//------------------------------// // What if somepony saw me as the villain? // Story: A shadow of what I once was. // by FaelaArts //------------------------------// “Twilight there is nothing we can do! We’re surrounded by this storm!” Sombra carefully sorted through the various circles he had crafted, placing them in distinct piles, there was about 20 of each one had had created, and all were glowing with green energy, and yet were not doing anything. He placed them in his saddlebags a moment later. “We have to! Maybe I can teleport to Celestia and find out if she’s ok!” Sombra turned toward the kitchen and made himself a large drink of milk, turning to the last pile of crystals remaining. Quickly devouring them, he turned back to his drink and drunk it down quickly, wiping his mouth and once more approaching the desk. “I told you Twilight we CAN’T! The instant we go outside Ponyville we will freeze. We’ve already lost nearly all the Pegasi trying to keep the storm from covering us in fifty inches of the stuff!” Sombra levitated a piece of paper out of the drawer and placed it on the desk, putting a hoof gently on it. “Dash we have to try! Celestia hasn’t replied and I’m worried something has happened.” Sombra looked down at the words, looking at the poem he had written on one of his first days. Folding it up, he placed it in his saddlebags, and looked toward the window. It wouldn’t be long now, the ice was beginning to spread through the window. “Twilight there’s loyalty and then there’s having a deathwish! You need to under.s..t..a.a...a..n…..” Sombra raised his head, hearing conversation halt. Turning to his window, he watched as the ice slowly consumed his room. Horn lighting up, a small circle around him formed, lightly flickering when the ice tried to grow up it, and shattered. Underneath him, in the circle, was the only place not covered in ice. Sombra stepped out of the room, and headed into the throne room, where six crystals could be seen covering the thrones. Sombra walked over to one, the path clearing and freezing in front and behind him. Lowering his horn, his eyes glowed and purple mist seeped out of them, and remained. Horn sparking, a pulse of magic escaped, and his shield grew, encompassing the circle of thrones. “Huh wha?” Twilight blinked, shivering as she felt a chill travel down her spine, seeing her friends all suffering from the same effect. Sombra stood over her, before stepping slightly toward the center. Twilight looked around, and felt her heart turn to ice as she saw crystals growing over her castle. It was difficult to tell whether they were ice, or crystal. “What happened?” Twilight walked over to Sombra as the others joined her, and he turned to them. The area not covered in ice shrunk slightly, leaving them a little room to walk but no longer including the thrones. They quickly became sealed in ice once more. “Sombra, do you know what is going on here?” Twilight narrowed her eyes at Sombra, wondering secretly if this was his doing. The only times she had seen the crystal empire with Sombra was surrounded in snow. Coming from the north, it was too coincidental. “I bet it’s all his fault,” Rainbow Dash glared, pointing a hoof at Sombra. Twilight shook her head, and turned, facing her friends and leaving her back to Sombra. “Nonsense, Sombra is our friend, he would never-” Twilight was cut off as a green blast of energy connected with the back of her head, and a horn descended, touching her horn. Twilight’s eyes began to leak purple, and her eyes turned green. Sombra leaned away, and Twilight turned to stand beside him. “Obey,” he spoke, lowering his horn and casting the same spell on the shocked, and betrayed ponies. Within moments, the Elements were under his command, and they formed ranks in front of him. “Do not leave the shield,” he spoke, turning and leaving the castle. As they walked in silence, they passed many ponies frozen in place, fear and anger on multiple. Those that weren’t cowering as it hit them were stuck in the middle of a heated argument. Sombra approached the train, and stepped into the front, melting the conductor. Soon enough, the conductor was also under Sombra’s command. “Take us to Canterlot,” ordered Sombra, closing his eyes and expanding the shield to include the entire train. Stepping out of the front, he took a seat in the first carriage with the Elements and looked out the window. “Twilight, learn the spell I am casting and inform me once you can pull off the same feat.” Sombra watched Twilight salute, and quickly get to work doing so. Turning to look out the window once more, the train began to move, and he breathed out. ’The Elements are constantly fighting against me, and I can’t keep this train covered forever. Twilight’s magic will prove most useful here.’ Sombra paused as Twilight’s spell blossomed forth, covering the entire train with the same amount of power, and he released his own, horn still glowing as he kept control of them. “Determine the fastest route to the throne room. We do not have time for detours.” Sombra looked toward Twilight, who nodded once more and held out a map, drawing a gray line from one end to the other. “Very well, that is within boundaries of what magic I estimated I can use on the journey.” Sombra nodded, checking his magic reserves. There was still a long way to go, but it looked like he would arrive with enough remaining to do his task. Leaning his head against the window, he sighed and looked at the frozen world around him. He winced and looked away, discarding the thoughts that had come with the dreary setting. Turning to look toward the Elements, he sighed once more, lowering his head. It wouldn't be long, his task was almost complete.