@lightenedshadow | s.c. ( stygian )

❝ Ah yes... I know who you are. I feel as though you should have been here many, many years ago... ❞ This stallion and the ponies he associated himself with, the Pillars as they called themselves, were long overdue for meeting with her. The sphinx crossed her arms as she lay in her spot.

❝ But don't worry. The others will be following you soon enough. ❞

❝ That is true.. I should have been standing before you many many moons ago.. yet I cheated the natural order and robbed my friends of living full lives.  ❞  Letting out a sigh the solemn stallion would gaze upon the one known as Death and a sense of calm and readiness washed over him that he had not felt in many moons.

               What had started out as seemingly a friendly visit had suddenly gone south. Twilight’s ears pricked at Stygian’s words. Her whole felt like it had gone on alert at the mention of such magic. She hadn’t felt any disturbances, so everything seemed to be in balance, but this only caused her to feel a little more concerned. With everything seeming fine, this meant that whatever Stygian was talking about was doing a good job keeping itself secret. 

                Twilight stood tall, expression turning serious as the warmth from before drained from her features.

                ❝ Show me. ❞      

“ R-Right of course, Your Majesty. One moment while I ready the magic. “ Shock yet understanding of the change in tone from the alicorn ruler. Stygian would search through his robe eventually pulling out and placing upon the ground a rather carefully carved sphere made of a glass like substance. 

With a pale blue gray light from his horn the unicorn would blast a circle bearing a mix of pony magic and unknown magics around the sphere. “ This is the magic I speak of Queen Twilight. Using a mix of pony magic in the runes it allows me to stabilize it further. But a measure of safety around the orb just in case. “  

In that instance Stygian would form a preventive barrier around the circle and orb before stamping his hoof as he casted the spell with a slight delay before blasting the orb with a steady stream of his own magic. Falling a kneeing position the unicorn would gasp for a brief of air before presenting the orb now glowing brimming with energy converted from magic.

           If there was one thing Twilight never quite outgrew, it was her excitement at learning new things. Though through the years she had obtained a large amount of knowledge, there was always room for more, something she always pushed with her students like Luster Dawn at the School for Gifted Unicorns. With the scrolls and books presented to her, Twilight’s own horn lit up to take hold of them in thanks.

           ❝ Thank you! I’ll be sure to give these a look as soon as possible. Did you write all of these yourself? ❞

“ Some I wrote yes Your Majesty. Others were gifted to me by new friends and colleagues I made along my long journey.  But.. what all that I’ve learned beyond those tomes is too valuable to write down in any scrolls or book that may end up in the wrong hooves. “  Setting aside his travel bag the unicorn kept his knelt pose as the air in his voice. Stygian merely paused as what he wished to speak of it but could not wholly find the words. 

        “ Curiosity, sure, I like that one. ” She can’t help a small smile, not a genuine one, but a show of false confidence. Rumors of this ‘shadow king’ at the top of the hill had made their rounds, and of course she was one to take the bait.          He seemed.. tortured. Clouded and inky like a neglected letter, left to darken in the murky shadows. “ Because, you know what ? I don’t believe that you came out of the woodwork all muggy like this. Even the deepest rivers were clear, at some point.” She comments, strolling around him all too coolly. 

        She perches on a stone, chest fluffed out in unearned pride, almost a subtle standoff. “ So, come on, what lead you to become Equestria’s latest ‘big bad’ ?? ”

“ Big bad? In what capacity makes me the bad guy? “ Craning his head the pony of shadows would glare down at the seemingly arrogant pegasus. To him his actions were good and not remotely evil. 

unprompted anon answered ;; always accepting ;;

“Happy...huh..that is hard to believe..”  Hearing those words gave the shadowy equine a measure of levity but were hard to swallow. What was happiness after thousands of years seeking to plunge all into darkness? The Pony of Shadows did not know but perhaps this kirn could help him to find that answer. 

                ❝ Stygian! ❞ Twilight’s wings unfurled n delight at the sight of the unicorn. She stood up tall as he entered her throne room, stepping down to meet with him in the center of the room. ❝ It’s been ages. What brings you here to Canterlot? ❞     

“True it has been many moons..”  The ever formal unicorn would kneel as he spoke those in a hushed tone. Despite his years away Stygian did not forget his courtly mannerisms especially when speaking with a ruler of Equestria. 

               Power and worth… Those were some of the biggest motivators for her actions. They were the very reason Wintertide had decided to choose the path she did. To finally have somecreature see that potential in her made her feel proud. She had found another who could perhaps understand, even if they were a monster from the shadows. 

              When he sprang forth, she took a small step back, but otherwise looked up into the eerie white eyes as the darkness settled in around them. He was fascinating even if still terrifying. He had her attention as much as she had his.

               ❝ I see… So what now, then? Are you doing to make me a minion of yours? Or do you have other plans? ❞

“Make you a minion? No Wintertide far from it actually. Another minion bound by my power would useless in the long run. Your sheer potential and force of will would better serve me as an ally perhaps infused with a measure of my power?”   As he spoke the Pony of Shadows eyes would glow brighter as he lowered down his neck to gaze at eye level with the kirin. 

Believing the creature would prove useful to him in his plans for Equestria. The Pony of Shadows would keep his gaze unfettered as he watched for any signs of hesitation at his offer.