Long Live The Shadows

Shadows! Establish a perimeter around the city. And two of you will scout towards Equestria in search of approaching armies. GO! NOW! Sombra ordered before all of the shadows flew away from him. Finally alone in his room, Sombra collapsed on the bed. His hands trembled as the adrenaline rush slowly faded into obscurity, and all the stress ganged-up on him.

Trembling, hyperventilating, sweating, and grabbing his heart. None who saw that could ever believe him to be the monstrosity that had just declared war upon the land. Right now, he looked like a scared colt that had just evaded death. Dropping the armor, crown, and mantle, Sombra glanced at the mirror. The black flames his mane had become were regular patches of fur. Rolling in front of his face, it made him realize the change in his eyes. The terrifying aura had disappeared, leaving behind only his crimson eyes. It wasn't an unpleasant face. It wasn't the face of a monster. It was the face of a young stallion, a stallion that looked lost and alone.

So, this is what Sombra was like before all that. The armor is what made him look huge. He isn't that big. He has the build of an average pony. He doesn't have scars. Nor does he have any signs of ever having fought before. He was a regular civilian. And he was pushed into a war just to survive. What do I do now? I have the Equestrian army in one front. And the other nations won't hesitate to try and capture the weakened princesses. I need weapons. I need an army. I need power.

The dark crystal, that's it! It awakened power within Sombra. If I were to take it, I could use it to increase my powers. Or it can backfire and make Sombra take over. The crystal heart might be a possibility too; if I weren't killed by it just by having it charged. The Princesses are out of the question for now. I need to take my time with them. Otherwise, they will not be cooperative. Hell, my stunt just now puts me at odds with them.

Walking to the closet, Sombra searched for something lighter to wear. A white silk shirt with a bright brown vest, and a pair of pants matching the vest. Not as pompous or intimidating as the armor and iron crown. But it was still a set of clothing that made him look the part with the nobility. In one of the drawers, Sombra found a necktie with a crimson gem decorating it. After putting it on, he tied up his mane and wore his crown.

This is more comfortable, although, not as imposing. Perhaps I should keep these for when I'm on my own. Which I believe will be the case very often in this castle. Sombra mused while looking at his reflection. Although, if anyone catches me wearing these, they might come to question my appearance outside of the castle. Damn it. These will be reserved for the inner chambers. I wish I had the shapeshifting ability of the changelings. Wait. THAT'S IT! The answer to my army's weaknesses. Changelings feast upon love, and in the future, they learn how to cultivate it!

I can ally with them. I might be able to start it off offering food. The Cyrstal Heart can sustain them and there would be plenty of time before it needs its new charge. In the meantime, I can offer the energy in rations for each changeling. The issue is their queen, Chrysalis. She turned into stone in the future. And as far as the changeling history states, she was the only leader of the changelings until Thorax got changed their ways. There were multiple appearances of the changelings across history, and most of them include an attack followed by the subsequent retreat.

It makes sense, in their parasitic state, they can't afford to kill all of their food. Nor can they afford to use up their energy needlessly. Due to the exponential growth of an insect hive, the need for food would increase at the same rate, however, their lack of cultivation would result in the need for expeditions to increase their reserves and then hope that it can keep up with the increased demand for the newborns. So, a steady supply would allow for their numbers to stabilize. That would be advantageous for their ranks and mine.

Stop making remarks on history! Stop with the analytics. Think! The queen, she will not accept anything but being on equal footing with the leader of the alliance. Just signing a paper won't mean shit if she has an army of well-fed soldiers at her disposal. However, her sense of duty to her subjects, that might be the key. All of her attacks resulted in the survival of her race. Dear stars, there is a way to do it. But, I'm not sure I want to do it.

In any case, I better save this for later. Right now, I have to get the dark crystal and increase my power. Sombra concluded while getting up from the bed. His legs trembled as he tried his best to stand properly. Fatigue seemed to be catching up with him.

Using old Sombra's memories, he searched for the location of the Dark Heart. A large crystal formation surrounded by snow by a lake and it was located northwest of the Empire. However, that was before. Something in Sombra's chest ushered him to the throne room. A wordless whisper told him to sit on the throne. There was no voice, just a call. There was something off about this.

Sombra lacks a normal heart at the time. Yet, this feeling comes from my chest. Is it my own? Or something that lingered from Sombra? Either way, I should investigate the throne. Sombra mused before getting up and heading out. Completely ignoring the fact he left the armor and crown in the bed, Sombra made his way to the throne.

The grand room was tall beyond measure. The ceiling almost disappeared above his head. From all the pillars around the room chains made of crystals emerged to keep a chandelier illuminated by flare rubies aloft. At the furthest corner of the room, a throne sat at top of the stairs. In the past, this place was colorful, shining with the bright lights of the empire. Now, it was a dark room illuminated by red and green flares. The once lively court had nothing but a dreadful silence and ambiance serving only to intimidate.

Sombra walked towards the throne. The same throne in which he took down the princesses a few hours before. Something within that throne told him to sit on it. There was something off with it, but he couldn't help but listen. Assuming his position, Sombra witnessed the shadows he had sent off return. Two of them dragged the princesses to him, wearing the collars he intended to modify before using. However, something on the back of his mind told him that everything was set.

Leaning back on his throne, Sombra allowed his back to come in contact with the cold stone. A pose came as naturally as one could expect. Crossing his legs and allowing his head to rest on his left hand, he looked down on the captured princesses that glared back while rattling the chains.

"So, the mighty king is frail as glass," Princess Celestia said with venom. "The armor and mantle were just for show in the end."

Without showing any emotion, Sombra removed the mane that had fallen in front of his eyes before speaking. "I may be frail. But this glass stallion has both of the most powerful beings in Equestria in chains. So, I would suggest that you mind your tongue. As sharp as it may be, it can still fall off should the need arrive. Although, I would prefer to keep both of you as intact as possible."

His response was accompanied by a faint glow appearing in Celestia's eyes. She seemed ready to retort, however, she lowered her head with a scowl on her face.

"A wise decision. I brought both of you here to witness my completion. The one who was once a fragment of something greater shall become something beyond its creator," Sombra boasted while he felt a jolt of energy sting his back.

"The prodigal son returns. Failing to destroy the crystal heart. But succeeding in playing king. How pathetic," A voice spoke as Sombra's senses dulled. A cold embrace enveloped him in dread and fear. However, something seemed off. The voice seemed to cause him pain.

"Hello, Mother," Sombra greeted with a smile. A sadistic smile that grew larger as the shadows coming from him created a portal. A large red crystal emerged from the darkness. Pulsating like a heart, the crystal made Sombra feel sick. Its presence urged him to vomit, but Sombra endured the crystal's assault. "Do you wish to kill your child?"

"Not kill. I wish only to discipline. A disobedient child should be punished accordingly," The voice shot back while increasing its aura. Sombra could see the horror in the Princesses' faces as their reflections on the crystal revealed Daybreaker and Nightmare Moon. One eye in each of them shifted into its nightmarish form. Stepping up from the throne, Sombra waved his hand as he commanded the dark miasma around that cursed crystal to disperse. The aura around it diminished. "What are you doing?! Do not deny me the daughters of Harmony!"

"I will deny you everything. Even your existence. The Empire is mine. Its subjects are mine. The Princesses are MINE. And I PROTECT all that is MINE!" Sombra argued while bearing his fangs at the crystal. The red rock's glow exploded into a crimson glow that engulfed the entire room. Sombra felt his heart waning. His core shook and started to crack. Fear devoured his essence, erasing the traces of the pony he used to be. Shadows were but a mere fraction of the crystal's domain. That was darkness. A pit of darkness lacking the slightest bit of hope.

His despair, the despair of the shadows, the despair of the crystal heart, the despair of the crystal empire, the despair of Equestria, the despair of Equos. All the voices of all of the creatures cried out in his mind and devoured his heart. It wouldn't be long now. Falling to his knees, Sombra knew it. He would be erased once more.

I will be gone once more. I will be erased. All of these creatures, they barely survive with their own darkness. I'm not even in the dark. I exist in the shadows. A stain amidst a sea of light. Always a projection of someone else. Even now, I exist solely behind Sombra's shadow. But, I want to live. I know I can live. ENOUGH! I'm not the pony from before. And I'm not a copy of Sombra! I will be more than Sombra ever was! I will be more than I ever was! I will make a world where this despair no longer exists! I will consume all of it! All of the fear! All of the darkness! There will be only light and shadows! I will watch over all of Equestria if I have to!

Grabbing his chest, Sombra gritted his teeth. The cries of agony he could hear became white noise in the background. The red aura around him disappeared. Everything turned black and white. The crystal's color faded into nothing. The princesses looked at him with wide eyes. The seeping feeling from their fear and regret was gone. It felt like drinking water. Tasteless, bland, and natural. His heart didn't ache. His body grew stronger.

"What are you? You're not-?!" The crystal's words faded into nothing as Sombra thrust his hand into it. The world regained its color as the crystal faded into black. Suddenly, the crystal crumbled into dust that was carried by the wind. Looking into his fist, Sombra felt something on his palm. Small, frail, and alone.

Opening his fist, Sombra saw a minuscule sculpture. A red heart. It wasn't the Dark Crystal. It wasn't Sombra's heart. Both those creatures were gone. Sombra knew to who that belonged. All he was, all he had left was that small shard. All that survived the onslaught of despair the dark crystal forced onto him was concentrated into that heart.

"A Heart of Darkness. And it now has room to be more than that. Untainted by corruption. I reject the Dark Crystal and embrace Darkness itself. A part of nature used to conceal things. I shall consume all that lies within. Everything that wishes to do me harm, or harm what I hold dear shall be erased. And one day, I'll coexist with the light," Sombra whispered to himself while teleporting himself and the princesses to the pillar containing the Crystal Heart.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Luna cried out as Sombra stepped towards the Crystal Heart. "If you corrupt it, Equos will meet its demise!"

Sombra ignored the pleas. He stepped towards the heart and held the small heart against the great heart.

"BEGONE! CREATURE OF FEAR!" The crystal cried while Sombra's body cracked along with the little heart. The pulse would have shattered both of them. However, the cracks were small.

"Your hatred towards the darkness has already tainted you. Amore stained the once pure heart with her fear and regret," Sombra replied while the cracks continued to try and progress. "Allow me to lift your burden," Sombra said as a dark ooze flowed from the Crystal Heart into his arms, restoring him once more.

When the ooze stopped flowing, the small heart sunk into the Crystal Heart. Both of them pulsed in unison as Sombra stepped away.

"Now, I am not the King of Shadows. I am the Lord of Darkness," Sombra said without a smile or anger as he stared down at the princesses.

And thus, the rule of the Lord of Darkness began. Not ruled by Sombra, not ruled by a nameless pony, but by the amalgamation of both.