Corruption

Celestia sat at the head of the table in the dining hall. Arcfire sat at her side silently as a grandfather clock's bell tolled and echoed through the spacious room. "Four gray walls." The Archmage said as she stared at the plate in front of her, wearing a thoughtful expression.

The Princess turned to the fury red mare with a questioning look.

"He was looking right at us, not to the sound of us speaking."

Trying to decipher the cryptic mumblings of her companion and drawing a blank, Celestia asked. "What are your thoughts Arcfire?"

"The dungeons aren't often used but I should have thought of it sooner. The cells that have magical containment wards inside of them looks as if there is a wall over the entrance just like its other three. At least from the inside. He said, "These four gray walls do seem familiar now." "I think he could see us through the illusion somehow." Celestia's eyes snapped wide as the Archmage looked on. The Princess wore an expression she didn't recognize.

"No Arcfire, he could see... our souls."

Everything clicked, falling together like puzzle pieces. (The feeling of unease the first time he looked at me at the celebration. Him smiling as if seeing something nopony else could. He might not have seen our physical bodies through the barrier but our souls made it possible for him to know exactly who and where we were. "Swirling colours of emotion and intent." The white of Innocence, blue of sorrow, red of hatred and anger. He was explaining what was in front of him at the time. Describing us. That's why it reminded me of Groger...)

"But Princess, Soul-Sight is..." Arcfire whispered with a panicked look.

"A necromancer's trait." Celestia finished grimly.

{6 months later}

A stallion and mare stood before the throne as rain and wind beat against the stained-glass windows. A darkened backdrop for a time both sombre and hopeful.

"We thank you so much Princess. If not for your help we wouldn't know what to do."

"It's alright, my little ponies. We have shown nature our tenacity and will to survive before. That not fire, flood or earthquake will prevent us from going forward, from thriving. Your farm will be rebuilt and yo..." WOOCRACK!

Celestia looked to the entrance of the room with a snap of attention. Standing there was the human with a kind of neutral look that said nothing of the fact that he just embedded the door into the brickwork. One of the guards that stood in front of a pillar nearby looked on with wide eyes as bits of marble fell to the floor.

"Innumerable pardons for the interruption Your Highness, but I felt as if the situation warranted such an action."

The human walked within the throne room only to be stopped by the guards.

"Halt! What business do you have with the Princess?"

He stopped before the crossed spears and glanced to the one who had asked the question. Then looked back to the throne and continued.

"Might I inquire as to why, upon my return from a familial obligation, I happened to find a regiment of Royal Guards raiding... my... Library? "

"Mr. and Miss Tiller, I believe we have cleared up the matter of your request. It seems I have another issue to address, I hope you understand. "

"Of course Your Highness."

As the couple bowed and exited Celestia's smile fell away. "Guards, I would like to speak to my guest in private. You are dismissed."

Waiting for a moment for all those to leave the room she then began. "By asking the question, I gather you didn't stop to see the reason as to why."

"Given my current levels of annoyance, I thought it best to not leave it to chance that I might lose what little remains of my patients. But you have as of yet to answer my question, why? "

"During the past decade there has been a significant increase in Imports. Because of this there has been a proportionate need for increased security along the borders for checks of trade goods. A report of a suspicious trader and his caravan was catalogued and his comings and goings watched. A routine check and orders to instead scan for what's not supposed to be there, they were to search for what was. Everything was in order except for one thing, a shipment of grain was missing. By itself it wasn't out of the ordinary. What was however, is the weight of that shipment was the same as it would be if it's still had the grain. Further inspection revealed books beneath false floorboards. Books of hemomancy, necromancy and other forbidden tomes and even a few relics.

When questioned on this and offered leniency if information was given on the buyer and any other relevant shipment logs, he agreed. Of course the names given led to dead ends and parties that didn't exist. But imagine my surprise when a few shipments ago that same trader on quite a few occasions had mana gems in their cargo. Researching that line of evidence brought with it the realization that one of the largest investors in the company that owns that caravan is none other than our own resident reclusive scholar, you... Now don't feel singled out, every possible investor and trader of Blackgate Industries is under the same scrutiny. You just so happen to have a library here. Nothing personal you understand. "

The only visible change in the humans look and demeaner was a noticeable light in his eyes. His voice however had dropped an entire octave as he spoke.

"Venturing a guess, the case file for this investigation will not be available to the public I suspect? "

"Oh, it will as soon as it's complete. I will personally see to that."

Celestia had needed to see Shade since Arcfire and herself came to the conclusion of his ability to see souls. It hadn't occurred to her until then that she lacked any context as to how powerful an artificial mana well was. Having no need to measure the magic of a creature that didn't possess the ability to wield it until a short time ago. As her magic manifested and she began weaving the Magi-Sight spell, the human's eyes grew wider as if realizing it's nature.

Time stopped, the instant before the spell was cast it seemed as a light flashed and everything became frozen in place. A look of concentration on Celestia's face as she looked down to the human from the throne as everything became still.

"You had said you wished to know how he could accomplish complete mental isolation, Luna." Celestia looked from herself sitting on the throne to her sister at her side. "I had said it wasn't something you would want to replicate and you no doubt wanted to know why, both of your answers... are there." She said as she pointed towards the human as the scene skipped forward a single second. Luna looked from her sister to where her hoof was pointing and what followed was a breath that escaped her lips and eyes widening in disbelief.

What they all looked at now was something difficult to describe. What stood in the centre of the throne room was a nexus of cold void. It still seemed as time had ceased to flow but through Celestia's memory she let the aura of the human continue to move as she remembered it. A black miasma that rippled and shuttered, it rolled and twisted in place as if trying to escape. Tendrils stretched from the shadow along the floor where he stood to the darkest corners and behind the pillars where the torches light couldn't touch. At the centre of it all through seething abyss laid runes In patterns of complexity never seen. Not those on his skin but what laid beneath, what was within, they were etched and carved, into his bones.

What looked to be every one of them was marked in intricate detail from the smallest to largest. And without a doubt the most complex of all was his skull. Hundreds if not thousands of spell lines, runic gates, sigils, glyphs, magical circuits and pathways glowed in unison creating both a magical and physical barrier around his mind. The portion of the gem in his chest that could be seen was only a small part of the whole. It looked to travel through bone and connect to a much larger version on the other side of his breastplate and every marking both inside and out led to it. What they were looking at now, this world had never seen before.

"H-how?" Luna muttered.

"The better part of four centuries and I do not know, Sister. He has never told a single soul about his abilities and how they are accomplished. To know, is to have power over him and if I have learned anything since I met the human is that he would rather die then..."

"I know!" Pinkie Pie happily announced as she bounced in place.

The attention of everypony was now centred on the pink haired baker. Celestia surprise was easy to see by all and her expression was shared by most.

"You know... What?"

"All the things! Shade always answers any questions I have."

"Tis as I suspect to be a fruitless endeavour but regret would be mine should it not be asked. Care to enlighten us Lady Pie?"

"I do care, but I still can't say." Her nodding resolutely.

"Did you make a pinkie promise?" Fluttershy asked in a quiet tone.

"Nope." A small smile formed as she replied. "I'm just happy he trusts me."

(I don't understand how they could be taking things so calmly. It's almost as if they have a resistance or perhaps an immunity to the feeling that his magic generates in others.) Celestia adopted a contemplative expression as she looks to the pink mare. "If you would be willing Pinkie, may I ask as you look to the rolling shadows within Shade. How does it make you feel?"

Pinkie Pie turned once more to the human in the centre of the room. Placing her hoof below her chin she looked on in thought. As her mind went over the question there was a ripple in the air above her, colours began to manifest and take form of shapes that moved and flashed.

"It makes me feel warm and calm. It reminds me of the times he's hugged or... kissed me. The feeling of being in his arms and smelling his scent..."

"I'm sorry to interrupt your thoughts, Pinkie Pie." Celestia said as she gestured above the mare. "Concentrating on recalling memories in a shared mind space will result in them trying to manifest."

"That's okay, I don't mind if everypony sees this one." As she went back to concentrating the shifting images grew more steady and the flat shapes were given depth. Forming a bubble it rushed outward, encompassing those present and replacing the throne room.

The moonlight flowed through the open window. The drapes swayed in the summer breeze, bringing with it the scent of forest trees and the coming rains. At the centre of the room in the flickering lights of candles and sparkling chandelier was a four-poster bed of dark wood and willowing curtains that moved wistfully to and fro. Laying amongst the black silken sheets and lavish tasselled pillows, Pinkie rested atop the human. An arm holding her close as the other wandered. With her breathing slow and paced she hummed contentedly as he rubbed the muscles of her back. The softness of her fur giving way beneath his fingertips. With each breath her form would rise and fall as she snuggled into his chest, trying to get ever closer. Her senses were filled with warmth and the smell of clove and deep earthen notes. She felt a finger slip under her chin before he slowly raised her head. As their eyes met, she could feel his other hand move to her hair. Letting the strands cascade through his fingers like a pink waterfall. As he looked from her eyes to her lips, his voice came in a soft and quiet tone.

"Come here, my dear. "

Guiding her along into lips loving caress, her top lip was captured for a moment before it was released. Moving in succession from top to bottom to top again he kissed her thrice.

With half-lidded gaze and a whisper of a giggle she asked. "Why always three?"

"Hmm?"

"You always kiss me three times, why is that?"

A chuckle rumbled from his throat as he cupped her cheek.

"Well, the first one is for me. The second is for you and the third?" He paused. "The third is for me as well. I'm very greedy." He said with a smile.

She released a laugh that sounded as the tinkling of bells. "That's okay, maybe I should be greedy too." She stated as she leaned forward and kissed him once more.

As the scene played before the others they could feel an almost overwhelming sensation of contented warmth and joy. A feeling of unwavering safety, of being accepted, valued, cherished... loved.

"T-thats enough." Celestia almost exclaimed as the world shifted to the throne room. "Thank you Pinkie Pie, that will be more than sufficient."

"You're welcome Princess." She replied happily.

Trying to gather her bearings, Celestia looked to the others. She witnessed everypony blushing and smiling in varying degrees, even her sis...

("Luna, we will most definitely be speaking later.")

As the memory before them began anew, the Princess looked to the human with a neutral expression. (He is a great deal more powerful than a normal unicorn. Arcfire possesses a prodigious amount of magic and I would say Shade is at or slightly above the Archmagi's own mana reserves. I have to say I was expecting more, but I would never underestimate the current level he's at. A sharp mind with any power can prove to be very difficult and... dangerous. If only his mind could be used for good and not his seemingly insatiable need for control. Inquisitiveness and the accumulation of knowledge is all well and good but there is a limit. I will never allow the creation of another Sombra if I can help it. I will have to direct his grand archivist to copy any of his developments in the runic languages and other areas of Interest.)

Refocusing, he adopted his neutral smile as he began speaking. "A constant vigilance and protectiveness of your subjects, I commend you Your Highness. Smuggler's can be quite the troublesome bunch, ever-changing and evolving new methods. I hope in my heart of hearts that your investigation reveals those responsible. And if I can offer my assistance please don't hesitate to ask."

He now wore a grin as his gaze narrowed. "Of course an upstanding and law-abiding citizen would have nothing to hide. I can assure you, you won't find a single scrap of such things within my library. Again I apologize for the interruption, I will leave you to it. It would seem I have a great deal of things vying for my attention. I look forward to our next meeting Princess."

Giving a bow, he clasped his hands behind his back and made way towards the exit. "Oh, I will be paying for the damages. The wall behind the door has seen better days. I'll need to modify my level of strength when next I have an opportune moment."