//------------------------------// // The Best Laid Plans // Story: Guardians of Light: A Shadow Forms // by Alphadude007 //------------------------------// Guardians of Light: A Shadow Forms Chapter 34-The Best Laid Plans -Crystal Palace: 1,020 years before Nightmare Moon's return- Prodigal stood in the center of the waiting room, a smooth red cape flowing over his body as his reflections in the mirrors that hung on the pearl-white walls stared back at him. He'd heard the news of King Malachite's death, just like all the other citizens of the Crystal Empire. Even thought Prodigal didn't know the deceased monarch all that much, he still felt despair because it was Malachite that had allowed the vagabond unicorn to find the perfect home. And now the gracious king was dead and Prodigal was to be crowned as his replacement. Why me, though? The soon-to-be king wondered. I do not have the qualities of being a leader. I know nothing about running an empire. Why not search for one more suitable than I? A pair of knocks interrupted Prodigal's thoughts, his head turning towards the light blue crystal door. Prodigal watched the circular doorknob twist and the door as it was pushed open. Standing in the doorway was an adolescent silver crystal pony, his sky blue man falling straight behind his head. "Art thou ready for the coronation, Prodigal?" Shining Star asked. The white unicorn heaved a resigning sigh. "As ready as I shall ever be." Shining gave an understanding nod. "While I may not know the full impact of what thou are about to undertake, I will say that I will help thee adjust to being a ruler to the best of my ability." "Thanks, Shining." Prodigal replied with a slight smile. "So shall we go, then?" "So we shall, my king." Shining said, giving a bow. A chuckle escaped Prodigal's throat. "Not king yet, Shining. Not just yet." With that, Prodigal walked out the preparation room and headed down the mirror-lined white hallway towards a pair of golden doors at the far end of the hall. His blue eyes scanned the walls of mirrors, wondering what the need for all these reflective surfaces was. Shining took notice of Prodigal's curious gazes at the mirrors and spoke up. "The mirrors represent the burdens of being a ruler. No matter what happens in the Crystal Empire, be it internal unrest or conquerors from the outside, thou art wholly responsible for the empire's well-being." Prodigal's eyes widened as he understood the depth of what Shining had just said. "No pressure, then." Shining snickered at Prodigal's remark as the pair reached the golden double doors. "I am confident that thou will make a powerful and wise king." "That makes one of us." Prodigal replied just as the pair of doors began to open. As the doors opened, the view of the main chapel of the Crystal Temple was spread out before Prodigal and Shining. Dozens of rows of crystal ponies stood in front of them, a long ruby red carpet that dividing the rows in half led towards a pair of crystal ponies standing on either side of the centerpiece of the chapel. A light blue light pulsated from the Crystal Heart as it levitated between the two ponies. On the right was an elderly yellow crystal pony mare with an old white mane and beard. On his body was what appeared to be a multihued ceremonial robe, a golden chain with a Crystal Heart-shaped pendant hanging around his neck. On the left was one of the councilors Sombra had encountered in his inquisition. Emerald, was it? Prodigal thought, seeing the light green stallion staring back at him, his cyan eyes conveying nary an emotion. The crystal mare was the first to speak. "Prodigal, step forward." Prodigal glanced around the room, all eyes focused on him. Putting on a determined look, the unicorn began to slowly advance towards the pair of crystal ponies and the Crystal Heart, his cape dragging on the floor behind him. As his red cape dragged along the similarly hued carpet, the carpet's color shimmered into a sky blue. Each deliberate step made the soon-to-be king's heart thump in his chest. It felt like a millennium, but Prodigal soon found himself standing in front of the Crystal Heart, his muzzle within inches of it. The pulsating blue light shined in Prodigal's eyes as the crystal priestess began the ceremony. "My fellow crystal ponies, today we transition from the reign of King Malachite into the reign of King Prodigal. Do thee accept this pony to be our new leader in times of peace and in times of turmoil?" "We do." The multitudes behind Prodigal spoke. The priestess then turned to the unicorn next to her. "Do thee, Prodigal, promise to rule the Crystal Empire to the best of thy ability? To defend it in times of need and to protect its citizens, even if it means giving thyself should the situation require it?" Prodigal closed his eyes, the light blue glow of the Crystal Heart still shining on his face. Mustering what determination and courage he had, the former vagabond let out a hearty "I do." Then Emerald began his lines. "And do thee, Prodigal, promise to lead with a fair and just hoof? Do thee agree to act in accord with the advice of the Crystal Council? And to represent the peoples' ideals before the Council?" "I do." Prodigal answered, opening his eyes. The crystal priestess spoke up again. "Then by the power invested in all of us by the Crystal Heart, we make thee our new king." Upon finishing her line, she and all the other crystal ponies in the room bowed towards the front of the chapel. While still staring at the Crystal Heart, Prodigal did not notice the long carpet he'd tread across begin to emit a bright blue light from the back, the glow zipping up the carpet towards the Crystal Heart. When the glow reached the Crystal Heart, Prodigal noticed that it began to slowly spin in place, its rotation rate rising with every second. After a few moments, the Crystal Heart was now spinning so fast that Prodigal could see only the bright blue outline of the Heart. Prodigal's eyes widened at seeing the glow of the Crystal Heart begin to intensify, the light being emitted from the Heart making Prodigal squint to continue looking at it. Suddenly, a bright blue flash from the Crystal Heart blinded Prodigal, the unicorn shutting his eyes from the blast. After a moment of blindness, he opened his eyes again, Prodigal's ice blue eyes now glowing with the same light the Crystal Heart possessed. A strange sensation weighed on Prodigal's head. He looked up to see a polished steel crown sat atop his brow, two horns projecting upwards from either side of the crown, and in the center was a circle with two red arcs on either side of it. Prodigal turned back to the crowd of still bowing crystal ponies, the light blue glow in his eyes beginning to fade. The crystal priestess was first to rise. "All hail Prodigal, king of the Crystal Empire!" She exclaimed, her voice reverberating around the chapel. The hundreds of voices repeated, their voices sending tremors through the chapel floor. "All hail Prodigal, king of the Crystal Empire!" -Crystal Kingdom: 1,000 years before Nightmare Moon's return- "Since then, his reign has been benevolent. At least, until a few days ago." Shining Star concluded. Shooting Star stared back at the crystal pony, her mouth slightly agape. "I need to get word back to the princesses immediately." She said quickly as she began to gallop towards the door. "Shooting Star!" Shining exclaimed as the pegasus scout reached the door handle. Shooting turned her head toward Shining, her sky blue eyes filled with urgency. "What is it?" She asked. Shining looked at the floor, breathing out a sigh before returning his gaze to hers. "Good luck out there." Shooting gave Shining a slight smile. "Thanks. Thou hast been of great help to me and I doubt I would have gotten any of the information I have without thee." "Well I guess this is goodbye." Shining said, rubbing one of his front hooves with the other one. Shooting shook her head, her blazing yellow mane swaying back and forth. "Do not say such a thing. I do not believe in goodbyes." "What dost thou mean by that?" Shining asked, wondering what she meant. "Goodbyes just mean that we won't see each other again. I hope we see each other again, Shining. And I pray that Princesses Celestia and Luna save the Crystal Empire from thy king." "Many thanks, Shooting Star. Now go on." Shining said, gesturing his head at the door. "Thou have a report to give." With a smile and a nod, Shooting exited the house. Shining was still staring at the door long after she had flown away. The cyan crystal floated before Sombra's muzzle, his eyes staring into it. The Crystal Heart's faint glow bathed the central area of the rooftop in a light azure. King Sombra turned to look down on his kingdom from the top of the Crystal Palace, the wind ripping through his mane. His eyes were focused on the mountains on the southern side of the valley, the mountains his foes would emerge from. If I cannot keep my empire, then no one can. The tyrant thought with a grimace as he turned his attention back to the Crystal Heart. A swirling black aura enveloped his curved horn as he began the spell. "What art thou doing, Sombra?" A familiar voice behind the unicorn king asked. Sombra huffed and turned around to face the yellow-eyed being before him. "I was tasked to protect the Crystal Empire, be it from internal struggles or outside conquerors, and that is exactly what I am doing." The Shadow's eyes narrowed at Sombra. "And how does the Crystal Heart play into that plan?" Sombra turned back and began trying to cast his spell again. "The Crystal Empire is mine, Crystal Glory. The power you imbued me with has given me the strength to ensure that it stays with me." He said. With a grunt, tendrils of black magic shot from Sombra's horn and struck the Crystal Heart. What is he doing? The Shadow thought as he watched the dark magic snake its way around the heart-shaped crystal. Wait… the Crystal Heart is connected to the Empire itself, so if Sombra's binding it to himself- The alicorn's bright yellow eyes widened in realization. "Sombra! Do not be irrational! Think about what thou art doing!" The Shadow shouted, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. "I know what I am doing, alicorn." Sombra replied, a smile beginning to spread on his face as the spell neared its completion. "Once this spell is complete, I will no longer need thy assistance." A look of shocked anger began to crawl onto the Shadow's face when he heard Sombra's words. "My… assistance?" "Thou hast made me more powerful than any unicorn could hope to be, and for that I thank thee. However, thy services are no longer required." Sombra said, as a final black burst of his horn began orbiting the Crystal Heart. "So to thee… I am but a stepping stone for thee to gain power." The Shadow growled. "I do hope that thou do not take it personally and thou hast been of great help, but unfortunately, thy work here is done." Sombra said, watching the black swirls around the Crystal Heart begin to settle onto the ground underneath it, etching designs onto the surface. Sombra turned around to face the Shadow, only to be face-to-face furious yellow eyes. "Listen well, Sombra." The Shadow said with a sneer. "What I had to offer thee was more than mere power. I could have given thee riches. I could have given thee respect. I could have given thee a dominion that would last throughout countless generations. I knew thou had potential, but now I see that I chose my pawn poorly." "What art thou saying, Crystal?" Sombra asked, concern beginning to form in his mind. "When I chose thee twenty years ago, I saw ambition. I saw untapped power. But now I see that thou art no more than a power-hungry weakling that without me, would never have gotten to where thou art now." The Shadow spat, his unfaltering gaze piercing Sombra's soul. "I am no weakling!" Sombra shouted. "I am king of the Crystal Empire. And I am far more powerful than any can imagine!" The Shadow closed his eyes and sighed in disappointment. "Seeing how thy power has blinded thee, then I shall depart thy presence. But should thee stumble and fall in the coming fight, do not expect me to assist thee." "Pah! As if I ever needed thy help." Sombra said, turning back to face his crystalline kingdom. "My power shall prove to be more than enough to match the power the Equestrian princesses bring." The Shadow's horn began to glow a faint yellow. "Then my work here is done. Go on and fight, King Sombra, and when thou art banished into the ice, may all thou hoped to gain taunt thee from above the surface." Sombra's confidence evaporated. "When I get banished?" "Do thee not recall the dream I provided thee and Princess Luna with? That there will be two banishments." The Shadow said tauntingly, his horn's glow beginning to brighten as a smile crept onto his face. "One shall be banished from this world, the other shall be banished into this world. Goodbye, King Sombra. Enjoy thy power while thou still have it." With that, a flash of yellow light enveloped the alicorn as he vanished. Sombra sat dumbfounded at what he'd heard. No. No, no, no. I will beat the princesses. I will not lose my kingdom! His gaze turned toward the southern mountains, gritting his fangs in rage. "COME FACE ME, PRINCESSES OF EQUESTRIA! I AM KING SOMBRA OF THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE AND THIS KINGDOM IS MINE!" Celestia and Luna glided over the craggy valley between the mountains, the bone-chilling mountain wind now several hundred feet above them. "It can't be much farther to the Crystal Empire!" Celestia called back optimistically. "How would thee know?" Luna retorted, anxious from all the flying towards a destination that they never seemed to come to. "Maybe we should have waited for Shooting Star to return to us before coming all the way up here!" Celestia turned her head back to face Luna's. "And risk King Sombra causing more damage than he already has? I will not leave the fate of the Crystal Empire in the hands of a mad stallion such as he!" Because she would rather have it for herself. Luna blinked at the thought that appeared in her mind, a smirk flickering across her mouth. Come after this fight, her ambitions will yield nothing for her. She wondered as she swerved right to avoid a jagged outcropping from one of the mountains. "Sister!" Celestia's voice called, snapping Luna from her thoughts. "Ahead of us! Look!" Luna began flapping her wings harder, catching up to Celestia. As she was neck and neck with her sister, Luna looked ahead between the mountains ahead of them, her eyes widening at what they saw. Before them was the Crystal Empire, in all its glory in the mid-day sun. -Buffalo tribal lands: Present day- Little Strongheart gazed up at the night sky, the stars twinkling back at her. The plains grass surrounding her softly fluttered in the calm evening breeze. What a peaceful night the Equestrian princess has provided. She thought in admiration. Ever since the resolution between the ponies of Appleoosa and the buffalo tribe, a state of peace had existed between the two groups, each thriving off the other. The young buffalo slowly shook her head at the memories of how close they got to war, the very thought of such a conflict sending chills down her spine. Enough of such thoughts. She thought, shaking them from her mind. The day is long gone and I need to get some rest. With that, Little Strongheart stood up and began walking back to the collection of teepees where the rest of her herd was sleeping soundly. Well, all except one. Chief Thunderhooves looked out across the open flatland, a smile adorning his features. The prairie grass whipped from side to side in the breeze as the sun's golden rays shone warmly on the landscape. The buffalo chief watched as a massive herd of buffalo gallop across the grass-covered plain. There must be thousands of them in that herd. He thought in awe as he noticed a group of younger bulls and cows chasing each other around and between the legs of the larger buffalo, one of which he recognized. He watched Little Strongheart gallop along side one of the larger buffalo, the feathers in her headband fluttering behind her as she ran. Chief Thunderhooves continued to smile as he watched the massive herd move along the plain, oblivious to the fact that the soft breeze had ceased. It wasn't until the corner of his eye caught a shadow moving along the plain towards the herd. The chief looked up at the sky, his eyebrows furrowing at the sight of a massive wave of clouds drifting through the blue sky, concealing it behind a veil of swirling grey. Chief Thunderhooves's eyes dropped back down to the herd, the shadow of the clouds beginning to catch up to them. As the shadow passed over the ground, yellow-green grass withered in its wake, turning brown and twisted. Something is not right here. The chief thought as the clouds began to move over the sun, its light concealed from Thunderhooves's sight. That's when he saw it. The shadow on the ground had reached the back of the herd, the buffalo at the rear of the pack suddenly dropped to the ground upon the shadow's touch. The chief's eyes widened at seeing his fellow buffalo fall. Perhaps he injured himself while stampeding? He thought, trying of figure out what he just witnessed. Another buffalo fell as the shadow advanced on the herd, and a third, and a fourth. Thunderhooves's eyes widened in realization. They are dying! "Run! Run faster!" Thunderhooves shouted to the herd, but they continued on their path, another buffalo falling to the withered grass as the shadow made its way through the herd. Why aren't they listening to me? The chief's eyes darted behind the herd, seeing the first buffalo that fell from the shadow begin to stand up. He let out a sigh of relief at the sight. Thank goodness. I suppose I spoke to soon. He thought. What he saw next made his optimism fall as quickly as it had come up. The buffalo that had stood up opened its eyes. Thunderhooves was taken aback at seeing that the buffalo's eyes were glowing red. The buffalo chief stood in shock at seeing the other buffalo that had fallen begin to stand up just like the first one, each opening their red eyes. By now, half the herd had fallen into the shadow, the rest still oblivious of their fallen comrades. Suddenly the first buffalo that had gotten up began galloping at full speed towards the still stampeding buffalo herd in front of it. Thunderhooves saw the pure ferocity in the creature's eyes. He watched it pursue the herd with an animalistic desperation that Chief Thunderhooves had never seen before. Thunderhooves's jaw dropped at seeing the other risen buffalo begin to chase the remaining herd members with the same determination as the first. As the group of red-eyed buffalo charged, Chief Thunderhooves held his breath, wondering what they were going to do. He watched the first one lower his head, aiming his horns at the back legs of the buffalo at the rear of the pack. As the red-eyed pursuer got within in range, Chief Thunderhooves gasped at what happened next. With one fluid motion, the red-eyed buffalo lifted its head underneath the legs of the rear buffalo in the herd. The unfortunate buffalo was flipped head over heels by the attacking buffalo, falling into the withered grasses behind the herd, the red-eyed buffalo continuing on towards its next target. Before the fallen buffalo could get up, one of the red-eyed buffalo was on top of him. Even though the body of its attacker blocked Thunderhooves's view of the wounded buffalo, he could clearly hear the cries of pain coming from the downed buffalo and see, to the chief's horror, spurts of blood shooting from both sides behind the attacking buffalo. The chief's eyes turned from the scene of carnage and toward the remainder of the herd, the charging buffalo beginning to close in on the rear buffalo again. Not this time! Chief Thunderhooves thought, beginning to gallop towards the herd to defend it. At least he would have if his hooves weren't frozen in place. He tried lifting his legs to move, but they remained fastened to the dirt beneath him. "What is this?! Why can't I move?!" Thunderhooves exclaimed as he thrashed around in place, unable to move his legs. His eyes rose up to see three more herd buffalo being brought down to the ground by the red-eyed attackers, only a handful of buffalo remaining unscathed. Chief Thunderhooves's pupils shrank at seeing one of the few buffalo still running in the herd. Little Strongheart was still running through the still sun-shone grasses, blind to the red-eyed buffalo closing in behind her. "NO!" Chief Thunderhooves roared. "Little Strongheart! Look behind you!" Little Strongheart turned to face who had called her name, giving her father a smile as she continued running. Chief Thunderhooves didn't have time to yell to his daughter another time before the red-eyed buffalo caught up to her. With a swift upward motion from her attacker's head, Little Strongheart was tossed up into the air and over the charging buffalo. The tribal leader watched helplessly as Little Strongheart's form was thrown into the air, landing onto the withered grass and dirt with a thud. It was no more than a second later that another red-eyed buffalo overtook the young buffalo, the happy look on her face Chief Thunderhooves saw earlier now replaced by a look of sheer terror. Tears welled up in the buffalo chief's eyes as his daughter's cries of pain reached his ears. Chief Thunderhooves's stomach churned for the few seconds he heard Little Strongheart's dying cries. Once done with its prey, the red-eyed buffalo charged ahead after the few remaining herd members. Chief Thunderhooves's eyes stayed glued to Little Strongheart's crumpled form, tears staining his fur. Her brown eyes were still wide open in shock, but the life had gone from them mere seconds earlier. Bite marks covered her neck and chest, blood seeping from each wound and staining the wrinkled grass beneath her red. The buffalo chief's eyes never rose to see the last of the buffalo herd get attacked and slaughtered in the same way as the others. He never noticed the shadow on the ground turn towards him. Little Strongheart… Her name repeated in his head, memories he shared with her flashing through his mind. The day she was born, the day she first joined the stampedes, and how she tried to orchestrate peace between the buffalo and settler ponies of Appleoosa. This can't be real. This has to be some terrible dream! His eyes reluctantly tore themselves from Little Strongheart to the shadow on the ground that was racing in his direction. Take me, demon. My herd and daughter are dead. There is nothing more for me in this realm. The buffalo chief thought, closing his eyes and began waiting for the end to come. He never felt the shadow pass him over. Suddenly, in the darkness of his closed eyes, a voice boomed in his ears. "So it will be on the Shadow's day, When the world is made his prey. Ready horn, blade, and spear, For the long night is near." Chief Thunderhooves's eyes snapped open, the grassy floor of his teepee filling his vision. The buffalo chief could feel the sweat that had soaked into his fur as he tried to steady his quickened breathing. What kind of vision did I just receive? Thunderhooves pondered, the memories of his dream flooding his mind. Those buffalo, that shadow, Little Strongheart- Little Strongheart! The chief was on his hooves in an instant, racing out his teepee and into the gathering area in the middle of the tribal camp. He dashed towards his daughter's teepee, worrisome thoughts filling his head. Getting to Little's tent, he flung open the entry flap, hoping his daughter would be there. His heart rate accelerated at the sight of the empty rug on the floor of the teepee. "No. No, no, no." Chief Thunderhooves said, backing away from Little Strongheart's teepee and whipped around to search for her. To his surprise and relief, Little Strongheart was staring back at him from a few yards ahead of him, a look of concern on her visage. "Father? Is everything alright?" Little Strongheart asked, seeing the frightened look on her chief's face. In an instant Chief Thunderhooves ran up and embraced her, the buffalo chief choking out soft sobs as he held her.