> The Collector > by RealityWarper > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Beginning > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twilight Sparkle was currently brushing off her desk using her telepathic abilities. A quick look-over told her it was fine for her to rest her new book on. Of course this wasn't just any book... It was an ancient relic she'd found on her most recent adventure Princess Celestia had sent her on. It was quite the curious book, it told of a tale that even the sun goddess rarely knew anything about. The creation of the world and it's entirety of history. Of course, it was written in some long lost language that Twilight was just downright itching to learn. However, this book held the truth about many legendary creatures. Ones dead, ones lost, ones locked away in the deepest pits of Tartarus. It even spoke of the creator of the world- Lauren Faust, praise her name. It held many secrets, that if uncovered by herself- The world would be completely changed! She'd be famous! And she'd have more knowledge! She'd teach all the foals of the world the history- And create a new branch of magic. A NEW BRANCH OF- "Uh, Twi'. I hate to ask but..." Rainbow Dash started off slowly, "Why are drooling like that?" Twilight wiped the drool off her mouth with a small blush. "...Implications." Rainbow Dash just nodded slowly to Twilight vague response. "Right. Well... Don't drool on the book, will yah?" She pauses for a moment, before adding on. "Egghead." Twilight simply rolled her eyes, plopping her rear end onto the floor below as she stared at the book for a long moment. "Wait... Why are you here so early anyway? It's not like you to come to ANYTHING early." Twilight's brows furrowed, turning to her head to face Rainbow Dash. "To be the first Pegasus alive to learn magic of course!" Ah, right. Twilight had told Rainbow of the fact this study might show how even non-Unicorn creatures could use magic. Twilight was silent for a moment. Ring! Hearing the sound of the door to the library open, in the library decided to go downstairs to greet her friend. Likely it was Rarity, she was always early. And it was about that time. "Hey Rainbow Dash, let's go meet up with Rarity and we'll come back up after asking Spike for a few snacks." "Why doesn't the kid just bring her up here? Actually, now that I think of it, I'm surprised I haven't heard him call out for her Rarity yet..." "He deserves some kind of break. He's been working hard. Don't look too much into it." As she traveled down the stairs with Rainbow flying behind her- Twilight noticed something. Something was... Off. Something wasn't right. Where was Spike? Rainbow Dash was right... Why didn't he yell out he'd get the door like he usually does? Twilight figured she was merely over-reacting. Ponyville was a peaceful town, there was likely nothing going on. But she couldn't shake the feeling. Making her way down the stairs, she finally made her way to the door from the Kitchen. Was she saw was horrifying in some manner, she hoped it wasn't what it looked like. A stallion, a very slender and not overly built stallion with a strangely styled green hair and equally green- but dull and unfeeling eyes stared boredly into her very soul. She could see her reflection off of his soul-less mirrors. His eyes... She could hear the whispers of those lost, from the dead and those pour lost and destroyed souls... The singing of eerie foals- In some strange way, she noted her only escape route was blocked. The room felt much darker now that he was in here, everywhere was laced in shadows- Everything was cold... She felt herself choking on her own hitched breath. He apposed everything in her life, and she knew this right away. He was an evil she'd yet to face- She couldn't put her hoof on what though. His coat wasn't as white as Rarity's, but it was a close second. He was a unicorn. That wasn't one of the stranger parts about this stallion. His magic, she couldn't feel any. Every living creature had some form of magic in them, even after death. They retained some magic, which spread into the soil and made Equestria a better place to live at. It was simply impossible to not have magic, yet- Just like Pinkie Pie- this stallion did the impossible. The next fact was that this stallion was standing over an unconscious Spike, the poor little guy was out like a light. But he didn't have a single scale injured on him to say that he was physically hurt. That would leave magic, which was impossible for two reasons. One, he seemingly didn't have any magic in him. Which would mean he couldn't possibly use it. Secondly, it was next to impossible to use a spell powerful enough to knock out Spike since he was a Dragon. He was some unknown species as well, making it ten times harder just to lift him- It was like raising a small house. Which she had practice doing. Only Unicorn of the most powerful magics could pull this off. So this already meant that this guy was no laughing joke- Not that his presence didn't speak volumes about him. Aura's were powerful enough to speak of a person. The light shun in from the escape- NO, the doorway. The shadows around him whirled, shimmered and laughed at her. "Twilight Sparkle... Student of Princess Celestia, herself..." The stallion's voice was empty of anything, airy- Yet, not even menacing. "You have two something's I require." Twilight found herself wanting to step back, but saw Spike needed her help- She wouldn't back down. She'd faced Discord, Nightmare Moon, Tirek, King Sombra. And more. There's no way a single creepy Unicorn could bother her so much. He was just a Unicorn. A simple normally powered creature. "You seem to be under the impression that no Unicorn can stop you." Twilight's heart skipped a beat. Could he... Read minds? If he could, he said nothing at all to dismiss this theory. "You've gone through quite a lot, haven't you? So many victories. So much learning. No true defeats. The heroines of Equestria, the protectors. The King-Slayer." That last title left a sour taste in her mouth. "The ender of gods and goddesses alike. Truly... Mind boggling. Such power..." The stallion spoke, but his tone spoke nothing of the 'happiness' and awe he should have with those type of words. "I'm afraid though-" Interrupting the stallion was a tackle that should have sent him sprawling outside the house, coming in the form of a rainbow-mane'd Pegasus. However, she was immediately caught in his psychic grip instantly- A feat even Twilight found hard to manage. The stranger fact was, his magic.. It was different... Unlike anything she'd ever seen before... His magic wasn't the same as his eye color, as it should be. It was beautiful, something between pink and purple. It even had mysterious stars drifting around. It was... Magical. Rainbow Dash, only looked startled at the realization someone actually caught her. "You're a little bit different from the rest, Creep..." She admits grudgingly, adding an insult her compliment; then continues. "But you're still just like them! A creep! Who wants to- Uh..." Twilight found the aura that the stallion possessed not as powerful with her ever brave friend trying to help her. "Let her go! What two things do you want anyway!?" Twilight snapped at the strange soulless eyed pony. "I want the artifact in your possession, for one. It's not like you'll ever uncover what it says at any rate." Twilight growled a little at the insinuation. "And you could?" The Stallion ignored her question. "Secondly... I want the- Ironically named, Twilight Dragon that you have in your possession." Twilight scrunched her face up for a moment before looking at the downed Spike. "Not that that'll be an issue. Such a powerful creature you hold, magnificent. It's a good thing he's yet to learn his true potential. I will teach him myself. It took quite a bit to put him out like that." "Twilight Dragon?- No, that doesn't matter. Let go of Rainbow Dash, leave Spike alone and turn back to wherever you came from peacefully and I won't hurt you." Twilight warned the 'soulless' unicorn. He didn't look impressed. "You are in no position to be making idle threats, Princess Twilight Sparkle. The fate of your friend's life is being held in your hooves. Give me the artifact, and I'll be on my way with your dragon companion." Twilight grit her teeth, she was in an impossible situation here. Give up Spike and the artifact, or give up her best friend's life, lose the element of loyalty- be lost in grief and still lose the artifact- And likely still lose Spike even if should could ever think of doing it. Which she couldn't. He was right, he was the one in control. "Time is ticking, miss Sparkle." Suddenly materializing was a Scythe, being held up to Rainbow Dash's neck, as if preparing to cut her open. Twilight felt sick at the thought, and felt horror going through her. "W-Wait, I'm sorry! S-Stay calm!" Twilight tried to reason, whatever Rainbow Dash could say was blocked by a silencing spell. She looked absolutely terrified. That scared Twilight, she almost never saw Rainbow Dash like this. "Speak for yourself. I am the epitome of calm. You should be worried about your friend." The obviously insane Pony spoke coldly. "I... I can't chose, please... Don't do this..." Twilight looked absolutely a wreck, close to tears with her mane frazzled. "Then I will chose for you, Miss Sparkle." The scythe blade was raised upward, and prepared to plunge down on the mortified Rainbow Dash. For the first time in a long time, Twilight Sparkle felt helpless.