It had been several hours since Aion and Moirai had returned, everyone was seated at the large dinning table sharing stories and laughing. As they enjoyed themselves Aion noticed the shadows lengthening suddenly the two dogs that had been at Aions side snarled and crouched down preparing to pounce, Aion narrowed his eyes and drew his scythe causing everypony to turn to him.

"Reveal yourself shade." He said as he leveled the scythe in the direction the dogs were growling.

For a moment nothing happened but slowly a chuckle was heard. "So you see me. It is a pleasure to meet you again King Erebus." A voice said as a stallion materialized from the shadows.

The stallion was a unicorn with a curved red horn, he stood as tall as Celestia and wore heavy armor. However the most noticeable feature were his green and red eyes.

"I don't believe we have met before, however you reek of Moros's corrupt influence." Aion said.

"I'm wounded that you would forget me old friend." The stallion said hatred radiating from him.

Aions eyes widened in surprise. "No... Diamante? Is that you?" Aion asked in shock.

"I go by Sombra now, a bit unimaginative but to the point." King Sombra said as he approached Aion.

"But the crystal heart destroyed you!" Twilight gasped in shock.

Sombra turned to Twilight with a sneer. "Oh I was killed but my soul was not let rest." He growled. "Instead I was remade and cursed into this form!" He roared angrily.

"Then you shouldn't have made a deal with the devil himself!" Celestia spit back.

"You think I wanted this!?" Sombra roared as he dove into the shadows and appeared behind Celestia launching a crystal at her.

Luna fired a spell and shattered the crystal before it reached Celestia. "Then why, Why accept his offer?" She asked

"It was this or the destruction of my Kingdom." Sombra growled before re-materializing before Aion. "Despite my actions I am not here to fight, it's just hard to stay in control." He said as he winced. "I want to be free from my curse and there is only one way." He said before knelling to Aion.

"King Erebus, as the Ruler of Death, the Grimm Reaper, you have the power to slay me, I ask that you bring my soul rest. Please, kill me." Sombra begged.

Aion froze. "What happened Diamante, what made you accept this agreement?"

Sombra sighed before looking at the King. "I was given a choice. Protect my people or be destroyed."

Flashback: Crystal Empire, 1,000 years ago

A stallion stood on the balcony of the Crystal Palace over looking the Crystal Empire, he wore a suit of silver armor with a blue gem set in the center of its chest, a light blue cape covered him and upon his head sat a platinum crown. King Obsidiana Diamante stood with a smile he looked over the shining blue crystals that served as his ponies home however as he looked to the horizon his smile turned sad.

Word had spread that his old friend, King Aion, had been imprisoned. While he wished to be their to aid his friends children he couldn't just leave his kingdom, the guilt had torn him apart but it wouldn't for much longer. King Aion's daughters Princess Celestia and Luna were on their way to the Empire to see him.

The sound of a somepony clearing there voice caught his attention and he turned to find one of his servants. "Pardon me your Majesty, but the train will soon arrive." The servant said.

The thought of the two children arriving caused his smile returned. "Thank you, I will be leaving for the station immediately." He said as he turned from the balcony and walked out of the throne room.

By the time he reached the gates a small group of guards stood waiting for him. King Diamante nodded to the escorts who a wordlessly lined up around the king and followed him out into the city. As he walked he waved to the citizens often stopping to speak with them or aid them if they required it however eventually they reached the edge of the shield and the cities gates. As they reached the gates to the city they placed on heavy coats that shielded them from the eternal blizzard that surrounded the empire and exited the shield. The guard walked calmly as they crossed the frozen plains.

Suddenly the ground cracked and exploded throwing many of the guards away while the others turned to defend their King, from the explosion a black shadowy figure appeared at his side stood Tirek, the demon Centaur and Grogar, the Necromancer Ram. The guards charged forward to defend their King but Tirek simply laughed as he drew a massive duel-headed war ax and swung decapitating all that approached.

"Enough!" King Diamante roared causing all to freeze as he walked forward and glared at the shadow. "I recognize you," He said as he approached the shadow. "Moros Apocalypsis, Bringer of the End, The King of Demons. King Aion warned me about you." He said with a growl.

The Shadow laughed as its permanence changed from a shadow to that of a man in heavy armor. He wore a tattered black cape with a red inside and his black hair floated in a nonexistent breeze. "And you are the mighty Ruler of the Crystal Empire, King Obsidiana Diamante."

"Well now that we're all antiquated, you mind crawling back into that hole and fucking off?" King Diamante asked.

Tirek growled as he raised his ax and Grogars Eyes glowed with anger however Moros simply laughed. "Oh but where's the fun in that?" He asked as he drew his sword. "With Aion imprisoned I plan to begin destroying this planet and where better to start than with the only kingdom not thrown into chaos at the moment, your pathetic Empire?"

King Diamantes Eyes widened before he summoned a ruby crystal sword. "Not as long as I stand." He said as he glared at Moros.

Moros smiled and charged the king who blocked the strike before stamping his hoof and a spike of obsidian shot from the ground impaling Moros. Diamante sheath his sword and raised his hand causing more crystals to explode from the ground forcing Moros to dodge otherwise he'd be impaled, he then charged Diamante who sidestepped him and launched crystal spears at him.

"I am the King of the Crystal Empire Moros, as long as there is even a single crystal around I can call upon my power and use them." Diamante said calmly.

"So this is the power of the Crystal Monarchy, the ability to wield the vary earth against your opponents." Moros said as he dodged more crystal spikes.

"We are the children of Gaia gifted with the power of the earth." Diamante said as he summoned more crystals causing them to orbit around him. "You wish to destroy my Kingdom, harm my ponies!?" He roared as he charged the demon the crystals orbiting him transforming into swords and daggers. "NEVER!" He screamed as he struck.

Moros smiled as he countered each strike appearing as if he were wielding a hundred sword instead of one. While Moros's strikes were powerful, Diamantes strikes were swift and precise each blow testing the Demon Kings defense and preventing him from going on the offence. Suddenly a roar came from behind and Moros turned to see a large crystal dragon soaring toward them quickly He fired a blast at the dragon shattering it however his laps of concentration gave Diamante the opening he required and he struck Moros in the chest the crystal piercing through his armor and shattering in his chest. Moros roared in pain as his eyes began to glow with hellfire as he turned to the King.

"Enough of this charade!" He roared as he opened his hand a miniature sun appearing in his hand.

Diamante froze as he saw the orb of fire. "Hell energy." He gasped in fear. "You wouldn't dare use that! It would destroy everything on this continent!"

Moros smiled cruelly. "I would prefer not to though it is simply because of how limited I am. My power is weak and using something this powerful would only weaken me further."

Diamante eyes widened in fear as he backed away. "Fine I concede this fight only if you leave us and don't destroy my Kingdom or harm my ponies." He said in disgust.

"Vary well." Moros said with a smile. "I will leave and won't destroy your Kingdom or harm your ponies," He said as he stretched his hand out. Diamante hesitated before shaking the hand only to be pulled closer to the demonic being. "instead you will." He finished with a wicked smile.

Diamantes eyes widened as arcs of red energy traveled up his body and he screamed. His armor shifted becoming heavier and more demonic, the cape turned red as he main began to flow in a nonexistent breeze. "No I will not submit!" He cried as the energy reached his head his eyes shot open as the sclera turned a sickly green and the iris turned from blue to red as dark magic emanated from his eyes and his teeth sharpened and became fangs. "I will not bow Moros! I will fight till I am free, You will never control me! You hear me I... will... fi... Crystals..." As the transformation finished all that remained of Diamante was locked away as a the dark magic transformed him, once it ended the king fell to his knees and groaned.

"Rise my servent rise as the King of Shadows, King Sombra." Moros said with a smile.

Slowly the newly dubbed King Sombra rose to his hoofs and bowed to his master. "I live to serve." he said.

Everypony stared in shock as the king finished his tale. "When the Crystal Heart destroyed my body it also freed me from that demons control, You have no idea what it is like to be forced to watch as you do thing against your will. I was forced to destroy my kingdom and I was powerless to do anything." Sombra said as tears fell from his eyes."

Aion closed his eyes and leaned his head back in thought before returning to look at Sombra. "Technical your free from the worst of the curse and while I could simply lay your soul to rest I have a better idea." He said with a smile.

Sombra looked at Aion in surprise. "What do you mean?" He asked confused.

"Long ago Moros used his power to make Tirek the Aspects of wrath and Grogar who was the aspect of death, however when I slew Grogar the first time I took his power of Death and created Finitis Mors to be the Avatar of Death."

Moirai smiled and walked over to Sombra. "While we can't restore you to exactly how you were we can remake you."

"What are you saying?" Sombra asked surprised.

"How would you like to become the true Aspect of Shadows?" Aion asked.

"We won't be able to completely restore you but it is better than nothing. You will be free of the curse and you will be restored to who you use to be."

Sombra stared at the two beings in shock for a moment before frowning. "What's the catch?" He asked. "I mean this sounds like an amazing deal but that's just it it sounds to good."

"Well, technically there is no real downside but you will bound to the shadows and become immortal but other than that I don't think anything will be much different."

"Um, hate to be the one to point out the obvious and all but won't everyone be all panicked about Sombra returning?" Applejack asked concerned.

Most of the immortals laughed before Celestia turned to Applejack with a smile. "While Diamante and Sombra may look alike in some points they are distinctive enough to appear as two different beings." She said happily. before turning to Sombra. "Well looks like you'll finally be the uncle we always called you."

Sombra laughed happily. "Indeed," He said happily before his smile turned sad. "Listen, Celestia, Luna I'm so sorry for putting you two through all that." He said sadly.

"Thou twas under Moros's influence, you have nothing to be ashamed of." Luna said with a smile.

Sombra nodded. "So you say but that still doesn't erase what I have done." He said with a sigh before turning to Aion and Moirai. "I'm ready." He said.

Aion nodded as he and Moirai raised their hands and a white light enveloped the stallion. Sombra grunted in pain and closed his eyes. Slowly the armor he wore shattered and rebuilt to it's original form the cape he wore turned blue and the head piece he wore returned to being the Platinum Crown of the Crystal Empire. Suddenly bone like appendages burst from his back and quickly grew flesh and feathers the fangs returned to normal teeth.

As the light faded the stallion opened his eyes revealing the sclera to be white, iris were blue and the dark magic that had once emanated from his eyes was gone. The stallion smiled as he examined himself. "I'm free." He said in disbelief before he turned to Aion. "Aion it worked I'm me again!"

Aion smiled as he placed a hand on the Stallions shoulder. "Welcome back Obsidiana Diamante."

Diamante smiled. "Good to be back."

Author's Note

Wow has it been a while since I posted a chapter! I've been really busy with Life and such but I had time to day to finish this and post it. Also If you have any ideas about what I should do in future chapters or want you want to see place them in the comments and they may be put in the story. I don't know if I will follow the original MLP timeline or make this completely different from the source but we'll just have to see.

Anyway I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope to see you in the next one.