//------------------------------//
// Chapter 6 
// Story: Of Love and Crystals 
// by Pnakotic 
//------------------------------//

The two searched the citadel for a few hours, after being fruitless in their search they returned to the throne room to think of where to look next.  “Wait!”  Twilight shouted, an idea coming to her mind, “This isn’t King Sombra’s throne room, there’s no way he’d have a design this… cheery.”

“You’re probably right, although it is also possible he just had a very eccentric interior decorator.”  Olive Branch said sarcastically.  Twilight gave him a deadpan look at turned her focus to the crystal at the head of the throne.  Concentrating she unleashed a dark bolt of energy, her eyes glowed green from the blatant use of dark magic.  Startled Olive Branch jumped back, “Woah, woah, woah!  Watch the hate magic that’s practically fatal for changelings.”  He stammered frightened.

“Sorry.”  Twilight apologized; her efforts did not go without reward though as a large stairwell was uncovered in the middle of the room, “It seemed to work though.”  She commented with a nervous smile.

“Right, anyway let’s get down there and…”

“No, I’ll go alone, you’ve done enough, and besides this is my test not yours.”  Twilight said insistently.

“Oh no you don’t, there’s no way you’re going down there alone.”  Olive Branch argued.

Twilight turned to him, “Please,” she said putting a hoof on his face, “I need to go alone.”

“Oh… ok.” Was all Olive Branch could say as Twilight turned away and rushed down the stairs, his illusionary pupils dilated to abnormal size.  Several minutes passed before Olive Branch shook his head to clear his mind, “A charm spell… clever girl.”  After modifying his form to include wings he dove down the hole after Twilight.

Fluttering to a stop at the bottom of the pit Olive Branch saw Twilight sitting in front of a door which opened to a wall, her back was to him.  “I suppose you think that was a rather cute trick, stunning my love receptors with a charm spell and all.”  Twilight did not respond, instead she let out a choked sob.  Perplexed Olive Branch strode up in front of Twilight, only to see that her eyes were glowing green again.  Recognizing her symptoms Olive Branch searched for the source of the waking nightmare spell.  Noticing the open door he moved to shut it only to be blasted by its trap spell as well.

Olive Branch awoke in an unfamiliar forest, the first thing he noticed ways that he was hungry, starving in fact.  He felt like hadn’t eaten in weeks, desperate he searched for any form of nourishment even the smallest morsel would do.  Finally, he came upon a small town; surely there would be some manner of love to consume there.  He felt a great source of love from a nearby house and without forethought broke in through a window.  

It was glorious, he drank, he feasted, he… wait… coming to his senses Olive Branch looked down at what he was feeding off of.  He panicked when he beheld his source of love, a small foal; in his haste he had made a grave error.  Generally feeding off of children was restricted, they had such fragile life forces that feeding off them quite often proved to be fatal for them.  Checking for life signs Olive Branch despaired when he found none, this was bad, this was very bad.  Suddenly the door flew open to reveal two ponies, presumably the victim’s parents.  Upon seeing the changeling standing over their deceased child the mother began screaming, the father looked ready to charge.  Thinking fast Olive Branch leapt from the window, screams of “Monster!”  Following close behind him.

So caught up was Olive Branch in running that he failed to notice some debris in the road.  He tripped violently; landing on his back he heard a sickening crunch as his left wing took most of the impact.  Rising again to his hooves took note of his surroundings; many of the lights were lit in the surrounding buildings now, most likely the occupants had been roused by all the commotion.  It wasn’t long before a mob was out for his blood, screams of “Monster!” sounded again, this time from many directions.  Olive Branch ran, but every alleyway was soon filled with ponies.  Surrounded he collapsed hopelessly as the mob closed in.