//------------------------------// // 09: A Call From The Grave // Story: My Little Pony: The Seal of Death // by Azrael the alicorn //------------------------------// Sombra had just turned off the sun and now watched the eternal night before him with an evil smirk. It was the best way to show the world that one of the rulers of Equestria was finally dead. Sure, he lost the Soul Eater but that wasn’t a problem right now, he could always free it later. He turned his attention to the massive army of undead alicorns who stood in lines, ready to fight. That army alone could have taken on both the Crystal Empire and Canterlot together and it wasn’t the only force at his disposal. Chrysalis would have backed him up with her Changelings and he could always count on creating more crystals servants. Everything was going according to HIS plan and soon enough he would crush the Elements of Harmony and rule this world and beyond. He entered inside his own version of the Crystal Empire palace: an humongous building made of dark crystals so tall that it could have been seen from Ponyville. The construction was made not so far away from the empire of Cadence to show off to that brat who dared take away his place as a ruler. Well, now that spoiled princess could keep it all for herself, for that little time she had left anyway, because he had found something even more powerful than the Crystal Heart. He sat in his throne, enjoying the success of his actions. But his good mood was ruined when a magic window opened up, revealing what should have been eyes but instead were empty orbits. “Ah, it’s you,” said Sombra with an hint of frustration. “I didn’t knew you were capable of opening magic windows.” "I do it when there’s something important to do,” answered the creepy figure. Its voice was dry, rasping and guttural. “And what is it of so important enough for you to disturb me?” asked the dark tyrant. “You know exactly what,” answered the voice with an edgy tone. “The Seal of Death”. “Oh right, that one,” said Sombra, faking to have forgotten about it. “You owe me,” stated the voice. “I don’t owe you anything!” hissed the dark unicorn/alicorn. “If it wasn’t for me you would have gone towards an eternity of suffering, you arrogant fool. And it’s only thanks to my knowledge that you succeeded getting the Seal. Also, you gave me your word that you would have give it back to me,” told the voice while it’s eyes flames of dirty green. “It’s not my fault that you are such an idiot to believe what I told you. Do you really think I would have given away such power?” asked Sombra with disbelief. “You have no idea how to use it,” replied the voice. “I think I have a good idea. I have faced both Harmony and Chaos and neither of those were capable to hold me back. I have awakened the Soul Eater and made an army of undead alicorns,” replied back the dark tyrant with irritation. “If you think that is some kind of proof, then you are more naive that I thought you to be. Resisting the forces of Harmony or Chaos—or even good and evil is nothing, because Death is above those pathetic things. You’re dealing with a cosmic force, the most lethal of all. But you can’t understand it because you weren’t there to see the pale alicorn in all of his glory, just as you can’t understand that the seal grants more than just raw power alone, but even knowledge upon all the secrets of the Creation,” explained the rasping voice. “It’s funny that you mention that. The Seal effectively showed me something,” countered Sombra with a grin causing his listener to show what could have been anger. “The Seal showed me your past and how you came to be. And now that I know that I guess that I have really no reason to fear your wrath.” The being from the other side of the window glared at Sombra, giving him one heck of a death glare, which looked even more threatening with its hollow eyes. Despite his arrogance, the dark tyrant couldn’t help but feel nervous. Surprisingly enough, the mysterious being suddenly seemed to calm down. “It would seem that I have underestimated your skills,” commented the creature, making Sombra calm down and look arrogant again, but then added, “But tell me; do you know that the Seal can be broken?” “Ah!” exclaimed the dark unicorn/alicorn. “The Seal can’t be destroyed. If Discord couldn’t do it, nothing can!” “And if I tell you that Azrael knows how to do it?” “What?” whispered Sombra, taken aback from the statement. He couldn’t believe that. “What can destroy the Seal? What does Azrael know that I don’t? Tell me!” ordered the dark tyrant. “Why should I tell you? Weren’t you the one claiming to know how to use the Seal? Then do it by yourself,” claimed the voice, turning the magic window off, leaving Sombra to think. “Curse you, Lich,” hissed the dark tyrant. He never liked that being, even despite the fact that it was thanks to him that he was alive once again. He knew far too well that his “benefactor” only wanted to use him to his advantage. That was one of the many reasons why he had decided to betray him. King Sombra was no errand boy. If Sombra didn’t have a war coming soon he would have focused his plans on to attacking Lich’s dimension and transforming the undead creature into his servant or turning him into dust; but he reminded himself to do it later. Sombra pondered for a minute if the undead one had lied to him just to watch him crawl for answers or had actually told the truth. But if the Lich was telling him the truth, then why did he warn him, helping him avoid a possible defeat? Sombra didn’t know the reason behind that, but he knew that, truth or not, he should investigate further in the matter. And there was only one place where he could find the answers: the castle of Azrael.