Metal clashing against metal. Heavy war cries rumbled across the battlefield that was once their peaceful, small kingdom. Words were vehemently cast, gnarled, twisted screams of anguish erupted from all the fighting. Masses of shadow in the silhouettes of ponies marched down and reigned upon the innocent ponies. Above the fighting though, there was a blanket of shadow, seeping within the castle walls and among the ponies. Within the wall of darkness was a unicorn with a vile grin. He knew well that the kingdom would fall to his reign, and the ruler would be forced to bow down.

"Your highness, we can't delay any longer!"

"I know."

Inside the castle walls where smoke and shadow began to drift across the stone, cold floors, there was a tall, regal alicorn. She had a dark, velvet mane with a white coat to contrast the colors. Her irises were a bold shade of red as well. Despite her majestic form, it was weighed down by armor. Her eyes, which were normally rather soft and kind, held a sense of urgency and regret. She was currently using her magic to messily write down something on a scroll.

"My Queen-!"

"I need more time."

The guard shook his head submissively, and before he could say anything more, the castle shook again, as if to say times up. The queen snatched up the scroll in response, red hues flaming almost. She bolted out of the room, and perhaps that was the only time that the castle guard would ever see his queen in such disarray. The guard tried to follow the alicorn, making sharp turns at every corner only to see her tail whipping around the next hall. He soon caught up when the queen came to an abrupt stop, both of them watching as the cloud of smoke hovering above the ground began to take shape. The guard's eyes narrowed, gritting his teeth as he unsheathed his weapon.

"Go ahead, my queen. You mustn't delay any longer. I will be there once I finish up with the mongrels."

His serious tone made the royal almost hesitate. He had always been there for her, always helping her along the way. Though before she could let her feelings fester, she ran passed the shadow ponies, heading straight for the gardens. She couldn't allow herself to think of her guard's sacrifice. They both knew that those creatures were practically indestructible- unable to take any hits or blows, always coming back for round two. The queen grimaced as she came to a swift stop, now standing before two large pillars.

'I know what I must do.'

The alicorn's horn began to light up in a shimmery silver color as she closed her eyes, concentrating on the pillars with the scroll next floating next to her. Yes, they would serve as the- With a sudden jolt, the alicorn was thrusted backwards. Her wings screamed in protest from her weight because of how she landed on them. She groaned, trying to suck back in the air that had been knocked out of her. She shook her head slightly, trying to set her gaze back on the pillars only to meet a cold gaze. Her eyes widened at the sight of the male unicorn with his head held high. She could only muster a glare as she struggled to get back up on her own hooves again. The unicorn used his magic to envelope a rose in dark, purple color before lifting it to the queen's hair. He tucked it between her hair and her ear, almost giving a warm smile.

"A rose for my rose."

"Do not speak to me like that." She sneered at him, using her own magic to pull the rose from her hair.

She looked down at the dark rose, eyes filled with resentment and a sense of sorrow. She didn't know why she was starting to get all sentimental now. After all, this stallion was the reason behind her subject's suffering. He was the one who brought forth darkness, spreading fear in the heart's of her ponies.

"Ah, that's where you are mistaken. You've let your sense of duty and morality blind you from what's truly important."

"You deceive thyself! It is thou who has been blind!" She stomped her hooves down in protest, shaking her head as the rose fell to the ground.

Her horn began to light up as a smirk formed on his face. She only hardened her glare, a bitter expression molding on her face. She couldn't let him do this anymore, not to her or her people. She wouldn't stand idly by and watch everything that she had built from the ground up go crumbling down. His horn began to light up as well, and in a brief flash, a wave of magic surged within the air that nearly hit her if she had not cast a protection spell.

"Do you really think magic like that could take me down so easily?" She remarked before lighting her horn again, feeling her magic flow powerfully throughout her body. The scroll had risen up from the ground as well, being used as a guide for an old, forbidden spell. He seemed too distracted with her to notice that the pillars were starting to spark, initiating a powerful reaction.

"No, but then again, the spell wasn't directed at you, now was it?" The dark colt replied, eyes filled with amusement from her words. However, he finally twisted around once he heart a loud spark. His eyes widened at the sight of a large portal swirling behind him, ravaging anything it could pull inside.

"Your tyranny ends here."

The unicorn laughed, eyes widening as he jerked his head back to her. It was almost unsettling to see him wear such an expression, but the alicorn made no effort to understand him anymore. He was no longer sane, much less even a pony. Then again, what did that make her? ...to dribble in such dark magic as he did was a crime in itself that was inconceivable. She wouldn't know what to tell her people, only a lie would suffice as much as she dreaded doing so.

"Oh, rose, my pitiful rose, this won't stop me." He paused as he felt himself being drawn back to the portal, barely managing to maintain his current position. He raised his voice once more, "You cannot deny our destiny! We were meant to rule, and even if you do not see it now, you will soon!"

The unicorn chuckled louder and louder each time, initiating hysterical laughter that put the alicorn in a state of worry and anxiousness. What did he mean by that...? She began to protest, raising her own voice as well once the portal drew more power and strength. Its winds had started to reach out farther, sucking in everything it could before it was forced to vanish once more.

"What does that mean!?"

He only continued to erupt in laughter as the portal began to shine brighter and brighter. The queen closed her eyes, shielding herself with her wings before a white ray enveloped everything around her, leaving only mystery and tragedy in its wake.

Author's Note

First MLP Fanfiction! Let me know what you guys think so far, and I'll have the first chapter up soon!
~Silver~