Twilight rubbed her head and groaned. She'd spent the past 24 hours searching every single spell book in her library. And even a multitude of books not even closely related to spells.
Nothing.
She was exhausted, her head hurt, and she was frustrated to the point of bursting into furious flames.
"Twilight!" Spike burst in. "I was told to tell you to get to Sugarcube Corner right away! Dash found that magician pony and dragged him there! Everypony else is there already."
Twilight immediately teleported to the bakery, ending up appearing directly in front of said magician, who let out a startled yell and would have fallen over had it not been for the fact Dash still had both hooves clamped on him.
"You!" Twilight all but snarled, leaning close to the black stallion as her eyes blazed. "You better have a very good explanation for what you did to Scootaloo, or Celestia help me, I'll-!"
"Whoa, whoa! Wait a minute!" Dark Magic waved his hooves. "Let's not be too hasty. Let me assure you that what I did, I did with the best of intentions."
"What, the best intentions to hurt Scoots?" Dash demanded sarcastically, her grip on him tightening.
Dark Magic blinked. "What?! No! Of course not!! I would not harm any pony with my magic, I assure you!"
"Then explain why Scootaloo is now harmed!" Dash snapped, glaring at him.
"The only harm she should have come to is the injuries that were transferred to her." Dark Magic huffed. "I knew exactly what I was doing! And she knew exactly what to expect. And why are you so interested in what I did?"
"Because we are her friends." Twilight said firmly. "We care what happens to her."
"She's my sister!" Dash snapped, scowling. "You hurt her, you answer to me!"
Her grip tightened painfully on him and he winced slightly. Twilight noticed and quickly interfered, capturing Dash with her magic and pulling her back away from the magician. Dash didn't fight her, but stood where she was placed, glaring daggers at Dark Magic. Twilight let go of her, but stayed ready to grab her again if necessary.
"Look," she said, eyes locked on Dark Magic with an intensity that would normally send a pony running for their lives. "All we want from you is an explanation of your actions. Why would you offer such a deal to Scootaloo? What did you stand to gain from it?"
Dark Magic stared back at her with equal intensity, his gaze unwavering.
"I do not believe I need to explain anything to you."
"Excuse me, but yes, you do." Twilight said sternly. "In case you didn't notice, I happen to be an alicorn, which means I am one of the Princesses of Equestria. So guess what that means?"
She leaned closer, eyes narrowing, voice dropping to a near growl as he blinked at her.
"It means you will tell me everything."
Dark Magic stared at her, seemingly unfazed by her threatening tone.
"And if I refuse?" He asked.
Twilight suddenly straightened and gave him a rather unfriendly smile. She motioned around her.
"Well, then, a number of fates await you." She said in a slightly unpleasant tone. "For example, Pinkie Pie there has a number of ways that will loosen your tongue. She could blast you with her party cannon, or tickle torture you (which NOPONY has yet withstood, might I add). Then there's Applejack and Rainbow Dash. Either or both would be quite happy to buck you into the next millennium and back. And Rarity there...well, she would be glad to make use of you as a mannequin in her shop for an eternity. And last but not least, Fluttershy over there...let me assure you, you do not want to know what she can do."
Dark Magic eyed the yellow pegasus incredulously as she stood silently regarding him with a very serious expression.
"That one??" He exclaimed. "Why, I haven't heard one word or seen a hint of anger from her since that blue friend of yours dragged me in here! What could she possibly do?! She looks timid and shy from where I am standing."
"Uh oh..." mumbled Dash, noticing the subtle tensing of her fellow pegasus' body.
Twilight gave a dry chuckle. "If you really want to know, then keep refusing to tell us why you did what you did."
"I am not afraid of you." The magician huffed. "Any of you! Especially that one! She doesn't even look dangerous at all!"
Twilight stared at him. "Who wants him?" She asked, almost growling.
"Give him to Flutters." Dash spoke up, smirking almost evilly. "I'll be happy to give up the chance to beat him into the dirt just to see that!"
The others added their agreements to her statement, and Twilight nodded.
"Last chance." She said. "Explain, or face Fluttershy."
He scoffed. "I had my reasons, which I do not choose to explain."
Twilight sighed. "Fluttershy." She said, moving aside to make room for her friend.
Fluttershy did not hesitate. She walked forward and stopped about a foot from Dark Magic, locking her eyes into his. Dark Magic snorted.
"You're going to stare me into telling?" He asked sarcastically. "Oh, how frightening!" He snorted again...with slightly less confidence this time.
"You have no idea." Dash said with a snort of her own.
Before the magician could say anything else, Fluttershy tilted her head slightly, one eye opening wide, the other closing a bit. Dark Magic had time to blink one blink before the Stare bore into him, seeming to pierce all the way through him. It pinned him in place, freezing him, rendering him completely incapable of movement or speech. His ears pinned back of their own volition, and a slight shudder passed through him.
The others watched in silence as their friend worked her spell-binding Stare magic. They never got tired of seeing Fluttershy's Stare in action...it was pretty amazing and awe inspiring. So long as it was aimed at somepony else. And they had yet to see any creature or pony that could hold up under it.
Dark Magic, for his part, tried to look away, but could not. He was completely lost in the sea of teal that seemed to be staring clear through him like some kind of x-ray machine. He was mesmerized...and more than a little frightened of it.
"Now you listen here, mister." Fluttershy spoke softly, but with an edge of steel in her voice. "You are going to explain yourself and answer any questions you're asked. You got that?"
He simply nodded, unable to formulate words. Satisfied, Fluttershy turned off her Stare. Dark Magic shook his head to clear it, wobbling a little. This was not an experience he cared to repeat ever again!
"Now answer the question." Twilight said, moving next to Fluttershy. "Why did you do it?"
Dark Magic sat down and rubbed his muzzle.
"Alright." He said. "You want to know, I'll tell you."
He cleared his throat as the group sat down around him, watching him intently.
"Part of my story I told to Scootaloo." He began.
He told them that part: how he came by his name, all about the ancestor he was named after and his evil ways. The others listened without interrupting until he paused and accepted a glass of lemonade Pinkie offered him.
"So are you following in his hoofsteps or something?" Dash asked, crossing her forelegs.
"No." Dark Magic said firmly. "While he sought actively to hurt ponies with his magic, I seek actively to help them with mine. That is why I did what I did with Scootaloo. I saw she was upset and hurting and did what I knew would help."
"Maybe I missed something, but...how, exactly, was that supposed to help?" Twilight asked.
Dark Magic put his glass down and focused on her.
"I saw her eyes when she spoke of what happened years ago and the guilt she carried." He replied. "I could sense her deep, inner pain...a pain far, far greater than that of carrying her friend's injuries herself. By performing the spell that I did, it relieved her of that burden of pain."
"A drastic way to help, if you ask me." Dash muttered.
"Perhaps." Dark Magic said. "But it worked out quite well. She is obviously a true friend, sacrificing her own comfort and well-being to secure another's healing. She made the choice I thought she would. Although, I admit her extreme joy afterwards threw me for a loop. I was not expecting her to be quite as cheerful as she was."
"Why did you tell her it was permanently binding?" Twilight asked. "You clearly had to know it wasn't."
"Yes, I knew." He replied. "Telling her it was irreversible just made it that much more effective for her. Knowing that she wasn't getting a spell that would wear off or be easily removed was key to alleviating the inner suffering she was facing, because she believed her friend would be permanently healed. And she is...unless the spell is reversed. But since I told her it couldn't be..."
"Oh, she knows it can be reversed now, but she won't allow it." Twilight said. "I did an extensive search for a healing spell over the course of seven years. But I found nothing. I'm still searching, especially since you did what you did to Scootaloo. I don't suppose you know one?"
"No, I do not." He responded. "I do come from a long line of excellent magicians, however, and a good deal of their writings are currently in my possession. Not to mention I know countless tales of spells. I do not remember any healing spells, though."
Twilight stared at him intently. "Writings?"
"Yes. Countless writings."
"Dark Magic, will you excuse me a second?"
Twilight gathered her friends to one side and spoke in a low voice.
"If he does have writings from great magicians, as he claims," she said. "It might be beneficial to have him help me."
"You're kidding, right?" Dash huffed. "The guy casts a spell that leaves Scoots hurt, all because he wanted to help, and you're gonna let him hang around and help you?? Are you nuts?! How do we even know he's telling the truth?!"
"I didn't say I trust him." Twilight said evenly. "He may or may not be telling the truth. But if he is, then he may have something we can use for Scootaloo and Apple Bloom."
"And why can't you just work with Celestia? Or Luna? Or even Zecora?" Dash growled.
"Because he's the one who cast the spell in the first place." Twilight answered. "It’s not exactly a basic level spell, so he obviously is a good magician. Which means he might have the key we need to fix the girls."
Dash scowled. "Fine. But I'm keeping my eye on him!"
"I think we all will." Rarity said, eyeing the stallion sceptically.
The group shared a nod and then moved back to surround Dark Magic.
"Would you be willing to stay and let me look through some of those writings?"
Twilight asked. "Perhaps they might have something we can use."
There was a brief flash of something in his eyes, and Twilight couldn't figure out if it was fear or dread or both. Before she could decide, it was gone and a slight smile crossed his face. Though the smile was just as puzzling as the look in his eyes had been. She couldn't decide what kind of smile it was. She shrugged it off for the time being as she waited for his answer. He finally rose.
"Consider it done." He said. "Though I warn you, I may not be able to stay in town long. Personal business, you understand. Something may come up that I have to go attend to."
Twilight studied him for a moment. This time there was a distinctive look of fear in his eyes. It was brief, but it was there all the same. It puzzled her. Something was off about him. She nodded.
"Alright. But in the meantime, if we could get started immediately on our work?"
"Fine." He said. "Let me park my wagon somewhere..."
"Actually," Twilight said. "I was about to suggest you stay at the castle. Plenty of room, obviously. It will be more convenient and save time since we will no doubt have late nights and very early mornings."
She didn't add that it would make it easy to keep an eye on him.
"Oh, well, I was just going to camp right outside town..." Dark Magic started.
"I agree with Twilight." Dash spoke up, her eyes narrowed, holding a measure of suspicion. "It would be better if you're at the castle. So you don't lose valuable time everyday walking there."
Dark Magic was defeated, and he knew it.
"Alright." He said. "I suppose it would be best." His expression said otherwise.
"Great!" Twilight said. "Then we'll get started right away. If you'll get your wagon and bring it along, I'll help you unload all those writings you have."
She led him out the door, keeping one eye on him as if expecting him to run. As they faded from view, Dash scowled.
"I don't trust him." She said sourly.
"Ah don't either." Applejack agreed. "An' Ah think we should take turns helpin'
Twilight watch that feller. Somethin' about him don't set right."
The others shared her sentiment as they exchanged worried glances.