Shattered DiamondBroken and Whole
Prince Diamond, last of the crystal kings, lay in the dungeon of his own castle. His aqua mane and tail were cut short, bedraggled, while his white coat was dirtied with dust and blood. His cutie mark, an elongated diamond set into a rapier hilt marked him as not only a brilliant swords-stallion, but also as being able to manipulate diamonds well beyond the capacity of others. His horn, normally gleaming and polished was coated in dark oil to protect its glow from searching eyes.
Now, the mark meant nothing, and had grown dark and dull in the stallion’s exile.
It had been three weeks since he had watched as the maniac unicorn, Sombra had executed his father and mother. His brother, Emerald, had lead the guards against the demonic intruder, but they had been slaughtered, torn apart by dark magic. Three weeks since the crystal empire had become a hollowed shell of it's former glory. Demons stalk the streets, twisted versions of the Guards of the Crystal Throne their design mimicked.
Diamond had fled, seeking shelter where not even the Tyrant "king" would think to look, in the dungeons, they had been unused for centuries now, and nothing entered them, except for rats and the occasional moth.
The lone prince was woken by a glimmer of light; the window above him was just out of reach. Diamond reared and placed his forehooves on the wall, arcing his lean body so he could see out the small, bared hole.
Above him, the moon watched down, it's brightness piercing even the foul fog that had existed since that horrible day. Shaking his head, clearing it of memories of the day he had lost everything, his brother, father, mother.
A bright flash of light, and a groan made him spin around, almost tumbling over his own hooves.
"Sapphire, is that you?" rushing to the side of the blue mare who had teleported into the room with him. Blood crusted her body, the mane and tail where cut short, much like his own. It was a sign of disgrace in their empire. Tears welled from her swollen eyes dripping down well worn paths in her soft fur. Nuzzling the underside of her head, whimpering at the sight of his best friend and long-time crush in such pain, Diamond reached out with his magic, utilizing healing spells taught to him by his old nursemaid. Setting bones and knitting muscle back together, he cast his senses everywhere over the mare.
He wished he hadn't, as his magic washed over her flank, what he found was enough to force his empty stomach to heave.
Somepony had forced himself upon Sapphire.
The demon king, or one of his guards, had raped her.
Rage filled him, but was quickly washed away by concern when Sapphire murmured something, and slowly opened her eyes. Quickly erasing any remnants of Sombra's dark deed, and swearing vengeance upon him, yet again, Diamond sat back on his haunches in front of Sapphire, giving her space, not wishing to cramp her when she woke.
Slowly, the blue earth pony awoke, raising her head slowly, looking around with listless eyes, which brightened when they met Diamonds own. Lying down, his head only inches from her own, Diamond nudged her jaw with his muzzle, letting a small, worried whine. All the while, the prince looked like some pup, seeking approval from his hurt owner to comfort them. Sapphire, even in her shell shocked state, understood the young prince. Ever since they had met, many years in the past, they had understood each other on a level that transcended words.
When Sapphire tilted her head downwards, tucking her chin into her body, Diamond moved, wrapping the older mare in a warm embrace, settling on one side of her and hugging his front legs under her own, curling his neck around under hers, supporting her delicate frame. Just as he did the tears started, streaming from her eyes as her bodied shuddered with great heaves, she pressed against him, burying her muzzle into the prince's short mane.
It seemed like hours past, and they well could have, until Sapphire ran out of tears to cry. Sensing his friends silence before her heard it, Diamond pulled his head away from hers, gazing into her eyes. Forcibly, his voice quaking from effort and lack of energy, Diamond voiced his question, the one that needed asking.
"What happened Sapphire? I thought you escaped the guards, I saw you get away, none where following you, how did you get caught? What did he do? How did you escape?" while he spoke, silently he was asking for forgiveness, his ears folded back and to the sides, eyes down cast. When Diamond finished his question, he glanced back to Sapphire, who was looking away, eyes tightly shut. Her voice when she spoke was horse and emotionless.
"They, those demon guards of Sombra's, where waiting ahead of me. Seems he knew he wouldn't catch the errant prince, so he trapped the girl instead. They dragged me back to the palace, I tried to escape but they where to powerful, to fast.
They chained me in the side room of the court, the one we used to spend the court sessions in..." Diamond nodded slightly, memories of a happier time, when happy, shiny ponies wandered the dark streets above. Sapphire had halted for a moment, her throat working as she swallowed and breathed deeply before continuing.
" he came in, Sombra. He asked me where you where, when I said I wouldn't tell, he beat me, he asked, again I refused, so he cut me. He continued, a new torture every time I refused. In the end, when he became bored, he left me in the room. He locked it. Them IT came, some demon it must have been..." again she paused and collected herself, her voice grew thin and broken.
"It asked if I would answer Sombra's question, and when I refused.... It.... forced itself upon me.... I couldn't fight it Diamond, it was to strong. Again and again til it grew bored with my screams and left.... worst thing, wasn't what it did, but through it all. It bore your face. I was forced to... I knew it wasn't you... you would never hurt me like that, but everything, watching it pretend to be you, how everything felt... I just wanted it to end, and when it did, I just lay there, unable to move. Eventually I managed to drag myself back to the old table, got those enchanted crystals we made and, now I am here." unable to continue her story, Sapphire just broke, going limp and flopping to the ground
Wrapping his friend in a protective embrace, and ignoring his own tears, Diamond nuzzled her softly, cooing softly and comfortingly.
"You should have told him Sapph, I can protect myself, you didn't need to protect me. You should have given me up."
"And what, have stood by a tyrants side as they executed my best friend, no way"
Looking her dead in the eye, speaking lowly and levelly "I would rather die a thousand times than to see you hurt this way, I love you Sapphy, and I can't see you hurt without it tearing me apart, without it feeling like I should pay for your pain, like I shouMPFFF!"
Having grown tired of Diamond's rant Sapphire decided to shut him up as she had wanted to for a long time.
With her lips over his.
Now wide eyed, staring back into hers, Diamond returned the kiss tenderly, leaning back against her.
That night, after the most awful of days, the fugitive prince and his friend became the fugitive prince and his lover. Tender passion was given birth to that night.
Shattered DiamondShiny Happy Ponies
It had been three months since the return of the empire. For their time, Prince Diamond and Sapphire helped Cadence and the others rebuild. On the last day of one of Celestia's visits, the prince found the princess staring at a burn in the crystal floor in a very significant room, for both of them.
"A saying from the old kingdom is that no matter the pain caused, no matter the reason for betrayal, forgiveness should always be offered, along with a chance at redemption..." Celestia turned to stare at Diamond while he continued
"... I was that stallion here a thousand years ago, and Sapphire was that mare. We remember what was done and said. I also remember that your sister had returned, and you forgave her and redeemed her. Discord returned, was he offered redemption? Did he go after you, Celestia, or those who threatened him, who wanted to turn him back into a statue? I know you are troubled by him, I am, or Sapphire is rather good at reading the hearts mind. And we both think you should try to help him." Smiling thankfully at Diamond, Celestia bowed her head and turned from the room.
Sapphire walked out from the doorway, and joined Diamond, “when did you become wise, and gain insight on forgiveness?” The white stallion turned towards his partner, “Long ago, someone I cared about was hurt on my watch, I may have yet to forgive myself, but she taught me the basics.” The pair moved to the balcony, and sat, tails and necks entwined as they watched the sun set, a pinkish glow tinged with light blue and a frame of pure white clouds.
Shattered DiamondCorrupted and Shattered
A week later
Diamond stood, legs set apart as if facing a strong wind, blood dripped from numerous gashed and cuts from his body. For two days now the Crystal City was under siege, using the chaos, Diamond and Sapphire had moved towards the palace, and had struck when many of the guards where outside, fighting the unknown force. Now Sapphire lay behind Diamond, bloody and barely breathing, a long gash down one side and a front leg that bent all wrong.
Sombra's dark laugh rang out, the demon unicorn held a broadsword of obsidian in his magic grasp, opposing Diamond's diamond blade, which the white unicorn held aloft in his own grasp. The younger stallion charged with a roar, swiping at Sombra's head, only to be thrown backwards, slamming into the wall, with the king’s dark blade at his throat,
" Now, little Prince, you will pay for the trouble you caused me" Sombra hissed at him, extending his S's into a snake like hiss. Diamond flicked his eyes to Sapphire, and met her own purple ones, filled with fear and terror.
I'm sorry my love
The end never came, opening his eyes, and seeing the lack of sword, Diamond dragged himself over to Sapphire and pulling her to his chest.
Sombra had his own problems, more pressing than some young prince.
Two alicorn goddesses to be exact. One taller than the other, the color of pure cream, with a dark red mane and a quill mark, the other with a tricolor mane and a sun mark.
"SOMBRA!!! You have been found guilty of murder, treason, conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to murder, unlawful imprisonment, attempted murder, you are sente..." the deep booming of the larger alicorn was cut off by the rage filled voice of the smaller.
"You took my sister from me! you corrupted her, turned her against me! You took Discord, my oldest friend away and made him a monster! You even have the guile to invade my kingdom and attack my ponies!" Celestia's horn lit up, flames flickered at her coat, the other goddess watched. "Die you beast" Beams of light shot from Celestia's horn and tore throw Sombra, blasting him, cracking him, and shattering the demon.
A white pulse flew from his ashes, everything crystal dissolving as it touched, Sapphire buried her muzzle into Diamond as it neared them....
