//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Learning Of the Past // Story: Rare Gems Embracing Shadows // by Random_User //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Learning Of the Past A jolt caused the stallion to come to. He groggily raised his head and looked around. As another jolt bounced him, he realized he was being pulled along on a makeshift litter. “Excuse me. Thank you for the help, but I can walk on my own.” The unexpected voice caused Applejack to stop. She looked over her shoulder at the dark stallion. “Girls, he’s awake.” A pink face with blue eyes suddenly filled his vision. “Hello! I’m Pinkie Pie! I’m glad you’re okay. If you were sick, we wouldn’t have been able to give you a ‘Welcome to Ponyville Party.’ We would have had to wait and had a ‘Happy You Got Out of the Hospital Party,’ and they’re not nearly as fun.” A blue hoof pulled the pink mare back. “Sorry about that. Pinkie Pie tends to be a little exited when she meets somepony new. I’m Rainbow Dash.” He nodded, both in greeting and in thanks for her help with Pinkie. He looked around and smiled as he saw Rarity. “Just the mare I wanted to talk to.” As Rarity made her way towards him, he slowly rolled off the litter and shakily got to a kneeling position. He extended a hoof, before asking, “Would you please tell me your name?” “My name is Rarity.” She offered him her hoof and blushed when he took and kissed it like the knights of old Equestria. “My name is Stalwart Vigil. I cannot thank you enough for freeing me.” “You’re welcome, but you should know I had a good deal of help.” Rarity explained the events of the afternoon to him. When she finished, he slowly looked around at the other ponies. “Thank you all. I feel like I have been in a nightmare for years and you have woken me up." He turned to Pinkie. “You named your town Ponyville. I am ashamed to admit it, but I don’t know where it is located. How far is it to the Crystal Palace from here?” Twilight shook her head. “You’re not in any shape to travel long distances. Besides, you’re not in the Crystal Empire.” “That can’t be.” Applejack cut in. “She’s tellin’ the truth. You’re in Equestria.” “I’m in Equestria?” Applejack nodded. “Has Discord been defeated?” Rainbow grinned at him “He’s been beaten twice. Once by Celestia and Luna a thousand years ago and then by my friends and me using the Elements of Harmony. He’s a statute in the castle gardens right now.” “Finally, he’s gone.” His eyes widened. “Did you say a thousand years ago?!” “That’s right.” Vigil dropped his head. “Then all I knew is gone.” Rarity took his face in her hooves and raised it. “The Crystal Empire is exactly how you remember it. The Empire was frozen in time by king Sombra’s curse. It just recently returned to Equestria. It’s peacefully being ruled by princess Cadence.” “Princess Cadence? King Sombra? There are no princesses or kings in the Empire. Celestia and Luna rule from the Castle of Harmony in Everfree.” He raised his hooves and placed them on hers. He searched her eyes for answers, but could find none. Rarity looked to Twilight for help. Twilight tilted her head at him. “You don’t remember anypony called Sombra at all?” “No. I cannot remember anypony with that name.” His brow furrowed. “In fact, I can’t clearly recall anything that’s happened in the last few months. What I can remember doesn’t make sense at all. It’s probably some magic of Discord’s.” He got to his hooves and offered to take the litter from Applejack. “Not happenin’. You might give out on the way back. Better leave it right where it is.” “I won’t collapse.” Upon seeing Applejack’s glare, he decided to let the matter drop. “However, it might be better to be safe than sorry.” She gave him an understanding smile. “It’s really hard to admit when you’re at the end of your rope. That’s somethin’ I had to learn about the hard way.” They made their way back to Ponyville. Vigil managed to make the distance on his own hooves, though at times he was unsteady. As they arrived back at Carousel Boutique, Twilight put the still wet mannequin in Rarity’s trash. It had been completely ruined by getting wet and being soiled during the trip through the forest. She made sure that no magical influences remained on the doll and then followed the others in. As the group entered her home, Rarity welcomed them with a flourish. “Welcome to Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chic, unique, and magnifique.” Vigil looked around the shop at the various dress and accessories displayed. “Well, if I had remained a gem I would have been happy being part of such designs.” Rarity blushed at the complement and led them to her workroom. “This is where it all began.” Twilight began examining the room with her magic. “I don’t feel any magical residue. That’s a good sign. Sometimes with artifacts there can be lingering effects that don’t show up till much later.” Vigil blanched at the devastation he had caused. “I’ll pay for all the damages.” Rarity shook her head. “You will do no such thing. My sister and her friends have done much worse, let me assure you.” Twilight’s horn lit again, and within a couple of moments most of damage had been undone. “Thanks to Rainbow’s crashing into the library, I’ve gotten pretty good repair spells.” “Ha, ha, thanks Twilight. Throw me under the carriage.” Rainbow spread her wings and turned to leave. “I’ll go get Fluttershy. My wings could use the stretch after being trapped under those trees for so long.” Rarity looked around the workroom and danced with glee. “Twilight, you’re a marvel. All I will have to do is straighten up, and nopony would know anything happened.” Vigil eyed the other mannequins. “I hate to seem a coward, but can we go to a different room? Being around the mannequins is a little uncomfortable.” Rarity hid her smile behind a hoof. “Of course, we’ll retire to the kitchen. That’s where the box of gems is anyway. Twilight should look them over too. I’d like to know if there are any more surprises.” They moved to the kitchen and Rarity set about getting a pot of tea ready. Twilight scanned the box and its contents with her magic. There were no other enchanted gems. “Well that’s good to know.” Rarity stated, as she poured the tea. “I have half a mind to give of the gems to Spike as a treat.” She caught Vigil’s confused look and explained, “Spike is a baby dragon that lives with Twilight. He eats gems.” Vigil’s eyes widened in horror at the thought of what could have happened to him, had the dragon gotten hold of the gem he had been trapped in. Twilight giggled at his terrified expression. “Don’t worry. Spike says that enchanted gems burn his mouth and taste terrible. He’s only gotten hold of one, and he immediately spit it out. You would have been safe.” “Thank Celestia! I don’t think I’ve ever been happy at the idea of being unappetizing to a dragon before.” Much to Vigil’s chagrin, Pinkie sat next to him. She kept examining him from different angles, turning her head in disturbing ways. He soon began to get uncomfortable under the scrutiny. “Is there something I can do for you?” She tilted her head again, and leaned over the table. “I know I’ve seen you before. I remember everypony.” Twilight swallowed nervously, and Applejack caught the motion. “Twilight, is there somethin’ you’re not tellin’ us?” “I can’t be sure, but I think we have met this stallion before.” Vigil laughed at the thought. “That’s impossible. I’ve been trapped in a gem for a thousand years. Your great, great, great grandparents hadn’t even been born then.” The door to the kitchen opened, and in stepped Rainbow. “Sorry guys, I would have gotten back sooner but I had to help Fluttershy round up a couple of stray chickens.” Fluttershy followed Rainbow into the room. “There was another hole in my chicken wire so…” Fluttershy suddenly froze at the sight of Vigil. She began to cower, and curled up into a ball. Rainbow put a hoof on her friend’s shoulder. “Shy, what is it?” Fluttershy softly and urgently asked, “Why is Sombra here?” Twilight flinched at Sombra’s name, but was somewhat glad she was not the only pony who saw the resemblance. The other mares turned to Vigil and examined him again. Pinkie’s eyes narrowed, “Are you that nasty, shadowy, meanie pants?” Vigil looked at her in utter disbelief. “You can’t be serious.” “You don’t remember.” They all turned to Twilight, as she spoke. “You’re not a unicorn, but the resemblance is uncanny. It would explain your memory being unreliable.” Vigil could tell Twilight was deeply troubled. “Alright, is there a way for you to help my memories rearrange themselves so I can make sense of them? Magic is involved with their being lost. From what Rarity told me about you, you are one of the most powerful magic users the world has seen.” Twilight hesitantly offered, “I know a spell that can help you remember what happened, but I’m not certain Discord is involved at all.” She paused, as she carefully chose her words. “Sometimes it’s better to forget traumatic events for a while and let the memories return on their own.” He smiled at her consideration. “Thank you for your concern. However, as a Lancer of the Crystal Empire, and have faced many harrowing trials. I would rather know what occurred rather than live in doubt.” Twilight nodded, and reluctantly cast the spell. Her friends recognized it as a variation of the spell she had used to return their memories of friendship while they were under Discord’s power. Vigil stiffened, and for a minute, his face went blank. Once he returned to himself, without a word, he got up and walked into the showroom. He stood in front of one of the mirrors and regarded his reflection. “I was right. They should never have tried to bend the Crystal Heart’s power like that. Celestia and Luna, please forgive me.” Twilight could not stop her inquisitiveness. “What happened?” “Discord is what happened. We were cut off from the rest of Equestria. Discord’s power had twisted the Empire beyond the point of recognition, and ponies were beginning to panic. I was captain of the Crystal Empire’s Lancers at the time. That made me de facto leader of the military forces still stationed in the Empire. Since the Empire was cut off from the princesses’ guidance, and I couldn’t run the kingdom and the army on my own, a civil council was made to lead the civilian population.” He shook his head as if trying to get rid of a haunting vision. “The civilian leaders got desperate after nearly a year with no word from the princesses. They started to work on a way that they could use the Crystal Heart’s power to drive off Discord. The Heart was meant to bring light and harmony to Equestria, not to be used as a weapon. I warned the council something horrible would happen if we tried to use the Heart in a way it wasn’t intended.” He glared into the mirror as if he could see the council members through it. “They wouldn’t listen. They began to try to force the Heart to react to Discord and strike him in some way. The Heart did not respond to that well, and a couple of ponies were hurt. I didn’t want to see any more injuries, so I made them a deal. If they could craft another artifact that would direct the Heart’s power, I would use it to drive off Discord in the next skirmish with him.” Vigil sighed, and turned back to the Elements. “I didn’t expect them to be able to make such an artifact, but they did it. They magically linked me with a crystal that a master craftspony formed. They then took that crystal and put it an artificial horn that could direct the power of the Heart. As I promised, I used the horn the next time Discord entered the Empire. It certainly drove him off, but the horn warped and became a conduit for dark magic and emotions. After I used it, the horn freed itself from the helm I had been wearing and embedded itself in my forehead. Even with the spell, everything is sketchy. I just get little slices of time. What I do remember I really don’t want to. ” He reached up and rubbed the spot on his skull. “ It’s nice to see that there isn’t an outside scar at least. The last somewhat clear memory I have is Celestia and Luna sealing me away. It bothers me that there still seems to be a gap. I can’t explain how you ended up with the core gem from the horn.” Twilight told Vigil about the return of the Crystal Empire, their struggle with Sombra, and the dark king’s demise. “By that point, the horn must have taken complete control of you. I am glad you weren’t awake for any part of that. When the Crystal Heart’s power struck him, Sombra’s end was not pretty.” Vigil struggled to keep his emotions in check. “Discord never harmed a pony, not one. He just wanted to play his games. Sure, he caused all sort of problems and disrupted our lives, but he never directly hurt a single soul. I turned into a monster that was much worse. I put my people into bondage, fed on their fear, and nearly destroyed what was left of our home. I’m a tyrant.” Fluttershy spoke up, much to the astonishment of her friends. “No, you’re not. The same thing happened to Luna. She was taken over by dark nightmare forces. While she was trapped, she tried to stop the sun from rising and fought with Celestia, but she is not a bad pony. The horn is what did all those terrible things, not you.” Vigil almost did not believe her. “Luna fell to nightmares?” Rarity took it upon herself to explain. “She and Celestia were physically and mentally exhausted after using the Elements of Harmony to seal Discord. The nightmare forces she constantly battled took advantage of Luna’s condition, and seeped into her heart. They eventually turned her to darkness and Celestia had to banish Luna to the moon. It took one thousand years until the process could be undone. My friends and I,” she waved at the gathered mares, “became the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony and freed her.” “You’ve freed me as well.” He bowed to them. “You are heroines.” He raised his head. The friendly, bright light had returned to his eyes. “Thank you for understanding. I hope other ponies will be so forgiving.” Without warning, the gem in his chest pulsed with a red light. He gasped for breath, as a wave of pain went through him. Twilight’s magic reached out and felt of the gem. “Its power is weakening.” She looked up at him. “I’m so sorry; the spell didn’t complete the transformation so that you would be completely free of the crystal’s link to you.” Vigil gave her a wan smile through the pain. “You saved my life and my sanity. You do not have to apologize at all.” Rarity braced him from falling. “Could it kill him?” Twilight shook her head, unsure of how to answer. “It’s possible. The gem was linked to him when it was created. As its power fades, it will try to gain more by pulling it from him. It could get very painful for him, and it could be fatal if things get bad enough.” “We did not through all that trouble just to have him killed by some wonky gem.” Rainbow looked to Twilight. “We need to see the princesses. They can do something.” Applejack tilted her hat back in concern. “Twilight may be good, but she can’t teleport us all there. The next train doesn’t leave until the mornin’. Can he tough it out till then?” Twilight leaned in and inspected the gem. “He should be fine for a while. There is a lot of power stored in this gem. I wouldn’t wait days till we did something about this, but he’s in no danger right now.” “That’s something positive, at least.” Rarity looked towards her kitchen. “If we all don’t get some energy of a different kind, we’re going to be in trouble of our own. Let’s have a nice, quiet dinner. I think we’ve earned it.” “I’d love to Rarity, but I need to get back to the library. We don’t know about all of this so much. I want to be sure that my calculations about the gem are right.” Twilight gave Vigil a grin. “We certainly don’t want to lose you to a ‘wonky gem,’ or over a less than well educated guess.” Applejack declined as well. “I have to get back to Sweet Apple Acres. I’ve been gone all day, and there is still work that needs to be finished.” Rainbow was much less polite as she ducked the dinner. “Thanks Rare, but fancy food just isn’t filling enough for someone that flies for a living. I’m getting some hayfries, a hayburger, and a strawshake.” Rarity watched the three mares walk out the door, and shook her head. “Guess it’s us four.” Pinkie shook her head. “Nope, I’ve got to get back and help the Cakes with the twins. You three it shall be.” Pinkie smiled at herself. “I guess I’ve been hanging around Zecora a little too much. I’m beginning to rhyme and such.” She bounced her way out of the boutique, muttering rhymes to herself. Fluttershy shut the door behind the party pony, looked over to Rarity, and shrugged. “I guess it’s just us.” Rarity decided to defer the decisions of eating in or not to Vigil. “Shall we eat here, or would you like to see a little of the town?” Vigil paused for a moment, judging how tired he was, before answering, “If you don’t mind, eating here sounds good. I’ll help fix things. Just tell me what you need to do.” “The guest does not help in preparing the meal.” He smirked at the thought. “I’m not a guest. I’m more of an intruder. Besides, I still need to make amends for making a mess of your workshop.” Fluttershy began to feel uncomfortable, as the two ponies continued their friendly banter. Rarity smiled back at him. “You didn’t know what you were doing. In fact, you couldn’t have known what you were doing. You couldn’t see or hear. I was going to reorganize anyway.” “Then I owe you for the mannequin.” “If the need arises, I’ll use you as a model.” There was a pause. Rarity blushed, cleared her throat, and tried to rephrase what she said. “I mean, you can help around the shop, if it really means that much to you.” He slightly bowed to her. “It would.” Fluttershy smiled. Glad the pair had not begun to argue. “I can help too, if you don’t mind.” The dinner was, by Rarity’s standards, a simple meal. The dishes consisted of a daffodil salad, a lintel soup, and a glass of wine for each. All of which were delicious. Vigil swirled what was left of the wine in his glass. “I have not had a meal that good in a very long time. Thank you both.” Rarity gave him a disbelieving look. “You were a king, surely you ate well?” Vigil smiled, but there was a good bit of sadness in it. “The creature that took me over fed on the fear of my fellow ponies. I have not had a real meal in almost a year.” Rarity looked sheepish. “I’m sorry; I meant it as a joke.” Vigil finished his wine in one swallow, and then gave her an understanding smile. “I know. It’s just difficult knowing what I’ve done to ponies that were my friends.” Fluttershy reached over and patted his shoulder. “You didn’t do those horrible things to them, Sombra did. Your friends will understand.” He nodded at her kind words. “I hope so.” Soon after, Fluttershy headed back to her cottage, leaving the rescuer and the rescued alone. Vigil all but swayed in place. “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid I’m about to fall asleep sitting up. May I have a blanket and a pillow?” “You don’t mean to sleep on the floor do you?” “I was going to sleep outside.” Rarity pointed at him with a hoof. “No you will not! You just turned back into a pony, you have a gem embedded in your chest that might kill you, and you are a guest under this roof. You are not sleeping outside.” Vigil’s face slowly began to redden. “It’s not proper for a Lancer of the Empire to stay in the house of an unwed mare.” Rarity gaped at him. “You did not just say that. Look, captain of the Lancers of the Empire, you are in Equestria, you are one thousand years out of date when it comes to what is proper and what is not, and you will sleep in this house. There will be no further argument. Do I make myself clear?” Her tone told him he could not dissuade her. “Then I will sleep on the floor, wherever you would like me to.” She rolled her eyes at his stubbornness. “Come with me.” She led him to the guest bedroom. “My sister, Sweetie Belle, sleeps here when she comes to visit. It’s a little frilly for a stallion, but this is where I want you to sleep.” “Rarity, I cannot thank you enough.” “You don’t have to thank me for anything. Ponies should help others in need whenever they can. It’s the right thing to do. Besides, you never know when the horseshoe is going to be on the other hoof, and it’s you that needs the help.” ***** Vigil woke with a gasp. He put his head in his hooves. He could not remember what he had been dreaming, and he was glad for it. He got out of bed, and headed into the boutique. He wandered into the storeroom and looked around. He began quietly trying to put things back in their rightful places. The work took his mind off the images that Twilight’s spell had revealed to him. “You should be resting.” Vigil turned towards the voice. Rarity stood at the door to the workroom, wearing a red and gold silk kimono. Her mane still suffered from being in bed, but that added its own allure. He turned back to his work, before he stared at her. “I could say the same to you. You had to deal with me when I couldn’t hear, see, or speak. You led me through the forest, freed me, brought me back, gave me dinner, and tried to make sure I was comfortable the entire time. You deserve rest more than I do. I’m sorry I woke you.” “You didn’t wake me, my alarm clock did. I always get up early. As for freeing you, my friends helped a great deal, especially in getting you out of the gem. Had it not been for Pinkie’s wild idea and Twilight’s magic I could not have done it.” “You’re being too modest. I know it was you who got me to dive in the pool.” “How could you know?” “The way you touched me, I could tell. It was a commanding, yet kind, touch. Just like when you first grabbed my hoof to calm me down when I was trapped. You don’t forget the touch of an angel when you are in the dark.” He looked at her and then to the floor, embarrassed by his words. Rarity’s eyebrows rose. “Angel? I’m nothing of the sort. I’ve had my moments, both good and bad. I’m just another pony.” “Well then, ‘just another pony.’ Where would you like these chalk pencils?” The two worked to put things away. The mess looked horrible, but it did not take long for the majority of the items to be put back in their proper places. Vigil had to brush back his long mane more than once, to get it from in front of his eyes. “This is becoming irritating. How could he stand it?” “Well, I’m glad to hear that you recognize that Sombra is not, nor was, you.” She levitated a pair of sharp scissors from a drawer. “I haven’t styled a stallion’s mane in a while, but I would be willing to try. How long do you keep your mane?” Vigil thought about it for a moment. “I kept it a little long. It was one of the benefits of being a captain. I’d like it short now. I’m still seeing things I don’t like in the mirror.” Rarity sympathetically nodded, and led him to where she did makeovers for her customers. The scissors started their work, and soon Vigil’s hair was back to a more manageable length. “Sorry I couldn’t give you the latest style. As rusty as I am, I’m just glad I didn’t ruin your mane.” He smiled into the mirror at her. “No, this is perfect. Thank you.” As Rarity began to levitate the clippings from the floor, a knock on the door to the shop made them both jump. “It’s barely past sunrise. Do you typically open this early?” Rarity shook her head. “It must be Twilight. She probably stayed up all night trying to figure out more about the gem.” “I’ll get the door.” Vigil opened the door, and froze. There stood Celestia, she still radiated with power from raising the sun. “Your highness,” Vigil gasped, as he dropped into a deep bow. Having heard Vigil’s tone, but not his exact words, Rarity became concerned. “Vigil, who is it?” Vigil could not respond. The shock at seeing the princess had frozen him. Celestia gave him an amused look, and crisply ordered, “Captain, come to attention.” Without even thinking, Vigil stood straight with his eyes ahead. “Captain, answer Rarity.” “The princess Celestia is here.” Rarity deposited the last of the clippings in the trash, sighed as she noted her mane’s appearance in the mirror, and rushed to greet Celestia. “Princess, this is an honor. She bowed to the alicorn. “I was not expecting you. I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer beyond some fine tea from Saddle Arabia and what I can fix for breakfast.” “Thank you, but will only be able to stay for a few minutes. Twilight wrote to me last night, and I had to come see Vigil myself.” To both Rarity’s and Vigil’s shock, the princess hugged him around the neck. “I thought we had lost you, twice in fact. I am glad to see that you are back with us.” She released him and gave him a smile. “I wish I could have brought Luna with me, she would have loved to see you too. She is conducting trade negotiations with the griffins, and won’t be back for a few days.” She paused noting the gem in Vigil’s chest. “Twilight was right. You’re not out of danger yet.” Her horn lit, and Vigil almost raised his hoof at the sensation of Celestia’s magic working on the gem. “I’ve done what I can. The gem is still connected to you, and could become a threat to your health. I have slowed the progress of its decay considerably, but I can do no more.” Rarity could barely will herself to ask, “Then there is nothing that can be done to undo it? He’ll die?” Celestia noted Rarity’s concern and smiled gently. “I do not have the power to undo this, but there is another source of power that can, one that this gem was linked to as well as to Vigil.” Rarity let out a relieved breath. “The Crystal Heart, the Heart can undo this.” Celestia regarded Vigil with a grin. “At ease, you may speak freely.” Vigil looked up at the princess pleadingly. “I beg your forgiveness and mercy. I failed you.” Celestia laughed, which threw him completely. “You did not fail. You drove Discord from the Empire and weakened him so that Luna’s and my battle with him was easier.” She brought her head down to his height, and looked him in the eye. “You did the best you could with the cards that had been dealt to you. Between Twilight’s letter, and my own knowledge of what occurred then, I assure you that you performed admirably.” Still, he cautiously stated, “I understand, but I still allowed that thing to take me over and harm so many ponies.” “My sister should be the one to talk to you about how powerful dark influences can be.” Celestia’s typically composed face showed a rare moment of sadness. “Luna fell to the dark forces of nightmares soon after we sealed Sombra in the earth. Discord may not have meant to do harm, but his chaos caused more suffering than he could understand. I can tell you are still troubled by what happened. I think speaking to Luna, when she returns, will help ease your mind.” She turned to leave, but said over her shoulder, “Stay in Ponyville and rest. I will send a message when Luna returns, and you can some see us in Canterlot on your way to the Crystal Empire. She is your direct commander, so she will be the one to judge your conduct. However, know that you will have my complete support in the matter. Now, if you would excuse me. I need to go see Twilight. I have not seen her writing so shaky in a long time. She’s accomplished quite a lot in magical terms in the last couple of days, and she must be exhausted. I will tell her about the Crystal Heart being able to help you, and try to get her to rest.” Vigil and Rarity bowed as Celestia took off into the sky. He shook his head. “Is it always like this?” Rarity did not understand the question fully. “Like what?” “Magical powers running wild, Princesses dropping in unannounced to help find solutions to problems, ancient secrets and threats threatening the lives of ponies, are those kinds of things common occurrences here in Ponyville?” Rarity nodded. “That's quite typical for around here, along with dragons running amok, parasprite invasions, Ursa Minor attacks, timber wolf problems, and cockatrices turning ponies to stone, just to name some of our more colorful problems.” Vigil could not help but ask, “Are you sure Discord is gone?”