Stella and her father were busy at work, finishing the final preparations for meeting with delegates from neighboring nations. Amorette came in, carrying a sleeping Mi Amore in a baby sling. Stella fawned over her baby sister, so glad to have her in her life. Galaxite smiled gently, looking at his little family with a deep fondness and love.

“Your highnesses!” Captain Armour yelled, galloping in.

“What’s going on?” Galaxite asked.

“I-you need to see this.”

The royal family cantered to the balcony, shocked at the scene before them. Ombra, though transformed and contorted, stood before them. He couldn’t have been more fifteen feet away, standing on a tower of black crystal.

“Ombra?” Amorette cried out to him.

“Oh, so you remember my name, mother?” his voice was hard to describe, it just felt evil.

“Son, where have you been?” Galaxite asked. “What happened to you?”

“I’ve been enlightened!” the unicorn laughed madly. “Now, I am here to rule this kingdom! Say goodnight!”

Galaxite shot forth a shield, pushing Ombra away from the palace and breaking his crystal tower.

“The Crystal Heart?” Galaxite asked Armour.

“Frozen in that dark crystal, I’ll need time to get it free,” Armour explained.

“Be quick about it,” Galaxite ordered. “Stella, take your mother and sister inside.”

“What about you?” Stella asked.

“Don’t worry about me!” Galaxite ushered them in with his wings.

“Galaxite…” Amorette trailed off.

“Whatever happens, I love you all,” he promised, giving them each one final kiss.

What they didn’t see as he flew over the city was the spell that he slipped onto Mi Amore; knowing that she needed some sort of defense more than anypony.

Many of the guards followed him, surrounding the castle and city. Galaxite raced out to meet his son. He used his shields to force him beyond the city limits and into the cold. The two ponies fought in the icy cold, growing razor sharp crystals or cages around one another. Galaxite’s alicorn magic was powerful, but there was one problem. Dark magic is fueled by anger and hatred, Ombra was filled to the brim with it. His magic was overflowing. The battle raged on, both stallions panting heavily from the use of so much energy.

“Why?” Galaxite breathed.

“Why?!” Ombra demanded. “WHY?! How about because you all just forgot about me when I left?! Or just decided to replace me?!”

“We never forgot, we thought you perished in the storm. Mi Amore isn’t a replacement, she’s just another member of the family. Just like you and Stella are. We love you, I love you.”

“Liar!”

Ombra was fueled by new anger, this gave him a burst of magical energy. Before Galaxite could react, he was gone.

The guard stood, frozen in fear. Their king was...dead. Amorette didn’t need anypony to tell her, she felt it in her heart. Even baby Mi Amore began to wail, feeling the loss of her father deep inside. Amorette tried to comfort her foal, but found it so hard to do with a broken heart.

“No,” Stella whispered, staring out at the field of battle.

Author's Note

Yeah, yeah, it's short. The next one will be longer.