//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: The Mark // Story: A Life, for A Life // by Zinnia //------------------------------// "Hey there Isaiah!" I lift my head from the table I sat at in the somewhat crowded lunch room. I always sat alone in the cafeteria, and I usually brought my own meals from Dunkin Doughnuts or from home. So it was in this moment when I heard and saw who called my name sitting down at the table next to me along with her group of friends, I was more confused than anything. I guess I was a bit curious too. "Oh, hey Mackea." I responded, raising an eyebrow. "What's up?" She giggled at my stupor, waving dismissively. "I just noticed that you seemed down in the dumps today so I thought I'd come over to cheer you up!" Mackea took a sip of her iced coffee before continuing. "I'd also like to get to know you better. So, wanna chat?" I chuckled, shaking my head. "Oh, that? I'm always like this. I appreciate the offer but.." I thought about it for a moment. Maybe I could at least give it a chance.. Making some friends wouldn't hurt I guess. "Actually, sure." I smiled. "Great!" Said one of her friends in one of the chairs across from me. "Oh, I'm Nick by the way." He held his hand out with a smile. I took it and shook Nick's hand respectfully, tightening my grip a bit. "Pleasure to meet you." "And I'm Winter." Winter didn't seem to be the type of guy to handshake, so I nodded instead. "It's nice to meet you all." ~ ~ ~ ~ > > < < ~ ~ ~ ~ The last period's bell rang and I was just going to follow my usual routine of walking straight home, maybe take a nap or jump online for some gaming. I didn't really care all that much about Homework, I still got B's and even some A's even if I missed a weeks worth of it. Besides, I did most of it during class anyway and they don't seem to care. "Isaiah!" As I headed out the door I heard someone call my name. I look up to see Mackea again, along with Nick and Winter. I waved to them in acknowledgement. "Hey guys." I replied. "What's up?" Mackea smiled warmly. "------------, ----, right Winter?" I blinked, confused. "Erm, I'm sorry? Could you say that again?" "This isn't right. This isn't how we met." Mackea's voice echoed this time, shaking the very earth beneath us. I turned around as the school building started to crack and and debris started to fall as the structure came tumbling down, screaming filling the area as students ran out as fast as they could. Turning back, I started to run myself. "Guys! Let's get-" I looked around quickly, puzzled. But I already started running. They were no where to be found. The ground started to tremble more and more, and this time my head was hit with this sharp, immense amount of pain like I was being shot through the skull. I fell to the ground, crying out in pain, bringing my hands up in a vain attempt to ease the onslaught of trauma. And in an instant, it all stopped. The screaming, the rumbling, the pain, all of it. I opened my eyes, only to be greeted with an empty black void. "Oh, well well well." I stood up instantly, looking for the source of the voice as it seemed to come from all directions. "Who's there!?" "Hm.. interesting. You seem to be in quite the pickle." It continued. "Nearly all of your memories are blocked off from you, and you even have some false ones in there." "How.. how do you know that?" I asked. Curiosity replaced fear and panic, for the moment. "What I saw just now.. that.. that never happened?" The voice stayed silent for a few moments, but it felt like an eternity. "Well, it's complicated. those events did happen yes, but not in that order nor circumstance." My eyes widened. "D-Does that mean you-" "No, I cannot see the rest of your memories, nor can I help you get them back. I can only tell from the ones which you've uncovered and the one just now, which didn't actually happen." I let out a disappointed sigh, scratching my head. "Okay.. so who are you?" The voice chuckled, before a dim red circle of light appeared before me. It grew brighter and bigger, so much so that I had to cover my eyes. Once the light subsided, I looked again and saw that where the light once was, now stood a man. A very short man, in a black and red suit and tie. He was a very dark skin, darker than my complexion. With the look, he had a cane with a floating red jewel on top as well as a monocle. "I'm the owner of this fine establishment, The names P¿TJ!$!" He said, the last part distorted. "But you can just call me Peter. And you, my friend, have made an excellent choice. Now then, the terms of-" "Woah woah woah," I interrupted, confused. "What choice did I agree to?" "You see Zale- I can call you Zale right?" I nodded. "Righto. So you see, I'm sure that princess that's accompanying you already explained this briefly, but the moment you made contact with my grimoire, you signed a pact with yours truly!" "..Okay." I wasn't exactly sure how to respond to that. "So.. about those terms?" "Ah, right! As I was saying, the terms of a pact with me consist of our souls being bound for as long as you live, We don't keep secrets from each other, well, not like that one really holds much water since I can read your mind, but details. Once My magic reserves are dry, It requires either your life force or the life force of another being to be recharged. It can also charge overtime by passively taking in your lifeforce, but I wouldn't recommend that if you're in a bit of a pinch." "May I ask what kind of magic I'm dealing with here?" I asked curiously. "What would I be able to do?" A smirk spread across Peter's face. "The most fun kind, dark magic." With a twirl of his cane, a red teacup appeared that glowed ominously, and the black nothingness around us changed to some kind of.. dinning room. a simple round table between the two of us, and he was in a chair. I turned around and sat in a seat across from him. "My specialty is conjuration and illusion. However, you can use other forms of magic given you learn any from a given school, except life and solar magic. That also includes healing." Peter scratched at his chin with a hum. “You can't do healing spells with magic, but rather you can transfer the lifeforce from one entity to another, including your own if you so desire. However, healing magic will not work on you from others unless it's of the same kind." I contemplated for a few moments. "..Well, since I already touched your book I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Peter gave me a smug look. "I like the way you think. You'll do just fine." I sighed, crossing my arms. "Alright, fine." After taking one final sip from his teacup, Peter set it aside and held out his hand. I took it. ~ ~ ~ ~ > > < < ~ ~ ~ ~ "Thank you so much for your help Mr. Weld." Twilight said, nodding. She folded the map and put it under her wing. "No problem lass, it's about time we did something about these disappearances anyhow." Jack put a hoof up to his chin, looking skeptical. "I find it a wee bit strange that this whole situation hasn't been brought to light yet by the guard, I'm sure there must've been reports from several dozen ponies by now.. Bah." Jack turned around, walking back in the direction of the front desk. "You know where to find me if ya need anything else." "Will do!" Twilight responded, closing the door with a soft click. Twilight made her way to the sofa, and she sank into the couch with a tired sigh. Jack went over the details on the map with her for about an hour, going through every detail. She mapped out a promising route that led near the top of the mountain, and she also devised a plan if they ever got separated. It was around sunset now, the sun coming closer to the horizon, hidden behind the tall mountain. Everything was going surprisingly well. They knew where to go, she had a plan and a backup plan, everything is going smoothly. Except.. now Twilight had to worry about Zale and that Grimoire he accidentally made a pact with. Dark magic is nothing to be trifled with, and who knew what effects it could have on him. Actually, she knew all too well, dealing with it in the past. Trixie and the alicorn amulet, Nightmare Moon and Nightmare Rarity, yet another cursed book with dark magic Spike picked up from the castle of the two sisters, Sunset shimmer's transformation and a whole other mess of things.. Dark magic messed with people, it changed them for the worst. Nothing good can come from it. She had to prevent him from using it at all costs.