The Shadows of the Past

by mikki

Rating: everyone
Tags: King Sombra, Adventure, Princess Celestia, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Romance, Princess Luna
Length: 2001

King Sombra was not always evil. This is my take on his story.

King Sombra was not always this evil. He was once a kind loving king. No one really knows what happened to him. No pony except one. This is my take on King Sombra's story.

(Note to reader: This starts out with Luna in her season 1 corporeal. At some point in the story she will change into her season two corporeal.)

Published 2015-01-31 17:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2015-02-12 18:43:00 UTC

The Meeting

Sombra was now two hundred years old. His father, who had always hated him, and his aunts died in the great Equestrian war. The only thing that kept him calm was poetry. Poetry about the night. Sombra had always loved the night more than the day and on the day after his coronation he asked his adviser who created the night, a mysterious beauty that engulfed the sky.

"Why have you never heard of Princess Celestia's sister? Princess Luna is the jewel of the night." replied the adviser.
Sombra then decided he must meet the two sisters.

***

"Princess Celestia, Maiden of the Sun and bringer of light!" shouted a guard as a white alicorn with a bright pink mane stepped into the throne room.

"Honestly I expected your sister to join us,"sighed Sombra.

"She is here in the Empire. She is just not fit to make political decisions. What was it you wanted to talk about?"

"I dislike the alliance accords. The laws are far too strict for me."

"No the are just fine. We cannot change them!"

"But I believe there should be a few changes."

"Not."

"How about we strike a deal. A match in the crystal arena. You pick your warrior of choice, I pick mine. The winning warrior's king/princess can change the alliance accords to their own choice."

"Deal" said Celestia storming out of the throne room.

The Admirer of the Night

Luna ran scared along the Crystal Palace's halls, fear embedded in her eyes, as she fell over Celestia.

"Luna, whatever is the matter?" inquired the older alicorn.

"Oh, Tia, I'm scared. But I can't tell you."panted the younger alicorn.

"Why not?"

"I promised not to tell."

"Fine Luna. You do not have to tell me. But you must raise the moon."

"It is afternoon?"

"Late afternoon. Now go."

"See you at dawn, sister."

***

As Luna finished painting the sky with beautiful constellations, she sat down on the grassy field, admiring her work.

"It looks amazing, Princess," said a stallion.

"Tis' not our greatest work,"answered Luna.

"Amazing nonetheless,"said the stallion sitting beside the princess.

"King Sombra!? Excuse us for not recognizing thee. We are so sorry." gasped the princess surprised.

"Please Luna, don't use the royal language. Apart from our royal duties, you can call me Sombra and I shall call you Luna." said the king calming down the startled princess.

"Of course. Excuse me. I am used to formality."

"You are forgiven. Now tell me, how can this beautiful masterpiece not be your greatest work?"

"Well, I have created nights mote beautiful than this one."

"I recall other nights did seem more beautiful."

"You... admire the night?"

"But of course. Such peace and beauty in a flow of nature infused with magic. Also mysterious.Like you. A mysterious beauty in the shades of the night. far more braver than your sister."

"Thank you. No one has ever told me that. They all seem to enjoy Celestia's day more than my night."

"All but I." said Sombra leaning towards the princess and kissing her.

"You truly seem to enjoy them like me." whispered Luna kissing the King. "But I must leave. Goodnight my dear.

"Goodnight my beauty."

The Banishment Of Sombra's Darkness

Two shadows emerge from two books as a cloaked figure stepped into the secret library.

"Who goes there? Show thyself." shouted Nightmare.

"Hush Nightmare, tis only I." answered the figure taking off his cloak.

"Tis only Sombra." sighed Shadow. "What do you want?"

"I want you to remove the darkness inside of me."

"You mean the one left by your mother when she died?"

"Yes, Nightmare, yes."

"By doing that, your mothers shadow will be trapped in a book like us."

"Do what you must, Shadow."

"Well, pick a book idiot."

"Um... Resurrection of the Dead. I really don't want to read that book."

"Here, Shadow, I have it." said Nightmare as she put the book down, her eyes glowing a sapphire blue as Shadow's eyes glowed a neon green. The spell caused the room to become windy, making the book open as two rays of light, one green, the other blue, started swirling around themselves as they hit Sombra, pulling a purple shadow that tried to cling to his shadow. The purple shadow was then transported into the book as it closed. Sombra trotted to the mirror astounded at what he saw. His horn was straight not curved and it was the same shade as his coat.

"Thank you. I am now normal yes." shouted Sombra gleefully as he went in the courtyard to see his midnight beauty.

The Dark Unicorn

"Push, my queen, push!" shouted the nurse as Queen Phoenix Flame cried for King Rubinus.

"What it is Phoenix?" asked Rubinus.

"I am a dark unicorn. And here on my death bed I wish you will take good care of Sombra." whispered Phoenix as her breathing stopped, the kings eyes filled with tears.

"King, I believe you might want to see your son, Sombra." said Nurse Aloe handing the alicorn king his son.

"Why is his horn curved, the wretched thing?"

"Well his mother was a dark unicorn."

"Where is he?" exclaimed King Rubinus' sisters, princess Rubine, a red alicorn with white patches, and Princess Saphira, a blue alicorn with white patches.

"Rubinus, he is beautiful!" gasped Saphira.

"Phoenix died giving birth, the poor soul." wept Rubine.

"Why does he have a curved horn? He must be killed," snarled Rubinus.

"His mother was a dark unicorn, you ungrateful swine," screamed Rubine smacking Rubinus as Saphira took the young colt to the room of the two princesses.

"I care not what you think of this foal, but he is your own offspring so you shall not kill him. If you do I will make sure the Crystal ponies will find out."

"But Rubine, he is not normal,"gasped Rubinus staring at his twin sister in fear.

"I care not. I will raise him with Saphira since you obviously couldn't give a buck if this colt lives or not."shouted Rubine as she went to her room, greeting Saphira and Sombra with a smile.

"Worry not Sombra. Auntie Saphira and Auntie Rubine shall take care of you."

***

A few years later Princess Rubine playing with Sombra showing him different gems and crystals, because Saphira was in Saddle Arabia.

"This is a diamond, this an onyx crystal, this is an emerald, this a sapphire, and this is a ruby," gleamed Rubine.

"Ruby as in you, Auntie?"

"No, I am not made of rubies. But you do need to sleep. It's late." answered Rubine putting the gems away as Sombra took the ruby and using his magic carved a figure of his aunt. As Rubine turned around, a brief flash was seen near Sombra's flank. A cutie mark of three rubies appeared.

"Sombra, what is that?"

"I made you out of this ruby."

"Well you sure have a talent with rubies since cutie mark!"

The Beginning

King Sombra was anxious. He was about to meet Princess Celestia. They had made a bet that if any of their warriors would win in a fighting match at the Crystal Empire, they would win a chance to make a few tweaks to the alliance laws between Equestria and the Empire. As Celestia strode in, he was ready to start his most favored game.

"Who is your warrior King,?" asks Celestia.

"I, myself shall fight. Who is your warrior?"answered Sombra bravely.

"My warrior is my sister, Princess Luna," says Celestia proudly as a midnight blue alicorn in silver armor stepped beside her.

"Shall we begin?" asked Luna as Sombra blushed. He would be fighting against his muse, the very soul who inspired his greatest poems.

"Sure."

***

The match was held in the sports arena. On one side was Princess Luna, on the other King Sombra. As a horn was blown, the two ponies ran into action. Sombra charged ahead lighting his horn, as it sparkled a ruby red, and shot a stun spell at Luna who flew before the spell shot her. Luna shot a fire spell, singing some of Sombra's fur. Sombra summoned ruby stakes and fired as Luna created a shield around herself. Luna shot a meteor shower at Sombra who dashed to escape. Suddenly Luna shot a fire spell which burned Sombra as he shot a fire spell at Luna who fainted in the arena, not long before Sombra.

***

As Sombra opened his eyes he woke up in the castle's infirmary. Turning his head he saw Luna in a bed beside him waking up.

"Where am I?" she asked looking around.

"Hello Princess." he said startling Luna.

"Sweet moon, you scared me! Why are we here?"

"We both fainted at the match."

"So we basically equaled."

"Yes."

"It was good match. I am Princess Luna."

"I am King Sombra. It is a pleasure to meet you. I wanted to meet you for some time but I was shy."

"Why is that?"

"Well what do you say to your muse?"

"I am your muse? But we never met."

"Your night is my muse. I have written many great poems about your night and I guessed you were just as beautiful and mysterious as it."

"Thank you. You are the first to say that."

"Do you want to meet tonight."

"I would like that." answered Luna as the nurse stepped in.

"You are fine you may leave" said the nurse as they King and Princess left.

"So who won?" asked Celestia.

"It is a tie. So you both make a few changes," answered Luna as she went to raise the moon.

"Maybe another time," yawned Celestia as Sombra went outside to meet Luna.

***

A few hours later, Sombra was tired. He had been chatting away with the mare of his dreams. They had promised to meet the following night as well and he was eager to see what would happen.

Author's Note

This was a last minute idea so excuse my lack of anything.Feedback is always appreciated.:pinkiehappy:

The Castle's Secret

Luna was trotting through the castles long halls. She was trying to find her way to the library to make some research on the crystal pony history. Lost, she attempted to make her way back only to stumble upon a passage to the library.

"This wasn't here before. What is this place?" she asked, entering the dark room. There were books of all sorts, scattered all over the floor, many of them ripped and tattered. Most of the books were open and two dark demons emerged, one with eyes a blood red, the other with eyes a reptilian green, staring at the horrified princess.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here, Nightmare?" asked the demon with the red eyes.

"I believe it is an alicorn princess, Shadow." answered the other demon. "What is your name young one?"

"I will never mention my name to a bunch of dark demons!" snarled Luna.

"Darling, we were once real ponies. Under the rule of King Rubinus. Weren't we Shadow?"

"Yes, Nightmare. The king was jealous since we had each other and he was alone."

"But he had his wife!"

"Darling after Queen..."

"DO NOT MENTION HER NAME!"

"Fine. After the Queen died."

"Did you do something bad?"

"No, Princess, no. Nightmare and I were walking by the gazebo and the king saw us. Jealous as he was, he turned us into shadow demons, trapped inside books of dark magic."

"But why would he trap you? He had his sisters, Saphira and Rubine."

"Darling, all families have problems. Some more grave than others."

"What time is it?"

"Sundown, I believe."

"Well... I should...leave. Good bye I guess."

"Wait, Princess! Do not tell anyone about us. We are your little secret, ok? Good"

"OK." answered Luna scared as she ran out of the room. Turning around she watched the secret passage disappear.

Author's Note

Feedback is always appreciated:pinkiehappy: