//------------------------------// // Reconciliation // Story: When Darkness Falls // by MisterEdd //------------------------------// My life...my whole life...was just one big joke. Princess Cadence, aka Princess Amore di Cadenza, was, in fact, the daughter of Princess Celestia, one of Equestria's trusted rulers and King Sombra, an infamous villain and tyrant. She sat hunched over with her back against the wall, the small wool blanket still wrapped around her shoulders. Meanwhile, her aunt-no, her mother-struggled and thrashed around in her crystal restraints. This whole time, she knew the truth. She knew the truth and never told me! "Cadence...I need you to listen to me." Her eyes shot up to meet the older mare's gaze. "Why should I? After that reveal, how can I trust anything you have to say now?" Cadence spat, slowly rising to her hooves. "You tampered with my memories. You had me believe that my parents were just regular ponies. Don't you get it? I don't trust you anymore." Celestia's ever-waving mane cascaded over one shoulder, concealing half of her face. "You're right. I lied to you. The couple that raised you couldn't conceive a child of their own so I entrusted them with your care. The truth is, you are my daughter and the child of King Sombra, who was once known as Prince Tourmaline, the heir to the throne of the Crystal Empire and the last of the umbrum race." She stopped to sniffle, her voice coming out hoarse and strained. "There were so many times I wanted to tell you the truth. Yes, there would've been a scandal and I would've lost the respect of my subjects. But I wanted to keep you safe. I didn't want to burden you with this knowledge. If I had, then you would've spent your childhood knowing who you really are and who your father is. I've made many mistakes but I wasn't going to do that to you. I'm sorry that I hurt you but I don't regret trying to protect you." The anger soon faded from Cadence's heart. As she searched Celestia's pain-stricken face, she began to think and recalled every major moment of her life, from her ascension to now. Birthday and Hearth's Warming presents her parents gave her from "Aunt Celly". Princess Celestia giving her sagely advice on everything from being a princess to dating, always being there to watch and guide her. Every hug, every kind or wise word that came from her shaped Cadence's life. Cadence slid the baby blanket into her hooves. "Did you know that Sombra named me 'Persephone'?" Celestia shook her head. Placing the blanket into a nearby chair, Cadence placed a hoof against Celestia's cheek. "You were always there for me. Even though you didn't claim me, you were still watching over me, like a mother." Celestia smiled through her tears. "You were and still are my daughter. After a thousand years of being apart, I couldn't leave you alone again. I've had many children and grandchildren but you're my firstborn, my baby. I don't deserve your forgiveness but believe me when I say that I only wished for your happiness." "We're going to have to have a long way to go before everything can be fine between us but...I forgive you. Mother." The smile that Celestia gave her seemed to brighten up the room, as if a heavy fog had just dissipated. Taking a moment to compose herself, Celestia cleared her throat. "We have to stop Sombra. I'm going to need you to use your dark magic to get us out of here." "M-my dark magic? I can't." "Cadence, the umbrums were naturally adept at dark magic and you are half-umbrum. You have Sombra's magic and you can get us out of here. You can do this." There was a long silence. Finally, Cadence nodded with uncertainty and drew in a deep breath. Her purple eyes were scarlet and green, dark purple smoke emanating from the edges of her eyes. She could feel the darkness within her growing stronger, begging to be freed, to destroy anything and anyone that stood in her way. "Focus. Think about your darkest moments, let those emotions go. Anger, fear, even hatred. Let it flow through you." The darkness swirled around in Cadence, becoming a mighty maelstrom as everything negative in her life built up in her chest. The chaos that Discord wrought on Equestria during his return. Queen Chrysalis kidnapping her, brainwashing her fiancé and trying to destroy Canterlot. King Sombra's lasting effects on the kingdom she ruled over and his attempt to harm her friends. The Shadow King hurting Shining Armor and keeping them both hostage. Learning the truth about her parentage. Black and violet energy seeped around the young alicorn, levitating her a foot off of the floor. She held onto the anger and hate, allowing it to coalesce and surge within her. Throwing her head forward, the energy discharged from her horn, creating a massive wave that not only shattered the black crystals holding Celestia in place and nullifying her magic but also the barriers on the doors and windows. Celestia stared incredulously at the young mare. Cadence's luscious mane of gold, rose and violet locks became a rolling mass of black streaked with cobalt-blues, her cerise coat and wings dark gray and her segmented horn curved and dark red. She then smiled, displaying two sharp fangs. "C-cadence?" She didn't appear to hear Celestia, instead groaning pleasurably as the dark magic surged around her. "Cadence!" As though awakening from a trance, Cadence snapped her head around and blinked at Celestia. "Celestia, I-I'm sorry..." "Don't be. It's...it's a part you," Celestia smiled pulling her into an embrace. "You're your father's daughter just as you are mine. And I accept every part of you." Cadence closed her eyes, feeling the energy surrounding her vanishing into thin air and when she opened them back up, she had reverted back to her regular alicorn form. "Thanks...mom." ~*~ Time was nonexistent in the void. Seconds and minutes might as well have been hours and days as far as Twilight was concerned. The theft of her tiara and the promise of revenge against her believed mentor and mother figure aside, what got the gears turning in her head was her interactions with King Sombra, both inside and outside of the Crystal Empire. He came back for revenge, particularly against Celestia, who he claims stole his child. It seemed impossible for Twilight to wrap her head around but Sombra certainly believed it. He claims that Celestia is just a selfish attention-seeker that lied about his past and purposefully allows threats to Equestria to be temporarily contained for hopes of future conflicts. Then, of course, there was his behavior towards Twilight. He...said that he loved me. She shook her head. Was that just a ploy to get him to join him in his mad quest? Maybe he said that just to mess with her? Or...could he have actually been sincere? When Sombra was masquerading as Parcel Post, he was down-to-earth, so approachable, at least to her. She thought of the way he spoke to her, how he kissed her. Either Sombra was the greatest actor who ever lived or there was more to him. "I wasn't planning on courting you. It just happened." Twilight grunted in agitation. Why did he have to make things so confusing?! They say that the eyes are the windows and she couldn't help but feel that his spoke of a soul full of pain and longing, of pining love and vengeance. He could've hurt her if he wanted to. Or used a mind control spell, like he most likely used on Parcel Post. But no, he just talked to her. Despite Twilight's loyalty to her friend and mentor, the seed of doubt that Sombra had planted had taken root. "Twilight!" "Applejack?" "Twilight!" "Everypony! I'm here! Help me!" Five mares came into view, the darkness around Twilight dissolving until the castle slowly took its place. She stared around in confusion, first at the crystal walls of what was apparently the ballroom then at her limbs, which were not being held down by tendrils. An illusion...that's all it was. She wanted to slap herself for not realizing that but somepony else interrupted that thought process. A very pink and hysterical somepony. Sure enough, Twilight found herself in one of Pinkie Pie's patented bone-crushing hugs. "Twilight! Thank Celestia you're alright!" She then drew in a breath and began: "First-we-were-all-talking-and-realized-that-you-weren't-there-so-we-split-up-to-look-for-you-and-were-worried-that-something-terrible-had-happened-but-here-you-are!" Seriously, how is she able to hold in all that air? "It's good to see you too, Pinkie." "Darling, what happened?" Twilight freed herself from Pinkie's grasp and faced the group. "I had a little chat with King Sombra." "WHAT?!" "Well, wha did that varmint want, anyhow?" Applejack all but growled. "Why don't you ask him yourself?" They all spun around to face the ballroom's stage where a large red oval appeared, surrounded by green and purple flames that created the image of a great flaming eye. The oval expanded, contorting into the shape of King Sombra, the flames swirling around him like giant wings before being sucked into the gem of the amulet secured at his throat. He then grinned, twin trails of mist swirling from his red and green eyes. Holding out his forelegs in a grand flourish, he announced: "Welcome, my little ponies. To the beginning of the end."