//------------------------------// // Dark Measures // Story: Fire Emblem: Waking in a New World // by Bishibosh the Shaman //------------------------------// Fire Emblem: Waking in a New World Chapter Eight The frozen tundra rang silent as the wind howled, blowing loose snow across the flat landscape. A hooded figure stood in the cold, showing no effect from the blistering snow. A smile crept across the hooded smile, the power of this land was abundant. Even in the sapient creatures who ruled over the land, magic ran deep in their blood. He could not wait to harvest such raw power in mass. The frozen ground before him cracked and melted as the figure raised his arms out. A fissure of dark energy poured from the ground, spreading outward. Two dark limbs shot from the dark portal, grabbing the edges of the portal and stretching them out to the length of a massive city. With one final push, the ground itself shook in retaliation but the tip of a stone tower rose from the portal. The unicorn king rose from the shadows behind his new 'master'. Sombra could not stand being under this being's thumb, but would rather face servitude than eternal damnation. He watched for a moment as the giant tower slowly ascended into the air before speaking. "Master... The risen are hungry..." "Ahh, it's about time... You have served me well Sombra, continue to impress me and you may be rewarded." The Fell Dragon never turned his gaze from the tower. "The Dragon's Table... My own servants are now channeling the spell to bring it here you know. When it is ready, the ponies who 'joined' me shall come in mass. Cattle to the slaughter... Oh to be in my true form again... Then this world will truly burn!" "Master... The risen..." "Yes, yes... They may attack when ready." "I will join... Revenge..." "No Sombra, you will remain. Better our enemies not know you are still alive, for now. No instead I will give you something else to take your place in the battle field. Behold." A massive shadow arose from the black portal, it's shapeless form twisting and molding into a bulk of dark flesh. The formation was almost complete except a single arm missing. In it's place was a lingering shadow. "Place your horn to the shadow Sombra, let the beast drink in your power. In return I will bestow upon you a taste of my own power, the power of a god..." Sombra growled in response, but then thrust his horn into the shadow as if to impale it. After a moment of nothing, the shadow latched onto the unicorn king's horn. Sombra screamed in agony as the black and green magic was sapped from his body. The beast drank his power almost dry, leaving the unicorn king gasping for breath. The Fell Dragon laughed as he approached the fallen king. "Do you see the fruits of your sacrifice?" Grima spoke, motioning to the revenant. The dark monster stood nearly a story high, it's body seemed to rupture as black energy arc'd off it's flesh. The empty spot that once held no arm was now occupied by a massive crystalline club for an arm. Sombra's own black crystals protruding as spikes. Grima looked down on the unicorn king and laughed. "Arise Sombra, you have given birth to a new breed of monster. Now drink from my own fountain of dark energy..." Sombra used the last bits of energy he had to pull his dead body towards the dark portal. Black energy arc'd from the pool of magic, taunting him with power. He finally managed to get his head over the portal, looking down into his own twisted reflection he saw the face of Grima. His real face. The Fell Dragon. Sombra threw himself into the black magic and drank in it's power. It was an ecstasy beyond what he could imagine... Canterlot castle was quiet for a change, Celestia was just wrapping up her morning court session and was headed to satisfy her rumbling stomach. She had just arrived in the royal kitchen to see what the castle chefs had cooked up. After a short battle between the traditional salad and the tempting stir fry of vegetables, she decided with the stir fry. Levitating her meal with her, she decided to retire to her private quarters to eat. Opening the doors, she was suprised by her sister's presence, awake in her room. "Lulu? have a bad dream?" Celestia asked as she set her meal on a nearby table. "Tia... I'm surprised you did not feel it..." Luna spoke in a rasped tone, her voice low. "Felt what Lulu?" Celestia asked, concerned with her sister's state. "For a brief moment... I felt... darkness..." Luna curled up on the ground, and even began shaking. "It... pulled... It wanted... her..." Celestia stepped over to her sister and lay down next to her, wrapping her in her wing. "Everything will be alright Lulu, tell me what you saw..." After an hour of listening to her sister explain what she saw between sobs, Celestia grew very concerned about the matter. If some new foe has come to her land it needed dealt with swiftly, as she comforted her sister she grabbed a quill and paper to send a message. "Tia... I saw..." "Shush Lulu, you need to rest. Don't worry about a thing." "I saw... a dragon... and a tower... and... and... so many... dead..." "Luna..." The two alicorns stayed in Celestia private chambers most the day. Celestia even lowered the sun and raised the moon herself that night. She hoped Twilight would get her letter as soon as possible...