Starlight walks through the barren tundra of the cold north of Equestria. She was relieved to finally be off the mountains and onto some flat ground. Unfortunately that ground was covered in two feet of snow and another snow storm was beginning to brew. It had been three months since she fled from those back stabbing ponies. She still couldn't believe that after all she gave to them they still betrayed her. "If only it wasn't for that annoying purple alicorn," she said to herself, "If only I can get my hooves on her I'll teach her a lesson or two."
The storm grows stronger and Starlight's vision begins to blur due to the thick and hard snowfall. She peers as hard she can and looks around for a cave to take shelter in. She finally spots a small opening in the side of the mountain. She runs as fast as she can to the cave before the storm can get any stronger. She eventually reaches the cave and takes shelter within it's cavernous walls.
Starlight lights up her horn to make the inside of the cave more visible. Not much is seen except for the dirt floor, a few rocks and "Hello what's this," Starlight asks herself. She notices a funny looking in the center of the cave, or at least it looks like a rock from a distance. Starlight walks closer to the supposed rock and finds that it's actually a red and black, curved unicorn horn. "Damn, that must have hurt that guy." Starlight tries to pick up the horn but when her magic grabs it an image flashes in front of her briefly showing a black unicorn stallion covered in armor and green eyes with purple steam coming out of them.
Starlight drops the horn and backs away quickly, "What the Tartarus was that," she shouts. Suddenly she hears a whisper in the air; it's too faint that it could be mistaken for the wind. Starlight's legs begin to shake in fear, she knows that she is not the only one in this cave.
The whisper is heard again only louder this time and clearer, "Free me," it says.
"Wh-who are you," Starlight hesitantly asks.
"I am the once and true ruler of the Crystal Empire, I am the shadow to the suns light," said the voice, "I am King Sombra."
Starlight started trembling with fear when she heard the voice's name. She knew about Sombra and how cruel of a leader he was before Princess Celestia defeated him. "What do you want with me," she asks him.
"You have found my horn that contains what's left of my spirit. Free me so that I may take back what is rightfully mine."
Starlight wasn't sure what to do. She knew that she can easily free Sombra's spirit but what does she get in return. Let's see, wealth; money isn't a concern of hers. Love, no that's a stupid thing to request. There has to be something, she's about to free the one of the most powerful unicorns in all of...wait a minute, that's it! Starlight's fear began to slip away after she figured out how to bargain with this spirit. "Why do you want me?"
"I can sense the power inside, you are a very talented unicorn. You have the power to free me from my prison."
"I already know that, but what do I get in return?"
"Well you certainly are a tough customer." The spirit thought about it for a moment, "If you free me, I will teach you all that I know in the dark arts of magic. You learn more than you have ever learned in your past years of study."
Well that was an easy bargain. "You have a deal," said Starlight smugly.
"Perfect," exclaimed the Spirit, "Now free me, miss?"
"Starlight, Starlight Glimmer."
"Miss Starlight, quickly free me!"
"I'm getting to it, don't your mane tangled."
Starlight walked back to the black and red horn. She concentrated on the horn and shot her bluish green magic. The horn began to vibrate violently, then it started to spin around as it levitated into the air. The horn was now spinning at a rapid pace. Black smoke began to leak out of the center of the spinning horn. Soon the horn exploded into a huge cloud of black smoke, knocking Starlight onto her back.
As Starlight opened her eyes ,and as the smoke began to clear, before her was the same unicorn ,that she saw before, kneeling on the ground, it was Sombra.
Sombra got onto his feet, lifting his head to stretch. "Oh it's great to feel the dirt beneath my hooves, the wind in my fur, and," his neck made a sudden popping noise, "ack, and the cramps in my neck."
"Are you alright," Starlight asked.
"Well being stuck inside a horn for the past two years isn't exactly the most comfortable thing in the world." Sombra stretched out the rest of his body. Once he was loosen up, he began to walk out of the cave.
"Hey where are you going," asked Starlight.
"We have to work to do, come on," responded Sombra.
"But the blizzard in still going, we have to wait till it passed."
Sombra grunted as we walked out of the cave. Outside, he concentrated as he began to conjure up what dark magic he has. The resulting outcome was a giant explosion that blew away all of the storm clouds. The land was now calm and peaceful, not a single cloud in sight, all was left in the sky was the sun. Starlight walked out and shocked to see the entire sky clear.
"You see," said Sombra, "Dark magic can do far more than any other magic. Now come, we have to go somewhere."
"But I thought you were going to teach me dark magic?"
"I will teach you on the way there." Sombra began walking west of the land.
Starlight, confused, followed her new mentor anyway. "So where are we going any why?"
"Sweet Celestia you ask a lot of questions," he sighs, "If I'm going to take back my empire I am going to need some help. I have a friend that lives on the outskirts of Equestria that is for sure to help us and another stuck in Tartarus who would do be more than happy to have revenge on those who put him there."
With that said, Sombra continued to walk west into the snow covered wasteland. Starlight, while still unsure about her new mentor, followed Sombra. She was still confused by his vague explanations and his unusual behavior, but she has a feeling that this stallion will give her more than just knowledge of a magic.
Celestia wakes to find herself in the middle of a dark room. She can't see anything, only the black void is visible to her eyes. She looks around frantically to see if she can make some sense of where she's at. "Hello," she cries out, "Is anypony out there?" Silence is her answer, she assumes that she is alone. However, a faint noise is heard. The noise sounds like laughter but it's hard to tell. "Hello," she cries to the voice, "Who's there?"
The laughter grows louder, but the laughter has a maniacal tone to it. As grows louder, Celestia is able to hear that laughter is not coming from one but three sources. Fear creeps up on her as she tries to run away as the laughter grows closer. Her running is brought to a halt by a circle of green and yellow flames encircling around her, trapping her inside. "Where do you think you're going Celestia," says a female voice of malice, "We just got here."
"Who are you," asked Celestia.
"Don't you recognize us princess," said a deep male voice of hatred. Walking through the flames came three figures; one resembled a monstrous centaur, another a tall, slim bug like pony, and another a broad bodied unicorn. When they got closer, they revealed to be Lord Tirek, Queen Chrysalis, and King Sombra. Celestia couldn't believe her eyes, "What do you want with me?"
"You have given us quite some trouble in the past Celestia," said Sombra, "Ripped me from my throne."
"Starved me and my people," said Chrysalis.
"And turned my own brother against me," said Tirek.
"You all deserved what you got," said Celestia accusingly.
"Maybe, but you have given us so much trouble that we're no in debt to you," said Sombra.
"And I believe that it's time we paid you back," said Tirek.
"Watch your rump princess, we're coming for you," said Chrysalis.
Out from the flames and behind the trio came another figure. This figure was smaller than the other three. When she got closer she resembled purple and green female unicorn. She neared Celestia with her horn fully lite up. Suddenly a huge a blast of magic came from the unicorn and shot at Celestia.
Celestia wakes up in her bed, her body drenched in a cold sweat of fear. She breaths heavily, trying to catch her breath. Another nightmare, when's this going to end, she thought to herself. Her thoughts are interrupted when her bedroom door bursts open and Princess Luna runs in. "Sister, are you alright," Luna said frantically, "I felt your distress when you woke up, what happened?"
"Nothing dear sister," responded Celestia as she gets out of bed, "Just another nightmare."
"Sister, you've been having these nightmares ever since Tirek was defeated," said Luna, "Are you sure you're alright?"
"I'm fine," Celestia puts on her crown and royal brace, "Come, we have much to prepare for tonight's Gala."
"Sister I don't think you should help since..."
"I said I'm Luna, now let's get going," Celestia said sternly as she walked out of her room leaving Luna alone in it.
This new behavior in her sister certainly did not sit well with Luna. It's been nearly a year since Tirek's defeat and Celestia is still having nightmares. Luna tried in the past to help her sister let go of these fears but no matter what she tries it just seems that after one goes away a new and more powerful one comes in. Luna is far too worried that her sister may become paranoid of her fear. This is something that eats at Luna, her sister in trouble and she can't do anything about it. She prays that this trouble won't escalate into something far more dangerous.
"Ok, Applejack has the food all ready, Rarity says the dresses will be done before this afternoon," says Spike as he looks over Twilight's Gala checklist, "Pinkie Pie has the entertainment planned, Fluttershy says her bird choir is ready, and Rainbow Dash and the Wonderbolts are ready to perform."
"Are you sure that's everything, I don't want to disappoint Princess Celestia," says Twilight. Twilight has been tasked for the second year in a row to plan the Gala. After last year's fiasco, she doesn't want anything going wrong this time around.
Spike scans through the checklist, "yep that's everything."
"And are you sure Discord isn't bringing any other unexpected guests, I don't want another smoosh incident."
"He's coming with Fluttershy, remember?"
"Right, I'm just a little worried that's all."
Spike rolls his eyes, "What's there to worry about? Celestia already trusts you'll do a good job or she wouldn't have picked you for this assignment."
"I know I just don't want to let her down."
"And I doubt you will," says a voice at Twilight's bedroom door. Standing at the door is Celestia, looking proud of her former star student.
"Princess Celestia, what are you doing here," asks Twilight as she rushes over to meet her.
"I came to see how preparations are coming," said Celestia.
"There going grand," said Spike, "We have just about everything covered for tonight."
"Almost," said Twilight, "We're still double checking the list to see if we missed anything."
"Double checking for the fifteenth time," groaned Spike who got a glare from Twilight for his comment.
"That's good to hear," said Celestia. A long, awkward pause follows and the trio start to become a little uncomfortable. "Well, I best head down to the ball room and see how decorations are coming, see you tonight Twilight." Celestia turned and left the dragon and young alicorn.
"Well that was awkward," says Spike as he walks over a dresser to put up the list and his quill pen.
"Hey Spike," says Twilight, catching the dragon's attention, "have you noticed that Celestia is acting very different lately?"
"A little bit, I ran into her early and asked if she wanted to raid the kitchen for some cake and she turned me down. I found it odd since she absolutely loves cake."
"Wait so frosting on your claws from early wasn't from helping decorating the cakes?"
"Uuuhhh."
"Never mind, what were we about to do?"
Spike thought that this could his chance to finally stop "double checking" and have some fun, "About to get a bite to eat, I'm getting pretty hungry."
"Why don't we look over the check list one more time before we eat?"
"I should've known you were going to say that," Spike says as he picks up the check list and quill pen.
