Twenty Minutes Before The Ritual – Chrystal
“No, I’m afraid that’s out of the question!” Clover said, attempting to step around the burly guard who’d barred the way into the queen’s chamber. Behind him, Star Swirl tapped his hoof impatiently.
“No pony is permitted to see the queen without an escort,” the guard said, glowering at the pair. “No exceptions.”
Clover winced as he felt the room’s air pressure change. It meant that Star Swirl was gathering magical energy within him. “Now see here—” he began.
“Oh, for the love of—” Star Swirl snapped.
The queen’s door creaked open and she poked her head out. “It’s fine, Stronghoof,” she said, smiling gently. “They have my permission for a private audience.”
Clover released the breath he wasn’t aware he’d been holding. Glancing behind him, he watched as Star Swirl released his hold on the energies he’d been concentrating in his horn. Like ripples in a pond, they subtly bent reality as they bled away into nothingness again. He’s always driving things to the point of crisis! the assistant thought, shifting his attention back to the queen before Star Swirl could yell at him for something. How did somepony as impatient as he is get to be such an accomplished magician?
“But… but,” Stronghoof sputtered, “the law clearly states—”
“Stronghoof,” the queen said, smiling sadly, “look around you. The time for convention is over. The Empire is in dire trouble and these two are here to help.” The queen pulled the door fully open, motioning for Clover and Star Swirl to enter. “By royal decree, you are commanded to allow these two admission into my chamber,” she said with dramatic gravitas. Chrystal held Stronghoof’s gaze for a moment before they both snorted out a small laugh. She’d known Stronghoof since she was a filly and they’d dispensed with formality long ago.
Clover tried to avoid looking at the queen as she shut the door once more, but she seemed to be everywhere. Her private chambers were filled with large, mirror-like crystals and her worried, hopeful face was reflected back at him from all directions.
“So, you have a solution?” the queen said, her words rushing out. Her eyes darted back and forth between Clover and Star Swirl.
“Yes,” Star Swirl said, nodding.
“Oh, thank heavens!” Chrystal breathed. Clover looked away uncomfortable as tears began trickling down the queen’s face, but her crying image was everywhere. “I-I told S-Sombra that you’d know w-what to do, but he wouldn’t call you! I don’t k-know why, but on behalf of the Crystal Empire, I apologize for how long it’s taken! I know it’s probably compounded the difficulty.”
Clover’s jaw dropped open as Star Swirl offered the queen a handkerchief and gently patted her on the back. “There, there,” the wizard said softly. “There’s no fault to dole out. You see, Sombra’s been under a powerful curse.”
Huh? Clover thought, his brow furrowing. What curse?
The queen’s head snapped up, her eyes shining. “He was cursed?! Is that why he wouldn’t call you?!”
“Yes,” the wizard said, nodding sagely. “I’ve examined him and broken the curse. He’s been acting differently, correct? You’ve probably seen the changes.”
“Yes!” the queen said, her ears perking up. “YES! It all makes sense now! He’s been so stubborn and distracted!” Chrystal reached up and put a hoof on Star Swirl’s shoulder. “Oh, thank heavens you’ve come!”
“But—” Clover began. He snapped his mouth closed as Star Swirl shot him a look that promised death. He’d lived with the cantankerous magician for nearly a year now, and he knew his many moods, but this was something far beyond his normal irritation.
Star Swirl held his gaze for another long second and then turned back to the queen, who had been busy mopping her eyes with the handkerchief. “Your Majesty, I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that your empire is in the gravest danger and that the solution won’t be pleasant.”
“I always knew it wouldn’t be,” she said, allowing her gaze to settle on the floor before her. “But every resource we have is at your disposal.”
“Every resource, Your Majesty?” Star Swirl said, lowering his head to stare into the queen’s eyes. “I’m afraid the price will be high, indeed. Yes, quite high.” Despite himself, Clover found himself shivering.
“What—oh, no!” the queen said, pulling away from the magician, her eyes wide and fearful. “It’s not… a sacrifice, is it?! Blood magic is banned in the Empire!”
Star Swirl shook his head slowly. “It’s not a sacrifice, but I’ll be blunt because we haven’t much time; the beast advances as we speak. I’ve a spell that will protect the whole of the Empire, but it will cost you, Queen Chrystal.” Star Swirl frowned, looking at the queen sadly. “I’m afraid it will cost you everything,” he continued as the queen gasped. “You see, a sacrifice has to do with the magical transfer of life energy. The moment of death is the engine that drives the spell. The ritual I have in mind today is powered by love, but the extraction of the love is fatal. However, if I could find a way to harvest that love without harming the host, the spell would still work. Do you understand the distinction between those two concepts?”
The queen nodded miserably. “So, you must kill for blood magic to work. This spell doesn’t have such a requirement, but it will kill nonetheless.”
“Yes, I’m afraid so,” the wizard said softly. “You’re as intelligent as you are beautiful. It’s a shame you weren’t my pupil.” The wizard shot Clover a sidelong glance, daring him to open his mouth again. “I wish there was some other way, but we’re at the eleventh hour.”
“S-so w-what will h-h-happen?” the queen said, trembling. Clover’s heart ached as he watched her fight for control.
“Clover here,” Star Swirl said, waving absently toward his assistant, “will guide you through the process. I just have one question for you.” The wizard grabbed the queen chin, forcing her head up. She gasped as he held her firmly, gazing into her eyes. “You do love your husband, don’t you?” he said in a ringing, commanding voice. “This must be without equivocation. You are truly in love?”
“Yes!” Chrystal choked out. “Yes, he’s always been the one!”
“Good,” the wizard said, releasing the queen. “Then your duty will be to think of that love, and only that when the time comes. You’ll see your love infuse your husband, and that will give him the power to drive the beast from your lands.” Star Swirl stopped and removed his hat, placing it over his heart. “Your Majesty, I truly wish there was some other way…”
“No,” the queen replied with a new firmness in her voice. “It’s the queen’s job to serve the people. If this is the service require, it is my duty, and my honor, to fulfill it.” Chrystal faltered, her voice quaking again as her luminous eyes filled again. “I-I just d-didn’t expect…”
Star Swirl’s horn glowed as a vial appeared in his hoof. “Your Majesty, please drink this. It’s a calming draught. I know it’s a sad gift, but I believe you’ll find it will help you through this difficult time.”
“Yes, thank you…” the queen said, taking the vial.
~~~
“What are you think you’re doing?!” Clover burst out when they were alone again. Star Swirl had requested a private room for some last minute preparations, and they’d been shown to one of the guest suites. Now, Star Swirl sat hunched over a book while his assistant paced angrily behind him.
“I’m saving the Empire, Clover. It is what I was called to do,” the magician said absently, turning a page in his vast spellbook.
“Oh, yes! Very cute!” Clover raged behind him. Normally he was wary of angering the wizard, but this was too much for him to take. “First, you tell Sombra that he’s going to die, but that it will save the queen. Then you turn around and tell Queen Chrystal that she will die but that it will save the king! So which is it? What are you planning? And what’s all this about a curse?!”
“Clover, you really are an idiot!” the wizard said, slamming his book shut. “What do you think is the truth of the matter, nimrod?!”
Clover blinked, the gnashed his teeth as the reality set in. “They’re both going to die, aren’t they?” Clover through his forelegs into the air above him. “Why?!” he yelled. “Why did you lie to them?!”
“Because I need the spell to work!” Star Swirl barked. “Do you think either would go along with a plan that killed their true love? Oh, there are perfectly fine with idea of their own noble sacrifice, but do you think that lout Sombra would go along with something that killed the very mare that he destroyed an empire for? Do you think the queen that loved her husband with all of her heart and soul would actively aid in his death? Even with the empire at stake, she stayed by his side. She could have left and come and see us at any time, but her relationship was more important! She only thinks she puts her subjects first.” Star Swirl flipped his hoof dismissively. “As for the curse nonsense, I can’t risk the queen knowing the truth about her halfwit husband. It might affect her love if she knew he was to blame for all of this.”
Clover slowly lowered his hooves as he cast his mind back over the details of their encounter. “So, they both must die?” he said, frowning bitterly. “No, I won’t believe it! There’s got to be a different way!”
“Of course, there’s a different way!” Star Swirl returned, his eyes flashing dangerously. “There are thousands of paths we could take, but we’d have to find them! The research would take months that we don’t have! This is the way that I know will work!” The wizard curled his lip at his apprentice. “What do you think justice is, huh?” he spat. “I’m asking for the lives of two ponies! Two ponies who are responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands, and by the death of those two ponies, tens of thousands more will be saved!” He advanced on Clover, poking him in the chest with a hoof. “I’ve found a way to save almost everypony, but that’s not good enough for Clover the Clever, huh? It’s not good enough that those who caused all of this should pay the price?”
Clover’s mouth suddenly went dry. He wracked his brain furiously for some other option, but finally sagged slowing into a sitting position. “It’s… it’s just not right,” he said softly.
Star Swirl rolled his eyes before returning to his desk. “There is no right, Clover,” he said, opening his book once more. “It’s high time you learned that. This is a high stakes profession. My decisions affect countless lives. I don’t have time for sentimentality, and I suggest you do something about yours.” Star Swirl paused, turning slowly back to his unhappy assistant.
“Once the ritual begins, there is no turning back.” he said, scrutinizing Clover. “You understand that, correct? In that room, we must be as one. There can be no dissent. The magical forces will rip us all to shreds and then everypony will die.” Clover gasped as the room seemed to darken. Before him, Star Swirl seemed to swell, until he was the only thing that Clover could see. The wizard’s eyes blazed. “I must have your word that you will do your part in the ritual. There can be no question or hesitation. You must complete your assigned roles. Do I have your word?! The last sentence reverberated in Clover’s mind, sending spikes of pain rolling through his head.
“Yes,” Clover said. Deep inside, he could feel his soul blackening. “Yes, I’ll do it.”
“See that you do,” the wizard said, sinking back into silence as he turned a page.