The Land Before Themby Fat1thatyouloveChaptersPrologueChapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17 EpilogueChapter 1Chapter 13ProloguePrologue ...Its been too long since I have seen you, and I know that my feelings and thoughts about that fact that I have so painstakingly scribed into this book is something I can never show you. I do find it funny my deepest feelings and pure thoughts are the two things I can never truly reveal to you, for fear of what you might do with them. But since you sent this journal to me I have put writing in it as one of the most important things I do, and now that my travels have brought me bac-... The rock of the carriages closed in cabin jars the hoof from the page leaving only a worthless line of smudge ink as the grey stallion looks to it with a little disappointment. "...Sergeant Stone Hooves, do I have to remind you that we are still inside this carriage?!" The mare's high pitched words end as a deep stallions voice runs back into the carriage inside from the open window, "Sorry your majesty, it won't happen again your majesty." "I should hope it doesn't, that sudden jarring has forced Mage Star Swirl's hoof from his book he was focused on." The white mare doesn't wait for the full answer as she brings the sliding back wood panel window to a close cutting of the stallion's voice. But this doesn't stop her complaining as the white mare adjust the blue gem studded purple cloak around her side, "I am terribly sorry for that Mage Star Swirl, I do hope that has not caused your spell to be unusable." The grey stallion lets out a small laugh as he flips the book towards the mare's face that he sits across from, theres no fear that she will see the words as his low calm voice runs through the cabin's insides, "No no, it's fine my dear, see no harm done." The mare blinks her green eyes to the book's pages as she looks them over, but she doesn't really take his words as truth as she rolls her hoof, "Nonsense Mage Star Swirl, you should not have been stirred from your work." Star Swirl nods his head with a slight laugh as he moves his extended hooves back and closes the book, "Princess Platinum, you do not really expect me to be working all the time do you?" "Well I have not seen a sign of you halting, I have thought your sudden decision on growing a beard was an indication you seldom pry yourself from your work." Platinum adjust her proper posture again as she moves her left hoof to rub over the other. Star Swirl nods his head as he rubs to the small white beard that has started to form under his chin, but his thoughts don't dwell on himself as he looks over the half eyed gazing white mare a cross from him, "I ensure you my dear, this beard is no sign I have pushed myself too far...it is merely a sign that I have allowed myself a current freedom to enjoy life." The white mare cocks her eyebrow to the words as she taps her hoof to her mouth, "I would think your enjoyment of life would be coming from the powerful spells that you have successfully created...not from a few strains of non tended to face mane." "Ah, but that's where you're wrong Princess." Star Swirl points his hoof to her as the cabin starts to move over a slight patch of rough ground, he sways a little with the rocking but the hoof stays pinned to the white mare as he maintains his low wise sounding voice, "...The enjoyments of life are not success nor are they the power usually brought by them...the enjoyments are the failures that you learn from." Platinum nods her head as she gives a slight sigh not really amused by the older stallion's words, "Well Mage Star Swirl as much as I feel learning is important I must say that success is much more enjoyable than failure." The older stallion nods his head to the mare as he puts his hoof back to his side as he begins to move the book to the blue and silver satchel bag next to himself. "Forgive me for asking Mage Star Swirl, but why do you write with your hoof so often? You act as if you were a simple earth pony." The white mare holds a questions look to the stallion as she waits for a response. Swirl smiles as he closes the bag, "Simple?" He moves his hoofs to extend in front of him as he looks them over, "My dear young Princess, I was once told by the smartest of all ponies that magic is nothing more than a bond, a bond that every pony has in there own way." A slight sarcastic giggle escapes Platinum's mouth as she rolls her hoof, "I have yet to see an earth pony manipulate anything other than dirt Mage Star Swirl, I believe that your information has been flawed." "Has it?" Star Swirl moves a little forward as he extends his hooves towards the white mare, "May I see your hooves Princess?" The white mare blinks a little confused but she leans forward as she reluctantly extends one of her hooves. The grey stallion waste no time as he puts his hooves to hers as he talks through the sound of wheels running the dirt beneath the carriage, "Princess Platinum, you know that magic is in everypony, unicorns more than others. But this still means that any kind of magic is just a bond, there is no right for unicorns to be the deciders of all. If magic can be in everypony even a little then that means we are all one not separated like so many ponies of old still think." Platinum takes her hoof from the stallion as she cocks her head, "Equestria has been founded on this idea, you are not saying anything that I have not already said myself." Star Swirl nods as he moves back to his seat, "Of course..." But Platinum's voice doesn't stop as she sits her posture up a little bit more proper, "But even I being a ruler of one of the the tribes in our new found peace must still say magic is more properly used by unicorns, and its will is that of our own." She holds her eyes to the stallion as she turns a questioning eye to him, "Surely you do not believe an earth pony or pegasus could properly rule over a unicorn empire do you?" Star Swirl no longer wants to continue the conversation as he gives a slight sigh, "Princess you know I refuse to talk about these matters with you or any other pony." Platinum holds her confused questioning stare a little longer as she holds her confident voice, "Oh Mage Star Swirl you know your opinion is highly valued and you should feel no judgement from me nor anypony on your thoughts." The grey stallion looks over the smiling mare across from him as he stares to her confident smile and wide eyed stare, he gives a slight chuckle as he wiggles his hoof to her, "You still have much to learn about yourself Princess." The white mare blinks a little unamused to the statement as she loses her interest to the stallion, but her voice doesn't get to come up as a knock to the side of the cabin takes her attention. She gives a slight sigh as she moves her hoof and slides the window again, "Yes?" The same deep voiced stallion speaks up again as his voice runs into the cabin, "We are close to the Crystal Empire your majesty, we shall be there in three pulses of a horn." She nods her head as she wiggles her hoof, "Yes yes, now do not disturb us until we have arrived." The window slides closed again as the mare brings her green eyes back to Star Swirl, "Now where were we?" Star Swirl holds a smile to her as he talks, "I believe I was going to tell you this old stallion is going to take a slight nap." He gives a slight chuckle as he watches her nod her head, he’s not really tired but not having to continue the conversation is a nice plus as the grey stallion leans his head to the back of the cabin. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 – Harmony at its finest The doors to the throne room begin to close as Sombra's horn sparks up in a dim green light, but even though he tries to close them quietly the two other ponies in the room have already seen Star Swirl and Sombra enter. The room has a long red rug like walk way leading up to a cushiony looking throne that is carved slightly into the huge crystal slab the pokes from the ground. To each side of the room there are large spaced out windows with a thin layer of polished crystal allowing anyone inside to look over the crystal city that sits a little beneath the throne room's view. But Swirl's gaze doesn't drift to sight seeing again as he looks over the pink pegasus mare sitting in the throne seat with a few pieces of parchment paper being floated in front of her by a regal dressed crystal mare beside her. The silence to the room doesn't last long as the pink mare's sweet voice comes up in a warm happy tone, "Sir Star Swirl, its so good to have you back. I was unaware that you would be attending this meeting Sombra has called so fast." At the end of her voice she turns to the mare beside her as she talks with a smile, "If you excuse me I believe i'll be awhile." With a bow of the head the crystal unicorn mare floats the papers from the pink pegasus’s face as she takes her leave through one of the two back doors hidden by the crystal throne. Another happy tone comes through the mare's smile as she starts to move from her seat, but despite her persona a very prominent weakness comes to her as she moves from the seat. Swirl is a little taken back by it, as his last trip to the crystal empire was only a few months ago but the darker grey stallion beside him doesn't look on motionless as he quickly moves towards her. But the mare gets herself up as she tugs a little to the large red and white cape like cloak she has on that slightly matches Sombra's, "I'm fine, I just got this cursed thing caught a little." Sombra turns back to Swirl as he starts to follow after Sombra, he holds a curious gaze to the light pink coated pegasus mare with a mix of pink and light yellow mane that has the same crystal like shimmer as Sombra's. But his voice finally comes back as he brings his gaze to her tired out eyes, "Queen Apatite, you do not look to be yourself this day." The pink mare waves her hoof to the words as she shakes her head, "Oh Star Swirl, i'm just having an off day..." She smiles as she does a circular motion around Swirl's face, "And I must say with that ungroomed face of yours you're not quite looking yourself." A slight giggle comes from her as Star Swirl shoots back a friendly smile. But the mare's light hearted laugh turns to a sickly cough as she turns from Star Swirl and Sombra's eyes. To the noise Sombra puts his hoof on her side as he rubs her a little, but her sudden cough is lost as she turns back to Sombra and Star Swirl."I-I had better go and start planning for the Crystal celebration." Sombra's deep echoey voice comes back to the room as his horn sparks up, "No, you can do that tomorrow, you should rest for now." The mare blinks to the words as she gives a slight smile as she puts her hoof to Sombra's chest, "I'm fine, if anypony needs to rest its you." Her gaze shifts back to Star Swirl as she talks, "Make sure this stallion gets some kind of rest today, he’s not been sleeping well." Star Swirl nods his head to her voice as his voice comes back to her, "I will do what I can, but a ponies will can never really be changed...especially for somepony of Sombra's nature." Queen Apatite nods her head with a smile as she trots away towards the two back doors the crystal mare left through earlier. As the door closes behind her Sombra looks to the ground as the echoey magic voice gets a bit lower, "Star Swirl, she’s not well...and its no normal sickness." Swirl blinks to the comment as he cocks his head to the dark grey stallion's fixated gaze to the ground, "Sombra, i'm no healer but I do not see why a simple cough and weakness would be a reason to call a mage?" To the words Sombra lifts his head as he struggles with holding the spell to his horn that's allowing him to talk, the tone of the echoey voice gets a little louder as he forces the spell a bit but his face still stays a worried expression as Swirl listens. "Apatite has had the same problem for this past turn of seasons." "Preposterous." Star Swirl lifts his hoof up as he points to Sombra, "...I have come here at least twice in this full year and not once have I seen her act in such a way that she did just now." The stallion gives a slight chuckle as he looks over the dark grey stallion, "Are you sure it is not you that has become sick with worry over a simple cold?" Sombra's horn glows a brighter green as he takes a step back, "At first this sickness was nothing more than a slight weakness, she felt it best to not tell the kingdom or anypony about it...not even me. But it's gotten much worse than just a cough and weakness." The floor where the red strip of colored stone lays begins to glow a little with Sombra's magic as Swirl takes a step back. The echoey voice comes over the room as Sombra's horn grows a bright greenish black, "I'm going to show you something because I trust that you will help me." A spike of magic runs through the room as the floor vanishes revealing a staircase, Sombra turns his gaze to the doors as a vile of magic seals them closed, as the last door becomes sealed he moves his sight to the windows around the room as they take on a dark tint blocking the late day's sun from the room. As the last window's light is cut from the refracting crystals the room takes on a dark green color as the sun's light from outside strikes through the newly covered windows. Swirl's horn sparks up in a bright gold as he lights the room to his own liking, he moves his gaze to the staircase with a slight bit of astonishment as he looks down the long winding stairs. The glow of his magic fills the room for a moment before Sombra's echoey voice comes back to him, "You were here last celebration when we first used the Crystal heart's strange power." "Yes, I was." Sombra nods his head as the voice comes from his stationery mouth, " Apatite wished for the heart to be displayed in the castle permanently. This way it’s strange aura of feeling generating powers and its own strange protection spell it seemed to give off could be easily assessed if needed." Swirl nods his head as he talks, "Yes, yes I remember all this...but why are you telling me this?" The dark grey stallion moves his hoof as he beckons for Swirl to come over to the top of the staircase, "The Crystal heart was a great power...I fear it may have been too great of a power, a few moons after it was brought into use it-..." The bigger stallion begins to struggle with his words as he talks, "The Crystal heart started acting on its own, without the influence of an outer magic." Star Swirl listens to the stallion quietly as the echoey voice starts to get a little lower with Sombra's fading spell, but its brought back up as Sombra breaks to force more magic to his horn, " Apatite was the only pony besides myself who knew about these spikes, and a full moon ago, again it spiked greater than it ever had before...She was the only pony near it when it happened. I moved the heart to a hidden area in the castle until I was able to figure out what was causing it." Swirl looks down to the stairway he stands in front of as Sombra starts to take his first steps to the stairs, "...But I can not figure out what's wrong, and after the great spike of the Crystal Heart, Apatite finally informed me of her growing weakness and concerns." The dark grey stallion turns back to the pony starting to follow him as he looks him over intently, "But her sickness has gotten worse, Apatite can no longer bring herself to fly like she loved so much, s-she can not even-..." A loud pop comes from his horn as the spell breaks to his shaky feelings. The stallion turns away a little angry to the spell break as he brings his right hoof up to hoof his last few words out. "What do you mean she can't even remember you?" Sombra's horn sparks back up as his voice echos with a slightly higher tone, "Her memory has been slipping along with her strength, the only ponies that know of her failing mind are my most trusted advisers...Star Swirl, she has planned the Crystal celebration seven times just in the past few days...each time insisting she did not the day before." Swirl blinks to the comment as he thinks it over, "I still do not understand...why would you be in need my help?" The dark grey stallion's eyes shift to an almost pleading call as the shaky echoey voice comes back, "She has made me promise her condition would not affect what we set out to do for Equestria...But every night I have tried to understand what the Crystal heart did to her." Swirl cocks his head to the words as he shakes it, "How are you so certain the Crystal heart is the cause for this problem? This item is nothing more than a stone with a power." Swirl shakes his head to his words as he stammers a little, “I-I find it hard to believe this power could have been tapped without an outer interference.” Sombra blinks to the comment as he looks to him seriously, "I know the heart is to blame.” His gaze hardens a little as his horn glowed bright, “Because Apatite before her memory began to fail said it was the will of the heart that Equestria becomes united. She claimed a voice beckoned her to it before it's spike with this request. Naturally she took this encounter as a sign that what we had started in the empire's areas as a sign Equestria's future is to be united." Swirl nods his head as the words hit against his ears, "I believe I understand why you need my help. I will do everything in my power to help you my friend." "Thank you Star Swirl, there is much to do in the next few days and I can no longer bear these burdens alone anymore." The dark grey stallion's trot comes back to him as he begins to lead the way through the stairs Swirl's horn has lit. End of chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 – Underneath the sky's ground The last step to the staircase comes and goes as Sombra moves to the center of the room, Star Swirl’s horn holds its brightness as he looks around the decent sized room filled with dark crystal's. Sombra's voice comes over the room in more of a bouncing echo as he talks, "I have found a spell that allows the heart to be safely guarded through here." The grey stallion slightly rubs to the small beard on his chin as he looks to a flimsy wooden door, "I do hope you will not mind my insight, but should not an item like this be more secure?" Sombra smiles to the comment as he answers it, "The door is cursed by..." He widens his smile a little as he nods his head, "By a spell only able to be broken by the use of dark magic." Swirl is a little taken back by the words as he looks to the dark gem crystal above the door, "You enhanced a door with a magic rarely taught anymore." His voice is not angry but more of an inquisitive tone as he cocks his head, "My friend as dangerous as that is I must say you have a very unique safety. Tell me, how did you learn such a magic?" "Before Equestria was founded I studied in rare forms of magic when I was a colt." His words stop as he looks over the stallion beside him, "Truly not much else to do but study when you are a colt unable to speak." Sombra darts his eyes up towards his horn as the voice rings around the room, "The door's spell was not the only spell I learned how to use." Swirl moves his hoof from his beard as he talks, "Sombra, you should give this spell a rest, you have help create your own hoofing that every pony in the Empire already knows...why do you insist on straining yourself?" Sombra's horn sparks up in a vivid dark green as he nods his head, "Sometimes a voice is helpful, even if its not your own." At the end of the echo the stallion turns back to the door as a cracking bolt of dark magic slams into it. The echo comes back in lowly as the door creaks open, "Star Swirl, this spell has made the door's curse dormant for as long as I am in the castle, you should have no problems entering into it any time you wish." Sombra's pace comes back as he trots into the brighter crystal room. The lighter grey stallion follows after him as he tilts his head up to a spiral staircase with a slight chuckle, "Sombra, I do hope you understand i'm not as young as I use to be." He turns to the stallion with a smile, "...And I do believe you’re no spring dragon." Sombra's horn glows a faint green as his magic runs to Swirl's body, the rush of magic and flash of light ends with a slight chiming bang as Swirl blinks around to the world around him. Theres a slight gust that blows to his mane as he and Sombra stand to the new bright crystal flooring, Swirl's voice comes back with a slight surprise as he looks around the sun setting world that lays around him, "We're outside?" The echo from Sombra is a little lower as the gust of wind knocks into Swirl's ears but he listens to the voice as best he can, "Yes, the heart was moved to the top of the castle that way no pony could take it." A slight chuckle comes from Star Swirl as he looks around, "Anypony but a pegasus my friend." A smile comes over Sombra's face as he nods his head, "No, this part of the castle does not exist...its nothing but a shadow brought on by magic." Swirl nods his head as he brings his turning head to Sombra, "I see, a mind spell?" Sombra shakes his head as the echo of his voice comes back, "Your mind has no altering my friend, you are simply standing in a place that is not and will never be. Much like a shadow it is only what you want to see that you see." A slight smile crosses Star Swirl’s face as he lifts his hoof to Sombra, "I do not get confused easily...but you have just done that and I thank you." From the words Sombra's mouth opens as a slight wheezing laugh escapes him, but Star Swirl's respectful gaze doesn't last to the dark grey stallion for long as he turns to a bright blueish crystal sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the stone flooring. Sombra loses the smile as he turns to see the item Swirl's eyes have pinned to. "Tell me Sombra...why does this Crystal heart sit so openly?" Swirl turns to Sombra as he continues, "If this place is just what we want to see then why do I see it open for grabbing?" The gray stallion holds his pinned eyes to the crystal for a moment before he turns to Swirl, "I have no answer for you Star Swirl." The grey stallion moves his hoof to his beard for a moment as he feels Sombra's own intense stare to the heart coming over him, "Now how do I get back to the castle?" Sombra breaks his stare as he nods his head, "The door is enchanted to teleport after exiting, you will arrive in the throne room's entrance just as if you passed through it." His eyes look down a little as his echo comes forward a little, "I only ask of you what you can...nothing more I want you to know this Star Swirl." Swirl nods his head as he talks, "I promise you Sombra, I shall try my best." A respectful nod comes from Sombra as he turns to the staircase at the back of the platform, "I must go, tomorrow is the start of Equestria's future and there is no way I can battle wit with the other three if I'm to tired." "Goodbye Sombra." A few moments pass as Swirl holds his gaze to the dormant blueish crystal heart. My observations of the crystal heart have become rather... Star Swirl looks up from his sitting position as he stops the quill beside him for a moment, the low chime of his magic rings around the room but the outside world is dark with night as it holds its quiet tone over the world. The quill is dipped into an inkwell for a moment as Star Swirl puts his head back to the pages, ...Strange, the heart looks nothing like it did before, no aura and no glow. Again his head comes up as he looks over the stone with squinting eyes, Despite my better judgement I feel a foolish eager to entice... A slight smile comes over his face as he start to stand from his position. His bag sits neatly against the wall near the book and ink well, but the grey stallion moves from these items as he stares to the crystal heart. "Hmm, tell me why do you act so dull today?" His voice goes unanswered as a smile crosses his face, "Silent are we?" Swirl moves a little closer as he stands in front of it, a low chime comes to his horn as he looks over the crystal heart. With a slight lower of the head a small stream of magic runs to the crystal, but the stallion's ears bring more than his own magic as a great magical chime comes from in front of him. Swirl hikes his eyes up as he watches the crystal heart taking on an aura of magical glow, but a heavy uneasy feeling comes over him as his horn's spell spikes up without his own command. The rush of magic burst to the room around him as he grinds his teeth trying to cut the spell from himself, with a sharp jerk of his head the spell breaks with a loud resonating pop as Star Swirl is left with a panting breath. The pop of the magic doesn't last long as the crystal heart again goes dormant and its dull color comes over it. Swirl is speechless as he blinks to the stone but the motionless feeling only last a moment as he moves to his things as he floats the book next to him with the quill, I may have taken on something I am not yet prepared for, after my foolish attempt at activating the stone there seems to be a block to my magic. Swirl shifts his eyes between the page and the stone as he tries to justify his last words, Yes, there must be a fail safe spell Sombra put in place, most likely formed by a magic I have little ability to combat... Leading me to believe this block is a dark magic spell Sombra must have put in place for that safety. Truly an ingenious way to make sure the Heart’s powers can not be so easily obtained, seeing as how even I have no real knowledge of this old magic... I shall continue my observations tomorrow and conclude this thought. His horn glows a very faint gold as the satchel bag comes to him slowly and the book, quill and capped ink well slip into its pocket. Swirl holds his gaze to the stone for a moment before he starts down the stairs. End of chapter 3 Chapter 4Chapter 4 - Tomorrow's past The dining hall of the crystal empire has a gold shimmer to it as the newly rising morning sun starts to pass through it, the room is empty except for the one pony sitting towards the end of the table. After last nights endeavors I have awoken with a slight headache, which is very uncommon for me even after a rigorous spell. But I have since assumed myself I was just hungry... "Good morning to you Mage Star Swirl." The slightly higher pitch of the feminine voice stabs a little to Swirl's ear as he quickly moves his head from the book to the white mare with pink mane trotting into the dining hall quickly being followed by a few guards. But before the stallion's voice can come up again the mare has started to take her seat as she gives a faint smile, "I am most terribly sorry if I have disturbed your work Mage Star Swirl." The stallion closes the book as he shakes his head, "Nonsense Princess, I can not remember a time you have disturbed my work." From his words a smile is easily played across his face. Platinum nods her head as she wiggles her hoof to a few ponies that followed her in, "General Stomping, I require the cooks please." An older looking stallion dressed in a silver and purple armour nods his head as he holds his half closed eyed gaze to the mare, "Yes Princess." But the stallion doesn't move as he turns to the two other ponies beside him that quickly move out the door. "So tell us Mage Star Swirl, where is this Crystal Heart? I have yet to see or feel its presence? When will I-..." Platinum's voice is cut off as a deep echoing voice comes into the room behind her, "You will not be seeing it." The grey stallion holds his gaze to the white mare as he stood in the doorway of the dining hall. But to his words Princess Platinum turns herself around to face him as she talks, "Not to be seeing it?" A slight laugh comes from her as she talks, "But King Sombra surely you wish to unveil it to the other two leaders today, do you not?" Sombra blinks to the comment as he shakes his head, "No, I find no need for the Crystal heat in today's meeting." Princess Platinum squints to the comment a little confused but she changes her comment as she talks, "Well I must say I am a little confused, but I will bow to your judgement." She floats her crown from her mane as she moves her hoof to a chair across from her, "Are you to be joining us for breakfast?" The grey stallion shakes his head as he talks, "No, i'm afraid I have muc-..." The deep echoey voice is halted as a pink pegasus mare takes a step to his side, her smile is put to Princess Platinum as the mare speaks up, "King Sombra and I will of course be joining you." Queen Apatite doesn't wait for the taller grey stallion to follow her into the room as she takes her first steps inside, but Sombra's eyes pin to her as his horn glows a faint green and the chair she's walking to becomes pulled out. Swirl holds his gaze to the mare as she takes her seat to his side of the table, Sombra follows suit after her as he moves to her far side. A faint laugh fills the room from Platinum as she looks to the empty seats around her, "I must say I do feel a bit lonely on my ponyless side." Queen Apatite gives a friendly laugh to the comment as her sweet voice rolls through the room, her expression looks better today but even through her regular tone a slight bit of tiredness comes through, "Princess Platinum, it would be to hard to speak with you if every word must be turned to be heard." Platinum squints to the comment as she cocks her head, "Yes of course." A question starts to burn in the white mare as she looks to the pegasus mare, "Forgive me for asking, but I have wondered how a pegasus of your..." The white mare pauses for a word as she pushes through her statement, "...Elegance, comes to live in the unicorn capital?" Swirl turns his head to the mare as he listens a little worried to the mare's shifty words. But her comment has no affect on Queen Apatite as she smiles, "You mean to ask why a pegasus is Queen of a unicorn province, do you not?" Platinum gives a respectful nod as she answer, "I mean no disrespect." The pink mare shakes her hoof as she talks, "There is never disrespect in a question you ask for an answer, there can only be disrespect with a question you ask but know the answer to already." A laugh comes from Princess Platinum as she averts her eyes from the mare, "You sound like Mage Star Swirl." The grey stallion gives a faint laugh as Queen Apatite continues to speak, "If I do then perhaps you should listen to him. But your answer, yes its true I am a pegasus , and yes its true I am from the pegasus capital before it was moved to Equestria." A smile crosses her face as she talks, "However not all pegasus want to stay in the clouds forever, some want to learn of the strange earth bound ponies." A slight laugh comes from the mare as she gives a little emphases on strange. Princess Platinum nods her head as Queen Apatite's words trail on, "Sombra and I both share the idea of Equestria no longer bound to the rules of the old land an-..." The white mare's ear flicks a little to the comment as she blurts out her own, "Yes of course, When I founded this land I had no problem immediately moving for a peace treaty between the other two." Queen Apatite's voice doesn't come back to her as Sombra's echoey tone chimes past hers, "Yes Princess Platinum, you have helped establish an aura of peace...But A peace bound by rules and ideas of old, we seek to have true harmony among the land." Platinum cocks her head a little to the words as she loses her smile and tries to take in the comment, "You wish to unite the ponies of Equestria?" A slight laugh escapes her as she leans forward a little, "B-But how would the land be ruled? How would anything be done?" Platinum's eyes squint to her rush of questions as she continues, "Where would a power such as the Crystal Heart go? Surely not-..." Platinum's voice is cut off as Queen Apatite stands from the table with a blank expression. Sombra's eyes dart to the mare as she starts to trot away from the table silently. But Sombra follows her stand as his voice echoes to her, "Where are you going?" Queen Apatite doesn't turn her head as her voice comes to her, "I need to plan for the-..." Her voice is cut off as she falls over to her side with a hard thud. Sombra's eyes go wide and his horn's glow is lost as his mouth opens with a very weak and low wheezing voice, "Apatite!" General Stomping moves from his spot at the wall towards the mare but before he can reach her, Sombra and Apatite disappear from the room in a loud chiming pop from a teleportation spell. Platinum holds a shocked expression to the scene that just unfolded as she turns to Star Swirl who now starts to rush from his seat with his few items floating next to him, "What happened?!" Swirl waves his hoof to the mare as he talks, "There is no need for concern, they will return shortly." The grey stallion moves from the room as he starts into the hallways of the crystal castle. End of chapter 4 Chapter 5Chapter 5 – Silent talking The hallways of the crystal empire are nothing unfamiliar to Star Swirl, and the stallion has no problem navigating through them. But as the large two close doors at the end of the hall come into view he stops as he looks to a few ponies in front of the door. In front of the door the two crystal ponies stand facing away from Star Swirl as he nears to their on going conversation, "...Master should we summon a healer?" No reply comes from inside as the two ponies start to repeat themselves, but Swirl cuts them off as he speaks up with a slight smile, "I shall see what I can do, please wait for me to exit would you?" The two crystal ponies hesitate for a moment before they step aside from the door, but Swirl is unable to open either of the doors with his hoof as he tries. A faint green glow comes over the door as he touches it, but his confusion doesn't last long as his horn sparks up in a faint gold glow and the door comes open, "I shall only be a moment." The door closes behind him as the grey stallion turns his head to the other stallion in the room whose gaze is pinned to the mare laying in the bed. The echoey voice comes back to the room but Sombra doesn't turn his head, "You should not have come to find us...It will cause suspicion for Apatite's well being." Star Swirl listens to the voice for a moment as he moves the items he was floating to a decorative crystal outcropping with a faint laugh, "You know my friend, that voice of yours can give a pony a slight chill with its tone." Sombra turns his head to the stallion's voice but his eyes and expression doesn't match the strong voice that still echoes through his closed mouth, but no words get to come from him as the pink mare stirs in the bed with a faint laugh. "Please Star Swirl, convince Sombra that i'm fine." The mare brings herself up in the bed as she leans herself to the crystal back part as she begins to fiddle with her cloak. Her happy smile moves to Sombra as she continues to hold her sweet voice, "Honestly, Sombra you could have at least let me put something else on, this royal cloak is much too short to be talking like this." Star Swirl shares in the slight lightening mood but Sombra doesn't flinch his mouth as he looks over the mare, "Apatite , you need to rest an-..." Her pink hoof comes to Sombra's mouth as she shakes her head, "No, somepony has to be there with you when you address the others." Sombra moves from her hoof as his echoey chime comes around the room, "Princess Platinum should provide the support I need to convince the others, you are not to worry about it." Queen Apatite smiles as she turns her gaze to the lighter grey stallion close to the door, "Tell me Star Swirl, if my stallion has not called you up here for support on these matters, then why has he?" Swirl rubs a little with the hair on his chin as he talks, "Well Queen Apatite, you should know why Sombra has summoned me here." The stallion turns his gaze to Swirl as he continues, "...King Sombra has tasked me with making sure Princess Platinum learns something worthwhile from you two." A slight laugh comes from the stallion as he points his hoof to the mare, "Now I agree with Sombra, you should rest." To the words Queen Apatite again tries to move herself from the bed, "I assure you there's nothing wrong with me-..." Swirl is quick to chime in as he talks, "Oh no, of course not, from what i saw you just got caught on your cloak...nothing to major." The mare jumps to the stallion's words as she nods her head, "Yes, that's what happened, nothing more." Swirl nods his head as he shoots back a smile. Queen Apatite repays the smile as she looks between Swirl and Sombra, "Well...I do believe I will take a slight rest." Sombra nods as he moves towards the door with his gaze to Swirl to follow. Swirl's horn glows a faint gold as the items he placed follow after him as the two stallion's leave the room. Sombra's horn glows a little to the sight of the two crystal ponies in the hallway, "There's no need for any panic, you can leave us now." The two crystal ponies bow their heads as they start away from the hall, as they leave Swirl floats the book next to himself as he talks, "I regret to inform you my friend, but the answers you wish to have did not come to me from just one night." The chime from the horn turns to Swirl as Sombra nods his head, "I would not have thought they would." Swirl quickly cuts him off as he speaks up, "But I do have some things to tell you if you would follow me." (elsewhere in the castle) The empty plates in front of Princess Platinum are starting to become moved as she floats a cloth napkin to the tip of her mouth and snout. But her closed eyes don't stay cut from the world for long as a familiar sounding stallion's voice comes to the room. "Princess Platinum." The white mare opens her eyes as she turns her gaze to the gold and black armored stallion staring to her from the entrance of the room, "Commander Hurricane?" The pegasus blinks to her tone as he speaks, "You are surprised to see me?" Platinum doesn't move from her seat as she wiggles her hoof to the stallion, "No, I was just expecting Emperor Gust would have came himself." Commander hurricane nods his head as he trots into the room, "Our traditions are not as easily forgotten, its unwise to send such an important pegasus into a storm, even if the winds have been quelled." Princess Platinum blinks to the comment as she holds her regal tone, "Yes...well i'm sure you had no problem arriving did you?" The stallion shakes his head as he talks, "No, neither me or my guard had trouble." His eyes drift around the room for a moment as his voice comes back a little unsure, "Have the Earth ponies arrived yet?" The white mare shakes her head as she answers, "No, but King Sombra should return when Queen Apatite has been steadied." Hurricane's ear flicks a little to the comment as he stares to her, "Queen Apatite is ill?" Platinum pauses for a moment before she continues, "To take such a nasty fall I assume she would have to be." The light blue pegasus pauses for a moment as he thinks, but his voice comes back to him as he speaks up, "I suppose a meeting with only land dwellers is fine, providing the circumstances." Before Platinum's voice can come back up the two ponies ears bring a deep echoey voice to them as Sombra and Star Swirl enter the room, "Commander Hurricane, I hope you're winds were fair and your skies were clear." A smile comes over Hurricane's face as he nods his head to the larger dark grey stallion, "A greeting fit for a pegasus." The happy tone doesn't stay long as Hurricanes voice drops a little lower, "I do hope Queen Apatite becomes well before our meeting has finished." Sombra shifts his head between Princess Platinum and Hurricane as his horn glows a bit brighter with quick words, "Queen Apatite is fine, she just had a fall...Please follow me and I will show us to the-..." Hurricane cuts through the magic's chime as he speaks up, Should we not wait for the earth ponies?" The dark grey stallion moves his eyes around the room again before he nods, "Yes, we shall wait for them to arrive first." The light blue pegasus’s eyes move to Star Swirl as another friendly smile comes to him, "Sir Star Swirl, I was unaware you would be attending this." Swirl brings his hoof up as he shakes his head, "That's where you are wrong i'm afraid, I will not be joining in this..." He stops with a slight laugh as he continues, "Battle for wits." The comment goes unregistered to Hurricane as Platinum's regal feminine voice comes back to the room, "Commander Hurricane surely you're not going to wait the whole time in your armor...are you?" Sombra's echo comes back now directed to Princess Platinum as he talks, "A pegasus never removes their armor in unfamiliar terrain." "My word, I am starting to believe Emperor Gust's daughter has started to rub off onto you King Sombra." Hurricane turns back to Princess Platinum with a happier expression as he nods his head, "I am more comfortable now than I would be." Princess Platinum holds a slightly discouraged expression as she nods her head, but she covers it up with a faint laugh as she talks, "very well." As Commander Hurricane takes his seat Swirl moves a little closer to Sombra as he speaks, "I will return this evening to continue my research Sombra, I wish you luck my friend." Sombra's right ear flicks down a little, Swirl thinks over its motion before he nods his head, "You're welcome my friend." The stallion's trot quickly brings him out of the room as he moves away. End of chapter 5 Chapter 6Chapter 6 – A feather off The days sun has started to take hold over the crystal empire as the light refracted around the cities streets giving off the illusion that every tile of crystal stone on the ground is a different color. A content smile crosses Star Swirl's face as he looks around the cities streets around him, most of the ponies he passes don't pay any attention to him. But the ones that do turn their faces to him give a slight confused stare, of course Star Swirl doesn't take notice of it as his sights set to a dark magenta colored two story house. His trot brings him to take his body up on the light blue crystal sidewalk as he nears the house. The content smile he had on lose its realism as he nears the door. Outside of the door in two plant pots sit two rose red flowers, but the plants buds look almost like glass. Swirl's horn glows a faint gold as the flap on his satchel opens and he floats out a smaller version of the two crystallized plants, the only two differences are that this one is smaller and has a very faint see through cyan color. As his motion ends and the plant comes to float beside him he taps his hoof to the door. The inside of the house is silent for a moment but the moment silence doesn't last long as the door opens to a curious staring greenish blue crystal pegasus. The mare's cyan green mane lays to one side with the other free side out in two small strains of mane held together in a chain like hair band that comes down to the base of her left ear. The mare squints to the stallion as a low sweet voice comes from her, "Hello, do I know you?" Swirl smiles as he hovers the plant to her, but a faint chuckle comes from him as he hoovers the plant closer to her, "Aura Bright...Is this my punishment for coming one day late?" The mare doesn't change her expression as she takes the plant to her right hoof, her eyebrow cocks to him as she gives a slight smile, "I still do not know who you are." Swirl blinks to the comment as the door closes in his face, the stallion shifts a little uneasy as he stares to the closed door. But he doesn't even have time to move his hoof before the door swings back open to the mare's happy face as she pulls the stallion inside. A laugh escapes Star Swirl as he stumbles a little to the pull, but his balance is brought back to him as the mare's now less than ladylike voice speaks up, "Your letters said you would be here when the unicorn's arrived." Swirl holds the embrace softly as he talks, "I was." "Bha." The mare loses her hold on the stallion as her higher pitched feminine chime rings from her, "There you go breaking your promise again, Mr.Swirl." Swirl just smiles as the mare reaches to the crystal plant she put near the door, her back comes to the stallion as she starts her trot into the room, "I mean truly, when will you ever be somewhere you say you would be?" Before Swirl can speak up the mare turns around as she wobbles the hoof with the plant a little as her head bobs to her words, "And what is with the uncut beard? You look as if you're older than you truly are." The grey stallion holds his smile as he shakes his head, "But I am older." The mare cocks her eyebrow to the stallion as she nods her head a little sarcastically, "Oh Star Swirl, you are only as old as you act." Swirl nods his head as he talks, "That's easy for a mare like you to say..." His voice drops a little sweet as he continues, "Why would a mare like you ever want to act her age, especially if she continues to become more beautiful every time a pony lays their eyes on her?" To the stallion's loving gaze the mare moves a little closer towards him, but Swirl's stare blinks away as she gets to close, a giggle comes from Aura as she talks, "Bha." Her right hoof still holds the plant as she pokes it to his chest, "...I am still younger than you mind and body, but you, you are not old enough to act so distinct." Her eyes and smile move to the small beard on his chin as she cocks her head again, "You will be cutting this...will you not?" Swirl nods his head as he floats the plant from the mare's hoof, the low chime in the room matches his weak voice as he talks, "As long as I get to see you, you have my word it will disappear." Aura takes the floating plant from the magic as she gives a little giggle, "Bha, your word is something earth ponies could not even use to plant grass." A chuckle comes from Star Swirl as the mare goes to her normal long windedness, "...But I suppose it will have to do." Her smile comes back to Star Swirl as she gasp, "I forgot, I have a present for you this time." Swirl's ear flicks a little as the mare's wings flair out to her loud voice, "Oh Wispy! Come here Wispy!" The sound of small claws to the floor comes into the room as Swirl brings his eyes to a hallway adjacent to the room, a small crystal looking lizard comes into the room. But the lizard stops as it turns to Star Swirl with a slight hiss, the hiss coming from its crystal mouth is high pitched and loud as Star Swirl squints to the animal, "Hizzzz." Aura smiles happily to the sound as she trots over to it and scoops it up, "Oh, I think he likes you Star Swirl." The stallion nods his head to the lizard as he watches the mare coming closer to him, but she doesn't stop as she pins her bright yellow gold eyes to him, "You have to hold him or he will never like you." Swirl gives a faint chuckle as he nods, "Yes, just put him in my bag and-..." "No no no, this is something that will become more valuable than dragon's gems." Aura holds the lizard out towards Star Swirl as it blinks its eyes separately. "Y-yes." Swirl moves his hoof to the lizard as he takes hold of it and puts on a fake smile. But as he takes hold of it Aura starts to talk, "Do you know what kind of a lizard this is Mr.Swirl?" Star Swirl looks over the crystal scales of the animal but is unable to place it, "No, I do not." Aura nods her head unfazed by the words she expected, "This is a wheezing Iguana of Bison desert." Star Swirl looks down to the lizard as if he's holding fire as he shifts very uneasy to the words, "They're poisonous?!" The pegasus mare happily nods her head as she takes the lizard from Swirl's grasp and lays it to the ground, "Yes, the poison from their scales could stop a griffin from flying in one flap of a wing." Swirl blinks to her words as he impatiently waits for her to get to her point, Aura happily continues as her sweet voice rings from her, "But the lizards that were found around this area are not poisonous on touch." Her wings start to fold as she holds her eyes to him, "Why would that be Mr.Swirl?" The stallion's voice is still a little shaky from the animal that was in his grasp but he speaks up, "The scales on them have turned to crystal." His words spring a new found reassurance as he repeats them, "The scales..." He squint to her as he talks, "But how did you know the poison would not affect me?" Aura holds her hoof out as she goes silent. To the motion Swirl brings his eyes to her hoof, but he slowly moves his own hoof to her as she puts hers under his, "Because Mr.Swirl, the magic that has turned this animal into what it currently is also has affected the whole world around it." A slight sigh escapes her as she nods, "But making you believe that I would poison you was not the point of your gift." "Do you still have the journal I gave you?" Star Swirl nods his head as he dips his hoof to the bag, but she waves hers as she talks, "There's something amazing about wheezing Iguanas, there breathing is that of a dragon's...Do you know what that means?" Swirl nods his head as he starts to rub to his small beard, Aura watches the motion with a slight smile but listens to his voice, "That should mean that...Wispy has the ability to send anything burnable to a designated area." Aura smiles as she trots towards a couch like seat near the empty fireplace of the main room, "Correct Mr.Swirl, now you have the means to tell me when you will be late." The stallion gives a slight chuckle as he floats the bag from himself, his trot comes to him as he follows after her but he's careful to avoid the lizard at his hooves, "Was this demonstration a way to scold me further?" "Yes." Aura holds her hoof to the seat as she talks, "And now that the time has passed it is your turn to tell me why you have waited so long to come back...Now sit while I go and make the tea I would have had ready." Swirl nods his head respectfully as he takes his seat to the couch. End of chapter 6 Chapter 7Chapter 7 – The battle for wits "...Tell us King Sombra why have we all been called here?" Commander Hurricane’s voice comes to the large meeting room with the same depth as if he were right next to everypony. The large grey unicorn nods his head as he looks around the round crystal table he sits at, his horn has a faint green glow to it as the echo of his thoughts ring around the room, "Yes, I believe now that everypony has arrived we should not waste anymore time." Everypony's eyes become fixated to the grey stallion as the words spring into their ears almost like a perfectly told whisper, "Since Equestria was founded by you three the Crystal Empire has grown to be the largest city in the land...Now not only has this Empire started to spread beyond the ideas of old but it has started to completely change what peace means." Sombra's words stop for a moment as he looks around, "...Peace as it was called when Equestria was founded was nothing more than a trust the three tribes formed to insure the problems of old did not follow us into this new land. I propose a change to that peace." A slight nervous laugh comes up from the caramel coated stallion with light brown mane as his voice comes up, "What do you mean a change? I believe right now there is nothing needing changing." "Yes." Commander Hurricane cocks his eyes to Sombra as he talks, "The winds of change can be very helpful...but presenting a gust when unneeded will cause the best to fall from the sky." The white mare that sits across from the table is silent for the moment as she plans her words, but her regal and low feminine voice cuts through the stallions beside her as she speaks up, "Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Pudding cup, perhaps we should let the pony finish...No sense jumping to conclusions." The room begins to go quite as Sombra's horn glows again, his gaze sits to the earth pony leader as he talks, "You believe nothing needs to be changed correct?" Pudding Cup nods his head but Sombra's echo comes up before he can speak, "Then tell me Chancellor, how has the peace been treating the earth ponies?" The caramel stallion blinks his eyes to the comment as he talks, "I beg your pardon?" Sombra nods his head as his horn glows a slightly bright dim green, "How has the peace treaty been to the earth ponies?" Chancellor Pudding Cup slightly stumbles on his words as he shakes his head, "I-it fine? I can not see a problem with the way it’s going thus far." "Really? Then tell me earth ponies have been allowed into Unicorn provinces for more than just food delivery?" The stallion goes quite a little, but to the silence the white mare shifts her eyes a little uncomfortable towards the other unicorn whose echo still rings through the room, "...And is it not true that in some parts of Equestria the ability of growing has become strained due to lack of sun time?" Chancellor Pudding Cup nods his head as he talks, "Well yes the day time has been scarce these past few moons." Princess Platinum speaks up as the comment lofts into the room, "The sun time has been only altered a slight bit?" "Why has the daytime been altered Princess?" The white mare turns her head to the pegasus as he turns a questioning eye. Platinum's voice comes out in an almost defensive tone as she tries to hold her regular tone, "The day time has been shifted to align with the building of the new unicorn capital." A slight chuckle comes from the pegasus as he shakes his head, "So is the will of a unicorn...to believe the world is nothing more than an object to be influenced in only the way they see fit." The white mare squints to the comment as she nods her head, "Yes, the sun and moon is our right. As long as Unicorn magic is what it takes to rise and set, then its will is that of our own." Sombra's expression shows his lose over the situation as he tries to bring his voice back to the room, "Now Commander Hurricane this meeting was not held to bring up issues so petty." The pegasus turns his head to him with a slight tone as he speaks, "Petty? Something that affects every tribe is petty?" Sombra is unamused to the comment as he shakes his head, "I merely I’m pointing out flaws in our treaty." "Flaws? Very well, I assume the pegasus would be next...so be it King Sombra, judge the pegasus like Unicorns have judged before." The armored pony moves his hooves to the helmet that still sits atop his head as he waits for the grey stallion to continue. Sombra closes his eyes for a moment as a sigh comes from him, "Commander Hurricane, you should know starting your flight in the hardest flap expecting hard winds will only leave you tired when calm air meets you." To the words Princess Platinum's voice speaks up a little louder, "King Sombra I must insist that a unicorn of your stature should not bow to speak in the tongue of pegas-..." Sombra's echo deepens as it booms back from the crystal walls of the meeting room and back down to the white mare, "Princess Platinum, your youth in matters of such magnitude is your undoing...Do not speak judgment on those more fit then you!" The white mare's ears goes down as she nods her head, the other two stallions turn their eyes to the grey pony as his horn starts to flicker a little. But the echo from him becomes steady as his words move through the room, "The treaty of old is flawed in ways we do not see because of our blindness to change the rules of old...We must move to a feeling of true peace and acceptance not bound by rules and orders of so many, we must combine these ideals to a whole...one set design that fits for all, with no restrictions because of a ponies race." Commander Hurricane’s voice is low but it carries his surprised tone well as he goes wide eyes to the unicorn, "What are you saying?" Sombra stands from his seat as the echo calls around him, "I am saying to move forward there can be no three, there can only be one." His eyes go hard to the three ponies as he looks around the room to them. But Princess Platinum and Chancellor Pudding Cup do not speak as the blue pegasus starts to shake his head, "One ruler?!" The surprised voice doesn't last long as he regains his tone, "This is just more of unicorn's desires to control..." His hoof comes towards the grey stallion as he talks, "I should assume you believe there no better pony to rule over this idea but you, a unicorn!" Sombra's horn goes dull as he drops his hard face shocked by the pegasus hard words. "I must say King Sombra, I side with the pegasus on this matter...There can not be one ruler." The stallion stutters a little as his gaze and hooves come to point to the crystal table, "I-it would be chaos when that one ruler dies, no rule would be the same we would be bond still by restrictions and prejudices ideas determined by that pony's rule." Sombra shakes his head as he flickers his horn to power again, "No, I do not seek power, I wish to unit Equestria like we have done in the Crystal Empire. Not through the use of conquering or force." Commander Hurricane shakes his head as his voice comes out, "No King Sombra, with this idea you seek to undermine the powers of the rulers and in turn bring all the lands power to you.” Sombra's echo comes out again as his words target Hurricane, "I wish to see an Equestria no longer bound by the failed ways of old, I wish to see Pegasus, Unicorns and Earth ponies together." "And just how do you suppose Unicorns,Pegasus, and Earth ponies would adopt these ways of life if not by a single rule?" Commander Hurricane's posture is impatient as Sombra's fading voice comes to him. "By asking the rulers here in front of me to make the change to allow Equestria to grow." Sombra's eyes move to the earth stallion and Princess Platinum as he struggles to hold his spell, "Surely you two would will your powers away for the great good of Equestria?" Both Platinum and the earth stallion are silent as they look between each other. A laugh comes from Commander Hurricane as he stands from his seat, "A unicorn asking a unicorn to give up the power of rule?" He shakes his head as he stares to Sombra, "I was right when I spoke of Queen Apatite, you are now more pegasus than unicorn." The stallion cocks his head as he slows his voice, "You have peeked my interest on this day King Sombra, I will not tell Emperor Gust of your plan to take power away from him. But I do have a question King Sombra...you speak of change and allowing all three to live together in a world where everypony is completely equal...but tell me King Sombra what becomes of the Crystal Heart? The most powerful item right now known to Equestria, a power so grand no pony truly understands it." He holds his gaze to the gray stallion as he speaks, "What happens to this power? Is it free for anypony?" Sombra is silent for a moment as his horn comes to a low glow, but his eyes drift to the table and away from Commander Hurricane as he speaks, "No, the Crystal Heart would have to stay in the care of Unicorns." "Of course it would King Sombra...Of course it would." The pegasus looks between the other two ponies still sitting as he talks, "I am not the leader of the pegasus and I do not have final say on the matters presented here today...But when word hits Emperor Gust that King Sombra wishes for him to consolidate power with the other two I believe he will turn it down." He bows his head to the two ponies he talks to as he stops his soon to be trot out, "There is not disrespect for the peace treaty we all live by so far and it will not be altered. I see no movement from either of you so I believe this meeting of us has come to its end." Hurricane turns back to Sombra as he gets a lower voice, "I wish fair winds for you and Queen Apatite." At the end of the stallion's words his trot starts back towards the door. Sombra continues his stare away from the other two as Chancellor Pudding cup moves from his seat, "King Sombra, I will be taking my leave tomorrow." The grey unicorn nods his head as he looks to the stallion, "Nimby will show you and your company to your rooms in the castle." Princess Platinum waits for the room to clear as she stares her green eyes to the unmoving stallion, her stance up comes fast though as she adjust the cloak around her figure, "I have a question King Sombra." The grey stallion brings his eyes to meet her as he waits. "Why did you not tell Commander Hurricane that magic, even magic in items can only be manipulated by Unicorns?" Sombra nods his head as he again struggles to hold his spell, "Princess Platinum...For a young ruler you have the most attuned mind, even if it is only to your own kind." He pauses for a moment as he watches the mare nod her head, "Yes, its true I lacked in telling Commander Hurricane that and the reason is because I do not believe magic is so one sided." His horn lets out a pop as his magic leaves it, Sombra nods his head to the white mare as he begins his trot towards the door. End of chapter 7 Chapter 8Chapter 8 – Minds alike A slight giggle comes from the crystal mare as she sets her cup back to the table in front of her. But her movement doesn't stop the grey stallion beside her as he continues his attempts at painting his mind's picture for her to see as his excited voice continues through the room, "...But of course our troubles were not over just because the spell had been changed." He waves his hoof to her as he smiles, "Oh no, when a levitation spell does something like that you have a bounce to your hoof for the next moon it seems." A chuckle comes from him as he stops his story. The greenish blue pegasus holds her smile not to the stallion's story but to his face as Swirl starts to come down from his high emotion. It takes a few moments for the grey stallion to take back hold of himself as he nods his head, "I must say Aura...I seemed to have taken that story a little too far." "Not at all Star Swirl..." She holds her crystal sparkling eyes to him as she shakes her head, "How could you not tell a story like that without emotion..." A faint laugh comes from her as she stops for a moment, "Truly a spell like that is something amazing." Swirl smiles as he nods, "I see no amazement to it...That spell has been useless ever since then." A chuckle comes over him as he floats the still full tea cup to the table, "...A spell to allow unicorns to walk on clouds would never be a real thing." To the sigh Aura jabs her hoof to Swirl's side as she brings herself to rise a little from her seat, "BAH! When has a failure ever stopped the almighty Star Swirl from trying something foolish again?" Her hoof comes to tap on her mouth as she continues, "I was once told by a certain pony, that failures are only the first step to completing a task." Swirl lets out a chuckle as he rolls his hoof, "What sort of pony would say such a thing?" Aura's gaze goes half eyed to him as she cocks her head, "Well the strangest pony I have ever met told me this." It takes Swirl a moment to pick up on her gaze before he speaks, "oh...OH, yes yes, I believe I do recall that saying." The pegasus mare flairs her wings out as she gasp excitedly, "Then you shall try this spell again yes?" "I beg your pardon?" Swirl's voice is cut from the room as the excited mare springs from her seat and begins to pull to the grey stallion, "Do not pretend you have not heard me Star Swirl." The stallion comes to his hooves as the mare trots happily away from him mindlessly talking to herself, "Just think Star Swirl, a spell like this would become something wondrous for Equestria...why it could help so many ponies!" Her face comes back to Swirl as she stares to him with a bright smile. Swirl's eyes move over the mare's coat as he watches her greenish-blue coloring turning a slight pink, "I think you are just making yourself too excited Aura...you know as well as I do only pegasus can manipulate clouds to hold them." "Oh? Really?" She lowers her head as she cocks her eyebrows to the stallion, but Swirl's stance shifts a little uncomfortably as she moves closer towards him, "...Did I just hear Sir.Swirl say it can not be done?" Swirl's eyes can't go to the mare's as he stammers a little nervous to her close person, "W-well I am just saying that..." "Tis tis tis..." Aura clicks her tongue as she sways her hoof in front of Swirl, "Let me see your hoof." The stallion blinks to the words as he keeps his legs pinned to the floor, to his lack of motion Aura rolls her eyes as she moves her hoof to his front leg. Swirl quickly springs his hoof up to her as she takes it under her own, her balance becomes a little shifty as she takes her other hoof from the ground and begins to turn Swirls in her grasp. "Now Swirl, tell me what you see." A moment of silence comes to the stallion as he looks to his hoof clasped in between the mare's crystally hold, a smile comes over him as he speaks up, "I see two beautiful hooves separated by something lacking in luster." Aura's hoof slightly smacks against Swirl's face as the words end, the tap to his face was caught off guard but he listens to the mare's happy voice as she speaks, "You are mistaken Sir.Swirl, what you should have seen is nothing...nothing at all." The stallion blinks to her happy smile as she darts her eyes down telling his to follow, as he does Aura's voice comes back to the room, "...Do you see it yet Star Swirl? You see three normal looking hooves..." Swirl nods his head as he listens to her long winded breath coming through, "Good, now tell me if you see no difference why is it that you can not walk on clouds." A chuckle comes from the stallion as he slips his hoof from her smooth warm feeling hooves, "Because I have no wings." Aura moves her hooves back to the ground but one is quick to jab to his chest as she speaks, "Bha! A little filly does not use their wings to stand on a cloud." Swirl nods his head to her words. To the nod the crystal mare smiles wide, "Good, now follow me Sir. Swirl." Aura trots away from the stallion as she moves to the staircase at the back of the room, but her trot doesn't last long as she turns to the lizard that has only barely moved from where Star Swirl placed him, "Now Wispy do not eat any of my plants." Swirl gets another slight chuckle as he starts to follow after the mare. Aura's lead has brought them to her room as she takes an unfazed step into the room and towards her closed balcony doors. But Star Swirl is unable to follow as he looks around the room. Her gaze comes back to the stallion as she stops in front of the doors, a smile comes from her as her tone almost pokes fun to the stallion's stance, "Sir.Swirl, dose a mare have to give you permission to pass through her bed chambers?" The stallion pushes himself into the room as he ignores her comment with a chuckle, "I have never entered anywhere unpromoted...No room is any different." Aura giggles to the comment as she opens the doors to the outside world, her greenish-blue color that has taken on a pink glow now becomes a simple green as the sun strikes against it only highlighting her mane's color. Her head tilts to one side as she stares outside, "Tell me Sir.Swirl, why is it that our daytime has been cut short as of lately?" Swirl moves himself next to the mare as he looks over the late day's sun, but his face becomes unamused as he sighs, "Because, the balance of what Equestria should be is unstable..." He smiles as he turns his eyes to her, "...Much like the unicorns that pretend they control it." "Hm, you will never voice your own opinion of the land, but yet you have no problem voicing opinion of your own kind." Aura squints her eyes to the stallion as she looks him over. Swirl shakes his head as he holds his smile, "I see no kinds of ponies, I only see hooves of majority walking away from the direction they should be facing." Aura lets out a swaying sigh as she leans to the words, "I have always enjoyed your mind Star Swirl..." A smile comes from her face as she holds her hoof to the open world before them, "Now I need you to jump from my rooftop." Swirl blinks to the comment as his eyes go a little wide, "A-Aura...I do believe you have enjoyed your tea too much...tell me are you feeling a heat to your head?" The mare loses her smile as she pushes the stallion to the balcony flooring, her voice becomes high and even though its faked Swirl's ears do not pick up on it as he listens, "MR.SWIRL? A stallion should know not to ask such questions of heat?!" "N-no I meant..." His rushed voice is cut off as Aura takes to her wings and floats beside him, a giggle escaped her as she talks, "Now trust me Star Swirl." He nods his head as her hoof comes from his face and she starts to flap her wings from the balcony. Swirl watches the pegasus from his squinting eyes as she bites to a small cloud high above the house, the cloud's length is large but the cloud takes on a flat shape as her hooves moves through it. The motions only last a few moments before she comes back to the balcony, the cloud moves from her grasp as she leaves it in front of the rails, "Now Star Swirl, would you do your spell?" A chuckle comes from the stallion as he steps forward and looks down to the crystal streets beneath him, "Aura...I am not as young as I use to-..." "Bha!" The mare points her hoof to him as she talks over his voice in mocking high pitch feminine banter, "OH Aura, I am not as young as I use to be..." She rubs to her chin as if pulling to a beard as she cocks her eyes to him. "You're mocking me Aura." The mare nods her head as she pokes her hoof back towards him, "Yes, I am...Now to do your spell you have to believe it works." A chuckle comes from him as he talks, "Believing is not-..." The mare crosses her front hooves as she turns her head away from the stallion she floats in front of, "Really? Then Sir.Swirl please lie to me and tell me that unicorn magic is not generated from feelings and thoughts." Swirl cocks his head to her words as he brings his hoof to pull on his small beard, "I believe I should stop telling you so much." "Star Swirl!" The stallion chuckles as his horn glows a faint gold, "Aura, you say all I need to do is believe...than I will try." A small crystal stool comes in front of the rails. Aura's smile goes wide as she watches Swirl's horn taking on a bright gold glow, the magic moves over his body as he holds his gaze towards the mare. Neither of them speak though as Swirl takes his first hoof to the stool, Aura moves a little above the shaky stallion as she moves her hooves to his sides. Swirl's heart pounds hard and his mind screams to jump from the stool back to the room, but he holds his eyes sternly as he moves his first hoof to the thin layer of white fluff lofting in front of the rail. "Do not worry Swirl, a fall from here would only break a leg." A chuckle comes from Swirl as he holds his hoof from the cloud, "My dear Aura I have never known that to be a thing to hope for." To the words his hoof places to the cloud, but it doesn't fall through. The stallion's eyes go wide as he moves his other hoof to the cloud, a new found smile comes from him as he begins to pull himself over the rail with the help of Aura's tug. But the moment of truth comes as the stallion comes to stand on the thin layer of cloud, "HA ha ha! It worked?! It worked!!?" Aura smiles to the stallion's joy as she takes her hooves from the stallion, but as she does the stallion's stance becomes shaky as he wobbles to the cloud's unfamiliar surface. A fear stricken face comes over Aura as she quickly pulls the stallion towards her, but from the jerk Swirl topples over the rail and onto the mare that pulled him. Aura's breath is knocked from her and the quick movement has turned the cloud into small wisp of white as it floats away. Swirl quickly speaks as he looks to the mare beneath him, "Are you ok?!" The mare is silent for a moment as she lets out a slight laugh, "No, I must say I did not expect you to be so clumsy with a pegasus." Her eyes dart up a little as Swirl follows them. His eyes pin to his hoof that has pinned her right wing to the ground, Swirl’s weight is quickly lost from it as he stands from the mare. Aura stretches her wing out for a moment as it folds back to her, but Swirl's voice comes to him a little rushed as he holds his hoof to her, "Are you ok my dear?" The mare smiles as she nods her head, "Of course, do you really think a simple fall can hurt a wing?" Swirl is silent as she continues, "Now Star Swirl, how do you feel?" The stallion smiles wide as he slightly moves past her, "Invigorated!" He moves through the room for a moment as he turns back to the mare, "I-I must write this spell down!" Aura nods her head as she smiles to him, "Of course Star Swirl." Not a moment after her words the stallion almost bolts from the room with his newfound smile. End of chapter 8 Chapter 9Chapter 9 – Swirl it up Since the spell ended and the grey stallion retreated back to his seat of earlier his head has been buried to his book as the quil strokes his thoughts to its blank pages. Aura has stood to one side of the room as she watches the stallion's hoof moving through it’s words, but her gaze that she has kept for so long is finally met as Star Swirl's auburn eyes move to her. "Oh...i'm sorry..." He moves his satchel to the floor next to him as he shifts his gaze to the floor, "I got a little lost in this spell...forgi-..." His words are cut off as Aura shakes her head, "No, Sir.Swirl, do not ask for forgiveness, you have done nothing wrong." The mare brings her hooves to tap to the floor beneath her as she tilts her head, "Tell me Sir.Swirl why is it that you have changed so much?" Swirl shakes his head with a slight chuckle as he stares to the mare, "I-I must say I do not understand why a beard is such a big change." She gives a slight giggle as her voice comes back, "No, that is not what I mean Sir.Swirl..." The stallion is silent as he holds his eyes to the crystal mare, but to his silence the mare continues, "Just before..." She points her hoof to the stairs as her sweet tone holds, "...Your hooves had the spring of a colt after that spell, your smile that was once so...so warming is now something you hold in, and it makes me want to know why?" Swirl's eyes lower as he stares away from her, "Aura, the land of Equestria was supposed to be a land of new...a land of change and a land of freedom." Aura is silent as Swirl's voice continues, "...But what has changed besides the dirt beneath our hooves?" The hooves that held the book to the table come up as Swirl struggles with his words, "I-its the same petty feuds that keep the land from moving on, its the same inability to bow for another ponies needs." His hoof points to the window with the lowering sun as he speaks up, "Look Aura, the sun is at whim to Unicorns that decide when the day has ended." Aura blinks to the slightly raised tone as she smiles softly, "But Swirl, there have been change...look at what King Sombra has done." Swirl nods his head as he holds his hoof to the window but his eyes to Aura, "Yes..." The tone of his voice comes back down with a sigh as he puts his hoof to his side, "Yes...But even Sombra in his understanding of what truly is needed is powerless for real change." A smile crosses Swirl's face as he looks over the mare, "Few ponies want to believe there truly is no difference to each race, and the few that do suffer for that belief." "Tell me Aura, do you know when the Crystal Heart celebration is to be held?" The mare squints to the words as she shakes her head, "Um...no, word through the kingdom is that Queen Apatite has not decided a date." Swirl nods his head, "Yes, that's true..." He sighs again as he turns fully towards her, "Queen Apatite has fallen ill." Aura blinks to the words as she listens to the stallion, "...But not with any normal sickness, the same strange magic that has made this empire join together without the friction it should have met has also started to strain Queen Apatite." "W-what do you mean ill?" The mare shakes her head with a slight laugh, "Why would King Sombra and Queen Apatite not inform the city?" The stallion nods his head as his words stem from him, "Because, they both believe like myself that everypony is equal..." He chuckles as he stops his words, "Well equal by magic of course, there are still some things unique to a pony." His eyes hold to the mare's wings with a faint smile as he trails on, "But they have waited to inform any pony because they both wished to make their ideas heard throughout the other provinces of Equestria.” A laugh comes from Swirl as he continues, “Strange their is a unicorn not wanting power, and a pegasus that has left her clouds to better the land bound ponies, however I trust their thoughts because I think the same. But yet with Queen Apatite having a weakened stance and King Sombra spread thin I feel they may not be able to give a powerful enough voice to allow the other three to give up traditions of old and move to one truly peaceful rule.” Aura brings her hoof to her mouth as she talks, "What kind of illness could do this?” Swirl pauses as he thinks, but his head comes to a shake as his low voice comes out, "I and they....do not know." He moves his gaze to stare blankly towards the wall as he gives off a slight laugh, "Now I feel I must apologize to you Aura...I have let my mind carry me from your question." "No." The mare pushes her current thoughts aside as she gives a sweet smile, "You answered my question Swirl." "I-I do not understand, I thought your question was why my views of magic have changed so much?" The stallion holds a confused stare to her smile. But she doesn't lose it as she answers. "No Sir.Swirl, I wanted to know why your warm and life loving smile has become so seldomly seen." To his lightning confusion Aura nods her head as she moves closer and puts her hoof to the book resting on the table, "Sir.Swirl, I see now why you keep your opinions to yourself so much...but you should not be kept from your goal just because of a gloomy looking cloud." Swirl's smile comes to him as he listens to the pegasus's words, his gaze sets to the journal he was writing in as his voice drops to a deep low, "My dear Aura, my deepest feelings and purest thoughts are two things I have kept from you...for fear of what you might do with them." Aura gives a little giggle to the words as she hoofs the book towards him, "I do not know why you kept your opinion of this matter locked for so long, you had nothing to fear." The stallion nods his head as he takes the book from her hoof, "Yes...I was foolish to keep my opinion on this matter hidden." As the book comes to his hooves he starts to fumble with its pages, but he doesn't get to mess with the book for long as Aura's green-blue hoof rest to it, "Star Swirl, I believe you have had your snout buried in your book for long enough." She averts her eyes from him as she continues, "I will not hold you from the castle any further, your knowledge is needed if what you have told me is true." Swirl takes his hooves from the pages as the realization to the world around him comes back to its weight on his mind, "Yes, I need to return." "Good." Aura takes her hoof from the book as she picks her posture back up a little more proper, "Now Sir.Swirl, you will be returning before you leave to retrieve Wispy...will you not?" "Um..yes yes of course." Swirl rolls his hoof to the words as the mare smiles. "Perfect, now I will be informed early of your late arrival." A faint giggle escapes her mouth as Swirl starts his reluctant trot towards the door. "I promise Aura, this day and tomorrow are not the only two days you shall see me." End of chapter 9 Chapter 10Chapter 10 – Magic of simple, not for all The inside of the crystal empire gives off its own bright blue-white glow as the sun from the world around it begins to roll into the mountains in the distance. But as the tall dark grey stallion stares out of the window to the crystal lit city beneath the windows there's no urge of setting for another day. Sombra's stare over the world is not to last long though as the sound of a hoof knocking to the front throne room door. The stallion's eyes lighten a little to the sound as he turns to the door that comes open to his magic's glow. But the slightly excited gaze that the stallion had to the knock is not brought to hold as he watches the dark blue crystal stallion coming into the room. However his voice holds its own unique deep echo, "Yes Nimby, what is it?" The stallion bows his head as he speaks up, "I did not mean to bother you King Sombra." "Nonsense, my most trusted adviser has never been a bother." Sombra holds a patient smile as the stallion begins to speak up. "The pegasus have sent their final word on your speakings today." Sombra nods his head as he moves his stance towards the empty throne, "Very well." Nimby moves aside from the throne room entrance as he nods his head. As the crystal earth pony steps aside a white pegasus wearing gold and blue armor steps into the throne room. As the stallion's voice comes to the room his hoof comes to the helmet on his head as the pony removes it and gives a slight bow, "Emperor Gust wishes fair winds for you King Sombra." The grey stallion returns the respectful nod as he listens to the stallion's words, "...But Emperor Gust has refused the offers given at this meeting until there is signs of the other two considering this proposal." Sombra's horn is silent for a moment before he gives a slight smile, "Yes..." His horn goes quiet for a moment as the stallion places the helmet back to his head, "...I wish you clear skies, but I do not have a reply at this moment." The pegasus nods his head as he turns to the door and starts to trot through the door without Nimby at his side s the crystal pony waits for Sombra's words. But the grey stallion doesn't speak up for a moment as the pegasus leaves the room, his horn stays a low glow though as he listens to the hooves becoming an echo to the room. A smile crosses Sombra's face as he looks to the crystal pony still in the room, "Tell me Nimby, for a pegasus to remove ones armor in the presence of unfamiliar ponies what does that tell?" The crystal pony squints to the comment as his voice comes to him, "I-I was unaware of the stallion's motions." Sombra nods his head as the echo come back to Nimby, "That’s because words can be forced, they can be puppetized and controlled...actions, even small ones are how we all truly speak." The stallion's horn pops to the spell as he brings his right hoof up to the crystal stallion. Nimby follows the motions for a moment before he bows his head, "And a well night for you King Som-..." The pony's voice is cut off as the sound of another unfamiliar tone cuts through it, "Well, I must say that is quite insightful King Sombra...Quite insightful indeed." The two stallions already standing in the room turn a questioning and confused eye to the words as there eyes move to lay on a old looking tan coated earth stallion with sand colored mane with a short sand colored tail and a simple brown cloak around the pony's figure. Nimby's voice comes back to the room as he moves to the stallion, "I'm sorry Sir, but court is over and no audience can be seen without-.." Again Nimby's words are brought to a halt as the stallion cocks his head to the words as he squints his yellow-orange eyes, "Oh no no no, there is no audience fit for a king...just me and my assistant." The stallion gives a slight chuckle as he sways a little, "I hardly find us entertaining either, so there really would be no need for an audience." The earth pony waves his hoof almost in a gesture telling the crystal pony to leave. The gesture sparks Sombra's horn back up as his echo comes back to the room, "You have not been permitted to seek me, and you now try my patience." "Oh no no no, I am merely looking from the door you have left open." The stallion brings his hoof to tap to his mouth as he turns his head up and around the room, "Yes...quite a nice door." Sombra's shows no amusement to the comment as his horn chimes, "Do you mock this castle sir?" "OH no! Not at all." His eyes come back to the dark grey stallion with a slight bit of astonishment, "I am surprised a conversation such as that would have been wanted behind closed doors." "You do not know of the conversations behind closed doors, nor should you ask of them." Sombra's eyes slightly tighten to the pony's unmoving stance as his voice comes back in laugh to Sombra's words. "Of course not, I am nothing but a simple earth pony..." He smiles as he holds his hoof up, "But I have heard words from you, words that have made me think, could it be true? Could King Sombra of the crystal empire truly be taking the first hoof forward to uniting Equestria? T-to finally bring the peace we have all moved here for?" Sombra nods his head but no words come from him. The old earth pony brings his front hooves up as he smiles and claps them together a little, his voice is a bit more excited as he continues his nod, "Perhaps you would like to hear from a simple earth pony...you obviously took that simple messenger's gestures as importance..." The stallion puts one of his hooves down as he hold his other leg up weakly to his excited voice, "Maybe, just maybe words could be more valuable than a gesture." Sombra holds his gaze to the old stallion as he blinks a little to the request, but the echo comes back as he looks to the empty area behind the stallion, "Tell me elder, you say you have an assistant, why does this pony not follow you?" "Oh, you know the young's desires to please the many, it spreads them thin when truly wanted." The old stallion gives a smile as he waits for a response. But the room holds the silence for a moment as Sombra looks over the stallion, but a nod of his head and a beckon of his hoof send Nimby out of the room and the old stallion in. As the doors close from the crystal pony's grasp the old stallion looks around the room a little more, "Truly a wondrous castle King Sombra." The grey stallion doesn't take the comment as his horn glows, "I have never rushed an elder but I must ask for you to stray away from words of so many and only speak your mind." A smile crosses the old stallion's face as he lifts his hoof a little to the empty throne, "Tell me King Sombra, why does your throne sit empty while you stand?" Sombra's eyes do not drift to the crystal outcropping he stands by as the low chime carries his words, "Your words elder?" "Very well, very well..." His nod from the words stops as he looks to the grey stallion with an almost emotionless stare, "I am a healer King Sombra, and I wish to help you." The chime to Sombra's horn glows goes a bit deeper as his eyes go a little wider, "There is no need for a simple healer." “Simple healer?” The old stallion wiggles his right hoof a little to the comment as he laughs, “Do you believe just because I am an earth pony that all of remedies involve dirt?” Sombra blinks to the words as his chime rings on, “No, my thoughts are not as vague as you perceive them to be, but there are no ponies in my castle that are in need of a healer.” The stallion's hoof taps to his mouth as he begins to think out loud, "Hmm...Oh yes I know." The hoof comes from his mouth as he points to Sombra, "I forgot, a mind like yours would rather speak in senseless riddles, very well. I speak these words now because a breath can be wasted before the action has been completed." A smile comes over the old pony as he nods his head, "Do you understand King Sombra?" The grey pony no longer holds the wide eyed gaze as he tightens it again with his horn's brighter green glow, "My respect for those older than me is great, but my will to hear nonsense is not...I am no longer asking but telling, you will leave now elder." A nod comes back over the stallion as he looks to the horn glowing on Sombra's head, "Well, I must say...being told something is rather hard to follow..." The stallion pinnes his gaze to Sombra with a smile as he pauses, "...When the stallion speaking does not move his lips." But before any action could come from the grey stallion the earth pony has bowed and turned towards the door. Sombra's eyes hold hard to the old stallion as his horn pops to the fading spell, the room once again goes silent as the newly formed night sky sits without the moon yet to rise as Sombra moves back to the window. End of chapter 10 Chapter 11Chapter 11 – Glowing brighter The night's air holds the warmth of the sun that has just recently retreated from the sky, but even though the world has lost its light the city of the crystal empire stays lit. The light that stems from the crystal castle that stands towering over the city lets off a calming light blueish white that almost runs over all of the city. Star Swirl knows the luminescent crystal's light is just a residual effect of the sun's heat escaping it but that doesn't stop the stallion's slightly awestruck gaze of it as his trot brings him closer. A few other ponies still occupied the streets around Swirl's trot but most of the mainly night guard ponies pay him no attention. Swirl's gaze of the large glowing crystal is lost as he goes under the standing structure, the stallion's eyes now pin to the blue stone staircase that leads up to the castle's main entrance. With a simple sigh his first hoof comes to the stairs as he starts his ascent up, but the normal trot is brought to an end as the last step meets his hoof. "Halt-..." Swirl's eyes dart to the stallion's voice as he gives a slight smile to the bright blue armored crystal pony. The stallion nods his head as his tone turns a bit lighter, "Our apologies Sir.Swirl, I had not been informed you were still out." "That's quite alright." Swirl nods his head with a slight laugh to the pony as he continues, "I was just out enjoying this fair city's uniqueness." The stallion follows the comment with a nod as his voice becomes a little less sure, "I would have thought a pony such as yourself would have seen things grander than this fair city." Swirl smiles as he starts to open the door to the castle, "There are somethings that a stallion, even myself never grow tired of." "Fair night Sir.Swirl." With a nod of the head the grey stallion leaves the crystal guard's sight as he closes the door and begins his trot through the castle. But his journey is quick as he moves himself to the throne room's entrance as his horn sparks up in a faint gold glow. Swirl pays no mind to the room as he passes into it, but his eyes quickly register the dark grey stallion that stands towards one of the windows, "King Sombra?" Swirl's voice holds a slight bit of surprise as his horn sparks up to close the door behind him. But as the door closes and Sombra's horn sparks up Swirl's tone changes to a slight chuckle as he brings his hoof up, "...I had told Queen Apatite I would find you rest, there's no need for you to be awake right now." Sombra nods his head to the comment but his eyes stay focus to his own echo as it rings in around the room, "I thank you for your worry Star Swirl, but caring for myself is something I can afford to lapse on." A slight smile holds over Swirl's face but he doesn't put his extended hoof to the ground as he shakes his head, "I admire your will my friend, but I do not believe Equestria's first steps into peace should be taken by a hoof so sleepless." Sombra's eyes slightly drift from Swirl's face as the chime speaks up, "My hoof nor any others will be leading a path such as this." Swirl's held back thoughts come to the front of his mind as he nods to the comment with a sigh, but the time to wallow in his thoughts is cut short as Sombra's eyes come back to his own with a slightly louder tone. "...But for something so grand it's expected its path would be shrouded in the fog of trouble with never simple to navigate terrain." A smile comes back to Swirl as Sombra's confidence almost becomes contagious as Sombra's sure eyes and steady face hold to Swirl. Swirl's hoof finally comes back to set on the ground from the words, but as the hoof touches the slightly colder ground the thought that brought him to the throne room comes back to a sad realization as he speaks up through a sigh. "Yes...But first matters of the Crystal Empire must be quelled first." Swirl goes silent as he watches Sombra's horn flicker a little dimmer, but he holds his deep tone as he nods to the darker grey stallion, "Go my friend, retrieve the sleep you so rightly deserve." "Nonsense, you need my help to-..." Sombra's chime is cut off as Swirl rolls his hoof and takes a step forward, "No nonsense, and you are not needed for your hidden room spell." Swirl taps his hoof to his head as he chuckles lightly, "Your sleepless nights have not made you forget I learn from watching correct?" Sombra shakes his head as the chime of his horn comes back to him, "No, but the night has started and I did not want you to strain yourself with a spell." The horn drops for a moment as Sombra turns a slight questioning eye to the grey stallion, "May I inquire as to why you have been out so long Sir.Swirl?" Swirl blinks to the comment but holds his tone as he rolls his hoof, "I was merely taking in one of the Crystal Empire's most beautiful and elegant creations." The comment doesn't register in Sombra as he answers it with a simple nod of the head, but before Sombra can speak further Swirl cuts him off, "Now, I believe you stated I would strain myself on this spell?" Swirl pokes his chest out with a slight hint of pride as he speaks, "I believe I shall be fine." At the end of the comment Swirl's horn sparks up in a bright gold that begins to shade the dim bluish white throne room to its liking. Sombra's horn loses its spell as he watches Swirl rolling through the chimes from his horn. The floor in front of Swirl that lays a few hooves from the crystal throne begins to come back revealing the darker stoned staircase hidden beneath it. The closed in room bounces the heavy magic's noise with ease but it only last a moment as the spell begins to come back down with Swirl's slightly panting breath, "I-I must say King Sombra...that spell was a little bit more complex than I first thought." A slight one ha chuckle stems from Swirl as Sombra moves towards his swaying body. Sombra's right hoof comes to Swirl's side as he stops the slight swaying of the short stallion he moved to, a happy smile comes over Sombra's face as he holds his amused eyes to Swirl's face, "Steady my friend, that spell was created with dark magic, creating it without it is something i'm surprised you could do." "Bah." Swirl rolls his hoof to Sombra's words but holds a slight laugh to his own as he continues, "Perhaps this will show you that a simpler spell would be required." Sombra shakes his head as he takes his hoof from the steadied stallion, "I'm sorry Star Swirl, but I could not risk Apatite's well being with a simple spell." A laugh comes from Star Swirl as he begins to trot to the top of the stairs, "I best believe you have left nothing to chance." Swirl takes his hoof to the first step as he holds a puzzled look to Sombra, "...Still a bit odd you would put so much extra strain to your own magic, Apatite does not even have the means to generate her own usable magic, I hardly think the magic block on the Crystal Heart is needed." Sombra cocks his head to the words as his horn comes back to a larger glow, "I beg your pardon?" "Do not play so coy with me Sombra, a spell so advanced such as the one I encountered yesterday could only have been put up with a magic not yet fully understood...such as your dark magic." Swirl cocks his eye to the dark grey stallion's tone as he stops, "Why do you act so surprised, did you really believe I could break it so easi-..." Swirl's voice is cut off as Sombra quickly races to the top of the staircase with a much louder echo that matches his widened eyes, "What block? I have never encountered a block nor have I established one." A faint laugh comes from Swirl as he turns himself around on the small step, "Now I am afraid you must forgive me my friend...For now you have caught me without an answer." Sombra's echo holds the heightened tone as it comes to Swirl, "In my own attempts I have never encountered a block, the heart just does not react." Swirl brings his eyes to the stone stairs as he begins to think aloud, "Now how can my magic be blocked but yours does nothing?" The moment of silence is plagued with Sombra's horn that sits at the ready but Swirl's eyes come back up as he rushes his voice, "I believe I may have found a way to reverse the sickness Apatite has encountered...But I need you to bring her to the heart." "But she rest Sir.Swirl?" Star Swirl's hoof waves to Sombra's words as he shakes his head, "I am sorry but you must stir her for this moment." His trot comes back to the stairs as he turns away from the dark grey stallion, his voice shouts back as it becomes a little more excited, "Make haste my friend, I believe your worries can finally be laid to rest!" End of chapter 11 Chapter 12Chapter 12 – Seeding the thoughts Star Swirl's pace that has carried him down the winding stairs that lay hidden under the crystal castle along with his own quick teleportation spell have made Sombra's slight maze nothing more than a brisk trot. The still warm air from the world around that lays around the crystal castle's highest point comes calmly to where Swirl stands on the long and wide platform of stone. But Swirl doesn't take in the world around him as he buries his snout to the book feverishly manipulating the quil to the pages as the gold light of his horn lights to his work. ...I had thought King Sombra and his Queen would take the necessary time to arrive, but no time for me has been wasted. I have once again tried my spell to the dormant and lifeless crystal heart, and like before the reaction was the same... The chime of Swirl's magic calls through the night as the pages of the book flip to his whim, his auburn eyes quickly run through the pages as he takes in his old entry. Another chime rolls around the room as the book comes back to the fresh page. Swirl's hooves and legs have not yet stopped there trot as he paces back and forth from where his bag sits and the top of the staircase, but his impatient body plays in his favor as he darts the tip of the almost dry quil back to it's inkwell. The page only lays blank for a moment as the gold chiming light runs back to the page. ...Yes, the same reaction occurred. A brief influx of magic that quickly subsides once the spell is able to be broken. Like before I have a slightly uneasy feeling but I attribute this to my own inability to halt my self. Swirl's head is brought from the book and his trot finally subsides for a moment as a loud pop of magic rolls to his ears from behind him. The stallion's eyes quickly move to the two ponies as he looks them over. Sombra still wears the dark blue cloak he has had on for the duration of the day, but Queen Apatite does not wear the same cloak to her coverless body. But the warm air and her own tired mind keep her from truly worrying about it as she brings herself to speak before Swirl or the stallion she slightly leans to can, "Sir.Swirl?" Her questioning tone holds as she slowly moves her head to the dark gray stallion beside her, "What’s this all about? I am in no way dressed for company." Swirl holds an excited expression as his voice cuts through the tired and low sounding mare, "Nonsense Queen Apatite, there is no need for dressing formal for this." The pink pegasus shakes her head as she brings her own stance to herself under Sombra's watching eyes, "For what? Why has my husband so abruptly-..." Her words come to a halt as her light purple eyes finally place the room. Her words no longer hold there slight confusion as her tone turns an almost surprised tone to the dark grey stallion beside her, "This is where you have locked it away?" Sombra nods his head as the light green magic comes to his horn, "Yes, I have placed the heart here until the problems it presents can be fully understood." Apatite blinks to the comment for a few seconds but nods her head, to the nod Sombra's eyes turn back to Swirl as his thoughts become heard to the room, "Sir.Swirl, I would like to know why you needed Apatite when she should be at rest." Swirl waves his hoof to the comment as his glowing horn snaps the book closed in his hold, the items in his hold drift towards his bag as his voice comes out, "Yes yes I am aware this is all a little odd, but I believe the answer to this problem is nothing more than something so simple we have all been overlooking it." The pink mare goes a little wide eyed to the comment as she glares to Sombra, "You've told him?" Sombra is a little taken back by her tone but he tries to combat it with his own compassion, but even though his expression speaks his mind the unchanged echo is what's understood, "I can not bear a burden like this for so long, I have come to no answers of my own and I know of no other pony with a great knowledge that can surpass Star Swirl's." To the words Apatite goes silent as she looks over the stallion's worn down face, but she does't have a chance to speak as Swirl comes closer, "My Queen, no other ponies know of your condition, and Sombra was wise to summon me here...this is no ordinary weakness nor is it any ordinary sickness." Apatite turns her head to the stallion's words as the unfazed and sure tone speaks deeply to her, "...King Sombra and yourself have been the only two ponies that know of these spikes, and I believe I know why." Swirl brings his hoof up as he points to the dormant stone still resting on its pedestal, "...The Crystal Heart contains its own form of magic, a magic unlike any known form...something that truly can alter the world it resides in." A smile quickly springs from the stallion as Sombra and Apatite hang to his long winded words, "...This power has changed the inhabitants of this land to a new form, one no longer bound to the ways of old...But at the same time it has created an idea that each race is not separated but trully one. This simple and unique stone represents harmony, and that same power that created harmony has also begun to take its toll on you." Sombra's echo comes up over Swirl's as he speaks, "I have believed the stone was the blame for this, no power so great can be tapped without a great cos-..." "No no no..." Swirl waves his hoof to the words with a laugh, this strange power can not take? This is nothing more than a simple enchanted item that a powerful unicorn must have created." Sombra squints a little suprised to the comment as his words chime to the stallion, "But Star Swirl? You believe just like myself magic is not so onesided?" "Correct!" Swirl's excited tone finally burst as he takes a step back, "I do not! And this is why the stone's magic has created this problem!" He quickly takes a step forward as he holds his hoof out to the pink mare, "You Queen Apatite not only were struck by the stone's surge of unused magic, but you also controlled it yourself!!" The tired mare shakes her head as she stands in with her confused stare, "I-I do not understand Sir.Swirl?" Swirl nods his head happily, "Thats good!" His voice starts to calm down a little as he continues, "Queen Apatite you do not understand because magic is not properly taught to a pegasus. Yes you were struck by the magic, but you created your own sickness." Both Sombra and Apatite stare unable to follow the stallion's words, Swirl turns his gaze to Sombra as he wiggles his extended hoof, "My friend, you know as well as any unicorn that when a spell is not properly performed the user is harmed and slightly left drained." To the words the darker gray stallion's ears perk up as he begins to follow, "Yes, but that does not explain why Apatite would feel its affects even before the last spike." Swirl puts his hoof to the ground as he nods, "Precisely why this stone has acted in the ways it has!" His voice trails on as he turns back to the pink mare, "You where the first pony to find the Crystal heart, a pegasus...NOT a unicorn, a pegasus. Proving that all ponies have their own forms of magic explaining why talents are so dependent on that particular pony." The stallion's voice calms down to its wise old tone as he takes a breath, "Because you found the crystal and you sought to use its powers the stone reacts to you...The magic that has come from it is nothing more than your own spells, you are weak because you have yet to complete the spell you created when the first Crystal celebration was held." The word sparks Apatite's eyes to snap back to the stone as her stare goes a little distant, but Sombra nor Star Swirl notice it as the dark gray stallion feels a smile run across his face, "Sir.Swirl...that would be correct...A spell not properly performed drains a unicorn, it's possible the stone has just continued to ricochet the uncompleted spell." Swirl nods as he comes to Queen Apatite's side, "Precisely why you need to complete your spell my Queen." Queen Apatite snaps from her fixed gaze as she blinks to the stallion leading her, "B-But how do I know I am doing the right spell?" "Magic is thoughts and emotion...all you must do is believe it and it will be done." Swirl gives a wise smile as he backs away from the pegasus. As Queen Apatite moves her gaze to the crystal she has been lead closer to a low blueish glow starts to spark up from the center of the stone. Sombra holds a slight bit of worry to the glow as he shifts his eyes between the pink mare and the stone...but his stance remains next to Swirl as he looks over his friend's confident stare. Queen Apatite's eyes go half closed as she turns her whole body to face the stone, the chime of the magic runs a little louder as the glow begins to take over the color in the room. But the hypnotizing low chime doesn't last long as a loud cracking magic sound burst to Sombra and Swirl's unprepared ears. A blinding light comes from the sight and they turn away with there eyes held tight as the loud screaming chimes of magic run through the room. However just as suddenly as the magic started up the room goes to a steady low quite as Sombra quickly darts his eyes back to the mare now facing toward him and Star Swirl. Queen Apatite's eyes glow a bright white and a sweet smile comes over her face as her undefined eyes stare to the two stallion's, a voice comes from her mouth as it opens. But the sweet or tired sound the two stallion's expected does not ring out as a very ominous feminine echo rolls from it, "Thank you my love..." Another high pitched chime runs from the stone for a moment as the two stallions grind their teeth a little, but the sound again comes to an abrupt halt as Queen Apatite falls to her side not moving. Sombra's heart stops in the brief moment as the pink mare hits the ground hard without a flinch, but his shock doesn't last long as he rushes to her side. The spell to his horn pops to his building emotions that he can't just scream out as he blinks hard to the mare. "I-I do not understand..." Swirl is motionless as he stares to the two ponies, his vast knowledge does little to the situation as he continues to shake his head unable to bring an answer, "Perhaps we-..." His voice is cut off as Sombra's horn sparks up in a bright green as his and Queen Apatite's figures disappear in a loud resonating pop. Swirl's body shakes as he darts to his journal, "N-no there must be something! I-I must have missed something is all...S-she must just be recovering from the spell...yes recovering!" His words go unanswered as he looks back to the vacant room only he resides in. End of chapter 12 Chapter 14Chapter 14 – Trust The sound of a hoof knocking hard against the door rings around the room as the world behind the door begins to stir to movement. But as the door comes open the tired crystal mare squints to the distraught stallion at the doorstep S-Sir.Swirl?" Star Swirls breath has calmed down but his journey through the night with nothing but his thoughts has only made his mind pound hard to him. The weight of the world has seemingly decided to bear down on this single pony, or at least this is how his mind has perceived it, his eyes show this thought as he looks over the mare, "I have killed them Aura...And I have failed them as well." The pegasus mare's eyes go wide to the comment as she quickly springs from her still slightly sleepy stare, "Bite your tongue!" Her hoove quickly pulls the stallion into her house as she closes the door fast. Star Swirl stands motionless from where the mare pulled him as he holds his eyes to her with his broken voice, "...I do not know what to do..." The mare brings her hoof to the stallion's side as she holds her concern to him, "What has gotten into Sir.Swirl? What nonsense are you speaking?" Swirl doesn't fight her lead as she brings him to rest on the couch, Aura's tone stays low as she takes her seat beside Swirl and begins to move her hooves to his head, "Are you sick Sir.Swirl?" He pushes her hooves from his head as he stares to her face, "Yes, sick with guilt, sick with more pain than any normal pony should have to bare." Aura shakes her head as she listens to his low serious voice, "What's happened Sir.Swirl?" Swirl's voice shakes a little as he puts his hooves to hers, "Queen Apatite is dead, and I am at fault." The mare takes her hooves from his grasp as she points to his face as her voice raises a little, "Sir.Swirl I do not know what has come over you but you must calm yourself, I know you too well to believe such-...such horrible words." "But it's true Aura, I have failed King Sombra and now the Queen of the crystal empire has suffered for it." The stallion's voice trembles a little as he continues, "Failure, I have always believed failure is just one small step to success...But I have learned nothing from this! And I see no reason why they have been made to suffer for my failure." Aura blinks to Swirl's slightly raised voice but she doesn't speak over his as she moves her hooves back to his neck as she rubs softly, "Sir.Swirl...What happened?" Swirl swallows hard as he again takes her hooves from him, "I believed the Crystal Heart was the cause for her sickness...I have no doubt that I was correct, but no cure was found for seeking it out." The mare still held in his grasp doesn't move as she holds her gaze to his words that have no sign of ending, "...And because of my actions and the trust I have so foolishly misused they have paid the price for it...not me." The stallion's voice comes down a little as he shakes his head, "I have wanted peace like them for so long, even before this new land...and now I alone have just plunged this land's greatest hope for peace into an abyss." Aura shakes her head to the words as she tightens her hold of the stallion, "No, you tried your best...I know you too well for you to lie Sir.Swirl, you only allowed it to happen because you were following your own selfless goals." To the words Swirl nods, "You are right...I allowed it to happen...I alone." His voice shakes as he turns from the mare, "...I have ruined a great friend and a greater ruler's life Aura...And I must face my fate for it." The mare puts her hoof to Swirl's head as she turns him back to her, but no words come from her as she presses her lips to his. The shock of the abrupt kiss sends Swirl's eyes into a wide stare as he goes silent to the mare as she breaks it. Her hooves hold to his as she talks in a low voice, "Sir.Swirl...Everytime you leave I have missed you, promise me you will not beg for a punishment you do not rightly deserve?" Swirl is silent as he looks over the mare that has a tight hold over him, "...Aura, tomorrow is something I have excepted." He takes his hooves from her as he looks her over, "...But if I stay here tonight it would be the worst lapse of judgment for-..." His words are cut off again as Aura presses her lips to his once more, but Swirl doesn't fight her touch as he moves his hooves to hold the crystal mare. Sombra moves his gaze from the large glowing orb in Discord's claws as the dark gray stallion stares blankly to the ground. The glowing orb that holds Swirl and Aura's scene is lost as Discord snaps two fingers on his other hand, but Discord's bright eyed gaze stays to Sombras as his voice comes back almost hypnotic, "You see King Sombra, I will not rest until your Queen is healthy again, and I will never lie to you about my actions." The dark grey stallion still holds his gaze to the floor as he struggles to believe the scene he saw, but his horn stays dormant as Discord's voice comes back to the room, "Do you trust me my King?" With a slight hesitation Sombra turns his head back to Discord as he nods. A smile crosses Discord's face as he speaks up, "Perfect, then tomorrow when the sun has become high in the sky I shall come back for the heart you have retrieved for me." Sombra's horn sparks up as it ring to the creature in front of him, "Tomorrow's sun is still too far off, I shall retrieve it now." "Oh no no no." Discord presses his paw to Sombra's chest as he holds a faked concern, "My King, the heart's magic is still to active, you would meet the same fate as your Queen...Tomorrow I shall arrive." With another hesitation Sombra's horn chimes out again, "I can not pass the heart over in such a manner, the heart is unity in our land I do not wish to cause unrest for subjects." Discord smiles as he cocks his head, "Do you know the beauty of dark magic King Sombra?" The stallion blinks his eyes to the comment as Discord's clawed hand begins to glow, "...The beauty is that it consumes you-..." At the last word Discord's hand rushes towards Sombra as a bolt of bright orange magic sends the stallion flying to the other side of the room until he hits the wall and comes to rest on the floor knocked out. Discord lets out a slight laugh as he looks over the stallion, "Sleep well my king, for tomorrow your new empire comes to rise." End of chapter 14 Chapter 15Chapter 15 – King of them The morning sun has started to rise over the crystal city, but for the room Star Swirl resides in it seems likes its already midday as the light slightly becomes amplified through the crystal building. Swirl's mind like his eyes did not truly take a rest from last night, however hundreds of nights of late spells or long journal entries has allowed the stallion the ability to stay awake without adequate sleep. But right now this ability is being used for something that means a little more than completing a spell as Swirl holds his gaze to the sleeping pegasus that lays beside him. The stallion's mind is still stuck in a thick fear with what today will bring, but in this moment the rising sun is not breaking him to rise at least for this moment. But the moment is quickly over as a mind starting and body moving sound comes through the house. Aura's eye blink open as the bed shifts to Star Swirl's movements, her voice is low and still holds a morning tone but her words come clear as she watches the stallion moving towards the closed balcony doors, "Was that a scream Sir.Swirl?" Swirl's motions make quick work of the closed balconies door as he holds his gaze to the sound of the scream, his eyes first dart towards the center of the stone crystal street where a group of pegasus have formed. But his eyes move to where they're facing as he looks over the new scene with a building dismay. The once bright crystal castle that stands above the city's skyline has turned a dark almost reddish black color that is starting to trickle down the sides of the castle, and above the tip of the crystal point a dark thickness of clouds have started to form. Aura has moved her self from the bed as she holds a wide eyed gaze to the changing crystal that shows no sign of stopping, "W-what's happening Star Swirl?" The stallion is silent for a moment as he holds his eyes to the world, but he quickly turns back to Aura as his horn sparks up in a bright gold glow that brings the outside word to close behind the doors, "Aura you must promise me you will not leave your home." The mare doesn't answer as she blinks too confused to understand, to her silence Swirl repeats himself, "Aura, you must promise me you will not leave do you understand?" Aura shakes her head as she looks over the stallion's stern face, "Where are you going?" Swirl's expression doesn't change as he shakes his head, "Aura, I have to go...But I promise you will see me again." "NO, no." Aura quickly puts her hoof to the stallion's chest as she speaks up, "Swirl, do not go!" Swirl gives a faint smile as he moves from her grasp, his trot doesn't slow as he moves towards the door of the room, "Do not follow me Aura." His quick pace brings him to the threshold as he stops and stares to the ground, but the gaze moves back to the mare as he looks to her confused and slightly scared expression, "Aura...I shall return." (Inside the Crystal Castle) "...How dare you deny me entry, I am the Princess of the Unicorn empire, this is outrageous!" The white mare holds her gaze to the crystal earth pony as he stands in front of the throne room's doors. The inside of the crystal castle has begun to take on the same dark reddish color as outside but the process has been slower as a few of the dark crystals begin to poke through the walls of the castle around the three ponies standing in the hallway. "I-I'm sorry your majesty, but the doors have been sealed from the insi-..." Nimby's words are cut off as the taller guard stallion beside Princess Platinum speaks up, "King Sombra must be aware of this situation, why would he seal off the throne room?" Nimby shakes his head as he stammers for an answer, "K-King Sombra may not even be in the throne room." "GENERAL STOMPING!" The three ponies turn there heads to the out of breath white stallion as he rounds the corner of the castle with another shout, "General Stomping! Queen Apatite is dead!" "What?! Are you sure?" General Stomping turns a questioning eye to the struggling stallion as he catches his breath, "Sargent Stone Hooves are you sure?!" "YES, the bed chamber was locked but the Queen's advisers new a spell to break it, and that's when we saw her." Princess Platinum is the first to react as she turns back to the gasped and wide eyed crystal stallion, "King Sombra is unaccounted for and your Queen lays dead, we must believe an intruder has captured King Sombra and has forced him to give up the location of the Crystal Heart, remove yourself from the doors!" Nimby is silent as he blinks to her request, but his voice is not the next to come to the room as General Stomping brings his hoof up to Princess Platinum, "Your majesty, perhaps it is best if we get you to safety, Chancellor Pudding Cup has already left and we do not know the situation-.." Platinum straightens her stance as she turns her gaze to the stallion's, "This is still a Unicorn province, and I being the Unicorn ruler will not have an item of power fall into the wrong hooves." Her green eyes come back to Nimby as she bears down to him, "Now remove yourself from this door at once." Nimby moves from the door as General Stomping readies himself, "This spell is a room lock spell, please move back Princess." General Stompings horn sparks up in a bright purple as he lowers his head to the closed doors, but the chime of his magic is fast as he sends his spell to it quickly. The doors of the throne room flings open to the bolt as Princess Platinum quickly moves herself inside, but as General Stomping follows after her he is sent back from the throne room with a bolt of orange magic. As the bolt rings past Platinum's head she freezes in the room as the doors slammed closed behind her. Her body trembles a little as she looks to the strange creature sitting in the crystal throne, but her mind's confusion to the creature and the open floor with a dark staircase protruding from it only stop her for a moment as her horn sparks up in a bright pink glow. But despite her attempt her voice still holds a bit of fear as it shakes, "I-I am the Princess of the Unicorn empire a-and you have just-..." Discord cocks his head to the words as he squints to the white mare, "Princess of the Unicorn empire?" He stands from the throne as he bows to her. To the gesture Platinum goes silent with confusion, but to her lapse of words Discord brings his head up as he smiles, "Tell me Princess, what happens to you if King Sombra's plan for peace takes effect? Will you still be able to address yourself as the ruler of the Unicorns?" The sly smile holds across Discord's face as he stares to the shifty mare. End of chapter 15 Chapter 16Chapter 16 – For the better of Equestria The room outside of the throne room's door is nothing less than pure panic as Sergeant Stone Hooves shouts to the magical locked doors, "Princess Platinum!? Princess Pla-..." The stallion's voice is cut off as a pop of magic rings from behind him. His eyes turn to a grey stallion with a small white beard as he springs towards him, "Mage Star Swirl, Princess Platinum has been taken!" The stallion's eyes move from General Stomping who still lays on the ground with a slight groan as he turns his eyes to the closed door. Without hesitation his horn glows a bright gold as the door comes flying open again, as they do Sargent Stone Hooves moves next to the white mare as he speaks, "Are you ok your majesty?!" Swirl looks around the empty room for a moment as General Stomping starts to stir to his hooves, but he listens to Platinum's voice as she speaks up calmly, "Yes, the spell must have relapsed and sent the doors to close again." General Stomping groans a little as he rest against the door' threshold, "That would have explained the push back spell that struck me." The stallion's voice doesn't stop as he holds his hoof towards the mare, "Sargent Stone Hooves, escort the Princess to a-..." Platinum's voice comes back over the stallion's as she steps away from Stone Hooves, "No, I will not leave until the Crystal Heart has be secured." To the words Swirl quickly gallops over towards the top of the open dark staircase, his voice is deep and brings a silence over the room as he stops to the first stair, "My Princess, you need to leave this castle..." Platinum blinks to his stern voice and serious face as she watches Star Swirl quickly moving from her sight and down the stairs. The white mare's trot finally comes back to her as she turns to the two stallion behind her, "We shall wait for Mage Star Swirl." Her tone is strong as she plants her hooves firmly to the ground. Beneath the castle a slight rumble shakes the small stone steps from Swirl's hooves but the stallion keeps his balance as his quick and focused gallop makes quick work of the long winding staircase. Swirl's horn continues to glow brighter as each turn around the stairway brings him further and further from the throne room's entrance. Swirl's descent of the stairs starts to come to its end as his horn brightens the room to it's liking, but as he nears the last few rounds of the staircase his eyes set to the closed wooden door. His hooves come to the ground as he pants hard, but the gaze stays to the door as his eye begin to drift to the dark green glowing crystal above it. The glow of the crystal is not very bright but against the dark shine of the stone that layers the room around Swirl he can tell. His voice comes back as he struggles to control his breathing from the exhausting stairs, "Y-you've created a new spell Sombra?" To the words he takes a deep sigh as he moves in front of the door, "Very well Sombra...Dark magic has created your spell..." Swirl tightens his stance as his horn's gold glow starts to chime hard, but the chime changes to an almost bubbling sound as a dark green black glow comes over his horn. He struggles to hold the spell as he lowers his head, the rush of the magic burst to the wooden door as Swirl lets the spell free from his horn with a groan. But as he catches his breath the door opens revealing the lighter stoned room, Swirl waste no time as he quickly gallops through the door's threshold. As he passes through it the door slams shut and a low chime comes over it as Swirl turns his head back to it. The stare of the closed wooden door only last for a moment as he turns back to the new winding staircase in front of him, but his hooves don't move as he sparks his horn up in a bright gold. The teleportation spell ends quick as the tired out stallion slightly falls to his front legs. "You should rest Sir.Swirl, this whole chamber was supposed to deter or weaken physically and mentally." Sombra's echo comes to Swirl's ears hard as the deep and ominous sounding tone runs almost like a whisper, the lost gaze of the stallion is quickly lost as he brings his eyes up with his stance. Only the dark gray stallion is not the pony his eyes meet as he looks over a dark black figure with moonless night mane and tail wearing sleek black battler regiment king armour fitted to a red and white cape like cloak. But the part of Sombra's body that strikes Swirl off guard are his eyes, Sombra's once calm and wise looking eyes have changed to bright green and red glow with a small wisp of fluorescent purple coming from them. Swirl's voice goes low as his guilt from last night crashes back down onto his mind, "Sombra..." His voice is cut from his own ears as the dark stallion's echo chimes from his large reddish black horn, "Spare me your words Sir.Swirl...there is much work to be done." At the end of the chime Sombra turns back to face the Crystal Heart as it still sits unmoved from its pedestal. But Swirl's voice doesn't stop as he moves his trot towards Sombra, "My friend please dark magic has-..." His voice is cut off as a dark green bubble of magic forms over Sombra's figure and knocking the smaller stallion back. "Sir.Swirl I have spoken and now you will be silent!" The purple wisp from Sombra's eyes glows bright as he turns towards the stallion that pushes himself back to his hooves. Swirl's heart pounds hard as he shakes his head, "My friend please, I can help-..." "NO Sir.Swirl, I do not require your help this day...and I suggest you leave my sight before my remaining respect for you runs thin." Sombra's horn sparks up in a dark bubble green as he stares unfazed to the stallion. Swirl's stance has come back to him but nothing in his mind tells him to turn away as he takes a step forward with a louder tone, "What do you intend to do my friend, the Heart will do the same to you." Sombra shakes his head as his horn chimes out, "Then so be it, I will destroy this a cursed item and I shall save Apatite even if I am destroyed in the process." To the words Swirl's eyes loosen as he almost pleads to the words, "King Sombra, destroying the Crystal Heart would ruin the empire...n-not just emotionally but physically, whatever magic the Heart possesses has altered this land and its inhabitants...D-destroying it could kill any pony who has been affected by the Heart!" Sombra's face shows no change as he looks over Swirl, "So be it...A power such as this is nothing but trouble." Swirl shakes his head as he cries out again, "MY friend, do not punish the many when I am to blame! Punish me!" Theres a moment of silence as King Sombra stares to the emotionally panting stallion, "Do you believe me so petty? Do you truly believe I blame you when all you have done for me is aid me in my time of need?!" Sombra's tone raises as he strained his stance, "NO Sir.Swirl, I do not blame you nor do I blame you for seeking the comfort of a mare." Swirl's ear flicks to the words as Sombra's expression turns to a smile, but Swirl's voice doesn't come up as Sombra's horn sparks loud, "Yes Sir.Swirl, I know of your abandonment yesterday, but I don not hold you at fault for your own deserved guilt." "...My friend...if you know of her than you know I will not let you destroy the Heart." Swirl takes up an offensive stance with his horn sparking up in a bright gold. Sombra holds his smile as he looks over the smaller stallion, the whisper of his chime comes to Swirl's ears as it chimes, "Tell me Sir.Swirl, if dark magic is generated from fear and hate...How can a stallion standing only a hoof away from his fear possibly lose?" Swirl doesn't answer as he holds his stare to Sombra. "So be it Sir.Swirl." At the end of Sombra's words a dark jagged bolt of magic is sent towards Swirl, but the bolt doesn't stick its target as a veil of gold comes in front of Swirl stopping the bolt. The vail quickly falls as a bolt of magic is sent back towards Sombra, the bolt sticks the slightly confused stallion as he lets out a pained groan, but the groan turns to a wheezing laugh as his horn sparks up once more. The dark clouds that formed above the crystal castle start to swirl fast as they descend into the area around the Crystal Heart. With the new clouds covering the area the room goes dark as the only light comes from Swirl's horn. "Tell me Sir.Swirl, Unicorns do not use weather spells because of how hard and strenuous they are to the uses...how am I so easily do this?" Sombra's echo is unaffected by the swirling of dark clouds as he disappears from Swirl's sight as he swings his eyes around the sightless area, "You can not make me fear you Sombra, I know you to wel-..AH!" Swirl's side is struck with a fast spell as he staggers to the slightly weak spell. But his moment of recovering is quickly lost as he sees a dim green bolt coming closer towards him, Swirl's horn sparks up as a gold bolt of his own meets to Sombra's and forces it in a different direction, "Y-your powers are weak now Sombra, you can not-..." Swirl's voice is lost as he barely misses another screaming shot of magic, "You should save your breath." The quick succession of magic continues as a ever jagged bolt starts to come around Swirl from seemingly every direction. "AH!!" Swirl's ability to block the magic is starting to fail as he quickly encases himself in a bubble of gold magic, but his horn flickers every time a screaming and ear pounding jolt of magic starts to pound around his small safe enclosure. The pound of the magic sounds like heavy rain as it's steady stream hammers Star Swirl to his knees as he struggles to hold the spell to his horn, but as it flickers again a bolt strike against him, "AHH!" The burn of the magic causes his focus to shift as he drops the spell for a moment. But all thats needed is the moment, for as the spell drops the quick succession small bolts of magic begin to slam hard into the stallion's fur leaving pained burned marks that now begin to litter his body. The barrage last only mere minutes as the dark clouds begin to clear in the middle where the Crystal Heart still sits, "You should have known better Star Swirl." Swirl lays to the ground with hard breaths as he struggles to hold his eyes to the dark stallion that stands over him. Sombra's expression shows no satisfaction to the downed stallion as he turns back towards the Crystal Heart, his horn holds a faint green glow but the echo comes to Swirl's ears perfectly as Sombra stares to the Heart. "I have been waiting since I came to this chamber for the will to do what I am about to do...But now I have nothing holding me back." A smile crosses his face as he reaches his hoof towards the Heart, but as his dark hoof touches the stone a loud scream of chiming magic rolls from it as it glows a bright light blue. Sombra takes his hoof from it as he shields his eyes from the light, but Star Swirl from his spot on the ground does not need to as he watches a bright line of magic shooting up through the clouds its parted. The scene that comes to his mind is almost unreal as he watches two bright glowing figures descending from the what looks like the sky itself. Swirl struggles to push himself up as he stares to a bright orangey-sun gold glowing pony like figure next to a dark blue star night colored pony like figure. But his gaze comes obsolete as a god like echo comes from the gold glowing figure as it hovers above the Crystal Heart's platform, "King Sombra, we are the keepers of Equestria and the overseers of the land, and your actions on this day have stirred our hoof on this day!" Sombra squints to the two figure's glowing eyes as he remains speechless. Swirl watches the two hoovering figure's glowing brighter as a faint chime of magic rolls through the area around him. But the low chime quickly becomes a boom as two streams of light run to Sombra's body. A yell comes from the dark stallion but it's not of his own voice as the echo of his horn yells out in nothing but a broken spell. Swirl closes his eyes to the light as he moves his hoof to cover his eyes, the cut world last long as he focuses only on the sound of his breathing. But as the world goes silent he hears a faint flapping of what sounds like pegasus wings as he begins to open his eyes. The world the was clouded has now become bright with the light of the sun as he stares to a tall white mare with flowing almost rainbow like mane. Swirl's voice doesn't come through as the mare's sweet face stares to his, his sight of the mare is cut for a moment though as the sound of a teleportation spell comes to his ears. The spell ends quick as Star Swirl finds himself set to his hooves, but the weight of his pains comes back to him as he slopes a little to one side. The strange white mare's spell has brought Swirl back to the throne room as he looks around the the familiar faces of the ponies around him, only their eyes are not wide to his injury but to the two mare that stand before Swirl. "Hello, Princess Platinum." The god like voice that Swirl heard earlier has seemingly disappeared as the taller white mare bows her head to the small crowned mare. "Y-you know who I am?" Platinum holds a slight bit of confusion to the strange mare as she looks over the unicorn with large pegasus like wings folded to her back, a nod of the head comes from the tall mare as the voice stems from her, "Yes, I am Celestia and this is Luna." The attention goes to the stern faced dark mare as Celestia's voice continues, bring the slightly awestruck pony's eyes back to the tall white mare, "...We have resided in this land that you have called Equestria for many years, and we have watched over every pony that has begun to settle in." Celestia's sweet voice is strong as she maintains the eyes of every pony around her, "We have always sought not to interfere, but King Sombra's turn and intentions were not completely of his own." The tall white mare bows her head again with the dark mare following her lead as her voice continues on, "...Our stay in this land shall not be long, we seek the cause for this unrest and offer aid in anyway we can for the great good of Equestria while we search..." Her bow ends as she turns a sharp eye to the smaller white mare, "...We intend to ensure no one pony presides of this land by force or means of deception that would harm the other three." Celestia's tone loses a bit of sweetness as she finishes, "...We have not come to aid any one side..." Princess Platinum bows her head as she looks over the taller mare with a slightly shaky voice, "A-as the ruler of the Unicorns I happily welcome you to Equestria." To the words the darker mare speaks up as her own low sweet voice comes to the room, "We would wish to meet the other two as to not cause distress to the land." Swirl still leans to one side as he watches Platinum bowing her head again, the white mare's strange submissive attitude goes unnoticed from Star Swirl as he begins to move towards the door. But his movement is stopped as Platinum's voice comes directed to him, "Mage Star Swirl?" To her voice one of the few guard ponies quickly moves to assess him, but he pushes from the stallion as he talks, "I am fine." Celestia and Luna move to the side for a moment as Platinum moves a little closer, "What has become of the Crystal Heart?" Swirl speaks up as he shifts his gaze between the two larger ponies and Princess Platinum, "T-The Crystal Heart is safe and needs to remain in the castle." The words shift Platinum's posture back up to a regular stance as she turns to General Stomping, "We must return to the Unicorn capital we must-..." Swirl moves from the conversation as he leaves the room not wanting to talk of a new rule or returning to the Unicorn capital...instead his mind only sets to one goal as he stammers towards the door of the castle trying his best to avoid any eye contact from the familiar crystal ponies he passes. End of chapter 16 Chapter 17Chapter 17 – Simple The sun of the day has come over the Crystal Empire as Star Swirl quickly makes his way through the empty city streets. There emptiness most likely is caused from the still dissipating dark clouds that now look to almost be surrounding the city's sky and from the castle that has yet to fully return to its normal color. But the empty streets have made Swirl's pained journey a little easier as he nears the house his mind has rested to. Swirl’s body is beaten and his legs buckle with every moment they are made to stand, and even though his mind has not fully processed everything he has done or seen a very real thought has stuck to it as he knocks to the door. To the noise the door waste only a fraction of a second as it opens to the pegasus mare that quickly grasp to the grey stallion as she moves aside, "STAR SWIRL?!" Swirl moves himself into the house with a little help from Aura as he speaks, "I am fine Aura i'm fine." Her voice is rushed as she tries to speak over his, "What's happened Sir.Swirl?! The castle has become a sickly color and the clouds above the city stir with no pegasus controlling them?" Swirl sways his hoof lightly as he speaks, "Aura listen to me..." He brings his hoof to rest on her sporatic chest as he sighs hard, "King Sombra and Queen Apatite are dead..." Aura's eyes stay wide as she hangs to the deep voiced stallion's words, "...You need to come with me, you need to leave this city now. Princess Platinum and I will be departing from the castle soon and you must come with me." "W-what? I-I can not just leave?" Aura blinks confused to his words as Swirl shakes his head, "Aura, please...This city without Sombra is now part of the Unicorn province and will be given a new ruler by Princess Platinum, you need to come with me until the city has settled." Aura is silent for a moment before she nods her head, "Ok Sir.Swirl..." The grey stallion moves his hoof from the mare as she trots from him, but she doesn't continue her path as she moves back to Swirl, "Y-you need to rest." Swirl doesn't fight her lead as he moves to the seat of the couch as Aura's slightly forced light tone comes over her, "You know I will be awhile." A slight smile comes over her as Swirl looks it over. He knows that what he’s asking is hard but at the same time he can't think of anything else. Swirl returns the smile as he gives a slight laugh, "I-I will not forget to get Wispy either." A faint laugh comes from both of them as Aura slowly moves her trot back towards the staircase, Swirl's body still trembles from all the magic he has encountered so soon but he rest his head with a slight sigh as he stairs to the crystal ceiling above his seat. Star Swirls head now rest tiredly to the wood of the rocking carriage as the journey through the cities streets starts to near its end. His mind rest a bit calmer as the rock of the wheels begins to get a little more prominent to the lacking road they roll over. But his mind stays alert through his closed eyes as he listens to the crystal mare beside him, "...What will happen while no ruler is in power?" Platinum's normal regular voice holds as she answers the question, "With no ruler or rulers in power the next in line will come to power, which because King Sombra did not have an air means the power falls to the highest adviser until a new ruler is placed." Aura nods to the comment as Platinum continues to speak, "The advisers should be able to hold the city until the introduction of Celestia and Luna can be properly-..." "Princess Platinum! Princess Platinum!" The carriage comes to an abrupt halt as the stallion's voice from outside stirs Swirl to being awake, the door of the carriage comes open as sergeant Stone Hooves speaks up, "Something has happened over the Crystal City!" Star Swirl is the first to move from the carriage as he looks to the crystal buildings that have become a fair distance from where he stands, above the city the dark clouds that Swirl had thought were dissipating have collected and are beginning to swirl around a little. Platinum and Aura come next to Swirl as the white mare speaks up with a slight gasp, "Is it the pegasus?" To the words Aura takes a few hoofs forward as she squints to the sky, "N-no we pegasus never fly in that direction with storm clo-..." Aura's voice becomes cut from everyponies ears as a loud thunderous crack comes from the the direction of the Crystal city. Swirl like everypony around him stares to the distinct but still large standing castle as a very bright greenish light starts to shine from the tip of the crystal poking from the top of the castle. But Swirl's tired mind keeps him from speaking up as he blinks to it confused, a cold gust of wind slightly knocks into him like everypony else as he looks up to the sky. As his head goes up his eyes meet the same clouds that cover the city, but before even the slightest whisper could come from him another loud crack of magic is heard from the distance. The sound is followed by another much powerful gust of cold air as the dirt around them is kicked up. However the wind was not stirred normally as he stares wide eyed to the almost dome of green magic that has seemingly poofed in front of him. Princess Platinum and the other ponies around him back away as they all gasp to the bubble...but Swirl can not bring himself to move as he looks to the crystal pegasus mare that had taken only one extra step past him. Aura now resides behind the dome as she looks back to Swirl through the green shimmer with a forced smile. Swirl is unable to talk as he holds his unblinking eyes to the mare, his heart pounds hard as he watches her lips and mouth moving, but the only sound he hears is from the magical wall that has sprung up between them. Aura finally notices that her words have not come to the stallion, her mouth closes as she moves closer to the dome's wall as she puts her hoof to it. Swirl takes the one step needed as he places his hoof over where hers lays, he can't feel her hoof and a low chime of magic rings from where his hoof rest on the magic. All the gray stallion can do is hold his eyes to the mare for the moment...but his gaze is that, only a moment as the sound almost like a wave receding back into the ocean comes over the world around him. In a blink of an eye the dome, Aura and every last sign of the Crystal Empire has disappeared...leaving nothing but a barren wasteland of empty fields. The chatter from behind Swirl sparks up in a high pitched tone with Platinum ruling over it as there voice calls out, "What happened! Where has the city gone!!??" No answer comes from Star Swirl as he turns his defeated and straight face back towards the carriage, the chatter of the ponies around him goes blank to his ears as he moves back to the carriage completely silent without a tear to his unblinking eyes. But as he sets himself to his seat the world around him spins as he moves his head to his hooves that cover his eyes as he shakes to his building emotions. End of chapter 17 EpilogueEpilogue Chapter 18 – Epilogue It's been three days since Star Swirl's journey from the Crystal Empire started, and during the time since Aura left the carriage with him the grey stallion has said not a single word. But the three day journey has not come to its end for him as he slowly trots to the still newly built mage tower of the new Unicorn capital. Swirl's bag hangs close to him as he moves his hoof into it making sure to be careful of its contents, but his hoof returns with a key ring as he moves one of the keys to the door. With a click of the lock he moves inside as he blankly stares to the room he has trotted into. "Master Swirl!" The stallion doesn't turn his head to the familiar feminine voice as the purple mare trots from the staircase on Swirl's right side, her happy tone is unchanged by his silence as she nears the stallion, "...I trust that your visit to the Crystal Empire was fair?" Swirl doesn't answer the mare as he moves his hooves to his bag again as he struggles to bring something from it. The purple mare squints to the older stallion's silence as she continues to speak, "...I have kept your tower in the same way you left it Master." Again no answer comes from Swirl as his hooves finally return from his bag with the crystal lizard in its hold. The mare watches a little confused to the animal as Swirl carefully lowers it to the ground, but as the lizard's feet hit the floor it quickly moves from Swirl's grasp as it starts to bob its head around the new and strange room. Swirl turns to the purple mare as he nods, he clears his throat as he looks over the purple mare, "...Thank you Clover...Now you had best be on your way." Swirl's deep voice hits his own ears a little strange as he listens to it, but he closes his mouth again as he starts to trot past the purple mare. Clover holds a bit of confusion to the stallion as she watches him, "But Master Swirl, you had told me I would be administered a test on your return." Swirl stops his trot as he turns back to the mare with a straight face, "Very well Clover..." He clears his throat again as he speaks, "...Your test is to enjoy yourself, to enjoy what you can while you can." At the end of his words his trot comes back to him as he moves further up the stairs. Clover nods her head as she squint to the words, "Y-yes Master." The purple mare hesitates for a moment as she moves towards the door. Swirl stays at the top of the staircase for a moment just looking to his study as he waits for the sound of the door. As it shuts he closes his eyes as he takes in a deep breath...But his eyes come back open as he floats his bag to a cleared part of the table, he moves to a seat as the journal comes to set in front of him. To the new blank page his horn sparks back up as he moves a quill and inkwell to him. It's been three days since I have changed completely, there are no words for me to speak to convey my thoughts. This journal is so many things to me, it is my planning, my work, my studies, and now it is you. Because now I no longer write for myself just as I no longer live for myself, Queen Cadence Apatite and King Sombra are two tragedies Equestria will never get over. But you, you are what has changed my world, whether it be my own fault or my own guilt but I alone have been left here... Swirl holds his eyes closed for a moment as he pauses from the page. ...You have told me so many times my promises are meaningless, but a promise, my promise means more to mean than a spell. I promise you yesterday and today were not the only things you will see, for tomorrow awaits you. The Land Before Us Chapter 1Chapter 1 – A warm and silent welcome The rocking of the carriage has brought Star Swirl into a slight sleep, but the relaxed state doesn't last long as his ear flicks to a feminine voice beckoning him to rise. "Mage Star Swirl...Mage Star Swirl?" "Hm? Yes?" The stallion moves from his seat a little as he blinks his eyes to the mare, "What is it?" The mare nods to her open window as she holds a slight smile to the outside world. Star Swirl slowly picks up on her stare as he moves to one side of his seat and brings his hoof to the sliding wooden panel window, it moves slowly but as the stallion opens it the brightness of the world outside strikes his eyes. A slight smile crosses his face as he looks around the colorful crystally looking buildings that adorn the streets they travel past. "...I have never been to the Crystal Empire...d-does it always look as it does now?" Swirl's ear flicks a little to the words as he turns his head to face the white mare, "Why yes it does." The cut gaze of the world outside is only lost for a moment as he turns back to the city streets with the few crystally ponies that walk around them, "This was the first true city that was established in this new land of Equestria...And it’s beauty reflects that." He turns back to the mare as he nods, "But you already knew this." The stallion's enthusiastic words go unnoticed slightly but he doesn't stop as he enjoys his own voice, "...You may notice there are more than just unicorns in this city, despite the fact this is a province of the unicorn empire." Again the mare doesn't really acknowledge his words but by her turned left ear Swirl knows she’s listening, "...King Sombra has done a wonderful thing in this city, he has allowed pegasus and earth ponies into it and not just around it...He has taken that first tiny hoof forward to allowing real tolerance and trust." The end of his sentence holds a little more emphasis as Star Swirl silently hopes the young Princess of the new unicorn empire has picked up on his hints. Platinum's voice comes back as she nods her head, "Why are they all so...colorful Mage Star Swirl?" The old stallion gives a slight sigh to her tone as he closes the window and adjust himself to his seat, "There unique color comes from a strange power that's held in the castle known as the crystal heart." He taps his hoof to his mouth as he nods his head, "I...I am still unsure of its properties but it gives off a very real magic that...that every pony can feel." He gives a slight chuckle as he becomes a little long winded, “I was here for the first Crystal celebration, and I remember how the magic moved throughout the city and beyond the cities areas.” Swirl gives another slight chuckle as he squints to his unfamiliar words, "Its almost like the heart is an element of what harmony should be...Everypony just living together." There's a slight silence to the cabin's insides as Platinum slowly moves from the window, "Really? What kind of a mage could have created such a divine item?" Swirl smiles as he shakes his head, "I'm sorry Princess Platinum but I regret to inform you I have no idea what kind of a pony could have created such an item." He leans a little forward as he talks, "But don't worry Princess, Sombra's Queen has decided to put this heart on display in the castle to help promote the feeling of the empire's unity." Platinum nods her head as she regains her proper stance, "Well we will have to see if this item can be easily moved, it should be displayed in the new unicorn capital." The old stallion holds his eyes to the mare for a moment as her words sink into his mind, Platinum notices his stare as she wiggles her hoof to him with a slight laugh, "This way its power could be closer to the center of Equestria of course." Swirl nods his head with a respectful chuckle as he talks, "Yes...Of course." A hoof knocking to the door of the cabin comes back into the room as the wheels under the two ponies hooves begin to stop, "We have arrived your majesty." Platinum moves her cloak a little more as her horn sparks up in a low pink glow and her silver crown floats to her pink mane, "Yes, you may open the door now Sargent Stone Hooves." The door to the cabin glows a faint blue as it slowly comes open and extends its staircase like walkway down to the ground, a large white stallion wearing a silver plated chest plate armor with blond mane stands to the outside with his horn glowing a faint blue as he talks, "General Stomping has taken the other few guards inside your majesty." Platinum nods her head as she leaves the carriage first with her head up high and a proper royal voice, "Yes yes, that's fine Sergeant Stone Hooves, all that means is that you must carry my bags." The white stallion reluctantly nods his head as he holds his military stern face, "Yes your majesty." His eyes shift to Star Swirl as he watches the stallion coming down from the stairs, "Will you be needing help Mage Star Swirl?" Swirl holds his gaze to the white mare as she waste not time traveling up the staircase into the large blue crystal doors of the castle, the old stallion turns a smile to Stone Hooves as he shakes his head, "No my friend, I can carry my own things...and please don't call me Mage, I don't even really like it when Platinum calls me this." The stallion blinks a little confused as he nods his head, "Yes." Swirl's horn sparks up in low gold as his decent sized bag floats next to him as he stretches his legs a little next to the carriage he rode in for so long. But as the bag floats around his neck, he doesn't take too much time as he picks his pace up to follow the white mare. The inside of the Crystal castle is nothing new to Star Swirl but it's unique craftsmanship and color layout has always sparked a slight smile to him as he moves his auburn eyes around the elegantly decorated room. But his eyes don't enjoy there sightseeing for long as they pin to a green shaded crystal pony wearing a red and gold cloak trotting towards him. "Please follow me Sir.Star Swirl, King Sombra has been expecting you." The grey stallion nods his head as he trots after the pony, but the trot through the castle hallways doesn't take too long as they round the end of it and take their steps towards the closed off part of the throne room. At the end of the hallway he sees Princess Platinum and a familiar dark grey stallion with crystal shimmering whitish-gold mane wearing a heavy purple and white cloak, similar to Princess Platinum's but much more elegantly stitched with fine crystals. But Star Swirl's smile is lost as the tall unicorn stallion turns his green eyes to the older stallion's trot, the stallion's horn glows a faint green but it slightly matches the shimmer of the crystal walls behind him too much to really tell. A deep echoey voice comes through the room from the smiling stallion, but his mouth doesn't move as the voice continues, "Hello Star Swirl, it has been too long my friend." The pony that was leading Star Swirl stops his trot as Sombra's resignanting voice moves to him, "Thank you Nimby, but there's no need to introduce Sir.Star Swirl." "As you wish king Sombra." The stallion moves himself to the side of the wall as Sombra's bright eyed gaze turns back to Swirl, "It must have been a long trip you must be-..." "Sombra." Star Swirl's tone is sharp, the considerably taller stallion is a little taken off guard as he blinks to the grey unicorn's consenting voice, "I did not make several trips to your empire to write so many books on hoofing if you would insist on straining your magic to talk." The stallion loses his smile a little as his horn drops its glow and his right hoof comes from the ground.. Star Swirl smiles to the hoof's motions as he talks, "Are you insulting my new beard?" A slight wheezing laugh escapes the tall dark grey stallion as the two stallion look to each other, to the new silence around the room Platinum turns her gaze to Sombra a bit confused as she talks, "It's true? The king of the Crystal empire can not speak?" Sombra turns his gaze to her a little surprised to her words but before Swirl could speak up for the stallion the low glow from Sombra's horn begins to chime through the room as he gives a wise smile to the young Princess. The echoey deep voice comes back to the room as Sombra's magically induced words roll through it, "Princess Platinum, a leader does not need to talk with words when actions speak for themselves." The white mare blinks to the words as she nods her head, "I am sorry if I have offended you...I was just not expecting the terrible rumors to be true." Star Swirl gives a faint chuckle as he turns to her, “Princess Platinum, you act as if its a tragedy. Not being able to so easily express one’s emotions makes for a powerful magic, and a deep understanding on how it can and will affect you and those around you.” Sombra nods his head as he turns back to Platinum, "Come you must be tired Princess, if you follow Nimby he will show you to your room in the castle...I believe General Stomping has already posted your guards out front of it." Platinum cocks her head a little surprised as she talks, "But your letter addressed to me said you required us as soon as possible, you made it clear that it was of importance of Equestria and the Unicorn empire." Sombra wiggles his hoof in front of her as the magical echoey voice stems from him, "Judgments are clouded with the storm of tired minds." Princess Platinum nods her head to the weird words as she squints her eyes, "I see you have been communicating with the pegasus." A smile comes over the stallion's face as he holds his hoof to the crystal pony waiting to lead Platinum away, "I have spoke with many ponies in my time...But none of that is to be of concern until tomorrow when everypony is properly rested." The white mare nods her head as she starts to trot away with her head up high, "Very well if you insist, tomorrow we shall carry out our speakings." Star Swirl and Sombra wait for the two ponies to be out of sight before Sombra turns his gaze to the stallion in front of him, the echo of the voice still comes over the room but its lower as Sombra's eyes and face tighten a little, "Forgive me my friend, I know you have been yearning to continue your books on hoofing. But I did not just call you to come with your young Princess as an adviser-..." Swirl waves his hoof as he lets out a slight chuckle, "I do not even know a time when that pony has listened to me, so I do hope that you have not only called me for that reason." Sombra holds a friendly smile to the comment as he shakes his head, "No, I believe you will see what I require of you very shortly...If you please." Sombra moves aside from the throne room doors as they open to his magic. End of chapter 1 Chapter 13Chapter 13 – There can never be one without another The bright white shining moon has come into the sky of Equestria, the calm warm night air wisp around the sleeping crystal empire. But above the city streets Star Swirl feveriously paces around with eyes so wide the stallion could see clear over the empire's reach if it were daylight. However no subtle thought such as this is able to stir this stallion as his hooves pound against the platform's ground, "How, how could I have been wrong!?" Swirl's horn glows bright as the book that shields his face from the world stays pinned to him, but the book doesn't stay to him long as he turns to the dormant crystal heart. His breaths are heavy and his tone is hard no longer able to refuse what has transpired before the moon's rise, "How could you do such a thing?!" No answer comes from the lifeless stone as Swirl nears it holding the same bewildered voice, "H-how could an item of such harmony possibly do such a thing?" His head comes to a shake as he stammers over his words, "T-there is no reason?" Star Swirl quickly turns his head from the stone as he looks away and towards the stairs of the castle, "No no, I-I just need a moment to gather my thoughts." Swirl's horn glows a faint gold as his bag quickly rushes over to him with his items being collected in an almost rushed way. The grey stallion takes his hooves to the stairs fast as the sound of the stallion begins to fade from the empty chamber of the Crystal Heart. (Elsewhere in the castle) The room around King Sombra is dark as the luminescent glow of the crystal castle begins to finally wear off to the dark of the world around it. But the silence in the room along with the growing darkness does little to console the stallion as his eyes stay pinned to the pink mare who has yet to stir for hours now. No tears come from Sombra's eyes, and his body stays solid without the slightest tremble. But the emotion that builds to the stallion with each passing moment has left him paralyzed, unable to shift his eyes from the gaze of the quiet mare. As the new hour of Sombra's long night begins to dawn closer something finally breaks the silence to the room as the magical locked door lets off a low chime to its opening. The dark grey stallion doesn't turn his head to the sound of hooves as he struggles to spark his horn up, "...Now is not the time Sir.Swirl..." There's a moment of silence to the room as the hooves stop and the door closes, but the quiet room is brought up with a happy sounding tone, "Well that King Sombra is a good thing..." To the unfamiliar voice King Sombra's horn sparks up in dark green glow that lights the room as he takes up an offensive stance towards the door. But in the light of his horn his eyes meet an unfazed old tan colored stallion, his yellow-orange eyes move over Sombra's figure as the pony looks him over. Sombra's eyes show nothing but despair and sorrow and his tired body speaks for itself, but this doesn't affect the old pony's tone as he speaks, "I warned you my king." To the words a large bolt of magic is sent screaming towards the older stallion, but he doesn't move as the bolt cracks into the crystal wall behind him with a loud and violent shake. The older stallion remains unflinched as he stares to the panting king, with a shake of the head the pony starts to click his tongue, "Tis tis tis, come now Sombra you would have awoken the whole castle...if you had not sealed your room magically." A deep echo of Sombra's horn echoes around the room as he tightens his eyes still holding another spell at the ready, "The next spell will not be a warning, and you should expect punishment for trespassing in my-..." The old stallion cuts him off as he laughs, "You are not even the bit curious as to how I have entered your chambers?" Sombra is unfazed to the comment as his horn glows a bright dark green, "Leave now!" The echo runs around the room and bounces from the walls as the older stallion goes a little wide eyed to the tone, but his surprised stare doesn't last long as his yellow-orange eyes glow a little, "King Sombra, I shall not deceive you nor shall I cause you grief...I wish to help you." No answer comes from Sombra as his eyes stay pinned to the pony, to the silence the old stallion continues, "The first thing I promise you is that I shall not lie to you, just as I have not thus far." At the end of the comment the stallion becomes shrouded in a bright orange light that causes Sombra to slightly turn his head, but the cut gaze of the intruder doesn't last long as he quickly brings his eyes back to the pony's position in the room. Only, the old tan colored stallion is not what his eyes meet, instead Sombra's eyes go a little wide as he looks over the new creature in his bed chambers. Where the old stallion stood a long and tall serpent like creature begins to stand on two back legs, but the creature can not be placed as Sombra's eyes move over the mismatched body parts. The echo from Sombra's horn doesn't show his confusion as it rings out, "What are you beast?" A laugh rings from the goat headed creature as he holds his clawed hand out, "Truly, that one was new...I am so used to being called a dragon on first glance I-..." His voice is cut off as Sombra lowers his head, "Answer my question!" The laugh stops as the creature tilts his head up as his clawed hand sets to his chest, "I am Discord." His head comes back down quickly as he shakes his arms out a little in front of himself, "...Do not let the name fool you King Sombra, I only wish to bring order to Equestria." A smile comes over his face as a sharp tooth protrudes from his mouth. Sombra doesn't bring his head up as he holds his spell, "Why do you seek me out!?" Discord rolls his eyes a little as he sighs, "I tried to warn you but you did not listen to me-..." "How do you know so much! I have never meet you before nor have I meet any pony associated with you." Sombra's eyes hold thier tight stare to Discord as he impatiently waits for an answer. "My knowledge is not of your concern, time is short if you wish for me to help your Queen." Discord's eyes drift towards the bed but his sight of the mare is cut off as Sombra's bolt of magic runs dangerously close to his face. The echo from Sombra banks off the crystal walls with a sharp tone as his words ring out, "Do not drift your eyes beast!" Discord's face holds a bit of surprise to the dark grey stallion, but he pushes past it as he gives a slight bow, "OH of course my King...I would have just thought the matters of your Queen would be priority." Discord turns his head towards the door with an over played sad expression as he speaks, "I see I am not needed." "WAIT!" To the words Discord holds his smile to the door for a moment, but he turns back towards Sombra as he looks over the distraught stallion's expression. Sombra's horn drops to a low green chime and his eyes go to a plea as he looks over the creature, "...Please....how can you help?" Discord nods his head as he taps his lion pawed hand to his chin, "Well my King I will be in need of an item." Sombra nods his head as the echo comes back quick, "Name it." "The Crystal Heart, my king." Discord cocks his eye to the stallion as he continues, "...I will need the Heart before tomorrow's end or your Queen will be to far pulled by it's magic." The dark grey stallion is silent as he thinks over the request, "W-what do you plan to do with it?" Discord takes on a serious face as he takes a step towards Sombra, "It's power is too great, I will see to the Heart's destruction." Sombra grins a little to his jaw as he turns his eyes back to the motionless mare, but his gaze to her is too painful to hold any more as he turns back to the smiling beast, "I-I can not pass an item of that power...How do I know I can trust you to do what you say?" A sly smile comes over Discord's face as he bends his head down to pin his eyes squarely to the stallion's, "I shall prove to you that my word is not lie." Chapter 13 end
ProloguePrologue ...Its been too long since I have seen you, and I know that my feelings and thoughts about that fact that I have so painstakingly scribed into this book is something I can never show you. I do find it funny my deepest feelings and pure thoughts are the two things I can never truly reveal to you, for fear of what you might do with them. But since you sent this journal to me I have put writing in it as one of the most important things I do, and now that my travels have brought me bac-... The rock of the carriages closed in cabin jars the hoof from the page leaving only a worthless line of smudge ink as the grey stallion looks to it with a little disappointment. "...Sergeant Stone Hooves, do I have to remind you that we are still inside this carriage?!" The mare's high pitched words end as a deep stallions voice runs back into the carriage inside from the open window, "Sorry your majesty, it won't happen again your majesty." "I should hope it doesn't, that sudden jarring has forced Mage Star Swirl's hoof from his book he was focused on." The white mare doesn't wait for the full answer as she brings the sliding back wood panel window to a close cutting of the stallion's voice. But this doesn't stop her complaining as the white mare adjust the blue gem studded purple cloak around her side, "I am terribly sorry for that Mage Star Swirl, I do hope that has not caused your spell to be unusable." The grey stallion lets out a small laugh as he flips the book towards the mare's face that he sits across from, theres no fear that she will see the words as his low calm voice runs through the cabin's insides, "No no, it's fine my dear, see no harm done." The mare blinks her green eyes to the book's pages as she looks them over, but she doesn't really take his words as truth as she rolls her hoof, "Nonsense Mage Star Swirl, you should not have been stirred from your work." Star Swirl nods his head with a slight laugh as he moves his extended hooves back and closes the book, "Princess Platinum, you do not really expect me to be working all the time do you?" "Well I have not seen a sign of you halting, I have thought your sudden decision on growing a beard was an indication you seldom pry yourself from your work." Platinum adjust her proper posture again as she moves her left hoof to rub over the other. Star Swirl nods his head as he rubs to the small white beard that has started to form under his chin, but his thoughts don't dwell on himself as he looks over the half eyed gazing white mare a cross from him, "I ensure you my dear, this beard is no sign I have pushed myself too far...it is merely a sign that I have allowed myself a current freedom to enjoy life." The white mare cocks her eyebrow to the words as she taps her hoof to her mouth, "I would think your enjoyment of life would be coming from the powerful spells that you have successfully created...not from a few strains of non tended to face mane." "Ah, but that's where you're wrong Princess." Star Swirl points his hoof to her as the cabin starts to move over a slight patch of rough ground, he sways a little with the rocking but the hoof stays pinned to the white mare as he maintains his low wise sounding voice, "...The enjoyments of life are not success nor are they the power usually brought by them...the enjoyments are the failures that you learn from." Platinum nods her head as she gives a slight sigh not really amused by the older stallion's words, "Well Mage Star Swirl as much as I feel learning is important I must say that success is much more enjoyable than failure." The older stallion nods his head to the mare as he puts his hoof back to his side as he begins to move the book to the blue and silver satchel bag next to himself. "Forgive me for asking Mage Star Swirl, but why do you write with your hoof so often? You act as if you were a simple earth pony." The white mare holds a questions look to the stallion as she waits for a response. Swirl smiles as he closes the bag, "Simple?" He moves his hoofs to extend in front of him as he looks them over, "My dear young Princess, I was once told by the smartest of all ponies that magic is nothing more than a bond, a bond that every pony has in there own way." A slight sarcastic giggle escapes Platinum's mouth as she rolls her hoof, "I have yet to see an earth pony manipulate anything other than dirt Mage Star Swirl, I believe that your information has been flawed." "Has it?" Star Swirl moves a little forward as he extends his hooves towards the white mare, "May I see your hooves Princess?" The white mare blinks a little confused but she leans forward as she reluctantly extends one of her hooves. The grey stallion waste no time as he puts his hooves to hers as he talks through the sound of wheels running the dirt beneath the carriage, "Princess Platinum, you know that magic is in everypony, unicorns more than others. But this still means that any kind of magic is just a bond, there is no right for unicorns to be the deciders of all. If magic can be in everypony even a little then that means we are all one not separated like so many ponies of old still think." Platinum takes her hoof from the stallion as she cocks her head, "Equestria has been founded on this idea, you are not saying anything that I have not already said myself." Star Swirl nods as he moves back to his seat, "Of course..." But Platinum's voice doesn't stop as she sits her posture up a little bit more proper, "But even I being a ruler of one of the the tribes in our new found peace must still say magic is more properly used by unicorns, and its will is that of our own." She holds her eyes to the stallion as she turns a questioning eye to him, "Surely you do not believe an earth pony or pegasus could properly rule over a unicorn empire do you?" Star Swirl no longer wants to continue the conversation as he gives a slight sigh, "Princess you know I refuse to talk about these matters with you or any other pony." Platinum holds her confused questioning stare a little longer as she holds her confident voice, "Oh Mage Star Swirl you know your opinion is highly valued and you should feel no judgement from me nor anypony on your thoughts." The grey stallion looks over the smiling mare across from him as he stares to her confident smile and wide eyed stare, he gives a slight chuckle as he wiggles his hoof to her, "You still have much to learn about yourself Princess." The white mare blinks a little unamused to the statement as she loses her interest to the stallion, but her voice doesn't get to come up as a knock to the side of the cabin takes her attention. She gives a slight sigh as she moves her hoof and slides the window again, "Yes?" The same deep voiced stallion speaks up again as his voice runs into the cabin, "We are close to the Crystal Empire your majesty, we shall be there in three pulses of a horn." She nods her head as she wiggles her hoof, "Yes yes, now do not disturb us until we have arrived." The window slides closed again as the mare brings her green eyes back to Star Swirl, "Now where were we?" Star Swirl holds a smile to her as he talks, "I believe I was going to tell you this old stallion is going to take a slight nap." He gives a slight chuckle as he watches her nod her head, he’s not really tired but not having to continue the conversation is a nice plus as the grey stallion leans his head to the back of the cabin.
Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Chapter 2 – Harmony at its finest The doors to the throne room begin to close as Sombra's horn sparks up in a dim green light, but even though he tries to close them quietly the two other ponies in the room have already seen Star Swirl and Sombra enter. The room has a long red rug like walk way leading up to a cushiony looking throne that is carved slightly into the huge crystal slab the pokes from the ground. To each side of the room there are large spaced out windows with a thin layer of polished crystal allowing anyone inside to look over the crystal city that sits a little beneath the throne room's view. But Swirl's gaze doesn't drift to sight seeing again as he looks over the pink pegasus mare sitting in the throne seat with a few pieces of parchment paper being floated in front of her by a regal dressed crystal mare beside her. The silence to the room doesn't last long as the pink mare's sweet voice comes up in a warm happy tone, "Sir Star Swirl, its so good to have you back. I was unaware that you would be attending this meeting Sombra has called so fast." At the end of her voice she turns to the mare beside her as she talks with a smile, "If you excuse me I believe i'll be awhile." With a bow of the head the crystal unicorn mare floats the papers from the pink pegasus’s face as she takes her leave through one of the two back doors hidden by the crystal throne. Another happy tone comes through the mare's smile as she starts to move from her seat, but despite her persona a very prominent weakness comes to her as she moves from the seat. Swirl is a little taken back by it, as his last trip to the crystal empire was only a few months ago but the darker grey stallion beside him doesn't look on motionless as he quickly moves towards her. But the mare gets herself up as she tugs a little to the large red and white cape like cloak she has on that slightly matches Sombra's, "I'm fine, I just got this cursed thing caught a little." Sombra turns back to Swirl as he starts to follow after Sombra, he holds a curious gaze to the light pink coated pegasus mare with a mix of pink and light yellow mane that has the same crystal like shimmer as Sombra's. But his voice finally comes back as he brings his gaze to her tired out eyes, "Queen Apatite, you do not look to be yourself this day." The pink mare waves her hoof to the words as she shakes her head, "Oh Star Swirl, i'm just having an off day..." She smiles as she does a circular motion around Swirl's face, "And I must say with that ungroomed face of yours you're not quite looking yourself." A slight giggle comes from her as Star Swirl shoots back a friendly smile. But the mare's light hearted laugh turns to a sickly cough as she turns from Star Swirl and Sombra's eyes. To the noise Sombra puts his hoof on her side as he rubs her a little, but her sudden cough is lost as she turns back to Sombra and Star Swirl."I-I had better go and start planning for the Crystal celebration." Sombra's deep echoey voice comes back to the room as his horn sparks up, "No, you can do that tomorrow, you should rest for now." The mare blinks to the words as she gives a slight smile as she puts her hoof to Sombra's chest, "I'm fine, if anypony needs to rest its you." Her gaze shifts back to Star Swirl as she talks, "Make sure this stallion gets some kind of rest today, he’s not been sleeping well." Star Swirl nods his head to her voice as his voice comes back to her, "I will do what I can, but a ponies will can never really be changed...especially for somepony of Sombra's nature." Queen Apatite nods her head with a smile as she trots away towards the two back doors the crystal mare left through earlier. As the door closes behind her Sombra looks to the ground as the echoey magic voice gets a bit lower, "Star Swirl, she’s not well...and its no normal sickness." Swirl blinks to the comment as he cocks his head to the dark grey stallion's fixated gaze to the ground, "Sombra, i'm no healer but I do not see why a simple cough and weakness would be a reason to call a mage?" To the words Sombra lifts his head as he struggles with holding the spell to his horn that's allowing him to talk, the tone of the echoey voice gets a little louder as he forces the spell a bit but his face still stays a worried expression as Swirl listens. "Apatite has had the same problem for this past turn of seasons." "Preposterous." Star Swirl lifts his hoof up as he points to Sombra, "...I have come here at least twice in this full year and not once have I seen her act in such a way that she did just now." The stallion gives a slight chuckle as he looks over the dark grey stallion, "Are you sure it is not you that has become sick with worry over a simple cold?" Sombra's horn glows a brighter green as he takes a step back, "At first this sickness was nothing more than a slight weakness, she felt it best to not tell the kingdom or anypony about it...not even me. But it's gotten much worse than just a cough and weakness." The floor where the red strip of colored stone lays begins to glow a little with Sombra's magic as Swirl takes a step back. The echoey voice comes over the room as Sombra's horn grows a bright greenish black, "I'm going to show you something because I trust that you will help me." A spike of magic runs through the room as the floor vanishes revealing a staircase, Sombra turns his gaze to the doors as a vile of magic seals them closed, as the last door becomes sealed he moves his sight to the windows around the room as they take on a dark tint blocking the late day's sun from the room. As the last window's light is cut from the refracting crystals the room takes on a dark green color as the sun's light from outside strikes through the newly covered windows. Swirl's horn sparks up in a bright gold as he lights the room to his own liking, he moves his gaze to the staircase with a slight bit of astonishment as he looks down the long winding stairs. The glow of his magic fills the room for a moment before Sombra's echoey voice comes back to him, "You were here last celebration when we first used the Crystal heart's strange power." "Yes, I was." Sombra nods his head as the voice comes from his stationery mouth, " Apatite wished for the heart to be displayed in the castle permanently. This way it’s strange aura of feeling generating powers and its own strange protection spell it seemed to give off could be easily assessed if needed." Swirl nods his head as he talks, "Yes, yes I remember all this...but why are you telling me this?" The dark grey stallion moves his hoof as he beckons for Swirl to come over to the top of the staircase, "The Crystal heart was a great power...I fear it may have been too great of a power, a few moons after it was brought into use it-..." The bigger stallion begins to struggle with his words as he talks, "The Crystal heart started acting on its own, without the influence of an outer magic." Star Swirl listens to the stallion quietly as the echoey voice starts to get a little lower with Sombra's fading spell, but its brought back up as Sombra breaks to force more magic to his horn, " Apatite was the only pony besides myself who knew about these spikes, and a full moon ago, again it spiked greater than it ever had before...She was the only pony near it when it happened. I moved the heart to a hidden area in the castle until I was able to figure out what was causing it." Swirl looks down to the stairway he stands in front of as Sombra starts to take his first steps to the stairs, "...But I can not figure out what's wrong, and after the great spike of the Crystal Heart, Apatite finally informed me of her growing weakness and concerns." The dark grey stallion turns back to the pony starting to follow him as he looks him over intently, "But her sickness has gotten worse, Apatite can no longer bring herself to fly like she loved so much, s-she can not even-..." A loud pop comes from his horn as the spell breaks to his shaky feelings. The stallion turns away a little angry to the spell break as he brings his right hoof up to hoof his last few words out. "What do you mean she can't even remember you?" Sombra's horn sparks back up as his voice echos with a slightly higher tone, "Her memory has been slipping along with her strength, the only ponies that know of her failing mind are my most trusted advisers...Star Swirl, she has planned the Crystal celebration seven times just in the past few days...each time insisting she did not the day before." Swirl blinks to the comment as he thinks it over, "I still do not understand...why would you be in need my help?" The dark grey stallion's eyes shift to an almost pleading call as the shaky echoey voice comes back, "She has made me promise her condition would not affect what we set out to do for Equestria...But every night I have tried to understand what the Crystal heart did to her." Swirl cocks his head to the words as he shakes it, "How are you so certain the Crystal heart is the cause for this problem? This item is nothing more than a stone with a power." Swirl shakes his head to his words as he stammers a little, “I-I find it hard to believe this power could have been tapped without an outer interference.” Sombra blinks to the comment as he looks to him seriously, "I know the heart is to blame.” His gaze hardens a little as his horn glowed bright, “Because Apatite before her memory began to fail said it was the will of the heart that Equestria becomes united. She claimed a voice beckoned her to it before it's spike with this request. Naturally she took this encounter as a sign that what we had started in the empire's areas as a sign Equestria's future is to be united." Swirl nods his head as the words hit against his ears, "I believe I understand why you need my help. I will do everything in my power to help you my friend." "Thank you Star Swirl, there is much to do in the next few days and I can no longer bear these burdens alone anymore." The dark grey stallion's trot comes back to him as he begins to lead the way through the stairs Swirl's horn has lit. End of chapter 2
Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 – Underneath the sky's ground The last step to the staircase comes and goes as Sombra moves to the center of the room, Star Swirl’s horn holds its brightness as he looks around the decent sized room filled with dark crystal's. Sombra's voice comes over the room in more of a bouncing echo as he talks, "I have found a spell that allows the heart to be safely guarded through here." The grey stallion slightly rubs to the small beard on his chin as he looks to a flimsy wooden door, "I do hope you will not mind my insight, but should not an item like this be more secure?" Sombra smiles to the comment as he answers it, "The door is cursed by..." He widens his smile a little as he nods his head, "By a spell only able to be broken by the use of dark magic." Swirl is a little taken back by the words as he looks to the dark gem crystal above the door, "You enhanced a door with a magic rarely taught anymore." His voice is not angry but more of an inquisitive tone as he cocks his head, "My friend as dangerous as that is I must say you have a very unique safety. Tell me, how did you learn such a magic?" "Before Equestria was founded I studied in rare forms of magic when I was a colt." His words stop as he looks over the stallion beside him, "Truly not much else to do but study when you are a colt unable to speak." Sombra darts his eyes up towards his horn as the voice rings around the room, "The door's spell was not the only spell I learned how to use." Swirl moves his hoof from his beard as he talks, "Sombra, you should give this spell a rest, you have help create your own hoofing that every pony in the Empire already knows...why do you insist on straining yourself?" Sombra's horn sparks up in a vivid dark green as he nods his head, "Sometimes a voice is helpful, even if its not your own." At the end of the echo the stallion turns back to the door as a cracking bolt of dark magic slams into it. The echo comes back in lowly as the door creaks open, "Star Swirl, this spell has made the door's curse dormant for as long as I am in the castle, you should have no problems entering into it any time you wish." Sombra's pace comes back as he trots into the brighter crystal room. The lighter grey stallion follows after him as he tilts his head up to a spiral staircase with a slight chuckle, "Sombra, I do hope you understand i'm not as young as I use to be." He turns to the stallion with a smile, "...And I do believe you’re no spring dragon." Sombra's horn glows a faint green as his magic runs to Swirl's body, the rush of magic and flash of light ends with a slight chiming bang as Swirl blinks around to the world around him. Theres a slight gust that blows to his mane as he and Sombra stand to the new bright crystal flooring, Swirl's voice comes back with a slight surprise as he looks around the sun setting world that lays around him, "We're outside?" The echo from Sombra is a little lower as the gust of wind knocks into Swirl's ears but he listens to the voice as best he can, "Yes, the heart was moved to the top of the castle that way no pony could take it." A slight chuckle comes from Star Swirl as he looks around, "Anypony but a pegasus my friend." A smile comes over Sombra's face as he nods his head, "No, this part of the castle does not exist...its nothing but a shadow brought on by magic." Swirl nods his head as he brings his turning head to Sombra, "I see, a mind spell?" Sombra shakes his head as the echo of his voice comes back, "Your mind has no altering my friend, you are simply standing in a place that is not and will never be. Much like a shadow it is only what you want to see that you see." A slight smile crosses Star Swirl’s face as he lifts his hoof to Sombra, "I do not get confused easily...but you have just done that and I thank you." From the words Sombra's mouth opens as a slight wheezing laugh escapes him, but Star Swirl's respectful gaze doesn't last to the dark grey stallion for long as he turns to a bright blueish crystal sitting on a pedestal in the middle of the stone flooring. Sombra loses the smile as he turns to see the item Swirl's eyes have pinned to. "Tell me Sombra...why does this Crystal heart sit so openly?" Swirl turns to Sombra as he continues, "If this place is just what we want to see then why do I see it open for grabbing?" The gray stallion holds his pinned eyes to the crystal for a moment before he turns to Swirl, "I have no answer for you Star Swirl." The grey stallion moves his hoof to his beard for a moment as he feels Sombra's own intense stare to the heart coming over him, "Now how do I get back to the castle?" Sombra breaks his stare as he nods his head, "The door is enchanted to teleport after exiting, you will arrive in the throne room's entrance just as if you passed through it." His eyes look down a little as his echo comes forward a little, "I only ask of you what you can...nothing more I want you to know this Star Swirl." Swirl nods his head as he talks, "I promise you Sombra, I shall try my best." A respectful nod comes from Sombra as he turns to the staircase at the back of the platform, "I must go, tomorrow is the start of Equestria's future and there is no way I can battle wit with the other three if I'm to tired." "Goodbye Sombra." A few moments pass as Swirl holds his gaze to the dormant blueish crystal heart. My observations of the crystal heart have become rather... Star Swirl looks up from his sitting position as he stops the quill beside him for a moment, the low chime of his magic rings around the room but the outside world is dark with night as it holds its quiet tone over the world. The quill is dipped into an inkwell for a moment as Star Swirl puts his head back to the pages, ...Strange, the heart looks nothing like it did before, no aura and no glow. Again his head comes up as he looks over the stone with squinting eyes, Despite my better judgement I feel a foolish eager to entice... A slight smile comes over his face as he start to stand from his position. His bag sits neatly against the wall near the book and ink well, but the grey stallion moves from these items as he stares to the crystal heart. "Hmm, tell me why do you act so dull today?" His voice goes unanswered as a smile crosses his face, "Silent are we?" Swirl moves a little closer as he stands in front of it, a low chime comes to his horn as he looks over the crystal heart. With a slight lower of the head a small stream of magic runs to the crystal, but the stallion's ears bring more than his own magic as a great magical chime comes from in front of him. Swirl hikes his eyes up as he watches the crystal heart taking on an aura of magical glow, but a heavy uneasy feeling comes over him as his horn's spell spikes up without his own command. The rush of magic burst to the room around him as he grinds his teeth trying to cut the spell from himself, with a sharp jerk of his head the spell breaks with a loud resonating pop as Star Swirl is left with a panting breath. The pop of the magic doesn't last long as the crystal heart again goes dormant and its dull color comes over it. Swirl is speechless as he blinks to the stone but the motionless feeling only last a moment as he moves to his things as he floats the book next to him with the quill, I may have taken on something I am not yet prepared for, after my foolish attempt at activating the stone there seems to be a block to my magic. Swirl shifts his eyes between the page and the stone as he tries to justify his last words, Yes, there must be a fail safe spell Sombra put in place, most likely formed by a magic I have little ability to combat... Leading me to believe this block is a dark magic spell Sombra must have put in place for that safety. Truly an ingenious way to make sure the Heart’s powers can not be so easily obtained, seeing as how even I have no real knowledge of this old magic... I shall continue my observations tomorrow and conclude this thought. His horn glows a very faint gold as the satchel bag comes to him slowly and the book, quill and capped ink well slip into its pocket. Swirl holds his gaze to the stone for a moment before he starts down the stairs. End of chapter 3
Chapter 4Chapter 4 - Tomorrow's past The dining hall of the crystal empire has a gold shimmer to it as the newly rising morning sun starts to pass through it, the room is empty except for the one pony sitting towards the end of the table. After last nights endeavors I have awoken with a slight headache, which is very uncommon for me even after a rigorous spell. But I have since assumed myself I was just hungry... "Good morning to you Mage Star Swirl." The slightly higher pitch of the feminine voice stabs a little to Swirl's ear as he quickly moves his head from the book to the white mare with pink mane trotting into the dining hall quickly being followed by a few guards. But before the stallion's voice can come up again the mare has started to take her seat as she gives a faint smile, "I am most terribly sorry if I have disturbed your work Mage Star Swirl." The stallion closes the book as he shakes his head, "Nonsense Princess, I can not remember a time you have disturbed my work." From his words a smile is easily played across his face. Platinum nods her head as she wiggles her hoof to a few ponies that followed her in, "General Stomping, I require the cooks please." An older looking stallion dressed in a silver and purple armour nods his head as he holds his half closed eyed gaze to the mare, "Yes Princess." But the stallion doesn't move as he turns to the two other ponies beside him that quickly move out the door. "So tell us Mage Star Swirl, where is this Crystal Heart? I have yet to see or feel its presence? When will I-..." Platinum's voice is cut off as a deep echoing voice comes into the room behind her, "You will not be seeing it." The grey stallion holds his gaze to the white mare as he stood in the doorway of the dining hall. But to his words Princess Platinum turns herself around to face him as she talks, "Not to be seeing it?" A slight laugh comes from her as she talks, "But King Sombra surely you wish to unveil it to the other two leaders today, do you not?" Sombra blinks to the comment as he shakes his head, "No, I find no need for the Crystal heat in today's meeting." Princess Platinum squints to the comment a little confused but she changes her comment as she talks, "Well I must say I am a little confused, but I will bow to your judgement." She floats her crown from her mane as she moves her hoof to a chair across from her, "Are you to be joining us for breakfast?" The grey stallion shakes his head as he talks, "No, i'm afraid I have muc-..." The deep echoey voice is halted as a pink pegasus mare takes a step to his side, her smile is put to Princess Platinum as the mare speaks up, "King Sombra and I will of course be joining you." Queen Apatite doesn't wait for the taller grey stallion to follow her into the room as she takes her first steps inside, but Sombra's eyes pin to her as his horn glows a faint green and the chair she's walking to becomes pulled out. Swirl holds his gaze to the mare as she takes her seat to his side of the table, Sombra follows suit after her as he moves to her far side. A faint laugh fills the room from Platinum as she looks to the empty seats around her, "I must say I do feel a bit lonely on my ponyless side." Queen Apatite gives a friendly laugh to the comment as her sweet voice rolls through the room, her expression looks better today but even through her regular tone a slight bit of tiredness comes through, "Princess Platinum, it would be to hard to speak with you if every word must be turned to be heard." Platinum squints to the comment as she cocks her head, "Yes of course." A question starts to burn in the white mare as she looks to the pegasus mare, "Forgive me for asking, but I have wondered how a pegasus of your..." The white mare pauses for a word as she pushes through her statement, "...Elegance, comes to live in the unicorn capital?" Swirl turns his head to the mare as he listens a little worried to the mare's shifty words. But her comment has no affect on Queen Apatite as she smiles, "You mean to ask why a pegasus is Queen of a unicorn province, do you not?" Platinum gives a respectful nod as she answer, "I mean no disrespect." The pink mare shakes her hoof as she talks, "There is never disrespect in a question you ask for an answer, there can only be disrespect with a question you ask but know the answer to already." A laugh comes from Princess Platinum as she averts her eyes from the mare, "You sound like Mage Star Swirl." The grey stallion gives a faint laugh as Queen Apatite continues to speak, "If I do then perhaps you should listen to him. But your answer, yes its true I am a pegasus , and yes its true I am from the pegasus capital before it was moved to Equestria." A smile crosses her face as she talks, "However not all pegasus want to stay in the clouds forever, some want to learn of the strange earth bound ponies." A slight laugh comes from the mare as she gives a little emphases on strange. Princess Platinum nods her head as Queen Apatite's words trail on, "Sombra and I both share the idea of Equestria no longer bound to the rules of the old land an-..." The white mare's ear flicks a little to the comment as she blurts out her own, "Yes of course, When I founded this land I had no problem immediately moving for a peace treaty between the other two." Queen Apatite's voice doesn't come back to her as Sombra's echoey tone chimes past hers, "Yes Princess Platinum, you have helped establish an aura of peace...But A peace bound by rules and ideas of old, we seek to have true harmony among the land." Platinum cocks her head a little to the words as she loses her smile and tries to take in the comment, "You wish to unite the ponies of Equestria?" A slight laugh escapes her as she leans forward a little, "B-But how would the land be ruled? How would anything be done?" Platinum's eyes squint to her rush of questions as she continues, "Where would a power such as the Crystal Heart go? Surely not-..." Platinum's voice is cut off as Queen Apatite stands from the table with a blank expression. Sombra's eyes dart to the mare as she starts to trot away from the table silently. But Sombra follows her stand as his voice echoes to her, "Where are you going?" Queen Apatite doesn't turn her head as her voice comes to her, "I need to plan for the-..." Her voice is cut off as she falls over to her side with a hard thud. Sombra's eyes go wide and his horn's glow is lost as his mouth opens with a very weak and low wheezing voice, "Apatite!" General Stomping moves from his spot at the wall towards the mare but before he can reach her, Sombra and Apatite disappear from the room in a loud chiming pop from a teleportation spell. Platinum holds a shocked expression to the scene that just unfolded as she turns to Star Swirl who now starts to rush from his seat with his few items floating next to him, "What happened?!" Swirl waves his hoof to the mare as he talks, "There is no need for concern, they will return shortly." The grey stallion moves from the room as he starts into the hallways of the crystal castle. End of chapter 4
Chapter 5Chapter 5 – Silent talking The hallways of the crystal empire are nothing unfamiliar to Star Swirl, and the stallion has no problem navigating through them. But as the large two close doors at the end of the hall come into view he stops as he looks to a few ponies in front of the door. In front of the door the two crystal ponies stand facing away from Star Swirl as he nears to their on going conversation, "...Master should we summon a healer?" No reply comes from inside as the two ponies start to repeat themselves, but Swirl cuts them off as he speaks up with a slight smile, "I shall see what I can do, please wait for me to exit would you?" The two crystal ponies hesitate for a moment before they step aside from the door, but Swirl is unable to open either of the doors with his hoof as he tries. A faint green glow comes over the door as he touches it, but his confusion doesn't last long as his horn sparks up in a faint gold glow and the door comes open, "I shall only be a moment." The door closes behind him as the grey stallion turns his head to the other stallion in the room whose gaze is pinned to the mare laying in the bed. The echoey voice comes back to the room but Sombra doesn't turn his head, "You should not have come to find us...It will cause suspicion for Apatite's well being." Star Swirl listens to the voice for a moment as he moves the items he was floating to a decorative crystal outcropping with a faint laugh, "You know my friend, that voice of yours can give a pony a slight chill with its tone." Sombra turns his head to the stallion's voice but his eyes and expression doesn't match the strong voice that still echoes through his closed mouth, but no words get to come from him as the pink mare stirs in the bed with a faint laugh. "Please Star Swirl, convince Sombra that i'm fine." The mare brings herself up in the bed as she leans herself to the crystal back part as she begins to fiddle with her cloak. Her happy smile moves to Sombra as she continues to hold her sweet voice, "Honestly, Sombra you could have at least let me put something else on, this royal cloak is much too short to be talking like this." Star Swirl shares in the slight lightening mood but Sombra doesn't flinch his mouth as he looks over the mare, "Apatite , you need to rest an-..." Her pink hoof comes to Sombra's mouth as she shakes her head, "No, somepony has to be there with you when you address the others." Sombra moves from her hoof as his echoey chime comes around the room, "Princess Platinum should provide the support I need to convince the others, you are not to worry about it." Queen Apatite smiles as she turns her gaze to the lighter grey stallion close to the door, "Tell me Star Swirl, if my stallion has not called you up here for support on these matters, then why has he?" Swirl rubs a little with the hair on his chin as he talks, "Well Queen Apatite, you should know why Sombra has summoned me here." The stallion turns his gaze to Swirl as he continues, "...King Sombra has tasked me with making sure Princess Platinum learns something worthwhile from you two." A slight laugh comes from the stallion as he points his hoof to the mare, "Now I agree with Sombra, you should rest." To the words Queen Apatite again tries to move herself from the bed, "I assure you there's nothing wrong with me-..." Swirl is quick to chime in as he talks, "Oh no, of course not, from what i saw you just got caught on your cloak...nothing to major." The mare jumps to the stallion's words as she nods her head, "Yes, that's what happened, nothing more." Swirl nods his head as he shoots back a smile. Queen Apatite repays the smile as she looks between Swirl and Sombra, "Well...I do believe I will take a slight rest." Sombra nods as he moves towards the door with his gaze to Swirl to follow. Swirl's horn glows a faint gold as the items he placed follow after him as the two stallion's leave the room. Sombra's horn glows a little to the sight of the two crystal ponies in the hallway, "There's no need for any panic, you can leave us now." The two crystal ponies bow their heads as they start away from the hall, as they leave Swirl floats the book next to himself as he talks, "I regret to inform you my friend, but the answers you wish to have did not come to me from just one night." The chime from the horn turns to Swirl as Sombra nods his head, "I would not have thought they would." Swirl quickly cuts him off as he speaks up, "But I do have some things to tell you if you would follow me." (elsewhere in the castle) The empty plates in front of Princess Platinum are starting to become moved as she floats a cloth napkin to the tip of her mouth and snout. But her closed eyes don't stay cut from the world for long as a familiar sounding stallion's voice comes to the room. "Princess Platinum." The white mare opens her eyes as she turns her gaze to the gold and black armored stallion staring to her from the entrance of the room, "Commander Hurricane?" The pegasus blinks to her tone as he speaks, "You are surprised to see me?" Platinum doesn't move from her seat as she wiggles her hoof to the stallion, "No, I was just expecting Emperor Gust would have came himself." Commander hurricane nods his head as he trots into the room, "Our traditions are not as easily forgotten, its unwise to send such an important pegasus into a storm, even if the winds have been quelled." Princess Platinum blinks to the comment as she holds her regal tone, "Yes...well i'm sure you had no problem arriving did you?" The stallion shakes his head as he talks, "No, neither me or my guard had trouble." His eyes drift around the room for a moment as his voice comes back a little unsure, "Have the Earth ponies arrived yet?" The white mare shakes her head as she answers, "No, but King Sombra should return when Queen Apatite has been steadied." Hurricane's ear flicks a little to the comment as he stares to her, "Queen Apatite is ill?" Platinum pauses for a moment before she continues, "To take such a nasty fall I assume she would have to be." The light blue pegasus pauses for a moment as he thinks, but his voice comes back to him as he speaks up, "I suppose a meeting with only land dwellers is fine, providing the circumstances." Before Platinum's voice can come back up the two ponies ears bring a deep echoey voice to them as Sombra and Star Swirl enter the room, "Commander Hurricane, I hope you're winds were fair and your skies were clear." A smile comes over Hurricane's face as he nods his head to the larger dark grey stallion, "A greeting fit for a pegasus." The happy tone doesn't stay long as Hurricanes voice drops a little lower, "I do hope Queen Apatite becomes well before our meeting has finished." Sombra shifts his head between Princess Platinum and Hurricane as his horn glows a bit brighter with quick words, "Queen Apatite is fine, she just had a fall...Please follow me and I will show us to the-..." Hurricane cuts through the magic's chime as he speaks up, Should we not wait for the earth ponies?" The dark grey stallion moves his eyes around the room again before he nods, "Yes, we shall wait for them to arrive first." The light blue pegasus’s eyes move to Star Swirl as another friendly smile comes to him, "Sir Star Swirl, I was unaware you would be attending this." Swirl brings his hoof up as he shakes his head, "That's where you are wrong i'm afraid, I will not be joining in this..." He stops with a slight laugh as he continues, "Battle for wits." The comment goes unregistered to Hurricane as Platinum's regal feminine voice comes back to the room, "Commander Hurricane surely you're not going to wait the whole time in your armor...are you?" Sombra's echo comes back now directed to Princess Platinum as he talks, "A pegasus never removes their armor in unfamiliar terrain." "My word, I am starting to believe Emperor Gust's daughter has started to rub off onto you King Sombra." Hurricane turns back to Princess Platinum with a happier expression as he nods his head, "I am more comfortable now than I would be." Princess Platinum holds a slightly discouraged expression as she nods her head, but she covers it up with a faint laugh as she talks, "very well." As Commander Hurricane takes his seat Swirl moves a little closer to Sombra as he speaks, "I will return this evening to continue my research Sombra, I wish you luck my friend." Sombra's right ear flicks down a little, Swirl thinks over its motion before he nods his head, "You're welcome my friend." The stallion's trot quickly brings him out of the room as he moves away. End of chapter 5
Chapter 6Chapter 6 – A feather off The days sun has started to take hold over the crystal empire as the light refracted around the cities streets giving off the illusion that every tile of crystal stone on the ground is a different color. A content smile crosses Star Swirl's face as he looks around the cities streets around him, most of the ponies he passes don't pay any attention to him. But the ones that do turn their faces to him give a slight confused stare, of course Star Swirl doesn't take notice of it as his sights set to a dark magenta colored two story house. His trot brings him to take his body up on the light blue crystal sidewalk as he nears the house. The content smile he had on lose its realism as he nears the door. Outside of the door in two plant pots sit two rose red flowers, but the plants buds look almost like glass. Swirl's horn glows a faint gold as the flap on his satchel opens and he floats out a smaller version of the two crystallized plants, the only two differences are that this one is smaller and has a very faint see through cyan color. As his motion ends and the plant comes to float beside him he taps his hoof to the door. The inside of the house is silent for a moment but the moment silence doesn't last long as the door opens to a curious staring greenish blue crystal pegasus. The mare's cyan green mane lays to one side with the other free side out in two small strains of mane held together in a chain like hair band that comes down to the base of her left ear. The mare squints to the stallion as a low sweet voice comes from her, "Hello, do I know you?" Swirl smiles as he hovers the plant to her, but a faint chuckle comes from him as he hoovers the plant closer to her, "Aura Bright...Is this my punishment for coming one day late?" The mare doesn't change her expression as she takes the plant to her right hoof, her eyebrow cocks to him as she gives a slight smile, "I still do not know who you are." Swirl blinks to the comment as the door closes in his face, the stallion shifts a little uneasy as he stares to the closed door. But he doesn't even have time to move his hoof before the door swings back open to the mare's happy face as she pulls the stallion inside. A laugh escapes Star Swirl as he stumbles a little to the pull, but his balance is brought back to him as the mare's now less than ladylike voice speaks up, "Your letters said you would be here when the unicorn's arrived." Swirl holds the embrace softly as he talks, "I was." "Bha." The mare loses her hold on the stallion as her higher pitched feminine chime rings from her, "There you go breaking your promise again, Mr.Swirl." Swirl just smiles as the mare reaches to the crystal plant she put near the door, her back comes to the stallion as she starts her trot into the room, "I mean truly, when will you ever be somewhere you say you would be?" Before Swirl can speak up the mare turns around as she wobbles the hoof with the plant a little as her head bobs to her words, "And what is with the uncut beard? You look as if you're older than you truly are." The grey stallion holds his smile as he shakes his head, "But I am older." The mare cocks her eyebrow to the stallion as she nods her head a little sarcastically, "Oh Star Swirl, you are only as old as you act." Swirl nods his head as he talks, "That's easy for a mare like you to say..." His voice drops a little sweet as he continues, "Why would a mare like you ever want to act her age, especially if she continues to become more beautiful every time a pony lays their eyes on her?" To the stallion's loving gaze the mare moves a little closer towards him, but Swirl's stare blinks away as she gets to close, a giggle comes from Aura as she talks, "Bha." Her right hoof still holds the plant as she pokes it to his chest, "...I am still younger than you mind and body, but you, you are not old enough to act so distinct." Her eyes and smile move to the small beard on his chin as she cocks her head again, "You will be cutting this...will you not?" Swirl nods his head as he floats the plant from the mare's hoof, the low chime in the room matches his weak voice as he talks, "As long as I get to see you, you have my word it will disappear." Aura takes the floating plant from the magic as she gives a little giggle, "Bha, your word is something earth ponies could not even use to plant grass." A chuckle comes from Star Swirl as the mare goes to her normal long windedness, "...But I suppose it will have to do." Her smile comes back to Star Swirl as she gasp, "I forgot, I have a present for you this time." Swirl's ear flicks a little as the mare's wings flair out to her loud voice, "Oh Wispy! Come here Wispy!" The sound of small claws to the floor comes into the room as Swirl brings his eyes to a hallway adjacent to the room, a small crystal looking lizard comes into the room. But the lizard stops as it turns to Star Swirl with a slight hiss, the hiss coming from its crystal mouth is high pitched and loud as Star Swirl squints to the animal, "Hizzzz." Aura smiles happily to the sound as she trots over to it and scoops it up, "Oh, I think he likes you Star Swirl." The stallion nods his head to the lizard as he watches the mare coming closer to him, but she doesn't stop as she pins her bright yellow gold eyes to him, "You have to hold him or he will never like you." Swirl gives a faint chuckle as he nods, "Yes, just put him in my bag and-..." "No no no, this is something that will become more valuable than dragon's gems." Aura holds the lizard out towards Star Swirl as it blinks its eyes separately. "Y-yes." Swirl moves his hoof to the lizard as he takes hold of it and puts on a fake smile. But as he takes hold of it Aura starts to talk, "Do you know what kind of a lizard this is Mr.Swirl?" Star Swirl looks over the crystal scales of the animal but is unable to place it, "No, I do not." Aura nods her head unfazed by the words she expected, "This is a wheezing Iguana of Bison desert." Star Swirl looks down to the lizard as if he's holding fire as he shifts very uneasy to the words, "They're poisonous?!" The pegasus mare happily nods her head as she takes the lizard from Swirl's grasp and lays it to the ground, "Yes, the poison from their scales could stop a griffin from flying in one flap of a wing." Swirl blinks to her words as he impatiently waits for her to get to her point, Aura happily continues as her sweet voice rings from her, "But the lizards that were found around this area are not poisonous on touch." Her wings start to fold as she holds her eyes to him, "Why would that be Mr.Swirl?" The stallion's voice is still a little shaky from the animal that was in his grasp but he speaks up, "The scales on them have turned to crystal." His words spring a new found reassurance as he repeats them, "The scales..." He squint to her as he talks, "But how did you know the poison would not affect me?" Aura holds her hoof out as she goes silent. To the motion Swirl brings his eyes to her hoof, but he slowly moves his own hoof to her as she puts hers under his, "Because Mr.Swirl, the magic that has turned this animal into what it currently is also has affected the whole world around it." A slight sigh escapes her as she nods, "But making you believe that I would poison you was not the point of your gift." "Do you still have the journal I gave you?" Star Swirl nods his head as he dips his hoof to the bag, but she waves hers as she talks, "There's something amazing about wheezing Iguanas, there breathing is that of a dragon's...Do you know what that means?" Swirl nods his head as he starts to rub to his small beard, Aura watches the motion with a slight smile but listens to his voice, "That should mean that...Wispy has the ability to send anything burnable to a designated area." Aura smiles as she trots towards a couch like seat near the empty fireplace of the main room, "Correct Mr.Swirl, now you have the means to tell me when you will be late." The stallion gives a slight chuckle as he floats the bag from himself, his trot comes to him as he follows after her but he's careful to avoid the lizard at his hooves, "Was this demonstration a way to scold me further?" "Yes." Aura holds her hoof to the seat as she talks, "And now that the time has passed it is your turn to tell me why you have waited so long to come back...Now sit while I go and make the tea I would have had ready." Swirl nods his head respectfully as he takes his seat to the couch. End of chapter 6
Chapter 7Chapter 7 – The battle for wits "...Tell us King Sombra why have we all been called here?" Commander Hurricane’s voice comes to the large meeting room with the same depth as if he were right next to everypony. The large grey unicorn nods his head as he looks around the round crystal table he sits at, his horn has a faint green glow to it as the echo of his thoughts ring around the room, "Yes, I believe now that everypony has arrived we should not waste anymore time." Everypony's eyes become fixated to the grey stallion as the words spring into their ears almost like a perfectly told whisper, "Since Equestria was founded by you three the Crystal Empire has grown to be the largest city in the land...Now not only has this Empire started to spread beyond the ideas of old but it has started to completely change what peace means." Sombra's words stop for a moment as he looks around, "...Peace as it was called when Equestria was founded was nothing more than a trust the three tribes formed to insure the problems of old did not follow us into this new land. I propose a change to that peace." A slight nervous laugh comes up from the caramel coated stallion with light brown mane as his voice comes up, "What do you mean a change? I believe right now there is nothing needing changing." "Yes." Commander Hurricane cocks his eyes to Sombra as he talks, "The winds of change can be very helpful...but presenting a gust when unneeded will cause the best to fall from the sky." The white mare that sits across from the table is silent for the moment as she plans her words, but her regal and low feminine voice cuts through the stallions beside her as she speaks up, "Commander Hurricane, Chancellor Pudding cup, perhaps we should let the pony finish...No sense jumping to conclusions." The room begins to go quite as Sombra's horn glows again, his gaze sits to the earth pony leader as he talks, "You believe nothing needs to be changed correct?" Pudding Cup nods his head but Sombra's echo comes up before he can speak, "Then tell me Chancellor, how has the peace been treating the earth ponies?" The caramel stallion blinks his eyes to the comment as he talks, "I beg your pardon?" Sombra nods his head as his horn glows a slightly bright dim green, "How has the peace treaty been to the earth ponies?" Chancellor Pudding Cup slightly stumbles on his words as he shakes his head, "I-it fine? I can not see a problem with the way it’s going thus far." "Really? Then tell me earth ponies have been allowed into Unicorn provinces for more than just food delivery?" The stallion goes quite a little, but to the silence the white mare shifts her eyes a little uncomfortable towards the other unicorn whose echo still rings through the room, "...And is it not true that in some parts of Equestria the ability of growing has become strained due to lack of sun time?" Chancellor Pudding Cup nods his head as he talks, "Well yes the day time has been scarce these past few moons." Princess Platinum speaks up as the comment lofts into the room, "The sun time has been only altered a slight bit?" "Why has the daytime been altered Princess?" The white mare turns her head to the pegasus as he turns a questioning eye. Platinum's voice comes out in an almost defensive tone as she tries to hold her regular tone, "The day time has been shifted to align with the building of the new unicorn capital." A slight chuckle comes from the pegasus as he shakes his head, "So is the will of a unicorn...to believe the world is nothing more than an object to be influenced in only the way they see fit." The white mare squints to the comment as she nods her head, "Yes, the sun and moon is our right. As long as Unicorn magic is what it takes to rise and set, then its will is that of our own." Sombra's expression shows his lose over the situation as he tries to bring his voice back to the room, "Now Commander Hurricane this meeting was not held to bring up issues so petty." The pegasus turns his head to him with a slight tone as he speaks, "Petty? Something that affects every tribe is petty?" Sombra is unamused to the comment as he shakes his head, "I merely I’m pointing out flaws in our treaty." "Flaws? Very well, I assume the pegasus would be next...so be it King Sombra, judge the pegasus like Unicorns have judged before." The armored pony moves his hooves to the helmet that still sits atop his head as he waits for the grey stallion to continue. Sombra closes his eyes for a moment as a sigh comes from him, "Commander Hurricane, you should know starting your flight in the hardest flap expecting hard winds will only leave you tired when calm air meets you." To the words Princess Platinum's voice speaks up a little louder, "King Sombra I must insist that a unicorn of your stature should not bow to speak in the tongue of pegas-..." Sombra's echo deepens as it booms back from the crystal walls of the meeting room and back down to the white mare, "Princess Platinum, your youth in matters of such magnitude is your undoing...Do not speak judgment on those more fit then you!" The white mare's ears goes down as she nods her head, the other two stallions turn their eyes to the grey pony as his horn starts to flicker a little. But the echo from him becomes steady as his words move through the room, "The treaty of old is flawed in ways we do not see because of our blindness to change the rules of old...We must move to a feeling of true peace and acceptance not bound by rules and orders of so many, we must combine these ideals to a whole...one set design that fits for all, with no restrictions because of a ponies race." Commander Hurricane’s voice is low but it carries his surprised tone well as he goes wide eyes to the unicorn, "What are you saying?" Sombra stands from his seat as the echo calls around him, "I am saying to move forward there can be no three, there can only be one." His eyes go hard to the three ponies as he looks around the room to them. But Princess Platinum and Chancellor Pudding Cup do not speak as the blue pegasus starts to shake his head, "One ruler?!" The surprised voice doesn't last long as he regains his tone, "This is just more of unicorn's desires to control..." His hoof comes towards the grey stallion as he talks, "I should assume you believe there no better pony to rule over this idea but you, a unicorn!" Sombra's horn goes dull as he drops his hard face shocked by the pegasus hard words. "I must say King Sombra, I side with the pegasus on this matter...There can not be one ruler." The stallion stutters a little as his gaze and hooves come to point to the crystal table, "I-it would be chaos when that one ruler dies, no rule would be the same we would be bond still by restrictions and prejudices ideas determined by that pony's rule." Sombra shakes his head as he flickers his horn to power again, "No, I do not seek power, I wish to unit Equestria like we have done in the Crystal Empire. Not through the use of conquering or force." Commander Hurricane shakes his head as his voice comes out, "No King Sombra, with this idea you seek to undermine the powers of the rulers and in turn bring all the lands power to you.” Sombra's echo comes out again as his words target Hurricane, "I wish to see an Equestria no longer bound by the failed ways of old, I wish to see Pegasus, Unicorns and Earth ponies together." "And just how do you suppose Unicorns,Pegasus, and Earth ponies would adopt these ways of life if not by a single rule?" Commander Hurricane's posture is impatient as Sombra's fading voice comes to him. "By asking the rulers here in front of me to make the change to allow Equestria to grow." Sombra's eyes move to the earth stallion and Princess Platinum as he struggles to hold his spell, "Surely you two would will your powers away for the great good of Equestria?" Both Platinum and the earth stallion are silent as they look between each other. A laugh comes from Commander Hurricane as he stands from his seat, "A unicorn asking a unicorn to give up the power of rule?" He shakes his head as he stares to Sombra, "I was right when I spoke of Queen Apatite, you are now more pegasus than unicorn." The stallion cocks his head as he slows his voice, "You have peeked my interest on this day King Sombra, I will not tell Emperor Gust of your plan to take power away from him. But I do have a question King Sombra...you speak of change and allowing all three to live together in a world where everypony is completely equal...but tell me King Sombra what becomes of the Crystal Heart? The most powerful item right now known to Equestria, a power so grand no pony truly understands it." He holds his gaze to the gray stallion as he speaks, "What happens to this power? Is it free for anypony?" Sombra is silent for a moment as his horn comes to a low glow, but his eyes drift to the table and away from Commander Hurricane as he speaks, "No, the Crystal Heart would have to stay in the care of Unicorns." "Of course it would King Sombra...Of course it would." The pegasus looks between the other two ponies still sitting as he talks, "I am not the leader of the pegasus and I do not have final say on the matters presented here today...But when word hits Emperor Gust that King Sombra wishes for him to consolidate power with the other two I believe he will turn it down." He bows his head to the two ponies he talks to as he stops his soon to be trot out, "There is not disrespect for the peace treaty we all live by so far and it will not be altered. I see no movement from either of you so I believe this meeting of us has come to its end." Hurricane turns back to Sombra as he gets a lower voice, "I wish fair winds for you and Queen Apatite." At the end of the stallion's words his trot starts back towards the door. Sombra continues his stare away from the other two as Chancellor Pudding cup moves from his seat, "King Sombra, I will be taking my leave tomorrow." The grey unicorn nods his head as he looks to the stallion, "Nimby will show you and your company to your rooms in the castle." Princess Platinum waits for the room to clear as she stares her green eyes to the unmoving stallion, her stance up comes fast though as she adjust the cloak around her figure, "I have a question King Sombra." The grey stallion brings his eyes to meet her as he waits. "Why did you not tell Commander Hurricane that magic, even magic in items can only be manipulated by Unicorns?" Sombra nods his head as he again struggles to hold his spell, "Princess Platinum...For a young ruler you have the most attuned mind, even if it is only to your own kind." He pauses for a moment as he watches the mare nod her head, "Yes, its true I lacked in telling Commander Hurricane that and the reason is because I do not believe magic is so one sided." His horn lets out a pop as his magic leaves it, Sombra nods his head to the white mare as he begins his trot towards the door. End of chapter 7
Chapter 8Chapter 8 – Minds alike A slight giggle comes from the crystal mare as she sets her cup back to the table in front of her. But her movement doesn't stop the grey stallion beside her as he continues his attempts at painting his mind's picture for her to see as his excited voice continues through the room, "...But of course our troubles were not over just because the spell had been changed." He waves his hoof to her as he smiles, "Oh no, when a levitation spell does something like that you have a bounce to your hoof for the next moon it seems." A chuckle comes from him as he stops his story. The greenish blue pegasus holds her smile not to the stallion's story but to his face as Swirl starts to come down from his high emotion. It takes a few moments for the grey stallion to take back hold of himself as he nods his head, "I must say Aura...I seemed to have taken that story a little too far." "Not at all Star Swirl..." She holds her crystal sparkling eyes to him as she shakes her head, "How could you not tell a story like that without emotion..." A faint laugh comes from her as she stops for a moment, "Truly a spell like that is something amazing." Swirl smiles as he nods, "I see no amazement to it...That spell has been useless ever since then." A chuckle comes over him as he floats the still full tea cup to the table, "...A spell to allow unicorns to walk on clouds would never be a real thing." To the sigh Aura jabs her hoof to Swirl's side as she brings herself to rise a little from her seat, "BAH! When has a failure ever stopped the almighty Star Swirl from trying something foolish again?" Her hoof comes to tap on her mouth as she continues, "I was once told by a certain pony, that failures are only the first step to completing a task." Swirl lets out a chuckle as he rolls his hoof, "What sort of pony would say such a thing?" Aura's gaze goes half eyed to him as she cocks her head, "Well the strangest pony I have ever met told me this." It takes Swirl a moment to pick up on her gaze before he speaks, "oh...OH, yes yes, I believe I do recall that saying." The pegasus mare flairs her wings out as she gasp excitedly, "Then you shall try this spell again yes?" "I beg your pardon?" Swirl's voice is cut from the room as the excited mare springs from her seat and begins to pull to the grey stallion, "Do not pretend you have not heard me Star Swirl." The stallion comes to his hooves as the mare trots happily away from him mindlessly talking to herself, "Just think Star Swirl, a spell like this would become something wondrous for Equestria...why it could help so many ponies!" Her face comes back to Swirl as she stares to him with a bright smile. Swirl's eyes move over the mare's coat as he watches her greenish-blue coloring turning a slight pink, "I think you are just making yourself too excited Aura...you know as well as I do only pegasus can manipulate clouds to hold them." "Oh? Really?" She lowers her head as she cocks her eyebrows to the stallion, but Swirl's stance shifts a little uncomfortably as she moves closer towards him, "...Did I just hear Sir.Swirl say it can not be done?" Swirl's eyes can't go to the mare's as he stammers a little nervous to her close person, "W-well I am just saying that..." "Tis tis tis..." Aura clicks her tongue as she sways her hoof in front of Swirl, "Let me see your hoof." The stallion blinks to the words as he keeps his legs pinned to the floor, to his lack of motion Aura rolls her eyes as she moves her hoof to his front leg. Swirl quickly springs his hoof up to her as she takes it under her own, her balance becomes a little shifty as she takes her other hoof from the ground and begins to turn Swirls in her grasp. "Now Swirl, tell me what you see." A moment of silence comes to the stallion as he looks to his hoof clasped in between the mare's crystally hold, a smile comes over him as he speaks up, "I see two beautiful hooves separated by something lacking in luster." Aura's hoof slightly smacks against Swirl's face as the words end, the tap to his face was caught off guard but he listens to the mare's happy voice as she speaks, "You are mistaken Sir.Swirl, what you should have seen is nothing...nothing at all." The stallion blinks to her happy smile as she darts her eyes down telling his to follow, as he does Aura's voice comes back to the room, "...Do you see it yet Star Swirl? You see three normal looking hooves..." Swirl nods his head as he listens to her long winded breath coming through, "Good, now tell me if you see no difference why is it that you can not walk on clouds." A chuckle comes from the stallion as he slips his hoof from her smooth warm feeling hooves, "Because I have no wings." Aura moves her hooves back to the ground but one is quick to jab to his chest as she speaks, "Bha! A little filly does not use their wings to stand on a cloud." Swirl nods his head to her words. To the nod the crystal mare smiles wide, "Good, now follow me Sir. Swirl." Aura trots away from the stallion as she moves to the staircase at the back of the room, but her trot doesn't last long as she turns to the lizard that has only barely moved from where Star Swirl placed him, "Now Wispy do not eat any of my plants." Swirl gets another slight chuckle as he starts to follow after the mare. Aura's lead has brought them to her room as she takes an unfazed step into the room and towards her closed balcony doors. But Star Swirl is unable to follow as he looks around the room. Her gaze comes back to the stallion as she stops in front of the doors, a smile comes from her as her tone almost pokes fun to the stallion's stance, "Sir.Swirl, dose a mare have to give you permission to pass through her bed chambers?" The stallion pushes himself into the room as he ignores her comment with a chuckle, "I have never entered anywhere unpromoted...No room is any different." Aura giggles to the comment as she opens the doors to the outside world, her greenish-blue color that has taken on a pink glow now becomes a simple green as the sun strikes against it only highlighting her mane's color. Her head tilts to one side as she stares outside, "Tell me Sir.Swirl, why is it that our daytime has been cut short as of lately?" Swirl moves himself next to the mare as he looks over the late day's sun, but his face becomes unamused as he sighs, "Because, the balance of what Equestria should be is unstable..." He smiles as he turns his eyes to her, "...Much like the unicorns that pretend they control it." "Hm, you will never voice your own opinion of the land, but yet you have no problem voicing opinion of your own kind." Aura squints her eyes to the stallion as she looks him over. Swirl shakes his head as he holds his smile, "I see no kinds of ponies, I only see hooves of majority walking away from the direction they should be facing." Aura lets out a swaying sigh as she leans to the words, "I have always enjoyed your mind Star Swirl..." A smile comes from her face as she holds her hoof to the open world before them, "Now I need you to jump from my rooftop." Swirl blinks to the comment as his eyes go a little wide, "A-Aura...I do believe you have enjoyed your tea too much...tell me are you feeling a heat to your head?" The mare loses her smile as she pushes the stallion to the balcony flooring, her voice becomes high and even though its faked Swirl's ears do not pick up on it as he listens, "MR.SWIRL? A stallion should know not to ask such questions of heat?!" "N-no I meant..." His rushed voice is cut off as Aura takes to her wings and floats beside him, a giggle escaped her as she talks, "Now trust me Star Swirl." He nods his head as her hoof comes from his face and she starts to flap her wings from the balcony. Swirl watches the pegasus from his squinting eyes as she bites to a small cloud high above the house, the cloud's length is large but the cloud takes on a flat shape as her hooves moves through it. The motions only last a few moments before she comes back to the balcony, the cloud moves from her grasp as she leaves it in front of the rails, "Now Star Swirl, would you do your spell?" A chuckle comes from the stallion as he steps forward and looks down to the crystal streets beneath him, "Aura...I am not as young as I use to-..." "Bha!" The mare points her hoof to him as she talks over his voice in mocking high pitch feminine banter, "OH Aura, I am not as young as I use to be..." She rubs to her chin as if pulling to a beard as she cocks her eyes to him. "You're mocking me Aura." The mare nods her head as she pokes her hoof back towards him, "Yes, I am...Now to do your spell you have to believe it works." A chuckle comes from him as he talks, "Believing is not-..." The mare crosses her front hooves as she turns her head away from the stallion she floats in front of, "Really? Then Sir.Swirl please lie to me and tell me that unicorn magic is not generated from feelings and thoughts." Swirl cocks his head to her words as he brings his hoof to pull on his small beard, "I believe I should stop telling you so much." "Star Swirl!" The stallion chuckles as his horn glows a faint gold, "Aura, you say all I need to do is believe...than I will try." A small crystal stool comes in front of the rails. Aura's smile goes wide as she watches Swirl's horn taking on a bright gold glow, the magic moves over his body as he holds his gaze towards the mare. Neither of them speak though as Swirl takes his first hoof to the stool, Aura moves a little above the shaky stallion as she moves her hooves to his sides. Swirl's heart pounds hard and his mind screams to jump from the stool back to the room, but he holds his eyes sternly as he moves his first hoof to the thin layer of white fluff lofting in front of the rail. "Do not worry Swirl, a fall from here would only break a leg." A chuckle comes from Swirl as he holds his hoof from the cloud, "My dear Aura I have never known that to be a thing to hope for." To the words his hoof places to the cloud, but it doesn't fall through. The stallion's eyes go wide as he moves his other hoof to the cloud, a new found smile comes from him as he begins to pull himself over the rail with the help of Aura's tug. But the moment of truth comes as the stallion comes to stand on the thin layer of cloud, "HA ha ha! It worked?! It worked!!?" Aura smiles to the stallion's joy as she takes her hooves from the stallion, but as she does the stallion's stance becomes shaky as he wobbles to the cloud's unfamiliar surface. A fear stricken face comes over Aura as she quickly pulls the stallion towards her, but from the jerk Swirl topples over the rail and onto the mare that pulled him. Aura's breath is knocked from her and the quick movement has turned the cloud into small wisp of white as it floats away. Swirl quickly speaks as he looks to the mare beneath him, "Are you ok?!" The mare is silent for a moment as she lets out a slight laugh, "No, I must say I did not expect you to be so clumsy with a pegasus." Her eyes dart up a little as Swirl follows them. His eyes pin to his hoof that has pinned her right wing to the ground, Swirl’s weight is quickly lost from it as he stands from the mare. Aura stretches her wing out for a moment as it folds back to her, but Swirl's voice comes to him a little rushed as he holds his hoof to her, "Are you ok my dear?" The mare smiles as she nods her head, "Of course, do you really think a simple fall can hurt a wing?" Swirl is silent as she continues, "Now Star Swirl, how do you feel?" The stallion smiles wide as he slightly moves past her, "Invigorated!" He moves through the room for a moment as he turns back to the mare, "I-I must write this spell down!" Aura nods her head as she smiles to him, "Of course Star Swirl." Not a moment after her words the stallion almost bolts from the room with his newfound smile. End of chapter 8
Chapter 9Chapter 9 – Swirl it up Since the spell ended and the grey stallion retreated back to his seat of earlier his head has been buried to his book as the quil strokes his thoughts to its blank pages. Aura has stood to one side of the room as she watches the stallion's hoof moving through it’s words, but her gaze that she has kept for so long is finally met as Star Swirl's auburn eyes move to her. "Oh...i'm sorry..." He moves his satchel to the floor next to him as he shifts his gaze to the floor, "I got a little lost in this spell...forgi-..." His words are cut off as Aura shakes her head, "No, Sir.Swirl, do not ask for forgiveness, you have done nothing wrong." The mare brings her hooves to tap to the floor beneath her as she tilts her head, "Tell me Sir.Swirl why is it that you have changed so much?" Swirl shakes his head with a slight chuckle as he stares to the mare, "I-I must say I do not understand why a beard is such a big change." She gives a slight giggle as her voice comes back, "No, that is not what I mean Sir.Swirl..." The stallion is silent as he holds his eyes to the crystal mare, but to his silence the mare continues, "Just before..." She points her hoof to the stairs as her sweet tone holds, "...Your hooves had the spring of a colt after that spell, your smile that was once so...so warming is now something you hold in, and it makes me want to know why?" Swirl's eyes lower as he stares away from her, "Aura, the land of Equestria was supposed to be a land of new...a land of change and a land of freedom." Aura is silent as Swirl's voice continues, "...But what has changed besides the dirt beneath our hooves?" The hooves that held the book to the table come up as Swirl struggles with his words, "I-its the same petty feuds that keep the land from moving on, its the same inability to bow for another ponies needs." His hoof points to the window with the lowering sun as he speaks up, "Look Aura, the sun is at whim to Unicorns that decide when the day has ended." Aura blinks to the slightly raised tone as she smiles softly, "But Swirl, there have been change...look at what King Sombra has done." Swirl nods his head as he holds his hoof to the window but his eyes to Aura, "Yes..." The tone of his voice comes back down with a sigh as he puts his hoof to his side, "Yes...But even Sombra in his understanding of what truly is needed is powerless for real change." A smile crosses Swirl's face as he looks over the mare, "Few ponies want to believe there truly is no difference to each race, and the few that do suffer for that belief." "Tell me Aura, do you know when the Crystal Heart celebration is to be held?" The mare squints to the words as she shakes her head, "Um...no, word through the kingdom is that Queen Apatite has not decided a date." Swirl nods his head, "Yes, that's true..." He sighs again as he turns fully towards her, "Queen Apatite has fallen ill." Aura blinks to the words as she listens to the stallion, "...But not with any normal sickness, the same strange magic that has made this empire join together without the friction it should have met has also started to strain Queen Apatite." "W-what do you mean ill?" The mare shakes her head with a slight laugh, "Why would King Sombra and Queen Apatite not inform the city?" The stallion nods his head as his words stem from him, "Because, they both believe like myself that everypony is equal..." He chuckles as he stops his words, "Well equal by magic of course, there are still some things unique to a pony." His eyes hold to the mare's wings with a faint smile as he trails on, "But they have waited to inform any pony because they both wished to make their ideas heard throughout the other provinces of Equestria.” A laugh comes from Swirl as he continues, “Strange their is a unicorn not wanting power, and a pegasus that has left her clouds to better the land bound ponies, however I trust their thoughts because I think the same. But yet with Queen Apatite having a weakened stance and King Sombra spread thin I feel they may not be able to give a powerful enough voice to allow the other three to give up traditions of old and move to one truly peaceful rule.” Aura brings her hoof to her mouth as she talks, "What kind of illness could do this?” Swirl pauses as he thinks, but his head comes to a shake as his low voice comes out, "I and they....do not know." He moves his gaze to stare blankly towards the wall as he gives off a slight laugh, "Now I feel I must apologize to you Aura...I have let my mind carry me from your question." "No." The mare pushes her current thoughts aside as she gives a sweet smile, "You answered my question Swirl." "I-I do not understand, I thought your question was why my views of magic have changed so much?" The stallion holds a confused stare to her smile. But she doesn't lose it as she answers. "No Sir.Swirl, I wanted to know why your warm and life loving smile has become so seldomly seen." To his lightning confusion Aura nods her head as she moves closer and puts her hoof to the book resting on the table, "Sir.Swirl, I see now why you keep your opinions to yourself so much...but you should not be kept from your goal just because of a gloomy looking cloud." Swirl's smile comes to him as he listens to the pegasus's words, his gaze sets to the journal he was writing in as his voice drops to a deep low, "My dear Aura, my deepest feelings and purest thoughts are two things I have kept from you...for fear of what you might do with them." Aura gives a little giggle to the words as she hoofs the book towards him, "I do not know why you kept your opinion of this matter locked for so long, you had nothing to fear." The stallion nods his head as he takes the book from her hoof, "Yes...I was foolish to keep my opinion on this matter hidden." As the book comes to his hooves he starts to fumble with its pages, but he doesn't get to mess with the book for long as Aura's green-blue hoof rest to it, "Star Swirl, I believe you have had your snout buried in your book for long enough." She averts her eyes from him as she continues, "I will not hold you from the castle any further, your knowledge is needed if what you have told me is true." Swirl takes his hooves from the pages as the realization to the world around him comes back to its weight on his mind, "Yes, I need to return." "Good." Aura takes her hoof from the book as she picks her posture back up a little more proper, "Now Sir.Swirl, you will be returning before you leave to retrieve Wispy...will you not?" "Um..yes yes of course." Swirl rolls his hoof to the words as the mare smiles. "Perfect, now I will be informed early of your late arrival." A faint giggle escapes her mouth as Swirl starts his reluctant trot towards the door. "I promise Aura, this day and tomorrow are not the only two days you shall see me." End of chapter 9
Chapter 10Chapter 10 – Magic of simple, not for all The inside of the crystal empire gives off its own bright blue-white glow as the sun from the world around it begins to roll into the mountains in the distance. But as the tall dark grey stallion stares out of the window to the crystal lit city beneath the windows there's no urge of setting for another day. Sombra's stare over the world is not to last long though as the sound of a hoof knocking to the front throne room door. The stallion's eyes lighten a little to the sound as he turns to the door that comes open to his magic's glow. But the slightly excited gaze that the stallion had to the knock is not brought to hold as he watches the dark blue crystal stallion coming into the room. However his voice holds its own unique deep echo, "Yes Nimby, what is it?" The stallion bows his head as he speaks up, "I did not mean to bother you King Sombra." "Nonsense, my most trusted adviser has never been a bother." Sombra holds a patient smile as the stallion begins to speak up. "The pegasus have sent their final word on your speakings today." Sombra nods his head as he moves his stance towards the empty throne, "Very well." Nimby moves aside from the throne room entrance as he nods his head. As the crystal earth pony steps aside a white pegasus wearing gold and blue armor steps into the throne room. As the stallion's voice comes to the room his hoof comes to the helmet on his head as the pony removes it and gives a slight bow, "Emperor Gust wishes fair winds for you King Sombra." The grey stallion returns the respectful nod as he listens to the stallion's words, "...But Emperor Gust has refused the offers given at this meeting until there is signs of the other two considering this proposal." Sombra's horn is silent for a moment before he gives a slight smile, "Yes..." His horn goes quiet for a moment as the stallion places the helmet back to his head, "...I wish you clear skies, but I do not have a reply at this moment." The pegasus nods his head as he turns to the door and starts to trot through the door without Nimby at his side s the crystal pony waits for Sombra's words. But the grey stallion doesn't speak up for a moment as the pegasus leaves the room, his horn stays a low glow though as he listens to the hooves becoming an echo to the room. A smile crosses Sombra's face as he looks to the crystal pony still in the room, "Tell me Nimby, for a pegasus to remove ones armor in the presence of unfamiliar ponies what does that tell?" The crystal pony squints to the comment as his voice comes to him, "I-I was unaware of the stallion's motions." Sombra nods his head as the echo come back to Nimby, "That’s because words can be forced, they can be puppetized and controlled...actions, even small ones are how we all truly speak." The stallion's horn pops to the spell as he brings his right hoof up to the crystal stallion. Nimby follows the motions for a moment before he bows his head, "And a well night for you King Som-..." The pony's voice is cut off as the sound of another unfamiliar tone cuts through it, "Well, I must say that is quite insightful King Sombra...Quite insightful indeed." The two stallions already standing in the room turn a questioning and confused eye to the words as there eyes move to lay on a old looking tan coated earth stallion with sand colored mane with a short sand colored tail and a simple brown cloak around the pony's figure. Nimby's voice comes back to the room as he moves to the stallion, "I'm sorry Sir, but court is over and no audience can be seen without-.." Again Nimby's words are brought to a halt as the stallion cocks his head to the words as he squints his yellow-orange eyes, "Oh no no no, there is no audience fit for a king...just me and my assistant." The stallion gives a slight chuckle as he sways a little, "I hardly find us entertaining either, so there really would be no need for an audience." The earth pony waves his hoof almost in a gesture telling the crystal pony to leave. The gesture sparks Sombra's horn back up as his echo comes back to the room, "You have not been permitted to seek me, and you now try my patience." "Oh no no no, I am merely looking from the door you have left open." The stallion brings his hoof to tap to his mouth as he turns his head up and around the room, "Yes...quite a nice door." Sombra's shows no amusement to the comment as his horn chimes, "Do you mock this castle sir?" "OH no! Not at all." His eyes come back to the dark grey stallion with a slight bit of astonishment, "I am surprised a conversation such as that would have been wanted behind closed doors." "You do not know of the conversations behind closed doors, nor should you ask of them." Sombra's eyes slightly tighten to the pony's unmoving stance as his voice comes back in laugh to Sombra's words. "Of course not, I am nothing but a simple earth pony..." He smiles as he holds his hoof up, "But I have heard words from you, words that have made me think, could it be true? Could King Sombra of the crystal empire truly be taking the first hoof forward to uniting Equestria? T-to finally bring the peace we have all moved here for?" Sombra nods his head but no words come from him. The old earth pony brings his front hooves up as he smiles and claps them together a little, his voice is a bit more excited as he continues his nod, "Perhaps you would like to hear from a simple earth pony...you obviously took that simple messenger's gestures as importance..." The stallion puts one of his hooves down as he hold his other leg up weakly to his excited voice, "Maybe, just maybe words could be more valuable than a gesture." Sombra holds his gaze to the old stallion as he blinks a little to the request, but the echo comes back as he looks to the empty area behind the stallion, "Tell me elder, you say you have an assistant, why does this pony not follow you?" "Oh, you know the young's desires to please the many, it spreads them thin when truly wanted." The old stallion gives a smile as he waits for a response. But the room holds the silence for a moment as Sombra looks over the stallion, but a nod of his head and a beckon of his hoof send Nimby out of the room and the old stallion in. As the doors close from the crystal pony's grasp the old stallion looks around the room a little more, "Truly a wondrous castle King Sombra." The grey stallion doesn't take the comment as his horn glows, "I have never rushed an elder but I must ask for you to stray away from words of so many and only speak your mind." A smile crosses the old stallion's face as he lifts his hoof a little to the empty throne, "Tell me King Sombra, why does your throne sit empty while you stand?" Sombra's eyes do not drift to the crystal outcropping he stands by as the low chime carries his words, "Your words elder?" "Very well, very well..." His nod from the words stops as he looks to the grey stallion with an almost emotionless stare, "I am a healer King Sombra, and I wish to help you." The chime to Sombra's horn glows goes a bit deeper as his eyes go a little wider, "There is no need for a simple healer." “Simple healer?” The old stallion wiggles his right hoof a little to the comment as he laughs, “Do you believe just because I am an earth pony that all of remedies involve dirt?” Sombra blinks to the words as his chime rings on, “No, my thoughts are not as vague as you perceive them to be, but there are no ponies in my castle that are in need of a healer.” The stallion's hoof taps to his mouth as he begins to think out loud, "Hmm...Oh yes I know." The hoof comes from his mouth as he points to Sombra, "I forgot, a mind like yours would rather speak in senseless riddles, very well. I speak these words now because a breath can be wasted before the action has been completed." A smile comes over the old pony as he nods his head, "Do you understand King Sombra?" The grey pony no longer holds the wide eyed gaze as he tightens it again with his horn's brighter green glow, "My respect for those older than me is great, but my will to hear nonsense is not...I am no longer asking but telling, you will leave now elder." A nod comes back over the stallion as he looks to the horn glowing on Sombra's head, "Well, I must say...being told something is rather hard to follow..." The stallion pinnes his gaze to Sombra with a smile as he pauses, "...When the stallion speaking does not move his lips." But before any action could come from the grey stallion the earth pony has bowed and turned towards the door. Sombra's eyes hold hard to the old stallion as his horn pops to the fading spell, the room once again goes silent as the newly formed night sky sits without the moon yet to rise as Sombra moves back to the window. End of chapter 10
Chapter 11Chapter 11 – Glowing brighter The night's air holds the warmth of the sun that has just recently retreated from the sky, but even though the world has lost its light the city of the crystal empire stays lit. The light that stems from the crystal castle that stands towering over the city lets off a calming light blueish white that almost runs over all of the city. Star Swirl knows the luminescent crystal's light is just a residual effect of the sun's heat escaping it but that doesn't stop the stallion's slightly awestruck gaze of it as his trot brings him closer. A few other ponies still occupied the streets around Swirl's trot but most of the mainly night guard ponies pay him no attention. Swirl's gaze of the large glowing crystal is lost as he goes under the standing structure, the stallion's eyes now pin to the blue stone staircase that leads up to the castle's main entrance. With a simple sigh his first hoof comes to the stairs as he starts his ascent up, but the normal trot is brought to an end as the last step meets his hoof. "Halt-..." Swirl's eyes dart to the stallion's voice as he gives a slight smile to the bright blue armored crystal pony. The stallion nods his head as his tone turns a bit lighter, "Our apologies Sir.Swirl, I had not been informed you were still out." "That's quite alright." Swirl nods his head with a slight laugh to the pony as he continues, "I was just out enjoying this fair city's uniqueness." The stallion follows the comment with a nod as his voice becomes a little less sure, "I would have thought a pony such as yourself would have seen things grander than this fair city." Swirl smiles as he starts to open the door to the castle, "There are somethings that a stallion, even myself never grow tired of." "Fair night Sir.Swirl." With a nod of the head the grey stallion leaves the crystal guard's sight as he closes the door and begins his trot through the castle. But his journey is quick as he moves himself to the throne room's entrance as his horn sparks up in a faint gold glow. Swirl pays no mind to the room as he passes into it, but his eyes quickly register the dark grey stallion that stands towards one of the windows, "King Sombra?" Swirl's voice holds a slight bit of surprise as his horn sparks up to close the door behind him. But as the door closes and Sombra's horn sparks up Swirl's tone changes to a slight chuckle as he brings his hoof up, "...I had told Queen Apatite I would find you rest, there's no need for you to be awake right now." Sombra nods his head to the comment but his eyes stay focus to his own echo as it rings in around the room, "I thank you for your worry Star Swirl, but caring for myself is something I can afford to lapse on." A slight smile holds over Swirl's face but he doesn't put his extended hoof to the ground as he shakes his head, "I admire your will my friend, but I do not believe Equestria's first steps into peace should be taken by a hoof so sleepless." Sombra's eyes slightly drift from Swirl's face as the chime speaks up, "My hoof nor any others will be leading a path such as this." Swirl's held back thoughts come to the front of his mind as he nods to the comment with a sigh, but the time to wallow in his thoughts is cut short as Sombra's eyes come back to his own with a slightly louder tone. "...But for something so grand it's expected its path would be shrouded in the fog of trouble with never simple to navigate terrain." A smile comes back to Swirl as Sombra's confidence almost becomes contagious as Sombra's sure eyes and steady face hold to Swirl. Swirl's hoof finally comes back to set on the ground from the words, but as the hoof touches the slightly colder ground the thought that brought him to the throne room comes back to a sad realization as he speaks up through a sigh. "Yes...But first matters of the Crystal Empire must be quelled first." Swirl goes silent as he watches Sombra's horn flicker a little dimmer, but he holds his deep tone as he nods to the darker grey stallion, "Go my friend, retrieve the sleep you so rightly deserve." "Nonsense, you need my help to-..." Sombra's chime is cut off as Swirl rolls his hoof and takes a step forward, "No nonsense, and you are not needed for your hidden room spell." Swirl taps his hoof to his head as he chuckles lightly, "Your sleepless nights have not made you forget I learn from watching correct?" Sombra shakes his head as the chime of his horn comes back to him, "No, but the night has started and I did not want you to strain yourself with a spell." The horn drops for a moment as Sombra turns a slight questioning eye to the grey stallion, "May I inquire as to why you have been out so long Sir.Swirl?" Swirl blinks to the comment but holds his tone as he rolls his hoof, "I was merely taking in one of the Crystal Empire's most beautiful and elegant creations." The comment doesn't register in Sombra as he answers it with a simple nod of the head, but before Sombra can speak further Swirl cuts him off, "Now, I believe you stated I would strain myself on this spell?" Swirl pokes his chest out with a slight hint of pride as he speaks, "I believe I shall be fine." At the end of the comment Swirl's horn sparks up in a bright gold that begins to shade the dim bluish white throne room to its liking. Sombra's horn loses its spell as he watches Swirl rolling through the chimes from his horn. The floor in front of Swirl that lays a few hooves from the crystal throne begins to come back revealing the darker stoned staircase hidden beneath it. The closed in room bounces the heavy magic's noise with ease but it only last a moment as the spell begins to come back down with Swirl's slightly panting breath, "I-I must say King Sombra...that spell was a little bit more complex than I first thought." A slight one ha chuckle stems from Swirl as Sombra moves towards his swaying body. Sombra's right hoof comes to Swirl's side as he stops the slight swaying of the short stallion he moved to, a happy smile comes over Sombra's face as he holds his amused eyes to Swirl's face, "Steady my friend, that spell was created with dark magic, creating it without it is something i'm surprised you could do." "Bah." Swirl rolls his hoof to Sombra's words but holds a slight laugh to his own as he continues, "Perhaps this will show you that a simpler spell would be required." Sombra shakes his head as he takes his hoof from the steadied stallion, "I'm sorry Star Swirl, but I could not risk Apatite's well being with a simple spell." A laugh comes from Star Swirl as he begins to trot to the top of the stairs, "I best believe you have left nothing to chance." Swirl takes his hoof to the first step as he holds a puzzled look to Sombra, "...Still a bit odd you would put so much extra strain to your own magic, Apatite does not even have the means to generate her own usable magic, I hardly think the magic block on the Crystal Heart is needed." Sombra cocks his head to the words as his horn comes back to a larger glow, "I beg your pardon?" "Do not play so coy with me Sombra, a spell so advanced such as the one I encountered yesterday could only have been put up with a magic not yet fully understood...such as your dark magic." Swirl cocks his eye to the dark grey stallion's tone as he stops, "Why do you act so surprised, did you really believe I could break it so easi-..." Swirl's voice is cut off as Sombra quickly races to the top of the staircase with a much louder echo that matches his widened eyes, "What block? I have never encountered a block nor have I established one." A faint laugh comes from Swirl as he turns himself around on the small step, "Now I am afraid you must forgive me my friend...For now you have caught me without an answer." Sombra's echo holds the heightened tone as it comes to Swirl, "In my own attempts I have never encountered a block, the heart just does not react." Swirl brings his eyes to the stone stairs as he begins to think aloud, "Now how can my magic be blocked but yours does nothing?" The moment of silence is plagued with Sombra's horn that sits at the ready but Swirl's eyes come back up as he rushes his voice, "I believe I may have found a way to reverse the sickness Apatite has encountered...But I need you to bring her to the heart." "But she rest Sir.Swirl?" Star Swirl's hoof waves to Sombra's words as he shakes his head, "I am sorry but you must stir her for this moment." His trot comes back to the stairs as he turns away from the dark grey stallion, his voice shouts back as it becomes a little more excited, "Make haste my friend, I believe your worries can finally be laid to rest!" End of chapter 11
Chapter 12Chapter 12 – Seeding the thoughts Star Swirl's pace that has carried him down the winding stairs that lay hidden under the crystal castle along with his own quick teleportation spell have made Sombra's slight maze nothing more than a brisk trot. The still warm air from the world around that lays around the crystal castle's highest point comes calmly to where Swirl stands on the long and wide platform of stone. But Swirl doesn't take in the world around him as he buries his snout to the book feverishly manipulating the quil to the pages as the gold light of his horn lights to his work. ...I had thought King Sombra and his Queen would take the necessary time to arrive, but no time for me has been wasted. I have once again tried my spell to the dormant and lifeless crystal heart, and like before the reaction was the same... The chime of Swirl's magic calls through the night as the pages of the book flip to his whim, his auburn eyes quickly run through the pages as he takes in his old entry. Another chime rolls around the room as the book comes back to the fresh page. Swirl's hooves and legs have not yet stopped there trot as he paces back and forth from where his bag sits and the top of the staircase, but his impatient body plays in his favor as he darts the tip of the almost dry quil back to it's inkwell. The page only lays blank for a moment as the gold chiming light runs back to the page. ...Yes, the same reaction occurred. A brief influx of magic that quickly subsides once the spell is able to be broken. Like before I have a slightly uneasy feeling but I attribute this to my own inability to halt my self. Swirl's head is brought from the book and his trot finally subsides for a moment as a loud pop of magic rolls to his ears from behind him. The stallion's eyes quickly move to the two ponies as he looks them over. Sombra still wears the dark blue cloak he has had on for the duration of the day, but Queen Apatite does not wear the same cloak to her coverless body. But the warm air and her own tired mind keep her from truly worrying about it as she brings herself to speak before Swirl or the stallion she slightly leans to can, "Sir.Swirl?" Her questioning tone holds as she slowly moves her head to the dark gray stallion beside her, "What’s this all about? I am in no way dressed for company." Swirl holds an excited expression as his voice cuts through the tired and low sounding mare, "Nonsense Queen Apatite, there is no need for dressing formal for this." The pink pegasus shakes her head as she brings her own stance to herself under Sombra's watching eyes, "For what? Why has my husband so abruptly-..." Her words come to a halt as her light purple eyes finally place the room. Her words no longer hold there slight confusion as her tone turns an almost surprised tone to the dark grey stallion beside her, "This is where you have locked it away?" Sombra nods his head as the light green magic comes to his horn, "Yes, I have placed the heart here until the problems it presents can be fully understood." Apatite blinks to the comment for a few seconds but nods her head, to the nod Sombra's eyes turn back to Swirl as his thoughts become heard to the room, "Sir.Swirl, I would like to know why you needed Apatite when she should be at rest." Swirl waves his hoof to the comment as his glowing horn snaps the book closed in his hold, the items in his hold drift towards his bag as his voice comes out, "Yes yes I am aware this is all a little odd, but I believe the answer to this problem is nothing more than something so simple we have all been overlooking it." The pink mare goes a little wide eyed to the comment as she glares to Sombra, "You've told him?" Sombra is a little taken back by her tone but he tries to combat it with his own compassion, but even though his expression speaks his mind the unchanged echo is what's understood, "I can not bear a burden like this for so long, I have come to no answers of my own and I know of no other pony with a great knowledge that can surpass Star Swirl's." To the words Apatite goes silent as she looks over the stallion's worn down face, but she does't have a chance to speak as Swirl comes closer, "My Queen, no other ponies know of your condition, and Sombra was wise to summon me here...this is no ordinary weakness nor is it any ordinary sickness." Apatite turns her head to the stallion's words as the unfazed and sure tone speaks deeply to her, "...King Sombra and yourself have been the only two ponies that know of these spikes, and I believe I know why." Swirl brings his hoof up as he points to the dormant stone still resting on its pedestal, "...The Crystal Heart contains its own form of magic, a magic unlike any known form...something that truly can alter the world it resides in." A smile quickly springs from the stallion as Sombra and Apatite hang to his long winded words, "...This power has changed the inhabitants of this land to a new form, one no longer bound to the ways of old...But at the same time it has created an idea that each race is not separated but trully one. This simple and unique stone represents harmony, and that same power that created harmony has also begun to take its toll on you." Sombra's echo comes up over Swirl's as he speaks, "I have believed the stone was the blame for this, no power so great can be tapped without a great cos-..." "No no no..." Swirl waves his hoof to the words with a laugh, this strange power can not take? This is nothing more than a simple enchanted item that a powerful unicorn must have created." Sombra squints a little suprised to the comment as his words chime to the stallion, "But Star Swirl? You believe just like myself magic is not so onesided?" "Correct!" Swirl's excited tone finally burst as he takes a step back, "I do not! And this is why the stone's magic has created this problem!" He quickly takes a step forward as he holds his hoof out to the pink mare, "You Queen Apatite not only were struck by the stone's surge of unused magic, but you also controlled it yourself!!" The tired mare shakes her head as she stands in with her confused stare, "I-I do not understand Sir.Swirl?" Swirl nods his head happily, "Thats good!" His voice starts to calm down a little as he continues, "Queen Apatite you do not understand because magic is not properly taught to a pegasus. Yes you were struck by the magic, but you created your own sickness." Both Sombra and Apatite stare unable to follow the stallion's words, Swirl turns his gaze to Sombra as he wiggles his extended hoof, "My friend, you know as well as any unicorn that when a spell is not properly performed the user is harmed and slightly left drained." To the words the darker gray stallion's ears perk up as he begins to follow, "Yes, but that does not explain why Apatite would feel its affects even before the last spike." Swirl puts his hoof to the ground as he nods, "Precisely why this stone has acted in the ways it has!" His voice trails on as he turns back to the pink mare, "You where the first pony to find the Crystal heart, a pegasus...NOT a unicorn, a pegasus. Proving that all ponies have their own forms of magic explaining why talents are so dependent on that particular pony." The stallion's voice calms down to its wise old tone as he takes a breath, "Because you found the crystal and you sought to use its powers the stone reacts to you...The magic that has come from it is nothing more than your own spells, you are weak because you have yet to complete the spell you created when the first Crystal celebration was held." The word sparks Apatite's eyes to snap back to the stone as her stare goes a little distant, but Sombra nor Star Swirl notice it as the dark gray stallion feels a smile run across his face, "Sir.Swirl...that would be correct...A spell not properly performed drains a unicorn, it's possible the stone has just continued to ricochet the uncompleted spell." Swirl nods as he comes to Queen Apatite's side, "Precisely why you need to complete your spell my Queen." Queen Apatite snaps from her fixed gaze as she blinks to the stallion leading her, "B-But how do I know I am doing the right spell?" "Magic is thoughts and emotion...all you must do is believe it and it will be done." Swirl gives a wise smile as he backs away from the pegasus. As Queen Apatite moves her gaze to the crystal she has been lead closer to a low blueish glow starts to spark up from the center of the stone. Sombra holds a slight bit of worry to the glow as he shifts his eyes between the pink mare and the stone...but his stance remains next to Swirl as he looks over his friend's confident stare. Queen Apatite's eyes go half closed as she turns her whole body to face the stone, the chime of the magic runs a little louder as the glow begins to take over the color in the room. But the hypnotizing low chime doesn't last long as a loud cracking magic sound burst to Sombra and Swirl's unprepared ears. A blinding light comes from the sight and they turn away with there eyes held tight as the loud screaming chimes of magic run through the room. However just as suddenly as the magic started up the room goes to a steady low quite as Sombra quickly darts his eyes back to the mare now facing toward him and Star Swirl. Queen Apatite's eyes glow a bright white and a sweet smile comes over her face as her undefined eyes stare to the two stallion's, a voice comes from her mouth as it opens. But the sweet or tired sound the two stallion's expected does not ring out as a very ominous feminine echo rolls from it, "Thank you my love..." Another high pitched chime runs from the stone for a moment as the two stallions grind their teeth a little, but the sound again comes to an abrupt halt as Queen Apatite falls to her side not moving. Sombra's heart stops in the brief moment as the pink mare hits the ground hard without a flinch, but his shock doesn't last long as he rushes to her side. The spell to his horn pops to his building emotions that he can't just scream out as he blinks hard to the mare. "I-I do not understand..." Swirl is motionless as he stares to the two ponies, his vast knowledge does little to the situation as he continues to shake his head unable to bring an answer, "Perhaps we-..." His voice is cut off as Sombra's horn sparks up in a bright green as his and Queen Apatite's figures disappear in a loud resonating pop. Swirl's body shakes as he darts to his journal, "N-no there must be something! I-I must have missed something is all...S-she must just be recovering from the spell...yes recovering!" His words go unanswered as he looks back to the vacant room only he resides in. End of chapter 12
Chapter 14Chapter 14 – Trust The sound of a hoof knocking hard against the door rings around the room as the world behind the door begins to stir to movement. But as the door comes open the tired crystal mare squints to the distraught stallion at the doorstep S-Sir.Swirl?" Star Swirls breath has calmed down but his journey through the night with nothing but his thoughts has only made his mind pound hard to him. The weight of the world has seemingly decided to bear down on this single pony, or at least this is how his mind has perceived it, his eyes show this thought as he looks over the mare, "I have killed them Aura...And I have failed them as well." The pegasus mare's eyes go wide to the comment as she quickly springs from her still slightly sleepy stare, "Bite your tongue!" Her hoove quickly pulls the stallion into her house as she closes the door fast. Star Swirl stands motionless from where the mare pulled him as he holds his eyes to her with his broken voice, "...I do not know what to do..." The mare brings her hoof to the stallion's side as she holds her concern to him, "What has gotten into Sir.Swirl? What nonsense are you speaking?" Swirl doesn't fight her lead as she brings him to rest on the couch, Aura's tone stays low as she takes her seat beside Swirl and begins to move her hooves to his head, "Are you sick Sir.Swirl?" He pushes her hooves from his head as he stares to her face, "Yes, sick with guilt, sick with more pain than any normal pony should have to bare." Aura shakes her head as she listens to his low serious voice, "What's happened Sir.Swirl?" Swirl's voice shakes a little as he puts his hooves to hers, "Queen Apatite is dead, and I am at fault." The mare takes her hooves from his grasp as she points to his face as her voice raises a little, "Sir.Swirl I do not know what has come over you but you must calm yourself, I know you too well to believe such-...such horrible words." "But it's true Aura, I have failed King Sombra and now the Queen of the crystal empire has suffered for it." The stallion's voice trembles a little as he continues, "Failure, I have always believed failure is just one small step to success...But I have learned nothing from this! And I see no reason why they have been made to suffer for my failure." Aura blinks to Swirl's slightly raised voice but she doesn't speak over his as she moves her hooves back to his neck as she rubs softly, "Sir.Swirl...What happened?" Swirl swallows hard as he again takes her hooves from him, "I believed the Crystal Heart was the cause for her sickness...I have no doubt that I was correct, but no cure was found for seeking it out." The mare still held in his grasp doesn't move as she holds her gaze to his words that have no sign of ending, "...And because of my actions and the trust I have so foolishly misused they have paid the price for it...not me." The stallion's voice comes down a little as he shakes his head, "I have wanted peace like them for so long, even before this new land...and now I alone have just plunged this land's greatest hope for peace into an abyss." Aura shakes her head to the words as she tightens her hold of the stallion, "No, you tried your best...I know you too well for you to lie Sir.Swirl, you only allowed it to happen because you were following your own selfless goals." To the words Swirl nods, "You are right...I allowed it to happen...I alone." His voice shakes as he turns from the mare, "...I have ruined a great friend and a greater ruler's life Aura...And I must face my fate for it." The mare puts her hoof to Swirl's head as she turns him back to her, but no words come from her as she presses her lips to his. The shock of the abrupt kiss sends Swirl's eyes into a wide stare as he goes silent to the mare as she breaks it. Her hooves hold to his as she talks in a low voice, "Sir.Swirl...Everytime you leave I have missed you, promise me you will not beg for a punishment you do not rightly deserve?" Swirl is silent as he looks over the mare that has a tight hold over him, "...Aura, tomorrow is something I have excepted." He takes his hooves from her as he looks her over, "...But if I stay here tonight it would be the worst lapse of judgment for-..." His words are cut off again as Aura presses her lips to his once more, but Swirl doesn't fight her touch as he moves his hooves to hold the crystal mare. Sombra moves his gaze from the large glowing orb in Discord's claws as the dark gray stallion stares blankly to the ground. The glowing orb that holds Swirl and Aura's scene is lost as Discord snaps two fingers on his other hand, but Discord's bright eyed gaze stays to Sombras as his voice comes back almost hypnotic, "You see King Sombra, I will not rest until your Queen is healthy again, and I will never lie to you about my actions." The dark grey stallion still holds his gaze to the floor as he struggles to believe the scene he saw, but his horn stays dormant as Discord's voice comes back to the room, "Do you trust me my King?" With a slight hesitation Sombra turns his head back to Discord as he nods. A smile crosses Discord's face as he speaks up, "Perfect, then tomorrow when the sun has become high in the sky I shall come back for the heart you have retrieved for me." Sombra's horn sparks up as it ring to the creature in front of him, "Tomorrow's sun is still too far off, I shall retrieve it now." "Oh no no no." Discord presses his paw to Sombra's chest as he holds a faked concern, "My King, the heart's magic is still to active, you would meet the same fate as your Queen...Tomorrow I shall arrive." With another hesitation Sombra's horn chimes out again, "I can not pass the heart over in such a manner, the heart is unity in our land I do not wish to cause unrest for subjects." Discord smiles as he cocks his head, "Do you know the beauty of dark magic King Sombra?" The stallion blinks his eyes to the comment as Discord's clawed hand begins to glow, "...The beauty is that it consumes you-..." At the last word Discord's hand rushes towards Sombra as a bolt of bright orange magic sends the stallion flying to the other side of the room until he hits the wall and comes to rest on the floor knocked out. Discord lets out a slight laugh as he looks over the stallion, "Sleep well my king, for tomorrow your new empire comes to rise." End of chapter 14
Chapter 15Chapter 15 – King of them The morning sun has started to rise over the crystal city, but for the room Star Swirl resides in it seems likes its already midday as the light slightly becomes amplified through the crystal building. Swirl's mind like his eyes did not truly take a rest from last night, however hundreds of nights of late spells or long journal entries has allowed the stallion the ability to stay awake without adequate sleep. But right now this ability is being used for something that means a little more than completing a spell as Swirl holds his gaze to the sleeping pegasus that lays beside him. The stallion's mind is still stuck in a thick fear with what today will bring, but in this moment the rising sun is not breaking him to rise at least for this moment. But the moment is quickly over as a mind starting and body moving sound comes through the house. Aura's eye blink open as the bed shifts to Star Swirl's movements, her voice is low and still holds a morning tone but her words come clear as she watches the stallion moving towards the closed balcony doors, "Was that a scream Sir.Swirl?" Swirl's motions make quick work of the closed balconies door as he holds his gaze to the sound of the scream, his eyes first dart towards the center of the stone crystal street where a group of pegasus have formed. But his eyes move to where they're facing as he looks over the new scene with a building dismay. The once bright crystal castle that stands above the city's skyline has turned a dark almost reddish black color that is starting to trickle down the sides of the castle, and above the tip of the crystal point a dark thickness of clouds have started to form. Aura has moved her self from the bed as she holds a wide eyed gaze to the changing crystal that shows no sign of stopping, "W-what's happening Star Swirl?" The stallion is silent for a moment as he holds his eyes to the world, but he quickly turns back to Aura as his horn sparks up in a bright gold glow that brings the outside word to close behind the doors, "Aura you must promise me you will not leave your home." The mare doesn't answer as she blinks too confused to understand, to her silence Swirl repeats himself, "Aura, you must promise me you will not leave do you understand?" Aura shakes her head as she looks over the stallion's stern face, "Where are you going?" Swirl's expression doesn't change as he shakes his head, "Aura, I have to go...But I promise you will see me again." "NO, no." Aura quickly puts her hoof to the stallion's chest as she speaks up, "Swirl, do not go!" Swirl gives a faint smile as he moves from her grasp, his trot doesn't slow as he moves towards the door of the room, "Do not follow me Aura." His quick pace brings him to the threshold as he stops and stares to the ground, but the gaze moves back to the mare as he looks to her confused and slightly scared expression, "Aura...I shall return." (Inside the Crystal Castle) "...How dare you deny me entry, I am the Princess of the Unicorn empire, this is outrageous!" The white mare holds her gaze to the crystal earth pony as he stands in front of the throne room's doors. The inside of the crystal castle has begun to take on the same dark reddish color as outside but the process has been slower as a few of the dark crystals begin to poke through the walls of the castle around the three ponies standing in the hallway. "I-I'm sorry your majesty, but the doors have been sealed from the insi-..." Nimby's words are cut off as the taller guard stallion beside Princess Platinum speaks up, "King Sombra must be aware of this situation, why would he seal off the throne room?" Nimby shakes his head as he stammers for an answer, "K-King Sombra may not even be in the throne room." "GENERAL STOMPING!" The three ponies turn there heads to the out of breath white stallion as he rounds the corner of the castle with another shout, "General Stomping! Queen Apatite is dead!" "What?! Are you sure?" General Stomping turns a questioning eye to the struggling stallion as he catches his breath, "Sargent Stone Hooves are you sure?!" "YES, the bed chamber was locked but the Queen's advisers new a spell to break it, and that's when we saw her." Princess Platinum is the first to react as she turns back to the gasped and wide eyed crystal stallion, "King Sombra is unaccounted for and your Queen lays dead, we must believe an intruder has captured King Sombra and has forced him to give up the location of the Crystal Heart, remove yourself from the doors!" Nimby is silent as he blinks to her request, but his voice is not the next to come to the room as General Stomping brings his hoof up to Princess Platinum, "Your majesty, perhaps it is best if we get you to safety, Chancellor Pudding Cup has already left and we do not know the situation-.." Platinum straightens her stance as she turns her gaze to the stallion's, "This is still a Unicorn province, and I being the Unicorn ruler will not have an item of power fall into the wrong hooves." Her green eyes come back to Nimby as she bears down to him, "Now remove yourself from this door at once." Nimby moves from the door as General Stomping readies himself, "This spell is a room lock spell, please move back Princess." General Stompings horn sparks up in a bright purple as he lowers his head to the closed doors, but the chime of his magic is fast as he sends his spell to it quickly. The doors of the throne room flings open to the bolt as Princess Platinum quickly moves herself inside, but as General Stomping follows after her he is sent back from the throne room with a bolt of orange magic. As the bolt rings past Platinum's head she freezes in the room as the doors slammed closed behind her. Her body trembles a little as she looks to the strange creature sitting in the crystal throne, but her mind's confusion to the creature and the open floor with a dark staircase protruding from it only stop her for a moment as her horn sparks up in a bright pink glow. But despite her attempt her voice still holds a bit of fear as it shakes, "I-I am the Princess of the Unicorn empire a-and you have just-..." Discord cocks his head to the words as he squints to the white mare, "Princess of the Unicorn empire?" He stands from the throne as he bows to her. To the gesture Platinum goes silent with confusion, but to her lapse of words Discord brings his head up as he smiles, "Tell me Princess, what happens to you if King Sombra's plan for peace takes effect? Will you still be able to address yourself as the ruler of the Unicorns?" The sly smile holds across Discord's face as he stares to the shifty mare. End of chapter 15
Chapter 16Chapter 16 – For the better of Equestria The room outside of the throne room's door is nothing less than pure panic as Sergeant Stone Hooves shouts to the magical locked doors, "Princess Platinum!? Princess Pla-..." The stallion's voice is cut off as a pop of magic rings from behind him. His eyes turn to a grey stallion with a small white beard as he springs towards him, "Mage Star Swirl, Princess Platinum has been taken!" The stallion's eyes move from General Stomping who still lays on the ground with a slight groan as he turns his eyes to the closed door. Without hesitation his horn glows a bright gold as the door comes flying open again, as they do Sargent Stone Hooves moves next to the white mare as he speaks, "Are you ok your majesty?!" Swirl looks around the empty room for a moment as General Stomping starts to stir to his hooves, but he listens to Platinum's voice as she speaks up calmly, "Yes, the spell must have relapsed and sent the doors to close again." General Stomping groans a little as he rest against the door' threshold, "That would have explained the push back spell that struck me." The stallion's voice doesn't stop as he holds his hoof towards the mare, "Sargent Stone Hooves, escort the Princess to a-..." Platinum's voice comes back over the stallion's as she steps away from Stone Hooves, "No, I will not leave until the Crystal Heart has be secured." To the words Swirl quickly gallops over towards the top of the open dark staircase, his voice is deep and brings a silence over the room as he stops to the first stair, "My Princess, you need to leave this castle..." Platinum blinks to his stern voice and serious face as she watches Star Swirl quickly moving from her sight and down the stairs. The white mare's trot finally comes back to her as she turns to the two stallion behind her, "We shall wait for Mage Star Swirl." Her tone is strong as she plants her hooves firmly to the ground. Beneath the castle a slight rumble shakes the small stone steps from Swirl's hooves but the stallion keeps his balance as his quick and focused gallop makes quick work of the long winding staircase. Swirl's horn continues to glow brighter as each turn around the stairway brings him further and further from the throne room's entrance. Swirl's descent of the stairs starts to come to its end as his horn brightens the room to it's liking, but as he nears the last few rounds of the staircase his eyes set to the closed wooden door. His hooves come to the ground as he pants hard, but the gaze stays to the door as his eye begin to drift to the dark green glowing crystal above it. The glow of the crystal is not very bright but against the dark shine of the stone that layers the room around Swirl he can tell. His voice comes back as he struggles to control his breathing from the exhausting stairs, "Y-you've created a new spell Sombra?" To the words he takes a deep sigh as he moves in front of the door, "Very well Sombra...Dark magic has created your spell..." Swirl tightens his stance as his horn's gold glow starts to chime hard, but the chime changes to an almost bubbling sound as a dark green black glow comes over his horn. He struggles to hold the spell as he lowers his head, the rush of the magic burst to the wooden door as Swirl lets the spell free from his horn with a groan. But as he catches his breath the door opens revealing the lighter stoned room, Swirl waste no time as he quickly gallops through the door's threshold. As he passes through it the door slams shut and a low chime comes over it as Swirl turns his head back to it. The stare of the closed wooden door only last for a moment as he turns back to the new winding staircase in front of him, but his hooves don't move as he sparks his horn up in a bright gold. The teleportation spell ends quick as the tired out stallion slightly falls to his front legs. "You should rest Sir.Swirl, this whole chamber was supposed to deter or weaken physically and mentally." Sombra's echo comes to Swirl's ears hard as the deep and ominous sounding tone runs almost like a whisper, the lost gaze of the stallion is quickly lost as he brings his eyes up with his stance. Only the dark gray stallion is not the pony his eyes meet as he looks over a dark black figure with moonless night mane and tail wearing sleek black battler regiment king armour fitted to a red and white cape like cloak. But the part of Sombra's body that strikes Swirl off guard are his eyes, Sombra's once calm and wise looking eyes have changed to bright green and red glow with a small wisp of fluorescent purple coming from them. Swirl's voice goes low as his guilt from last night crashes back down onto his mind, "Sombra..." His voice is cut from his own ears as the dark stallion's echo chimes from his large reddish black horn, "Spare me your words Sir.Swirl...there is much work to be done." At the end of the chime Sombra turns back to face the Crystal Heart as it still sits unmoved from its pedestal. But Swirl's voice doesn't stop as he moves his trot towards Sombra, "My friend please dark magic has-..." His voice is cut off as a dark green bubble of magic forms over Sombra's figure and knocking the smaller stallion back. "Sir.Swirl I have spoken and now you will be silent!" The purple wisp from Sombra's eyes glows bright as he turns towards the stallion that pushes himself back to his hooves. Swirl's heart pounds hard as he shakes his head, "My friend please, I can help-..." "NO Sir.Swirl, I do not require your help this day...and I suggest you leave my sight before my remaining respect for you runs thin." Sombra's horn sparks up in a dark bubble green as he stares unfazed to the stallion. Swirl's stance has come back to him but nothing in his mind tells him to turn away as he takes a step forward with a louder tone, "What do you intend to do my friend, the Heart will do the same to you." Sombra shakes his head as his horn chimes out, "Then so be it, I will destroy this a cursed item and I shall save Apatite even if I am destroyed in the process." To the words Swirl's eyes loosen as he almost pleads to the words, "King Sombra, destroying the Crystal Heart would ruin the empire...n-not just emotionally but physically, whatever magic the Heart possesses has altered this land and its inhabitants...D-destroying it could kill any pony who has been affected by the Heart!" Sombra's face shows no change as he looks over Swirl, "So be it...A power such as this is nothing but trouble." Swirl shakes his head as he cries out again, "MY friend, do not punish the many when I am to blame! Punish me!" Theres a moment of silence as King Sombra stares to the emotionally panting stallion, "Do you believe me so petty? Do you truly believe I blame you when all you have done for me is aid me in my time of need?!" Sombra's tone raises as he strained his stance, "NO Sir.Swirl, I do not blame you nor do I blame you for seeking the comfort of a mare." Swirl's ear flicks to the words as Sombra's expression turns to a smile, but Swirl's voice doesn't come up as Sombra's horn sparks loud, "Yes Sir.Swirl, I know of your abandonment yesterday, but I don not hold you at fault for your own deserved guilt." "...My friend...if you know of her than you know I will not let you destroy the Heart." Swirl takes up an offensive stance with his horn sparking up in a bright gold. Sombra holds his smile as he looks over the smaller stallion, the whisper of his chime comes to Swirl's ears as it chimes, "Tell me Sir.Swirl, if dark magic is generated from fear and hate...How can a stallion standing only a hoof away from his fear possibly lose?" Swirl doesn't answer as he holds his stare to Sombra. "So be it Sir.Swirl." At the end of Sombra's words a dark jagged bolt of magic is sent towards Swirl, but the bolt doesn't stick its target as a veil of gold comes in front of Swirl stopping the bolt. The vail quickly falls as a bolt of magic is sent back towards Sombra, the bolt sticks the slightly confused stallion as he lets out a pained groan, but the groan turns to a wheezing laugh as his horn sparks up once more. The dark clouds that formed above the crystal castle start to swirl fast as they descend into the area around the Crystal Heart. With the new clouds covering the area the room goes dark as the only light comes from Swirl's horn. "Tell me Sir.Swirl, Unicorns do not use weather spells because of how hard and strenuous they are to the uses...how am I so easily do this?" Sombra's echo is unaffected by the swirling of dark clouds as he disappears from Swirl's sight as he swings his eyes around the sightless area, "You can not make me fear you Sombra, I know you to wel-..AH!" Swirl's side is struck with a fast spell as he staggers to the slightly weak spell. But his moment of recovering is quickly lost as he sees a dim green bolt coming closer towards him, Swirl's horn sparks up as a gold bolt of his own meets to Sombra's and forces it in a different direction, "Y-your powers are weak now Sombra, you can not-..." Swirl's voice is lost as he barely misses another screaming shot of magic, "You should save your breath." The quick succession of magic continues as a ever jagged bolt starts to come around Swirl from seemingly every direction. "AH!!" Swirl's ability to block the magic is starting to fail as he quickly encases himself in a bubble of gold magic, but his horn flickers every time a screaming and ear pounding jolt of magic starts to pound around his small safe enclosure. The pound of the magic sounds like heavy rain as it's steady stream hammers Star Swirl to his knees as he struggles to hold the spell to his horn, but as it flickers again a bolt strike against him, "AHH!" The burn of the magic causes his focus to shift as he drops the spell for a moment. But all thats needed is the moment, for as the spell drops the quick succession small bolts of magic begin to slam hard into the stallion's fur leaving pained burned marks that now begin to litter his body. The barrage last only mere minutes as the dark clouds begin to clear in the middle where the Crystal Heart still sits, "You should have known better Star Swirl." Swirl lays to the ground with hard breaths as he struggles to hold his eyes to the dark stallion that stands over him. Sombra's expression shows no satisfaction to the downed stallion as he turns back towards the Crystal Heart, his horn holds a faint green glow but the echo comes to Swirl's ears perfectly as Sombra stares to the Heart. "I have been waiting since I came to this chamber for the will to do what I am about to do...But now I have nothing holding me back." A smile crosses his face as he reaches his hoof towards the Heart, but as his dark hoof touches the stone a loud scream of chiming magic rolls from it as it glows a bright light blue. Sombra takes his hoof from it as he shields his eyes from the light, but Star Swirl from his spot on the ground does not need to as he watches a bright line of magic shooting up through the clouds its parted. The scene that comes to his mind is almost unreal as he watches two bright glowing figures descending from the what looks like the sky itself. Swirl struggles to push himself up as he stares to a bright orangey-sun gold glowing pony like figure next to a dark blue star night colored pony like figure. But his gaze comes obsolete as a god like echo comes from the gold glowing figure as it hovers above the Crystal Heart's platform, "King Sombra, we are the keepers of Equestria and the overseers of the land, and your actions on this day have stirred our hoof on this day!" Sombra squints to the two figure's glowing eyes as he remains speechless. Swirl watches the two hoovering figure's glowing brighter as a faint chime of magic rolls through the area around him. But the low chime quickly becomes a boom as two streams of light run to Sombra's body. A yell comes from the dark stallion but it's not of his own voice as the echo of his horn yells out in nothing but a broken spell. Swirl closes his eyes to the light as he moves his hoof to cover his eyes, the cut world last long as he focuses only on the sound of his breathing. But as the world goes silent he hears a faint flapping of what sounds like pegasus wings as he begins to open his eyes. The world the was clouded has now become bright with the light of the sun as he stares to a tall white mare with flowing almost rainbow like mane. Swirl's voice doesn't come through as the mare's sweet face stares to his, his sight of the mare is cut for a moment though as the sound of a teleportation spell comes to his ears. The spell ends quick as Star Swirl finds himself set to his hooves, but the weight of his pains comes back to him as he slopes a little to one side. The strange white mare's spell has brought Swirl back to the throne room as he looks around the the familiar faces of the ponies around him, only their eyes are not wide to his injury but to the two mare that stand before Swirl. "Hello, Princess Platinum." The god like voice that Swirl heard earlier has seemingly disappeared as the taller white mare bows her head to the small crowned mare. "Y-you know who I am?" Platinum holds a slight bit of confusion to the strange mare as she looks over the unicorn with large pegasus like wings folded to her back, a nod of the head comes from the tall mare as the voice stems from her, "Yes, I am Celestia and this is Luna." The attention goes to the stern faced dark mare as Celestia's voice continues, bring the slightly awestruck pony's eyes back to the tall white mare, "...We have resided in this land that you have called Equestria for many years, and we have watched over every pony that has begun to settle in." Celestia's sweet voice is strong as she maintains the eyes of every pony around her, "We have always sought not to interfere, but King Sombra's turn and intentions were not completely of his own." The tall white mare bows her head again with the dark mare following her lead as her voice continues on, "...Our stay in this land shall not be long, we seek the cause for this unrest and offer aid in anyway we can for the great good of Equestria while we search..." Her bow ends as she turns a sharp eye to the smaller white mare, "...We intend to ensure no one pony presides of this land by force or means of deception that would harm the other three." Celestia's tone loses a bit of sweetness as she finishes, "...We have not come to aid any one side..." Princess Platinum bows her head as she looks over the taller mare with a slightly shaky voice, "A-as the ruler of the Unicorns I happily welcome you to Equestria." To the words the darker mare speaks up as her own low sweet voice comes to the room, "We would wish to meet the other two as to not cause distress to the land." Swirl still leans to one side as he watches Platinum bowing her head again, the white mare's strange submissive attitude goes unnoticed from Star Swirl as he begins to move towards the door. But his movement is stopped as Platinum's voice comes directed to him, "Mage Star Swirl?" To her voice one of the few guard ponies quickly moves to assess him, but he pushes from the stallion as he talks, "I am fine." Celestia and Luna move to the side for a moment as Platinum moves a little closer, "What has become of the Crystal Heart?" Swirl speaks up as he shifts his gaze between the two larger ponies and Princess Platinum, "T-The Crystal Heart is safe and needs to remain in the castle." The words shift Platinum's posture back up to a regular stance as she turns to General Stomping, "We must return to the Unicorn capital we must-..." Swirl moves from the conversation as he leaves the room not wanting to talk of a new rule or returning to the Unicorn capital...instead his mind only sets to one goal as he stammers towards the door of the castle trying his best to avoid any eye contact from the familiar crystal ponies he passes. End of chapter 16
Chapter 17Chapter 17 – Simple The sun of the day has come over the Crystal Empire as Star Swirl quickly makes his way through the empty city streets. There emptiness most likely is caused from the still dissipating dark clouds that now look to almost be surrounding the city's sky and from the castle that has yet to fully return to its normal color. But the empty streets have made Swirl's pained journey a little easier as he nears the house his mind has rested to. Swirl’s body is beaten and his legs buckle with every moment they are made to stand, and even though his mind has not fully processed everything he has done or seen a very real thought has stuck to it as he knocks to the door. To the noise the door waste only a fraction of a second as it opens to the pegasus mare that quickly grasp to the grey stallion as she moves aside, "STAR SWIRL?!" Swirl moves himself into the house with a little help from Aura as he speaks, "I am fine Aura i'm fine." Her voice is rushed as she tries to speak over his, "What's happened Sir.Swirl?! The castle has become a sickly color and the clouds above the city stir with no pegasus controlling them?" Swirl sways his hoof lightly as he speaks, "Aura listen to me..." He brings his hoof to rest on her sporatic chest as he sighs hard, "King Sombra and Queen Apatite are dead..." Aura's eyes stay wide as she hangs to the deep voiced stallion's words, "...You need to come with me, you need to leave this city now. Princess Platinum and I will be departing from the castle soon and you must come with me." "W-what? I-I can not just leave?" Aura blinks confused to his words as Swirl shakes his head, "Aura, please...This city without Sombra is now part of the Unicorn province and will be given a new ruler by Princess Platinum, you need to come with me until the city has settled." Aura is silent for a moment before she nods her head, "Ok Sir.Swirl..." The grey stallion moves his hoof from the mare as she trots from him, but she doesn't continue her path as she moves back to Swirl, "Y-you need to rest." Swirl doesn't fight her lead as he moves to the seat of the couch as Aura's slightly forced light tone comes over her, "You know I will be awhile." A slight smile comes over her as Swirl looks it over. He knows that what he’s asking is hard but at the same time he can't think of anything else. Swirl returns the smile as he gives a slight laugh, "I-I will not forget to get Wispy either." A faint laugh comes from both of them as Aura slowly moves her trot back towards the staircase, Swirl's body still trembles from all the magic he has encountered so soon but he rest his head with a slight sigh as he stairs to the crystal ceiling above his seat. Star Swirls head now rest tiredly to the wood of the rocking carriage as the journey through the cities streets starts to near its end. His mind rest a bit calmer as the rock of the wheels begins to get a little more prominent to the lacking road they roll over. But his mind stays alert through his closed eyes as he listens to the crystal mare beside him, "...What will happen while no ruler is in power?" Platinum's normal regular voice holds as she answers the question, "With no ruler or rulers in power the next in line will come to power, which because King Sombra did not have an air means the power falls to the highest adviser until a new ruler is placed." Aura nods to the comment as Platinum continues to speak, "The advisers should be able to hold the city until the introduction of Celestia and Luna can be properly-..." "Princess Platinum! Princess Platinum!" The carriage comes to an abrupt halt as the stallion's voice from outside stirs Swirl to being awake, the door of the carriage comes open as sergeant Stone Hooves speaks up, "Something has happened over the Crystal City!" Star Swirl is the first to move from the carriage as he looks to the crystal buildings that have become a fair distance from where he stands, above the city the dark clouds that Swirl had thought were dissipating have collected and are beginning to swirl around a little. Platinum and Aura come next to Swirl as the white mare speaks up with a slight gasp, "Is it the pegasus?" To the words Aura takes a few hoofs forward as she squints to the sky, "N-no we pegasus never fly in that direction with storm clo-..." Aura's voice becomes cut from everyponies ears as a loud thunderous crack comes from the the direction of the Crystal city. Swirl like everypony around him stares to the distinct but still large standing castle as a very bright greenish light starts to shine from the tip of the crystal poking from the top of the castle. But Swirl's tired mind keeps him from speaking up as he blinks to it confused, a cold gust of wind slightly knocks into him like everypony else as he looks up to the sky. As his head goes up his eyes meet the same clouds that cover the city, but before even the slightest whisper could come from him another loud crack of magic is heard from the distance. The sound is followed by another much powerful gust of cold air as the dirt around them is kicked up. However the wind was not stirred normally as he stares wide eyed to the almost dome of green magic that has seemingly poofed in front of him. Princess Platinum and the other ponies around him back away as they all gasp to the bubble...but Swirl can not bring himself to move as he looks to the crystal pegasus mare that had taken only one extra step past him. Aura now resides behind the dome as she looks back to Swirl through the green shimmer with a forced smile. Swirl is unable to talk as he holds his unblinking eyes to the mare, his heart pounds hard as he watches her lips and mouth moving, but the only sound he hears is from the magical wall that has sprung up between them. Aura finally notices that her words have not come to the stallion, her mouth closes as she moves closer to the dome's wall as she puts her hoof to it. Swirl takes the one step needed as he places his hoof over where hers lays, he can't feel her hoof and a low chime of magic rings from where his hoof rest on the magic. All the gray stallion can do is hold his eyes to the mare for the moment...but his gaze is that, only a moment as the sound almost like a wave receding back into the ocean comes over the world around him. In a blink of an eye the dome, Aura and every last sign of the Crystal Empire has disappeared...leaving nothing but a barren wasteland of empty fields. The chatter from behind Swirl sparks up in a high pitched tone with Platinum ruling over it as there voice calls out, "What happened! Where has the city gone!!??" No answer comes from Star Swirl as he turns his defeated and straight face back towards the carriage, the chatter of the ponies around him goes blank to his ears as he moves back to the carriage completely silent without a tear to his unblinking eyes. But as he sets himself to his seat the world around him spins as he moves his head to his hooves that cover his eyes as he shakes to his building emotions. End of chapter 17
EpilogueEpilogue Chapter 18 – Epilogue It's been three days since Star Swirl's journey from the Crystal Empire started, and during the time since Aura left the carriage with him the grey stallion has said not a single word. But the three day journey has not come to its end for him as he slowly trots to the still newly built mage tower of the new Unicorn capital. Swirl's bag hangs close to him as he moves his hoof into it making sure to be careful of its contents, but his hoof returns with a key ring as he moves one of the keys to the door. With a click of the lock he moves inside as he blankly stares to the room he has trotted into. "Master Swirl!" The stallion doesn't turn his head to the familiar feminine voice as the purple mare trots from the staircase on Swirl's right side, her happy tone is unchanged by his silence as she nears the stallion, "...I trust that your visit to the Crystal Empire was fair?" Swirl doesn't answer the mare as he moves his hooves to his bag again as he struggles to bring something from it. The purple mare squints to the older stallion's silence as she continues to speak, "...I have kept your tower in the same way you left it Master." Again no answer comes from Swirl as his hooves finally return from his bag with the crystal lizard in its hold. The mare watches a little confused to the animal as Swirl carefully lowers it to the ground, but as the lizard's feet hit the floor it quickly moves from Swirl's grasp as it starts to bob its head around the new and strange room. Swirl turns to the purple mare as he nods, he clears his throat as he looks over the purple mare, "...Thank you Clover...Now you had best be on your way." Swirl's deep voice hits his own ears a little strange as he listens to it, but he closes his mouth again as he starts to trot past the purple mare. Clover holds a bit of confusion to the stallion as she watches him, "But Master Swirl, you had told me I would be administered a test on your return." Swirl stops his trot as he turns back to the mare with a straight face, "Very well Clover..." He clears his throat again as he speaks, "...Your test is to enjoy yourself, to enjoy what you can while you can." At the end of his words his trot comes back to him as he moves further up the stairs. Clover nods her head as she squint to the words, "Y-yes Master." The purple mare hesitates for a moment as she moves towards the door. Swirl stays at the top of the staircase for a moment just looking to his study as he waits for the sound of the door. As it shuts he closes his eyes as he takes in a deep breath...But his eyes come back open as he floats his bag to a cleared part of the table, he moves to a seat as the journal comes to set in front of him. To the new blank page his horn sparks back up as he moves a quill and inkwell to him. It's been three days since I have changed completely, there are no words for me to speak to convey my thoughts. This journal is so many things to me, it is my planning, my work, my studies, and now it is you. Because now I no longer write for myself just as I no longer live for myself, Queen Cadence Apatite and King Sombra are two tragedies Equestria will never get over. But you, you are what has changed my world, whether it be my own fault or my own guilt but I alone have been left here... Swirl holds his eyes closed for a moment as he pauses from the page. ...You have told me so many times my promises are meaningless, but a promise, my promise means more to mean than a spell. I promise you yesterday and today were not the only things you will see, for tomorrow awaits you. The Land Before Us
Chapter 1Chapter 1 – A warm and silent welcome The rocking of the carriage has brought Star Swirl into a slight sleep, but the relaxed state doesn't last long as his ear flicks to a feminine voice beckoning him to rise. "Mage Star Swirl...Mage Star Swirl?" "Hm? Yes?" The stallion moves from his seat a little as he blinks his eyes to the mare, "What is it?" The mare nods to her open window as she holds a slight smile to the outside world. Star Swirl slowly picks up on her stare as he moves to one side of his seat and brings his hoof to the sliding wooden panel window, it moves slowly but as the stallion opens it the brightness of the world outside strikes his eyes. A slight smile crosses his face as he looks around the colorful crystally looking buildings that adorn the streets they travel past. "...I have never been to the Crystal Empire...d-does it always look as it does now?" Swirl's ear flicks a little to the words as he turns his head to face the white mare, "Why yes it does." The cut gaze of the world outside is only lost for a moment as he turns back to the city streets with the few crystally ponies that walk around them, "This was the first true city that was established in this new land of Equestria...And it’s beauty reflects that." He turns back to the mare as he nods, "But you already knew this." The stallion's enthusiastic words go unnoticed slightly but he doesn't stop as he enjoys his own voice, "...You may notice there are more than just unicorns in this city, despite the fact this is a province of the unicorn empire." Again the mare doesn't really acknowledge his words but by her turned left ear Swirl knows she’s listening, "...King Sombra has done a wonderful thing in this city, he has allowed pegasus and earth ponies into it and not just around it...He has taken that first tiny hoof forward to allowing real tolerance and trust." The end of his sentence holds a little more emphasis as Star Swirl silently hopes the young Princess of the new unicorn empire has picked up on his hints. Platinum's voice comes back as she nods her head, "Why are they all so...colorful Mage Star Swirl?" The old stallion gives a slight sigh to her tone as he closes the window and adjust himself to his seat, "There unique color comes from a strange power that's held in the castle known as the crystal heart." He taps his hoof to his mouth as he nods his head, "I...I am still unsure of its properties but it gives off a very real magic that...that every pony can feel." He gives a slight chuckle as he becomes a little long winded, “I was here for the first Crystal celebration, and I remember how the magic moved throughout the city and beyond the cities areas.” Swirl gives another slight chuckle as he squints to his unfamiliar words, "Its almost like the heart is an element of what harmony should be...Everypony just living together." There's a slight silence to the cabin's insides as Platinum slowly moves from the window, "Really? What kind of a mage could have created such a divine item?" Swirl smiles as he shakes his head, "I'm sorry Princess Platinum but I regret to inform you I have no idea what kind of a pony could have created such an item." He leans a little forward as he talks, "But don't worry Princess, Sombra's Queen has decided to put this heart on display in the castle to help promote the feeling of the empire's unity." Platinum nods her head as she regains her proper stance, "Well we will have to see if this item can be easily moved, it should be displayed in the new unicorn capital." The old stallion holds his eyes to the mare for a moment as her words sink into his mind, Platinum notices his stare as she wiggles her hoof to him with a slight laugh, "This way its power could be closer to the center of Equestria of course." Swirl nods his head with a respectful chuckle as he talks, "Yes...Of course." A hoof knocking to the door of the cabin comes back into the room as the wheels under the two ponies hooves begin to stop, "We have arrived your majesty." Platinum moves her cloak a little more as her horn sparks up in a low pink glow and her silver crown floats to her pink mane, "Yes, you may open the door now Sargent Stone Hooves." The door to the cabin glows a faint blue as it slowly comes open and extends its staircase like walkway down to the ground, a large white stallion wearing a silver plated chest plate armor with blond mane stands to the outside with his horn glowing a faint blue as he talks, "General Stomping has taken the other few guards inside your majesty." Platinum nods her head as she leaves the carriage first with her head up high and a proper royal voice, "Yes yes, that's fine Sergeant Stone Hooves, all that means is that you must carry my bags." The white stallion reluctantly nods his head as he holds his military stern face, "Yes your majesty." His eyes shift to Star Swirl as he watches the stallion coming down from the stairs, "Will you be needing help Mage Star Swirl?" Swirl holds his gaze to the white mare as she waste not time traveling up the staircase into the large blue crystal doors of the castle, the old stallion turns a smile to Stone Hooves as he shakes his head, "No my friend, I can carry my own things...and please don't call me Mage, I don't even really like it when Platinum calls me this." The stallion blinks a little confused as he nods his head, "Yes." Swirl's horn sparks up in low gold as his decent sized bag floats next to him as he stretches his legs a little next to the carriage he rode in for so long. But as the bag floats around his neck, he doesn't take too much time as he picks his pace up to follow the white mare. The inside of the Crystal castle is nothing new to Star Swirl but it's unique craftsmanship and color layout has always sparked a slight smile to him as he moves his auburn eyes around the elegantly decorated room. But his eyes don't enjoy there sightseeing for long as they pin to a green shaded crystal pony wearing a red and gold cloak trotting towards him. "Please follow me Sir.Star Swirl, King Sombra has been expecting you." The grey stallion nods his head as he trots after the pony, but the trot through the castle hallways doesn't take too long as they round the end of it and take their steps towards the closed off part of the throne room. At the end of the hallway he sees Princess Platinum and a familiar dark grey stallion with crystal shimmering whitish-gold mane wearing a heavy purple and white cloak, similar to Princess Platinum's but much more elegantly stitched with fine crystals. But Star Swirl's smile is lost as the tall unicorn stallion turns his green eyes to the older stallion's trot, the stallion's horn glows a faint green but it slightly matches the shimmer of the crystal walls behind him too much to really tell. A deep echoey voice comes through the room from the smiling stallion, but his mouth doesn't move as the voice continues, "Hello Star Swirl, it has been too long my friend." The pony that was leading Star Swirl stops his trot as Sombra's resignanting voice moves to him, "Thank you Nimby, but there's no need to introduce Sir.Star Swirl." "As you wish king Sombra." The stallion moves himself to the side of the wall as Sombra's bright eyed gaze turns back to Swirl, "It must have been a long trip you must be-..." "Sombra." Star Swirl's tone is sharp, the considerably taller stallion is a little taken off guard as he blinks to the grey unicorn's consenting voice, "I did not make several trips to your empire to write so many books on hoofing if you would insist on straining your magic to talk." The stallion loses his smile a little as his horn drops its glow and his right hoof comes from the ground.. Star Swirl smiles to the hoof's motions as he talks, "Are you insulting my new beard?" A slight wheezing laugh escapes the tall dark grey stallion as the two stallion look to each other, to the new silence around the room Platinum turns her gaze to Sombra a bit confused as she talks, "It's true? The king of the Crystal empire can not speak?" Sombra turns his gaze to her a little surprised to her words but before Swirl could speak up for the stallion the low glow from Sombra's horn begins to chime through the room as he gives a wise smile to the young Princess. The echoey deep voice comes back to the room as Sombra's magically induced words roll through it, "Princess Platinum, a leader does not need to talk with words when actions speak for themselves." The white mare blinks to the words as she nods her head, "I am sorry if I have offended you...I was just not expecting the terrible rumors to be true." Star Swirl gives a faint chuckle as he turns to her, “Princess Platinum, you act as if its a tragedy. Not being able to so easily express one’s emotions makes for a powerful magic, and a deep understanding on how it can and will affect you and those around you.” Sombra nods his head as he turns back to Platinum, "Come you must be tired Princess, if you follow Nimby he will show you to your room in the castle...I believe General Stomping has already posted your guards out front of it." Platinum cocks her head a little surprised as she talks, "But your letter addressed to me said you required us as soon as possible, you made it clear that it was of importance of Equestria and the Unicorn empire." Sombra wiggles his hoof in front of her as the magical echoey voice stems from him, "Judgments are clouded with the storm of tired minds." Princess Platinum nods her head to the weird words as she squints her eyes, "I see you have been communicating with the pegasus." A smile comes over the stallion's face as he holds his hoof to the crystal pony waiting to lead Platinum away, "I have spoke with many ponies in my time...But none of that is to be of concern until tomorrow when everypony is properly rested." The white mare nods her head as she starts to trot away with her head up high, "Very well if you insist, tomorrow we shall carry out our speakings." Star Swirl and Sombra wait for the two ponies to be out of sight before Sombra turns his gaze to the stallion in front of him, the echo of the voice still comes over the room but its lower as Sombra's eyes and face tighten a little, "Forgive me my friend, I know you have been yearning to continue your books on hoofing. But I did not just call you to come with your young Princess as an adviser-..." Swirl waves his hoof as he lets out a slight chuckle, "I do not even know a time when that pony has listened to me, so I do hope that you have not only called me for that reason." Sombra holds a friendly smile to the comment as he shakes his head, "No, I believe you will see what I require of you very shortly...If you please." Sombra moves aside from the throne room doors as they open to his magic. End of chapter 1
Chapter 13Chapter 13 – There can never be one without another The bright white shining moon has come into the sky of Equestria, the calm warm night air wisp around the sleeping crystal empire. But above the city streets Star Swirl feveriously paces around with eyes so wide the stallion could see clear over the empire's reach if it were daylight. However no subtle thought such as this is able to stir this stallion as his hooves pound against the platform's ground, "How, how could I have been wrong!?" Swirl's horn glows bright as the book that shields his face from the world stays pinned to him, but the book doesn't stay to him long as he turns to the dormant crystal heart. His breaths are heavy and his tone is hard no longer able to refuse what has transpired before the moon's rise, "How could you do such a thing?!" No answer comes from the lifeless stone as Swirl nears it holding the same bewildered voice, "H-how could an item of such harmony possibly do such a thing?" His head comes to a shake as he stammers over his words, "T-there is no reason?" Star Swirl quickly turns his head from the stone as he looks away and towards the stairs of the castle, "No no, I-I just need a moment to gather my thoughts." Swirl's horn glows a faint gold as his bag quickly rushes over to him with his items being collected in an almost rushed way. The grey stallion takes his hooves to the stairs fast as the sound of the stallion begins to fade from the empty chamber of the Crystal Heart. (Elsewhere in the castle) The room around King Sombra is dark as the luminescent glow of the crystal castle begins to finally wear off to the dark of the world around it. But the silence in the room along with the growing darkness does little to console the stallion as his eyes stay pinned to the pink mare who has yet to stir for hours now. No tears come from Sombra's eyes, and his body stays solid without the slightest tremble. But the emotion that builds to the stallion with each passing moment has left him paralyzed, unable to shift his eyes from the gaze of the quiet mare. As the new hour of Sombra's long night begins to dawn closer something finally breaks the silence to the room as the magical locked door lets off a low chime to its opening. The dark grey stallion doesn't turn his head to the sound of hooves as he struggles to spark his horn up, "...Now is not the time Sir.Swirl..." There's a moment of silence to the room as the hooves stop and the door closes, but the quiet room is brought up with a happy sounding tone, "Well that King Sombra is a good thing..." To the unfamiliar voice King Sombra's horn sparks up in dark green glow that lights the room as he takes up an offensive stance towards the door. But in the light of his horn his eyes meet an unfazed old tan colored stallion, his yellow-orange eyes move over Sombra's figure as the pony looks him over. Sombra's eyes show nothing but despair and sorrow and his tired body speaks for itself, but this doesn't affect the old pony's tone as he speaks, "I warned you my king." To the words a large bolt of magic is sent screaming towards the older stallion, but he doesn't move as the bolt cracks into the crystal wall behind him with a loud and violent shake. The older stallion remains unflinched as he stares to the panting king, with a shake of the head the pony starts to click his tongue, "Tis tis tis, come now Sombra you would have awoken the whole castle...if you had not sealed your room magically." A deep echo of Sombra's horn echoes around the room as he tightens his eyes still holding another spell at the ready, "The next spell will not be a warning, and you should expect punishment for trespassing in my-..." The old stallion cuts him off as he laughs, "You are not even the bit curious as to how I have entered your chambers?" Sombra is unfazed to the comment as his horn glows a bright dark green, "Leave now!" The echo runs around the room and bounces from the walls as the older stallion goes a little wide eyed to the tone, but his surprised stare doesn't last long as his yellow-orange eyes glow a little, "King Sombra, I shall not deceive you nor shall I cause you grief...I wish to help you." No answer comes from Sombra as his eyes stay pinned to the pony, to the silence the old stallion continues, "The first thing I promise you is that I shall not lie to you, just as I have not thus far." At the end of the comment the stallion becomes shrouded in a bright orange light that causes Sombra to slightly turn his head, but the cut gaze of the intruder doesn't last long as he quickly brings his eyes back to the pony's position in the room. Only, the old tan colored stallion is not what his eyes meet, instead Sombra's eyes go a little wide as he looks over the new creature in his bed chambers. Where the old stallion stood a long and tall serpent like creature begins to stand on two back legs, but the creature can not be placed as Sombra's eyes move over the mismatched body parts. The echo from Sombra's horn doesn't show his confusion as it rings out, "What are you beast?" A laugh rings from the goat headed creature as he holds his clawed hand out, "Truly, that one was new...I am so used to being called a dragon on first glance I-..." His voice is cut off as Sombra lowers his head, "Answer my question!" The laugh stops as the creature tilts his head up as his clawed hand sets to his chest, "I am Discord." His head comes back down quickly as he shakes his arms out a little in front of himself, "...Do not let the name fool you King Sombra, I only wish to bring order to Equestria." A smile comes over his face as a sharp tooth protrudes from his mouth. Sombra doesn't bring his head up as he holds his spell, "Why do you seek me out!?" Discord rolls his eyes a little as he sighs, "I tried to warn you but you did not listen to me-..." "How do you know so much! I have never meet you before nor have I meet any pony associated with you." Sombra's eyes hold thier tight stare to Discord as he impatiently waits for an answer. "My knowledge is not of your concern, time is short if you wish for me to help your Queen." Discord's eyes drift towards the bed but his sight of the mare is cut off as Sombra's bolt of magic runs dangerously close to his face. The echo from Sombra banks off the crystal walls with a sharp tone as his words ring out, "Do not drift your eyes beast!" Discord's face holds a bit of surprise to the dark grey stallion, but he pushes past it as he gives a slight bow, "OH of course my King...I would have just thought the matters of your Queen would be priority." Discord turns his head towards the door with an over played sad expression as he speaks, "I see I am not needed." "WAIT!" To the words Discord holds his smile to the door for a moment, but he turns back towards Sombra as he looks over the distraught stallion's expression. Sombra's horn drops to a low green chime and his eyes go to a plea as he looks over the creature, "...Please....how can you help?" Discord nods his head as he taps his lion pawed hand to his chin, "Well my King I will be in need of an item." Sombra nods his head as the echo comes back quick, "Name it." "The Crystal Heart, my king." Discord cocks his eye to the stallion as he continues, "...I will need the Heart before tomorrow's end or your Queen will be to far pulled by it's magic." The dark grey stallion is silent as he thinks over the request, "W-what do you plan to do with it?" Discord takes on a serious face as he takes a step towards Sombra, "It's power is too great, I will see to the Heart's destruction." Sombra grins a little to his jaw as he turns his eyes back to the motionless mare, but his gaze to her is too painful to hold any more as he turns back to the smiling beast, "I-I can not pass an item of that power...How do I know I can trust you to do what you say?" A sly smile comes over Discord's face as he bends his head down to pin his eyes squarely to the stallion's, "I shall prove to you that my word is not lie." Chapter 13 end
