Obedience

-The embers in the fire place were beginning to die, and only a slight glow remained. The estate’s study was covered in panels of dark walnut wood, and the floors made of oak. Dozens of bookshelves lined the walls adorned with hundreds of books, with the occasional small trinket finding its way between the gaps. Two wooden tables stood on either side of a large dark ruby colored day bed with several similarly colored throw pillows; the wax candles had melted down to their bronze plate bases.

A crystal mare entered the room from a door on the opposite wall of the fire place. The pony’s turquois coat, slightly lighter than the midmorning sky, and violet mane would have absorbed the glow in the room, but not on this day. Her ears were folded downward and her silver eyes only half open with streams of tears rolling down her cheeks.
Autumn Gem slowly made her way to the day bed, swaying back and forth in a melancholy manner, and climbed atop. She rested her head on one of the pillows and gave a deliberate sniff. There had been only one other to rest there, every day as he read one of his many books or pondered the estates dealings. She wanted to smell Sombra’s scent.

One of the house guards peeked through the cracked door, but withdrew quickly in an attempt to avoid disturbing the mare. Guards and Servants alike had all attempted to consul her, even some friends had visited in the past few days to reassure Autumn Gem that Sombra was strong, and wouldn’t fall so easily. Regardless, the news that her lover could be injured, or even dead, had not come easily.

A colleague of Sombra’s had come to the estate several days prior, a captain, and had told her everything. Autumn Gem had no idea that leaders of the Empire were so corrupt, Sombra certainly never spoke of it, and she herself never had a desire to play politics like her parents had.

After the emperor’s death only a year ago, his most loyal followers had demanded they be lead by a king. The Alicorns however, had decided to place one of their kind as ruler. The ponies of the empire had no choice but to accept a princess as their new leader. The usurper saw the threat the loyalists posed, just as a war in the west against the dragons conveniently began. The war was an excellent excuse to send the loyalists abroad, and consolidated her own followers within the capitol. The entire countryside was left without protection.

Strangely, Sombra had orders to remain within the capitol while his legion marched west. The noble stallion refused to let his brothers fight without a battle mage, and he went against the princess’s command. Now he could be dead, or dying, suffering at Ironcog crossing where the dragons had massacred his legion.

Was life worth living without the one who had brought her back from the edge of the abyss? She remember the night the two pegasi assassins broke into the guest room at the royal palace. Sombra was a young guardsman at the time, and just happened to be patrolling down the hall when he heard the commotion. The brave stallion in golden armor had run one assailant through with his sword, and broke the neck of the other with his magic.

Sombra had apologized profusely for being too late, trying in vain and with all of his effort to revive her fallen parents with his magic. She had only seen a few unicorns before that, but even then she could see how powerful he was. Since then, he had always been her knight in shining armor.

A commotion began traveling down the hall towards the door, excited questions from servants and praises from the guards. Autumn Gem rose her head from the pillow, her ears perked up, straining to catch a voice responding to those questions, but heard none. She waited, watching the entrance to the study.

Her Grey stallion with his black mane entered the study, the embers on the hearth turned to a roaring flame. Autumn Gem jumped from the daybed and ran to his hooves, but he merely stood. She stopped only a few inches from him. His eyes were different than she recalled from those fond memories, they glowed with a bright green and seethed with a violet miasma. His horn was longer too, curved and glowing like lava.

She looked into his eyes and could feel something immense behind his stare. Even though he looked directly into her own eyes, it seemed as though he saw something he never expected to see.

Autumn Gem suddenly wrapped her hooves around him and threw her head over his shoulder. She began to cry, letting everything from the past year of his absence flow from her eyes.

Sombra embraced her and closed his eyes. He whispered in a soothing voice, “Not even the abyss can keep us apart, I’ll love you forever.”

-Trixie lay on her back over the crimson satin sheets of the bed, with her master resting on top of her. The mare’s blood soaked into the sheets beneath her, but the color blended well and was barely noticeable to the eye. She stifled a cry as Sombra shifted, many of her bones were already broken and shattered from his sheer weight and size.
Sombra grinned as he peered down into her sad but bright purple little eyes. “It’s good to see you’ve remembered what I said last time.” He said in an oddly soothing whisper, but with his deep guttural voice.

She tried to focus on caressing his flanks with her magic, lightly touching the skin beneath his soft grey coat. She cherished every moment of it. Trixie wanted nothing more than to please her powerful master. In return she might be rewarded with the feeling of his unimaginably soft fur rubbing across her chest.

Sombra’s gaze, his red and green eyes burning her soul, caused her to quiver with anticipation for what he had in store. A black aura began to envelope Trixie, wrapping around her form. It began to tighten, just on the verge of crushing the breath from her lungs. She screamed and howled in pain while pushing her hooves against his chest without thinking. There was nothing but agony and the sensation of broken bone grinding against one another as Sombra began thrusting forward, his huge wings spread outward.

Trixie ceased to scream as the breath left her lungs completely. A chill touched every inch of her skin as a strange warmth ran through the inside of her body, competing with immense pain for her attention. The intense ecstasy lasted only a few seconds, but it felt like minutes to the mare.

The black aura around Trixie vanished as Sombra rose, and sat upright after folding his wings. His own chest barely moved, while Trixie panted almost as fast as her pulse. Her heart felt as though it would burst, but the pain of broken bones had dissipated. Her master had been kind, and fused her shattered frame back together while mending her torn body with his magic during the event.

Trixie’s breath began to slow as she tried to collect herself, tried to remember where she was. She looked around the room still resting face up on the crimson satin sheets of the master’s large bed. The rose colored curtains where tied back on the bed posts, revealing a large dimly lit room. A fire roared on a hearth on the far side of the room, illuminating several ornately carved chestnut wardrobes lining the walls divided by book cases, and two similar night stands on either side of the bed. On the left side of the room stood a massive wood and iron double door. Tall windows lined the right wall of the room, with a glass door dividing the windows in half, leading to a balcony. A blank night sky shown through the windows.

Sombra glared at the mare in his chamber. She finally regained herself, as much as one could after such an event, and rolled onto her stomach to begin crawling off the bed. Trixie tumbled forward as she reached the edge; her body ached and screamed at her, that would last for quite some time. She collected herself, but swayed back and forth on flimsy legs as she turned to face her master.

“Th-thank you,” her breath became steadier but she still panted excitedly, “That… that was… I mean, I’m honored, deeply so, that you would share such a wondrous gift with me a second time, next time I…“

A loud growl from Sombra cut her short. “Silence! Have you forgotten your place mare?” he said in an irritated manner. The fact that his servant presumed there would be a next time angered him.

“Please forgive me master,” she said meekly, “pleasing you was my greatest reward, not the-”

“Do not think for a second that your status is equal to mine!” Sombra yelled.

“Please, no master, I had no su-” His black aura cut her short, slamming her to the cold stone floor.

Had she actually believed that she had conquered him in his bed? That mare did assume there would be a next time, perhaps she believe herself one who could decide such things. A slip of the tongue or a blatant challenge of his authority, regardless, he couldn’t let it go unpunished.

A glowing branding iron in the shape of a triangle, rose from the fire and made its way to Trixie. Still held against the floor, the iron pressed against her flank on top of her mark. Sombra scowled and bared his teeth as the hot iron singed fur and flesh. She whimpered and squeezed her eyes shut as the shape of an inverted triangle burned its way onto her body.

“There, perhaps you will remember who belongs to who from now on.” He said in startlingly calm manner, as the brand hurdled back towards the fire. The aura began to dissipate. Trixie rose unsteadily to her hooves, and bowed once more, remaining there until he said otherwise.

“Now, send for Sun Cloud, I will speak to him here, and a servant to change the sheets.” He commanded.

“Yes master.” She responded, then quickly staggered through the large double doors.

Acolyte Trixie was bothersome to Sombra, he saw no end of trouble in that mare’s eyes. Perhaps indulging in some of her fantasies had been a mistake. He believed at first that if he had gone overboard she would leave him be and stop her foolishness. It had calmed her down, she no longer openly flaunted herself or tried to flirt. Multiple beatings hadn’t done as well. But this time, he didn’t care anymore. It hadn’t been about punishment or reward in truth, he just wanted to enjoy himself with a mare that would be more enthusiastic than a simple servant.

That was the mistake though. Showing her mercy where any other would have received an agonizing death. It had begun when they first met of course, pre-ascension and in a feeble unconscious state. He had awoken for the first time since his last defeat; without armor, crown, or clothing, but covered in a thick wool blanket inside of a dark wagon home in the middle of the night. Trixie lay curled up in his hooves under the blanket, pressing her forehead against his chest and sleeping soundly. Instead of demanding an answer to why this fool was sharing his bed, he had moved her closer to his body for warmth, and continued to rest.

Sombra felt as though he did owe her some form of debt for that at least, for caring for him while weakened, and certainly unaware of who he was. That alone wouldn’t be enough to stay his hoof though, but she had done much more. She was partially responsible for him gaining ascension as an Alicorn, he would have achieved it eventually, yet she did expedite the process considerably. These were memories for later contemplation though.

A weak knock came from the door. Sombra descended from the bed and walked towards the center of the room, pulling one of his regal crimson red and snowy white cloaks from a wardrobe.

“Enter!” he yelled as he dawned the cloak, it was long enough to cover his entire body, wings included, and drag along the stone floor.

The door barely cracked open long enough for a little sun yellow earth colt with his white mane to slip into the room. His page immediately bowed to his master, trembling slightly.

Sombra’s aura pulled a log from a cabinet next to the fireplace and tossed it in. “Rise, and speak freely colt.” He said, as he sat in front of the fire.

“Y-yes master,” he stammered, “the team should be here shortly.” The tiny colt said meekly.

“Good…” Sombra replied, but it didn’t seem to be the response he was seeking. He tapped the stone floor next to him, and motioned for the colt. Sun Dew took his seat beside his master.

“You’ve started your training in the sword?” he asked.

“O… yes master,” Sun Dew replied reluctantly. “a few weeks ago, but it’s hard to listen to the dog huntsmen and the pegasi sword masters.”

Sombra chuckled under his breath. “Yes, I remember in my day it was quite a challenge to have huntsmen whispering patience and a sword master yelling charge.” He glanced at the young colt next to him staring nervously into the fire.

“Remember what we spoke of last time, you are ultimately responsible for seeing through whatever task you are given. If a chain breaks, you must fix it or the failure falls on your shoulders.” He sighed, somewhat irritated.

“I’ve been far too lenient on you, simple mistakes lead to large ones. How can I trust you if you can’t even send for another as quickly as I command?” Sombra was becoming more and more frustrated thinking about any form of failure. The only reason he kept the colt around was to ease his anger and frustration.

“I don’t want to kill you Sun Dew, but you will be punished severely next time. Sometimes even I must do things I don’t wish to.” Sombra was calm once more.

The colt gulped, “Yes master.”

Sombra wasn’t going to hurt the colt, Sun Dew had a promising future ahead of him and his master wasn’t about to waste such obvious young talent. That wasn’t the only reason though.

“Tell me of your week.” He ordered.

Sun Dew began to speak, telling his master of everything that had transpired over the last week, down to the most insignificant details. Sombra visibly relaxed and enjoyed the fire as the young colt spoke.

Sombra envied other stallions, those who could have children. Hopefully that would all change soon enough, but he was prepared for the potential disappointment all the same. Whatever it took, one day he would have a son of his own.
He pushed all thoughts from his mind, he wanted a clear head before his next audience that night.

-Rarity’s escort kept her and her sister under a watchful eye as they traveled down the lantern lit cobblestone street. Two dogs in tarnished chain mail tunics stood to either side of the pair, each holding a short sword in one hand, and a hide buckler in the other while three pike wielding dogs marched behind. The tan earth stallion walked ahead, leading the group, with His orange unicorn companion travelling at his side.

Rarity had no idea where they were, her captors had waited until nightfall to begin moving them from the village. The unicorn had used some type of artifact and had opened a portal which had led them here.

The city was very utilitarian in style, its layout resembling more of a massive fortress than anything else. The street was cobblestone lined with gaslights and simple stone sidewalks with the occasional vender’s stall. The buildings were multistory, built with stone and wooden frames. Most buildings seemed to be connected to one another either from ground level or by some sort of sky bridge. Outcroppings of glowing red crystals rose from the ground like trees throughout the city, occasionally cordoned off like one would a decorative tree.

Banners hung from every other window; either a dark red inverted triangle, or a black and red flag. More often than not, smaller flags rested beneath or behind the much larger ones. The smaller flags were that of various kingdoms and old factions. Rarity had caught the purple and white flag of the unicorn tribe more than once, but didn’t see any flag of Equestria.

The temperature was oddly pleasant as a thin moisture hung in the air, it smelled of dust and warm stone. Occasionally Rarity saw a pony staring out of their window, only to quickly duck back inside. Only guard dogs lead by ponies walked the streets this late at night.

The time for escape had passed. Rarity had tried to resist after running out of the thread shop back at the village, but four dogs had waited for her outside the door. She had kicked one of them square in the chest, and sent him sprawling into the snow, forcing the others to stand their ground rather than attack. It was Sweetie Belle’s scream from across the village that had frozen her in place. The orange earth stallion with the light blue mane had told her that her sister was in their hands, and that was that.

The group began to approach a large metal gatehouse which lead to a massive obsidian spire, which extended high into the sky, far above any other buildings in the city. Several smaller, but equally impressive towers rose around the main tower connected by similar sky bridges. Even in the moonless night sky, the spires sparkled and shined like black polished glass.

Rarity glanced at her sister who showed obvious fear. She had to be strong for the young filly, even if she was afraid. Rarity had to protect her no matter the cost to herself.

The spire’s interior was a labyrinth of regal corridors, even this late at night servants bustled from room to room. The group found their way high up in the tower, standing in front of a large double door, guarded by two columns of black armored ponies with a yellow colt standing in between.

Leading the group between the two columns, the Orange unicorn announced, “The King’s summoned have arrived!”

Two black guards opened the large doors leading into darkness. The colt motioned for Rarity and Sweetie Belle to follow, and they entered the throne room with two black guards following. The door slammed shut behind them.

Blackness surrounded the red carpet leading to the center of the room. Rarity shied away from the statues of pony’s looming out of the darkness lining the carpet, they looked contorted and frozen in time just before the end of an agonizing death.

A deep guttural laugh echoed through the hall, drawing Rarity’s attention to the throne. She had seen those glowing green eyes only once before, but she could never forget them.

“Mmm…” Sombra grinned at the two, they had traveled halfway into the room without thought. Rarity moved in front of her sister, her ears folded back nervously, and attempted to scowl at the huge stallion.

“You-” she gulped, “you have no right to kidnap us like this!” Rarity stamped her hoof down for emphasis.
“I have very powerful friends you know,” she began to lose her confidence as he stared hungrily into her blue eyes, “I…I’m sure they wouldn’t mind if you let us go now, clear up this... obvious misunderstanding?”

Sombra’s face turned to stone. His smoky mane seemed to grow as he rose from the throne and began to walk towards the pair. Something flared slightly from beneath his long fur lined crimson cloak.

Rarity craned her neck as he stopped mere inches from where she stood. She had never seen a pony so large before, far bigger than even Celestia herself. Sweetie Belle stepped back.

Sombra’s black aura began to glide across Rarity’s coat and mane, lightly pressing against her. Instinctively she grasped her own magic, but was instantly engulfed by the other power. To Rarity, it had felt like a candle being doused by an ocean.

“You have spirit, but you don’t need it anymore.” Sombra spoke calmly, “I will forgive you this time, but you will not speak to your master in such a way again.”

Rarity gasped, “M-master?! How dare you! I am no one’s-“ her sister’s scream cut her short. Rarity twisted back to see her sister pinned to the floor by his black aura.

“Sweetie Belle!” she yelled. Rarity turned back to Sombra to see him baring his sharp teeth and his eyes burning with anger. “Stop you monster!” she attempted to use her own magic, somehow, but his own still doused her.

In a moment of panic, Rarity lunged forward and bit Sombra’s foreleg. He responded by kicking her and slamming her into a statue. Blood began to stream from the back of her head down her pristine white coat. He didn’t need magic to show his power.

“You foolish mare! I don’t care if this filly dies, if it makes you obedient. Another outburst, another disrespectful comment or action and she will pay for your stupidity! Do you understand!?” he yelled, furry resonated through his voice.

Rarity lay on her back with her head propped against the statue, still bleeding. She looked at her sister lying on the floor trying to catch her breath, Sombra’s aura no longer wrapped around her.

The black aura wrapped around Rarity’s skull, causing her skin to tingle. Her entire body shuddered with a sudden chill. Spots began to cloud her vision, and her body began to feel tired and feeble.

“Why are you doing this to us?” she cried.

Sombra moved in front of her sprawled body and lowered his head only inches to her own. “Oh mare,” his voice had shifted back to a disturbing calm. “lovely mare, you will find out soon enough. Now, you won’t ask any more questions, understand?”

“But-“ She whimpered.

“No question!” his voice shifted back to furry. A crack echoed through the air like a whip, and Sweetie Belle cried out in pain. A thin stream of blood trickled down the filly’s flank, as she continued to cry.

“Pleas! Don’t hurt her, I’ll do anything!” Rarity cried.

“Yes, you will. Don’t fear mare, once your purpose has been fulfilled I will end you and your sisters suffering. Perhaps if you impress in some way, your future will change for the better.”

Sombra turned around and walked back to his throne. Rarity staggered to her hooves, and looked towards her sister. One of the guards held her in his mouth, dangling by the nape of her neck. The sun orange colt lead the guards and her sister out of the chamber, and two somber crystal mares entered in their place, one a shining jade and the other amber.

“Ensure my mare receive chambers below my own, I must have easy access to my investment.” He said to the crystal attendants. “I will be expecting her to be clean and beautiful by tomorrow afternoon, you two will see to it.”

“Yes master.” The two mares responded in unison, and flanked Rarity on both sides to lead her out of the chambers.

Rarity couldn’t help but glance back as they were about to leave the throne room. Sombra and herself locked eyes, she had never been so afraid in her life. Her sister’s presence here was all her fault, and now they were in the hooves of a mad pony.