The Darkest of Stars

Two Days Later...

Twenty-Eight Days Until the Darkest Star Arrives...

It was nighttime in Canterlot. The stars were still shining brightly, looking unaware that the darkest among them would soon be here. Luna stood atop the tower in the castle, staring up into the sky. She appeared to be looking for something, but in reality she was just introspective.

Celestia came to join her sister, looking up to see what had caught her attention. “You know...I've been wondering why Starswirl named her Blackstar?”

Luna continued looking up as she spoke. “I've been thinking the same thing myself. What did he have in mind?”

“I keep wondering, but I can't think of anything positive,” Celestia admitted. “Or at the very least, anything that would instill hope.”

“What really is a blackstar?” Luna asked, not necessarily directed at Celestia. “A black hole perhaps?”

“Or maybe a star that has yet to collapse completely,” Celestia added. She shook her head. “Who knew what he was thinking?”

Luna smiled. “Starswirl sure was the most eccentric of unicorns. Who indeed would know?”

Celestia shrugged. “Not even us, apparently.”

They stood in silence for a while, staring up into the sky. A bright shooting star shot across the sky, leaving a brightly colored tail behind it. “I can't help but wonder what you are really trying to accomplish.”

Celestia gave her a look. “Accomplish with what?”

“With Trixie Lulamoon and Twilight,” Luna clarified. “What exactly are you hoping will be the end result there? It cannot simply be a friendship.”

Celestia decided to answer with a question. “How does Blackstar truly enter this world?”

“Through a wish,” Luna answered.

Celestia nodded. “And if you were Blackstar, knowing what you know now, who would you want to make the wish?”

It did not take Luna long at all to realize where her sister was going with this. “Her body, Trixie Lulamoon...”

“You know Trixie better than most, my sister,” Celestia said. “What do you think her wish would be?”

Luna stamped her hoof on the ground, more out of realization than anger. “So that's why you've also been having Twilight train her as well. If she gets more powerful-”

“-there will be no need for her to make the wish,” Celestia finished.

“But you seem to be forgetting something,” Luna pointed out. “Wouldn't that just make Trixie Lulamoon even more viable for Blackstar to possess?”

Celestia shook her head. “Blackstar is already an immensely powerful alicorn princess, despite being imprisoned within the Darkest Star. Twilight is gifted, but nothing that she could teach Trixie would change or affect Blackstar's desire to return to her own body.”

Luna nodded affirmation and then smiled. “You seem to have it all figured out. That's why...” She paused for a bit. “...that's why...”

Celestia turned to her sister, knowing where the conversation was about to go. She looked like she wanted to go in for a hug. “Luna...we talked about this before. I...I was coughing up blood a few days ago. You know what that means.”

Luna pulled away, looking very angry. “So what if you're becoming mortal!? Do you think that you have to live forever to be of any value to Equestria? To Twilight and her friends?”

Celestia was a bit taken aback by the sudden aggression. “But that's just it...my time is almost up. No matter what I've done, the fact still remains...I am dying, and there's nothing that can be done to stop it.”

Luna couldn't muster the courage to look her sister in the eye. “You've never given up this easily before...so why do you choose today to give it all away?”

“I'm not giving it all away...I'm just saying that now it may be time to accept-”

Luna was in Celestia's face immediately, tears beginning to show in her eyes. “Shut up! Just shut up! How can you be so selfish!? You can't just resign yourself to this stupid prophecy and take it as a pure unadulterated fact! You have to fight it! To hell with the Darkest Star! This world still needs you! All of your citizens still need you! And I...I...” She couldn't continue as she began to cry.

Celestia pulled her little sister close and embraced her tightly. At that very moment she realized her something: this was not over by a long shot. She still had a lot to do. She still had a country to take care of.

And a sister to protect.

~

Radley Kane looked at the jewel around his neck for the hundredth time that night. He knew something was wrong, but he could not quite put a hoof on it. There was someone...or something interfering with the magic of the jewel somehow. It was clouded and dark. It almost looked like something was swirling around in it. It looked...sinister.

The amulets around the necks of Kassandra Tharsus, Allis Yahn and himself was what allowed them to see where they were at all times. They were inexplicably connected through the spell Radley had performed all those years ago. But for the first time in many years, he could not see where they were. It was strange...and a little unnerving.

He decided to move towards the Black Citadel. It was as good a place to start as any.

Suddenly, he got the strangest of feelings. He could feel something or someone calling to him. It wasn't a voice that was doing the calling. It was more like a tug on the inside of his mind. He had no idea where it was coming from, but he was compelled to follow it.

He came to a stop in front of a cross with nails embedded into it. Someone had been here already. Radley had seen this cross before. “And just what do you think you're doing?” He jumped when he heard the familiar voice of Cyril.

The insane earth pony clicked her tongue disapprovingly. “You didn't follow the rules!” she said in a sing-song voice. She stuck out her lower lip in mock sympathy. “Do I have to teach you a lesson?”

Radley was not afraid as he stepped forward. “What are you talking about? This is your cross isn't it? Just what were you doing here?”

Cyril rolled her eyes. “Wow, so many questions. Sorry, but I just don't have the time to answer them. It's a shame, really...” She batted her eyes at him. “We could have had a future together...”

Radley felt the ground tremble beneath his hooves. He looked down to find that small clumps of dirt were being disturbed and moved around. He could hear noises coming from beneath the ground. He stepped back, not knowing what was going on. He looked back at Cyril. Her appearance had completely changed. Her head was lowered as if she had an enormous weight on her shoulders. Her mane was in her face and messy. Her voice was a low, monotonous chant. “The time will come when all in the memorial tombs will hear the voice and come out...”

Radley looked down in horror. There were several skeletal and emaciated forms coming out of the ground. They were all ponies, it looked like. They looked terrible and frightening with their peeling skin and visible bones. The most off-putting thing about them was the murmuring. They were all talking at the same time.

“Please....”

“The pain...”

“Will you come with us?”

“Release us...”

Radley's horror turned to distaste. “I should've known that you were a necromancer,” he said, eyes darkening. “The most foul branch of alchemy.”

“What you call 'foul', I call necessary,” Cyril said, keeping her head down. “These poor souls have been dead for many years.”

Radley did not even seem to notice or care that they were crawling all over him. It looked like they were trying to drag him down into the ground. His hooves were sinking down into the dirt. “And they should stay that way,” he said. He clapped his hooves together and slammed them down on the ground. The petrified ponies sunk back into the ground, never again to be seen. “I should've known that you couldn't be trusted.”

“Only I know the appointed time, Radley Kane,” Cyril said with a sense of foreboding. “This isn't over! Not in the least!” She looked like she was about conjure another spell when all of a sudden, she collapsed on the ground. She yelled out in pain, gripping her forehead and writhing in agony.

“Missed me?”

Radley looked up to see Allis gliding towards him. He had his blindfold off, revealing his blank, pupiless eyes. “Allis...what are you doing here?”

Allis landed gracefully next to him. “Let's just say...I understand you now,” he answered, not looking directly at him.

“What do you mean?”

“Listen to me, Radley Kane. You didn't have to do this to keep us by your side. We were friends before Blackstar and we would continue to be friends after. Nothing was going to change between us. And I know Kassandra feels the same way.”

“Allis...”

“And if you do not believe me, ask her for yourself. She is on the opposite edge of the Everfree Forest, near Appleloosa. The two of you have a lot to talk about.”

“But what about Cyril?” Radley asked. She was still on the ground, rolling in pain.

“I can handle her,” Allis assured. “You just focus on Kassandra. Things have gone from bad to worse with her since the three of us separated. Just hurry.”

“Alright,” Radley said, about to clap his hooves together. He stopped mid-clap. “And Allis..?”

Allis had kept his eyes on Cyril the entire time. “Yes?”

“Thanks. I needed to hear that.” He clapped his hooves together and slammed them down on the ground, vanishing in a bright flash.

~

Queen Chrysalis had been on edge for months. It had been a while since she had been under that hag's control, but the experience had stuck with her. She could see and hear everything, but she had no control over anything. It was like being in a dream...or a nightmare. She didn't want to ally with her, but she didn't have much of a choice. She had no idea how she had been freed from her control, but she didn't question it.

She was in her chambers, mulling over a book of ancient martial arts techniques that involved controlling the elements. It didn't make that much sense, though it was quite interesting. She did not have any lights or candles in here, since she preferred the dark.

“My Queen!”

Chrysalis jumped but quickly recovered herself. Her people were already starting to think that she was losing her touch as a ruler. She need not add fuel to the fire. “What have I said about knocking?” she told the changeling.

The changeling guard bowed. He was a decorated soldier in the army, a high ranking officer that used to train new recruits. He was only recently promoted to the royal guard. “My apologies, Queen Chrysalis. I am just here to inform you that we have an intruder in custody.”

She got up almost immediately. An intruder in a fortified city was dangerous business. “Who is it?”

The guard shook his head. “We are not sure. He says that he will only speak with you. All we can tell is that he is a middle-aged Earth pony.”

Chrysalis pondered this for a moment, but could not think of anyone that fit that description. “Alright then. I'll speak with him.”

The guard led his queen a ways away to the cell where the prisoner was being held. The cell was dank and small with a naught but a candle for light. Two lesser ranked guards were posted outside. The two of them bowed to the Queen. There was no one in the cell. Chrysalis glanced at the guard that led her here. He looked confused. “Well?” Chrysalis said.

“I don't understand...” he said, more to himself. He turned to the two guards. “What happened to the prisoner!?”

One of them pointed towards the cell. “He's right in there-” He gulped nervously when he noticed that there was no one there. He then turned angrily to the guard beside him. “Where is he!?” he yelled in a hoarse whisper.

He shook is head and shrugged his shoulders. “I thought you were watching him!”

“It was your turn to watch!”

“No way, dude!”

Chrysalis lifted both of the guards clear off the floor with only her hooves. “I don't care who's fault it was that he's gone. As far as I'm concerned, it will both of your heads under the guillotine.”

“Now now. There will be no need for decapitation. I simply left to find a cup of Earl Grey. There is a surprisingly lack of tea in this kingdom of yours.”

Chrysalis dropped the idiotic guards at the sound of the voice. All of the guards followed the sound as well. It came from the crimson red Earth pony standing behind them. “How did you get out of your cage!?” the highest ranking guard challenged, taking a fighting stance. He looked confused. The pony was no longer there.

“The same way I got into the cage.” Everyone looked to find the pony sitting in his cage, sipping on his tea calmly. “It's quite simple, really. There's an entire world that none of you are aware of.”

Chrysalis had to take charge of the situation. “Who are you? And what do you want?”

He took a few more sips of Earl Grey before answering. “Delicious,” he commented, setting the cup down. “My name is Alexander Kane. And I believe-”

“Wait...your last name is Kane?” Chrysalis interrupted.

“For the purposes of this conversation, yes it is. Why do you-”

Chrysalis phased through the bars effortlessly and pinned Alexander to the wall, knocking over the cup in the process and slamming his head against the hard, stone wall. “I want nothing more to do with Blackstar. Do you understand? Or will I have to-” Her eyes glowed. “-persuade you?”

Alexander chuckled, throwing Chrysalis off a little. “There is no need for threats, dear Queen. I am very well aware of your little run in with the Blackstar...both of them. She was planning on using your people as a weapon, was she not?”

She kept him pinned to the wall. “What exactly is your purpose here? Are you not associated with your son?”

“It is true that we both wish for the same thing: whatever is best for this country,” Alexander explained. “That is why I wish for a...partnership of sorts.”

Chrysalis dropped him to the ground and turned away, disgusted. “Forget it. I've had my fill of partnerships.”

Alexander massaged his neck as he examined the spilled cup of tea. “I can certainly understand your trepidation. I would like you to know that I wish no harm against you nor your people. Again, I only wish for what is best for your country. That is why I am asking for you to ally with the Order of the Darkest Star.”

Chrysalis looked confused. “What?”

Alexander dusted off the cup. “You must understand that I want what is best for this country. And what is best is for Blackstar to die, once and for all.”

Chrysalis thought about this for a moment, then nodded. “I will listen to what you have to propose, but know that it does not mean that I've decided to join with you or the Order.”

Alexander nodded, smiling. “Of course. I would never ask anyone to make a decision so rashly.” He took out another cup of tea. “Earl Grey?”

~

Kassandra felt sick to her stomach. She had felt terrible for weeks, ever since she and Allis abandoned Radley. Never before in her life had she felt so angry...and sad...and betrayed...and depressed...and lost.

Her appearance had changed considerably, as was noted by Twilight. She looked even more corrupted and dark than before. Even the necklace she wore had become clouded and obscure. It was unsettling, but at least she understood why.

She was sitting on a branch on a sizeable tree on the northeastern edge of the Everfree Forest near Appleoosa. She was just staring at the bright white moon in the sky, wondering how this meeting with Radley was going to go when she heard a voice below.

“You know unicorns weren't meant to live in trees!”

Kassandra looked down, smiling wryly. “Earth ponies weren't meant to use magic either!”

“Touche,” Radley responded. He took a deep breath. “If you wouldn't mind coming down, I would appreciate it. Believe it or not, there are no alchemical levitation spells and-”

Radley was caught completely off guard as Kassandra hopped down to the ground and hugged him tightly. He almost did not know how to respond for a full three seconds. He could feel tears forming in his eyes and thought that was the source of the moisture on his shoulder, but it was not coming from him.

A stream of tears were coming from Kassandra's eyes. She released herself from the hug to look Radley in the eyes. Her appearance was back to normal it seemed. “I've missed you so much, Kandy Kane.”

Radley did not even care about the nickname. “I've missed you too. I was wondering if I'd ever see you guys again.”

Kassandra shook her head. “No, Radley...you still don't understand. It really hurt me when I learned that it was you that did...this to us. But then I understood why. You were afraid of losing us.”

Radley looked away, ashamed. “I'm sorry. It was a stupid move. A stupid, stupid move. I don't even know why I-”

“I get it,” Kassandra interrupted. “I would probably have done the same thing. We-I get it now.”

“Thanks...” Radley said, half-heartedly. He paused. “I spent some time with Fluttershy for a few weeks. I asked her to gather the Elements of Harmony and her friends to meet us a few days before the Darkest Star arrives.”

“Yes, I know,” Kassandra responded. “I talked to Spark-I mean, Twilight. She mentioned something about Fluttershy coming into the castle in a panic.”

“On second thought, she might not have been the best pony to give the mission to,” Radley admitted, laughing nervously. “But at least Twilight got the message.”

“But what do you plan on doing this time?” Kassandra asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Radley, we've been through this whole charade three times already. Each time we manage to stave off Blackstar's attack, only to have her resurface a thousand years later. Every time, we end up fighting the symptom instead of the disease.”

“I know...” Radley looked a bit ashamed of himself.

Kassandra looked him in the eyes. “However, this time we finally have not only Blackstar, but her original body. This could be our chance to finally do away with her. But there's only one way that this can be accomplished. And you know what that is.”

Radley did, but he wasn't sure if it was the right way. Kassandra could sense his hesitation, so she continued. “This isn't just for us. This is for the entire world. If we don't act decisively this time, who knows what kind of wish will be made in the years to come? It could be the one that causes the complete destruction of Equestria, and the world with it.”

“But is that our decision to make?” Radley asked.

“What?”

“Is that our call? To decide whether or not someone lives based on a hunch? What if we're wrong?”

“This isn't a hunch!” Kassandra almost yelled. “We've all seen the destruction and despair that Blackstar has caused, first with us, then with Queen Chrysalis and Princess Luna, and now with Celestia knows who!”

“But Trixie Lulamoon is not Blackstar!” Radley argued. “She is her own person now! She probably doesn't even remember a time when she was Blackstar! She does not deserve to die for a crime she technically never committed.”

“It's unfortunate, but it's the way it has to be,” Kassandra said.

Radley was a bit surprised by the coldness of his friend's tone, but deep down he knew that her words had merit. If they did not act this time, it could mean the end of the world as they knew it. This time, there could be no resurrection in the next millennium.

~

Trixie was in mortal danger. She had been running for Celestia knows how long through a dark and muggy passage from some ethereal creature. The air was thick and smelled like a warm summer evening, but carried with it none of the comfort. Swirls of purple and black whirled their way maliciously around her. It was frightening and unsettling. Not knowing what was chasing her did not help the situation either. The only thing she knew for sure was that she had to keep running.

“Why do you run from your one true self?”

Just keep running.

“It is our destiny! We must be rejoined!”

Just keep running.

“We were once great and we can be again...”

There was a light at the end of the passage. Trixie picked up the speed, knowing that it had to be the way out of this nightmare.

“There is nowhere you can go where I will not find you!”

Trixie closed her eyes and started running even faster. Don't listen. Just keep running.

“You are nothing without me! You will never be anything without me!”

She stopped, having had enough of whatever this thing was. She turned around to face the creature. There was nothing there. She looked all around for the source, but could see or hear nothing.

“Make the Wish Upon a Blackstar!”

~

Trixie's eyes flew open, sweat pouring down her face. Her eyes darted around in fear, desperately trying to gather information about her surroundings. She was in her bed, she realized. She heaved a heavy sigh. That was the third time this week that she had had that same nightmare.

“Trouble sleeping?”

She did not even realize that Luna was in the room as well. Her dark purple coat blended in well with the darkness in the room. “What are you doing here?” she asked, still a little out of beath.

“I could hear you screaming from down the hall,” Luna claimed. “Same dream again?”

“Yes...” she admitted. She rubbed her eyes. “This time, I tried to fight it. But when I turned around, whatever it was was gone.”

“I see. Did it still ask you to make the wish?”

Trixie nodded, getting out of the bed. “Princess Luna...”

“Yes?”

The magician walked towards a window, looking up at the stars. “What did you give up for your wish upon the Blackstar?”

Luna wasn't quite prepared for this question, not expecting Trixie to know that she had been involved with Blackstar. Trixie continued. “It was how I came to know that Twilight Sparkle was in Ponyville in the first place, when she and her friends cleansed you of Nightmare Moon.”

Luna sighed, not too fond of recalling her time as Nightmare Moon. “Blackstar takes your wish and twists it. She takes your greatest desire and your greatest treasure and turns it against you. I asked to be as popular as my sister and ended up losing my relationship with her.”

Trixie did not say anything, but only continued to look out of the window. Luna continued. “What is it that you value the most?” she asked Trixie.

She chuckled, as if the very thought were ridiculous. “Hmph! As if I have anything in this world that I value...” She suddenly stopped, looking quite downcast at the idea she just created.

“Everyone has something that they treasure greatly, whether they realize it or not,” Luna said. “You have to be honest with yourself. What is the one thing that you hold close to your heart?”

Trixie shook her head. Luna shrugged, turning to leave. “Try to get some sleep. I don't think you'll be having anymore dreams tonight.”

Trixie looked back at the princess. “What makes you so sure?”

“Trust me, Trixie Lulamoon. If there's anyone that knows dreams-” Her eyes flashed white for a split second. “-it's the Princess of the Night.”