//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Twilight may have accidentally cursed Somepony. // by Black_Fox //------------------------------// Prologue Twilight Sparkle sat still with her tail wrapped around herself.  The chill air that caressed her coat did not help the matters of her odd predicament. Ruts in the floor began to show, her eyes downcast, closed. She sprang back, alert and with a once of victory in her voice she spoke. “Your name is Shade Heart. That is my answer,” Twilight spoke with authority in her voice that only a alicorn could muster. She looked pasted the black crystalline bird cage, into the eyes of her captor. She could only assume that she was meeting his gaze, for his head of covered in a full cast blackened helmet. What kept really drawing her attention was the cape he was wearing, it looked to be made of feathers. Of what animal, she could only guess. The lighting was far from what was to be desired. “You are wrong, try again.” He spoke, his voice was deep and sounded aged. Twilight snarled and stamped her hoof, “How do you expect for me to guess your name?! You give me no clues, no hints, not even anything to work with.” Twilight bellowed, failing to keep her normal air of calm. Every time she replayed the situation in her head, she still couldn’t believe she of all ponies got pony napped so easily. Who in the world poisons a burger!? Well, this guy obviously, but still. The stallion stepped closer to the caged, the down feather cape that rested now swayed was he trotted closer. “I have given you enough hints. Twilight Sparkle, who has stolen something so precious from me. Now you play innocent, I will not be fooled by you again.” “I have never met you!” The stallion stepped even closer to the cage which prompted Twilight to step back, her flanks rested against the cold crystal. “We have met many times. You just seem to forget it was me who you owe everything too. If I weren’t for me- “The stallion stopped and drew back, visibly breathing. A few moments passed in silence before he spoke again, tone to almost an early calm. “You have one more guess for today, Sparkle. Unlike you, I am fair,” he breathe out slowly, “the hints are around you.” Not wanting to disturb the calm of the unicorn again, Twilight looked through the bars of her confines. The room was lackluster to be sure. It oddly didn’t give off the gloom and doom feel that normally came from being captured. The floor was marble, black with light blue incandescent writing that flowed in the most intricate of patterns. Obviously magical, she could see that mana pulsed like a beating heart. All the threads of light bound to a circle that was ever so conveniently drawn around her prison. There were several candles pitched in odd spots on the floor, but those were either for decoration or part of the spell that kept her here. Lucky her. The room, much to her surprise and slight joy, were covered in books. Shelves upon shelves of, yet again, obviously magical books. There were inlaid into the stone wall, each waiting to be read by her. She knew if, no, when she got out of her she would read and reread them all. On the far side of the circular room was the staircase that lead down from the room above. Other than the sound of the door at the top of the stairs, she could not see any other definable exit. If the room was a little lighter maybe she could see of some other way out. That sparked an idea. “I need more light.” Twilight said with new authority. “If you want for me to solve this riddle from my surroundings, then I need to see better.” The stallion stood there, motionless. Several moments passed before a loud groan akin to that of a foal being told that he had chores to do filled the small space. Without any prop or ceremony, a scroll dropped from under the feathered cape. This single act gave Twilight a sinking suspicion of something. It was like walking through a thickly veiled mist, blindfolded with only sound to guide her. For the first time in the week she had been here, she thought she knew she had met this stallion before. Where? Sadly, it faded away the moment she saw that scroll begin to float. Normally such an action would not be much of a response. Floating was literally the basis of the basic. What caught her eye though was that there was no mana signature. Not even a trace of an aura wrapped around the vellum. The scroll floated over to one of the candles that sat on the far side of the room. The vellum caught a flame and consumed the scroll almost hungrily. In its wake, not ash but four balls of mage light filled the room. Each one glowed, almost twinkling even as they floated to their respective corners of the room. “There, I will be back tomorrow. Only three days remain.” The stallion said in a chill voice. “Wait.” Twilight called back. “I get three guesses every day. That the deal for me to earn my freedom. I only got two today. You’re a stallion who keeps his word at least?” She hoped. The stallion shot back almost just as fast. “Oh, the heavens must weep joyous tears of irony for you of all ponies to say that to me. Speak.” The stallion finished. Twilight thought hard and fast. Alas, even with the light from the orbs that floated around the room they only did well to illuminate the ceiling. Which again, nothing much more was gained - save for an oddly out of place checkered pattern that lined the ceiling. It was faint, but she had seen this pattern before. Although common enough to give her pause in her suspicion. Her question faded when the feathered stallion spoke. “Make your guess.” He stated. Twilight didn’t come up with anything that would make sense. What he was asking was for the impossible. Tell the name of the person who you cannot see. The only feature that she could make out was his coat. It was the color pitch black, not his real color. A spotty die job. His original coat color was some shade of green. She could tell from some spots that were missed on the inside of his front legs. To go so far for something so silly. “I want to change my guess into a question.” Twilight said. The stallion oddly nodded, it was almost comical with the black helmet. “Oh, so you wish to through away so much for a question. Deal. I will not answer something so obvious as my name or where you are.” “Tell me.” Twilight spoke with a tone of more authority. “What do you want?” She paused trying to think of the best possible word for her situation. “Indentured nonsense.” “Are you sure you want that to be your question?” The stallion said. “Yes.” “To answer your question, Twilight Sparkle." He turned and Twilight knew he was looking right into her eyes. "I will make this short and sweet. Thanks to you, I can no longer die. In three days however, we both can take our final breath.