//------------------------------// // 5: Lighting the Match // Story: Let The Crystals Break: The Rise of Sombra // by joe mother //------------------------------// Sombra's hooves clacked loudly against the stone grounds as he walked into the alley, a saddlebag slung over his back. The cloth container was bulging with objects of varying sizes, and would have looked suspicious to anypony, had anypony been around to see it. "It will start tonight," he whispered as he set down the pack. He opened it and removed a small cylinder made of curved steel. He placed the canister on the ground and shot a bolt of magic at it. It began to glow a deep red, and slowly began to pulse lightly. You are starting something new. Doing something that nopony has ever thought to do. Sombra did not reply to the voice as he left the alley and crossed the street, going straight into another, where he placed a second cylinder and did the same spell to it. He walked out and suddenly found himself facing a scenario he felt he never would. "What are you doing?" the crystal guard asked, staring him suspiciously in the eyes. "Oh, uh-" Sombra began. "I was just, uh... looking for some rodents." "And why would you need to see rodents?" the guard asked. "I'm interested in them," the unicorn replied, rubbing his hoof behind his head nervously. "Yeah." "It's true! I was looking for them so I could place my little scanning canisters that will pick up information on them! You can go see if you want." Sombra nearly bit his tongue during the middle of that sentence. Oh, stallion,he thought to himself. I just lied to a royal guard. If anypony finds out about that... Lying to figures of authority while under question was considered one of the most lowly crimes in the Empire, and Sombra had just stooped to that height. "Alright," the guard responded, taking a step into the alley. Sombra almost tried to stop him, but he fought the urge to do so and followed him in. The guard was standing by the metal cylinder, eyeing it with an odd look. "This is a weird scanner," he said. "It's a piece of steel I cast a sentry enchantment on," Sombra said, the lie flowing easily through his lips. "It took a while to learn the spell; it's very difficult, but I managed." "Very different," the guard said before standing. "Never in my life have I seen such an odd device. Reminds me of a few weapons back in the First Rebellion. But, this one doesn't have the same aura about it. It feels perfectly safe to me." Sombra practically jumped with joy, but he kept it to a small hop when the guard's back was turned. "You continue on your way," the crystal pony told him. "Have a good night." The black unicorn started to rejoice silently when the guard left, amazed at his stroke of luck. I can't believe that guard was so stupid! he thought. He didn't even bother to scan the device or anything! He must be new or just is of lower class, I guess. Place the rest. The voice boomed out, a Sombra complied quickly, placing the canisters in several more alleys, casting his spell on them. "Soon," he said quietly. "Soon I will be ready to begin." ~ Three days later: The Funeral Sombra watched with fake tears as the casket was lowered into the grave, internally smiling at such a stroke of good luck. She can no longer get in my way! When the grave had been covered with dirt, he stayed with a mortified expression for hours, seeming to be mourning his loss, instead thinking of his plans which he was getting ready to enact. He hoped that his canisters had been picked up by somepony, for if they still remained in the alleys, his treachery would fall and he would have to find another way. "He must be devastated." This voice came from somepony behind him; a mare. "I know." The next voice was from another; a stallion. Sombra turned and pretended that he was leaving, head down, and shoulders slumped. In reality, he was checking the two ponies, who were the only ones left other than himself. Probably family friends of Mom's, he thought to himself. I don't know them. Right before he reached the gate, he paused. An insane thought filled his brain, and he felt it racing past his common decency and common sense. Nopony would know if I killed them here. He turned around to face them, his eyes turning green, his irises becoming red. "What are your names?" he asked, putting on a pleasant smile. "I am Reddust," the mare said. "And I am Fields," the stallion finished. "Did you know my Mom?" Sombra asked them. "Ah, yes," Reddust replied. "We were very good friends. We met in university, and it just so happened that we both moved to the same town when we graduated." Sombra's smile lost a bit of its pleasantry, becoming crooked and bent, something the two ponies failed to notice. "You must be very distraught," Fields said. "Yes, very," Sombra said, his voice completely swept away in psychotic throes. They looked at him and saw his eyes. glowing brightly in the light. His pupils had become small pinpricks on his whites, drawing all the more reaction from the couple. "Ar- Are you alright?" Reddust asked. "Oh, I'm fine," Sombra whispered in a menacing hiss. "But you won't be." There was no sound as death was quickly delivered to the two, save for Sombra's heavy breathing, which cut through the silence like a knife. Fire. Burn. Fall. ~ The next morning COUPLE MURDERED AT FUNERAL FOR LOCAL SHOPKEEPER Sombra had a satanic smile across his face as he read this, feeling lucky that nopony else was up yet. Since his mother had died, Sombra had been sent to live in an orphanage in the capital, where he had quickly assumed control over the weaker ponies. He used his skills as a fire mage to threaten the younger unicorns and other races, and used his magical strength to win over his chronological superiors. He threw the paper down, hyperventilating. He laid back on his bed and looked up at the ceiling, relishing in the pleasure it had given him to read the headline and recall the event itself. He had slit their throats with fragments of crystal that he carried around in his jacket, and it had given him a rush he wished to feel again. I don't have to stay here for much longer, he thought. Soon it will be time and I can strike upon this Empire and send it crumbling down. He heard a shuffling next to him and saw the pony on the bed next to him get up. The pony stole a quick glance over at him, fearful of what Sombra would do if he was awake. Sombra decided to let the pony do what it wanted and did nothing to stop it. Sombra closed his eyes and relaxed. He was soon asleep, still recalling the headline from that morning's newspaper. ~ The day of initiation Sombra's eyes snapped open in wide eyed wonder. Today was the day the plan would begin, and the Empire would be saved. Oh, how I have waited for this moment! He got out of bed and went to the showers. He took a cold one to wake himself up and stepped out ready to complete his task. He waited in the room until everypony got up and went to take a shower or go to the bathroom, and then he did it. He cast the activation spell. His heart soared with glee. Everypony would be distracted by the events he had just caused that he would be able to sneak into the castle easily. ~ Five minutes before the Activation Spell: Fresco, Greens, and Stone "But, I mean, what do you think it does?" Stone asked as he stared at the metal container with interest. "It doesn't matter," Fresco said, kissing him on the cheek. "What does matter is that you do what you said you were and come to bed with me." Greens had been standing beside Stone this whole time, and looked at Fresco, the only mare of the three. "Ah, what about me?" he asked in fake despair. "You're not my boyfriend," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're supposed to be going home, though. Your parents will start to worry." "Like Stone's won't?" he replied. "He already told them he was staying over here," she said. "Besides, we need our alone time." Green sighed and went over to the door. "'Bye," he said. The other two just waved in response. He left and continued home. "Now," Fresco said, walking seductively up to Stone. "Yes?" Stone said, ready for what he was hoping for. "How about that night?" she said, waving her plot in front of him. It was then that the canister exploded, sending thousands of crystal shards everywhere, impaling them and killing them instantly. Across the Empire, every other canister did the same, killing dozens of ponies where they stood, and injuring many more. Hundreds of royal guards showed up thirty minutes later to help the victims that were still alive, along with medics from the nearby hospital and the castle itself. This left only half of the guard at the castle protecting the king. That was just what Sombra needed.