The Heart of Darkness

“It's not good, Highness; the changelings have taken the Quartz Pass. Captain Ruby has pulled her forces back to the mouth of the valley. She's holding for now, I don't know how much longer they can last.”

Onyx Crystal snarled in frustration and turned his attention back to the map of the Crystal Mountains. “Can we get behind them?” with his horn, he indicated a narrow pass that opened up into the middle of the Quartz Pass. “Take a small force through there—” Diamond Ward was shaking his head before Onyx even finished, the reflected sunlight from his crystal mane throwing rainbows across the room.

“No good. One of the first things the changelings did was block off that pass with a rockslide.”

“So what can we do, General?”

Diamond Ward sighed. “We have only two options remaining to us: we can pull our soldiers back within the Empire's borders and fight them here, or we can strip the city of its protection to reinforce Captain Ruby. Both options are, of course, very dangerous.”

Prince Onyx lowered his head and closed his eyes. After a moment's thought, he looked Diamond Ward in the eye. “Strip the city, send everypony we have to protect the pass. I won't risk my citizens getting caught in the battle.”

“Your Highness, if the changelings break through Ruby's forces you'll be all but defenseless.”

“If the changelings break through Ruby's forces then we have the Crystal Heart. If that fails, then the Crystal Empire is doomed.” Onyx retorted, “We must do everything we can to ensure that doesn't happen.”

Diamond Ward bowed his head in acquiescence. “Yes, Your Highness. I shall lead our forces myself.”

“Good luck, Diamond Ward. The future of the Crystal Empire is in your hooves.”

Prince Onyx walked the streets of the Crystal Empire; seeing and being seen, lending a listening ear here and a kind word there. It was important to keep his subjects' spirits up in this time of trouble; only the Crystal Heart, powered by their good feelings, could protect the Empire if the changelings won through the Quartz Pass.

His roaming eventually brought him to the library. He frequently came here to study, to think, or simply to spend some time alone. Today he was not sure what he sought, but was drawn there nonetheless.

The massive bookshelves, filled with the knowledge of ages, seemed to him to hold the promise of salvation for his beloved Empire, if only he could find it. Onyx and his advisers had already pored over every book the library had about changelings, which had provided precious little information. Books on tactics, books on magic, books on weapons, all had failed to provide the answers they needed.

“They must have a weakness.” Onyx muttered for the hundredth time. He used his magic to pull one book after another off the shelves, and discarded each just as quickly. “They feed on love. Where are they finding love in the middle of a war?” he hesitated on a chapter that described changeling powers; aside from their shapeshifting, they were supposed to have very limited magical abilities. The changelings pouring out of the Crystal Mountains, however, were powerful beyond anything the Crystal Army had anticipated. Where were they getting enough love to fuel such magic?

Too many questions, and not a single answer. Books whizzed past Onyx's eyes almost too quickly for him to see, and he looked at each just long enough to confirm that he had already plumbed it for all it had to offer. At last, the shelf before him all but empty, he sighed and began returning the books to their places.

What's this? There was another book fallen behind the others. It was one that Onyx had not seen before, lost for who-knew-how-long in the endless rows. His interest piqued, he reached out with his magic and pulled the book to himself.

It had no title, only a jet-black cover, but etched into it was…

Onyx gasped and unconsciously adjusted the red cape that he always kept draped over his flank to hide his cutie mark. His mark and the symbol on the cover of this book were identical: the symbol of dark magic.

It can't be…

“Topaz Binding?” he called for the librarian. The ticking of crystalline hooves on tile answered, quickly drawing closer.

“Prince Onyx? Goodness me, I didn't even know you were here! How can I help you?”

Onyx, who had been making quite a ruckus since he arrived, ignored the lie and showed her the black-bound book he had found. “Where did you get this book from? There used to be a copy in the palace, but Mother disposed of it when I was just a foal.”

Topaz Binding looked at it curiously through her glasses. “I don't know, Your Highness. I have never seen it before.”

“Oh come now, Topaz," Onyx chided, "you know every book in this library. Did my mother give it to you? I will not be angry.”

Topaz shook her head, “I swear to you, Highness, I've never set eyes on it before now. It was on one of my shelves? I suppose somepony must have left it there by mistake.” she leaned in and squinted at the symbol on the cover. “Hmph. Not so much as a title. It looks like rubbish, if you ask me.”

Onyx flipped through a few pages to make sure that it was indeed the book he thought it was. Grim words and forgotten symbols, fearsome spells and occult enchantments filled the pages. Onyx felt a thrill of fear as he looked, but underneath the trepidation was a sudden flare of hope. With magic like this, he just might have the power to drive back the changelings -the power to save his empire and the ponies who looked to him for protection.

“Topaz, I am taking out this book.”

Topaz shrugged. “It's not one of mine, you're welcome to keep it; though I'm sure I don't know why you'd want a blank book. Probably a journal that somepony bought and forgot about.”

“Blank...?” it struck him that she couldn't see the spells. Only he, with his natural talent for the dark arts, could read the pages. “Yes, I imagine you are right. I could use something like this to set my thoughts down.”

“Suit yourself, Your Highness. It's all yours.”

Onyx felt a surge of anticipation. It suddenly seemed that he couldn't get back to the privacy of his chambers soon enough. “Thank you, Topaz. Farewell.”

He left the library and all but galloped up the road toward the Crystal Palace, his prize tucked away underneath the same cape that hid his cutie mark.

“Onyx?”

Prince Onyx jumped and whirled around. “Mother? You're not well, you should be in bed.”

“Oh, Onyx. All that's wrong with me is my age, and I'm certainly not getting any younger lying in bed.” Queen Crystal walked slowly into the room, her age showing in her faded mane and careful movements, but her eyes as bright and clear as ever. “You've been shut up in here for days. What have you been doing? Your ponies are scared. They need their prince.”

Onyx shook his head. “What they need is somepony with the power to save them. I've been looking for an answer, and I think I might be close.”

“What have you found?” she peered around him. When she caught sight of the black book on the table, she stifled a scream. “Onyx.” she said weakly, “Where did you find that book?”

“At the library, Mother.” Onyx answered, confusion evident in his voice, “I assumed you had taken it there.”

“No, Onyx. After… after you got your cutie mark…”

Some thirty years ago, King and Queen Crystal had taken their young son with them on a diplomatic trip to Saddle Arabia. While there, they had been surprised by a giant sandworm that had come bursting up through the ground, seeking to devour them. Onyx, who had been walking slightly ahead of the group in spite of his parents' commands not to, was its first target.

The next few moments were a blank in Onyx's memory. The next thing he could remember was the butchered body of the sandworm in front of him, and his father's voice pleading him to come back to himself, to stop using his magic. King Crystal had slumped to the ground a moment later, and had not risen again.

Onyx shook off the memory. The sandworm attacked him. That was what Onyx's mother had always told him.

“After I got my cutie mark you got rid of the book of dark magic. I know.”

“No, Onyx. I did not get rid of the book. I destroyed it. I threw it into the fireplace in my chambers and burned it. It took three days to burn away completely. If the fire ever went out, the pages would grow back. Finally there was nothing left but ashes, and I had four of my most trusted guards scatter them in lakes and rivers in the four corners of the continent.”

Onyx was thoroughly unnerved. His normally dusky coloration paled to a sickly gray. “So… so there was another copy.”

“Onyx, that book is filled with the dark magic that Maregan le Neigh herself developed. There could not possibly be more than one copy. I beg you, dispose of it. Seal it away someplace where nopony will ever find it, and forget whatever you have read in it.”

“But Mother,” Onyx said, his courage returning, “the spells in this book could save the Crystal Empire. I've never seen such magic. With power like this, I could defeat the changelings by myself!”

Queen Crystal placed a hoof on her son's shoulder and drew him away from the evil book. “At what cost? If you do this, even if you do win, what will it mean for you? For the Empire? We would simply trade one evil for another, perhaps an even worse one. Onyx, this is not the way.”

Onyx looked from his mother—so earnest, so frightened—to the book of dark magic—so powerful, so promising—and finally bowed his head. “If you truly believe this book is so dangerous, Mother, then I will heed your advice. I will take it to the vaults at once, and seal it with the strongest magic I have.”

Queen Crystal sighed in relief. “Thank you, Onyx. It may not seem like it now, but with that decision you have most likely just saved the Crystal Empire.”

Or doomed it. Onyx thought as he walked past his mother and out of the room, carrying the spellbook with his magic.

Onyx touched his horn to the large door, sealing it with a spell that only he could undo. On the other side, faintly visible through the unbreakable crystal, sat the book that Onyx had hoped would be the Crystal Empire's salvation. Onyx looked longingly at it one more time, then turned away and started back toward his room.

Along the way, he went over everything he had seen in the nameless spellbook—had it truly belonged to the legendary Maregan le Neigh?—and was pleased to find that he remembered most of it. His special talent for dark magic had served him well in his studies the past few days, allowing him to learn very quickly. He was afraid that he had not learned enough, however. The spells became stronger and more advanced the farther into the book he went, but he had been less than halfway through when his mother had found him. The thought of what incredible magics might be waiting on the last pages nearly tempted him to turn back, but he pushed away the urge and continued walking.

At last, Onyx entered his private chambers again and shut the door behind him with his magic. He took a step into the room, then jumped backward into the door with a thud. On the table in his sitting room was a small black book, an occult emblem etched into its cover. A jumble of thoughts crashed through the prince's mind.

It keeps finding its way back to me.

It is meant for me.

I promised Mother I would not use it.

It is too dangerous.

I only promised that I would take it to the vault and seal it. I did so.

I could save the Empire.

I could destroy the Empire.

I can control it.

Dark magic is my talent.

 I am the only one who can control it.

It is my destiny.

Trembling with fear and anticipation, Onyx approached the table.

Why?! Onyx hurled Maregan's book across the room in frustration. Why doesn't it work? Onyx knew he was casting the spells correctly, but the dark magic dissipated as soon as it formed. Something was going wrong.

“Your Highness?” a voice came from the hallway outside.

“Leave me!” Onyx bellowed in anger.

“Forgive me, Your Highness, but I have a report from General Diamond Ward. The changelings have taken the Quartz Pass. Our forces are depleted, and Diamond Ward is pulling the remnants back to the city for… for a last stand.”

Onyx threw open the door to his room to find a young colt, one still in training to be a guard, cowering in the hallway with a rolled-up piece of paper in his teeth. The prince took a calming breath. “Rise, soldier. I thank you for the message.”

The grim news made it all the more important that Onyx find out why his magic wasn't working. What could be causing the interference?

Onyx thought furiously. Dark magic was fueled by anger, hatred, and lust for power. Its opposite was light magic, powered by the desire to protect, by hope and kindness and… love.

The prince felt as though the floor had dropped out from under him. He stood stock-still for a moment as the implications ran through his mind, then he was off and galloping in an instant. He flashed past the young guard-to-be, who stood staring after him in amazement.

Onyx burst through the front doors of the palace and raced down the main thoroughfare toward the center of the city. He ignored the shocked stares and mutterings of the ponies who watched him pass, intent upon his goal. Finally he arrived at his destination and simply stood, shaking and panting from the exertion, staring at the artifact that was supposed to save his Empire. The artifact that had doomed his Empire.

The Crystal Heart sat upon its pedestal, glowing with collected power, pouring its protective magic into the air: magic formed from the positive emotions of every pony in the Empire. This is why the changelings are so powerful. This is why my magic doesn't work.

         “Your Highness, what is it?” one of the citizens, a mare that Onyx did not know, asked him. Onyx ignored her, wondering whether he dared to do what he was thinking of. Wondering whether he dared not to. He walked forward until his nose was practically touching the Heart.

“Your Highness…?”

Without warning, Onyx whirled around and kicked the Crystal Heart, knocking it to the ground. Gasps and screams came from all around him. Unsure how to react, the ponies milled about in panic and confusion.

Without the Crystal Heart's magic in the air, the sky turned darker. Colors seemed to fade, and the beautiful reflections and refractions from the crystal ponies disappeared.

“Prince Onyx,” one mare, more bold or more foolish than the others, stepped forward. “what have you done?”

Onyx closed his eyes, savoring the dark power that coursed through him, no longer held in check by the interference of the Crystal Heart. When he opened his eyes again, they shone with dark green fire.

  “What have I done? I have saved us all.” He used his magic to pick up the Heart, now inert, and held it before the crowd. “The changelings have been feeding on the magic of the Crystal Heart. That is why our soldiers have been unable to defeat them. With the Heart deactivated, the changelings will weaken, and we will win this war.”

Silence greeted his pronouncement. When it became clear that nopony had anything further to say, Onyx took the Heart and turned toward the palace. Ponies silently stepped out of his way, not meeting his eyes, and many bolted for their homes as soon as he was no longer looking at them. Onyx ignored all of it. Nothing mattered now except saving his kingdom.

“Onyx,” Queen Crystal ordered, “explain this.”

“It's quite simple, Mother.” Onyx said, his exasperation becoming clear, “The changelings feed on love. The Crystal Heart's magic is based on love. The Heart wasn't protecting us; it was damning us. I will reactivate it as soon as this war is won.”

 “Onyx.” his mother said softly, “You've never called this a war before. You've spoken always of defense, of protecting your ponies. Never of war.”

“It is a war!” he roared, “The changelings have invaded our land, and they will not stop until we are destroyed or they are.”

“Destroyed? What happened to driving them out? That was ever your intent.”

“You are trying my patience, Mother! Destroyed, driven out, what does it matter?”

“It does matter, Onyx.” Queen Crystal insisted, “Which do you intend?”

“I intend to do what I must! With the Heart gone, my magic is—” he cut off suddenly, realizing what he had been about to reveal.

“Your magic? What does the Crystal Heart have to do with your magic?”

“Nothing, Mother. Never mind.”

“Onyx.” Queen Crystal took a step forward, “I am not blind. You are turning darker, inside and out. Your eyes have turned green, and they glow, Onyx. I know what you have been doing, and I know what you mean to do. Please, heed my advice this one last time. Get rid of that book. Do not read another word, and forget what you have learned from it. If you cannot do that, at least swear to me that you will not use your dark magic. You may be right about the changelings feeding on the Heart's power, but now the Heart is gone. Let General Diamond Ward do his duty. You have done enough.”

“I have not done enough, Mother. Not yet. When the changelings are gone and my kingdom is safe, then I will have done enough.”

“Onyx, I am begging you…”

“Go back to bed, Mother. That is a royal command.”

“No. No, no…” Onyx stared in horror at the final page of Maregan's book, the spell that would mark the end of his studies and bring him to the apex of his dark powers. He thought he had been prepared to do what had to be done, but this was just too terrible. He read the horrid verse one time more, hoping that he had misinterpreted, hoping that there was another way.

To master the darkness, one thing more:

Death for life must even the score.

Do not grieve and do not mourn,

Rejoice in her life's blood on your horn,

Hesitate not, you've come too far,

No doubt must your conviction mar.

Pierce her heart, and these words speak:

“That which I have lost I will never seek;

That which I have found I will not release.

I surrender my self, for it is weak.

My rule, my life, will never cease.”

Be this not done within days four,

your life will end; you will be no more.

Onyx shook his head and frightened tears stung his eyes. There was only one interpretation, and it was the one he wanted desperately to avoid: the spell demanded that he murder his mother, and promised that if he did not, he himself would die.

Four days. Now that he had read the spell, he was trapped by its power. Oh, Mother, you were right. I've been such a foal.

Onyx spent the next two days in a haze of misery, the threats and promises of Maregan's magic whispering incessantly through his mind. At times he very nearly sought out Queen Crystal to complete the spell, arguing with himself that it must be done to save the Empire. After all, he was young, and she was old. If he died, soon enough the Empire would have no ruler at all. He always pulled away from the idea after a time, disgusted with himself for even entertaining the thought.

On the morning of the third day, he was awoken from uneasy sleep by somepony knocking on his door. Onyx lifted his head in time to see the door open and Diamond Ward enter. The steadfast old soldier looked exhausted and was walking with a pronounced limp, but he gave his prince a proper salute.

“Your Highness, forgive the intrusion, but I have dire news.”

Onyx climbed out of his bed and faced his general. “Speak.”

“The changelings have pushed us back to the very borders of the city. We are currently holding them at the outskirts, but I do not know how long we will last. Your Highness, I recommend that we evacuate at once. The city is lost.”

Onyx narrowed his eyes. “This city is the very heart of the Empire. If it is lost, then all is lost.”

“The Empire may be lost, but our people can still survive. We can rebuild somewhere else. As long as we live, there is a chance. If we remain here, there is no chance at all.”

“I don't understand.” Onyx burst out, “The changelings were feeding on the power of the Crystal Heart. With the Heart inert, they should be weakening.” he had been so certain.

“They are weakening, but too slowly. Your Highness, we must get the ponies out. There is no other way.”

Not too late, a voice—his own voice or another, he could not be sure—whispered in his mind, there is a way. You know the way, Onyx. Save yourself and your Empire. Onyx shook off the thought.

“Your Highness? Are you well?”

“I am fine.” Onyx lied, “Thank you, Diamond Ward. I must… I must speak with my mother. We will consider your advice. You rest, and return to the battle when you are ready.”

“There has been no rest for my soldiers, and there shall be none for me. I return to the front at once.” he bowed, “Your Highness.”

Onyx inclined his head slightly in return. “General. Thank you for all you have done.” the prince felt a great sadness as he watched Diamond Ward walk away. It had felt entirely too much like saying goodbye. Diamond Ward had been like a father to him ever since King Crystal had been killed by the sandworm. Tears stung Onyx's eyes at the thought that he may have just sent one of his oldest friends to his death.

True to his word, Onyx sought out his mother at once. He found her still asleep, but woke her with a gentle apology and shared what Diamond Ward had told him.

The queen averted her eyes.”Then the Empire truly is lost.” she whispered. Her voice strengthened again and she looked her son in the eyes. “Diamond Ward is right. So long as we live, there is still hope. An Empire can be rebuilt. A life, once lost, can never be regained. We will do what must be done.”

Do what must be done. The words echoed through Onyx's mind, again and again, but with a very different intent. What must be done. I could save Diamond Ward. I could save all of my ponies. We would not be refugees, we would not need to wander and starve and despair and die. I could do all of this, if I simply do what must be done.

“Onyx?” his mother's voice, tiny, insignificant, floated across the stream of thoughts and was washed away.

I could do these things, but at what cost?

What cost? One life, that is all. A single life: old, frail, soon to end.

What am I saying? She is my mother. She is the queen!

A queen should be glad to lay down her life for her Empire.

She would not survive exile. Her life is finished either way.

I could be great. I could be the greatest ruler that the Crystal Empire has ever known. An immortal king, strong enough to protect the Empire from any threat. My people need never know fear again.

I can do all of this.

I can.

I must.

I will.

Onyx opened his eyes, and they burned with dark power.

“Onyx!” Queen Crystal gasped.

Onyx did not hear her over the roaring in his ears, did not see her past the flames in his eyes. He lowered his head, pointing his horn straight at his mother's heart.

“Onyx, no! Guards! Guards, help me!”

Onyx charged. He felt an impact, and a sudden liquid warmth. Words of power sounded through his head, prompting him to complete the spell.

“That which I have lost I will never seek;

That which I have found I will not release.

I surrender my self, for it is weak,

My rule, my life, will never cease.”

His horn glowed with fiery power, and an eruption of dark energy burst from Queen Crystal's heart. Onyx was bathed in the magic. The prince was warped, changed, forever transformed. His body went from being dusky and faintly translucent to jet black. His eyes no longer simply glowed green, they were green, with burning red irises. Smoke trailed from those eyes, wisps of the power that could not be fully contained even by this great and terrible new form. He grew larger and bulkier as his muscles swelled, and his flat teeth sharpened into predatory fangs.

“Your Majesty!” a pair of young colts, mere guards-in-training, burst into the room, eyes burning with determination and horns glowing with magic. They stopped dead when they saw the being before them.

“Who… who are you?” one of them squeaked. The other saw the queen's body on the ground and screamed.

“What did you do?!”

“Who am I?” the dark entity replied. His voice had deepened to a gravelly growl. Do you not know your prince? Your king? I am Onyx.” he walked over to the two trembling young guards and held out a hoof to be kissed.

“The queen is dead,” he intoned, “long live the king.”