This story is a sequel to Iron Wing and the Demolition Crew

Everyone knows the story of the Iron Wing. They all know how fiercely she fought at the battle of Rainbow Falls. Soldiers measure their worth by where they were when she routed Sombra at the gates of Canterlot. Even now, there's a pilgrimage some take that follows her entire campaign.

And anyone who knows anything about the Iron Wing knows about the Demolition Crew. The story of the Crystal Collapse is one fraught with thrills and chills for fillies of all ages, and the closing of the Ghastly Gorge continues to inspire and terrify all who hear of it.

But legends seldom begin as the titans they become. Heroes are not born, but made, through fire and pain and loss. There isn't a pony alive who doesn't know the story of the heroes, but the story of the soldiers who became those heroes is one known only to them.

This is not the story of Iron Wing and the Demolition Crew. This is the story of Rainbow Dash and the Pie sisters.

It's Sombra and Pinkie's 10th Hearts and Hooves Day, and while they want to celebrate, there's one issue...

Their son.

This takes place after the events of No Day But Today, though it's not really a sequel. This is a Hearts and Hooves Day special, really. Yeah, I know it's late, but whatever, I do what I want.

Set 10 years after the brief escape of Tirek, Discord knows one last ploy is all that will be allowed him. Unleashing a villain long since defeated and forgotten, Discord sets in motion a series of events that'll either end with his victory... or his final curtain call. Since when was friendship supposed to last forever?

This story is a sequel to Lost into Shadow

Twilight has failed, or rather, she has succeeded. Her darkness is her power, and together with her husband, Queen Twilight has a new plan for all of Equis. The black castle rises to greater power than has ever been seen before. War is brewing while alliances are forged and others are broken. The days of harmony are dead and gone, and all the world will be forced to mobilize against the might of the Nightmare Hordes. Will they prevail in the faces of Wrath and Despair? Do they have any hope of someday returning to a time of peace and love?
....
........
Not a chance, because in Chapter 1, Hope dies.

This story is a sequel to Lost into Shadow

The impossible has happened, through all the pain and darkness, Twilight Sparkle succeeded in her impossible mission...mostly. King Sombra is still plenty rough around the edges, but despite being an old dog he's making an effort to learn new tricks. Where will this new way of life take him? He has absolutely no idea, but with his queen to guide him, what could possibly go wrong?

Twilight had reached her peak, she was at the happiest point in her young life. The day of her coronation as Equestria's newest princess had finally arrived. Then the unthinkable happened, Sombra appears in the throne room alive and well demanding his chance to be reformed by pony society. The unthinkable happens again, when his wish is granted, spearheaded by none other than Princess Twilight herself. Will Sombra's nefarious plans bring her to ruin, or will she succeed against all odds? Only time can tell as it reminds them both that plans have a way of changing all on their own.

The black&red Alicorn with a tragic past stays confident despite the odds stacked against him. He is protective and liked by his peers. Even in the worst possible situation, he stays in control. Or does he?

*This story serves as a reminder to the fandom that the judgment of fics shouldn’t be based on superficial aspects such as cover art or the presence of a certain character. Stories should, instead, be judged on their quality. Read first, judge after.

[You may also enjoy the Youtube reading and mp3 download that are available for this story.

This story was approved by:
Goodfic Bin
Olympus

Here's what the readers are saying about it:

10/10 ~ Flora Blossom

Wow, this was intense! I like it! ~ Mr Swanky Hat

This is interesting, very interesting ~ Drayco Meowfoy

Good plot, solid writing ~ monokeras

Hmm... I have to admit, with the premise and all the obligatory "black & red alicorn OC" elements thrown in, this was pretty impressive. ~ Dark Avenger

Bad has been far more ambitious here than by just making fun of a stupid trope: by taking it seriously, he's made a story that stands out a lot more than just senseless jokes. ~ HapHazred

Had no clue what I was reading first but then I get to the ending it all came together. ~ Dapper Guy

Really good. Shows how some people can be so brainwashed as to genuinely believe that slavery and tyranny is good, productive, order, and freedom is laziness and selfishness. ~ Europa

This story plunged me into the abyss of depression and made my insides turned outside. ~ Hungryman

Equestria is slowly recovering from a war between its neighbors.

In this, it has come real close to be destroyed by a twisted secret that has laid at the heart of its Diarchy since before the time of Discord.

Twilight Sparkle, one of its greatest heroines, has had to come to the hard conclusion that the pony she loved as a second mother never existed.

That instead of a kind, benevolent princess, what she loved was instead a mask.

One that hid a truly selfish monster within.

Princess Cadence decides to research some questions about the history of the Crystal Empire, but is troubled by her findings. How did King Sombra come to be? What are the origins of the Crystal Heart?

Due to health issues, on hiatus until I am a functioning human being again.

Not every tale has a happy ending.

This is the story of one colt, now an old stallion, and his journey to the north in hope of an adventure and a chance to get his Cutie Mark. It was an archaeological expedition to the tundras that once held the great Crystal Empire. It was the discovery of King Sombra's tomb. How could it get any more exciting than that?

What exactly does Fear look like?

Cover art was created by cmaggot