//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Eclipse // by Fullmetal_Pony //------------------------------// Twilight entered the throne room of Canterlot Castle expecting to take a test. Little did she know that it would be no ordinary test. Celestia told her the tale of the Crystal Empire and the unicorn king whose heart was as black as night along with his queen whose cruelty is said to rival his own. Afterwards Twilight and her friends boarded the train for the empire intent on protecting it. When they arrived they met up with Shining and Cadence but only after just dodging an encounter with King Sombra that left Shining unable to use his magic. They needed to find a way to protect the empire from him. Twilight decided that she and her friends should split up to cover more ground. “Alright girls we need information, so let’s interview the crystal ponies and see what we can find out. But keep an eye out, Celestia told me that the former queen may still be in the city and might try to stop us. We’ll meet back here in one hour, let’s go.” They broke off and went in different directions, unaware that they were being watched by a cloaked figure a little ways off that dissolved into the shadows. After doing some investigating they found a library that contained a book that mentioned the Crystal Fair and Crystal Heart. Twilight decided it was their best chance at protecting the empire. Only after they had set it up did they realize that they needed the actual Crystal Heart for the fair to work. Twilight went in search of the heart with Spike while the others kept the fair going and after besting several trials she came face to face with it at the top of the Crystal Palace. She went for it. Only it was a trap as crystal began to rise out of the ground around her preventing her from escaping. Luckily the heart made it out and Spike grabbed it. Meanwhile Cadence’s shield fell and Sombra made his way through the city in shadow form while the crystal ponies began to panic after leaning the heart at the fair was a fake. One pony ran for it only to come face to face with King Sombra. “King Sombra,” said the pony. “My crystal slaves,” he said with a hiss. Sombra then looked up and saw Spike and the Crystal Heart. “That is mine!” He then dived into the ground and a large crystal emerged out of it carrying him upwards towards the heart as he reverted back into his pony form while Spike fell over the edge. Shining saw this and threw Cadence to intercept Spike and the heart. But before anypony could grab it a small piece of black crystal shot into the air knocking the heart away as it continued to fall. Some crystal ponies tried to line up to catch the heart while a cloaked figure plowed their way through the crowd knocking away the others and caught the heart in their hooves. A collected sigh of relief passed through the crowd for a moment. Shining seeing this ran from the balcony and out the front of the palace. Cadence and Sombra made their way to the ground, Cadence landing next to shining and Sombra across from them with the mystery pony in between them. “Quickly, give us the heart so we can put an end to Sombra’s reign once and for all,” said Cadence. “NO! Listen to me slave, if you know what’s good for you you’ll give me the heart right now!” The cloaked pony turned to face him. “But of course my king, although you really should take the time figure out who you’re addressing first before you go barking orders at somepony.” They then removed their hood and a collected gasp spread through the crowd. “Q-queen Sapphire,” said a random pony in the crowd. “Hello dear, miss me?” said Sapphire. “Like you wouldn’t believe,” he said with a smile. Sapphire used her magic to amplify her voice. “Citizens of the Crystal Empire your king and queen have returned. We are displeased that you would try and restore the Crystal Heart, that is an act of treason and warrants severe punishment. But being the merciful ruler that I am, I’m willing to forgive all. All I ask is that you help arrest these foreigners who dare try to dethrone us. Now seize them!” The crowd motivated by fear and the promise of leniency sprang into action. Mostly former guards at first, they tackled Shining to the ground. Cadence tried to take flight but wasn’t quick enough and was grabbed along with Spike. By now most of the crowd had joined in and helped round up the element bearers as well dragging them to where Shining and Cadence were. Cadence and rarity’s horns were also neutralized in the same fashion as Shining’s was by Sombra. “Take them to the dungeon at once!” “No, don’t do this, we can still beat them!” pleaded Shining before they dragged him away. “Very good, you have pleased your queen. Now return to your homes until further notice.” The crowd began to disperse and Sombra made his way to her. He wrapped his hooves around her and gave her a long passionate kiss which she returned. After breaking the kiss he starred into her eyes. “I’ve spent the last thousand years alone in an icy prison. I need you now more than ever.” He then gave her a soft nuzzle. “I know but we still have business that needs tending to first.” He sighed. “You’re right, we’ll celebrate later. First let’s return the heart to its perch atop the palace and retrieve the prisoner there.” While they made their way to the top of the palace the black crystals continued to spread until the empire looked the way it used to under their rule. Finally at the top Sombra lowered the crystals surrounding Twilight. Seeing this she turned to see Sombra and Sapphire standing there. Sombra quickly fired off a spell that neutralized Twilight’s magic before she could escape. “So you’re the pony that bested my traps and tried to recover the heart, I’m impressed. A unicorn such as yourself would make a powerful ally.” “I’ll never join you! Now what have you done with my friends?!” “Oh they’re safe for the moment. You’ll be joining them now. Right this way,” said Sapphire. Twilight had little choice but to follow them. They made their way to the dungeon. When they arrived Twilight was put into a cell with the rest of her friends and family. “Well honey look at what we have here. I was unaware that Equestria had a third alicorn princess. You must have come after our time.” “W-what are y-you going to do with us?” asked Fluttershy. “Right now you are our hostages,” said Sombra. “With you all in our keep I doubt Celestia or Luna will make a move against us. Now if you excuse us we have other business to attend to.” Sombra and Sapphire left the dungeon leaving the others to contemplate their current situation and to wonder what will happen now that they failed to save the empire.