Negotiations began once The Corrupting Evil’s spirit was able to be projected into the now occupied throne room, and such negotiations began with a simple statement that showed what position the royals were in.

No-one is coming to save them.

Thanks to the crystal heart becoming active and creating the shield again, The Deceptive Evil had ensured it looked as if it was still joy and happiness that was generating it.

And with the corruption of the heart itself, The Corrupting Evil 2.0. Had enough evilness to upgrade his dungeon, allowing him to turn all of the idiotic zombies he created from the ponies in the Crystal Empire, into more intelligent ghouls. And while it took more dark power, he had these ghouls regain the personalities and memories they had lost, throw in some illusion spells and the Now-Ghoulified Sunburst was currently contacting Starlight to inform her the sudden failure of the Heart was just someone spreading a horrible rumour, which was debunked.

As far as Equestria knows, the Crystal Empire is completely fine, and not under The Corrupting Evil’s thumb.

…*shudder* this level of intimidation is enough to give me goosebumps…

Where was I? Oh right.

*Ahem* This caused the last three living creatures in the empire to hold each other tighter, and also cause the third and youngest of the group to cry, as expected from a foal.

But, with The Compassionate Evil’s new ideals, he reached out his hand to give them an offer.

To hand over the Empire to Sombra, and join the forces of evil.

Now naturally the couple refused his offer, let us move in closer and get a better ear on this.

{Corrupting Evil POV}

“Forget it, ‘Corrupting Evil’! We won’t turn our backs on the Princesses, or Equestria!” Shining said with a conclusive stamp of his hoof. Now one would expect me to be mad, to be insulted that they spat upon my offer, but honestly if they had jumped into it blindly to save their own skin, what’s to stop them from betraying me?

After all, I need them alive. “... well, I’m happy that even through all this, you still kept to my expectations…”

“Huh?” Cadence said, “I expected you to be more… furious.”

“Not at all, why would I expect you to accept my deal so easily? All that would do is make you two out to be ponies who’d gladly betray their fellow Mare or Stallion just to survive… I do not need such ponies on my side as they’d simply betray me when given the opportunity.”

“So… the offer was… a test?” Nightmare asked for the two who were completely frozen in surprise.

“Yes… and no, the offer is still on the table, I’m just going to explain why they will accept.”

“And if we still refuse?” Shining managed to say.

“On my word, should you still not accept, I will allow you to leave the city and return to Equestria unharmed, we will not pursue you.” they blinked at that. “Though in truth that would be rather suicidal.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We’re in the Frozen North, no Trains are coming and I most certainly won't let you use mine, you’d have to walk, out of the protective shield, into the nigh eternal blizzard, I doubt with even any supplies we offer that you’d be able to survive…” now to hit it home. “And even if you two survive, I doubt she would.” I say, pointing to the child.

They shook, their hearts beat faster, I knelt down as best I could while looking at the little thing.

“Even if I didn’t want you on our side, she’d still be one of the reasons why I’d hope for you to not refuse my deal, I’m Evil, not Malicious.”

With every one of my words they looked at me more and more with shock and a hint of sympathy.

“I… I can see that, but why would we want to join you?” the Princess said, trying her best to calm her daughter.

I grinned beneath my helm. “It’s nice to know you’re considering this now, of course safe transport would not be a reasonable part of the deal, as it leaves me to freely choose the fate of anypony in Equestria, and of course you could simply flee the moment you’re no longer in the frozen north back to Equestria to warn them of my return.”

“I still don’t understand why you simply don’t kill them.” Sombra grumbled, to which I have one of the Pony Ghoul Guards pin him to a wall, bolstered by my own magic before walking to him.

“Listen closely Sombra, unlike you and your umbrum kin, I have vision, vision that shows being a tyrant doesn't make a prosperous empire, all of Equestria will exist under my rule, that includes here. That includes them. That includes you. But all shalt not fear me, but respect and love me, not as a tyrant but as their new god. You would do well to remember that, and if you continue to serve by my side, you too shall learn vision.” the guard releases him as he gasps for breath.

“Understood… lord…” he says, but there was no venom to his words, merely some fear and respect.

...it’s a start.

“Now, my offer is simply this, should you choose to side with me, you can ensure a new golden age of Equestria, mindless slaughter is not my goal, my true motive is to unite the land under one rule, my rule, but to say the powers of Harmony and Friendship will have no purpose in this new order is an incorrect accusation.” I gesture to the vampire in the room. “If I was the cruel and heartless fiend that other evils have been throughout the years, then my daughter Nightmare would not be standing here, no I would’ve simply ripped her soul apart and absorbed her remains for failing in her task, but as you can see, I haven’t. She is proof that Love is another power that will continue to flourish in my new empire.”

Nightmare’s expression had become one of shock when I had said that first part, but it softened into a joyful and affectionate expression at the end to the point where when I finished she tried to hug me, only to phase through my projection and trip over herself, provoking a soft chuckle.

“So… you’re a parent…?” Shining asked.

“Yes, and a proud one at that.” I mused.

Cadence, feeling safer in my presence, grew a bit cocky and smirked. “So, who’s the mother?”

I felt a little better, knowing she feels safe enough for small talk with me… doesn’t mean I wasn’t going to turn the tables on her. “Oh Cadence, as a mother yourself you should know how pregnancy works, the baby stays in the mother, then comes out, unfortunately I wasn’t expecting your sister and her friends to try to abort her.”

I could barely hold back my mirth at the faces they were making throughout, first the red faces, then the widened eyes of epiphany, then reeling back in disgust, then a moment of thought, and then a mix of all of them when they put together that I essentially implied I did it with Princess Luna.

“You… and her…”

“What can I say? I’m a sucker for a girl with large moons.”

“Moons? I… OH COME ON MAN! THERE’S A BABY HERE!” Shining yelled out.

It took a lot of magic to keep my projection coherent after my laughing fit. “Alright! Sorry… *ahem* but you see how we’re getting along?” they blink and look at each other, giving uncanny fish impressions as they realize we had been talking like old friends. “I seek to conquer, but being an overlord does not mean oppression, that’s just for people who are afraid of their people turning on them, I’m not a coward, so I offer my hand in friendship, become my cohorts and join the side of Evil, and I promise you that despite some changes, you will not lose everything you care about.”

{Narrator}

And so it was that Shining Armor, Cadence, and Flurry Heart became the first living ponies to join the Corrupting Evil in his quest to conquer Equestria.

...and it was also the same moment Shining Armor made The Corrupting Evil become Flurry’s Godfather…

…go figure.

Author's Note

behold more shenanigans with The Corrupting Evil!