A Thorn in the Empire

by ShiverMay

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, King Sombra
Length: 3725

What went on in the Crystal Empire while it was gone and why did it return?

A story I'm writing with my sister (Arts Desire) based off of her original storyline. We used our own OCs and a few new ones to really make the story our own. We decided that different chapters would be narrated by different characters. The story is about a family of pegasi that get trapped in the Crystal Empire when it dissapears.

Published 2014-04-16 21:40:05 UTC
Last updated 2014-08-04 20:52:57 UTC

Chapter 1

Narrating: Arts Desire

I thought I had lost them, but I hadn't. The sound of large armor covered guards galloping my way made that very clear. I have to be close. I thought, as I ran through the field. I looked behind me to see the city still close. That's all that it was: close. The guards were gaining, and I had to do something. I sped up, only to slow down a minute later. I was exhausted. I needed to hide, but where? I kept galloping, as I looked for something large enough to conceal me.

They ran at top speed. I was wishing they’d just collapse or something, but that wish didn’t come true. How could it? Running out of breath I began to lose distance. I had to escape.

I spotted a boulder about a hundred feet away and dashed, towards it. I leapt over the rock and crouched down, trying not to breathe. The guards continued past the rock and me. That seemed too easy, but I didn't care. I stayed where I was, calming myself. I then stood up and began once more to the edge of the empire. I was willing to risk my life to escape the King

I had grown up in the castle hidden from him. My parents would tell me stories of when he came to rule. But one day my parents did not return from their normal day of work. I became worried and ventured out of the room, disobeying the biggest rule I had ever been taught. I wandered around for about an hour looking at the art on the walls. It wasn't until later that I realized my love for art and a winged paintbrush appeared on my flank. I wished I could wonder the halls for longer but a crystal stallion with a dark brown coat and a black and blue mane found me. The green eyes staring at me were soft and gentle . His cutie mark showed a black shield and a bright blue crystal. His talent must be protecting the crystal ponies.

He seemed sympathetic and young with a kind smile. While looking down at me and chuckling, another guard came around the corner. The guard noticed me at once, and soon they both were taking me to the king.

The guards were back on my trail and moving as fast as they could. My hooves began to ache and I began to slow. My heart pounded in my ears. The guards were yelling, but not at me. I glanced back. They were yelling at one another. I did not care to find out why.

I turned back. I was not going to lose more distance when I could gain some instead. I spread my wings to fly and began flapping. I couldn't get off the ground. I'd never flown before. My wings were likely to weak.

I just continued running. I was close to freedom. I was about to have liberty and no longer be a slave to the king. I was on my way to a new life. But then it was black. I could still move around, but all I could see ahead of me was blackness. And then I was on the ground as if I had ran into something, but there was nothing there. There was only noise.

My head ached but I was aware of the guards surrounding me. Its all a blur but I know where I'm going, and I don't like it one bit.

Chapter 3

Narrating: Dark Knight

As I walked down the narrow hallway a melodic voice echoed around the cramped space. It was a voice that should belong to a little filly. I immediately recognized it as ShiverMay. I continued to walk until I came up to another cell. This one was white and padded, but when you look at the mirror on the left wall and the completely exposed cell bars, it is clear that its only like that to insult her. Inside she was singing a song. "Cheesy the cheese guy, you're entirely made of cheese!" It was a tune I recognized but those were definitely not the words. "Frosty the Snowcolt" I think it was. The way she bobbed her head as she sang really did make her look like a filly, but she was almost a full grown mare. She already had her cutiemark, which was a pair of drama masks. The happy one was a light orange, the sad a darker. I gave a little laugh and caught her attention. "Fuzzy!" The cyan pegasus yelled scooting closer. "How was your day?" She always sounded happy. I guess that was part of her special talent. Staying happy so she can make others happy. And that's what she did. Every time I came to see her I left with a smile.

"It was fine," I replied. "I saw your sister."

"Ya did?" She whispered, her eyes lighting up like a foal at the sound of dessert. "What's she like? I haven't seen her in absolutely forever!"

"I didn't really get to talk to her much. The thing is May: she tried to escape, and I'm not sure how the king will react to that."

"Wow. It can't be long ago that she was just learning to sit up. Now she wants to run?"

"She does. And she was pretty close to the barrier too. I'm sure if she got a chance I'm sure she'd try again. But they're not going to let that happen. She's going to see King Sombra right now."

She almost barked at his name. "Sombra," she growled with a smile that belonged to a psychopath. It would have been scary if the rest of her wasn't so adorable. "If he harms her in anyway I swear." She jumped up and took a stance. Ready to pounce, even though the only thing she could pounce was her blond and turquoise tail. "Swear it to the sky! I will... I'll... I'll shred him like cheese! Yeah 'cause that's what he is: icky yucky floppy moldy cheese."

"I won't let anything happen to her, May." I tried not to laugh. She just looked so silly.

She sat back down and looked right at me. "You better not," she said slowly letting her voice trail off. "Or I'll shave your head. And Fuzzy won't be very fuzzy anymore." It was a ridiculous threat but somehow with the lack of her usual foal like tone in her voice she sounded a little scary

Chapter 5

Narrating: Arts Desire

Laying in my room, I stared at the painting of my parents. I despised the sight of them in chains, but that's the only way they could stay. Tears crept down my face.

My whole family was ripped away from me. First, my sister was taken. I never even knew her. I was just told stories of what she was like. From those stories I tried to paint her. One painting I had done made her look a little crazy. Her eyes were crossed and her smile seemed forced. However, the painting helped me remember what she generally looked like.

My parents would also tell me stories of their journeys through the Crystal Empire. Every time I had gone outside it was during the night, so I never saw much. My tour would be the first time I could actually explore the outside world. But my parents had told me a little about what it was like before King Sombra. I don't expect much.

I laid my head on my pillow and closed my eyes. The darkness that now surrounded me was pitch black. I opened my eyes to see my room still lit by my lamp. The light came easily, but when I closed my eyes the darkness was hard. I turned my lamp off and tried to go to sleep. Within minutes I was. The darkness then began to shift into shapes. I saw a cyan pegasus in a bed. She's just a filly.

She lay sleeping. Her wings covering her face. She reminded me of the painting I had of my sister. Sadly, this was a dream,a repeating dream, just a persistent hope that I could find her. That's all it was.

She was so small, so young, yet I felt like she was older than me. I tried to walk closer to the child, but for every step I took it became harder to walk. I needed to get over there. I strained against the force.

Suddenly, a calming voice spoke. "It is your destiny, Arts Desire." The voice was new. It frightened me. Why did the dream change now? "You must save her, just as she plans to save you. Together and only then, will you be able to help the empire."

I awoke in the morning startled and struggling to remember my dream. My heart was racing at the thoughts. Was it really my destiny to save her, and ours to save the entire Crystal Empire?

Chapter 6

Narrating: ShiverMay

A guard came to get me. This one wasn't fuzzy. He wasn't even friendly looking. It became clear to me a while ago that the only friendly pony in the castle was the fuzzy one. I couldn't trust anyone else. The unhappy stallion unlocked the door to my room. I wanted to know why I was going anywhere at this time, but I didn't ask. I just checked my mane In the mirror and took a moment to fix it up. By the time I was done the door was wide open and guard number one was standing in the threshold. Guard number two was to the left next to the hallway door. "Where to?" I asked.

"The throne room. King Sombra wishes to speak with you."

"Okie dokie." I stood up and walked out. You think after being stuck in that room for so long I would be happy to stretch my legs, but my room is actually large enough that I can run and even fly around in a small circle. I do that every other day. Keeping my wings in use means I can fly away when I finally escape. Oh, how I missed the sky. I didn't get to see it very often. Even when I did, the sky I got to see on my walks around the castle at night is not the sky I know and love. It is dark and gloomy. Just like the empire itself, and the paintings in the hallways depict that so well. Why would anyone paint such horrible things? I recited a little poem in my head to distract me from them as we walked.

Back in the good old days,
When the sun urged the children to play.
The birds flew free,
And squirrels climbed up trees,
Back in those sweet old days.

Yes back in the good old days,
When life always felt new
Yes in these glorious days,
When the sky was still blue.

I have happy poems too, but this seemed like a gloomy walk. The guards never really smiled. I guess no one did anymore. Except Fuzzy of course. I can always make him smile, but even he seems mopey some of the time. Its sad seeing ponies like this. Life was totally different before the king, and there is nothing anypony could do about it. But life isn't ever as bad as it seems, so I kept a good posture as I walked through the bright red doors.

I walked in on my own. The guards stayed at the doors. I stopped when I got to the center of the room. I looked around at the gloomy space. It was dim. And dull. Very dull. It had no color. I think I was the most colorful thing there.

"Your sister," he began. I turn to face him. I rarely get to see him and when I do he hides in the shadows as if he was one. "She is touring the city as we speak. I thought it would only be fair if I gave you the chance to do the same."

I think he was going to say more but I gave my answer first. "No thanks. I don't need a tour." I didn't need to go outside. I was sure it hadn't changed in the past few years. I was sure it was the same gloomy skyless city that trapped me and took my family, and I didn't want to see it again.

Prolog

"It was about five years ago. A small group of earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi where traveling. We were among them. The group decided to set up camp almost a mile away from the city one night. If you looked to the west you could see the sun setting behind the towers of crystal and one little pegasus, as always, sat outside of her tent to watch the sun go. She would have awoken early to fly up high and catch the sunrise, but the sun never came. By the time everyone was awake there was nothing but darkness."

"Was I there Mommy?"

"You were just a filly."

Chapter 2

Narrating: Arts Desire

When I opened my eyes I saw that I had been chained in a cell. The only light came from a dim torch. The walls were covered in moss and the floor in straw. The bars of the cell were rusted brown. The chains that held me were also rusted, but kept in better condition.

My head was still sore and I felt dizzy. I muffled a groan, as I tried to stand, but fell immediately. My legs aching, I tried to stand again, being successful this time.

I took a few steps and collapsed once more. Realizing my hooves were chained, I just stayed there. The silence scared me. Why was no one here? Why was I chained up and in a cell? "Hello?" I whispered. I'm not sure I actually wanted an answer. What would I say to anyone that came up to me? But I asked again anyway. Louder this time, I yelled, "Hello!"

A soft voice from the shadows answered me with concern. "Are you okay?"

"Who are you and why would you care?" I asked, sitting up as a figure crept into the light. He seemed familiar, but from where? I inched closer to the bars. "I remember you. I met you when I was young."

He nodded. "That's right, Arts Desire." He smiled slightly.

I stared at him. "How do you know my name? I don't know yours."

"The king told me." He smiled once more. "My name's Dark Knight."

I glanced around to make sure that nopony could hear me. I leaned towards him as much as I could and whispered. "Could you help me? I just wanted to find my parents."

His face lost a little of its expression. "I would love to, but I can't."

"You can't or you won't?" I asked him flatly. I expected him to try and give a reason to convince me he wasn't a coward.

"I can't. Okay?" He checked behind himself and then to the left. "I just can't."

I turned away from him. "Your just like everypony else! You are to scared to do anything! Why don't you do it for those you love? I'm sure they don't like this life! I know I don't! Sombra took my family, I never got to meet my sister. Do you know how that feels?"

He looked up and answered. "Actually, I do. I was taken from my family, because I was like you. I tried to escape. Now I have just one to care for, because she cared for me. She took the blame for something I did. She protected me and saved me from Sombra, so now I do the same."

I felt sorry for him. Not for what I said. He is a coward, but he is suffering like a lot of ponies are. I would do something if I could, but I can't. A creaking from the door sent Dark Knight back to his post. Another guard came in and unlocked the cell. He then stepped in and unchained me from the wall. He began tugging me and I was on my way to speak with the king. I did not know if I would come back.

Chapter 4

Narrating: Arts Desire

The guards walked behind and in front of me, forcing me down the long hallway. The walls were covered in paintings, most of which I did. They portrayed either Sombra, chained ponies, or a lot of black crystals. That's all I was allowed to paint. Walking down this hallway with a guard, reminded me of when I was first found.

I had just run into the guards and they were taking me to the king. He carried me down the hallway. There weren't many paintings, but I studied every one we passed. The doors to the throne room, were dull and unpainted. It seems that such an important room should open up a little less boring. The guard knocked on the door and it swung slowly and quietly. Not silently. The moment after was silent.

I was guided to the center of the throne room. I kept my head down, not wanting to look at the beast I knew was there. I was scared. My family was gone because of him. Maybe I should disappear too. I wanted to cry.

"Well now, what do we have here?" Spoke a deep voice from the shadows.

I didn't look up, tears already forming behind my eyes. Everything I saw was sort of a blur. I tried not to cry, but when I cleared my vision I looked up to see the king. I was curious about what he looked like, but fear forced me to look back down.

I wasn't going to do the same this time. We came to the doors, which were now a beautiful red. When they opened, the guards, guided me to the center of the room. I stood still and stared at the king. He was surrounded by the darkness that filled the open space of the room.

"I hear you tried to run. Now, why would you do a thing like that?"

"You! That's why!" I yelled. My voice echoed around the room. He waited for it to finish before replying. I was mad. I was mad at him for everything he did and does.

His face didn't change. "Me?" He spoke with a calm, yet stern voice. "You don't like it here? You haven't really seen much of the empire. Have you? I think you should take a tour of the city, and see why you can't leave."

The guards pulled me off the ground. I tried to resist, but I couldn't. They were stronger than me. They dragged me through the doors and to my room.

Chapter 7

Narrating: Arts Desire

As I walked through the castle doors, my heart seemed to stop. The empire was shadowed with gloomy darkness. The sky, not a beautiful blue, but flat and grey. I don't remember what the sky should look like. Last time I saw it I was, after all, just a little filly.

Seeing the musty and worn down buildings, needing to be cared for once again,I looked at the ground. It was littered with dark crystals, which made it rather difficult to travel on. Looking up I studied the ponies.

Sombra appeared to have abandoned chains. Likely due to the same reason I can not escape. The crystal ponies did not shimmer with joy and happiness, as they once did many years ago. Instead they wandered with their heads down, as if they had no purpose.

I saw how important it was for me to find the pony in my dream. We had to save these ponies, show them that there is a purpose to life. I wanted them to be happy and free, to see them shimmer in joy. I had to find the filly...I had to find my sister.

My mind was busy thinking of where I might find her, as I traveled through the terrain of scattered shards. She'd been in a cell in the dream, therefore she might be in the dungeon. However, that appeared to be years ago. She could have been moved anywhere in the entire empire.

I turned around and looked up at the sky, well, i looked up. I'm not sure there actually was a sky. I was drawn to a tall tower. I'd never been up there before. I didn't even know there was a tower there. I've been many places in the castle, but never that tower. Could there be something, or someone, up there, that the King is hiding?

I thought about it. And I studied the tower. It was tall and had stairs spiraling upward along the wall. I could barely see the door that lead inside. Thinking of possible entries to the tower, I continued to walk.

If it was what I thought then the entry is definitely hidden. The king would likely have the entry where he can be sure no one will find it. Somewhere he can keep an eye on and go to easily. The only possible place I can think to hide a door is the throne room. I would have to know where the passage was, but that wouldn't be too hard. The King goes in and out about the same time every day. Just gotta figure a way to study the room.

Tomorrow I'd look for someone who may know if my sister is up there or where she might be otherwise. Some pony must know where she is and be able to help get her out. I walked in a trance of thought. The city was the same all the way through. After a few minutes I just walked with my head to the ground. I didn't care to look at it anymore. When we got back to the castle I made note of the direction of the tower relative to the inside. I was sure something was up there.