To End a Cycleby Obsidian FlameChaptersChapter 2: Confronting FearChapter 3: You're a ShadowChapter 4: An Unwelcome GuestChapter 5: Getting AcquaintedChapter 6: The DualChapter 7: Up to No GoodChapter 8: Elements of the Past Pt 2Chapter 10: For Better or WorseChapter 12: A Cycle EndedChapter 1: The Endless WarChapter 8: Elements of the Past Pt 1Chapter 9: The Looming DateChapter 11: Of Hope and Of FearChapter 2: Confronting FearSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 3: You're a ShadowChapter 3 You’re a Shadow “Princess Flurry Heart is it?” The dark Unicorn asked in his ominous echoing voice while circling her. She remained silent, not letting his presence intimidate her. He raised a brow at her response, or lack there of, but discarded it and continued, “I’m curious as to what brings a tiny Pony such as yourself here before me.” He chuckled maliciously for a moment, “Could it be that you have given up hope? Perhaps you came here to join me?” Flurry, however, was not as amused as the self absorbed tyrant, “I didn’t come her to join you Lord Sombra, I came here to free my subjects and to propose an offer to you.” She stated with conviction. He stopped circling the Alicorn Princess for a moment, staring straight at her with a wicked grin which exposed his long fangs, “Ah yes. I assume your little elements of harmony friends are busy surrounding me as we speak?” He asked while maintaining his sly grin. She shook her head, “No. I came alone.” He raised a brow and looked around. He could not sense anypony else in the vicinity. However, his evil grin soon return as he faced her once again, “How brave of you. I could destroy you where you stand and nopony would ever know your fate.” As he said this several sharp dark crystals shot up from the ground only inches from her. “Now tell me Princess Flurry Heart, what do you fear?” His magic then flared up once again as he probed into the young Alicorn’s mind. Sombra was expecting the Alicorn to fear him, or to fear her kingdom falling as most rulers did. However, what he saw was not at all what he expected. It was something more- “ENOUGH!” She shouted as her own horn lit up bright, illuminating the entire area and sending a wave of magical energy in every direction. The action surprised even Sombra who until this point had underestimated the Alicorn’s powers. The wave was so strong in fact that he had to phase into his shadow form to avoid the magical energy. After the beam had run its course Flurry settled down and watched as the Unicorn tyrant’s physical form returned. He seemed impressed, it had been a long time since any other pony had been a challenge for him. Of course he was not at full strength yet due to his recent defeat, but this Alicorn’s resolve had earned his respect to a degree. “Very well Princess, I shall hear what you have to say.” He replied while stopping just a few feet away. “I have an offer for you.” She stated calmly. “It must be a fascinating one for which to risk your life. At any moment I could-” “Enough of your nonsense Lord Sombra. I’ve come to ask you to marry me.” … He stared at her, the dark magical aura from his eyes having gone as he tried to come to terms with what the young royal had just proposed. She looked completely serious. But this surely had to be a petty trick to catch him off guard. … Before she could explain herself, however, the dark Unicorn erupted into uncontrolled laughter for a good moment. “My aren’t you quite the puzzle my dear Princess.” He stated while bringing his hoof up to her cheek with his cold metal armor caressing her fur. “Don’t touch me.” She ordered. He raised a brow, “You’re sending me mixed signals here…” “Do you want me to explain my reasoning or would you rather just assume I find you charming?” She asked. He scoffed, “My charm aside, explain this madness.” She paused for a moment and looked directly into his crimson eyes, “I’m doing this for my Ponies and the Crystal Empire. For over a millennia you’ve tried to invade my kingdom and enslave the Cyrstal Ponies. But each time you attempt it we manage to defeat you.” “And somehow this preposterous marriage is your solution!?” He asked impatiently. “I’m willing to break the cycle at its weak spot; your ambition.” She stated, taking a step forward in his direction. “I will satisfy your lust for my kingdom and your craving for power. We would rule the Crystal Empire together. It doesn’t have to be a loving marriage. But perhaps a respectful partnership.” She said as she approached him and placed a hoof on his own. The tyrant Unicorn looked to be in deep thought for a moment, having not even noticed the Alicorn’s hoof placed on his own. However, he soon looked back up with an irritated expression and snatched his hoof away from hers, “Why should I share the Crystal Empire with you!? Why not just surrender it to me as it rightfully belongs!?” “You would drive the empire to ruin and bring about your own downfall again. You aren’t wise enough to rule alone!” She answered swiftly and decisively. As she said this, the self proclaimed King withdrew himself to thought. Thinking about all of his attempts that had led to him ultimately being destroyed and banished back into this barren wasteland. Along with the unbearable pain and humiliation that had accompanied them all. Flurry noticed the Unicorn’s discomfort with discussing his suffering, so she changed her tone, “Allow us to stop this endless cycle before it starts.” The Alicorn stated before placing a hoof on his once more and drawing closer. “Marry me.” His crimson eyes peered down at hers as she drew him in. But before she could do anything further, the Unicorn ignited his magic and waved away her hoof. “Enough of this! You don’t really respect me at all, do you Princess!?” The vile purple aura once again flowed from his eyes as his horn channeled destructive energy. “You’re only trying to tame me like a monster! Give me one decent reason that I should not destroy you for this insult!” He ordered with rage as his formed began to shift to a more shadow-like presence. This action would have normally intimidated anypony, however, Flurry stood her ground and remained calm. “Killing me wouldn’t gain you anything and you know that. It would only make me a martyr and make you a bigger enemy in the eyes of Equestria! Are you so arrogant that you’ll just keep falling into this loop over and over again?” His magic died down slightly at this. “Just give me a reason to respect you. Would you rather be a Monster, or a King?” The Unicorn sighed and reserved himself, “And what of your precious ‘Crystal Heart’? Even if by some miracle I agreed to your terms, the Crystal Heart would dispel as it is designed to do.” He asked while turning away from her. “I would see to it that the Crystal Heart does not harm you. But only under the condition that you return my Ponies.” She answered, her tone becoming more serious and stern. To her puzzlement, however, the Unicorn grinned, “If there’s something you wish to accuse me of, I implore you to say it, Princess.” She was not amused by his mockery. But took a breath to calm herself down. “So. What’s your answer, Lord Sombra?” He looked back to her, “A marriage is about much more than just sharing property and status, Princess. It is also about mixing of blood, creation of family, and most importantly…” ‘Oh please no…’ She thought as the Unicorn carried on. “Sex.” He stated. She looked away in embarrassment. She had hoped Sombra would overlook such a fact. The Unicorn, however, noticed her discomfort and laughed aloud, “HAH! You’re cringing just from me speaking the word out loud! It seems you didn’t truly think this through-” “I know what I offered!” She countered with a small but noticeable blush evident on her cheeks. “Is that so? Well actions certainly speak louder than words Princess.” He taunted while approaching her. ‘Okay… I guess there’s no other way…’ She thought to herself as she looked up to the dark Unicorn Stallion. Oddly, the purple magical aura had vanished from his eyes meaning only one thing. This was his true form. “Now are you finally going to concede and back out of this preposterous-” Before the arrogant Unicorn could finish his sentence, however, Flurry used her magic to bring his chin in and pressed her lips up against his. The action took Sombra completely by surprise. But also to Flurry’s surprise, the Unicorn did not protest it, instead he leaned into it and actually took control, lifting her up with his great strength almost as if by instinct. It lasted for a good moment before both parties separated for air. As they breathed, their eyes locked for a moment with both of them contemplating what had just happened. Any hostility either had for one another seemed to have been lost in just seconds as they looked at one another intently. “I accept your offer!” Sombra stated loudly with force as his magical aura reappeared. Flurry looked away with an undeniable blush, “A-Yes. Now could you please put me down?” She asked while trying to keep from looking at the Unicorn who stared at her with a confident smirk. “As you wish.” He stated while setting her down subtly. She took a deep breath, “Meet me at the Crystal Castle in a weeks time to discuss the terms of our engagement. I will have the protective barrier opened for a brief time to see you in. And return the crystal ponies that you have taken.” “Yes, yes. Of course.” The Unicorn answered with a smug grin and a chuckle. ‘What is he on about now?’ She wondered while looking back only to see the dark Unicorn removing his regal red cloak and his armor. “What are you doing!?” “This is the point where we celebrate our union-” “What!? No! We’re going to have a respectable wedding before any of… Of that!” She stammered while reddening up. He chuckled, “If you’re too afraid to-” Before he could finish, however, she interrupted him by placing a hoof on the Unicorn’s mouth. “I said, after the wedding.” She clarified. He grumbled but backed off. Seeing his annoyance prompted her to loosen up a bit and giggle, “Look at you trying to be manipulative. It’s almost adorable. Meet me in a week.” And with that she was off, leaving the dark Unicorn behind. As Sombra watched the white coated Alicorn fly away he contemplated what had just happened. An Alicorn Princess of the Crystal Empire, one of his sworn enemies had just proposed to him. He placed his armor and cloak back on as he rubbed his eyes with a hoof. He couldn’t understand why he had accepted her offer. Nor could he understand what had prompted him to be so docile and… Romantic? He sighed while his magical aura returned. The Alicorn Princess was now long gone, with the cover of the snow storm returning as it intensified again. As he stared into the storm, he felt another presence manifest itself beside him. ~“You look troubled my son. What ails you after such good news?”~ He looked to his left to see the shadowy figure of a dark female Unicorn. Like him, she also had a distinct curved red horn. Her mane looked very similar to his albeit slightly longer and trailing down as opposed to waving up like his. In her eyes was a purple magical aura above her red irises. But unlike him, her form had no legs nor even a full body. It seemed to be confined to her head and neck only. “Madam Umbara.” He remarked, sounding vexed while avoiding eye contact with the shadowy female figure. ~“Come now my son, there is no need for such hostility. Especially after such fortunate events. After your wedding with the Crystal Princess, a subtle murder will earn you the Crystal Empire by law.”~ Said the shadowy figure with a ghostly echo. “IF that’s what I decide to do.” He answered while walking away. To his dismay, however, the figure followed him. ~“You forget your place Sombra.”~ “On the contrary, I am the King of the Umbrum. I shall do as I please.” He countered in a bitter tone. ~“Yes, indeed you are our King. However, you cannot ignore the truth, that is your destiny.”~ He snorted while igniting his magic, “I understand my calling perfectly, Madam Umbara.” ~“Do you?”~ He looked back for a moment with a raised brow. ~“Do you truly understand your role?”~ “What do you mean?” He asked with an irritated tone. The Ponies who had previously been cowering in their crystal-like shelters were now gathering around the King as if there was some sort of announcement. Their faces were stoic, like before, but with a small tinge of interest. ~“It seems I must inform you of the full history of our kind. The history of the Umbrum.”~ (For reference, this song was based on the beat and tempo of “Time in a Bottle” By Jim Croce. If you want to sing it yourself, I’d recommend you use that as a sample, although the actual song would be much darker with piano, bass, cello and other instruments besides just an acoustic guitar.) Song: You’re a Shadow 1st Verse (Madam Umbara) 🎵 The tale of our kind is the tale of those destined A story so old that alas has become legend For before there was light Before the skies were bright The world was consumed by eternal fright A world without hope, without care, without love A world where only the strongest stayed above But in the darkness came a creature so great and so fierce A creature so powerful it’s fears it could pierce Chorus (Crystal Ponies sing along in an echo) It was a Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A creature of terror A creature so vile, so strong, and so savage A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A race of pure power! A race that no other could possibly match! A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww And that my precious son That is the glorious tale of our kind A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww 2nd Verse (King Sombra *Tempo is slightly sped up*) Why must I listen to this old fabled tale I know who I am and from where I hail I am Sombra! The King! (The Ponies repeat) The lord of the north! The one who will rule! And who will henceforth Be the King! The King! (Ponies repeat again) 3rd Verse (Madam Umbrara *Tempo is back to original speed*) Yes you are a King And yes you will rule But you must understand To be an Umbrum you must be cruel! You must be cold and conniving! Dark and despising! You must crush anypony who stands in your way! Defeat them with fear, with force and conviction! Crush them like a hunter who chases their prey! Chorus 2nd(Crystal Ponies sing along in an echo again) You’re a Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A creature of terror A creature so vile, so strong, and so savage A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A race of pure power! A race that no other could possibly match! A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww And that my precious son That is your calling A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww 4th Verse (King Sombra *Tempo increases again*) I’ve tried and I’ve failed To rule as oppressor Each time I come close Each time an aggressor The Princess was right I am doomed to defeat! I must change my plans! Or forever be beat! 5th Verse (Madam Umbara*Tempo is back to normal once more*) You will not! You will listen! There is a plot One not risen! A plot to destroy you and seal you away! Surely you must see it! That Princess will lead you astray! She only wishes to stall and outwit! Chorus 3rd(Crystal Ponies sing along in an echo again) You’re a Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A creature of terror A creature so vile, so strong, and so savage A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A race of pure power! A race that no other could possibly match! A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww And that my precious son That is your calling A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww 6th Verse (King Sombra) Yes it may be And yes I might not see But there’s something about her Something that has me intrigued At first I looked past it But now I must admit She reminded me of…🎵 (Song ends abruptly) “She reminded me of Hope.” He said to himself while staring off into the blizzard. ~“You are becoming soft Sombra. You must not allow this deceitful Alicorn to dissuade you from your destiny! You have an unbreakable oath to reawaken our kind that are trapped beneath the Empire.”~ “As the King of our kind I shall do what I deem is necessary without interference.” He countered while trotting away. ~“On the contrary…”~ All of a sudden Sombra felt a splitting pain in his horn. His dark magical aura returned while the figure appeared in front of him. ~“What was given can be taken, my precious son.”~ The pain then ended as quickly as it had started. The Unicorn looked up to see Madam Umbara staring down at him. ~“After your wedding with Princess Flurry Heart you will be crowned King of the Crystal Empire by law. When that happens you will see to it that our kind are released from our imprisonment. You will destroy her, and anypony else who attempts to stop you. Do I make myself clear?”~ He growled like an animal but did not reply. A snide smile crept over Madam Umbara’s face as she saw her son’s defiance and hatred. ~“An Umbrum’s hatred makes them strong, my son. It is the reason you’ve remained alive all these centuries-”~ “ENOUGH!” The Unicorn commanded as he shot out a beam of destructive dark energy her way. She easily avoided it but seemed impressed while maintaining her wicked grin. ~“That’s my son.”~ “There are other ways of freeing our kind. I will release them from the catacombs of the Empire, but I will do it alone and under my own terms, and you will not bother me. Now begone.” Sombra stated seriously. ~“As you wish my son. But what shall you do?”~ “I’m off to find a decent ring.” He stated while trotting off for good. The figure watched as her ‘son’ went onward into the blizzard. ~“Good Luck, King Sombra.”~ “She’s been gone for quite a while. Perhaps I should send a search party out.” Said Shining while he paced back and forth. “Dear, Flurry told us she’d return before the hour. It’s been forty five minutes. Let’s at least have a little bit of faith in her.” Replied Cadence who took a sip of some tea while sitting nearby. “But what if she needs our help! She could be in over her head and-” “Shining. What are Flurry’s greatest strengths?” Cadence interrupted. He paused for a moment, “She’s smart, strong, brave, determined, and is selfless.” His wife nodded, “Then you shouldn’t worry. She will return to us.” Before the white coated stallion could worry further, however, he looked over the balcony to see 3 figures flying up to them. “It’s her! She’s back!” He stated excitedly as he rushed to the edge of the balcony. Cadence only smiled and shook her head as she followed him to the edge of the platform. Within a few minutes the three figures arrived at the balcony, with the middle one landing first. Nopony said a word for a long moment. Breaking the silence was Cadence, “Flurry? Is everything alright sweetheart?” “Don’t keep us in suspense, how did it go?” Shining jumped in. The young Alicorn Mare looked up to the anxious faces of her parents. Instead of replying, however, she trotted up to them and hugged them both. Her parents were surprised, but nonetheless they hugged her back. “I found them. I found our Ponies.” Flurry stated in relief as she continued to embrace them. The news was a great relief to Shining and Cadence as well. “That’s great sweetheart. We’re so proud of you.” Shining replied. “But what of Sombra?” They both asked in unison while releasing her. Flurry paused for a moment. It was an agonizing moment of suspense for her parents who eagerly awaited her response. “He will return our Ponies to us. And…” She paused again while looking up with tears in her eyes, “And he accepted my proposal.” Author's Note A/N: Okay, so this chapter was a bit shorter than the others have been so far but that will not be the case for future chapters. A lot of the time that I spent on this chapter was on the song halfway through. Finding a suitable beat and making the lyrics up was much more difficult than I first thought it would be. Overall it turned out alright but since I'm not a musician and don't have the tools to compose songs it definitely could have been better. Perhaps some day when I can afford music making software and learn a bit about composition I might make it into an actual song. On to other notes, we now have a new character! Madam Umbara was a character I based off of a strip from the mlp comics of Sombra's origin with the crystal speaking to him when he wandered into the cold north. I plan to make a drawing of her in the near future and include her quite a bit more as this story progresses. As always, if you like this chapter and like what I'm trying to do please consider following it and liking it to stay updated on new posts. Also please leave a review with your thoughts as feedback really helps me with motivation. Cheers, -Obsedian_Flame Chapter 4: An Unwelcome GuestAuthor's Note Okay, so this chapter came way way way too late... My sincerest apologies to my followers of the story, I have been really busy these last few months with a new job, my college courses resuming once more and my sport season getting underway. All I can say is I'm back with this new one and have another one soon on the way. I hope you enjoy this one! Just a little bit of character development and plot development but be warned, there will be some nice action in the coming chapters! In any case, enjoy the chapter and I'll see you in the next one. -Obsedian_Flame Chapter 4: An Unwelcome Guest Chapter 4 An Unwelcome Guest Juneth 4, 3672 7:00 AM Dear Diary, It has been a week since my last entry and a lot has happened in that time. It is almost difficult to put the recent events into words as many of them still baffle my mind. Regardless I shall do my best to summarize what has happened over the last seven days. A week ago today I went beyond the northern border to meet with Lord Sombra and to find our lost Crystal Ponies. To my relief I managed to find all of the missing Ponies, but when I approached them I got the feeling that they had been possessed. Their behaviors reminded me of the stories mother used to tell me about the changelings before they began to feel love. I wanted more than anything to help them, but no matter what I did, they never seemed to acknowledge me. As I continued on through the cold north I managed to find him. He was expecting me no doubt because of the messages we had sent through the border. He reacted a lot like how I expected him to, like an arrogant and evil scoundrel. And yet there was another side to him that I did not expect at all. He attempted to intimidate me and threaten me throughout most of our conversation, but once I revealed my true reason for crossing his domain the atmosphere changed. It was a very awkward experience to say the least. At first he laughed off my proposal. But once he knew I was being serious he actually listened. I confronted him about our crystal ponies but he denied my allegations. I just know he has something to do with their zombie-like states. Luckily I managed to explain my proposal to him before he lost patience. It was one of the most difficult conversations of my life, and certainly the most unpleasant one I’ve ever had with anypony. Then came the worst part of it all. Asking for his response. I was expecting that he would refuse my offer. Almost wishing for it in a way. But to my surprise Sombra was much more educated on marriage than I had anticipated. Too much so… Still, I had to get him to agree. The future of the Cystal Empire and our ponies depended on it. So I did the only thing I could think of at the time. I am almost embarrassed to put it into writing. I kissed him. I kissed Lord Sombra. And what was even weirder was that he did not protest it. He returned it. I can hardly even remember what happened in those moments. Everything happened so quickly. All I can remember is how I felt directly after. I felt strange in a way I have never felt before. Just the thought of it makes me feel odd. But that is all I will share for now about that. After it all I was relieved to hear Sombra accept my request. I was so caught up in the moment that I hardly believed him. The expression on his face told me that he was serious, but I couldn’t help but wonder why this had persuaded him. There was no time to ponder it though. I informed him to return our ponies and meet us at the entrance to the Empire in a week. And now that day has come. I have spent the entire week preparing for this day, but yet I still feel anxious and unready. I spent the last few days trying to figure out a way to prevent the Crystal Heart from repelling Sombra once he arrives. Thankfully Sunburst was able to help me figure out a way. When the Crystal Heart was created thousands of years ago there was an enchantment placed upon it to repel any dark forces and to keep happiness and prosperity. After a long few days of searching Sunburst and I found an arcane spell that can convince the Heart not to ward off a specific entity. The spell is only able to be performed by a worthy heir that only the Crystal Heart itself chooses, and Sunburst believes me to be this ‘heir’. I have always trusted Sunburst and always will, but I’m worried the spell will not work. To my knowledge not even Princess Amore was able to perform this spell. Just thinking about such things agonizes me. Sunburst seems to believe in me, however, and the rest of my family as well. I appreciate their confidence in me. I can only hope it isn’t misplaced… As I mentioned before Lord Sombra will be arriving at the Empire today. That is if he sticks to his word… Earlier this week we announced our new truce with Sombra and his arrival into the Empire. The public’s response to it was worse than I ever could have imagined. I have never seen our subjects so scared before. Some Crystal Ponies are even threatening to move to Manehattan and Canterlot. How can I blame them either. We are now admitting an enemy that has tormented the empire for over a thousand years, who once cursed the entire kingdom and even destroyed our former ruler. An enemy that has enslaved our Ponies in the past. They must think we have gone mad. That I’ve gone mad. I cannot let this deter my decision though. This is the only way to lasting peace that I can see and it is my duty to keep my subjects safe no matter the cost. All I can do now is to hope for the best but expect the worst. I wish I could go into more detail about this week, but I fear I must finish this entry and prepare to greet Sombra when he arrives. -Flurry Mi Amore Cadenza Heart Flurry sighed as she set her quill down and looked up from the Diary. Looking out the window of her chambers the Alicorn was greeted to the warming rays of Celestia’s sun. It was a wonderful day out, but this did little to put her troubled mind at ease. Flurry figured a breath of fresh air would be for the best. She got up from her desk and ascended a spiral staircase in the corner of her room which lead to a top balcony overlooking almost the entire Crystal Empire. The young Alicorn took a deep breath and looked down at the kingdom over which she ruled. The day was young, and many Crystal Ponies were busy fulfilling their morning errands. Parents taking their children to school for the day, adult Ponies heading to work, and so on. While all seemed well, however, Flurry could tell that many of these Ponies were feeling nervous and uneasy. ‘If only they knew…’ She thought as she closed her eyes and sighed once more. It was no good. Wherever she looked all she could see was the worry and fear of her subjects. She figured it best for now to focus on getting herself ready to welcome into Sombra. After all, if this didn’t go correctly then the worries of the Crystal Ponies would be the least of her concerns. “You’re absolutely sure the spell will work Sunburst?” She asked as she trotted down the halls of the castle. “You’ve asked me that how many times now Flurry? Don’t you trust me?” The yellow coated unicorn asked with a raised brow. “I do trust you Sunburst, it’s just… This has to work. If it doesn’t we could be in serious trouble. Sombra won’t ever agree to a peaceful truce and-” “Flurry, you need to quit worrying and believe in yourself. Just look at your cutie mark. That alone should tell you that it will work. You are the chosen heir of the Crystal Heart and so the spell will work for you.” Sunburst interrupted while following at her side. Flurry smiled a little at the complement and continued trotting down the halls. “Or maybe it wont work and you at least won’t have to marry that evil monster.” Sunburst stated while shrugging. “… What?” Flurry stated while stopping in her tracks. “Hrm?” “It might not work!?” She exclaimed while now looking like a nervous wreck. Sunburst looked serious and stared the Alicorn straight in the eyes. He did not say anything for several moments. It was a long staredown by both ponies before the Unicorn began to snicker and eventually giggle. Flurry was caught off guard by this, “What’s so funny!?” At this the Unicorn broke out into laughter. Flurry was truly confused now as she watched her mentor laugh as if a feather was stroking his hooves. “Hahaha I’m sorry but I couldn’t help but mess with you. I mean that face you made was just priceless!” The Unicorn stated while trying to catch his breath from laughing too hard. Flurry just stood with her jaw open. She couldn’t remember the last time Sunburst had joked around her. In fact she could not remember him ever being like this. It was nice but also slightly unnerving to the young Alicorn. Once Sunburst composed himself he wiped a tear from his eyes and adjusted his cloak. “I’m sorry to make you worry but I couldn’t help but to joke about it. I’ve been reading a lot of Hill Herd books about how it helps to tell a joke when the atmosphere is really tense.” Flurry simply rolled her eyes and shook her head at her mentor’s antics. As mad as she wanted to be though, she couldn’t help but smile. “Well you can tell a joke without giving me a heart attack Sunburst. I really thought you were being serious there.” She stated while now continuing to make her way through the hall. He shook his head, “It’s okay Flurry, you don’t have to worry. I just know that you’re the heir that the book spoke about, and so I know without a doubt the spell will work for you.” She gave a sigh of relief knowing that her mentor had full confidence in her. “Thank you for believing in me.” He nodded, “I too lacked confidence when I was your age. It’s only natural for us to doubt ourselves. But I know that you’re capable of anything you set your mind to.” As he said this, the two were approached by several royal guards and Flurry’s father. The two guards who appeared to be the same two that had escorted Flurry to the border a week ago. They each saluted the young Princess before her father stepped forward, “Well, everything should be in order Flurry. I have the guards stationed throughout the entryway and blocking the streets as well.” She nodded, “Thank you Dad.” Flurry looked as though she was going to say something more before she sighed. Her father looked worried, “Is everything alright? You know if we need more security I can always have Twiley-” “No Dad, it’s important that we don’t have too much security, otherwise I fear Sombra might feel threatened and call off the truce.” She interrupted while making her way toward the front gates of the Castle. The white coated unicorn agreed with this notion but could still tell that something was bothering his daughter. “What’s on your mind then? I can tell you’re bothered right now.” “It’s just that… I don’t want the Crystal Ponies to resent me for what I’m doing.” She confessed with an expression of worry. Shining now understood. “Flurry, they would never resent you. They are just afraid of Sombra. Many of them have lost friends and family to his malice.” “I know… All I can do now is make sure that he doesn’t harm more of them. That’s all that matters now.” She replied while now exiting the castle and stepping into the bright summer sunlight. Shining still looked concerned for his daughter. He wanted to provide her more words of reassurance, but knowing what was to come he thought it best not to add more stress to her already distraught soul. As she went onward, Shining looked over to Sunburst who had stopped at the gate to the Castle, “You’re sure she can do it? The spell?” He asked silently. The yellow coated unicorn nodded without any hesitation, “She was meant to do this Shining. All she has to do is believe.” As she waited in front of the protective barrier, Flurry stared at the cold harsh land beyond. She had been anxiously waiting for nearly 15 minutes for the arrival of the dark lord. Alongside her was her father, mother, and Sunburst. Her parents looked timid, much like herself. None of them knew what to expect, but they knew that anything involving Sombra was unlikely to be pleasant. While waiting patiently Flurry caught sight of a figure approaching through the storm. It was the form of a Pony, but it was not Lord Sombra. This was instead one of the lost crystal Ponies Flurry had seen the week before while trying to find the dark lord. The lone figure did not approach any further, staying some 15 meters away from the barrier. It was not long before the figure was accompanied by multiple others. And before they knew it there were some 60 of these seemingly possessed Ponies assembled behind the barrier. It was an unnerving sight to the others who until now had only heard of this behavior from the tales that Flurry had told a week prior. Seeing it, however, was far more terrifying than they could have imagined. Bringing them out of their thoughts, however, was the sudden arrival of a dark cloud of smoke which assembled directly above the lost Ponies. The cloud then landed directly in front of them and manifested itself into the form of Lord Sombra. The dark coated Unicorn looked around at the barrier before his eyes fell on the royal Ponies before him. He then approached the transparent shield until he was only a step away from it. “I don’t suppose I’m late am I?” The tyrant asked in his signature ominous tone with a sly grin. Flurry stepped forward until she too was right next to the barrier, “No. You aren’t.” She replied simply. He then took one more step to where he was nearly touching the magical shield. The dark Unicorn could feel the magic from the barrier still attempting to repel him. “I expect that you will honor your word?” The white coated Alicorn remained put, “Not until you honor yours. Release my subjects and I will allow you in.” She replied sternly. There was a moment of silence as both Ponies stared each other down intently. Neither one showed emotion to the other. From the others’ perspective the two could have been engaging in a staring contest. But after a long and intense moment the dark Unicorn chuckled, “As you wish Princess. This is their home after all.” That very second all the formerly lost Crystal Ponies went forward to the barrier and passed directly through. They were escorted down the street by a troop of royal guards who intended to reunite them with their families. Flurry watched as the Crystal Ponies passed by, but to her dismay they had not regained the shine or sparkle that they normally would have, and nor did they look too content to return. She could not focus on this, however, as she heard the dark Unicorn before her clear his throat. She brought her attention back to Sombra who was still within inches from the shield, “I have upheld my part of the deal, Princess.” Flurry nodded and then turned to face the center of the Crystal Castle, or more accurately; the Crystal Heart. ‘Here goes nothing.’ She thought while closing her eyes and summoning her magic. A bright golden light emanated from her horn as Flurry connected with the Crystal Heart itself. “By the power given to me through the Crystal Heart, I, Princess Flurry Mi Amore Cadenza Heart, heir of the Crystal Empire wish to grant clemency to Lord Sombra!” She shouted with conviction. Before she knew it, a beam of magic shot straight at the Crystal Heart. Sombra watched skeptically as the white coated Alicorn cast this strange spell. Shinning, Cadence, and Sunburst also watched the young Princess as her the beam from her magic struck the Crystal Heart and subsequently shot straight up into the sky and made contact with the circular barrier around the Empire. The beam then pulsated around the entire circumference of the shield until it reached the ground on all sides. After a few moments, all had settled, and the young Alicorn withdrew her magic while taking a deep breath. The spell had not been easy on her, but there was no time to recover, for she wasn’t even sure if it had worked. She looked back to the dark Unicorn who had remained next to the barrier the entire time. He had a raised brow, no doubt still feeling unsure of the spell that the Princess had cast. Flurry sighed, “You may enter now.” He looked up to her, then to the shield. He then extended one of his hooves forward until it was practically touching the magical wall. To his surprise, the barrier did not repel him, and instead allowed him to pass right through without harm. Once inside, the tyrant Unicorn looked around at the expansive empire that had given him so much grief over the last millennia. Flurry was joined by her parents and Sunburst who all looked much less passive than her, not letting the Dark Lord out of their sight. The royal guards surrounding the esplanade were also on high alert, monitoring Sombra very carefully as he looked around at the Kingdom he had once ruled. After a few moments the Dark Lord returned his attention to the four Ponies before him. “It has not changed a bit since last I was here.” The Umbrum stated with a look of disgust. This did not help ease the minds of Flurry’s parents who each looked about ready to send the arrogant tyrant back where he had come from. “Watch your tongue Sombra! You are only here because you have agreed to Flurry’s terms. If you keep running your mouth I will personally see to it that you never step hoof across this barrier again.” Shining Armor irately said. Sombra rolled his eyes but turned his attention to the young white coated Alicorn. Flurry was expecting some other snide remark from the self proclaimed king, but to her surprise, the Umbrum took a knee, “Thank you for your hospitality, Princess.” He then took her hoof and planted a kiss on her metallic silver shoe. The action had caught Flurry completely off guard as her wings perked up unintentionally. “I-Y-You’re welcome.” She stuttered while pulling her hoof back. As they watched on, Flurry’s parents’ faces were also red, but not at all for the same reason. Shinning Armor in particular looked as though steam was going to blow out of his ears from his anger towards the presumptuous Umbrum. Flurry could tell how tense the situation was becoming and quickly changed the subject, “Well, I think it’d be best for us to retire to the Castle and sort out the terms of our arrangement, don’t you agree?” The dark coated Unicorn raised a brow with a charismatic smirk, “I would be obliged Princess.” The young Alicorn then proceeded to lead the way onward to the Crystal Castle. It had been an awkward trot up to the Castle. Nearly the entire Crystal Empire population had witnessed Sombra’s arrival into their domain and none of them felt good about it. The Crystal Ponies could do nothing other than scowl and quiver in fear as the one who had threatened them every day of their lives simply strolled down the esplanade as if he was already their new ruler. The royal guards stayed especially vigilant not only to the Tyrant King, but also for their own Ponies, some of which looked ready to storm the walkway in an attempt to protest this absurd truce. Luckily for Flurry, however, things had been kept under control well enough, and before they knew it they had arrived at the entrance to the Castle. The doors were opened by several royal guards and the group entered thereafter. Once inside, Sombra looked around at the interior of the Castle. He wasn’t surprised to see that little had changed in here either since last he had taken over the empire. The stained glass murals looked the same as before, albeit there had been a new one added to one of the previously empty spots. The picture depicted a young white coated Alicorn Mare with a multicolored mane who’s wings were splayed out to the edge of the frames. At the center of her chest was a depiction of the Crystal Heart which coincidentally was the theme for the colors and shapes in the background as well. “How cliché…” The dark Unicorn spouted out, rolling his eyes in annoyance. This again had not sat well with Flurry’s parents both of whom stopped and watched as the entitled Umbrum trotted on. Shining muttered under his breath, “I swear to Luna I’m gonna blast him up to the Moon if he makes one more-” “Dad, I know he’s getting under your skin but we have to tolerate him for now otherwise we could all end up paying for it.” Flurry whispered to her father while Sombra was out of earshot. The white Unicorn grumbled, “I guess you’re right…” It didn’t take long before the lot of them caught up with the dark lord as they were nearing the end of the hall. Flurry cleared her throat, “Lord Sombra, I’d love to keep touring the Castle but I think we should get to sorting out the conditions of our marriage. Will you follow me?” Her parents raised their eyebrows at this, “Alone?” They asked skeptically in unison. Flurry nodded, “Yes, alone.” “But-” “Mom, Dad, I’ll be fine.” She interrupted them while turning and heading to a staircase. Cadence and Shining had little to say to express how much they hated this idea. Shining took a step forward and was about to protest further before Sombra chimed in with a chuckle, “Do not fret your highness's, the Princess will be quite safe with me.” The Umbrum’s snarky grin did not help settle matters with the two parents. “Why you-” “Dad, I said we’ll be fine, trust me.” Their daughter reassured them. Both parents then glanced over to the Dark Unicorn who was watching them intently. They each wanted nothing more than to send the tyrant straight to the pits of Tartarus for his flagrant disrespect and ill intentions. “Come, Lord Sombra.” Flurry called while trotting up the steps. The Dark Lord took one last look at the two royals before nodding, “As you wish, Princess.” He replied before following her up the steps. Cadence and Shinning simply watched as their daughter left along with their sworn rival. Words could not describe the dread that they each felt at seeing these events transpire. The mere thought of it made their stomachs turn with trepidation. “So…” Stated another voice. Both royals turned to see Sunburst who they had almost forgotten had been here the entire time. The yellow Unicorn was levitating a notepad and a quill in front of him. He then closed the book after jotting a few notes down. “Is nopony going to mention the fact that Flurry actually cast the spell!?” The Unicorn said aloud with enthusiasm. “I thought you said Flurry was absolutely capable of performing the spell Sunburst. Why would we have doubted her?” Cadence asked confused. He shrugged, “Well I mean I was only like 63% sure it would actually work…” … “YOU WHAT-” After a short walk to the upper levels of the Castle, Flurry led Sombra into her personal study. It was a cozy and inviting room with a series of long bookshelves lining the walls, an open space in the middle with antique furniture, and a warm fireplace that was presently lit. As they both entered, Flurry shut the door and sighed out of relief. As the dark coated Unicorn roamed around the room examining the books on the shelves, Flurry took the time to search through a nearby shelve. Once she had what she needed the young Alicorn cleared her throat and turned towards Sombra who was currently reading one of the books off the wall. “Lord Sombra, I’d like to sort through the conditions of our marriage if you don’t mind.” The Umbrum glanced her way and nodded, “As you wish Princess Flurry Heart.” He then approached the table and the two went to work preparing a set of documents. Chapter 5: Getting AcquaintedChapter 5 Getting Acquainted “What do you mean you want four!” Flurry asked loudly. “Anything less would be considered an empty house to me. Four is as low as I will go.” The Dark Unicorn answered simply. The White coated Alicorn rubbed her eyes and shook her head. “Sombra, I’m not having four foals. That is final.” Flurry Heart explained as she set her paper down and looked the Umbrum in the eyes. He looked away with a grimace and continued to edit his own marriage contract. The two had been busy sorting through the details of their arrangement for nearly three hours, making sure to revise every detail with one another to make sure they were both in agreement. The process had been less than productive, mostly due to the stubborn nature of the Tyrant Unicorn, but even so, there was now an end in sight as the two were completing the final parts of each other’s contracts. After one last hour of sorting through each other’s papers, the two royals had finally come to an agreement. Though not all the conditions were ideal, they were satisfactory enough to where both parties felt obliged to sign off and complete their work. Flurry’s previously neat and tidy hair was now rustled and messy thanks to the stress of having to deal with Sombra. She figured it best to see Sombra to his room and then have herself a much needed bath to decompress. “Alright, with that out of the way I will show you to your chambers, Lord Sombra.” She stated as she got up from her desk and headed towards to door. The Umbrum Stallion made his way passed the Princess and then placed a hoof on the door, effectively stopping her. “There is one more thing, Princess.” He stated as he looked down to her. She sighed, “What is it.” Flurry answered impatiently. There was a pause as the Umbrum Stallion glanced down to the smaller Alicorn. “Earlier you accused me of kidnapping your lost crystal ponies. I will not tolerate that lie any further.” He stated with the magical aura in his eyes reappearing. Flurry was quick to defend herself, “I never accused you of such a thing Sombra, though I certainly wouldn’t hold you above it-” “I did not take your lost Ponies, Princess.” He answered simply, the ghostly echo of his voice emanating from his person. The Alicorn looked unconvinced, “Then how did they come to be under your control exactly?” She challenged. The Umbrum took his hoof off the door with the magical aura in his eyes dissipating, “A few months ago I was journeying through the tundra of the north after having been defeated by your Equestrian allies. My powers were weakened and I was humiliated once more. But as I traveled through the harsh landscape I noticed one of the Crystal Ponies alone in the storm. They were without warm clothing, shelter, or sustenance. As I am an Umbrum, I can survive in such conditions, however, I knew that this Pony would surely perish. As I approached, the Crystal Pony noticed me and attempted to flee, but with little success due to their exhaustion.” The Tyrant paused for a moment as he walked around the Alicorn then continued where he left off, “After creating a shelter for the Pony using my magic, I nursed them back to health and inquired as to why they were wandering the inhospitable tundra. I was not surprised to hear that they left the Crystal Empire out of fear. Fear of me.” Flurry, although listening to the Umbrum’s story, did not buy this explanation. She did not believe that somepony with his disposition would be so sparing and merciful towards one of her subjects. Even so, she figured she’d allow the Dark Unicorn finish his story. “As I kept recovering my strength throughout the next few weeks, I found more lost souls in the storm. Crystal Ponies with the same idea as the first were continuously finding themselves lost in the harsh climate. I took it upon myself to shelter them all. As more started to turn up, I questioned them once more as to why they had fled the Crystal Empire. This time, however, I received a response I was not expecting.” He stated as he once again stared at his Fiance’s eyes. She raised a brow with an unconvinced expression, “Pray tell.” “They had lost faith in their rulers.” This comment had not sat well with Flurry who in turn objected, “You lie! The Crystal Ponies would never say such a thing!” Sombra’s expression nearly mirrored that of Flurry’s, “Believe what you wish Princess, for I am not lying. You may even question your precious Crystal Ponies yourself.” Flurry wanted to argue further, but realized that this conversation could likely escalate into an unproductive argument, or perhaps something worse. She figured it best to do as the Dark Lord said and question these Ponies herself to determine whether he was telling the truth. She then resumed her thoughts to accommodating the Umbrum Unicorn. She sighed before composing herself and addressing him, “We shall discuss this later Sombra. For now, let me show you to your room.” The Umbrum huffed before rolling his eyes, “Very well Princess.” The two royals then left the study with Flurry leading the way down the hall. Thankfully it was not a long trot and they soon reached their destination, a very large and elegant quarters designed for high profile guests of the Crystal Empire. This room would usually accommodate Ponies such as the former Prince Blueblood and other royal or noble Ponies. As he entered the room, Sombra immediately took note of the features. It was quite decently sized, and the furniture looked suitable, however, the colors left a lot to be desired for one such as himself. “This will be your room Lord Sombra. There is a king-sized bed, balcony, bathroom, and atrium. I hope you will be comfortable.” Flurry stated as she showed the Umbrum around. The Umbrum raised a brow as he toured around the room, “Hmm, I suppose it is sufficient.” He stated while nearly cringing at the revolting pink, blue and white colors that he despised. Flurry was unimpressed by Sombra’s disrespect and was preparing to leave when she heard the Unicorn Stallion continue, “But I am grateful nonetheless. You have my thanks, Princess Flurry Heart.” The white coated Alicorn was taken back by this, she had not expected him to be so humble after his obvious disrespect earlier. “I-You’re welcome, Lord Sombra. If you need anything, feel free to ask.” He nodded, and with that Flurry left to return to her own quarters. Once back in her room, Flurry took a long breath and closed the door behind her. The day was not over yet, but it had still been one of the most stressful experiences of her life. ‘A warm bath will help…’ She thought as she made her way over to her bathroom. While soaking her mane in the steamy water, Flurry thought about the events that had transpired over the day. She was happy that the spell Sunburst suggested had in fact worked, however, she couldn’t shake the thought of the public’s perception to the whole thing. She had seen the glares and looks of fear in the crowd earlier and it hadn’t helped put her mind at ease. Still, the day had gone better than she could have hoped thus far. She placed a hoof on her forehead as she remembered the time they had spent negotiating each other’s marriage contracts. ‘Tch… I can’t believe that scoundrel got me to agree to having 3 foals…’ The Alicorn thought as she used her magic to rinse the shampoo out of her mane. The thought of having foals was one that she hoped not to have at this point in her life. But seeing as it was an important factor for a marriage she figured it was only a matter of time before it would come up. As it were, she’d found the Dark Lord to be far more patient than she’d expected. Of course he had been disrespectful and vile as always, but he had also demonstrated a bit of gratitude and even humility. After having spent nearly half an hour in the warm water, Flurry felt slightly relieved and rejuvenated. She exited the large tub and used her magic to levitate a towel onto her back. As she dried her fur, the white coated Alicorn thought about what it was that the Dark Lord could possibly be doing at the moment. She hoped that he was simply touring the castle or settling into his own room instead of causing trouble or planning a takeover. As much as she hated to admit it, it was more than likely one of the latter two options. After drying the fur on her body Flurry raised each of her wings and proceeded to dry them both. Each individual feather seemed to be perfectly positioned, courtesy of her constant preening and hygiene. Miss Rainbow Dash had always stressed the importance of preening her feathers when her and the Wonderbolts team would attend the Grand Galloping Gala. Flurry chuckled at the thought of the rainbow colored Pegasus’ advice which would always include either the word ‘Cool’ or ‘Awesome’. She felt happy to have connections to such cheerful Ponies. As she finally dried her wings Flurry set the towel over a rack and made her way to the center of her room. As she looked up at the clock on her wall, the white coated Alicorn was surprised to see that the time was 5:30 PM. ‘That stupid contract took a lot more time than it should have…’ She told herself subconsciously while rubbing her eyes. Dinner had been scheduled for an hour from this time, so Flurry felt it best to prepare herself for the occasion. As much as she loathed the idea, she felt it would be important to invite Sombra to the dinner. It would likely be incredibly awkward, and could pose a few problems, but if it went well then the Dark Lord would feel more welcomed. After having made up her mind, the young royal made her way to her desk and got to work putting her makeup back on. After quickly touching up her features, Flurry looked at herself in the mirror and was about to tie her mane in a bun before a thought came to mind, ‘Maybe let’s try something different tonight.’ 10 minutes later, the white coated Alicorn was making the last adjustments to her mane. Instead of tying her hair up like when she’d usually attend events, Flurry decided to wear her mane down in a long wavy v shape. The natural curl of her hair created a beautiful effect as her perfectly combed strands of sky blue and magenta hair resembled a waterfall flowing down her neck. To complement it, she styled her tail in a similar fashion. A smile graced the young royal’s face as she looked at herself from different angles. If there was one special talent that the Alicorn had besides the one on her cutie mark, it was cosmetics and beautification. Once she left her room, Flurry figured she’d check up on Sombra to invite him to the dinner, along with making sure he wasn’t scheming or wreaking havoc on the Empire… As she made her way towards the Umbrum’s room, Flurry was passed by a few castle staff and guards all heading the same direction. They each saluted her as she walked by, but she could tell that something had them feeling distraught. The Alicorn found this odd as she’d rarely see so many Ponies roaming through the halls at the same time. ‘Odd…’ She thought while coming up to Sombra’s room. Using her hoof, Flurry knocked on the door three times consecutively. After waiting for a good moment with no response Flurry raised a brow, “Lord Sombra?” She called from outside. After once again hearing no response Flurry opened the door and looked inside to check up on the Dark Lord. Only upon scanning the room, the Umbrum was nowhere to be found. At this point Flurry began to get worried. She exited the room and looked at the hallway where several royal guards were patrolling through. She approached the two stallions who noticed her and respectfully saluted her. She smiled and nodded before addressing them, “Have either of you seen Lord Sombra?” The Guard on the right nodded, “Yes Princess, the Dark Lord has been in the Castle Library for nearly a half hour.” Flurry was puzzled by this, but regardless she thanked both of the Stallions set off to find Sombra whom she hoped was not stirring up trouble this moment. After making her way to the Library as quickly as possible, Flurry noticed a bunch more Castle staff leaving the large room. As she watched the Ponies swiftly leaving, Flurry noticed one the royal advisors to the Crystal Empire Mrs Sapphire Scale. “Excuse me Mrs Scale.” Flurry remarked as she approached the blue coated elderly mare. Mrs Scale was caught off guard for a second but quickly saluted the Alicorn, “Princess Flurry Heart, I’m terribly sorry for not noticing you.” The Unicorn stated as she bowed her head in respect. Flurry shook this off, “It’s not a problem Mrs Scale, would you happen to know what’s going on? Why is everypony leaving the Library?” The blue coated elder looked around before quietly answering, “Well you see Princess, everpony here has felt uncomfortable ever since the Dark Lord entered. We would prefer not to be in his presence…” She trailed off. Flurry looked into the Library and then back to the elder Unicorn, “I see. Well thank you Mrs Scale, I look forward to seeing you at tomorrow’s meeting.” The blue coated pony smiled, “Likewise Princess, Enjoy your evening.” And with that, Mrs Sapphire was off. Flurry wasted no time in entering the Library to find the one she’d come for. As she wandered the large room she was taken back by just how quiet the room was. Of course it was a Library, but even so this was excessively quiet. So quiet in fact that not only could she hear every one of her hoofsteps but she could almost hear her own thoughts echoing through the empty room. As she rounded a corner, the young Alicorn caught sight of the Dark Unicorn. He looked to be intently focused on a hardcover book which he was levitating in front using his magic. Flurry could not tell exactly which piece of literature it was from this distance, but figured she should go an address him. She cleared her throat as she approached, “Lord Sombra.” The Umbrum lowered his book and acknowledged her presence, “Princess.” As Flurry reached him, she noticed that the Dark Unicorn was not wearing his iconic armor. Rather than his chest and neck plate holding his cloak in place, he adorned a smaller royal silver collar with an engraved black crystal emblem in the center. Underneath the collar, Sombra wore a crimson ascot which matched the color of his cloak. Instead of his scored silver armor greaves and sabatons he dawned a set of four expensive looking silver shoes with black crystal-like trim. His crown looked to be identical but without the armored part that would normally protect the Umbrum’s snout. Flurry did not want to admit it to herself, but she was actually rather impressed by the Dark Unicorn’s fashionable choices in apparel. Regardless, she figured it best to get to the point before making things awkward between the two, “I checked your room earlier and noticed you were gone. How long have you been here?” Sombra nodded and used his magic to close the book that he had been reading, “I did indeed leave my quarters earlier. I would say some 30 minutes ago.” He answered while taking in the white coated Alicorn’s changed appearance. Flurry was about to reply before the dark coated Unicorn added with a confident smirk, “I must say Princess, you look absolutely ravishing.” The Alicorn’s cheeks brightened slightly at this comment, but she was able to compose herself quickly, clearing her throat before responding, “Y-yes. Thank you. I was going to ask you if you’d be interesting in attending dinner tonight. I believe it’d be best for you to acquaint yourself with my parents and some of the other advisors for the Empire.” Sombra’s confident smirk faded as he looked away for a moment in thought. After considering the young Alicorn’s offer he nodded, “Very well Princess.” The Dark Unicorn levitated his book up and was preparing to place it on the shelf where he had found it before Flurry raised a brow and remarked, “The Conquest of Harness? I didn’t figure you for a Bertrand Rustle fan.” The Umbrum chuckled, “Not a fan so much as I am a connoisseur of philosophy.” This surprisingly made Flurry chuckle herself. It felt odd to see the evil Dark Lord of fear have an interest in Pony philosophy, much less a book on finding enlightenment. Regardless, she allowed Sombra to return the book to it’s original resting place. “Come, Dinner will be prepared soon. We should make our way to the dinning room.” Flurry stated as she turned around. The Dark Unicorn only nodded and proceeded to follow his Fiance. Once the two royals arrived at the dinning hall, Flurry was greeted by her Mother and Father who immediately took note of her elegant appearance, “It’s good to see you sweetheart, you’re looking great as always.” Cadence stated with a smile. Flurry nodded but also noticed their expressions change quickly as they noticed the Dark Lord enter shortly after. Their displeasure was not at all hidden from the Umbrum who immediately noticed the two irritated royals. No words were exchanged between either parties as they stared each other down. Flurry could tell how tense the moment was and was quick to start a new conversation, “Well that’s a wonderful smell coming from the kitchen! What did the chefs prepare tonight?” Although they heard their daughter loud and clear, Shining Armor and Cadence remained fixed on Sombra with scowls on both their faces. “Freshly baked sour dough bread with steamed vegetables and Quinoa Salad.” Both parents answered simultaneously while refusing to take their eyes off the Dark Unicorn ahead whom they were presently scowling at. Flurry laughed nervously as she thought, ‘This is going to be an awkward dinner…’ And awkward the dinner was. Seated on one end of the very long table was Flurry’s mother, and directly to her right was her husband. While on the other side of the table, Sombra sat opposite to the Empress of Love while Flurry sat opposite to her father to the Umbrum’s right. The atmosphere of the room was disconcertingly quiet apart from the sounds of the expensive silverware touching the equally expensive crystal dishes and plates. Usually the room would play host to many engaging conversations and fun memories, however, tonight it seemed as though it were an interrogation room. Not a single word had been uttered ever since all the royals had sat down to eat. Appetizers of buttered sour dough bread had come along and had been eaten. Fine aged red wine had been brought to each of the royals glasses. And now each of them were currently busy eating the delicious quinoa salad and steamed vegetables. Flurry wanted to enjoy the nice meal but couldn’t help but feel the tension between her parents and the Dark Lord. Every so often she’d look to the other side of the table only to see her parents refusing to let Sombra out of their sight while taking small bites of the refreshing salad. But after nearly half an hour of total silence, she’d nearly had enough and started a conversation, “So, is everyone else enjoying the meal? I think the corn and quinoa are great.” “Yes, it’s very nice indeed.” Replied Cadence with a look of disgust as she watched the Dark Unicorn intently. This, however, did little to lower the tension as the first reply would indicate, “It could use some meat…” Sombra responded as took a fork full of lettuce and crunched while continuing to stare at the two Ponies opposite to him. This statement only made the two parents more livid as they both now sported a hateful grimace towards the crude Dark Unicorn. Shining armor was so upset that when he used his magic to scoop up a bit of salad he accidentally sent his fork through the plate and into the table underneath. Sombra merely smiled while lifting up his glass of red wine and taking a sip. If he were trying to irritate the two parents he would have done a stellar job as Flurry had never seen either of them so riled up before. As she looked back and forth to both sides of the table she could see that the mood was only getting worse with every passing minute. And seeing as how her attempt at starting a conversation was fruitless she knew this likely wasn’t going to improve. Before things could escalate any further, however, Flurry immediately stood up from her chair and stormed off without any notice while bringing her glass of wine with her. She had not even finished her meal which remained on its plate along with her cutlery and napkin. All the tension between Sombra and her parents vanished as they all watched the white coated Alicorn leave the dinning room in a hurry. Sombra’s previously sly grin had turned into an expression of worry, and similarly with Shining Armor and Cadence. Once she returned to her chambers, Flurry slammed the door behind her and yelled in anger. It was not her loudest shout, but one could easily tell how frustrated the Princess felt just from the emotion in her tone. She then levitated the half full glass of wine which she had brought with her and drank the rest in a second. She coughed from the action and set the glass down on her living room table before opening up one of her drawers and finding an unopened bottle of red Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Prance. After taking the bottle out she opened the cork and poured a little of the crimson fluid into her previously full glass. She then placed the bottle back in its drawer and fell down onto her white living room couch to decompress. After 20 minutes of lying on the couch, Flurry was still not feeling any better from earlier. The bitter and dry alcohol had done little to calm her down as she had since finished the second glass. As she looked up to the ceiling of her room she sighed and rolled her eyes. ‘If I’d known mom and dad would be like that I’d have never invited him…’ She thought. It was then, however, that the vexed Alicorn heard a knock on her door. She wanted nothing more than to yell something along the lines of ‘GO AWAY’ or ‘NOT NOW!’. But she knew it would likely not be productive whatsoever. Reluctantly, the young royal rose from her couch and went to answer the door. Once she opened the door, Flurry was greeted by the presence of her Fiance. The Dark Unicorn appeared to be levitating a bouquet of flowers with his magic. The flowers consisted of multiple different colors of roses from white, to rose, to red. Before she could say anything, the Dark Unicorn addressed her, “I came here to give you these, Princess.” The Umbrum stated simply as he levitated the bouquet over to her. Flurry was taken back by this but used her magic to take the flowers. She was about to reply before Sombra continued, “I also came to apologize for my behavior this day.” Flurry was at loss for words as she stared at the tall dark coated stallion. Her mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out. “Thank you for inviting me to dinner. I shall see you tomorrow. I hope you sleep well, Princess.” He added as he turned and left. The Alicorn watched as the Umbrum walked down the hall towards his chambers. She could not even think properly right now. Whether it was the buzz from the alcohol or witnessing the strange act of generosity from the tyrant Unicorn, Flurry couldn’t seem to figure out what had just happened. As she shut the door, the Princess looked back and simply thought, ‘What the hay was that?’ An hour had passed since the Dark Unicorn had visited her room, and Flurry had since placed the bouquet of roses in a tall crystal vase with some water. It was now quite late out and the young royal could see her aunt Luna’s moon rising over the night sky through the window. She was currently in her bathroom preparing to go to bed before she heard yet another knock on her door. As she had now calmed down she called, “Coming!” After opening the door, Flurry was greeted by her parents with guilty expressions littering their faces. Cadence was the first to speak, “Good evening sweetie, we just thought we’d pay you a visit before you went to bed.” Shining then continued on their behalf, “And, well. We also wanted to say we’re sorry for how we acted during dinner. We saw how upset you were when you ran off.” Flurry nodded with a small smile, “It’s okay dad, why don’t we talk about it in my room?” Both her parents agreed and entered the Alicorn Princess’ room. Upon entering, her parents sat down on two comfortable lounge chairs while Flurry took a seat on her white sofa again. She was the first to speak this time, “I just ran off because I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t mean to make you worry.” Cadence nodded, “We totally understand Flurry, our behavior was uncalled for.” Flurry couldn’t help but crack a smile at the thought of her parents faces during the dinner. She’d never seen them so bothered before. It almost reminded her of the tales Aunt Twilight would tell about the former villain Tirek who constantly lived in a raged state. She then looked up and sighed, “It’s just… I’m trying to be as welcoming to Sombra as I can so that this goes as best as it can. I know he’s done a lot of horrible things to the empire, and he’s unlikely to change. But I just wish you both could tolerate him enough so that we can make this whole thing go as smooth as possible.” She stated as she looked to both of her parents. The former Princess of Love and her husband both looked at each other and reluctantly nodded, “We’ll try sweetheart, just for you.” Shining armor answered. Flurry could tell that they were genuine about this, but could also tell that they were apprehensive about the idea. Without a second thought, she got up from her sofa and hugged both her parents. They were not at all surprised by this and returned the affection. It was a heartwarming moment for the three. After letting them go, the young Alicorn sat back down on the couch before Shining Armor noticed something, “Say, where’d you get the roses?” Flurry thought about lying about it but figured it was better to just tell them, “Well, Sombra came by my room a little while ago and gave them to me. He also apologized for dinner.” Both parents were surprised by this. “Really? Sombra did that?” Cadence asked, to which Flurry nodded. After hearing this development, both parents were puzzled by this action of the Dark Lord. It was very uncharacteristic of the normally conniving and manipulative tyrant. Breaking them from their thoughts, however, was their daughter, “Well, thanks for coming to apologize anyway. I know you two hate Sombra as much as all the other Crystal Ponies but for now we have to put up with him.” Shining Armor was still getting over the thought of what she’d told them, but realized that it was rather late and it would be best for them to leave Flurry to herself for the night, “We’ll try our best Flurry.” Before leaving though, a thought came over the Unicorn stallion’s head, “Hey, how would you like to wake up early tomorrow morning and get some training in with the guard? It’ll be like old times.” He asked with a charismatic smile. Flurry was immediately interested in the idea, “That would be great dad. The usual time?” “Yep, and remember to wear that Armor I gave you.” He added. “Will do dad, see you tomorrow morning.” She finished before seeing her parents out. Before she left, Cadence planted a kiss on Flurry’s snout, “I’m very proud of how mature you were today sweetheart, you’re already an excellent leader for the Crystal Ponies.” Flurry blushed at the compliment before replying, “Thanks mom, I just hope the Crystal Ponies will see it the same way.” “They will sweetheart, they will.” And with that, the two royals were off. Chapter 6: The DualSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 7: Up to No GoodChapter 7 Up to No Good The Crystal Garden was always a calming place in the Empire. With fresh and savory air, an abundance of exotic wildlife, and wonderfully maintained plants, it was a perfect spot for one to find peace or to refresh themselves. However, as nice as the gardens were, they were currently sullied by a corrupted presence. Lord Sombra had decided to have a look at these gardens himself after having returned from his dual with Princess Flurry Heart. As the Umbrum trudged through the lush garden, he remarked on all the different species of plants. Perennials, annuals, and perfectly trimmed shrubs from all over Equestria made up the vast majority of the collection. There were of course a number of scattered trees and bushes throughout the premise as well, each of which like the shrubs were very well looked after. Nice as it was, however, Lord Sombra did not find himself feeling as at peace as most would. While walking along the paths he came he caught sight of a unique statue built out of different translucent crystals. The plaque below read, “In honor of the late Princess Amore. The first beloved ruler of the Crystal Empire and guardian of the Crystal Heart.” Sombra looked up to the statue which depicted his former ruler and rival. He growled at the memory of the late Unicorn Princess. She had known all along of his lineage and his kind. She’d watched passively by as the Crystal Heart had harmed him each Crystal Fair and had done nothing. To him she was no Princess, no ruler, not even worthy of being considered a guardian. To him she was nothing more than a coward and a liar. A disgrace to their title. Just the thought of the fallen Princess caused his dark magic aura to spike. He felt like shattering the statue as he had to her a millennia ago. Before acting rashly, however, the Umbrum toned down his anger. He knew that lashing out would do little good. After calming himself to a degree, he decided to move on and see to an important matter. After traveling through the streets of the Empire for a few minutes, Sombra was beginning to feel fed up with the stares and attention he was getting. Some Crystal Ponies would watch him pass by while many others would cower away or lock their houses in fear of the Umbrum. Although he normally fed off the fear of other creatures, Sombra wasn’t interested in the attention right now, much less attention from those he considered beneath him. Regardless, after a quick journey he had arrived. Above the door to the building was a sign that read, “Amethyst’s Trinkets and Troves”. As he was about to enter the shop, Sombra noticed the door open only for a familiar Pony to walk out. The white coated Alicorn raised a brow as she looked up to him, “Lord Sombra? What are you doing here?” Although she was surprised to see him here, Sombra was less so. He knew that she was not here by coincidence and also knew what she was likely doing here, “It is not a matter of grave concern to you, Princess. I assume you were here to question Mistress Trinket?” Flurry looked unconvinced with his response, and instead of answering him, she asked a question of her own, “Who is Omni?” The Alicorn’s stance was firm and commanding as she stood just in front of the door blocking him from entering. Sombra raised a brow, “Omni? I have never heard of that name before.” Although Sombra looked genuine, Flurry was still doubted him, “Really? None of the Crystal Ponies that came to you told you anything about this ‘Omni’?” She asked with a stern expression. This question only agitated Sombra who was now growing impatient, “Those Crystal Ponies did not merely seek me out, Princess. I found and salvaged them from the cold unforgiving arctic. Furthermore, no. I have never heard the name Omni ushered until now.” Although she wanted to press him further, Flurry could tell that the Umbrum was tensing up. Even though he seemed taut about the subject, she had a feeling that he was telling the truth. She sighed before responding, “Okay. I spoke to most of the returned Crystal Ponies and they all stated that you weren’t responsible for their leaving.” Sombra’s expression did not change, “So you have accepted the truth then?” She reluctantly nodded and looked away, “Yes. I’m sorry for having doubted you before.” Sombra smirked at this. He could tell the Alicorn did not want to submit and felt ashamed to admit defeat to him. It reminded him of their dual earlier that day. “Apology accepted, Princess Flurry Heart.” He stated while staring directly at her with a taunting grin. Flurry huffed in frustration but composed herself before adding, “You’re sure you’ve never heard of anypony by the name of Omni?” He shook his head, “Never. Why do you ask?” Flurry hesitated on whether or not to tell him but ultimately decided not to divulge the information that the Crystal Ponies had given her. “It is not a matter of great concern to you, Lord Sombra.” She stated in a mocking manner, using his own words from earlier. He raised a brow once more but shrugged, “Very well.” And with that he walked past her and entered the shop. Flurry looked back and sighed. Unfortunate as it was, she had not learned anything more of interest after talking to five other Ponies. She’d ultimately decided to forgo paying visits to any other Ponies as they’d likely have the same if not a similar story as the ones prior. Still, she could tell that there was a lot more that they were not letting on. She thought it best to pay a visit to her auntie Twilight who was most likely to know something about this mysterious fallen ruler. As he entered the store, a small bell rang overhead. Only a second after the bell rung, an uninterested monotone voice called out, “Shop’s closed for today! I’m not taking any orders-” “Now now Mistress Trinket, I’m sure you can make an exception today.” Sombra interrupted as he approached. The magenta colored Earth Pony immediately looked up and gasped, “L-Lord Sombra! I didn’t expect to ever see you here!” She remarked anxiously. The Umbrum nodded, “Yes it is all quite irregular I understand. However, I am in need of your services.” The Mare immediately straightened her posture as she got up from her chair and made her way to the dark coated Unicorn. “My services?” She asked. He nodded once more, “Indeed. Tell me, what do you make of this?” The Umbrum then used his magic to levitate a small leather bag in front of the magenta coated Mare. The bag itself was not that interesting on its own, however, when Sombra removed the small object that was in the bag, the magenta coated Mare was taken back. “A black Opal!? These are extremely rare! There’s said to be only five shards of these throughout Equestria!” Miss Trinket stated in shock as she examined the gemstone. “Precisely. Now as I’m sure you are aware, I am getting married to the Princess in three weeks time. And I must present her with a suitable ring. I figured with your skill set that you would be able to fashion me said ring.” Sombra stated as he placed the rough gemstone on the shop’s table. The Mare examined the stone very carefully. It was currently unrefined and was no larger than a clementine, however, she could tell that behind the jagged edges and rough surface was one of the most exquisite and sought after stones in Equestria. The stone consisted primarily of dark colors, namely black and navy blue, but also contained tiny specs of green, red, and yellow which resembled what Princess Luna would call a ‘Nebula’. “I will get to work on it right away, Lord Sombra.” The Mare stated as she took the gemstone. Sombra smirked in satisfaction before adding, “And don’t worry about payment Miss Trinket, I will ensure that you are sufficiently reimbursed.” “Actually, this one is on the house. It’s the least I can do to repay you for saving me, my Lord.” She stated while bowing in respect. This gesture was a surprise to Sombra, but a welcomed one. Regardless he figured he’d leave the mare to her work and attend to some other business of his. “You have my gratitude, Mistress Trinket. I look forward to seeing your work completed.” He stated before departing. An entire day had passed, and Celestia’s glowing sun was beginning to set across the horizon. Sombra had since retired back to the Castle after having seen to a few matters outside of the Crystal Empire. Although he was used to keeping himself busy each day, today had been exhausting for the Tyrant Unicorn. He was not used to dealing with Equestrian Ponies. He saw them as beneath him and not worth his time. But for all his power and might, there were some things that not even he could accomplish on his own. As few as those things were he still hated to ask for assistance from anypony. While beginning to relax on one of the sofas of his large room, he was greeted by a voice from behind him. ~“Enjoying yourself, my son?”~ He sighed, “I have had better days. Now what do you want Madam Umbara.” The apparition floated in front of Sombra and glanced down at him, ~“I see you are fitting in to your new life rather well. But have you forgotten your purpose?”~ The Image stated tersely. He shook his head without hesitation, “No. I have not. And I do not need you reminding me of it like a broken parrot.” He stated with agitation. A smile found its way to Madam Umbara’s face, ~“Or perhaps…”~ She trailed. Sombra resigned himself from his sofa and looked outside his window to see Luna’s moon rising overhead along with a dark star filled night sky. “Perhaps what?” He asked irately. ~“Perhaps you are procrastinating because you feel pressured. Or is it… Something else?”~ The female Umbrum trailed once more while alluding to something more personal. Sombra growled and turned to face his ‘mother’ with anger and hostility, “I am NOT procrastinating. I just know better than to ruin my only chance at freeing our kind by being rash and foolish. It is too early to enact my plan. They would no doubt suspect me of it.” Although his point was backed by logic and reasoning, Madam Umbara was not done with him yet. ~“I wouldn’t be so sure, my son.”~ “You dare question me!?” He fired back immediately. The floating apparition did not shy away from Sombra’s threat, however, and simply stared at her son unamused. ~“Careful, King Sombra. You may be our the King of our kind, but you must still prove yourself.~ He scoffed with a huff as he sat back down on the sofa, “I mustn’t do anything unless I desire it. Now leave me. I would like to rest.” Umbara clearly did not like this comment, however, and turned to face him directly. ~“You will free our kind, King Sombra. And you will do so with expediency.”~ He raised a brow with a sneer, “Or what?” There was a pause as Madam Umbara stared him down intently. ~“Or… I will destroy her.”~ She stated without emotion as a ghostly echo trailed her voice. Sombra remained still for a moment with his jaw hanging slightly open. He was trying to hide whatever emotion he was feeling currently. It was an emotion he’d hardly ever felt. One he hadn’t felt since… Since Hope. After regaining his resolve, however, the Umbrum rose from the chair and stood only inches from the image of his ‘mother’. “Get out. Now.” He ordered with his teeth and fangs bared as his dark magic aura began to climax. Madam Umbara merely glared at her son who clearly was attempting to counter threaten her. Without any remorse, she continued, ~“Fulfill your duty to your kind and then perhaps I will be merciful to that tramp of an Alicorn.”~ With this, the female Umbrum vanished into a cloud of smoke which quickly evaporated like steam from a kettle. Sombra looked around the room before beginning to calm himself. It seemed that every confrontation he had with his so called ‘mother’ would agitate and vex him. She seemed to be constantly watching over him and invading his privacy like it was her job. He did not appreciate this. Nor did he appreciate her subtle threats and jabs towards him. She had a cruel way of motivating him, more cruel than even he. He supposed it was where he’d gotten his own vile demeanor. As he settled down he thought about the threat that Madam Umbara had made towards him. But more about why he had reacted the way he did than the threat itself. He could not understand what had prompted him to be so defensive after it. He had only ever feared losing one thing in life and that thing had been lost a very long time ago. But now he felt that same feeling again. Was it a sign? Or was it simply an overreaction on his part. ‘No. I do not feel that way about her. What we’re doing is purely political.’ He thought as he dismissed the idea. He still felt it was too soon to enact his plan to free his Umbrum kin that were buried bellow the Empire. But as much as he hated to admit it, he was unlikely to get an opportunity in the near future with his wedding to Princess Flurry Heart being such a large burden. After a moment to contemplate his next steps, Sombra decided it best to wait until the darkest hour of night. To avoid making noise, the Umbrum resigned himself to his shadow form and flowed across the halls like a phantom. The halls although lit, were dim and empty. It was strange to see the corridors of the Castle so barren and unguarded, Sombra was extra cautious all the same. After passing many hallways, Sombra was greeted by the sound of hoofsteps nearby. From the sounds he identified them as hoofsteps of several Crystal Guards. He was not afraid in the slightest of two insignificant Ponies, however, he could not risk being seen less he cause an alarm. As the sounds became closer, Sombra looked around the hallway for possible places to hide. The steps only grew closer with every passing second. At this point he could now hear the faint voices of the two Ponies talking to one another. This hardly mattered, however, and after scoping out the room for a few seconds he had found a suitable place to conceal himself. After turning the corner, the two guards could now be heard loud and clear. “I still can’t believe Lance was our Princess! It’s just… It’s crazy!” Stated a yellow coated Pegasus Stallion. “What’s more crazy is that she’s an amazing athlete and duelist! Did you see her out there? Her skills rival even the captain!” Stated the other, a white coated Pegasus with a caramel colored mane. “Heh… Still, it was funny seeing her have to kiss Lord Sombra. I don’t like that evil creature at all but I had to admit he really riled her up out there.” The yellow coated guard spoke once more. “Shhh! They’ll hear you Flash!” The other whispered while hiting his partner on the head as a reminder. “Ow! Why’d you do that!?” The yellow coated Pegasus complained while rubbing the spot where he’d been struck. “Because you’re talking louder than Lord Tirek right now while everypony is asleep! Now quiet down before we get in trouble again!” The other explained in a hushed tone. The yellow Pegasus sighed in defeat, “Fine.” As the two walked down the hallway, Sombra stayed very still. He was getting fed up with the noise these two guards were making and hoped that they’d pass quickly without noticing him. “You know, I don’t see what you find funny about that monster. He nearly killed our Princess multiple times during their dual. And between you and me, I don’t trust him at all. Even the Emperor sees it. He’s trying to betray us.” The white coated guard stated quietly as the two passed by. Sombra growled lightly at the mention of this, though a bit too loud as he then saw the ears on the guards perk up. “Did you hear that?” The yellow Pegasus asked while looking around the room. “Yeah. It sounded like it came from the wall.” The other replied. The two guards then scanned the wall very carefully. There were multiple murals and windows each containing rich Equestrian history. On the largest window was a depiction of a major event that took place many years ago. It showed six Ponies of different kinds connecting with one another and discharging a powerful magical beam at a large dark entity. This was no doubt a showing of the battle that took place between the Evil Lord Sombra, and the fabled Elements of Harmony some twenty five years prior. Even so, the guards saw nothing out of the ordinary on the wall or windows. After carefully checking the area, the yellow Pegasus shrugged, “Must have been a Timberwolf outside or something.” “Flash, we’re 20 stories up and in the Crystal Empire… It was more likely the wind.” The other corrected while tapping the same spot on the other Pegasus’ head. The yellow coated Stallion sighed while rubbing his head, “Why do you always have to rain on my parade?” “Because I’m a Pegasus. It’s our job to bring the rain.” The white coated Stallion replied with a smile. There was a pause for a few seconds before the yellow coated Pegasus began to snicker and subsequently giggle, “Ha ha, nice one Shield. I didn’t know you had it in you to tell a joke.” The other Pegasus did not seem so carefree, however, “It wasn’t meant as a joke Flash. Now come on. We’ve wasted enough time here. We need to complete our rounds or the captain will make us do extra wing ups tomorrow. Do you want that?” Flash pouted at this and huffed, “Spoil sport.” With that, both guards trotted down the hall without looking back. Sombra waited until they were well out of earshot before revealing himself once more. He had successfully exemplified the ‘hiding in plain sight’ notion and had simply disguised his shadow form as his own depiction on the art of the window. Call it narcissism or genius, but whatever the reason it had worked. As he removed himself from the image on the wall, Sombra continued on his way. It took him no more than a few minutes to arrive at his destination, the Crystal Empire Throne Room. Sombra had been inside this room so many times he’d lost count, although each time reminded him of his past failures. The room was dark and remained very dark with the only light coming from the faint white rays of Luna’s moon overhead. It was even emptier than the hallways he had just passed on his way here. Perfect for what he was about to do. Looking both ways and sensing no one approaching, Sombra returned to his physical form and turned to face the center of the room before summoning his dark magic. Sparks of dark indigo and green filled the room as he cast a spell which struck the center of the crystal throne and uncovered a secret stairway down to the depths of the castle. After opening the way, Sombra took one last look around before descending down into his lair. After walking down many flights of stairs he had arrived before a small doorway. Although strangely it seemed to have been tampered with. It was opened instead of closed when last he’d come down here. He growled, “Those elements of harmony must have bypassed the enchantment…” After entering the room he was greeted to his study which he had built more than a thousand years ago when he ruled the Empire with an iron hoof. As he looked to the wall he saw the many books and grimoires on dark magic that he had stolen from the Crystal Library centuries ago. They each looked to be in their proper spots, as did the miscellaneous items in the room such as his quill, ink, and the lectern and chair at the center. “Where’s my memoir… It was right here last I remember.” A sneer formed on Sombra’s face as he wondered what unfortunate Pony had taken his journal from its resting place. But after having wasted enough time in the room reminiscing on the past, Sombra discarded the thought and returned his focus to his objective. He then looked at one of the statues of himself in the corner of his room. “At least there’s one thing those irksome Ponies did not mettle with.” He stated to himself as he used his dark magic to flip the horn on the statue down. After this action, the room began to shake and in an instant, the bookshelf that had previously filled in a wall had sunken into the floor of the room revealing a secret passage through a very dark catacomb. As Sombra navigated through the cave, he could see the effects of leaving this place unattended for a millennia. For the corners of the cave were filled with cobwebs and other signs of neglect. Although he was known for being a tyrant, Sombra still appreciated a certain level of cleanliness and used an incineration spell to melt all the abandoned spider webs throughout the cave. After walking through the narrow passage for a few minutes he had arrived at a dead end. This time, however, there were no hidden devices nor tricks to open the way forward. This cave, like many things throughout the Castle and the Empire had been carved using the enslaved Crystal Ponies during his occupation of the lands. But when the Dark Lord had realized his doom quickly approaching, he diverted all his slaves to the war. The tunnel had been abandoned entirely before his defeat and thus his goal hadn’t been achieved. “No matter.” He said to himself as he once again summoned his magic. “A curse of decay will do nicely…” He finished as he blasted the wall before him with his hideous and vile energy. Within a second he could see the wall in front of him begin to slowly disintegrate and expand the tunnel further. It was slow but would eventually reveal what was beyond the dense stone facade. After casting the curse, Sombra grinned. “It won’t be long now, my subjects.” Author's Note Well there's chapter 7 everypony! I'm finally starting to get back into my groove with these updates. I hope you guys like the more frequent chapters. In any case we have Sombra making some preparations for the big day while also committing some devious schemes while everypony else has their backs turned! I hope you guys are excited for the next chapter as it's going to include a few familiar faces and places! Stay tuned for it next week! Also, for those of you that favorited, liked, or commented on the story, thank you ever so much! Your support keeps me updating this thing and I can't find the motivation without you guys. Remember to review each chapter and let me know your thoughts and feelings about it or what you'd like to see in the future! For all new viewers, makes sure to follow the story to get future updates! Before I sign off for the chapter, I'd just like to say humbly, "THANK YOU ALL FOR 1000 VIEWS!" -Obsedian_Flame Chapter 8: Elements of the Past Pt 2Author's Note Okay, so before this chapter starts, just let me say that it's very very long. I tried to keep things as short as possible but with the amount of things covered it was a bit tough. In any case I hope you guys enjoy this one! I had a total blast writing it and throwing back to the show. All the characters are in line with their endings in MLP FIM Season 9 and I tried to keep things as consistent as possible. Remember if you liked the chapter or like what I'm doing with the story to favorite, follow it, and leave a comment to let me know your thoughts on it! Chapter 8: Elements of the Past Pt 2 Chapter 8 Elements of the Past Pt 2 After a short travel, Flurry and Luster had arrived at their destination. A familiar and welcoming town named Ponyville. Flurry had visited Ponyville many times, though mostly for occasions such as the Iron Pony competitions, Wonderbolt events, or family gatherings. Regardless, there was perhaps no place with a better reputation throughout all Equestria. For besides playing host to the Castle of Friendship and the fabled Elements of Harmony, the Ponies of this town were said to be the most generous in all the land. “Here we are. The Carousel Boutique. It’s been a while since I was last here…” Flurry remarked as she looked up at the cheerful shop before them. “I’ve never been to the shop before. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever bought or worn a fancy dress for anything.” The pink coated Unicorn stated as the two walked up to the door. Flurry blinked before glancing at her friend, “Wait, you’ve never worn a dress before? Not even for the Grand Galloping Gala?” “Nope. I’ve never been to the Gala before. Mom and Dad always wanted me to go but I’d always take the night to study instead. I never understood the appeal of these big social events.” Luster added with a shrug. Flurry was stumped by this reasoning, although it definitely sounded like something her Unicorn friend would do. Regardless she discarded the thought and proceeded to open the door to the shop with the two Mares entering thereafter. A small bell rang overhead and was quickly followed by an elegant and inviting voice, “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, how may I help you-” Flurry and Luster both looked to their right to see a white coated Unicorn Mare with a dyed purple mane and a silver streak through the middle. The mare’s mane was curled and styled beautifully as was her tail. Her eyebrows detailed along with her lashes. Her cutie mark depicted a series of three light blue colored diamonds. “My goodness! Princess Flurry Heart! Forgive my candor. What may I do for you?” The Unicorn exclaimed. Flurry smiled before replying, “It’s no problem Miss Rarity. My friend Luster and I came to your shop today as I want to commission a dress design from you.” Rarity looked to be processing this development for a good few seconds. The action was beginning to worry Flurry and Luster as they watched the white coated Unicorn who seemed in deep thought. Luster was about to speak before Rarity’s eyes lit up, “You… Want me… To make you a dress?” Flurry was confused as she had just explained her reasoning, “Yes?” She trailed hesitantly. “Splendid! Then let’s get to work on it right away darling! If you’ll follow me I’ll get your measurements.” Rarity stated. Flurry nodded and went to follow before noticing that her friend was still behind at the door. “Dawn? Aren’t you going to come too?” “It’s okay Flur, you go ahead-” “Oh nonsense! You’re coming as well Miss Dawn. I need to get your measurements too.” The white coated Unicorn interjected. Flurry and Luster each shared confused expressions. “My measurements too? But Miss Rarity-” “Come! We’re making you a dress as well!” The eccentric Unicorn interrupted while leading the both of them up to one of her tables. After taking out a measuring tape and a notepad, Rarity began taking down measurements for Flurry’s body. It would have been a fairly awkward experience for the young royal if she did not already know the element of generosity personally. “So darling, what exactly is the occasion for which you need my fabulous work?” Rarity stated while complementing herself. Flurry was hesitant to answer the Unicorn’s question, “A wedding.” She answered simply. Rarity’s face sparked with interest, “A wedding? I love weddings! Who’s the lucky mare or stallion?” The Alicorn was once again hesitant to reply, “Me actually. I’m getting married in three weeks…” Rarity immediately stopped in her tracks as she stared up at Flurry Heart. Her mouth hung open slightly as she processed this development. “You’re… You’re getting married?” “Yep! She’s getting married to Lord Sombra. Don’t know why she wants to marry him though.” Luster Dawn stated on her friend’s behalf. "Dawn!” Flurry ranted while glancing over to her Unicorn friend. “This is amazing! No… IT’S MARVELOUS! The Princess of the Crystal Empire wearing one of my esteemed dresses on her most special day! We must make your dress simply unfathomable! Pristine! GRAND!!!” Rarity exclaimed proudly while raising a hoof in the air as if she were speaking to the stars. Flurry and Luster looked at each other, not sure whether to cut the white Unicorn off from her self aggrandizing monologue. Before either of them opened their mouths, Rarity continued, “Wait a second… Did I mishear you or did you say you were engaged to be married to Lord Sombra?” Flurry nodded and answered, “Yes. Lord Sombra is my fiance.” Rarity’s eyes went wide, “Oh… That would explain some things…” Flurry expected the Unicorn to be far more shocked than this. Most Ponies she’d told about her engagement had nearly fallen over hearing it. However, Rarity seemed as though she’d already been informed. “Well, let’s not waste another moment shall we?” Rarity chimed while picking up her tape measure once again and taking the last of Flurry Heart’s measurements. After writing down all the values, Rarity pointed over to one of her collections, “Come with me darling, we’ll see which style is best suited for you!” Flurry looked at the collection. There were nearly 15 dresses displayed on mannequins. Rarity pointed to the first, “This is the trending ‘Ball Gown’ dress style. A Manehattan and Canterlot classic with a lovely tapered waist and a large skirt! Although, I’m not sure it’d be best suited to you darling. No, too much unnecessary space and far too much drape!” Rarity then moved on to the second, “Next, the Trumpet style! It’s the latest style in Canterlot. So form fitting! So exquisite! It is among my sister’s favorite styles.” Flurry wanted to stop the white Unicorn and slow her down, but Rarity was far to focused and engrossed in her own speech. As Rarity continued, Flurry found herself interested in one of the later designs in the collection. The white Unicorn noticed this immediately, “Oh yes! How could I not see it! The A-Line style! You were simply made to wear it darling! It is after all a Crystal Empire design!” Flurry giggled, “May I try it on Mrs Rarity? Perhaps then I can make up my mind.” “Oh of course dear! Do try it on!” Rarity replied with joy. After a few minutes of fitting into the tight outfit, Flurry looked down to the two Unicorns, “Well? How do I look?” “You look marvelous Darling! Yes! This is the perfect style! The waist, the drape, the fit! All perfect! I simply must get started!” Rarity enthusiastically exclaimed. Flurry smiled at the response but noticed her friend being very silent. As she looked over at Luster, she could see that the pink coated Unicorn’s jaw was hanging open as she stared in shock. “Dawn? You alright?” Her friend was trying desperately to hide the blush on her face as she stared. “Sorry… It’s just the dress. It looks really good on you Flur.” She answered modestly to avoid sounding awkward. Flurry giggled as she could see her friend’s embarrassment on full display but decided to leave it as it was. “Thanks Dawn. This design looks great Miss Rarity! I would absolutely love to wear it during my wedding!” Rarity nodded with pride, “Then it’s settled! I shall get to work on it right away! But first we need to sort out your dress Miss Luster! After all we can’t have a Maid of Honor without an equally excellent dress!” Both Flurry and Luster paused upon hearing this as they looked at one another. “M-Maid of Honor?” Luster asked hesitantly. “Why yes! You are the Princess’ Maid of Honor aren’t you darling?” Rarity a prodded. After a moment of thought, the pink coated Unicorn nodded as she glanced over to her royal friend, “I guess I am. That is if Flur is alright with it.” “I would love that Dawn. Besides, you’re already an expert wedding planner right?” Flurry replied with a knowing smile. This prompted a laugh from all three. “You bet Flur.” “So tell me Princess. How exactly did you decide to marry Lord Sombra?” Rarity asked while multi-tasking as she measured Luster Dawn’s proportions for her own dress. “It’s just Flurry Heart Miss Rarity. About my engagement, you could say it’s more of a political alliance than anything else. I’m doing this to protect the Crystal Ponies.” Flurry answered diplomatically. While listening to the Princess, Rarity remained focused on her work. “I see. How very noble of you dear. Just like your lovely mother as well.” Flurry smiled at the complement, but now had a question of her own, “Miss Rarity, can I ask you something? When Dawn explained that I was getting married to Lord Sombra you didn’t even seem surprised. Almost everypony else that I’ve told has been totally stunned by the news.” Rarity looked away sheepishly, “Well darling, it’s a long story, but just yesterday Lord Sombra came to my shop to commission me for a Stallion tailored suit. I must admit when he arrived I was simply terrified. I thought it was going to be the end of me! But strangely he behaved very politely. Almost like a gentlecolt from Canterlot or some such. He said that he needed a suit for a big occasion. At first I thought I was living through a strange nightmare, but after gathering the courage to speak to him, I realized he was being honest.” She then looked back to the Alicorn with a serious expression, “When you arrived and told me about your engagement, I put the pieces together. But now that is past us. We must focus on making your dress the best it can possibly be!” Flurry smiled but remained in thought. It seemed very odd that Sombra would approach Miss Rarity about such a thing. Surely he could find a suitable tailor in the Crystal Empire. Not to mention, the white Unicorn represented one of the elements of harmony whom had been his bane for many years. Regardless, after waiting a few more minutes, Rarity had now finished her work. “That should be all I need. I’ll get to work on both your outfits straight away.” Luster and Flurry both nodded in respect, “Thank you Miss Rarity, would you like us to pay you now or after you’re finished?” The white coated Unicorn shook her head, “Nonsense my dear, my payment is having everypony seeing you wear one of my fine dresses! The brand recognition, the awareness, the publicity!” Flurry snickered, “Okay then Miss Rarity, thank you so much for your help. We both greatly appreciate it.” Rarity nodded, “One last thing Darling. If you return to Canterlot anytime soon, please say hi to Spikey Wikey for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that gent of a Dragon.” Luster and Flurry giggled, “Of course Miss Rarity, take care.” And with that, both friends exited the shop and went on their way. “So what’s next on the list of things to do, wedding planner Dawn?” Flurry asked. “We need a really nice cake. You know, one of those big five level round ones?” The Unicorn replied while checking the first item off the list. “Well I could get the bakers in the Crystal Empire to-” “But why go to the Crystal Empire when we could go to Sugarcube Corner? It’s just a few blocks away.” Luster interrupted. Before she could rebuttal, Flurry was led by her friend to the tall candy colored building. Flurry looked over to her friend, “You’ve been here before?” Luster nodded, “Once or twice. Spike and I visited during the friendship retreat a year ago. The cupcakes here were just amazing!” Flurry smiled and shook her head, “Alright then Dawn, lead the way.” With that, both Ponies entered the bakery. After walking through the door, the two Ponies were greeted by a very appetizing aroma. The smell of freshly baked dough and delectable sweets was undeniable and as Flurry and Luster looked around, they could see a wide assortment of cupcakes, tarts, cookies, and other delicious pastries. Ahead was a counter where there normally would be a cashier or attendant, but was currently empty. “Hello?” Flurry called while looking around. After hearing no response, she was about to call once more before they each heard a loud crashing noise upstairs. Within a second, they heard a voice call out from above, “Lil Cheese! You bring that back this instant!” Not a moment later, the two friends heard a quick series of hoofsteps as a young earth pony foal ran down the stairs with a spatula in his mouth. His mane and tail were a bright pink color and were absolutely disheveled. As they watched the foal run by, they noticed another Pony swiftly run down the stairs and follow him. This Earth Pony mare looked like the Pony embodiment of cotton candy or a puffy cloud. Her mane, tail, and coat were all pink, and her hair was just as unkempt as the foal she was chasing. “Lil Cheese!? Oh where did that rascal go…” The Mare spoke as she looked around the room. After looking up, the Mare noticed the two customers, but more importantly, she noticed exactly who they both were. With an exaggerated gasp, the Earth Pony’s eyes lit up, “Baby Flurry Heart! And Luster Dawn! Are you two here for some of our amazingly flavorful fruitcakes!? Or do you want to try some of the Caramel Coated Cupcakes!? They’re all so good! Oh! I bet you’re here for some of our incredibly iconic icicle canes!?” Flurry and Luster each looked at one another and began laughing, “No thank you Mrs Pinkie Pie. Luster and I are actually here for something else.” “Oh! Okey dokey lokey! What could it be!? Are you both in need of a super duper party planning pony!? Because if so I’m totally your go to choice!” Pinkie Pie commented with a proud smile as she jumped up and down as if riding a Pogo stick. Flurry shook her head, “Not quite Mrs Pinkie Pie. You see we actually came here to commission a wedding cake from you.” Upon hearing this news, the Pink pony’s eyes somehow widened even more than they already were, “Did you say w-w-wedding?…” There was a pause for a moment and before Flurry and Lust could reply, the Pink Pony’s disheveled hair burst with a series of streamers and confetti that came from seemingly nowhere. “I. LOVE. WEDDINGS! This is so great! Who’s the special mare!? Who’s the special Stallion!? Or is it two mares or two stallions!? Either way I’m so excited! When is it!? Where is it!? Who’s going!? Can I come too!?” The pink coated earth pony continued to ramble on and on as Luster Dawn and Flurry Heart looked at one another each exchanging a shrug. “Should we stop her?” Luster asked as they tuned out the pink pony’s excitement. Flurry nodded, “Umm Mrs Pinkie Pie? This isn’t somepony else’s wedding. It’s mine.” Pinkie’s rave ended abruptly upon hearing this. “You’re getting married!?!?” There was yet another brief pause as it seemed that the pink Mare’s head was about to burst. “This. Is. AMAZING!!! Baby Flurry Heart is getting married! We need to celebrate! Who’s the special Pony!? When is the big day!? Are there going to be balloons!? What about streamers!? Oh! I’m going to have to add a few new pages to your wholesome heartfelt scrapbook!” Pinkie Pie asked as she jumped with joy like a foal on Hearths Warming day. Flurry Heart sighed before speaking in a more serious manner, “I’m getting married in three weeks to Lord Sombra, Mrs Pie. Dawn and I came here to ask if you’d be willing to bake the wedding cake for the ceremony.” The Earth Pony yet again gasped, but this time not out of happiness, but of shock. “S-Sombra!? What!” Flurry nodded, “Yes. He is my fiance. But it’s not what you think.” “That’s totally cray-cray! Why would you ever marry an evil wicked warlock like Sombra!? He’s a baddie!” Pinkie Pie stated while now dramatically biting the ends of her front hooves as if it were a nervous habit. Luster Dawn couldn’t help but let out a snicker as she covered her mouth. Flurry, however, did not look to be as amused as her friend. “It’s a long story Mrs Pie. I’m marrying him only to protect the Crystal Ponies and the rest of Equestria. If we’re both the rulers of the Crystal Empire there’s a chance I can keep him in line. Either way, I didn’t come here to discuss that. Would you be able to help us?” She asked politely. Although the pink Mare seemed apprehensive, seeing the look on Flurry’s prompted her to regain her courage and hold her head high, “Okey dokey lokey, and besides how could I ever say no to Baby Flurry Heart!? We’re going to make your wedding cake the bestest, most tastiest, most awesome cake ever! Lil Cheesy! Bring that spatula back! We need to get started on the greatest wedding cake yet!” Flurry and Luster both looked at one another with content smiles before going over to the counter. “Whew… That was more exhausting than I thought it’d be…” Flurry let out with a sigh as her and Luster walked through the village. The pink Unicorn giggled, “Come on Flur, it wasn’t that bad. Also, I never knew Mrs Pinkie Pie was your foalsitter. That must have been fun.” Flurry nodded, “It was. Pinkie is one of the kindest Ponies I know. Also one of the craziest. There was a time when I was three years old when she brought a cloud to me that somehow rained chocolate… I have no idea how she does half the things she does…” “Did someone say chocolate rain?” Flurry and Luster were both taken back as they heard a voice above them. As they looked up they noticed a long and strange looking creature sitting on a puffy brown cloud. The creature had bits of different mythological animals scattered throughout its body. The antler of a Deer, the head and neck of a Mule, a single fang and paw from a Lion, the body and talon of a Griffon, the foot of a Lizard, the hoof of a Minotaur, the wings of a Bat and a Pegasus, and lastly the tail of a Dragon. His eyes were a deep yellow color with red irises. As the Draconequus lay on top the brown cloud, he stared down at the two ponies before him. Within seconds, the small cloud began to rain a sweet chocolate substance. Flurry and Luster got out of the way to keep their coats clean before glancing back up to the creature. “Discord? What are you doing here?” Luster Dawn asked on behalf of the two. “Me? Well I was simply enjoying the lovely view of Fluttershy’s cottage when I heard someone call my name!” Discord replied while he magically removed his left horn and began polishing it with a rag that popped out of thin air in front of him. Both Ponies raised a brow, “Neither of us called your name Discord-” Flurry began before being interrupted. “So, what does Princess Flurry Heart and her wedding planner Luster Dawn need with the Lord of Chaos?” The creature asked while snapping his talon and making the brown cloud disappear. “How did you-” Luster blurted before the Draconequus cut her off again. “Please. I have eyes and ears everywhere dearest.” Discord stated while pointing all around the two Ponies before him. Flurry and Luster looked around to see all sorts of objects such as stones, bushes, and fences magically transformed into identical copies of the Draconequus’ eyes and ears. Normally the sight of this would scare even the bravest Ponies, however, with Discord being concerned this was nothing more than a regular occurrence. Flurry shook her head as she placed a hoof on her face, “Thanks for the offer Discord, but we don’t need your help right now.” Now it was the Draconequus’ turn to raise a brow. Within a second, he snapped his talon and in front of him appeared a familiar note pad. He grabbed the pad with his paw and magically summoned a pair of reading glasses along with a quill with no ink. “Hmm, let’s see here… Dress, cake, decorations, flowers, bla bla bla bla bla…” “Hey! That’s my note pad!” Luster Dawn complained as she attempted to jump up and take back her stolen possession. “Oh goodness! No this won’t do! You two forgot the most important thing of all!” The Draconequus remarked as his glasses and quill vanished. “Forgot? What do you mean Discord?” Flurry asked patiently. A small puppet show box then appeared before Flurry and Luster. As the two red curtains opened, a scene of a formal gathering appeared behind the box. There were a group of Pony-looking marionettes that were wearing dresses and formal outfits. “You forgot the most important thing at a wedding. The guests!” Discord answered while controlling the many puppets using his hands, wings and even his feet. While floating above the box. Flurry looked to Luster, “But I thought that was on the list?” “It WAS on the list…” Luster replied while rolling her eyes before the Draconequus appeared directly between both Ponies. “Well, as long as we’re in the business of inviting guests to your wedding, I know the first place we should go!” Discord stated with a wide positive smile. Within a second, the creature snapped his talon. Flurry opened her eyes to see herself, Luster Dawn and Discord all standing before a secluded tranquil home. The house appeared to be covered with lush green moss on all the roofs and around it was an abundance of healthy and happy wildlife. From small birds, to rabbits, to other rodents, it was a very calming atmosphere. “Well, here we are.” Discord stated with while snapping his talons and summoning a red carpet that led to the doorstep of the structure. Flurry had been to this house once before and knew exactly who’s abode it was. She smiled and shook her head at the Draconequus’ antics, “Mrs Fluttershy’s cottage? You know we were always going to invite her right?” “Oh… Uh yes, of course I knew that. Now hurry and knock on the door, but do it gently.” Discord stated while plucking a feather out of his Pegasus wing and waving it like a fan. Without wasting another moment, Flurry turned and knocked on the door lightly. After a few seconds of waiting, the door was slowly opened and out peeked the head of a timid Pegasus Mare. Her coat was a banana yellow color and her pink mane was tied back with a hair tie. “Yes?” She asked in a very hushed tone. “Hello Miss Fluttershy, I came to ask you something. Would you mind if we talk for a bit?” Flurry asked also in a quiet tone. “Princess Flurry Heart, and Luster Dawn! It’s good to see you two! Come right in! We were just having a spot of tea and some biscuits.” The Pegasus answered in a kind and soft manner. Both Ponies nodded before graciously entering the Pegasus’ humble house. Before she closed the door, however, Fluttershy noticed a lone figure floating above her front stoop. “Aren’t you going to come in too Discord?” She asked lightly. “Oh thank you Fluttershy but I couldn’t possibly. I’m far too busy right now.” The Draconequus answered politely while making an angel’s halo appear above his head. The Pegasus giggled, “Come on in silly. I’m sure they want to talk to you too.” “If you insist.” He replied while making his halo disappear. Once everyone was inside the small home, Fluttershy proceeded to pour several cups of tea for her new guests. While filling the final cup, she looked behind, “So, what would you two like to talk about?” Flurry looked around the room to see an assortment of different wild animals seated around a table each with s cup of tea of their own from a brown bear, to a raccoon, to a red fox, to a barn owl, to a small white furred bunny. “Well Mrs Fluttershy, we came to Ponyville to plan my upcoming wedding and we wanted to invite yourself as well as the rest of the Elements of Harmony.” “Wedding? You mean?” Fluttershy began before pausing to ponder the thought as she found a seat on one of the chairs. Flurry nodded without falter. “Wow, congratulations!” The Pegasus stated quietly with a cheerful smile. “Thank you Mrs Fluttershy. We just wanted to know if you’d be interested in attending as a guest. Perhaps you could even invite some of your friends as well.” Flurry stated while looking around the room at the calm animals. Fluttershy placed a hoof on her chin as she thought for a moment. “I suppose I could be there. And besides, it will give me a great chance to catch up with those lovely little creatures at the Crystal Empire again.” Flurry and Luster smiled at this response before Fluttershy continued, “I forgot to ask, but who exactly are you getting married to Princess?” Flurry hesitant to answer, and while thinking of what to carefully say, Discord answered the question for her, “Why, she’s getting married to Lord Sombra! It’s a rather strange pairing don’t you think Fluttershy? A non-redeemable villain coupled with a perfect Princess. I wonder what we would call their ship? Maybe Sombry? What about Flurra? I bet the Bronies would love that!” The Draconequus abruptly stated while looking directly at the wall as if someone were watching him from another dimension. Before Flurry could correct the Lord of Chaos, the timid Pegasus shrieked and hid underneath her chair. She was quickly followed by her critter friends who comforted her by her side. “S-s-s-Sombra?” She asked in a frightened tone. Luster and Flurry both shook their heads and glared daggers at Discord who merely shrugged and yawned. “Uhh yes, I am Miss Fluttershy. But it’s not as simple as that.” “Is the Crystal Empire in danger!? Is Equestria in danger!? Are my friends in danger!?” Fluttershy asked while cradling her animals with care. “No Miss Fluttershy. I’m marrying Lord Sombra to keep him from attacking Equestria again. It’s more of a formality than anything else. He and I will rule the Crystal Empire and that way I can help keep him in line.” Flurry stated factually. “B-b-but he m-m-might hurt you…” Fluttershy blurted out between stutters. “That doesn’t matter to me. All that matters is that I protect the Crystal Ponies.” The Alicorn answered nobly. “Come now Fluttershy, I think you should go to Princess Flurry Heart’s wedding. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? Besides the end of Equestria…” Discord added with sarcasm as he levitated a glass that showed a diorama of a cataclysmic battle of destruction. “Not helping Discord.” Luster Dawn stated with an unamused expression. The Draconequus pouted, “Party pooper. Anyway, like I was saying, I believe you should attend the wedding Fluttershy. Do it for Princess Flurry Heart at least.” The Pegasus looked up from under her arm chair to the young white coated Alicorn. “I guess I could try…” She replied apprehensively. Flurry breathed a sigh of relief before glancing at the Lord of Chaos, “You’re invited too Discord. I’d like you to be there as well. Maybe you and Miss Fluttershy could come together.” Without a moment wasted, the Draconequus’ eyes lit up and expanded to the point where they were larger than his skull could fit. “I thought you’d never ask! Did you hear that Fluttershy? We’re going to the wedding together! It’s going to be so much fun I can’t wait!” He stated with glee as he picked up the much smaller Pegasus and twirled her around as if the two were in a figure skating or ballet act. “Uhh Discord could you please put me down? You’re making me all dizzy!” Fluttershy pointed out as she began to see stars. He complied immediately and set his friend down. After settling down, Fluttershy glanced over to the two other Ponies, “We’ll be there Princess Flurry Heart. Anything for you.” Flurry felt very happy hearing this, “Thank you Miss Fluttershy. I’m sorry to cut our visit short, but Dawn and I have a couple other things to attend to before the end of the day.” The cream colored Pegasus nodded with a knowing smile. And with that they both bid the two adieu and went on their way. “I’ll never understand how she tolerates that maniac. It’s like he’s one peg away from total insanity!” Luster Dawn ranted as the two trudged down an old country path. “One Peg away? That sounds awfully generous to me.” Flurry added as the two broke into a fit of laughter. As their laughter died down, the two came up on the start of what looked to be some form of ranch. This ranch just so happened to be the esteemed Sweet Apple Acres on the outskirts of Ponyville. Past the fences and the gates were a series of agricultural crops and vegetation spanning from corn, beans, and carrots. But the most defining feature was the large orchard of apple trees on the east side of the ranch that had earned the land its name. Flurry and Luster entered through the open gateway and wandered through the fields in search of a few familiar Ponies. And it wasn’t long before they caught sight of a hard working Earth Pony Mare. The Pony had a lemon colored coat accompanied by a crimson colored loop braided mane and tail. A large ribbon held her mane in place as she worked in the fields harvesting the Apples of a tree using a method known as ‘Apple Bucking’. It was a very physically intensive job, but for a strong and seasoned Earth Pony such as her it was no sweat. “Apple Bloom!” Luster Dawn called as the two approached. The Earth Pony looked over and immediately recognized the two Ponies, “Flurry! Dawn! What the hay are y’all doin herre?” The Mare asked with a heavy country accent. After making their way next to the Earth Pony, the country Mare held up her hoof and hoofbumped the two others. “We’re actually here to speak to Mrs Applejack and Mrs Rainbow Dash. Do you know if they’re on the farm today?” Flurry asked on behalf of the two. “Ah see. Well, ah know that A Jay is herre today. Rainbuh Dash I dunno abaut. She’s prolly off trainin the Wunderbolts or sumthin. Y’know how she is.” The strong Earth Pony replied with a shrug. Flurry nodded before slightly changing the conversation, “Thanks Bloom, by the way, how have you and the others been? It’s been a while since either Dawn or I have seen you.” Apple Bloom raised a brow, “Ah wunder who’s fault that is?” Luster and Flurry both slumped their shoulders and looked away briefly, “We’re sorry Bloom, things have been a bit hectic in the Empire lately…” Flurry replied. “Same in Canterlot. And besides, you guys never come to see us either.” Luster Dawn added with a cheeky smirk. The Earth Pony chuckled, “Fair, although that train ride ain’t cheap. Either way it’s good to see y’all again. Why’d y’all come to talk to A Jay anyways?” “Actually we came to talk to you as well. I wanted to invite you all to my wedding in three weeks.” Flurry stated seriously. There was a long pause as the Earth Pony Mare looked at Flurry with a puzzled expression. Without any warning, Apple Bloom broke out into a fit of laughter. Luster and Flurry looked at one another briefly before falling back on the hysterical Mare. “You almost had me therre Flur! Naice one!” “Umm it wasn’t a joke Bloom. She really is engaged…” Luster replied. The Earth Pony’s eyes went wide hearing this, “Wait, yer serious?” Flurry nodded, “Yeah. I know it’s sudden to bring it up but I wanted you and the others to be there on the day. The other crusaders are welcome to come too.” “Wow… You sure yer not prankin me right now?” Apple Bloom asked while still looking unsure whether this abrupt revelation was simply her friends jesting with her or the Princess really getting married at such a young age. Flurry and Luster both shook their heads genuinely. “No. I’m not messing with you.” “Huh? Well then who’s the lucky stallion? It’s a Stallion right?” Apple Bloom asked while trying not to make too many assumptions. At this Flurry heard her Unicorn friend begin to giggle behind her back. She sighed before replying, “I’m engaged to Lord Sombra…” “…” “I know you won’t believe me Bloom but it’s true. I’m only doing it to keep the Crystal Empire safe from him. If him and I rule the kingdom I can help keep his ambition in line.” Flurry added while placing a hoof on the Earth Pony’s shoulder. “Wow…” Was all Apple Bloom could say as she took in the information. “Do you think you could be there? I know I’m asking a lot of you-” “Of course ah can Flur! We’re friends after all. And that’s wut friends do fer one another!” Apple Bloom stated with pride as she also placed a hoof on Flurry’s other shoulder. “You bet!” Stated Luster with a knowing smile. After letting go of one another, Flurry noticed that the Earth Pony had left quite a decent amount of dust on her previously clean coat. She sighed before the other two laughed, “Believe me Flur, this aint nuthin compared to workin durin the dry season!” Try as she might, the Alicorn couldn’t help but to laugh along with her friends. After sharing a nice moment with one another Apple Bloom broke the silence, “If yuh wanna ask A Jay about it she’s prolly in the barn settin the hay bales.” “Thanks Bloom, I look forward to seeing you then! We’ll write to you before the date!” Flurry stated as her and Luster made their way to find the Earth Pony’s older sister. “I tell you, we could have gotten 20% more apples if you’d just allowed me to steal a couple rain clouds from the weather patrol! It’s not like it would have hurt anypony!” Stated a high pitched energetic voice. The culprit being a fit and toned teal coated Pegasus with a very distinguished rainbow mane styled in a mohawk. The Pegasus adorned a sporty navy blue jacket with a leadership insignia. “Rainbow, yuh know it wouldn’t have been right. Besides, not every year is a bumper crop. You watch. Next year we’ll get passed 3,000.” Replied a hard rural accented voice. This mare looked like the embodiment of rodeo or bronco style with a cowboy hat and a hoof knit ascot with an apple pattern. On her hip was a rope lasso and a cutie mark that went in line with her agricultural job. As Flurry and Luster neared the barn, they could hear the ensuing conversation from the outside. “Should we interrupt them?” Luster asked as she looked to her friend. Flurry shrugged but decided to make her way to the entrance of the barn. “Umm excuse me? Mrs Applejack?” She called. The two Ponies in the barn turned to look at the voice, “Well I’ll be darned! Howdy Princess Flurry Heart!” The orange coated Earth Pony exclaimed as she bowed while briefly removing her rodeo style wide brimmed hat. “Look who it is! The Crystal Princess and Luster Dawn! How’s it hangin?” Added the cyan coated Pegasus with the iconic rainbow colored mane and tail. Flurry smiled, “Hi Mrs Rainbow Dash. How are you both?” “Fine and dandy Princess. Say, what brings y’all round herre?” Applejack asked while setting down a large hay bale. “I’ll bet they came here to get a good workout in! After all it is harvest season and there’s lots of work to go around!” Rainbow Dash added while landing on the ground beside her Earth Pony companion. Flurry chuckled, “Sorry Mrs Dash, but as much as Dawn and I would like to help around the farm, we actually came to invite you two to my wedding in three weeks.” Suddenly the eyes of the two Mares went wide, “YOUR WEDDING!?” They shouted simultaneously in disbelief. At this point Flurry was used to the reactions of the others. “Yes. Sorry for bringing it up in such a spontaneous way. I only recently got engaged.” “Ah see…” Applejack replied speculatively. At that, Rainbow Dash broke into uncontrolled laughter while rolling on the dusty floor. Flurry merely stared on with an unamused expression. As the teal coated Pegasus began to calm down, she wiped a tear out of her eye with her wing, “Next thing you’re gonna tell us is that you’re marrying King Sombra or something right! This is hilarious!” Luster and Flurry both looked at one another without speaking. Upon seeing the expressions of the two, Rainbow Dash finally caught on, “Oh…” “It’s not what you think. I’m doing it more as a political alliance than anything else.” Flurry stated. There was a long silence between the four Ponies as they all processed what was being said. “You’re serious right? Ah mean ah am the Element of Honesty and all but…” The orange coated Earth Pony started. Flurry nodded without fail, “I know how crazy it sounds, but I’m telling the truth. I did it only to keep the Crystal Ponies and the rest of Equestria safe. With both of us as rulers of the Crystal Empire I can keep him in line.” “Wow, all this politics stuff hurts my head. You’re right that this is crazy Flurry, but if you’re doing this to protect Equestria, then you can count us in!” The energetic Pegasus stated with pride. Applejack looked up to the Pegasus who had once again taken flight, “Right as rain! We’ll be there Princess! If it means keepin that evil son of a rut in check!” Flurry smiled, “Thank you both. I’ll send you more information about the date soon. And we’ve already asked Apple Bloom as well.” Applejack nodded kindly but looked concerned, “You sure you’re gonna be okay with this Princess? Y’know we can keep beating Sombra back.” She shook her head, “Even if we could Mrs Applejack, I’m tired of resorting to violence to solve the problem. This is the only way I can see us gaining lasting peace for whatever its worth.” “Ah see. Well, you can count on us bein there sport. We wouldn’t miss your big day for the world!” The Earth Pony Mare replied. “Thank you. Well, Dawn and I have a few other things we need to do before the day is over.” Flurry stated as she and her Unicorn friend made ready to leave. “Hold on a minute Princess.” Flurry looked back to see the cyan coated Pegasus hovering nearby. “You’re not leaving without showing me how fast you’ve gotten are you?” The Alicorn looked unsure how to respond. “Come on Flur! You should agree to it! We still have time. And besides, I’m way too curious to see how this plays out.” Her friend whispered in her ear. Flurry sighed but gave a small chuckle, “I guess we can do a short race.” “Aw yeah! Prepare to eat the dust Princess!” The energetic Pegasus stated with excitement. Chapter 10: For Better or WorseSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.Chapter 12: A Cycle EndedChapter 12 A Cycle Ended Juline 2, 3672 7:00 AM Dear Diary, I do not know where to begin with this entry seeing how many major events transpired yesterday. I suppose the best way to do this is to summarize every event in chronological order and connect them all. Yesterday was my wedding day to my Lord Sombra. I had never been more nervous for any other occasion in my life before and I doubt anything else shall ever compare to how I felt when I awoke that morning. Thankfully, I was not alone. With help from my parents as well as my best friend Luster, it managed to relieve some of my stress, even if only a little. I was visited fairly early in the morning by Miss Rarity as she presented my completed wedding dress. I have worn many dresses before, whether to the Grand Galloping Gala or to other momentous occasions, however, I had never seen such a perfectly crafted outfit before. The impeccable colors and the flawless textures alone were simply divine and I was overjoyed when I got the opportunity to see myself wearing it. However, as organized as I was, nothing could prepare me for walking down that isle. There were so many eyes on me in those moments that I could hardly think. The only thing I can remember is taking in Sombra’s appearance. He was very well groomed, and had went to an enormous effort to look as dignified as possible. Miss Rarity had also done an incredible job with his suit. Although fairly simple in design, it complemented his features very well. I can not deny the feelings that I felt in those moments. Then came the most difficult part of the wedding. The vows. I’d practiced this part with my Mother days before, however, it was much harder in Pony than I’d ever imagined. As I stared into Sombra’s crimson eyes, I made my commitment to him once and for all. Shortly thereafter, he did the same to me. There were moments in this process where I could tell Sombra was pondering if this was truly what he wanted to do. I then presented the ring Princess Celestia graciously gave me. It felt strange to present a ring to him that had originally belonged to somepony else, however, what was stranger was the look on Sombra’s face when he saw the ring. Before I could even think about it further, he presented his own ring to me. It was a very well crafted Black Opal ring with white gold. I am currently wearing the ring as I write this entry. After the ring presentation, came the final and most important moment in the entire event. I can hardly recall the moments before our kiss. I only remember that my heart beat incredibly quick and that time seemed to slow to a standstill. I’d kissed Sombra before, but never in such a manner and much less with so many Ponies watching. But in that moment I did not think of anypony else. In that moment I felt compelled. Like this was my destiny. And so I did it. I kissed Sombra once and for all. I do not even recall how long our exchange lasted. What still puzzles me was how intent the both of us were. I had no hesitation nor regret for my actions. If somepony had told me I’d be in this position years ago, I’d have branded them a lunatic. But there I was, kissing my now husband and as embarrassing as it is to admit; enjoying it. Once we separated, I noticed just how loud the crowd around us was. Seeing the looks of happiness and glee on the Crystal Ponies faces alleviated all the pressure the wedding had brought. When I had first arranged this union with Sombra, I feared the Crystal Ponies would never accept Sombra as their King. However, our moment of happiness was short lived as we were then forced to meet the evil entity that I’d searched for all these weeks; Countess Omni. Her unexpected arrival left me in near disbelief as did it the rest of the Ponies in the crowd. She was an ominous, cruel, and vile Umbrum Shadow Pony with an even more sickening grin than Sombra’s. She then revealed that Sombra was her own son and that he had deceived us the entire time. I did not want to believe this revelation, however, all the pieces fit. Before we could stop her, Omni caught us off guard and permanently destroyed the Crystal Heart, leaving the Crystal Empire vulnerable to the cold encroaching north. She then summoned an army of her Umbrum minions from seemingly nowhere. We were quickly overwhelmed and I knew I had to stop her before things escalated. To my surprise though, Sombra stepped in and front of me to intervene. I wanted nothing more than to cast him away for betraying us, but he then did something I never could have expected. He rebelled against Countess Omni. I vividly remember what he told me in those moments. “Go, protect our Ponies.” I had no reason to believe him after his treachery, but some instinct of mine told me that he was being sincere. I still cannot explain my rationale, and I don’t believe I ever will. All I knew is that he was right. I rushed off to help my Ponies who were being overwhelmed by the Umbrum Warriors leaving Sombra to confront Countess Omni. While helping my subjects, I glanced over at Sombra who was in an intense battle with Countess Omni. However, even with his immense power he was no match for her. After she gained the upper hand, she begin to use a deadly spell on her own son as though he were little more than a pest to her. I could not stand by and watch any longer, and so I interceded. I managed to save Sombra just in time by using one of my most powerful spells on Countess Omni. However, to my dismay, my spell seemed to have no effect on her. Still, everypony has a weakness, and I was determined to find it. As we fought, Countess Omni used many lethal attacks against me. I could feel the malice and evil energy from each spell and I then understood why she’d been one of the members of Grogar’s order. Our fight lasted a long while, but after using all of my greatest techniques and abilities, it had hardly even phased her. I had been so focused on the fight that I hadn’t even noticed my subjects’ struggle. When I briefly looked their way, I was horrified to see that they had been overpowered by the Umbrum army and the vile shadow creatures were feeding off their fears. Sadly, I could do nothing but watch as Countess Omni’s power overwhelmed my own. Before I knew it I was trapped in a dark void. It was here, however, that something strange happened. Omni attempted to feed off my own fears, however, her technique inexplicably failed. But even with her technique failing, Omni soon resorted to brute strength as my own magic did not work in this realm. Just when all seemed lost, I was rescued by Sombra. He was also somehow able to communicate with me telepathically as he proceeded to apologize for his grave mistake. I could only focus on defeating Omni so we could save the rest of our Ponies, however, with the Crystal Heart destroyed, evil could thrive in its absence. Sombra then reassured me that we did not need the Crystal Heart, and that I was the key to stopping Omni. I did not believe Sombra at first, however, only a moment later, Omni’s power finally trumped Sombra’s. Seeing him in such a weakened state struck a nerve with me and I then pleaded for Omni to stop. She, however, had no intention on listening, much less cooperating. Omni then uttered a series of words that I cannot forget. “You are not a Princess of Love, nor are you a Princess of Friendship. So tell me, Alicorn. What are you a Princess of?” In that moment I instinctively thought of a single word. Almost finishing her sentence. I can not explain what prompted it, nor can I explain what happened next. All I knew was that one word. Hope. In that moment, the void around me disappeared. And as I stood next to the shards of the Crystal Heart, I looked up at Omni who for the first time had a look of concern. I cannot recall what happened next apart from feeling a very warm, virtuous energy surrounding my entire being. Moments later, I felt changed. It felt as though I’d absorbed the power of the Crystal Heart. It felt like this was my destiny. Omni attempted to destroy me with one of her most powerful offensive spells, but to everypony’s surprise, the attack did no damage to me. I then gave Omni a final chance to leave the empire and pursue a life of peace. But if there was anything I’d learned from fighting her thus far, it was that she was as relentless as she was cruel. She then ordered her army of shadow creatures to converge on me. However, with my newfound powers, I was able to protect myself and even repel them. I then felt another instinctive urge come over me as if the Crystal Heart itself was commanding me. With a strong spell, I was able to grant a portion of my powers to everypony else in the Empire. After having unified everypony, we managed to turn the tide of the fight. But as I dispelled numerous Umbrum Warriors, I was ambushed by Omni who looked much angrier than before. I managed to hold my own against her and even began pushing her back before she was hit by another spell from Sombra who had managed to recover some strength. But before I could finish her off, Omni made a last ditch effort to destroy us using a spell that merged all her shadow creature subordinates with her own essence. She was willing to sacrifice everything to destroy us, but now was not the time for fear. I quickly amassed my own energy and called upon the magic of all the Ponies in the Empire. Without any hesitation, they obliged and offered their power of friendship, of love, and of hope to combine into one all powerful shield. I then used the combined energy to defeat Countess Omni and her acolytes once and for all. We had finally won. Subsequently, the cold tundra around the empire had halted altogether and Aunt Celestia’s sun shone upon the land once more. The Crystal Ponies were overjoyed and proceeded to celebrate before my parents approached me. I was so relieved to see them safe as well as the rest of my friends. Everypony congratulated me before they gave me the news. I had ascended. Even now, coming to grips with this news is difficult. Every Alicorn must overcome a great obstacle in order to ascend. I am reminded of my change every time my mane begins to wave in my face. Truthfully, it is quite annoying and it will certainly take some getting used to. My magical abilities have also been amplified tenfold. It was then that my Auntie Twilight took a knee in respect. I wanted nothing more than to protest, however, she was quickly followed by the rest of our Ponies in the Empire. Everypony but one. Sombra looked on at me as if he were in deep thought. Moments later though, he too lowered his knee in respect. It was this action that made up my mind. This victory was not only mine, it was everypony’s. Without Sombra’s aid, we would have fallen to Countess Omni. I then brought Sombra up and stared into his eyes. But this time I did not see hints of malice or of greed. I saw guilt and humility. I knew in this moment that I had finally ended the cycle. But more still, I knew that I’d finally found a feeling I’d missed for so many years. True love. I then kissed him. Unprompted and for no reason other than affection. As she prepared to finish up the latest entry of her Diary, Flurry Heart heard a knock on her door. She rarely if ever got knocks on her door this early in the morning, but that could only mean that it was likely very important. “Just a minute!” She stated as she put down her quill. After opening the door, Flurry was treated to the sight of her best friend Luster. “Hi Flur, I know it’s really early but I just wanted to stop by before I head back to Canterlot.” The Alicorn smiled but raised a brow, “You’re already heading back?” Luster nodded, “Yeah. Princess Twilight wants to return home to write a book about these recent events…” Flurry chuckled before glancing back at her friend. There was a brief pause as she contemplated what to say. “Thank you Dawn.” The Pink Unicorn raised a brow, “For what?” “For everything. For helping me plan the wedding. For helping in the battle. And for being the best friend anypony could ask for.” The Alicorn stated with a sincere expression. These words touched the Unicorn’s heart as she shed a single tear, “Well, I don’t know about ‘best’ friend-” Before the Unicorn could finish her sentence, she was embraced by her Alicorn friend. “You are Dawn. I couldn’t ask for a better friend and ally.” Flurry answered simply. Luster could not seem to find any words as she was overcome by her emotions. Without saying a word, she returned the embrace with her Alicorn friend. The hug lasted nearly half a minute before Flurry released herself. As the two friends looked at one another, Flurry spoke up, “Well, I suppose this is goodbye for a while then?” Luster nodded, “Yeah. I’ve been away from my studies so long it’ll be difficult to catch up.” The Alicorn chuckled, “You never change do you?” The Unicorn smiled with pride, “Nope! By the way! Before I go, promise me you’ll write! I wanna know how things are going!” Flurry nodded, “Of course! I was going to say the same thing to you!” “You can count on it Flur. Now take care of yourself! Don’t let Sombra take over the Empire while I’m gone!” Luster jested as she began to trot off. Flurry once again laughed before calling back, “Will you get going already!?” The Unicorn glanced back one last time and winked before heading down the hall. Flurry watched as her friend left her sight all the while smiling and shaking her head. ‘Goodbye Dawn. I’ll miss you.’ She thought as her smile gradually faded. Flurry sighed before returning to her desk to finish her diary entry. As she raised the quill out of its holder, the Alicorn paused in thought while staring up at her window. She knew when her friends were joking, but even so Flurry worried for her Husband. They hadn’t spoken very much since Omni’s defeat as she’d felt it best to give Sombra some space and time to process everything. Even though Omni had been a terrible Mother to him, Flurry could tell that it was hard for Sombra to turn on his kin. After another moment of contemplation, the Alicorn returned the quill to its resting place and prepared herself before setting off to find Sombra. While trotting through the halls, Flurry Heart had to make an effort to keep her new wavy mane out of her eyes. Though her Alicorn ascension had brought many perks, Flurry envied her previous mane as it rarely troubled her this often. She supposed she’d get used to it eventually, but for the time being it was nothing more than a bother. As she neared a corner, Flurry heard several voices conversing further down the hall. The nature of the conversation eluded her, but she could instantly identify the two familiar voices. After rounding the corner, Flurry spotted her parents. Cadence was the first to notice her daughter and smiled warmly, “Good morning Flurry. You’re sure up early.” The white coated Alicorn nodded and replied, “Morning Mom, morning Dad.” Shining raised a brow, “You’re not usually up and about this early. You know there’s no guard training today right?” Flurry chuckled, “I’m not up for guard training Dad… I just had something else I needed to do.” The two parents looked at one another before shrugging. Cadence then took a warm sip of her tea before asking, “Something else?” The young Alicorn hesitated on whether to tell them or not. “I… I wanted to talk to Sombra. About what happened yesterday.” Both parents remained silent as if correctly anticipating Flurry to continue, “I know him and I reconciled. And that we forgave his mistake… But I just…” As she looked away, Flurry felt the warmth of her father’s hoof on her shoulder, “We understand Flurry. Your mother and I couldn’t be more proud of you. Of the excellent leader you’ve become.” Flurry smiled warmly as she took the compliment. “By the way, what were you both talking about before I got here?” Cadence glanced at her husband who nodded, “Your Father and I were thinking. We would like to leave the Crystal Empire in your Hooves Flurry.” The young Alicorn’s eyes lit up in shock as she took several steps back in realization. She knew that being a Queen had now given her many more responsibilities, however, this was completely different. “Flurry?” Shining Armor asked after noticing his daughter’s apprehension. The young Alicorn stared at the floor as she came to grips with this revelation, “You would really entrust the entire Crystal Empire to me?” “There’s nopony we’d trust more Sweetheart. You are ready for this.” Cadence confidently affirmed. Flurry Heart looked out a nearby window to the Empire surrounding her. The thought of being fully responsible for such a vast kingdom was daunting, but after thinking for a good moment, she realized that her parents were correct. Everything she’d done had led her to this point. And everything had happened for a reason. “Thanks Mom. And thanks Dad. I don’t know what else to say…” She replied. Shining nodded once more with a proud grin. “You’ve earned it Flurry. And besides, we needed a good vacation after all this chaos.” Flurry Heart chuckled at the last comment before shaking her head, “I think everypony could use one after what happened yesterday.” Her parents nodded before Shining once again spoke up, “If you ever need advice or help, never hesitate to ask us. We’ll always be willing to guide you.” “Thanks Dad. I hope I can be as good a leader as you both are.” Flurry replied. “You will be Flurry. And you won’t be alone either.” Cadence affirmed as she now placed her hoof on her daughter’s shoulder out of pride. As touching as the moment was, her Mother’s statement reminded the young Alicorn why she’d ventured out here in the first place. “I’d love to talk later, but I think I should find Sombra now.” Both parents agreed and gave their daughter her space. “Very well, take care sweetheart.” Shining added. Flurry nodded before heading off and leaving the two Ponies behind. With their daughter out of earshot, the white coated Unicorn glanced at his wife, “Are you sure?” He asked as if rekindling a prior conversation. “Yes Shining. I could sense it with my magic. They both love one another truly. I could never have imagined he’d ever bond this much with anypony. I’m just so proud of Flurry. She knew somehow that Sombra still had a heart beneath his cold exterior. She saw in him what nopony else could.” Cadence replied with satisfaction. Shining Armor sighed, “She proved us all wrong… But I’m glad.” Silence had filled the room for many hours as the Umbrum had been glued in position like a motionless statue. Sombra had stared through his window into the star filled night sky without averting his gaze. He’d watched as the former Princess Luna’s waning crescent moon had risen and set only for Celestia’s sun to take its place in the morning. Though most if not all of Equestria’s residents would have slept through the night, Sombra had remained awake in deep contemplation all night long and now all morning long. As he remained in thought, however, a series of knocks on his door finally broke Sombra out of his trance. The Umbrum rarely had visitors at his door, much less this early in the morning. He skeptically made his way to the door and used his magic to open it. Once open, Sombra was graced by the presence of his newly wed wife, Queen Flurry Heart. He did not know what to say as he stared into the beautiful Mare’s eyes. To only make the moment more awkward, the Alicorn could not seem to form words either. A long moment of embarrassing silence ensued as both parties stared at the other. Finally after nearly a minute standing in front of his door, Flurry Heart mustered her courage and spoke up, “Uh… Hi.” The Alicorn immediately cursed herself for her lack of subtlety before hearing the Umbrum respond just as awkwardly, “Hi…” The Mare turned her head away from him as a small tint of red overcame her cheeks. But after composing herself, Flurry looked back and continued, “Can I come in?” Sombra nodded, “Yes, you may.” The Umbrum stepped out of the way as he motioned for his wife to enter. Flurry strangely hesitated for a second before gathering her courage and stepping forward into her husband’s room. Sombra shut the door behind her and the two made their way to the center of the atrium. This new room had been given to Sombra after his fight against the rogue Crystal Guards had ruined the first. Though slightly smaller, it had still been up to the Umbrum’s standards, though oddly, Flurry noticed that the large bed in the far left corner appeared to have been unused. It was Sombra’s turn to speak first this time after clearing his throat, “So, what brings you here so early in the day?” Flurry waited a moment before breathing a sigh and cutting to the chase, “I wanted to check in with you, Sombra. I know yesterday was tough on everypony, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.” The Umbrum’s expression soured as he turned his head away from her, “I see.” The Alicorn remined concerned as she watched her husband avoiding eye contact. She wasn’t sure how to broach the subject as she knew how sensitive it was to the Umbrum, but after a few moments of consideration, she made up her mind, “I know you may not want to speak of how you’re feeling about it, but I wanted to let you know that I’m here for you and I will listen.” Sombra lowered his head and looked at the floor below, “I appreciate your empathy, Flurry heart. Though I doubt speaking about it will ease my conscience.” Flurry stayed silent as if expecting the Umbrum to continue. Moments later, he did just that, “In all my years I had only ever had one goal. I wished only to fulfill my destiny and free my kin. But now I realize, that was never my destiny at all.” Sombra sighed with a dim expression. He looked prepared to say more before he shut his mouth and looked away once more. A minute went by without a word being ushered by either Pony. Flurry Heart knew Sombra wished to say more, but figured it best not to pry. Before she could speak up, however, the Umbrum turned to face her, “I’m sorry Flurry Heart. For everything.” The Alicorn knew without a doubt that Sombra was being genuine. “I forgive you Sombra. But… Why did you not just tell me? Surely we could have stopped her sooner?” Flurry Heart asked as she walked up closer to her partner. Sombra once again looked away without saying a word. Flurry Heart raised a brow before repeating, “Sombra? Why did you not tell me of her?” The Umbrum still looked apprehensive to answer, but seeing his wife’s concerned expression, he figured it best to be honest, “She threatened to destroy you if I sided with you. I could not let that happen.” The Queen of Hope was speechless at this response. Hearing Sombra open up about his feelings, Flurry began to understand just how conflicted Sombra had been for the last few months, if not the last few centuries. The air in the room became quiet once more as both Ponies avoided eye contact with one another. Moments went by as Flurry Heart thought of a possible response, but try as she might, she could not form any words to reply. It was at that moment, however, that a thought struck her mind, something that had puzzled her since her confrontation with Countess Omni the day before. “This ring you gave me… You enchanted it, didn’t you?” She asked as she pointed her hoof at the black opal ornament on her horn. “Yes. I did. It was meant to conceal your fears from Madam Umbara.” Sombra answered. ‘I knew it. That’s why she couldn’t use my fears against me.’ The Alicorn thought. “Why?” She asked simply. Sombra looked hesitant to answer but knew Flurry heart was unlikely to let up, “Every creature has a fear of some kind. But some fears are stronger than others. As an Umbrum, I can sense these fears and even feed off them to give me strength.” The King paused for a moment as he turned to face his partner, “When you first found me in the cold north, I looked into your mind to find what you fear. I expected you to fear losing your friends, or losing your subjects like most rulers do. But you feared something else entirely.” “You were afraid of never being truly loved for what you are.” Sombra stated. The air in the room went silent again as Flurry Heart finally began to understand. Sombra continued a moment later, “Your fears are much more powerful than others’ which is why I could not risk Madam Umbara using them against you.” The silence continued as both royals stared at one another. Flurry Heart’s mouth hung open slightly as she finally realized why Countess Omni had been unable to defeat her so easily. Sombra had protected her without her even knowing. “You’re right. I was afraid. I know my parents will always love me, and that my friends and extended family will as well. But I feared I’d never find somepony who would truly love me for what I am. And I’m sorry Sombra. I lied to you.” Flurry Heart stated as a tear escaped her right eye. The Umbrum raised a brow as if waiting for her to elaborate. Seeing his reaction, she continued, “I lied to you about Caspian. He and I were in a relationship many years ago. And he was not the first either. When I was younger, I constantly tried to find love just like my mother did. But everypony was only ever interested in dating a Princess. They only wished to use me to climb up to royalty and abuse my status.” The Queen of Hope stomped her hoof on the floor in anger before sitting down on one of the soft sofas of the room. “I shouldn’t have withheld the truth from you Sombra. You deserved to know.” “I do not blame you, Flurry Heart. I knew you had a good reason for concealing the truth.” Sombra stated in an understanding tone. This statement brought a small degree of solace to the Alicorn, but did not fully rid her of her guilt. Regardless, Flurry knew it was fruitless to dwell on the past so much and decided to change the subject. “I must say, I do really like the ring.” A small grin found its way to Sombra’s face, “I should hope so. Finding a black opal was not an easy task.” For the first time in the conversation, Flurry Heart let out a small chuckle. Even stranger, the Umbrum himself followed suit with a chuckle of his own. After they each composed themselves, Sombra rekindled the conversation, “This ring of yours… It feels familiar.” Flurry nodded, “It should. Because it was meant as a gift to you by somepony else.” Sombra immediately connected the dots, “Hope. This was a gift from Hope, isn’t it?” “Yes. It is.” She answered. Sombra used his magic to remove the ring and inspect it more thoroughly. His eyes then fell to the small inscription on the inside, ‘There Is Always Hope’ Though he would never admit it, seeing these words made his chest feel tight. They reminded him all too much of his sole childhood friend. “Thank you.” He stated plainly before levitating the ring back onto his horn. Flurry Heart nodded again before the air grew silent between the two once more. After a few quiet minutes in the room, Flurry Heart stood up from the sofa, “So… What now?” She asked. The Umbrum glanced her way, “There is something I wish to do. Would you care to join me for a short walk?” Flurry was now curious but nodded and followed her partner who had made his way to the door. “Lead the way.” She stated. After a short saunter, the two had made their way to the Crystal Castle’s throne room. It was currently empty and unused which only made Flurry heart more confused. “Sombra? Why did you bring us here?” The Umbrum looked at Flurry Heart with a neutral expression, “Do you trust me, Flurry Heart?” This statement made Flurry Heart even more puzzled. Regardless, she nodded, “I do, Sombra.” After hearing her response, Sombra ignited the dark magic in his horn and blasted a beam of violet energy towards the gemstone on the top of the throne. Within moments, the floors of the center of the room opened to reveal the secret staircase below. Flurry Heart trusted Sombra now, but worried what he was intending to do. Before she could speak up, however, the Umbrum cut her of, “If I am to move on, I must remove her influence completely.” The Alicorn finally began to understand what Sombra was implying. Before he could act, she placed a hoof on his own. “Wait. Are you sure about this?” Sombra looked down at his wife’s hoof before glancing back at her, “Yes. I need to rid myself of her. Starting with this.” Without warning, the Umbrum cast a spell that collided with the first few stairs of the chasm. In an instant, the stairs at the top began to crumple and fall down the crevasse. Soon nearly the entire staircase had transformed into a pit of debris. Sombra then used his magic to break off the top gem from the throne. After being severed, he levitated the gem up above the collapsed staircase. Sombra closed his eyes and sighed before dropping the stone into the chasm. Once it fell through the hole, the entire secret path vanished completely. “It is done.” He stated. “Do you feel any better?” Flurry heart asked in response. “A little. But large wounds take a long time to heal. I am sure I will recover, in time.” Sombra answered while looking at his wife. Flurry smiled warmly, “And I will be here to help you through it.” The Umbrum continued to stare into the eyes of his partner. His despair and anguish somehow faded as he remained enthralled with the stunning Alicorn’s features. “You… You are beautiful.” Sombra accidentally blurted out. Flurry Heart’s large wings perked up just as her cheeks instantly went red upon hearing this. Sombra shook himself out of his trance a second later and cursed himself before looking away sheepishly. A very awkward moment elapsed between the two before Sombra cleared his throat, “Forgive me…” The Umbrum looked away from his wife as if angry with his impulsive nature. After collecting herself again, Flurry Heart began to chuckle at her husband’s behavior. Sombra’s expression only grew more humiliated hearing her laughter. After settling herself down, Flurry Heart placed a hoof on Sombra’s and brought herself closer to him. “It’s okay.” She stated. Despite still feeling flustered, Sombra did not distance himself. As if by instinct, the Umbrum neared his muzzle with to wife’s until the two were nearly touching. The two Ponies could almost hear each others pulses as their faces remained just inches apart. The suspenseful moment was broken when Flurry Heart leaned forward and pressed her muzzle against Sombra’s. The kiss was small and subtle but nonetheless passionate and lasted for many moments before the two broke apart for air. While regaining her breath, Flurry Heart’s eyes remained locked on her husband’s. “I wanted to thank you Sombra.” She stated abruptly. Sombra raised a brow, “Thank me?” She nodded, “For taking away my fear.” Sombra was puzzled for a second before realizing what the Alicorn meant. The Umbrum grinned, “Glad I could be of service, Flurry Heart, Queen of Hope.” Flurry chuckled before planting another kiss on the Umbrum’s forehead. “I love you. King Sombra.” She stated simply. Her partner remained put while admiring the Alicorn’s stunning features. The one who reminded him of his first ever friend. The indigo coated Unicorn who’s imagination rivaled his own, and who would give anything to make him happy. “And I… Love you. Flurry Heart.” The End. Author's Note Well folks! That's all! I hope everypony enjoyed reading this fanfic as much as I enjoyed writing it! It was quite the journey with over 60,000 words and 12 chapters. I started this journey in Spring of 2021 and although it took a long time to complete, I'm happy with the end result. If you enjoyed reading through the story, please leave a comment or review and be sure to favorite it! Now that this work is complete, I plan to start working on my next story "The Blood Doctor" which will release its first chapter near Halloween after I've taken a good vacation from writing. Cheers everypony! -Obsedian_Flame Chapter 1: The Endless WarAuthor's Note A/N: This is my first fic for this fandom! I have to be honest, but I’m a bit nervous about how things will go. I have written fanfics before, but for other fandoms that I know the subject material better. For now I’m going to try my best to keep it as close as I can with the canonical version of the show while only adding in a few personal headcanons. Also, before the story begins I'd like to give a huge shoutout to @MalinRaf1615 on Deviantart for making the cover art for the story! With the notes out of the way I hope you enjoy! Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony Chapter 1: The Endless War To End a Cycle Written by: Obsedian Flame Chapter 1 The Endless War Hay 22, 3672 8:00 PM Dear Diary, I am unsure of how to express myself as of late. The events of this last month have left me deeply distraught. I feel more conflicted now than I ever have in the four and a half years that I’ve written in this diary. Perhaps I should write about the recent events that have me so flustered lately, and maybe then my thoughts will be easier to portray. Two weeks ago today we defeated Lord Sombra, once again banishing him to the cold north. It was a taxing battle, and many of the guard fell to his wrath and hatred. It pains me deeply to see our Ponies suffer and loose so much. My thoughts and prayers are with the wounded families, and I wish I could simply take their pain away. Since I was born, Sombra has been a continuous evil that has plagued our Ponies and the Crystal Empire as a whole. We seem to be cursed to forever be at conflict with him, and though he has never yet successfully conquered the empire, he gets closer to victory each time. It seems that with every defeat he grows stronger, and his hatred for us along with it. As a foal, I remember him invading the empire and taking my parents and I prisoner to his will as he attempted to cast our Ponies into slavery. Luckily, however, we had help from Princess Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony. With the power of friendship, they managed to seal him away. 4 Years later though, the Empire was once again threatened by the Dark Lord. He came by surprise and managed to overpower Father’s protection spell. Once again, however, he was stopped just in time by Princess Twilight and the elements. Since then, he has returned 7 times, and has nearly conquered the empire 5 of those times. Every time he is banished his power and anger rises, making him even more of a threat. Now the Elements of Harmony are even having a tough time disposing of him. His recent attack was very nearly the end of the Crystal Empire. It took the combined effort of all of Equestria to ward him off. Even Princesses Celestia and Luna had to get involved after their retirement. We’ve also found that he is building some form of army to combat the royal guard. Strange disappearances have been escalating as of late, and we no doubt know that he is responsible in some way for this. Mother, Father and Aunt Twilight have been looking into solutions for the problem, but each is just as unsuccessful as the last. There is simply no spell, incantation, or power known to Equestria that has the ability to permanently destroy the Dark Lord. Despite having encountered him so much, there is so much we do not know about Sombra. The only record of his past is in the form of a journal found deep in the catacombs of the Crystal Castle. It tells of his origin and struggles as a young Colt. I will not disclose all the details within the journal as much of it is quite disturbing, however, there was something that caught my eye. He talks of another important Pony, a mare by the name of Radiant Hope. According to him she was his first and only true friend, and it seems he cared very much for her until his tragic downfall. I simply cannot shake the feeling that there is more to the Dark Lord than the monster we see threatening us. Perhaps I should change topics, this subject is quite depressing. Yesterday I was visited by my best friend Luster. It was refreshing to see her again as it has been some months since we last met up. This is mostly due to the War with the Dark Lord, however, I still feel guilty for not at least writing to her in all this time. Regardless, seeing her and her parents took a great load of stress off. Aunt Twilight is truly right that having friends solves nearly every problem. Luster and I mostly talked about her studies with Aunt Twilight. She’s come a long way from the times when she had little to no friends, and I’m proud that she’s put in the effort to better her social skills. I told her all about the war. It must have been hard for her to listen to as she frequently looked disturbed, no doubt due to fear. It was also good to see Sunburst and Starlight once more. They’ve been fantastic mentors to me and the least I could do was to extend a warm welcome and to show them what I’ve learned in recent years. The last time I saw Sunburst was the day I got my cutie mark. He always believed that my power and talent came from the goodness inside the Crystal Heart. He was correct as always, and since then I’ve spent a lot of my time learning of my connection to the artifact and how I can control the power it gives me. Perhaps I can use it as a tool if Sombra were to return soon, though I hope I will never have to. There are many more things I could write about, however, my mother has scheduled a meeting for tonight with Princess Twilight as well as some other high profile Ponies from all over Equestria. I do not yet know what the meeting will be about, however, I have a feeling that whatever it is will not be good. I will wrap this entry up and head to that meeting. Who knows what’s in store. -Flurry Mi Amore Cadenza Heart After setting down her quill, she stood up from her chair and stretched her limbs after having sat for so long. As much as she tried to keep her entries short, things didn’t seem to work out that way, especially considering the recent events. Regardless, she knew she had to make her way to the meeting soon, so she headed over to her closet which contained the many dresses and royal garments she’d typically wear. She slipped on her metallic shoes and collar along with the Crown her parents had recently gifted her. It was her most treasured item, and was very symbolic of her character. Even having a small but detailed engraving of the Crystal Heart on it’s center, very similar to the engraving on her collar. Before leaving her chambers all together, she took a look in her mirror to check if there were any imperfections on her face. After noticing that she had forgotten to put on eyeliner, she quickly took out her makeup kit and properly outlined her eyes making her already stunning features even more noticeable. As she was making some finishing touches, she heard a knock on her door. “Coming!” She said as she closed the makeup case and stored it in the drawer bellow the mirror. She opened the door with her magic, behind it was a strong, handsome aged stallion with a coat of white and a graying mane of blue, her father Emperor Shining Armor. “Hi Flurry, I just came to check up on you to let you know the meeting is starting soon.” She put a hoof to her face, “Dad, you know better than anyone that I can remember a deadline for an important meeting.” He nodded with a smile, “Of course. I just thought I’d also accompany you there. It’s been a while since we’ve spent some time together, and I thought this would be as good a time as any.” “It’s been four hours Dad…” She replied with a raised brow. He nodded again without his smile faltering “Four hours that I’ve missed my lovely daughter, come, let’s walk together.” She shook her head with a smile, but obliged and joined her father at his side. If there was anything that she’d taken away from him, it was to never ignore spending time with one’s family. “I was going to ask, why dress so formally? It isn’t like you’re attending a wedding or something. Even your Mother isn’t going all out on the makeup this time.” The elder Stallion asked. “I don’t know. I really just like to look my best all the time. It makes me feel more dignified I guess.” She answered with a smile. He shook his head with the same smile, “I suppose old habits never die. But regardless of what you put on, you’ll always be the most beautiful Mare in Equestria.” She blushed at the compliment, “Even more than Mom?” She asked in response. He nodded, “She would absolutely agree. There’s no one in Equestria who we’d ever love more Flurry.” He stated proudly as he placed a hoof over her back while they walked through the Palace corridors. “I’ve looked all through Starswirl’s ancient texts Cadence. I’m sorry but there’s just no information about how to permanently vanquish Sombra.” Stated the Princess of Friendship with a concerned voice. “I refuse to believe that! There must be something we can do! You two managed to defeat him when he first rose to power! Can we not stop him the same way again?” Asked an even more concerned Empress Cadence. “I’m afraid not my dear Cadence. When Luna and I confronted him, it took all we had, and even then, the loss was so great that the Crystal Empire has only recently fully recovered from it. And since then, Sombra has increasingly become more resilient to our traditional methods. Princess Twilight is correct. We simply do not know enough about the Dark Lord to be able to effectively stop him.” Answered the wise Sun Goddess. The pink coated Alicorn sighed in despair, running a hoof through her long wavy multicolored mane in frustration. Twilight noticed her sister-in-law’s depressed state, and joined her, placing a hoof on her shoulder in reassurance, “Hey, cheer up Cadence! We’ll find a way to get through this. As we always have!” She stated in an optimistic tone. Twilight’s optimism always helped to put Cadence’s mind at ease. There had never been a problem she and Twilight had faced that they could not solve together. And she would be damned if she let this one demoralize her anymore than it already had. To make things better, out of the corner of her eye she watched as her husband and daughter walked in. She stood up from her chair and greeted them both, placing a kiss on the older stallion’s cheek, to which he returned. “Flurry? You know it’s just us for this meeting. There was no need to-” “It’s okay Mom, Dad said the same thing. I just like to look my best all the time.” Flurry interrupted, having read her Mother’s mind. “Hmm, that seems to remind me of someone I know…” Celestia stated with a smirk as she peered over her shoulder at her younger sibling. Luna looked away in embarrassment. “Pfft, it was one time Tia. And besides, you never told me we were going white water rafting! You only said we were going on a fun vacation!” Everyone in the room proceeded to laugh. It was a good refreshing break from all the negativity and a much needed breath of fresh air. “So who are we still waiting for?” Asked Flurry, looking around and seeing that nearly everyone was already present. “Probably Sunburst. Am I right?” Asked Shinning Armor with a small sigh. “It’s Sunburst.” Answered everyone else, again prompting laughter. It was true, the orange coated Unicorn Stallion had a knack for arriving late to important occasions. It wasn’t due to a poor memory, in fact it was quite the opposite. Sunburst was known to be difficult to deter when engrossed in his studies. So much so that the whole world could be on fire and he likely wouldn’t notice if he had a spell book in front of him. Regardless, just seconds after the group stopped laughing, the Orange coated Unicorn suddenly teleported into the room looking incredibly flustered and stressed. “Has the meeting started yet!? I’m terribly sorry I’m late, I swear it was because of the book of Socratooves! I was nearly done when Starlight had to remind me-” He stammered sounding almost out of breath as he recounted his end of the story. “It’s perfectly fine Sunburst. You’re actually just on time as it turns out.” Explained Empress Cadence while shaking her head at the Unicorn’s antics. He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. Calming his heart rate, he took a seat at the round table and awaited the meeting to begin. The pink coated Alicorn Mare cleared her throat and started, “As I’m sure you’re all aware, I’ve called this meeting to discuss the future of the Crystal Empire.” Everyone nodded in understanding, prompting her to continue, “I’d like to first thank you all for once again helping us to rid the empire of Lord Sombra and his forces. I fear though that this is hardly the last we’ve seen of him. Before the meeting started I was conversing with Twilight and Aunts Celestia and Luna about ways that we can permanently dispel of Sombra. However, we keep arriving at a dead end. Sunburst, do you know of any spells capable of vanquishing Sombra once and for all?” The Unicorn sighed and shook his head in denial, “I’m sorry Cadence, but I’m just as clueless as anyone else. There just isn’t enough knowledge about Sombra’s kind to deduct what can destroy him.” She too sighed yet again. They were back where they had started, still without any proper plan on how to prepare for the Dark Lord’s imminent return. The meeting carried on for another half an hour, with the group sharing ideas and possible solutions, unfortunately each being as unachievable as the prior. Flurry merely listened, reserving herself as she let the more experienced Ponies handle matters. However, the longer the meeting dragged on, the more she thought of a different solution. Eventually, an argument broke out and the group began to dispute amongst themselves. It was hardly orderly, almost as if Discord had simply let everyone take a piece of his magic. Flurry could not stand to hear bickering, especially not from Ponies all considered family. She tried her best to ignore it, but it was no use, they were far too engaged in the moment to notice her obvious discomfort. Shinning, however, did notice as he had been fairly passive in the conversation. “Are you alright Flurry?” He asked. She shook her head, “No. If they keep arguing we aren’t going to get anywhere. I think I might have a solution if they’ll listen.” He nodded and attempted to get the group’s attention, but it was no use as they were far too focused on the argument to notice him with his much more calm voice. He shrugged and just replied, “I’m sorry Flurry, but you might have to wait this one out. You know how they can get sometimes…” This was not good enough for her though, she had an idea that she thought would be a better solution than any of the ideas being tossed out by the others. “Excuse me everyone but-” It was fruitless, however, as the others could not hear her over the tone of their own voices. It got to a point where Flurry nearly snapped, “ENOUGH!!!” She shouted boldly to get the attention of everyone else. It seemed to work as she drew the gaze and silence of everyone else. It felt very weird to interrupt ponies in a higher position of power than herself, and she felt a bit awkward afterwards. But regardless, she rolled with it while she had everyone's attention. “Look, if we keep arguing we aren’t going to get anywhere.” She stated, looking around the table. “I believe Flurry is right. Do you perhaps have a solution to the matter at hand?” Asked Celestia from across the table. Flurry looked over at Shining who nodded in approval and pride at how his daughter was becoming more mature and wise. She also nodded and proceeded, “Thank you, I believe I do.” She waited a moment and contemplated what to say next, “All we’ve been discussing is a violent solution to the problem. But what if there’s a more peaceful option?” Everyone raised a brow, “You mean like negotiation? Flurry, Sombra is absolutely not one to be reasoned with. He’s just a mindless, maniacal, tyrant. There’s no negotiating with a monster such as himself!” Argued her Mother. “But we’ve never tried it before. How can we be sure if we’ve never tried?” Flurry countered logically, making a fair point. “You raise a good point Princess Flurry Heart. However, you must take into account Sombra’s ambitions. He wishes not only to rule over the Crystal Empire, but to enslave your subjects and induct them into his own army. He attempted this before Tia and I stopped him a millennia ago. And when he did not get his way he cursed the Empire and the Crystal Ponies along with it.” Reasoned the retired princess of the night. “That may be so, but there must be something else that he craves for besides just power. After all, at one point he was a pony just like any of us. There must be something else that he wants. And I believe I know what it is.” The young Princess stated confidently. “What could that be? He’s never shown any interest in doing anything besides conquering the Empire.” Stated Sunburst. Flurry nodded, “That’s what we’ve seen from him, but I believe there’s more to the Dark Lord than his shadowy terrifying form. I believe he craves something else. I believe he wishes to be loved.” … All but one of the Ponies were flabbergasted. No one said a word for a long moment, making Flurry feel uneasy. She knew very well that the others would not approve of this idea, but she hadn’t expected them all to be so shocked. “Flurry… You can’t be serious…” Trailed her Father from beside her. She nodded, “I am absolutely serious Dad.” … “Flurry… I… Sombra has no love for anypony. Nor has he ever. He rules through fear and intimidation. The opposites of love and compassion.” Her Mother explained with a very concerned expression. “But Mom, you must know that's not true! In his own personal diary he claimed that there was a Pony that he loved. Or at least cared for.” She once again argued. “Flurry, that was ages ago.” Answered her father. “Yes, but it still confirms that he can indeed feel love to some degree.” “Then what do you propose we do about it? I highly doubt anyone in Equestria could ever love such a monster.” Stated Sunburst. She hated to admit it, but her mentor had a point. It was incredibly unlikely that any sane pony could ever have feelings for a tyrant that craves world domination. She looked around the table. Everypony’s eyes were on her as they awaited an answer. And she had that answer, just not one that anypony would agree with. She took a deep breath before looking to her Mother, “I’m going to ask Sombra to marry me.” … The next period of silence was longer than all the others. Flurry watched as many of the others’ expressions either shifted from concern to pure horror. All but two of the members that was. “Flurry, have you gone absolutely mad!? You can’t marry that monster! You don’t even love him! And he certainly does not love you!” protested Shining in a much more stern tone than before. “I agree with your father on this Flurry. This is an absolutely insane idea.” Cadence added. “But it-” “No! As your father I forbid it!” Shining ordered almost in a falter, as his tone sounding more emotional while he slammed a hoof into the table in attempt to keep some sort of control. “Shining is right Flurry! You can’t do this… It… It will never work!” Cadence stuttered, her own tone matching her husband's as they each got out of their seats and stood together in an act of defiance for their daughter’s crazy idea. Flurry knew they wouldn’t approve of this, but she had to convince them otherwise. She’d taken into account all the other options. This was the ONLY one that could work. “Mom, Dad, I know you don’t agree with me, but hear me out-” It was no use, however, as her parents had already made up their minds without letting her get a word in edgewise. “No! We aren’t going to say it another time. We will not allow you to do this Flurry!” Commanded Shining with tears in his eyes as he interrupted her. Both parents looked like emotional wrecks as they stared at their daughter looking for any possible sign that she was simply telling a bad joke. But they could find none. Flurry was absolutely sure about this. And it terrified them not only as rulers, but as parents. Flurry herself got up from her chair and returned their stare. She then approached them and embraced them both in a hug. “Mom. Dad. I love you both, and I respect your wishes. But I have to do this.” She stated as she herself got emotional as well. “No you don’t. We can work something out. It doesn’t have to be like this-” “Yes Mom, it does. You said yourself that there aren’t any other options. I have to do this. I owe it to our Ponies to try.” She interrupted with a single tear escaping her left eye. “Flurry, you don’t owe anything to anypony. Don’t throw your life away just because you think you have something to prove-” “Dad, I do owe them. I owe it to them to protect them, and to stop this conflict. My own needs are insignificant compared to the needs of so many other ponies.” Flurry replied, now regaining confidence as she broke the hug and continued to stare at her parents. “She’s right. As much as it pains me to say it, this might be the only way to stop Sombra’s cycle of hatred and violence once and for all.” Answered Princess Twilight who had also gotten out of her seat and approached the others. “Twilight…” Cadence trailed as she looked to her sister-in-law. “My successor is correct Empress. And as the Empress of Love, you of all Ponies should understand why.” Added Celestia from beside her former pupil. Both parents sighed in defeat and looked to their daughter once more. Flurry’s expression was determined. She would do this even without their consent if she had to. And they knew they could not stop her. “I’m sorry Mom. It’s the only way.” Flurry stated before again hugging them both. “I know sweetheart. I know…” Chapter 8: Elements of the Past Pt 1Chapter 8 Elements of the Past Pt 1 ‘Who is Omni?’ One thought played through Flurry’s head for the entire day. It had been plaguing her ever since she had interviewed the returned Crystal Ponies. The young Alicorn had spent the day pouring through the Crystal Library’s volumes to find any mention of a former ruler named Omni, but unfortunately to no avail. After many grueling hours planted at her Library desk, Flurry decided to move on. She figured it best to take the matter up with her Auntie Twilight who was easily the most knowledgeable of everypony she knew on all things Equestria. After closing her current book, Flurry took the stack of volumes that she had borrowed and placed them all back in their appropriate spots before heading off to notify her parents. It didn’t take long before Flurry arrived at the Crystal Throne Room where she could see her mother seated on the throne with a scroll and quill. Hearing Flurry’s footsteps, Cadence looked up from the paper and noticed her daughter entering the room, “Flurry! How you doing sweetheart?” “Hey Mom, I wish I could say I was doing well but I checked through the Library and found nothing about a fallen ruler named Omni. It’s just… It’s frustrating.” The young Alicorn replied with a defeated expression. Cadence set her quill and scroll down and lifter her daughter’s chin with a wing, “I understand sweetheart. We don’t always have the answers for everything.” Flurry nodded, “I was actually thinking of going to Auntie Twilight to ask her about it. Do you know if she’s busy today?” Cadence shook her head, “Not at all. She wrote to me yesterday actually. She was asking about you.” “About me?” Flurry quickly responded. “Yes. She was asking how things are going between you and Sombra. I figured it was best if I let you tell her personally.” The Empress of Love stated with a smile. Flurry placed a hoof on her chin, “Do you think she’d mind if I visit her in Canterlot today?” Cadence shook her head once more, “I don’t think Twilight would ever be opposed to see you Flurry, besides, it’ll give you a chance to catch up with your friends while you’re there.” The white coated Alicorn nodded, “Thanks Mom, I’ll be back later. Make sure to keep an eye on Sombra while I’m gone.” “We’ll do just that Flurry.” However, Cadence then realized something, “Wait, Flurry the train doesn’t depart for another hour-” “It’s not that far Mom, I’ll just teleport there.” Flurry interrupted before summoning her magic. Cadence was going to interject before her daughter vanished in an instant. ‘Celestia help me… She takes after her father too much…’ The pink coated Alicorn thought to herself as she rubbed her face with a hoof. Teleporting such an incredible distance would have been a near impossible feat for an average Unicorn, however, with the help of Flurry’s Alicorn genes she was able to perform things like these regularly. Albeit with some fatigue afterward. In a split second Flurry found herself standing before the gates of Canterlot Castle. Her sudden appearance had come as a shock to the two guards on sentry duty at the gate. Or rather came as a shock to one of the two. “Princess Flurry Heart.” One of the guards remarked before kneeling in respect. “Sorry for the abrupt visit Captain Tempest, could I please see Princess Twilight?” Flurry asked while approaching the gate. The indigo coated Unicorn nodded, “Of course. Princess Twilight has been expecting your arrival. Allow me to take you to her.” Flurry raised a brow, “Expecting me? But I never-” “Come, let’s not keep the Princess waiting.” Tempest interrupted as the gates opened and she walked in. Flurry scratched her head but followed the Unicorn captain. Canterlot Castle was significantly larger than the Crystal Castle, and though she had been here many times before Flurry knew how easy it was for one to get lost in the many corridors and rooms. After traveling for a few minutes, Flurry noticed a number of Ponies exiting one of the classrooms for the school of magic. Among these students was a pink coated Mare with an orange mane, “Dawn!” Flurry exclaimed with joy as she ran up to her friend. The Unicorn immediately recognized her royal friend, “Flur! What are you doing here!?” “I came to talk to Aunt Twilight about something. How are you doing?” The Alicorn replied while hugging her good friend. “I’ve been doing alright, but Princess Twilight has had my Mom teaching the classes lately…” Luster explained with a look of embarrassment. Flurry giggled, “And I’m guessing she’s being typical Starlight?” The Unicorn nodded, “Yep. But that’s enough about me. What about you? Princess Twilight told me that Lord Sombra agreed to your proposal! Are you seriously going through with it?” Flurry nodded, “Yes, I am. I’ll tell you more about it after I speak to Aunt Twilight. Sound good?” Luster nodded, “Alright, see you then Flur!” With that, both Mares parted ways with Flurry returning to Captain Tempest’s side, “Sorry about that.” Flurry stated while keeping up with the Unicorn who went ahead. “It’s no trouble Princess, after all we must always place priority on our friendships.” The half-horned Unicorn replied with a smile. After a small walk, Flurry found herself before the doors to the Canterlot Castle Throne Room. The doors were grand, almost large enough to fit Cerberus if they needed to. As they opened, Flurry Heart could see her Auntie Twilight accompanied by a young purple scaled Dragon. “Princess Twilight, Flurry Heart is here to see you.” The half-horned Unicorn announced as she led the white coated Alicorn into the room. “Thank you Tempest, that will be all.” The Princess of Friendship replied while rising from her Throne. As the Captain bowed in respect, Tempest Shadow saw herself out and closed the doors behind her. Flurry returned her focus on the violet coated Alicorn, “Auntie Twilight! It’s good to see you!” Twilight smiled warmly, “It’s good to see you too Flurry.” The two Alicorns hugged before they each heard someone else clear their throat. Flurry looked to the left to see Princess Twilight’s royal advisor and friendship ambassador standing with his arms crossed. The Dragon had a raised brow as he looked directly at her. Although his face looked stern at first, he quickly lightened up. Both Flurry and Spike then began to chant, (This jingle follows the exact same rhythm as Twilight and Cadence’s “Sunshine Daisies”) 🎵Friendship ambassadors Flurry Heart and Spike! Flap your wings and twirl your tails alike!🎵 The two then chuckled like a couple of teenagers at a comedy show before settling down. “It’s kind of weird to do that now but I guess old habits never die.” The Dragon stated with a smile. Flurry nodded, “How have you been Spike? It’s been quite a long time hasn’t it?” “Well, you know, between visiting the Dragon Lands, Ponyville, and the Griffon Kingdom, not busy at all!” The Dragon replied sarcastically with a tinge of pride. Flurry giggled, “All in a days work for a Friendship Ambassador.” Spike nodded before Twilight interjected, “Well I’d love for us to spend the afternoon catching up, but I believe you came here to ask me something Flurry?” The white coated Alicorn was a bit puzzled with this. She hadn’t mentioned anything about a question of hers. “How did you know?” The Princess of Friendship laughed this off, “Your Mother told me all about it. She had a feeling you’d come to me about the matter. And luckily, I think I might have an answer for you.” Flurry was confused but decided to roll with it, “You know of a former ruler named Omni?” Twilight nodded and proceeded on a light saunter out of the throne room, to which Spike and Flurry Heart followed. “When Cadence told me you were looking for information about a mysterious fallen ruler named Omni, my curiosity was piqued. So I went to the Canterlot archives and looked through all the historical records of Equestria.” Flurry chuckled, “Mom and Dad always told me how much you love to read books…” “You have no idea.” Spike whispered in her ear as he nudged her shoulder. Twilight nodded, “But after looking through all the records, I wasn’t able to find anything about a ruler named Omni. It was a total dead end…” Flurry stopped for a moment, “Wait, what? I thought you just said you have an answer?” Twilight nodded, “Yes. It wasn’t until I uncovered Princess Celestia’s private collection that I found something interesting.” The suspense was killing the young Alicorn who eagerly awaited her Aunt’s answer. Twilight noticed Flurry’s anxious expression and continued, “This fallen ruler is from a time before Equestria was formed. Over four thousand years ago.” Flurry’s mouth hung open as she took in the information. The time before Equestria’s formation was almost unfathomable, even for the most seasoned historians. Very little was known of the land before the three tribes of Ponies had united and brought new life to the land. And what little was known was not exactly the happiest bits of history. After walking for a few minutes, the three had arrived at the Canterlot Royal Library. The room was much larger than that of the Crystal Empire, and contained many thousands more books. In fact, Flurry reckoned that any known fact to Pony-kind could be found in this room, though finding the exact book for it would prove tiresome. Although the novels and encyclopedias were ordered alphabetically, the sheer volume of literature here would prove difficult to sort through. Twilight led the two past the Z column to a more secluded area with most of the books being stored on very high shelves. The violet coated Alicorn used her magic to levitate several books down from their shelves and opened one. The volume looked very old, if the rough cover and dust weren’t enough to show the book’s age then the many tattered pages inside certainly would. The book’s title read, “The Order of Grogar”. It was no doubt a callback to the now deceased Lord Grogar who Flurry had indeed heard tales of. As Twilight flipped through the pages she arrived on page 126. She then offered the book to Flurry, “Have a look.” Flurry nodded and took the book in her own magic while reading the passage. “Emperor Grogar’s rule was divided into five different factions of monsters that each took over various parts of land. The Everfree Forrest as we know it today was taken over by the Timberwolves. The Dragon Lands to King Torch the first. Canterlot to the Changeling hive. Manehattan to the Centaurs. And lastly the Crystal Empire to Countess Omni of the north.” The young Alicorn read aloud as she scanned through the page. “So this mysterious ruler was once part of Lord Grogar’s order?” Flurry asked as she looked up to her Aunt. Twilight nodded, “Yes. And that’s not all.” The Princess of Friendship then levitated the other book and handed it to her niece, “This will explain it a bit more.” This book, unlike the last was not quite as weathered and old. At least not on the surface. The title read, “The Five Monster Factions.” Twilight opened the book and scrolled halfway through the volume before arriving at a series of torn out pages. Where once there were pages of valuable knowledge and information, there was now nothing but ripped seams and missing passages. “What? But there’s nothing here!” Flurry exclaimed. Twilight nodded, “Yes. And these pages didn’t just fall out from age or by accident. They were torn on purpose. So somepony clearly didn’t want this information to be available.” Flurry ran a hoof through her hair out of stress, “I… But… This doesn’t help at all! All I learned about this fallen ruler is that they were once part of Emperor Grogar’s order!” Spike nodded, “Maybe, but there’s also the fact that this ruler was a Countess. In other words… Wait, what’s a female monster called again?” Flurry sighed, “Yeah, but that’s still not much to go off. Are you two sure there isn’t anything else on this fallen ruler?” Twilight shook her head with a frown, “Unfortunately no. I looked through the entire Library but couldn’t find anything on it. It seems to just be a dead end. I feel the only way you could determine more about this fallen ruler is if you asked somepony who was alive before Equestria’s formation.” The young white coated Alicorn looked up, “You mean Celestia and Luna?” The Princess of Friendship nodded, “They might be the only ones who were alive at that point in Equestria’s history.” Flurry sighed again. There was now yet another road block for her to overcome. Although she knew the two Alicorn sisters, she never knew where they were. As they both had retired when Flurry was but a foal. Nowadays the two former rulers of Equestria traveled the lands to see new sights and experience new things. She looked up to Twilight once more, “Do you know where I could find them?” Flurry was hoping her Aunt would know the answer to this question, but sadly the violet coated Alicorn shook her head, “I’m sorry Flurry, but I don’t. I don’t talk to them very often anymore. The last time I spoke to them was at the meeting at the Crystal Empire a month ago.” “… Well it’s back to square one I guess…” Flurry added with slumped shoulders. Although she could see the disappointment on her Niece’s face, Twilight began to chuckle. Flurry couldn’t understand this action and raised a brow, “What’s so funny?” Her Aunt looked down at her with warm eyes, “Flurry, I’m not laughing at you or the situation. It’s just that you’re reminding me of myself.” “How’s that?” The young Royal asked. “When I was your age I couldn’t stand to not know something. I poured all my energy each day into learning and finding more information.” Twilight answered as she placed a hoof on her Niece’s shoulder. “You’ll find what you’re looking for Flurry, just be patient.” She reassured. This managed to calm the young Alicorn down as Flurry gave a smile. “I’ll try Auntie Twilight.” Breaking the two out of their moment, however, was the sound of a yawn. Twilight glared at spike before lightly hitting the Dragon on the head with one of the books. “Hey! You guys were just being so sappy.” Flurry laughed before looking back to the violet coated Alicorn, “Well thank you both for helping out. I think I’ll move on with my duties today.” Twilight raised a brow, “Before you go Flurry, can I make a suggestion for you?” The young Royal nodded, “Okay, what kind of suggestion?” Twilight then proceeded to place both books back on the high shelf before going on a short walk with the other two following. “Cadence told me that your wedding with Lord Sombra is in three weeks. Have you made any plans for the event?” The young Alicorn looked away for a moment. In truth she hadn’t given the event much thought ever since she’d negotiated the date with Sombra. One could call it procrastination, but it was more likely dread. She’d never had to attend or plan such a massive event before, much less be the bride in question. She’d of course attended weddings of some of her friends and close family, but had never thought about exactly how much thought went into them. “I…No…” She answered sheepishly while keeping up with the Princess of Friendship. Twilight chuckled, “I figured. From what your mother told me you’ve had a lot on your mind lately. And I can’t say I blame you. But might I suggest you get somepony to help you out?” Flurry was captivated with this idea, “That could help a lot. I don’t really know how to plan weddings or the things that go into them. I’m just used to being in the crowd.” The indigo coated Princess stopped for a moment, “Well, there is one Pony who just recently started researching wedding planning here at the Canterlot.” “Really? Who could that be?” Flurry asked with interest. Twilight chuckled again, “You actually happen to be very good friends with them.” Flurry blinked for a moment as she put the pieces together, “Wait… Luster?” Twilight nodded, “Yes. She’s been in the library a lot recently reading about weddings. I guess when she heard about your engagement she wanted to learn more. Maybe to help you out.” Flurry merely shook her head with a subtle roll of her eyes before laughing, “Dawn never changes does she?” Twilight shook her head with a knowing smile. After arriving at the exit of the Library, Flurry looked back to the Princess of Friendship and her Ambassador, “Could you both be there? At my wedding?” Without wasting a second, Twilight and Spike both nodded, “Of course, Princess Flurry Heart.” Twilight answered. With a gleeful smile, the young royal nodded and went to leave the two. After exiting the castle, Flurry made her way to Luster’s house in Canterlot. Luster and her parents lived in a high end community in Canterlot which mostly consisted of noble Ponies or upper class moguls who’s foals and fillies attended the appraised school of magic normally taught by the former magician and entertainer Trixie Lulamoon. As Flurry arrived at Luster’s house, she gently knocked on the door but loud enough to be heard. Within moments the door was answered by a pink coated Unicorn Mare with a purple and teal colored mane and tail. “Flurry Heart! What a surprise!” Stated the Mare happily. Flurry returned the smile, “Hello Mrs Glimmer, I’m actually here to see Luster. Is she here right now?” Starlight nodded immediately, “Of course Luster is here. Come on in!” As Flurry entered the house she took a seat on a small chair in the living room. “Dawn! Flurry Heart is here to see you!” Starlight called up. Within seconds, the younger Unicorn descended the stairs, “Hey Flur! What’s up?” The Alicorn chuckled, “Hey Dawn, so I just talked to Auntie Twilight and she told me all about what you’ve been reading about lately.” The pink coated Unicorn chuckled as well before sarcastically replying, “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Flurry rolled her eyes playfully, “You just couldn’t help yourself could you?” “Nope! When I heard my best friend was engaged to be married I had to soak up all the information I could on weddings!” The Unicorn responded with pride. “I see. So what would you say to helping me plan my wedding?” Flurry asked. Without a second thought, the Unicorn replied, “I’d love to Flur!” Before her friend could reply, Luster used her magic to levitate up a notepad that was lying on the coffee table at the center of the living room. “In fact, after reading a bunch of the books in the Library I started a list of things we’ll need to prepare for your special day. I guess you could say I was inspired.” Flurry couldn’t help but snicker. Out of all her friends, Dawn was certainly the most passionate about the things she did. It was a warming thought, and something Flurry really appreciated in her friend. “So, where shall we start, Wedding Planner Dawn?” Flurry joked. “The first thing we need to get you is a dress!” Luster replied as she looked at the checklist on her notepad. Author's Note Alright, so originally I planned to have this all as one chapter, but after seeing the word count I felt it'd be better if I divided it into two parts to make it easier to read. If I included both parts this chapter would have exceeded 9,000 words. (Insert "it's over 9000 meme here) Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys the callbacks in this chapter. I enjoyed including characters like Twilight, Spike, and Tempest in this one. And believe me, there will be more of that in the second part of this chapter! I hope you guys enjoyed this one. The next will be released very soon and is almost done. If you're new to the story and you like what I'm trying to do be sure to favorite it and write a review or comment and let me know your thoughts on it. Cheers, -Ace_Risk Chapter 9: The Looming DateChapter 9 The Looming Date Juneth 30, 3672 7:00 AM Dear Diary, It has been a while since my previous entry, and a lot has happened within that time. To address the elephant in the room, my wedding with Lord Sombra takes place tomorrow and is very quickly approaching. Although I have been keeping my composure about it in public, I have been terribly anxious ever since I began planning the event with my friend Luster. My mother has been constantly reaffirming me that it’s natural to feel this way when such an important event is rounding its corner. But even so, I can’t help but feel that I’m simply overreacting to it altogether. Marriage was always an afterthought in my life. I hadn’t even considered the idea until now, and coming to grips with it has been difficult to put it mildly. At the very least, Luster and I have planned the event very thoroughly which has helped ease my mind if only a little. Between inviting guests from outside of the empire, sorting out dresses, and hiring the Royal Equestrian Band, we have truly spared no expense to make this day the best it possibly can. Today we are holding a small engagement party at the Crystal Empire. Many of the guests for the wedding that live in the Empire will be attending as well as a few from outside. Besides simply being a social event, it will be the first time I will see the completed wedding cake that we commissioned from Mrs Pinkie Pie. I can only hope that Sombra’s presence does not alarm too many of the guests. Everypony whom I’ve invited has been apprehensive about it simply because of his involvement. Truthfully, it is beginning to get tiresome to hear the same comments about it over and over all the while giving the same replies to ease their concerns. As vexing as the comments and rumors have been, however, Sombra has been remarkably well behaved ever since the first days of his initiation into the Empire. But although I say that, I am still fearful of what may happen should something provoke him. I suppose for now all we can do is ensure that this wedding proceeds as smoothly as possible. On a more positive note, it will be great to see many of my best friends again at the engagement party. With how hectic my life has been in recent times, I have not been able to visit them nor write as often. Luster is the only one I have spent a lot of time with recently, whether it be planning the wedding itself or casual visits, Dawn has been there for me when I have needed her most. Auntie Twilight is truly right when she preaches the importance of friendship in our lives. Moreover, much of our extended family will also be attending the event as well. With the help of Discord, we even managed to invite my Aunt Celestia and Luna, to which they gladly accepted. Besides being nice to see both former Princesses, I would also like to ask the two if they know anything about this mysterious former ruler that the returned Crystal Ponies spoke of. Not knowing whom or what this ‘Countess Omni’ is has been plaguing my mind for the last few weeks, and though Sombra insists otherwise, I still feel he is somehow involved. My parents have been trying to convince me that all will be well, but after having spoken to the Crystal Ponies that were returned, I have a very bad feeling about this whole situation. Stranger yet was when Princess Twilight showed me me the book of ‘The Five Monster Factions’ only to find pages missing on exactly the information I needed. Whomever this ‘Omni’ is, they don’t want to be discovered. All I can do for now is hope that this wedding goes as smoothly as possible. But even then, I can’t help but feel that as well as this wedding has been planned, something is bound to go wrong. -Flurry Mi Amore Cadenza Heart “I’m so glad you could make it today Cress! I thought you’d be too busy with the recital!” Flurry greeted as she exchanged a quick hug with the Earth Pony Mare. “Oh please Flur, I could not miss this for the world! And besides, I’m no stranger to performing at weddings.” Kindly answered the Mare in a very elegant traditional Canterlot accent after the two released one another. The Pony in question was very accomplished conductor, songwriter, and part-time pianist of the Royal Equestrian Band, Crescendo Melody. Although both her parents were from Ponyville, Cress had made a name for herself in Canterlot as one of the youngest composers for the Royal Symphony. The two were also good childhood friends, having been in the same year at the school of friendship. She currently addorned a very sharp gray suit and a black bow tie which contrasted nicely with her lighter colored coat and dark mane. The white coated Alicorn chuckled, “Well, I’m glad at least one of us is confident for tomorrow…” Both Ponies shared a brief chuckle before Crescendo placed a hoof on her royal friend’s shoulder, “You always worry so much Flur, try loosening up a bit.” The dark coated Earth Pony then got closer before whispering, “Besides, Dawn helped you plan the event. She never misses a detail.” The two then looked across the room to see the aforementioned pink coated Unicorn who was currently conversing with Princess Twilight’s personal assistant Spike. Flurry could not help but smile, “You’re right. Dawn has been such a great friend throughout this whole thing.” As if by coincidence, Luster Dawn and Spike each glanced over Flurry’s way before approaching. Once in earshot, the pink coated Unicorn spoke up, “Cress! It’s good to see you!” The Earth Pony nodded, “Likewise Dawn, I heard you were quite instrumental in planning this whole event.” “Instrumental… I see what you did there.” Spike stated while chuckling to himself. The others raised a brow at the Dragon’s bad pun before also joining Spike’s laughter. Once they had settled, the four friends heard a loud crashing noise at the entrance of the room. The noise attracted the attention of everypony at the party, and shortly thereafter, it was followed by a voice, “Oopsie daisy! Sorry everypony! Cake coming through! Make way!” Flurry and her friends watched as Pinkie Pie dragged a cart into the room carrying an enormous wedding cake. Without wasting a moment, Flurry made her way over to the pink coated Earth Earth Pony, “Mrs Pinkie Pie! Do you need help with that?” “Nope! Don’t you worry Princess Flurry Heart! I’ve got it all under control!” The energetic Mare replied. The Alicorn gave a skeptical look and glanced back to the cake which was nearly hitting the ceiling of the doorway as it was brought in. Everypony watched in suspense as the cart made its way into the room with the top of the cake just narrowly avoiding contact with the ceiling. Once the cake was in, many of the spectators breathed a sigh of relief. As Pinkie Pie brought the cart into the room, she made her way towards a large display table. After Pinkie Pie had stopped, Luster Dawn asked, “Umm, Mrs Pinkie? How are we supposed to get the cake off the cart?” “No problem! I’ll just activate the Pinkie Pie Forklift 5000!” Stated the enthusiastic Mare while she headed to the other side of the cart. The pink coated Earth Pony then took a seat on a chair at the back of the cart and flicked a lever. The cart then began to elevate until its platform was level with the display table. Both Flurry and Luster looked at one another with a shrug as the platform then lifted itself onto the display table. With the cake now secured on the table, Flurry looked up to finally admire the pastry. The cake was excessively tall, with 8 levels in all. The icing and decorations on the outside were expertly applied with many intricate designs using a multitude of colors from white, pink, sky blue, and even dark gray. At the very top of the cake were several marzipan figurines depicting the bride and groom. From further away, the cake resembled a depiction of the Crystal Empire itself in all its splendor. “Wow, Pinkie, you really didn’t have to-” “Oh pish posh! It’s your big day tomorrow Flurry Heart! I had to make this the greatest gateau in the history of wedding cakes! Now, the first level is a nice sweet vanilla with hints of strawberry and whipped cream snowflakes like the outside of the Crystal Empire! The second level is red velvet inside with multi-colored crystal fondant like the houses in the Crystal Empire! The third level is chocolate inside with…” As the pink coated Earth Pony trailed on, Flurry and Luster merely looked at one another with a chuckle while they listened to the Party Pony’s long winded description of the epic pastry. While Pinkie Pie continued, Flurry’s other two friends approached to admire the cake as well. “Well, this certainly looks like a Sugarcube Corner special.” Stated Spike as he too looked up to take in the sight. “Quite. Dare I say it may be the largest cake I have ever seen.” Cress pointed out with a knowing smile. Flurry nodded and was about to respond before Pinkie Pie finally finished her description of the cake with a massive exaggerated gasp. “So? How do you like it?” Flurry couldn’t help but smile and nod, “I love it Mrs Pinkie. You did an incredible job.” The Party Pony then threw her hoof in the air in triumph, “A super duper incredible job! I’m so glad you like it! Now I have to show everyone else before it gets all eaten up! See you all at the wedding!” With that, the pink coated Earth Pony trotted off while hoping like a pogo stick. As they watched on, Luster commented, “Wow. When I asked for a large wedding cake I didn’t think Mrs Pinkie would build a tower.” The others laughed, “Well, with Pinkie Pie concerned you should always expect the unexpected.” Spike mentioned. As the four friends engaged in their conversation, they were approached by a sharply dressed Pegasus Stallion carrying a tray of wine glasses using one of his wings. “Pardon the intrusion, but would anypony care for a glass of Chardonnay?” Flurry turned only to notice the Pony was none other than lieutenant Piercing Shield of the Royal Guard. Although it would normally be weird to see Ponies of the guard working as Castle servants, Flurry already knew that many soldiers of the guard were handling security for the engagement party as well as the wedding. All four friends nodded without question and took a glass of the rich golden colored wine. They each thanked the Pegasus and were about to rekindle their conversation before the Pegasus chimed in once more, “Oh, and one more thing Princess, there is somepony who wished to speak to you privately at the balcony.” Flurry glanced back to the others, “Sorry guys, but I need to go.” Her friends each nodded, “Don’t worry about us Flur.” Luster stated. Without wasting another moment, the young Alicorn made her way over to the balcony while using her magic to bring her wine glass with her. While making her way through the many groups of guests, Flurry pondered who it could be that wished to speak to her in private. While it could perhaps be her Mother or Father, she figured it was most likely either her Aunt Celestia or Luna who had just arrived. Still, it struck her as odd that Piercing Shield had not mentioned the name of this Pony. After having arrived at the balcony, Flurry looked around only to find nopony. She found it odd that the Pony Piercing Shield had mentioned was not here, however, she figured that they likely left for only a moment to get a drink or some other common reason. As she waited at the ledge of the balcony, Flurry took in the pleasant fresh air of the summer day. Although she enjoyed being in the company of her friends and family, she also appreciated the odd silence and serenity that nature provided. Perhaps it was Mrs Fluttershy’s influence. After waiting for nearly a minute, Flurry was beginning to worry. She looked over her shoulder, but there was still nopony accompanying her. This was certainly strange as she knew none of her friends or family would play such a trick or prank on her next to maybe Discord or Mrs Rainbow Dash. The white coated Alicorn waited for another half a minute before she heard a voice behind her, “Princess Flurry Heart.” Flurry immediately recognized the strong voice and turned around abruptly. After gazing upon the figure, the young royal was greeted by the sight of a very familiar Unicorn Stallion. “Caspian…” She stated with disdain while sporting a noticeable grimace. The Stallion in question was quite tall and bulky as far as Unicorns went. His coat was as purely white as the plumes of a swan while his mane and tail were a very complementing cream color. His roached mane was quite short, but expertly styled, giving the stallion a very dignified look. On his torso was a very expensive looking navy blue tuxedo accompanied by a tie and white collared shirt. “I do apologize for my tardiness your grace. I hope I did not keep you waiting long.” The Stallion stated with a charismatic grin while approaching Flurry. The Unicorn then took the Alicorn Mare’s hoof and prepared to plant a kiss on her silver shoe before Flurry yanked her hoof back with force. “Two minutes. Now what do you want Caspian.” Flurry stated while turning her back on the Unicorn and returning to the edge of the balcony to stare at the Empire below. The Stallion then pulled his own hoof back with a huff before regaining his composure, “I merely wanted to congratulate you Princess. This is after all a party celebrating your engagement.” The Unicorn pointed out while taking a spot at the edge of the mezzanine next to the irritated Alicorn. “Why thank you, Baron Blueblood.” She answered with contempt while keeping her eyes as far from the other figure as possible. The Stallion raised a brow, “Come now Princess, there is no need for such hostility. I have but humble intentions.” Flurry merely rolled her eyes and continued to look upon the Empire while now taking a sip of the golden wine. Although the beverage was great, it did little to ease her troubled mind. Nor did it remove the problem in the room. After a brief pause, the charismatic Stallion continued, “I must say, when I heard of your engagement to Lord Sombra, I was certainly taken back.” Flurry quickly eyed the Stallion before adverting her gaze once more, “Yes. It is meant mostly as a truce to keep the Crystal Empire safe.” There was one more pause as Flurry took yet another sip of the strong wine. The Stallion then chimed in, “I was also worried for you, my dear. All the rumors I heard throughout Canterlot. Noblecolts and Mares claiming that you’d gone mad. I, however, could only worry for your safety.” Hearing this statement made Flurry want to vomit. She could easily resign from the balcony and leave the Stallion, but if her history with Caspian was any indication, he was unlikely to sit idly by as that happened. While the two overlooked the kingdom, the exalted Unicorn spoke up, “I have always admired the sight of the Crystal Empire. The perfect geometry, the colors, the tranquility. But each time I see this Kingdom, I am reminded of what true beauty is. I am reminded of you, my dear.” Flurry yet again rolled her eyes while sipping the rest of the wine and placing the empty glass on the balcony edge. “You’re too kind, Caspian…” The Alicorn answered with biting sarcasm. “I speak sincerely Princess. Not a day goes by when I don’t lament over our collapsed relationship. Over what could have been.” The affluent Unicorn stated while inching closer to Flurry. Flurry sighed before backing sufficiently away from the encroaching Unicorn, “That’s far enough Caspian. I’m sure you remember why we broke up in the first place. As far as I’m concerned, you’re still the selfish snob that you always were, and always will be.” This tirade set the Unicorn back, “How dare you talk like that to me? My father-” “I don’t care what your father thinks. He is vile, much like yourself. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to concern myself with.” Flurry interrupted with a raised tone. As she began to trot away, she heard the Stallion call back, “Like pursuing an evil Shadow Pony? It seems those rumors about you are true, my lady. You certainly have fallen from grace.” The Alicorn halted and looked up before turning, “What did you just say?” The Unicorn Stallion did not back down from Flurry’s threatening tone, and instead held his ground. “You heard me. Come tomorrow, everypony shall see just how far you’ve fallen. You and I could have been adored by Equestria. We could have been so much more. And now look at you. Wooing a tyrannical Unicorn that enslaved your Ponies and cursed them to vanish for over a thousand years. The rumors are correct. You are nothing but a who-” Before the Unicorn could finish his sentence, Flurry ignited her magic and growled, “Choose your next words carefully Caspian, otherwise it wont just be your inflated ego that is shattered tonight.” This still did little to intimidate the white coated Unicorn who then smirked, “Such ferocity. In can see why you admire your Fiance. You both have that quality in common. In many ways, I pity your predicament.” “I’m surprised you can feel any pity when your heart is as dark as Luna’s night.” Flurry retorted. Caspian chuckled, “You mean to say as dark as your fiance? Tell me something, is he at least charming? Do you know how he is in the be…” The Stallion trailed off as he noticed something behind Flurry. His expression immediately went from arrogance to that of shock. While she wanted nothing more than to retaliate at her ex, she too was interested in what had spooked the Unicorn so. Before she could even turn her head, another voice chimed in, “Well, what have we here?” Caspian backed away from the white coated Alicorn as the other figure approached. “I trust I am not interrupting anything, am I Princess?” Stated the voice as its owner took Flurry’s side. Flurry looked to her left to see her Fiance himself. Sombra was formally dressed with a button up shirt, a nicely folded ascot, and his signature royal red cloak. His mane and tail waved like a loose pure black tapestry while he held his head high. A confident smirk was evident across his face as he eyed the other Stallion with his two fangs exposed. “No, you aren’t Sombra. I was just speaking to an old acquaintance, right Caspian?” Flurry added while noticing the look of fear on her ex’s face. The Umbrum raised a brow, “Caspian… What a strong name. I am Lord Sombra. A pleasure to meet you.” The Shadow Pony held a hoof up as stared Caspian down with his menacing crimson eyes. The white coated Unicorn was hesitant to reply, but offered his hoof as the two shared a formal hoof shake. “Baron Caspian Blueblood son of Duke Blueblood, at your service, Lord Sombra…” He stated with a gulp. Being a creature of fear, Sombra could see the young Unicorn’s dismay on full display. He relished the feeling as it only strengthened him more. But as much as he enjoyed seeing others cower in front of his presence, the Umbrum could see his Fiance’s glaring look as she was trying to indicate for him to stop. Reluctantly, Sombra stood down but continued to stare the other Stallion down. Flurry was about to speak up before the Umbrum unexpectedly planted a kiss on her cheek. This prompted a subtle blush from the Alicorn as she tried to make sense of the spontaneous action. “Well, I believe we should return to the party, don’t you agree, my dear Fiance?” There was silence for a moment as Flurry looked her soon to be husband in the eye, “Uh-Yes. I believe we should.” With that, the Alicorn turned and exited the balcony, leaving the two Stallions behind. Once his Fiance was out of earshot, Sombra returned his focus back to Caspian. A sadistic look formed on his face, “So… Caspian was it?” A ghostly echo followed the Dark Lord’s voice as he slowly neared the terrified Unicorn. “Yes s-sir?” Caspian blurted out as he retreated to the railing of the Balcony. “Have you ever heard of the stories of my kind?” Sombra asked while only inches away from the smaller Unicorn. Caspian kept his mouth shut as he quickly nodded. The Umbrum’s sadistic grin widened with his sharp canine teeth glistening like freshly polished swords. His vile purple magical aura ignited in his eyes as his body began to manifest into a shadowy ominous form. “Good. Then let me make myself clear. If you ever so much as set eyes on my Fiance again, I shall ensure that you spend every moment of your life seeing the thing you fear most flashing before your eyes. Whether you are asleep, or wide awake, you will be in a constant state of absolute terror from which there is no escape, nor release. Every horror you have ever imagined shall torment you until you inevitably beg for mercy.” Caspian’s already white coat now looked as pale as Luna’s moon. His fur was perked up and his body was backed up against the railing overlooking the Crystal Empire below. “Have I made myself clear?” Asked the large imposing figure. Without hesitation, the Unicorn nodded. After having been satisfied, Sombra resigned himself to his original form while still sporting a confident smirk. “Very good. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind.” Caspian needed no further encouragement and immediately ran out of the room. Once his prey was gone, Sombra turned to rejoin the still lively party. Luckily, his dramatic exchange had gone unnoticed by most if not all the guests at the party. Flurry had been waiting for him just outside the balcony and had clearly seen his entire charade. A scowl littered her face as she watched him approach. Once side by side, Flurry went on a light saunter to which he followed. “What a charming young Stallion. I assume you two have a history?” Sombra pried with a raised brow. “It is none of your business Sombra. He is just an acquaintance. Nothing more.” Flurry answered plainly. The Umbrum looked unconvinced, “I beg to differ Princess. There is clearly something you aren’t telling me.” “I told you it is none of your business.” Flurry muttered while hiding her face from her Fiance. Still skeptical of the Alicorn’s answer, Sombra made his way directly in front of her, stopping the Princess in her tracks. “You two had a relationship once, didn’t you? It is as obvious as the mare in the moon. My suspicion was correct.” Flurry merely looked up at the Umbrum unamused, “I never said anything of the sort. And I didn’t ask for your help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some business I need to attend to.” With that, the white coated Alicorn trotted off leaving Sombra to watch with a confused but devious look. He chuckled to himself before making his way out of the party. Once alone again, Flurry looked around the large room to check if her Aunts Celestia and Luna had arrived yet. Unfortunately, she could not yet see either of the former Equestrian Princesses. With a defeated sigh, the young Royal made her way to the drink counter. Although she’d already had a glass of Chardonnay, Flurry wanted more than anything to forget about her encounter with her ex. “A glass of Sauvignon please?” The Alicorn asked politely. The bartender mare nodded, “Right away Princess.” The Mare then filled a decent sized glass full of the crimson beverage and passed it to Flurry. The young royal thanked the tender and began to slowly sip the bitter drink using her magic to levitate the glass. As she took down the liquor, Flurry watched the many guests of the party conversing and mingling. Almost all of them were familiar, however, some had been invited by her parents, or by Luster. She felt envious about the simpler lives of many of these Ponies. Granted, she could never fully understand the troubles of others, however, she doubted they had ever been in a similar predicament as her before. After having finished her second glass of wine, Flurry glanced over to the bartender, “One more please.” The Unicorn Mare behind the counter looked skeptical, however, seeing who was asking, she decided not to protest and poured one last glass of the Cabernet. After taking the refilled glass, Flurry took another sip of the alcoholic drink while still watching the door of the room. As she indulged in the last glass of wine, the Alicorn began to feel a strange feeling below her eyes. Although she had a fairly high tolerance thanks to her Alicorn biology, Flurry knew that she was definitely beginning to feel buzzed. With a sigh, she set the glass down and shook her head. She was beginning to wonder whether the two former Alicorn Princesses were going to show or not. However, to her relief, Flurry suddenly noticed the heads of some of the guests turn as several figures entered the room. As she glanced over to the entryway, she was thrilled to see the two guests that she had been waiting for all this time. Without wasting a moment, the young Royal made her way to her long awaited guests. Celestia and Luna immediately noticed their niece approaching, “Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! Thanks for coming!” Flurry cheerfully greeted. The two elder Alicorns smiled with a nod before embracing the young heir in a heartfelt hug, “Thank you Flurry Heart. Sorry for our delay.” Stated Celestia with a comforting tone. Flurry shook her head, “It’s no problem Aunt Celestia, I’m just glad you two could make it here. I know that you were both traveling the unknown regions.” “Yes, but thanks to Discord’s ‘invitation’, we heard about your wedding just in time.” Luna replied. Flurry was about to continue the conversation before realizing just how many eyes were trained on them. Knowing that the question she wanted to ask may lead to an unsettling answer, she asked, “Might we catch up somewhere more private?” While both elder Alicorns looked at one another with concern, Luna was the one to answer, “I suppose so. Lead the way Flurry Heart.” And with that, Flurry Heart led the three out of the venue and into one of the empty halls of the Crystal Castle. “I must say Flurry Heart, I am impressed that you managed to follow through on your plan. I was not sure whether Sombra would agree to your terms. You must have been very brave to confront him.” Flurry nodded, “Yes, I was just as surprised as anypony else that Sombra agreed. As far as bravery goes, I just followed in your examples.” The former Princesses smiled at the compliment, “You are truly a great heir for the Crystal Empire Flurry Heart. Your parents must be very proud of you.” Stated the Mare of the Moon herself. Flurry almost blushed before composing herself, “Thank you auntie, but I’m afraid there’s another problem that has come up as of recently. If I’m being honest, it’s one of the reasons I went to such lengths to have you two come.” Celestia raised a brow, “Another problem?” The young Alicorn nodded, “It has to do with the returned Crystal Ponies. When I asked them about Sombra, they mentioned that he had nothing to do with their departure from the Empire. Instead they mentioned some fallen ruler that had convinced them to leave.” Celestia and Luna shared a look before returning to face their niece, “Fallen ruler?” Luna asked. “They mentioned a name as well. Omni. When I asked Aunt Twilight about it, she showed me a book in your private collection about the five monster factions. Unfortunately, many of the pages on this ‘Countess Omni’ were torn out or missing.” Flurry explained. There was a pause as both elder Alicorns contemplated the young Royal’s summary. After each nodding to one another, Celestia began, “From what I remember, Countess Omni was a member of Grogar’s court in the days before Equestria. She was a cruel leader of a monster tribe that occupied the land that is now the Crystal Empire. Luna and I never saw Countess Omni. We only heard the stories. I’m afraid, this was so long ago that even I cannot perfectly recall.” Hearing this only served to worry Flurry Heart more. That being said, however, her curiosity still remained, “That can’t be all to it Aunt Celestia. There has to be more!” The wise white coated Alicorn sympathized with her niece. She could tell that this meant a lot to the young Princess who wanted nothing more than to protect her Ponies from this potential threat. Breaking the silent pause, however, was the former Princess of the Night, “I do recall a couple things. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but a lot of my inspiration behind Nightmare Moon was based on the stories of Countess Omni. If I remember correctly, the Ponies of old formed an alliance with one another to face Countess Omni. However, they lacked the power to defeat their foe. It wasn’t until the late Princess Amore gathered the courage to face the monster and stand up for her Ponies. With the power of the Crystal Heart, along with her own magical powers and the unity of the Crystal Ponies, they managed to seal Countess Omni away for eternity.” The hallway fell quiet once more as all three Alicorns exchanged glances to one another. “Wait, so Princess Amore actually fought Countess Omni?” Flurry asked with her curiosity piqued again. Luna nodded, “Yes. However, sadly it is impossible to learn more about the tale from her. Not to mention I highly doubt anypony in Equestria would have been alive during that time, much less remember such a distant memory.” Flurry placed her hoof on her chin as she took in the information. Although vague, it actually helped to provide more context. “That would explain why Sombra claimed he did not know about her. He wasn’t alive during her rule and downfall. His own memoir confirmed that. But it still doesn’t explain why the Crystal Ponies sought her out, or why there are missing pages in the book…” Flurry remarked as she pondered the new development. Celestia placed a hoof on the younger Alicorn’s shoulder, “Do not worry Flurry Heart, the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Ponies will be quite fine.” Flurry looked puzzled by this, “But how? This new threat-” “Because they have a committed, noble, and powerful Princess to protect them.” The wise elder finished with a warming and trusting smile. Flurry appreciated the compliment, and without warning, she embraced both her her Aunts with her two wings. “Thank you both. I really appreciate you sharing what you know.” “You’re very welcome Flurry Heart. Never hesitate to seek our knowledge.” Answered the former Princess of the Night. “Before I forget, I believe I have something that might be of value for your wedding tomorrow.” Stated Celestia as the white coated Alicorn summoned her golden magic aura. Within a second, a small box appeared before the three. “This was left in my care by one of my first students, Radiant Hope.” Flurries eyes went wide with realization, “That isn’t what I think it is?” Celestia nodded and then used her magic to open the small box. Inside was a very finely crafted ring made of 18 karat white gold while housing a bright blue topaz gem inside. Upon closer inspection, Flurry noted a small inscription that read; ‘There Is Always Hope’. “She meant it as a gift to Sombra. Sadly, she never had the opportunity to present it. But you can.” Celestia spoke as she offered the box to her niece. Flurry was very humbled by this, “Thank you Aunt Celestia, but this isn’t mine to give. And besides-” “I have a feeling Hope would have wanted you to give it to him. She wanted nothing more than to make her friend happy, and if it meant having somepony else offer him this gift, I’m sure she would approve.” Celestia interrupted. Although unsure of whether or not to take the ring, Flurry knew that the elder Alicorn was speaking truthfully. Celestia never did anything without good reason, and this was certainly no different. After a deep breath, Flurry used her magic to take the box. “Thank you.” She stated simply. The keeper of the sun nodded with a knowing smile, “You are most welcome Flurry Heart. We wish you the best of luck for your big day tomorrow.” Some time had passed since the engagement party, and the air around the Crystal Castle had settled just as Luna’s moon was rising over the darkening sky. As the Royal family saw their guests out, Lord Sombra could be found roaming the hallway on the way to his quarters. While walking through the passage, Sombra thought back to the party, and to the big day yet to come. It wasn’t like him to dwell on such arbitrary things such as these, but lately it was one of the few things that occupied his mind. He also could not shake the memory of the interaction he’d had with his Fiance during said party. Sombra was rarely protective of anything less it be his pride or being. He could not quite understand what had prompted him to defend his soon to be wife with such ferocity. Perhaps it was just an excuse to feed off another soul’s fear. Or perhaps it was something else entirely. As he reached the entrance to his quarters, the Dark Lord twisted the knob and opened the large door. Once open, the Umbrum was puzzled to find the lights of his room completely dimmed. This was highly irregular for him, but he figured that it was likely as a result of the many Castle servants being preoccupied with the party. With a shrug, he entered the room and shut the door behind him. After taking a few steps, however, the Shadow Pony heard the sound of a sword unsheathing behind him. “Walk no further, monster.” Stated a voice. In a moment, the lights of his room all brightened slightly. All throughout his room Sombra could see soldiers of the Royal Guard wearing their service armor as well as baring their weapons. The Dark Unicorn counted nearly 30 guards in all. “This had better be some elaborate prank.” Sombra stated with an unamused expression as he turned his head back to the one who’d addressed him. “This is no prank, ‘my lord’.” Answered the Stallion in a crude mocking tone while taking his sword and pointing it at the neck of his target. “You’re an enemy of the Crystal Empire and our Ponies, so it is our duty to remove monsters like you. I suggested this to our Princess and the Captain, however, they refused and said we should abide by our ‘truce’. So we decided to take matters into our own hooves.” Stated the Stallion with courage. Sombra raised a brow while now sporting a devious smirk, “I see. And how do you suppose you will do that?” “We’re only going to give you this one warning. Leave the Crystal Empire and never return.” The Guard replied with a determined scowl. The Umbrum raised a brow, “And if I don’t?” “Then we’ll be forced to make you. We aren’t afraid of you, and we’re prepared to do whatever is necessary to defend our Ponies.” The Stallion stated while he signaled to his other brethren who advanced closer to their target. Sombra quickly glanced around the room to see the other guards approaching him, “Well, that is quite endearing. You will fall braver than most.” The Umbrum said with a now present echo as his previously casual expression became impatient. “Last chance monster, leave peacefully or we will be forced to do things the hard way.” The Guard spouted. The guards stood firm with their weapons drawn and held towards the target. But nothing could prepare them for what was to come next. In an instant, the Dark Lord’s form began to radiate a vicious black cloudy aura. His eyes illuminated the room with a ghostly green and purple ambiance. The guards began to feel a wave of chilling air around them. “I have always preferred doing things the difficult way. Now, shall we begin?” Sombra stated with a tone so horrifying that many of the guards backed away. The quill moved in quick succession from one letter to the next. Occasionally it was lifted ind briefly dipped into the ink before being set back to work by it’s user. Flurry Heart was currently finishing up her latest diary entry before getting some much needed sleep for the next day. It was rather unconventional for her to write her entries in the evening, however, considering the number of important events recently, and not to mention the importance of the next day, she figured now was the best time to do such an activity. As she finished the final word a paragraph, the young Royal heard a series of knocks on her door followed by a strange chilling wave of air. “This late at night?” She thought to herself while setting the quill down into its resting place and ruffling her feathers. Not even six seconds after the first, another series of knocks ensued. Whatever or whomever was at her door, they wanted her urgently. After reluctantly leaving her table, the Alicorn made her way to the door, “Coming!” As she opened the door, Flurry’s eyes went wide and her jaw dropped before the sight. There, standing directly in front of her was her soon to be husband Lord Sombra. The Umbrum stared directly at his fiance intently with a horrid dark magic aura emanating from his eyes. His pure black mane and tail radiated like a raging fire, and steam exuded from his nostrils as he breathed loudly. His normally well kept cloak and attire looked to have been cut and scratched in many areas. Beside him he levitated a sword and a helmet that the Alicorn recognized all too well. “Good evening Princess Flurry Heart.” The Umbrum spoke with a menacing tone. Flurry began to shiver at the revelation, “S-Sombra… What have you done!?” She exclaimed. The Umbrum’s attention did not waver. He took the sword using his magic and jabbed the blade directly into the floor before Flurry’s door. He then set the helmet down on top the sword’s pommel. “That’s Flash’s helmet! What happened to him!?” Flurry asked frantically. “So you do know him. Well, did you know that he brought a number of other soldiers from your guard to attempt a coup?” Sombra asked with a commanding voice. Flurry was silent for a moment as she put the pieces together. “What!? No! I would never order them to do something like that!” She answered without falter. “Surprising how little control you have over your own subordinates. Your loyal soldiers are alive, but should such a coup ever happen again, this may not be the case. Luckily, rebellions such as these will be a thing of the past when I am KING.” Sombra stated as his tone became more tame. The shocked Alicorn did nothing but stare in horror as she feared the worst. “Now, I suggest you get your rest, my dear fiance. We have our big day tomorrow, and I would hate for something to spoil it.” The Dark Lord said before quickly and abruptly leaving. As she stared at the sword and helmet in the floor Flurry brushed her shaky hooves through her mane, “What have I done…” Chapter 11: Of Hope and Of FearChapter 11 Of Hope and Of Fear “No...” Flurry muttered to herself as she looked at the ominous figure before her. She knew without a doubt that this was the one that the Crystal Ponies had mentioned during her conversations with them. ~“It seems my reputation has been lost to time. But I suppose that could not be helped with the fragile little minds of your kind.”~ Stated the Umbrum condescendingly as she made her way up the stairs of the altar. “I know who you are.” Stated Flurry Heart with conviction as she stood firm. “You’re the one that manipulated our Crystal Ponies and led them to the cold north. You tore the pages out of the Book of Grogar’s Order. You’re a Monster.” The Shadow Pony raised a brow as if seeming impressed, ~“It appears somepony discovered the truth. Albeit far too late to make a difference. My plan has already been enacted thanks to my dear disciple. Isn’t that right, Sombra?”~ Flurry glared at the female Umbrum with disdain while pondering the new revelation. She then glanced at her husband with disappointment, “You lied to me Sombra. You told me you’d never heard of Omni.” The Dark Unicorn looked ashamed as he shook his head, “I did not know she was Omni. I only knew her as Madam Umbara.” Once again, Sombra looked and seemed innocent, but after the new events, Flurry was unlikely to trust his word. ~“You should not blame Sombra, for he was only following his Mother’s orders.”~ “Mother!? But that means-” ~“Yes. Sombra is my son. And now that you both are bound, by extension I am your stepmother.”~ The Dark Pony interrupted with a snide grin which rivaled that of her son. This only served to rile Flurry more. But before she could take another step forward, several hooves held her in place. “You are no family to us, Countess Omni, nor are you welcomed here!” Stated Cadence as she stood strong. The Umbrum did not take this lightly, as her eye twitch indicated. She lit up her crimson curved horn with corrupting dark magic as she spoke, ~“On the contrary, I am right where I belong. This is my domain, and I will not share it with the likes of weak, pathetic Ponies!”~ The Female Umbrum then shot a destructive blast of dark magic directly at the family of Royals only for each of them to dodge and avoid it. However, Flurry realized too late that they had not been the targets of this beam. After making contact with the Crystal Heart behind them, the sacred object shattered into thousands of shards that now littered the altar. The Umbrum grinned maliciously as she looked up at the sky which rapidly shifted from a beautiful summer day to a bleak overcast. She then looked back down to the Ponies before her who were still trying to process what was happening. A sadistic smile crept across her face as she laughed loudly. Without wasting another moment, the Elements of Harmony each nodded to one another and prepared to use their magic of friendship on the new foe. However, before they could act, the Umbrum vanished into a cloud and manifested herself back on the balcony from which she’d originated. As Countess Omni stared down at the crowd of frightened Ponies, she glanced back up to the sky which grew more depressing with each second. ~RISE MY KIN! RISE AND FEED OFF THE FEARS OF THOSE LESSER! RISE AND RETAKE OUR LAND!”~ She shouted with a tone so strong it echoed through the sky. Within moments, a group of other shadow-like clouds emanated from the Crystal Castle and landed in the street of the Empire. Ponies from the crowd began to panic as what seemed like an army of Shadow Ponies appeared before their eyes. Each creature was slightly different in appearance, but most shared a similar color of mane and coat along with a pair of vampiric fangs. Unlike Countess Omni or Sombra, however, their manes did not wave like a curtain, and were rather disheveled and unkempt. As the crowd began to scatter, the Shadow Ponies pursued them and began to cast evil enchantments to feed off their fears. Shining Armor and Cadence quickly ran into the crowd and called upon the Equestrian Guard to combat the threat. The Elements of Harmony along with Discord and the two former Princesses joined in as well to help in the fight, but as the numbers of Shadow Ponies grew, the odds became even more lopsided. Flurry, however, remained glued in position as her brain raced with negative thoughts. Things had gone from bad to worse so quickly that she could not even think properly. She stared down at the crumpled shards of the former Crystal Heart with fear as she deduced what would happen shortly as a result. The cold tundra of the north would overtake the Crystal Empire for good. The young Alicorn placed a hoof on her terror ridden face as she stated, “How could you do this Sombra?” The Umbrum looked away in shame and finally replied, “I had no choice.” “There’s always a choice! I chose to give you a chance! I stuck by you and believed in you!” She retorted with anger now riddling her tone. “You would never understand. It is not so simple-” ~“Don’t sell yourself short Sombra, you did splendid.”~ Interrupted the voice of Sombra’s mother from behind. Flurry looked forward and hissed, “Stop this madness Omni! Tell your followers they are not welcome in the Crystal Empire!” The Umbrum looked unfazed by this threat, ~“And what will you do to stop me? Without the power of the Crystal Heart, you are nothing.”~ Flurry then ignited the Alicorn magic in her horn as she prepared to face the arrogant monster. But before she could, Sombra stepped in front. The young royal growled, “Get out of my way Sombra.” The Umbrum shook his head and looked to his side, “She is right Madam Umbara, call off our kin.” Flurry’s face lit up with shock once more after hearing these words. Countess Omni, however, was less than thrilled with this defiance from her son. ~“Your compassion for these Ponies is making you weak Sombra. This is my final warning to you. Join me, or suffer the same fate as these pitiful Ponies.”~ Sombra glanced back to his now wife with what looked to be regret. He shook his head once more before turning around to face his Mother. “No. I am done with your orders. You will not control me anymore.” Countess Omni’s eyes began to emit a dark magical aura as she scowled, ~“So be it.”~ Without warning, the Countess fired off a destructive blast of dark magic directly at her son. Sombra was familiar with this type of energy and managed to absorb the blast effortlessly with his horn. “Go, protect our Ponies. I will deal with Madam Umbara.” Flurry looked at Sombra in stupor as she came to grips with what he was doing. Before she could think any further, he shouted once more, “Go!” Needing no further encouragement, the Alicorn spread her wings and flew off as quick as she could. Her wedding dress made flying difficult, however, Flurry did not care. Her only priority was to keep her Ponies safe and ward off the Shadow creatures that were terrorizing the Empire. As she looked overhead, she could see the royal guards fighting with many Umbrums in a great struggle. But although many Ponies held their own, a great number of Shadow Ponies were feeding off the fears of the weak. Flurry could not allow this, and after descending into the courtyard, she used her strong Alicorn magic to blast away many of the Shadow Ponies. While fighting the masses of enemies, Flurry noticed the sky overhead continue to darken as the air grew colder. With the tundra quickly encroaching, the Shadow Ponies would soon be the least of their concerns. As she looked around, she noticed Celestia and Luna attempting to free many of the Crystal Ponies from the enchantments of the Umbrums. “Aunt Celestia! Aunt Luna!” She called out while flying their way. After meeting up with her mentors, Flurry helped the two sisters to stave off some more shadow creatures. “Flurry Heart! There are too many of them! We must get the citizens to safety!” Stated the former Princess of the Sun as she multi-tasked. “There won’t be anywhere safe unless we can keep cold tundra away! I need you two to keep the clouds from engulfing the Empire! My parents and the Elements can help to get the Crystal Ponies to shelter!” Flurry stated confidently. The sisters exchanged a brief glance before nodding, “We’ll do our best, Queen Flurry Heart.” With that, the Alicorn twins rushed off to repel the encroaching clouds. Flurry then turned her attention to a large commotion in the main square of the Empire. She could see an intense battle ensuing between the Equestrian Royal guard and a large number of Umbrum. Not hesitating in the slightest, the young Alicorn rushed off to aid in the fight. While Queen Flurry Heart protected her subjects, however, King Sombra remained in a fierce dual with his Mother. Using his strong dark magics, Sombra raised a series of jagged black crystals out of the ground in an attempt to trap Madam Umbara. However, after having been trapped in her son’s psyche for over a thousand years, Countess Omni was easily able to anticipate all of Sombra’s typical offensive techniques. After avoiding each crystal-like stalagmite, the Umbrum Witch used her horn to shoot beams of destructive energy that seemed reminiscent of the power of Grogar’s bell. Sombra avoided each beam by using his shadow form to evade the destructive energy. After successfully dodging each attack, Sombra manifested himself hack in his physical form and raised himself up using a large black crystal as a platform. As he rose from the ground he fired off a salvo of dark magical spells, however, these didn’t so much as faze Madam Umbara who simply absorbed the attacks without a flinch. ~“Do you truly believe you can defeat me, my son? Even at your peak, your powers pale in comparison to mine.”~ Countess Omni taunted with a Patronizing grin as she stared up at her son. Sombra looked unamused as he halted his ascent, “You talk to much.” The Countess merely scoffed before calling upon a mass of dark energy which she used to blast the platform Sombra was standing on. Sombra teleported to the ground and summoned a strong black sword which he held with his magic. As he dashed forward, Madam Umbara sent off multiple stray blasts of energy. Sombra used his sword to expertly cut through each blast before attempting to slash his target. The sword, however, passed directly through Countess Omni without dealing any damage. After having failed in his attempt, the Countess sent a pulse of ominous energy around her entire being which engulfed Sombra and trapped him in a web-like crystal structure. The Umbrum King growled in frustration before shifting into his shadow form to escape. Once outside of the trap, Sombra attempted to use his most powerful attack and transformed himself into a massive shadow-like form. He then attempted to engulf Countess Omni entirely and subject her to her fears. This move, however, proved fruitless as the Umbrum Witch laughed wickedly, ~“You dare use my own spells against me? You are a disappointment!”~ Not a moment after, Sombra was blasted back into his physical form and held in place by the Countess’ dark energy. Sombra looked ready to retaliate before he felt a sharp stinging pain surging throughout his entire being. Bolts of poisonous purple and green energy pierced his body and began to create cracks in his form. Sombra yelled in a raspy tone with agony as the pain reminded him of his first exposures to the power of the Crystal Heart when he was a colt. As her son suffered from the devastating spell, Madam Umbara looked on with satisfaction, ~“You are unworthy of my powers, Sombra. You are unworthy of our kin’s legacy. You are unworthy of being a King!”~ She shouted before amplifying her already destructive spell. While Flurry attempted to get many of the Crystal Ponies and other guests of the wedding to safety, she saw the ensuing battle between Sombra and Omni in the corner of her eye. She had been stunned to see Sombra standing up to his own Mother, and even more stunned to see Sombra stand up for the Crystal Ponies. However, the young Alicorn could tell that Sombra was clearly outmatched by the Umbrum Witch. It was then that she heard the sound echo throughout the empire. Sombra’s shouts of agony as his physical form was being shattered like the shell of a turtle. After fighting off yet another Umbrum warrior, Flurry looked to the origin of the shouts only to see a barbaric spell tearing her Husband’s being apart with each passing second. As if acting on instinct, Flurry Heart flew as fast as she could over to the battle. ~“I told you nopony would stand in my way, Sombra. You were foolish to think you could stop me. Now I have no other choice than to destroy you for your disobedience. And as for your naive wife, I have saved a very special spell for her.”~ Madam Umbara explained as she walked around her son’s rapidly deteriorating body. Upon hearing these words, Sombra used what little strength he could muster to open his eyes. Recent memories flashed before him as he remembered the time he’d spent in the Empire. As the pain began to drown out, Sombra remembered the words Flurry Heart had spoken recently, ‘There’s always a choice! I chose to give you a chance! I stuck by you and believed in you!’ She believed in him, and he’d betrayed her. Sombra had never intended for things to go this way. He’d only wanted to fulfill his purpose and free his kin from their imprisonment, however, he could now see that it had never been his purpose all along. It was his cruel Mother’s wish. As he closed his eyes, Sombra felt a sensation that he hadn’t since he was but a colt; a teardrop. His efforts to revitalize his kin had only doomed the one that he now knew he cared about just like they had over a millennia ago. On that thought, the Umbrum King accepted his fate knowing he had failed for the last time. … A bright light shone throughout the grounds as a tremendously powerful blast of energy hit Countess Omni. The unsuspecting Umbrum Witch was sent directly into a hard wall of the Crystal Castle and slightly cracked the stone upon impact. Umbara’s connection with her destructive spell had been severed as Sombra fell to the ground in a very weakened state. The Shadow Pony huffed in anger as she glanced up to the young Alicorn who had cast the powerful spell. Flurry Heart had landed and stood defensively in front of her diminished husband with a determined expression. “Stay away from him.” The young royal stated with conviction. After regaining her footing, Countess Omni slowly approached the two with a menacing dark magical aura exuding from her entire being, ~“You would defend Sombra after everything he has done to you? To your Ponies? To the Crystal Empire? Such misplaced faith.”~ Madam Umbara stated with a conniving grin. Flurry Heart sneered before finally putting all the pieces together. Countess Omni was likely the root cause for all of Sombra’s tyrannical actions. “My faith is not misplaced. I just know who my true enemy is.” She strongly replied as she prepared to use the magic in her Alicorn horn once more. Countess Omni’s grin remained, ~“I admire your confidence, Alicorn. But as I told you earlier, without the powers of the Crystal Heart you are outmatched.”~ Without warning, the Umbrum Witch raised her two front hooves and slammed them into the ground with incredible force causing a seismic crack within the earth below. The crack rapidly approached Flurry Heart before she took flight and narrowly avoided a group of razor sharp black crystal spikes that erupted from the cracks. The Alicorn then retaliated by shooting a barrage of magical beams towards the Countess. Madam Umbara teleported in quick succession to dodge each beam, but some managed to graze her dark hide. After Waiting for an opening, the Umbrum absorbed the final beam and shifted into her shadow form before trying to engulf the Alicorn in darkness. Flurry Heart quickly cast a strong protection spell around herself and expanded the magical shield outwards to repel Countess Omni’s dark presence. The Umbrum’s dark aura struck Flurry Heart’s shield like a large wave on a boat or a powerful gust of wind on a brittle house. Though the Princess’ protection spell was strong thanks to her father’s teachings, it would not protect her forever. After a few more seconds of bombardment, Flurry teleported out of danger and attempted to trap Countess Omni in a containment spell. An orb of magic energy surrounded the Umbrum Witch who had returned to her physical form. Umbara seemed impressed with this showing from the Alicorn who she’d clearly underestimated thus far. Nonetheless, the Umbrum was not finished yet. After summoning a mass of evil dark energy, the Shadow Pony Queen charged to the barrier of the spell and cracked the enchantment open using the tip of her curved horn. Flurry Heart now looked worried as she had used many of her strongest abilities to little success. Umbara, on the other hoof, looked as though she was only beginning to showcase her powers. After staring at one another for a few moments, Countess Omni transformed into a large black cloud with only the image of her nightmarish green, purple, and crimson eyes at the center. In just a second, she split the cloud into a dozen identical copies of her physical form. Flurry had seen spells of illusion before thanks to Discord, but this time she truly had to keep her guard up as any of these images could be the real Omni. As she stood her ground, Flurry used her magic to summon her Equestrian sword. After closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she shot forward using her strong wings to propel her through the air like an arrow shot from a crossbow. The Alicorn cut down Countess Omni’s illusions one after the other with expert precision making each image disappear after a hit. After defeating 5 of the figures, the Umbrum launched an attack with each illusion taking a different position while firing off beams of destructive energy the Alicorn’s way. As the battle above raged on, Sombra managed to regain consciousness after his near fatal experience. The Umbrum King glanced up to see his wife locked in combat with his cruel mother. He was impressed to see Flurry Heart holding her own, but after hearing his Mother’s final words to him, he worried Madam Umbara was hiding a devious scheme. Sombra attempted to regain his footing, but try as he may he could not muster the strength needed. Flurry Heart had defeated nearly all of Countess Omni’s illusions, but remained focused as she knew the real one had yet to reveal itself. She blocked an attack from the 10th figure and quickly retaliated with a vertical swipe which made the image vanish. There were only several more figures, however, while she’d been focused defending herself, she hadn’t noticed one of the figures was missing. The Alicorn then dodged a spell from the last figure before stabbing her sword into the image making it disappear like the others. She then scanned for the last target before sensing an object quickly approaching. By instinct, the Alicorn flew upwards and avoided a massive black crystal spike that grazed her wedding dress. After looking down she could see the final figure of Madam Umbara staring at her with an unamused expression. Flurry caught her breath and immediately launched a powerful horizontal strike on her opponent. Countess Omni was prepared for this attack, however, and raised another black spike to block the blow. Only once Flurry’s sword made contact, the crystal changed form and engulfed the weapon in its mass. Flurry attempted to pull the sword out before the Umbrum Witch shot a destructive beam her way. The Alicorn abandoned her weapon and teleported to safety. The young Royal’s heart was beating very quickly. She’d been in life threatening battles before, but never any this intense, nor without help. Flurry had not yet reached her limit, but she knew it was not far. Regardless, she could not give up. The lives of her Ponies, her Family, and of Equestria depended on her. While catching her breath once more, the Alicorn could see steam exuding from her breath which indicated the temperature of the empire had drastically fallen. Flurry briefly looked up to see the two Alicorn sisters still attempting to keep the encroaching clouds at bay but to little success as the tundra’s escalation was too quick to be contained. Countess Omni noticed her opponent’s unease and smiled proudly, ~“You may as well take it in. For this may be the last time you see the Crystal Empire and the rest of your pitiful Ponies.”~ Flurry eyed the Umbrum with revulsion, “As long as I’m alive you will not take over the Crystal Empire or my Ponies.” Umbara’s smile remained, ~“We shall see.”~ The Umbrum Witch then ignited her dark magical aura but with intensity Flurry Heart had not yet seen. Madam Umbara roared like a Manticore as she transformed into a colossal shadow figure that towered above all others. Most of her defining physical traits had been lost and all that remained was her devilish eyes and her sharp red curved horn. The figure then began to expand a cloud of darkness that surrounded Flurry Heart. The Alicorn ignited her own magic and stood her ground while firing strong blasts of energy to repel the darkness. This was a losing battle, however as the cloud regenerated with every blow and only continued to grow with each second. Flurry did not know how to stop the Countess as all her offensive techniques had all but failed until now. While defending herself against the shadow, the young royal glanced around to see her friends and family also struggling against the superior numbers of the Umbrum army. Shadow Ponies managed to overpower many of the Crystal Guards and cast enchantments on them to feed off the Ponies fears. She could hear the shouts and screams of agony and terror from her subjects as they slowly succumbed to the overwhelming might of the Monsters. Teardrops seeped down from the former Princess’ cheeks as she watched the tragedy unfold before her all the while being powerless to stop it. As Madam Umbara’s cloud of Shadow grew larger Flurry could no longer repel the force, in a last attempt she cast a powerful protection spell around herself. Her field of view grew darker and darker until only a black void remained. The sounds of her friends and family faded, but one thing that remained was the chilling cold. The Alicorn opened her eyes and looked around. Nothing. Flurry could not see a single definable detail. The young royal took a step forward but did not even feel her hoof make contact with solid ground. It was almost as though she were levitating like the Lord of Chaos himself. ‘Where am I?’ She thought while scanning around. The young royal was then exposed to a sickly laugh that echoed through the void with an ominous tone. Her eyes darted from direction to direction trying to pinpoint the exact origin, but she could not see anything. Not a moment later, however, the laughing stopped. ~“How strange.”~ Stated the voice virtually right next to her. Flurry’s fur perked up as she quickly turned around to see the image of the Umbrum Witch’s two glowing purple and green eyes. As she backed up, the eyes followed her steadily. ~“Normally I would have begun to feed on your fears. However, it seems they have been hidden from your psyche.”~ The Alicorn did not understand what this meant. She was about to respond before the voice continued, ~“But no matter. This curse shall keep you contained long enough.”~ Flurry watched as the pair of eyes began to vanish. She then ran after the image before summoning her magic and shooting a powerful beam of energy its way. “Why are you doing this!?” She asked with a commanding tone. The pair of eyes then returned for a moment before transforming into the full image of the Umbrum Witch, ~“I believe that question answers itself. I am a Monster. And being a Monster gives me life.”~ Flurry sneered as she attempted to blast the Countess with another bolt of energy. However, the attack did no damage and simply passed directly through Madam Umbara as if she were an apparition. The Umbrum looked to the spot where the energy had passed through her and looked back to the Alicorn with a devilish grin, ~“I have also spent a millennia trapped in a half form due to your nasty Pony magic.”~ Umbara then retaliated with a blast of energy of her own. The bolt connected with Flurry Heart and sent her falling to the floor with a shout of pain as the dark magic stung like venom. The Umbrum’s wicked smile remained as she followed up with another concussive magic attack that harmed the Alicorn. Flurry Heart could not defend herself against Countess Omni’s overwhelming power, nor could she call for help in such a place. Before the Umbrum Witch could cast another dark spell, however, her blast was intercepted by another. Omni glanced to her side and was surprised to see Sombra. Her son looked fatigued as he panted to catch his breath. The Countess rolled her eyes, ~“You never learn, do you?”~ Sombra shook his head while still breathing heavily, “You of all should know that I’m all kinds of stubborn.” Omni sighed with a solemn expression. Without warning, she then shot a beam of energy which clashed with one of Sombra’s own. The exchange released many sparks that lit up the void around them. Flurry looked up at the battle while still on the ground, having been weakened by the Countess’ attacks. ‘I am sorry Flurry Heart. This is all my doing.’ A voice spoke within the Alicorn’s head. Flurry looked around sporadically trying to find out where the vocals had come from. ‘It is me. Sombra. I can communicate with you telepathically in this realm. But I do not have long.’ The voice stated. Flurry looked over to see Sombra still in an intense battle with his evil mother. ‘How do we stop her Sombra? Without the Crystal Heart-’ ‘You do not need the Crystal Heart. You just need to believe.’ Sombra interrupted as he exchanged a brief determined glance her way before resuming his focus on his opponent. ‘Believe? Believe in what?’ She asked with a worried look. There was a pause as Sombra once again looked her way, ‘Believe in yourself, Flurry Heart. From the first day you confronted me, I saw in you what you are truly capable of. You reminded me of-’ Sombra’s time, however, had run out as his Mother’s beam overpowered his own and struck him with great force. Flurry Heart watched as her husband fell to the floor and looked back to the Umbrum Witch, “Stop it!” Flurry shouted in desperation. Madam Umbara looked Flurry’s way with a sadistic look, ~“Oh I think not, Alicorn. Your magic may be powerful, but it lacks purpose. And therefor you cannot defeat me.”~ Flurry Heart watched as Countess Omni ignited the magic in her curved crimson horn and placed her hoof on Sombra’s face, holding him in place as she prepared to end him once and for all. ~“You are not a Princess of Love, nor are you a Princess of Friendship. So tell me, Alicorn. What are you a Princess of?”~ Flurry Heart finally managed to find her footing before glancing down at Sombra. With his eyes closed, he seemed as though he had submitted fully, but as she looked up to his horn, she noticed same ring she had gifted him many moments ago. A word then flashed through her mind as she contemplated Countess Omni’s question. “Hope.” She stated as she looked directly at her opponent. The Countess raised a brow, “What?” “I am the Princess of Hope.” The Alicorn stated as she continued to stare at the confused Umbrum. Flurry Heart then took a step forward showing no fear to her opponent who until now had yet to be challenged by her. Madam Umbara scowled and turned her focus on the Alicorn approaching her, ~“What is hope, but a vague promise and a lie!”~ Flurry Heart shook her head and closed her eyes briefly, “You’re wrong, Omni.” The Alicorn opened her eyes once more and looked back at her opponent, only she could now also see the world around her again as opposed to the infinite void. The Crystal Empire had now been coated in a layer of cold snow and ice as the clouds had nearly entirely engulfed the sky above. The shadow creatures had overwhelmed many of the Crystal Ponies. As Flurry Heart glanced down, she noticed that she was standing before the broken shards of the Crystal Heart. “Hope is what brings us Ponies together.” She answered simply as she levitated up the fragments of the shattered object. It was then that the fragments began to glow an iridescent white as they magically circled around the princess as though they had a mind of their own. Madam Umbara watched in bewilderment as the shards rotated around the Alicorn resembling a whirlwind. After gaining a substantial amount of speed, the fragments then amassed directly above Flurry Heart’s horn. The Alicorn then summoned her own magic which then merged with the shards and transformed them into a liquid energy-like substance that then coated Flurry heart’s entire body. As Countess Omni watched on, she let her hoof off Sombra’s face, allowing him to also glance over at his wife’s transformation. Flurry Heart’s cutie mark began to shine through the energy coating and physically changed as well. While it had previously only depicted the Crystal Heart itself, it had now evolved to have a golden Caduceus merged with the Heart. Sombra’s eyes lit up as he immediately recognized this familiar mark. ‘I knew it.’ The Umbrum thought to himself as he witnessed Flurry Heart’s change enfold. The energy surrounding the Alicorn began to warm and even melt the snow around her as Flurry Heart continued to change. Countess Omni snarled and shot a devastating beam of her magic towards the Alicorn who was paying her no mind. Instead of destroying Flurry Heart, however, the blast was completely absorbed as though the energy coating her was an impenetrable barrier. The Umbrum Witch’s stared in shock as she hadn’t expected this. ~“No. That’s impossible!”~ At this point, many of the other Shadow Creatures who had been focused on the Crystal Ponies now turned their attention to the Alicorn. Their normally cunning and cold leader now looked perturbed as she witnessed the spectacle before her. The energy layer around Flurry Heart had now merged completely with the Alicorn’s body and had fully revealed her new form. The Princess’ stature had grown a few inches as had the length of her already large wings. Her mane and tail now naturally waved in the wind like an unfastened sail resembling a beautiful sky blue and magenta waterfall. The previously terrified Ponies also witnessed the spectacle as every shadow creature had released their holds on them. “I don’t believe it.” Stated Luster Dawn as she gazed on in amazement of her friend’s incredible change. Flurry Heart opened her eyes and looked at the perplexed Umbrum Witch with determination. Her new form radiated a virtuous aura that began to rapidly melt the snow around her. “It’s over Countess Omni. Leave the Crystal Empire and take your shadow creatures with you.” Flurry Heart ordered as she took several steps forward. The Umbrum however, had no intention on obeying this command. ~“You may be different, Alicorn. But it still changes nothing. My power is absolute. FEAR IS ABSOLUTE!”~ She yelled as she ignited the vile aura in her eyes. Flurry simply stared at Umbara, “My name is Flurry Heart. And your power means nothing to me.” The Alicorn then conjured a powerful spell which sent a pulse throughout the entire Crystal Empire. The snow and ice that coated the streets, roofs, and gardens instantly melted just as the dreary clouds in the sky vanished. The Crystal Ponies watched in amazement as the Empire was terraformed in the blink of an eye by their Princess’ power. Madam Umbara shook her head in disbelief, ~“How. How is this possible!? The Crystal Heart is gone!”~ At this point Flurry Heart looked behind her to see her subjects with a proud expression, “No. The Crystal heart lives on all of us. It was only ever a conduit. A conduit of hope.” The Umbrum growled again and took a step forward. Her Shadow Pony subordinates did the same and surrounded Flurry Heart with looks of malice. ~“I don’t care what magic that cursed object has given you. You are no match for all of us. TAKE HER!”~ Ordered the cruel leader. Without hesitation, all the shadow ponies converged on Flurry Heart while conjuring dark magic spells to overwhelm her. However, before they could hit their mark Flurry cast a protection spell around her whole body. Every attack deflected off the shield while dealing no damage. After a few seconds, the Alicorn expanded the shield which began pushing many of the shadow creatures back as they could not repel its power. Once she’d overpowered the shadow creatures, the Princess stomped her front hooves which created a ripple of golden energy that quickly made its way to her Crystal Ponies and her friends. The spell coated everypony in a thin golden layer of energy that shone like a bright candle. “Ponies of the Crystal Empire! We can defeat these monsters if we work together! Join me!” Flurry Heart commanded with a strong tone as she spread her wings and held her head high. After seeing the looks of confidence and eagerness from her subjects, Flurry turned straight towards the horde of shadow creatures and charged forward with her wings. The Ponies of the empire followed her into battle with newfound bravery and clashed with the legion of Shadow Ponies head on. With their new protective barriers, they were immune to the dark magic attacks of the Umbrums rendering the monsters’ main advantage nearly useless. The Ponies of the Empire used their physical abilities to great success with the Earth Ponies using their superior strength, Pegasi using their agility and flight, and Unicorns using their magical spells that had been amplified by their Princess’ powers. With every shadow creature defeated, Flurry cast a new spell to seal them away beneath the ground just as they had been for a millennia. The numbers of monsters began to dwindle with every second as more and more were sealed away by the Princess of Hope. Madam Umbara watched as her warriors were defeated one after the other by the Alicorn. ~“I always have to do everything myself.”~ She muttered with malcontent. As Flurry Heart dispatched opponent after opponent, she sensed a strong magic blast heading her way. After narrowly avoiding the shot, she glanced down only to see nopony. However, in the blink of an eye, a massive black crystal stalagmite erupted from the ground below and nearly impaled her. Flurry Heart looked to the top of the spiked object and noticed the pointed edge turn into the form of Countess Omni. The Umbrum Witch did not waste a second before attacking the Princess with a series of deadly spells. With her newfound powers, Flurry Heart countered the spells with ones of her own which nullified the dark magic. After stopping many of her opponent’s attacks, Flurry managed to go on the offensive and clashed horns with Countess Omni. The Alicorn Princess used her wings to push the Umbrum forward while both their horns discharged sparks like the embers of a raging fire. Although Umbara was losing ground, she was far from finished and had many devious tricks she’d yet to reveal. While pushing against the Alicorn’s force, a wicked smile crept along her face as she prepared to use the same spell that had contained Flurry Heart before. Just as she got ready to use her spell, however, a separate bolt of magic struck her from behind and broke her concentration, allowing Flurry Heart to overpower her. After being thrown to the ground, Omni looked behind to see her son standing tall with the magic of his red horn at the ready. ~“Impudent child! How dare you!”~ She yelled as she glared at him with pure hatred. “Your time has come, Madam Umbara. Submit, or be destroyed.” Sombra stated seriously. Omni continued to stare at her son, ~“Your threats are empty as always Sombra. You cannot destroy me.”~ “You’re right. I can’t. But she can.” He then locked eyes with his wife as the two shared a nod. Knowing her son was not bluffing, Madam Umbara quickly manifested a tremendous amount of energy in her red horn before unleashing the limit of her power. Uncontrollable sparks of purple and green electric-like energy flickered throughout her body and shot out to her shadow pony warriors before pulling them into her essence as though she were a magnet. Umbara’s form absorbed the power of every standing shadow Pony before growing to a massive size and towering over her enemies. Her body’s hide looked like the black crystal spikes from her spells while her mane resembled the smoke from a deadly fire. What little sanity she had was lost as her form reached its completion. Flurry Heart looked to Sombra and the two nodded before the Alicorn addressed her subjects, “This is our moment everypony! We must stop Countess Omni now!” Every Pony in the Empire bravely joined their Princess and stood firm as their enemy began to approach slowly. Flurry looked to her sides with pride as she saw how unified her Ponies were. Now was not the time to be distracted however, as she heard a menacing roar from the evil entity. After closing her eyes, the Alicorn Princess amassed a sphere of golden magical energy that swirled like a tornado. The Ponies instinctively closed their eyes as well before a series of virtuous energy seeped out from their essence and found its way to Flurry Heart’s sphere. The round mass of energy continued to grow as everypony contributed until it was nearly the same size as the Umbrum’s form. Still in a raged state, Countess Omni blindly charged at the Ponies without any caution. The sphere had now been imbued with the essence from every Pony in the Empire and Flurry could feel its incredible power. It was the power of hope. Of harmony. And of love. Flurry Heart used every ounce of strength she had to push the sphere forward toward her foe. Within moments, the sphere and its target collided, creating an unbelievable explosion of multicolred light that nearly blinded everypony. The Alicorn could hear a shout of agony from her opponent as Madam Umbara’s form began shatter to pieces and instantly disintegrate upon contact with the incredible power. It took no more than a few seconds for the sphere to finally eliminate its target for good. At long last, the Empire was rid of Countess Omni and the Shadow Creatures. With its foe now vanquished for good, the sphere dissolved into the air like evaporation after a long rain. Flurry Heart looked up at the bright sky as the last remnants of energy passed away. With a sigh of relief, she descended to the ground below and landed gracefully. Silence filled the area as everypony stared at the Princess with anticipation. After turning to see the speechless crowd, the Alicorn Princess managed a smile “It’s over.” She stated simply. In an instant, the crowd erupted with cheers and shouts of delight. The noise was even louder than Flurry Heart’s wedding not long prior. But regardless, she did not care. The Alicorn made no attempt to stop the tears swelling up in her eyes after feeling the solace knowing their struggle had ended. Before she could move a muscle, she heard her name called several times as her two parents came running to her side. “Flurry! Sweetheart! You did it!” Cadence and Shining shouted over the crowd in unison as they impulsively embraced their daughter. The Alicorn Princess returned the heartfelt hug, wrapping her large wings around the two. “We’re so proud of you Flurry. You were so brave and so strong.” Cadence complimented with pride. The sentimental moment lasted fairly long as everypony knew just how much of an ordeal they had overcome. Cadence and Shining eventually released Flurry but could not take their eyes away from her amazing new form. “Your mane...” Shining stated with amazement as he pointed out his daughter’s ethereal hair that waved like a flag. “What do you mean Dad? What’s wrong with my mane?” The Alicorn asked with worry. She could only hope that her mane had not been entirely ruined in the chaos of the battle. “Nothing’s wrong sweetheart… It’s just...” Cadence trailed. If Flurry had a mirror, she would be frantically checking it to see what her parents were talking about. “Flurry, you’ve ascended.” Shining stated with an unbreakable smile. The Alicorn’s face lit up with shock at these words before another voice chimed in, “Congratulations, Queen Flurry Heart. You truly have earned your power.” The white coated Alicorn turned to see her aunt Twilight also carrying a proud smile. To the Princess of Friendship’s sides were her faithful assistant Spike, and her prized student Luster Dawn. Seeing her friends safe once again brought tears to the Queen of Hope. Flurry Heart could not formulate any words to describe her feelings, however, seeing the looks of understanding on her friends and family, she did not even need them. The indigo coated Alicorn then took a knee and lowered her head in honor, “Thank you. Your highness.” Twilight stated humbly as the two on her sides also took a knee in respect. Flurry looked prepared to protest before the rest of the Ponies in the crowd quieted down and followed the Princess of Friendship in paying tribute to the new ruler of the Crystal Empire. In this moment of silence, Flurry Heart heard a single pair of hoof steps approaching her way. After looking toward the origin of the sound, Flurry noticed one sole figure that had remained standing. Her husband, Sombra, stood tall with a stoic expression as he looked her way. Not a moment later, however, the Umbrum lowered his knee like the rest. His eyes remained fixed on the Alicorn as if studying her new form. “Long live the Queen.” He stated simply before lowering his chin in respect. Flurry smiled warmly before slowly approaching her husband. Once only inches away from him, the Alicorn took her front hoof and lifted the Umbrum’s chin. Sombra opened his eyes to see his Wife’s face glancing down at him with a look of fondness. The Alicorn then lightly lifted his chin further, motioning for him to rise. Sombra did exactly that and now stood at eye level with his partner. The air in the Empire was as silent as a library as the two rulers stared at one another. Flurry Heart’s blue eyes glistened in the bright sunlight as she peered into Sombra’s crimson ones. “And long live the King.” The Alicorn stated before leaning forward and pressing her lips against her husband’s. Sombra did not protest at all and proceeded to engage in the heartfelt exchange. In this moment, he finally understood what he had seen in the young Alicorn that had attracted him to her. She was brave, selfless, and strong. All the same defining characteristics that his sole friend as a colt had shared. Hope may have been gone for thousands of years, but her essence, soul, and purpose had endured. They all lived on in Flurry Heart. Author's Note At long last, it is here! This chapter took a crazy long time to write and was by far the longest chapter of any of my fanfics ever. Overall though I'm happy with the result. Fight scenes are hard to depict in writing as it's tough to know when they should stop and keep going. What did everypony think about our evil Countess this chapter? I wanted to make her very powerful as a ruler of the Shadow Ponies should be, but at the same time be beatable. There are a few things I'd like to address about the plot in this note so I don't get too many comments about them. For those wondering, Omni was only allowed to take physical form in the Crystal Empire because Sombra was related to her by blood and thus Flurry Heart's spell from earlier in the story had unknowingly also allowed Umbara inside as well. The only thing Umbara was waiting for was for Sombra's curse of decay to break the seal beneath the Empire and fully unleash their physical forms. With regards to Flurry Heart's new form, I will someday have a commission done of her looking like this for you guys to see. I really hope everypony enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to the next and final one of this story! If you enjoyed it and want to support the story, make sure to favorite and leave a comment! Cheers, -Obsedian_Flame
Chapter 2: Confronting FearSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter 3: You're a ShadowChapter 3 You’re a Shadow “Princess Flurry Heart is it?” The dark Unicorn asked in his ominous echoing voice while circling her. She remained silent, not letting his presence intimidate her. He raised a brow at her response, or lack there of, but discarded it and continued, “I’m curious as to what brings a tiny Pony such as yourself here before me.” He chuckled maliciously for a moment, “Could it be that you have given up hope? Perhaps you came here to join me?” Flurry, however, was not as amused as the self absorbed tyrant, “I didn’t come her to join you Lord Sombra, I came here to free my subjects and to propose an offer to you.” She stated with conviction. He stopped circling the Alicorn Princess for a moment, staring straight at her with a wicked grin which exposed his long fangs, “Ah yes. I assume your little elements of harmony friends are busy surrounding me as we speak?” He asked while maintaining his sly grin. She shook her head, “No. I came alone.” He raised a brow and looked around. He could not sense anypony else in the vicinity. However, his evil grin soon return as he faced her once again, “How brave of you. I could destroy you where you stand and nopony would ever know your fate.” As he said this several sharp dark crystals shot up from the ground only inches from her. “Now tell me Princess Flurry Heart, what do you fear?” His magic then flared up once again as he probed into the young Alicorn’s mind. Sombra was expecting the Alicorn to fear him, or to fear her kingdom falling as most rulers did. However, what he saw was not at all what he expected. It was something more- “ENOUGH!” She shouted as her own horn lit up bright, illuminating the entire area and sending a wave of magical energy in every direction. The action surprised even Sombra who until this point had underestimated the Alicorn’s powers. The wave was so strong in fact that he had to phase into his shadow form to avoid the magical energy. After the beam had run its course Flurry settled down and watched as the Unicorn tyrant’s physical form returned. He seemed impressed, it had been a long time since any other pony had been a challenge for him. Of course he was not at full strength yet due to his recent defeat, but this Alicorn’s resolve had earned his respect to a degree. “Very well Princess, I shall hear what you have to say.” He replied while stopping just a few feet away. “I have an offer for you.” She stated calmly. “It must be a fascinating one for which to risk your life. At any moment I could-” “Enough of your nonsense Lord Sombra. I’ve come to ask you to marry me.” … He stared at her, the dark magical aura from his eyes having gone as he tried to come to terms with what the young royal had just proposed. She looked completely serious. But this surely had to be a petty trick to catch him off guard. … Before she could explain herself, however, the dark Unicorn erupted into uncontrolled laughter for a good moment. “My aren’t you quite the puzzle my dear Princess.” He stated while bringing his hoof up to her cheek with his cold metal armor caressing her fur. “Don’t touch me.” She ordered. He raised a brow, “You’re sending me mixed signals here…” “Do you want me to explain my reasoning or would you rather just assume I find you charming?” She asked. He scoffed, “My charm aside, explain this madness.” She paused for a moment and looked directly into his crimson eyes, “I’m doing this for my Ponies and the Crystal Empire. For over a millennia you’ve tried to invade my kingdom and enslave the Cyrstal Ponies. But each time you attempt it we manage to defeat you.” “And somehow this preposterous marriage is your solution!?” He asked impatiently. “I’m willing to break the cycle at its weak spot; your ambition.” She stated, taking a step forward in his direction. “I will satisfy your lust for my kingdom and your craving for power. We would rule the Crystal Empire together. It doesn’t have to be a loving marriage. But perhaps a respectful partnership.” She said as she approached him and placed a hoof on his own. The tyrant Unicorn looked to be in deep thought for a moment, having not even noticed the Alicorn’s hoof placed on his own. However, he soon looked back up with an irritated expression and snatched his hoof away from hers, “Why should I share the Crystal Empire with you!? Why not just surrender it to me as it rightfully belongs!?” “You would drive the empire to ruin and bring about your own downfall again. You aren’t wise enough to rule alone!” She answered swiftly and decisively. As she said this, the self proclaimed King withdrew himself to thought. Thinking about all of his attempts that had led to him ultimately being destroyed and banished back into this barren wasteland. Along with the unbearable pain and humiliation that had accompanied them all. Flurry noticed the Unicorn’s discomfort with discussing his suffering, so she changed her tone, “Allow us to stop this endless cycle before it starts.” The Alicorn stated before placing a hoof on his once more and drawing closer. “Marry me.” His crimson eyes peered down at hers as she drew him in. But before she could do anything further, the Unicorn ignited his magic and waved away her hoof. “Enough of this! You don’t really respect me at all, do you Princess!?” The vile purple aura once again flowed from his eyes as his horn channeled destructive energy. “You’re only trying to tame me like a monster! Give me one decent reason that I should not destroy you for this insult!” He ordered with rage as his formed began to shift to a more shadow-like presence. This action would have normally intimidated anypony, however, Flurry stood her ground and remained calm. “Killing me wouldn’t gain you anything and you know that. It would only make me a martyr and make you a bigger enemy in the eyes of Equestria! Are you so arrogant that you’ll just keep falling into this loop over and over again?” His magic died down slightly at this. “Just give me a reason to respect you. Would you rather be a Monster, or a King?” The Unicorn sighed and reserved himself, “And what of your precious ‘Crystal Heart’? Even if by some miracle I agreed to your terms, the Crystal Heart would dispel as it is designed to do.” He asked while turning away from her. “I would see to it that the Crystal Heart does not harm you. But only under the condition that you return my Ponies.” She answered, her tone becoming more serious and stern. To her puzzlement, however, the Unicorn grinned, “If there’s something you wish to accuse me of, I implore you to say it, Princess.” She was not amused by his mockery. But took a breath to calm herself down. “So. What’s your answer, Lord Sombra?” He looked back to her, “A marriage is about much more than just sharing property and status, Princess. It is also about mixing of blood, creation of family, and most importantly…” ‘Oh please no…’ She thought as the Unicorn carried on. “Sex.” He stated. She looked away in embarrassment. She had hoped Sombra would overlook such a fact. The Unicorn, however, noticed her discomfort and laughed aloud, “HAH! You’re cringing just from me speaking the word out loud! It seems you didn’t truly think this through-” “I know what I offered!” She countered with a small but noticeable blush evident on her cheeks. “Is that so? Well actions certainly speak louder than words Princess.” He taunted while approaching her. ‘Okay… I guess there’s no other way…’ She thought to herself as she looked up to the dark Unicorn Stallion. Oddly, the purple magical aura had vanished from his eyes meaning only one thing. This was his true form. “Now are you finally going to concede and back out of this preposterous-” Before the arrogant Unicorn could finish his sentence, however, Flurry used her magic to bring his chin in and pressed her lips up against his. The action took Sombra completely by surprise. But also to Flurry’s surprise, the Unicorn did not protest it, instead he leaned into it and actually took control, lifting her up with his great strength almost as if by instinct. It lasted for a good moment before both parties separated for air. As they breathed, their eyes locked for a moment with both of them contemplating what had just happened. Any hostility either had for one another seemed to have been lost in just seconds as they looked at one another intently. “I accept your offer!” Sombra stated loudly with force as his magical aura reappeared. Flurry looked away with an undeniable blush, “A-Yes. Now could you please put me down?” She asked while trying to keep from looking at the Unicorn who stared at her with a confident smirk. “As you wish.” He stated while setting her down subtly. She took a deep breath, “Meet me at the Crystal Castle in a weeks time to discuss the terms of our engagement. I will have the protective barrier opened for a brief time to see you in. And return the crystal ponies that you have taken.” “Yes, yes. Of course.” The Unicorn answered with a smug grin and a chuckle. ‘What is he on about now?’ She wondered while looking back only to see the dark Unicorn removing his regal red cloak and his armor. “What are you doing!?” “This is the point where we celebrate our union-” “What!? No! We’re going to have a respectable wedding before any of… Of that!” She stammered while reddening up. He chuckled, “If you’re too afraid to-” Before he could finish, however, she interrupted him by placing a hoof on the Unicorn’s mouth. “I said, after the wedding.” She clarified. He grumbled but backed off. Seeing his annoyance prompted her to loosen up a bit and giggle, “Look at you trying to be manipulative. It’s almost adorable. Meet me in a week.” And with that she was off, leaving the dark Unicorn behind. As Sombra watched the white coated Alicorn fly away he contemplated what had just happened. An Alicorn Princess of the Crystal Empire, one of his sworn enemies had just proposed to him. He placed his armor and cloak back on as he rubbed his eyes with a hoof. He couldn’t understand why he had accepted her offer. Nor could he understand what had prompted him to be so docile and… Romantic? He sighed while his magical aura returned. The Alicorn Princess was now long gone, with the cover of the snow storm returning as it intensified again. As he stared into the storm, he felt another presence manifest itself beside him. ~“You look troubled my son. What ails you after such good news?”~ He looked to his left to see the shadowy figure of a dark female Unicorn. Like him, she also had a distinct curved red horn. Her mane looked very similar to his albeit slightly longer and trailing down as opposed to waving up like his. In her eyes was a purple magical aura above her red irises. But unlike him, her form had no legs nor even a full body. It seemed to be confined to her head and neck only. “Madam Umbara.” He remarked, sounding vexed while avoiding eye contact with the shadowy female figure. ~“Come now my son, there is no need for such hostility. Especially after such fortunate events. After your wedding with the Crystal Princess, a subtle murder will earn you the Crystal Empire by law.”~ Said the shadowy figure with a ghostly echo. “IF that’s what I decide to do.” He answered while walking away. To his dismay, however, the figure followed him. ~“You forget your place Sombra.”~ “On the contrary, I am the King of the Umbrum. I shall do as I please.” He countered in a bitter tone. ~“Yes, indeed you are our King. However, you cannot ignore the truth, that is your destiny.”~ He snorted while igniting his magic, “I understand my calling perfectly, Madam Umbara.” ~“Do you?”~ He looked back for a moment with a raised brow. ~“Do you truly understand your role?”~ “What do you mean?” He asked with an irritated tone. The Ponies who had previously been cowering in their crystal-like shelters were now gathering around the King as if there was some sort of announcement. Their faces were stoic, like before, but with a small tinge of interest. ~“It seems I must inform you of the full history of our kind. The history of the Umbrum.”~ (For reference, this song was based on the beat and tempo of “Time in a Bottle” By Jim Croce. If you want to sing it yourself, I’d recommend you use that as a sample, although the actual song would be much darker with piano, bass, cello and other instruments besides just an acoustic guitar.) Song: You’re a Shadow 1st Verse (Madam Umbara) 🎵 The tale of our kind is the tale of those destined A story so old that alas has become legend For before there was light Before the skies were bright The world was consumed by eternal fright A world without hope, without care, without love A world where only the strongest stayed above But in the darkness came a creature so great and so fierce A creature so powerful it’s fears it could pierce Chorus (Crystal Ponies sing along in an echo) It was a Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A creature of terror A creature so vile, so strong, and so savage A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A race of pure power! A race that no other could possibly match! A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww And that my precious son That is the glorious tale of our kind A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww 2nd Verse (King Sombra *Tempo is slightly sped up*) Why must I listen to this old fabled tale I know who I am and from where I hail I am Sombra! The King! (The Ponies repeat) The lord of the north! The one who will rule! And who will henceforth Be the King! The King! (Ponies repeat again) 3rd Verse (Madam Umbrara *Tempo is back to original speed*) Yes you are a King And yes you will rule But you must understand To be an Umbrum you must be cruel! You must be cold and conniving! Dark and despising! You must crush anypony who stands in your way! Defeat them with fear, with force and conviction! Crush them like a hunter who chases their prey! Chorus 2nd(Crystal Ponies sing along in an echo again) You’re a Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A creature of terror A creature so vile, so strong, and so savage A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A race of pure power! A race that no other could possibly match! A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww And that my precious son That is your calling A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww 4th Verse (King Sombra *Tempo increases again*) I’ve tried and I’ve failed To rule as oppressor Each time I come close Each time an aggressor The Princess was right I am doomed to defeat! I must change my plans! Or forever be beat! 5th Verse (Madam Umbara*Tempo is back to normal once more*) You will not! You will listen! There is a plot One not risen! A plot to destroy you and seal you away! Surely you must see it! That Princess will lead you astray! She only wishes to stall and outwit! Chorus 3rd(Crystal Ponies sing along in an echo again) You’re a Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A creature of terror A creature so vile, so strong, and so savage A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww A race of pure power! A race that no other could possibly match! A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww And that my precious son That is your calling A Shadoooooooowwwwwwwwwwww 6th Verse (King Sombra) Yes it may be And yes I might not see But there’s something about her Something that has me intrigued At first I looked past it But now I must admit She reminded me of…🎵 (Song ends abruptly) “She reminded me of Hope.” He said to himself while staring off into the blizzard. ~“You are becoming soft Sombra. You must not allow this deceitful Alicorn to dissuade you from your destiny! You have an unbreakable oath to reawaken our kind that are trapped beneath the Empire.”~ “As the King of our kind I shall do what I deem is necessary without interference.” He countered while trotting away. ~“On the contrary…”~ All of a sudden Sombra felt a splitting pain in his horn. His dark magical aura returned while the figure appeared in front of him. ~“What was given can be taken, my precious son.”~ The pain then ended as quickly as it had started. The Unicorn looked up to see Madam Umbara staring down at him. ~“After your wedding with Princess Flurry Heart you will be crowned King of the Crystal Empire by law. When that happens you will see to it that our kind are released from our imprisonment. You will destroy her, and anypony else who attempts to stop you. Do I make myself clear?”~ He growled like an animal but did not reply. A snide smile crept over Madam Umbara’s face as she saw her son’s defiance and hatred. ~“An Umbrum’s hatred makes them strong, my son. It is the reason you’ve remained alive all these centuries-”~ “ENOUGH!” The Unicorn commanded as he shot out a beam of destructive dark energy her way. She easily avoided it but seemed impressed while maintaining her wicked grin. ~“That’s my son.”~ “There are other ways of freeing our kind. I will release them from the catacombs of the Empire, but I will do it alone and under my own terms, and you will not bother me. Now begone.” Sombra stated seriously. ~“As you wish my son. But what shall you do?”~ “I’m off to find a decent ring.” He stated while trotting off for good. The figure watched as her ‘son’ went onward into the blizzard. ~“Good Luck, King Sombra.”~ “She’s been gone for quite a while. Perhaps I should send a search party out.” Said Shining while he paced back and forth. “Dear, Flurry told us she’d return before the hour. It’s been forty five minutes. Let’s at least have a little bit of faith in her.” Replied Cadence who took a sip of some tea while sitting nearby. “But what if she needs our help! She could be in over her head and-” “Shining. What are Flurry’s greatest strengths?” Cadence interrupted. He paused for a moment, “She’s smart, strong, brave, determined, and is selfless.” His wife nodded, “Then you shouldn’t worry. She will return to us.” Before the white coated stallion could worry further, however, he looked over the balcony to see 3 figures flying up to them. “It’s her! She’s back!” He stated excitedly as he rushed to the edge of the balcony. Cadence only smiled and shook her head as she followed him to the edge of the platform. Within a few minutes the three figures arrived at the balcony, with the middle one landing first. Nopony said a word for a long moment. Breaking the silence was Cadence, “Flurry? Is everything alright sweetheart?” “Don’t keep us in suspense, how did it go?” Shining jumped in. The young Alicorn Mare looked up to the anxious faces of her parents. Instead of replying, however, she trotted up to them and hugged them both. Her parents were surprised, but nonetheless they hugged her back. “I found them. I found our Ponies.” Flurry stated in relief as she continued to embrace them. The news was a great relief to Shining and Cadence as well. “That’s great sweetheart. We’re so proud of you.” Shining replied. “But what of Sombra?” They both asked in unison while releasing her. Flurry paused for a moment. It was an agonizing moment of suspense for her parents who eagerly awaited her response. “He will return our Ponies to us. And…” She paused again while looking up with tears in her eyes, “And he accepted my proposal.” Author's Note A/N: Okay, so this chapter was a bit shorter than the others have been so far but that will not be the case for future chapters. A lot of the time that I spent on this chapter was on the song halfway through. Finding a suitable beat and making the lyrics up was much more difficult than I first thought it would be. Overall it turned out alright but since I'm not a musician and don't have the tools to compose songs it definitely could have been better. Perhaps some day when I can afford music making software and learn a bit about composition I might make it into an actual song. On to other notes, we now have a new character! Madam Umbara was a character I based off of a strip from the mlp comics of Sombra's origin with the crystal speaking to him when he wandered into the cold north. I plan to make a drawing of her in the near future and include her quite a bit more as this story progresses. As always, if you like this chapter and like what I'm trying to do please consider following it and liking it to stay updated on new posts. Also please leave a review with your thoughts as feedback really helps me with motivation. Cheers, -Obsedian_Flame
Chapter 4: An Unwelcome GuestAuthor's Note Okay, so this chapter came way way way too late... My sincerest apologies to my followers of the story, I have been really busy these last few months with a new job, my college courses resuming once more and my sport season getting underway. All I can say is I'm back with this new one and have another one soon on the way. I hope you enjoy this one! Just a little bit of character development and plot development but be warned, there will be some nice action in the coming chapters! In any case, enjoy the chapter and I'll see you in the next one. -Obsedian_Flame Chapter 4: An Unwelcome Guest Chapter 4 An Unwelcome Guest Juneth 4, 3672 7:00 AM Dear Diary, It has been a week since my last entry and a lot has happened in that time. It is almost difficult to put the recent events into words as many of them still baffle my mind. Regardless I shall do my best to summarize what has happened over the last seven days. A week ago today I went beyond the northern border to meet with Lord Sombra and to find our lost Crystal Ponies. To my relief I managed to find all of the missing Ponies, but when I approached them I got the feeling that they had been possessed. Their behaviors reminded me of the stories mother used to tell me about the changelings before they began to feel love. I wanted more than anything to help them, but no matter what I did, they never seemed to acknowledge me. As I continued on through the cold north I managed to find him. He was expecting me no doubt because of the messages we had sent through the border. He reacted a lot like how I expected him to, like an arrogant and evil scoundrel. And yet there was another side to him that I did not expect at all. He attempted to intimidate me and threaten me throughout most of our conversation, but once I revealed my true reason for crossing his domain the atmosphere changed. It was a very awkward experience to say the least. At first he laughed off my proposal. But once he knew I was being serious he actually listened. I confronted him about our crystal ponies but he denied my allegations. I just know he has something to do with their zombie-like states. Luckily I managed to explain my proposal to him before he lost patience. It was one of the most difficult conversations of my life, and certainly the most unpleasant one I’ve ever had with anypony. Then came the worst part of it all. Asking for his response. I was expecting that he would refuse my offer. Almost wishing for it in a way. But to my surprise Sombra was much more educated on marriage than I had anticipated. Too much so… Still, I had to get him to agree. The future of the Cystal Empire and our ponies depended on it. So I did the only thing I could think of at the time. I am almost embarrassed to put it into writing. I kissed him. I kissed Lord Sombra. And what was even weirder was that he did not protest it. He returned it. I can hardly even remember what happened in those moments. Everything happened so quickly. All I can remember is how I felt directly after. I felt strange in a way I have never felt before. Just the thought of it makes me feel odd. But that is all I will share for now about that. After it all I was relieved to hear Sombra accept my request. I was so caught up in the moment that I hardly believed him. The expression on his face told me that he was serious, but I couldn’t help but wonder why this had persuaded him. There was no time to ponder it though. I informed him to return our ponies and meet us at the entrance to the Empire in a week. And now that day has come. I have spent the entire week preparing for this day, but yet I still feel anxious and unready. I spent the last few days trying to figure out a way to prevent the Crystal Heart from repelling Sombra once he arrives. Thankfully Sunburst was able to help me figure out a way. When the Crystal Heart was created thousands of years ago there was an enchantment placed upon it to repel any dark forces and to keep happiness and prosperity. After a long few days of searching Sunburst and I found an arcane spell that can convince the Heart not to ward off a specific entity. The spell is only able to be performed by a worthy heir that only the Crystal Heart itself chooses, and Sunburst believes me to be this ‘heir’. I have always trusted Sunburst and always will, but I’m worried the spell will not work. To my knowledge not even Princess Amore was able to perform this spell. Just thinking about such things agonizes me. Sunburst seems to believe in me, however, and the rest of my family as well. I appreciate their confidence in me. I can only hope it isn’t misplaced… As I mentioned before Lord Sombra will be arriving at the Empire today. That is if he sticks to his word… Earlier this week we announced our new truce with Sombra and his arrival into the Empire. The public’s response to it was worse than I ever could have imagined. I have never seen our subjects so scared before. Some Crystal Ponies are even threatening to move to Manehattan and Canterlot. How can I blame them either. We are now admitting an enemy that has tormented the empire for over a thousand years, who once cursed the entire kingdom and even destroyed our former ruler. An enemy that has enslaved our Ponies in the past. They must think we have gone mad. That I’ve gone mad. I cannot let this deter my decision though. This is the only way to lasting peace that I can see and it is my duty to keep my subjects safe no matter the cost. All I can do now is to hope for the best but expect the worst. I wish I could go into more detail about this week, but I fear I must finish this entry and prepare to greet Sombra when he arrives. -Flurry Mi Amore Cadenza Heart Flurry sighed as she set her quill down and looked up from the Diary. Looking out the window of her chambers the Alicorn was greeted to the warming rays of Celestia’s sun. It was a wonderful day out, but this did little to put her troubled mind at ease. Flurry figured a breath of fresh air would be for the best. She got up from her desk and ascended a spiral staircase in the corner of her room which lead to a top balcony overlooking almost the entire Crystal Empire. The young Alicorn took a deep breath and looked down at the kingdom over which she ruled. The day was young, and many Crystal Ponies were busy fulfilling their morning errands. Parents taking their children to school for the day, adult Ponies heading to work, and so on. While all seemed well, however, Flurry could tell that many of these Ponies were feeling nervous and uneasy. ‘If only they knew…’ She thought as she closed her eyes and sighed once more. It was no good. Wherever she looked all she could see was the worry and fear of her subjects. She figured it best for now to focus on getting herself ready to welcome into Sombra. After all, if this didn’t go correctly then the worries of the Crystal Ponies would be the least of her concerns. “You’re absolutely sure the spell will work Sunburst?” She asked as she trotted down the halls of the castle. “You’ve asked me that how many times now Flurry? Don’t you trust me?” The yellow coated unicorn asked with a raised brow. “I do trust you Sunburst, it’s just… This has to work. If it doesn’t we could be in serious trouble. Sombra won’t ever agree to a peaceful truce and-” “Flurry, you need to quit worrying and believe in yourself. Just look at your cutie mark. That alone should tell you that it will work. You are the chosen heir of the Crystal Heart and so the spell will work for you.” Sunburst interrupted while following at her side. Flurry smiled a little at the complement and continued trotting down the halls. “Or maybe it wont work and you at least won’t have to marry that evil monster.” Sunburst stated while shrugging. “… What?” Flurry stated while stopping in her tracks. “Hrm?” “It might not work!?” She exclaimed while now looking like a nervous wreck. Sunburst looked serious and stared the Alicorn straight in the eyes. He did not say anything for several moments. It was a long staredown by both ponies before the Unicorn began to snicker and eventually giggle. Flurry was caught off guard by this, “What’s so funny!?” At this the Unicorn broke out into laughter. Flurry was truly confused now as she watched her mentor laugh as if a feather was stroking his hooves. “Hahaha I’m sorry but I couldn’t help but mess with you. I mean that face you made was just priceless!” The Unicorn stated while trying to catch his breath from laughing too hard. Flurry just stood with her jaw open. She couldn’t remember the last time Sunburst had joked around her. In fact she could not remember him ever being like this. It was nice but also slightly unnerving to the young Alicorn. Once Sunburst composed himself he wiped a tear from his eyes and adjusted his cloak. “I’m sorry to make you worry but I couldn’t help but to joke about it. I’ve been reading a lot of Hill Herd books about how it helps to tell a joke when the atmosphere is really tense.” Flurry simply rolled her eyes and shook her head at her mentor’s antics. As mad as she wanted to be though, she couldn’t help but smile. “Well you can tell a joke without giving me a heart attack Sunburst. I really thought you were being serious there.” She stated while now continuing to make her way through the hall. He shook his head, “It’s okay Flurry, you don’t have to worry. I just know that you’re the heir that the book spoke about, and so I know without a doubt the spell will work for you.” She gave a sigh of relief knowing that her mentor had full confidence in her. “Thank you for believing in me.” He nodded, “I too lacked confidence when I was your age. It’s only natural for us to doubt ourselves. But I know that you’re capable of anything you set your mind to.” As he said this, the two were approached by several royal guards and Flurry’s father. The two guards who appeared to be the same two that had escorted Flurry to the border a week ago. They each saluted the young Princess before her father stepped forward, “Well, everything should be in order Flurry. I have the guards stationed throughout the entryway and blocking the streets as well.” She nodded, “Thank you Dad.” Flurry looked as though she was going to say something more before she sighed. Her father looked worried, “Is everything alright? You know if we need more security I can always have Twiley-” “No Dad, it’s important that we don’t have too much security, otherwise I fear Sombra might feel threatened and call off the truce.” She interrupted while making her way toward the front gates of the Castle. The white coated unicorn agreed with this notion but could still tell that something was bothering his daughter. “What’s on your mind then? I can tell you’re bothered right now.” “It’s just that… I don’t want the Crystal Ponies to resent me for what I’m doing.” She confessed with an expression of worry. Shining now understood. “Flurry, they would never resent you. They are just afraid of Sombra. Many of them have lost friends and family to his malice.” “I know… All I can do now is make sure that he doesn’t harm more of them. That’s all that matters now.” She replied while now exiting the castle and stepping into the bright summer sunlight. Shining still looked concerned for his daughter. He wanted to provide her more words of reassurance, but knowing what was to come he thought it best not to add more stress to her already distraught soul. As she went onward, Shining looked over to Sunburst who had stopped at the gate to the Castle, “You’re sure she can do it? The spell?” He asked silently. The yellow coated unicorn nodded without any hesitation, “She was meant to do this Shining. All she has to do is believe.” As she waited in front of the protective barrier, Flurry stared at the cold harsh land beyond. She had been anxiously waiting for nearly 15 minutes for the arrival of the dark lord. Alongside her was her father, mother, and Sunburst. Her parents looked timid, much like herself. None of them knew what to expect, but they knew that anything involving Sombra was unlikely to be pleasant. While waiting patiently Flurry caught sight of a figure approaching through the storm. It was the form of a Pony, but it was not Lord Sombra. This was instead one of the lost crystal Ponies Flurry had seen the week before while trying to find the dark lord. The lone figure did not approach any further, staying some 15 meters away from the barrier. It was not long before the figure was accompanied by multiple others. And before they knew it there were some 60 of these seemingly possessed Ponies assembled behind the barrier. It was an unnerving sight to the others who until now had only heard of this behavior from the tales that Flurry had told a week prior. Seeing it, however, was far more terrifying than they could have imagined. Bringing them out of their thoughts, however, was the sudden arrival of a dark cloud of smoke which assembled directly above the lost Ponies. The cloud then landed directly in front of them and manifested itself into the form of Lord Sombra. The dark coated Unicorn looked around at the barrier before his eyes fell on the royal Ponies before him. He then approached the transparent shield until he was only a step away from it. “I don’t suppose I’m late am I?” The tyrant asked in his signature ominous tone with a sly grin. Flurry stepped forward until she too was right next to the barrier, “No. You aren’t.” She replied simply. He then took one more step to where he was nearly touching the magical shield. The dark Unicorn could feel the magic from the barrier still attempting to repel him. “I expect that you will honor your word?” The white coated Alicorn remained put, “Not until you honor yours. Release my subjects and I will allow you in.” She replied sternly. There was a moment of silence as both Ponies stared each other down intently. Neither one showed emotion to the other. From the others’ perspective the two could have been engaging in a staring contest. But after a long and intense moment the dark Unicorn chuckled, “As you wish Princess. This is their home after all.” That very second all the formerly lost Crystal Ponies went forward to the barrier and passed directly through. They were escorted down the street by a troop of royal guards who intended to reunite them with their families. Flurry watched as the Crystal Ponies passed by, but to her dismay they had not regained the shine or sparkle that they normally would have, and nor did they look too content to return. She could not focus on this, however, as she heard the dark Unicorn before her clear his throat. She brought her attention back to Sombra who was still within inches from the shield, “I have upheld my part of the deal, Princess.” Flurry nodded and then turned to face the center of the Crystal Castle, or more accurately; the Crystal Heart. ‘Here goes nothing.’ She thought while closing her eyes and summoning her magic. A bright golden light emanated from her horn as Flurry connected with the Crystal Heart itself. “By the power given to me through the Crystal Heart, I, Princess Flurry Mi Amore Cadenza Heart, heir of the Crystal Empire wish to grant clemency to Lord Sombra!” She shouted with conviction. Before she knew it, a beam of magic shot straight at the Crystal Heart. Sombra watched skeptically as the white coated Alicorn cast this strange spell. Shinning, Cadence, and Sunburst also watched the young Princess as her the beam from her magic struck the Crystal Heart and subsequently shot straight up into the sky and made contact with the circular barrier around the Empire. The beam then pulsated around the entire circumference of the shield until it reached the ground on all sides. After a few moments, all had settled, and the young Alicorn withdrew her magic while taking a deep breath. The spell had not been easy on her, but there was no time to recover, for she wasn’t even sure if it had worked. She looked back to the dark Unicorn who had remained next to the barrier the entire time. He had a raised brow, no doubt still feeling unsure of the spell that the Princess had cast. Flurry sighed, “You may enter now.” He looked up to her, then to the shield. He then extended one of his hooves forward until it was practically touching the magical wall. To his surprise, the barrier did not repel him, and instead allowed him to pass right through without harm. Once inside, the tyrant Unicorn looked around at the expansive empire that had given him so much grief over the last millennia. Flurry was joined by her parents and Sunburst who all looked much less passive than her, not letting the Dark Lord out of their sight. The royal guards surrounding the esplanade were also on high alert, monitoring Sombra very carefully as he looked around at the Kingdom he had once ruled. After a few moments the Dark Lord returned his attention to the four Ponies before him. “It has not changed a bit since last I was here.” The Umbrum stated with a look of disgust. This did not help ease the minds of Flurry’s parents who each looked about ready to send the arrogant tyrant back where he had come from. “Watch your tongue Sombra! You are only here because you have agreed to Flurry’s terms. If you keep running your mouth I will personally see to it that you never step hoof across this barrier again.” Shining Armor irately said. Sombra rolled his eyes but turned his attention to the young white coated Alicorn. Flurry was expecting some other snide remark from the self proclaimed king, but to her surprise, the Umbrum took a knee, “Thank you for your hospitality, Princess.” He then took her hoof and planted a kiss on her metallic silver shoe. The action had caught Flurry completely off guard as her wings perked up unintentionally. “I-Y-You’re welcome.” She stuttered while pulling her hoof back. As they watched on, Flurry’s parents’ faces were also red, but not at all for the same reason. Shinning Armor in particular looked as though steam was going to blow out of his ears from his anger towards the presumptuous Umbrum. Flurry could tell how tense the situation was becoming and quickly changed the subject, “Well, I think it’d be best for us to retire to the Castle and sort out the terms of our arrangement, don’t you agree?” The dark coated Unicorn raised a brow with a charismatic smirk, “I would be obliged Princess.” The young Alicorn then proceeded to lead the way onward to the Crystal Castle. It had been an awkward trot up to the Castle. Nearly the entire Crystal Empire population had witnessed Sombra’s arrival into their domain and none of them felt good about it. The Crystal Ponies could do nothing other than scowl and quiver in fear as the one who had threatened them every day of their lives simply strolled down the esplanade as if he was already their new ruler. The royal guards stayed especially vigilant not only to the Tyrant King, but also for their own Ponies, some of which looked ready to storm the walkway in an attempt to protest this absurd truce. Luckily for Flurry, however, things had been kept under control well enough, and before they knew it they had arrived at the entrance to the Castle. The doors were opened by several royal guards and the group entered thereafter. Once inside, Sombra looked around at the interior of the Castle. He wasn’t surprised to see that little had changed in here either since last he had taken over the empire. The stained glass murals looked the same as before, albeit there had been a new one added to one of the previously empty spots. The picture depicted a young white coated Alicorn Mare with a multicolored mane who’s wings were splayed out to the edge of the frames. At the center of her chest was a depiction of the Crystal Heart which coincidentally was the theme for the colors and shapes in the background as well. “How cliché…” The dark Unicorn spouted out, rolling his eyes in annoyance. This again had not sat well with Flurry’s parents both of whom stopped and watched as the entitled Umbrum trotted on. Shining muttered under his breath, “I swear to Luna I’m gonna blast him up to the Moon if he makes one more-” “Dad, I know he’s getting under your skin but we have to tolerate him for now otherwise we could all end up paying for it.” Flurry whispered to her father while Sombra was out of earshot. The white Unicorn grumbled, “I guess you’re right…” It didn’t take long before the lot of them caught up with the dark lord as they were nearing the end of the hall. Flurry cleared her throat, “Lord Sombra, I’d love to keep touring the Castle but I think we should get to sorting out the conditions of our marriage. Will you follow me?” Her parents raised their eyebrows at this, “Alone?” They asked skeptically in unison. Flurry nodded, “Yes, alone.” “But-” “Mom, Dad, I’ll be fine.” She interrupted them while turning and heading to a staircase. Cadence and Shining had little to say to express how much they hated this idea. Shining took a step forward and was about to protest further before Sombra chimed in with a chuckle, “Do not fret your highness's, the Princess will be quite safe with me.” The Umbrum’s snarky grin did not help settle matters with the two parents. “Why you-” “Dad, I said we’ll be fine, trust me.” Their daughter reassured them. Both parents then glanced over to the Dark Unicorn who was watching them intently. They each wanted nothing more than to send the tyrant straight to the pits of Tartarus for his flagrant disrespect and ill intentions. “Come, Lord Sombra.” Flurry called while trotting up the steps. The Dark Lord took one last look at the two royals before nodding, “As you wish, Princess.” He replied before following her up the steps. Cadence and Shinning simply watched as their daughter left along with their sworn rival. Words could not describe the dread that they each felt at seeing these events transpire. The mere thought of it made their stomachs turn with trepidation. “So…” Stated another voice. Both royals turned to see Sunburst who they had almost forgotten had been here the entire time. The yellow Unicorn was levitating a notepad and a quill in front of him. He then closed the book after jotting a few notes down. “Is nopony going to mention the fact that Flurry actually cast the spell!?” The Unicorn said aloud with enthusiasm. “I thought you said Flurry was absolutely capable of performing the spell Sunburst. Why would we have doubted her?” Cadence asked confused. He shrugged, “Well I mean I was only like 63% sure it would actually work…” … “YOU WHAT-” After a short walk to the upper levels of the Castle, Flurry led Sombra into her personal study. It was a cozy and inviting room with a series of long bookshelves lining the walls, an open space in the middle with antique furniture, and a warm fireplace that was presently lit. As they both entered, Flurry shut the door and sighed out of relief. As the dark coated Unicorn roamed around the room examining the books on the shelves, Flurry took the time to search through a nearby shelve. Once she had what she needed the young Alicorn cleared her throat and turned towards Sombra who was currently reading one of the books off the wall. “Lord Sombra, I’d like to sort through the conditions of our marriage if you don’t mind.” The Umbrum glanced her way and nodded, “As you wish Princess Flurry Heart.” He then approached the table and the two went to work preparing a set of documents.
Chapter 5: Getting AcquaintedChapter 5 Getting Acquainted “What do you mean you want four!” Flurry asked loudly. “Anything less would be considered an empty house to me. Four is as low as I will go.” The Dark Unicorn answered simply. The White coated Alicorn rubbed her eyes and shook her head. “Sombra, I’m not having four foals. That is final.” Flurry Heart explained as she set her paper down and looked the Umbrum in the eyes. He looked away with a grimace and continued to edit his own marriage contract. The two had been busy sorting through the details of their arrangement for nearly three hours, making sure to revise every detail with one another to make sure they were both in agreement. The process had been less than productive, mostly due to the stubborn nature of the Tyrant Unicorn, but even so, there was now an end in sight as the two were completing the final parts of each other’s contracts. After one last hour of sorting through each other’s papers, the two royals had finally come to an agreement. Though not all the conditions were ideal, they were satisfactory enough to where both parties felt obliged to sign off and complete their work. Flurry’s previously neat and tidy hair was now rustled and messy thanks to the stress of having to deal with Sombra. She figured it best to see Sombra to his room and then have herself a much needed bath to decompress. “Alright, with that out of the way I will show you to your chambers, Lord Sombra.” She stated as she got up from her desk and headed towards to door. The Umbrum Stallion made his way passed the Princess and then placed a hoof on the door, effectively stopping her. “There is one more thing, Princess.” He stated as he looked down to her. She sighed, “What is it.” Flurry answered impatiently. There was a pause as the Umbrum Stallion glanced down to the smaller Alicorn. “Earlier you accused me of kidnapping your lost crystal ponies. I will not tolerate that lie any further.” He stated with the magical aura in his eyes reappearing. Flurry was quick to defend herself, “I never accused you of such a thing Sombra, though I certainly wouldn’t hold you above it-” “I did not take your lost Ponies, Princess.” He answered simply, the ghostly echo of his voice emanating from his person. The Alicorn looked unconvinced, “Then how did they come to be under your control exactly?” She challenged. The Umbrum took his hoof off the door with the magical aura in his eyes dissipating, “A few months ago I was journeying through the tundra of the north after having been defeated by your Equestrian allies. My powers were weakened and I was humiliated once more. But as I traveled through the harsh landscape I noticed one of the Crystal Ponies alone in the storm. They were without warm clothing, shelter, or sustenance. As I am an Umbrum, I can survive in such conditions, however, I knew that this Pony would surely perish. As I approached, the Crystal Pony noticed me and attempted to flee, but with little success due to their exhaustion.” The Tyrant paused for a moment as he walked around the Alicorn then continued where he left off, “After creating a shelter for the Pony using my magic, I nursed them back to health and inquired as to why they were wandering the inhospitable tundra. I was not surprised to hear that they left the Crystal Empire out of fear. Fear of me.” Flurry, although listening to the Umbrum’s story, did not buy this explanation. She did not believe that somepony with his disposition would be so sparing and merciful towards one of her subjects. Even so, she figured she’d allow the Dark Unicorn finish his story. “As I kept recovering my strength throughout the next few weeks, I found more lost souls in the storm. Crystal Ponies with the same idea as the first were continuously finding themselves lost in the harsh climate. I took it upon myself to shelter them all. As more started to turn up, I questioned them once more as to why they had fled the Crystal Empire. This time, however, I received a response I was not expecting.” He stated as he once again stared at his Fiance’s eyes. She raised a brow with an unconvinced expression, “Pray tell.” “They had lost faith in their rulers.” This comment had not sat well with Flurry who in turn objected, “You lie! The Crystal Ponies would never say such a thing!” Sombra’s expression nearly mirrored that of Flurry’s, “Believe what you wish Princess, for I am not lying. You may even question your precious Crystal Ponies yourself.” Flurry wanted to argue further, but realized that this conversation could likely escalate into an unproductive argument, or perhaps something worse. She figured it best to do as the Dark Lord said and question these Ponies herself to determine whether he was telling the truth. She then resumed her thoughts to accommodating the Umbrum Unicorn. She sighed before composing herself and addressing him, “We shall discuss this later Sombra. For now, let me show you to your room.” The Umbrum huffed before rolling his eyes, “Very well Princess.” The two royals then left the study with Flurry leading the way down the hall. Thankfully it was not a long trot and they soon reached their destination, a very large and elegant quarters designed for high profile guests of the Crystal Empire. This room would usually accommodate Ponies such as the former Prince Blueblood and other royal or noble Ponies. As he entered the room, Sombra immediately took note of the features. It was quite decently sized, and the furniture looked suitable, however, the colors left a lot to be desired for one such as himself. “This will be your room Lord Sombra. There is a king-sized bed, balcony, bathroom, and atrium. I hope you will be comfortable.” Flurry stated as she showed the Umbrum around. The Umbrum raised a brow as he toured around the room, “Hmm, I suppose it is sufficient.” He stated while nearly cringing at the revolting pink, blue and white colors that he despised. Flurry was unimpressed by Sombra’s disrespect and was preparing to leave when she heard the Unicorn Stallion continue, “But I am grateful nonetheless. You have my thanks, Princess Flurry Heart.” The white coated Alicorn was taken back by this, she had not expected him to be so humble after his obvious disrespect earlier. “I-You’re welcome, Lord Sombra. If you need anything, feel free to ask.” He nodded, and with that Flurry left to return to her own quarters. Once back in her room, Flurry took a long breath and closed the door behind her. The day was not over yet, but it had still been one of the most stressful experiences of her life. ‘A warm bath will help…’ She thought as she made her way over to her bathroom. While soaking her mane in the steamy water, Flurry thought about the events that had transpired over the day. She was happy that the spell Sunburst suggested had in fact worked, however, she couldn’t shake the thought of the public’s perception to the whole thing. She had seen the glares and looks of fear in the crowd earlier and it hadn’t helped put her mind at ease. Still, the day had gone better than she could have hoped thus far. She placed a hoof on her forehead as she remembered the time they had spent negotiating each other’s marriage contracts. ‘Tch… I can’t believe that scoundrel got me to agree to having 3 foals…’ The Alicorn thought as she used her magic to rinse the shampoo out of her mane. The thought of having foals was one that she hoped not to have at this point in her life. But seeing as it was an important factor for a marriage she figured it was only a matter of time before it would come up. As it were, she’d found the Dark Lord to be far more patient than she’d expected. Of course he had been disrespectful and vile as always, but he had also demonstrated a bit of gratitude and even humility. After having spent nearly half an hour in the warm water, Flurry felt slightly relieved and rejuvenated. She exited the large tub and used her magic to levitate a towel onto her back. As she dried her fur, the white coated Alicorn thought about what it was that the Dark Lord could possibly be doing at the moment. She hoped that he was simply touring the castle or settling into his own room instead of causing trouble or planning a takeover. As much as she hated to admit it, it was more than likely one of the latter two options. After drying the fur on her body Flurry raised each of her wings and proceeded to dry them both. Each individual feather seemed to be perfectly positioned, courtesy of her constant preening and hygiene. Miss Rainbow Dash had always stressed the importance of preening her feathers when her and the Wonderbolts team would attend the Grand Galloping Gala. Flurry chuckled at the thought of the rainbow colored Pegasus’ advice which would always include either the word ‘Cool’ or ‘Awesome’. She felt happy to have connections to such cheerful Ponies. As she finally dried her wings Flurry set the towel over a rack and made her way to the center of her room. As she looked up at the clock on her wall, the white coated Alicorn was surprised to see that the time was 5:30 PM. ‘That stupid contract took a lot more time than it should have…’ She told herself subconsciously while rubbing her eyes. Dinner had been scheduled for an hour from this time, so Flurry felt it best to prepare herself for the occasion. As much as she loathed the idea, she felt it would be important to invite Sombra to the dinner. It would likely be incredibly awkward, and could pose a few problems, but if it went well then the Dark Lord would feel more welcomed. After having made up her mind, the young royal made her way to her desk and got to work putting her makeup back on. After quickly touching up her features, Flurry looked at herself in the mirror and was about to tie her mane in a bun before a thought came to mind, ‘Maybe let’s try something different tonight.’ 10 minutes later, the white coated Alicorn was making the last adjustments to her mane. Instead of tying her hair up like when she’d usually attend events, Flurry decided to wear her mane down in a long wavy v shape. The natural curl of her hair created a beautiful effect as her perfectly combed strands of sky blue and magenta hair resembled a waterfall flowing down her neck. To complement it, she styled her tail in a similar fashion. A smile graced the young royal’s face as she looked at herself from different angles. If there was one special talent that the Alicorn had besides the one on her cutie mark, it was cosmetics and beautification. Once she left her room, Flurry figured she’d check up on Sombra to invite him to the dinner, along with making sure he wasn’t scheming or wreaking havoc on the Empire… As she made her way towards the Umbrum’s room, Flurry was passed by a few castle staff and guards all heading the same direction. They each saluted her as she walked by, but she could tell that something had them feeling distraught. The Alicorn found this odd as she’d rarely see so many Ponies roaming through the halls at the same time. ‘Odd…’ She thought while coming up to Sombra’s room. Using her hoof, Flurry knocked on the door three times consecutively. After waiting for a good moment with no response Flurry raised a brow, “Lord Sombra?” She called from outside. After once again hearing no response Flurry opened the door and looked inside to check up on the Dark Lord. Only upon scanning the room, the Umbrum was nowhere to be found. At this point Flurry began to get worried. She exited the room and looked at the hallway where several royal guards were patrolling through. She approached the two stallions who noticed her and respectfully saluted her. She smiled and nodded before addressing them, “Have either of you seen Lord Sombra?” The Guard on the right nodded, “Yes Princess, the Dark Lord has been in the Castle Library for nearly a half hour.” Flurry was puzzled by this, but regardless she thanked both of the Stallions set off to find Sombra whom she hoped was not stirring up trouble this moment. After making her way to the Library as quickly as possible, Flurry noticed a bunch more Castle staff leaving the large room. As she watched the Ponies swiftly leaving, Flurry noticed one the royal advisors to the Crystal Empire Mrs Sapphire Scale. “Excuse me Mrs Scale.” Flurry remarked as she approached the blue coated elderly mare. Mrs Scale was caught off guard for a second but quickly saluted the Alicorn, “Princess Flurry Heart, I’m terribly sorry for not noticing you.” The Unicorn stated as she bowed her head in respect. Flurry shook this off, “It’s not a problem Mrs Scale, would you happen to know what’s going on? Why is everypony leaving the Library?” The blue coated elder looked around before quietly answering, “Well you see Princess, everpony here has felt uncomfortable ever since the Dark Lord entered. We would prefer not to be in his presence…” She trailed off. Flurry looked into the Library and then back to the elder Unicorn, “I see. Well thank you Mrs Scale, I look forward to seeing you at tomorrow’s meeting.” The blue coated pony smiled, “Likewise Princess, Enjoy your evening.” And with that, Mrs Sapphire was off. Flurry wasted no time in entering the Library to find the one she’d come for. As she wandered the large room she was taken back by just how quiet the room was. Of course it was a Library, but even so this was excessively quiet. So quiet in fact that not only could she hear every one of her hoofsteps but she could almost hear her own thoughts echoing through the empty room. As she rounded a corner, the young Alicorn caught sight of the Dark Unicorn. He looked to be intently focused on a hardcover book which he was levitating in front using his magic. Flurry could not tell exactly which piece of literature it was from this distance, but figured she should go an address him. She cleared her throat as she approached, “Lord Sombra.” The Umbrum lowered his book and acknowledged her presence, “Princess.” As Flurry reached him, she noticed that the Dark Unicorn was not wearing his iconic armor. Rather than his chest and neck plate holding his cloak in place, he adorned a smaller royal silver collar with an engraved black crystal emblem in the center. Underneath the collar, Sombra wore a crimson ascot which matched the color of his cloak. Instead of his scored silver armor greaves and sabatons he dawned a set of four expensive looking silver shoes with black crystal-like trim. His crown looked to be identical but without the armored part that would normally protect the Umbrum’s snout. Flurry did not want to admit it to herself, but she was actually rather impressed by the Dark Unicorn’s fashionable choices in apparel. Regardless, she figured it best to get to the point before making things awkward between the two, “I checked your room earlier and noticed you were gone. How long have you been here?” Sombra nodded and used his magic to close the book that he had been reading, “I did indeed leave my quarters earlier. I would say some 30 minutes ago.” He answered while taking in the white coated Alicorn’s changed appearance. Flurry was about to reply before the dark coated Unicorn added with a confident smirk, “I must say Princess, you look absolutely ravishing.” The Alicorn’s cheeks brightened slightly at this comment, but she was able to compose herself quickly, clearing her throat before responding, “Y-yes. Thank you. I was going to ask you if you’d be interesting in attending dinner tonight. I believe it’d be best for you to acquaint yourself with my parents and some of the other advisors for the Empire.” Sombra’s confident smirk faded as he looked away for a moment in thought. After considering the young Alicorn’s offer he nodded, “Very well Princess.” The Dark Unicorn levitated his book up and was preparing to place it on the shelf where he had found it before Flurry raised a brow and remarked, “The Conquest of Harness? I didn’t figure you for a Bertrand Rustle fan.” The Umbrum chuckled, “Not a fan so much as I am a connoisseur of philosophy.” This surprisingly made Flurry chuckle herself. It felt odd to see the evil Dark Lord of fear have an interest in Pony philosophy, much less a book on finding enlightenment. Regardless, she allowed Sombra to return the book to it’s original resting place. “Come, Dinner will be prepared soon. We should make our way to the dinning room.” Flurry stated as she turned around. The Dark Unicorn only nodded and proceeded to follow his Fiance. Once the two royals arrived at the dinning hall, Flurry was greeted by her Mother and Father who immediately took note of her elegant appearance, “It’s good to see you sweetheart, you’re looking great as always.” Cadence stated with a smile. Flurry nodded but also noticed their expressions change quickly as they noticed the Dark Lord enter shortly after. Their displeasure was not at all hidden from the Umbrum who immediately noticed the two irritated royals. No words were exchanged between either parties as they stared each other down. Flurry could tell how tense the moment was and was quick to start a new conversation, “Well that’s a wonderful smell coming from the kitchen! What did the chefs prepare tonight?” Although they heard their daughter loud and clear, Shining Armor and Cadence remained fixed on Sombra with scowls on both their faces. “Freshly baked sour dough bread with steamed vegetables and Quinoa Salad.” Both parents answered simultaneously while refusing to take their eyes off the Dark Unicorn ahead whom they were presently scowling at. Flurry laughed nervously as she thought, ‘This is going to be an awkward dinner…’ And awkward the dinner was. Seated on one end of the very long table was Flurry’s mother, and directly to her right was her husband. While on the other side of the table, Sombra sat opposite to the Empress of Love while Flurry sat opposite to her father to the Umbrum’s right. The atmosphere of the room was disconcertingly quiet apart from the sounds of the expensive silverware touching the equally expensive crystal dishes and plates. Usually the room would play host to many engaging conversations and fun memories, however, tonight it seemed as though it were an interrogation room. Not a single word had been uttered ever since all the royals had sat down to eat. Appetizers of buttered sour dough bread had come along and had been eaten. Fine aged red wine had been brought to each of the royals glasses. And now each of them were currently busy eating the delicious quinoa salad and steamed vegetables. Flurry wanted to enjoy the nice meal but couldn’t help but feel the tension between her parents and the Dark Lord. Every so often she’d look to the other side of the table only to see her parents refusing to let Sombra out of their sight while taking small bites of the refreshing salad. But after nearly half an hour of total silence, she’d nearly had enough and started a conversation, “So, is everyone else enjoying the meal? I think the corn and quinoa are great.” “Yes, it’s very nice indeed.” Replied Cadence with a look of disgust as she watched the Dark Unicorn intently. This, however, did little to lower the tension as the first reply would indicate, “It could use some meat…” Sombra responded as took a fork full of lettuce and crunched while continuing to stare at the two Ponies opposite to him. This statement only made the two parents more livid as they both now sported a hateful grimace towards the crude Dark Unicorn. Shining armor was so upset that when he used his magic to scoop up a bit of salad he accidentally sent his fork through the plate and into the table underneath. Sombra merely smiled while lifting up his glass of red wine and taking a sip. If he were trying to irritate the two parents he would have done a stellar job as Flurry had never seen either of them so riled up before. As she looked back and forth to both sides of the table she could see that the mood was only getting worse with every passing minute. And seeing as how her attempt at starting a conversation was fruitless she knew this likely wasn’t going to improve. Before things could escalate any further, however, Flurry immediately stood up from her chair and stormed off without any notice while bringing her glass of wine with her. She had not even finished her meal which remained on its plate along with her cutlery and napkin. All the tension between Sombra and her parents vanished as they all watched the white coated Alicorn leave the dinning room in a hurry. Sombra’s previously sly grin had turned into an expression of worry, and similarly with Shining Armor and Cadence. Once she returned to her chambers, Flurry slammed the door behind her and yelled in anger. It was not her loudest shout, but one could easily tell how frustrated the Princess felt just from the emotion in her tone. She then levitated the half full glass of wine which she had brought with her and drank the rest in a second. She coughed from the action and set the glass down on her living room table before opening up one of her drawers and finding an unopened bottle of red Cabernet Sauvignon wine from Prance. After taking the bottle out she opened the cork and poured a little of the crimson fluid into her previously full glass. She then placed the bottle back in its drawer and fell down onto her white living room couch to decompress. After 20 minutes of lying on the couch, Flurry was still not feeling any better from earlier. The bitter and dry alcohol had done little to calm her down as she had since finished the second glass. As she looked up to the ceiling of her room she sighed and rolled her eyes. ‘If I’d known mom and dad would be like that I’d have never invited him…’ She thought. It was then, however, that the vexed Alicorn heard a knock on her door. She wanted nothing more than to yell something along the lines of ‘GO AWAY’ or ‘NOT NOW!’. But she knew it would likely not be productive whatsoever. Reluctantly, the young royal rose from her couch and went to answer the door. Once she opened the door, Flurry was greeted by the presence of her Fiance. The Dark Unicorn appeared to be levitating a bouquet of flowers with his magic. The flowers consisted of multiple different colors of roses from white, to rose, to red. Before she could say anything, the Dark Unicorn addressed her, “I came here to give you these, Princess.” The Umbrum stated simply as he levitated the bouquet over to her. Flurry was taken back by this but used her magic to take the flowers. She was about to reply before Sombra continued, “I also came to apologize for my behavior this day.” Flurry was at loss for words as she stared at the tall dark coated stallion. Her mouth opened as if to say something, but no words came out. “Thank you for inviting me to dinner. I shall see you tomorrow. I hope you sleep well, Princess.” He added as he turned and left. The Alicorn watched as the Umbrum walked down the hall towards his chambers. She could not even think properly right now. Whether it was the buzz from the alcohol or witnessing the strange act of generosity from the tyrant Unicorn, Flurry couldn’t seem to figure out what had just happened. As she shut the door, the Princess looked back and simply thought, ‘What the hay was that?’ An hour had passed since the Dark Unicorn had visited her room, and Flurry had since placed the bouquet of roses in a tall crystal vase with some water. It was now quite late out and the young royal could see her aunt Luna’s moon rising over the night sky through the window. She was currently in her bathroom preparing to go to bed before she heard yet another knock on her door. As she had now calmed down she called, “Coming!” After opening the door, Flurry was greeted by her parents with guilty expressions littering their faces. Cadence was the first to speak, “Good evening sweetie, we just thought we’d pay you a visit before you went to bed.” Shining then continued on their behalf, “And, well. We also wanted to say we’re sorry for how we acted during dinner. We saw how upset you were when you ran off.” Flurry nodded with a small smile, “It’s okay dad, why don’t we talk about it in my room?” Both her parents agreed and entered the Alicorn Princess’ room. Upon entering, her parents sat down on two comfortable lounge chairs while Flurry took a seat on her white sofa again. She was the first to speak this time, “I just ran off because I couldn’t take it anymore. I didn’t mean to make you worry.” Cadence nodded, “We totally understand Flurry, our behavior was uncalled for.” Flurry couldn’t help but crack a smile at the thought of her parents faces during the dinner. She’d never seen them so bothered before. It almost reminded her of the tales Aunt Twilight would tell about the former villain Tirek who constantly lived in a raged state. She then looked up and sighed, “It’s just… I’m trying to be as welcoming to Sombra as I can so that this goes as best as it can. I know he’s done a lot of horrible things to the empire, and he’s unlikely to change. But I just wish you both could tolerate him enough so that we can make this whole thing go as smooth as possible.” She stated as she looked to both of her parents. The former Princess of Love and her husband both looked at each other and reluctantly nodded, “We’ll try sweetheart, just for you.” Shining armor answered. Flurry could tell that they were genuine about this, but could also tell that they were apprehensive about the idea. Without a second thought, she got up from her sofa and hugged both her parents. They were not at all surprised by this and returned the affection. It was a heartwarming moment for the three. After letting them go, the young Alicorn sat back down on the couch before Shining Armor noticed something, “Say, where’d you get the roses?” Flurry thought about lying about it but figured it was better to just tell them, “Well, Sombra came by my room a little while ago and gave them to me. He also apologized for dinner.” Both parents were surprised by this. “Really? Sombra did that?” Cadence asked, to which Flurry nodded. After hearing this development, both parents were puzzled by this action of the Dark Lord. It was very uncharacteristic of the normally conniving and manipulative tyrant. Breaking them from their thoughts, however, was their daughter, “Well, thanks for coming to apologize anyway. I know you two hate Sombra as much as all the other Crystal Ponies but for now we have to put up with him.” Shining Armor was still getting over the thought of what she’d told them, but realized that it was rather late and it would be best for them to leave Flurry to herself for the night, “We’ll try our best Flurry.” Before leaving though, a thought came over the Unicorn stallion’s head, “Hey, how would you like to wake up early tomorrow morning and get some training in with the guard? It’ll be like old times.” He asked with a charismatic smile. Flurry was immediately interested in the idea, “That would be great dad. The usual time?” “Yep, and remember to wear that Armor I gave you.” He added. “Will do dad, see you tomorrow morning.” She finished before seeing her parents out. Before she left, Cadence planted a kiss on Flurry’s snout, “I’m very proud of how mature you were today sweetheart, you’re already an excellent leader for the Crystal Ponies.” Flurry blushed at the compliment before replying, “Thanks mom, I just hope the Crystal Ponies will see it the same way.” “They will sweetheart, they will.” And with that, the two royals were off.
Chapter 7: Up to No GoodChapter 7 Up to No Good The Crystal Garden was always a calming place in the Empire. With fresh and savory air, an abundance of exotic wildlife, and wonderfully maintained plants, it was a perfect spot for one to find peace or to refresh themselves. However, as nice as the gardens were, they were currently sullied by a corrupted presence. Lord Sombra had decided to have a look at these gardens himself after having returned from his dual with Princess Flurry Heart. As the Umbrum trudged through the lush garden, he remarked on all the different species of plants. Perennials, annuals, and perfectly trimmed shrubs from all over Equestria made up the vast majority of the collection. There were of course a number of scattered trees and bushes throughout the premise as well, each of which like the shrubs were very well looked after. Nice as it was, however, Lord Sombra did not find himself feeling as at peace as most would. While walking along the paths he came he caught sight of a unique statue built out of different translucent crystals. The plaque below read, “In honor of the late Princess Amore. The first beloved ruler of the Crystal Empire and guardian of the Crystal Heart.” Sombra looked up to the statue which depicted his former ruler and rival. He growled at the memory of the late Unicorn Princess. She had known all along of his lineage and his kind. She’d watched passively by as the Crystal Heart had harmed him each Crystal Fair and had done nothing. To him she was no Princess, no ruler, not even worthy of being considered a guardian. To him she was nothing more than a coward and a liar. A disgrace to their title. Just the thought of the fallen Princess caused his dark magic aura to spike. He felt like shattering the statue as he had to her a millennia ago. Before acting rashly, however, the Umbrum toned down his anger. He knew that lashing out would do little good. After calming himself to a degree, he decided to move on and see to an important matter. After traveling through the streets of the Empire for a few minutes, Sombra was beginning to feel fed up with the stares and attention he was getting. Some Crystal Ponies would watch him pass by while many others would cower away or lock their houses in fear of the Umbrum. Although he normally fed off the fear of other creatures, Sombra wasn’t interested in the attention right now, much less attention from those he considered beneath him. Regardless, after a quick journey he had arrived. Above the door to the building was a sign that read, “Amethyst’s Trinkets and Troves”. As he was about to enter the shop, Sombra noticed the door open only for a familiar Pony to walk out. The white coated Alicorn raised a brow as she looked up to him, “Lord Sombra? What are you doing here?” Although she was surprised to see him here, Sombra was less so. He knew that she was not here by coincidence and also knew what she was likely doing here, “It is not a matter of grave concern to you, Princess. I assume you were here to question Mistress Trinket?” Flurry looked unconvinced with his response, and instead of answering him, she asked a question of her own, “Who is Omni?” The Alicorn’s stance was firm and commanding as she stood just in front of the door blocking him from entering. Sombra raised a brow, “Omni? I have never heard of that name before.” Although Sombra looked genuine, Flurry was still doubted him, “Really? None of the Crystal Ponies that came to you told you anything about this ‘Omni’?” She asked with a stern expression. This question only agitated Sombra who was now growing impatient, “Those Crystal Ponies did not merely seek me out, Princess. I found and salvaged them from the cold unforgiving arctic. Furthermore, no. I have never heard the name Omni ushered until now.” Although she wanted to press him further, Flurry could tell that the Umbrum was tensing up. Even though he seemed taut about the subject, she had a feeling that he was telling the truth. She sighed before responding, “Okay. I spoke to most of the returned Crystal Ponies and they all stated that you weren’t responsible for their leaving.” Sombra’s expression did not change, “So you have accepted the truth then?” She reluctantly nodded and looked away, “Yes. I’m sorry for having doubted you before.” Sombra smirked at this. He could tell the Alicorn did not want to submit and felt ashamed to admit defeat to him. It reminded him of their dual earlier that day. “Apology accepted, Princess Flurry Heart.” He stated while staring directly at her with a taunting grin. Flurry huffed in frustration but composed herself before adding, “You’re sure you’ve never heard of anypony by the name of Omni?” He shook his head, “Never. Why do you ask?” Flurry hesitated on whether or not to tell him but ultimately decided not to divulge the information that the Crystal Ponies had given her. “It is not a matter of great concern to you, Lord Sombra.” She stated in a mocking manner, using his own words from earlier. He raised a brow once more but shrugged, “Very well.” And with that he walked past her and entered the shop. Flurry looked back and sighed. Unfortunate as it was, she had not learned anything more of interest after talking to five other Ponies. She’d ultimately decided to forgo paying visits to any other Ponies as they’d likely have the same if not a similar story as the ones prior. Still, she could tell that there was a lot more that they were not letting on. She thought it best to pay a visit to her auntie Twilight who was most likely to know something about this mysterious fallen ruler. As he entered the store, a small bell rang overhead. Only a second after the bell rung, an uninterested monotone voice called out, “Shop’s closed for today! I’m not taking any orders-” “Now now Mistress Trinket, I’m sure you can make an exception today.” Sombra interrupted as he approached. The magenta colored Earth Pony immediately looked up and gasped, “L-Lord Sombra! I didn’t expect to ever see you here!” She remarked anxiously. The Umbrum nodded, “Yes it is all quite irregular I understand. However, I am in need of your services.” The Mare immediately straightened her posture as she got up from her chair and made her way to the dark coated Unicorn. “My services?” She asked. He nodded once more, “Indeed. Tell me, what do you make of this?” The Umbrum then used his magic to levitate a small leather bag in front of the magenta coated Mare. The bag itself was not that interesting on its own, however, when Sombra removed the small object that was in the bag, the magenta coated Mare was taken back. “A black Opal!? These are extremely rare! There’s said to be only five shards of these throughout Equestria!” Miss Trinket stated in shock as she examined the gemstone. “Precisely. Now as I’m sure you are aware, I am getting married to the Princess in three weeks time. And I must present her with a suitable ring. I figured with your skill set that you would be able to fashion me said ring.” Sombra stated as he placed the rough gemstone on the shop’s table. The Mare examined the stone very carefully. It was currently unrefined and was no larger than a clementine, however, she could tell that behind the jagged edges and rough surface was one of the most exquisite and sought after stones in Equestria. The stone consisted primarily of dark colors, namely black and navy blue, but also contained tiny specs of green, red, and yellow which resembled what Princess Luna would call a ‘Nebula’. “I will get to work on it right away, Lord Sombra.” The Mare stated as she took the gemstone. Sombra smirked in satisfaction before adding, “And don’t worry about payment Miss Trinket, I will ensure that you are sufficiently reimbursed.” “Actually, this one is on the house. It’s the least I can do to repay you for saving me, my Lord.” She stated while bowing in respect. This gesture was a surprise to Sombra, but a welcomed one. Regardless he figured he’d leave the mare to her work and attend to some other business of his. “You have my gratitude, Mistress Trinket. I look forward to seeing your work completed.” He stated before departing. An entire day had passed, and Celestia’s glowing sun was beginning to set across the horizon. Sombra had since retired back to the Castle after having seen to a few matters outside of the Crystal Empire. Although he was used to keeping himself busy each day, today had been exhausting for the Tyrant Unicorn. He was not used to dealing with Equestrian Ponies. He saw them as beneath him and not worth his time. But for all his power and might, there were some things that not even he could accomplish on his own. As few as those things were he still hated to ask for assistance from anypony. While beginning to relax on one of the sofas of his large room, he was greeted by a voice from behind him. ~“Enjoying yourself, my son?”~ He sighed, “I have had better days. Now what do you want Madam Umbara.” The apparition floated in front of Sombra and glanced down at him, ~“I see you are fitting in to your new life rather well. But have you forgotten your purpose?”~ The Image stated tersely. He shook his head without hesitation, “No. I have not. And I do not need you reminding me of it like a broken parrot.” He stated with agitation. A smile found its way to Madam Umbara’s face, ~“Or perhaps…”~ She trailed. Sombra resigned himself from his sofa and looked outside his window to see Luna’s moon rising overhead along with a dark star filled night sky. “Perhaps what?” He asked irately. ~“Perhaps you are procrastinating because you feel pressured. Or is it… Something else?”~ The female Umbrum trailed once more while alluding to something more personal. Sombra growled and turned to face his ‘mother’ with anger and hostility, “I am NOT procrastinating. I just know better than to ruin my only chance at freeing our kind by being rash and foolish. It is too early to enact my plan. They would no doubt suspect me of it.” Although his point was backed by logic and reasoning, Madam Umbara was not done with him yet. ~“I wouldn’t be so sure, my son.”~ “You dare question me!?” He fired back immediately. The floating apparition did not shy away from Sombra’s threat, however, and simply stared at her son unamused. ~“Careful, King Sombra. You may be our the King of our kind, but you must still prove yourself.~ He scoffed with a huff as he sat back down on the sofa, “I mustn’t do anything unless I desire it. Now leave me. I would like to rest.” Umbara clearly did not like this comment, however, and turned to face him directly. ~“You will free our kind, King Sombra. And you will do so with expediency.”~ He raised a brow with a sneer, “Or what?” There was a pause as Madam Umbara stared him down intently. ~“Or… I will destroy her.”~ She stated without emotion as a ghostly echo trailed her voice. Sombra remained still for a moment with his jaw hanging slightly open. He was trying to hide whatever emotion he was feeling currently. It was an emotion he’d hardly ever felt. One he hadn’t felt since… Since Hope. After regaining his resolve, however, the Umbrum rose from the chair and stood only inches from the image of his ‘mother’. “Get out. Now.” He ordered with his teeth and fangs bared as his dark magic aura began to climax. Madam Umbara merely glared at her son who clearly was attempting to counter threaten her. Without any remorse, she continued, ~“Fulfill your duty to your kind and then perhaps I will be merciful to that tramp of an Alicorn.”~ With this, the female Umbrum vanished into a cloud of smoke which quickly evaporated like steam from a kettle. Sombra looked around the room before beginning to calm himself. It seemed that every confrontation he had with his so called ‘mother’ would agitate and vex him. She seemed to be constantly watching over him and invading his privacy like it was her job. He did not appreciate this. Nor did he appreciate her subtle threats and jabs towards him. She had a cruel way of motivating him, more cruel than even he. He supposed it was where he’d gotten his own vile demeanor. As he settled down he thought about the threat that Madam Umbara had made towards him. But more about why he had reacted the way he did than the threat itself. He could not understand what had prompted him to be so defensive after it. He had only ever feared losing one thing in life and that thing had been lost a very long time ago. But now he felt that same feeling again. Was it a sign? Or was it simply an overreaction on his part. ‘No. I do not feel that way about her. What we’re doing is purely political.’ He thought as he dismissed the idea. He still felt it was too soon to enact his plan to free his Umbrum kin that were buried bellow the Empire. But as much as he hated to admit it, he was unlikely to get an opportunity in the near future with his wedding to Princess Flurry Heart being such a large burden. After a moment to contemplate his next steps, Sombra decided it best to wait until the darkest hour of night. To avoid making noise, the Umbrum resigned himself to his shadow form and flowed across the halls like a phantom. The halls although lit, were dim and empty. It was strange to see the corridors of the Castle so barren and unguarded, Sombra was extra cautious all the same. After passing many hallways, Sombra was greeted by the sound of hoofsteps nearby. From the sounds he identified them as hoofsteps of several Crystal Guards. He was not afraid in the slightest of two insignificant Ponies, however, he could not risk being seen less he cause an alarm. As the sounds became closer, Sombra looked around the hallway for possible places to hide. The steps only grew closer with every passing second. At this point he could now hear the faint voices of the two Ponies talking to one another. This hardly mattered, however, and after scoping out the room for a few seconds he had found a suitable place to conceal himself. After turning the corner, the two guards could now be heard loud and clear. “I still can’t believe Lance was our Princess! It’s just… It’s crazy!” Stated a yellow coated Pegasus Stallion. “What’s more crazy is that she’s an amazing athlete and duelist! Did you see her out there? Her skills rival even the captain!” Stated the other, a white coated Pegasus with a caramel colored mane. “Heh… Still, it was funny seeing her have to kiss Lord Sombra. I don’t like that evil creature at all but I had to admit he really riled her up out there.” The yellow coated guard spoke once more. “Shhh! They’ll hear you Flash!” The other whispered while hiting his partner on the head as a reminder. “Ow! Why’d you do that!?” The yellow coated Pegasus complained while rubbing the spot where he’d been struck. “Because you’re talking louder than Lord Tirek right now while everypony is asleep! Now quiet down before we get in trouble again!” The other explained in a hushed tone. The yellow Pegasus sighed in defeat, “Fine.” As the two walked down the hallway, Sombra stayed very still. He was getting fed up with the noise these two guards were making and hoped that they’d pass quickly without noticing him. “You know, I don’t see what you find funny about that monster. He nearly killed our Princess multiple times during their dual. And between you and me, I don’t trust him at all. Even the Emperor sees it. He’s trying to betray us.” The white coated guard stated quietly as the two passed by. Sombra growled lightly at the mention of this, though a bit too loud as he then saw the ears on the guards perk up. “Did you hear that?” The yellow Pegasus asked while looking around the room. “Yeah. It sounded like it came from the wall.” The other replied. The two guards then scanned the wall very carefully. There were multiple murals and windows each containing rich Equestrian history. On the largest window was a depiction of a major event that took place many years ago. It showed six Ponies of different kinds connecting with one another and discharging a powerful magical beam at a large dark entity. This was no doubt a showing of the battle that took place between the Evil Lord Sombra, and the fabled Elements of Harmony some twenty five years prior. Even so, the guards saw nothing out of the ordinary on the wall or windows. After carefully checking the area, the yellow Pegasus shrugged, “Must have been a Timberwolf outside or something.” “Flash, we’re 20 stories up and in the Crystal Empire… It was more likely the wind.” The other corrected while tapping the same spot on the other Pegasus’ head. The yellow coated Stallion sighed while rubbing his head, “Why do you always have to rain on my parade?” “Because I’m a Pegasus. It’s our job to bring the rain.” The white coated Stallion replied with a smile. There was a pause for a few seconds before the yellow coated Pegasus began to snicker and subsequently giggle, “Ha ha, nice one Shield. I didn’t know you had it in you to tell a joke.” The other Pegasus did not seem so carefree, however, “It wasn’t meant as a joke Flash. Now come on. We’ve wasted enough time here. We need to complete our rounds or the captain will make us do extra wing ups tomorrow. Do you want that?” Flash pouted at this and huffed, “Spoil sport.” With that, both guards trotted down the hall without looking back. Sombra waited until they were well out of earshot before revealing himself once more. He had successfully exemplified the ‘hiding in plain sight’ notion and had simply disguised his shadow form as his own depiction on the art of the window. Call it narcissism or genius, but whatever the reason it had worked. As he removed himself from the image on the wall, Sombra continued on his way. It took him no more than a few minutes to arrive at his destination, the Crystal Empire Throne Room. Sombra had been inside this room so many times he’d lost count, although each time reminded him of his past failures. The room was dark and remained very dark with the only light coming from the faint white rays of Luna’s moon overhead. It was even emptier than the hallways he had just passed on his way here. Perfect for what he was about to do. Looking both ways and sensing no one approaching, Sombra returned to his physical form and turned to face the center of the room before summoning his dark magic. Sparks of dark indigo and green filled the room as he cast a spell which struck the center of the crystal throne and uncovered a secret stairway down to the depths of the castle. After opening the way, Sombra took one last look around before descending down into his lair. After walking down many flights of stairs he had arrived before a small doorway. Although strangely it seemed to have been tampered with. It was opened instead of closed when last he’d come down here. He growled, “Those elements of harmony must have bypassed the enchantment…” After entering the room he was greeted to his study which he had built more than a thousand years ago when he ruled the Empire with an iron hoof. As he looked to the wall he saw the many books and grimoires on dark magic that he had stolen from the Crystal Library centuries ago. They each looked to be in their proper spots, as did the miscellaneous items in the room such as his quill, ink, and the lectern and chair at the center. “Where’s my memoir… It was right here last I remember.” A sneer formed on Sombra’s face as he wondered what unfortunate Pony had taken his journal from its resting place. But after having wasted enough time in the room reminiscing on the past, Sombra discarded the thought and returned his focus to his objective. He then looked at one of the statues of himself in the corner of his room. “At least there’s one thing those irksome Ponies did not mettle with.” He stated to himself as he used his dark magic to flip the horn on the statue down. After this action, the room began to shake and in an instant, the bookshelf that had previously filled in a wall had sunken into the floor of the room revealing a secret passage through a very dark catacomb. As Sombra navigated through the cave, he could see the effects of leaving this place unattended for a millennia. For the corners of the cave were filled with cobwebs and other signs of neglect. Although he was known for being a tyrant, Sombra still appreciated a certain level of cleanliness and used an incineration spell to melt all the abandoned spider webs throughout the cave. After walking through the narrow passage for a few minutes he had arrived at a dead end. This time, however, there were no hidden devices nor tricks to open the way forward. This cave, like many things throughout the Castle and the Empire had been carved using the enslaved Crystal Ponies during his occupation of the lands. But when the Dark Lord had realized his doom quickly approaching, he diverted all his slaves to the war. The tunnel had been abandoned entirely before his defeat and thus his goal hadn’t been achieved. “No matter.” He said to himself as he once again summoned his magic. “A curse of decay will do nicely…” He finished as he blasted the wall before him with his hideous and vile energy. Within a second he could see the wall in front of him begin to slowly disintegrate and expand the tunnel further. It was slow but would eventually reveal what was beyond the dense stone facade. After casting the curse, Sombra grinned. “It won’t be long now, my subjects.” Author's Note Well there's chapter 7 everypony! I'm finally starting to get back into my groove with these updates. I hope you guys like the more frequent chapters. In any case we have Sombra making some preparations for the big day while also committing some devious schemes while everypony else has their backs turned! I hope you guys are excited for the next chapter as it's going to include a few familiar faces and places! Stay tuned for it next week! Also, for those of you that favorited, liked, or commented on the story, thank you ever so much! Your support keeps me updating this thing and I can't find the motivation without you guys. Remember to review each chapter and let me know your thoughts and feelings about it or what you'd like to see in the future! For all new viewers, makes sure to follow the story to get future updates! Before I sign off for the chapter, I'd just like to say humbly, "THANK YOU ALL FOR 1000 VIEWS!" -Obsedian_Flame
Chapter 8: Elements of the Past Pt 2Author's Note Okay, so before this chapter starts, just let me say that it's very very long. I tried to keep things as short as possible but with the amount of things covered it was a bit tough. In any case I hope you guys enjoy this one! I had a total blast writing it and throwing back to the show. All the characters are in line with their endings in MLP FIM Season 9 and I tried to keep things as consistent as possible. Remember if you liked the chapter or like what I'm doing with the story to favorite, follow it, and leave a comment to let me know your thoughts on it! Chapter 8: Elements of the Past Pt 2 Chapter 8 Elements of the Past Pt 2 After a short travel, Flurry and Luster had arrived at their destination. A familiar and welcoming town named Ponyville. Flurry had visited Ponyville many times, though mostly for occasions such as the Iron Pony competitions, Wonderbolt events, or family gatherings. Regardless, there was perhaps no place with a better reputation throughout all Equestria. For besides playing host to the Castle of Friendship and the fabled Elements of Harmony, the Ponies of this town were said to be the most generous in all the land. “Here we are. The Carousel Boutique. It’s been a while since I was last here…” Flurry remarked as she looked up at the cheerful shop before them. “I’ve never been to the shop before. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever bought or worn a fancy dress for anything.” The pink coated Unicorn stated as the two walked up to the door. Flurry blinked before glancing at her friend, “Wait, you’ve never worn a dress before? Not even for the Grand Galloping Gala?” “Nope. I’ve never been to the Gala before. Mom and Dad always wanted me to go but I’d always take the night to study instead. I never understood the appeal of these big social events.” Luster added with a shrug. Flurry was stumped by this reasoning, although it definitely sounded like something her Unicorn friend would do. Regardless she discarded the thought and proceeded to open the door to the shop with the two Mares entering thereafter. A small bell rang overhead and was quickly followed by an elegant and inviting voice, “Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, how may I help you-” Flurry and Luster both looked to their right to see a white coated Unicorn Mare with a dyed purple mane and a silver streak through the middle. The mare’s mane was curled and styled beautifully as was her tail. Her eyebrows detailed along with her lashes. Her cutie mark depicted a series of three light blue colored diamonds. “My goodness! Princess Flurry Heart! Forgive my candor. What may I do for you?” The Unicorn exclaimed. Flurry smiled before replying, “It’s no problem Miss Rarity. My friend Luster and I came to your shop today as I want to commission a dress design from you.” Rarity looked to be processing this development for a good few seconds. The action was beginning to worry Flurry and Luster as they watched the white coated Unicorn who seemed in deep thought. Luster was about to speak before Rarity’s eyes lit up, “You… Want me… To make you a dress?” Flurry was confused as she had just explained her reasoning, “Yes?” She trailed hesitantly. “Splendid! Then let’s get to work on it right away darling! If you’ll follow me I’ll get your measurements.” Rarity stated. Flurry nodded and went to follow before noticing that her friend was still behind at the door. “Dawn? Aren’t you going to come too?” “It’s okay Flur, you go ahead-” “Oh nonsense! You’re coming as well Miss Dawn. I need to get your measurements too.” The white coated Unicorn interjected. Flurry and Luster each shared confused expressions. “My measurements too? But Miss Rarity-” “Come! We’re making you a dress as well!” The eccentric Unicorn interrupted while leading the both of them up to one of her tables. After taking out a measuring tape and a notepad, Rarity began taking down measurements for Flurry’s body. It would have been a fairly awkward experience for the young royal if she did not already know the element of generosity personally. “So darling, what exactly is the occasion for which you need my fabulous work?” Rarity stated while complementing herself. Flurry was hesitant to answer the Unicorn’s question, “A wedding.” She answered simply. Rarity’s face sparked with interest, “A wedding? I love weddings! Who’s the lucky mare or stallion?” The Alicorn was once again hesitant to reply, “Me actually. I’m getting married in three weeks…” Rarity immediately stopped in her tracks as she stared up at Flurry Heart. Her mouth hung open slightly as she processed this development. “You’re… You’re getting married?” “Yep! She’s getting married to Lord Sombra. Don’t know why she wants to marry him though.” Luster Dawn stated on her friend’s behalf. "Dawn!” Flurry ranted while glancing over to her Unicorn friend. “This is amazing! No… IT’S MARVELOUS! The Princess of the Crystal Empire wearing one of my esteemed dresses on her most special day! We must make your dress simply unfathomable! Pristine! GRAND!!!” Rarity exclaimed proudly while raising a hoof in the air as if she were speaking to the stars. Flurry and Luster looked at each other, not sure whether to cut the white Unicorn off from her self aggrandizing monologue. Before either of them opened their mouths, Rarity continued, “Wait a second… Did I mishear you or did you say you were engaged to be married to Lord Sombra?” Flurry nodded and answered, “Yes. Lord Sombra is my fiance.” Rarity’s eyes went wide, “Oh… That would explain some things…” Flurry expected the Unicorn to be far more shocked than this. Most Ponies she’d told about her engagement had nearly fallen over hearing it. However, Rarity seemed as though she’d already been informed. “Well, let’s not waste another moment shall we?” Rarity chimed while picking up her tape measure once again and taking the last of Flurry Heart’s measurements. After writing down all the values, Rarity pointed over to one of her collections, “Come with me darling, we’ll see which style is best suited for you!” Flurry looked at the collection. There were nearly 15 dresses displayed on mannequins. Rarity pointed to the first, “This is the trending ‘Ball Gown’ dress style. A Manehattan and Canterlot classic with a lovely tapered waist and a large skirt! Although, I’m not sure it’d be best suited to you darling. No, too much unnecessary space and far too much drape!” Rarity then moved on to the second, “Next, the Trumpet style! It’s the latest style in Canterlot. So form fitting! So exquisite! It is among my sister’s favorite styles.” Flurry wanted to stop the white Unicorn and slow her down, but Rarity was far to focused and engrossed in her own speech. As Rarity continued, Flurry found herself interested in one of the later designs in the collection. The white Unicorn noticed this immediately, “Oh yes! How could I not see it! The A-Line style! You were simply made to wear it darling! It is after all a Crystal Empire design!” Flurry giggled, “May I try it on Mrs Rarity? Perhaps then I can make up my mind.” “Oh of course dear! Do try it on!” Rarity replied with joy. After a few minutes of fitting into the tight outfit, Flurry looked down to the two Unicorns, “Well? How do I look?” “You look marvelous Darling! Yes! This is the perfect style! The waist, the drape, the fit! All perfect! I simply must get started!” Rarity enthusiastically exclaimed. Flurry smiled at the response but noticed her friend being very silent. As she looked over at Luster, she could see that the pink coated Unicorn’s jaw was hanging open as she stared in shock. “Dawn? You alright?” Her friend was trying desperately to hide the blush on her face as she stared. “Sorry… It’s just the dress. It looks really good on you Flur.” She answered modestly to avoid sounding awkward. Flurry giggled as she could see her friend’s embarrassment on full display but decided to leave it as it was. “Thanks Dawn. This design looks great Miss Rarity! I would absolutely love to wear it during my wedding!” Rarity nodded with pride, “Then it’s settled! I shall get to work on it right away! But first we need to sort out your dress Miss Luster! After all we can’t have a Maid of Honor without an equally excellent dress!” Both Flurry and Luster paused upon hearing this as they looked at one another. “M-Maid of Honor?” Luster asked hesitantly. “Why yes! You are the Princess’ Maid of Honor aren’t you darling?” Rarity a prodded. After a moment of thought, the pink coated Unicorn nodded as she glanced over to her royal friend, “I guess I am. That is if Flur is alright with it.” “I would love that Dawn. Besides, you’re already an expert wedding planner right?” Flurry replied with a knowing smile. This prompted a laugh from all three. “You bet Flur.” “So tell me Princess. How exactly did you decide to marry Lord Sombra?” Rarity asked while multi-tasking as she measured Luster Dawn’s proportions for her own dress. “It’s just Flurry Heart Miss Rarity. About my engagement, you could say it’s more of a political alliance than anything else. I’m doing this to protect the Crystal Ponies.” Flurry answered diplomatically. While listening to the Princess, Rarity remained focused on her work. “I see. How very noble of you dear. Just like your lovely mother as well.” Flurry smiled at the complement, but now had a question of her own, “Miss Rarity, can I ask you something? When Dawn explained that I was getting married to Lord Sombra you didn’t even seem surprised. Almost everypony else that I’ve told has been totally stunned by the news.” Rarity looked away sheepishly, “Well darling, it’s a long story, but just yesterday Lord Sombra came to my shop to commission me for a Stallion tailored suit. I must admit when he arrived I was simply terrified. I thought it was going to be the end of me! But strangely he behaved very politely. Almost like a gentlecolt from Canterlot or some such. He said that he needed a suit for a big occasion. At first I thought I was living through a strange nightmare, but after gathering the courage to speak to him, I realized he was being honest.” She then looked back to the Alicorn with a serious expression, “When you arrived and told me about your engagement, I put the pieces together. But now that is past us. We must focus on making your dress the best it can possibly be!” Flurry smiled but remained in thought. It seemed very odd that Sombra would approach Miss Rarity about such a thing. Surely he could find a suitable tailor in the Crystal Empire. Not to mention, the white Unicorn represented one of the elements of harmony whom had been his bane for many years. Regardless, after waiting a few more minutes, Rarity had now finished her work. “That should be all I need. I’ll get to work on both your outfits straight away.” Luster and Flurry both nodded in respect, “Thank you Miss Rarity, would you like us to pay you now or after you’re finished?” The white coated Unicorn shook her head, “Nonsense my dear, my payment is having everypony seeing you wear one of my fine dresses! The brand recognition, the awareness, the publicity!” Flurry snickered, “Okay then Miss Rarity, thank you so much for your help. We both greatly appreciate it.” Rarity nodded, “One last thing Darling. If you return to Canterlot anytime soon, please say hi to Spikey Wikey for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that gent of a Dragon.” Luster and Flurry giggled, “Of course Miss Rarity, take care.” And with that, both friends exited the shop and went on their way. “So what’s next on the list of things to do, wedding planner Dawn?” Flurry asked. “We need a really nice cake. You know, one of those big five level round ones?” The Unicorn replied while checking the first item off the list. “Well I could get the bakers in the Crystal Empire to-” “But why go to the Crystal Empire when we could go to Sugarcube Corner? It’s just a few blocks away.” Luster interrupted. Before she could rebuttal, Flurry was led by her friend to the tall candy colored building. Flurry looked over to her friend, “You’ve been here before?” Luster nodded, “Once or twice. Spike and I visited during the friendship retreat a year ago. The cupcakes here were just amazing!” Flurry smiled and shook her head, “Alright then Dawn, lead the way.” With that, both Ponies entered the bakery. After walking through the door, the two Ponies were greeted by a very appetizing aroma. The smell of freshly baked dough and delectable sweets was undeniable and as Flurry and Luster looked around, they could see a wide assortment of cupcakes, tarts, cookies, and other delicious pastries. Ahead was a counter where there normally would be a cashier or attendant, but was currently empty. “Hello?” Flurry called while looking around. After hearing no response, she was about to call once more before they each heard a loud crashing noise upstairs. Within a second, they heard a voice call out from above, “Lil Cheese! You bring that back this instant!” Not a moment later, the two friends heard a quick series of hoofsteps as a young earth pony foal ran down the stairs with a spatula in his mouth. His mane and tail were a bright pink color and were absolutely disheveled. As they watched the foal run by, they noticed another Pony swiftly run down the stairs and follow him. This Earth Pony mare looked like the Pony embodiment of cotton candy or a puffy cloud. Her mane, tail, and coat were all pink, and her hair was just as unkempt as the foal she was chasing. “Lil Cheese!? Oh where did that rascal go…” The Mare spoke as she looked around the room. After looking up, the Mare noticed the two customers, but more importantly, she noticed exactly who they both were. With an exaggerated gasp, the Earth Pony’s eyes lit up, “Baby Flurry Heart! And Luster Dawn! Are you two here for some of our amazingly flavorful fruitcakes!? Or do you want to try some of the Caramel Coated Cupcakes!? They’re all so good! Oh! I bet you’re here for some of our incredibly iconic icicle canes!?” Flurry and Luster each looked at one another and began laughing, “No thank you Mrs Pinkie Pie. Luster and I are actually here for something else.” “Oh! Okey dokey lokey! What could it be!? Are you both in need of a super duper party planning pony!? Because if so I’m totally your go to choice!” Pinkie Pie commented with a proud smile as she jumped up and down as if riding a Pogo stick. Flurry shook her head, “Not quite Mrs Pinkie Pie. You see we actually came here to commission a wedding cake from you.” Upon hearing this news, the Pink pony’s eyes somehow widened even more than they already were, “Did you say w-w-wedding?…” There was a pause for a moment and before Flurry and Lust could reply, the Pink Pony’s disheveled hair burst with a series of streamers and confetti that came from seemingly nowhere. “I. LOVE. WEDDINGS! This is so great! Who’s the special mare!? Who’s the special Stallion!? Or is it two mares or two stallions!? Either way I’m so excited! When is it!? Where is it!? Who’s going!? Can I come too!?” The pink coated earth pony continued to ramble on and on as Luster Dawn and Flurry Heart looked at one another each exchanging a shrug. “Should we stop her?” Luster asked as they tuned out the pink pony’s excitement. Flurry nodded, “Umm Mrs Pinkie Pie? This isn’t somepony else’s wedding. It’s mine.” Pinkie’s rave ended abruptly upon hearing this. “You’re getting married!?!?” There was yet another brief pause as it seemed that the pink Mare’s head was about to burst. “This. Is. AMAZING!!! Baby Flurry Heart is getting married! We need to celebrate! Who’s the special Pony!? When is the big day!? Are there going to be balloons!? What about streamers!? Oh! I’m going to have to add a few new pages to your wholesome heartfelt scrapbook!” Pinkie Pie asked as she jumped with joy like a foal on Hearths Warming day. Flurry Heart sighed before speaking in a more serious manner, “I’m getting married in three weeks to Lord Sombra, Mrs Pie. Dawn and I came here to ask if you’d be willing to bake the wedding cake for the ceremony.” The Earth Pony yet again gasped, but this time not out of happiness, but of shock. “S-Sombra!? What!” Flurry nodded, “Yes. He is my fiance. But it’s not what you think.” “That’s totally cray-cray! Why would you ever marry an evil wicked warlock like Sombra!? He’s a baddie!” Pinkie Pie stated while now dramatically biting the ends of her front hooves as if it were a nervous habit. Luster Dawn couldn’t help but let out a snicker as she covered her mouth. Flurry, however, did not look to be as amused as her friend. “It’s a long story Mrs Pie. I’m marrying him only to protect the Crystal Ponies and the rest of Equestria. If we’re both the rulers of the Crystal Empire there’s a chance I can keep him in line. Either way, I didn’t come here to discuss that. Would you be able to help us?” She asked politely. Although the pink Mare seemed apprehensive, seeing the look on Flurry’s prompted her to regain her courage and hold her head high, “Okey dokey lokey, and besides how could I ever say no to Baby Flurry Heart!? We’re going to make your wedding cake the bestest, most tastiest, most awesome cake ever! Lil Cheesy! Bring that spatula back! We need to get started on the greatest wedding cake yet!” Flurry and Luster both looked at one another with content smiles before going over to the counter. “Whew… That was more exhausting than I thought it’d be…” Flurry let out with a sigh as her and Luster walked through the village. The pink Unicorn giggled, “Come on Flur, it wasn’t that bad. Also, I never knew Mrs Pinkie Pie was your foalsitter. That must have been fun.” Flurry nodded, “It was. Pinkie is one of the kindest Ponies I know. Also one of the craziest. There was a time when I was three years old when she brought a cloud to me that somehow rained chocolate… I have no idea how she does half the things she does…” “Did someone say chocolate rain?” Flurry and Luster were both taken back as they heard a voice above them. As they looked up they noticed a long and strange looking creature sitting on a puffy brown cloud. The creature had bits of different mythological animals scattered throughout its body. The antler of a Deer, the head and neck of a Mule, a single fang and paw from a Lion, the body and talon of a Griffon, the foot of a Lizard, the hoof of a Minotaur, the wings of a Bat and a Pegasus, and lastly the tail of a Dragon. His eyes were a deep yellow color with red irises. As the Draconequus lay on top the brown cloud, he stared down at the two ponies before him. Within seconds, the small cloud began to rain a sweet chocolate substance. Flurry and Luster got out of the way to keep their coats clean before glancing back up to the creature. “Discord? What are you doing here?” Luster Dawn asked on behalf of the two. “Me? Well I was simply enjoying the lovely view of Fluttershy’s cottage when I heard someone call my name!” Discord replied while he magically removed his left horn and began polishing it with a rag that popped out of thin air in front of him. Both Ponies raised a brow, “Neither of us called your name Discord-” Flurry began before being interrupted. “So, what does Princess Flurry Heart and her wedding planner Luster Dawn need with the Lord of Chaos?” The creature asked while snapping his talon and making the brown cloud disappear. “How did you-” Luster blurted before the Draconequus cut her off again. “Please. I have eyes and ears everywhere dearest.” Discord stated while pointing all around the two Ponies before him. Flurry and Luster looked around to see all sorts of objects such as stones, bushes, and fences magically transformed into identical copies of the Draconequus’ eyes and ears. Normally the sight of this would scare even the bravest Ponies, however, with Discord being concerned this was nothing more than a regular occurrence. Flurry shook her head as she placed a hoof on her face, “Thanks for the offer Discord, but we don’t need your help right now.” Now it was the Draconequus’ turn to raise a brow. Within a second, he snapped his talon and in front of him appeared a familiar note pad. He grabbed the pad with his paw and magically summoned a pair of reading glasses along with a quill with no ink. “Hmm, let’s see here… Dress, cake, decorations, flowers, bla bla bla bla bla…” “Hey! That’s my note pad!” Luster Dawn complained as she attempted to jump up and take back her stolen possession. “Oh goodness! No this won’t do! You two forgot the most important thing of all!” The Draconequus remarked as his glasses and quill vanished. “Forgot? What do you mean Discord?” Flurry asked patiently. A small puppet show box then appeared before Flurry and Luster. As the two red curtains opened, a scene of a formal gathering appeared behind the box. There were a group of Pony-looking marionettes that were wearing dresses and formal outfits. “You forgot the most important thing at a wedding. The guests!” Discord answered while controlling the many puppets using his hands, wings and even his feet. While floating above the box. Flurry looked to Luster, “But I thought that was on the list?” “It WAS on the list…” Luster replied while rolling her eyes before the Draconequus appeared directly between both Ponies. “Well, as long as we’re in the business of inviting guests to your wedding, I know the first place we should go!” Discord stated with a wide positive smile. Within a second, the creature snapped his talon. Flurry opened her eyes to see herself, Luster Dawn and Discord all standing before a secluded tranquil home. The house appeared to be covered with lush green moss on all the roofs and around it was an abundance of healthy and happy wildlife. From small birds, to rabbits, to other rodents, it was a very calming atmosphere. “Well, here we are.” Discord stated with while snapping his talons and summoning a red carpet that led to the doorstep of the structure. Flurry had been to this house once before and knew exactly who’s abode it was. She smiled and shook her head at the Draconequus’ antics, “Mrs Fluttershy’s cottage? You know we were always going to invite her right?” “Oh… Uh yes, of course I knew that. Now hurry and knock on the door, but do it gently.” Discord stated while plucking a feather out of his Pegasus wing and waving it like a fan. Without wasting another moment, Flurry turned and knocked on the door lightly. After a few seconds of waiting, the door was slowly opened and out peeked the head of a timid Pegasus Mare. Her coat was a banana yellow color and her pink mane was tied back with a hair tie. “Yes?” She asked in a very hushed tone. “Hello Miss Fluttershy, I came to ask you something. Would you mind if we talk for a bit?” Flurry asked also in a quiet tone. “Princess Flurry Heart, and Luster Dawn! It’s good to see you two! Come right in! We were just having a spot of tea and some biscuits.” The Pegasus answered in a kind and soft manner. Both Ponies nodded before graciously entering the Pegasus’ humble house. Before she closed the door, however, Fluttershy noticed a lone figure floating above her front stoop. “Aren’t you going to come in too Discord?” She asked lightly. “Oh thank you Fluttershy but I couldn’t possibly. I’m far too busy right now.” The Draconequus answered politely while making an angel’s halo appear above his head. The Pegasus giggled, “Come on in silly. I’m sure they want to talk to you too.” “If you insist.” He replied while making his halo disappear. Once everyone was inside the small home, Fluttershy proceeded to pour several cups of tea for her new guests. While filling the final cup, she looked behind, “So, what would you two like to talk about?” Flurry looked around the room to see an assortment of different wild animals seated around a table each with s cup of tea of their own from a brown bear, to a raccoon, to a red fox, to a barn owl, to a small white furred bunny. “Well Mrs Fluttershy, we came to Ponyville to plan my upcoming wedding and we wanted to invite yourself as well as the rest of the Elements of Harmony.” “Wedding? You mean?” Fluttershy began before pausing to ponder the thought as she found a seat on one of the chairs. Flurry nodded without falter. “Wow, congratulations!” The Pegasus stated quietly with a cheerful smile. “Thank you Mrs Fluttershy. We just wanted to know if you’d be interested in attending as a guest. Perhaps you could even invite some of your friends as well.” Flurry stated while looking around the room at the calm animals. Fluttershy placed a hoof on her chin as she thought for a moment. “I suppose I could be there. And besides, it will give me a great chance to catch up with those lovely little creatures at the Crystal Empire again.” Flurry and Luster smiled at this response before Fluttershy continued, “I forgot to ask, but who exactly are you getting married to Princess?” Flurry hesitant to answer, and while thinking of what to carefully say, Discord answered the question for her, “Why, she’s getting married to Lord Sombra! It’s a rather strange pairing don’t you think Fluttershy? A non-redeemable villain coupled with a perfect Princess. I wonder what we would call their ship? Maybe Sombry? What about Flurra? I bet the Bronies would love that!” The Draconequus abruptly stated while looking directly at the wall as if someone were watching him from another dimension. Before Flurry could correct the Lord of Chaos, the timid Pegasus shrieked and hid underneath her chair. She was quickly followed by her critter friends who comforted her by her side. “S-s-s-Sombra?” She asked in a frightened tone. Luster and Flurry both shook their heads and glared daggers at Discord who merely shrugged and yawned. “Uhh yes, I am Miss Fluttershy. But it’s not as simple as that.” “Is the Crystal Empire in danger!? Is Equestria in danger!? Are my friends in danger!?” Fluttershy asked while cradling her animals with care. “No Miss Fluttershy. I’m marrying Lord Sombra to keep him from attacking Equestria again. It’s more of a formality than anything else. He and I will rule the Crystal Empire and that way I can help keep him in line.” Flurry stated factually. “B-b-but he m-m-might hurt you…” Fluttershy blurted out between stutters. “That doesn’t matter to me. All that matters is that I protect the Crystal Ponies.” The Alicorn answered nobly. “Come now Fluttershy, I think you should go to Princess Flurry Heart’s wedding. After all, what’s the worst that could happen? Besides the end of Equestria…” Discord added with sarcasm as he levitated a glass that showed a diorama of a cataclysmic battle of destruction. “Not helping Discord.” Luster Dawn stated with an unamused expression. The Draconequus pouted, “Party pooper. Anyway, like I was saying, I believe you should attend the wedding Fluttershy. Do it for Princess Flurry Heart at least.” The Pegasus looked up from under her arm chair to the young white coated Alicorn. “I guess I could try…” She replied apprehensively. Flurry breathed a sigh of relief before glancing at the Lord of Chaos, “You’re invited too Discord. I’d like you to be there as well. Maybe you and Miss Fluttershy could come together.” Without a moment wasted, the Draconequus’ eyes lit up and expanded to the point where they were larger than his skull could fit. “I thought you’d never ask! Did you hear that Fluttershy? We’re going to the wedding together! It’s going to be so much fun I can’t wait!” He stated with glee as he picked up the much smaller Pegasus and twirled her around as if the two were in a figure skating or ballet act. “Uhh Discord could you please put me down? You’re making me all dizzy!” Fluttershy pointed out as she began to see stars. He complied immediately and set his friend down. After settling down, Fluttershy glanced over to the two other Ponies, “We’ll be there Princess Flurry Heart. Anything for you.” Flurry felt very happy hearing this, “Thank you Miss Fluttershy. I’m sorry to cut our visit short, but Dawn and I have a couple other things to attend to before the end of the day.” The cream colored Pegasus nodded with a knowing smile. And with that they both bid the two adieu and went on their way. “I’ll never understand how she tolerates that maniac. It’s like he’s one peg away from total insanity!” Luster Dawn ranted as the two trudged down an old country path. “One Peg away? That sounds awfully generous to me.” Flurry added as the two broke into a fit of laughter. As their laughter died down, the two came up on the start of what looked to be some form of ranch. This ranch just so happened to be the esteemed Sweet Apple Acres on the outskirts of Ponyville. Past the fences and the gates were a series of agricultural crops and vegetation spanning from corn, beans, and carrots. But the most defining feature was the large orchard of apple trees on the east side of the ranch that had earned the land its name. Flurry and Luster entered through the open gateway and wandered through the fields in search of a few familiar Ponies. And it wasn’t long before they caught sight of a hard working Earth Pony Mare. The Pony had a lemon colored coat accompanied by a crimson colored loop braided mane and tail. A large ribbon held her mane in place as she worked in the fields harvesting the Apples of a tree using a method known as ‘Apple Bucking’. It was a very physically intensive job, but for a strong and seasoned Earth Pony such as her it was no sweat. “Apple Bloom!” Luster Dawn called as the two approached. The Earth Pony looked over and immediately recognized the two Ponies, “Flurry! Dawn! What the hay are y’all doin herre?” The Mare asked with a heavy country accent. After making their way next to the Earth Pony, the country Mare held up her hoof and hoofbumped the two others. “We’re actually here to speak to Mrs Applejack and Mrs Rainbow Dash. Do you know if they’re on the farm today?” Flurry asked on behalf of the two. “Ah see. Well, ah know that A Jay is herre today. Rainbuh Dash I dunno abaut. She’s prolly off trainin the Wunderbolts or sumthin. Y’know how she is.” The strong Earth Pony replied with a shrug. Flurry nodded before slightly changing the conversation, “Thanks Bloom, by the way, how have you and the others been? It’s been a while since either Dawn or I have seen you.” Apple Bloom raised a brow, “Ah wunder who’s fault that is?” Luster and Flurry both slumped their shoulders and looked away briefly, “We’re sorry Bloom, things have been a bit hectic in the Empire lately…” Flurry replied. “Same in Canterlot. And besides, you guys never come to see us either.” Luster Dawn added with a cheeky smirk. The Earth Pony chuckled, “Fair, although that train ride ain’t cheap. Either way it’s good to see y’all again. Why’d y’all come to talk to A Jay anyways?” “Actually we came to talk to you as well. I wanted to invite you all to my wedding in three weeks.” Flurry stated seriously. There was a long pause as the Earth Pony Mare looked at Flurry with a puzzled expression. Without any warning, Apple Bloom broke out into a fit of laughter. Luster and Flurry looked at one another briefly before falling back on the hysterical Mare. “You almost had me therre Flur! Naice one!” “Umm it wasn’t a joke Bloom. She really is engaged…” Luster replied. The Earth Pony’s eyes went wide hearing this, “Wait, yer serious?” Flurry nodded, “Yeah. I know it’s sudden to bring it up but I wanted you and the others to be there on the day. The other crusaders are welcome to come too.” “Wow… You sure yer not prankin me right now?” Apple Bloom asked while still looking unsure whether this abrupt revelation was simply her friends jesting with her or the Princess really getting married at such a young age. Flurry and Luster both shook their heads genuinely. “No. I’m not messing with you.” “Huh? Well then who’s the lucky stallion? It’s a Stallion right?” Apple Bloom asked while trying not to make too many assumptions. At this Flurry heard her Unicorn friend begin to giggle behind her back. She sighed before replying, “I’m engaged to Lord Sombra…” “…” “I know you won’t believe me Bloom but it’s true. I’m only doing it to keep the Crystal Empire safe from him. If him and I rule the kingdom I can help keep his ambition in line.” Flurry added while placing a hoof on the Earth Pony’s shoulder. “Wow…” Was all Apple Bloom could say as she took in the information. “Do you think you could be there? I know I’m asking a lot of you-” “Of course ah can Flur! We’re friends after all. And that’s wut friends do fer one another!” Apple Bloom stated with pride as she also placed a hoof on Flurry’s other shoulder. “You bet!” Stated Luster with a knowing smile. After letting go of one another, Flurry noticed that the Earth Pony had left quite a decent amount of dust on her previously clean coat. She sighed before the other two laughed, “Believe me Flur, this aint nuthin compared to workin durin the dry season!” Try as she might, the Alicorn couldn’t help but to laugh along with her friends. After sharing a nice moment with one another Apple Bloom broke the silence, “If yuh wanna ask A Jay about it she’s prolly in the barn settin the hay bales.” “Thanks Bloom, I look forward to seeing you then! We’ll write to you before the date!” Flurry stated as her and Luster made their way to find the Earth Pony’s older sister. “I tell you, we could have gotten 20% more apples if you’d just allowed me to steal a couple rain clouds from the weather patrol! It’s not like it would have hurt anypony!” Stated a high pitched energetic voice. The culprit being a fit and toned teal coated Pegasus with a very distinguished rainbow mane styled in a mohawk. The Pegasus adorned a sporty navy blue jacket with a leadership insignia. “Rainbow, yuh know it wouldn’t have been right. Besides, not every year is a bumper crop. You watch. Next year we’ll get passed 3,000.” Replied a hard rural accented voice. This mare looked like the embodiment of rodeo or bronco style with a cowboy hat and a hoof knit ascot with an apple pattern. On her hip was a rope lasso and a cutie mark that went in line with her agricultural job. As Flurry and Luster neared the barn, they could hear the ensuing conversation from the outside. “Should we interrupt them?” Luster asked as she looked to her friend. Flurry shrugged but decided to make her way to the entrance of the barn. “Umm excuse me? Mrs Applejack?” She called. The two Ponies in the barn turned to look at the voice, “Well I’ll be darned! Howdy Princess Flurry Heart!” The orange coated Earth Pony exclaimed as she bowed while briefly removing her rodeo style wide brimmed hat. “Look who it is! The Crystal Princess and Luster Dawn! How’s it hangin?” Added the cyan coated Pegasus with the iconic rainbow colored mane and tail. Flurry smiled, “Hi Mrs Rainbow Dash. How are you both?” “Fine and dandy Princess. Say, what brings y’all round herre?” Applejack asked while setting down a large hay bale. “I’ll bet they came here to get a good workout in! After all it is harvest season and there’s lots of work to go around!” Rainbow Dash added while landing on the ground beside her Earth Pony companion. Flurry chuckled, “Sorry Mrs Dash, but as much as Dawn and I would like to help around the farm, we actually came to invite you two to my wedding in three weeks.” Suddenly the eyes of the two Mares went wide, “YOUR WEDDING!?” They shouted simultaneously in disbelief. At this point Flurry was used to the reactions of the others. “Yes. Sorry for bringing it up in such a spontaneous way. I only recently got engaged.” “Ah see…” Applejack replied speculatively. At that, Rainbow Dash broke into uncontrolled laughter while rolling on the dusty floor. Flurry merely stared on with an unamused expression. As the teal coated Pegasus began to calm down, she wiped a tear out of her eye with her wing, “Next thing you’re gonna tell us is that you’re marrying King Sombra or something right! This is hilarious!” Luster and Flurry both looked at one another without speaking. Upon seeing the expressions of the two, Rainbow Dash finally caught on, “Oh…” “It’s not what you think. I’m doing it more as a political alliance than anything else.” Flurry stated. There was a long silence between the four Ponies as they all processed what was being said. “You’re serious right? Ah mean ah am the Element of Honesty and all but…” The orange coated Earth Pony started. Flurry nodded without fail, “I know how crazy it sounds, but I’m telling the truth. I did it only to keep the Crystal Ponies and the rest of Equestria safe. With both of us as rulers of the Crystal Empire I can keep him in line.” “Wow, all this politics stuff hurts my head. You’re right that this is crazy Flurry, but if you’re doing this to protect Equestria, then you can count us in!” The energetic Pegasus stated with pride. Applejack looked up to the Pegasus who had once again taken flight, “Right as rain! We’ll be there Princess! If it means keepin that evil son of a rut in check!” Flurry smiled, “Thank you both. I’ll send you more information about the date soon. And we’ve already asked Apple Bloom as well.” Applejack nodded kindly but looked concerned, “You sure you’re gonna be okay with this Princess? Y’know we can keep beating Sombra back.” She shook her head, “Even if we could Mrs Applejack, I’m tired of resorting to violence to solve the problem. This is the only way I can see us gaining lasting peace for whatever its worth.” “Ah see. Well, you can count on us bein there sport. We wouldn’t miss your big day for the world!” The Earth Pony Mare replied. “Thank you. Well, Dawn and I have a few other things we need to do before the day is over.” Flurry stated as she and her Unicorn friend made ready to leave. “Hold on a minute Princess.” Flurry looked back to see the cyan coated Pegasus hovering nearby. “You’re not leaving without showing me how fast you’ve gotten are you?” The Alicorn looked unsure how to respond. “Come on Flur! You should agree to it! We still have time. And besides, I’m way too curious to see how this plays out.” Her friend whispered in her ear. Flurry sighed but gave a small chuckle, “I guess we can do a short race.” “Aw yeah! Prepare to eat the dust Princess!” The energetic Pegasus stated with excitement.
Chapter 10: For Better or WorseSomething has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
Chapter 12: A Cycle EndedChapter 12 A Cycle Ended Juline 2, 3672 7:00 AM Dear Diary, I do not know where to begin with this entry seeing how many major events transpired yesterday. I suppose the best way to do this is to summarize every event in chronological order and connect them all. Yesterday was my wedding day to my Lord Sombra. I had never been more nervous for any other occasion in my life before and I doubt anything else shall ever compare to how I felt when I awoke that morning. Thankfully, I was not alone. With help from my parents as well as my best friend Luster, it managed to relieve some of my stress, even if only a little. I was visited fairly early in the morning by Miss Rarity as she presented my completed wedding dress. I have worn many dresses before, whether to the Grand Galloping Gala or to other momentous occasions, however, I had never seen such a perfectly crafted outfit before. The impeccable colors and the flawless textures alone were simply divine and I was overjoyed when I got the opportunity to see myself wearing it. However, as organized as I was, nothing could prepare me for walking down that isle. There were so many eyes on me in those moments that I could hardly think. The only thing I can remember is taking in Sombra’s appearance. He was very well groomed, and had went to an enormous effort to look as dignified as possible. Miss Rarity had also done an incredible job with his suit. Although fairly simple in design, it complemented his features very well. I can not deny the feelings that I felt in those moments. Then came the most difficult part of the wedding. The vows. I’d practiced this part with my Mother days before, however, it was much harder in Pony than I’d ever imagined. As I stared into Sombra’s crimson eyes, I made my commitment to him once and for all. Shortly thereafter, he did the same to me. There were moments in this process where I could tell Sombra was pondering if this was truly what he wanted to do. I then presented the ring Princess Celestia graciously gave me. It felt strange to present a ring to him that had originally belonged to somepony else, however, what was stranger was the look on Sombra’s face when he saw the ring. Before I could even think about it further, he presented his own ring to me. It was a very well crafted Black Opal ring with white gold. I am currently wearing the ring as I write this entry. After the ring presentation, came the final and most important moment in the entire event. I can hardly recall the moments before our kiss. I only remember that my heart beat incredibly quick and that time seemed to slow to a standstill. I’d kissed Sombra before, but never in such a manner and much less with so many Ponies watching. But in that moment I did not think of anypony else. In that moment I felt compelled. Like this was my destiny. And so I did it. I kissed Sombra once and for all. I do not even recall how long our exchange lasted. What still puzzles me was how intent the both of us were. I had no hesitation nor regret for my actions. If somepony had told me I’d be in this position years ago, I’d have branded them a lunatic. But there I was, kissing my now husband and as embarrassing as it is to admit; enjoying it. Once we separated, I noticed just how loud the crowd around us was. Seeing the looks of happiness and glee on the Crystal Ponies faces alleviated all the pressure the wedding had brought. When I had first arranged this union with Sombra, I feared the Crystal Ponies would never accept Sombra as their King. However, our moment of happiness was short lived as we were then forced to meet the evil entity that I’d searched for all these weeks; Countess Omni. Her unexpected arrival left me in near disbelief as did it the rest of the Ponies in the crowd. She was an ominous, cruel, and vile Umbrum Shadow Pony with an even more sickening grin than Sombra’s. She then revealed that Sombra was her own son and that he had deceived us the entire time. I did not want to believe this revelation, however, all the pieces fit. Before we could stop her, Omni caught us off guard and permanently destroyed the Crystal Heart, leaving the Crystal Empire vulnerable to the cold encroaching north. She then summoned an army of her Umbrum minions from seemingly nowhere. We were quickly overwhelmed and I knew I had to stop her before things escalated. To my surprise though, Sombra stepped in and front of me to intervene. I wanted nothing more than to cast him away for betraying us, but he then did something I never could have expected. He rebelled against Countess Omni. I vividly remember what he told me in those moments. “Go, protect our Ponies.” I had no reason to believe him after his treachery, but some instinct of mine told me that he was being sincere. I still cannot explain my rationale, and I don’t believe I ever will. All I knew is that he was right. I rushed off to help my Ponies who were being overwhelmed by the Umbrum Warriors leaving Sombra to confront Countess Omni. While helping my subjects, I glanced over at Sombra who was in an intense battle with Countess Omni. However, even with his immense power he was no match for her. After she gained the upper hand, she begin to use a deadly spell on her own son as though he were little more than a pest to her. I could not stand by and watch any longer, and so I interceded. I managed to save Sombra just in time by using one of my most powerful spells on Countess Omni. However, to my dismay, my spell seemed to have no effect on her. Still, everypony has a weakness, and I was determined to find it. As we fought, Countess Omni used many lethal attacks against me. I could feel the malice and evil energy from each spell and I then understood why she’d been one of the members of Grogar’s order. Our fight lasted a long while, but after using all of my greatest techniques and abilities, it had hardly even phased her. I had been so focused on the fight that I hadn’t even noticed my subjects’ struggle. When I briefly looked their way, I was horrified to see that they had been overpowered by the Umbrum army and the vile shadow creatures were feeding off their fears. Sadly, I could do nothing but watch as Countess Omni’s power overwhelmed my own. Before I knew it I was trapped in a dark void. It was here, however, that something strange happened. Omni attempted to feed off my own fears, however, her technique inexplicably failed. But even with her technique failing, Omni soon resorted to brute strength as my own magic did not work in this realm. Just when all seemed lost, I was rescued by Sombra. He was also somehow able to communicate with me telepathically as he proceeded to apologize for his grave mistake. I could only focus on defeating Omni so we could save the rest of our Ponies, however, with the Crystal Heart destroyed, evil could thrive in its absence. Sombra then reassured me that we did not need the Crystal Heart, and that I was the key to stopping Omni. I did not believe Sombra at first, however, only a moment later, Omni’s power finally trumped Sombra’s. Seeing him in such a weakened state struck a nerve with me and I then pleaded for Omni to stop. She, however, had no intention on listening, much less cooperating. Omni then uttered a series of words that I cannot forget. “You are not a Princess of Love, nor are you a Princess of Friendship. So tell me, Alicorn. What are you a Princess of?” In that moment I instinctively thought of a single word. Almost finishing her sentence. I can not explain what prompted it, nor can I explain what happened next. All I knew was that one word. Hope. In that moment, the void around me disappeared. And as I stood next to the shards of the Crystal Heart, I looked up at Omni who for the first time had a look of concern. I cannot recall what happened next apart from feeling a very warm, virtuous energy surrounding my entire being. Moments later, I felt changed. It felt as though I’d absorbed the power of the Crystal Heart. It felt like this was my destiny. Omni attempted to destroy me with one of her most powerful offensive spells, but to everypony’s surprise, the attack did no damage to me. I then gave Omni a final chance to leave the empire and pursue a life of peace. But if there was anything I’d learned from fighting her thus far, it was that she was as relentless as she was cruel. She then ordered her army of shadow creatures to converge on me. However, with my newfound powers, I was able to protect myself and even repel them. I then felt another instinctive urge come over me as if the Crystal Heart itself was commanding me. With a strong spell, I was able to grant a portion of my powers to everypony else in the Empire. After having unified everypony, we managed to turn the tide of the fight. But as I dispelled numerous Umbrum Warriors, I was ambushed by Omni who looked much angrier than before. I managed to hold my own against her and even began pushing her back before she was hit by another spell from Sombra who had managed to recover some strength. But before I could finish her off, Omni made a last ditch effort to destroy us using a spell that merged all her shadow creature subordinates with her own essence. She was willing to sacrifice everything to destroy us, but now was not the time for fear. I quickly amassed my own energy and called upon the magic of all the Ponies in the Empire. Without any hesitation, they obliged and offered their power of friendship, of love, and of hope to combine into one all powerful shield. I then used the combined energy to defeat Countess Omni and her acolytes once and for all. We had finally won. Subsequently, the cold tundra around the empire had halted altogether and Aunt Celestia’s sun shone upon the land once more. The Crystal Ponies were overjoyed and proceeded to celebrate before my parents approached me. I was so relieved to see them safe as well as the rest of my friends. Everypony congratulated me before they gave me the news. I had ascended. Even now, coming to grips with this news is difficult. Every Alicorn must overcome a great obstacle in order to ascend. I am reminded of my change every time my mane begins to wave in my face. Truthfully, it is quite annoying and it will certainly take some getting used to. My magical abilities have also been amplified tenfold. It was then that my Auntie Twilight took a knee in respect. I wanted nothing more than to protest, however, she was quickly followed by the rest of our Ponies in the Empire. Everypony but one. Sombra looked on at me as if he were in deep thought. Moments later though, he too lowered his knee in respect. It was this action that made up my mind. This victory was not only mine, it was everypony’s. Without Sombra’s aid, we would have fallen to Countess Omni. I then brought Sombra up and stared into his eyes. But this time I did not see hints of malice or of greed. I saw guilt and humility. I knew in this moment that I had finally ended the cycle. But more still, I knew that I’d finally found a feeling I’d missed for so many years. True love. I then kissed him. Unprompted and for no reason other than affection. As she prepared to finish up the latest entry of her Diary, Flurry Heart heard a knock on her door. She rarely if ever got knocks on her door this early in the morning, but that could only mean that it was likely very important. “Just a minute!” She stated as she put down her quill. After opening the door, Flurry was treated to the sight of her best friend Luster. “Hi Flur, I know it’s really early but I just wanted to stop by before I head back to Canterlot.” The Alicorn smiled but raised a brow, “You’re already heading back?” Luster nodded, “Yeah. Princess Twilight wants to return home to write a book about these recent events…” Flurry chuckled before glancing back at her friend. There was a brief pause as she contemplated what to say. “Thank you Dawn.” The Pink Unicorn raised a brow, “For what?” “For everything. For helping me plan the wedding. For helping in the battle. And for being the best friend anypony could ask for.” The Alicorn stated with a sincere expression. These words touched the Unicorn’s heart as she shed a single tear, “Well, I don’t know about ‘best’ friend-” Before the Unicorn could finish her sentence, she was embraced by her Alicorn friend. “You are Dawn. I couldn’t ask for a better friend and ally.” Flurry answered simply. Luster could not seem to find any words as she was overcome by her emotions. Without saying a word, she returned the embrace with her Alicorn friend. The hug lasted nearly half a minute before Flurry released herself. As the two friends looked at one another, Flurry spoke up, “Well, I suppose this is goodbye for a while then?” Luster nodded, “Yeah. I’ve been away from my studies so long it’ll be difficult to catch up.” The Alicorn chuckled, “You never change do you?” The Unicorn smiled with pride, “Nope! By the way! Before I go, promise me you’ll write! I wanna know how things are going!” Flurry nodded, “Of course! I was going to say the same thing to you!” “You can count on it Flur. Now take care of yourself! Don’t let Sombra take over the Empire while I’m gone!” Luster jested as she began to trot off. Flurry once again laughed before calling back, “Will you get going already!?” The Unicorn glanced back one last time and winked before heading down the hall. Flurry watched as her friend left her sight all the while smiling and shaking her head. ‘Goodbye Dawn. I’ll miss you.’ She thought as her smile gradually faded. Flurry sighed before returning to her desk to finish her diary entry. As she raised the quill out of its holder, the Alicorn paused in thought while staring up at her window. She knew when her friends were joking, but even so Flurry worried for her Husband. They hadn’t spoken very much since Omni’s defeat as she’d felt it best to give Sombra some space and time to process everything. Even though Omni had been a terrible Mother to him, Flurry could tell that it was hard for Sombra to turn on his kin. After another moment of contemplation, the Alicorn returned the quill to its resting place and prepared herself before setting off to find Sombra. While trotting through the halls, Flurry Heart had to make an effort to keep her new wavy mane out of her eyes. Though her Alicorn ascension had brought many perks, Flurry envied her previous mane as it rarely troubled her this often. She supposed she’d get used to it eventually, but for the time being it was nothing more than a bother. As she neared a corner, Flurry heard several voices conversing further down the hall. The nature of the conversation eluded her, but she could instantly identify the two familiar voices. After rounding the corner, Flurry spotted her parents. Cadence was the first to notice her daughter and smiled warmly, “Good morning Flurry. You’re sure up early.” The white coated Alicorn nodded and replied, “Morning Mom, morning Dad.” Shining raised a brow, “You’re not usually up and about this early. You know there’s no guard training today right?” Flurry chuckled, “I’m not up for guard training Dad… I just had something else I needed to do.” The two parents looked at one another before shrugging. Cadence then took a warm sip of her tea before asking, “Something else?” The young Alicorn hesitated on whether to tell them or not. “I… I wanted to talk to Sombra. About what happened yesterday.” Both parents remained silent as if correctly anticipating Flurry to continue, “I know him and I reconciled. And that we forgave his mistake… But I just…” As she looked away, Flurry felt the warmth of her father’s hoof on her shoulder, “We understand Flurry. Your mother and I couldn’t be more proud of you. Of the excellent leader you’ve become.” Flurry smiled warmly as she took the compliment. “By the way, what were you both talking about before I got here?” Cadence glanced at her husband who nodded, “Your Father and I were thinking. We would like to leave the Crystal Empire in your Hooves Flurry.” The young Alicorn’s eyes lit up in shock as she took several steps back in realization. She knew that being a Queen had now given her many more responsibilities, however, this was completely different. “Flurry?” Shining Armor asked after noticing his daughter’s apprehension. The young Alicorn stared at the floor as she came to grips with this revelation, “You would really entrust the entire Crystal Empire to me?” “There’s nopony we’d trust more Sweetheart. You are ready for this.” Cadence confidently affirmed. Flurry Heart looked out a nearby window to the Empire surrounding her. The thought of being fully responsible for such a vast kingdom was daunting, but after thinking for a good moment, she realized that her parents were correct. Everything she’d done had led her to this point. And everything had happened for a reason. “Thanks Mom. And thanks Dad. I don’t know what else to say…” She replied. Shining nodded once more with a proud grin. “You’ve earned it Flurry. And besides, we needed a good vacation after all this chaos.” Flurry Heart chuckled at the last comment before shaking her head, “I think everypony could use one after what happened yesterday.” Her parents nodded before Shining once again spoke up, “If you ever need advice or help, never hesitate to ask us. We’ll always be willing to guide you.” “Thanks Dad. I hope I can be as good a leader as you both are.” Flurry replied. “You will be Flurry. And you won’t be alone either.” Cadence affirmed as she now placed her hoof on her daughter’s shoulder out of pride. As touching as the moment was, her Mother’s statement reminded the young Alicorn why she’d ventured out here in the first place. “I’d love to talk later, but I think I should find Sombra now.” Both parents agreed and gave their daughter her space. “Very well, take care sweetheart.” Shining added. Flurry nodded before heading off and leaving the two Ponies behind. With their daughter out of earshot, the white coated Unicorn glanced at his wife, “Are you sure?” He asked as if rekindling a prior conversation. “Yes Shining. I could sense it with my magic. They both love one another truly. I could never have imagined he’d ever bond this much with anypony. I’m just so proud of Flurry. She knew somehow that Sombra still had a heart beneath his cold exterior. She saw in him what nopony else could.” Cadence replied with satisfaction. Shining Armor sighed, “She proved us all wrong… But I’m glad.” Silence had filled the room for many hours as the Umbrum had been glued in position like a motionless statue. Sombra had stared through his window into the star filled night sky without averting his gaze. He’d watched as the former Princess Luna’s waning crescent moon had risen and set only for Celestia’s sun to take its place in the morning. Though most if not all of Equestria’s residents would have slept through the night, Sombra had remained awake in deep contemplation all night long and now all morning long. As he remained in thought, however, a series of knocks on his door finally broke Sombra out of his trance. The Umbrum rarely had visitors at his door, much less this early in the morning. He skeptically made his way to the door and used his magic to open it. Once open, Sombra was graced by the presence of his newly wed wife, Queen Flurry Heart. He did not know what to say as he stared into the beautiful Mare’s eyes. To only make the moment more awkward, the Alicorn could not seem to form words either. A long moment of embarrassing silence ensued as both parties stared at the other. Finally after nearly a minute standing in front of his door, Flurry Heart mustered her courage and spoke up, “Uh… Hi.” The Alicorn immediately cursed herself for her lack of subtlety before hearing the Umbrum respond just as awkwardly, “Hi…” The Mare turned her head away from him as a small tint of red overcame her cheeks. But after composing herself, Flurry looked back and continued, “Can I come in?” Sombra nodded, “Yes, you may.” The Umbrum stepped out of the way as he motioned for his wife to enter. Flurry strangely hesitated for a second before gathering her courage and stepping forward into her husband’s room. Sombra shut the door behind her and the two made their way to the center of the atrium. This new room had been given to Sombra after his fight against the rogue Crystal Guards had ruined the first. Though slightly smaller, it had still been up to the Umbrum’s standards, though oddly, Flurry noticed that the large bed in the far left corner appeared to have been unused. It was Sombra’s turn to speak first this time after clearing his throat, “So, what brings you here so early in the day?” Flurry waited a moment before breathing a sigh and cutting to the chase, “I wanted to check in with you, Sombra. I know yesterday was tough on everypony, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.” The Umbrum’s expression soured as he turned his head away from her, “I see.” The Alicorn remined concerned as she watched her husband avoiding eye contact. She wasn’t sure how to broach the subject as she knew how sensitive it was to the Umbrum, but after a few moments of consideration, she made up her mind, “I know you may not want to speak of how you’re feeling about it, but I wanted to let you know that I’m here for you and I will listen.” Sombra lowered his head and looked at the floor below, “I appreciate your empathy, Flurry heart. Though I doubt speaking about it will ease my conscience.” Flurry stayed silent as if expecting the Umbrum to continue. Moments later, he did just that, “In all my years I had only ever had one goal. I wished only to fulfill my destiny and free my kin. But now I realize, that was never my destiny at all.” Sombra sighed with a dim expression. He looked prepared to say more before he shut his mouth and looked away once more. A minute went by without a word being ushered by either Pony. Flurry Heart knew Sombra wished to say more, but figured it best not to pry. Before she could speak up, however, the Umbrum turned to face her, “I’m sorry Flurry Heart. For everything.” The Alicorn knew without a doubt that Sombra was being genuine. “I forgive you Sombra. But… Why did you not just tell me? Surely we could have stopped her sooner?” Flurry Heart asked as she walked up closer to her partner. Sombra once again looked away without saying a word. Flurry Heart raised a brow before repeating, “Sombra? Why did you not tell me of her?” The Umbrum still looked apprehensive to answer, but seeing his wife’s concerned expression, he figured it best to be honest, “She threatened to destroy you if I sided with you. I could not let that happen.” The Queen of Hope was speechless at this response. Hearing Sombra open up about his feelings, Flurry began to understand just how conflicted Sombra had been for the last few months, if not the last few centuries. The air in the room became quiet once more as both Ponies avoided eye contact with one another. Moments went by as Flurry Heart thought of a possible response, but try as she might, she could not form any words to reply. It was at that moment, however, that a thought struck her mind, something that had puzzled her since her confrontation with Countess Omni the day before. “This ring you gave me… You enchanted it, didn’t you?” She asked as she pointed her hoof at the black opal ornament on her horn. “Yes. I did. It was meant to conceal your fears from Madam Umbara.” Sombra answered. ‘I knew it. That’s why she couldn’t use my fears against me.’ The Alicorn thought. “Why?” She asked simply. Sombra looked hesitant to answer but knew Flurry heart was unlikely to let up, “Every creature has a fear of some kind. But some fears are stronger than others. As an Umbrum, I can sense these fears and even feed off them to give me strength.” The King paused for a moment as he turned to face his partner, “When you first found me in the cold north, I looked into your mind to find what you fear. I expected you to fear losing your friends, or losing your subjects like most rulers do. But you feared something else entirely.” “You were afraid of never being truly loved for what you are.” Sombra stated. The air in the room went silent again as Flurry Heart finally began to understand. Sombra continued a moment later, “Your fears are much more powerful than others’ which is why I could not risk Madam Umbara using them against you.” The silence continued as both royals stared at one another. Flurry Heart’s mouth hung open slightly as she finally realized why Countess Omni had been unable to defeat her so easily. Sombra had protected her without her even knowing. “You’re right. I was afraid. I know my parents will always love me, and that my friends and extended family will as well. But I feared I’d never find somepony who would truly love me for what I am. And I’m sorry Sombra. I lied to you.” Flurry Heart stated as a tear escaped her right eye. The Umbrum raised a brow as if waiting for her to elaborate. Seeing his reaction, she continued, “I lied to you about Caspian. He and I were in a relationship many years ago. And he was not the first either. When I was younger, I constantly tried to find love just like my mother did. But everypony was only ever interested in dating a Princess. They only wished to use me to climb up to royalty and abuse my status.” The Queen of Hope stomped her hoof on the floor in anger before sitting down on one of the soft sofas of the room. “I shouldn’t have withheld the truth from you Sombra. You deserved to know.” “I do not blame you, Flurry Heart. I knew you had a good reason for concealing the truth.” Sombra stated in an understanding tone. This statement brought a small degree of solace to the Alicorn, but did not fully rid her of her guilt. Regardless, Flurry knew it was fruitless to dwell on the past so much and decided to change the subject. “I must say, I do really like the ring.” A small grin found its way to Sombra’s face, “I should hope so. Finding a black opal was not an easy task.” For the first time in the conversation, Flurry Heart let out a small chuckle. Even stranger, the Umbrum himself followed suit with a chuckle of his own. After they each composed themselves, Sombra rekindled the conversation, “This ring of yours… It feels familiar.” Flurry nodded, “It should. Because it was meant as a gift to you by somepony else.” Sombra immediately connected the dots, “Hope. This was a gift from Hope, isn’t it?” “Yes. It is.” She answered. Sombra used his magic to remove the ring and inspect it more thoroughly. His eyes then fell to the small inscription on the inside, ‘There Is Always Hope’ Though he would never admit it, seeing these words made his chest feel tight. They reminded him all too much of his sole childhood friend. “Thank you.” He stated plainly before levitating the ring back onto his horn. Flurry Heart nodded again before the air grew silent between the two once more. After a few quiet minutes in the room, Flurry Heart stood up from the sofa, “So… What now?” She asked. The Umbrum glanced her way, “There is something I wish to do. Would you care to join me for a short walk?” Flurry was now curious but nodded and followed her partner who had made his way to the door. “Lead the way.” She stated. After a short saunter, the two had made their way to the Crystal Castle’s throne room. It was currently empty and unused which only made Flurry heart more confused. “Sombra? Why did you bring us here?” The Umbrum looked at Flurry Heart with a neutral expression, “Do you trust me, Flurry Heart?” This statement made Flurry Heart even more puzzled. Regardless, she nodded, “I do, Sombra.” After hearing her response, Sombra ignited the dark magic in his horn and blasted a beam of violet energy towards the gemstone on the top of the throne. Within moments, the floors of the center of the room opened to reveal the secret staircase below. Flurry Heart trusted Sombra now, but worried what he was intending to do. Before she could speak up, however, the Umbrum cut her of, “If I am to move on, I must remove her influence completely.” The Alicorn finally began to understand what Sombra was implying. Before he could act, she placed a hoof on his own. “Wait. Are you sure about this?” Sombra looked down at his wife’s hoof before glancing back at her, “Yes. I need to rid myself of her. Starting with this.” Without warning, the Umbrum cast a spell that collided with the first few stairs of the chasm. In an instant, the stairs at the top began to crumple and fall down the crevasse. Soon nearly the entire staircase had transformed into a pit of debris. Sombra then used his magic to break off the top gem from the throne. After being severed, he levitated the gem up above the collapsed staircase. Sombra closed his eyes and sighed before dropping the stone into the chasm. Once it fell through the hole, the entire secret path vanished completely. “It is done.” He stated. “Do you feel any better?” Flurry heart asked in response. “A little. But large wounds take a long time to heal. I am sure I will recover, in time.” Sombra answered while looking at his wife. Flurry smiled warmly, “And I will be here to help you through it.” The Umbrum continued to stare into the eyes of his partner. His despair and anguish somehow faded as he remained enthralled with the stunning Alicorn’s features. “You… You are beautiful.” Sombra accidentally blurted out. Flurry Heart’s large wings perked up just as her cheeks instantly went red upon hearing this. Sombra shook himself out of his trance a second later and cursed himself before looking away sheepishly. A very awkward moment elapsed between the two before Sombra cleared his throat, “Forgive me…” The Umbrum looked away from his wife as if angry with his impulsive nature. After collecting herself again, Flurry Heart began to chuckle at her husband’s behavior. Sombra’s expression only grew more humiliated hearing her laughter. After settling herself down, Flurry Heart placed a hoof on Sombra’s and brought herself closer to him. “It’s okay.” She stated. Despite still feeling flustered, Sombra did not distance himself. As if by instinct, the Umbrum neared his muzzle with to wife’s until the two were nearly touching. The two Ponies could almost hear each others pulses as their faces remained just inches apart. The suspenseful moment was broken when Flurry Heart leaned forward and pressed her muzzle against Sombra’s. The kiss was small and subtle but nonetheless passionate and lasted for many moments before the two broke apart for air. While regaining her breath, Flurry Heart’s eyes remained locked on her husband’s. “I wanted to thank you Sombra.” She stated abruptly. Sombra raised a brow, “Thank me?” She nodded, “For taking away my fear.” Sombra was puzzled for a second before realizing what the Alicorn meant. The Umbrum grinned, “Glad I could be of service, Flurry Heart, Queen of Hope.” Flurry chuckled before planting another kiss on the Umbrum’s forehead. “I love you. King Sombra.” She stated simply. Her partner remained put while admiring the Alicorn’s stunning features. The one who reminded him of his first ever friend. The indigo coated Unicorn who’s imagination rivaled his own, and who would give anything to make him happy. “And I… Love you. Flurry Heart.” The End. Author's Note Well folks! That's all! I hope everypony enjoyed reading this fanfic as much as I enjoyed writing it! It was quite the journey with over 60,000 words and 12 chapters. I started this journey in Spring of 2021 and although it took a long time to complete, I'm happy with the end result. If you enjoyed reading through the story, please leave a comment or review and be sure to favorite it! Now that this work is complete, I plan to start working on my next story "The Blood Doctor" which will release its first chapter near Halloween after I've taken a good vacation from writing. Cheers everypony! -Obsedian_Flame
Chapter 1: The Endless WarAuthor's Note A/N: This is my first fic for this fandom! I have to be honest, but I’m a bit nervous about how things will go. I have written fanfics before, but for other fandoms that I know the subject material better. For now I’m going to try my best to keep it as close as I can with the canonical version of the show while only adding in a few personal headcanons. Also, before the story begins I'd like to give a huge shoutout to @MalinRaf1615 on Deviantart for making the cover art for the story! With the notes out of the way I hope you enjoy! Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony Chapter 1: The Endless War To End a Cycle Written by: Obsedian Flame Chapter 1 The Endless War Hay 22, 3672 8:00 PM Dear Diary, I am unsure of how to express myself as of late. The events of this last month have left me deeply distraught. I feel more conflicted now than I ever have in the four and a half years that I’ve written in this diary. Perhaps I should write about the recent events that have me so flustered lately, and maybe then my thoughts will be easier to portray. Two weeks ago today we defeated Lord Sombra, once again banishing him to the cold north. It was a taxing battle, and many of the guard fell to his wrath and hatred. It pains me deeply to see our Ponies suffer and loose so much. My thoughts and prayers are with the wounded families, and I wish I could simply take their pain away. Since I was born, Sombra has been a continuous evil that has plagued our Ponies and the Crystal Empire as a whole. We seem to be cursed to forever be at conflict with him, and though he has never yet successfully conquered the empire, he gets closer to victory each time. It seems that with every defeat he grows stronger, and his hatred for us along with it. As a foal, I remember him invading the empire and taking my parents and I prisoner to his will as he attempted to cast our Ponies into slavery. Luckily, however, we had help from Princess Twilight and the other Elements of Harmony. With the power of friendship, they managed to seal him away. 4 Years later though, the Empire was once again threatened by the Dark Lord. He came by surprise and managed to overpower Father’s protection spell. Once again, however, he was stopped just in time by Princess Twilight and the elements. Since then, he has returned 7 times, and has nearly conquered the empire 5 of those times. Every time he is banished his power and anger rises, making him even more of a threat. Now the Elements of Harmony are even having a tough time disposing of him. His recent attack was very nearly the end of the Crystal Empire. It took the combined effort of all of Equestria to ward him off. Even Princesses Celestia and Luna had to get involved after their retirement. We’ve also found that he is building some form of army to combat the royal guard. Strange disappearances have been escalating as of late, and we no doubt know that he is responsible in some way for this. Mother, Father and Aunt Twilight have been looking into solutions for the problem, but each is just as unsuccessful as the last. There is simply no spell, incantation, or power known to Equestria that has the ability to permanently destroy the Dark Lord. Despite having encountered him so much, there is so much we do not know about Sombra. The only record of his past is in the form of a journal found deep in the catacombs of the Crystal Castle. It tells of his origin and struggles as a young Colt. I will not disclose all the details within the journal as much of it is quite disturbing, however, there was something that caught my eye. He talks of another important Pony, a mare by the name of Radiant Hope. According to him she was his first and only true friend, and it seems he cared very much for her until his tragic downfall. I simply cannot shake the feeling that there is more to the Dark Lord than the monster we see threatening us. Perhaps I should change topics, this subject is quite depressing. Yesterday I was visited by my best friend Luster. It was refreshing to see her again as it has been some months since we last met up. This is mostly due to the War with the Dark Lord, however, I still feel guilty for not at least writing to her in all this time. Regardless, seeing her and her parents took a great load of stress off. Aunt Twilight is truly right that having friends solves nearly every problem. Luster and I mostly talked about her studies with Aunt Twilight. She’s come a long way from the times when she had little to no friends, and I’m proud that she’s put in the effort to better her social skills. I told her all about the war. It must have been hard for her to listen to as she frequently looked disturbed, no doubt due to fear. It was also good to see Sunburst and Starlight once more. They’ve been fantastic mentors to me and the least I could do was to extend a warm welcome and to show them what I’ve learned in recent years. The last time I saw Sunburst was the day I got my cutie mark. He always believed that my power and talent came from the goodness inside the Crystal Heart. He was correct as always, and since then I’ve spent a lot of my time learning of my connection to the artifact and how I can control the power it gives me. Perhaps I can use it as a tool if Sombra were to return soon, though I hope I will never have to. There are many more things I could write about, however, my mother has scheduled a meeting for tonight with Princess Twilight as well as some other high profile Ponies from all over Equestria. I do not yet know what the meeting will be about, however, I have a feeling that whatever it is will not be good. I will wrap this entry up and head to that meeting. Who knows what’s in store. -Flurry Mi Amore Cadenza Heart After setting down her quill, she stood up from her chair and stretched her limbs after having sat for so long. As much as she tried to keep her entries short, things didn’t seem to work out that way, especially considering the recent events. Regardless, she knew she had to make her way to the meeting soon, so she headed over to her closet which contained the many dresses and royal garments she’d typically wear. She slipped on her metallic shoes and collar along with the Crown her parents had recently gifted her. It was her most treasured item, and was very symbolic of her character. Even having a small but detailed engraving of the Crystal Heart on it’s center, very similar to the engraving on her collar. Before leaving her chambers all together, she took a look in her mirror to check if there were any imperfections on her face. After noticing that she had forgotten to put on eyeliner, she quickly took out her makeup kit and properly outlined her eyes making her already stunning features even more noticeable. As she was making some finishing touches, she heard a knock on her door. “Coming!” She said as she closed the makeup case and stored it in the drawer bellow the mirror. She opened the door with her magic, behind it was a strong, handsome aged stallion with a coat of white and a graying mane of blue, her father Emperor Shining Armor. “Hi Flurry, I just came to check up on you to let you know the meeting is starting soon.” She put a hoof to her face, “Dad, you know better than anyone that I can remember a deadline for an important meeting.” He nodded with a smile, “Of course. I just thought I’d also accompany you there. It’s been a while since we’ve spent some time together, and I thought this would be as good a time as any.” “It’s been four hours Dad…” She replied with a raised brow. He nodded again without his smile faltering “Four hours that I’ve missed my lovely daughter, come, let’s walk together.” She shook her head with a smile, but obliged and joined her father at his side. If there was anything that she’d taken away from him, it was to never ignore spending time with one’s family. “I was going to ask, why dress so formally? It isn’t like you’re attending a wedding or something. Even your Mother isn’t going all out on the makeup this time.” The elder Stallion asked. “I don’t know. I really just like to look my best all the time. It makes me feel more dignified I guess.” She answered with a smile. He shook his head with the same smile, “I suppose old habits never die. But regardless of what you put on, you’ll always be the most beautiful Mare in Equestria.” She blushed at the compliment, “Even more than Mom?” She asked in response. He nodded, “She would absolutely agree. There’s no one in Equestria who we’d ever love more Flurry.” He stated proudly as he placed a hoof over her back while they walked through the Palace corridors. “I’ve looked all through Starswirl’s ancient texts Cadence. I’m sorry but there’s just no information about how to permanently vanquish Sombra.” Stated the Princess of Friendship with a concerned voice. “I refuse to believe that! There must be something we can do! You two managed to defeat him when he first rose to power! Can we not stop him the same way again?” Asked an even more concerned Empress Cadence. “I’m afraid not my dear Cadence. When Luna and I confronted him, it took all we had, and even then, the loss was so great that the Crystal Empire has only recently fully recovered from it. And since then, Sombra has increasingly become more resilient to our traditional methods. Princess Twilight is correct. We simply do not know enough about the Dark Lord to be able to effectively stop him.” Answered the wise Sun Goddess. The pink coated Alicorn sighed in despair, running a hoof through her long wavy multicolored mane in frustration. Twilight noticed her sister-in-law’s depressed state, and joined her, placing a hoof on her shoulder in reassurance, “Hey, cheer up Cadence! We’ll find a way to get through this. As we always have!” She stated in an optimistic tone. Twilight’s optimism always helped to put Cadence’s mind at ease. There had never been a problem she and Twilight had faced that they could not solve together. And she would be damned if she let this one demoralize her anymore than it already had. To make things better, out of the corner of her eye she watched as her husband and daughter walked in. She stood up from her chair and greeted them both, placing a kiss on the older stallion’s cheek, to which he returned. “Flurry? You know it’s just us for this meeting. There was no need to-” “It’s okay Mom, Dad said the same thing. I just like to look my best all the time.” Flurry interrupted, having read her Mother’s mind. “Hmm, that seems to remind me of someone I know…” Celestia stated with a smirk as she peered over her shoulder at her younger sibling. Luna looked away in embarrassment. “Pfft, it was one time Tia. And besides, you never told me we were going white water rafting! You only said we were going on a fun vacation!” Everyone in the room proceeded to laugh. It was a good refreshing break from all the negativity and a much needed breath of fresh air. “So who are we still waiting for?” Asked Flurry, looking around and seeing that nearly everyone was already present. “Probably Sunburst. Am I right?” Asked Shinning Armor with a small sigh. “It’s Sunburst.” Answered everyone else, again prompting laughter. It was true, the orange coated Unicorn Stallion had a knack for arriving late to important occasions. It wasn’t due to a poor memory, in fact it was quite the opposite. Sunburst was known to be difficult to deter when engrossed in his studies. So much so that the whole world could be on fire and he likely wouldn’t notice if he had a spell book in front of him. Regardless, just seconds after the group stopped laughing, the Orange coated Unicorn suddenly teleported into the room looking incredibly flustered and stressed. “Has the meeting started yet!? I’m terribly sorry I’m late, I swear it was because of the book of Socratooves! I was nearly done when Starlight had to remind me-” He stammered sounding almost out of breath as he recounted his end of the story. “It’s perfectly fine Sunburst. You’re actually just on time as it turns out.” Explained Empress Cadence while shaking her head at the Unicorn’s antics. He laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. Calming his heart rate, he took a seat at the round table and awaited the meeting to begin. The pink coated Alicorn Mare cleared her throat and started, “As I’m sure you’re all aware, I’ve called this meeting to discuss the future of the Crystal Empire.” Everyone nodded in understanding, prompting her to continue, “I’d like to first thank you all for once again helping us to rid the empire of Lord Sombra and his forces. I fear though that this is hardly the last we’ve seen of him. Before the meeting started I was conversing with Twilight and Aunts Celestia and Luna about ways that we can permanently dispel of Sombra. However, we keep arriving at a dead end. Sunburst, do you know of any spells capable of vanquishing Sombra once and for all?” The Unicorn sighed and shook his head in denial, “I’m sorry Cadence, but I’m just as clueless as anyone else. There just isn’t enough knowledge about Sombra’s kind to deduct what can destroy him.” She too sighed yet again. They were back where they had started, still without any proper plan on how to prepare for the Dark Lord’s imminent return. The meeting carried on for another half an hour, with the group sharing ideas and possible solutions, unfortunately each being as unachievable as the prior. Flurry merely listened, reserving herself as she let the more experienced Ponies handle matters. However, the longer the meeting dragged on, the more she thought of a different solution. Eventually, an argument broke out and the group began to dispute amongst themselves. It was hardly orderly, almost as if Discord had simply let everyone take a piece of his magic. Flurry could not stand to hear bickering, especially not from Ponies all considered family. She tried her best to ignore it, but it was no use, they were far too engaged in the moment to notice her obvious discomfort. Shinning, however, did notice as he had been fairly passive in the conversation. “Are you alright Flurry?” He asked. She shook her head, “No. If they keep arguing we aren’t going to get anywhere. I think I might have a solution if they’ll listen.” He nodded and attempted to get the group’s attention, but it was no use as they were far too focused on the argument to notice him with his much more calm voice. He shrugged and just replied, “I’m sorry Flurry, but you might have to wait this one out. You know how they can get sometimes…” This was not good enough for her though, she had an idea that she thought would be a better solution than any of the ideas being tossed out by the others. “Excuse me everyone but-” It was fruitless, however, as the others could not hear her over the tone of their own voices. It got to a point where Flurry nearly snapped, “ENOUGH!!!” She shouted boldly to get the attention of everyone else. It seemed to work as she drew the gaze and silence of everyone else. It felt very weird to interrupt ponies in a higher position of power than herself, and she felt a bit awkward afterwards. But regardless, she rolled with it while she had everyone's attention. “Look, if we keep arguing we aren’t going to get anywhere.” She stated, looking around the table. “I believe Flurry is right. Do you perhaps have a solution to the matter at hand?” Asked Celestia from across the table. Flurry looked over at Shining who nodded in approval and pride at how his daughter was becoming more mature and wise. She also nodded and proceeded, “Thank you, I believe I do.” She waited a moment and contemplated what to say next, “All we’ve been discussing is a violent solution to the problem. But what if there’s a more peaceful option?” Everyone raised a brow, “You mean like negotiation? Flurry, Sombra is absolutely not one to be reasoned with. He’s just a mindless, maniacal, tyrant. There’s no negotiating with a monster such as himself!” Argued her Mother. “But we’ve never tried it before. How can we be sure if we’ve never tried?” Flurry countered logically, making a fair point. “You raise a good point Princess Flurry Heart. However, you must take into account Sombra’s ambitions. He wishes not only to rule over the Crystal Empire, but to enslave your subjects and induct them into his own army. He attempted this before Tia and I stopped him a millennia ago. And when he did not get his way he cursed the Empire and the Crystal Ponies along with it.” Reasoned the retired princess of the night. “That may be so, but there must be something else that he craves for besides just power. After all, at one point he was a pony just like any of us. There must be something else that he wants. And I believe I know what it is.” The young Princess stated confidently. “What could that be? He’s never shown any interest in doing anything besides conquering the Empire.” Stated Sunburst. Flurry nodded, “That’s what we’ve seen from him, but I believe there’s more to the Dark Lord than his shadowy terrifying form. I believe he craves something else. I believe he wishes to be loved.” … All but one of the Ponies were flabbergasted. No one said a word for a long moment, making Flurry feel uneasy. She knew very well that the others would not approve of this idea, but she hadn’t expected them all to be so shocked. “Flurry… You can’t be serious…” Trailed her Father from beside her. She nodded, “I am absolutely serious Dad.” … “Flurry… I… Sombra has no love for anypony. Nor has he ever. He rules through fear and intimidation. The opposites of love and compassion.” Her Mother explained with a very concerned expression. “But Mom, you must know that's not true! In his own personal diary he claimed that there was a Pony that he loved. Or at least cared for.” She once again argued. “Flurry, that was ages ago.” Answered her father. “Yes, but it still confirms that he can indeed feel love to some degree.” “Then what do you propose we do about it? I highly doubt anyone in Equestria could ever love such a monster.” Stated Sunburst. She hated to admit it, but her mentor had a point. It was incredibly unlikely that any sane pony could ever have feelings for a tyrant that craves world domination. She looked around the table. Everypony’s eyes were on her as they awaited an answer. And she had that answer, just not one that anypony would agree with. She took a deep breath before looking to her Mother, “I’m going to ask Sombra to marry me.” … The next period of silence was longer than all the others. Flurry watched as many of the others’ expressions either shifted from concern to pure horror. All but two of the members that was. “Flurry, have you gone absolutely mad!? You can’t marry that monster! You don’t even love him! And he certainly does not love you!” protested Shining in a much more stern tone than before. “I agree with your father on this Flurry. This is an absolutely insane idea.” Cadence added. “But it-” “No! As your father I forbid it!” Shining ordered almost in a falter, as his tone sounding more emotional while he slammed a hoof into the table in attempt to keep some sort of control. “Shining is right Flurry! You can’t do this… It… It will never work!” Cadence stuttered, her own tone matching her husband's as they each got out of their seats and stood together in an act of defiance for their daughter’s crazy idea. Flurry knew they wouldn’t approve of this, but she had to convince them otherwise. She’d taken into account all the other options. This was the ONLY one that could work. “Mom, Dad, I know you don’t agree with me, but hear me out-” It was no use, however, as her parents had already made up their minds without letting her get a word in edgewise. “No! We aren’t going to say it another time. We will not allow you to do this Flurry!” Commanded Shining with tears in his eyes as he interrupted her. Both parents looked like emotional wrecks as they stared at their daughter looking for any possible sign that she was simply telling a bad joke. But they could find none. Flurry was absolutely sure about this. And it terrified them not only as rulers, but as parents. Flurry herself got up from her chair and returned their stare. She then approached them and embraced them both in a hug. “Mom. Dad. I love you both, and I respect your wishes. But I have to do this.” She stated as she herself got emotional as well. “No you don’t. We can work something out. It doesn’t have to be like this-” “Yes Mom, it does. You said yourself that there aren’t any other options. I have to do this. I owe it to our Ponies to try.” She interrupted with a single tear escaping her left eye. “Flurry, you don’t owe anything to anypony. Don’t throw your life away just because you think you have something to prove-” “Dad, I do owe them. I owe it to them to protect them, and to stop this conflict. My own needs are insignificant compared to the needs of so many other ponies.” Flurry replied, now regaining confidence as she broke the hug and continued to stare at her parents. “She’s right. As much as it pains me to say it, this might be the only way to stop Sombra’s cycle of hatred and violence once and for all.” Answered Princess Twilight who had also gotten out of her seat and approached the others. “Twilight…” Cadence trailed as she looked to her sister-in-law. “My successor is correct Empress. And as the Empress of Love, you of all Ponies should understand why.” Added Celestia from beside her former pupil. Both parents sighed in defeat and looked to their daughter once more. Flurry’s expression was determined. She would do this even without their consent if she had to. And they knew they could not stop her. “I’m sorry Mom. It’s the only way.” Flurry stated before again hugging them both. “I know sweetheart. I know…”
Chapter 8: Elements of the Past Pt 1Chapter 8 Elements of the Past Pt 1 ‘Who is Omni?’ One thought played through Flurry’s head for the entire day. It had been plaguing her ever since she had interviewed the returned Crystal Ponies. The young Alicorn had spent the day pouring through the Crystal Library’s volumes to find any mention of a former ruler named Omni, but unfortunately to no avail. After many grueling hours planted at her Library desk, Flurry decided to move on. She figured it best to take the matter up with her Auntie Twilight who was easily the most knowledgeable of everypony she knew on all things Equestria. After closing her current book, Flurry took the stack of volumes that she had borrowed and placed them all back in their appropriate spots before heading off to notify her parents. It didn’t take long before Flurry arrived at the Crystal Throne Room where she could see her mother seated on the throne with a scroll and quill. Hearing Flurry’s footsteps, Cadence looked up from the paper and noticed her daughter entering the room, “Flurry! How you doing sweetheart?” “Hey Mom, I wish I could say I was doing well but I checked through the Library and found nothing about a fallen ruler named Omni. It’s just… It’s frustrating.” The young Alicorn replied with a defeated expression. Cadence set her quill and scroll down and lifter her daughter’s chin with a wing, “I understand sweetheart. We don’t always have the answers for everything.” Flurry nodded, “I was actually thinking of going to Auntie Twilight to ask her about it. Do you know if she’s busy today?” Cadence shook her head, “Not at all. She wrote to me yesterday actually. She was asking about you.” “About me?” Flurry quickly responded. “Yes. She was asking how things are going between you and Sombra. I figured it was best if I let you tell her personally.” The Empress of Love stated with a smile. Flurry placed a hoof on her chin, “Do you think she’d mind if I visit her in Canterlot today?” Cadence shook her head once more, “I don’t think Twilight would ever be opposed to see you Flurry, besides, it’ll give you a chance to catch up with your friends while you’re there.” The white coated Alicorn nodded, “Thanks Mom, I’ll be back later. Make sure to keep an eye on Sombra while I’m gone.” “We’ll do just that Flurry.” However, Cadence then realized something, “Wait, Flurry the train doesn’t depart for another hour-” “It’s not that far Mom, I’ll just teleport there.” Flurry interrupted before summoning her magic. Cadence was going to interject before her daughter vanished in an instant. ‘Celestia help me… She takes after her father too much…’ The pink coated Alicorn thought to herself as she rubbed her face with a hoof. Teleporting such an incredible distance would have been a near impossible feat for an average Unicorn, however, with the help of Flurry’s Alicorn genes she was able to perform things like these regularly. Albeit with some fatigue afterward. In a split second Flurry found herself standing before the gates of Canterlot Castle. Her sudden appearance had come as a shock to the two guards on sentry duty at the gate. Or rather came as a shock to one of the two. “Princess Flurry Heart.” One of the guards remarked before kneeling in respect. “Sorry for the abrupt visit Captain Tempest, could I please see Princess Twilight?” Flurry asked while approaching the gate. The indigo coated Unicorn nodded, “Of course. Princess Twilight has been expecting your arrival. Allow me to take you to her.” Flurry raised a brow, “Expecting me? But I never-” “Come, let’s not keep the Princess waiting.” Tempest interrupted as the gates opened and she walked in. Flurry scratched her head but followed the Unicorn captain. Canterlot Castle was significantly larger than the Crystal Castle, and though she had been here many times before Flurry knew how easy it was for one to get lost in the many corridors and rooms. After traveling for a few minutes, Flurry noticed a number of Ponies exiting one of the classrooms for the school of magic. Among these students was a pink coated Mare with an orange mane, “Dawn!” Flurry exclaimed with joy as she ran up to her friend. The Unicorn immediately recognized her royal friend, “Flur! What are you doing here!?” “I came to talk to Aunt Twilight about something. How are you doing?” The Alicorn replied while hugging her good friend. “I’ve been doing alright, but Princess Twilight has had my Mom teaching the classes lately…” Luster explained with a look of embarrassment. Flurry giggled, “And I’m guessing she’s being typical Starlight?” The Unicorn nodded, “Yep. But that’s enough about me. What about you? Princess Twilight told me that Lord Sombra agreed to your proposal! Are you seriously going through with it?” Flurry nodded, “Yes, I am. I’ll tell you more about it after I speak to Aunt Twilight. Sound good?” Luster nodded, “Alright, see you then Flur!” With that, both Mares parted ways with Flurry returning to Captain Tempest’s side, “Sorry about that.” Flurry stated while keeping up with the Unicorn who went ahead. “It’s no trouble Princess, after all we must always place priority on our friendships.” The half-horned Unicorn replied with a smile. After a small walk, Flurry found herself before the doors to the Canterlot Castle Throne Room. The doors were grand, almost large enough to fit Cerberus if they needed to. As they opened, Flurry Heart could see her Auntie Twilight accompanied by a young purple scaled Dragon. “Princess Twilight, Flurry Heart is here to see you.” The half-horned Unicorn announced as she led the white coated Alicorn into the room. “Thank you Tempest, that will be all.” The Princess of Friendship replied while rising from her Throne. As the Captain bowed in respect, Tempest Shadow saw herself out and closed the doors behind her. Flurry returned her focus on the violet coated Alicorn, “Auntie Twilight! It’s good to see you!” Twilight smiled warmly, “It’s good to see you too Flurry.” The two Alicorns hugged before they each heard someone else clear their throat. Flurry looked to the left to see Princess Twilight’s royal advisor and friendship ambassador standing with his arms crossed. The Dragon had a raised brow as he looked directly at her. Although his face looked stern at first, he quickly lightened up. Both Flurry and Spike then began to chant, (This jingle follows the exact same rhythm as Twilight and Cadence’s “Sunshine Daisies”) 🎵Friendship ambassadors Flurry Heart and Spike! Flap your wings and twirl your tails alike!🎵 The two then chuckled like a couple of teenagers at a comedy show before settling down. “It’s kind of weird to do that now but I guess old habits never die.” The Dragon stated with a smile. Flurry nodded, “How have you been Spike? It’s been quite a long time hasn’t it?” “Well, you know, between visiting the Dragon Lands, Ponyville, and the Griffon Kingdom, not busy at all!” The Dragon replied sarcastically with a tinge of pride. Flurry giggled, “All in a days work for a Friendship Ambassador.” Spike nodded before Twilight interjected, “Well I’d love for us to spend the afternoon catching up, but I believe you came here to ask me something Flurry?” The white coated Alicorn was a bit puzzled with this. She hadn’t mentioned anything about a question of hers. “How did you know?” The Princess of Friendship laughed this off, “Your Mother told me all about it. She had a feeling you’d come to me about the matter. And luckily, I think I might have an answer for you.” Flurry was confused but decided to roll with it, “You know of a former ruler named Omni?” Twilight nodded and proceeded on a light saunter out of the throne room, to which Spike and Flurry Heart followed. “When Cadence told me you were looking for information about a mysterious fallen ruler named Omni, my curiosity was piqued. So I went to the Canterlot archives and looked through all the historical records of Equestria.” Flurry chuckled, “Mom and Dad always told me how much you love to read books…” “You have no idea.” Spike whispered in her ear as he nudged her shoulder. Twilight nodded, “But after looking through all the records, I wasn’t able to find anything about a ruler named Omni. It was a total dead end…” Flurry stopped for a moment, “Wait, what? I thought you just said you have an answer?” Twilight nodded, “Yes. It wasn’t until I uncovered Princess Celestia’s private collection that I found something interesting.” The suspense was killing the young Alicorn who eagerly awaited her Aunt’s answer. Twilight noticed Flurry’s anxious expression and continued, “This fallen ruler is from a time before Equestria was formed. Over four thousand years ago.” Flurry’s mouth hung open as she took in the information. The time before Equestria’s formation was almost unfathomable, even for the most seasoned historians. Very little was known of the land before the three tribes of Ponies had united and brought new life to the land. And what little was known was not exactly the happiest bits of history. After walking for a few minutes, the three had arrived at the Canterlot Royal Library. The room was much larger than that of the Crystal Empire, and contained many thousands more books. In fact, Flurry reckoned that any known fact to Pony-kind could be found in this room, though finding the exact book for it would prove tiresome. Although the novels and encyclopedias were ordered alphabetically, the sheer volume of literature here would prove difficult to sort through. Twilight led the two past the Z column to a more secluded area with most of the books being stored on very high shelves. The violet coated Alicorn used her magic to levitate several books down from their shelves and opened one. The volume looked very old, if the rough cover and dust weren’t enough to show the book’s age then the many tattered pages inside certainly would. The book’s title read, “The Order of Grogar”. It was no doubt a callback to the now deceased Lord Grogar who Flurry had indeed heard tales of. As Twilight flipped through the pages she arrived on page 126. She then offered the book to Flurry, “Have a look.” Flurry nodded and took the book in her own magic while reading the passage. “Emperor Grogar’s rule was divided into five different factions of monsters that each took over various parts of land. The Everfree Forrest as we know it today was taken over by the Timberwolves. The Dragon Lands to King Torch the first. Canterlot to the Changeling hive. Manehattan to the Centaurs. And lastly the Crystal Empire to Countess Omni of the north.” The young Alicorn read aloud as she scanned through the page. “So this mysterious ruler was once part of Lord Grogar’s order?” Flurry asked as she looked up to her Aunt. Twilight nodded, “Yes. And that’s not all.” The Princess of Friendship then levitated the other book and handed it to her niece, “This will explain it a bit more.” This book, unlike the last was not quite as weathered and old. At least not on the surface. The title read, “The Five Monster Factions.” Twilight opened the book and scrolled halfway through the volume before arriving at a series of torn out pages. Where once there were pages of valuable knowledge and information, there was now nothing but ripped seams and missing passages. “What? But there’s nothing here!” Flurry exclaimed. Twilight nodded, “Yes. And these pages didn’t just fall out from age or by accident. They were torn on purpose. So somepony clearly didn’t want this information to be available.” Flurry ran a hoof through her hair out of stress, “I… But… This doesn’t help at all! All I learned about this fallen ruler is that they were once part of Emperor Grogar’s order!” Spike nodded, “Maybe, but there’s also the fact that this ruler was a Countess. In other words… Wait, what’s a female monster called again?” Flurry sighed, “Yeah, but that’s still not much to go off. Are you two sure there isn’t anything else on this fallen ruler?” Twilight shook her head with a frown, “Unfortunately no. I looked through the entire Library but couldn’t find anything on it. It seems to just be a dead end. I feel the only way you could determine more about this fallen ruler is if you asked somepony who was alive before Equestria’s formation.” The young white coated Alicorn looked up, “You mean Celestia and Luna?” The Princess of Friendship nodded, “They might be the only ones who were alive at that point in Equestria’s history.” Flurry sighed again. There was now yet another road block for her to overcome. Although she knew the two Alicorn sisters, she never knew where they were. As they both had retired when Flurry was but a foal. Nowadays the two former rulers of Equestria traveled the lands to see new sights and experience new things. She looked up to Twilight once more, “Do you know where I could find them?” Flurry was hoping her Aunt would know the answer to this question, but sadly the violet coated Alicorn shook her head, “I’m sorry Flurry, but I don’t. I don’t talk to them very often anymore. The last time I spoke to them was at the meeting at the Crystal Empire a month ago.” “… Well it’s back to square one I guess…” Flurry added with slumped shoulders. Although she could see the disappointment on her Niece’s face, Twilight began to chuckle. Flurry couldn’t understand this action and raised a brow, “What’s so funny?” Her Aunt looked down at her with warm eyes, “Flurry, I’m not laughing at you or the situation. It’s just that you’re reminding me of myself.” “How’s that?” The young Royal asked. “When I was your age I couldn’t stand to not know something. I poured all my energy each day into learning and finding more information.” Twilight answered as she placed a hoof on her Niece’s shoulder. “You’ll find what you’re looking for Flurry, just be patient.” She reassured. This managed to calm the young Alicorn down as Flurry gave a smile. “I’ll try Auntie Twilight.” Breaking the two out of their moment, however, was the sound of a yawn. Twilight glared at spike before lightly hitting the Dragon on the head with one of the books. “Hey! You guys were just being so sappy.” Flurry laughed before looking back to the violet coated Alicorn, “Well thank you both for helping out. I think I’ll move on with my duties today.” Twilight raised a brow, “Before you go Flurry, can I make a suggestion for you?” The young Royal nodded, “Okay, what kind of suggestion?” Twilight then proceeded to place both books back on the high shelf before going on a short walk with the other two following. “Cadence told me that your wedding with Lord Sombra is in three weeks. Have you made any plans for the event?” The young Alicorn looked away for a moment. In truth she hadn’t given the event much thought ever since she’d negotiated the date with Sombra. One could call it procrastination, but it was more likely dread. She’d never had to attend or plan such a massive event before, much less be the bride in question. She’d of course attended weddings of some of her friends and close family, but had never thought about exactly how much thought went into them. “I…No…” She answered sheepishly while keeping up with the Princess of Friendship. Twilight chuckled, “I figured. From what your mother told me you’ve had a lot on your mind lately. And I can’t say I blame you. But might I suggest you get somepony to help you out?” Flurry was captivated with this idea, “That could help a lot. I don’t really know how to plan weddings or the things that go into them. I’m just used to being in the crowd.” The indigo coated Princess stopped for a moment, “Well, there is one Pony who just recently started researching wedding planning here at the Canterlot.” “Really? Who could that be?” Flurry asked with interest. Twilight chuckled again, “You actually happen to be very good friends with them.” Flurry blinked for a moment as she put the pieces together, “Wait… Luster?” Twilight nodded, “Yes. She’s been in the library a lot recently reading about weddings. I guess when she heard about your engagement she wanted to learn more. Maybe to help you out.” Flurry merely shook her head with a subtle roll of her eyes before laughing, “Dawn never changes does she?” Twilight shook her head with a knowing smile. After arriving at the exit of the Library, Flurry looked back to the Princess of Friendship and her Ambassador, “Could you both be there? At my wedding?” Without wasting a second, Twilight and Spike both nodded, “Of course, Princess Flurry Heart.” Twilight answered. With a gleeful smile, the young royal nodded and went to leave the two. After exiting the castle, Flurry made her way to Luster’s house in Canterlot. Luster and her parents lived in a high end community in Canterlot which mostly consisted of noble Ponies or upper class moguls who’s foals and fillies attended the appraised school of magic normally taught by the former magician and entertainer Trixie Lulamoon. As Flurry arrived at Luster’s house, she gently knocked on the door but loud enough to be heard. Within moments the door was answered by a pink coated Unicorn Mare with a purple and teal colored mane and tail. “Flurry Heart! What a surprise!” Stated the Mare happily. Flurry returned the smile, “Hello Mrs Glimmer, I’m actually here to see Luster. Is she here right now?” Starlight nodded immediately, “Of course Luster is here. Come on in!” As Flurry entered the house she took a seat on a small chair in the living room. “Dawn! Flurry Heart is here to see you!” Starlight called up. Within seconds, the younger Unicorn descended the stairs, “Hey Flur! What’s up?” The Alicorn chuckled, “Hey Dawn, so I just talked to Auntie Twilight and she told me all about what you’ve been reading about lately.” The pink coated Unicorn chuckled as well before sarcastically replying, “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Flurry rolled her eyes playfully, “You just couldn’t help yourself could you?” “Nope! When I heard my best friend was engaged to be married I had to soak up all the information I could on weddings!” The Unicorn responded with pride. “I see. So what would you say to helping me plan my wedding?” Flurry asked. Without a second thought, the Unicorn replied, “I’d love to Flur!” Before her friend could reply, Luster used her magic to levitate up a notepad that was lying on the coffee table at the center of the living room. “In fact, after reading a bunch of the books in the Library I started a list of things we’ll need to prepare for your special day. I guess you could say I was inspired.” Flurry couldn’t help but snicker. Out of all her friends, Dawn was certainly the most passionate about the things she did. It was a warming thought, and something Flurry really appreciated in her friend. “So, where shall we start, Wedding Planner Dawn?” Flurry joked. “The first thing we need to get you is a dress!” Luster replied as she looked at the checklist on her notepad. Author's Note Alright, so originally I planned to have this all as one chapter, but after seeing the word count I felt it'd be better if I divided it into two parts to make it easier to read. If I included both parts this chapter would have exceeded 9,000 words. (Insert "it's over 9000 meme here) Anyway, I hope everyone enjoys the callbacks in this chapter. I enjoyed including characters like Twilight, Spike, and Tempest in this one. And believe me, there will be more of that in the second part of this chapter! I hope you guys enjoyed this one. The next will be released very soon and is almost done. If you're new to the story and you like what I'm trying to do be sure to favorite it and write a review or comment and let me know your thoughts on it. Cheers, -Ace_Risk
Chapter 9: The Looming DateChapter 9 The Looming Date Juneth 30, 3672 7:00 AM Dear Diary, It has been a while since my previous entry, and a lot has happened within that time. To address the elephant in the room, my wedding with Lord Sombra takes place tomorrow and is very quickly approaching. Although I have been keeping my composure about it in public, I have been terribly anxious ever since I began planning the event with my friend Luster. My mother has been constantly reaffirming me that it’s natural to feel this way when such an important event is rounding its corner. But even so, I can’t help but feel that I’m simply overreacting to it altogether. Marriage was always an afterthought in my life. I hadn’t even considered the idea until now, and coming to grips with it has been difficult to put it mildly. At the very least, Luster and I have planned the event very thoroughly which has helped ease my mind if only a little. Between inviting guests from outside of the empire, sorting out dresses, and hiring the Royal Equestrian Band, we have truly spared no expense to make this day the best it possibly can. Today we are holding a small engagement party at the Crystal Empire. Many of the guests for the wedding that live in the Empire will be attending as well as a few from outside. Besides simply being a social event, it will be the first time I will see the completed wedding cake that we commissioned from Mrs Pinkie Pie. I can only hope that Sombra’s presence does not alarm too many of the guests. Everypony whom I’ve invited has been apprehensive about it simply because of his involvement. Truthfully, it is beginning to get tiresome to hear the same comments about it over and over all the while giving the same replies to ease their concerns. As vexing as the comments and rumors have been, however, Sombra has been remarkably well behaved ever since the first days of his initiation into the Empire. But although I say that, I am still fearful of what may happen should something provoke him. I suppose for now all we can do is ensure that this wedding proceeds as smoothly as possible. On a more positive note, it will be great to see many of my best friends again at the engagement party. With how hectic my life has been in recent times, I have not been able to visit them nor write as often. Luster is the only one I have spent a lot of time with recently, whether it be planning the wedding itself or casual visits, Dawn has been there for me when I have needed her most. Auntie Twilight is truly right when she preaches the importance of friendship in our lives. Moreover, much of our extended family will also be attending the event as well. With the help of Discord, we even managed to invite my Aunt Celestia and Luna, to which they gladly accepted. Besides being nice to see both former Princesses, I would also like to ask the two if they know anything about this mysterious former ruler that the returned Crystal Ponies spoke of. Not knowing whom or what this ‘Countess Omni’ is has been plaguing my mind for the last few weeks, and though Sombra insists otherwise, I still feel he is somehow involved. My parents have been trying to convince me that all will be well, but after having spoken to the Crystal Ponies that were returned, I have a very bad feeling about this whole situation. Stranger yet was when Princess Twilight showed me me the book of ‘The Five Monster Factions’ only to find pages missing on exactly the information I needed. Whomever this ‘Omni’ is, they don’t want to be discovered. All I can do for now is hope that this wedding goes as smoothly as possible. But even then, I can’t help but feel that as well as this wedding has been planned, something is bound to go wrong. -Flurry Mi Amore Cadenza Heart “I’m so glad you could make it today Cress! I thought you’d be too busy with the recital!” Flurry greeted as she exchanged a quick hug with the Earth Pony Mare. “Oh please Flur, I could not miss this for the world! And besides, I’m no stranger to performing at weddings.” Kindly answered the Mare in a very elegant traditional Canterlot accent after the two released one another. The Pony in question was very accomplished conductor, songwriter, and part-time pianist of the Royal Equestrian Band, Crescendo Melody. Although both her parents were from Ponyville, Cress had made a name for herself in Canterlot as one of the youngest composers for the Royal Symphony. The two were also good childhood friends, having been in the same year at the school of friendship. She currently addorned a very sharp gray suit and a black bow tie which contrasted nicely with her lighter colored coat and dark mane. The white coated Alicorn chuckled, “Well, I’m glad at least one of us is confident for tomorrow…” Both Ponies shared a brief chuckle before Crescendo placed a hoof on her royal friend’s shoulder, “You always worry so much Flur, try loosening up a bit.” The dark coated Earth Pony then got closer before whispering, “Besides, Dawn helped you plan the event. She never misses a detail.” The two then looked across the room to see the aforementioned pink coated Unicorn who was currently conversing with Princess Twilight’s personal assistant Spike. Flurry could not help but smile, “You’re right. Dawn has been such a great friend throughout this whole thing.” As if by coincidence, Luster Dawn and Spike each glanced over Flurry’s way before approaching. Once in earshot, the pink coated Unicorn spoke up, “Cress! It’s good to see you!” The Earth Pony nodded, “Likewise Dawn, I heard you were quite instrumental in planning this whole event.” “Instrumental… I see what you did there.” Spike stated while chuckling to himself. The others raised a brow at the Dragon’s bad pun before also joining Spike’s laughter. Once they had settled, the four friends heard a loud crashing noise at the entrance of the room. The noise attracted the attention of everypony at the party, and shortly thereafter, it was followed by a voice, “Oopsie daisy! Sorry everypony! Cake coming through! Make way!” Flurry and her friends watched as Pinkie Pie dragged a cart into the room carrying an enormous wedding cake. Without wasting a moment, Flurry made her way over to the pink coated Earth Earth Pony, “Mrs Pinkie Pie! Do you need help with that?” “Nope! Don’t you worry Princess Flurry Heart! I’ve got it all under control!” The energetic Mare replied. The Alicorn gave a skeptical look and glanced back to the cake which was nearly hitting the ceiling of the doorway as it was brought in. Everypony watched in suspense as the cart made its way into the room with the top of the cake just narrowly avoiding contact with the ceiling. Once the cake was in, many of the spectators breathed a sigh of relief. As Pinkie Pie brought the cart into the room, she made her way towards a large display table. After Pinkie Pie had stopped, Luster Dawn asked, “Umm, Mrs Pinkie? How are we supposed to get the cake off the cart?” “No problem! I’ll just activate the Pinkie Pie Forklift 5000!” Stated the enthusiastic Mare while she headed to the other side of the cart. The pink coated Earth Pony then took a seat on a chair at the back of the cart and flicked a lever. The cart then began to elevate until its platform was level with the display table. Both Flurry and Luster looked at one another with a shrug as the platform then lifted itself onto the display table. With the cake now secured on the table, Flurry looked up to finally admire the pastry. The cake was excessively tall, with 8 levels in all. The icing and decorations on the outside were expertly applied with many intricate designs using a multitude of colors from white, pink, sky blue, and even dark gray. At the very top of the cake were several marzipan figurines depicting the bride and groom. From further away, the cake resembled a depiction of the Crystal Empire itself in all its splendor. “Wow, Pinkie, you really didn’t have to-” “Oh pish posh! It’s your big day tomorrow Flurry Heart! I had to make this the greatest gateau in the history of wedding cakes! Now, the first level is a nice sweet vanilla with hints of strawberry and whipped cream snowflakes like the outside of the Crystal Empire! The second level is red velvet inside with multi-colored crystal fondant like the houses in the Crystal Empire! The third level is chocolate inside with…” As the pink coated Earth Pony trailed on, Flurry and Luster merely looked at one another with a chuckle while they listened to the Party Pony’s long winded description of the epic pastry. While Pinkie Pie continued, Flurry’s other two friends approached to admire the cake as well. “Well, this certainly looks like a Sugarcube Corner special.” Stated Spike as he too looked up to take in the sight. “Quite. Dare I say it may be the largest cake I have ever seen.” Cress pointed out with a knowing smile. Flurry nodded and was about to respond before Pinkie Pie finally finished her description of the cake with a massive exaggerated gasp. “So? How do you like it?” Flurry couldn’t help but smile and nod, “I love it Mrs Pinkie. You did an incredible job.” The Party Pony then threw her hoof in the air in triumph, “A super duper incredible job! I’m so glad you like it! Now I have to show everyone else before it gets all eaten up! See you all at the wedding!” With that, the pink coated Earth Pony trotted off while hoping like a pogo stick. As they watched on, Luster commented, “Wow. When I asked for a large wedding cake I didn’t think Mrs Pinkie would build a tower.” The others laughed, “Well, with Pinkie Pie concerned you should always expect the unexpected.” Spike mentioned. As the four friends engaged in their conversation, they were approached by a sharply dressed Pegasus Stallion carrying a tray of wine glasses using one of his wings. “Pardon the intrusion, but would anypony care for a glass of Chardonnay?” Flurry turned only to notice the Pony was none other than lieutenant Piercing Shield of the Royal Guard. Although it would normally be weird to see Ponies of the guard working as Castle servants, Flurry already knew that many soldiers of the guard were handling security for the engagement party as well as the wedding. All four friends nodded without question and took a glass of the rich golden colored wine. They each thanked the Pegasus and were about to rekindle their conversation before the Pegasus chimed in once more, “Oh, and one more thing Princess, there is somepony who wished to speak to you privately at the balcony.” Flurry glanced back to the others, “Sorry guys, but I need to go.” Her friends each nodded, “Don’t worry about us Flur.” Luster stated. Without wasting another moment, the young Alicorn made her way over to the balcony while using her magic to bring her wine glass with her. While making her way through the many groups of guests, Flurry pondered who it could be that wished to speak to her in private. While it could perhaps be her Mother or Father, she figured it was most likely either her Aunt Celestia or Luna who had just arrived. Still, it struck her as odd that Piercing Shield had not mentioned the name of this Pony. After having arrived at the balcony, Flurry looked around only to find nopony. She found it odd that the Pony Piercing Shield had mentioned was not here, however, she figured that they likely left for only a moment to get a drink or some other common reason. As she waited at the ledge of the balcony, Flurry took in the pleasant fresh air of the summer day. Although she enjoyed being in the company of her friends and family, she also appreciated the odd silence and serenity that nature provided. Perhaps it was Mrs Fluttershy’s influence. After waiting for nearly a minute, Flurry was beginning to worry. She looked over her shoulder, but there was still nopony accompanying her. This was certainly strange as she knew none of her friends or family would play such a trick or prank on her next to maybe Discord or Mrs Rainbow Dash. The white coated Alicorn waited for another half a minute before she heard a voice behind her, “Princess Flurry Heart.” Flurry immediately recognized the strong voice and turned around abruptly. After gazing upon the figure, the young royal was greeted by the sight of a very familiar Unicorn Stallion. “Caspian…” She stated with disdain while sporting a noticeable grimace. The Stallion in question was quite tall and bulky as far as Unicorns went. His coat was as purely white as the plumes of a swan while his mane and tail were a very complementing cream color. His roached mane was quite short, but expertly styled, giving the stallion a very dignified look. On his torso was a very expensive looking navy blue tuxedo accompanied by a tie and white collared shirt. “I do apologize for my tardiness your grace. I hope I did not keep you waiting long.” The Stallion stated with a charismatic grin while approaching Flurry. The Unicorn then took the Alicorn Mare’s hoof and prepared to plant a kiss on her silver shoe before Flurry yanked her hoof back with force. “Two minutes. Now what do you want Caspian.” Flurry stated while turning her back on the Unicorn and returning to the edge of the balcony to stare at the Empire below. The Stallion then pulled his own hoof back with a huff before regaining his composure, “I merely wanted to congratulate you Princess. This is after all a party celebrating your engagement.” The Unicorn pointed out while taking a spot at the edge of the mezzanine next to the irritated Alicorn. “Why thank you, Baron Blueblood.” She answered with contempt while keeping her eyes as far from the other figure as possible. The Stallion raised a brow, “Come now Princess, there is no need for such hostility. I have but humble intentions.” Flurry merely rolled her eyes and continued to look upon the Empire while now taking a sip of the golden wine. Although the beverage was great, it did little to ease her troubled mind. Nor did it remove the problem in the room. After a brief pause, the charismatic Stallion continued, “I must say, when I heard of your engagement to Lord Sombra, I was certainly taken back.” Flurry quickly eyed the Stallion before adverting her gaze once more, “Yes. It is meant mostly as a truce to keep the Crystal Empire safe.” There was one more pause as Flurry took yet another sip of the strong wine. The Stallion then chimed in, “I was also worried for you, my dear. All the rumors I heard throughout Canterlot. Noblecolts and Mares claiming that you’d gone mad. I, however, could only worry for your safety.” Hearing this statement made Flurry want to vomit. She could easily resign from the balcony and leave the Stallion, but if her history with Caspian was any indication, he was unlikely to sit idly by as that happened. While the two overlooked the kingdom, the exalted Unicorn spoke up, “I have always admired the sight of the Crystal Empire. The perfect geometry, the colors, the tranquility. But each time I see this Kingdom, I am reminded of what true beauty is. I am reminded of you, my dear.” Flurry yet again rolled her eyes while sipping the rest of the wine and placing the empty glass on the balcony edge. “You’re too kind, Caspian…” The Alicorn answered with biting sarcasm. “I speak sincerely Princess. Not a day goes by when I don’t lament over our collapsed relationship. Over what could have been.” The affluent Unicorn stated while inching closer to Flurry. Flurry sighed before backing sufficiently away from the encroaching Unicorn, “That’s far enough Caspian. I’m sure you remember why we broke up in the first place. As far as I’m concerned, you’re still the selfish snob that you always were, and always will be.” This tirade set the Unicorn back, “How dare you talk like that to me? My father-” “I don’t care what your father thinks. He is vile, much like yourself. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have better things to concern myself with.” Flurry interrupted with a raised tone. As she began to trot away, she heard the Stallion call back, “Like pursuing an evil Shadow Pony? It seems those rumors about you are true, my lady. You certainly have fallen from grace.” The Alicorn halted and looked up before turning, “What did you just say?” The Unicorn Stallion did not back down from Flurry’s threatening tone, and instead held his ground. “You heard me. Come tomorrow, everypony shall see just how far you’ve fallen. You and I could have been adored by Equestria. We could have been so much more. And now look at you. Wooing a tyrannical Unicorn that enslaved your Ponies and cursed them to vanish for over a thousand years. The rumors are correct. You are nothing but a who-” Before the Unicorn could finish his sentence, Flurry ignited her magic and growled, “Choose your next words carefully Caspian, otherwise it wont just be your inflated ego that is shattered tonight.” This still did little to intimidate the white coated Unicorn who then smirked, “Such ferocity. In can see why you admire your Fiance. You both have that quality in common. In many ways, I pity your predicament.” “I’m surprised you can feel any pity when your heart is as dark as Luna’s night.” Flurry retorted. Caspian chuckled, “You mean to say as dark as your fiance? Tell me something, is he at least charming? Do you know how he is in the be…” The Stallion trailed off as he noticed something behind Flurry. His expression immediately went from arrogance to that of shock. While she wanted nothing more than to retaliate at her ex, she too was interested in what had spooked the Unicorn so. Before she could even turn her head, another voice chimed in, “Well, what have we here?” Caspian backed away from the white coated Alicorn as the other figure approached. “I trust I am not interrupting anything, am I Princess?” Stated the voice as its owner took Flurry’s side. Flurry looked to her left to see her Fiance himself. Sombra was formally dressed with a button up shirt, a nicely folded ascot, and his signature royal red cloak. His mane and tail waved like a loose pure black tapestry while he held his head high. A confident smirk was evident across his face as he eyed the other Stallion with his two fangs exposed. “No, you aren’t Sombra. I was just speaking to an old acquaintance, right Caspian?” Flurry added while noticing the look of fear on her ex’s face. The Umbrum raised a brow, “Caspian… What a strong name. I am Lord Sombra. A pleasure to meet you.” The Shadow Pony held a hoof up as stared Caspian down with his menacing crimson eyes. The white coated Unicorn was hesitant to reply, but offered his hoof as the two shared a formal hoof shake. “Baron Caspian Blueblood son of Duke Blueblood, at your service, Lord Sombra…” He stated with a gulp. Being a creature of fear, Sombra could see the young Unicorn’s dismay on full display. He relished the feeling as it only strengthened him more. But as much as he enjoyed seeing others cower in front of his presence, the Umbrum could see his Fiance’s glaring look as she was trying to indicate for him to stop. Reluctantly, Sombra stood down but continued to stare the other Stallion down. Flurry was about to speak up before the Umbrum unexpectedly planted a kiss on her cheek. This prompted a subtle blush from the Alicorn as she tried to make sense of the spontaneous action. “Well, I believe we should return to the party, don’t you agree, my dear Fiance?” There was silence for a moment as Flurry looked her soon to be husband in the eye, “Uh-Yes. I believe we should.” With that, the Alicorn turned and exited the balcony, leaving the two Stallions behind. Once his Fiance was out of earshot, Sombra returned his focus back to Caspian. A sadistic look formed on his face, “So… Caspian was it?” A ghostly echo followed the Dark Lord’s voice as he slowly neared the terrified Unicorn. “Yes s-sir?” Caspian blurted out as he retreated to the railing of the Balcony. “Have you ever heard of the stories of my kind?” Sombra asked while only inches away from the smaller Unicorn. Caspian kept his mouth shut as he quickly nodded. The Umbrum’s sadistic grin widened with his sharp canine teeth glistening like freshly polished swords. His vile purple magical aura ignited in his eyes as his body began to manifest into a shadowy ominous form. “Good. Then let me make myself clear. If you ever so much as set eyes on my Fiance again, I shall ensure that you spend every moment of your life seeing the thing you fear most flashing before your eyes. Whether you are asleep, or wide awake, you will be in a constant state of absolute terror from which there is no escape, nor release. Every horror you have ever imagined shall torment you until you inevitably beg for mercy.” Caspian’s already white coat now looked as pale as Luna’s moon. His fur was perked up and his body was backed up against the railing overlooking the Crystal Empire below. “Have I made myself clear?” Asked the large imposing figure. Without hesitation, the Unicorn nodded. After having been satisfied, Sombra resigned himself to his original form while still sporting a confident smirk. “Very good. Now get out of my sight before I change my mind.” Caspian needed no further encouragement and immediately ran out of the room. Once his prey was gone, Sombra turned to rejoin the still lively party. Luckily, his dramatic exchange had gone unnoticed by most if not all the guests at the party. Flurry had been waiting for him just outside the balcony and had clearly seen his entire charade. A scowl littered her face as she watched him approach. Once side by side, Flurry went on a light saunter to which he followed. “What a charming young Stallion. I assume you two have a history?” Sombra pried with a raised brow. “It is none of your business Sombra. He is just an acquaintance. Nothing more.” Flurry answered plainly. The Umbrum looked unconvinced, “I beg to differ Princess. There is clearly something you aren’t telling me.” “I told you it is none of your business.” Flurry muttered while hiding her face from her Fiance. Still skeptical of the Alicorn’s answer, Sombra made his way directly in front of her, stopping the Princess in her tracks. “You two had a relationship once, didn’t you? It is as obvious as the mare in the moon. My suspicion was correct.” Flurry merely looked up at the Umbrum unamused, “I never said anything of the sort. And I didn’t ask for your help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some business I need to attend to.” With that, the white coated Alicorn trotted off leaving Sombra to watch with a confused but devious look. He chuckled to himself before making his way out of the party. Once alone again, Flurry looked around the large room to check if her Aunts Celestia and Luna had arrived yet. Unfortunately, she could not yet see either of the former Equestrian Princesses. With a defeated sigh, the young Royal made her way to the drink counter. Although she’d already had a glass of Chardonnay, Flurry wanted more than anything to forget about her encounter with her ex. “A glass of Sauvignon please?” The Alicorn asked politely. The bartender mare nodded, “Right away Princess.” The Mare then filled a decent sized glass full of the crimson beverage and passed it to Flurry. The young royal thanked the tender and began to slowly sip the bitter drink using her magic to levitate the glass. As she took down the liquor, Flurry watched the many guests of the party conversing and mingling. Almost all of them were familiar, however, some had been invited by her parents, or by Luster. She felt envious about the simpler lives of many of these Ponies. Granted, she could never fully understand the troubles of others, however, she doubted they had ever been in a similar predicament as her before. After having finished her second glass of wine, Flurry glanced over to the bartender, “One more please.” The Unicorn Mare behind the counter looked skeptical, however, seeing who was asking, she decided not to protest and poured one last glass of the Cabernet. After taking the refilled glass, Flurry took another sip of the alcoholic drink while still watching the door of the room. As she indulged in the last glass of wine, the Alicorn began to feel a strange feeling below her eyes. Although she had a fairly high tolerance thanks to her Alicorn biology, Flurry knew that she was definitely beginning to feel buzzed. With a sigh, she set the glass down and shook her head. She was beginning to wonder whether the two former Alicorn Princesses were going to show or not. However, to her relief, Flurry suddenly noticed the heads of some of the guests turn as several figures entered the room. As she glanced over to the entryway, she was thrilled to see the two guests that she had been waiting for all this time. Without wasting a moment, the young Royal made her way to her long awaited guests. Celestia and Luna immediately noticed their niece approaching, “Princess Celestia! Princess Luna! Thanks for coming!” Flurry cheerfully greeted. The two elder Alicorns smiled with a nod before embracing the young heir in a heartfelt hug, “Thank you Flurry Heart. Sorry for our delay.” Stated Celestia with a comforting tone. Flurry shook her head, “It’s no problem Aunt Celestia, I’m just glad you two could make it here. I know that you were both traveling the unknown regions.” “Yes, but thanks to Discord’s ‘invitation’, we heard about your wedding just in time.” Luna replied. Flurry was about to continue the conversation before realizing just how many eyes were trained on them. Knowing that the question she wanted to ask may lead to an unsettling answer, she asked, “Might we catch up somewhere more private?” While both elder Alicorns looked at one another with concern, Luna was the one to answer, “I suppose so. Lead the way Flurry Heart.” And with that, Flurry Heart led the three out of the venue and into one of the empty halls of the Crystal Castle. “I must say Flurry Heart, I am impressed that you managed to follow through on your plan. I was not sure whether Sombra would agree to your terms. You must have been very brave to confront him.” Flurry nodded, “Yes, I was just as surprised as anypony else that Sombra agreed. As far as bravery goes, I just followed in your examples.” The former Princesses smiled at the compliment, “You are truly a great heir for the Crystal Empire Flurry Heart. Your parents must be very proud of you.” Stated the Mare of the Moon herself. Flurry almost blushed before composing herself, “Thank you auntie, but I’m afraid there’s another problem that has come up as of recently. If I’m being honest, it’s one of the reasons I went to such lengths to have you two come.” Celestia raised a brow, “Another problem?” The young Alicorn nodded, “It has to do with the returned Crystal Ponies. When I asked them about Sombra, they mentioned that he had nothing to do with their departure from the Empire. Instead they mentioned some fallen ruler that had convinced them to leave.” Celestia and Luna shared a look before returning to face their niece, “Fallen ruler?” Luna asked. “They mentioned a name as well. Omni. When I asked Aunt Twilight about it, she showed me a book in your private collection about the five monster factions. Unfortunately, many of the pages on this ‘Countess Omni’ were torn out or missing.” Flurry explained. There was a pause as both elder Alicorns contemplated the young Royal’s summary. After each nodding to one another, Celestia began, “From what I remember, Countess Omni was a member of Grogar’s court in the days before Equestria. She was a cruel leader of a monster tribe that occupied the land that is now the Crystal Empire. Luna and I never saw Countess Omni. We only heard the stories. I’m afraid, this was so long ago that even I cannot perfectly recall.” Hearing this only served to worry Flurry Heart more. That being said, however, her curiosity still remained, “That can’t be all to it Aunt Celestia. There has to be more!” The wise white coated Alicorn sympathized with her niece. She could tell that this meant a lot to the young Princess who wanted nothing more than to protect her Ponies from this potential threat. Breaking the silent pause, however, was the former Princess of the Night, “I do recall a couple things. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but a lot of my inspiration behind Nightmare Moon was based on the stories of Countess Omni. If I remember correctly, the Ponies of old formed an alliance with one another to face Countess Omni. However, they lacked the power to defeat their foe. It wasn’t until the late Princess Amore gathered the courage to face the monster and stand up for her Ponies. With the power of the Crystal Heart, along with her own magical powers and the unity of the Crystal Ponies, they managed to seal Countess Omni away for eternity.” The hallway fell quiet once more as all three Alicorns exchanged glances to one another. “Wait, so Princess Amore actually fought Countess Omni?” Flurry asked with her curiosity piqued again. Luna nodded, “Yes. However, sadly it is impossible to learn more about the tale from her. Not to mention I highly doubt anypony in Equestria would have been alive during that time, much less remember such a distant memory.” Flurry placed her hoof on her chin as she took in the information. Although vague, it actually helped to provide more context. “That would explain why Sombra claimed he did not know about her. He wasn’t alive during her rule and downfall. His own memoir confirmed that. But it still doesn’t explain why the Crystal Ponies sought her out, or why there are missing pages in the book…” Flurry remarked as she pondered the new development. Celestia placed a hoof on the younger Alicorn’s shoulder, “Do not worry Flurry Heart, the Crystal Empire and the Crystal Ponies will be quite fine.” Flurry looked puzzled by this, “But how? This new threat-” “Because they have a committed, noble, and powerful Princess to protect them.” The wise elder finished with a warming and trusting smile. Flurry appreciated the compliment, and without warning, she embraced both her her Aunts with her two wings. “Thank you both. I really appreciate you sharing what you know.” “You’re very welcome Flurry Heart. Never hesitate to seek our knowledge.” Answered the former Princess of the Night. “Before I forget, I believe I have something that might be of value for your wedding tomorrow.” Stated Celestia as the white coated Alicorn summoned her golden magic aura. Within a second, a small box appeared before the three. “This was left in my care by one of my first students, Radiant Hope.” Flurries eyes went wide with realization, “That isn’t what I think it is?” Celestia nodded and then used her magic to open the small box. Inside was a very finely crafted ring made of 18 karat white gold while housing a bright blue topaz gem inside. Upon closer inspection, Flurry noted a small inscription that read; ‘There Is Always Hope’. “She meant it as a gift to Sombra. Sadly, she never had the opportunity to present it. But you can.” Celestia spoke as she offered the box to her niece. Flurry was very humbled by this, “Thank you Aunt Celestia, but this isn’t mine to give. And besides-” “I have a feeling Hope would have wanted you to give it to him. She wanted nothing more than to make her friend happy, and if it meant having somepony else offer him this gift, I’m sure she would approve.” Celestia interrupted. Although unsure of whether or not to take the ring, Flurry knew that the elder Alicorn was speaking truthfully. Celestia never did anything without good reason, and this was certainly no different. After a deep breath, Flurry used her magic to take the box. “Thank you.” She stated simply. The keeper of the sun nodded with a knowing smile, “You are most welcome Flurry Heart. We wish you the best of luck for your big day tomorrow.” Some time had passed since the engagement party, and the air around the Crystal Castle had settled just as Luna’s moon was rising over the darkening sky. As the Royal family saw their guests out, Lord Sombra could be found roaming the hallway on the way to his quarters. While walking through the passage, Sombra thought back to the party, and to the big day yet to come. It wasn’t like him to dwell on such arbitrary things such as these, but lately it was one of the few things that occupied his mind. He also could not shake the memory of the interaction he’d had with his Fiance during said party. Sombra was rarely protective of anything less it be his pride or being. He could not quite understand what had prompted him to defend his soon to be wife with such ferocity. Perhaps it was just an excuse to feed off another soul’s fear. Or perhaps it was something else entirely. As he reached the entrance to his quarters, the Dark Lord twisted the knob and opened the large door. Once open, the Umbrum was puzzled to find the lights of his room completely dimmed. This was highly irregular for him, but he figured that it was likely as a result of the many Castle servants being preoccupied with the party. With a shrug, he entered the room and shut the door behind him. After taking a few steps, however, the Shadow Pony heard the sound of a sword unsheathing behind him. “Walk no further, monster.” Stated a voice. In a moment, the lights of his room all brightened slightly. All throughout his room Sombra could see soldiers of the Royal Guard wearing their service armor as well as baring their weapons. The Dark Unicorn counted nearly 30 guards in all. “This had better be some elaborate prank.” Sombra stated with an unamused expression as he turned his head back to the one who’d addressed him. “This is no prank, ‘my lord’.” Answered the Stallion in a crude mocking tone while taking his sword and pointing it at the neck of his target. “You’re an enemy of the Crystal Empire and our Ponies, so it is our duty to remove monsters like you. I suggested this to our Princess and the Captain, however, they refused and said we should abide by our ‘truce’. So we decided to take matters into our own hooves.” Stated the Stallion with courage. Sombra raised a brow while now sporting a devious smirk, “I see. And how do you suppose you will do that?” “We’re only going to give you this one warning. Leave the Crystal Empire and never return.” The Guard replied with a determined scowl. The Umbrum raised a brow, “And if I don’t?” “Then we’ll be forced to make you. We aren’t afraid of you, and we’re prepared to do whatever is necessary to defend our Ponies.” The Stallion stated while he signaled to his other brethren who advanced closer to their target. Sombra quickly glanced around the room to see the other guards approaching him, “Well, that is quite endearing. You will fall braver than most.” The Umbrum said with a now present echo as his previously casual expression became impatient. “Last chance monster, leave peacefully or we will be forced to do things the hard way.” The Guard spouted. The guards stood firm with their weapons drawn and held towards the target. But nothing could prepare them for what was to come next. In an instant, the Dark Lord’s form began to radiate a vicious black cloudy aura. His eyes illuminated the room with a ghostly green and purple ambiance. The guards began to feel a wave of chilling air around them. “I have always preferred doing things the difficult way. Now, shall we begin?” Sombra stated with a tone so horrifying that many of the guards backed away. The quill moved in quick succession from one letter to the next. Occasionally it was lifted ind briefly dipped into the ink before being set back to work by it’s user. Flurry Heart was currently finishing up her latest diary entry before getting some much needed sleep for the next day. It was rather unconventional for her to write her entries in the evening, however, considering the number of important events recently, and not to mention the importance of the next day, she figured now was the best time to do such an activity. As she finished the final word a paragraph, the young Royal heard a series of knocks on her door followed by a strange chilling wave of air. “This late at night?” She thought to herself while setting the quill down into its resting place and ruffling her feathers. Not even six seconds after the first, another series of knocks ensued. Whatever or whomever was at her door, they wanted her urgently. After reluctantly leaving her table, the Alicorn made her way to the door, “Coming!” As she opened the door, Flurry’s eyes went wide and her jaw dropped before the sight. There, standing directly in front of her was her soon to be husband Lord Sombra. The Umbrum stared directly at his fiance intently with a horrid dark magic aura emanating from his eyes. His pure black mane and tail radiated like a raging fire, and steam exuded from his nostrils as he breathed loudly. His normally well kept cloak and attire looked to have been cut and scratched in many areas. Beside him he levitated a sword and a helmet that the Alicorn recognized all too well. “Good evening Princess Flurry Heart.” The Umbrum spoke with a menacing tone. Flurry began to shiver at the revelation, “S-Sombra… What have you done!?” She exclaimed. The Umbrum’s attention did not waver. He took the sword using his magic and jabbed the blade directly into the floor before Flurry’s door. He then set the helmet down on top the sword’s pommel. “That’s Flash’s helmet! What happened to him!?” Flurry asked frantically. “So you do know him. Well, did you know that he brought a number of other soldiers from your guard to attempt a coup?” Sombra asked with a commanding voice. Flurry was silent for a moment as she put the pieces together. “What!? No! I would never order them to do something like that!” She answered without falter. “Surprising how little control you have over your own subordinates. Your loyal soldiers are alive, but should such a coup ever happen again, this may not be the case. Luckily, rebellions such as these will be a thing of the past when I am KING.” Sombra stated as his tone became more tame. The shocked Alicorn did nothing but stare in horror as she feared the worst. “Now, I suggest you get your rest, my dear fiance. We have our big day tomorrow, and I would hate for something to spoil it.” The Dark Lord said before quickly and abruptly leaving. As she stared at the sword and helmet in the floor Flurry brushed her shaky hooves through her mane, “What have I done…”
Chapter 11: Of Hope and Of FearChapter 11 Of Hope and Of Fear “No...” Flurry muttered to herself as she looked at the ominous figure before her. She knew without a doubt that this was the one that the Crystal Ponies had mentioned during her conversations with them. ~“It seems my reputation has been lost to time. But I suppose that could not be helped with the fragile little minds of your kind.”~ Stated the Umbrum condescendingly as she made her way up the stairs of the altar. “I know who you are.” Stated Flurry Heart with conviction as she stood firm. “You’re the one that manipulated our Crystal Ponies and led them to the cold north. You tore the pages out of the Book of Grogar’s Order. You’re a Monster.” The Shadow Pony raised a brow as if seeming impressed, ~“It appears somepony discovered the truth. Albeit far too late to make a difference. My plan has already been enacted thanks to my dear disciple. Isn’t that right, Sombra?”~ Flurry glared at the female Umbrum with disdain while pondering the new revelation. She then glanced at her husband with disappointment, “You lied to me Sombra. You told me you’d never heard of Omni.” The Dark Unicorn looked ashamed as he shook his head, “I did not know she was Omni. I only knew her as Madam Umbara.” Once again, Sombra looked and seemed innocent, but after the new events, Flurry was unlikely to trust his word. ~“You should not blame Sombra, for he was only following his Mother’s orders.”~ “Mother!? But that means-” ~“Yes. Sombra is my son. And now that you both are bound, by extension I am your stepmother.”~ The Dark Pony interrupted with a snide grin which rivaled that of her son. This only served to rile Flurry more. But before she could take another step forward, several hooves held her in place. “You are no family to us, Countess Omni, nor are you welcomed here!” Stated Cadence as she stood strong. The Umbrum did not take this lightly, as her eye twitch indicated. She lit up her crimson curved horn with corrupting dark magic as she spoke, ~“On the contrary, I am right where I belong. This is my domain, and I will not share it with the likes of weak, pathetic Ponies!”~ The Female Umbrum then shot a destructive blast of dark magic directly at the family of Royals only for each of them to dodge and avoid it. However, Flurry realized too late that they had not been the targets of this beam. After making contact with the Crystal Heart behind them, the sacred object shattered into thousands of shards that now littered the altar. The Umbrum grinned maliciously as she looked up at the sky which rapidly shifted from a beautiful summer day to a bleak overcast. She then looked back down to the Ponies before her who were still trying to process what was happening. A sadistic smile crept across her face as she laughed loudly. Without wasting another moment, the Elements of Harmony each nodded to one another and prepared to use their magic of friendship on the new foe. However, before they could act, the Umbrum vanished into a cloud and manifested herself back on the balcony from which she’d originated. As Countess Omni stared down at the crowd of frightened Ponies, she glanced back up to the sky which grew more depressing with each second. ~RISE MY KIN! RISE AND FEED OFF THE FEARS OF THOSE LESSER! RISE AND RETAKE OUR LAND!”~ She shouted with a tone so strong it echoed through the sky. Within moments, a group of other shadow-like clouds emanated from the Crystal Castle and landed in the street of the Empire. Ponies from the crowd began to panic as what seemed like an army of Shadow Ponies appeared before their eyes. Each creature was slightly different in appearance, but most shared a similar color of mane and coat along with a pair of vampiric fangs. Unlike Countess Omni or Sombra, however, their manes did not wave like a curtain, and were rather disheveled and unkempt. As the crowd began to scatter, the Shadow Ponies pursued them and began to cast evil enchantments to feed off their fears. Shining Armor and Cadence quickly ran into the crowd and called upon the Equestrian Guard to combat the threat. The Elements of Harmony along with Discord and the two former Princesses joined in as well to help in the fight, but as the numbers of Shadow Ponies grew, the odds became even more lopsided. Flurry, however, remained glued in position as her brain raced with negative thoughts. Things had gone from bad to worse so quickly that she could not even think properly. She stared down at the crumpled shards of the former Crystal Heart with fear as she deduced what would happen shortly as a result. The cold tundra of the north would overtake the Crystal Empire for good. The young Alicorn placed a hoof on her terror ridden face as she stated, “How could you do this Sombra?” The Umbrum looked away in shame and finally replied, “I had no choice.” “There’s always a choice! I chose to give you a chance! I stuck by you and believed in you!” She retorted with anger now riddling her tone. “You would never understand. It is not so simple-” ~“Don’t sell yourself short Sombra, you did splendid.”~ Interrupted the voice of Sombra’s mother from behind. Flurry looked forward and hissed, “Stop this madness Omni! Tell your followers they are not welcome in the Crystal Empire!” The Umbrum looked unfazed by this threat, ~“And what will you do to stop me? Without the power of the Crystal Heart, you are nothing.”~ Flurry then ignited the Alicorn magic in her horn as she prepared to face the arrogant monster. But before she could, Sombra stepped in front. The young royal growled, “Get out of my way Sombra.” The Umbrum shook his head and looked to his side, “She is right Madam Umbara, call off our kin.” Flurry’s face lit up with shock once more after hearing these words. Countess Omni, however, was less than thrilled with this defiance from her son. ~“Your compassion for these Ponies is making you weak Sombra. This is my final warning to you. Join me, or suffer the same fate as these pitiful Ponies.”~ Sombra glanced back to his now wife with what looked to be regret. He shook his head once more before turning around to face his Mother. “No. I am done with your orders. You will not control me anymore.” Countess Omni’s eyes began to emit a dark magical aura as she scowled, ~“So be it.”~ Without warning, the Countess fired off a destructive blast of dark magic directly at her son. Sombra was familiar with this type of energy and managed to absorb the blast effortlessly with his horn. “Go, protect our Ponies. I will deal with Madam Umbara.” Flurry looked at Sombra in stupor as she came to grips with what he was doing. Before she could think any further, he shouted once more, “Go!” Needing no further encouragement, the Alicorn spread her wings and flew off as quick as she could. Her wedding dress made flying difficult, however, Flurry did not care. Her only priority was to keep her Ponies safe and ward off the Shadow creatures that were terrorizing the Empire. As she looked overhead, she could see the royal guards fighting with many Umbrums in a great struggle. But although many Ponies held their own, a great number of Shadow Ponies were feeding off the fears of the weak. Flurry could not allow this, and after descending into the courtyard, she used her strong Alicorn magic to blast away many of the Shadow Ponies. While fighting the masses of enemies, Flurry noticed the sky overhead continue to darken as the air grew colder. With the tundra quickly encroaching, the Shadow Ponies would soon be the least of their concerns. As she looked around, she noticed Celestia and Luna attempting to free many of the Crystal Ponies from the enchantments of the Umbrums. “Aunt Celestia! Aunt Luna!” She called out while flying their way. After meeting up with her mentors, Flurry helped the two sisters to stave off some more shadow creatures. “Flurry Heart! There are too many of them! We must get the citizens to safety!” Stated the former Princess of the Sun as she multi-tasked. “There won’t be anywhere safe unless we can keep cold tundra away! I need you two to keep the clouds from engulfing the Empire! My parents and the Elements can help to get the Crystal Ponies to shelter!” Flurry stated confidently. The sisters exchanged a brief glance before nodding, “We’ll do our best, Queen Flurry Heart.” With that, the Alicorn twins rushed off to repel the encroaching clouds. Flurry then turned her attention to a large commotion in the main square of the Empire. She could see an intense battle ensuing between the Equestrian Royal guard and a large number of Umbrum. Not hesitating in the slightest, the young Alicorn rushed off to aid in the fight. While Queen Flurry Heart protected her subjects, however, King Sombra remained in a fierce dual with his Mother. Using his strong dark magics, Sombra raised a series of jagged black crystals out of the ground in an attempt to trap Madam Umbara. However, after having been trapped in her son’s psyche for over a thousand years, Countess Omni was easily able to anticipate all of Sombra’s typical offensive techniques. After avoiding each crystal-like stalagmite, the Umbrum Witch used her horn to shoot beams of destructive energy that seemed reminiscent of the power of Grogar’s bell. Sombra avoided each beam by using his shadow form to evade the destructive energy. After successfully dodging each attack, Sombra manifested himself hack in his physical form and raised himself up using a large black crystal as a platform. As he rose from the ground he fired off a salvo of dark magical spells, however, these didn’t so much as faze Madam Umbara who simply absorbed the attacks without a flinch. ~“Do you truly believe you can defeat me, my son? Even at your peak, your powers pale in comparison to mine.”~ Countess Omni taunted with a Patronizing grin as she stared up at her son. Sombra looked unamused as he halted his ascent, “You talk to much.” The Countess merely scoffed before calling upon a mass of dark energy which she used to blast the platform Sombra was standing on. Sombra teleported to the ground and summoned a strong black sword which he held with his magic. As he dashed forward, Madam Umbara sent off multiple stray blasts of energy. Sombra used his sword to expertly cut through each blast before attempting to slash his target. The sword, however, passed directly through Countess Omni without dealing any damage. After having failed in his attempt, the Countess sent a pulse of ominous energy around her entire being which engulfed Sombra and trapped him in a web-like crystal structure. The Umbrum King growled in frustration before shifting into his shadow form to escape. Once outside of the trap, Sombra attempted to use his most powerful attack and transformed himself into a massive shadow-like form. He then attempted to engulf Countess Omni entirely and subject her to her fears. This move, however, proved fruitless as the Umbrum Witch laughed wickedly, ~“You dare use my own spells against me? You are a disappointment!”~ Not a moment after, Sombra was blasted back into his physical form and held in place by the Countess’ dark energy. Sombra looked ready to retaliate before he felt a sharp stinging pain surging throughout his entire being. Bolts of poisonous purple and green energy pierced his body and began to create cracks in his form. Sombra yelled in a raspy tone with agony as the pain reminded him of his first exposures to the power of the Crystal Heart when he was a colt. As her son suffered from the devastating spell, Madam Umbara looked on with satisfaction, ~“You are unworthy of my powers, Sombra. You are unworthy of our kin’s legacy. You are unworthy of being a King!”~ She shouted before amplifying her already destructive spell. While Flurry attempted to get many of the Crystal Ponies and other guests of the wedding to safety, she saw the ensuing battle between Sombra and Omni in the corner of her eye. She had been stunned to see Sombra standing up to his own Mother, and even more stunned to see Sombra stand up for the Crystal Ponies. However, the young Alicorn could tell that Sombra was clearly outmatched by the Umbrum Witch. It was then that she heard the sound echo throughout the empire. Sombra’s shouts of agony as his physical form was being shattered like the shell of a turtle. After fighting off yet another Umbrum warrior, Flurry looked to the origin of the shouts only to see a barbaric spell tearing her Husband’s being apart with each passing second. As if acting on instinct, Flurry Heart flew as fast as she could over to the battle. ~“I told you nopony would stand in my way, Sombra. You were foolish to think you could stop me. Now I have no other choice than to destroy you for your disobedience. And as for your naive wife, I have saved a very special spell for her.”~ Madam Umbara explained as she walked around her son’s rapidly deteriorating body. Upon hearing these words, Sombra used what little strength he could muster to open his eyes. Recent memories flashed before him as he remembered the time he’d spent in the Empire. As the pain began to drown out, Sombra remembered the words Flurry Heart had spoken recently, ‘There’s always a choice! I chose to give you a chance! I stuck by you and believed in you!’ She believed in him, and he’d betrayed her. Sombra had never intended for things to go this way. He’d only wanted to fulfill his purpose and free his kin from their imprisonment, however, he could now see that it had never been his purpose all along. It was his cruel Mother’s wish. As he closed his eyes, Sombra felt a sensation that he hadn’t since he was but a colt; a teardrop. His efforts to revitalize his kin had only doomed the one that he now knew he cared about just like they had over a millennia ago. On that thought, the Umbrum King accepted his fate knowing he had failed for the last time. … A bright light shone throughout the grounds as a tremendously powerful blast of energy hit Countess Omni. The unsuspecting Umbrum Witch was sent directly into a hard wall of the Crystal Castle and slightly cracked the stone upon impact. Umbara’s connection with her destructive spell had been severed as Sombra fell to the ground in a very weakened state. The Shadow Pony huffed in anger as she glanced up to the young Alicorn who had cast the powerful spell. Flurry Heart had landed and stood defensively in front of her diminished husband with a determined expression. “Stay away from him.” The young royal stated with conviction. After regaining her footing, Countess Omni slowly approached the two with a menacing dark magical aura exuding from her entire being, ~“You would defend Sombra after everything he has done to you? To your Ponies? To the Crystal Empire? Such misplaced faith.”~ Madam Umbara stated with a conniving grin. Flurry Heart sneered before finally putting all the pieces together. Countess Omni was likely the root cause for all of Sombra’s tyrannical actions. “My faith is not misplaced. I just know who my true enemy is.” She strongly replied as she prepared to use the magic in her Alicorn horn once more. Countess Omni’s grin remained, ~“I admire your confidence, Alicorn. But as I told you earlier, without the powers of the Crystal Heart you are outmatched.”~ Without warning, the Umbrum Witch raised her two front hooves and slammed them into the ground with incredible force causing a seismic crack within the earth below. The crack rapidly approached Flurry Heart before she took flight and narrowly avoided a group of razor sharp black crystal spikes that erupted from the cracks. The Alicorn then retaliated by shooting a barrage of magical beams towards the Countess. Madam Umbara teleported in quick succession to dodge each beam, but some managed to graze her dark hide. After Waiting for an opening, the Umbrum absorbed the final beam and shifted into her shadow form before trying to engulf the Alicorn in darkness. Flurry Heart quickly cast a strong protection spell around herself and expanded the magical shield outwards to repel Countess Omni’s dark presence. The Umbrum’s dark aura struck Flurry Heart’s shield like a large wave on a boat or a powerful gust of wind on a brittle house. Though the Princess’ protection spell was strong thanks to her father’s teachings, it would not protect her forever. After a few more seconds of bombardment, Flurry teleported out of danger and attempted to trap Countess Omni in a containment spell. An orb of magic energy surrounded the Umbrum Witch who had returned to her physical form. Umbara seemed impressed with this showing from the Alicorn who she’d clearly underestimated thus far. Nonetheless, the Umbrum was not finished yet. After summoning a mass of evil dark energy, the Shadow Pony Queen charged to the barrier of the spell and cracked the enchantment open using the tip of her curved horn. Flurry Heart now looked worried as she had used many of her strongest abilities to little success. Umbara, on the other hoof, looked as though she was only beginning to showcase her powers. After staring at one another for a few moments, Countess Omni transformed into a large black cloud with only the image of her nightmarish green, purple, and crimson eyes at the center. In just a second, she split the cloud into a dozen identical copies of her physical form. Flurry had seen spells of illusion before thanks to Discord, but this time she truly had to keep her guard up as any of these images could be the real Omni. As she stood her ground, Flurry used her magic to summon her Equestrian sword. After closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she shot forward using her strong wings to propel her through the air like an arrow shot from a crossbow. The Alicorn cut down Countess Omni’s illusions one after the other with expert precision making each image disappear after a hit. After defeating 5 of the figures, the Umbrum launched an attack with each illusion taking a different position while firing off beams of destructive energy the Alicorn’s way. As the battle above raged on, Sombra managed to regain consciousness after his near fatal experience. The Umbrum King glanced up to see his wife locked in combat with his cruel mother. He was impressed to see Flurry Heart holding her own, but after hearing his Mother’s final words to him, he worried Madam Umbara was hiding a devious scheme. Sombra attempted to regain his footing, but try as he may he could not muster the strength needed. Flurry Heart had defeated nearly all of Countess Omni’s illusions, but remained focused as she knew the real one had yet to reveal itself. She blocked an attack from the 10th figure and quickly retaliated with a vertical swipe which made the image vanish. There were only several more figures, however, while she’d been focused defending herself, she hadn’t noticed one of the figures was missing. The Alicorn then dodged a spell from the last figure before stabbing her sword into the image making it disappear like the others. She then scanned for the last target before sensing an object quickly approaching. By instinct, the Alicorn flew upwards and avoided a massive black crystal spike that grazed her wedding dress. After looking down she could see the final figure of Madam Umbara staring at her with an unamused expression. Flurry caught her breath and immediately launched a powerful horizontal strike on her opponent. Countess Omni was prepared for this attack, however, and raised another black spike to block the blow. Only once Flurry’s sword made contact, the crystal changed form and engulfed the weapon in its mass. Flurry attempted to pull the sword out before the Umbrum Witch shot a destructive beam her way. The Alicorn abandoned her weapon and teleported to safety. The young Royal’s heart was beating very quickly. She’d been in life threatening battles before, but never any this intense, nor without help. Flurry had not yet reached her limit, but she knew it was not far. Regardless, she could not give up. The lives of her Ponies, her Family, and of Equestria depended on her. While catching her breath once more, the Alicorn could see steam exuding from her breath which indicated the temperature of the empire had drastically fallen. Flurry briefly looked up to see the two Alicorn sisters still attempting to keep the encroaching clouds at bay but to little success as the tundra’s escalation was too quick to be contained. Countess Omni noticed her opponent’s unease and smiled proudly, ~“You may as well take it in. For this may be the last time you see the Crystal Empire and the rest of your pitiful Ponies.”~ Flurry eyed the Umbrum with revulsion, “As long as I’m alive you will not take over the Crystal Empire or my Ponies.” Umbara’s smile remained, ~“We shall see.”~ The Umbrum Witch then ignited her dark magical aura but with intensity Flurry Heart had not yet seen. Madam Umbara roared like a Manticore as she transformed into a colossal shadow figure that towered above all others. Most of her defining physical traits had been lost and all that remained was her devilish eyes and her sharp red curved horn. The figure then began to expand a cloud of darkness that surrounded Flurry Heart. The Alicorn ignited her own magic and stood her ground while firing strong blasts of energy to repel the darkness. This was a losing battle, however as the cloud regenerated with every blow and only continued to grow with each second. Flurry did not know how to stop the Countess as all her offensive techniques had all but failed until now. While defending herself against the shadow, the young royal glanced around to see her friends and family also struggling against the superior numbers of the Umbrum army. Shadow Ponies managed to overpower many of the Crystal Guards and cast enchantments on them to feed off the Ponies fears. She could hear the shouts and screams of agony and terror from her subjects as they slowly succumbed to the overwhelming might of the Monsters. Teardrops seeped down from the former Princess’ cheeks as she watched the tragedy unfold before her all the while being powerless to stop it. As Madam Umbara’s cloud of Shadow grew larger Flurry could no longer repel the force, in a last attempt she cast a powerful protection spell around herself. Her field of view grew darker and darker until only a black void remained. The sounds of her friends and family faded, but one thing that remained was the chilling cold. The Alicorn opened her eyes and looked around. Nothing. Flurry could not see a single definable detail. The young royal took a step forward but did not even feel her hoof make contact with solid ground. It was almost as though she were levitating like the Lord of Chaos himself. ‘Where am I?’ She thought while scanning around. The young royal was then exposed to a sickly laugh that echoed through the void with an ominous tone. Her eyes darted from direction to direction trying to pinpoint the exact origin, but she could not see anything. Not a moment later, however, the laughing stopped. ~“How strange.”~ Stated the voice virtually right next to her. Flurry’s fur perked up as she quickly turned around to see the image of the Umbrum Witch’s two glowing purple and green eyes. As she backed up, the eyes followed her steadily. ~“Normally I would have begun to feed on your fears. However, it seems they have been hidden from your psyche.”~ The Alicorn did not understand what this meant. She was about to respond before the voice continued, ~“But no matter. This curse shall keep you contained long enough.”~ Flurry watched as the pair of eyes began to vanish. She then ran after the image before summoning her magic and shooting a powerful beam of energy its way. “Why are you doing this!?” She asked with a commanding tone. The pair of eyes then returned for a moment before transforming into the full image of the Umbrum Witch, ~“I believe that question answers itself. I am a Monster. And being a Monster gives me life.”~ Flurry sneered as she attempted to blast the Countess with another bolt of energy. However, the attack did no damage and simply passed directly through Madam Umbara as if she were an apparition. The Umbrum looked to the spot where the energy had passed through her and looked back to the Alicorn with a devilish grin, ~“I have also spent a millennia trapped in a half form due to your nasty Pony magic.”~ Umbara then retaliated with a blast of energy of her own. The bolt connected with Flurry Heart and sent her falling to the floor with a shout of pain as the dark magic stung like venom. The Umbrum’s wicked smile remained as she followed up with another concussive magic attack that harmed the Alicorn. Flurry Heart could not defend herself against Countess Omni’s overwhelming power, nor could she call for help in such a place. Before the Umbrum Witch could cast another dark spell, however, her blast was intercepted by another. Omni glanced to her side and was surprised to see Sombra. Her son looked fatigued as he panted to catch his breath. The Countess rolled her eyes, ~“You never learn, do you?”~ Sombra shook his head while still breathing heavily, “You of all should know that I’m all kinds of stubborn.” Omni sighed with a solemn expression. Without warning, she then shot a beam of energy which clashed with one of Sombra’s own. The exchange released many sparks that lit up the void around them. Flurry looked up at the battle while still on the ground, having been weakened by the Countess’ attacks. ‘I am sorry Flurry Heart. This is all my doing.’ A voice spoke within the Alicorn’s head. Flurry looked around sporadically trying to find out where the vocals had come from. ‘It is me. Sombra. I can communicate with you telepathically in this realm. But I do not have long.’ The voice stated. Flurry looked over to see Sombra still in an intense battle with his evil mother. ‘How do we stop her Sombra? Without the Crystal Heart-’ ‘You do not need the Crystal Heart. You just need to believe.’ Sombra interrupted as he exchanged a brief determined glance her way before resuming his focus on his opponent. ‘Believe? Believe in what?’ She asked with a worried look. There was a pause as Sombra once again looked her way, ‘Believe in yourself, Flurry Heart. From the first day you confronted me, I saw in you what you are truly capable of. You reminded me of-’ Sombra’s time, however, had run out as his Mother’s beam overpowered his own and struck him with great force. Flurry Heart watched as her husband fell to the floor and looked back to the Umbrum Witch, “Stop it!” Flurry shouted in desperation. Madam Umbara looked Flurry’s way with a sadistic look, ~“Oh I think not, Alicorn. Your magic may be powerful, but it lacks purpose. And therefor you cannot defeat me.”~ Flurry Heart watched as Countess Omni ignited the magic in her curved crimson horn and placed her hoof on Sombra’s face, holding him in place as she prepared to end him once and for all. ~“You are not a Princess of Love, nor are you a Princess of Friendship. So tell me, Alicorn. What are you a Princess of?”~ Flurry Heart finally managed to find her footing before glancing down at Sombra. With his eyes closed, he seemed as though he had submitted fully, but as she looked up to his horn, she noticed same ring she had gifted him many moments ago. A word then flashed through her mind as she contemplated Countess Omni’s question. “Hope.” She stated as she looked directly at her opponent. The Countess raised a brow, “What?” “I am the Princess of Hope.” The Alicorn stated as she continued to stare at the confused Umbrum. Flurry Heart then took a step forward showing no fear to her opponent who until now had yet to be challenged by her. Madam Umbara scowled and turned her focus on the Alicorn approaching her, ~“What is hope, but a vague promise and a lie!”~ Flurry Heart shook her head and closed her eyes briefly, “You’re wrong, Omni.” The Alicorn opened her eyes once more and looked back at her opponent, only she could now also see the world around her again as opposed to the infinite void. The Crystal Empire had now been coated in a layer of cold snow and ice as the clouds had nearly entirely engulfed the sky above. The shadow creatures had overwhelmed many of the Crystal Ponies. As Flurry Heart glanced down, she noticed that she was standing before the broken shards of the Crystal Heart. “Hope is what brings us Ponies together.” She answered simply as she levitated up the fragments of the shattered object. It was then that the fragments began to glow an iridescent white as they magically circled around the princess as though they had a mind of their own. Madam Umbara watched in bewilderment as the shards rotated around the Alicorn resembling a whirlwind. After gaining a substantial amount of speed, the fragments then amassed directly above Flurry Heart’s horn. The Alicorn then summoned her own magic which then merged with the shards and transformed them into a liquid energy-like substance that then coated Flurry heart’s entire body. As Countess Omni watched on, she let her hoof off Sombra’s face, allowing him to also glance over at his wife’s transformation. Flurry Heart’s cutie mark began to shine through the energy coating and physically changed as well. While it had previously only depicted the Crystal Heart itself, it had now evolved to have a golden Caduceus merged with the Heart. Sombra’s eyes lit up as he immediately recognized this familiar mark. ‘I knew it.’ The Umbrum thought to himself as he witnessed Flurry Heart’s change enfold. The energy surrounding the Alicorn began to warm and even melt the snow around her as Flurry Heart continued to change. Countess Omni snarled and shot a devastating beam of her magic towards the Alicorn who was paying her no mind. Instead of destroying Flurry Heart, however, the blast was completely absorbed as though the energy coating her was an impenetrable barrier. The Umbrum Witch’s stared in shock as she hadn’t expected this. ~“No. That’s impossible!”~ At this point, many of the other Shadow Creatures who had been focused on the Crystal Ponies now turned their attention to the Alicorn. Their normally cunning and cold leader now looked perturbed as she witnessed the spectacle before her. The energy layer around Flurry Heart had now merged completely with the Alicorn’s body and had fully revealed her new form. The Princess’ stature had grown a few inches as had the length of her already large wings. Her mane and tail now naturally waved in the wind like an unfastened sail resembling a beautiful sky blue and magenta waterfall. The previously terrified Ponies also witnessed the spectacle as every shadow creature had released their holds on them. “I don’t believe it.” Stated Luster Dawn as she gazed on in amazement of her friend’s incredible change. Flurry Heart opened her eyes and looked at the perplexed Umbrum Witch with determination. Her new form radiated a virtuous aura that began to rapidly melt the snow around her. “It’s over Countess Omni. Leave the Crystal Empire and take your shadow creatures with you.” Flurry Heart ordered as she took several steps forward. The Umbrum however, had no intention on obeying this command. ~“You may be different, Alicorn. But it still changes nothing. My power is absolute. FEAR IS ABSOLUTE!”~ She yelled as she ignited the vile aura in her eyes. Flurry simply stared at Umbara, “My name is Flurry Heart. And your power means nothing to me.” The Alicorn then conjured a powerful spell which sent a pulse throughout the entire Crystal Empire. The snow and ice that coated the streets, roofs, and gardens instantly melted just as the dreary clouds in the sky vanished. The Crystal Ponies watched in amazement as the Empire was terraformed in the blink of an eye by their Princess’ power. Madam Umbara shook her head in disbelief, ~“How. How is this possible!? The Crystal Heart is gone!”~ At this point Flurry Heart looked behind her to see her subjects with a proud expression, “No. The Crystal heart lives on all of us. It was only ever a conduit. A conduit of hope.” The Umbrum growled again and took a step forward. Her Shadow Pony subordinates did the same and surrounded Flurry Heart with looks of malice. ~“I don’t care what magic that cursed object has given you. You are no match for all of us. TAKE HER!”~ Ordered the cruel leader. Without hesitation, all the shadow ponies converged on Flurry Heart while conjuring dark magic spells to overwhelm her. However, before they could hit their mark Flurry cast a protection spell around her whole body. Every attack deflected off the shield while dealing no damage. After a few seconds, the Alicorn expanded the shield which began pushing many of the shadow creatures back as they could not repel its power. Once she’d overpowered the shadow creatures, the Princess stomped her front hooves which created a ripple of golden energy that quickly made its way to her Crystal Ponies and her friends. The spell coated everypony in a thin golden layer of energy that shone like a bright candle. “Ponies of the Crystal Empire! We can defeat these monsters if we work together! Join me!” Flurry Heart commanded with a strong tone as she spread her wings and held her head high. After seeing the looks of confidence and eagerness from her subjects, Flurry turned straight towards the horde of shadow creatures and charged forward with her wings. The Ponies of the empire followed her into battle with newfound bravery and clashed with the legion of Shadow Ponies head on. With their new protective barriers, they were immune to the dark magic attacks of the Umbrums rendering the monsters’ main advantage nearly useless. The Ponies of the Empire used their physical abilities to great success with the Earth Ponies using their superior strength, Pegasi using their agility and flight, and Unicorns using their magical spells that had been amplified by their Princess’ powers. With every shadow creature defeated, Flurry cast a new spell to seal them away beneath the ground just as they had been for a millennia. The numbers of monsters began to dwindle with every second as more and more were sealed away by the Princess of Hope. Madam Umbara watched as her warriors were defeated one after the other by the Alicorn. ~“I always have to do everything myself.”~ She muttered with malcontent. As Flurry Heart dispatched opponent after opponent, she sensed a strong magic blast heading her way. After narrowly avoiding the shot, she glanced down only to see nopony. However, in the blink of an eye, a massive black crystal stalagmite erupted from the ground below and nearly impaled her. Flurry Heart looked to the top of the spiked object and noticed the pointed edge turn into the form of Countess Omni. The Umbrum Witch did not waste a second before attacking the Princess with a series of deadly spells. With her newfound powers, Flurry Heart countered the spells with ones of her own which nullified the dark magic. After stopping many of her opponent’s attacks, Flurry managed to go on the offensive and clashed horns with Countess Omni. The Alicorn Princess used her wings to push the Umbrum forward while both their horns discharged sparks like the embers of a raging fire. Although Umbara was losing ground, she was far from finished and had many devious tricks she’d yet to reveal. While pushing against the Alicorn’s force, a wicked smile crept along her face as she prepared to use the same spell that had contained Flurry Heart before. Just as she got ready to use her spell, however, a separate bolt of magic struck her from behind and broke her concentration, allowing Flurry Heart to overpower her. After being thrown to the ground, Omni looked behind to see her son standing tall with the magic of his red horn at the ready. ~“Impudent child! How dare you!”~ She yelled as she glared at him with pure hatred. “Your time has come, Madam Umbara. Submit, or be destroyed.” Sombra stated seriously. Omni continued to stare at her son, ~“Your threats are empty as always Sombra. You cannot destroy me.”~ “You’re right. I can’t. But she can.” He then locked eyes with his wife as the two shared a nod. Knowing her son was not bluffing, Madam Umbara quickly manifested a tremendous amount of energy in her red horn before unleashing the limit of her power. Uncontrollable sparks of purple and green electric-like energy flickered throughout her body and shot out to her shadow pony warriors before pulling them into her essence as though she were a magnet. Umbara’s form absorbed the power of every standing shadow Pony before growing to a massive size and towering over her enemies. Her body’s hide looked like the black crystal spikes from her spells while her mane resembled the smoke from a deadly fire. What little sanity she had was lost as her form reached its completion. Flurry Heart looked to Sombra and the two nodded before the Alicorn addressed her subjects, “This is our moment everypony! We must stop Countess Omni now!” Every Pony in the Empire bravely joined their Princess and stood firm as their enemy began to approach slowly. Flurry looked to her sides with pride as she saw how unified her Ponies were. Now was not the time to be distracted however, as she heard a menacing roar from the evil entity. After closing her eyes, the Alicorn Princess amassed a sphere of golden magical energy that swirled like a tornado. The Ponies instinctively closed their eyes as well before a series of virtuous energy seeped out from their essence and found its way to Flurry Heart’s sphere. The round mass of energy continued to grow as everypony contributed until it was nearly the same size as the Umbrum’s form. Still in a raged state, Countess Omni blindly charged at the Ponies without any caution. The sphere had now been imbued with the essence from every Pony in the Empire and Flurry could feel its incredible power. It was the power of hope. Of harmony. And of love. Flurry Heart used every ounce of strength she had to push the sphere forward toward her foe. Within moments, the sphere and its target collided, creating an unbelievable explosion of multicolred light that nearly blinded everypony. The Alicorn could hear a shout of agony from her opponent as Madam Umbara’s form began shatter to pieces and instantly disintegrate upon contact with the incredible power. It took no more than a few seconds for the sphere to finally eliminate its target for good. At long last, the Empire was rid of Countess Omni and the Shadow Creatures. With its foe now vanquished for good, the sphere dissolved into the air like evaporation after a long rain. Flurry Heart looked up at the bright sky as the last remnants of energy passed away. With a sigh of relief, she descended to the ground below and landed gracefully. Silence filled the area as everypony stared at the Princess with anticipation. After turning to see the speechless crowd, the Alicorn Princess managed a smile “It’s over.” She stated simply. In an instant, the crowd erupted with cheers and shouts of delight. The noise was even louder than Flurry Heart’s wedding not long prior. But regardless, she did not care. The Alicorn made no attempt to stop the tears swelling up in her eyes after feeling the solace knowing their struggle had ended. Before she could move a muscle, she heard her name called several times as her two parents came running to her side. “Flurry! Sweetheart! You did it!” Cadence and Shining shouted over the crowd in unison as they impulsively embraced their daughter. The Alicorn Princess returned the heartfelt hug, wrapping her large wings around the two. “We’re so proud of you Flurry. You were so brave and so strong.” Cadence complimented with pride. The sentimental moment lasted fairly long as everypony knew just how much of an ordeal they had overcome. Cadence and Shining eventually released Flurry but could not take their eyes away from her amazing new form. “Your mane...” Shining stated with amazement as he pointed out his daughter’s ethereal hair that waved like a flag. “What do you mean Dad? What’s wrong with my mane?” The Alicorn asked with worry. She could only hope that her mane had not been entirely ruined in the chaos of the battle. “Nothing’s wrong sweetheart… It’s just...” Cadence trailed. If Flurry had a mirror, she would be frantically checking it to see what her parents were talking about. “Flurry, you’ve ascended.” Shining stated with an unbreakable smile. The Alicorn’s face lit up with shock at these words before another voice chimed in, “Congratulations, Queen Flurry Heart. You truly have earned your power.” The white coated Alicorn turned to see her aunt Twilight also carrying a proud smile. To the Princess of Friendship’s sides were her faithful assistant Spike, and her prized student Luster Dawn. Seeing her friends safe once again brought tears to the Queen of Hope. Flurry Heart could not formulate any words to describe her feelings, however, seeing the looks of understanding on her friends and family, she did not even need them. The indigo coated Alicorn then took a knee and lowered her head in honor, “Thank you. Your highness.” Twilight stated humbly as the two on her sides also took a knee in respect. Flurry looked prepared to protest before the rest of the Ponies in the crowd quieted down and followed the Princess of Friendship in paying tribute to the new ruler of the Crystal Empire. In this moment of silence, Flurry Heart heard a single pair of hoof steps approaching her way. After looking toward the origin of the sound, Flurry noticed one sole figure that had remained standing. Her husband, Sombra, stood tall with a stoic expression as he looked her way. Not a moment later, however, the Umbrum lowered his knee like the rest. His eyes remained fixed on the Alicorn as if studying her new form. “Long live the Queen.” He stated simply before lowering his chin in respect. Flurry smiled warmly before slowly approaching her husband. Once only inches away from him, the Alicorn took her front hoof and lifted the Umbrum’s chin. Sombra opened his eyes to see his Wife’s face glancing down at him with a look of fondness. The Alicorn then lightly lifted his chin further, motioning for him to rise. Sombra did exactly that and now stood at eye level with his partner. The air in the Empire was as silent as a library as the two rulers stared at one another. Flurry Heart’s blue eyes glistened in the bright sunlight as she peered into Sombra’s crimson ones. “And long live the King.” The Alicorn stated before leaning forward and pressing her lips against her husband’s. Sombra did not protest at all and proceeded to engage in the heartfelt exchange. In this moment, he finally understood what he had seen in the young Alicorn that had attracted him to her. She was brave, selfless, and strong. All the same defining characteristics that his sole friend as a colt had shared. Hope may have been gone for thousands of years, but her essence, soul, and purpose had endured. They all lived on in Flurry Heart. Author's Note At long last, it is here! This chapter took a crazy long time to write and was by far the longest chapter of any of my fanfics ever. Overall though I'm happy with the result. Fight scenes are hard to depict in writing as it's tough to know when they should stop and keep going. What did everypony think about our evil Countess this chapter? I wanted to make her very powerful as a ruler of the Shadow Ponies should be, but at the same time be beatable. There are a few things I'd like to address about the plot in this note so I don't get too many comments about them. For those wondering, Omni was only allowed to take physical form in the Crystal Empire because Sombra was related to her by blood and thus Flurry Heart's spell from earlier in the story had unknowingly also allowed Umbara inside as well. The only thing Umbara was waiting for was for Sombra's curse of decay to break the seal beneath the Empire and fully unleash their physical forms. With regards to Flurry Heart's new form, I will someday have a commission done of her looking like this for you guys to see. I really hope everypony enjoyed this chapter and are looking forward to the next and final one of this story! If you enjoyed it and want to support the story, make sure to favorite and leave a comment! Cheers, -Obsedian_Flame
