Chapter 6
The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign
Sombra growled to himself as he sat down by the desk in his bedchamber. He wasn’t bothered by the fact that the colt wasn’t gone, though that hadn’t quite been planned. What irked him was not knowing why the boy hadn’t been sent back. He had already tried and tested the time spell and it never failed to send the ponies back seven days later.
The king hated irregularities in his work and this was a really big one. Sure, he had toyed with the idea of keeping the boy, but if he had been serious about it, Sombra would have preferred to have been directly involved in the process of preventing the child from returning to his own time.
It can’t be because of the essence, even if it still flows within him. He is still himself. No, something weakened the tether that was holding him here, but what? Sombra rubbed his muzzle thoughtfully and opened a book that was on his desk. He then grabbed a quill in his magic and after dipping it in ink, began writing.
I would almost suspect Discord to be responsible - he is still causing havoc down south in Equestria… but my magic plus the protective abilities of the Crystal Heart I’ve managed to harness are keeping him and his chaos magic away from the Crystal Empire, he thought as he continued to log down today’s event. Usually he did this in his lab, but sometimes he brought his journal up to his chamber to jot down things, especially if something was bothering him.
Now the question also is, since the boy is here, what to do with him. He stopped writing for a moment and glanced to his side, right on cue a servant was already pouring him some wine into a large golden cup. The king nodded in satisfaction, then dismissed the crystal pony who bowed and left the room.
Sombra took a glance over the entire room. The servants who usually tended to him during the evening had already finished their duties. The bed was ready once he felt like retiring, there were some more refreshments on a small table in case he got hungry and to his dismay they had once again left one of his selection of concubines standing idle and nervous in the middle of the room.
“I keep telling them that unless I specifically ask for it, I do not require the service of my concubines,” Sombra sighed, then with a glare and a sharp order, the mare was dismissed. She wasted little time hurrying out of the room. Probably thinks it will placate me.
The unicorn returned to his book, holding the wine cup now in his magic. As he sipped, his eyes glanced up to a wooden box on a small shelf attached to the wall the desk was up against. The king lifted the lid with magic and carefully lifted a delicate, but damaged, silver tiara from it.
Ira, my sister, what would you have me do? he wondered, staring at the jewelry thoughtfully. His eyes narrowed a little. You would probably wonder first what our mother’s stance was.
Mother would of course consider the boy a dark pony like us. She wasn’t overly concerned that the civilians had the blood of other breeds in them. She even tolerated marriages to Saddle Arabians. Just keep the royal line pure, that was her only edict in those matters. Sombra put the tiara back into the box and closed it.
Well, keeping the royal line is impossible now. I’m the last…wait no I’m not. The king’s eyes suddenly lit up as the realization hit him.
“The rumors are true, dark ponies did escape to Equestria and mingled with the natives. The boy proves it.” Sombra rose from his seat and put the wine cup on the table in the same move. The king started to pace around in front of the desk as he considered what had just occurred to him.
“Yes, his blood is probably all muddled by now. I saw in his mind a very typical Equestrian name… but he can draw his lineage to my race.” Sombra stopped and looked towards the entrance of his chamber. A smile crossed his lips. “And he’s a unicorn, too.”
The present
The ghostly form of King Sombra watched the two sleeping forms in the cave as his mind was in the past. A small fire was already dying out as it had been first lit hours ago. It had been a long trek and they were still in the mountainous regions between the Crystal Empire and Equestria. Finally the travelers had found a small cave to spend the night in.
Sombra of course didn’t require sleep, so he was technically the lookout, even if only Temor could see and hear him. That would be enough. The prince was, after all, the one with the most firepower if trouble arose.
I still wonder about you, the spirit looked at Emerald who slept closest to the entrance. Why did you help my son? Why is your loyalty still so strong? Sure, I told my son that a beaten animal often prefers its cage, yet you had ample opportunity to…
The former king glanced around when he thought he heard a noise. It turned out to be simply Temor groaning a little in his sleep before shifting into a better position. The spirit shifted closer, eyes still fixed on his son.
My son, if you only knew. All my thoughts were on you. I feared most what the Crystal Heart would do to you. I hoped you would be spared due to the parts of you that are Equestrian. You… unless you succeed in resurrecting me are now the last. I… the spirit tried to put a hoof on Temor, but it only went through him. The king quickly withdrew it when his son shivered slightly, as if a cold chill had passed through him in his sleep.
Suddenly the prince woke up with a start as if roused from a bad dream. Temor rolled to his stomach and looked up at the spirit of his father. For a brief moment, Sombra saw a flicker of fear pass through his son’s eyes. It was as if his mind was still stuck in a distant memory. The young stallion quickly shook this off and assumed a more respectful stance as he inclined his head down.
“Father, is it morning already?” he asked quietly and rose to his feet.
“No, not yet. Celestia has yet to raise the sun,” Sombra remarked and glanced to the cave entrance.
“Blast, it’s cold in here,” Temor grunted as he shivered a little. With a small flick of magic from his horn, he relit the campfire, then he walked over to the entrance and glanced outside.
“Since you are awake and your concubine is asleep, why don’t you tell me in more detail what occurred during my return?” Sombra asked.
Temor looked at his father, nodded before sitting down closer to the fire. Then he proceeded to tell the spirit everything - since he woke up, when Cadance and Shining Armor arrived and erected the shield, when Twilight and her friends came along and started the fair and started to actively look for the Crystal Heart.
Sombra listened to the tale with this head bowed, his brow sunken in a frown as he considered everything he was hearing. Once his son was done, the dead king looked up, peering at the young unicorn.
“Did you say the alicorn was named Princess Cadance?” he asked and his brow sunk deeper when Temor nodded. “Huh… I wonder…”
“Wonder what, if I may ask, father?” the prince asked, watching the flickering image of his father rub his muzzle in thought.
“Nothing important for now, just a small curiosity… and those other ponies, you said there were six of them?” the king asked.
“Yes, like I said; two unicorns, two earth ponies and two pegasi,” Temor informed him and arched his brow when Sombra chuckled slightly.
“Six ponies, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are not present, but she sends six ponies to assist another alicorn princess, along with her stalwart husband, that white unicorn prince,” the king mused and a slight smile crossed his muzzle. “Are you making things difficult for me again, Celestia? Is it possible that instead of you and your sister that you have found six ponies for each of the elements?”
Temor listened, not daring to interrupt. He had always noticed before that his father often spoke with some admiration of the Celestial Sisters, especially Princess Celestia. When Equestria had freed itself from Discord’s chaotic reign, the sisters had not immediately attacked the Crystal Empire. They had tried negotiations first, pleading with Sombra to free the crystal ponies.
The prince recalled that the king had looked forward to the talks, even if they didn’t go anywhere and the end result was that the Royal Sisters attacked with the Elements of Harmony. Temor was almost convinced that his father viewed them as worthy adversaries.
“Very well, I accept your challenge,” Sombra whispered, addressing the Solar Princess who at this moment was walking out to the balcony of Canterlot Castle, preparing to raise the sun.
“Father?” Temor figured he wasn’t talking to him, but he was curious what his father was thinking now.
“It is clear that our enemies will learn of you soon and probably figure out your purpose. When we reach Equestria, in addition to finding a way to resurrect me, we better find out as much as we can about those six ponies. I don’t think we need to worry about that other alicorn and her unicorn husband, I have feeling they will be busy enough in the Crystal Empire,” Sombra told his son and floated closer.
“Wait, how do you know they are married?” Temor wondered. Although he called the two usurpers, for all he knew they were brother and sister.
“I fought the white unicorn out in the frozen waste, I haunted him as he tried to keep me out of the empire. He was brave, but foolish. His mind was strong, but I got in. He hated being helpless, so I rendered him helpless, blocked his magic and tossed him right back through the shield his wife had erected,” Sombra chuckled and glanced at his son. “You will soon learn the enjoyment of tormenting your enemies.”
Temor nodded, then his eyes shifted to the entrance of the cave. He thought he had seen light and now could see that dawn was coming. He also noticed that his father had fallen silent and soon learned why. Emerald was facing the incoming light and as soon as it hit her face, the crystal mare was disturbed from her slumber.
With a yawn, Emerald rose to her hooves. She immediately bowed to the prince who nodded to her. Then without a word, she went to the backpacks and started pulling out food to prepare some breakfast.
Father, can you hear me like this? Temor thought and glanced at his father who made no indication that he had heard him. Drat.
“I’m stepping out for a little bit, survey the area,” he told Emerald who just nodded. The unicorn walked out of the cave and walked away from it. Once he was sure he was out of earshot, he glanced at the spirit bound to him.
“You can’t hear my thoughts, father?” he asked and sighed when Sombra shook his head.
“I’m only bound to you as a shadow, I have no access to your mind in my current state,” the king told him.
“So, I’ll need to be careful that Emerald or anypony else doesn’t hear me talking to you,” Temor grunted. The spirit just nodded, confirming his words.
Temor fell silent and stared towards the south where Equestria lay. He had only vague memories of once living there, but the unicorn had no idea from what time he came and was certain that it was impossible he was now in his correct timeline, not knowing he had merely overshot some twenty-three years or so.
The prince had in fact far more clear memories of viewing that country as enemy grounds - he held no love towards the Celestial Sisters and held little regard towards the ponies they ruled. Temor subtly glanced at his cape-covered flank, grimacing a little when remembering his book cutie mark - a constant, dreadful reminder for him that he was in fact an Equestrian.
The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign
Private Iceland woke up with a start when something nudged him. He quickly turned only to see the old blue crystal mare from yesterday. The boy blinked for a second, then glanced around and winced when seeing that he was still not home.
“I’m sorry to wake you, young sir, but I am to serve you breakfast and then the king wants you in the throne room,” the mare informed him.
The young colt shivered at the thought. He sat up in the bed and was presented with food on a tray. Private tilted his head - this wasn’t the usual breakfast served in his house. There was a strange corncob, some fruit and the bread was in a whole loaf instead of cut into slices. He looked at the mare who was pouring him a drink in a glass.
Private was a little confused. Just yesterday he had been locked in a cage, lying on moldy hay and given just enough to survive. Now he was waking up in a relatively soft bed and given what looked like a nice enough breakfast, though the colt already missed his mother’s pancakes.
“Would you like butter or honey with your bread, young sir?” the mare asked.
“I… uh dunno… can I have both?” he asked hesitantly.
“Of course, young sir.” She nodded and placed two crystal jars on the tray, one had honey and one had butter.
Not really knowing what else to do and feeling rather hungry, the boy started eating. So far it was the best food he had eaten in days. He wasn’t sure about the drink though, it smelled and tasted like fruit juice, but Private was used to there being more water in it.
Once he was done eating, the mare removed the tray and put it on the cart. Private supposed he felt a little better, but the boy wasn’t so sure about going to see the king. However, he didn’t dare disobey when told to come with the mare, so the little unicorn jumped off the bed and followed her out.
Fear and uncertainty were momentarily forgotten once more when they entered the long hallways. Most children would probably be a little spooked by the dark foreboding decor and the large guards in dark-looking armor, but all of it just held Private’s fascination. He had been in old castles before and seen rusty armor no longer in use, but seeing things in such pristine condition just made him gawk even more at it.
Private would have loved to ask questions about everything, however, he couldn’t work up the nerve. He still hadn’t quite forgotten who the castle belonged to and who he was meeting again.
The mare escorted the boy into the throne room, the colt whimpered a little when seeing the Dark King sitting on his throne and hid behind the crystal pony. Sombra didn’t notice as right now a small magical portal was right in front of him, an image of something was on it that was speaking to him.
“I am so touched that you thought of me regarding your little dilemma Somby, but you already know I can’t even cause a rainy day in the Crystal Empire, let alone cause some time spell to misfire,” a cheerful sounding voice came from the portal.
Private peeked from behind the mare. He couldn’t see who was speaking through the portal and with it almost blocking the view of the king, the colt couldn’t see the unreadable expression the king had as he addressed the being.
“It was a mere fleeting thought to eliminate any possibilities,” Sombra said in a neutral tone. His eyes shifted to land on the mare and the glimpse of the boy behind her. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Discord, I have other matters to tend to.”
“Yes, yes Mr. Frowny Face. Would it kill you to smile? Oh, I suppose it would. Toodles, I have some chocolate rain to attend to myself and I do believe the princesses managed to give me the slip again,” the owner of the cheerful voice said and the portal vanished.
Sombra only snorted slightly before looking fully at the crystal pony and the cowering unicorn colt behind her. His expression still didn’t change as he motioned to the mare to step aside. The old pony bowed her head and shifted out of the way so that the king now had a full view of the boy.
“Well boy, nothing has changed, you are still here and there is little that can be done about that. You better get used to this situation, as this is your new home from now on,” Sombra started talking, watching Private, who shivered under his gaze.
“I am now your king, but you will not be my servant. I will be your father. I shall instruct you in the heritage of your distant ancestors, the dark ponies. A privilege, I realize, you might not appreciate at the present, but I have little doubt you will come around,” the king continued. The colt was now staring at him a little confused and unsure what he was hearing.
“Your days as an Equestrian, Private Iceland, are over. You are now from this day forth considered of my race and you will carry a name appropriate to dark pony royalty. You were brought here in fear and thus fear shall be your name, Temor.” Sombra stopped speaking, wanting to observe how the boy reacted to the news. He expected anger, but wasn’t surprised that there were tears as the colt sniffled and started to cry.
“You will learn, Temor, that tears bring you nothing,” the king said and glared at the mare who had started towards the boy to comfort him. The crystal pony froze for a second and backed away.
“In time you will see what a rare gift you have just received.”
The present.
Temor blinked out of his thoughts, memories having brought him to the last day he was considered Equestrian, the last time anyone addressed him by another name. The prince growled and tried to think of something else.
That name is dead, that boy is dead… why am I being constantly bothered by these memories now, he thought and turned back to the cave, not really noticing that his father was staring at him with a thoughtful expression.
Of course after that day the real training began, father began infusing his powers into me, teaching me magic, dark pony history… I hated the infusion, it hurt… but dammit, it was good for me, I had to… ah why am I thinking about this. It’s over, it’s done. The prince sneered and stalked back to the cave where Emerald had finished preparing a meager breakfast.
The prince sat down by the fire and started eating without even a glance at the crystal pony. She sat down and waited, not daring to eat before her master. At the entrance, the spirit of Sombra continued to watch his son.
We should be in Equestria in a day or so if we maintain the same speed. I wonder how much it has changed, the spirit thought to himself.
End chapter 6