Prompt: Difficult Greenery

Deep within the Everfree Forest, past the Castle of the Two Sisters, a lone stallion made his way through the trees, guided only by hornlight.

As if remembering their own past, the twisting ways of this magical land formed old, familiar trails, mimicking roads that nopony had walked upon in over a millenia. Stygian walked down what once was Jewel Street, a pang in his heart at the thought of the ring he'd ordered, but never picked up. It was to have been set with emeralds, as dazzling as the eyes of—

He shook his head. This place, which had been home long ago, was dangerous now, and he couldn't afford to have his mind wander. Turning on Crepuscular Avenue, our daring adventurer ducked beneath the phantom branches of a willow's wisp, before finally making it to the cave.

When he'd spoken to the students of Princess Twilight's class, he'd recognized the description of the location of their "clubhouse" immediately. Stygian had spent many a quiet afternoon at what had officially been called The Southern Grove, no doubt named as such by a particularly dull bureaucrat. The average resident of Everfree would have known it by another name, one that honoured the odd unicorn who practically lived in that public place, surrounded by his books and scrolls.

Those days were long gone, however, and now Stygian looked up at a towering crystal shelter, and found himself cracking a small smile despite everything. "I see your love of shimmering trinkets hasn't changed," he said aloud.

"You should not be here."

Stygian froze, even as his heart fell. That voice was familiar, but not the one he'd been seeking. "So it's true, then. You've taken on her form."

There was a flash of light, and a shining simulacrum of Twilight Sparkle stood before him. "Leave," The Tree of Harmony commanded. "You are not welcome in this place."

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised at such a reception." Stygian chuckled, trying to hide the frantic pounding of his heart. This being looked nothing like him, and yet— "How much do you still remember, I wonder? How much of you is still locked within these arcane leaves?"

Tendrils of crystals extended out from the treehouse, creeping over towards Stygian in jagged arcs. "Begone, Pony of Shadows. Your darkness shall not snuff out the light within."

Stygian bowed his head. "I'm sorry," he said softly. "Truly, I am. You tried to save me, and I cast you away. But I swear to you, I am no longer one with the Shadows."

"Threat. Intruder." The tone grew urgent as the crystals reached Stygian and began to form a ring around him on the floor. "You are beyond friendship. You are beyond Harmony. There is no place for you in this world."

Stygian glanced around, tamping down the panic seizing his throat as he found himself surrounded. "Are you speaking as the Tree of Harmony?" From his saddlebag, he fetched a brooch, adorned with onyx and jade. "Or are you speaking as someone else?"

The construct's eyes locked onto the piece of jewelry. Its whole body flickered once, twice, before its expression became blank once more. "I am who I am," it said, voice as cold as ice. "As I have always been, ever since I was planted by my mentor."

"Your mentor," Stygian repeated. "Not your creator. Who is Starswirl to you?"

Another flicker. "The Pillar of Sorcery. The Origin of Magic." The crystals were spiralling upwards now, weaving a cage around the stallion intruding into the Grove.

"And what is this place to you?" Stygian had no idea what would happen if he let the crystals complete their work.

"It is where I was planted. Where I was created," The Tree replied.

"You, and many others." Stygian allowed himself a dry smile. "Though, your brethren were much more... verdant. And smaller. But he took care of you, didn't he?"

"The Pillars exited this plane." A tremor in that artificial voice. "As did you, Pony of Shadows."

"That's not who I am anymore," Stygian replied through gritted teeth. Already, all he could see was this pale imitation of a pony, his new prison cutting off the view of the rest of the cavern. "And that's not who I was to you."

"That is who you are. You embraced the Shadows, and so was the one abandoned forced to embrace Harmony." Light bloomed within both the Tree's heart and that of its avatar.

"And for that, I will never be able to forgive myself," Stygian replied, forced to close his eyes lest he be blinded. "But I am here now. And if my penance is to be imprisoned anew by your will, then so be it. But only if it is your will. Not Harmony's."

"I am—"

"You are more than that!" Stygian shouted. "You are the keeper of this place. You are the smartest pony I have ever known, whose intellect surpassed even Star Swirl himself. And you made the ultimate sacrifice to safeguard Equestria when I took away its heroes."

He had to squeeze his eyes closed now, and even then, it burned white-hot from the light. "But more than that, you are one who loved, and was loved. One who learned to care for the plants here, despite your initial penchant for overwatering the flowers surrounding the outer ridge. One who would read bedtime stories to the saplings, even when you were mocked for it."

"That stallion is dead. There is only Harmony now."

"He's not!" Stygian screamed, even as the light abruptly turned to darkness. "The stallion with whom I whiled away my evenings with, atop a bed of your namesake, he cannot be dead!" From the echoing, he knew that his prison had been sealed shut, but still he pleaded his case. "Harmony is not cruel. I understand that now. It would not take away that which I love most, even if I deserve nothing for my sins."

A tear slid down his face, and splashed onto the greenery beneath his hooves.

Stygian opened his eyes, and looked down. There hadn't been any other signs of life when he'd stepped into this cave. But now, he was standing on lush vegetation, illuminated by these blasted glowing crystals. The tiny, three-leafed plants sent a surge of nostalgia through his thoughts, a thousand memories returning at once.

And then, there was a deafening crack, as seams began to split the crystal into pieces. Stygian closed his eyes, lit up his horn, and sent out a shockwave, shattering the crystals along the fault lines and freeing himself.

He opened his eyes, and it was no longer Twilight Sparkle who stood before him, but a stallion who had not walked this land for a thousand years.

"Clover?"

Clover the Clever stared back at him with tears in his eyes. All around him, the plant he was named after spread out in every direction, covering the floors and spreading across the walls in creeping trellis. The Treehouse itself was buried in the stuff, turning it into a large green mass. "Stygian?"

Stygian rushed forwards. "I'm sorry, my love," he whispered, wrapping up the other stallion in a tight hug. Somehow, still, he smelled of parchment and ink and dirt.

"You left me," Clover accused through sobs. "You left me, and took my teacher with you."

"I was a fool. I have always been a fool." Stygian pulled back to let him see the contrition on his face. "Will you forgive me?"

Clover looked away. "I do not know," he admitted. "You endangered Equestria, nearly tore down what I had built with Pansy and Cookie. I did not give myself up to Harmony lightly, and now I am bound to it forevermore. Just as you will never truly be rid of the shadows in your heart."

"I... I understand." There was no excuse that Stygian could make. What he had done extended beyond a lover's betrayal, and into something much, much greater. "I only wished to see you once more." He turned away. "I will leave you in peace now."

"Stygian."

The stallion froze. "Yes, Clover?"

"I missed you as well. For now, I need time to find myself once more, but I hope you will return to me in time." There was a smile in his voice as Clover spoke. "And perhaps you will find this grove as it once was if you do."

"Of course, my love." For a moment, Stygian felt the weight on his heart grow lighter as he made his way out of the Three-Foiled Grove. "I will wait as long as I must, to see your garden flourish once more."