//------------------------------// // Key to Conquest // Story: What Remains III: Cracked Sky // by Bateman66 //------------------------------// Luna was awoken by the sudden presence of another individual within her vicinity. She made the attempt to turn her body towards the source but was once again reminded she could do no such thing. She was trapped. An electric force field of some sort surrounded her on all sides, forming a transparent shell around her that hold the majority of her body in place, with the minor exception of her head being allowed to move freely. Her drowsy mind reminded her of the one and only person who could be within the hexagonal chamber that contained her prison and with this recollection she could feel the dust of her slumber quickly dissipate as all attention was focused on the captor. “Young Alistair,” she confirmed tunelessly, “here to perform thou usual cycle of leaching?” The human approached the magical construct and stared up from where she was suspended just a few feet off the ground. He inspected her with calm, unmoving eyes. Shaking his head, he moved to another corner of the room and sat with his back to her. Raising his palms to the air, his eyes were shut in deep concentration as his body began to absorb the ambient energy that was harvested through Luna’s own natural reserves. It did not pain or discomfort her; however the mere thought of even of a fraction of the divine power she and her sister shared being stolen sent shivers down her spine. “You do not have to act in this manner,” she stated calmly. “Thou free will still holds true. These dissenting ponies have no stranglehold over mind or matter. What has been started can always be reversed. I understand the pain that you’ve experienced and I can see the allure that evil brings with its promises.” The boy did not respond. “It seems to give one the power to move mountains and part seas, the ability to step over the bounds that have held society together. But I must tell you that that is simply untrue. You are chained by your own dark side, restricted to the connections and bonds that make you special as a person. You become a selfish, mindless drone, cut off from those who truly matter.” Alistair continued the ritual. “I have seen inside your mind. I know the weight you carry. Sadness, rejection, hate. They are mere emotions yet they have twisted you away from the light. You are not a part of the evil these ‘Night Lords’ claim to be associated with. You are still the starry eyed child that Twilight Sparkle found beyond her doorstep. You can always come home.” A response was not uttered and Luna couldn’t help but grow irritated. “Your plan will not remove how you feel.” His eyes flashed open but he did not turn to face her. “Oh. And why do you think that?” “Because I too attempted what you are preparing. I let my anger rule my judgments and nearly murdered my own sister in the process. When I returned, I still hadn’t learned that it was I who was at fault. The power of the Elements overcame my inner demons and thankfully I was saved. And what you don’t appear to realize is that there is in unconquerable force that will overwhelm you as well.” He frowned. “You overestimate the ability of your sister and her lackeys. My attack will be swift and deadly. The rest of Equestria will have no idea what happened until it’s too late.” “That is exactly what I told myself years ago.” A small grin formed across Alistair’s face as he rose to his feet and approached the imprisoned Luna. “Then perhaps you are not familiar with my recent endeavors in the powers you have oh so graciously granted to me? Surely you have felt the terror that is slowly beginning to consume Equestria. It is your special skill after all.” “Nightmares,” Luna said with a growl, “a devious method of chaos. You have taken a fragile experience of the mind and turned them into nothing but a meaningless weapon.” “Ah, but an effective weapon, don’t you agree? Fear grips all who have experienced its pull. The afflicted ponies are unable to rest without horrid visions of my own design plaguing their thoughts. And the longer this occurs, the weaker they are to the destruction I will bring.” “Although I wished to specifically affect the Sun Guard with these terrors your power is not an easy one to control. I’ve had to settle with a randomized count of the afflicted. Civilians unfortunately have been included in this but the effects are only temporary. When victory is definite the sickness will be lifted.” “And do thou truly believe such an act is possible with such minute control of thy magic?” Alistair frowned. “I grow stronger every day. The process has been painful and I have felt exhaustion weigh me down greatly but I will overcome it. Anything can be mastered.” “It will not be enough to stop the inevitable.” Alistair chuckled. “And you think I don’t know this? Unlike you I have numbers, technology and tactics on my side. With my swarm of air galleys I have specifically planned out—” “—how to simply get revenge upon Twilight Sparkle,” Luna finished ruefully. “All this talk of deposing my sister is nothing but drivel. You care not for this cult’s insane doctrines; you’re only using it as an opportunity to sate your wounded heart. Admit it; this is how you truly feel.” “I’ll admit nothing to the likes of you,” he said with a scowl. “You are in no position to belittle me. I am in complete control of this situation.” A wry smile stretched across Luna’s face. “Ah, and yet you evade the question. Should I take this as a confirmation?” “I am not the weak child you imply me to be…” “And you are not the emotionless creature you want to be either. I can sense the good in you Alistair, it cries out to me like a stranded soul. Don’t repress what you truly carry in your heart. It only damages you further.” A fire began to grow in Alistair’s eyes. “And what do you know of how I feel, what I’ve experienced? Have you lost someone you cared about most to something that was out of your hands? Watch them press on as somepony entirely different from the one you loved, like a shattered reflection? This isn’t the same as mere jealously that struck you. I’m content to never be in the position she finds herself in. But I will not forgot the perfect life she tossed away simply to serve her master.” “Here you are, a detached stone-cold deity trying to lecture me on emotions and friendships. But I don’t think you’ve every truly associated or even cared about what you find in me or any other pony. The population of Equestria is toys to your ruling elite. If any of you truly cared about the magic of friendship is much as you claim I wouldn’t be here right now.” “No one was ever there to help me. I had to rely on myself to pull through when I had nobody. I was alone in this world as I was in the one I lived in previously. So no, I’m going to stop this when I’m so close, and I’m not going to be persuaded any further by the likes of you. You’re no compassionate bearer of love; you’re an apathetic sidekick trying to make up for your past failures. And I will not stand here and be told off by a hypocrite.” Luna sighed. “Then it will be my sister’s might instead of reason that will turn you away from darkness. Such is the nature of things.” Alistair snorted. “We’ll see about that. Good day, Princess of the Night.”