The Ruler of Everfree

Darkness. The only thing I felt after my defeat. As I sort of floated around my prison cell deep under who knows where. My form had dissipated years ago leave a dark cloud with two ruby eyes staring out of them. Needless to say, life sucks, or half-life anyway. The Princesses had long forgotten about me. I had been left to my own thoughts for a very long time. The exact amount if years might be a bit skewed due to the fact that after you lose your hooves. It is really hard to mark the walls. This is how I have endured. My hate having flamed out a few......very long time ago. I Prince Fulcrum, self appointed ruler of Equestria, brought low by two young little brats. I might have some malice left in me after all.....

I won't say how many times I have counted the bricks that confine me here, or the bars, or the bricks outside but it is a large number. Probably numbering in the zillions. I used to try and build up my magic but I had found long ago, that any magic I know can't break the elements of Harmony's magic. I am forever trapped here in where ever they put me, fuzzily viewing the world from the shadows.

"It must be around here somewhere." What is this? A mind? In my dungeon, such has never happened before, not since Celestia. I must communicate with this being. It might be able to release me. Then I can take over.....I mean usurp Celestia's throne.

"That would depend on what you are looking for Child." I felt the being's mind roll at my new telepathic message. The being, which I now deduced was female, tentatively thought another message.

"Who am I speaking..er...thinking to right now? And where are you?" I amusedly scoffed at this. I would ask the questions here.

"I'll answer your questions if you answer mine. Foremost being, where am I?" I tried to peer through the fuzziness that clouded my shadow vision to see where this voice was coming from. All I could find was a Purplish pony sitting at an apparently ruined desk. I couldn't pierce the veil and was only able tk see her obvious features.

"I can only assume that you are somewhere in the dungeon of Canterlot. Now answer one of my questions." Drat she knows I cannot force her to answer my questions. This might be harder than previously expected. I wonder if my name still carries the same hate and fear it did......a long time ago."

"Okay...pony....I am Prince Fulcrum of the Kingdom of Everfree. Question two: Have you heard of an Alicorn named Celestia?" She might be dead if I'm lucky.

"Yes, she is....was my mentor in all things magical. Now where are you?" That ruins plan A. On to plan....shoot I haven't thought that far ahead. In all my years....hundreds of years...millennia down here, it never occurred to me.

"I can assume after my defeat I was thrown in the dungeons underneath this Castle you speak of. Do you think you can get me out of here?" Probably shouldn't have said defeat. Now she's going to as who defeated me and why.

"Defeated? Who defeated you. Were you evil?" One and two down and out for the count. Shit.

"I'll tell you more if you release me.....pony.....we may talk then." I shut down my newfound shadow telepathy. Time to wait if she actually does release me.

Later.....ish Twilight

"Celestia I have uncovered something very disturbing in the dungeons." Twilight rushed into Throne room excitedly knocking into several ponies on the way in. Celestia sat on her throne with her usual graceful smile. The one that always calmed her.

"What is it Twilight?" She looked intrigued but she knew nothing was down there. It had been empty since the last of the Everfree soldiers were released. A visible shake raced through her as if her body knew it was a lie.

"A pony....or probably a pony, talked to me with some sort of telepathy. He said his name was Prince Fulcrum of Everfree." Twilight jumped as she saw the horrified look that overcame the Princess. Her mane lost its magical flowing grace and her legs weakened. Needless to say, she very disgracefully, fell of her throne.

"That is impossible! He is dead. Take me to him Twilight." She got back up, ignoring the looks everyone else in the room gave her.

"I....don't know where he is exactly. I believe he is somewhere deep in the dungeons but....I have to ask Princess......who is he?" She looked at the Princess with her best poker face.

"I have things to do Twilight. I need you to find him. Ask him any questions you have, I'm quite sure he will answer them." She frowned and returned to her throne. Obviously uninterested in the line of ponies waiting to plea their case with the princess. Twilight frowned but instantly perked up at the thought of new knowledge. She quickly went to the library to see if she could find anything on "Prince Fulcrum".

After searching for awhile she came across a thin leather bound tome. The edges faded but a gold etched title could be made out one the front.

The Spear of the Forest: Prince Fulcrum Darakati Everfree, Ruler of the forest nation of Everfree

She opened the book and discovered a picture painted on it's first page. It portrayed a Black Alicorn in full Plate armor with a Royal Blue cape. His teeth were white and he had two fangs sticking out of where canines would be on an omnivorous animal. He had a long pale blue horn that glowed with a bubbling blue and white magic. His mane flowed behind him like Celestia's but it was black with a streak of blue and white. I large black hafted and white pointed spear floated above his head and the dark blue eyes radiated a malevolence she could only associate with King Sombra.

The next page held actual text which Twilight gratefully read, glad to have turned away from Fulcrum.

"Little is known of this enemy. Prince Fulcrum Darakati Everfree appears several times throughout history. He always showed up in his plate armor with his spear, Sun's Bane, with an army of highly skilled unicorns. He was always defeated by Celestia and Luna with help from the "Elements of Harmony". His first appearance was shortly after the reign of Discord. He struck hard but was defeated and his kingdom abandoned. His second attack, 300 years later, he took over the small towns around the Everfree but was killed by the Elements. His final attack happened 600 yrs after the ascendance of the Diarchy. His men, with the help of Crystal King Sombra Valerus, ransacked northern and southern Equestria until they were captured by Celestia who locked them away. Known associates: Crystal King Sombra, Chaos Emperor Discord. Family: Sister. Location: Presumably Tartarus. Survived by sister, Princess Velocitia Daraketi Everfree.

The next few pages the book contained only descriptions of battles that were fought. The last page revealed something very strange though. He had signed the book. And wrote: To Princess Twilight Sparkle, Co-ruler of Equestria. Release me already. I've been here forever.....probably.

Twilight dropped the book in surprise. Her mouth opened and closed repeatedly until she knew what she read was real.....and then she read it again and again.

"You really don't want to get me out of here do you?" She heard the deep masculine voice from earlier....Prince Fulcrum.

"I'm not sure....all my knowledge about you says that you are essentially evil and an enemy to Equestria." She bit her lip hoping he would answer her.

"I wouldn't call myself an enemy of Equestria, as you call it, but an avid enemy of your rulers. And yes I'm completely evil. Take Sombra and imagine your worst nightmare. Now ,unless your fear is inappropriate, you have me. I'm not going to sweeten my history. I have killed for fun. Tortured many ponies and burned villages to the ground. I have been down in this hole long enough to see my own body waste away into dust. I think I've served my time. The Spear of the forest awaits my return."

"You expect me to release you after that!?" Her eyes widened." You just told me you killed, tortured, and pillaged. Why would I release you."

"Knowledge." Twilight stumbled in suprise. "I can sense your thirst. You wish to know what it was like while I lived. You want to know the effects of.....a very long time...in complete isolation. I could tell you all of this and much more. You only need to release me." Twilight could feel him smirk. He had found her weakness and he knew it.

"How can I be sure you won't kill me once I release?"

"You can't. But I assure you I might the mental awareness not to kill you on sight. Probably." Twilight turned and descended the stairs to the dungeons.

"You're not helping your case."

"Really? Really? I don't see why I, darkness incarnate, should have to lie about my own intentions. I have given you no reason to trust me. In fact I would kill if you did trust me. I was insane long before I was stuck in here. If you won't release me somepony else will. And that's when I'll end the lives of you and your silly princess." Twilight arrived in front of what must have been his cell. The darkness inside was too thick to see through and her light could not pierce it. Dark blue magic swirled with like a thunderstorm. The bars of the cell glowed with a rainbow light. The elements of Harmony.

"I'm waiting." Twilight began charging her horn to dispel the barrier that kept the cell closed. As soon as it was charged she shot the beam of purple energy straight into the lock of the cell.

The bars and door exploded with a flash of bubbly blue magic. The darkness then coalesced into something she had begun to fear.

"Ha...ha....haha....hahahahaha......." Fulcrum let out the laugh he had been holding since his imprisonment. I can't believe that worked........