Eyes of the Tyrant

-The world seemed to be dying, freezing over and strangling all life with it. That was just the harshness of the Empires winters. Snow hadn’t started falling, but it was cold all the same. The tundra was covered in a thin layer of frozen yellow grass, sprawling just before the foothills and mountains to the north. To the south, across the tundra, grew random thickets of pine trees; beyond those just below the horizon a thick cloud of black smoke hung in the air.

A young stallion; clad in crystalline plates of armor sitting atop a black cloak covering his entire body, felt the frozen grass crunch beneath his hooves as he traveled north. His black horn, slightly curved, protruded from his glistening silver crystal helmet but his face remained hidden beneath. His red eyes pulsed from beneath the helmet. Tied down to his left flank was a silver sward beneath a crystal shield with the image of three crystals. On his left flank, a leather bound tomb with the engraved image of an eye sat in a satchel.

“I’m pathetic… weak!” he shouted in despair, anger welling up beneath the tears streaming from his eyes. He ignored the frozen breeze, refusing to feel anything but his frustration. “I should have done more…” The stallion stopped and looked towards the mountains, baring his sharp teeth at what he knew must lay just beyond their frozen peaks.

That was his life, failing to take what he needed and failing to do what had to be done. Others suffered now because of it. Worst of all, those who let this suffering continue still existed. At least he had tried to make the empire something more… something honorable, but in the end all he had done was given a few dying ponies their last smile.

The only honorable ponies left were dying on the empires battlefields, burning in their homes in villages, or struggling to make their voice heard in the white noise that had become the Crystal Senate. The corrupted seemed to speak louder and louder every day, the princess and her ilk cared for no one else but those who lived comfortably within the confines of the capitol.

Sombra was no honorable stallion; he knew this. He had already fallen to the alternative school of magic known to be forbidden and evil. Tombs had been written by his hoof describing this new and unexplored art, in secrecy. This new magic gave him the power to do terrible and unspeakable things to others. For that reason, he could never claim to be honorable no matter how rarely he decided to use his forbidden knowledge.

These things didn’t matter know though, he was preparing to face the end. He would use every piece of knowledge ever learned, and perhaps knowledge never known in the coming days. No matter what it took Sombra would slaughter as many dragons as he could. At the very least, he could wipe their capitol from the face of the world. No doubt they would eventually kill him, but he could not rest knowing he had done nothing to give peace to those already dead.

Tears had already frozen beneath his helmet and mask, his eyes glared towards the mountains. He began to run; panting heavily from the strain but didn’t stop, wouldn’t stop, until they were all dead.

-A row of candles lead from the entrance of the cavernous chamber to Sambra’s red cushioned and white marble throne at its far end. They lit only a small portion of the hall, only enough to see the red carpet atop grey stone leading to its center and the statues of various ponies of differing postures lining either side of the path. The surrounding darkness was blacker than any abyss. Many who walked that path would mistake the darkness for a void of nothingness, afraid that stepping outside of the light could send them spiraling into eternity.

The throne itself sat occupied by its master, wearing a silver crown and a cloak as red as blood lined with white fur. He wrapped the cloak around himself, allowing only his head and forelegs to show. The king’s eyes glowed bright green with red in the center, while tendrils of dark purple smoke hung from the corners. His mane flowed like black fire, not hair at all, but shadow wafting from his grey coat. Rising from the center of his head was his horn; grey from the bottom, and slowly turning red towards its apex. Suspended in a black aura in front of him hung an open book.

“such dribble…” he thought to himself, and flung the open book across the hall into the blackness. Another tomb rose from behind the throne and opened in front of him in the same black aura. The pages began to flip, one after the other. The stallion growled and scowled at the words.

The books they brought him seemed to be overwhelmingly useless. Perhaps every fifth book would provide him with some knowledge of the past thousand years, and even then they were insignificant details or information he ascertained through simple observation. His acolytes had managed to acquire several spell books, but it seemed to be wasted effort. Nothing significant sat in those books, nothing he didn’t already know. In fact, the knowledge seemed to be less than in his time.

Sombra growled through his carnivorous teeth and hurled the book into the darkness with the others. He didn’t truly expect to find any pertinent information in common books, but it had been several years since his return and he still knew less than he wished. Regardless, he had learned a great many things and had become a great deal more powerful since his ‘defeat’ at the hands of those wretched ponies and that whelp of a dragon. Luckily he was concealed for the time being, and he would return when the time was right, but too many things still needed his attention despite his comfort in the current state of affairs.

Sombra’s anger grew after every thought of that curious lot. He had heard of their exploits and travels, how one of them had even become an Alacorn herself. A thousand years ago Sombra would have found that impossible to believe, even if he had seen it for himself, but he understood how it was possible now perhaps better than they themselves did. He began to snarl, just thinking of a princess made him want to rip something apart.

“Page!” he yelled with a deep guttural voice, which echoed across the hall. In mere seconds a young sun yellow colt with a white mane burst into the chambers, running as fast as his tiny legs would carry him. The servant stopped dead ten feet from the throne and buried his face into the floor in the deepest bow he could manage.

“Hh-how may I s-serve you m-master?” He stammered in a soft trembling voice.

“Tell me colt, do you believe you have failed me?” Sombra asked, glaring at the small creature cowering before him. He was so small, Sombra could crush him with a single hoof with no trouble at all. Even sitting down and ten feet away he towered over the colt.

“I-I don’t…” he trembled, keeping his head down as much as he could.

“You don’t know!? Do you not recall your own actions or lack thereof? Is your mind so occupied that you can’t recall your simple purpose!?” Sombra spat the last word, then began to speak in a softer tone, “Perhaps I have allowed you far too much leeway and freedom in the past, and now you wish to further test my patience.”

The king visibly relaxed, no longer anger across his face, but amusement. “Where is my High Acolyte? It was some time ago I ordered her presence, was it not?” The colt was crying, trying to keep his state hidden from his beloved master.

“Go, ensure she is here within minutes, and fetch my meal. Perhaps you would like to try some today?” He smiled, baring his fangs and carnivorous teeth.
The king rose his hoof in dismissal and the servant jumped and ran out at a gallop. Sombra didn’t tolerate their foolishness, but it was a welcome distraction from the thought of those who had deposed him. In a way, he did enjoy providing the occasional tongue lashing or physical punishment. A relaxing distraction to be sure. Regardless, discipline was the most valuable asset his followers could offer him right now, and it did no good that his unicorns thought it acceptable to take their time arriving to his summons. Almost two years of service to their master and they still decided to act in this manner.

A few moments passed before another entered the hall. She was a sky blue unicorn with bright purple eyes and an almost silvery mane, wearing a black cloak with red trim. She approached the throne as calmly as she could, but even then it was plain her nerves were getting the upper hand; as well they should. She dropped to the ground and remained there without a word.
This was yet another example of that mares many delinquencies. Acolyte Trixie had been trouble from the very beginning, thinking she could ever be an equal to him. Sombra had been quick to erase any such notion from her head, but that certainly wasn’t the end of it. She had constantly flaunted herself to him, doing everything in her power to elicit his desire in the beginning and still did to a smaller extent. It had been his last reaction to her demeanor that set her strait, she had been in pain for at least an entire week.

She was one of the most devoted of his followers and did everything she could in order to prove it, but she was too arrogant for her own good and constantly overstepped her bounds. If it weren’t for the assistance she provided him after his last defeat, she would have been long since gone.
“Master I…” she spoke quietly, a little more than a whisper.

“Silence!” he yelled, baring his teeth once more, “I won’t tolerate this, not from my servants, and not from you. How long have you served me?”

“I-I have served you faithfully for two years now master.” She stated, ears folded back and her head as low as she could place it, almost resting on the carpet.

“And yet today I have waited hours for your arrival.” he only scowled now. “So what is your reasoning for why my servant had taken her time to my summons?”

She rose her head slightly and spoke more confidently, “Master, the page had only just delivered your order to me, if you wish it I will personally punish…” she gulped as he raised his hoof.

He began to rise from his throne, his cloak spread back and his black feathered wings flared outward as he descended from his throne towards Trixie. Sombra began to circle her, keeping one wing over her bowing figure. He was easily as tall as Celestia, perhaps greater in addition to his physical strength. His shadowed mane rippled as he walked. “Yes, almost two years now and somehow you still find it suitable to lie to me.” He said calmly, stopping directly in front of her. He placed one of his hooves onto her back, pressing her down. Her entire body hugged the ground, her ribs started to crack and ache under the pressure. A little more weight, and he could kill her as easily as that. He just wanted to see her squirm under his hoof, but he wasn’t about to restrain his anger even if it would lead to death.

She struggled to speak, but did not dare move or resist. “Master…I… I found what you sent me to search for…”

Sombra’s eyes widened, and he lifted his hoof from her back. “Rise, and speak.”

Trixie panted and swayed as she rose, visibly taking deep breaths to regain her lungs. “Master, I was able to find a spell for you,” she said, finally risen from the ground and peering into her master’s eyes in hopes of recognition for her deed. “in addition to a potion, but its everything you wanted master!”

“And who aided you in your search mare?” he inquired with one of his brows raised in curiosity.

“Well,” she began hesitantly, clearly envious of the names she was unwilling to provide. “Just two of your acolytes.”

“Very well then,” this was certainly an interesting turn of events. He had sent her on this errand long ago with the assumption nothing would come of it, so that he could punish her once she failed to produce results. Her eyes glowed with truth behind them, and if she had really found a way…

He smiled a broad toothy grin, his body turned to ease. “Very good mare, send the two responsible for this to me just before nightfall,” he paused, and lowered his head to bury his snout into her silvery mane to whisper, “and you will wait for me in my chambers. Now go.”

The Mare smiled as much as she could, but her ears still bent back and she trembled slightly. She gave a quick bow and limped out of the hall. It was obvious she feared a visit to his private chambers, her last visit had left her in pain for weeks afterwards. Somehow she still found it as some sort of reward though.

As Trixie left, his page and a brown coated earth mare with a black mane and a platter of multicolored crystals on her back, entered. She appeared lost and fairly confused; the colt tried not to look at her as they approached, Sombra still standing in front of his throne. He had already folded his wings beneath the cloak draped over his back.

The new mare saw him, stopped, and began to take a step back when his black aura surrounded her. Her eyes widened in shock and surprise as his magic began to drag her towards him, stopping no more than a foot away. Ears folded back, she craned her neck to look up at him. He returned her stare by baring his carnivorous teeth into a smile. He began to take a deep breath, and the crystals on her back began to lose their color.

Sombra lifted his hoof, and pushed her to the ground on her side. His aura no longer held her, but it didn’t need to at this point, he was more than strong enough to handle her. She began to scream and tried to rise, but Sombra held one hoof on her side and lowered his head to her neck. She ceased to scream as his maw began to tighten around her neck, though she did try. Blood began to pool beneath her onto the carpet as she twitched and struggled several more times. At every movement, Sombra sunk his fangs deeper into her neck and tightened his jaws until finally she was a lifeless doll in his maw.

Sombra glanced at the yellow colt with the white mane who had lead his meal into the hall. His page was closing his eyes, trying to avoid everything like he always did when he brought his master’s meals.

-A tingle ran across Rarity’s spine again, causing her to shiver where she sat. It wasn’t the cold, the heating stove in the train car kept the room quite toasty. That tingling had begun a few days prior, and every time it had stood her white fur on end. “Nerves of course!” she thought to herself; glancing at Sweetie Belle who sat opposite of her in the room, peering out of the window as the train sped along.

Sweetie Belle was fascinated by the tundra, snow fields dipping beyond the horizon with only a few thickets of pine trees dotting the landscape. The sun was at its apex, and without a cloud in the sky, the entire expanse glistened like a crystal. Neither of them had been this far north before, past the Crystal Mountains and very far from Equestria proper.
Rarity found the scene to be wonderous as well, but she had far too much on her mind to let it distract her. Princess Twilight had asked for her assistance in designing a banner for her new castle, this posed an immense opportunity for Rarity. Not only would she be helping a good friend, and a princess, but she was creating a banner that would be seen by all of Equestria! This was something that would be a part of history itself, created by her. It had to be beyond perfect.

The white mare took a deep breath to calm herself; every time she thought about this monumental task her nerves seemed to spiral out of control for a moment. She considered the task at hand, the silver thread. That was all she needed for the materials now, then she could return home and truly begin.

“Rarity look!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed; the filly stood on her seat for a better view out of the window.

Rarity jumped at the sudden outburst and sighed in irritation, but turned to the window. Not too far across the snow fields, rarity saw four white blobs lumber from one outcropping of trees to another.

Sweetie Bell glanced towards her sister to make sure she was actually looking. “I think their bears! White bears,” she said in apparent amazement, “thanks.” She smiled.

Rarity smiled back. This trip across Equestria and beyond with her younger sister had been just what the little filly needed. She had never traveled outside of Ponyville, and it was a perfect opportunity for Sweetie Belle to experience the world. The gryphon lands seemed to be Sweetie Belle’s favorite stop thus far, but she seemed to be equally amazed by the emptiness of the tundra.

A few more hours passed, and they began to notice small homes and assorted structures dotting the area around the train tracks. The buildings looked remarkably sturdy with stone walls and sturdy wooden roofs, but barely stuck out of the snow. Smoke rose from every chimney, but she saw nopony outside, which she expected in this frigid temperature.

The train began to lurch to a stop in the center of a small village. Sweetie Belle jumped from her seat and left the room in excitement. Rarity took her time, dawning a thick purple coat with a matching scarf that went well with her mane. She peered out the window one more time, it looked exceptionally frigid, but again she saw nopony outside. As she understood it; this train was the village’s lifeline to the rest of the world, at least a few ponies should have been unloading cargo.

There was no time to ponder though. The train would leave in almost exactly an hour and Rarity had no intentions of staying here any longer than she had to, regardless of how beautiful the tundra was. She had never been in a place so cold.

Rarity left the room and made her way to the train’s exit where the ticket master stood with Sweetie next to an open door. The Green earth stallion Stood in front of the opening, barring her sisters way, he wasn’t about to let a little filly off the train without someone to go with her. He stood aside and gave a quick nod to Rarity as she walked down the center of the car.

“Won’t be long my lady, maybe an hour. We’ll sound the whistle of course, but the conductor likes to keep a tight schedule.” The ticket master said in a rather gruff voice.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way, we won’t delay your departure.” She responded.

Sweetie Belle jumped onto the platform, burying herself in the deep snow that covered the entire village. Rarity descended the train more gracefully, stopping beside her sister who shivered uncontrollably.

“You must remember to wear more in places like this Sweetie, this isn’t like Ponyville pegasi weather.” Rarity said as she pulled a thick white sweater and scarf from one of her satchels. Her younger sister happily accepted. There was always spare clothing for her younger sister in Rarity’s packs, no matter how much extra weight it added.

“Now Sweetie, keep an eye out for this thread shop, it shouldn’t be that hard to find.” As if the words were a trigger Sweetie bell began to bound through the snow ahead, giggling as she did.

Rarity sighed, “Sweetie, slow down!” as her sister rounded a corner down the villages only other avenue. She didn’t like losing sight of that little filly when they were out and about, especially during this trip far from home.

As Rarity rounded the corner, her heart skipped a beat. Standing in front of her little sister was a dog, an Alpine Dog unless she missed her guess. The mongrel was about the same height as a Diamond Dog, but carried himself with a straighter back standing on hind legs, and skinnier but more physically developed. He wore only a leather skirt that extended down just past his knees with several dead white rabbits hanging off a belt, and a pair of flared leather gloves. His thick warm fur was white with black patches, and his eyes looked as though he was always angry.

“Uh, Sweetie Belle,” she yelled, “leave that… gentleman alone!”

The dog kneeled down to Sweetie Belle’s level, pushing the dead rabbits behind his back so she could not see, and said something that Rarity could not hear. Her sister seemed to be listening with great thought.

“Sweetie!” she yelled once more, closing in on the two with a brisker pace.

She finally caught up, just as the dog went silent. He stood and attempted to smile, but that seemed a little difficult with his brows. Rarity moved to position herself between the two, and gave a quick smile and nod in return.
“You are from Equestria land?” he asked, addressing Rarity now. The tingling ran down her spine again, but far more intense than before. Never before had she ever had an experience with a dog that didn’t end badly, and Sweetie Belle’s presence certainly didn’t make matters any easier.

“Rarity from the Ponyville as well yes?” he inquired.

“Why… uh… I’m sorry but we’re in a bit of a hurry, don’t want to miss the train you see.” She quickly explained.
The older sister nudged for her younger to move back in the direction of the train, and they left the dog going back around the corner. Things still didn’t feel right, the silver thread would have to wait. Rarity wouldn’t feel safe until Sweetie Belle was back on the train.

“Why in Equestria did you tell him where we were from?” she asked, quite irritated.

“What? I didn’t!” she responded defensively. “Rarity, where not going back are we? We came all this way for that thread.”

That certainly didn’t calm Rarity’s nerves. They reached the train platform, Rarity nudged her sister towards the door. “Just wait for me on the train, I’ll get the thread,” She said as Sweetie Belle growled and reluctantly entered, “and don’t talk to anyone!”

Rarity turned around and began her search through the village alone, and found a little stone cottage with a sign with a silver spool hanging over the door. She entered into a small room lined with various bolts of cloth organized by quality and color on tables and open cabinets, but no silver thread. It was a welcome entry into warmth compared to outside, but the temperature didn’t change much. Two ponies stood waiting at the counter; a tan earth stallion with a light blue mane of exceptional build, and an orange unicorn mare with a red mane. Both ponies wore a black cloak with red embroidery, and a large solid ruby brooch.

Relieved to finally see sompony, she asked, “Excuse me, but is the shopkeeper around?”

They both turned to face her, the stallion seemed to change his stance almost looking as if preparing to give chase. He responded in a quiet but soothing voice, “She’ll be back shortly.” The mare began to eye her up and down, weighing her in some fashion. Feeling a bit threatened, Rarity slowly began to back up.

“Don’t run,” the other unicorn said in a fairly commanding voice, “make it easier on you and your sister.”