What would you do if all you were capable of doing is shattering dreams and bringing despair? What would you do if you woke up one day, with only blurred memories mingled with pure darkness? What could you do if you could only ask yourself these questions, What am I....who am I?
Where am I? Why can I not feel anything but emptiness? ....What am I?
_________________________________________________________________________ Jagged cracks broke out through the ice, the snow which had sat atop it seconds ago was now airborne, their diameter now reaching at least a half of a kilometer, distorted shadows bolted across its surface. The onslaught of deafening wind sent scintillating ice crystals slicing madly through the air. From the depths of the cracked ice black smoke curled out, before wrapping into walls of dark energy.
What is that? Thought a unicorn stallion, who happened to be embedded in the ice only a few lengths from the jagged crack, though he could not see, he could feel the disturbance. What's happening? He thought, Why can't I move?What is this...emptiness that flows through my body?
The cracks thickened, as though an invisible force was attacking the ice, until the growing impurities formed around his body. ...What...what is this feeling...? I was just so cold....but....now I'm so...warm.... He began to ascend into the air, his mind to numb to question why. A red glow emanated from his body, he vaguely recognized it as his own magic enveloping him. What he did not recognize however were the shimmering light blue at the tips of it.
He rose roughly a meter into the air, revealing a frostbitten gray unicorn with shaggy black hair that flowed onto his back. His legs dangled in the air, his hair floated independently, the distortion of gravity presenting the illusion that he was floating in a small vacuum of outer space. What...what is this feeling.....? He thought, I've never felt this way before...
It's so cold here. Is there even anything out here? Trixie thought as the snow half-blinded her, she could no longer tell if it was snow or hair clouding her vision. Just a bit further. The winds sped increased, making it more difficult to walk, her legs incapable of carrying her further, she could only stand there. What's the point? she thought, her legs half buried in the snow, I haven't gotten any stronger. Will I ever get stronger...?
Her eyes widened, the wind has vanished, it was...warm. A blue barrier surrounded the area, blocking out the elements around. She looked up. What she saw would shock anypony, she saw a stallion suspended in air. Rays emitting the colors red and blue came from within him, they did not appear to be coming from his horn, but from his heart. She put one leg forward, immediately meeting with the sharp cracks in the ice. I didn't see these as I walking up. Her eyes shot between the floating pony and the giant break in the ice, unable to decide if she should be looking at one over the other.
She decided the stallion- who she suspected knew the cause of the break. Her heart froze momentarily wondering if he was what had done this. W-what kind of magic is that? I've never seen anything like it...
The magic surrounding the stallion dissolved, as though somepony had flipped a switch. The mysterious warmth disappearing, the cacophony of the wind and hostile cold slowly returning. Trixie's horn reacted before her mind, sparkling wisps of coral-pink magically clutched the stallion so he would not fall into the abyss. A gasp of pain was wrung out from her as she barely managed to keep him afloat, sleet began stinging her few unprotected parts of her body. Stopping him just before he fell into the enormous columns of splintered chunks of ice jutted out.
Though magic was primarily a mental task, Trixie dug into every power she could, nerves felt like fire was shooting through them, and high preasure steam barreling through her insides. Physical and mental exhaustion threaten to consume her, out of necessity for not only her life, she broke through.
Taking in deep breathes, Trixie managed to lay him down haphazardly in the entrance of her wagon. She weakly ambled inside after him, trying to crawl over him in the politest way she could muster. Crystals of frost clung to every bit of his body, tinting his coat into many shades lighter than what it naturally was.
He is unconscious. She came to that conclusion rather quickly after weakly prodding him with questions to no avail. "Can-can you hear me?" she asked in a tone louder, instantly feeling a tinge of stupidity for it. Shock still running through her veins. Unsurprisingly, there was no response.
She looked through one of the windows, noting how far the mountains had become. It couldn't be too far now. Checking once more to see if he was breathing, she finally allowed her tense muscles to relax. Death hadn't tightened its grip on him quite yet. The realization hit her though- it was not just her life at risk now. Sighing as she gathered her composure and strength to continue on, she looked to the obscured ice once more. Her ears pinned back as she sensed something aberrant about it-something malevolent. An irritable feeling gnawed at her as she continued to look into it, before shaking her head once she thought she had seen faint shadows licking across its surface. They were gone when she glanced back again.
Do I even have the strength to carry the wagon all the way? She pondered as she clamped herself back onto the front. After maneuvering a full grown stallion at a moments notice she felt drained on all fundamental levels. Looks like we are going to find out. she answered herself.
If I was just a little better at magic I could have teleported us straight to the kingdom. she allowed that thought to torment her, before paralyzing her emotionally. Isn't it worth a try though? Don't kid yourself, why would you think you could teleport not only yourself, but your entire wagon and all that's inside? A hopeless whimper escaped her lips as she stared out at the final expanse she needed to traverse. Miraculously, at a slow pace she pulled towards their destination.
___________________________________________________________________________ ...There it is again... that warm feeling. "Do you think he is going to be okay...?" He heard this voice like it was coming from faraway through a tunnel. "I can't say for certain." said another voice. Where...Am I...?
"So you found him out in the Frozen North, is that right?" "Yes, and...well...I don't know if you would believe me if I told you." "Try me m'am, we get some pretty unique cases in the Empire." Shortly after there was a gasp and a clattering of hooves. "Stand guard of that room, we need The Princess at once!"
Princess...? Where am I...? Where ever he was he was able to relax comfortably and just let go of himself. He was aware of a tingling sensation in his head, which trickled its way down his body until it ended at his hooves. He attempted to turn over but became very aware of another watching over him, snarling at the movement.
For the first time since he had emerged from the crack in the ice, he opened his eyes. On both of his sides two heavily armored stallions stood- when he sat up though he realized they were completely surrounding the room. The most out of place thing of all was a pink alicorn standing before him, an extreme expression on her face.
Her horn consumed by brilliant blue sparks. From it a blue orb was borne, aggressively it began to grow. Celestial light flashed before his eyes as a loud crack sounded, the force orb expanding around them created an immense heat and forceful gust of wind. Soon it wound across the entire room, then transcended outside of it. Shock outburst could be heard as it trickled across the entire Empire- now a appearing as a formidable bubble.
Snorts and neighs of surprise met with him as the crowd continued to stare of him. The princess looking the most stunned of all. He nervously pinned back his ears as he wondered if that orb were to have caused devastation and failed. Dread and terror cut through him as he wondered what hellish domain he had entered. His chest began to heave as he pressed himself farther back into the small bed. Panic stung clear through him, and robbed him of his ability to move or speak.
"Well, Princess Cadence?" a guard spat out, "Should we execute him or what?" A terrified look filled his eyes as cowardice filled him and he let out a feeble whiny, pulling up the hospital blankets further up his body foolishly. The Princess raised an eyebrow. "King Sombra, it has been many moons since I have last encountered you, what have you to say?" Her words were delivered calmly, however he could detect a level of apathy as he stared deeply into her unfeeling eyes.
Black terror filled him once more as he tried to get something out. "King..?" he breathed. "I-I think you have the wrong pony. I am not actually sure who I am actually, but I can't imagine anything like-" he squeaked as a guard shoved his muzzle into his. "You well know who you are and you will properly answer the Princess!" he barked. Tears of frustration wheeled up in his eyes, as he crumbled into a helpless ball.
"That's enough Torrid Spade," Cadence relayed with a more natural calm. The guard still cut through him with his stare, his eyes a lambent orange. He retreated his desert-sand colored head, still seething. Cadence unfolded her pearly pink wings, tipped with dusky lavender as she approved him. Reverence echoed in every step she took towards him.
"You've answered me honestly?" she inquired. Somehow he managed a nod. For a moment he though he detected the ghost of a smile teasing her lips, before a sternness brought them into a frown. "Well, even if that is true, I can't allow the risk of- oh dear don't be like that."
He couldn't help it as streams of tears rolled down his face- half in terror and the other he couldn't explain. Low hiccuping sobs escaped him, his powerlessness pounding through his gut, wrenching it from side to side. The guards stood awkwardly by, unaware if they were to emulate empathy or ready themselves for aggressive action.
Cadence looked at him with concern, then detached nothingness. "You are making this rather difficult." she cooed, her tone exasperated. "What I can do for the moment is put you in a state to where you can't harm anyone until we can sort this out." she said, distress obvious in her form.
Her horn lit up once more. However the light from it this time was gentle, like blue light bleeding from a crystal. She pressed her horn against his head, dissolving his world into a black oblivion.
Sombra. The word filtered through his mind, floating there as though submerged in water. Muddled. Unrecognizable. Reprehensible. That was how the Princess made it sound. The name made him overflow with dread, misery and pain all at once. Hearing it was like shoving a limb into an endless narrow tunnel of broken glass to try and retrieve some memory, but all he got back was...red.
Red. He knew the color somehow. It was a part of something familiar yet dangerous.
He couldn't feel anything other than his mind- which he had little control over now anyway. He tried to answer the question of who he was, but still only conjured up blanks. Radiance-Radiant. Something about that word brought pale comfort momentarily to him. Even a youthful, care-free giddiness before that too turned into a burning sadness.
For reasons unknown to him, he sprung out of his restless thoughts and back into reality. Opening his eyes to see a room darkened by the night. Through the window he viewed the gorgeous star-jeweled sky and the gentle moonlight trickling onto the land. He savored the fresh air that wafted in, noticing someone had kindly opened it for him.
He gulped when he saw that he was still surrounded by guards- many of which were unicorns. Fear attempted to suffocate each breathe he took in. He feigned sleep when one of the guards turned to look at him.
Blue. That was familiar too, and snuffed our his thoughts of red.
"He looks starved half to death!" groaned a voice. "He needs some sustenance if he is to even survive until the interrogation!"
"He is a prisoner of war," a cold voice replied. "He is not valuable enough to consume our resources."
"Prisoner of war my flank!
"M'am, no! You are not permitted to-" a gruff voice warned before being defeated by a softer one.
"By my order she is."
A hush overtook the room before hooves feverishly clambered his way.
"Thank you Princess, honestly. Guards this age 'ave not an ounce compassion in them. Would be be kind enough to wake him? Can't exactly feed and treat him effectively this way."
"Oh- of-of course." Cadence said hesitantly. "Just as a precaution-" the familiar sensation of the orb tearing through the room wafted over him- this time he noticed it felt more like a breeze than a blizzard. "Oh and-" a heavy thudding of hooves sounded from the hallway.
"They can wait ou' there but I am going to need my space," the voice grumbled. "Already gon' be sharing it with other ponies from all medical walks o' life anyway."
"Just a few more leading experts from across Equestria, Ambrosial."
Ambrosial mumbled something crude under her breath before sighing in acceptance.
"I can't believe war criminals get better health service than us." a voice hissed from the back of the room. Silence spread like a disease before being a horn touched his head. Though he has known to expect it from listening, he still jumped in shock, his eyes shooting open. Candence's amethyst eyes stared back into his palm-leaf green ones. This exchange continued as her eyes turned from shocked to angry.
"It taken a powerful magic to break the spell I put on you," she hissed, "I may not have Celestia or Luna's magnitude of power but I know it would take a profound understanding and deliberate power to break through-"
"Your Highness," pipped up a voice, "I fear I may be at fault, as you see-" Accusations of possession and insubordination shook the room before dying down as the princess offered to hear the rest. "I noticed-thought Sombra was having trouble sleeping last night and may be consumed in a nightmare and I-I well knowing Princess Luna is so busy qwelling all the other nightmares his resurgence has spawned, so I attempted to use a spell that would plunge him into a more restful sleep; however I may have recklessly fooled with magic I do not have a fundamental understanding of- healing magic that is. I am trained as a warrior you see and-"
"You will be dismissed of your duties and stripped of your position for endangering the Empire and Equestria as we know it. While I am satisfied you know how reckless your actions were, they will not go without punishment." Cadence's works sliced through the air, somehow managing to convey a compassionate understanding but unwavering strength.
"I will not tolerate such foolishness in my higher ranks- though it has been a pleasure and honor having you in my guard, Moliminous Willows, I relinquish your title, you will be escorted off the grounds." An anger continued to bubble up in every word she enunciated. She let in a deep breath. "Be kind to yourself though, your service will never be forgotten- but neither will your actions today."
Cadence turned towards him. "You will be paying with your life if I find I dishonorable discharged one of my Guards."
All he could do is nod.
"Can't see 'ow he could." Ambrosial jutted in. "With 'ow damaged his horn is- I am afraid we may not be able to save it, love." This last part had been directed at him- and a hollow sadness filled him. Though it was a part of his physiology, he hadn't actually realized he had a horn to begin with. And upon discovering he did he was also told he may lose it.
He stared at the dark purple earth pony at his side. Her eyes were the color of early cherry blossoms and her hair a tired chestnut tied back into a bun. "Don't get into too much o' a fuss about it," the middle-age mare said, "It may help your cause to live without."
A rush of something swirled in his head, though he was met with a sharp pain when he tried to let it flow. He winced in pain and embarrassment as pathetic blue and red sparks lit up the inside of his horn- which was shattered in many places, barely sticking together. A flash of sympathy was shown in Cadence's face before she turned around, leaving him to a roomful of guards and what he assumed would be his care-giver for the moment.
"Who..." he started, not knowing which question to ask first. Who is the Princess? Where am I at? Why am I being treated like a criminal? Who are you? Who am I?/
"Yes?" Ambrosial asked, ears poised to listen as she rubbed ointment onto his horn to dull the pain.
"Who-who is Sombra?"
She went stiff. She eyed him suspiciously before continuing. "You got a good act goin' but it ain't going to fool me."
"Sombra," a familiar voice from across the room sounded, "Where to start?"
"Torrid!" Ambrosial protested, "You're not falling for this madness now too, are you?"
Torrid eyed him scrutiniously , his orange eyes burrowed deep into his mind. Ruffling his wings he replied, "Man asked a question. Even if he is full of it, he will only waste his own time hearing of his escapades. If he is sincerely clueless, than I am gravely sorry for any anxiety I caused, and I hope that with learning our history you'll understand." Torrid began relaying the history of Sombra's rule, fall, and suspected resurgence. "Would be like the coward to dress an innocent stallion in his likeness to advert attention elsewhere- shadow hopping is what they call it I think."
Mystified, yet filled with melancholy and hate for the historical figure just explained to him- a part of him trembled with the realization he could be this figure. But if he were wouldn't he know? Or was he just another victim?
Ambrosial interjected. "Yes, but in his weakened form he could only shadow hop for so long. Masking someones appearance permanently requires a great deal o' power, so I would expect to see some signs of the true pony who owns that body to come through. Like a change in the roots of the mane or coat or-" She eyed his horn. "That does seem to be unnaturally crumbly- like i's not meant to be. But that would be like him too, scar an innocent pony to confuse us on 'is true identity."
After being fed a multitude of different variants of medical ponies flooded the room. Each one testing, mending, examining, and asking one thing or another. The sun had already begun to set by the time it was done. Ambrosial seemed hell-bent on staying in the room the majority of the time however.
By the end of it all she crooned over him. "Tha' was a busy day love, tomorrow will be easier. For Celestia's sake, I didn't realize just 'ow bad you were. Poor wounds haven't been properly treated and mended in days- to no one's fault but my own. I am an expert at detecting magical aliments and lightly tendin'."
He numbly nodded, not being able to care much either way. Casts now took over two of his legs- evidently a bone had been broken or fractured at some point. "I am feeling better," he choked out, more for her benefit than his own. A bright smile crossed her lips. "Oh love, that makes me happy 'o hear, especially since your showin' more sings of being a shadow hopper after it all." Her coat rippled with an odd texture. He couldn't help but be enchanted as it turned from dull fur to a ethereal crystalline.
Though he had just been fed, an overwhelming hunger knotted in his stomach and intestines. It pounded at his reason and he desire to lunge out at take it from her- take her pure, almighty crystal texture away. He shook his head, which she took for as confusion. She wasted no time in explaining how the crystal ponies and their fur worked, the shimmer of hers slowly dying down. Even as she left for the day his hooves were still shaking just at the thought.
The thought of crystals danced in his mind, completely enamored with the visualization, even after Cadence took away most of his consciousness. Blue. Crystal. He knew these were connected somehow.
Radiance. That would be a nice name. He thought. He wondered his his captors would allow him to be called as such. Though that didn't sound much like a traditional colt name from what he had heard so far, he thought it sounded divine- if not a little pretentious. His mind recalled a memory from the previous day.
As he had been prodded physically and mentally, many had made notice of his lack of a cutie mark. Upon the third, rather rude observation at this he had questioned what it was. The stallion, who had been fixing the casts around his legs nearly doubled over with laughter. Sincerely taken aback when he realized that he was completely serious.
He got what he assumed was the standard explanation they give to fillies and colts at a young age pertaining to what it is. Now whenever he could he hid his unmarked flank with the sheets he had been given out of insecurity. Though a glimmer of hope that if he was shadow-hopped came to his mind and his cutie mark could just be suppressed. He let his mind run imaginatively wild at what it could possibly be.
He lived half of his life in the comatose state the Princess put him under, his entire body aching from stillness when he was allowed to wake. He longed to just walk outside. To feel the mingling of dirt and grass under his hooves, to feel the sun beat down on his tired, sore body and let the wind dance across his body and fill him with fresh air.
It must have been a week from his capture when Ambrosial came across it. Squealing in delight as she brushed his hair. "Roots!" she explained, "Blue! Like the sunlit sea!"
A sensation of anxious joy filled him. Was this the evidence they needed to prove his innocence? He kept still, not saying anything.
"Aren't you going to say somethin' dear?" Ambrosial inquired. "This could lead to your release!"
A giddiness bubbled up instead of him, swelling like a unburstable bubble. "Can-" he started, deciding to abandon his foolish question.
"What is it dear?"
"Can- I go outside?" the words escaped him, his tongue audaciously worked faster than his brain.
"Oh love," she crooned, "No' yet I am afraid. We will need a li'l more evidence. Though it won't be much longer now before you can go outside when'ver you want."
"Where am I?" he asked. "I have heard of the Empire's history, but I still don't know where it is." He didn't even know if he came from here.
"The Crystal Empire dear," she said, brushing away at his tail, finding another shimmering blue hair. She went into a long explanation of where it was located geographically, and even further into the history of it. The ponies here currently were enchanted by their history, though he could see why as she went onto explain the Pre-Sombra. Images of crystal roads, buildings and ponies danced through his mind. The knotting hunger formed in his gut again at the mention of crystals, but he had begun to gain more control over it.
Looking around the room he became confused. She had said all buildings were crystalline, but where he was at seemed to be a mixture of rock and traditional wood. "A precautionary measure," she said, answering the question on the tip of his mind. "As you remember Sombra had a dark fascination with crystals and how they could be used for his dark magic. He 'as mad over 'em. Clouded all his reason even at the sight o' 'em. Even grew irritable at even the mention, but you've seem fine the times I've let it slip."
The pain in his stomach intensified, growing into his chest. Burning panic flooded him, he became dizzy and disoriented.
"You okay dear?"
He did not answer her. The pain shot through him like jagged shards of glass, breaking his mind and body. He collapsed on his thin mattress, his world swirling into black.
"-Poor dear has 'ery low blood pressure." he heard Ambrosial's voice float through the air, followed by another deeper one.
"An increase in sodium then. If he is a shadow-hopper I would be scared half-way to death already too. Knowing that either way he will probably he executed if proven innocent or not."
"Shh!" hissed Ambrosial, "He don' know that yet. Think he could be well 'nough for a walk outside by t'morrow?"
"I don't know, his legs probably couldn't carry him if I am being honest. It would bring more pain than pleasure. Within a month maybe- but he doesn't have that much time."
"Who do ya' think he was?" Ambrosial asked with a grim sorrow, "So many ponies go missin' now'a days. He seems like a sweet stallion, I'll bet there are many missin' him."
"You're trying to guilt the wrong pony, Ambrosia," the voice cracked a little, "I have much of a say in what happens to him as you."
"That darn Moliminous," she spat, "'e was a Guard but there ne'er was a better magic healer in our kingdom. I don' understand why the Princess won' let us heal his wounds quicker."
"She doesn't want any magic involved as that could lead to a potential mental connection between the two- magic is a fickle thing. Dangerous if not utilized properly. Poor Moliminous, still sitting in the dungeons that one. Princess has extended the date for his execution- out of pity and attachment to him I suppose. Poor colts trauma is just being extended, it is wickedly cruel."
He couldn't help but twitch with guilt knowing his mere existence could be reasonable for laying a pony to death.
"'Mornin' dear," she cooed, "We've got you some more salty foods for today so we don' have you fainting on us 'gain!" she tried to carry a playful tone but it was hindered by what he had previously heard.
"I am going to die." the words escaped his mouth without thought.
Ambrosial struck the pony adjacent to her. "Nex' time we will discuss this ou'side the room," then she looked back at him, "You still 'ave a chance love, we are fighting for it, don' you worry." Her words brought no comfort as he could see the falsehoods in the way she relayed in.
"Oh to Tartarus with it," grumbled the unicorn stallion by Ambrosial. His creamy white horn pressing against his leg. He recoiled in pain, however the pale horn continued to pursue him. He looked towards Ambrosial for help. With an expressionless face, she held down onto his leg, shooting columns of pain through him.
"'Hold still dear." she said without emotion. He thrashed his front hooves madly, attempting to tear away from the mad duo- until the threads of pain shooting through his leg stopped. Instead he could feel something cool flowing through, stinging at first and then feeling fine.
"There, all better." said the exasperated looking stallion. "Would you be kind enough to let me fix your other one?" Coiling still in fear and confusion, he couldn't move.
"I have put a mark on my own life and sanity to help you," the pale unicorn sneered, "The least you could do is let me do the full job. Slowly he offered up his final leg. Gasping with pain relief all at once.
"Done."
"Wha' 'bout his horn?"
He puffed out his chest, "I am not going to risk it, that could be like throwing yourself in front of a train. He can walk- though between us both," the pale unicorn said, looking in both of their directions, " I would keep this a secret and not let on you are healed. Good thing the guards have grown bored with this position already- though I suspect one will be popping in soon to check." With that the mysterious equine exited the room.
"You understood?" Ambrosial asked him.
He nodded, stretching his limbs for the first time without causing extreme pain.
"We'll get you tha' walk as soon as possible dear,though it'll 'ave to be under the cover of night. You'll blend in nicely then."
Trixie nervously trotted back and forth within the dungeons. Though it was deep underground, a constant bright light flooded the place. Making sleep difficult and privacy nonexistent. The walls were made of a rough topaz in her cell- or so she thought. She had only learned how to identify earned rocks from another fairly recently.
A jagged black rock lined the traditional thick bars- though a sizable boulder of what she thought was the same material sat between another cell she could into in the walkway. Guards would idly walk by, scanning vacantly around as they passed her. She thought of attempting a teleportation spell to escape this unforeseen madness, however her horn barely became alight when the magic was aggressively ripped away from her and sucked into the black rock. She cried out in pain, and then collapsed as her hopelessness weighed down on her- heavier than all the minerals in this dreaded Empire.
She knew there had been some grim misunderstanding the moment she explained to the nurse about the conditions she found the stallion in. Guards immediately drowned her and tore her from the spot she stood. She had seen Princess Cadence, and sighed a breathe of relief- before she saw the level of apathy etched throughout her face. Her eyes swelled wide in horror as what she recognized as a dark magic expelling spell was used- the orb ripping through her, stinging at bits of her. Flashes of the alicorn amulet leapt before her eyes and for a moment she thought she was to dissolve away from existence. Surprised when moments later all she saw was her shaking form. The princess looked undeterred and had placed her horn on her head, causing Trixie to fall from reality and into blackness.
Great and Powerful my flank. She thought to herself as she got up to pace. She couldn't even verbally defend herself when questions were barked at her. All she could let out were cowardly squeaks and screams. She sighed as she noticed how knotted her wispy frost colored hair was. Hunger gnawed at her senses and she sat down again- though sitting seemed to make her even more mad and send her thoughts racing. One of the guards would be down soon with some mush that vaguely resembled food, and she would be ecstatic to devour it.
"Princess!" her words echoed in her mind. "I don't know anything, I swear! I just was trying to save a life!"
She pondered what trouble that stallion she saved must be, and if it would have been better just to have let him drop and be shredded by the abyss below. She knew this was a horrible thought, but in the same vein right now she would be a free mare, probably getting some actual food. Relaxation like she was told she needed.
This was quite the opposite of that. She could slowly feel her slip on reality with each passing hour. She had heard solitary confinement had been abolished as a punishment in Equestria hundreds of moons ago. That each pony was innocent until proven guilty and entitled to a fair trial. Everything pointed to that not being the case now. Her bones aches with fear, loneliness, hunger, and overuse from pacing.
What would my family think? I would hope they knew this is just some misunderstanding.
A series of clicks followed by metal grinding on metal sounded. She attempted to poke her muzzle out from her prison to see what was going on. A chorus of footsteps aligning in rhythm sounded from down the hall. Leading a large portion of guards was the Princess herself. Trixie cowered into the back of her cell, coiling on the floor and not daring to make any movements. As her luck would have it the reverent figure stopped in front of her bars.
Trixie glanced over at them, freezing once her eyes locked with Cadence. She would have never thought the Princess of Love could fill her with live wires of terror. Attempting to gather some composure and calm, she acknowledged the crowd with a nod.
"Trixie, isn't it?" Cadence said with cold detachment, she had unfurled her large wings, which made her look even more formidable.
Trixie nodded. Wondering at first how they had her name- realizing though that the Princess's of the land must speak to one another, and Trixie had defiantly made herself known to the Princess of Friendship as a threat to Equestria- though that was only with the amulet of course. Without it she was weak, ignorant, and spineless.
"You may have been acquitted of your previous crimes against Equestria outside of my kingdom, however I could not let a threat run free nor could I knowingly allow your actions to go, unpunished."
Trxie's eyes were once again wide with terror. All of her senses were paralyzed, her ability to speak nonexistent. She knew getting away wouldn't be so easy, and realized how much of a fool she was for coming her. She would have ended up here no matter what she had done- at least she had hopefully saved that stallion's life in the process.
"Do you still stand by your statement that you are in no way affiliated with King Sombra?" Cadence continued.
Trixie nodded as truthfully she didn't know of any king in their monarchical land.
"When one of my nurses examined you, she noticed dark magic scarring around your neck- care to explain?"
"Amulet." she choked out, Cadence nodded.
"Of course. I wanted to see if you would try and lie to me."
Trixie shook her head.
"Would you relay to me just how you found this stallion?" Cadence asked, her tone gentle and authoritative.
Trixie began telling her of the encounter in the Frozen North, and why she was there. She was traveling, searching for a purpose and to grow stronger not just magically, but as an all around better pony. None of that would be believed, however she relayed the truth.
Cadence left almost as quickly as she came. The small army leaving with her.
She was astonished to find that her meal had been upgraded from mush to healthy greens and a small serving of sweet oats.
An aghast shock wave echoed through Twilight when she heard the news.
King Sombra Re-Awakened, Captured. Dark Magic Wielder Trixie Captured.
Cadence's letter arrived before she immediately teleported herself to the Crystal Empire. The magenta flash blinding and the crack loud enough to shake books from the walls.
By the time she arrived inside all of the other Princess's were also inside the throne room. Though it was Cadence's kingdom, everypony looked towards Celestia for guidance. Luna sat uncomfortably, she had a distant clandestine stare. This was one of the first gatherings all the Princess's had since her return.
"I say execution." Cadence finally declared.
Celestia raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued, nodding for her to continue.
"We can't risk him coming back- even having his heart pumping. He is consumed by his own evil, unlike Princess Luna he will never break free."
Luna cast her a glance that was mixed with tingles of emotions; offense, a sense of being impressed, and resentment. Looking away Luna airily droned, "From what I have heard it sounds as if his dark magic has been separated from his being. Though you can't separate a pony from his ideals, and I agree that is in itself, dangerous."
Cadence swelled with pride. "Reformation isn't possible in this case." she said with confidence.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Celestia chimed in. "I would like to take a look at him myself before we continue further."
Cadence's ears pinned back, "With all due respect, I do believe this is my kingdom, and I should have the final say in what happens and when we shall continue."
Celestia looked over calmly at Cadence, "I only expressed the desire to look. You will find in exploring all avenues in a given case is necessary. And I posses stronger magic, tolerance, and fortitude than you. I am the least likely to be consumed by his magic."
"Princess-" Twilight sadly sighed, the other three heads swiveled towards her with questioning looks. "Nevermind."
"I will look at him as soon as I can." Celestia said, "I will attempt to peer into his mind and see if reformation is possible. Are we in agreement?" Though the question was directed at everypony present, she glared at Cadence scrupulously.
Everpony "aye'd" in agreement before teleporting back to their respective duties. Twilight groaned as she looked out at the empty throne room. Though she was a Princess she never had much to add to such meetings. And even when she tried to exercise some control or probe some thought process she was always shut down. She too teleported back to her study.
Sunlight had just begun to bleed through the Empire when she arrived. Celestia coolly strode through the archaic building, wisps of dirt floating upwards with each step. She remembered a time when the Crystal Empire wasn't so crystally. In fact it had only been around the time when the discovery the Dragon Heart (Overtime it just became known as the crystal heart, clouding its origin) and His hoard did the ponies begin to use the minerals in their structures. As they ventured farther they soon found even more building materials. She allowed herself to fall into a meditative reflection of time long passed.
Past ponies who had survived up this far in the Frozen North evolved in a peculiar and rapid way that she still did not understand. The first time she had seen ponies with crystalline coats she could hardly believe her eyes. It wasn't only not a possibility, but surely that condition would bring about death. The Heart had already been radiating its power for a few generations by then. Though obscurely, she could remember when both Luna and herself discovered the literal underground society.
Her magic hadn't been so worn then, she still had her fiery lust for exploration and overflowing vigor. She had shielded them with radiant yellow sphere from the howling wind and stinging sleet with ease. Thick black clouds blocked out the sky overhead. They rolled and twisted unlike any clouds they had seen-writhing like live worms. Luna had been anxiously glancing around, her horn firing up at even the thought of seeing something aberrant.
"I don't think they have survived." Luna said tiredly. "They would have been here. I knew it was foolish to allow them to stay behind. The North has been uninhabitable for hundreds of moons now."
"They will have found a way." Celestia said, though the tone she carried it in didn't sound very convinced.
"Give it up sister," Luna spat, "It is clear they have perished. There is no way that they could have survived."
Celestia did not reply to this. Her eyes continued to be set forward, their gaze never wavering.
"Your tenacity can be unbearable, sister." Luna dryly said, then continued to eye the place with dagger-eyes. "To think that this was once a large portion of the Dragon lands, I wouldn't believe it myself. Wh-where do you think they went?" There was an odd undertone of sorrow Celestia detected in her sisters words.
Celestia numbly looked around herself, saddened at the thought. This area in particular held host to dragons of many different elemental varieties. Most were not very aggressive, in fact they had an enlightened diplomacy in the way they handled disputes and their communities. Their social structures were impressive in equality and equity, Celestia only wish they hadn't been so sequestered from the rest of the developing world as to study this further.
"Sister?"
"Oh, I don't know Luna."
Only just a bit further ahead would they discover the cavernous stone bowels that was indicative kind of nest for mineral consuming dragons. Luna was devoured by fascination as she scanned them with her eyes. "They were passive," Luna said, prodding her sister. "And if we were to find one-"
"We already are on a different mission to locate a lost colony of ponies, the dragons can handle themselves out here or wherever they are."
Luna held a sour expression for a few moments. Her hooves still on the edge of the swooping entrance, staring deeply into it.
"Time is of the essence, Luna." Celetia sternly grumbled, "We need to get-"
Luna's eyes widened, "Sister what if...?"
They spared no time for idle words as they tore through the underground, both feeling foolish for not realizing it earlier. Forget-Me-Not blue poured from Luna's horn, crawling up the rough walls and jagged ceiling. With their surroundings illuminated, they both relaxed a little. Celestia still maintained the protective elemental barrier for neither alicorn's could withstand such brutal cold.
Blood surged through their bodies like fire as they charged through the tunnels. Both of their chests heaved and their opulent armored hoove's clicking against the ground, eyes darting around every surface. Until predictably, they found them. Coats and expressions dull, manes limp as was their gaunt, tight skin from malnutrition.
Over a series of days the ponies recalled the tale of how their city had been capsized by snow shortly before a mass dragon migration. At first it sounded like it had been a awe inspiring sight, the dragons sailing through the sky, each scale glistening off of the sun- until the clouds came. They were not taken as anything particularly unusual, it was monsoon season in the land afterall. It had been in the middle of one of the more pleasant summers they had seen in recent years.
It had been around that time when an orphaned foal had been found. What struck them all odd immediately was his coloration- very much unlike any colors found in the community. A dark, black coat with matching hair and lambent orange eyes. He could have only been a moon old, though it was hard to tell as he had been left out for the sun to ravage his defenseless body for days and his growth could have been stunted from starvation. His muzzle had been burnt by the sun badly. His mouth was open to cry, though no sound came out. Infanticide was a barbaric concept to this community and general mistrust brewed between none mother for years.
Though perhaps most surprising of all was that the whelp was a unicorn- in a community exclusively made up of earth pony genealogy for many generations. He had been adopted in by a family who had just recently lost a young filly who had been felled by being captured by a trap meant to keep out larger, aggressive creatures in the farmlands. Its silver teeth had broken through her leg and she was left to both starve and bleed to death- being discovered about a week later. Her hind leg shredded from trying to fight through its grasp. Only a meter away from her did radiant red strawberries bloomed.
He had been named Luminous, after his brilliantly colored magic that shined bright as the sun- and had also been an alternative name they had pondered through having foals. He had grown up with two other siblings- and older sister and brother close to his age. He had been a shy, but sweet personality, the pursuit of academia becoming his driving force. From fall to spring as he grew older they had even allowed him to study afar in a boarding school also focusing on magic in early Canterlot, though they visited often.
The foal grew into a compassionate stallion, even as the land began to change for the worse around him. An intellect of his time, he had devised the plan to colonize the abandoned tunnels the dragons left behind. The clouds had begun to rob the land of sunlight most days and much of their vegetation had laid to waste. Teams of ponies were sent out to central Equestria asking for help, but neither made it back to them. Hoping to wade out the fiercest storm that had come yet, they waited in the caves. They had pulled whatever resources they could down with them, though soon came the concern of what would be done without food.
Luminous emulated the sunlight as best as he could underground, hoping it would be similar enough to work. The earth ponies, with their connection to the earth and plants also gave their all in assisting the plants to grow as best they could. He would sit, pace, or lay down, his light shimmering on their only source of food for most of his day. Had their been another unicorn to assist, it wouldn't have been so grueling, draining him of his energy most of the time.
His wife would come to bear their daughter during their time in the caves. She took mostly after her mother, with her powdery red coat though her hair was a darker purple in contrast with her lilac, and her orange eyes were defiantly from her father, as was her svelte horn. She would have her own set of siblings, two sisters, one an earth pony, the other a unicorn, though her father seemed to offer her most of the knowledge he had to give. Now with a few more unicorns, the task of keeping the vegetation alive become exceedingly less daunting.
However, many, who had never seen nor heard of a unicorn in their life, thought that some divine, higher power had brought Luminous down, and that he had instilled in him an enlightenment that none had reached before. Many clamored for him to become their monarchical leader- which clashed with their previously established democracy. Luminous was reluctant, however, his eldest daughter was not. His blood flowed through hers, and therefore they considered her equally as worthy. Luminous acted as an advisory of sorts, though with luck she had a benevolent rule, as did those who would follow her.
Many teams of ponies left when food still proved to be scarce, claiming they would go to the mountains that kissed the sky. The silent consensus was that it was a suicide mission, though the alternative would be dealing with starvation; their absence making food much more plentiful.
Up until the recent rule, when the Luminous descendant had only bore one unicorn child, who had been born very ill. Though the siblings, or "Divine Court," had also bore children, their children did not bear the symbolic horn. With their light source diminished, hunger quickly sat in as much of the vegetation did not get enough light from a team of unicorns.
Radiant Luster relayed all of this too Celestia so long ago. She had been a pearly pink mare with autumn-leaf yellow hair and leaf green eyes. She had a tall, willowy figure and was one of the more progressive rulers they had. Allowing much more freedom of thought, speech around royalty, and even abashing the negative stigma surrounding other sexualities. Even encouraging expeditions, though most were thought to lead to failure it was not sure if that was the truth. A few teams had begun to bring precious stones and gems back from expeditions, these were used to decorate much of their home, and it was she who became fascinated by crystals and potential building properties. Though many thought it was asinine, Celestia knew that many kinds of crystals responded well to all kinds of equestrian magic.
More expeditions came back successful, and on the day Celestia and Luna had begun to prepare to leave, bringing back the Cave Colony back with them, the descendants of the group who left for the mountains returned- with the Heart. Celestia, Luna, and Radiance were immediately drawn to it, the power reverberating from it could be felt ringing in their horns and bones. It was placed originally as decoration in the middle of the cave as they organized. The joy and gratitude of the ponies felt almost tangible, flickering through the air like infectious spores.
Blinding blue light blanketed over them, followed by a deafening boom that shook the caverns. There hadn't been enough time for any of the rulers to react- however what happened next was hard to comprehend. After rising to their hooves, they still felt an overwhelming joy when they should have felt fear. There muscles were relaxed even though their nerves should have been shot. But the most peculiar was as Celestia stared out at the ponied in front of her, their entire bodies scintillated like the crystal heart itself and appeared to have the same texture. She stared in disbelieve at what looked like living statues, all mesmerized themselves with the metamorphosis. They appeared to have been filled with health, it had combated their previous ailments.
She tried to shake herself from the toxic elation that had filled her, as it suppressed her ability to logically think. She looked around to find her sister- only to hardly recognized her. Her coat too, sparkled with the light that the crystal and few torches gave off. Staring down at her legs she realized that she had also been affected. The ground beneath their feet, which had previously been rock had been transmuted into crystal of every shade.
"Luna!" Celestia gasped, her current thoughts dissolved quickly as voices called for them to hurry outside. Expecting the brutal cold they had encountered, Celestia formed the protective magic barrier around herself and Luna. Only to step out onto damp soil and stare out at a mostly clear sky. An invisible dome seemed to have fallen over this place as it had been completely transformed. The gem colored ponies flooded out of their home to get the first look at open skies, something that had not happened to most for generations. Heads craned up in awe at the sky while others ran through the rich soil, enthralled not to be looking out for walls that limited movement and to allow a gentle breeze to grace their bodies.
Over the next few decades a crystal city grew. Ponies from all trots of Equestria came to see it, some even settling there themselves. It began to grow into the Crystal Empire that was depicted in the history books now-a-days, Celestia and Luna assisting in its development and laying the foundation of a healthy relationship between the two lands.
Further details of that meeting had been lost to time for Celestia however. She felt a tinge of guilt knowing that a lot of memories that died with in her brain could not be shared by anypony else. After all Luna had been through, she doubted she remembered much more than she did. The voices of the dead continued to bounce around in her head, taunting her for forgetting them. This building she walked in was one of the ones built the earliest, while some emerging architects still clung onto the familiar stone and wood that had been brought down.
Celestia took in a deep breath, she needed full composure and sound mindedness to do this. She stared out the window and into the dense farmlands outside. This was one of the few rural parts of the Empire, structures around here along with the ponies carried a utilitarianism with them. A perfect place to heal and let your mind go. She didn't have much more time to bask in that luxury however. She continued on, aligning her mind and enforcing the cool logic she would need for this meeting.
Cadence was awaiting her arrival beside the guards in front of the door. She seemed much less bitter today, even offering Celestia a warm, welcoming smile, which she returned. "I have woken him up and made him aware of the situation." Cadence said coolly. "However, I have one request."
"Hmm?" Celestia asked, her magic already buzzing forth on the door handle.
He heard a commotion outside of the door and froze. It had been promised to be a calm, gentle meeting and day overall, however it already sounded like it was going aerie. He had barely become aware of who the ruler of this land was, and already another had entered this domain from another part of the land- and the one who lifted the sun every day! He trembled under his sheets, attempting not to give away his healed limbs, hissing in faux pain when a guard noticed.
Silence in the hallway spread like a disease. He looked at the guard from before in a questioning fashion, but he was met back with an equally confused face. Torrid, he recalled. This guard seemed to be prescribed to him a lot as of late. His seething hatred and anger towards him died down into a solemn disdain, yet concern when he winced in pain.
The door opened with silent grace along with the gentle clink of metal against stone. A heavy weight fell upon his lungs once he observed the creature who strode into the room. Her ivory coat emitted a soft, but radiant silver-gold light while her hair glowed with an area of colors that captured breathtaking auroras as it defied gravity, innocently flowing with an unforeseeable wind. Her eyes like young wisteria blossoms scanned him before she opened her mouth.
"It has been quiet a while since our last meeting, Sombra."
Her stared at her stupidly, not knowing what to say. His eyes filled with agitated confusion but he boldly starting, "We have never met before. I-I'm not..." his words dissolved though, as he was not confident in declaring that he was not in fact Sombra. The blue streaks in his mane were a good indication he wasn't, however he could not truly be sure himself.
The opulent alicorn was completely unaffected by this, which shook him a little. If he was indeed the terror Torrid had described she should be a bit more apprehensive, though he hoped she could find someway to prove that he wasn't. Though he knew nothing of her, something told him that she would either be his salvation or destruction.
"I hope so," she said, each word calmly honied and coated in serenity, "Then who are who?"
He stared at her, the question passing right through him. Who am I? He tried to open his mouth, though he couldn't procure any words as he became cognitively dizzy. What am I?
"Hmm, I thought so. Princess Cadence was supposed to been a part of our audience just in case anything happened, however we both know that won't be necessary."
His ears pinned back in shame as he donned a guilty expression as he couldn't be totally sure. A sickness bubbled inside him, fearful of himself, as he had no grasp on his identity.
She offered him a kind smile that both felt sincere and threatening and she walked further towards him. "Don't worry about that," she cooed, "It, like everything else too, shall come to pass."
"What?" he asked, then it hit him. A warm sensation has begun to grow in his mind- at first it sent a pang of panic through him, but he was quickly taken over by an artificial feeling calm and his questioning of what it was dulled.
Celestia crouched beside the bed, now laying comfortably on the floor beside him. "Relax," she cooed, "It is okay."
Though a part of him attempted to fight her hold, it was for naught as her control trickled throughout him, before he did just that. The sensation of cool water trickling throughout his brain caused him to shiver, though he submitted to sleep unnaturally fast.
Visions of a lush garden danced in his dreams. The fragrant perfume of flowers and fruit trees floated in the air as his hooves made contact with the bouncy viridian grass and damp soil beneath. He trotted and bucked the fresh air like a foal just learning how to walk, his muzzle being buried in the magnificent smelling ground as he stumbled without a care. He allowed himself to the delectable grass that sent pleasure gushing through him with each bite.
However, as he stared to the horizon he became unnerved. The sky was a dark amber, and impossible jagged onyx clouds sailed through the sky. Black terror filled him as snow cascaded down from them. His legs pounded into the earth with a tremendous force as he attempted to evade the flakes- though they had now begun to consume him and his short lived paradise. He winned and bayed helplessly as the weight of the aggressive snow caused his legs to buckle. Though when his eyes closed there were not filled with darkness, but radiant light of every color. When he opened them, they were stung with the snow and darkness.
Twilight gawked in astonished confusion at her mentor, comforted when she saw the other princesses were doing the same out of the corner of her eye.
"How?!" Twilight cried, "How can't-"
"Twilight," Cadence said, sternly but calmly, "Allow her to explain."
"Of course," Twilight said bashfully and guilt filled.
"Yes, it is precarious," Celestia continued, "For the first time in a while, I am was unable to come up with anything definitive."
"Can you please explain?" Cadence politely begged, tiredness clutched onto her entire form. "This has been exhausting for me as well, though I have Shining to help keep up the protection spell, it just isn't enough help."
Luna shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, distastefully eyeing the cushion beneath her.
Celestia stared numbly at them, for the first time that Twilight could remember, all vigor had been drained from her face and her apparent natural enlightened composure now was empty. "I suppose I am not as well versed with this variety of magic as I once thought. However, there is another I would like to call upon for assistance- Sister."
Luna and Celestia both locked eyes.
"With all due respect," Luna began, "Are you sure you want to trust me to delve inside an insidious mind? I too have fallen to similar dark magic as he did, and already posses a...vulnerability." Luna attempted to deliver this flatly but failed, her quivering voice betraying her.
"Then it is you you also possess the utmost ability to guide him to reformance out of all of us, Little Sister."
"I-I suppose I have been down a similar math cognitively before..." Luna sighed, "Though I think it unwise to trust me sister, for it has not been long since I returned from my imprisonment and broke away from the dark magic I created myself."
"You can still look into his dreams though," Twilight piped up, "That power has been given back to recently, if i am remembering correctly that is." She looked towards the white alicorn for assurance.
Celestia eyed her previous student warmly, "Indeed it has, an avenue we have already attempted to explore, however..."
"He does not dream." Luna declared, "Gaining access to his mental domain has proven difficult for me from afar. I apologize." She said, staring down at the table in front of them.
"Don't," Cadence said, turning to Luna who was taken aback by her boldness.
"Pardon me?" Luna inquired. Her form rose with attentive anger, something Twilight couldn't blame her for. As Cadence had been the most benevolent of ponies of of late.
"Don't," Cadence said, with surprising gentleness, "I don't want to hear you putting yourself down like that. You are a capable, brave, and strong pony and you know that. You are an inspiration and a marvel, you have grown from your experiences and I deeply respect you. And I won't allow anyone to try to convince me you aren't anything less than that- not even yourself."
All were silent before snorting laughter rang through the air out of Luna, followed by Celestia. Cadence and Twilight both looked at each other for an answer, though neither had one to offer.
"Well that is defiantly comforting and a relief to hear," Luna chirped through a giggle, "Thank you."
"Care to explain what was so funny...?" Cadence asked, tilting her head.
This however caused another fit of laughter and a hopelessly confused glance shared between the two youngest princesses.
"In time, in time," Celestia said, finishing. "Now you had mentioned there was a pony who accompanied him, correct?"
"Yes," Cadence said, "I think she will be much less difficult to read, when will you be ready?"
"Sunrise tomorrow, Celestia said, "I imagine if she is innocent the poor soul would appreciate some sleep."
"Twilight," Luna said, peering over to the lavender mare, causing all the alicorns to look her way as well. "I was wondering-"
"Brilliant!" Celestia shrieked, realization shooting across her glowing face as she looked at her sister.
"Celestia!" Luna barked, "Honestly- But anyway," she gathered back up her reverence. "Twilight, would you allow me to teach you the branch of Animo Magic?"
"Mind magic?" Cadence asked.
"Well, yes, I apologize for my falter. I am still quite fond of many Old Ponish terminologies."
Twilight's eyes widened with wonder. "Princess Luna, I-I, well I'd be honored!" she managed to get out breathlessly.
Luna smiled, "I have every confidence that as the beerier of the Element of Magic, you will excel fairly quickly in this."
"And I know you will not fail to impress me, Twilight," Celestia warmly stated, "However, I think it wise perhaps for all of us to learn it."
Luna looked over at her sister with a shocked and tired expression. "While that would be benificial, I think it is of the utmost importance for us to get a another pony who can learn it as quickly as possible. Mentoring two additional ponies would take more time away from that."
"Of course," Celestia murmured, shooting Twilight a playfully jealous eye. "I do hope you enjoy your lessons, Twilight. And I hope in time perhaps you could even teach me this rare skill."
He awoke abruptly in his room, though for the first time that he could remember, the room was completely devoid of guards and medical personal. He cocked his head, which had a throbbing soreness to it. Scanning the room once more confirmed he was indeed alone. As silently as he could, he squirmed off the bed and stretched his weak legs. The silence disturbed him as he anxiously looked around once more, before walking over to the window, staring out of it longingly.
The moonlight gently bathed the land and the stars gleamed brilliantly like jewels. He sighed, seldom did he get a proper glance outside, unless he was moved from his bed. He touched the wall, as this was the closest he could get to the outdoors currently.
He knew that even if he managed to crawl out the window now, he would most defiantly be caught in a land he did not know and it would be very incriminating. He had always enjoyed the night the most. Something about it revitalized him. The quietness and softness of moonlight was when the world was at its very best.
The realization of that thought punched through his gut and heart. I enjoy the night! He thought excitedly. This was one of the few things he had learned about himself since his emergence from the ice. He wondered what other things he liked, and the excitement of getting to know flooded through him. He tried to focus on a name for himself. Radiance. That word was always clawing through his mind, and he figured that must be his name. It was very nice after all, even if it sounded pretentious. He looked down at his blank flank, wondering if perhaps his cutie mark could make it seem less so. The thought of discovering what it was filled him while child like wonder and motivation he had never felt before.
I could actually be meant to do something! I could actually make a difference!
A difference. A positive one. That didn't sound like something an evil king of old would want.
The path to corruption is walled and roofed with good intentions though- even if they are misguided you think you are doing the right thing. He had no idea what corner of his mind this had come from, but it filled him again with hopelessness. It is true, those who wrong us think they have done good most of the time- even if the gain is only their own. I wondered you wronged me to teach me that?
Cadence marched through the underground dungeons followed by a plethora of guards. It wasn't even dawn yet, however she would prefer to have this ready before Celestia came. Celestia already had enough to put up with already. The least she could do was alleviate one burden.
"Trixie?" she called, attempting to sound calm. Though a part of her was unable to fight a primal fear that surrounded this. It was so easy to be corrupted by Sombra's magic, and she could not allow herself to be. She had an Empire to overlook- and she knew the power could be spread just as the light magic of love. And if she allowed herself to succumb to this, that magic would spray all across Equestria. She breathed in deeply, mustering all kindness she could.
"Trixie?" she tried again, this time in a very motherly tone. The blue unicorn awoke slowly, though it was apparent that she hadn't had a single night of good sleep since arriving here. She now had a gaunt, and defeated look about her. She was barley able to clapper to her hooves and employee the concentration needed to stare the Princess directly in the eye.
Cadence nodded to a few guards, who went to open the cell. Trixie looked in confusion and fear, barely able to formulate coherent words. "I am going to die today, aren't I?"
"Of course not dear," Cadence cooed, laying a wing along her back. "Come with me, you'll get some sleep here really soon."
Trixie's form shook underneath her wing, though they advanced forward nonetheless.
The trek of walking through the dungeons was pure agony to Trixie. Her entire body screamed in protest and pain with each movement, but she had to move as stillness hurt as well. Cadence's wing offered a pale comfort, though is was more terrifying than anything. Like a spider coddling is captured prey, wound in webbing.
I am going to die. For saving some pony. No. For being a pony worthy of death, to justice I have been unkind.
She gasped when fresh air hit her. She had taken advantage of its deliciousness prior. The luxury of darkness also washed over her, as her eyes no longer stung from constant brightness. They continued to walk along the harsh rock and crystal flooring for a while, before it turned into dry dirt with exasperated patches of grass attempting to grow from it. Trixie hadn't realized that the Empire stretched out for so long. In the distance she could see the some of the outskirts of the Empire, along with the large castle that rose above it all.
Nearby was a very crude building made from stone and wood, though on a much greener expanse of land. The jagged black stones she had seen in the dungeon appeared to have been shoved around it's perimeter. Trixie too felt like the grass, crushed by the immense weight of a magic and vitality stealing stone. Cadence stood by her side still, her wing lessening its firm hold as light began to peek out from the horizon. The sky began to turn a dusty rose-gold when a figure was spotted walking towards them from afar.
Celestia. Terror and dread filled Trixie once more, however she knew she didn't have the energy to even muster the thought of using her legs to run. Taking in breaths of the crisp morning air, she calmed herself. Ready for her own destruction or a punishment fit for her past cruelties.
"It will be alright," cooed Cadence. Trixie was unnerved at how kind Cadence had become. It felt like she was in the company of an entirely different pony than however many days prior. Weeks even. She hadn't any way to tell time when she had been down their. Her mind fried from her loneliness and malnutrishment.
Celestia soon reached them. She was stunning in the dawn light she had brought forth, perhaps the most stunning of all was the smile she cared when she locked eyes with Trixie.
"Trixie, isn't it?" Celestia casually said, as though this were a blind date. Cadence took her wing off of Trixie, leaving her to the coldness of the early hours. Trixie nodded, a overwhelming sensation of safety and companionship began to form in the back of her brain. Clumsily, she teetered over towards Celestia like a foal to their mother, stopping just before her feet. She bowed her head in repentance, "I am sorry." she managed to get out.
"What for?" Celestia asked, "All I will ask of you is to rest for now."
"Rest?" Trixie asked, both understanding and but not being able to grasp what the alicorn meant by it.
"Yes." Celestia replied. "You do look rather tired." Celestia shot Cadence a cold, questioning look. "But we will fix that. Come along."
Celestia guided Trixie towards the arcane building. A small string of guards followed, Cadence had disappeared however. All Trixie could recall from that point on was laying on a small bed in a dark room before quickly being taken over by sleep.
Twilight walked through the castle with a brisk eagerness. The scent of lavender from the scones on the wall relaxed her, as did the elegant layout of the castle. It was just as beautiful at night as it was in the day. The marble pillars soaked up the daylight while the cool moonlight extenuated the almost undetectable impurities. Both night and day spilled different colors from the stained glass windows on the way to the throne room; the portrait of their defeat of NightMare Moon was the most gorgeous under the night however. The colors seemed to mingle and dance on the floor in a playful manner she had never seen in the day.
Her voracious appetite for magical knowledge caused her to hasten her pace. She worried that perhaps she arrived too early-though if you weren't at least twenty minutes early you were forty minutes late, she felt. She had defiantly arrived too late to converse with Celestia, which she felt a little shame for, as she selfishly wanted to chat with her before lessons with Luna began.
As Twilight entered the throne room, she immediately noticed something was off, but couldn't detect off hoof what it was. Perhaps the sight of Luna sitting at the throne rather than Celestia was it. Luna carried a much more serious, even grim aura. She appeared unaffected by the sight of Twilight, merely stepping down and walking her way.
"Twilight Sparkle," Luna said, "Welcome to your Animo Magic lessons. Shall we begin?"
It was very apparent Luna had never really taken on a student, as she delivered this in clunky, timid but over authoritative tone. "Of course!" Twilight said, "I just have to-"
Luna's eyes widened and she became stiff, "Twilight, did you hear that?"
Twilight merely shook her head, now keeping very still. Luna's horn flared to life, sending a dark blue orb into the room, ripping it's way around it.
Twilight gasped in pain as she was shot back against a wall, knocking the air out of her. A cry was wrung out of her as the dark blue light continued to ravage the throne room. Perhaps worst of all was the stunned face on Princess Luna as she stared back at Twilight in horror. A stinging pain shot throughout Twilight, causing her to writhe as she attempted to physically fight back against the magic restraint and understand what was going on.
Twilight couldn't hold long any longer and began to fade into black. Before she did however, she saw a familiar purple and green baby dragon crawling menacingly along the throne platform, eyeing the princess. His eyes were wild, the whites consumed with green and accompanied by red iris and pupils. A gaseous dark purple leaked from them, flickering like a flame.
"Behind!" was all Twilight got out before faded away from the world.
"Radi'nce?" asked Ambrosial, checking up on him, taking note of vital signs. "Tha' used to be a royal name, y'know? A good one though dear, good leader. Went an' got lost on 'n expedition though."
He pinned his ears back in contemplation. Could he perhaps be Radiance? Or were they just another one of the ponies lost during the expedition? Perhaps that was his ruler when he had become trapped in the ice. Truthfully he didn't know, however he knew the name brought him comfort, and he knew that was important.
"Is the pony who brought me in okay?" he asked.
"T' be hones' dear, I really don' know. I haven' heard anything of it since."
"I hope she is okay." these words surprised as they escaped without him thinking much on them, however they were sincere.
"I'm sure she is." Ambrosial said, though they both knew she was saying that to dissuade him from becoming consumed by guilt.
"I want to go outside. I dream about it." he said while she brushed his hair.
"I know dear. We're tryin'."
"Thank you."
She stopped brushing for a moment, these simple kind words unhinged her as she knew he was completely truthful and it wasn't an empty platitude.
"You're very welcome."
Trixie woke slowly, body stiff from sleep and aching from hunger. She realized she was still in the place Celestia brought her. The natural light that beamed in from the window coaxed a smile out of her, as it didn't hurt her. As she rose, so did the throbbing pain that tore through her head. The pain causing her to fall back down onto her mattress and groan.
"Someponie's finally awake!" a gentle male voice rang it. "I know you are hungry, but do you feel like you can eat?"
Trixie responded with a strong yes.
"Splendid. I will be back shortly."
What did Celestia do to me? she moaned internally. On the plus side, you're not dead. Yet. Thoughts were difficult to construct currently for her, her mind static, a rising crescendo of white noise in it ringing in her ears.
A pinkish orange stallion pushing along a small cart as he strolled into the room, humming to himself. "You weren't awake for the grand news, but you'll be released very soon. But you are being keep here as a precaution- security theater really. It is all silly, honestly. I will be checking on you periodically- how rude of me- you may call be Cloudberry. No need for pointless formalities, they are dreadfully ostentatious and perhaps even insulting after your treatment in the Empire."
Trixie numbly stared at him. She knew she should feel excitement and elation, but this was unable to faze her as she greedily eyed the food on the cart. She nodded at him, thankful that he wasn't going to be pretentious and fake with her.
"Now remember, small bites and pace yourself, the first day you were here you over did it a little."
"Other day?" Trixie spat,"How long have I been here?!"
"Just a few days, dove. I don't blame you for not remembering. That spell can really do a number on the mind. You must remember to rest it. The mind needs time to heal just as a wound would, it is an organ as well and can be damaged. So don't overwork yours today- though I imagine you will and I have pain-relievers already set for the inevitable, holler if you need one if I am not here."
"Thanks," Trixie got out. "Can you tell me what is going on? I am still really, really confused. Who was that pony I rescued? I have heard a name thrown around but honestly, I don't know much about your culture or whatever you think I know."
"Most of us are aware," Cloudberry said, his usually cheerful disposition replaced by exasperation. "Though nopony wants to rule anything out, you know? You don't have much to worry about if you are innocent. And I know this is not the ideal place for relaxation, but I think you should take advantage of it for the next few days. Everpony needs to relax once in a while." He sighed, "Though I am sincerely sorry to say I do not know much more than you. I truly wish I did so I could put troubles far from your mind."
"What spell?" Trixie got out between bites.
"Ah yes. Well, to avoid any untruthfulness, Princess Celestia searched your mind with her magic. Though false memories can be created, there would be obvious traces of tampering. We all want to make sure you're safe, dove. I know it doesn't feel like it, but you are in much better hooves now."
"Searched my mind." Trixie repeated. "Great." Nausea bubbled in her gut and foamed in her esophagus at this thought. She felt flashes of both hot and cold. She abandoned her meal in front of her to lay back down, no longer hungry. So she knows everything then.
"It is a horrible invasion of privacy, and I cannot imagine what horror and sorrow that fills you with. I am not going to say it was okay, but I just know there is a great fear surrounding the pony you rescued. I will tell you more later, you know what a frenzy fear can instill in ponies, and you would want to know for sure you are safe, right? A necessary evil that am profoundly sorrow you had to suffer from." Cloudberry said, his tone empathetic and cool. Trixie was convinced he could talk a blizzard to disperse into a breeze with his genuine compassion and honied words.
Twilight could barely feel anything but a pounding pain in her head. What was Spike doing? What happened to him? How did not only slip out without me noticing, but slip into a heavily guarded throne room?
"It is alright, Twilight," she heard Celestia cooing, "Soon it will be over." This had played on loop for what could have been hours, or even days. She attempted to question the unrelenting voice meant to comfort her-both for an answer and for it to stop, as it was becoming maddening. She willed herself to slip into a slumber, though she could still hear the voice muffled in her dream.
She was back at the library in Ponyville. Making breakfast for Spike and herself-pancakes with gem flakes for him, and chocolate and blue berries for her. Both of their favorites. She knew Spike was sick, even without seeing him, so she went to find him.
"Spike?" she called out, "Breakfast is ready!" She was blissfully unaware of the dark blue alicorn perched atop the horse head statue in the middle of the room, staring at her intently as she passed by.
"Spike?" she asked when she found him. She was curled up into a caterpillar like ball, turning black. His form quivered- like a magnetism was pulling bits of him apart before collapsing back down onto his shriveled body. "Oh Spike," she groaned, offering him a pancake. "Breakfast is ready, here, maybe eating will make you feel better." Spike didn't move.
She nudged him- he was frigid as if he had been buried in snow, his scales were brittle and flaked off when touched. When she withdrew her hoof in horror, an inky black substance coated it. His eyes were closed, tears however, were frozen in time to his face.
Twilight stumbled back, looking frantically around as if she knew just how to reverse this. Her magenta magic flared as she dislodged hundreds of books from their shelves, looking through each one, but they were all blank. She dropped them in frustration, shaking the entire world around her. "Zecora," she realized, "She'd know what to do."
Twilight ran out her door, only to fall into the dark purple space of nothingness. She began to float off, away from her house. Try as she may, she couldn't teleport as her horn too, had begun to turn shriveled and black as Spike's body. She screamed out for help to the void, but it did not answer her. However, Princess Luna did, as she gingerly floated beside her.
"Good Evening, Twilight Sparkle. It appears our lessons didn't go as either of us planned."
"Am I in trouble? Did I do something wrong?"
"I was hoping you could tell me."
"No, I haven't. Is Spike okay?"
"In this realm, no. However in the waking world we also have him restrained, Celestia is currently exploring his mind."
"I don't understand- I mean I have an idea but- what happened? Why did I get flung across the room?"
"It is a mystery to all of us, we are all curious as to why that is. Pray tell, do you indulge in dark magic in your free time?"
"No- well, not intentionally perhaps. I don't usually explore much into the logistics if a spell is good or bad."
Luna starred at her, briefly stunned before gathering back her composure. "Well, I think you should pay much more attention now, as it could well cost you-" Luna stopped as they both knew what she was to say.
"Oh Princess Luna," Twilight sighed, "I don't understand what happened with Spike..."
"I know, I have already searched your mind thoroughly- you put up a resilient fight however. I was not able to access as much as I hoped."
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to."
"Don't apologize, really Twilight. It just means you have a strong will. Here in a few hours it will be morning, you will be awakened for questioning. As will Spike, separately, of course."
