Internal Darkness

by Silver Sorcerer


Chapter 41

Disclaimer: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and all associated characters, settings and stories are the rightful subjects of Hasbro, the HUB, Studio B, and Lauren Faust.

Chapter 41

Rainbow banged senselessly against the door, putting everything she had to try and break it down.

"Dashie, stop it already," said Applejack as she put a hoof on her shoulders.

"What do mean stop?" Rainbow shrugged off Applejack's tenderness. "Twilight and her brother are alone fighting a madpony! You're not going to just leave them, are you?"

"'Course not. All Ah'm sayin' is that ya' stand aside so Ah can break that door down."

"Oh, sorry," apologized Rainbow and moved out of the way. Applejack approached the door, stretched out her back hooves, and gave one of her signature bucks to the door. It shook violently but remained firm. Applejack decided to try again, continuing to buck the door, which only minimally responded to her attacks.

Rainbow saw Applejack's lack of success and began banging away at the door as well. They put everything they had to try and get in, but the magic was just too strong. The door would not break or even budge. Then they heard a scream behind them which made all of them jump.

Spinning around they saw Rarity letting out a scream as Magicon stood in the center of the group. He glared at all of them and they returned it with mixed glares and faces of shock. They all wanted to take action against him, but nopony took the initiative. They just stood there while he began speaking.

"Let's finish this," he hissed and cast a spell directly at Cadance. She screamed and ducked, the spell crashing into the wall directly behind her. But Magicon didn't waste a second, already preparing a second spell for the alicorn princess, determined to kill her or at least make her suffer in the worst possible way. But he didn't get the chance to have a clear shot at Cadance as the rest of the girls sprang into action dodging Magicon's spells, protecting Cadance, and entering battle mode to stop Magicon.

Fluttershy dodged for cover, trying to avoid Magicon's blasts while Pinkie jumped around as if this was nothing more than target practice. Rainbow made use of the higher ceilings of the hallway and made repeated short dives at Magicon who dodged them or cast a shield that knocked Rainbow out of her flight path, crashing her against the walls.

Rarity did what she could with her simple but intricate spells while Cadance began shooting her own spells at Magicon. Applejack attempted to catch the unicorn off-guard, but found the task impossible. His senses were just too heightened for any successful sneak attack.

Spells flew, loud bangs and crashes filled the air, and smoke and dust limited everypony's vision. Using this Magicon decided to put his unique spell to work. With one swift motion he turned into his newly-created mist and wormed his way over to Cadance.

Magicon's sudden disappearance baffled everypony.

"Where'd he go?" Rainbow asked.

"No idea," answered Rarity.

"We'll find him," said Pinkie. "He's here somewhere, I can feel it."

"You're Pinkie sense is quite good, Pinkie Pie," Magicon stated appearing right behind Cadance and grabbing her in his hooves.

She screamed and tried to escape, but Magicon restrained her with firm hooves against her neck. Her breathing was curtailed because of him. He held her life in his hooves. Everypony froze, fearing that the slightest movement would send Magicon over the edge and Cadance to the point of no return.

"Now, listen to me very carefully, if you make another move against me, I'll kill Cadance with one simple spell. We wouldn't want that now, would we?"

"You wouldn't dare," hissed Rainbow, glaring at the unicorn.

"You want to prove that?" he asked with a grin, pressing his hooves in further. Cadance began emitting chocking sounds as she desperately fought for more air.

"Alright, alright. Stop it!" begged Applejack. Magicon did so, but kept his hooves firmly planted on her neck.

"Now that's better," he maliciously smiled.

"What do you want?" Rarity asked, as if she knew what to do in a hostage situation.

"I want this coup to end right now. All of you are going to return to your posts and pretend like none of this ever happened. Rainbow, I will pardon you and allow you to return to the guard. If you decide not to follow this course, consider this the end of the line for dear Cadance."

The mares looked at each other, worried and confused expressions on their faces. Was it worth agreeing to this? Where was Twilight? Where was Shining? Where was Fluttershy? While the girls looked each other and at Magicon, nopony noticed the silent mare creeping up behind Magicon carrying a needle in her mouth.

"Ah!" screamed Magicon as the sharp pain of the needle dug into his coat. He managed to turn around and see Fluttershy, with a saddened face, administer the last drops of the drug into him.

He struggled to fight it and hurt Fluttershy but the effects of the drug were fast. He was out and collapsed on the ground in less than thirty seconds, freeing Cadance and the girls from their terrible fates.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but thank you, Fluttershy," thanked Rainbow.

"Please, no compliments. I don't feel any good in doing this."

"You did the right thing and that's what counts," Rarity stated as she helped calm Cadance down. The rest of the girls surrounded Magicon's unconscious form, a quiet breathing emulating from his muzzle.

"So, what now?" Pinkie asked.

As if on cue the bedroom door was blasted open behind them with Twilight and Shining running out. They didn't run far though, seeing the scene before them.

"How did-"

"Fluttershy."

"Fluttershy?"

"Eeyup."

"Well, then, I guess this settles everything," said Shining. "Is everypony alright?"

They all nodded; even Cadance looked at him and gave him a small smile.

"What now?" Fluttershy asked.

"I think it's time we have Magicon answer for his crimes. The time for justice has come."

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Magicon awoke slowly. It wasn't the first time he had awakened like this; but it certainly wasn't pleasant. As his senses became active and attentive, he observed the world around him.

He was sitting upright in a chair, all four of his hooves restrained to the arms and legs of the chair. He felt a large and heavy metallic object on his horn, no doubt the same thing that had prevented Shining from using his magic in the dungeons. He looked around the room.

Though dimly lit, he could see he wasn't in the palace anymore. He was in a cave of some sort. A few lanterns hung from the walls, their glow reflecting off the smooth surfaces of the rocks and gems inside the cave.

His mouth had not been restrained and he was quick to call for 'Help'. Yet, he doubted anypony would hear him. Even if they did, what were the chances they would even find him given that Twilight and her friends were somewhere nearby?

"Damn they all," he cussed. "They shall all die for this. I'll see to that."

"After we'll see the truth from you," replied a stallion's voice.

Shining Armor appeared in the light and walked up to Magicon. Magicon was hesitant to raise his eyes to meet the stallion's gaze. Yet he couldn't resist. He raised his head and their eyes met, seeing each others bitterness and hatred.

"Now you know what it was like for me. For months I was like this. For months I suffered this fate, not knowing what was happening up above. For months I was your prisoner. Now you're mine."

"I am nopony's prisoner," Magicon hissed.

"Then free yourself."

Magicon took that as a direct threat and did what he could to try and wiggle out of the chains binding holding him. Nothing worked and he couldn't use his magic. He was at Shining's mercy.

"Let me go you heartless bastard!"

"No, you have crimes to answer for, you heartless bastard."

"I admit nothing!"

"You don't have to. We know everything," said a mare's voice behind Shining. Cadance walked into the picture, a face full of resolution. Magicon simply glared at her and her husband.

"I know what happened between you and my husband, Magicon, and I forgive him for it. But forgiving you for everything you've done to me, my husband, and my friends will not be possible."

"I don't need your forgiveness. I'm not sorry for anything I did!"

"Are you really that heartless?"

"Not heartless, soulless."

"Yes, you sold your soul to Red-Blood, just like the ponies before you. How's that fairing?" Shining asked sarcastically.

"That's none of your concern!"

"Then I take it that book no longer serves you."

"You know nothing of that book!"

"But I do," said another mares voice, sending a chill down Magicon's spine that he could not hide on his face. Shining Armor and Cadance saw the fear take hold of Magicon's face. They would see this through, not for the sake of themselves, but for Twilight's sake. She was hurt too and she needed to resolve this the way she saw fit. They would support her. They always did.

Then Twilight appeared alongside her brother and Cadance. Unlike the other two, her eyes still showed compassion and mercy. Magicon simply watched her with cold eyes, trying to ignore the chill coursing through him.

"I read that book, or at least most of it," continued Twilight. "I have no idea what it must be like for you, but I know wasn't pretty. Magicon, I beg you, stop what you're doing. Stop hurting ponies and destroying Equestria. You can choose to end it, please."

"Hurting Ponies? Destroying Equestria? I'm saving it for pony's sake!"

"Then why did your Royal Guard so easily rise up against you?"

"Because you turned them against me! Shining and Rainbow knew how to manipulate them and use them to overthrow me! I had to remove them! They were traitors anyway!"

"No, Magicon," rebutted Shining. "You turned them against yourself. Your cruelty hasn't been seen in Equestria in over a millennium."

"I was never cruel! I was teaching them a lesson!"

"By killing them?"

"If that's what it takes, then so be it."

Shining walked up to Magicon, stared down at him, and smacked him across the face. Magicon took it full force, his head whiplashing to his side and his mane flying in front of his face. He slowly turned his head and disheveled mane back to the three, a growing and menacing smile on his face.

"Is that why you brought me down here? To abuse me? To torture me? Well, consider it a waste of your time. I won't give in so easily."

"That's not why we brought you down here," Cadance stated. "We just want to know why. Why did you do everything you did? Why did you manipulate me? Why did you ruin my husband? Why did you punish Twilight? Why, Magicon, why?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you. You already know the answers to those questions anyway."

"Probably, but we want the answers from you," Twilight stated. "Let's start at the beginning, why did you kill Princesses Celestia and Luna?"

"I maintain my silence."

"You better tell us," warned Shining.

"Or what? You'll torture me? None of you have it in you. You have no evil. You are all weak with your moral consciouses!"

"You're wrong, Magicon," retorted Cadance. "We're stronger than you because we do have morals and have consciouses. We know right from wrong and know how to treat everypony with the respect they deserve, unlike you."

"You're so bent on controlling everypony and their actions that you lose the fundamental elements that Equestria was built on," added Shining.

"And what is that? Oh, pray do tell," Magicon asked sarcastically.

"Trust and Friendship," answered Twilight.

"Ha! Don't make me laugh. Trust is for fools like yourselves! And friendship only weakens the soul! It only makes a pony rely more on others. It destroys independence and freedom on the individual!"

"No, Magicon, you're wrong. Trust and Friendship build healthy relationships that teach you how to love, tolerate, and learn. Without my friends, I wouldn't be the pony I am today."

"And what kind of pony is that? Oh, wait, allow me to answer that, a weak and pathetic one."

"Don't you dare call my sister weak and pathetic you disgusting piece of shit!" Shining yelled.

"Oh, am I upsetting the always calm and collected Captain? Oh, do I need to take you to bedroom to calm you down?" Magicon teased.

The comment crossed an invisible line. Cadance took a few steps backwards and Twilight made numerous glances between Magicon and her brother. As for Shining, he glared at Magicon his temper rising and his eyes containing growing fires.

He dug into the ground with his front hooves, ready to charge, but Twilight jumped in front of him and put her hooves to his face. In her eyes, she begged for him not to satisfy Magicon. He met them and saw her compassion and pleading and backed down, with a loud breath.

"We need to talk, alone," Twilight whispered to her brother and gestured for Cadance to follow. As they walked out of the light, Shining made one final glance at Magicon. He remained motionless, wearing his menacing smile as the three left him alone in the dim lights.

"Well, well, look at what we have here," said a mares voice behind Magicon. He couldn't turn around to see who it was, but he didn't have to. He knew the mare all too well. His smile faded as her white body soon appeared around besides Magicon chair with a darker one on the other side.

"Hello, Magicon," greeted Celestia.

"Nice to see you again," added Luna.

Magicon didn't respond, eyeing both of them as they snaked past his chair and stood in front of him.

"Aren't you happy to see us?' Celestia asked innocently.

"If you aren't, then you should be. After all, you're a good and nice pony," added Luna.

"What do you want from me?" Magicon asked.

"Why, what could we possibly want from you?" Celestia asked as she spread her wings, took flight, and began circling above Magicon.

"I don't know. I never thought like either of you."

"Actually, you have ruled much like my sister before my banishment."

"What are you talking about?"

"I think you know exactly what she's talking about," Celestia stated as she continued circling.

"What, my so-called cruelty and manipulation? I had real reasons to do it."

"Yes, to control everypony around you so you could remain on the throne for your life," answered Luna.

"My cruelty was never for your reasons, but I was still cruel," Celestia admitted. "But unlike you, I learned and found my heart and soul. I became compassionate, loving, and a hero to all Equestrians. Magicon, you are no hero."

"You're right, Celestia. I'm no hero, I am a legend. My name will always be remembered for the good I did to Equestria."

"Perhaps that'll be true," suggested Luna. "But you must realize that you're name will be remembered for the evil that you have become. When ponies will speak of you, they won't be talking about your reforms or industrialization or even your raising of the sun and moon. They'll be talking about your cruelty and your lack of mercy to everypony."

"Oh, I beg to differ."

"You must realize you've done some terrible things," Celestia said.

"Terrible is in the eye of the beholder."

"Unfortunately, you're in the minority if you think your actions spelled good things for Equestria," regretted Luna.

"Minority or majority doesn't matter to me. I am the Prince of Equestria. I can do whatever I want whenever I want."

"So we've seen," murmured Celestia as she landed next to her sister.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Do we have to explain everything to you, Magicon? I thought you were a smart and intelligent pony."

"Insult me all you like. You can't harm me."

"No, but you can harm yourself," warned Luna.

"I am not suicidal."

"But you are quite insane," remarked Celestia.

"I am not insane."

"How would you know if you were insane?" asked Luna.

"I don't know! I'm not a psychologist!"

"How would you know if you weren't insane?" asked Celestia.

"Again, I don't know!"

"So by that logic, that means that you have no idea or sense of your insanity."

"What?"

"What my sister is saying is that once you've gone insane, you never go back," reiterated Luna.

"What?...uh…" Magicon shook his head to try and understand what they were saying. It didn't make sense to him. Was he insane? How could he tell? Was there a way to tell? What was real anymore? What was the truth? What wasn't?

Magicon had no answers and he felt an intense headache coming upon him as he thought and tried to answer the questions. But he couldn't find an answer, either inside his brain or outside his body. They just weren't there and it made no sense to him.

"I've always been able to answer questions and overcome difficulties, but now why can't I? Why is the sky blue? What is the color of this floor? Is that a wooden door I see? Ah! Magicon, stop it, stop it, stop it!"

He banged his head against the back of his chair to shut himself up and to stop thinking. It somehow worked and Magicon raised his head to see a dark and lonely cave around him. The princesses had left, though Magicon was sure they would be back. They always come back. After all, they still lived. Somehow, they had managed to live.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Let me at him, Twilight," Shining stated with anger in his voice.

"No, Shining. It will only end badly for you and for Magicon."

"How can you take his side after what he's done to you?"

"I'm not taking his side. I'm looking out for you. You're much too weak to fight Magicon and he's becoming too unstable to fight."

"Twilight's right, Shining," Cadance added. "Magicon is slipping. If we let you at him, nopony knows how far he'd go to not only stop you but hurt you."

"But he has to pay for what he's done to us and Equestria!"

"And he will. He will pay, but fighting him now is worthless. We need to wear him down. He's already starting to crack. Once he cracks we can ensure that justice is done to him."

"Not ta interrupt or nothin' but what does that 'xactly mean?" Applejack interjected. The three had joined the rest of the girls after leaving Magicon to talk and all had different ideas about how to deal with Magicon. Figuring out which was the right one was the difficult task before them. They had Magicon, now all that remained was what to do with him.

"A lot of things," Twilight answered.

"That's not a very specific answer," commented Rarity.

"Well, what do you want me to say? We never agreed on how we were going to stop him."

"I say kill him," Rainbow said coldly.

"I completely object," said Fluttershy loudly and quickly, catching everypony's attention. "Nopony, no matter how bad they are, deserves death."

"I have to agree with Fluttershy," added Pinkie. "But he can't go free. He has to be punished in some way."

"Well, then, what do we do?" asked Applejack.

"Lock him in prison?" Rarity suggested.

"If Twilight and I can break out of that prison, so can Magicon," warned Shining.

"Is there another place where we can put him?" asked Rainbow.

Shining shook his head. "Unfortunately, the palace dungeons and the Canterlot prison are the only ones that would even be able to hold ponies like Magicon. Everything and everywhere else is too weak."

"What about banishment?" Cadance suggested.

"That might actually work," added Pinkie.

"But how would we enforce it?" Fluttershy asked.

"We could chain him to something in a distant land," Rarity suggested.

"Twilight, is there a way we can remove the magic from a pony?" Applejack asked, seeing some of the wisdom in Rarity's idea.

Twilight put a hoof to her chin in contemplation and said, "I suppose. I never really looked into it. After all, what normal pony would use dark magic or magic for dangerous ponies?"

"Well, we have one now," Rainbow stated. "You better get on that."

Twilight nodded and a silence fell on the group that was only broken by Fluttershy's small voice.

"Umm….I hope I'm not interrupting but, why can't we just be kind to Magicon. Show him some love and maybe he'll change."

"Fluttershy, you can't just go around being kind to everypony expecting them to magically be nice and friendly like you for the rest of their lives," Rainbow commented. "Magicon isn't an animal, well he is, but that's beside the point."

"Yeah, the point is that he's just too dangerous," Pinkie finalized.

"I just don't feel comfortable with us hurting him," Fluttershy stated.

"It's for the best, Fluttershy," Rarity stated.

"He hurt us, all of us, and he's going to continue to hurt others unless we do something," Shining warned. "He killed our princesses, locked me and Twilight up, forced you all into new lives that you didn't want to lead, abused his power, hexed Cadance, and tortured and killed numerous guardspony's. We can't just ignore it or forgive him for what he did. It's time for him to pay."

"But we still haven't come to a conclusion," retorted Cadance.

"Why? We were able to work together effectively to capture him," Pinkie asked.

"Ah guess we never thought we would get this far," remarked Applejack.

"Well, now we have and we need to do something," Rainbow stated. "The longer we wait, the longer Magicon has time to plan and prepare for us."

"Rainbow's right," commented Twilight. "We need to work fast and we're getting nowhere with this. I think I have an idea that might work, but I need to do some research. I need to go."

"Twilly, you can't possible go now," Shining remarked

"Yeah, we need ya', sugarcube," Applejack added.

"I know, but it'll be faster if I do this on my own."

"Where are you going exactly?" Fluttershy asked.

"The archives. I want to look up information about unicorns."

"But we know enough," Rarity protested.

"Not enough to defeat Magicon."

"But we can defeat him together. We're the Elements of Harmony with a powerful unicorn and an alicorn to back us up," Rainbow stated.

"It's no good if Magicon kills all of us simply because we didn't know his weaknesses. If we're going to win, we need to be certain of his faults and make sure we use them to our advantages. All is lost if we don't."

"Certainty is never guaranteed, Twilight," reminded Cadance.

"I'd certainly like to have better chances with it than not at all."

"You're not gonna change your mind?" Fluttershy asked.

"No. Just trust me, please. I know what I'm doing. I'll be safe and back here before you know it."

The group didn't have time to protest any further as Twilight teleported out of the cave with a loud pop. The rest of the group stared at her last location and sighed, resigning themselves to each other.

"Now what?" Pinkie asked.

"We wait," answered Shining. "She'll be back. She always comes back."