My Little Pony: Shadows of the Two Kingdoms

The sun set dimly on the horizon, casting a faint orange glow on the group of ponies as they sat around their fire. A faint, dark smoke wisped through the air giving an ominous feeling to the ancient kingdom that lay in shambles before them. A small group of weapons that Applejack had made for her friends lay stuck in the ground. The environment around them gave the feeling of the calm that happens before a great storm. Peaceful, yet deep destruction and evil seemed to be gnawing at their hooves. It was Rainbow Dash who finally broke the long silence.

“So, Crimson Steel, I know you volunteered to come along and everything, but who exactly are you. For the past couple of weeks that we have been on this journey you’ve said hardly anything at all. Frankly I’m wondering why you’re even here. Just who are you exactly, and what’s your stake in this?”

This question had been aching at Rainbow for a while now. Crimson Steel just seemed like a skeleton to the group, almost having no purpose, but just to hang around. Everyone was glad that Rainbow finally asked such a tough question. Nopony else had wished to ask such a thing. Crimson, after hesitating for a few moments, rose to his hooves and walked over to a nearby hillside and stood still. He seemed to be staring off into the abyss. He began to speak in an unusually calm tone.

“Listen to my story, for it may be the last chance I have to tell it.” He said with a slight shudder in his voice. “My story begins in the kingdom of Latria. Latria was the kingdom built by my mother Princess Crystilia. My mother ruled Latria for many years; she built that kingdom from the ground up, and she was very proud of it. One day, however, the peaceful kingdom fell.”

“When your mother fell ill and passed on, or so the legend says.” Twilight pointed out. Her friends glared at her, a bit upset at her sudden interjection. Crimson Steel seemed unfazed by the purple pony’s interruption.

“The legend is wrong.” He replied, never turning to face the six ponies that were listening intently to his ever-deepening tale. “My mother was killed defending her kingdom from the same evil that threatens Equestria now, Eternal Darkness. I was just a colt when I witnessed both my parents sacrifice themselves to keep Eternal Darkness at bay. They did succeed, but only in casting him out for a time. They sacrificed themselves to imprison him in the Abyss.” He spoke slowly almost as if he was reliving every moment as he told it.

“Eternal Darkness saw his chance to return only a few years after my parents died. The ponies asked me to lead the city, at least until the guards found a new princess to take the place of my mother. I refused to take the position and sought out a new princess on my own. That was my mistake. My sister Diamond Dust took on the role of leading the city. That’s where the seeds of evil were planted in my sister. My sister wanted to be a princess so very badly; she had always wanted to be a princess. It was never to come to pass though, as she was not an alicorn, and she knew she would have to turn over authority of the city to a real princess.” As he continued to weave his tale of woe, the air around the ponies grew heavy with sadness. As Crimson Steel told his story, he showed more emotion now than the six mares had seen of him on the entire journey so far.

“So, how did you meet Ruby Heart?” Fluttershy whispered, quietly wanting to hear more of the Crimson stallion’s past.

“I met her a few days after leaving Latria. I soon came upon a small town named Sunburrow.  It is a small town, in the middle of nowhere. I first found Ruby in the market place. It was a complete accident I bumped into her. We talked for a while, and I explained what had happened to Latria. She agreed to return with me and lead the city if I were to be her eternal guard and rule by her side. She was inexperienced when I first met her and had no knowledge of how Royalty should act. I trained her for a few years until she was truly ready to return to Latria.”

“When I returned to Latria with Ruby, the kingdom was a ghost of its former glory. The buildings had all but collapsed, and a black fog shrouded the city. My sister sat atop the throne in the palace. The small bit of evil I had sensed in her before I left had amplified to great strength. I had never sensed a more powerful dark magic then what she used on that day. We defeated my sister, but she fled after the battle. Now Eternal Darkness is using her as a catalyst to focus his powers. He is using my sister to manifest his physical form.” As he spoke his calm tone began to wane further.

“That is my regret. Had I led the city for a few years, this crisis may have been averted. My sister might have been saved from the evil that corrupts her now. The sins of my past have returned to haunt me. Every day my memories have tormented me, because I failed to save my Sister’s soul. It continues to tear at me now. I failed once, but not again. I refuse to fail again. I’ve spent every day trying to repair the damage of my mistakes. I feel like I could have done more to protect my family, but I failed. That is my purpose for coming with you. That is the reason I ask the six of you now. Will you help bring this to an end? I know I’ve not been very talkative on this journey, but I was holding out for the right time to explain my past.” When he had finished speaking, he turned around to face the six mares that sat before him.

“Wow, That was quite a story.” Pinkie choked up

“Guess I had you figured wrong for a sec.” Rainbow commented

“Ah know I’ll follow ya through this. Ah know how it feels to lose your family.” Applejack pitched in

“Darling, your story was quite moving. This is our quest, and we WILL see it through to the end.” Rarity said standing up.

Twilight walked over to group “What a journey this has been so far. I feel like I’m ready for anything. Rarity is right this is our quest, and we will see it through to the end. TOGETHER.”

“TOGETHER.” Everypony shouted into the night.

Youtube Video