//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Arrival // Story: Legacy Of A Hero // by CrypticMetaphor //------------------------------// The Black King placed his hands upon his lap in contemplation as he sat on his throne. He gazed at the spectacle before him; the young swine that he had been trying to impede at every turn had practically arrived at his doorstep. He smiled in glee and then he stood upright. He reached up and removed his mask; he inhaled deeply as the young group began to trek through The Wastes. The Black King spoke in an unaltered deep voice, “Let them come.” * Mary gazed at Trixie with surprise, “What do you mean you won’t come with us?” Trixie looked to the side, “I can’t, if I were too there is no guarantee that the odds would even tip. I brought you as far as a dare go.” Scootaloo snorted, “Thanks a lot.” Dinky smiled with gratitude, “Thank you for taking us this far Ms. Trixie.” Trixie smiled and nodded, “It was my pleasure.” Mary shook the showmare’s hoof with a grateful grin, “Come by Sweet Apple Acres sometime, we would enjoy your company.” Trixie nodded, “Of course.” The carriage soon vanished from few as the group turned to gaze at their destination. Mary nodded in finality as the group began their trek. Mary glanced around at their surroundings with curious fear. One thing was for certain, The Wastes lived up to its name. Applebloom almost lost her balance and fell into a dune, “Help!” Sweetie Belle telekinetically caught her in a heartbeat, “I gotcha!” Dinky helped them to steady themselves as they continued along their road. The sun bore down upon them as they continued their advancement, sweat was visible on their brows but their pace did not falter. The castle began to approach in the distance; it had a visible 50 foot high wall of solid black stone mixed with steel. The castle itself was immense to the point it rivaled Canterlot Castle in size. It too was made out of a black hybrid of materials, but these ones were metal and a sort of crystal. Mary tilted her head as the gates opened even though they themselves were a mile out. Her eyes then widened as black shapes began to surge forth from the open gates. Mary yelled as loud as she could muster, “GOLEMS INCOMING!!” The COH readied for battle. * Cadance and Shining Armor opened the door to Dominic’s medical room to bid him good morning when they both stood with mouths agape. The bed was empty and neatly made. * Mary was aflame as she punched, kicked, and round housed as many golems as she could. But no matter how many she put down the golems would not stop coming. Sweetie Belle was blasting as many as she could muster with Dinky as support whereas Scootaloo was providing support for Mary. Mary winced as one Golem body checked her into a rocky spire which then broke apart upon impact. She roared in anger and literally ripped said golem in half with her bare hands. One golem moved to crush her head, but she then raised her hands and unleashed an uncontrollable torrent of flame which reduced the golem to ash. Scootaloo whooped in joy, “Nice one Mary!” Mary looked at her hands and smiled as the COH continued their assault. * The Black King checked his robes and then snapped his fingers. * The golems immediately melted and all the breathing combatants breathed sighs of relief. They then ran the rest of the way toward the castle. They entered through the gates and into the court yard with a confident stride. Mary threw open the main doors and the COH rushed up the main staircase and began their search. It didn’t last long for a door opened for them leading into a large atrium sized throne room. Within they found their captive parents and siblings respectively within a massive cage. Mary rushed to the cage and slid to it on her knees and began to cry, “Dad I am so sorry for those things I said to you, I was-“ Martin stopped her, “It’s alright. WATCH OUT!” Mary was then blasted to the side by a bolt of black light. She stood and came face to face with The Black King. He landed upon the ground and laughed at the young female. The Black King spread his arms, “Welcome Ms. Fairbridges, so glad of you to join us.” Mary ignited and hurled her torrent of flame, “YOU BASTARD!” The Black King casually absorbed the flames into his gauntlet which he then extinguished, “Such language, so unbecoming of a lady.” Mary jabbed a finger at the dark monarch, “Listen here you freak, let my parents and my friends go or you’ll face the consequences!” The Black King laughed at the threat, “Oh please.” He then raised his hand and sent the remaining COH into the adjacent walls and pinned them there, effectively leaving Mary standing alone. Mary was shocked and angered by these actions, “Why are you doing this, who are you even?! I thought myself, Alan, Dom, and my father were the only humans that were in Equestria.” The Black King laughed harder as his hand traveled to his masked face, “Can’t you guess?” The mask disintegrated into black smoke revealing The Black Kings face. His hair seemed to spike up in a wild mane like style. He had matching side burns that were equally wild looking and had tanned skin. His eyes were blood red with silts for pupils. He sneered at his shocked audience revealing fangs for canine teeth. Twilight’s eyes widened, “Sombra, I knew I was right.” Mary raised an eyebrow, “Sombra?” King Sombra casually began to speak, “King Sombra to be precise, former ruler of The Crystal Empire and now ruler of the wastes.” King Sombra’s robes reshaped into a suit of black and grey armor as the crowns spikes took on a reddish sheen. A cape of royal red with white fluffy trim formed on his back as he smiled wider. Rainbow Dash thrashed against the cage, “But Cadance and the Crystal Ponies destroyed you!” King Sombra waved the comment off, “Indeed, but not permanently. You see when that accursed princess blasted me, my body was destroyed but my essence and spirit lingered outside the mortal realm. As I traveled Equestria for years, I soon came across a small fragment of a once powerful entity known as Nightmare that had shared my fate. We struck a deal; he would give me a body as long as he tagged along.” King Sombra chuckled, “The creature gave me this human body and power, but it tried to consume my mind.” Martin nodded, “It tends to do that.” King Sombra continued, “But my will was stronger and I consumed it. Not only did acquire my old powers, but I gained new ones from its previous hosts.” King Sombra transformed into black smoke and appeared directly in front of Mary, “And they are quite useful.” He grabbed Mary by the throat, “You and your father I believe are quite familiar with this one.” Black energy began to slither from Sombra’s gauntleted hand and into Mary’s eyes which began to blacken. She then began to scream in fear as Sombra released her. He looked down with a sense of victory and moved to attack his other captives. * Mary looked around within a black space and widened her eyes. Standing before her was a white coated mare with a mane the colour of a ripe red apple and had dark blue eyes. Her cutie mark depicted three red apples that were aflame with blue and white. Both individuals gasped.