//------------------------------//
// The King is Dead 
// Story: Onyx 
// by Ravenpuff 
//------------------------------//

The Dark King is gone, leaving only scars behind. Yet I see them heal all around me. Everypony smiling and dancing, their coats sparkling brighter than ever as they praise the Crystal Princess.

Not our Crystal Princess. Just a pink mare who swooped in to save the day, as far I hear. So desperate to forget the bad, they all cling to this replacement like she is the real deal. Like they think they know her, our savior come to fix it all and make the bad go away.

The bad will never go away. His shadow remains, looming over this sunny paradise. We thought we knew Him too. We thought we knew our Crystal Princess. Look what that brought us. We thought her to be strong and eternal, now she’s gone forever. A stranger invited in from the cold, taken under her wing, betraying everything we knew.

It all shattered. Like she did. 

They all smile and dance, forgetting it all ever happened. 

I can’t forget. An eternal reminder hanging over me every waking hour. 

My coat will not shine, my smile a grimace I practice in the mirror before smashing it. They all seem to forget we can bleed. That we bled in plenty during His reign. I remind myself of this fact. The physical pain makes me forget the inner ache, just for a moment.

Then it wakes up again. Torturing me with its noise, its constant demands, draining me from my life. 

At least it’s quiet, it could shriek and alert my neighbours of my sin. Housing this demon. I can’t get rid of it, nowhere to leave it. What if it just leads them back to me? I can’t face them knowing what I brought into this world, possessing this… this tool. Yes, it’s only a tool. When I look at it, all I see is Him. He’ll return through this thing, I know it. It is Him. 

It calls its siren song, forcing me over to its side. To feed it, make it stronger and grow. It feeds off of my misery, draining me slowly until I shall be no more. 

I can’t bear to look at it. But if I leave it, let it starve, its song will grow stronger, more insistent. I cannot risk the outside world hearing it, catching on. 

Damnation. 

I wasn’t his first choice for a vessel. No. I was simply… available. There when the need arise. I know I’m not the only one, yet I stand alone. I don’t know if the others were ever caught, gave themselves up or simply found a way to get rid of the curse. Maybe they just suffer in silent isolation like me. Waiting for it all to end, so we can forget the pain and finally be free. Free from everything. 

I only leave for the outside world when food runs out. Must be quick - out and in again before I’m noticed. I stand out like a sore hoof, my coat so dull and grey among everypony else who are being blissfully ignorant about those months ago. 

Oh how I wish to join them. But that is not my place - not anymore. I don’t deserve it, not after bringing Him back into the world. There’s no fighting Him. You do not reject the king, you do not say no or fight. The consequences are too dire.

Yet.

I wish I had.

I wouldn’t be forced to live this curse. This thing. Draining me, again and again. So needy, its whimpers and cries. Constant presence, demands, torture.

All I see is Him. 

Not even the Crystal Heart had the power to cleanse me when it had its chance. Washing over me with its light, only to leave behind the curse within me, while cleansing everypony else for their woes and pain. 

I don't deserve salvation, my cold heart left in pieces like the day He shattered it along with my body. I'm dirty, disgusting, cursed. I'm a terrible pony.

I just want this to end.

Guess it will end - I was found out after all. I have been summoned.

I barely remember the joy and honour I once felt whenever fantasizing about being summoned to the palace to me the Crystal Princess. An honour anypony would have done anything for. Meeting the caring monarch, the mother to us all as we were all her children under her protective wings. 

Then it became a horror worse than death to be summoned to the palace. When He had taken over, leaving our Crystal Princess as a shattered mess for all to see. Striping her of power and glory, taking her away from us as he called out her façade and lies.

Being summoned to the palace was then nothing but a source of dread.

I wasn’t summoned back then though. I was simply there. Cleaning and shining dull floors. Simply there within reach when the need arise and nopony else was around to satisfy His needs. 

Now I am summoned to my trial. Of course the message says nothing, but this is not my Crystal Princess. She is dead. I am cursed, carrier of the Dark King’s tool of revival. 

What else could this be.

I wished for the end, yet I am terrified. Will it be quick? Or shall I be put on display for all to witness my shame? 

I decide to bring it with me. Leaving it at home others might stumble upon it once they come to clear out my house when I’m gone. Might as well bring the evidence against me along; let this new pink princess take care of it. Would be for the best, maybe she can still stop His return.

This curse is heavy. I almost held it close to my chest, felt like mourning before its destruction. 

No.

There is no love left in my heart, this thing is Him. But why do I feel a tear run down my cheek?

Why am I shaking for this thing and not just for myself?

Crystal Heart, save what is left of my soul.