Re-write
Chapter 1: The smell of Ink.
Disclamier: I dont own anything pony related, the characters InkHeart, Darkseed And HayFlower are completely fan made ponies. This story is non-cannon.
duh.
Choas. All of Equestria had once again become pure choas. Day and night exchanged randomly, cotton candy clouds flooded rivers with chocolate milk. Morphed animals roamed free and trampled whatever was in thire way.
The ground changed texture and from solid to luiqid without warning. A Lone mare stood on a hilltop watching the choas unfold.
"Its all my fault" she whisperd lightly to herself.
She was a young mare, with a white coat, now dirty, stained with ink. Her mane was a pale pink color, and her tail had a lone blue streak through it. One of her eyes was the same color of blue, but shimmering with tears. On her forhead was a lone horn, parting her mane to fall to the side of her face.
On her flank was her cutie mark, a heart, one part red the other black as ink. The tip of the heart seemed to drip down, with a dark black drop of ink, as if ever about to fall.
She kneeled down at the sight of this tragic choas. It had indeed been sparked by her actions. Shame was all she felt at this moment, but a dark laughter was all she could here.
She thought back to how this had all began...
Princess celestia had been enjoying a quite evening with a book. It was rare that she got a break from her royal duties, after banishing Luna to the moon her responsiblity had doubled.
It was on this night, when she was finally able to relaxe, that screams broke out through canterlot. Shocked, the princess lept to her hooves and rushed to her window, pushing it open and looking over the balcony to the city below.
Monsters were rushing through the streets, but these were no ordinary beasts. These were creatures with the heads of one animal, and the bodies of another. Disprooirtionat and oddly colored.
They looked like the monsters of a childs mind. Celestia frowned, watching her gaurds trying to battle such monsters. Thire magic and blades sliced through them, but the bodies slid back into place like they were liquid,before becomming solid again.
She lifted her head, there was a certain smell to thire fulid...so familiar. She looked back down at the beasts" Its ink..." She whispred to herself.
She knew what she had to do, Lifting her wings up she took flight from the safety of her balcony and moved high above the now panicked city of canterlot. High above her castle, she closed her eyes and let out a soft breath. Her horn glew with a soft light, that suddenly became brighter.
The light grew so bright that the ponies below hid thire faces. The monsters began to scream, as if in pain, and then as suddenly as they appeard, they began to vanish. One by one they burst like bubbles spilling ink onto the ground were they had once stood.
The ponies cheered as she desended, landing in the streets of canterlot to examine the damage. Her gaurds came rushing up to her, she turned to her captain with a frown" What happned?"
The colt bowed lightly" Princess...we are not entierly sure. One moment everything is quite, then there was a flash of light in the distance. A few moments later, these monsters appeard. They came from this direction...we were just about to investigate."
The princess glanced in the direction they had pointed out. There was a clear ink stain down the road. She followed it her loyal gaurds right behind her.
The ink stain lead them to a home on the edge of the city. It had been completetly destroyed in the attack, but it was the only home damaged.
Ink coverd almost every inch of the rubble. The princess turned to her gaurds" Search it."
They obeyed, rushing to the home. They pulled beam after beam of what remained of the home. It seemed like forever before they found anything. A hoof was sticking out from under the rubble. The gaurds acted quickly to pull it away, only to reveal a somber sight.
Two ponies laid ontop of eachother in a protective stance, The colt over the mare who had thrown herself over another object, that she was clinging to her chest. It was obvious instantly that the two were crushed to death, thire blood mixed with the ink.
Celestia bowed her head lightly to the sight. She had hoped no one had been harmed in the attack. Losing her subjects was the last thing she ever wanted.
Suddenly, the silence was intrupted by movement beneath the bodies. The gaurds exchanged looks before pulling the couple apart to reveal what they had been protecting. Underneath them was a young foal, with a soft white coat and light pink hair. She was coverd head to hoof in ink and blood. She looked up at them with wide, horrified blue eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I..I didnt mean to...it-it wasnt- I.."
The princess walked foward" Shh, its ok now little one. Your safe.."
The young fillie backed away, limping slightly" You-But I...I made them..." She squeaked out looking around shaking" I made them come out...i didnt mean to, and mom and dad...Mom and Dad..." She turned and began to run. The gaurds easily cut her off from her escape route" easy there"
"just keep calm"
By now a small crowd had gatherd. The princess glanced around and walked foward picking up the young foal with her magic. "Captain, take care of this and then meet me in my study" She said and took flight with the struggling foal.
She landed on her balcony placing the foal gently on the ground before grabbing a towle with her magic and starting to wipe her face" I need you to keep calm, and explaine to me what happned" She said as softly as she could. She did not want to scare the young one away.
She sat still, tears flowing freely" I can make monsters...Princess."
Celestia paused in her cleaning before wiping the young ones flank. At first it appeard blank, but the words the fillie spoke next sent a bright spark across her flank" I draw monsters, and they come to life..." She whispired it. Celestia stared down at the cutie mark. It was a heart, one half blood red, the other ink black, and the ink dripped off the tip of the heart, never to fall.
She glanced away from the foal, to the sky outside in deep thought. This little ones powers were dangerous...if an accident like this happned again more could be hurt. But she certainly couldnt punish a foal so young for something out of her control.
She kneeled down and smiled at her" My dear, what is your name?"
She sniffled lightly before speaking" InkHeart...princess." she said and bowed her head lightly. Clesita smiled at her" From today on my dear, youll be living at the castle with me. Im going to find you the best magic teachers. I promise..." she put her hoof on the young filles back gently" I'll do everything in my power to keep this from happing again. "
Inkheart nodded lightly, but fear was still in her eyes. That fear would never leave her.
For the rest of her life, InkHeart would be fearfull of her own magic, and never be able to rest.
_
A few years had passed and InkHeart sat alone in her room at the castle. She kept herself locked away most of the day, until it was time to study with her teachers.
Celestia often would come to check in on the young mare, but never had time to teach her. She had found a very special apprentice just a few months after the accident, Twilight Sparkle.
Ink Heart often saw this purple pony around the castle, her magic was strong, and she was a fast learner. She was the apple of all the teachers eyes.
Ink Hearts magic was also strong, but she could not control it. No matter how many books she read, or how many lectures she attended, her magic seemed to have a mind of its own.
Ontop of that, there was a growing desire within her. She wanted to draw. She wanted to create creatures, not just draw landscape or ponies like a normal artists might...No, she wanted to draw monsters.
When she felt this urge rise in her, she would lock herself in her room, ignoring all summons. After two or three days, the princess would come to sooth her.
Today was such a day, or so Ink Heart thought. She had been locked away for at least four days, the princess was the only one who could help her...so why had she not come?
Instead, standing outside her window, on the balcony was some strange colt. He had been calling her by name for a while now, but she refused to answer him.
He was around her age, with a dark brown coat and a long black mane. He parted it to one side covering his right eye. His eyes were a deep blue and seemed cold to her. He was a pegasus pony from what she could tell. She could see the little cutie mark on his flank as he paced the balcony, it was a lone seed, with one black stalk comming from it and a lone black leaf on the stalk.
She found his cutie mark strange. What on earth was his talent with a cutie mark like that? Dying grass?
She sighed as he knocked on the glass one more time" Open up! Your Ink Heart right? Princess Celestia sent me"
Ink Heart snorted and walked over to her bed. She didnt have time to listen to this colt, She had to keep her focus. The urge to draw was strong, so strong she could smell ink all around here although there was none around.
The smell of Ink...
Suddenly her mind began to race, as did her heart. She saw flashes of that horrible night. Drawing by the fire place. All she wanted was to show her parents the creatures she had created. But when she tried she felt a terrible pain in her horn. The next thing she knew, a light and burst forth from her horn, and into the pictures she had drawn.
Horror filled her when she watched her creations reach out of the page and towards her...
"INKHEART"
Her flash back was intrupted by the voice of Princess Celestia. She spun around wide eyed to see the princess standing there looking rather agrivated.
She approched and Ink Heart bowed polietly, shaking" Princess Celestia...im so glad your here. Please...cast your spell agian..."
"Not this time"
Ink Heart looked up at her wide eyed" w-what? W-why not? Please! You have to"
The princess leaned down, thats when Ink Heart noticed the colt next to her. He nodded towards her but said nothing. When the princess spoke Ink Heart turned her attention back to her.
"Ink Heart, My spell is only a temporary fix... You know as well as i do that the effects were getting weaker." She looked over at the colt" Thats why i brought a very special pony for you to meet. This, is Dark seed."
He bowed his head polietly but said nothing again. Celestia countined" From to day on, he will be by your side, night and day"
Ink Heart glanced at him" But why?"
Celestia heistated, looking away for a moment before speaking" Because he is a very special pony...and he can help you better than i can. Ill explaine more later...But right now i have to get ready for the summer sol celebration...Tonights a very sepcial night."
She turned and left out the now open balcony window.
Dark Seed watched her go then looked over at Ink Heart" Its nice to finally meet you...I heard a lot about you"
She frowned at him and looked at her hooves" Yea...i-" She suddenly realized something. She wasnt thinking about drawing at all. She turned to look at him again. He stood staring strait into her eyes without any hint of shyness.
Taken back by his direct gaze she looked away coughing" i uh...dont understand how your supposed to help me."
He snorted lightly" The princess left that up for me to explaine...if i wanted to. But to be honest i dont like to talk about my...Gift."
He walked up to her" Just know this...when your with me, your dark thoughts will vanish ok?"
She looked at him. He was obviously a pegusas pony, he had no horn. How could he preform magic? whatever his gift was it couldnt be magic...she had been sure the only thing that could cure her was magic.
She smiled brightly and stood up strait"...Its Nice to meet you Dark Seed...i have no idea why but...i feel much better."
He smiled back at her" Thats what i was hoping youd say. So then...What would you like to do?"
" Well, I know theres a pony having a birthday party today. I dont have a lot of friends but i did get invited because she has a class with me. Her name is moon dancer."
He nodded" Well then...lets go." he said and offerd his hoof. She smiled lightly and took it" sure..."
The party was going well, there was pleanty of ponies there and they were all very excited to see Ink Heart attending. She had been locking herself away for so long that they had begun to think she disliked them.
When Ink Heart explained it as being "shy" they forgot all about it and began to treat her like part of thire herd right away. She, who had always felt outcasted, suddenly felt right at home.
She was however disapointed to see that Twilight sparkle had not come. To be honest she had secretly been a little jelous of Twilight, who always got the princess full attention. She had wanted to get to know her more and try to put that behind her.
As she was thinking on this, she suddenly felt somone bump into her flank. She turned around to see a young mare who was so busy loding her plate full of food she didnt seem to notice Ink Heart.
She smiled at her" Sorry wasnt paying attention."
The mare had a light blonde coat, with hair the color of golden wheat. Her eyes were a chocolate brown and her cutie mark was that of a simple pink petaled flower. The stems came down in a cross fasion, and the flower sat ontop of the stim with a large white circle for the middle.
" My names Hay Flower, im kinda new in canterlot"
Ink Heart smiled at her and turned to face her fully" Im Ink heart"
"well its nice to meet you" She said and held out her hoof. Ink Heart shook her hoof polietly" Thats a lot of food" she commented, noting that the pony was rather thin framed despite all the sweets she seemed to be ready to devour.
Hay flower chuckled" Well i really love snacks...food is my passion. One day im going to be the top food critic in all of canterlot" she teased but then laughed" but then again...im not to picky so..."
Ink Heart laughed with her as Dark Seed approched with a drink in hand for her. He glanced at Hay flower and blinked. Ink Heart glanced at him they at hay flower who was staring back at him confused.
Ink Heart frowned at him giving him a slight nudge" Dark seed...your staring"
He blinked and backed up a step clearing his throat" Im sorry. I dont know what came over me..."
Hay Flower smiled brightly at him" Oh dont worry about it. Actually that happens a lot."
He laughed" Yes, its just, your so happy"
She tilted her head to the side in thought. She then laughed" geez thats one i have not heard before."
Ink Heart laughed with her" Are you flirting Dark Seed?"
He shook his head" N-no of course not. I would never..."
The night would go on like this, the three of them laughing and talking together like they had been friends thire whole life.
Ink Heart had no idea that these two would become her best and only friends in her whole life.
She had no idea the dark link between the three of them, or how much the three of them needed eachother.
Another year had passed since the day the three of them meet. Together they watched the historic events of equestria unfold.
Ink Heart realized why Twilight sparkle had been so important to the princess, after the defeat of nightmare moon.
She welcomed home Princess Luna along with her friends and even attended the grand galloping galla. What a disaster that was.
But the three of them had never seen anything like what was happing now. Out of the blue one day, Equestria was suddenly thrust into chaos.
Cotton candy clouds, chocolate rain. Rock candy formed in the streets and animals became monsters. The ground beneath thire hooves changed texture constantly and everypony was acting like somepony elese.
Ink Heart huddled in the castle with her friends in fear. At the moment the castle was the only place untouched by the choas, mostly because the princess was protecting it with her magic.
Dark seed paced the room" Ok we need to keep calm and try to stay out of the way. If anyone can save us its Twilight Sparkle and her friends..."
He glanced out the window towards the gardens and frowned. He had seen the young ponies enter the maze hours ago...what was taking so long?
Hay Flower walked over to the window with a frown" If they cant stop that creature...what will happen?"
Dark Seed looked down at her" Dont think like that, of course they will stop him."
Ink Heart walked over to see as well, just intime to see one of the ponies fly from the maze. The maze vanished before them into a deep crater, where the other ponies stood with discord.
Dark Seed frowned" What happned...did they find the elements of harmony?"
But after a moment it became clear, as Discord vanished leaving the bickering ponies were they where Ink Heart stomped her hoof" They failed! quick we must go tell the princess"
Dark Seed looked over" Im sure that she knows. We should stay here were its safe. If anything happened to you two i just...I dont think id be able to stand it."
Hay Flower nuzzled him" I know your worried but we cant just sit here."
Dark seed walked over to the door and sat infront of it" Yes we can. Your both staying here..the princess wanted me to protect you Ink Heart, thats why she brought us together, and Hay Flower your my dear friend. Even if all Equestria burns...we are staying right here"
The two mares exchanged looks. They could tell Dark Seed meant his words. Defeated the two mares went to oppisite sides of the room to wait and hope that this choas came to an end.
Ink Heart, Dark Seed and Hay flower stood in the crowd, watching the five mares walk up the hallway to the princess. In the end they had saved everpony.
Ink Heart smiled at Dark seed" This is fantastic. I cant believe Twilight sparkle had such a destiny. I feel so silly for my jelousy when i was younger"
Dark Seed smiled down at her and nudged her lightly" Maybe you can finally speak to her at the after party"
Hay Flower stomped her hooves excited" Yea! theres going to be a lot of food!"
Ink Heart looked over at her" Is that all you can think about is the food? We were all just huddled in terror a few hours ago"
She giggled and shrugged" well being scared makes me hungry. "
The three of them laughed together as the cermony ended. They went to the party but Ink Heart was unable to approch Twilight and her friends, who were constantly surronded at the party by gratefull ponies.
She gave up and went to the food table to spend time with her good friends for the rest of the night.
Another year passed and the next desaster approched. Ink Heart and her friends were lucky enough to be invited to the canterlot wedding. Ink Heart knew that Shinning Armor was Twilight Sparkles brother, what confused her was that Twilight did not seem to be there.
She stood near the back of the room with Dark Seed and Hay flower, all three dressed in thire best. They watched the bride walk down the hallway, up to the alter.
Hay flower sighed" Isnt it romatic? shes so lovely..."
Ink Heart smiled at her" Maybe if you catch the boquet, youll be next" She teased lightly.
Hay flower looked up" Why me? You catch it!"
"No way!"
Dark Seed nudged them both" Somethings wrong...its Twilight."
What happned next had them all staring in supirse. The princess was a fake! The real princess came with twilight, and the fake revealed herself as the changling queen.
Whe Princess celestia tried to attack, she was Defeated to everyponys suprise and dismay. Twilight and her friends rushed out of the room leaving the princess and the Queen behind. The party guests panicked as the sheild around the city failed and fell. Changlings fell from the sky and into the city below. Dark seed frowned and pushed the two mares towards the door" We have to try and get out of here."
Ink Heart sturggled" But- Princess Celestia is in Danger!"
Hay Flower pushed too" If princess Celestia cant stop her, How could we?"
But the door was blocked by changlings who pushed the group back inside. No one was going to leave this room. Huddled together with the other ponies, they watched in horror as the changlings lifted poor princess celesita into a horrible cocoon. They trapped Princess Candice with a similar green substance, while shinning armor stood in a daze.
Ink Heart looked over at hay flower who was huddled against her" Dont worry, Twilight and her friends went to get the elements of Harmony...Im sure that will defeat that creature and set things right"
"I dont think so" Said dark seed nodding towards the door. Twilight and her friends were being escorted back inside, defeated, and without the Elements of Harmony.
Ink Heart lowerd her head" I..cant believe it...what now?"
Dark seed pulled his wings over the two mares" Just stay close to me..."
In The end it was not the Elements of Harmony that defeated the Changling Queen, but the love between two very powerfull Unicorns.
Another year had passed after these events, but every now and then Ink Heart would think about how such a thing was possible. Was love that powerfull?
It didnt matter, today she needed cheering up. Today was her birthday, and the anniversery of her parents tragic end. Every time this date came around, Dark Seed stuck to her like glue, however on this particular day, Dark Seed had been called away by the Princess.
It was so strange being by herself, But she had arranged a picnic with Hay Flower in ther canterlot Gardens, underneath the statues.
She grabbed her picnic basket, filled with Hay Flowers favorite treats, and began to head that way.
No matter how hard she tried, thoughts of that night filled her mind. It was as if Dark Seed being gone had brought back all of her sadness and shame.
She tried to shake it off as she enterd the garden.
She saw Hay Flower waiting for her ontop of a blanket near some of the statues. She smiled when she saw ink Heart approch" Whatever you have in that basket, it smells awesome!"
Ink Heart winked at her as she sat down on the blanket" All your favorite treats."
She watched as Hay Flower began to set the plates, excited to enjoy food in the beauty of the garden. Ink Heart then took a look around at the statues, her eyes paused on a particular one nearby. The statue of Discord stood, his face frozen in what was certainly fear.
Hay Flower looked up at her, then followed her gaze to the statue" Oh right, they put him back out here didnt they? Well...I think the princess felt a little sorry for him and wanted him to at least have something pretty to look at."
Ink Heart frowned and looked away" well it serves him right, turning this place upside down like he did...still...It must be awful to be turned to stone."
Hay Flower looked up" well by the look on his face it sure wasnt pleasant!" she commented before putting the food on the plate" Oh your brought Daisys! i LOVE daisys!"
Ink Heart laughed lightly" I know you do. Seeing you really cheers me up...espically on today"
Hay flower smiled" Its your birthday. You should be happy! we should be celebrating!" Ink Heart shook her head" No...we should be mourning."
Hay Flower looked down smile fading" Oh right...your parents. Im sorry i didnt mean to suggest-"
Ink Heart put her hoof up to stop her" Its alright my friend. You are only trying to cheer me up. But i just feel like a party would be inapropriate."
The two began to eat after that, sitting in a heavy silence. In a way they were mourning.
Ink Heart felt heavy,like there was a weight on her chest. She had not felt this way in years...
She had a large urge suddenly. An urge to draw this feeling, give it form. She shook her head roughly to try and put the idea out.
:But why?:
She looked up lightly. She knew why, if she did, it could happen again. She could put all of canterlot in danger.
:Is it because you are afraid? or because they are afraid?:
She glanced down at her plate. The thought had never crossed her mind before! were her friends afraid of her? of that power she had? Could they secretly, somewhere in thire hearts, fear her?
No that couldnt be true.
She looked up at Hay Flower who was munching away. Hay Flower looked back at her and smiled brightly at her.
Ink Heart felt herself sink, for some reason, she could not see her dear friend in the same light as before. That one, inncoent thought, had cast a new light on everything.
Ink Heart began to feel her heart race. She looked away from Hay flower, she had to try and calm down. It wasnt fair to Hay Flower to think that way, Or Dark Seed.
:But isnt he just by your side, because the princess asked him to be?:
She put a hoof up to her chest, it felt like she had been stabbed! that thought...she had never thought it so loudly before! always in the back of her mind she thought it, but she never believed it.
: Hes there to watch you, to keep an eye on you for the princess. Even Celestia fears you.:
She stood up and backed away from the blanket" Thats not true...stop it."
Hay Flower frowned and stood up" Whats the matter Ink Heart?"
: Look, shes so worried already. She is afraid of you. Afraid youll loose control again. They arnt really your friends, they just want to keep watch on you:
She stomped her hooves. These are not her thoughts! they could not be, the voice wasnt even her voice! this smooth and almost amused voice was not hers!
"Shut up! I dont want to hear that! Just stop it!"
:Come now, theres no Reason to be upset, its just the truth.:
Hay Flower walked to her and put a hoof over the other mares shoulder" Ink Heart, lets go find Dark Seed ok?"
Ink Heart pulled away from Hay flower wide eyed" No- No you stay away from me. You and him both...I mean it." She said breathing heavy.
It was all true, there in her dear friends eyes, was fear. Hay Flower looked at her, wide eyed and fearfull. Everything the voice said was true!
She heard laughter all around her, and bitter tears streamed down her cheeks. She took off running, out of the garden and into town. Hay flower despretly tried to keep up with her, But Ink Heart was running as if being chased by some sort of monster.
No matter how hard Ink Heart ran, the laughter seemed to follow her, until finally she stopped running, In the dead middle of the street.
Ponies walked past her without a second glance as she stood, staring down at the ground panting. Tears and sweat fell down her face but thats not what she smelt. She could smell ink, it filled her nose." I...i have to...draw" She said softly and began to walk slowly towards a Ink and quill shop. She looked up, her eyes strange, at the shop entrance. Part of her was screaming for her to turn around, but the other part was screaming louder.
She stepped into the shop, shaking, and walked to the counter looking at the shop keeper" Bring me scrolls, Ink bottles and quills..a lot of them...And quickly."
The colt nodded and walked away for a moment. She however suddenly felt diffrent. The voice, the voice was gone, and she felt calm. She felt like all her fear and pain had suddenly been sucked from her heart.
She turned around to see Dark Seed in the door way, staring darkly at her. He approched her slowly" Ink Heart. Your going to cancel that order right?"
She looked up at him before smiling weakly" yes...oh Dark seed..." she said softly before falling to her knees and laying her head at his hooves" Im so glad your here...im so tired."
He looked down at her, his face serious, before reaching down with a hoove and stroking her head gently" There there. Its alight..i shouldnt have left you alone. The princess and i had business...but i shouldnt have left you alone. Im so sorry Ink Heart."
Hay Flower trotted in panting" You found her...thank Celestia"
He looked over his shoulder at her" No..thank you. If you had not come to get me...well..." He looked down at the now sleeping Ink Heart. He kneeled down beside her and nuzzled her lightly" Hay Flower. Tell me everything that happned...i want every detail"
Hay Flower walked over" Yes..of course."
_
Back in the garden, the lonely statue of Discord stood, gazing over the abandoned picnic. The spirit inside stirred and laughed, never having dreamed to have found another way to escape so soon. But there it had come, trotting into the garden like a gift from fate itself.
This time would be diffrent, with this new toy, he could double the choatic fun. The plan spun to life in his head, as his words echoed through Ink Hearts mind. It would take a while to make it happen...But discord had all the time in Equestria to bring his plan together.
And when he did break free...Revenge would become his.
_
End of chapter one.