Dubstep at Dark

Ray looked up at the huge crystal castle in awe of it's size and magnificence as it glimmered with the setting sun. He quickly looked toward his group and asked Twilight, "Are you sure this is where we're staying. It's freaking awesome!"

Twilight shook her head as the guard ponies looked at her before nodding and opening the entrance to the castle. The group entered the castle and watched as Ray looked in awe at the inside. Ray's wonder was interrupted when he heard a familiar voice say, "Finally! It's about you all made it here!"

He turned to see Shining move to hug his sister and greet his group. When Shining got to him, he simply held up a hoof which Shining bumped with a smile. "Great fight out there earlier today. I have to ask though, where did you learn to fight like that? He asked.

Ray laughed a bit before saying, "Well a lot of it came from me, siblings, cousins and friends all wrestling or sparring. Keep in mind we eventually took the gloves off our hands, the pads off the blunt stuff and the blades got sharper. We learned what to do and what not to do in a fight the hard way. My cousin Dakota and I went at it nearly every time we seen each other and me and that wonderful bastard would both be bruised and bloodied by the time we were done."

"That's one way of doing it I suppose. Have you had any military experience?" Shining asked.

"Just a few friends that had gotten out and showed me a few things, so not really." He replied.

Shining nodded his head in thought before asking, "Think you can show me a thing or two if you have time?"

"I don't see why not... Tomorrow good with you? Hey if ya want we could toughen up your guard, ya feel me?"

Shining smirked and held out his hoof, which Ray took and shook with a slight grin. The two were interrupted when Cadance walked over and said, "Okay you two that's enough bromance as endearing as it may be. It's time to show the guests to their rooms and clean up for dinner."

Ray let out a small laugh and followed the group into the long winding hallways to eventually stop at a door. "Alright Vinyl, Octavia and Ray, this is your room for the next two nights. If you need anything don't hesitate to ring up a maid or butler to assist you. Oh! I will send for a maid to fetch you when dinner is served. With that we bid you a warm welcome to the Crystal Castle!" Cadance and Shining alternated.

Ray opened the door for the two mares to enter and followed closely behind then gasped at the sight of their room. "Holy shit... This place is nice."

"Yes it is definitely the best room I've ever had the pleasure of staying in as a guest. Wouldn't you agree Vinyl?" said Octavia as she unpacked her bags.

"THIS PLACE IS BUCKING AWESOME!!!" Vinyl yelled out as she jumped on the bed and sprawled out her legs.

Ray laughed to himself as he pulled out his laptop and one of Vinyl's speakers. "Whatchya plannin on jammin now Ray?" asked Vinyl with an eager look.

"I don't know...hmm...let's go full flex, shall we?"Ray said with a small grin as he turned on the speaker.

He smiled to himself and started banging his head as the beat to "Ruffneck" by Skrillex came on.

Ray turned the volume up a bit more before grabbing his outfit and heading to the shower. As Ray took a shower, Vinyl turned the volume knob all the way to ten and heard it click. Frowning, she put more force into twisting the knob and smiled when it clicked past ten. Octavia simply pulled a pair of earmuffs and a book out to wait for her turn in the shower. The crystals that made up the walls amplified the sound to the point that Ray's shower water was being affected by the sound-waves. Ray head-banged as soap and water flew around in erratic patterns covering the huge shower in suds and water. The music's pace finally started to come to an end as Ray exited the shower to see Vinyl not three feet from the speaker steadily slinging her mane back and forth in tune with the beats. Octavia rose an eyebrow and smiled when she seen Ray trying to get her attention by yelling. Finally he muted the song which caused Vinyl to pop up with a enraged look and hooves ready to fuck something up. Seeing only Ray in his suit and saber and hearing Octavia laugh quietly she dropped her hooves then shrugged. Ray face-palmed and said, "Your turn for a shower do it quick because Octy still has to go and we spent five minutes trying to get your attention."

Ray watched as Octavia slid of the bed and walked with Vinyl to the bathroom just to turn around and blow him a kiss as she shut the door behind them. Snapping his jaw shut, He looked out the window to see that night had fallen and the crystal city's lights made a miasma of different colors depending on the color of the building. He opened the glass door and stepped out on a small balcony to enjoy the lights. Taking a deep breath Ray was surprised to find that he smelled a faint trace of smoke in the air. He simply brushed it off and continued to admire the view until he heard what sounded like deep laughter from behind. Ray spun around in his stance to come face to face with a black cloud. He cracked his knuckles and watched as two green eyes with red pupils emerged from the darkness. A deep laughing was heard when the eyes leaked a purple smoke and the smoke cloud charged Ray. He quickly blocked just for the cloud to seep through his guard and enter his nose and mouth laughing all the while. Ray felt as if his body was being ripped to shreds from the inside and coughed up a little blood. Ray turned to go back inside and stopped when he seen his reflection. His eyes had the same purple smoke flowing from his eyes and a shroud of smoke surrounded him. Opening his mouth to scream, Ray's body seized up and he fell unconscious.

Ray woke up to Fluttershy's hooves on his forehead and neck. "Oh good, you're awake. Do you remember where you are Ray? How do you feel? Your heart beat is a little fast... Your temperature seems okay." Fluttershy said.

"Yeah...I'm in the Crystal empire, I feel like hell, and how do you know my normal heartbeat and temp?" He asked.

"I got a copy of your medical sheet from Nurse Redheart to help me during your fights...If that's okay with you."

Ray slowly got up and brushed himself off before seeing that the rest of the group was watching from inside the room. "Why is everybody here?" He asked.

"Vinyl and Octavia rushed in our rooms when they found you out here. They were really worried about you, you know?" She said.

"Yeah, I know...Thanks for checking on me Shy." He said as he opened the door and walked in the room.

Ray was tackled by two mares who smothered him in affection. He hugged them back and looked at the rest of the group to see faces of worry turn to relief as he smiled and said "It's all good guys, i'm fine."

He brushed himself off again as knocking on the door was heard. Twilight opened the door and was met by a mare in a maid outfit who said "You have been requested by Princess Cadenza and Prince Shining Armor to attend dinner."

Twilight smiled and motioned for the others to follow her and the maid. As the group filed out the door Vinyl, Octavia and Pinkie hopped on Ray's head and shoulders. Pinkie leaned down and asked, "Ya sure your okay Ray? Hey that rhymed!"
`Rolling his eyes he gave her a thumbs up and continued to follow the rest of the group. The group had made it to a set of rather large double doors when the maid stopped and opened the door. Walking in the dining room, Ray had a feeling that he knew this place rather well. He seen the group start to take seats and chose to sit next Vinyl and Octavia. The door opened again revealing Princess Cadance and Shining Armor with Flurry on Shining's shoulders. Ray raised an eyebrow when Flurry was sat next to him in a high chair adorned with crystal hearts and rainbows. As soon as Shining and Cadance took their seats the doors opened again to allow a few maids in with food and drinks. The maids worked their way down the table setting out platters of food and stopped when they came to Ray. Ray turned to see what was wrong and the maid flinched when he tried to look her in the eyes. "Is something wrong ma'am?" He asked.

"No King Som- I MEAN RAY! No! Nothing's wrong...Ray." The mare sputtered and hurriedly set down his platter.

Ray looked up and down the table for an explanation and was met with confused and concerned faces from both ends. Shrugging his shoulders he readjusted to his seat and looked over to Flurry who was holding her hooves out to him. Ray leaned over to see what she wanted and was met with hooves grabbing and feeling his face. Flurry Heart giggled and cooed as she poked and prodded his features much to the amusement of Cadance and the rest of the table. Shining smiled brightly before clearing his throat and saying, "Okay then, everypony, let's eat."

"So Ray, what are your thoughts on foals?" asked Cadance.

Ray nearly choked on his food before recovering and saying. "Umm... I don't really have to worry bout that with us being different species and all do I?"

"Well it's certainly possible. I'm not saying it will happen, but here in Equestria it could definitely happen." she explained.

For a moment Ray sat in silence and muttered something under his breath before saying, " Well kids are cool I guess. I guess i'm okay with them but I don't know if I'd be ready to have some. That's more up to them and all...Even so how would I marry them both?"

"Easy, just sign a document stating that you three are a herd. I wouldn't mind hosting the wedding myself actually. I would just need a planner and some free time." Cadance said making Pinkie's eyes widen even more so than usual.

"OOOHH ME, PICK ME ME ME!" Yelled Pinkie waving a hoof in the air.

"Hmmm...I don't know Pinkie do you think you could handle it?" asked a smiling Cadance.

"YES!" squealed Pinkie.

"Wait a minute, no one ever said that this was happening anytime soon!" Ray exclaimed.

With that said the conversation died down for a moment until Cadance said, "One last question Ray.... Do you know the darkness that resides in your heart?"

"I'm sorry, what?" he asked.

"We'll discuss this later Ray" she stated.

The maid ponies came back and collected all the platters of food and leaving with only a few nervous looks at Ray. Once the maids had cleared out Ray's group was excused.

Ray had been lounging on the bed in-between Vinyl and Octavia when knocking was heard. Ray slid down and off the bed and answered the door to find Cadance waiting in the hall. "Please follow me."

Ray nodded and shut the door to see that Cadance had already started walking. "So what's up?" he asked.

"Inside you there is a dark force that seeks to corrupt you. This force is the same that sent this empire into an age of slavery and darkness. His name is...King Sombra. He treated my crystal ponies so horribly that they prefer to have his memory loss spell stay with them. He feeds on negative emotions such as hate, anger, sadness, fear and jealousy. It seems he has taken residence in your mind and body yet seems to not be able to do much. Far as I know he seems to have nearly combined you together without changing your body. This has only happened a few select times in history and no known way to undo it without consent from both parties. Ray, as a career fighter I highly suggest you keep your emotions in check lest you allow Sombra to gain control." she explained.

"So... I basically have a shadow king living in me and he can seriously fuck my shit up if I lose my cool. Is there any good to this.. Like any at all?" he asked.

"Not that I could think of." she said.

Ray nodded his head in acceptance and started to walk away before he was stopped by Cadance saying, "Ray, if he gains control and does something rash... I will defend my empire no matter the cost."

Ray's eyes flickered for a moment and started to smoke purple as he smiled and said, "Hail to the king."

Ray eye's stopped smoking as he turned and walked away back toward his room. Behind him was a princess that had charged her horn enough to create a blast that could be seen from Canterlot. Once Ray had walked back in his room Vinyl asked, " Sooo, what did ya talk about?"

He shrugged his shoulders and jumped on the bed next to Octavia making her bounce a little in the air. Vinyl walked next to the bed and waited before yelling, "DOGPILE!"

Ray felt two bodies jump on him and laugh hysterically while he tried to dig himself out. He slowly managed to push the two off him to find efforts in vain when they dove back on top of him. He shrugged then closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. "Did he really just fall asleep with us on top of him?" asked Vinyl.

"I do believe so." answered Octavia as she slid off the two.

Once they had both gotten off him, Ray grabbed both of them and pinned them to his sides letting them try to wiggle out of his grasp. The two gave up then moved in a more comfy position before kissing Ray on his cheeks and going to sleep. Ray smiled as he slowly let sleep take him.

Ray found himself back int he room to find that it had black crystals growing in some corners of the walls. As he looked around he could see wisps of smoke fly through the air and start to gather in the center of the room. The smoke slowly morphed into the shape a unicorn when a deep laugh filled the room. King Sombra stepped out the smoke and flashed Ray a fanged smile before he said. "You already know who I am and I decided to do a little research on you myself. I took the liberty of looking through some memories and I must say, you should make a fine vessel for my revenge."

"Just how ya gonna do that?" Ray asked.

"I won't you're gonna do it for me. Because eventually you will let your emotions cloud your judgment and when you do, I 'll be there to take control." Sombra stated.

" Why did you have to use somebody instead of doing it yourself?"

"That blasted crystal heart ripped my body to shreds and it's slowly recovering. Until then, you shall work fine with your history of violence." said the king.

"Wait, so since you're part of me does that mean you'll feel pain too?" asked Ray.

When Sombra went silent Ray started to slowly grin and said, "If you're gonna stay here then you're gonna help out or we're both fucked."

"So you are capable of blackmail... I suppose I could use some powers to offer assistance in times of physical or emotional duress. At a cost of course." said the king.

"Oh really now? What is the so called cost?" asked Ray.

"The same price I paid for it of course...It's called dark magic for a reason. It will corrrupt you the more you use it. I used to be weak and blind to the power of it myself, but as time went on I've accepted it and can control it's true power." explained Sombra.

"What? Am I gonna set off smoke alarms everywhere I go?" joked Ray.

"You underestimate the power of the dark side." said Sombra as the dream started to fade out.

Ray woke up with a start and took deep breaths to calm himself down. Once he had caught his breath he heard something faint slowly grow louder and clearer. The sound was that of deep laughter, laughter that only one dark unicorn king could produce. Ray grabbed his skull and grit his teeth until his sides were embraced with a familiar warmth. Turning around he seen Octavia had woken up and was hugging him. The laugh faded into nothing as Ray laid back down and was nuzzled by her. For a moment Octavia could have sworn she seen Ray's eyes flicker and smoke. Dismissing the thought she just held Ray in her embrace.