Chapter 1
Three times he had come back to life since his last defeat. Three times he had tried to take over the empire since his last attempt. Twice more had my friends and I destroyed his body. Twice had we failed. It was time to devise a new plan.
"Shining," I said to my older brother. "Take down the shield. I will talk to Sombra"
"Twily, he's not one for talking," Shining objected.
"Trust me," I told him.
Shining looked at me square in the face, searching for any sign of self-doubt. Finding none, he reluctantly let down the shield around the Crystal Empire. I walked up to Sombra, preparing to take flight if he attacked.
"Well, if it isn't the newest princess," Sombra hissed. "Are you ready to give up and hand the empire to it's true king?"
"I wish to negotiate a solution with you. Possibly a trade?" I suggested.
He laughed. "So you are willing to trade something? For what?"
"If you agree to leave the Crystal Empire alone, I'm willing to give you anything you want." I told him.
He looked like he was considering something and then finally came to a conclusion. "I will agree if you give me 1000 crystals and if you agree to become my slave. If you disagree with either of my terms, I will resume my attack on the Crystal Empire."
I glared at him considering my options. Was it really worth putting the Crystal Empire in danger just because I did not wish to become this tyrant's slave? Did I want to be the pony who caused something I could have prevented if the Empire did fall? No. I will not be to blame, if that did in fact happen. "I agree to your terms. I shall meet you at noon with all the crystals. I shall also bring a quill and our written agreement."
"Agreed," Sombra said, placing one hoof under my chin, meeting my defiant glare with a smirk. "I shall make sure that you have not made any mistake."
I jerked my chin away from him. "I'm not your slave yet," I growled.
He turned away from me, his smirk still intact, and walked away. I turned around and looked at my brother, my sister, and my five friends. They looked at me in shock.
"Why did you agree to his terms?" Cadence asked. "We would not have thought any less of you if you had just refused to become his slave."
"He would have kept on attacking," I replied. "Even if we had killed or imprisoned him, he would have come back to full power. I knew that I was walking straight into something potentially dangerous, but I will not regret my decision."
"What if we need to use the elements of harmony to take down a new villain?" Rainbow asked.
"I will add that to the contract," I told them.
Finding that I needed to get ready, everyone ushered me towards my room in the castle. I quickly wrote the contract, making sure that it was beneficial for both parties. Packing my things didn't take long, since I really only had my crown, parchment, quills, the dress Rarity made for me for the Grand Galloping Galla, and the picture of all of my friends, my brother, my sister, the two princesses and I. I grabbed all one thousand crystals and headed for the appointed meeting spot. Earlier, my brother told me that I would have to write to him and my friends every so often. I, of course, agreed with him on the condition that he write back.
"Lovely afternoon, isn't it, Princess?" Sombra asked, with the smirk from earlier still on his face.
Ignoring his question I handed him a quill and the contract I had written up. I had already signed my name. He read through the agreement and then I went over it with him changing a few things here and there, and arguing certain points until we came to an agreement. It wasn't to bad for either side, honestly. Finally, Sombra signed the contract and transported us to where he lived along with my stuff and his pile of crystals. He transported the crystals inside of the cabin. It was just about as big as Applejack's barn.
"I believe I'll need to know your name," Sombra stated. "Then I can show you around this small cabin." If he meant 'small' compared to a castle, then yes, I guess it is 'small'.
"My name is Twilight Sparkle," I told him. "Not that it really matters to you."
He quickly preformed a spell on me. "On the contrary, I just used your name to bind you to this cabin so that you cannot leave without my permission, nor can you use magic against me."
I stood in shock. "W-what?" I stuttered.
"This spell also restricts you from attempting suicide," Sombra added, ignoring me. "Now come along, My Slave. There is quite a bit to show you."
He showed me the kitchen, which looked just like every other kitchen. He showed me where his room was. It was decorated with black carpet and a dark grey four poster bed. Then he showed me were the bathroom was. There was only one so we would have to share, but as long I didn't take to long, it didn't matter that we were sharing. I then learned where I would be sleeping. The only thing in there was a small, rickety bed with a single blanket and a lumpy pillow.
"This is all I shall show you. The rooms I have told you about are the only rooms you are aloud to be in," Sombra notified me.
"Yes, Sombra," I replied.
"Oh, yes. You shall call me either 'King Sombra', 'Master', 'Sir', or 'Lord'," Sombra ordered. "Now, I believe you will be the one to make dinner. We shall be eating in the dining room. Today you will eat with me, then tomorrow on you shall eat in the kitchen by yourself."