Sombra's Return: A Looming Storm Within A Hornby LoneUnicornWriterChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 1Chapter One Months after vanquishing Sombra from reclaiming the throne with the help of Spike, Cadence, Twilight and her friends, Shining Armor has not been feeling himself. Nightmares have been haunting him ever since that time... At first, it seemed to him as something he could have shrugged off, but it kept on pressuring him to do things that only someone as terrible as the shadow or Queen Chrysalis would do. He would lose night sleep just to help keep him away from doing such selfish deeds. He would at times consider the help from his dear little sister, but he thought disturbing her from royal duties to help him with something he could handle as little problem would show her that he isn’t as brave she thought he was, or so he thought. It would keep returning night after night to have him do what it wants. It was a voice that wouldn’t leave him be. ~~~~~~~ Shining Armor came to his bed after a long day of performing his duties as prince of the empire. He said good night to Cadence as he usually told his beloved wife every night, closed his eyes, and went away into a deep sleep. Everything became dark. The darkness began spiraling around Shining Armor. He didn't know what was taking place. After some time, he found himself standing alone in a dull light surrounded by a void of darkness that stretched out for miles all around him. He looked around, but there was nothing to be seen. Shining Armor, who saw nothing take place, stayed on the alert for anything that might occur. He felt strange. Rarely was he ever able to have control in a dream and to this much freedom. Like his other dreams, he was expecting for all of the events to flow by and have it end with him waking up, but that was not the case neither was it the only thing that felt strange to him. Shining Armor was curious to know what was out there in the darkness. He couldn't see what it was, but he knew something other than himself was there. He took his first step out from the dull light, and the darkness wrapped around his hoof like a vice grip and tried to pull him away from it. Shining Armor quickly pulled back his hoof before the darkness had the moment to slip him away into the darkness. What was that? Shining Armor pondered looking at the darkness that hissed away at him. At certain times, it would make horse noises. Shining Armor quickly asked, "What are you?" His voice had stretched out for miles, and there was no response. The air remained silent for quite some time before a deep voice was heard. My young stallion. Have you ever thought of being an emperor over a much larger empire? "..What? Why?” Why rule such a small empire when you can expand it? And stretch your rule to all of Equestria? The darkness had created a spiral of light in front of Shining Armor and showed him a vision. If you stretched your rule to all the corners of Equestria, you and wife would be praised more and even more power would be bestowed unto you. “I-I don’t need to. What we have is good enough,” Shining Armor responded looking away from the images that were being shown to him. Are you certain you are? You were Captain of the Royal Guard, were you not? Think of how much better you would be remembered throughout the ages if you were to expand it. More soldiers to look up to you, right? Shining Armor thought about it for a moment. He looked back at the vision that showed him standing nobly on a hill above a great legion of soldiers that called out his name. He started giving himself more to the thought. Yeah… that would be in-, he shook his head and glared at the image, “No, what I have is good enough. Stop with the questions and show yourself.” The vision of light dissipated into the darkness which was followed by a moment of silence. After some time, voice began to laugh. The darkness began to form two green spheres of light. Red blood expanded into irises from out the centre of both spheres, and a purple flaring mist would emanate from them. The eyes focused down at Shining Armor, Here I am, young colt. I’ve been within you for a few months. I give you suggestions on how you can lead a rule a much better empire and you refuse to take my advice? “I don’t take selfish advice from an unknown source.” Selfish advice? I’ve ruled an empire for more than a thousand years before the likes of you and your friends came and ruined my reign as emperor you foolish colt. You have not the slightest idea on what it means to rule. “What?” Shining Armor responded. He began shivering, He has ruled for over a thousand..years? Who could he be? A shadowy mass began forming from out of the darkness. It took the shape of what Shining Armor had not ever dreamed of expecting for a long time. Something nopony would not have been ready for. From out of the dark formation, a red horn came into view. Then the teeth with its two sharp fangs which formed an evil grin and red sinister irises also came into Shining Armor’s view. “S-Sombra?,” he gasped. For a moment, his lips were frozen and his body remained still by the appearance of a true nightmare. He wasn’t sure if he was sick or if the nightmares he was experiencing were only becoming worse. He then asked, “But how is that even possible? W-We destroyed you.” “Oh Shining Armor, who did you really think it was? Did you think I would come from a thousand years of being trapped within the icy depths of the Frozen North only to die so easily by the trickery of some baby dragon? “No, of course not. Back when you had confronted me like a brave stupid stallion, I not only stopped you from using your magic, but I have stored within you a piece of me." "Wait, what are you saying? That you are now me?" Shining Armor had his eyes focused on him like a hawk. He only wished that all of what was happening then was only just a bad dream, but the confidence in Sombra’s voice told him that it was more than just some nightmare. "Well, not quite,” he responded. “You see young colt, I only placed part of my essence within you. The reason I did it was in case that some nonsense were to happen like where that little dragon somehow managed to get the Crystal Heart before I got to reclaiming the throne I would be able to have another chance at continuing my reign as King of the Crystal Empire. Ever since then, I hid away in the depths of your heart and weakened your inner strength by creating nightmares within most of your dreams. "However, I’ve gotten quite bored with hiding. It was never really much of a thing with me anyways. All I needed was the time to regain enough strength, so that I could go and reclaim what you took away from me and tainted all over with your filthy hooves. And now, I only come to finish you," black bolts of dark energy crackled around Sombra’s horn, and he summoned a black scythe. Shining Armor began to ponder about the nightmares he had prior to this one. Each one was of him being overpowered and then killed each in a different way. He also was able to make the connections with each of the threats eyes having the same resemblance to Sombra’s. "So..each time I've been slain in those dreams was a part of me you were..destroying?" Shining Armor's body began to shiver. "Yes young colt, you understand well. I did it all for the sake of controlling you and finishing my great agenda," Sombra said as he smiled showing a bit of his sharp teeth. "W-What agenda?" Shining Armor stuttered trying to keep himself together. "Hmhmhm, well the agenda that most villains desire, to take over all of Equestria the only difference being I won’t fail at it this time around. Once I reclaim the throne of this empire, I will take care of the royal sisters myself crushing them under my hooves and rule over Canterlot and Ponyville which now has its own castle. They will all be mine forever," Sombra said. "There's no way you'll be able to succeed at that plan Sombra. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight and her friends will put an end to you. And I myself will certainly not let you start this evil," Shining Armor kept his eyes moving between the scythe and Sombra. "You could you do nothing to stop me, colt. If you become a fool and attack me, you will lose all that you love. Would you really throw away your life so foolishly?" Sombra used his dark magic and formed a dark square cloud in front of him. The dark cloud showed him a vision of his wife, Celestia, Luna, and all the important ponies in his life being slain in such monstrous ways. Shining Armor couldn't believe even a second of what the vision presented before him. He closed his eyes from seeing the horror. He then put his hooves to his ears, coming down on his knees to stop the screams of pain he was hearing, "Stop it. Just stop. Please." "So it seems we've reached an agreement. If you don't let me have control over you, they will all die a similar death to what you've seen. However, " Sombra made his scythe disappear, "if you let me have control, I'll try my best to keep them alive." He walked up to Shining Armor, "Oh, and of course I will make sure your wife remains in the best of care." Shining Armor lowered his head. He was unsure of whether or not to choose. He remained undecided and frustrated. He watched down at the darkness that began pulling him slowly down into it. Sombra had on an evil grin as he watched him slowly come down into his grasp. He has waited very long for this moment. The moment where he can finally have a chance of regaining everything he has lost. He wanted to cherish every moment that went by before the actual birth of his great redemption from an unforeseen failure in his first return. ...Do I let him take me? ..What would my wife or my sister think of me? Shining Armor thought away at these two questions as sunk deeper and deeper into the darkness. Then suddenly a wave of anger washed over Shining Armor, and he, without warning, punched Sombra square in the muzzle. He stumbled backwards onto the ground, and Shining Armor step out from the sinking ground and glared at him with heated anger. “As long as I live, I will not allow evil to just have its way with the ruling of Crystal Empire. My wife and I are the guardians of this empire, and I will protect it from evil to my dying breath as prince. You’re just a ruthless tyrant that doesn’t deserve to hold any place within the land of Equestria. So if you think I’m going to just let you have your way with me then you are highly mistaken, Sombra,” he said boldly breathing in and out deeply. Sombra slowly rose up from the ground to his hooves. He looked at a spot of his blood on the ground as he licked away at the spot of his missing fanged tooth. He then glared straight into Shining Armor’s soul. Shining Armor took a step back. He was not familiar with the feeling he was getting from Sombra’s glare, but one thing that was certain was that he was really afraid. “How dare you damage the image of the great king! I ought to kill you for this level of abomination, you foolish colt!” “Silence, you disgrace to all of pony existence!” Shining Armor charged at Sombra. He went for a punch, but the attack had went through Sombra’s head having no effect like a ghost. What? But how? Shining thought. Sombra went through him and solidified besides him. Shining Armor turned only two have had the steel ends of Sombra’s hooves meet his muzzle. He was propelled backwards by the attack and landed on his side. He tried to move, but the pain that was felt around his body were like set of iron nails hammered into him. “Come now young colt, did you really think you have the control over everything here?” Sombra started on his way to him. “Did you think that you could handle me, the great shadow, the mighty King of the empire you and foolish allies took from me? Do you have the slightest idea of who you’re even challenging?” Sombra stop right over Shining Armor who spat out some blood. He lowered his face just a few inches from Shining’s bruised face. “I. Am. Lord,” he placed down his hoof on Shining’s neck. “You should be kissing my hooves for even keeping you alive, you ungrateful colt,” Sombra growled. Shining Armor struggled to open his eyes, but he managed to open them enough to catch of King Sombra’s face. “You know.. what?” he spat out some blood onto his muzzle, and Sombra turned his face away and wiped the blood away with his hoof. “Buck you.. and your very existence.” “Says the foolish one. You’re now in my control young colt. And when I’m done with doing what I have to do, I will kill you myself,” Sombra raised his hoof and punched him down into the depths of the darkness which then swallowed him up. He turned away and walked towards the dull light. “Now it is time to start building and paving the way for my great return.” Sombra kept his evil smile and took a step into the light. The dark energy that he had was going against the aura of light that he was in. With each moment, the dull light became weaker and weaker until there was nothing but the darkness left inside of the aura. The aura had increased in its mass, and the whole are turned into a great spiral with Sombra’s essence being the centre of it. "Finally. Now the time is right for me take back what was mine and get what is to be mine," Sombra's body dispersed into a shadow merging himself with the dark aura and taking full control over Shining Armor’s body. Chapter 2Chapter Two Sombra opened his eyes to the royal bedroom. Cadence slept sound right at his side. Now to begin phase one of my great return. Nothing in all of Equestria will be able to stop me again. Sombra being the new host of Shining Armor’s body, got off of the bed and moved towards the door. He looked back at Cadence who was still in the bed still sleeping away in her little dreams. Sombra turned away from her; then dispersed into a shadow and slipped through the space in the closed door. Sombra walked down the first hall leading to the throne room. Two guards stood facing each other at the end of the hall. Once he got in between them, he stopped and looked at both the guards with a kind smile. “You guards make me proud knowing that you both are doing a great job guarding this area of the castle.” “Yes, sir. We give our best loyal services to protecting our rulers,” one soldier responded. The other simply nodded in agreement. “Very well. Very well,” 'Sombra' turned to the ground as the soldiers eyed each other. They showed concern with the sudden change in his voice. He sounded like a completely different stallion. “...Umm, sir?” One guard spoke. Sombra watched as the dark sludge slowly made its way to the hooves of both the soldiers. “Yes?” he responded looking up from the ground. “You don’t sound..like you,” one guard spoke. “Are you alright?” said the other. “Oh I’m fine,” Sombra turned his face to one guard, “but soon you won’t be.” “W-What do you mean?” the guard said. Before he could say another word, he looked down at his hooves and watched as the dark sludge was slowly making its way up his body. The guards quickly looked back into the eyes of what they thought was Shining Armor. The guards were in terror as the dark sludge had made its way to their mouths. The last moments of light they had seen was the sight of Shining’s Armor eyes emanating a light blue mist. “Shhh... just let it all in,” Sombra said, taking in a nice breath and exhaling with ease. “That’s right my warriors. Breathe.” The guards fell to the floor as the darkness began morphing them. They struggled as best they could to fight it, but it was no use. The darkness once inside them had broke down both their strength and will. When they had no energy left, the darkness completed its task by converting them over into soldiers of darkness, loyal only to the orders of King Sombra. Both guards began growling away like wild animals. Sombra was pleased to see them both acting as noble as his previous Dark Guards. “Welcome back, my precious crystals.” Sombra said as he devilishly grinned at them both. The guards stood up straight, “All hail, Lord Sombra.” They said in a lifeless tone. “Now I want you both to get me more soldiers of this castle. I want to expand my legion, and it isn’t going to happen with just having you two now is it.” “You’re wish is our command, my lord.” Both of the guards galloped down the halls spreading their darkness over the other crystal guards turning them into soldiers for Sombra’s mighty legion. He smiled and walked around the corner to the second hall as he heard the yells of other crystal guards being morphed into his Knights of The Darkness. There’s not a better sound than the sounds of victory and redemption, Sombra thought as he looked as the guards rose up from the floor growling and foaming with The Darkness. They all stood at attention as he walked down the second and made a right turn onto the third hall leading to the throne room. He looked up and down the third hall only to find that his Darkness had found its way into every guard in the castle. He kept his smile as he slowly walked down the hall, I must’ve forgotten how fast they could spread my spell. Now all I need to do is get to the throne room. Sombra was nearing the end of the hall when he saw one of his soldiers propel backwards into a wall. His smiled faded away as he turned onto the final hall. He watched at a yellow pegasus stallion stallion holding one of his loyal soldiers in a headlock. The rest of the legion began growling as they stood in pack behind their great leader. Sombra then raised his hoof and all the growls went silent. He looked calmly into the eyes of the stallion, “Have you come against the ruler of this place as well?” “My loyalty lies only to the royal rulers of this castle,” the stallion said as he slammed the morphed guard onto the ground. He looked into the sinister eyes of what he thought to be Shining Armor. “But I am one of them,” Sombra replied with smile. “No, no you’re not,” the yellow stallion stepped back nodding his head from side to side, “you can’t be.” “Yes I am young colt. I was ruler of this empire hundreds of years before you were even born,” Sombra had an evil grin stretched out to both sides of his face. The growling of his soldiers came alive again, and the yellow stallion also heard it from behind. The stallion turned and watched as a battalion of guards lined up and pointed their spears straight him. “I’m just simply taking back what was mine from the start. Finish him,” Sombra ordered his guards as he continued on down to the middle of the hallway. The stallion was held up by the guards. He tried his best to break free, but the guards had more strength than he could ever have mustered up in that moment to break free. “When the princesses know of what you’ve done, you’ll be sorry!” He yelled to Sombra. “Oh no young colt. None of them will. And when they do, it will be too late,” Sombra laughed on while he opened the doors to the throne room. When he entered the room, he watched up at the ceiling and then down to the walls on all sides. His attention then came down to the purple crystal above the throne and then the thoughts started coming to his mind. “Yes, I remember how it used to look all too well. However, it will need a few changes just to have a new look.” His teeth began showing through his smile, “Yes, it has been so long since I’ve been here. So long since I’ve felt the inside of my own home.” He passed his hoof along the red carpet, “It’s good to be back.” A dark green aura came around his horn, and he zapped the giant purple crystal over the throne which had the opened up the passageway in the middle of the room. He walked all the way down the spiraling staircase to the dark enchanted door. Every step he took reminded him of how long it took for him to travel down when not using his powers. He turned and looked over the edge. Looking down at what seemed like a flight of stairs which lead into a bottomless pit. Sombra walked over to the edge and thought. If I take the steps all the way down, the night will be over and my mission will be truly lost forever. He jumped off the edge of the stairs and morphed into a shapeless shadow. The shadow crashed onto the grounds below, and Sombra formed back into Shining Armor’s body. It took a few minutes to come back whole as he wasn’t in his own body which was used to the morphing process. Cannot wait to regain my own body back. But one step at a time. Sombra shifted his gaze over to the door and walked towards it. His horn glowed dark blue as he used his magic to hold the grip of the door handle; just as he was about to pull it open the door quickly moved along the wall behind him. What nonsense is the door playing with me now? I have my plans to take care off, he turned around and looked at the door....Is this some trick that the royals created to stop me from entering? The memory suddenly came to his mind about the door, “...now I remember how to open it. Being outside from ones home is quite dangerous, I couldn’t even remember my own trap.” The light blue mist around Sombra’s eyes had expanded in length and size as dark green bolts began sparking around the horn. He fired his magic at the crystal on top the door, and it had opened to him. The light was extremely bright and caused him to put a hoof in front of his eyes. Sombra, not wanting to waste any more time, pushed onward into the light. The more steps he took, the more brighter it became. It then came to a point where the light had faded, and Sombra was able to see his forelegs. He drop his hoof and began looking around to what was only the color white stretching out for my miles. He turned around and looked up at the castle which had a stairwell leading all the way up to a black door on top. “Yes, this was what the Princess and her little pet used to get to the top. But now, I will destroy every stair, so that no unicorn earth pony or pegasi can reach the Crystal Heart,” Sombra said as he started to run on up the stairs. Chapter 3Sombra traveled up the stairs with great speed, crushing every stair he had passed. He then reached the top area of the crystal tower, noticing the dark crystals used to trap the redeemer of the Crystal Heart. Sombra in his mind envisioned a time when he was able to look out at the green landscape and the few mountains that rose up beyond that. He had perfect imagery of this place a thousand years ago. “I remember.” Sombra said as he walked up closer to the spot where the crystal had been placed. He slid his hoof along the dark crystals then quickly brought his hoof down onto them shattering the crystal’s into small pieces. He began thinking back and imagining a scenario with Spike running up the stairs and coming into the room, but he couldn't figure how he was able to get to it in such a short time. He began to believe the idea that Spike some how found a way to use magic, but then it all fell to pieces upon remembering that Dragon are not magical; therefore making it impossible for him to use magic. “I can't form a clear picture as to how this happened yet, but that failure will surely never happen again.” Sombra began “I will rule all of Equestria, and remain King for the rest of the ages, as the only equestrian being to have ruled all of Equis successfully. After I restore my body. “But first I must bring this entire empire to its knees,” The now shattered dark crystals began circling about him, and a dark miasma had filled the entire room. When the miasma cleared and left the small room it went down unto the Crystal Heart and grabbed it up along the castle into the room. With the love energy of the empire finally down and the source of it in Sombra's grasp, he looked down upon it and breathed out his dark breath which formed a dark aura around it entrapping it all from escaping. “Now to make sure that nothing fails beyond this point,” he looked back at the Crystal Heart and hissed. Sombra walked closer to it and spoke in a guttural dark tone. “Que tots els que entren en convertir-se en un gripau.” The words that he spoke magically embedded themselves into the ground. The floor in response had formed an upside down pentagon under the floating crystal which was then encased around the dark crystals. “Yes,” Sombra said a devilish smile creeping onto his face. “The base work is now complete. Now one more thing has to be done,” Sombra said as he stomped his hoof and darkness gushed out from the top of the room that ran outside and down all sides of the castle changing the design, as the remaining inhabitants of the castle were pulled into the darkness Sombra himself rose out of the darkness with a complete change of armor as did his loyal Dark Guards. They all had dark gray coats with dark crystal armor, silver manes and tails. All of their personalities were changed, and their cutie marks changed to the symbol bearing the face of the dark overlord, Sombra. Once the entire transformation of the empire was complete, he made his way out of the undercroft and reached his throne room. Walking over to his balcony he looked out at its vastness, and smiled. “Hmhmhm, this is the smell I remember. The smell of what I truly call, home.” He laughed up at the dark clouds that roared with thunder and lit up at moments with lightning. “Celestia, Luna, if you ever had the thought in your minds that I would be a memory within an old book or small tale then you both would be fools.” “You may have trapped me for a thousand years, but I will have my vengeance upon you two and all of Equestria. This land will know of my presence, stallions and mares will tremble at my hoofs, and all who get in my way will relinquish their lives to me.” Sombra, having delivered his speech… to no one turned into his mist form and went back into his throne room to begin his plans. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sombra appeared within the throne room, walking out from a mist darkness. He walked on over to his throne where he sat down comfortably upon it. Two guards opened the doors, and a single guard entered. Sombra watched as the guard took his bow and began to speak. "My Lord, we have the princess." "Bring her in," Sombra said, looking down at the guard as he sported a smirk. "Bring the princess in!" the guard said in a loud voice. Two guards entered the room growling. They slowly walked down the black carpet with Princess Cadence held in chains, stopping just before King Sombra. Cadence was in completely dismayed at what was happening. Up and chained in the middle of what was to be a normal night of rest turned into a dawn of darkness. Dirt patches, scratches, and a few bite marks on her legs from the tassel it took to get her in chains. She began to feel the cold air of darkness around her legs, causing her body to tremble. "S-Shining Armor? It's me, Cadence, your wife," she said shaking slightly "Oh no my dear, I am not your husband, but I am however the Crystal Empire's rightful ruler." Sombra responded with having on a sinister grin. Cadence looked into the eyes of her beloved husband, the mist seeping out from the edge of his eyes, his horn sparking up dark energy. It was then she had released that it wasn't Shining Armor hosting the body she saw before her eyes. "You? No… That can’t be true.” She said defiantly. "Yes, but it is true my dear," Sombra said rising up from his throne. He then walked down before Cadence and smiled. "Oh, don't be so sad. You will come to like me soon enough," He began to walk around and gaze up at the ceiling "All this before you is only the start. What you see is change my dear and when change is going on with its course it may look a little... Strange at first but when it is complete," He breathed in with a bit of excitement "It will be just beautiful." Cadence's body went into shock, looking down at the carpet tainted all over with the hooves of a nightmare. She wasn't sure if she was within a very terrible dream, or a hallucination. Either way all she wanted to do was wake up. Sombra walked away as Cadence had remained frozen in pace; in her own world. The guard who seemed to be the leader said to the lesser guards, "Take her down into the chambers, and" His smile turned sadistic. "Re-educate her on the paradigm of the new age. And don't come up from under there until she has been fully ‘educated’ on it." "Sir yes Sir." The guards responded, bowing their head to the ground. He tapped the carpet with his hoof and used magic to form an upside down pentagonal star mark. The mark had glowed, filling the room with a bright red. Soon Cadence and all the soldiers had disappeared from the room, and Sombra had looked back and smiled. Then exited the throne room. Yes, the moment I have been waiting for he thought, walking out to the balcony over looking the empire. He watched down at his guards breaking into the homes of the crystal inhabitants, ripping them away from their precious sleep, beating them, whipping and chaining each of their hooves with the same cold and harshness of memories gone pass. It was quite the uplifting thing for him to see. To witness his joy all over again, watching as his guards brung out his slaves to the space below the balcony. He saw the shock and horror in each of their eyes. They were too afraid to cry out for help. Their immediate hope had been stripped away from them and now was being used against them once more. Sombra smiled when he heard some of them crying out for the help of the other princesses, to come and save them in the time of great need for saving. They soon would learn no pony or otherwise would come to save them. This was what I wanted all along… To control. Everything. No pony will stand in the way this time, not even Celestia or Luna. This world will be under my hoof. This is the new age, and I will see to it that doesn't go any other way. Sombra spoke in a loud voice and began his speech. "Inhabitants of the beloved Crystal Empire. Do not cry out for your petty Princesses. For they will not step foot on my empire. Your leader has returned and is here to stay, forever. I, King Sombra, will follow through with the original plan I had already in motion, and that is to take over all four corners of Equestria and them all under my hoof to rule over forevermore. You, my precious slaves, will be working on the rebuilding of my new capital, that is all.” Sombra finished with a smile then turned to his guards. "Guards make them return to their homes. Destroy all of their resting places and dining areas. They won't be needing them. Hard work is what will be taking place from this day on. Every worker will return to the schedule I had before it was ruined by the royal sisters with only a few hours of rest and to eat, and all slackers will receive high punishments,"-Sombra raised his hoof up to the stars.-"The new age has began my minions. Rejoice, for your God has returned." The guards raised their right hoof to the heavens praising their leader saying, "All hail, Lord Sombra! All hail, Lord Sombra! All hail, Lord Sombra!" The guards had praised the name of their returned sovereign for the rest of that night. Sombra had made his return to openly known now throughout his reclaimed empire, silencing the royal rulers, and make his next move in bringing the entire land under his rule.
Chapter 1Chapter One Months after vanquishing Sombra from reclaiming the throne with the help of Spike, Cadence, Twilight and her friends, Shining Armor has not been feeling himself. Nightmares have been haunting him ever since that time... At first, it seemed to him as something he could have shrugged off, but it kept on pressuring him to do things that only someone as terrible as the shadow or Queen Chrysalis would do. He would lose night sleep just to help keep him away from doing such selfish deeds. He would at times consider the help from his dear little sister, but he thought disturbing her from royal duties to help him with something he could handle as little problem would show her that he isn’t as brave she thought he was, or so he thought. It would keep returning night after night to have him do what it wants. It was a voice that wouldn’t leave him be. ~~~~~~~ Shining Armor came to his bed after a long day of performing his duties as prince of the empire. He said good night to Cadence as he usually told his beloved wife every night, closed his eyes, and went away into a deep sleep. Everything became dark. The darkness began spiraling around Shining Armor. He didn't know what was taking place. After some time, he found himself standing alone in a dull light surrounded by a void of darkness that stretched out for miles all around him. He looked around, but there was nothing to be seen. Shining Armor, who saw nothing take place, stayed on the alert for anything that might occur. He felt strange. Rarely was he ever able to have control in a dream and to this much freedom. Like his other dreams, he was expecting for all of the events to flow by and have it end with him waking up, but that was not the case neither was it the only thing that felt strange to him. Shining Armor was curious to know what was out there in the darkness. He couldn't see what it was, but he knew something other than himself was there. He took his first step out from the dull light, and the darkness wrapped around his hoof like a vice grip and tried to pull him away from it. Shining Armor quickly pulled back his hoof before the darkness had the moment to slip him away into the darkness. What was that? Shining Armor pondered looking at the darkness that hissed away at him. At certain times, it would make horse noises. Shining Armor quickly asked, "What are you?" His voice had stretched out for miles, and there was no response. The air remained silent for quite some time before a deep voice was heard. My young stallion. Have you ever thought of being an emperor over a much larger empire? "..What? Why?” Why rule such a small empire when you can expand it? And stretch your rule to all of Equestria? The darkness had created a spiral of light in front of Shining Armor and showed him a vision. If you stretched your rule to all the corners of Equestria, you and wife would be praised more and even more power would be bestowed unto you. “I-I don’t need to. What we have is good enough,” Shining Armor responded looking away from the images that were being shown to him. Are you certain you are? You were Captain of the Royal Guard, were you not? Think of how much better you would be remembered throughout the ages if you were to expand it. More soldiers to look up to you, right? Shining Armor thought about it for a moment. He looked back at the vision that showed him standing nobly on a hill above a great legion of soldiers that called out his name. He started giving himself more to the thought. Yeah… that would be in-, he shook his head and glared at the image, “No, what I have is good enough. Stop with the questions and show yourself.” The vision of light dissipated into the darkness which was followed by a moment of silence. After some time, voice began to laugh. The darkness began to form two green spheres of light. Red blood expanded into irises from out the centre of both spheres, and a purple flaring mist would emanate from them. The eyes focused down at Shining Armor, Here I am, young colt. I’ve been within you for a few months. I give you suggestions on how you can lead a rule a much better empire and you refuse to take my advice? “I don’t take selfish advice from an unknown source.” Selfish advice? I’ve ruled an empire for more than a thousand years before the likes of you and your friends came and ruined my reign as emperor you foolish colt. You have not the slightest idea on what it means to rule. “What?” Shining Armor responded. He began shivering, He has ruled for over a thousand..years? Who could he be? A shadowy mass began forming from out of the darkness. It took the shape of what Shining Armor had not ever dreamed of expecting for a long time. Something nopony would not have been ready for. From out of the dark formation, a red horn came into view. Then the teeth with its two sharp fangs which formed an evil grin and red sinister irises also came into Shining Armor’s view. “S-Sombra?,” he gasped. For a moment, his lips were frozen and his body remained still by the appearance of a true nightmare. He wasn’t sure if he was sick or if the nightmares he was experiencing were only becoming worse. He then asked, “But how is that even possible? W-We destroyed you.” “Oh Shining Armor, who did you really think it was? Did you think I would come from a thousand years of being trapped within the icy depths of the Frozen North only to die so easily by the trickery of some baby dragon? “No, of course not. Back when you had confronted me like a brave stupid stallion, I not only stopped you from using your magic, but I have stored within you a piece of me." "Wait, what are you saying? That you are now me?" Shining Armor had his eyes focused on him like a hawk. He only wished that all of what was happening then was only just a bad dream, but the confidence in Sombra’s voice told him that it was more than just some nightmare. "Well, not quite,” he responded. “You see young colt, I only placed part of my essence within you. The reason I did it was in case that some nonsense were to happen like where that little dragon somehow managed to get the Crystal Heart before I got to reclaiming the throne I would be able to have another chance at continuing my reign as King of the Crystal Empire. Ever since then, I hid away in the depths of your heart and weakened your inner strength by creating nightmares within most of your dreams. "However, I’ve gotten quite bored with hiding. It was never really much of a thing with me anyways. All I needed was the time to regain enough strength, so that I could go and reclaim what you took away from me and tainted all over with your filthy hooves. And now, I only come to finish you," black bolts of dark energy crackled around Sombra’s horn, and he summoned a black scythe. Shining Armor began to ponder about the nightmares he had prior to this one. Each one was of him being overpowered and then killed each in a different way. He also was able to make the connections with each of the threats eyes having the same resemblance to Sombra’s. "So..each time I've been slain in those dreams was a part of me you were..destroying?" Shining Armor's body began to shiver. "Yes young colt, you understand well. I did it all for the sake of controlling you and finishing my great agenda," Sombra said as he smiled showing a bit of his sharp teeth. "W-What agenda?" Shining Armor stuttered trying to keep himself together. "Hmhmhm, well the agenda that most villains desire, to take over all of Equestria the only difference being I won’t fail at it this time around. Once I reclaim the throne of this empire, I will take care of the royal sisters myself crushing them under my hooves and rule over Canterlot and Ponyville which now has its own castle. They will all be mine forever," Sombra said. "There's no way you'll be able to succeed at that plan Sombra. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight and her friends will put an end to you. And I myself will certainly not let you start this evil," Shining Armor kept his eyes moving between the scythe and Sombra. "You could you do nothing to stop me, colt. If you become a fool and attack me, you will lose all that you love. Would you really throw away your life so foolishly?" Sombra used his dark magic and formed a dark square cloud in front of him. The dark cloud showed him a vision of his wife, Celestia, Luna, and all the important ponies in his life being slain in such monstrous ways. Shining Armor couldn't believe even a second of what the vision presented before him. He closed his eyes from seeing the horror. He then put his hooves to his ears, coming down on his knees to stop the screams of pain he was hearing, "Stop it. Just stop. Please." "So it seems we've reached an agreement. If you don't let me have control over you, they will all die a similar death to what you've seen. However, " Sombra made his scythe disappear, "if you let me have control, I'll try my best to keep them alive." He walked up to Shining Armor, "Oh, and of course I will make sure your wife remains in the best of care." Shining Armor lowered his head. He was unsure of whether or not to choose. He remained undecided and frustrated. He watched down at the darkness that began pulling him slowly down into it. Sombra had on an evil grin as he watched him slowly come down into his grasp. He has waited very long for this moment. The moment where he can finally have a chance of regaining everything he has lost. He wanted to cherish every moment that went by before the actual birth of his great redemption from an unforeseen failure in his first return. ...Do I let him take me? ..What would my wife or my sister think of me? Shining Armor thought away at these two questions as sunk deeper and deeper into the darkness. Then suddenly a wave of anger washed over Shining Armor, and he, without warning, punched Sombra square in the muzzle. He stumbled backwards onto the ground, and Shining Armor step out from the sinking ground and glared at him with heated anger. “As long as I live, I will not allow evil to just have its way with the ruling of Crystal Empire. My wife and I are the guardians of this empire, and I will protect it from evil to my dying breath as prince. You’re just a ruthless tyrant that doesn’t deserve to hold any place within the land of Equestria. So if you think I’m going to just let you have your way with me then you are highly mistaken, Sombra,” he said boldly breathing in and out deeply. Sombra slowly rose up from the ground to his hooves. He looked at a spot of his blood on the ground as he licked away at the spot of his missing fanged tooth. He then glared straight into Shining Armor’s soul. Shining Armor took a step back. He was not familiar with the feeling he was getting from Sombra’s glare, but one thing that was certain was that he was really afraid. “How dare you damage the image of the great king! I ought to kill you for this level of abomination, you foolish colt!” “Silence, you disgrace to all of pony existence!” Shining Armor charged at Sombra. He went for a punch, but the attack had went through Sombra’s head having no effect like a ghost. What? But how? Shining thought. Sombra went through him and solidified besides him. Shining Armor turned only two have had the steel ends of Sombra’s hooves meet his muzzle. He was propelled backwards by the attack and landed on his side. He tried to move, but the pain that was felt around his body were like set of iron nails hammered into him. “Come now young colt, did you really think you have the control over everything here?” Sombra started on his way to him. “Did you think that you could handle me, the great shadow, the mighty King of the empire you and foolish allies took from me? Do you have the slightest idea of who you’re even challenging?” Sombra stop right over Shining Armor who spat out some blood. He lowered his face just a few inches from Shining’s bruised face. “I. Am. Lord,” he placed down his hoof on Shining’s neck. “You should be kissing my hooves for even keeping you alive, you ungrateful colt,” Sombra growled. Shining Armor struggled to open his eyes, but he managed to open them enough to catch of King Sombra’s face. “You know.. what?” he spat out some blood onto his muzzle, and Sombra turned his face away and wiped the blood away with his hoof. “Buck you.. and your very existence.” “Says the foolish one. You’re now in my control young colt. And when I’m done with doing what I have to do, I will kill you myself,” Sombra raised his hoof and punched him down into the depths of the darkness which then swallowed him up. He turned away and walked towards the dull light. “Now it is time to start building and paving the way for my great return.” Sombra kept his evil smile and took a step into the light. The dark energy that he had was going against the aura of light that he was in. With each moment, the dull light became weaker and weaker until there was nothing but the darkness left inside of the aura. The aura had increased in its mass, and the whole are turned into a great spiral with Sombra’s essence being the centre of it. "Finally. Now the time is right for me take back what was mine and get what is to be mine," Sombra's body dispersed into a shadow merging himself with the dark aura and taking full control over Shining Armor’s body.
Chapter 2Chapter Two Sombra opened his eyes to the royal bedroom. Cadence slept sound right at his side. Now to begin phase one of my great return. Nothing in all of Equestria will be able to stop me again. Sombra being the new host of Shining Armor’s body, got off of the bed and moved towards the door. He looked back at Cadence who was still in the bed still sleeping away in her little dreams. Sombra turned away from her; then dispersed into a shadow and slipped through the space in the closed door. Sombra walked down the first hall leading to the throne room. Two guards stood facing each other at the end of the hall. Once he got in between them, he stopped and looked at both the guards with a kind smile. “You guards make me proud knowing that you both are doing a great job guarding this area of the castle.” “Yes, sir. We give our best loyal services to protecting our rulers,” one soldier responded. The other simply nodded in agreement. “Very well. Very well,” 'Sombra' turned to the ground as the soldiers eyed each other. They showed concern with the sudden change in his voice. He sounded like a completely different stallion. “...Umm, sir?” One guard spoke. Sombra watched as the dark sludge slowly made its way to the hooves of both the soldiers. “Yes?” he responded looking up from the ground. “You don’t sound..like you,” one guard spoke. “Are you alright?” said the other. “Oh I’m fine,” Sombra turned his face to one guard, “but soon you won’t be.” “W-What do you mean?” the guard said. Before he could say another word, he looked down at his hooves and watched as the dark sludge was slowly making its way up his body. The guards quickly looked back into the eyes of what they thought was Shining Armor. The guards were in terror as the dark sludge had made its way to their mouths. The last moments of light they had seen was the sight of Shining’s Armor eyes emanating a light blue mist. “Shhh... just let it all in,” Sombra said, taking in a nice breath and exhaling with ease. “That’s right my warriors. Breathe.” The guards fell to the floor as the darkness began morphing them. They struggled as best they could to fight it, but it was no use. The darkness once inside them had broke down both their strength and will. When they had no energy left, the darkness completed its task by converting them over into soldiers of darkness, loyal only to the orders of King Sombra. Both guards began growling away like wild animals. Sombra was pleased to see them both acting as noble as his previous Dark Guards. “Welcome back, my precious crystals.” Sombra said as he devilishly grinned at them both. The guards stood up straight, “All hail, Lord Sombra.” They said in a lifeless tone. “Now I want you both to get me more soldiers of this castle. I want to expand my legion, and it isn’t going to happen with just having you two now is it.” “You’re wish is our command, my lord.” Both of the guards galloped down the halls spreading their darkness over the other crystal guards turning them into soldiers for Sombra’s mighty legion. He smiled and walked around the corner to the second hall as he heard the yells of other crystal guards being morphed into his Knights of The Darkness. There’s not a better sound than the sounds of victory and redemption, Sombra thought as he looked as the guards rose up from the floor growling and foaming with The Darkness. They all stood at attention as he walked down the second and made a right turn onto the third hall leading to the throne room. He looked up and down the third hall only to find that his Darkness had found its way into every guard in the castle. He kept his smile as he slowly walked down the hall, I must’ve forgotten how fast they could spread my spell. Now all I need to do is get to the throne room. Sombra was nearing the end of the hall when he saw one of his soldiers propel backwards into a wall. His smiled faded away as he turned onto the final hall. He watched at a yellow pegasus stallion stallion holding one of his loyal soldiers in a headlock. The rest of the legion began growling as they stood in pack behind their great leader. Sombra then raised his hoof and all the growls went silent. He looked calmly into the eyes of the stallion, “Have you come against the ruler of this place as well?” “My loyalty lies only to the royal rulers of this castle,” the stallion said as he slammed the morphed guard onto the ground. He looked into the sinister eyes of what he thought to be Shining Armor. “But I am one of them,” Sombra replied with smile. “No, no you’re not,” the yellow stallion stepped back nodding his head from side to side, “you can’t be.” “Yes I am young colt. I was ruler of this empire hundreds of years before you were even born,” Sombra had an evil grin stretched out to both sides of his face. The growling of his soldiers came alive again, and the yellow stallion also heard it from behind. The stallion turned and watched as a battalion of guards lined up and pointed their spears straight him. “I’m just simply taking back what was mine from the start. Finish him,” Sombra ordered his guards as he continued on down to the middle of the hallway. The stallion was held up by the guards. He tried his best to break free, but the guards had more strength than he could ever have mustered up in that moment to break free. “When the princesses know of what you’ve done, you’ll be sorry!” He yelled to Sombra. “Oh no young colt. None of them will. And when they do, it will be too late,” Sombra laughed on while he opened the doors to the throne room. When he entered the room, he watched up at the ceiling and then down to the walls on all sides. His attention then came down to the purple crystal above the throne and then the thoughts started coming to his mind. “Yes, I remember how it used to look all too well. However, it will need a few changes just to have a new look.” His teeth began showing through his smile, “Yes, it has been so long since I’ve been here. So long since I’ve felt the inside of my own home.” He passed his hoof along the red carpet, “It’s good to be back.” A dark green aura came around his horn, and he zapped the giant purple crystal over the throne which had the opened up the passageway in the middle of the room. He walked all the way down the spiraling staircase to the dark enchanted door. Every step he took reminded him of how long it took for him to travel down when not using his powers. He turned and looked over the edge. Looking down at what seemed like a flight of stairs which lead into a bottomless pit. Sombra walked over to the edge and thought. If I take the steps all the way down, the night will be over and my mission will be truly lost forever. He jumped off the edge of the stairs and morphed into a shapeless shadow. The shadow crashed onto the grounds below, and Sombra formed back into Shining Armor’s body. It took a few minutes to come back whole as he wasn’t in his own body which was used to the morphing process. Cannot wait to regain my own body back. But one step at a time. Sombra shifted his gaze over to the door and walked towards it. His horn glowed dark blue as he used his magic to hold the grip of the door handle; just as he was about to pull it open the door quickly moved along the wall behind him. What nonsense is the door playing with me now? I have my plans to take care off, he turned around and looked at the door....Is this some trick that the royals created to stop me from entering? The memory suddenly came to his mind about the door, “...now I remember how to open it. Being outside from ones home is quite dangerous, I couldn’t even remember my own trap.” The light blue mist around Sombra’s eyes had expanded in length and size as dark green bolts began sparking around the horn. He fired his magic at the crystal on top the door, and it had opened to him. The light was extremely bright and caused him to put a hoof in front of his eyes. Sombra, not wanting to waste any more time, pushed onward into the light. The more steps he took, the more brighter it became. It then came to a point where the light had faded, and Sombra was able to see his forelegs. He drop his hoof and began looking around to what was only the color white stretching out for my miles. He turned around and looked up at the castle which had a stairwell leading all the way up to a black door on top. “Yes, this was what the Princess and her little pet used to get to the top. But now, I will destroy every stair, so that no unicorn earth pony or pegasi can reach the Crystal Heart,” Sombra said as he started to run on up the stairs.
Chapter 3Sombra traveled up the stairs with great speed, crushing every stair he had passed. He then reached the top area of the crystal tower, noticing the dark crystals used to trap the redeemer of the Crystal Heart. Sombra in his mind envisioned a time when he was able to look out at the green landscape and the few mountains that rose up beyond that. He had perfect imagery of this place a thousand years ago. “I remember.” Sombra said as he walked up closer to the spot where the crystal had been placed. He slid his hoof along the dark crystals then quickly brought his hoof down onto them shattering the crystal’s into small pieces. He began thinking back and imagining a scenario with Spike running up the stairs and coming into the room, but he couldn't figure how he was able to get to it in such a short time. He began to believe the idea that Spike some how found a way to use magic, but then it all fell to pieces upon remembering that Dragon are not magical; therefore making it impossible for him to use magic. “I can't form a clear picture as to how this happened yet, but that failure will surely never happen again.” Sombra began “I will rule all of Equestria, and remain King for the rest of the ages, as the only equestrian being to have ruled all of Equis successfully. After I restore my body. “But first I must bring this entire empire to its knees,” The now shattered dark crystals began circling about him, and a dark miasma had filled the entire room. When the miasma cleared and left the small room it went down unto the Crystal Heart and grabbed it up along the castle into the room. With the love energy of the empire finally down and the source of it in Sombra's grasp, he looked down upon it and breathed out his dark breath which formed a dark aura around it entrapping it all from escaping. “Now to make sure that nothing fails beyond this point,” he looked back at the Crystal Heart and hissed. Sombra walked closer to it and spoke in a guttural dark tone. “Que tots els que entren en convertir-se en un gripau.” The words that he spoke magically embedded themselves into the ground. The floor in response had formed an upside down pentagon under the floating crystal which was then encased around the dark crystals. “Yes,” Sombra said a devilish smile creeping onto his face. “The base work is now complete. Now one more thing has to be done,” Sombra said as he stomped his hoof and darkness gushed out from the top of the room that ran outside and down all sides of the castle changing the design, as the remaining inhabitants of the castle were pulled into the darkness Sombra himself rose out of the darkness with a complete change of armor as did his loyal Dark Guards. They all had dark gray coats with dark crystal armor, silver manes and tails. All of their personalities were changed, and their cutie marks changed to the symbol bearing the face of the dark overlord, Sombra. Once the entire transformation of the empire was complete, he made his way out of the undercroft and reached his throne room. Walking over to his balcony he looked out at its vastness, and smiled. “Hmhmhm, this is the smell I remember. The smell of what I truly call, home.” He laughed up at the dark clouds that roared with thunder and lit up at moments with lightning. “Celestia, Luna, if you ever had the thought in your minds that I would be a memory within an old book or small tale then you both would be fools.” “You may have trapped me for a thousand years, but I will have my vengeance upon you two and all of Equestria. This land will know of my presence, stallions and mares will tremble at my hoofs, and all who get in my way will relinquish their lives to me.” Sombra, having delivered his speech… to no one turned into his mist form and went back into his throne room to begin his plans. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sombra appeared within the throne room, walking out from a mist darkness. He walked on over to his throne where he sat down comfortably upon it. Two guards opened the doors, and a single guard entered. Sombra watched as the guard took his bow and began to speak. "My Lord, we have the princess." "Bring her in," Sombra said, looking down at the guard as he sported a smirk. "Bring the princess in!" the guard said in a loud voice. Two guards entered the room growling. They slowly walked down the black carpet with Princess Cadence held in chains, stopping just before King Sombra. Cadence was in completely dismayed at what was happening. Up and chained in the middle of what was to be a normal night of rest turned into a dawn of darkness. Dirt patches, scratches, and a few bite marks on her legs from the tassel it took to get her in chains. She began to feel the cold air of darkness around her legs, causing her body to tremble. "S-Shining Armor? It's me, Cadence, your wife," she said shaking slightly "Oh no my dear, I am not your husband, but I am however the Crystal Empire's rightful ruler." Sombra responded with having on a sinister grin. Cadence looked into the eyes of her beloved husband, the mist seeping out from the edge of his eyes, his horn sparking up dark energy. It was then she had released that it wasn't Shining Armor hosting the body she saw before her eyes. "You? No… That can’t be true.” She said defiantly. "Yes, but it is true my dear," Sombra said rising up from his throne. He then walked down before Cadence and smiled. "Oh, don't be so sad. You will come to like me soon enough," He began to walk around and gaze up at the ceiling "All this before you is only the start. What you see is change my dear and when change is going on with its course it may look a little... Strange at first but when it is complete," He breathed in with a bit of excitement "It will be just beautiful." Cadence's body went into shock, looking down at the carpet tainted all over with the hooves of a nightmare. She wasn't sure if she was within a very terrible dream, or a hallucination. Either way all she wanted to do was wake up. Sombra walked away as Cadence had remained frozen in pace; in her own world. The guard who seemed to be the leader said to the lesser guards, "Take her down into the chambers, and" His smile turned sadistic. "Re-educate her on the paradigm of the new age. And don't come up from under there until she has been fully ‘educated’ on it." "Sir yes Sir." The guards responded, bowing their head to the ground. He tapped the carpet with his hoof and used magic to form an upside down pentagonal star mark. The mark had glowed, filling the room with a bright red. Soon Cadence and all the soldiers had disappeared from the room, and Sombra had looked back and smiled. Then exited the throne room. Yes, the moment I have been waiting for he thought, walking out to the balcony over looking the empire. He watched down at his guards breaking into the homes of the crystal inhabitants, ripping them away from their precious sleep, beating them, whipping and chaining each of their hooves with the same cold and harshness of memories gone pass. It was quite the uplifting thing for him to see. To witness his joy all over again, watching as his guards brung out his slaves to the space below the balcony. He saw the shock and horror in each of their eyes. They were too afraid to cry out for help. Their immediate hope had been stripped away from them and now was being used against them once more. Sombra smiled when he heard some of them crying out for the help of the other princesses, to come and save them in the time of great need for saving. They soon would learn no pony or otherwise would come to save them. This was what I wanted all along… To control. Everything. No pony will stand in the way this time, not even Celestia or Luna. This world will be under my hoof. This is the new age, and I will see to it that doesn't go any other way. Sombra spoke in a loud voice and began his speech. "Inhabitants of the beloved Crystal Empire. Do not cry out for your petty Princesses. For they will not step foot on my empire. Your leader has returned and is here to stay, forever. I, King Sombra, will follow through with the original plan I had already in motion, and that is to take over all four corners of Equestria and them all under my hoof to rule over forevermore. You, my precious slaves, will be working on the rebuilding of my new capital, that is all.” Sombra finished with a smile then turned to his guards. "Guards make them return to their homes. Destroy all of their resting places and dining areas. They won't be needing them. Hard work is what will be taking place from this day on. Every worker will return to the schedule I had before it was ruined by the royal sisters with only a few hours of rest and to eat, and all slackers will receive high punishments,"-Sombra raised his hoof up to the stars.-"The new age has began my minions. Rejoice, for your God has returned." The guards raised their right hoof to the heavens praising their leader saying, "All hail, Lord Sombra! All hail, Lord Sombra! All hail, Lord Sombra!" The guards had praised the name of their returned sovereign for the rest of that night. Sombra had made his return to openly known now throughout his reclaimed empire, silencing the royal rulers, and make his next move in bringing the entire land under his rule.
