//------------------------------//
// Chapter 203: An Army of Darkness 
// Story: My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic: Stallion Edition 
// by SuperPinkBrony12 
//------------------------------//

A distraught Shining could only stand there, a look of helplessness reflected in his eyes. The rest of his friends didn't share quite the same look, they were more shocked but still ready to keep fighting.

Sombra just looked at the stallions and taunted them. "To think, all it took to break your special bond was destroy a tree and end an innocent filly's life," Looking at the prince he added. "Had I known that one filly's death would upset you so much I'd have done it much sooner."

"You... you fiend!" Soarin growled and grit his teeth! "Mark my words, you won't get away with this!"

Sombra just shook his head. "Oh come now, you mustn't lie to yourself. Just look around you, it's hopeless. Your leader is broken, and without him the rest of you are no match for me."

Big Macintosh stomped his hooves down. "We'll just see about that! You're gonna pay for this!" He rushed forward, hoping to tackle the king. But Sombra was able to turn himself into a dark mist and Big Mac went right through him.

Soon after Sombra had returned to normal, he lit up his horn and surrounded the six stallions in a prison of solid crystals. "Just a little insurance," He informed his prisoners. "I doubt you pose much of a threat now, but I can't take any chances. This time I'll ensure that no one gets between me and what I desire!" He ended his brief gloat as he eyed his captives and told them. "I know what you're thinking: 'Why not finish the job now? What's stopping you?' Well, I'll answer your question. But you won't like what you hear."

"Just get it over with! Are you that in love with the sound of your own voice?" Fancy Pants inquired. "You really talk too much."

"When you've been left to wander the ether as a shadow like I have, you soon find yourself desperate for someone to talk to," Sombra simply retorted. "And I suggest you stay quiet, unless you want to be made an example of right here and now. Besides, I'm not stupid. The six of you are going nowhere, so there's no chance you can foil my plans. Oh, and what magnificent plans they are," Then he cleared his throat. "I'll keep you all alive for now, because you haven't suffered nearly enough. I want you to hurt like I hurt. You've twice denied me my throne and my empire, cost me my chance to get revenge on my crystal slaves for fearing me and treating me like a monster since I was but a child. So now it's your turn to watch as everything and everyone you care about is taken away from you."

"You stay away from Ponyville, you monster! And don't you dare hurt our friends and family, they did nothing to you!" Thunderlane bellowed at the top of his lungs as he tried to stick his head out of the crystals.

Sombra gave off a sadistic cackle as the smile on his face grew larger, taking on a rather malicious appearance. An evil look flashed in his eyes. "Oh, Ponyville and the Crystal Empire are just the start. I'm not going to stop there. I won't rest until all of Equestria, perhaps all of this world, is part of my new dark empire! I will raise an army of darkness and make all bow before me! Then and only then will I come back for you. Then and only then will I see you beg like the pathetic worms you are. And only when you've begged and pleaded enough will grant you the sweet release of death."

"Never! We'll never bow to the likes of you!" Soarin roared in defiance!

"We'll just see about that, won't we?" Sombra taunted. "For now, enjoy your final moments and watch as your world is ripped away from you. Then you'll know what's like to be me!" And with that he transformed into his shadowy, mist form and quickly disappeared from sight. All the while his laugh echoed through the chasm.

And all the while Shining only stood there, unable to bring himself to say or do anything.