The Shadow Assassins

The Shadow Assassins

By, Shadow Heart

Authors Note:  These are the main events of The Shadow Assassins and Sombra.  Also, minor (and I mean MINOR) blood and gore is in this, including language.

Everyone knows the story of King Sombra: he took over The Crystal Empire and enslaved the inhabitants, but no-one knows how he actually came to power.  No-one knows who helped him, who killed those who needed to be killed.  No-one even knows if he did it all on his own.

The truth is:  he didn’t do it all on his own.  Before he was able to even think of taken the empire over, he needed an army.  He wished for an army, and his wish came true.  An order of assassins, the Shadow Assassins, heard what Sombra wanted, and could give it to him.  The only thing in return he would have to give was crystals from the mines.

The Shadow Assassin Order was a long established order, before Nightmare Moon brought terror to Equestria.  The order was to bring eternal night on the land forever.  When Nightmare moon failed to do so, they turned their sights on another empire:  The Crystal Empire.

They knew they couldn’t just take it over, however, none of them would be able to rule an empire.  The elders were ones who could only pass short time orders, not long time laws.  They heard about Sombra, they knew of his intentions, and finally decided to choose him to be the ruler.  They did not care how he ruled, all they cared about were the crystals.

Sombra did not know what the crystals could be used for, other than his own personal gain.  Within the crystals, which only elders of the Shadow Assassin Order could tap into, was the key to bringing the entire world of Equestria to eternal night.

The order sent their Strongest, and most intelligent, member to make the request: Blood Diamond.  A name he was given by the order, and his original name burned away.

--10 months before Sombra’s Reign on the Crystal Empire--

Diamond walked down the streets of the empire’s capital, wearing his assassin robes.  He knew that no-one would know of his allegiance or what order he belonged to.  All he looked like to the citizens was a funny man wearing ridiculous robes and armor.  What they could not see was his hidden blades and hand cannon.  As he walked towards his meeting rendezvous location, he thought to himself what he would say; not to make Sombra go against the order.

Diamond waited until Sombra came.  Almost fifteen minutes after he arrived, but he was always someone who showed up early.

Sombra walked down the alley to Diamond, huffing at the armor he was wearing, “Why the hell do you wear that... ridiculous outfit?”

Diamond huffed and pulled his hood down; showing his red and white hair and dark blue eyes.  Shadow looked at Sombra, “This is the common attire for the Shadow Assassins Sombra.  We wear this to show our significance to the civilians who know who we are.”

Sombra chuckled and nodded, “Alright, a little weird but... Its buyable.”

“Yes, now you know why we are here correct?”  Diamond questioned.

He nodded and looked at Diamond directly, “Yes.  You shall give me the power to become ruler of this land, and able to rule however I want to.  In exchange: I mine for the crystals in the mines below that have been abandoned.”

“Your impressive with how you catch one.  I respect that, soon to be King Sombra.”

“Thank you.  Now, is there any catch to what I have to do?”

Diamond stood and walked around Sombra.  “No... But stand still for a second.”

Sombra did as he was told and grunted, “Why?”  Sombra jumped a little, feeling a prick in his back and growled at him, “What the hell?!”

Diamond put his hoof up, “Don’t be so quick.  I gave you something called the Eternal Darkness.  A... Well, its called a curse by The Walkers of Light.  It grants the ability of dark magic to any Unicorn, and magic to any Pegasis and Earth Pony.  It takes a while to master; but when you do, you are able to control anyone to do your bidding.  And much more.”

Sombra huffed as a purple shadow formed around his eyes, “I have heard of such a thing... Why is it called a curse though?”

Diamond huffed, “They call it a curse because if it is not given properly-”

“Uh... didn’t you just stab me with a hidden blade to inject it?”

“Let me finish.  If it is not given correctly, it will overpower the will and body of its host.  Now I injected a small amount.  Not large enough to kill with, but still enough to give someone the powers they desire.  All you need to do now, is train.  That is the second thing we request of you.”

Sombra nodded, “Anything to get to be king of this Empire.  And how many crystals do you-”

Before Sombra could finish, the assassin was gone, and all that was left was a note.   Sombra picked it up and started reading it quietly to himself:

Future King,

We shall be watching you.  Train hard, and we will tell you when you will be able to start the take over of the empire.  And don’t forget our dead.  We request only Twenty Percent of the crystals you mine.  You may give more if you want, but that is up to you.

The Shadow Assassins.

Sombra huffed and folded the letter, putting it away in one of his pockets and started to walk away, “King Sombra... has a nice ring to it.”

*********

And so starts the tail of the takeover of the Crystal Empire.  Sombra gets the abilities of dark magic from the Shadow Assassins, and their help.  What they request, to what Sombra thought was a good deal, only twenty percent of the crystals he mined.  Not much he thought, but enough to give the Assassins the power they need to bring the world into eternal darkness.

--Day of Sombra’s Attack on the Empire--

Sombra stood outside the walls of the Crystal Capital, huffing and waiting for Diamond Blood and his men to give him the word, his eyes glowing dark purple.  “Where the hell is Diamond?  I have been waiting fo-”

“You were waiting for me?  Thats a first.”  Shadow said, walking up behind Sombra.

“About-” Sombra started.

“Your much earlier than I expected.  And I am sorry for that.”  Shadow said, bowing towards Sombra.

“Well, thanks at least.  Your men in position?”

Diamond nodded and walked up next to Sombra.  He looked at the empire and raised his hoof, and quickly lowered it as some of the walls exploded and fell down.

“No turning back.”  Sombra said quietly as he turned into his shadow form, then rushed into the city.

Diamond stood there for a few moments then took to his shadow form and rushed towards the south entrance, checking on his men as they fought.

“Men!  You all doing well?”  Diamond shouted as they took out the guards around them.

They nodded and walked with him, towards the center of town.  Sombra was already there, waiting for Diamond and his men to enter and help with the bring down of the king.

“You ready for this Diamond?”  Sombra asked, standing in front of the doors.

Diamond nodded and huffed, walking to the doors and blasting them down with his magic.  “Leave no-pony alive!  We kill all who stand in our way!”

The assassins rushed in and started to fight the guards, but most of the guards laid down their arms and surrendered, but there is always the few who hold onto the ‘hope’ that they will be saved.  They weren’t though.  The few that fought back were killed, and the ones who were strong enough to kill one or even two assassins were captured, and sentenced to execution in front of the city.

Diamond told his men to stay in the entrance and wait for him and Sombra to return.  Sombra huffed at the idea that they wouldn’t need help with this, but Sombra was always one to underestimate the might of his allies and foes.

Sombra looked at Diamond as they walked up the stairs to the throne room, “You sure we won’t need any help?”

Diamond huffed as a dark aura formed around his wings, “Any guard in my way will be slaughtered.  I have a doppelganger at my disposal.”

“I thought those things haunted the ponies they are?”  Sombra asked, standing at the door.

“I have mine under my control, now,” Diamond said as a shadow figure stood before him and kicked down the door, drawing his blades.  “Its time for you to become King of the Crystal Emprie.”

Sombra nodded and huffed, a black aura formed around his horn.  “Lets do this.”

Diamond nodded and walked into the room, his doppelganger killing most of the guards around him.  Shadow took on the elite guards, however, to allow Sombra the chance to kill the (soon to be former) king.

“Please!  What do you want?!  I’ll give you anything!  I-” the king started, walking back until he reached the balcony edge.

“Give me the empire then.”  Sombra demanded.

“I... I cannot do that though!”

Sombra huffed and blasted the king with dark magic, sending the crown flying off him and landing in front of Sombra.  The king fell ten stories, hitting the ground hard.  His back broke in seven places, his rib cage ripped open his heart and lungs, and his skull was fractured.  The assassins and people able to witness the event saw a pool of blood form around the former king.

Sombra lifted the crown with his magic and put it on his head.  “Too bad, because I get what I want.”

Diamond walked up beside him and nodded, “Congratulations my king.  We shall be waiting in the shadows for your orders.”

Sombra nodded and huffed as Diamond left, his men almost disappearing as Sombra stood out on the edge of the balcony.

“I am Sombra, your new king.  And my first order as new king is that all of you are my slaves.  You shall work in the crystal mines and mine out what you can.  Any complaining or rebelion will result in death.  Do I make myself clear?”  Sombra growled, standing on the edge of the balcony.

The ponies below shivered and ran into their homes, their color dimmed and started to grey, losing their shine as well.

“Excellent...”  Sombra chuckled to himself, then walked into the castle, closing the door behind him and going to make his new laws.

--1000 years after Sombra’s Downfall--

Twilight reached the Crystal heart and panted, “Finally... I found it...”  She smiled and walked forward then stopped, seeing someone behind it.  She went around it and saw Diamond.  “Who are you?...”

Diamond was looked out on the nothingness around them.  He turned, his eyes glowing, and wearing the insignias of the Shadow Assassins.  He huffed, “Well, I was expecting you Twilight Sparkle.”

She backed up, looking at Diamond, “W-who are you?”

He stood and pulled his hood down, he brushed his white and red hair to one side and looked into her eyes, “I am Diamond Blood.  Head of the Shadow Assassins.”

Twilight’s eyes grew large as he said that.  “Wait... No... You can’t be!”

He nodded, “But I am not here to kill you Twilight.  I am here to make you an offer.”

Her ears perked up as he said that.  “An... Offer?”

Diamond nodded and walked up to the heart.  “You see young one, Sombra is the King of the Crystal Empire, but he did not get the title alone.  You see, the Shadow Assassin Order helped him gain the power.  We are not just ones to bring eternal darkness, but ones who helped Sombra into power.”

Twilight nodded, “Yes I know that part.  You are the ones who control Dark Magic... Ones who want to control Equestria entirely... But what is your point?”

Diamond looked at her, “My offer is you leave the Crystal Heart.”

Twilight, “Why would I do that?!”

He put his hoof up, “Let me finish young one.  If you leave the heart behind, I shall grant you the ability to completely control Dark Magic, and not just that.  I shall make you the Queen of the Crystal Empire, and all the knowledge will be given to you in the form of a library.  Letting you learn at your own pace.”

Twilight huffed, “What about Sombra... What about my friends?!... What about Equestria?!”

“If you take my offer, Luna shall take control of Celestia’s empire.  She won’t be Nightmare Moon, but rather a stronger form.  She shall be an ally to you.  Sombra is one who wants you to take control so he can focus on more important matters he has.  Working for the Assassins.  And your friends shall be spared,”  Diamond explained to her.

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I kill you here and now.  Its not one I want to do but its something I must if it comes to it.  And you friends shall die as well.  If you take the offer however, they will be given dark magic as well.  Enough to make them stronger than what they are now.”

Twilight sat and thought to herself and then looked at Diamond, “There is another catch isn’t there... There always is another one...”

Diamond nodded, “You must kill Cadence.”

Twilight looked at him wide eyed, “I will not kill her!”

“But if you do, I shall bring her back.  I will have her thoughts rearranged, but she will survive.”

Twilight looked down the stairs and then back to the heart.

“Its your choice Twilight.  Leave now and kill Cadence, and I shall give you all you want.  But if you don’t: you and your friends shall die.  And Sombra will take control of this empire.”

Twilight sighed and nodded, “I... I’ll take your offer.”  She stood and hopped over the edge, picking spike up with her magic and walking down.

Spike looked confused at her, “Wait... Who was there Twi?  And the Crystal Heart?”

“The crystal heart wasn’t there Spike.  And the person there told me that Cadence is a trader,” She lied.

Spiked looked at her and huffed, “I doubt-”

Before he could finish, he was knocked out by Twilight and sighed, “I’m sorry but you can’t interfere Spike.”

Diamond watched and turned into his shadow form, leaving the area and back into the throne room where Twilight was.

She looked at him, “What do I-”

He walked behind her and jabbed a knife into her side, injecting a concentrated about of dark magic into her that started to cloud her mind and take it over; corrupting her.  “You are now a student of the Shadow arts.  I am your master, and your test for the rest of your life will be to see if you can handle running an empire.”

Diamond knew he couldn’t completely stamp out Twilight’s thinking, she would go minorly insane when she would kill Cadence and be left with nothing more than a giant rotting teddy bear to play with.

Twilight’s fur turned to a dark purple, her eyes turned to red and green, and her cutie mark’s white sparkles turned to black.  She giggled a little and looked up at Diamond. “Master, I am at your disposal.”

Diamond nodded and turned, “You know what you must do my student.  Now go, and take care.  Your rule is now in order.  Your brother, friends, Luna, and Sombra will be there to help you.  I shall watch and grade you.  And remember one thing:  Leave no hope for the crystal ponies.  With hope for them, they will be able to stand up and take back their empire.”

Twilight nodded and walked towards the room Cadence was in, “Yes master.”

Diamond turned to his shadow form and left, but would always be in the shadows, watching the now corrupted Twilight.  The new Queen.  And a new, dark rule.