Heart of Stone

4:37pm Thursday, April 12, 19 CE

                              Sombra chuckled softly to himself as he observed the scene in lain out in front of him. Ponies struggling to haul large chunks of dark crystal. His guards taking out their nine-tail whips and flogging them. Scrawny foals shivering in sync. Their mothers scrambling for their loved ones, and screaming at the guards dragging them away. The guards were recognisable even at this great distance by the same distinctive red horn they shared with Sombra.

                              The young unicorn turned away from the book he'd prefer to keep unread. The daily affairs and struggles of the townsponies were not his priority, after all. His main purpose was something else entirely. He laughed loudly this time, a sharp slice of noise that could cut anypony within range. It bounced off the walls in invisible waves.

                              The knock sounded thrice at the huge, crystal doors. They opened up into the throne room, he knew. Sighing, he gathered his composure and stood up to answer it. He needn't have bothered. The door slowly creaked open by itself, and, with a crude thump, Rapid Thunder landed, face first, on the hard, crystal floor. His mouth was gagged loosely, but the binds tying his legs together were not.

                              Two alicorns entered after him. They wore armour as bright and as mysterious as the sun and the moon. The older one, a white mare wearing a golden crown, spoke first. "You are not fit to rule these ponies," she began. "Leave, now, while you still have the chance." The second princess stomped her sword on the ground for effect, for the little good it did.

                              Sombra acknowledged their presence with a condescending sneer. "I knew you'd come for me after you stole the throne from Discord all those years back. The ongoing years were at least fun and chaotic here." His red magical aura surrounded a sword. It had been leaning against the wall until its master needed it or called for it - the time was now. Facing the sharp end towards  the intruders, he continued. "I had been warned if the dangers if you two a few months ago, so I am well-prepared."

                              "Kipipaaaaaaahhh!" Luna roared, lunging at the king. He dodged easily, agile through weeks of training. The dark blue alicorn shrieked in fury, raising her sword to clarify the meaning of her foreign words. Your nimble young body will embrace the pain of death as a loving friend. Slowly, and painfully. Sombra smiled, to show he understood, but it wasn't a nice smile. "Thou will meet your doom!" Luna yelled again. "Thee will not nullify any pain for thouself!"

                              "Is she always this confusing?" Sombra asked, as he fended off the feeble and rushed attacks of the younger alicorn. Celestia giggled at this comment. "It was those damn foreign zebras. They turned her into one of them - taught her all the languages, and, unfortunately, the zebras are known for their potions and their wide diversity of languages." Luna turned to her sister - still idly making conversation - and her attacks became faster, more accurate. Beads of sweat dripped down his brow, and he scrambled away from the crazy mare.

                               Celestia grinned evilly at Sombra. "Our brief relationship means nothing. If it's any condolence, our break up hurt me terribly too. But now, now we will make you pay! Pay for everything you ever did to her, or to me! Though I have to say, sending her to the Land of the Zebras taught her much." She, too, began furious attacks at the king. He cowed beneath their blows, but did not fall. He could never fall.

                               A blur of hooves caught him off guard. He found himself pinned to the wall in a matter of seconds. Sombra squeaked hoarsely. He could barely breathe - his windpipes were being crushed by the hooves of his former marefriends. "You win..." he spluttered, trying to manage a smile but failing to do so. His face, instead, consorted into an ugly grimace. The hooves compressing his lungs released him, and he gasped for air. It returned to his lungs, and he awkwardly stood up. "Do with me what you like, but do not take the Empire from me."

                              "You are hardly in a position to bargain, Sombra," Celestia laughed. She seemed a goddess in that golden armor, blazing like the sun that named her. Her sister, in comparison, was duller than her normal outlook. The darker colours were enhanced by her anger, fear and resentment. Sombra smiled. He knew a thing or two about being looked down upon.

                              "Except bargaining for your dear Luna's life. Leave me my kingdom, or all the gods will curse her. Spare me my life, and save her own." Sombra inwardly smiled. Even if he was just bluffing, Celestia couldn't have known that. She didn't know the limits of his power. She sighed, and agreed hesitantly.

                              Sombra had won. The princesses couldn't hurt him now. He was finally free of the burden his sisters had caused upon him. He was ecstatic, he was brimming with hope, he was-

                              -fading. His grey forelegs were turning to ash, and drifting away. He screamed in terror, and realised the treachery. He whipped around, growling. The princesses smiled back. They were satisfied. Sombra's eyes grew a deeper shade of scarlet. "I will take back my kingdom!" he roared. "I will take back what is rightfully mine!" He reached for Celestia, but she was too quick. She evaded his attack and, in one swift movement, cut off his horn. Sombra turned, hissing, but soon the writhing monster was receded to nothing. The shadow that now made up his body disappeared.

                              Luna's loud, uneasy breaths took Celestia back to the crisis at hoof. The sound echoed throughout the room, and the alicorn collapsed. From her shuddering form grew a demon, a demon of black coat and a half-solid, flowing dark mane. Her armor had turned dark. The monster turned to Celestia, and leaped.