Author's Notes:

Seeing as I'm not all that good at being able to create a constant rhyme scheme that make any sense, even in riddles, Zecora isn't going to be talking like her usual, mysterious self.

It's been about six months since I've been released from the confines of the Heart of Light and things have been interesting, even more so when I became adapted to the modern lifestyle. I still live in my cave mind you but I don't really stay in it long during the day as I am always training as well as doing many other miscellaneous things, like helping Ponyville with its many problems that seem to arise.

One in particular involved Pinkie Pie cloning herself, I know this because I woke up to a swarm of them in my cave. As much as I enjoy her company handling a herd of twenty of the energetic mare is just a little too much for me to handle. Though I have to question how well her friends actually know her considering that had to put her and her clones through a test that could have risked them their friend. I found her sulking about and she told me of how scared she was of failing the test and losing her friends, but after I reassured her that I would make sure that she wasn't sent to the mirror pool. I'm not sure how they couldn't figure it when they've been her friends for longer than I have, but I knew that the really Pinkie Pie would become depressed at how her actions had hurt the citizens of Ponyville, especially her best friends.

That leads me to something else as well that I've forgotten to mention. After that whole incident with Mayor Mare, all of the Ponyville's residents thought of me as some molester and despised me for it. There were only two mares in the entire town that even bothered listening to me and suffice enough to say that they actually believed me when I told them it was an accident; they also said that they would try to get everypony else to see the truth as well but that hasn't been working too well, but I can live with it as long as none of them start harassing me. Of course these two mares were none other than Cheerilee and Pinkie Pie.

I'm glad they decided to listen as they were the ones that helped me get adapted to modern times and helped understand anything new that started up over the past one-thousand years, like Nightmare Night which I would suspect Luna would be happy with if it wasn't associated with Nightmare Bitch. There also a holiday known as Hearts and Hooves day that is supposed to be about spending time with your special somepony, which was started by some lovesick prince and princess from another kingdom, idiots. Though than that, as well as obvious changes to government, education, and all of the other stuff that naturally change with time, not much has changed which helps me become more adapted to things around here.

My days so far have been a set routine for me, get up, hunt, and eat in the mornings, train, hunt, and eat in the afternoons, then spend time with Ember, who healed up in just a couple of days, eat, and then sleep. Though when I'm asleep, instead of having my usual nightmares, I train with Shadow and Nova to help unlock more of my dark powers. There are also the odd days when either Cheerilee, Pinkie, or one of the princesses will send me a letter asking if I would like to hang out with them, which I usually reply yes to.

At the moment though, instead of training like usually, I'm spending time with a zebra mare by the name of Zecora, who I met while hunting this morning. I was surprised to learn that she lived in a little hut inside the Everfree Forest but after I asked why it made sense, plus she said that she could handle it as the creatures didn't bother her all too much and she has potions that she could conjure up to get rid of them if they do. But I'm getting off topic, right now Zecora and I are having on dark magic as she has become very interested in it after learning that it was my special talent.

"So you've learning more about dark magic from these spirits that, you've not only heard speak, but also seen as well?" The potion brewer asked.

"Yeah, Shadow and Nova have been incredibly helpful in helping me grow stronger and understand it better." I answered her. "But I do hope the day comes when I can find a crippling weakness to stop it as well." That statement seemed to have shocked the striped mare.

"But why do that? Why would you want to find a way stop using dark magic completely when you can help change the world with it, especially if others take in the fact that you haven't let it consume you like many of those before you." She asked confusedly about the subject.

"Well Zecora, learning of something like that would benefit the world in a long run, and by that I mean after I'm dead seeing as I would be the one who would deal with these kinds of problems," I stated, earning the zebra's interest.

"What kinds of problems would arise that would so dangerous as only you could handle the problem?" Zecora asked in an even more confused, and strangely anxious, manner.

"Well anything that has to do with dark magic of course. Remember Zecora dark magic affects every other creature that lives here negatively. Depending on the user, they go insane and end their own lives or be turned into a slave and be forced to do unspeakable things. There are barely anypony that can withstand its effects without doing something extreme to themselves, and as far as anypony knows, I'm the only one who can counter it without risk of corruption. So finding a way for everypony, or at least every magic user, to stop dark magic in its tracks has become one of my main goals; especially considering that I fear that there may be one day that I lose control of myself and need to be stopped. I want there to be a way to put me down if it comes to that so that nopony gets hurt." I explained to Zecora as I developed a saddened expression and turned my gaze towards the ground.

While I cast my gaze to the floor, I allowed everything I said to the zebra to sink into my brain to make sure I fully grasped what I implied. Although I'm the one that came with the plan during my nightly training session with Shadow and Nova, I still feel. . . . scared about the whole thing. If I do find a way for somepony to stop me without having to resort to using dark magic themselves, what's going assure them that I won't be able to counter it. I solemnly thought, putting myself more into a depressive state. Before I could think on the subject any further I felt a hand place itself upon my shoulder and I looked up to its owner, to see Zecora offering a sad smile and I believe I could see tears welling up as well though I don't understand why. I know what I said was maybe a little depressing, but it was true and it really . . . .only . . . . affects. . . .me; goddess dammit, of course she would be sad, we haven't known each other for long, but she already considers me to be a really close friend and the same could be said of me.

"I know that you see yourself as a monster at times, but I don't think that any would have to worry about you turning into that. Plus I don't believe that I would be able to hurt you as I see as a dear friend and would not wish to see harm brought upon you, though I am honored that you would trust me with something like that." Zecora said with a small smile before she embraced me. Being the sap I am sometimes I melted into the hug and returned the gesture of affection.

"I know how hard it would be to have to hurt your friends Zecora, but it's because I see you as my friend that I would want you, or anypony else that I see as friends, to be the ones to stop me, but I do agree with you. I won't believe myself to be a monster, but I will still have to acknowledge that it is still there; you understand that don't you?" I asked as I looked down at the mare who had her face buried into my chest.

"Awwww, that was so sweet of you Dark Heart. I never knew that you could feel actual for anypony else that wasn't your parents or Tender Heart." Nova joked, which had gotten her a growl as response.

We stayed within each others arms for awhile before Zecora finally pulled herself back from me with a bigger smile adorning her features. I was about to say something but then Ember pounced on me out of nowhere and started licking my face. "Ember. .hahaha. . .w-wha-what are you doing girl? I asked as I tried to get the timberwolf to stop licking me, not that I actually mind considering that she does this nearly every time she sees me after I come back from doing whatever it was that I was doing.

She eventually decided to stop, after about ten minutes, and left my fur damp with her tree sap like saliva. I picked myself up and dusted off my clothes before looking down at the little rascal. You know, despite looking like she is all grown up. Ember likes to act just as a pup would with how much energy she seems to have and how much she always to play around. I gotta say it's nice having her around; I had a feeling that we would connect well, but I didn't think it would be this well though. I kneeled down to pet her and scratch behind her right ear before standing back up and look for where Zecora had gotten off to, to find her in the center of the room, standing on her head, on a staff, and in with perfect balance.

"You want me and Ember to go since you're mediating?" I asked her.

"No you and Ember are more than welcomed to stay. I just ask that you not do anything that would break my concentration." Zecora said while keeping her eyes closed and maintaining her stance.

I stayed as I have thrown out of my routine and I liked spending time with the potion maker considering that she has been able to understand me very well; almost like she was there a thousand years ago and was observing me from afar, but I know that isn't possible, and that sounds a little creepy. I sat on the floor and resting against the wall while petting Ember, who was currently laying on my lap, and enjoyed the calm silence that filled the room. At least I would have if my ears didn't pick the sound of movement from outside the hut. It sounded like somepony was running towards but considering how well Zecora's potions work in curing various ailments I would suspect that whoever it was that running here had something that needed fixing. I was going to get up and warn Zecora so that she didn't end up falling over when the pony barged in, but it seem that I underestimated their speed as I was halfway to Zecora before Twilight came bursting in through the door and startled her which inevidently led to Zecora losing her balance and almost toppling over. I say almost as I was quick to react and the mare before she collided with the ground.

"Thank you Dark Heart for saving me from a nasty fall." Zecora thanked me before she turned to the out of breath Twilight. "Now I must ask why you have come bursting into my home like a madmare Twilight Sparkle?"

"I. . . need your. . . .help. Trixie. . . . is back. . . causing. . . trouble in. . . .Ponyville." She said between breaths. Me and Zecora waited until she fully caught her breath again so that she could explain further. I would have practically flew over to Ponyville to help out, but I need details. I needed to know who exactly is causing said trouble and why before making a move so that I don't cause any issues later on for going overboard. Twilight appeared to have finally regained herself and looked like she was going to say something before she spotted me and gained a scowl on her face. I just rolled my eyes at how her expression changed after seeing me instead of the worried one she had when she came in.

"What are you doing here you perv. Shouldn't you be out harassing some more mares, or perhaps find some poor defenseless creature to snack on?" Twilight snapped at me.

"Well shouldn't you be at home and bossing around Spike like the fucking slave driver you are. You are so damn insecure with yourself that you have to be right about everything, and when you're not you just start using all of these big words to make it seem like you actually know what're talking about and when that doesn't work you have rely on Celestia to get you out of it thanks to your own fucking incompetence!" I snapped right back at her as I was tried of dealing with her shit as well as the rest of Ponyville. Unfortunately though I can't just go off on a rampage as I'm trying to prove that those who wield dark magic aren't evil, and I care too much about the foals in town to do so especially since I'm afraid I may get too much into to differentiate between ponies. At this moment though, I wasn't going to let this opportunity just pass on by and judging by Twilight's mortified expression, I was right to do so.

"Now if you're done being a bitch, can you tell us what the fuck is going in Ponyville so that I can go take care of it. I may not be all that fond of the residents now but I don't want to children to have to suffer because of their mistakes." Of course I got no response so I sat and waited till she got that stupid look off of her face and gain back enough thought to form an intelligent answer.

"As much as I've been wanting you to do something like that for a while now; I have to say that was a little harsh even for me. Perhaps you should apologize for just a small part of that. I think that should be enough to save yourself from looking like a complete asshole." I couldn't believe what I was hearing from Shadow, Shadow of all of the creatures I know, to be the one to tell me that I should say I was sorry to somepony I insulted. Even so, I won't say a damn thing; he isn't the one who has to deal with all of the scrutiny from them.

I was going to tell him that but it would seem that a certain somepony has finally come around. "There is a unicorn named Trixie Lulamoon who is terrorizing Ponyville." Twilight finally said.

"And what reason does she have for that?" I asked seriously though inside I was patting myself on the back for getting her to shut up.

"Awhile back she had shown up in town to put on a show but during it she was boasting and nopony was responding well to that. She would even call herself 'The Great and Powerful Trixie' while on stage. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Rarity tried to get her to see that she wasn't all that great and powerful, but she managed to humiliate all of them in front of the crowd that had gathered; even tried challenging me, but I refused when I saw how my friends had responded to her showing off her magic, I didn't want them to turn on me like they had to her. Her boasting led two colts to head into leading an ursa minor into town, though they were originally trying to attract an ursa major, because of a story that Trixie had told to everypony. I manage to put the ursa minor to sleep, as it was only rampaging through town because those colts had woken it up from its nap, and sent it back to the cave that it came from.

Trixie had ran from town feeling humiliated and her caravan destroyed from the incident which leads to why she has come back. She wanted to get back at me for humiliating her and challenged me to a magical duel. She won and kicked me out of Ponyville, which is now sealed off. I would have asked the princesses for help but they're in Saddle Arabia and are currently heading back to Equestria with a couple of dignitaries, and she also had put me in charge of organizing some entertainment for them when they get here." Twilight explained and she seemed to be uneasy about something else, as though there's something she hasn't told us yet.

"Alright then, but what aren't you telling us Twilight?' I asked calmly, though I was ready to bolt to the door and head towards Ponyville after hearing that this mare had taken it over because of a petty grudge.

"Well, you see, I have seen what Trixie could do with her magic before, and I could say that there is something up with both Trixie and her magic." She stopped for a moment and appeared to be pondering on what she was going to say next, probably making she has of facts straight.

"And?" She was pondering too long for my taste, plus with every minute that passes is a minute that Trixie is spending making the town in her own image. I know that for a fact considering she kicked Twilight out of Ponyville and sealed it up so that nopony else could leave or enter.

"And it seems like that some of the spells that she used were way too advanced for her to have learned in so short amount of time. She managed to use aging spells as if it was simply picking up a feather. She also seems to be. . .nastier than before." I gave her an inquisitive look as a sign that she needed to explain that last part further. "What I mean by that, is that before Trixie was just boastful and pulled little pranks when the others confronted her the first time she was here but now it seems that she wants to rule over everypony with an iron fist." That caught my attention a little, especially when a thought popped up into my head and Nova and Shadow seem to be arguing over something.

Are you two thinking what I'm thinking? I asked them as they ceased their conversation.

"If you're thinking that this Trixie is being influenced by dark magic then yeah we are?" Nice to know that we're on the same page.

"Though to be more specific we think that there's an artifact that maybe giving her the powerful to perform spells that powerful and also changing her behavior as well. It all connects well enough though we might want to ask Twilight if she saw anything that Trixie didn't have before." Shadow advised, but before I couldn't have sworn I caught a glimpse of his thoughts and saw a glimpse of an amulet.

"Twilight, did Trixie have anything on her person that she didn't have the last time you'd seen her?" I asked Twilight, hoping that she had an answer that I could go on.

"I think so, why?" The librarian asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"Well Shadow, Nova, and I think that there may be something that Trixie has on her that is boosting her magical powers through the means of dark magic and that it is an artifact that she must be wearing." I explained to her and could see both her and Zecora getting worried.

"I noticed that Trixie had a strange necklace that she was wearing." Twilight told me, and I heard Shadow ask me to have her describe which had gotten me to believe that he knew something.

"Can you tell what exactly it looks like?"

"The necklace was it shape of a unicorn head with wings that secured it around her neck, which means that it was an alicorn, and it had a strange red gem in the middle it with another smaller one acting as the eye of the alicorn and was dark grey and black in color." I could feel that both of the spirits starting to freak out and I was growing concerned.

"Dark Heart we need to go stop that unicorn, NOW!!" Shit, this is not good.

"What the hell is it you two? What exactly am going against here?" I asked and both of them explained what exactly had them so freaked out. As they did, I started to become very worried for the ponies in Ponyville.

"What is it Dark Heart, What's did they tell you?" The fear was ever so present in Twilight's voice.

"The residents of Ponyville are in trouble. Shadow and Nova believe that the necklace Trixie is wearing is the Alicorn Amulet. It is said to grant whoever wears it incredible power but it corrupts its user whenever they perform a spell. Eventually it can cause the wearer's heart to become so corrupt that they'll change into a merciless killer that takes pleasure in the pain of misery of others and to make matters worse it will also grant them the ability to use dark magic, but more importantly, it's the very same amulet that granted that bastard King Sombra the power he needed to take over the Crystal Empire and be on par with the princesses." I couldn't help but let out loud growl when I got to the part about Sombra when I thought that he was the one that made dark magic users have a bad name when he might not have been borned with them like I had originally thought.

"So all we have to do is get the Alicorn amulet off of Trixie and then everything will be okay, right?" Twilight asked hopefully.

"Well, yes and no, yes because if we can get the amulet off of her she will turn back to normal and any spells that she has cast will dissipate, but the only way for the amulet to be taken off is to get Trixie to do it herself which won't be easy considering that the corruption won't allow it, but I think I have an idea of how to get her to do it of her free will and prematurely reverse the effects of the corruption." I said as Twilight perked up when I told her I had a plan to fix this.

"Okay so what is your plan then Dark Heart?" Zecora asked, obviously wanting to be a part of this.

"Well I figured you two would have figured it out when I mentioned reversing the corruption." The two mares just looked at each other hoping that one of them had the answer, but alas they were both oblivious to it. *sigh* Girls, did you two already forget about the Heart of Light? The very amulet whose job is to cure the evil and darkness within any creature's heart? And with that they both seem to finally figure out I wanted to do, but I would probably need to go into finer detail of the plan.

"So do you three have the plan memorized?" I asked the three mares. The third one being Fluttershy as it would seem that the rest of Twilight's friends also figured out that Trixie had the Alicorn Amulet and had sent her to relay the message to Twilight so that she could figure out a plan to stop this. I had to change the plan a bit with the additional member but the plan was still essentially the same.

Twilight and Zecora would go to the edge of the barrier around the town and challenge Trixie to a rematch with a fake amulet that was supposed to 'display the power of the Everfree Forest' and distract her while Fluttershy and I went to gather up the rest Twilight's friends so that they could help her with some of the other spells that she wouldn't be able to perform on her own. During all of that I would be charging up the Heart of Light so that I could launch it at Trixie to purify her heart long enough to reason with her and get her to take off the Alicorn Amulet. The plan should be simple enough and I really don't see anything going wrong to be honest. As long as I get the shot off there was no way for things to go wrong.

I was thinking that as we were making our way to the Golden Oaks Library to meet up with everypony. We walked in and I was immediately met with death glares from all but one of the ponies that were in the treehouse. Pinkie though, just silently jumped at me for a hug, of course I found it odd that she was so quiet. I caught her when she collided with me and looked down to her smiling face, at least it would have been smiling if her mouth wasn't gone. "So that's why I didn't her squealing in joy when she jumped at you.I think this might be to one good thing that Trixie did."

I ignored him and asked Pinkie worriedly, "Pinkie Pie what happened to your mouth?"

"Trixie used her fancy shmancy new magic ta take it. Now if you'll excuse us we have better things to worry about at the moment. Yup, was so expecting that from AJ.

"Well I don't give a shit about you girls, but when it comes anypony messin with Pinks, then its time to throw down the gloves. Now hold still for a sec Pinkie." She did as I said and stood still while I backed up a couple of steps and started charging a spell.

When the spell was charged, a scarlet beam shot from my horn and into Pinkie's face. When the cloud of magic residue subsided, we all saw that she had her mouth back. She realized this and shot off like a rocket back to me though when she made contact it drove me back a few yards before I slammed into the wall. "Thank you thank you thank you Dark Heart for letting me talk and eat again! It was so horrible not being able to talk. Actually it was horrible not having a mouth at all, I mean nopony couldn't understand me or anything, and I had to mmrrph mmph mmmrrrrhhhh." Pinkie thanked before going off into her incomprehensible slur of words that are spoken so fast that I couldn't make out anything she was saying.

"Alright alright Pinkie, I get it, not having a mouth is terrible but right now we have more important matters to attend to, like telling you the plan that I've come up with to stop Trixie and get her to take off the damned Alicorn Amulet around her neck." I said to get her to calm down. As soon as I mentioned that I had a plan, I got sneers from the other four in the room.

"Why should we even bother listening to any plan of yours, especially since that we don't know if you're just doing trying to help to get the amulet for yourself." Rainbow Dash said, eyeing me suspiciously.

"Because of three reasons, One: to get your friend back and end this madness, Two: I'm here to protect my own friends, and Three: that amulet was created by King Sombra and I want to destroy that thing so that it could never be used again and further downsize the reputation of dark magic users that may actually have good in their hearts. I'm doing more so for the third reason of anything else considering I know that my friends will be fine and that I found somethings out about the Sombra that may be linked to the amulet that have driven me to hate the bastard more." They didn't look like they believed me, but I seriously don't care anymore. I have both Pinkie and Fluttershy to back me up plus this plan is my peaceful way of ending this. If I have to I'll go to my default plan instead and fight her,which shouldn't be a problem even if she does have the aid of the Alicorn Amulet.

"That feud of yours with King Sombra makes no sense since we helped defeat him and witnessed his destruction ourselves. So what is the real story behind all of this?" Rarity inquired.

"There is no 'real story' behind it, but if you really want to know why I still insist on it it's because I don't believe that you actually defeated him. He had dark magic on his side and that in itself is explanation enough to why I say that." I really shouldn't be getting into this right now but I need them to understand this. Even if they don't believe me, which will probably be the case, they will have it on their mind and start to think about it.

"So what if he had dark magic? Not even that could stand up to us and the Elements of Harmony." Rainbow Dash said boastingly.

"Because there are many things that remain a mystery about the inner workings of dark magic, even to me, but there is one thing that I have learned about it and that is that it doesn't like to be contained. That applies to whether or not its bearer is alive or dead, do you see where I'm going with this?" I asked as looks of fear and understanding came my way.

"So ya sayin that the dark magic that Sombra had could bring him back from the dead?" Applejack asked.

"Either that or the magic protected him and that right now he could be recovering until he feels he's strong enough to get revenge. It's hard to tell considering that, for one I've never been intoned to his magical signature which means that I can't track him, and two is that he has had his dark power for longer that I have so even if I had been intoned he would be hidden until he slips up; in which case I'll be on him faster than he could think the uh-oh. I highly doubt Sombra knows of my existence, so if he is alive and hiding, he won't be suspecting me when decides to show his face but we're getting off topic. Are you girls going to bother listening to what I have planned to get of this Trixie mare or not?" I asked after I decided that I've gone off on a tangent long enough.

"Guess we don't have a choice if we're going to fix this mess." Rainbow said in a defeated tone.

"Good, now here's the plan. . . ." I went about explaining to them everything that needed to be done to make this work and told them to hurry as I wasted quite a bit time with that brief lecture on dark magic and King Sombra's involvement in all of this. The girls spent the rest of the time getting ready until the indicated time while I found a spot to watch everything until it was my time to step in. The next couple of hours went by quickly, but not quickly enough as I watched her order two colts around like pack mules and making them carry her everywhere in a luxurious, and heavy, cart with no wheels. I couldn't help them out yet as I needed to make sure that she wouldn't be able to stop me when I released the magic of the Heart on her though I did give them a bit more energy with my magic to help them out some.

The time had finally came and the girls, along with their families, were getting into position as Trixie, Twilight, and Zecora were arriving in the center of town to begin their duel. They started off with aging spells and Applejack, Rarity, and their sisters were playing it off quite nicely, in fact everything was going the way I wanted it to perfectly. The little performance was drawing to a close and all that was left was Pinkie's part. I had left her with her mouth but we put pink tape over it so she wouldn't be able to speak and Trixie would find out that somepony else was here messing up her plans. Twilight launched her spell at Pinkie, but I sensed a slight influx in magic and it felt like it was coming from Twilight. I knew something was going to go wrong but before I could anything about it Twilight's spell made contact with Pinkie. It didn't do any damage to her besides knock on her butt, but that made the others worried for their friend and everypony that was hiding behind the statue came out of hiding to check on the hyperactive mare, whose mouth was now uncovered by the adhesive strip.

"What is this!? You have been cheating this whole time!?" The showmare shouted.

Shit, it looks like the plan has gone to bust. I thought as I watched the events before me transpire as I decided to wait until the right moment.

"Well of course we did. You cheated by coming here and challenging Twilight to a duel wearing the Alicorn Amulet and we had to find a way to get it off of you so you can stop being such a meanie to everypony." . . . . . . I'm going to kill that mare. Did Pinkie really have to reveal our plan to her *sigh* at least she didn't say anything about me which tells me that she isn't a complete dunce.

What Trixie did next immediately made me jump onto my hooves. She had gotten ahold of the pink mare with her magic and focused it around her neck and was choking her, asking her how she knew about the Alicorn Amulet. Her friends tried to help but were quickly driven back by the now enraged mare. I decided I have had enough of watching on the side lines and fired off my own spell at the mare. She was sent flying when it made contact and her hold on Pinkie was broken. I went down to check on my friend as Trixie was pulling herself up and had spotted me.

"Who do you think you are?To assault the Great and Powerful Trixie must mean you have some type of death wish there pal. . . well, do you?" The fuming mare asked with a look that would put dragons down. Unfortunately for her I have been through worse and can match her glare with a cocky grin and sadistic laugh. "What, what are you laughing at? Are you deranged or something?" It would appear that she's losing her cool.

"I'm laughing because you think you have any right to be making death threats to anypony at the moment, especially in my presence." I saw the shivers that ran through her as she heard me speak in my demonic tone.

"A- a- a- and what makes you say that?" She asked as she was trying to regain her composure and appear threatening.

"Oooohhhh nothing, just the fact that I possess dark magic but I mean it's not really that big of a deal." I spoke casually as I watched horror dawn on her face.

"N- n-n- n- n-no way. You Bluffing!" That amulet may corrupts its wearer but it would seem that it can't get rid of fear.

"Am I? Well I guess you won't mind going against me then now would you?" I swear that any minute now she's going to piss herself with how calmly I'm speaking right now.

"Dark Heart! That's enough! The magic needed for the Novus Purificare spell." Nova jumped in before I could make Trixie lose her sanity. It was a good thing too as I looked around after snapping out of my crazed faze to see that everypony, even Pinkie Pie, Zecora, and Cheerilee who must've shown up some time during that display of insanity, was looking towards me with fear prominent within their very souls and made me realise that I've taken this too far.

"Alright Nova, lets do this." I spoke in my normal voice again before I called upon my dark magic to create chains of pure energy and sent them to restrain Trixie so she could not interfere with the process. I'm meant to be the one who purifies the hearts of others and it's just now do I realize the irony in this as I'm probably the one who needs it the most. Maybe that's the real reason why I failed all those years ago.

"Wait, Dark Heart, what are doing? I thought you said that you were going to purify her, not kill her!" Twilight shouted fearfully but I just ignored her before I putting focus on the spell.

As it gained power, the Heart started to emit a bright, almost holy glow that seemed to be pushing itself into a small orb that would easily be able to fit in the palm of my hand. When I felt that it was ready I released the spell by saying its name in ominous whisper and with that a beam of purifying magic went towards Trixie. She screamed when it made contact with her as she thought that she was going to die, but they soon died down as she a couple of minutes passed and she saw that she was still alive. She looked to me as the light died down with the anger, malice, and even fear, gone from her eyes. "What did you do to me?" The purified mare asked.

"I purified your heart so that we could calmly ask you to take off the Alicorn Amulet." I answered in a friendly tone and I heard a few sighs of relief come from some of the ponies gathered around us.

"But why didn't you just ask me before doing all of this?" She must have been oblivious of her corruption.

"Because the Alicorn Amulet made you become corrupt with its power. So even if we had asked you odds are that you would've said no done something terrible to us, and we didn't try to take it off ourselves because it has an enchantment on it that allows only the wearer to take it off." Twilight said as she came up from behind me.

"Corruption!? Did I hurt anypony because of it?" Well it's nice to see that she does care, though ponies could probably attribute that to the Novus Purificare spell I casted on her, they wouldn't know its name though so I guess it would better to just say they would thank the spell I casted on her, but whatever.

"I would say that you didn't that cause any physical harm, at least none that I know of, but you have caused quite a bit of trouble here just the same....scratch that, you did try to choke Pinkie after mentioning the Alicorn Amulet but that is when I stepped in and blasted you which I must apologize for." I spoke sincerely when I said that last part as I know that it'll probably cause some kind of repercussions later.

"Oh no, I remember buying this so I can revenge on Twilight, as well as her friends, for humiliating me when I was last here, but I didn't want to cause anypony any harm." Trixie said as she hung her head down in shame.

I walked up to her and lifted her head gently to get her to look into my eyes. "Trixie this isn't your fault. I know how it feels to want revenge against those who have done you wrong and you forget what is right and what is wrong until that desire is met. You're blinded by it so much that you seek the means to do so no matter the consequence. Trixie you were dealing with forces of dark magic and very few can break its grasp, and even fewer who don't possess it for themselves. I believe that as long as you truly didn't intend for this to happen, then you shouldn't have to be punished though I would advise that you help clean up the damage that you've caused as a means to show the town that you're truly sorry. Enough about though, Trixie you need to take off that amulet; I may have cured you of its corruption, it'll come back when you use your magic again and then this whole mess gets started all over again." I said as I dispersed the chains that held her in place. Trixie looked a little hesitant to take off the Alicorn Amulet but eventually she reached her hand back to undo the clasp that was holding it there and it fell to the ground with *clank*.

I picked it up and walked over to Zecora. "Zecora I need you to hide this where nopony will ever find it, even me." I gave her the amulet and she nodded her head telling me that she understood what I wanted her to do . I know that she knew why I wanted her to make sure that not even I could find it so I wasn't surprised she didn't ask why.

I looked over to the girls to them talking to Trixie, along with some of the townsfolk, and saw that everything was okay so I started to trek back to the forest. It would seem, though, that my departing didn't go unnoticed as I heard Trixie calling out to me. I turned around to see the showmare running up to me. She stopped a couple of feet from me and she looked like wanted to ask me something but seemed to be nervous about it. Finally it seemed that she worked enough nerve to ask me whatever it is she wanted to ask. "Were you telling to truth when you said that you're able to use dark magic?"

"Yes, yes it is. It's my special talent to be able to learn about whatever I can about dark magic as well as being able to control it without actually succumbing to its corrupting effects." I answered her with an amused smile, knowing what she was going to ask.

"Well I wanted to ask if maybe you could teach me some. I heard that the illusions created by it can actually be brought to life and do so much more than standard spells." She asked me with hopefully.

"Sorry Trixie, but I can't." And there's the pouting, seriously what is it with mares and looking so damn cute when they pout like this.

"But why not? Do you think that I wouldn't be able to handle it? That I'm not magically capable of understanding it?" She shot the questions at me in quick succession.

"Because Trixie, nopony can just learn to control it without allowing the power it grants to turn them evil. The only reason I'm able to do it is because of how broken my mind is. Anypony can learn dark magic easily and build up the power just as fast, but without to mental strength to handle corruption then we're going to have another Sombra on our hands and considering the grudge I hold for him it might not be a good idea to go that route." I told her but she still seemed determined to get me to teach her dark illusions.

"Pllllease Dark Heart, I promise that I'll listen to everything you say so you can prepare me." Really, really, she went for the fucking puppy dog eyes. It's not that I can't handle looking at them, in fact it's quite the opposite. No what gets me is that whenever somepony tries these things on me I can't help but find it pathetic.

"Trixie stop doing that, it makes you look pathetic, but it's not you could have known that those damn eyes don't work on me. Even if they did they wouldn't convince me to teach any dark illusion spells. Those kinds of spells are way too damn dangerous, even for me, to allow anypony to go around showing them off for a show. I'm sorry, I really am but as the guardian against the darkness, cannot help you in the way that you want." I spoke sternly which had the desired effect of getting her to finally back now, but not without grumbling annoyedly about me being stubborn that made me chuckle lightly before I resumed my way to the Everfree Forest though I saw that Ember was heading towards me already which made Trixie scared and start channeling her make to her horn. I grabbed her horn and told her to calm down and that she wasn't going to be hurt. She didn't believe me at first as she hid behind me when Ember walked up to me and started nuzzling my leg. I knelt down beside her to pet her and beckoned over Trixie and she walked over tentatively. She reached a hand out towards that Ember gave a quick sniff before licking it and let out an 'eep'. "That means that Ember likes you just in case you were wondering."

"Ember, Is that this timberwolf's name?" She asked as she started scratching Ember's head.

"Yeah and she is my pet and friend. I met her, OW, Ember bit me and I knew why. "Oh right, I mean my best friend and we met when her and her pack members attacked Fluttershy the second day I had been here while she was near the borders of the Everfree. I killed of the rest of her and managed to trap her by running one of my blades through one her hind legs. I looked into her eyes to see that she was scared and that she didn't want to be a part of the attack in the first place. I decided to keep and after her leg was healed up we have been with each other since. The ponies here in Ponyville have gotten used her and treat her as if she was their own, even though they still treat me like garbage." I told her the story of how me and Ember came to be together without, surprisingly, any malice at the last part.

"What do you they treat you like garbage?" Trixie asked quickly upon hearing that part.

"It's a long story, I'll tell it to you sometime if you decide to stick around." I cast my eyes around to area before I stood up. "Listen Trixie, it's been nice talking to you but I gotta head out. If you ever want to talk again just ask tell Pinkie Pie and she get the message to me." I said as I yet again headed to the Everfree with Ember.

I waited around the cave for a couple of hours before a scroll popped up in front me that had the royal insignia on it which means that Celestia and Luna must need me for something.

Dear Dark Heart,

My sister and I have received a letter from Twilight about what had happened today and we wanted to say thank you. I am well aware of what has happened between you and the residents of Ponyville on your second day there and agree that the way they've been treating you and not listening to your side of the story is wrong on all accounts. I am also aware that you may now hold a grudge against them and with this knowledge in my possession I must say that I am very proud of you for putting that aside to help in this matter and thank you for protecting my little ponies. Twilight has also told us of your wish that Trixie Lulamoon not be punished for what the Alicorn Amulet has caused her to do and I will respect your wishes. With that in mind I feel inclined to state that as of now you are officially a part of the Equestrian Royal Guard in the form of a special forces occupancy. If you wish to not have such a title, you can bring us the badge that came along with this letter and we'll be understanding of your choices.

Your friend, Celestia

P.S. Luna also wanted me to ask if you would like to join us and the ambassadors from Saddle Arabia in Ponyville, it would seem that Luna let it slip that you controlled dark magic along with a few other details, they are interested in seeing what you're capable of.

"Well Ember, I guess I get to show off without being called out on it. . . .sayyyy, would like to come with me and meet the princesses girl?" I asked my wooden companion who in turn gave me an eager bark telling me that she indeed wanted to go. "Heh, heh, alright then. We better get going so we don't miss the show."

We ran out of the cave and decided to have a little race their. I'm not sure how, but it seem that I have the ability to understand what Ember was trying to tell me without even trying. It's not on par with Fluttershy's talent but it's definitely more than what anypony else can do and it takes is for us to stare into each others eyes to get a message across to one or the other.

"So I take it that you're now a part of Celestia and Luna's guard then?" Shadow asked with a serious tone.

"Well duh, I'm going to a part of a special forces though I have a feeling that I'm the only in it." I replied not really feeling either way about the subject.

""I can't I'm surprised, after all you would be able to work with you besides us?" Well it would seem that Shadow's mood seems to change rather quickly nowadays. I can't really blame him though; I may be used to what this time holds it doesn't mean that there won't be unforeseen surprises up ahead for us. Who knows what creatures and enemies have came up during our time in the amulet.

"Well honestly what did you two suspect? Those two were bound to want our help sooner or later and they probably waited so long to see if you were so willing to help after hearing what's been going on here." Nova stated with little room for argument from either of us.

It didn't take long for me and Ember to arrive at the stage where Celestia and Luna would be and spot them sitting with who would assume were the ambassadors from Saddle Arabia. I walked up behind Luna and gave her a tap on her shoulder so as not to startle her. She turned to see me and the smile on her face grew exponentially. "DarkHeart, it's so good to see you again after all these months." She said as she got up and hugged me. Of course Luna's speaking out didn't go unnoticed by the other three.

"Dark Heart you're here already?" Celestia asked with genuine surprise.

"Well duh, what did you expect from me? I've been training vigorously everyday since I found a new cave to live in and playing with ember certainly helps as well as she's just seems to be a ball of endless energy." I answered her as if she was a normal pony. She and Luna go through enough of that on a daily basis with the whole having to look and sound the part of royalty in the eyes of everypony else, so they like it when I act this way when I'm with them. It lets them know that they can act like themselves around me instead of what they act like around Twilight and her friends.

"So this is the famous DarkHeart that we've heard so much about." Spoke a tall brown stallion a robe of yellow and blue with an orange trim. "You know when you spoke of him I thought that he would look much older."

"What does it matter how I look I could still beat the rest of the royal guard singled-handedly as well as stand up to any threat that comes to Equestria." I boasted, probably not the best idea but I wasn't going to be belittled from this guy.

"Oh no, that's not what my husband ment at all. It's just that when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna spoke of you they had told us that you were a thousand and nineteen years old but they didn't tell us that you looked so young." Said the tall pink mare wearing a pink robe with a dark blue trim and white upside down, elongated horseshoes with a twirl at the bottom parts.

I looked at the princesses to see them give me a sheepish smile. *sigh* "The princesses didn't tell a few things about me that you probably should have been informed of that they didn't bother to mention." I stated in bemusement of this.

"Well we will be here for awhile. Would you mind telling us about yourself and fill us in on what the princesses didn't before me and my wife start asking you questions that you'll probably be able to answer any way." The stallion asked.

"Yeah sure, it would do well for the bond between our nations anyway considering to only member of the newly formed Equestrian Special Forces is so willing to share information about themselves." And so I started telling about myself, starting from when I first gained my dark powers. They listened tentatively and only asked to occasional question though when I was finished they really let me have it with them. It went on like this till it was time for the delegates and princesses to leave but before the princesses left they had asked to talk in private.

"So what is it you two?" I asked with a mischievous smile but that quickly died as I saw their fearful expressions.

"DarkHeart we have started to get reports of strange occurrences in both the Everfree forest and Equestria. From what little information that has been gathered we have confirmation that it is a dragon who is causing them though we aren't sure if it's the same one that attacked you at the castle and that your family has been fighting for centuries, but we do know that whoever it is, is up to no good." Celestia informed me and also seemed o pick up on my thoughts that it was Spirit.

"Wait, hold up, what have these occurrences been? You still haven't told me what this dragon has been doing. I need to make I'm not charging in gungho and costing somepony their live." By their fidgeting I could tell that they weren't fond of having to describe such events from their own mouths.

"Well....... we aren't sure but............. it seems that this dragon is skinning ponies alive and seem to have no remorse for who they do it to. We have found newborn foals as though amongst the list of victims and some where not even a day old and........... DarkHeart?" I couldn't hear Luna anymore, after hearing what this dragon has done I'm now more than simply angry. What I was feeling right now was similar to what had happened to me after I got blasted by my mother when she was being controlled by the golem.

"I know what you want to do DarkHeart and I agree, whoever this dragon is doesn't deserve to live. We're going to find them and kill them. My purpose may be to heal the hearts of those whom have been corrupted by darkness, but this is beyond such help now and there is only one way with creatures like this." I heard Nova say and thanks to her now dark tone I know just how badly she wants to head out.

"Where was it last spotted?" I'll make this dragon pay for what it's done.