Shadow of Reform

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.