The Last of the Dark Ponies

by Askre

Chapter 4. You win by the way

Chapter 4

“So, you’re Barricade, huh?”

Barricade looked up from his drink. Starlight Glimmer was standing there with him at the buffet table. The stallion glanced her over for a brief second before sipping from his glass.

“That’s what my parents named me,” he muttered, eyeing towards the map table where the rest were still gathered around.

“I’m Starlight Glimmer,” the mare introduced herself. “I’m sorry if I’m being noisy, but I couldn’t help but notice you aren’t very comfortable.”

Barricade continued to drink. He looked back at the table. Private, surprisingly enough, was talking with the others. That was a sign enough for the unicorn that his brother was relaxed. The girls were talking with Cara. She did seem to have hit it off well with her sisters and Tootsie.

The unicorn had left the table earlier under the pretense of refilling his drink. In reality he just wanted to avoid talking for a little bit. He didn’t really feel like celebrating and wasn’t really sure if he was even welcome. His daughters made things a little bit easier, but the rest he wasn’t as certain about.

“I’m on probation,” he finally said and looked back at Starlight. “The alternate name for this birthday party is, ‘let’s see if Barricade is real about changing his ways.’”

Starlight arched her brow. There wasn’t bitterness in his tone. It sounded more like someone empty of hope. There was a feeling from him that was rather familiar to the mare.

“I understand that you’re not the most popular member of the family,” she mentioned, recalling Twilight giving her a brief overview of the birthday boys.

“Well that’s progress - I’ve been upgraded to not the most popular,” Barricade chuckled weakly before sighing. “Yeah, I did some things that alienated me from them. Bad things.”

“Welcome to the club.” The mare chuckled when seeing the look she received from the stallion.

“I did some bad things myself. I enslaved and brainwashed an entire village and then I tried to destroy everything using time travel. I’m actually amazed that Twilight still decided to befriend me and not have me be cellmates with Tirek in Tartarus,” she explained, then looked almost casually at the stunned unicorn in front of her. “What did you do?”

“I ah… stole from my parents and sold to an amoral archaeologist, mistreated several mares, one of whom I am still in love with, though I don’t know if she is aware, and then built up a crime gang in Hoofington Manehattan before having my senses punched into me by an evil unicorn possessing my brother,” Barricade slowly counted up some of his misdeeds. “You win by the way.”

Starlight couldn’t help but giggle a little at the reaction. Granted her schemes had been on the more grander scale than Barricade’s crimes.

“Well I wasn’t competing for the title of the worst villain. Besides, I’m just grateful for the chance Twilight gave me. I take it you don’t feel like you’ve been given a chance?” She lowered her voice a little with the last sentence.

“I don’t know, I’m just so used to messing things up. I guess I’m afraid I’ll mess this up somehow too,” Barricade sighed and sipped from his drink.

“Alright everypony, it’s time for the song!!”

Barricade whirled around. Pinkie Pie had suddenly jumped on top of the map table, she was standing on her hind legs and her forelegs were spread out. He heard Starlight giggle at the pink pony’s antics, but the stallion was holding back a groan. His brother Private didn’t look much better.

Oh boy, here it comes, Barricade braced himself for the cheesy birthday song to be sung. Pinkie Pie took a deep breath, but just as she was about to sing, the room was suddenly filled with a dark, cruel-sounding laughter.

“Ah, a song is required for these occasions? Well I must admit, I am not much of a singer, but I will give it a go,” a dark voice said.

“That voice,” both Barricade and Private whispered.

“Happy birthday to you!” The dark voice started. Private was starting to sink in his seat, Barricade just stared forward like he was in a trance.

“Happy birthday to you!” the voice continued. Starlight waved a hoof in front of Barricade, then glanced at Twilight who was giving her the same worried look.

“Happy birthday, dear Private and Barricade!” The voice was reaching the end of the song. Everyone save for the unicorn twins were now trying to see where it was coming from.

“Happy birthday, to you!” There was an explosion of black smoke that threw Pinkie Pie off the table. She slammed on the hard floor. When she rose up, she could see everyone was staring in shock at the large dark gray unicorn with a black mane and tail, his horn red and curved like a blade, that now stood where she had been standing a second ago.

“Sombra!” Twilight sprung to her feet. Flash immediately flew to her side and Starlight rushed over. The unicorn mare and alicorn fired up their horns and the pegasus guard got prepared for anything.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle.” King Sombra mock bowed before grinning down at the battle-ready ponies. “I do hope I wasn’t too out of tune.”

“Eh, it was not bad,” Pinkie Pie remarked, but a stern glance from her alicorn friend reminded her that now was not time for jokes. She grinned innocently. “Shutting up.”

“Spike, Pinkie, Flash, get everypony out of here!” Twilight ordered.

“Oh, I’m afraid I can’t allow that,” Sombra claimed and suddenly jumped backwards so that he landed right in front of the only door.

“What do you want, Sombra?” Twilight asked, carefully walking around the table along with Starlight. Flash, Pinkie and Spike were busy trying to gather the party guests away from the door since Sombra was in the way. They had some difficulties with Private and Barricade who were both just frozen as they stared at the former king.

“That would be telling.” Sombra just chuckled at the question, waving one hoof dismissively.

“I don’t understand. Weren’t the others keeping an eye out for trouble?” Starlight whispered to Twilight. “Also, why are we not just attacking?”

“I’m warning you, Sombra, my friends probably saw you and have already alerted Princess Celestia,” Twilight said, frowning when Sombra started laughing.

“Oh right, you mean these friends?” he asked. Suddenly in a flash of his magic, a petrified Applejack and Rarity appeared in the room, still encased in their crystal prison.

“Fluttershy, let’s see now, oh right, she got a little distracted with some animal friends who just so desperately needed her kind and gentle attention,” the king continued, grinning a shark-like grin. “And Rainbow Dash, as loyal as she is, so easily distracted by a stray storm cloud that isn’t supposed to be there. She has such a pride in her work to maintain the weather.

“I’m afraid your friends haven’t alerted anypony.” King Sombra looked at Twilight with a ‘matter of fact’ expression.

“Alright, you want a fight, I know how to fight you! Starlight, the spell I taught you, now!” Twilight ordered and started to fire a love spell right at Sombra. Starlight did so as well.

For a brief moment King Sombra looked troubled as the two magic energies barreled towards him. Yet the unicorn stood still. There was blinding flash of light as the two spells seemed to make an impact.

Twilight’s triumphant feeling didn’t last long. When the flash was over, Sombra still stood here and around him was a reddish tinted energy field and his horn was glowing red.

“W-wha what?” the princess gasped in shock.

“Normal magic,” King Sombra said and gestured to his red glowing horn. Then he waved towards them with a hoof. “The love spell only works on me in my dark magic, smoke form.”

Suddenly there was a huge buildup of magic energy in his horn and an energy blast shot from it, striking both Starlight and Twilight at the same time. It had happened so quickly that neither mare had the chance to put up any defenses. They were thrown back and crashed into the wall.

“It’s my dark magic, Twilight Sparkle, that is weak to love and light, because it is fueled by the powers of hate and fear. However, I am no slouch in using normal magic either,” King Sombra laughed as he started to strut towards where the mares lay groaning on the floor.

Suddenly there was a pink mass called Pinkie Pie right in front of his face. The mare was glaring at the king.

“Hey you meanie, get out of here. This party wasn’t meant for…” the mare’s speech was cut short when her entire body was encased in crystal and she fell clanging to the floor.

“Did she seriously get into my face where my still active horn is, where I had a direct line of fire at her?” Sombra eyed the crystal-encased Pinkie. Then he glanced at Flash Sentry who stood in front of the guests, wing spread, ready for battle.

Sombra snorted, then he whipped his head towards where Twilight was still disoriented on the floor. His horn changed color, glowing now green and purple. A strain of dark magic energy blasted from it and landed right on Twilight’s horn. The alicorn cried out and when it was over, there were black crystals producing from it.

The king then quickly switched back to his normal magic and just about managed to put up his shield when another barrage of spells were being shot at him. Starlight had managed to catch her second wind and was firing from her horn.

“Spirited, aren’t you?” Sombra chuckled. He quickly summoned a huge scythe - the handle was made of dark crystals and the blade seemed to be made of a pure, clear one.

Starlight blinked when the large unicorn suddenly came running at her swinging the weapon. The mare barely had enough time to summon up a big energy sword to block the blow. Then she was unexpectedly in full-out weapon’s battle instead of magically dueling. Sombra was surprisingly quick and agile for his size, swinging his weapon expertly.

The mare could not get any attack in. She was constantly on the defense from the flurry of blows from Sombra. Finally, a strike from the scythe was just too hard - her energy sword shattered and the mare was struck in the head. Fortunately, it had been at such an angle that it was only the top of the handle and not the blade itself, but the force was enough to knock her out.

Sombra looked back. Flash was trying to covertly guide the others to the door, thinking the king was distracted in his battle with Starlight. Spike had rushed to Twilight’s side and was trying to help her stand up. The king smirked, transformed into his smoke and shadow form and sailed over to the door where he landed and resumed his unicorn shape, blocking the path.

“Going somewhere?” he asked with a smirk. Flash growled, spread his wings and rushed for Sombra. The unicorn yawned, fired up his horn and his red magic aura caught the guard’s wings, stopping him in midair.

King Sombra didn’t say anything, just stared at the struggling guard with a mocking smirk. Then in front of the group of ponies, he slammed Flash to the ground, then used his magic to break both his wings, causing the pegasus to cry out in pain.

Slowly the dark unicorn glanced over where Twilight had risen, her legs still wobbly and being supported by the baby dragon. The alicorn was desperately trying to shoot magic, but the dark crystals on her horn blocked it.

“I could kill you, Twilight Sparkle. Your friends as well,” he said softly, causing the alicorn look up at him with a scowl on her face.

Sombra turned his attention to the group, his eyes landed on Private, who was trying desperately to hide with his parents. The king smiled and turned his head back to the princess.

“I really should - frankly it would probably be very dumb of me not to. However, I am not here to kill anypony. I’m not here for Equestria. Right now I am not interested in Equestria, you or the other princesses. In fact, I’ll let you live…” Sombra stopped and shot an evil stare at Spike who quickly ducked behind Twilight. “And your dragon as well.

“Just leave me alone. What I’m about to do has nothing to do with Equestria,” Sombra looked back at the party group just in time to get an indigo-colored magic blast in the face.

King Sombra growled and stepped back. Barricade had broken out of the group, fury in his eyes. The smaller unicorn roared in rage and charged for the larger one, his horn glowing as he shot more energy at Sombra.

“Barricade.” Sombra sighed in disappointment and started to deflect the shots with his own magic. When the pony in question got too close, the king slapped him hard with one hoof, sending him flying back to the covering ponies. The fillies and his parents cried out his name and rushed over to him. “Will you ever learn, you are no match to me?”

Barricade growled and rose up with the help of his father. Hard Shovel was however too late to restrain him as his son bellowed again in rage and charged once more for Sombra.

“Barricade!” Mirage cried out and cringed when her son was sent back by another slap from Sombra.

“This is getting repetitive,” Sombra snorted when Barricade came at him for the third time. Suddenly the dark unicorn rose as he changed into his smoke form. He immediately entangled the enraged pony with shadowy tendrils, then he filled the room with his shadow and smoke.

“Sombra!” Twilight finally found energy to shout. Nothing happened, and when she could see again, the king was gone, but to her horror, so were Private, Barricade, their parents and Barricade’s daughters - all three of them.

“Coal!” Foxy cried when seeing that her daughter gone.

“Oh no, Private! Cara! Mirage! Hard Shovel!” Dew also realized what had just happened.

“Dinky!” Derpy was in tears as she grabbed Tootsie tightly in a hug.

Oh no, it finally sunk in for Twilight what had just happened.

He took them. He took them all.

---

Rainbow Dash snorted in frustration as she continued to chase the elusive storm cloud. It kept getting out of the way just as she was catching up. Suddenly it hit her what could be the cause of this weird cloud.

“Discord! If this is one of your stupid pranks, I don’t have time for this. I have to get back to watching for trouble at Twilight’s castle!” she shouted.

“Oh, I am hurt, Dashie, you think I would distract you from such an important task?” A cheerful voice sounded around her. On a white cloud appeared the mismatch spirit of chaos. He was holding a fishing pole and swung it to throw the line. It caught the storm cloud and Discord started reeling it in.

“It definitely looks like one of your things,” Rainbow grunted and folded her front legs, glaring at the spirit.

“A boring old storm cloud? I can do better than that,” Discord grunted. Once he had fully reeled in the storm cloud, he grabbed a tuft of it with his eagle claws and sampled it. His mismatch eyes bulged out and he quickly spit out the bite he had taken.

“Oh my, no, no, no, that’s dark magic, not me,” he said and started to wipe his tongue with both paw and claw. Then he quite literally pulled out his tongue, a wash basin appeared floating in the air and the spirit began washing his tongue from it. “Oh, is this going to leave a nasty aftertaste.”

“What are you talking about, dark magic?” Rainbow Dash asked with a frown.

“If I were you, I would pay attention to a different kind of cloud coming out of Twilight’s castle,” Discord said without looking up from his work.

He popped his tongue in just as Rainbow Dash turned around to see the huge column of black smoke pouring of the castle. They both could hear cries from it, cries of ponies. The cloud of smoke then started heading off at great speed.

“Would it kill him to add a little color?” Discord muttered and shook his head in disappointment.

Rainbow Dash wasn’t listening - it had finally clicked with her what was happening. With an angry shout, the pegasus raced off after the cloud.

“Ugh, dark magic. It’s so difficult to get rid of,” Discord grumbled. He started prodding and poking the storm cloud, but nothing happened. Then the spirit attempted the tried and true method of just snapping his claws. The cloud exploded and the blast from it sent him sailing over the horizon.

Rainbow Dash meanwhile was hot on the tail of the dark smoke which she had correctly guessed was King Sombra. She hadn’t gone unnoticed, though, by the dark unicorn.

Hm, she is an element of harmony, Sombra thought. He adjusted speed, but could see that Dash was having no trouble keeping up with him even if she couldn’t overtake him.

Probably shouldn’t risk letting her see where I’m going. The king maintained speed for a little while, then started to slow it a little by little, making the pegasus think she was catching up. He smiled when hearing Dash shout:

“Hah! Now I got you!”

Sombra suddenly came to a dead stop. Rainbow Dash was now too close to stop without going straight into his smoke form. The pegasus realized that a little too late, as she tried to halt she went straight in. The moment she did, the king entangled her with his tendrils.

“Hey! Let me go!” Rainbow Dash struggled mightily, but the tendrils simply adjusted to hold her tighter. Soon she was all wrapped up and the smoke form of King Sombra continued onwards.

End chapter 4

Comments

[Mix-up]

interesting, would explain why Flash didn't had wings on him when Sunset came back to Equestria. I take Sombra took the family because they all have dark unicorn gens in them and wanted leverage to coerce Privet to comply to his will.