With a rustle of the wind blowing in the cold days of winter, as the moons slowly ascended into the sky, the lack of motion in the distant town left a hollow feeling. A lone unicorn sat on the balcony with a sense of peace about him, the wind whistling past. As he stood there, he gazed out at the town just outside the castle walls with worry. He saw families rushing home, fillies saying goodbye to friends, the shops closing up as they all got ready for the chilly nights to come. He cracked a small smile and whispered to the air. “I wish you all a peaceful night."
While watching the town, he had barely noticed the guards running frantically about, setting up what looked to be training equipment. With a sigh, he spoke softly, his voice almost torn away by the wind. "Why do they prefer training before the cold winter night rolls in? It’s but a few hours away."
The stallion turned his gaze toward the starry sky, its brilliant light revealing its deep shadows. The sight of the dying forest with heavy clouds gathering in the distance gave the land a gloomy appearance. With a wince and a sigh, he lifted himself onto his haunches, curious as to what the guards were fussing about.
As he proceeded to leave the balcony, the site of his bedroom made him chuckle. The unicorn went out of his way to claim this room just for its one view over the town. He didn’t care for the bathroom or the space of a bedroom of such a size. Although he was not accustomed to such lavish bestowals nor to his status, being the kingdom's head mage had its perks.
He sat down for a minute and once again pondered, like many years before, 'what to do with this space?' For the most part, all he ever did was place a few bookcases to house his growing collection of books. With just his bed and dresser to fill the rest he felt he needed to- his thoughts were interrupted by a knock upon his door.
A gray colored mare opened his door. She began speaking formally. "Sir, the king wou-" The mare's sentence was cut off as she tripped over a stack of scattered books, placed inconveniently by the door.
“Oh my. I'm sorry! I forgot about the stack of books over there," he apologized as he scampered over to her. When he drew close, he found her to be Silver Bane.
"Ugh, you could have put in a light," the pegasus stated with a groan as she got back on her hooves. Silver straightened out her uniform and said very sternly, "Would you just get a lamp or some kind of light? I'm tired of running into your things!" Silver scolded him with her eyes, leering at him and awaiting his answer.
"Why? I find the night comforting and I can see just fine," he stated with pride.
She groaned again and walked back through the door, shaking her head as she spoke. "You and those eyes.” She paused, sighing softly “Well, anyway..."
“My eyes are awesome, aren't they?" he interjected as Silver entered the large corridor just out side Shadows room. "In fact, it doesn't even matter that the night is eternal, I can see you perfectly fine in the dim light of the moons. It makes your armor look particulary fashionable," he teased as he pointed toward her chest plate with a grin.
He knew that she didn't wear the entire uniform for the simple fact that it was so outdated, not to mention cumbersome. Dared once by the fellow guards to put the full set on, he found that the head piece alone would get him killed with its restrictive view. Adding the heavy bulky hoof and leg guards made him feel like a walking block of steel.
“So, as I was saying,” Silver began with a small cough, “Shade, the King wants to see you."
“Well, this is odd," the stallion noted while he levitated a small necklace off his dresser. "He usually leaves me to do whatever with my studies.” He looked at the green emerald before placing it around his neck. "Did he say what for?" he asked Silver, as he turned to face the robe he left by his bedside.
“Nope, just sounded angry," she replied as she waited in the hall.
“Angry? Why would he be angry?”
“Well he's been mad about something. He's been ordering guards to train like crazy," Silver told him with a hint of nervousness in her voice. Shade thought that was reasonable as he slipped his robe on. “The last time this happened, we ended up in a three-year war with the Maliconys”. A shiver coursed its way through him at the thought of how a pony/dog creature could ever come about. Those fangs and long, ragged fur accompanied by a ghastly face; the thought that they were a civilization with actual intelligence baffled him. “Well, hopefully we won’t commit genocide again. It's been kind of a dull tactic," he said aloud.
“What?" she said in surprise.
“Oh, my bad,” he calmly said, catching himself. “I meant that hopefully this won’t be like before," he clarified as he began to walk out of his bedroom. “He usually demands the death of all his enemies and he does so in a brutal fashion, which is the main reason it’s been so quiet around here," he stated in a matter-of-fact tone, as the duo began to walk toward the throne room.
"Perhaps that’s true, but we also had peace inside the kingdom for seven years now because of you. Somehow you managed to stop his radical ways of discipline," she commented as she walked alongside him.
"Yes, but not on a grand scale. I may have saved some desperate miners and townsfolk but I still haven't been able to stop any of them.” He paused with a heavy sigh. “I may have simply delayed their fate. I've been here for ten years now and for four of them I couldn’t do anything," he finished, shrugging as they turned left at a corridor juncture.
“Yes, but I've been with you for the other six as your bodyguard. I have seen you talk more truth and sense into him than any other pony I know. By Tartarus, without you, the citizens would have revolted long ago!" She replied wholeheartedly, half-smiling.
All he could do was return it with a smile of his own. Yes, he kept the king from doing some questionable things, but that alone wasn't what laid heavily on his mind. The reason for the matter was the king’s faulty decisions to begin with. Maybe it was the aristocrats who sucked the life from the land and causes the small rebellions to pop up. The fact that the chilly winds of fall and six-month-long winters, the kingdom- no, the ponies of this kingdom were just barely holding on as it was with the coal they dug up - along with the dwindling food from the greenhouse farms, it wouldn't be long before the citizens were pushed to their breaking point.
“Not much time left," he mumbled just loud enough for her to hear.
"How much of what is left?" Silver asked curiously, causing him to stop abruptly before the next turn.
“What now?” he asked in a confused tone as he turned to face her.
"You said ‘not much time left.' Just wondering what you meant." She asked questionably, staring at him. Looking back to see her eyes, he knew she wasn't going to drop it. She was the kind of pony who was more than a bit nosy; he had a fear of her way of ‘persuasion’. He instinctively took a step back, thinking about the last time she used her persuasion on him.
"Well..." he started, just before a voice called out to him.
“Teacher, teacher!" He turned down the hall they just passed to see a young blue filly running toward them.
"Well, if it isn't my star student. Is there a reason you're looking for me?" he asked as he passed Silver.
The young filly seemed about to say something, but held her head down. Shadow could tell she’d done something against his rules. “OK, Lunar, what did you do?” he asked in a kind tone.
The filly hesitated before speaking. "I know you don’t like me practicing without you, and that you don’t like me messing about with spells I don’t know yet..."
He looked at the little unicorn with a stern look.”And what did you do, Lu?" She hung her head low as Silver walked up next to him.
"You’re not getting out of it," he said, which caused the filly to snap her head up to meet his gaze, just as her back legs gave out. He remembered the other time she had disobeyed the explicit rules. Even the last time was bad enough for heavy discipline, in the form of a physical punishment: cleaning the the floors, walls, and the bookcase with only a brush.
She began with a stutter. "I was practicing my teleportation spell... in the courtyard... to see how far I could go... and...” She paused. Shadow encouraged her on with a simple wave of his hoof. "I accidentally shot myself into the throne room. I'm sorry!"
He looked into her eyes, seeing her face reflecting a sad beggar they meet the other day. He cracked a cheerful smile. "Well, I’ll be. Now that's one heck of a feat.”
“So you’re not… angry?” she asked with hope.
He regained his composure. “Yes, you are to be punished for disobeying my instructions, but I'm happy with your progress. Still, it’s dangerous to try new spells without me or any form of supervision,” he finished with a halfhearted smile. The filly gave him a mixed look while she tried to process what he had said.
A slight brush came across his shoulder, as Silver stood right beside him. Shivers ran down his spine as he remembered the smile she was now holding. “So, am I going to shackle you and drag you around? I could come up with something new... oh, that could be fun.” He nearly forgot who she had been ignoring. With his fear of her past actions creeping in, the sound of Lunar stamping on the ground caught his attention.
“Teacher, I forgot to say something!” Usually her saying something wouldn't stop him from bolting, but the look she gave said ‘you need to hear this’. He gave a slight cough as he tried to regain his composure. “And what would that be?” he asked, sneaking a glance at what Silver was doing.
“Well, when I teleported into the throne room the king arrived before I could get out. I hid behind his throne before his highness saw me, using that invisibility spell I learned. While I hid, I accidentally overheard his conversation...” She trailed off, knowing he was going to be mad, and looked down at the floor.
“Well, Lunar Eclipse, what did you hear? I'll deal with the punishment later,” Silver asked. He worried about what Silver would do. She loved knowing all the little things about anypony, their little secrets. One day, she was going to see something she shouldn’t.
Lunar seemed uneasy as Silver kept pressing for the information. “Well, come on, tell me what he said,” Silver asked, standing there with slight grin as she stared at Lunar. This made Lunar a bit nervous as she seemed to fidget under her gaze.
“You know, it seems those pastries have been hitting you hard. Could've sworn your flank was smaller than that,” he stated sarcastically. Silver instantly blushed as she stiffened and shot him a nasty glare.
“You have some guts!” she growled at him, taking a step closer.
“Well sorry Lu, I just opened Pandora’s Box. There’s my PhD for ya.”
As he gave a nervous grin, she looked back in anger. They heard laughter and both looked back to Lunar, who was laughing hard. They looked back at each other. “You’re lucky.” Silver let out a sigh.
He cleared his throat. “So, Lu, uh, what did you hear?” he asked. She sat there for a second to calm herself before saying, “He was talking about your studies.”
“Studies?” Silver simply commented with a bit of confusion.
“He was talking about the test that teacher was conducting.”
His heart froze at those words. ‘He was talking about them.’ If the king was talking about them, then...
“Hey, what does she mean?” Silver’s voice startled him.
“Huh? What?” He looked up over to see Silver, a worried look on her face.
“It looks like you’ve seen a ghost, what’s wrong?”
“Who was he talking to?” He quickly turned to Lunar, with a bit of fear in his voice.
“Um, I think it was Senator Hiller. Why?” Lunar asked, looking back, the question left hanging in the air.
“This is bad... I'm going to the throne room now,” he stated, and turned to take the corridor in the left that would take him to the king, his mind turned on what his Highness was thinking.
“What? H- hey, what changed?” Silver scrambled to catch up, alongside Lunar.
“Okay,” he started. “No talking, because this is a lot of information and most of it is supposed to be a national secret.” He looked over his shoulder to check that nopony was around. They both nodded their agreement. “Good,” he confirmed as he continued. “Our global structure is held together by food, greenhouse produce and coal from the mines for heat, which, to be honest, have all been been dwindling the past two years. Five years ago, the king charged me with finding an answer to this dilemma. While I was searching for some way to solve the problem, I stumbled across some ancient text. I couldn't make most of it out due to corrosion, but what I could read gave me an idea. You see, the text was apparently some foals’ story book or something, and it was about giving birth to the world, or something to that effect.”
“Ok, so what with the emergency?” Silver interjected with a bit of sarcasm.
“No questions,” he hushed her before she could say anything more. “You see, for a year beforehoof, nothing I was trying seemed to be working. So, when I found that text, I thought 'I could craft a spell not to spur growth, but to create it’. That led me down the research I've been doing for the last five years until I found an answer that I did not seek.”
“It took you five years to find a solution?” The sound of disbelief in Silver's voice was strangely comforting. The fact that Shadow was the youngest royal mage in the country’s history meant that not much was expected from him. If he didn't have Silver or Lunar with him, he would have cracked quite some time ago.
“The problem was that it wasn't the solution I needed. After an accident while performing the spell, I came across something strange. Instead of making what we needed, I somehow opened a door.” Stopping just before the corner, he noticed the guards to the throne room. Pausing, he took in a deep breath and turned back to them. “The experiment opened a window to a place, a world we knew nothing about. With some diligence and effort, we were able to perform some long range recon, which Lunar helped with. We found it to be a world with vast lands and something called a sun.”
“Isn't that good?” Silver asked, trying to comprehend what he was talking about.
“Normally, yes, but in this case, no. Our world of Shalin is, well... dying.” He paused for dramatic effect. “I decided to push forward with trying to enter it. It took quite a bit of fiddling, but I managed to complete a modified version of a teleportation spell. As I explored, I found that the world was already inhabited by others. Their views are different than our own. Since the king was talking to Hiller, I'm beginning to fear the worst.”
“Lunar.” He looked down toward her. “In my room, look for ‘my magic book', and if any of the guards stop you, run and find Silver. She’ll be at the main gate. Got it?” The little filly gave a nervous look before nodding in agreement.
As Lunar rushed off, Silver turned back to him. “Okay, mind filling me in more? Why are you so scared?” she inquired. He stood there staring at her, as he knew his next words would leave a heavy feeling in his chest.
“Hiller is the king’s new strategic general. I never reported all of my findings on that work in fear of what he would do.” His face was pale; she could feel just how scared he was. Always being the cheerful one, his being scared meant it was a grave situation indeed.
“Wha-” He interrupted her.
“Look, when Lunar gets to you, tell her to practice all my spells. She may be a bit of a novice but she can do it, I believe she can. There will be a letter in that book on what to do next. Do not trust any of the guards, even if they are friends. This might be the only thing I can do. Go and wait by the main gate for Lu. I'm leaving her in your care. You’ll know if everything is off, but if not, leave, and never look back.”
She understood only half of what he just said, but a twisting feeling in her gut grew. With all of what she just had heard, the only words she could find were “I- I will, but what is going on?”
He gave her a sad smile. “I’m sorry that I have to ask this of you. I always worked to protect the kingdom and its citizens. I just hope that tonight, I don’t have to choose between them,” he said remorsefully, heading to the throne room doors as she heard a faint whisper. “Be safe.” All she could do was watch him go as the moonlight shined through the window.
As he made his way to the throne room doors, his eyes came upon the engraving on the door. A moon surrounded by a wall pushing back heavy tides of chaos, protecting the moons from change. He thought that described the king, Shalin, quite well, or was he named for the kingdom’s beliefs? His attention switched to the two guards standing nearby; oddly, they didn’t seem all too guard-like.
“I do believe the king would like to see me,” he stated, with the hope the answer wouldn’t be a no.
“Yes he does, the king just sent a message for you.”
He noticed a small grin on the guard as the other fumbled to opened the large doors. “Grand Mage, the highness is waiting for you”, the guard said as he proceeded through the doors.
A feeling of dread slowly crept up upon him as he entered the room. His shallow fears of what the king would do slowly came forth. He mustered his resolve as he walked across the cold stone floor, the vaulted ceiling and two rows of pillars across the sides of the room showed nothing but cold indifference. With only sparse torches for light, the long gated room gave the feeling of a dungeon. Each step clicked throughout the room, echoing the cries of all that this room condemned. How many did he let die here, to leave them to a grim fate? He felt chills as he imagined their hate and pain.
“Why can’t he see that kindness isn’t a weakness?” he whispered as he came upon the throne and its king.
As he came upon the king, he noticed a brown pony with a buzz cut mane near the chair. It was Hiller and his crooked smile; he knew then what he needed to do. He quickly cast a spell and a small, shadowy looking pony appeared,. With a quick gesture he sent it away. As it galloped off, a cold voice rang through the throne room.
“So, did the great mage of Shalin forget something?” he knew that cold voice, the voice of a pony who was once a friend.
“Well, my king, I did in fact. My latest report on my research; I do believe you will find it most enjoyable.”
He noticed Hiller take a few steps out. “Yes. What I believe you refer to in your studies as 'day ponies', you have been studying for quite some time,” he said in a gruff tone, ending with a chuckle.
“Yes, we were wondering if you've been able to ascertain how we might be able to enter such a world,” King Shalin asked, as he fixed his black mane around his crown. A small hint of hope appeared; they didn't know that he was able to cross over. Strangely, the feeling of something going on nipped at him. Shadow knew who Hiller was, but why was he there?
Mustering his resolve, he asked, “Why is Hiller here? I don’t see the reason why the ‘Iron Wall’ is present.”
The smile that Hiller previously wore faded as the king sighed, “I’ve asked him to become my adviser as I have great faith in him, but my faith in you has begun to waver, due to your past discretion.”
“Past discretion, you mean the farming community?” he asked.
“Yes, and let’s not forget the miners now. All those wretched rebels all deserved death, but you and your false words freed them.” He felt a slight burst of anger grow by the king’s statement.
“Saved rebels? All I did was stop you from killing innocent ponies, none of them were criminals. They barely live on what they make and rebelled out of need, not spite. Have you forgotten what hardships they must go through to live?” he finished with a slight glare at Hiller.
“Hardships?” he said, as if questioning the word’s meaning. He stood from his chair, each of his steps clicking against the stone as he descended. “Hardships? The hardship of fighting the kingdom or the blood of the soldiers they slaughtered? All you did was let rebellious forces go. Giving traitors a second chance to strike back and harm the kingdom. That, plus the suspicious activity you conducted with your research, made me ask for a second look from your second-hand mage. Lolkin was her name; I asked her to give me her perspective on the matter.” He paused to see the reaction of his words on his Grand Mage’s face.
As the king finished his descent, he gave a nod to Hiller. “To what I believe; the research study seemed to be impeded. The unnecessary length of the studies and his lack of drive piqued my suspicions. After doing some looking into the matter I found that it is possible to cross this boundary. Not only that, but I believe that the Grand Mage is withholding information, your majesty.”
Shadow noticed Hiller finish, his grin returned. The king continued his speech. “So, by his statement, how am I to believe any of your words or actions?”
Shadow’s heart sunk as he spoke. “So, with this and past actions, I hereby give Lolkin the duty of finding us a path into the fertile world known as Equestria, and you are charged with treason.” As he finished, his hope for a way of peace died as the feeling of anger replaced it.
“So you're choosing to conquer them then?” He noticed eight robed ponies apearing just by the thron, four to each side, he knew they were there because of him.
The king gave a smile and stated, “Conquer? No, I will subjugate and rule them. They will bend to our aid, and their land will benefit our kingdom.” King Shalin bellowed across the room as the realization of what he was planning came to mind. He was planning to go to war with Equestria; he was planning another blood bath. The thought stunned Shadow as the feeling of guilt swept across him.
He bowed his head and asked, “So these unicorns are here to restrain me, to lock me away?”
When Shadow’s eyes met Hiller’s, he let out a small chuckle. “No, Shadow Wingle; they are your judgment. FIRE!” he commanded. In unison, all the unicorns lowered their horns launching an attack spell before Shadow could react. The first two veered to the left, hitting Shadow in his flank while three more scored hits into his right side. His world started burning with pure pain as the final three bolts struck him dead in the chest. The force of the blasts took the strength out of him and Shadow collapsed into a heap on the floor. With most of his focus on the pain, he found it quite hard to even breathe. The sound of the ponies shuffling sounded dull and far away as the blood pounded in his ears. Laying there in pain and nearly unconscious, a swift kick from Hiller sent a sharp pain through his chest, the kick starting his brain once more.
“Ha! A great mage that failed!” Shadow heard him jest. Pulling together what coherent thought he could, Shadow slowly stood, a slight glow around his horn betraying a readying spell. Hiller took notice and bucked him across the floor. “No you don't! I can't have you doing any magic,” he chuckled after his strike, but luckily for Shadow, it went off just before the kick.
With Shadow landing on his back, the pain from his broken ribs caused him to spasm and cough. “It wasn’t for me,” Shadow began, pausing at another coughing fit, “It was for my minion to burn down my lab, and all the research inside.” He wheezed as he barely got back on his hoofs. Shadow nearly fell over, the intense pain from his leg was all too apparent. He could easily tell that one of the magical strikes broke his leg but he chalked the ribs up to Hiller. Well, at least they weren't trying to kill him yet. That was the only comforting thought he could manage.
“What?!” He heard the king say as his vision blurred.
“Yes… all of that work… gone.” He paused to catch his breath. “...To ash. Back to square one for you.” He wheezed with a smile, his eyes set on Hiller’s face as it brimmed with rage.
“You son of a bitch! Kill him!” he yelled, as the mages positioned themselves. The eight unicorns’ horns lit up in preparation for another attack, but this time Shadow wouldn’t be caught off guard. When they launched their spells, a hail of magic arrows soared toward him. He quickly cast a shield around himself which absorbed the brunt of the assault. The strain from the spell caused his already injured body to cry out in agony.
Hiller's pre-emptive strike had left him with the disadvantage. He knew that it wouldn’t be long before they killed him. The only way he could think of getting out of this alive was to... he quickly began another spell as they waited for orders from Hiller. He fired a wave of magical energy that knocked back Hiller and the troops. He was able to rest for a moment before he began his second spell when he realized one of the unicorns wasn’t knocked down. He instantly recognized her green mane - Lolkin.
“Nice try, but predictable,” she stated with a grin. She began her new spell as a fireball began to form. ‘Why is she here?’ he thought. The site of her being here was confusing but he needed to focus.
“Shalin, I never wanted to choose, but you left me with no choice. I will not let you destroy their world! I will not let you wage war!” he yelled as his spell neared completion.
Lolkin would not have any of it. “Not on my watch, Wing!” she yelled, launching a fireball at Shadow. It struck near him and exploded in a spray of crimson flame, lighting his robe on fire and causing him to lose concentration. His spell began to warp and it emitted a strange glow. Lines of eldritch light formed into a pentagram and began to pulsate as light beams began to shoot forth from it. ‘This is going to hurt!’ he thought before it exploded, with rays of fire and lightning filling the room. A piercing sound tore through the room as smoke billowed out from where Shadow has been.
“Hiller,” Shalin coughed, “what just happened?” he asked while trying to bat away the smoke with his hoof. Hiller looked about trying to find out what Shadow had done. As his troops moved around to clear the smoke, all they could find was a huge scorch mark on the marble floor.