Would you rather die, or become a slave to darkness?

NB: This is a continuation of a comic dub I found on youtube. You can find the link here and there. You MUST watch it before reading this, otherwise it won't make any sense haha. Also, I'm yet to come up with a decent description of this so it may change at some point, as will the tags.
This takes place in the same universe as the IDW Comics that featured Rarity turning into Nightmare Rarity.
Dialogue sentences that appear in italic is the conglomerated voice that gets mentioned, so don't get it confused with normal dialogue or words that appear in italic in the middle of other sentences.

Many millennia ago, the Crystal Empire was ruled by the proud King Diamond Heart and Queen Rin. Their two children were perfect heirs that everyone adored.

But there was a third heir, born without the crystalline appearance of a Crystal Pony and the two much loved rulers hid him away. Years of neglect and hatred turned an innocent young Unicorn into something else and the discovery of what he was capable of caused him to spiral down into insanity.

Contains non-cannon origins of the Crystal Empire.

Sombra, painted as a villain who simply wanted to be evil and enslave ponies. Why did he do what he did? No one asked why, they rarely do when you're already seen as a monster. Everyone deserves a chance to explain.

(I'm not finished with this story but I'm also going to start working on the other 2 Redemption stories and maybe finish The Sound of a Heartbeat.)

The Crystal Empire has been at peace ever since Princess Cadance and Shining Armor took over its ruling. No more loving couple has ever reigned before, and the Crystal Heart has never generated such power in all of history. But there is a secret that Cadance has kept for many, many, years: a terrible secret with the potential to bring it all crashing down.
This Hearts-and-Hooves Day, Cadance and Shining Armor's love will be put through its toughest trial yet.

This story is a side-story to Essenza di Amore. Though set in the same universe, reading of the prequel is not required. Similarly, knowledge of certain events depicted in the book, Twilight Sparkle and the Crystal Heart Spell, will be helpful but not essential.

The extended version of my entry in the Writeoff Association's January 2015 event, the prompt being All in. Now also the second place winner of Nonpariel Fiction's 2015 Hearts and Hooves Day competition.

*Written before the FIENDship is Magic comic series and the Radiant Hope arc of the main comic series*

Preread by Foals Errand, The Albinocorn, RK_Striker_JK_5, Sholan, and Csquared08.
Edited by Foxy E, Dash The Stampede, Csquared08, and NightWolf289.

Cover art courtesy of Akili-Amethyst.

Inspired by this incredible song.

Featured on:
Fimfiction.net Feature Box (02/12/15)
Equestria Daily!

Approved by Tag-a-long's Book Club!
Approved by Nonpareil Fiction!
Recommended by PresentPerfect!
Recommended by the Pleasant Commentator and Review Group!

(Alternate universe for a reason! Please like if you favorited this story thank you.)

With the defeat of King Sombra and three years after, the mane six have settled down with their colt friends and are enjoying a calm life. Until the new stallion came to town with no revelation of his true nature and personality. Sombra. The very definition of evil. He must now redeem himself to one who once gave up hope with him.

(Holy F@&king s€/t featured?! On 11/30/2014.
I love you guys!)

Today, King Sombra is reviled as one of the darkest and most evil beings to ever blight the face of the world. When the Crystal Empire was freed from his grasp, the people of Equestria were more than happy to forget him.

But Sombra was not slain, and he has not forgotten. He alone knows the truth behind his tyranny, the reason for his fall.

And he will be remembered.

Featured by Equestria Daily on Saturday, April 12th, 2014.

Runner-up for the Everfree Northwest 2014 Fanfiction Contest.

[img]http://24.media.tumblr.com/a257ad5165644b1f79354634dfdee284/tumblr_mqo61uYbwk1rj6vd5o1_400.png[/img]

Before King Sombra enslaved the ponies of the Crystal Empire; before Nightmare Moon attempted to block out the sun forever; there were only Luna and Sombra. In a time when Equestria’s peace after Discord’s defeat is shaken, and when alicorns once again come under attack, two unlikely ponies come together beneath the pale moonlight. In the darkness their love blossoms, but so does an ethereal evil that bides its time, waiting to strike before the dawn.

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Sequels:
Shadow of the Moon
In Your Dreams: Luna's Farewell

Cover art done by the amazing Nalesia on Deviantart. Please check out the artist's gallery. I couldn't be happier with this piece.

This story is a sequel to Before the Dawn

Over 1,000 years ago, King Sombra took hold of the Crystal Empire and cast a curse upon it and its ponies. Luna and Celestia mourned the fall of the Empire and blamed themselves for failing its inhabitants.

Years later, the Crystal Empire has returned, and Twilight Sparkle and her friends have been sent off to free it from the evil clutches of King Sombra. But not everypony is in support of Twilight's mission. Luna remembers Sombra as he was before the evil Nightmist took hold of him and turned him into an evil tyrant. It is she who wishes to go to the Empire and save him if at all possible.

But Celestia will not allow it.

Now, as the ponies celebrate the Empire's freedom, Luna dream walks to ease the ache in her heart. In her ethereal form, however, she feels a presence in the distance and knows that she must follow it no matter where it leads...
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This is a follow up to Before the Dawn. It is not necessary to read the story before this, but it will mean more to you if you do.

Cover art provided by: Inkyheart. Thank you! Please visit the artist here: Nekomemel

"Learning to trust your instincts is a valuable lesson to learn."

Mere months after the events of "A Canterlot Wedding," the memories of cold shoulders and dismissals remain fresh in Twilight Sparkle's mind, which causes her to question her ability to face the next task that Princess Celestia bestows upon her.

Alone, she must find a way to protect an entire empire. She's afraid and unprepared, but when a mysterious stallion lends a hoof to her success, she soon discovers a friendship that threatens to blossom into something much greater.

(6/9/2016): Made it to the "Featured" page again! You're so awesome, guys!

(( "Of Magic and Masquerades" is the first story in the Crucibles of Harmony series. It is an alternate take on "The Crystal Empire," with some alternate events from Season 3 and minor Twilight/Sombra shipping. ))

After Twilight and company's (sort of) success with Discord, Celestia and Luna decide that it's time to reform another villain. But then something completely unexpected happens and Twilight now has a young amnesiac Sombra living in her castle.

A\N cover art by the wonderful Pixel Spark. Big shout out to her and her stories!