Rageshift

Chapter 2

Blacklight

The dragon looked down upon the seven of them with murderous intent.

Blacklight shouted, “Xerxes, you bastard!”

“So long since I’ve seen you and that’s your greeting, Blacklight,” The dragon asked.

“I’ll destroy you if it’s the last thing I do,” Blacklight bellowed in anger.

“HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! The best you could manage was to seal me away, and that was with the help of your all-powerful ruler helping you.”

“Blacklight? What’s he talking about?” Twilight asked. Blacklight refused eye contact as if ashamed of his answer.

“When I said I’ve been sealed away, I meant I sealed myself away with my enemy as a last resort. I was hoping in a later time period I would find somepony powerful enough to help me defeat him.”

“Well we’ve got the Elements right here!” Twilight exclaimed as she pulled a book from a nearby shelf. She opened it to reveal the Elements of Harmony inside.

“Twilight dear, how did you convince the princess to let you keep them there?” Rarity asked.

“No time. Necklace, necklace, necklace, necklace, necklace, aaaand big crown thingy.” Twilight said, giving each Element to her friends as she spoke.

“Twilight NO!” Blacklight exclaimed, but nopony listened as they launch their attack on Xerxes: a vibrant rainbow was launched at the giant dragon. As it went to strike him Xerxes swiped at it with his claws causing it to shatter, and the wielders of Harmony were sent flying.

“TWILIGHT!” Blacklight yelled. Twilight managed to teleport them all to the ground with minimal injuries. Blacklight jumped over the wall and galloped up to them with Xerxes following.

“TWILIGHT! RUN!” Blacklight warned. Twilight and her friends struggled to stand and started running as fast as they could. Suddenly Xerxes was coated in a golden light and sent flying.

“What in the name of Sol was that?” Blacklight asked.

“Look! It’s the princesses!” Twilight exclaimed while pointing to the descending alicorns.

“Twilight. Use the Elements,” Celestia ordered.

“We did! It didn’t do a thing!”

“What? But how?” Celestia asked. Xerxes rose and roared, spewing fire from his giant maw.

“Celestia, we need to seal him away,” Luna said.

“That seems to be our only option,” Celestia agreed. Luna and Celestia charged their magic as Xerxes charged, and he disappeared in a flash of magic. A magic bolt struck Celestia as she landed, launched by Blacklight.

“YOU IDIOT!” he roared. A moment later a dark blue magic weighted him down. He could do nothing but look up at the strange dark blue alicorn that was clearly the one trapping him.

“HOW DARE YOU ATTACK MY SISTER! SHE HAS RULED THIS LAND FOR MORE THAN A THOUSAND YEARS!” she hollered in a tone Blacklight recognized.

“You dare use the royal Canterlot speaking voice on me? You two don’t know what you’ve done. He’ll more than escape; Xerxes will absorb the magic you used to seal him away! He’ll come back even stronger than before! That’s the second reason I was sealed in with him. I absorbed the magic that was used so he couldn’t. Now release me you disrespectful wench!” Blacklight demanded.

“HOW DARE YOU ADDRESS A PRINCESS THAT WAY! I SHOULD HAVE YOU—”

“That’s enough Luna,” Celestia interrupted sadly, “This stallion knows much more than we do, and we did make a horrid mistake by the sounds of it.”

“BUT HE—”

“Knows what we need to know,” Celestia finished, “Please release him.” Luna was hesitant, but she gave into her sister’s request and released Blacklight, who arose saying to Celestia, “Perhaps you are not as ignorant as I first thought. You are clearly mature enough. Now I would advise going to Canterlot castle, if it’s still there that is.”

“Canterlot castle has been around a little more than three millennia,” Celestia stated, “It will continue to be the capital of Equestria for as long as the kingdom stands. You are correct though, it would be wise to retreat to Canterlot for now.”

“Why don’t we discuss things here?” Twilight asked.

“I don’t know this stallion’s reasons,” Celestia started, “But should our—”

“Spell break while we discuss the matters at hoof we would be defenseless against Xerxes’ attack,” Blacklight finished.

Celestia was flabbergasted. “Um, yes exactly…how did you come to that conclusion?” Celestia asked.

“I think we should leave already,” Blacklight stated impatiently.

“Very well,” Celestia sighed. The two royal sisters focused their magic and teleported in two chariots.

“GUARDS,” Celestia hollered, immediately getting four pegasi guards.

“Please escort these unicorn and earth ponies to the castle,” Celestia ordered, “The pegasus ponies, Luna, and I shall fly to the castle.” The guards bowed respectfully and readied themselves for take-off. Twilight and Applejack took one chariot, while Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Blacklight took the other.

***

“HOW COULD YOU BE SO DISRESPECTFUL TO THE PRINCESSES?” Rarity fumed.

“Yeah! The princesses are always nice! Except on Nightmare Night Luna pulls all sorts of pranks, but it’s all in good fun.”

“I don’t need to—,” Blacklight stopped for a moment in confusion, “What the hay is ‘Nightmare Night’?”

“How long did you say you were sealed away for?” Rarity asked.

“I didn’t,” Blacklight answered.

“Well could you tell me?”

“Well I don’t see why not,” he tapped his chin in thought for a brief moment, “Let me think a moment…the white one said that Canterlot castle was built a little over three thousand years ago, so…about three thousand years—give or take a few decades.”

Rarity’s jaw hung open, and Pinkie was no different than her dramatic friend. “THREE THOUSAND YEARS?!” Rarity exclaimed, “That would mean you were around when Canterlot castle was first built!”

“Indeed I was. I was also there for the building of Canterlot itself. Building the castle was a long process, but with the help of several skilled ponies of all kinds—myself included—we managed to do it in a little over two years. It took half as long to make the hedge maze.”

“You must’ve had an AWESOME party to celebrate its finish!” Pinkie Pie said in her naive chipper way.

“Um, well yes,” he said less than enthusiastically, “The very first Grand Galloping Gala. Tell me, does Canterlot continue to hold the Gala yearly?”

“Well yes,” Rarity answered distastefully, “But I’m not sure if it’s how you remember it.”

“Yeah!” Pinkie butted in, “It’s just a bunch of snooty ponies that wanna drink bland punch and talk about business. BO-RING!”

“No that is how it was back then too. Boring indeed,” Blacklight grunted. Thinking about the gala bored him to the point where he just hung his head over the side of the chariot to watch the scenery go by.

“You seem as though you were quite involved in early Canterlot, and its development,” Rarity pointed out.

“There’s a good explanation for that, but all will be explained in Canterlot. If these guards were as fast as the guards in my day, we’d be there already; strange. I wonder when the guards started wearing such bulky and restrictive armor. That must be the reason it’s taking so long.” One of the guards decided to pipe up.

“I couldn’t agree more. I can fly a lot faster when I’m not wearing this heavy tin can.”

“I believe it, which makes me wonder why you have to wear it.”

“Celestia thinks the guards should be properly defended in case of an emergency,” the pegasus said with a roll of his eyes.

“In my day such trivialities were not a concern. Not just because there was no threat to Equestria, but a mere cloak would have sufficed for the guards. They needed no protection because they were well built. Not unlike myself, though not many were quite as tall, or strong as myself actually.”

“Wish I had a training schedule like yours. You’re enormous.” the guard said. Blacklight responded nonchalantly, “That’s what she said.” The guards and Pinkie all burst out laughing, while Rarity rolled her eyes at the “low-brow joke”. Blacklight, however, just stood there not even bothering to laugh at his own joke.

***

It took some time to reach the castle after Blacklight’s crack, but when they arrived it was strictly business. Celestia approached Blacklight as a ruler first, and a friend second.

“Blacklight, what do you know of that dragon?” Celestia inquired.

“I will not speak of such important matters to a mere princess. Now, where is king Sol?” Blacklight demanded.

Instantly Rainbow Dash was in his face, screaming at him. “How dare you speak to the princess like that? She’s ruled Equestria for over a thousand years!”

“Get out of my way, Rainbow…” Blacklight stopped in shock and began to back away slowly saying, “That’s impossible.”

“Calm down, Rainbow Dash,” Celestia ordered, “I’m sure he has a reasonable misunderstanding to explain. How do you know of Sol? I have not heard my father’s name since about a century into my rule.”

“Who the hay is Sol?” Rainbow asked.

“I’ve never heard you mention your dad, or any parents for that matter,” Twilight pointed out.

“Sol was the first pony, and the rightful ruler of Equestria,” Blacklight explained, “I know Sol very well. Now where is he?”

“Blacklight, is it?” Celestia asked, “Sol has been dead for over thirteen centuries.”

“What?!” Blacklight exclaimed, “But how? Sol is immortal!”

“It’s far too complicated, and I never fully understood what happened, but the fact is he’s gone.”

“What happened? What could kill an immortal?” Blacklight was flustered, which given his average demeanor was a strange sight.

“…Discord. The malevolent spirit of disharmony killed him,” Celestia explained solemnly, “He used his power to make my father’s body grow old, and weak. Until he crumbled to dust.”

“Where is this ‘Discord’? I swear I will take vengeance in Sol’s name!”

“Discord was defeated by Luna and me. With his dying breath Sol said he realized what Discord was, and told us of the Elements of Harmony. He said it was the only thing that could defeat him.”

“The Elements are for the singular purpose of returning the world to its natural state. They can even change a being who has been corrupted by something such as a spell gone wrong or an outside force and return them to there true states. Something I must ask though: you said you used the Elements once correct?”

“My sister and I did use them to seal away Discord, yes.”

“Yet I know that the Elements have been used four times in the past 1300 years.”

“How could you possibly know that?” Luna asked.

“I presume you are Luna then?” the stallion inquired.

“Yes. Now answer my question. As far as I’m concerned you are a prisoner,” Luna warned.

“You would treat your father’s advisor like a common criminal?” Blacklight asked. Everypony fell silent.

“I know you said you were familiar with the creation of Canterlot, but you were the royal advisor?” Rarity asked.

“Yes. I designed this castle, and the city. Though I’d assume that both have undergone changes in my absence.”

“Indeed they have Blacklight,” Celestia confirmed, “But the castle has not changed much. I believe most things will be as you remember it. Now returning to Luna’s question.”

“How I know is not important. What is important is that I know my kingdom’s history involving the Elements.”

“How is this important?” Celestia inquired.

“Because the Elements can increase the natural power of the ones that have wielded them by a certain amount for a certain amount of time depending on the frequency at which they are used. I know the only ones to have wielded them since I’ve been gone are the ponies in this room. Though I was unaware that you two had used them since you are evidently no longer connected to them.”

“I was unaware the Elements could do such a thing, but how could you know we are no longer connected to the Elements?” Celestia asked.

“Because these six ponies are. While it is possible for a single pony to wield all six Elements, they are most powerful when used by six different ponies that best represent the corresponding Element. Pinkie’s laughter, Rarity’s generosity, Fluttershy’s kindness, Rainbow’s loyalty, Applejack’s honesty, and Twilight’s magical talent. No two ponies can wield the same Element, so it would be impossible for seven or more ponies to wield the six Elements. Now will you please quit stalling and tell me?”

“Very well. I must say though, you are quite intelligent Blacklight,” the solar princess commended.

“Notice my cutie mark?” Blacklight asked. Nopony had paid attention to it before, but it was an image of a vertical eye with a gray iris.

“A little ominous don’t you think?” Twilight asked.

“It merely means I’m perceptive. I think logically and discover truths that while obvious to me might not be as obvious to somepony else. I also pay close attention to my surroundings, so I often know when I’m being followed, with the said exception of Rarity whom is evidently very light on her hooves. Now back to my question?”

“Yes of course,” Celestia answered, “The Elements were used by me and my sister 13 centuries ago to defeat Discord and seal him in stone. One millennia ago they were used by me on Nightmare Moon, my sister who had been corrupted by her own selfish desires, and I banished her to the moon for the entire millennia. Two years ago she was released as I had foreseen, and these six used the Elements in a way I alone could not; purifying her. The fourth and most recent use was three months ago when Discord escaped from his stone prison. Twilight and her friends used the Elements after some…difficult, chaotic, and bizarre trials to seal Discord in stone once more. Does that answer your questions?”

“Hm. Yes it does,” he nodded, “Now I have no doubt that Twilight will be able to defeat Xerxes.”

“Is yer brain in a blender?” Applejack asked, “We already used the Elements on ‘im, and that did squat.”

“Squat?” Rainbow mocked, “Squat is when nothing happens. We got are butts beaten in one hit when we used the Elements. That’s worse then ‘squat’!”

“Enough, both of you,” Celestia demanded.

“Yes princess,” they both replied.

“It’s alright princess,” Blacklight assured her, “I merely forgot how it can take others longer to catch on. I was not implying that Twilight and the rest of you use the Elements again, as that would be a fatal error. They won’t work on Xerxes because as I said before they are meant to cleanse and purify. Xerxes is rotten to the core, and therefore immune to the Elements. Also the reason Celestia could not cleanse her sister of Nightmare Moon is because when under the use of a single pony the power of the Elements is quite limited. Under the use of you six on the other hoof, well, I don’t think they’ll ever be stronger. Discord on the other hoof…how was he released exactly?”

“Well,” Luna started, “According to a schoolteacher—Cheerilee I think—she noticed cracks appearing on the statue when a few of her students her arguing irrationally. This was around the same time he was released, so we believe the spell was weakened enough after such a long time that the slightest amount of chaos could spark his power and release him.”

“Strange,” Blacklight replied, “However! Being immune to the Element we must turn to the most powerful magic known to me, as I remember things that have likely been lost to the sands of time.”

“Get to the point,” Rainbow said impatiently.

“Yes, well. The point is that Twilight will defeat Xerxes, but on her own.”

“WHAT?!” Everypony exclaimed at the same time.

“The Rageshift technique of the Sparkle family causes the user’s own innate magical power to fully surface using pure ‘rage’ as the trigger and causing the users magic power to ‘shift’ towards the fire Element, hence the name. While using this technique a pony’s physical strength is boosted to the point where it matches the user’s magical strength, which is even more powerful than an alicorn’s.”

“WHAT?!” Everypony exclaimed again.

“While using the technique a pony’s body has always undergone changes. I've been back long enough to do my research. Everypony that has ever used it has always undergone a visible, but not physical, transformation. The users coat changes color, pupils disappears, in some cases irises change color, and the mane and tail become fire.”

“Like when Twilight got so mad that she couldn't figure out my Pinkie sense that she just burst into flames!” Pinkie said, “So that super scary thing was Twilight’s ‘Rageshift’?”

“Twilight told me of that moment and I can assure you that was Twilight’s Rageshift transformation,” Blacklight confirmed.

“How is it possible for a mere unicorn to become more powerful than an alicorn?” Celestia asked.

“You know what a soul is right?”

“Yes of course. It is theorized that a soul is what gives a pony their personality and morals. It has never been confirmed that souls exist, but I understand the concept quite well. What of it?”

“Well a soul does not give a pony their morals, but it does give a pony their power,” Blacklight explained like a scholar, “The body of an earth pony gains raw muscle mass quicker than other types of pony. A pegasus pony’s body is granted with the natural ability to interact with clouds, which otherwise are not solid, and manipulate and control the weather. A unicorn’s soul uses the unicorn’s horn as a focusing point for their power, which is what magic really is. Sol and I discovered this quite some time ago in my life, but never revealed the information to the public, as it would have raised too many questions and the research was not yet completed.”

“This is all so fascinating!” Twilight exclaimed in excitement, “Why wasn’t the research completed?”

“Because I was one of the test subjects, and I was sealed away before the research could be completed,” Blacklight explained, “I asked Sol to use a preservation spell and leave documents telling me the fate of the research in a predetermined location in Canterlot. This is what I was looking for when Rarity caught me…doing things I feel remorse about.”

“Well you should!” Rarity stated.

“And so I do.”

“What does remorse mean?” Fluttershy asked. She hadn’t spoken at all before so everypony was a little surprised to be reminded she was there.

“Regret is to feel bad about doing something,” Blacklight explained, “Remorse is essentially the same thing, but you would do anything in your power if you could to change it, that being both present and future tense.”

“Blacklight,” Celestia asked; getting his attention, “What must be done about Xerxes?”

“Well the first step is to train Twilight in the field of offensive magic, which is something I excel in. I was also the strongest unicorn under Sol’s rule, both physically and magically. I will teach Twilight how to use her magic for the offensive purposes. The second step is to teach Twilight how to manipulate her own emotions so she can become angry enough to initiate Rageshift at will. The final step is waiting for Xerxes to be released. I can’t know for certain, but I think that will be two weeks from now. I’m basing this off of what I know of his power, both facing him and being trapped with him for three millennia.”

“So…” Twilight began, “If you need to train me, then when do we start?”

“Now.”