//------------------------------//
// Chapter Nineteen: Where the Crystals Fall 
// Story: The Tale of One Shadow 
// by RadBunny 
//------------------------------//

Armored hooves clattered against the crystal-paved streets, a stallion charging past the chaos that had enveloped the main city. Obviously this cult had more followers than just those involved in the castle, because their work littered the streets. Innocent ponies and guards had been killed, all to distract from their main assault on the castle.
 All of this, just to get to me. It’s happening all over again. My mistakes, my very life puts others at danger. Including the one I hold most dear…
One of the few cultists that hadn’t been dealt with attempted to stop his flight- but a swift movement of the ruby sword severed any ideas along with the pony’s head, Sombra running onwards. 
Shining would understand. Even if he didn’t, it wouldn’t matter in the end.

Sombra’s eyes narrowed as he galloped onwards, fatigue having disappeared long ago. He was past being tired, and instead emotion fueled every step. His last mistake had plunged the entire Crystal Empire into chaos. Silas wouldn’t stop with him. No tyrant ever did. Sombra knew this firsthoof.
It was always more. More power, more control, more cruelty. 
There was nothing Sombra had that Silas didn’t, save but one very powerful aspect. Anypony could connect the dots as to what Silas wanted. A connection to virtually unlimited power, and the alliance or subjugation of a demon.

That monster wouldn’t stop. Even if Sombra gave himself up…it would all begin again.
White sparks flew from the stallion’s eyes, the edge of the city now in sight. He knew of the ruins far too well. They had once been an underground meeting place, where subjects were imprisoned and interrogated, the few that tried to rebel at least. The once proud building now lay in ruins, blackened and burned crystals littering the half-destroyed building. Pillars and remnants of walls jutted up from the flattened section, torches and crystal lights ringing the entire area. Red-robed guards watched his approach with a disturbing sense of calm.

Silas knew perfectly well Sombra would come alone. Of course His minions had incapacitated the entire city’s guard, and by the time they’d be in any condition to help; Amber would be dead.
The worse part about walking into a trap was knowing there was nothing that he could do, not if Amber was to remain unharmed.


Two crimson-robed ponies approached him, most likely to lead him to Silas. The lead pony opened his mouth to speak-

The words apparently stuck in his throat, much like the two crossbow bolts that speared their heads and caused the cultists to tumble into a heap. 

Landing at his side, Cold Shoulder and Icicle reloaded their weapons, eyes narrowed as they saw the other guards moving to respond, the lone stallion clearly dumbstruck.
“What, you think we’d just leave you here? Amber is our friend too!” Icicle called over to Sombra, casually lifting the crossbow to fire again, another of the guards falling before they took cover.
“Prince Armor teleported us a short distance away. I believe his exact words were ‘no guard goes into battle alone.’” Cold Shoulder added, the hint of a smile on his features.
“Go save Amber. We will ensure your exit is clear. Do what you have to do.” Icicle called out, bucking a guard that tried to ambush her from behind a blackened pillar.


Sombra nodded, not able to resist the hint of a smile as well. 
Perhaps he wasn’t as alone in this endeavor as he thought. Now he didn’t have to worry about having to fight his way out.
The stallion took a deep breath, eyes narrowing on a door that stood out among the crystal ruins. It was new, while the other pieces of rubble were ancient. 
Said structure was blown off its hinges, red crystals forcing the double doors to fly open. Apparently there had once been two guards behind it. They would live. Maybe. The impact had thrown them against the dimly lit walls. Magical candles and torches floated every pony length or so, bobbing up and down ever so slightly.
As he traveled down the spiraling staircase, and through the halls, Sombra couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that permitted every aspect of the ruined underground cavern. There were no guards, no attempts at ambush. It all reeked of a trap. The white sparks faded from his eyes, fatigue beginning to set in as the stallion’s adrenaline and emotions began to subside into an uneasy turmoil.

Stopping at another large pair of doors, the stallion took a moment to collect his thoughts. One way or another, this would all end. He had failed once to stop a nightmare from springing onto this kingdom. Now, another one stood at the door- and the life of the one he loved hung in the balance.
Never again would he dare see her in chains.
With that thought burning into his very being, Sombra blew the doors to pieces, the old wood crumbling as he strode in.
The main cavern was massive; easily the size of the training stadium. Large pillars, lit by strange blue torches stood every which way. In the center though, a few individuals were gathered around some runes etched into the floor. The markings glowed a sinister red, and about five other robed ponies were standing equal distances from each other around the circular area. And off to the side-

She was bound inside a large metal cage; the same that had encased dissidents of long ago. Rope was tied around her muzzle and hooves, rendering her incapable of much movement. Despite it all, Amber still wasn’t scared or meek. No…she looked angry.

“Ah, Sombra! So nice of you to join us!” Silas’s voice called out, said pony walking out from behind a pillar.
“Well, lets not make do with any niceties. You have something I need. You let me…examine your connection to the demonic world, and I’ll let both you and your mare go free.”
The five ponies around the strange runes let out a choked gasp- red crystals now protruding from their skulls, Sombra’s eyes aglow with power once again.
At this, Silas only sighed, glancing over to watch the dead ponies start to glow, their energies being sucked into the runes.
“Eh. Saved me the trouble of doing it. I suppose that’s a no then. I’ll just have to rip that connection out myself.”
The elderly unicorn calmly stepped into the runic circle, tongues of red energy beginning to lash and lick across his frame.

Sombra could feel an alien force, a presence that was both familiar and terrifying start to permeate the room. The runes seemed almost familiar...

“You didn’t!” He called out, eyes wide in horror as the runes continued to glow with a malevolent ruby light.
Silas only smiled.
“Why of course I did! It’s not that difficult.” The unicorn crowed joyfully.
“The difficult part of the spell wasn’t contacting your friend, it was making sure it couldn’t contact me, per say.” 

Silas chuckled, the red runes beginning to bleed onto his body like some sort of disturbing magical tattoo.
“Thankfully, I had nearly finished my work when you showed up, or rather, your work. This is all your doing after all. I’m just continuing it. All that power; and you never thought of shackling the demon to your will? ” The symbol-studded stallion snorted disdainfully
“Pathetic.”

 Clearly he didn’t understand that I wasn’t intentionally summoning anything. The stallion resisted the urge to roll his eyes, staying focused on the task at hoof.
Sombra examined the room, looking for any possible ways to get Amber and get out; but of course, there wasn’t. One way in, one way out. True, he had a straight shot of escape, but there’s no way he could leave things unfinished here.

That, and there was an increasingly powerful unicorn between him and the pony he cared most about.
“You can’t control it!” Sombra called out, edging to the side and trying to put Amber out of line of any strike.
“I know! I tried! You can’t tame it! It will take over!”
The runes on the floor faded, and Silas’s eyes were aglow with a familiar purple and green coloration, black flames licking from his eyelids.

“You lie. You already controlled it-all that power, enough to enslave a nation.” The pony growled, stepping out of the circle,  symbol-covered coat beginning to flicker with matching black flames.
The cavern shimmered slightly, and to Sombra’s horror, a different landscape appeared to mist in front of his vision; a realm
of flames, darkness, and pain.
“You are connecting the realms!? Why!?” The stallion roared, now cantering to the side, desperate to gain a clear line of fire. 
“It is necessary of course. Once I rip that connection from your body- and thank you for coming closer by the way, then I can bind this demon to my will. No fancy deals or such. Whatever you did at the stadium, I can use myself. But…enough of this silly talk.” Silas sighed with a toss of his head. The remnants of his robes fell to the floor, consumed by black flame.
The unicorn’s horn lit; but the telekinetic grip was bounced away by Sombra’s shield, flickering into existence just in time.

“So stubborn. I really didn’t want to hurt either of you, but I suppose there’s only one way through your thick skull.” Silas sighed, walking calmly towards Amber.
Strangely enough, the corrupted unicorn didn’t even try to block the shard of crystal that pierced his hide. The solid crystal withered away, leaving a gaping hole in the pony’s frame. Blinking, Silas chuckled as black webbing closed the gap with a sickening sucking noise.
“Oh come now Sombra, you can’t kill me. I may not be connected with this demon yet, but this new realm alone holds enough power to keep me alive.” He huffed, casually ripping the cage that held Amber aside with a toss of his horn.

More crystals, more strikes- and each time Silas didn’t move as much as a muscle. Sombra was galloping now, crystal sword summoned and swinging down with a devastating strike-
And it cleaved straight through the pony with only a slight pull to mark its passing.
Now Silas turned to look at Sombra, flaming eyes narrowing slightly as he seized the stallion in a telekinetic grip of iron.
“Ah. There we go. Now then. You’ve seen what I will do to achieve my goals. Do you really think I won’t kill your marefriend over here?” He asked, levitating Amber off the floor and aiming a jagged piece of metal at her throat.

“I have no more use of you after I take that connection. Last chance Sombra. I grow impatient. This will either be painless, or agonizing. Your choice.”
The world flickered again, this time brining the burning demonic realm to full view. A few shadowy figures were visible; looking on eagerly as though awaiting a new arrival to their torment.

Sombra looked to Amber- who shook her head. She knew the stakes. A unicorn with this much power? Maybe Celestia and Luna could stop him. Cadance and Shining armor? Maybe…
The stallion looked to Silas, and then the forms surrounding him, shadowy mouths agape with hundreds of sharp teeth.
 The connection; it didn’t allow him to shackle the demon. He had to fight for it, for the right to use the power to save others. Did motive even matter?
Maybe Silas was expecting a fight…maybe he wasn’t. Perhaps it was an opening. Not like there was any other choice… 

“Alright.” Sombra croaked, seeing Amber shake her head furiously at his voice.
“Just, let her be. I’ll let you take what you want.” 
Silas’s head tilted, and he casually tossed Amber to the side of the cavern, the mare groaning as she slid against a stone pillar.
“There. Safe and sound. But bruised I suppose.”
Sombra took a deep breath, a strange lack of fear in his veins.
“It’s a lot of power; it can be overwhelming. It flows so freely…you might be tempted to take it all. But it’s too much for one unicorn.” He explained, grasping at any straws that could throw the maniac off guard.

“Hmm. Interesting. I’ll keep that in mind. I doubt that’s the case though.” Silas chuckled, a few runes floating off his fur to levitate around Sombra.
“Now then. This will take but a moment.”
The cavern then vanished, and the two unicorns were forcefully pressed against the stone; or the small square in which they resided. 
Around them, red flames flickered, and shadowy demons growled and grew larger with every step. Sombra’s vision was filled with darkness below, and red flames all around.
“Ah. Good. This is the next step. Silas muttered, a few more runes floating up and forming a strange cage of light around the nearest creature. A brief snap of white light left Sombra; either this connection or some sort of energy, and floated over to the cage as well.
The demon let out a shriek- the others quickly retreating as red shadow began to bind the cage smaller and smaller.
“Yes….YES!” The stallion cheered, watching as the demon was nearly contained within the magical container;
but then it stopped.
“You are different.” A voice rumbled, no doubt from the entity within Silas’s grasp, the unicorn frowning as more runes floated to try to continue the spell.
“Odd. What sort of magic is this? No matter. I’ve foreseen all the outcomes! He hissed, horn alight with power as he applied more power to the binding spell.

It was then that Sombra saw it.
In the shadowy outline of Silas was more akin to the demons own aura, whereas Sombra was surrounded by a strange white glow; set apart in their realm. 
He could only watch as the cage slammed shut, signaling the spells completion. 
As the world faded back to the cavern, Silas’s body was beginning to shake, runes floating off his fur as the unicorn chuckled.
“At last….I did it. That demon…I brought it under my control, it will serve ME, it will-GAH!” He hissed, clutching at his glowing temples.
“You are not so different from us, are you? Pathetic pony!” A deep voice echoed from Silas’s mouth, and Sombra couldn’t help but smile.
“You want that power Silas? You have to fight for it. What do you fight for? Yourself?” He asked, standing on shaking limbs and standing to look at the unicorn.

Silas’s flaming eyes met his; and widened in brief horror before a demonic shadow began to seep from the pony’s body, the unicorn waging a mental war within his own mind.
“I fight for my family; for those I care about. Who do you fight for? What do you fight for...that isn’t exactly what these demons already are?” Sombra asked, strength fading from his limbs as he looked at Silas.

“NO. I will not be some puppet!” Silas roared, the demon apparently fading for but a moment, the unicorn snarling as he brought the remnants of the metal cage soaring over; clattering against Sombra’s hastily-erected shield. It was clear Silas’s focus was divided, but Sombra wasn’t sure for how long.

“Was it worth it?” Sombra asked sadly, looking to Silas as the unicorn fought for control within his own mind.
“Only one thing cancels out darkness Silas. What is it in your life that can do that?” Sombra’s telekinetic grip slowly bringing a forgotten device to bear.
Realization set in as horror spread across Silas’s features at the stallion’s words, his body beginning to shake and shudder again under the mental strain. It quickly passed though, as he had enough control to laugh as Sombra aimed the strange metal weapon at him, and pulled the trigger. A red shield was raised, the unicorn having enough control to bat aside any attack.

The unicorn wasn’t laughing as the cavern echoed with a thunderous roar, his neck and head blown to pieces as shadow was sprayed across the air.
“What-“
Any words were swallowed up in another roar, the weapon blowing circular holes in the unicorn’s body. Magic could always be countered….and Amber had shown him enough of this weapon for Sombra to understand how deadly it could be. It was one of the few things that could stop a unicorn. The metal itself was enchanted with counter spells. 
No magic could stop its path.

Standing over the now prone unicorn, Sombra looked on not with rage or anger, but sadness and regret. He expected to want to beat this pony to a pulp- he had stolen the one pony who believed in him…who he cared for. Murdered hundreds of innocents for power, and nearly caused the empire to be enslaved once again. 
And now, standing over him, Sombra could only pity Silas. The quivering shadowy mass before him was nothing but a disgusting remnant of his past ambitions and desires.
He tried to think of something to say, but no words came. No heroic speech, only sadness of those who had died, and of what his mistakes had cost even beyond his demon’s death.
“It’s over.”
Silas’s body had regenerated enough to hiss hatefully at Sombra as the stallion pulled the trigger again, the point blank shot burning runes from the pony’s body and causing the connection to flicker and die.

The unicorn’s body began to bleed shadow, the flesh and blood beginning to disintegrate. The shadowy entity that escaped from within seemed to look at Sombra almost with respect, before fading from view.

The stallion collapsed, weapon falling to the floor with a dull thud, and the cavern now silent aside from the crackle of torches. Once again, the stalwart pony’s sides shuddered with sobs, tears coursing from his cheeks. There had been no final heroic battle- no bantering of words; just a final end to a crazed pony who sought power, just as he once had.
The cavern was as cold as the snow he had knelt in those many weeks ago, begging for a swift death from the only ones who could deal justice for his crimes.
As he had done so in the snow, his pained wails now begging whatever power there was for forgiveness. 
Again, his foolish endeavor for power had once again cost the lives of innocent ponies, nearly of those close to him. 
This time, a pair of warm hooves wrapped around his neck as another pony hugged him close.
This time, he wasn’t alone as the world faded into darkness.