In the Princess's Grip

Beneath the Empire

The Crystal Empire shimmered under the midday sun, its towers gleaming with a brilliance that was both familiar and foreign to King Sombra. Yet, despite the beauty and radiance above, Sombra was not in the throne room, nor was he wandering the grand halls of the palace. Instead, he was far below the empire, in the depths of the castle’s forgotten chambers—places where light dared not reach.

Down here, in the cold, dimly lit underground, things were different. There were no gleaming crystals, no vibrant banners of the kingdom. The air was thick with tension, the kind that clung to your skin and made every breath feel heavier. It was the perfect place for the business at hoof.

Sombra stood in a hidden room carved deep beneath the castle, an ancient dungeon now repurposed for more subtle matters. Before him sat a trembling pegasus, bound to a simple wooden chair. The dim light from the single flickering torch on the wall cast deep shadows across the stone floor, giving the scene an ominous feel.

The pegasus, his wings bound tightly behind him, looked at Sombra with wide, terrified eyes. Sweat beaded on his brow, his breath shallow and erratic.

“Where did you get the magic inhibitor?” Sombra’s voice was calm, almost too calm, as he circled the chair. “And who is producing them?” His tone carried a weight of authority, yet there was no malice in it. Still, the tension in the room was suffocating.

This was one of the main "tasks" he was responsible for—personally interrogating criminals. Why? Well, his methods were highly effective. Although, truth be told, during the last week he was missing, Celestia had taken over. Why didn’t her guards handle it? Simple: the alicorn needed something to vent her frustration on. But now he was back, and he wasn’t nearly as harsh during interrogations.

The pegasus shifted nervously, his hooves scraping against the floor. He said nothing.

Sombra stopped, leaning in closer, his eyes narrowing.

“Oh crap, what do I do now? Usually, just raising my voice works, but it’s not doing the trick! Do I really have to that?” Sombra thought, getting a bit nervous while trying not to let the pegasus notice.

“You will answer me.” His voice took on a darker edge, but it was still restrained, controlled. Seriously, at this rate, his throat was going to hurt for the rest of the week. Why couldn’t they just admit their crimes and join the 'redemption program'? Though, to be honest, he wasn’t a fan of that program either, since it involved getting beaten into being good—literally.

The pegasus swallowed hard, his eyes darting around the room, looking for any means of escape that didn’t exist. He opened his mouth, but only a weak croak escaped. He was frozen in fear. There it was again—why did everypony outside the Crystal Empire get so scared when he put on his 'grumpy face'? It wasn’t his fault he was born with that expression and so many canines.

These ponies didn’t know true terror; they’d never seen Celestia after a ten-hour workday, hungry and cranky, she was like a beast. No, it was definitely not recommended to be around her in that state. He shuddered at the memory.

Sombra sighed inwardly. He didn’t want to do this, but sometimes old habits were useful. He stepped closer, his expression hardening. His eyes darkened, and his voice dropped to a menacing whisper.

“I’m not as... patient as you think. If you won’t tell me what I need to know, I’ll have to... convince you.” He let a sinister smile creep across his face.

The pegasus flinched, panic flashing in his eyes.

“I-I... I don’t know! I swear!” he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s... it’s always someone different. A new seller every week! ¡Please…don’t hurt me…!”

Sombra leaned in even closer, his shadow falling over the pegasus. His expression twisted into a mockery of the tyrant he once was, his lips curling into a wicked grin. He chuckled darkly, his voice rising into a chilling, maniacal laugh that echoed through the chamber.

The pegasus paled, shaking violently in the chair. “I-I don’t know anything else! Please! I swear!” he cried, his voice cracking under the weight of his fear.

Sombra narrowed his eyes. He knew this pony had told him everything he could, but the act had its purpose. Before he could speak again, the door creaked open, and one of Sombra’s crystal pony servants entered the room, his hooves clicking softly against the stone floor.

“My lord,” the servant said in a calm, almost casual tone, “Would you like me to bring the hammer?”

Sombra blinked, his façade breaking for a moment as he turned to the servant with surprise. A hammer, seriously? Never. He couldn’t even handle butter knives, seriously, He had no idea what kind of image his servants had of him.

“A... a hammer?” He cleared his throat, clearly flustered. “N-No, that won’t be necessary. Seriously, are we trying to kill somepony here? I’m pretty sure he’s already told us everything he knows.”

The crystal pony tilted his head slightly, his voice steady yet cautious. "My lord, you are truly merciful, but if I may—this is the fourth one we've interrogated this week. Perhaps... more persuasive methods are required?"

Sombra took a step back, genuinely startled by the pony’s calm suggestion. He hadn’t expected that level of zeal from his servant But, no. Sombra wasn't a mosnter. He never would cross that line.

“No, that won’t be necessary,” he repeated, regaining his composure. “We’re done here.”

The servant bowed slightly.

“As you wish, my lord.” He turned and left the room, leaving Sombra alone with the pegasus.

Sombra sighed, shaking his head. He looked down at the trembling pegasus, who was still quaking in fear, his eyes wide with terror.

“I won’t hurt you,” Sombra said, his voice softening, his “bad king” act dropped entirely. “But you need to be careful about who you trust. These magic inhibitors are dangerous and can seriusly put in danger other ponys, If you know anything else, now is the time to speak.”

The pegasus shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “I don’t... I don’t know anything more. I swear it. I just buy it because a friend told me to”

Sombra studied him for a long moment, then nodded.

“Very well. But consider this a warning: stay away from those who deal in such things. And this doesn’t excuse buying something illegal.” He glanced at the guards by the door. “Take him to Canterlot. Another one for the redemption program.”

The pegasus looked more terrified than before. Wow, so the redemption program was scarier than him? He wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or offended. Well, although Sombra didn’t blame him, when he had to go through that program, it was hell on Equis.

As the pegasus was led away, Sombra let out a deep sigh, leaning against the cold stone wall. This is going to get worse before it gets better, he thought to himself. But for now, he had to maintain control—of the empire, and of himself.

Sombra sat at his desk, surrounded by an imposing stack of paperwork that seemed to tower over him, casting long shadows in the dim light of his study. The Crystal Empire might have been glowing above, but in the quiet solitude of his office, the weight of responsibility pressed heavily on his shoulders. Reports on recent attacks, notes on the illegal use of magic inhibitors, security updates—all piled high in front of him. It felt endless.

He skimmed through the reports once more, furrowing his brow. Despite all the paperwork, there was no mention of the "new drug" Celestia had spoken of. Perhaps it hasn’t been produced in large quantities yet, he mused, though that did little to ease his growing headache.

A soft knock interrupted his thoughts, and a crystal pony servant entered, carrying a small tray with a steaming cup of tea. She placed it gently on the corner of his desk, bowing slightly before retreating without a word.

Sombra exhaled deeply, grateful for the small gesture. He reached for the cup, but his hoof bumped against the towering pile of documents, sending the cup tumbling. The tea splashed across the desk, spilling over the papers he’d just signed. He clenched his jaw in frustration and muttered to himself as he reached for a cloth to clean up the mess.

"How familiar," he grumbled, his mind flashing back to a memory—Twilight. How many times had he seen her desk cluttered with books, scrolls, and letters, almost toppling under the sheer weight of her work? And how many times had he watched her knock over her tea while being so lost in her tasks? The thought tugged at the corners of his mouth, almost making him smile.

Sparkle...

He realized how long it had been since he’d let himself think about her. The past weeks had been a blur of duties, interrogations, and attempts to keep the empire under control. It had left him no time to dwell on the events of the other world. But now, in the silence of his study, with the only sound being the distant hum of the empire’s crystal magic, he couldn’t help but wonder what she was doing.

Probably reading quietly, he thought, closing his eyes as he leaned back in his chair. He could picture it so clearly—Twilight, sitting in the warm light of her library, sipping tea from a delicate cup. Or maybe she was indulging in one of those little cakes she seemed to enjoy so much, the kind that always left a smudge of frosting on the corner of her mouth.

Sombra smirked slightly, imagining her laughter echoing through the library, perhaps joined by the chatter of her friends or the youthful enthusiasm of her dragon assistant. A peaceful life, far from the constant weight of a crown, far from the responsibilities that now bore down on him like a leaden cloak.

Or... His thoughts darkened for a moment, the image shifting in his mind. What if she was with someone else? What if she had found another stallion to share her life with? His heart raced at the thought, a sudden surge of jealousy that he hadn’t expected.

No, he shook his head quickly. She wouldn’t. He didn’t want to believe it. Twilight wasn’t the kind of pony who would simply move on like that. Or was it just that he didn’t want to picture her with anyone else? The idea unsettled him, more than it should have.

He sat up, startled by the intensity of his own thoughts. The absurdity of it gnawed at him. Why do you care, Sombra? He scolded himself. This is foolish. You have no right to claim anything from her because we were just friends He didn’t even know if they were still friends after the last fight, and now that they had lost all contact, they didn’t even say a proper goodbye.

Sombra pressed a hoof against his temple, trying to push the thoughts away. All this work is draining me, he thought bitterly. He was mentally exhausted, and it was making him weak. Too many signatures, too many decrees, organizing festivals, managing the punishments for lawbreakers—it was all so mundane. How had Cadance, the so-called "Princess of Love" from the other world, managed to keep up with it all?

Of course, Twilight had mentioned that Cadance’s husband, Shining Armor, helped her. A frown settled on Sombra’s face as he thought of that. The idea of having someone by his side to share the burden of ruling… no, it was absurd. He couldn’t see himself married, tied to anyone in that way.

But as the thought of matrimony drifted through his mind, a single image illuminated his thoughts: Twilight. Her smile, her warmth, the light in her eyes whenever she was caught up in something that excited her. He could almost see her standing beside him, her presence filling the cold, dark room with light.

Sombra shook his head violently, as if trying to rid himself of the vision. Stop it, Sombra, he muttered under his breath, his voice a harsh whisper. Let her go.

His heart pounded in his chest, the silence of the study pressing in on him once more. He stared at the spilled tea, the wet papers scattered across his desk, and sighed deeply. All this time, he had been trying to rule a kingdom and forget about her. But now, sitting here, the weight of his duties and the isolation of his role felt almost unbearable. It was times like these that the memories crept back in, unwanted, unbidden.

He leaned back in his chair once more, closing his eyes, forcing himself to focus. Twilight was in another world, living her own life. She wasn’t part of his empire, his reality. He had no right to dwell on her, no right to keep her image locked in his mind.

But the more he tried to push her away, the clearer her image became.

To be continued...