Diary of the King

by CreatureofTheNight

Rating: everyone
Tags: Mystery, King Sombra, Shining Armor, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Princess Cadance, Dark
Length: 1497

When does one notice when they fall into madness?

When exploring the Crystal Castle, Cadence accidentally discovered Sombra's Diary. Curious she reads a few pages to find out more about the previous ruler.

Cover Art by: Oak Sabletwist

Published 2014-10-30 03:10:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-10-30 03:10:03 UTC

Diary of the King

Princess Cadence smiled as she finally got some alone time! She loved ruling the Crystal Empire with her beloved Shining Armor, but there really hasn't been the time to just explore the castle. Okay admittedly it was trapped and all but Cadence is a big girl, she can handle herself. Shining Armor was out doing a favor for Princess Celestia, so now Cadence had the perfect opportunity to explore. She decided to start on the west wing, and went to the farthest room on the right. Her jaw dropped as she saw a big portrait of the Castle's previous owner, the one and only, King Sombra. She paused, not really thinking about Sombra for a long time.   After all the dark king is dead, why would she? Curious she explored the room, it was quite lavish, and the bed probably means that this is where the King slept when he was not being a slaver. She looked around and then saw something in a glass case. It was a book, bonded together by a leather strap. Curious she used her magic to float the book to her. She undid the strap and opened the first page. Her jaw dropped as it said "My Diary- Sombra". It looked so old, like it was written in crayon, she paused and floated it away and lost all interest in exploring.

She went to her own room and sat on the bed, this is the diary of a terribly tyrant, and from the looks of it it's alot older than it looks. This is the find of the century! She smiled and turned the page and began reading:

URG I can't believe this! A boy gets a journal not a diary! Why did my mom do this to me! It's so stupid! Urg, whatever. Sorry it's not your fault. You see I wanted to write down things. I'm a unicorn in a place called Equestria. I wanted to document my life. I'm gonna do great things some day. Mom said I should really stop and make friends, but what does she know. I need to study, nothing more.

Cadence couldn't help but giggle, sounds like a certain filly she knew back in the day. Cadence turned the page again.

Sorry its been a while. I've been busy, trying to catch up on my studies. I've gotten pretty good at magic. No no, not pretty good, great at magic. I'm trying to figure out something though, what is true strength in magic? Love and Friendship or Hatred and Fear? I don't know maybe I should go out and ask other ponies.

Cadence winced at that and scratched her head, "Isn't that answer obvious, it's Love and kindness, isn't it?" She shrugged at she read on further.

That answer is still bugging me, I left the town. I need to find this answer, because everywhere i look in the books, it seems like it's split. My mother told me that Love and Friendship was the answer, but what does she know? I need to find out myself

"Mothers know best" Cadence said out loud. "You should have listened to your mother. I listened to my aunt all the time."

Shining armor came into the room and said to Cadence. "Honey, you have no idea how hard the new guard training is lately, and..." Cadence was true engulfed in the Diary. "Umm Cadence, it's Shining Armor, are you there?"

Cadence looked up and said "Oh Shiny, sorry, I did some exploring today, and I found this book. It's King Sombra's Diary!"

Shining armor backed up "Are you crazy!? Who knows what he could have done to it, it could be cursed!"

"If I was cursed I think you would have noticed it" She smirked "All though you are pretty bad at that?"

Shining armor rolled his eyes and said in a groan, "Nearly marry a changeling one time" He said as a joke. He went to his wife and sat on the bed. "So, what's old Sombra writing about?"

Cadence smiled and said "Well turns out he was a lot like how Twilight used to be when he was younger. Right now he's trying to solve the ultimate answer, what is true power, Love and Friendship or Hatred and Fear"

Shining smirked and said "Love and Friendship all the way, after all, love is what made sure I DIDN"T marry a changeling" Cadence smiled as Shining pulled her closer. "I've had a long day, wanna keep reading?"

Cadence smiled and started to read out loud this time.

What is the answer, I feel like I'm going mad. Every new spell I learn, is because of Love and Friendship as well as Hatred and Fear. What is the answer?

"There are spells that rely on Hatred and Fear?" Shining Armor asked.

"I don't know any myself, but I've heard from Aunt Celestia that Hatred and Fear is an art form of magic that was highly practiced 1000 years ago because the ponies of that time period didn't know what was powerful." She sighed "This madness Sombra's showing, it feels like he himself was stuck on the answer and just wanted to get at least one."

I think I found a way to answer the question that has plagued me ever since I was a foal. I'm heading to the Everfree forest, it's a place full of unnatural magic. Surely that place will have the answer, I've also heard it's the home of the two sisters. Maybe they'll know the answer I seek.

Shining Armor noticed something"Hey, the rest of these pages...their pitch black" Shining asked "What happened?"

Cadence said "About to find out"

I finally found the answer, it's hatred and fear! I finally figured it out, true power comes from using all your hatred to repel those against you, and instilling a fear so strong that no one can ever cross you. I found this out when I saw how nervous the other ponies who were going to meet the true sisters were. How can not be proof the power that fear has? That is the answer, I finally found it. I need training though. Upon further exploring,  I think I  found something.

Shining Armor shivered at that "I'm grateful everyday that Princess Celestia forced Twilight to get out and make some friends" He said quietly. "If she hadn't..." Cadence put her hoof on Shining's hoof. "Remind me to write Twilight, I haven't done that in a while"

Master, I finally have a proper master to teach me all lesson's of hatred and fear. I have never felt so powerful in my life, finally I found what I've been looking for. Perfect magic.

Cadence paused at that "I didn't skip a page, what the heck?" Shining shrugged as they kept reading.

My master was a fool, he taught me to well, and now he lies dead on our floor. Now finally FINALLY I will grow into true power. Hmm I wonder, how can I grow in strength

Cadence gulped at that, Sombra was truly remorseless at the time, and he probably was remorseless back at the Crystal Empire, if it wasn't for Spike and Twilight she would have died.

I found a place, the Crystal Empire, all to easy to conquer. Their leaders were soft and fragile, pathetic and easy to conquer. It was even easier to twist the power to my image, the perfect castle. Now, I will instil a fear that even the Two Sisters will cower from!

"How arrogant" Shining armor remarked. "Weren't Celestia and Luna like gods at this point?"

Cadence sighed "Maybe"

They are on their way. The Two sisters, they are on their way to try and stop me. Little do they know, that I am King Sombra, perfection itself! No one, not even Celestia and Luna can stop me

Cadence smirked and said "That didn't work" She sighed "How could one Unicorn fall so far?"  She paused and then looked at something that shocked her and Shining Armor stone cold. Shining Armor paused as he turned the page and read this next one.

1000 years, I've been a way. 1000 years...I've been locked away. I wonder what it was like while I was gone. I don't know why I was compelled to send a figure of myself to write in this journal, maybe I was just compelled to look back at where it all started. However I have a shield to break after all. So I can't write long.

Shining Armor gulped at that "He could have gotten in at any time, he just got arrogant" He said to Cadence. "I'm glad that our friends stopped him."

Cadence smiled "Yeah, you should really call Twilight" She then stood up. "I'm gonna put this thing back where I found it"

As Cadence put the Diary back where she found it, the painting of Sombra's eye lighted a neon green and purple smoke oozed out of it.