Tales Of Equestrian Legends (TOEL)

Winds whipped and shivered as the cold of the north enwrapped an almost completely black colored alicorn pony. He had heard of how cold all of the north was, but then again no one truly knows what a place is like unless he or she had been there their self. He shrugged the cold off and continued on as he sought for discovery and adventure through the barren frozen tundra he had heard of. All of the texts and knowledge of other ponies that he had heard about said that the frozen northern lands were completely and utterly bare, holding nothing. However the adventurous teenage pony felt that the spoken truth may not actually be reality.

Why would there be nothing out there? I mean it is deathly cold, and there are no grasslands, but when you look closely at geographical features, it seems that precious minerals and crystals might be originating from there in large quantity unlike any other land in equestria, he thought

So with an obsessed and knowledge hungry mind he had put himself into the situation he was in now, deathly cold, a bit hungry, and no civilization in sight. But he didn't care, for the truth was all he wanted and needed, if only he could perchance see it through the blizzard he braved. The pony decided to take a break from his long and tiring journey for truth by setting up camp, and soon enough he slept soundly. He then dreamt dreams he could have never imagined before. Everywhere he looked, crystals and minerals where there. Yet the most dazzling sight was what looked like to be a crystal, shaped like a pony of green hair, that was naturally forming. It looked like he was seeing the growth of crystals through hundreds of years in a matter of seconds.

Then the crystals grew dark, and the pony shaped crystal instantly opened its eyes revealing eyes with blood red iris's. The sudden fear of such a startling sight awoke him, making him grateful that the dream was nothing but that, a dream. As he heard nothing, not even howling winds he deduced that the blizzard had subsided overnight and looked outside. What he saw was a discovery unlike any other.

A castle, made entirely of crystal, looking as if it had been abandoned centuries ago. With curiosity, his vigor, and the search for discovery directing his every move he galloped toward the abandoned crystal castle. He then opened the door and entered a beautiful and untouched entrance room, all made of precious minerals, ruby, sapphire, emerald, amethyst, diamond, you name it and it was there in colossal quantities and if the teenage alicorn had a lust for monetary gain and power his mind may have started swirling with thoughts of great wealth. But the pony knew no greed, in fact he hated it, and instead the beauty of the crystals enwrapped him in wonder and amazement with the structures beautiful craftsmanship. He then began exploring the other rooms, each being as beautiful if not more like the entrance, filled to the brim with minerals, sparkling in the northern sun with vibrant colors like a rocky rainbow. He eventually had mapped out the entire castle and with his hunger for knowledge satisfied he decided to leave and tell everyone of his amazing discoveries and unwavering courage for knowledge, maybe if it truly was a marvelously grand discovery princess celestia would maybe even honor him for his discovery. But as he started to head through the door he heard something.

"...rys..."

The pony stopped dead in his tracks confused. For the muttered whisper could have been mistaken for someone calling his own name, which was Rysis. He listened hard as his hunger for discovery, truth, and knowledge had been tugged at again.

"Cr...al"

He heard it all right but he knew that someone couldn't have said it for no one was in the castle, not only because no pony dared challenge whether or not this castle existed, but because it looked as if the building had not been touched for almost thousands of years. He heard something again but could tell the voice was feminine

"cryst......ny"

He then realized that the first word being said over and over was probably crystal, but couldn't make out the second word. He then decided to at least use some of his magic to search through the castle but when using it and looking through its aura while lifting something he saw something weird.

"...ystal...Po..."

There it was again and what was that thing he saw through his aura. Maybe what was making those mutterings was something he couldn't see normally? so he used his magic to produce aura that could act like a pair of glasses and was startled to see an almost transparent Pegasus floating in midair with green hair. Thanks to the ponys magical aura what the Pegasus said became clear as day and was recognized as the mutterings he had heard before

"Oh good you can see me," she said. "I thought you would never hear me."

She smiled looking as if she was finally content to have company as if she had lived here her whole life secluded from the world.

"I'm Miya, what's your name?" She asked.

Though still a bit startled the alicorn decided it was only fair to treat this like a normal meeting.

"My names Rysis. What is this place exactly?" He inquired.

"Well that's kind of a silly question, this is the crystal empire, everyone knows about the crystal empire! Especially for its beautiful gems and the flourishing economy." She answered

The alicorn was a bit confused. How could no one have known about such a beautiful place before? Why had everyone thought nothing existed out here? And is Miya a ghost exactly? And even then why is she like this?

"I don't really know what your talking about. No one in this day and age knows of this place from what I've gathered, in fact it's almost stated that it doesn't exist." He said.

"Oh come on! Stop being such a silly filly, everyone should know about the Crystal Empire. News of other kingdoms spreads like wildfire these days, especially with the kingdom being finally liberated. Talk of the chaos wars should even still be going on if I'm right." She replied.

Rysis was taken aback, by what Miya said. The chaos war ended years ago, centuries even, he wasn't even born remotely close to when the influence of the chaos wars still circulated throughout everyday talk.

"What?! That was almost 1000 years ago! Maybe you just may haven't been up to date with current events? Also do you realize that you're kind of exuding a ghostly appearance there?"

"What?! How?! All I remember was being freed from my slavery by Celestia and Luna a little after the chaos wars had ended, I black out for a second and then...EEK! What happened to my body?! Oh my, um. Oh what can i do?"

"It's ok, calm down I can help you. We are just a bit confused from timey wimey stuff so maybe I can help you get a body or something? Though I doubt it's not really possible."

Suddenly Miya's eyes stretched with sudden realization and glee

"That's it!” She said. “You can help me build my body again! Then we can figure out what happened!"

"Wha-how? It can't be that simple, can it? I was actually starting to doubt that magic was powerful enough to do that."

"Oh no, for other ponies the ability to do that is impossible, but I'm a crystal pony so it's easy as pie! Okay follow me I'll show you how to do it! Come on!"

Miya then led Rysis to what looked like a throne room of sorts covered with shards of crystals.

"Ok Rysis, it's really simple, all you have to do is just configure what shards of crystal you can use to make a body shaped form, then if we can still use the crystal heart at the top, I can possess the form and it will become like I was born into it."

Rysis didn't really understand much of what Miya said, like how she was a crystal pony, what the crystal heart was, or what this talk of liberation by Celestia and Luna was about, but he didn't really care as his mind was set on helping poor Miya. Miya then added something.

"Oh, um, I hate to add this but sometimes with configuring the crystals it could even take a few days, though if you don't want to help me I-"

"Oh! No I don't mind at all I can come back here each day and we can build the body slowly but steadily."

"Really?! thank you Rysis!"

And so a pact was made between the young Pegasus and pegacorn. Each day after doing what was needed to be done Rysis would go back to the crystal castle and continue working steadily on Miya's new body. Though Rysis refrained from telling anyone about the incident, I mean who would believe he had found a collapsed kingdom in the north, with a ghostly Pegasus that ‘needed’ his help. Regardless, Rysis still decided to help Miya and over the course of building her body the two started to become good friends. Miya would talk of the beautiful landscape of the kingdom and the fabulous trade, while Rysis told tales of his lonely youth, how he had been abandoned at birth, and how he had become known around his hometown for his unendingly hungry craving for knowledge. During all that, Miya's new body began to come together piece by piece but little did the two know that there world would change forever.

Rysis again opened the beautiful door of the crystal castle that he had entered for weeks on end, and entered the greeting room only to be surprised with something unearthly. Some of the crystals were black while others looked like they were being consumed by a dark power, it was like...

It was like his dream! He had to warn and protect Miya and her body! He hurried toward the throne room, but before going through the door exiting the main hall Miya stopped him in his tracks.

He spoke almost in a panic, "Miya something bads going on we have to get out of here!"

"I'm fine Rysis, but you're the one who needs to leave! I don't want you to get hurt, he's coming!"

"What who's coming?!"

"There's no time to explain you have to go quick before-" Miya was then cut short. Smoke of dark power billowed and swirled throughout the air behind Miya as she stood motionless from pure fear. The smoke then took form and out of it a black stallion appeared, clothes of a king, an unearthly curved unicorn horn, purple smoke billowing out of his eyes, but the most horrifying thing for Rysis was the stallions blood red iris's, exactly like in his dream. Then as if the stallion was not frightening enough he spoke with an insulting manner

"Oh would you look at that, a cliche perfect boy trying to give hope to the girl the world has given up on, how precious!"

He laughed in a maniacal manner after his insult, something that absolutely angered Rysis.

"Who are you! You should be the one to be judged, what with your disgusting attire!"

The stallion licked his lips, "Oh, how delicious...it's been too long since I've tasted hatred, but yours is just splendid! Ha, ha, ha."

"Shut up and tell me who you are, you demented demon horse, before I shove my horn through your throat!"

The stallion laughed, "As if you could. I’m surprised you don't recognize me, I mean who would even forget their own father? Especially if that father is as great as I, the glorious King Sombra."

Rysis stood motionless, trying to work out how such a thing could be possible, his hair was almost the same as sombras, and he was an orphan...no it wasn't possible.

"As if! Your no king, only a tyrant! And even then how could you be my fa-"

Suddenly Rysis felt something painful and sharp scratch something in his left chest, enough to make him collapse onto the ground in utter pain.

"*tisk, tisk* haven't I taught you better not to raise your voice, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

"What...the heck did you do, agh!"

"Oh, looks like someone's had a bit of amnesia, haven't they? I only used some of my dark magic to grow a dark crystal into the inside of your heart, but don't worry I won't kill you...unless you disobey me that is, then I could make that crystal grow far enough to penetrate through your puny little heart."

"Gah! As if that could stop me tyrant!" Rysis spluttered.

"Oh? Then what about your little friend there?"

Rysis gasped in horror and thought no! Anyone but Miya I just can't let her die without knowing a shred of the truth of why she is like this!

"Ooh looks like I hit a soft spot! Perfect! Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Well then son, I have an errand for you to run, I need you to get me the shadow gem deep inside Queen Celestia and Queen Luna's castle. Failure to do so or if you completely spill why you're doing this to anyone else then I will make the crystal in your heart pierce you through, leaving your little friend in my ‘dependable’ care."

Miya tried to sway Rysis away from doing so saying, "No! Rysis don't listen to him I'll be fine, don't care about me! I don't want you to die!"

But Miya's pleas could not stop Rysis from trying to save Miya and with a tear down his cheek, anger and crystals in his heart, he unwillingly accepted and flew off towards Celestia, and Luna's castle.

~~~

"Ok Rysis I know your not the kind to be obsessed with dark magic, although you may have been craving it all along, but I want to get this straight. Why did you intrude the castle and try to steal the shadow gem?" Celestia asked a defeated Rysis.

Even though Rysis had done well sneaking and intruding he was eventually caught by Celestia herself, and now he sat in an interrogation room. He knew that he could be killed if he spoke the truth but he needed to get it out so Celestia would perhaps understand and help, but how could he explain it? An idea popped in his mind.

"I'm sorry queen celestia but I can only explain it one way" Rysis said, "If I try otherwise, then I will go sile-"

The pain of another new crystal shard scratching the inside of his heart cut him off with clenching pain.

"Ok I partially understand and I'll play your little game but know that I know when you're lying or not so speak wisely. But for now answer with one word when I ask you something. I can understand that this is somehow threatening your life but I don't know how, so speak wisely. Why did you try to steal the shadow gem?"

"Save" Rysis gasped.

"Save what?" She inquired.

"Life"

"Yours or another's?”

"Another's"

"Where does this other pony live?"

"North."

"How can that be? There is nothing up north."

"Crystal."

The word must have struck a chord with Celestia as the mere mention of it took her aback. "What is hurting you?"

"Curse,"

Another pinch of pain met his heart, just the mere mention of such a curse was enough for Sombra to strike a chord

"Who put this curse on you?" Celestia continued.

"Evil"

"What kind of evil?"

"Dark"

"Dark what?"

"Magic."

"What kind of dark magic? Also remember dear, one word!"

Rysis thought hard, and said, "Shadow."

Celestia instantly changed gears as she realized who was behind the strings. "I want you to stay here"

She said, "The other doctors in canterlot will help with the curse, I'll get an army ready and save that who is dear to you and stop Sombra. All I ask is that you stay here."

~~~

Rysis flew, gasping for air as the crystals in his heart brought wave after wave of pain, but even then it wouldn't stop him from saving Miya. Even though celestia had told him to stay put he needed to get Sombra with the shadow gem or else Sombra would kill him because instead of him coming back with the shadow gem, an army with Celestia and Luna would arrive, and then Sombra would instantly realize what he had done and kill him. Under any circumstances could he not let that happen, he had to try no matter what!

The door broke open as an exhausted and tortured Rysis stumbled painfully through the door. At the moment Sombra had Celestia under his guise of her greatest fear, her own sister turning on her. Sombra put Celestia in a hold that could cause death with his scythe, and with pure pleasure and pride of victory, Sombra congratulated Rysis saying,

"Ah, and here I thought you had betrayed me son. Good, very good!"

The ground then revealed a stone with a rather plain looking stone sword with a hole that could hold a gemstone.

"Now son if you could just put that gem into the sword right there I'll remove the crystal from your heart but one false move and you're dead."

Rysis stumbled toward the sword, thoughts racing through his mind no I can't do this, but Miya...but then the whole world but...what?...what can I do!?

"Rysis stop!" Miya said.

Rysis used what little energy he had to see Miya.

"Don't do it please, you'll be just like him I just can't *sob*"

"I'm, I'm sorry Miya but I can't...you, you have to live on you have to find the truth."

"No, not anymore your future is more important to me than my past...or future!"

Miya then gathered all of her energy and turned into a ball of light and entered Rysis. Suddenly the pain was gone, like it had never happened but Rysis didn't care.

"Miya?!...Miya?"

No response or solid sight showed at all. Miya had sacrificed herself for Rysis.

"MIYA!"

"Oh please son," Sombra said, "If I got a dime for each dead crystal pony, I'd be rich. Besides, they are worth a dime a dozen anyway. Now put the gem into the sword."

Suddenly everything became clear for Rysis. In other times he would be utterly enraged yet he felt nothing but knew what he had to do, it was as if his emotions had given way to help him focus on doing what needed to be done.

"...If you're so obsessed with finding one of these stones," Rysis said, "THEN FIND ONE YOURSELF!"

Rysis then shattered the shadow gem with his horn and stood feeling more victorious than ever.

Sombra screamed with anger and rage.

"Fine then boy! DIE!"

Sombra then looked as if he was trying to make the crystal pierce through Rysis's heart, but to no avail.

"Fine then," Sombra said as he lifted his scythe whilst using his magic to keep Celestia still in a crystal prison, "If you won't die quickly then let your death be long and painful!"

Rysis then took the stone sword and retorted "you can try."

The battle was starting to be long and painful for Rysis. Rysis knew he couldn't keep going like this.

"Why won't you die?!" Sombra screamed.

Sombra lunged forward ready to slice Rysis head clean off but then Rysis began to feel strange and for some reason began to think of crystals. Then almost as quickly as he had thought a wall of crystals appeared in sombras tracks stopping him. Rysis then began to feel incredible power unlike anything he had felt before. A light enveloped him as he felt the power join him and as it happened he accepted it so that he could stop sombra once and for all. As soon as Sombra cut down the crystal wall he stood agape, motionless at who stood before him. One second he was fighting a pathetic pony. Now a majestic alicorn stallion, with armor made of minerals colored in the rainbow, stood before him with a sword as equally as powerful as his appearance. Sombra ignored the fact and shook it off and lunged toward the stallion. Pony, stallion, it was all the same to him because nothing could live under his rage.

At least that's what he thought until he was motionless with a sword through his heart.

Yet it wasn't the end for him at all. He still had more magic to go through, so he could still be stabbed through the heart multiple times but how had he managed to do it?! Enraged sombra began attacking furiously and unendingly but the stallion blocked every hit with ease and what was more the stallion was making Sombra back up as if the stallion were attacking instead of blocking, but it wasn't that that bothered Sombra, it was that he could not find any hatred, anger, or sorrow exuding from this stallion that he could feed on, it was almost unnatural.

Sombra then felt the door behind his back and in a fit of rage and confusion screamed "WHAT ARE YOU?! WHY WONT YOU DIE?!"

The stallion retorted "What? Did you hit your head? Don't you recognize your own son?"

"WHAT?! RYSIS?!"

"I am not Rysis anymore, I've been reborn as the king of the Crystal Empire, Crystalis!"

And with Crystalis's declaration he shoved his sword right through Sombra’s heart, faster than Sombra could use his magic because his anger blocked him from taking action, making his injury mortally wounding.

"Heh...heh, heh, at...least I’ll have...a worthy...successor..." Sombra grunted in pain.

"I will never be your son, and you never had power to begin with! So disappear into what you were named after, banished forever, says I THE KING OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE!"

And Sombra breathed his last and faded into shadow. The battle was finally over but the war had been lost. All that Crystalis fought for all this time had been lost forever. Crystalis, with a shattered heart walked into the throne room, where Miya's built body was. Crystalis then used his magic and reformed the body making it a mare Pegasus and hung his head in front of it, defeated with a tear in his eye.

"...l...Po..."

Crystalis immediately lifted his head, for he had maybe found a spark of hope. Then suddenly, a crystal shaped like a heart formed in front of him and the power radiated and the body came to life as crystalis's sorrow was turned to hope.

"Rysis?...RYSIS!"

Miya was alive after all! Joy flooded Crystalis as he hugged her "MIYA! I...I thought I had lost you forever!" He said as tears began to flow from his eyes

"You silly filly," Miya said, "Don't do that again ok?"

Crystalis agreed saying, "Of course."

They then walked to the entrance where crystalis used his new powers to free Luna and Celestia from their hold. He then humbly apologized for his rash actions. But both were not mad but proud of Crystalis.

"There's no need to be ashamed of what you did Crystalis," Celestia said, "It doesn't matter anymore because you've saved countless lives and I believe with your newfound powers you will be able to remake innumerable others who died to sombra! For I celestia officially dub thee as the Crystal King of the Crystal Empire!"

And Crystalis felt happy and let his magic fill the halls with crystal ponies, killed by Sombra, as well as restore the kingdom and the other lives outside the kingdom. From that day onward, Crystalis would lead the Crystal Empire with righteousness, justice, kindness, and peace with Miya by his side.