//------------------------------// // Black Thorn Rising // Story: The Curse Of Black Thorn // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// The royals stood firm as Black Thorn cackled triumphantly. Nightshade, however, was beside himself. "King Black Thorn?!" He snarled, glaring at Black Thorn. "What makes you think you can get away with that title?" "Nopony else was using it." Black Thorn shrugged matter-of-factly. "And why would that be, I wonder? Maybe it's because you know you're too weak to be called a King. Why else would you still call yourself a Prince after all this time?" "You don't know what you're talking about." Nightshade said, with a tinge of uncertainty. "Don't I?" Black Thorn chuckled. "I've been in your head, remember? I may have only come out when you got, but that didn't I just vanished completely. I know all your fears and anxieties, every last one." "You lie." Nightshade spat. "But that's not all." Black Thorn smirked. "I didn't just have an insight, I had influence." "...What?" Nightshade gulped. "What are you talking about?" Red Rose asked. "It's simple, really." Black Thorn sneered. "I've been whispering thoughts and idea into Nightshade's head for months. I was the one who came up with the idea to research dark magic. I was the one who told you to bring in Echo..." "And just how would you have known about me?" Echo asked. "Let's just say I have 'connections'." Black Thorn answered. "How can you have connections, given your limited periods of... wakefulness?" Sunset asked. "Oh, well, you see..." Black Thorn started chortling. "That thing about me only coming out when Nighty's angry? That was a lie." The others froze in shock. Even Nightshade was speechless. "The truth is, I could also come out when you were asleep." Black Thorn declared. "Whenever it suited my purposes, I'd take control of your body while you were in dreamland, and attend to some business." "What kind of business?" Nightshade, trembling with both fear and outrage. "Oh, just some little things, really." Black Thorn shrugged. "Fixing the problem with the Gemini spell, for instance." "Wait, you did that?" Twilight gaped. "I had no choice." Black Thorn scowled. "You so-called 'experts' were taking forever to get it right. And as much fun as it was seeing Nightshade lose it, I was starting to get impatient, so I fixed the problem for you... Not to mention alter the equations so you would feed me all of that delicious magic." "All this time..." Celestia frowned. "You actually wanted to be separated from Nightshade." "Of course I did." Black Thorn grimaced. "What, you think I'd be fine with being stuck in that idiot's head for the rest of my life? No way." "You used us." Luna growled. "Used all of us." "Yep." Black Thorn nodded. "I knew all you bleeding hearts would jump at the chance to help some sucker in need." He turned to Echo. "And you, Echo, were the easiest of all to manipulate." He boasted. "You always leap at the chance to use dark magic for good. Sterling really had you pegged..." "Sterling?" Echo frowned. "How-" "Too bad he was such a fool." Black Thorn continued. "He just had to go and make friends with you and tubbo over there." "What did you just call me?" Sunset growled. "And how do you know about us and Sterling?" "You know, I should be thanking you fools." Black Thorn admitted, ignoring Sunset. "Thanks to all of you, I'm finally free." "No, you're not." Nightshade snarled. "I won't let you run amok, doing whatever twisted act comes to your deranged mind!" "You actually think you can stop me?" Black Thorn smirked. "I have all your magic now, and then some. Face it, I'm the one holding all the cards." "Hey, card lines are my thing!" Sleight said indignantly. "Bottom line: I'm not going anywhere." Black Thorn declared. Suddenly, the palace guards raced into the courtyard, having been drawn by the blinding flash of the Gemini spell's completion. "I wouldn't be so sure." Nightshade said confidently. "My liege, what is the..." The captain of the guard froze when he realized there were two of them. "...Matter?" "I'll keep it simple." Nightshade declared. "In a nutshell, Black Thorn and I have been separated, and now he is attempting an insurrection. Seize him!" The guard took up battle positions, pointing their spears at Black Thorn, who looked less than intimidated. "I've got a better idea." Black Thorn smiled. "Form up, boys!" Approximately half the guards suddenly walked over to Black Thorn, and pointed their spears at the others. "Okay, now I'm totally lost..." Blueblood frowned. "What treachery is this?" Nightshade roared. "What do you think it is?" Black Thorn chuckled, delighting in Nightshade's outraged confusion. "They're joining the winning side." "Forgive me, your majesty." One guard pleaded, guilt all over his face. "Black Thorn threatened to harm my family if I did not comply." "You threatened them into compliance?" Nightshade glared at Black Thorn. "Not all of them." Black Thorn shrugged. "Some were open to some old-fashioned bribery. You really shouldn't have cut their salaries." "Traitors!" Nightshade roared. "You side with that fiend over something as trivial as money?" "Hey, I got a family to provide for." A Pegasus guard declared. "I couldn't do that on the pittance you gave me." "Me, I just like the idea of having lots of gold." A Unicorn guard shrugged. "Anyhoo..." Black Thorn cut in. "I made sure to have the biggest, toughest guards on my side. I've been planning for this day for a long time, you see. I've thought of everything." "Not everything, you fiend." Celestia declared. "We may be down to half our magic, but that's still more than enough to handle a couple dozen guards." Luna added. "I'd say you've miscalculated." Twilight chided, as the Alicorns and Chrysalis stood firm, ready to fight. "You'd think that, wouldn't you?" Black Thorn sneered. "But I have one last surprise to show you all..." Black Thorn's horn lit up. Suddenly, the statues depicting the former kings of Haygypt in the courtyard sprung to life, and a quartet of mummies rose from under the ground. The statues grinded and scraped, while the mummies shuffled and dragged themselves along, gaps in the bandages showing their rotting bones. "What the-?" Flash gaped. "What is this, some cheap horror movie?" Constell asked. "Neat trick, huh?" Black Thorn smirked. "How are you doing this?" Nightshade gasped. "I never could..." "That's what you think." Black Thorn retorted, letting out a chortle as his eyes grew wispy... "His eyes..." Echo gaped, "He's using dark magic." "But how? I never learned any dark magic!" Nightshade stammered. "And the Gemini spell is the only page I had!" "Well, I have a final surprise for you, Nightshade... you are one of a lucky few to be what science charmingly calls a 'Nightcrawler'…" Black Thorn declared. "A what?!" Nightshade gasped. "What in Faust's name is a Nightcrawler?!" Red Rose yelped. "Why don't you ask your bat friend?" Black Thorn pointed at Echo. "He should know, he's one himself!" "Wait? You're saying that Nightshade is able to use dark magic at will like me?!" Echo gasped. "Was able." Black Thorn chuckled. "But now, his powers belong to me." "But how?!" Echo muttered. "Sterling said that in order for a Nightcrawler to gain his powers, he needed to be subjected to an influx of dark magic so to activate the Tenebros gene." "I take back what I said before." Blueblood frowned. "Now I'm totally lost." "You're not the only one." Shine frowned. "Somepony care to explain?" Constell asked. "Basically, there are certain ponies with a recessive gene within them, the Tenebros gene." Sunset announced. "Those ponies are known as 'Nightcrawlers', and have the potential to utilise their own unique brand of dark magic." "No kidding?" Sleight mused, equal parts interested and unnerved. "But the Tenebros gene just doesn't become active on its own." Echo clarified. "Contact with dark magic is required in order for it to activate..." "What do you think this thing was for?" Black Thorn pointed at the headdress. "That night, when you and Rosie got attacked by those racist thugs, you had inadvertently activated the dark magic within this here headdress, and it is that magic that activated your Tenebros gene... thus giving you the dark magic spell of 'Animus', the power to bring life to those without it. Hence the statues and mummies... and since we were one at some point, I too can use your powers." "Seriously?" Chrysalis frowned. "We went to all that hard work, just to unleash a dark magic-using psychopath?" "Who can turn pretty much any inanimate object into his servant?" Dusty gaped. "Gotta admit, I'm starting to regret it..." Constell said drily. "I'm more surprised to hear that Nightshade, of all ponies, was a Nightcrawler all this time." Shining admitted. "I... I never..." Nightshade stuttered. "Knew?" Black Thorn chuckled. "Of course you didn't. You were so content with what you already had, you didn't bother to dig deeper. Even with your Tenebros gene active, your dark magic powers remain dormant, gathering dust, so to speak. But I did you a favor and kept it in good use so that your body can handle it... so I could handle it in this body. It's actually quite fitting that your magic is mine now, since you did so little with it in the first place. I'll be putting it to good use, trust me." "Trust you?" Echo snarled. "I won't hear of it!" Microcrystals emerged from his wings."It is one thing to take one's magic away from him, but to take his own 'gift' away from him?! Mark my words, I will see to it that you use ponies no more, like Sterling!" "Oh? Look at you, using the spell of your dead brother." Black Thorn sneered. "No wonder Sterling was caught off guard. But hey... that's what you get for trusting a wingless freak." "How dare you!" Echo yelled. "Synchro gave me his magic freely, and I'm using it to help make this world a better place. And regardless of his actions, I will not allow you to insult his memory!" "It's you I'm interested in insulting." Black Thorn spat. "You see, our old friend Sterling had me in mind for his little 'super-soldier' project. That is, until he took a fancy to you. Oh, the indignity, being replaced by an inferior life-form..." "Believe me, I was exactly thrilled at the prospect." Echo retorted. "Well, none of that matters now." Black Thorn shrugged. "Sterling's scheming landed him in jail, and here I am, ready to take control of this country. I will become the Dark Thorn of Haygypt, scourge of those who oppose me!" "Not unless we stop you." Shine growled. "Oh, please." Black Thorn sneered. "I wouldn't bet too much on that happening." "Guess again, Black Thorn." Shining Armor declared. "Even with your reinforcements, I'd say our numbers are about even." "My advice to you? Leave the thinking to your bookworm sister." Black Thorn mocked him. "Keep joking, because you won't be laughing for much longer." Cadance growled. "We'll see..." Black Thorn turned to his forces. "Get them!" The guards, mummies and statues charged forward. The guards still loyal to Nightshade clashed with their traitorous comrades, while the visiting royals battled the statues and mummies, while simultaneously protecting the powerless Nightshade. "Take this, mindless puppet!" Chrysalis blasted one of the mummies. The mummy was blasted into the wall, collapsing to the floor in a jumble of broken bones. Just as Chrysalis was about to claim victory, the mummy pulled all its bones back into place, got up, and started attacking again. "What is this?" Chrysalis frowned. "These things are dead, remember?" Sunset declared, as she blasted another mummy. "It's not like you can do anything worse to them..." Constell blasted on of the statues, blowing it to bits. "Gotcha!" She grinned. "Didn't anypony ever tell you it isn't nice to break other pony's toys?" Black Thorn sneered, as his horn lit up. Suddenly, the statue's pieces were brought back together, and the damage repaired. "Okay, now that's just unfair." Constell frowned. The non-Alicorns were doing their part, but fared no matter. Sleight's card attacks only served to slow them down. "Looks like a storm!" He yelled, flinging a blizzard at cards at a statue. The statue simply walked through it, undeterred. "Not a fan of card tricks, huh? Typical..." "Yah!" Flashed divebombed a mummy, tackling it to the ground. The mummy recovered instantly, grabbing Flash and tossing him away. "Oh, come on!" Shine was grappling with a statue. "Nnghhh..." He groaned, his muscles not built to contend with stone. "I've done some weird things in my life, but this takes the cake..." At the same time, Shining threw up a shield around himself, Cadance Dusty, and Sunset, struggling to maintain it as a mummy and statue beat against the barrier. "This would be easier if these things actually got tired..." Shine groaned. "As it is, I don't know how much longer I can keep this up..." "You don't have to." Cadance urged. "Let me help..." "No, I won't let you risk yourself..." Shining declared. "Not in that state." "Either way, this doesn't look good." Blueblood took potshots at one of the statues, but aside from burning a few holes in it, failed to inflict any damage at all. "If anypony has a plan, I'd love to hear it!" He yelled desperately. Meanwhile, Echo saw an opening in the sea of combat. "Take this, you fiend!" Echo launched a wave of crystals toward Black Thorn. "Hah!" Black Thorn annihilated the wave with a blast from his horn. "Impossible." Echo gaped. "I will not lie, Alchemy." Black Thorn sneered, "You certainly have bite. Those seven months of harnessing your Nightcrawler abilities had served you well... just one problem..." Black Thorn blasted Echo back with a dark pulse, the Thestral resorting to using the microcrystals to cushion his fall. "You had seven months. I had over twenty years!" Black Thorn grinned. "You can't beat me, you rank amateur." "That remains to be seen." Echo flared his wings. "Wrong." Black Thorn sneered. "This battle's outcome is a foregone conclusion. Case in point..." Black Thorn blasted Echo away with another shockwave. "And to think, Sterling actually thought he could be worthy..." Black Thorn spat. "Pathetic." It was a losing battle. Since Black Thorn had gotten the strongest guards on his side, the faction still loyal to Nightshade were at a distinct disadvantage. And with their unliving opponents shrugging off even their strongest attacks, the royals weren't doing so well, either. The Alicorns and Chrysalis were fighting at half strength, and their reserves were draining fast. "This isn't working!" Luna yelled, as she blasted a mummy aside. "We must retreat!" "Never!" Nightshade said defiantly. "I won't let that monster drive me out of my own palace!" "Luna is right." Celestia declared, panting heavily. "We cannot win. Not like this, at least. We need to regroup until our magic builds back up." "We can't just leave!" Red Rose countered. "What about Day Light and Starlight?" "We'll make a detour." Twilight declared. "We'll pick them up, then get out of here." "No!" Nightshade protested. "I refuse to leave! I won't my palace and my kingdom fall into the hooves of that fiend!" "We all understand how you feel." Shine told him, as he shoved aside a mummy. "But what else can we do?" "We can fight!" Nightshade yelled. "I don't need my magic to make that monster pay!" "Nighty, please." Red Rose begged. "Listen to reason. I hate the thought of abandoning the palace to Black Thorn, but we can't stop that fiend right now. If we keep fighting, we will surely die, and then nothing will stand in Black Thorn's way." "I'd listen to the mare, if I were you." Flash declared. Nightshade struggled with himself for a moment, before finally seeing sense. "Alright, fine." He sighed. "We're going. But we'll be back." "Of course we will." Red Rose nodded. "We'll cover you, your highness." The captain of the guard declared. "Thank you, captain." Nightshade smiled. "Your loyalty means a lot to me." "Time to go, everypony!" Cadance yelled, as the guard took up the front line. "Think you can run, huh?" Black Thorn smirked. "Go ahead and try. We'll see how far you'll get." "Further than you think, pal." Sunset glared, as Echo created a shield of crystals. Using her magic, she conjured up a ball of light which exploded into a flash of light. The guards on their side were unaffected, due to facing a way from it, and the crystal shield protected the royals, but Black Thorn and his forces were blinded. "Gaaah!" Black Thorn roared, his hooves over his eyes. "Lousy cheaters!" "Nice trick, you two." Sleight smiled, as he ran towards the royal physician's office. "Yeah." Dusty nodded. "Really... flashy." "Please, no puns." Sunset frowned, her pregnant self riding on a wave of crystals, courtesy of her fiancé. Starlight was still in the physician's office, wracked with indecision over the day's revelations, when her mother and the royals dashed. "Starlight, we have to go." Twilight declared, out of breath. "Now." "We're going home?" Starlight asked. "Not exactly." Flash said sternly. "What's going on?" Day Light asked, noticing all the battle damage. "What happened to you all?" "There's no time to explain." Nightshade declared, as he and Red Rose helped him out of bed. "We must leave the palace post-haste." "You would be wise to leave, too." Red Rose told the physician. "And spread the word to as many of the servants as you can." "Yes, your highness." The physician nodded, confused but obedient. "Can somepony please tell me what's going on here?" Starlight asked indignantly. "Not now, kid." Sleight said bluntly. "We gotta move!" As they walked back into the corridor, Black Thorn and his forces were near, the loyal guards fending them off. "Didn't think you'd get away that easy, did you?" Black Thorn taunted them. Starlight's jaw dropped. She looked from Black Thorn to Nightshade, and back again. "Okay, who is that?!" She yelped. "It's a long story..." Day Light said sheepishly. "We'll tell you later." Twilight declared. "But for now, we have to go!" The royals raced down the corridor. The loyal guards broke off their fighting and followed, their counterparts in hot pursuit. "After them!" Black Thorn yelled. As they finally reached the front doors, Echo fell behind. Once everypony was through, he created a wall with his crystals around the frame. "That should buy us a few moments." He declared. "To do what?" Blueblood asked. "Where do we go from here?" "Where can we hide where Black Thorn won't think to look?" Dusty asked. "I think I might know a place we can hole up in." Red Rose declared. "Excellent." Chrysalis smiled. "Where is it?" "It's not far here." Red Rose smiled. "Follow me." "I don't care where this place is." Starlight declared. "As long as somepony explains things to me once we get there!" As the group made their way into Cairode, Black Thorn's forces slowly tore down the crystal wall. Once the wall was shattered, they realized their quarry was gone. "Unbelievable." Black Thorn shook his head. "No offense, your kingship, but we could gotten to him if you had just blasted a hole in the wall." One of the guards declared. "What, and damage my new palace?" Black Thorn snorted. "Not a chance!" "But they got away." Another guard pointed out. "Let them run." Black Thorn shrugged. "They'll make some kind of foolhardy comeback attempt sooner or later, and we'll finish them then. Until that moment comes, they can hide like rats for all I care. I have bigger fish to fry." Meanwhile, the royals reached their destination; a small, run-down house, in the lower-class section of Cairode. "This is our hiding place?" Chrysalis asked skeptically. "You were expecting a mansion of some kind?" Red Rose asked sarcastically. "What is this place, anyway?" Shining asked. "My old friend Oasis' place." Red Rose declared. "She moved away a couple of months ago. With nopony in residence, this is the perfect place to hide." "Good thinking, my love." Nightshade congratulated her. "Nopony would think of looking for us here." "Speaking of which, we should get inside, before somepony sees us." Celestia suggested. "Good point." Echo nodded. "A group of our... diversity is bound to attract notice." They slipped into house, and sat down in the living room to catch their breath. Some of Oasis' furniture remained, either too large or too old to be taken with her. "Okay, anypony who's become thoroughly disenchanted with our little trip kindly raise your hoof." Sleight snorted. "I'll admit, I didn't see today turning out like this..." Sunset mused. "Like what?" Starlight asked, frustrated. "Will somepony please tell me what's going on?" "Well, it's like this..." Twilight started. Moments later, the whole story had been told. Starlight was, understandably aghast. "So, Prince Nightshade had some psycho split-personality inside him all this time... and you never thought to tell me?!" Starlight yelled. "It was mostly our fault, honey." Flash admitted. "You were having so much fun hanging out with Day Light, and we didn't want to ruin it..." "Day Light..." Starlight rounded on the young Prince. "Why didn't you tell me?!" "For pretty much the same reason." Day Light sighed. "I don't believe this." Starlight growled. "You all lied to me. Kept this massive secret from me. And all because you didn't want to ruin my fun? What do you think I am? Some little kid, who can't handle bad news?" "Star..." Day Light stepped forward. "Don't... don't talk to me." Starlight frowned. "You're the worst." "Me?" Day Light gaped. "Why?" "After what you told me in the physician's room, I thought you really cared about me." Starlight growled. "But it seems you didn't care enough to trust me with the truth." "I didn't want to weigh down our relationship with my family's burden." Day Light told her. "I'm sorry, Star." "Don't call me that." Starlight spat. "Only my friends can call me that. And after what you did, I don't want you as a friend, much less a coltfriend. In fact, when all this is over, I don't ever want to see you again!" Day Light's face fell as he stumbled back, shattered. "A little harsh, don't you think?" Constell frowned. "I don't care." Starlight huffed. "Look sweetie, now is not the time for us to be divided." Twilight declared. "Your mom's right, hon." Flash nodded. "We gotta stick together." "Oh, really?" Starlight snorted. "You didn't seem to think that before, when you all kept me out of the loop! And for the record, I wouldn't stick with Day Light if my life depended on it!" "Don't blame Day Light, Princess." Nightshade told Starlight, his face awash with sorrow. "It's my fault, really. My curse, and my desperation to be rid of it, brought this upon us all. Because of me, we're reduced to hiding in this den, while Black Thorn has the palace, and free reign to do whatever he wants to Cairode and its citizens. I failed. I failed my family, my newfound friends, my ancestors, and the ponies of my country." "You can't blame yourself for what Black Thorn has done." Luna told him. "Can't I?" Nightshade retorted. "Black Thorn was born from my mind. His evil only exists because of me..." "Nighty, don't say that..." Red Rose tried to comfort him. "I... need to be alone." Nightshade sighed. "I'll be upstairs if anypony needs me..." Nightshade walked up the stairs, a broken shell of a stallion. "Poor guy..." Flash said sympathetically. "He's not wrong, though." Blueblood admitted. "Technically, this is all his fault." "Blue!" Dusty elbowed him. "Well, it's true!" Blueblood protested. "If he hadn't be so ready to split from Black Thorn, none of this would've happened!" "That may be true, but this is hardly the time to be pointing hooves." Echo declared. "Echo's right." Twilight nodded. "Once we build back our strength and come up with a plan, we'll go back to the palace, and take down Black Thorn." The royal prepared to hunker down for the night. Fortunately for the exhausted Alicorns, Dusty had taken some food from lunch especially to give them after their attempt, knowing that they'd be tired. She passed the food out. "There's not enough for everypony, so we'll have to share." She declared. "None for me, thanks." Chrysalis declined. "I can get what I need by feeding off Sleight's love." "Consider it an all-you-can-eat buffet." Sleight smiled. Wordlessly, Day Light offered Starlight some of his food, but she turned away. "She hates me." Day Light sighed. "No she doesn't." Cadance assured him. "I know my niece. Give her time, and she'll forgive you." "I hope so..." Day Light moaned. "I still can't believe what happened back there." Shining frowned. "Sterling had connections with Black Thorn all this time..." "And Nightshade being a Nightcrawler." Sunset added. "I don't think any of us saw that coming..." "Especially those of us who didn't even know what a Nightcrawler was." Sleight frowned. "So much for going home..." Chrysalis sighed. "We must not give up hope." Celestia declared. "Once our magic returns, we will take the fight to Black Thorn, and make things right." "We certainly will." Luna smiled. "That sounds good, but does anypony have an actual plan?" Blueblood asked. "I already have an idea." Twilight revealed. "I just need this time to work it out..." "Not too much time..." Shine pointed out. "After all, who knows what Black Thorn's planning?" "We'll stop him." Sunset declared. "I know we will." "Indeed." Echo nodded. "Of that, there is no doubt..." "I wish I had your optimism." Dusty sighed. As night fell, Nightshade lay on an old bed. He had stayed like that for hours, turning Red rose away when she offered him some food. He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. 'My desire to be free from Black Thorn has unleashed him upon my subjects.' He thought. 'Every he does to them will be on my head. Time to face facts; I've been nothing but a burden to everypony around me. And now I've brought disaster upon us all. The world would be better off if I were never born...' Nightshade sat up. He glanced at the curtains over the window, and came to a decision. Meanwhile, back at the palace, Black Thorn pushed aside a statue in the throne room. Under the statue was a small recess, with a magic mirror inside. When Black Thorn activated the mirror, the masked Unicorn appeared. "Ah, Black Thorn." He said, in his scratchy, authoritative voice. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" "Those fools actually succeeded." Black Thorn announced. "Nightshade and I have been separated." "You don't say..." The Unicorn mused. "And what's more, I manipulated them into giving me most of their magic." Black Thorn added. "Which means I can finally put phase two into action." "Wonderful." The masked unicorn nodded. "And what of the royals?" "They managed to slip away." Black Thorn admitted. "But I had the security buffed on all the walls of Cairode. They won't be leaving anytime soon." "As long as they're dealt with soon, I suppose that will do." The Unicorn declared. "So, you have total control over Cairode's resources?" "Sure do." Black Thorn nodded. "And with the royals here, their own kingdoms will soon fall into chaos." "Interesting." The Unicorn gave a hidden smile. "Perhaps we could use this opportunity to finally spring Mr. Cross and Necross from their cages." "Why bother?" Black Thorn scoffed. "Sterling failed with his project and made friends with a leatherwing. And Silas is just a blowhard who couldn't see past his own ego. They are both useless to our organization now!" "That is not up to you to decide, Thorn!" The masked Unicorn snarled, his horn crackling with electricity. "Must I remind you that Sterling had given a lot to this order while you were off dawdling in somepony else's head! Even Silas had done much more than you!" "Okay, okay, easy!" Black Thorn hissed. "So, when can I expect you guys to open shop here?" "As of now, it's up in the air." The masked unicorn declared, the electricity dissipating. "For now, try to hold the fort. I trust you'll be able to handle that?" "Oh, please, what could go-" Black Thorn suddenly started gasping and wheezing. "What is this?" The Unicorn frowned. "What's going on?" Black Thorn couldn't answer, still inexplicably choking, as he fell to the ground. "Black Thorn!" The Unicorn cried. Back at the mansion, Red Rose entered Nightshade's room. "Dear, I know you said you wanted to be alone, but-" She stopped mid-sentence when she realised what was happening. Nightshade was dangling in the air, having wrapped the curtains around the light fixture and his neck, forming a makeshift noose. "No!" Red Rose cried. She flew up and unwrapped the curtains, then gently set her husband down. "Nighty, speak to me!" "Why... did you... do that?" Nightshade coughed. "I've caused enough trouble for one lifetime... it's better if I end it now..." "Better?" Red Rose yelled. "You think it's 'better' to abandon your wife and child when they need you most? When your country needs you the most?" "What good can I possibly be?" Nightshade asked. "Without my magic, I'm worthless! Because of me, Cairode is going to burn, and I can't do anything to stop it! "Never think that." Red Rose admonished him. "You are not worthless. You're the most wonderful stallion I've ever known." "No, I'm not." Nightshade shook his head. "Like Black Thorn said, I'm weak." "No, you're not." Red Rose countered. "You're strong in ways Black Thorn will never know. Weak would be ending it now, and you are not weak." "I fail to see otherwise." Nightshade frowned. "because of me, our guests have been reduced to hiding in this hovel. They were willing to give anything to help with, and this is how I repay them? They must hate me..." "No, they don't." Red Rose told him. "They don't hold you responsible for this. And they still want to help." "And what of Day Light?" Nightshade asked. "Because of my curse, his relationship with Princess Starlight has been ruined." "It's too early to say that." Red Rose told him. "Either way, I've ruined the lives of everypony around me." Nightshade despaired. "You're wrong." Red Rose said flatly. "You haven't ruined my life." "I haven't?" Nightshade asked. "Of course not." Red Rose smiled. "You gave me love, and companionship. I was never happier then when I became your wife." "But Black Thorn-" Nightshade frowned. "I knew he'd be a problem before that." Red Rose pointed out. "And I married you anyway, because I know it would be worth it. Enduring Black Thorn's vileness was a small price to pay for being with such a wonderful stallion. I always knew you could cast Black Thorn out, and I still do now." "...You really believe in me, don't you?" Nightshade asked, surprised. "Even after-" "Shush." Red Rose hushed him. "I will always believe in you, my love. Always." "What a fool I've been." Nightshade sighed. "Forgive me, my darling." "Let us talk no more of it." Red Rose declared, as she embraced. "You're right." Nightshade whispered. "I am strong, and I will use that strength to help take back what Black Thorn took from me…" "Now there's the stallion I married." Red Rose beamed. "And I am so glad you did." Nightshade grinned, as he kissed her. Meanwhile, back at the palace, Black Thorn had just recovered. "What was that?" The Unicorn asked. "…I don't know." Black Thorn admitted, breathing heavily. "It felt like I was being hung or something. But I don't get why…" "Hmm..." The Unicorn pondered. "Wasn't there something about that spell you tricked the others into using on you that did something like this?" "What, the Gemini spell?" Black Thorn scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous!" He pulled the spell page, having picked it up from the battlefield after the others fled. "I had modified it to perfection!" He looked it over, "There's no way I would had... uh-oh..." "What's 'uh-oh'?" The masked Unicorn narrowed his eyes. "There might be a little problem." Black Thorn frowned. "It seems that in my haste to be free, I had forgotten to account for the part of the spell that deals with the connection between me and Nightshade... where all things inflicted upon one would be inflicted upon the other, be they a nosebleed or an arrow to a knee. Now, instead of the damage occurring when we merge together, it happens anytime one of us gets so much as a papercut!" "I wouldn't call that a little problem." The masked Unicorn growled. "If something were to happen to your 'friend', you would fall and everything in your plan would be all for naught... and you wonder why Mr. Cross had chosen Echo over you." "Hey, don't you dare count me out yet." Black Thorn snarled. "I can fix this! Just give me a day or so, and we will be right on track." "See that you do." The masked Unicorn nodded. "Remember, there are many others aside from you that we could be investing our time in. Don't disappoint us." "I won't." Black Thorn nodded. The masked Unicorn gave a firm nod before fading from the mirror... "Thunder-headed fool..." Black Thorn hissed, as he turned to a guard. "You!" "Yes, my King?" The guard bowed. "Spread the word: I want Nightshade found and brought to me." Black Thorn ordered. "Alive, and intact. No harm is to come to him… understood?" "Of course, your highness." The guard nodded. As the guard left, Black Thorn glanced at the night sky. "I won't let you ruin things for me now, Nightshade." He seethed. "Not when I'm so close...."