The Darkest Hour: Return of Sombra

Clank... Clank... Clank... Clank...

The Crystal Empire had once been known as a place of beauty. A place full of joy, love, and hope. It had been ruled by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna while the rest of the world was at war. Their youngest sister, Princess Amore, took rule after the founding of Equestria. Through the years, Amore, the Princess of Love, kept the empire safe and protected her beloved subjects. When Discord had taken over Equestria and plunged it into madness, she had done all she could to keep him away from the empire, at great cost to her own well-being. When Grogar the necromancer had waged war against Equestria with his dark forces, she kept him away from the empire, again at the cost of her well-being. When Lord Tirek had set out to conquer Equestria, she had done all she could to keep him at bay, at the same price.

The crystal ponies could still remember the way their beloved princess looked. In her efforts to keep all her subjects safe from each threat, her magic had weakened and her body had become frail. Many had worried that she wouldn't be able to handle the next threat, whatever it may have been. Oh, how right they were to fear...

Clank... Clank... Clank... Clank...

Some crystal ponies wore shackles around their necks, connected to one another by chains. They walked in an even line to each destination. Once they were there, they simply stood and waited for their orders. None sat or laid down, for King Sombra would not allow that and they had to follow his rules.

He stood there on the balcony of the castle, overlooking the wasteland below him with that sickening smile on his face, showing off his fangs. His red eyes skimmed across the lifeless desert that had once been beautiful fields. The twisted, black crystals that made each and every structure. The broken shells of what were once ponies. He looked down on two rows of chained slaves. He sent one row to the mines and the other to the armory.

The first row of slaves walked to the mines and got to work. With an almost mechanical indifference, they brought their pickaxes down on walls of crystal. There were several others around them, slaving away with the same indifference. None of them could even remember what life was like before King Sombra murdered Princess Amore and took over save for a few flashes of memory. At first, they tried to resist. They tried to hold on to hope that someone would save them... But no one did. Not even Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. They were alone. They were forsaken.

Clank... Clank... Clank... Clank...

The melody of picks against crystal only fueled their hopelessness. Each clunk and clank an unnecessary reminder of their despair. This is what their lives were now. Amongst the slow, depressing melody, a single voice rang out. A stallion who had found his voice.

"I can't remember who I used to be.

Each passing day pushes me further into insanity.

Only mere flashes, mere glimpses of my past.

Each and every one gone in a flash.

I have no idea if I've lost my mind.

I've lost track of my life and I've lost track of time.

Can I even hear? Can I even see?

I only know what that monster did to me."

All the other slaves joined in.

"We live to serve. We live to suffer.

Tell your kids you love them and kiss goodbye your lover.

We've lost all we had. There is no going back.

The one we all now bow to has covered up the track."

The most physically impressive ponies in the Crystal Empire were lined up, each one waiting for what was to happen. The stallion at the front of the line hung his head as a helmet was magically strapped to his face. In an instant, he was locked inside his own mind and his body was released from the chains only to march towards the hall that held the armor and weapons, soon to join Sombra's troops.

One of the ponies, a stallion near the front, joined in on the song.

"I still remember on that accursed day.

The day that he took my wife and children away.

I remember their horror. I remember their screams.

Every night, it haunts me in my dreams.

I refuse to imagine what he will make me do.

I know it won't be me, but is that really true?

It is his decision. I don't get to choose.

But even if I could, he would make me lose."

That was the last thing he said before the helmet was put on him.

"We live to serve. We live to suffer.

Tell your kids you love them and kiss goodbye your lover.

A power-hungry tyrant, a sadist through and through.

He controls the world now. He controls me and you."

Among the the mining slaves, a mare with light-blue fur and a purple mane looked up at King Sombra, her eyes filled with pain and sorrow.

"I still remember before you took the throne.

I remember a unicorn who felt so alone.

I know that it was painful. I know that it was rough.

I loved you with all my heart, but it wasn't enough.

Now you're just a shell of who you used to be.

Now a heartless monster is the only thing I see.

Your inner demons, you let them take control.

Why did the stallion I loved have to take the fall?"

She didn't cry for there were no tears left.

"We live to serve. We live to suffer.

Tell your kids you love them and kiss goodbye your lover.

We no longer can smile. We no longer can cry.

Why won't he let us go? Why won't he let us die?"

Up on the castle balcony, King Sombra listened to their song with satisfaction. He had everything in place. Soon, he would have enough soldiers to start his conquest on the rest of Equestria. Meanwhile, he would have the weaker slaves toil away and would be able to use them as hostages to keep the Princesses at bay. Everything was going perfectly. With a chuckle, he joined in.

"Continue on, my slaves. Do not yet cease.

You acknowledge yourselves as toys to break as I please.

I control your fate. I control your path.

Any who dare defy me will surely feel my wrath!

Prepare yourselves for war. Canterlot will soon shatter.

The heads of the Princesses will be served on a platter.

You'll work until your bones break and then it's time to bow.

You all must worship me for I am your God now!"

Sombra's licked his lips in anticipation for what was to come. Soon, all of Equestria would be his.

"We live to serve. We live to suffer.

Tell your kids you love them and kiss goodbye your lover.

Prepare yourself, Equestria. For King Sombra comes.

There's nowhere you can hide. There's nowhere you can run."

King Sombra's laugh echoed across the fallen empire.