Chapter 11: Lust

Hope stepped off of the train and stared at the Crystal Empire. The city was so shiny that it almost made her eyes burn.

Ditzy stepped up beside Hope and said, "I think it's beautiful too."

"I think we should have visited this place sooner," Hope said, "Seriously, how have we never gone on vacation here?"

Zach struggled to get off the train with a heavy pack on his back, "We don't because my entire body feels like it's on fire every time I go through that barrier." Zach put down the pile of bags and began to rummage through them.

The rest of hope's friends and their parents stepped off the train. Rainbow dash looked over at Zach and asked, "What's up with him?"

Zach pulled his head out of the bags, a bottle in his mouth. He levitated the bottle from his mouth and took a pill from the bottle and put it into his mouth. "I need to thank Dr. Stable for these. And I need to figure out why I the barrier hurts so much."

"Can we head to the castle now?" Halo asked, his wings buzzing in flight.

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"Why do I have to wear this suit?" Halo complained.

"You were the one who begged to come with us," Zach replied.

Zach and Halo were getting dressed in a room in the crystal castle. They were both trying to put on tuxedos that Rarity made.

In the next room over Hope and Ditzy were putting on dresses. Hope had on the dress that she had gotten for her birthday. It was light gold and long enough to cover her flanks. Ditzy was wearing a similar dress, though it was light green.

"I can't believe I'm at the finals of a world tournament," Hope said.

Ditzy wrapped a leg around her daughter, "I always knew that you'd never stop until you did."

Hope and Ditzy walked out of the room to the hall where everypony else was waiting. They walked to the crystal ball room (yes, everything named crystal…). Hope was about to go off with her friends when Zach pulled her off to the side.

"There are visiting dignitaries here to watch the tournament," Zach began to explain, "As the pony main pony in charge of putting together the tournament I have to meet with them. And you are coming with me."

"Why doesn't Halo have to come too?" Hope asked, trying not to whine.

Zach took a long moment to answer that, "Because there won't be anypony for him to talk to there. Twilight will make Dusk come along and Lightwing is your age."

"Fine."

Zach led Hope to the back of the room. Waiting there were the four princesses, Dusk, Night, Lux, two changelings, a griffon, and a small (compared to others of the species) dragon.

"Are you entirely sure that the finals are safe?" the griffon asked in a Prench accent, "I have heard that there are dangerous card that have been used in this tournament."

Twilight answered, "I assure you, from the information we have there can only be five of these cards. And I can say for certain that over half of the participants do not have them. In fact, I have used my Element of Harmony to discern that there only two here."

As if on cue, Darkness spoke in Hope's mind, "There are currently three beings here that have Oblivion's energy coming off of them."

"Three?" Hope muttered aloud.

The griffon noticed and asked, "What did you say?"

Hope looked around, "There are three Elements of Vice here."

"And how would you know that?"

"Lord Grimwing," Celestia scolded, "You cannot be insinuating that this young mare has anything to do with this."

"I am not," Grimwing defended, "I am merely wondering how she can know this."

Everyone looked at Hope. The Equestrians had no idea how to explain. Somehow, Dusk was the one to come up with something, "My friend's talent is the ability to sense Light and Darkness."

Hope saw what Dusk wanted her to say and added, "The Elements of Vice amplify the spiritual Darkness inside a pony."

This seemed to satisfy Grimwing, "Fine then. I am going to grab a drink and retire to my chambers."

Once the griffon left, the larger of the two changelings spoke in a deep, two-toned voice, "So Zach. Where is my brother at right now?"

"Midnight is in the arena, preparing for the tournament," Zach replied.

The changeling laughed, which sounded creepy to Hope, "That sounds like him. I will go speak to him now." He turned towards the smaller changeling, "Do you wish to come with, Lightwing?"

"No, father," the Lightwing replied, "I will stay here and have fun." Lightwing looked over at Hope in a way that made her self-conscious.

"Is she the third Element?"

"I do not sense Oblivion's touch on her. It is possible that she just wishes to be with you."

"Great." Hope felt a shock go through her body.

"Did you feel that?" she asked Dusk. He was just staring at – no behind – her. Hope turned around and let loose an annoyed hiss.

Ruby Crown, Blueblood, and Dagger walked through the room.

"Hope," Crown sneered.

"Crown," Hope's eyes narrowed.

Zach stepped up to Blueblood, "Blueblood."

"Hello, human," Blueblood replied, "It's been a long time since I was defeated by you and that… that creature."

Hope saw a flash of light in the corner of her eye and heard Sky's voice, "Why you…"

It took the combined force of all four princesses to keep Sky from going ballistic on Blueblood. Dagger himself had a claw on Blueblood's chest.

"Do not provoke them Blueblood," Dagger ordered, "The fact that you are even in this tournament is nothing short of a miracle. Do not louse it up." Dagger looked, seemingly apologetically, at everypony. "I am sorry. I merely wanted to see the competition for a more, extended amount of time."

The force of Oblivion's power coming from the three was so strong that Hope wanted to either run away or let Darkness off his leash.

"What is happening?"

"My existence is causing you to be hyper-sensitive to magical energy. All three of them together can be harmful to you."

Hope didn't have to hear the last sentence to know it. She suddenly felt extremely sick.

"Bathroom!" Hope called as she ran out.

Five minutes later Hope was puking up her lunch in a bathroom. Once she felt the sickness pass she turned on the facet and levitated water into her mouth. She heard hoof steps and looked up. Lightwing was leaning on the wall.

"Are you alright?" the changeling asked.

"I'm fine," Hope replied. "What are you doing here? No offense."

"Your father sent me to make sure that you were alright while he looked for your mother."

"Thanks for coming."

Hope shuffled over by Lightwing and sat down against the wall.

"So why were you so sick? Did it have something to do with those Elements of Vice?"

Hope nodded, "All three of them were right there."

Lightwing cringed, "I can understand how that might feel. As a changeling I can sense emotions. Do you know what a room full of scared ponies can do to me? That is why I don't do haunted houses."

Lightwing chuckled and Hope smirked.

After a few moments Lightwing smiled and said, "You are a beautiful young mare, Hope."

Hope blushed. She wasn't used to be called beautiful by complete strangers. So, she panicked, "I have a marefriend."

A look of hurt crossed Lightwing's face for a split second as she spoke, "Oh, I didn't realize."

"It is nice to hear the compliment though."

"Right."

Hope could feel something about Lightwing change. It almost felt like...

"Oblivion!"

Tendrils of green magic wrapped themselves just above Hope's hooves and pulled her to the opposite wall. She tried to call out, but her mouth wouldn't work.

Lightwing looked at Hope, her eyes blazing red, and grinned, "Thank you Hope. That gave me the push I needed to activate."

"Great, another pony possessed by an Element of Vice because of me."

"Do not fret. Just focus and use my power to break free."

Of course, this Lightwing wouldn't let Hope focus. She placed a hoof on Hope's cheek, and then slid it down to her chest, "If you couldn't figure it out by now, I am the Element of Lust. It's a bit ironic, possessing a changeling, but she was vulnerable at the time. And since I'm free…" Lust whispered directly into Hope's ear, "I can do as I please."

Lust pressed her mouth to Hope's and caused Hope to turn her head in revulsion.

Lust frowned, "That just won't do." More green magic grabbed onto Hope's head and held it straight. "That's better." Then Lust leaned in to kiss Hope again.

Ditzy Do walked into the bathroom and cried out, "Get away from my daughter!"

Lust turned towards Ditzy and sneered, "You are the one who should leave."

Lust shot a beam of green magic at ditzy and knocked her into the wall.

Hope finally snapped. Her horn glowed pitch black. Her blue eye turned deep violet. The black half of Hope's cutie mark glowed as well. As she spoke, her voice was mixed with the voice of Darkness.

"You shall not touch my mother!"

A blast of dark magic exploded from Hope's horn, throwing Lust back. With the magic on her legs canceled out, Hope fell to her hooves. She formed a tendril of black energy and stabbed it into the changeling's body.

"Tell Oblivion that I will not tolerate so called 'Elements' going after my friends and family."

Hope removed the tendril from Lightwing, the Element of Vice now purged. Her magic stopped flowing and her eye returned to normal.

She whispered, "What a rush." Then she passed out.

Sorry about the lack of a duel. I had this whole plan for Lust to get away and have the first duel be it vs Hope, but I decided against it. I hope what I did was awesome enough, though.