The Crystal Heart

"Aside from fools and those who have passed on to Elysium, Amóre, nopony is ever certain of anything."

 

Argent-shod hooves rang chimes against cold crystal as the companions walked down the hall. The pair shared streaks of silver in their manes, though one came by them through age and the other through pain and terror. Their hushed voices made little echo as they discussed the most desperate of plans.

 

"After my defeat of Queen Requiem and the exile of her twisted progeny to parts unknown, I spent years studying her magic. It is my fervent belief that the Wishsong will hear you and provide what you seek." He shuddered. "You truly cannot comprehend the power that creature could wield. Blessed we are that her sloth outweighed her avarice, else I should not have succeeded."

 

Tossing her head, the regal mare replied, "It must, Starswirl, or my kingdom is lost. The last battle against the Shadow took too much from me. My strength, and the life of my beloved. I haven't the power to face it again as I did last time." Tears came to her eyes. "I... fear I shall not see my daughter's cutie mark shine on her brightest day. My people must be protected."

 

Coming to a stop, the bells chimed upon the stallion's hat as he turned to face the ruler of the North. "Majesty, I have misgivings. Such power oft comes with a frightening price. A miracle is never purchased cheaply, even through magic as old as this. Perhaps especially through..." As the regent's pale neck stiffened, he sighed. "Think of her, Amóre, and of your people. Think of the cost before you do this, I beg."

 

"I have, old friend." Gazing through the brightly-colored window, she spoke softly. "Every day since my husband fell to the Shadow, I have thought of the cost to see my people safe, my nation safe." A whisper, "My child, safe..." Continuing her stride down the hall, she spoke as the wizened sage turned to keep pace. "The price is paid, and I would pay it again and again. To ensure that darkness will never take hold here, nothing is too much to ask."

 

"Then the Song will hear your true desire, and grant that which you seek. Ever thus goes the old magic; the power of sacrifice fuels ever greater power. The sigil is carved, the song is written, and everything is ready. I just hope she will one day come to understand. The love of your people, of her people, will ever be a ward against the Shadow."

 

A chill winter wind blew through the hall as the pair made their way to their final destination. "Be warned, majesty, that the machinations of Shadow are ever scheming, and that should despair enter the hearts of the people, all of this could be for naught."

 

"I have faith in the love of my subjects, Starswirl. With this power, nothing again will harm them so long as their hearts are filled with love and Light."

 

"Just so, Amóre." His eyes shining, the twain came to a door and made to enter. "Just so."

 

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A soft, eldritch glow lit the Chamber of Conjuring as those within took their places. So few still lived in the Empire who could channel this level of power but, of those who remained, the three greatest stood ready to perform what most would never be able to accomplish in this era or any other. A dusky-hided unicorn tossed his mane as he stepped forth onto his place in the carven sigil in the ground. "This is a most wondrous day, my liege. This day we pull strength from the very foundations of Equestria and bend it into armor!" Head held high, he preened as he began to focus on the magic suffusing his horn.

 

"Peace upon you, Lord Sombra, and upon us all, for peace is our object today." Amóre walked forward onto the northernmost section of the diagram, wings flaring slightly as a hum of power began to rise in the chamber. "A peace that shall never be tarnished by darkness for as long as this Empire stands, I pray." Equidistant from one another, two unicorns and the Lady of the North took their places upon a circle carved from crystal and inlaid with silver.

 

A soft chiming of bells sounded as the final member of the trio took his place. "Be you ready?" Starswirl's horn glowed bright as he focused his attention down, down to the very core of the land itself, to the beating heart of the frigid North.

 

"Ready." Head bowed, Amóre's horn began to glow in tandem, lighting the room with brilliance.

 

"Ready, old one." With a stamp of steel-shod hooves, the other magus's horn flared with power as the hum rose.

 

The old unicorn sighed with effort as he seized magic from the primordial spirit of the earth itself. Grasping the strands of power and weaving a pattern intricate as the finest Canterlot lace, he settled his will down upon the circle, focusing the weave upon the subject from whom the greatest effort would come.

 

"Then sing, Amóre. Sing to the land, and to your people."

 

Suffused with Light and love, the pale mare raised her head and began to chant.

 

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~ Web of Power, Web of Light raised by magic's hand,

~ From a heart of ancient fire far beneath the land.

~ Called by forces strong and sure to this final test.

~ Joining hearts both North and South with those from East to West.

 

~ Challenge not this Web of Light, O mage of dark designs.

 

As she sang, the hum of magic in the room solidified, with a beat that shook the bones of those within. The light flared as the pale alicorn's horn erupted with unearthly radiance. The voices of the others joined in the song just as their magic joined into the weave.

 

~ Cast thy power before you, mages trained and skilled.

~ It shall form the pattern of the web that we must build.

~ This our parting gift to generations yet to be;

~ A shield to ward off magic that no mortal eyes can see.

 

Shifting and coalescing, a myriad of colors swirled around the room as heart spoke to heart.

 

~ Challenge not this Web of Light, O mage of dark designs.

 

The thrumming started to become irregular, shaking the participants as power converged upon Amóre, dotting her coat with gooseprickles and sending shudders of magic through the others. Still though, their voices continued to harmonize with the madrigal as something began to emerge from the center of the ring.

 

~ Clear the hearts who felt the touch, of love and warm sunlight.

~ Clearer still in years ahead, are those prepared to fight.

~ In our circle one last time we meet to raise the power,

~ That must endure when flesh is gone and light the darkest hour.

 

As the chant rose, from the center of the circle a core of crystal began to rise in unison, absorbing material from around it into a great mass. A fey lightning flashed around the chamber as the mass of gleaming crystal began to take shape, striking from the mass into the three surrounding it as it drew power from their hearts and souls.

 

~ Challenge not this Web of Light, O mage of dark designs.

 

The power flowed into the great aggregate of stone, and it began to form itself into a solid, cohesive structure as the beat of magic became more steady, regular. As if the land itself were keeping time with the Song, the pulse of magic beat and beat again, like blood pumping through the ones who lived upon the land. The mare's voice rose to a crescendo as her strength and the strength of those accompanying her were drawn into this primal creation.

 

~ In our circle one last time we meet to raise the power,

~ That must endure when flesh is gone and light the darkest hour.

 

Solid at last, the artifact shone with power as Amóre shined with radiance, pulsing in time with the beat of her Crystal Heart. Hovering in the middle of the chamber, the three mages could feel the force of the love of every pony within the Crystal Empire as primal magic thrummed to the beat of their hearts. Pushing back against darkness, Light shined through the chamber and up, up through the sky, erupting into an aurora of magnificence as the Song came to its climax.

 

~ Challenge not this Web of Light, O mage of dark designs.

 

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Amóre staggered down the halls of her palace, panting with exertion. She had sent the others off to check upon her people, to ensure that nopony in her realm had been harmed by the explosion of ancient power that she had wrought. As the exhausted mare came to a door covered in scribbles, she slowly pushed it open, soft light illuminating the face of a young filly bundled in blankets, snoring peacefully.

 

'Nothing shall ever harm you,' sought her prayer as she stepped forth to gaze upon her sleeping child. 'The love within the hearts of our people shall ever be your shield and your sword, should you need it. Become a good ruler, a loving ruler, and nothing can possibly defeat you.' Slowing her labored breathing so as to not wake the child, she bowed her head to plant a soft kiss upon the filly's brow.

 

'No matter what, you will live, as will your people. My heart, my own. Mi amóre, Cadenza.'

 

Leaving her daughter to her peaceful rest, the Queen managed to make her way to her own bedchamber. Slumping down into a plush, royal mattress, she felt the weariness begin to overtake her. Vision blurring, nonetheless a face began to take a distinct form within.

 

'I did it, my love. They are safe; she is safe. Rest easy; I'll see you soon.'

 

As slumber descended upon the Jewel of the North, her heart was serene, for she knew that never again could darkness and Shadow wreak havoc upon the people and the child she loved so deeply.

 

She was certain of it.

 

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The filly skipped through the halls of her beauteous home as she sang in dulcet tones with no real lyric. The morning had been lovely and the rest of the day was assured to be even more so. As she came to a splendidly-decorated portal, she paused as muffled voices came to her ear through the door.

 

"- could you? It was too much for her and you knew it!" Anguish painted the voice with sobs as another responded.

 

"She knew the price that the Song asked of her, and she paid it willingly." Lower, somehow even more somber, the mood of the voices within impacted not upon her as she pushed open the door to fill the room with the scintillating glow that had filled the sky.

 

"Mother! It's time to get up! You won't believe how beautiful the sky is today, and Cook has prepared us just the most wonderful breakfast of Crystal fruits and we have to..." Slowing down, she saw her dear uncles Swirly and Somby standing over her mother's bed, the mare still and sleeping. As she approached, the two high mages turned away, breathing heavily. Almost as if they were... sad? Sad about what?

 

Undeterred, the young Princess bounced up onto her mother's bed. "Come on, get up! You don't want to miss this, Mother! It's so gorgeous I could just d..."

 

Looking down, she realized that the flank of the one in bed was not moving. Not at all.

 

"...Mother?"