//------------------------------// // Chapter 15 // Story: Midnight's Shadow: Tainted Legacies // by Ponibius //------------------------------// I was victorious. Topaz was broken before me, and for once I felt powerful—unambiguously and truly powerful. It felt wonderful. Nothing felt out of my grasp with Corva’s power coursing through me. There was no enemy I could not defeat, no barrier impenetrable, no goal out of my reach. And after my display this day everypony would know it. No longer would I be seen merely as Mother’s bastard, an object of loathing and repulsion to either be ignored or ridiculed. Neigh, now I would be seen as a force within my own right. Somepony to be respected. Somepony to be feared. “MIDNIGHT!” Morning ran into the circle, her eyes wide as she approached me. “That is enough! She is done!” I tilted my head to the side. “Do not worry, Morning. I do not intend to kill her.” I dragged the half-conscious Topaz up before us with my shadows. She groaned pitifully as I displayed her. “I want her to live, for I wish ponies to see her broken with her ambitions in ruins. When they see her, I want them to think of me and how I destroyed her, and to know the fate of anyone that would cross me.” “Let her go,” Morning begged, stopping short of me as though hesitant to approach. “Very well.” Seeing as I had no further use for her, I casually tossed Topaz to the side, and she hit the dirt with a tumble. “I have no more interest in her anymore anyways.” “Midnight...” Morning bit her lip, looking as though she wanted to say something more as she looked at me, but after a moment she slunk off to attend to her broken friend. That was fine at the end of the day. As I said, I had no wish for Topaz to die. Living reminders were so much more useful. Besides, I had other matters I wished to attend to. I looked about to see a silent crowd staring at me with a range of emotions, but I did not care what they thought of me as I sought out a very specific individual. “Pray tell, where is our dear Duke Chivalrous? I wish to have words with him.” I frowned as I failed to find him. “Has he actually fled? How rude to not even stay long enough to see his own champion be crushed. That is most undignified. Yet another thing I will have to discuss with him once I find him.” Mother emerged from the crowd to approach me before I could go on the hunt. “He fled once 'twas clear his cause was broken.” “Still the coward, then.” I let out an exaggerated sigh. “Not that I can say I am surprised. A pity, but he merely delays the inevitable.” Mother’s brow furrowed as her face hardened. “Come, child. We have much to discuss.” “Very well then.” Duke Chivalrous could wait. He was no longer a serious threat to me, and there was no place he could truly hide. We headed back to Mother’s office. Subtle had disappeared to someplace while Morning had stayed with Topaz. Only Stalwart followed us, and even he stopped at the door to the office. Though I was much more concerned with Mother, considering the fast pace and the way she was silent for the entire trip told me she was upset about something. That irritated me; could she not be happy even at my moment of triumph? Perhaps reminding her all that I had won for her would remedy the problem. “I believe I have secured you the conclave, Mother,” I said with a smile. “Many of Topaz's supporters will leave her after her crushing defeat, and I doubt any new opponent to Daylight will be able to garner enough support before the vote is decided. And without her to oppose us, we can release Daylight and get on with the conclave without consequence.” “That is not my primary concern at the moment.” Mother cast several significant privacy spells over the room, something she only did for the most sensitive of meetings. Mayhaps I had misinterpreted why she had wanted to see me? “Is this about Hidden?” “Neigh, it is about thee.” Mother whirled to face me, her eyes narrowed in suspicion. “What didst thou do?!” I rolled my eyes. “Is it not obvious? I won my duel with Magus Topaz and defended mine honor. I thought you would be pleased with my victory.” A frown grew on my face. “Or am I just not good enough for you even in victory?” “‘Tis how thou won thy duel that concerns me.” Mother growled. “Thou didst not have such power before the duel began. Do not deny it. I am well aware of what thou art capable, and that display was vastly beyond what thou hast proven thyself capable of in the past. Who gave thee such power?” I glowered as it became more than obvious what this conversation was really about. “As if she has the right to chide thee,” Corva growled. “She made her own deals for power once. Thou canst sense it, neigh? That current of power running concurrent to her own?” I could, in fact. With my newly augmented senses I could feel the magic flowing through Mother: there was her inborn magic, and then that of another—another fiery flame of magic that made the fire within her burn all the hotter, though I could not identify its source. That begged a question if Mother was going to make such demands of me. “And who gave you yours?” “Do not change the subject,” Mother snapped. “Thinkest thou I am blind? That I cannot tell when thou hast made a pact for power?” There was little point in denying it. She knew me too well to be fooled by anything other than the truth. “As if I would be the first or last. Are you upset that I did not consult with you first?” “Of course I am!” She snarled and stomped a hoof. “Who didst thou bargain with, and under what terms?” I scoffed at Mother’s bluster. It would no longer scare me. “I do not need to tell you. I have it under control, and will manage and continue with my duties as a magus without issue.” Mother voice was cold steel. “Thou wilt tell me. Now.” I faced her, not letting myself be intimidated. “Neigh.” “Why? Art thou too stubborn and willful to see that I have thy best interests at heart?!” Mother looked me over with narrowed eyes. “Or art thou already so deeply compromised that thou cannot tell me?” “She suspects thee,” Corva warned. “She worries thou art no longer loyal to her, and with thy newfound power a danger. Be wary.” “I am more than capable,” I told Mother. “For what possible reason should I tell you? Would you just take my power away from me?” “Should I?” The question had a threat hidden within it. ‘Twas possible Mother might very well do something extreme if I pushed her too far. That was not what I desired. I would not have my newly gained power taken away. Perhaps telling her the truth would deal with her worries? I had done no wrong, and Mother could hardly censor me when we both knew ‘twould be the height of hypocrisy on her part. Corva hissed. “Do not be so casual about telling her everything. She is suspicious and does not trust thee. She desires control of thee, and thou art now threatening that. Telling her about me might cause her to react poorly.” Little surprise, Corva was against the idea. But was it a poor idea? Admittedly, I made the deal hastily, perhaps even unwisely. And Mother was experienced in such things. There were potential benefits to confiding in her. “All that is required of me is an hour of my time while I sleep. Nothing more. I am hardly compromised.” Mother frowned deeply. “An hour ... and what dost thou thinkest will be done with thee during this hour?” “Aiding me in my studies and mentoring, nothing more,” I assured her. “Art thou certain of that?” I nodded. “I swore to that and nothing else for my power.” Mother sat behind her desk and tapped the desktop as she thought. “And with whom didst thou make this arrangement?” “Do not tell her that,” Corva growled. “My name is not to be casually given away. She might cause me great harm. Mayhaps summon me and bind me in some manner to keep me from aiding thee further. Dost thou wish my gifts taken away so soon after receiving them?” “The spirit in question would prefer not to be named.” I crossed my arms over my chest, not sure I was so convinced by Corva’s argument. “You know how valuable such things are.” “Aye. And I also know that a being with nefarious intentions would have good reason to hide its identity,” Mother said. “The fact thou art hiding its name from me does little to assure me all is well. Now tell me or I will consider thee compromised and have thee confined to thy quarters.” I glowered at her. “Must you always threaten me? As soon as you do not get your way you bear threat after threat. Am I a daughter to you at all?” Mother slammed her hooves on the desk. “Must thou defy me when I am only trying to help?! For all I know thou art being taken advantage of by some spirit. Thou art acting strangely, and I do not like what I see. This is why I wished for thee to consult with me before making any deal. Hast thou any idea how many magi have been corrupted by poor bargains over the years? They often become the greatest terrors Equestria faces, and I will not have that happen to my daughter.” She slowly sat back in her seat as she stared at me with determined eyes. “Even if she will not cooperate with me.” I considered those words carefully. If Mother did merely wish to help she could give me quite a boon. Though the cost of that help... “And how would you help?” “For one, I might know more about this being thou didst bargain with.” Mother’s smile showed far too many teeth. “If I believe this spirit is mistreating thee then I will have words with it, and then some. It will not feel so secure making foul deals with thee knowing that I will have my revenge for it doing so.” That was a good point. Of course, giving away Corva’s name would no doubt offend her, especially after she had just given me the wonderful power that now coursed through my body. But then, what could she do? She was as bound by our deal as I was. And the practical side of me said that there was a wisdom to play Corva and Mother against one another. There was potential in balancing one against the other, and ‘twould be good to make sure that Corva could not act against me with impunity. Mother’s wrath could be great and terrible, and Corva knew that. Probably among the reasons she was trying so hard to keep herself hidden. “Has my help meant so little to thee, friend?” Corva asked. “What have I done to make thee so suspicious of me that thou art considering something so dangerous as to give her my name? Have my gifts not given thee the power thou desired? And at so small a price?” “Such a small price makes me all the more suspicious,” I said. “And I would prefer to have more than mere words as assurance that I will not be betrayed.” I pressed my lips together as I made my decision. “Corva.” The Dreamscape spirit hissed in discontent, but the die had been cast. “Corva?” Mother frowned as she rubbed her chin. “I know of no such creature.” “I found no mention of her, either,” I said. “Near as I can tell she is not referred to in any book I could find. And I did not look merely based on names either, but on her nature and anything else that might identify her.” “And that does not trouble thee?” “Of course it does,” I groused. “I am not a fool unaware of the dangers. ‘Tis not as though I made the deal at the first opportunity.” “Then why bargain with her?” I let out a huff. “Because she has given me much. Education, knowledge, and now power—power enough to crush the likes of Topaz.” “I see.” Mother sat there for a time as she dwelled upon her thoughts. “When thou wert on the verge of losing she offered a bargain, yes?” “She did.” Mother stroked her cheek, though she did not explode into anger like I expected. It seemed that me relenting a bit and telling her the truth was calming her. “A very unwise negotiating position.” “I am aware.” I thought back over the last few days and my interactions with Corva. “She offered her bargain before then, but I declined to take it in order to think it over. ‘Tis just that during the duel...” Mine ears wilted remembering how the duel initially went, how I was nearly beaten with ease by Topaz. “I feared irrelevancy.” Mother raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” My shoulders slumped as the facts pressed against me. “How far back would admitting defeat have pushed me? Who would think me important after such a humiliating defeat? Would I ever have been able to become archmagus if I lost such an important duel in front of so many distinguished ponies? When ponies like Chivalrous would have crowed about it for many years to come?” Mother sighed and came around the desk to awkwardly place a hoof on my shoulder. “That is why I wanted to fight the battle in thy stead. ‘Twould have safeguarded thee and thy career both.” “I know, but...” I shrugged. “I have already stated for my reasons for not wanting to make you my champion.” “I could, perhaps, have chosen a better way to express my concerns.” Mother shook her head. “Thou art too important to be put in danger recklessly. But thou hast a singular talent for finding the worst dangers to be found regardless.” I sighed and nodded. “I fear I erred in several ways, if I am to be honest. I should never have been drawn into that duel to start with. I did not suggest a duel because I thought it was right or necessary, but because I thought ‘twould be easy to defeat Chivalrous in single combat. Mayhaps if I had not been so prideful I could have dismissed the duel as inadmissible due to it being proposed while under duress, or simply called the duke a liar about the affair and said no duel had been agreed upon to start with.” I ran a hoof down my face and sighed. “So many possibilities that I did not pursue.” Mother patted my shoulder, then opened a nearby cabinet to start scrounging inside. “Well, let us not dwell on things beyond changing. Far better to learn what we can from it, and look to the future. I will consult my own sources of information regarding this Corva, and see what we might learn of her. And we can arrange a few tests once matters are less chaotic.” “That seems reasonable,” I agreed. Mother turned her head to glower at me. “In the meantime, thou art not to use this power. It is affecting thee, whether thou wilt acknowledge it or not.” I stiffened. “I told you, I am fine.” “This is not up to debate.” Mother pulled out some bandages and other medicines. “Until I am convinced all will be well thou art not to use this power any more. Until I have time to study this matter ‘tis too much of a risk. But there is much that needs to be done thanks to the conclave, and I cannot spend the time needed to investigate this Corva and the nature of this new power. That being the case, it should not be used.” I let out an annoyed huff as Mother approached me. “Fine. ‘Tis not as though I plan on getting into another battle.” “I will hold thee to that,” Mother said. “For now we will concentrate on other matters. After I have treated thine injuries, thou wilt free Daylight from confinement and bring him to me. We must take advantage of Topaz’s defeat while our enemies are confused and weakened. If we are swift, we might win the conclave with little opposition.” “That is mine own hope as well,” I said as Mother tipped my head forward to get a better look at where the rock struck me. “‘Twould be nice if we experienced no more problems for the rest of the conclave. This has been enough excitement for me.” Mother agreed with a tired sigh. “I will be glad to have fewer troubles.” I braced myself as Mother started casting a spell. Her healing magic was quite effective but rarely gentle. While mine injuries were not bothering me, surprisingly enough, I knew them to be many. And my previous experiences with Mother’s healing had been quite ... bracing. I found Stalwart waiting outside the office afterwards and nodded to him. “Come on, Sergeant. We are to release Daylight from his imprisonment.” Stalwart fell in behind me as I proceeded down the hallway. “Very good, Magus.” “It might be wise to stop by Daylight’s room to get him a fresh set of clothing,” Corva suggested. “He has been imprisoned for days now and has likely not seen new linens for some time.” “That is true.” I switched course to go to Daylight’s rooms. As one of the ponies likely to win the conclave, he had been given quarters within the castle. It did not take Stalwart long to notice the change in direction. “This is not the way to the dungeon.” “No, but I wish to get him a fresh set of clothes and some personal items with which to refresh himself,” I explained. “When he returns to the public eye he should be doing so with dignity and looking like a proud magus, not some scruffy scoundrel.” Stalwart nodded in agreement, and walked by my side for a time before speaking again. “If I might ask about the duel?” “What of it?” He hesitated as he spoke. “You changed.” I looked over my shoulder and tilted my head. “Changed?” “In how you acted, and the nature of your magic,” Stalwart explained. “‘Twas ... different. Very different from what I am accustomed to.” I was not quite sure what he was speaking of. Mother had spoken of this as well, but I knew not what they were worried about. “If I am honest, I have never felt more alive. ‘Tis like I am greater than I have ever been.” “Oh?” “'Tis hard to explain, but...” I took a moment to put my words together. “Right now I feel like I am as I should be. ‘Tis as though the world was always greyed and faded, but now I can see it in all its brilliance. My heart races after a long melancholy, and my thoughts seem clearer than ever. I feel stronger, faster, more alive than I ever have.” Stalwart frowned. “Curious. And you do not find anything strange about all this?” I blinked slowly. “What dost thou mean?” “Your behavior and spellcasting changed completely, and you acted very differently from the mare I know,” Stalwart said. “‘Tis concerning.” Why would he be bringing this up? Was everypony so against me having this new power? Topaz and Chivalrous were foes to be crushed. That was what one did with enemies: destroy them. “Dost thou believe something is wrong with me?” “I believe there is more going on here than you have told me.” Stalwart got ahead of me and stopped me by placing a hoof on my shoulder. “You can trust me with the truth, Midnight. Have I not been ever faithful since becoming your bodyguard?” That was true. If I could not trust Stalwart then who could I rely on? And he seemed to dearly want to know the truth. How long could I even hide such a thing from him anyways? I cast a privacy spell and told him. “I made a deal for power. It was the only way I could win that duel.” Stalwart faintly frowned. “I see.” “It will work out in the end,” I assured him. “Topaz is no longer in our way to win the conclave for Daylight, and I now have the power to defeat any enemy. If thou still hast concerns, Mother will be looking into the matter after the conclave. And I am sure she will see matters as I do in time.” “Power comes with a price,” he cautioned. I shook my head, wondering if I was going to end up having this conversation with everyone I knew today. “It always does. The only question is are you willing to pay that price.” Stalwart squeezed my shoulder. “And be certain you know what that price is. Often, it can take a long time for the costs to become readily apparent.” I frowned. “What dost thou mean?” “That sometimes you might not know how much the cost really was until much later,” Stalwart said. “I know such has been the case for many I have known. For instance, many leaders in Pegasopolis were surprised by some of what was expected of them. The burden of the guilt of leading ponies who are slain in combat, and having to tell their families the fate of their kin. Where they thought all was battle and glory, there were duties far less glamorous or spoken of.” I sighed and scratched the back of my neck. “That is true enough.” “Just be careful, please,” he bidded. “Watching you battle Topaz was ... disquieting.” “I will do my best to be so,” I told him as I started back down the hallway. I was no fool and could deal with any problem that faced me. Soon enough we reached Daylight’s room, and Stalwart opened the door for me. “Thank you, Sergeant.” I entered and started looking around for a fresh cloak and anything else that might be needed. I was in the middle of finding what I desired when I heard Stalwart grunt in pain, followed by the sound of him falling to the floor with a crash. My heart leapt and I spun around to see what had transpired. What I saw made my eyes widen. Stalwart was lying on the floor unmoving as a pool of blood slowly grew under him. Standing over him was one of the last ponies I had ever wanted to see again: Moonwatch. Despite my attempts to slay him, he was whole and healthy, though he had lost most of the muscle mass he had previously possessed, looking more like a thin scholar than the barrel-chested pony he had been before. That might have been a result of whatever magics he was using to revive himself, though ‘twas only conjecture. He grinned evilly as he stepped over Stalwart’s body, a bloody knife held at his side. “Conduit, we meet again.” I glared balefully at Moonwatch, trembling with rage. How? How could he still be alive?! I disintegrated him! What sort of ghastly black magic had he used to avoid such a fate? And now he had hurt or even killed Stalwart. I was going to harm him tenfold for that. “Thou art wilt suffer for that, fiend.” I reached out to my magic to do that, and then ... nothing. The whole world suddenly jerked around in my vision and I fell to my knees. I suddenly felt so very, terribly exhausted. It was as though all of my magic had been drained, and I’d gone days without sleep in an instant. My whole body ached terribly as pains that had merely throbbed before flared up into debilitating injuries. My senses dulled and everything felt distant. What is more, that great power Corva had given me was gone, just gone. In its place was a great yawning emptiness, as though a great part of my soul was missing, or a portion of my essence had been sheared away. “W-wha...” I trembled, feeling as weak as a newborn foal. Suddenly completely and utterly helpless. Moonwatch laughed. ‘Twas a terrible, malevolent thing that enjoyed my sudden moment of weakness. “I know myself to be awesome, but never before has somepony collapsed at the mere sight of me. Ah well, I shan't complain.” His horn lit. “Now, sleep.” He cast a sleep spell upon me, and all the world turned to darkness. I found myself back in Corva’s bubble of reality within the Dreamscape, though ‘twas not as I remembered it. The place was crumbled and in darkness. Walls had fallen away to expose the endless black expanse of space, great cracks ran through the floor, and bookshelves were toppled about me. Turning, I faced Corva sitting on her throne. She sat there, even more unmoving than usual, looking like an obsidian statue in the poor light. My thoughts felt muddled, slow—as though they were trying to move through molasses. That great emptiness still gripped me, making me feel like an empty shell of what I had been but a few moments ago. I asked the first thing that came to mind. “Corva, what is happening? Where is the power thou gifted me?” Corva’s whisper of a voice echoed across the hall. “I am sorry, Midnight, but thou used all my strength to defeat Topaz. I am afraid I can offer no more help.” I blinked, scarcely believing what I was hearing. “What dost thou mean? That is all? I bargained with thee, and this is all thou canst give?” “For now, aye.” Corva slumped slightly on her throne. “In time I will recover, but until then I can offer no more aid.” A sense of betrayal ran through me. “Why didst thou not warn me thou wert so exhausted?!” A quarter of the hall broke off and crumbled into nothingness as it fell into the void. Corva shrugged. “I had no reason to expect thou wouldst need to enter battle again so soon. And remember, this is new to me as well. I did not know how long I would be able to maintain this due to us never trying to before. If we had practiced this before thou found thyself in a duel then we would have known the risks. What is more, thou drank deeply of my power, more than I thought thou wouldst have all at once, and bringing thee into the Dreamscape to make our bargain had not been an easy task either. ‘Tis a simple fact that I have reached my limits.” “So what now?” I waved emphatically. “Stalwart has been hurt and may be... be... And now I am lying on the floor unconscious, with who knows what happening!” I could very well have had my throat cut, and be lying on the floor slowly dying. All while I slept and my consciousness was in the Dreamscape. And that was but one of many terrible possibilities for what could be happening to me. There was not even anything I could do here. My magic was utterly exhausted, and my thoughts sluggish from fatigue. Corva stood slowly from her throne and descended the stairs as they crumbled and disappeared into nothing behind her. “I will do what I can to help thee once we recover. But for now, there is nothing. I need time to rest and regain my strength.” “And how long will that take?” I demanded as the bubble of reality around me broke apart. “As long as it must,” Corva said with damnable vagueness. “Time flows differently between here and the material world, and I am not like a simple pony who can recover their strength from a single night of rest. ‘Tis not what thou wouldst like to hear, but ‘tis the truth.” I knew not what to do as the rest of the world around us crumbled away save the section of stone we stood upon. I doubted Moonwatch had gone through so much trouble to ambush me just to leave me alone. So either I was as good as dead already, or I had been captured. Neither option appealed to me. “And what am I to do in the meantime?!” “Thou wilt simply have to find the answer to that thyself.” And before I could reply, Corva dissolved into a swarm of silver motes of light that disappeared into the surrounding darkness. All too soon what remained of the hall was embraced by oblivion, leaving me with nothing but darkness.