Equestria Divided: The Crystal Dominion

In the vast expanse of skies above the north pole the night wasn’t simply alive, it danced. Unhindered by the glow of Celestia’s sun, untouched by the growing cloud of pollutants that began to pour from House Earthborn industries, and unclouded by the efforts of local pegasi, the starlight shined for everypony.

But on the third week the light had gone. The positive energy of the returned crystal ponies had died away entirely and in its place only darkness lingered, darkness with a force and presence of its own beyond the simple lack of a light that shined. It was a darkness that cast its own shadow across the land and drew dark forces to it.

At that moment, in the dead of night, fifteen dark comets streaked across the sky towards the heart of the Crystal Empire. Nhorse soothsayers cursed them as dark omens as they passed overhead and the majority of crystal ponies shuddered in their pits and prisons, whispering tales of how the Dark Lord was drawing all evil to him.

The first comets struck the dark palace’s balcony revealing the bodies of ponies. Not pegasi or unicorns: furry-eared, sharp-toothed, bat-winged ponies. To some they were known as the Thestrals and they wore their heraldry with pride, the emblem of the crescent moon.

One-by-one, they each entered the throne room from the balcony, unsurprised to see a dark cloud with glowing eyes rise to greet them. One by one they fell into low bows as their leader proclaimed his intentions.

“All hail the Dark Mistress of the Night! There were many of us and we had doubts but low we are here and we are vindicated: Princess Celestia is gone, banished from this realm and vanished without a trace. Whether it is you who was the victor of a great conflict or whether you were merely the only one to survive is meaningless: Equestria tears itself apart, its warring factions harvest chaos. It is no longer war between the tribes that we fear, it is a conflict with all dark forces and all magic creatures long forgotten. We come to you with our heads bowed in supplication. We pledge our lives to your cause and beg thee return to your people, take back your crown and put an end to this conflict once and for all. All hail Princess Luna, all hail Nightmare Moon!”

There was silence and then the darkness answered. “Interesting.”

The shadows coalesced into a single creature and King Sombra stood before the astonished bat-ponies.

“But I am not the Princess you were looking for.”

The crystal pony slaves of the dark palace had not been so busy in years. Their guests, visitors from faraway lands by the look of them, had needs to tend to and those needs were compounded hourly by each new arrival. Such strange ponies dedicated, devoted even, to the darkness.

As one crystal slave took hot water and bandages to a wounded pegasus , the victim of some armed scuffle from the looks of her, she nevertheless managed to find the time and energy to voice the question on everypony’s mind:

“Why was King Sombra receiving these refugees as guests?”

Inside the war room, sitting on a throne cushion with thousands of jagged dark crystals for its back, Sombra looked on. Most of the talking was handled by his secretary, a bespectacled cream-colored mare with violet eyes and a straight pink mane and tail.

“His Majesty wishes to know more. Beginning with why you came here in particular.”

The leader, a stallion by the name of Adamantine, chose to not break eye-contact with the secretary –lest he incur King Sombra’s wrath by looking at him directly – and answered.

“In the last year the great stellar event occurred. Princess Luna, banished to the moon for a thousand years, returned from her imprisonment. Few are aware of this, but when she returned she banished her Sister, imprisoning Princess Celestia within the sun.”

“And you believed this dark magic of – Nightmare Moon was it? - to be the same in nature as His Majesty’s?”

“We had no knowledge of anything. Concentrations of dark magic have flared across the globe. Tartarus is in chaos. His… His Majesty’s magic was the strongest and purest concentration of pure dark magic we've ever felt in a single pony. We were convinced it must be Princess Luna, once more in the guise of Nightmare Moon. We consulted with all lore and expert opinions and when we realized where this magic was, here in the frozen north, we were certain it must be her.”

“With respect, you do not strike me as ponies who would willingly follow a monster. If you believed it was Luna why seek her out?”

Adamantine exchanged glances with his companions before weakly answering “All the reports we received from the return concurred on a single message. ‘The night would last forever.’ We opposed Nightmare Moon when she returned from her banishment because we believed eternal night to be the worst fate Equestria could endure.”

He grit his teeth.

“We have since been proven wrong.”

The secretary turned to King Sombra, looking expectantly. The dark king made no move, no reaction. She turned to Adamantine. “His Majesty would have you speak at greater length about the significance of the North Pole. In particular, why it made sense to you that Princess Luna would come here?”

“We entertained two or three primary scenarios. The first was that a great conflict took place, one that saw both the Sisters vanish. Whether this was a schism or a battle against an outside force we could not say. The main possibility was that Nightmare Moon, defeated a second time but not banished, retreated beyond Equestria’s limits to heal her wounds and restore her magic. When our experts reported on the re-appearance of the Crystal Empire and the legend of the dark power- I mean, His Majesty - that once existed here we realized a bastion of dark magic would be just the place to which she might retreat. In particular now that the Everfree Forest serves a new mistress and the Royal Sister’s former castle is lost to any who would dare to seek its secrets.”

The secretary nodded. Whether Princess Luna escaped her foiled coup d’état or escaped whatever fight it was that took her and Princess Celestia this would have been a place to regroup. I see no flaws in your theory, however there is one more thing I must ask: what was the third possibility?”

“With the war we thought she might come north to deal with another threat. And that is a question best answered with a legend older than either that of Nightmare Night or your Sovereign.”

It was a legend older than either indeed: long before the reign of Celestia, back when the wizard Starswirl the Bearded walked the land, back when the three tribes were in conflict, back when unicorns held sway over the sun and moon.

Back when all the tribes were imperiled by an age of ice.

It was a legend Sombra knew well, the legend of the Hearth’s Warming Eve. A trifling, heart-warming tale meant for foals and the simple-minded, a tale nopony would believe in for the many ways it failed to live up to historical review. There were far too many inconsistencies in the narrative, its iconography and the ponies involved in it.

No, that was not the reason Sombra knew the story.

Sombra knew the tale well because when the three tribes emigrated from their original lands on the other side of the planet they crossed through the previously mild tundra of the Crystal Empire. They’d crossed by, failing - as they failed at everything – to establish any real permanent settlement or create any lasting farm or industries.

They went by on their merry way until they reached the fertile land of Equestria to the south and founded a great kingdom.

And when they found the way to banish the monsters of winter, the monsters that had driven them from their original homes into the tundra, it was to the tundra to which the monsters returned.

King Sombra prowled the skies, a ghost of shadow and mist, in the company of Adamantine and every bat-pony and Pegasus that could come with them. They had searched for the signs and found the lairs; forests of frozen Nhorse statues greeted their approach as pale warnings of the fate awaiting them.

As expected the main path to the nests was treacherous but unconcealed, a tunnel bored deep into the rock, down into the great crystal caves. With a nod Sombra and the flight dropped to the earth and everypony extinguished their torches. Sombra cast a spell over the Pegasi and their eyes glowed with dark smoke, enabling them to see in the dark. The bat-ponies shrugged off such 'gifts'; between their natural affinities for low-light and echolocation they'd manage fine. They went in and soon found what they were looking for: the nest of the windigoes.

Adamantine was shocked at what he saw. “When… when they made re-enactments at Canterlot castle the unicorns responsible for special effects only ever made three of the creatures. Look at them, there must be hundreds of them.”

Sombra nodded in agreement. However, one detail did not escape him: while the greatest windigoes were massive creatures, at least five times a pony’s size, the common windigo brood were not much larger than a regular stallion, though they were incredibly numerous.

Regardless, Sombra knew better than to order a head-on attack. It wasn’t just that Adamantine’s forces were vastly outnumbered, it was also the windigoes unique nature. The pegasi tribes had always been warlike and if a simple frontal assault could strike down their foes Equestria would never have been founded. No, the creatures had to be defeated completely this time and in a way that didn't involve ‘love magic’.

And it needed to be done soon. The rest of Adamantine’s council’s fears had proven correct: for over a thousand years the windigo had known nothing but famine. Conflict was so rare and short-lived the creatures had chosen to stay dormant. Now that full-blown war threatened Equestria, a conflict the likes of which had never been seen before, the end of all life on the planet was a distinct possibility.

And yet, even now Sombra saw opportunity. “Tell me, Adamantine: Are you here to save everypony’s life, or your own?”

Adamantine hesitated, not knowing what to answer. Looking over his closest friends, comrades in arms and the survivors of the tragedies of the last few months he answered. “I want to live. We all do. We want our foals and the Equestria we remember to survive. Isn’t that what everypony wants?”

Isn’t it indeed? Sombra thought amused. His pupils vanished as his eyes glowed with the green light of dark magic and he unleashed his curse upon each one of the Lunar Guards. Their armor shimmered with darklight, no longer reflective of any light sources, and the icon of Luna’s eye glowed with dark magic. He ignored their protests and commanded: “Fight off the calves and distract the larger ones while you can. I will attempt to deal with the brood mother.”

Sombra leapt into action and chose his first target wisely. The windigoes slept and tossed fitfully but only the largest one remained awake to watch over the herd. Spectral, with shaped indistinguishable from each other at first glance, Sombra wondered briefly if 'brood mother' was the proper term. Might they as spirits be beyond such distinctions?

Such existential questions were quickly forgotten when the great glowing eyes turned upon his shadow. He dropped to the floor, resuming pony shape to focus the entirety of his magic on the windigo and encased it within a crystal spire.

It’s whinny echoed across the crystal caverns and its progeny stirred, awakening to the sight of enemies in their midst. The windigo foals rose into the air and surrounded their prey, feeding off their anger and hatred. All the same the cold did little to stymie Adamantine and his Thestrals. Sombra's army took to the air as well, maneuvering expertly in the caves. The pegasi held their own but it was the bat-ponies, creatures born to the dark and cloistered environments, that really showed their mettle.

As far as Adamantine and his ponies were concerned for all the power the windigoes leeched it was nothing to the love that pushed them onward, love for the families they left behind them and the world they refused to admit was coming to an end. Perhaps they were right. Between their natural magic and Sombra’s dark mark upon their chests the Thestrals were protected and their hoof-claws bit into windigo essence.

Still the battle was not over. The greatest beast burst from Sombra’s crystal prison. Like a ghost, Sombra had expected it might perhaps simply phase through. Instead it had used physical strength and Sombra tried o find a way to exploit its apparent weakness.

The creature’s eyes bore down on his, so unlike their typical method of attack encircling and area like sharks and freezing everything within, and Sombra met its challenge. But unlike the other ponies in the cave Sombra had nothing within him keeping his heart warm. Ice formed around his hooves, spreading up his legs and armor to his royal cloak. His neck guard was covered and his mane froze and he growled at his opponent in panicked rage.

“NO! Not again! Not… for another lifetime!”

His eyes flared and a beam of dark energy tore into the windigo. The creature whinnied in pain as the beam of light piercing through it, leaving a gap at its core. It reformed its body and the ice around Sombra’s hooves weakened and he broke free. He again engaged the creature in a contest of wills, his eyes bearing down on the wounded windigo. This time his illusion spell pierced into the heart of the beast and he saw what lay at its heart.

With a bestial roar Sombra unleashed a curse before he bit into the windigo's neck. His fanged teeth broke the skin and with a final cry the creature vanished in a vortex of energy.

With the knowledge gained from the brood mother Sombra turned upon the other windigo adults and his dark magic took a spectral-physical form. The air filled with dark chains and the first adult was caught in their twisting net. It was pulled to the ground, crying out and struggling until coils wrapped around its muzzle and throat silencing it.

Since its reappearance the Crystal Empire had been fighting for its very survival. Now, Sombra realized, it had taken its first step toward something more. Plans formed in the back of his mind as he brought down the second adult and then the third…

“Words will never begin to express our gratitude, Your Highness.”

Adamantine was sincere. They had suffered losses in the crystal caverns. Significant, but few: most of the ponies taken by the frost had thawed when the brood mother had been destroyed. It was more than the Night Guard had dared hope for: the whole of Equestria was saved, their greatest imminent threat destroyed before it could fully awaken.

Now they had other worries to attend to.

“Will you remain?” Sombra’s secretary asked. “There is still so much we don’t know about this new world. Surely we could gain much from each other?”

Adamantine was hesitant. “We… came here for our princess. We did not expect this.”

Sombra made a noise. His secretary apologized profusely and spent the next few minutes getting everypony other than herself and Adamantine out of the audience hall.

When they were alone again it was Sombra who spoke. “I have seen into your mind, Adamantine. I have seen your greatest fear and I know it is not a distant shadow. Your fears are flesh, and they await you in Canterlot. You have nowhere to which you may return.”

“Your Majesty?” His secretary asked, confused.

“He is correct.” Adamantine said, weak. “We’re not simple sojourners, and we’re not exiles either. The Arch-Magister turned on the pegasi race after the death of her parents. That meant the death of most of our followers’ families. When House Moon and Star was created and the cults of Celestia and Luna were founded as formal institutions across the land, we servants of Luna were suddenly… replaced. We bat-ponies did not know what to do, only that we could not remain.”

“I believe you.” Sombra answered. “And I believe you when you say Princess Luna may yet return. Dark times loom over the land. I do not know if Celestia might endure… but I have no reason to believe She would not return, the same way I have.”

Sombra took his throne. “I wish for you and your ponies to stay, Adamantine: I can offer you and your people safe refuge, and I will need you to intercede for me on the day that Luna indeed returns.”

“We are a free people, Your Highness. There are things we… cannot, accept.”

Sombra knew what he meant without looking. Not too far in the distance, waiting in the wings, the palace slaves remained within earshot for whatever might be the tyrant’s pleasure. The Thestrals would never be at peace serving a slave-master. Still...

“Come, do not worry yourself with the affairs of another stallion’s state. It has been a long night. Stay. Eat, rest and see to your wounded. We can speak at length again tonight.”

Adamantine understood his dismissal and bowed before exiting Sombra’s presence.

“Majesty.” The secretary continued, producing a pointer and highlighting areas of the city map. “There are many other issues that require your attention. Damages to the city’s infrastructures here, here, here and here. Underproduction at the city’s farms here, here and here. And sudden silence suggesting Nhorse incursions along this line here made worse by rumor of disappearances all along the-“

“Silence.”

The secretary waited, trembling lightly but waiting obediently. Her meekness disarmed Sombra’s irritation almost immediately. "I will attend to these matters as well as the others at sundown. Leave me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

She left the room and the doors slammed closed, all of them. The scurry of crystal slaves died away entirely, leaving Sombra with nothing but the sound of his breathing echoing across the empty throne room.

Sombra collapsed into his throne’s cushion and fell into a deep, deep sleep.

That night he awoke undisturbed and summoned his attendants. Alongside them his secretary appeared. “Your majesty, I bring you word from Adamantine.”

As his coat was brushed and his mane groomed he grunted his approval and she continued speaking. “The Lunar Guard, the refugees and their families have petitioned, formally, to be allowed to stay as your allies and guests. His ponies have chosen him as their leader and given him the title Field Marshal. As a symbol of his friendship, he gifts to you this prized relic.”

Sombra watched on curiously as a pair of slaves brought in a strange crate. The side was opened and when the wooden lid and protective padding fell away he stood facing a great mirror. Something about it caught his eye, kept him staring at the reflective surface. Somehow he knew it was a gift worthy of the princesses but he couldn't place how he knew that or why.

“Do you know how to make an appropriate response?” he asked, walking past the mirror.

“It’s… beyond my formal training Sire. But the Field Marshal is an understanding pony. I think he will accept the message regardless of its proper formality.”

“That will do. Give him one.”

“I apologize, in the affirmative or a refusal your Highness?”

“Grant his request. Have quarters built within the city to accommodate his tribe, set them along the Equestrian border.” He paused. “Give them warning about the Nhorse. Tell him I will consider it a sign of friendship if he and his Thestrals assist in our ‘problem’.”

“Yes Sire. Am I to go now?”

“After one last thing.”

Sombra grunted and his grooming slaves rushed away. Once they were gone he walked off the throne and cast his energy into the room. Shadows formed and an alternate-reality passageway appeared on the floor before them. He walked down the steps and his assistant hurried to follow him. They didn't get too far down before Sombra formed a door and a secret chamber opened.

“Tell me” Sombra began “about our more recent guest.”

The secretary cleared her throat and tried to decide what to tell him. A female, a caribou in metal armor with runes on her clothing, similar in style but distinct from the Nhorse, looked on in wonder at her new captor after having been freed the night before from the windigo ice.