Darkness: His Last Visits

by The Real Darkness

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Death, Alternate Universe, Sad, Princess Luna, Sunny Starscout, Original Character, Princess Celestia, Crossover, Twilight Sparkle
Length: 6167

An Otherworldly person visits Equestria, offering the same offer again and again. He always wonders how much regret each one of them has. He pitied and admired them for each decision.

Lucius, who transcended all chains of mortality, travels from world to world to converse and experience. He offers each one the same thing over and over when it is time to part from those who distinguish themselves.

“Together we will have peace. Together we will leave no one, no body, no pony, no creature behind. Together we will lose nothing.”

They were words of mercy, not of triumph in his past.

“Will you come to your happy ever after?”

Lucius pulled from my main work of original fiction. Whipped up in a hurry and then hesitantly posted.

Published 2024-04-04 23:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-04-04 23:10:00 UTC

Celestia

“I see, you lay in bed now, your one moment alone,” a deep toned and slow masculine voice filtered in to the room. It had been thousands of moons since Celestia last heard it.

“You come back again?” Celestia called out as she laid in her quarters.

The door opened and Twilight began to trot in, her coat was stained with tears on her hooves and around her eyes.

A portal colored a deep but wrong purple appeared in the room, the door was frozen stuck in an aura of the same color, as was Twilight. Everything was frozen in the dark purple’s grip.

“Yes, it must be you. You are the only one strong enough to hold our entire world still.”

A bipedal walked out of the portal, clad in a complete black ensemble with silver swirls decorating his shirt and pants cuffs. Blackened boots wrapped his feet perfectly. A heavy, thick, and immacuately tailored robe sat atop his shoulders. Despite the robe having its own sleeves, he didn’t put his arms within them. A thick silver cord held it to his shoulders by laping across his chest. The robe was entirely purple, some fur of some kind of animal, with glinty white ascents and feathers of many different birds around the edge of the purple robe. A symbol not seen in Equestria was emblazoned on the back of the robe.

“Lucius, welcome,” Celestia smiled as she turned over to look directly at him. Lucius strided over, bowing lightly.

“Princess, not many live a life as full and ambitious as you,” he rose his head and torso, meeting her magenta dulled pupils with his blazing purple eyes, “tell me, would you have any regrets?”

Celestia giggled, her dry throat heaving, “I would, these words would stay between us, correct?”

“As the one who took mantle of half-Creator, I would ensure so. The world outside this bubble shaped confine does not move,” he smiled.

She shook her head, “hard to believe how powerful you are and you can’t simply force things to be the way you wish.”

“Just as the true Creator had, I gave up that part of the power I claimed. It would be meaningless if I could will anything to existence,” he walked to the bed, sitting near her rear hooves that were hid under the white quilt.

“I regret a few small things. Forgetting to tip a catering company, not stopping to look at the trees, lying to keep my posture in front of my subjects. Those are just a few.”

“I can share that sentiment, princess,” Lucius looked to the Twilight who was still frozen in his powerful grasp.

“Oh please,” she lightly bumped him with her rear hoof, “don’t be formal with me and stop lending me power.”

Lucius had severed the purple thread he laced under her quilts and Celestia visibly fell further into the bed and coughed.

“But there are only two things I truly regret,” Celestia spoke up with a hoarse throat again, “I didn’t live enough for myself and I didn’t tell them how much I loved them enough.”

Lucius stood from the bed, “I assure you, they know you love them. Whoever it is; Twilight, Luna, Cadance, they all know.”

She shook her head, “it wasn’t for the purpose of them knowing. I regret I didn’t show, didn’t share, didn’t tell them for my own sake. They deserved more from me than I was able to give.”

“Time is a thief. It is always looking for valuable potential memories to steal. As I stand immortal and dauntless, I could easily pass by opportunities with my family and friends. I remind myself to not, because if I do then those memories will never have been potential.”

“Wise words, Lucius. Do you enjoy asking powerful ponies like me these questions on the doormat to death?” Celestia kept a small graceful smile.

“I can always learn and always have something new to observe,” Lucius held a hand in the air between them, “but...before I let you have your very last goodbyes...”

“Your offer, fitting that the second time you should offer it would be this moment.”

“I have been watching your world...it’s one of an incredible harmony,” Lucius’ hand formed a deep black transparent sphere, purple energies swirling within.

There was something profanely off about it, but something deeply comforting in it also. It unsettled Celestia, but the kind of discomfort that comes from accepting a higher status or place. The orb floated just two centimeters from Lucius’ palm, innocent.

Lucius spoke up, “would you like your world to join us in a paradise?” He asked as plainly as one would order a coffee from any barista. His eyes closed while he smiled.

Celestia laughed, not at him, at herself, “no, we will be fine. I appreciate your offer and tenderness despite your position.”

Lucius still held his hand out, the orb shrunk in size to that of a finely misted water droplet, “Princess Celestia, will you join us in paradise?” He asked the specific question.

She hesitated, opening her mouth before she closed her eyes and shook her head, “no, I won’t be, Lucius.”

He clasped his hand shut and the orb flittered out in purple sparks that dashed in the air, “I would beseech you to reconsider, but your mind has been made up,” he straightened his back.

“Mmm, that it is. Say, you dress awfully like royalty, what is your official title to this paradise you talk about?” Celestia smirked and watched him as he walked to the center of the room.

“King.”

“King,” Celestia let it roll off her tongue, “and yet you called me princess.”

“Of course, I would,” Lucius pulled his hand down vertically in the air and the unnatural portal from earlier formed again, “Princess Celestia, you are a unique existence, I romanced the idea of having such good company with me.”

“You’re kind. Farewell,” Celestia called from the bed.

Lucius had no other words to say. She could say goodbye to him as it was fitting, she would not see him again. Lucius would see bits and pieces of her everywhere else, though she would not recognize him anymore. He passed through the portal and the circular anomaly vanished.

The purple aura around the room and on the door vanished. Twilight finished bursting into the room, tears freshly streaming again while Luna, Celestia, Cadance, and Spike followed.

Lucius observed quietly for one last moment before he turned his eyes away from the bubble in the Not named Equestria and gazed to his own world. He would always give others true privacy.

Luna

Luna stood on the balcony connected to her room at Canterlot Castle, looking over the city with her sharp eyes.

“It isn’t easy to watch after you’ve been the one implementing everything,” a smooth low grit sandpaper like voice drifted into her ears from behind her.

Luna glanced behind to see the bipedal in exquisite attire, carrying a very unusual and massive sword, crimson boiled on the black sharpened edges and pale white flat of it, evaporating quickly on the inscriptions.

“You have come to kill us?” Luna noted the purple coloring to her bedroom door past the balcony arch. She knew he was keeping it shut no doubt.

“No, I don’t...kill much anymore,” he hefted the huge, slight curve-ended, partially serrated blade. The nine foot long weapon held a crescent moon attached to only one side of it. The weapon flitted away in purple and black flames, disappearing, “though I miss battle sometimes, I relish any duel I’ve been invited to. It gets lonely without any worthy challenger.”

“All of those sentiments we share with you,” Luna looked back over to the city while he walked over, “what should we call you?”

“Lucius is fine enough,” he placed his hands on the railing. He knew it was a safe enough moment to meet with her without stopping the entirety of Equestria, “I’m sorry for your loss, Luna. Your sister did love you dearly.”

“We know,” she let a long moment of silence pass as the wind passed over them, “we doubt you came here just to share sentiment and friendly conversation. What is it you want from us?”

“Very direct of you. Well,” the same translucent black orb filled a now open hand that he held in front of them, “I came to make you the same offer I once offered Celestia,” the sphere filled with swirling purple trails that contrasted the blue sky.

“And what is it my sister declined?”

“Very astute of you, Luna. I suppose you have also felt the tinge of mortality beckoning at you,” Lucius looked to his left, “so I offer you a peaceful paradise. Your happily ever after. I know command of Equestria has been transferred to Twilight,” the orb shrunk, “you’re deciding for yourself alone.”

Luna pondered in a quiet moment, looking at the orb that very much felt like a home. She knew Lucius was offering her something after this, but she didn’t know what. His gentleness and genuine words were enough to determine that it wasn’t something negative.

“Is there anypony we know there?” Luna asked, meeting Lucius deep eyes with her own sharp pupils.

Lucius smiled, “no, you would be the first of your kind there. I have countless subjects who all live peacefully and without conflict. I’m sure one of your kind would follow you there later on.”

Luna stared back at the orb and he opened his mouth again, “I would keep you company myself and we could even come back and visit Equestria again should you like,” she smiled at Lucius’ words.

Luna was a proud pony, Luna was a fit pony, Luna was a fierce pony. Though she still stood strongly, she did long admit to herself that she was getting weaker at an alarming rate. It wouldn’t be long before she departed herself.

“I accept. I think I would love to visit Equestria and see what will become of it.”

Lucius moved the orb in front of her, “take it and house this within yourself. Though your form will change, you will still be true to yourself and betrothed only to yourself.”

Luna took the orb and the black shell peeled open. The small strands of purple threaded their way around her hoof before seeping into her skin naturally.

“This is a profane power.”

“Luna, it is all about application. Origin never did matter,” Lucius smiled wider, lowering his hand, “I do think I have a few more challengers at home waiting for me. Those who have crossed the Not of their own ambition to unseat me. I’ll be seeing you at my castle door, friend,” he walked back into the room and ripped a portal open, vanishing along with it while the door of Luna’s room slowly creaked open.

“Princess Luna?”

“Oh, Twilight, mysterious things happen in the weaving of our tapestries. Would you agree?”

Cadance

The Princess of Love looked at her daughter, reading alone in a chair just next to her. Flurry had grown into a very mature mare, a very fierce hearted mare. That’s what happens when you let Auntie Luna foalsit.

However, Flurry’s eyes stopped moving left to right. Her entire body stopped and she ceased to breathe. A deep purple shade fell over the entire bedroom. save for Cadance’s bed.

“Who...who’s there?” Cadance almost cowered. This was an age of great peace, was Sombra trying yet again?

“She’s cute,” he spoke, making his third visit as he walked over to the bed. Lucius stooped over, looking at the Flurry frozen in his power, “she’ll be a great leader of the Crystal Empire. I’ve seen many like her,” he side-eyed Cadance.

“Am I to trust that you mean us no harm? Who are you?” Cadance moved her blanket in an effort to stand, but couldn’t even manage that.

“Bedridden, but you persisted for two entire years. Apologies, a little more than twenty-four moons,” Lucius corrected his terminology, “I do not intend any harm.”

“You were watching me?” Cadance continued her line of questions.

“Only sparsely checking in. Your health continues to worsen and I’ve come to introduce myself. I am Lucius. I’ve come to make you an offer as I have to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,” for the third time, that same orb appeared in his right hand. Lucius looked away from Flurry and faced Cadance, drawing closer and sitting on the bed next to her.

“An offer? Of power?”

Lucius shook his head, “I will not return you to life, that was one of the abilities I gave up from my earned inheritance. I offer you something after.”

“An afterlife? We all just return to the magic of Equestria when we pass,” Cadance answered.

“I can take you to a paradise, you shape and manifestation will alter, but you will be you. You will continue to exist with every memory and ability you had in your prime,” Lucius whistfully sighed, “and as you still rule over the Empire, make this decision for your people as well.”

“I can not decide for my subjects. I have not seen any of them for so long,” Cadance smiled, “but I can decide for myself. Is Shiny there?” Lucius smiled wistfully.

“Ah, then I know your answer. Shining Armor is not there,” Cadance shook her head at Lucius’ words.

“I do not wish to spend an eternity longing for my husband.”

Lucius stood from the bed, closing his hand and vanishing the orb away, “mmm, seems I will be keeping Luna company for quite a while longer then,” he crouched low to look at Flurry Heart in her eyes, “she’s accepted, the only pony in my world, my paradise,” Lucius peered into the focused eyes of Cadance’s heir, “this one, she’s a warrior. Maybe one day I can find her on the fields of battle and watch.”

“I would hope not.”

“It is every mother’s hope to wish that their child will not see the ravages of combat and war,” Lucius raised a finger, a purple flame flickered with a black center, “my own mother never got that wish, not even for a moment,” he placed his finger to the book she read, highlighting an empty space in the corner, “but I can give the peace I’ve earned to others. I can hope that would be enough for her,” Lucius tone dropped lower, Cadance’s ears pricked up on his change of emotions.

This was her talent after all, detecting love in others. Cadance could only wonder how long he had been without his beloved, she could markedly tell he was immortal.

“How long?” Cadance asked while the sigil of Lucius’ kingdom emblazoned onto the page corner.

“Hmm?” He stood, rising up and looking to Cadance who looked much more frail than just a few minutes ago.

“How long since you’ve seen your wife?” Lucius’ eyes widened before they dimmed, the impaling purple obscured by partially closed eyes.

“Time has no meaning to me, but I still mark the days. It’s been well over nine thousand years,” he wandered back over to Cadance, pulled by her own pitying eyes.

“That’s a hundred thousand eight hundred moons,” Cadance pulled her blanket off of her and slipped her rear hooves over the side of the bed.

Lucius nodded, quiet and curious to her actions. He stood right in front of her, not stepping away as he had done to many others who would approach so closely. Cadance leapt up with what little strenght she could muster and wrapper her front hooves around him, one around his neck and the other right across his shoulders.

Just like...

He gently hugged her back, placing a hand in the center of her back and pressing Cadance tight to him. Lucius’ other hand guided her head to his open shoulder, wrapping around the back of it and her mane while he held her.

Exactly like it was.

They stood together for a few moments before Lucius let go and Cadance withdrew, falling to her bed. The two of them parted at the exact moment. Lucius did not attempt at hiding the watery lines on his cheeks while he stepped away.

“Thank you.”

“It’s my duty as Princess of Love to sometimes remind others of who they have lost and that their grief is the love they still have for them,” Cadance smiled while she laid back down onto her bed.

“With your last bit of life, you’ve gifted me something I-,” Lucius lost his words and straightened himself back, “I’ll make sure you are not forgotten, in my people’s tradition. And,” he looked to Flurry Heart, “as a ruler enduring countless other kingdoms, I’ll lend my ear and my expertise to Flurry.”

Cadance shook her head, “I didn’t do this for favors.”

“In my long life, I’ve learned when to tell someone is showing true kindness from their heart and when someone expects the same generousity in turn,” Lucius looked to Cadance’s flank, taking time to memorize the cutiemark, “so, please accept my own kindness, princess.”

“Very well.”

Seconds ticked by in the silence while Lucius slowly recomposed himself.

“It’s time I leave,” he bowed his head to Cadance before he looked close to Flurry one last time.

“Brave fledgling, fierce warrior, ruler to be,” he smiled, “when you are need, call my name. King Lucius. I will come rushing to your aid,” he placed his hand on one of her hooves, letting the smallest purple spark bounce from a finger to her pristine coat, “I will always hear you.”

Lucius straightened himself back up, stepping away from the both of them, “are you sure?” He addressed one final time to Cadance.

“Positive,” Cadance assured with a cough and a sip of water.

“I see. I will cling to the hope that I may see another soul just like you,” Lucius nodded before he turned, he widened a portal open, and he disappeared.

The purple shade over the room disappeared and Flurry looked at the odd symbol and heard Lucius’ voice in her head. She next heard a desperate call from beside her.

“Flurry,” Cadance managed out weakly, “I’m going.”

“Mo-mom?” She looked to her, watching while Cadance smiled.

“Never forget to show everypony a little love. You’ll make a fine leader,” Cadance closed her eyes, she knew to stop hanging on and she simply let go.

Flurry rushed to her side in incoherent pleas and sobs. Minutes passed and passed before Cadance’s chest stopped rising. Flurry’s horn lit and her spell returned the same suspected result that her mother had left. The new ruler cried at her bedside for many more minutes before she shouted.

“Lucius! King Lucius! Fix this! Bring her back!” She cried, wondering if the voice was just a hope given personality in her head or if someone really poked into her mind.

The same portal that carried him out brought him back. Lucius laid a hand on Flurry’s head, gently stroking over her mane, “this is the one thing I can not assist with. I assure you, if I could, I would. I gave that power up a long time ago,” Lucius softly let the words slip from his lips while he comforted her, “but I will stand with you at the very least.”

The two of them stayed quite a while longer.

Twilight

“Sunshine sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake.”

The aging alicorn jolted upright in her throne chair. She had reached the maturity for one of her species a long while ago, standing as tall as Celestia did. She almost snoozed off on this boring day filled with an empty court.

Until the throne room doors swung open and showed a bipedal creature striding in with her rhyme on his lips.

“Who are you?!” Twilight’s horn flared to life while each guard was held in perfect place, every feature of the throne room was stopped in a purple grasp that wasn’t her own magic.

“My younger self would have corrected you, would have said you’d be harmed or dead if he had so wished,” Lucius smiled, “but I’m going to tell you that I’m here as a potential friend. We grow in wonderful ways.”

Twilight’s horn relaxed and she looked down to him as he walked into her purple tinted throne room, “that we do,” she smiled at the memories of her earliest failures and quirks, “as a potential friend? This sounds like you come with a negotiation on your mind. If it’s one that requires the complete immobility of my entire castle and Canterlot, then you have all of my attention.”

Lucius cracked his mouth wide in laughter, “you’re quite like her, it’s uncanny,” he stopped in front of her throne, offering a short bow.

“Quite like who?” Twilight cocked her head to the side.

“Princess Celestia,” Lucius held out his hand, “I once made this offer to her and now it feels as though I do it a third time.”

“Judging from how you entered, you knew Princess Cadance as well?” Lucius nodded to her words, “very well, what is your offer?” Twilight kept the smallest smile on her face. It was all she could to do prevent hserlf from cracking at the words he spoke.

“For you, for all of Equestria, I once again offer a place in paradise. To journey after death to my kingdom and live where some ponies already are,” that same orb quietly grew in his palm.

“You’re offering an afterlife? You must know that we don’t have anything after this one,” Twilight started to debate.

“Yes, you would seep back into your world’s magic,” Lucius elaborated for her.

The two stood in a eerie silence, neither of them moved, neither of them talked. Both of them just stared at each other, Lucius almost pleaded with his eyes while Twilight only pitied with her pupils. She began to imagine what ponies had already gone there, Celestia maybe, but if her own friends were there.

“Ask, I can see it on your lips.”

“Who is there in your paradise as you call it?”

He smiled, “Princess Luna lives there. I’ve been keeping her company for quite a long while now. She’s-.”

“What about my friends? Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pi-.”

Lucius shook his head at her question and the two fell back into silence.

“I can not force my subjects to accept your offer, but I’d like to.”

Lucius frowned at Twilight’s words and clasped his hand shut, “I sense conditions.”

“As astute as you are well dressed,” Twilight smiled, “my friends. I presume you know them,” he nodded his head at her affirmation, “then...bring them there and I will accept.”

Lucius stood straight, staring ahead in thought. When he had triumphed over Tenebris, he inherited the mantle of the God-Creator and all of the powers with it. He cherished challenges though and gave up many abilities to let them linger and create worlds as they saw fit, never to destroy. When Lucius willingly relinquished much of what he championed, he lost the ability to raise the dead back to life as they perfectly were once before. He could not manipulate time either, though with his own developed and practiced profane power he could hold it still for a length.

“Is that not possible?” Twilight broke him out of his thoughts.

“It is, but I would have to consult those who are researching your world now. I would have to reach with my own dark powers into your world’s natural magic.”

“I trust you not to linger anything negative there,” Twilight gave her permission.

“Of course,” Lucius gave a small bow, “I’ll return to you later in the same fashion.”

“Before you go,” Lucius halted, partially turned around, “were you there moments before Princess Celestia passed?”

“I was, it was my second time offering this to her. She declined all the same.”

“I felt you that day, some kind of incredible surge of energy happened across all of Canterlot.”

Lucius smiled at Twilight before continuing to step out, “I will return, Princess Twilight,” and he walked out of the throne room just as he had entered. The purple shade over the whole castle faded away and the guards panicked with their heads on swivels for threats.

Sure enough, Lucius did return in four days. The researchers he had placed secretly across Equestria along with Luna’s guidance had proved invaluable to him. He only needed to apply their knowledge with his power in just the right way to call them back to one single magical force, to one remembered soul.

Thus he stood with the world around them held in his grip and five little flames in an obsidian cage with his own energy keeping them sealed. They shone independent colors brightly around the room over his shade of purple. Souls like these...

“Princess Twilight, they are magnificent. It is rare for a soul to break a mold and become more, become polarized, become colorful all on its own,” Lucius spoke while Twilight had yet to find her words, “in days long gone, I searched relentlessly for souls such as these. I would try to suade them to my cause no matter how bitter we appeared at first impression,” he raised the cage and formed the same orb in his left hand, “so, how about it?”

“I...I-I can’t believe you’ve done it. This is...necromancy,” Twilight muttered in the painfully still throne room.

He shook his head, “no,” Lucius always had to correct this one, “necromancy is making use of what is dead. A soul is not dead, I would never dream of utilizing a magic so disgraceful to my people,” he gently set the cage to the floor, approaching her throne closer.

“Then...then what magic, what force did you use?” Her studious mind couldn’t resist the temptation of knowledge far beyond her world.

Lucius smiled wide, “no magic. These are powers that have always existed and always will. Born at the very beginning of creation. Light and Dark can exist separately from each other, holy power is forever removed from the world,” his grin grew at his own reminder of the greatest feat, “it was my profane power, which stems from me and my bound partner like a font, that identified these souls and pulled them back to construction from what was always there.”

Twilight shook in her hooves, she came to a morbid realization. Lucius was royalty, a king as he spoke of his kingdom as under his rule, but he was more. This was a God, or something incredibly close to one. Lucius was some presider over all darkness.

“I know that look,” his smile leapt off his lips while he held the orb to Twilight, “Dark does not mean evil. It was always about application. In doing this, I grant you and your friends the rarest gift in past history and the new way in current times.”

Twilight had learned through her rule that inaction often came with consequences of its own. This was a decision she had already decided. After all, this is what the heart wants.

“Make sure Spike comes, too. Once he...you know,” Twilight touched Lucius’ power and the purple strands sunk into her coat before they raced off to the souls in the cage which lightly tinted the chroma purple. One single strand raced far away, out of the throne room, and right to where she had asked.

The souls disappeared from the cage all at once and then the cage itself vanished in black and purple flame, “they will be awaiting you. Please, do not make this mean that your life is meaningless. What you do here is what you will be recognized for in my kingdom as well.”

“I’m not a foal, I have more sense than to cut loose,” Twilight chided, feeling as though she had just stung herself with her own decision.

Lucius heartily chuckled, standing straight before stepping away, “of course you are, I felt the need to say it myself. Luna will appreciate your company if she can tear herself away from our dueling arenas,” he turned, continuing to step back out of the throne room.

“N-nothing bad, right? I mean, no bad consequences,” Twilight piped up as Lucius started to make his exit.

“There was a time when the Underworld was fraught with issues. That time is long past. I look forward to welcoming you to my world in my own throne room, Princess Twilight.”

And he left the room and then Equestria resumed normal activities.

Flurry Heart

The moment Flurry felt something near her, she spurred about after using the sigil to summon her own crystal longsword to her hoof. She slammed the blade once, twice, thrice into a very decorated cursed sword, an eleven foot monstrousity that the wielder moved his body around to place the sword between hers and himself.

“Fierce, ruthless, strong,” Lucius’ robes flowed gracefully as he continued to defend himself, proving his wrist as strong as steel.

On the fourth attack, his massive blade upended and forced Flurry’s crystal weapon to slide down it, sparking along while he heaved it in a great circle. Her weapon was thoroughly smacked down and the unholy weapon came uncomfortably close to scarring her cheek. Lucius rolled into the same great circle overhead this time and used the centrifugal force of the massive blade to bound himself through the air and away.

Flurry took intiative and swung her sword as he leapt back, cutting only his kingly robe.

“The seamstresses won’t enjoy this news,” Lucius returned to a combatative stance, “Flurry, would you want a real battle?”

“I’d want to know what’s going on. I didn’t call for you,” at her words, Lucius’ divine sword vanished in purple flames.

“I’ve come to discuss some matters with you. Why are you all alone in your massive Empire? Where have all your subjects gone?” Inquiries he knew the answer to.

Flurry lowered her hoof and laid the crystal longsword along her back, magic attaching it for her. She looked to the crystal heart and opened her mouth, “the hundreth Friendship Festival is being held by Twilight. They say she doesn’t have long left, so everypony went to make the occassion special,” Flurry sighed out her words, “it’s special for them, not us alicorns.”

“How long have you lived, Flurry?” Lucius approached her side, gazing at the famed artifact of the Empire with her.

“Three thousand moons. I’ll live a lot longer being a natural born alicorn,” Flurry couldn’t explain it, but something about him made more words slip from her lips than she intended to speak.

Lucius laughed, reaching his hands out to touch the spinning heart, “a feeling I know well,” his fingers brushed the cyan crystal and the ehart radiated light, the shield around the Empire grew by a considerable size in its radius for just a moment.

“Who...who are you? That’s a lot of love to keep inside yourself,” Flurry now stared at him instead of the Crystal Heart.

He smiled at her, “You know who I am. I was...a friend of your mother, that’s something I haven’t said. There’s not a soul quite like her. I’d actually told her you’d grow up to be a pony full of warrior spirit whether I kept you in my tutelage or not. You know all the important thing of me.”

“R-right, you just always have or know something that never ceases to surprise me, Lucius,” Flurry breathed out, “why do you have so much love?”

“I love my people, my culture, my history, my...family, my spouse, you. I love a great many things, but I love today especially,” Lucius formed the telltale orb again, holding it in between the two of them.

Flurry stared at it, the heart, and then him.

“Would you come to paradise? My afterlife kingdom?” Lucius posed the question again.

Flurry didn’t hesitate to shake her head, “sorry, but I’m following after my mom and dad.”

“I see, that may sadden Princess Twilight a little. I know that I can’t go changing Empress Flurry Heart’s mind. What of your subjects? Decide for them if they should live out eternity in happiness,” he gestured to the orb again.

Flurry nodded, “it is what ponies are always chasing after, especially after the loss of Auntie Luna and Celestia, especially with Auntie Twilight’s old age.”

The orb burst at Lucius’ command and a great flood of purple strands streaked across the sky toward Canterlot to touch and taint many souls and their descendants to enter his world after they depart with their last breath.

“Why did you come asking me this now?” Flurry asked.

“How did you know your mother declined my offer herself?”

Flurry laughed, “it’s just that thing she’d do. Mom took it hard when dad passed.”

Lucius hummed, “perhaps a lot of her teachings of love did make it past your stubbornly thick skull,” Lucius turned around, stepping away.

“You still haven’t answered my question!” Flurry shouted.

“You’ll find the answer later today. I promise we’ll have one grand battle, in my own special arena, before you leave your prime age behind,” Lucius pulled open a portal and took his leave.

After the entire Friendship Festival that Flurry Heart was purposefully late to so she could reflect in her Empire alone. That night, the evening spent traveling to the celebration of the festival, she said goodbye to her last blood relative quietly. Lucius was kind enough to push Twilight’s body to continue living until Flurry arrived and after the festival, when she retreated to her chambers in a frail state once more.

“I see why you chose today. You take good care of Auntie Twilight,” Flurry spoke over Twilight who laid motionless with closed eyes in her bed.

Sunny Starscout

Sunny looked at the tree that entombed Opaline one last time before she turned her head. Her eyes locked to a man standing in regal attire that approached her slowly.

“Equestria has not had a leader in quite some time. You stand at the new paragon to show all of them the way,” he spoke, stopping just a few feet short of her.

“Who are you?! What did you do to my friends?! What’s going on?!” Sunny panicked, her friends were frozen in a purple glow of magic.

“I am Lucius. I have frozen all around you in my powerful grasp. We are having a discussion, an important one,” he quickly clarified.

“O-okay? What are we, um, discussing?” Sunny could feel her legs wobble with fear.

“Your future and everypony else’s who you might rule over.”

Sunny was silent at his words, despite her jaw moving to try an make some kind of verbal communication.

“I’ll keep it short, you still need to revel in your victory,” Lucius smiled recalling days of distant memory himself, “would you join me in your happy ever after? Would you allow your soul to come to my kingdom, my afterlife with ponies of the past?”

Sunny looked to the floor for a while. It was bomb after bomb that was dropped on her. First she became an alicorn after returning magic to Equestria, then she defeated Opaline after so many adventures, and now she was being given the ultimatum of a lifetime.

“I can return later, Miss Starscout,” Lucius held a hand open, the orb returning for what might be the final time in Equestrian history, “you can think on it for as long as poss-.”

“Would they come with me?” she pointed her hoof to her friends.

“I can make it so,” Lucius smiled.

“Then I accept. For me and for all that follow,” Sunny was adamant on this, she couldn’t bear losing her friends one by one like Twilight might have.

Lucius extended his hand out, holding the orb to Sunny who carefully touched it with her hoof. She felt tingles all throughout her body while the purple strands did their work and imbued her own soul with the tinge of Lucius’ power to bring her right to his paradise when it came time.

“I’ll leave you now to relish your accomplishment. We’ll have a big part when you make it on in, I promise,” Lucius turned around, “she’s also there, too. She’ll love meeting you,” and he was gone through a portal.

Sunny was informally left to think over her decision and she immeidately doubted if she acted rashly. And who was she? Lucius couldn’t have been talking about Twilight, right? And what if he was?

What did he exactly offer her besides an eternity with her friends? Sunny smiled, it didn’t matter all that much when she though of it like that. He didn’t seem to be that nefarious so it wouldn’t be a bad place, just a really really differeny place.