Our Empire of Darkness

Sluggishly reopening her eyes, only the darkness greeted her, not a shred of light able to be made from the blackness. Was she dead? With every breath shook, shivers running along her body as she clutched the blanket over her. No, she wasn’t dead, but she would be in the freezing cold. Echos bounced from the hall outside, an eerie drone giving her no sign of where she was or who brought her here.

Thinking back to her last memories, she was in the Crystal Empire on an assignment. She knocked the Crystal Heart out of the dark magic trap, told Spike to take it to Cadance... Did they fail? Is this what King Sombra’s prisons were like? Were her friends captured, too?

“H-Hel–“ She coughed a bit, her throat dry and cracked. If there was anypony around, they weren’t making any noise or sign they were alive. The air smelled like frozen stale rock, indistinct from anywhere else.

After a few minutes, the sound of something or somepony bounced down the hall, a metal gate squeaking open before being closed. Her horn tried to ignite, only glowing at the base before dissipating. Twilight shut her eyes, her face scrunching up with the horrible realization. They lost. King Sombra had won, and now she was in one of his prisons, going to die alone or be enslaved.

The pony got closer from the droning that forced her fur to stand up, but without a way to see, it was pointless to try. She heard a bunch of... wood (?) fall to the ground in front of her cell, the light tapping of glass following afterward. The pony shifted the pieces of timber before several stony impacts made her reopen her eyes. It sounded like they were–

The purple and green glow of dark magic sparked the fire to life, revealing who it was. Her ears fell at the sight of the shadowy monster, its green and purple eyes focused on the task at hoof. Tendrils extended from its body to cradle a bowl, another opening a jar. The slushy substance within dropped into the bowl with a little help from gravity, the shadow holding it over the flame to heat it. While it heated the mush, the monster grabbed a small cup and held it over as well.

Twilight stayed stock still, staring at it as it boiled the water and warmed the slop. Satisfied with the temperature, it removed them and turned, its eyes finding hers. As hers widened, his softened.

“You’re awake?” There was a stern but gentle voice that echoed through the hallways, a whisper passing underneath every word. When she didn’t answer, it placed the bowl into the small slot on the door that allowed her to grab it, placing the cup of water just within the bars. “You must be thirsty. This will help rebuild your endurance.”

“W-What are you?” She asked, voice weak, pulling the blanket tighter against her body to trap what little warmth she could. The heat from the fire was nice, calling her to drift to its warmth, but she wasn’t so sure about what that thing was.

“This form is only temporary.” They burst into a cruel and boisterous laugh that echoed through the halls. “Do not worry for now. You need to regain your strength.”

She dared to take the cover off of her to move closer to the bars as the shadow creature watched her from at the edge of the fire. Twilight grabbed the water, giving her a sip, her body gulping the rest down her throat as she realized how thirsty she was. Her mouth let out a sigh of relief, her hooves grabbing the bowl for her to stare at the liquid mush.

She sat close to the bars to warm up while she slurped the sour concoction, hoping that they didn’t make it of anything she would find objectionable.

“How is it?” The shadow monster asked.

“F-Fine.” she said while placing the bowl back in the feeding slot before grabbing the blanket from her bed and moving up against the bars so she could keep warm. The creature reminded her of the form of King Sombra when he chased them while they went from the train station to the empire, but that wouldn’t make any sense. It seemed they were at least trying to be nice, and he would have let her starve or done something else to break her spirits.

“That is good. I was concerned it would be foul after over a thousand years.” The creature’s shadows kept moving without purpose, as though the individual tendrils had a mind of their own. “Are you feeling better?”

Twilight only nodded to his question. Whoever this creature was, they seemed to play ‘good cop.’ The question remained: What happened to her friends? Were they inside the same prison, all alone, like she was?

“That is good.” They said, staring down at the fire in contemplation. Both sat in the warm glow of the flames for several minutes, the shadow creature adding another few twigs from the pile next to them.

Clearing her throat more, Twilight coughed a few more times. The water was helping, and the mushy food was taking effect. Over the minutes, she felt her strength returning to her, the numb tingling in her hooves evaporating. “W-What was that stuff you fed me?”

“Beats, I think.” The creature chuckled, turning back to her. “I’m not too sure. The residents didn’t label the jars in that cupboard.”

“W-Where am I?” She followed-up, looking to get at least a bit of information. Any bit would help to get back to her friends.

“North of Mount Everhoof.” They answered, returning to the fire. “This was an old town I made to hold the worst prisoners imaginable. It’s a shame to see it abandoned.” The eyes lowered toward the flame. “Some didn’t make it out.”

“W-Who are you?” Twilight needed to know. They couldn’t have been them. No, the king would be far more malicious, torturing her and... She didn’t want to think about him doing that to her. It still sounded like–

“I was called King Sombra long ago, and one day I will be again.”

Her heart pounded at the revelation she was mere pony lengths away from the evil king himself. But why was he here? Was he looking to interrogate her? She could only dread what that might entail, causing her to curl up more in her blanket.

“You probably heard many things about me from the southern tyrants. A lot of falsehoods meant to discredit who I am and what I stand for. They would do anything to prevent the fulfillment of my destiny. Whatever they said, whatever they believed me to be, they are wrong.”

“You enslaved the entire Crystal Empire!” Twilight snapped back. “You’re a monster!”

The shadow monster poked at the fire with a stick before wedging it inside the coals. “So that’s the lie? That I enslaved my subjects?”

“How do I know you aren’t lying to me?!” She squinted at the shadowy beast. “You’re a power-hungry tyrant, looking out for nopony but yourself!”

“Power-hungry...” They gave another chuckle at the two words. “Perhaps I am. If power means I can usher in a golden age for all ponies, then I will gladly seek it out. I may be a monster to some, but I always will do what I believe is best for my subjects.”

Twilight scowled into the flames, her mind going into overdrive to think of a way out. Was Sombra going to be the only one to see her? If she truly was stuck with only him, then it would be hopeless. The only solution would be to wait until the rescue.

Both sat in silence for hours, the king tending to the fire with pieces of wood they had brought with him. Was there nothing better to do for him? Why was he bothering to sit with her? Then an idea floated into her mind, one that picked up steam as she re-contextualized what little she has experienced. He didn’t win.

“What happened in the Crystal Empire?” Twilight asked, his eyes returning from the fire to hers. “I-I mean, what happened recently?”

The king was silent for a few moments, turning back to the flames in thought. “I wouldn’t let a pony die because of my mistake. You may have been my enemy, but even enemies don’t deserve to expire in such a way.”

“Y-You saved me?” She furrowed her brow in confusion. Was it all an elaborate lie? Was he trying to soften her up to his perspective? But why? Did he know who she was? No, that was impossible. He returned only a few days ago, and wouldn’t have had time or the ability to access information about the modern day.

“There will be time to reclaim my domain.” They poked at the fire, throwing the last pieces of dried bark into the flames. “I would not let such a mistake taint my reputation, even if it was dismissible in the grand scheme of things.”

“And foalnapping me won’t?” Her face only became more confused. Wasn’t this the most cruel and tyrannical ruler since Emperor Grogar? Was this an act to lower her defenses? Or was he telling the truth? If he was...

Were Celestia and Luna wrong about him?

“It is easier to justify imprisoning an enemy than it is to kill them.” He took a moment to himself, leaving her to stew on the answers. “I’m afraid I must be going. Preparations for my return will not happen on their own. I’ll be back in an hour or two with more firewood and water. Farewell for now.” They moved away, but not before Twilight called out to them:

“Wait! I didn’t even tell you my name!” The king turned back, although only their eyes in the darkness signified it. With her throat swallowing her anxiety, she smiled a crooked grin. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”

“See you again soon, Twilight Sparkle.” He said as he returned to the shadows.

The royal chariot descended upon the Crystal Empire, two dozen following behind and flying over to the northern border. The lead landed near to where the Crystal Heart made its gentle rotations while another two touched down nearby. Both regal sisters dismounted, entering the spire with their guards where they encountered Captain Shining Armor waiting for them.

“Your majesties.” The prince gave a curt bow. “Please, this way.”

The captain led them toward the throne chamber, both of them scanning the surrounding halls. It was far nicer than either expected, to be honest. But it may have been a stylistic choice for the former king or the quick work of enthusiastic crystal ponies. Shining Armor pushed open the doors to the room, revealing those standing by for the princesses. The Elements of Harmony and Spike were waiting for them, perking up with their entrance. Atop the throne was Cadance, looking haggard from the time spent awake now that the energy boost from the Crystal Heart left her.

“Princess Celestia!” The other elements rushed up to her, bowing their heads low.

“Nice to see I’m remembered.” Luna said under her breath, Celestia frowning at her.

“Aunt Celestia! Aunt Luna!” Cadance left the throne, making her way over without haste. Before she could speak, a yawn cutting off her next words. “I’m so sorry. I wanted to talk to you before–“ Another yawn. “But I really should go to bed.”

“Rest, Cadance. You’ve done more than enough for today.” Celestia placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder. “We’ll take it from here.”

The pink princess left the room with Shining Armor following behind, Celestia taking the throne. They waited a few minutes for the captain to return before beginning the meeting, the seven ponies and dragon assembling at the base.

“King Sombra escaping complicates things.” Celestia said to those gathered. “If he is behind Twilight’s disappearance, I don’t hold much hope we will find her in time.”

The elements gasped, Spike being the one to voice his thoughts. “How can you say that?! S-She has to be fine!”

“You don’t know the king like my sister and I do.” Luna interjected from the closest position to the throne. “He’s a cruel, vindictive pony with no restraint. If Twilight is with him, I’m afraid that finding her will be near impossible.”

“I don’t want to give up on my student.” Celestia said with regret, one that turned the despair of her pupil’s friends up another notch. “But it is unlikely we will find her in the frozen wastelands. Hundreds of ponies disappeared from the empire during his rule, with not even a hint as to where they had gone. I believe we should focus our efforts on counteracting King Sombra and preventing his return.”

“With the Elements of Harmony rendered inert, we need another solution.” Luna continued. “The king is an expert in almost every known form of magic, including several my sister and I only heard of. Attempting to defeat him with nothing less than brute strength won’t work. He is a persuasive smooth-talking liar, a tactician and strategist surpassing even myself, more adept at magic than Star Swirl the Bearded. And worst of all is that he is unrestrained by moral and ethical concerns.”

The others were still silent, each mulling over the prospect of never seeing their friend or family member again. Celestia frowned at the sight, knowing the anguish they must be working through. “I’m sorry, but it is simply the truth. The best we can do is make sure nopony else suffers from his cruelty.”

“B-But what if we can find Twilight?” Applejack spoke. “What if she is fine?”

“Then we’ll worry about that when the time comes.” Luna nodded.

“Captain, would you please organize a militia to form a new Crystal Guard?” Celestia turned to Shining Armor. “While we have brought several hundred of our own guards, there’s no telling how many we will need to delay his approach. We must make use of every resource available to ensure he does not succeed.”

He nodded with care, thinking it over. “I’ll... get on it.” He cantered off, desiring a task that could distract him from the emotions plaguing him. Once gone, Celestia turned to the other elements.

“I would like all of you to assist with setting up the guard positions in the northern city. I will send messengers to collect you when Luna and I have found a solution.”

The others trudged off, Spike taking one last depressed glance to both princesses before leaving himself. Luna closed the throne room doors and locked them, hopefully ensuring nopony would interrupt.

“Are you certain we can’t find her, my sister?”

“Not for certain.” Celestia sat back on the throne, staring to the ceiling and the map painted to it. It possessed a mural of the entire city, the different segments color-coded and marked. “You know as well as I do that all our spies never made it home. If he had captured and killed them, I fear that is what will happen to Twilight.”

“May I suggest something?” Luna cleared her throat. “I can search for Twilight’s dreams to determine her location, if she isn’t stuck in a living nightmare.”

“Please do. If there’s even a chance she’s alive, I want to know.”

“Doesn’t matter to me. You failed the test, Twilight!” Celestia turned toward the unicorn, a disappointed frown on her face. They both stood in a royal memorial hall, stained glass windows to either side, depicting various events over the years. Beneath them was the crimson carpet which ran the length of the hall between the sets of doors, and flower baskets at the top of each pillar. It was a truly regal sight for a hallway, one of the three in the castle which possessed such features.

“I don’t understand! The test?” Twilight asked with worry, trotting up to her mentor.

“Not only will you not move on to the next level of your studies, you won’t continue your studies at all!” Celestia pushed Twilight aside with her wing.

“I...” Twilight’s eyes watered, lips quivering. “You didn’t say anything about no longer being your student if I failed?”

The alicorn princess faded away from the world, the outside turning from day to night. The window depicting the Crystal Empire falling to Sombra disappeared with a flash that blinded Twilight for a few moments, Luna flying from it to land next to her.

“Twilight Sparkle!” Luna hugged her close, petting her mane. “Thank the stars you’re alright!”

“Princess Luna?” Twilight wiped her eyes, pushing the lunar princess back to look around the now blurring hall. “I-Is this–”

“Yes. It is a mere nightmare.” She nodded to the unicorn, looking around the darkened hall for something specific. “Do you know where you are?”

“I’m in...” Twilight stopped and reconsidered her words. She would have said Canterlot, but the idea it was a nightmare forced her back into the mindset that here is not the same as where she is in reality. “I’m up north, past Mount Everhoof. There’s a town - I think - with a prison! King Sombra brought me there.”

Luna brought a hoof to her chin in thought. “I would need to check the old maps. Perhaps it’s charted.”

“Luna, King Sombra doesn’t seem like the pony I was told about.” Twilight said, getting Luna to scrunch up her brows at her.

“King Sombra is a masterful liar and will seek to manipulate you to suit his ends. Anything he says is up for debate. Do not trust the words of one who would seek your enslavement, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight nodded, re-contextualizing his apparent acts of kindness. “Alright. Please come get me as soon as you can. I’ll see if I can break out on my own, but I can’t use my magic.”

The world rippled around them, Luna floating upwards. “We shall find you, Twilight Sparkle. Staaayyy strooooong!”

Luna floated into the window as everything crashed down around her.

Twilight woke up startled, breathing a few times in the chilly air, her body shivering. Sombra was back, floating next to the fire like usual.

“A nightmare?” He asked.

“N-No, nothing like that.” Twilight stayed quiet for a minute, feeling the cold creep in on her. With a great sigh against her comforting fabric, she got off her bed to sit next to the bars as close as possible to the fire’s warmth.

“Hungry?”

“Not right now.” She said in reply. As she sat, her throat begged for something more. “Umm, can I actually have some water?”

“Of course.” The shadow floated off into the darkness, returning a few minutes later with a cup. He held it above the fire until it steamed, at which point they passed it through the bars.

While Twilight drank, another concern became clear. She turned around and examined the shadowy cell she now called her temporary home. Other than the bed, there was also a chair, an empty bookshelf, and a toilet. After she finished with her cup, she passed it back through, pausing her next ask before forcing out the words.

“Can–“ She cringed at the thought. “Can I have some privacy? I need to, umm...”

“Oh.” They floated away from the fire. “Of course. I’ll be back in a few minutes. I must gather more tinder material.”

“Thanks.” she said under her breath, waiting a few more seconds before heading into the shiver-inducing darkened parts of her cell. Twilight sat on the toilet, holding her head in her hooves and taking deep breaths, not sure if she was being watched. It was humiliating, having to ask for permission like a foal. Last time she had to go, he had been away, giving a little privacy for her business without resorting to asking him.

Why did he stick around so much, anyway? The only question he had asked her that wasn’t related to her current feelings was what the ‘metal mount’ was she arrived in. It didn’t hurt to tell him it was called a train. Did he not care who she was or why she was fighting against him?

Finishing her business, she reached for wipes, sighing at the realization that there were none. She did her best to wiggle the last few drops into the toilet before flushing, sending the bodily waste into a pit beneath her. With nothing more to do, she made her way back to the bars, staring out at the fire. Not like there was anything better to do being trapped inside a freezing, lifeless cell. This would be her life from now until she was released, either by herself or by being rescued. Assuming they were going to rescue her.

As he said, he returned a few minutes later, dropping several dozen logs, bundles of twigs, and bark sheets at the edge of the light the fire provided. “Here, this is for you.” A tendril pushed another blanket through the bars. “It can get quite cold without the heating crystals working.”

Twilight took the blanket and wrapped it around herself, mumbling: “Thank you.”

There they sat, both staring at the fire without a word. Twilight sighed, thinking of how much her friends were missing her. At least now they would know she’s alright, and she probably would receive visits each night from Princess Luna just to make sure it stayed that way.

“Were those other ponies with you your companions?” The shadow asked, adding another piece of firewood to the fire.

“Mostly. My brother...” She didn’t know if she should tell him. He would use everything she said to manipulate her, if he really was like what Luna had said.

“Not on grand terms with him?” The king asked, his eyes still focused on the flames that licked into the open air.

“I-It’s not that. I...” She let out a sigh into her blankets. “Sorry.”

“What is the apology for?” His eyes shifted back up to meet her own, the orange reflecting against hers.

“I don’t know if I can trust you.”

“Fair enough.” He turned back to the source of warmth and light. “I never had siblings. I don’t know what it is like between two of similar blood to vie for the affections of their parents.”

Twilight shifted in her blanket. “Oh...” She didn’t know what to say to that. It sounded like the truth. It was so inconsequential, mundane. Why would he need to lie about it? “What about your parents?”

The king sat a moment longer before answering. “They were wonderful. I may not have been expected, but they loved me with all their hearts and would have been proud of who I became.”

“And what was your foalhood like?” Twilight kept pressing. Maybe the king would be a bit more specific. Something to show that he was trying to manipulate her. A sob-story or something to try getting her to pity him, then play the ‘woe is me’ card?

“Plenty of friends to keep me busy.” A light chuckle escaped the wispy shadows. “Radiant Hope was my best friend for the longest time, but...” His voice became quieter, his prisoner tilting her head. “She would have been happy to know what I would do.”

Clearing her throat: “What happened to her?”

“Old age.” The king said with a deep regret in his voice, her attention now peaking. “I begged her to keep going, but she felt it was her time to go. I would not force her to do what she didn’t want. When you live as long as I have, you see all those from your youth fade. I spent four hundred years getting over her passing.” He paused again, again only deepening the confusion. “Still haven’t even after another thousand.”

“Wow.” Twilight said to herself in a whisper, snuggling tighter into her blanket. “I-I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. She wished to let her soul pass beyond the veil. I didn’t. I’m happy that she passed on her own terms without regrets. If we had to go through that moment a second time, we both would have chosen our current paths. Such is life. All my foalhood friends passed on, yet I chose to live forever. There weren’t many I could call my friends after becoming king. My duties came first.”

“Did you know Star Swirl?” She asked.

“Yes, for a time. Star Swirl the Bearded encountered me on one of his northward-ly trips with his companions.” Sombra turned back to her. “Him and I didn’t really get along.”

“Why not?”

“He believed certain forms of magic to be ‘evil’, that they should not be touched or studied. I disagreed with that notion. I proved the superiority of my beliefs by overthrowing the puppet on the throne after spending centuries of study into the forbidden magics. My subjects received unparalleled prosperity, and as a punishment for over forty years of benevolent rulership, the princesses banished me.”

“D-Did you cast a curse on the empire to make it disappear?” She had to ask. If he will be honest about his crimes, there may be hope of reforming him. “Did you wipe your fellow pony’s memories?”

“Yes, on both accounts. I couldn’t let it fall into the hooves of the southern tyrants. All information to secure the empire I needed to remove in case they tried to do anything to counter my rule from within. All texts edited or destroyed related to the Crystal Heart or the Crystal Fair.” Sombra let out a small chortle. “Clearly, I missed some.”

“But wouldn’t that only harm the crystal ponies?” She frowned. “They wouldn’t know how to perform the Crystal Fair to fill them with light and love.”

He stayed silent for a moment. “I kept a few books locked away in my personal library with the entire history of our traditions. If the empire were to have fallen, I could return the lost knowledge. Our traditions could be restored with what I preserved in that archive. But they don’t need the heart to be filled with love. They always had it within themselves.”

“Huh.” Twilight stared at the eyes, the green and purple seeming to grow softer. Did he... No, it was all a lie. It had to be! Luna and Celestia were adamant. He’s trying to manipulate her.

R-Right?