The mystery of the dark lands

*Earlier that morning*

Star Swirl's journal

Entry #136

Blackheart

Very few have heard the ancient legend,

Fewer still remember it,

And out of those few, I'm the only one that believes it.

This is the tale of Blackheart the dragon.

A long time ago...back when the dragons still ruled Equestria, there lived a dragon named Blackheart. He did not earn his name because of his cruelty or hateful nature, but because his heart didn't have a fire burning in it. He was a weak and cowardly dragon. He was mocked by his own kin, and he was a disgrace to his own family, not to mention his very own race...

Amongst all his people, he didn't have a single ally. The mighty dragon kingdom had no place for a creature so pathetic, so he was expelled for all eternity.

At this point, many might think that this tale would end up having a happy ending.

That the dragon would conquer his fears and return to his homeland as a mighty hero one day...

No such thing happened.

Blackheart gave into his sorrow and despair. He left his home. He flew far away and found a desolate place devoid of any life. He spent the rest of his days sitting here. As his sorrow only grew, he almost literally cried his heart out.

As his tears rained down by the gallons, the grass around him started matching the color of his heart, and the land began to crack from the sound of his unending moans.

It's uncertain what happened to Blackheart, but I believe that the dark lands absorbed his very heart and soul over time, and that up to this very day, he sits and waits for a real, brave-hearted dragon to arrive and reignite the flame that his own heart was missing.

Unfortunately, I alone believed in this legend, and so I was the only one willing to do anything about it...and there is only so little that one lone unicorn can do...but for now, it will just have to be enough.

The heart of a pony can cause a delay,

But only a dragon's heart can end the corruption...

Those fools...

They will never realize!

They leave me no choice, I'll have to give up my own life to save many others.

I can only pray that the ponies of future generations have more wit than those I currently know.

"Woah..." The reader closed the journal and took it with him. He stood and wondered for some time, even though he had already realized the answer a while ago. "Something tells me I'm going to be that dragon..." Spike whispered to himself and left the room in order to find the pony that takes care of him.

He didn't catch a glimpse of the conversation, but the way he noticed Rainbow Dash leaving the castle with a very grim looking expression...that didn't exactly make him feel any better. Nevertheless, it was time to get something out of his system. After a deep, long breath, he walked up to the only pony left in the room and began a conversation.

"Twilight?..."