The Darkest of Stars

Seven Days Ago...

“There's someone there....who is it?”

“Doesn't anyone recognize me anymore? This is becoming very frustrating...”

“Ugh...is it really you?”

“It depends on who you are talking about, darling.”

“It is you. How wonderful.”

“You don't sound happy, my little pony.”

“Don't call me that! You know I hate that stupid moniker. I'm not even a pony.”

“Not anymore, at least. Other than that, you haven't changed at all, my dear.”

“It sounds like you haven't either, you twisted witch.”

“It's nice to see you, as well.”

“What do you want? Or is this a social mind-raping?”

“Language, honey! And can't a mother call on her daughter once in a while?”

“One, you are not my mother. And two, yes she can. It's just that when these visits happen only once every thousand years, the daughter gets suspicious.”

“Fair enough. I suppose there's no beating around the trough with you. Actually, I do require your assistance with something.”

“I knew it. No thanks.”

“At the very least, hear me out!”

“The last time I heard that phrase, I ended up committing genocide. Again, no thanks.”

“How would you like to have your fill of all the ponies of Equestria – nay – the entire planet?”

“Making more promises you can't keep? I don't have time for this...”

“The Darkest Star is soon to arrive, my dear. The time for the brightest star to fade is upon us all.”

“As opposed to every other time the 'Brightest Star' was supposed to fall? I've tried that before. I did not work.”

“Only because those two others interfered. If not for them, the Equestrians would have been in your hooves.”

“You're right...for once.”

“And now will be your second chance. I need your help. Right now, you are the only one I can depend on.”

“...”

“I need your army, my dear. With them, we can spread darkness across the land.”

“My people are not tools for you to play with, Blackstar.”

“You are correct. But do not forget who gave you control of them in the first place.”

“And you had better remember who's help you are asking for.”

“...fair enough, my dear.”

“What exactly is this new plan of yours?”

“I can't give you all of the details just yet...just know, that I'm finally working on the inside.”

“I can tell. You've taken control of one of the princesses, haven't you?”

“Very perceptive. I chose correctly.”

“If you have taken control of her, what do you need my help for?”

“My locus of control extends only so far in this form. She...resists me every chance she gets. Plus without the Darkest Star, my power is greatly diminished.”

“That's true. The Star won't arrive for another five months.”

“Everything must be in place before then. My Heart must be secured, the Order neutralized, the Brightest Star decommissioned and my body found.”

“It seems the last thousand years have turned you senile. If you forgot, your body was destroyed by-”

“I know what the records say. But I tell you, I found it!”

“You....you found it!?”

“Yes, I did. Finally after all of these years, my rule will be absolute. The thrown that was stolen from me will belong to me again.”

“...”

“What's wrong, dearest daughter?”

“For some reason, it seems like I no longer have a choice in the matter.”

“It's good that you understand now.”

“I only have one final question.”

“Hm.”

“What becomes of my people and myself after you retake the throne?”

“Your place will be secured amongst the new order. Your people will be safe, with all the love they could ever consume. No harm shall come to them.”

“How do I know I can trust you?”

“Ah-ah-ah! You said one question.”

“...so I did. Fine then, what do you need?”

~

Three Days After the Present Day...

“So you don't remember anything from the time you have been away?” Celestia asked.

Luna shook her head. “I don't even recall going away.”

The two princesses were flying through sky together. They never got to do this anymore. Being princesses, they had little time for recreation. But whenever they got the chance, they would spend as much time as they could with each other. Besides, they both needed some time to relax.

Luna continued. “The last thing I remember is giving Twilight her Teleyedoscope lesson. Then...then...” She stopped, as if unsure of how to proceed.

Celestia stopped beside her. “What is it?”

“I seem to remember...struggling.”

“Struggling?” Celestia repeated anxiously. “Were you captured?”

“No...well, yes...I don't know.” She kept flying ahead.

A few seconds passed before Luna continued. “There was...a darkness. And a voice. I remember a voice of some kind.”

Celestia was starting to get angry, but not at her sister. “Who was it?”

Luna closed her eyes, trying to recall any details. “It was...raspy. And...feminine.”

“Queen Chrysalis?”

Luna shook her head. “No, it wasn't her...but...”

“But what?”

“I...know that voice. Or I knew who it was.”

Celestia stopped beside her sister. “Who?”

Luna looked as if she were in a trance. “When the brightest star fades and dies, the darkest star shall live and rise...”

Celestia's eyes grew wide. “The prophecy...you don't mean that it was...?”

They both spoke at the same time. “Blackstar!”

Celestia looked physically ill. “Those three ponies...I knew I saw them somewhere before! Why couldn't I remember them?”

“The Order of the Darkest Star is here as well?” Luna asked.

Celestia nodded. “One of them, Kassandra, stayed for a while in the castle with Twilight. She said she was going to assist with the search.”

Luna seemed to lose five shades of purple in her face. “Kassandra...was in the castle with you?”

Celestia raised an eyebrow. “Yes. Is that a problem?”

Luna shook her head and kept flying. “It's nothing.”

They flew together in silence for a while, just gliding through the daytime sky. Celestia's mane glowed in the sunlight. She didn't look as tired and exhausted as she was a few days ago. It was if the very sun she rose and set every day was giving her new life.

Luna stood out in stark contrast against the bright sky. And yet, she fit perfectly with it. Her dark, translucent mane and tail produced a brilliant reddish color. It was obvious that something was weighing heavy on her mind.

“Sister...how are you?” Luna asked.

Celestia looked a bit confused. “What do you mean? I'm fine now that you're back.”

Luna stopped in front of her, a deadly serious look in her eyes. “No you're not.”

Celestia looked taken aback. “What are you talking about? Why would I lie to my own sister?”

“I may be your little sister, but I am not stupid. You and I both know that the prophecy speaks of you.” She pointed at her. “You are the Brightest Star.”

Celestia looked a bit ashamed. “I'm sorry I treated you like this...”

Luna put an arm around her shoulder. “We've known about the prophecy for years, but you were the one who saw it coming. You took on Twilight Sparkle as your student early on, not because I was gone but because of the first part of the prophecy.”

Celestia smiled wanly. “Luna...” She started to tear up. She hugged her sister tightly, looking like she never wanted to let her go. They both hovered in each other's arms for what seemed like hours before Celestia broke the silence.

“I...I am beginning to fade...”

~

???

Kassandra was currently suffering the worst headache of her life. She awoke feeling like she had slammed her head into a piano multiple times. She could barely think, let alone stand up. Her vision was blurry and muddied. “Ugh...what a day...”

“No kidding.”

She turned her head towards the source of the voice, though she could only make out a purplish blur. “Sparkles...thanks for saving me...” she said. She figured she sounded like she had gulped down one too many milkshakes.

“You're welcome,” she answered tersely.

“Where's everyone else...?”

“I don't know,” Twilight answered. “I think we're the only ones here.”

Kassandra mustered the strength to stand up, stumbling a little. She shook her head to clear her vision a little. They looked to be in a bedroom. It was small but neat and tidy. There was a bookshelf packed full of literature. A table was full of papers and books, both of which were scribbled all over. There was also a globe on the table. A poster on the wall showed a map of the stars.

“What happened while I was unconscious?” Kassandra asked, looking a bit better.

“Some kind of vortex appeared after you passed out,” Twilight explained. “It happened while I was trying to heal you. Radley and Allis called it the 'Blackest Heart'.”

Kassandra raised an eyebrow. “Blackest Heart?”

Twilight continued. “Your friends said that it happened from our magic mixing together. But I've never heard of that before.”

Kassandra smirked. “First time for everything.”

Twilight concentrated for a second. She exhaled, annoyed. “My magic isn't working either.”

“Magic doesn't work anywhere near a Blackest Heart,” Kassandra explained. “Since we're inside one, I can imagine the effect has been doubled.”

“Inside the Heart? Aren't we still inside your scenario thingee?”

“In a way, but this one isn't under my control,” Kassandra said, shaking her head. She took a walk around the room. She took a look at robe and hat sitting on a hook near the door. The robe was blue-ish and had stars and moons decorating it. The most distinguishing characteristic were the bells hanging around the fringe. There was a hat in a similar style, a bell hanging off the top and around the rim. She looked confused. “It can't be...”

“What can't be?” Twilight asked.

There was a crashing noise on the other side of the door. A frustrated roar followed. “NO! That's not it either!!” a older sounding male voice said.

“Calm down,” a female voice soothed. “It can't be that easy of a spell to create.”

“It isn't,” the male voice said. He sounded quieter, but still frustrated. “I've never had to do anything like this before.”

“Well, maybe there's another way-”

“We've been through this before, May-there is no other way!” There was a long pause. “I'm sorry. I just – I just need to do this alone.”

“It's fine,” the female said. “I'll come back later. Just...just try not to work too hard.”

There was a grunt and the sound of a door closing.

Twilight took a look at Kassandra. She had an intensely angry glare on her face. She looked like she wanted to kill whoever was on the other side of the door. “What's wrong?” Twilight asked.

“I know who that son of a cow is,” Kassandra swore. Her eyes were dark with hatred. “Look closely at the clothes. You should know who it is too.”

Twilight did. Her eyes widened as recognition dawned on her. “This is...no, it can't be can it?”

Kassandra nodded. “It is. That pony is none other than Starswirl the Bearded.” Then, she added. “The legendary jackass.”

~

???

“Fluttershy! Applejack! Twilight! Rarity! Pinkie! Where are you!?”

“Radley! Kassandra! Are you there!?”

Allis Yahn and Rainbow Dash were flying through the nighttime sky, searching for their friends. They themselves were lost in a dark forest. Trees covered the area, making a detailed search of the ground nearly impossible.

“Can you see anything, weather pony?” Allis asked.

“No, it's too dark out here,” Dash said. “I can barely see my own hooves!”

“You rely on sight too much,” Allis criticized.

“Well, duh! I kinda need it to fly!”

Allis scoffed. “How awful for you,” he muttered.

Dash continued as if he had said nothing. “Are we in the Everfree Forest or something?”

“Yes and no,” Allis answered cryptically.

“Could you stop speaking egghead please?” Dash asked, sounding bored.

Allis sighed. “We are in the Everfree Forest, but not as you know it. We are actually still in Kassandra's Scenario, but it has been affected by the Blackest Heart.”

“So if you know all that, where are the others?”

Allis shrugged. “Probably in another part of the same Scenario. A different place or even a different time period.”

“So how do we get back?” Dash asked.

“That is a good question, weather pony. I've never been inside of a-”

“Could you please stop doing that?” Dash interrupted, sounding annoyed.

“What?”

“Calling me by my job instead of my name,” Dash said, crossing her arms. “That's just annoying. Call me Dash or Rainbow.”

Allis looked uncomfortable. “Sure...D-Dash...” His ears perked up. “There's someone coming! It sounds like they're in the forest.”

Dash followed Allis down below the forest canopy. She groaned aloud. “Great, I can see even less now!”

“Be quiet and listen!” Allis said, moving his head back and forth. Dash sighed and tried to focus.

There was a lot of rustling, followed by the sound of breaking branches. “Pony feathers! Tell me again why I have to walk?” The voice was masculine.

“You do realize what would happen if she saw us together right?” This voice was feminine.

“Yeah, yeah I know,” the male voice relented. “But at least I could fly. No one would think we were together.”

“Don't underestimate her, Wind,” the female voice said. “She isn't stupid and you know it.”

The male voice sighed. “This was supposed to be the end of it, May. Who knew that it would end up so much worse?”

“We tried. That's what matters. Now we have to try again to fix it. Only this time, we can't make the same mistake.”

The male voice chuckled humorlessly. “Yeah..and one meeting is going to solve all of right?”

“I doubt it as well, but we must do something. Otherwise...” She trailed off.

“What is it? Otherwise what?”

“It's nothing,” she dismissed. “Just another one of Starswirl's rants I guess.”

There was a coughing, more than likely from the stallion. “Yeah, whatever. We'd better hurry. The old fool is waiting for us.”

There was a long silence inbetween Dash and Allis before she broke it. “Starswirl? As in that guy Twilight is always talking on and on about?”

“If you mean the legendary unicorn that created at least half of the spells unicorns still use in your time,” Allis said. “Then yes, that would be the one they are talking about.”

“But how? I thought he died a long time ago.”

“He did. Again, we are viewing the events of the past we-I mean, D-Dash.” He paused. “It's been quite a long time.”

“What do you mean?” Dash asked, confused.

“Come on,” Allis beckoned. “We were never allowed at these meetings. I think it's time to see just what they were up to.” He took to the skies and nearly vanished.

“Whoa,” Dash said under her breath, hurrying to catch up. “He's faster than he looks.”

~

???

“So where are we exactly?” Applejack asked.

“Do you mean real or perceived?” Radley clarified.

Applejack glared at Radley. “Where are we exactly?” she repeated.

Radley, Applejack and Fluttershy were all walking through a large hall. It was mostly empty, with nothing but a window a circular table at its center. A few plants were placed in the corners of the room. There were a few papers scattered all over the table, but not much else. “This is where the Council of the Equestrians met.”

“Who were they...if you don't mind me asking?” Fluttershy asked.

“The Council were the leaders before the princesses came to be,” Radley explained. “They consisted of only three ponies: May Treearch, Wind Stryke and Starswirl the Bearded.”

“I can't say I eva hearda those ponies,” Applejack admitted. “Except for Starswirl the Bearded.”

“You wouldn't have,” Radley said, studying the papers on the table. “Despite the fact that they played a huge role in the founding of Equestria. It was May, an Earth pony, that junpstarted the cultivating of the land after the First Inter-Equestrian War.”

“I would have liked to know her,” Fluttershy said, studying one of the plants.

“After the war, the land was devastated,” Radley continued. “The ponies themselves were the main cause of that, overusing it to the point of exhausting nearly all of its resources. As if by magic, May fully restored the land to its glory in a matter of months, allowing the ponies to cultivate it again.”

“That's amazing!” Applejack exclaimed. “We could really use a pony like that on tha' farm.”

“But she wouldn't have been able to do it without Wind,” Radley continued. “He was the first pegasus to manipulate the weather. He discovered the technique on his own and founded Cloudsdale as well. It was little more than a factory before it became an actual city for pegasi.” He stopped in front of a door with a heavy and intricate lock on it. “This is it...”

“What is it, Mr. Kane?” Fluttershy asked, following him.

“This was the council's answer to the conflict amongst the races,” Radley answered. “In this current period, it has been many years after the war. Peace only lasted for so long before the races became restless with each other.”

“So the solution to that was a door?” Applejack guessed, scratching her head. “You high-fillutin' city folk sure do have some strange ways.”

Radley smirked and placed a hoof on the door. He slid through it like it wasn't there. Fluttershy screamed and ducked behind the table. “Mr. Kane is a ghost!!” she yelped.

“Not exactly,” Radley said from the other side of the door. “None of this is real, although the events that occurred are. We are all ghosts here.” He paused. “Come on through, you two need to see this.”

Applejack stepped forward, looking nervous. “Well, here goes.” She stepped through the door, phasing into it and onto the other side. A few seconds passed before Fluttershy followed. The room was dimly lit with a large cylindrical tank at its center and a control panel sitting beside it with plenty of flashing lights. It could barely be seen, but there appeared to be something floating inside of it.

“Oh my...what is that thing?” Fluttershy asked, stepping back a bit.

Radley heaved a heavy sigh. “This...this is the biggest mistake the council ever made.”

Applejack was trying to see inside of the tank, but to no avail. “And what would that be?”

“Princess Blackstar,” Radley said dramatically. “The first alicorn.”