The Crystal Empire had flourished for nearly seven hundred years. Over these many years, the Empire had many rulers, all of which were descendants of the first king, Malachite. All had ruled to the best of their abilities and had done everything to ensure the peace and prosperity of their ponies. During his reign, King Malachite forged the Crystal Heart deep within the earth and imbued it with powerful magic. The Heart was used as a focus for love and friendship in the Empire and soon became our most precious treasure. As you know, if the heart is full of love and hope, it can be used to protect and spread joy.
We had peace with all the surrounding kingdoms. The Alicorn Sisters, Celestia and Luna, held their court in the south, with the Gryphon’s Kingdom to the southeast. Diplomatic relations had never been better. It seemed to be the golden age for Equestria.
I had gained the throne after the passing of my poor mother, Queen Obsidian. She had been ill for some time and even though our physicians did what they could, she still passed away in her sleep. I was distraught for days. My mother had been the light of my life and part of me seemed to die with her. I had locked myself in my rooms and wept. Had I not finally stopped, I might have flooded the whole Empire with salty tears.
The Royal Advisors finally snapped me out of my despair after they showed me what had happened to the Crystal Heart and my ponies. The usually radiant Crystal Heart had dimmed significantly and continued to dim with each day. A few dozen ponies had begun to gather around it in wonder and fear. The Royal Advisors had not yet announced my mother’s passing and had saw it fit for me to do so. I did not want the other ponies to stay in such a fearful state even though my heart had not yet healed.
As much as it pained me to speak of it, I called all of the crystal ponies to the Crystal Heart and made the announcement. Though they grieved, the Heart grew brighter and my subjects embraced me and we all mourned together. Letters were sent to all the neighboring kingdoms to announce my mother’s passing.
A few days later, we held my coronation. It was a dark, overcast day. The sky looked like it would threaten to rain, even though there was no scheduled rain that day. It seems nature wanted it to be remembered as gloomily as possible. The coronation was a simple affair. Aside from my ancestor’s crown, I wore no finery. It may surprise you that I looked somewhat differently than I do now. Instead of a crimson knife like horn, I had a simple spiral horn just like any other unicorn. And my eyes, while still red, did not glow menacingly so.
I actually wanted to hold off on the coronation for a bit longer, but my advisors wished otherwise. It is unwise, after all, to leave an Empire without a ruler for long. You never know what might happen.
Not even a single day had passed before it had begun to snow.
Snow, after all, is not uncommon in Northern Equestria. At any given point in the winter we would always have a nice covering of it. However, it is out of place in the middle of summer. Overnight, the city and its surrounding fields were blanketed with three feet of snow.
I sent out a flock of pegasi to clear the unruly sky early that morning so that the snow would have time to melt with the rising sun’s rays. I went about the daily business, reading reports and various kingly functions. Without warning, the skies clouded once more and a flurry began to fall.
Day in and day out, the pegasi would clear the skies while the earth ponies cleared the earth. And each day, it would snow harder and harder. In the weeks that followed, it grew impossible to clear the clouds and earth. Ponies stayed in their homes for fear of being buried in snow drifts. Their spirits began to falter and the Crystal Heart began to grow dim again. By this point, we had concluded that this blizzard was unnatural, but we had no idea what or who was causing it.
I could not watch my ponies suffer so. There were whispers of food shortages for some in the kingdom. If the weather continued, crops would not be able to grow or be harvested. I would not let my ponies starve. I devised a plan that I thought might keep the snow from our lands. I went out into the blizzard alone, for I did not want to risk any lives, and used my magic to grow six crystalline spires. These spires surrounded the Empire with the castle at its center.
I returned to the castle and set to work. I poured my magic into the Crystal Heart, using it as a focus to help spread it evenly between all six spires. A magic dome spread across the Empire, sheltering the land from the blizzard. The snow slid across the shield like it was nothing. From what I understand, your ‘princess’ did something similar to keep me out, but I digress.
It took a great deal of effort and concentration but as the hours turned into days, it became second nature to me and I could even keep it up in my sleep. The lands were cleared of snow again, and it seemed like life would continue on even with the retched blizzard. My ponies grew happy once more.
However, luck was not with me. The blizzard grew even stronger. Snow began to pile up on top of the shield, weighing it down significantly. The shield threatened to buckle many times but I forced it to stay in place. I was feeling drained, and the seeds of fear and despair began to grow in my heart. What if I faltered? My ponies would be crushed beneath tons of snow. I could never let that happen to them.
I did something that I should never have done. Instead of finding another path to take, I gave into the fear growing in my heart. However, instead of letting it consume me, I used it to my advantage. Dark magic is something easily used with the right mindset, but it leaves a taint on anything it touches. It is as addicting as the strongest drugs, filling you with adrenaline and power. One it has you under its power, it is almost impossible to stop.
Dark magic surged through me, setting my body afire from the inside out. Purple wisps began to dance from the corners of my eyes. It shot from my horn, purple lightning coursed into the Crystal Heart. The shield strengthened significantly, shifting colors, and began to take a more solid form. I smiled, looking around in wonder and began to laugh, just a small chuckle, that grew into a menacing lunatic’s laugh.
The stress and fatigue had finally gotten to me and it took me a few minutes to calm down enough to notice what had happened to the Crystal Heart. The Heart had begun to ooze thick black goo. The normally blue shining crystal seemed like a hazy purple miasma was churning inside it. While the magic I poured into it kept the shield strong and in place, it was corrupting the Heart from the inside out.
I had not noticed the crowd that had been growing some distance away. Many ponies had come out of their homes to try and cheer me on after the shield had stabilized again just to be met with the horrifying sight of me filling the Crystal Heart with dark magic. I can understand why it shocked them so; it would have done the same to me. One of them cried out in horror and I finally noticed them. They began to run in fear, hiding in their homes, cursing my name and began to blame me for the midsummer’s blizzard.
Ignoring their hysterical cries, I turned my attention back to the Crystal Heart. I could not leave it in such a state, even if I was still sending black magic into it. It was symbol of our society and should be taken care of in kind. Focusing on the miasma inside it, it began to remove the dark essence slowly but surely and filter it back into myself. I had nothing else to release it into and I couldn’t certainly let it roam free unchecked. An uneasy, sinister feeling crept through me, but aside from that, I felt no change. Perhaps I thought since I created it, it would not harm me. I was such a foolish colt.
I released the Crystal Heart from its housing and brought it up inside the castle, away from the fearful eyes of my subjects. I could continue to purify it and corrupt myself without worry. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. The blizzard continued, harder and harder but I paid it little attention. I kept the shield up and the Heart pure. Nothing else mattered.
During this time, my Advisors tried their best to keep the pony population calm. Many ponies went from feeling protected to suddenly feeling trapped. Damage control seemed like all they cared about, trying to keep the ponies from rioting. Every day they give me an update on how everypony was taking the current events but as the days passed, I began to notice the uneasiness in their eyes. The updates would get shorter every day and my advisors would fidget more and more. My eyes grew to be permanently discolored into a sickly green, and my horn became deformed and knife like. Jutting fangs replaced my former equine teeth. Eventually, my advisors wouldn’t even look at me. Yet, I persevered. I might have looked frightening, but I felt like I was still the same pony deep inside. Deep, deep, inside, so why worry?
One faithful day, one of my guards spotted two ponies through the shield. The guard alerted an Advisor, who after much convincing entered my Crystal Heart chambers. The Advisors had long since given up on reporting to me.
“King Sombra?” the pony whispered, staring at the ground.
I said nothing, continuing my never-ending duty.
“My lord, there have been ponies spotted through the shield.”
Silence.
“My lord?” He risked a glance at me.
Finally, I shifted my eyes towards him. He met my eyes and shuddered. I stifled a laugh, for I believed he had nothing to fear. “And you wish me to do what?” My voice was hoarse from lack of use.
“If th-there are ponies outside, the snow may be letting up or pe-perhaps those from the south have come to help.” He stammered and stuttered, his fear getting the better of him.
In a flash, I was standing inches from his face and I began to laugh; a cruel, sinister laugh that reverberated off the walls. “You want me to let the shield down? And let the snow in? I cannot! I will not!”
The poor stallion flinched, and fell back with tears beginning to seep from his eyes. I stared at him, realizing how much I had frightened him. I moved away from him, head hanging wearily. “As you wish. Go with a set of guards to the edge of the shield. Have a unicorn send off sparks when you see them. I will open a small hole for ten seconds. Not one second longer. If they are not inside by then, they will never enter.” I stared at the Crystal Heart. “Go, now. And pray I do not regret this.”
The stallion scampered out of the room. I walked over to the window to keep an eye on the sky. Sometime later, bright red sparks flew up into the air, marking the spot where I should open a hole. A surge of extra magic ran through my horn and the portal opened and closed. I could barely make out the addition of two new tall shapes entering my Empire.
The newcomers stood there with a small crowd for a few minutes then began to make their way towards my castle. The crowd grew gradually larger as they neared. I went back to the center of the room, sat down and waited, continuing my never-ending magical vigil.
Soon the door creaked opened and in stepped two of the most beautiful creatures I had ever set eyes on. The tallest was the embodiment of the day, bright and shining while the other was of the night, dark and mysterious. I had obviously heard of the Alicorn Sisters but I had never had a chance to meet them before. I will never forget their beauty.
I stood and took a step forward, meaning to welcome them to my ailing kingdom. Before I could say anything, the tallest spoke loud and clear, loud enough for the crowd in the outer halls to hear.
“Tyrant Sombra, your reign has come to an end! We will not allow you to keep these ponies as slaves to your will any longer!” Her face twisted with anger.
Then the younger sister spoke, far louder than her sister. “WE CONDEMN YOU TO AN ETERNAL PRISON, A HELL FIT ONLY FOR SOMEPONY OF YOUR DISPICABLE NATURE!” Her sister glared at her but said nothing.
The sisters stepped towards me, their horns beginning to glow ominously. I stood there dumbfounded, not believing what I had just heard. I had not enslaved my people. I tried to protest them but before the first word escaped my lips, the elder shot a magical blast from her horn at me. I dodged and accidentally slammed my back into the wall, knocking my breath from me. For a moment I feared that my magic had faltered and the shield would come down. I struggled to get back to my hooves. Without thinking, I launched myself out the window with the Crystal Heart levitating behind me, all the while still continuing to maintain the Crystal. I landed on one of the castles many crystal slope faces. I slid slightly but maintained my balance.
I hoofed it, higher and higher up the side of the castle, jumping from ledge to ledge. Glancing back, I saw that the sisters had taken to the air. I could hear them laughing, taunting me. I made it to the top, and turned to face them, finally finding my voice. When they grew near I yelled, “I have done none of the things you have accused me of! Hear me out! We have been under attack for months!” They laughed again, evil smiles flashed across their faces momentarily but I continued. “This snow is unnatural. Please! Listen to me!”
They landed before me, eyes glowing brilliant white.
“We know,” the eldest said.
“BRILLIANT, WAS IT NOT?” the younger sister bellowed.
“So easy to trap your pony subjects,” They laughed.
Then it hit me. “You did this? You destroyed my ponies hope and tried to kill them?”
“WE CARE LITTLE FOR YOUR PRECIOUS PONIES. JUST GIVE US THE HEART!”
I telekinetically moved the Heart close to me, trying to guard it. Anger began to build up inside me, anger fueled by months of the dark magic corruption that had taken form in my body. I let it loose, let it control me.
Blinded by rage, I teleported closer to the nearest sister, Luna and enveloped her with dark lightning, causing her to shriek. She stumbled, and I used that to my advantage. I telekinetically slammed her into the crystal face, over and over, knocking her out. It made me want to howl with laughter to see such a high and mighty princess turned into a rag doll. Celestia snarled and magic surged from her horn, trying to blast me. With another of my spells, black crystals began to erupt from the ground beneath Celestia. She launched into the air, wings beating furiously, narrowly avoiding impalement. While she was distracted, I teleported with Luna deep within the castle, leaving the furious Celestia to find us.
Dragging the unconscious pony princess behind me, I stared at the Heart. I needed to hide it somewhere where the Alicorns would not find it. Glancing around my long unused throne room, nothing came to mind. Luna began to stir behind me, but I slammed her hard into the floor once more. Glancing back at her, I realized that the floor cracked with the last hit. With that in mind, I forged an opening in the floor, heading deep within the crystal. I poured black magic into it, setting up various traps and finally sent the Crystal Heart deep with in it, all the while still sending my magic into the Crystal. Keeping the shield up at such a distance from the Heart would by trying but at least it would be safe from the sisters.
I turned my attention back to Luna. Such a deadly pretty thing, it seemed a shame to hurt her more, even after what she had done to my Empire. I nudged her with my hoof. At my touch, she shrieked, body contorting in pain. Her midnight blue fur began to darken and her mane turned into a purple nebula that seemed to eat up the light in the room. Unsure as to what happened; I left her alone and went to find the elder sister.
The search for her was short lived. Celestia was in a rage, her normally pastel mane and tail had turned into a fiery inferno. She had gathered a small group of unicorns to follow in behind her as she searched the castle. Who knows what she had told them. I could not risk attacking her with so many of my ponies around her.
“Where is my sister?” she demanded.
I glared at her.
“WHERE IS SHE?”
“The throne room. Go! Take her and be gone from my Empire. You have done enough damage.” The ponies cowered behind her as I spoke. Had I really caused my ponies to suffer so?
“This is not over! I will free your slaves!” Her horn glowed softly and she teleported away.
I was left alone with the ponies. They screamed and began to run away. They were still my subjects even if they were afraid of me. I had a duty to protect them. I cared deeply for every single one of them. I could not let this sham of a hero take over. If I could hide the Heart, I could hide my Kingdom.
I followed the alicorn back to the throne room. Celestia knelt beside her crumpled sister, trying to figure out how best to move her. Black tendrils of magic escaped my horn. I poured everything I had into a final spell, sending the Alicorn Princesses flying through the shield and shifting my Empire out of time itself. It literally took everything I had, I felt myself falling apart piece by piece. The spell was complex, woven to free my ponies in one thousand years, hopefully to a kind world where they would not be tormented. I was unsure if the spell would affect me, but I would risk it. Blackness overwhelmed me and then there was nothing.
***
“…and that ends my tale. I did what I could, but in the end, a usurpers pawn sits upon my throne. ”
Twilight just stared at him for a moment. “You expect me to believe that?! That’s preposterous! Princess Celestia and Luna would never do anything like that!” Twilight made a move towards the portal. She stopped when she spotted the cutie mark on Sombra’s flank. A blue Crystal Heart topped with a crown and surrounded by purple fire. She turned back towards him. “Why did you tell me this?”
“You deserve to be more than an unaware pawn. You are better than that.”
“What proof do you have of what you claim?”
“None, aside from my memories.”
Twilight sat there and gave it some thought.
“You don’t have to believe my story. All I ask of you is that you take a grain of salt with everything your rulers tell you.”
“That sti-”
“Quiet,” Sombra held up his hoof and glanced around, a strange glint in his eyes. “She is coming. I would know her aura anywhere.” He turned back to Twilight. “Be careful, Twilight Sparkle. Remember what I have told you. I may contact you again, if you wish it, but for now I must flee.” With that, he melted back into the shadows, disappearing completely.
Twilight stood there, wondering what he had meant. Out of the shadows came a midnight blue alicorn, fierce expression on her face.
“TWILIGHT SPARKLE, I GREET THEE!” She glanced around as if searching for something.
“Oh, um, hi Princess Luna,” Twilight managed to get out.
“WHAT A STRANGE DREAM THIS IS, THIS ETERNAL BLACKNESS.”
“Oh, yes. Just having a nightmare about the Crystal Empire. Um, the girls and I fixed everything, no worries there. Hehehe.”
She glanced at Twilight and then the portal. “STILL HAVING NIGHTMARES ABOUT THE EMPIRE? HOW PECULIAR, THAT WAS MONTHS AGO.”
“Oh, well. I was writing a surprise report for Princess Celestia about the Empire before bed. I guess it affected my dreams?”
This explanation seemed to please Luna, as she turned to leave. “MY SISTER WOULD ENJOY THAT GREATLY. PLEASANT DREAMS, TWILIGHT SPARKLE.” She melted back into the shadows.
Twilight sat in the darkness, mulling over the events of the past few hours. Finally, she made her way through the portal back into the waking world. She awoke, snug and warm in her bed.
“A grain of salt, eh?”