Chapter One: The Heart and the Mirror
“The Crystal Heart?” a stallion asked, cocking an eyebrow as he stared at an elderly stallion seemingly made of crystal with red eyes. He was standing next to a tall mare with a periwinkle coat who seemed to be keeping an eye on him. The stallion was a dark gray unicorn with a black mane. While the mare was a periwinkle unicorn with a teal and pink mane and tail with a white stripe in the middle of both of them. The elderly pony didn’t seem to mind the skepticism as he replied. “Why yes!” Being an elderly pony he was graying, though his coat seemed to have once been brown. His mane was dark with speckles of white and his eyes a deep red. “I was on my way there to pay my respects. Alas these old bones don’t move as fast as they once did.”
The old stallion looked down at his legs and sighed as he shook his head slowly. He glanced up, taking note that the mare seemed to hold curiosity for such a relic. “Perhaps you two would like to go in my stead?”
“We would be honored to see such an artifact,” the mare told him, bowing her head in respect and gratitude for the offer. The old stallion smiled as he pulled out a map from his saddle bag and handed it off to the two younger ponies. “Thank you for telling us this,” the mare said before glancing at her companion and nudged him. “Midnight! At least show some thanks.”
“Oh no worries, you are both very welcome,” the elderly stallion said, waving a hoof slowly. “I best be heading back home. I don’t want to worry my grandchildren being out too late.”
The elderly mare began heading down the road the way he had came from when he ran into the two. Midnight rolled his eyes before looking at his travelling companion. “You should be careful, Aqua Star, this is most likely a hoax. Why would he tell us his people’s secrets so easily?”
“You need to have faith in ponies, Midnight Sun, not all are like the ones back in Archon,” Aqua Star answered back as she studied the map. “He seemed quite friendly and he was a Crystal Pony. They do spread love and joy across Equestria. Relatives of the Earth Ponies and could have a relation to the Ceàrds! No one has seen one before.”
“That is what worries me, no pony has ever been this far up North before,” Midnight Sun pointed out, though he was studying the map as well. “Though I do have to admit, this would be worth investigating.”
“I knew you were just as curious as I,” Aqua Star chuckled as she traced the path with her hoof before pulling out a journal from her saddlebag with her teeth. She opened it up, grabbed some ink and a quill and began copying down the map. Then on the next page wrote: The Crystal Heart Investigation and Notes. Underneath that was written “Hoax or Not?” Then she sealed up everything with a barrier before placing it back into her bag. “It does not seem too far away, perhaps fate has led us here.”
“Maybe, or perhaps you put too much stock in fate,” Midnight Sun teased as he lifted the map with magic and began to lead the way. Neither of them noticed the elderly stallion appearing on the ridge above them.
The older stallion began to chuckle before laughing as he transformed into a draconequus. With a snap of his talons he summoned a cloud of cotton candy and began to munch on it.
“Oh what fun it is tricking ponies,” he said as he summoned an orb to watch the two ponies head towards their new destination. “Once these two are corrupted I will be able to slip past that barrier and into Equestria.”
He brought up an illusion of the world and zooming into the land he wished to conquer next. “Such a small land, still so new to… friendship.”
The disdain in his voice was palpable. “What could possibly be better than chaos?”
“Harmonia says that you will most likely never find out,” a warm voice spoke in his mind, earning a groan from the Chaos Spirit. He rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to the entertainment. “Go away, you didn’t choose a side, you are the reason why we are trapped here….”
“You know perfectly the reason why I did what I did, you two refuse to listen. Besides, you are using me in your plans, how can I not interfere?” the voice asked and Discord snapped his fingers making his ears disappear. “That… will not… work.”
There was silence before the voice decided to continue with its original thought. “I am warning you Discord, there will be consequences for this choice.”
“Oh please, when have consequences ever affected my choices?” Discord asked, turning his head seeing a ball of light as the sky and land switched a smirk on his face. “You are forgetting what we are.”
“You are forgetting who I am guarding and who is being raised by Harmonia,” the voice pointed out before the light vanished as the Draconequus frowned. He turned back to watch the ponies, his mood not getting any better. Then he thought of how much fun it was turning ponies against their nature. It was always a safer form of chaos than what he used to do. Deep in his mind he questioned if it was a good thing using the Crystal Heart to move forward in his schemes. ‘As long as nothing happens to it, it should be fine.’ he told himself. He glanced at Midnight Sun feeling darkness so close to turning to corruption. That pony was the best to push to the edge. The other one was such a goody two-shoes that it would be harder but not impossible.
The sun began to set as the ponies began to put a campsite together in front of the cave. “Well, time to get to work.”
There was another flash of light as Discord vanished ready to put his plan into motion.
Deep within the mountain, beyond where the Crystal Heart lay was a mirror. Instead of the reflective glass there was shadows and six red eyes gazed around its prison. Then a chuckle echoed deep within the mirror. “Oh father, you sent me such a wonderful gift. A way to escape, let your guard down little pony….”
A shadow reached out of the mirror before escaping upwards. “Accept my corruption and release me.”
Midnight Sun was awake, keeping watch of the area for demons or other hostile creatures. ‘Why would a Crystal Pony tell us of the Crystal Heart so easily? It took us begging Teacher for any information about ancient relics. Was he really coming here to pay respects?’
“Maybe we can bring it back to Archon to study,” he muttered as he stretched for a moment before looking at the tent where Aqua Star was sleeping as a shadow rose up from the ground. “No matter what kind of protests she would have about removing it, such an artifact can help.”
“Oh I doubt that very much,” a voice called out, causing Midnight Sun to look around the area for the source. “You see this is their sacred artifact. They tricked you, you can see its power but you can never take it with you for study. They will be selfish and cruel.”
“How can I trust your words?” Midnight Sun questioned in suspicion as the shadow crawled across the ground towards him. A mirror appeared in front of him showing a scene. It was the elderly stallion from before calling out to a group of Crystal Ponies in front of a crystal palace. The group of ponies had frowns on their faces as he explained to them about what had happened. Some of them began to protest.
“WE CANNOT LET OUTSIDERS FIND IT!” one of the ponies yelled glaring at the elderly stallion as others began to shout.
“Too important to be taken.”
“It is ours!”
“No one else could have it!”
“It belongs to the Crystal Empire!”
The elderly pony was silent before grinning maliciously as he told the others in glee. “They will take it to us then leave! Foolish outsiders! They will not be able to gain its powers!”
Midnight Sun’s teeth gritted as the anger began to overwhelm him. Again and again this has happened, by his own people no less. Yet these ponies that Aqua Star had faith in to be kind and understanding were just as greedy and selfish. Midnight Sun stiffened in pain as the shadow began to consume and overwhelm him. He gritted his teeth as a purple mist extended from his eyes. ‘I will make them pay.’ he thought darkly as he accepted the overwhelming power glancing towards the tent. ‘I will make all those who looked down upon us pay! All of Equestria and this Crystal Empire will bow.’
“They will all pay!” he hissed his sclera turning a bright green as some of his teeth elongated. “And all will bow before me as their KING!”
Aqua Star covered her mouth as she listened to him. She had woken earlier hearing voices and had peered out to investigate. What she saw and heard caused her heart to sink to the pit of her stomach. Midnight Sun was talking to a mirror before a shadow began to consume him. She knew what that was, she had seen it almost consume her mother on several occasions. The Shadow of Corruption, but this was darker and heavier than anything she had ever witnessed from her mother. It was like it was straight from the source itself. ‘Impossible, the Mirror of Abyssia has been hidden away from the Three Great Spirits.’ she thought as she fled the tent quietly making sure not to be seen. Once she was far enough into the cave she asked a question to herself. “Why? Why did you accept the corruption Midnight Sun? Why did you give in?”
Her talent, the ability to read and translate ancient texts and runes, did not answer her question. Neither did the rocks or dirt of the cave. The writing on the walls was quite fascinating as were the bright blue and green crystals that kept the cave lit. They grew brighter and brighter as she continued on, to the point where she had to close her eyes to keep herself from going blind. It dimmed just enough to see as she came to a large cavern. Large crystals grew everywhere, except for a path to the Crystal Heart that floated in between a stalagmite and a stalactite. Swallowing the lump in her throat she headed towards it hoping that the artifact could help her save Midnight Sun.
“Please… work,” she prayed as she reached for it only to be thrown into one of the walls by magic. She cast a barrier around herself to keep from taking too much damage as she shattered some of the crystals. She looked towards the entrance to the cavern seeing Midnight Sun standing there, the purple mist extending from his eyes. “That is not yours to use.”
“It is not yours either, Midnight Sun,” Aqua Star replied, keeping herself in the air with the barrier though she wanted to get through to him. “Do not turn to the corruption, look at what it had done to our ancestors. To the ponies who decided to stay….”
Midnight Sun scoffed as he rolled his eyes.
“Look at what it does to my mother.”
The caused him to pause for a moment before answering. “Aqua Star, when did I fall to corruption?”
Aqua Star saw a bolt of magic break through her barrier and wrap around her, pulling her forward as he whispered into her ear. “I have embraced it. It is not evil.”
“Then what you are trying to do is justifiable in some twisted point of view. Just as the image you saw was a trick,” Aqua Star snarled trying to break free but the magic squeezed around her preventing her from cutting it off with a barrier. “You are willing to take over the Empire? Equestria?”
“Do not be so foolish Aqua Star! They are planning on betraying us! They will not let us study it, they just want the power for themselves!” snapped Midnight Sun as his eyes narrowed before slamming Aqua Star into more of the crystals. “As for Equestria… they never appreciated us. I have seen it, only using our research without thanking us!”
Aqua Star gasped for air trying to climb to her hooves feeling the crystals bite into them. She gritted her teeth watching as Midnight Sun reached towards the Crystal Heart and erected a barrier blocking his attempt to take hold of it. “Midnight Sun… that is enough.”
The magic grabbed her around her neck and lifted her into the air. She choked but her resolve never wavered and neither did the barrier. She would rather die than let him gain the Artifact of the Crystal Empire. That was when a spell came to her mind. It was one that she recently discovered and didn’t test. Yet there was no time, she kind of knew what the spell did and how to cast it. She began to focus on the spell as a ball appeared at the tip of her horn as red began to creep up Midnight Sun’s own horn. He launched black fire towards her as a silver light was shot towards him. The spells knocked them both away from each other and onto the ground. A silvery light, unseen by both of them up from Midnight Sun before shooting back to her and she watched with blurry vision as his horn began to curve. ‘It is finished.’ She thought knowing that there was no more hope for him.
“You have nowhere to go,” Midnight Sun taunted as climbed to his hooves and began to move towards the Heart again. “You cannot even fight back. Both of those types of magic aee something that you cannot even use.”
A barrier blocked his way but he did not seem to mind the annoyance at the time. “Surrender Aqua Star, fall to the corruption and join me.”
“No,” Aqua Star panted from the place that she has landed, next to the Crystal Heart.
“Ah, I should have remembered that these words would have been wasted on you,” Midnight Sun said as he walked around the barrier her eyes watching him the entire time. “Protect, protect, protect. You would keep hiding behind that barrier and not let anyone in. You were alone when Master found us, you will be alone standing tall till the bitter end.”
A hoof slammed against the barrier causing her jump adding more and more layers. She knew that it wouldn’t stop his arcane magic but it would hinder it long enough to find a way to escape.
“There is no happy ending for you,” Aqua Star flinched at the words as she looked away. Taking a deep breath she returned her gaze to her old friend. “You are right. There is no more happy ending, you are not next to me Midnight Sun….”
“I cast that name away,” Midnight Sun told her as he thought of a way to get to her. He couldn’t cast his shadows to reach her and casting more arcane magic would cause him to grow tired against the layered barrier. He needed something, that was when the corruption spoke to him. Planting an idea in his mind. ‘A curse, barriers cannot protect against this and this would be useful.’
Aqua Star felt her chest tightened but she knew what had to be done. She kept her voice from wavering as she said. “Then you are now one of the nameless, a demon born of corruption.”
“Now you see, that does not suit a King either!” Sombra mocked, casting the curse while sending a sharpened blade of magic to attack the barriers. “Tell me Aqua Star, how does it feel to be fighting against a demon who wears your friend's face?”
The barriers began to collapse as the curse moved forward right behind it, the same shadowy mist that the fire was slowly becoming. Aqua Star growled. “You will not get to the Crystal Heart!”
The barriers faded one by one as Aqua Star grew weaker and weaker. She took down the barriers to not waste her own magic and ducked down. The curse hit her in full force sending her flying back as magic wrapped around her lifting her into the air.
“Hmm… Sombra,” the dark pony stared into the Crystal Heart. “That name is more suited for a king, do you not agree?”
Aqua Star choked for air as she wasn’t allowed to breathe before being slammed into the ground. She was dragged forward as she tried to take in air but the magic was preventing that. Her vision began to darken as Sombra reached out to take the Crystal Heart when light erupted from the surrounding crystals blinding the both of them. When Sombra could see once again both Aqua Star and the Crystal Heart were gone. A dark chuckle echoed throughout the cavern as a voice spoke causing him to tense. “Sombra.”
“Who are you?” Sombra spoke, the voice took a moment before answering. “I am the one who gave you that power. I am the one who gives all of the Corrupted their power. I am one of the first to have existed upon this world and I know more spells and curses than Star Swirl the Bearded will ever know in his lifetime. No one will be able to defend themselves against you and you can rule unopposed.”
“A tempting offer,” Sombra said, though he did not voice his concerns. They were there, in the back of his mind but the voice seemed to push them away. He would use this being and then keep it sealed. He was never going to let a creature like this out. Like all the others who wished to use him, this being would only teach him just enough but never all of its tricks. This meant he would have to do his own research in spells and curses. Ones that this creature would most likely never teach him. He spotted shadows swirling around a wall in the distance. He assumed it was leading him to its location and began to follow. Six red eyes appeared in the reflection of all the darkened crystals watching with glee. Soon. Soon the mirror will be broken and darkness will fall once again over the world. ‘Master shall be pleased.’
A young pony, her coat seemingly to be entirely amethyst, walked through the roads made of crystals towards the palace of the Crystal Empire. She was on her way there to give her mother the lunch she had forgotten when a brilliant light filled the area. When it died down ponies rushed over to see the Crystal Heart floating over the pedestal. On the ground right by it was a non Crystal Pony wounded laying in front of the pedestal. The Crystal Ponies began to whisper as the filly ran off to get the medics and Princess Amore.
A pale pink crystal unicorn paced upon the crystal floors of her throne room. She had just awoken from a nightmare about the Crystal Heart shattering and behind it six red glowing eyes. ‘What does it mean?’ she thought feeling shivers go up her spine before rushing hoofsteps caught her attention. Glancing at the open doors leading to the hallway, the princess saw ponies rushing by following a filly. A Crystal Pony paused at the doors explaining. “Princess Amore, the Crystal Heart has returned!”
Princess Amore ran out of the throne room with the mare behind her continuing. “Another pony was with it, wounded.”
“Did any of your citizens travel out recently?” Amore inquired and the crystal pony shook her head as she replied. “No my lady, this pony is not from the Crystal Empire.”
“Then we must hurry.” Amore said as they approached the pedestal the medical ponies were already tending to the pony. That is when Amore felt it, a dark energy coming from the wounded mare.
“Is there anything that can be done?” asked Amore looking at the Crystal Heart, a familiar hum filling the area as the Crystal Heart responded in her mind. “The curse can be slowed by your power but nothing else can be done at this time. I have used most of my power to keep the mirror hidden. The shadows of corruption are growing. Chaos is now making a move. Send a letter to the Untamed Forest in Equestria. Summon the Princesses there to aid you.”
“I will do what I can.” Amore bowed before moving to the group of medics who stepped aside. Her horn glowed as she stood over the pony. The aura surrounded the unconscious mare as Amore spoke. “That should slow the curse, tend to her wounds. I will look for a cure.”
The medics nodded their heads before gently moving the wounded mare onto a stretcher carrying her away. Amore sighed as she looked towards the sky hoping that the Princesses’ heart was in the right place. ‘After all the two Princesses always watch their people from afar. Their people don’t even know what they look like, let alone interact with them.’ Amore thought before turning towards the palace and walking to the palace the sky growing dark behind her.
Aqua Star woke with a start only to groan in pain, her hoof touching her ribs gently feeling bandages. ‘I feel like I’ve been under a sleep spell for days.’ she thought as she slowly got out of the bed. Her hooves hit the ground feeling the crystal floor underneath them. Her bright blue eyes glanced around Aqua Star deduced that she was in an infirmary of somesort. Locating the door she headed over noticing that it wasn’t even locked. She pushed against and noticed that it wasn’t even closed all the way. ‘Probably so they can get in and out easier to check on me… what type of wood is this?’ Aqua Star pondered before she could examine further a scream rang through the air. Shaking her head, Aqua Star ran for the exit, hoping that it was just a monster and not…. ‘If it is, I have to do something.’ she told herself exiting through the large doors of the castle. Dark clouds were covering the sky as creatures made of shadows attacked Crystal Ponies. Aqua Star reacted quickly, shielding one of the ponies from an attack.
“Get as many lamps as you can, shadows do not like the light.” Aqua Star told the scared pony who nodded their head and rushed off. Aqua Star’s gaze turned to the chaos searching for one pony. That is when she saw him, a dark grey unicorn with mane like shadows walking in her direction. A soft glowing light near her caught her attention and she broke her gaze away. To her right was the Crystal Heart and a Crystal Unicorn standing in front of it.
“You do not have to do this.” the unicorn spoke calmly, her eyes locked onto Sombra. She did not move, even as Sombra summoned a shadow scythe. “You do not have to give into the darkness.”
“You are the one who rules this Empire aren’t you?” questioned Sombra and the Crystal Unicorn nodded her head slightly. “I am Princess Amore and what shall I call you?”
“Sombra.” hissed the corrupted unicorn causing a dizzy feeling to wash over Aqua Star. “The future king of this Empire.”
Shaking off the feeling, Aqua Star ran over to the princess and summoned up a barrier just as Sombra launched a cloud of shadow towards Amore. Sombra growled his red eyes glaring at Aqua Star. He began to chuckle darkly as Amore looked at the wounded Barrier Master in shock.”You will not be able to protect her, Aqua Star.”
His eyes flashed as flames erupted from the shadows shattering the barrier sending Aqua Star flying. The fire turned back into shadows and wrapped around her yanking Aqua Star to Sombra. She was slammed to the ground at his hooves. Aqua Star gasped for air as she struggled to her feet, yet the magic was keeping her pinned. Her mane was yanked so she was staring directly at Princess Amore.
“Watch your failure.” Sombra told her as shadows swiftly moved forward engulfing Princess Amore whose scream was cut off as she was turned into crystal. He sent out another blast shattering the crystal shards vanishing into the darkness.
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!” roared Aqua Star as a shard landed near her. Sombra didn’t laugh, he merely said. “Getting rid of all who stand in my way.”
“Then I will be among them.” Aqua Star whispered as she focused, a barrier forming and expanding knocking Sombra off of her. She got to her hooves weakly as she moved in front of the Crystal Heart.
“What will you do? You are weak, no power left that you can draw on.” Sombra pointed out and Aqua Star took a deep breath. She knew of a spell, one that would either work and the Heart would be protected or destroy all life within this kingdom. A spell that Star Swirl the Bearded himself made them swear never to use until it was fully studied and the kinks worked out. Yet now was not the time to hold to a promise that held no meaning if she was dead. Tears welled up in her eyes as she began to focus, glyphs appearing in front of her circling around. Three circles, each within each other, her cutie mark.
“What are you doing?” Sombra growled as he sent shadow creatures to stop her only for them to be repelled. “AQUA STAR!”
“Midnight Sun, if you are still there… I am sorry.” Aqua Star said as Sombra charged forward slashing his scythe towards her only for it to be blocked. “I am sorry that I was not able to help you. For not seeing how much pain you were truly in. And for breaking the promise.”
The glyphs began to crack as the light turned red, a pulse knocking Sombra back. That was when a light erupted from the Crystal Heart once more. The red light vanished and warmth spread over Aqua Star as cracks began to appear over her body as she was drawn back towards the Crystal Heart. White returned to Sombra’s sclera as Midnight Sun shouted. “NO!”
“I truly am sorry!” Aqua Star managed to say before she vanished and the glyphs were drawn back glowing as they wrapped around the Crystal Heart. Sombra’s head dropped as the mist returned as did the bright green sclera. He climbed to his hooves and approached the Crystal Heart glancing at it carefully. Reaching out, Sombra tried to touch the surface of the Heart only for his hoof to get knocked to the side. He growled before looking at the cowering Crystal Ponies.
“How does she know that spell!” the voice from before hissed the anger evident.
“No matter what she has done, I will find a way to undo this spell.” Sombra replied and the voice command. “For now forget the Heart, it can wait. Free my servant, the Shade Dragon and we can begin your conquest over all of Eqestria.”
‘No spell is perfect.’ Sombra told himself as he looked down, seeing a small tear like crystal in front of the heart. Lifting up a hoof he smashed before addressing the crowd of rounded up Crystal Ponies. “I am your new ruler, bow before the might of King Sombra!”
The Crystal Ponies felt magic wash over them, their coats losing their luster as they bent their forelegs and their heads.
“Take them to the dark mountain, they will mine until they find the Shade Dragon.” Sombra told the shadow creatures before tuning to head into the castle. “Do not take a life.”
The doors shut behind him as he vanished in the castle, the Crystal Ponies rising to their hooves. One looked at the castle hiding behind a pillar before whispering. “The others have to know.”
Looking down at her hoof she saw a crumpled up letter, once the area in front of the Heart was clear the pony ran forward snatching up the crystal shard that had once been a part of Princess Amore. Running off the pony began her journey away from the Crystal Empire, to warn anypony about what had happened. Six red eyes appeared on her shadow as a clawed hand reached out towards her.