The Forgotten Prodigy

Here I was standing in Zecora's hut as the zebra in question slept in her bed in the next room. Looking over all of the potions she has made so far I can't help but be impressed at what she was able to do with the raw materials provided from the Everfree. She had potions of every type imaginable and then some!

Still my mind drifted to other places. For one is what I had done with Blueblood. Now I didn't regret killing the bastard but his death just meant more problems for me since I know for a fact some ponies saw me going into the maze and would point me out to Celestia once she started questioning her nephew's disappearance. Sooner or later someone was going to come knocking at my door and I needed to think up a believable lie to get her off of my back. The only saving grace is that I didn't leave any evidence behind of what happened and had also gotten a new follower out of it.

How Mrs Heartstring's will be of use to me escape's me at the moment but I have learned that everypony has a useful talent and it's up to me to find out hers.

Just then I heard a groan and knew that my host was awake. Moving into the room I see the mare sit up on her fur bed and wipe her eye's with a hoof. Almost immediately she notice's me and our gazes lock. Her eye's were still red from tears but her gaze was completely even betraying no emotion. I was beginning to like this mare more and more.

"Zecora." I say politely with a bow of my head.

"Rising Dusk." She replied evenly but what surprised me was that she knew my name even though I never told her. That would require an explanation.

"I must say Zecora I'm quite intrigued that you knew my name without me telling you. Prey tell how that is?"

"Young Applebloom told me. She tells me many things."

"I see. Yet I would have surely thought one of the Element's would have told you about me at some point since last time I checked they were friends with everyone in town and even a few out of it." I say curiously.

"Yes they call themselves my friend's among many others but they rarely ever spend more time with us than is necessary. I have yet to have one of them come to me and not need my help with anything. Young Applebloom is the only one who comes just to visit and talk. It is sad really." She says with sadness at the end.

I really felt for her now. At first I thought I would have to use my magic to brainwash a herbalist to join my cause but now I saw an opportunity to get her to join me willingly much like Lyra. That is one of the things that make me better than Sombra as a ruler, I will rather try and have one join me willingly rather than force them. They are much more loyal that way and way less likely to stab you in the back during the long run.

"Ah yes and yet my sister likes to praise that she is the 'Princess of Friendship.' The title is a joke if you ask me. How can one call yourself your friend and ignore you nearly all of the time save for when they need your help for something? The answer for that is that they are using you Zecora. Don't try and tell me otherwise as you and I both know I am telling the truth." I say in a logical tone. Zecora for her part looked ready to protest but stopped herself to take in my words. Slowly I saw realization blossoming in her eyes and thought I had her. Her next statement dashed that thought.

"What you say may be true but that doesn't mean that I'll just join your little group to take over Equestria. I will not betray even false friends to a tyrant." She spoke with conviction. Looks like I would have to play a little hard ball with this one.

"Oh you have it all wrong my dear. I am no tyrant despite what you may believe. I don't want to enslave everypony, or cast the world into eternal chaos or night. No what I simply want is to make Equestria better than what it currently is."

"And how do you plan to do that? What can you do that Celestia and her sister cannot." She asked skeptically.

"It is not what they can't do but rather what they won't do. For one they let the nobility run amok and practically unchallenged. Their nephew Blueblood is a perfect example. Not a few hours ago I caught the worm trying to rape a mare and found out he had raped that mare's friend yet when she went to seek justice the bastard was let of scot free by Celestia herself. Now the bastard is dead by my hoof and if I have my way many more will soon follow. Also I won't hide away my problems as Celestia has done. No I will deal with the problem then and there and make sure it never comes up again. Celestia has run her country like a damn daycare with favoritism and without care and I am sick of it! Yet instead of sitting around waiting for thing to change that never will I intend to step up to the plate and take charge but to do that I need help and that's why I am asking you." I say truthfully.

I could see from her face that Zecora was shocked by my proclamation. She probably expected me to declare a bunch of shit on how I would be a 'fair and just ruler' or some other crap. Never did I ever want to be a fair ruler I just want to do right by those who have been wronged and make sure that Equestria has a leader that doesn't take shit and doesn't hesitate to do what needs to be done.

"You really hope to make a change to Equestria do you." It wasn't a question but a statement. I nodded in agreement and a small smile spread across her face. When she once again looked into my eyes I saw a fierce determination.

"If you truly wish to walk down this path then I will help you... but at a price."

"Name it Zecora and I'll see if it is in within my power to make true." I say with a smile of my own spreading across my face.

"I only wish for young Applebloom to not be harmed in anyway when you finally initiate your takeover."

Alright I nearly laughed at that request. Like I would ever hurt a filly!

"You have no need to worry about me hurting her or any foal. Yet if her siblings stand against me I cannot guarantee that they will not be harmed. They will live I promise you that but not without something to remember what defiance gets them. Now will you join me Zecora." I say while reaching out a hoof. She looks at it for a second before taking a hold sealing the deal. Now that I have a potion maker on my side I could move ahead with my plans.

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It had been over a week since Zecora and Lyra joined my forces and things had gotten pretty intense. The announcement of Blueblood's appearance was seen as a great tragedy to Celestia and the noble's yet everypony else secretly was happy that the pompous unicorn was gone. Of course I was interrogated and made a suspect but I easily got out of it with a simple lie telling them last time I saw him he had insulted me and walked off to his room. With no one able to say otherwise there was nothing they could hold me for.

Now I was in the Crystal Empire at about midnight after giving Zecora a little side mission along with Lyra, looking for a very valuable object that would give me a major edge over Celestia when the time came. Cadence and Gleaming tried to keep what they found under wraps but nothing could remain hidden from my spies for very long. That and the fact that my dad had told me about sensing the object in question beforehand.

'Are you sure it is here dad? Wouldn't it make much more sense to keep the damn thing in Canterlot where they have those magic proof vault's?' I asked as I traveled from shadow to shadow in a cliché ninja disguise that hid all but my eyes which I had a spell over to make them a dull yellow.

'No only the Crystal Heart's power could contain it so they had no choice but to keep it here. If I had to guess though it has to be near the princess and her consort so try near their room and work your way out.' Suggested Sombra.

Heeding his advice I step into the nearest shadow only to reappear underneath the bed of the for mentioned rulers of the Crystal Empire. For the moment that is. I may actually have Chrysalis run this place once I take over since that way her and her changeling's would never have to worry about starving with the Crystal Heart being an all you can eat buffet that never runs out.

Luckily for me the two were already fast asleep so I easily slipped out from under their bed without a sound. I took a moment to look over the sleeping couple as the cuddled each-other subconsciously nearly making me sick from the sight. Not the affection part but just because the mere sight of these fools made me sick. I will so enjoy the looks on their faces once I take over Equestria and take the Empire from them.

Ignoring them for the moment I look around the room for anything that could lead me to what I was after. After a few minutes of searching I found nothing and was about to blow a gasket from frustration. How hard was it to find one damn thing that radiates dark magic!?

'Wait son! Do you sense that? Over by the bookshelf.'

Wondering what he was talking about I walk over to said bookshelf and almost immediately I can feel the overwhelming amount of dark magic radiating from behind the bookshelf. This was what I had been looking for. Had to admit they had it pretty well shielded to the point you had to be practically right next to it to sense it but really, behind a bookshelf? Real original morons.

I didn't bother trying to look for a switch and instead pulled a page from Sombra's book of tricks and turned myself into a living shadow that passed through the bookshelf and behind it. Once I reformed a was immersed in dark magic. Now I'm more powerful than Sombra overall yet when it came to pure dark magic power Sombra had me beat. Soon though that would change.

Cause not ten feet away atop a crystal pedestal floated the horn of King Sombra. I calmly walked up to the pedestal and scanned the area for any traps or alerts but found none. Apparently they were so confident in how they hid it they didn't bother adding some security. Pathetic. Without hesitation I grasped the horn in my magic and brought it forward smiling under my mask all the while.

"Now time to do what I came here to do." I say to myself before reaching into my robes and pulling out the Alicorn Amulet. Zecora was nice enough to give it to me after she joined me yet I never even thought of using it until now. Why you may ask? Because the damn thing is cursed to make the wearer mad with power and that is the last thing I need for my plans. Yet It could serve another purpose. By using it as a median I could transfer all of the dark magic power from the horn to myself which would at least triple my current magical power and making me at least twice as strong as Celestia.

Putting on the amulet I already feel the cursed artifact trying to take hold of my mind and quickly begin the spell I had practiced with Sombra. A black haze then began to travel from the horn into the amulet which I could feel going into me. Naturally it was extremely difficult to cast the spell while also trying to prevent the amulet from taking hold of my mind. Yet I managed it and in a few minutes time the process was completed.

Once it was done the horn that once housed the dark power of the mad king turned grey and turned to dust. As for the amulet it rusted and began to form cracks before finally breaking apart and falling to the floor with a clatter. I for the most part could barely contain the power that threatened to burst from my being. Sombra was telling me to relax and let the power flow so listening to him I let go and almost immediately the strain disappeared.

The power flowed naturally through my being but almost as soon as I became accustomed to the new increase in magical strength a great pain erupts from my back nearly making me cry out. Instead I fall to my knees and clench my teeth wondering what the hell was going on with me. I then hear a tearing sound and feel something burst from my back and just like that the pain disappears as if it was never there.

"What the hell was that?" I gasp out trying to regain my breath from the immense pain I had just gone through.

Looking at me back my jaw nearly hits the floor at what I see. Two huge wings had grown from my back yet these were not the typical feathered wings of a Pegasus or even the bat like wings of the bat ponies. No these were something entirely different as they looked to be made of shadow while still holding the shape of a pair of wings and I could feel that they were still connected to my back.

"But ... how is this possible!?" I said in disbelief as I flapped my new wings a few times to test them out and found them as easy to move as walking. This is gonna make staying under the radar a lot harder than usual.

'Hmmm. I think I may know what happened. I created the Alicorn Amulet from Celestia's blood and my own dark magic hence it's name. It seems though that when you used it to siphon the power from my horn into yourself you also took the power of the Alicorn Amulet along with the blood used to make it. Yet it was long corrupted by my dark magic therefore giving you the unusual wings you now possess. Congratulations son as you are now the first Alicorn created, and now the embodiment of true dark magic.' Exclaimed Sombra with pride in his voice and making me happy that I could make my father proud. Looks like I wouldn't be needing that potion after all!

With my work done I quickly pick up the remains of the Alicorn Amulet and teleport myself back to my home in a swirl of shadow's. When I appeared in my living room I noticed that it didn't tire me out in the least bit meaning my magical fortitude was immense and making me even more proud of my work and that it worked.

Just then Chrysalis, Lyra and Zecora stepped into the room, with Zecora carrying a small box on her back, and balked at the sight of me with my new wings. If I had a camera I would have had blackmail material for years to come!

"W-w-what!? B-b-b-but h-how, you, w-wings?" Stuttered Chrysalis in disbelief making me chuckle at the normally mouthy mare suddenly at a loss for words.

"A tale for another time Chrysalis. Now Zecora I assume you have what I asked for?" I say before turning to the zebra mare who nodded and stepped forward.

"Of course my King. Just as you had thought there were still some remnant's left even after all of this time. Celestia sure was a fool to just leave this there without any protection whatsoever." She said before giving me the box that I grabbed with my magic before opening. Looking inside it I give a fang filled grin before taking out the box's contents and holding it up for all to see.

"Very good Zecora. With this we will soon have another ally added to our folds. One that I am sure is dying to see Luna once more." I say while looking at a piece of blue armor about the size of my hoof and bearing a crescent moon insignia. All of the pieces were coming together nicely.