What exactly is happening to Twilight's old friend, Dark Horn?
Twilight's old friend from Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns is sent to Ponyville for the same reason she was almost 2 years before, but soon, strange changes begin to occur in his appearance. What do you do when your old friend who considered himself to be less talented than you becomes an alicorn? Rated teen for planned adult themes.
With a loud yawn, the dark unicorn lifted his face from the table. A few pieces of paper fell from his face, remnants of the research he had been doing last night. I must have fallen asleep halfway through, he concluded.
He trotted over to the balcony and opened the door with magic, and cast his gaze over Canterlot. Something odd was making him sentimental for the past, missing the only pony he considered to be his friend. For over a year, the one unicorn he had always been overshadowed by had left for PonyVille.
Although he had considered Twilight Sparkle to be his friend, she had always had her nose in some book about magic, astronomy or mythology, and she didn't entertain the notion of friends.
From what he had heard from the Princesses, she had changed. She had many friends, of all races, Pegasi, Unicorn and Earth ponies alike, and sent weekly letters about friendship to Princess Celestia.
Walking out of his house and trotting off to the castle, he began to wonder just to what extent she had changed, and was almost considering asking Princess Celestia for permission to move to PonyVille.
When he reached the grand hall, Princess Celestia was already waiting for him.
"What is it you want to talk about, Dark Horn?"
"Oh, nothing really, it's just-"
"-Twilight Sparkle, I know." she finished for him.
"How did you know?" he asked, astonished
"I guessed."
"Honestly?"
"Yes."
"Well, you're pretty spot-on with your guesses."
"I was going to ask you to visit her, anyway."
"Why, exactly?"
"You deserve some time to relax and make some friends. You're starting to remind me of Twilight Sparkle, before she left."
"Fair enough, when should I go?"
"I can have a chariot arranged in an hour."
"That soon?"
"Well, if you don't want to have to wait a whole night to meet anyone, yes."
"Do you have any problems with that?" Princess Luna asked. Dark Horn doubted he would ever become accustomed to her not speaking with the Royal Canterlot Voice, or the royal "we".
"No, that's fine."
------
Dark Horn stood next to a chariot headed by two armoured pegasi. Turning around to say one final goodbye to Canterlot, he found himself face-to-face with an out-of-breath Shining Armour, accompanied by Princess Cadence.
"Hey, Shining Armour, Princess Cadence, what's up?" he said, bowing to Princess Cadence as he addressed her.
"I heard you were leaving for PonyVille, so I want you to give this to Twily." he said, levitating a a wrapped package out of his saddlebag and into Dark Horn's.
"Will do." he said, waving as he got into the chariot and settled down for the long trip ahead. The feel of wind in his mane, and the view of all of Equestria made him feel a slight twinge of jealousy for the Pegasi.
------
Dark Horn walked towards the Library Treehouse, the place he had been directed to by the town's populace to find Twilight, and knocked on the door. From inside came a call of "Coming!" and the sound of something heavy falling to the floor.
"Who is i- Dark Horn?" Twilight asked, opening the door.
"Yep, it's me."
"Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you for, what, a year and a half?" she said, hugging him.
"That sounds about right."
"You've gotten taller!" she exclaimed, astonished.
Dark Horn looked himself up and down. Sure enough, he was at least two inches taller than Twilight was.
"That's odd, I was fully grown already, and we were the same height."
"Yeah, it really is odd," she pondered, "Anyway, what brings you to PonyVille?"
"Same reason you were sent here."
"Well, there's no better place to make friends than in PonyVille," she told him.
"That's what I've been told." he said, as they walked off towards the town centre, whilst Dark Horn attempted to scratch his increasingly itchy flanks without being noticed.
Twilight and Dark Horn were walking through the streets of Ponyville, when Twilight suggested that the first pony Dark Horn be introduced to should be Rainbow Dash, when they heard a yell of "C'mon Fluttershy, I know you can fly better than that!"
Confused, the two unicorns looked around for the source of the cry.
Unfortunately, from the one direction they did not look, came a quiet shout of "Watch out." before a yellow pegasus flew into Dark Horn. Both fell to the ground with less of a thud, as expected, so much as a soft thump.
Shaking himself, Dark Horn got up and apologised to the pony on top of him.
"Oh, no, it's my fault. I should have looked where I was going. You don't have to apologise." she replied.
"It's okay," he said, looking down to see that he had landed in a muddy puddle. He attempted to shake the mud out of his coat, but some was still left, and his mane and tail were still matted. "But I am going to need a bath." he sighed.
"Fluttershy, what are you doing? You can't just fly into ponies like that!" a cyan-coloured pony with rainbow coloured mane and tail said, landing next to Dark Horn and Twilight as Fluttershy got up.
"I'm sorry, I just heard you shouting, so I looked around for you, and I didn't see him." she explained
"Same reason I first came here." Twilight explained.
"To make friends? Wow, you Canterlot ponies don't make very many friends up there, do you?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Most ponies do, but when you're in Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, you don't have much time for them." Dark Horn answered.
"So, what? Do you need to write weekly reports about friendship to Princess Celestia too?" Twilight asked.
"I don't think so." he said, enjoying the feeling of the dirt soothing his itchy flanks.
"Well, I'd say you don't have anywhere to stay, so you can stay at the Library Treehouse with me."
"Thanks, do you have a bath?"
"Of course!"
"Can I use it?"
"Yeah."
"Thanks!" he said running off towards his new home.
---
Filling the bath with water, he jumped in and let himself soak. Instantly, his flanks became completely numb and he sighed at the relief.
Before long, he began to feel himself dozing off, so he hopped out, dried himself off and almost leapt into the bed Twilight had set out for him while he was in the bath, and instantly fell asleep.
He looked around and around, but no matter where he looked, all Dark Horn could see was darkness.
He looked down, and he was sitting on top of the darkness itself, but it seemed to be coming from his mane and tail. A few seconds passed while Dark Horn attempted to make sense of his surroundings. Eventually, he realised that he was dreaming, then at that exact moment, he began to sink into the darkness.
Panicking, he began to struggle. He could feel himself being submerged, but at the same moment, the parts of his body that were submerged felt disconnected, and it was as if he was the darkness.
Only his head remained above the sea of darkness, and he closed his eyes and stopped struggling.
Once his head was under, he opened his eyes. He could see the whole of Equestria. It was as if he was looking from the shadows. He didn't enjoy the disconnected feeling he was experiencing, so he wished for nothing more than for him not to be anywhere except his own body.
With a startled gasp, Dark Horn jolted awake to a bright room. Looking around, there were no sources of light, and he knew it was still the middle of the night. It was as if everything was its own light source, and was self-luminescent.
He looked out the window. The sun was nowhere in sight, and the moon was high in the sky, which was as black as his mane, but the ground was as bright as day, littered with tired ponies looking for the reason they could not get to sleep.
Deep down, he knew this was related to his dream. Still panicking, he came to the hasty conclusion that he stole the darkness.
He felt the duvet of the bed in an awkward position, and he began to move around, trying to get to a comfortable position, when he heard a fwomf and the duvet came away from him. Looking around, he gasped loudly when he noticed that he sported a pair of wings.
"Twilight!" he yelled.
"What is it? Why is it so bright? What's happ...en...ing?" she stopped as she saw the wings too. "You have wings."
"Good, so I'm not imagining them."
"Dark Horn, you don't realise how serious this is. You're an alicorn. Like Princesses Celestia and Luna."
"You don't realise how serious this is. I'm pretty sure I stole the darkness."
"You stole the- so you think you've got control over darkness?"
"I'm pretty sure."
"Twilight!" came another yell.
"What is it, Spike?" she asked as the baby dragon ran into the room.
"A letter from Princess Celestia!" he said, holding up the sealed scroll.
Twilight picked up and opened the scroll with magic, and read it aloud.
"My faithful students, Twilight Sparkle and Dark Horn, I am sure you have noticed the lack of darkness in Ponyville. This is far worse than it seems. Not only has this affected Ponyville, this has affected," Twilight gasped, "the whole of Equestria! I believe it will be necessary for you both to return to Canterlot to discuss what to do. There is a chariot on the way to you now. I expect it to arrive within the next few hours."
"Wait a second, I don't remember you having wings last time I saw you."
"That's because they just appeared."
"So, they just grew, like, right now?"
"Pretty much."
"I think that's a bit coincidental, don't you think?" he asked, "I mean, with the darkness disappearing and all?"
"Yeah, we came to the same conclusion." Twilight stated
"Wait, I can't go to Canterlot looking like this. Not with this much light. Are there any spells to hide wings?"
"I'm sure I saw one somewhere..." she pondered, running over to the 'Cosmetic Spells' section of the library.
A few minutes later, Twilight returned with a book, and read through it four or five times before setting the book down and pointing her horn towards Dark Horn.
Her horn began to glow very brightly, and, after it subsided, Dark Horn didn't feel any different. Looking at his flank, he knew that it had worked. In place of wings, he could clearly see the horn over a moon that was his cutiemark.
"Fantastic! Thanks, Twi!"
"No problem, Dark."
As promised, in two hours, a chariot pulled by armoured Pegasi appeared in front of the Library Treehouse, ready to take them to Canterlot.
After a long ride with Dark Horn and Twilight discussing how it could be possible for a Unicorn to turn into an Alicorn overnight, they arrived. Unlike the usual tradition of stopping at the chariot docks, this chariot stopped directly next to the balcony to Princess Celestia's chambers.
Tentatively, the two ponies stepped in through the balcony and looked around. Instead of Princess Celestia, as expected, they met Princess Luna.
"Where's Princess Ce-oh, of course, it's still technically night."
"And what exactly do you mean, technically? Is there something wrong with my glorious night?"
"Not really, it's just, right now, it's not as dark as it should be." Dark Horn said sarcastically.
"That is why you two were brought here, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is."
"Do you have any ideas what might have happened to the darkness."
"We think that any ideas we may have would be best sent to Princess Celestia first." Twilight butted in, to prevent Dark Horn from spilling the beans straight away.
"Well, here she is now." Luna said, pointing out the window to the entrance hall. She turned back around to see a blinding flash of purple-and-black light, as the two ponies disappeared.
Instantaneously, they reappeared in front of Princess Celestia.
"Princess, I'm sorry!" Dark Horn cried before Twilight could stop him.
"Why are you sorry?" Celestia asked, confused.
"I stole the darkness!" he cried.
"Impossible," she laughed, "The only kind of pony powerful enough to do that would have to be an-"
"Alicorn?" Dark Horn finished, using his magic to remove Twilight's hiding spell.
"Oh, my," Princess Celestia gasped, "This most certainly is odd."
"You can say that again. What exactly happened?"
"You tell me. What happened before your wings appeared?"
Dark Horn began to explain the dream he had before he awoke to a lack of darkness and acquisition of wings.
"It appears that you have become able to control darkness and shadows."
"Why me?"
"I don't know. That's exactly what Luna and I wondered when we became alicorns."
"You weren't born alicorns?"
"No, nopony has been since before Discord first came around. It was when we realised our connection to the sun and moon that we gained our cutiemarks and became alicorns."
"But I already had my cutiemark. How could this be my talent?"
"Tell us how you gained your cutiemark."
Dark Horn retold the story of how somepony had stolen from him, so he tracked down the pony responsible, and attempted to take it back.
He remembered hiding in the shadows, but he realised how the shadows weren't dark enough to hide him, and how his horn began to glow with a dark aura, and the aura spread from his horn over his body, to the edge of the shadow, darkening it and making it opaque and impossible to see somepony hiding in them.
This was as far as he got when Princess Celestia butted in to tell him that that would have been when his cutiemark appeared, because that was his talent: control over darkness and shadows.
"Why didn't I grow wings back then, if that was when I realised my talent?" he asked, dumbfounded.
"Not all alicorns manifest instantly. For example, Twilight Sparkle could manifest into an alicorn at some point in the future." she pointed out, which made Twilight blush.
"How do I return the shadows, then?"
"I'll show you." she said, asking him to follow her out to the balcony.
Twilight stood back from the balcony, hesitant to approach to two alicorns as they talked.
"So, you see, Luna and I are not in control of the sun and moon do much as we are the sun and moon. If we wished, we could materialize into a part of our counterpart. We can also see every place our light reaches. My theory is that you have become darkness itself."
"That sounds a little sinister, doesn't it? I mean, darkness is usually used to refer to evil."
"This is quite the contrary, Dark Horn. Darkness is essential for everypony. Without it - or rather, you - nopony can get to sleep at night."
"You still haven't explained how to return the shadows."
"Oh, yes, of course. Well, first, you need to realize this is not a spell that can be cast, it is a power within you."
"But, Princess, when we saw you raise the sun, your horn was glowing. Doesn't that mean you were casting a spell?" Dark Horn inquired.
"Yes I was, but a different spell entirely. Alicorn powers require immense calm. The slightest distraction can ruin your concentration." she explained, "The spell I was casting was one to keep me calm enough to raise the sun in front of so many spectators."
"I see."
"All you need to do is clear your mind. Take a deep breath, and feel your thoughts leaving when you exhale. Then remember the feeling of being part of the shadows in your dream. Feel yourself becoming darkness. Visualize the shadows spreading wherever my sunlight does not reach, which at the moment is everywhere. Luna does not give off enough light to affect shadows, so you don't need to worry about her light. And I said visualize, not imagine. You need to believe that you can do this."
"Okay." Dark Horn said, keeping his breathing steady, and closing his eyes. Unwillingly, his eyes slammed back open once the shadows began to reappear, and his eyes went as black as his mane.
In Dark Horn's mind, he was currently having an out-of-body experience. He knew he was doing it right, but he couldn't see anything except bright light.
"Alright," he thought to himself, "That's the light, time to balance it out."
He felt himself moving towards the light, and as he did, he was able to see more and more. Eventually, he could make out the distinct mane of Rainbow Dash, who was currently sitting in her cloud home, relaxing in the cold shadow that had replaced the warm light. Focusing, he stretched himself, filling the space he imagined the shadows would logically go. Pleased with his work, Dark Horn returned to his body,and suddenly found that he was incredibly tired.
"Watch out, Dark Horn. Luna and I were very tired after our first attempt too."
"Attempt? You mean I didn't do it?"
"No, you did. You did wonderfully. I used attempt because I know you'll be doing it more."
"I don't have to stay here and become a prince, do I? I mean, I like almost everypony here, but I honestly can't stand Prince Blueblood. No offense."
"None taken, he is quite...odd, to say the least. He's not immediate family, close enough to be a prince, far enough away to have horrible misconceptions of what that entails."
"You can say that again."
"If you wish, we could arrange a chariot for you and Twilight Sparkle to return to Ponyville, or, if she is willing, Twilight Sparkle could teleport you both."
"I think I might go for the chariot, thank you." Dark Horn chose, knowing all too well how much stress teleporting two people that far causes.
"Of course. You need some time to rest. It'll be ready in a few minutes." Celestia said, leaving the room.
"You're not really that tired, are you?" Twilight asked.
"Nah, not anymore."
"So tired you got an adrenaline rush?"
"You know me too well."
"That I do, that I do."
"Also, I want a chance to try these out." he said, stretching out his wings.
"Wow, they're long. They look more powerful than Rainbow Dash's."
"I doubt they really are. I don't think I'll ever be able to pull off a Sonic Rainboom. At least, not as well as she can."
"How did you know she-"
"It was all over the papers. 'Ponyville Pegasus Wins Flying Competition With Sonic Rainboom'."
"Wow, even in Canterlot?"
"Yep."
"The chariot is ready." a guard said, poking his head around the door.
Dark Horn smiled at Twilight. "Last one there loses!" he yelled playfully, before launching himself off the balcony to the astonishment of the guard, Twilight, and Shining Armour and Cadence, who had just entered to speak to Twilight, and flapping his wings. For a few seconds he fell as he got accustomed to the muscles in his wings and how they worked, then his instincts kicked in, and he was flying. He was flying fast. If he were to name a speed, he'd have said he was going at 40 kilotrots an hour.
Realizing that Twilight hadn't left and Shining Armour was looking up at him with a priceless look on his face, he landed right next to him, to be butted rather hard in the shoulder by Shining Armour.
"What was that for?" he exclaimed, as the two mares next to them gasped.
"One: you never told me my sister was here. Two: you scared the hay out of us when you jumped off the balcony. For all I knew, you were trying to get yourself killed, I didn't know you suddenly became an alicorn. And three," he grinned, "I was bored."
"Colts," Cadence sighed, rolling her eyes, "I'll never understand them."
"So anyway, what's the story with the sudden alicornification?"
"I'm not sure myself. I just woke up this morning and bam, I had wings."
"Were you behind the missing darkness?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
"Unfortunately?"
"It scared the hay out of me, I knew it had something to do with me, but it still scared me."
"Fair enough. So, how have things been in Ponyville?"
"Well, you'd better ask Twilight. I had only been there a day."
"Did you give her the package?"
"Oh, buck. I totally forgot. I'll give her it when we get back."
"You're leaving? When?"
The guard at the door cleared his throat, "Your chariot?"
"Soon."
The four of them talked for a while, Twilight recounting tales of her time in Ponyville. Eventually, the guardspony insisted that they had to leave now or take a chariot later, and return halfway through the day.
"Hey, Dark Horn?"
"Yeah?"
"I think I'll take you up on that race offer." she said, turning around to see that he had leapt off the balcony again before she even answered. Laughing, she took off.
Dark Horn flew in an arc around Canterlot towards the chariot dock. Swooping down, he landed next to Twilight in the chariot.
"Teleporting's cheating."
"Oh, and flying's not?"
"Heh, you got me there."
They sat in silence, except for the occasional moment when the chariot pony whistled a tune, and Twilight hummed another, until they were out of sight of Canterlot.
Whispering in Twilight's ear, Dark Horn grinned, as did Twilight. She nodded, and Dark Horn jumped from the chariot, yelling as he did so, attempting to frighten the chariot pony.
Overreacting, the pony made a hairpin turn that threw Twilight from the chariot as he attempted to catch Dark Horn. Screaming, Twilight fell through the air, as Dark Horn cursed himself for not seeing this coming, diving after her.
He knew that, unless he got a sudden burst of speed, there was no way he'd be able to catch her. There was too much wind resistance. He knew there was only one option.
Suddenly, Twilight got an immense feeling of déjà vu from the Best Young Flyer's competition. Not that she had experienced it. She had seen it.
Not even sure if an alicorn could do it, he folded his wings in and dived downwards. A Mach cone appeared in front of Dark Horn, before turning jet black and thinning out. He willed himself not to give in to the sensation of wind hitting him so hard it felt like blades, as he felt the pressure build up, then give way. All wind resistance stopped, and there was a large boom as he broke the sound barrier. He swooped down towards Twilight and caught her just before she hit the mountain. Sighing with relief, he looked behind as he saw the chariot pony smiling wryly, and following Dark Horn, easily noticeable against the rising sun, was a large streak of black. Somehow, he had broken logic and done a Sonic Rainboom.
Looking down, he saw that Twilight was looking back up at him with a look of gratitude and...something else entirely.
Carrying her back to the chariot, Dark Horn set her down gently, and smiled at her, his wings fluttering gently with what he assumed to be just the adrenaline rush of the Sonic Rainboom.
They then sat in complete silence and watched the sun rise. Dark Horn smiled, knowing that Celestia had seen the whole ordeal, and could almost sense she was smiling too. Eventually, they arrived at Ponyville and entered the Library Treehouse. They sat down opposite each other in awkward silence, before Twilight broke the silence.
"Thanks, I thought I was done for there."
"You know I'd never let that happen to you."
"I know, but a Sonic Rainboom? That's hard to pull off, especially for a non-rainbow alicorn who is new to flying."
"Well, you know I'd do anything for you." he replied sheepishly, before awkwardly looking away, as Twilight's eyes lit up.
"Oh, Dark."
"Twily, I-" he started, before being cut off as she lunged forwards, wrapped her forelegs around him and kissed him, making his wings straighten out in surprise. Accepting his feelings for her, he wrapped his forelegs around her too, and his wings automatically did the same.
They broke the kiss, but kept hugging for another few minutes, until they noticed someone at the door.
"I knew it!"
"Pinkie Pie?" Twilight yelled, jumping back from Dark Horn as his wings snapped back to his side with his forelegs, "What are you doing here?"
"I mean, I knew you liked each other, but I didn't expect you to be kissing already. I mean come on, Twilight. You only met the colt a day ago-"
"PINKIE!"
"Yes?"
"First off, Dark Horn is my old friend from Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Secondly, how did you know we liked each other?"
"Oh, just the way you acted around each other."
"When did you see us?"
"I've got eyes and ears all over Ponyville, in case of an audio/visual crisis." she giggled, reaching up and plucking an eye and ear from the wall. "But I personally saw you when I was fetching some spare parts for Scootaloo's scooter, she crashed it yesterday." she explained, "But how could you know him from a school for unicorns, if he's an alicorn?"
"I just became an alicorn last night."
"Oh, yeah. You were only a unicorn yesterday."
"Anyway, could you not tell the others?"
"Ooh, sorry Twi, they're already on their way."
"What, they already know?"
"No, they're just confused because I told them you were back, and they didn't know you were gone."
"I'd imagine they'll freak out, seeing an alicorn, especially one with their mane all wavy like the Princesses'."
"Wait, what'd you say about my mane?" Dark Horn asked, running into the bathroom and looking in the mirror, "Wow. My mane, it-it's blowing in the wind. It isn't even windy. We're indoors."
"I know, I've always wondered how that worked." Twilight pondered, as the front door slammed open.
"Twilight? You in here?" four voices came from down the hall.
"Through here!" she called back.
"Twilight, darling, what's all this I hear about you going off to Canterlot through the night?"
"Sorry, Rarity, I got a letter from the Princess asking us to go there urgently."
"Us? Who else is with you?"
"A friend." she giggled, smiling at Dark Horn.
"Who's this friend of yours- Oh, my, he's a prince." she said, seeing the alicorn and bowing as low as she could.
"Please, I'm not a prince. Just yesterday, I was a unicorn like you and Twilight." Dark Horn explained as Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Applejack walked into the room.
Rainbow Dash instantly said something complementing his wings, Applejack stared at the muscles in his back legs, muttering how much he could help during Applebuck season, and Fluttershy yelped, backing up to the wall.
"So... You became an alicorn?"
"Yes."
"Okay."
"Wait a second!" Rainbow Dash yelled.
"What?" the others asked.
"Let me see your wings." she said to Dark Horn, who unfurled them.
"Hmm... Feathers bent out of shape... Mane feels fluffy, windswept... You've done a Sonic Rainboom!"
"Yep." he smiled proudly.
"Wow. You're not even rainbow-maned, and you've only been flying for a day."
"I know. I'm surprised, too. I has to, though. Twilight fell out of the chariot."
"You did it to rescue Twilight?"
"Yeah."
"Well done for catching her."
"Thanks. I don't think there's anything I wouldn't do for her." he smiled at Twilight.
"I see what's going on here," Rarity smiled knowingly, "Pinkie Pie said there was something between you and your friend, but I didn't think you'd already be this far."
"Hold on. You mean ta say these two are together?" Applejack asked.
"Yes, we are, Applejack." Twilight answered, as Dark Horn walked over to her and placed a wing across her back.
"That's cute." Fluttershy said quietly from the corner. "Also, I was wondering why you felt much lighter than a unicorn when I crashed into you. You were as light as a pegasus. This explains it."
"Heh, I guess you were the first to realise, then?"
"Oh, no. I didn't realise. I was just confused." she said shyly, attempting to shift attention from herself.
"Wow, look at the time! It's nighttime already!"
"But the shadows are still where they were."
"Oh, buck. I forgot to move them."
"Move them? You control the shadows?" Rarity asked.
"Just watch." he smiled, his eyes going jet black. As he focused, the shadows expanded, coating the ground and buildings.
He could tell by looking at the moon that Luna was mocking him for his incompetence.
Dark Horn had woken up very happy, as he had finally, after a few days of constant practice and theoretical discussions with Twilight, managed to be able to move the shadows subconsciously, not having to focus anymore. He saw Twilight still asleep next to him, and decided to go for a walk to get some fresh air. He silently slid out of the bed, and was at the door when he heard a sleepy voice from behind him.
“’Morning.”
“Good morning.” he chimed back, as Twilight got out of bed.
“Where are you going?” she asked, letting out a yawn.
“I was just gonna go for a walk.”
“Well, if you have some breakfast first, I’ll come with you.”
“All right.” he replied, as the two of them walked downstairs and sat at the table in the kitchen where Spike asked them what they wanted. After they had finished their daffodil and daisy sandwiches, they walked out the door.
“Dark?” Twilight asked after a couple of minutes of walking.
“Yeah?”
“You said we were going for a walk.”
“We are.”
“You’re flying.” she noted, giggling lightly.
“Whoops. Sorry.” he said, folding in his wings and trotting alongside Twilight. They reached the town centre and veered off to the right to go to Sugarcube Corner for some tea and cupcakes. They didn’t get far before they noticed that everypony they passed was bowing, the exception being an embarrassed Fluttershy standing among the bowing ponies.
“Why are you all bowing?” Dark Horn asked.
“My apologies, Your Majesty, but it is custom to bow when in the presence of royalty.” a courageous pegasus nearby rose and looked up at Dark Horn.
“’Your Majesty’? I’m not royalty.” he said, as Twilight brought her hoof to her face.
“Well, you’re an alicorn, are you not?” the pegasus asked.
“That doesn’t necessarily make me royalty.”
“How so?”
“Well, Prince Blueblood is royalty,” he said, knowing full well that even Princess Celestia would like to deny that statement, “But he’s not an alicorn, is he?”
“No, but Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadance are, or were, the only alicorns in Equestria that we know of, and they’re all royalty.”
“Well, I refuse to be classed as royalty.” he announced to everypony who was listening, but all of the bowing ponies continued to bow, and Fluttershy remained embarrassed. It was then that he realised that, though he may not be royalty, he was an alicorn, and alicorns were considered to be divine to other ponies. He was a god in their eyes, prince or not.
Flying a few hooves into the air and raising his voice so he could be heard, careful not to use the Traditional Canterlot Voice, he said “Everypony, please. All I ask is that you treat me as an equal to yourselves. I may be an alicorn, but I’m still a pony like you.”
Slowly at first, then rapidly, the bowing ponies rose up, looked to each other, then to Dark Horn, who had returned to Twilight’s side, nodded and muttered in agreement and admiration at his humility, then returned to their daily business.
Twilight smiled at Dark Horn, amazed at how he was acting so calmly when so many ponies were looking up to him as they would the Princesses, as they continued towards Sugarcube Corner.
“Hey you guys! How ya doing?” Pinkie yelled as they entered, causing them both to flinch and retreat a step.
“Oh, fine, we just felt like stopping in for a little snack.” Twilight explained.
“Well, sit down, have a look at the menu!” she said, bouncing joyously over to the counter and returning with two menus, which she sat down on the table where they had chosen to sit.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Cake came through, talking with another mare, a unicorn with a white coat, rose-red mane and a glass Cutiemark. They stopped to speak to Pinkie, who listened intently, then nodded, after which they left.
“So, you guys ready to order?”
“Uh, yeah. Say, Pinkie, who was that Mrs. Cake was talking to?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, that was her cousin, Rose Wine. She’s just moved here from Manehattan, and she’s opened this really fancy-shmancy restaurant just down the road with her husband, Red. I think it was called ‘Le Liquor’ or something like that.”
“Hmm… You maybe want to go there tonight, Twi?”
“I don’t see why not. It’ll be nice to have dinner out, I haven’t gone to a fancy restaurant since Shining and Cadance’s wedding.”
“Uh-huh. So, what are you ordering?” Pinkie asked.
“Oh, sorry, Pinkie. I’ll have a blueberry muffin with a side of butter, and some ginseng tea.” Dark Horn replied.
“And you, Twi?”
“Same, but some lemon tea, please. Ginseng makes me hyper.”
“Comin’ right up!” Pinkie said, bouncing away.
“What time do you think we should go?” Dark Horn asked.
“I don’t know, about 8?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“Here ya go!” Pinkie said, bouncing back with two plates loaded with food balanced precariously on her head, miraculously not ending up all over the room. She stopped at the table and the plates, seemingly of their own accord, leapt from her head to the table, “Oh, and if you’re going at 8, you’d best have a reservation. That’s when they’re busiest, apparently.”
“How do we get a reservation, then?” Dark Horn asked.
“Don’t you worry, I’ll get you one.” she replied, winking mischievously, before sprinting out the door at a speed only achievable by her and Rainbow Dash, and returning almost instantaneously with a small piece of paper labelled ‘Table for two, 8pm, VIP’.
“VIP? You didn’t have to get us a VIP table.” Twilight exclaimed.
“Well, I just thought, seeing as you’re two of my very best friends, I’d get you a VIP table. Besides, once I mentioned that Dark here was an alicorn, Rose practically wouldn’t let me leave without a VIP table. Something about ‘royalty in with common ponies’ or something Rarity would say.” Pinkie gesticulated with her hoof to express Rose’s urgency in giving the VIP table.
“Oh. Well, I guess that’s okay, then.” Twilight sighed.
----That night, at 8pm----
“Wow, this place really is fancy.” Twilight gasped as they walked through the door of Le Liquor and seeing the many booths with dining ponies filled, most on romantic dates. The maitre d’, a young pegasus stallion behind a desk with a short, wavy blonde mane and tail, a white coat and a fountain pen hovering above an open book for a Cutiemark cleared his throat to get Dark and Twilight’s attention.
“Bonjour et bienvenue à Le Liquor. Avez-vous un réservation?” asked the maitre d’ in such fluent Prench he could have flown straight over from Prance that morning.
“Oui, c'est ici.” Dark Horn replied, relying on what little Prench he had been taught at school, before teleporting the piece of paper onto the desk with a small spark of magic, unintentionally fanning out his wings as he did so.
The maitre d’s eyes widened as it dawned upon him that Dark Horn was an alicorn, took one glance at the paper and ushered them right through the main dining area and into a lavishly furnished back room with an open fireplace, solid oak tables and chairs and several lit candles with no inhabitants, bar Rose and who they supposed to be her husband, an earth pony with a red coat and crimson mane and tail, and a decanter pouring wine for a Cutiemark.
“Welcome, welcome! I must say, it truly is an honour to have royalty and the bearer of the Element of Magic come to our restaurant, on just our second night,” Rose said, “Oh, I’m sorry. We haven’t even introduced ourselves. I’m Rose Wine, and this is my husband, Red.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Twilight.”
“Oh, we know. Everypony in Manehattan knows about the Elements of Harmony. But we’re curious as to why there’s a new prince in Equestria, one that nopony knew about beforehoof.”
“I’m Dark Horn, and I’m not royalty. I actually spent quite a while explaining to the other ponies that I didn’t want to be treated any different to the way they’d treat one another.”
“Oh, so you’re what that ruckus was about. We heard that earlier,” Red stated, “But we had no idea what it was about.”
“Anyway, please, take a seat, relax, we’ll have a waiter come take your order soon.” Rose said, as the two of them left Dark and Twilight to sit down at the table nearest the fireplace, with a lit candle, two glasses and an uncorked bottle of fine white wine between them. Dark Horn levitated the bottle up and filled the glasses to an acceptable level. He brought the glass nearest to him towards him, swirled it, and took a sip. His face contorted at the taste, then with a second sip, he grew accustomed to it.
"This is quite good wine, isn't it?" Dark Horn asked, noticing that Twilight had already drank more than him.
"Yeah, I've never had anything like it, except the champagne at the wedding."
"I didn't really like that champagne, I preferred the cider and beer they had at the bar."
"Yeah, I saw. I'm surprised you were even still standing that night, let alone able to perfectly form a sentence, with the amount you drank."
"I can hold my alcohol well. Prince Blueblood, on the other hand, was almost throwing himself into walls. If I remember correctly, he ended up getting into an argument with Rarity, and got locked in his chambers by the royal guard."
Dark Horn was having some trouble getting back to the library after the meal, due to sheer amount of wine consumed between himself and Twilight. He was fine, as predicted, he was able to handle it, but the inebriated lavender unicorn beside him was having some trouble. A whole hour of walking later, they were standing outside the library, but Twilight insisted that she should be the one to go in first.
“Come one, Twi, you’re drunk, we need to get inside and get some rest.” Dark Horn said, attempting to usher Twilight through the door and open it at the same time.
“No, no, no,” She slurred, attempting to open the door using her magic, “I can… I can get the door.”
“If you say so.” Dark Horn chuckled, able to predict what’d happen next.
Sure enough, Twilight, while managing to open the door at first, attempted walking through the doorway, but it sprung back into her head, knocking her into Dark Horn, who sidestepped her and righted her with a magical field.
“You okay?” Dark Horn asked, setting her on her feet. She turned and smiled at him, opened her mouth to say something, before collapsing, having passed out.
“Are you kidding me? Ugh, fine. I’ll carry you.” Dark Horn said, unsure as to whether or not she could hear him, before levitating her across his back and starting up the stairs and towards their bed.
----
“Ugh, my head…” Twilight grumbled, waking up in the morning, “How much did I drink last night?”
“Quite a lot.” Dark Horn answered, smiling at her from across the bed.
“What happened?”
“How much can you remember?”
“Up until my… fifth glass.”
“Ah. Well, we tried to come home, but you kept stumbling all over the place. I’ve seen Derpy fly straighter than you were walking when she was in the middle of a storm. When we eventually got back, you insisted on opening the door yourself. You did get through it, for the most part. Until your magic slipped and you hit yourself. In the face. With the door. I managed to catch you and put you on your feet, but you fell unconscious almost instantly after, so I had to carry you up here.”
“That’s not too bad.”
“’Not too bad’? What normally happens to you?”
“I’d rather not say, it’s really embarrassing.”
“Okay, fine.”
“Oh, gosh, look at my mane, it’s a mess!” She exclaimed, looking at herself in the mirror and levitating a brush up, running it through her mane several times. “You’re lucky, not having to brush your mane or tail every morning. I wish I was an alicorn.”
“Well, Princess Celestia did say it was possible for anypony to become an alicorn, and since you’re one of the Elements, you should be more likely.”
“But you became an alicorn. You’re not one of the Elements.”
“I must just have gotten lucky.”
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it.” Dark Horn called, walking over to it and opening it.
“Oh, hey, Dark. Is Twilight in here?” Spike asked
“I’m here, Spike.”
“Oh, good, there’s been a letter from the Princess.” He tossed her the sealed scroll.
She opened it and, levitating it at eye level, read aloud: “’My faithful students Dark Horn and Twilight Sparkle, there has been a surprising occurrence here in Canterlot, and it has come to my attention that it is of utmost importance that you two, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie are required here, and Spike may accompany you if he so wishes. I hope for your reply soon.’ I wonder what’s happened… well, I guess we’ll find out when we get there. Spike, send a letter back saying that we’ll be there soon.”
“Got it!” Spike said, sending the letter off in a burst of green flame. Almost instantaneously, another letter appeared.
“’Will you be requiring a pegasus carriage?’ Hmm… unless you feel up to us teleporting, I suppose we will. Spike, send a reply saying simply ‘Yes.’.”
“Fine.”
There was a loud thump outside just after Spike sent the letter.
“That can’t possibly be the carriage already,” Dark Horn said, galloping to the window, “Wow, it is! That was fast!”
He and Twilight teleported outside with Spike sprinting down the stairs and out the door, only to be met with a crowd investigating the sudden appearance of a royal pegasus carriage, so large it required four pegasi to pull it. Luckily, the other Elements were within said crowd, and ran to meet Dark Horn and Twilight as soon as they appeared.
“An eight-pony chariot appears outside the library, y’all can be sure we’re goin’ ta Canterlot.” Applejack said, admiring the size of the carriage, so big it was almost matching the train carriage behind it in height.
“Yeah, something’s happened there and they need us for some reason.” Twilight elaborated.
“What’s happened? Has Luna turned back into Nightmare Moon or has Discord gotten free or has some other disaster of epic proportions that means we have to use the Elements to save Equestria again happened?” Pinkie asked, bouncing into the chariot as the others climbed in.
“What? No, I’m sure it’s nothing. I mean, if it really was anything along the lines of that, Princess Celestia would have told us in her letter.” Twilight answered, dumbfounded by Pinkie’s assumption.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Oh well.” Pinkie sighed.
“Are ya tryin’ ta say ya’d rather Equestria was in danger?” Applejack asked.
“No, but it’d be really exciting!”
“If you say so, dear.” Rarity said as the carriage took off towards the mountains, but then suddenly made a turn into the forest to the left.
“Why are we going this way?” Dark Horn wondered aloud, before there was a soft whooshing noise and the view from the carriage was warped and distorted, changing from a vista of Ponyville to an eagle-eye view of Canterlot.
“What in tarnation just happened!?” Applejack asked.
“I don’t know. It seems like we just teleported, but it’d take a lot of magic to teleport 11 ponies and a baby dragon.” Twilight stated matter-of-factly.
“I guess we’ll find out when we get to the Princess.” Dark Horn suggested as the carriage landed, the eight of them got out and they rushed towards the throne room, where Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were sure to be waiting, but only the latter was there.
“Princess Luna, have you seen Princess Celestia?”
“Oh, yes, she sent for you, didn’t she? She’s in the Element chamber. I believe you’ll be pleasantly surprised by why you’re here.” The dark purple alicorn called after the eight departing figures.
----
“Princess Celestia! There you are!” Twilight cried, happy to see her mentor again.
“Oh, yeah. Dark and I went out to dinner last night and we had a little too much wine.”
“Really?” A knowing twinkle appeared in her eyes, “And you’re still as resilient to alcohol as always, Dark Horn.”
“I think being an alicorn made me more resilient.”
“I see. I suppose you’re all wondering why I called you here, this early in the morning, and how you got here so quickly.”
There were murmurs of agreement from the group.
“Well, the amount of raw mana, which unicorns and alicorns tap into to use their magic, flowing from the leylines, has increased dramatically since a loud bang was heard a few days ago. Originally it was believed to be one of your Sonic Rainbooms, Rainbow Dash, but you were asleep at the time, and it was at the exact moment that it was reported that Twilight Sparkle fell from the chariot she and Dark Horn were sharing on the way back to Ponyville. Would you two know anything about the explosion?”
“Well, Princess, we decided to play a prank on the pegasus pulling the chariot, so I jumped from the chariot, knowing I could fly, but in the heat of the moment, the pegasus made a hairpin turn, throwing Twilight from the chariot. Instinctively, I dove after her, and in order to catch up to her, I had to perform a Sonic Rainboom. That was what the explosion was.” Dark Horn replied.
“Thank you for being honest. Now, the increase of mana. It has allowed much more powerful spells to be performed, the likes of which you saw on your way here. That was a portal spell, accompanied by an illusion spell, the likes of which had been purely theoretical until now. There are portals like those outside each of the cities in Equestria, and even some in the major trading cities in the Griffin Kingdom. Anyway, I did not call you all here for idle chitchat about modern magical breakthroughs. There is a much, much more serious and important matter at hand. Now, follow me, please.” They started walking through the hall and into the chamber where the Elements were kept.
“The mana has been like this once before, 1000 years ago, when the Elements were united and kept with their pedestal constantly. Once I lost control of them, the mana dropped, and it stopped fluctuating when you six took control. However, when the mana rose again, it prompted me to investigate the Elements. That was when I noticed this.” She gestured towards a small crack in the pedestal.
“Now, I’m not entirely certain what this means but, if you’ll look closely, you’ll see that there is a slight glow- wait, did you see that? The crack started to grow when you approached. Dark Horn, come closer.” Doing as asked, Dark Horn approached the crack in the pedestal, which began to grow longer and wider, and glow a black colour. Eventually, he was standing right next to the pedestal and it was covered in cracks. He took one step closer and it fell apart, leaving a small neck-chain with a horn over a crescent moon attached.
“I don’t believe it. There had been tales of a seventh Element of Harmony, but I didn’t think it really existed. Dark Horn, you are the Element of Modesty!”
“Me? Really?”
“Yes, you. This is an amazing discovery! Dark Horn, this means that you are single-handedly to thank for the massive increase in mana!”
“Well, I wouldn’t have done a Sonic Rainboom if it weren’t for Twilight’s agreeing to play that prank on the pegasus.”
“Dark, it was you. Now stop being modest, you’re taking it a bit too far. Applejack doesn’t tell 100% of the truth all the time. I don’t use my magic all the time. You see where I’m going with this? You only need to be modest when you need to.”