//------------------------------//
// Servant of Shadows 
// Story: Shard: Settling In 
// by Hopeful_Ink_Hoof 
//------------------------------//

	In a room lit by candles, a robed pony stood.  Faint chanting emanated from the figure as it moved around, drawing the needed symbol onto the stone floor.  The chanting grew louder as the symbols were drawn, the voice reaching its peak as the final circle was drawn to encompass the entirety of the images.

The candles flared up, the flames growing nearly a foot in height, before returning to normal.  The shadows swelled and shifted, pulsing with energy.  They moved around the room, sliding down the walls and along the floor before pooling into the center of the circle.  As the darkness collected and grew, it took the shape of a pony.  Glowing green eyes opened, glaring at the robed pony.

"Who dares?" Sombra growled.

"One who knew of your return," the robed pony said in a feminine voice, "and wishes to serve you."  She gave a bow.

"Serve me?"  The shadow of Sombra let out scoff.  "And what, pray tell, do you hope to accomplish through this?"

"Once you rule, I will have a place as your right hoof mare.  Perhaps, even as your queen."

Sombra stared at the robed pony for a minute, eyes narrowing.  The dark shadow began to shake as it chuckled.  The noise grew louder and louder as it turned into full-blown maniacal laughter.

"Do you take me for a fool?" Sombra growled.  "You come to me, claiming that you are more than willing to turn against your princess and your own kind to serve me, and expect me to merely accept it?"

Sombra moved, walking around in the circle.

"What could you possibly mean, my king?" the hooded pony asked, shifting her hooves.

"You are planning to betray," Sombra accused.  "Either you are trying to gain my trust in order to turn me in to the princess, or -- more likely -- you will attempt to usurp me and take control once I have succeeded."

"Come now.  Do you really-"

"Do not insult my intelligence!"

"....very well..." the robed figure stated.  "You are correct.  Once Equestria is yours, I will do everything in my power to make it mine.  I deserve to rule.  Not that worthless princess in her ivory tower with a stick up her plot, not those brats she has been grooming to take over, and certainly not some outdated failure like you!"

Silence filled the room, broken only by the sound of deep huffing.  She glared back at the shadowy form from beneath her robe.

Sombra burst into laughter, his voice echoing in the small room.

"Yes," he purred out.  "That is the type of anger and hatred I like to see."  He smirked (as much as one can when one is only a pony shaped shadow with glowing green eyes).  "Perhaps you might be of use to me after all."

"I shall serve you well, my lord," the robed mare stated.

"So long as you serve me," Sombra retorted.  "Now remember this: I can make you experience your worst fears.  Fail me, and I will make even those seem mild in comparison."

With that, the eyes vanished and the shadows exploded, returning to normal.

"One step closer," the robed figure whispered to herself.