"Learning to trust your instincts is a valuable lesson to learn."

Mere months after the events of "A Canterlot Wedding," the memories of cold shoulders and dismissals remain fresh in Twilight Sparkle's mind, which causes her to question her ability to face the next task that Princess Celestia bestows upon her.

Alone, she must find a way to protect an entire empire. She's afraid and unprepared, but when a mysterious stallion lends a hoof to her success, she soon discovers a friendship that threatens to blossom into something much greater.

(6/9/2016): Made it to the "Featured" page again! You're so awesome, guys!

(( "Of Magic and Masquerades" is the first story in the Crucibles of Harmony series. It is an alternate take on "The Crystal Empire," with some alternate events from Season 3 and minor Twilight/Sombra shipping. ))

The Bearers of the Elements of Harmony failed to stop Sombra in time from getting into the Crystal Empire and acquiring the Crystal Heart. Now the Crystal Empire is ruled over by a tyrannical unicorn, that will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

Equestria is on the brink of war, and the only ones who can stop the evil king of the Crystal Empire, are six mares. Those six mares are the Element Bearers, but can they use the elements while one of their own is missing and in fact within their enemy's grasp?
------------------
This story is a pickup from Pat_Hoof_5000, with his generous permission of course. I aim to finish what he started.

Collab with the awesome pony known as LightningBass94

That Romance tag isn't there for the reason you probably think it is.
Also, this story was added into groups that it no longer fits into. It was added to these groups by the previous author.

Sombra,waking and again finding himself inside the ice cold prison finds he has not been locked up alone...

A tale of friendship, love, madness, heartbreak and of course, the darkness inside us all that waits for just the right moment to consume us.

Evil is as evil does. Therefore, King Sombra is a monster, and there's no debating it. So when Sombra is discovered alive it should be obvious that he's up to nothing good and needs to be taken down... So why isn't he doing anything? Twilight Sparkle is sent in to try to answer this question by talking to him, while she also tries to determine what the future will hold for the ex-king. Is there even a chance for Sombra's future? Or is the shadow of his actions destined to destroy him?

Cover art by Flam3Zero used with permission.

King Sombra is a lot of things if not patient, but even he has a point where things go from bitterly trapped to unbearably boring. Torture would be nice! If she had the guts to entertain him in the old fashion way. No such joy for him...just bored, alone and still dead set on his vengeance, even if it is unanswered for. Just endless waiting. Endless nothing. No freedom to even pace his confines. Just an endless, tormenting nothing...

And yet...

For the first time in over fifty years...

He heard a knock on the door...

(Mind blowing art by futuristicspacetiger )

Twilight Sparkle, the famed Alicorn Princess, after 3 years, grows tired and restless one fateful night. Going out for a late-night flight, she found plenty more than what she asked for, finding a home to stay at for good.

King Sombra, the tyrant of Crystal Empire is back, only to be imprisoned by princesses and put through reformation with Twilight Sparkle as his teacher. Can somepony with heart as black as night be reformed? Twilight believes so. Sombra in other hoof isn't so sure but something in that mare makes him try.

This is going to be one of my longest stories this far. Marked Teen for sexual innuendo and slightly gory-ish scenes. Nothing too bad though. Also this will not be a story that deserves a dark marking.

For now I'd like to thank Alun Aleriksson, pony of change, Microshazm and Sidetrack for helping with the grammar and overall writing in general. Thank you so much.

Cover art by lorekhearts.

This story is a sequel to Lost into Shadow

The impossible has happened, through all the pain and darkness, Twilight Sparkle succeeded in her impossible mission...mostly. King Sombra is still plenty rough around the edges, but despite being an old dog he's making an effort to learn new tricks. Where will this new way of life take him? He has absolutely no idea, but with his queen to guide him, what could possibly go wrong?

It had been around two months since King Sombra took over the Crystal Empire. Even with the best of efforts, the Elements of Harmony, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor and Spike were unable to stop the King of Dark Magic. Spike and Cadence's whereabouts are unknown and everypony else seems to be just a regular slave.

Save for one, who showed off bravery during the very first meeting between her and her future king. She was granted a position as a soldier in his army, where she was brainwashed to believe all that he believed. However, during the first mission to Hollow Shades, she made multiple mistakes and was pulled from the army and has become a Castle Slave.

A maid if you will.

Rated Teen for Implied Torture and Slavery.

The cover art was made by myself.

Twilight had reached her peak, she was at the happiest point in her young life. The day of her coronation as Equestria's newest princess had finally arrived. Then the unthinkable happened, Sombra appears in the throne room alive and well demanding his chance to be reformed by pony society. The unthinkable happens again, when his wish is granted, spearheaded by none other than Princess Twilight herself. Will Sombra's nefarious plans bring her to ruin, or will she succeed against all odds? Only time can tell as it reminds them both that plans have a way of changing all on their own.