//------------------------------// // Last Episode: ...Rise... // Story: My Little Pony: The Entities of Emotion // by Michael_Ravencroft //------------------------------// In the caves of the Frozen North, miles away from the Crystal Empire, there laid a secret hidden within the dark depths. Something glowed inside the jagged interior, a soft red glow the hummed with faint energy. The glow of this energy kept many a creature from claiming this cave as their home, for they feared what this power was and what it would do if they got near it. But the animals and monstrous creatures could sense that the faint life that was in the cave would soon come to an end, so they merely passed the cave by, awaiting the presence’s eventual death. The source of the glow came not from a rock, but a small sharp spike like object. It was curved and red in color, the humming energy slowly radiating from it was as gentle as a slowing heartbeat. This object was well known to those of the Crystal Empire, it was the weapon from which an evil tyrant once channeled his dark power, a monster in the form of a unicorn who enslaved them all and instilled so much fear in their hearts that they dare not speak his name. And now, all that was left of this once evil ruler was this piece of his horn, which was more alive than they may have believed. I was beaten...Destroyed...Cast away like some common piece of trash...I who was once the ruler of a great empire...now...now I am condemned to eternal nothingness...is this my fate...? The light was growing dimmer by the second, and so too was the consciousness that dwelled within it. Dethroned by sisters of the sun and moon...Defeated by that meddling little unicorn mare...My Crystal Heart taken from me...I swear, with my dying breath I curse you all...May you know the cold embrace of death...! The light in the cave soon faded into nothingness, allowing the shadows to reclaim the cave once more. King Sombra, former ruler of the Crystal Empire, had died. Sombra... Suddenly the shadows of the cave came to life, a dark energy fueling their life. An ethereal, black light started to seep from the shadows themselves and began to snake their way towards the horn of King Sombra. The energy swarmed around the horn, enveloping it in a sphere of dark power. Sombra, you misunderstand what death truly is. Death is not something to curse others with; death is a blessing, for within its darkness all can know peace. Peace...? Yes, can you not feel it, all your anger, and all your hatred, gone; never again will you be beholden to the strife and pain of life. Death welcomes you, great and small, good or evil, all are welcome. Yes...yes...I feel it...you are right. There are those who continue to foolishly cling to the light of life, you must bring them the peace, show them the true way. What once was denied can now begin again, King Sombra, will you take hold of this power? Will you become the new Entity of Death? Sombra could feel the darkness, it was so inviting, so vast and powerful, and oh so welcoming. He understood now why death was peace, and was it not his duty as a king to bring peace to those whom he ruled over? I SHALL! King Sombra of Equus, RISE. Suddenly the dark sphere swirled around the horn, growing bigger. The power generated by the light destroyed the nearby stalagmites and stalactites, tearing up the cave floor from the force generated by the power of the sphere. Inside the sphere something was happening. From the horn something white formed, it continued to grow until it was the skull of a pony. At the base of the skull more began to grow, a spine, ribcage, femurs, hooves, and a tail. Black sludge started to seep from the joints and vertebra, transforming into a sickly pale and lifeless flesh that covered the entire skeletal structure. Muscle and sinew was formed, along with gums around the fanged teeth of the skull, which soon gave way to skin. Fur sprouted from the flesh, black as the night, with gray fur appearing around the face. Lastly, the sphere broke apart, the remnants of the energy latching onto the body of the resurrected king. Around his forelegs and hind legs it became sleek and shiny black armor, along with a chest plate and a crown. Upon the chest plate a white symbol appeared. It was an upside down triangle, with five vertical bars rising from it. Sombra’s empty sockets flashed with red light. The dark unicorn closed his eyes, when he reopened them the light had vanished, becoming crimson vertical slits. The shadows of the cave rushed to the back of the evil tyrant king, taking the form of a tattered black cape. King Sombra had been reborn, no longer a pony bound to life, now he was death incarnate. Sombra inspected his new form, with each passing second his grin grew more manical till he released a deep and terrible laugh that echoed through the entire cave and further still. “The Blackest Night falls from the skies, The darkness grows as all light dies! We crave your hearts and your demise, By my command the dead shall RISE!”