Dark Crystal

Flurry Heart, heir to the Crystal Empire and the first natural Alicorn to be born in thousands of years, was standing on the guard’s training field.

She levitated a practice sword and charged. Flash Sentry, the most renowned commander in the Crystal army, parried the attack. Flurry pressed on, and would have definitely beaten him, if not for a distraction.

One of the castle servants trotted towards them. Flurry and Flash stopped their training. The servant bowed towards the princess, then turned to Flash. “Sir, Prince Shining Armor is requesting your presence. After the council meeting concludes, commanders are to gather in the war room.”

“I guess he got an idea what we should do about disappearing villages,” replied Flash.

“Wait, council meeting? Mom didn’t invite me?” asked Flurry.

“Well, you are still too young for this,” Flash replied. “We will continue the training tomorrow.”

Flurry was quite upset. Yes, she wasn’t an adult yet, but she was a princess. She should be helping other ponies, just like her mother and her aunt do. Instead, she was just studying. Sometimes interesting things, like swordfighting and history, but more often boring and useless things, like math or etiquette.

“I shouldn’t stay here buried under books. I’m going to help my mother.”

In the council room of the Crystal Palace, Princess Cadance, of the House mi Amore, Alicorn Princess, Empress of Crystal Empire and Protectress of Crystal Heart, listened to the report with worry.

“Another village hit. And we still don’t know who is behind the attacks,” she said.

“Whoever does this, is not leaving anypony to tell the tale. The scouts said that there were only a few bodies in the village, but no inhabitants were left. Whoever attacked them has most probably captured the villagers alive. There were no bodies of attackers. This was another village hit by the same enemy. This time the enemy has reached as far as the Aquavitae Creek province. This province should have been safe, yet it isn’t,” said Shining Armor, Prince Consort and Marshall of Crystal Empire.

“Thorax, did your changelings find anything about this? Could Chrysalis be behind those attacks?”

Thorax, the Spymaster of Crystal Empire and claimant to Changeling Lands, looked at the notes he had. “I’m afraid I don’t have anything. According to my spies, Changelings heard about the attacks, but didn’t take responsibility for them. Actually, a number of soldiers were deployed to the hives close to the border to protect Changelings from the attacks. However, if Chrysalis was planning something like this, she would only tell the highest-ranking officers.”

“So, she might have done this, but we have no proof,” said Cadance. “Sunburst, do you have anything to add?”

“I have,” Sunburst, the Court Archmage, replied. “I visited the attacked village with my researchers. I found traces of magic. Attackers were trying to cover them up, but they left some traces.”

“Changeling magic?”

“I’m afraid not, unless it is a type of magic developed in secrecy. This magic was nothing like I’ve seen before. It was strange and dark.”

“Dark magic?”

“Yes, but a type that I’m unfamiliar with.”

“Yaks or Griffons don’t use magic, so they haven’t done it. Changelings would probably leave traces of Changeling magic, but they are capable of removing them,” said Shining Armor. “Sunburst, was this magic cast by an unicorn?”

“It is likely. These spells were complex, and possibly only unicorns could cast them.”

“Or changelings in an unicorn disguise.”

“Changeling casting spells in unicorn form still uses Changeling magic. Many complex spells are impossible to be casted due to this,” noted Thorax.

Cadance looked at Shining. “You’re saying these attacks were carried on by ponies?”

“Yes. If I were to guess, I think there is some kind of organization hidden in the Crystal Mountains that is capturing ponies for unknown purposes.”

“You think he might be behind it?”

“Most probably.”

Cadance looked at the map of the Crystal Empire. She was working hard in restoring harmony in the Empire after the tyrannical rule of the most evil unicorn in history. Yet, it seems there still were some ponies loyal to the tyrant.

“Increase patrols in northern provinces. Send scouting planes to the Crystal Mountains. Whoever is behind these attacks, we must stop them!” said Cadance.

Cadance walked through the corridors of Crystal Palace.

When she traveled here just after Shining Armor led the army to capture Crystal City, she knew she had a hard task ahead of her. Yet, she got to work, and brought Crystal Empire into harmony. Still, things weren’t as good as she hoped, with the recent attacks being the worst.

“Mom.”

Cadance looked back, and saw her daughter. Flurry was still a child, but she was skilled and strong. Sometimes irresponsible, but it was to be expected. She would make a great Princess one day.

“Yes, Flurry.”

“I heard that you called a council meeting. I thought you would invite me.”

“You still have much to learn.”

“I would like to help Crystal Empire.”

“Flurry, you know about the attacks. There is a danger. You should stay in Crystal City and continue your education.”

“Mom, haven’t you noticed I’m an Alicorn Princess? I can deal with anything.”

“You’re still too young. I won’t allow you to get hurt.”

Flurry got angry, turned and walked away. Cadance looked after her. She knew Flurry was capable filly, yet she was still a filly. Cadance would never forgive herself if something happened to her.

Flurry was sitting on a bench in the castle gardens.

Why doesn’t she believe in me! she thought. She was more than capable of dealing with those villains.

She had an idea. She flashed her horn, trying to cast a difficult spell. She looked at her hoof. Her pink coat changed color to black.

She noticed someone walking in the distance. She stopped casting her spell, and looked towards the creature. It was the creature she waited for, the same who taught her these spells. “Uncle Thorax.”

Thorax and Flurry were close to each other. He used to be a babysitter back when he was just an exile and a guest of Princess Cadance. He taught Flurry many things, and they went into trouble on a few occasions.

“Hello Flurry. Having a bad day?”

“Yes. It’s my mom. She treats me like a child.”

“Well, you are thirteen.”

“I am an Alicorn! Fighting villains is what I’m the best at!”

“Yes, Flurry, but you need to understand that we still don’t know what we are dealing with. It might be something too dangerous to handle. You know history, there were plenty of monsters in the Crystal Mountains.”

“So, I have to stay at the palace while my parents are the ones fighting villains?”

“This is not an O&O game, Flurry.”

“I know, but… it’s just so frustrating.”

“Well, Flurry. Speaking of O&O, how about you joining up for a campaign on the weekend?”

“Sure,” Flurry answered. At least it would be fun. Until she begins her plan of saving the Crystal Empire.