The Darkness Within

Chapter 2 Prologue Part 1 and a Sneak Peek of Part 2

“Who was he, Celestia?” Twilight asked again, frustrated that Celestia hadn’t answered her question fully.  Was Celestia hiding something?  It wasn’t the first time; Celestia had lied to Twilights face at times, even though it was to keep her safe.

“Patience, my faithful student, I will reveal it now,” Celestia said, she looked worried as she talked.

“I was able to piece together memories of Ultor’s life from Luna,” She said “But I, I haven’t looked at it.”

Celestia’s horn glowed as a mini TV appeared and started to play a video.

*Told from Ultor’s POV

I woke up to the aroma of pancakes in the kitchen.  I looked at the time which said 8:00 a.m.  Hastily, I got out of bed to get some food and saw my family.

Now my family was in the kitchen.  My loving mother, father, and sister where eating there with a vacant seat at the table for me.

“Long night, last night?” My father said

“Yeah” I replied, I was still groggy from waking up.

I pulled out the chair and sat while eating the pancakes.  My family discussed about politics, or at least mom and dad did, while me and my sister played outside in Canterlot.  My family was just talking about common things, the election, and other topics.  Ah, yes the election, I almost forgot.  The elections are being held soon for who would rule Equestria.  The King and Queen have died of natural causes, and the two princesses have decided to have the ponies decide who gets to rule Equestria.  My family supported the Princess of the Night, as my father was a scientist working on a magical experiment for Luna.  Unfortunately, he never tells me about those things as it is classified information.

After we ate, my father left for work, saying goodbye to the family as he left.  He was a unicorn and so was my mother, naturally I was a unicorn as well and so was my sis.  We weren’t the richest family around, but we still could afford decent things.  The day went on as me and my sis wondered through Canterlot.  She had a keen eye for beautiful things, every clothing shop, she dragged me there.  After a while, I carried the bags home from her shopping spree.  It was the last time that I spent time with my sister.

Next Day,

My father came home from work, which wasn’t surprising as his work kept him there for long periods of time.  He carried his briefcase which was full of classified information that was forbidden for a normal pony to see.  I could tell that he was tired, the experiments were tiresome and time consuming.  He came to me.

“Son, I’ll ask you this quick,” He said with a sympathetic tone as if he was addressing a pony who suffered grief.

“What is it, dad?” I curiously said.

“I need you to help me with the experiment at the laboratory; I understand if you’re scared or don’t feel comfortable.  I just need somepony to help me,” He said, hoping I said yes.

Unfortunately, I pondered it, I reasoned that I could spend time with my dad.  Also, I could make him proud. I agreed.

He told me to follow him to the laboratory.  I walked him to this white building, it had tinted windows, and a security guard was there. He greeted my father, while checking his badge.  He let us in and bid us a do.

We walked into this lab with a table and a one way window. My dad told me to lie down on the table, while he strapped me into it.  He walked out, telling me how it was going to be fine.  So I lay there bored, I figured they were analyzing data or something until a loudspeaker told me to relax.  It said to look forward and look at the package when it is dropped. After a few seconds, a metal box drops out of a hole in the ceiling, immediately the hole is covered again, as if it wasn’t there.  The box folded over and there was something that I couldn’t forget for the thousand years that I have been alive.  There was a crystal there.  The crystal was floating in the air, the thing was dark, but I felt like I could see everything as long I stared into it.  Then, a retractable claw came through wall, it grabbed the crystal and maneuvered it to me.  It came close to my heart.  I started to get scared, my eyes wanted to look away, my legs trying to get out of my predicament.  Then the crystal pierced my heart. I felt a dark essence flow into me.  I tried to look around but I started to lose consciousness.

I woke later, in a destroyed area.  Fear took hold of me as I saw blood and corpses everywhere.  Search lights were everywhere and I started to run.  I ran into a forest where the ponies wouldn’t find me.  What happened to me? I seemed different, like something was inserted into me.  I looked at my chest where there was a scar there.

“What the hay?!” I said

‘So you’re the host.’ A voice inside my head said

“Who are you?” I said.  I wasn’t the kind of pony to have a talking voice inside my head, Im not insane.

‘Oh, but you are insane.’ It said again

“What happened in there.” I asked. Maybe he knew what happened in the lab.

‘You really don’t want to know. Besides, you have to save your sister.’ It said

“What?!” I said.  I was curious on what he meant by to save your sister.  She wasn’t the kind of mare to get into trouble.

‘Her life is in trouble’ It said

Part 2  Sneak Peek

My innate response was to hastily sprint to the house.  I was traumatized when I arrived.  The scent of decay of dead bodies filled my nostrils.  I saw manical ponies leaving the burning house,  I knew they were supporters of Celestia’s side.

‘Take your revenge, Ultor,” The voice started to say, ‘You have the power to make them pay.”

“But how do I do this?  I don’t even know how to make a magical shockwave,” I was trembling from the fear and grief of the dire situation.  How can I do the supposed powers that this anonymous voice has told me I can.

‘It will come to you naturally,’ It said ‘You just have to think of the powers to do it,’

I agreed hesitantly, I was bewildered by the explanation.  I thought of death upon those who were responsible.  Suddenly, a dark magical shockwave knocked the ponies still laughing from their task. It knocked them back to the trees surrounding the house.  I could hear their backs breaking as I was in awe from the shockwave.

“Woah,” I started to say, “How much power was in that shockwave?”

‘A lot mind you.’ The voice said

“Who are you exactly?” I started to ask, “Never seen or heard something like voices in your head.”

‘Of course you haven’t, I am a natural being trapped in a crystal for a long time so it’s obvious that you haven’t seen any other encounters.  I have been branded a parasite when I was in that silly crystal.  Wait, you’re the son of that scientist aren’t you?’

I nodded, listening intently on his explanation.

‘As I had heard while trapped inside, I heard about the situation here in Equestria.  I became interested, I assumed that I was there to be experimented on to benefit the princess of the night’s party.  So I am glad to have met somepony that isn’t well, ignorant.  You seem to be smart enough, youngling, so I will help raise you to be powerful, so powerful that you can control fate itself at one point or another.  So what say you, Ultor Shadowmere, will you accept my gift? Or will you just ignore it and continue your life?’

“I will accept.” I said with haste

‘Good, but first you must save your sister from her execution.’

“What!? My sister is being executed! What for?” I said, I was panicked, my sweet sister was probably about to be killed and I wasn’t there to try to stop it.

‘Shes in the royal courtyard,’ It replied, ‘But I would hurry, as time is short, you can teleport there using your shadow magic quickly.’

I thought of teleporting to the royal courtyard, and instantly I appeared.