Chapters Sombra's Triumphant Return
There was an explosion as the Changeling shot his magic at the red pony that had Sombra's horn atop his head. The red pony shot a blast of dark magic at the Changeling, and he didn't miss like the Changeling. "Lucky me..." the red stallion said ominously, "you survived. Looks like I will have a new body to inhabit, hopefully you'll be a bit more resilient than this pathetic pony." At that he removed his horn revealing the jagged remains of the red unicorn's horn, he quickly slammed the horn over the Changeling's. The poor thing screeched as the dark magic flowed throughout its body and suppressed its mind.
"Yes this will do well...for now." The Changeling said in Sombra's voice. "Now as for you" he said turning towards the red unicorn, "to the shadows with you!" He shouted and shot a blast of dark magic and the unicorn vanished.
Sombra was a quick learner and in a matter of minutes he had already figured out how to change forms to that of his last host.
"Hay Mirid why'd you send up a flare, we're in the middle of a populated area?" Another Changeling said rounding the bend into the alley Sombra was standing in.
Almost immediately Sombra had the other Changeling up against the wall using the Changelings shape shifting ability to turn into his original form. "Tell your queen that I, Sombra, have a proposal for her" he said grimly to it. He released the Changeling who flew off as fast as it could.
Sombra watched as he left, he had a plan brewing in his head for at least a year now. He needed an army and Chrysalis was one that could be easily motivated by the notion of revenge, and the promise of the Crystal Heart. Of course he would be prepared for her treachery, after all Changelings’ are known for their trickery.
Sombra spent most of that afternoon killing time with the red unicorn’s marefriend. He took her out on the town, he ordered the most expensive things that he could get her, he was emptying the entire savings of his former host, why not, he won't be needing it where he is.
"Sweetie, why are you spoiling me?" She asked him.
This threw him off, "I'll tel you once I take you home."
This made her mind go wild What could he be planning he hasn't spoiled me this much since he asked me to move in with him. This brought a thought to her mind Could he be planning to propose , this thought brought a noticeable change to her face, one that Sombra noticed.
For the rest of the night Sombra played a kind of cruel game with her. He had noticed that she was trying to direct them to the flat. He simply kept her out as long as possible, but at about three in the morning she wouldn't put up with his misdirection any longer and he took her home.
"So what was he surprised you had for me!?" She said with the biggest smile.
Sombra closed the door and dropped the voice of the red unicorn "My dear, you do remind me so much of her, however she is gone and I don't want any more heartache". He started to burn with the green fire of the Changelings but instead of an expected Changeling he took the form he had had for so long.
Her eyes went wide and she tried to scream only to have a dark tendril to wrap itself around her snout, several others grabbed her limbs and held her down. "Good now that you’re secure I can gather my things; of course you didn't notice that I had taken over your beloved. Did you know he planned to propose just a week after I took his body, if I had waited a week you would have been engaged" He walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a small rune. "Funny how you didn't notice me infecting you with dark magic, it is a necessary step to take if I'm going to send you to the shadows."
She made some noises, "Pardon?" he asked letting her snout lose.
“Why?” was all she could manage.
“Why?” Sombra repeated, “Because I am evil.”
“No…” she started, “why did you spoil me before this?”
“Oh…” he considered his options and decided that it wouldn’t hurt to tell the truth this time, “You remind me of my beloved, and I was simply pretending.”
“What happened to her?”
“She is dead.”
“I’m sorry.” this amazed Sombra to no end. Even after all these years of causing torment a pony still was able to feel sympathy for him of all ponies.
“Don’t be! I was the one who killed her!!” he shouted. All of the dark tendrils began to squeeze her harder. A portal opened underneath her and the tendrils forced her into it. The last thing she saw was Sombra staring down at her, his eyes not angry but saddened, then there was darkness.
There was a knocking at the door, and Sombra shifted into the red unicorn. He walked over to it and opened it, “Why Hel…” was blasted with a sleeping spell and fell over. The last thing he saw was the local guard walking in and looking at him.
Sombra was groggy when he woke up, his form now that of the changeling his spirit now inhabited, of course with his horn where the changelings would have been. He was in a hexagonal cell with bars on one side. He walked over to them and peered out to see he was imprisoned in Chrysalis’s hive.
Changelings where bustling about preforming different tasks. One flew by and saw Sombra was awake, almost immediately it whistled and every Changeling Sombra could see stopped working and stared at him.
There was a split in the mob of Changelings and in the center of it Chrysalis was flying up to his cell. “So you’re finally awake.” Chrysalis said as she lighted down in the newly built platform that Sombra hadn't even noticed was being built.
“Is this how you treat your guest?” Sombra asked giving a wicked smile, and turning to his preferred form.
“It is when they have stolen a member of my hive” She said giving a smile to match him.
Sombra chuckled, “What is one Changeling to and unnumbered swarm?” he asked.
“We are strapped for recourses after the Canterlot Incident and we need every Changeling we can get.” She said with a ping of anger in her voice.
“A believable lie, but if you’re so weak then I guess I’m wasting our time.” Sombra replied looking disinterested.
“Yes! I got your message! What is this proposal of yours?”
“We have mutual need, you and I. I need my empire back, and you need revenge for… What did you call it...? The Canterlot Incident, yes.”
“Go on”
“Well as you know the married couple Princess Cadence and Shining Armor rule over my former empire…”
“The one that is protected by powerful magic, to the point where we can’t even send infiltrators in it.” Chrysalis said giving an annoyed look.
"That's just because you don't know it's weaknesses like me."
"And you would tell us these weaknesses, what's in it for you?"
"I will tell you these weaknesses if you agree to give me the Empire once you have your revenge and I'll even throw in the Crystal Heart as a sort of ultimate love gathering and storage relic for you, provided you protect it well."
"Why would you trust me?" Chrysalis asked, giving him a distrustful look.
"Because you remember what happened the last time a hive betrayed me." Sombra sneered.
Chrysalis shuttered remembering the destruction caused by that queen’s treachery. “True. I do remember, and if I am smart… I wouldn’t dare betray you.”
“Then we have an agreement? You get me the Empire and I give you revenge and the Crystal Heart” Sombra said smiling deviously.
“Fine, my army will attack the Crystal Empire for you. But if you betray me! I'll...”
"You'll what? Destroy me?! Know your place!!'
"Don't you talk to me like that!! You remember your place!" She shouted back as he hive began to cheer.
“Impressive display of power, now can you back it up” Sombra said coolly.
“Of course I can!”
“Well let’s hope so.” Sombra said with a dark chuckle. Chrysalis began to chuckle along with him. The hive joined in and Sombra’s cell was opened.
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Chapter 2: The Ritual
Sombra stood on a ledge overlooking the interior of Chrysalis's hive, he was watching the drones buzz about doing their various tasks, he was smiling. He was reminded of how his slaves would scurry around trying not to displease him. "Lord Sombra..." a Changeling interrupted his train of thought; this made him want to rip off the weak things wings. But he wasn't allowed to hurt the Changelings, Chrysalis wouldn't let him.
"Yes whelp." he replied in a booming voice.
The now startled Changeling crouched slightly and continued "We are ready for you."
"Are you, you have the three unicorns, the altars, the candles, and the cloaks, all to my specifications?" He asked with a subtle grin.
"Yes Lord." The Changeling said looking down.
"Good" Sombra said his grin widening to reveal his wicked teeth. "Lead on" he said and the Changeling rose and walked away. Sombra followed, keeping an eye out for hidden Changelings, there was always a few that Chrysalis would send to keep an eye on him; he made a game of it. If he found one he would punish them for failing their queen.
He was led into a dark room lit only by the candles that the six cloaked Changelings were holding. They were evenly spaced around a three stone altars, on each of the altars were unicorns tied down. They were lying so that their horns were facing inward towards the center of the circle that had been drawn on the ground.
Sombra whistled cheerfully as he neared the center of the chamber. "Soon, very soon" he said softly.
"Please don't do this, we haven't done anything" one of them pleaded.
Another chimed in "Yah, we're good ponies."
The last one screamed, "For the love of Celestia let us go."
"Ha ha ha" Sombra let out low laughing, "Why would I let you go? You all have important roles, in society, and in my plan, oh and I hate society."
"You don't have to do this." one of the mares said starting to cry.
"Of course I don't have to do this... I want to and that's all that matters."
He walked into the center of the circle and removed his horn; he gently placed it down on the ground so that the tip was pointing upwards. Almost immediately two Changelings flew down and grabbed his former host pulling him out of the circle. The cloaked Changelings began to chant "Dominus revertar ad formam" over and over again.
Sombra's horn began to spark with the dark energy; several dark tendrils shot out from the tip and latched onto the horns of the unicorns. The unicorns’ magic activated and began to flow into Sombra's horn. The horn slowly rose into the air and more tendrils appeared underneath it. They writhed uncontrollably for a while and started to define a skeletal shape of a pony. Soon a real skeleton had formed.
The poor unicorns that were strapped down had begun to wither and started to look malnourished. As the skeleton began to add muscle and nerves the ponies started to literally become skin and bones. The skin was gone soon enough as the body needed it. In the last moments of the ritual the skeletons turned into dust with only their horns remaining.
The body was slumped onto the ground, motionless. Chrysalis stepped forward from the shadows, and she was just about to enter the circle when Sombra's new body jumped to life. He turned quickly towards and fell over his new hooves, "darn legs aren't finished yet." he grumbled his chin resting on the ground, he was now facing her. "Tell me, are the horns still there?"
"Yes" Chrysalis answered him. "Why does that matter?"
"That's none of your business."
"This is my hive and that means it's my business." She said getting angry with him.
"I can use their horns as magic conduits" He said standing up and wobbling out of the circle, "would you gather the horns? My body needs time to rest and rebuild, I'll be in my quarters. When I wake we will implement our plan to conquer the Crystal Empire." He said, and then he ordered a Changeling to help him to his quarters.
"Now that he has his body he's at least ten times as dangerous." Chrysalis said to one of her Changelings. "Keep an eye on him, and if he does something against the Hive inform me immediately. Do not act against him unless directly ordered by me."
"Yes my Queen" it said then burst into flames and vanished.
She turned towards another Changeling, "Take Mirid to the infirmary and try to get any sliver of information about the king that you can."
"Yes ma'am", it said walking over to two of the cloaked Changelings and the three of them went over to Mirid and mover him out of room.
Author's Note
What do you suppose Sombra really wants those horns for?
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Sombra was standing on a snowy cliff looking at the beautiful palace of the Crystal Empire, "I'm coming home" he said softly grinning.
"Lord Sombra" a familiar Changeling began, "The infiltrators have done it."
"Good work Mirid. Oh and how is it being dehived?"
"It's like I'm seeing the world clearly for the first time."
"I hoped as much." he said turning from the cliff and heading towards the tent he had set up. In the tent was a table with a perfect map of the Crystal Empire, and the various weaknesses of it. "The grace period will begin soon" He said seeing Chrysalis studying his map.
"How did you get this, it even has all of the guard post and patrols highlighted?" she asked looking closely.
"I may have been a slavedriver but I still had loyalty in mind and my little cult has been working hard to ensure my return will be as glorious as my initial takeover was." he explained rolling up the map. "I hear your Changelings have successfully infiltrated the Empire.
"Have you now?" she asked looking at Mirid with an agitated look.
"I no longer serve you" she spat at her former queen.
"You trade a Queen for a King, but I am still your superior and I will not allow you to talk to me like that." She said raising her hoof to smack the greying Changeling.
Sombra stopped her from hitting Mirid , "If I'm not allowed to hit your minions then you can't hit mine."
"Oh please I know that you have been playing mind tricks on them when you catch them following you." She spat at him.
"Guilty as charged" he said releasing her hoof, "However now I want to know, how does your army fare, and when will they be ready."
"They fare well and give them a day to prepare and they will be ready." she answered forgetting about Mirid.
"Good, then on the morrow we will execute the plan, just remember don't invade until you get my signal." he started to laugh at the thought of reclaiming his Empire.
Suddenly a Changeling ran into the tent panting, "My Queen... huh... the... elements of harmony... they have... arrived."
"What are these 'Elements of Harmony'?" Sombra asked angrily because he had not been informed that these things existed.
"They were an annoyance, but since Discord tricked the bearers into giving them up to stop his plants, it is little more than a title that still carries weight with the ponies." Chrysalis explained to him.
"Then it doesn't complicate things at all, does it?" he said still a bit miffed by his lack of knowledge on these 'Elements of Harmony'.
"When the Elements are at an event and someling tries to intervene for gain then that someling tends to lose."
"So even powerless they are dangerous?"
"They are resourceful, and led by an Alicorn. In fact now that I think about it, they were present when you were defeated by that reached princess.
"Realy!?" he asked.
"Yes they are led by a Princess Twilight Sparkle." Chrysalis confirmed.
"Oh, I remember her, but she was not a princess then. I could feel her use dark magic for the first time, she shined so bright in the dark. Well this will make things interesting at least."
Shining Armor woke up early, as per his usual routine, he was careful not to wake his wife. He knew the next few days were going to be trying for them, the Crystal Fair was coming up in just over a week away. He was going to do his usual morning tour of the border before she woke up. He slipped out of his room and was at the barracks before long, he got in his armor and headed out. He made it about three meters before two crystal pony guards came up beside him.
"Morning sir, you sleep well?" One of them asked.
"Yes, you?"
"Yes, I have a feeling this is going to be a good day." the guard answered, smiling.
The three of them walked along the main road and got to the edge of the Empire quickly. They began to move counterclockwise across the outer border of the Empire.
The sun was creeping over the horizon and the light was glistening of the crystal buildings. It sent pride into Shining Armor and the crystal guards.
They continued on their routine patrol, they made it to east side of the Empire when Shining Armor saw a cloaked figure approaching the Crystal Empire's border. As it neared they saw a white and yellow mare was just to to it's left.
"Greetings strangers." one of the crystal ponies said as the cloaked figure and it's companion neared.
There was a dark chuckle from the cloaked figure. The white and yellow mare spoke "Greetings and salutations crystal guardsmen. We are here to claim our new lives."
"We are willing to help anypony who needs it, there is always work to be had in the crystal mines if you are willing to work there, for obvious reasons few crystal ponies like that place." Shining Armor said.
There was another dark chuckle from the cloaked pony. "Well I'm sure that we can find something." the white and yellow mare said.
"How about King" The cloaked figure finally spoke.
Both of the crystal guards froze solid, they couldn't move not even blink. Shining Armor noticed this and demanded, "What did you do to them?"
"Of course you don't remember my voice, I only spoke for a brief moment last time we met." The cloaked figure said.
"What!?" Shining Armor said then the realization hit him, "Sombra!!" he yelled and turned around to sound the alarm. A grey Changeling landed in front of him and hissed.
"Mirid restrain him!" Sombra shouted and the Changeling jumped at Shining Armor. Shining Armor summoned a force field around him. As soon as Mirid hit the shield Shining Armor reversed his shield and enclosed Mirid in a bubble.
"I was hoping you would be restrained easily, but you had to make it hard didn't you?" Sombra asked removing his hood. His face was enough to break the crystal guards out of their fear and they charged Sombra. The poor fools didn't even make it a meter, before dark tendrils smacked them down.
"I was planing to make it to the palace before I did this, but very well." Sombra said shooting a dark beam at the Palace. The effects were almost instant, it transformed into Sombra's palace and behind Sombra thousands of green fireballs flew from the far off cliff. "Quite impressive what a few thousand Changelings are capable of." Sombra said as he started to laugh maniacally.
Author's Note
Yes, I'm aware that the opening is a little repetitive.
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Chapter 4: Sombra's Invasion
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza was waking up from at her usual time and she wasn't surprised to see her husband wasn't next to her. What did surprise her was the blackness of her bedroom even with the sunlight streaming in through the windows. A burst of energy rushed through her as she realized where she was. She got up quickly and ran out onto the balcony just in time to see the dive bombing Changelings landing and attacking the citizens of the Crystal Empire.
"Guards where is Shining Armor?" She asked the guards that had flanked her.
"Ma'am I believe he is there." One of them said pointing the edge of the Empire where dark and purple blasts were erupting from.
"Any guards that aren't mobilized, I want mobilized!! Get somepony down there to back us up!" She ordered when she realized what the black energy was.
"Us?" The Guard asked as Princess Cadence took off towards where her husband was fighting Sombra.
"You can't block my attacks forever" Sombra mocked as Shining Armor used another shield spell to defend himself from Sombra's dark magic.
"I don't need to block forever, I just need to hold long enough for your shields to fail you!" Shining Armor shouted back as Sombra's spell bounced off of his shield. He quickly shot a purple blast at Sombra.
A black crystal came out of the ground and absorbed Shining's magic. Then it shattered and Sombra shot again. "Then my shields won't fail me!" Sombra spat out as he shot.
They went back and forth like this for several minutes as the Changeling landed around them. Eventually Sombra's shield failed and Shining got a shot through. Sombra slid several meters and Shining prepared another blast. Mirid was laughing, "You shouldn't have done that." she said in between snickers.
"Aaarrrgg!" Sombra shouted rising quickly and shooting a blast of pure dark magic fueled by his rage. The moment it clashed with Shining Armor's shield it broke it. The resulting hit to him caused him to fly back, but he got up quickly blinded by his Sombra's magic and with a broken right forehoof.
"Shining!" A very familiar voice yelled out. He looked up to see his wife land next to him.
"Thank Celestia; we need to banish them now!" He spat out quickly.
"You won't be doing that!" Sombra said his horn charging for another attack.
When it came Princess Cadence put up her shield and deflected the beam. "We have to cast the spell we used to dispel the changelings the first time we faced them." She said to her husband.
"I won't allow it!" Sombra bellowed his dark beam increasing in power and intensity. He was smiling; while he was distracting them Mirid had been placing the unicorn horns around them. He was originally going to have Chrysalis do this but when he had learned that he had dehived Mirid he decided she would make a good servant, especially for sneakiness.
He allowed his attack to dwindle down, like he was tired. The foolish royalty bought it and worked together to shoot back, it was powerful enough to shatter the first crystal that Sombra used to protect himself but not the second.
Sombra was doing his best evil laugh, the one he had used before killing the previous ruler of the Crystal Empire and shot several tendrils of magic at the unicorn horns. "You didn't even notice them being placed" he gloated as the horns began to pull energy from Cadence and Shining Armor. "Now young rulers you will die" he said as they began to thin.
"Ahem" this got Sombra's attention. Mirid had done it, "Milord, one of the conditions you made with my former queen was that you wouldn't kill these two." She pointed out.
Sombra groaned in annoyance and said, “Fine, they are weak enough as it is, there spell won’t work”. He walked past them, “Mirid get the changelings to separate them; we cannot allow them to be imprisoned together.”
“Yes milord.” Mirid said bowing and flying away, with in a minute, ten changelings hovered over. Six of them taking Cadence and four of them taking Shining Armor; they flew off in opposite directions.
Sombra used his magic to gather the unicorn horns. Mirid landed next to him, “My former Queen wishes to see you milord.”
“Where is she?” He asked looking at the carnage that was spreading around.
“She is battling the Elements of Harmony near the Palace milord.” Mirid said bowing.
“Then we shall meat her there.” Sombra said as he began to walk in that general direction. He was enjoying the looks of fear that his slaves had on their face as they saw him among the Changelings. He remembered that it wasn’t long ago for them that the Great Extermination had taken place and they were living their true nightmare.
There was also a sense of irony about this arrangement with Chrysalis. he had led the charge on the Great Extermination back when he was an adviser of the royal family he had killed.
These memories brought up a sense of darkness in him, he was truly happy. He started to laugh as he walked along; Mirid joined in with this laughter, but she was nervous about it.
Author's Note
Yes, yes, reoccurring endings as well. My version of Sombra does enjoy his evil laughter.
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Chapter 5: Chrysalis's Invasion
Chrysalis was laying on the floor of the tent that Sombra has insisted she have put up. She had a Changeling watching for Sombra’s signal. It had been worked out that Sombra would make his way to the Crystal Palace then turn it into his palace once that happened she would send her troops to bombard the Empire. She would be aiming for the Palace so she could aid him in defeating Shining Armor, Princess Cadence, and the Elements of Harmony.
The first beams of sunlight just began to shine through the opening in the tent. She got up and stepped outside; she walked to the edge of the cliff and looked at the Empire in all of its beauty.
“My Queen, I was not aware you were going to be gracing me with you presence.” The drone she had placed to watch for Sombra’s signal said bowing low.
“Neither was I” She said not looking away from the Empire.
There was a dark surge as the sun’s light was blocked by the formation of Sombra’s palace. The Changeling ran back about two meters and hollered “It’s Time!!!” Every Changeling lifted into flight and cast there green shield and began to zoom up in large arched as to land in the Crystal Empire. Chrysalis Cast her shield and took off as to land right at the base of the Crystal Palace.
Princess Twilight Sparkle was having a hard time sleeping in the crystalline bedroom her brother and sister-in-law had provided. She missed the darkness of her tree, and the sound of crickets that she had grown accustomed to. She got up and decided to take a walk around the palace.
She sat up and looked at the curtains that covered her window. Through the sliver in between the curtains she could see that the Celestia hadn’t resin the sun yet. She lay there for several minutes, but when it was apparent that she wasn't going to fall back asleep she decided to go for a little walk around the palace.
She opened her door and walked out she thought she would go for a short walk to prepare for the Faire that was coming up.
Along her way she met several of the guards that were on the night shift. Most of them gave her a bow then simply went on their way. On occasion one of them would completely stop and give her a proper bow.
She had been exploring the palace for about twenty minutes when she pasted a window and noticed that the sun was creeping over the horizon. She knew that her friends would be waking up soon and she started heading towards the guest suites.
She was just about to reach them when she felt a shiver run down her spine. The very next second the crystal beneath her feet turned black. She ran to the window and just in time to see Cadence flying towards the edge of the Empire where eruptions of magic were coming from.
She noticed green spots from that direction and her eyes went wide. She used her magic to open the doors of her friends’ rooms and yelled “Wake Up!! We’re under attack!!”
This got a mixed reaction from her friends, Fluttershy screamed and hid under her bed. Rainbow Dash jumped and slammed into a wall. Rarity said “five more minutes”. Applejack shot upright. Pinkie Pie rolled off her bed.
“Come on! Sombra’s attacking with Chrysalis’s Changelings!” She shouted and that got them to move.
“What now!?” Rainbow Dash asked, recovering.
“The Empire is under attack by Sombra and Chrysalis.” Twilight reiterated.
“But that gorgeous Crystal Heart protects the empire. Doesn't it?” Rarity asked. As soon as she finished that sentence there was an explosion from Fluttershy’s room and she shot out of it.
A changeling in full battle regale came out only to get bucked in the head by Applejack. “How are they doing this?” She asked.
“I don’t know.” Twilight answered.
There was the sound of screaming ponies coming from the windows. Rainbow Dash flew out of it and the rest of them ran to the window to look down. Twilight teleported the rest of them down, "Protect the Crystal heart!!" she ordered.
"Oh it's you" Chrysalis said almost sounding board with them. "I was expecting to meet Sombra here, but I can't seem to find him. He must be running a little late; I'll just amuse myself by destroying you"
Changelings surrounded them all and turned into different versions of them. The main six had there hooves full with the fight. Chrysalis was simply watching the fight.
Several of the changelings dog piled Rainbow Dash, more trapped Applejack in a cocoon. Before long only Pinkie rarity and Fluttershy were also cocooned. Twilight was the considerably harder for them to beat.
Chrysalis was somewhat irritated by this but that was all. She knew that Twilight would be subdued before long.
There was a tearing sound and Chrysalis took a rainbow streak hit her in her side and she sprawled onto the crystal road. The Crystal ponies had freed Rainbow Dash and were in the process of freeing the others.
Chrysalis got up and roared with a deep hatred behind it, "Kill them all!!"
Here Changelings attacked but this time instead of fifty on six it was closer to fifty on twenty, and the crystal ponies had skin as hear as stone. They were loosing this part of the battle.
Chrysalis began to use her magic to heal her brood and attack the Crystal ponies. But her efforts were in vain as her Changelings fell one by one. Soon enough she found herself drained and trapped in a bubble of Alicorn magic.
"You've lost Chrysalis" Twilight said sure of her self.
Chrysalis only laughed, "Have you forgotten the current state of the palace. Because I haven't, mainly because I can't use dark magic."
Twilight's eyes went wide. "Oh no"
"What's wrong? We won." Applejack asked.
"This is Sombra's palace..."
"...Yes now if you would let go of my ally I would take what is rightfully mine." The ominous voice of Sombra boomed in their ears, even through the commotion of armored ponied and exoskeletal Changelings, his voice cut through the air like a knife.
Author's Note
And so the next fight begins.
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Chapter 6: Sombra's Fight
Rainbow Dash shot at Sombra and he was ready he sidestepped and large black crystal grew out of the ground for her to smack into. She tried to avoid it but it grabbed onto her tail then dragged into it as a prison.
"Now that the annoyance is pacified I would like to open negotiations, here are my demands. You free Chrysalis I'll free Shining Armor, you leave the Empire to me and I'll free Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, and last but not least, I'd like to at some point establish trade negotiations." He said coolly.
"You promised Cadence to me!!" Chrysalis shouted sounding betrayed.
"And you would have had her if you hadn't gotten yourself captured!" He said staring daggers at her.
She stayed silent.
"What makes you think that we would ever agree to those terms." Twilight asked.
"Yah!!" Pinkie chimed in.
"Simple I have an Alicorn of love, which means an infinite food source for the Changelings, which could cause you some trouble. Undoubtedly the Crystal ponies have informed you of my palace slaves. As for Shining Armor, he would make a good strong work horse. It is really your choice on whether or not this battle drags out or you get your royal couple back." He said smiling with his teeth.
Twilight looked over at her friends, she was thinking hard. She looked at the crystal guards; they were quivering in their armor. "I can't make that trade; I won't condemn these ponies to slavery." She said bravely.
"Really? You would risk losing the ponies that you actually know for these ponies?" Sombra asked genuinely surprised, well she is a princess for a reason. he assured himself.
"Yes! The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few." Twilight said and her friends took up positions around her.
"Well then Element of Magic, would you reconsider if I added in the Element of Loyalty?"
Twilight had forgotten about Sombra's latest prisoner, "I...um...No! I stand by my decision."
"Ha! You can't win Sombra" Rainbow Dash taunted from inside her prison.
"Says the pony who has already lost" He replied angrily.
"We'll be freeing Dashie now" Pinkie said pulling cannon out from nowhere.
Sombra was surprised by the sudden cannon that he didn't notice Applejack come up on his side. He did however notice the sharp pain that flowed through his body as she dented his armor with a swift buck to his side. He flew sideways only to be hit from the projectile from the cannon. He fell back onto the ground and he felt several magical bolts hit him.
After a few moments the bolts stopped and he got to his feet. With a dark chuckle he said, "My turn." He cast his first spell, it was simple, and he simply grew crystals on the horn of Rarity. The next spell was child's play, he grew crystals on the feet of all of them. This only left the Princess with the ability to attack him, and boy did she. She shot a beam of pure Alicorn magic at him, he used a crystal to deflect the beam.
Twilight used her magic to break all the crystals around them, this also freed Rainbow Dash who in her first moments of freedom charged Sombra. She gave him several swift hits and he fell down.
A dark liquid trickled from his nose and he stood back up, "Do you know why I only turned the palace into it'd dark form?" he asked, getting some puzzled looks from the ponies around. Then the Crystal ponies got it and tried to run, it was no use the walls formed around them, trapping them all. "Because it has a defense system agents things like this."
Jagged Crystals were growing inward towards them, Sombra smiled and showed his teeth. One of the crystals broke the shield that Chrysalis had been imprisoned in and she fell to the floor, she quickly scurried over to the wall.
"Now you see the folly of not accepting my terms!" Sombra shouted through the crystals.
They all began to panic as the crystals grew ever closer, then Rarity shot a beam at the base of one of them and it broke. "Twilight, aim tor the bases of the gems." She said ready. Together the two of them were able to stop the crystals and even make them recede.
"Your little trap didn't work Sombra!" Twilight exclaimed.
Sombra wasn't even paying attention to her, he was whispering to the grey Changeling that had accompanied him. "What? Oh! I'm sorry I was distracted. What did you say?"
"We escaped your little trap!" She exclaimed again, now irritated.
"Yes you did, didn't you? Well looks like I have to go back to plan A" he said shooting tendrils of dark magic out and away from his enemies. They reached their marks and the unicorn horns reacted by stealing the energy from the ponies in between them. "You know the only thing better then beating two princesses in a day is?" He asked cheerfully, "I got to beat them the exact same way." He began his evil laughter as the ponies in the center of the triangle started to wither.
Twilight could feel her power draining, she could see that she was losing this fight. She used what little magic she could muster and knocked down one of the horns right before she passed out.
Sombra wasn't fazed by this and just keeps laughing, "I've won at last!"
Author's Note
Oh no!!!
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Chapter 7: You Will Break
Sombra looked over to the crystal pony guards that had not been in the triangle, “Take them to the dungeon.” he ordered them.
The guards looked at each other than at Sombra, then back at each other. They walked over to the ponies and began to gather them up.
Sombra looked over to Mirid, “Gather the horns, they may still have a use. Also at some point in the near future you will need to take a room in the palace, you can have any room with an ‘S’ above the door.”
“Yes Master” She said bowing.
Sombra walked over to Chrysalis, “The heart is yours, along with the Alicorn. Now I have and Empire to stabilize.” He said releasing the heard from his palaces grip on it.
“Well this has been a prosperous relationship indeed, we will leave then and if you ever feel the desire to do something like this again then feel free to send Mirid with the massage.” She made a motion and four changelings lifted the Crystal Heart off its pedestal and flew off. “We will release Shining Armor into your enslavement."
“Thank you my dear.” he said with a low bow. He turned around and walked to the doorway into the palace.
Chrysalis turned and flew off on the way ordering her Changelings to leave the city with their prizes.
Sombra walked into his throne room, he sat upon his newly reclaimed thrown. He used his magic to create a bell which he rung it, two crystal pony mares walked into the room, their heads were hung in obedience. “You!” he shouted to the first one, “Tell the guards to take the cyan and orange mares in the dungeon to the mines and the pink one to slave processing. He pointed to the other one, “And you tell the guards to take the yellow and white mare to be fitted for house work.” He ordered.
“Yes milord” They said in unison, and then they left the room.
Sombra got up and walked out of the throne room, he traveled down to the dungeon. When he got there was only one mare still in her cell, “Twilight Sparkle”, he said to the slumped form.
At the mention of her name Twilight’s head lifted a little then she realized who it was who said it. “What do you want Sombra.” She spat at him.
“Now. Now.” Sombra said calmly, “Is that any way to talk to your Master?”
“You are not my Master! I only serve Princess Celestia!”
“Yes you were you were one in a many line of apprentices that she has had.” Sombra said. “But that doesn’t matter now, does it? For you are in my Empire now and I am the only Master here!”
He opened the door to her cell and two crystal pony guards appeared out of nowhere and grabbed her forelegs. “Come with me” Sombra said grinning.
He took her to the palace balcony where she could see the slaves working. “You see Twilight Sparkle, I am the ruler of all of this, and I need an apprentice. Especially seeing how my last one was destroyed by Princess Luna. And I want you.”
Twilight’s eyes were wide in surprise, How could he think I would ever serve him? The Question played in her head.
Sombra stomped twice on the ground and the guards dragged twilight over to a large crystal. They strapped her to it and Sombra smiled. He then blasted her with dark magic; the pain was so severe that it consumed Twilight’s thought.
“You can’t torture me into becoming your apprentice!!” She shouted in-between magic blast.
Sombra laughed, “You misunderstand! I’m letting you taste dark magic, when you join me it will be willingly.”
A guard ran up to him “Milord those horns you used to defeat the ‘enemy’…” He paused seeing Twilight.
“Go on whelp” Sombra ordered.
“Forgive me milord.” He said lowering his head, “The horns are glowing.”
“Ah it must be time.” Sombra started for the door. He turned back, “Watch her.” he ordered the guard.
Sombra made his way to where the horns were stored and upon seeing the horns glowing he used his magic on them. The result was the revival of the three unicorns that had died to give him his new body. But not exactly, they had interacted with dark magic, and were corrupted by it.
The three of them bowed to him, “What would you have us do Master” they said in unison.
“For you” Sombra said pointing to the light green mare, “you will lead my house keepers.” he pointed to the dark red stallion “You will be in charge of gem processing” He pointed to the last blue stallion “You will oversee the mines”. He put his hoof down and ordered them, “Go to your respective positions, the guards will show you the way.”
They ran off and Sombra went back to Twilight, who was halfway through cutting her bindings. He saw this before she noticed him and he bellowed, “Trying to escape are you!! I do not tolerate unsuccessful escape attempts!!” He shot dark magic into her; she screamed bloody murder.
Author's Note
Potential Commenter: Hay! Why didn't the unicorns need a ritual to form their bodies?
Sombra's Triumphant Return
The guards had just ripped them away from their friends and now Rainbow Dash and Applejack were chained and being led somewhere by two crystal pony guards. Rainbow Dash asked, “Where are you taking us and why are you giving in to that tyrant?”
She received a swift knock on the head by one of the guards, “Silence! Lesser slaves are not to address their superiors unless addressed first.”
“Now Gem Hunter, remember where you came from! You were in their horseshoes once; show some restraint!”
“You know Lord Sombra would be furious if we showed any kindness to those who caused him such an annoyance.” Gem Hunter replied.
“Yes but you don’t need to be over the top about it.”
“I don’t want to give any wiggle room. I’m not going back to the mines ever again.”
The Guards lead their captives the long way around the empire to the mines. When they arrived there was a blue stallion standing on a raised platform with a line of crystal ponies in between him and the new mares. “Ah the Elements of Honesty and Loyalty, It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” He said with a bow then he used his magic to manipulate a crystal in front of him and magic shot to every pony in the line, each one of them screamed in pain. "This little demonstration was to show you that if you misbehave then not only you will be tortured, you will cause pain to the others." He said to them. He turned his attention to the guards, "Take them inside, make sure they're in different sections and the pegasus is in a lower section."
The guards did as they were told ant took them to their respective stations. Applejack feigned obedience when she was shacked to a crystal pony; whereas Rainbow Dash fought hard when they shackled her to another pony in the lowest level of the mine. “You can’t do this to us” she shouted trying to hit the guards as they moved away.
“Of course they can, in fact they have to!” The pony that she was shackled to shouted at her, “Now stop trying to fight, you’ll never be elevated if you’re disobedient.”
“But they…”
The crystal pony cut her off “Separated you, beat you, enslaved you family, or perhaps he ordered you execution. This wouldn’t be the first time.”
This through Rainbow Dash for a loop “Who are you?”
“That’s not important, what is important is that Sombra is scared of you.”
“What do you mean? He took me down in one move.” Rainbow Dash asked.
“If I know my husband then everypony down here is here because they pose a possible threat to Sombra.”
Rainbow Dash fluttered as far back as the chain would allow her to, “Your married to Sombra?!”
“Yes and no, I married Sombra before the dark magic corrupted him, I think it’s safe to say we’re separated.” She smiled.
“How could you smile at a time like this?”
“If I didn’t then my husband would win. But now we need to see the newly crowned Prince of Rags.”
“Who?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Just come with me” She said leading Rainbow Dash deeper into the cave.
It only took five minutes for them to reach the entrance to the Prince’s chamber. When they entered a very familiar but somewhat depressed voice said “Hello Pearlspar, who’s your fri… wait I… You’re Rainbow Dash right? This isn’t good if they beat you.”
“Shining Armor! They got you!”
“Yes…”
“And of all the alias’s you could have used, you chose ‘Prince of Rags’ that’s not even remotely cool.”
“It’s not supposed to be a cool name. A ‘cool’ name would attract the wrong attention, the goal is to suddenly overthrow this tyrant, not to become a martyr for the cause.” he said scribbling something down in a piece of paper. He looked to Pearlspar and handed her the paper he had just wrote on, “You know where to plant this.” He told her and she nodded, tucking it under her shackles. He went back to writing.
“Come on Rainbow we need to plant this.”
“Hold on.” She said then faced Shining Armor, “Shining, Applejack is here as well we'll need her if your little revolution is going to work.”
Shining shook his head, “I have ponies on every level of the mines, I can get word to her but I can’t get her down here or for that matter you up there.”
“Hey if you're here, then where’s Cadence?" Rainbow Dash asked without thinking.
Shining Armor's magic stopped and his quill fell to the ground. A pained expiration came over him “I don’t know.”
Rainbow Dash instantly regretted her decision to ask about his wife. “Let’s go” Pearlspar said to her and began to leave the small cavern.
Once they were out Pearlspar gave Rainbow Dash a look of disappointment “Next time we go to see the Prince please don’t bring up his wife. Now he’s going to sulk for the rest of the day.” She said rolling her eyes.
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Twilight had confined herself to her room for five days; she was fighting the darkness within her to make it her slave rather than the other way around. She had been receiving food from the hoofmaidens the entire time, and found the white on extremely distracting. There was a knock on her door, “Come in” She said, lighting a candle.
The door cracked open and Mirid poked her head through the crack. “Our lord wants to see you” She said and began to close the door.
“Wait!” Twilight ordered and Mirid stopped, “What does he want me for?” She asked.
Mirid grinned “He wants to teach you another lessen” She said leaving.
Twilight got up and headed to the throne room, but when she got there her master wasn’t there. She turned to the door guards, “Where is lord Sombra at?” She asked.
The guard gave a hesitant bow “Milady he is at gem processing.”
“Where is that?” Twilight asked.
“The guard gestured in the direction of gem processing and Twilight ran out the balcony and took off.
Sombra was checking on the dark red unicorn he had put in charge of gem processing. The unicorn was a ruthless business stallion before Sombra had corrupted him, but now he was just plain ruthless.
Sombra disapproved of his tactics, “You know that if you’re too bad they will rebel against you.” He told the dark red stallion.
“Then once their little rebellion is crushed, I will be worse to them.” The red stallion replied with a cackle.
Sombra rolled his eyes, "Then they will make you a major target and try to quietly kill you." he told the stallion.
"Oh ple..." The red stallion started but was cut off by the lighting down of Twilight in between Sombra and he.
"Master. You called for me?" Twilight said turning towards Sombra.
Sombra smiled, "Why, yes I did. I wanted to teach you a lesson about arrogance." he gave a look at the red stallion. "He thinks he can crush the saves should they rebel, show him how wrong he is." with that Sombra teleported away.
Twilight turned towards the red stallion and grinned. "Your arrogance betrays you" She said before wrapping him in a shadow.
The red stallion was in the control room of gem processing when several crystal guards burst through the doors, "Sir! The slaves are revolting!" one of them shouted as they slammed against the door shutting it.
"How many of the guards are with them?!" The red stallion asked frantically.
"About half of them sir!" One of the guards shouted as a pounding began on the door.
"Fine! You!" he said pointing towards one of the control workers, "activate the distress beacon." He ordered.
The crystal worker gave him a look and then ever so gently pushed the beacon over, "Death to the tyrant" He said and the door gave.
The guards were crushed by the crystal door and the red stallion was mobbed by the former slaves. There hard exteriors were breaking his bones and he shouted in agony. Then the slaves stopped, not mobbing him, they stopped moving. He heard Twilight's voice, "You think you could crush a rebellion, you couldn't even stop this hoofful of slaves from getting in. I pass on my masters wisdom to you, being to harsh will encourage rebellion."
"Good" Sombra's voice echoed, "I see you learned on of the most important lessons you could learn."
"Master?" Twilight voice said now confused.
"I was always watching you this entire time. This was a bit of a test to see if you have learned what you needed to." Sombra's voice explained. "I see you have, sort of. If you weren't in his mind I would consider it a bit over the top."
Twilight felt herself being pulled out of the red stallions mind and she saw her master standing in front of the passed out stallion. He was looking down at the stallion, he made eye contact with his student. "you really did a number on him" he said with an evil grin.
"So I did" Twilight said feeling a little weaker.
"My head" The red stallion groaned. "what hap..."
"I have the hourly report" A bright pink mare interrupted hopping into the room. "Oh high Twilight" she said with a smile and a wave.
"Thank you Pinkie" The red stallion groaned getting up, "You can put it on the desk". She did so and with an unusual smile on her face she hopped out of the room.
Sombra had a look of absolute horror on his face, he had notice the thin slave collar around her neck. "Why was she so happy?" He asked his expression turning to one of anger.
"Oh that mare, her mind broke right in half during an interrogation. The overly happy version of her you just saw likes to go by Pinkie, the other version we call Pinkamena."
"So you let her be happy rather than harnes her insanity into a weapon?" Sombra asked sounding intrigued.
"Well we've been trying...But she won't stop killing and that has no use here." The red stallion justified.
"Transfer her to the palace." Sombra ordered then turned away. "Twilight" He said addressing the dazed mare.
Twilight gave a little shake of the head then said "Yes my master"
Sombra raised an eyebrow, "Return to the palace and tell Mirid to prepare the chamber" he ordered.
"Yes master" She replied and lifted off.
"Only a madder of time" Sombra thought aloud.
"Until what?" the red stallion asked.
"My triumph" Sombra replied still looking at Twilight.
"You mean the mare?" The stallion asked now completely confused.
"Yes, but that wasn't the triumph I was talking about. No I mean when I defeat the Alicorns, then I will be truly triumphant." He started laughing.
Author's Note
So Pinkie has gone crazy and Twilight actually learned something from Sombra.
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Sombra was manipulating a few crystals when a normal hived changeling burst through the open window of his throne room, "Forgive the intrusion but my queen has urgent news for you Sombra" The changeling said then breathed heavily.
"How in the darkest pit of Tartarus did you get here without being shot down?" Sombra asked sounding extremely bored with the situation.
"My queen has learned that the armies of Equestria have mounted against you!" The changeling said frantically.
Sombra blinked, "Well it's about time, it's been at least a month since I took over and there just now mobilizing. Perhaps I overestimated them."
"Why are you not worried about this, the princesses will be leading the army and you know how bad it was that time."
"You dare speak out of tone with me, i could kill you right now and Chrysalis would never know it was me!"
"Off all the thing to be worried about you worry about my tone?!" the changeling was perplexed toe say the least.
"Armies are easy it is the Alicorns that will cause trouble, and I've got a plan for them." Sombra explained starting to messing with the crystals again.
"But there less then two days away!" The changeling shouted.
Sombra's eyes went wide and he crushed the crystals with his magic, "Why didn't you open with that!?!" He yelled and raised a hoof to smack the changeling, then thought better of it and lowered his hoof. He was breathing heavily. "Leave now before I do something you'll regret!"
The changeling lifted off and flew back out the window. "Twilight!!" Sombra called for his apprentice.
She entered the doorway a few moments later and bowed, "Yes Master, what would you have me do?"
"Your old Master has finally mobilized her forces, they will be here in two days. You must prepare yourself for this confrontation my apprentice."
"Yes master, what will you do in the meantime?"
"I will be preparing for the oncoming battle and I will win this time." with that he dismissed Twilight and went to the border of the empire to raise a makeshift wall out of crystals. it took a lot out of him. He knew he needed to be ready for the alicorns so he delegated the rest of the preparations to the three unicorns and Mirid.
"Something's going on up there" Rainbow Dash said to Pearlspar.
"There preparing for war" Pearlspar said looking up.
"How do you know that?"
"They did this last time" She paused, "We have to tell the prince if he can get the mine to revolt in the middle of the battle we might be a helpful asset to the invading forces.
The two of them made their way to Shining Armor's 'study' and found that they weren't the only one's who thought to tell him, several other crystal ponied were there.
Shining Armor was giving orders like he used to, "Tell level 1 to snag the keys no matter what the cost, level three to weaponize the mining equipment, and someone please find me a helmet to wear because I'm in full commander mode and I need a helmet."
"Shining! What do you want us to do?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Once the two of you are freed from your shackles I need you to preform a Sonic Rainboom above the Crystal Empire."
"Why?"
"It'll be a beacon of hope for the Crystal Ponies and it'll allow you to make it to the princesses without needing to dodge the anti-air weaponry. Once you find the princesses tell them that I'm here and I'm to be considered a secondary target, make sure you inform them of the slave revolt that will be happening here."
"Got it. And her?" Rainbow Dash asked gesturing towards Pearlspar.
"I'll be helping with the revolt Rainbow." Pearlspar answered for Shining. She had just lied to one of the few ponies who trusted her after learning exactly who she was and Pearlspar felt horrible for it. The truth was she was going to try to talk some sense into her husband.
Shining looked at her as though to say you sure you want to lie about this? And Pearlspar simply nodded her head.
"OK so we all know our parts? Get some rest, the invasion could be tomorrow, or ten days from now, and we need to be ready." With that all of the ponies left the room.
Shining sat at his makeshift desk and took out another scrap of paper and wrote a quick note on it. If your reading this then you took it of my body, If you serve Sombra then go to Tartarus. However, if you serve the princesses then could you please get word to my wife, Princess Cadence, I don't want her thinking I'll be coming home if I won't be. Tell her I love her.
With that done he folded it up and slipped it under his shackles, war was upon him and he was ready.
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Chapter 12: Alicorn's Invasion
Chapter 12: Alicorn's Invasion
Sombra was sitting in his throne room listening to the screaming as the armies of Equestria here flowing through the streets of his empire. He was calm, even as his dark unicorns were leading their small and weak armies against the Equestrian war machine. Twilight was panicking, "They're going to break throw our ranks and then come here and kill us!" She started to hyperventilate.
"Calm down! We'll win." Sombra said irritated with her.
"They've already taken the outer ring of the Empire then they are gonna come here and kill you and try to drown me in there philosophy."
"They will come, but they will not win, as long a you stick to the plan that is."
Mirid flew into the room with a huge crack down her carapace, "Milord the Alicorns are approaching, and the slaves have revolted under the leadership of their former leader Shining Armor!" she shouted with a wild look in her eye's.
Sombra was still calm, "Good. Let them come."
"Why are you so calm!? They're considerably more powerful then yo..." Twilight was cut off as dark tendrils wrapping around her.
"You will never doubt my power again." he said losing his calm demeanor. He calmed down and the tendrils around Twilight receded, "I am prepared."
"Mirid return to the front, delay them as long as you can."
"But milord they are crushing us" She said feebly.
"I know, however I would much rather have you on the front then here facing the Alicorns..." he trailed off to let this sink in.
"I'll return to the front now" Mirid said fluttering away.
"Milord why aren't the Changeling helping us?" Twilight asked once Mirid had left.
Sombra looked confused, "Why would they?" He asked her back.
"Aren't they our allies? They did help you take the Crystal Empire back."
"You confuse a temporary alliance for mutual gain with a full fledged alliance to protect each other's assets. I have never formed one of these and expected it to actually work, so this time I didn't even bother."
"Sombra!!" Came the booming voice of the Alicorns. Sombra gestured to Twilight and the shapes of the Two remaining Alicorn princesses dropped down onto the crystal balcony.
"You have no right to wear that crown!" Luna Bellowed at him.
He gave her a smile and said, "Oh how the mighty have fallen and to think that I was a proponent of..."
"Sombra!! Even now you try to lie your way out of a jam." Celestia said.
"Yes, of course I try, if I didn't then what kind of dark lord would I be if i didn't try to whisper from the shadows" he said giving a hurt look.
"You're not in the shadows anymore." Celestia said.
"True, but I can still try."
"Your words are filled with lies!! Now you will pay for the suffering of the Crystal Ponies!" Luna yelled and shot a blast of her magic at Sombra. The crystal palace grew several large crystals to to protect Sombra.
"Like the improvements I've made to my palace?" Sombra asked with a sinister smile.
"So your palace will protect you now? What of it?" Luna remarked.
"Yes all you have done is delay the inevitable" Celestia said.
"You underestimate the power that I have just shown you. For I have given the crystals a taste of magic, and now they want more."
Celestia's and Luna's eyes went wide, "You didn't!?0" Celestia exclaimed.
"You really are a fool Sombra!" Luna remarked.
"A fool? Just because you weaklings couldn't control the crystals doesn't mean I can't" Sombra said and tapped his hoof three times. A section of the wall fell away and Twilight appeared, she shot a blast of her magic at the ground in the center of the room.
Crystals sprouted up around the alicorns and began to suck the magic out of them. Sombra began to laugh and Twilight joined him, "Looks like I've won! This is my triumph! After all these years I have finally won!"
Suddenly there was a flash and all of the crystals around the princesses shattered. Luna had caused an explosion of power around them. "We must flee" she said falling to her knees
"Yes" Celestia said, using her power to teleport them away.
"NNNOOO!!!" Sombra bellower with rage. He calmed "Twilight use the magic we stole from them and abliterate the attacking forces."
"Milord are you ok?"
"Why wouldn't I be ok? I just tasted victory to have the power of the alicorns ripped away from me. I even began my victory speech."
"Milord..."
"Kill the Equesrtians!! All of them!"
"Milord why are you so calm? Especially considering your loss!?"
"Simple, I stole so much power that we will be able to defeat the Equestrian war machine. Now Use the power to destroy them all." He began to laugh again. "We're going to win"
Mirid was using her magic in conjunction with the unicorn mare's to create a devastating blast to stop the Equestrians from advancing. It was failing and the Equestrians were slowly but surely advancing.
Suddenly it was as though the sun went out for just a split second, then from a palace a dark beam shot and carved a path through the Equestrians. Several more blast shot from the palace, and the Equestrian army turned tail and ran.
A cheer rose up from the crystal ponies that had allied themselves with Sombra and a collective moan rose up from the Equestrians and crystal pony slaves. Mirid looked around and cracked a wicked grin, "We won!", she laughed a little, "We actually did it!"
Author's Note
And done. Not the best ending but well I had to allow the triumph to exist and possibly set up for a possible sequel that probably won't happen. Possibly. Maybe. Depends if you want to see Twilight learn more, or the Equestrians second attack.
Sombra's Triumphant Return
Chapter 9: Apperentace
It took all of a week for Sombra to break Twilight, it probably didn’t help that he had used a combination dark magic and hostage tactics to get her to convert. He had taught her little besides the very basics of dark magic seeing how he wanted to test the waters with her.
“Master, what shall I learn today?” Twilight asked her new master.
“My apprentice, today you shall learn how to treat a slave.” He said with just a hint of evil laughter.
“Do I not treat them as though they are the dirt on which I stand?”
“Watch yourself, your letting the darkness take control again.” Sombra said noticing her speech starting to sound like she was a thousand years older. “But to answer your question, yes and no.” he paused.
“What do you mean?” she asked cocking her head.
“Simple, you may only treat them so if they fail you. To torment a slave for no reason would be a waste of you time and energy, and their blood.” he said leading her to the balcony.
“What do you mean by ‘fail’?” She asked stepping onto the balcony.
“Simple, a slave is worth more when it can work, and when it fails to work right you have to correct the behavior. For instance you see those slaves hulling the crystals from the mines to processing…” Twilight looked down and saw three slaves an orange, yellow, and red, there was one mare and two stallions. “They are doing their jobs correctly and thus do not need punishment. That is, all except the yellow one, go down there and ‘correct the behavior’.” he said calmly.
Twilight lifted off with her wings and landed next to the crystal yellow stallion. The stallion jumped back and if it wasn’t for the wagon attaché to his back he would have fallen over. She used her magic to cause a long dark tendril to wrap its way around him, and he screamed bloody murder as his skin started to fracture.
“Twilight!!” Sombra shouted, turning into his shadow form and floating down. “I said to punish him not to kill him” He said returning to his normal form.
“Master?” Twilight got a confused look on her face.
“There is a difference between punishment and killing! If you cannot tell the difference then you are no use to me! I thought you would have been smart enough to see this!” Sombra said with pure anger in his eyes. But then he breathed heavily and eyes closed, trying to calm himself.
Twilight noticed an orange mare looking at her, and felt a little spark rise inside of her. The spark lasted all of three seconds before the darkness of her mind consumed it. The orange mare let out a single tear, “Twi…is that you?”
Twilight just ignored her and turned back to her master as he opened his eyes. “Follow me” he ordered leading her back into the palace. Once they were inside Sombra turned into his shadow form and engulfed Twilight, “You need to learn restraint” he said, his voice echoing, “revealing power above simple superiority is a foolish move, if you break them with just half of your power then you are truly superior”.
“Master?” Twilight was scared now the shadows around her making the small room appear much larger. “Where are we?”
“We've entered your mind apprentice" suddenly a sharp pain shot through her 'body'. "Why are you hurting me Master?"
"I am simply giving you the same treatment you gave that yellow crystal pony. This lesson is to teach you why you don't cause too much pain."
Twilight shrieked from the pain, it was like she was being disintegrated but remained perfectly intact. "Can you feel it...? No I suppose that the pain would cloud your senses. Alas you cannot feel the darkness that clings to you like a parasite. However yours is not a slave like mine. This is why you need to learn this lesson; if you don't learn it then your darkness will consume you entirely."
Twilight was focusing on her pain and trying to control it, so she didn't hear her master’s words. When the pain stopped after what felt like an eternity and she looked at the form of her master standing in front of her. The memory of what he had said rushed to the surface of her brain. "Mast..."
"You will spend the rest of today trying to control the darkness within you." He ordered and the shadows around the two of them faded away to revile the room. Two hoofmaidens walked in the room and helped Twilight to her feet and she stumbled off to her room.
Mirid walked next I her lord, "Milord, is this a smart maneuver? The alicorn princesses won't stand for this and may destroy you this time."
Sombra simply laughed, "I agree, which is why I'm preparing for them this time. The last time they attacked me before I wasn’t ready for them and I’ll be ready." He began to laugh and Mirid joined in. They were so distracted that they didn't notice as a third ‘monster' joined their laughter.
Author's Note
What 'monster' could make its way into Sombra's palace? You'll probably get it on the first guess.
