Shadow of Reform

Chapters

Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10

Introduction

Introduction

For thousands of years, the land of Equestria was shrouded in dissension and war. And with it’s darkness, gave rise to beings of wicked resolve.

But that all came to an end with the rise of the Alicorn Sisters: Celestia and Luna, beings of harmony and justice who sought only to bring the light back to their land, and free the innocent ponies from the grip of the shadows.

But the sisters would soon meet their greatest challenge, far more dangerous than beings like Discord or Tirek.

These were beings of shadow.

Forged from the very darkness that consumed the land.

These… were the Umbrum.

Before the Alicorn Sisters were even born, the Umbrum were revered as peacekeepers. Guardians of Justice who maintained balance within Equestria, and struck down any evil who dared to threaten their peace.

But one day, something within the Umbrum changed.

An unknown but malevolent force wrenched their hearts… until they were consumed by the very darkness they sought to defeat.

When Celestia and Luna confronted the Umbrum Queen, Rabia, they did so with the Elements of Harmony.

Objects of great power, capable of defeating the darkness and banishing all wickedness from the world.

Using the powers of the Elements, the Princesses banished Rabia and all her ilk. Trapping and imprisoning them within the very crystals they revered and placing them deep within the Earth, far below their former kingdom: The Crystal Empire.

The Princesses believed that the greatest threat to their land was defeated and resolved to return to their subjects, where they could live in peace and without fear.

Or so they thought.

For Rabia had made sure to leave one last card on the table. Her own son, Sombra.

Found as nothing but a foal in the vast snowy wastelands of the empire, Sombra was rescued and raised by the Crystal Ponies.

Having no recollection of his past or who he was, Sombra grew up isolated and alone. His only friend was his only reprieve, a crystal unicorn filly, named Radiant Hope.

Together the pair grew up playing and laughing, to Sombra she was the greatest pony he had ever met. And together they grew into a stallion and mare alike, but their was one thing they had both hoped to experience: the Crystal Faire.

Once every year, the Crystal Empire would hold a fair to celebrate the renewal of the spirit of love and unity in the Empire to protect it from harm.

But every year, Sombra would be struck with a strange and sudden pain. A pain that tore his body apart every Crystal Faire. Only with the power of Radiant Hope’s magic was Sombra saved, and with it came the earning of her Cutie Mark.

But with the discovery of a unicorn with powerful magic, came the attention of the Alicorn Sisters. Radiant Hope was offered the chance to learn magic under Celestia’s tutelage, and possibly become an alicorn herself.

Sombra, of course, was happy for his friend, but he also came to a realization: If hope left, he would be all alone once again.

But suddenly, their attention was drawn to a certain unicorn mare. A tall and regal figure, the Princess of the Crystal Empire, Princess Amore.

She guided the two ponies to the Crystal Heart, the very source of light within the empire. And explained that if they looked within, they could see their possible future.

Hope looked into the heart and saw herself as a regal Alicorn Princess. But for Sombra… it was a different story.

For within the heart, he saw a dark figure. A figure who radiated waves of maliciousness and hatred. But what scared him the most… was the figure’s eyes: angry red eyes lying on deep lime-green sclera and radiating plumes of purple smoke.

And with this image, Sombra realized that his future was that of a monster. And so he ran.

He ran out of the Empire, past it’s threshold and out into the frozen wastes beyond.

He collapsed from exhaustion but fate seemed to have already made its move.

For in front of the young grey stallion, was a crystal of the deepest red. And suddenly he heard a voice.

“Sombra…” spoke the voice, feminine in nature from what he could tell.

Sombra turned his head in search of the voice’s owner, but his emerald green eyes laid right in front of him.

The crystal spoke again, and suddenly a dark red lightning shot out from the crystal and landed on Sombra’s horn.

Momentarily reeling back, Sombra eventually gained his footing. And when he opened his eyes, they were red on lime-green and had purple smoke flowing from their corners. And suddenly, Sombra understood it all.

He knew who he was.

He knew what he was.

And he knew what he had to do.

Donning a black and purple rimmed hooded cloak, Sombra turned his body into shadow and made his way to the Crystal Empire.

After a short flight, Sombra made his way to the pedestal. Now face to face with the Crystal Heart, Sombra reached out a hoof and plucked the artifact from its pedestal and began to stuff it into a bag. But he suddenly felt a presence behind him, one he was hoping to find.

Behind him stood Princess Amore. And by her stern expression, she was not happy. “I was hoping not to find you here” she said.

Sombra did not respond immediately but eyed the princess with growing contempt. “Did you know?” he finally said.

“Yes” was all the Crystal Princess could say.

Once again found in silence they didn’t move nor breath. “Do not try to stop me” was all Sombra said as he placed the sack onto his back.

“It does not have to come to this… you can still be saved Sombra” said Amore while trying to plead to the dark stallion in front of her.

“You knew… and yet you let me suffer for all these years. Where was your interest then?” barked Sombra with a sense of betrayal in his voice.

“I did not enjoy watching you suffer, but I could not risk you becoming what you are now. I saw how you were, a kind and caring young colt who only wanted to enjoy the Crystal Faire” said Amore, “You could still come back, return the heart and all will be forgotten” pleaded the princess.

“Forgotten?...” said Sombra before letting out a malicious chuckle, “... forgotten…” he said again, “Just how many years have I had to suffer… for your secret? How many days I had to spend writhing in agony over your fear?” asked Sombra. “But I suppose i can’t blame you. I do look terrifying don’t I?” asked Sombra sarcastically.

“You don’t have to be. You could still come back, this does not have to be your future” pleaded Amore.

“Oh but it does… especially once I release my kind” said Sombra.

“NO! Don’t do it… what is hidden below this empire are things best left sleeping” declared Amore.

“WHO ARE YOU to judge who stays imprisoned?” demanded Sombra, “I will release them, and we will take back what was ours. We will be the new rulers of the Crystal Empire” declared Sombra.

“NO!” said a sudden voice. The two unicorns turned their heads to see the one who had cared to join them. Coming into the light was Radiant Hope.

Sombra let out a short light laugh before turning to Amore, “Is this your plan? Sorry but this is just to rich?”

“No… the princess didn’t know I was coming but I heard what’s going on and Sombra… she’s right” said Hope. “It doesn’t have to turn out like this… I threw out the letter from the Princesses, and while I would love to go and study magic with Princess Celestia… I couldn’t bear leaving you behind” pleaded Hope, “So please… don’t do this, whatever is broken… we can fix it.”

At first Sombra didn’t say a word, he just stared plainly at the purple unicorn mare, and for a moment it looked like her words had rang true. “Fix it huh?...” said Sombra, “well then…” he continued before firing a beam of dark magic from his horn and hit it’s target: Princess Amore. All that was left was a crystal statue of the Princess made of pure black crystals. Radiant Hope’s mouth hung open in shock but was quickly taken over by fear. “FIX THAT!” shouted Sombra before stomping his hoof on the ground where the black crystal statue of Amore shattered and it’s pieces went flying out to the open land, never to be seen again.

Sombra laughed heartily and evilly, while Radiant Hope stood there, dumbfounded before registering what had happened.

And with that she turned and ran all while crying “They were right, YOU ARE A MONSTER!”

And from there Sombra conquered the Crystal Empire and enslaved the Crystal Ponies to start digging into the earth, preparing for the release of the Umbrum.

But fate it seemed, had other plans.

For Radiant Hope had made her way to Canterlot and informed the Princesses.

Gathering their forces, Celestia and Luna mobilized their soldiers and engaged Sombra's own army of corrupted soldiers while they went to confront the Dark Tyrant themselves.

Crashing through the stain glass windows of his throne room, the Princesses readied their weapons, Celestia wielding a spear and Luna wielding a sword. While Sombra wielded a scythe made of black crystal.

The sparks of blades colliding and magic spells being blasted filled the air as the battle for good versus evil began. But eventually, the tryant was conquered and his punishment was carried out immediately.

Celestia and Luna casted their spell, and banished Sombra to frigid wastlelands of the Frozen North, never to be seen again. But Sombra realized that if he fell so to would all he had wrought.

For Sombra had cast his own spell. A curse on the Empire to disappear along with it's citizens to a place unknown.

And for the next one thousand years, Equestria had experienced peace for the longest that it could remember. But Celestia and Luna always suspected that one day, the Empire would return.

And with it... the darkness that hung over it.

And that day did come.

Chapter 1

Prison Break (Part 1)

The Crystal Empire.

A kingdom forged from the light of purity and harmony, one that had been cursed and vanished into the void, had reappeared.

The Alicorn Princesses were overjoyed that the empire had resurfaced, but could not enjoy this moment of glee for long. For they new that with the return of one of Equestria’s greatest kingdoms… came the return of one of it’s greatest adversaries.

But Celestia had anticipated this, and had been preparing a certain unicorn mare for this moment. One who would become an instrumental figure in the future for Equestria.

And her name, was Twilight Sparkle.

The leader of the Mane Six, a group of six mares all bearing the elements of the Elements of Harmony.

Pinkie Pie, Element of Laughter. Applejack, Element of Honesty. Fluttershy, Element of Kindness. Rainbow Dash, Element of Loyalty. Rarity, Element of Generosity. And finally, Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic.

These six mares later embarked for the Crystal Empire, set on freeing it from it’s curse and preventing Sombra’s return.

After confronting Sombra in his shadow form for the first time, the Mane Six succeeded in entering the Crystal Empire. From there Twilight went about locating the Crystal Heart, the only thing capable of freeing the Empire.

Though faced with multiple obstacles and nearly failing bringing back the Heart. It was Spike who made sure they prevailed in the end.

And with the restoration of the Heart, the magic began to attack Sombra. And with it’s power… destroyed him.

… Or so they thought…

~~~

A pony began to stir.

He shifted what little he could against his restraints.

He was a stallion, a large muscular stallion. His coat was a dark gray and his mane and tail were spiky and colored a deep black, blacker than the shadows cast by the torchlight.

He wore a set of steel pauldrons on his shoulders, held by leather straps criss crossing his chest. He wore chainmail covers on his forearms beneath the pauldrons, as well as brown leather wraps around his thighs and brown leather leg guards with gold-rimmed steel greaves on his hind legs with a knee guard chained to the left greave. He also wore brown leather pteruges around his waist, held up by a red sash and two brown leather belts. And finally he wore red hoofless gloves on his hooves and pale leather bandages wrapped around his lower forelegs with chains wrapping around the bandages.

But his most distinguishing feature was his horn.

Unlike normal unicorn horns, which match the pony’s coat color and are straight and segmented, his horn was curved, smooth, and sharp where it gradiented from blood red to grey and was sharp at the tip.

He slowly began to become more coherent as he slowly but surely opened his eyes, which were a brilliant scarlet with deep scarlet pupils.

They were eyes filled with darkness. Filled with malice. They were the eyes of a tyrant.

They were the eyes of Sombra.

The dark unicorn tried to get up but found himself unable to move. He looked down and noticed a large metal collar around his neck, which was chained to the floor to keep him on his hocks.

He craned his neck as best he could to look to his right, where he saw a long chain anchored to the wall, suspending his foreleg up as he pulled against it in a vain attempt to get free. When that didn’t work he tried it with the other chain but met the same result.

He ceased his struggling to let a pant escape his lips as he looked around.

As he scanned the area he found himself in a large stone cavern, possibly a cave he deduced. And his “floor,” was a large pillar with nothing but a deep dark abyss surrounding it. It’s darkness only emphasized by the torches surrounding the walls of the cavern.

“Well it's about time you woke up” said a deep, raspy voice.

Sombra jumped at the sound and darted his eyes around to locate where it was coming from.

“Oh come on don’t act all surprised… have you really forgotten the sound of my voice?” asked the unknown being. “Well I guess you have been getting one too many blows to the head. But forget about that, right now our company has returned” warned the voice.

Sombra was still unsure of where the voice was coming from, but his thoughts were immediately drawn to the sound of a new voice.

“Hello Sombra…” spoke an unknown being, but the dark unicorn deduced it was a mare from the pitch. “How have you been enjoying your little stay?...” said the gravelly female voice again.

Suddenly a pair of dark gray hooves landed in front of the dark unicorn. He looked up and saw their owner.

It was a tall and skinny dark grey unicorn mare. Her horn and mane were the same as his and she was wearing black and gold shoulder plates which seemed to fit comfortably on her thin and bony shoulders. But what drew his attention most were the black and gold decorated galea helmet with a gold visor that covered her face, and the stump on her right shoulder where her foreleg should have been.

“Hmm? What's wrong? You seemed confused Sombra. Having trouble remembering our special time together?” said the dark unicorn mare as she examined her left hoof…

Right before a shadow manifested around it and formed a four-digit shadowy claw around it. Where she swiped forward and clawed Sombra across the face. And once more with the back of her claw.

“Then again you always did like to make things difficult. You never were one for manners, were you Sombra?” said the unicorn mare as she swiped her claw upwards.

When she did, she inadvertently broke the collar around Sombra’s neck, knocking the stallion backwards before catching himself. And with a grunt, he straightened himself and gripped his chains with his hooves as he glared at the dark unicorn mare with grit teeth, revealing his pronounced fangs.

“But not to worry…” began the dark mare as purple smoke began to leak out from the slits in her visor and the lime-green glow of her eyes shined through. Using dark magic, she manifested four long dark blue tendrils of dark magic, each with a black crystal spear-like tip on each. “I am quite skilled at teaching, respect!” as she aimed the tendrils at the stallion.

Sombra responded by spreading his hind legs and placing his right hind leg behind him and moving his left in front.

The dark mare brought two tendrils back before launching them forward, attempting to impale the stallion. But Sombra shifted to his right and dodged the spears.

She brought another two back and once more tried to skewer her captive. But Sombra ducked and caught his right chain on the tendrils before wrapping it completely around them and began to furiously tug on the chains.

The stallion shouted and grunted as he pulled harder on the chains before the creaking of metal began to sound and ended with him ripping the chain from the wall. Clenching the cuff with his mouth, Sombra ripped it off and brought his hoof back.

Similar to the dark unicorn mare, Sombra’s red eyes began to glow lime-green with purple smoke fuming from their corners as shadows began to manifest around his own hoof, and spread to his whole right foreleg. And using his shadows, Sombra cracked them forward. Whipping the dark mare with his shadows once and again when he brought his leg back, causing the mare to stagger.

“Is that the best you can offer?!” shouted the mare as she struck with her tendrils once more, which again, Sombra dodged and countered with another quick crack of his shadow whip.

As Sombra prepared for another attack, he was struck in the side. The tendril had pierced through his torso, and was bleeding heavily. But yet, somehow, the stallion remained on his hooves and gritted his teeth as the tendril ripped itself out of his side.

Shadowy wisps manifested around his wound and in only a matter of seconds, Sombra’s side was completely healed.

Sombra proceeded with bringing his shadowy foreleg back as far as he could, and with a shout, he brought forward in a downward arc. Completely slamming and bringing his captor to her knees.

“Your rage means nothing!” screamed the dark unicorn mare as she shakily got back to her hooves.

Sombra canceled his shadows and used his free hoof to grip the other chain and with a single heave, ripped the chain out from the wall along with a piece of wall itself, where it precisely struck the mare as it shattered against the side of her helmet.

Now completely free, Sombra manifested shadows in his left hoof and created a curved black crystal blade. Looking back at the disoriented mare, Sombra kicked off his hind legs and stabbed her in the left shoulder.

This caused the two ponies to fall off the pillar and into the darkness below. Their descent being met with the pair crashing into multiple metal and wooden beams as they struggled to fight each other.

As they continued to fall, the dark unicorn mare was strangling Sombra with a tendril of dark magic but let go when Sombra struck her with a hoof to the jaw.

They split, and Sombra somersaulted in the air before landing on all fours with a heavy thud on the ground.

“I will make sure you never leave this place alive… KILL HIM!” the dark unicorn mare commanded as she stopped her fall by using her magic to levitate herself and fly back up from where they came.

Sombra merely glared at her before his attention was drawn to the floor in front of him. They had fallen down deeper into the cavern and into a dark corridor illuminated with the glow of more torches.

And from the walls and floor, Sombra saw puddles of blackness begin to manifest, and through those portals creatures that resembled apes, but were more skeletal and dead looking, began to emerge.

They howled and screeched as they surrounded the stallion. Preparing to attack.

Sombra responded by rising up on his hind legs and crouched low, his legs spread wide, one in front of the other, and manifested a four-digit shadowy claw on each hoof and kept the palms open.

Getting into his stance, Sombra turned to the shadow legions and, with a sinister smile, said:

“Let's go... I'll kill you!”

Chapter 2

Prison Break (Part 2)

Sombra was in his fighting stance. Both forelegs with shadow-claws open and at his side, ready to strike. He scanned the enemies that were surrounding him and all were screeching and growling, fitting for a bunch of shadow beasts that looked more dead than alive.

They were beings that resembled apes in appearance, except for the fact that there bodies were covered in shadows and their bones were made of black crystal with red glowing eyes.

He counted seven, three in his line of sight, one on his left and right, and two behind his flank. “Yes… this’ll do nicely” he thought as an excited smile graced his lips.

Suddenly, a legionnaire jumped into the air. Howling as it dove towards the dark gray stallion in an attempt to attack.

But Sombra only furrowed his brow and brought a claw back and struck the legionnaire right in its face with an open palm strike. Sombra followed up with a left hook before striking with a right hock to the legionnaire’s gut and finished the creature with a left punch, knocking it to the ground where it dissolved into nothing.

The other legionnaires turned back to the pony in shock, where he answered by stomping his right back hoof and back into his fighting stance.

The legionnaires all lunged toward the stallion, where Sombra dove and rolled forward to avoid the apes coming down on him, before turning and striking one with a fierce punch and doing the same to another before ducking under the swing of a fourth legionnaire before hitting it with a roundhouse.

A fifth legionnaire attempted to pounce on the stallion, but Sombra intercepted it by knocking it down with fierce left hook before flipping onto its back and and headlocked it’s head with his forelegs, before snapping the shadow ape’s head in a complete 180.

Sombra then lunged toward another legionnaire before tackling it to the ground, holding its neck with his shadow claw before punching the legionnaire repeatedly until it was dead, where it dissolved into nothing like the others.

The remaining four apes all ganged up on the stallion. They dogpiled him and attempted to get in a few lucky shots, before they were al flinged across the corridor as Sombra shook them off.

Sombra later grabbed a downed legionnaire with his teeth before flinging up and slamminging it down on the hard stone. He used it to bat another legionnaire away before slamming it down on one and then the other remaining legionnaire before twirling around and sent them crashing into the walls before dissolving.

With those two taken care of, Sombra took the legionnaire he had in his grasp and grabbed its head and mid-section with both shadow claws and, with a shout, ripped the legionnaire in half, tossing both it’s pieces to the side.

The previous shadow ape that Sombra had knocked away had regained it’s bearings, and was now running towards the dark unicorn stallion at full speed.

Sombra noticed it, and pulled his right foreleg as far back as it could go while raising his left hind leg. Before swinging it at full speed down, the momentum driving his hoof straight toward the charging ape.

Where it struck with bone breaking force.

Sending the shadow ape rocketing back towards the full end of the stone corridor, where crashed through a set of large wooden doors.

Sombra straightened himself and broke into a full gallop towards the broken doors.

When he stepped through, he was met by a large foyer, one with an elegant but worn and old rug in it’s center, and large stained glass windows. But what really caught the stallion’s attention, was the large spiral staircase leading up to a balcony with a set of wooden double doors.

But before Sombra could proceed further, he was stopped in his tracks by the same voice that had spoken to him before.

“Well, I see that even the tortures of the Umbrum, Malicia, could not stop the Beast of Vengeance. That’s good… you’ll need that drive for the long road back” said the voice.

Sombra darted his head around but couldn’t see anything or where that voice could have come from.

“Show yourself!” shouted the Umbrum stallion.

Then suddenly a cloud of blue and black mist began to form in front of the stallion, and it suddenly began to take form.

A skeletal and creepy figure formed from the mist. It’s body black as the shadow, with long bony claws and black, featherless wings, and a head which held icy blue glowing eyes and a beak. The creature was a specter floating in a mist of its own material, but greatly resembled a griffin.

“Have you really forgotten about me? We’ve only been in here a week! I don’t believe Malicia could have knocked you around so much that you could have forgotten everything that’s happened or how we got here!” said the specter as it crossed it’s claws.

“Who are you? Answer me!” demanded Sombra.

“Calm down. Everything will be cleared up soon, but right now we need to focus on getting our flanks out of here so we eviscerate that bitch!” said the specter. “But before we continue there's something you will need” said the specter as he summoned blue and black magic around his claws.

Sombra saw a cloud of magic forming and elongating, but his jaw fell open and his eyes went wide at the object that was summoned.

It was a sword.

But not just any sword. This was a sword that Sombra was all too familiar with.

It was a longsword. It’s blade was double-edged and made of steel, and along its central ridge leading to the crossguard, it flattened, where the metal was engraved with runes written in old Sumareian. And on the left side of the strong, it formed jagged edges resembling flames. While on it’s opposite, only had two points.

Then there was the rainguard. It was formed of a deep dark gray metal that was shaped like a diamond, with two small, curved, crescent-shaped points. And it was all connected to a crossguard with an obscure design.

It was in the shape of a demonic horse skull, with curved horns protruding from it’s top and wrapping around the thin, steel quillons. And all of it was connected to a thick metal hilt wrapped in brown leather, and topped off with a metal ball of steel.

“Rancor…” was all Sombra said as he approached the blade.

“That’s right. But there’s no time, we must hurry. And before we go, the name’s Krag… since you’ve so carelessly forgotten. Now come on!” said the specter before disappearing in a cloud of it’s mist.

Sombra was apprehensive, and uncertain of his situation and his self-proclaimed ally. But though suspicious he may be, he knew he had no choice than to trust the specter known as Krag.

He formed a shadow claw on his right forehoof and grabbed Rancor from it’s suspended positioned.

He admired the blade. It was a large sword, but yet felt so remarkably light and fast in his grip. He had slain so many souls with this sword and yet he never got used to it’s haunting allure. It called out to him. Begged him to feed it the blood of his enemies.

Sombra brushed the thoughts away and sheathed Rancor onto his back and galloped forward.

He made his way to the base of the grand spiral stairs and galloped upwards towards the balcony.

All while thinking in his mind: What was going on? Where was he? And more importantly, the names of his ally and enemy, Krag and Malicia. He had heard those names before, but couldn’t put his hoof on it.

But Sombra cleared those thoughts from his head as he neared the top of the staircase.

He skidded to a stop in front of the double doors, where he turned and bucked the doors open with a sound that reverberated throughout the air.

He had walked out onto a second balcony. And this is where Sombra got a good look at where he was. He was in some kind of massive, abandoned cathedral. And from the snow and winter winds and chill in the air, Sombra deduced that he was somewhere in the Crystal Mountains.

But the Umbrum stallion’s attention was soon drawn downwards.

The balcony he was currently standing on was overlooking a large and spacious courtyard.

And down below, the courtyard was littered with shadow legionnaires, but these were different. They wore black crystal armor and helmets, and were all brandishing either axes or swords, all screeching and howling mindlessly.

Sombra vaulted over the balcony railing and dropped down into the courtyard below.

He landed with a heavy thud and had kicked up a light plume of dust.

All the shadow legionnaires stopped howling and turned to him as the stallion rose up and stared down at the mass of dark crystal ape skeletons. By looking passed them, Sombra saw a large set of iron steel steel doors with a large stone pillar blocking it.

Suddenly, Krag manifested himself, “Alright, that’s our way out. But we need to get passed these fools if we want to leave.”

The shadow legionnaires all began to screech and howl as they brandished their weapons and prepared to kill the Umbrum stallion.

“Sombra…” Began Krag as Sombra formed shadow claws on his hooves and reared up onto his hind legs. “I think it’s time to introduce yourself!” said Krag in anticipation.

At this remark, Sombra gripped Rancor with his right claw and unsheathed the sword, letting it’s edge strike the ground as a sign that he was ready.

And with a tightening of his muscles and a grit of his teeth, Sombra lunged forward.

“AaaaaAAAAAAHHHH…” cried Sombra as he engaged the shadow legions.

Chapter 3

Hallowed Battleground

With a war cry, Sombra launched himself forward, harpooning the first legionnaire who had the misfortune of being the line of Rancor’s blade. Then Sombra yanked the blade upward, completely bisecting the undead ape.

Sombra whirled around and decapitated two more before blocking the attack from another ape. Sombra broke it’s defense by kicking it away and, with a whirl of his blade, sliced off the ape’s legs, causing it to be launched into the air before Sombra sliced it in half with a downward slash.

Sombra was now coated with a few drops of blood on his face as he turned toward the remaining legionnaires with a deathly scowl, all while dark magic began to emanate from his eyes.

He saw that most of them were trembling, he saw their claws tighten around the hilts of their weapons in fear.

It was seeing this that made Sombra’s gritted scowl turn into a wicked, malicious smile.

Nothing made him happier than seeing his enemies tremble before him. To watch as any chance they thought they had at defeating him melted away with the frightening realization that they were not facing some mere pony.

They were facing a monster.

And with his smile still on his face, Sombra leaping into the air before striking the ground with Rancor in a downward slash.

And the moment the blade struck the stone floor, massive spikes to black crystal exploded from the point of impact.

Three shadow apes were impaled on the spikes as the rest fell to the ground from the impact.

The crystals retracted as Sombra dashed toward the first downed ape. It began to get up before Sombra struck it with a forehoof slash and followed with a return slash. He finished it by reversing his shadow-clawed grip on Rancor before plunging the blade right into the legionnaire’s abdomen, where he proceeded to correct his grip and flip the still-impaled ape and slammed it into the ground.

Where it dissolved into nothing just as the others.

Sombra sheathed Rancor onto his back before walking over to another ape. It was still disoriented from the stallion’s previous attack, where Sombra uppercutted it, launching the legionnaire into the air.

From their he grabbed it by it’s leg, and slammed it back into the ground with a sickening splash as it exploded into black fluids and shadow.

Sombra turned toward the last legionnaire, who was now on the ground and holding its claws up in surrender.

Sombra just walked up to the legionnaire and grabbed by the face with his shadow claw, before mercilessly crushing it’s head with a sickening crunch.

His enemies defeated, Sombra raced to the door on the far end of the courtyard. Skidding to get his flank facing the door, Sombra reared up and bucked the heavy wooden obstacle open.

He stepped through the threshold and found himself inside what looked like a nave. It contained dozens of withered and broken church pews, as well as a derelict altar. But what caught the stallion’s attention was the same armored Umbrum mare that he was searching for.

From her spot on the walkway running along the upper levels of the hall, and perched on the overhang above the altar by her dark magic tendrils, “You did good in escaping your little chains, but I will not be bested by a mortal! Kill him!” she shouted.

And with a flick of her hoof, two large beast descended from the walkway. The crashed down into the dusty and broken floor before straightening themselves.

They were two massive undead minotaur creatures. Their hides rotted and oozing an inky black substance and had parts of their muzzle and bones exposed along with snarling mouths filled with sharp teeth, and glowing red eyes. They wore rusted and tattered armor on their upper bodies and wielded large, jagged battleaxes.

One minotaur brought it’s arm back before hurling the deadly axe towards the stallion.

Which did little, as Sombra easily sidestepped the weapon before turning back towards the two monsters with a snarl.

The minotaurs charged forward, heads low to attempt to skewer the stallion. But Sombra jumped into the air and somersaulted over the first minotaur and landed on the back of the second.

Taking advantage of it’s confusion, Sombra gripped it’s horn with an aura of red magic, his natural magic, and hopped off the creatures back and slammed it’s head on the hard floor. He followed up by spinning the minotaur in his magical grasp before batting the other minotaur away, where it crashed through multiple pews before indenting itself in the wall of the nave.

Enraged, the minotaur Sombra held in his grasp broke free and attempted to swipe at the smaller pony as it roared and snarled mindlessly.

Sombra dodged each of the attacks, but failed to notice the other minotaur had recovered and had caught the stallion off guard, ramming him with its charge.

Sombra’s back hooves skidded against the stone floor in an attempt to halt the charging monster, all while having to deal with being put through multiple other pews that littered the hall. But with sheer force Sombra stopped the minotaur.

He pushed the beast back a few steps before pushing it further with his forelegs. Once he had it extended all the way, Sombra reared his head back and slammed it forward in a wicked headbutt.

The minotaur staggered back a ways as it reeled from the sheer force with which it was hit. Sombra took this opportunity to deliver a powerful right cross to the minotaur’s face, where he followed up by unsheathing Rancor from his back and cleaving the legs of the creature clean off. The minotaur fell to the ground as it writhed before Sombra reversed his grip on Rancor and drove the blade clear through the minotaur’s head.

His first opponent defeated, Sombra turned toward the second minotaur. It gripped harder on it’s battleaxe as it crouched low and kicked up some dirt with it’s hind leg before charging forward.

Sombra stood his ground and stomped his right hind leg as he prepared to take the brunt of the attack.

The minotaur struck the stallion but could not push more than a few inches, as Sombra had placed Rancor into a defensive block. With one shadow-claw on the hilt and another on the blade pushing the beast back, Sombra pushed the beast back a few inches before swiftly side stepping out of the way. This caused the minotaur to trip forward from the inertia.

Sombra quickly raised Rancor above his head before swinging the blade down, slicing the minotaur’s claw that held it’s axe clean off.

And with lethal grace, Sombra sliced off the minotaur’s right leg in a return slash, causing the creature to keep its balance with only one arm and leg each. But Sombra wasn’t finished, he hooked his left foreleg around the minotaur’s neck and was ready to drive Rancor’s blade right through the creature’s head, but found himself struggling.

This was due to his sword leg being held back by the minotaur’s remaining arm. Sombra struggled but broke free of it’s grasp and, with a roar, drove Rancor through the minotaur’s open mouth, causing the blade to come out the back of the beast’s head.

The stallion pulled his blade out and prepared to move on, but he was stopped mid step by a cacophonous sound, in fact it sounded similar to an elephant trumpeting.

Sombra looked up to where Malicia had been perched and saw a massive creature leap off the walkway and down into the dirty stone floor below.

It rose in its massive legs to its full height. It was a humongous creature, it had gray scaly skin along with bits of armor surrounding it’s large upper torso. It had sharp claws and a large trunk with a mace at the tip along with two long tusks adorned with golden bladed armor. It’s body was covered in the same black oozing mass as the other creatures and glowing red eyes.

It was an undead elephantaur.

It ket out a head-splitting trumpet as it slammed it’s massive cub on the stony floor for emphasis as it faced the smaller stallion in front of it.

Sombra merely gave a snarled huff in reply as he unsheathed Rancor from his back.

The elephantaur lunged forward, charging towards the small pony as it raised it’s club before bringing it down with full force.

But the elephantaur looked puzzled as it saw Sombra not only still alive, but also using Rancor to block the club. The dark stallion used his strength to lift the massive weapon before pushing it to his side before side flipping into the air, where he brought Rancor’s blade down in a heavy slash down onto the undead creature’s head.

The undead elephantaur reared back as it clutched it’s wound, black bile seeping from the gash. It retracted it’s claw before glaring back at the stallion and emitting a roar of rage.

The elephantaur charged forward with it’s club raised as Sombra got into a fighting stance. The beast swung the club downward and swung it again with a backhand swing, as Sombra merely ducked under or rolled out of the way. But as Sombra dodged another feeble swing, he managed to get in a few good slashes into the beast’s side and behind his legs.

But the elephantaur got in a lucky hit, as he quickly turned and struck the stallion with all his strength, only stopping from said stallion managing to block the club with his blade once more. Pushing the club away Sombra hefted Rancor and used an uppercut slash to slice off the elephantaur’s claw, effectively disarming it.

The beast reeled back in pain as it clutched the now bleeding stump with its only still-attached claw. Taking advantage of the monster’s distraction, Sombra sheathed Rancor and grabbed the handle of the large club.

Hefting it in his shadow-claw grip and testing its weight, Sombra swung the club to the side, striking the monster in the face before following up with a downward smash on the it’s head before doing a 180 swing and hurling the massive weapon towards the beast.

The elephantaur was knocked back and was panting heavily as it balanced itself with its only good claw on the ground. Sombra took advantage of this as he unsheathed rancor and reversed his grip before plunging the blade straight through the creature’s claw and nailing it to the stone floor. Sombra continued the assault by quickly hitting the monster in the face with a left hook, followed by a heavy back hoof and finished with a fierce left uppercut.

Sombra then grabbed the hilt of Rancor and pulled the blade out of the ground before swinging in a reverse upward arc to completely slice off the elephantaur’s trunk and one of its tusks.

It’s focus returned, the elephantaur roared in anger and quickly grabbed the smaller pony with it’s remaining claw, where it proceeded to slam him on the ground, gaining a pained grunt, and raising him into the air and began to crush the life out of the stallion.

Sombra grunted in pain but quickly gained his bearings and snarled at the monster before plunging Rancor into the beast’s wrist, only gaining a harder squeeze but he didn’t give up. The stallion repeated the assault a few more times before he was finally freed as the elephantaur reeled from the pain.

Dropping to the ground, Sombra ran towards the elephantaur and leaped into the air with a massive uppercut, and as he descended, he hooked his shadow claw around the monster’s remaining tusk and pulled downwards, smashing the monster’s head into the stony floor.

Hooking his foreleg around the creature’s neck, Sombra held it in a headlock and unsheathed Rancor before impaling the blade into the monster’s skull. He did it again, repeatedly stabbing the beast with his blade and effectively dodging a claw in a vain attempt to grab him. But Sombra plunged the blade down into the monster’s skull before dragging the sword down and, with a roar, ripping it out of the creature’s head, cleaving and bisecting it’s head in two.

Sombra let go and sheathed Rancor and began to look around the nave for anyway to escape, but found that the exit Malicia used was toppled and destroyed. But Sombra looked to his right and saw the crater left by one of the minotaurs. Sombra approached and weighed his options. Finding no other choice, Sombra bucked the stone wall and created a hole into the outside of the cathedral.

Sombra peeked downwards through the hole and saw a few patches of bricks haphazardly jutting out from the wall.

With a determined huff, Sombra dropped downward and used his shadow claws to grip the stone. He continued moving right along the wall as he carefully gripped the bricks and eventually began to ascend the stone building.

~~~

As the stallion made his way along the further end of the cathedral walls, he eventually noticed a large wooden segment overlooking the the outer portion of cathedral.

Letting himself hang from one claw, Sombra engulfed his free arm with shadow before launching them towards the wooden scaffold, effectively gripping it and leaping off the side of the wall.

Sombra let the shadow slack before swinging himself forward, slamming himself into the stone wall. He repeated again, but this time he managed to break through the stone and into an inner passage with a hallway, but luck was not on his side.

He felt the hall shake and eventually he heard a roar from the outside.

But he looked up as he saw a massive spike break through the roof heading towards him, only managing to catch with a mere seconds.

Still holding on, Sombra was picked up off the floor before the spike proceeded to slam him through multiple walls before he was once more he landing outside on a stone terrace being overlooked by two bell towers.

He quickly looked up and saw Malicia perched on the side of one of the towers before she said, “You have caused me trouble for the last time warrior. Your insolence ends here!”

And with that, two massive spiked appendages pulled themselves over the terrace railing. The creature that revealed itself was massive. It’s body was completely made of flowing black shadowy matter, with three more spiky protrusions on it’s back and a black crystal carapace. And as for it’s head, it was fairly equine in nature like a horse and it had a black crystal maw and glowing red eyes.

It stared down at the small stallion before unleashing an ear piercing roar.

Chapter 4

Remembrance

The massive serpentine creature roared at the small stallion, who responded by unsheathing Rancor from his back and getting into a fighting stance.

The large shadow serpent raised one of it’s black crystal appendages and brought it down, impaling it into the stony terrace as Sombra rolled to the side and narrowingly avoided another spike by rolling to the other side.

It yanked it’s spikes out of the stone and roared at the stallion, who reeled back from the ear-piercing noise as he stood disoriented but quickly regained his bearings as he avoided the spikes once again. Sombra returned with a forehoof and return slash with his blade as he tried to hurt the large shadow serpent. But all he managed was to anger the monster even further.

Sombra jumped back to recover and began to dodge and evade the monster’s attacks, but he paid close attention to it’s movements before his eyes landed on the creature’s chest area. Surrounding it’s shadowy matter was a solid, black crystal carapace that was glowing a strange orange hue. And upon seeing it Sombra deduced “That must it’s weak spot…”

Sombra nearly paid for his distraction as he narrowingly avoided being impaled by the shadow serpent’s right spike. He landed on his hooves and jumped to the side to avoid the creature’s right spike, which was once more impaled on the stone terrace floor. He took advantage of this and impaled Rancor into the monster’s appendage.

Using his shadow-manifested claws, Sombra gripped the hilt of his blade as he was lifted off the ground and thrashed through the air as the serpent tried to shake him off. But once Sombra had enough momentum, he ripped Rancor out of the crystal-made spike and launched into the air.

The stallion raised Rancor over his head and in a phenomenal display of both acrobatics and sword play, Sombra spun in the air in forward flip with Rancor trailing behind and sliced clean through the monster’s spiked foreleg.

The severed appendage fell with a thud as the stallion landed next to it. Sombra rose onto his hooves as he rested Rancor on his shoulder while nonchalantly walking towards the large creature, who was reeling back from the immense pain of having a limb cut off.

The monster in question looked down at the small stallion warrior as it let out a rage-filled roar. As it did, Sombra’s mane was rippling from the force of the roar as he maintained his stoic expression before looking back it the beast’s crystallized chest. Looking back up the beast and right into its eyes, Sombra let a fanged, blood thirsty smile form on his lips as he kicked off his hooves and darted towards the creature's weak spot.

The large shadow serpent attacked the stallion with its remaining spiked foreleg as it slashed and thrashed at the umbrum stallion.

Sombra avoided each of these attacks by either jumping over them or sidestepping them as leaped into the air. The stallion had gotten right in the beast’s face with Rancor at the ready, and delivered a lethal sword uppercut to the beast’s muzzle, where it shrieked and hissed as it latched its eyes shut from the pain.

Sombra landed on the ground in a kneeled position right in front of the creature’s crystal carapace. Tightening his clawed grasp on the hilt of his blade, Sombra gripped the hilt with both shadow claws and readied the sword.

Sombra struck the black crystal shell with a forward slash and then a return slash followed by a double slash, each cut of his blade becoming faster and cutting deeper into the black crystal shell before he leaped into the air and impaled Rancor right at the top center of the carapace, before dragging the blade downwards, slicing it completely in half.

Sombra sheathed Rancor onto his back and gripped the split shell with both shadow claws and began to pull the two pieces apart. With a heavy grunt, Sombra pried the crystal shell open to reveal a large orange-glowing stone, where Sombra now knew for sure that iot was the focus of the creature’s lifeforce.

Drawing his blade, Sombra prepared to impale the stone but reflexively managed to block a swipe from the shadow serpent, causing him to be propelled back and smacked the hard stone wall.

Recovering from his hard landing, Sombra’s eyes landed on the large severed crystal spike that he had cut off. Glancing back at the creature’s weak spot, Sombra came up with an idea to end this.

He dived toward the appendage while narrowingly avoiding the beast’s still-attached forearm. Sombra landed at the spike and with tremendous strength, began to lift up the severed appendage over his head. Taking careful aim, Sombra heaved and threw the large spike smack dab into the serpent’s center.

The monster screeched and writhed in agony as it was sent crashing back and over the edge of the terrace.

Sombra watched coldly over the edge before turning his attention to the left tower overlooking the terrace. And up on it’s steeple was Malicia perched with her tendrils of Dark Magic, her piercing red eyes could be seen through the visor of her helmet, shooting a poisonous glare at the stallion bellow. Neither saying anything to each other.

Sombra returned the stare and his eyes began to glow green and emanate purple smoke as he activated his Dark Magic, engulfing his right foreleg in shadows before launching a clawed-tendril of shadow straight at the umbrum mare.

Malicia easily sidestepped it as it struck the side of the steeple but had to dodge when the stallion pulled himself towards her and landed right on her perch, the steeple roof shattering from the force of his landing.

Sombra looked over and dislodged himself as he and Malicia landed on the roof of the massive cathedral. Each glaring at each other as Sombra unsheathed Rancor, making sure to brandish his blade at the Dark Magic-wielding mare. Malicia in turn activated her Dark Magic and the entire cathedral roof began to shudder and shake. Sombra’s eyes squinted in focus as he sensed what was coming next.

And suddenly the roof area between the two Umbrum exploded, causing Sombra to stagger and try to regain his balance. And from the epicenter emerged another, more massive shadow serpent like the one before, hissing and growling at the dark stallion before it as the Umbrum mare Malicia remained atop it’s head, and in response Sombra unsheathed his blade. But suddenly, Sombra felt another presence.

Turning around behind him, Sombra saw another shadow serpent monster slithering it’s way over the edge of the cathedral roof and clawing its way towards the small stallion. Readjusting his grip on his blade, Sombra got into a fighting stance as he prepared to face off against the monsters.

~~~

Roars and bellows combined with the whooshing and slashing sounds of blades against flesh echoed throughout the snowy crystal mountains.

Sombra used his Dark Magic to summon a pillar of black crystal from the ground as he was launched into the air as he raised Rancor over his head before bringing the blade crashing down in a spinning front slash.

The shadow serpent reeled back from the attack as Sombra evaded a set of black crystal spikes that burst from roof, courtesy of the bloodthirsty mare riding the second shadow serpent.

The two shadow beasts screeched and roared at the small stallion as Malicia taunted, “You think you are special because you freed us, well you outlived your usefulness the second we came out of that damn prison. How you defeated the other Generals is beyond me, but it ends now. This is where you die, ‘King’ Sombra!”

The way she said ‘King’ sounded more like an insult than a proper title, and Sombra only sneered back, “No matter how many times a fail, I’ll never submit Malicia. You cannot stop me! Nothing can!”

Sombra sheathed Rancor and prepared himself for another attack as the lone shadow serpent reared one of it’s crystal spiked appendages back and lunged forward.

Sombra deflected the attack effortlessly, catching the spiked foreleg with his shadow-claws and redirecting it away from him. He did the same as the beast attempted with its other foreleg. Catching and deflecting it again, Sombra charged forward and leaped into the air, latching onto the beast’s muzzle with his left shadow claw as he unsheathed Rancor. Pulling himself up, Sombra took advantage of this and jammed Rancor straight through the eye of the monster, right down to the hilt.

The beast screeched and snarled in pain as Sombra ripped Rancor out of the bloody socket and positioned himself onto the beast’s neck. Where he impaled Rancor once more.

This caused the monster to lurch and thrash around as Sombra pulled it towards the other shadow serpent, ready for a face off.

Sombra ripped Rancor out and impaled into the creature’s chest once more as it lunged forward and began to mercilessly attack Malicia’s own mount. Both beasts engaging each other as their two riders stared each other down.

“Enough” ordered the Umbrum mare.

And calling upon her Dark Magic, a massive black crystal spike shot up from the roof and impaled Sombra’s mount right through the chest, killing it instantly.

Sombra looked back at the other serpent, and saw it was preparing for another attack. Jumping out of the way, Sombra manifested his Shadow Grip and caught the beast’s foreleg, where he swung before landing right on the black crystal appendage.

Looking down at the creature’s chest, where he saw the same orange-glowing carapace as the others. Diving forward, Sombra prepared to go for the shell, but was knocked back in mid-air by a quick-timed attack from the monster.

Spinning in the air, Sombra righted himself for forming Shadow Grip and launching it at the shell, the tip latching right in the middle of the carapace. Slingshotting himself forward, Sombra flipped before delivering a massive hind leg kick to the monster’s protective shell, shattering it like glass.

Landing in a roll on the ground before it, Sombra looked up the large shadow serpent before charging forward to deliver the final blow, but found himself grabbed by his hind leg and raised up to find himself face to face with Malicia.

“Your efforts have been admirable Sombra, but even you could only struggle for so long. I knew your death wasn’t going to be easy, but it will be enjoyable” said Malicia as she sadistically watched as her beast mount raised it’s foreleg back and prepared to impale the stallion.

But Sombra struggled and grunted as he tried to get out. Using all of his unnatural strength, Sombra pried open the tendril wrapped around him, as he jumped into the air to avoid the fatal attack.

Landing on the ground, Sombra stared down the monster as it regained its bearings before roaring at the Umbrum stallion. The shadow serpent pulled back it’s foreleg before bringing down down to crush the stallion, who flipped to the side as the spike impaled the stone roof.

Sombra took advantage of this as he gripped Rancor before jamming the blade into the monster’s impaled foreleg. The shadow serpent pulled his foreleg out of the roof and thrashed it around to get the stallion of him.

Using the momentum, Sombra dislodged his blade and jumped into the air, where he reversed his grip on his blade before jamming it into the side of the creature’s lower jaw. Digging his hooves into it’s neck, Sombra grunted and pulled as the jaw ripped and gave ways.

Sombra dislodged his sword before using Shadow Grip and swung to the opposite side of the creatures jaw, where he did the same and began to rip the jaw further out of its sockets.

Once it was loose enough Sombra jumped off the beast and landed with a roll on the ground before his eyes began to glow with Dark Magic, engulfing both his forelegs with shadow before shooting two tendrils at the creature’s lower jaw.

With a massive heave, Sombra ripped the shadow serpent’s lower jaw right off it’s skull.

Fountains of blood exploded out of the creature’s mouth stumps while it flailed and thrashed in agony, leaving it wide open for the stallion.

Sombra charged towards the monster at full speed and once he was close enough, Sombra rose up on his hind legs before doing a complete 180 degree turn, slamming his right shoulder straight into the shadow serpent’s exposed chest.

The thundering assault caused the massive beast to lurch back from the impact, this in turn caused Malicia to lose her balance, where she subsequently fell to the roof as her monster’s now lifeless body went limp and slipped down from the roof while Sombra watched coldly.

The stallion slowly turned toward the downed mare before him. A snarl forming on his lips as he began to approach Malicia while he unsheathed Rancor.

Malicia picked herself up as she readied herself before the stallion. Sombra tackled her, they rolled around on the ground before Malicia managed to get on top. She grabbed Sombra and suspended him with her tendrils as she manifested a pair of shadow claws of her own, where she began to mercilessly slash at the stallion’s face and muzzle.

Sombra managed to save himself though, as he blocked Malicia’s claw with his elbow before countering with a right cross to the mare’s face, knocking her away and freeing him of her grip.

Sombra followed up by grabbing the sides of her helmet and hitting her with a gaskin to the face. Malicia recoiled back before lunging back at the stallion with a beam of dark magic from her red-curved horn.

Sombra blacked the blast with a shield of Dark Magic as he deflected a slash by Malicia before she tried to imaple the stallion with a tendril of shadow.

But Sombra deflected and sliced it off before it could hit him. He returned with a grabbing the stumped tendril and began to spin the other Umbrum around before letting go, letting her fly into the crystal she used to kill the shadow serpent he was riding.

Momentarily hunched over and stunned while letting out shallow pants, Sombra approached the downed mare before he rose up on his hind legs raised his forelegs and slamming them down on the mare’s head.

Groaning in pain, Sombra followed up with a left hook before giving a heavy gut punch and ending it by gripping the side of her helmet and slamming it into the steeple, before bringing her back again and pushing her straight through the structure.

Sombra walked up to her again with Rancor at the ready and prepared to stab her before Malicia grabbed Sombra’s foreleg and began to choke him with her left shadow claw. Sombra grabbed the foreleg that choked him as he struggled against the Umbrum mare’s grip before pulling himself free and slashing the mare across the chest with his blade.

Hunched over and with an open wound, Sombra quickly took Rancor and drove his blade all the way through as he swung her all the way around, pulling them both over the edge of the cathedral roof while also dislodging the Umbrum mare from his sword.

They both fell towards the ground as Sombra raised his sword before they both crashed towards the ground, the earth shaking from their impact.

Sombra lifted his head and saw the lifeless body of Malicia with his blade running through her chest. Sombra pulled the sword out with a ‘schlick’ and looked over at the now dead Umbrum mare.

In plume of black smoke, the specter from before manifested beside the stallion. “Well now that that’s taken care of, let us get back to the mission. But don’t forget the amulet.”

At first Sombra was puzzled by the Umbrum’s words before his attention was drawn to the corpse before him. It began to glow a sickly lime-green before it began to hover in the air as it was dissolved into lime-green smoke and began to get absorbed into a strange green amulet attached to Malicia’s waist.

Her body was drained into the amulet, where it pulsed as if her soul was trapped within it. Sombra cautiously picked up the amulet in his red magical grip. He was then bombarded by a strange sense of recollection.

Sombra started to see images, memories of the weeks prior to him being imprisoned in the cathedral, of the torture he had to endure, all flooding back to him.

His eyes shifted from the well-known lime green and purple smoke, to an unusual and ominous pitch black that colored his sclera and surrounded his crimson eyes as they emanated a strange blood-red smoke.

Author's Note

You are all probably wondering why Sombra's magical aura is different at the end. But rest assured, I will explain further into the story.

I hope you all enjoy and give positive feedback and comments!

Chapter 5

Three Weeks Earlier…

In the peaceful and quiet village of Ponyville, life was moving forward just as any other day.
And down it’s main street was a path that lead towards a large and beautiful castle. It’s structure was in the shape of a large tree, with spires and structure built into its ‘branches,’ and at the base of it’s ‘trunk,’ were a set of golden doors leading inside.

Through the foyer and up the stairs led down a hall of doors, and at the end was a set of ornate golden doors.

Walking down the hall to the doors was a unicorn mare with a pale, light-grayish heliotrope coat, moderate persian eyes, and a moderate purple mane and tail with lighter purple and pale light-grayish aquamarine streaks. Her cutie mark was a purple and white star with two glimmering streams.

Her name was Starlight Glimmer.

Starlight walked through the doors and into a large library with massive shelves, everyone of them filled with books of varying genre. From ‘Magical Theories’ to ‘Romantic Novels.’

At the foot of one of the shelves was the owner of the castle itself.

She was an alicorn mare with a pale light-grayish mulberry coat, moderate violet eyes, and a dark sapphire blue mane and tail with moderate purple and brilliant raspberry streaks. Her cutie mark was a large six-pointed purple star with six smaller white stars surrounding it.

Her name was Princess Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight was currently observing a clipboard while jotting down notes and checkmarks as she held the board and quill in her raspberry magic aura. “And there! That completes the first section of ‘Magical Theories to the Unknown’” she said as wrote the final checkmark.

“Your still checking the organization of the library… That’s like the fifth time this morning alone” exclaimed Starlight.

“I know Starlight but we can’t be too sure. I wanted to leave everything organized before the big day” responded Twilight.

Starlight tapped a hoof to her chin in thought before saying “Is this about the upcoming Crystal Fair by any chance?”

“Of course it is! You know how important it is for us to be completely and totally prepared for such a big event” said Twilight as she flipped a new page on her clipboard.

Meanwhile, standing on a large step ladder was small baby dragon with light mulberry scales with a light spring budish gray underbelly. He had harlequin green spikes running down his back as well as light lime green ear fronds and a set of pistachio green eyes.

This was Twilight’s self-proclaimed ‘Number 1 Assistant’, Spike.

Spike was shelving the last book on the list before saying “(SIGH) There… that should be the last one on the list.” And with that Spike descended the stairs to join Twilight and Starlight.

Twilight heard Spike and checked off the last check on her clipboard “And there… that should be all of them. Each book categorized and organized” said Twilight with a prideful smile.

“I don’t know why your doing all of these preparations now. You do realize the Crystal fair isn’t for another few weeks?” asked Starlight.

“I know but it’s like I always say ‘Early is on time. On time is late. And late is plain unacceptable!’” said Twilight. Starlight just rolled her eyes while still smiling at her friend and mentor’s behavior.

“Speaking of late… if were all done here, I’ll be on my way” said Spike while hopping down from the ladder as he strolled towards the library’s exit, “I agreed to help Rarity with finding some gems for her designs and I don’t plan on missing it” said Spike while smiling at the thought of being with his crush.

But before Spike could make it to the door, he was stopped mid-step as he began to gag and sputter before belching up a plume of lime green flames. The flames dissipating to form a wrapped up paper with a red ribbon with the symbol ‘C’ on it.

Twilight wrapped it in her magical aura and unfurled the note to read it. “It’s a note from Cadence!” exclaimed twilight with a happy smile. She read aloud “‘Dear Twilight, I hate to do this on such short notice but I really need your help with a very important problem. I can’t go to Auntie Celestia or Luna for this, and I know your the only other pony who can help me. So when you can, please come to the Crystal Empire. And I ask you to keep this between us, I would prefer nopony else know about it. Sincerely, Cadence’.”

Finishing the letter, Twilight set it down before looking at the puzzled expressions of her student and her assistant. “Well that was weird… that doesn’t sound like Cadence at all” said Spike.

“I wonder what’s so important that she would call on such short notice?” asked Starlight.

“I don’t know… but if my sister-in-law needs my help, then I’m obligated to do so” said Twilight as she made her way to the door, “Besides, I could never pass up the chance to see my BBSILE.”

Both Spike and Starlight looked at eachother with raised eyebrows before turning to Twilight and asking in unison “BBSILE?”

“Yeah, my Best-Big-Sister-In-Law-Ever!” responded Twilight with an enthusiastic smile as she walked through the doors.

~~~

Ponyville Train Station

Twilight was now standing on the platform at the Ponyville Train Station, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Friendship Express to take her to the most glimmering city in all of Equestria: The Crystal Empire.

“Hey Twilight hang on” shouted Spike from behind her. Twilight turned to face Spike and Starlight Glimmer as they walked up to her. “Here. You forgot your extra-extra-extra quill set before you left” said Spike as he handed Twilight a pouch with the aforementioned quills.

Twilight thanked Spike before she was asked by Starlight “So are you sure you don’t want us to come with you? From what it said in the letter, it looks like whatever Cadence needs is pretty important.”

“I know but Cadence asked me to keep this between us, and she hasn’t told Princesses Celestia or Luna about it. So whatever it is she must want it kept very secret” responded Twilight.

“Alright… but make sure to take care of yourself” said Starlight.

“Thanks guys. But don’t worry. I’m sure whatever Cadence needs will probably be nothing serious” said Twilight.

And with that, the Friendship Express soon rolled up onto the train station and the conductor yelled “All Aboard!”

Twilight climbed up into a cart as she gazed out the window, waving a hoof to her two friends as the locomotive whistled before slowly lurching forward and onto it’s destination.

~~~

The Crystal Empire

Inside the large and glimmering Crystal Palace, Twilight was walking down the hall while accompanied by her sister-in-law Princess Mi Amore Cadenza or Cadence as she was most often called. She was a slim and regal alicorn mare. Her eyes were a light purple and her coat was a light grayish cerise and mane and tail were a moderate violet with moderate rose and pale gold streaks, and both ending in curls. She also wore golden shoes and a matching gold chest piece and finally had a small gilded golden crown adorning her head and her cutie mark was an the image of the Crystal Heart.

“Thanks for coming Twilight. I’m sorry I had to call on such short notice like this, what with the Crystal Fair coming up in a few weeks” said Cadence.

“Please, it was no problem at all. Besides it just meant I had a chance to see my sister-in-law” responded Twilight.

Cadence smiled at the remark and the princesses continued to walk further down the hall as they approached to Crystal Guards positioned on each side of a large set of doors. The two guards opened the way and the two alicorns entered the throne room of the palace. Cadence and Twilight walked further into the center of the throne room before Cadence turned to look at Twilight.

“Alright… we’re here” said Cadence.

Twilight looked at Cadence, puzzled as to why she had brought her here or as to what they were supposed to be doing, “Uhm so what is it that you need my help with?” asked Twilight.

“Twilight… do you remember when King Sombra was trying to take back the Crystal Empire, and you did some kind of spell to get you into his secret chamber?” asked Cadence.

Twilight again looked confused, but she furrowed her brow with uncertainty as to where this was going. “Of course I do. But i had to use Dark Magic to get into Sombra’s secret entrance” said Twilight.

“Yeah… which brings me as to why we’re here. Twilight…” Cadence paused for moment before continuing, “do you think you could use that same spell again?” asked Cadence.

Twilight’s eyes went wide from the question. But she quickly got ahold of herself before speaking. “Cadence… what is this all about” asked Twilight with great concern.

Cadence looked away nervously before speaking in a serious tone. “For the past few days, everypony in the Crystal Empire has been feeling like their being watched. It feels like some kind of dark shadow is looming over us again… and we think it might have something to do with Sombra.”

Twilight wore a serious expression as she held onto every word. “And you think that whatever it is could be down in his chamber?” she asked.

“Yes. Which is why me and Shining Armor have been trying to open the lock, but neither of us are good at controlling the magic required” responded Cadence. “And that’s when we thought of you Twilight.”

“Yeah I know what you mean. Dark Magic can be very hard to control, especially if you don’t have the right motivation” said Twilight.

“I’ve been trying to use Dark Magic like Celestia and Luna taught me… but I just haven’t been able to keep my focus without succumbing to the effects” said Cadence.

“Princess Celestia told me that Dark Magic draws power from the negative emotions a pony has in their heart like sadness, anger or jealousy” explained Twilight.

“And that is why your can do it better than I can since you have prior experience with it” said Cadence. “Will you help me?”

Twilight’s expression was a mixture of concern and apprehension. Twilight would have thought that this was going a little overboard but she knew better when it came to Sombra. And if past experience is anything to go by, she knew you could never be to careful when dealing with the likes of him.

Twilight made her decision and looked at Cadence, “Alright Cadence… stand back” she said as she closed her eyes and flared her wings.

Twilight’s expression became more focused as she gritted her teeth while grunting from the effort to call on the magic. Her eyes began to emanate an ominous purple smoke as her horn began to fizzle and crack with a toxic black and purple aura.

Her eyes shot open to reveal that they were glowing a lime green light before she focused and fired a beam of shadow black and purple magic at the headstone resting above the throne of the palace.

The crystal became black as it began to activate and in the center of the throne room floor opened a secret gateway with a deep set of stairs descending into the darkness.

Twilight was panting heavily from the exertion of magic as Cadence quickly trotted up beside her. “You did Twilight!” she said with an excited smile.

“(PHEW) Yeah. Now let’s get down there and see what we find” said Twilight as she wiped the sweat from her brow before she and Cadence descended the stairs.

Chapter 6

Resurrection

Bottom of the stairs

Twilight and Cadence had reached the bottom of the nearly endless flight of spiral stairs leading down into the dark crystal chambers. They soon arrived at a door leading to what could be either another set of stairs or the some hideous and deadly trap.

But the two alicorns braced themselves as they cautiously opened the door. But what they found was surprising, for on the other side was a room filled with books and artifacts, as well as a few busts of the Shadow Lord himself.

It was a study.

King Sombra’s private study.

“Wow… this is actually pretty nice” said Twilight as she stepped through the threshold and began examining the room.

“Yeah for an evil and self-absorbed tyrant” responded Cadence while looking at the various busts of King Sombra littered around the study.

Twilight kept looking around for a bit longer before her eyes landed on a desk n the far wall, and on its surface sat a book. But what caught her attention was it’s overall simplicity compared to the rest of the books scattered around.

Twilight approached and examined the cover, no title or anything. Her curiosity increased as she raised a cautious hoof towards the book, treating it as if it were some kind of bomb. Twilight touched the seam and slowly lifted the cover and found some writing on the first page. It read: ‘For King Sombra’s Eyes Only!’ After reading that Twilight realized what the book was. It was King Sombra’s personal journal.

“Hey look Cadence I think we have something” said Twilight as she called the pink alicorn over. “It’s King Sombra’s journal.”

“Finally, maybe we’ll get some answers” said Cadence.

Twilight was all too eager to just crack open the book and start reading the entries of one of the most dangerous, yet mysterious, ponies in the history of Equestria. But with some reluctance form Cadence they opened the tome and read.

They read every single detail of his life from when he was found as just a foal, to his hopes of attending the Crystal Faire with his friend Radiant Hope, to the day before his battle with the Two Sisters.

“Is that it? Is there nothing else?” asked Cadence.

“No I guess not. That must have been the last thing he wrote before he was banished” said Twilight.

“Well if there's nothing else, I want to get out of here. This place gives me the creeps” said Cadence. And with that the two alicorns made their way out of the study and up the stairs. The continued climbing for a few minutes before Twilight spoke up, “I feel bad for him. He never got to see the Crystal faire… and that's all he really wanted” she said solemnly.

“Yeah… that and to enslave everypony in the Crystal Empire. I wouldn’t feel to bad about it Twilight, I’d say he got what he deserved” commented Cadence.

The two princesses continued walking of the stairs before their ears perked at the sound of a strange clicking, “There's that sound again” said Cadence. “I'm sure it's probably nothing” said Twilight assuredly.

But unbeknownst to the to ignorant princesses, the sound was something.

For deep down at the bottom of the crystalline stairs lay a dark corner of shadow, and out of the darkness rolled out an object.

It was long, sharp, and curved with its color being that of a sinister bloody crimson.

It was a horn. But not just any horn.

It was Sombra’s horn.

And out of the very same shadow emerged a mysterious figure. They wore a grayish brown cloak, with a hood that hid their face. It stepped out of the shadows and approached the severed appendage on the floor. And with an aura of deep arctic blue magic wrapped around the horn and and placed it into an outstretched purple heliotrope hoof.

The figure examined the horn with arctic blue eyes as it a sinister smile crossed it’s shadowy face. And with a feminine voice it lowly-commented to itself, “Long live the king.”

~~~

Deep in the Everfree Forest, at the precipice overlooking Ghastly Gorge lay a settlement long forgotten by history. It’s origins remain shrouded in mystery as no one has dared to ask not where it was, but as to what happened to it.

This place, was named Hollow Shades.

A once thriving and prosperous village, Hollow Shades was home to many a pony. However an unknown tragedy occurred within the village. And in its aftermath no pony nor life had ever remained or returned to the desolate ghost town ever since.

Until now.

Deep below the settlement, lay and ancient structure. One built on the foundations of the suffering and sacrifice of all that is evil.

The Well of Shade.

In the center of the ancient cistern was a large rounded patch of earth. And out of the shadows emerged a shrouded figure. A pony wearing a grayish brown clock and carrying a set of saddlebags.

Using their magic they levitated a sick to draw a circle with a line down its middle and an ‘M’ in the dirt. Discarding the stick, the pony levitates an object out of their saddlebags, King Sombra’s horn.

The pony places the curved appendage at the center of the circle before conjuring and constructing a small light blue dagger out of their magic.

The pony holds out their foreleg and proceeds to push the dagger into themselves, breaking the skin and causing blood to pour out of their wound as they drag the dagger half way up their foreleg.

When the cloaked pony was satisfied they whipped their bloody foreleg out in a sideways arc, causing blood to rain down on the dirt circle and the horn.

The droplets of blood soon began to move and slither towards the markings in the dirt. Where they pooled together to form an intricate set of circles, lines, and unknown letters. The magic circle began to glow a pale blue color as the magic began to activate.

The curved red horn was levitated into the air before a cyclone of shadow swirled out from the center of the circle.

The tornado of shadow broke into a massive plume of darkness that consumed the whole cistern as its power continued to grow.

Through the wispy darkness emerged a set of glowing lime-green eyes with purple flames billowing out with the curved red horn atop it’s head.

The shadows begin to shrink and coalesce into a smaller being. The creature was of forelegs and was larger than the cloaked pony, who only watched with a satisfied and malicious smile.

The shadowy creature took a more equine form as the last of the shadows flowed into its body before it closed it’s eyes and lowered it’s head.

Before throwing its head back and rearing on its hind legs as it released a powerful burst of wind, shredding away the lingering shadows before dropping back onto it’s four legs as it panted heavily.

The creature was a tall, muscular unicorn stallion except there were some differences compared to others: His coat was a dark grey and his mane and tail were pitch black and flowing like shadows, he had a pair of sharp fangs protruding from his mouth and his eyes were a deep bloody scarlet, and atop his head sat the infamous crimson curved horn.

He was the Slave King, the Tyrant of the Crystal Empire, the King of Monsters.

He was King Sombra.

“What?...” he said as he lifted his head and began to take in his surroundings. “I am… alive?” he questioned before noticing the cloaked pony before him.

The pony stepped up to the evil tyrant before lowering its head in a respectful bow and saying in a feminine voice, “My lord”.

Sombra raised an eyebrow at the strange pony before baring his fangs and demanding “What is this? Who are you?!”

“A mere follower of your work your majesty,” she said “I have returned you to the world of the living so that you may take your rightful place as ruler of Equestria.”

Sombra was silent but his gaze remained fixed to the cloaked unicorn mare, he slowly raised his left hood and examined it before saying, “So it is true… I have returned to this world”. Sombra lowered his hoof before looking back at the strange yet familiar mare, “It takes an extremely powerful sorcerer to able to resurrect a soul. But why me?”

“It is as I said my Lord, so you could take your rightful place as Equestria’s true ruler” she responded. But Sombra remained wary of this pony, he felt there was something going on but what irritated him most was this mysterious pony’s identity.

“You didn’t answer me before, who are you?!” demanded the Umbrum.

The cloaked mare’s mouth shifted to a knowing smile as she raised her hooves to her hood, “Somepony for whom your existence brought enlightenment to their otherwise naive eyes”.

She threw back her hood to reveal herself completely and in response Sombra’s crimson eyes went wide with surprise. She was a young and beautiful looking crystal unicorn mare, her coat was a shining grayish heliotrope while her mane pale, light arctic blue. But it was her eyes that struck the most shock into the dark stallion, they were a brilliant arctic blue color and were filled with both hope and kindness.

They were eyes that Sombra had seen long ago. Eyes that had betrayed his trust and friendship. Eyes that he never hoped to see again.

“Radiant Hope…” whispered Sombra, his voice filled rage and anger for the one pony he hated above all others.

The dark stallion’s eyes glowed green and a purple smoke began to flow out from the corners as his horn began to fizz and bubble with Dark Magic. With a roar Sombra’s head flew downwards and fired a beam of Dark Magic at the crystal unicorn.

Radiant Hope remained seated on her haunches as she closed her eyes, before quickly swinging them open as they glowed green and and flowed with a similar purple smoke. She furrowed her brows and smiled as she dipped her horn forward and took the brunt of the attack.

The beam struck the tip of her horn before she began to drain it’s power. When the attack was over Hope’s horn fizzed and bubbled with Dark Magic before she reared back on her hooves and whipped her head forward. Sending her own beam of dark Magic back at the stallion.

Sombra attempted to avoid it but the attack had hit his mark. Sombra opened his eyes and found his whole lower body from his neck down had been completely encased in black crystal. He attempted to summon his magic but found it strangely lacking. Peering up at his horn his eyes went wide and shock as he saw it encased in the same black crystals. He recognized it as the spell he had used block the magic of that unicorn he encountered outside the Crystal Empire.

Sombra began to grunt and snarl as he struggled to get out of the crystal shell before he looked in front of him and saw Radiant Hope casually walking up to him, “RELEASE ME!”

“Not until you calm down” she said as she stood face to face with the dark stallion, “Let me remind you that you only just came back from the world of the living. So your magic has yet to return to its full strength, so in the meantime I suggest you cool off and listen to what I have to say.”

Sombra glared at the mare before him. Last time he had seen her she had run away from him and called him a monster, she was terrified of him. But the mare before him had no shred of that fear anywhere in her eyes, and her power had grown too. Sombra weighed his options but begrudgingly found himself agreeing with what she said, his magic power at the moment was pathetic, so he wasn’t going to be winning fights anytime soon.

With a final angry glare he finally spoke, “What do you want?”

Radiant Hope pulled back and with a satisfied smile said, “I have already told you. I want to help you reclaim your throne, and make you equestria’s one true King.”

Chapter 7

The Coming Storm

Shards and pieces of black crystal lay scattered around the floor as Sombra shook off the last bits of the crystal shell. He flexed his hoof to shatter a piece of crystal still stuck to him before turning to Radiant Hope, “You said you wanted to help me reclaim the Crystal Empire, yet last time we saw each other you fled and set the Princesses on me. Now you return, use Dark Magic and resurrect me, what has brought about this change?” he asked while crossing his forehooves.

Radiant Hope didn’t say anything at first, but her expression said she was in her thoughts as she began to circle the dark stallion. “When you were banished by the Two Sisters I admit, I was devastated. Believe me when I say it was not my desire to see you be taken away, but the deed had already been done” she stopped behind him and sat on her haunches before continuing, “I wandered the realm of Equestria for days blaming myself for something that was completely my fault, but then I met a being… a sorcerer who took me under his wing, taught me everything there is to know about magic and opened my eyes to the true reality of this world.”

“... And what would that be?” asked Sombra suspiciously.

Hope turned to him, “That fate and everything in this world is fixed. There is no such thing as good or evil. Harmony? HA! That is just what we call the time before something happens that will destroy everything you cherish and leave nothing behind.”

Sombra listened while still eyeing the mare in front of him, unsure of how to respond. “The ponies responsible for your most recent defeat, the Elements of Harmony, they are nothing more than a bunch of ignorant fillies who only manage to delay the inevitable. The harmony they fight to protect is nothing but a lie, but you and I will bring about what should be” said Hope as she approached Sombra.

“And what is to be? What does fate and my conquest have to do with each other?”

“Your evil is the inevitable tide that will end this so-called ‘harmony’. Your reign was the beginning for how things should be, you were always a more fitting ruler than two alicorns who are so lazy that they send a group of fillies to solve their problems. And thus with you in power… things will be as they are supposed to be!” finished Hope in a low but malevolent tone, her expression more sinister and parted by an evil white grin as her eyes began to emanate with Dark Magic.

Sombra’s gaze remained fixed on the mare, his expression one of uncertainty but also silent admiration, “And what do you propose we do to get my throne back?”

“For now we bide our time until you have recovered a sufficient part of your power, and once you are strong enough we will lead a charge into the Crystal Empire… and the first phase of our plan will be within our reach” said Hope.

“And what would charging head on into the Crystal Empire possibly accomplish?” asked Sombra.

With his response, Hope’s sadistic grin graced her features once more, “It will accomplish the very reason for your conquering of the Crystal Empire in the first place… The release of the Umbrum!”

With the bigger picture now in front of him Sombra let a malicious smile spread across his face, his white and razor sharp teeth on full display as he rose from his position.

“I see…” he chuckled in a deep and dark tone “Yes… this is perfect! With the Umbrum free I could finally have the power I need to crush Celestia and Luna!” he let his voice drop to a deep tone, “And then I could finally get my revenge on Twilight Sparkle and her friends… once and for all!”

“But to gain the upper hoof on the the prince and princess of the Crystal Empire we would need to deal with the source of their power, the Crystal Heart. If we take that away the crystal ponies will be powerless to stop us” said Hope.

“And with the Heart out of the way there would be nothing to impede the Umbrum’s return” said Sombra as he deduced the rest of the plan.

“But with the Crystal Faire only a few weeks away my spies would need to finish their assignments as soon as possible.”

“Your spies?” questioned Sombra with a raised eyebrow.

“Yes. I have managed to gather a small ‘team’, if you will, that have agreed to work as my agents while we work out the details” explained Hope.

Sombra lowered his brow at the notion that anypony would assist them in their endeavors, he was very aware of how the crystal ponies feared and abhorred him, so the idea that they would willingly assist him brought a sense of disbelief.

“You need not worry about our little coven. The ponies I have chosen were the remains of your original advisors when you still held the throne before the princesses defeated you and your curse banished the empire. And like you and I, they are not pleased with the current rulers of the kingdom. So convincing them to join us was of little effort” said Radiant Hope with a wave of her hoof before she called out, “isn’t that right?”

Sombra turned his head and saw half a dozen ponies all emerge from the shadows, all wearing the same brown cloak as Hope. And as they emerged they all circled the dark stallion and mare before puffing out their chest and holding their heads up high before they all spoke in unison, “ALL HAIL KING SOMBRA!”

The sight left the evil tyrant speechless, but his surprise was quickly turned into satisfaction as his grin split into a low chuckle before it elevated to a cackle and finally into a full blown maniacal laugh as he surrounded himself with his minions.

With a group of loyal followers at his side and his powers soon to return, those ponies wouldn’t stand a chance.

~~~

The weeks that followed passed by in a blur, and the denizens had all been going about their daily lives.

Rarity had recently finished a line of dresses for her and her friends for the ball taking place after the Faire in the crystal palace.

Applejack had completed the harvest and had bucked enough apples to make cider for everypony to enjoy.

Pinkie Pie had spent her time organizing and filing all of the recipes she would need to bake the treats that would be served during the Crystal Faire and made a separate list for the party afterwards, of which of course she was in charge of and was positively and literally bouncing with giddiness.

Rainbow Dash had been doing her normal routine along with the rest of the weather team in clearing the skies of clouds and making sure all the scheduled weather came accordingly. But for the past few days she had been working extra hard in order to get everything done before the Crystal Faire, which was surprising to most since she had been passing up her usual napping sessions.

Fluttershy had been tending to her animals and making sure all of them were fed and healthy before her departure in a few hours.

And as for Twilight, she had been assisting the the mayor Ivory Scroll with the some of Ponyville’s resident requests and making sure all of her paperwork and assignments were completed, as well as keeping in correspondence with Princess Cadence, especially after their visit into the lower recesses of the crystal palace.

“Alright… that should be the last one” said Twilight as she put the finishing touches on a scroll before telekinetically handing it to Spike.

The little dragon inhaled deeply before breathing out a stream of green flames as the parchment magically faded away to its destination. “Alright if that's the last one, then we better get to the train station. Were meeting everypony there right?”

Walking out of the office room to the upper levels of her castle, Twilight responded “That’s right Spike, but before we leave we need to make sure we have everything packed for our stay with my brother and sister-in-law. We need to make EXTRA sure so we don’t forget anything.”

“Relax Twilight I got everything we need, besides it's not like we're gonna doing much so all we gotta do is relax”

Twilight became a little annoyed before saying “Spike, just because we’re gonna be staying there doesn’t mean we're gonna lounge around and leave everything to everypony else, we need to lend a hoof whenever we can.”

“Well of course we’ll help, but the Crystal Faire is only a few days away besides I’m sure Shining Armor and Cadence have everything under control.”

The pair had gathered their things and had walked down into the foyer of the castle where they met Starlight Glimmer patiently waiting for them at the front door, “Hey guys are you all ready to go?”

“In a minute I need to make sure I have everything checked out before we leave” said Twilight while levitating a clipboard and rummaging through her saddlebags. The unicorn and dragon both rolled their eyes with a smile at their friend’s usual behavior for perfection.

Once everything was done Twilight, Spike and Starlight exited the castle and made their way to the train station.

Chapter 8

Arrival

The Friendship Express roared across the tracks through the lush countryside, the carts clanked against their links.

Within one of the carts a group of seven mares and a baby dragon were having fun as they enjoyed their down time.

“Oh it is going to be so grand to visit the Crystal Empire again, I can hardly wait to get that simply glorious crystal coat. And I will also want to take part in their new fashion designs this season” spoke Rarity as she lay on her bunk.

“I hear ya Rarity this year’s Crystal Faire is sure to be a down right doozy, what with all the preparation and planning thats been goin’ on” replied Applejack.

“I KNOW!” chirped Pinkie Pie, “I hear that Crystal Ponies are gonna be pulling out all the stops. Which means their gonna need a super-duper pontasticly amazing party planner for the party, after party, and after-party after-party!”

“I hear ya everypony, it sure is gonna feel good with something normal for a change” said Spike will leaning back on the pillow in his bunk, “after everything that happened with the Storm King last month, I’d say we deserve this.”

“But aren’t we going a bit too early?” asked Fluttershy, “The Crystal Faire isn’t supposed to be for another week or so.”

“I get what you mean Fluttershy but I think starting now is for the best, with all the planning that Cadence told me about it looks like this might the Crystal Empire’s biggest faire ever. Which means they need all the help they can get before the time comes” answered Twilight, “which means all of us better get some sleep before we arrive in the morning.”

That being said, everypony and dragon turned in for the night.

~~~

Meanwhile in the Hollow Shades

Sombra sat cross-legged in a center area, his eyes closed as his horn fizzled with purple and black magic. Slowly the magic began to spread to his entire body before engulfing him in an aura of toxic purple and green.

This act was followed by the stallion slowly levitating himself a few feet off the ground and holding his place in the air.

Sombra’s brow furrowed as he concentrated and put more focus and power into his magic as sparks of black and purple energy generated around him, and created three small spheres of glowing purple, black, and green magic to coalesce around him.

The spheres began to orbit the floating umbrum as there pace increased and the strain became visible on Sombra’s expression, gritting his teeth and showing his fangs as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

The umbrum slowly began to unfold his hindlegs and let all four drop below him as he descended back down to the ground as his expression became more relaxed yet still maintaining his focus.

The rotating orbs of dark magic increased their pace as they spun faster and faster before they abruptly stopped. Slowly they condensed and compacted into smaller forms before drawing in closer to the stallion at their center. Sombra opened his eyes to reveal that they were completely engulfed in green light as plumes of purple smoke flowed out from the corners. His focus remained on the magic orbs as he slowly brought the three spheres together and they forcefully began to merge.

Their combined power forming a large ball of pure dark magic that crackled with purple energy as it’s instability becoming apparent with it’s erratic ripples.

Sombra closed his eyes once more before slowly lifting his forehooves off the ground… before shooting his eyes open and slamming them back down on the dirt. And the orb of dark magic exploded!

It’s power sending out a shockwave throughout the whole of the underground lair.

Sombra opened his eyes as they returned to normal and inhaled deeply through his nose before exhaling out his mouth. The strain of the spell clearly leaving him exhausted. “Damn…” he grumbled “it’s been days and my strength still isn’t fully recovered.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised... ” spoke a pony from the shadows. Sombra looked over and saw Radiant Hope emerge from the dark tunnel, “you’ve only been alive for a few weeks after all, it’s not unusual for power, especially for one susch as yours, would take such a long time to regain its strength.”

“Mmm…” groaned Sombra. “What news do you bring Hope…” he asked.

Hope stared at the stallion for a moment in silence before finally answering, “The Crystal Empire is preparing for the upcoming Crystal Faire. Which means everypony, including the Princesses and the six mares responsible for stopping you will be arriving soon…”

Sombra’s mouth slightly parted in an irritated scowl at the memory of the six mares, the Elements of Harmony as they knew them.

“It also means that the time to act is soon to be upon us, which means…” Hope turned towards the stallion, “that despite you still recovering we will need to act regardless… for it requires both of you to open the door into the Umbrum prison.”

Sombra was about to respond before his mind caught onto something Hope had just said, ‘’both of us’... what does she mean by that’?’ thought Sombra. “What do you mean by ‘both of us’?”

On cue both ponies heard a set of heavy hoofsteps coming from down the same dark corridor that Hope had come through. A dark silhouette of a stallion, just as tall and muscular as Sombra, formed in the darkness as it neared the threshold.

But what really caught the attention of the two ponies were the pony’s eyes. They were glowing a piercing yellow and had sharp slitted dark-yellow pupils, their owner stopped short of the entrance and remained obscured by the shadows as it silently examined the two ponies.

The pony remained silent for a few more seconds before finally speaking. “It’s finally nice to see you…” it spoke in a low raspy tone.

Sombra’s serious expression remained fastened to his face as he continued to look at the newcomer. The dark stallion remained silent before finally speaking, “Who are you?”

The mysterious stallion’s yellow eyes remained focused on the stallion, before it finally lifted it’s forehoof and stepped forward. Revealing itself as it emerged from the shadows.

Sombra’s eyes widened slightly as he finally got a good look at the stallion in front of him, he would have thought he was looking at himself. The stallion had the same dark gray coat as himself, and his horn was the exact same sinister crimson curve as his was. But apart from the eerie yellow eyes, the stallion had other distinguishing features that added to his appearance.

His mane and tail were wild and spiky and were a strange, ghostly white with some streaks of silver. He was also wearing a brown sash around his middle and had brown cloth wraps tied around his lower hindlegs held together by light brown pieces of rope.

But what really caught Sombra’s attention, was that the stallion in front of him was completely covered in dark navy blue tattoos that went from his neck to his lower waist and across his forehooves. The tattoos were an intricate set of runes and symbols written in Old Ponish, and some tattoos were written in another language that he recognized to be Umbral, the native tongue of the Umbrum. And written across his back in red runes was the phrase: ᛁ ᚨᛗ ᛞᛖᚨᛏᚺ, to which he recognized to mean ‘I Am Death.’

The stallion finally spoke after a long pause, “Hello… brother.”

Author's Note

I used Icelandic because it is the closest modern language that resembles Old English, which in Equaestria, is called Old Ponish. I also use Scottish Gaelic as the native language of the Umbrum, which is called Umbral.

Gasp... who is this new stallion that has arrived? What is his connection to Sombra? And why did he call him 'brother'? Find out in the next chapter of Shadow of Reform.

Chapter 9

Formalities

Sombra’s expression remained stoic, but on the inside his mind was completely bewildered. ‘Brother?... Me?... Who is this guy?’ he thought.

“Well that was a bit blunt, but then again you always did lack any tact.” said Radiant Hope after finally speaking up. The tattooed stallion smirked at her statement in response. She walked forward until she was standing between the two stallions before speaking, “Sombra, I’d like you to meet somepony very special. One who has been central to this grand design.”

“Allow me to introduce: Kage.” said Radiant Hope while extending a hoof towards the tattooed stallion.

Kage, as he was named, looked back at Sombra and noticed the other stallion’s further confusion at the whole scenario. “I have been eager to meet you for well over a millenia. But seeing you here, before me, I gotta say I’m a bit unsure of how to go about this.” he said. “But now that I have been formally introduced, go ahead and ask your questions.”

Sombra at first remained silent, his brow furrowed as he contemplated what to say before finally speaking. “You called me ‘brother’ when you walked in… what did you mean by that?”

Kage said nothing at first, only turning to slowly walk around the area before finally responding. “I’m sure you are aware of the history of our kind, the ‘Umbrum,’ and their subsequent history, are you not?”

Sombra’s red eyes followed his movement as he kept his guard on high alert, not liking how the stallion was circling him but answered none the less. “Yes. I am aware.” he stated plainly.

“Then you should also be aware of their rulers before their imprisonment correct?” asked Kage.

“Yes… Queen Rabia and King Havoc, the powerful monarchs of the Umbrum Tribe. Said to be unrivalled in both might and magical power…” Sombra stopped his sentence before continuing, “and my mother and father.”

“Exactly. And what do you know of The Umbrum’s overall history?”

“The only history I know of was what I could gather from the Crystal Library in the Crystal Empire. That the Umbrum were the original rulers of the Frozen North, and that they declared war with the Royal Sisters shortly after the founding of Equestria.”

Kage stopped his pacing and was again standing in front of Sombra. “Precisely. And you also mentioned that Queen Rabia and King Havoc were your parents yes?”

Sombra did not respond, only hardening his face as he wondered where this conversation was going. “Your point?”

“Did you know that before their imprisonment they hid their two foals in secret locations apart from each other, and cast a spell on them to guard against any detection spells, and to only be undone until a specific amount of time had passed before the spell finally faded?”

Sombra’s eyes went wide at hearing this explanation. Could this be why the crystal ponies had found him in the snow all those years ago? Is that why he had no further recollection from before he was discovered? But what was more surprising was the speculation of his mother and father and— wait. Brother?

Sombra came out of his thoughts and looked back at the stallion before him with eyes widening in possible realization.

“That’s right.” said Kage with a knowing smile, almost as if he could tell what Sombra was thinking. “And as I said when I walked in…” Kage walked up to Sombra, now standing only a few inches away. “It's good to finally meet you… Brother!”

Sombra’s jaw opened in pure shock and confusion. His mind moving at a million miles an hour as he stared at the tattooed stallion before him.

~~~

It’s so good to see you again Twily” said Shining Armor as he hugged his little sister. “It’s good to see you too BBBFF” said Twilight as she returned the hug.

The six mares had and Spike had arrived in the Crystal Empire just a few minutes ago and already they had seen that the preparations for the upcoming Crystal Fair were already underway.

“Well we’re all glad you called us out here Shinin’ Armor” said Applejack.

“Oh yes. It will be simply marvelous to get this Empire primed and ready for the main event” added Rarity.

“Not to mention the super awesome Wonderbolt aerial show that’ll happen before then” announced Rainbow Dash.

“Well I’m just glad that all of you are here to lend a hoof and make sure everything goes smoothly” replied Shining Armor.

“Don’t worry! Making things go smoothly is what we’re all about. This is going to be the bestest, crystaliest Crystal Fair ever!” said Pinkie Pie.

The six mares, stallion and dragon then turned to walk down the main street and towards the palace.

~~~

Back in Hollow Shades

“Surely you don’t expect me to believe any of this” said Somra. “Everything you’ve said up to this point has all been interesting, but you haven’t shown any proof that what you have said is true. So I don’t believe you” Sombra spoke while looking between Radiant Hope and Kage.

“Sombra, I can assure you that what he says is true. I’ve verified it myse-” ''It’s alright Hope… I can understand why he’s reluctant to believe me” Kage cut off Radiant Hope before continuing. “Maybe you won’t believe me if I tell you… but perhaps I can show you” said Kage as his yellow eyes changed, his sclera turning a pitch black and billowing plumes of blue smoke.

Kage’s horn crackled with black and blue Dark Magic as he prepared a spell. Sombra’s red eyes glowed with their trademark green and purple smoke as he got ready to cast a counterspell but Kage was faster. He fired a beam of black lightning that struck Sombra’s horn. Sombra recoiled from the pain as the spell took effect, his eyes shot open as they became completely engulfed in the green glow.

~~~

Images flashed in Sombra’s mind. Images of dark figures fighting off other strange figures, all of the screaming and shouting with metallic sounds crashing together.

Another image flashed across Sombra’s mind. This one of a tall, slim, white pony, a mare from the looks of it, holding two small shapes in her forelegs.

Two small foals.

The scene changed to the whipping snow of the Frozen North, the mare was facing a stallion, she handed one of the foals over to the stallion as she cradled the other as the stallion turned to leave.

With low sobs sounding from the mare, she tearfully lowered the foal into crack in the icy ground.

Now from the foal’s perspective, it looked up as it saw the mare. Her horn began to glow and great flash engulfed the scene.

~~~

Sombra reeled back and fell into a heap on the floor as he gasped and wheezed from the shock.

Kage’s horn simmered and fizzled out as his magic died down, his eyes returning to normal. “Now do you believe me?” was all he said as he approached Sombra.

Sombra regained his composure as he picked himself up and looked back at Kage and shifting his gaze at Hope before looking at Kage again.

All remained silent before Sombra finally spoke, “What is the first part of your plan?” an evil smile forming on his face as his eyes began to emanate with Dark Magic.

~~~

The decorations in the Crystal Empire were already underway. All of the Crystal Ponies were hanging ornaments and banners and ribbons. Some were setting up stands and others were dusting and cleaning all of the crystals and adding to their shine.

Meanwhile in the Crystal Palace, Twilight Sparkle and Cadence were walking down a hall while having a conversation. “Thanks again for you and your friends to helping prepare Twilight. It really means alot that everypony is lending a hoof” said Cadence.

“Aww it’s our pleasure, besides we were all excited to make sure that nothing goes wrong” said Twilight. “That reminds me, has anything… magical... happened after our trip into Sombra’s study?”

“No… Nothing’s happened since we went down there. Though I will admit I’m not very excited about going back there again” said Cadence.

“Well there is nothing that you need to worry about only you and me know the spells to get down there. And besides we already checked every inch of King Sombra’s study! So there is nothing to worry about” said Twilight to reassure her sister-in-law.

Reluctantly, Cadence agreed, “Your right Twilight. Right now we need to focus on getting ready for the Crystal Fair, and I’m so excited for it cuz this is going to be Flurry Hearts first one ever.”

“Ohhh I know! And as my duty as the best aunt EVER, I will make sure Flurry Heart enjoys it.”

The two alicorns continued to walk down the hall.

Neither of them could have foreseen the dark storm that was quickly approaching.

Chapter 10

Taking the Initiative

For the next few days the Crystal Empire has been slowly inching closer to being fully prepared for the upcoming Crystal Faire. Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends had been doing all they could to make sure everything went smoothly.

Twilight and Spike had organized and planned the event to make sure everypony in the Empire was helping and working accordingly.

Rarity and Fluttershy had been helping to decorate everything and make sure all the colors and decorations fit.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie were in the palace kitchens preparing the baked goods to make sure all who came could enjoy.

And Rainbow Dash was in charge of working with the local Pegasi and putting together the entertainment for the big event.

Twilight and Spike had been working with the local crystaller, Sunburst, and were aware that the Princesses Celestia and Luna would be arriving in the next few days.

“Well” said Spike, “it looks like everything is going all according to the schedule. If we keep this up we might be done ahead of time.”

“And the Princesses will be coming in a few days” included Twilight, “which should give us plenty of time to make the final preparations. Y’know… I don’t think anything can ruin this!” she announced happily.

The alicorn and baby dragon continued walking down the hall of the Crystal Palace.

Neither them nor aypony knew the dark shadow that was slowly ebbing towards them, eagerly waiting to strike at their unsuspecting happiness.

In the center chamber of the Well of Shade, Radiant Hope, Kage and Sombra were gathered. For the past few days Sombra has been steadily training to restore his magical power back to its full strength while Kage and Hope had been traveling to and from the Crystal Empire to stealthily gain knowledge of the layout and a way past the barrier.

Hope was the first to speak, “Based on our multiple expeditions, it seems with the Crystal Faire getting closer everypony in the Empire is passively powering the Crystal Heart, simultaneously powering and strengthening the barrier. So forcing our way through will be ineffective.”

“And even if we do get in, our Dark Magic will be significantly weakened from being too close to the Heart, leaving us completely exposed” added Kage. “So getting in by force isn’t going to work. Which leaves us having to sneak our way past… only I doubt we’re not gonna set off any alarm in the process.”

Sombra tapped a hoof to his chin before voicing his thoughts, “There may be one way…” Both Kage and Radiant Hope turned their attention to him, “we could get in through my underground sanctum.”

He pointed to the map of the Crystal Empire laid out before them, “There’s a system of underground cave entrances not too far away from the Empire. If we go in and follow them down we’ll reach my sanctum and come out right underneath the Crystal Palace.”

Hope agreed with Sombra’s plan but had a question, “But won’t that weaken you two significantly? If you are discovered so close to the Crystal Heart, the guards won’t have trouble taking you down.”

“Me and Kage will sneak our way past the guards and we’ll take care of Heart. Meanwhile you will stay in the sanctum and unleash the last phase of our plan.”

Kage and Hope both knew exactly what Sombra was referring to, and they both grew wicked smiles at the thought. “The Umbrum…” said Kage in a low, menacing voice.

“I love it when a plan comes together…” said Hope.

Later that night, the trio of two umbrums and a unicorn made their way through the howling winds if the freezing blizzard. Marching to the top of a large snow mound, Sombra recieved his first glance of the magical barrier, ‘and just beyond that is MY Empire!’ he thought, anger and eagerness evident in his expression.

“The cave leading down should be approximately 10 kilometers east of here. Let’s find it and get on with the next phase” announced Hope.

The trio of villains made to move east but Sombra stopped only a few paces, craning his neck to glare back at the magical barrier, his eagerness to just force his way through and take back his throne almost taking him over if it wasn’t for a hoof slapping his chest.

Kage had been the one to get his attention and said, “I know. The thing you want most and it’s only a short distance away, but control yourself. We need to make sure that this all goes according to plan. That is unless… you want a repeat of what happened last time you acted without thinking.”

Sombra fixed his brother with a stern glare, “Let’s just get to the cave and get this over with.” Sombra pushed his way past Kage, who merely glanced at his brother before putting on a sly smile and trotted behind him.

After a good deal of walking and trekking through the thick blizzard, the trio soon arrived at the mouth of a deep, dark cave leading downwards. Sombra nodded to confirm that it was indeed the entrance, they trio each used their magic to illuminate the tips of their horns before moving forward into the darkness.

The cavern tunnel kept descending. Deeper, and deeper as the cave’s walls slowly became warped and the darkness became pitch black that Sombra’s messy mane disappeared in the faded into it.

“Stop.” said Radiant Hope as she held up her left hoof to halt the party. Feeding more magic into their light spells, they grew bright enough where they could see a large flat wall. She stepped forward and ran her hoof across the wall as she closed her eyes.

She furrowed her brow in concentration before finally opening them as a smirk graced her lips. “This is it. Just on the other side of this wall should be the hidden lower sanctum beneath the palace.”

“It’s a good thing this sanctum was created with dark magic.” said Kage, “Even this far down the Crystal Heart would still dampen our power. But with the hexes protecting this place we should get everything done without a problem.”

Both he and Hope turned to Sombra before Kage gestured and said, “Your up.”

Sombra snorted before stepping towards the wall. “The hexes I cast were meant to keep any and all outsiders without dark magic to pass through. But even so for those who do manage to get passed it they will be subjected to brutal hallucinations to immobilize them.” he explained as he placed his hoof on the wall and closed his eyes just as Hope did.

Just then he opened his eyes to reveal his crimson irises engulfed in the green and purple smoke of his dark power. “Only somepony with experience in dark magic or the original caster can nullify the spells.” he explained as a black, shadowy tendrils flowed out from his left hoof on the wall as the extended and spread across the stone. Focusing his power, a purple seem spread out from top to bottom and the rock wall of the cave separated like two sliding doors.

The unicorn mare and umbrum stallions stepped into the dim light of the sanctum. At its center was a massive pillar with stairs spiralling around it towards the top, remembering it led up to the throne room. But their attention went back to the circular space as they continued to look around.

Sombra walked past Hope and Kage and made his way to a far wall. Hanging from the wall is a curtain. Wrapping the curtain in his normal red magic and pulls them apart.

Behind the curtain was a set of large blue green doors. They were made of gemstone and were held by a lock. It seemed normal only it had a round, concave hole for a key of some kind.

Sombra continued to examine the door, deep in thought before he was shaken and brought back by Kage coming up behind him. “So this is it… (whistle) gotta say those Crystal Ponies don’t look like much but they can make some serious doors… So this is our people’s jail cell huh?”

“Yeah…” was all Sombra said as he returned his gaze to the large doors. “I gotta ask though…” said Kage, “you found this door a thousand years ago when you were still the big stallion around here… so how come with all your ‘magic enlightenment’ you never opened it?”

Sombra didn’t look at his brother, remaining silent has his lingering gaze slowly dropped and he let out a tired sigh before speaking, “I guess…” he paused, “I guess I always wondered if it was the right choice…” was all he said.

Radiant Hope and Kage looked at each other with raised eyebrows. Not responding to the statement, Hope walked up beside them, “Well in any case this is the choice we came to. They imprisoned the Aesir as if they had any right. No creature decides the fate of another.”

“So ‘commander’,” said Kage turning to Radiant Hope, “what’s the next part of the plan?”

Radiant Hope gave a prideful smirk before she used her magic and pulled at a clear blue, round talisman in her sky blue magic. She held up the artifact before explaining, “This talisman is like a skeleton key, I crafted it to be able to absorb the magic of the same kind as the lock and make it able to open it. With this we will release the Umbrum.”

She turned her gaze back at the two stallions and continued explaining, “But before we can do that we need to take of two obstacles: The royal couple, Cadence and Shining Armor, and the Crystal Heart.”

“Then it’s settled.” said Kage with an excited smile. “I’ll take care of the prince and the alicorn. Meanwhile brother,” he turned to Sombra, “you take care of the Crystal Heart.”

“Hold on.” Sombra suddenly cut in. “The whole reason I’m here is to take back my throne. I want to see the look on the alicorn bitch when I do.”

“That’s exactly why you’re not going after them.” said Radiant Hope.

Sombra turned at the statement and glared at her and was about to speak before Hope cut him off. “You want to get your revenge. But your not going to get it if you let your emotions get control of you. So just do as we planned and get the Heart. Let Kage get the princess and prince and I will take care of things on my end.”

Sombra snarled at this, but after a brief contemplation, he huffed as he knew Hope’s words had had merit. “Fine.” he said angrily.

“Good.” she said gingerly. “Then let’s get to work.”

Radiant Hope walked back to the gem doors as Sombra and Kage walked to the stairs. Sombra shifted into Shadowform and slithered up the spiral stairs. Kage lingered as he shot a knowing glance towards Hope.

She turned her head and returned the devious look back.

Yes. Everything was coming together.