"Hope, in reality, is the worst of all evils, because it prolongs the torments of man."
Friedrich Nietzsche

The narrow tenebrous corridor echoed with the sound of trampling hooves, as the king rushed towards his destination. There were no torches on the walls, no chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, no windows through which the sun could shine; the entire passage was pitch black, eternally shrouded in mystery. Even the air seemed unwelcoming, as it reeked with the stench of brimstone.

Sombra was in a secluded section of the castle, far from the eyes of any other pony. He had discovered this area by sheer luck, after he had taken power. It had been guarded by a secret doorway, tucked behind massive crystal walls which seemed unbreakable. The monarch initially intended to clear that particular area in order to expand his dungeon. However, much to the stallion's surprise, when he used his shadow magic to blast the crystal barrier, instead of shattering, the walls started to shift, creating an opening wide enough for a pony to get through.

When he had reached the end of the crystal tunnel, he saw a marvelous sanctum which his predecessor had created. It housed numerous treasures and supplies which were to be used should dark times fall upon the Crystal Empire.

Deciding the location would be more suitable for his insidious purposes, the black unicorn seized all the valuables and transformed the room into his personal laboratory. He then corrupted the crystal barrier, making it turn as black as the moonless night, and forbade any of his subjects from going anywhere near the mysterious wall.

Now, the monarch found himself in need of one of his most sinister creations. Threading the narrow hall, he reached a massive door. It was a most bizarre construct: it had no handles, no keyhole, no locks, just a small opening at the bottom. Due to the utter lack of light, one would have to know it was there beforehand, since it was next to impossible to even notice it.

Lighting up his horn, Sombra used his dark powers to bring his shadow to life, making it take the shape of a serpent and slither through the small crack under the gate. Once it had reached the other side, it crawled towards a huge metal lever and pulled it, causing the massive door to open slowly.

The king entered the laboratory and his shade return to its original form. He went before a nearby pillar and zapped it with his magic. It began to vibrate and gradually illuminate, emitting peculiar purple rays which brightened up the lugubrious chamber.

The room contained numerous doors, each sealed with complicated locking mechanisms and marked with strange symbols.

Looking around, the stallion scratched his head, trying to remember the one that he needed. After a few minutes, he recalled and marched towards the left-most gate. Wiping the dust of the symbol, the king took another glance at it and a wicked smile appeared on his face, as he slowly said, "This is it!"

Sombra then went to a massive cabinet in the middle of the chamber and opened the drawer which had the same marking as the one on the door he sought to enter. It contained five bizarre crystal shards, each with several holes and spikes, resembling 3D puzzle pieces. Lifting them using his telekinesis, the monarch fiddled with the parts as he attempted to assemble them. This went here … no … rotate then push … I mean push then rotate then rotate the other one. Curses, how did this thing go again? Even though he had done it countless times, combing the shards was a complicated process that required his full attention.

After several minutes, he had managed to succeed and took the assembled pieces to the door, inserting them in a similarly-shaped gap. From the other side of the barrier, mechanisms could be heard turning and grinding, as the latches opened. A thick dark smoke came out, with an otherworldly stench that would have made any other pony puke, but which Sombra seemed to enjoy.

Walking inside, the king found himself before three pony-sized obsidian crystals, arranged in a line. As if sensing their master approaching, the constructs began to glow with an eerie red aura and emit a sinister sound, resembling the simultaneous screams of thousands of tortured ponies.

With a mischievous sparkle in his eyes, Sombra approached the middle crystal and gently touched it with his hoof, causing it to gleam even brighter. Through the thick walls of the gem, one could notice the outline of a pony lying inside.

Not willing to wait any longer, Sombra ordered, "Break out!" his booming voice echoing off the walls of the narrow room.

Suddenly, the three crystals began to shake wildly, as small cracks appeared on their outer layer. The screams they emitted became louder and louder, as tiny shards started to fall. After a few seconds, the constructs shattered completely, and from each of them an ominous looking stallion stepped out.

They were revolting. Their fur had an unnatural color, darker than black, appearing to absorb any light in the room. Their size and constitution resembled that of young colts, but their bodies were full of sickly wrinkles, similar to those of extremely old ponies. The creatures were so skinny that their rib-cages were practically visible. Black crystal growths, resembling boils, could be found all over their twisted bodies.

Perhaps most minacious were their faces: the ponies had no eyes, only two dark holes in their place; looking into them was like gazing into a bottomless pit, like starting into the abyss. Their teeth resembled fangs, long and sharp, saliva and blood dripping off of them and onto the floor.

As Sombra lit up his red horn to look upon them, their bodies cast no shadows. They were the king's most vile creations. Snatched from their mothers when they were young, these poor unfortunate souls were dragged by the black unicorn himself into his laboratory and magically fused with the spirits of umbrums. They were then encased in crystal shells as they symbiotically bonded with the evil creatures, becoming the wretched abominations they were today.

Taking great pride in seeing his experiment had been a success, the king spoke up, "My loyal Tenebras, your master calls upon your services. Fortune has smiled upon us, and the location of the accursed Crystal Heart has been revealed to me. Its power is the one thing which can stop our ascension, so I dare not trust any other pony with retrieving it. South of my castle, you will find a narrow mountain pass. Close to its exit, there are vast arctic plains, filled with all sorts of revolting animals. A family of snow bunnies likely has our gem hidden in one of their lairs. Destroy every single burrow, look under every hole, scour the entire tundra if you have to, just find that artifact and bring it to me. Do not fail if you want our brethren to be free!"

The three creatures bowed their heads synchronously. As if sharing a single mind, they simultaneously ran at demonic speed towards the door and existed the laboratory, rushing towards their destination.

As the Tenebras stormed out of the castle, any crystal ponies they came across ran out of their way with a profound sense of dread. It wasn't the first time the servants had seen shadowy creatures scouring the grounds of their master's keep, and they knew better than to interfere with Sombra's plans.

In a matter of minutes, the shadow ponies had already reached the plains. The vast northern landscape stood before them, teeming with hundreds of small creatures trying to find something to eat.

Without even sketching a gesture, the three Tenebras ran in complementary directions, each trying to cover a similar area and find their master's prize. As if completely devoid of feelings, the creatures tore apart every single lair and burrow they came across, not caring for the animals which were scurrying left and right. The stallions even killed any critters they suspected could be carrying the gem, although most of them were just trying to escape with some of their food.

At a supernatural pace, the Tenebras scoured the terrain, tirelessly searching every nook and cranny. Any animals foolish enough to attack them, such as frost wolves or polar bears, would immediately regret it. The shadow ponies were vicious and fully prepared to deal with any threat. Their speed and strength was far superior to that of any arctic mammal, and their sharp teeth could shred effortlessly through flesh and bone. They could even extend the dark crystals boils on their bodies into the shape of spikes and scratch their attackers if needed.

No creature in the plains was safe. In a matter of hours, the pristine white landscape was splattered with crimson stains, as Sombra's malefic creations continued their pursuit of the heart.

Finally, one of the Tenebras found the den of a particular family of chubby arctic bunnies. With brutal strength, it hit the ground with its hooves, rapidly digging so that it could reach the interior. When the hole became large enough, the shadow stallion stuck its snout inside and viciously grabbed one of the bunnies, flinging it far away. Sensing danger, the other rabbits scurried outside through the other holes, one of them carrying a peculiar object in its mouth.

As the insidious stallion was shredding their lair, he could feel his skin starting to burn as a ray of white light reflected off the snow and onto his fur. Turning its head towards the source of the disturbance, it could sense a harmful source of magic. Knowing it had to be the Crystal Heart, the Tenebra rushed towards it.

The bunny could hear its pursuer approaching. Not wanting to disappoint the kind pegasus who had entrusted it with the important mission, it increased its pace, running faster than ever before, but it was still far too slow to outrun the foul creature chasing it. Hoping to go out in a blaze of glory, the bunny put the artifact down and charged at the stallion, lunging at his hoof with its teeth.

The shadow steed just aggressively pushed the critter away, flinging it several yards into the air. Afterwards it approached the object which was lying in the snow in front of him. When he touched it with his hoof, the gem emitted a powerful energy which singed the stallion, creating several burn marks in its disgusting flesh.

The other two Tenebras appeared in a matter of minutes, as if already knowing that their comrade had discovered the artifact. Realizing the jewel still radiated powerful magic which was very harmful to their bodies, the three ponies surrounded it and began thinking of a way to return it to their master.

After a few minutes of silence, they moved towards the heart. Without saying anything to one another or even making a gesture, all three knew what to do. One of the ponies quickly picked it up and flung it in the air towards one of his colleagues. In the meantime, the third Tenebra ran forward. When the other shadow pony caught the relic, it burned his flesh, but it didn't matter, as a few moments later he had already flung it towards his comrade, who was racing ahead.

The three stallions proceed to pass the Crystal Heart around them, as they ran forward, rushing back to King Sombra.

"The starving ponies are having a hard time supplying the metal needed by our smiths to make weapons," explained the old adviser, as he looked towards his monarch while nervously tapping his front hoof.

"I already told you, I have no need for their services anymore. My soldiers have enough weapons. There are more spears, swords and maces than there are ponies in my army. Those pathetic weaklings can grow their own food if they wish to survive the winter. Next matter!" retorted the king, while sitting upon his crystal throne and sipping nectar from a golden cup.

Gulping heavily and trying to find the courage to speak up, the old pony replied, "But … but … my lord. There are more than one thousand of your subjects in that region. The soil is rocky and arid, unfit for agriculture. There are no skilled farmers in the area, only miners. They cannot …"

Looking at his servant with malice, Sombra got up and shouted, "NEXT MATTER!" his words thundering across the throne room in a way similar to the Canterlot voice.

The adviser's legs started to shake, as he looked with horror at his notes, trying to identify the next issue his master had to address. Upon finding it, he silently read the title, which stated, ‘Soldiers running out of rations near Yanhoover'. Gazing up towards the tyrant, nervous drops of sweat fell from his forehead, as the old pony mumbled, too afraid to say anything.

Rolling his eyes, Sombra grunted furiously and said, "Are you losing your hearing in your old age? Maybe the time has come for me to look for a new …"

Before he could finish his sentence, the monarch felt a strange twinge. It was as if a surge of unexpected power began flowing through him. His mane fluttered wildly and his shadow became agitated, moving of its own will. He knew what this sensation meant: his Tenebras were close by.

The old adviser was still shocked. Aware that his master was starting to get upset, he tried to think of a way to formulate the news so that it wouldn't seem so unpleasant. "My king … our troops are making great progress near …"

"SILENCE!" interrupted the monarch, as he got off the throne and walked towards the entrance of the throne room.

Sombra felt like a colt anxiously anticipating his birthday present. The Tenebras were coming. Had they found the gem? Would he soon have the Crystal Heart? Had his plans paid off? All these questions were flying through the king's mind, making him jittery and inpatient, as he rapidly tapped the floor with his hooves, waiting for his dark servants to barge in.

Suddenly, the doors swung open and the three shadow ponies appeared. Their decrepit bodies were covered with burn marks. After entering the room, they bowed their heads before the black unicorn.

Upon seeing them, the monarch quickly rushed towards his creations and immediately asked, "Well … did you find it?" while shaking his tail like a naïve colt.

One of the Tenebras extended his leg and placed a necklace with a small white gem before the tyrant. The three creatures then proceeded to take a few steps back, trying to avoid being in close proximity to the relic, less they would be harmed even more.

Sombra looked at the item for several minutes before daring to do anything else. He kept wandering if this was all a dream, a sweet fantasy. Could the object before him, such a minuscule jewel, truly be the Crystal Heart? Gazing attentively upon it, the stallion noticed it had the shape and sparkle of the mystical relic. In addition, being in its presence made the tyrant feel weaker, albeit only by an insignificant amount.

Taking slow breaths, he extended his leg and touched the gem. The black unicorn then felt a sharp shock surging through his body, but was more than capable of handling the pain, as he lifted the necklace and stared at the ornament.

He was not dreaming. There was no doubt in his mind. This was indeed the Crystal Heart. He was holding the one thing which stood between him and total dominion over the world. He knew what had to be done.

After remembering the suffering the artifact had caused him when he had been a colt, Sombra took big gulps to clear the lump that had formed in his throat and then charged up his red horn with the most powerful magic he had. I can do this said the monarch to himself, after which he proceeded to blast the Crystal Heart with an intense shadow bolt, hoping to corrupt it. A shining white light was emitted throughout the throne room, as the pristine gem fought back against the malefic influence of the shadow king.

Sweat was pouring from Sombra's forehead, his legs were shaking as he intensified the beam, desperately trying to bring his plans to fruition. After a few more minutes, the light of the Crystal Heart began to fade, as it became completely engulfed in the stallion's sorcery. Moments later, a shriek echoed through the chamber and a massive spark of radiant light flashed before the king's eyes.

Taking a second to recover, the black unicorn looked upon the jewel again and noticed it wasn't shining as bright as it used to. Even more, to his infinite delight, he observed a minuscule black crystal starting to appear over the heart. His eyes lit it with joy and a demented grin appeared on his face.

He had done it. His dark magic was beginning to corrupt the Crystal Heart. Without any hope around to feed its might, the magical artifact's power was gone and Sombra's insidious sorcery was slowly engulfing it. Soon, the heart would be fueled by despair and suffering and thus increase the tyrant's abilities tenfold, granting him godlike powers.

After pinching himself hard to make absolutely sure he wasn't dreaming, the stallion lifted the gem in the air and shouted, "I have the POWEEEEER!" as numerous bolts of abyssal lightning started flying out of the relic and throughout the throne room, damaging its walls.

The king didn't care however, he was in a world of pure rapture. He felt almighty, unstoppable, immortal. His mind drifted away, filling his head with sweet fantasies. He envisioned all of Equestria in flames, ponies running scared left and right as his armies made their way into the capitol. He saw fillies and colts in chains, dragged out of their homes and forced to serve as his slaves for all eternity. He imagined Canterlot Castle crumbling, the princesses sobbing at his feet, begging their new master for forgiveness, desperately imploring him to spare their lives, promising to fulfill all of his wishes. Soon, he would be king undisputed, respected, saluted and seen for the wonder he was.

The Tenebras simultaneously bowed before their overlord.

The old adviser lowered his head and shed a silent tear, realizing what this turn of events would mean for the entire world.

After coming out of his fantasy, Sombra laughed hysterically for several minutes, caressing the Crystal Heart next to his chest with sincere passion, similarity to the way a love-struck stallion would hold on to an amorous letter from his crush.

Turning towards his adviser, he commanded, "You are to immediately instruct all of my generals to hold the line. Send news to all fronts, all bases and all camps. Tell them to stop their advance and just hold their positions. Soon, the final assault on Canterlot will commence. Also, inform the battalion next to Cloudsdale that their king will be joining them on the battlefield shortly. Do I make myself clear?"

With a sad tone, the old pony responded, "Crystal clear, my lord. Anything else?"

"Yes," replied Sombra, donning a sinister sneer on his visage. Before he would leave for the front lines, there was one more thing the king wanted to do. "I have to say a proper goodbye to six very special ponies. Tell my servants to gather all the prisoners which were captured in the mountain pass and bring them to the Dark Tower by evening. Make sure they are secured and awaiting my visit."

"Understood, my liege!" replied the adviser, as he departed the room.

Sombra then looked upon his most precious creations and ordered them to approach him. Even though the Crystal Heart still retained some of its power, the light it radiated was no longer strong enough to inconvenience the Tenebras in any way.

With extreme pride in his heart, the black unicorn commented, "Well done faithful servants. Once Equestria is ours, I shall have enough power to unleash our brethren upon the world. For your services you will be greatly rewarded. I shall make you the generals of my army of darkness. Now go and guard the exit to the prison. Make sure no one escapes."

The creatures immediately departed to execute their master's order without sketching a reaction.

Putting on the necklace with the jewel attached to it, Sombra began slowly walking towards his private chamber, in order to prepare for the special meeting he was going to attend later. Wagging his tail wildly and stroking the relic, the stallion commented, "What sort of host would I be if I didn't thank my guests for this ... magical gift? Ha ha ha!"

Soldiers frantically rushed towards the cells in which the mares were locked in, desperate to fulfill their master's wishes as soon as possible.

Twilight's chamber was the first to be opened, as it was closets to the entrance. Several guards rushed in, wielding spears and whips, ready to drag the mare along if she refused to cooperate.

Upon seeing her visitors, the purple unicorn greeted them with a glare of contempt. She was sitting on the floor and didn't stand up when the stallions entered.

One of the jailers approached her and commanded with a strict tone, "Get up and follow us. Now!"

Knowing that wherever her destination was it wouldn't be a pleasant one, the mare inquired, "Where are you taking me?"

Upset by her response, several guards pointed their weapons at her and one of them replied, "You will find out soon enough. Now move!"

Realizing she had a better chance of escaping is she cooperated, Twilight got up and went near her visitors. The stallions then immediately proceeded to place heavy chains around her ankles, as they shoved her out of them room.

The next one to receive company was Rarity. All alone in her cell, the mare saw several soldiers rushing through the corridor, stopping at her door. Upon looking at them, the white unicorn realized she was not going to achieve anything if she tried to flirt, so she reluctantly walked towards the gate, asking with a dull tone, "What do you want?"

Opening the bars, one of the jailers ordered "You are to come with us prisoner," as he approached the mare and cuffed her forelegs.

Rarity looked at her captors and noticed that one of them was the visitor she had had the night before. She gave him a vindictive gaze, which caused the young soldier to take a few steps back and hide behind one of his colleagues.

As she was dragged away, the dressmaker walked passed the timid guard, stared at him with contempt and affirmed, "You don't know what you missed kid!"

Surprised, one of the young crystal pony's colleagues asked, "What was that about?"

With nervous sweat falling from his brow, the guard replied, "I saw nothing, I know nothing!"

Rainbow Dash and Applejack heard the soldiers marching down the corridor. The earth pony was feeling much better, but still ached from the agonizing experience she had gone through the other day.

Once again wishing to protect her friend, the pegasus jumped in front of the door and tried to look as scary as she could, but took a few steps back when she saw no less than twenty guards armed to the teeth approaching them.

The jailers immediately opened the door and pointed their sharp weapons towards the couple. "If you try anything stupid, you won't live to regret it," threatened one of the guards as he approached the mares, carrying heavy chains with which to bind them.

"Where are you taking us?" asked a puzzled Applejack.

"Where you need to go. Now shut up and follow us!" exclaimed a bulky crystal pony.

Three soldiers opened the door of Pinkie Pie's cell and stormed in. They were greeted by the sight of the mare counting the bricks in her cell, "2843 … 2844 … Oh hey there!"

Knowing the king would be most displeased if they would delay too much, the jailers immediately approached the mare and placed a chain around her feet, locking it tightly.

Struggling against her bindings, the earth pony asked, "Are we playing a game?"

Not wanting to waste time, the stallions tugged aggressively, dragging the mare out of her cell, shouting "Come with us you crazy pony, and stop asking questions."

Pinkie Pie's tone then instantly changed from cheerful to eerily macabre, as she gave the guards an insane stare and commented, "After we are done with this you should come by my place. We will make … CUPCAKES!"

Four soldiers made their way to the most well-guarded level of the prison, where the yellow pegasus was kept. Opening the bolted door, they went into the minuscule cell, holding a lantern so they could see.

Fluttershy was huddled up in a corner crying, unwilling to even open her eyes as she heard the stallions barge in.

The biggest of the jailers grabbed the mare by her foreleg and forcefully pulled her outside, causing the shy pony to let out a scream of pain. His colleagues then proceeded to chain the legs of the still sobbing pegasus, as they escorted her away.

The Dark Tower was the name Sombra had given to the tallest spire in the Crystal Castle, which overlooked the entire land. During the reign of the former princess, it had been a symbol of joy and hope, the place from which she would great her subjects, but once the black unicorn had taken power, it had been repurposed into an interrogation chamber.

Adhering to their king's command, some soldiers had already prepared the room, as was customary whenever unfortunate ponies would be sent there. Six wooden pillars had been placed in a semi-circle around the center of the chamber, thick roped lined up next to each of them.

As the mares were dragged in one by one, the crystal ponies tied them all up in the same position: they were forced to stand up on only their hind legs and placed with the full length of their backs next to the pillars, while their forelegs were firmly bound behind the wooden poles; their hind legs were then tied together, preventing them from moving.

Once all six prisoners were secured, the stallions exited the room and proceeded to guard the entrance, waiting for their king to show up.

For the first time after having become prisoners of the Crystal Empire the mane six were together again.

Looking around the room, Pinkie Pie was overjoyed to see that all of her friends were there with her. Her eyes lit up with relief and she burst out, "Girls, you are all alive. Thank Celestia! I am so happy to see you. I was so worried. Is everyone OK?"

Sharing the pink pony's sentiment, Applejack continued, "Yes, me and Rainbow are doing alright. How about everyone else? Did those bastards do anything to ya'?"

After closing her eyes for a few seconds, Twilight Sparkle replied, "No … no. Nothing for you to worry about. I am fine. Did any of you find a way to escape? We must flee before King Sombra comes!"

Rainbow Dash felt her gut burn with hatred upon hearing that name, as she screamed, "If that monster dares to lay a hoof on any of you, I will rip his legs off. Just you wait till I get out of these flimsy ropes." The blue mare struggled intensely, fidgeting against her bindings like crazy, desperately trying to get them off.

Rarity looked to her left and noticed the sobbing Fluttershy, who had her head lowered and her eyes closed. With profound sadness in her heart, she spoke up, "Girls … there is something we need to tell you."

Suddenly recalling what she had overheard from the guards, Rainbow Dash interrupted her friend, "Wait, wait! I just remembered, we have something to tell you too. Twilight, your brother and Cadance are alright. They were never captured, it was all false rumors. They are probably out there right now planning to rescue us."

Trying to put a smile on her face, the purple unicorn replied, "I know. King Sombra … I mean … I also heard the guards saying that. Additionally, I found out that the tyrant did not locate the Crystal Heart. Well done girls! There is still hope. Just please tell me it is hidden somewhere that fiend will never think of looking."

Upon hearing that, Pinkie Pie's smile turned into a frown, as she stated, "Uhmm … girls. I've got some bad news. We …"

"We didn't tell that scum or his soldiers anything, rest assured. For all he knows, the heart is back in Equestria," interrupted Rainbow Dash.

"Quiet down Rainbow. Did y'all get interrogated regarding the location of the jewel? Did any of you say anything?" stated Applejack.

Fluttershy began to cry, as she didn't have the courage to speak up. She just shed tear after tear and kept her head lowered, whispering to herself Oh my goodness … how could I have been so stupid?

Noticing her friend's sorrow, Twilight inquired, "Fluttershy, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Did … did that maniac hurt you?"

Feeling her heart sink upon seeing the yellow pegasus in such a state, Rarity spoke up, "Fluttershy please, you have nothing to blame yourself for. Girls, listen up, we have something very important to tell you. King Sombra …"

"IS HERE!" echoed through the tower, as the black stallion pompously walked into the room.

A long period of silence followed. The six mares gazed at their visitor with mixed feelings of repugnance, disgust, abhorrence and terror. Each of them had suffered dearly at the hooves of the monstrous tyrant, and now they were again face to face with their oppressor. Unconscious physical reactions, ranging from grinding teeth, shivering spines, eyes burning with rage to sweat drops falling from their foreheads betrayed the true sentiments of the ponies.

The black unicorn looked extremely elegant, almost as if he was showing up for the fanciest gala in all the kingdom. His long mane was marvelously quaffed and held together by his recently polished silver crown. His dark fur seemed to shine in the dim light of the room, having just been washed and shampooed. The monarch was wearing a slightly different red cape than before. It was longer, flowing all the way from his neck down to the floor and had gold-colored fluff instead of the usual white. His strapping chest armor shined brighter than ever, making the king appear like a valiant knight. Most peculiar was a navy blue cravat which covered the stallion's entire neck.

Sombra seemed more arrogant than ever. His visage boasted a cocky smile as he wagged his tail left and right, anxiously waiting to address his captives. The monarch's gaze shined with perverse satisfaction while his eyes circled the room, carefully analyzing each mare.

"How are my favorite prisoners enjoying each other's company? Having fun? Sharing stories about how well your mission is going, I presume," taunted the sadistic king.

Twilight Sparkle could barely contain herself. Even though they were bound tightly, all of her legs were twitching dementedly, as she desperately wished she could lash out at the tyrant. Just a few feet in front of her lay the agent of her torment, the cause of her anguish. Fearing that speaking her mind would result in serious trouble for her friends, the purple unicorn tried to censor herself as she addressed the stallion, "What do want with us Sombra? Have you gathered us here just to gloat?"

Sneering loftily, the monarch replied, "What's wrong my dear? Did you not enjoy my hospitality?"

Rainbow Dash was trembling with anger, every single muscle in her body was struggling wildly against the ropes, hoping to shatter them and lunge at the oppressor. Still, aware of what acting disrespectfully could entail, the blue pegasus just kept silent, as she continued gazing towards the black unicorn with utter resentment.

"You barbarian, you better let us go this minute! If not, when the northern resistance barges in, you will be extremely sorry!" shouted Pinkie Pie, trying to appear as brave as possible.

Turning towards the earth pony, the tyrant retorted, "Ah yes, the resistance. Thanks for reminding me. I presume by now it's no secret that you were all lured here by a false pretext. I can only imagine how idiotic that must make you feel. To think, Princess Celestia, the all-powerful goddess of the Sun sent six mares in harm's way without a second thought, like some sacrificial pawns. She really doesn't think much of you, does she?"

Foaming at the mouth upon hearing the king's insolent comment, Twilight Sparkle burst out, "Don't you dare talk that way about Princess Celestia, you lowlife. You have no right to even speak her name. Instead of insulting the alicorn you should be taking lessons from her on how to govern a kingdom. You're no monarch, you're just a bully with a crown on his head!"

Normally such an irritating remark would be punished severely by the vindictive stallion, but given her current state, the only think the purple unicorn's words managed to do was amuse the tyrant. He enjoyed seeing the little mare take such great offense to the way he spoke about the princess of the Sun. Desiring to twist the knife in the wound, Sombra continued "Oh indeed, I really must take notes. How else will I learn how to lose a war on all fronts?"

"We haven't lost yet! Equestria's forces stand strong against your goons. Crystal ponies in the north oppose you every gosh darn day. All of your subjects can't stand looking at ya'. A king should lead with honor, you just rule with fear!" declared Applejack, hoping to lift all of her friends' spirits, ignoring the pain still coursing through her body.

"Do whatever you will with us you monster, but the free ponies of the world will never fall under your iron hoof. Liberty and justice always triumph over oppression," stated Rarity, holding her head up high and gazing directly towards her captor.

Not being able to stop himself from laughing, the king mockingly clapped his fore-hooves, sarcastically applauding the statements his prisoners had made, before replying, "My my, such brave little ponies we have here. I wonder where all this courage was hidden for these last couple of days? You all seemed so desperate for mercy … and hungry for my stallionhood when I interrogated you. Ha ha ha!"

Having been reminded by the gruesome king of their recent horrific encounters, all the mares looked away for a moment, as salty tears poured on some of their faces. Fluttershy, in particular, took the tyrant's words to heart. She still hated herself for what she had done. In the yellow pegasus's eyes, she had betrayed Celestia, Equestria and all she held dear. Not able to hold it in anymore, she just broke down and cried, letting loose rivers of sorrowful drops.

Hearing her dear friend wailing was more than Rainbow Dash could stand. Judging from the monarch's words and her friends' reactions, it became clear that the same gruesome fate which had befallen her and Applejack, was shared by the other mares. The aspiring Wonderbolt felt her heart break, imagining what the ponies which meant most to her must have gone through. Even though she feared the tyrant's retribution, she could not just sit idly by while that monster mercilessly taunted them.

Lunging herself towards their tormentor as much as her unyielding bindings allowed her, the blue pegasus yelled, "Fuck you, you honorless cur. I will kill you! Just let me out of these ropes and I will show you the might of Equestria. You hide behind your soldiers and your magic, afraid even to face defenseless mares unless they are tied up. Go to hell!" The pegasus ended her statement by spitting in the king's direction.

Sombra's demented grin turned to a malicious frown, as he fixated his gaze on the defiant Rainbow Dash. Having already had had enough of her immature insults the day before, he had hoped their previous encounter had been enough to tame her rambunctious spirit. It appears the stallion had been wrong. Trotting furiously towards the blue mare, the king spoke up, "Insufferable bitch, you still haven't learned how to talk to your master. Perhaps I should have killed your friend, just to teach you a lesson. I promise you that when I take over Cloudsdale I shall cut off the wings of every single pegasus!"

"Your army will never reach Cloudsdale, you two bit snake. Before you know it, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will storm your castle, free your slaves and lock you away forever!" protested an infuriated Applejack.

Feeling her heart fill up with courage upon hearing the conviction of the farm pony, Twilight Sparkle decided to riposte as well, "You have no idea of the potent magic Equestria has at its disposal. Compared to the power of the princesses, all you have are cheap tricks, shadow puppetry, smoke and mirrors. Your sorcery dwindles with every passing day, that is why you are so desperate to find the Crystal Heart. But rest assured, that will never happen!"

Delighted by the irony of the situation, the king let out a vicious laugh which echoed throughout the entire Dark Tower. His tail swung wildly as he stared towards the weeping pink-haired pegasus. "My sweet little yellow mare … you mean you haven't told your friends what you did? Are you keeping secrets from them? For shame!"

To Fluttershy, Sombra's words felt like a million sharp daggers scratching her very soul. She did not dare open her eyes, unwilling to face the other mares. The pegasus wished she could just die, right then and there. Her heart started beating unreasonably fast, as she felt herself running out of breath. In her desperation, all the yellow pony could muster to say was a feeble, "I am sorry girls, I am so sorry! Please forgive me. I didn't meant to, I swear."

Feeling her own heart break in two when she saw how much the kind pegasus was suffering, Pinkie Pie tried to ease her pain, "Fluttershy, you have nothing to blame yourself for. Anyone of us would have done the same. Besides, I am sure luck wasn't on this meanie's side!"

Shaking her head ferociously, Rainbow Dash burst out, "What secret? What do you mean? Sombra, you monster, what did you to do her? Did you ... you couldn't have. I swear, if you touched Fluttershy I will tear your head off!"

"It doesn't matter, because it appears your efforts were in vain, King Sombra. You still don't have the Crystal Heart and you never will!" stated Rarity with an arrogant tone, while mutinously looking towards the stallion. Ever since he had walked into the room, she had carefully analyzed her enemy, but hadn't seen the mystical gem anywhere. Assuming he had not found it, the dressmaker's heart was filled with hope.

At that very moment, Sombra's eyes lit up with unparalleled joy, as he took a few steps back so he could be in the very center of the room and slowly moved his hoof towards his cravat. "You mean … THIS CRYSTAL HEART!" shouted the king as the removed the garment, revealing the necklace with the mystical jewel around his neck.

A grim stillness filled the Dark Tower, as the mane six felt the entire world shattering around them. None of them wanted to believe it, they all hoped it was some kind of sinister illusion, a mischievous trick the bloodthirsty tyrant was playing on them.

Not having received the reaction he had been hoping for, Sombra decided to up the ante. Drawing upon his dark powers, the stallion channeled arcane sorcery through the gem and summoned several hideous shadows which started flying through the room, letting out horrible wailing noises and chilling the air as their floated through the chamber. The mares tried to avert their eyes; they struggled ferociously against their ropes, but could do nothing to stop the macabre spectacle. Their fear and despair only served to fuel the insidious abilities of the black unicorn, causing the shades to grow in size and number.

After a few minutes, the king banished the creatures and arrogantly waved the Crystal Heart in his prisoners' faces.

Having witnessed the awful display of black magic, Fluttershy was convinced that her enemy had indeed found the artifact, that her moment of weakness was about to cost the entire world dearly. Looking up towards the heavens with desperation, she let out a desolate scream, "Noooo!"

Desiring to taunt the yellow mare, Sombra stated, "I suppose I have you to thank the most for this, my innocent little pegasus. Rest assured, your reward will be substantial. I can hardly wait for the night when I usher you into marehood."

Twilight Sparkle gulped for air, sensing she could not breathe anymore. Her eyes started involuntarily tearing as her mind dreamed up the most sinister of possible outcomes. The main weapon Equestria had against the darkness was now in the hooves of their enemy. She had failed the test, she had condemned her friends and all of her kind to an eternity of suffering, but, most of all, she had betrayed the trust of her beloved teacher. The mare felt her entire world turn upside down. What was she to do? Was it all over?

True to her strong will, Rainbow Dash refused to give up. Casting away her fears, her concerns for herself or the other ponies, the blue pegasus burst out, "You think you've won Sombra? The Crystal Heart is fueled by hope and kindness. In your hooves it is nothing more than a rock. You are as powerless now as you were yesterday."

Turning towards the rambunctious mare, the king commented "That's it? That's all you're going to say? No clever insult? No comment about how small a certain part of my body is? What a pity … I was actually looking forward to it."

With a vicious stare on her otherwise gorgeous face, Rarity decided to join in her friend's rebellion, "She is right, and you know it! Cling to your false victory while you can, you brute. The combined might of Equestria and the northern resistance stand against you."

"All who dare defy me will pay dearly!" threatened the king, as he lifted the artifact high up in the air.

The black crystal which had formed on its surface was slowly extending, covering the relic in a coat of darkness. Noticing this, Pinkie Pie spoke up, "What have you done to the heart? Did you drop it in muck or something?"

Laughing sadistically, the stallion replied "Do you like it? I think black suits it better. It goes well with my fur, don't you agree? Oh, and since you asked … even as we speak my magic is corrupting this accursed jewel. In a matter of days it will become fully engulfed in my abyssal power, serving as an instrument of destruction when I bring my wrath down upon Equestria."

Not willing to accept that they had lost, Applejack commented, "It will take more than your fancy schmancy parlor tricks to win. The free ponies of the world will never bow to ya'. They shall fight until the end. The soldiers of Equestria will never be your slaves!"

With a demonic twitch in his eye, the monarch proclaimed, "Indeed they won't. Their wives will be slaves, their elders will be slaves, their sons and daughters will be slaves, but the soldiers … they will be DEAD."

Shedding sorrowful tears, Fluttershy let out a frantic plea, "Please, don't do it. Have mercy. Just negotiate with Celestia. I'm sure you can come to a beneficial agreement for everypony."

Licking his lips with perverse amusement, Sombra replied, "The only thing Celestia will negotiate with me is how many times a day she will have to satisfy my carnal urges, once I add that arrogant alicorn and her little sister to my harem."

Irritated by the monarch's remarks, the blue pegasus again expressed her frustration, "How dare you talk like that about the princesses? You think you will get to lay your slimy hooves on them? Not even in your wildest wet dreams! Before the night is over we will bust out of here and take the heart with us!"

Trotting towards his victim, Sombra responded, "You are not going anywhere. I am afraid I have other plans for all of you."

The king then proceeded to circle his prey, slowly walking passed each of the mares as he exposed his intentions.

The first prisoner the stallion went near was Applejack. The farm pony shivered as her tormentor approached, still aching from having nearly been crushed to death the other day. Refusing to look the monarch in the eyes, the blonde mare stared at the floor as the black unicorn addressed her.

"I enjoyed the little show you put on for me yesterday. Your willingness to do anything it takes to save your friends is something I intend to exploit in the future. Congratulations! I am adding you to my harem. You lack manners and etiquette, but a muscular farm pony like you is a refreshing change from the usual mares lucky enough to keep me company," said the king to the earth pony, after which he spanked her flank and moved on.

Spitting towards the floor, Applejack retorted, "I will bite your dick off the first chance I get."

The tyrant's attention then turned towards Fluttershy. The scared little mare shook uncontrollably as the stallion got near her. She shut her eyes and said silent prayers while she felt her captor's breath on her neck.

Playfully moving his hoof between mare's impressive rack and her untouched flower, the monarch stated, "Don't you threat, little one. I shall keep you locked away tightly until I decide to rob you of your innocence … after which I will probably send you to a brothel or something. You are far too shy for my tastes."

Upon hearing those hurtful words, Fluttershy closed her hind legs as tightly as her bindings allowed her and whimpered, dreading the day when the king would make good on his promise.

Pinkie Pie was the next unwilling candidate for the tyrant's attention. As the black unicorn neared her, she stared at him with utmost hatred and uttered a disgusted "You're despicable."

Sombra gazed at her with contempt for several seconds before proclaiming, "Too goofy and immature. Still, perhaps I may find some use for you. I think I shall turn you in some sort of attraction, a little something for my subjects to have fun with … until they break you that is."

The stallion then went close to Rarity. With a seductive smile, he sniffed the dressmaker's mane, as he began stroking her flank with his hoof. Feeling her stomach churn, Rarity looked away, as a pristine tear fell from her left eye.

"Aren't you going to beg some more, my dear? You were so good at it before," taunted the king.

The white unicorn stared at him with profound abhorrence and retorted, "I would rather die."

Sneering arrogantly while twirling the mare's long purple hair, the monarch commented, "I don't believe you. Since you demonstrated exquisite skill when it comes to pleasing stallions, I shall make you the jewel of my harem. Many of my other sluts could learn a thing or two from you. I am curious how you act when you are NOT faking orgasms!"

"You wouldn't know that, since you never actually brought ANY mare to orgasm, Sombra!" uttered Rainbow Dash, in a final effort to annoy her captor.

With rage burning in his mad eyes, the king immediately rushed towards the blue pegasus and proclaimed angrily, "Your worthless annoying mouth will be put to good use, as will all your other holes, when battalion after battalion of my soldiers have their way with you."

Looking as defiant as ever while holding her head up high, Rainbow Dash donned a cocky smile and said, "If they all last as long as you did, I am in for a horrible ten seconds."

Brutally punching the mare over her snout, the tyrant threatened, "I shall enjoy every single second of your torment, as I tear your wings off your body and …"

"NO!" echoed through the Dark Tower, as Twilight Sparkle finally spoke up.

Amused by the recent turn of events, Sombra shifted his attention to the purple unicorn, as he slowly trotted towards her. Towering over his captive, the king said, "No? Did you just say no? Do you still think you are in a position to make any demands?"

Twilight lifted her head and looked the monarch straight in the eyes. Her entire demeanor had shifted. She no longer seemed scared or upset, she was not trembling or shaking anymore. Her eyes shined brightly as she stared with a paradoxical hint of admiration towards her captor.

With a calm and sincere tone, the purple unicorn continued "It is not a demand nor an order. It is a request, my king!"

The mare's words reached all of her friends' ears, filling their hearts with dread and their brains with confusion. Had they heard the purple unicorn correctly? Did she just address Sombra as her king?

The black stallion, on the other hoof, seemed pleasantly surprised, as he exclaimed, "Go on!"

After taking a deep breath, Twilight continued, "Great king, I humbly ask that you forgive my foolish friends and spare them from their gruesome fates. Instead, I suggest you keep them unharmed in their cells until they can be put on a fair trial, in front of all your subjects. In exchange for this, I offer myself to you, body and soul. I shall serve you unquestionably, obey our every command, fulfill your every wish."

Upon hearing her request, Sombra shook his head playfully and let out a mocking laugh. Looking towards the purple unicorn with amusement, the monarch stated, "You already are mine, as are all your friends. I can make you do anything I want without needing to make any promise ..."

Not allowing the stallion to utter another word, Twilight interrupted, "Yes, you can! You can kill all my friends, or make them your slaves, or have your subjects do horrible things to them and to me as well. If you do this, you will have a brief moment of satisfaction and a few new servants who will betray you at the earliest opportunity. But … should you accept my offer, should you only delay your wrath against my friends until they have had a fair trial, you will gain an eternally loyal subject, who will serve you and stand by your side no matter what, who will be there whenever you need her and never go against any word you say!"

The monarch would have immediately dismissed the mare's words as a desperate attempt at salvation, but he could sense the sincerity in her tone. Having been surrounded by subjugated slaves most of his life, Sombra became skilled at detecting the tiniest hit of lie in a pony's voice or body language. However, this time, he felt confident that his captive was telling the truth.

"Don't do it Twilight. You are Princess Celestia's most fateful student. You can't offer yourself to this meanie," protested an irritated Pinkie Pie.

Lifting his eyebrow out of curiosity, the king inquired, "Princess Celestia's student … you? How interesting! You had my curiosity ... now you have my attention! Why would you betray your own mentor?"

The purple mare lowered her head for a minute. She thought long and hard regarding what she was about to do, but deep in her heart she knew she was making the right decision. Lifting her gaze, she addressed the king, as heartfelt tears fell from her eyes, "Because Celestia is weak. She is nothing but a pompous fool, unworthy of loyalty. All she does is sit on her throne and spew out orders, refusing to lift a hoof to actually help her subjects. She promises power and knowledge but offers nothing. But you, King Sombra, you aren't like that. You are strong and wise. Even with the entire world against you, you somehow triumph. You are not afraid to get your hooves dirty, to seek forbidden knowledge, to test the limits of what magic can do, to risk it all to win. You are a true king, worthy of the crown which adorns your head. You are the kind of leader I want, the monarch I wish to serve."

With every single word Twilight uttered, Sombra's pride and ego became greater and greater, as he felt a profound sense of accomplishment. His eyes started to glow dementedly and his tail swung wildly.

Unable to accept what she was hearing, Applejack spoke up, "Twilight, have you lost your gosh darn mind? You are like a daughter to Celestia, how can you even consider doing such a …"

"Oh, shut up Applejack," interrupted Twilight. "I am tired of that alicorn. I am tired of all her tests, of all her riddles, of all her lessons. You must learn this Twilight … this will help you grow Twilight ... bla bla bla. I am sick, sick, SICK of it. But you, King Sombra, have so much to offer. I would be honored if you let me serve you, if you showed me how a true monarch behaves. Besides … you are a stallion. You can offer me something Celestia will never be able to!"

Intrigued by the mare's words, Sombra inquired, "I can see your point my dear, but you fail to state one crucial detail. What do I have to gain from this?"

Looking towards the stallion with profound admiration and a hint of lust, Twilight spread her hind legs as wide as she the ropes allowed her and stated in an innocent yet alluring voice, "Just offer me one night. Just one. If I cannot prove my dedication to you, if I do not offer you enough … satisfaction, then you can just kill me and do with my friends as you wish. One night is all I ask for!"

Foaming at the mouth in rage, Rainbow Dash lashed out, "How dare you do this Twilight? How can you turn your back on everything you stand for? Even if he promises you anything, you know this monster will never keep his word!"

Refusing to pay attention to the pegasus's advice, the purple unicorn continued "Don't listen to them, great king. They cannot see your magnificence, but I can. After all, you were my first …"

Upon hearing that, the eyes of all the mares in the room turned towards the floor, as they struggled to process the information they had just received.

With a vicious sneer on his visage, the king replied "Indeed I was! But, if I recall correctly, you were rather … displeased by that fact. What was it that you told me when I left … ah yes, you were going to kill me I believe."

Looking towards her captor like a love-struck mare stares at her crush, Twilight confessed "Every moment after you left, I thought about you. Whenever I closed my eyes, you would appear. When I made that foolish statement I was scared. How could I not be? What mare would not be overtaken by your greatness? Please, my king, give me one chance to show you what that magical moment meant to me. One single night is all I need."

Each one of Twilight Sparkle's words felt like massive boulders, crushing the little bits of hope Fluttershy had left. The yellow pegasus had reached the zenith of despair. She refused to believe one of her best friends was willing to betray Equestria, even if it meant saving their lives. Shouting louder than she ever had, the gentle mare addressed the purple unicorn, "Twilight, stop! Think about all the time we spent together, the adventures we've had. Think about our friendship. Recall all the valuable lessons Celestia has taught you. Do those things mean nothing to you anymore? Are you truly willing to throw all those memories away for some tyrant's empty promise? Just follow your heart and you'll know that you're not doing the right thing!"

Not taking her eyes off the black unicorn for a second, Twilight Sparkle replied with a passionate tone, "I am following my heart … and it beats only for King Sombra. There is nothing I have been more certain of in my entire life."

As the sorrow and desolation of the other mares grew exponentially with each passing second, so did the monarch's powers. He could feel his dark sorcery being fueled by the misery around him, he could sense his abilities reaching new heights. He felt invincible.

In addition, the stallion was intrigued by the purple unicorn's proposition. Her words seemed sincere, her sentiments seemed genuine. He truly believed she was telling the truth. After all, why wouldn't she be interested in him? With the mystical gem in his possession, it was only a matter of time before the princesses of the Sun and Moon would fall. Who in their right mind wouldn't want to be on the winning side of the war?

For the first time in his adult life, it seemed he had found a pony that would willingly be by his side.

His eyes gazed over Twilight's body, slowly going up and down, as he remembered their encounter the day before. The monarch could not deny how attractive the young mare was. The alluring image of the purple unicorn struggling against her chains had appeared in Sombra's dreams the night before.

Even more, the mare's proposition seemed too good to pass up. Should she perform satisfactory enough, the king could just add her to his harem. If she failed to impress, the tyrant could simply strike her down with a mere thought. He could spare one night. After all, what was the worst that could happen?

Staring into his captive's seductive eyes, Sombra approached Twilight and kissed her passionately. The purple mare let out a soft moan of pleasure as she felt the king's tongue penetrate her mouth. Fully embracing his gesture, she wrapped her own tongue around his and gently moved it up and down.

After taking his time to savor the young female unicorn's lips, the tyrant gently pulled away and watched with sadistic satisfaction as Twilight tried to extend neck head as much as the ropes would allow her, not wanting to break the kiss. Smirking mischievously, Sombra proclaimed, "I am a merciful king. I will indulge your request. One night is all I shall give you. If you truly meant what you said, if you can prove your … dedication to me, then I shall spare your friends. However, know that my standards are extremely high. Countless mares would kill to get the chance I am so generously offering you, so you better make the most of it."

With that, Sombra summoned a floating red blade and used it to slice the ropes holding Twilight bound to the wooden pillar.

Once free, the purple unicorn hoped to approach the king, to personally show him how grateful she was, but when the mare took her first step towards the monarch, he stopped her saying, "Save it for the bedroom."

Looking towards the door, the stallion shouted, "Guards, get in here!"

Moments later the door burst open and five heavily armed soldiers rushed in, ready to obey their master's commands.

Sombra pointed towards Twilight and commanded, "Take this mare and bring her before my chambermaid. Tell her that this prisoner will share my bed tonight; she will know what to do. Now go!"

The guards bowed their heads and immediately positioned themselves to the left and right of the purple unicorn, gently nudging her towards her destination.

As she left the room, Twilight Sparkle gave a seductive glance back and said, "I will be anxiously waiting your arrival, my king. I guarantee you, this will be a night you will never forget."

After the young mare had been escorted out of the Dark Tower, Sombra gazed towards the remaining guards and decreed, "I have an important task for you. As soon as the next shift arrives, you are to instruct them to take the white unicorn and the orange earth pony to the harem quarters. The yellow pegasus is to be dragged to the lowest level of the dungeon. Tell your colleagues to make absolutely sure she is not harmed in any way and put two female guards outside her cell at all time, do I make myself clear? The pink mare will be taken to the town square and chained up to my statue. I have amusing plans for her. Oh … as for the blue pegasus, order the jailers to slice her wings off slowly and painfully and then carry her to the barracks. She is my gift for the hard working stallions in my army. I except that she won't survive the night … if you know what I mean."

Scratching his head upon hearing the monarch's wish, the chief of the guards inquired, "But my liege, why can't we do this ourselves? Why must we wait for the next shift?"

With an angry tone, Sombra stated, "Don't question my orders slave. Look at you, it doesn't take a doctor to see how tired you are. Your shift is nearly over and it has been a long day. In your state, you incompetent morons will undoubtedly mess up and the prisoners will escape. Do as I instructed and wait for the next shift of soldiers to arrive. They will be able to carry out the tasks a lot more efficiently. Is that understood?"

Trying his best not to shake from fear, the guard retorted, "Yes, my lord!"

Upon hearing the tyrant's command, Applejack started struggling harder than she ever had before, as she lashed out, "You no good lying bastard. I knew you couldn't be trusted!"

Pinkie Pie shook her head around dementedly, as she screamed "Liar, liar, hooves on fire. You promised we would not be harmed. Twilight, come back …"

Looking at the ground, Rarity meekly replied, "It's no use Pinkie Pie, she cannot hear you. She is gone."

Foaming at the mouth, Rainbow Dash yelled, "Hey Sombra. Why don't you tear off my wings yourself? Afraid a tied up mare might be too much for you?"

Gazing upon his irritated prisoners with sadistic amusement, the king mockingly bowed his head and stated, "Ladies, it's been a pleasure. I would love to spend more time with you, but I am afraid I must go now. The next time you see me, I shall be monarch of Equestria. Before I leave, I must thank you all again. You've all offered me such … unique experiences."

After that, the stallion exited the Dark Tower and went towards his private chambers, anxious for what was about to follow.

The remaining guards resumed their post, as they waited for the next shift to arrive.

The five remaining mares simply gazed at each other in silence, for several minutes.

Still unable to stop herself form crying, Fluttershy said, "I can't believe Twilight betrayed us," as she closed her eyes and started saying a prayer.

The other girls didn't know how to react. None of them had any idea how to escape. All they could do was wait for a miracle to happen. Their spirits were crushed, their hopes had been dashed and their fates seemed sealed.

The future looked grim. There was no silver lining they could cling to. The only thing that lay before them was a dark horizon.

Author's Note

The Tenebras are my original creation, inspired by Sombra's origin story in the MLP comics.