A Story told Differently.

I can hardly imagine that it is been four years of me living in Equestria.  Under the generosity of the sun goddess, and in the understanding heart of the moon goddess, I had thought I had lived a pretty good life for the last few years.  Meeting the mane six was interesting enough, although to be honest with myself I could consider them friends but they seem more like acquaintances as they visit Canterlot every now and then. I had made many friends with my time here. But the two ponies that I can truly call my friends came in the form of Shining Armor and Princess Cadance.

I’d always wondered where our journey would take us. I most certainly thought I’d never be fighting my best friend Shining. I somehow felt like I had seen this story before, but here in the snow it didn’t quite matter.

I’m here.

I am fighting.

And I am bleeding.

Far off into the Frozen Mountains north of the Crystal Empire is where we are now. I’m not exactly sure where we are but all I knows the one who stands before me is Shining Armor.  He was my first friend, my first teacher, and the first one to see me as an equal when I first came to this world of ponies. But now he stands before me corrupted and lost in the hatred of the darkness that consumed him. I clutch my sword as tightly as I could to defend myself against the onslaught of the pale blue eyes that shine’s in the snow. That unnatural glow that comes from the power of the blade he now wields. His strikes are hard and ruthless, but I am swift enough to dodge, evade, and strike back. Shining had taught me all he knows of military combat. And even as a pony he taught me a great deal of fighting as a bipedal.

“Shining!” I yell through the harsh winds of the Frozen Mountains. “Fight it! Don’t let the darkness consume you!”

Another downward swing that I deflect as it slides off the blade and a spark of magic and steel. I counterattack with a swift thrust and he blinks away quickly evading my attack. A sudden magic burst comes from his horn but manages to do nothing. I am very thankful for the pendant the Princess Cadance has given me. The pink heart-shaped pendant protects me from most forms of magic. This little pink pendant is likely the only thing keeping me alive.

“Shining!” I cried out again. “You’re strong enough to fight it! Remember who you are! Remember those who you are trying to protect. You and the Princess have defeated Queen Chrysalis! You can defeat this darkness!”

He rushes at me with a strong forward thrust and I connect and hold them but he is strong enough to push me through the snow although I hold ground. I quickly do a spin and do a sideswipe with my sword that is almost as fast enough to leave a mirror image due to Luna’s enchantment of my blade. With the unnatural strength, he blocks and holds the blades in place.  He quickly closes the gap in his muzzle is right in front of my face. I am unable to tell if he is turning into King Sombra or turning into Nightmare Shining.

“This fool is gone, and I have taken his place.” He snarls “The Knight and his Princess thought he could defeat me with the crystal heart! But it is I who had destroyed him.”

With a monstrous force he had thrown me back as I stumbled back, but I quickly gain my footing in the deep snow. I honestly do not know how much longer I will last. The one thing I do know is that voice was not Shining Armor’s

“Sombra” I whisper. I have never heard his voice before but I just knew that it was King Sombra

“Yes. He has found my blade and now I have his vessel and his soul is now my slave.” The deep voice of Sombra evilly smiles in delight. “But, I must commend you for managing to save the Princess. Oh how easily she had fallen for the idea that her dear Knight has returned.  And I would’ve returned to my Empire of crystals!” He roared

I wanted to laugh and give some snarky comments of how the heroes will always triumph. Not this time though, Princess Cadance was still greatly injured as I had barely made it in time to stop him. As an act of vengeance he had teleported himself and me out of the throne room of the Crystal Empire to somewhere in the deep Frozen Mountains.

“You have made this a great deal harder for me and for that you will pay.” He stands pose ready to strike. “For your insolence you will become my weapon of death.” King Sombra lunges hard and fast using magic to blink into difficult places to block as my blade blocks, he uses his magic to blink again into another area for another strike where I barely managed defend. He is too fast and I am too injured and with another swift strike he knocks me down with a force I am unable to stand from. “Now kneel, and call me master.”

“Never.” I croak out. Coughing up blood is one of the worst feelings I have felt, because I knew I was spent.

“I will enjoy a breaking you.”

With the magic holding his blade high, I stared at the abyss refusing to blink.

I do not know what had happened after that all I had saw was a blinding light with two Alicorns standing in front of me. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna have come to my rescue. I no longer can hear or feel my environment all I know is that the magic that was used was intense. The roar of Sombra and the battle cries of the royal sisters were all that can be heard within the howling winds. It was all but a moment but then a monstrous laugh can be heard as he cried out “this isn’t over.” And he dissipates into the shadow taking the image of Shining with him.

As I collapse into the snow I vaguely hear Luna shouting my name. I keep my focus on her to let her know that I’m alive. As I was looked over by Luna my thoughts were that of Cadance hoping she’s okay and that I will be sure to defeat Sombra.

“Stay with us Sir Michael, Please hear mine voice.” Princess Luna cries out to me as she uses her hooves to clutch me close.

I wince at the loud voice of the Princess of the moon “Please don’t use the Canterlot voice Luna, I’m already half deaf.” I smile weakly as I stare into her eyes and starry mane. Princess Luna smiles and my weak attempt at a joke.

“You are safe. We will make sure you’re patched right up.” Princess Celestia’s soothing voice cuts through this ice cold wind, “but we need to leave now Luna or else his injuries might heal in time.” Her concern runs deep as he can hear a slight panic in her voice. “Whatever dark magic that King Sombra had used may make the healing process worse if we don’t reduce it quickly.”

Luna nodding at her sister’s command she hoists me on her back as she prepares to fly into the sky with her magic keeping me warm. As we are flying back I’m remembering everything that had led to this moment I had shared a similar story with Shining as he was training me back at Canterlot Military Academy. It was the story of a fallen Prince and the rise of an Evil King. Regardless of how my memories play out in a similar fashion, all I know is that I need to be at Princess Cadance’s side and that I need to prepare.

I never wanted to be a hero. I never wanted to fight. But here I am and I am wondering should I play out the story I once told Shining Armor or create something new. That is my last thought before I pass out on Luna’s back.