Transference: Epitome of Darkness

I felt that I was weaker now than before my imprisonment.

The time in the crystals had definitely taken a toll on me. And if that rainbow trail leading up to the sky was any indication, then magic was still in the process of fully returning to Equestria.

However, it must have reached a breaking point where my prison lacked the magical resources to sustain Twilight's spell for my containment.

I couldn't tell how long it would take to regain my old pontential, but it was probably the same for all creatures that relied on magic. Including Luna, Discord, and changelings if they were still around.

Hopefully Luna was... revenge wouldn't be the same without her. Even boring, I feared.

As I flew through the sky as a disembodied dark purple cloud, I began to wonder if this was all intentional. Did Twilight somehow ensure that magic only gradually returned to the world and thereby also limited my powers? If so, the effect seemed negligible.

And then, did ponies here even know what happened in the past and who I was? Were they prepared in some way for my return? How much time had actually passed?

So many questions that needed to be answered.

Well, at least one pony seemed reasonably aware of the situation. I could feel it seeking out for me in the distance. I didn't care what it hoped for in turn.

I'd soon have a body of my own again. And that was all that mattered.

"Opaline?"

The purple alicorn didn't answer.

Her attention was focused solely on the screen in front of them. The dark cloud in the sky was fast approaching the castle. It would be here any moment now.

"Opaline?" Misty tried to speak to her again, voice shaking. "I'm scared. Are you sure this is the only way?"

Still not averting her gaze. Opaline whispered, barely audible, "You weren't there when it all happened, Misty. None of you ponies were. I lost so much during that time, back when I was still a unicorn..." Opaline paused for a moment before she slowly turned her head, looking Misty straight in the eyes. "Only the powerful will shape the future, you understand? This is for the better, for both of us, trust me.”

"B... but after everything you've told me--" Misty startet to argue, but stopped as the darkness in question began to manifest around them both. "Eeee!"

Startled, Misty stumbled back and fell on her hind legs, frozen solid as she watched the black and purple around them take the form of an unfamiliar two-legged creature.

The unstable form floated before Opaline in an eerie stillness. The missing mouth and eyes on his face gave it a grotesque, nightmarish appearance, like a strange puppet.

Opaline seemed surprisingly composed as she took a few steps forward and began speaking to the otherworldly being.

"I--, We have awaited your return," Opaline corrected after briefly glancing at Misty. "Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Opali--"

"There is no need for this," a voice echoed and interrupted her introduction.

"OPALINE!" Misty cried out in panic as the purple alicorn was slowly being swallowed up by the surrounding shadows. "Get away from her!"

"Stay back, Misty!" Opaline ordered in a stern tone, only her head still visible in the black mass that was forming.

Then Opaline's head was also engulfed in darkness, silencing her. The dark, bipedal form melted into the shadows as it seemingly descended into Opaline.

"That's so wrong," Misty mumbled quietly as she averted her gaze, huddled in a corner, crying in fear for Opaline and her own life.

I blinked.

Once more I had come to life.

As the shadows retreated from my face, I began to breathe the stale air around me. What a treat.

Aside from the visibly black aura emanating from my body, most notably around the corners of my eyes, Opaline's appearance had remained the same.

I stretched my back and wings and indulged in the positive feelings that entailed. Pure bliss.

Oh, what a joy these simplest of things were. I just stood there in trance for a while, taking it all in.

The simple things wouldn't do it for long, though. I needed so much more from this world.

I could listen to Opaline's intentions later, she was still with me and would remain so for as long as I thought it worthwhile.

"Are you satisfied?" Opaline's voice asked inside my mind.

I just shook my head as I had other plans at the moment than having an internal dialogue. And so I made my way over to the light blue unicorn, still sobbing in the corner, glancing at me anxiously as I slowly approached.

As my mind started forming pictures in my head, I could feel Opaline panicking. Her feelings for that unicorn were true, she couldn't hide them from me.

"PLEASE, don't do this, she will benefit you in other ways!" the voice inside my head tried to persuade me.

I needed this. It had been too long.

I slowly picked Misty up by the neck with my magic, much like a kitten. I brought her face to mine and looked at her.

She didn't fight at all and hung in the air like a wet sack of potatoes, her shimmering big puppy eyes focused on me.

"Opaline?" she asked as she looked at me, tears flowing freely. "Are you still there?"

"Yes... and no," I answered instead, looking at her, being deep in thought myself. "Misty, huh?"

For reasons unclear to me, I had conflicting thoughts about what I wanted to do. She smelled so good.

Misty had her tail tug between her legs when I turned her around in the air with my magic. I felt like I was inspecting the latest wares at a market.

"Please..." the voice started pleading again, "this is the only thing I ask of you in return for my alliance."

Scenes of the past started forming in my head. Opaline's memories.

Many showed Luna distraught after their unification efforts had failed repeatedly. Applejack and Rainbow Dash fighting. And many more.

Interesting, I thought distracted, still with Misty in my magical grasp. Opaline truly did her best to continue my legacy. I would have to give her that.

There was also a bit of hatred towards me, I realized, and with that came scenes of close friends and family members dying.

Oof, the changelings really had some fun back then.

I doubted that she had intended for me to see that, but there was only so much she could hide from me. Especially when strong feelings were involved.

"I see," I said and put Misty back on the floor. I gave her a pat on the head and wiped away her tears with my magic. "Don't you disappoint me, Misty, you hear?"

The feeling of relief I felt inside me was... strange. Because some of it was my own.

She sat there in front of me, perplexed by the sign of affection. Still shivering and obviously unsure of what to do next.

Kinda cute, I thought.

...

I shook my head. There was still the issue with my unfulfilled desires.

"Misty," I addressed her again. "Would you be so kind as to get me a pony or two to bring over? Preferably mares.”

I had to sort out a few things with Opaline regarding the past, and this task would be a good test for my little... hm, apprentice I suppose?

"But Opaline, then they would see our castle?" Misty questioned my order. "And... why?"

I couldn't help but grin. I wondered how much Misty knew about me. Apparently Opaline had told her some things.

"You'll find out soon enough, Misty." My voice made it clear that this was the end of our discussion.

Misty was obviously uncomfortable with all this, but she went on her first errand anyway.