“You found it?” Sombra turned on the unicorn, who was holding up a shaky, but correct, spell formula. Sombra took it as he nodded, it was correct. Smiling, he turned and walked to the center of the room, and concentrated. After a moment, he cast the spell, sending a pulse of magic around the kingdom. The unicorns in the room glanced down as the collars fell off with a dull slapping sound.
‘Did I do it soon enough?’ Sombra walked over to the edge and looked down, and breathed out in relief. All who had been affected by the collars was now smiling again and dancing for joy. Sombra turned toward the unicorns, and they bowed.
“You have done well,” he spoke, bowing his head in return and motioning for them to leave. The wall around the city had been finished, and the effects of the collars was gone. Sombra turned and made his way down, quickly finding a Pegasus near the bottom wearing golden armor.
“Commander, who is the status of our enemies?” Sombra flicked his tail, and the Commander fell into line beside Sombra. Both walked to the west side of the city, and sailed some stairs to reach the battlements on top of the wall.
“My King, the Gryphons will be here at daybreak from the west, with the army from the east close behind. We have yet to confirm if they are Changelings, but it is highly likely. The northern snow clouds are still far off, and will arrive last. Finally, as you requested we kept an eye on the south, and can confirm a small army is approaching, and they are going to arrive shortly before the threat from the north.” The Commander followed Sombra, before saluting once they came to the group of Earth Ponies manning the battlements.
“We cannot risk being flanked, make sure a quarter of our forces are stationed east at all times. Ensure a Pegasi can contact reinforcements if they attack before we finish with the Gryphons. We will use standard iron defence tactics for the first push.” Sombra sent out his orders, and the Commander continued to salute.
“Are we taking survivors sir?” The Commander was not the youngest of the force, having seen many years of war under the old King before Sombra had gained the throne. It had been his negligence that had costed the King his life, and he sought to redeem himself at every possible chance. Sombra respected him, and used his tactical guidance on numerous occasions.
“Let them flee if they can, however take the wounded into custody, take some healers over with an armed guard. They’ll insist the guard isn’t necessary, don’t listen. Once they are healed we will see if any are worth a trade, and then send them back with a message.” Sombra looked as the Commander nodded, still saluting. Sombra tilted his head, and then bowed once.
“That is all, dismissed.” Sombra watched the Commander fly away to give out orders, and turned his attention to the west. With Equestria now their enemy, it would mean a tough challenge against the northern threat. However, as long as they had Crystal Heart, they would be able to repel them for at least 24 hours, giving them enough time to maybe sign a truce with Celestia.
‘I don’t understand, don’t they trust me? We were friends, why did Luna think the only solution was to trap me?’ Sombra bit his lip and sighed, frowning. Was this a landgrab by Celestia? It was the only possible reason. The last time they had come to the Empire, they had left on friendly terms, right?
‘It ceases to matter, what is done can be solved once the Gryphons and Changelings are dealt with. There is still a chance they will listen to me, for old times sake.’ Sombra felt the sun slowly rise behind him as the Commander landed, a Unicorn in his hooves. As the darkness slowly lifted, the Unicorn cast the spells on Sombra, and held a constant one on her horn.
“I am connected to the Generals sire,” she spoke, bowing once. Sombra nodded as he watched the army slowly march over the hill, and make a beeline for the Empire. Slowly, forces rose out of the small openings along the wall, closing up behind them. Taking lines, the Crystal Ponies saluted the General as he barked orders at them, and then turned to the advancing army.
The fight begun, and Sombra watched it unflinchingly. In the center of his formation, a single Unicorn was powering shields designed to protect the group with crystals, trained beside Sombra since birth for that role. The Gryphons hit, and their waves faltered as the Crystal Ponies stood before them without breaking lines. They had tactical victory, it would be a simple fight.
“Sir, a Unicorn reports three Changelings have been detected in the Empire,” the Unicorn spoke, saluting the King. Sombra frowned and turned toward her, opening his mouth to give orders as another pony approached them, an Earth Pony.
“Sire! I was going to serve Crystal Heart when I realised all her guards had vanished! She’s undefended!” As the pony gasped for breath, Sombra stiffened. Gone? But those were personal guards Luna had gifted him for-
“Commander, take control of the fight here,” he spoke, turning and concentrating. Teleporting off the wall, he began to use his crystal magic to slide along the path at top speed. No, surely Luna wouldn’t call her guards off when she knew he was in the middle of a war. Had Celestia put her up to it? Possible, but it was unimportant. Crystal Heart was unguarded, that was all that mattered.
Sombra slid into the room and his eyes widened as he saw the sight in front of him. Two changelings and one Queen, standing over his Wife’s body, holding the crystal in her magic. They turned, and Sombra felt himself fill with an emotion he didn’t recognize at first.
Unquenchable rage.
Sombra fired off two bolts of magic, slicing the two Changelings to ribbons instantly. As their bodies slumped, Sombra called upon shadow, and pulled out his scythe. The Queen narrowed her eyes, and picked up a weapon laying nearby, some sort of pike, and dived forward. Sombra slammed into her with a spell of pure force cast on his scythe, sending her into the wall, leaving a large Changeling sized indent in it, nearly as thick as she was. The Queen coughed, and collapsed to the floor, and began to laugh as Sombra slowly approached her.
“Are you going to kill me? Go on! Do it! I got my revenge on you for killing my sister, and a new Queen is already born. The Changeling army was a farce to distract you, and now your precious one is dead, as mine is.” The Changelings spat at Sombra, who levitated it away and raised his scythe, looming over the Changeling.
“I did not kill my mother, my older brother did.” Sombra briefly connected to the hive, sending his proof in the form of a few images of finding his mother, and the fight, before slamming the link closed. The Queen paused, and slowly her eyes widened in silent horror as she looked to his Wife. After a moment, she lowered her head.
“Go on, kill me. After what I just did I deserve justice. I was not aware the younger brother was ruling.” Queen Pupa looked down, feeling the guilt slicing through her as she realised what she had done. It had not been revenge, justice toward the one who had killed her sister, but a murder of someone’s Wife. After a moment, she raised her head, realising the killing stroke was not coming.
“There is no justice in this world,” he spoke, turning toward the guards running toward the door to assist him. It was likely the Commander’s orders. Sombra let his scythe fade once more into shadow, and walked over to Crystal Heart, and sat down in front of her.
“Escort Queen Pupa to the wall and throw her out. If she resists kill her.” Sombra heard all leave, and lowered his head, and sobbed quietly into her coat. He would never see her smile. He would never hear her insults. He would never see an heir. He would never see her. Slowly, a wing was draped over him as a pony sat beside him.
“I wish you had time to mourn. I wish all those you loved had been given proper time to mourn. Alas, the kingdom needs you now more than ever. I’m afraid you must put aside your mourning for us. I know it is selfish of us, but we need you.” The Commander bowed his head and waited. After a few moments, Sombra stood and breathed in and out a few times. Turning, he was once more serious.
“Report,” he spoke, and the Commander saluted.
“The Gryphons have been taken care of, and the Equestrians are to arrive within the hour. What are your commands?” The Commander brought over a blanket, and slowly covered Her body. Looking down, he saw the Crystal Heart cutie mark, the one that marked her the first true Queen of the Empire to be born in three lifetimes.
“I need some time to commune with the Heart. Please escort all civilians to the caverns under the palace, and order all guards to join them.” Sombra saw the confusion on the Commander’s face, but he saluted and followed orders as he was trained to. Sombra smiled sadly as the Commander left, and walked over to the discarded Heart. Levitating it up, he touched his horn gently to it.
“Our Heart, the Empire is facing tragedy. I will soon fall to an old friend, and even if I do not fall we cannot hope to stop the force coming from the north. Without my Crystal Heart, we cannot hope to send enough magic your way to keep them off for even 24 hours.” Sombra paused, and he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth.
“I am without any options to save my kingdom, and I must instead trust their lives to the Equestrians in the silent hope their weapon is enough to protect them. Their memories must be altered so they think they have been forced into my control, otherwise Celestia might punish them too.” Sombra lowered his head slightly, keeping his horn touching.
“I failed you, and I dare not ask for a miracle. But please, keep my subjects safe, for I can no longer protect them.” Sombra opened his eyes, and placed the Heart in the center of the room, watching as it slowly levitated up and two crystals sprung out to meet it. Sombra turned, and walked down the stairs to where his subjects were being escorted into the caverns below. The Commander saluted once every Crystal Pony was inside.
“Goodbye, my subjects.” Sombra closed his eyes, and sent a pulse of magic over the compacted group, causing all to gain green eyes and purple mist for a brief moment before a dazed look covered their face. As they all turned to look at him, they began to back further into the cave with a fearful look on their face. Sombra waited until the Commander was inside, and covered the entrance with a layer of gray crystal. It would shatter upon his demise.
Turning, Sombra breathed in, and turned into shadow, slithering up to the room his love was laying in, and carried her body slowly to just outside the wall. Solidifying, he levitated out a small box of dirt, and levitated her inside, removing the blanket. Staring at her for a moment, he forced himself to look away as he released the magic, letting the dirt cover her.
Sombra turned to his city, and slowly began decorating it in his colors. Talking to his old friends was no longer an option. The time it would take to convince them would leave not enough time to realise there was a threat coming from the north. If he wanted them to have the best chance of defeating the old enemy, he had to let his defeat be quick. And convincing somepony as stubborn as Celestia would not be quick.
Finally, Sombra slithered up to the throne room, and took a seat, and rubbed his forehead. Even now, he could feel the despair and fear from the ponies he had trapped, which would soon turn to joy upon his demise. Sombra hated how he was manipulating them, but it was his Empire’s only chance. Sombra closed his eyes, and waited as the seconds ticked by.
They wanted a corrupt villain? So be it.
Sombra opened his eyes as they crashed through the window of the throne room, and smiled. Standing up, he called upon his shadow magic to bring up his scythe as they blasted him with a concentrated burst of magic. Sombra dived into the shadow, and emerged unharmed after it had faded.
Crystal sprung out underneath him and he slammed into Celestia with it, glancing at Luna from the corner of his eyes and letting a sly smile fall on his face. Turning, he blocked her attack, and sent her sprawling in the next moment. Concentrating, crystal sprang up around her, knocking her out for a moment.
Leaping back as Celestia shattered the crystal, he dodged an attack aimed at his side, earning a slice that caused him minor discomfort. Concentrating, it was healed in mere moments. Sombra leaned back and grew a crystal in front of him as Celestia charged, her blade sinking deep into it before it shattered and impaled Sombra. Sombra melted into shadow, and rose up behind Celestia, swinging his blade.
Leaping into the air, Celestia dodged the blade and slammed into the ground as dust sprung up around her. Looking around, she deflected a blow from behind and pushed into Sombra, pinning him against the wall for a moment. Luna shook her head, concentrating as she shattered the crystal. Sombra kicked Celestia away and covered himself in a thick shield of Crystal as both once more fired.
All three landed, and sized each other up. Sombra lowered his head, and laughed.
“So much hatred.” Sombra smiled, and melted into shadow. Celestia and Luna began to look around rapidly, trying to pick where the next attack would come from.
“Show yourself coward!” Celestia flared her wings and lit up the room, eliminating any shadows. Still unable to find him, she frowned.
“You speak of cowardice, have you forgotten whose domain you are in?” Sombra spoke from underneath Celestia, his scythe rocketing out of the shadow. Flaring her wings, Celestia managed to avoid it at the cost of it slicing through her leg. Wincing, she stood with it one leg off the ground, and glared at Sombra.
“I care not what dark pacts you made! You will fall!" Celestia fired an arc of light at Sombra, who deflected it with his scythe. Luna charged forward, managing to score a slice though his cheek. Twirling, she kicked Sombra, sending him to the other corner of the room. Sombra turned his eyes to Celestia, and a wicked smile crossed his face.
“It seems even the gods lack purity in their hearts, I can taste your wrath.” Sombra licked his lips, and his eyes glowed even brighter as he smiled at them. Bowing his head, his smile only grew.
“And it is delicious.” Sombra acted quickly, knocking Celestia back with crystal and diving into her as Luna attempted to defend. Charging her, Celestia dodged, however his attack was not what she had been expecting. Sombra turned his head, and lightly tapped Celestia with his horn, spell already on it. Flipping backward, he dodged an attack from Luna, and thrust crystal out of the ground with his head as he slid into land. Luna growled, and tried to escape.
Sombra turned to Celestia, who was now looking at something only she could see. Sombra closed his eyes for a moment, before opening them and turning toward Luna, eyes narrowing as he smiled. Giving a shrug, he added another layer of crystal, pinning her down as he stepped onto it and peered into her eyes.
“Why such lengths to protect her petty imperialistic interests?” Sombra narrowed his eyes further, and Luna spat at him, horn glowing as she tried to break free.
“You’re a fool if you think that’s what I’m trying to protect.” Luna cried out in pain as the crystal tightened around her, and Sombra growled, raising his head to look down at her.
“Failing to protect more like. How do you expect to defeat the tougher enemies that will arise in the future, if you can’t defeat a simple Unicorn?” Sombra shrugged closing his eyes as he made a noncommittal gesture. Opening his eyes, he blinked, taking a step back, and realised Luna was smiling.
She also happened to be levitating three gems.
“Because we stand for Harmony! And we will never let darkness enslave those who can’t fight. And you forgot one major fact Sombra.” As Luna smirked, Sombra tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.
“And what is that?” Sombra flinched, and turned rapidly around, seeing Celestia stand.
“Illusion spells need to be maintained to keep the pony trapped. Sister! Now!” Luna and Celestia both rose up into the air, the crystal holding Luna shattering. Sombra fell to the floor and looked rapidly between them, and then smiled warmly and looked down.
The elements fired a rainbow at Sombra, which consumed him, leaving only a fading shadow. Luna and Celestia smiled at each other, and then blinked in surprised as the Crystal Empire simply vanished around them, leaving them the only two forms on the snowy landscape.
“Curses, he must have known he was going to lose, come sister.” Celestia made to fly away, but paused as Luna looked sadly around her.
“He was one of the only ponies I know who appreciate my night.” Luna looked up toward her sister, who smiled and brought a wing around her.
“Come not my sister, plenty of ponies love your night, as they love my light. In fact, let us celebrate our victory in your honor.” Celestia saw Luna smiled warmly, and turned beginning to fly away.
“Now of course since everypony sleeps during the night, we will have to hold it during the day-” Celestia continued speaking as Luna followed behind, looking down mutely. Luna knew; while it would be in her honor, being held during the day meant it would actually be about Celestia.
Silently sighing, she followed her sister home.