//------------------------------// // Death // Story: Blackest Knight // by D34dly F1ng3r //------------------------------// Blackest Knight Chapter 27 John burst through the doors of the Canterlot Library. Twilight followed him. The human had not said a word since the funeral except telling Twilight to take him to Canterlot. Twilight assumed he wanted to speak to the princesses, but John instead marched straight to the library. “John! What are we doing here?” She asked. John pointed to one side of the library, “Find me every book you can find on changelings. Their tactics, their biology, their way of life, anything.” “What are you going to do?” Twilight was worried for the human’s mental state. “I’m looking as well, just go. If you search that side, then we can find more resources. Put what you find on this table here,” he pointed to a table in the middle of the room. Twilight complied, quickly gathering any books she could find. She knew that John’s side would have the books he probably wanted, but this side held some as well. She quickly set them on the table before searching John’s side of the library for the human. She had a bad feeling when she saw several books that contained important information on changelings. During her search, she saw that the chained door to the forbidden magic wing was opened. She gasped as she realized what John was doing. She sprinted into the room to see the human opening a portal, he stepped through. “Put what you find on this table here,” John pointed to the table in the middle of the room. Twilight trotted off to find the books he asked for. He didn’t like lying to her, but there was something he needed to do. He set off through his half of the library, not even glancing at the shelves as he passed them. He knew where he needed to go. John drew his sword as he approached the chained door to the forbidden magic wing. Twilight had told him of it when she told him about her life in Canterlot, and he knew that what he was looking for had to be in here. He cut through the chain and opened the door. John could feel a wave of magic wash over him as he stepped into the room. The books in the room felt alive, but John knew not which of them he needed. Suddenly, a book fell off the shelf to his right. He picked it up and looked at the cover. A grey stallion’s head looked back at him. A voice emanated from the book, deep and hollow, “I know what you are seeking human.” John nearly dropped the book, “You can talk?!” The book chuckled, “Yes, many of the books here can talk to ponies, but they cannot give you what I can.” “And what exactly can you offer me?” “A way.” John knew what the book was talking about. “So what am I supposed to do for you? A ritual? A sacrifice?” The book chuckled again, “No, other books may require you to perform such menial tasks, but I will merely give you an offer for what you seek. Open me and I will open a portal to my domain. Speak to my master there.” John hesitated, “How do I know I can trust you?” “You cannot, but I will tell you that I cannot lie. Believe me or not, that is your choice.” Moments passed as John thought about the decision. He opened the book, and a large grey orb grew from the pages. John dropped the book and backed away as the portal formed. He could hear a slight breeze pick up as the portal stabilized. “Come John, find her again.” John walked up to the portal, but hesitated. Twilight came into the room just as John stepped into the portal. The portal collapsed and the book on the ground closed. On its cover was the head of a grey stallion. The runes inscribed on the spine read ‘Necronomicon.’ John found himself in a black void. A grey mist rose from the ground for a foot before dissipating. He looked around and could see nothing but the mist and the void. A voice emanated from behind him, “You do not belong here human.” John snapped around to see a pony he did not recognize. Voices started emanating from all around him. “You do not belong here human.” Each voice revealed another unfamiliar pony. “You do not belong here human.” John spun in circles, where before there was only void and mist, there was now ponies. “You do not belong here human.” John saw earth ponies, pegasi, and unicorns. “You do not belong here human.” He saw alicorns, changelings, griffins, draconequi, and minotaurs. “You do not belong here human.” All the voices spoke at once. A voice spoke behind the human, “You do not belong here John.” John spun around, and every other creature disappeared. Only John and Morning Dew stood in the void. Two other creatures emerged from the mist next to Morning Dew. “You should not have come here John.” Mimic and Starswirl the Bearded spoke together. A cloaked pony almost as tall as John rose from the mist in front of the filly, the unicorn, and the changeling. The black cloak obscured all the features of the pony, but the hood that hung over its face was cut to let out a long, bone white horn. Two skeletal wings protruded from either side of the cloak. “I know why you are here human,” its hollow voice held no gender, “But this place is one where the living do not belong”. “Who are you?” John asked. “I am the Skeletal Alicorn, the Fourth Horse. I am Death.” “If you know why I am here, then you know what I am willing to do.” John looked at the hooded face, but everything underneath was completely black. “You are misguided.” John stepped forward, “I will do anything to get her back. I will kill Death itself.” The skeletal alicorn uttered a deep chuckle. “Even if I were to fight you, you would stand no chance. However, death will not bring you to her.” John was taken aback, “What do you mean?” “When the souls of the dead confronted you, did you see a single human?” John was silent, realization dawning upon him. Death continued, “My realm cannot house the soul of a human, because the souls of humans are marked by another Death. The Death of Earth, the Death that belongs to Humanity. The Fourth Horseman.” “So, in death …” John cut off. “You will not be reunited with her.” John sunk to his knees. Every one of his plans had crumbled around him. His soul could never join hers. “You are different from humans, however.” Death’s voice brought John’s attention back to the skeletal being. “You have been cursed by being unmarked by fate.” “What do you mean?” John asked. “Have you noticed that your hair does not grow back?” “What does that have to do with anything?” Death continued, “When you were abducted by Chrysalis, fate released you, because your fate had been changed. What should never be broken was broken.” “I don’t understand.” “Twilight Sparkle scanned your body and found many magical energies working inside of you. Did she tell you of the inactive energy?” John hesitated, “Yes?” “This inactive energy is actually housed within every living being. It moves throughout the entire body, magical scans usually mistake it as part of a being’s blood. This energy is fate.” “And mine is inactive?” John’s mind reeled. “Because you have been broken from fate. Age and growth are spurred by fate.” “My hair doesn’t grow because my fate is inactive?” John asked. Death chuckled darkly, “None of your natural growth will proceed.” John began to realize, “I cannot age.” Silence fell over them before Death spoke, “Because you have broken fate, you have also broken your mark with death. You can still be killed, but no Death of any realm can take your soul. Your soul is currently doomed to forever drift in an abyss of nothingness.” John looked up at the skeletal alicorn, “What do you mean currently?” He stood again. John got the feeling that Death was smiling as it spoke, “And so we come full circle. I told you only that you are misguided.” John paused, “Then you mean …?” “There is still hope in your quest,” Death answered. “How?!” “Her soul is one of an innocent, but I once a soul has been brought into my realm, it creates a slot within the realm. This slot is permanent, and cannot be left empty. The soul within the slot can be replaced, however, but only if the replacement soul is less innocent.” John was filled with hope as Death spoke. “I already know who can replace her.” Death chuckled, “Yes, I have been waiting to punish that soul for some time.” John asked, “So this deal is benefiting you as well?” “No,” Death answered. “I gain no benefit from reaping souls, it is merely what I was created to do. I do gain a bit of pleasure from bringing justice, however.” John chuckled, “I hold no sympathy for that soul.” Death continued, “There is one catch, however.” John sighed, “I should have figured.” “The soul I release is still marked by me, and is still bound by fate. Once she dies again, I will reclaim her, and that death will be permanent.” “So this is a one time deal? How do I know you won’t get her killed soon after she lives again, or that something is wrong with her body?” “Her body and fate will last her into her old age. She only died now because she sacrificed herself, fate can only be bent by such.” John felt he could trust the skeletal being. “So are there any other catches?” “None, but there is one more thing that you should know.” John paused, “What is that?” “Because you have broken fate, Humanity’s Death hast lost his mark on you, but this means you can be marked by another Death.” “And you would mark me?” Death nodded, “Your fate would remain broken, but your soul would find rest in my realm once you are killed. There is only one condition.” “And that is?” John asked. “This mark does not bind me to take your soul. I will not accept your soul if you take your own life.” Twilight ran to the book. She had to pull John back from wherever he had gone. She was about to open it when it shifted away from her. She stood staring at it as it shifted again. She placed her hoof on it. “Take your hoof off my cover,” the book spoke. Twilight jumped back, “You can talk?!” The book chuckled, “Yes, I can talk.” “What did you do with John?” Twilight demanded. “I transported him to the realm of Death.” Twilight gasped, “You killed him?” “No,” the book scoffed, “I have no need to kill a human. He wanted to retrieve a soul, I merely took him to where he could.” Twilight glared at the book, “And why did you help him? Did you take his blood? Did you make him sacrifice something?” “No, I have no need for such idiotic tasks or rituals. Other books in this wing would ask for something in return, be it for sustenance, power, or enjoyment. I, however, do not need or want such mediocre things. I hold no desire but to serve the Skeletal Alicorn.” “Who?” Twilight asked. The book sighed in exasperation, “Death, you imbecile.” Twilight huffed, “I am not an imbecile. Now, where is John?” The book chuckled, “John will return when he returns. I cannot bring him back, nor do I hold the desire to do so.” “So he is stuck there?” “No, he can leave at any time, he just doesn’t want to yet.” Twilight glared at the book. “Then let me in there to get him out then.” “I cannot, but if you are patient, he will return soon.” “What do you mean you can’t?” The book lifted its cover slightly before letting it fall again. Twilight guessed it was supposed to be a shrug. “You do not need to visit the land of the dead, so I will not help you.” Twilight harrumphed and was about to continue arguing when the book opened and a grey orb grew from the pages. The orb formed into a stable portal and John stepped out, holding an unmoving Fluttershy in his arms. John strode through the large hall that led to Chrysalis’s throne room, unconscious changeling guards littered his path. His sword was still sheathed, because he had coated his hands with the knockout spell. His armor seemed to suck the light out of the air as four changelings stepped between him and the door. John recognized Vice, Versa, Ditto, and Halberd. Vice and Versa wielded spears while Ditto held two daggers. Halberd had his namesake weapon. Halberd spoke, “We can’t let you pass John.” “No innocents have to die today Halberd,” John responded. Halberd hesitated, “I wish that were true John, but we have been implanted with the curse.” John took a step back, “What?!” Halberd’s voice was heavy, “Chrysalis forced the doctors to implant us with the curse, because we were the ones that were close to you.” Ditto interjected, “And she won’t let you use the knockout spell on us, because we will be forced to revive each other.” Halberd continued, “So either you kill us, we kill you. I’m sorry John, but the curse will not let it be any other way.” Versa spoke, “We can still speak our minds, however, and I hope that you kill her John. Do not let us stop you.” Versa’s voice took an edge. “Don’t let her do this to another changeling. Don’t let her get away with her monstrosities.” John’s mind raced as they all readied themselves for the coming battle. The human drew his sword. Halberd lunged at John, purposefully leaving himself exposed with the overhead slash. John dodged to the side, but instead of dealing the killing blow, he kicked the axe head as it struck the ground. The weapon was knocked from Halberd’s grasp and several feet away. John had to dodge another strike from Ditto, who delivered a diagonal slash with one of his daggers. His other dagger stabbed at John, but the human spun around Ditto’s hoof and used the changeling’s forward momentum to spin behind him and deliver a kick to the changeling’s back, driving him away. As John spun around, he was met with Vice and Versa lunging at him with their spears. John sheathed his sword as he jumped over the spears, and grabbed one in each hand. His momentum ripped the spears from the grasp of their owners. As John landed behind the two changelings, he spun around and threw them. One went through a hole in Versa’s left hind leg. The other went through a hole in Vice’s right hind leg. Both spears traveled through the holes without harming the legs, then stuck into the ground, pinning each changeling. Halberd had retrieved his weapon by the time Vice and Versa slumped to the ground, taken by the knockout spell that coated the spears. Ditto lay in a heap several feet away, kicked with a coated foot. Halberd looked at John. “Clever,” he said before he succumbed to the knockout spell that covered his halberd. John turned back to the throne room door as he drew his sword once again. He kicked the door open, revealing a smug Chrysalis. “So, you killed your friends?” She said the last word with a laugh. “No,” John’s answer brought a look of confusion from the queen. “I am better than you.” He began to walk slowly toward the queen. “But, how …? Never mind, if you didn’t have the strength to kill them, then you will not have the strength to kill me.” Anger burned within John’s voice, and it terrified Chrysalis as he spoke. “Strength does not come from just being able to do something. True strength comes from doing what you do for the right reasons. I have sworn to never kill another innocent, and I stick by my oath.” Terror permeated Chrysalis’s voice as the human approached. “If you have sworn not to kill, then you cannot kill me.” She tried to scoot away, but she was already sitting in her throne. John reached the queen and brought his sword into the air on his left. “You are not innocent.” He swung his sword in a mighty arc as Chrysalis screamed. As his arm and sword reached his right side, the top of the throne toppled backwards, followed by the head of Queen Chrysalis. In Ponyville, an unmoving body lay in the care of Twilight Sparkle. As Chrysalis breathed out her last breath, Fluttershy gasped in her own.