the cost of power

by redsopine

First published

power has a price and in order to save those you love what would you give or is the price to high a stranger has a price would you pay it

The Crystal Empire: the last days of the rule of King Sombra. A Pegasus fights to protect his family at any cost, but what happens when he is mortally wounded? What will he give to save them? What will he be willing to pay when a stranger seemingly ignored by everyone else offers him power, but at a cost. Is this cost too high? What is the catch?


(So you all know thus is more to add a explanation to why red has abilitys and sorry if it's to fast paced need to work on it)

Chapter 1

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"What would you give to save the ones you love? What price would you pay: your life, your sanity, your soul? Would you give all of that for the power to save the ones you love? Are you willing to become a monster to stop a monster? Well now, here's your chance," says a strange stallion amidst a battlefield to a mortally wounded Pegasus stallion clothed in thin mail and clutching a pair swords. The Pegasus tries to stand. "Back off, demon! I will not succumb to you now or ever," he says, spitting blood as he stands and staggers past the demon in front of him. Gripping his swords weakly in his hands, he heads towards a house on fire as two mares are being dragged away by soldiers bearing the standard of King Sombra. "Leave them alone," he growls, standing at his full height with wings in tatters. He lunges at the nearest soldier and misses, taking a sword to his back. He gasps as blood leaks out of him slowly, seeing the sword in his chest. The demon reappears, walking slowly in front of him. "One word and you can save them. Make a choice. I cannot keep that sword from taking your life for long." The man looks toward his sisters then back to the demon, his golden eyes shining as he answers weakly "yes." The demon smiles as it bursts into flames. The flames rush into the Pegasus as he screams, the blade melting in half and his body healing. One of his brilliant golden eyes takes on a reddish hue in the corner of his eye. The soldiers back away from him as one of the swords becomes flames and lashes out, wrapping around the throat of the one that stabbed him amd taking the head off in a shower of blood and burnt flesh. The girls stare, shocked, at the change in their brother, both in awe and fear. He turns to the remaining soldiers with murder in his eyes. He lunges the uncorrupted blade through one's chest, pushing the body off with his feet as he twists in the air, his wings engulfed in flames and turning into dragon wings. After slashing the remaining soldier's sword in half, along with its owner, he turns to his sisters and sees their look of fear before doubling over in pain. He speaks in a voice full of fear as the arm holding the demonic blade rises against his will. "Treble, take Crimson and run!" The girls start to run as the man struggles to hold the sword at bay. "Demon you will not hurt them. You got your price." The demon mocks in his head, "My dear Redsopine, who ever said your soul was the price of my power? No, my puppet they are, and you powerless to stop it." The demon chuckles, then his eyes widen as he says in a panic, "wait,what are you doing? Stop that!" Redsopine raises the blade and plunges it through his own beating heart, twisting the blade and removing it upwards though his chest and throat. His last thoughts echo: "You asked me what I would pay to save them. Now you know."

1HOUR EARLIER

red don't go its not safe outside pleaded the youngest of the three siblings crimson rose her black and red hair dishevelled as sounds of fighting can be heard on the outskirts of the city tears in her red eyes.

i know crimson but someone has to keep them from getting to you two the soldiers under Sombras banner are going mad and looting the city killing anyone that stands in there way or worse i wont let them hurt you two he turns and looks at the second girl by the door her blue mane with black streaks as much as mess as there sisters.

just make sure you come back you hear me was all she said as she hold the younger sister a glare in here orange eyes as she leads crimson away.

red sighs as he thinks this is insane where did this madness come from surely the king is trying to stop whats happening those thoughts come to a stop as he sees there in front of him a man in a suit calmly walking around smiling but for some reason redsopine feels on edge even more so when he sees a woman and child run right though him before he turns and looks red right in the eyes with fire for eyes the man grins and says soon before vanishing as red runs to the castle trying to warn his king of whats happening only to be attacked and knocked unconscious when he awakes he in chained in the town square the king standing over him a mad look in his eyes as he speaks.

you your the ones my guards say deserted your post there shall be none of that he turns to his guards go to his house and burn it to the ground and make him watch but first the Sombra plunges a crystalline claw gauntlet into redsopines gut making him cough blood before two guards drag him away slowly as the strange man reappears and speaks to him.

poor poor red tossed aside after years of fighting and defending your king you was blinded but now do you see the monster he is so tell me are you willing to become a monster to stop him.

LOCATION UNKNOWN TIME ELAPSED SINCE FIRST DEATH UNKOWN

Pain is what awakes the stallion pain and coldness as he hears two voices talking nearby.

" Brother must you test your hosts so harshly what if he decides to take his life again instead of fighting with you". says a annoyed but female voice says as Redsopine try's to stand and speaks in a horse voice" who are you two why am i here where is here" he says as he stands looking at a pair of dragons unfazed by one being made of fire the other of ice as he looks at them both awaiting a answer as they stare at him surprised he is awake.

Chapter 2

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How How are you awake " the dragoness asks as Redsopine stands up blood dripping down him from the lethal wounds as they heal slowly knitting back together his breathing and voice returning to normal as he looks at them both before walking over and shockingly punches the male dragon in the mouth hard not caring about the searing pain his now burnt hand is in as it heals again both dragons looking at him in surprise as the male one wreathed in flames speaks in a surprised tone.

OW that hurt why did that hurt " he holds his jaw in surprise as the dragoness looks stunned as well before grinning and speaking.

My my my it seems brother you picked a host that was already taken but not by choice hrmmmm seems like bloodline for the eldest aka him but who is he bound to hrmmmmm seems like he is bound to a earth lord and to you its amazing he hasn't burnt out from the power. She walks over to Redsopine and touches a cool claw to his head as she absorbs into him speeding up his healing as a bright light coats the area once it fades he is lying face down in a pool off his own blood still in the empire he stands and blinks the cold no longer fazing him as he looks at the swords one made of flames the other ice as two words are etched onto them and he reads the aloud.

Ignis and Gelu fire and ice fitting names for you both now we have a king to stop. We know our new host but know we allowed you to be our host for your drive to protect others if you ever try to use our power for harming others you will find yourself dragged to tartarus by us got it * understood and thanks for the healing * i think right before i run into the roaly guard around the princesses as celestia looks at me with cold eyes looking at my wings as she says * guards detain this fiend and deserter hold him till we are done.

5 minutes after first death

Treble and crimson ran as fast as they could keeping to the back allys to avoid the guards knowing if they was found it would be a fate worse then death.

Sis what what happend to big brother. asks crimson shaken up by what they saw.

I don't know crimson I don't know but knowing him he proboly made a stupid deal to protect us that fool always biting more then he could chew.

Suddenly a wall in front of them collapsed in a heap of crystalline rubble as a strange mare in a dress looks at them.

The way is barred sombras locked down the gates sealing us in but I know of a hidden way to escape follow me if you want to escape .

With that the mare takes of running towards the castle as guards start to arrive left with no choice treble and crimson follow her into the heart of the castle and though a doorway showing a mirror before the mare jumps through it left with no choice the sisters jump through as well to a fate unknown.

back inside the demonspace before red awakens

Gelu returns to her brother it is done they are safe for now but you and I must have a chat brother.

Chapter 3

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WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT FEINED AND DESERTER * I shout in confusion as I am held by 4 guards at spear point shackles placed on my hands calming down I speak again.

Me and my sister's came to here before the war started I was drafted to fight only so they would be left alone as you can see that was a lie and I need to know where they are the last thing I was before passing out was them being dragged away.

Celestia looks at me coldly * the empire is gone in fact the only ones we know to have escaped it are the dead and yet here you are alive and free so answer me this fiend how did you break free from tartarus and why did you take the from of a pony but Diffrent and strange.

thats when it dawned on me my wings have changed just like before but now I can feel the differences and my forhooves became hands * strange I had not noticed these changes till now it must have been shock of surviving what happend to me.

Red did not hear her answer as he passed out from a sleeping spell that was cast in him as he mused about his changes while celestia looks at him a frown in her face.

I don't know what he is but I won't take any chances kill him and BURN THE BODY.

As she walks away a guard raises a spear ready to follow his orders when suddenly laughing is heard.

HAHAHAHAHAA OH MY THIS IS RICH the sun bitch shows her true colours.

Hush brother let her throw away a ally that will guard the world in times of peace and be a weapon in war and against the darkness

Says a deep guttaring voice and a cool femine voice as the swords in front of the unconscious redsopine erupt with power revealing ignis and gelu to the surprised ponies.

The twin dragons take a bow and look at the ponies around them before they start to speak.

This one is bound buy fate to one who won't let him die and now us as our host he proved himself worthy of our might and we will defend him when he is unable.

Speaks gelu politely while ignis just lights aflame.

Or in other words fuck off and leave him to us to train either here or in spirit as he won't die for a long time.

Celestial looks at them and nods before speaking.

So it is true hurricanes line has descendents the are bound to the lords fine I shall leave him be but he cannot roam free so take him and train him for what is to come.

With that the twins and red vanish from sight.