//------------------------------//
// The Story Begins 
// Story: Sombra Finds True Love 
// by Book Lover 1994 
//------------------------------//

	Over a millennium ago the Crystal Empire for a long time was ruled by the malevolent King Sombra. He enslaved the crystal ponies, and thought that nothing in Equestria would dethrone him. But he thought wrong. He was ultimately overthrown, and turn in to a shadowy mist by two alicorn sisters that were sworn to keep all of Equestria safe. As a last ditch effort King Sombra cursed the empire causing it to disappear.
After a thousand years the empire and King Sombra reappeared and it was up to Twilight Sparkle and her friends to save the empire and get rid of Sombra once and for all. Everypony thought that Sombra was destroyed, but his horn survived, landing very far away from the empire. The land where his horn landed was cold, dark, and isolated; just the ideal place for him to rejuvenate. 
However it took many years for his body to fully recover. And during those years many things happened; Princess Cadance and Shining Armor ruled the Crystal Empire peacefully and with love and hope. They also had three lovely children. Their eldest Princess Skyla was born an alicorn, their second eldest Iron Shield was a unicorn, and their youngest Princess Lucina also a unicorn. The three of them never lived a day without peace, love and tranquility. Twilight and her friends lived a happy life as well. Twilight married Flash Sentry, Rainbow Dash married Soarin, Pinkie Pie married Cheese Sandwich, Rarity has been dating Fancy Pants for a long time, Fluttershy found a very nice colt that likes animals just as much as she does, and Apple Jack married another apple farmer.      
During all those years Sombra watched everypony live their happy and peaceful lives, just waiting for the day that he takes his vengeance on  everypony in the Crystal Empire and then all of Equestria. Once his full body recovered(but not in his true form) he casted another spell to construct his castle made up of umber crystals, however it took up all of the strength that he had and he collapsed into the snow.
The next thing that Sombra knew he was in one of the beds in the Crystal Empire Infirmary. He blinked his eyes a few times only to come face to face with a light pink filly with big purple eyes.
“Thank Celestia that you’re ok Mister.” the filly sighed in relief. 
Sombra looked around confused. “What am I doing here?” 
The small filly turned her head shyly and rung out her hooves. “Um….. Well we found you on the outskirts of the empire unconscious. So we brought you back to the infirmary.” She looked straight at him and smiled. “But I’m so glad that you are ok now. I was worry that you were attacked or something.”
Sombra was thrown off for a moment. No pony bother to worry for him before, so what this filly was saying was unexpected. 
A crystal pony dressed in a guard uniform enter the room and interrupted their conversation. “Excuse me Princess Lucina.”
Lucina turned to the guard and gave him her full attention. “Yes Thunder Clap, what is it?
Thunder Clap stood up straighter and proceeded to deliver the message to the princess. “Your highness it’s getting late and I believe it’s time to return to the palace.”
“Maybe you’re right Thunder. Thank you.” She said and turn her attention back to Sombra. “I must go, but I’ll be back tomorrow to check on your recovery. I mean if it’s no trouble for you.”
“It’s no trouble at all Princess.” He smiled and a plan came to him. “If I gain the trust of this small princess I may be able to get into the castle and overthrow that stupid Princess Cadance and Shining Armor.” 
Lucina left the room then with the guard and made it to the door of the infirmary, only to turn right back around and run back to the room and stuck her head through the doorway. “I forgot to ask, what’s your name?”
Sombra wasn’t surprise by this at all. He actually half expected it. The princess was a filly after all. He gestured for her to come closer as if to tell her a secret and whispered. “It’s Sombra,” then he pulled back and spoke normally, “but you can call me Shadow if you would like.”   
She smiled softly, “ok Shadow, my name is Princess Lucina, but you can call me Lucina.”
Lucina rejoined Thunder Clap who was waiting patiently for her return.   
“Come along princess, your mother and father must be waiting.”
“Coming.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As Lucina fallowed the guard she thought back on when she found Shadow. She was trying to get away from her “princess lessons” and went exploring on the edge of the empire. She knew that Thunder Clap was never far behind. He maybe a guard in training, but it does not give him the excuse to fallow her everywhere.
Today Lucina went further away from the empire than usual. The land was cold and snow fell everywhere. She found it beautiful and began to play. With her limited unicorn magic she through a snow ball at Thunder.
“Nice shot your highness.” He said without emotion.
She continue to play in the snow when she saw a dark figure in the distance. Her curiosity got the best of her and she went to investigate. As she got closer she could see that it was another pony. The stallion was unconscious and she became worried. “Thunder Clap come hurry I need your help.”
Thunder rushed over as fast as he could. “What is it princess? What’s wrong?”
She pointed with her hooves at the unconscious stallion. “We need to help him. He maybe injured.” 
Just then the ground began to shake. They collected the stallion and got out of there. They didn’t dare look back, thinking that if they did they would be swallowed up by the ground. Little did they know that a castle was being built.