"Um, Y-your Majesty?" Rubinstein squeaked, trying to get the attention of the angrily pacing umbrum, his metal-tipped hooves furiously thump-clacking dents into the floor as he muttered to himself. Those who personally served the king knew of his habit of speaking to a voice in his head, something he addressed as "The Darkness" and would intermittently start talking to it at random intervals. Sombra could be eating supper or dictating notes when he would start muttering to himself out of the blue, a habit that only further added to the overall displeasure that the purple crystal pony felt serving him. Well, him and all of the other servants and staff. At the moment, it seemed like the king was talking to "The Darkness" about his queen-to-be, who Rubinstein found to be actually sweet and endearing. So why is such a cheerful and polite mare like Twilight Sparkle marrying a cruel and deranged brute like King Sombra?

"Because I said so, that's why! I'm the king and that means I get to marry a mare of my choice," Sombra shot back at the Darkness, fed up with its plain disgust at the thought of the umbrum wedding a commoner.

True but why this particular mare? Princess Cadence would've been a far more suitable choice. She was already designated as the new sovereign of this land. Marrying her would've made the takeover more official. Plus, she's a princess and an alicorn.

"You have a point but I didn't want to add fuel to the fire by demanding the hoof of Princess Celestia's favorite niece! Better her prized pupil than her own flesh and blood. Besides, she's already married and I'm not going to degrade myself by trying to rub another stallion's rhubarb."

Is this pride talking? Who cares if she's already taken?

"I do! This is not up for discussion! I chose Twilight Sparkle as my queen and that's that!"

Sombra slammed his hoof down for emphasis, though it was a futile gesture considering he was attempting to intimidate a disembodied voice, one that only he could hear. He sighed and emptied his wine glass, smacking his lips as he took in the smoky taste. "Rubinstein!"

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Have Sand Arrow and Check Mate bring up another barrel of wine. I'm feeling especially parched today."

The crystal pony bowed and scurried off, almost hitting Twilight Sparkle as she apprehensively entered the room. Sombra turned and spread his arms out joyfully. "Ah, Twilight. It's been too long. Welcome, my dear. How might I assist you?" The mare looked around, clearly uncomfortable by the fact that she was currently standing in his private-and rather spacious-bedchambers. For once, Sombra didn't look at Twilight's body, instead focusing on the intense gleam in her violet eyes. They were bright and full of knowledge, with just a bit of fire lurking behind them. Well, what do you know? He thought amusingly to himself. There's a physical trait I'm liking about a mare that has nothing to do with her body.

Twilight finally stated, "I was at the library and I was trying to look up information about you, about umbrums."

"Is that so?" Sombra was intrigued. "And did you find anything?"

She paused to pull a few sheets of paper from out of her saddlebags. "From the few books I could locate, I found that umbrums have a legend about a pony named Ahriman and his connection to the 'Primordial Darkness.'"

Though it was barely imperceptible, Sombra's facial muscles twitched with surprise. How did she find out about that? I had every book on the matter either removed or destroyed! I was very thorough! When Sombra took over the Crystal Kingdom, he knew that any information about umbrums would prove dangerous in the wrong hooves and could inspire rebellion in his new slaves. So, he did what any rational overlord might: he had the library scourged of anything dangerous to his reign, including anything pertaining to his father, mother or family lineage.

Not thorough enough it would seem. There was a chance that something would've fallen through the cracks.

Ignoring the Darkness, Sombra forced a grin and asked pleasantly, "Ah, yes, I remember that from my days as a young colt. It's an old myth, nothing more. What did you learn about the Primordial Darkness?"

"Well, it's one of the Primordial Ones, a group of cosmic beings that supposedly came into existence at the start of the universe. One of the beings, the personification of Darkness, apparently chose the unicorn Ahriman as its vessel or representative and he in turn became the father of the umbrum race. Other than that, I couldn't find anything."

Sombra shrugged casually, "Perhaps it's for the best. I'm the last umbrum so what does it matter?" He then boldly approached the unicorn, catching the flicker of fear in her eyes as she tensed up. He leaned in closely, so much that he could smell her breath. "Then again, I don't have to be, do I?" Sombra's voice dropped to a husky whisper, sending goosebumps popping up all over Twilight's flesh. Why do I find her so irresistible?

A hoof hit Sombra in the center of his chest, shoving him away as Twilight faced him angrily, her glow glowing threateningly. "What happened to you? How can you be so cold-hearted and-and repulsive?! Were you ever even remotely decent?" Astonishment gave way to admiration, as Sombra considered the mare. It was like their first meeting, which seemed ages ago and the fire that was present then was there then, radiating off of Twilight as she faced him down. To Sombra's own shock, looking back on that day lead his mind towards going back further to another day, one that would forever help to cement his destiny as the future King of Shadows.

"It was...a very long time ago," he answered in a serious, almost pained tone, causing Twilight's horn to stop glowing as she stared at him uncertainly. "But I had to grow up. I had to kill the colt so that the stallion could live." He turned away from Twilight, who thought over his words and struggled for a response. Sombra, on the other hoof, no longer thought about the unicorn, instead finding his brain occupied by a memory. A memory that continued to fester in his mind like a fresh battlefield wound, the reminder of a war he'd started and had yet to win centuries ago...

1,475 years ago...

Young Sombra was unceremoniously dropped to the floor, his flank and left hind leg aching from the slight fall. Wincing slightly, he froze when the stallion in front of him glared at him, deep breaths being exhaled from his flaring nostrils. King Erebus resembled a grown-up version of his son except he was more muscular with broader features and kept his mane and beard long and wild, like black banners on his face and scalp. He also bore a deep scar on the right side of his face, plunging over his eye, down his cheek and over the edge of his lip, giving him the appearance of always scowling on that side. What was truly horrendous was how the king gained it; Sombra was there and would never forget it for as long as he lived.

"What were you doing?! I didn't give you permission to leave the castle!" Erebus roared, shaking the room with his voice.

"B-but Father, I just wanted to make some friends and I thought...-"

"You thought what? They'd just hop up and down with joy at the notion? Bah, what naivety!"

Sombra dragged his front hoof along the stone floor in little figure-eights. "The filly seemed, well, not so bad." His cheeks flushed at the memory. "And she-she was pretty too!" He nearly screamed when a green corona surrounded him and dragged him up to his father's scowling face.

"Of course she was! They all are! Mares-and by extension, fillies-are the most conniving, devious creatures in all of Equestria! Once they have your heart, they own you. Now, what have I told you? No pony will ever want to associate with you, especially mares! Nopony could ever love an umbrum." He closed his good eye and Sombra once again fell painfully to the floor. The colt whimpered softly, wanting his mother now more than ever. It'd been almost six months since her death and at that point, he would've given anything to see her again. No, no! Don't think about her! Not like that!

King Erebus slowly circled his son, with Sombra feeling as though he were a deer being swarmed by a school of bite-acudas. "You have to grow up, Sombra, if you ever wish to one day succeed me and be king. You have to become strong, merciless, ready to do what must be done. You must kill the colt so that the stallion may live."

"I don't understand, Father."

"I know you don't. Yet. You are still young and full of fear. It's time that I showed you the Gateway."

Sombra scurried away but was caught by two armored sentries, their faces hard but sympathetic. "No, not the Gateway! Please, don't do it! Father, please!" His cries went unheard however, Erebus coldly regarding his offspring before turning on his hind hoofs and stomping away, the guards following closely behind with a thrashing Sombra in their clutches. From what Sombra had read, the Gateway of Phobetor was the most dangerous of the umbrums' relics, one that could drive a creature to insanity if entered. And Sombra was twelve, which meant that he was old enough to pass the initiation. He would face his greatest fear and thereby conquer it. At least, he hoped he would.

They traveled past the throne room and down a secret passageway, which lead into the catacombs that lay hidden deep beneath the castle. After half a mile, they stopped in front of what appeared to be a simple wooden door, with a large gem at the center of its lintel. Channeling his dark magic into the gem, Erebus unleashed a blast of black energy, charging the gem and unlocking the Gateway, which began to open with a blinding light that poured out of it.

"It is time, my son. Embrace your destiny. Fear is the greatest tool, the best teacher. Learn from it."

Seeing how much nearer he got to the relic, Sombra kicked and thrashed as hard as he could but the guards never relented, holding onto him until he was directly in front of the door. The guards finally relinquished their grip, leaving Sombra at the Gateway's mercy. He wanted to run, flee from this accursed place, but found to his own horror that he could not. Every muscle in his body refused to obey him, leaving him petrified on the spot as the door swung all the way open. A blinding light enveloped Sombra, tugging at his flesh and yanking him into it. A scream erupted from his throat and he fell downward, deep down into the darkest recesses of his mind, into the place he dreaded to venture.

Author's Note

The line, "Kill the colt so that the stallion may live," is based on "Kill the boy so that the man may live," which I borrowed from A Song of Ice and Fire and Game of Thrones. It's just such an impactful line and I knew that I had to incorporate it somewhere.

Wow, that's the second GOT reference I've made in this story. Huh.

The rhubarb line was lifted from Batman (1989). Such a funny line.

So what did young Sombra see behind the door?