Hello Big Brother

by Michael_Ravencroft


Resurrection

Cadance had been searching through the castle for Trixie; she was worried when she left Twilight and Shining Armor back in the room. Her husband had flat out lost it! Willing to actually kill Trixie!? That was not the stallion she married!? Even if he was distrusting of her, his anxieties over her couldn’t have pushed him that far over the edge. With that thought in mind, Cadance was really wondering if it was a good idea to leave those two alone.

No…It-It’ll be fine, Shining Armor would never hurt Twilight!

Cadance was about to gallop by the throne room when her eyes caught sight of a familiar purple flash. She skidded to a halt and turned around to head back to the throne room. Cadance slowly entered through the large double doors, cautiously scanning her surroundings. The pink alicorn mare walked inside till she was halfway between the door and her throne.

Must’ve imagined it…

Just then a flash of purple light appeared over her throne, when the flash subsided, Cadance now found Twilight sitting upon her throne.

“Twilight! What’s wrong, did you manage to talk to Shining Armor!?”

A slightly evil grin spread across her lips. “Oh we had a talk alright, but it wasn’t about Trixie.”

“What did you talk about…?”

“We were talking about how best to subdue you.”

Cadance glanced over her shoulder and now saw Shining Armor walking inside. His horn flared with strange colored mana as he shut the doors behind him.

Cadance was starting to get edgy; the air had changed drastically, oppressive, dangerous. “What’s going on…? Why are you two looking at me like that?!”

“Oh dear sister-in-law, please don’t make this any more difficult than it has to be. We want you alive for as long as possible,” said Twilight.

The pink alicorn turned to her sister-in-law, noting the odd colored black and purple mana flaring from her horn. Cadance backed away, making sure she had both siblings in her sight at all times.

“Twilight, Shining Armor, whatever’s wrong, we can talk about this. I know having Trixie here and finding all this stuff out about your family is really stressful, but –!”

Both Twilight and Shining Armor laughed hysterically, and it wasn’t like practical joke type laughter. This was more like cruel, insane laughter, the kind that you hear when some maniacal pony had you within their grasp and was just messing with your head.

“Oh boy, it would be so much fun to mess with your head right now Cadance…” Twilight closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them, her eyes were the same color as that of Sombra’s. “But we have plans that we must see fulfilled.”

Shining Armor did the same, closing his eyes and opening them to reveal the dark power that had taken him over. “And you’re a big part of those plans my darling wife, so please don’t make us have to hurt you.”

Cadance’s horn shined with magical light as she flared her wings and entered an attack stance. “You’re not my family! Who or what are you!?”

Twilight bowed before Cadance playfully, “Tristeza the Sorrowful, your grace.”

Shining Amor mirrored his possessed sister, “Ira the Wrathful, at your service.”

The Princess of Love’s horn shined brighter as she furrowed her brow in anger. “Release Shining Armor and Twilight, or so help me, I’ll make you release them!” Cadance stamped her hoof, letting the earth pony part of her alicorn powers show in her strength, and caused the floor to shake.

“Oh please, no! Don’t do it Princess Cadance! We’re sorry; please forgive us……NOT!” Tristeza-Twilight mocked as she laughed.

“You won’t do a thing to us Princess, because we have the one thing you care about.” Ira-Shining Armor walked to one of the nearby windows and nodded towards Tristeza-Twilight.

The possessed alicorn mare fired a beam of black and purple magical energy right at Cadance’s horn, wrapping the light-blue glow and completely incasing it in dark energy. Cadance yelped from the sudden severing of her magic from her horn, nonetheless, she tried to reestablish the connection, but every time she did, a jolt of dark energy electrified her for her attempt.

“You see, Cady, we like these bodies, they’re powerful, and sturdy. But we’re not so dependent on them that we can’t live without them. Now that we have taken root in your precious Shining Armor and Twilight, we can syphon the mana right from them, enough to sustain us in the outside world. And as for their bodies…”

Ira-Shining Armor climbed onto the edge of the window and balanced himself precariously on the back of his hooves. Cadance’s heart raced as she saw her husband stand in front of the open window, eyes widening in fear of him falling out the window.

“Please stop!” Cadance pleaded.

“You can blast us; you can punch us, or throw us out the window. It won’t matter. The only ones who will feel pain and agony are Twilight and Shining Armor. Now Cadance, do you think you can be a little more cooperative?” Ira-Shining Armor let himself lean back just a bit more, his momentum threatening to take him all the way over the edge.

“STOP!!!” Cadance cried out. “Just…Just stop! Please…I’ll…I’ll do as you ask.”

Tristeza-Twilight walked over to Cadance and nuzzled the side of the pink alicorn’s face. “Good girl, I knew you’d make the right decision.”

Ira-Shining Armor jumped off the windowsill and onto the floor, smirking in triumph. The three ponies heard the thudding of the large double doors opening and turned to see their new visitor. A stallion, at least that’s what it appeared to be, with a dark body and strange yellow markings walked into the throne room and towards the three already inside.

“I see you have already brought her under control, Tristeza.”

“Wasn’t that hard,” Tristeza-Twilight gave a yank of the energy tether and made Cadance fall to her knees before them, “She only needed the right persuasion.”

Cadance stared up at Medo, beneath her complacent visage burned a defiant look within her eyes, biding her time until she could figure out a way to get her family free from the control of these dark spirits.

“So what happened with Trixie? She too much mare for you to handle?” Ira-Shining Armor asked.

“Humph, please, I got what I needed from her. My form that now stands before you is proof enough of that. She lives for now, but is of little concern.” Medo looked to the crystal that was fixed above the throne. “For now, we must attend to our more important matter.”

The two possessed ponies nodded. They dragged Cadance along and made her sit on the floor. Ira-Shining Armor fired a black and red magical beam at the floor where Cadance was sitting and made the crystals that formed it rise up and incase her body, glowing with the red energy of the spirit of hate and anger. Tristeza-Twilight severed her energy tether and made sure to keep the seal around her horn active.

The three spirits then looked to the center crystal and channeled their dark powers. “You who were once of shadows now will live!” Medo grew a unicorn horn and fired a beam of black and yellow energy at the crystal, along with the power he got from Trixie.

“With magic most powerful, we now shall give!” Ira-Shining Armor fired his dark magical energy, mixed with that of his unwilling hosts’

“Rise once more, and take your place!” Tristeza-Twilight did the same as her brother, firing the energy and uniting it with her fellow spirits’.

“To live again and see your fiery gaze, their kingdoms we will raze!”
“To live again and fiery gaze, their kingdoms we will raze!”
“To live again and fiery gaze, their kingdoms we will raze!”

The crystal shined with the united dark energies and magic of the three spirits, uniting it into a condensed beam of dark magic power, the beam fired at the center of the room, creating a vortex of darkness that sucked the light out of the room and left everything in the dark. Soon something began to rise from the center of the vortex, bubbling with green, purple, and black lightning. A red horn emerged, making Cadance gasp at the sight of their old vanquished foe.

The darkness then retreated back to the unicorn form, allowing the light of day to shine inside the room once again. His body had markings much like the three spirits, but they changed rapidly from yellow, red, purple, and green. Unlike his smoky form from before, this form was solid, held together by the dark power of Medo, Tristeza, and Ira, along with the stolen magics of Twilight, Trixie, and Shining Armor. His mane undulated back and forth, creating a ghostly afterimage of itself whenever he turned his head.

The three then bowed their heads before their returned wielder of darkness. “Sombra of the Shadows, how do you feel?”

Sombra rolled his head and then his shoulders, trying to get a good feel for his new body. “I like it, but I am a little irritated that you couldn’t resurrect my body as well.”

“Sorry Sombra, but the Crystal Heart blew you to pieces, far beyond our reach to go and retrieve if there were something left,” said Ira-Shining Armor.

“We cannot leave the borders of the Crystal Empire, whereas before we could venture anywhere we pleased. But, now that you are back, we can be freed of this place and spread out across this land. Not as three, but four spirits of darkness,” said Tristeza-Twilight.

Sombra nodded, it was nice to be back and he did so miss the living world. His fierce eyes then rested on Cadance, still trapped within the red crystals. The dark unicorn spirit then walked towards her, a malicious smile spreading upon his face.

“Do what you will to me Sombra…I will not beg,” hissed Cadance.

“Oh no, you got it all wrong. I need you Princess Cadance.”

“What!?”

“The Crystal Heart will give us the added power we need to break free of this place, and as my associates have said, spread our darkness throughout the land. Unfortunately, I can no longer resonate with it. The Heart only recognizes you as its true master.”

“So what,” growled Cadance.

Sombra released a cold chuckle that reverberated throughout the room. “Well…Every king needs a queen.”


Trixie was just sitting there on the floor, completely helpless. Sombra was returning, scratch that, she knew he was back, even in the spell protected study of Sabio, the feeling of dread and cold darkness was spreading. Trixie dared to get up and walked towards the door, stopping short of the line where rune marks and sigil script kept the darkness at bay. Looking from the safety of the study, Trixie watched as the color of the crystal that made up the palace began to change drastically. The soft clear blue color turned dark and harsh, the same as Sombra’s castle from the old texts.

Trixie turned away from the door and fell onto the ground, covering her face with her forelegs as she let out whimpers. “It’s my fault…All of it…!”

The azure mare couldn’t help but think this. Had she not come to the Crystal Empire – no, it went further than that. If Trixie hadn’t answered Princess Celestia’s call to come to Canterlot and confirm to Twilight that she was indeed her half-sister, none of these events would have come to pass. But they did, and there was no denying that she was the catalyst that allowed the dark spirits to take root in the three siblings. Now Sombra and the dark spirits would do, Celestia knows what to Cadance and the crystal ponies.

“All I cause is trouble…That’s all I am…I’ve endangered an entire Empire, driven a wedge between all of them…Everypony would be better off I was the one in that accident…At least Mother would be alive, and Twilight and Shining Armor would still have the image of their perfect father…My Father…”

Just then, a powerful quake shook the entire room. Trixie turned around and saw that jagged black crystals tried to pierce through the barrier. She looked around the room and watched as the force field layered itself over the walls and floor, blocking the dark crystals from getting inside the last sanctuary from evil. Trixie tried to stand, finding it hard to do so with each pounding and jostling of the room. Trixie tried to hold fast but found it increasingly difficult to do so. She knew that those spells were strong, but they were old, and created a thousand plus years ago.

Sabio may’ve taken into account Sombra’s power back then, but what about now!? Can they withstand this if he’s become stronger!

As if to answer her question the room shook violently, stronger than last time. Books and miscellaneous objects were thrown from their resting places. In particular, one crystal fell from the worktable. It then struck the ground once.

*Tink*

This is it isn’t it…?

The crystal then arched into the air and hit a second time.

*Tink*

Please…Faust above…Mother…Please……I DON’T WANT IT TO END LIKE THIS!

The crystal then struck the ground for the third and final time.

*Tink*

The crystal rested upon the ground as the shaking subsided some. It glowed bright and shot forth an image into the open space. Trixie, startled by the image, nearly backed into a bookshelf when she saw who was floating before her.

“This may be my final message as Sabio…I underestimated the darkness…It created something else, another me, Sombra. He is…He is the darker half of my soul, and I thought that I might be able to control it…I was wrong…So wrong.”

“Within the time that I defeated the Threstrals my dark persona wasted little time in seizing power for himself! Killing the Queen and enslaving my fellow crystal ponies! He even destroyed all the Star Staffs, making sure that there would be nopony who could have, even the smallest, chance of defeating him………But, he didn’t get all of them.”

Trixie watched as Sabio placed the Star Staff on the table; however it was more like a wand at the moment.

“This is the last Star Staff. I’ve modified it slightly, it should allow the wielder to tap into the strongest depths of their magic and amplify it to degrees the previous ones couldn’t…However, its power is only proportional to the one who wields it, so use it wisely to you who find this message…”

“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry for what I’ve become…For the lives I’ve taken and the lives that I subjugate and bring misery to…”

Trixie watched as Sabio started to growl and wince as his eyes shifted back and forth from normal to the dark magic. He then took a few breathes as he struggled to keep control.

“Sombra’s will is getting stronger…! I haven’t much time. Listen to me, I will cast one final spell to prevent any dark entities from entering this room, I shall then erase my memory of this place and anything having to do with it. If you have found this, and are in need of the Staff, remember…UGH! To find the Star Staff, one must have both grace and wisdom…!”

Sabio’s horn then shined with the last remnants of his unaffected magic and the image cut out. Trixie’s eyes were wide as saucers, within this room, within this very room, was something that could help her turn this around! As swift as the wind, Trixie began tearing the entire study apart, flipping over the tables, looking in the fire place, and throwing every book from the bookshelves to find some hidden switch or false back. Sadly though, after a frantic search, Trixie was unable to find the promised artifact.

She began to pace the room back and forth, trying to figure out Sabio’s message, and it didn’t help that the dark crystals renewed their assault on the barrier once again with a vengeance.

Think Trixie, think! Okay, ‘One must have both grace and wisdom’…Grace and wisdom, grace and wisdom, grace and wisdom…! Trixie then shouted loudly into the room in frustration, ready to tear out her silver mane.

“COULD YOU BE ANYMORE VAGUE SABIO!!?”

Trixie once again scanned the room from her spot in the middle of the shaking study. She looked over everything, scrutinizing every little detail, anything that looked out of place that might give her a clue as to the Staff’s whereabouts. It was then that she locked onto something that caught her eye. The portrait of Sabio and his wife, Graza, was perfectly framed. Despite all the violent shaking that was going on, it was the one thing that did not fall or rattle. That’s when it hit her, and when it did Trixie face hoofed herself.

“Grace and wisdom, Graza the Graceful and Sabio the Wise of course!”

Trixie rushed to the portrait, without her magic, Trixie had to carefully remove the portrait form the wall with her hooves. Doing all she could to not damage the last image of the once good stallion and his dead beloved. Once she had safely put it onto the floor, Trixie saw the object that she had sought. There was a star symbol on the crystal wall, protruding just enough not to make the portrait stick out. Trixie gingerly touched the symbol with her hoof, depressing the star shaped protrusion into the wall itself.

At that moment the star retracted into the wall, it then opened up a larger section and revealed within it the Star Staff that Sabio spoke of. Carefully Trixie reached in, being very cautious of booby-traps and other such things, she attributed this to reading one too many “Daring Do” books. Trixie cradled the wand in the crook of her right hoof and dragged it out of its hiding place. With one swift motion she took the wand and backed away from the wall, fearing a trap might activate. After a few seconds nothing happened. The azure unicorn then sat on her haunches and examined the artifact, noting that it was still in pristine condition, a thousand years hadn’t taken their toll on it all, much like the rest of the Empire.

“Okay, with this I can amplify my magic and hopefully…” Trixie the face hoofed herself, again, with her left hoof. “Trixie you idiot, you don’t have your magic anymore! That spirit went and ate it!” Trixie looked at the wand in her hoof and sighed forlornly. “Now what do I do with you…With no magic to activate you, I’d stand a better chance with a spoon…”

Trixie was about to throw the wand away in anger, that is, until the voice of her big half-sister, Twilight, echoed in her mind.

…if you reject it a second time…I don’t think you’ll be able to access it ever again…

Taking a calming breath, Trixie held the staff with both her hooves. She then touched the star with her horn and closed her eyes.

…It’ll retreat so far into your soul that not even years of training and intense meditation will coax it out of you…

It was now or never, whether she was ready or not, she needed the power that was dwelling within her…if it was still there. Trixie retreated into her mind, past the superfluous and physical realm, and entering parts she had not dared to enter. Within her mind’s eye, all Trixie saw was darkness, where once it only took a few seconds to see the glow of her magic, there was nothing. Medo had taken it all, her reserves were empty, an empty vast nothingness.

Just then, Trixie saw something. In the expanse of darkness there was a tiny glimmer in the distance. This glimmer blinked with magenta light off and on, acting as a beacon. Trixie reached for that glimmer, hoping beyond hope that it was the power she needed. When Trixie touched the glimmer, it exploded outwards. Filling the darkness with magenta light, sparkling and shimmering in every direction, washing over her psyche and body, filling her with power beyond what she used to possess. This was a familiar feeling; it was the same as the one back at the stadium. This was the Surge!

On the outside, Trixie’s body had begun to shine with magical light, roaring and lapping off her body like a raging inferno. The magical energy wrapped around her, forming a sphere of magenta light with Trixie at its center, the light then lifted her up, hovering at ten feet in the air. Trixie’s face contorted, gritting her teeth as she felt the power overtake her. The fear rose up again, the fear that made her cut herself off before. Trixie didn’t want to become that same mare that wanted to enslave Ponyville again, she didn’t want to see fear and hate the eyes of others anymore, and with this power, she’d surely see those looks once again.

But then, the faces of Twilight, Shining Armor, and Cadance popped into her mind. The three of them smiled at her, their eyes filled with encouragement. And then she saw the faces of the dark spirits and Sombra, cruel, merciless, and filled with destructive intent. Trixie wouldn’t let those vile creatures win, she wouldn’t lose more of her family, once was more than enough!

Trixie’s eyes opened and they shined bright white. She then held out the wand and it immediately began to change its shape. The handle shot down, extending a good seven feet, the star crystal that rested at the top enlarged, sparkling with the power of its new wielder as it melded their energies. A large boom resonated within the room as a wave of magical energy was released. The wave hit the walls and powered up the barrier, ceasing the violent shaking and shattering the black crystals that tried to get in.

The unicorn mare began to descend from the air, slowly and steadily. The butt of the staff hit the floor first, followed by her hind legs. She balanced on the staff and her hind legs. Trixie panted hard, the rush of power subsiding and allowing her mind to think clearly. She wasn’t tired in fact it was quite the opposite. Trixie was empowered. This was the magic that dwelled deep inside her. The power that she feared would corrupt her and turn her into that insane mare possessed by the Alicorn Amulet. This was nothing like that; this was her magic, the magic power Trixie was born with, her true potential. Sombra was not the only one to “resurrect” this day.