//------------------------------// // The Rise // Story: The Ends Justify the Means // by Kris The Kris //------------------------------// First Person POV - ??? A thousand years. A thousand years to sit and ponder the ways of the universe. A thousand years to remember and to forget. A thousand years to learn and to change. A thousand years… a lot can change in that amount of time, especially for dear old Celestia. Oh, I see the white pony princess walking through the garden every once in a while. I occasionally hear her talking out loud to the statues like me. Ah, she has always had so much on her mind. The banishment of her sister. The sealing of her beloved. The betrayal of her student. So much sadness in the life of a nigh immortal alicorn. But I digress, I only listen to her when I am not learning. You may ask what I am learning. It is quite simple. I am learning everything about magic. I am Lezard Valeth, Magical Advisor to Lord Sombra, Necromancer, and holder of the Philosopher's Stone. My old name from the old world is inconsequential at this point since it has most likely fallen to dust. All that you need to know for now, dear reader, is that soon I shall be walking in the flesh again, and the power to go home shall be mine and I will find my sister. As soon as Discord falls to the Elements again, I will be free once more and my plan shall begin. Third Person POV Over 1000 years ago on Earth. It was a very dark and dreary day in Baltimore, befitting the general mood of the man who left the large hotel. His large purple cape flapped around as he walked, the noise of it being drowned out by the general noises of the city. His green eyes glanced over the cracks in the pavement as he took out his smartphone. He was tapping out a message quickly. “I left the hotel. I love you. ” The man sent the message, hoping it would not be the last, as he looked up to the crowded convention center. He put his phone up as it vibrated with a message that he’d try to check later. After a while, he was walking around the convention, getting various compliments on his costume. It wasn't anything special to him. It was just a purple cape, a blue coat with gold patterns on it, a few belts with pouches to hold his stuff, black baggy pants, and brown boots. He adjusted the fake glasses as he entered the vendor hall, looking around for anyone weird looking. The only ones who stood out were various cosplayers, including Slenderman and Deadpool. The man started browsing the various tables, hoping a little in his mind that he’d find a clue there. Something that would help him find his little sister. He stopped at the end of one ‘aisle’, staring at a thick book among many other items from other games. The book was green and shiny red cover with no words to distinguish it’s title. The red parts formed three diamonds on the cover. The man looked up briefly to see the old man running the table talking to someone else. He picked up the book and opened it up to skim it. What he did not expect was his head to go into blinding pain as soon as his eyes were laid on the words inside, the information from the book being forced into his head. In that second, he learned many things about one subject. Magic. He slammed the book closed, his eyes wide with pain and shock as the information slivered around his head, getting settled. “What the hell!” He exclaimed, looking away from the book to ask the old man exactly that. All he saw was a ravine in the middle of a snowy wasteland. The man looked around wildly as the cold started to hit him for the first time. “What the hell?! He repeated at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing over the cold snow. Location: Crystal Empire A young dark gray unicorn with black hair stood on the balcony of Crystal Castle, looking out on the ponies his mother used to rule. He could see the miserable ponies in black, still mourning their queen’s passing. Their love and admiration was still powering the Crystal Heart, but even then it was weakening with each and every day. Of course, that could not last forever and he knew the shield would weaken. Then, he would take action. He closed his red eyes before walking back into the main part of the castle. He did not miss her mother like the others. To him, she was weak and pathetic. So weak, she couldn't fight off the poison he slipped in her food. Love, harmony, and friendship did nothing to save her life. Her friends in the princess’s of Equestria did not come running when she first collapsed. After all, Discord was a rather big distraction. The Prince, soon to be King, stopped when he heard a pegasus messenger coming. “My lord! Urgent message from the East outpost!” He looked to the pegasus with a frown on his face. “What is it?” “The soldiers stationed there found a strange creature and it blew up a wall!” The black unicorn growled under his breath, his eyes flashing with the dark magic stored within him. “Get the Crystal Guard ready, I am going ahead to see this ‘creature.’” “Yes, Prince Sombra!” The pegasus flew off Present day The full moon shone down on the garden as the sound of cracking stone reverberated throughout then a small explosion. Then, there was silence, only broken by coughing. Green eyes blinked furiously as the man previously stuck in stone flexed his fingers and took deep breaths of the clean air. He stayed there, crumpled on the ground before slowly getting up. Lezard spun on his heel as he looked to the statue of Discord. “Ah, Discord. It is good to see that you are still a pawn to powers greater than your own.” He walked toward the statue, chuckling lightly. “It made it perfect to plan my escape.” The sorcerer smirked, seeing the Discord statue shaking just a little. “Ah, hush. If my plans take the best case scenario, you will be free once more to cause chaos and with no, Ponies, necklaces, and tiaras to stop you.” Lezard stepped away. “Doesn't that sound nice?” He spun away from Discord and held up a hand, channeling earth magic to reconstruct the statue he broke out of, depicting him with his arms and legs spread out in maniacal laughter as the rainbow beam of sealing doom hit him. “Let’s leave Celestia with a little surprise.” The man channeled wind magic soon after and cut off the head of the statue. Lezard turned again and walked toward the walls. “You won’t tell her that Lezard Valeth still lives, right Discord?” The sorcerer asked with slight sarcasm as he switched the magic he was channeling. He morphed into a dark gray pegasus knight and took off into the night sky. ‘Soon, the way home will be open to me. Then, I can find Kris and drag her back.”