His Hour of Glory
For the briefest moment, Sceadwian had felt good and it was the first time in a thousand years.
Not that she had been in pain that long, empty time, she mused, reveling in the growing, comforting darkness slowing crawling over her surroundings. None of them had. They had all slept in the shadows their King had shielded them in and, as her name implied, she had covered Him with herself in The Sleep, healing Him, nurturing Him, guarding her love in case The Two decided to pursue them to finish the terrible job they had begun.
She smiled at the irony of her name, Shield, when it had been their King who had protected them first from destruction in the Blinding when disaster had struck the city millennia ago. At first her failure had deeply embarrassed Sceadwian, until He had taken her to Him, murmuring it was not her fault and not her fight and how grateful He was she was safe and with Him for the long sleep they faced ahead. Gone was the shy pony of their childhood who never spoke of His feelings, though their pain was always in His red crystal eyes. Before her now was a true King of their people whose power and presence radiated out, routing their foes, reclaiming the land once theirs aeons ago!
She felt a hoof on her shoulder. “It isssss a good moment, isssss it not?” a voice whispered on the hot winds around her. Of course it was Schmauch, the one their King had assigned to be her companion when he was not about.
Sceadwian nodded. “Oh yess,” she patted his hoof, the hiss in her voice less pronounced than her companion's. His eyes were peculiar - a dead giveaway he was coalesced and not a true pony. He had always had a problem with creating that part of their disguise. She avoided his gaze when she could, but never held it against the loyal friend. “The cold and the ssnow grow tiressome, even in Ssleep.”
“Look!” someone close by shouted, pointing towards the center of the Faire. “He comessss!”
“Your pony eyes blind you as it does these scared creatures,” Schmauch scolded. “He issss already here! In the inky blacknesss, the roiling cloudssss, gathering ssstrength from thessse pony folk.”
Sceadwian nudged his shoulder to get him to turn to see where their other cloaked companions were looking. “No, he is right. The ground shakes at His return.” She frowned. “But – ssomething is wrong. He is ssooo angry!”
It was completely dark now over the land. A ripple of sheer relief and joy ran through the small cluster of her group. She longed to throw off her cloak and run free in it, if only He had not been so enraged at something. Caution stayed her hoof, it not being an easy habit to break so quickly.
There – at the center of The Crystal Fair! A huge slab of rock rose as the darkest of their kind rose with it – an angry coil of deepest Shadow, its eyes burning with need and power as their King drew strength from the fear and terror around them.
Her knees buckled, as did the dozen figures around her. His royal presence was so strong it was never to be ignored when so close. They all bowed, even as crystal ponies ran around them, so frightened, none stopping to question their sanity at not fleeing.
Their ripple of devotion fed their King, especially Sceadwian's. Unexpectedly, He became solid – a crowned stallion of charcoal dark coat, flowing, ebony mane and tail as black as his true Shadow Self. Feeling the weight - the heavy, comforting chest, shin plating, and hoof armor, He looked down, surprised. The brief thought that it would slow Him down in his race to capture the Crystal Heart was blotted out by its glint above as it and a small, purple dragon plummeted out of the sky towards Him. The Heart's shine consumed his thoughts now. He licked His lips, savoring the taste of victory so close!
Scheadwian drew her hood back at last, not wanting to miss a single second of His victory. Her and their people's hearts and minds, lent their wills and strength all for this, their glorious leader, their beloved Shadow Pony.
Then, suddenly, heart-breakingly, it was gone in an instant!
“NO!” she screamed as a pink Alicorn shot out of the skies from nowhere, snatching the Crystal Heart from their Dark Pony's reach. It surprised Him as much as her. He drew back, frozen in wonder, perhaps, following the Alicorn's path as she shot like a rocket back towards the ground.
“SSchmauch, everysshadow!” she yelled, surging forward. “Help him! MOVE!”
They ran, but saw it was already too late. The Crystal Heart slingshot slightly past the axis point of its pivot at the base of the castle, then snapped back, into its place. She and the others stopped, horrified. She knew all too well what was coming next.
“Retreat,” the Umbrum King ordered as the crystal ponies below Him bowed to the heart.
“SSombra - “
“No. It is lost,” His voice echoed calmly, but sadly in her mind.
“But you - “
“GO!” He shouted.
“I WON'T LEAVE YOU TO IT!” she screamed out loud and in her mind. Schmauch and the others tried to pull her back, but she shifted into smoke and their hard, pony shells had no grip on her. “It will burn you from the insside out, like before!” she sobbed.
“I know and I will not let that be your fate as well,” He said softly, using His magic one last time to force her back to solid form. “ Schmauch, get her out. Now.”
“NO, PLEASSE, NO! SSOMBRA!!!” she cried wildly as Schmauch and the other Umbrum grabbed her and headed for the city's outskirts.
“Goodbye...Hope. I–I love you,” He whispered.
Her last sight was of her King and lover, caught in the shock wave of the Crystal Heart's purifying light, His physical body burned to crystal ashes as they beat the pulse to the city's gates.