(Ok, as promised, i would tell you if something was supposed to happen that would prevent me from posting the next Saturday. So here are the next two chapters for you. In April, everything will go back to normal.) (This includes Ch 11 A and 11 B)
Chapter 11 A: The Broken Soul
One day after Trixie's arrival.
"Stop assuming things Desolent, you are very powerful, but I chose Trixie because she had hidden potential and could become a strong ally." Dark Fire stated.
"I'm clearly better than her! Why do you deny me this fact?" He asked aggressively.
"Within time my friend, things will become clear. Now, I believe that you still have a task to complete."
"You did inform me of this, but what was it about again?" Desolent asked, not changing his tone.
"My guards acquired a rebellious alicorn and put him in a locked down cell. I want you to corrupt him… permanently." Dark Fire said evilly.
"Ha, is that all you want? You act like it's hard."
"He resisted the hatred wave and I know he's not an element, but he has royal blood."
Dark Fire then pulled a lever that led down to a dungeon.
"Soon, not even the princesses will be able to resist my power. It will just take an example."
They soon made their way to the cells deep within the castle's depths. This is where Luna and the others stayed.
"Take note of these fools, you could learn something from it." Dark Fire said without looking.
Desolent then passed each cell until she reached Luna's.
"So I take it that this is Luna. Not so talkative when she's chained up."
"Who are you suppose to be?" Luna asked, weakly.
"I don't expect you to know me Luna…after all it was your sister that imprisoned me for five years in the blasted crystal mines!" He said, losing control of himself.
"Desolent, she can't hurt anypony else anymore. Leave her to rot." Dark Fire said, pulling him away. "Your real concern is the next cell."
Dark Fire then pointed to the cell on the left. Inside was a white alicorn with a sundial as a cutie mark. His mane and tail was dark purple with red tips on the ends. He also had pure white eyes, no iris, no pupils, just pure white."
"His cutie mark represents time, as in he can control it to some extent, I need that power." Dark Fire said, opening the cell.
Desolent then walked in and flowed dark yellow magic through his horn.
"Now all you have to do is-"
Desolent then grabbed the alicorn, ripped the chains off of him, and kicked him into the wall.
"DESOLENT, HE'S ALREADY BROKEN, STOP FIGHTING A BATTLE YOU'VE ALREADY WON!" Dark Fire ordered.
"Sometimes you have to make it clear that you're in charge." Desolent said, grabbing the alicorn by his neck and lifting him up.
"W-why… do you do this to us?" The alicorn struggled to say while being held.
"Your royal family and Twilight are the reasons why I was shamed in front of everypony, now you will pay with your blood!"
Desolent then transferred energy into the hoof that was holding the alicorn. He then held the alicorn there, ready to finish the job.
"Do it… you already took my family from me." The alicorn said bravely.
"Desolent...don't." Dark Fire said as red magic flowed into his horn.
Desolent then returned his look to the alicorn.
"And now I will take your freedom."
Desolent's horn then illuminated in a dark yellow color before he blasted the magic into the alicorns body. He then threw him across the cell, making him crash against the bars.
"NOW THANK ME FOR YOUR PAIN!" Desolent yelled.
The alicorn laid there, complete immobilized. Desolent then slammed his hoof on the alicorns face.
"BEG FOR MORE SUFFERING!" He said, applying more pressure.
"Desolent release him… NOW!" Dark Fire said enraged.
Desolent showed hesitation before removing his hoof. Dark Fire then healed the wounds the white alicorn took before removing him from the cell.
"You must forgive my friend here, he tends to overdue things a lot." Dark fire said in a friendly voice. "What is your name by the way?"
Desolent snarled as he walked by the recovering pony.
"Zepher, and why did you summon me in the first place?" He asked, as the yellow aura faded into his coat.
"NO DON'T LISTEN TO HIM, SNAP OUT OF IT!" Luna shouted from a nearby cell.
"Silence you worthless rat!" Desolent said, throwing a magical blast at Luna that caused her to yell in pain.
"Remember who you are Zepher, remember that we love you, REMEMBER WHAT THEY DID TO YOUR MOTHER!"
The alicorn struggled to concentrate as two sides battled within his mind.
"I… can't… SHUT-UP!" Zepher shouted, losing the last of his free will to corruption.
"No… no" Luna whispered, sobbing heavily. "I'm sorry Tia… I couldn't stop him."
"Mother you say… HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Now I have truly won the ultimate battle. I've turned Celestia's son against her!" Dark Fire said, continuing to laugh evilly. "Come Zepher, leave your pathetic life behind with the other weaklings."
Dark Fire, Desolent, and the newly recruited Zepher walked away from the dungeon, shutting the door for the last time.
"Luna, they're gone." Cadance whispered to her.
"Along with what remained of my sister…" Luna said silently.
"I know how It feels to lose somepony too Luna, how do you think I felt when they took Shining away?" Cadance said softly, holding back tears of her own. "You must never give up, always have hope."
"Desolent, you mentioned something about Twilight back there, what did she do to you?" Dark Fire questioned.
He gave a harsh glare at the mere mention of her name.
"What did she do?! WHAT DID SHE DO?! She did everything to me, made me a failure in everypony's eyes, took the title of Celestia's apprentice away from me, and made me look like a traitor in front of all of Canterlot! I was imprisoned for five years Dark Fire. FIVE BUCKEN YEARS FOR PROVING MY POINT! I am better than her at everything, magic, fighting, strength, you name it! So why, WHY DID CELESTIA CHOOSE HER INSTEAD OF ME!?" Desolent questioned as his voice echoed through the halls.
A long moment of silence came over the three as Dark Fire and Zepher stood there in thought.
"You no longer need to have those thoughts, for both of them have met their fate at my hooves."
"What do you mean… Twilight was never-"
"I ended her. She will no longer hurt anypony again." Dark Fire said, softly.
Even though Zepher and Desolent didn't notice, Dark Fire was struggling to hold back tears of sadness at the thought of Twilight's fate.
"No… she's alive, I know it! She's just like a virus that you can't destroy, and I'm the cure that will end her forever!"
"I threw her out of a window, Desolent!" Dark Fire said aggressively, trying to conceal his sorrow. "Nopony could have survived a fall like that and you know it. Nopony is left to stop us from taking over Equestria, which is why we make our attack today. You may rest for now though; Ammisive will lead the invasion force to the northeast, taking Cloudsdale and anything else in its way. You will go Southwest and do the same. I do tolerate some failure, but only just a bit. Do I make myself clear?"
"Of course... my lord." Desolent whispered as he walked off.
Twilight and the rest of her friends waited for almost three weeks now, but still no news or even a glimpse of hope. Despite the situation, everypony did what they could to stay positive... except Twilight.
"Sugarcube, I know there's not much to do, but starin' at that rock all day can't be good for you." Applejack said, sitting next to her.
"I just can't stop thinking about it... it's just so-"
"Sometimes we just have to keep lookin' until we find the needle in the haystack. We'll make it out of this. We always do."
"But how do all of you keep going? I just don't have to strength to go on." Twilight whispered.
"Believe me it's hard, but we've been findin' fresh food in the forest, and there's a clean spring in the cave. That's probably because it's been rainin' or snowin' outside, either way it could be worse." Applejack said, smiling at her.
"Your right Applejack, I should stay positive, we still have a chance to save everypony." Twilight said with confidence.
Once she finished, Endershine rushed through the cave looking worried.
"It's about time you showed up!" Rainbow ridiculed.
"You try acting as a spy for more than a week and see if you're not tired after that!" Endershine responded
"Okay sign me up, I would be the fastest spy ever." Rainbow declared.
Enderpearl then emerged from a dark corner of the cave.
"What news do you bring?"
"I have good news and bad news." She said, her concerns increasing.
"Lets hear the good news first, we have been through the worst conditions ever." Rarity said, brushing dust out of her mane. "Ooh, where can a lady get a bath around here?"
"Okay here it goes. Twilight, they think your dead."
"How is that good news?" Rainbow asked rudely.
"I know why! It's because you get free ice-cream in heaven!" Pinkie shouted joyfully.
"No, it means that they're not going to be looking for us." Endershine explained.
"S-so what's the bad news?" Fluttershy asked, cuddled next to a rock.
"Dark Fire has united every known enemy that Princess Celestia has ever delt with." She said grimly. "This includes Discord, Chrysalis, and Sombra."
"They're all back! I thought we took care of them for good." Twilight said, losing what little hope she had.
"It gets worse, Dark Fire has made a group called the Elements of Disharmony."
"The Elements of what now?" Applejack asked, confused.
"The Elements of Disharmony, or, Elements of Chaos, are on the complete opposite ends of the Elements of Harmony and are incredibly strong. Even though they might not have the exact negative element, their personalities are nothing like yours, they're ruthless and will not stop until you are all defeated. Another thing is, Dark Fire has started an invasion. They attack Cloudsdale today." She finished explaining.
"Then I'm not going to wait around anymore!" Rainbow said, getting up and running to the exit.
"NO!" Endershine shouted teleporting into her path. "If you go, you run the risk of never seeing your friends again! You will also expose us and cause the last hope of Equestria to perish."
"What good is hope if you can't defend your home!" Rainbow said, dashing past her and flying off.
"RAINBOW!"
Endershine was about to catch up to her, but was stopped by Enderpearl's hoof.
"Let her go. This is her fight and she will come back. She'll have to."
Back at the castle.
"Dark Fire, why did you even let this failure inside in the first place?" Castigate said, pointing to Trixie.
"Why do you hate her so much, why does everypony I meet hate her, WHY DOES MOST OF THE FANBASE HATE HER?!" Dark Fire yelled, going off into a rant.
"Shut-up Castigate, it's not like you could see talent within Trixie anyways." Trixie said.
"And I'm supposed to listen to a poor showpony like you? It's a wonder how you even became his apprentice." Castigate replied.
"Trixie's skills and looks must have convinced him otherwise, something you could never understand." Trixie spat back.
"Hold on Trixie, you're my apprentice because of your potential, not for your…looks. And second, why do you two fight like a brother and sister?" Dark Fire demanded.
"Because we unfortunately are, it's such an embarrassment." Castigate said.
"An embarrassment! You wouldn't know a thing about embarrassment, you have the easy life." Trixie again replied.
"So it's my fault my father took me and left you with mother? Both of you were mistakes to him, a shame to my family. I was the perfect son until you showed up." He said with hatred in his voice.
"Do not insult Trixie's mother! She cared for you even if you didn't." She strongly replied.
"How is she anyways? ...Begging for more bits as usual or pampering you with lies on how you're the best."
"Silence you stupid loudmouthed piece of garbage!" Trixie shouted angrily.
"If that's what I am, I don't even want to know what you are… oh wait, of course I do."
"Castigate, leave her alone." Dark Fire ordered.
"Oh sure, take her side... you're just like that fool she calls a mom." He said as he walked off.
"You will never understand the Great and Powerful Trixie!" She stated with pride.
"Trixie, as your new master I demand to know what happened to you." Dark Fire said, walking up to her.
"Trixie… doesn't know what you're talking about." She said, looking away.
"You might be a good boaster, but definitely a horrible liar." Dark Fire said with a smile.
"Trixie never lies about herself." She stated.
"Then why are you shaking? Please tell me. I know what it's like to feel pain, just let it out."
She continued to shake until her eyes started to water up.
"A-are you… crying?" Dark Fire asked in shock.
"N-no… the Great and Powerful Trixie never cries… she never… never…"
She then collapsed onto Dark Fire and sobbed heavily.
"I'm so sorry mom… I couldn't save you…I COULDN'T SAVE YOU!" Trixie yelled, weeping to the point where Dark Fire's coat was getting soaked.
Dark Fire stood there as she let her tears, waiting for her to build up strength once again.
"There, there. Just tell me what happened." He whispered.
"You know that Trixie's parents separated, right?"
Dark Fire nodded.
"That's where it all started. When Trixie was still young, her mother always believed in her, always told her that she could be anything if she believed hard enough."
"Your father didn't though did he? instead he took your brother."
"His name was Affluent, and along with him went mother's bits."
"Affluent? Isn't he the founder of Equestria's metal factories?"
"Yes. That greedy pony, he wanted nothing but more bits and left mother because she had none. It was only six years later that it happened."
Years ago, in a worn down building.
"Mom, I'm back from the soup kitchen. I managed to get the last one." Trixie said, entering a beat up house she called home.
"Well, isn't that just sweet of you, but I have to make sure the neighbors have something to eat first." Trixie's mother kindly told her.
She had a light gray and blue coat mixture with a similar mane and tail as Trixie. The only difference was that it had a light green tint within the mane and tail instead of blue. She also had dark orange eyes along with a star and moon as a cutie mark.
"But mom, you haven't eaten anything in days… you need this." Trixie pleaded to her.
"Others come before us Trixie. You're a fully grown mare now, surly you understand this."
Trixie hesitated before giving up what was supposed to be her gift.
"Now come along Trixie, let's give these ponies the gift of love and kindness." She said, humming a song as she walked out of the door.
"I don't understand you mom, you give even when you have nothing to give and expect nothing in return. You give even when you're in need… I hope I can be like you one day.
As Trixie walked out of the door, she saw her mother giving the bowl of soup to her neighbors.
"Here you go Mr. Pepper, I hope this is enough."
"Just seeing your smile is enough to warm everypony's heart, Mystic Charade." The dark gray pony said happily.
"Please, just call me Charade, there's no need to be formal with me." She said as the gray pony closed the door.
"What are we going to eat now?" Trixie asked worried.
"We must trust that within good deeds, good things will come in return. Showing ponies kindness, even when we have no reason to, lets them know how this world was meant to be. A world where there is no greed, hate, or depression, but of happiness and joy."
"You act like everything will be ok, I don't see how though."
"You need to open your eyes to the hope in this world, now go inside the house and get some rest."
Later that day.
"Thanks again Charade, you're the best." A tan colored pony said as he walked off.
"Mom, how'd it go?" Trixie asked, practicing some magic tricks from a book.
"It went well… I had a great time helping the other ponies... how are you?" She asked a bit faintly.
"Mom… is something wrong?" Trixie asked in a fearful tone.
"Nothing… nothing is wrong dear, just keep practicing." Charade whispered, putting her hoof over her heart. Before collapsing.
"MOM!"
"Trixie tried everything possible, but nothing was working. The only thing left was to call this doctor that could apparently cure everything."
"How could you afford something like that?" Dark Fire asked.
"Trixie couldn't afford him because he was corrupt and took advantage of everypony that was desperate. Trixie had no choice…"
"FIVE THOUSAND BITS!" Trixie shouted in shock. "Where am I supposed to get money like that?"
"I really don't care, sell yourself if you have to, but your mother won't last long with this heart disease." The doctor said, grabbing his bag.
"I refuse to stoop to that level of shame!" She yelled, blushing.
"Then I hope you're ready to say goodbye to her. And your taxes for this house are due in two weeks, this is your last chance to pay before we take your house from you." He said as he slammed the door.
Trixie, completely filled with sadness, walked over to her mother.
"I promise you mom… I will get those bits for you." Trixie said, grabbing her mother's magician had and cape. "I will be just like you. I will become... The Great and Powerful Trixie."
"So you took on the role of your mother as a magician and show pony?" Dark Fire said.
"Yes, her show name was Sharada. Trixie kept her name though."
"Then why do you lie about what you do? Didn't she teach you her skills."
"She never had the time, and I was always told that if I believed hard enough that I could become anything and be anything."
"So that's why you say you're the best…because you believe it will come true."
"It was to save mother. But as I came closer and closer to my goal, I let it go to my head. I was so close, but then I did a show… in Ponyville. Everything was fine, I put on a fantastic show and got the bits that I needed, but then two stupid colts brought an actual Ursa Minor to the town. They all believed that I could stop the enraged animal… but I couldn't. Then that stupid mare had to show up, Twilight, yes that's her name. She exposed me as a fraud, and as a result I lost everything. The bits, the cart, all gone… all gone."
"What happened after that?"
"What I had feared for so many years…"
"Mom… I was so close to getting the bits… but… but-"
"It's ok Trixie… it's ok… don't worry about me." Charade said, lying on a torn up bed.
"I've failed you… I couldn't raise the money to cure you… I CANT SIT HERE AND WATCH YOU GO!" Trixie said, tears streaming from her eyes.
"You… you've done so much more than I could possibly ask of you. You are now the light of this world Trixie, remember that." Charade whispered, losing strength.
"NO… NO DON'T LEAVE ME!" Trixie shouted, holding on to her hoof. "I LOVE YOU! ...DON'T LEAVE ME!"
"My life has been a happy one because of you… I couldn't ask for a better one." Charade said, smiling to her daughter.
"Please… please hold on… I will get help, you're going to make it, I WONT LET YOU GO!" Trixie yelled as more tears flowed.
"Always remember who you are, Trixie Lulamoon. Remember that even you can change this world."
"I can't do it without you… I'm not ready."
"I have raised you since you were a filly… I see so much in you Trixie, don't let it go to waste."
"I won't mom… I won't."
"And remember T-trixie tha-at I… I… Lo-"
Charade could say no more. Her time in Equestia had passed right before her trembling daughter's eyes.
"Mom… mom… wake up… wake up mom! WAKE UP! …WAKE UP! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME! MMMMMOOOOOOMMMM!"
"One day later, the taxer's came and took the house away from me… they didn't care that my mother was gone. They threw her out into the dirt… not even giving her a proper burial." Trixie said, sobbing into Dark Fire's coat. "That's when I heard about you, the last hope that I had."
Dark Fire stood in silence as he tried to digest what he just heard.
"Trixie… I want you to stay here… until I call upon you."
"Where… where are you going?"
"To take care of something that should have been dealt with long ago."
Dark Fire later went to an old shelter.
"Is this the place?" Dark Fire said to a nearby pony.
"Yes, this is where Charade used to stay before her passing, but it's now owned by a company." Mr. Pepper said honorably.
"Tell everypony here that their debts are paid, that they will no longer live under such horrible conditions." Dark Fire said, taking out his seal from a bag. "This seal will give you access to Equestria's reserves of bits, food, and water. If you or anypony else in this place need anything, anything at all, please don't hesitate."
Dark Fire continued along the path until he reached a fairly large building. When he entered, he had no regret for what he was about to do.
Inside the building.
"You think I care if your son is starving? You will get me that money or else." A light green pegasus said, counting multiple stacks of bits.
"Sir… I have nothing to give. You've taken everything from me." A charcoal earthpony responded sickly.
"Well then, I guess I need to show you what happens when those who borrow from me don't pay."
The pony then pressed his hoof onto a speaker.
"Take our friend's son away from him, and make sure he doesn't see the light of day again!"
"No… don't take my son, he's the only thing left of my wife!"
"Take him away." The Pegasus ordered as two earth ponies grabbed the begging stallion.
"You can't do this to me!"
"But I can… and I will do it to others!"
A huge explosion then occurred as Dark Fire entered the room. He didn't even bother for a response as he grabbed the two bouncers by the neck with magic and flung them into the walls.
"Prince Fire?!" Both ponies shouted in confusion.
"You, sick, twisted, filthy minded, under graded, uncaring, simple, greedy, %^$ $#*!" Dark Fire yelled, teleporting in front of the business ponies' desk.
"N-now… can we talk about this?"
Dark Fire then put his hooves on the desk, and ripped it in two as he flung both pieces away from him.
"I… I never did anything to you!" The Pegasus shouted in fear.
"IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME... BUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO OTHERS! NOTHING SICKENS ME MORE THAN PONIES THAT TORTURE OTHERS FOR THEIR AMUSEMENT!"
"I don't know what your-"
"SHUT-UP YOU WORTHLESS PIECE OF %#%^! YOU TAKE AWAY SOMEPONY'S HOUSE EVEN WHEN THEY GO THROUGH THE WORST TIME OF THEIR LIFE AND YOU JUST SIT BACK AND LAUGH!"
Dark Fire then punched the Pegasus to the point of tears.
"You want it to stop do you? Is that what you're crying about? Did you stop when they suffered?!" Dark Fire said, kicking him through a couch.
"I'm… I'm sorry!"
"You will be… and an apology won't be enough for you."
Dark Fire then dragged the pony and the rest that worked there out of the building.
"One only learns when they lose… WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU WILL LEARN PERMINANTLY!"
Dark Fire then shot an energy blast into the building, destroying everything in one, huge explosion of light.
"Now suffer like everypony before you has...AND NEVER COME BACK!"
Dark Fire, to the corner of his eye, caught sight of the doctor that Trixie talked about.
"You're the doctor that can cure everything right?" Dark Fire mocked.
"Yeah… why?" He replied fearfully.
"CURE THIS!" Dark Fire said as green fog surrounded the pony.
The pony doctor then collapsed onto the ground, almost lifeless.
"This sickness was claimed as incurable to even the greatest scientists… first it paralyzes, then soon destroys every. single. organ in your body. I will require one hundred thousand bits to cure it… I don't care how you get the money though, sell yourself if you have to, but you won't last long with that disease. Maybe next time you will show mercy to those that suffer...in the afterlife."
Dark Fire then walked off, leaving everything in ruin behind him. One hour later, Dark Fire recovered the body of Charade and gave her a proper burial in the Canterlot royal cemetery. Where royalty and war heroes were put and recognized by everypony of all raises. Dark Fire and Trixie both honored her for what she did, and who she was to everypony she helped and served. As Trixie walked away, she noticed a new star in the sky, one brighter than any she had ever seen. A star that honored the mare named Mystic Charade.