King Sombra: The Rise and Reign of Shadows

Chapters

The Rise
The Reign
The Conquest

The Rise

Once upon a time, in the distant past and on the outskirts of the Crystal City, a nameless, unidentifiable boy appeared on a cold, winter's night. Two guards were patrolling that night, and stumbled across him in the snow. As was only right, and being decent folk, they got hold of him, and took him to the hospital. There was no info on him at all. He was in no record files, and he had no means of identification. All he had to wear was what appeared to be clothes which seemed to have scorches on them. Meaning he had just arrived from some terrible conflict which had erupted somewhere. Perhaps that was why he would not speak - if he even could. All he could do to answer was nod, and shake his head. And when asked, he basically told them he couldn't remember what had happened to him. No memory of his parents, his home, or anything else pertaining to him except for a single name One which kept echoing in his head over, and over again until he wrote it down when they asked for his name.

Sombra.

So, with no other choice, the present ruler of the empire, Princess Amore, gave the order to have him sent to their cities orphanage to be taken in as one of their citizens. Once that was done, he was registered to attend the local school in order to continue any possible education he might have had before. The only problem was how distant he was, and how out of place he seemed to be. Although he had no memory of what happened to him, the trauma of it all effected him on a psychological level. Without even realizing it.......he had all but lost his innocence as a child. And its effect on him made him an outcast among the other children. They saw his awkwardness, and his shy stature as something to make fun of. So they either mocked him either silently, or aloud, or just outright ignored him. This only made him feel more isolated, and alone in a world he did not know. He had noone.

That is, of course, until he met a young girl named Radiant Hope. A kind, and caring child who saw his loneliness, and the pain he was in, and wanted to heal it the only way she knew how: by befriending the dark-skinned boy. And the two seemed to hit it off very well, for after this fateful meeting, they did everything together. They plated, studied, hung out with each other, sometimes shared treats together. And most importantly, they laughed together. For the first time since he arrived, the enigmatic child felt like a child again. His heart began to open up, and he was no longer afraid to speak. Hope had entered his life thanks to the girl named after it. And because of it, they became the closest of friends with the strongest of bonds. And in time, friendship would turn to something even greater: love.

As the years go by, so too do they grow up. Not only that, but they begin to blossom in different ways: Sombra, since becoming more open, and confident, has taken to studying, and researching numerous scientific, and technological fields. He took plenty of classes within them, and proved he was quite the prodigy as he obtained his degree in these fields early, and graduated. Radiant Hope was proving to be quite the medical scholar - one the brightest alchemical minds ever seen. Ever since she healed Sombra from an ailment that befell him many years ago, she had become inspired to enter the study of medicine. And she excelled at the craft, earning her own degree as well before graduating. Now the two were ready for the world, and preparing to decide what they should do. Each had been considering taking up certain careers.........but had some hesitation about it due to the fact they were so close to each other - and they had never been apart.

Sombra, however, was beginning to grow afraid Hope would find some amazing career in the medical field she would be perfect at - not because he was jealous, as he wanted her to be successful with her dream because he loved her - he was afraid that once she took it, he might not ever see her again after that. Only made worse by the recent nightmares he was having of a monster who looked like him, but was clad in silver armor, and resembled a horrible, nightmarish being of shadow. He was afraid that a part of him he didn't know existed was attempting to emerge - and if Hope left him, he would be unable to keep it contained within himself.

One day, to both the surprise of Hope, and Sombra, was when they met Princess Cadenza. She had heard of the two gifted students who graduated ahead of their classes a few days ago, and admitted to being impressed. She hoped to meet the two of them for herself, and see what the Empire's most promising citizens were like. She seemed especially impressed with Radiant Hope, who stated she was now a specialized Alchemist specializing in medicine - to which her own professors admitted that she had a talent which may have exceeded her predecessors. A thing the princess congratulated, stating she may have a bright future ahead of her. For a moment when she turned to Sombra, however, there was a brief hint of........hesitance. And he saw a glimpse of sadness, and guilt in her eyes which flickered for but a moment.

But then she returned to her beaming form, appraising him for having what appeared to be a brilliant mind in the field of science, and technology advancements. He thanked her while saying how such compliments made him feel honored - although he admitted to still feeling a bit uneasy of late. When asked, he admitted to having nightmares which had been bothering him lately, yet neglected to mention the nature of them. It was here Amore spoke of how dreams can often be a vision of the future: peering into one's soul, and reflecting whatever destiny may await them. But told Sombra not to worry of such things. For destiny is not set in stone, and we all have the power to choose our fate. And hoped that he would work to make his fate one which could truly benefit the world. She left afterwards, leaving the two to dwell on her advice. Of course, it only made him wonder about his dreams.......and if it was a part of fate - and whether he actually COULD control it.

The issue, however, died down a bit as Sombra, and Hope continue on with their lives. As time grows on, their bond of love does indeed grow stronger. To the point that on one of their dates, Sombra decides to do what he perhaps should have done already: he planned to propose to Radiant Hope. Everything was set, and perfect. After sharing a meal, and doing the new activities they'd developed as they grew up, it all culminated in them sitting together on a hill in the park, where they always used to sit together to enjoy the scenery of the empire. It was an amazing sight which filled Hope with wonder, and amazement. This was when Sombra made his move. He had a little speech of how their friendship blossomed over the years, and just how much special he felt because of her. He thanked her for saving him from a life of loneliness, and estrangement, and for giving him cause to be happy again. Without her, his life would be incomplete......and he wanted to share the rest of his life with her as more than friends. He reached into his pocket, and began to draw out the ring, as she waited with baited breath.

He almost had it drawn out.........But then a loud signal had gone out. To the pair's surprise, the signal for a dignitaries arrival had sounded off. They hadn't heard of who was arriving, and Hope was much too curious for her own good. She rushed off to the palace to see their arrivals, urging Sombra to follow - making him glumly put away his ring. The both of them arrived to the palace just in time to see the dignitaries vehicles arrive - the rest including their security. Just as soon as Sombra moved to the front of the crowd with Hope, the dignitaries exited their vehicles with their security standing back. At that moment, Sombra saw it.

You see: the dignitaries were from the American Government, who were friends with the Empire. This had been another meeting of the countries interests, as there had been every few years. Radiant Hope was excited to see representatives of the US here in the Empire. She could only what wonder what sort of business brought them here. However, while Hope and the other citizens were watching with curiosity, and interest, something happened to Sombra. He saw the flags on their cars, and the appearance of the american soldiers who were standing guard. All together, they had begun to trigger something in his mind. Something he had never imagined he would ever have. Something he never knew was within. But now was something he wished he no longer had. His memories had returned to him - and none of them were good in any way.

As it turns out, Sombra DID have a family when he was a boy. And he had a home, too. Sadly, it was one that was an enemy to both the U.S. and the Crystal Empire: The Nation of Umbrum. A nation that believed that no government, or monarchy should hold dominion over anyone. For years, they sought to liberate the world from what they considered the tyranny of those nations. Unfortunately, this made them a target of both sides. And the day the forces launched a united assault against Umbrum was the day Sombra's world fell apart. The city of Umbra, which he and his people lived in, was besieged by opposing forces that outnumbered theirs by a hundred to one. Despite their efforts, none could withstand the combined assault. And in the end, it led to a full on extermination project - ordered by the Government itself. Only Sombra survived because his mother, and father had hidden him away from sight. So by the time he had heard the silence, brought by the departure of the invading forces, it was over. He emerged from his hiding place to find his home damaged, the streets reduced to rubble, set ablaze, and hundreds of people dead. Sadly, this included his own parents, as well. Such a traumatic experience can be much to handle - especially for a young boy. And Sombra was no different. Consumed by grief, horror, despair........and without even realizing it, Hate, he fled his former home to escape the horrors that were surrounding him. That was the night he arrived in the outskirts of the Empire. He had forgotten everything because his mind had no ability to cope other than blocking it out - and shattering the semblance of his former life forever.

The memories had rushed into his head like a flaming torrent, or even a crashing wave. It almost threatened to tear his head apart. He couldn't stay any longer, and had to get away. Pushing past the crowds, he ran as fast, and as hard as he could. Radiant Hope called out for him, and tried to follow. But he ran too fast for her to catch up. This gave her cause for concern at first. But she decided to give Sombra time to himself, since he seemed a bit out of sorts. She decided she had enough with observing the scene at the castle, and decided to head on home. Before she could, however, a pair of palace guards graciously approached her. The asked her to come with them to the palace. Princess Amore had requested an audience with her.

Alone with his thoughts, Sombra was free to consider everything. At last, his memories had come back to him - and all he could think of was how he was living a lie. Everything he knew. Everything he'd experienced was all because of the loss he was forced to suffer. All this time wondering what happened to his home, and his family, only to learn that their murderers were the ones who had taken him in. Worse yet, they had allies in the form of the Americans, who gave the firepower needed for such a thing to happen. But then......that must mean Amore knew who, and what he was. He remembered meeting her in person, and that brief look he noticed. She knew something - as did the whole Empire. But they were conspiring to keep the truth from him. He knew the truth now. And now he felt a hatred unlike any other burn within his heart.

All he could think of was making them all pay for what happened to the Umbrum. But he knew he couldn't take both the Empire, and the US by himself. And despite this revelation, he still loved Radiant Hope. He could not - WOULD NOT raise a hand to harm her. Yet if he told her what he now knew, and what his plan was, she would likely be against it: for she would never wish harm on another living thing, let alone her own people. But maybe if he explained everything he remembered, she would listen. He had to try. If he was to gain his revenge, he had to try in order to protect her from what he was going to do.

He rushed back out into the streets to find her. He had to tell her everything he ended up learning. She needed to know what he knew so that she could get her out of the city before it was too late. If he was to have any chance of achieving revenge, he needed to make sure she was safe beforehand. He had a hard time doing so as she was nowhere to be found. This made him grow worried. Especially with the American dignitaries still here. So it was at least an hour before he finally found her. To his surprise, it was at the local cafe' with her girl friends. They seemed to be happy, and cheerful about something. Radiant Hope even moreso when Sombra arrived. He tried to tell her he had something important to say, but before he could she asked that she tell him something first. But what she told him only made his heart sink.

The dignitaries had come here because they had heard of a talented alchemist who specialized in the medical field. Apparently, the higher-ups had heard of her progress, and Amore had asked her to the palace to receive an invitation to join the U.S.'s highest medical branch in the government. She was so very thrilled because of her talents being recognized. Now she was being offered a chance to join them for D.C. in a few days. Now she could help those who truly were in need of her skills with her art. This opportunity made her very happy. But Sombra was absolutely devastated. He assumed, right at that moment, that she was going to leave him. He was already in such an emotional turmoil, and filled with anger that he couldn't even think clearly. His mind made him assume she had taken the offer she mentioned........when she never said she had done so. In fact, before she could explain that she was hoping to get his opinion on the matter on if she should accept it, or not, he ran with tears in his eyes. She called for him, but found it pointless. Once again, she had grown fearful of her beloved, more than ever before, since she had never seen him like this before. And this began filling her with a sense of doubt, and uncertainty. Once again, she had no idea what she should do. Perhaps if she had gone after him, then what happened next would have been avoided.

He had no idea how long he had been running for. But when he had finally stopped, Sombra noticed he was near the mountainous regions. Here, a snow storm had appeared, covering the ground in its blanket of whiteness. Yet this cold was nothing compared to what he was feeling. In his heart, Sombra had come under siege by emotions he could barely hold together: anger, frustration, betrayal, sadness, despair, confusion......and strongest of all, Hate. Of all his emotions, hate was the greatest in his heart. A voice inside him said how his beloved Radiant Hope had been corrupted. Corrupted by the influence of those american dogs........and Amore. He had not considered it before, but now that he considered things, he began thinking of what he remembered. In his memories, he now recalled seeing not only U.S soldiers, as well as some advanced guard covered in golden armor-like suits............he also recalled seeing soldiers of the Imperial military. Living in the empire all his life, he knew what his countries own soldiers looked like - though this was NOT his country, after all. The one that was his had been destroyed when he was only an innocent child - and Amore was in charge even back then. She must have known something about this, if not had direct involvement. If so, then he would make her the first to pay for what happened.

They would ALL pay.

As fate would have it, however, he apparently stumbled onto something while in the wilderness. Something glowing brightly in the distance. Almost as if it were calling to him: drawing him to it. He went after it to see what it was. In a cave, not too far away, he found a chest which was glowing bright red until he had approached it. Though weary at first, the lure of the power he could sense was too great for him to deny. He reached over to open it. And to his amazement, he found a crimson, glowing crystal which was part of a cluster. He reached down to touch it, and upon holding it, he felt his body surge with power. Power he had never imagined in his life. And the rush he felt from it was almost intoxicating. He also found something else in the chest which he did not expect: a series of notes, papers, and books pertaining to the study of combining actual magic with alchemy. As well as the identification of the gem in his hand: the Philosopher's Stone. From what he read, it was a source of mystic power which would enhance the natural abilities of those who wield it - including allowing an alchemist to by-pass the law of equivalent exchange. The biggest surprise was that these notes were written by members of his own people: the Umbrum.

In his mind, Sombra surmised that THIS was why his people were exterminated like vermin - because they had learned how to harness the power of sorcery, and magic. He should have known it was not simply because they were rebels: but because they were too dangerous for the Empire, and the Government to allow to live. But he laughed at the irony of it all. Despite all their efforts, they did live on through their greatest work. He did not know how the stone itself was created, as the notes did not say, but it didn't matter. He at last had the means of claiming his revenge. Of course, he first needed to learn all that he could in order to reach his full potential. Though he was a man of science, he DID believe in the other realms of possibility, such as magic. And his alchemy was also quite exceptional. Now, with these tools at his disposal, he would be able to become more than he had ever been.

Only one thought remained as he thoughtlessly reached into his pocket: Radiant Hope. Pulling out his ring for which he had planned to propose to her, he felt a small sense of hesitation. If he went through with this, and his ever-growing plans, then it may mean he would have to abandon Hope. He wished he didn't have to do it..........but then shook his head when he remembered that she was going to leave him, anyway. So it was already too late to worry about her. He still loved her, but he could not allow her to be in his way. So with a single gesture......he threw away the ring. He could not return to the empire now that he knew what he did. And there was nothing left for him there. All that remained was his righteous vengeance - and the tools he now had to see them through. Once he had them all perfected, he would make the world tremble upon hearing the mention of his name. He merely needed time, effort........and a number of followers willing to aid in his cause.

And he will have his Revenge.

Author's Note

An interesting concept i came up with if i ever incorporated Equestria Girls into a series of my own. But it's more in alignment with the EQG series being developed by my Brother-friend, Sideswipe217. I created this story as a means of helping him make a proper backstory for his human version of King Sombra.

But let's just say, i took many liberties with this series. The main basis is that of "Fiendship is Magic" issue #1, which explains a possible history of King Sombra - even though as good as it is, it IS NOT CANON TO FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC..........unless you want it to be. But i also drew several character influences for King Sombra. Well, not several, but at least 3 of the most interesting, and complex villains in animated and comic book history: Dr. Doom from Marvel, and both Demona AND Macbeth from Gargoyles. When the next part is released, you'll see those character influences. But for now, let's just delve into the potential history of our mighty King of the Shadows.

The Reign

Time passes, and Sombra is officially crowned King. Shadow King Sombra is what some people sometimes call him. But either way, he made sure that his reign as the empire's ruler was exceptional. Of course, first, he had to do something about what he now considered to be the gleaming eyesore that was the palace. Using his great magic, he altered/modified the appearance of the castle so that it would have a more victorian-cathedral appearance to match his demeanor - and the fact he always wore his Umbrumian Armor, and Red cape. Many of the citizens were upset by this change at first. But accept that this was part of the new changes, and had to get used to it. Besides, their gracious king began making life alot better for all of them, so they didn't have to worry much about anything. While he used his genius intellect to improve upon the cities defenses, build new, superior weapons to what they, and the TSI possessed, as well as armor for his soldiers, who replaced the old guard, he also saw to it that the daily struggles that the empire shared with the rest of the world were put to an end.

He found long ago that science, and magic could work well together if done right. And thus he was able to produce great advancements in many fields. He improved agriculture, supplied jobs in construction to people who need it, allowed numerous stores to be open for the local businesses to provide for the empire's communities - and he had the Radiant Hope Memorial Hospital opened to provide relief for the cities only hospital. His soldiers also removed crime from the streets entirely. Sombra ensured that the ones who were released were provided jobs of their own. Those jobs even included enrolling in The Shadow Initiative, who were the protectors of the Empire, and its army. Those who wished to join were welcome to. And in the span of a year, there was no sign of hunger, or disease - Sombra's private investment in the hospitals, and his procuring the information Radiant Hope herself made of her work in the Empire was given to every doctor to learn, and use - crime, or poverty. He ensured that everyone had a place in his newly established empire, and that they would want for nothing ever again. All this without the help of the USA, whom he had cut off ties to some time after his coronation, and they were informed of the situation. All by himself, he had created the perfect paradise on earth: under his benevolent leadership.

And it was the grandest joke of all.

Because he had no real concerns for any of the people in the Empire. Since that accursed day, King Sombra had decided he would devise the ultimate form of revenge against Amore, the princess of shattered crystal - who still lived in her current state even as Sombra scattered all of her pieces across the world with his power. He would do this by making the people of the crystal empire completely, and utterly devoted to him by providing them everything they needed. Amore allowed herself to be dependent on the influence of others, as well as her own fears. Now he would ensure that her own people would be solely dependent upon him until the end of his, or their days. And should anyone on the outside dare undermine his rule.........at least he'll have plenty of good subjects willing to die for their king. The idea of it all brought inhuman glee to his stone, cold heart. In the end, nothing else mattered save for knowing that his people had been avenged - and the fool who ended their lives was now condemned to a fate worse than death.

One day soon, the rest of the world would receive the ax of his vengeance, as he would rule it as the sovereign ruler. With his growing power, and his superior intellect, the world would indeed be his one day. He simply needed to be as patient as he had been 12 years ago. The day would come when the world would belong to him - he just needed to wait. His only regret was that he would be forced to rule it alone. Though most of his feelings were dead, and gone within him, he always allowed the memory of his darling, Radiant Hope, to remain. On the day she was laid to rest, he swore he would never let her memory die, and that he would cherish her for all time. Unfortunately, even the memories of her were no longer sufficient enough to quell his remorse for the tragic role he played in her demise. Were it not for Amore, she would still be in his arms, and they would have been happily married together - maybe even have had a family. But now those were only the vivid fantasies of a dead life. And as everyone knows, the dead can never, ever be brought back from beyond the grave.

Or could it?

In his ten year training to harness his inherent magical, and alchemical abilities, as well as learning to wield his Philosopher's Stone to its full efficiency, King Sombra came across a record of an ancient ritual of alchemy referred to as "Human Transmutation". The records were blemished, and nearly impossible to read for some reason. But he never forgot the name. And with access to the Empire's own logs, and historical records, and all research involving Alchemy, it was only a matter of time before he found precisely what he had been looking for: a pristine version of the record he had found ages ago. And it was here that he learned exactly what Human Transmutation truly was.

According to the information, this was a necromantic form of Alchemy which had been considered taboo to all who used Alchemy. For its true purpose was in resurrecting the dead. From what he gathered, however, noone had successfully performed this art, and remained whole. Each account told of how someone had paid a price for performing this taboo that involved the loss of a piece of that person's body - sometimes the whole body themselves. It appeared that this forbidden alchemy was far too dangerous to use without something horrible happening. But King Sombra held no fear. He was determined to undo Amore's mistake, and bring back his beloved by any means necessary. He took note every account of the attempted transmutation, and deduced the reason why all of them failed. Wrong ingredients, and even miscalculations regarding the human they attempted to bring back.

Sombra immediately figured out how to loop around this obvious flaw. With his magic, he summoned the most important tool to ensure his experiment would succeed: the preserved body of Radiant Hope, whom he had encased in pure crystal to ensure the ravages of time could never effect her. This would remove the risk of any inconceivable calculations in the performance. After all, it's always best to use the source directly. But he didn't stop there. To make sure things went far smoothly than they could, he began developing a machine which could transcend through the realm of space and time. The plan was simple: using Radiant Hope's physical form as an anchoring point, Sombra would use both his magic, and alchemy to follow the traces of spiritual essence left behind by her soul as it left her body.

Like Theseus with the golden thread, he would follow this line all the way to the afterlife, where he would safely find, her, and guide her back into her original body, reviving her at long last. Part of him did feel guilty about going through with this, as he knew she was undoubtedly in the sanctity of Paradise, living a happy, and peaceful existence in the realm beyond. But he knew that it was what needed to be done. Because of Amore, he had taken her life. Now he could finally undo what the accursed witch did, and finally be reunited with Hope.

Several weeks later, the device was completed. And all of the preparations were set: in the middle of this four-pillared machine, and its disc-shaped center, Hope's body had been removed from its coffin, and placed onto the center. He then generated the alchemical circle for Human Transmutation. Now he had everything he needed to safely take advantage of the circle's unpredictable power. Taking his place, he gathered his forces, and initiated the process. Just as he calculated, the circle was reacting to the presence of Hope's form. The body itself became engulfed by a shining light, and transformed into a great eye which records referred to as "The Portal of Truth". So far, everything was going according to plan. Even the techno-mystic harness he created to help him get back was fully functional. So he was prepared when his own body broke down as he stepped onto the eye. His vision brightened, and he saw the bright void he was in. A black void filled with numerous lights. These lights, he saw, were the souls of those who had long passed. And now each of them were going to their rightful destinations. Sombra followed the trail left by Radiant Hope's soul, intrigued by all that he saw as the first living mortal to observe Limbo.

However, there came a point when he saw the souls going up, and down. This was where souls would either receive their reward, or face eternal damnation. As he approached this nexus, he watched souls floating upward into Elysium, which was what the world referred to as Heaven. But he was going downward, in the opposite direction. He didn't understand what was happening. Hope's line was heading into the abyss below. And in a short time, Sombra found himself passing through a fiery light, before his vision revealed him falling to a mountainous region beneath. He safely landed on the ground without incident. But he was imposed by the frightful sight that surrounded him: everywhere, he saw a desolated terrain of ash, flame, and rock. Winged creatures he could not discern flew in the air above, plucking souls as they fell at random. The truly unnerving part of it was seeing, and hearing, human souls plummeting into the inferno which was below him. Either into an endless abyss, or into fiery pits, and blood rivers. It was here that his eyes widened in startled realization. Somehow, through some ungodly cruel twist of fate, Radiant Hope had not been sent to Elysium.

She was down in the hellish netherrealm of Tartarus.

And right now, the King was not alone.

There, towering over the hill which Sombra had found himself - and even the king himself - was a massive, horned monstrosity with red skin, pure white hair, and large beard, curved horns......and a bovine lower body? It was a centaur, in appearance at least. But Sombra could see - could feel - this was no creature of the earthly plain. It's (or rather, his) pure black armor which appeared but a few moments later, with four jewels protruding out of it, and a wing-like cape flowing behind, seemed to be a reflection of its nature. Made even more unnerving was the way its stern, scowling face swiftly turned into that of a sinister grin of malice. The eyes of the demonic figure, empty as darkness with but two yellow pinpricks for eyes, seemed to peer into his very soul: and whatever the beast saw made him laugh. For the first time in his life, king Sombra truly felt small.

The beast's voice was booming, and ominous. To sombra, it was like a presence which could be felt from all around him - it felt like this fiendish being was everywhere, and nowhere. And when he spoke, he stated how pleased he was to at last meet the infamous King Sombra: Child of Outcasts, Usurpers of Crystal Princesses, Initiator of Shadows.......murderer of loved ones, and Childish Deceiver of the Masses. Being mocked so snapped Sombra out of his daze, and he was back to his old self again, demanding the demon to explain who he was. The demon hinted that, over the millenia, he had been called by many names through countless religions: but decided that his title, Lord Tirek, The Lord of Darkness, would suffice.

It didn't take too much effort for Sombra to figure that he was basically speaking to the Devil, himself, to which Tirek did not protest. Then he remarked how it takes one devil to know another, and how it was a shame Radiant Hope didn't have that same intuition. This triggered his anger, and made Sombra again demand Tirek tell him what he was talking about. His response made Tirek laugh with glee, seeing the always composed, and harrowing master of manipulation at his wits end. For once, the answers unclear to him. It was all so ironic, and delicious at once. Even moreso when Sombra threatened to attack him. First, Tirek boasted how, in Tartarus, he was mightier than any gods that the mortals above worshiped. No mortal, be they alive or dead, could ever harm him. But having his fun, Tirek finally relented, explaining how he had been observing Sombra since the day he turned to his dark path. Hinting that he may have played a subliminal role in his life, and influenced his choices.

King Sombra didn't care about whatever trickery Tirek tried using on him. He only wanted to know why his search for Radiant Hope led to this forsaken province. Tirek mused that he was aware of Sombra's attempts to enter the spiritual realm in hopes of reviving his dearly departed Hope. But Tirek stated that such a thing was impossible now. Not understanding, Sombra demanded he explain why that was. With an insidious smirk, Tirek changed the landscape till it became a huge courtyard - and the Dark Prince sat upon a stone throne formed like a tumorous growth from the ground. His hand reached down to Sombra. And in the palm of it was the ethereal form of Radiant Hope herself. His eyes widened in horror, seeing his beloved in the grasp of this monster. Just as he tried to reach for her, Tirek closed his hand, "crushing" her, and then sitting up to give the answer Sombra wished to know..........but would soon regret asking: That her soul was his the day she had died - because of Sombra.

Naturally, Sombra did not understand, and refused to believe he could have caused this to happen to the one he loved. But Tirek corrected him by saying that while he did not do this directly - it was his actions that led to this unfortunate fate. Years ago, several months after Sombra had fled the Empire, Hope became wracked with guilt, and remorse, and fear for her beloved. She was afraid something had happened to him, and that she had been responsible somehow. So overcome with despair that she foolishy proclaimed that she would do anything to see him come back home safely. Then one night, Tirek came to her in her dreams, having heard her pleas. He kept his true name secret, but said how he wished to help ease her pain by granting her wish. Of course, this came with a price in the form of a wager. He revealed then what Sombra had been doing, and how HE was the infamous Shadow King, as well as why he did everything he did, which included the history of Amore, the Umbrum - and in turn, Sombra himself.

This gave her much grief, now knowing what Sombra had gone through. And now she knew why he vanished so. But what she didn't know yet was what Tirek wanted to make a wager. And so the Dark Master explained the terms of his wager: he vowed that Sombra would indeed return to the Empire one day. And on that day, he would face the ultimate challenge: to either accept the path of vengeance and hate he had made for himself, or find redemption in himself, and be made to realize how wrong his methods were. But he warned her that when faced with the source of his newfound anger, and hate, Radiant Hope would be required to make a sacrifice for his sake. Thus came the true part of the wager: that if he was the one to strike her down himself, but then understand what he had made himself become, she would be free to reap the rewards of Elysium, and watch Sombra live a happier life. But if he refused to take any responsibility for his actions, and atone for them, then her soul would belong to Tirek - now, and forevermore. Apparently, she was all too eager to accept. Confident that the Sombra she loved was still in there, and could be brought back from the brink, she accepted the wager. She was willing to do anything to see him again as he once was.

But her sacrifice had proven in vain when Sombra only blamed his enemies for her death, and did not accept that it was his fault. Amore may have been guilty of many things, but Sombra was more guilty of allowing his own hatred to rule him, and transform him into a monster in his own right: one who deceived, manipulated, and coerced others into his service, and only continued to blame everyone else for the things that went wrong. His single-minded hate blinded him to everything, and made him worse than Amore, and those Americans. And in the end, it was Radiant Hope who paid the price. Now she was eternally bound to remain in Tirek's servitude without any hope of release.

And it was all because Sombra refused to change, or see that he could ever be wrong.

Outrage, and harrowing fury engulfed Sombra. In all his years, never had he become so filled with PURE hatred as he had at this moment. As much as he hated Amore', and all of mankind for his Umbrum race's unjust demise, and for his Radiant Hope's death.............he found one whom he hated all so much more in comparison. A bellowing roar escaped his maw as he unleashed the full fury of his mystical and alchemical powers against the unholy demon who he absolutely hated above all else. In his abject fury, he demanded that Tirek release Radiant Hope from his enslavement, and give her back. Of all the mortal souls in existence - and he acknowledged, maybe even his own - only Hope did not deserve a cruel fate as this. At this moment, he didn't even care about resurrecting her: he just wanted her soul to be free. And he would use all of his skill, strength, and what little love was still alive in his heart to save her.

This only made Lord Tirek laugh in his inhuman delight.

All of his diminutive guest's incantations, and spells proved ineffective against a being who was made of pure magic, albeit of dark, unholy magic. And his attempts to keep harming had proven in vain. As he had told the little Umbrum: Tirek was GOD in this realm. His will holds it together, and its essence grants him power to match the heavens themselves. No power save the truly divine had any hope of inflicting any pain upon his form. All the effort Sombra put in served to do was amuse the dark lord. But soon his amusement came to an end when Sombra claimed his power was nothing he could not overcome in time. And he swore that even if it took him over a hundred years, he would free hope from this torment - and he would put that bull-headed abomination in his place.

At last, Tirek found himself annoyed by Sombra's arrogance - that a mere mortal wielding powers he still could not full comprehend had the audacity to compare himself to the devilish beast. Thus did he prove the extent of his might with a beam of volcanic power which overwhelmed Sombra's defenses, and incapacitated him. Before he could even move, Tirek suspended him with his dark magics, and met him face to face. Here, he proclaimed that Sombra would NEVER succeed in his fool's errand. For no mortal soul ever leaves the inferno of Tartarus unless he bids it. And any efforts made by Sombra would have absolutely no success. But he claimed he enjoyed a good sport, and welcomed him to continuously attempt to do so. In fact, to make this game of more interest, Tirek implanted instructions on how to open the bridge between the Mortal Realm, and Tartarus, explaining that it would only be truly effective on All Hallow's Eve, when the powers of Darkness would be at their peak. Only then could Sombra pierce the veil between their realms, and fight for Hope's soul. But then, Tirek decreed it was time for Sombra to leave, as his time was over, and he no longer amused the centaurian devil. Of course, before he was banished, Tirek warned him that a price was to be paid for ultimately breaking one of the taboo's of the universe - and Tirek decided the best punishment was obvious.

As a man who always lived in shadow, and ruled with the shadows........perhaps it was time for the would-be king to become ONE with the Shadows - forever.

Once he returned to Earth, Sombra would learn just how literal a promise this would be. As it appeared, Sombra's return to the earthly realm was as unpleasant as it was an agonizing experience. At the exact moment he emerged back in his castle, and the chamber he began his ritual in, he felt an agonizing sensation consuming his entire body. As if it were crackling, and crumbling like brittle rock. And he felt every single instance of its occurrence. While this happened, he was able to watch in abject horror as his machine had been damaged by supernatural force. It exploded in massive fire, shooting him backwards into the wall - and in doing so, shattered his entire body into dozen's of shard-like pieces. In doing so, inflicted a final, inhuman shriek of pain from the shadow king, who crimson pupils - once emerald before his revelation many ages ago - had become illuminated, and were surrounded by an eerie, green light became his eyes. His will alone prevented him from loosing consciousness.

But in doing so, he was forced to bear witness to his fate, brought about by his use of Human Transmutation despite all of his careful planning, and Tirek's own devilry: where once there was a flesh, and blood body, now there was only an ethereal black smoke, and mist. It was as if his entire body had become that of a living shadow - a Wraith. And his kingly armor had been reduced to pieces of scrap with only his crown remaining. And to his dread, he observed as the fire made by his machine's destruction consumed everything. Even Radiant Hope's body had been reduced to ashes by the intensity of the flames, and had become no more.

As once had happened before, Sombra was filled with a grief stricken to him by the loss of his one, and only love. Once again, she had been cruelly, and unfairly taken from him, and condemned to a fate she had not deserved............and it was all of humanities fault, as he told himself. Once again, grief turned to anger. And that anger had returned into hate. A hatred for which he had almost completely forgotten because of his original goal's completion. But now, his hate had been rekindled, and was burning brightly in his heart, which was now as black as night. First, they had taken his people away from him. And now, because of all mankind who had driven him to his path of hatred, Hope was trapped in the Inferno itself for all eternity. But it would not be forever, he swore. That imbecile, Tirek, had unknowingly given him the keys to his own doom. All Sombra needed was time to conceive the ultimate means of besting the devil in his own domain. Oh, yes: he would use the dark spell given to him to enter Tartarus annually, as he'd been told was the only way it could be done. And one day soon, he would fix this grievous travesty, and free his Hope to the endless bounties of Paradise.

Meanwhile, he would now initiate his newest campaign: one that would be waged against the world itself. Donning a new formed suit reminiscent of the one he wore as The Shadow King, he ensured that his immaterial face would remain unseen to the world forever more. So none would ever know the shame of his defeat, or truly understand what he had experienced. Soon, however, everyone in the empire began to notice the changes in Sombra. He was even more cold, and unfeeling. And seemingly more ruthless, and prone to anger than he had been before. What's more was his secret declaration of war to his subjects. He proclaimed that from this day forward, the Crystal Empire would be reorganized to become The Empire of Shadows. And that they would be expanding their borders to include the entire world to answer for an unspoken crime against them. For this, the Empire would be one which focused on the production of soldiers, fit to serve in an army greater than any that walks this earth. And together, they would all share in his revenge.

Thus began the decades long campaign to transform the empire into the center of a powerful, militaristic region. One which saw The Shadow Initiative, King Sombra's army during the Siege of the Crystal Empire, expanding to even greater numbers than before. As it happens, old tricks, and old habits die hard. However, Sombra's methods of preparation began to change. Not only was he gathering loyalists to serve in his cause - he also began performing experiments on his subjects to enhance them into even greater warriors to serve the Initiative. Many did not survive these procedures. But those who did became the Elite members of his army. And he continued to constantly improve on the weapons, and technology of the Empire to more fearsome levels than before. Turns out, one of the perks of his newfound curse was that his lifespan seemed limitless now: age was of no consequence to him, disease and sickness meaningless, and there was no need for food or drink.

In essence, he had become immortal. And this gave him plenty of time to make The Empire of Shadows the most fearsome, and powerful force on the planet. Suspicions grew, and rumors persisted of all Sombra had been planning. But thanks to his oversight, he ensured that secrecy was on his side. And by the time it was the year 2018, Sombra was prepared to make his stand against the world. But he was not so foolish as to openly strike against the whole world at once: that had been the folly of tyrants of greater arrogance. No, in his mind, it was best to work smarter, not harder. He had hundreds of plans prepared for his strike against any place he desired. And what he desired most of all was see the ruination of the country which began everything: the U.S. This would be the private war of King Sombra. And just like the Crystal Empire before, these weak fools would fall just as easily as it did.

For what fools could ever dare hope to oppose him, and survive?

Author's Note

And all of this happened because Sombra couldn't let it go. Yes, Amore did a wrong thing, but she can't be fully responsible for everything which happened. And Sombra himself proved a hypocrite in everything he said, and did, because he allowed hate to control him. It's because of this he refuses to acknowledge he did anything wrong, or that it was his fault. Even though Amore let fear keep her from owning up to her mistakes, his hate did the same thing when he struck down Radiant Hope. And he manipulated things so that she would seem like the complete evil. And he played upon the easily malleable beliefs, and minds of his subjects into becoming his faithful followers. And instead of accepting that Hope was gone, he tried to play god and resurrect her - only to learn it was HIS actions, and choices which condemned her to this fate. So what does he do? He blames the rest of the world for what happened to her, and Himself for starting all of this. So he basically makes the empire into a terrorist country which wants to conquer the earth, and either kill, or enslave all who live.

What's the moral of this story? That hatred has NO benefits to anyone. And when we seek revenge for anything, there will always be consequences. What's more, people must always have the dignity to own up to their own mistakes, and not just blame it on others. Take responsibility for your own life: and make sure all of your choices are good ones. Otherwise, you may end up ruining more lives that imaginable.

This is a little something Demona never learned, and it only cost her all she held dear.

The Conquest

Several years pass, and things grow to a rather tense state. For in the past years, a call to arms had been sounded out. An armored man in silver-grey armor, bearing a crown with a strange, blood-red horn which seemed to glow with ethereal presence, spoke of how their leaders of the Crystal Empire, and America, and even a few corners of the world, had failed them. Dubbed as "The Shadow King" due to his ability to remain in the shadows, out of human sight and of those who would wish to silence him, this man in an iron mask stated that he was all that remained of a once proud people known as the Umbrum. Speaking of how he had lived through, and survived that onslaught of horror, and great pain, he was now ready to make his stand against the oppressors who would dare to have caused the deaths of so many innocent lives. But he required the aid of those who were also weary of the deceptive, and controlling grip of their respective leaders. Those who wished to be free to decide their own fates should follow him. And he promised that if they did, he would grant them riches beyond their wildest dreams, and the gift of true freedom.

And in those years, many people did rally to his message. While a majority of these growing troops were mercenaries hired to serve him - who he paid greatly thanks to his power to produce gold from thin air without any limitations. The rest were folks who had been treated as outcasts, and mistreated by the places they hailed from: some of them were actually from the Crystal Empire. It was amusing to Shadow King, to see that there were citizens of his enemies who also saw them as enemies - it made using them all the easier. Thanks to the endless resources he produced, Shadow King obtained the most advanced weapons in the world......and then used his own scientific genius to improve upon them, and make them even stronger. These soldiers of his, who he named "The Shadow Initiative", were trained to fight, use firearms - and any alchemists in their ranks were taught to use such abilities in combat, as offensive capabilities. But at last, after Ten Years of preparation, and careful planning, the time was ripe. Thanks to his mystic abilities, Shadow King had kept his forces concealed from sight, and under the human radars. All his enemies had were the threat of his attack to work with.....and even that was barely enough to prepare them. Made worse by the fact that noone knew when, or where he would strike. Amore herself grew weary that her greatest shame was repeating a dark part of the Empire's history. Then, one day, ten years later came the alarm. Horror etched in her heart as she saw the massive army amassed outside their borders. The Shadow Initiative was ready to reveal themselves to the Crystal Empire.

The armies of The Shadow Initiative struck fiercely, and almost without warning. And marched with a conviction rarely ever seen before. They were united as one, and with weapons, and powers enhanced by their king which would make them truly a force to be reckoned with (while donned in armor which would make "KISS" and George Lucas proud as parents). The Crystal Empire readied its own defenses, as they were preparing for this inevitable conflict. Imagine their surprise when all of their long-ranged weapons broke apart, and shattered in their hands. What noone knew was that the night before, The Shadow King had used his magic to meld with the shadows, and infiltrate the city. To make their defenses worthless, he began by casting a spell to disassemble their weapons the moment they were used. And when his forces approached, Shadow King used his power to disable the forcefield that cities alchemists had developed for their defense. Thus were they able to charge into the city with ease, as their King pressed them onwards. The soldiers within were left to fight with the swords, and spears they used for melee combat, and there were some american soldiers to provide aid who still had firearms. But it was not enough to withstand the onslaught. The Shadow Initiative had been trained for war. And were united in single purpose. The empire began to fall in a matter of hours. The Shadow King, however, had business within the castle itself.

With his mystical, and alchemical might, Shadow King tore through every soldier, and guard in his way. Just as he did to those who crossed him outside. Noone would stop him from gaining something which would aid in his quest. His trek took him to the Princess' own throne room, where he detected the thing he sought. His magic led him to a secret route just below, straight to a secret study which held much more information that even the palace's library had to offer. It took some time, but he did eventually find what he was looking for: files on the death, and massacre of the Umbrum people all those years ago. Some were in written format, while a number of thumb-drives, and disks were also contained within. His suspicions were proven true, after all. Now all he needed was Princess Amore herself, and his revenge would soon be complete. As fate would have it, she had been waiting for him in hiding down there. A thing which gave the Shadow King much cause for pleasure. After putting the information into a forcefield of his own, he drew a scythe which was made of pure onyx. He then spoke of how he had waited for this moment for decades. She merely asked him to remove his helmet and mask. She wanted to talk with him face to face..........as Sombra.

And indeed, after a few moments, he removed his helmet to reveal himself as Sombra: but his eyes were now scarlet instead of the emerald they once were. And they no longer held the same aura of curiosity, innocence, and wonder that were once there - all that was there was nothing but bitterness, anger, and hate. The armor he wore was crafted by his own hand, and based on the armor of the ancestors of his people, who wore it as the rulers of old did to honor their title, and people. HE wore it as an eternal reminder of her treachery. At first, she denied his implications, until he brought up the fact the return of his own memories ten years ago proved otherwise. He remembered very clearly how his home, his people, and his family had been exterminated like rats by soldiers from both the U.S. - and even The Crystal Empire. Since then, he learned what little he could based on what he remembered, which included the reason for them being isolated was because they only wanted to be freed from the rulership of others.

He doubted that qualified genocide. She then tried reasoning with him by saying that a terrible choice was made those years ago. But HE could still make the right one, and not follow the same path as the Umbrum. All this did was stoke the flames in his heart, and very coldly demand the truth: did she order for his people to be exterminated? And did she collaborate with the american scum to do so? She hesitated to say anything, with confliction on her features as she turned her eyes to her left. He was too angry to notice, and pressed the question while charging a spell in his hand to threaten her. With no other choice, she put on a guilty expression, and admitted the truth.

Yes: she was ultimately the one who gave the order.

Upon being demanded to explain herself, Amore did indeed explain the history between the Empire, and the Umbrum. She explained that a long time ago, the Umbrum were citizens of the empire. And they were the elite guard of the city. They utilized weapons, armor, skills, and alchemy which made them the most formidable force around. And it remained so even when she was eventually crowned ruler - though she preferred to be titled 'princess' for personal reasons. Yet as her reign continued, she noticed how the other nations of the world viewed the empire with fearful reserve. The Umbrum's reputation of being the most brutal, vicious, and merciless warriors made all the others weary. Fearing that there would be actions taken to deal with the empire so that the potential threat they presented were removed, Amore believed there was no other choice but to exile the Umbrum Clan from the empire. As imagined, they did not appreciate what they believed was a betrayal to their sense of loyalty.

This gave them a negative outlook on the ruling class, and they swore one day to even the score with her for her cowardice. Though she was saddened by this outcome, there eventually came a peace between the Empire, and the United States. Soon the two became close allies in economic and political affairs. But sadly, after many years of forgetting the threat the Umbrum declared, her scouts reported on their whereabouts and activities. Reports stated that they had apparently been practicing not only in new forms of alchemy, but also were beginning to harness the power of sorcery, and magic - an art which had been lost to the empire for generations. Nevertheless, they had relearned the art, and trained to use it for themselves. What's more, they were producing a strange new stone which could enhance the abilities of any who possessed it, be it natural, alchemical, or mystical.

Sadly, the main ingredient for this stone were living human souls. And there were several Umbrum who were willingly sacrificing themselves to aid in the production of what she now knew was the fabled Philosopher's Stone: a forbidden relic which had faded into obscurity. Naturally, the americans considered this a liable threat, and wanted to remove them before they could grow strong enough to rise against the world. Amore suggested that they try, and convince them to stop what they were doing, and simply surrender - there was no need for a massacre. But the argument was that they were merely preparing for the threat which they issued. If they'd been doing all of this even before they found out, then the odds were the Umbrum was unwilling to listen to reason. It was hard, but sometimes a leader has to make sacrifices to ensure the safety of their people - and the country they protect. She conceded to the truth of this fact......and with weariness hanging down over her, she agreed to the plan.

It was a surgical strike with a task force of both US, and Crystal Empire soldiers striking the Umbrum from the ground, while air forces bombarded them from above. The attack was fast, hard, and made before the Umbrum even had time to prepare themselves. By the time they even realized what was happening, it was too late. Their forces reported no survivors. Though she was wracked with guilt over her role in this tragedy, she was only happy it had ended quickly. When Sombra appeared on that winter night, she felt as though fate was coming to haunt her. He was easily recognized as an Umbrum by his skin, and the black hair his people all shared. It was suggested they kill him before he could become a danger. But she was against it, refusing to have any more innocent blood on her hands. Instead, she decided to atone for her sins by welcoming Sombra into the empire as its citizens. Her only command was that noone ever speak of his heritage, or address him as an Umbrum. And thus he became a part of the empire. The rest, as they say, is history.

For a few minutes, both stood before each other in silence. While Amore had guilt, and a hint of remorse displayed, Sombra remained neutral in his expression. It was impossible to know what he was thinking. And his silence made her feel uneasy as it continued. But then he broke the silence with 3 simple words that carried more weight to them than Amore imagined: "I knew it". To her shock, he explained how he always noticed the whispers, and horrible glances of fear people in the city gave him when he passed by. He was not so naïve that he didn't notice the fear behind them. And as life went on, he began suspecting they all knew something about him that he didn't. With all that he now knows of his own history, with what Amore just admitted, he now knew he was right all along - and this only made his hate for the Empire, and its people grow.

Without even thinking, she asked him why he never came to her about this, and tell her. Then he in turn bellowed why SHE never told him the truth in the first place. Was it because her conscience weighed too heavily over her? Or was it because she was having too much pleasure in seeing him in isolation - just because of something he had no knowledge of beforehand, OR any part in? She denied this, of course, saying that she didn't want him to suffer for the mistakes of the Umbrum. But he refuted by saying they were HER mistakes which led to this moment - the mistake of being a weak coward who gave into her own fears, and allowed others to dictate her decisions. She admitted that she had made a grave mistake. But she said that the Umbrum had made their decision long ago, and her actions were done to protect her people from a terrible fate.

Sombra called her out on such hypocrisy by reminding her that the Umbrum were also her people: even though she had exiled them, they were still loyal to the empire. Did they truly deserve to die because of something she only FEARED they would do, when there was no real proof of a threat? For all she knew, the Umbrum had forgotten their threat, and simply decided to live their lives as they chose to, without the shadow of some manner of monarchy holding them down. They were living as a people trying to make the best of their situation, and improving their own lives in the process. Perhaps he could not prove it, but neither could he be proven wrong. And Amore did not deny this statement. She made a grave mistake. She chose the wrong fate, and in a way was envious of the Umbrum for making a new one for themselves unbound by what was expected of them. She made it her fate to be the one who signed their death warrants, and to allow fear to control her, and to allow others to convince her to do such a thing. But she told Sombra that it didn't need to be the same with him. As she said to him Ten Years ago, destiny was not set in stone, and we are able to choose our own fates. She chose poorly, and in doing so became a monster. And if he chose to go down this path, then he would be no different from them. He could change his fate.

It appeared that she might have gotten through to him as he began to ponder what she said. He was considering a great many things right then, and there. And she hoped that he would choose the right path. But then, his eyes narrowed in anger. His hand pulsed with dark power, as his horn/stone glowed with power. He agreed that his fate was indeed his own. And he chose to exact revenge for his people. Amore grew fearful as she saw him raise his hand, preparing to fire a mystical bolt of crimson magic which would kill her where she stood. He assured her that the people of the empire would be able to hear her confession, with drones he had hidden within the chamber. They deactivated so that he would have the satisfaction of punishing her unobserved. Promising that by the end of this day, the empire, AND the world would know of the kind of monster she was. And the Umbrum would be at peace. His evil magic then shot forth to strike down the princess. Amore did not move, or try to escape her fate. This was her rightful punishment, she knew deep down. And she accepted it as it came for her. But to the pair's shock, and horror, it was not Amore who received his attack. Instead it was the only other person in the room who had been watching everything, and had jumped in to stop this madness, and save the princess, and receiving the full brunt of his attack.

Radiant Hope.

Seeing what he had done, all of the hate-drawn satisfaction had been sucked out of him at the sight of his beloved being struck down by his own hand. Only horror, and regret filled his heart. Amore moved in to see if she was alright, but Sombra cast her aside. He then took Hope into his arms in the same embrace he would always share with her. He looked down to see the burn-mark where his spell had struck. Devastation filled him as he knew that his spell was meant to tear a person apart on the inside. He had just condemned her to her death. Yet, even as pain filled her form, she was still able to smile warmly at him, saying how it took him long enough to come home. Sombra, meanwhile, was perplexed about her being here. He thought she had gone to America like she had been offered to ten years ago. She surprised him by saying she declined the offer.

Though she wanted to take the job, she refused to do so without him there to give his blessing. She felt guilty for not helping him when she knew he needed it, and that it led to him leaving for so long. She blamed herself for what had been happening to him, as she knew somehow before this day Sombra was The Shadow King. But it didn't matter to her now: because she loved him too much to abandon him, she chose to wait for him before everything turned so very bad. Thus she reiterated Amore's point on how she chose her own fate - and that it wasn't too late for him to do the same. He nodded in understanding, and the two shared a final, loving kiss filled with all the love they bore for each other. She then weakly laughed, and said that at least she was able to see the real him again, before it ended. And as he watched horrifically, the life slowly drifted from her eyes. Her body grew limp. And he could no longer even sense her lifeforce being active. The only human being in all the world he had ever loved.........was dead.

With tear-soaked eyes, he only could look down upon her prone form, and her face, which looked so peaceful as it was. Only now did he wonder what he had done. Amore, meanwhile, had watched everything with such remorse, and guilt that she too silently wept for for Hope. She hoped, of course, that this was enough to convince Sombra to end this madness before it cost anything else. However, as his emotions continued to pour out, so too did they shift, and change. His sadness, and despair was slowly being replaced by a hatred deeper than any he had felt before.

And in that moment as it occurred, he said, "What have i............what have they done?!"

He rested Hope down as gently as he could. And when he heard Amore say his name, that was when he snapped. His eyes were filled only with a bright, crimson light, and his teeth formed into those of a predator. His hand glowed with magic, and a series of shadowy tendrils erupted around Amore, binding her in place. This time, she felt true fear when Sombra stood, and looked to her. Pure hatred, and rage coursed through his heart as the only light left in his world had been extinguished. In a low, venomous voice, he asked if she was happy now: his only hope in this world was gone. Now there was nothing left to keep him in check, and to become the monster he once feared he would become. Now he would embrace it, and use it to strengthen the conviction of his revenge. But now, he had decided that death was too good for the one who caused his beloved's downfall. Instead, he would make an example of her, with a curse that he considered using just in case. Now it seemed all the more fitting. Because of Amore, and all of humanity, his heart had now become cold, and hard as stone. So now she would be made to feel what that was like. And he cast his spell: turning her into a crystal statue to match her cold, unfeeling heart. He told her, however, that she would be aware of what happened around her - and to her, despite her perpetual state. But that was the idea, as he intended to make her watch as he destroyed her world, just as she did to his.

With his magic, he brought all of the evidence he had procured (including the drones), Amore's statue in tact.........and Radiant Hope placed in a pure, crystal coffin as she was placed peacefully inside. On the balcony, he saw that the whole city was damaged, but the people still lived. While there were indeed dead bodies on both sides, it was the enemy who covered the streets. What few remaining soldiers remained surrendered. And the citizens had all gathered in the square in front of the palace, with The Shadow Initiative gathered around them. Here, Sombra showed himself to the citizens, who were at first outraged that he led this rebellion. But his resolve remained the same as he addressed the people. He regaled everyone with his own story, leading up to the moment he remembered everything about him involving the Umbrum, and their destruction. He then went on to tell them all of how Princess Amore had willfully ordered for the Umbrum's destruction in a conspiracy with the American dogs who wanted control over them. Of course, noone believed him at first. But then he brought forth his spy drones which recorded her entire confession - and only her confession, with some of the bits about her reluctance, the Umbrum's threat, and her remorse cut out per his programmed instructions.

Everyone could hardly believe their eyes, and ears. It couldn't be true, could it? That Amore would willfully massacre an entire society like that? Based on another countries influence? But he assured them it was true: all of it was done out of her own feelings of fear, her insignificant cowardice, and her submission to the government in the matter concerning the Umbrum. But instead of owning up to her mistakes, and surrendering to him peacefully, she tried to kill him. And in the process murdered the woman he loved, and hoped could have been his wife someday. Radiant Hope sacrificed herself for his sake, he said, and for the sake of the empire. That is why he was left with no choice but to encase her in pure crystal. She needed to be stopped before anyone else suffered for her cowardice.

He then told the people that it was time for a new order to step in. For the empire to prosper, it needed a ruler who had worked so hard to liberate it from the web of lies, and deceit made by its former ruler. As he who fought for this exact purpose, as was the purpose of The Shadow Initiative, he swore that if they named him their ruler, he would use all of his skills to make the Crystal Empire a prosperous, and indomitable nation which would no longer answer to anyone else's authority. He swore by the sacred stone of destiny that he would serve, and protect its people for the rest of his days. Never again would he allow people like Hope to suffer such a fate again.

His words seemed to echo in the hearts, and minds of everyone present. They truly began to believe that Sombra was a worthy man. A man who had proven himself worthy to be their new ruler. And so, the people cheered his name in the streets with high praise. Grateful that he had freed them from such a deceitful monarch who was more concerned for her image than the lives of innocents. Sombra accepted their appraisal, and "humbly" accepted the role as leader. His first act, which brought him much pleasure, was to shatter the statue of Amore as a symbol of what happens to those who misuse their power. He could practically feel the despair, and misery within Amore - and the dread of what he was about to do. Which made what he did all the more appetizing. Forming an onyx mace in his hand, he declared that the tyrant, Amore, was dead............... and then he shattered her form into hundreds of thousands of shards as the people cheered. And a malicious grin formed as his improved scheme came to fruition, and had at last succeeded. Now, the princess was no more.

Long Live The King.

Author's Note

Here we see the rise of a meticulous tyrant, and his conquest of the kingdom he once called home. Now, i'm probably going to get alot of flack for making Amore seem like the bad guy here, but you gotta understand something: she was a leader who valued the safety of her kingdom above all others. Even if it may seem morally wrong, she had a hard choice to make when it came to the Umbrum, who would have potentially become bold enough to strike against the Empire. And the americans didn't give her much choice, either.

Either way, whether it's from Sombra's point of view or hers, neither were either wrong or right for doing what they thought was right. However, Sombra was wrong to lay blame on Amore for his act of killing Radiant Hope. He was going to kill the Princess, and in cold blood, no less. He was the one who broke the peace of the Crystal Empire. And it was he who allowed his anger, and hate to guide his actions which led to that crucial, and heartbreaking moment.

However, it may not have all been his fault, as the next chapter will reveal.