Hatred is Magic

by smirker

Chapter 10

The next morning came and Twilight Sparkle woke up from her bed, she walked to Starburn and Daylight Dimmer and saw they were awake and being watched by Starlight Glimmer and Spike,

"How have they been?" Twilight Sparkle asked,

"Completely quiet." Starlight Glimmer replied,

"Yeah, no resistance or anything, they're just sitting there." Spike added, Sunset Shimmer walked and entered the room,

"I couldn't sleep, I was dreaming about Daylight Dimmer being Princess Celestia's pupil." Sunset Shimmer said,

"It would've made my life a whole lot better if she did accept Pegasi and earth ponies as well." Daylight Dimmer commented,

"You saw that Princess Celestia and I had a falling out, though." Sunset Shimmer reminded,

"True, I think the same would've happened between me and her, I just wanted to be her pupil to escape the life I hated, but I'm still glad I met Master, he and I never had a falling out." Daylight Dimmer commented,

"And now he has two pupils." Starlight Glimmer said,

"No, uncle took me in because the other members of my family didn't want to raise me, I just live in that cave because that's where uncle lived with his master, I may be trained and learned how to use hatred as magic, but I'm not at my uncle's level, I'm mainly a scout and backup whenever uncle has trouble." Starburn revealed,

"And your master?" Twilight Sparkle asked,

"Last resort." Daylight Dimmer answered, Spike burped and a letter came out, he opened it and read it,

"Princess Celestia wants us all at Canterlot now, we are to bring Starburn and Daylight Dimmer with us as well." Spike stated,

"Alright, let's go then." Twilight Sparkle remarked, and they headed outside with Spike carrying the chair Starburn was tied to while Starlight Glimmer and Sunset Shimmer used telekinesis to move the chair Daylight Dimmer was tied to. They headed outside and saw everybody in town around them,

"Is it over?" Ocellus asked,

"I'm sorry, Ocellus, but apparently, there's a third culprit." Twilight Sparkle answered, Ocellus groaned and clutched her head,

"Ocellus, if what we found out is right, then this third culprit is more than likely the last one." Twilight Sparkle stated,

"Really?" Ocellus asked,

"Really, this person we believe to be the last culprit is Daylight Dimmer's master, he's the one that freed Chrysalis from her prison and trained Daylight Dimmer, we're taking them to Princess Celestia to look into his memories again and undo a spell since he's not appearing in Daylight Dimmer's memories when Sunset Shimmer looks into them, we can't hear what he's saying, either." Twilight Sparkle explained,

"Twilight, Princess Celestia wants Ocellus and her friends to come along, too." Spike spoke,

"We're coming regardless." Sandbar responded,

"So are we." Apple Bloom added, Twilight Sparkle looked back and saw her with Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, they held the chair Starburn was tied to since Spike was getting tired,

"Our sisters are already at the train stop with their friends." Sweetie Belle said,

"Okay, and thanks, I think Spike could use some help carrying Starburn." Twilight Sparkle responded, and they went. Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack stood at the train stop and heard walking, they saw Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Sunset Shimmer, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Sandbar, Gallus, Ocellus, Smolder, Yona, and Silverstream coming,

"There y'all are, the train should be here any minute now." Applejack stated,

"They're late again?" Scootaloo asked,

"Yeah, train's kind of slow today." Rainbow Dash replied,

"So, do any of you have an idea on who Daylight Dimmer's master is?" Sweetie Belle questioned,

"Sorry, Sweetie Belle, we don't have a clue." Rarity responded,

"How did you three find out about them being involved in the killings?" Smolder asked,

"We realized during every changeling death, Daylight Dimmer wasn't in town around the time the time of the deaths were announced." Apple Bloom answered,

"Yeah, I noticed that, too." Twilight Sparkle spoke,

"Still, we just thought Daylight Dimmer was the tracker, we didn't think he was the killer." Apple Bloom remarked,

"I mean, from basic logic, it wouldn't make sense since they're earth ponies." Silverstream commented,

"What about Pinkie Pie? How do you explain her then?" Scootaloo asked,

"Hyper senses that run in my family." Pinkie Pie answered,

"Oh, the train's coming, everybody." Fluttershy stated, and they saw it,

"What are you going to do with these two?" Gallus asked,

"Princess Celestia will decide." Twilight Sparkle replied,

"Yona say hand them over to changelings." Yona suggested,

"We might do that." Twilight Sparkle answered, and the train came, they all carried Daylight Dimmer and Starburn into it and boarded it.

---

The train arrived in Canterlot and Twilight Sparkle and the others headed to Canterlot Castle's throne room,

"We've brought them, Princess Celestia." Twilight Sparkle spoke,

"Thank you, we will decide their sentences shortly, but before we do, Twilight, did you record the memories with your magic?" Princess Celestia questioned,

"Yes, I did." Twilight Sparkle answered,

"Good, now Sunset won't have to review them again, play the part where you first noticed something strange, Luna and I will see if we can undo the spell." Princess Celestia instructed,

"Let's just try to replay for now, if Daylight Dimmer's master is who we think it is, we'll be able to recognize him by just his voice." Princess Luna added,

"Go ahead and play it now, Twilight." Princess Celestia instructed, and she did. A white sphere floated in the air and to the princesses, their magic auras appeared on their horns as they heard Daylight Dimmer destroying everything, they soon heard him walking and stop and sigh, they then heard walking in the sphere,

"I saw your fit of rage back there, I think you may have potential." a stallion said in a deep voice, everybody except the princesses gasped while they made the orb disappear,

"There's no doubt about it." Princess Luna stated, everybody present except for Princess Celestia exclaimed with shock,

"It's Demonicus." Princess Luna revealed, the six mares' jaws dropped while the others looked on confused,

"Who's Demonicus?" Sandbar asked,

"This is Demonicus, he's the black unicorn in the picture." Princess Celestia answered as she used her magic to bring forth a picture of him, herself, and Star Swirl the Bearded,

"Tia and Demonicus were students under Star Swirl, Demonicus was dismissed in his desire to use hatred as magic and wanting to invade countries that were constantly attacking us." Princess Luna explained,

"And he was right, he showed us that hatred is magic." Starburn remarked,

"Well, one form of magic, but all forms of emotions are magic, Starburn." Princess Celestia responded,

"I could've been one of your students, Celestia." Daylight Dimmer spoke, everybody present gasped,

"Did he just... call her Celestia instead of Princess Celestia?" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed,

"It's okay, Twilight, it's just a title, and Daylight Dimmer, I wasn't looking for a pupil to have a happier life, I was looking for one to develop friendship, I really am sorry about the environment you grew up in." Princess Celestia responded,

"I still wish you took in Pegasi and earth ponies." Daylight Dimmer lamented,

"I didn't know at the time that they could learn magic through meditation and shoot blasts out of their hoofs, but now that I do, I kind of wish I did." Princess Celestia replied,

"So what do we do with them?" Ocellus asked,

"I'll have them put in holding cells for now, I'll decide their sentence after I get Demonicus." Princess Celestia answered,

"My friends and I are ready to track him down, Princess Celestia." Twilight Sparkle declared,

"No, I'll get him, you all have done enough, you all have my thanks for catching the killer and his backup." Princess Celestia replied,

"So, we just leave now?" Sweetie Belle questioned,

"You may, just try to have fun and relax today, and Ocellus, try to be comfortable." Princess Celestia said,

"I'll try." Ocellus spoke,

"Good, go on now, I'll start looking for Demonicus now." Princess Celestia stated, and they all left while the royal guards took Daylight Dimmer and Starburn to their holding cells. Princess Celestia looked at the letter Spike sent,

"Okay, Luna, Spike wrote that Daylight Dimmer is from a farm in a desert." Princess Celestia said,

"He would be from around Appleloosa and Dodge Town then, he must be from the San Palomino Desert." Princess Luna answered,

"That would make sense, there's forest to the south of it, the cave he's staying at might be there." Princess Celestia stated,

"I agree, maybe Demonicus is in that forest." Princess Luna added,

"Alright, I'll go check now." Princess Celestia spoke,

"Okay, be careful sister." Princess Luna responded, and Princess Celestia flew out of Canterlot and headed to the forest.

---

Twilight Sparkle and the others arrived back at Ponyville and got off the train,

"So, what do we do now?" Smolder asked,

"I guess all we can do is continue rehearsing for the play we're planning to put on." Twilight Sparkle stated,

"I'm still not comfortable in acting knowing there's still someone out there killing my kind." Ocellus spoke,

"Have some faith in Princess Celestia, Ocellus, her magic is a lot more powerful than Twilight's." Applejack assured,

"Yeah, but that must also mean Demonicus is terrifyingly strong, especially since he also learned under Star Swirl the Bearded, he must be very powerful." Sandbar remarked,

"I'm confident Princess Celestia got this, come on now, let's rehearse our play." Twilight Sparkle assured, and they all headed to the School of Friendship.

---

Princess Celestia walked into the forest south of San Palomino Desert and looked for any caves, she found one and looked into it, there was nothing inside, she walked a little deeper into the forest and saw another cave, she walked into it and saw a small puddle of water on the ground, she looked into it and saw Daylight Dimmer and Starburn in their holding cells in its reflections. Her attention got caught and she quickly looked up, she saw Demonicus sitting in front of her, he looked exactly the same as he did a thousand years go,

"It's been a long time, Celestia." Demonicus said,

"Indeed it has, Luna and I thought you were dead." Princess Celestia replied,

"I've just been hiding ever since Star Swirl dismissed me, protecting Equestria from the shadows." Demonicus answered,

"Protecting? Haven't you learned anything about forgiveness and friendship?" Princess Celestia inquired,

"I did, I taught Daylight Dimmer to give people like those changelings second chances, but if they cause trouble a second time, they die." Demonicus responded,

"You risked the changelings declaring war on us, Demonicus." Princess Celestia reminded,

"That would've just meant making their kind extinct then." Demonicus retorted,

"You may have Equestria's protection in mind, but your methods are unacceptable, I am here to arrest you." Princess Celestia declared,

"I'm not coming quietly." Demonicus answered, and they got ready to fight one another.

---

Princess Celestia watched Demonicus closely and he just stood there, she shot chains made of yellow magic out of her horn in an attempt to tie him up but a red aura appeared on his horn and he disappeared, he reappeared behind her and shot a big red blast out of his horn, Princess Celestia quickly put up a shield to block it. She turned around and shot yellow blasts out of her horn at him, he cast a spell and made the blasts turn red and go after Princess Celestia, she absorbed the blasts into her horn's magic aura and shot out a big yellow blast while Demonicus teleported. Demonicus appeared to Princess Celestia's right blind spot and bucked her with his hind legs, she shrieked while she fell and her horn stabbed into the wall, Demonicus then began shooting red blasts at her while Princess Celestia shrieked at getting hit by his beams, she put a shield up around herself and teleported. Demonicus closed his eyes and meditated, he sensed where Princess Celestia was going to appear, he turned his head to his left and Princess Celestia appeared, he quickly shot a red zap out of his horn and Princess Celestia shrieked as she got knocked down.

Princess Celestia got back up and Demonicus quickly shot a big red blast out of his horn, she shot a big yellow blast out of her horn and the two entered a deadlock, the two focused and Princess Celestia began to overpower Demonicus slowly, he reeled up on his hind legs and shot two big red blasts at her, one from each front hoof, Princess Celestia quickly cast a spell to absorb the blasts into her own magic and they turned yellow, she then shot a yellow blast four times bigger than her usual blast and blasted Demonicus into the wall behind him. She looked and saw smoke on Demonicus' body, he began running to her at lightning speed and she desperately shot zaps at him but he sidestepped left and right and dodged each zap with an afterimage behind himself, he began getting closer to Princess Celestia and was in front of her, he tried to stab his horn into her heart but she quickly jumped back. Princess Celestia began to pant and got ready to cast a healing spell on herself but stopped when she saw Demonicus' eyes turn green with purple mists around them and a purple haze engulf his horn, she realized he was casting dark magic. Black crystals came out of the ground and Demonicus cast a spell to make the crystals break into shards and float around him, he pointed his horn at Princess Celestia and the dark crystal shards flew to her, she shot zaps at the crystals and destroyed them and continued to focus on Demonicus.

Princess Celestia saw Demonicus cast another dark magic spell and he began shooting dark crystal shards out of his horn, she flew around to dodge them and shot a big beam out of her horn at him, he grunted as he staggered back a little. She shot more zaps out of her horn at him, he sidestepped and dodged them all easily, Princess Celestia shot a beam at the ground in front of Demonicus' front hoofs and it exploded, he jumped over it while doing a somersault and landed on the ground with his front hoofs and did a hoofstand, he propelled himself into the air and did another somersault, he got ready to kick Princess Celestia with the back of his hind right hoof and she quickly flew back to dodge him. Demonicus stood upright and he jumped while spinning in midair, he did several kicks with his hind legs as he went up in the air and a red blast came out of his hind hoofs with each kick he did, Princess Celestia put up a shield and each blast exploded on impact, she screamed as she got pushed back by them. She quickly put her shield down while Demonicus landed and she shot big blasts at him that were too big for him to dodge by sidestepping, he put up a shield with his magic that blocked her blasts and they began to change color, they became orange at first and then red, they then turned around and shot at Princess Celestia, she exclaimed loudly as she flew down to dodge the blasts, she looked on in shock while Demonicus had a stoic expression.

Demonicus noticed Princess Celestia getting tired and he shot a big red blast out of his horn at her, she teleported and appeared behind him, she shot him in the back of his neck and he grunted. She began to pant and decided to start teleporting around and shot Demonicus with her magic blasts from his blind spots, he put up a shield after the fourth hit and Princess Celestia's blast turned orange and then red and went back to her, she teleported away while the blast hit a wall and it exploded. Princess Celestia appeared behind him and panted while he kept his shield up, he turned around and just looked at her, her eyes widened as she thought she has lost while Demonicus waited for her to make her next move, she thought of something and flew to him, she touched his shield but screamed when she got electrocuted and it shot her back. She stood up and panted while trying to think of something, she looked up at the stalactites on the ceiling and got an idea, she shot a blast at them and they fell on Demonicus, the rest began to fall and she flew out of the cave.

Princess Celestia arrived outside and looked at the cave, it was now barricaded, her eyes widened with horror since Demonicus did not come out, she flew down and walked to the entrance, a red explosion came out of the cave and she screamed as it pushed her back. She looked forward and saw dark crystals form out of the ground, Demonicus slid out of the cave and he was now in a shadow form like King Sombra, his face came out of the shadow. Princess Celestia stood up and saw Demonicus coming towards her with spears made of red energy coming out of his body, she quickly shot beams at him and he slithered around to dodge them, he then shot a red blast out of his horn and Princess Celestia flew back to dodge it, the red blast hit the ground and exploded. Demonicus cast another dark magic spell and two skeletal ponies came out of the ground to his sides, Princess Celestia's eyes widened when she saw Demonicus was casting necromancy, the two ponies charged at her and she quickly shot them apart with her magic and the bones got absorbed into Demonicus' shadow body.

Demonicus cast necromancy again and more skeletal fauna and ponies appeared, Princess Celestia shot blasts at all of them to destroy them and Demonicus continued to absorb the bones into himself, he soon stopped and he began shooting the spears made of red energy and bones out of his body while parts of his shadow body were on them. Princess Celestia quickly put up a shield and teleported around until Demonicus' shadow body was gone, the spears and bones all glowed and she realized what was going to happen, she flew away and they exploded, everybody in Equestria looked and saw the big red explosion. Princess Celestia reappeared and saw the shadow parts forming together, they gathered together and formed into Demonicus, he stood upright on his hind legs and had swords made of red energy in his front hoofs. Demonicus swung his two swords around and sent waves of red energy forward, Princess Celestia flew around to dodge them and Demonicus then spun his swords around and then did a horizontal slash, a vertical slash, and two diagonal slashes, the energy waves formed two red circles with eight pointed stars in them, they soon overlapped and Princess Celestia flew over them to dodge them.

Demonicus stabbed his two swords into the ground, a red pillar of fire made from his hatred magic engulfed the entire forest and went into the sky, Princess Celestia put up her shield to block it since it was too big for her to dodge by teleporting. The pillar of fire went down and Princess Celestia exclaimed and quickly flew to the side when she saw Demonicus was below her and about to stab one of his swords into her abdomen, she panted when she dodged his attack and he noticed it. Demonicus pointed his two swords forward and shot red blasts out of them and then a third red blast out of his horn, he combined them together into one big blast while Princess Celestia shot a yellow blast out of her horn and they entered a deadlock. Princess Celestia noticed her beam was three times smaller than Demonicus' and he began to overpower her easily, she focused and gathered energy from the sun, her blast got bigger and began to push Demonicus' beam back, he cast a spell and made the sun brighter and hotter; Princess Celestia panted but she focused, she began to overpower him and was about to blast him away, but Demonicus put up his shield and her blast turned orange and then red and deflected to her, Princess Celestia yelped and quickly flew up while the blast hit a tree and everything in the direction the blast went exploded and got destroyed.

Princess Celestia looked and saw the blast destroyed every plant life there was in the direction it went, it also put a crater in the ground that went all the way to the ocean. She heard energy waves coming and saw Demonicus swinging his swords again, she teleported to behind him and made a rope appear, she enchanted it with love and friendship magic and then proceeded to wrap and tie Demonicus with it, his swords disappeared and he fell, but he stretched his limbs out and broke the rope easily. Princess Celestia quickly cast a spell to make a chain appear and enchanted it while panting, she wrapped it around Demonicus and he stretched his limbs out and broke the chains easily. Princess Celestia desperately cast duct tape around Demonicus' hoofs and enchanted it, he stretched his legs out and broke out of both of his restraints, Princess Celestia then cast a spell to put duct tape around his hoofs again and then tied him up with rope and chains and enchanted them to cancel out of his magic, he tried to break free but could not.

---

Princess Celestia panted and sighed with relief, but she soon yelped when Demonicus shot a red blast out of his horn at her, she quickly cast a spell on his horn to prevent him from casting and yellow chains appeared around it,

"*pant* *pant* There... I... *pant* finally... caught you." Princess Celestia said while exhausted and she fell onto the ground,

"Princess Celestia!" Twilight Sparkle called out,

"Tia!" Princess Luna called out, and Twilight Sparkle and her friends and Princess Luna hurried to her,

"It's alright *pant* I just need to rest a little." Princess Celestia stated,

"I guess we're stuck here for now." Demonicus remarked,

"What the?" Twilight Sparkle blurted as she looked at him,

"You look... almost just like Princess Celestia." Twilight Sparkle commented,

"It's coincidence, I have no relation to her or Luna." Demonicus answered,

"Why did you get a student for, Demonicus?" Sunset Shimmer questioned,

"It was to one-up Celestia, and since Daylight Dimmer and I never had a falling out while Celestia had to start over, I think that proves I'm the better mentor." Demonicus explained,

"What you taught wasn't right, Demonicus." Princess Luna stated,

"Typical Celestia and Luna, always only seeing how love and friendship can be used as magic while ignoring hatred is as equally powerful and can be used as a force for good." Demonicus remarked,

"A force for good? I don't see how." Rarity spoke,

"Hatred as magic has proven to be good for offensive spells, we could've used it to fend off our invaders, both, the changelings, and when Chrysalis, Tirek, and Cozy Glow attacked the country." Demonicus explained,

"Maybe so, I still find killing them to be a bit excessive." Princess Luna stated,

"Only Chrysalis and Tirek would've been killed." Demonicus responded, Princess Celestia recovered and stood back up,

"Okay, my energy's back, let's take him to Canterlot." Princess Celestia said, and they did.

---

Princess Celestia and the others escorted Demonicus into Canterlot Castle and she ordered the royal guards to bring Daylight Dimmer and Starburn, they arrived shortly afterwards, the two now had magic enchanted cuffs on their hoofs to cancel out their magic,

"Master!" Daylight Dimmer exclaimed,

"Sir!" Starburn called out,

"Turns out they got me too." Demonicus stated, they heard walking and Star Swirl the Bearded walked to him,

"I am very disappointed with you, Demonicus, all of these years, you still couldn't stop suggesting using hatred as magic nor find an alternate to dealing with threats besides killing them, you should also be ashamed over the fact that you corrupted two ponies' minds and taught them hatred is magic instead of friendship." Star Swirl the Bearded spoke,

"I thought I'd be able to wear him down and then arrest him after he was exhausted, but I couldn't, he's physically fit like before, I was the one who got worn out." Princess Celestia commented,

"Looks like your diet of cakes, cupcakes, and pancakes have finally caught up to you, Celestia." Demonicus remarked, Princess Celestia's jaw dropped while she blushed,

"So I see that's the same as well." Star Swirl the Bearded remarked,

"What?" Twilight Sparkle asked,

"When these two were my students, Celestia was the better of the two when it came to magic while Demonicus excelled at physical training and melee combat." Star Swirl the Bearded explained, the others had surprised expressions while Princess Celestia hid her face,

"We have failed you, Master." Daylight Dimmer stated,

"No, it's okay, Daylight Dimmer, I lost, too." Demonicus responded,

"Let's start their trials now, King Thorax and the changelings from the Hive will be there, too." Princess Celestia stated, and they were escorted.

---

The trial began and many people attended, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Sunset Shimmer, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Sandbar, Gallus, Ocellus, Smolder, Yona, Silverstream, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor, and Sunburst were all present, King Thorax, Pharynx, and the changelings from the Hive were there as well, Green Magician, Absinthe, and Ginger Ale also attended while Lemon Lime was brought in by the royal guards to watch the trial. The judge decided that King Thorax and the changelings decide their sentences, the other changelings began chanting to sentence the three to death,

"That will not do." King Thorax remarked, the changelings exclaimed with confusion,

"I understand you all are angry at them, the changelings they killed may have been loyal to Queen Chrysalis and were planning to invade and overthrow us, alongside cutting ties with us, but they were still our family and former friends, I understand why you all want them killed, but killing them will not bring back our family members and former friends that they have killed, and as you saw in Daylight Dimmer's memories, they even saved some of our fellow changelings who supported me from being beaten or even killed by their family members who remained loyal to Chrysalis, and they even said those loyal to me will be spared, so therefore, I think the best sentence for these three is servitude to us." King Thorax spoke, the changelings began complaining angrily. Pharynx stood up and raised his front legs and they got quiet,

"I get why you all want them dead, but it won't change anything, the deaths they caused cannot be undone, and while they did murder our kind, they had their own country's protection in mind. It is true we have invaded their country and destroyed property and killed ponies when Chrysalis was our ruler, we're not innocent either, and they have stated if we didn't invade their country, they wouldn't have hunted us down, so in a way, it is Chrysalis' fault on why they hunted us, if we haven't attacked or invaded them, they would've left us be." Pharynx explained, the changelings became silent and looked at one another,

"I think the best sentence is have Starburn, Daylight Dimmer, and Demonicus serve us and try to have us and them understand one another, so something like this doesn't happen ever again in our lifetime or future generations." King Thorax explained,

"How long?" Starburn asked,

"Until we come to an understanding, and after that, have you three sent back here and taught about the magic of friendship." King Thorax replied, the ponies agreed,

"I believe Demonicus should serve some time in jail, while Daylight Dimmer and Starburn shall learn the errors of their ways." Princess Celestia suggested, everybody agreed,

"Very well, you three are to learn the ways and cultures of Thorax and his changelings, and after that, Demonicus, you will serve time in jail, Daylight Dimmer, you will be learning under the guidance of Princess Celestia, Starburn, you will attend the School of Friendship, you three will still have full contact with one another." the judge declared, he hit his gavel while everybody smiled,

"Come on, you three." King Thorax stated, and everybody left the courtroom.

---

The weeks passed and everybody in Ponyville began helping the School of Friendship get everything together for their upcoming play,

"It's finally over." Ocellus stated,

"It is, Ocellus, I hope these killings of your kind never happen again." Twilight Sparkle replied,

"Hey, um... do you think Demonicus and the others are going to try to kill Tirek?" Rainbow Dash asked,

"It's possible, but I don't think it's necessary as of now, Princess Celestia cast a spell on him and Cozy Glow to make their stone prisons harder to undo." Twilight Sparkle responded,

"That's good, I hope it's enough, too, come on, everypony, let's rehearse." Fluttershy spoke, and they did. A week passed and Starburn walked to the School of Friendship with Daylight Dimmer,

"You ready, Starburn?" Daylight Dimmer asked,

"Yes, uncle." Starburn replied,

"Okay, see you later." Daylight Dimmer stated,

"Bye, uncle." Starburn responded, and Daylight Dimmer headed to Canterlot. Starburn walked forward and Twilight Sparkle was waiting for him,

"Hello, Starburn, just settle in for today, you'll begin learning about friendship starting tomorrow." Twilight Sparkle spoke,

"I'm not sure if I'll learn anything." Starburn remarked,

"I hope you do, come on, I'll give you a tour." Twilight Sparkle replied, and she did, she showed him the school and he then sat on the bed in his dorm,

"What are those?" Twilight Sparkle asked as she pointed to his letters,

"Master's been writing to me and uncle on how he's been in prison." Starburn answered,

"How is he?" Twilight Sparkle asked,

"He's fine." Starburn replied,

"That's good, we're going to be doing a play soon, you're welcome to come and watch." Twilight Sparkle spoke, and she left. Starburn settled down and set his letters aside, he decided to go watch the play since he had nothing to unpack.

---

Starburn went outside and saw the stage, he trotted there and saw Vine, Rose, Tulip, Anvil Striker, Ornamental Jewelry, Strawberry, Blueberry, Haute Cuisine, Monochrome, Bit Counter, and Banker were all still in the town, he looked and saw Alloy Smelter was also there and has fully recovered, he went to go sit with them and they smiled at him. He began to watch the play and saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders in the crowd, Green Magician, Absinthe, and Ginger Ale were also present,

"Hello, everybody, thank you for coming to our play, it took us a lot longer than we thought it would to start it, but let's begin, our play is a story between star-crossed lovers and two feuding families." Twilight Sparkle spoke through a megaphone, and everybody cheered. Starburn thought about his life in the School of Friendship and Daylight Dimmer learning under Princess Celestia, he smiled at the thought of he and Daylight Dimmer making new friends and the play began, he went to bed in his dorm after it finished. The next morning came and Starburn went out of his dorm,

"You're up already, this way, Starburn, I'm about to start a lecture." Twilight Sparkle said, and they trotted to where she taught, he sat beside Ocellus while Twilight Sparkle began teaching and began his new life at the School of Friendship.

---

Daylight Dimmer arrived in Canterlot and saw Princess Celestia waiting for him,

"Welcome, Daylight Dimmer, I assume you know why you're going to be taught under me." Princess Celestia spoke,

"You're taking me in as your new pupil?" Daylight Dimmer asked,

"No, it is since you have been taught by Demonicus longer than Starburn, teaching you the magic of friendship is going to be harder than teaching it to him, I don't think Twilight's teachings will be enough to sway or convince you, there's also the fact you're already an adult while Starburn is still a foal." Princess Celestia explained,

"I understand." Daylight Dimmer stated,

"Good, this way now, let's begin teaching you how love and friendship is better to use as magic than hatred." Princess Celestia said, and he followed her into the castle.

---

Demonicus was meditating in his cell and watching Daylight Dimmer and Starburn, he opened his eyes when his cell door was opened,

"It's manual labor time, Demonicus." the stallion who opened his cell said, Demonicus stood up and looked back, he smiled at the fact that Daylight Dimmer and Starburn were alright and followed the guard. He arrived outside and Lemon Lime and the other prisoners greeted him warmly, he waved at them while smiling and began doing manual labor with them.

Comments

[BellyAdmirer19]

11056451
Those who don't learn from history are always doomed to repeat it

[smirker]

11056460
Very true, I noticed that in my history classes when I was in high school.

[Ciphers]

"Maybe so, I still find killing them to be a bit excessive." Princess Luna stated,

ahh yes, we don't kill our enemy, we just stoned them forever which they can't breathe, can't talk, can't move, can't see, can't eat, and can't beg for forgiveness
sounds like a fate worse than death .What a bunch of hypocrites
in Fact, we humans have that kind of torture,it's called The white room

[smirker]

11058308
Glad you liked it, and I'm not surprised you figured it out, I tried to put a lot of foreshadowing into the story so the reveal wouldn't feel like it came out of nowhere.

[kaiser0kolovos]

On hindsight, I should have suspected that the seamingly evil Unicorn that hates other species for invading Equestria and preying on ponies, uses necromancy and dark magic, feels like Celestia and Luna aren't going far enough, and seems like an dark OC male counterpart to Celestia would be pulling the strings.

It was right there at the begining stating at us right in the face but I got caught up in the investigation that it completely slipped my mind. Nice misdirection.

[smirker]

11066975
When I typed that part, I was thinking that he noticed that he and his uncle have been found out, and even if he wasn't confronted, the Cutie Mark Crusaders were still going to tell their sisters and their friends that they think his uncle has some form of involvement in the killings, which would lead to Twilight watching him with her magic even if they left Ponyville and could end up seeing him killing changelings.