The Incantation

        "She's what?" Applejack demanded when Fluttershy told her what had happened to their friend. They were already heading out to get Rarity first, since she was closest.

        Fluttershy went over again what Spike had told her when she'd found him crying in the library. Spike sat quietly on her back, looking around and hoping to spot Twilight somewhere.

        The walk to the Carousel Boutique had been tense for the most part. Applejack was outraged, and as far as Fluttershy could tell, she assumed Twilight's disappearance had something to do with Emerald. The way she kept mentioning his leaving and the attackers that nearly killed him and Fluttershy, she most likely wanted to find him as well.

       When they got to Rarity's place, she didn't answer even after several knocks. So Applejack led them inside to get Rarity up herself.

        Upon entering her bedroom, where she slept soundly with her covers up to her neck, Applejack shook her awake and shouted her name several times. Rarity freaked and fell out of bed.

       "Would it kill you to bring a lady from her slumber less brutally?" Rarity whined and rubbed her head, glaring at Applejack from the floor.

        "Sorry, but this is a matter of importance. Twilight was kidnapped, and we need your help findin' her." Applejack stared back at her, her face completely serious.

        Rarity stood up and made her bed. "Kidnapped? Why, that's terrible! When did this happen? Who's done this atrocity?"

        "I may have seen somepony when they poofed away with Twilight..." Spike spoke up, twiddling his claws.

        They all looked at him.

        "Well, who? What'd they look like? Tell us!"

        He scratched his head. "Weird... He had some kind of magic smoke coming from his face... And he sounded so... Evil... I really couldn't see much in the dark... Sorry guys..."

       Applejack patted his back. "Don't worry 'bout it. At least we have that much. It's enough to go by. But was it Emerald, is the main question."

      "If it were Emerald, he couldn't have poofed away like Spike said..." Fluttershy said, inadvertently defending the former friend.

       "Very true, and good point. I suppose we'll just have to get the others two and head out in search for her," Rarity began packing a bunch of stuff into her saddlebag.

        Applejack paced back and forth. "Good idea. We should let the Princess know 'bout this, too. She can help us find her fer sure."

        "We'll do that first, then. After we get the others, of course." Rarity turned and used her magic to put her saddlebag on. "Let's head out now, shall we?"

        They left and got Pinkie moments later, and after some searching, found Rainbow's cloud condominium. They left for Canterlot soon after, unaware they would not be seeing the princess at all.

        The frozen north greeted me like an old friend when I landed near the castle. The flight there had been long and painful, my wings cramped and sore. It took me all night, and for some reason, it was still night. The sun hadn't risen.

       I trotted around town, searching for a path to the nearby Crystal Forest. I eventually found one, and followed the winding trail through frozen wasteland to the most beautiful forest in existence. The trees were made entirely of crystal, of multiple colors. They all had an evergreen shape, making the brittle needles of glass glitter in the light of the full moon overhead. The path grew narrow, only a few feet across, and I slowed down, staring at the snow-covered ground and singing in pain for the one I loved and lost.

        The auroras flew through the sky over the nearby Crystal mountains, adding to both the serenity and depression of the moment. I ran across a frozen field to a small stream littered with floating ice chunks, flowing gently and quietly through the vastness that was the frozen north.

        I sat on a flat, wide rock beside the stream and stared into the water at the broken reflection of myself. I didn't even recognize me.

        "Who even am I?" I whispered, closing my eyes for a moment and looking up at the waving curtains of light on the mountain tops. "Who am I? I... I don't know anymore... I've lost my friends, family, and lover... And yet I still suffer this unrelenting pain from within... Why? Why must I suffer? What must I do to make it all go away?"

        I knew I wasn't going to get an answer, but it sure felt good to vent. I kept going. "Am I lost? Is it too late? Can I change what I've done and gain the forgiveness of the ones who once loved me? Is it even possible?"

        I closed my eyes as I felt the warmth of my tears in welling up and leaking down my face.

        The wind picked up from a stillness to a gentle breeze, the bone-chillingly cold air making me shiver and grit my teeth. "What can I do...?" My questions went unanswered. If I wanted an answer, I wouldn't get it here, anyway. But the isolation did me good. I didn't want to be around anypony in this state. And I probably didn't deserve to be answered.

        I scanned the sky for a sign that I was heard, but alas, there was nothing.

        As expected, as always.

Instead of feeling sorry for myself, why don't I go and try to fix this mess I've made myself? I turned and plodded back the way I came, a large group of clouds moving in from the mountains and dropping small flakes here and there.

       It would be a long walk back.

        Flare/Sombra sat on the throne - Celestia's throne - grinning widely at their success. The princesses and the Elements were incapacitated. Such luck! Even though this had been planned for months, it seemed to work unnaturally well. It was easier than Flare had imagined. Almost too easy.

        After entering the now abandoned castle, Sombra/Flare had changed the interior to better fit their liking. The banners and such for Celestia and Luna were destroyed, along with the stained glass windows depicting anything to do with either princess, the Elements, or happiness in general. The only happiness in Equestria from here on out would be their own, Sombra/Flare's. Adding his own banners and decorations proclaiming himself as rightful king, the Sombra half made the castle dark and ominous to any who might enter. He received no argument from Flare, who technically now shared his body with the corrupt king from the past. Once this all was finished, they left the castle into Canterlot, in search of something to do.

       The streets were quiet. It was still dark, still cool out, and no pony dared to trot the streets when the moon was out this long. It meant trouble, for which nopony wanted to face.

        Sombra demanded control of the body entirely, whilst Flare denied, allowing him only so much. Sombra wanted only to control him for but a brief moment. Flare agreed to allow him five minutes of absolute control.

        Out in the middle of the street, Sombra's bass-like voice echoed through the night as he hollored: "Citizens  of Canterlot! I am your king now! I am your leader! You will come out from your homes and bow to me!"

        Flare chuckled from within, enjoying the scene of ponies creeping from their homes and nervously bowing to the strange anomaly before them. The street soon filled with their bowing bodies, a god awful silence over them all.

        "Don't forget me," Flare prodded, wanting the satisfaction of being bowed to as well.

        "I'll get to that," Sombra replied, moving between the ponies to a platform in the midst of them. He climbed the wooden stairs to the top and glared down at them. "As your new king, there will be changes! All things dedicated to your former leaders must be piled in the streets and burned in my name! You will be under my supervision, and not to leave your homes unless given permission explicitly by me! The Royal Guard will be mine, and will patrol the streets, ensuring that my commands are obeyed. Failure to comply with these newfound laws will result in death!"

        Flare's smile began to fade. "This is beginning to feel a bit one sided, Sombra. Allow me my glory."

        "In due time, Solar Flare. In due time." He returned his attention to the frightened crowd. "I will be travelling to all major established towns in Equestria, making my point clear as I have here! To those who wish to worship your one and only king, you may do so now, before I go! Now bow!"

        "Sombra, this isn't what I just asked." Flare tried to regain control of his body, but was for some reason unable. It finally dawned on him. "You! You're using me! Let me have control this instant!" Flare raged.

        Sombra chuckled darkly. "Foolish pony. Did you honestly believe that I, King Sombra, would coop with a menial pony such as yourself to rule Equestria? How incredibly ignorant of you. Your body is mine, completely at my disposal. And as for your accusation, I'm using you? Weren't you the one you reincarnated me with that dreadful spell to control me and my power, solely for the sake of you conquering Equestria? Who's the controller, the user, now?"

        Sombra grinned ruefully down at the ponies, watching them bow over and over. "In my control, in my possession. I have it all!"

        Flare had made a grave mistake.