As the spell was coming to an end, DarkHeart finally saw his weapon, the katanas seem to be emanating a lot of power and DarkHeart was eager to take them out for a test run, but. . . . . . . ."Why the hell are there chains connected to the bottoms, and what exactly are those things connected to them," DarkHeart asked curious to what purpose these attachments served. There seemed to be a chain attached to the bottom of handle with, what appeared to be, steel gauntlets at the end of the chains, and the chain seem to have some kind of visible energy stream running through it, which would suggest that the chains also have a magical power running through it as well.

DarkHeart reached out to the gauntlets to examine them closer but as his hands were an or two away from them, they had opened up and clasp themselves around his wrists and the chain seem to retract into a compartment of the gauntlets drawing the blades into his hands.

"Well these swords of mine are really quite interesting, and haven't even fought with them yet, I wonder what kind of power they hold within them." DarkHeart had said with a look of looming curiosity twinkling in his eyes.

Believing DarkHeart to be too distracted with looking over his new swords, the changeling golem decides to have Star Dust and Lucky Streak attack him, although it may not know how much experience DarkHeart actually had fighting with his blades it wasn't going to take any chances, it was using his parents as the test dummies to find out how he fights with those blades of his.

They did as they were told, albeit a little hesitant, and went after DarkHeart, but they were in for nasty surprise, for DarkHeart's senses had been enhanced as well and so he felt the vibrations going through the earth as his parents closed in on him but had kept up the charade that he was still too fascinated with his weapons to notice them. The moment they right on him, he turned around channeling his dark magic through his katanas and swung, aiming straight in the center of their bodies, and the two who had been foolish enough to think that he wouldn't know they were going to attack had clenched their eyes' shut as they awaited their ends but instead of feeling deaths hands' call to them, they instead a head-splitting pain grow through them, as they felt themselves hit the ground hard.

They were now in so much pain that it became unbearable for them, they were laying on the ground writhing in agony as the pain continue to spread throughout their bodies, but they had felt another feeling as well as the pain continued t spread. They felt as though some foreign presence was leaving them and the voice in their head that had been filling their minds with the ideas that DarkHeart was evil was escaping them and their love and worry for him immediately came back to them.

As his parents were still lying on the ground in intense pain, DarkHeart had turned his attention back towards his original enemy readying himself so that he may terminate this bothersome creature.

He wasn't worried much about his parents because he knew that that spell he had just used would do just the trick for neutralizing the mind control spell that had been placed on his parents. He wasn't exactly sure how he knew to use such a spell but the new voice in his head told him how to do it through his blades without actually wounding them in the process.

Now DarkHeart lets end this miserable creature once and for all. It's nothing compared to the power that courses through your veins. The voice had said trying to keep DarkHeart focused.

"Right I have job to finish and it involves taking out that damn thing right here, RIGHT NOW!" DarkHeart couldn't explain it but the moment after he'd had the gauntlets attach themselves to him, the darkness within his heart has begun to slowly start to disappear and this new voice he's been hearing has started to speak him, calming him down and keeping him from doing anything he would later on in his life. It's these things that makes DarkHeart so sure that whatever this voice is, isn't Shadow trying to help him.

DarkHeart deciding he could no longer wait he ready his katanas, charged towards to now bewildered and now afraid golem, wanting to end this as soon as possible. His dark magic once again activated, channeling itself through his swords and fully intent on killing the golem, and the golem could do was stand there, petrified by fear. It had no tricks it could use, this dark magic that this pony possessed was incredibly powerful, and it's obvious that he's quite skilled with those blades, being able to take out the mind control spell that it had placed on his parents and on top of that, the blades themselves seem to contain an incredible magic on their own which is only amplified even more whenever he adds his own power into it, so there was absolutely no chance of defeating him. It had pushed DarkHeart around numerous times during the whole ordeal, but every time, no matter how hard he was pushed down, he got back up, and each time he got up he came back swinging with even more power than the last time.

The golem was ready to accept its fate, but it wasn't going down without a fight, and so mustering up enough courage to actually move again, the golem got to make a move to attack DarkHeart who was now right in front of it.

DarkHeart leapt up, his katanas now overflowing with dark energy, bringing his swords down to strike down the creature while the golem was making an attempt to use its hoofs to strike him down while he's in the air.

Just as their attacks were about to connect, a bright flash appeared from nowhere and along with it a strong force that threw both the golem and DarkHeart off balance and sent them spiraling back a few dozen yards, right past his parents who had recovered from their pain trip and were watching the two when they were about to strike each other down, and were made into a nice big crater and DarkHeart, who was actually becoming quite irritated of being used to make craters, was making an attempt to get back up to find out what had just happened.

As the energy subsided DarkHeart finally managed to lift himself up and out of the crater and what he saw shocked him. . . . . . a lot. In front of his eyes, his parents and the golem were bowing to a mare that appeared to be made out of pure light. In all his days he didn't think he would ever see his parents bowing down to anypony, they didn't even do it when Princess Celestia had came to town.

He picked himself out of the crater and started walking towards the mysterious light mare, wanting to find out who it was exactly that both his parents and the golem, that didn't seem to hold any kind of respect for anything, was bowing down in the presence of this mare.

As he was walking past his parents, he felt something tug at his leg, "DarkHeart, show some respect and bow your head," DarkHeart looked down at his mother with a raised eyebrow wondering why he should even attempt to do such a thing when he didn't know who this mare was anyway.

"And why exactly would I do that my dear mother? Especially when I don't even know who she is." DarkHeart said to see if his mother would catch on to what he wanted her to do.

"I am the spirit of the Heart of Light, I am also the one who has made the rule and procedures of "The Initiation" as it is now called by your family, but I think you may know me as the strange voice in your head. It's rather interesting actually that a pony such as you was able to hear my voice, no pony has been able to hear my voice within the confines of their own minds in or out of the amulet, but yet you were, mind telling me why that is."

StarDust opened her mouth to explain to DarkHeart why he should, when she was interrupted by the mare in question. Now she just looked to her son, wanting to hear what his response would be, or to be more precise to make sure he doesn't say anything stupid to this all powerful being.

DarkHeart had retreated back to his thoughts trying to see if there was anything he may have done to accomplish such a thing when he figured out the perfect answer the spirits question,"Why the hell does it matter that I can hear your voice? I mean you don't seem all that special to me, so what is you're the spirit of the amulet, I've dealt with spirits before but this one was something of a nuisance," replied DarkHeart.

Star Dust's jaw had dropped the way her son had answered to the spirit that had been in their care for these years and Lucky Streak, who had decided to stay silent after he had woken up to the sight of a golem flying in front of his face, was snickering happy that at least somepony had the balls to talk this mare like a normal pony instead of kissing her ass like she was god.

"Hmmmm," was the answer he had gotten back in response.

"You are most certainly a strange colt aren't you, but then again if you weren't I wouldn't have allowed you to continue on with the trial, even after your parents had intervered, in the first place." That sentence had made the family all snap their heads towards the light spirit, all now knowing why the golem hadn't evaporated into thin air after the two older ponies had stepped in to save their son's life.

"Wait you mean that. . . you. . . and the. . . ," DarkHeart was having a hard time comprehending what she had just said and was trying to put the pieces together to see if maybe. . . just maybe,

I passed, I defeated that damn golem without having the trial rendered null and void, which means I've must've passed right?But even though she said that she found me interesting it could also mean that she probably expected more from me so there's also the chance I didn't pass, no. . no there's no way I couldn't have I mean I finally summoned my own weapon, or weapons I should say, gained control of the dark power and better yet not once did I ever give up even when it came to breaking that spell on my parents, so that means that I've must've passed and am now the new Guardian of Light.

As DarkHeart stood there internally arguing with himself Star Dust finally decided to stand up and walk over to the spirit mare.

"I must say Star Dust your son is incredibly rude. Not listening to his own mother when you tell him to do something and questioning your decisions as well as just spacing out in front of a lady, now that my friend is just plain rude." Star Dust probably was just mistaken, but she could've sworn she saw the mare smile when she said that last part.

"Please you must forgive him, it's just that he's had a bad day and with all of this has seem to made him forget the stallion he really is." Star Dust replied to the spirit.

"Don't worry about it Starry, I mean if I got mad for every time a pony wasn't kissing my ass, the two of us wouldn't have become such good friends." The spirit said reassuring Star Dust.

"Well if that's true then why did you get angry whenever I wasn't." said Lucky Streak wanting to make sure he's not forgotten.

"Yes, well that's because you weren't ever polite to me. You would always be shooting off those smart-ass remarks of yours or talking crap about me when you thought I wasn't listening, now you my foe truly are rude." the mare with a look of minor disgust.

"Alright that's enough out of the two of you, Nova what do you think about letting DarkHeart take on the responsibility of taking care of the amulet?" Star Dusk asked curious about the decision the spirit has made about her son.

Hearing his name spoken DarkHeart came out of his thoughts to listen in the conversation between Nova and Star Dust.

"Well is there really any answer other than yes." Nova said with a bright smile plastered across her face, her eyes shining a little brighter.

The three older ponies looked to DarkHeart to see his reaction (well that is if he came out of his sea of thoughts) and what they saw was something they had all expected to see.

DarkHeart was standing there, shaking like a leaf, with a huge smile that took up most of his face now. He was so excited that he felt like exploding, but not being able to keep it in any longer that's exactly what he did.

"YEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" DarkHeart shouted at the top of his lungs, feeling pumped now that not only did he accomplish one of his dreams but he manage to get his second one that he was hoping to have come true too.

The other three ponies on the ground looked up to the overjoyed young stallion and laughing at his antics.

After a few moments of cheerful celebration in the skies, DarkHeart finally came down finally feeling as though he had released of the pent up energy from his excitement but he was still a bit jittery.

Man I can't believe it. My dreams have turned into a reality albeit I wasn't planning on having them happen the way they did, but hey at least they happened I that's all I could ask for." DarkHeart said a little calmer than the others could've expected from him in his current state, which had actually made them suspect that there was something that he wasn't telling them.

Lucky Streak was the first to speak up,"What's wrong Dark, isn't this your dream come true moment?"

DarkHeart sighed as his expression slowly turned to one of happiness to one of guilt. "Well when I think back to everything that happened just a few moments ago I can't help but feel like all of this is my fault and it's kinda eating at me."

DarkHeart had gotten raised brows and confused looks from the ponies in front of him.

"What is your fault, and do you feel like whatever you're talking about is your doing? You didn't do anything wrong so what exactly is eating at you?" Star Dust asked hoping that it wasn't anything big.

"Well for one everything I said to you guys when you came in to save me as well as the fact that you two were being controlled by the golem." DarkHeart said with downcast gaze.

"Oh DarkHeart, you don't have to worry about that. We understand why you said everything you said, and for the mind control well I believe that's our fault letting our guard down when we knew full well that it was still around, even if it was unconscious." Lucky Streak said with a genuine smile to show his son that he sincere.

"Actually before you try to make your counter-argument DarkHeart, I would like to know why your voice still sounds like that, I thought it was only a part of your transformation." asked Nova, curious as to why his most of him was back to normal except for that one little thing.

"You know what? I was wondering the same thing but I wasn't sure if was because of the transformation or your anger." Star Dust looked to her son to see if he had an answer.

The three of them were now expecting for him to have an answer when, in all reality, he didn't. He was just as confused as they were. "You know I couldn't really tell you I'm just as confused by it as all of you."

If none of you have an answer, then maybe you would like to hear mine. A voice seemingly coming from nowhere said, but of course DarkHeart knew who it was, but he was surprised that the others could hear him, and what had surprised him even more was the fact that Shadow was speaking at all after he retreated back into his mind after he had accepted the dark power and threatened him.

"What in the world are you mysterious voice?" Lucky answered back.

"The 'voice's' name is Shadow dad, and he's not just some random voice, he's a dark spirit that's suppose to be the manifestation of the darkness that dwells within my heart. He's also the same spirit I was talking about six years ago after I had gotten into that 'fight' at school." DarkHeart explained to his father, as well as the other two mares that were there also curious about this 'dark spirit'.

"Yeah, precisely, come on DarkHeart I really think you should hear me out on this." Shadow pleaded.

"I think you should just let him tell us his theory. It wouldn't anypony, and right now none of us has a clue to this little mystery and here's a creature who does. Who knows he may actually have the answer already as well as a solution."

Star Dust wanted to why her son's body hadn't all changed back to it's normal one, to others it may seem like a minor detail and probably would have came up with the solution of a sore throat or maybe the side-effect of spell, but after everything she and Nova have been through she knew better than not to worry about this.

"Well I believe that your voice change may be linked to your dark power and that it's still like this because you want it to be. So I think that if you were to concentrate hard enough you can change it back to your usual voice."

"Hmm, you know that idea wasn't as ridiculous as I thought it would be. DarkHeart had been skeptical about hearing what Shadow had to say, but he guessed he was wrong.

"That does sound like a possibility after all, as far as I know, you're the only unicorn in our family to use dark magic, plus the fact that not that much is known about dark magic in the world of magic anyway so what if what he says is right." Star Dust said.

"Well I guess it's worth a shot then," DarkHeart closed his eyes and started to direct his dark magic to his throat, searching for his voice box.

He wrapped his magic around it as he had located it and concentrating on trying to manipulate it to create the voice he's had before his anger had flared.

He felt a tingling in his throat as he worked the magical energy until finally the energy dispersed signifying that it had finished its job. He went to go speak so that he could check if the spell had really worked or had Shadow's theory proven wrong.

"So did it work or do I have to find a way to go back into my mental plain and kick Shadow's ass." DarkHeart said seeing, or hearing as it were, that it had worked, as well as thinking of all the possibilities that could come from this spell.

"Well for being a dark spirit I gotta say you really aren't all that violent are you?" Nova said with a smirk knowing full well that Shadow demeanor is a result of DarkHeart's control over him and his power.

And now that I mention, considering the fact that both you and DarkHeart are within the amulet, you should be able to manifest yourself within this plain with no problems."

After hearing that Shadow went to work freeing himself from his prison and in mere moments found himself staring face to face with DarkHeart, but only this time the two of them were in DarkHeart's mind.

"I must say it feels good to be out there," Shadow said stretching out to get the point across that it was uncomfortable being trapped within the mind of another pony.

"Yeah well don't get used to it because you're going back in when we leave, you got that Shadow?" DarkHeart temporarily switched back to his previous so as to get a point across to the spirit.

"That is why I'm not all that volatile, Nova, cause I'm not sure if you noticed, but getting on DarkHeart's bad side, especially when he's blown a fuse." Shadow said trying to back talk his polar opposite.

The two spirits just stared at each other waiting for the other to make the first move when DarkHeart decided to step in before their bout even had a chance to start.

"That's enough from the two of you, we've all been through a lot in the last few hours and I think that the four of us need to get out of here and get some rest."

DarkHeart was indeed starting to feel the force of gravity increase as his legs were struggling to keep up his body that was starting to feel heavier, though he didn't show any signs of it. Considering all of the training that he's done over the past few years playing off the macho act wasn't really all that hard for him.

Hearing DarkHeart be the first to say that he was tired was a shock to his parents considering the fact that their son never admits when he's tired, which meant that he must've been exhausted. SO agreeing with their son's decision they all say their goodbyes to Nova and Shadow as the portal that would lead them back to their living room where Star Dust had placed the amulet before they left.

They were about to go through the portal but not before DarkHeart had turned around to make Shadow was with them.

"Come on Shadow, I already told you that you weren't staying here, you're coming back with us even if I have to drag you in with us," DarkHeart threatened.

"Oh alright fine, but I expect some kind of reward for complying without being forced."

"Your reward is that I still allow you to speak without any sort of punishment and that I'm willing to allow you to be free within my mind."

DarkHeart was in no mood for arguing with the persistent spirit seeing as he was already exhausted enough as it is, and he if has to stay away from the warm embrace of his bed any longer he might end up losing it again.

"Okay Okay calm down there DarkHeart, I was just kidding around I'm coming, I'm coming." Shadow couldn't believe that this was the same kid he tried to take over six years ago as he reverted back to his spiritual form and retreated back into the recesses of DarkHeart's mind.

"Well with that out of the way what do you say we get heading back home and go to bed." Lucky Streak said as a powerful yawn came over him.

"Well I guess I might see all of you around then." Nova watched them as they were about to head through the portal.

Nova watched as Star Dust went through the portal first, then Lucky Streak, and finally it was DarkHeart's turn, but right before he was going to go through it she called out to him.

"DarkHeart I want to say something to you real quick before you leave. Could you please come over here?"

That earned her a groan from DarkHeart as her answer, but none the less he turned around and walked towards Nova to see what it was she wanted to tell him."What is it Nova? I really want to go home and go to sleep."

"I just wanted to tell you that I'm glad you managed to beat that golem and have become the new Guardian of Light. I'm not sure what it is but I do think that you're really a special pony, and that's not because of your dark magic, but because of your personality. I have a feeling that the two of us are going to become close friends and you might even be the one to finally find out how to look unlock the true power of the amulet. I also beli-," Nova was silenced by DarkHeart as he placed his index finger over her lips.

"Alright Nova I get it, you really find me fascinating and would like to become my friend, but seriously though I don't any sort of praise. After all if I only preformed well just for praise I would no better that some egotistical asshole, snotting rich filly who gets whatever the fuck she wants."

"Right, sorry, but I am really glad that you succeed in going all out to make your dreams come true and I can't wait to spend more time with you, but you should probably get going now so you could rest from today." Nova said with a slight blush that was hidden thanks to the natural glow she gave off.

"Yeah I am too but you're right I really need a break from today maybe I'll actually take an off day for the next week or so, well, be seeing ya." DarkHeart moved towards the portal and before he went through he turned around and waved bye to Nova, then went through the portal and went back home.

He came out the other side to see that he was in the living room along with his parent swho had been patiently waiting for him to get back before Star Dust closed the portal and an orb of energy shot to the front of DarkHeart. It released a blinding light before it had calmed down after a few moments and left in its wake was the Heart of Light hanging around his neck.

"Well I must admit that thing suits you well DarkHeart," Lucky Streak complimented his son. "It most certainly does look like you were meant to where it."

"Thanks but to be honest I really don't care how it looks on me after all I'm supposed to protect it, not care about whether or not it looks good on me, but I gotta say it does make look like an ultimate badass." DarkHeart said looking down at the amulet that now hung around his neck and his parents just rolled their eyes at his comment.

"Alright calm down mister badass I think it's time for all of us to hit the hay what do you say." Star Dust said bringing him back to reality.

She was right although he was now the new guardian, it doesn't mean that he wasn't able to fall victim to sleep deprivation and considering the kind of day he's had, he would gladly accept the call from dreamland with joy.

"Yeah, slipping off into dreamland sounds good right about now I think I'm just going to turn in for tonight." With that DarkHeart went up the stairs heading towards their bedrooms, heading off to his own but not before he had said good night to his parents.

"A lot of things are going to happen now aren't they?" Lucky Streak said, concern lacing his voice.

Yes, Yes they are, but as long as he keeps a leveled-head he'll be able to solve any problem." Star Dust wasn't going to worry about DarkHeart. She already knew that he wasn't going to give up on problem that comes his way and now that he's come to terms with the darkness within she was sure that he could accomplish anything.

Back in his room DarkHeart was laying on his bed thinking about the events of today and how it ended. "Man I can't believe I've finally done it. I somehow managed to get my cuitemark, the heart, and my blades, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect day, but unfortunately I know it'll probably be the day I'll be able to get that's like this *sigh* well whatever it doesn't matter now that I've found my purpose in life, to my darkness to help those in need."

DarkHeart like the sound of that idea, helping ponies who couldn't help themselves against the forces of evil.

(He would say the forces of darkness but considering he now controls his own darkness and is most likely going to use it a whole lot more than his regular magic, that IF he uses his regular magic again, that would kinda mean he would have to hunt himself down).

"Even still though how would I even go about that I mean ponies don't like me as it is and it would become a pain in the ass if they got in my way or didn't comply with something I told them to do so that they get hurt and all because they don't like me." DarkHeart was in the middle of this thought when Shadow voiced up his opinion.

"I honestly see any problem here, after all you've helped out other ponies before that didn't like you and yet you still manage to get done whatever it is you were doing." Shadow stated in a matter-of-fact tone.

DarkHeart contemplated on what Shadow had told him and figured that the dark spirit right but there were still a few things that he wanted to say to the spirit but decided against it, seeing as though he was now really tired and thought he might pass out and slip into a slumber any moment now, *Yawn* Yeah I guess you're right . . . . . . I guess I can give . . . . . . . a try but for the rest of the summer I'm gonna re-" DarkHeart had passed out and was now in the realm of dreams where unfortunately for DarkHeart was a place of intense nightmares.

Every night since he was about four he's had nightmares instead of dreams, it took a special sleep spell from princess Luna in order to get him to actually sleep. The spell had caused his dreams to disappear for as long as the spell was in place. Eventually the spell had worn off when he was fifteen, and his nightmares had returned at full force, but because at the time the spell had stopped he had been training his mind so as to control his temper, but when the nightmares returned it worked just as well to allow him to force those nightmares into 'dreams'.

But for some reason tonight seemed to be different. Instead of popping into one of his many nightmares when he slipped into unconsciousness, he came up into a peaceful world and for once in a long time he felt at peace in his slumber.

Shadow, having lived in DarkHeart's mind for his entire existence saw this and grew curious of the matter and went digging through his mind to find out if some outside force was doing this when he spotted a stream of light enveloping DarkHeart's mind, 'Nova', Shadow thought wondering why the light mare cared what was in DarkHeart's subconscious.

"Why are you interfering with his dreams Nova?" Shadow asked knowing that she could hear him.

"I think the better question is, why wouldn't I interfere? DarkHeart has suffered through so much already and after a day like today I think it is right to say that he deserves to have a peaceful nights sleep that isn't constantly plagued with the risk of it turning into a nightmare. There's also the mental strain that his put on him having to constantly control the events of his 'dreams', but you would that better than any of us wouldn't you Shadow?"

"Yes I would but do you really think he needs my help with that sort of stuff. I mean come on because the way his mind works he's become the stallion he is today. If it wasn't for these nightmares he wouldn't have grown to be as fearless as he is, or thrive to want to help others, and he could go through anything life throws at him without having to worry about it screwing him up any further than he already is." Shadow stated.

"I would have to agree with you there, but now that I'm here, I'm going to make sure I do whatever it takes to take as pressure as I can off of his shoulders. But I think we should discuss this another time for now I think we should rest as well cause come tomorrow things are going to be changing for all three of is I know it."

"Agreed, well then I guess I'll be seeing you in the morning, goodnight." Shadow said as he went into his kind of sleep.

"Yeah, goodnight Shadow, and a goodnight to you, DarkHeart," With that said Nova, too, fell asleep until the sun shines into a new day.

Author's Notes:

Princess Luna had yet to turn into Nightmare Moon when she had placed that spell and still won't for about another year or two in the story.