"My liege, another village has gone missing."
"The same as the last I imagine?"
"Yes sir. Everypony has vanished with no property damage or sign of struggle. It happened overnight as well, like they all went to bed and just... vanished into the night air!"
"Can we be sure it was overnight?"
"Positive. The pony who reported it was a merchant who departed the day before on a caravan run. He realized he had forgotten some of his goods while setting down for the night, and found the village empty when he returned for them the next day."
"It is as I feared. These shadowy invaders are acclerating their plans. I decree that all outlying villages are to be evacuated, their inhabitents brought here. Imperial City has so far been the one place our unknown enemy has not dared to strike."
"At once my lord."
"My liege, a matter of grave importence requires your presence. A... disconcerting discovery has been made."
"Lead the way."
"Your majesty, a patrol managed to capture this outside Quartshire."
"By the creator... What is it?"
"We do not know, but we believe it is connected to the abductions, due to the fact Quartshire's inhabitents have vanished less then a weak ago. We plan to send our most talented telepath inside with it to see if it has a readable mind..."
"I shall do it."
"Your majesty?"
"I shall not place another of my subjects in danger. My parents had me learn many kind of magic during my time as Prince, including Telepathy. Now, let me pass!"
"What's it doing?"
"The king seems to have breached his mind... Yes, they are linked now."
"The King grows weak!"
"That thing is hurting him!"
"Guards! Guards!"
"Are you alright, my king?"
"I am... I am well captain. I believe I have divined a way to protect our people from this new threat. Assemble all the court wizards, I shall meet with them once I am wearing something... clean.
"Once the creature was within my mind, it attempted to... drain for a lack of a better word, all the love I felt for you, my precious subjects. I believe they are abducting are citizens to do something similar to them"
"What can be done, your majesty?"
"With your help, I wish to trap all the love and joy if our kingdom away within our greatest national treasure, The Crystal Heart. With their objective beyond reach, perhaps the invaders will depart. The Heart will return the love after a few years."
"Surely such drastic steps are unnecessary?"
"It gives me no joy to hurt my subjects in such a way, but it must be done. No attempt to battle the invaders has meet with successes. Our only choice is to decive them. We must also take away our subject's memories of better times, lest that give them enough joy to bring back the invaders."
"What of you, your majesty? Will you subject yourself to the spell also?"
"...Yes. Not a single ounce of love must be left in this land if the invaders are to leave. If I do... things, under the spell's effect, I am prepared to face the consequences. Temporary slavery is a better fate then complete extinction. However, if any amongst you wish no part in this plan, I will allow you to leave now."
"I stand by you, my king."
"It is for the good of the empire."
"Worse has been done in the name of survival."
"It is only temporary."
"The Crystal Ponies must survive!"
"Without this spell, we have no future!"
"We stand beside you, your majesty!"
"You shall save the Crytsal Empire!"
"We believe in you."
"Then we must begin immediately."
"All the remaining citizens are within Imperial City, your highness."
"Excellent. You are dismissed, Captain." "Captain?"
"I have discussed it with my family. We are staying to support you."
"...Very well captain. Go now and stay with them. It will begin soon."
"It is ready your majesty, and the wizards are assembled."
"Then let us begin."
"I...I can feel it... all the hopes, all the dreams... all the love..."
"Stay focused stallion, we must survive!"
"My... my family, I can't... Do I have a family?"
"Oh Grape Blossom... Where are you my love? I can't remember your face. I CAN'T REMEMBER YOUR FACE!"
"Toys... games... why are these child's things in my home?"
"Grandma, it's me, your littleScrolly Rolly. Why don't you recognize me grandma?"
"Who are you?"
"DID YOU EVER REALLY LOVE ME?"
"I HATE YOU!"
"....Mommy?"
"It is done. All of our Empire's love and happiniess is in there, and once we place the timer seal, so will ours."
"You must finish the ritual, your majesty, you are the only one with any magic left."
"Your majesty?"
CRACK thump
"KING WO!"
SLICKH
"Do not worry my little ponies, the seal shall be cast. But it shall last FOREVER!"
"He's mad!"
"The spell has effected him!"
"I believed in you!"
"DEATH TO THE KING!"
ZAP
"Speak, drone."
"He is your drone no longer, shapeshifter, but my puppet, rebuilt by my vast power."
"Drone, are you defective...
"SILENCE!"
"Your parasites will leave my dominion. The thing you seek is gone, replaced only with blind obedience to their new master. This is your only chance to avoid extinction, parasite." CRACK
"The last Changeling has been eliminated. The purge is complete, your majesty."
"Good. Put the ponies to work on the weapons newest weapons of conquest. It is time I take what is rightfully mine, a shinning jewel of wealth and power compared to this pitful kingdom and it's worthless inhabitants."
"It is time to take Equestria.
Millions of souls are crying in pain, though no one can hear them in their world of darkness. Stallions, mares, old and young alike scream out for help that is a thousand years of torment away. Some cry, some rage, others attempt to bargain, and the most impained amongst them try to delude themselves they are merely trapped in a horrible nightmare.
One voice is different from all the others however. Once the greatest amongst them, it is now less than a whisper, so soft and lost that not even the speaker can hear his own words. Trapped in the dark, refusing to join those it has wronged, it whispers into the forever.
i am sorry
