Elementa in Aeternum

Tenebra arrived to his second lesson in his apprenticeship with considerable enthusiasm and haste, eager to learn more Umbramancy from the immortal unicorn. Sombra greeted his enthusiasm with amusement, glad for a student that is both willing to learn some of the more difficult magics of Equestria, and seems to excel at commanding the shadows to do his will. What the stallion didn’t know is that the younger unicorn actually already had gained some proficiency in the art of Umbramancy, and had been pouring over the pages of the tome all morning before arriving there.

Umbra Aditum

A shadow anchor is a position in the world that is enchanted to be permanently in shadow, not allowing any but the dimmest lights in, but still far enough away from darkness that is becomes the perfect place to shadow step to. Performing other Umbramatical spells near one does provide similar benefit to casting them in a shadowy area, just on a much greater scale, because they create the perfect environment for Umbramancy.

To create one of these anchors, one must imbue some of the magic from their horn into the ground, and create incorporeal walls for it, making it a small room. When this is done, the anchor will only activate when either somepony is inside it, or somepony is using it as a shadow step destination. These locations do disappear after a period of time that depends on the affinity the caster has with Umbramancy, and the amount of magic used to cast the spell.

This spell can also be used to create a quick cage, by instead of having the shadow create incorporeal walls, make them solid. This method does take considerably more magical power than other ways of achieving a similar effect, though it is rather efficient if time is a limiting factor.

As the younger unicorn trotted into Sombra’s hut he was imagining the many wonders that would be learnt in the lesson that day. Little did he know, Sombra had a special surprise for him that would reveal his worthiness to be the student of one of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Sombra revealed his plan to test his student in more ways than one, “Today, you will not be learning in a traditional style using notebooks and pens, rather, you will be attempting to lure one of the many hydras in the bog to this very cabin. This will test both your magic, courage, and ability to cope under pressure, for what provides more pressure than escaping from a seven headed beast hell bent on killing you.” Tenebra’s eyes betrayed no emotions at the reveal of this activity, though inside, he was reeling from the magnitude and danger involved in the task given. The student accepted the challenge given by his teacher, and set off in the direction of the bogs immediately, trotting hastily while attempting to formulate a plan.

As Tenebra approached the edge of the bogs, he came up with an idea involving one of the Umbramancy spells he learnt that morning, the shadow anchor. Because of the sheer size of a hydra, it would be near impossible to shadow step it all the way back to the cabin, so the obvious solution would be to create a shadow anchor somewhat close to the hut to easily transport it back with a much lower risk of getting eaten alive. The young unicorn set to work immediately, creating a gargantuan circle of pure shadow magic to teleport a hydra to, and solidifying the walls. This effort left Tenebra panting from magical exhaustion, wondering how he was going to create the other end of the shadow step without passing out.

Taking a few moments to collect himself after casting a spell so large so early in his studies, Tenebra set off into the bogs in search of a hydra to bring to Sombra, though what need he had for a hydra, the colt had no idea.

Back at the cabin, Sombra was enjoying a nice cup of apple cider, imported from some farm on the other side of the Everfree, “Sweet Apple… something…” he thought, forgetting the final word of the place. While his student didn’t see the value of a live hydra, the dark stallion knew of the many benefits one can obtain from even a small sample of the creatures. He thought back to when his master had once had him collect a cockatrice, “now that was a challenge well worth the effort,” Sombra reminisced. “I don’t know why I’ve let my student get off so lightly with only having to lure a hydra here, not even taking a blood sample.”

While the teacher was thinking he should have challenged his student more, Tenebra was wishing Sombra hadn’t seemingly acquired a desire for a live hydra at his cabin. The colt was having a large amount of difficulty finding anything other than bog crocodiles and dangerous-looking snakes. As Tenebra was approaching yet another swamp pool, he spotted a dark shape beneath its waters, one surely bigger than a crocodile, though he wasn’t about to dip his head underwater to find out.

A huge head arose from the water in front of Tenebra, looking rather annoyed about being woken from its slumber. The head spoke, “who dares disturb my rest? Do you have a death with, little pony?” Tenebra stuttered a denial, taken aback by the sheer size of only one head. “Then why are you here?!” The voice roared angrily. Thinking quickly, Tenebra came up with an answer that might not get him eaten, “why, I am here to honour the greatest beast in all Equestria, of course. Do I need any other reason?” The head looked at him in surprise, then anger, “You think to lie to me, Typhon, the king of hydras?” The black unicorn, clearly surprised by the hydra’s identity, stepped back, only to find a hydra at his back as well. He was surrounded by the multi-headed beasts, Tenebra was just thankful that Typhon hadn’t decided to arise above the bog with all of his heads. The back unicorn reasoned that the king must be the most powerful of hydras, and therefore have the most heads. In this assumption, he was right, as Tenebra would soon find out. Still having his question unanswered, Typhon revealed his full form, a massive hydra with over one hundred heads. Tenebra stared in awe and fear at this, “afraid, little pony? No one will help you here.” Tenebra then remembered that he wasn’t a mere earth pony, he had the magic to escape and possible bring one of the weaker hydras with him.

Looking over outside the ring of hydras, Tenebra shadow stepped, and began forming the foundations for a larger shadow step to his anchor, with a nearby hydra included in the weavings. Back at Typhon, the king was roaring in anger at how Tenebra had seemingly disappeared without a trace. After ordering his subjects to find and kill the little unicorn, he sank back into the depths of the bog. As he was finalising the shadow step spell, the hydra he was intending to teleport turned around to see Tenebra with his horn glowing, focusing on him. The hydra took a step towards the little pony, and as he did so, the world around him disappeared, only to reappear outside the bog, his home and prison. Not knowing what to do, the hydra looked around for the unicorn, and seeing him on the other side of this dark patch, he walked towards the little pony, not knowing what he would do when he reached the colt.

Seeing a hydra walking so calmly towards him, Tenebra thought about dropping the prison, then quickly dismissed the idea as stupid. After all, who would be dumb enough to let a hydra that close to themselves? When the hydra reached the edge of the shield, he ran head first into it, wondering what magical barrier the unicorn had conjured up, he just went ahead and asked, “What is this barrier that keeps me here, little unicorn?”

Tenebra was surprised to hear a hydra other than Typhon speak, as he assumed that they were mindless beasts that only desired to eat anypony they came into contact with. The unicorn replied to the hydra’s question, “one created for the purpose of keeping me safe from you, we can’t have you eating me.” At this, the hydra gave a chuckle, and assured Tenebra that he wouldn’t eat him, and while this assurance was quite sincere, the black unicorn didn’t think so, and blatantly pointed out his opinion that the hydra was lying. The hydra, outraged that this little pony doubted his word, roared, “You doubt my word, little pony? While some of my brothers and sisters would probably have eaten you before you assembled this accursed prison, I am not so cruel. My only desire is to be free of that tyrant who calls himself king.”

Surprised by this confession, Tenebra asked the hydra, “Tell me hydra, if I free you, would you eat me?” To this, the hydra answered no, and also requested that he be called by his name, Anguis. The unicorn removed the shadow anchor prison, and felt a portion of the shadow magic that made it up flow into him, though he wondered why only some of it was returned.

He didn’t have to wonder for long, Anguis was beginning to reduce in size, grow a horn on the head that he used for speech and grow another two legs, making him almost look like a distorted pony. Having eight heads, Anguis was marginally more powerful than the standard hydra, who normally have seven heads. The transformation ceased when the hydra was about the same size as Tenebra, with the skin from the neck up on the head with the horn turning from its standard swamp green to a black colour similar to the unicorns coat. Staring at the hydra in shock, Tenebra had no words to describe his surprise at this rapid transformation supposedly at the exposure to Umbramancy. “Thankyou, young unicorn, since I have left my home and have nowhere to go, would you give me the honour of staying with you?” The now pony sized hydra asked hopefully, with a few of his heads giving puppy dog eyes. At that sight, Tenebra burst out laughing, and while Anguis had no idea what this meant, he took it as a positive answer and approached the young unicorn. Once the colt reigned in his amusement, he began trotting in the direction of Sombra’s cabin, motioning the hydra to follow.

When the odd pair arrived back at the cabin, Sombra was waiting outside the door, clearly having expected to see a huge beast that needed restraining chasing his student. When he saw Tenebra and Anguis walking side by side, he showed no emotion on his face, but inside he was incredibly surprised and mildly fearful, “how could one so new to Umbramancy transform such a wild beast into an elemental creature?” He thought, “This pony is progressing down the path of shadow even faster than I did, all those years ago.” The younger unicorn greeted his teacher outside the cabin and introduced his hydra, whose role seemed to be stuck somewhere between pet and friend. After Sombra congratulated his student, he called for an end to the day, because it was almost nightfall and Pure did request Tenebra be back home every night.

He wondered what she would think of Anguis, Tenebra hoped she wouldn’t dislike him because of what he is or used to be. The more he thought about it, the more he was sure that his mother-figure would react to Anguis in revulsion, because hydras were one of the most hated monsters that reside in the Everfree forest, only behind timber wolves.

To return the hydra home with him, Tenebra had to create a separate shadow step portal for him to go through because normally, each portal could only handle a single step. Once the pair were back at Pure’s household, Tenebra walked down the stairs to the lounge room, where Pure Cabbage spent so much of her out of work time. As she spotted the younger unicorn, a grin appeared on her face and a pair of hooves appeared around Tenebra, hugging him. “Pure, I’ve got someone I’d like you to meet, please stay calm and remember, don’t judge a book by its cover.” The pony nodded, and Tenebra called Anguis down the stairs, Pure’s eyes widening further as he got closer. When his full body, claw-like feet and eight heads were in view, Pure opened her mouth, then closed it again immediately after, not knowing what to say to a strange looking hydra in her house. “Hi, I’m Anguis, nice to meet you,” the hydra stated nervously, clearly put off by the look he was receiving. Finally, Pure regained her senses and introduced herself, wondering if this was some strange dream. Tenebra asked the older pony if they could get an extra mattress in his room for Anguis to sleep on, and Pure hastily nodded, then quickly left the room. Once she departed, the two friends burst out laughing at her reaction to Anguis and the speed in which the left her favourite room in the house.

Pure Cabbage returned a few minutes later having brought another mattress into Tenebra’s room for the hydra to sleep on, which signified that it was time to get some rest. The two friends retreated to their room and recovered from the big day in the most efficient way they knew how, sleeping.

Back at the Crystal Empire, the pair of eyes observed the magnificent city, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and re-enslave the crystal ponies for good.