Scorpan flew softly through the night sky, making sure not to draw the attention of any of those…Ponies. He snarled slightly as he thought about them, even though…He had watched them live in peace with one another, a peace that he had never known, and he wondered…Why? What made these ponies so special? And what would happen to that peace once he and his brother took their magic?
Scorpan banished these thoughts with a shake of his head. This was right, they were meant to do this, Tirek said so. Suddenly Scorpan felt a sharp pain in his wing and turned with a glare. Before he could react the great flaming bird that had attacked him swooped again and struck his wing. He swiped at the bird with his claws but his wing gave out and he started plummeting to the ground. Scorpan flapped his uninjured wing but to no avail, he was still hurtling towards the hard rocks below him. He started to panic and tried to think of some way to save himself when he just…Stopped. He opened his eyes and saw a strange yellow light surrounding him, and suddenly he felt…It. He felt magic, and Tirek was right, it was wonderful.
Scorpan looked around for the source and as he was slowly lowered to the ground his eyes fell on a pony, one of the horned ones with a strange beard. Scorpan raised an eyebrow at the odd garb the pony was wearing, especially the bells, but before he could question it, the pony spoke.
“I am sorry for holding you like this, but I saw you falling and wanted to help. Are you alright?”
Scorpan slightly bared his teeth at the pony but…Something in his voice was calming. It wasn’t pathetic or weak as Tirek had told him; it was intelligent and had a quiet strength that confused and comforted Scorpan at the same time. The glow faded and Scorpan checked his wing. The bird had scratched it severely, but it would heal in time. The pony took a step towards him and furrowed his brow at Scorpan’s injury.
“My, that is a deep cut.” He smiled “Well, nothing a little healing potion cannot fix. Come with me and I will get you ready to fly in a jiffy.”
He turned to walk away and Scorpan raised his eyebrow “Why?”
The horned pony raised his eyebrow in return “Because I am here and I wish to help you.” He chuckled and shook his head “Oh how foolish of me, I have yet to properly introduce myself. I am Starswirl the Bearded.” Starswirl bowed and Scorpan cocked his head. Starswirl motioned towards Scorpan “And you are?”
Something in Starswirl piqued Scorpan’s curiosity and he decided to trust him, if only a little. “I am Scorpan.”
Starswirl nodded and stroked his beard with a hoof “Scorpan…Hm, I cannot say I have heard a name like that before, or ever seen a creature like yourself, for that matter. If I may ask, where are you from?”
Scorpan smiled slightly “I am from a land far away from this one.”
Starswirl chuckled “You certainly are a vague sort, Scorpan.” Scorpan winced and Starswirl furrowed his brow “Come along, I know just the thing for that scratch.” He started walking and Scorpan followed him, cautiously looking around at the forbidding forest.
“You…Live here?”
Starswirl smiled and waved a hoof “Goodness no, I only come here for research.”
Scorpan’s interest heightened and he walked a little closer to Starswirl “Research?”
Starswirl nodded “Yes, I study the creatures and plant life of this forest. Some of them are truly quite fascinating.”
Scorpan remembered the flaming bird and glared slightly “What was the creature that attacked me?”
Starswirl’s eyes glinted with academic pride “That, good sir, was a phoenix. They are majestic birds that can literally renew themselves when they get old or sick.” He noticed Scorpan’s expression and smiled sympathetically “I am sorry you got hurt, you must have been flying too close to its nest.” Scorpan raised an incredulous eyebrow and Starswirl continued “Phoenixes are very protective of their young and are quite adept at camouflaging their nests; I have been within three feet of a nest and did not suspect it was there in the slightest until the mother found me.”
Scorpan nodded and smiled, there was something about Starswirl that made him want to know more about him and Scorpan wondered whether the rest of the ponies were like him. He had saved Scorpan’s life without any knowledge of who he was and hadn’t once asked for anything in return. After they had walked for about twenty minutes in the harsh forest, Starswirl never once faltering in his path, they came to a small cottage made of wood and the sounds of clinking glass could be heard inside.
Scorpan furrowed his brow and took a more defensive stance but Starswirl only smiled apologetically “Forgive me; I forgot to mention my research partner was here. But do not worry; he will be nothing if not kind to you.”
Starswirl walked confidently up to the door and Scorpan followed hesitantly. Starswirl opened the door and Scorpan crouched to get through, although the ceiling was high enough for him to stand comfortably once he was inside. Starswirl took off his hat and put it on a chair and Scorpan raised his eyebrow at the clatter in the next room. Suddenly a voice echoed from the room and Starswirl chuckled.
“Starswirl! Glad you have returned!” The voice Scorpan heard was deep and strong, much like Tirek’s, but there was a joy in it that Scorpan felt drawn to. He cocked his head when he saw a huge pony walk through the door, his grey eyes focused intently on a glass jar he was holding with his magic. “I have discovered something truly amazing about this plant we came across the other day.” The pony didn’t notice Scorpan but walked to a shelf and pulled a few scrolls out with his magic.
Scorpan had never seen a pony like him before, he had both wings and a horn, and his mane and tail were constantly waving as if there was a strong wind. Finally Starswirl cleared his throat, instantly getting the attention of the huge stallion.
“Your Majesty, if I may.” He pointed to Scorpan “This is Scorpan. I found him in the forest after he had been attacked by a phoenix. His wing is injured so I brought him here for some of the healing potion we keep.”
Scorpan raised his eyebrow at the title Starswirl had used but the large pony smiled warmly at him and spoke in a friendly voice “Well, Scorpan, make yourself at home.” He bowed “I am High Prince Aecorum of the Sea, Triarch of Equestria.”
Scorpan’s eyes widened in fear, Tirek had warned him about the rulers and now he had walked right into the grasp of one of them. He looked for some exit but Starswirl and Aecorum noticed his expression and Starswirl spoke softly to him.
“Scorpan? Is something the matter?”
Scorpan swallowed the lump in his throat and shook his head, forcing a smile. He couldn’t reveal Tirek’s plan, no matter what the ponies did to him. “N-Nothing, I am alright.”
Aecorum furrowed his brow suspiciously and looked at Scorpan’s wing. Instantly his demeanor shifted and he showed nothing but concern for Scorpan. He pulled a chair up to Scorpan with his magic and turned back towards the shelves. “Sit down, Scorpan, and I will get you some potion for that wing.” He looked around for a moment before asking “Starswirl, where did you put the healing potion?”
Starswirl chuckled “I put it exactly where I always do, Your Highness.” Aecorum shot him a playful glare and he nodded “It is on the third shelf from the top, exactly fourteen inches from the left side, in the glass jar.”
Aecorum sighed and shook his head before he pulled an obviously empty jar out with his magic. “You would not happen to mean this jar, would you?”
Starswirl jumped slightly, making the bells jingle in a frenzy before he smiled sheepishly at Aecorum “Oh, I nearly forgot…I used up the last of it after that incident with the thorn bush.”
Scorpan raised his eyebrow and Aecorum laughed, a deep hearty laughed that made Scorpan smile without realizing it. “Starswirl, for a stallion that can recite a thousand spells off the top of his head, it amazes me how often you forget the simplest things.” Aecorum turned to Scorpan with a kind smile “Do not worry, Starswirl and I will make a fresh batch and that wing will be better in no time.”
Scorpan nodded and spoke hesitantly “Thank you…”
Starswirl waved a hoof as he made his way towards the laboratory “Think nothing of it, Scorpan.” He turned to Aecorum “Oh, what was that discovery you made about the plant, Your Highness?”
Aecorum nodded with a smile “Of course, I nearly forgot.” He grabbed the jar from earlier and held up the plant that was inside it “Do you remember those frustrating blue flowers we found last year?”
Starswirl grimaced “How could I not? My horn was sore for a week.”
Aecorum smiled triumphantly “Well Starswirl, I have found a cure!” Starswirl’s jaw dropped and Aecorum nodded “Yes, when this little beauty is mixed with a few common herbs and boiled for a while, it produces a solution that completely negates the effects!”
Starswirl clapped his hooves and grinned “A potion?”
Aecorum laughed “Actually it only works if the affected pony bathes in it.”
Scorpan furrowed his brow as the two stallions shared a laugh. They spoke in such an easy manner even though Aecorum was royalty. Starswirl turned to Scorpan as they went into the laboratory and spoke “You can come in and watch if you would like. It can be dreadfully boring out there.”
Scorpan smiled and stood, carefully avoiding moving his wing too much. He walked into the laboratory and his eyes widened as Aecorum and Starswirl worked chaotically but in a strangely organized way to make the potion. Scorpan smiled as the ponies, the creatures Tirek had told him were pathetic and worthless, talked and laughed with one another over simple things.
After a while Scorpan found himself laughing and talking alongside them and he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. They were curious about him and where he came from but accepted his answers, even if the answer was vague, and they didn’t once look down on him or mock him. Scorpan found himself asking them the questions he had since he came to Equestria and they answered him honestly, without a single reservation.
For the first time in his life, Scorpan was beginning to doubt his older brother. How could he claim to be better than the ponies when they gladly offered their help and knowledge to someone in need?
Soon the potion was finished and Aecorum offered it to Scorpan with the smile that seemed to always adorn his face. Scorpan smiled in return and drank it quickly, even though it tasted horrible. Within moments Scorpan’s wing was healed and he flapped it a few times to his satisfaction. Aecorum, Starswirl, and Scorpan walked out of the cottage and Aecorum sighed when he saw the moon dip towards the horizon.
“Alas, another day of politics awaits me.” He turned to Scorpan “Would you like to come back to Canterlot with us, Scorpan?”
Scorpan’s eyes widened “Canterlot? You trust me…In your capital?”
Aecorum laughed “Of course I do! Why would I not trust a friend?”
For some reason even he wasn’t sure about, that word touched Scorpan’s heart. He had only known Aecorum and Starswirl for a few hours, and already they were offering him a place to stay. Scorpan smiled and realized that in the time they had spent talking and laughing, these two stallions had become his friends. Scorpan finally figured out what made ponies special, why they lived in peace. It was because they had friends, and Scorpan didn’t want to hurt them and take their magic anymore.
He shook his head “I am sorry, Aecorum. There is something else I must do.” Without waiting for an answer, Scorpan took off and flew as fast as he could towards the mountain Tirek had chosen as their fortress. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and there was a big part of him that was afraid, but Scorpan knew in his heart it was what he had to do.
He had to stop his brother.
---
Aecorum didn’t know why his thoughts had drifted to Scorpan, but he smiled at the memory of his old friend’s courage. After Scorpan left them that first night he had confronted his brother and eventually warned Aecorum about Tirek’s plan. Aecorum had seen the look of pain and sadness on Scorpan’s face when Tirek was put into Tartarus, but there was no other way. He had asked Scorpan to stay in Equestria but Scorpan refused, he said the pain was too great. Aecorum sighed; he knew all too well the hurt of betraying somepony you claimed to care for.
He shook his head to banish those thoughts and a sudden chill in the cave reminded Aecorum of winter, his favorite season. He smiled as he thought of snow, hot cocoa, warm fireplaces, skating, and…Ice. Before he knew it he wasn’t thinking about the joys of winter, but an empty plain of snow and ice, far to the north of Equestria.
---
The Crystal Empire. That name had become something of a legend across the world, boasting of beautiful architecture and wondrous nature, but to its citizens, the name was dark and filled with terror. For if the King was not satisfied with the work, there was only one outcome.
Few remembered the carefree days of old, when the Crystal Heart protected the land and their own hearts were happy. The only thing they knew now was pain and torment in cold chains, thanks to King Sombra. He watched them from the dark palace and laughed as they slaved beneath his iron hoof. His eyes searched for any weakness and once he found one, he would pounce on the poor pony and fear would reign all the stronger.
Sombra had done an excellent job making sure that none of the other nations in the world knew of the darkness he had brought to the crystal ponies, and he had succeeded, but for one stallion.
Aecorum had always been suspicious of Sombra and decided to make an unannounced trip to the Crystal Empire. He knew Sombra wouldn’t confront him but he still chose to fly alone and under cover of darkness. Once he arrived in the capital city, Aecorum’s heart was filled with sadness and rage at Sombra’s actions. He looked up at the tyrant and his eyes widened when he saw the purple flames flowing from Sombra’s eyes and horn.
Aecorum shook his head and whispered “He…He is using Dark Magic. I have to stop this!” Aecorum pulled his cloak over his head and walked silently to a crystal pony that was separated from the rest, although the chains were tight around his neck.
Aecorum shook his head again and fought the anger rising in his chest. The pony fell down and his eyes widened in fear as he struggled to get up. Before Sombra could see him, Aecorum quickly helped him up and used his body to support the weak stallion.
The stallion looked fearfully up at Aecorum “Who…Who are you? The King will see, you have to go!”
Aecorum shook his head and helped the pony walk towards a hidden alley “I will not. This has gone on for far too long, and I will stop it!” Once they were out of sight, Aecorum used his magic to break the chains on the pony’s neck. He sighed “I only hope that you can forgive me for not seeing this before now.”
The crystal stallion leaned wearily against the wall “Who are you?”
Aecorum smiled and lowered his hood “I am Aecorum, a Prince of Equestria.”
The pony’s eyes widened and he looked around fearfully “Then you must go! The King is powerful, he could kill you!”
Aecorum glared up at the palace “No.” He looked back at the stallion “Is there a place the crystal ponies gather when the work is finished for the day?”
He nodded tentatively “We sleep in the Hovel.”
Aecorum’s face grew hard and determined “Take me there.”
---
Aecorum stood in front of a crowd of painfully frightened crystal ponies and he felt his heart break for them. Almost all of the crystal ponies had been forced to live in this small, broken home and Aecorum felt his anger rise. He cursed himself for not seeing this sooner and cleared his throat to speak.
“I am High Prince Aecorum of the Sea. I am one of the rulers of Equestria and I am here to help you. Fractured Shard brought me here and he told me what has been happening to you.” A few of the ponies glared daggers at Fractured Shard while others looked at him with pleading eyes. Aecorum shook his head and continued “I asked him to bring me here. I know now what Sombra has been doing to you, and I mean to put an end to it! His powers come from Dark Magic, and it has corrupted his heart and even his soul. I know he has made you fear him, but fear can be controlled!” He smiled defiantly at them “You can stop him, all of you!” The crystal ponies murmured fearfully at each other and he nodded “Yes, you can! His power comes from your fear! The Crystal Empire was a great land, and its greatness came from you!”
Aecorum could tell they weren’t convinced so he tried to think of how to make them see the truth. “He is evil, but you are strong! If you fought him, broke your shackles, and rose up against him, you would be victorious!”
A crystal mare in back shouted “Do not listen to him! He does not know the power of the King!” All eyes went to her and tears fell down her face “We are nothing compared to him. We cannot defy him; the King would destroy us all! You know what I say is true!”
Aecorum walked over to her and smiled sadly “But it is not. The light within you protected you for centuries, and it can protect you again.”
She shook her head “There is no Crystal Heart. The King took it from us and we will never see it again!”
Aecorum looked at the rest of the ponies and saw they agreed with the mare. He sighed and pleaded with them “You do not need the Crystal Heart! The light has been within you all this time; you can use it to fight the King! Please, listen to me! You do not have to live in fear and darkness; you can strip him of his power!” His voice became more earnest and he looked each one in the eye “All of you are so much stronger than you know. Fight for your foals, for the Empire! Fight Sombra to free yourselves!”
The mare that had spoken shook her head and took a few steps away from Aecorum. “We cannot!” Before Aecorum could think of something else to say, the rest of them had followed the mare and he found himself looking at the crystal ponies, resigned to their fate.
Aecorum sighed and looked at them “You will not fight?” They shook their heads and Aecorum turned to leave, a determined look on his face. “Very well. I will fight for you.”
---
The crystal ponies had been too afraid to tell Sombra that Aecorum had come to the Crystal Empire but he could tell that something was definitely wrong. He sat on his dark throne and thought about some new way to get them to tell him, although the Door of Fear seemed to work pretty well in the past. Suddenly the crystal doors burst open and a seething alicorn marched towards him. Sombra bared his teeth at Aecorum but Aecorum didn’t even respond. The only sign of his emotion was his mane and tail billowing faster with his rage.
Aecorum stopped a few feet in front of Sombra and narrowed his eyes. He spoke coldly but firmly “Sombra. Stop.”
Sombra smirked “I do not know what you are talking about, Aecorum.”
Aecorum gritted his teeth “Do not lie to me; it will only make it worse for you. I know you are using Dark Magic. Do not be a fool, Sombra.”
Sombra laughed and walked back to his throne “Fool? I will tell you who the fool is, Your Highness.” He spat the words out like venom “You think you can come into my empire and tell me to stop? I am Sombra! The King of Crystal!”
“And you are using a force you cannot control.”
Sombra laughed again “I control everything!”
Aecorum walked towards Sombra with pleading eyes “Sombra, listen to me! If you do not stop using Dark Magic and tormenting the crystal ponies, I will have to force you to. Please do not make me.”
Sombra bared his fangs at Aecorum and stood up, his eyes flaring with darkness “You dare threaten me?! This is not your domain, Prince of the Sea!” He smiled wickedly “It is mine! And I am KING!” Sombra fired a blast of dark magic that hit Aecorum square in the chest and blew him back to the wall.
Aecorum fell to the floor and glared harshly at the black unicorn. He wiped a bit of blood from his chin and stood slowly. Sombra laughed and prepared to hit him again but Aecorum’s horn flashed with light and Sombra was hurled to the floor next to his throne. Aecorum’s eyes were ablaze with rage and he walked to the balcony. His words were laced in ice as Sombra tried to get off the floor.
“Your hours are numbered.” Aecorum took off as fast as he could towards Canterlot and Sombra laughed.
“Yes, run! Run from the might that is King Sombra!”
---
Aecorum returned to Canterlot and quickly summoned Celestia and Luna to him. They looked at the dried blood on his chin with concern but he held his glare.
“Sombra has fallen. We must go.” In an instant the three alicorns were in the air as they flew to face the dark King of Crystal.
---
Sombra laughed again as he thought of Aecorum’s threat. He scoffed and spoke darkly.
“He thinks he can defeat me? Hah! He is a greater fool than I thought.” His horn flashed and a crystal slave that had been serving him fell to the floor, whimpering like a newborn as her greatest fears came to life before her eyes. Sombra laughed again until a sound from outside drew his attention.
“SOMBRA!” Sombra snarled at the voice and walked to the balcony to see Aecorum along with the two alicorn princesses of Equestria hovering above the balcony.
Sombra laughed, baring his fangs “You wish to be beaten again, Prince?”
Aecorum stared coldly at him and spoke in a deadly tone “King Sombra, I, High Prince Aecorum of the Sea, Triarch of Equestria, along with High Princess Celestia of the Day and High Princess Luna of the Night, as punishment for your crimes against the Crystal Ponies, do hereby strip you of your title and banish you from the Crystal Empire for all eternity!”
Sombra growled “You cannot banish me from my own Empire!”
Aecorum’s glare hardened “I gave you a chance. You did not accept it. You are responsible for this.” He turned to Celestia and Luna and nodded before his horn lit up.
Celestia and Luna lit up their horns and the three combined them to shoot a rainbow of magic at Sombra. He tried to use his dark powers to defend himself but he was consumed and turned to shadows. The darkness that covered the empire vanished and Aecorum, Celestia, and Luna sealed him in the ice but just before it snapped shut, Sombra screamed in rage and used his magic to make the entire Crystal Empire disappear.
The alicorns looked at each other and the snowy ground below them where the palace used to be in disbelief. Aecorum tried to bring it back with his own magic but after a while shook his head sadly and started the long flight back to Canterlot. Celestia followed him but Luna hovered in the air, staring at the empty ice and snow.
She thought to herself Sombra did this? That Dark Magic he used…It made him so strong, so…Her eyes glinted darkly. Powerful.