//------------------------------//
// What lies beneath 
// Story: A shining Knight and The Dark King 
// by kahnac 
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It had already been several weeks since Queen Chrysalis had infiltrated the pony nations with her changelings, and replaced the most important figures of Equestria in order to steal the love of both them, and the rest ponies in the land. But thanks to the most unlikely of teams, consisting of Starlight Glimmer, Trixie, Discord, and the gentle Thorax, the Queen of the Changelings had been overthrown. And in the process, Thorax had become the new leader while also entering a metamorphosis with the rest of the hive: allowing the love within them to change them into better Changelings. Now Equestria had a new ally in the form of the reformed Changelings. Since then, peace has been reestablished. And all in Equestria continued on with their lives without a care in the world.

Little did anypony realize that there was one who had plans to shatter that peace.

Deep beneath the crystal empire in the frozen north, in the bowels of the palace of the Royal Family, exists a hidden study. One which has not seen the light of day in over 1000 years. This study was once the personal study of the dreaded King Sombra, during his reign over the empire itself. It was here he learned to harness his dark, magical powers, and all manner of evil spells most of ponykind would find taboo. Were it not for the alicorn Princesses, Cadence and Twilight, coming down here to learn what they could of the dark king, it most likely would have remained vacant for the rest of time. With Sombra gone, there was no true value in this place. And thus it seems it would remain vacant. However, it was not as vacant as many would like to believe. On the day of the princesses visit to this foresaken place, something far from noticeable found its way into this place.

A curved, blood-red horn.

And with this horn came the living shadow of an evil entity. One that was hoped to never be seen again. But alas, this shadow, in time, transformed the horn that was its physical container, and made it into a living shadow. In doing so, it allowed the shade to assume the form of a Wraith: a creature of darkness with immaterial form staggering between the lines of the living - and the dead. Since then, this wraith has used the magic tomes containing the most potent of scrying spells to observe all that had transpired in Equestria. So far, it had kept tabs upon everything that had happened. And now was the time for its plan to take effect.

"”So the ponies have once again acquired peace."It said in a deep, strong, commanding male voice. ”It matters not. Once i obtain a physical form, i will take the crystal empire for myself. And its power will allow me to spread across the land, and my power to grow with it. But first.........i must find a worthy candidate for such a thing.” He then began using his spells to search across the empire, and to scan the ponies themselves in order to search for something. Anything that may end up proving useful to him. Sadly, as he observed, there was absolutely nothing of value worth looking for. He growled in frustration as he said, "Cursed ponies! Thousands of them in this empire - the very limit of my sensory spell - and i can't find a single candidate for-[”/color]

But then he stopped. Suddenly, his senses had flared up like a flame. He sensed what he was after - and the one who was giving it off, in general. With haste, he turned his scrying mirror spell over to the location of the source he was picking up. And his shadowy face, covered in black smoke, and piercing red eyes, smiled a wicked, jagged grin at what he saw. "Yesssss. Exactly what i need. I never thought that onewould feel so much inner turmoil, and anguish in his very soul. More than enough for my old spell to activate. And who it is makes it all the better. A perfect vessel for my essence to inhabit. A perfect new body for me to command. Now the Empire WILL be mine again!"

And as swiftly as a raindrop falls through the air, the wraith himself exited the underground study. Creeping through the secret crevices which led down there, the wraith allowed himself to change into shadow. His form attaching itself to the castle surface as he slithered like a serpent out of the throne room. He passed through the darkened halls of the castle, with the light of Luna's moon shining brightly outside. The wraith continued his way through the halls as he approached his destination. As expected, the night patrol guards were stationed through the halls, while wandering around with their horns shining light in front of them. Yet none of them noticed the wraith as it passed over them, sniffing the very emotions they held. Flash Sentry was also passing through the halls, unsuspecting of the wraith looming behind him. It looked down on him as he stood in place for a few seconds..........but then passed over him. It continued on this way until it had finally reached its true objective.

The bedroom of the royal family.

While everypony inside slept soundly, the wraith easily slipped under the doors. Like an inky, black ooze, he slithered through before materializing into his shadowy, physical form. His red eyes scanned the whole room, looking for his target. They soon fell over a crib in the corner of the room, with its occupant sleeping soundly inside. He moved over, and saw the little baby alicorn, Flurry Heart,  in her little bed, with part of her blanket pulled off. Eyeing the infant intently, the wraith formed a black, skinny, clawed hand from his shadowy form. That hand slowly began to reach down towards the unsuspecting baby. It seemed as if it would grab a hold of the  baby. But instead, it grabbed the little blanket, and pulled it back over the alicorn infant, before another hideous smile formed. "Rest well, young one. Though you are not the subject of my intent...........you will serve me will with your power in time. After all: a king without an heir is absolutely nothing."

The Wraith then went on over to the other part of the room, where the only bed was. There, resting comfortably beneath the covers were both Princess Cadence, and Shining Armor. Both were asleep in their bed, lying together in quiet peace. As the Wraith observed, Cadence was especially peaceful in her slumber, with a small smile on her face. Whatever she was dreaming of, it must have been especially pleasant. That made the Wraith sick to his figurative stomach as he glared at the pink alicorn. Deathly hands formed once again: both reaching out, threatening to throttle the alicorn in her sleep. "How easy it would be. I could end it all in a single motion. A single, snap, and all of the empire could be mine once more - with the only other threat to my reign ended." A few seconds later, and with what seemed to be a look of disappointment in his eyes, he reluctantly drew back his arms into himself. "But as i am, i couldn't so much as crush the infant - much less your worthless neck." Suddenly, his gaze turned to the sleeping form of Shining Armor, with a look of satisfaction. "But it won't matter. I'll get to you soon enough: once i have my vessel."

The Wraith moved over to Shining's side of the bed, like a silent ghost passing through the air - unseen, and unheard. He loomed over the white-furred unicorn, as he rested in peace. However, unlike his wife, Shining wasn't sleeping as soundly as her. His eyelids tightly clenched, as small grunts escaped from him. His head moved side to side several times. And he soon turned over in the Wraith's direction. The Wraith lightly chuckled with devious glee as his hideous hands rubbed together. "As i suspected: all is not well within the mind, and heart of the crystal consort. It seems Luna has not visited him yet, if his dreams remain so painfully obtrusive. Perhaps a nightmare of immense terror, strong eough to even call out to me? Either way,now is my time. Thank you, consort prince for opening the door to me. Now allow me to make myself at home!" And in the blink of an eye, the Wraith completely changed into a black smoke, which then became a pitch-black, ash-like miasma which shot upwards towards the ceiling. It then shot back down - passing right into Shining Armor's ear. He moaned a little as he seemed to feel something enter his body. But afterwards, he calmed down a little. Sadly for him, the bad dreams he was having would stay with him all night. Thanks to a certain darkness that now lives inside him.

"Now the real work begins. To take complete control, I need this one to truly doubt himself. Doubt always leads to fear, then anger, and finally: hate. So many ways there are to slay a pony. Flesh that burns, and bones that break. But to shatter ones spirit is to truly destroy him. And once his spirit dies, so too does the one called Shining Armor. And like the Phoenix, i will arise once again. And this time, nothing will stop me!"