Sombra's Heartby IpreferpIChaptersDusk 'Till DawnThe Onyx CrownInto a Howling AbyssThe Night is always Darkest.......Just Before the DawnA Start of DarknessDusk 'Till DawnBlack. Everything was black. Black drapes, black dresses, black suits, and worst of all, a black sky. Even the thoughts in my head were, at best, dark. I walked along the funeral train, at the head of it as was my place. Though I was still technically prince until my coronation, the people in the streets bowed their heads and muttered “My lord” as I passed. For my part, all I could do was hang my head. These people depended on me to protect them, to pick up a duty I had never asked for. Indeed, I was to somehow hold back the forces of chaos itself! The train snaked along the streets. All around us, I could hear the wailings and lamentations of people in the crowd. All of them loved my father, but only as their king and protector. None of them could know the sorrow in my heart! Where was the love, where was even a shred of fairness in any of this? It was all I could do not to openly cry out in anguish right here, right now. But as the de facto leader, and the heir apparent to the throne, I had no choice but to keep a stiff upper lip. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, I heard the trumpets signal the que to stop, right at the gates of the palace. I knew what was expected, and the stairs I used to enjoy running up and down now stretched beyond any reasonable distance. Still, I walked up them, alone but for Captain Bloodmane, dressed as he was in his ceremonial armor. Each step I walked up reminded me of a fond memory. The day I cast my first spell, accidentally sending my fathers roast across the room. The day I finally landed a blow on the old veteran with a practice sword, and being given a sharp rap across the shoulders for gloating. The girl I had once dated, not out of love but because my father thought her to be a good match for me. Needless to say, I had broken it off the instant I could, and my father and I had had a good shouting match, a good fight, and then a good laugh at him telling me he had done the EXACT same thing with his father as well. The last step up to the balcony was the worst. I could not count how many times he had been up here to address his subjects, informing them of some new decree, or that an old one was being lifted. The day he told them that discord had once again failed to even put a dent in our defenses. The day he had announced the passing of the queen. And now, it was my turn to address the empire. I stepped up to the balcony. Two hundred feet below, my fathers casket was draped in black satin, and open for all to see. I stood up there, my eyes moist, as I gazed out across the entirety of the empire, gathered for the one solemn occasion. Gathering my courage, I opened my mouth, and began to speak. “My friends... my people... my subjects.... Today, I come before you with the gravest of tidings. My father, King Umbra Nightshade the Third, passed away quietly in his sleep from illness. Though this is a time of mourning, it is a time to remember what he would have wanted. As you all know, the Crystal Heart is what protects us. The love in this empire is taken by it, and used to keep those who know nothing of this love out. This has included all enemies in the past, and our current foe, Discord. A master of chaos has no understanding of this bond, of this love of ours. Because he cannot understand it, he cannot defeat it. Although we will miss him, and none more than I, I urge you all to carry on with his wishes: Stay strong, and carry on. Return to your daily duties, make the Empire strong and prosperous. Though he is not with us in body any longer, he will always be with us in spirit. I am to be crowned your new King, and I shall do everything in my power to ensure the longevity of the Crystal Empire, and ensure that no matter what, we shall endure. I stand before you, and I make you this promise: No matter what else shall happen, we will STILL be here, even in a thousand years! Let us move forward, and keep one step ahead of those who would do us harm!” I stepped back, out of sight, and wiped a single tear from my eye. Captain Bloodmane led me away, and the people paid their final respects to the departed King. I chose to retire to my chambers for the night, and to be left alone until dawn. Sinking into sleep was not difficult for me. Even when worried or upset, I found solace in the darkness just between wakefulness and sleep, that period of dreaming where the future can be glimpsed, or a treasured memory relived. This night, however, I was given something I was not sure of, but would haunt me from now on. I was sitting on my perch at the top of the Crystal Palace, and my father was next to me. Down below us, all around, the subjects of his rule... my rule, I somehow knew now, they played and worked and laughed and cried. They all lived their lives, and did so happily, content in the knowledge that their great leader protected them. “Sombra, my son. My greatest gift to the empire, you are. What is it I told you to do?” he asked, turning to me. I looked up at him, a mere colt again. “You told me to protect them father, no matter what else. No matter the cost, I must protect them.” “Yes, my son. Protect them all. Someday, Discord will come, and he will do his best to overthrow us, and the last orderly realm in the world will be lost to chaos. Do not let that happen...” he said, and the world around me faded. “FATHER!” I called, sitting bolt upright. I knew what I had to do. First, I had to become king. Then, I had to become even more... In order to save the ponies, I would have to change everything they believed in. Love and Loyalty have been proven to be ineffective against chaos, time and again. It could only serve us for so long. There was only one force that could oppose primal, unstoppable chaos. Order. A new order. My order. Somewhere, for a moment, I thought I heard a deep laugh. Just a figment of my fading dream, I figure. Today is a big day. It is not every day you become king, after all. Author's Note If it feels a bit rushed, that is because I wanted to put everything down before my peabrain forgot it. After a few positive reviews, I have decided to indeed do an entire story about this. This story is not about king sombra. It is not about discord. It is not even about MLP at all. This story is about how a good man with a good heart and a good dream can become terribly evil. The Onyx Crown“All Rise!” I entered the throne room. All around, nobles and guildmasters stood, lining either side of the aisle. In front of my feet a long red carpet stretched, strewn with flower petals giving a sweet fragrance. I took a deep breath, before taking that first dignified step. At the end of the room, just before the throne stood Golden Light, the High Priestess of the temple. In her hands was the royal crown adorned with rubies. In the center of it was a large onyx, the symbol of the Nightshade Royal Line, and the sight of it filled my heart with bittersweet pride. That first step was the hardest, all eyes upon me. As I took the second, my royal robes trailed behind me, stiring the petals on the ground. On either side, guards snapped to attention, their armor quietly clattering. The nobles knelt at my passing, minor ones on both knees. The higher ups needed to bend only one knee, but all of them bowed their heads as I, Prince Sombra, passed them. I continued the march, one foot in front of the other, the Priestess looking at me through eyes filled with ancient wisdom. She had crowned not only my father, but my grandfather as well. Still, her hands were strong and did not tremble from holding the crown up. An eternity later, I stood before her. Taking one knee, I bowed my head before her, and recited an oath I had been memorizing for the last twenty three years. An oath I knew I would have to make someday, but that would be one my father would never get to see me make. “I, Prince Sombra Nightshade the First, do hereby vow to defend the Crystal Empire against all threats, be they Foreign or Domestic, and to safeguard our heritage. I swear that never shall I falter in my duties, and shall bear them to my grave, as did my father and his father before him. Never shall an enemy enter my beloved empire, and never shall any prevent my people from their rightful pursuit of freedom and justice. I, Prince Sombra, do accept this crown and the weight that goes with it, that of duty and honor. I, Prince Sombra, make this vow.” As I made the final words, my throat tightened with the knowledge that I was now bound to this duty as surely as if I was chained. Like it or not, my fate and the empires were one. If I failed, the empire would be no more, and chaos would take us all. The ancient priestess nodded, and I turned around to the people. I felt her move beind me, and then a great weight descended on me. It was much heavier than I expected, and for a moment my head was bowed again. In a clear voice, she said “Rise, King Sombra.” In a louder voice, Captain Bloodmane shouted “The King is Dead! Long live the King!” As one, the gathered crowd shouted in reply “LONG LIVE THE KING! LONG LIVE THE KING!” I raised my hand, and silence fell. I had one more thing to say to them, before I could retire for the day. An announcement that had not been made since just before the creation of the Crystal Heart. “My loyal subjects... This day, I do make my first decree. By my order, Affairs of the Court shall fall to my Steward, Lord Storm Cloudchaser. This decree comes due to my next announcement. “I shall be retiring away for the time being to work on analyzing and improving our defenses, as per my fathers dying wishes. For now, we are ahead of Discord. But things can change, and until such time as he is defeated, we must remember that a wolf prowls at our door, and only by constant vigilance and improvement is it kept at bay. We would all do well to remember that this time of peace is purchased via many sleepless nights and tireless mages. For the foreseeable future, the day to day affairs will be handled by Cloudchaser. That is all. For today, I decree a celebration in honor of my ascension to the throne. Eat, Drink, and be Merry!” With those final words I stepped back, and endured many of the nobles coming to me to offer condolences or to wish me well. Several offers of support and many words of wisdom later, I sat in my throne, rubbing my forehead. Even my horn ached, and yet I knew that the day was not quite over. After Captain Bloodmane had shown everyone else out of the room, I beckoned him over. He approached, murmuring “Sire... what do you need?” “Captain, I understand that you may have concerns, but I will need your loyalty now more than ever. Soon, I will be forced to make changes in the Empire, radical changes that may for a time make people unhappy. You must trust that I know what I am doing, and that I always mean what is best for the... for MY people.” “Of course sire! Now, young lord, you have no need to worry. Affairs of the court will be taken care of, and we will ensure you are not disturbed. Will there be anything else?” With a wave, I dismissed him, resting for a bit longer. That evening, I knew what I had to do. Locked deep in the Crystal Vaults, there were old books. Books dating to before the Empire existed, when this northern land was still populated by Shamans and Oracles, as well as practitioners of magic so great it was said that they only died out because they could not stop warring with eachother. The only problem was that those books were dangerous. Even reading them could corrupt one, but with a strong enough will I might be able to unlock their secrets. I needed to not only create a new order, but find a way to HARNESS that order into a new type of magic. Mentally, I weighed the risks and rewards. In the rewards category, I knew that if... no, WHEN I succeded, my people would be safe from discord forever. They could live in peace and harmony, and soon, I would be able to help the rest of the world. In the risks, I knew that I may have to surrender more and more of what makes my empire what it is. Law could be used to oppress as easily as it could be used to protect and defend. And when Harmony turned to Tyranny, I could easily do something I would later regret. Still, my mind was strong, and already made up. I have to do this. For my people, and for myself. Because deep down, I was still terrified of the thought of this power. I needed to Confront it, and I had to gain the Strength to succeed. I would get better, because I must. Again, a deep laugh echoed just beyond hearing. Author's Note Chapter 4 is in the works. Into a Howling AbyssIt was time to research. I had access to the entire royal archive, and the secret vaults below. I knew that one of them contained ancient tomes of magic from the time before the crystal empire. “Captain Bloodmane!” I called, and my study door opened. “Sire, what do you need?” he inquired, old armor plates clacking together as he saluted. “Captain, you know you do not need to call me that. I may be your king, but you have always been my best friend. What I do need, however, is your key to the vaults.” Bloodmane for the first time looked a bit nervous. “Sire- er, Sombra, are you sure that is the best thing right now? I mean, all that is down there are dusty old books and even dustier instruments of old wars. Your great grandfather had them sealed away for a reason and-” he said, before I cut him off. “Bloodmane, I know that you and every head of security since my great grandfathers time has been entrusted with making sure nothing bad comes to the empire. I was given the same task by my father five weeks ago, and now I know how to carry it out. There are secrets down there that may give me an insight into our enemy.” “A-as you wish, My lord! I shall fetch the keys at once. If you will come with me...” He said, and led the way. After he had retrieved the key, he led me down through endless flights of stairs. Down here, past vaults of dark things, and ancient secrets, I walked. He led me right to one door, and with a grinding sound it opened. Inside were books, rows and rows of tattered and dusty tomes. “Captain... this... all of this is the ancient texts?” I asked, heart pounding. Could I find the secrets to saving my empire in here? “Yes, my lord. This is everything... but your great grandfather also looked through these, and didnt find anything. I hope you have better luck, but I would not hold to the paths most of these secrets will lead you down. It nearly drove King Umbra the Second insane. Do you wish for privacy?” He asked, after his short speech. “Yes please. Leave me for now, and let none disturb me” I stated, and waded into the murk of the vault. I searched all of the first day, and well into the night. Then the second day, and third passed. I found many secrets, details on old sacrificial rites, ancient battle techniques long outdated, old magics not meant for mortals to use, and the secrets of divination. While the last was interesting, I did not find it useful at the moment. Long have I known that divination does not work on Discord, due to his chaotic nature. He was nearly impossible to predict, other than that he would always do something unexpected. It wasn't for two weeks that I found what I was looking for. As one they thought, and one they fought. The day to night, and wrong to right. With one great will, they found a way, With One Kings will, they see new day. But be warned! Oh pony king, With good intent, a bell may ring. Sounding evil in your heart, A stronger will is but a part. Have you good and noble will, Your voice may ring out over hill, But should fear and terror then take hold, You will cast a shadow, dark, and bold. I smiled, and closed the book. More than a bit tired, I yawned and stretched, having been in the same sitting position for five hours today. Through endless books, and endless scrolls I had waded, looking through the deepest sections of the ancient forbidden library. It was not until three days past I had found the book labled “Magik most Potent” and nearly written it off as a rediculous minor mages idea of a tome. However, upon opening it, I had found that despite a silly and overbearing title, it contained what some might consider dark secrets. In truth, these secrets seemed (to me at least) to be perfectly harmless. I had a strong will, and I had only the good of my people at heart. Still, it would take much more research to figure out what I needed for this. Levitating this book, I headed back out and up the stairs, going up and up until I reached the main levels. I would devour the secrets this little black book had to offer, and use them to further the safety of my people. Whether they knew it or not, things were about to change. Some things would have to be given up, but between being alive and free but forced to live with change, or being the same but doomed to a swift end, I knew what decision they would make. It was a long few sleepless nights before I managed to decode the rest of the secrets in this book, but I came up with the solution I would need. There were a few things I would need to do or acquire in order to complete a ritual... The first thing was a clear purpose in mind. The spell required that I know what I wanted, and held onto it no matter what else happened. The second was a focus for the spell, something that everyone the spell would affect was connected to. The only thing that came to mind was the crystal heart, so I would need to take possession of it in my personal study in order to figure out what I needed to do with it, and what the consequences would be for manipulating it. The third one... it was here I nearly lost my lunch. I would need to give up something I treasured, something that I valued nearly more than life itself. A sacrifice, although it did not tell of what. The interpretation was a bit vague, and followed an arcane principle that I was not familiar with. It took me a few more nights, but I determined that I could try to complete the spell without it, and see what went wrong. I knew that unless everything was in place, most spells fizzled, but that fizzle was very valuable in finishing research, as one could analyze it and find out what had happened, and what went wrong. I began to get obsessed with this ritual, and it showed. I was short with my staff, and twice I had told Captain Bloodmane to bug off, irritated at his questions regarding my health. Yes, I was sleeping fine. No, I did not want food, I wasnt hungry. No, I did NOT need to oversee some decree. I had work to do! Two weeks later, and I was ready to begin however. It would all pay off. By order of his royal majesty, King Sombra Nightshade the Third, the Crystal Heart shall be removed from its customary resting place and taken for safekeeping in the palace. Your love will still be collected, and all shall remain fine and well in the Crystal Empire. This decree takes place here, in the year 214 of the Royal Crystal Calender, and is to be kept until such time as it is recanted by King Sombra. I sat in my study, the book in one hand and the heart in another, ready to go. I could feel it! This was to be a success, I would find out just what I could lose to gain the power needed to protect my people! One order, one will! My will! My will to overthrow the primal forces of chaos and disharmony itself! I opened the book and prepared to start.... Author's Note Sorry if this does not flow well, Like I said I am a new writer, and I wrote this over four days where my mind was a bit @.@ Anyways, this is the fourth chapter of probably six or so. Next chapter will have a battle in it! Woohoo! Thanks for sticking with me so far, and keep reading! I have a second thing in the works, a bit of a war story I am just pulling out of my flank. Also, as a side note, if one feels the need to thumbs down a story, any story, not just mine, it would be great if you could provide a bit of a notice on what you think was wrong or could be improved! Anything helps! The Night is always Darkest....Author's Note This is the PENULTIMATE chapter. For those not in the know, that means "Just before the last" or "Just before the final". Yes, this story is just about over. For my last bit, I will need to give due credit where credit is due. I suggest you all hop on over to Silly Filly Studios on Youtube, or their facebook account, and watch "Fall of the Crystal Empire" to get a taste of what is next. I already asked, now I gotta get together a bunch of links. Expect the final chapter this week! I apologize if the jumping around of the POV confuses people, but I felt I needed to show both sides of the problem. If it goes over well, I will use this in a future story. If not, let me know in the comments. The Night is always Darkest.... Log, Captain of the Guard Tyrus Bloodmane, seventeenth in the line of Royal Guards, Guardian of the Crystal Empire. Lately I have observed that King Sombra has become obsessed. I took him to the vaults about four weeks ago... just a month. In that time he has... changed. Since coming out with a small book, he has turned more and more of his duties over to the Steward, and has refused to see ANYONE unless he summons them first. He had a maid thrown into the dungeon who was attempting to bring him dinner five minutes early! Even worse are the Royal Decrees... over the course of one month, he has begun to restrict freedoms and former rights, claiming they are intended to bring order to chaos. I have included a list of some of the worst ones below, for whomever may read this. From now on, this log is no longer a journal of mine, but a message to my successor. By Order of King Sombra, a curfew is now in effect. Anypony caught outside after Nine o'clock shall be imprisoned and questioned. By Order of King Sombra, inquieries regarding the Crystal Heart are now forbidden. Any citizen making inquiries after the Crystal Heart shall be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, the City Millita is hereby Dissolved, and the right to bear weapons is now removed. Any Citizen found in possesion of weaponry will be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, protection against search and seizure without a Writ of Search and Seizure is suspended. Any who refuse access to their premesis against a Royal Guard will be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, anypony attempting to gain access to the Royal Palace without an appointment for ANY reason will be executed. By Order of King Sombra, any citizen attempting to leave the Crystal Empire shall be tried for TREASON and punished accordingly. By Order of King Sombra, the Casting of Spells without permission from the Crown shall is FORBIDDEN. Anypony found casting spells or suspected of the same shall be arrested and brought in for questioning. By Order of King Sombra, ALL Citizens are REQUIRED to report ANY crimes they witness. Anyone found to have witnessed a crime without reporting it shall be tried of the same crime. As you can see, the decrees became more rediculous and harsh. Execution for entering the palace? That has not been heard of since the Green Cider Rebellion! I think that it has something to do with that book. There are dark things in those vaults, things not meant to be brought out. Everything down there is there for a reason, and I should never have taken him down. As his friend, I think... no, I KNOW it is my duty, not just to him, but to the Empire to save him from himself. I go now to confront him, as he is in his study. He demanded not to be disturbed, but for this one time I will refuse a direct order. I, Captain Tyrus Brutus Bloodmane, the Seventeenth Royal Guard Captain, Guardian of the Crystal Empire and Guard to the Royal Sovereign, will now commit High Treason and betray the trust put into me. I pray that my decision will be the right one. To whomeverpony reads this, please, remember what I do for those I am responsible for. With that, I closed the book. I, Captain Bloodmane, had to do this. I left my room in the barracks, walking through the door. I had to do this alone, which was the worst bit of all. My apprentice, an Equestrian Pony named Flash Sentry, who came up here from the south to serve us, was not somepony I was willing to risk on this fool errand. No, I was going to go down in this ship by myself. I nodded at the other guards, accepting their salutes as I left, allegedly to do a patrol of the streets to enforce Sombras rules. This time, however, I headed for the palace. The guards at the front let me pass without question, knowing there was not much damage a seventy year old war veteran could do. Heh, if only these youngsters knew what I was still capable of. I had fought against unicorns and pegasi without the benefit of either magic or wings, and had always come out on top. However, never before had I need to confront a King... no, a Friend! I climbed up the stairs, remembering how only a few months ago I had been bringing very bad news up them to the man who was once a Prince. Finally I was at the door to the study. Two guards stood outside, not my people, but these new Inquisitors he had appointed. While they were loyal to him, they were nothing more than bruts with spears. “HALT!” one of them cried, but they were already too slow. I smoothly pulled my sword out of its sheath, and smacked first the left, then the right with the flat of the blade. They both fell nervelessly to the ground, and I pushed open the door. Inside was King Sombra, turned around with a look of rage on his face. But that was not what drew my attention... it was what was in his hand. The Alicromnicon! THAT was what he took! It all made sense! This thing... THIS THING HAD CORRUPTED MY KING! This thing, my great grandfather had locked away... I lunged forward, grabbing at it, saying “Be stilled, my king! You are in danger!” Back to Sombra's point of View I heard a loud crash from outside my door. I ground my teeth. “What were those two DOING out there? I told them to be SILENT!” I fumed, turning to the door. Of course, THEN it had to slam open, revealing Captain Bloodmane. He had a sword in his hand, and in the red light, it seemed he had blood on it. He had a fierce look of anger on his face when he looked at me, and lunged forward, crying “Be KILLED, My King!”, The last bit sounding sarcastic. I didnt hear the last bit, as I stumbled backwards. All of the sudden, thoughts of rage filled my heart. HOW DARE HE? I was his KING! No... I WAS A GOD! These people should WORSHIP ME! And he came into my study, WITH A SWORD!? TO ATTACK ME?” “TREASON!” I howled, and backed away, raising my left hand. With a flash, my sword appeared in it, and I raised it, slashing at him. He handily blocked, and I could see his mouth moving, but all I heard were vile curses. Whispers flitted at my ears, dire threats. I knew he was trying to kill me! “TRAITOR! HOW DARE YOU! I AM YOUR KING! BOW BEFORE ME, SOMBRA NIGHTSHADE THE THIRD!” Captain Bloodmanes POV. I knew now, without a doubt, that he was too far gone. I could nearly SEE the dark aura around him, and his horn shown with a black and green patern. Before me, he changed. His blue mane turned red, and his horn became a curved, red spike rather than the pale white it had been before. His eyes decided to join the theme, and became crimson. His robe flapped and changed to match the rest of his décor, and the air became chill. Steeling myself, I knew what I had to do. He was too far gone... and that damnd book was to blame. Gods, fogive me. I slashed down at him, turning the blade so that I was no longer using the flat of it. Seventy I may have been, but I have been able to run a mile and a half in less than seven minutes since I was nineteen. This young whelp was still nearly my equal in skill, but if I was lucky, I could finish this quickly and cleanly. He blocked to the left, and I spun around, driving him backwards with a powerful downard stroke. And back to Sombra I growled, jumping backwards to avoid a cut that would have sliced me in half from horn to... I didnt really wanna think about it. Damn, the old man was FAST for his age! I jumped to the left, swinging low, but his sword was already there to block it. Three more exchanges before I saw my opportunity. Four books on the ground, left there while I was translating my tome. I took two steps to the left, before a searing pain let me know I had let my guard down. A scratch on my arm was more than enough to confirm what I knew: My old mentor, my most trusted friend, wanted my crown. I shifted to the left one more step, before suddenly lashing out with my foot, kicking him backwards. He stumbled, and I took my advantage. I lunged, a fierce grin on my face, my sword angling for his heart- And to my disbelief, he just looked a bit sorrowful as he trapped the tip of my blade, my opening proving to be nothing more than a feint as he locked my sword in the crook of his elbow between two armored plates, and without a word stabbed me through the heart. My mind reeled, disbelief once again. This... this could not happen... no! I wouldnt let it! I howled my pain and anger, cursing him with every breath as I thrashed, falling backwards off of the sword. This man... he used to be my friend, and that should work. My horn glowed, and with my final thought, I blasted him into the circle for the ritual. Captain Bloodmane It felt... strange. After my sword went through his chest, I was astounded. It felt like stabbing fog, but the look in his eyes was animal. There was no trace of the king in there, only a dark desire for power. Then with a vile curse, he blasted me backwards. I fell flat on my back, my side against something hard and cold, and I looked down to see it. The Crystal Heart, tainted black. So that is where it was. Then a searing heat washed over me, and I knew no more. King Sombra I awoke. I didnt know how long I had been out, but I also had not need to know. Everything seemed... different. It took a few moments to gather my surroundings, but I realized I was on my throne. The palace was black, the crystals themselves changed color. Crystals... the embodiment of order. Perfect fractal patterns, rigid, unyielding. Possible to break, but never to bend. Crystals... I could feel them, all of them, all in my will. One will... MY will. My subjects... no. My SLAVES. Why should they not be? I had the power, therefor, I made the rules. But even better... my mind was so CLEAR now. I had felt a corrupting influence before, and now I knew. I had felt discord in my heart, and Discord at my doorstep. But something had changed, and I could not hear his laughter. I could not hear his whispers. Discord was gone. But I knew THEY would come for me. Even as one evil falls, another must take its place, and now I had all the power, and THEY would come to usurp me. I could NOT fail, not with the LITERAL might of an empire to back me up! Hehehe.... This time, the dark laughter was mine, as I settled in to wait. ...Just Before the DawnHehehehehe.... Crystals... the perfect embodiment of order, structure, and unyielding perseverance. They stand the test of time, eternally flawless. Yet one must be wary when cutting one, as they usually have a shatterpoint. But not me. I am flawless, I am eternal. I am SOMBRA! I, the Eternal Dark King Sombra, Soverign of the Crystal Empire, had brought safety and security to my kingdom. Forever it would stand against the test of time! I turned my gaze downwards. I stood upon the balcony formerly occupied by my father. He was strong, but even he fell to the test of time. I looked down upon my subjects... my slaves. Theirs was the easy task. I had removed the burden of independent thought from their poor minds. I had successfully bound EVERYONE to my will. I had hidden the only weakness, the shatter-point of my empire, away where no one would ever find it again. I was the only one who knew these dark spells, and only they could activate most of my traps. But still... I had hidden the door behind a light spell and a nearly endless staircase! No one would think to look for it there! I smiled, heading back in. My crystal slaves. I would protect them all, no matter what I had to sacrifice in order to make it happen. Walking back towards the throne room, I did have time to ponder. The guards at the door stared blankly ahead. They only stood there because... well... it seemed right. There were ALWAYS guards outside the throne room, but I didn’t know what they were there for now... However, a frown crossed my face. The thing that troubled me the most was HOW Discord had been defeated. It was a good thing for me, as it meant one less thing I needed to worry about protecting my people from. But all this time, I had been preparing for this... for him to come to ME, to appear on MY doorstep. He would come, and I would be the first to fully rebuke him. WHO had managed to take him out? I settled into my throne, contemplating, an uneasy feeling just on the back of my neck. It felt like the last bit of the old me, trapped in the deepest cells of my mind. It felt like a nagging worry, had I done something wrong? It felt like... like... LIKE BEING WATCHED! I knew in an instant that my belief was assured, as I rapidly cast about, a scrying sensor telling me that SOMONE had been spying on me. SOMEONE was probing for my weaknesses. SOMEONE was... was coming. I had hardly a split second before I felt a massive surge of magic, and the fracturing of my wards. With an earsplitting CRASH, and a very bright flash of light, two figures appeared in my throne room. Biting back a curse of astonishment, I recognized them. The brave duo of sisters, the ones who were hunting for a way to defeat discord. Thinking back, it made a certain bit of sense. The reason discord had not appeared here was that he was busy elsewhere, and these two would certainly have done the trick. The tall radient one was a monument to stern belief and rightiousness, and the smaller dark one had a dark aura around her. The tall one lowered her spear and spoke clearly, bypassing the customary groveling appropriate to standing before me. “King Sombra! What have you DONE here? My sister and I had heard that this was a safe haven for those fleeing Discord, but instead we find... find... THIS!” She bellowed, indicating the glossy-eyed guards at the door that were gazing dully at her. “What have you DONE!” she finished. The younger one narrowed here eyes, as I looked upon them. Fools... They could not see my great works! “How I govern my empire is of no concern to you, alicorn sisters,” I began. I knew about alicorns of course, from my precious book, the Alicornomicon. “I have made it safe, and if I am not mistaken, my lands are in much better shape than YOURS” I finished, allowing a small smirk. The older one began to speak, but the younger one cut her off. “You are no king! Thou art a TYRANT!” she bellowed, drawing her sword. That was all it took, as with a slight twitch of my mind, I sent the two guards forward, confident that these would be plenty to handle the duo. THAT thought didn’t last long, as both of them fell back, knocked flat on their hindquarters by a vicious strike from the white ones polearm. I finally stood, and in my hand appeared a cruel, black sword. “I will give you this one chance, and this one chance only. LEAVE my Crystal Empire, or I will put you on display for everyone ELSE who gets any bright ideas. While your lands lie in ruin, devastated, the Gryphon Kingdom in a state of anarchy, the land of Zebracity infertile and barren... MY lands produce crops! MY skies shower rain! My people-” “Have no free will, as you have betrayed all of them. You are no king. You are a COWARD, and a FIEND!” shouted the smaller one, and she lunged, as her sister cried “NO LUNA!”. It was too late, as with a cackle I brutally swiped my sword to the side, easily blocked by her, although she was unprepared as I lifter her with my magic, drew power from the enslaved heart, and smashed her into a pillar, then spun to block a lunge with the radient ones spear. “Can you not see what I have done? WHY do you refuse? JOIN ME!” I bellowed, slapping away another thrust and then parrying the blunt end of her spear as she spun it around. I heard a brief whoosh behind me, and sidestepped, casuing the smaller one, Luna, to crash into her sister. It was laughable really, as the two were clearly a formidable team, but the young one was so much more hot headed. I could practically SMELL the jelousy off of her. The golden white one thrust once again, and I stepped back as she said “Joining you is out of the question! My sister and I shall bring HARMONY to the world. Power is to be SHARED, not HOARDED, you monster!” I gave a deep, throaty laugh, before grabbing the shaft of the spear and bringing my sword down on it, shattering it. Pushing the bright one away, I powerfully attacked Luna. “Power is to be shared, is it? It seems that that is not so... Luna, is it? If I recall, you raise the moon... pity no one cares. The sun is so much more precious, isnt it?” There was a startled look on her face, and then I mentally cursed, realizing that irritating her was a bit of a mistake as she drove me back towards a wall, forcing me to evaporate into smoke before I was skewered. Reforming behind her, I cuffed her across the back of the head, knocking her forward and dazing her. A few seconds was all I needed... A searing pain erupted in my gut, and I looked down to see the point of a golden sword sticking through it. With another chortle, I turned to smoke, whisking away. “Tyrant... Tyrant, I may be, but I listen to my family. I did what they asked. The elder always knows better, right? I hope your sister sees it that way... poor, poor Luna... no one appreciates her hard work, least of all you.” “SILENCE, CURR!” she screamed, and with a painful jolt, I was forced back into a corporeal form as the room filled with light. With no shadows left, I could not teleport, I could not discorporate, and I could not use some of my more potent spells. Luckily, I was still handy with a blade. That was put to good use as I parried, blocked, riposted, and dodged her flurry of attacks. It was discovered rapidly that we were equals in swordplay, and I still retained enough of my defensive magic to block her incoming spells. What I needed was some way to end the fight quickly, something to tip the scales. Unfortunatly for me, SHE got the scale tipping bit first, as her sister arose, looking angrier than ever. With me backing away, blocking on all sides, I finally cursed and yelled “ENOUGH!” as I summoned what power I could, and with a stomp, the lights went out in the room. Time... I needed more time! It started as a glow, and then both voices overlapped. “King Sombra... you have thrown things out of harmony. You sought a weapon against Discord, but your purpose became corrupted.” An eerie music filled the air, and their faces were suddenly revealed as six small objects of different colors began to spin around them. The power coming off of them... the power... I would have been awed by the order, the HARMONY in them, but at that time I was fearing its effect on me. Their order was of light, and mine... my darkness... I had no idea what would happen. I was defeated. I had lost this battle. But I would not lose this war. “CRYSTALS! MINE!” I shouted, and just before a rainbow of light reached me, I reached out, enveloping the Crystal Heart in my mind, and with one final, bitter curse, I dragged myself, my subjects, and my entire Empire out of time and space, with one thought in my head. I would return. And when I did, I would not fail. I would succeed. And I would bring the rest of the world to its knees. Author's Note I apologize for this atrocity of literary exploit, but I needed to get all of this out of my head. This is my first time ever doing a published piece of... well.. ANYTHING, and alot of this inspiration came from the dark time of being awake at three in the morning, but I am really happy for everyone that read and commented. I personally am beating myself over the head, because I wanted to re-write chapters four and five, but three re-writes later and it looked even worse, so I did my best to put a decent ending on it. Check blog for more notes. A Start of DarknessAuthor's Note Authors note: Yes, the ponies in here are anthro. While I love the design in the show, I feel that for a beginning writer such as myself, it is best to work with what you know. As I have never had the pleasure of walking around on four hooves and somehow holding things, I feel it is best to use hands. If anyone has suggestions for OCs that would fit in here, go ahead and send me a message or whatever. Keep in mind, all I really need is a name, a race, and a basic description. I cannot just put someones entire life history into this >.< However, I would welcome all criticism, as it will help me learn and grow as a blossoming author. A Start of Darkness “Prince Sombra!” I awoke, a bit groggy after my all-nighter studying. As was typical during my testing periods, my face was still down on the desk, many books on subjects ranging from arcane lore to equestrian politics lying open around me. As I glanced up at the window, I could still see the moon up there, although the palest flickers of dawn licked at the horizon. It wasn't even morning... “Prince Sombra! Come quickly, your father is ill!” cried a voice from outside my study door. One of the guards, probably Captain Bloodmane. The grizzled old veteran was one of the few guards still stationed in the palace, most of the others dispatched around my father's beloved Crystal Empire to defend it from the threat to the south. I stared at the window a few seconds longer, before suddenly what the guard said broke through my morning fog. My father? Taken ill? Umbra Nightshade was one of the strongest stallions I knew! Finding my legs and voice, I rushed to the door, yanking it open to reveal the ancient warrior, standing there out of breath. By the looks of it, he had rushed up every flight of stairs to get to my tower. For a moment, I regretted having my study at the highest point in the whole empire, but that washed away in my fear for my only remaining parent. “What happened?!” I cried, but he only beckoned me to follow him, heading back down the stairs. What in the world could be such a problem? To render this old veteran silent? I wondered. I feared what the problem would be, but as my father had told me, Courage and Strength were the only way to defend against the greatest threats that the world had to offer. The Courage to face them, and the Strength to overcome. Captain Bloodmane led me through hallway after hallway, before arriving outside my fathers bedchambers. Without even glancing at the Royal Elites standing guard, I barged in, fearing the worst. I saw three nurses and my father's personal physician, but for the life of me I could never remember his name. He was leaning low over the figure in the bed, and whispering. Without hesitation, I strode forward, calling out “Doctor! How is he?” To my utmost relief, my father pulled himself up to a sitting position, coughing a bit, but managing a strong smile. “Sombra, my son! Dont worry your head off for me. All I had was a bit of a sudden nap. Dozed off while I was on my way to see to the Crystal Heart. Doctor Steelheart here is just overworried, that is all. All right, Doctor. Get out of here, I'm just fine. You two, Bloodmane” he said. I waited quietly, as I had been taught, for everyone to leave, before going over to him. “Father, what is wrong?” I started to ask, but with a stern gaze he cut me off. “Sombra, my son. I am getting old. There is no way around it, and no way to stop it. As much strength as you can marshall against it, the last enemy do be defeated shall be death. And we still have many enemies before then. Discord wreaks chaos to the south, and thus far, only the Crystal Heart has kept him at bay. Now, listen to me.” I listened. As I sat at my fathers side, he told me of the goings of the world that I had thus far not been privy to. Things kept in political meetings and the scryings of his court mage. He told me of how various nations had tried to keep Discord at bay, but that none have succeeded. The Zebras far to the east had the most success, for a time they kept their land due to their natural bond to it. Their magic was strange to us, and presumably even stranger to discord, for it took him nigh on a century to overcome them with his blasted chaos. To the south-east, the Gryphons held out not through their strength of arms or their formidable military might, but instead banded together using their loyalty and discipline. Yet after only thirty years, their government had dissolved, and civil war still raged across their land. And to the direct south... Our neighbor, Equestria, sat leaderless, and broken. They had yet to find any way to reverse the chaos, and only rumors told of a brave duo, sisters, attempting to stem the tide. Discord ruled as the supreme sovereign of the known world. But our nation, the Crystal Empire, held fast and stubborn against him. Try as he may, he could not work his vile magic into our hearts, our minds. He was helpless each time he came before us, and so great was our might he could not even enter our lands. Our magic was that of Love and Loyalty, and together those protected all of us. “But... Sombra, my son. Our magic is not enough. Our power, it is failing. This sickness of mine... yes, sick I am. This sickness is the first tendril of his power, the first probe and test of his ability to work his ways here. I cannot hold these lands against him much longer.” “Father! Do not say things like that!” I cried, unable to bear the thought of his passing. After the death of my mother the queen, he had been the only one able to comfort me. I had always taken pride in being the son of such a powerful colt. To think he could succumb to some sickness... “Sombra, change is the way of things. As I assumed the throne from my father, you shall assume it from me. You must find a new magic, and must use it to keep us strong. Remember always, the crystal heart is the key to all the power in the empire. Now let an old man get some rest” he said, and I watched him recline in his pillows. I thought that he would get better over the next few weeks, while I took my magical exams. And for a while, he did recover, bolstered by the faith of an entire empire. I even took a trip to the outer edge of our great city state, to assist in the crystal fair. It went off well, and my father made it to the balcony, announcing the start of it. It was not to be so. I awoke one morning, and the entire palace was draped in black. My father, King Umbra Nightshade the Third, had passed away. I was now the Crystal King. How was I to protect this empire against Discord, the Master of Chaos? COULD I protect it? I only knew one thing: The Crystal Heart was the key. I had the Courage to face this problem, and I would gain the Strength to overcome it.
Dusk 'Till DawnBlack. Everything was black. Black drapes, black dresses, black suits, and worst of all, a black sky. Even the thoughts in my head were, at best, dark. I walked along the funeral train, at the head of it as was my place. Though I was still technically prince until my coronation, the people in the streets bowed their heads and muttered “My lord” as I passed. For my part, all I could do was hang my head. These people depended on me to protect them, to pick up a duty I had never asked for. Indeed, I was to somehow hold back the forces of chaos itself! The train snaked along the streets. All around us, I could hear the wailings and lamentations of people in the crowd. All of them loved my father, but only as their king and protector. None of them could know the sorrow in my heart! Where was the love, where was even a shred of fairness in any of this? It was all I could do not to openly cry out in anguish right here, right now. But as the de facto leader, and the heir apparent to the throne, I had no choice but to keep a stiff upper lip. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, I heard the trumpets signal the que to stop, right at the gates of the palace. I knew what was expected, and the stairs I used to enjoy running up and down now stretched beyond any reasonable distance. Still, I walked up them, alone but for Captain Bloodmane, dressed as he was in his ceremonial armor. Each step I walked up reminded me of a fond memory. The day I cast my first spell, accidentally sending my fathers roast across the room. The day I finally landed a blow on the old veteran with a practice sword, and being given a sharp rap across the shoulders for gloating. The girl I had once dated, not out of love but because my father thought her to be a good match for me. Needless to say, I had broken it off the instant I could, and my father and I had had a good shouting match, a good fight, and then a good laugh at him telling me he had done the EXACT same thing with his father as well. The last step up to the balcony was the worst. I could not count how many times he had been up here to address his subjects, informing them of some new decree, or that an old one was being lifted. The day he told them that discord had once again failed to even put a dent in our defenses. The day he had announced the passing of the queen. And now, it was my turn to address the empire. I stepped up to the balcony. Two hundred feet below, my fathers casket was draped in black satin, and open for all to see. I stood up there, my eyes moist, as I gazed out across the entirety of the empire, gathered for the one solemn occasion. Gathering my courage, I opened my mouth, and began to speak. “My friends... my people... my subjects.... Today, I come before you with the gravest of tidings. My father, King Umbra Nightshade the Third, passed away quietly in his sleep from illness. Though this is a time of mourning, it is a time to remember what he would have wanted. As you all know, the Crystal Heart is what protects us. The love in this empire is taken by it, and used to keep those who know nothing of this love out. This has included all enemies in the past, and our current foe, Discord. A master of chaos has no understanding of this bond, of this love of ours. Because he cannot understand it, he cannot defeat it. Although we will miss him, and none more than I, I urge you all to carry on with his wishes: Stay strong, and carry on. Return to your daily duties, make the Empire strong and prosperous. Though he is not with us in body any longer, he will always be with us in spirit. I am to be crowned your new King, and I shall do everything in my power to ensure the longevity of the Crystal Empire, and ensure that no matter what, we shall endure. I stand before you, and I make you this promise: No matter what else shall happen, we will STILL be here, even in a thousand years! Let us move forward, and keep one step ahead of those who would do us harm!” I stepped back, out of sight, and wiped a single tear from my eye. Captain Bloodmane led me away, and the people paid their final respects to the departed King. I chose to retire to my chambers for the night, and to be left alone until dawn. Sinking into sleep was not difficult for me. Even when worried or upset, I found solace in the darkness just between wakefulness and sleep, that period of dreaming where the future can be glimpsed, or a treasured memory relived. This night, however, I was given something I was not sure of, but would haunt me from now on. I was sitting on my perch at the top of the Crystal Palace, and my father was next to me. Down below us, all around, the subjects of his rule... my rule, I somehow knew now, they played and worked and laughed and cried. They all lived their lives, and did so happily, content in the knowledge that their great leader protected them. “Sombra, my son. My greatest gift to the empire, you are. What is it I told you to do?” he asked, turning to me. I looked up at him, a mere colt again. “You told me to protect them father, no matter what else. No matter the cost, I must protect them.” “Yes, my son. Protect them all. Someday, Discord will come, and he will do his best to overthrow us, and the last orderly realm in the world will be lost to chaos. Do not let that happen...” he said, and the world around me faded. “FATHER!” I called, sitting bolt upright. I knew what I had to do. First, I had to become king. Then, I had to become even more... In order to save the ponies, I would have to change everything they believed in. Love and Loyalty have been proven to be ineffective against chaos, time and again. It could only serve us for so long. There was only one force that could oppose primal, unstoppable chaos. Order. A new order. My order. Somewhere, for a moment, I thought I heard a deep laugh. Just a figment of my fading dream, I figure. Today is a big day. It is not every day you become king, after all. Author's Note If it feels a bit rushed, that is because I wanted to put everything down before my peabrain forgot it. After a few positive reviews, I have decided to indeed do an entire story about this. This story is not about king sombra. It is not about discord. It is not even about MLP at all. This story is about how a good man with a good heart and a good dream can become terribly evil.
The Onyx Crown“All Rise!” I entered the throne room. All around, nobles and guildmasters stood, lining either side of the aisle. In front of my feet a long red carpet stretched, strewn with flower petals giving a sweet fragrance. I took a deep breath, before taking that first dignified step. At the end of the room, just before the throne stood Golden Light, the High Priestess of the temple. In her hands was the royal crown adorned with rubies. In the center of it was a large onyx, the symbol of the Nightshade Royal Line, and the sight of it filled my heart with bittersweet pride. That first step was the hardest, all eyes upon me. As I took the second, my royal robes trailed behind me, stiring the petals on the ground. On either side, guards snapped to attention, their armor quietly clattering. The nobles knelt at my passing, minor ones on both knees. The higher ups needed to bend only one knee, but all of them bowed their heads as I, Prince Sombra, passed them. I continued the march, one foot in front of the other, the Priestess looking at me through eyes filled with ancient wisdom. She had crowned not only my father, but my grandfather as well. Still, her hands were strong and did not tremble from holding the crown up. An eternity later, I stood before her. Taking one knee, I bowed my head before her, and recited an oath I had been memorizing for the last twenty three years. An oath I knew I would have to make someday, but that would be one my father would never get to see me make. “I, Prince Sombra Nightshade the First, do hereby vow to defend the Crystal Empire against all threats, be they Foreign or Domestic, and to safeguard our heritage. I swear that never shall I falter in my duties, and shall bear them to my grave, as did my father and his father before him. Never shall an enemy enter my beloved empire, and never shall any prevent my people from their rightful pursuit of freedom and justice. I, Prince Sombra, do accept this crown and the weight that goes with it, that of duty and honor. I, Prince Sombra, make this vow.” As I made the final words, my throat tightened with the knowledge that I was now bound to this duty as surely as if I was chained. Like it or not, my fate and the empires were one. If I failed, the empire would be no more, and chaos would take us all. The ancient priestess nodded, and I turned around to the people. I felt her move beind me, and then a great weight descended on me. It was much heavier than I expected, and for a moment my head was bowed again. In a clear voice, she said “Rise, King Sombra.” In a louder voice, Captain Bloodmane shouted “The King is Dead! Long live the King!” As one, the gathered crowd shouted in reply “LONG LIVE THE KING! LONG LIVE THE KING!” I raised my hand, and silence fell. I had one more thing to say to them, before I could retire for the day. An announcement that had not been made since just before the creation of the Crystal Heart. “My loyal subjects... This day, I do make my first decree. By my order, Affairs of the Court shall fall to my Steward, Lord Storm Cloudchaser. This decree comes due to my next announcement. “I shall be retiring away for the time being to work on analyzing and improving our defenses, as per my fathers dying wishes. For now, we are ahead of Discord. But things can change, and until such time as he is defeated, we must remember that a wolf prowls at our door, and only by constant vigilance and improvement is it kept at bay. We would all do well to remember that this time of peace is purchased via many sleepless nights and tireless mages. For the foreseeable future, the day to day affairs will be handled by Cloudchaser. That is all. For today, I decree a celebration in honor of my ascension to the throne. Eat, Drink, and be Merry!” With those final words I stepped back, and endured many of the nobles coming to me to offer condolences or to wish me well. Several offers of support and many words of wisdom later, I sat in my throne, rubbing my forehead. Even my horn ached, and yet I knew that the day was not quite over. After Captain Bloodmane had shown everyone else out of the room, I beckoned him over. He approached, murmuring “Sire... what do you need?” “Captain, I understand that you may have concerns, but I will need your loyalty now more than ever. Soon, I will be forced to make changes in the Empire, radical changes that may for a time make people unhappy. You must trust that I know what I am doing, and that I always mean what is best for the... for MY people.” “Of course sire! Now, young lord, you have no need to worry. Affairs of the court will be taken care of, and we will ensure you are not disturbed. Will there be anything else?” With a wave, I dismissed him, resting for a bit longer. That evening, I knew what I had to do. Locked deep in the Crystal Vaults, there were old books. Books dating to before the Empire existed, when this northern land was still populated by Shamans and Oracles, as well as practitioners of magic so great it was said that they only died out because they could not stop warring with eachother. The only problem was that those books were dangerous. Even reading them could corrupt one, but with a strong enough will I might be able to unlock their secrets. I needed to not only create a new order, but find a way to HARNESS that order into a new type of magic. Mentally, I weighed the risks and rewards. In the rewards category, I knew that if... no, WHEN I succeded, my people would be safe from discord forever. They could live in peace and harmony, and soon, I would be able to help the rest of the world. In the risks, I knew that I may have to surrender more and more of what makes my empire what it is. Law could be used to oppress as easily as it could be used to protect and defend. And when Harmony turned to Tyranny, I could easily do something I would later regret. Still, my mind was strong, and already made up. I have to do this. For my people, and for myself. Because deep down, I was still terrified of the thought of this power. I needed to Confront it, and I had to gain the Strength to succeed. I would get better, because I must. Again, a deep laugh echoed just beyond hearing. Author's Note Chapter 4 is in the works.
Into a Howling AbyssIt was time to research. I had access to the entire royal archive, and the secret vaults below. I knew that one of them contained ancient tomes of magic from the time before the crystal empire. “Captain Bloodmane!” I called, and my study door opened. “Sire, what do you need?” he inquired, old armor plates clacking together as he saluted. “Captain, you know you do not need to call me that. I may be your king, but you have always been my best friend. What I do need, however, is your key to the vaults.” Bloodmane for the first time looked a bit nervous. “Sire- er, Sombra, are you sure that is the best thing right now? I mean, all that is down there are dusty old books and even dustier instruments of old wars. Your great grandfather had them sealed away for a reason and-” he said, before I cut him off. “Bloodmane, I know that you and every head of security since my great grandfathers time has been entrusted with making sure nothing bad comes to the empire. I was given the same task by my father five weeks ago, and now I know how to carry it out. There are secrets down there that may give me an insight into our enemy.” “A-as you wish, My lord! I shall fetch the keys at once. If you will come with me...” He said, and led the way. After he had retrieved the key, he led me down through endless flights of stairs. Down here, past vaults of dark things, and ancient secrets, I walked. He led me right to one door, and with a grinding sound it opened. Inside were books, rows and rows of tattered and dusty tomes. “Captain... this... all of this is the ancient texts?” I asked, heart pounding. Could I find the secrets to saving my empire in here? “Yes, my lord. This is everything... but your great grandfather also looked through these, and didnt find anything. I hope you have better luck, but I would not hold to the paths most of these secrets will lead you down. It nearly drove King Umbra the Second insane. Do you wish for privacy?” He asked, after his short speech. “Yes please. Leave me for now, and let none disturb me” I stated, and waded into the murk of the vault. I searched all of the first day, and well into the night. Then the second day, and third passed. I found many secrets, details on old sacrificial rites, ancient battle techniques long outdated, old magics not meant for mortals to use, and the secrets of divination. While the last was interesting, I did not find it useful at the moment. Long have I known that divination does not work on Discord, due to his chaotic nature. He was nearly impossible to predict, other than that he would always do something unexpected. It wasn't for two weeks that I found what I was looking for. As one they thought, and one they fought. The day to night, and wrong to right. With one great will, they found a way, With One Kings will, they see new day. But be warned! Oh pony king, With good intent, a bell may ring. Sounding evil in your heart, A stronger will is but a part. Have you good and noble will, Your voice may ring out over hill, But should fear and terror then take hold, You will cast a shadow, dark, and bold. I smiled, and closed the book. More than a bit tired, I yawned and stretched, having been in the same sitting position for five hours today. Through endless books, and endless scrolls I had waded, looking through the deepest sections of the ancient forbidden library. It was not until three days past I had found the book labled “Magik most Potent” and nearly written it off as a rediculous minor mages idea of a tome. However, upon opening it, I had found that despite a silly and overbearing title, it contained what some might consider dark secrets. In truth, these secrets seemed (to me at least) to be perfectly harmless. I had a strong will, and I had only the good of my people at heart. Still, it would take much more research to figure out what I needed for this. Levitating this book, I headed back out and up the stairs, going up and up until I reached the main levels. I would devour the secrets this little black book had to offer, and use them to further the safety of my people. Whether they knew it or not, things were about to change. Some things would have to be given up, but between being alive and free but forced to live with change, or being the same but doomed to a swift end, I knew what decision they would make. It was a long few sleepless nights before I managed to decode the rest of the secrets in this book, but I came up with the solution I would need. There were a few things I would need to do or acquire in order to complete a ritual... The first thing was a clear purpose in mind. The spell required that I know what I wanted, and held onto it no matter what else happened. The second was a focus for the spell, something that everyone the spell would affect was connected to. The only thing that came to mind was the crystal heart, so I would need to take possession of it in my personal study in order to figure out what I needed to do with it, and what the consequences would be for manipulating it. The third one... it was here I nearly lost my lunch. I would need to give up something I treasured, something that I valued nearly more than life itself. A sacrifice, although it did not tell of what. The interpretation was a bit vague, and followed an arcane principle that I was not familiar with. It took me a few more nights, but I determined that I could try to complete the spell without it, and see what went wrong. I knew that unless everything was in place, most spells fizzled, but that fizzle was very valuable in finishing research, as one could analyze it and find out what had happened, and what went wrong. I began to get obsessed with this ritual, and it showed. I was short with my staff, and twice I had told Captain Bloodmane to bug off, irritated at his questions regarding my health. Yes, I was sleeping fine. No, I did not want food, I wasnt hungry. No, I did NOT need to oversee some decree. I had work to do! Two weeks later, and I was ready to begin however. It would all pay off. By order of his royal majesty, King Sombra Nightshade the Third, the Crystal Heart shall be removed from its customary resting place and taken for safekeeping in the palace. Your love will still be collected, and all shall remain fine and well in the Crystal Empire. This decree takes place here, in the year 214 of the Royal Crystal Calender, and is to be kept until such time as it is recanted by King Sombra. I sat in my study, the book in one hand and the heart in another, ready to go. I could feel it! This was to be a success, I would find out just what I could lose to gain the power needed to protect my people! One order, one will! My will! My will to overthrow the primal forces of chaos and disharmony itself! I opened the book and prepared to start.... Author's Note Sorry if this does not flow well, Like I said I am a new writer, and I wrote this over four days where my mind was a bit @.@ Anyways, this is the fourth chapter of probably six or so. Next chapter will have a battle in it! Woohoo! Thanks for sticking with me so far, and keep reading! I have a second thing in the works, a bit of a war story I am just pulling out of my flank. Also, as a side note, if one feels the need to thumbs down a story, any story, not just mine, it would be great if you could provide a bit of a notice on what you think was wrong or could be improved! Anything helps!
The Night is always Darkest....Author's Note This is the PENULTIMATE chapter. For those not in the know, that means "Just before the last" or "Just before the final". Yes, this story is just about over. For my last bit, I will need to give due credit where credit is due. I suggest you all hop on over to Silly Filly Studios on Youtube, or their facebook account, and watch "Fall of the Crystal Empire" to get a taste of what is next. I already asked, now I gotta get together a bunch of links. Expect the final chapter this week! I apologize if the jumping around of the POV confuses people, but I felt I needed to show both sides of the problem. If it goes over well, I will use this in a future story. If not, let me know in the comments. The Night is always Darkest.... Log, Captain of the Guard Tyrus Bloodmane, seventeenth in the line of Royal Guards, Guardian of the Crystal Empire. Lately I have observed that King Sombra has become obsessed. I took him to the vaults about four weeks ago... just a month. In that time he has... changed. Since coming out with a small book, he has turned more and more of his duties over to the Steward, and has refused to see ANYONE unless he summons them first. He had a maid thrown into the dungeon who was attempting to bring him dinner five minutes early! Even worse are the Royal Decrees... over the course of one month, he has begun to restrict freedoms and former rights, claiming they are intended to bring order to chaos. I have included a list of some of the worst ones below, for whomever may read this. From now on, this log is no longer a journal of mine, but a message to my successor. By Order of King Sombra, a curfew is now in effect. Anypony caught outside after Nine o'clock shall be imprisoned and questioned. By Order of King Sombra, inquieries regarding the Crystal Heart are now forbidden. Any citizen making inquiries after the Crystal Heart shall be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, the City Millita is hereby Dissolved, and the right to bear weapons is now removed. Any Citizen found in possesion of weaponry will be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, protection against search and seizure without a Writ of Search and Seizure is suspended. Any who refuse access to their premesis against a Royal Guard will be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, anypony attempting to gain access to the Royal Palace without an appointment for ANY reason will be executed. By Order of King Sombra, any citizen attempting to leave the Crystal Empire shall be tried for TREASON and punished accordingly. By Order of King Sombra, the Casting of Spells without permission from the Crown shall is FORBIDDEN. Anypony found casting spells or suspected of the same shall be arrested and brought in for questioning. By Order of King Sombra, ALL Citizens are REQUIRED to report ANY crimes they witness. Anyone found to have witnessed a crime without reporting it shall be tried of the same crime. As you can see, the decrees became more rediculous and harsh. Execution for entering the palace? That has not been heard of since the Green Cider Rebellion! I think that it has something to do with that book. There are dark things in those vaults, things not meant to be brought out. Everything down there is there for a reason, and I should never have taken him down. As his friend, I think... no, I KNOW it is my duty, not just to him, but to the Empire to save him from himself. I go now to confront him, as he is in his study. He demanded not to be disturbed, but for this one time I will refuse a direct order. I, Captain Tyrus Brutus Bloodmane, the Seventeenth Royal Guard Captain, Guardian of the Crystal Empire and Guard to the Royal Sovereign, will now commit High Treason and betray the trust put into me. I pray that my decision will be the right one. To whomeverpony reads this, please, remember what I do for those I am responsible for. With that, I closed the book. I, Captain Bloodmane, had to do this. I left my room in the barracks, walking through the door. I had to do this alone, which was the worst bit of all. My apprentice, an Equestrian Pony named Flash Sentry, who came up here from the south to serve us, was not somepony I was willing to risk on this fool errand. No, I was going to go down in this ship by myself. I nodded at the other guards, accepting their salutes as I left, allegedly to do a patrol of the streets to enforce Sombras rules. This time, however, I headed for the palace. The guards at the front let me pass without question, knowing there was not much damage a seventy year old war veteran could do. Heh, if only these youngsters knew what I was still capable of. I had fought against unicorns and pegasi without the benefit of either magic or wings, and had always come out on top. However, never before had I need to confront a King... no, a Friend! I climbed up the stairs, remembering how only a few months ago I had been bringing very bad news up them to the man who was once a Prince. Finally I was at the door to the study. Two guards stood outside, not my people, but these new Inquisitors he had appointed. While they were loyal to him, they were nothing more than bruts with spears. “HALT!” one of them cried, but they were already too slow. I smoothly pulled my sword out of its sheath, and smacked first the left, then the right with the flat of the blade. They both fell nervelessly to the ground, and I pushed open the door. Inside was King Sombra, turned around with a look of rage on his face. But that was not what drew my attention... it was what was in his hand. The Alicromnicon! THAT was what he took! It all made sense! This thing... THIS THING HAD CORRUPTED MY KING! This thing, my great grandfather had locked away... I lunged forward, grabbing at it, saying “Be stilled, my king! You are in danger!” Back to Sombra's point of View I heard a loud crash from outside my door. I ground my teeth. “What were those two DOING out there? I told them to be SILENT!” I fumed, turning to the door. Of course, THEN it had to slam open, revealing Captain Bloodmane. He had a sword in his hand, and in the red light, it seemed he had blood on it. He had a fierce look of anger on his face when he looked at me, and lunged forward, crying “Be KILLED, My King!”, The last bit sounding sarcastic. I didnt hear the last bit, as I stumbled backwards. All of the sudden, thoughts of rage filled my heart. HOW DARE HE? I was his KING! No... I WAS A GOD! These people should WORSHIP ME! And he came into my study, WITH A SWORD!? TO ATTACK ME?” “TREASON!” I howled, and backed away, raising my left hand. With a flash, my sword appeared in it, and I raised it, slashing at him. He handily blocked, and I could see his mouth moving, but all I heard were vile curses. Whispers flitted at my ears, dire threats. I knew he was trying to kill me! “TRAITOR! HOW DARE YOU! I AM YOUR KING! BOW BEFORE ME, SOMBRA NIGHTSHADE THE THIRD!” Captain Bloodmanes POV. I knew now, without a doubt, that he was too far gone. I could nearly SEE the dark aura around him, and his horn shown with a black and green patern. Before me, he changed. His blue mane turned red, and his horn became a curved, red spike rather than the pale white it had been before. His eyes decided to join the theme, and became crimson. His robe flapped and changed to match the rest of his décor, and the air became chill. Steeling myself, I knew what I had to do. He was too far gone... and that damnd book was to blame. Gods, fogive me. I slashed down at him, turning the blade so that I was no longer using the flat of it. Seventy I may have been, but I have been able to run a mile and a half in less than seven minutes since I was nineteen. This young whelp was still nearly my equal in skill, but if I was lucky, I could finish this quickly and cleanly. He blocked to the left, and I spun around, driving him backwards with a powerful downard stroke. And back to Sombra I growled, jumping backwards to avoid a cut that would have sliced me in half from horn to... I didnt really wanna think about it. Damn, the old man was FAST for his age! I jumped to the left, swinging low, but his sword was already there to block it. Three more exchanges before I saw my opportunity. Four books on the ground, left there while I was translating my tome. I took two steps to the left, before a searing pain let me know I had let my guard down. A scratch on my arm was more than enough to confirm what I knew: My old mentor, my most trusted friend, wanted my crown. I shifted to the left one more step, before suddenly lashing out with my foot, kicking him backwards. He stumbled, and I took my advantage. I lunged, a fierce grin on my face, my sword angling for his heart- And to my disbelief, he just looked a bit sorrowful as he trapped the tip of my blade, my opening proving to be nothing more than a feint as he locked my sword in the crook of his elbow between two armored plates, and without a word stabbed me through the heart. My mind reeled, disbelief once again. This... this could not happen... no! I wouldnt let it! I howled my pain and anger, cursing him with every breath as I thrashed, falling backwards off of the sword. This man... he used to be my friend, and that should work. My horn glowed, and with my final thought, I blasted him into the circle for the ritual. Captain Bloodmane It felt... strange. After my sword went through his chest, I was astounded. It felt like stabbing fog, but the look in his eyes was animal. There was no trace of the king in there, only a dark desire for power. Then with a vile curse, he blasted me backwards. I fell flat on my back, my side against something hard and cold, and I looked down to see it. The Crystal Heart, tainted black. So that is where it was. Then a searing heat washed over me, and I knew no more. King Sombra I awoke. I didnt know how long I had been out, but I also had not need to know. Everything seemed... different. It took a few moments to gather my surroundings, but I realized I was on my throne. The palace was black, the crystals themselves changed color. Crystals... the embodiment of order. Perfect fractal patterns, rigid, unyielding. Possible to break, but never to bend. Crystals... I could feel them, all of them, all in my will. One will... MY will. My subjects... no. My SLAVES. Why should they not be? I had the power, therefor, I made the rules. But even better... my mind was so CLEAR now. I had felt a corrupting influence before, and now I knew. I had felt discord in my heart, and Discord at my doorstep. But something had changed, and I could not hear his laughter. I could not hear his whispers. Discord was gone. But I knew THEY would come for me. Even as one evil falls, another must take its place, and now I had all the power, and THEY would come to usurp me. I could NOT fail, not with the LITERAL might of an empire to back me up! Hehehe.... This time, the dark laughter was mine, as I settled in to wait.
...Just Before the DawnHehehehehe.... Crystals... the perfect embodiment of order, structure, and unyielding perseverance. They stand the test of time, eternally flawless. Yet one must be wary when cutting one, as they usually have a shatterpoint. But not me. I am flawless, I am eternal. I am SOMBRA! I, the Eternal Dark King Sombra, Soverign of the Crystal Empire, had brought safety and security to my kingdom. Forever it would stand against the test of time! I turned my gaze downwards. I stood upon the balcony formerly occupied by my father. He was strong, but even he fell to the test of time. I looked down upon my subjects... my slaves. Theirs was the easy task. I had removed the burden of independent thought from their poor minds. I had successfully bound EVERYONE to my will. I had hidden the only weakness, the shatter-point of my empire, away where no one would ever find it again. I was the only one who knew these dark spells, and only they could activate most of my traps. But still... I had hidden the door behind a light spell and a nearly endless staircase! No one would think to look for it there! I smiled, heading back in. My crystal slaves. I would protect them all, no matter what I had to sacrifice in order to make it happen. Walking back towards the throne room, I did have time to ponder. The guards at the door stared blankly ahead. They only stood there because... well... it seemed right. There were ALWAYS guards outside the throne room, but I didn’t know what they were there for now... However, a frown crossed my face. The thing that troubled me the most was HOW Discord had been defeated. It was a good thing for me, as it meant one less thing I needed to worry about protecting my people from. But all this time, I had been preparing for this... for him to come to ME, to appear on MY doorstep. He would come, and I would be the first to fully rebuke him. WHO had managed to take him out? I settled into my throne, contemplating, an uneasy feeling just on the back of my neck. It felt like the last bit of the old me, trapped in the deepest cells of my mind. It felt like a nagging worry, had I done something wrong? It felt like... like... LIKE BEING WATCHED! I knew in an instant that my belief was assured, as I rapidly cast about, a scrying sensor telling me that SOMONE had been spying on me. SOMEONE was probing for my weaknesses. SOMEONE was... was coming. I had hardly a split second before I felt a massive surge of magic, and the fracturing of my wards. With an earsplitting CRASH, and a very bright flash of light, two figures appeared in my throne room. Biting back a curse of astonishment, I recognized them. The brave duo of sisters, the ones who were hunting for a way to defeat discord. Thinking back, it made a certain bit of sense. The reason discord had not appeared here was that he was busy elsewhere, and these two would certainly have done the trick. The tall radient one was a monument to stern belief and rightiousness, and the smaller dark one had a dark aura around her. The tall one lowered her spear and spoke clearly, bypassing the customary groveling appropriate to standing before me. “King Sombra! What have you DONE here? My sister and I had heard that this was a safe haven for those fleeing Discord, but instead we find... find... THIS!” She bellowed, indicating the glossy-eyed guards at the door that were gazing dully at her. “What have you DONE!” she finished. The younger one narrowed here eyes, as I looked upon them. Fools... They could not see my great works! “How I govern my empire is of no concern to you, alicorn sisters,” I began. I knew about alicorns of course, from my precious book, the Alicornomicon. “I have made it safe, and if I am not mistaken, my lands are in much better shape than YOURS” I finished, allowing a small smirk. The older one began to speak, but the younger one cut her off. “You are no king! Thou art a TYRANT!” she bellowed, drawing her sword. That was all it took, as with a slight twitch of my mind, I sent the two guards forward, confident that these would be plenty to handle the duo. THAT thought didn’t last long, as both of them fell back, knocked flat on their hindquarters by a vicious strike from the white ones polearm. I finally stood, and in my hand appeared a cruel, black sword. “I will give you this one chance, and this one chance only. LEAVE my Crystal Empire, or I will put you on display for everyone ELSE who gets any bright ideas. While your lands lie in ruin, devastated, the Gryphon Kingdom in a state of anarchy, the land of Zebracity infertile and barren... MY lands produce crops! MY skies shower rain! My people-” “Have no free will, as you have betrayed all of them. You are no king. You are a COWARD, and a FIEND!” shouted the smaller one, and she lunged, as her sister cried “NO LUNA!”. It was too late, as with a cackle I brutally swiped my sword to the side, easily blocked by her, although she was unprepared as I lifter her with my magic, drew power from the enslaved heart, and smashed her into a pillar, then spun to block a lunge with the radient ones spear. “Can you not see what I have done? WHY do you refuse? JOIN ME!” I bellowed, slapping away another thrust and then parrying the blunt end of her spear as she spun it around. I heard a brief whoosh behind me, and sidestepped, casuing the smaller one, Luna, to crash into her sister. It was laughable really, as the two were clearly a formidable team, but the young one was so much more hot headed. I could practically SMELL the jelousy off of her. The golden white one thrust once again, and I stepped back as she said “Joining you is out of the question! My sister and I shall bring HARMONY to the world. Power is to be SHARED, not HOARDED, you monster!” I gave a deep, throaty laugh, before grabbing the shaft of the spear and bringing my sword down on it, shattering it. Pushing the bright one away, I powerfully attacked Luna. “Power is to be shared, is it? It seems that that is not so... Luna, is it? If I recall, you raise the moon... pity no one cares. The sun is so much more precious, isnt it?” There was a startled look on her face, and then I mentally cursed, realizing that irritating her was a bit of a mistake as she drove me back towards a wall, forcing me to evaporate into smoke before I was skewered. Reforming behind her, I cuffed her across the back of the head, knocking her forward and dazing her. A few seconds was all I needed... A searing pain erupted in my gut, and I looked down to see the point of a golden sword sticking through it. With another chortle, I turned to smoke, whisking away. “Tyrant... Tyrant, I may be, but I listen to my family. I did what they asked. The elder always knows better, right? I hope your sister sees it that way... poor, poor Luna... no one appreciates her hard work, least of all you.” “SILENCE, CURR!” she screamed, and with a painful jolt, I was forced back into a corporeal form as the room filled with light. With no shadows left, I could not teleport, I could not discorporate, and I could not use some of my more potent spells. Luckily, I was still handy with a blade. That was put to good use as I parried, blocked, riposted, and dodged her flurry of attacks. It was discovered rapidly that we were equals in swordplay, and I still retained enough of my defensive magic to block her incoming spells. What I needed was some way to end the fight quickly, something to tip the scales. Unfortunatly for me, SHE got the scale tipping bit first, as her sister arose, looking angrier than ever. With me backing away, blocking on all sides, I finally cursed and yelled “ENOUGH!” as I summoned what power I could, and with a stomp, the lights went out in the room. Time... I needed more time! It started as a glow, and then both voices overlapped. “King Sombra... you have thrown things out of harmony. You sought a weapon against Discord, but your purpose became corrupted.” An eerie music filled the air, and their faces were suddenly revealed as six small objects of different colors began to spin around them. The power coming off of them... the power... I would have been awed by the order, the HARMONY in them, but at that time I was fearing its effect on me. Their order was of light, and mine... my darkness... I had no idea what would happen. I was defeated. I had lost this battle. But I would not lose this war. “CRYSTALS! MINE!” I shouted, and just before a rainbow of light reached me, I reached out, enveloping the Crystal Heart in my mind, and with one final, bitter curse, I dragged myself, my subjects, and my entire Empire out of time and space, with one thought in my head. I would return. And when I did, I would not fail. I would succeed. And I would bring the rest of the world to its knees. Author's Note I apologize for this atrocity of literary exploit, but I needed to get all of this out of my head. This is my first time ever doing a published piece of... well.. ANYTHING, and alot of this inspiration came from the dark time of being awake at three in the morning, but I am really happy for everyone that read and commented. I personally am beating myself over the head, because I wanted to re-write chapters four and five, but three re-writes later and it looked even worse, so I did my best to put a decent ending on it. Check blog for more notes.
A Start of DarknessAuthor's Note Authors note: Yes, the ponies in here are anthro. While I love the design in the show, I feel that for a beginning writer such as myself, it is best to work with what you know. As I have never had the pleasure of walking around on four hooves and somehow holding things, I feel it is best to use hands. If anyone has suggestions for OCs that would fit in here, go ahead and send me a message or whatever. Keep in mind, all I really need is a name, a race, and a basic description. I cannot just put someones entire life history into this >.< However, I would welcome all criticism, as it will help me learn and grow as a blossoming author. A Start of Darkness “Prince Sombra!” I awoke, a bit groggy after my all-nighter studying. As was typical during my testing periods, my face was still down on the desk, many books on subjects ranging from arcane lore to equestrian politics lying open around me. As I glanced up at the window, I could still see the moon up there, although the palest flickers of dawn licked at the horizon. It wasn't even morning... “Prince Sombra! Come quickly, your father is ill!” cried a voice from outside my study door. One of the guards, probably Captain Bloodmane. The grizzled old veteran was one of the few guards still stationed in the palace, most of the others dispatched around my father's beloved Crystal Empire to defend it from the threat to the south. I stared at the window a few seconds longer, before suddenly what the guard said broke through my morning fog. My father? Taken ill? Umbra Nightshade was one of the strongest stallions I knew! Finding my legs and voice, I rushed to the door, yanking it open to reveal the ancient warrior, standing there out of breath. By the looks of it, he had rushed up every flight of stairs to get to my tower. For a moment, I regretted having my study at the highest point in the whole empire, but that washed away in my fear for my only remaining parent. “What happened?!” I cried, but he only beckoned me to follow him, heading back down the stairs. What in the world could be such a problem? To render this old veteran silent? I wondered. I feared what the problem would be, but as my father had told me, Courage and Strength were the only way to defend against the greatest threats that the world had to offer. The Courage to face them, and the Strength to overcome. Captain Bloodmane led me through hallway after hallway, before arriving outside my fathers bedchambers. Without even glancing at the Royal Elites standing guard, I barged in, fearing the worst. I saw three nurses and my father's personal physician, but for the life of me I could never remember his name. He was leaning low over the figure in the bed, and whispering. Without hesitation, I strode forward, calling out “Doctor! How is he?” To my utmost relief, my father pulled himself up to a sitting position, coughing a bit, but managing a strong smile. “Sombra, my son! Dont worry your head off for me. All I had was a bit of a sudden nap. Dozed off while I was on my way to see to the Crystal Heart. Doctor Steelheart here is just overworried, that is all. All right, Doctor. Get out of here, I'm just fine. You two, Bloodmane” he said. I waited quietly, as I had been taught, for everyone to leave, before going over to him. “Father, what is wrong?” I started to ask, but with a stern gaze he cut me off. “Sombra, my son. I am getting old. There is no way around it, and no way to stop it. As much strength as you can marshall against it, the last enemy do be defeated shall be death. And we still have many enemies before then. Discord wreaks chaos to the south, and thus far, only the Crystal Heart has kept him at bay. Now, listen to me.” I listened. As I sat at my fathers side, he told me of the goings of the world that I had thus far not been privy to. Things kept in political meetings and the scryings of his court mage. He told me of how various nations had tried to keep Discord at bay, but that none have succeeded. The Zebras far to the east had the most success, for a time they kept their land due to their natural bond to it. Their magic was strange to us, and presumably even stranger to discord, for it took him nigh on a century to overcome them with his blasted chaos. To the south-east, the Gryphons held out not through their strength of arms or their formidable military might, but instead banded together using their loyalty and discipline. Yet after only thirty years, their government had dissolved, and civil war still raged across their land. And to the direct south... Our neighbor, Equestria, sat leaderless, and broken. They had yet to find any way to reverse the chaos, and only rumors told of a brave duo, sisters, attempting to stem the tide. Discord ruled as the supreme sovereign of the known world. But our nation, the Crystal Empire, held fast and stubborn against him. Try as he may, he could not work his vile magic into our hearts, our minds. He was helpless each time he came before us, and so great was our might he could not even enter our lands. Our magic was that of Love and Loyalty, and together those protected all of us. “But... Sombra, my son. Our magic is not enough. Our power, it is failing. This sickness of mine... yes, sick I am. This sickness is the first tendril of his power, the first probe and test of his ability to work his ways here. I cannot hold these lands against him much longer.” “Father! Do not say things like that!” I cried, unable to bear the thought of his passing. After the death of my mother the queen, he had been the only one able to comfort me. I had always taken pride in being the son of such a powerful colt. To think he could succumb to some sickness... “Sombra, change is the way of things. As I assumed the throne from my father, you shall assume it from me. You must find a new magic, and must use it to keep us strong. Remember always, the crystal heart is the key to all the power in the empire. Now let an old man get some rest” he said, and I watched him recline in his pillows. I thought that he would get better over the next few weeks, while I took my magical exams. And for a while, he did recover, bolstered by the faith of an entire empire. I even took a trip to the outer edge of our great city state, to assist in the crystal fair. It went off well, and my father made it to the balcony, announcing the start of it. It was not to be so. I awoke one morning, and the entire palace was draped in black. My father, King Umbra Nightshade the Third, had passed away. I was now the Crystal King. How was I to protect this empire against Discord, the Master of Chaos? COULD I protect it? I only knew one thing: The Crystal Heart was the key. I had the Courage to face this problem, and I would gain the Strength to overcome it.
