A time to eat......

Heartspan walked through the crowded streets of the city aiming in a round about way toward the main street. Murmurs here and there caught his ear, rumors flying about the explosion in old city wall. He breathed an inward sigh of relief that Onyx had wanted to eat. He had not wanted to rush her, but her power would surely not have gone unnoticed. Thankfully they had been able to wander away unseen. He could have used magic but he found that he really needed the time to think.

He kept his hood pulled up lest friends of his family might notice him, or worse yet his grieving parents. Thinking of this he felt his heart constrict. Merging with his sister had done more than replenish his power, he had gained her memories. Her very thoughts were now his, and short though the years had been they filled in many of the missing gaps in his own. He ached for the loss he would have to share with his parents. He ached for many of the memories he had lost, and gained back only in part.

Yet that seemed only a fitting punishment as he thought of how he had taken her life with his own power. He shuddered involuntarily at the thought. He was a monster, worse than any that he had known, even the great Nightmare moon had done no such thing. Maybe the only one who could have done such a thing was the monster lilyvale he saw in scattered images through the eyes of his sister.

The momentary joy that had come with his being healed had long since vanished, drowned in the weight of suffering that hovered between him and Onyx. He looked at her through the edge of his hood.
Remembering the black thing that had drug him from the bliss of elysium and into the mortal world. Had it really been an alicorn? How had she summoned such a beast? What would he do with her now? What would he do with himself? He wished he could bring to life the stallion his sister remembered, wayward, loyal to luna, trying to do everything at once but accomplishing nothing. The would be adventurer, the stallion who could make gold from stone, and things grander still. The one who had stolen a present for the little filly right from his favorite princesses old home. That stallion was dead.

Tears seeped from his eyes and he quickly turned his gaze toward the road ahead. They emerged in the market district and soon would find themselves at the little restaurant that had figured into so many of his sisters memories. He tried but he could not stop his tears and he was glad that his hood would hide them from everypony, most especially onyx. The more he thought of it the more he wanted to throw up. This was the real price of magic, the real equivalent exchange he thought to himself bitterly. He kept plodding along one hoof in front of the other, like an automaton. The only way to fix everything was to learn time travel, but that was the worst option. How much damage would he do reversing things, and worse still, how much would Onyx do?

She had changed, he could feel it, even if he could not remember the original. She had died in the library as surely as he had died that afternoon in his home. They were both monsters. They were the nightmares ponies told their offspring at night. They had forsaken the path of goodness in favor of something much worse than dark power. They were the Lilyvale of their age. They would do such terrible things. He sighed knowing it would have to be true. He looked at Onyx again as they neared the little out of the way building that housed his favorite diner. He would save his friend from what she wanted to become. He knew it would cost him everything but this age could only have one beast and it would be him, not Onyx. She had already suffered so much. He offered her a small smile though he was sure she would not see it.

“ everything will be just fine for us Onyx.” he said aloud “ I just know it.”

His heart stung knowing the path they would have to walk in order to achieve his goal, and he did not know her well enough. Her goals might very well be pure. His heart stung more that he could judge her so severely so easily. He would just have to do as he always did, wander along, and if his sisters memories were correct he would trust in Luna. He turned toward the restaurant pausing only briefly at the door.

Luna....protect us in this our hour of need.... he whispered to himself nearly inaudibly before entering.

She felt naked stalking about the streets and alleyways, having been forced to shed her dear cloak long ago. Fortunately, it had been reduced to a sub-atomic state in the explosion of her magical energy, leaving no trace of the fabric or residue to trace back to her. But unfortunately, the lack of the material left her silver armor exposed to not only the elements, but questionable eyes as well- or it would have, had she not used a simple illusion to make her body seem bare. An additional spell was utilized to muffle the metal's sound as her hooves impacted with the cobblestone street, so all in all she appeared to be a 'normal' unicorn.

Normal. That was such a farce. She was anything but.

For one, Onyx's black coat carried a crystal-like sheen to it, making it almost transparent to the naked eye. Her red and black tail and mane shared a similar quality, and despite their ominous hues, the follicles produced the most lovely of rainbows when the sunlight hit them just right. Another oddity was her Cutie Mark- a single red crystal surrounded by three smaller ones which orbited it. A marking such as that was rare- it hinted at her two genetic natures (that of the magic of a Canterlot unicorn and her Crystal Empire bloodline). Third, and most unnerving of all, were the purple flames she fought to keep at bay within her eye sockets. However, the evil substance leaked out despite the strain, but fortunately she was capable of smothering them by merely closing her eyes whenever someone looked her way.

On the occasion, she glanced over to the stallion that accompanied her pleasant afternoon stroll. She could tell that much burdened him with a mere glance- his stature was slumped, his steps awkward. So much is on his mind. I can only imagine what must be happening to his poor, tormented soul. Especially now that another occupies it. Her red eyes expressed the sorrow her lips could not. She still fully intended on reviving his sister into a whole form, one of flesh and blood. How, the mare wasn't certain. While she had recently delved into the dark magic that included death, she was far from being so much as a novice in its art. I know my next step in my studies, but I can't use up too much time. For all I know, the soul could grow attached to his own, like a parasite. It needs to be transferred as soon as possible.


Onyx didn't need to see the tears he shed to smell them. Nor did the mare need to have his face visible to tell how much he suffered- she could feel it. Empathy was something that came with her gender, but it was mastered further through her dark arts. One of the lessons she had been taught was how to read other ponies, to know whether they were hostile or weak. It was key to have such a gift should trouble brew, but it could also be used offensively- a means to gain advantage over a situation. It pained her to know he was so saddened. It truly did. But what made matters worse was how helpless she was to aid him. I promise you, my friend, this will all be amended.

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“ everything will be just fine for us Onyx.” he said aloud “ I just know it.”

When he looked at her, her heart skipped a beat. She smiled shallowly at his words. "I know they will be, my friend." Onyx nodded. At long last, they had arrived at the diner. From the looks of it, it seemed rather quaint, and by the sounds that thumped behind its walls, very popular. She took a moment to admire the flowers sprouting from the dirt around its perimeter, then smirked, seeing how clean and sparkling the windows were. Whomever owned the establishment kept it quite nice. And last but not least, as Heartspan entered through the door, the smells of many tastey meals tempted her.

"This place will do quite nicely." She happily declared, following along behind him.

"This place will do quite nicely."

Onyx's happy voice did not at all match heart's current mood. Yet, he felt he owed his friend at least an attempt to not be so dark humored.

“ yes, I have been informed that I often eat here.” he said feigning a bit of humor before entering.

It was lively at this time of day yet as always it was dimly lit and well appointed. It was an out of the way slice of aristocracy, and yet it did not cater to the elite. Rather it hid from the stalls and shops of the main street almost as if in mockery of such high society. Here artists and scholars would gather for debate and even dissidents were welcome so long as they didn't cause a fuss for the other patrons. This was a place where secrets were welcomed and well kept, right along side family get togethers. There was an unspoken code among the patrons who found they stumbled upon this haven. Here everypony was a friend even if beyond these walls they were mortal enemies. Being in this familiar haunt brought a sense of calm and after quickly wiping away the signs of his weakness he pulled his hood down.

He walked toward the back to where he had his own special booth, a fact gleaned from the shared knowledge his sisters spirit instilled in him. For this one time for certain he was glad for the link. To know such a marvelous place made him feel content. He had no fear that his place would be taken. Everyone here was a regular, he had seen them through his sisters eyes countless times. He had listened to himself speak to them on this and that more times than he cared to think of. Each group had it's own appointed place, either here on the main floor, or up in the second floor lounge. Those who upset this careful arrangement were quickly chided and sent else where. Here and there he would nodded or smile , returning greetings from ponies he had not seen in some time.

He waited at the table for Onyx to take her seat. A custom he had seen himself perform countless times.

“ After you my friend .” he said cordially as he waited. “ I think this place will suit you well, these walls have no ears.”

he smiled as the weight in him slowly lifted just a little. It was good to be able to recognize familiar ground.

The outer walls of the establishment hid secrets, it would seem. As they journeyed inside, her sense of empathy flourished, absorbing the feelings and wills of the patrons around her. At first, the inhalation of their emotions was a bit overwhelming, but due to her extensive training, the unicorn was able to keep herself calm and collected, allowing her to mentally sort out and distinguish one gesture from another. There were those with hearts that sank into the darkness, though rather than control it as she did, they were its victims. Others were of a lighter nature, so the spectrum ranged greatly here. On one hoof, one such as myself could feel at peace. But on the other, there are watchful and suspicious eyes everywhere. I'll have to tread lightly here.

Onyx kept close to her friend, her eyes ever shifting, absorbing every little detail of the diner. She noted where the candles burned, glanced to where the staff members danced about, as well as entered and exited the back room. Nearly all the seats were occupied, and there seemed to be multiple levels to the place. There is little room for error here. With all these ponies, if anything foul was to happen, escaping would be difficult. As curiosity grasped her, she conjured a slight amount of magic into her horn- not enough for it to so much as glow, however. The unicorn sought any possible warding spells about the area, or any other spells that might put her on edge.

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“ After you my friend .” he said cordially as he waited. “ I think this place will suit you well, these walls have no ears.”

Her head fixed on Heartspan, but her optics were elsewhere. She smiled the best she could before looking at him more directly, choosing to check her paranoia aside for the time being. Besides, if anyone is foolish enough to start trouble, I'll quickly end them. The mare was in no mood to put up with nonsense. There as much on her mind, ranging from the events at the Library, to those after. What haunted her most, however, was the energy she had thrust at the wall that once divided the old city from the new. No doubt Celestia herself was investigating the dark magic, so it was a matter of time before she'd confront the alicorn.

"They might not have ears, but there are many eyes." Nonetheless, Onyx nodded politely and entered the booth, leaving enough space for him to do the same beside her. "It's been a millenia since I've eaten anything from Canterlot." She chuckled, knowing well that anyone around them would think her words were a jape, while there was naught but the truth within them. "In fact, I haven't had a full course since I was a filly. The acolytes and I were always training, rarely rested, hardly ate." At that, she frowned a bit as the memories forced themselves to the surface. "So this will be a delight. Especially with my current company." A warm smile was given to him.

Heartspan slid in next to Onyx, giving her a small smile.

“ I am glad you enjoy my company.” he said as he began to relax a little. “ By the way you are getting so many looks because you look so amazing, so it can hardly be counted against every pony. “

The waitress slid a pair of menus on the table before dashing off to another table. Heart looked over at his companion.

“ It must be difficult for you. A millennium is a long time.” He commented absently as he watched her

He turned then and stared into the light of the candle set at their tables center.

“ So, what will we do next?” he asked before taking a deep breath “ I ….Can't go through with my goal....what I had intended is too monstrous.....To make a puppet like that...it is too much.”

His gaze turned hollow for just a moment before returning to something more akin to warmth.

“ besides, I …..already have one you know...a princess to serve.....” he continued “ But....I want to know what your goal is.....for a time we felt the same way about it, so what do you plan now? Is there a place for me? Will you still share your magic with me? “

he looked down at the table with a look of profound emptiness.

“ Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? Those are the words that I hear in my heart now. “ when he spoke it was as if he were speaking with two voices one was his own, and one profoundly female. “ I wonder …........”

he felt as if he were a thousand miles away. His mind was filled with Winter's memories of their lives. Each moment replaying itself over and over again. Until at last he stood in the blessed fields of elysium. He could smell the flowers and hear the song of the spirits that roamed here and there. It called to him, but beyond that was a deeper call. He remembered the feel of it. Cold and empty. The darkness rose inside him in small strands perverting the light that shone inside him. Then all of a sudden he was simply staring at the table. He blinked his eyes a few times as recognition returned.
He looked at Onyx with a half smile. He spoke but this time his voice was normal.

“ sorry, I just.............. have so much on my mind.” he offered in apology for spacing out“ I hope that you will still want my help even though we both have changed so much.”

((Superdupersorry for the wait- I just got home today. Had three flights canceled- I was supposed to be home last Monday ><))

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“ I am glad you enjoy my company.” he said as he began to relax a little. “ By the way you are getting so many looks because you look so amazing, so it can hardly be counted against every pony. “

She could feel her cheeks redden with heat from his compliment. This time, though, the gesture of flattery spread to her crystalline coat, causing it to shimmer. To keep herself from succumbing to the delight and thus dropping her guard, the mare cleared her throat discreetly and momentarily closed her eyes. With the world faded to black, her mind was given a momentary freedom from all the distracting sights, and visual paranoia. Her ears, however, twitched and twisted to the many whispers that floated through the air. Making them out was nigh impossible, thus she could only hope none were about her.

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“ It must be difficult for you. A millennium is a long time.” He commented absently as he watched her

When her eyes fluttered open, there was a menu before her nose. Their sights shifted to Heartspan beside her, then down to his own menu and back again. There they lingered, though they failed to see the velvet binding, nor did they take in the fancy style of scripture upon its face. Instead, images from the recesses of her mind flashed before her fleetingly. All the events of her final hour before the spell condemned her all occurred so fast, but she could recall every second, and watch them as singular frames. "Fortunately, the spell I was under made all those years feel like an instant. I awoke believing I had only been incapacitated for moments, not a millennium. It was the only mercy I and the others had been spared."

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“ So, what will we do next?” he asked before taking a deep breath “ I ….Can't go through with my goal....what I had intended is too monstrous.....To make a puppet like that...it is too much.”

“ besides, I …..already have one you know...a princess to serve.....” he continued “ But....I want to know what your goal is.....for a time we felt the same way about it, so what do you plan now? Is there a place for me? Will you still share your magic with me? “

Onyx's focus returned to the present, though those horrid pictures lingered a bit longer, even as she gazed into the stallion's eyes. She remained quiet for some time, contemplating. What he had declared was a complete one-eighty from her expectations. He's had a change of heart. A quick one. The unicorn took in a deep breath and held it. I can't say that I blame him. Especially after what had happened at the library. In one rushed breath, she exhaled. "I understand, my dear friend." She licked her drying lips as tension constricted her chest. "But the goal I have established for myself remains as that. I am going to continue my studies, and perfect my control over the essence of my talent." The mare was very cautious in the choosing of her words.

"Not just for myself, but for others as well. I will be the last hope of some, but hopefully the first resort to many more. Even those who do not purposely follow my art succumb to its temptation without realizing it, and later become lost. But I will be there to guide those in need." Onyx hoped that such a path would show a more virtuous side to her, and help repent her sins of the past. Softly, she smiled. "I will also be the mentor to those who wish to learn more about this side of magic. Yourself included, of course." The unicorn was delighted to hear he still wished to keep her company, despite all that had befallen them. He was indeed a true kind-hearted soul, and somepony she could trust.

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“ Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? Those are the words that I hear in my heart now. “ when he spoke it was as if he were speaking with two voices one was his own, and one profoundly female. “ I wonder …........”

Her smile faded to become a straight, tight line. The questions he rambled off seemed to have come from no where, partially confusing her. But the inquiries were common ones- many a'pony asked the same things, though herself was excluded. Onyx was too devoted in her studies to care about her origins, or the species's future. What she did find fascinating was the creation of magic, and how the different types manifested from what had to be but one source. She hardened her stare upon him, not as a scowl or any other crude expression, but to see into him, rather than just the surface. The mare could have sworn when he had spoken that there was a swell of something from within- an essence, but not that of the magical source. Could it be..?

He seemed to have spaced out. While doing so, that same sensation she sensed had flared. There was definitely something going on within her companion. And while she had an idea, she couldn't draw any conclusions.

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“ sorry, I just.............. have so much on my mind.” he offered in apology for spacing out“ I hope that you will still want my help even though we both have changed so much.”

Onyx hesitated, unsure how to respond. Rather than to dwell on it and analyze it too much, she reached out and placed a comforting hoof on his shoulder. The touch felt wondrous, and more importantly, right. "I want nothing more than for you to remain by my side. And do not fear, Heartspan, for I will always be here for you, and to help you find the answer to all your questions."

(no worries my friend ^^ i am glad you made it home safely ^^ )
Heartspan felt the warmth of her hoof but he himself felt cold inside. He felt a welcome sense of being emotionless. Though unfortunately he was also filled with confusion. He smiled though it was a wan and very ironic smile. Her in the emotionless place he could feel the darkness stirring inside him. Though a portion had been taken from him, it still had a root in his spirit and from this root he could feel the power slowly regenerating. This time though it was not aggressive, it was comforting, this lack of ties to anything that would cause pain.

“ I learned a lot of things being fused with winterdream. Whatever you learned from Lilyvale was both a blessing and a curse for me. I have learned terrible things, but also good ones, and confusing ones too.” he commented

He looked up at the ceiling.

“ I have a whole life I have lived that is not a part of me but yet it defines who I really am. This me now is like another life with another me. Only sometimes these two lives intersect.”

He looked over at Onyx with a much more authentic smile.

“ In a way it is wonderful. When I have learned your art I will indeed be a formidable spellcaster, but now I don't know what my goal is. I still can't stand 'you know who' or her ways or her rules, or her so called allies. I learned though that I once had a big thing for luna. I decided not to abandon that way, it has apparently led me well enough. However I still find it necessary to make a change in our society and this can only be done through aggression. This was luna's method and it shall be mine also. Loneliness was her power but also her weakness, thus we have the society we have today. I just don't know how to go about making this change in our society.”

he took a sip of his water, ignoring the menu before him.

“ You have a great goal. To protect those who become lost to the darkness, to teach a proper way to wield dark power. It goes well with my thoughts on magic and the forced of light, shadow, and chaos. If you can succeed in this then our society at least among the magical will be better off. Dark magic will become more refined and potent and both schools will begin to benefit from one another rather than being opponents to each other. This is the type of environment I believe existed in one form or another before the rise of Alicorns, and it is how I feel we unicorns should conduct our art.”

He looked over at Onyx a great deal of his concern over her sudden change vanishing under her words. He could not have been more proud of a pony. to have such lofty ideals meant she had not fallen into the dark ways of certain other mares and stallions as well. This also meant that he too would not have to delve into such nefarious things as lilyvale or Sombra had during their time. It meant also that he could aid in her goal without marring his own morality such as it was. He could walk the dark path after his own desire without fear of becoming a pony he would later hate too much.

( i hope this is an ok post ^///^ )

She couldn't feel much muscle movement in his arm, nor did the stallion display honest facial features from her touch. It wasn't like him to be unmoved and hollow, but she continued to put on a brave face for his sake, less he feel the need to defend himself- it was easier if she pretended not to notice. With her hoof still in place, she took the opportunity to observe him on a deeper level. Without so much as a flinch or any other hint of action, a slither of her magic was passed through into him. He might feel a bit of a tingle from the transfer, but it could be easily mistook for the coldness of her still-hidden armor.

It would be a bit of time before she'd have an accurate reading of his magical distress, so she carefully removed her hoof and set it back down beside her. If her soul is truly a part of his own, there should be a distinction between his essence and hers. I should also be able to tell just how influential Lilyvale had been when she corrupted him. In her mind, she narrowed her eyes at the thought of that mare. I will never be able to give her the true eternity she deserved, nor know the feel of her power. But I'll have to make due without both. I'll have to delve into my studies- especially those of death. I can feel a rusty link with it. I must know how much I can control it.

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“ I learned a lot of things being fused with winterdream. Whatever you learned from Lilyvale was both a blessing and a curse for me. I have learned terrible things, but also good ones, and confusing ones too.” he commented

Learned? What had she learned? Nothing and little more. It was frustrating to think about how much knowledge she could have obtained had a certain stallion not intervened. Terrible things, he claims. What he has looked into is the darkness at its strongest. It still shamed her to admit that Lilyvale had been more than a match for her- before the transformation, that is. The mare had a much firmer understanding on the essence than she could have imagined, and while her own know-how was strong, she learned that there was so much more to understand. "It will take time to recover from it all, I'm sure." She calmly stated.

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“ In a way it is wonderful. When I have learned your art I will indeed be a formidable spellcaster, but now I don't know what my goal is. I still can't stand 'you know who' or her ways or her rules, or her so called allies. I learned though that I once had a big thing for luna. I decided not to abandon that way, it has apparently led me well enough. However I still find it necessary to make a change in our society and this can only be done through aggression. This was luna's method and it shall be mine also. Loneliness was her power but also her weakness, thus we have the society we have today. I just don't know how to go about making this change in our society.”

Onyx looked down to her menu as a distraction. She was starting to grow uncertain as to whether or not Heartspan was prepared to submerge deeper into her art- if he believed what Lilyvale had shown was nothing but horrible, then he wouldn't be able to maintain full control. Any doubt, any wonder, the slightest of uncertainty would mean his end. All the more reason for me to learn how to control it in others. If it gets out of hand, I want to be able to tame it. Her eyes moved back into his as he continued to speak. His beliefs regarding Princess Luna caught her attention. "If only we could have an audience with that princess, it would do us both wonders."

Of course, the unicorn cared little for Luna herself. What she really wanted was to learn more about Nightmare Moon, and the power behind such a manifestation of darkness.

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“ You have a great goal. To protect those who become lost to the darkness, to teach a proper way to wield dark power. It goes well with my thoughts on magic and the forced of light, shadow, and chaos. If you can succeed in this then our society at least among the magical will be better off. Dark magic will become more refined and potent and both schools will begin to benefit from one another rather than being opponents to each other. This is the type of environment I believe existed in one form or another before the rise of Alicorns, and it is how I feel we unicorns should conduct our art.”

The mare smiled sweetly, grateful that he didn't think of her goals as malicious or insane. Any other pony would have regarded her as a blasphemous specimen- someone who should be thrown into the darkest of Celestia's dungeons and locked away for all time. His views concerning magic were sincere and matched her own. What are the odds of me befriending such a stallion? Especially since I have awakened but a few days ago. It seems that Fate is on my side, and Destiny guides us well. Humbled, her smile grew.

It wouldn't be long before the waitress would return for their orders. Thus, her eyes scanned down the columns of choices, all of which were of a vegetarian variety. The meals consisted of sandwiches made from freshly baked bread, garnished with the freshest of foliage. Some of the vegetables were foreign to her, having no doubt been discovered over the millennium that she had slept. Plus, she had been underground the majority of her life, thus sampling delicacies was impossible. Others, the unicorn couldn't even pronounce. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to put my palate in your hands, my dear Heartspan." Lightly, she chuckled. "Too many unfamiliar things."


((T'was awesome as ever, my buddy. :D))

Heartspan laughed a little.

“ I am not so sure that is a good idea.” He replied “ I have really only eaten one thing here. From what I see in my sisters memories I only have ever had pancakes here and these not so late in the day as we are now.”

Heart glanced through the menu

“ Maybe just a couple simple sandwiches will do. “ he said as he showed her a picture in his menu.

As he waited for the waitress to return he leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He allowed winterdream's memories to flood in. When they had first merged it had been a shock, to see so much that he had forgotten, and to see things he wished had not happened. They had haunted him the entire walk through town, raging uncontrolled. However in this state where his emotions had dimmed to near zero he could at last page through them. He paid most careful attention to her school time, taking in what she had been taught and merging it with what was left of his own training.

When he heard the waitress slip up silently he placed their orders. Then he waited patiently for the mare to depart. Once he felt himself safe he turned to Onyx.

“ I would not mind an audience with luna, alone and away from her peer group, but I think she must be wildly different then she was in the past at least in the surface layers. I think she must still be lonely with all these new princesses but after such a long exile it must be difficult. I don't think she would benefit me much, though maybe we would be more a benefit to her. “

All the while he spoke images of his other life passed though his mind. He would have to somehow make them fit with his new life, and to this end his mind began to work filling in gaps with new knowledge. He allowed his subconscious to take over the work while he turned the bulk of his mind to another project. He smiled at onyx as he delved deep into his own spirit. There he could feel distinctly where his sister had merged with him and where she was as yet her own self. It was strange to feel her so much a part of himself and yet so distinctly a separate being. He knew she could feel what he felt both in a physical sense as well as in this metaphysical contact.

“ Onyx...do you think my sisters soul will fully merge with mine?” he asked curiously “ I can feel where we link and where we are separate ...but I must admit neither she nor I have much understanding of this sort of thing.”

A sudden strange feeling grabbed his attention as he spoke. The darkness inside him was stirring and his eyes narrowed as he felt it. It was reacting to something and as he searched inside himself he found what had agitated it. There spread all throughout his magic essence were thin streamers of an alien darkness. He knew at once to whom they belonged, having felt that unique signature many times.
He smiled as his eyes opened more fully. He thought of what onyx had stated about the dark magic how he must master it. Yet to him that did not seem the secret to utilizing it. He had seen onyx both now and before become a part of her own dark magic a manifestation of it. Lilyvale had been a manifestation of her own power. He reached down into the pit of his growing dark magic while it was yet weakened and he allowed it to become a part of him, and he to become a part of it. It filled him with an emptiness deeper than anything he could have imagined existing. It threatened to consume him utterly and yet it was to him only an idle threat. He was the master of this emptiness, it was his desire to let it loose when and where he wished.
His iris's burned a bright red as the whites of his eyes turned a deep green. Violet flames licked at the edges of his vision. He smiled at onyx warmly as he pulled apart the thin thread of magic she had inserted into him.

“ Well, I appreciate your concern for my well being Onyx I would prefer you did not cast such spells I assure you I am fine.” he spoke in a way he thought would be warmly.

His eyes returned to normal as he looked about the room. Only one or two patrons glanced their way curious about their goings on. He knew well the unspoken rules of the place and exchanged a small smile with those who caught his eye. They returned the greeting, some more knowingly than the others.
As his dark magic quieted down he realized that he himself must have changed and not his power. A certain correlation began to form in his mind. Lilyvale had represented madness, Luna had been lonely bitterness, He represented emptiness, and Onyx herself represented darkness, not just the dark of night, but dark magic itself, and true darkness, as in the absence of light. He shook his head at the thought before turning and giving her a small smile.

Onyx nodded at his suggestion and browsed the item of his choice, which looked decent enough. No doubt anything he chose would be a wondrous experience for her taste buds, all of whom had very little experience in tasting exotic flavors. Her only concern was how her digestive system would handle the produce- being accustomed to bland meals, the roughage might not sit well. I'll have to get used to it at some point. I am no longer a student- I am free to live my life as I see fit. The way we were treated was to discipline us- I doubt the regiment was part of learning the magic itself.

When the waitress arrived, her eyes wandered to the plain-looking mare, but spotted something far more interesting beyond her. Down past the many patrons, near the door, she spotted the odd silhouette of a stallion. Normally, the unicorn wouldn't have her stare linger for so long, but the outline of a helmet was clearly evident on his head. Guards. She could feel her brow tensing on its own as a bit of anxiety bubbled in her stomach. The mare had been wondering how long it would take the elite to begin investigating the explosion she had caused to the dividing wall. I lost my temper. I shouldn't have done that. If they can trace back the magic to me..

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“ I would not mind an audience with luna, alone and away from her peer group, but I think she must be wildly different then she was in the past at least in the surface layers. I think she must still be lonely with all these new princesses but after such a long exile it must be difficult. I don't think she would benefit me much, though maybe we would be more a benefit to her. “

Her ears had turned to listen to Heartspan, but her eyes remained on the door, which opened. Sure enough, a stallion of white coat and golden armor pushed through, and marched himself with purpose to the hostess. Sneering, Onyx turned her focus back to her friend, hoping the guard, whom was indeed a unicorn, wasn't a strong of a caster as she was. "If she is as lonely as you say, she would welcome our presence. Her sister has always been the center of attention- no doubt she'd be beyond pleased to find that some of her 'subjects' wish to see her instead." It was difficult not looking back at the guard, but she forced herself not to- staring would only arouse suspicion.

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“ Onyx...do you think my sisters soul will fully merge with mine?” he asked curiously “ I can feel where we link and where we are separate ...but I must admit neither she nor I have much understanding of this sort of thing.”

Thankfully, his inquiries proved to be a healthy distraction. Onyx considered his latest for a moment, her heart pounding heavily in her chest. "It is possible, if you both wish it, I believe." She sighed and closed her eyes. "It was my hope to find a vessel for her soul to live in, so that she might live as flesh and bone with her own free will intact." Her eyes reopened. They were fully focused, their red hue deeper than before. "But it is not my decision to make. I've learned that now." Her plan to keep the soul within her binding crystal for storage had been thwarted by his sister once before. "If she is still willing, I will help her. I owe her that much and more." Had it not been for her, Lilyvale would have prevailed.

The unicorn winced suddenly, feeling a spark of magic surging through him. Her little slither of essence had reacted to the change, alarming her immediately. Concerned, Onyx watched her friend more closely, but her mind focused on her magic within him, trying to understand what was going on. There was another shift of his essence, one more familiar to her, and untamed. His darkness was still intact and wild- though before she could reach it, it receded. She quirked a curious brow, but when Heartspan's eyes started to change, she understood. He was taking the darkness and using it himself- it was not as free as it once seemed. The mare was about to smile when she felt her strain fragment, then dissolve- it sent a surge of pain through her body, making her want to cry out, but the fact that there was a guard about the building kept her silent.

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“ Well, I appreciate your concern for my well being Onyx I would prefer you did not cast such spells I assure you I am fine.” he spoke in a way he thought would be warmly.

Sweat dotted her brow. She was about to beg him to submerge the magic when he beat her to the punch. The unicorn sighed out of relief- had he maintained the flow of darkness, no doubt the guard would have picked up on it. One last look.. Much to her delight, the guard departed with a nod after giving the hostess a scroll, which no doubt had a means of contacting him or his peers should any information sprout roots. Thankful that the threat was contained for the time being, Onyx smiled back at her friend. "You're a quick learner, I see. Good. Time is of the essence, and we don't have much of it in this city."

Heartspan looked at Onyx, he noted the strain in her face. He took note of the sweat on her brow and the concern in both her baring and her words.

“ We, have nothing to fear Onyx. “ he spoke matter of factly “ We have no peers now. Maybe we never have had peers. Time may be of the essence, but even so, there is very little for the two of us to fear.”

He took a few bites of his sandwich, chasing them with a drink of apple juice.

“ I will consider what you have said about my sister, and I will confer with her if I can.” he stated as he looked down at his food. “ But I am not a quick learner. I simply sensed a weakness in the dark magic inside me and took advantage of it. It is different than I remember, more servile and less aggressive than before. I simply used that to my benefit.”

he took a deep breath as he looked up at the ceiling.

“ I recalled the things you have said, and the way you cast and I made it my own. I took also a little of the understanding my sister had on how magic works and added it to my own. After all of these things I was able to assert my dominance. So, I owe it more to those who keep me company than to my own talents. In either, it is mine to command now.”

he took a few more bites before continuing.

“ Where would you like to go? You have a goal for yourself, what is the first step in you gaining the power you desire?” he asked bluntly.

He turned to look at her directly his face devoid of emotion except for simple curiosity.

“ You say we have little time here and you appear frightened. What has caused this change in you?” he asked “ You are normally cautious but not to the point of real fear, but you even have sweat on your brow.”

(sorry it is a bit short but only by necessity ^^ )

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“ We, have nothing to fear Onyx. “ he spoke matter of factly “ We have no peers now. Maybe we never have had peers. Time may be of the essence, but even so, there is very little for the two of us to fear.”

Oh how little he knew. Perhaps he has no one to fear, but I have many that can cause trouble. She thought back to the alcoves, where cloaked figures danced around shelves of books and old scrolls. They muttered words of spell craft, huddled before candles that burned odd colors, cast their magic at a whim. The mare saw herself, completely cloaked from head to hoof, stalking through the rows of her peers as they committed their acts of blasphemy, her head held high, her superiority flaring. She had been the top student, her Master had said. But that didn't mean that the others were far off from her level.

And then there was him. If I survived from his spell, what about the others? Did he plant the curse on them all? Onyx remembered Heartspan stating that the entire Empire had disappeared for a thousand years- not just specific individuals. If what he said was true, something went wrong. There had to have been a reason for him to spread the curse throughout the land. And with that being so, no doubt the others are about. Why, some might have even been in their very restaurant. No one knew one another by facial features- their hoods concealed them at all times. They'll be searching for answers themselves. And perhaps one another. She wouldn't even put it past a few ponies to look for her.

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“ I will consider what you have said about my sister, and I will confer with her if I can.” he stated as he looked down at his food. “ But I am not a quick learner. I simply sensed a weakness in the dark magic inside me and took advantage of it. It is different than I remember, more servile and less aggressive than before. I simply used that to my benefit.”

She stared at the sandwich before her. It was given a few sniffs before she conjured a red magical glow around her horn, which spread to the morsel. Via a simple levitation spell, the meal lifted and was brought before her muzzle, then bit into. The flavor exploded in her mouth, setting all her taste buds on a journey of pleasure. Onyx chewed slowly, savoring every second as the sensation spread, filling her entire form with delight. This is what food should taste like. Such flavor! Such aroma! It was almost saddening to swallow, but the fact that there was plenty left to devour made it okay.

"Do not be deceived, or grow overconfident. The darkness bides its time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to take over. Even to this day, I constantly stand vigilant, less it amass and swarm my consciousness when I least expect it. That event earlier.." She drifted off for a moment, recalling the incident. It felt amazing allowing so much magic to swell within, and the release was orgasmic. But the darkness which acted as her power had blinded her to the consequences- now, she had to be on her hoofs and mind the guards.

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“ I recalled the things you have said, and the way you cast and I made it my own. I took also a little of the understanding my sister had on how magic works and added it to my own. After all of these things I was able to assert my dominance. So, I owe it more to those who keep me company than to my own talents. In either, it is mine to command now.”

She took the pleasure of another bite to mull over his words. It was too bad she didn't have anyone to consult in with other forms of magic. Then again, why would she want to know another form? Darkness was her entire being. It was strong, useful, deceiving..it had so many uses, and lead to much opportunity. "Discovering the best means of controlling it shows you are truly a bright stallion. Most don't recognize such things so easily."

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“ Where would you like to go? You have a goal for yourself, what is the first step in you gaining the power you desire?” he asked bluntly.

After another bite, series of chews and swallows, she replied, "The best route is returning to where I learned my art." She sighed. "But it will be risky. While not many ponies would recognize my face, some might- I've only been seen once, but it was during the beginning of the end for the Empire's first reign." Her eyes dropped to the table. "I did not know what I was taking part of back then, but I still did as I was told. I have that responsibility on my shoulders." Onyx had the sandwich lower to the plate and dismissed her magic. "But I can think of no other place than my roots to gain more intellect."

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“ You say we have little time here and you appear frightened. What has caused this change in you?” he asked “ You are normally cautious but not to the point of real fear, but you even have sweat on your brow.”

His questions made her visibly wince. Weakness was not something she valued, nor did she ever wish to show it in herself. The very notion made her temper flare, and her illusion spell falter temporarily, baring her armor. "The guards are about, investigating my little explosion, no doubt. This place must reduce the ability for others to sense magical patterns, otherwise I would have been found. One had come in not long ago, interrogating the hostess. I have a feeling the moment we set hoof outside, they will be upon us. Well, at least those who are proficient in magic."

Heartspan watched as she grew angry, noting the quick shift in her emotions. He watched her control fail and her illusion vanish in the same instant. All the while her words mixed in with the hundred of thousands of thoughts that seemed to form and reform. His mind was a hive of bees and each bee was itself another hive. Spells of every variety poured into his mind.

He smiled at her as warmly as he could manage.

“ That's ok Onyx.” he replied “ it simply means we have the choice of confronting them or fleeing. We knew from the start they would come at some point. Besides, I have full confidence in you.”

He turned back to his meal eating slowly as he thought. He had not told her that he had given himself over to the darkness, that it had given him the one thing he really wanted., a sense of peace.  He finished his meal in silence. She would figure it out eventually but he hoped by then that it would not matter. He did not want to face any of it. Besides he had something important to deal with internally. Especially if they were to make such a long journey.  He felt for his sister called out to her with his power.

She dwelt in the pit of his spirit but he found he could no longer directly connect to her. He could feel her, he could feel the strength and content of her emotions but he could not directly engage her. Her feelings rolled off him vanishing into the abyss that he had embraced. She was scared and sad, but devoted. However he knew that the being fused to him could not possibly be the filly he saw in images he had stolen from her. No, she knew too much about things she had no way of knowing. Her image had been too old and though he knew nothing of the afterlife, he knew she would have picked a form he would recognize. Yet he knew she must also be a part of whatever creature had come into him.

Had he known right off he would never have allowed this thing to join him but now, but now there was nothing he could do. He felt for it, for the foreign consciousness he knew was now apart of him. It came to him quickly as if it had been waiting for the call. Sorrow, despair in it's full bloom rushed up to greet him. He could feel it spreading out from him, but it was beyond his control.

He reached out for Onyx but his hoof failed to move. He could only blink in surprise. He watched as he took a sip from his drink. He listened as he spoke but he was not the one in control.

“ When we finish eating, I will teleport us with my sisters magic, that should go undetected.” he spoke “ I can take us anywhere that I have been, from there we can use any other means at our disposal to go to the crystal empire. Unless of course you want to face them now. In either case we must be cautious. Especially in the crystal empire, as they have a princess, an alicorn of their own. They will be on guard I am sure, Lord Sombra having been defeated upon their return. They will not be as lax as Canterlot has been. The will be on the look out for darkness.”

he felt himself begin to eat again, even as he felt sorrow growing in the hearts of the other patrons. It drowned out their hopes and dreams. It robbed them of the will to go on. He could feel them sag under the weight of it. The sorrow was careful to stay clear of onyx, but it clung most cruelly to him. Even the emptiness promised by his own magic could not stand against it. Then in sudden realization he understood that the promise, the control, the servility of his dark magic was not his own doing. It had come from the creature even now pulling itself free of his sisters essence.  

It rose before him, formless but terrifying.

You....summoned me......
The voice was so sweet but at the same time carried a weight heavier than anything he could imagine. He had no voice before this creature, and yet all the while he eat and drank as if nothing much had happened.

Have no fear....you have saved me ...and I will return the favor.....just as I promised.

With those words the wave of sorrow split around him leaving him free of it's domination. Even so, he could not bring himself to speak to this being.

You and I both want to make a change in this world.....
But...we cannot do it as we are.......
But in the crystal empire we can do all this and more.....
Your dream, and mine......your sisters rebirth.....Onyx's hopes......
all of them...are within our grasp.......
trust in my words....my knowledge..and have no fear......
I will take away all of your suffering...it fuel's me......
we are the perfect match this way........as Luna intended I am sure.......

It spoke with a voice both sweet and sincere. Yet, voices meant nothing, and any intent could be faked. He knew the real reason he accepted, it was fear. It was unbridled terror. This creature owned him, it had as soon as he had let it enter him. It had chosen the perfect moment. He had been weak, and scared, and hurt badly. He had learned what depths of cruelty he was capable of and it had chosen the perfect vessel, the perfect method of infiltration. It knew all of this and yet it cajoled him, a frightening thing of its own. It was as if it were cat playing with it's prey before devouring it. There was no other choice.

...I understand....heartspan replied in his own voice in his own mind....His own prison.

The creature seemed to accept this receding back into the depths of his sisters being. He was suddenly very very alone as his consciousness returned to the outer world. He pushed his plate aside turning to look at the other patrons, Onyx all but forgotten. Each and every one of them wore faces of unbelievable grief. They were silent and empty eyed. It was as if the entire world had fallen apart for each one. Heartspan swallowed hard as fear pressed in on him. Then as if in reply to his feelings his shadow wavered for just a moment, just long enough to catch his attention and then the wave of emptiness over took him again, shielding him from his own feelings.  

He turned back to Onyx.

“ well whenever you are ready, we can be about our business.” he said nonchalantly.


(I hope you dont think my post sucks)

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“ That's ok Onyx.” he replied “ it simply means we have the choice of confronting them or fleeing. We knew from the start they would come at some point. Besides, I have full confidence in you.”

At least someone had confidence. While she always trusted in her magic, for all she knew, it was outdated and predictable. Had anyone ever witnessed the dark arts first-hand back in the Crystal Empire, due to some novice's mistake, recordings of it could have been made. The overthrowing was a prime time to do such- no doubt, some intelligent pony went about jotting down everything he or she could to warn future targets. There could be many plain counterspells to every one of my techniques. I've only used mine against inanimate objects, and never had the chance to test them on Lilyvale herself. If it came down to a magical duel, would I be able to stand my ground? The thought was irritating. Having to hope is for the weak. I'll have to make sure they are stronger.

She stared at her sandwich, hunger no longer present in her stomach. All of the emotions that rattled around in her head had made her lost her appetite, and instead devote her attention to keeping her darkness at bay. It absolutely loved conflict, especially when it originated from her own heart. I do not fear. I will not concede. I am strong. The darkness is my power, and I control it. Her mental words were secure, brimming with confidence- she had to believe in herself, or she would be conquered. Yessss, you are, my dear. Came the voice of her old Master. It echoed, ever so seductively. Do not fear thossse of lessser worth. The poniesss of thisss era are weak, due to their livesss of peace..

The mare closed her eyes, allowing herself to fall into her subconscious. There, her image materialized on a field of black, and before long, her Master did the same. He still wore his concealing cloak, for his face was never known to her. They stood across from one another, the silence of the void around them deafening. Peace does raise weak fillies. But the guards were chosen by the Princess herself. She declared. Her Master chuckled. Perhapsss. But they are ssslim pickingsss. To be thwarted by a sssimple concealment ssspell issss all the proof you need for that. Such was true. Even a novice should have at least been able to sense that something was amiss. Yet that guard had failed. You are right as ever, Master. I thank you for your-

Something was wrong. In a snap, Onyx shifted out from her mind and back into reality, the illusions fading into the nothing that had been about them. She found herself staring at Heartspan, her coat standing on end from whatever was amiss within him. This isn't right. He feels so..strange.

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“ When we finish eating, I will teleport us with my sisters magic, that should go undetected.” he spoke “ I can take us anywhere that I have been, from there we can use any other means at our disposal to go to the crystal empire. Unless of course you want to face them now. In either case we must be cautious. Especially in the crystal empire, as they have a princess, an alicorn of their own. They will be on guard I am sure, Lord Sombra having been defeated upon their return. They will not be as lax as Canterlot has been. The will be on the look out for darkness.”

His voice sounded normal, but.. Perhaps I should not let on so quickly. I'll have to play the mummer, less his life gets into trouble again. It was her fault that the stallion had been nearly lost to the world the last time, when Lilyvale threatened to destroy his soul. Whatever, or whoever, was interfering this time, was not going to get the chance to utter a threat. She smiled sweetly and nodded, playing her part. "That is a grand idea. They would be seeking out my specific signature of magic, yours played no part in the devastation." The mare looked down at her half-eaten meal. When he mentioned there being yet another alicorn, she nearly smashed a hoof through her plate. She wanted to have, but instead, her hoof was kept kindly on her lap.

Then, her world came crashing down. "Did.. Did you say Sombra?" Onyx was forced back into the recesses of her mind, where her Master stood waiting rather impatiently. He stalked over to her, quick as a snake, and planted an armored hoof on her shoulder. Do not speak more than you need to. He declared, malice lacing his voice. He removed his hoof and cupped his chin with it. He is not easily defeated. Perhaps in body, but not in essence. No.. He could be recovered still.. Onyx's heart was pounding harder than ever, but not due to fear- it was excitement. Sombra had been a stallion she admired greatly, nearly worshiped in fact. You must go to the Crystal Empire at once. Find any trace of him- even the littlest piece should be enough for a resurrection. She nodded in agreement.

Thrust back into the present, the unicorn blinked but once, as was natural. "The sooner we go, the better. But I will need some supplies before we go." While the Empire itself was of a decent climate, the surrounding tundra was anything but. It would be there that she would most likely find a remnant of her King, for it would have automatically sought refuge away from its enemies. That thought brought her back to the alicorn that had been mentioned. I knew there was a princess up above, but I never saw her face. She wasn't around for the invasion. I wonder where she so conveniently disappeared to, to leave her subjects to the fury of the cult..

While she continued to focus on Heartspan with her eyes, she reached out to the world around her with her essence. She could feel the changes occurring, but paid them no mind. Interference would only put her friend in danger- she had to play the dumb pony. It seemed the densest around the stallion, however, which did bring doubt to her mind. What if she needed to do something? What if acting now was the only thing to save him in the future? His essence is receding by the second. Whatever has infected him feeds and grows stronger- like a parasite. Her brow hardened. This isn't right. That is not how his sister felt in the abyss. She gasped. What have I done? What has he taken into himself?

Onyx knew something had to be done. She could not idly sit by and let everypony suffer as they were- had she not promised to control the darkness for the benefit of others, after all? But this epidemic was severe- while she learned such an art along with her peers, it had never been a method she preferred. The mare did not delight in using fear or twisting the emotions of others to leave them as bitter, hollow shells. In truth, she didn't wish to harm anyone, but instead simply continue her studies in peace. Do not be a fool. I could sense your desire for power. You delighted in seeing your inferiors squirm when you cast such spells on them. Furiously, she shook her head, not wanting to believe it. Lie to yourself all you want, but it is true. This work is magnificent, I must confess. Definitely worthy of a spot amongst our elite. But who is the pony responsible? Her master wondered, grinning all the while. I intend to find out.

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“ well whenever you are ready, we can be about our business.” he said nonchalantly.

"Now is a good a time as ever. We must hit the market first, as I suggested before." Onyx pressed a hoof against the floor while waiting for him to slide out from their booth. She drew a single arcane rune upon the carpet, which seemed invisible at first, save for a slight discoloration in the fabric, but for a mere second it flashed to indicate activation. Smiling sweetly, the unicorn kept up appearances while the spell waited for their absence to begin its task..

((Bad? Dude, you don't do bad. You do awesome!))

Heartspan rose from the booth waiting patiently for his companion to join him. Onyx smiled sweetly at him as she joined him. A brief flicker of blue and violet magic whisked them to the center of the market. He took a brief glance about seeking for suspicious ponies or guards. His magic drifting like spider webs through the crowd. He tested here and there for foreign magic directed at the two of them.
This was not a thing he was used to but when he called up the knowledge this was the pattern he found.

His tendrils found the guards posted near the other end of the main street carefully positioned in hiding among the alley ways around the diner. He would not be visiting it again he thought as he pulled back before the three unicorn guards could notice his presence. All told a full squad of fifteen guards. By their numbers it was clear they anticipated resistance.

“ You should suppress as much of your magic as you can. We have a full squad waiting for us at the diner. It will not take long before they storm the place.” he offered “ Long ago I am told I used to shop here so I am sure we can find what we need while keeping a wide space from the guards, but unless we want to confront them we should be quick.”

he not at all concerned with the guards or whether they were attacked. He had any number of powers he could use. however his attention was diverted as a little way off from them a young mare began to cry as her boyfriend casually broke her heart. Farther on a child spilled his drink on the ground. An earth pony at a stall behind them was having money troubles. Their feelings came to him a little at a time. Their disposition, the cause of their suffering. All the while his shadow stirred ever so subtly.

Listen to them....Heartspan.........
I can teach you how to end this suffering......
In time.......for now listen....and learn what you can.....

he nodded once to himself in confirmation before turning to Onyx.

“ By the way, what exactly is it that you need?” he asked evenly.

(im glad you think so, i worry some times ^///^. Sorry this one is so short but it only by necessity ^.^)

Once she was on all fours, and there was a hint of his magic flaring to life, the rune acrivated. As she dissipated to be transported elsewhere, the symbol appeared in thick black slashes, which oozed and bubbled as it spread. From it, shadow-like tendrils shot out, one for each of the patrons whom had been infected by the stallion's curse. With them so distraught and down, the tentacles would easily find their targets and have their tips penetrate through each pony's chest. While no physical harm would come to them, the manifestations aimed to delve deep into their essences and rip free the portions that had been corrupted. Upon doing so, the tendrils would retreat back into the puddle, which would then respond upon the last one's retreat.

Finding herself in the middle of town, Onyx made sure her illusion spell was still intact. Runes, while powerful, required little to no personal magic, thus she had enough in store to keep her armor hidden and its sound suppressed. For a moment, she allowed herself a glance over a shoulder, to where the smoldering crater sat at the far edge of town. Even now, slithers of smoke snaked about from its center, and she knew beyond the street would still be tattered and torn as well. I hope this caught the Princess's attention. Celestia can't hide her wrongs any longer. These ponies have grown weak, and only through the truth will they strengthen.

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“ You should suppress as much of your magic as you can. We have a full squad waiting for us at the diner. It will not take long before they storm the place.” he offered “ Long ago I am told I used to shop here so I am sure we can find what we need while keeping a wide space from the guards, but unless we want to confront them we should be quick.”

She nodded to Heartspan, then looked down at her chest. Illusion spells did not reek of dark energy, but her unique signature surely was woven within. There was no choice. With a simple bow of her head, the spell was extinguished, along with the one that covered its noise. The armor pieces reappeared on her hide for all to see, much to her displeasure. Hopefully, the townsponies would believe her to be in league with the guards, and feel more comfortable by her presence rather than suspicious. Her attention was called back to the restaurant. I hope my rune worked. I will not let Heartspan suffer again. He had no intention of harming those foals.

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“ By the way, what exactly is it that you need?” he asked evenly.

The unicorn's eyes fell into his own. She was still concerned about his dark passenger, but until she understood more, she couldn't directly act. "We're going to need some winter gear, my friend. Where we're headed, there are no comforts, nor will the sun itself be enough sustenance. We'll need food as well." Water would be plentiful, what with all the snow. Onyx started to look around at all the stores. "Mountain gear would be best. Magic can only take you so far before you freeze to death."

“ Ah I see, cold weather gear.” He replied as he scanned the shops.

Finding food would be easy enough as many stalls provided things they could take with them but only certain tailors provided gear for cold climates. Unfortunately he did not know exactly which ones, never having traveled in such inclement conditions. He looked at each window trying to discern which one they should try. His face was placid but his ears were alert for dangers. He had no desire to be caught off guard by celestia's shock troops.

Oh heartspan.....it doesn't have to be like this......

Suddenly a mare appeared beside him. Her mane, like spun gold, hung in delicate ringlets that cascaded to cover her right eye. Her coat pale pastel green. her form shapely, and almost model like. She wore a simple black cloak it's hood draped over her back. She smiled and her eyes sparkled with mirth and yet behind this was a sadness that defied imagining. His instinct was to step back from the being but he saw that he only continued to scan the buildings. He could feel his eyes stop at a certain one.

“ There, I think that one will have the type of clothing you require.” he spoke, his tone seemingly normal but it was not he who controlled the words. “ Beyond that we can find things like food and water here among the various stalls. I have to admit I have never been anywhere that needed special equipment. It is almost daunting.”

While he spoke another part of him was keenly aware of the mare, and keenly focused on her. He could see ponies passing through her and he knew that she was not visible to anyone but he himself.

“ a cloak of emptiness only covers over the feelings, it does not really erase them.” the mare offered, her smile falling a little “ You should know that. I dwell in the deepest part of you but without actually damaging yourself those things exist and I know them all.”

He felt himself begin to walk toward the shop in a measured but brisk pace.

“ I have never been to the empire.” he heard him self say nonchalantly as he felt his head turn and a small smile grace his lips. “ I wonder what it is like.”

“ I can feel your hesitation even if you yourself cannot. I feel your fear and devour your sorrow.” the mare continued “ But I am not your enemy. I am not here to harm those you care for or to harm you.”

The mare placed a hoof at his cheek.

“ So many things have happened to you, so many hurts.” she cooed “ I know even the ones destroyed by magic.....a sad gift from my sister....but one I cherish dearly. I could repair those memories now that I have access to your sisters special talent. Repair or reversal as I know it, and I will when you are capable of handling it. However you have lost much power and knowledge and this too I can replace. You just have to open your heart to me.”

“ Who are you?” heartspan spoke with his inner voice “ Why should I trust you when you have invaded me and hold so much control over me that I can not even act on my own. “

The mare removed her hoof and curtsied in a very old manner.

“ yes a sound set of questions. Especially as I have been lapse in my manners. Allow me to introduce myself. I am AsphodelVale, future empiress of the crystarium and grand princess of equestria. “ she spoke regally “ that is if we can put aside our differences and work towards a common goal. As for trust well I can say only that I had no other option but to use you. Had I not, then I would have been trapped in the underworld for all eternity. Surely you cannot blame me for being hasty to remove myself from such an existence especially when I have aided you so much already.”

The mare looked over at Onyx and her eyes grew cold while her smile grew warmer still.

“ I only take control over you for our mutual benefit. This one already suspects something amiss and if you suddenly do this or that in surprise then she will begin to make trouble for us." she said  

Heartspan could feel himself open the door for Onyx waiting for her to enter into the shop.

“ You do not have to trust me or what I say, but the more divided we are the less likely we will be to succeed in our goals. “ The mare continued. As she turned to look at heartspan. “ You want a princess that will really listen to you and not just because she has no pony else who seeks her but because she genuinely cares for your needs and the needs of the people, well I can be such a being. You want to take away suffering, and also teach lessons to the foolish, well I can do this for you, and I can help you to do so yourself. You want to undo mistakes like your sisters death, well I can do that for you too. I know how to put things to rights and between us three we can reshape society to the way it should be. Even this black ones goals are not on the surface in opposition to our own. Yet you must know that she is not all that she seems, and she is also not alone. I can feel her keeper and if you are not smart you will be overcome in the end.”

Asphodel held out her hoof.

“ You just have to take my hand. Allow me to connect directly to you and not simply cling to your sister. Allow me to help you both. Have some faith in your new princess.” she pleaded warmly.

Heartspan considered her words carefully. Her goals were so in tune with his own that it surprised him despite his cloak of emptiness. Logically she presented a sound argument. Logically he could not refuse to aid one who sought the same things as himself, after all it had propelled him into friendship with onyx and that had turned out very well. Logically the same risk existed in walking with Onyx as was presented in walking with Asphodel. he could only dimly remember her sister, cruel and cold, and he knew this one had been her victim the same as he and winter, and this held heavy favor in his mind. He reached out and took her hoof and in the same instant he felt himself collide back into the world beyond his spirit.

He looked at onyx for a moment before speaking. His mind recollecting from the sudden shift.

“ We should take extra supplies.” he said a little too matter of factly “ In case  we run into more trouble.”

Inside himself he could feel the shift in his spirit as Asphodel merged herself into his being. The feeling of power radiating from her was immense and beyond it the frail essence of a filly snuggled deep into him. He could not sense any fear from his sister only a gentle warmth and calm as if all things were as they should be.

….she will rest easy, heartspan.....we can both watch over her.....asphodel whispered into his mind.

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“ There, I think that one will have the type of clothing you require.” he spoke, his tone seemingly normal but it was not he who controlled the words. “ Beyond that we can find things like food and water here among the various stalls. I have to admit I have never been anywhere that needed special equipment. It is almost daunting.”

She turned her head in the direction he gestured towards and nodded. My dear friend, perhaps I will find the chance to free you out in the frozen wastes. The cold can be very distracting, not to mention overpowering. With a slow mind and lethargic flesh, whatever infests you will have little chance of using you against me. But I must be weary of the magic they conceal. Her red eyes gleamed for a moment. I hate to have to even consider bringing you any harm, but there might be no choice in the matter. Whatever dwells within is a threat, which will be uprooted. The mare smiled. "Very good, then. Shall we?"

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“ I have never been to the empire.” he heard him self say nonchalantly as he felt his head turn and a small smile grace his lips. “ I wonder what it is like.”

The unicorn began a casual stroll towards the shop, being mindful of the glances that were thrown her way. All the residents and visitors were quick to notice her ever-shining armor, and she could sense the suspicion in their souls, plus see it in their eyes. However, upon their vision shifting to her horn, most shrugged, believing her to be another member of the guards. There were those who noticed how out of place her coat was, however- black was not the typical color for the elite warriors (white was). [i]Some know. But just what did they know? That she wasn't a true guard? No one could pinpoint her as the culprit that destroyed the wall. She only looked the part. I have been marked physically by the darkness. My hues are a sure sign of evil. Even with my coat more crystal-like, it is unnatural.

"The Empire itself is magnificent- a true world wonder." Onyx stated as she hastened a bit, growing more uncomfortable by the minute. It was only a matter of time before somepony alerted a real soldier of her presence. "Beautiful, really. The buildings stretch towards the sky and are made of crystal, all of such wondrous hues. The city is large, sections arranged neatly, all of its roads eventually lead to the castle at the center." She had only seen the city twice- once, when her father had first brought her there, and the second time when she fled it. "It will be grand to see it again.." she declared dreamily. The risk will be worth it. If not for my own pleasure, then his own.

Onyx bowed her head in thanks as Heartspan opened the door for her, which she quickly passed through. The store itself was a quaint little thing, filled to the brim with supplies for snow adventuring. The walls were lined with skis and snowboards for the more daring, while racks were filled with plush, warm coats and scarfs for the more practical pony. There were even displays of winter boots, items that resembled tennis rackets, used to prevent one from sinking into the snow they tread upon, and even tents.

The unicorn looked back to the satchel at her side, which dangled silently against her armor. I don't have many bits to my name. Mentally, she sighed. So use your magic instead. There he was again, her dark conscience. He sniggered beneath his hood, knowing he had struck a nerve. It is very beneficial, and your goal is great. You must do whatever it takes to retrieve the King's part. Her head throbbed with anger. I know. As much as I don't want to, I might have no other choice. A sinking sensation stirred in her stomach. These items are a bit pricy... she noticed, taking the tag of a fuzzy white coat in her hoof. You can always repay the clerk later. Once he is restored to life, you will be showered in gems. He licked his lips. You helped him take the throne. That in itself should have been rewarded. You are overdo.

Onyx shook her head. She never wanted a part in that overthrow. Or..had she? The attack had initiated so fast and without warning. The mare had studied her heart out, learning all of the secrets of the darkness..for what? Was it all in preparation for that day? As she reflected on the thought, she wound up plopping onto her rump, befuddled. I..I only wanted to show my power. To prove to you and everyone else- especially him- what I could do. The screams of many pierced her ears just then- a reminder of the first sounds of the infiltration. While she did not see what was going on, she could feel the fear, the sorrow, the suffering. And you liked it, didn't you? The mare wanted to deny it. She truly wished to believe it wasn't true. It felt..empowering.

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“ We should take extra supplies.” he said a little too matter of factly “ In case we run into more trouble.”

His voice snapped her back. Blinking a few times, Onyx raised back onto all fours and nodded, yet again. Words were failing her as of late, especially thanks to the recent epiphany. "You're right. Too much is better than too little." With that declared, she conjured her levitation spell and fixed it to the black coat. As it hovered from its hangar, it began to follow the unicorn as she made her rounds around the store. A scarf of white was added to the spell, as were a pair of matching waterproof boots, to which a pair of rackets could be attached, which she had follow as well. Goggles were found last, which she figured would benefit her vision should a blizzard fall upon them.

A shrinking spell should suffice for all this. She thought as she stepped towards the counter. Now..to deal with the clerk..

Heartspan followed Onyx as if by instinct alone. Her words lost in the transformation happening within him. Memories of powers he had forgotten burned into life. Spells, formulas, constructs he had never known took their place as well. His vision warped allowing him to see the restless spirits of canterlot. Foul creatures of the dark suddenly became readily visible in his second sight. His soul became barren as his knowledge forged his power into a fine blade. No longer rough and uncontrolled it flowed now with grace and ease.

He levitated various articles of clothing and gear from the racks as they walked. Asphodel carefully counseling him on each piece through a gentle telepathic link. Everything he picked was either white, pale blue, or light gray.

i suggest we acquire some armor in addition to this......
perhaps a guards armor might serve you well......

He could feel his shadow quaver in delight at the prospect of such a venture. He could not argue the necessity of such a thing. They had already made themselves an enemy of the state. He even more so in allying with a true insurgent.

...if you can provide it without our finding trouble then make it so.

His reply was devoid of emotional content, a simple command issued from logic. Yet the moment he spoke it, bright gold armor rose from the confines of his own shadow. Hidden from the view of the clerk by both onyx and a few racks of thick winter coats , he watched as it shrank to a much more portable size. He levitated the pieces easily finding room in his saddle bags for the diminutive armor plates. After which he quickly caught up to Onyx. he became her shadow in this way following her toward the counter wordlessly.

Onyx smirked at the clerk behind the counter, whom was preoccupied with pricing a few stray scarfs. He was a young stallion of a pale gray coat and brown mane, with a pair of black goggles mounted on his forehead, and a tie around his neck. She waited patiently for him to finish and face her, utilizing the spare time to draw a series of runes into the carpet of the store. Unlike in the restaurant, as she placed her mark, it appeared immediately- it was necessary for them to activate as soon as possible. When the line of archaic symbols was complete and their energy released, their essence flooded to every corner of the shop, creating a magical sensory nullification barrier of sorts. No one outside would be capable of sensing so much as the slightest of magical disturbances so long as they remained intact.

"Oh, sorry there miss, I didn't hear you approach." The clerk apologized. His blue eyes widened upon finally taking in his customer for the first time. His wince made Onyx's smirk spread. "Er, um, may I..help..you?" He leaned to one side to glance at the objects that hovered behind the mare. In his head, he counted up the prices of all the tags, but he took his sweet time doing so. It was quite evident that he was nervous, what with his shivering pelt and the sweat that dotted his brow. The smell of fear was rich upon him. "That'll be.." His eyes met her red ones. "Two hundred.." He felt himself falling into her slitted pupils, his mind numbing as it detached from his flesh.

The stallion found himself surrounded by darkness. He squinted, hoping to find a source of light, but none could be spotted. Panicked, he began to run forward, his only company within the realm being that of the clopping of his hooves. On and on he ran, but no destination was met. He wound up tiring out before long, his stamina diminished. Collapsing, the clerk heaved in deep and rapid breaths, the goggles on his head fogging from the heat his body gave off, while his tie was saturated in sweat. "Where am I?" He cried out into the nothingness. "Can anyone hear me?! Hello?! Please help!"

Back before the counter, Onyx had used the counter top to fold all of her new merchandise, then rounded to where the register was to get herself a bag. As she levitated the items into it, her eyes scanned past the stallion's shoulder and to her friend. She had sensed him using magic of his own, and was even more thankful of her knowledge of runes, otherwise both of their acts would have brought the guards down upon them. The mare wanted to question him, but knew not to invoke the beast within, thus she continued to play coy and shrank the shopping bag along with its items, then had it moved into her satchel. Once settled, her magic was dismissed, and she returned to the front of the counter, in order to remove the runes.

"Well then, it looks like we're ready." She declared with a grin. But then, she realized her little spell was still in full swing. "Lets be on our way." The unicorn wasted no time in taking the lead and rushing them towards the door. When she pushed it open with a hoof and held it for Heartspan, Onyx glanced back to the clerk. Narrowing her eyes, she shot off a quick burst of magic to the direct center of his forehead, in order to remove the curse from him. He would remember nothing of their meeting, and would not recover until both she and her friend were well away from the store..

Heartspan waited patiently as Onyx gathered her things. Her spells, her magic, they clung like cobwebs to every surface, but most especially to the clerk. They shimmered in heart's sight as they, like all spell patterns, gave form to the raw power running through them. He studied the spells briefly, but he quite as he noticed Onyx looking at him as she worked at shrinking and packing away her gear. He knew he had nothing to be concerned over, and so the loss of knowledge was not so great a thing.

All the while a steady trickle of despair coursed into him pulled from the very air like condensation. Once inside it coursed as a steady stream into Asphodel's maw. It was as if she could not get enough of it. In this the spell wrapped tightly about the clerk was an easy one to figure out. He wondered as he returned Onyx's gaze if she could feel it too. If Onyx could feel Asphodel feeding.

"Well then, it looks like we're ready." ….."Lets be on our way."

Onyx grinned as her voice interrupted his thoughts. He nodded agreement as she whisked past him. He passed through the door she held for him his eyes following her gaze as it returned to the clerk. He watched the pulse of magic as it rushed from her horn to the center of the clerks forehead. As it connected Asphodel ceased her feeding.

So, that is how it works for us too?..... he asked in the pit of his heart.

There was a pause before Asphodel answered.

….more or less.
…..I use your power to shield you from what you feel.
…..i feed on these feelings.....and grow more strong.
….I grant that strength to you.
…..for now we are symbiotic.....but it will not always be this way.

She paused for another moment before continuing.

…..It will not always be exactly like this.
…..We will not remain symbiotic forever.
…..For now it is best for both of us.

He nodded and turned to the passing crowd keeping an eye out for guards. He could see the web cast by the unicorn guards. It drifted through the crowd here and there. It probed and prodded those who came too close. Though the casters were not visible, he knew they would be within striking distance.
Clearly they had abandoned their over-watch of the diner and had expanded their circle to include the entire high street. This meant their numbers would be proportionately greater.

They would have to be more than cautious, to both avoid the tendrils of magic as well as not to appear obvious in doing so. Of course they had a much better option than simply walking out of the place. He tried to form a light telepathic link with onyx.

...I believe our guard friends have decided to spread their net much wider.

He whispered into her mind as he presented an image of their magical net as he saw it. For her part Asphodel remained silent but he could feel her delve deeper into hiding masked by the sleeping essence of his winterdream. Silent but on the defensive, like a cobra ready to strike at the slightest thing.

….we should teleport someplace and move from there.

He added as he tried harder to spot the casters without being obvious.

Onyx, being on her guard, found herself inspecting every inch of the busy road the moment she set hoof outdoors. Her red eyes glared this way and that, examining over the residents and visitors, tourists and clerk, young and old alike. But what she fixed on most were the stallions and mares alike whom were garnished in classic golden armor, with their helmets sprouting blue brush-like material from the top. Unicorns and Pegasi were amongst their species, seeing as simple Earth Ponies, while some might be strong, they lacked any other skill needed to protect the whimsical city. They've upped their security. No doubt some ponies are growing concerned and panicked for their well-being. Her sights rolled down the street, to the distant smoldering. I can smell their fear. I can feel it as well. It's.. Intoxicating..

Only when Heartspan connected with her mentally did she acknowledge her more proximal surroundings again. He spoke of the unicorns' network of sensory spells, and them having fanned the essence outward. She squinted, her coat shined, and the mare's vision momentarily shifted. The world became drained of color, becoming shades in place of hues. As she focused, bright blue shimmers started to appear as streams, which stemmed off from the guards and fluently moved about like water. From this perspective, not only could Onyx see the nets they conjured, but the strings revealed each guard's whereabouts. Your focus has never wavered, I see. Complimented her Master's avatar. Ssstill asss sharp as ever. Good. You're going to need all of your witsss about you when we cross bordersss..

When her friend's vision of the nets crossed with her own, the unicorn flinched and shook her head, ridding both at the same time. Nodding her head in agreement to his suggestion of high-tailing it, the mare gestured for him to follow her with a hoof. Quite calmly, she led the way down a side street, one that was still too large to be considered an alley, but less populated either way. She spotted an abandoned cart and stepped behind it, then began to gradually turn in a circle while drawing symbols on the cobblestone. These, Heartspan would recognize- they were her teleportation runes she first used to enter the city. Unlike magic, once they were used, their essence would be permanently extinguished, leaving no trace from their birth to death.

"I remember vividly what the Empire looks like. This shouldn't take more than a moment." Onyx claimed as she waited for him to enter the circle. "I'll send us into the alcoves first. That way, we can prepare for our journey outside the city and to the harsh environment beyond." She licked her lips. "We still need sustenance. You might have to be the one to procure it." Her eyes lowered a bit, while the crystal appearance dulled on her coat. "They will not welcome me as I am. But I want to reserve as much magic as possible for the tundra- we're going to need it."

Heartspan followed at her gesture though he kept on the look out. Here an there he would see an armor clad figure as they crossed the market and headed out into a side street. He caught just a glimpse of them really. However, it was not the visible ones in armor that had him searching, it was the hidden guards, those who dressed in plain clothes and did the business of the princesses in secret.

The pair paused beside an abandoned cart where Onyx proceeded to draw the elaborate pattern that would whisk them away in the blink of an eye. He watched the stallions and mares who populated the side street here and there. None of them seemed of much interest at least not at first. His glance passed over a young couple nearly a block away.

At first they seemed of no importance but it was not long before the couple paused at an outside cafe.  They took their seats and as they did heartspan's eyes met with the eyes of the stallion who offered a short nod. This was followed by the mare turning to offer heartspan a wide and knowing grin. Heartspan's first thought was to glance over at Onyx but he knew her movements would seem like nothing special to the casual observer. He returned the nod as and offered a small smile of his own. Perhaps he was being a little too observant he thought to himself.

"I remember vividly what the Empire looks like. This shouldn't take more than a moment."

his friends voice brought his attention back to the task at hand. He turned to look at her and her completed spell.

"I'll send us into the alcoves first. That way, we can prepare for our journey outside the city and to the harsh environment beyond."

She continued speaking as he stepped into the circle of magic. He could tell by the feel of it that the spell was designed to operate without leaving a trace of it's existence. For this he was glad. Their passage would not be traceable.

"We still need sustenance. You might have to be the one to procure it."

He listened as she continued to speak however his gaze scanned the street for any other ponies out of the ordinary.

“ yes, of course.” he replied as he turned his gaze once more to the couple who seemed to be about their own business.

 "They will not welcome me as I am. But I want to reserve as much magic as possible for the tundra- we're going to need it."

he turned to look Onyx. He knew little of the empire and only a little of his friend. He had no doubt that she would be unwelcome considering the history of the place, and her ties to it. He felt his passenger stirring as he considered the likely hood of a struggle to come.

“ I will keep that in mind Onyx.” he replied “ gathering food should only be a small issue. Besides I procured a set of guards armor for just such occasions.”

He did not mention his misgivings about the couple, it would do little to aid them, and he did not want to distract his companion without real evidence. Besides, he had not noticed anything else out of the ordinary. If her spell worked as designed then their trail would end here whether they were witnessed or not.

The real work would begin once they reached the empire. He could feel their destiny was close at hand. The summation of their efforts, the tides of change were coming swiftly.