Sombra wasn't always a ruthless tyrant. There were many things that led to his desire for power that eventually corrupted him, turning him into the current megalomaniac he is. One of those things being a time where the ponies of the Crystal Empire were plagued by a strange malady that pervades across the entire empire. The cause unknown, and no cure that Princess Celestia or Luna could find could help Sombra's people recover from this strange illness.

It isn't until the current ruler of the Crystal Empire, Pristine Heart gives the young unicorn advice to broaden his research that the young unicorn discovers something that would not only save his people. But entirely change his life.

~3rd Place Everfree Northwest Writing Contest Winner~

Sombra has been sentenced to "The Pit", one of Tartarus' pony prisons. In the underworld, it's hard to care for anypony other then yourself. Sombra is no different, looking only after himself, longing to return to the overworld and regain his throne in the empire. Events transpire however... changing Sombra. When introduced to an unusual thing, he begins to feel his heart softened as it was many years ago.

Though in Tartarus, friendship does not last forever, and the more you try and remember it... the more you forget it.

Thanks to the following awesome users for Pre-reading!
Surry
LevelHeadedBrony
GrayStorm
Night Spark
Zealous
Biker_Dash and my amazing girlfriend, Ensemble.

The rays consume my body as I scream out, yet I feel no pain from the power of the crystal heart. No, the only pain I feel is from the memories that pass through my mind, the memories of my life.

Reading by Forgotten Dream

Fanfic Reading by Eighth Flame

Inspiration

After losing her beloved, Celestia finds it difficult to continue on without him. But, she should be fine, right? It's not the first time she lost somepony close to her. So why is she so broken about it now?

Discord will have no idea what to make of what he'll learn.

This is a Princess CelestiaxAU King Sombra
This is inspired by the Reflections Arc of the MLP Comics, which runs through issues 17-20.

This story is a sequel to My Mortal Big Brother: Armor and Sword

The prequel is not a required read. Entire story to undergo re-editing to improve grammar and spelling quality This message will be delted when all chapters have been cleaned up by my new editor.

Shining Armor couldn't be more proud of his little sister, nor could he be more jealous. Both Cadence and Twilight will live forever. But what will become of him? When an ancient entity gives him an answer to the question, fear of death consumes his his mind.

Shortly after the vision, he confides his mortal anxieties to Cadence, who tells him of a legend regarding six artifacts that if collected can grant a pony one wish. For Shining Armor, he would like nothing more than to spend eternity with his loving wife and his adorable little sister. Willing to risk an early grave for a shot at immortally, Shining embarks on dangerous quest that set's a chain of events into motion that could very well mean the end of both harmony and chaos. Will Shining succeeded in his quest and become an alicorn, or will he nail his coffin shut early and ruin the full life he could have had.

Like this story? You can find this and other great Shining Armor adventure fics here.

This story has changed slightly from it's original publishing. I recommend all who favorite to reread the the story to avoid confusion going forward. You will find that most of the key event's are the same.

Originally Edited by Golden Vision, KMCA, bkster, General onefishtwofish, FrozenMasquerade, Loeden, Chaotic Mind and many others. All editorial writes have since gone to Koekelbag.

Leon always had a lot of adventurous dreams in his life, but none of them could quite match this one. Being in the role of a unicorn villain, in a mysteriously well detailed world, in which he has to take over an entire empire! Or at least that’s his plan. He always wanted to play the role of a villain and why not use this opportunity?

But he has to come in grip with his new powers yet. Taking over the Crystal Empire isn’t easy and a lot of ponies sure don’t share his enthusiasm about his plans. Best thing would be to make a plan, that means, if he can make one before the guards catch him…

OCs used:
Star Storm by Rubyfire377
Prim Palisade by LegionPothIX
General Wate Ain Sea by Fractured Note

Cover art by myself. It consists of three pictures chopped together to one. So not really a unique one.

Special thanks to my Pre-Reader: aterriblewriter

Featured: 11.04.2015, 04.03.2016, 01.11.2016

"This new land of Equestria was supposed to be a land of peace...But what has changed besides the dirt beneath our hooves?" - Star Swirl

The new land of Equestria has been founded, but real peace still lays just out of hoof's reach for the ponies that inhabit this new world. However hope still clings to the land with the Crystal Empire's examples of unity, all that's needed now is push in the right direction from one of the three factions. But the ideas of old may proof to be little more then a bump in the path for King Sombra as the greatest power in the Crystal Empire begins to turn on it's own master.

Based in years before FIM and preceding events in my story The Land Before Us.
Characters updated with chapters.

Twilight Sparkle has failed at getting the Crystal Heart in time, letting the former king, who enslaved the entire kingdom over a thousand years before, return to take over the Empire.

Now, with the Crystal Heart permanently gone, Twilight is now bound to King Sombra for all eternity...

Because of this, it even left the only pony who can save her, her loved ones, and the empire, powerless against him.

Inspired by THIS image!!!!

Cover art by SapsDrow

Now with Dramatic Reading by ME!!!

What is a Hero? What is a Villain? Is it motivation that matters more, or victory? Nothing is black and white, and shadows truly embody the shades of grey...

This story is a sequel to Magic Paint Brushes 3: This Ice Life...

It's been five years since Emma, Sophie, and Billy were born. Since then they, along with their parents, have been visiting Equestria whenever they can.

Coming up to their fifth birthday they get gifts from someone who says they just want to give them something for their big day.
But one of the gifts is holding a dark secret thanks to the man who gave them the gifts.