Princess Malai looked across the breakfast table to her husband. His silent demeanor and lack of appetite worried her.
“Did you have your nightmares again, love?” she cautiously inquired.
As if awoken by her words, the silver-coated unicorn stallion budged, raising his eyes to meet hers. His red pupils seemed unfocused, as if he was looking past her, to the land beyond, far away from the borders of the Crystal Empire.
“I’m sorry,” managed the stallion, shaking his head. He put on an apologetic smile and continued: “Did you say something, Malai?”
“Sombra, I really think you should see somepony about those dreams,” said the Princess, wiping her mouth with a tissue. “You haven’t had any decent sleep for a week now. I’m worried.” The crystal blue mare stood up and approached her husband, nuzzling him affectionately.
“I…I think I will,” replied Prince Sombra, returning his wife’s affection. Deep down inside, though, he knew that nopony could help the nightmares that haunted him every single night.
“Cheer up, love. The Crystal Fair is just around the corner. I’m sure that whatever bad thoughts you are having in your silly little head will melt away with the power of our Heart.”
Prince Sombra smiled weakly, forcing some dark images out of his mind…or were they memories? He shook his head again. “You’re probably right. This is no time for moping. What fun is there in being sad?”
The two embraced, relishing in the deep bond they shared. Sombra felt a little bit happier – whatever his dreams were, they were all unreal. Here and now was, and only that mattered. Only the beautiful, sapphire blue mare in front of him mattered. His Crystal Princess, Malai.
* * *
He was cast again into the ocean of shadows. The stallion was confused to the point of panic – he knew not whether he was drowning, flying or levitating in thin air. Sombra mauled his hooves in the substance that was neither solid nor liquid, searching for the tiniest bit of support. In the torrent of gray and black, a series of images kept repeating themselves, drilling deep into his skull.
A creature of night that would bring darkness eternal.
The Crystal Empire, vanishing.
A demon of smoke and blackness at the gates of his beloved palace.
And the Crystal Heart, the only glimpse of light for miles to come. He felt its power, its warmth, the love within. It was the only safe thing in this nightmare, in this dream that was all too real. It was salvation. It could fix everything. Save, protect, renew.
He reached out to this fleeting firefly, hoping against hope that this time he would reach it. But it was no use – each time he came close, a wind or wave would blow this fragile light away, imbuing the Prince with more sorrow and frustration.
And then, as many nights before, everything suddenly went still – his body, the light, the torrent around him. The images subsided, replaced by a scene from his life. He was sitting with his love, his Princess Malai, watching the jousting competition as they always did in the front rows. As the knights collided with a muffled clang, the audience stood up and cheered. Sombra stood up and cheered. But Malai sat still. She did not move. Her eyes were wide open and from the corner of her mouth…a deep red fluid…
* * *
“Sombra! Sombra, wake up! It’s just a dream!”
The Prince woke up with a jolt, his throat sore and eyes wet. On his chest lay Malai, hugging him tightly. She wiped away the sweaty mane from his forehead and put her cheek against his, rocking the colt’s head gently.
“Shhhh… It was just a bad dream, my Prince. Just a bad dream,” she whispered into his ear.
Just a dream. Just a dream…only a dream.
* * *
The majestic flugelhorn sounded across the lands, a sign that the rulers of the Crystal Empire had an announcement to make. Everypony knew well what that meant – the Crystal Fair was about to begin!
“Hear ye, hear ye! By decree of the royal couple, his grace Prince Sombra and his benevolent wife, Princess Malai, the festivities of the Crystal Fair begin! Everypony is cordially invited to the fairgrounds, where foods, drinks and fun are a plenty! It is the royal couple’s wish that eveypony has a great time, filled with love and unity! Let the Crystal Fair begin!”
With a mighty roar the crystal ponies cheered for Sombra and Malai, whistling as the pair waved their hooves at them. Their smiles were as bright as the sun itself and the Princesses’ crystal coat and mane reflected dozens of rainbows down to the ground. Everything was perfect, as it has been many times before this year. It would be yet another grand Crystal Fair – a whole week of plays, jousting matches, sweet food and cheering.
If only the mood could somehow shoo away the shadow that dogged the Prince…
* * *
“Sombraaa,” whined the Princess, weakly trying to resist her husband dragging her around the fairgrounds. “But I wanna see the jousting maaatch,” she giggled, amused by Sombra’s strange behavior.
On the other hoof, the Prince himself was quite nervous. He has thus far been able to draw his love away from the most attractive part of the fair, distracting her with crystal corn on a cob (sweet emeralds, she could eat a whole storage house worth of that stuff), some crystal ewes (he even went so far as to buy her a dozen or so of those critters, accepting the fact that they slept on the bed instead of him) or self-made crafts items (they all looked horrible and no amount of praise from Malai would change that).
“Umm, how about we go get some Crystal Berry Cider? It’s traditional!” tried Sombra, putting on yet another fake smile.
“Oh, Sombra, stop stalling! This is the last day of the fair! If I don’t see the jousting match, now THAT won’t be traditional,” countered Malai, tugging at her husband’s cape and giving him a stare she knew he couldn’t resist.
“But…But….”
“Nu-uh! No buts, mister! We are going to see a match and that’s final!” laughed the Princess and pushed her lover towards the tournament grounds. She didn’t take any excuses from him, silencing him every time he tried to complain and pushing harder when he tried to grab hold of a stall or other crystal pony. The bystanders of the scene had fun watching them – the cheer of their rulers was one of the many reasons for which they were loved and appreciated as rulers of the Empire.
* * *
“Mares and gentlecolts! Please welcome our guests of honor, our beloved rulers and hosts of the Crystal Fair! Prince Sombra and Princess Malai!”
The announcer barely managed to pierce the cheering and yelling that was happening on the tribunes. Crystal roses and emerald laurels were showering the royal couple, who in turn sent kisses and waved their hooves at their subjects.
Nopony seemed to notice the half-hearted effort the Prince gave, though. His eyes were darting around, uncertain what to look for. Try as he might, he knew that the dream he was having for the past few nights wasn’t only a dream. The chills on his back were testament to that feeling.
As the flugelhorn horns sounded to announce the begging of a match, everypony settled down and set their eyes on the stage. On one side a knight stallion in blue armor saluted the royal couple. On the other side, a red clad crystal pony did the same before turning to his opponent. The two charged at each other, their lances dropping to the proper jousting position. Moments later, there was a clash, followed by the audience standing up and cheering. Sombra’s heart skipped a beat as he looked at his love. She stood up and cheered.
* * *
“Darling, please, loosen up. You’re spoiling the fun for me,” said the Princess, placing a hoof on the Prince’s chin and drawing him in for a kiss.
“I’m…I’m sorry, love,” apologized Sombra. So far each time the knights clashed the royal stallion had a heart attack, shooting his mare a fearful gaze, thanking all the gods true and fictional for protecting her. Soon it would be over. This would be the last match today, and then the dream would not come true. It would turn out he really should have seen somepony, taken some pills and saved himself the agony of his stupid imagination.
“You know what? After the fair, I think I’ll see somepony about the dreams. And I’ll have your bed covered in roses, if the ewes won’t eat them before we get there. And, and you know what? I think we should have a second honeymoon. Only you and me. Yeah. For you. Only for you. You deserve it, after putting up with me being such a jerk. I love you,” said the Prince, kissing Malai deeply, relief already taking its well-deserved place in his mind and heart.
With a sigh, the Prince laid back in his seat, holding the hoof of his loved one. The last match was about to begin. The knights saluted the royal couple, their armaments glistering in the rays of the sun. As the ponies charged at each other, a silver glimpse caught the Prince’s eye.
The clash of steel below seemed muffled. The roar of the audience turned into a long, deep wail. Everypony stood up, throwing ribbons, streamers and flowers on the arena, to where a single knight with a broken lance stood. Malai sat still, her eyes wide open. The corner of her mouth let go of a crimson droplet, one that rolled down her crystal coat, leaving behind a trail of red.
Sombra could barely comprehend what his eyes saw. His Princess, the love of his life, the only reason he existed…she had a bolt stuck squarely in the center of her chest. She did not move. She didn’t make a sound. Her eyes slowly turned to him. He saw the life from them fading away like a candle on a harsh wind. She wanted to say something. As if in slow motion, the Prince grabbed her, shook her, screamed her name…but she was already gone. Her green pupils were motionless, the sun reflected in her dead gaze. Her blood blended into the red garment Sombra wore.
Around him, one by one the ponies looked down and shrieked in horror. Some guards at the bottom of the tribunals started moving. But it was all too late. She was gone. Gone. Just like in his dream.
No.
It wasn’t a dream. Not a nightmare. No. It was so much more…it was a prophecy. A blood chilling vision of the future.
* * *
The Crystal Heart was powered in silence that day. The light that it emanated wasn’t a colored rainbow like it used to be. It was replaced by a steady blue ray spreading across the lands. Cheer was absent in the hearts of the Crystal Ponies. The streets were silent.
A ceremony was held for the Princess – it lasted a whole day. During that time, Prince Sombra refused to leave the side of his wife. All he did was sit by her, staring into empty space, ignoring the ones who came to pay respects to their ruler. Some brought gifts, some offered words or advice – but none of them could really understand what went through Sombra’s head.
His thoughts were a mess. Between the sorrow in his heart and the emptiness in his head, voices kept whispering to him. Some of them told him to prepare, to prevent the rest of the prophecy from coming true. Others blamed him for the loss of the love of his life.
“Sire, we are sorry to report that the culprit has fled.” That voice came from the outside, and it was one that made the cup of Sombra’s sorrow overflow. “According to eye witnesses, the culprit was a cloaked pony wearing a strange metallic mask, one that resembled the skull of a pony-”
“Enough!” roared the Prince, his eyes unexpectedly bursting with tears. “Leave me alone! Everyone! Get out! Leave me be…” His voice faded to a whimper and he fell, his limbs unable to sustain him. He looked into the final resting place of Malai – she looked at peace. The wound on her chest was covered by a beautiful fabric, crafted by the best tailors in the Empire. One could think that the Princess is simply resting, sleeping off the festivities that were still fresh in the heads of many. Sombra himself believed that this was all just a joke, a grand scheme planned by his love to prank him.
“Alright, yeah, very good joke. Now, please, wake up. I promise I won’t be mad,” he whispered, running a hoof along her face and neck. She was cold.
“My Prince…” came another voice from the outside.
Sombra whipped his head around, but his sore eyes could not make out the pony that spoke to him. It was probably a mare, one with a green coat and purple mane.
“Didn’t I tell you all to leave me alone?!” hissed the Prince, anger rising in him with every syllable.
“I know, my Prince, but…” The pony at the entrance hesitated, but just for a second. “I don’t think this is a good time for a pony to be all alone.”
Sombra was still and quiet. He blinked away the tears that obscured his vision and he saw the mare in full light. She approached him, wearing an expression of both uncertainty and compassion. He knew this pony.
Her name was Piffin and she was the royal accountant, a unicorn like him. Malai liked her and he found the two often enjoying some tea on the balcony, where the beauty of the view could only be matched by his lover’s light reflecting off her coat…
Before the Prince’s eyes managed to well up again, he felt a warmth lean against him. Piffin embraced her ruler, gently pushing his head down against her shoulder.
It was the second and last time that Sombra cried that day. He cried hard and long.
* * *
The Crystal Empire had to eventually move on. Very few could say that they saw Prince Sombra after that feral day – he usually confined himself to his quarters, not taking any visitors.
Time flew by, and quite soon it was time for yet another Crystal Fair. The crystal ponies recovered from their sorrow and were looking forward to having fun, cheering and uplifting the spirits of the Empire, hopefully overwriting the bad taste that the last fair left.
On the day when the festivities were supposed to begin, however, something out of the ordinary happened. The flugelhorn horns sounded, everypony gathered, there were excited whispers…but no ruler. Prince Sombra did not show up until ten minutes later. He looked different – his coat and mane lost its shine, turning to a dirty shade of gray. His eyes were bloodshot and tired, and his horn was constantly aglow with purple magic.
“Hear ye, hear ye,” announced the guard to his left, nervously peeking at his ruler. “By decree of his grace, Prince Sombra, the Crystal Fair is to be cancelled on account of-”
The rest of the sentence was drowned in an uproar of disappointment and surprise. The crystal ponies enjoyed each and every fair, and never in the history of the Empire was a single one cancelled. On account of anything.
“Everypony, please,” started Sombra, meekly raising a hoof to silence the crowd. “I know this is unexpected, and I understand your disappointment. It is with a heavy heart that I made this decision, but the reason for this is of grave importance. You see, the Empire is in danger.”
It took a few minutes to silence the populace who again shouted and complained.
“Please, everypony. I had a dream, a prophecy in which a creature of night invaded our country. It wielded incredible power, one that can only be defeated by our own, if we work hard on improving it. The reason for the festivities to be on hold is to prepare. We need all the strength and energy that we can muster to defeat this powerful foe. As you can see, I have spent myself almost entirely on this task. I ask of you, beloved citizens – help me power the Heart. A year or so of hard work will be enough to keep us safe for -”
Yet another uproar burst from below, followed by angry citizens throwing rocks and crystal chips at the surprised ruler.
“We want the Fair!” they yelled. “You are the ruler, it is your duty to protect us, not enslave us! Give us our Festival!”
Sombra was in deep shock. His tired mind and body held him in place while he received blow after blow – most of them were harmless, barely scraping his coat. Some of the crystal chips managed to cut his skin, one in particular poking him in the eye. The guards, who seemed as disgusted as the citizens below, did nothing to shield their ruler. He was alone, again. Nopony understood him. All they wanted was the Crystal Fair. To feel good, to shove everything aside. Even grave danger. They were fools!
Or maybe he was the idiot here? What good would it do if he would deny his people the only celebration that kept their spirits high? Why did he think that spending his magic to power the Heart would change anything?
The Prince closed his eyes and accepted the rage of his people. When they’d settle down, he would apologize and announce the Crystal Fair proper. Then, at the end of it, he would resign his post and allow the ponies to choose a new ruler. He didn’t care anymore. His mind was weary and clouded by sorrow. He was unfit-
A tug from behind caused Sombra to stagger, taking a step backwards. Someone was pulling him away by his cloak. Little by little he was retreated from the balcony, straight into the cool interior of his throne room.
Hesitantly, he opened his eyes to see Piffin giving him a stern look. Her ears were dropped and her voice was high pitched when she shouted at him.
“Prince! What do you think you are doing!” Yes, she is going to boo him for cancelling the Fair too. It doesn’t matter. She’ll say what she wants. “You can’t just stand around being beaten like that! You are our ruler!”
“I deserved it,” whispered Sombra, again closing his eyes and slumping to the floor.
“Prince!” The green coated pony rushed to the gray stallion’s side to support him. “Prince Sombra, what the others did was not fair. They should not neglect their ruler’s orders. I know that whatever you do, you do it for our good. It is a shame they do not understand and only care for their well-being.”
“I can’t blame them,” replied the Prince, standing on his own and slowly making it towards the throne. “So far we fared well with just renewing the power of the Heart, keeping all sorts of evil at bay with the pure power of our love. Maybe…maybe I have lost my connection with my people. Maybe I don’t appreciate the power of love as much as I did when…”
As he paused, the Prince grimaced and lit his fading horn anew, the shadows under his eyes deepening ever so slightly.
“Prince, you cannot go on like this. You need the strength of your people. You need to make them understand. They’ll eventually come around. Trust me.”
* * *
The Crystal Empire’s citizens were less than understanding of their ruler’s request. With the aid of Piffin, Sombra tried to explain his prophetic dreams over and over again. Nopony wanted to listen or believe in the dark one that would bring night eternal. The Crystal Empire vanishing was unthinkable. Everypony knew better than their ruler – the Crystal Heart was power enough to ward off any evil, big or small, and a Prince giving into grief and crazy nightmares was no prince at all.
“They won’t listen,” repeated Sombra, rubbing his temples over the seat of his throne. “It is impossible for so many to be wrong. The answer is simple. I’m just delusional. Lost in sorrow after losing the spark of my life. I am useless…”
“Prince, don’t say that,” whispered Piffin, rubbing her ruler’s back. The colt and mare grew quite close during the past few weeks. For him, she was the only true supporter of his cause. For her, he was still the Prince she loved and adored, one that was kind and just, thinking selflessly of only others.
“I know what is wrong in our approach, my liege.”
“What?” perked up Sombra. By now his coat and mane was almost totally black, his pupils a bloodshot red bathed in a sea of green. The magical aura that buzzed around his horn day and night gained a green tint that bubbled up every now and then. Since everypony decided to hate their ruler, there wasn’t a single doctor that would check these strange symptoms.
“You need to be more firm, my Prince. Where kindness and love fail, one must use harshness and determination to break the wall of disobedience.”
“You’d have me become a tyrant, Piffin? Is a bad ruler better than the annihilation of an empire? Aren’t the two one and the same?”
“No, my Prince! You will not be a tyrant,” fervently replied the mare. “You will only do what is necessary for the Empire to survive. If the dark one really comes, isn’t a year of pain worth a lifetime of happiness later?”
“Well…” hesitated Sombra. He still preferred to believe that it was all just a delusion of his sick mind. But if it all wasn’t true, why did he keep powering the Heart?
“No, my lord. I believe in you. I know your visions are true. I will help you with all my might. We will pull through.”
Again, her warm body on his back brought back the hope in him. As many times before, she was right. He should not forfeit his plan. Forward is the only direction he can thread now.
* * *
Many crystal ponies regard the day on which Sombra declared himself King Sombra as the darkest in the history of the Empire. With Piffin’s help, mercenaries were hired to round up citizens overnight and put them to work, powering the Crystal Heart.
In the eyes of the populace, their ruler turned into a monster – he literally syphoned all the magic in the empire into that one single object, the Crystal Heart. The crystal buildings and decorations turned black, their shine disappearing. The crystal ponies themselves turned matte, tired and spent from the effort of powering the Heart without actual joy or unity.
“Everything is going according to plan, my King,” said Piffin. She looked no better than the others – weak, thin, tired all the time. She wiped her eyes, trying to refocus on some papers in front of her.
“I know,” replied Sombra, looking out the window. He decided to play along with the tag his people gave him – at all times he wore a menacing smile and when he spoke to his people, he did it in the most hideous way he could imagine. The sun outside was beginning to set, and the former Prince remembered how beautiful it used to be to behold it from this room. With his Malai by his side…
“It is late, Piffin. Go home.”
“Of course, my liege. As soon as I finish these sheets I will-”
“Piffin,” repeated Sombra, turning to face his one and only friend. A friend he didn’t want to lose in this crazy time. “Go home. Everypony else is already gone. There is no reason for you to stay up late.”
“Yes, my King. I can just-”
“Piffin,” growled the black stallion, approaching his accountant and towering over her. “Your King orders you to go home. Now.”
With no other choice left, Piffin gave a court bow and stood up, hazily making her way towards the chamber exit. She paused right before the doors and turned around.
“My King?”
“Yes?”
“Please, rest as well. I wish you a good night.”
And she left.
* * *
The mercenaries hired by Piffin were an unruly bunch most of the time – they seemed sloppy, sometimes even downright disobedient. But they knew their trade well. Guard duty, slave harboring, scouting, you name it – they were the top, the best of the best, or in other words those that survived long enough to brag about it.
Their usefulness was shown when they managed to bring in a spy from the southern kingdom of Equestria. It was a mare of a rose coat and mane, wearing a black, sleek T-shirt and strange, orange goggles.
“A spy, you say?” repeated Sombra, sitting on his throne and trying to look as evil as possible.
“Yes, my lord,” replied a blue stallion, one of the leaders of the mercenaries. “We caught this here filly snooping around the living quarters, probably gathering information on what your highness is doing.”
“Oh really? Well then, spy, do tell what you were looking for, hmm?”
“You will never get anything out of me!” yelled the spy, flailing around in the magical field she was confined in. Being an earth pony, she had little to no way of escape.
“Oh, I would dare to disagree, my little Equestrian spy. I will know everything. Each pony has their price-”
“You can’t bribe me, you meanie!”
“…A price in pain. Take her to the dungeons. I want you to drill her skull for even the tiniest morsel of information!”
* * *
“Are you alright, my King?” asked Piffin. Her ruler shut himself in his private quarters a few minutes after ordering the spy to be set free, after a whole night of torture. The screams of the Equestrian mare were heard all over the castle. In the end, little was learned from her – somehow the southern kingdom learned of Sombra’s tyranny and decided to help the citizens liberate themselves. When, how many, and how – those were the questions that were left unanswered.
Piffin knocked on the doors again. “King Sombra? My liege? Are you alright?”
A weak voice from within caused the mare to worry even more. The doors weren’t really locked, but it would look suspicious if a pony such as herself just barged into a tyrant’s lair without being called upon. Then again, there was no-one in sight…
In one swift movement, Piffin entered the room and locked the door behind her. Inside she went pale with fear – her ruler was sprawled on the floor, breathing heavily, his crown lying somewhere in the corner of the room.
“Sombra!” she yelped, rushing to his side, checking for any wounds or signs of illness. As far as she could tell, the ruler’s life wasn’t in any danger – he was still tired and undernourished, but no more than usual.
“Piffin…why did you…”
“I was worried, your highness. What’s the matter?”
“It doesn’t matter. Not important.”
“My liege, please, allow me to be the judge of that. Did you eat anything bad? Does it hurt somewhere?”
“No…I just…nevermind.”
“My liege, please, let me help you,” begged the mare, caressing his head in her hooves.
“I just couldn’t take it. The screams. I imagined all the things they were doing to her and I just couldn’t take it. Some tyrant I am,” he chuckled weakly. “Can’t take a little blood. A soft spot for innocents getting abused. I can’t carry on like this. I was wrong, wrong all along. It just isn’t in our nature to be like this.”
“Please, my King. You can’t stop now. Not after all that has already been done. We can pull through. It’s just a few more months. Then, when the dark one comes, you will defeat her. You will return to us a hero, and we will have Crystal Fairs day in day out, till we’re even. I can help you, but I can’t do this for you. Please, stand up and be strong, my King.”
With a nod, the regal unicorn stood, steeling himself. For the future of his Empire. For the future of his subjects…and Piffin.
* * *
The fast beat of hoofsteps echoed in the dead corridors of the once bright and colorful Crystal Cathedral. The center palace of the Crystal Empire, now jagged and black, was under attack.
The whole Empire was under siege. Without much warning, an army several hundred strong appeared at the borders and rapidly advanced, liberating crystal ponies from their cuffs and captivating mercenaries. They did not stop, they did not slow down, and their leaders were highly skilled tacticians. The mercenaries were helpless and had to resolve to fleeing to the palace, where a last stand would take place. Piffin helped turn the tides of battle a little by helping the henchmen use secret corridors to get ahead of the advancing army, setting up a choke point in the throne room. The battle there was long and loud. Loud enough for Sombra to hear at the top of the Palace.
“Hurry up, hurry!” hissed the ruler, his horn performing a complicated warding spell around the Crystal Heart. The artifact was far from ready to tackle the foe that would come, and he did not want to waste the effort of his people by using it now. This was a test of his resolve, as a King, as a ruler. He would protect his people from the raiders. He must. If he can’t defend himself against mortals, what good would he be against a foe that controls the night itself?
As soon as a mental clang sounded in his head, Sombra turned around and dove down the staircase towards his throne room. The spell would finish and seal itself on its own. He was needed downstairs – from the sounds of it, the resistance was fading away rapidly.
* * *
Piffin let go of another bolt of crimson energy, hitting and stunning a gold clad Pegasus. The mare was tired and running on reserves, but she would not let anypony near the throne itself. She needed to hold the line till Sombra was safe. She would be the line if need be.
“Give up, you are surrounded. We can help you. We are here to liberate you, to save you from this tyrant,” sounded a female voice from across the room. Piffin heard several ponies closing in on her hiding place behind the throne.
“Never! You don’t understand, fools! You will ruin everything!” she shrieked, dodging out of cover and blasting the closest guardspony back onto his friends. As she dove back into cover she managed to catch a glimpse of a large, pristine white pony. Piffin swore she had both a horn and wings, but it was impossible.
“You have been brainwashed. We can help you. Please, stop resisting and let us help you. You will feel better. It won’t hurt, I promise.”
“Yeah? How much is your word worth, pony?!”
“I am Princess Celestia of Equestria, the ruler of the southern kingdom. I give my word that no harm shall befall you or anypony else who surrenders now. We wish not to give you more pain and suffering. Please, don’t make us.”
To her right Piffin saw one of the mercenaries cautiously peeking from behind his hiding place.
“I surrender!” he yelled, slowly walking up towards the invaders, a wide grin on his face.
“Traitor!” bellowed Piffin, bolting the mercenary down with a stun spell. If only she knew of an enchantment that could kill or wound, she would have cast it instead. Such trash do not deserve what they were given, both in gold and trust.
“Listen. Calm down,” said the calm voice belonging to the Princess Celestia character. “There is no need to be violent. We understand that the tyrant has great grasp over you, but we can help. Really, just-”
Before she could finish, there was a flash of vibrant green light, coupled with a loud bang. Smoke filled the room and everypony coughed.
Is it a new kind of weapon? thought Piffin, covering her mouth with a hoof.
“Enough!” bellowed a voice that made the mare’s heart leap with joy. The Prince! He came back! Everypony is saved!
* * *
Huffing and barely standing on his feet, Sombra faced a countless army clad in gold. As the smoke from his violent teleportation subsided, his majestic form was seen. A small smile graced the royal lips seeing the enemy back away and bump into each other.
“Who do you think you are?! Coming here, trying to undo all the work me and my people have done! How dare you defy our sacrifice! What gives you the right to be here?!”
“We came here to save innocents from a bloodthirsty tyrant. From you,” replied a stern voice from the midst of gold. Sombra could not make out clearly who spoke – he swore it was a rather large pony, as tall as him, sporting both wings and a horn…but it was impossible. His tired mind was playing tricks on him.
Then he remembered something.
“Piffin! What have you done to her?!”
“I’m right here, my lord,” came a reply from behind him, followed by some coughing. The stallion glanced behind him and his blood boiled anew. The mare was badly bruised and on her last feet, a tiny spark of crimson magic dangling on the edge of her horn. “Forgive me, it was all I could do.”
“You did well, Piffin. Now, leave. I will deal with this rabble. Nopony will stop what I have started. Everypony will follow through, and in the end…in the end, it will be me who was in the right!”
“I won’t leave you, my Lord. Please, let me help!”
“Go.”
“No,” hissed the green mare, gathering herself up from the floor to join the side of her master.
“Leave!” bellowed Sombra, a rogue beam of purple and green light shooting from his horn. It hit Piffin and…she vanished into thin air. In the spot that she was just seconds ago there was nothing but burnt crystal and a steady stream of smoke.
“You monster!” shouted the white mare. “You would kill all who defy you! Such ponies do not deserve-”
The white unicorn-pegasus thing kept shouting at him. Such a bothersome sound. Sombra could barely focus on what just happened. Did he do something to Piffin? No. Would it be possible? NO. He…he must have sent her away. To a safe place, far away from here. Where none of this would hurt her. He cared for that pony. He could not harm her, in no way. But these invaders…
The room went silent as the bloodshot gaze of the former Prince pierced their very souls. His anger fueled by sorrow and purpose drove him to new heights of power. His presence filled the room. He was the tired and confused weakling no more. His body was pulsing with power. A single mind and objective pushed him, spewing out the words that followed.
“You shall perish!”
* * *
Nopony mortal remembered what happened after the dark King descended upon them. Few claim to remember lights, many hues piercing a dark veil that threatened to overwhelm them and drag to the very depths of an ocean of shadows.
The regal sisters, Princess Celestia and Luna barely remember the battle themselves. Their minds were constantly on edge, having to defend against a stallion that has lost everything , one that cared for nothing more than his single-minded purpose – to pull through with his evil plan, to enslave and use the crystal ponies.
He was strong. Far stronger than the two Equestrian rulers combined. But he was doomed to insanity. The light put him in disarray – the power that previously turned Discord to stone managed to subdue the King, forcing him back, taking away the ground under his hooves. Finally after a full day and night, Sombra was banished from the Crystal Empire, to the frozen north, to a prison that he could not escape. Still, even as his face rapidly disappeared behind the ancient glaciers, his words echoed through the lands. A curse spoken in an ancient language was cast. A spell that would vanish a powerful Empire for centuries to come.
* * *
Sombra was cold. The two invaders managed to trick him – they used the images of those that he loved against him. They defiled the memory of his wife, luring him into a prison of ice and silence. But their victory was a hollow one.
As the King felt his power fade away, he made one last effort – drawing upon his very life essence, he spoke to the land that he loved and the ones that he swore to protect.
“Sleep, my children,” he whispered to the crystal pony minds. “Dream of the glorious times to come. Forget the pain and sorrow that your unworthy ruler put upon you. Await better times. Sleep, and wait for me. For I, your father, will return for you. I promise.”
“The soil that gave birth to me and the ones before me, heed my call,” he whispered to the land. “I, Prince Sombra, ruler of the Crystal Empire, ask that you save the ones that we both love and worship. Take our children away, far away from the enemies that would have us doomed. Do not look back, do not cry nor fear for me. When the time comes, I shall return for you, in glory and victory, with salvation and better times in my hooves. For now, my sweet motherland, go. Go, and await my return.”
As the last glimpse of sunlight disappeared beneath thick ice, the former Prince smiled. His people would dream. His country would be spirited away into safety. In the end, he would win.
And his wrath would shower the invaders in blood and tears.
* * *
The former Prince’s will did not fade over time. Having only the slightest bit of power in him, he kept pushing and crushing and chipping away at his prison. As his breathing room grew, so did his determination and power. He did not know nor care for the time that has passed. The knowledge that his beloved people were safe coupled with the burning desire for revenge melted away ice that remembered the birth of this earth. He would be free soon, and he would reclaim his empire. He would see his master plan through. The Empire would defeat the dark one. He would find Piffin and finally tell her what he felt. There would be a wedding, a small one, only him and her. And then, there would be Crystal Fairs. Crystal Fairs every week, until the last day of his life. That was a promise.
* * *
Freedom greeted Sombra with a wild blizzard. His power was greater than ever before – so great in fact he had to expend most of it to keep it at bay. As a result, his pony form was veiled in a curtain of magic. It has lost all hint of color, a black sea of smoke extending miles towards the horizon.
He felt the call of his land as it came back to where it belonged. He heard his subjects awaken, their slumber finally over. How much time has passed? It did not matter. What was important was a force field that barred the way into his home. It hurt each time approached it.
How was it even possible? He barely emerged from his prison, and already he has lost? The enemy was faster than him? Was the Crystal Empire doomed?
No.
* * *
The shield was fading away. He saw it weaken and tried to charge it one last time, but was tricked yet again and lost part of his ethereal horn while the protection spell re-emerged.
He could faintly feel that part of him behind the impeccable shield and he could not help but smile. Not that long ago he managed to assault and wound one of the invaders – a white unicorn stallion, a fool who thought that his meager magic could match his!
And now? Now he wormed his way behind the barrier. With great concentration and using amounts of magic that burned the skin on his forehead, Sombra melted the damaged horn piece into the ground, syphoning away its power and feeding it to the Heart. It was still there, untouched and probably not found yet. He would continue his work in his higher form, with or without the consent of these invaders. As soon as the heart would be charged, we would expel these enemies from his land and await the true dark one.
And then? Happily ever after. Start anew. Cast away the darkness in favor of the light. Oh, how he yearned for the warmth of…
* * *
“My crystal slaves,” murmured Sombra, regarding his fleeing subjects. They still feared him, after all this time. It pained him to see how they looked under the rule of this new tyrant – their coats matte, bodies undernourished and eyes wild with fear.
But it would all be over soon! Sombra would rid them of the burden of the Equestrian conqueror! He had to hurry though – somehow, the invaders forced his tricks and traps and got hold of the Heart! If they should break or even damage it, all this would be ruined. All the sacrifices, battles and dread would howl for justice, justice that he could not deliver! Not without the Heart!
As fast as he could, the former Prince sped towards the falling Heart. It was the most fragile and beautiful thing he has ever seen. He went faster and faster, eventually outrunning the magic that sustained him, leaving him vulnerable and exposed.
Did not matter. A purple creature with sharp claws was diving for the gem as well. He had to catch it! He had to save-
A pink mare, a unicorn with Pegasus wings shot past him. The Crystal Heart, the warmth that was nearly in his hooves, vanished. The ruler of the Crystal Empire followed the tiny silhouette with a dazed gaze. She put the Heart beneath the central building, where it belonged. The crystal ponies, his crystal ponies, the children that he loved, bowed before the artifact, filling it with pure love and joy.
The power was great. Cumulated with the energy already stored in the crystal, it radiated through the streets in a blue light. From up where Sombra was, the city looked like a delicate snow-flake.
“What? No…no! Stop!” he yelled. This was all wrong. Why did they activate the Heart? Why would they, his children, his people, ruin all the hard work they had put into this? Was it the invader? Did they use their sorcery to turn the crystal ponies against him? Did he…loose?
As the magic explosion reached Sombra, his eyes were hit with a ray of light so intense he nearly went blind. It burned and stung…at least, for a short while. Soon the feeling subsided. Instead of a scorching blaze, he felt a nice warmth on his coat and mane. He stared into the light and it stared back.
“Sombra? Hello? Crystal Empire to Prince Sombra!”
What was that voice? Where did it come from? He knew it. He-
“Darling, don’t stare so long into the sun. You’ll lose your eyesight.”
Unable to believe his ears and mind, Sombra looked down, towards the source of the voice. It was a blurry figure at first, and the former Prince had to blink away the shadows in his eyes…
“Malai?” he whispered, quickly covering his mouth with a hoof, afraid to let the word slip to the wind. He didn’t want it to go away.
“Of course silly. Sun burned your brains out?” she giggled, putting away the cup of tea she was having. Her voice was followed by another mare, one with a green coat.
“P-Piffin?”
The royal accountant settled her cup onto the saucer and gave her ruler a curt bow.
“Sombra, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you spaced out back there. Maybe you’ve been in the sun out too long?”
The Prince looked down at himself. His black coat was now silvery, sparkly all over. His regal garments, the rags that he usually wore, were now fresh and scented with roses. Everything around – the trees, the birds and the lands yonder was pristine and beautiful.
“My Prince? Is everything alright? Why are you crying” Piffin asked shyly.
King…no, Prince Sombra wiped his face with a hoof and flicked away a crystal tear.
“Nothing. I was daydreaming. Yeah, it probably was the sun. But I’m back now.” So was it all a dream? Could it be? It must have been.
Sombra felt happy – whatever his dreams were, they were all unreal. What was here and now was, and only that mattered. Only they mattered.
With a sigh of relief he stepped into the brightly lit balcony to join the mares for tea. It was a very sunny day.