The Incantation

Storm and Flare stood facing each other, the snow falling in bigger clumps now, and the wind picking up yet again.

"What you've just done is madness, and I only witnessed it out of personal curiosity, not to stand in your way," Storm said, edging away from the possessed pony.

Flare/Sombra laughed, the echos of his voice on the sides of the distant mountains still distinguishable.

"Ha! Assuming you could stand in my way even if you wanted to? Don't make me laugh."

Storm raised an eyebrow. "But...you did just laugh..."

Flare/Sombra frowned. "Enough of this. My plans don't include you - so stay out of my way, if you know what's good for you." Then he walked past Storm, heading back towards the Crystal Empire.

"What are your plans?" Storm questioned him. The reality was that, no matter what they were, they wouldn't be any good.

Flare/Sombra stopped in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder. "Take over Equestria. What else is fit for a king?" He laughed and continued on his way, leaving Storm there wondering how this would effect him.

But Storm wasn't finished. "So, this is why you wanted the crown this whole time? To rule with an iron hoof over Equestria? With King Sombra? This'll never work."

Flare/Sombra moved surprisingly fast, dashing straight up in Storm's face within a split second. Storm studied the face in front of him that portrayed two personalities, two pairs of eyes that seemed to be separate and together simultaneously. And those eyes did not appear amused.

"Tell me, Dark Storm...why won't it work?" the disturbing combination rasped.

"It's simple," Storm replied casually. "The Princesses aren't going to let you, and there are the Elements of Harmony."

"Oh, ho," Flare/Sombra half-laughed. "I have a plan for both of those. Rest assured."

"I'm quite sure you do. However, what do you expect to achieve by 'controlling' Equestria? That sentiment has lost it's luster ages ago."

Flare/Sombra walked over to a nearby tree, putting his hoof on it. "Nothing like ruling over everything in all of Equestria. Nothing can compare to the feeling of absolute control. Without any resistance, without any stronger than I, everything I've desired before is within my reach." He gave Storm a sly grin. "And I'll be sure neither the Princesses nor the Elements get in my way."

Storm raised an eyebrow questioningly. "And you're certain nothing will go amiss?"

"Certain? Of course I am, fool. I'm fused with the mighty King Sombra. I will not fail," he stated with surety. He walked up to Storm and put a hoof on his shoulder. "Let me show you."

Storm wasn't eager to let him, but he relented. "Okay - show me."

The grin he received wasn't even partly Flare's.

It was purely Sombra's.

Never had I felt so alone in my life.

That cell had the worst effect on my growing depression, and the fact that I could see Ponyville out my window only made things hurt even more. If this was how it was going to be for the next 20 years, I don't know if I'll make it.

A guard came by and slipped me something through the bars. It was a small, brown sandwich bag, containing just that - a sandwich. Not a good one, either.

I sighed and ate, staring out the window at Ponyville. The place I could be at right now if I'd done things right. Maybe they would let me go earlier? Maybe there was something I could do to earn time off? When there's a will, there's a way.

And I know there's a way.

I finished the sandwich and stood up, going over to the window and wrapping my hooves around the bars. "Oh, Fluttershy...I wish I could take back everything wrong I did to you and your friends. I would trade it all to be with you right now." I looked back into the cell. "Not that there's a lot to trade away, anyway." I sighed again, feeling tears rolling down my face. "I miss you already."

Flare/Sombra had just taken out the Princess.

The moment after Storm had agreed to allow the duo to show him how his plan to control Equestria, he was teleported to the castle - right in front of Princess Celestia. Before she could react, Flare/Sombra blasted her in the face with some kind of magic that rendered her instantly unconscious. She collapsed on the floor before them.

The very few Royal Guards standing around were scared into running. They didn't even check to see if the Princess was okay.

After that, Flare/Sombra placed a dazed, magic-chained Celestia in Tartarus.

Next he did the same to Luna. And later lured Cadence and Shining Armor to capture as well.

He was actually doing this. His plan was working.

Suddenly, he teleported himself and Storm to Ponyville. They stood in the outskirts of town.

"Why are we here?" Storm asked.

Flare/Sombra began trotting carelessly down the path. "To ensure that the Elements will never be used against me," he called back to him and continued, disappearing behind a group of buildings.

"I want no part in this." Storm sighed and took off into the air, flying back to Canterlot.

Fluttershy sat on the couch with the lights out, sniffling from having cried for the past few hours.

It all ended so quickly. Too quickly for her.

Angel hopped up on the seat beside her, putting his paw on the side of one of her hooves in understanding. She reached over and pet him on the head.

She was finally beginning to understand why she never chose to have a coltfriend before. This was exactly the reason why.

Emerald wasn't her first crush, but he was definitely the first one she'd ever loved and trusted. She'd given him her heart - and more - and he had been lying to her all along. All because he was a criminal trying to avoid punishment.

And she loved him.

The tears fell from her eyes again, like a warm, summer rain. It isn't fair, she thought mournfully, it just isn't fair.

If this was how love went, then she didn't want to ever love again. That morning she'd went out and discovered Emerald in her chicken coop was a memory still fresh in her mind, and a painful one, at that. If only he'd been honest, and not a criminal. He just might have been her one and only.

She burst into tears once again, whimpering and burying her face in her hooves. I'll never love anypony like I loved him ever again...

She wiped the tears from her eyes once again, and decided that Twilight might know a way she could get past the painful sadness that was sure to haunt her for a while. She crawled off the couch and trudged out the door.

Twilight was in her library, going through some books on old laws and methods of punishments, when she heard her front doors open and shut. She glanced over at Spike, who was dozing off on a pile of books stacked on the floor nearby.

"Hmmm," she rubbed her chin and used her horn to light up the room better, not seeing anything. She shrugged and went back to flipping through on of her books.

Something on the other side of the room fell on the floor, startling her. She immediately used her magic to light up the area where the sound originated.

There was nothing, except for a large book lying open on the floor.

Twilight glanced around the room, but there was nopony but her and Spike here.

"Perhaps it's time for me to hit the hay," she whispered, closing the book she was reading and lifting it to place it back on the shelf.

"Perhaps you're right, Princess. Or maybe you just need a little...break from reality."

Twilight slowly turned around, and gasped when she saw a unicorn, with black smoke around him, and purple trailing from his eyes.

And that meant only one thing - he was possessed.

Twilight backed up against the shelf. "Who are you? What's wrong with you?"

He laughed dryly. "Oh, there's nothing wrong with me Princess. But there's about to be something very wrong with you."

She made bolt for Spike, attempting to escape whoever this crazy pony was, but she was halted by magic from the possessed pony. She was completely rendered motionless, and couldn't even open her mouth to cry out. Spike still slept soundly, despite all that had been going on.

The unicorn walked up to the immobile princess. "The Elements can't function without you, can they, my sweet?"

All she could do is watch him out of the corner of her eyes.

He placed a hoof roughly on the side of her face. "No, of course they can't. Especially if nopony can find you, either. Isn't that right, beautiful?" He grinned cruelly.

This guy is insane! she thought, trying everything in her power to get free. Whatever he plans on doing, he knows that the Elements of Harmony can stop him! I have to get the others!

He was looking around the room, rambling on about something, but Twilight wasn't paying him any mind. She was busy trying to use her magic to free herself.

But it was no use. Whatever spell he was using, it was too strong for her.

He stopped talking to himself and wandered over to her. "Oh, yes - I almost forgot. It's your bedtime," he said with a smile. "Goodnight..."

He cast a spell, and Twilight was out instantly.

Fluttershy reached the Golden Oak Library just a few minutes later, knocking hesitantly on the door. "T-Twilight? Can I ...come in? I really need t-to talk to you..."

She stood around and waited. Even though it was late at night, the lights were on in her downstairs room, so she knew Twilight was up.

No answer.

Fluttershy opened the door slightly, peering in. She heard muffled cries somewhere within. "Twilight...?"

There was still no answer, so Fluttershy slipped in, looking around for her friend. She was appalled to find Spike in the middle of the floor, crying and holding on to a torn shred of what appeared to be a saddlebag.

"Spike? What's wrong? Where's Twilight?"

Spike looked up at her, tears streaming down his face. "She was...kidnapped!"

Fluttershy gasped.