//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Sombra's Return: A Looming Storm Within A Horn // by LoneUnicornWriter //------------------------------// Chapter One Months after vanquishing Sombra from reclaiming the throne with the help of Spike, Cadence, Twilight and her friends, Shining Armor has not been feeling himself. Nightmares have been haunting him ever since that time... At first, it seemed to him as something he could have shrugged off, but it kept on pressuring him to do things that only someone as terrible as the shadow or Queen Chrysalis would do. He would lose night sleep just to help keep him away from doing such selfish deeds. He would at times consider the help from his dear little sister, but he thought disturbing her from royal duties to help him with something he could handle as little problem would show her that he isn’t as brave she thought he was, or so he thought.   It would keep returning night after night to have him do what it wants. It was a voice that wouldn’t leave him be. ~~~~~~~ Shining Armor came to his bed after a long day of performing his duties as prince of the empire. He said good night to Cadence as he usually told his beloved wife every night, closed his eyes, and went away into a deep sleep. Everything became dark. The darkness began spiraling around Shining Armor. He didn't know what was taking place. After some time, he found himself standing alone in a dull light surrounded by a void of darkness that stretched out for miles all around him. He looked around, but there was nothing to be seen. Shining Armor, who saw nothing take place, stayed on the alert for anything that might occur. He felt strange. Rarely was he ever able to have control in a dream and to this much freedom. Like his other dreams, he was expecting for all of the events to flow by and have it end with him waking up, but that was not the case neither was it the only thing that felt strange to him. Shining Armor was curious to know what was out there in the darkness. He couldn't see what it was, but he knew something other than himself was there. He took his first step out from the dull light, and the darkness wrapped around his hoof like a vice grip and tried to pull him away from it. Shining Armor quickly pulled back his hoof before the darkness had the moment to slip him away into the darkness. What was that? Shining Armor pondered looking at the darkness that hissed away at him. At certain times, it would make horse noises. Shining Armor quickly asked, "What are you?" His voice had stretched out for miles, and there was no response. The air remained silent for quite some time before a deep voice was heard. My young stallion. Have you ever thought of being an emperor over a much larger empire? "..What? Why?” Why rule such a small empire when you can expand it? And stretch your rule to all of Equestria? The darkness had created a spiral of light in front of Shining Armor and showed him a vision. If you stretched your rule to all the corners of Equestria, you and wife would be praised more and even more power would be bestowed unto you. “I-I don’t need to. What we have is good enough,” Shining Armor responded looking away from the images that were being shown to him. Are you certain you are? You were Captain of the Royal Guard, were you not? Think of how much better you would be remembered throughout the ages if you were to expand it. More soldiers to look up to you, right? Shining Armor thought about it for a moment. He looked back at the vision that showed him standing nobly on a hill above a great legion of soldiers that called out his name. He started giving himself more to the thought. Yeah… that would be in-, he shook his head and glared at the image, “No, what I have is good enough. Stop with the questions and show yourself.” The vision of light dissipated into the darkness which was followed by a moment of silence. After some time, voice began to laugh. The darkness began to form two green spheres of light. Red blood expanded into irises from out the centre of both spheres, and a purple flaring mist would emanate from them. The eyes focused down at Shining Armor, Here I am, young colt. I’ve been within you for a few months. I give you suggestions on how you can lead a rule a much better empire and you refuse to take my advice? “I don’t take selfish advice from an unknown source.” Selfish advice? I’ve ruled an empire for more than a thousand years before the likes of you and your friends came and ruined my reign as emperor you foolish colt. You have not the slightest idea on what it means to rule. “What?” Shining Armor responded. He began shivering, He has ruled for over a thousand..years? Who could he be?  A shadowy mass began forming from out of the darkness. It took the shape of what Shining Armor had not ever dreamed of expecting for a long time. Something nopony would not have been ready for.   From out of the dark formation, a red horn came into view. Then the teeth with its two sharp fangs which formed an evil grin and red sinister irises also came into Shining Armor’s view.   “S-Sombra?,” he gasped. For a moment, his lips were frozen and his body remained still by the appearance of a true nightmare. He wasn’t sure if he was sick or if the nightmares he was experiencing were only becoming worse. He then asked, “But how is that even possible? W-We destroyed you.” “Oh Shining Armor, who did you really think it was? Did you think I would come from a thousand years of being trapped within the icy depths of the Frozen North only to die so easily by the trickery of some baby dragon? “No, of course not. Back when you had confronted me like a brave stupid stallion, I not only stopped you from using your magic, but I have stored within you a piece of me." "Wait, what are you saying? That you are now me?" Shining Armor had his eyes focused on him like a hawk. He only wished that all of what was happening then was only just a bad dream, but the confidence in Sombra’s voice told him that it was more than just some nightmare. "Well, not quite,” he responded. “You see young colt, I only placed part of my essence within you. The reason I did it was in case that some nonsense were to happen like where that little dragon somehow managed to get the Crystal Heart before I got to reclaiming the throne I would be able to have another chance at continuing my reign as King of the Crystal Empire. Ever since then, I hid away in the depths of your heart and weakened your inner strength by creating nightmares within most of your dreams. "However, I’ve gotten quite bored with hiding. It was never really much of a thing with me anyways. All I needed was the time to regain enough strength, so that I could go and reclaim what you took away from me and tainted all over with your filthy hooves. And now, I only come to finish you," black bolts of dark energy crackled around Sombra’s horn, and he summoned a black scythe. Shining Armor began to ponder about the nightmares he had prior to this one. Each one was of him being overpowered and then killed each in a different way. He also was able to make the connections with each of the threats eyes having the same resemblance to Sombra’s. "So..each time I've been slain in those dreams was a part of me you were..destroying?" Shining Armor's body began to shiver. "Yes young colt, you understand well. I did it all for the sake of controlling you and finishing my great agenda," Sombra said as he smiled showing a bit of his sharp teeth. "W-What agenda?" Shining Armor stuttered trying to keep himself together. "Hmhmhm, well the agenda that most villains desire, to take over all of Equestria the only difference being I won’t fail at it this time around. Once I reclaim the throne of this empire, I will take care of the royal sisters myself crushing them under my hooves and rule over Canterlot and Ponyville which now has its own castle. They will all be mine forever," Sombra said. "There's no way you'll be able to succeed at that plan Sombra. Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Twilight and her friends will put an end to you. And I myself will certainly not let you start this evil," Shining Armor kept his eyes moving between the scythe and Sombra. "You could you do nothing to stop me, colt. If you become a fool and attack me, you will lose all that you love. Would you really throw away your life so foolishly?" Sombra used his dark magic and formed a dark square cloud in front of him. The dark cloud showed him a vision of his wife, Celestia, Luna, and all the important ponies in his life being slain in such monstrous ways. Shining Armor couldn't believe even a second of what the vision presented before him. He closed his eyes from seeing the horror. He then put his hooves to his ears, coming down on his knees to stop the screams of pain he was hearing, "Stop it. Just stop. Please." "So it seems we've reached an agreement. If you don't let me have control over you, they will all die a similar death to what you've seen. However, " Sombra made his scythe disappear, "if you let me have control, I'll try my best to keep them alive." He walked up to Shining Armor, "Oh, and of course I will make sure your wife remains in the best of care." Shining Armor lowered his head. He was unsure of whether or not to choose. He remained undecided and frustrated. He watched down at the darkness that began pulling him slowly down into it. Sombra had on an evil grin as he watched him slowly come down into his grasp. He has waited very long for this moment. The moment where he can finally have a chance of regaining everything he has lost. He wanted to cherish every moment that went by before the actual birth of his great redemption from an unforeseen failure in his first return. ...Do I let him take me? ..What would my wife or my sister think of me? Shining Armor thought away at these two questions as sunk deeper and deeper into the darkness. Then suddenly a wave of anger washed over Shining Armor, and he, without warning, punched Sombra square in the muzzle. He stumbled backwards onto the ground, and Shining Armor step out from the sinking ground and glared at him with heated anger. “As long as I live, I will not allow evil to just have its way with the ruling of Crystal Empire. My wife and I are the guardians of this empire, and I will protect it from evil to my dying breath as prince. You’re just a ruthless tyrant that doesn’t deserve to hold any place within the land of Equestria. So if you think I’m going to just let you have your way with me then you are highly mistaken, Sombra,” he said boldly breathing in and out deeply.   Sombra slowly rose up from the ground to his hooves. He looked at a spot of his blood on the ground as he licked away at the spot of his missing fanged tooth. He then glared straight into Shining Armor’s soul. Shining Armor took a step back. He was not familiar with the feeling he was getting from Sombra’s glare, but one thing that was certain was that he was really afraid. “How dare you damage the image of the great king! I ought to kill you for this level of abomination, you foolish colt!” “Silence, you disgrace to all of pony existence!” Shining Armor charged at Sombra. He went for a punch, but the attack had went through Sombra’s head having no effect like a ghost. What? But how? Shining thought. Sombra went through him and solidified besides him. Shining Armor turned only two have had the steel ends of Sombra’s hooves meet his muzzle. He was propelled backwards by the attack and landed on his side. He tried to move, but the pain that was felt around his body were like set of iron nails hammered into him. “Come now young colt, did you really think you have the control over everything here?” Sombra started on his way to him. “Did you think that you could handle me, the great shadow, the mighty King of the empire you and foolish allies took from me? Do you have the slightest idea of who you’re even challenging?” Sombra stop right over Shining Armor who spat out some blood. He lowered his face just a few inches from Shining’s bruised face. “I. Am. Lord,” he placed down his hoof on Shining’s neck. “You should be kissing my hooves for even keeping you alive, you ungrateful colt,” Sombra growled. Shining Armor struggled to open his eyes, but he managed to open them enough to catch of King Sombra’s face. “You know.. what?” he spat out some blood onto his muzzle, and Sombra turned his face away and wiped the blood away with his hoof. “Buck you.. and your very existence.” “Says the foolish one. You’re now in my control young colt. And when I’m done with doing what I have to do, I will kill you myself,” Sombra raised his hoof and punched him down into the depths of the darkness which then swallowed him up. He turned away and walked towards the dull light. “Now it is time to start building and paving the way for my great return.” Sombra kept his evil smile and took a step into the light. The dark energy that he had was going against the aura of light that he was in. With each moment, the dull light became weaker and weaker until there was nothing but the darkness left inside of the aura. The aura had increased in its mass, and the whole are turned into a great spiral with Sombra’s essence being the centre of it.   "Finally. Now the time is right for me take back what was mine and get what is to be mine," Sombra's body dispersed into a shadow merging himself with the dark aura and taking full control over Shining Armor’s body.