//------------------------------// // Chapter 7: The Bloody Wedding // Story: Twilily Saga: Past, Present, Or Damnation // by Lighttone GryphonStar //------------------------------// The Crystal Empire was in great celebration, all were overjoyed for the bride and groom, it was a joyous occasion. Fireworks were flying about and the Crystal Heart was shining brighter than ever. Indeed this would be a day to remember for centuries. Never before had this happened for Princess Luna. Sure she had gotten offers before, but never once would she accept them, until now. She knew this, above all else, had to be true love. He had came back from the dead for her. He had ascended to such great levels for her. He had done many great deeds, all for her. He was willing to spend an eternity with her as she was willing to do so for him. Indeed this day seemed like the greatest the empire had seen in a long time. However, for one, this festivities were absolutely terrifying. Princess Celestia was racing to the empire to find out what was going on. She had to find out what was going on. This was not like Luna at all. Luna would have at least told her something, anything. Celestia raced, she had to know. She was determined to know why. Did Sombra do something to Luna? Did he harm her? Did he threaten her? Celestia was so distracted by her own thoughts, she had yet to realize that somepony was watching her. Out of nowhere a strange-looking chain blade ripped its way through her teleport, pulled her out of the sky and threw her to the snowy ground, several miles outside of the empire. Celestia grabbed her head after the crash, her mind still shaking from the force of the pull. It felt like a titan had just ripped her out of the sky. There had to be a lot of force on that pull to rip her out of the teleport, but this was so much more force. Once her head stopped shaking, Celestia looked to the tiny crater that she was in. Indeed somepony had thrown her with a lot of force. She stood up and walked out of the crater. She looked around for the weapon that had grabbed her, but it was gone. “Well, I’m glad you showed up.” Celestia jumped at that voice. She looked behind herself to see a gray mare with a bright red mane. “Who are you?” Celestia questioned. “Oh I’m hurt that you wouldn’t remember me.” the mare held her hand to her chest. Celestia realized who this was. “Now I see, you are Selena Moondie, the leader of A.N.T.I." “Indeed.” The A.N.T.I. was an assassin league that had worked for many in taking down deadly targets. And it seemed now they were currently working for Sombra. “Why does the King of the Crystal Empire need the help of A.N.T.I?” “Didn’t you realize? He is the one who created this league long ago. Now he calls upon me, his personal assassin, to kill you.” Celestia took a stance upon those words. She called upon her Helios's Flame, a red trident with flaming details all over it that once belonged to her father. A weapon she only used during times of dire battles. Indeed this would have to be a dire battle. “This will not be an easy battle,” Celestia threaten her. “Indeed it won’t be an easy battle, FOR YOU!” At that moment a large amount of dark magic flowed from Selena Moondie’s body. “What is this power?” Celestia stood her ground at the essence of large amounts of dark magic. “I’m sorry though my dark magic is not as refined as Sombra’s, it’s far more vicious!” On that Celestia could hear the dark magic roar so loud. The flow of dark magic became greater and greater. “Prepare yourself Celestia, because this will be far from an easy battle.” She charged forward with great force as she hit Celestia head on. Celestia was caught off guard by this attack and its force as she was sent flying into a mountain. It filled with cracks as Selena Moondie punched hard into Celestia gut. The attack was so hard that upon her pulling back, Celestia had to use all her strength to hold in the bile that was trying to push forth as she fell to the ground. Quickly gaining her composure Celestia swung at Selena Moondie, but the mare jumped back. “Well, you are no ordinary unicorn mare.” Celestia charged up her magic for battle. Selena Moondie gave an evil grin. “Oh you think I’m just some unicorn.” She laughed aloud as she took off her cape. “I tend to not show this form often, so consider this a privilege.” Large amounts of dark magic flowed from her like a tidal wave as two bulges of flesh on her exposed back rose. Out of nowhere her back ripped open and her turban fell, revealing her little secret. Celestia was stunned at what she saw. She saw the impossible standing right in front of her. “That's impossible, you’re --” “Yes, indeed I am. But that isn’t the best part as Sombra is something far worse.” “What?!” Celestia was angered by this news. "I have to stop the wedding, Luna must not marry him.” She charged at Selena Moondie. Selena Moondie laughed once more and matched Celestia’s attack with her own. “Oh you have no idea. She already knows. In fact, this wedding was her idea. The truth is they sealed their love long ago, and this whole thing is a farce. Bait if you will, for somepony they both have wanted dead for a long time.” Celestia’s eyes widened. “Blood Diamond!” ****** A crystal cathedral exploded as three warriors flew out into the sky. King Sombra, Queen Luna and Prince Blood Diamond. Indeed the plan worked, he was now out of hiding. The problem was now defeating him. This wouldn't be an easy feat even for these two masters. They were fighting Redsting's most elite warrior. A pony that not even Redsting himself dared to cross in the Crystal Empire since he was the only creature of his generation that was able to master all his father’s crystal spells. Sombra and Luna would have to try their best to win this battle. At their sides they carried their best weapons, Luna’s sabres, Fangs of Fenrir, gifted to her long ago by her parents. And Sombra’s scythe, the Chains of Pluto, gifted to him by Pluto the Titan of Hell. As well as their best weapons, they had dark magic, crystal magic and sound magic at their side. They would need all of it to win. They clashed once more. As the blades made contact, Blood Diamond was able to hold them both off pretty well. He pushed them back with sleeved crystal swords. Sombra swiped from above, Blood Diamond spin dodged and sliced back. Sombra blocked, while Luna attacked from behind. The prince sensed this and flipped over her. He then kicked them into each other with enough force that they went crashing to the ground leaving cracks through the crystal ground. “This atrocity of a wedding must end.” Blood Diamond sheathed his crystal swords and held up his hand toward them. “Crystal Fangs.” Crystals rose from the ground around Sombra and Luna. The crystals charged at them. Sombra and Luna jumped out the way as the crystals clashed into each other like teeth. As they escaped the attack, Blood Diamond unsheathed his crystal swords once more and charged right at Sombra. The two fought across several blocks, tearing up many buildings along the way. Crystal pony citizens had to run and hide from the fight. Luna flew as fast she could after them. Once she got close she stabbed the prince in the back, however her blades seemingly bounced off his armor. Seeing her, Blood Diamond spun around and nearly took off her head. She barely jumped back and grabbed her neck to check for any wounds. Luckily she was fine, but she at least stopped Blood Diamond’s movement long enough for Sombra to grab him from behind. Blood Diamond pulled out his wings and flew into the sky. Once in the sky he continued to struggle. “Damn it let us go.” “Not this time former prince. Give up and die,” Sombra demanded. “Like that would happen. We will not fall to some umbrum!” Blood Diamond shouted. Suddenly Sombra’s eyes widened in pain as he felt something tear into his shoulders. He was forced to let go as the pain became too much. Blood Diamond flew away from Sombra as blood poured from the two gashes in Sombra’s shoulders. “Sombra!” Luna flew up to meet them. As soon as she got up there she saw crystal spikes sheathing back into Blood Diamond’s back. “What kind of spell is this?” she questioned. “Oh that's right. You never knew.” Blood Diamond turned towards Luna and pulled off his armor. Luna’s eyes grew even wider. Blood Diamond’s chest was rotted and decayed. It was more like a changeling than any alicorn. “You know very well who our father was. But would it shock you that our mother was none other than Queen Chrysalis. This cocktail of species led to a very unusual mutation.” On that, he unsheathed his crystal swords once more. “These aren’t just our weapons, they are our bones.” “If you're willing to talk so much then how is it you already knew Sombra was an umbrum?” “Oh dear lovely Luna, we know because we helped him during the changeling invasion one thousand years ago.” “Sombra was there?” Luna was actually surprise to hear this. Sure Sombra had told her that he had killed her uncle, but not that he was part of the invasion one thousand years ago. This was unexpected. Yet she was willing to stand by Sombra even after hearing this news. “It was strange that he didn’t tell you.” “He just never got around to it. But why would you help him then and fight him now?” “Well one, I have an old score to settle with him. But also to avenge the death of our two sons.” Blood Diamond speech patterns seemed completely off for a moment. “But wait you lost somepony on that day too, didn’t you? Oh you haven’t told him yet.” Luna became angered from that line as she charged at him. At the same time Sombra appeared behind Blood Diamond. Luna struck above, Blood Diamond ducked, then he flipped to the side as Sombra swung from below. Extending his swords outward, he hit Luna through the stomach and Sombra in the leg. Blood Diamond pushed forward knocking Luna into a crystal tower. She coughed up blood as his sword tore through her stomach. He pulled back as Sombra charged forward to save Luna. As Blood Diamond flew back, he slashed through Sombra’s tough armor. Sombra barely dodge being cut in half as he flew to Luna. However Luna found herself being covered in crystals. Sombra turned back to Blood Diamond, seeing him manipulate the crystal as if he were its master. Sombra charged at him slashing at his arm. For a moment it looked like it had cut Blood Diamond down, but Sombra gut ripped wide open. “Poor King, our bones are like diamonds.” Blood Diamond held up his arm as he sheathed his crystal sword. “But here let me show you.” On that he flew faster than Sombra could react and stabbed his arm through Sombra’s armor like it was paper and tore through his chest, barely missing his heart. Sombra coughed up blood as Blood Diamond pushed his fist deeper into his chest. However after a moment or two Sombra simply smiled “Thanks for getting in close.” On that he teleported himself and Blood Diamond high above the Crystal Empire. So high up that they were now at the edge of the atmosphere. With Blood Diamond up close and them far above the Crystal Empire, Sombra held up his hand to the prince’s face. “Finale Spell, Great Hand of Darkness.” All that could be seen from the ground was a large laser of pure dark magic shooting outwards. After several moments it vanished. Luna broke free from her the crystal imprisonment. She saw the blast and flew up to the sky and could see Sombra falling as the blast disappeared. She called out to him as she flew up to him, “Sombra!” However as she got closer to him a shout could be heard from above them. “Finale Spell, Great Hand of Corruption!” A corrupted laser of magic hit Sombra head on, knocking him from Luna’s grasp and down the ground below, the beam evaporated as quickly as it appeared. She turned to see who sent it and saw Blood Diamond alive, just barely.  Most of his upper flesh was burned to a crisp, so much so that some of his diamond bones could be seen through the flesh. In a fit of rage she charged at him, not noticing the crystal rising up and grabbing her once more as Blood Diamond clenched his fist. “Oh lovely Luna, we have to admit your husband's reckless move nearly killed us. Using such a dangerous spell up close, such a foolish mistake. In fact our bones were the only thing that saved us.” he held up hands to show the expose bones. He flew in close to her and continued, “But what we don’t get is why you accepted the offer of some punk umbrum, after so many had made their own before. You even turned down our own offer of marriage three thousand years ago. But with him now dead, would you be willing to reconsider our old offer?” “No, you diamond pig--” He silenced her with a slap. “How dare you? If you want it that way, then have the damn empire and your king,” he flew back several meters away from her and held his arms out. “Have them both gift wrapped.” On that several giant crystals rose around the crystal empire. They rose taller than any building and enveloped the empire. Soon they created a dome of crystals around the empire. “What are you doing?” Luna struggled. “It's very simple Luna. We will crush this empire in crystals.” On that several crystal spikes formed on the inside of the dome as the dome shrank around them all. ****** Celestia could see the dome from her own battle. What were they going to do? This would surely mean the end. Celestia flew from her battle, she had to at least save Luna. However Selena Moondie stopped her. Yanking her from the sky and throwing her to the ground. “No, Luna!!” “Don’t go anywhere? We aren’t done yet.” Selena Moondie tackled her. “Besides it’s about time that bitch gets what's coming to her?” These lines confused Celestia. “Just whose side are you even on?” “Oh, you won’t know until it’s too late.” ****** Back in the skies of the Crystal Empire, Luna struggled to get free as the dome’s walls moved closer. Tears filled her face. She feared for her empire's safety, but she also feared for her love. She feared he was gone. Was this the end of them all? Had Sombra’s plans been for not? “Blood Diamond stop this now!” “No, this will end here. The final thing we must know, is why him? Why chose the last of the umbrums?” “NO!” Suddenly Sombra appeared in front of Luna, facing Blood Diamond. He was badly wounded, but he was not down yet. He flew up to the height that Blood Diamond was at. “Impossible! Why won’t this damn umbrum stay dead?” Blood Diamond roared as he channeled the dome to shrink faster. “That because I’m not just some damn umbrum. I AM A DARK ALICORN!” On that his giant wing spread outward. They were as dark as the blackest night. “As for the last, that is far from true.” “What do you mean?” Blood Diamond looked in confusion, when suddenly gigantic amounts of dark magic rose around the entire empire. “What is this power?” “Ponies of my empire!” Sombra roared outward. “Lend me the power I gave you.” Soon, all crystal ponies came out of their homes and held their hands into the air as their forms changed. They were becoming something else. Luna broke free and channeled her own dark magic. As she did, her coat darkened. Blood Diamond trembled as an almost endless amount of dark magic rose from the empire and surrounded Sombra as transformed. He took the form of a blackish fog and the only part of his original form that could be seen was a giant version of his head. “What is this? What have you done?” Blood Diamond roared as his wall of crystals stopped on their own. “I resurrected the umbrums in the bodies of the crystal ponies. And now I will use their power to destroy you.” On that he charged right at the prince, grabbing him in his jaws. He pushed Blood Diamond through the crystal dome. Once he was high above the Crystal Empire, he tossed Blood Diamond into the air and then shot one final blast of dark magic right at him. “Darkness Eternal.” “NO, WE ARE PRINCE BLOOD DIAMOND!!!!” The prince roared one final time as the blast launched him higher and higher into the sky, burning off more of his remaining flesh as he flew. It kept going until there was nothing left at all. Once the prince was gone Sombra returned to his original form and fell from the sky as the dome crumbled. As he fell, all the other citizens returned to their original forms. ****** Upon seeing the dome fall, Celestia blasted Selena Moondie off her back and flew to the empire. But Selena Moondie wouldn’t let her leave, so she turned and threw her trident threw Selena Moondie’s chest, seemingly killing her. Once Selena Moondie fell, Celestia called back her weapon and flew to the empire. Celestia flew past a few crystal ponies that raced toward Selena Moondie's position as she flew into the empire. Celestia approached the area where Sombra landed, hoping that Luna would be near there. Landing, she found a blackish mare kneeling over Sombra. She couldn’t see Sombra’s face for it was hidden under some cloth that fell over it. She quickly walked closer to them. She soon realized that this blackish mare was Luna. “Please wake up,” Luna spoke, her voice seemingly like two as one. “No, please love, don’t go.” Eventually Luna returned to her original form. Upon that, Celestia walked closer and placed her hand on her sister's shoulder. “I’m sorry Luna, I am afraid he is gone.” “No he is not,” spoke a new voice. Celestia felt a distinct fear cover her entire body. She turned away from her sister and saw the Emperor. “How are you here?” Grogar smiled at her. “You know what to do duaghter.” On that Luna rose up and her coat became blackish again. Only this time, this was not Luna. She turned and grabbed Celestia by the throat and punched her into a far off wall. They were now several feet from Sombra. Celestia coughed hard from the attack. She looked to Luna. Not only was Luna’s form different, her eyes were too. “Luna please stop,” Celestia pleaded. “Sorry, Luna isn’t home right now, but I would be willing to take a message.” Luna's voice was very different now. It was like somepony else was talking for her. “Who are you? You’re not Luna!” “Very observant. Yes this is Luna’s body, but she has left me in control right now.” “Enough Cassandra,” Grogar complained. Celestia’s eyes widened, “Cassandra! As in the spirit of Cassandra Eveningstar, Queen of Nightmares.” “Indeed, though now I go by just Nightmare--” “I said enough daughter!” Grogar interrupted her as he walked over to Sombra and held his arm over him. He took out a knife and used it to rip his arm wide open. “Oh, my poor child. I told you that form would require more dark magic and better training.” Maroon red blood poured from Grogar’s arm, covering Sombra’s wounds. Sombra’s wounds healed as his muscles pulsed from the extra power now flowing through him. Once Grogar was done, his torn arm healed like the wound never happened. Suddenly loud screams could be heard in the direction where Selena Moondie had fallen. Nightmare smiled. “Looks like my niece is awake. Do you hear that father?” she looked to Grogar. He nodded a yes. “Well, you better hurry up with my brother there.” “Actually I am done, you may knock her out.” Celestia heard his words and tried to struggle, however Nightmare spoke up, "Listen Celestia, Luna wants you gone from here. She wish to only be with my new brother. So leave and never return." Upon that she knocked Celestia unconscious and dropped her to the ground. Afterwards she walked back over to Sombra and kneeled down, while Grogar walked over to Celestia and held up his hand to her. Instantly Celestia was teleported back to New Shangri La. After she was gone, Nightmare went back to sleep and let Luna regain control. Luna looked toward Sombra as he slowly awoke. Suddenly a crash could be heard off in the distance. “Do not be concerned Queen Luna, I will check it out,” Grogar disappeared in shadows. Moments later he arrived at the crash, only to be greeted with great surprise upon finding the  heavy burnt body of a strange looking creature lying dead in a small crater. The creature had a pale white coat and a dark green mane. Grogar walked closer to the body as Zeb arrived shortly after. “Emperor, what is this creature? It doesn’t look like Blood Diamond at all. Cult Race lied to us.” Grogar placed his hand over the creature and scanned quickly. “No, I think even he didn’t know. Which means Blood Diamond is more clever than we gave him credit.” “Should I tell Sombra of this?” “No, let my son have his victory. I’m certain Blood Diamond won’t be a problem anymore.” “Why is that, sir?” Zeb looked in confusion. “Because he never wanted the empire. He just wanted us to think he did.” “Why? The empire is his by right.” “Because sometimes the truth is the best deception. And sometimes the patience is the true victor.” ****** <1,000 years later> Twilight and ‘F’ continued to run to Canterlot, however soon they reached an entrance to a town she had never seen before. It was completely unknown to her. Of course this was the past though. “What is this place?” Twilight questioned as she walked through the entrance. ‘F’ caught up with her and spoke, “Oh, this is the great town, Onager. This town lies between Canterlot and the Everfree Forest. How is it you never heard of it?” She didn’t answer. In fact she went completely silent. Her eyes were almost in tears upon what she saw. ‘F’ looked at Twilight. Something was off, very off. She stood there frozen at the entrance that was just beyond his sight. He walked closer to see why she went silent. Upon seeing why Twilight stopped, even his old eyes widened. The entire town was covered in blood. Bodies laid ripped apart. This was terrible. This was terrifying. What could be responsible for all this death? Who could have done this? Suddenly a scream could be heard. The scream pulled Twilight out of her shock. Somepony was still alive. Twilight and ‘F’ quickly ran towards the scream, hoping they wouldn’t be too late. Eventually they got on top of a building and came upon a darken alleyway where a mare could be barely seen. There was a bone knife stabbed into the bottom of her pants, holding her down. A figure in a neon yellow hood was walking towards her. Twilight was not going to have this. She teleported in front of the mare without even thinking. Ready to protect her, no matter who she was. “Who are you?” the mare questioned. “That doesn’t matter right now. Can you stand up-- Starlight.” Twilight’s eyes widened to see Starlight of all ponies. “What are you doing here?” This left Starlight confused. “What do you mean? Who are you?” Twilight facepalmed at that. She had almost forgotten about her disguise. However before she could tell Starlight who she really was, the hooded figure charged right at her and punched her in the throat to the wall. Twilight coughed hard upon this. At that moment, the illusion that hid her form shimmered and expose her real form for a moment. On that the eyes of Starlight and the one in the hood widened. “Well this is unexpected,” the figure spoke, “I didn’t think I would be slaying alicorn today." Twilight looked with wide eyes as she saw his reptilian eyes. “Cult Race! So you are the one responsible for this massacre!” He looked with surprise. “Well, somepony knows my name. Does that mean you know my power?” He looked closer into her eyes. Their eyes were now in direct sight to each other. She knew what was coming next. The Glare. Everything around her slowed as time for her and him were now moving in a different way from everything else. The bubble of the Glare was complete. In the bubble, time was under his command. “STO--” However he was interrupted as a strange-looking chain blade descended down and stabbed through the bubble and through his stomach. On that he dropped Twilight to the ground and she took in deep breaths as the Glare broke. Twilight looked up to Cult Race as he was raised into the air and turned to face a broken window.  A voice spoke from the window, “Actually dear, poor Cult Race had nothing to do with this. The massacre was my doing.” Stepping out of the shadows was Selena Moondie. In her hand was another pony, barely alive. She took the pony’s neck up to her mouth and finished her meal. After sucking as much blood from the random pony as she desired, she threw the pony to the ground and looked at Cult Race. Cult Race meanwhile seemed unphased by the weapon that was tearing through his stomach. Hello Selena Moondie,” he spoke to her as she brought him closer. “Well it has been a while, my former lover.” She kissed him on the head. “Now I would do more, but I have a pony to kill a--” Suddenly she stopped herself as she noticed that Starlight and Twilight had ran for it. On that she threw Cult Race to the side and chased after them. As she ran, Cult Race picked himself up and dusted off his sleeved cloak. Once he was done he ran in the same direction. ‘F’ caught up to Twilight and Starlight as they ran. “I see you found Starlight.” It seemed like they might get away. But as they reached a plaza, a great blast of wind knocked them all to the ground. They slowly got up as their skin ached from skitting across the ground. Twilight looked to the direction it came from and saw Selena Moondie. “What? How?” Twilight questioned. But before she could question more Selena Moondie threw her kopises at her. Twilight barely jumped out of the way as they stabbed into the ground. “Take them up.” Twilight looked in confusion as she grabbed them. “Why would you give me these?” “Well, you have to fight me with something,” she smiled. “Those are the Teeth of Cthulhu, the pet of Nightmare. They are how I hop into dreams, but they also allow the wielder better control of their dark magic.” Twilight looked at them and frowned. “No, I will not use his blood. But thanks for the offer.” Selena Moondie’s smile became wicked. “It wasn’t an offer, it was a demand!” On that her shoulders oscillated like something was moving on her back. She rose into the air as the winds returned. Twilight stood ready, but was still confused. “How are you doing this? You’re just a unicor--” “No,” ‘F’ interrupted her. “She has wings.” Twilight’s eyes widened. “No you can’t be….. An alico--” Selena Moondie laughed aloud upon Twilight's words. “You dare compare me to an alicorn. Oh that's rich, I am something much different. Look closely as I don’t show this form that often.” On that, dark magic rose from within her. The ground shook as her cape and turban flew away and the illusion that hid her secret broke. Soon she let all her dark magic loose as it tore apart several buildings, shredding them to dust. As the smoke cleared Twilight’s heart near stopped in fear upon seeing Selena Moondie's true form. Her fur was smoke like. On her back two bone-blade like limbs ripped right out from closed flesh, where wings would usually be. All her teeth and fangs showed as her cheeks stretched backward, her knife like horn glowed as blue as the night sky. “Impossible. Your species is extinct.” “Indeed they are very dead,” Selena Moondie spoke as her bone like blade-wings spread outward. She roared aloud, “I AM AN UMBRUM!!” ******