Caligula

So - it wasn't a ritual. There was no magic involved. It was merely a meaningless waste of time, meant for entertainment. What a shame... Though, as far as Obsidian was concerned, she could - sooner or later - try to put it to a good use. A small crystal here and here, a simple spell, and she could have a useful spy, or another tool. As such, maybe it would be worth learning? Nopony would expect that, ugh, a 'cute bunny' could be enchanted. Of course, there was a downside - her crystals were black, so she'd need to find out how they could fit bunnies. Actually, how do bunnies look like? Obsidian patiently followed the instructions - it wasn't hard, just a matter of few folds - and peeked outside. A city on a mountain... Could it be Equestrian capital? Thousand years passed since she read about it. What was its name...? Okay, there was a palace in Everfree, where Equestrian rulers lived, but they were building a new place - Canterlot or something...?

...Japone? Kirin? What were those things? Obsidian could only hope that she will find an opportunity to catch up with modern knowledge as soon as possible - being ignorant was humiliating. The name of this exotic art didn't tell her anything. "Is it some kind of magical ritual? Is it possible to utilize those... origamis... in any way?" she asked, dumbfounded. She took offered paper, though, obviously, at the moment she had no idea what to do with it - or if there was any point in it. If it was an art of foreign creatures, from faraway lands, then maybe they could be, uh, brought to life or something? Small, paper servants would be useful, that's for sure.

'Absent-minded' was an understatement, at least in Obsidian's opinion. For her whole life she was taught it's her duty to be aware of her surroundings and herself - so meeting an alicorn noble who was talking before thinking was rather unpleasant experience, even disregarding the fact that her 'absent-mindness' could be easily mistaken for mockery. Bah, if not for her apologies, Obsidian would be SURE it was a mockery! She only scowled in response - and then tried to calm down. Obsidian never experienced either travels or emotions like that, so it was hard, but she was managing to stay - more or less - composed. And a bit bored. She peeked with a mix of curiosity and suspicions at the quasi-crane in Flurry's hooves.

Maybe for Flurry riding a train was nothing new, but for Obsidian it was the first time in life when she was moving away from the Crystal Empire - an experience tainted by the constant buzzing of other ponies in the train who, for some reasons, were not separated from their betters. What kind of madness was it? Why royals didn't receive an entire train for themselves? Crystal Empire was turned into something truly savage. And the blizzard beyond the window was something new to her as well. For her entire life she saw weather safely contained outside the borders of the city. Seeing the raging elements was making her uneasy. Not as uneasy as Flurry's question. Obsidian looked at her, spending a few precious seconds trying to figure out what she was asking about. "...are you really asking me how it feels to learn that, as far as everypony is concerned, my entire family is dead?" she answered with the voice colder than the weather outside the train. "Oh, it's a wonderful feeling, I assure you. I recommend you to try it out yourself, I'm sure you will greatly enjoy it" her voice was practically dripping with venom at this point.

Not that Obsidian cared about the crowd's reaction - the fact that they were not bowing or panicking only made the travel to the train station easier and calmer. However, when they reached it... By Darkness, what was it? What a monstrosity of steel Equestrians created! It didn't take Obsidian too much time to figure out that it was merely another kind of chariot - but its size and the fact that it apparently required tracks to move awed her. It didn't change the fact that she was a bit reluctant to board this thing - and when she did she just sat on her seat, doubly nervous. Not only she was leaving the Empire for the first time in her life, with everything she knew ripped away from her - but also this strange machine was making a lot of noise.... overall, it was rather unexpected new experience. She could only hope that this new guardian will be more quiet than those before. What was wrong with plebeians in the modern times? Why were they talking so much?

Obsidian threw Flurry a puzzled look. "Why not? You are threatening them with mining crystals. Both physical maiming and slavery were considered a viable punishment options during my father's rule" she remarked. Just giving guards a stern talk was simply not good enough in her opinion - punishment should always be far more serious than the crime, otherwise criminals would ignore some laws, knowing that they don't have to fear anything. Those three stallions were commiting a crime by talking, so simply talking back wasn't enough. And... By Darkness, what was that big thing? Obsidian was so stunned by the sight of modern technology that she almost missed the fact that the 'royalty' she was talking with just walked to two other, older alicorns and hugged them. It was safe to assume that they were her parents - which was making the entire scene nauseating. Why would three royal alicorns act in such undignified way? Were they a real royalty at all? She couldn't even imagine her treating her glorious father with such lack of respect.

"For a royalty you practically seem to be afraid to put them in their place. It would make the world a better place - I mean, look at them, they are so dumb that it's a miracle that they are able to walk and breathe at the same time" Obsidian replied to Flurry with an almost cheerful voice. "They even talk about desecrating your private chambers, and are not aware that tongues can be easily removed with a sharp knife... or not so easily with a blunt one." At the moment the fact that they were out in the city, or that guardians were still making sounds, didn't matter. Not at all. In fact, she was outright ignoring them, focusing only on Flurry. "So, if you are not willing to punish them, then I will do it. I'm not sure if they have enough brain for me to mind control, but I can try. Except for the one carrying your things, I can spare him for now."

Ah, at least normal citizens were treating her with respect. It was heartwarming to know that, even after years, they remembered lessons that her father's rule taught them. "Of course it looked different. Crystals are very sensitive to dark magic" she answered - but that was enough of her patience. Obsidian stopped in place to glare at guards. It wasn't a pleasant look. She didn't care about comment about her look half as much as they probably thought, but she was simply irritated that they talk that much. "Do you want to lose your tongues that much, maggots?"

Indeed, the only look that would work on Obsidian right now was the glare of her mighty father - but he didn't seem to be around any longer. A shame, really, she was pretty sure that in his presence entire city - including those guards and one alicorn quasi-royal - would behave much, much better. What was the point in keeping 'the worst' in the guard without putting anything mind-controlling on them? Collars, helmets - just a single, small artifact and voila, even the worst trash would be quiet, obedient and willing to give up life for the greater good. "Ordered" she answered shortly. "Everycreature had known its role and was either accepting it, or was forced to do so. Empire was strong, built on the backs of thousands of slaves and soldiers, with not a single pony daring to do as much as look nastily at the king..." she peeked at insolent guards. "...let alone talk to him without respect. It seems that plenty of things became worse since those great days."

"Your opportunity to help me passed" Obsidian mused, not too happy with the outcome of her escape attempt - and with the low quality of the guards that were chasing her. Now, in the light, without fear she was feeling after they cornered her in her own room she could finally realize what a pathetic rabble they were. Loud, disorganized, rude... Frankly, now that she was thinking about it, she should have try to beat them. With surprise on her side, they wouldn't even realize what hit them. And more importantly, they didn't seem too eager to actually pick fight with her, or they woukd already. "Are you sure you are royalty? They are very rude in your presence. You should punish them for their insolence" she said more or less casually to Flurry.

An alicorn? Sent to the same place as her? To learn about... uh, friendship? But why? Friendship was nothing but a trifle! A vulgar plaything of plebeians, who had nothing - nor power or duties! If she was, indeed, a royalty, she should learn about many things - but the pathetic craft of wasting time and energy on other creatures was not one of them. Empires had no friends - only interests, and monarch, as a living embodiment of the state, should follow this wise rule too. "I'm treating you with as much respect as I can muster for an alicorn" Obsidian answered coolly. "And right now past is everything I have" she peeked in the guards' direction. Eh, they were already too close. "I will keep in mind this little meeting." With just a bit of luck being roughed by guards will be more pleasant than discussing with this quasi-royal creature.

Window was becoming more and more tempting option with each moment. Eh, if only it would be past twilight! With the darkness reigning over the entire Empire she could use her powers more freely, without worrying about little inconvenientes, like falling to her death! It wasn't the level of the mastery over shadows and crystals that her father achieved, but it should be enough... probably. "To Ponyville! And I'm not going to negotiate about that with armed thugs that invaded my bedroom!" she hissed. The sounds of guards were coming closer and closer - just a bit more and she would have to use strength to move past this shield, and consequences be damned!

Damnation! Another shield! And it didn't look like she could quickly breach it. Behind her guards were coming closer and closer - maybe she should have threatened them a bit more? A few little nightmares hidden in the shadows would keep them away from her for longer time. Now, sadly, it was too late - corridor was too bright. The last viable option was jumping out of window - maybe she would survive, maybe not. Probably not. As far as she was aware, gravity was very dangerous and unpleasant lady. "My name is Obsidian, and those thugs want to send me somewhere! And no, half-crystal pony at the best!" Frankly, she had no idea. Her father didn't want any unnecessary questions about her other parent. She could only guess it was one of the more lucky slaves. "Either let me go or I will have to go through you!"

Uh-oh. It wasn't a guardian. It was... an alicorn. As far as she know - a being of great power, able to pretend to possess god-like qualities to make plebeians believe that they were quasi-deities. Charming. Alicorn? Of all creatures, what was the chance of meeting THIS ONE in a middle of palace, during a daring escape attempt? Obsidian never met one, and would be much happier without this questionable pleasure. She stepped back, her eyes darting to the side in the search of opening. Sadly, she seemed to be agile enough to counter any of her moves. Well, in this case she could either let guardians catch her - guardians that just had some problems with her, including that one that literally was kicked by her on her way out - or try to force her way through unknown royalty. Fighting was out of question - she had to resort to good, old intimidation and a bit of illusion magic. "OUT OF MY WAY!" she growled, with streams of purple smoke practically bursting out of the corners of her eyes. Her shadow grew bigger, in a threatening way rising on the wall. Meanwhile Obsidian herself stepped back to rush forward - if it was necessary, she was going to literally try to run over Flurry.

Why was she even worried in the first place? It was nothing! She didn't even break a sweat! They barely noticed she already left the room, with their shouts and screams bidding her farewell. With just a bit of luck they would just beat each and thus let her score an important victory in a psychological warfare. Sadly, the easy part ended here. Crystal Palace changed a lot since her times - and each piece of bright wall, every paint or sculpture, were confirming that a lot of time passed since her father's rule. She even managed to peek behind a window - and find out that city was... different. A lot. Not a single trace of dark crystals, no guardian towers, she couldn't see even a single line of slaves walking to or from quarry. A terrible sight to behold. Perhaps this made her a bit less careful - and eventually she literally ran into another guardian. By this time she already dropped her shadow spell, returning to her usual appearance... but, sadly, it was hardly common. "Nothing to see here, soldier, move along" she said with a confidence, trying to walk past Flurry. She didn't realize that this particular pony was in her room just a moment ago - and decided to simply pretend that she can be here. After all guards are stupid, they shouldn't suspect anypony who doesn't act in a suspicious way, right?

Wait. Waitwaitwaitwait, what were they doing? WHAT WHERE THEY DOING?! Why couldn't they act in a normal way - trying to arrest or kill her? That's what, logically, should be done with the members of the fallen dynasties! Was she going to become some kind of hostage or something? Not resisting would be probably the best idea, considering everything she learned right now, but it didn't change fact that she was hardly happy with it... or that she didn't have to act fully logically. "Hey! School? Friendship? Train? Reintegrate? What are you talking about?!" Obsidian asked with a quavering voice, when thugs that invaded her room once again started talking utter nonsense. Did they want to kidnap her? Or, uh, to be fair the better term would be 'exile', probably. What was this 'Ponyville' he mentioned? A prison colony? When some of the guards left, Obsidian saw it both as mockery - did they really think she was so weak that they could just walk out? - and an opportunity. Maybe not the wisest one... but an opportunity nonetheless. She wasn't going to just let them force her out of Empire. Her horn flashed for a split of second with sickly, dark light - and a bolt of dark magic flashed upwards, right at the crystals that were lightening the windowless room. Crystal shattered, immediately bathing everything in the darkness - a situation that Obsidian really appreciated. She immediately dropped her magical shield and ran forward, with the shadows encompassing her body until it was hard to notice where flesh was ending and where shadows were beginning. She didn't need to hurt anyone - she just wanted to scare guards... and run out of her room. Then she just had to find a good hideout somewhere in the castle.

A teenage mare, who saw her father last time fifteen minutes ago, only to find out that more than thousand years passed since that fateful moment, could only stare at Shining. Her intentions? Right now she knew nothing - not even what she should do. Bah, she didn't even know what she wanted to do! In a span of few minutes her room was invaded by unknown guards and she learned that everything she knew in the world had changed, apparently including her own role. Was she going to die? She didn't want to. A retreat into more safe place would be preferable, but way out was blocked. She could feel a sickening, nervous pain in stomach, coupled with the faster breathing rate. What should she do? For her whole life she depended on her illustrious father to make decisions and provide meaning for her life. If those thugs were right and he was truly gone... if the entire world she knew was gone... damnation. Mighty king Sombra would kill them all for their insolence, but she didn't possess his powers, and never intentionally hurt anyone. Probably the only thing keeping her from a complete mental breakdown was the fact that, well, she was surrounded by group of enemies. What in Tartarus did they want from her? Why they didn't simply try to kill her yet instead of asking her nonsensical questions? It would make everything easier. Obsidian didn't even know what they meant by 'more friendly relation'. "You tell me, thug. I don't think my intentions mean anything right now" she said eventually.

Obsidian, without taking her eyes off the guardians, slowly took the book from the floor - it didn't look like a trap, she couldn't feel any malicious magic coming from it, and overall, it really seemed like an average, normal object - and peeked at it. Its quality was surprising, to be fair - strange paper, colorful pages... oh, and the letters! They looked very similar to each other - it was obvious that it was not written with a hoof. Frankly, she had never seen anything like that. It should have costed a fortune! Then there was its content. Description of thousand years, alongside with pictures. Celestia and Luna...? After thousand years? But there was also another alicorn. So many different species, living around Equestria. So much history... Would they consider her important enough to craft such elaborate forgery? Was she that important? No. Probably not. Even the smell was different from the old scrolls she was reading a few days ago. A few days and ten ages ago. By Darkness, did she really spend thousand years trapped there? "You weren't lying, were you?" she asked with voice so dead and devoid of any emotion that it could belong to a golem or machine.

Chances for that were slim - Obsidian didn't know too many slaves, and didn't pay attention to their appearances. She looked without any sliver of trust at the textbook. ...frozen in time? Entire Empire? But... Why? How? She had no doubt that her great father would be able to do so, but what would be the reason for that? And - what? Luna destroyed something and got banished? It had to be another deception. Right? "Give this book to me!" She barked an order. "Throw it to my shield!"

Okay, so a quick calculation - 1018 days... that was a lot, almost three yea- No. Wait a moment. This stallion didn't say 'days'. He said 'years'. Why would he say 'years'? He even repeated it, leaving no place for doubt or for any hope that she didn't hear it properly for the first time. WHY WOULD HE SAY 'YEARS'?! Cold seeped into Obsidian's veins as she was trying to process what she just heard - it had to be a mockery, or perhaps an explicit psychological attack. There was no way she could spend ten centuries trapped there, He was the enemy of her father, so it was only obvious that he was lying through his teeth in an attempt to confuse her! Besides, would he be worried about the ruler that lived thousand years ago? Of course her glorious father was powerful, mighty, wise, intelligent - but she didn't know if 'immortal' would fit his long list of positive traits. Considering the horror that washed over the faces of the traitorous guards, she could assume that they knew him well enough to know that his wrath is the most terrifying thing in the world - and that they will face it as soon as he will return. Or something. ...yes, that's had to be that. But why 1018? It was oddly specific number... "You are lying" she said eventually, with wrath bubbling below the thin layer of calmness. "Only weaklings lie. If your words would be true, would your renegades and traitors cover in terror at the mere mention of my glorious father, who ruled thousand years ago? Would this 'new ruler' send his thugs at the mere trace of true king's magic?" Obsidian narrowed her eyes, trying to assess the threat. It seemed that the white unicorn was surrounded by cowards - they would probably flee at the first sign of dark magic, begging for mercy and forgiveness. Their leader - well, he had a magical shield on his own, but she had no idea about his offensive skills. However, she could asses her own fighting streght - and, sadly, her father was always finding it lacking. Thin streams of purple smoke started to come from the corners of her eyes, as the unhealthy mix of confusion, wrath and fear started to fuel her dark magic. "WHY DO YOU LIE?!"

...no longer around? What could he mean? Was he participating in a military campaign right now? That could explain the presence of - she assumed - his enemies here. Assassins, murderers, agents of enemy! And she was stuck there with them - quite big number of them. All of them well-armed... and no guards were coming to help her... To be fair they didn't look like assassins - more like average soldiers, but she couldn't hear any sounds of fighting. What was happening? But wait. He barged in shouting for her father. He didn't expect her to be here. So, coupled with this 'no longer around' it meant... "...I'm princess Obsidian, daughter of the most illustrious king Sombra. How many days passed since my glorious father fought against assault of Celestia and Luna?" she asked, trying to stay calm - at least outwardly. That was it, right? Alicorns came, and they... they somehow defeated him. How long was she stuck in this room? For week? Two?

So... they seemed to have a stalemate. Both sides were protecting themselves with shields, either magical or crystal, apparently unwilling to start a spell fight. On another hoof, Obsidian was frustratingly aware that her tactical position was far worse than theirs - first of all, she was alone. They were also blocking the way out, and even if she would defeat one of them, the rest would be still standing between her and the rest of palace. She had nothing to hide behind, except for her own shield... her room was annoyingly empty, with nothing but a simple bed and desk. She didn't know it yet, but in modern Equestria even prison cells were cozier than that. Well, it didn't look good. "You barged into my room. YOU should answer to MY questions!" she growled, trying to at least maintain a facade that she is acting decisively. "Where's king? What are you doing there?!"

To say that Obsidian was surprised would be an understatement. When her glorious father put her in this room - without a word of explanations, though she was suspecting that it could be caused by rumors of alicorn tyrants approaching their northern fiefdom - she expected that he would be the one to release her as well. The spell he was going to put at her was simple - as soon as the doors would close behind him, she would be put into stasis, waiting patiently for his victorious return. The mere act of opening the doors was enough to wake her up once again. To her it looked as if king Sombra left the room only a few seconds ago - and then, in a blink of an eye, he was replaced by a white unicorn, barging there and shouting angrily something about her glorious father. She stepped back, startled and confused. What in Tartarus...? Who was this stallion? Why did he have guards with him, none of them wearing the signs of the true lord of the Crystal Empire? Were they invaders or assassins...? Her horn flashed with a sickly green aura, creating a transparent barrier around her - but as soon as she did it she felt a sting of anger at herself. Shouldn't she attack instead of setting up defences? "It's king Sombra, worm" Obsidian spoke quietly. The thoughts were racing desperately in her confused mind - should she fight? Run? Call for help? Her father would notice a band of invaders in his castle, right? So where was he? Why didn't he free her? She could try to maintain a calm facade - but the truth was, she was terrified. "Touch me and you will suffer his wrath."