Twilight walked across the throne room, taking slow careful steps. She was holding a box in her magic that was tied down with string. She placed the box down onto the cutie map, which was covered in a plastic sheet. She jumped back as if the box were going to explode at any moment. When nothing happened, Twilight bit on the string to slowly pull it off of the box. She took the lid off of the box and peered in it.
A small red horn sat in the box, surrounded by soft cushioning and tissue paper. Twilight picked it up with her hooves and stared at it in awe. She rubbed her hoof across it to feel the texture. It was very smooth and surprisingly warm.
"Woah..." Twilight marveled in awe. Studying Sombra's horn could help find a new type of magic! She gently placed the horn onto the cutie map and turned around to pick up a scroll. She turned back around and unraveled the scroll, letting it flop on the floor. Twilight had a large grin on her face and excitedly tapped her hooves on the floor. This was going to be one of her best study sessions!
The door to the throne room opened quickly, making her turn around. Rarity trotted in with a pet carrier in her magical grasp.
"I'm so sorry that I'm late, I lost track of time!" Rarity exclaimed, placing the carrier on the floor. She opened it and Opal slinked out, freely walking around the room. Twilight gave Rarity a confused look.
"Late for what? We're not doing anything today." Twilight asked.
"For our pet playdate. That's today isn't it?" Rarity asked. She looked around the throne room to see that she and Twilight were the only ones in the room.
"That's next Tuesday, you're a week early." Twilight explained. Rarity let out a sigh and placed her hoof on her forehead.
"Pardon my mistake Twilight, I've been mixing up things lately. It's hard running three boutiques at once." Rarity said with an exasperated sigh. "The sales have doubled over the past few weeks." She explained. Twilight gave her friend a sympathetic smile.
"It's fine, running a business is hard work," Twilight reassured. Rarity looked at the horn that sat on the map.
"If you don't mind me asking, what is that?" Rarity asked, pointing to the horn. Twilight looked back at the horn and her face lit up, excited to explain what she was doing.
"I'm studying King Sombra's horn! Cadance found it outside of the Crystal Empire. She sent it to me in the mail so I could study it. She would have studied it herself but she doesn't want dark magic around Flurry." Twilight explained. "Studying his horn could help learn more about his species and his magic. Dark magic is rare these days and there's hardly any history on it!" She said excitedly. Rarity smiled at her friends' excitement.
"I should leave you to your studies. Opal, come along." Rarity said, tapping her hoof on the floor to get her pet's attention. When Opal didn't come to Rarity tapped her hoof again. Usually, Opal would come scattering to the sound of that. She looked around the room to see Opal standing on the map table, licking Sombra's horn. She must have gotten on the table when Rarity and Twilight were talking.
"Opal no!" Rarity exclaimed, lifting her cat off of the table with her magic. Opal let out a meow and gripped onto the sheet. She grabbed the horn in her mouth and clamped down on it. Twilight looked at Rarity with wide eyes.
"Rarity stop!" Twilight shouted. The sudden shout made Rarity jerk back and drop Opal. Opal dangled off the side of the table, digging her claws into the plastic sheet. She opened her mouth to let out another yowl, only for the horn to fall into her mouth. She swallowed the horn, letting out a soft gagging noise. Opal lost her grip on the plastic sheet and flopped to the ground. Twilight and Rarity stared at Opal in disbelief.
"This can't be good," Twilight said in a worried tone. Rarity put her hooves on Twilight's cheeks and looked her in the eyes.
"Is my dear Opalescence going to be alright?" Rarity asked in a panicked tone. Twilight looked over at Opal who was licking her paw, looking completely calm.
"She looks like she's fine," Twilight said. "But she should stay here for the night so I can keep a close eye on her." She said. Rarity let go of Twilight's cheeks and let out a worried sigh.
"I would love to stay with Opal but I really have to go." Rarity said in a sad tone. "Now Twilight, only give her fresh salmon, fresh milk, and bottled water. She won't be having that cheap cat food." She stated in slight disgust at the mention of cat food. "Mommy loves you Opal, I'll come back for you tomorrow." Rarity said, blowing a kiss to Opal. Rarity dramatically turned around and walked out of the room.
Twilight looked at Opal who was now laying on her back, falling asleep. Opal was going to be fine.
Twilight let out a bored sigh as she watched Opal do regular cat things. She had been watching Opal for like a hawk hours and nothing had happened. Twilight looked out the window to see that the moon was up. Opal must be hungry. Twilight stood up from her spot.
"Pspspsp come on Opal, it's time for dinner." Twilight coaxed. Opal looked up with bright eyes. It seemed like she understood the word dinner. Twilight turned around and walked out of the room with Opal following a few inches behind. Twilight didn't want to admit it, but she sorta wished Opal had been affected by the horn. She didn't get to study it and she wouldn't be able to directly learn about dark magic.
Twilight entered her kitchen and opened the cabinets over the stove. Opal let out loud meows, ready to eat.
"Alright, I'm coming," Twilight said. She knew that she didn't have any salmon in her fridge so she hoped that Spike had something fish related. Her eyes landed on a can of tuna. It wasn't that fanciest but it would do. Twilight opened the can with her magic and placed it on the floor next to Opal. Opal curiously sniffed the tuna, only to let out a loud gag.
"Oh come on, it's not that bad," Twilight said. Opal continued to gag and arched her back. The gagging turned into yowls of pain. Twilight stepped back in surprise. Something was wrong.
Opal hunched over with her face facing the ground. Her fur started to darken, turning dark grey. Her tail started to turn black and the tip of her tail started to turn a neon red. Twilight stared in horror at this transformation. What should she do? Twilight had never been in a situation like that. Suddenly, the yowling stopped and Opal stood still. Twilight stared at Opal, waiting for her to move again. When she didn't move, Twilight poked her side. She seemed to be breathing.
"Opal? Are you okay?" Twilight asked with concern. One of Opal's paws patted the floor. She slid her paw across the smooth surface. Opal's body started to shake and a soft noise came from her. It sounded like...laughter? Opal looked up and let out a loud laugh. Her laughter sounded like a grown stallion. Her eyes were green and her pupils were red.
"My planned worked!" Opal shouted, raising her paws into the air. That voice was unmistakable.
"King Sombra..." Twilight said in disbelief. This couldn't be good.
