//------------------------------// // Equivalent Exchange // Story: Crystal Horned Alicorn // by DeltaPow //------------------------------// Chapter 15: Equivalent Exchange "Delta, Delta, Delta..." A voice rang in his room awaking him from his sleep looking around to see where the voice was coming form. It was dark in his large bedroom and the sound of rain dripped outside. "Delta...Pow... How you become the 4th... Your challenge awaits..." It was a male voice but it was echoing. "Who are you?" I asked. "Let me see... You can call me your dark-side.. and you know what that means." He said showing himself... he looked like Ethan Pow, humanoid but he was wearing a black full jacket with gold trimmings, and having black hair showing a large smile. "Dark side huh, I thought you where defeated long ago..." I glared at this fake mock up of the original. "Well, I wasn't defeated, I was just there always... Ethan always keep a balance of not being too good nor too evil... but you Delta, you gotten too perfect for my testes. A castle for you, loved by all the ponies you meet. It sickens me... Exodus knows how to have a good time, and shows how far weak you have become." He mocked me.. I charged but he just simplify evaded causing me to crash into the wall behind him. "Grah..." I grunted. "There we go, some anger... but you too far gone to be worthy of any title, trash rat..." Dark Pow stated kicked me on the ground. "I bet that you can hurt a fly." He started laughing. "Prince are you OK?" Some guard rushed in. "I think I overstayed my welcome." He crushed and jumped out the window, disappearing as he fell with his laughter echoing. My pride damaged, the guard came over to see if I was alright. "I am ok... Just my pride." I got up with some anger, I sighed with a thought, 'How can this get any worse' 6 Hours later there was a search for the culprit even in my objection. Steel Grid and many other guards where sent to other towns and as well Canterlot to inform of this. "Who was he?" Twilight asked me. "He claimed to be my Dark side..." I answered, "He believes I am too weak and wants to challenge me." "You are not weak, you already proved that..." Twilight stated. "Fighting exodus?, I didn't defeat him... not without the original's help." I interjected with my head lowered. "Who is this Original, Ethan?, You hardly said much about him." Twilight asked. "He is the real Ethan Pow, I am the 4th clone of him, IE Delta Pow... I been getting too comfortable." I exclaimed. "He will win, I am not a leader... not without the help of the original..." Twilight slapped me with her hoof, which hurt. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE, you been a wonderful friend and been a good leader for those that you have lead... placing yourself at risk over and over... how DARE you say that your worthless... I will be in the library when you come to your senses." Twilight angrily left the room. I started to shed tears as I laid down where I was. She was right, but Dark Pow as right as well. I will have to face him again. I started to think, I am not as powerful as Ethan is... If he is my dark side... why is he just like him. "You missed me... ahhh are you crying that I was gone... that so sweet..." Dark Pow has returned. "Why you..." I got up and took a stance. "I forgot something when I first came here... your crystal horn of yours... I think its time for some equivalent exchange.. you had magic to help you... its time that you lived without it for now." He stated as he reached out, I tried to jump back but I was grabbed and binded with some type of telekinesis I tried to get free but grabbed me as my sight went black I still could feel and kept on fighting him. "LET ME GO." I stated as I broke free and Dark Pow and pushed back. "what the... hah, I did what I needed to do... try and fight me now Pegasus Delta..." With that he vanished. I looked and saw that my horn was gone... "OH NOOOOO!" I was horrified... 'what did he do?!' I shouted in my mind. As Twilight ran back in... "What happened?!" Exclaimed Twilight. "He returned to do what he wanted to do...its not there..." I felt all over my head and it was truly gone. "He turned you into a Pegasus... How did he do that." Twilight was wondering. "I dunno..." I stated, 'Forced Transformation?, he is as powerful as the original to do that to me.. I am fighting something that can't be handled by myself.' Thinking to myself... "Well.. I do know what he did... he is as powerful as the original and can keep me form doing something he could... I can't defeat him myself..." "Your a Prince, you don't need to do on your own. Magic is also in friendship." Twilight informed me. "Then I will need your help... now than ever... you don't know how scared I am right now." I said hugging her, I had tears coming out of my eyes. She smiled, "Hey, You know you can always ask for our help.." "I never wanted to place any pony at risk. I didn't want them to get hurt... not my friends, not my subjects or any thing." I stated. It wasn't long til a few guards entered the room, and saw that was missing my crystal horn. After explaining, I went with Twilight to ponyville to round up rest of the gang, we where going to fight Dark Pow together. "Yer my friend, I gladly help, I still owe ya for helping on the farm before." Applejack accepted. "Who does this Dark Side dude think he is, messing with you... he messed with best flyer in Equestria!" Rainbow Dash Accepted. "It a crime against Fashion what he did, that crystal horn was a marvel in the eyes of those that seek true enlightenment in beauty. This Lady will assist." Rarity accepted. "There is no reason why he should have done what he did... it makes me so angry... I want to scream... ahhhhhh..." Fluttershy said, trying to yell. "You ok?" I asked. "No I am not ok, not until he gives back what he has stolen." Fluttershy accepted. "Its not fun what he did to you, I will bring a extra surprise in party cannon just for him... It will be a strong buck of a surprise." Pinkie Pie Accepted "Thank you all..." I told them as spike poked me. "I want to help!" He said sternly. "Spike, its going to be dangerous... you should stay here where its safe." Twilight told spike. "Safetly in numbers!" Spike interjected. "Well spike, I need you to watch my castle for me... and my hidden stash of rare gems... that I keep under the throne chair." I said rubbing my chin. "What?" Spike was interested in what I just said. "Ya, if you go with us... who can I trust to guard them and make sure they don't go into evil hands... well I better want them eaten before that happens." I said to myself loudly so spike could hear. "Well.. I will stay... the castle needs someone to make sure those guards don't do something..." Spike said trying to withdraw his statement without trying to show that he just wants the gems. I went to his ear, "Go to them... they are waiting for you..." with that he spirited to the castle getting into the hot air balloon and going to the castle. "You know those gems will be gone by the time we get back." Twilight added. "I know, its a price to pay to make sure he is safe." I said, "We better find Dark Pow." We set out, heading to canterlot and informing the princess Celestia and Luna of this change of events. "What do you think the Princess will react to the event?" Twilight asked me as we are taking the train to canterlot. "I don't think she will like that idea that we are seeking out Dark Pow... I don't think we will be able to handle it." I said. With that, I was on the money on that guess. "I forbid it!" Celestia demanded. "Celestia..." I interjected. "He took away your powers, what will he do if you fight him again!" She interrupted. "He is after me, he wants me alive... If we don't give him what he wants, he is a dark side of me and there are things he could do that makes discord seem like a cute kitten... Don't stop us... Or he will cause more turmoil than what anyone of us will imagine." I informed here. "What will he do?" Luna asked. "If he gets too bored he would send the moon crashing down on equestira." I seriously stated as the room went silent for a minute. "Or..." Everyone listened, "He would force the world we stand on straight into the sun." "You would be a fool not listening to him..." Dark Pow stated laying on a pillar, "I wouldn't hesitate to do those things if I don't get to play with my greatest pal in the world" He smiled at me, "Anything you do won't matter to me." "And you taking a risk coming here and showing yourself." Celestia stated. "Don't Flatter yourself, I came here out of the little good faith I have, attack me and I will attack back... I wonder how Canterlot would look like Swiss cheese." He stated as Celestia stoud by not acting, "Good, we have a understanding, as long Delta or should I say your prince come and fight me in the crystal mountains in a week's time.. If he does this, I won't get bored." Celestia could only glare at him. "How do I know you won't get bored during the week." I asked. "I dunno, I might take up a hobby for that time... maybe reanimating the dead maybe..." Dark Pow stated pausing, "You think I would do that? I won't do anything to any pony in Equestria.. I promise as long you get there before the week is up." "Those are hollow words..." I glared at him. "Aww come on, I might be dark but I am still part of the original Delta... have some faith." He stated to me. "Faith that would be misplaced." I stated. "Well its that or crashing moon or boiling the planet... take your pick Delta?" He smiled asking. "Very well Dark, I will be at the Crystal Mountains in a weeks time, STARTING TOMORROW. No harming creatures, no causing mass mayhem, no destroy the natural order of this world." I stated. "Aww I can't I have some fun." Dark Pow stated. "AND!" I stated. "What more." Dark Pow stated. "The Original will be arriving to fix things anyway... So no inter-realm transfers.. You know he would rip you anyway if you did that." I stated. "Well, no promises... I know that he wouldn't mind my fun... Or you hoping to make it harder to fight... oh you smooth devil you... but no... take what you can get." Dark Pow turned around and left though a distortion. "See you in 7 Days and 12 hours Trash Rat." "Why did you give us a extra day?" Twilight asked. "The armor, He wouldn't see it coming." I stated, "He would be expecting me... and I believe you would have enforced it by now. Also it gives us time to bring... every pony... he threatened not only Equestria but the whole world." I stated. "Hes right sister." Luna stated. "I know... and good thing we prepared for this. Ethan Pow err I mean the original talked to me directly about this... he came back to see me... he warned me that something like this might happen.. the armor has been modified to be more powerful..." Celestia stated. "Your ability to keep a poker face amazes me... Steel grid told me you had one... wait a moment Ethan went to meet with you?" I asked surprised. "He came with a some flowers.. He wanted me to keep quiet about it unless something happened. I got to say, he was quite a character... He gave me some knowledge that would be illegal if I heard it from any other drakeal then Equestria would be a grave risk. I was able to adapt the armor that it wouldn't be harmed and its naturally linked to him when its placed on." Celestia stated. "Wait a moment sister... that boyfriend stallion." Luna stated. "Just a cover up to keep it under raps.." Celestia stated, "We knew you where spying on us." Luna just turned her head, "I dunno what your talking about." stated as she was blushing. "Anyway, It seems that the light side of him is in you." Celestia stated to me. "Really?... oh dear..." I stated with a face hoof. "What?" Every pony else asked. "The Light side of the original is a she, and its not her personalty.. its more that she wants to protect in a way that will keep both of them fighting unless the scale is tip in their favor. The aftershock would cause problems in the long run." I stated. "But I hardly think that be a issue, He told me she would be more helpful than you think." Celestia stated. "Lets head and show you the armor." It wasn't long til we saw the armor, It was a ponified version of the drakeal elite armor, which was the same but the armor covered the head, and it had crystal trimmings and it was mostly black. "Soo...awesome." My eyes wided "This is the original's handy work alright." We got the armor on me and it was working perfectly, even had armor that covered my wings but it was like a latex weight but felt like a metal. 'So your ready to go Delta?' Thoughts came into my head. 'Is that you?' I asked. 'Yes its me Santa Clause..' He joked, it was clearly the original. 'Very funny... well it seems...' I stated to inform him. 'He didn't take away your horn... well you will find out... you need to get used to that armor.' He stated as it started up, and I was able to see whats around me with some overlay of details of the area. "Well, I am ready to see if this is the real deal... I am sorry rainbow dash... but I might be taking your title of fastest flyer..." I stated as I took out isntantly into the sky almost into orbit within a few seconds. 'I think your showboating a little bit.' Original stated. 'Its better to see if this is real deal... If I can't survive in space... its not the real thing that I am made to believe.' I thought back. I started to return back to the ground, started to get the burning in re-entry, but I felt no heat harming me in anyway, and the armor was saying it was within acceptable tolerances. I smiled that this was really what a elite drakeal would wear. 'Its going to hurt if you don't slow down.' Original stated. 'I don't need to slow down... I need to go faster.' I stated. 'I didn't make that armor for you just to get yourself smashed into the ground with it.' Original stated grumply. 'Just watch... you might like it.' I thought to him as I spread my wings slightly to get a angle as I accelerated so fast that I going to crash into the ground in a few seconds... but before I was going to crash I turned and with the moment of instantly turning it generated a ring pulse of shining white over the night sky. 'Ok, I give you that one Delta... Just don't scare me again. Also I make sure you can shapeshift in that suit... but you are limited to a equivalent exchange of mass... no smaller and no bigger either.' He stated. 'You really want me to change at this speed.' I asked. 'Yep' He answered. With that, I thought of my dragon form and took focus on that... with a few moments my body was adapting to that form. 'Ohhhh dragon... nice one.' He stated. But I lost focus and I reverted back to a pony and lost balance flying and crashed into the ground. Breaking many trees and some rocks... but I got up... the armor got damaged form that. 'Thanks, now the armor needs repairs...' I stated. 'What repairs.' He stated as the armor repaired itself. 'I thought advanced nano tech at this level was banned.' I stated in confusion. 'I am not a Executor for nothing Delta.' He reminded me. 'I thought it allowed you to do anything like sleeping anytime of the day, meet new people, go whereever you like and get laid anyday of the week.' I thought back. 'That too.' He agreed. '..by the way... do you think Light Pow will be a good idea?' I asked. 'Ya, Dark hates it when she is there. Yin and Yang, Good and bad, Ponies and Humans... you need both to balance the void.' He stated. I got up and flew to Canterlot, rainbow dash was still frozen stiff form awesome. "No end of surprises do ya partner?" Applejack asked. "He went into space..." Rainbow Dash stated. "It was most divine, that dark pow won't know what hit him." Rarity stated. "Burning flame of glory..." Rainbow Dash continued. "That was a blast..." Pinkie Pie smiled. "Went max speed... crazy fast..." Rainbow Dash continued. "And did a Cosmic Boom..." Rainbow Dash stated. Opening a port in the armor and asked, "Rainbow Dash are you going to be alright." "Alright... I just saw the most amazing thing in my life done by a Pegasus... I am overwhelmed by awesome... I will be ok... in a few hours." She stated. 'I think you broke her Delta.' Original stated to me. 'Say to Celestia I said hi.' We are going to be ready for Dark Pow.