Chapters The Shattering
“Now you are alone,” The Hulking brute said as color faded from my vision. “oh great prince of friendship where is your power now when you are all alone?” The minotaur finished smiling a cruel smile. I say nothing as I continue to stare at my friends cooling corpses. “what power can stand against the Minous Horde!” The general of said horde continued to yell their blood still dripping from his ax, as he turns to his precious army. I feel a quick pain in my head and twitch. Just as he begins to speak again I the darkest of magics and rip his soul from his body.
Ignoring his men shouting around me I turn to his corpse and animate it ordering it to guard me as I incinerate my bindings to walk over to my friends. Without hesitation the walking corpse raised his ax and charged his men. Ignoring the fighting behind me and levitate the seven bodies to my still bound fellow royalty. “D-dusk what are yo-” Celestia began before I interrupt “silence” I command, sealing her voice. Looking over to Luna I set them down in front of her and state “ Bury them in Ponyville” With that I surround them in a barrier and turn away.
Striding back over to the Generals soul I begin “Those seven were the only thing keeping me sane you know.” Lighting my horn I pull the growing pool of blood from fighting around my zombie and use it to carve ruins around his soul. “I was pretty good at dealing with just Spike before Celestia sent me to Ponyville, but after being whole... after happiness to go back to feeling nothing..., being nothing. No” I continue. Glancing over to said princess I give her a sad smile. As the ground began to blacken underneath me. “I can never thank you enough for sending me to them” I say to her. "They took a closed off bookworm and led him along as he bungled his way into alicornhood. Made life enjoyable instead of just getting in the way of my studies"
“Congratulations you broke me.” I finish, completing the circle around him. Summoning dark crystals into the air I place them at the four cardinal points and start another circle using clear crystals to link them. The air around me beginning to crackle with potential. “you took away the only people that stopped me from truly exploring magic.” Finishing the crystal ring I activate the first slowly ripping his soul apart. “ The only thing stopping me from from being a sociopath really.” I say simply, ignoring his screaming. Powering the second ritual with his pain I spread a spell across his horde. Magic swirled and twisted the air, crackling and groaning as reality bent to my will A course of screams poured from them as they melted like wax, the flesh slowly sagging and falling from their bones. Muscles contorting as they withered and snapped.
After a but a few moments the spell failed as his ethereal form collapsed. His army soon to fallow their commander from their wounds. Dispelling the barrier I walk over to the princesses. Summoning my crown I gently place it on the ground in front of them. “I will be in the badlands If you need me. I am not fit to rule, but if Equestria ever has need of me I will come and remove whatever problem you have.” With that I unseal Celestia's voice. The three royals just stare at me in horror. “Now you must banish me from Equestria.” Saying that startled Luna from her silence and she asked, understanding in her voice. “So Equestria can point to you and say not us?”
I nod and turn to Candance “Keep little Flurry safe wont you? She is the only blood I have left.” I ask and then turn to Celestia. Not knowing what to say to the mare who has been almost a second mother to me. After so thoroughly defile everything she had tried to teach me. In the end I merely bow low, my horn in the dirt and my wings spread out. Slowly standing I turn and plod through the still dying and dead, heading south. Collecting the leftover emotional power left over from so many painful deaths I rip a portal into reality and walk through Once again ignoring the sounds behind me.
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I open my eyes to the barren landscape of the badlands and cast a quick detection spell. Nothing sapient within the nearest hundred miles. With that confirmed I finally release my rage. My body self immolates and boiling tears run down my face, The atmosphere catching fire as flare my wings. A guttural scream rips itself from my thought as i slam my fore hooves into the melting earth. Again and again I stomp and scream. The scenery going from barren to hellish. The magic around me shattering and reforming from the forge of my fury.
Eventually i look up from the bottom of the molten lake I had made, I lift my self to the top and call up the happiest memories I could remember from them and let it seep into to the lava. The compassion of Fluttershy, The strength of character of Applejack, Pinkie's joy for life, Rarity's helpful nature, Rainbow's loyalty. I fed it my love for spike and my pride for Starlight's progress. I force my raw emotions into the still bubbling pool and slam al of my magic into it. Slowly a mass rose from the depths rapidly cooling the remaining liquid i focus on the blazing ball and begin sculpting. A long trunk sprouted, followed by roots squirming into the still soft ground. Branches sprouted in mass followed by an explosion of color as crystal leaves of every color unfurled. Finally flowers bloomed an abyssal black. The scent of apple blossoms and ozone permeate the air as i plod to the door. Stepping inside I look at the familiar sight of the golden oaks library, The first true home I ever had. Nearly falling up the stairs I fall into the bed and wait for the darkness of slumber to take me
Author's Note
Well lets see what happens with this
The Rain
Now I had once had a hangover that made waking up quite a hassle, Thanks to Applejack's namesake beverage. Once I became an Alicorn I never had to worry about them again thanks to my physiology. Once I had rejoined the waking world, I was reintroduced to the concept and found myself facing 'the big one' as Rainbow once put it after missing a few days of life. My brain and horn ached fiercely and I was drained of mana. My fore-hoof was healed by this point, looking at the sun just beginning to set, I could see why. The last of my strength, I use to bind you to this land. It's strength shall be your own. The voice whispered tiredly. It's strength finely that of the wind through the barren wastes.
Knowledge bloomed in my mind, every inch of every mile became known to me. All the way from the sulfur bog to the sire mountain, the barrens to the tall columns. As well as every creature that made its home here. The ramshackle town of Kludgtown I would have to visit soon enough see how Tempest is doing. The knolls I was surprise about, Equestria had no knowledge of their presence. A smattering of small groups roamed the wastes following herds of some mindless reptiles. A nomadic culture I would guess. One larger grouping not to far from me really. should let them know I'm in the neighborhood. One or two others all by their own. Then to the south in the many caves and crevices of the Tall columns, where hundreds of changelings, all surrounding and protecting her.
Chrysalis, I see you've built some numbers back up. What am I to do with you? The thought passed through my head as I feel the connection gaining strength. as barren as the land was even the smallest bit feeding itself into me and passing back out, All the while slowly depositing a minute amount of power. I think to myself as I reacquaint my self with controlling my bearings. Perhaps I muse as my strength slowly returns, quicker then ever before. I should go ask her
Feeling the land, knowing it. I finally figure out how an earth pony like people seem to teleport to and fro. The Jaunt, when an earth pony knows a spot of land better then they know themselves they can move anywhere in that spot. That is why only older earth ponies seem to be able to do it, the are normally the only ones who know the land to that extent, save Pinkie of course. With a fond thought of the pink mare, I pop over to a different bit of land within my spot.
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Stepping out from behind the tall backed black thrown I see The equally as tall black queen and the five others as expected. What was unexpected was that the five others where all small grubs. A very pale grey color covered their bodies save for the face which was a darker grey nearly the black of adult hood. The queen herself was singing a soft tune to the nearly asleep grubs. Her disharmonious voice lending an odd ethereal quality that I find I quite enjoyed.
"She left her baby lying there,
As the last grub slips into slumber she stands and turns. The instant she sees me and freezes. Stark terror written across her face "Hello Chrysalis" I great softly "You have a lovely singing voice by the way." Still terrified she slowly walked over putting her self between me and the grubs. "Are you here to kill me?" she asked her voice just as quiet. I look down at her as she steps in front of me, The chitin covering her lithe form stretched and worn looking. I ignore her question and instead ask one myself. "when was the last time you ate?"
A look of confusion pushed aside her terror and she tilted her head slightly before replying "I can no longer feed in Equestria, so while I try to find another feeding ground I do not." I raise an eyebrow at that and slowly start to circle her "Be still" I mutter when she began to move. Rigidity returned to her as her terror did. Her ribs jutted out starkly, and her hair fell in stringy clumps. even the bands across her middle were drawn in. Turning to look at the grubs I see the signs of a slight amount of undernourishment.
A slight whimper brought my eyes back to the queen. "Not my children, I cant lose them all again." She begged. Pulling up all the fond and loving memories of my friends, I gently grab her and puller into a hug. Ignoring her shriek of fear I push the accumulated emotions into her and release her. As she fell over from the overload I say "Never once did you kill any of my people Chrysalis. I will not kill you and yours so long as that one rule is followed."
Her body shivered and shuddered as it processed the large influx of emotional energy. I watched as the energy filled out her once more, her chitin becoming a bit less stretched and somewhat glossy. Her hair again falling silkily down her shoulders "I have claimed the badlands and all within it. So long as you keep to the rules I have no problem with you and yours staying." I look down to the shivering grubs before softly lying down by them radiating the same love that Fluttershy had for all animals. "I'm no threat to you little ones" I say warmly, softly laying my wing over them. They quickly calm and wiggle closer to lean against me, enjoying the meal.
" you have claimed the badlands?" Came the low question, piercing the silence that had sprung up. "More they have claimed me." I reply and take in the thrown room slash nursery. Soft green light played off of soft tan rock. A long tapestry adorning one wall the only decoration. "My Queen!" Came a shout as a lone changeling barreled through the door. Upon seeing me the ling froze and dropped to the ground and moved no further. At my quizzical expression The royal ling said "The world itself reels from your actions Dusk, It waits with baited breath for your next move. I thought my children that it was useless to try and fight you. Apparently that means to play dead." I think on that for a long moment before saying "The badlands are mine, less they raise another army against Equestria, here I will stay."
The Silence
Slowly blinking away the sleep from my eyes, I rise to great the day. The only thing that comes from my mouth is a sigh. My horn burns from what I did yesterday and my body feels oily from all the dark magic. I yawn then gag from the rancid taste in my mouth. uhg, how on earth did Sombra put up with the side effects? I think to myself grumpily. Plodding over to the bathroom, I kick the door open and head over to the sink. Immediately summoning a toothbrush paste. As I scrub the taste away, I stare at the creature that peers out of the mirror. The only outward sign of my spell-casting yesterday was the slight red tinge to my horn. Numb to the change I quickly finish my morning routine and head back down onto the main floor.
The empty shelves of library give me a silent greeting. Slowly I take in the sight of the once familiar library and am immersed in memories. The first day I ever came to Ponyville was the first time I set foot in the tree library. It meant more to me then even the tower where I studied under Celestia. The first place I could truly call home. It tore me apart when Tirak destroyed it. The only thing that got me through it was the girls, now it's going to help me deal with their loss. I turn to the door leading to the basement and think I wounder whats been done to the basement i wasn't very specific with the summoning
Heading down into the surprisingly well lit abyss. I see a large empty chamber the size of the lake of melted from before. Dim brown light filtered in from the ceiling the stairs leading a good twenty meters down. Well I'll have room for my experiments at least. I think as I head down. The bowl like cavern all leading to a central pit. Peering down into it when I reach I see a clear crystal screen lay suspended over a scene composed of seven statues playing together. The tears begin again and I fall to my knees. "I'm sorry" I whisper and flee not being able to handle being in front of them. I can't face them, not yet I think and flee from their presence. Up and outside, I run to get away from the memories.
Hearing a sharp clop as I step out side I look down and see a rainbow browns and greys, resembling solid glass. Fulgurite? I muse to myself, looking at the circle surrounding my new home. I shrug and move on. I pick a random direction and move, knowing I appeared thousands of miles past the border. Stepping off the glass My hoof crunches into the ash of the grass. Gazing across the landscape I spy a ring of burnt rock and vegetation spreading out from my creation. Hmm. I wounder... Shuffling my hooves a little deeper into the dirt I reach for a seldom used part of myself. Trying to connect to the earth through my hooves. Flinching from echoes of searing pain, I frown. I've hurt you I think to the earth beneath me.
Forcing my hooves deeper I dig within myself and pull out my underdeveloped earth pony magic. Not quite sure what I was planing, I try and remember the feeling of sweet apple acres. A angry force immediately assaulted me, The force of what little earth magic I have crushing down on me. Betrayer! Pain bringer! The words forced itself into my head, with the voice of a hurricane, An Ice pick of fury just as strong as my own stabbing into me. I just nod in response, knowing it was true. I had betrayed the very earth by dumping my pain and anger into it. Nodding to my self I make a decision, I'll fix this.
I push my earth magic out and down as hard as I can. The force pushing down on me increasing with my effort. I feel my bones creak and crack as the strain built higher and higher. The blood pounds in my ears and my hooves grow hot as I continue to pour my magic into the ground. A slight vibration beneath me is felt and ,sweat frothing my coat, I finally collapse with a grunt of pain as my left foreleg bone snaps. Slowly cracking my eyes I see a single sprout of grass and smile before passing out. Not much, but it's a start. I think as the darkness swallows me.
Note to self. Strength training before anymore earth pony magic. The thought sluggishly bubbles to the surface of my mind as I groggily regain consciousness. Are you well betrayer? the voice asked, a slight hint of concern in the voice of wind through leaves. I snort in exasperation before replying "I will never be well." struggling to rise I look down at the sprout and smile "It might take a while but I will heal the damage I caused." I quickly summon some water for the grass and sigh, looking down at my leg. Already partly healed, Yay Alicorns What do I call you betrayer? The wind whispers. "I am Dusk... I have surrendered all other titles." I reply looking out across the scrub land surrounding my new home.
Dusk. Very betrayer Dusk, I am the land you find yourself in, once lush and flourishing until your kind came and shattered me. I quirk an eyebrow at the words "The ponies did th-" I begin before being shouted down. No! Not the ponies, Your kind. "Alicorns?" I question. Yes. was the hiss between river reeds. I frown at that, the badlands have been as they are for hundreds of years. "It might take me years but I will try to bring at least a little life back to this land" I state gently, gesturing to the green sprout.
A rumble passes through the land as if a hum of curiosity. You would heal me Betrayer? "I certainly plan to try. Applejack would never forgive me if I passed up the chance to heal the land." I reply. All was quiet save for the actual wind blowing across the land. Would you swear upon that? It eventually asks. I pause at that sensing the question was a bit more complicated then the five words made it out to be. A palpable feeling of power builds in the air as the land waits for my answer. After thinking on my answer I nod. "This land is my home now and I have no qualms against that" As soon as the words leave my lips a warmth spreads up through my hooves. Then I claim you as my own. The voice replies before the energy slams into me.
Author's Note
Tried to flush out the scene a little more, still not entirely happy but eh