//------------------------------// // The Night is always Darkest.... // Story: Sombra's Heart // by IpreferpI //------------------------------// Log, Captain of the Guard Tyrus Bloodmane, seventeenth in the line of Royal Guards, Guardian of the Crystal Empire. Lately I have observed that King Sombra has become obsessed. I took him to the vaults about four weeks ago... just a month. In that time he has... changed. Since coming out with a small book, he has turned more and more of his duties over to the Steward, and has refused to see ANYONE unless he summons them first. He had a maid thrown into the dungeon who was attempting to bring him dinner five minutes early! Even worse are the Royal Decrees... over the course of one month, he has begun to restrict freedoms and former rights, claiming they are intended to bring order to chaos. I have included a list of some of the worst ones below, for whomever may read this. From now on, this log is no longer a journal of mine, but a message to my successor. By Order of King Sombra, a curfew is now in effect. Anypony caught outside after Nine o'clock shall be imprisoned and questioned. By Order of King Sombra, inquieries regarding the Crystal Heart are now forbidden. Any citizen making inquiries after the Crystal Heart shall be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, the City Millita is hereby Dissolved, and the right to bear weapons is now removed. Any Citizen found in possesion of weaponry will be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, protection against search and seizure without a Writ of Search and Seizure is suspended. Any who refuse access to their premesis against a Royal Guard will be imprisoned. By Order of King Sombra, anypony attempting to gain access to the Royal Palace without an appointment for ANY reason will be executed. By Order of King Sombra, any citizen attempting to leave the Crystal Empire shall be tried for TREASON and punished accordingly. By Order of King Sombra, the Casting of Spells without permission from the Crown shall is FORBIDDEN. Anypony found casting spells or suspected of the same shall be arrested and brought in for questioning. By Order of King Sombra, ALL Citizens are REQUIRED to report ANY crimes they witness. Anyone found to have witnessed a crime without reporting it shall be tried of the same crime. As you can see, the decrees became more rediculous and harsh. Execution for entering the palace? That has not been heard of since the Green Cider Rebellion! I think that it has something to do with that book. There are dark things in those vaults, things not meant to be brought out. Everything down there is there for a reason, and I should never have taken him down. As his friend, I think... no, I KNOW it is my duty, not just to him, but to the Empire to save him from himself. I go now to confront him, as he is in his study. He demanded not to be disturbed, but for this one time I will refuse a direct order. I, Captain Tyrus Brutus Bloodmane, the Seventeenth Royal Guard Captain, Guardian of the Crystal Empire and Guard to the Royal Sovereign, will now commit High Treason and betray the trust put into me. I pray that my decision will be the right one. To whomeverpony reads this, please, remember what I do for those I am responsible for. With that, I closed the book. I, Captain Bloodmane, had to do this. I left my room in the barracks, walking through the door. I had to do this alone, which was the worst bit of all. My apprentice, an Equestrian Pony named Flash Sentry, who came up here from the south to serve us, was not somepony I was willing to risk on this fool errand. No, I was going to go down in this ship by myself. I nodded at the other guards, accepting their salutes as I left, allegedly to do a patrol of the streets to enforce Sombras rules. This time, however, I headed for the palace. The guards at the front let me pass without question, knowing there was not much damage a seventy year old war veteran could do. Heh, if only these youngsters knew what I was still capable of. I had fought against unicorns and pegasi without the benefit of either magic or wings, and had always come out on top. However, never before had I need to confront a King... no, a Friend! I climbed up the stairs, remembering how only a few months ago I had been bringing very bad news up them to the man who was once a Prince. Finally I was at the door to the study. Two guards stood outside, not my people, but these new Inquisitors he had appointed. While they were loyal to him, they were nothing more than bruts with spears. “HALT!” one of them cried, but they were already too slow. I smoothly pulled my sword out of its sheath, and smacked first the left, then the right with the flat of the blade. They both fell nervelessly to the ground, and I pushed open the door. Inside was King Sombra, turned around with a look of rage on his face. But that was not what drew my attention... it was what was in his hand. The Alicromnicon! THAT was what he took! It all made sense! This thing... THIS THING HAD CORRUPTED MY KING! This thing, my great grandfather had locked away... I lunged forward, grabbing at it, saying “Be stilled, my king! You are in danger!” Back to Sombra's point of View I heard a loud crash from outside my door. I ground my teeth. “What were those two DOING out there? I told them to be SILENT!” I fumed, turning to the door. Of course, THEN it had to slam open, revealing Captain Bloodmane. He had a sword in his hand, and in the red light, it seemed he had blood on it. He had a fierce look of anger on his face when he looked at me, and lunged forward, crying “Be KILLED, My King!”, The last bit sounding sarcastic. I didnt hear the last bit, as I stumbled backwards. All of the sudden, thoughts of rage filled my heart. HOW DARE HE? I was his KING! No... I WAS A GOD! These people should WORSHIP ME! And he came into my study, WITH A SWORD!? TO ATTACK ME?” “TREASON!” I howled, and backed away, raising my left hand. With a flash, my sword appeared in it, and I raised it, slashing at him. He handily blocked, and I could see his mouth moving, but all I heard were vile curses. Whispers flitted at my ears, dire threats. I knew he was trying to kill me! “TRAITOR! HOW DARE YOU! I AM YOUR KING! BOW BEFORE ME, SOMBRA NIGHTSHADE THE THIRD!” Captain Bloodmanes POV. I knew now, without a doubt, that he was too far gone. I could nearly SEE the dark aura around him, and his horn shown with a black and green patern. Before me, he changed. His blue mane turned red, and his horn became a curved, red spike rather than the pale white it had been before. His eyes decided to join the theme, and became crimson. His robe flapped and changed to match the rest of his décor, and the air became chill. Steeling myself, I knew what I had to do. He was too far gone... and that damnd book was to blame. Gods, fogive me. I slashed down at him, turning the blade so that I was no longer using the flat of it. Seventy I may have been, but I have been able to run a mile and a half in less than seven minutes since I was nineteen. This young whelp was still nearly my equal in skill, but if I was lucky, I could finish this quickly and cleanly. He blocked to the left, and I spun around, driving him backwards with a powerful downard stroke. And back to Sombra I growled, jumping backwards to avoid a cut that would have sliced me in half from horn to... I didnt really wanna think about it. Damn, the old man was FAST for his age! I jumped to the left, swinging low, but his sword was already there to block it. Three more exchanges before I saw my opportunity. Four books on the ground, left there while I was translating my tome. I took two steps to the left, before a searing pain let me know I had let my guard down. A scratch on my arm was more than enough to confirm what I knew: My old mentor, my most trusted friend, wanted my crown. I shifted to the left one more step, before suddenly lashing out with my foot, kicking him backwards. He stumbled, and I took my advantage. I lunged, a fierce grin on my face, my sword angling for his heart- And to my disbelief, he just looked a bit sorrowful as he trapped the tip of my blade, my opening proving to be nothing more than a feint as he locked my sword in the crook of his elbow between two armored plates, and without a word stabbed me through the heart. My mind reeled, disbelief once again. This... this could not happen... no! I wouldnt let it! I howled my pain and anger, cursing him with every breath as I thrashed, falling backwards off of the sword. This man... he used to be my friend, and that should work. My horn glowed, and with my final thought, I blasted him into the circle for the ritual. Captain Bloodmane It felt... strange. After my sword went through his chest, I was astounded. It felt like stabbing fog, but the look in his eyes was animal. There was no trace of the king in there, only a dark desire for power. Then with a vile curse, he blasted me backwards. I fell flat on my back, my side against something hard and cold, and I looked down to see it. The Crystal Heart, tainted black. So that is where it was. Then a searing heat washed over me, and I knew no more. King Sombra I awoke. I didnt know how long I had been out, but I also had not need to know. Everything seemed... different. It took a few moments to gather my surroundings, but I realized I was on my throne. The palace was black, the crystals themselves changed color. Crystals... the embodiment of order. Perfect fractal patterns, rigid, unyielding. Possible to break, but never to bend. Crystals... I could feel them, all of them, all in my will. One will... MY will. My subjects... no. My SLAVES. Why should they not be? I had the power, therefor, I made the rules. But even better... my mind was so CLEAR now. I had felt a corrupting influence before, and now I knew. I had felt discord in my heart, and Discord at my doorstep. But something had changed, and I could not hear his laughter. I could not hear his whispers. Discord was gone. But I knew THEY would come for me. Even as one evil falls, another must take its place, and now I had all the power, and THEY would come to usurp me. I could NOT fail, not with the LITERAL might of an empire to back me up! Hehehe.... This time, the dark laughter was mine, as I settled in to wait.