//------------------------------// // chapter 4 careful what you wish for (edited) // Story: Twisted history // by LordOfMemory //------------------------------// Chapter 4 Careful what you wish for Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic -- the characters and creations are the property rights of Hasbro, Inc. and the MLP: FiM writers, producers, etc. Crystal Empire mid-city Gleaming looked around her old apartment for what would most likely be the last time and felt oddly sad that she wouldn’t see the old place again. It had been her first real home since graduation and leaving the family that had raised her. The old place was full of memories from when she had gotten into collogue and had spent many a night a walking zombie working on thesis papers or that time during her graduation when the students had thrown a massive party in the building. There were still stains from that party littered around the building and even in her apartment that the building manager still hadn’t found a way to remove. As Gleaming packed she felt happy about the good memories she had built during her time here but it would soon be time for her to get back to her own time. (I’ll see them all again soon and while I enjoyed this interactive history lesson but I’m more than ready to start the process of getting back to my own time) “Bring it on world I’m ready for anything you can through at me!” Frozen north: Outer city border It had been a week since she had started her studies and she was currently very unhappy. “I swear the masters could have sent anyone to do this why by Faust do they have us out here?” Gleaming was shouting out her frustration as Sombra talked with the border patrol, checking up on the enchantments the arch-mages had set up as an early warning system. “Gleaming I know that you’re frustrated but we have a job to do and you’re not making things very easy. If there is even a single flaw or breakdown in the spell matrix then the guard will only know the empire is under attack when the enemy is in the city.” While Sombra knew the job they had been given was important even he was a bit miffed though this was more due to the cold of the frozen wastelands bordering the Northern section of empire acting as a natural barrier against the Umbra. “Look Gleaming we’re almost done so while I reinforce this sectors alarm system why don’t you go help repair and recharge the biosphere spell keeping this outpost livable for the border guard and give them this months supplies. I’m sure they’ll appreciate the help and supplies, especially with it coming from a pretty mare like you.” Sombra barely avoided impalement by icicle Gleaming had shot at him all the while maintaining a smirk of superiority. Watching his partner leave to help the border guards Sombra let out a sigh of relief. “Finally she’s gone now I can actually get some work done without hearing her complain all the time.” Going over the matrix of the alarm spell Sombra frowned as he noticed small but unnatural damage. (What could be doing this without setting off the alarms?) A shiver ran up Sombra’s spine as he felt conflicted about whether he should head back to the castle to warn the magic council of a possible security breach or head towards the next outpost to see how bad the breach was. As Sombra contemplated the mess he had found inside the barracks Gleaming was chatting up a storm with the guards and learning quite a bit about the empire that she didn’t know, like the fact that many of the guards put on border duty had been positioned there by the noble council. Apparently they didn’t like it when ponies they viewed as beneath them made them look stupid. “It’s been a while since we’ve actually seen any other creatures let alone another pony besides a new guard that’s been positioned here. Thank you for talking with old boring guards like us, usually it’s just some golems bringing supplies and they tend to be quite bad at communication.” Gleaming actually felt bad at how much she had complained about her assignment as she had come to learn about the guards stationed at the outpost and even befriending a few. (Wow this job must suck and yet they do it without any complaining because they know how important it is to the empire’s survival and here I was complaining about the cold) As Gleaming was about to apologize for her behavior she heard Sombra cursing outside. She and the guards rushed out to see an angry Sombra lying on his flank in the snow with shattered crystal all around him. “Sombra are you alright? We heard you shouting.” Sombra brushed off Gleaming’s concern as he got up to speak to the captain of the outpost. “Cir I need you to activate your beacon. After careful analysis and repair attempts I have discovered that the matrix of the alarm spells here have been damaged and tampered with. You need to warn the empire while my partner and I head for the next outpost to see if the other alarm spell is still functional.” The guards quickly rushed off to complete their jobs as they prepared for possible battle while sending off warnings to each outpost along the border and to the guards posted in the outer, mid and inner city of the empire. “Stay alert captain whoever did this is smart and powerful so be careful we need living soldiers not dead heroes.” The captain just nodded as he left to activate the outpost’s emergency beacon. Gleaming looked like she wanted to say something but was cut off as Sombra dragged her off heading for the next outpost. Needing to get to the next sector faster Sombra created to crystal golams to pull a cart provided by the guardsponies. It would cut their travel time down significantly, a journey that would have taken a few days to a few hours maybe at least a day. As the journey dragged on a bit Gleaming couldn’t hold back her frustration at Sombra’s total lack of communication and the lack of information he had given her. “Ok that enough I know you like to act all edgy and broody but I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on. Not to mention the fact that we will be working together quite often in the future so it seems like a good idea for us to get to know each other better so we can work together better." Sombra finally relented as he couldn't speed up the trip without risking not being in top magical shape if they found and had to confront the saboteur and honestly the annoying mare had worn him down. "Ok the problem is the fact that powerful dark magic was used to tamper with the alarm spell that fact alone isn't the problem. the problem is how controlled and calm the magic was. Dark magic is usually quite wild and parasitic even when cast by the most skilled unicorn mages." A look of worry and surprise grew on Gleaming's face as her own experiences with dark magic had shown her how volatile the stuff could be like it had a mind of its own. Recalling the time Twilight had told how a dark artifact had turned a show mare that wanted to show her up into a tyrant. "Do you think the Umbra are behind this? they are the only known creatures that can use dark magic without it corrupting them." "No, it didn't carry a signature that matched to Umbran magic." Gleaming deciding to continue chatting to pass the time decided to indulge in her curiosity of her fellow apprentices. "Say I've been wondering why you're the one that always comes on these check up missions? the guards say that you pop up like clockwork every three months." "I do this job because it gets me peace and quite and my magic is uniquely suited for it. My crystals can store and seal away dark magic and with some help even purifies things infected with dark magic. Anything else you would like to know Miss Shield?" "Firstly wow that's impressive no wonder you were made an apprentice. The ability to combat dark magic is highly regarded. Secondly i have been curios about something, I've been wondering why Chrysalis never leaves the castle." Sombra froze as if someone had dropped a bucket of water on him and looked at Gleaming as if she had grown a second head before a look of realization came on his face. "You really don't know don't you? Chrysalis is the illegitimate princess of the empire. The good old king couldn't keep it in the saddle before he kicked the bucket and sired her and because she has royal blood and a connection to the heart she can be seen as a rightful heir to the throne capable of challenging the princess rule. Also with the princess currently in dragon territory both the council of nobles and mages believe that she can be used to keep the hearts magic stable if anything happens to Princess Amore. Basically she's a back up plan with no idea she's a back up plan and neither council want's to risk any harm coming to her while they also want to see how they can use her. Don't go telling Chrysalis any of this its need to know information and she doesn't need to know yet not even the princess knows and if she ever found out a lot of heads are going to roll and I would prefer that my head stays attached to my neck thank you very much." Gleaming felt really bad for Chrysalis as she learned more about her fellow apprentice. It must be very lonely and frightening when all you knew was being a tool of convenience and not even know why she was being treated the way she was. (That poor mare, she doesn't deserve this just because of her blood. I'll find a way to make things easier for her I just need some time to think. …. Huh well what do you know this trip and its distance from the empire may have its advantages after all.) just as she was about to try and convince Sombra to help her out the crystal carriage broke apart and Sombra covered the duo in snow making a motion for her to stay silent and pointing towards a small gap in their cover. Standing in several metres away from them was non other than the spirit of chaos Discord laughing merrily as he messed around with what looked like the alarm spell while also pestering an Umbra he held contained in a tiny jar as if it were a toy. "Oh this is so much fun don't you think. Luna and Celestia are so boring when they play hide and seek so while i wait for them to get bored why don't we play a bit of war and watch to see which side wins." The umbra had a terrified look on its face as it knew even if his people won against the Empire both sides now had the attention of the chaos spirit.