Corruption is Magic

I lean back in my chair so it is standing on two legs as I think about what Alexander has taught me so far. Wellsprings… I had always been brought up to believe ponies each had one. Was it just lack of information that caused this belief, or was it something more… calculated? Surely Sombra knew the fact he had two Wellsprings. That explains why he was so strong and feared. What about the Princesses then? Could they have multiple? Gulping at the thought I steady my nerves. It would explain how they are in a league of their own where not even Cadance can reach even after becoming an Alicorn like them. Maybe… maybe the teacher and Goddess of my home isn’t so… God like.

Shaking my head I slap my cheeks and let my chair fall back to how it normally sits. Thinking like that won’t get me anywhere. I can’t go making assumptions. When I get home I will ask her directly and if she tries to skirt around the question I’ll push her to answer. Resolving to do so I nod and prepare for Alexander's tests. After a few minutes of mentally rehearsing my notes on the information Alexander shared with me I hear the door to my office open and in walks the man himself. “I am now ready for you my Dear. Please follow me.” He joyfully says with a smile on his face.

“Now, there are a few things you need to learn. It dawned on me, you also don’t know the first thing about the Game.” Alexander says with emphasis on the word game.

“Game? I know many games.” I say confused and he chuckles.

“No no, The Game. I mean the game of politics. It has no real name but it is played by players who utilize pawns.” Alexander says with a calm tone but something about it seems off. He leads me through the halls and I feel as if he is a different person based on the aura he gives off.

“So… chess?” I ask, getting a sputter and laugh from him breaking the feeling I had forming in my gut.

“No, let me put it this way. If you wanted someone to do something for you, would you ask them to do it?” Relaxing from his laughter he asks me, to which I scrunch up my nose.

“Well sure, that would be the easiest way.” Pointing back to me he boops my nose.

“That’s the problem right there. If you do that then you owe them. They could strong arm you with manipulation, be it emotional or logical, to do something they want and it could be something you would normally not want to do.” Alexander says, bringing his arm back to his side. “Why not make it seem as if they want to do it?”

“I mean sure but sometimes people don’t have aligned desires.”

“Then you make it so they want it without complaining. Say I had a plan that required a person's approval or assistance to do. Like getting a competitor of my business out of town. What would you want to do?”

“I would help them try to find a middle ground for both businesses.”

“Wrong, you should want to help that person so they owe you big time, You also will want to bind it with a magical contract if they are willing so they can’t back out when you come calling.”

“But magical contracts are illegal and-”

“In your world they are illegal, here they are a keystone for this game though most players don’t take deals like this cuz they know better.” Alexander chuckles. Thinking about this my mind remembers back to our deals my emotions flair.

“Hey, what the heck Alexander! You made me accept these contracts didn’t you!” I hotly yell causing Alexander to chuckle.

“Don’t get so mad my dear. I did it with good intentions. If I remember correctly I didn’t leave those contracts open ended.” Grumbling, I cross my arms. Still doesn't make me not angry.

“You said something about Players and Pawns, what do you mean?” I ask as we arrive at the front doors of the manor that is my new home. Opening them Alexander looks over his shoulder at me.

“Well, Players are people who make big moves. Sure there is the Hierarchy here but that is only a piece of what makes this world tick. There are those that make others do what they want through Speechcraft.”

“So manipulation?” I ask as I walk outside past Alexander who closes the doors behind us.

“In simple terms, yes. Though it is, as I said, considered a game. Pawns are your pieces and the more you have the more sway you have because each pawn is unique and has things that are of value.” Alexander explains and I feel a shiver run up my back as I think about what pawns could be.

“So, how do players play this Game?”

“You compete to get pawns and sink the other players or get them under your thumb.” Alexander says with a sinister tone to his voice. There is that feeling again… it’s as if a Timberwolf is standing where Alexander is walking and is looking at me like a predator ready to pounce.

“What… What are pawns?”

“Those not in the Game.” Alexander says with an uncomfortable calmness to his voice.

“So… Players… or those in the Game use those out of the loop to do things they wish, often to sway other players to do things or ruin other players? All the while being ignorant of it all.” I hesitantly say seeing if I understand what I’m being told as we walk out into the flower garden in the manors walls.

“That is correct. If you want to not be used, you need to become a Player in the Game Twilight.” Alexander explains suddenly getting in front of me and stopping as he faces me. “You need to do this Twilight and I can teach you but you need to be willing to put your morals to the side in the game.”

“There is more to it… isn’t there.” I ask knowing full well when Alexander isn’t telling me everything. Alexander’s face slightly falls but only barely for a second.

“When I played the game in my time, I had to often be the cause for someone's life going down the gutter so that a Player who had said pawn in their pocket lost them.”

“How?” I say internally dreading what he means by that.

“One time I got a person addicted to a narcotic just to eventually cause them to have a… ‘bad batch’ that had a lethal substance in it.” Alexander explains as his face strains to keep his smile he has. “There was also a time I made sure a girl on the street was paid well to get a person addicted to their nightly company just to later pay her to kill him. I then tied up loose ends by making sure she got dealt with so things didn’t lead back to me.” Hearing this I look at Alexander and I feel my mind ripping itself apart at hearing this… this isn’t a game… this is sadistic. But… I’ve killed people… why is this… worse?

“Twilight, I don’t expect you to like it. I simply don’t want you to be used by the player that be.” Alexander says, almost in a pleading manner as he holds out a hand to me. I look at it and internally I feel myself look at the hand in disgust but slowly I relax. I said I would become a monster if this world wanted one… I guess I still have far to go if I want to be a true monster. Taking my hand I grab onto Alexander's hand and force a smile on my face.
“I haven’t come this far to back down now… I need all the tools I can get my hands on to fix this world.”

“That’s the spirit.” Alexander says with relief on his face behind his smile. “Now, let’s do some Wellspring tests, then I’ll do some explanations on the Game as a break.” He says letting my hand go.

“Sure, sounds great.” I say with a sigh, the feeling of being prey fading.

“Let’s test the first two Wellsprings you have besides your base one. Corruption and Dark magic.” Alexander says and I nod to him. “So, you obviously know Dark magic has ties to shadows and anger. Let me see you use it but I want you to try and siphon your other Wellsprings away from the Dark magic you are casting.”

Following Alexander’s instructions I prepare magic in my hands and get ready to cast a spell. Alexander slaps my hands down before I can even begin casting. “Ow!” I angrily say, glaring at him.

“I said to siphon the other Wellsprings. I didn’t say to use them all.” Alexander lectures me, how can he know if I’m siphoning it or not? Grumbling I refocus but this time I focus on my hands and feel the magic as it enters them but as I do I feel different sensations entering them, as if each was unique and there were three of them but before I can peer into them more I feel my hands get slapped again. “Try again.”

“Ya ya, I was trying to figure out which one was which. It’s not easy figuring this out.”

“In combat you don’t have time to figure it out.” Alexander retorts and I grumble angrily. Forcing magic into my hand I grab onto the magic that feels as if it is red hot currently and I snap my fingers. Immediately after snapping Alexander has a Tentacle spring from his hand and swat away a bolt of bubbling bolt of dark energy. “A bit too much Corruption and base wellspring mixed in but it’s a good start.” Wait, what? I mentally question as I look to the direction the bolt went and it clicks that I just accidentally did what he asked. “You overthink things my Dear. Magic is about feeling.” Alexander says with a smug grin on his face.

“You were trying to rile me up weren’t you?”

“Maybe.” Alexander chuckles, causing me to roll my eyes. “Good news though, I believe based on the prowess you showed I think Dark magic might be a favorable aspect for you.”

“What?” I ask with my jaw agape.