Shadow of Reform

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.