My Glory

by Eclipse Guardian


Creature

-Crystal Empire-

The Crystal Ponies were unhappy. That much was clear to Princess Cadence as she strolled through the newly freed Empire. She couldn't find out why none of her new subjects seemed glad after Sombra's defeat. Sure they thanked Cadence and Twilight's friends, but whenever she asked a crystal pony a question about their unhappiness they would ask: 'Where is our beloved Queen?'. 'Queen? I knew the Empire was ruled by King Sombra in the past, and about a previous Unicorn Princess before him. But nothing about a pony with the title of Queen.'

Cadence paused when a distraught group of Crystal Ponies gazed at her sadly, before shaking their heads and left the plaza. She frowned as she passed a couple of her crystal guards and entered the palace. The castle was empty besides the few maids and chefs slowly wandering the halls. Cadence could do nothing than sigh at their gloomy expressions. 'I wish there was something I could do for them.' Entering the Throne Room, the pink alicorn turned her gazed toward the new tapestries adorning the walls. All of them depicted a tall white Alicorn rearing up on her hind legs, surrounded by several smaller ponies smiling and bowing in reverence. 'Is that her? Strange. The only white alicorn I've ever seen was Aunt Celestia. And she and Luna never speak about their early lives much.'

Her thoughts turned to the Preacher trotting beside her. “Crysta Feather, was it?” She asked turning around and sitting down on the throne.

The white Unicorn nodded, then smiled serenely. “Yes Princess, the Holy Church of Crystal wishes to extend a hoof in friendship, we mainly just want to open up connections between us.”

Despite Crysta's kindness and warm smile, Cadence couldn't help but be suspicious of her. She had been a witness to the Preacher's “Blessing” when she used it on several of the Crystal Ponies. They had actual smiles on their faces after the encounter, later Crysta asked Cadence if she wanted to be “blessed” as well, which she politely declined.

Crysta's smile wilted for a moment at Cadence's frown, but it rose up again. “Once a proper agreement has been established, we can go about gaining you your own Blessing, Your Highness.”

“Why exactly? If you don't mind elaborating a bit for me.” Cadence questioned.

“Well, Princess Celestia has already been blessed by our Matriarch, Princess Luna has yet to accept our offer of course. You see, it's an old custom of ours to give Blessings to the rulers we bring into our religion. The Crystal Goddess began the practice after founding the Empire and asserting her own foothold in Northern Equestria.” Crysta smiled with glee.

Cadence nodded. “So she began your religion then?” She raised an eyebrow. 'Maybe this “Crystal Goddess” was what the crystal ponies meant by their 'beloved queen?''

“The Holy One, has created many cathedrals for our Order, Princess. Now about that proposition of ours...” Crysta smiled serenely.


-Frozen North-

A shadowy mass moved into a desolate cavern to escape the blistering cold snow. “Damn them...” King Sombra growled weakly as he manifested back into his pony form. “Damn Elements...damn Alicorns...” He placed a grey hoof along the wall and pulled himself up. He couldn't believe this, him, King Sombra, the true ruler of the Crystal Empire. For years he plotted his revenge over his defeat by the hooves of the Royal Sisters, the thought made him cringe in disgust.

A long black tendril snapped on the ground to gain his attention. He shook with terror. “Yyyyyoouuu failed agggaaiinn.” IT rasped.

“You did not tell me about another ALICORN!” Despite his fear, Sombra glared at the writhing mass darkness. “And I thought Penumbra was dead!” His curved horn glowed darkly.

“Weee do not cccaarree for your ...squabbles...” IT coiled around his shaking body with its shapeless mass. “Weee gave you freedom...we gave you power, and you failed us...” IT grabbed his legs and held him upside down.

“Gahh! No! No please!! I won't fail next time!!” Sombra begged as his body began to loose strength.

“Weee know you won't, because there won't beeeee a next time.” IT hissed angrily as it began suck the life out of Sombra.

“So, this is how you treat your...underlings.” Sombra gasped as he lost control of his limbs.

“Weee have waited faarrrr too long puppet. Besides, befooorree long, Penumbra will return.” A large angular head emerged before Sombra's, several rows of long sharp teeth threatened to bite his head off. Sombra recoiled. This...this thing wasn't like any creature he had ever encountered before in his long life. No definite form, only blackness. Only its head was ever exactly the same. Five long protrusions sprouted from the top and sides of its head. “Reettuurrnn our power to us Sombra and never come back.” IT opened its maw wide as Sombra screamed, struggling to break free.

“St-stay, stay back monster!!” He failed to raise his hooves before IT lumbered over him and chomped his whole top half down its gullet. Sombra's screams were cut short as his body was noisily swallowed by the creature.

Blood dripped down its jaw, as it grabbed the pony's lower half and swallowed it whole. “These equines are perfect, their magic is like nothing weee have ever tasted.” IT hissed. The creature silently moved to the entrance of the cave and watched the distant Crystal Empire with its five blood red eyes. The middle eye blinked when a white polar bear pass its cave, the animal growled as it reached the creature's cave.

“RAWR!!” The bear roared at the intruder of its territory.

IT cocked its to the side, gazing at the angry animal. Bears and other such animals always acted like it was the enemy, which it was of course, but the creature was not intimated. IT merely let out a booming roar that sent the bear into a tree, snapping it right in half. The creature crept out of its cave, looking left and right for anymore beings that might challenge it.

IT formed a pair of long dagger-like claws and hovered over the landscape, while spreading its terrible influence everywhere it touched. IT did not chuckle or gloat about its own power, however it did stalk forward and quickly engulfed the polar bear into its mass of blackness. “Sombra may have failed us...but weee will have that cccrryyysstaall heart and all of its ponies.” The creature hissed as it made its way toward the Empire.


-Meanwhile-


Twilight's friends were worried. They had met Twilight before she suddenly vanished, Rainbow Dash, repeatedly swore she saw Twilight battling King Sombra atop the Crystal Spire, but the others were just not convinced that their lavender friend would fight the mad king on her own. Especially without her Element of Harmony.

Rainbow huffed as she followed her friends into their private cabin at the back of the Friendship Express. “Come. ON. Girls. It was totally Twilight I saw up there flinging wicked magick spells at Sombra.” She argued as she sat down across from Applejack and Rarity. “Who else do we know with a purple coat?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow. “How about Miss Cheerilee?”

Rainbow face-hoofed. Right. Scootaloo's school teacher. “Okay fine. But I still know what I saw the other day. Besides, why else would Twilight just vanish without telling us?” She asked while crossing her fore-hooves across her chest.

“Darling, Princess Cadence already told us that Twilight is in Canterlot as we speak.” Rarity reminded the brash Pegasus. “Princess Celestia, sent a letter detailing that Twilight is safe and sound with her and Princess Luna in the castle. Or did you forget already?”

Rainbow Dash grit her teeth in frustration. “I know about all that already! But we didn't even see Twilight leave or anything, no royal chariot, no white or blue Alicorns wandering around.” She let out a breath of exasperation. “Geez, even Spike hasn't even received a single letter from Twilight herself, and he's worried sick about her.”

Spike, hearing his name, sighed deeply. “It's okay Rainbow, I'm sure Twi has her reasons. Besides she's stronger than she looks.” There was also that red Pegasus stallion that had been assigned to them, but he had returned to Canterlot shortly after Twilight apparently. 'That guy was really weird too, considering what he kept saying about this Church he went to.' Spike pondered.

The train started down the track and into the light blizzard surrounding the Empire. An hour or two passed by without anything untoward happening, that was until the train suddenly halted jostling its passengers. “What in the hay?” Applejack said startled.

The train engineer stepped in. “Sorry for the delay, but there seems to be a blockage along the tracks in front of us. Don't worry we'll soon have it taken care of.” He nodded apologetically before leaving the cabin. The mares and dragon looked out the window curiously.

Then they heard a terrified yell. “MONSTER! It's a monster!! Everypony run to safety!!” Someone screamed. The girls swiftly landed on their hooves, except Fluttershy who was hiding underneath her seat. The train shook roughly, rocking everypony within which caused them to fall onto their sides. Rainbow Dash and Applejack were the first to regain their bearings. “Spike, you and the others stay here, me and Dash are gonna check it out.” Before Spike could say anything the two mares ran busted through the back door of the cabin and into the mild blizzard. Pinkie Pie and Rarity continued looking out the window in case Rainbow and Applejack needed help.

Outside, the two mares bolted to the front of the train, and saw a giant black ...thing. They couldn't describe it. Whatever it was, the thing grabbed the conductor and held him over its huge toothy mouth. Rainbow Dash was the first to act, so she flew right at the stallion and nabbed him before the thing ate him whole. “I gotcha! Don't worry!” She yelled before setting him down far away from the shadowy thing. “What the buck is that thing!?”

“Dash!” Applejack called out as the creature engulfed the front part of the train. “We gotta stop it, before it gets to the others!” Rainbow Dash nodded quickly as she took off into the air above it.

The thing attempted to grab Applejack, but the orange mare expertly jumped right over its arm and bucked it. “Whoa!?” She slipped right through its body like it wasn't even there. Rainbow saw this and flew right at thing's face, unfortunately she also passed through its ethereal body mass.

She plowed right into the snow shaking like a scared foal. For some reason she felt...Empty and hopeless. “W-w-what in Celestia's n-n-name?” She stammered.

Applejack didn't fare much better. Her whole body felt paralyzed when she made contact with the thing. She couldn't explain it. The creature towered over her than roughly punched her away into a snow bank.

Rarity and Pinkie ran outside toward their friends. “Pinkie, we have to get out here!” Rarity yelled as she dragged Applejack's unconscious body the others while Spike dragged Fluttershy out of the train.

“Okie-dokie!” Pinkie placed Rainbow on her back and galloped towards Rarity.

“Quickly you guys, before that thing gets us!” Spike yelled. They ran in a group as the creature made chase.

“Weee are not a thing! We are death!” IT screeched only a few yards away.


-Canterlot 2 Days Later -

That's what you girls saw?” Asked the still recovering Twilight Sparkle from the bed within her tower room. Her friends sat around her mattress telling her of their terrifying encounter.

“Honest sugarcube. We have no idea what tha' creature was exactly.” Applejack shook her head.

Rainbow Dash shivered. “It was so creepy, when I tried decking it's head I felt this horrible feeling of being less than awesome.”

“Dash looked like she was gonna go all grey, like when Discord cursed us.” Rarity recalled from her fainting sofa, as Fluttershy shifted nervously beside her. “Even Fluttershy lost her nerve when it tried devouring Rainbow.” She stroked the yellow mare's back gently.

Fluttershy meeped when everyone's attention was directed her way. “M-My stare didn't even do anything to the monster. I-I know for a fact that it wasn't an animal.”

Twilight studied her friends. They were badly stricken with fear of the thing that attacked their train. Whatever IT was. From what they told her so far, the creature pursued them through the tundra until they reached the Empire's barrier, which luckily prevented the thing from entering the city. It merely howled in pain and vanished into the air. Later on, a large platoon of Royal Guards came over with a chariot and took them home safely, the creature never showed again after that.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were the most affected by the horror. Something about a horrid feeling of emptiness and self-loathing when they touched it, they said the feeling went away after entering the barrier and as soon as the thing disappeared. Princess Celestia and Luna sent a contingent of both of their guards to scour the Frozen North for any sign of the creature in case it shows its hideous face again.

They spoke for a while longer before Luna entered the room. “Sorry my friends, but my sister wishes to speak to Twilight in her chambers.” Luna smiled slowly at Twilight's draconic eyes, despite sealing the Dark Magick deep within the lavender mare. Twilight still retained those rippling violet eyes and even the wings, thankfully the wings were much smaller and bore only feathers.

Regardless though, Twilight's friends were shocked to find out their friend ascended to an Alicorn suddenly, Rainbow was ecstatic to have the chance to teach someone how to fly, of course. Celestia and herself just refrained from telling them how Twilight ascended exactly. “It's rather important.”

Twilight rose from her bed and approached Luna. “I'll be back later girls, you can tell me the rest when I come back.” The others nodded as the Alicorns left.

Closing the door, Luna wrapped a wing around Twilight. Twilight looked at her. “Um, you're still recovering Twilight, I-I'm just making sure you don't collapse again.” Luna stuttered as they traversed the hall.

“It's okay Luna, I appreciate it.” Twilight gave a small smile of her own. Much to her relief, her body returned to its normal height and colours, except her eyes.

They arrived shortly at Celestia's chambers, and opened the doors. Celestia was sitting patiently in front of the fireplace unadorned by her regalia. “Good to see you again Twilight. Are you feeling better?” Celestia asked as her student and sister sat across from her.

Twilight frowned. “I can stand at least, but being a Alicorn is strange...or it should be strange. I haven't felt this whole before.” She shrugged. “The Dark Magick hasn't acted up ever since you sealed it away.”

Celestia could see her sister biting her lip, a look of longing in her eyes as she gazed at Twilight. She laid a wing over Luna, rubbing her back in comfort. Luna leaned back and sighed deeply, smiling at her sister. Celestia returned the smile before looking to her student. “Any voices in your mind, or dark dreams at all?” She asked concerned.

Twilight's ears perked up. “None. I haven't heard Echo's voice since that day..., honestly though I feel horrible for how I treated her.” Twilight's eyes fell as she recalled Echo's pained screams. “She only wanted to help me and I...” She sniffled.

Luna's eyes hardened. “Twilight, while the shade may have meant well for you, she attempted to steal our Alicorn magick. Forcefully.” When Twilight wilted, Luna's voice softened. “We were afraid for you Twilight, you are a my...my-” Luna trailed off, not wanting to let her choked feelings show.

“Your what?” Twilight sniffled, looking directly at the lunar princess.

Luna turned her head. “N-no never mind my lo-” She clamped her mouth shut, Luna felt her sister's wing stiffen at her side.

Twilight stood up. “Luna?” Her beautiful draconic eyes peered into Luna's.

Luna forced herself to not leap at the purple mare, those eyes of hers were mesmerizing. Her guilt for passing up her memories of Penumbra weighed her down. 'Would she ever forgive me for that? Penny took betrayal far worse than I ever did.' Even now she could see wisps of black wrapping around Twilight like a shroud. 'Our seal will not hold forever, She will return eventually. It's inevitable.'

Twilight took a step forward, her face an expression of confusion. “Is something wrong Princess Luna?” She saw Celestia give her sister a quick nuzzle before stepping out of the room.

Luna rose to her hooves and gazed down at Twilight. “Listen Twilight. There's something you need to know.” Twilight nodded slowly as Luna gulped. “A-A long time ago, my sister and I met two other Alicorns like ourselves. This was before Discord came into power and before King Sombra surfaced.” The lunar mare exhaled deeply and magicked over a cup of tea. “They were older than us, both of them were unlike any pony we have ever met.” Luna took a seat on a velvet cushion near the window, Twilight following and sitting on another cushion across from her. “Diamanda and Penumbra. Those were their names, Alicorns of Crystal and Darkness Incarnate respectfully. Celestia became close friends with Diamanda almost a day after we met them, while Penumbra and myself were walking on eggshells around each other.” She took a shuddering sip of her tea as Twilight's wings twitched.

“Why are you telling me this?” Twilight questioned, wanting a clear answer.

“Because you have a right to know why the Cult is so set on you for Penumbra's return.” Luna explained taking another long sip of tea. “Anyhow, P-Penumbra and her sister had recently lost their home to something from beyond, and had to escape on their own. We met them purely by chance in the Badlands during a sandstorm. Please, don't ask me what we were doing out there.” Luna halted Twilight's raised hoof and unanswered question. “You may talk to my sister about it later.” Clearing her throat Luna continued. “Soon after, Diamanda took us to her home up north, she introduced us to her 'children'.” She waved her hooves around with a huff. “My sister was ecstatic of course, me not so much the third day was when Penumbra finally spoke and tried to get rid of me and my sister.” A wistful smile crossed her lips. “She stole and hid all the food inside the cavern and blamed us for the theft, it almost worked until my sister found a orange stain on Penumbra's coat. She snorted and said that wasn't enough evidence.” Luna laughed. “Later, we all found the food in her chambers while she was attempting to eat the evidence.”

Celestia returned with a tray of light snacks in her aura. “Luna, Twilight, I have something.” She lowered the tray between them. “Now where are we?”

Luna levitated a biscuit than nibbled it. “We were just talking about Penny's attempt at getting rid of us.”

“Ah.” Was Celestia's response before she sat beside Luna. “Shall I?” At Luna's nod she looked at Twilight. “Penumbra, was a very aggressive mare. I saw it in her eyes everyday, her distrust of us was obvious even to her twin. Diamanda was the opposite of her, she welcomed us with open hooves and gave us shelter.” A warm smile crossed her muzzle. “She sang you know, Twilight. Her voice was melodious like a wind chime. At the time we were just young mares, so she sang us both to sleep, since you know...” Celestia suddenly found the floor more interesting.

“Are you okay, Princess?” Twilight asked with worry.

Luna sighed. “The history books know nothing of our true origins, Twilight.” Twilight gave her a curious look. “We were orphans, Tia and I, our parents were mortal ponies as were we. Our Ascension into Alicorns was not until sometime after Discord appeared.”

“Diamanda and Penumbra, helped us locate the Elements of Harmony so we could defeat Discord, neither of them expected us to become Alicorns along the way. They departed soon after we turned Discord to stone.” Celestia closed her eyes as she took a breath. “It was a rough century for us both, ponies were still quarreling with each other, the griffons and dragons threatened to invade multiple times.” She sighed deeply. “Than came a stallion named King Sombra.”

“I'll explain sister.” Luna rubbed her sister's back as Celestia nodded. “We learned that Penumbra had taken on a student, by the name of Sombra, who was especially skilled with her Dark Magic.” The younger princess laid down and gazed solemnly at Twilight. “He even found a way to combine both Penny's and Diamanda's types of magic together. With terrible results. The powerful magic drove him mad, and gave him a strange obsession with Diamanda's crystals. He took over the Crystal Empire, which Diamanda ruled at the time while she was away in another country, so we had to deal with it ourselves. Penumbra actually decided to assist us, with her army and our Elements we defeated Sombra and sealed him away deep beneath the ice.”

The sisters laid together with Twilight as she looked with a worried expression. “Sorry, but I still don't get what any of this has to do with me.” She rubbed a hoof over her fetlock.

Celestia cleared her throat. “This is difficult for us to say Twilight.”

Luna shuddered as her gaze filled with longing once again. “T-Twilight, as you slept during the first night you were here...we used my Mage Sight spell on you.” Her hoof reached for Twilight instinctively.

The purple mare gasped. “You did? Why?”

...

...

...

Both sisters stood up slowly and spoke together. “We believe you, Twilight Sparkle, are the reincarnation of Penumbra, The Alicorn of Tartarus.”