Not long after the events of the Crystal Empire, Fluttershy discovers the remains of King Sombra's horn in a field while out on a picnic. She accidently releases the tyrant, only to find that he's weak and hurt. And so, unknown to her friends, the mare begins caring for the broken tyrant in hopes that she could maybe reform him...

When the sky over the Crystal Empire is split open by a dark tear, Celestia, Cadance, Luna and Twilight must figure out a way to stop it. But in order to defeat darkness, sometimes you NEED darkness. And that leaves only one option; Sombra.

With his powers under lock down, and a growing connection to the strange darkness, can Sombra learn what it really takes to earn an empires respect, or will he abandon them to the darkness from another world?

UPDATED: Chapter one re-formatted, extra bits added, general tidying.

Edited by Dream Seeker!
Further helped into readableness by Hail King Sombra!

It's been a week since anyone in Sire's Hollow has seen Firelight, something that's incredibly worrisome considering recent events. Being the good neighbor that she is, Stellar Flare decides that he's been cooped up long enough, and stops by to make sure he's been caring for his daughter.

Turns out it's not the little filly she should be worried about.

Entry for Secret Moon's Self Isolation contest.

Long ago, in the dead of night, Luster Dawn saw a dark figure in Canterlot Castle's throne room. Longer still before that, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends defeated one of Equestria's greatest enemies in that same room.

Now, Luster Dawn wishes to disprove the existence of ghosts and allay her illogical fears of the castle being haunted, but a lingering presence is about to teach her something far more important.

Entry in the May 2020 Pairing Contest & Third place winner!

Tirek's brother Scorpan never really accepted his brother could wander so far off the good path. Deluded and crazed from missing him, he has one simple goal: break his brother out. To do that, he will need magic beyond anything he's seen before. DARK magic.

With the discovery that Sombra is not only the lone survivor of the Umbrum race, but may not have been completely destroyed, he sets out to locate what remains of Sombra's horn. From this he is able ressurect the former tyrant and keep him captive. Day by day, draining his magic. But thats just the start. He has other plans for the Umbrum pony's magic abilities...

When a passing bird finds its way into the cave, it delivers this news to Fluttershy. On Celestia's orders she and the others go to find Sombra and try stop Scorpan's plans.

But the Sombra they bring back to Canterlot isnt the former foe they once knew. Lost and afraid, his mind fractured by Scorpan's torture, Sombra seems out of thier reach. Now they have to race against an incoming doom to try and heal the broken King before it reaches Canterlot.

But how will things fare when Discord gets invovled? Can his unorthodox methods break Sombra's nightmares into dust and get him on his feet, or will the unicorn finally lose hope?

Long before the reign of Celestia and Luna, a beautiful young mare, by the name of "Fluttershy," was on her way to her new job as a teacher at a veterinarian school in Trotsylvania. She soon finds herself in the care of the Countess de Shimmer and persued by the brother of the Countess, who has been locked away in his own home.

Not long after, a gentlecolt, Dr. Van Helstallion, comes into town, hearing of strange deaths. It is then that Van Helstallion meets Fluttershy, immediately befriending her. Now, Dr. Van Helstallion must do whatever it takes to protect the young maiden, as well as the rest of Trotsylvania, from a demon that has been causing all the recent deaths... especially due to the fact that all the victims have been young mares...

Based off of the 1960 horror film "The Brides of Dracula"

Cover art made by Evehly

King Sombra is brought back by what seems to be the imposing father of monsters - Grogar. He is offered an alliance with the 'biggest bads' of Equastria. This time though, the King of Monsters would play his cards just like a true dark lord would...With vicious tactics and spineless caution.

AU: Sombra plays a much bigger role in the finale then what was shown. Slightly OOC, potential mild gore.

While going to meet her new niece in the Crystal Empire, Twilight Sparkle discovered King Sombra's horn and nearly recovered essence in his study beneath the castle. Still weakened, he was captured and transported to the Canterlot dungeons.

Seeing an opportunity, Princess Celestia enlisted Twilight (the one who outwitted his traps and then discovered him) and Fluttershy (who reformed Discord) to try to bring out the good in Sombra.

However, just as they seem to be making some progress, things take a turn for the strange, as four ponies they had never seen before began fighting in the streets with Dark Magic. Four ponies with unusual coloring, yet who seem oddly familiar...

An homage to the artist/author Evehly and their story 'Shy Can See'. Cover art by Evehly, as well.

One night as Apple Bloom is trying to sleep, she thinks she hears... something in the distance. A light is on in the CMC Clubhouse. She goes to investigate, and what she finds shivering in the snow will change her life forever.

Runner-up for the Halloween in April horror contest.

Edited wonderfully by Professor Hyde White, Horse Voice, Cyanhyde, Titanium Dragon, Georg, Babroniedad, Ponibius, and Comma-Kazie

... wow, I had a lot of editors. Lots of great people on this site.

Featured on EQD 06/11/2020

Now with an amazing reading by FaolanCortez!

While running a Wonderbolts' message to Rainbow Dash, Soarin runs into his old friend Big Macintosh. To catch up on old times, Big Mac invites him to his regular game nights with the other guys. During his visits to Ponyville, a certain somepony catches Soarin's eye.

Being the old-fashioned gentlecolt that he is, Soarin feels obliged to ask her brother's permission before courting her.