof impacted the earth leaving a massive print in the ground. It only took him a couple of lengthy strides to cover yards of cracked earth. Once he reached his destination next to a tree that was obviously larger than the others his bulk slid to a halt- feathering, mane and tail complaining because of the sudden halt.

Mirage arched his thick neck pulling his muzzle down to his chest inhaling heavily. Was he ready to rule again? Last time he had taken control the voices in his head had over taken everything causing his ruling to end in a blood-bath.
No, not again.
He was strong and he would take control. Nothing was going to stop him any longer.
In one sweeping movement he threw his head backwards, parted his jaws, and let lose a scream that could only ever belong to a stallion. The unmistakable call started out low and rumbling, something along the lines of an equine growl. Quickly it built up to it's forte: a high-pitched, ear-splitting demonic sounding song that rang out for miles around.

'Congratulations My Mirage. You've found your home.' The words rushing through his head almost had a sarcastic side to them.
Home.
Yeah, right.
Like Mirage actually needed a place like that. He wouldn't even begin to call it his home until it was teaming with horses all listening to what he said.
Mares bending to his every will and whim.
The Vanner turned his head to the side before posing in a more relaxed manner than before. It suddenly hit him that he couldn't relax completely. The little slice of land was his now. He had to get to work. Shaking out his mane and twisting his mouth into an irritated smirk his bulk soared forward in a thundering canter.