A Love Lost in Shadow

by phoenix-alpha1

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Romance, King Sombra, Crystal Ponies, Drama, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1589

Many know of the evil King Sombra, but very few know of his origins. Here we shall discover the true story of King Sombra.

Many know of the evil King Sombra, how he took over the Crystal Empire and enslaved the crystal ponies, how he was banished to the frozen north and used his dark magic to make the Crystal Empire vanish into thin air for 1,000 years, and how he returned but was defeated by a certain lavender unicorn and her young dragon friend.

But very few know of his origins, what he was like before his rise to power. How he was once kind, selfless, and loving. How he fell in love with a crystal pony by the name of Amber Leaf and held her close to his heart. Or how he made one mistake and caused everything he knew and loved to be taken away.

Here we shall discover the true story of King Sombra, and see his return to the Empire and see him correct the mistake he made so long ago and hopefully regain the love of the pony he held so dear, lost in shadow.....

Note: This story is heavily based off of StasySolitude's animation "A Tale of One Shadow". The idea belongs to HER, not me, so please give her the credit she deserves. I don't take credit for it. Also this is my 1st time writing a fanfic and I'm doing this by myself, so please don't be to harsh if you don't like it. And also, any positive feedback and/or ideas or input you guys and girls could give would be greatly appreciated. Tags may change as the story get updated.

MLP belongs to Hasbro
"A Tale of One Shadow" belongs to StasySolitude
Cover Image belongs to AlicjaSpring

Published 2017-05-29 14:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-05-29 14:40:01 UTC

The Story Begins

Many centuries ago in the land of the frozen north, lived the Crystal Empire and in it, the Crystal Ponies, a race of ponies whose coats shine like gemstones. But at this time, there was one pony not like the rest. A unicorn, tall and slender, with a mane and coat both black as night, eyes red as rubies, and a cutie mark of a red crystal, wondered here from the kingdom of Equestria to study the Empire's mysterious and unique magic. But little did he know, coming here would change his life, as well as the lives of the Crystal Ponies, forever.

"This place sure is beautiful", said the black unicorn in a deep, but soothing tone as he looked around the Empire admiring it's unique crystalline buildings and structures, "not sure if i'll even want to leave after i finish my studies here", he said happily, smiling as he continued walking around the Empire, passing several crystal ponies as he did so, with several of them giving him curious looks, and quietly muttering to themselves. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but he was sure they were talking about him.

"They're acting like they've never seen a unicorn before, are there no unicorns here," he said curiously, "if not, I wonder why." He continued walking around as he caught himself staring at them from time to time, "guess I'm one to talk". Then all of a sudden, he felt a pain in his head, heard a sharp feminine yelp, and saw nothing but black. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes to see that his saddlebags filled with his books and quills were scattered across the ground in front of him. And then he looked up only to see a sight unlike any he has seen before.

He saw a mare with a light blue coat that shone like the Empire itself, a beautiful lavender mane with curls held up my golden bands imbued with small blue gemstones, a cutie mark of a grain of wheat on her flank, she then opened her eyes to reveal eyes that sparkled like sapphires. He saw her rubbing her forehead and in front of her, saddlebags filled with her own books and other various items. And it was then that he realized he had bumped into her while he was distracted and caused her to drop her own things, and he snapped out of his trance-like state.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, I wasn't paying attention!", he said apologetically to the mare before him.

"No no, it's okay, I'm sorry too. I wasn't paying attention either.", she said in a slightly high-pitched, melodic tone, it was the most beautiful voice he had ever heard. It was at that moment that they locked eyes for the first time, and for what seemed like eternity, they simply sat there, staring into each other's eyes. After about a minute, they finally spoke again.

"Oh uh, sorry for staring. I don't what came over me. My name is Amber Leaf by the way, what's yours?", the mare said nervously, clearly embarrassed out the event that just transpired.

"I-It's okay, I'd be lying if i said i wasn't staring as well. Oh and u-uh, my name is Sombra.", said the unicorn, also embarrassed about what had just happened.

"I'm sorry for making you fall over and drop your things, I wasn't watching where I was going Amber Leaf. ", said Sombra apologetically, looking at Amber Leaf's various items scattered across the ground.

"Like I said, I'm sorry as well, I wasn't watching where I was going either Sombra.", said Amber, "and also, you have to call me by my full name all the time, just Amber is fine.", she said smiling, she then proceeded to bend down to pick up her things and put them back in her saddlebags.

"Here let me help Amber," he said as his horn began to glow with a red aura. It was then that used his magic to encompass Amber's items in the same red aura and levitate them back into her bags and put her bags back on her while simultaneously the same thing to his own items. Meanwhile Amber simply sat there in awe, she had heard about unicorns before and how they are able to use magic to manipulate the world around them, but to actually see it with her own two eyes was...

"Amazing", was all Amber could say after just seeing the feat of magic before.

"Thanks but it wasn't that impressive. It was just a simple levitation spell, all unicorns know it, besides it was the least i could do.", he said slightly embarrassed.

"It was still amazing to me, we don't get that many unicorns around here, so we don't get to see magic like that often," said Amber, still awestruck. "Oh and thank you."

"You're welcome. So is that why most of the ponies around here have been giving me odd looks?", asked Sombra curiously.

"Yeah, you're kind of an oddity around here, hehe," said Amber, giving a nervous chuckle.

"Hehe yeah, oh uh, here let me help you up.", he said standing up and reaching out his hoof to her.

"Oh uh thank you.", said Amber taking his hoof using it prop herself back on her own four hooves. "By the way were you evening doing that caused you to be distracted?", asked Amber looking at Sombra, awaiting his answer.

"Oh, I was just admiring the architecture, I have never seen structures like these before, it's just so...beautiful.", he said moving his head around a slight bit, once again admiring the Empire's beauty, almost at a loss for words.

"Oh really, well that's funny, because I was doing the same thing.", she said giving a slight chuckle.

"Really? But you live here.", Sombra said almost in disbelief.

"Yeah, I know. But I can sometimes that forget that and then I get lost in the scenery." she said nervously but still smiling, "But you have to agree, it's kind of hard not to.", she said smiling even brighter

"Yeah you're right there.", he said chuckling a little.

"Hehehe. Now if you don't mind me asking, what are doing in the Crystal Empire anyway?", asked Amber curiously.

"It's okay, I don't mind at all. I came here to study the Crystal Empire and it's mysterious magical properties.", he said in an almost monotone voice.

"Really, why?", she said with just a bit of shock in her voice.

"Because little is known about Crystal Empire, and I hope to change that." he said once again in a monotone-like voice.

"Oh...well, I guess that makes sense. Maybe I can help you with that.", she said happily.

"Really? How?", he said with curiosity.

"Because like you, I too am interested in the history of the Empire, plus i know where the library is and how it's organized.", she said happily smiling.

"Really? Well it would be nice to have have a study partner. Especially if it's somepony as beautiful as you.", said Sombra, only seconds later realizing what he had just said.

"Y-you r-really think I'm...beautiful?", asked Amber, her cheeks turning red with slight embarrassment.

"Y-yes, I really do.", replied Sombra, his cheeks also turning red.

"T-thank you, I don't think I've ever heard that before.", Amber said blushing a bit harder, clearly flattered by Sombra's words,

"Y-you're welcome. I truly do mean it.", replied Sombra, his blush also growing a bit more intense.

"Thank you Sombra. Oh and since you just got here, I doubt you have a place to stay while you're here, so maybe you could stay with me in my home while you stay here." she said politely, but still blushing,

"Really? No, I couldn't do that, I wouldn't want to be a burden. Plus we just met, we don't know each other that well", replied Sombra, surprised by her offer.

"No it's okay, somepony as handsome and charming as you could never be a burden.", Amber said with a slightly sultry tone and look.

"R-really? T-thank you, it means a lot" Sombra said gratefully, his blush becoming redder.

"No problem. Also if knowing each other is a problem, we can fix that. It's beginning to get dark anyway, so why don't head head over to my house. I can make us something to eat and we can get to know each other better then?" she asked, hopeful that he would say yes.

"Sure, sounds like a plan. Lead the way Amber." he said happily.

"Okay, follow me.", said Amber as she walked off with a slight pep in her step, Sombra following close behind.

'She is so wonderful. With her around, I'll definitely think about staying if it means I get to be near her everyday.' he thought as he followed Amber to her home.

'I really hope he stays, he definitely looks like a great guy to be with.', thought Amber as she walked.

And thus the story of Sombra and his beloved Amber Leaf, begun.

Author's Note

Yay, first chapter done. I hope it turned out good enough for you guys and girls. To be clear, the first few chapters are gonna be like prologue chapters explaining everything from before the Empire's disapperance. After I get done with that, then I will begin the rest of the story. Also I don't know how frequently the story will be updated so please be patient with me.