//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: From the Life of a Queen, to the Life of a Villian // by Rainboom Dash 1 //------------------------------// Leisha groaned as she walked outside of the building she had been kept in for the past months. The sunlight hit her strongly, and she closed her eyes. The sunlight almost seemed to kill her, like it was burning into her flesh. She laid her ears back, and tried to move away from the sunlight. The guards held her in place, and she looked at Pearl. He was trotting up ahead, and the ponies of the Kingdom moved at of his way as he walked past. They watched Leisha with a weary eye, and the foals watched her curiously. She had to look like death. Leisha looked down at herself, her bones clearly visible. Whenever she took a step, she was able to watch her hip bones perfectly move through her skin. She looked back to her tail, which was knotted, messy, and her tail seemed to be falling apart. She sighed, looking back forward. She felt her bones ache, and she stretched her neck a little bit. She heard her bones pop in her neck from the movement, and winced. She turned to the ponies around her, then continued marching on. Her fate had began to draw nearer, and she knew it. She looked up, squinting as the castle seemed as tall as the sun. She was coming up close to the stairway that would lead to the end of her life. Instead of the stairway to heaven, it was more like, well, you know. She sighed, shaking her head. She watched the crowds of the town fade away, as she began her journey up the stairs. Some of the ponies there, even seemed, familiar... Like... They were some of her friends in her Kingdom... "Come on Leisha. You know this isn't healthy for you." Sapphire said, helping up the Queen. Leisha shook her head, standing with a wince. "Maybe you should take a week off of your regular morning walks. Maybe you should just rest." A group of the villagers joined by Sapphire, nodding in agreement. "We know that you love all of us. A few days away would fit you just fine. Just stay home and relax." She nodded, and Leisha looked at them, stretching her back. "I can't just 'stay home'. I have to come see you guys. I would hate to go a day without you, any of you. Just my body has to get used to double the running, playing, and walking I have to do with Delilah." She said, flicking her tail slightly. Since Delilah had joined Leisha in the palace, all she wanted to do was play play play. "It'll all be good in time, my family." She said, smiling to the crowd of her subjects that had come around her. She looked up to the palace, watching the sun begin to fall behind the silver walls. She looked to the crowd. "I love you all, now go get some sleep. All of you." She smiled, and began up the staircase to her castle... And as she turned around, she began to see her friends waving, their smiles brightening up Leisha's day. The picture fizzled away when two large doors blocked the view of the crowd below. Great. Reality again. Leisha stared ahead, her happy hallucination crushed as the sound of the doors shutting rang in her ears. She looked at the ground, and she felt the soft feeling of carpet underneath her hooves. She just wanted to lay down right there, roll around, and be happy again. Like that was gonna happen. Leisha rolled her eyes, looking back up. The walls around her were made of different jewels, from emeralds to rubies. She sighed, and laid her ears back. She saw the guards around every pillar, every window, and every door. She had no chance of escaping at this point. Pearl stood up taller as his arrival to the King's throne grew nearer. He watched as the light finally fell on the tip of the King's throne. The light shimmered off the gold on the throne, and eventually the King came into view. His dark grey fur was brushed thoroughly, and his black mane was slicked back in its normal ways. His light green eyes pierced straight into Pearl as he came into view, looking straight into his soul. Or so he thought. The King then turned his eyes to the Queen behind him, and Pearl bowed as the other stallions of the guard brought Leisha front and center. Leisha stared at the King, his eyes looking deep into hers. She blinked, and then looked down. She couldn't show any kinds of weakness. Leisha shook her head as she looked back up, staring right back at the King with a evil glare. All he could do was smile at her, and he stood. He was tall, almost taller then her. He walked up to her, leaning over to come into straight eye contact. She sneered, but he just smiled even wider. His teeth were sharp, and a pearly white. Something she wish she still had, a smile. There was one thing that was different about him... He didn't have wings! Usually, the kingdoms wouldn't allow a unicorn to be the ruler of their own Kingdom. Celestia always chose who was able to rule over kingdoms or not, with of course the consult of the leader of their region. Which in this case, was Leisha. "What happened to your wings?" She sneered, looking up at him. "Too scared to be able to fly so you got rid of them?" She couldn't help but chuckle then. "I've never had wings. I've been a unicorn since I was a colt." He said, growling slightly at her. He looked over to Pearl, then back to Leisha. "And what happened to you? Did someone forget to hoof feed you?" Leisha grew even angrier with that remark. She would never do that to any of her subjects. Not her royal guard, not anypony. "Looks like somepony over fed you. Right?" Purple flames seemed to spark from his eyes, then disappeared. "You sure do have a sense of humor don't you Leisha?" He laughed, and then looked down at her. "Has Pearl told you my name yet? Or did he leave you with the mystery, so I could unravel it?" Leisha looked at him. It was true, Pearl hadn't told her his name yet. Yet, she should know him. He was a ruler of a kingdom, in her region. Celestia had to have consulted her with this unicorn at some point in time... Wait. "Good Evening Leisha." Celestia smiled as Leisha walked into her palace. Leisha looked around, her curiosity peaked by the golden armor on the guards. Her guards wore teal armor, this was strange, all in its own way. "There has been a new kingdom added to your region, yes?" Celestia said, holding a scroll in front of her. Leisha looked back up at her and nodded. "Yes. The Jewel Kingdom." Leisha confirmed. Celestia nodded, and the scroll vanished away. "You have a mare in mind for the spot I do believe?" "Yes of course. Her name is Midnight Shadow." She nodded, and turned as a alicorn walked into the room. The mare was a pitch black with a grayish mane. Her mane draped on her face softly, her sparkling emerald eyes looking up to Celestia. She bowed, then stood again as she watched the two leaders converse her fate. "She is a great pony, and cares for everypony as I. I have been mentoring her since she was a mere filly." Celestia nodded at the black alicorn standing in front of her. She looked her over, then nodded over to Leisha. "If she is a student of yours, I do believe she is ready for the responsibilities of a kingdom." Leisha nodded, then looked down. "My dear Celestia, there is a problem I must share with you regarding Midnight." Leisha said as soon as Midnight left to go greet her new subjects and family. Celestia looked down at Leisha with a confused expression-usually illnesses or problems would pop up in a magic check her guard performed before they entered the throne room. "Midnight, she is a great student. She adores me and her friends and family in the kingdom. But, she has been acting strange ever since I told her that she may be ruling her own kingdom." "A sign of nerves, Leisha. Nothing strange about that." Celestia said, looking at Leisha. "No, I mean, yes, but no." Leisha sighed. "I went into her room last night while she was sleeping and checked her vitals for any problems that could be causing this new found nerves..." "And what did you find, Queen Leisha?" Celestia persisted. "She's pregnant, and the foal inside of her is causing her severe pain and worry." Leisha said, looking up to Celestia. Celestia was shocked to hear the news, but stared at Leisha with a worried expression. "Keep an eye on her and her foal. I have a feeling this foal will mean no good in the future." Leisha had kept her word with Princess Celestia, watching Midnight Shadow closely whenever she came to visit. Leisha could tell she was using her magic to hide the belly, but her strained eyes only led Leisha to more worry. It had to be close to time for Midnight to have the foal, and Leisha was never more right. Within days the foal was born, a small colt that was a unicorn, with green eyes, black mane, and dark grey fur. Leisha was the first to hold the newborn, and Midnight smiled when she finally got to hold her son for the first time. Midnight tried to think of the best name for the colt, and ended up calling him Buddy all the time. The time flew on, the colt becoming older, going to High School, and eventually graduating with perfect A's throughout all of school. He was planning to go to college, go be a doctor, when tragedy struck the Jewel Kingdom. Leisha had run to the scene as fast as she possibly could, but it was too late. Midnight Shadow was collapsed on the floor, clutching her stomach with her hoof. A broken glass and orange juice was splattered all over the floor next to the body. Leisha knew the cause of this, it was obvious. Poison. Leisha looked around, she just had to find that one. The one Midnight left behind. "B-Buddy...?" Leisha whispered in a soft tone. The stallion standing above her growled at the mention of the name. "M-Midnight's Buddy...?" Leisha felt the tears start up in her eyes, and she saw it start to begin in the stallion's eyes as well, but he quickly swished them away. "The name isn't Buddy anymore Leisha." He said, staring at her with a cold hard glare. "I've properly given myself a name." "King Sombra."