It was time to research. I had access to the entire royal archive, and the secret vaults below. I knew that one of them contained ancient tomes of magic from the time before the crystal empire.
“Captain Bloodmane!” I called, and my study door opened.
“Sire, what do you need?” he inquired, old armor plates clacking together as he saluted.
“Captain, you know you do not need to call me that. I may be your king, but you have always been my best friend. What I do need, however, is your key to the vaults.”
Bloodmane for the first time looked a bit nervous. “Sire- er, Sombra, are you sure that is the best thing right now? I mean, all that is down there are dusty old books and even dustier instruments of old wars. Your great grandfather had them sealed away for a reason and-” he said, before I cut him off.
“Bloodmane, I know that you and every head of security since my great grandfathers time has been entrusted with making sure nothing bad comes to the empire. I was given the same task by my father five weeks ago, and now I know how to carry it out. There are secrets down there that may give me an insight into our enemy.”
“A-as you wish, My lord! I shall fetch the keys at once. If you will come with me...” He said, and led the way.
After he had retrieved the key, he led me down through endless flights of stairs. Down here, past vaults of dark things, and ancient secrets, I walked. He led me right to one door, and with a grinding sound it opened. Inside were books, rows and rows of tattered and dusty tomes.
“Captain... this... all of this is the ancient texts?” I asked, heart pounding. Could I find the secrets to saving my empire in here?
“Yes, my lord. This is everything... but your great grandfather also looked through these, and didnt find anything. I hope you have better luck, but I would not hold to the paths most of these secrets will lead you down. It nearly drove King Umbra the Second insane. Do you wish for privacy?” He asked, after his short speech.
“Yes please. Leave me for now, and let none disturb me” I stated, and waded into the murk of the vault.
I searched all of the first day, and well into the night. Then the second day, and third passed. I found many secrets, details on old sacrificial rites, ancient battle techniques long outdated, old magics not meant for mortals to use, and the secrets of divination. While the last was interesting, I did not find it useful at the moment. Long have I known that divination does not work on Discord, due to his chaotic nature. He was nearly impossible to predict, other than that he would always do something unexpected.
It wasn't for two weeks that I found what I was looking for.
As one they thought, and one they fought.
The day to night, and wrong to right.
With one great will, they found a way,
With One Kings will, they see new day.
But be warned! Oh pony king,
With good intent, a bell may ring.
Sounding evil in your heart,
A stronger will is but a part.
Have you good and noble will,
Your voice may ring out over hill,
But should fear and terror then take hold,
You will cast a shadow, dark, and bold.
I smiled, and closed the book. More than a bit tired, I yawned and stretched, having been in the same sitting position for five hours today. Through endless books, and endless scrolls I had waded, looking through the deepest sections of the ancient forbidden library. It was not until three days past I had found the book labled “Magik most Potent” and nearly written it off as a rediculous minor mages idea of a tome. However, upon opening it, I had found that despite a silly and overbearing title, it contained what some might consider dark secrets.
In truth, these secrets seemed (to me at least) to be perfectly harmless. I had a strong will, and I had only the good of my people at heart. Still, it would take much more research to figure out what I needed for this. Levitating this book, I headed back out and up the stairs, going up and up until I reached the main levels. I would devour the secrets this little black book had to offer, and use them to further the safety of my people. Whether they knew it or not, things were about to change. Some things would have to be given up, but between being alive and free but forced to live with change, or being the same but doomed to a swift end, I knew what decision they would make.
It was a long few sleepless nights before I managed to decode the rest of the secrets in this book, but I came up with the solution I would need. There were a few things I would need to do or acquire in order to complete a ritual...
The first thing was a clear purpose in mind. The spell required that I know what I wanted, and held onto it no matter what else happened. The second was a focus for the spell, something that everyone the spell would affect was connected to. The only thing that came to mind was the crystal heart, so I would need to take possession of it in my personal study in order to figure out what I needed to do with it, and what the consequences would be for manipulating it. The third one... it was here I nearly lost my lunch.
I would need to give up something I treasured, something that I valued nearly more than life itself. A sacrifice, although it did not tell of what. The interpretation was a bit vague, and followed an arcane principle that I was not familiar with. It took me a few more nights, but I determined that I could try to complete the spell without it, and see what went wrong. I knew that unless everything was in place, most spells fizzled, but that fizzle was very valuable in finishing research, as one could analyze it and find out what had happened, and what went wrong.
I began to get obsessed with this ritual, and it showed. I was short with my staff, and twice I had told Captain Bloodmane to bug off, irritated at his questions regarding my health. Yes, I was sleeping fine. No, I did not want food, I wasnt hungry. No, I did NOT need to oversee some decree. I had work to do!
Two weeks later, and I was ready to begin however. It would all pay off.
By order of his royal majesty, King Sombra Nightshade the Third, the Crystal Heart shall be removed from its customary resting place and taken for safekeeping in the palace. Your love will still be collected, and all shall remain fine and well in the Crystal Empire. This decree takes place here, in the year 214 of the Royal Crystal Calender, and is to be kept until such time as it is recanted by King Sombra.
I sat in my study, the book in one hand and the heart in another, ready to go. I could feel it! This was to be a success, I would find out just what I could lose to gain the power needed to protect my people! One order, one will! My will! My will to overthrow the primal forces of chaos and disharmony itself!
I opened the book and prepared to start....