//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Bride of Draspaina // by DragonKing //------------------------------// Chapter 9 Twilight awake suddenly from the dream she just had. 'Was I dreaming or did he actually give me a lead?' Then she remembered the name, Queen Amethyst, the name of the Queen of the Crystal Empire and the deceased wife of King Sombra. "Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on the door. "Twilight it's time to get up, his highness want you for the planning." Snowscales said on the other side of the door. Twilight used her magic to unlock the door and let her friend right in. "Why does Draco need me for?" "His highness took your advise on having a ball at the castle and he wants you to look at it with him in case of some suggestions or changes." Said Snowscales. "I'll be right down." Twilight said getting Spike out of bed with her magic and making her way down the hall. "Alright I want this place to look as nice as possible!" Draco ordered all the castle staff while he was looking everything over in the ball room. "Make sure that the banners are even and are not next to one another. The floor has to be polished at it's I want the whole thing to look great." "You know you shouldn't push them real hard." Twilight just entering, with Snowscales and a tired Spike, behind him. "Twilight, I so glade you could come down." Giving her a hug and kissing one of her checks. "So far it looks good. But this will be our night so, Maybe have both Equestria and Draspaina banners in." Twilight suggested and we should have my friends here and the princesses, maybe some other ponies too?" "It is a union for both of our parties." Draco scratching his chin. "And it will bring our kind together. And tell me what do ponies like besides salads and hay." "We eat a lot of sweets." "Good I'll tell the bakers to make up some sweets as well as fruits for the ponies of noble and common." "Wait noble and common?" Twilight looking confused at that statement. "I can't let only nobles and famous dracs wounder around the castle, that would be boring and kill the mood of everything. After all, the commoners are the ones who have worked hard their lives." Draco said which made Twilight smile, knowing what he means. "That actually good, even Princess Celestia never did that, with the exception of my friends that is." "Princess Celestia never let commoners in her castle at the event?" Draco asked as Twilight nodded. "Guess I should show her how to run a ball then. By the way, do you have anything to wear on the event?" Twilight was very embarrassed on the topic, Last Galla was just horrible that Rarity's hard work went up with her dress and the others getting ruined by cake, running, things falling and animals running around. "No, I don't but-" Before she could finish up her sentence Draco grabbed her hoof. "Snowscale, I want you to make her a dress when the time arrives for the upcoming ball." Snowscale bowed and took Twilight to her room to her fitted. "Hey wait for me!" Spike tried to run after them but was stopped by Draco. "Hold on, you still have your greed training to do." "Do I have too?" Spike pouted as if not wanting to do it. "Yes, it's mandatory, go to Lava immediately." He said pointing to the direction of the training grounds. Spike did as he was told, walking as he cursed under his breath. Meanwhile, Twilight stood on a stood for a hour or so, As Snowscale was getting her measurements in from all angles. "Alright I think I got everything in order. I'll be sure to chose the color and design for the ball and I'll use the same measurements for your wedding dress. Any questions?" "Actually I do but it's not about the dress." Twilight said. Do you know about somepony named Queen Amethyst?" Snowscale looked completely shocked, she got up to the door and looked around outside to make sure that no one was around. Then she looked back at Twilight. "How do you know that name?" "It's hard to explain but it was in a dream I had." Twilight said, even thought it may sound like a lie to her. Snowscale took a deep sigh. "It can't be helped now that you know her name." She got close to Twilight and starts to whisper in her ear. "I can't tell you everything, however in his highness bedchambers, there is a book that is called 'Eyes Of the Ages.' It's in his personal liberty, look up Chapter 34, it will show you what happened. His highness's chambers are to the right of the hall and the only ones with double doors, I suggest you go now and hurry." She bowed to her and proceeded to the door. For a minute and a half, Twilight stood there as she absorbed all the information that she was told. As she got out of her daze, Twilight went out the door and ran though the halls, checking the right side of the hall for his room. 'Where is it, where is it!? Aha found it!' As she stood in front of it. She checked around the halls to see if no one was at the halls spying on her before she entered the room. Since no one was around, she open the double doors and proceeded inside. As she entered, Twilight got a good look of the room. It had a fire place, master bed set, suits of armor, a door leading to what looks like a master bathroom, but the main thing she was looking for was in the left of the room, the study that had a collection of books stacked high on the selves. "Hmm lets see it should be under E since it begins with that." She said to herself as she took a look at it but didn't seem to find it as she was levitating books in the air. "I don't understand it should be here. Where could he put it?" As she was putting books back on the self. She then noticed that all the titles of the books were about literature, she then looked that the whole shelf was full of them. "Wait? If this whole self is made up of literature, then he must of put them in category!" Going to the remaining selves that were remaining. 'If the title of the book is called Eyes Of The Ages, then it must being the historical section.' Going straight to the self and finding the book. "Finally I get to see what's with all the secrets." She said opening to the chapter Snowscales told her. As she got to the chapter she then got a vision of the Crystal Empire. "What was that?!" She said out of pure shock. 'Why did I see the Crystal Empire? Wait it was something Snowscales said earlier, it will show me what happens.' With that said, Twilight teleported to herself back to her room, with the book with her and locked the door. As soon as the the coast was clear, she reopened the book as a scenery of the Crystal Empire was in view of her. "I have to welcome you to the Crystal Empire my dear friend." A voice behind Twilight that sounded very familiar yet different at the same time. As soon as Twilight turned around, she was complete shock that it turned out to be King Sombra, but he looked completely different, his eyes were red but didn't have the green sclera or shadows coming out from them and his horn looked like any other unicorns instead of it being a sharp red edge, it was a deep charcoal grey. In front of him was a dragon that had black scales and red spikes with battle armor. Then Twilight knew who it was, King Shadow Nova, Draco's father. "So it is Sombra" He said approaching him with a grin. "But, this is no place to talk we need to head inside your castle." Sombra looked surprised at his friend, if he came here himself, it must be urgent. "Alright, we'll talk at the castle." Starting to walk there. "Sombra, there you are my love." A female alicorn came walking to the both of them, she had a deep violate coat with a lighter violate mane and different kind of jewels in her mane, light blue eyes and slender. Her cutie mark was six diamonds. "Ah, Shadow, I want to introduce you to my wife, Amethyst." Sombra introduced her to him. "It's a pleasure meeting you your highness." Shadow bowed to her. "And it is a pleasure to meet my husbands best friend for all there's years." She smiled and returned the bow. "Dear me and Shadow were about to come back to the castle, it seems to be urgent so let's go." He said as the three of them walked to the castle. As the three of them were walking back to the castle, everypony gave a worried look or a glare as they were passing by. Shadow slowed his pace down to show the other ponies he means no threat, but they still show the signs. "Why are they looking at me like that, did I do something wrong?" "It's not you they are looking at." Amethyst said as she lowered her head. "It's I they are giving those look at." Shadow Nova's eyes rise in surprise. "You? But why you, you are their queen, why would they give you such dirty looks?" "It is because I am an Alicorn." She answered him. "If you noticed, all of the crystal ponies around here are earth ponies, ever since the day the three tribes decided to join together, there were some earth ponies who dislike the idea and decided to come up here. However, it was close too impossible to stay up here, until the Alicorn came, If you may know, Two Alicorns by the name of Celestia and Luna rule Equestria, then there's me who ruled here as my mother and father did til their deaths." "Wait I though Alicorns were ageless?" Shadow looking confused. "We are, but we can still die from an extreme illness or by getting killed." Amethyst explained. "But we'll leave that at another time, right now this is about you and your kingdom." The scenery changed as Twilight was taken to the throne room inside the castle, were Sombra, Amethyst and Shadow were specking too each other. "I came here myself because I need your help with fighting the Ice giants." Shadow explained. "I came here myself cause I wanted to let tell you personally. They are pushing us back and they may hit the Crystal Empire next and further down." King Sombra looked at Amethyst then back to Shadow Nova. "It does sound very urgent. But supplies and weapons are going to be hard to find." "Sombra, I'm begging you to help us, we can't hold them for so long, I maybe the Black Fire but even I need help. If you can't do it for me then do it for my child." "Your child?" Sombra stunned. "My wife died laying her egg but I'm protecting it. for the future." Shadow going on his knees. "King Shadow Nova, we will help you." Amethyst said that made both males surprised. "If it's for my empire and for the ponies that I will someday protect then we will figth along side you." Sombra sighed and nodded his head. "Alright, Let's make them pay." "Thank you, Thank you both." Shadow bowed and left the castle. The scenery changed again as Twilight was now what looks like a battlefield. As ponies and dragons were fighting what could be the ice giants. their bodies were huge and clear and they had white eyes and no face. Dragons were breathing fire and were charging with swords and spears, as well as the ponies. The ice giants were attacking with their hands and blasting ice, giving them frostbite. Shadow and Sombra were attacking as well when taking a lead thanks to their tactic, the battle was won and the Ice giants were retreating back to were they came. The scene changed again with Sombra and Amethyst walking happily around town. Laughing as they enjoyed each others company. "I'm so glade the war is finally over." "So am I my dear." he smiled happily. "But did you really have to use dark magic to defeat them?" She asked. "I didn't have much of a choice in the matter." Sombra no very proud of it. "But I won't let it take over me, I swear." "Good, I-" Amethyst all of a sudden felt weak and fell to the ground breathing heavily. "Amethyst!" Sombra holding her in his hooves as she felt very cold all of a sudden. "Sompony, Help! The Queen is ill!" The ponies were there and heard the kings plea, but didn't dare approach or turn the other way. With no pony to help, Sombra used his magic to levitate her back to the castle and will let the doctors treat her but to his disappointment, they refused. So he tried his hardest to help her. "Sombra..." She said weakly as he approached her. "It's fine...you did your...hardest. Please..." "No, I can't lose you, I'll contact Shadow, if those good for nothing crystal ponies won't save you, I know that he will!" He shouted holding back his tear. "Do not blame them... they are still our people..." She started to cough. "Sombra, no matter what happens...I love you." She said as her eyes finally closed. "Amethyst? Amethyst!" Sombra shook her lightly as tears fell down his cheeks. Twilight was shaking her head as she saw what happen. 'I can't believe it, no pony helped her. She was a kind heated queen...and they let her die.' As a tear came down her cheek. The scenery changed again into a dark night were Twilight saw Sombra in a room with a big fire place and a balcony with the view of the empire. King Sombra looked angry as he walk out of the balcony and sing a song to himself. "Beata Celestia You know I am a righteous Colt Of my virtue I am justly proud Beata Celestia You know I'm so much purer than The common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd..." As he looked into the fire place. "...Then tell me, Celestia Why I see her dancing there Why her loving eyes still scorch my soul I feel her, I see her The sun caught in crystal hair Is blazing in me out of all control..." As he sees his deceased wife in the fireplace. "...Like fire Hellfire This fire in my skin This burning Desire Is turning me to sin..." As his eye started to turn green and the famous shadows spread on the edges and his horn the sharp red and growing fangs. "...It's all their fault They are to blame It is the crystal ponies That sent her to her grave It's all their fault This was their plan Then I shall treach them how their king shall rule their land Protect me, Celestia Don't let these sirens cast their spell Let the darkness sear my flesh and bone Avenge Queen Amethyst And let them taste the fires of hell And let her spirit rest alone..." He walked out of to the balcony and his horn glowed a dark aura as the crystal empire turn for clear and smooth to dark and sharp. As the crystal ponies turned dull and chains were wrapped around there neck and ankles. "...Hellfire Dark fire Now ponies, it's your turn Forgive her or Your pyre You shall die or you will burn Thou have mercy on them Thou have mercy on me But they Shall die Or They will burn!" Twilight then closed the book and tried to catch her breath, for now she knew the truth.