The Elements of Darkness: Element #1 Suffering

Finding the Way

Waking I found myself still floating in space but with a small throbbing pain on the stubs of my back legs.

“What happened?”

“WE SAVED YOU.” shouted a voice from behind me

“W-What?”

“I LUNA AND THE DRAGON KING DYGON CAME HERE TO RETRIEVE YOU FROM YOUR IMPRISONMENT.”

“Can you quiet it down a little I have a headache.”

“Sorry. This better?”

"Yes" I said trying to turn around

“It would not be good for you to move right now.”

“Why not?”

“I am trying to fix the damage to your lungs but that rock is putting up a lot of resistance.”

“NO!” I screamed my voice cracking with emotion

“What?” Luna asked taken back from the suddenness of my response

“If that stone gets removed Colgate will be lost forever.”

“You mean to say that the soul of the pony Colgate is inside of this rock?”

“Yes.” I responded looking down at my chest; the bones had healed as best they could but shards of bone remained suspended around the hunk of amber.

“That means your injuries are from willfully coming in contact with an unguarded soul; was this ‘Colgate’ so important to you that you would risk death?”

”I don’t know! But I had to do something!”

Luna tilted her head to the side and nodded once. “Don’t worry as soon as I rebuild your legs we are going someplace safe; then we can discuss the logic of your decisions.”

Discuss my logic? Crap these ponies don’t trust me either.

Skin reformed around my chest covering the amber.

“That will have to do for now.”

“Where is the dragon?”

“Over there.” Luna said softly turning my head to face two yellow dragons grappling

“Which one is Dygon?”

“The one with no eyes.”

“But he is covered in burns! We need to go help him!”

“HA! Those burns were given to him by my sister when she dethroned him close to a thousand years ago. If he could give my sister that much of a fight a hastily built dragon is no match for him.”

I watched as the new dragon’s yellow flames bent harmlessly around the older dragon

“But where is Michael? Why is he not fighting?”

“Over there.” said Luna moving in front of me to point at a small dot next to the sun

“How did you get rid of him? I was under the impression that he was some sort of god-like creature.”

“He had you hidden in an impossibly shrunken world within his own skull, so we infected it with our own magic and split as many atoms as we could at the same time.”

“What was the dragon for then?”

“He planned on transferring Dygon into the new body and gain his trust before we could ruin his plan for you.”

“And what did he have planned for me?”

“We never found out; I believe he just wanted to cause Celestia grief.”

“Why would my being here bother Celestia?”

“You are just full of questions aren’t you?”

“Sorry.”

“No you have a right to know.”

“LUNA!” Dygon shouted “GET OVER HERE AND HELP ME GET RID OF THIS BODY!”

Luna flew off silently leaving me alone

Hey Pride? You still here?

“Yeah.”

Do you think we could get close enough to confirm the kill on Michael?

“We can try.”

Pride found some useable blood on the hair of my belly and slowly pushed me toward Michael’s still form. As we got closer I noticed no change in gravity or breathability Luna must have perfected this magic after being on the moon for so long.
Michael’s body was more intact than I expected for someone who had a nuke go off in his head. Only the top half was shattered and burned, leaving his hips and legs completely intact.

“Well I think he’s dead.”

Can I borrow some of the blood you’re using?

“Dude it’s your blood. Why wouldn’t it be ok for you to use it? You sure you’re ok?”

No I’m not ok my back legs are torn to shreds, I saw a lot of ponies get ripped apart by a creature that I was responsible for and by all accounts I should be dead right now!

“Whatever.”

A soft golden glow brought my attention away from my argument. Is his foot doing that?

“Like I care.”

Man what is wrong with you? Lighten up a bit at least we made it this far.

“Me? You were the one spouting all the gloom and doom.”

Just help Lust with the amber; I’ll take care of this

Using the little blood I had I cut into Michael’s foot causing a gold substance to slowly leak out.
What could you be?

Reaching out with my hoof I grabbed the end of it and pulled. I could feel magic resonate through the gold substance and into my body all the way down to the stubs of my back legs which then became numb.

This could be useful, but where to keep it?

How about next to the amber?

Sounds reasonable

Not wanting to waste any more strength on magic I used my teeth to tear a small hole in the skin covering my chest. The gold substance slid into it easily and even closed the hole behind it.

What is this magic?

_______________________________________________________________

“That’s the most I’ve seen you talk to a pony.” Dygon said softly as he used his back claws to rip off the tail of the fake dragon

“I can feel his loneliness and despair, it reminds me of…” Luna’s face displayed a contemplative frown as she tried to find the words to finish her sentence

“Yourself?” Dygon finished for her

“Perhaps.”

“I was the first person you spoke to after you were returned to this form by the elements. You were much the same way then as you are now; egger to answer any questions and sympathetic towards my position.”

“You and I were forced into isolation because of the terrible things we did. We do not know why this one feels the way he does.”

“Are you sure you are not just attracted to his vulnerability?” Dygon said giving a sly wink with his newly stolen eyes
“How absurd!”

_____________________________________________________________

“Boss she woke up!”

And she’s just as beautiful in person

Don’t you try anything!

Entering my mind I only saw the white plain, there was no sign of Lust Pride or Colgate so I tried to extend my mind’s reach to the amber, but to no avail. I thought you said she was awake!

“You can’t just barge into someone else’s mind.”

Yes let us slide in gently before rocking her world.

How about we just try getting her to talk outside of her mind?

“You want her to come here!”

Yes! Why not?

“You’re not afraid she will find something unbecoming or scary?”

No

Can we just hurry this up already?

Yeah

Colgate I called softly Colgate it’s me Shield Butt

“Where am I?” responded a voice from far away

Just come to me, I’ll explain everything.

“Ok, but I’m having a little trouble walking.”

Try not to think about it, just concentrate on getting here

A blue cloud started to form in front of me

Just a little bit more and you should be fine

Pride and lust materialized next to me

“I got it!” Colgate yelled triumphantly as she stepped onto the surface of my consciousness
Good! I sure hope I didn’t inconvenience you.

“How come your lips don’t move when you talk?” Colgate asked with a frown

“Oh, Sorry. Is this better?”

“Yes. Why are you a Pegasus now?”

What? Lifting a foot to my face confirmed that I had changed back to the dark brown Pegasus that I had arrived in the fake Equestrian world as.

“I don’t really know.”

“What is this place? It is so much better than the last place I was at; with bleak red haze and swirling bits of bone. At least that’s what I saw when I wasn’t forced to relive the moment that my blood tore itself from my body and shot about on its own free will.”

“That sounds horrible!”

“It was! But you’re here now everything can go back to normal.” she said nuzzling my chest

“Uh. About that.”

“You never answered my question.” she said as poking my shoulder “Where are we?”

“In my mind.” God she is going to think I’m crazy

“If we’re in your mind right now where was I before? Because I don’t think that my mind would want me to go through all that pain.”

“That’s my fault. I couldn’t just stand by and watch you die so I decided to do something about it. What you are living in is simply a combination of strongly bonded tree sap and what I could gather of your blood.”

“But why would you do something like that? Maybe I should be dead and resting with my friends. Did you know that what it would be like in there?” She said softly a tear gleaming in her eye

“What if I told you we could go someplace where you could be with your friends and me at the same time?”

“You mean you are going to kill us both?”

“No, maybe it’s best if I just show you.” I said as I tried to bring memories of Michael’s conversations with me into the front of my mind, but nothing appeared.

“Dude you have to let her in before she can see that stuff.”

I thought she was already in.

“In where? Who are you talking to?”

You are blocking us from her which is keeping her from seeing anything related to our existence

Then how do I show you guys to her?

“Show who?”

“Just relax. Stop caring so much about how she is going to react let your own thoughts come naturally and we should be able to appear before her too.”

You are right. You two have become a large part of who I am, and besides she’ll find out eventually

“I always am.”

A large book landed at Colgate’s front hooves

“What’s this?” she asked as she opened the book to the first page completely unaware of the two new presences
“I don’t really know. This is the first I’ve seen of it.”

She looked up from the book for just a moment to try and read my expression but it was long enough for her to notice Pride and Lust.

“Aaa! Monsters!” she screamed as hiding behind the book

“It’s ok Colgate. These are my friends.”

Friend Zoned! Lust said quietly

“How could they be your friends when they look just like HIM!?”

“Well actually I am also like the monster that killed your friends.” I said in an even tone trying not to scare her

“What?” Colgate said tears flowing down her face

“Here let me show you who I really am.” I said as I calmly opened the book to a middle page

“Like I would listen to anything you have to say you liar!” yelled Colgate as she turned to run away

“Wait! Colgate! I’m nothing like that monster! Look at me, even in my own mind I’m more of a pony than a man!”

Colgate turned around slowly

“If you’d just let me explain.”

Colgate shook her head no and became rapidly dissipating mist as she retreated to the amber

Well that could’ve gone better.

“Boss the alicorn is back.”

I returned to my body and was mildly surprised by all the tears floating in front of my face.

“Good your legs have regrown, it is odd that my magic did it in such little time, but there is no time for delay I’ll explain everything once we’re safe.”

A strong magical presence enveloped me and I was yanked into a dimly lit chamber

“Dygon! Where are you?” Luna shouted

“Right behind you! MOVE OUTA THE WAY!”

Luna was able to doge but I reacted a little slower than her and got a dragon claw to the face

“Well I had better landings when I was learning to fly after killing my father.” Dygon said absentmindedly as he picked himself off the ground.

Luna’s face suddenly lit up with joy “I’ll go tell Celestia of our success!” she said as she raced out of the room via two large stone doors

Now what do I do? She said she’d answer my questions.

“Patience is a virtue.”

And pride is a sin

“Oh shut up.”

The steady pitter patter of my blood hitting the floor was the only noise in the chamber for a long while until Dygon finally saw fit to address me “Come here my boy! I owe you much and would like to repay that debt before it has time to bite me in the arse!” he yelled excitedly

I approached him cautiously as he sat himself in front of a large mirror

“Take a good look.”

I did as he instructed and was greeted by the sight of a mighty dragon being forced into a hole by thirteen chains of yellow fire “That’s me, and this is you” he said softly as the image changed to my reflection which then transformed into me as a human with a bright light in my chest and a tattered cape upon my back. “This mirror is my pride and joy. It’ll show me anything from souls to entire universes.”

“That is truly impressive.” I replied unsure of where this was going

“You know what the biggest difference between me and you is?”

“No, what?”

“Those chains you saw binding my soul are coming off soon but you have to go to the afterlife with what little soul you have left after your meddling with such dangerous magic turned against you. HA I can just see the look on The Reaper’s face as he sends you to hell. Acutally there is a way! It was very noble of you to try and save that fake pony, but why not take her soul and use it to patch your own? Surely this fake pony means nothing to a man like you who has fought and conquered a monster born of your own flesh?”

I instinctively placed a hoof between him and the amber “She is worth more than my life! She is a person whole and untainted by evil!”

“You say that now but you’ll regret it when you are doomed to an eternity of suffering.” he said giving me a wink

“You can come out now.” Dygon said to no one in particular

“I know you are out there.”

Silence

“Fine you want to play hard to get. I can play hard to get.” He smashed the mirror into the floor causing a wave of magic to surge through the room

“But you said it was your pride and joy! Why would you do that?” I yelled at the apparently insane yellow dragon

“Just because it is the most difficult magic I have ever done does not mean that it is worth keeping.” He said calmly

“Ok, Ok I’m out” said a pure white pony emerging from his hiding place by the door

“Ahh Pale Stiletto if I’m not mistaken.”

“Indeed you are not sir. It is I.” said Pale saluting with his gloved hoof

“I believe you have some questions for this pony.” Dygon said as he approached the door “And I have a ceremony to prepare.”

The door slammed shut behind the large yellow dragon. I took the empty silence as in invitation to familiarize myself with my surroundings. I was in a damp chamber with water dripping from the ceiling onto the stone blocks that made up the floor. Moss covered the corners of the room and there was a large pile of gemstones and bones in the middle of the room. This must be underground, perhaps some type of dungeon?
"look at those cobwebs on the ceiling! They are as thick as ropes! How big are the spiders here?"

Can we not talk about giant spiders right now?

Why? You scared?

No! Spiders are ugly creatures and I would prefer not to discus them while we are in the presence of such a handsome stallion.

"But I'm always with you so when would we be able to talk about spiders?"

Shut up Pride. You are so full of yourself.

"MY NAME IS JOHN."

Nice to know you two can get along.

Whatever.

"Don't you think it's rather rude to ignore our guest?

Turning back to the strange pony I found him looking straight into my eyes “Uh, so this is awkward.” I said trying to break the tension

“Indeed, I thought you’d come out looking more human.”

“You know about humans?”

“Yes I watched you through your whole ordeal from this side of the mirror, and I have to say your four way split of consciousness is quite impressive. Some ponies can handle three just fine, but four! You’re lucky to be alive!”

“Thanks I guess.”

“Sorry for not introducing myself. Pale Stiletto.”

“Nice to meet you.”

He looked at me like he expected something more in response

“Your name idiot”

Oh yeah. My name. What is it?

“Shit if I know.”

No idea

“If you’re looking for a name I’m afraid I don’t have one.”

“Good that will make renaming you even easier.”

“I don’t really understand what’s going on.”

“Let me lay down some rules first then we’ll get to your questions. First, nopony can find out that you are human. No cussing, no drinking, no unexplainable habits, and no disturbing stories. Second, you are here to fill a position held by only the most eligible ponies so any laziness on your part will be dealt with severely. Three we have to do something about that burden you bear in your chest before the ceremony so that you don’t lose so much magic to its upkeep.”

“I understand the first one and feel much the same way and I won’t let any harm come to my ‘burden’ as you call it, but I have no clue what you are talking about on the second one.”

“You have been claw picked as the next sacrifice to the Element of Suffering; this would put you in control of the amount of suffering absorbed by the element via your body. The job puts you at great physical risk while giving you the power to foresee and prevent disasters. It also makes you one of the best kept secrets in Equestria.”

“So you’re saying that I will be able to absorb the suffering of ponies so that they can live a normal life? That sounds noble and all but isn't that a lot of pain for one pony?”

“Exactly! I knew you were a smart one. The Element of Suffering walks a fine line between absorbing too much suffering and causing an unnatural change in the world resulting in an untimely death and absorbing too little causing thousands of ponies to writhe in the pains of past injuries and wilt in their depressions.”

“That sounds like a lot of responsibility. Are you sure that I am right for the job?”

“I wonder if we can still use magic in this world”

Oh John you're so random. Lets see if we can ruffle this stallion's mane a little.

I'm down with that.

Using my blood from the floor as a pair of shears, I cut a small amount of hair from the back of his already short tail and brought it into my own for me to look at later

“Amazing! You can still wield blood magic in this world! You sir are a miracle! How can you doubt your worthiness?”

“It’s not that impressive is it? I mean unicorns do magic all the time.”

“Not that type of magic they don’t! I can easily see the element taking over a thousand years ripping all that potential out of you!”

“I’m still confused. What is going on”

“Don’t you worry Luna will get you sorted out. Come on I’ll show you to your room.” He said as he opened the large doors with one hoof

This guy is seriously strong for someone his size

“I don’t trust him.”

I just love the way that his muscles tense and relax under that tight skin

Was he trying to flatter me with all those compliments?

“Yeap, I wouldn’t believe a word he says”

We’ll wait until the princess explains things to us before we go making decisions. We know she wouldn’t lie about anything.

“Well are you coming or not?” he asked politely

“Coming.”

He led me down a long hallway with guards hanging around doorways every ten paces

"If this is one of the best kept secrets in Equestria who all knows about it? And why do you Know?"

"Only the princess and the unicorn guard know of the Elements, but lots of ponies have meet the holders. I only know of them because I am the head of the retrieval and concealment department of the Shadow Corps. I only take orders from the Princesses and the Council" Pale said he voice beaming with pride

"The Shadow Corps?"

"It's a small secretive organization originally formed to resist Discord, but as soon as the Princesses took the throne the governing council approached them for orders and we were disbanded for a few years."

"Why did you reform? Why would the heads of a secret organization openly approach a new monarch?"

"Exactly. The council's actions were so of character that the surviving field agents reformed and rebuilt the Shadow Corps, And when Princess Luna refused to lower the moon we used our stockpiles to keep ponies fed as long as we could. When Celestia found out she charged straight into our sanctuary and instead of punishing us for existing she thanked us for our help and hired us to work for her as she decided to move against Nightmare Moon."

"So you're saying that there has been a secret organization for the betterment of ponies ever since Discord appeared in Equestria? I find that hard to believe."

If this pony is telling the truth there is a whole lot I don't know about Equestria

"Maybe we can find a record room or something"

Ugh that's so boring! Why don't we go out and party or something

Guys he said we have to lay low. I don't see how we could do any of that without attracting attention

Maybe we should ask him.

I couldn't make out Pale's response to my statement as he was completely unaware of my preoccupation and continued the conversation himself.

"Sorry could you repeat that?" I asked in as innocent a voice I could manage

"The belief that nothing like us could exist in so perfect a world is exactly why we have lasted so long. And I bet you're wondering why i'm telling you all this upfront." Pale said stopping next to an unguarded door made of shimmering black stone.

"Yeah."

Pale leaned in close and whispered five words in my ear "Because this is your cell." he then pushed me into the doors which swung open to receive me than slammed shut after I was in

"I fucking knew it! That guy was so shifty. Why did we follow him?"

Because the view from behind was exquisite

_______________________________________________________________________

Pale skipped down the hall pleased with how he had handled the change in plans but still resenting them

“Target restrained, seeds of mistrust planted, phase two complete” he said into his magic hoofwatch

“Continue with the backup plan until the day before the ceremony. I want him off balance until he is linked to the element.” Celestia whispered in response

“I really must advise against this your majesty; all the reports pointed towards a sympathetic disposition and I don't know how much longer I can pretend to be so chipper.”

“I am the one who has dealt with humans first hand. I will be the one to decide how we deal with him.” Celestia said raising her voice

“My apologies.”

Sighing into the watch before turning it off Pale set off to complete a task he had just assigned himself, a two part assignment, first he would find out why Celstia hated humans to the point of irrationality. Then he would find out everything he could about the Dragon King's job and how much closer he could get to the Elements without being forced into it.

“It’s going to be a long night.”