Twilight, Princess of Shadows

The next morning came but the sun wasn’t shining. A fierce blizzard raged across the frozen north like an ill omen of something to come. Sombra and Twilight stood at the cave entrance to observe it.

“That’s quite a blizzard isn’t it,” said Twilight.

“Indeed it is. You start preparing for our departure. I have to do something before the empire returns.”

Then he disappeared and Twilight went back inside. Sombra appeared in another part of the north just in time to see himself return. The other Sombra fresh out of him imprisonment was still rather weak from it and was trying to stand up.

“Freedom at last. The Crystal Empire will be mine again.”

“Not quite.”

The other Sombra was hit with a blast of magic and flew a few feet away. He looked to see who attacked him only to see himself approaching.

“How?”

“I’m you from the future, and I’m sorry to say there is only room for one King Sombra in this world.”

He produced a crystal sword and swung. “AHHHH!”

Twilight was just finishing up her packing when Sombra returned. “So what did you need to do?”

“Oh just some person matter I had to tend to. Maybe I’ll tell you later.”

Twilight looked skeptical. “Well I’m just about finished here.”

“Good the empire will be returning shortly. We should be there to see it.”

“And you’re sure we won’t have any interference from Equestria?”

“Not at first. I’ve been monitoring the situation there. By the time they even figure out that the empire has returned and move to respond we’ll be marching south. Now let’s get going.”

They arrived at a large snow covered field and Sombra pointed straight ahead. “There. If my timing is correct it should only be less than a minute now.” The city then began to fade into existents and it full appeared. “So what do you think?”

“Hmm not bad. The palace is taller then I excepted.”

“Just wait until I get done with the alterations. Now we should go and greet our subjects.”

“Let’s.”

The Crystal Ponies wandered around the city not quite sure what they should be doing. But then started to panic when they saw King Sombra and some mare with him stroll down the street towards the palace. The pair paid the peasants no mind at the moment. When they reached the palace Sombra used his magic to amplify his voice.

“CITIZENS OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE YOUR KING HAS RETURNED, AND I BRING WITH ME MY DAUGHTER PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE. ALL OF YOU ARE TO RETURN TO YOUR HOMES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.”

The announcement of a daughter confused and troubled the Crystal Ponies greatly. It was bad enough when they had one tyrant, now there’s two. Sombra used his magic to start turning the palace back to black crystal and it spread outwards from there to the rest of the city. They entered the palace and Sombra gave Twilight a tour so she could find her way around then got to work outfitting the Crystal Ponies for war.

Some guards ran into the throne room of Canterlot Castle and approached Princess Celestia. “Your highness, we’ve received a report about a city of black crystal appearing in the north. Do you know what it means?”

Celestia’s expression turned serious. “Yes I do. Get Cadence and Shining Armor, also prepare our forces to depart and call up the reserves at once! We’re going to war.”

The guards looked a little puzzled. “With who exactly?”

“The Crystal Empire. Now move!”

“Yes your highness.”

The guards left leaving her alone for the moment. The day she’s been dreading has finally come. She only wished she knew exactly when the Crystal Empire would return so she could have stopped Sombra before he took it over again.

(The following day)

Sombra, Twilight, and their army marched south across the snow covered ground. Then they spotted the Equestrian forces coming into view.

“HALT!” Everypony stopped. The Crystal Ponies were wearing enchanted armor that made them completely obedient to their commands. Sombra had planned on using it before his defeat a thousand years ago but didn’t get the chance. Sombra pointed to one of them. “You, go and inform the Equestrians that I want an audience with Celestia, then return.” The pony saluted and did as instructed. When they returned he saw Celestia and two others appear in the middle of the field. He and Twilight disappeared and then reappeared a few feet in front of them. Celestia had brought Princess Cadence and Captain Shining Armor with her. They noticed that this mare in his company had the same eyes and horn as him. “Celestia it’s been a long time hasn’t it. Where’s that sister of yours?”

Celestia glared at him with hateful eyes. “That’s none of your business! And who is she?!”

“Ah yes allow me to introduce my daughter Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

Celestia’s look went from one of hate to bewilderment. “What?! How-”

“Wait, did you say Twilight Sparkle?” said Shining.

“Yes.”

Shining’s eyes went wide. “Twilight it is you.”

Celestia looked at him. “You know her captain?”

“She’s my sister, the one I told you went missing years ago.” He stared at Sombra. “YOU, you took her!”

“Right you are.” He let out a chuckle.

“You know when you said I was adopted you hadn’t mentioned that I was taken from another family.”

“It was nothing you need to concern yourself with at the time.”

“This doesn’t make any sense. There is no way you could have broken free from your imprisonment early and even if you had why take Twilight?”

“Ah princess there’s a simple explanation for that. I’m from the future.” That surprised everypony including Twilight. “You see Celestia in the time I’m from Twilight here had become your pupil. She became the bearer of the Element of Magic and even ascended to become an alicorn, which I’m hoping she can do again. It was because of Twilight that I was defeated during my attempt to retake the empire when I returned. An encounter I barely survived. After I recovered I kept an eye on her and became rather impressed with her raw natural talent and ability. I planned and plotted on how I could possibly win in this scenario for some time, and then a golden opportunity presented itself. I had learned that a unicorn of exceptional talent had successfully managed to perfect Star Swirl the Bearded’s time travel spell. I took it for myself and traveled into the past to take Twilight and raise her as my own, insuring that the primary threat to me would be on myside when the time came.”

The others couldn’t believe what they just heard. Twilight was a little hurt that he didn’t tell her all this sooner. “You know when you say it like that I can’t help but feel like I was being used a little.”

“No, of course not. Granted I did take you in the hopes of you helping achieve victory but I raised you, cared for you, and love you like you were my own flesh and blood and I always will. And I apologize for not telling you all this sooner.”

Twilight stared at him for a second. “I love you too dad, but I’m still a little ticked. Wait if you’re from the future wouldn’t that mean there are two of you now?”

“That is true and I’ll tell you what I told him. There is only room for one King Sombra in this world. Now back to the matter at hoof. Celestia I offer you this opportunity to surrender.”

“No.”

“Think about it now. Twilight was your champion in my time but that is no longer the case. Cadence isn’t much of a fighter and without your sister you’re at a severe disadvantage. You can save a lot of lives right now by throwing in the towel. But if you’d rather sacrifice the lives of your subjects in a bloody war of attrition that you have no chance of winning then by all means do that, you’d only be delaying the inevitable for a short time. What’s your answer?”

“I would sooner die than relinquish Equestria to you.”

“Very well if you want a war you’ll get one. See you on the battlefield.” Sombra and Twilight disappeared back to their troops and he gave the order to attack. “CHARGE!”

The Crystal Ponies raced towards the Equestrians. Celestia teleported herself, Cadence, and Shining back to her troops and ordered them to engage the enemy. They charged forward, eventually the two sides met and slammed into each other. After a minute the fighting began to spread out and became more one on one. Celestia advanced to join the fight and Sombra moved to intercept. Shining leaped into the fray as well and started issuing orders to better direct and organize his troops. Twilight wanted to meet this pony who claimed to be her brother and moved to his location. She appeared a few feet away from him amongst the fighting, he looked over and notice her.

“What’s your name?”

“Shining Armor. Please Twilight don’t do this, I’m your brother.”

“You’re a stranger to me. It’s a shame you see it that way actually, I thought you looked rather handsome.” That threw Shining off for a second and Twilight shot a bolt of dark magic at him. He raised a shield and it began to crack but held. “Impressive shield spell. I’ll have to take it up a notch.”

She turned to shadow and shot more magic at him but he dodged or blocked it. Then he shot a bolt at her which is what she was hoping for. He wouldn’t be able to put up a shield while casting an offensive spell. She easily dodged and countered by having a crystal pillar jet out of the ground at an angle hitting him in the side and knocked him a foot over onto his side. His armor offered some protection but between the crack he heard and shooting pain he knew he broke at least one rib. He tried to fight the pain and get up but black tendrils rose up around him coiling around his body and limbs pinning him on his back. Twilight approached him in pony form and cast a spell so crystals would form on is horn cutting off his magic. Then a crystal dome rose up around them and closed.

“What are you doing?”

“Now that we have a moment to ourselves I’d like to talk.” She walked over and stood over him. Then laid down on him crossing her hooves at the top of his chest. The added pressure on his ribs made him grunt in pain. “Oh come now, pain is there to remind us we’re alive, which you are for the moment.”

“Twilight you don’t have to do this. This isn’t the way things should be. Sombra has been manipulating you your whole life.”

“Oh please spare me,” she said while rolling her eyes. “I must say you are rather talented I can see why they made you a guard captain.” Twilight then gave Shining a sultry look and he didn’t like it. “You know you don’t have to die here on the battlefield. You could join me and my father and fight for the Crystal Empire.”

“Never.”

Twilight applied a little more pressure to his broken rib which made him wince in pain. “Think carefully now. You could die here a patriot but when Equestria falls you’ll be forgotten, or you could join us and help put an end to this war a whole lot quicker, and be rewarded for your contributions.”

“The answer is no.”

“That’s a shame. You would have made a valuable asset.”

Twilight summoned a piece of crystal and manipulated it in her magic until it was a sharp blade. Outside the battle raged on. Sombra had been engaging Celestia and now her and her troops were starting to be put on the ropes. He noticed the crystal dome and wondered what Twilight could be up to. He managed to distract Celestia long enough to vanish and reemerge inside the dome and saw Twilight about to finish Shining off but intervened. He grabbed the blade in his magic and strolled up to them.

“Now Twilight, don’t you think he’d be more useful as a prisoner then a corpse?”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“Take him to the palace and I’ll finish up here. When I get back I’ll interrogate him.”

“Very well.”

The shadows rose up around Twilight and Shining and then they were gone, leaving only Shining’s armor behind.

Shining reappeared in a dungeon cell at the palace no longer bound and Twilight stood outside of it. She was about to leave but stopped and used her magic to mend his broken rib.

“Why did you do that?”

“Just to give you a small reprieve from the pain, because when father returns you’ll be in a world of it.”

Twilight took her leave and left Shining to his own thoughts.