//------------------------------// // Chapter 11 - The Power // Story: The Code's Apprentice // by Lapis-Lazuli and Stitch //------------------------------// ~~~~~That Evening~~~~~ Twilight Sparkle wearily pushed the door to the Golden Oaks library inwards and slowly walked inside. Not because she was tired, but because the events of the day had been so draining. The town was still in ruins, and only the presence of the guard seemed to be guaranteeing a lack of chaos and looting. Word had already reached the town - Canterlot was mobilizing a full on relief effort. The princesses themselves would be arriving in a few days along with an army of workers, soldiers and specialists. Rumor had it an entire cloud-fortress was being re-directed to the location to help the battered Ponyville weather team get back on its feet. Twilight gently pushed the door to her library closed with her nose, before resting her head against it. Worse still, she'd been told by Applejack in no unspecific terms that they would be discussing this - all of them, together - tomorrow. Strength, Twilight. You have it in spades. There is nothing you cannot face, no difficulty you cannot overcome. She took a deep breath and exhaled. Yes. That's right. One thing at a time. For now, relax. Your Acolyte will aid you. more unbidden thoughts, but as she turned away from the door, she could see the familiar lavender-pink form kneeling by the doorway. She was breathing in a slow pattern, as though she was meditating. Her eyes opened suddenly, though Twilight had not said a single word. She bowed deeply as Twilight slowly approached and pressed her forehead to the ground. "Welcome home, Mistress." She spoke clearly, even staring at the floor as she was. "I see it has been a difficult day for you. Please, allow me to help lift the weariness." Lilith stood up, her horn gently glowing for a moment as the lanterns and candles of the library slowly puffed into life, one at a time. "Your assistant is currently with the young ones, aiding in taking care of those whose parents cannot be found." Her horn glowed again, and Twilight felt her cloak gently unbuttoning and unwrapping from her neck to be hung on the coat hooks. "You have a few messages, and Mr. Somber will be calling upon you later this evening." Twilight blinked and narrowed her eyes a little. "I see. Are any of the messages so important they cannot wait till tomorrow?" To her astonishment, Lilith produced a bottle of wine from some hidden corner. A glass soon followed as Lilith deftly popped the cork from the bottle, smoothly pouring the rich red liquid into the glass. Lilith had a little frown of concentration for a moment, before she spoke again. “No Mistress. Some platitudes from the Mayor. Notices of the princesses’ arrival. A few other things." Lilith took the glass gently in her hooves as she stepped very close to Twilight, pressing the cool rim of the crystal against twilight's lips. "I know you are usually for Tea, Mistress - but you look like you need a drink." Twilight parted her lips and simply let the odd tableau happen. It was surreal to be slowly fed a glass of the delicious liquid, but....she could not deny, it was relaxing her. Now, she knew that Lilith would take care of all the details. It would leave her mind open to worry about the important things in her near future. After a few moments, the glass was withdrawn then offered up in the helpful hooves of her acolyte. Twilight gently took the glass with her magic, licking her lips. "Mmm. I think you might be right. Well thought, Acolyte." Lilith beamed at her, waiting for Twilight to proceed further into the library before silently following in her wake. "I suppose It'd be rude to simply blow off Mr. Somber." another sigh. "Maybe I can ask him some more questions about all this." With an off thought, she pulled the familiar red tome from her cloak, tucking it under her arm as she slowly walked up the stairs. Lilith smiled at her as she ascended her voice soft. "You keep the book with you." It was a statement, one ringing with pride and love for Twilight. Twilight blushed. "Mistress. If I may be so bold. I am so very proud of you today." They reached the landing where the loft door lay tantalizingly half open. Twilight turned back to Lilith, who was hurriedly wiping away tears. "I told you when you showed me your power that my life was yours. I had meant it. I would have offered you no resistance, done nothing to stop you if you had...chosen the other path." She sniffled a little and Twilight stared for a moment before slowly placing her hoof on Lilith's shoulder. Twilight spoke gently, her voice sweet. "Lilith. I would not have done that to you. Even if I had not agreed with you, I couldn't kill you. It would have been wrong." Lilith's gaze crept up with a tremulous smile as Twilight continued to speak. "There are many things that will be discussed in the coming days, Lilith. I may not remain who I am today. But I will not take your life, and I won't let anyone else take it either." Twilight gently wrapped a hoof around Lilith's neck and squeezed her close for a moment before releasing her. Lilith just looked stunned. Twilight smiled and sipped at the superb vintage, wondering where the buck the young unicorn had gotten it. "Now, enough about that. I need to eat something, and some quiet so that I can read a little more of my book." Twilight eyeballed the red tome curiously. No more need to be afraid of what's inside. I've already put on the black cloak figuratively and literally. Maybe I ought to practice an evil laugh too. Lilith bowed deeply to her. "Yes, Mistress. I shall prepare the evening meal." Twilight watched her quickly trot - no, skip down the stairs like a schoolfilly. She seemed genuinely happy to be doing all of this service for Twilight. Twilight still couldn't fathom why but... Wait. The sight. Whatever else this new power had given her, the sudden ability to read strong emotions and thoughts with her eyesight was the most cryptic. It had also been incredibly useful so far. She called the power, as she had been doing all day long. Strange how it feels so natural. It's like nothing more than a more advanced form of magic. Magic was not merely here element or her special gift; it had been her entire life for as long as she could remember. She had studied it, obsessed over it, and at times it had been her only friend. The power she called into her now was different - it was not cold or unfeeling as magic was. Magic was a blank slate, waiting for the unicorn to paint his or her vision upon it. Dissonance was wild and warm and wonderful. It filled up all of her crevices, it made her feel whole and complete in a way no other power before had. Not even Harmony at the few times she had been allowed to wield it had felt like this. Twilight just stood there for a moment, soaking in every bit of that glorious feeling. With this power, I could do anything. Just as Lilith had told her, when she held the power she felt as though all the limits of magic no longer applied. Her eyes lit up with the dissonant power, transforming them from the gentle purple to bright sickly green and red. Her tree house was a veritable node of those emotional links and strands Twilight had started to see earlier. It took her a few moments standing there to pick up the bundle of emotions that was Lilith from the interference. When she finally did, her eyes widened - There was a thick dark purple strand that seemed to wrap around everything else inside of the pony, and led directly back to Twilight. It pulsed with deeply seeded power, twitching back and forth in the distance between them. Fascinating. It's...some kind of magical link. Twilight's thoughts raced for a moment, and she reached out with her magic - gently tugging upon the strand. She heard a soft gasp from the kitchen and a stumbling sound, and somehow knew that Lilith had sunk to her knees on the spot. I can...control her? How is that possible? She pulled the strand another way and Lilith stood up again, going back to her task. Twilight slowly walked into her room, climbing up onto her favorite overstuffed chair and rubbing her hoof along her chin. It stands to reason if I can send physical commands... She bit her lower lip for a moment, thinking. Then I could... She took a deep breath and focused her mind on that connection, grasping it with her magic firmly. Like all things brand new to her, Twilight took several long minutes examining the magical structure. It was not exceedingly complex, but it seemed to tie into her own emotions as much as it tied into Lilith’s. That would explain how she's able to anticipate my needs. She can sense my desire for things. A very useful sort of ability. Twilight grinned brightly, and tried to send a strong feeling down the line to Lilith - emphasizing her hunger and desire for swiftness on Lilith's part. There was a brief moment, and then a feeling of delight came trickling back through the strange link. Absolutely fascinating. I thought Clover dismissed this as a possibility with the 3rd dissertation on Thaumaturgy, yet here it is. Moments later, a cheerful looking Lilith burst into the room floating a tray laden with dandelion sandwiches and fresh, crisp potato chips. She trotted over to Twilight with enthusiasm, laying the tray table down next to the chair. "I had wondered when you were going to figure that out, Mistress!" Her voice was teasingly chipper. " I should not be so surprised though. You truly are the element of Magic." Lilith bowed deeply to her. "If you require me, you now know how to easily summon me." She winked. "For anything you may require." Then she was gone, out the door like a ghost. Twilight watched her in amusement, before gently unfolding the book. Where to take it up again? The very best place, Twilight. Where you left off. That was an easy enough decision, and she crunched on one of the salty potato snacks as she flipped open to the next page.. ~~~~ Chapter 4 - Through Obedience, I gain Truth. The Acolyte is one of the oldest traditions of Dissonance. It began with our founder, Cedistic Dissonant who required an assistant to aid him in writing the music that would fuel his magic. Although originally, It was tradition to only have one Acolyte at any given time. Today, that tradition has been discarded by most Dissonant Sorcerers. It has become the icon of the powerful sorcerer to command an entire coven of Acolytes, typically referred to as 'The Faithful'. Within these covens, titles of various kinds are frequently established so that order can be maintained amongst the ranks. Most frequently, the very first Acolyte turned to a Sorcerer's will is called, amusingly enough "First Acolyte" and is typically afforded far greater respect and deference. What separates our Acolytes from the Harmony master's "Students" is our ability to draw on them in any number of powerful ways. While we cannot directly impart knowledge to them simply through thought as Harmony can, we can draw from their knowledge of Dissonance. This allows the clever sorcerer to set his Acolytes to the task of studying vast amounts of lore, while they themselves can focus on applying the information to the real world. Furthermore, we can draw from the connection to Dissonance each acolyte possesses, thus increasing the Sorcerers direct power. This creates a unique dynamic between a Sorcerer and his coven. The sorcerer, seeking to advance his power encourages those who serve him to expand their own. Yet they must walk the delicate line between encouraging growth, and encouraging ambition. This is why, contrary to what the Tyrants of Harmony will tell you, that we build powerful cults around ourselves. Some of the truly greatest sorcerers in our history have been those who effectively make use of this unique power. The Dissonance leader who works to ensure the loyalty of her followers is one who will go far. However, the greatest expression of our Acolytes has nothing to do with power or knowledge. They are the truest representation of our cause. The best of them push us to constantly improve, to grow and to become better leaders. They are often our closest advisers, and just as often they are the most common of ponies. While we wield one of the great cosmic forces, they are there to remind us of the simple things we fight for. Freedom. Truth. Equality. We must always be mindful of the power we hold over them. We must wield our power not merely to further our ends, but with intelligence and guile. Those who see power as nothing more than a tool are those who will swiftly fall to the daggers of the jealous or the fiery gaze of the Sun Tyrant. Power is both blessing and responsibility. In this, I find myself grudgingly agreeing with the words of Celestia. That without power, we cannot serve the common good. Yet we must ever be mindful of the treacherous path Power can lead us down. For power applied with a lack of wisdom creates only Chaos. The Acolyte can be one of the most powerful resources at your command. If you take only one further word of advice from me, let it be this. Your Acolytes will mean the difference between knowing freedom, and burning in the fires of Harmony. Ensure your power not merely commands them but protects them, and they will follow you into Tartarus itself. ~~~~~~ Twilight blinked as her magic reached for a sandwich and found neither bread nor crisp. She gently licked the last of the salt from her hoof, and looked back at the book. Power. That explains it. That was the feeling she had been fighting all day, the feeling she had experienced standing next to her brother and hugging Rainbow Dash. She had power over them in those moments. Twilight Sparkle had always been powerful. She had faced Demigods and Discord alike, and her power had often been a match even for them. Yet rarely had she ever had power over others. Now, Lilith sat in the library below her, brushing her mane and singing some sweet song to herself. Twilight knew that with but a thought, Lilith would kneel at her hooves and beg to be useful. Twilight knew she could command her to do nearly anything. She would clean the library, sing for her amusement, and research a subject for her. She would kiss your hooves and worship you. She would please you with her body and give you any pleasure you desired. Her mind whispered softly to her, Twilight's legs squirming in the easy chair. You could whip her, and she would beg for more. You could user her as a conduit for your magic, for your every experiment. She might like that, she seemed to like it before... Her mind continues to whisper dark thoughts, and Twilight pressed her hooves more tightly against her. Power was a heady drink, and Twilight had been imbibing of it all day long. And why should I not? Why should I care what the Princess thinks of me anymore? Because she was Celestia of course! Twilight held her head in her hooves and bent over in the chair, squeezing her eyes shut tight. She'll understand. She won’t hurt me. Twilight shook her head wildly. Oh who am I kidding? She's going to lock me up in the dungeons. She's going to launch a bloody Inquisition on Ponyville, absolutely no question. That was standard procedure following a changeling attack. With the discovery of Twilight as a Sorceress, the hammer would only come down harder. But what could I possibly do to stop her? or stand up to her? Power. Twilight looked up at the book, eyes opening slowly. She needed to be strong enough to force Celestia to come at her from another angle. If she could buy enough time, she could take steps to remove any suspicion from Ponyville's residents. She would need to become strong enough. She would need to..."Know Freedom." She whispered softly. That was the key. If her power no longer functioned under the same limits as normal magic, she might be able to exploit all the various sources of strength at her disposal. Lilith. The Elements of Harmony. Shining Armor. Maybe even Cadence. though she really doubted Cadence would help her in this mad plan. There was not an inconsiderable amount of strength there. It might be enough to convince Celestia that she would need to rally more power of her own before confronting her student. Even Celestia can’t match Shiny's talent for shields. The elements were powerful enough to stop Discord in his tracks. Lilith is...my wild card. There's no telling what role she might play. And just like that, Twilight's thoughts all came to a crashing halt. She was contemplating full on treason. Mutiny against Princess Celestia and everything she stood for. She was preparing to seize any possible power, no matter what the cost might be in order to oppose her. Do I have any other choice? For Ponyville? For my Friends? For Lilith? Twilight placed her hooves gently against the arms of her chair and closed her eyes. Her mind went back to her vision. Of the crystal throne and the dark dress, of the boundless power that Twilight had held barely restrained within her hooves and horn. Of Lilith, kneeling in total submission to her. Then, Dissonance seized her mind, and she could once again see into that dark throne room for a new vision of her future. Only now, Shiny stood at her left hoof, clad in solid plate armor tinted dark violet. He wore a spiked helmet and boots, and stood like a sentinel at her side. Shiny will never abandon me, and he is a match for any foe I might set him against. My greatest General, and my most trusted companion. At her right hoof Lilith knelt, wearing deep purple robes and a hood, her position one of meditation. An Alicorn Amulet hung from her neck, Its power broken to Twilight's will by spell and hex. Lilith. My Acolyte, and my apprentice. My closest confidant in all things, and she who leads the Faithful. More figures slowly faded into view around the throne. Applejack leaned against the wall, dressed in a brown leather coat and her trademark hat. She chewed on a piece of straw as she spoke to the pony next to her. Applejack, my enforcer. All live in fear of her hooves, but all know she is as honest and fair as anypony. Rarity leaned against the same wall with Applejack, wearing a regal looking dress of bright purple and gold that flattered every curve of her figure. A silk fan gently cooled her expertly made up face, her eyes calculating and cunning. Rarity, my spy, my hidden hoof, and my assassin. She keeps the nobility in line, and serves to keep me aware of the movements of my enemies. And of course that lovely, lovely flank of hers... Fluttershy knelt behind Lilith, wearing the very same robes as her Acolyte. She sat in easy meditation, her luxurious mane pooling down to the floor around her as she breathed slowly. A gnarled wooden staff sat nearby, against which a bright white rabbit slept easily. Fluttershy, she who watches over the woods. The forest animals bow to her will, and she ensures they do not harm my ponies. That she happens to enjoy a little pain and bondage is only icing on the cake.. Rainbow dash was as ever, lazing about on a stolen cloud that hovered overhead. A sleek purple flight suit and bright gold goggles hung nearby - ready to be worn at a moment’s notice. Her mane was perhaps a bit wilder, her pose a little more arrogant, but she seemed as normal as ever. And of course, Rainbow dash. Commander of the Shadowbolts. My most loyal minion and occasionally, my lover. She who rules the skies unchallenged. The greatest flyer in the entire world. Pinkie Pie was there too, yet she seemed no different. She had changed not one bit. She bounced, and joked, and distributed baked goods - much to the amusement of everypony present Well, I suppose that is all I could expect. The Universe itself can decree many things, but Pinkie Pie will forever just be Pinkie Pie. The thought was comforting to Twilight. Perhaps the world would have to change in many ways, but laughter and joy would always be there to make it a better place. Her vision settled her back into her own eyes, but it did not dispel. A final shadowy figure stood across the room from her as the real world slowly seeped back into her sight. Shadows and darkness gave way to the soft glow of candles, and Somber Gaze sat across from her chair. She blinked slowly at him, shaking the last of the vision from her mind. Yet she knew that it had been telling her one final truth - that this pony had far more to him than met the eye. Twilight focused for a moment, and green fire slowly filled her eyes. Shadows began to whisper off of her body and touch the chair and ground around her. Somber stood there with a toothy grin, as if fully aware of what she was doing. And perhaps he was, for he burned like a star with the fires of dissonance. Twilight's voice came slowly, but deliberately. "I think, Mister Somber, that it is time you were honest with me. Who are you, Really?" Somber bowed to her with his head, a rich laugh filling the room. "By Dissonance, you truly are a wonder Twilight Sparkle. Very well. You have earned the right to know who I am." The scholarly pony's looks slowly melted away from his body. Iron shod hooves and armor clad torso slowly faded into view. Bright green eyes, brimming with shadows opened up and a fang-filled grin faced Twilight. Twilight stared for a moment and closed her eyes, slowly rubbing her forehead. "Of course. How could I have been so bloody blind? A two thousand year old book appears at my doorstep without so much as an explanation. A pony who just so happens to know about Dissonance to gently lead me along." Her mind raced for a few more moments, making connections faster than she could reason them out. "The Changeling attack. Chrysalis. Lilith forcing my hoof. This has all been planned from the very beginning. " Somber - or perhaps, Twilight should say - King Sombra, nodded his head in approval. "Indeed. You have my apologies for the enthusiasm of Queen Chrysalis' attack on your city.. I shall be chastising her most severely when this has all been resolved, and you shall be invited to visit some punishment of your own upon her." He grinned, and Twilight was amazed by his cultured speech and his roguish charm. Twilight's voice became dry and serious. "You're very well put together for a madpony who couldn't say any word other than Crystals a year ago." Twilight did not feel fear, for some reason. Why should she? She had been essentially taking lessons from this very pony for the last four days. "And I'm afraid I am more than just a little cross with Chrysalis right now." Sombra laughed again, a rich velvety sound that Twilight decided she rather liked. She'd have to cultivate a laugh like that. "Oh dear child, I am much improved from when we last met. Why should I not be? Love is just another power of Dissonance, Twilight. The force of Princess Cadence's spell freed me from the grasp of madness, and restored me to my right mind." Sombra grinned slightly. "That she now occupies my rightful throne is a minor inconvenience." He flicked his hoof. "As for Chrysalis, I assure you Twilight - I shall make sure you get your revenge on her in fair coin. It is the least I can do for my new Apprentice." Twilight arched an eyebrow, feeling a thrill of both fear and anticipation race through her. "Apprentice? You really think I'm going to call you Teacher? The most infamous unicorn in all of history?" Twilight's voice took on a tone of incredulity, a slight smile coming to her face. This was an interesting game of words. "I fail to see the benefit to me." Sombra nodded his head in acknowledgement. "True. You have been learning the power at a truly breakneck speed. It has left me quite impressed. Yet there are many things you will not be able to learn quickly, my dear. At the least, hear me out." he raised a hoof, in a plea for patience. "I promise, You will find my proposal quite beneficial to you." Twilight sighed a little in impatience, though she truly didn't feel it. It was all flowing naturally for her...or she thought, until she realized that she was receiving strong feelings and words through her link with Lilith. Is she...She is. She's tutoring me, granting me her knowledge of dealing with someone like Sombra. That clever little unicorn. Twilight resolved to find some way to reward her after this. For now, Twilight smiled and flicked her hoof dismissively. "If you must. I suppose it would be churlish of me after you gifted me with such a unique book." She gently waved the small red tome, which Sombra fixed his eyes on for a brief moment then went back to smiling affably. "Very well. You have a rather severe problem in your immediate future, you see. The Sun Tyrant herself will soon be joining us here in Ponyville and while I can easily slip away into the shadows, you have responsibilities here. You have no lack of raw power, but you have a great lack of skill, experience and allies." Sombra's smile was predatory, but it was also quite jovial. Twilight was reminded of Angel Bunny for some odd reason. "My proposal then, is this. Swear yourself to me as my Apprentice. I shall teach you everything I know about Dissonance. I will give you the means to add new acolytes to your coven. Most importantly of all, I shall help you Know Freedom before Celestia can arrive." His eyes shone for a moment, flaring with dissonant power. "We shall add you to the Trinity, Twilight Sparkle. You will become as a Queen amongst the Dissonant, and even Celestia will have to be wary of your power." His voice rang, like a call to action. "And I shall go one further, Twilight Sparkle - I shall stand with you when you finally face Celestia in person." Sombra grinned wildly. "It has been two thousand years since she locked my mind into a spell of madness and banished my people into the depths of time. I think it is past time she and I had a little chat." Twilight stared at him for a long moment, absorbing that new bit of information. Then she laughed softly herself, shaking her head. This is madness. But what other choice do I have? An impossible task might very well become possible with this. Sombra had defied Celestia face to face before. As much as Twilight wanted to personally strangle Chrysalis right now, the thought of getting her revenge and the power to survive the next week was simply too good an offer to refuse. Twilight felt trapped by her choices - and in a way, it was freeing. The logical choice was also the one that allowed her to protect the ones she loved. At the cost of her soul perhaps, but right now Twilight was not feeling very philosophical. "It looks like I don't have many options." Twilight shook her head. Now, there truly is no going back. All I can hope to do is save that which I love. She sucked in a deep breath. "I have two conditions. My first is simple. Ponyville is mine. Its citizens, all of the ponies within it, every single creature which claims this place as home is under my protection. Chrysalis will return anypony she has taken. No Exceptions." Twilight took a deep breath, mastering her anger before speaking again. "My second condition is also pretty simple." Twilight continued, gripping the arms of the chair. "No more lies. No misleading, no more hiding things from me. I have had enough of being manipulated like a pawn, Sombra. If I'm going to be a queen, I expect to be treated like one." Twilight silently thanked Lilith, who was feeding her the words she needed. Dissonance, It's going to be hard getting used to this sort of thing. Sombra looked startled for a moment, then softly laughed. "Chryssy won’t like it. Fortunately for you, Apprentice - I do not give a buck." His grin became even more wolf like, and Twilight hoped she'd never develop fangs quite like that. "I accept your terms, Apprentice." He tapped the ground in front of him with an iron shod hoof. "Come here." Twilight slowly uncurled from her chair and hopped down, walking slowly over in front of Sombra. This is insane. He's the most powerful Dissonance sorcerer in history. He enslaved an entire race of ponies. Twilight's thought hit another wall with a realization, and she stopped, sinking down into a sit. And From his most basic lessons, he has become your second teacher. You willingly followed his teachings to this very place. You have tasted power, Twilight Sparkle - and now you desire more. This is logical. Perhaps, this was inevitable. Sombra lifted his hoof from the ground and placed it on her shoulder. There was a static shock of electric power between them - and she felt dissonance flooding into her body. "My student." Sombra's voice was gentle, caring almost. "You have nothing to fear. No more boundaries to hold back your true self. I shall lead you into Freedom, and together we will free those enslaved by Harmony from their chains." power flooded all around her, filling the room with dancing lights and enchanting shadows. "Swear your fealty to me, Hecate of the Faithful." Twilight panicked for only a moment, not entirely sure what to say. Lilith's thoughts were right there however, and she could almost feel her hooves guiding Twilight and gently directing her thoughts. "I do swear to you, Master Sombra." Twilight took Sombra's hoof and bowed her head over it, touching her horn to it. "I swear to learn swiftly, to fight fiercely and to bring my teacher glory. I swear to free the enslaved from their chains and bring freedom to all who have never known it before." Twilight took a deep breath. I have burned all my bridges. "I swear oppose the Tyrants of Harmony." I have salted the earth behind me. "I swear to bring Dissonance to the faithful." Celestia, forgive me for what I must do. "And I swear that one day, I shall know Freedom." Sombra smiled gently, pressing his hoof under her chin and gently pushing her head up so she could regard him face to face. "Arise, my Apprentice. We have work to do."