The King of shadows

by stormfury12

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Dark, Sad
Length: 5515

Sombra's transformation from young outcast to the evil king of fear.

Born into a race of ponies famous for their shimmering crystal coats and happiness, a young unicorn by the name of sombra is an outcast. His coat is of a dull grey, and to make matters worse he's the only unicorn in the empire. Bullied and disowned by everypony, Sombra begans his transformation into the king of fear.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-04-14 03:23:42 UTC

Outcast

The Crystal Empire has been what everpony I know has called "home", but to me it's been a prison.A nightmare I must redream everyday. This place has brought nothing but pain, and yet I find myself scared to leave it. I am Sombra.

I sat in the middle of a small field outlooking the empire that was my prison. The skies were blue with only a few pure white clous dotting it. The beautiful sky was one of the only things I could enjoy. I heard voices to my right and saw a colt and two mares trotting towards me laughing. "Well look who we have here." said the rather tall colt with a smirk on his face "It's the great prince of ugly."

The two mares laughed at his extremely childish remark. I began to walk away from the idiots only giving them a small taste of my mind "I dont need to deal with this, I already have an excess amount of comments about my appearance. So if you can come up with anything original, let me know."

"Wait what? Your just walking away? GET BACK HERE YOU HALF BLOOD FILTH!"

My insides felt like fire and I couldnt stop myself from attacking the brat. "AND WHAT MAKES YOU SO GREAT? IS IT YOUR FREAKING SHINING COAT? WHAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU CAN CALL ME THAT!?!? IS IT THAT YOUR SO MUCH GREATER?"

I threw him into the side of a tree, even with his crystal coat I was stronger, smarter, and not afraid to fight him. But that didnt mean I had any obligation to hurt him anymore than he already was. He was laying on the ground knocked out with the two mares checking on him. I walked away in silence, nothing diffrent than usual. Accept he used that word so casualy against me, and I couldnt stop myself from hurting him.

I have fought several bullies in the past, but never tried to actually hurt them, I need to keep myself from becoming angry again. I walked down one of the main streets towards the castle. The streets were crowded as usual with shoppers and fillies playing in the grassy areas. It seems like evey time I walk down the street it grows silent as they stare at me, and tell their children not to say anything. It was something i've grown used to, and I just ignore them.

Even though I hated the castle, it was  the only place I could be alone and study magic as I pleased. My mom being an alicorn was great with magic, and so was I. The diffrence was I wanted to learn dark magic, not some stupid move this object around the room spell. No, I wanted more than that.

I walked by the throne room and saw my mother Jade Cadence speaking with King Typho of the changeling empire that had tried to ally themselves with us. I didnt care about their alliance, what I cared about was Typhos young beautiful daughter Chrysalis. She's my one and only friend. I opened the door to see if Chrysalis was there but typho walked way from my angry looking mother and came towards me. "Well young Sombra Cadence." My mother cringed at the words sombra and cadence in the same sentence.

"What is it that you so rudely interupt our meeting for?"

"Well, I was wondering where Chrysalis was, and I uh kind of tried to see if she was in here."

"oh, if that's all. Then she is in the dining room eating away at food full of love."

"Thank you for telling me sir." I bowed towards him in respect. Typho staired at me with eyes full of interest.

"Well for as poorly as your mother speaks of you, I am surprised at how curtious you are for a young colt."

Jade looked at me and then Typho with anger pouring out of her. "Son please leave so we may finish our discussion." I walked away towards the door, when I was out of sight I dashed towards the dining room. Chrysalis was after all my only friend and it had been many moons since I had seen her last.

In the dining hall i saw her playing with a small teal crystal, clearly bored out of her mind. "Hey Chrysalis!" I happily greeted her. She looked up and a small smile spread acrossed her face.

"I can't believe its been almost a year since we last saw each other! How everything in the changeling empire?"

"Well good I guees" she looked down at her hooves with saddness.

"uhm...whats wrong?"

"Nothing its just I dont really want to talk about my home at the moment."

"Oh, well what do you want to talk about?"

"your magic." she faintly blushed at the words. I looked at my horn and felt happy that she mentioned my greatest talent.

"Well I think ive gotten better, and ive been waiting to show you since your last visit." she glanced at me with a large grin as I began a small fireworks show infront of her eyes. With each small firework her eyes seemed to grow larger.

"wow....I wish I was that good. I cant even shapeshift yet, and your here doing high level magic!" she spoke in a happy tone, which made me even happier. I looked down at the small teal crystal in the shape of a heart on the floor by Chrysalis's hoove.

"Where did you get that?" my eyes entranced by it. She glanced at it and began to speak in a sadder tone.

"It was my mothers, before she passed away she gave it to me." My eyes couldnt leave it, I wanted it, I needed it.

"...C.....Crystalssss" I mummbled without any control. Chrysalis quickly hid it away, and my mind came back to me.

"Don't tell me your doing this again?" I shook my head trying to regain my thoughts.

"Its been a long time since ive done that, honest." Crystal's for some reason made me do strange things to get my hooves on them. Chrysalis hid away the heart in a small bag by her hooves.

"Its okay. Lets not dwell on it, Lets go do something before my dad leaves." I was just glad she wasnt upset with me for my little crystal spasm.

"Okay how about we go to the old tree near the outskirts?"

"Well that sounds fun, Yeah lets go." She put on her bag and the two of us dashed outside.

The cave

The old tree by the outskirts was somewhat of a monument for me, the tree was one of the few places I just sit and relax at. The tree itself was an oddity that was long dead with twisted branches. Most trees in the empire where beautiful with crystal like leafs, but this one was ugly and out of place. Just like me. Chrysalis didnt understand what it meant to mea, but she enjoyed the peacefulness of it.

"It's been a while sense we came here." chrysalis looked up at the tree in surprise with ho big it had grown.

"I didnt know trees could grow when their dead." I let a little smile escape at her curiousity, which I found very cute.

"Well its not exactly dead, it just looks like it. No matter what happens though it stays standing, it may sound silly but its what I want....to stay standing no matter the pain that I endure." My face was serious about this and chrysalis looked at me with respectful glances.

"I understand, and no I dont find it silly. In fact I find it honorable that you have something to look up to....even if its a tree." She let a small smile escape. I blushed after relizing how stupid I must have sounded at telling her that my hero was a tree.

We spent a good hour just talking and hanging out by the tree, I then noticed something I had never seen before. In the distance was small opening to what looked like a cave.

"Hey chrysalis, do you see that?" I pointed my hoove at the opening, she turned and stared at it.

"No, not that I recall. You want to go see what it is?" I looked at her and nodded. The two of us began to walk towards it, completely ignoring the sky growing darker and the moon rising into it. The opening was small but we easily fit through it and found ourselves in a massive cave, that was normal except for one thing that made my heart stop. It was made entirely out of crystals.

"This is so beautiful..." chrysalis was mezmorized by the sparkling walls of crystals that I could not tear my eyes from.

"c....c...cry....crystalsssss." was all I could say in a very low voice. Chrysalis couldnt hear me alerted her gaze to a crystal that was completly black and letting of some kind of shadowy gas.

"Sombra..look at this one." I shook my head and turned to stare at the dark crystal that looked out of place. The crystal was calling me, it wanted me,and I wanted it. I couldnt stop myself from walking closer and closer to it. With each step my vision began to blur out everything except it. I heard nothing but the cries coming from the crystal.

"But...but you loved me!!!" I heard a mare scream that was followed with a very deep and frighting voice that growled "You only wanted my empire! I could care less about you! I hope you freeze in the cold of the outskirts!" The mare began to cry and I wanted to comfort her, her voice sounded so familiar. But the image was sketchy as all I could see was two dark forms, but then my vision became as bright as a thousand suns. "NOOOOOOOOOO, I AM A GOD! CELESTIA HEAR MY WORDS! YOU WILL SUFFER FOR THIS!" screamed the same deep voice I had hear seconds ago. The only other voice was that of a diffrent mare that was panting and slightly crying at the same time."

The next second I felt colder as saw the faint outlines of a small purple form and teal heart falling towards me, only to have a pink blur whisk by seconds later. Then my vision began to fill with a light blue and then darkness.

"SOMBRA! are you okay?" I opened my eyes and saw chrysalis looked down at me her eyes slightly watered. I looked around and saw I was still in the cave only now I was laying on the ground.

"You touched that crystal and started to scream. Then you fell down and passed out! I was....so worried that you were hurt." She hid her face behind her mane. I felt stronger for some reason and put my hoove around her.

"Im okay I just fainted. Why? I dont really know. But im okay, you dont need to worry about me." I smiled as she looked up at me with her eyes shimmering.

"Its almost sunrise...I...I stayed with you during the night. My father will be upset if we are any later...I feel he may already yell at me for our disapearance."

"Okay, lets go I dont want to be in here any longer." I smiled, hiding the fact that my entire being wanted to stay in here forever. The crystal felt good, like it was making me better. I walked her out of the cave and back to the castle.

Inside the castle Typho ran over to chrysalis and hugged her. Tears streaming down his left side of his face. "I..I thought something happened to you! you scared me so much.."

"Sombra passed out and I stayed by him to make sure he was okay...im sorry for worrying you."

"Well Im just glad your okay...and im glad sombra is okay too." he looked up at me with a face full of genuine concern and happiness. I grinned back and nodded to tell him thanks.

"Well chrysalis we need to go home for now...say your goodbyes, our carrage is ready." He reluctantly let go of her and rubbed the tears of his cheeks.

"Okay father." she turned and walked towards me.

"Thanks for staying with me. Ill miss you." I blushed while saying this.

"Its okay, Im going to miss you too." she gave me a hug and went outside to the carrage and waved as it took off. I waved back and then walked back inside.

"Mother glad to see you gave so much as to a care when I was gone."I looke up at Jade as she looked down at me with eyes full of dissapointment.

"I was hoping you had just left, but I guess that its just not my lucky day." she sighed.

"I know you want my sister to enherit the throne first,and not me. But honestly you dont need to wish for me to be dead. She can wait untill im done with it and then she can have it no problem. Sorry to say though that youll be long gone by that time." I walked off as I said this leavong her behind speechless at my words.

My mom does care about me, but she just doesnt want to show it. So I act like I dont care about her either and just let it stay at that. My sister is the the filly my mother wanted in the first plase. Ruby Cadence, was my little sister. She looked just like my mom but with pure white hair. At the moment she's just a filly and can barely walk, So I dont ever deal with her much.

I locked myself into my room and began to feel strange. My mind wanted me to go back. I also wanted to know what those visions meant. I could barely tell what was going on in them, but they made me feel scared of the future. Why? I dont know and thats what I intend to find out.

Dark heart

The cave became my secondary home, it became harder and harder for me to stay away from it everyday I went there. I never got the answers I lusted for, but I did gain something that made it worth it to travel there, power. Everytime I interacted with the dark crystal I felt stronger, better, and happy. It was my sancturary for 2 years, during that time I spent practicing dark magic. The crystal made my magic stronger, filling my body with more power.

I only had one goal, and that was to show chrysalis how strong I was. I didnt need her to protect me like she had the first time in the cave. The first few times I touched the crystal I passed out, but around my 30th visit I could handle it's power. The visions though never happened again, which to say the least disapointed me. I didnt know who those ponies in my vision's were, it was driving me mad just trying to figure out what those blobs meant.

I was sitting by the old tree collecting my thoughts when the some large stallion came up to me with a grin acrossed his lips. "Well Sombra its been awhile, where have you been?" The stallion was the same one I had beaten up 2 years ago, and his simple mind apparently didnt get the message the last time we faced.

"Ive been productive with my life, what about you? Your probably still wasting it on mares and small talk." The stallion looked at me with anger, I wasnt afraid of him.

"You know what sombra? Youve gotten smaller since we last met and ive gotten stronger. How about a rematch half blood?" It was true I had grown very thin from lack of eating. I figured it would be more productive to spend my time with my magic.

"Okay, but Im not going to go easy at all." I smirked knowing I could beat him in one blow. He ran at me trying to ram his side into me. I dodged to the left and threw out an attack with my magic. The attack did more than I had wanted, It hit his body throwing him aside like a pebble. His body hit the tree with crack, and he fell to the ground lifeless. I stood there in awe at how strong such a simple spell had been. I didnt want to kill him, but I guess I know how strong that attack is. Plus, he wont bother me again. I walked away and left his body behind, since their arent any unicorns here. Nopony will know what happened.

I thought over that spell I had used, and wondered what my other spells could do. I went to the outskirts and began testing my magic on various rocks and animals, seeing that I was alot stronger than I had ever thought. I went back to the castle knowing that Typho and chrysalis were going to come for negotiations again in about a day, so I was wanting to get ready for chrysalis's arrival. I never talked to my mother anymore, but everytime I did. I just wanted to become king faster. I was tired of waiting, I wanted the empire more and more everyday.

The next day the dead body of the stallion came into light and everypony was scared. Their had never been a murder before in the empire, and they were panicing. I enjoyed the thought of their fear, I began working on fear related spells later on in the day. I only stopped when chrysalis arrived. She had grown alot taller since we had last seen each other, her mane was of a deeper blue and her eyes were greener. She saw me and hugged me.

"I missed you sombra! I cant believe its been two years!" for some reason I didnt feel like being with her anymore, instead I wanted to go back to the cave.

"yeah...I uh missed you to" She seemed to not care at my uncaring tone.

"You wanna go to the tree?" I asked trying to get closer to the cave.

"um, sure I guess. I just thought I just thought you would want to do something else together first or something." She looked up at me with her eyes, they didnt make me feel the same as they had last time. I dont know why but she just didnt make me feel the same way as she had 2 years ago. Typho didnt look well, he looke like he hadnt slept in days and hadnt eaten in weeks. He still gave me the same fatherly smile, but he didnt do anything else.

The tree was still as twisted as last time, but it had grown larger and looked sicker. Chrysalis cuddled as we sat next to the tree. She seem overjoyed to be with me, I just couldnt return the feeling. I still put up a good fake act of enjoyment though.

"Do you ever think about what was so special about that cave?" she looked up with concern.

"No, I had actually forgotten about it. Why do you ask?"

"well, I visit it everyday and I can never figure out why I had never seen it before. I just thought you might have seen something while I was passed out." I was looking over at the cave, I wanted to go their more than ever now.

"Well when you were knocked out it seemed as if the room became darker and shadows seemed to grow darker." she looked down at her hoove.

"I was scared that you had died, and it was something I dont want to experiance again."

"Is your dad okay? He seemed worn out." her face was full of sadness.

"No, the changlings are growing impatient at the crystal empire. They want land, but Jade keeps taking it away. My dad is scared that a war might start, so hes trying everything he can to keep the peace." An idea began to form in my head at her words.

"Well if I was king I would give the changlings all the land they wanted." I smiled at the plan that was forming in my head.

"But, you wont inherit it for several years. Im happy to hear you care about us though." The truth was I wanted the power of two empires more. We hung out for a couple of more hours before the negotiations ended. We went back to the castle and saw typho begining to leave.

"Im glad you didnt get into any trouble this time chrysalis." He let out a little chuckle as he hugged her.

"Well bye sombra I hope to see you again with more time." He smiled at me and began to leave. Chrysalis ran up to me and hugged me.

"I hope we got some land, I hope we get to see each other again soon sombra." I hugged her back, and reassured her everything was going to be okay in the long run.

That night I began to put my plan together. A plan that would end in me becoming king, and chrysalis happy. But in order for this plan to work some ponies had to die. I knew it was going to be hard to kill them, but it was a necessity for everything to turn out as I wanted. Jade and Typho needed to go.

The fall

5 years. 5 years of planning, waiting, and training. It was time to begin my plans. The crystal empires alliance with the changelings was growing weaker and weaker, the crystal ponies were scared of an attack. It didnt help I was testing my magic on them to find the most effective way of slaying my foe in a quick and seamless fashion. Terror began to engulf the empire, and with every death I felt stronger, I felt more complete.

The empire would fall in 2 days and I was ready for it. I went back to the cave one last time and fed off the powers of the crystal, it felt as wonderful as useual. Yet, I didnt want it to stop. I tore the crystal out of the wall with as little of a bat of my eyes. I picked it up and took it to my chamber in the castle, which was almost empty with guards controling the panicing ponies. I began to chip away at the stone as I shaped it into a diamond that would fit in the metal amulet that I had crafted for it. With every chip at the crystal, it sounded like wailing was coming from it. Misery was pouring out of the cracks, but with that misery came power. I finally positioned it into the amulet and looked at my masterpiece. The alicorn amulet.

Jade was as stressed as ever, knowing the meeting with Typho was in only 1 days. She knew that the changlings outnumbered the crystal guards by the thousands, and if war started it would no dout end with the crystal empires demise. I was taller now and no longer addressed her as mother when I talked to her.

"Jade.....what are your plans to avert the crisis before us?" she looked up, her eyes had bags and she seemed weaker from the stress.

"I dont know...If I offer any land he will surely refuse and think im just stalling. If war starts... none will survive." she lowered her head as a tear rolled down her cheek. I felt stronger from her sorrow and fear.

"If war be the only outcome, then they may challenge us! But they will fall! Peace can no longer be made between us and the changelings, let us fight with honor!" It was true that I wanted war, but honor was an unecessary waste of time.

"I hope we can make some arrangement.." she slowly walked away to her chamber with her head low. I loved the sight of it. The next morning I weent out and practiced my killing methods some more on a few ponies that I thought would be fun to watch scream in horror. My killing techniques ranged from physical to mental. Some died of fright while others had their bodies beaten and then thrown in the streets. The killing of 6 ponies was enough to cause panic and fear, I need the extra strength. I was never seen as I had found a spell that let me take the form of shadows, this spell let me kill my victims then excape with not a single witness. It was enjoyable.

I stood outside the gates waiting for typho and chrysalis who would arrive shortly. Their carrage was drawn by two dragon like ponie chalings that looked more menacing than the last time that I had seen them. Typho stepped out first, he looked about the same, but his mane was greyer. He gave the same fatherly look he always gave me when we saw each other. Chrysalis stepped out next and she was beautiful, her light blue mane was lucious and covered one of her eyes. Her eyes were of a stunning teal and her coat was like the night.

"Sombra if only we could see each other in a better circumstance." she gave a half hearted smile and walked in to the castle with her father. Now was the moment I had waited for, I went in closely behind them.

"Queen Jade I wish for nothing more than to have peace, but my ponies are tired of lies and constant moving!" Typho was practically snarling as he said this.

"I do as well, but we are dealing with a mass murderer! and have had little time to discuss land matters king Typho! I only wish we had the extra supplies to aid you, but we just don't." Jade actually seemed to care for once.

"You lie. I have seen the crystal ponies gorge themselves while we live in caves and off of weeds! You say you have no supplies, yet you constantly send Canterlot plenty of food and equiptment! Do you take me as a fool Queen Jade?!?"

"No! I do not lie, the crops have been burned to the ground and several important ponies have been killed by the shadow beast!"

"Shadow beast? HAH now you take me as a filly! You expect me to beleive that you cant provide us food because of a monster! HA what stupidity..." Typho and Jade continued on as me and chrysalis sat in silence, she was worried and didnt know what to say, I was simply waiting. The argument went on for several minutes untill Jade offered a third of the land to Typho who gladly agreed to the deal, peace had been made. It discusted me.

Chrysalis went out to gather the changelings to tell them the news while Typho stayed behind.  We were alone, just me and him. "Sombra...I am happier than ever that war has been averted. All though I only wish I hadnt resorted to pety threats of violence."

"Well sometimes that is the actions that must take place King Typho" We stood in the top chamber of the castle with no one around, if I didnt take him down now I never could without drawing attention.

"King Typho, I pity you."

"What? Why do you pity me sombra?"

"Heh... why have only one third when you could have all of it."

"Because, this land is not mine to take. It is rightfully your mothers and yours."

"Glad you agree, but I have one issue with that statement,"

"Ohhh? And what issue would that be?"

"Well.....Its not my mothers or yours. It is all mine!" I shot a bolt of energy from my horn so fast that Typho didnt even turn to see it. The blast was more powerful than I had anticipated, the shot hit his body and threw him through the wall. His body seemed to twist in the wrong ways as his body broke through the wall and plummeted down to the street with a mighty crash. I turned into shadow and quickly moved to a closer position.

His body was destroyed. And what little was left was charred and ashed. His eyes had smoke puffing out of them and his mouth was open in the terror he had felt in his last seconds of life. Now part two of my plan was in effect. A small crowd began to form around the corpse. Screaming echoed through out the group as they started to panic over what had happened. I waited for chrysalis and the changelings to arrive. This was going to be a great welcome home gift

In about twenty minutes chrysalis arrived with the changlings she was overjoyed with the land they now owned, but as soon as she saw the body her joy turned into screams of sorrow. She screamed at the body of her father "FATHER! What has happened! Who killed my father! Somepony tell me!!!"

" It was the guard...under my mothers order." I spoke softly with my lies.

"No...but, we made a deal of peace! Why would she do this sombra! Why! Why! Why!" She ran at me crying and shaking violently, I looked into her eyes and muttered the death blow.

"It was a trick...without a leader she thought you would all die off. But you can avenge him....you can make her pay, and I am here for you." her eyes locked into mine and her rage began to build in her.

"Attack." she whispered. One of the changelings was close enough to hear slightly.

"What did you say your highness?"

"ATTACK THE CASTLE! KILL ANYPONY IN YOUR WAY!" she screamed to her army. I smiled at my success. The strees were full of ponies running for their lives as they were taken down one by one. The castle was being attacked from allsides, I could have let the changelings deal with the queen, but I wanted the satisfaction of wathing jade die by my own hoove.

I turned into shadow and quietly made my way into the castle. I walked down the hall towards the throne room, five guards ran at me. "Sombra are you okay? The queen is in the throne room protected by as many guards as we could gather."

"Solider, you have served your purpose." I shot a mass spell around my body that vaporized the guards. They didnt even get the chance to scream. I made my way into the throne room where my mother stood scared and tears streaming her face. "Sombra! My son I was so worried they had killed you! Ruby is with a guard evacuating the city...I dont think were going to make it...but, at least we can spend the last moments of our lives together. Mother and son."

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! You dont understand mother, I will be fine! But you are right that you wont survive."

"What are you saying?!?"

"Its the end of the line... now for a little privacy." I shot a massive bolt of lightning that fried all the guards in the room, leaving nothing but ashes.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" jade screamed with terror in her eyes.

"What have I done? Well I single handingly overthrew an empire, killed a king and started a war, and now im going to become a king." I smiled at the thought of the kingdom being mine, the power would be all mine.

"Please dont do this sombra!" I walked closer and snapped one her legs with a spell.

"I loved you! Why! Why! Why!"

"Love is something you along with the rest of the empire denied me, and now moments before death you say you love me? How pitiful! All my life you have done nothing but treat me badly, you wished nothing but my demise so that ruby could take the throne and not me! I WILL NOT BE DENIED!!!"

I shot a bolt to her forehead that began to suck the life out of her. She fell to the ground and I heard her last breath "Im sorry..." before her eyes shut and all life was exhausted from her body. I didnt feel any remorse. About three hours later everything had been taken over, bodies lined the streets and ponies sat chained to the ground by changelings. The crystal ponies no longer shined.

Chrysalis slowly walked up to me. "Sombra im sorry. I didnt want your mother to die. I didnt want to destroy the empire. I..I just." she began to sob as she feel into me. I held her but did not feel sattisfied. "Its okay, may a new era begin. We will rule this empire together as king and queen!" she looked up with a small bit of hope gleaming in her eyes. I looked out upon my new empire, the land was burned and misery was everywhere. It was lovely.