Somber Ruleby Seraph SerenitatisChaptersBiding the InevitableThe Regretful AscensionThe Dark DescensionBiding the InevitableThe Crystal Empire returned to it's place. The warmth that penetrates the caves is immense, and a welcoming change. My time was again at hand. My sister's presence is nearby, and though my spirit tainted, I clung to its energy as only a brother could. And while my consciousness sought to reconcile with her, my thoughts turned toward vengeance against the Equestrian Princesses. My time in that prison was over, its bonds long since weakened. In a thrust of fury and power, only comparable to hurricane, I broke free of my chains in the black smoke my spirit had become. Within moments of that freedom, I sought out my sister and my Empire. I stepped down from my foggy dark mist, into the form I knew so well, a red cape over my withers, and looked upon my throne. My sister sat upon it, wide-eyed, next to a white stallion I could not recognize, I could only assume was a coltfriend in the closeness they sat together. The stallion did not matter to me, however, I would address that issue at a later time. She whispered my name birth name. Then seemed to remember herself. I demanded my throne back, but inserted that I had forgiven her of her past treachery. As I stepped closer, that white stallion jumped in front of her, whatever little protection that pathetic unicorn could have given her, but I digress. I made my intentions clear to her: to unite Equus under my dominion for eternity. She was not happy, and fought me for the throne. In the last throes of our little squabble, she cast a barrier spell that repelled my dark magic, amplified, by that stallion's magic, using Love as a power source. I could not stop my second banishment from the city. And the bubble shield remained, keeping me out of the city. I was both proud and angry with my sister, she had grown powerful while I was away. In any case, I was not sealed back into my frozen tomb, so I looked for flaws in my sister's shield waiting for her moment of weakness. While my sister's shield whittled her magic reserves away, day-by-day, I explored the Frozen North in the present era, what was supposedly 1000 years past my time. It appeared my mother's Alicorn magic was still with me, otherwise, perhaps I would have crumbled into dust long ago. I had noticed a curious little building on the southern outskirts of the tundra, a funny little thing with a pair of iron bars that stretched on for miles into the south, about a mile out of my castle city. My castle city, on the other hoof, was no longer the gray, decrepit city I sent to another realm a thousand years ago. In fact, it was nearly as bright and colorful as before my tyrannical rule began as King Sombra. My Dark Magic must have been cleansed from the city before it was banish into the next plane. Forming my plan to begin corrupting the crystals from the outside in, I set to work, patrolling the bubble, and letting my magic seep beneath and underneath the shield. Not two days into my work, I heard a whistle from the south. I briefly recalled a time during Mother's rule about plans to create a solid, permanent road to Equestria, to ease the flow of trade and traffic between our two nations. And those iron bars reminded me of the carts and tracks used in mines back when I had control of the city, which could possibly mean a form of transportation for ponies. Surely enough, five miles away from the building, I could see steam puffing out of a chute a small vehicle situated on those tracks, and ponies filing out. As the vehicle started puffing away, seven ponies and one mound of what I could only assume to be luggage started making their way toward my crystal city, one of which looked like that same white unicorn who sat next to my sister. If my sister's spell was fueled by love, then I needed to block this stallion's magic. With the scheme in mind, I sought to sneak up on the ponies, perhaps taking the others as my first slaves. As I neared, perhaps not even 10 meters away, I heard my name called from a purple unicorn trotting next to the white stallion. It was now or never, despite the dramatic entrance I made immediately after my name was called. Nonetheless, I made my presence known with a growl, and the ponies ran off towards the bubble. After chasing the group, I had noticed consisted of 6 mares, the white stallion, and one of the smallest dragons I had ever seen, with the luggage forgotten half-away back, the stallion turned about to confront me; I would guess, to protect the 6 mares and little dragon from my influence. I let the others go, my true target in my sight, and sealed his magic I did. The dark crystals in his horn would also work to influence the crystals on the inside of the shield, should it let him pass. My work done, and my plan set in motion, I let the stallion re-join the group inside the bubble. I would have liked to corrupt the other two unicorns' horns, but I got the stallion's, my plan succeeded, whether they knew it or not. All I needed to do was wait. I could tell my sister's shield was already weakening due to the prolonged disconnection to the stallion's magic, I would not have to wait long, maybe another day or two. After half a day passed, I noticed decorations being placed around the city, realizing the crystal ponies must still have some recollection of the Crystal Fair, the very event that inspires the Crystal ponies with harmony, love, and all other positive feelings to activate the Crystal Heart. However, the ponies seemed to hold no recollection of the Heart itself, and my sister, in her young age, had no idea of its importance. The ponies would not succeed. Until I noticed one of my spells that kept the Heart's location hidden, was triggered with a small bit of dark magic, not of my own making. Somepony was actively seeking out the Heart. I quickened my pace, with more vigor, and succeeded in tearing down Cadence's shield, just as another of my traps fell. I charged forward, only to get cut off by my sister's barrier again. Her strength of will was astounding. Part of the jagged point that I call my horn, had fractured, and fell within the shield. My key to the inside. When it sank into the ground, I began corrupting the outer crystals, slowly moving my way in. With my spell work both inside and outside of the shield eating away at my sister's magic, the shield began to fall faster. By this time, the fair was in full swing, and the crystal ponies were enjoying themselves, oblivious to my ever-nearing presence. At long last, her shields fell, my presence made known to the ponies, my renewed slaves. Just as the last of my traps fell, holding captive the pony who sought to take the Heart from its clandestine place. I made my way toward the palace, ponies all around quivering in fear. I stopped, looked up to a point at the highest tower. That pathetic creature called a dragon was holding my Crystal Heart! How had it slipped outside of my crystal prison? In any case, that dragon was bringing the Heart down to where my sister lay in the balcony. I shot forward, all of my might and magic, with my crystals propelling me, I desperately attempted to reach that vermin before it reached my sister. The dragon fell, the Heart falling out of its grasp! That was my chance, I was close, I could feel its magic radiating. A blur of pink passed through my peripherals. My sister was flying, the dragon on her back, and the Crystal Heart in her telekinetic grasp. As she brought it to its pedestal beneath the castle, I could do nothing but race toward my sister, corrupting any and all in my path. The ponies all began bowing, I was nearly there. And then I saw white. The Regretful AscensionThe pain as the full power of the Crystal Heart and some other familiar power rushed through me. Now do I realize those Princesses had sought not to cleanse me, but the Empire instead. The full power of the Elements was briefly transferred into the Heart before the city was banished, and now that the Empire was cleansed, was purifying my dark and tainted soul. The pain was hardly imaginable, and something I care not to put into words. I broke through the pain, like crashing through a wave; I was gasping, weak and wretched. I realized my past transgressions and my sins as sovereign of the Empire. I was pitiful. Worst of all, I doomed my mother to death, destroyed her entire being, imprisoned my sister, and brought pain and slavery to my people. I was no longer fit to rule; I should be tortured, death too kind a punishment, for the rest of my life for the sins I placed on my nation and family. After all of that, I still had my mother's Alicorn magic within me, a power and responsibility I did not deserve. I looked up at the Crystal Palace, not from the outskirts of the city, but from the foot of its crystal arches. Held at spear point and surrounded by guards. My sister, no, the Crystal Princess, looked down at me, both with pity and anger, and a hint of hope. I rose to my hooves, the guards wary of every move I made. I looked upon the Princess, tears freshly staining my muzzle. “Your Highness,” I spoke as formally as I could manage through raspy breaths, “I accept any, and all, forms of punishment you and your people choose to bestow upon me. For my crimes to you and yours warrant the highest treason. I shall not list the many deeds, for surely your subjects remember every single one of them, foremost, the forceful possession of your mother's, Her Grace's, Alicorn magic.” The Princess held her breath a moment, and then asked me, “What is your name, stallion?” I looked down, closing my eyes for but a moment. Lifting my chin, and meeting her gaze, I replied, “My name is Somber Rule, formerly known as the dark King Sombra. Spare me not in any semantics, for both names, and all crimes under them, belong to me, and me alone.” Her smile reminded me much of Mother's, sad and pitying. After a moments silence, she conferred with both the white stallion at her side, and the six mares who had appeared not two days ago. I thought of appropriate punishments, like exile out into the Frozen North or the Great Beyond, places where I would survive, but constantly be in pain and suffering, or tortured for life in prison. However, I had not expected the decision exacted on me. “Somber Rule, from hence on, you shall take the punishment of Community Service, whereupon you will be required to advise me in my decisions as sovereign of this Crystal Empire, and send in rehabilitation reports to the Equestrian Princess known as Luna. Every Tuesday for until however long it takes, you will reside with one family within the Crystal Empire and reconcile with each and every citizen of this, your former nation. You must also, never again, touch, or study Dark Magic.” Of course I protested, my crimes warranted the most severe of punishments, and yet, I was released with a small slap on the fetlock. My sister was far too kind. Unfortunately, no amount of protest on my part could convince her to make a harsher punishment. Later that evening, after the large amount of partying that a strange pink earth pony with far too much energy had somehow put together last minute. I do not care to find where she stashes such a strange and large weapon. Of course I had stayed close to one of the walls, refusing to join in any of the celebrations. After all, I had other things on my mind: my punishment, my sins, my mother. I must have been on the verge of crying again, for my sister had sidled up next to me, strangely enough with that purple unicorn mare from earlier. My sister reached her hooves around, just like my mother had done, so many centuries ago, and held me to her chest. I briefly, off-hoovedly, noticed a change of our surroundings, and my sister whispering a silent “thank you”. I cried hard like the foal I once was, no longer caring who saw. I cried out my sorrows, my apologies, and my regrets; and most of all, I cried for my mother and my father. After a time, I had finally settled, my throat raw, and my muzzle wet with tears. My sister told me of our mother's final moments. Cadence said that Mother regretted nothing, even as she allowed me to take her magic; even going so far as saying that it was a lesson I needed to learn on my own. She also said that Mother still loved me, despite all I had done to her and her nation, and had mourned for my exile and loss. Mother had made Cadence promise to take care of me, because she had known that, before all my corruption, my intentions were meant to be good, both in thought and nature. After a time, I realized we were indeed not alone. The six mares, the dragon, and the white stallion, who seemed to be intimate with my sister, were all standing nearby. When each in turn hugged me, much to my surprise, I inquired about my sister and that stallion's relationship. They both blushed at that point, and Cadence coughed out that they were, very much so, married. Slowly, one by one, the mares filed out of the room, to rejoin the party. As had the stallion, Shining Shield or Sparkling Armor, or something. Do not seek to blame me, she is still my sister, and even in my corruption I was very protective of her. However, the purple unicorn mare remained, along with my sister. I told them to go join the party, that I would be better off alone, however they both remained. Now that I had a better look the unicorn mare, Twilight Sparkle, coincidentally the younger sister of my sister's husband, she had a certain beauty to her as well. However, it is not her beauty that caught my eye, rather there was something beneath the surface, something deep within her magic and soul that led me to believe that this mare had a greater destiny to attend, greater than having a hoof in my defeat. A power that was growing most similarly in nature to an Alicorn's power. I briefly noticed a twinkle in my sister's eye, hoping she was not getting the wrong idea at the present situation. The mare must have also been unnerved by my unseeing gaze in her direction, for she fidgeted quite visibly. Although I was sure I could take the white stallion on in terms of strength and magic, I did not want, nor need, that sort of confrontation, especially over a misunderstanding. I quickly apologized for the excessive awkwardness that grew between the two of us, my sister less so, as she had been sneaking slowly towards the door, much to my dismay. I spoke my mind freely, the mare needed to be warn, firstly, of the dangers of dark magic and its influence, if this was indeed the mare who retrieved the Heart from its spot. Secondly, I briefly told her of a greater destiny beyond these past events, cryptically. After all, anypony would be scared about a large underlying destiny, and there was no need to over-stress the mare. I bid the mare good night, deciding to instead retire to a guest room in the Royal Wing. The castle, sensibly, has not changed in my thousand year absence, which also means then, that my room is filled to the brim with dark artifacts. Avoiding that temptation altogether, the guest bedroom was my only choice. The guest bedroom isn't small by any standard, after all, it is meant to house guests of royalty, like foreign dignitaries and what not. A few couches, here and there, a large queen-sized canopy bed with drapes to shut out the light if need be, and even a small bar, with most alcoholic beverages to accommodate any liking to the stuff. I was never really fond much of alcohol, I had a nation to run. Although, I did enjoy a glass of whiskey or scotch from time-to-time. There was also a balcony that overlooked the city below. I stood at the doorway, debating about going to bed or to view the night sky. I knew I would be unable to sleep, so I moved toward the balcony. The night sky was not so bright as it could have been, but it was still beautiful. The aurora lights that came from the Crystal Heart's activation traveled across the sky in all directions, like threads twining and intertwining around and through each different color. The stars were dim specks compared to the Heart's aurora, constellations barely visible. The lamp light and street light along the ground could have just as easily been mistaken for the stars themselves in an upside-down world. Ponies still traversed up and down the streets, fully enjoying the Fair. In the past, when Mother held the Crystal Fair, it was a full week event. Tourists would come from all surrounding countries just to watch the Heart alight with the joy and peace in the Crystal ponies' hearts. For me, the sight was more inspiring and joyous, in that, despite my rule, these ponies could still feel joy, and the foals could still run down the streets so full of energy and happiness. As though those dark times never existed. I briefly recalled my sister saying something about a spell of amnesia that fell over the Crystal ponies. Nopony wants to remember King Sombra's reign, especially myself. But that, too, shall be my punishment to bear. Looking out beyond the horizon, I realized I had much to learn as well. Being sealed in the ice caverns in the Frozen North gave me no views of the outside world, especially because I was so far North of any other major pony populations. Were the Germane-ics still a gaggle of tribes fighting for territories and boundaries? Was Transylmania still as dark and dank, with its rumors of vamponies, as it had been? Did Amareca become a better established colony of Equestria? Did Neighpon ever open its borders for trade? Did the Griffons ever unite under one kingdom? Or the dragons for that matter? Will my definition of politics have changed greatly over the past millennium? What new countries, colonies, and cities exist now? What should I have expected? I was a foal in a new world, how much help could I give my sister, if the world has indeed changed so much? Thank you listener, for reading my story. As you may not see me often, I help my sister in whatever ways I can. Although, I am most often absent from court, it is only due to my long study sessions on the world today. I had sent a formal apology to both the Equestrian princesses, and I continue to send Princess Luna my rehabilitation reports. It is comforting to know I have a friend in Luna, since her experience as the dreaded Nightmare Moon, not that I ever knew of her, is very similar to my experiences as King Sombra. I also regret that Princess Luna had to experience such a distasteful thing. I have also become quite familiar with the Crystal ponies. The degrees of their amnesia depend slightly on the individual. I have met many who do not remember King Sombra's reign entirely, and others who remember all of his reign. I have been insulted, beaten, reconciled with, and forgiven, even hit on, to which I vehemently refused all advances. I know most of these ponies by name, although, it may take me a moment to remember them. I have done everything in my power to recompense what I took from these ponies, and I know that everything will be near impossible to do. But I do what I can. My name is Somber Rule, and this was my story. The Dark DescensionGood Evening, my name is Somber Rule, and this? This is my story. Nearly 1100 years ago, I was borne to my mother, the Crystal Empress, Verglas Canon, and her consort, my father, Dimonde Passion, a regular Unicorn foal. To my mother, who was an alicorn, like the Princesses in Equestria, and to my father, who was a Crystal pony, the race my mother was sovereign over. My fur was of the lightest gray, and my mane and tail, deep, dark chestnut. My eyes were a dark shade of burnt umber. As my name implies, I was meant to rule, and was developed as such. I did everything I could to become what my mother wanted me to be. But I could tell at an early age, my mother was disappointed about my race. Don't get me wrong, she loved me with all her heart, as she had my father. However, for her, who is endless, meant she had to take her reign back eventually. Aside from my studies in ruling a country, I also took a strong interest in magic. Especially in anything to extend my life and my rule, to decrease the tension and stress on my mother. I began my rule under my mother's guidance at the age of 20. By that time I had become well versed and respectable in my magical studies, as well as, respectable as next-in-line to rule. As anypony would expect, I met my mother's expectations at every turn, every test, every challenge set before me, except becoming eternal like her. At the age 33, my studies turned up nothing in my search for immortality, I turned to dark magic. Both my mother, and my father warned me greatly against its use. My father understood my plight, and held a great sadness for my mother's burden, had allowed me to continue, under the strictest of guidance. And even then, I only did so when I had the time. Contrary to popular belief, my change began to develop slowly; mine was not a sudden transformation. At the age of 45, 1055 years ago, under my rule, and my mother as adviser to the throne, my mother grew pregnant again to my father. As you can imagine, just under a year later, my younger sister was born; an alicorn filly. At first, I was overjoyed that my mother would not have to spend eternity alone, and I adored having a little sister to spoil, especially after four years later, our father died, at the age of 175. I would like to make a side note here: Crystal ponies have a unique anatomical structure, most comparable to the Earth ponies in Equestria. However, whereas Earth ponies' innate magic allows them to partially control the soil and plants along the ground, and even exhibit strong musculature for working the land; Crystal ponies exhibit properties reminiscent of the beautiful stones the Unicorns mined from the ground. Our skin was innately more resilient to the environmental conditions around them. They can also manipulate any substance that exhibits crystalline structures, most gems and stones, even water, after it freezes into snow. That is how the Crystal City was built after all. Also, due to the Crystal pony's resilient nature, they are blessed with a comparatively long life span to other races of ponies. And by Crystal pony standards, my – our – father died young. My mother mourned for a full 6 months after. But she had her kingdom and her children to care for. I mourned as well, after all, my father was my support in my magical endeavors. And unfortunately, aside from a kingdom to rule, my studies in dark magic took a turn for the worse. My father, during my studies, acted as my moral compass, and suppressor. I saw how my mother had grieved, and was overwhelmed by a deep pity for her. And then I found it. A dark spell that would transfer an Alicorn's magic into another. A spell I had learned by studying a little piece of jewelry set with a blood-red stone. A legend surrounding the necklace had posited my mother, long ago, had transferred the magic of an evil Alicorn into the amulet, to put an end to his evil plots. I did not wear the amulet myself, however, had studied cases of others who had worn the accessory; I was not about to go against my father's warnings. With my resources in hand, I asked my mother about the fated alicorn. When her expression turned dark, I knew the story had a terrible hidden account. A story for another time, perhaps. Her expression turned darker still when I had asked if she could teach me such a spell. And then I gave her my reasoning: that should she wish it, she could transfer her magic to me, and her life, should she choose, could end, to be with Father. Her expression lightened little. She was grateful for my concern, but had told me that I was not meant to bear the burden of eternity. I realize now, that without Father as my support, I did not have the empathy and understanding in me to recognize that she was trying to protect me. Instead, I was furious. Here I was, offering her a chance to discontinue her long life accumulating losses, and she refused! Only now do I see that with the cleansing by the Crystal Heart, and by extension my little sister, Mi Amore Cadenza, that I made a terrible and regretful mistake; how I miss she and Father, so. Anyhow, continuing the story, in my fury, I sought out the spell through my own means, and my appearance grew darker and more sinister. My appearance in court steadily lessened, under the guise that my sister needed to learn the ways of throne, as I once had; after all, Cadenza was nearing the age of 30, and I was bound my mortal law to die at some point. In my 75th year, 1025 years ago, I had found my mother's secret journal. Within it, the journal contained my greatest desires: spells and magic forbidden me because of my inferior race, as well as, the one spell that could help my mother and myself. Within my calculations, I would not come under any evil influence because my mother was a good and just alicorn, perhaps fairer and wiser than the great Princess Celestia. In the year after, I began my plot to take my mother's magic from her, for her own good, of course. I had dismissed all of our guards for break, Cadence off in Everfree visiting the Equestrian Princesses, and confronted my mother. She was in her bedchambers, holding a portrait of Father in her hooves, talking to what I would like to assume to be his spirit. She was chiding him, a mistake to teach me dark magic, that I could not handle the amount of willpower to overcome such an undertaking. I told her I was doing all this for her, that she need not worry any long. She simply smiled sadly, as tears poured down her muzzle. It almost broke my heart to see her under distress, but my resolve hardened. I drew the magic necessary for the spell work in. And with the proper runes in mind, and double checking my work, I fired my spell at her. She did not attempt to defend herself, she herself no longer denied that this needed to happen. The power, the energy I felt as I absorbed all her magic was both terrible and exhilarating! But as I felt the energy burn through me, the magic was also corrupting. As I had found, Alicorn magic, in and of itself, is a corrupting influence. I, who was already under the influence of Dark Magic, could not take on the Alicorn magic my mother controlled. My transformation was complete however, my horn had grown into a red, curved spear, my fur tainted to a dark gray, my mane grew wild and darker like dancing shadows, and my cutie mark was no long the gem in-laid crown I had known since I was a colt, but instead a darker version of the Crystal Heart. And since I took the magic forcefully, could not transfer the magic back without dangerous consequences to both myself, and my mother. My mother. When I had looked down at her, she had shrunk slightly, her fur had lost its beautiful luster, her mane lay limp and frayed. Worst of all, her Cutie Mark had vanished. At that point, if I had not been corrupted, I might have felt remorse and guilt for what I had done to her; what greater pain could there be than to lose one's magic, the very thing that makes you who you are? Despite herself, and what looked to be in great pain, she stood on four legs, reached her hooves around me, and held me tightly to herself, weeping. My rule after that point, gradually became more tyrannical. When my sister returned from her visit, she was very vocal against the changes, even though I was overjoyed to be able to watch her grow older and rule with her, as siblings, throughout eternity. When she found Mother, she was angry. I did not stop her as she sent Mother off to Equestria, nor did I stop her when she sent warning to Equestria's Princesses. Certainly I was not pleased, but she did not stop me from ruling over the Crystal Empire. When I saw that the Empire flourish under my iron rule, I sought to expand. With my further research into crystals and magic, I found I could ingrain information into the structure of the crystals themselves. I had, also, found an avenue to inhibit a unicorn's or an alicorn's magic by infecting their horns with the dark crystals. Furthermore, as long as the ponies remained within the shadows of the darker crystals I created, dominate their minds through fear and despair. With Dark Magic as my inspiration, I had found a way to corrupt the crystals into darker formations to bring the ponies of the Crystal empire further under my dominion. And thus was my tyranny over the Crystal Empire. My dear sister saw that I had turned all of the Empire into my slaves and my army, mining my dark crystals and expanding my territories. She sought to steal away the Crystal Heart and banish me from my own castle city. In the middle of her treachery, however, I caught her red-hooved. I did not harm my sister, for I am dignified still and the magic could not corrupt that, however, I did imprison her, and hide the artifact away. For, even throughout all of my studies on how to corrupt crystals, I could not corrupt the Crystal Heart. So until I could learn how to corrupt the Heart, I kept it hidden and protected by my dark spells and traps. Nopony would be able to find it without the use of dark magic or myself knowing about it. From then on, I was no longer Prince Somber Rule, but instead, King Sombra! On the very eve of my 80th birthday, 1020 years, Princess Luna sought to appeal to my good graces, to end my injustice and free my slaves. And although I was mesmerized by her beauty, I sought to control her as well, and send her as an acolyte for my cause to Equestria. When I could not control her, I courted her, wooed her with all my might, to which she refused. During her stay in the Crystal Empire, to which I made plenty sure she was comfortable, Princess Luna discovered of my sister's imprisonment, and grew angry with me. Eager to settle her fury, I released my sister to her; a grave mistake on my part, that was. With my sister in her custody, Princess Luna returned to Equestria, warning me that if I did not halt my expansion and tyranny, she would have no choice but to stop me. I had wished to visit my sister, Mother, and Princess Luna, in the city of Everfree, however, my paranoia did not let me. After all, if I was not here to control the slaves, surely my rule and empire would fall. One thousand fifteen years ago, in my 85th year, the Equestrian Princesses, both, showed up on my doorstep. Through the five years until that point, they had sent me many warnings, even meeting my armies with their own, halting my expansion. They gave me one last chance to surrender myself. I declined vehemently, demanding instead they kneel before me. Although only Luna had had my attentions, her elder sister was not too hard on the eyes either. Of course they refused me, and took out their weapons, the Elements of Harmony. The Elements of Harmony, said to have been the fruit of the Tree of Harmony, and to contain the very magics of creation in themselves. It is true I had heard that the Tree existed, and that these Elements had been used to defeat the great Chaotic Lord, Discord some 500 years earlier before my birth. But I had my own weapons: my dark magic, the Crystal Heart, and the Alicorn Amulet. The battle was great, terrible, and long. In the end, I could not use the Crystal Heart, instead keeping it hidden in the center of a spell of my own design. A drawback to my dominion crystals was that if somepony with a greater will than my own took control of the crystals, I, too, could fall under their control. Under that concept and my own undoing, I was forced to take off the Alicorn Amulet. As the Princesses sought to cleanse me of my dark power, I unleashed the hex I placed in the Crystal Heart itself, seeking to take the Princesses with me. I banished myself and the castle city of the Empire into another plane, where I could wrest back control of my crystals and my magic. However, I had underestimated the power of the Elements. While my Crystal Empire was sent to the next plane, I was banished, not cleansed, deep into the ice caves to the west of my great city and sealed there, until a time that I could break free. In confinement I schemed, I would gather my strength until the time when my Crystal Empire returns to this plane. And so, I waited, years, decades, centuries, little more than a full millennium. Nearly 1000 years exile of maddening solitude in the cold caves of the Frozen North.
Biding the InevitableThe Crystal Empire returned to it's place. The warmth that penetrates the caves is immense, and a welcoming change. My time was again at hand. My sister's presence is nearby, and though my spirit tainted, I clung to its energy as only a brother could. And while my consciousness sought to reconcile with her, my thoughts turned toward vengeance against the Equestrian Princesses. My time in that prison was over, its bonds long since weakened. In a thrust of fury and power, only comparable to hurricane, I broke free of my chains in the black smoke my spirit had become. Within moments of that freedom, I sought out my sister and my Empire. I stepped down from my foggy dark mist, into the form I knew so well, a red cape over my withers, and looked upon my throne. My sister sat upon it, wide-eyed, next to a white stallion I could not recognize, I could only assume was a coltfriend in the closeness they sat together. The stallion did not matter to me, however, I would address that issue at a later time. She whispered my name birth name. Then seemed to remember herself. I demanded my throne back, but inserted that I had forgiven her of her past treachery. As I stepped closer, that white stallion jumped in front of her, whatever little protection that pathetic unicorn could have given her, but I digress. I made my intentions clear to her: to unite Equus under my dominion for eternity. She was not happy, and fought me for the throne. In the last throes of our little squabble, she cast a barrier spell that repelled my dark magic, amplified, by that stallion's magic, using Love as a power source. I could not stop my second banishment from the city. And the bubble shield remained, keeping me out of the city. I was both proud and angry with my sister, she had grown powerful while I was away. In any case, I was not sealed back into my frozen tomb, so I looked for flaws in my sister's shield waiting for her moment of weakness. While my sister's shield whittled her magic reserves away, day-by-day, I explored the Frozen North in the present era, what was supposedly 1000 years past my time. It appeared my mother's Alicorn magic was still with me, otherwise, perhaps I would have crumbled into dust long ago. I had noticed a curious little building on the southern outskirts of the tundra, a funny little thing with a pair of iron bars that stretched on for miles into the south, about a mile out of my castle city. My castle city, on the other hoof, was no longer the gray, decrepit city I sent to another realm a thousand years ago. In fact, it was nearly as bright and colorful as before my tyrannical rule began as King Sombra. My Dark Magic must have been cleansed from the city before it was banish into the next plane. Forming my plan to begin corrupting the crystals from the outside in, I set to work, patrolling the bubble, and letting my magic seep beneath and underneath the shield. Not two days into my work, I heard a whistle from the south. I briefly recalled a time during Mother's rule about plans to create a solid, permanent road to Equestria, to ease the flow of trade and traffic between our two nations. And those iron bars reminded me of the carts and tracks used in mines back when I had control of the city, which could possibly mean a form of transportation for ponies. Surely enough, five miles away from the building, I could see steam puffing out of a chute a small vehicle situated on those tracks, and ponies filing out. As the vehicle started puffing away, seven ponies and one mound of what I could only assume to be luggage started making their way toward my crystal city, one of which looked like that same white unicorn who sat next to my sister. If my sister's spell was fueled by love, then I needed to block this stallion's magic. With the scheme in mind, I sought to sneak up on the ponies, perhaps taking the others as my first slaves. As I neared, perhaps not even 10 meters away, I heard my name called from a purple unicorn trotting next to the white stallion. It was now or never, despite the dramatic entrance I made immediately after my name was called. Nonetheless, I made my presence known with a growl, and the ponies ran off towards the bubble. After chasing the group, I had noticed consisted of 6 mares, the white stallion, and one of the smallest dragons I had ever seen, with the luggage forgotten half-away back, the stallion turned about to confront me; I would guess, to protect the 6 mares and little dragon from my influence. I let the others go, my true target in my sight, and sealed his magic I did. The dark crystals in his horn would also work to influence the crystals on the inside of the shield, should it let him pass. My work done, and my plan set in motion, I let the stallion re-join the group inside the bubble. I would have liked to corrupt the other two unicorns' horns, but I got the stallion's, my plan succeeded, whether they knew it or not. All I needed to do was wait. I could tell my sister's shield was already weakening due to the prolonged disconnection to the stallion's magic, I would not have to wait long, maybe another day or two. After half a day passed, I noticed decorations being placed around the city, realizing the crystal ponies must still have some recollection of the Crystal Fair, the very event that inspires the Crystal ponies with harmony, love, and all other positive feelings to activate the Crystal Heart. However, the ponies seemed to hold no recollection of the Heart itself, and my sister, in her young age, had no idea of its importance. The ponies would not succeed. Until I noticed one of my spells that kept the Heart's location hidden, was triggered with a small bit of dark magic, not of my own making. Somepony was actively seeking out the Heart. I quickened my pace, with more vigor, and succeeded in tearing down Cadence's shield, just as another of my traps fell. I charged forward, only to get cut off by my sister's barrier again. Her strength of will was astounding. Part of the jagged point that I call my horn, had fractured, and fell within the shield. My key to the inside. When it sank into the ground, I began corrupting the outer crystals, slowly moving my way in. With my spell work both inside and outside of the shield eating away at my sister's magic, the shield began to fall faster. By this time, the fair was in full swing, and the crystal ponies were enjoying themselves, oblivious to my ever-nearing presence. At long last, her shields fell, my presence made known to the ponies, my renewed slaves. Just as the last of my traps fell, holding captive the pony who sought to take the Heart from its clandestine place. I made my way toward the palace, ponies all around quivering in fear. I stopped, looked up to a point at the highest tower. That pathetic creature called a dragon was holding my Crystal Heart! How had it slipped outside of my crystal prison? In any case, that dragon was bringing the Heart down to where my sister lay in the balcony. I shot forward, all of my might and magic, with my crystals propelling me, I desperately attempted to reach that vermin before it reached my sister. The dragon fell, the Heart falling out of its grasp! That was my chance, I was close, I could feel its magic radiating. A blur of pink passed through my peripherals. My sister was flying, the dragon on her back, and the Crystal Heart in her telekinetic grasp. As she brought it to its pedestal beneath the castle, I could do nothing but race toward my sister, corrupting any and all in my path. The ponies all began bowing, I was nearly there. And then I saw white.
The Regretful AscensionThe pain as the full power of the Crystal Heart and some other familiar power rushed through me. Now do I realize those Princesses had sought not to cleanse me, but the Empire instead. The full power of the Elements was briefly transferred into the Heart before the city was banished, and now that the Empire was cleansed, was purifying my dark and tainted soul. The pain was hardly imaginable, and something I care not to put into words. I broke through the pain, like crashing through a wave; I was gasping, weak and wretched. I realized my past transgressions and my sins as sovereign of the Empire. I was pitiful. Worst of all, I doomed my mother to death, destroyed her entire being, imprisoned my sister, and brought pain and slavery to my people. I was no longer fit to rule; I should be tortured, death too kind a punishment, for the rest of my life for the sins I placed on my nation and family. After all of that, I still had my mother's Alicorn magic within me, a power and responsibility I did not deserve. I looked up at the Crystal Palace, not from the outskirts of the city, but from the foot of its crystal arches. Held at spear point and surrounded by guards. My sister, no, the Crystal Princess, looked down at me, both with pity and anger, and a hint of hope. I rose to my hooves, the guards wary of every move I made. I looked upon the Princess, tears freshly staining my muzzle. “Your Highness,” I spoke as formally as I could manage through raspy breaths, “I accept any, and all, forms of punishment you and your people choose to bestow upon me. For my crimes to you and yours warrant the highest treason. I shall not list the many deeds, for surely your subjects remember every single one of them, foremost, the forceful possession of your mother's, Her Grace's, Alicorn magic.” The Princess held her breath a moment, and then asked me, “What is your name, stallion?” I looked down, closing my eyes for but a moment. Lifting my chin, and meeting her gaze, I replied, “My name is Somber Rule, formerly known as the dark King Sombra. Spare me not in any semantics, for both names, and all crimes under them, belong to me, and me alone.” Her smile reminded me much of Mother's, sad and pitying. After a moments silence, she conferred with both the white stallion at her side, and the six mares who had appeared not two days ago. I thought of appropriate punishments, like exile out into the Frozen North or the Great Beyond, places where I would survive, but constantly be in pain and suffering, or tortured for life in prison. However, I had not expected the decision exacted on me. “Somber Rule, from hence on, you shall take the punishment of Community Service, whereupon you will be required to advise me in my decisions as sovereign of this Crystal Empire, and send in rehabilitation reports to the Equestrian Princess known as Luna. Every Tuesday for until however long it takes, you will reside with one family within the Crystal Empire and reconcile with each and every citizen of this, your former nation. You must also, never again, touch, or study Dark Magic.” Of course I protested, my crimes warranted the most severe of punishments, and yet, I was released with a small slap on the fetlock. My sister was far too kind. Unfortunately, no amount of protest on my part could convince her to make a harsher punishment. Later that evening, after the large amount of partying that a strange pink earth pony with far too much energy had somehow put together last minute. I do not care to find where she stashes such a strange and large weapon. Of course I had stayed close to one of the walls, refusing to join in any of the celebrations. After all, I had other things on my mind: my punishment, my sins, my mother. I must have been on the verge of crying again, for my sister had sidled up next to me, strangely enough with that purple unicorn mare from earlier. My sister reached her hooves around, just like my mother had done, so many centuries ago, and held me to her chest. I briefly, off-hoovedly, noticed a change of our surroundings, and my sister whispering a silent “thank you”. I cried hard like the foal I once was, no longer caring who saw. I cried out my sorrows, my apologies, and my regrets; and most of all, I cried for my mother and my father. After a time, I had finally settled, my throat raw, and my muzzle wet with tears. My sister told me of our mother's final moments. Cadence said that Mother regretted nothing, even as she allowed me to take her magic; even going so far as saying that it was a lesson I needed to learn on my own. She also said that Mother still loved me, despite all I had done to her and her nation, and had mourned for my exile and loss. Mother had made Cadence promise to take care of me, because she had known that, before all my corruption, my intentions were meant to be good, both in thought and nature. After a time, I realized we were indeed not alone. The six mares, the dragon, and the white stallion, who seemed to be intimate with my sister, were all standing nearby. When each in turn hugged me, much to my surprise, I inquired about my sister and that stallion's relationship. They both blushed at that point, and Cadence coughed out that they were, very much so, married. Slowly, one by one, the mares filed out of the room, to rejoin the party. As had the stallion, Shining Shield or Sparkling Armor, or something. Do not seek to blame me, she is still my sister, and even in my corruption I was very protective of her. However, the purple unicorn mare remained, along with my sister. I told them to go join the party, that I would be better off alone, however they both remained. Now that I had a better look the unicorn mare, Twilight Sparkle, coincidentally the younger sister of my sister's husband, she had a certain beauty to her as well. However, it is not her beauty that caught my eye, rather there was something beneath the surface, something deep within her magic and soul that led me to believe that this mare had a greater destiny to attend, greater than having a hoof in my defeat. A power that was growing most similarly in nature to an Alicorn's power. I briefly noticed a twinkle in my sister's eye, hoping she was not getting the wrong idea at the present situation. The mare must have also been unnerved by my unseeing gaze in her direction, for she fidgeted quite visibly. Although I was sure I could take the white stallion on in terms of strength and magic, I did not want, nor need, that sort of confrontation, especially over a misunderstanding. I quickly apologized for the excessive awkwardness that grew between the two of us, my sister less so, as she had been sneaking slowly towards the door, much to my dismay. I spoke my mind freely, the mare needed to be warn, firstly, of the dangers of dark magic and its influence, if this was indeed the mare who retrieved the Heart from its spot. Secondly, I briefly told her of a greater destiny beyond these past events, cryptically. After all, anypony would be scared about a large underlying destiny, and there was no need to over-stress the mare. I bid the mare good night, deciding to instead retire to a guest room in the Royal Wing. The castle, sensibly, has not changed in my thousand year absence, which also means then, that my room is filled to the brim with dark artifacts. Avoiding that temptation altogether, the guest bedroom was my only choice. The guest bedroom isn't small by any standard, after all, it is meant to house guests of royalty, like foreign dignitaries and what not. A few couches, here and there, a large queen-sized canopy bed with drapes to shut out the light if need be, and even a small bar, with most alcoholic beverages to accommodate any liking to the stuff. I was never really fond much of alcohol, I had a nation to run. Although, I did enjoy a glass of whiskey or scotch from time-to-time. There was also a balcony that overlooked the city below. I stood at the doorway, debating about going to bed or to view the night sky. I knew I would be unable to sleep, so I moved toward the balcony. The night sky was not so bright as it could have been, but it was still beautiful. The aurora lights that came from the Crystal Heart's activation traveled across the sky in all directions, like threads twining and intertwining around and through each different color. The stars were dim specks compared to the Heart's aurora, constellations barely visible. The lamp light and street light along the ground could have just as easily been mistaken for the stars themselves in an upside-down world. Ponies still traversed up and down the streets, fully enjoying the Fair. In the past, when Mother held the Crystal Fair, it was a full week event. Tourists would come from all surrounding countries just to watch the Heart alight with the joy and peace in the Crystal ponies' hearts. For me, the sight was more inspiring and joyous, in that, despite my rule, these ponies could still feel joy, and the foals could still run down the streets so full of energy and happiness. As though those dark times never existed. I briefly recalled my sister saying something about a spell of amnesia that fell over the Crystal ponies. Nopony wants to remember King Sombra's reign, especially myself. But that, too, shall be my punishment to bear. Looking out beyond the horizon, I realized I had much to learn as well. Being sealed in the ice caverns in the Frozen North gave me no views of the outside world, especially because I was so far North of any other major pony populations. Were the Germane-ics still a gaggle of tribes fighting for territories and boundaries? Was Transylmania still as dark and dank, with its rumors of vamponies, as it had been? Did Amareca become a better established colony of Equestria? Did Neighpon ever open its borders for trade? Did the Griffons ever unite under one kingdom? Or the dragons for that matter? Will my definition of politics have changed greatly over the past millennium? What new countries, colonies, and cities exist now? What should I have expected? I was a foal in a new world, how much help could I give my sister, if the world has indeed changed so much? Thank you listener, for reading my story. As you may not see me often, I help my sister in whatever ways I can. Although, I am most often absent from court, it is only due to my long study sessions on the world today. I had sent a formal apology to both the Equestrian princesses, and I continue to send Princess Luna my rehabilitation reports. It is comforting to know I have a friend in Luna, since her experience as the dreaded Nightmare Moon, not that I ever knew of her, is very similar to my experiences as King Sombra. I also regret that Princess Luna had to experience such a distasteful thing. I have also become quite familiar with the Crystal ponies. The degrees of their amnesia depend slightly on the individual. I have met many who do not remember King Sombra's reign entirely, and others who remember all of his reign. I have been insulted, beaten, reconciled with, and forgiven, even hit on, to which I vehemently refused all advances. I know most of these ponies by name, although, it may take me a moment to remember them. I have done everything in my power to recompense what I took from these ponies, and I know that everything will be near impossible to do. But I do what I can. My name is Somber Rule, and this was my story.
The Dark DescensionGood Evening, my name is Somber Rule, and this? This is my story. Nearly 1100 years ago, I was borne to my mother, the Crystal Empress, Verglas Canon, and her consort, my father, Dimonde Passion, a regular Unicorn foal. To my mother, who was an alicorn, like the Princesses in Equestria, and to my father, who was a Crystal pony, the race my mother was sovereign over. My fur was of the lightest gray, and my mane and tail, deep, dark chestnut. My eyes were a dark shade of burnt umber. As my name implies, I was meant to rule, and was developed as such. I did everything I could to become what my mother wanted me to be. But I could tell at an early age, my mother was disappointed about my race. Don't get me wrong, she loved me with all her heart, as she had my father. However, for her, who is endless, meant she had to take her reign back eventually. Aside from my studies in ruling a country, I also took a strong interest in magic. Especially in anything to extend my life and my rule, to decrease the tension and stress on my mother. I began my rule under my mother's guidance at the age of 20. By that time I had become well versed and respectable in my magical studies, as well as, respectable as next-in-line to rule. As anypony would expect, I met my mother's expectations at every turn, every test, every challenge set before me, except becoming eternal like her. At the age 33, my studies turned up nothing in my search for immortality, I turned to dark magic. Both my mother, and my father warned me greatly against its use. My father understood my plight, and held a great sadness for my mother's burden, had allowed me to continue, under the strictest of guidance. And even then, I only did so when I had the time. Contrary to popular belief, my change began to develop slowly; mine was not a sudden transformation. At the age of 45, 1055 years ago, under my rule, and my mother as adviser to the throne, my mother grew pregnant again to my father. As you can imagine, just under a year later, my younger sister was born; an alicorn filly. At first, I was overjoyed that my mother would not have to spend eternity alone, and I adored having a little sister to spoil, especially after four years later, our father died, at the age of 175. I would like to make a side note here: Crystal ponies have a unique anatomical structure, most comparable to the Earth ponies in Equestria. However, whereas Earth ponies' innate magic allows them to partially control the soil and plants along the ground, and even exhibit strong musculature for working the land; Crystal ponies exhibit properties reminiscent of the beautiful stones the Unicorns mined from the ground. Our skin was innately more resilient to the environmental conditions around them. They can also manipulate any substance that exhibits crystalline structures, most gems and stones, even water, after it freezes into snow. That is how the Crystal City was built after all. Also, due to the Crystal pony's resilient nature, they are blessed with a comparatively long life span to other races of ponies. And by Crystal pony standards, my – our – father died young. My mother mourned for a full 6 months after. But she had her kingdom and her children to care for. I mourned as well, after all, my father was my support in my magical endeavors. And unfortunately, aside from a kingdom to rule, my studies in dark magic took a turn for the worse. My father, during my studies, acted as my moral compass, and suppressor. I saw how my mother had grieved, and was overwhelmed by a deep pity for her. And then I found it. A dark spell that would transfer an Alicorn's magic into another. A spell I had learned by studying a little piece of jewelry set with a blood-red stone. A legend surrounding the necklace had posited my mother, long ago, had transferred the magic of an evil Alicorn into the amulet, to put an end to his evil plots. I did not wear the amulet myself, however, had studied cases of others who had worn the accessory; I was not about to go against my father's warnings. With my resources in hand, I asked my mother about the fated alicorn. When her expression turned dark, I knew the story had a terrible hidden account. A story for another time, perhaps. Her expression turned darker still when I had asked if she could teach me such a spell. And then I gave her my reasoning: that should she wish it, she could transfer her magic to me, and her life, should she choose, could end, to be with Father. Her expression lightened little. She was grateful for my concern, but had told me that I was not meant to bear the burden of eternity. I realize now, that without Father as my support, I did not have the empathy and understanding in me to recognize that she was trying to protect me. Instead, I was furious. Here I was, offering her a chance to discontinue her long life accumulating losses, and she refused! Only now do I see that with the cleansing by the Crystal Heart, and by extension my little sister, Mi Amore Cadenza, that I made a terrible and regretful mistake; how I miss she and Father, so. Anyhow, continuing the story, in my fury, I sought out the spell through my own means, and my appearance grew darker and more sinister. My appearance in court steadily lessened, under the guise that my sister needed to learn the ways of throne, as I once had; after all, Cadenza was nearing the age of 30, and I was bound my mortal law to die at some point. In my 75th year, 1025 years ago, I had found my mother's secret journal. Within it, the journal contained my greatest desires: spells and magic forbidden me because of my inferior race, as well as, the one spell that could help my mother and myself. Within my calculations, I would not come under any evil influence because my mother was a good and just alicorn, perhaps fairer and wiser than the great Princess Celestia. In the year after, I began my plot to take my mother's magic from her, for her own good, of course. I had dismissed all of our guards for break, Cadence off in Everfree visiting the Equestrian Princesses, and confronted my mother. She was in her bedchambers, holding a portrait of Father in her hooves, talking to what I would like to assume to be his spirit. She was chiding him, a mistake to teach me dark magic, that I could not handle the amount of willpower to overcome such an undertaking. I told her I was doing all this for her, that she need not worry any long. She simply smiled sadly, as tears poured down her muzzle. It almost broke my heart to see her under distress, but my resolve hardened. I drew the magic necessary for the spell work in. And with the proper runes in mind, and double checking my work, I fired my spell at her. She did not attempt to defend herself, she herself no longer denied that this needed to happen. The power, the energy I felt as I absorbed all her magic was both terrible and exhilarating! But as I felt the energy burn through me, the magic was also corrupting. As I had found, Alicorn magic, in and of itself, is a corrupting influence. I, who was already under the influence of Dark Magic, could not take on the Alicorn magic my mother controlled. My transformation was complete however, my horn had grown into a red, curved spear, my fur tainted to a dark gray, my mane grew wild and darker like dancing shadows, and my cutie mark was no long the gem in-laid crown I had known since I was a colt, but instead a darker version of the Crystal Heart. And since I took the magic forcefully, could not transfer the magic back without dangerous consequences to both myself, and my mother. My mother. When I had looked down at her, she had shrunk slightly, her fur had lost its beautiful luster, her mane lay limp and frayed. Worst of all, her Cutie Mark had vanished. At that point, if I had not been corrupted, I might have felt remorse and guilt for what I had done to her; what greater pain could there be than to lose one's magic, the very thing that makes you who you are? Despite herself, and what looked to be in great pain, she stood on four legs, reached her hooves around me, and held me tightly to herself, weeping. My rule after that point, gradually became more tyrannical. When my sister returned from her visit, she was very vocal against the changes, even though I was overjoyed to be able to watch her grow older and rule with her, as siblings, throughout eternity. When she found Mother, she was angry. I did not stop her as she sent Mother off to Equestria, nor did I stop her when she sent warning to Equestria's Princesses. Certainly I was not pleased, but she did not stop me from ruling over the Crystal Empire. When I saw that the Empire flourish under my iron rule, I sought to expand. With my further research into crystals and magic, I found I could ingrain information into the structure of the crystals themselves. I had, also, found an avenue to inhibit a unicorn's or an alicorn's magic by infecting their horns with the dark crystals. Furthermore, as long as the ponies remained within the shadows of the darker crystals I created, dominate their minds through fear and despair. With Dark Magic as my inspiration, I had found a way to corrupt the crystals into darker formations to bring the ponies of the Crystal empire further under my dominion. And thus was my tyranny over the Crystal Empire. My dear sister saw that I had turned all of the Empire into my slaves and my army, mining my dark crystals and expanding my territories. She sought to steal away the Crystal Heart and banish me from my own castle city. In the middle of her treachery, however, I caught her red-hooved. I did not harm my sister, for I am dignified still and the magic could not corrupt that, however, I did imprison her, and hide the artifact away. For, even throughout all of my studies on how to corrupt crystals, I could not corrupt the Crystal Heart. So until I could learn how to corrupt the Heart, I kept it hidden and protected by my dark spells and traps. Nopony would be able to find it without the use of dark magic or myself knowing about it. From then on, I was no longer Prince Somber Rule, but instead, King Sombra! On the very eve of my 80th birthday, 1020 years, Princess Luna sought to appeal to my good graces, to end my injustice and free my slaves. And although I was mesmerized by her beauty, I sought to control her as well, and send her as an acolyte for my cause to Equestria. When I could not control her, I courted her, wooed her with all my might, to which she refused. During her stay in the Crystal Empire, to which I made plenty sure she was comfortable, Princess Luna discovered of my sister's imprisonment, and grew angry with me. Eager to settle her fury, I released my sister to her; a grave mistake on my part, that was. With my sister in her custody, Princess Luna returned to Equestria, warning me that if I did not halt my expansion and tyranny, she would have no choice but to stop me. I had wished to visit my sister, Mother, and Princess Luna, in the city of Everfree, however, my paranoia did not let me. After all, if I was not here to control the slaves, surely my rule and empire would fall. One thousand fifteen years ago, in my 85th year, the Equestrian Princesses, both, showed up on my doorstep. Through the five years until that point, they had sent me many warnings, even meeting my armies with their own, halting my expansion. They gave me one last chance to surrender myself. I declined vehemently, demanding instead they kneel before me. Although only Luna had had my attentions, her elder sister was not too hard on the eyes either. Of course they refused me, and took out their weapons, the Elements of Harmony. The Elements of Harmony, said to have been the fruit of the Tree of Harmony, and to contain the very magics of creation in themselves. It is true I had heard that the Tree existed, and that these Elements had been used to defeat the great Chaotic Lord, Discord some 500 years earlier before my birth. But I had my own weapons: my dark magic, the Crystal Heart, and the Alicorn Amulet. The battle was great, terrible, and long. In the end, I could not use the Crystal Heart, instead keeping it hidden in the center of a spell of my own design. A drawback to my dominion crystals was that if somepony with a greater will than my own took control of the crystals, I, too, could fall under their control. Under that concept and my own undoing, I was forced to take off the Alicorn Amulet. As the Princesses sought to cleanse me of my dark power, I unleashed the hex I placed in the Crystal Heart itself, seeking to take the Princesses with me. I banished myself and the castle city of the Empire into another plane, where I could wrest back control of my crystals and my magic. However, I had underestimated the power of the Elements. While my Crystal Empire was sent to the next plane, I was banished, not cleansed, deep into the ice caves to the west of my great city and sealed there, until a time that I could break free. In confinement I schemed, I would gather my strength until the time when my Crystal Empire returns to this plane. And so, I waited, years, decades, centuries, little more than a full millennium. Nearly 1000 years exile of maddening solitude in the cold caves of the Frozen North.
