> Temor
>  by Askre
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Chapter 1. The Prince.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 1
 
The Crystal Empire.
 
It had happened so quickly that Amber Waves could hardly believe it. One powerful blast from the Crystal Heart and the long nightmare was over. All around her, fellow crystal ponies cheered the destruction of King Sombra as his body and his corrupt crystals encasing the tower had been blown up and swept away.
 
This had been a moment none had dared hope for. They had all been slaves just a few hours ago. Then they had witnessed the titanic battle between their tyrant and the celestial sisters who ruled Equestria in the south. The next thing the crystal ponies knew, six Equestrian mares were walking around asking them about how they had protected the Empire in the past.
 
Amber decided not to care how this had all happened. The important thing was they were free, so the purple crystal pony joined the rest in the cheering. No longer did they need to fear the brutal regime of King Sombra. No longer would they be worked to death in the mines or the fields.
 
As the cheering subsided a bit, the crystal ponies gathered below the balcony to hear what their new princess had to say. Amber grunted a little as the crowd enclosed around her. She had never liked ponies getting too close, but at the moment she let it slide. They were happy and she was happy. She could get her solitude once the festivities were over.
 
“I can’t quite hear her. Can you hear what she’s saying?” her brother Rubinstein asked. The purple Crystal stallion stretched his neck to try and see more clearly.
 
“Does it matter? We’re free, Rubinstein!” Amber said and grabbed her brother in a tight hug.
 
“Good point,” the stallion chuckled and hugged his sister back, her crystalline coat just a slightly lighter shade of purple.
 
“I was so scared, I just couldn’t help it. I tried to run. I didn’t want to meet them again,” Amber said with a sigh as she remembered her attempt to escape when King Sombra invaded. All she had done was run right into her tyrant.
 
“Them… wait,” Rubinstein frowned. “I only saw King Sombra.”
 
Amber frowned and looked at her brother with a puzzled expression. Now that she thought about it, only King Sombra had emerged from the smoke. Heck, he hadn’t even smiled or gloated like she had fully expected him to. No, he had just given her a brief glance before rising up above them all and started to look around.
 
“You don’t think he’s still around,” the mare whispered and looked through the crowd. “Rubinstein, you woke up in the castle. Did you see him?”
 
Now it was her brother’s turn to frown as he thought it over. Not wanting to spoil the cheers others were having, the siblings made their way out of the crowd of crystal ponies who still listened  enthralled, to the new Princess.
 
“I was too busy running away when he rose up. Do you recall him saying anything?” Rubinstein said as they departed the crowd and walked a few feet away.
 
“I was kind of frozen in fear being so close to him,” Amber retorted between her teeth and gave her brother a glare who smiled uneasily. “But I think I heard him calling his name.”
 
The two crystal ponies looked back at the gathering near them. They couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary, then again seeing this large cheerful gathering in the Crystal Empire was probably the most out-of-the ordinary sight they had ever seen.
 
“You don’t think he escaped the blast? Would the blast even hurt him if he wasn’t actively attacking?” Rubinstein wondered and started to look nervous.
 
“Maybe we should approach the princess about this,” Amber whispered and started to look nervously around. “He’s as powerful as his father, isn’t he?”
 
“I wouldn’t say that, but he was certainly learning.” Rubinstein cringed as some awful memories came back to him. “We should find Emerald, just in case, and quickly.”
 
Amber nodded and the two hastily made their way back to the crowd. It was starting to disperse as in celebration of the defeat, the princess had decreed they would continue the Crystal Fair. It was well received by the populace. Amber and Rubinstein grew more and more worried as they couldn’t find the crystal pony they were after.
 
“Maybe she’s still in the castle,” Amber wondered.
 
“No I found her in his room and took her out with me but… I wasn’t exactly in a state to follow her. She wandered off,” Rubinstein said and continued to look around.
 
“We’ll find her, don’t worry,” his sister assured him.
 



 
“We’ll find her, don’t worry.”
 
A scowling face watched the two purple crystal ponies from an alley. The blue eyes of the pony followed their every move as they searched around fruitlessly near the courtyard of the palace before heading off further into the city. Once they were gone from sight, the unicorn glanced back. Standing behind him was a green crystal pony who kept her head bowed.
 
“Are you going to betray me and my father, Emerald? Just like your siblings and the other slaves have done, openly welcoming these usurpers who have murdered your king?!” he hissed at her.
 
“No… of course not, my lord,” she whispered and didn’t dare to look at the dark gray unicorn in front of her. For some reason he hadn’t received a crystalline coat like her when the Crystal Heart had spread out its magic. His red horn looked cracked, as if something had damaged it.
 
“Prince Temor?” Emerald looked up when she heard nothing more from the pony. The unicorn had resumed looking back towards the tall crystal tower.
 
Temor ignored her and continued to stare at the home he had grown up in. He was disgusted by the change - it was too bright and shining. It filled him with even more contempt towards the ponies who had just murdered the one pony he cared about, his father.
 
The prince grit his teeth. Despite all their preparations for the inevitable attack from Equestria, they had still lost. King Sombra had informed him that if he was defeated, the Empire would be put in stasis until he could return. That had happened and when Temor woke up he was supposed to make ready for his father’s return.
 
Instead, he had to see two unknown ponies arrive in the Empire and block Sombra’s entry with a shield. Temor knew he could not fight an alicorn alone. He was not powerful enough, so he had hidden away in the castle and hoped against hope that his father had some contingency plan for this.
 
Then those six mares had arrived and the purple unicorn had begun searching the tower for the Crystal Heart. Temor had been too late to stop her, and as he rushed out to try and warn his father, he was too late again. He saw King Sombra rise up on his dark crystal as the dragon fell from the top of the palace, then when the alicorn was thrown by the white unicorn to grab both the dragon and the heart.
 
Temor could only watch as the heart was then activated and its powerful blast shattered his father and blew him away. The prince didn’t know why he survived - he had been thrown away by the blast and the next thing he knew, he was being dragged into an alley by Emerald. The only damage to his person was the cracked horn.
 
Why did the heart kill my father, but not me? he thought and turned his attention back to Emerald. And why did she save me?
 
“So you aren’t glad that your people are now free of my father? That he is now gone? Why have you dragged me in here? To finish what the Crystal Heart started?” he growled at the mare.
 
“No, never. My lord, believe me, I serve you and your father,” the mare said and gulped. The other pony’s eyes had started to turn green and red and his blonde mane and tail had begun to flow despite there being no wind.
 
Temor cringed when feeling pain in his head. The mane stopped flowing and his eyes turned blue again. It was clear the Crystal Heart had done enough damage to him that tapping into his dark magic reserves hurt him. The most telling sign had been that the purple mist hadn’t even started producing from the corners of his eyes.
 
That means I can’t enter her mind, see what she is really thinking, or maybe this is sincerity. Does she really feel this way? He continued to regard the mare critically.
 
“Why are you so eager to help me, Emerald?” Temor asked finally and started to fix his black cape. He also began examining his other attire - the iron hoofguards accented with gold and his iron chest plate with the golden engravings and the dark purple thunderbolt. He was only missing his helmet, but it was inside the palace. The prince wondered if he should risk retrieving it.
 
“You are my prince and your father is my king,” Emerald simply said.
 
Sounds sincere enough, Temor thought and turned to look at the tower. He frowned when seeing the usurpers and the six mares walk away from the palace and take the main road. It looked like their heading was the train station.
 
This is a perfect opportunity to head into the palace and get some equipment I need, he thought and smiled deviously. In fact, this is a perfect way to test her loyalty.
 
“Emerald, I want you to go into the palace, find my room and get my helmet. There are also a few books in the library I want you to find and some items from my father’s laboratory,” he said and looked at Emerald. He smiled wider when she nodded without hesitation. After telling her what books he needed and what items she was supposed to grab, the green Crystal Mare rushed out of the alley and towards the tower.
 
The fools are still celebrating and it doesn’t look like they have established any guards yet. She should be fine. Of course if she is false, I’ll never see any of these items and I must be ready to run for it. He glanced around but could not see any signs of any guards.
 
Fear not father, your death shall not be permanent. I know you have ensured it wouldn’t be. I just need to find your horn. Temor’s smile turned sinister.
 



 
Ponyville.
 
“Well I’m glad that’s over with,” Twilight Sparkle said as she and Spike entered the Golden Oaks Library. The unicorn proceeded to take off her saddlebags and put things away.
 
“Told you there was nothing to worry about,” Spike said with a cheeky grin as he walked past her, heading to the kitchen.
 
Twilight shook her head with a smile, not going to dignify the dragon’s remark with a response. She knew her assistant tended to see things in a lighter way once the crisis was over, thus not always taking them as seriously as he might have during it.
 
Instead, she decided to pick a good book to sit down and read. Now that she had completed the test and assisted with protecting the Crystal Empire, the unicorn felt she had earned her break. However, she didn’t look at any of the books in on the shelves, instead she took out the one that had been in her saddlebag.
 
It was a history book the unicorn had grabbed from the Crystal Empire library. She had assured the librarian that she would return it, but the old crystal pony had been so grateful that she and her friends had helped them against King Sombra that she gave it to Twilight. Flattered by the gesture and unable to resist owning a book no one had read in over one thousand years, the unicorn had accepted.
 
Let’s hope this one comes with fewer ripped pages, Twilight thought as she got comfortable in a corner-seat. The book was similar to the one she had found first that had helped them set up the crystal fair. The difference, the mare had noticed, was that this one covered the first few years of Sombra’s reign.
 
Twilight figured that some brave crystal pony had dared document those years, since she was later told that the rest had not really been written, or if anything had it was in the Royal Library in the castle. The unicorn made a mental note to inquire about it to her brother and Cadance once she was done with this book.
 
Just because his rule was tyrannical, it was still part of history and should be studied, if only so that we can learn how not to act towards our fellow ponies. Twilight thought as she started on the first page, detailing when the Crystal Empire was founded so long ago by the first Crystal Queen. Fascinating, the Empire was founded around the Crystal Heart.
 
As more she read, the unicorn actually felt sadder. From what she had seen and was now reading, the Crystal Empire sounded like such a happy place, full of life, joy and color. She just couldn’t understand why somepony would brutally conquer it and subjugate its citizens. She finally reached the part where Sombra came in and cringed when reading how he murdered Princess Amore after infiltrating her ranks, slowly mind-controlling the entire castle staff before striking.
 
Now I’m glad we blew him up. He was a monster, Twilight thought, feeling more contempt towards the king.
 
It was difficult to read the next few pages. Whoever wrote it told about nothing but pain, suffering and humiliation. How some were worked to death in the mines, while others slaved away in the fields to produce food. There were collaborators everywhere - crystal ponies who were not mind-controlled, but worked with Sombra freely, either due to fear or actually of their own free will. Then she read an entry that puzzled her.
 
“I saw the prince as Sombra held him high up from the balcony in his magic, announcing that this was our future ruler. Who was he? He looked young...6-7 winters maybe? The King said his name was Temor and one day he would rule us once he was gone.”
 
“It was difficult to see, but the colt looked terrified. Maybe due to the height he was held up, I suppose. My biggest thought, though, was where had he come from? It’s not been 6-7 years since King Sombra took over. Has he just picked a child at random to take his place?”
 
“Sombra had a son?” Twilight said aloud and arched her brow. She hadn’t met anyone in the Crystal Empire with that moniker.
 
Then again, there were moments in the castle that I felt like I was being watched, the unicorn frowned in heavy thought now.
 
She continued to read, but whoever wrote those final chapters had clearly not had access to King Sombra himself or the castle. So that one entry was all she had on the apparent prince. Celestia as well had not mentioned any prince, but that was inconclusive. Her mentor had clearly been more focused on briefing the unicorn on what she needed to do in helping Shining and Cadence find a way to protect the Empire.
 
Maybe he died later down the line, Twilight thought. That wasn’t unlikely. Mortality rates were much higher back then.
 
From the kitchen she heard the distinct sound of Spike burping loudly. Twilight sighed and shook her head, it amazed her sometimes how the dragon would unashamed burp loudly and proudly after gobbling down food.
 
What she didn’t expect was Spike coming running out with a scroll in his hand. It appeared the burp had actually been a message from Celestia, not due to stomach gas. The dragon nearly tumbled on his run, but managed to get all the way to where Twilight sat to give her the sealed paper.
 
“Message from the princess,” he announced, then quickly wiped a smear of butter that was on his face, grinning innocently.
 
Twilight blinked then saw that small portion of the scroll had butter on it. The message had come when he was still in the middle of his meal. The unicorn shook her head again, but used her magic to accept the paper and opened it.
 
“Dear Twilight Sparkle.
 
It occurred to me that I failed to mention to you about somepony you might have encountered already in the Crystal Empire. You made no mention of him, so I didn’t think much of it, but after some thought and consulting with Luna, I need to ask you if you either saw or heard anypony mention a pony named Prince Temor.
 
Your teacher.
 
Princess Celestia.”
 
Twilight gasped, let go of the letter and glanced at the history book. Spike grabbed the unfurled scroll and read through it. Once he was done he looked skeptically at the unicorn.
 
“Prince Temor? We didn’t meet anypony with that name,” he said, pretty much confirming what Twilight already thought. She was raking her brain if she might have actually met this Temor, but the unicorn was pretty sure she would remember meeting a prince.
 
“Spike, take a letter,” she said quietly. The dragon didn’t even hesitate. One zip later he was ready with a quill and a fresh scroll.
 
“Dear Princess Celestia, I understand if this Prince Temor might have slipped your mind. We had a crisis on our hoof and we had to hurry in order to protect the Crystal Empire from King Sombra. However, neither Spike nor I met any Prince Temor. I think I can safely assume that none of my friends, or my brother and Cadence met a pony by that name or they would have mentioned it. Is it important that we know of this prince? Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,” she dictated, Spike diligently writing down every word.
 
One puff of magic dragon fire breath later the letter was gone. Now they could only wait and see if Celestia would respond. This gave Twilight time to consider though, since her teacher knew of this Prince Temor, it was clearly not a secret that Sombra had a son. However, not many today probably knew due to the Crystal Empire having been vanished for so long.
 
Now Twilight really regretted not going to the Royal Library to get a more detailed book on King Sombra’s reign. It might have answered many of the questions popping into her head right now.
 
Spike opened his mouth wanting to say something, but suddenly made a face and burped, sprouting a green flame that turned instantly into a sealed scroll. Twilight was quick to grab the scroll and began reading through it.
 
“My dearest Twilight Sparkle.
 
You must come to Canterlot at once.
 
Your teacher.
 
Princess Celestia.”
 
Twilight blinked at the urgency in letter. She wordlessly showed it to Spike.
 
“Looks like we unpacked too soon,” the dragon remarked after he was done reading.
 
End Chapter 1
> Chapter 2. Drawn to the past.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2
 
Temor halted his walk to look back at the city in the distance. It was gleaming and sparkling in multitudes of colors and the tower cast streams of multicolored light into air. The immediate area surrounding it was free of snow and had green grass. The prince frowned, remembering a different city, dark and foreboding, with sickly yellow sky and the tower looming over everything like a pillar of evil.
 
With a snort, the unicorn turned around and continued to trudge through the snow. He now wore an iron helmet, accented with gold and a black plume. He didn’t want to take any chances; it was clear that he had enemies everywhere, so he best be ready for battle at any time.
 
Emerald had turned out to be true to her word. She had brought everything he had ordered her to get. The equipment, aside from the helmet, were now all in saddlebags carried by her. After stealing some food, the two snuck out of the city. Temor knew he would not be welcomed there and his slave made no complaints.
 
Father’s horn could be anywhere, he thought and frowned. I need my dark magic to home in on it. This might take longer than I initially thought.
 
So father, after over twenty years I’m actually leaving the Crystal Empire after all. Well one thousand and twenty three years or so, the pony thought as his mind drifted to the past.
 



 
The Crystal Empire – Sombra’s reign.
 
“A child? Why would the spell pull a child through?” King Sombra growled as he stared at the confused and frightened young unicorn colt sitting in the red circle on the floor. The boy was no more than six years old, with a dark gray coat a shade lighter than his and dirty blonde mane and tail.
 
“W-where am I? W-who are you?” the colt whimpered and looked around the red room he was in. It had tables filled with strange and foreboding equipment and in one corner was a cage with moldy hay for bedding.
 
“It will just have to do. It will be another two weeks before I can perform the spell again.” Sombra groaned in frustration and rubbed his forehead tiredly with one hoof. The whimpering from the child caught his attention and he glared at the boy who was huddling in the circle.
 
“I-I’m scared.” The colt said and then looked at the big dark gray unicorn with black mane and red curved horn that stood over him. The steel hoof guards, the chest plate, the crown and the red cape made him look even more foreboding.
 
“Are you scared, child?” Sombra snorted and grabbed the boy up using his magic and lifted him to eye level. “Good!”
 
Sombra then open the cage in the corner and tossed the colt in and shut it. For a moment he watched the bewildered child rise up and look frantically around. The boy then looked at him with tearful eyes, still wondering what was going on.
 
“I-I want to go home… please…” he whimpered, hoping this was a nightmare, that he would wake up and mom would come and hug him and tell him it was all right.
 
“You will, once I’m done with you. If you survive, which I doubt,” King Sombra stated coldly before turning around and walked to a table where he started working on something.
 
Private Iceland continued to watch the big scary pony. Nothing was said that would comfort him and he wasn’t waking up. Usually this was the part of a nightmare where one would wake up. Suddenly he wanted his brother Barricade to wake him up with a splash of water like he had done a few weeks ago as a prank.
 
The colt didn’t like this place. It was stinky, the red glowing color in the walls was spooky and the things on the tables didn’t look friendly either. He looked at the hay and made face. He didn’t like hay. It tasted bland and boring and this particular batch stank and he was standing in it.
 
Mommy, daddy, where are you? He thought and started to circle around, like that would help if even only a little. Reluctantly he sat down, feeling fresh tears come through.
 
“Mommy… Daddy… I’m scared…”
 



 
The present
 
Temor growled and stopped for a moment, the memories had taken him a bit deeper into the past than he’d cared for. The unicorn rubbed his forehead tiredly and tried to banish them back to the recesses of his mind.
 
The Prince shook his head and took one last glare back at the city. That’s when he noticed that Emerald stood near him, looking at him with mild concern in her eyes. The stallion frowned. It still puzzled him that she had saved him and kept him away from his enemies. He cursed his horn for being broken so he couldn’t probe into her mind.
 
Turning away, the pony looked over the unfamiliar landscape that awaited them. He had never gone past the borders of the empire; he knew only of a few place names, but not where exactly they were.
 
There was no point in taking a map from the city. It would be outdated. Then again any map, even an old one, would have been good if only for reference. Temor grunted when he realized that. It was too late now and he was not going to risk sneaking back into the city.
 
“Alright,” he muttered as he looked up to the sun, then at the position of the mountains. Those he did recognize even if he had only seen them from the distance. “It’s a high risk, but the only civilized nation next to the Crystal Empire within a reasonable walking distance is Equestria. That is south.”
 
But would father’s horn be blasted that far? I’m reasonably certain that it remains within the borders. Temor grit his teeth, then his eyes set on a small mountain or a hill in the distance that was just far enough outside the city borders that it was snow covered.
 
“That little mountain… father took me to it once, to show me more clearly where Equestria was from the south,” the stallion turned to face the mountain. He stared at it for a long while without uttering a word.
 
Emerald just stood and watched, wondering why the little mountain had caught his attention so much. The mare looked at it but really only saw a snow-covered rock. She barely even recalled seeing it. Ever since she was a filly she had been a slave and had never been outside the castle, ever watching her parents and siblings toil away for the king. When she was of age, the young mare had been given to the Prince as a personal slave.
 
The crystal pony sighed. Deep down she was glad that her home was finally free, that her mother and her siblings could now live happy and free of the tyranny of the king. She had never seen the ponies so happy and full of life before.
 
But I know they would treat the Prince no better than the King, she thought and looked at Temor,  who still stared at the mountain, almost like he was in a trance. They would demand his blood. For them he would be just as guilty.
 
“Are you alright, my Prince?” she asked hesitantly, starting to become concerned how long the stallion had stared at the mountain.
 
“Hmm, what?” Prince Temor blinked for a moment then glared at Emerald. “I’m fine,” he snapped and started to head for the mountain without saying another word.
 
Emerald raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t say anything more. The mare did wonder though why they were headed to the mountain. It would take them a slight half circle back towards the city even if it was still well outside the borders. She decided to shrug it off for now. The prince had mentioned that King Sombra had taken him there once. Maybe he had left something there.
 
It took them about two hours to reach the mountain and by that time it was afternoon. Emerald frowned, it didn’t look like much, but it still was steep. Temor started to walk around and she followed without question.
 
The Prince was trying to recall where the path leading up was. He vaguely recalled there being one, but back then his father had expelled the snow so it was easier to find. With his horn busted, he would be lucky he could levitate anything.
 
Finally, he found it. Before he started to ascend, the unicorn looked back to see if Emerald was still with him, she was after all carrying the saddlebags. When Temor saw that she was indeed right behind him, he started to walk.
 
I don’t know what it is, but something is just telling me to head to this mountain. Could it be that the old spells father told me about are working? he thought as the stallion ascended.
 
Did father hide something there in the event of his defeat? I know there are a lot of things he didn’t tell me. I only knew small portions of his plans. Temor narrowed his eyes a bit.
 



 
The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign.
 
Private scrambled to the furthest corner of the cage and huddled there when he saw Sombra enter the laboratory. The colt was starting to learn that only one thing happened when the king arrived - pain and lots of it. The boy whimpered when the stallion approached the cage, regarding him with a raised eyebrow.
 
“I am quite impressed, little one, that you still live. You are more resilient than I gave you credit for,” the king snorted and used his magic to open the cage and then drag the whimpering, crying colt out.
 
“No, no, please don’t hurt me… I’ll be good… I just want to go home… please send me home… I just want mommy and daddy…” Private cried and desperately tried to wiggle free from the magic aura that held him.
 
“Oh, you’ll go home soon enough. The spell will only keep you here for two more days,” Sombra said and lifted the colt higher to meet his eyes. “Fascinating! After all the spells I’ve infused into you, all the potions used to prepare your body to serve as a potential host if I ever die in your time period, here you still live and are just as ready as the other ponies I’ve prepared and sent back to their time.”
 
The colt didn’t really understand or care what the king was talking about. He just kept crying and dreading the eventual pain that was to come. He had been blasted with magic, forced to drink nasty drinks, been poked and prodded by the pony that held and kept examining him.
 
“I wonder… your coat...if you had a black mane and tail...I could have sworn…” Sombra fell silent and his brow dropped into a thoughtful frown.
 
Then much to Private’s surprise, he was returned to the cage without a further word. The king then walked to the journal on a table in the corner opposite. The colt didn’t question why he hadn’t been tormented more, he just curled up again on the hay, crying.
 
He must have fallen asleep at some point because he was startled out of it when he was suddenly picked up. The colt almost instinctively started to whimper and beg not to be hurt, once again trapped in a red magic aura, facing King Sombra as he lifted the boy to eye level.
 
“One more test before the spell sends you back tomorrow,” Sombra said and brought the colt over to one of the various tables.
 
Private gulped when seeing a drinking bowl full of a strange-looking liquid, remembering some of the potions that had already been forced down him. The boy was put on top of the table, but still held firmly in the magic aura as Sombra picked up the bowl and presented it to him.
 
“This will infuse some of my essence into you. I wish to test something,” King Sombra said, more out of a habit than actually caring if the boy was interested. Usually he said this to get a bit of a reaction from his prisoners.
 
“I accidentally slipped more of my essence into it than I intended, but I’m not wasting more ingredients, so it will have to do,” he grunted and scowled hard, indicating to the boy that he better drink up.
 
Private didn’t dare do anything else, he grabbed the bowl, sniffled and then forced himself to drink from the bowl. He half-expected a nasty aftertaste and his body to tingle all over and make him sick like the other potions had. The colt braced himself for it, closing his eyes hard and looked away. Nothing happened.
 
Slowly the boy opened his eyes. He was still on the table, held down with the magic aura. He looked at Sombra, confused to see the stunned look on the king.
 
“He has dark pony ancestry,” the king whispered, confusing the colt even more. Then the boy was further perplexed when Sombra started to smile and it wasn’t a sadistic or cruel one, it was happy.
 



 
The Present.
 
Temor blinked as he realized they had reached the top of the mountain. He had been so deep in thought that the whole trek upwards had just been a blur. What he didn’t know was that Emerald had kept him from walking off the edge, the Prince paying no attention to where he was stepping.
 
There were several snow-covered outcroppings on the peak, but no sign of anything else. Temor arched his brow as he looked around. The stallion ignored Emerald, who came up behind him and started to walk onwards, scanning the ground for anything.
 
Why did I want to come here? he thought, confused as he made his way between piles of stones. There isn’t even a sign of a cave here.
 
A light caught his attention and when he looked up he growled when seeing the shining crystal tower. The stallion quickly turned away, not wanting it in his sight, facing south now he could see Equestria in the distance.
 
Wait, I was considering going there, but no, something drew me here. Temor kicked up snow in frustration. He glared over where Emerald had sat down near some outcroppings. He was half tempted to order her to help him with the search, but the unicorn wasn’t even sure what he was looking for.
 
“This is ridiculous, I should be concentrating on finding a place to rest and then figure out how to locate my father’s horn,” he growled and started to stomp towards Emerald.
 
Then from the corner of his eye, the stallion glimpsed something. He looked towards it. Something lay very close to the edge, something very familiar. Temor suddenly felt a strong desire to go over and pick it up. The unicorn walked over and his eyes widened when seeing the crimson color in the snow.
 
It cannot be, he thought and almost cackled in glee.
 
Without a second thought, the stallion hurried over and using what little magic he had in his broken horn, the unicorn snatched up the item which was like a red knife blade with a hint of gray at the bottom.
 
Emerald jumped when hearing Temor yelp, seeing a bright flash. The mare gasped when the unicorn crumpled unconscious to the ground. Being on the wet snow, he started to slide towards the ledge. The crystal pony tore off her saddle bags and rushed over. She barely managed to grab a hold of the Prince before he slipped over the edge of the cliff.
 
With a heave, the mare managed to pull the stallion back and she didn’t stop until they were well away from the ledge. There she finally allowed him to drop to the ground and took a moment to catch her breath and slow down her rapidly beating heart.
 
That was too close, she thought and rose up. Emerald made her way back to the edge and peeked over. She could see a ledge just below, but it wasn’t very big and the crystal pony was very glad she hadn’t had to rely on the luck that Temor would have simply landed on it.
 
Shuddering, Emerald walked back over to Temor, who showed no sign of waking up. The mare frowned and trotted back to the saddlebags. She had packed blankets in them and pulled out both, then she went back to the stallion and spread one blanket on the ground. The mare rolled the Prince on top of it before draping the other over him.
 
What happened? she thought as the mare sat down next to the blanket-covered Prince. Emerald hadn’t quite seen what had excited him, only seeing the unicorn lift something before everything else happened.
 
With a resigned sigh, she lay down, knowing there was little she could do until Temor woke up. The sun was up, so it was still warm despite the snow, but she knew it would get colder soon enough. The crystal pony wondered if she should risk a fire to keep them warm. The light would probably be seen since they were at the top of the mountain and the city was still within sight.
 
I’ll worry about that later, she thought and stifled a yawn. The mare could barely remember the last time she was so relaxed.
 
End chapter 2


> Chapter 3. Return to Canterlot.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 3
 
When Twilight Sparkle arrived in Canterlot Castle, she half-expected once again to be briefed in the throne room by Celestia, much like when she had first sent her to aid with the Crystal Empire situation. That was where she usually got briefed, so the unicorn had no reason to think otherwise.
 
Thus it caught her off guard when meeting Luna right at the entrance. The midnight blue alicorn smiled at the mare, who quickly bowed for the Princess, before beckoning her to rise. Twilight greeted her, but arched her brow when all Luna did was beckon her to follow inside.
 
“I came as quickly as I could. It’s the weekend, so there are not as many trains and I am still practicing my teleportation spells,” she explained nervously, hoping she wasn’t late. Celestia’s letter had sounded urgent.
 
“Have no fear, Twilight Sparkle, we… I mean I understand,” Luna chuckled as she corrected her speech. Considering Twilight a friend she saw no reason for speaking formally.
 
“Where is Princess Celestia?” Twilight wondered as they walked through the many halls of the castle, the unicorn soon realizing they weren’t headed to the throne room at all.
 
Luna didn’t respond, instead just kept walking as she guided the unicorn along. It didn’t take Twilight Sparkle long to realize though that she was being taken downstairs to the subsections of the castle. Now she was really curious. She had only been there a few times back when she still lived in Canterlot, but it had been awhile since the last time.
 
Finally they found themselves in a small room, Twilight recognized it immediately as Celestia’s personal laboratory. The Sun Princess would conduct her own experiments here with magic spells and magical items, though the unicorn knew she came down here less and less. By the looks of it, some of the equipment hadn’t been touched in a very long time.
 
“Princess Celestia?” Twilight noticed her mentor sitting in a corner seat and in front of her was a table that held a small stack of papers.
 
“Ah my student, thank you for coming so quickly,” Celestia said as she looked up, beckoning both ponies to come closer.
 
“I came as quickly as I could… uh, is this about this the ‘Temor’ you wrote to me about?” Twilight asked, while walking towards the table. She noted the Princess sighing sadly at the mention of the name.
 
“It is. Please, be seated,” the large alicorn gestured to the available seating.
 
Twilight arched her brow as she found herself a seat. She looked at Luna, who now almost carried an identical expression to Celestia’s. The unicorn had scoured her history book for further clues, but there was nothing save for the entry about King Sombra showing off the Prince to the populace.
 
“When I was told the Crystal Empire had reappeared, I panicked.” Celestia started and looked at both her sister and the unicorn with a hint of regret in her eyes. “My first thought was to secure it and keep King Sombra at bay,” 
 
“At the time my priority was King Sombra, the much bigger threat. I had hoped that Prince Temor was free of Sombra, much like the crystal ponies. I had thought he was just as much a slave to him as they had been,” the Princess sighed.
 
“Who is this Prince Temor?” Twilight asked with a frown.
 
“All we know really is that he is King Sombra’s adopted son,” Luna responded. “When King Sombra adopted him and why, we do not know. Most likely this happened during to the long reign of Discord. When we finally got rid of the chaos spirit, this Temor was an adult and by the looks of it,  already very corrupted by his father’s dark magic.”
 
“King Sombra reigned for almost 30 years over the Crystal Empire. We would have done something much sooner, but it was during the chaos of Discord that he used the opportunity to seize the throne. At some point during his reign, he adopted Temor,” Celestia explained.
 
“Maybe Temor died?” her student suggested, frowning slightly when the Sun Princess shook her head.
 
“When Luna and I ended Sombra’s reign, he was still alive. We know this because when Sombra attacked, the first thing he did was push Temor back into the castle and seal the entrance to the balcony with crystals,” Celestia told her. Luna nodded to confirm this.
 
“I heard the fiend shout something to Temor, but not what it was. After a lengthy battle, we used the elements to banish Sombra, but then the curse kicked in and the entire Empire vanished,” the Moon Princess added.
 
“So… Prince Temor should have been there when Cadance and Shining Armor arrived.” Twilight realized what this meant.
 
The unicorn tried to think back to when she had scoured through the crystal castle looking for the Crystal Heart with Spike. Now that she thought about it, that feeling of being watched had definitely been there. She hadn’t imagined it. She noted this to the Princesses, who both furrowed their brows in thought.
 
“That must have been Temor, but why would he hide unless he thought Twilight an enemy and why didn’t he attack if he did think so?” Luna wondered and rubbed her muzzle as she pondered this.
 
“Don’t forget, my sister, he was raised by King Sombra, who never did anything too rashly. I wouldn’t be surprised if Temor was observing Twilight, learning what he could before striking. Also, the presence of Cadance may have stayed him. He might have not thought he could match an alicorn in power,” Celestia pointed out. Her sister and Twilight nodded at this explanation.
 
“And when I got trapped, Temor must have thought that was enough but… where is he now… wait…” Twilight cringed as she remembered what the Crystal Heart did to King Sombra. “You don’t think that the Crystal Heart blew him apart as well, do you?”
 
“That is possible,” her teacher agreed with a nod, though it was clear on her expression that she didn’t like that thought.
 
“Twilight, we think Temor is an Equestrian unicorn,” Luna said, causing Twilight to do a double take towards the Moon Princess.
 
“Why do you think that?” she asked, confused.
 
“King Sombra had no cutie mark due to being a dark pony. The crystal ponies, as you may have noticed, have very distinct cutie marks. Temor’s mark from what I remember looked very Equestrian,” Celestia told her. She activated her magic and pushed the papers towards Twilight. “These are the observations I made long ago about Prince Temor.”
 
Twilight picked up the notes carefully with her own magical aura. A quick scan over them revealed a description of what Temor looked like and what possible magic he might possess. The unicorn noted unanswered questions on the papers, asking where the stallion came from, if he was a slave or not, if Sombra really cared for him as a son and so on.
 
“What do you want me to do?” Twilight asked, thinking she knew what Celestia was going for.
 
“I want you and your friends to go back to the Crystal Empire and find out if Temor did indeed survive. If he did, I want you to find him and bring him to me and Luna,” the Sun Princess said.
 
Twilight nodded, seeing no reason to question this request. It sounded reasonable enough to her. She did note though that Celestia still carried a faint sign of regret in her face. The unicorn wondered if she should ask her teacher if she was alright, but figured it wasn’t important. She didn’t like to pry.
 
“I will do so, Princess Celestia,” she assured her and rose up from her seat. The unicorn didn’t believe it would last long though, since they had seen no further signs of Temor after Sombra’s defeat. She was starting to lean towards the theory that the Crystal Heart had taken care of him as well.
 
After saying goodbye, Twilight headed out. For some reason Luna decided to escort her, even if the unicorn knew her way back. It turned out that the Moon Princess had a few more things to say, because as soon as they were well out of earshot from the room, the alicorn glanced back before looking at her sister’s student.
 
“There is something you need to know, Twilight,” she said, her expression turned serious. “When we fought King Sombra the first time, he was distracted and I noted that he kept making sure that any attacks we made were not directed at the castle.”
 
Twilight listened, wondering what the princess was getting at. This sounded like something that could have been said earlier when they were still in the lab with Celestia.
 
“When we finally blasted him with the Elements of Harmony, he didn’t even try to evade the blast. He just suddenly stopped everything and let it happen. At first we figured it was because he knew what would happen next - his curse would activate and the Crystal Empire vanish. Now I am not as sure,” Princess Luna continued. Now the unicorn walking beside her raised an eyebrow in surprise.
 
“Twilight, if Temor lives and considering he was raised by King Sombra, there is little doubt he would know of ways to resurrect his father,” she said, causing Twilight’s eyes to widen. She shuddered at the thought, but the unicorn was shocked to hear what Luna said next.
 
“If that happens, try not to be too quick to blast them with the Elements of Harmony. I have a thought and right now it is just a thought - just keep in mind that raising a child can be a life-changing experience.” Luna’s expression turned more solemn.
 
Twilight wanted to protest the notion that if King Sombra was resurrected the first thing they shouldn’t do was blast him immediately, but for now she kept her tongue and considered what Luna had told her. Besides, right now the unicorn was pretty sure neither Sombra nor Temor lived.
 
We’ll probably be back in Ponyville this evening, Twilight thought, but at least now she had a good excuse to check the Royal Library in the Crystal Empire.
 
Twilight said goodbye to Luna at the entrance of the castle and headed into Canterlot proper. She had agreed to meet up with Spike and rest of her friends at one of their old haunts - a café in the midtown area. When hearing that Celestia had summoned Twilight back to Canterlot immediately, her friends had insisted on accompanying her again, just in case.
 
“TWILIGHT! WE ARE OVER HERE!!” Twilight heard Pinkie Pie scream at the top of her lungs about the same time she saw all five ponies and dragon sitting by an outside table.
 
The unicorn shook her head, chuckling at the varied reactions around the table. The Canterlot ponies were naturally bewildered, but the ones from Ponyville just rolled their eyes.
 
“I’m pretty sure she saw us, darling,” Rarity remarked at the grinning, pink pony.
 
“But what if she didn’t? She could have missed us and turned a corner and gotten lost and wandered forever searching for us,” Pinkie Pie reasoned, looking for a brief moment aghast at the thought. She got varied unimpressed looks from her friends, especially considering that Twilight was the only one of them who wouldn’t get lost in Canterlot. Nobody bothered to point that out, knowing it would be a futile gesture.
 
“So how did the meetin’ go with the Princess?” Applejack decided to just turn and address Twilight as the unicorn had arrived at their table.
 
“Yeah, what was so important that you had to come back immediately to Canterlot?” Rainbow Dash wondered.
 
“Is everything alright?” Fluttershy cringed, worried that another disaster was looming over them.
 
Twilight got seated while she was bombarded with questions by her friends. She waited for a chance to speak and once that came, she started to explain what had happened. The other ponies and Spike listened intently as the purple unicorn told them everything - from the meeting with Celestia and when Luna escorted her back out. She wasn’t surprised to see their confusion.
 
“Well, Ah’m certain we saw no Prince over there, save for Shining Armor.” Applejack furrowed her brow.
 
“We think that most likely Temor viewed us as enemies and hid away, not wanting to directly engage us until he knew more,” Twilight told them. She dismissed a waiter when he arrived since the unicorn knew they wouldn’t be staying.
 
“Well, I for one don’t mind another trip to the Crystal Empire,” Rarity said sighing dreamily.
 
“You were there like yesterday,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a snort.
 
“Yes, what’s your point?” the fashionista asked dismissively.
 
Rainbow hoofed her face, but said nothing more. The rainbow pony wondered though why all of them had to go. She, like Twilight, was pretty sure the Crystal Heart took care of the prince much like it had done with the king.
 
The rest were pretty much on the same train of thought. However, Princess Celestia had asked that all of them go and they couldn’t think of a reason to question it. So once they had finished their drinks, the six ponies and dragon rose up and headed to the train station.
 
“Spike, if you want to go back to Ponyville, you can. I mean, we’ll probably be back in the evening,” Twilight told her assistant as they entered the station.
 
Spike actually perked up this time at the notion to be allowed to go home and skip this trip. Frankly he was dreading going back to the Crystal Empire because all he could see in it was boring talk, maybe scouring through books and more boring talk. Much like the mares, he was sure this Prince Temor was no more and there was nothing to worry about.
 
“Well if you don’t think you need me,” Spike said innocently, trying to hide that he really didn’t mind being sent back home. He could catch up on few things he had wanted to do for ages.
 
“I think we’ll manage,” Twilight chuckled. She offered the same to her friends as well, however, the mares decided to tag along. They didn’t mind.
 
The unicorn thus bought six tickets to the Crystal Empire and one for Ponyville, then they headed out to the platform. Spike’s train was first to arrive, and after saying goodbye, the dragon jumped aboard and was soon gone.
 
“Ah don’t suppose there were other reasons ya sent Spike home?” Applejack asked and nudged Twilight.
 
“Oh, I just happened to know he’s been dying for some alone time to sort out his hoofball card collection,” the unicorn giggled, the other five mares joining her.
 
“Yeah, it’s not like we are going to be on a long, weary chase after some meanie Prince who is trying to resurrect his father that was blown apart,” Pinkie said with a wide grin. This just caused her friends to laugh some more.
 
The train to the Crystal Empire arrived and the six friends filed into it. As the mares found their seats, Twilight kept wondering about Luna’s words. The unicorn still wasn’t sure what the princess had meant or what it had to do with this trip. There didn’t seem to be any connection as far as she could tell.

Out her saddlebag, Twilight produced Celestia’s notes and started to go through them. She wondered when her teacher had managed to do these observations. Had they tried first to reason with Sombra through talks before attacking? That was the only way she could see.

“He is very deferential to King Sombra. He stands proud, but never looks directly at him, usually inclining his head downwards,” she read on one note.

“I could have sworn I saw pride in Sombra’s eyes when Temor was dismissed during our talks and we watched him leave- Unimportant. Temor looks fairly quiet, though when he speaks, he does so with confidence. However, he seems to prefer hanging back and deferring the talks to his father.” Twilight raised an eyebrow at the sentence that had a strike-through. The talks must have been heavy on her mind when she was writing down her observations.

“What’cha doing?” Pinkie Pie suddenly sat right next to Twilight, grabbing some of the notes and started shuffling through them.

“Pinkie!” Twilight grunted, but let it slide for now. “Just going through few notes Celestia made on Prince Temor.”

“Oooh neat,” the pink pony said as she continued to blaze through the papers. This caught the attention of the other mares and soon enough they were all going through them, though there wasn’t that much. Half of the notes were unanswered questions.

“Sounds like the princess was very concerned about this Temor fellow,” Applejack remarked as she finished and gave some notes back to Twilight.

“Yes, she does,” the purple unicorn frowned as she realized that.

Maybe Celestia felt she failed to protect one of her own citizens. They did say they thought he was an Equestrian, she thought and started to put the notes away as they were delivered back to her. The only one who hadn’t really read much was Rainbow, who had just skimmed some that had been passed to her.

Well that’s a question for another time, she thought and looked out the train window and the passing landscape. 
 
End chapter 3
> Chapter 4. The King.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 4
 
The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign.
 
Private Iceland’s uneasy sleep was disturbed by strange sounds. The colt looked up from the corner of his cage and blinked when he saw sparks shoot out from the red circle on the floor where he had first appeared. The boy huddled and didn’t dare to move, fearing this was something new the evil unicorn that kept him here was doing.
 
He gasped when he himself suddenly lit up for a moment. Private whimpered, not knowing what to do. The light surrounded him before it started to flicker on and off like a lightbulb that was burning out. Then there was a loud bang from the red circle and from it rose a faint wisp of smoke and the colt stopped glowing.
 
The boy laid his head back down, wondering in confusion as to what had just happened. He could smell something burning, but saw no sign of fire. Curling up, Private tried to go back to sleep. 




He suddenly woke up at a loud surprised shout of “What!?”
 
Whimpering, Private looked up and saw that King Sombra was now in front of the cage and looked down, utterly baffled, at the colt. The dark unicorn looked between the cage and the red circle, nothing but confusion on his face.
 
“How can this be? You should have been sent back to your time during the night,” Sombra growled. He eyed the circle one more time. His horn lit up and for a moment the king concentrated hard.
 
Daring himself to approach the front of the cage, Private crawled over and peeked at the ring. He could see faintly in the dim red light that there were scorch marks in the middle. The colt gulped and then hurried back to the corner when Sombra’s attention returned back to him.
 
“The spell shorted out...how in tarnation?” Sombra looked at the covering colt, unsure, then suspicion crawled over his features. Without a word, his eyes turned red and green, purple mist sprouted from their corners. Then, without much effort, he entered the mind of the boy to see the events of last night.
 
“Well it tried to send you home, but something shorted out the spell and it failed. The tether that should have dragged you back to where you belong is gone,” he grunted as he pulled back, his eyes returning normal, the smoke vanishing.
 
Private didn’t say anything, just kept hugging the corner of the cage, trying in desperation to keep the small distance between himself and the king, even if the boy knew by now that it wouldn’t do much good if Sombra wanted him closer. He cried when noticing a red magic aura envelope him, but nothing else happened. The king’s horn was activated, but he didn’t do anything more, concentration again on his face.
 
“The nearest I can figure is that because I infused my essence into you, the spell got muddled,” the king muttered and arched his brow. He deactivated his horn and let go of the boy. “The tether got damaged. It was pretty much a fifty-fifty chance that it either sent you home or broke. Well, looks like you didn’t win that gamble.”
 
The boy finally dared himself to look up. His tormentor still stood there, staring at him critically, yet there was a mild interest now in his eyes. Sombra was clearly considering this new turn of events. Then a crooked smile crossed the king’s lips.
 
“Well, looks like I do get to keep you after all,” he said and opened the cage. Using his magic, he grabbed the whimpering boy and drug him back out.
 
“W-what?” Private sniffled, still confused. He hadn’t really understood anything the king spoke about.
 
“You’re not going home after all, boy,” Sombra said in a deadpan tone. The colt’s eyes widened in shock and horror, not wanting to hear the next words spoken.
 
“You’re stuck here!”
 



 
The Present.
 
Prince Temor woke up with a start. At first he blinked at the blanket that was over him and the one he lay on top of. Glancing to his right revealed where Emerald lay nearby. She had dug out most of the snow so she could lie on the bare rock underneath. The stallion frowned then looked forward and gasped in surprise.
 
Sitting in front of him was a large dark gray unicorn with black mane, the horn was red and curved like a knife, his red intent eyes stared critically at the prince. Temor immediately inclined his head downwards, but not before noting that the other pony was see-through and showed no visible marks on the snow.
 
“F-father… it is good to see you…” Prince Temor stammered.
 
“Sit up. It is unbecoming of a prince to lie like a discarded sack of corn when addressing his father,” King Sombra snapped, his voice ghostly, but still carrying its commanding overtone.
 
Temor immediately sat up straight, throwing the blanket off himself and straightening his cape as he did so. He still kept his eyes downcast, not daring to anger the stallion any further.
 
“Did… did I find your horn? I thought it was your horn. What has happened? Did the spells you put on me long ago work?” he asked, speaking more calmly now.
 
“You did find my horn, though I altered the spells a long time ago. My horn has fused with yours, healing the damage the Crystal Heart did to yours and binding my spirit to you,” King Sombra explained, still maintaining a stern glance at his son.
 
“Binding your spirit, am I your vessel?” Temor dared himself to look up at his father. To his confusion, the king shook his head.
 
“That was your original purpose yes, but now, no. I do not possess you. My spirit is bound to you and I can appear before you like this, but that is about it,” Sombra responded and raised a hoof to glance at it. His image flickered a bit.
 
“I am still weak from the blast from the Crystal Heart. I won’t be able to do much except advise you for now,” the king continued and glanced south, towards Equestria. “I’ve also deactivated the spells that would have sent others to search for my horn. Though it would be an amusing thought to let them all drop down and regularly wake up to scream prophecies of my return, I think our best strategy right now is secrecy.”
 
“So… I was drawn by the spells to the mountain after all. I just looked at it and felt compelled to come here,” Temor whispered and looked down, missing Sombra looking at him with mild surprised.
 
“That is strange. I hadn’t activated the beacon yet. For that I am still too weak. Then again, the spells within you and my proximity probably drew you. How far away were you from the mountain?” the spirit asked curiously.
 
“Ah, hour I think? Maybe more. I was trying to get out of the city quickly before the usurpers caught wind of me,” Temor answered.
 
“Fascinating. Then again, this is not implausible since these spells were untested. That is sometimes the problem with experimental magic,” Sombra mused, but then his glance went to Emerald, who still slept. “Is that not your concubine?”
 
Prince Temor looked over at the sleeping Crystal Mare. Once again he wondered why she had saved him and helped him escape the city. The unicorn looked back towards his father and nodded.
 
“I was blasted clear by the Crystal Heart. For some reason it didn’t kill me like it did you. She dragged me away so I would be hidden. She’s declared her loyalty to us. I’m confused as to why.  The other crystal ponies seemed happy to be rid of us,” Temor grunted.
 
“Sometimes a beaten animal prefers its cage,” Sombra snorted and looked at the crystal pony.
 
“Now that my horn is healed, I can use my dark magic to scan her mind,” his son said and lifted his hoof to feel his horn, smiling to find that the crack was gone.
 
“Not yet. Your horn is only newly healed and can still crack again if you put too much stress on it. We will judge her loyalty for now on her actions,” the king said.
 
Temor didn’t argue, just nodded his head. He looked at his father, who was staring towards the crystal tower in the north. There was no scowl or sign of disgust on Sombra’s face. The dark unicorn appeared to be thinking.
 
“Are you certain that no pony saw you?” the king finally asked as his attention went back to his son.
 
“Nopony saw me; I did not make myself known to the usurpers or those that helped them…” Temor hesitated as he now had admit to why. “I didn’t trust myself to take on an alicorn. So I observed instead, though I tried to hinder the purple unicorn that was searching for the Crystal Heart, but it was difficult without remaining unseen. She may have thought someone was watching her.”
 
“I would not have expected you to take on an alicorn,” his father simply said, betraying no emotion on his ghostly face. Temor was unsure if this meant that he had done right or if there was a ‘but you could have tried’ unsaid in the sentence.
 
The two stallions then became aware that Emerald was stirring. Sombra didn’t really move, barely shifted his eyes to glance towards the mare, but Temor turned a bit to look towards her. The crystal pony opened her eyes and when seeing that her master was awake, she sat up and bowed.
 
“She cannot see or hear me, so make no mention that I am present. For the moment only you can interact with me,” the king instructed his son. “Later, once we are certain of her loyalty, we can make it known to her that I am here as well.” 
 
Temor was almost tempted to disregard his father’s previous advice of not using his dark magic at the time, wanting to just immediately check Emerald’s mind. However, he didn’t dare, knowing that his father was staring at him right now and would be able to tell if the unicorn tried. Instead, he simply rose up from his blanket and stepped off, ordering Emerald at the same time to clean up the camp. Without hesitation, the mare started gathering up the blankets, dusting off the snow and repacking them. The stallion in the meantime walked away, facing towards Equestria in the south. He still couldn’t bear looking at the tower. It looked so alien and strange to him.
 
“So father, what do we do now?” he asked in a quiet voice, not sure if Sombra could hear his thoughts in the state was in.
 
“Our highest priority is to resurrect me. I can’t do it like I originally planned. I can only gather so much power and I can’t siphon it from you, either. We’ll need to find another way and there is only one place that might contain information on the magic that we need,” King Sombra explained. He was also staring towards the south.
 
“Equestria?” Temor cringed knowing that as of right now that was enemy territory. He didn’t even have to look at his father to know that he had just nodded. “I did bring some books from the castle library and some other things.”
 
“Believe me, if there was anything in the castle library that would actually aid us, I would already know about it,” his father retorted sternly, causing the younger pony to lower his head and ears.
 
“So we go to Equestria,” Temor said, glancing back towards Emerald, who was putting her bags on.
 
“You may want to keep your armor to a minimum. All this gear is sure to attract attention,” Sombra then said.
 
Temor glanced at his gear. He had very seldom gone anywhere without at least his cape. Yet he saw his father’s point. Most ponies went without any clothes unless they were clearly advertising status or had to due to the weather. The cape might escape notice, but his metal armor would probably raise eyebrows, especially if they wanted to travel in secret.
 
“I’ll keep at least the cape on until we reach the warmer areas in the south,” Temor said and he carefully activated his horn, feeling the strain on his dark magic. His horn may have been newly healed, but as his father had said, too much strain might crack it again. Fortunately the spell he needed wasn’t a complicated one, it was simple one that could either conjure up clothes or make them vanish until needed. This he did to his helmet, hoofguards and metal breastplate, leaving only the cape on.
 
“One more thing,” Sombra said as they started to walk back towards Emerald. “You cannot openly call her your slave or concubine in Equestria. Such terms are frowned upon down there.”
 
“Right, what should I do then?” Temor frowned. He was used to being waited on and treating the crystal ponies as slaves. He could barely recall a life when he had had to do menial tasks on his own.
 
“You have much to learn of life on the road. If you have a traveling partner, you will both depend on each other for defense and other things. This might even help ensure her loyalty. You will need to assist her just as much as she assists you,” King Sombra told his son, who barely could believe what he just heard his father say.
 
“You mean I should…” Temor cringed and looked at the saddlebags now on Emerald’s back.
 
“You have a simple logical reason, my son. You’ll be travelling for a while and she will be of no use to you if she is constantly too exhausted to carry out her duties,” the king simply said.
 
Sombra fell silent and spoke no more once they reached Emerald, who stood and waited for the prince. Temor hesitated as he approached the mare. This was a completely alien experience to him. With a grunt he finally spoke. “Uh… we’ll be travelling for a while. We have to go to Equestria to see if we can find information on resurrection, so since you are still of use to me and you are of no use if you’re exhausted, I can carry half of the baggage,” the prince said with some effort.
 
Emerald looked mildly surprised to hear this, but made no protest as Temor used his magic to take one saddlebag and put it on himself. The prince grunted at the sudden weight on his back, wondering how the mare had managed to carry two up the mountain. He didn’t know that crystal ponies without horn or wings weren’t that unlike Equestrian earth ponies and had more natural strength.
 
King Sombra watched his son perform his first menial task since he was a foal. The dark unicorn didn’t show it on the outside, but deep down he was smiling. Unlike Temor, the spirit was no stranger to having to rough it, having traveled far and wide before he had come to the Crystal Empire and conquered it.
 
Sombra had never allowed himself to get too used to fine, comfortable living standards, even back when he was a prince himself in the court of the Dark Pony Empire, always feeling that being able to stand on his own and take care of himself without the help of others was critically important. The dark unicorn half-regretted not having instilled that same standard into his adopted son.
 
There was just so much to do, so much to take care of, I just couldn’t be bothered to teach him every little thing about life, the king thought as he now floated next to Temor, who was heading towards the path that led down the mountain.
 
Then again maybe I should have found the time… Sombra sighed. The thought of him kept my mind sane during my exile. Well, I suppose he’s learning it now.




 
The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign.

King Sombra had to admit he was a little stumped as to what to do. Although he had expressed an interest in keeping the colt, he had pretty much no real actual plans for it. It had been an amusing thought, a fleeting idea after magically learning that the boy had distant ancestors that were dark ponies like him, but nothing he had seriously considered.
 
It also still confused him what had happened. Something had disrupted the spell and right now the best idea he had was that when infusing some of his essence into the colt, it had interrupted the process. The problem with that idea was that it sounded a bit contrived and too coincidental to his mind, but in lieu of other ideas, he had to settle for such an explanation.
 
Sombra looked down at the colt who huddled by the cage, still crying after the news had been broken to him that he wasn’t going home. The king hadn’t put him back into it, simply put him down on the floor as he mulled this change of events over. The boy hadn’t moved, just pressed himself up against the cage as he cried.
 
He may be a mixed breed, but now that he’s not serving the purpose I initially had in mind for him, I am not going to throw him in with the slaves, Sombra rubbed his muzzle with a hoof. I need time to think this over. He turned away, but did look back at Private.
 
“You have two options, boy, you can either go back into the cage or you will follow me and I’ll show you a better room,” Sombra said and with tone of voice that indicated that he meant every word of it.
 
The king watched as the colt slowly glanced up, the tears still staining his cheeks. Then the boy gave the cage a look, cringing in horror before rising up. Sombra had to admit being mildly impressed when the colt followed him out of the laboratory, though with hesitation in his steps.
 
Sombra led Private through a hallway and up to the castle proper. The boy for a moment seemed to forget his grief as he stared amazed at the armored guards and halls that he was walking through. The king paid no attention, but some of the guards, mostly those who were working for the dark unicorn willingly, did glance curiously at the colt.
 
“For the time being you are my guest, I will have servants attend to you until I figure out what to do with you,” King Sombra simply told the boy. There was no point in lying right now.
 
“W-when c-can I go home… I want my mommy and daddy…” the boy whimpered, clearly the thought of going back home having not left his mind.
 
Sombra halted his walk and looked at Private who flinched, waiting for something bad to happen. The king growled softly, not really having the patience to be constantly reminding the child that he wasn’t going back home.
 
“I am only going to be saying this one more time, boy. You are not going back home. You are stuck here and you best start learning to live with it,” he snapped and turned his head back forward. Sombra paid no attention to the soft sobs coming from behind. He had already figured this would cause the boy to resume crying.

However, the king’s patience was growing very thin and right now he just wanted some peace and quiet to figure out what to do next. He spotted a slave that was by the looks of it, finishing washing duties. It was a crystal pony mare. She was blue with a light blue mane and tail with dark streaks.
 
“You. Slave,” Sombra snapped, causing the mare to stop her walking and turn around with her head bowed. She was elderly and looked tired and ragged.
 
“Yes, my lord,” she addressed Sombra quietly.
 
“This child here is currently my guest and shall be treated as such. See to it he is given a guest room and fed. I’ll be seeing him tomorrow once I’ve decided what I’ll do with him,” the king ordered before glaring at the still crying colt. “You go with the slave here. She will tend to you.”
 
King Sombra didn’t even wait for a response from the colt, he simply left the boy standing with the old mare. Now however, he turned his direction to go to his own chambers. He had much to think about.
 



 
Present

The ghostly image of King Sombra continued watching the two ponies descend down the mountain. Prince Temor was clearly not used to carrying much, already showing some signs of being bothered by the load on his back. Emerald showed concern in her expression, but didn’t dare to speak up, clearly wanting to honor her master’s wish.
 
To his credit, Prince Temor still looked to be in good shape and didn’t really show any weariness. It was clear that this was far more a sign of someone not used to carrying things. As they finally came down to the bottom of the mountain, the unicorn didn’t appear tired, but was somewhat annoyed.
 
Even so, they rested for a little bit at the foot of the mountain before Temor started towards the south. The spirit of Sombra cast a glance back to the Crystal Empire, once again he was in deep thought as he regarded the city he had once ruled with an iron hoof.
 
No, he is not ready for it, the power would be too much for his mind, he then thought as his eyes turned northwest and stared at a large mountain much further away with a jaw-like peak. We will come back for it later, if it is even still there. It has been a long time.
 
They will already be missing the slave, but hopefully we will have a good head start on any search. The king turned his attention back to the two ponies that trudged south through the snow.
 


The king didn’t need to worry too much as Celestia’s prized student was still just only now arriving in Canterlot to receive the instructions regarding his son. Back in the Empire, Amber and Rubinstein had not yet received an audience with Princess Cadance regarding their sister, Emerald. By the time the royal couple realized that there was still a missing prince to contend with, the two travelers and their ghostly companion would be long gone into the wilderness between Equestria and the Crystal Empire.
 
End chapter 4


> Chapter 5. Back to the Crystal Empire.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 5

“You’re saying that your sister, Emerald, is missing?” Princess Cadance asked the two crystal ponies in her audience. Amber Waves and Rubinstein had just been admitted and they briefly explained their situation once they had the full attention of their new monarch.
 
“Yes, we all three woke up in the castle, I escorted our sister out, but lost track of her while King Sombra’s curse still lay upon us and I was still disoriented by it.  After that, we couldn’t find her,” Rubinstein clarified.
 
“We’re worried that maybe Prince Temor is still around and he might have gotten to her,” Amber added.
 
Cadance blinked in confusion when hearing the unfamiliar name. She glanced around and noticed there were uncertain looks in the various crystal ponies around. They clearly recognized the name and some started to whisper nervously.
 
“All right, all right, calm down. Please tell me, who is Prince Temor?” she asked, noting that the uncertain looks were changing into worried ones.
 
“Ah, he’s King Sombra’s son. You did not see him?” Amber cringed when seeing no recognition in the Princess’s face.
 
Either Aunt Tia forgot to mention him or assumed we would just meet him and be able to deal with him more easily than King Sombra. Cadance frowned as she thought this new information over.
 
The princess didn’t like this new wrinkle that had arrived in the first court she was holding for the Crystal Empire. She had simply assumed it would be getting to know her new staff, figuring out how the situation was in the Empire after years of brutal rule and maybe answer any questions the crystal ponies might have with the regime change.
 
“Could you go and find Shining Armor for me?” she asked a nearby guard - one of their own from the Canterlot Royal Guard. They were still figuring out which of the Crystal Guards had worked willingly for King Sombra and who had been forced to. The pegasus stallion bowed and quickly made his way out of the throne room.
 
“You two please stay here,” she addressed Amber and Rubinstein, then she looked over the other crystal ponies. “I’m afraid we must delay the current court due to this new information that has been brought to me. I’ll need everypony that is not a member of my staff to leave. It will be announced when the court will resume. Your turn will not change, just note when you arrived with my secretary.”
 
It took a few minutes, but soon all non-staff had been cleared out of the throne room. Shining Armor arrived in the meantime with the guard. The white stallion quickly went over to his wife’s throne, frowning a bit in concern.
 
“Is everything all right, honey?” he asked and gave Amber and Rubinstein a glance. His brow rose high when Cadance told him why they were there.
 
“I met no Prince Temor while scouring the castle when we first arrived, nor when I went out in the arctic,” he remarked and rubbed his muzzle in thought. Then the unicorn looked at the crystal ponies. “Can you describe him for me?”
 
“Well, he was a unicorn, like King Sombra,” Rubinstein described, knowing well as he had been the personal servant of the prince. “Dark gray, like the king, but with a dark blonde mane and tail and dark brown hooves. Curiously, unlike the king, he had a cutie mark - a book I think. He usually wore a black cape with white fur lining.”
 
The crystal stallion also went into the armor, but noted that the prince wore it seldomly, mostly for ceremonies or the rare celebration the king held.
 
Cadance and Shining looked at each other and didn’t need to say anything to know neither of them recognized the description. Clearly whoever this Prince Temor was had either avoided them or was quite possibly already dead.
 
As the royal couple mulled this over, a staff member came in, announcing that Twilight Sparkle and her friends had just arrived. Surprised but not displeased, Cadance told the mare to show them in. It didn’t take long as the group was pretty much already on their way in. Pinkie practically burst into the throne room.
 
“Hi, we’re back even if we were just here yesterday!” she shouted as she bounced over, followed by the rest of the mares.
 
“Twily, I’m glad to see you came back so soon. We have a conundrum on our hooves,” Shining Armor said as he went over to greet his sister with a hug. Twilight took a moment to greet Cadance with their little playground rhyme before looking back at her brother quizzically.
 
“Amber Waves and Rubinstein over here have told us about somepony called, Prince Temor,” Princess Cadance gestured to the two crystal ponies who waved nervously.
 
“Huh, what a coincidence, we’re here about that pony too,” Applejack remarked.
 
They gathered around as Twilight began explaining her meeting with Princess Celestia, also showing her brother and sister-in-law the notes the Solar Princess had written. In turn, Cadance told Twilight what little they had already learned from Amber and Rubinstein. Hearing that their sister was missing, the purple unicorn looked at them.
 
“When did you see her last time?” she asked.
 
“Shortly after I escorted her out of the castle and  shortly before the Princess and the Prince arrived,” Rubinstein responded, indicating to the royal couple as he did so.
 
“We came the day after, so it’s been what, three days? It’s definitely strange if you haven’t seen her since,” Twilight said with a concerned frown.
 
“Well everypony here were kind of mopey until we finally got the fair going and got rid of King Sombra,” Rainbow Dash pointed out.
 
Twilight conceded that point though she felt Dash could have worded it a little more tactfully. She asked for Emerald’s description and as Amber provided it they did hear a very faint, ‘oh’. All eyes immediately went to Fluttershy, who was the only one in the room that would whisper so softly an exclamation.
 
“I just… uh, I think I saw that pony when trying to ask the crystal ponies about how they defended the empire in the past. She was near the castle when I saw her,” Fluttershy told them quietly. “I didn’t want to bother her. She looked like she was looking for something.”
 
“Now wait a minute, now that ah think about it, that description is mighty familiar,” Applejack rubbed her muzzle in thought. “When I was trying to guard the fake crystal heart from the curious crystal ponies, I think I saw a pony like that off in the distance, watching the castle.”
 
“I wonder why she would be doing that? You don’t think maybe she was waiting for somepony?” Rarity wondered out loud what the others were thinking.
 
“What was Emerald’s occupation during Sombra’s reign?” Twilight asked, noting immediately how uncomfortable the crystal ponies became.
 
“She was… the prince’s concubine,” Amber whispered hesitantly. Almost everyone else around her cringed.
 
“Oh that’s horrible,” Pinkie Pie said aghast, but then paused for a second as the mare realized that she didn’t quite know what the word meant. “Uh what’s a concubine?”
 
“That’s a servant and sometimes a slave, usually a mare, who engages in sexual service with their master,” Twilight explained quickly to the pink earth pony who now really cringed in disgust.
 
“No, that doesn’t sound fun at all,” Pinkie remarked.
 
“Of course, in some cultures concubinage was a voluntary position and with full consent, but I seriously doubt that is the case in this instance,” the purple unicorn added and wasn’t surprised to see the crystal ponies nod.
 
“Who would she be waiting for?” Twilight wondered. Somehow, she couldn’t imagine it being the Prince. She looked at the crystal ponies again who were just as unsure as the rest.
 
“It makes no sense. She had no friends and even though we also worked in the castle, we were forbidden to talk to each other. The only one she really interacted with was Prince Temor,” Rubinstein told them.
 
“Nonetheless, your sister is now missing…” Twilight trailed off as something suddenly came to her and she looked at her brother and his wife. “Is there anything else missing?”
 
“Well, we got a report that few things were missing from the castle. A guard is looking into it, but we haven’t been overly worried about it. We think somepony used the opportunity during the chaos to steal themselves some memorabilia before castle security went up again,” Cadance told her, then eyed her husband. “What went missing again?”
 
“Uh, a few books from the castle library, some equipment from a room they called the lab and they did say something about a helmet…” Shining’s words died in his mouth as he reached the last items.
 
“The Prince is alive!” both he and Twilight said at the same time, coming to the same conclusion. The rest could only look at them confused, but the purple Unicorn was already talking.
 
“Prince Temor clearly didn’t want to be found by us, so he must look at us as enemies, thus he got his helmet to complete his armor which he was probably already wearing. Remember what Celestia said, if anyone would know of a way to resurrect Sombra, it would be him. So, he would need equipment from the lab and books on the subject from the castle library,” she explained to them quickly. The crystal ponies cringed at the thought of their king being brought back.
 
“So, this Emerald has been missin’ for at least two days and this prince no doubt booked after we defeated his dad yesterday,” Applejack summed up.
 
“Oh my, that could mean they could be anywhere right now. It’s probably obvious that Prince Temor met up with Emerald and probably took her with him,” Rarity chimed in as well.
 
Princess Cadance could only nod in agreement, it was clear something like that had happened. She quickly turned to a guard, knowing now what had to be done.
 
“Send word to the rest of the guards, search the city for any clues of either this prince or the missing crystal pony. You have already heard the description. Spread it out to everypony. Also,  have some guards scour the outskirts for any possible signs of them,” she ordered. The guard bowed and ran out along with a few others.
 
The alicorn the turned to the rest. She could see Rainbow Dash was raring to go and so was Applejack. The others looked more mildly concerned. The princess figured the rainbow pegasus could be best used helping the guard. “Rainbow, could you go with the guards and help them?”
 
“I’m on it, Princess!” Rainbow saluted and blasted out of the throne room in a rainbow trail.
 
“The rest of us should probably scour the castle for more clues now that we know what we’re looking for,” Shining suggested. Nobody argued and he and Twilight led the rest of the mares out of the throne room.
 
Cadance turned in the meantime back to Amber and Rubinstein. She smiled reassuringly to the crystal ponies, seeing quite clearly that they were now deadly worried about their sister. She couldn’t blame them. It seemed Emerald was not quite going to escape the nightmare like the rest of her people.
 
“We will find your sister, I promise,” she told them. Amber and Rubinstein could only nod. The princess prayed she wasn’t giving them false hope.
 



 
Rainbow Dash flew higher and higher until she had a good view over the entire city. She had already notified the guards that she was helping them. Most of them were already scouring around the city and some were heading to the outskirts.
 
The pegasus, however, suddenly had a thought that maybe she could spot something from a high enough altitude. The tallest building was of course, the Crystal Castle - all other buildings were only one or two stories tall. It would be quite easy for her to see over it.
 
“As if dealing with that stupid Sombra wasn’t enough, now we have to look for his stupid son too,” the mare grunted as she began looking over the city for anything unusual. She didn’t like this complication; the bad guy had been defeated - that should have been it.
 
Ugh can’t see nothing, she thought and decided instead to dive down and zip around the city closer to ground level. She was about to jump down from the top of the castle when she noticed two pegasi guards flying towards a small mountain a bit outside the city.
 
Huh, wonder if… Rainbow shrugged and figured since she was helping she might as well help those two. She dove down for a little bit before flying off after the two stallions.
 
It took her only a second to overtake them, giving them both a cheeky grin as she zipped past, leaving a rainbow trail in her wake. The guards only slightly raised their eyebrows but otherwise said nothing. Rainbow Dash had already landed on top of the mountain when they arrived.
 
“Hey look, somepony was definitely around here.” Dash pointed at signs in the snow where something had clearly laid on it and parts were also cleared off. There were also multitudes of hoofprints.
 
“These can’t be more than a day old,” one of the guards said as he hovered over the scene, glancing down at the prints and the other signs. Rainbow Dash blinked when she realized why he didn’t land and quickly took back to the air, grinning sheepishly, hoping she hadn’t contaminated the scene too much.
 
“There are prints going up and down the mountain,” the other guard called. All three pegasi followed the trail down the mountain but when they came to the bottom things suddenly got really complicated.
 
“What the… it looks like a whole stampede went around here,” Dash arched her brow, hoofprints were going in all directions; east, south, north and some even went around the mountain and towards the west.
 
“There were no more than two ponies up on the top and going up and down,” Rainbow Dash claimed and was glad to see that the guards agreed.
 
“Yet these hoofprints, it looks like several ponies passed,” one guard said as he silently tried to count the number of possible ponies from the prints. “Six, maybe seven.”
 
“Do you know if anypony came here?” Dash asked the closest guard to her.
 
“Not that I know of. We are still helping the crystal ponies recover. I somehow doubt they are suddenly going leisure walking in the snow after years of slavery,” he responded and looked at his partner who nodded in agreement.
 
“Wait a second,” Rainbow Dash looked up towards the east. She peered hard. “Is that somepony there?”
 
The guards looked up and tried to see what the mare had spotted. There was definitely a movement - something was walking or maybe jumping away from them. Rainbow Dash didn’t wait for a word, she darted off at high speed towards the movement and it didn’t take her long confirm that it was indeed a pony, hurrying away from the mountain.
 
“Hey you!” she called to the yellow crystal pony. The mare on the ground only glanced up for a second, scowled and tried to increase her speed.
 
Oh yeah like that’s gonna work, Rainbow Dash snorted and zipped past the mare, quickly landed in front of her. “You there, stop!”
 
The mare ignored her, quickly sidestepped on her gallop and ran right past Rainbow Dash. “Oh come on,” the blue pegasus groaned and took off after the pony, catching up with her quickly again. This time Dash simply tackled her to the ground.
 
“I told you to stop,” Rainbow growled as she struggled to hold her grip on the crystal pony who was trying to shake her off. Unfortunately for the pegasus, the yellow mare was a bit stronger and did manage to pry herself free.
 
However, this served as a nice enough delay. Suddenly the royal guards landed in front of the mare and blocked her way. When she tried to run past them, one guard quickly and swiftly raised his wing and proceeded to club her with it. The crystal pony crumbled groaning, to the ground.
 
“I think you better come with us, miss,” the guard retorted as the mare glared at them saying nothing.
 
Rainbow Dash didn’t get the attitude. Why was she running away? Did she have something to hide? This wasn’t Emerald clearly enough and why would a crystal pony act so suspiciously?
 
The guards helped the mare back to her feet, but the moment she was back on her hooves the pony pushed away from them. Rainbow Dash moved in to help but froze when the crystal pony drew out a jagged looking knife with a crystal blade out of her mane.
 
“Miss, put down the knife,” one guard raised a hoof slowly towards the mare who kept backing away, there was a mad glint in her eyes now.
 
“For the glory of the Shadow King!” the mare suddenly yelled with a sneer and plunged the knife into her chest.
 
Rainbow Dash had been a split second too late, she had intended to quickly zoom past the mare and kick the knife out of her hoof. The mare hadn’t even taken off before the yellow pony stabbed the weapon into her own body. Now the rainbow pony could only watch as the guards rushed to try and do something, but it was obviously too late.
 
The crystal pony now lay in her own pool of blood on the snow. The knife’s blade had snapped off at the hilt as the mare had killed herself, leaving the hilt now sticking out of the snow where it had dropped.
 
Okay, I was not ready for that. Rainbow Dash willed herself not to hurl. She was not going to vomit in front of the Royal Guards, but her face was pale.
 
“Seriously dude, this is messed up,” she looked around. “Why would she do that!”
 
“Miss Dash, please calm down,” one of the guards approached her, but before he could put a reassuring hoof on her back, the mare jumped away from him.
 
“Calm down? CALM DOWN!? A PONY FREAKING KILLED HERSELF RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!” Rainbow Dash screamed, still not sure if she should be panicking or enraged or maybe bit of both.
 
“And we need you to go and report that to the Princess and the Prince while we bring the body back. You can get to the city quicker than us,” the guard continued to speak calmly. He braced himself when Dash stomped a hoof down on the ground then snorted angrily, then to his relief the mare actually took a second to calm down.
 
“Yes, yes you’re right. I’m sorry, I lost my cool. Sweet Celestia, this is crazy!” Rainbow glanced at the dead body. “Seriously though, what the hay happened?”
 
“That is a good question. She mentioned the Shadow King, so that must be King Sombra. It’s possible she was a Sombra loyalist,” the guard told her as he observed the body as well.
 
“‘Sombra loyalist’?” Dash looked at the guard in utter disbelief. Both stallions nodded.
 
“We have been getting reports of crystal ponies who actually didn’t mind King Sombra’s rule and even collaborated with him. We are still weeding out the collaborators who were in the Crystal Guards and we already have had reports of a few civilian ponies too,” they told her.
 
“That’s just sick,” Dash shook her head in disgust and started to hover in the air. “Alright guys, I’ll go tell the Princess and the rest what happened. You bring the body.”
 
The guards simply nodded and in a flash Rainbow Dash was speeding back towards the city.
 
End chapter 5
> Chapter 6. The birth of Temor.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 6

The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign

Sombra growled to himself as he sat down by the desk in his bedchamber. He wasn’t bothered by the fact that the colt wasn’t gone, though that hadn’t quite been planned. What irked him was not knowing why the boy hadn’t been sent back. He had already tried and tested the time spell and it never failed to send the ponies back seven days later.
 
The king hated irregularities in his work and this was a really big one. Sure, he had toyed with the idea of keeping the boy, but if he had been serious about it, Sombra would have preferred to have been directly involved in the process of preventing the child from returning to his own time.
 
It can’t be because of the essence, even if it still flows within him. He is still himself. No,  something weakened the tether that was holding him here, but what? Sombra rubbed his muzzle thoughtfully and opened a book that was on his desk. He then grabbed a quill in his magic and after dipping it in ink, began writing.
 
I would almost suspect Discord to be responsible - he is still causing havoc down south in Equestria… but my magic plus the protective abilities of the Crystal Heart I’ve managed to harness are keeping him and his chaos magic away from the Crystal Empire, he thought as he continued to log down today’s event. Usually he did this in his lab, but sometimes he brought his journal up to his chamber to jot down things, especially if something was bothering him.
 
Now the question also is, since the boy is here, what to do with him. He stopped writing for a moment and glanced to his side, right on cue a servant was already pouring him some wine into a large golden cup. The king nodded in satisfaction, then dismissed the crystal pony who bowed and left the room.
 
Sombra took a glance over the entire room. The servants who usually tended to him during the evening had already finished their duties. The bed was ready once he felt like retiring, there were some more refreshments on a small table in case he got hungry and to his dismay they had once again left one of his selection of concubines standing idle and nervous in the middle of the room.
 
“I keep telling them that unless I specifically ask for it, I do not require the service of my concubines,” Sombra sighed, then with a glare and a sharp order, the mare was dismissed. She wasted little time hurrying out of the room. Probably thinks it will placate me.
 
The unicorn returned to his book, holding the wine cup now in his magic. As he sipped, his eyes glanced up to a wooden box on a small shelf attached to the wall the desk was up against. The king lifted the lid with magic and carefully lifted a delicate, but damaged, silver tiara from it.
 
Ira, my sister, what would you have me do? he wondered, staring at the jewelry thoughtfully. His eyes narrowed a little. You would probably wonder first what our mother’s stance was.
 
Mother would of course consider the boy a dark pony like us. She wasn’t overly concerned that the civilians had the blood of other breeds in them.  She even tolerated marriages to Saddle Arabians. Just keep the royal line pure, that was her only edict in those matters. Sombra put the tiara back into the box and closed it.
 
Well, keeping the royal line is impossible now. I’m the last…wait no I’m not. The king’s eyes suddenly lit up as the realization hit him.
 
“The rumors are true, dark ponies did escape to Equestria and mingled with the natives. The boy proves it.” Sombra rose from his seat and put the wine cup on the table in the same move. The king started to pace around in front of the desk as he considered what had just occurred to him.
 
“Yes, his blood is probably all muddled by now. I saw in his mind a very typical Equestrian name… but he can draw his lineage to my race.” Sombra stopped and looked towards the entrance of his chamber. A smile crossed his lips. “And he’s a unicorn, too.”





The present

The ghostly form of King Sombra watched the two sleeping forms in the cave as his mind was in the past. A small fire was already dying out as it had been first lit hours ago. It had been a long trek and they were still in the mountainous regions between the Crystal Empire and Equestria. Finally the travelers had found a small cave to spend the night in.
 
Sombra of course didn’t require sleep, so he was technically the lookout, even if only Temor could see and hear him. That would be enough. The prince was, after all, the one with the most firepower if trouble arose.
 
I still wonder about you, the spirit looked at Emerald who slept closest to the entrance. Why did you help my son? Why is your loyalty still so strong? Sure, I told my son that a beaten animal often prefers its cage, yet you had ample opportunity to…
 
The former king glanced around when he thought he heard a noise. It turned out to be simply Temor groaning a little in his sleep before shifting into a better position. The spirit shifted closer, eyes still fixed on his son.
 
My son, if you only knew. All my thoughts were on you. I feared most what the Crystal Heart would do to you. I hoped you would be spared due to the parts of you that are Equestrian. You… unless you succeed in resurrecting me are now the last. I… the spirit tried to put a hoof on Temor, but it only went through him. The king quickly withdrew it when his son shivered slightly, as if a cold chill had passed through him in his sleep.
 
Suddenly the prince woke up with a start as if roused from a bad dream. Temor rolled to his stomach and looked up at the spirit of his father. For a brief moment, Sombra saw a flicker of fear pass through his son’s eyes. It was as if his mind was still stuck in a distant memory. The young stallion quickly shook this off and assumed a more respectful stance as he inclined his head down.
 
“Father, is it morning already?” he asked quietly and rose to his feet.
 
“No, not yet. Celestia has yet to raise the sun,” Sombra remarked and glanced to the cave entrance.
 
“Blast, it’s cold in here,” Temor grunted as he shivered a little. With a small flick of magic from his horn, he relit the campfire, then he walked over to the entrance and glanced outside.
 
“Since you are awake and your concubine is asleep, why don’t you tell me in more detail what occurred during my return?” Sombra asked.
 
Temor looked at his father, nodded before sitting down closer to the fire. Then he proceeded to tell the spirit everything - since he woke up, when Cadance and Shining Armor arrived and erected the shield, when Twilight and her friends came along and started the fair and started to actively look for the Crystal Heart.
 
Sombra listened to the tale with this head bowed, his brow sunken in a frown as he considered everything he was hearing. Once his son was done, the dead king looked up, peering at the young unicorn.
 
“Did you say the alicorn was named Princess Cadance?” he asked and his brow sunk deeper when Temor nodded. “Huh… I wonder…”
 
“Wonder what, if I may ask, father?” the prince asked, watching the flickering image of his father rub his muzzle in thought.
 
“Nothing important for now, just a small curiosity… and those other ponies, you said there were six of them?” the king asked.
 
“Yes, like I said; two unicorns, two earth ponies and two pegasi,” Temor informed him and arched his brow when Sombra chuckled slightly.
 
“Six ponies, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are not present, but she sends six ponies to assist another alicorn princess, along with her stalwart husband, that white unicorn prince,” the king mused and a slight smile crossed his muzzle. “Are you making things difficult for me again, Celestia? Is it possible that instead of you and your sister that you have found six ponies for each of the elements?”
 
Temor listened, not daring to interrupt. He had always noticed before that his father often spoke with some admiration of the Celestial Sisters, especially Princess Celestia. When Equestria had freed itself from Discord’s chaotic reign, the sisters had not immediately attacked the Crystal Empire. They had tried negotiations first, pleading with Sombra to free the crystal ponies.
 
The prince recalled that the king had looked forward to the talks, even if they didn’t go anywhere and the end result was that the Royal Sisters attacked with the Elements of Harmony. Temor was almost convinced that his father viewed them as worthy adversaries.
 
“Very well, I accept your challenge,” Sombra whispered, addressing the Solar Princess who at this moment was walking out to the balcony of Canterlot Castle, preparing to raise the sun.
 
“Father?” Temor figured he wasn’t talking to him, but he was curious what his father was thinking now.
 
“It is clear that our enemies will learn of you soon and probably figure out your purpose. When we reach Equestria, in addition to finding a way to resurrect me, we better find out as much as we can about those six ponies. I don’t think we need to worry about that other alicorn and her unicorn husband, I have feeling they will be busy enough in the Crystal Empire,” Sombra told his son and floated closer.
 
“Wait, how do you know they are married?” Temor wondered. Although he called the two usurpers, for all he knew they were brother and sister.
 
“I fought the white unicorn out in the frozen waste, I haunted him as he tried to keep me out of the empire. He was brave, but foolish. His mind was strong, but I got in. He hated being helpless, so I rendered him helpless, blocked his magic and tossed him right back through the shield his wife had erected,” Sombra chuckled and glanced at his son. “You will soon learn the enjoyment of tormenting your enemies.”
 
Temor nodded, then his eyes shifted to the entrance of the cave. He thought he had seen light and now could see that dawn was coming. He also noticed that his father had fallen silent and soon learned why. Emerald was facing the incoming light and as soon as it hit her face, the crystal mare was disturbed from her slumber.
 
With a yawn, Emerald rose to her hooves. She immediately bowed to the prince who nodded to her. Then without a word, she went to the backpacks and started pulling out food to prepare some breakfast.
 
Father, can you hear me like this? Temor thought and glanced at his father who made no indication that he had heard him. Drat.
 
“I’m stepping out for a little bit, survey the area,” he told Emerald who just nodded. The unicorn walked out of the cave and walked away from it. Once he was sure he was out of earshot, he glanced at the spirit bound to him.
 
“You can’t hear my thoughts, father?” he asked and sighed when Sombra shook his head.
 
“I’m only bound to you as a shadow, I have no access to your mind in my current state,” the king told him.
 
“So, I’ll need to be careful that Emerald or anypony else doesn’t hear me talking to you,” Temor grunted. The spirit just nodded, confirming his words.
 
Temor fell silent and stared towards the south where Equestria lay. He had only vague memories of once living there, but the unicorn had no idea from what time he came and was certain that it was impossible he was now in his correct timeline, not knowing he had merely overshot some twenty-three years or so.
 
The prince had in fact far more clear memories of viewing that country as enemy grounds - he held no love towards the Celestial Sisters and held little regard towards the ponies they ruled. Temor subtly glanced at his cape-covered flank, grimacing a little when remembering his book cutie mark - a constant, dreadful reminder for him that he was in fact an Equestrian.





The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign
 
Private Iceland woke up with a start when something nudged him.  He quickly turned only to see the old blue crystal mare from yesterday. The boy blinked for a second, then glanced around and winced when seeing that he was still not home.
 
“I’m sorry to wake you, young sir, but I am to serve you breakfast and then the king wants you in the throne room,” the mare informed him.
 
The young colt shivered at the thought. He sat up in the bed and was presented with food on a tray. Private tilted his head - this wasn’t the usual breakfast served in his house. There was a strange corncob, some fruit and the bread was in a whole loaf instead of cut into slices. He looked at the mare who was pouring him a drink in a glass.
 
Private was a little confused. Just yesterday he had been locked in a cage, lying on moldy hay and given just enough to survive. Now he was waking up in a relatively soft bed and given what looked like a nice enough breakfast, though the colt already missed his mother’s pancakes.
 
“Would you like butter or honey with your bread, young sir?” the mare asked.
 
“I… uh dunno… can I have both?” he asked hesitantly.
 
“Of course, young sir.” She nodded and placed two crystal jars on the tray, one had honey and one had butter.
 
Not really knowing what else to do and feeling rather hungry, the boy started eating. So far it was the best food he had eaten in days. He wasn’t sure about the drink though, it smelled and tasted like fruit juice, but Private was used to there being more water in it.
 
Once he was done eating, the mare removed the tray and put it on the cart. Private supposed he felt a little better, but the boy wasn’t so sure about going to see the king. However, he didn’t dare disobey when told to come with the mare, so the little unicorn jumped off the bed and followed her out.
 
Fear and uncertainty were momentarily forgotten once more when they entered the long hallways. Most children would probably be a little spooked by the dark foreboding decor and the large guards in dark-looking armor, but all of it just held Private’s fascination. He had been in old castles before and seen rusty armor no longer in use, but seeing things in such pristine condition just made him gawk even more at it.
 
Private would have loved to ask questions about everything, however, he couldn’t work up the nerve. He still hadn’t quite forgotten who the castle belonged to and who he was meeting again.
 
The mare escorted the boy into the throne room, the colt whimpered a little when seeing the Dark King sitting on his throne and hid behind the crystal pony. Sombra didn’t notice as right now a small magical portal was right in front of him, an image of something was on it that was speaking to him.
 
“I am so touched that you thought of me regarding your little dilemma Somby, but you already know I can’t even cause a rainy day in the Crystal Empire, let alone cause some time spell to misfire,” a cheerful sounding voice came from the portal.
 
Private peeked from behind the mare.  He couldn’t see who was speaking through the portal and with it almost blocking the view of the king, the colt couldn’t see the unreadable expression the king had as he addressed the being.
 
“It was a mere fleeting thought to eliminate any possibilities,” Sombra said in a neutral tone. His eyes shifted to land on the mare and the glimpse of the boy behind her. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Discord, I have other matters to tend to.”
 
“Yes, yes Mr. Frowny Face. Would it kill you to smile? Oh, I suppose it would. Toodles, I have some chocolate rain to attend to myself and I do believe the princesses managed to give me the slip again,” the owner of the cheerful voice said and the portal vanished.
 
Sombra only snorted slightly before looking fully at the crystal pony and the cowering unicorn colt behind her. His expression still didn’t change as he motioned to the mare to step aside. The old pony bowed her head and shifted out of the way so that the king now had a full view of the boy.
 
“Well boy, nothing has changed, you are still here and there is little that can be done about that. You better get used to this situation, as this is your new home from now on,” Sombra started talking, watching Private, who shivered under his gaze.
 
“I am now your king, but you will not be my servant. I will be your father. I shall instruct you in the heritage of your distant ancestors, the dark ponies. A privilege, I realize, you might not appreciate at the present, but I have little doubt you will come around,” the king continued. The colt was now staring at him a little confused and unsure what he was hearing.
 
“Your days as an Equestrian, Private Iceland, are over. You are now from this day forth considered of my race and you will carry a name appropriate to dark pony royalty. You were brought here in fear and thus fear shall be your name, Temor.” Sombra stopped speaking, wanting to observe how the boy reacted to the news. He expected anger, but wasn’t surprised that there were tears as the colt sniffled and started to cry.
 
“You will learn, Temor, that tears bring you nothing,” the king said and glared at the mare who had started towards the boy to comfort him. The crystal pony froze for a second and backed away.
 
“In time you will see what a rare gift you have just received.”





The present.

Temor blinked out of his thoughts, memories having brought him to the last day he was considered Equestrian, the last time anyone addressed him by another name. The prince growled and tried to think of something else.
 
That name is dead, that boy is dead… why am I being constantly bothered by these memories now, he thought and turned back to the cave, not really noticing that his father was staring at him with a thoughtful expression.
 
Of course after that day the real training began, father began infusing his powers into me, teaching me magic, dark pony history… I hated the infusion, it hurt… but dammit, it was good for me, I had to… ah why am I thinking about this. It’s over, it’s done. The prince sneered and stalked back to the cave where Emerald had finished preparing a meager breakfast.
 
The prince sat down by the fire and started eating without even a glance at the crystal pony. She sat down and waited, not daring to eat before her master. At the entrance, the spirit of Sombra continued to watch his son.
 
We should be in Equestria in a day or so if we maintain the same speed. I wonder how much it has changed, the spirit thought to himself.
 
End chapter 6


> Chapter 7. The investigation begins.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 7

Shining Armor’s expression was stone hard as he watched the medical staff examine the body the guards had brought. It was probably unnecessary, they and Rainbow Dash had pretty much witnessed what had killed her, but it was protocol and it was always possible she had been under the influence of either magic or something else.

What was angering the prince was that they were still finding King Sombra’s influences within the Crystal Empire; collaborators who had willingly worked for him, both civilians and guards. Now a pony had killed herself in his name. Shining knew too well that was the hallmark of a fanatic and he was not looking forward to having to deal with that kind.

“Her name was Calcite. We have her on our list of suspected collaborators,” a guard informed him, standing beside his captain with a list in his hoof.

“Move her to the confirmed,” Shining muttered dryly, still not taking his eyes of the examination process.

“Our investigations indicated that she lived fairly well off during King Sombra’s rule. She lived in a nice house and could move about as she wished. She traded in gemstones and had suppliers from outside the Empire. We suspect King Sombra found it more beneficial to treat her better than the others,” the guard continued.

Shining Armor frowned. He wasn’t buying it. From what they had seen of King Sombra, he hadn’t exactly looked like a pony who cared that much for gems and jewels. The Crystal Heart maybe, but that was a power source. Even his chambers had been rather bereft of jewelry. They had found that broken tiara in that box, but otherwise the most luxury there had been the silk bedding on the crystal bed. There had also been gold cups studded with gems, but that was a common way to decorate drinking vessels of royalty.

“Investigate her house, talk with anypony she knew, we need to find out more about her,” he ordered. The guard saluted and left.

Was she covering for that Prince Temor? Did she know he was alive? the unicorn wondered.

Their search through the castle hadn’t revealed too much. They had found the prince’s room, but there wasn’t a lot in it, some old books on history, but that was about it. Just before he was called away after Dash had returned and reported the body, Cadance was going to show Twilight and her friends the lab they had found near the dungeon.

Shining Armor wondered if Temor or someone else had removed any items of importance from the room. Nothing had been reported missing, then again it was possible the Crystal Ponies didn’t even know what had been in the prince’s room.

“We can’t find any signs of magical influence, sir and it will take a little while to determine if there was any substance involved.” one of the medical staff finally turned to look at Shining Armor,  who nodded.

“Keep me posted.” He sighed and turned around to leave the room, there wasn’t much more he could do here anyway. He hoped the mares were having better luck uncovering more information about Temor.

The body had been brought to the medical wing of the guard barracks. There was still no operational hospital in the Crystal Empire, but medical ponies from both Manehattan and Vanhoover were expected to arrive soon to set it up and instruct the Crystal Ponies in modern medicine.

Shining Armor headed outside and was going to head back to the castle when he saw two of his guards preventing a crystal pony from going further. It was a stallion, blue with a maroon mane and tail.

“Is there a problem?” he asked, approaching the three ponies.

“It is possible, sir,” the crystal pony said. Shining now saw that he was roughly middle aged. Then he remembered who this pony was.

“Ah Bright Spark, we are still reviewing your information,” the prince told him, recalling that this was one of the many crystal guards who was still under investigation.

“I know, sir and I am patiently waiting for the outcome of that, however, I heard that you brought the body of a crystal pony who killed herself near Little Crystal,” Bright Spark responded, keeping a respectful tone in his voice.

Shining Armor frowned slightly, but he supposed it was difficult to hide the fact a body had been brought to the city. “I take it you have some information to share with us?”

“That depends, sir. What was her name?” the crystal pony asked.

“We have confirmed that her name was Calcite,” Shining Armor decided to risk the information. Bright Spark was one of the crystal guards who had by now been confirmed had been hypnotized and forced to work for King Sombra. The unicorn was just waiting for a final clearance that he and few other guards were no longer under the influence of their former king before reinstating them.

Bright Spark’s expression hardened when hearing the name the prince gave. Shining also noted a hint of worry in his eyes.

“What is wrong?” Shining Armor asked.

“I can’t say too much, not out here,” the crystal pony started to look around as if he feared someone was listening. His voice lowered to a whisper. “They are the King’s secret enforcers, his eyes and ears. They are fanatically devoted to him, practically worship him as a god.”

“Who?” the unicorn frowned. The two pegasi guards glanced at each other, unsure what to think of what they were hearing.

“The Order of Umbrum, sir,” Bright Spark’s voice was barely audible when saying the name and now real fright was visible in his eyes.

“Let him through,” Shining Armor ordered the guards who immediately stepped aside. “We need to speak in my office.”





“Well I suppose it make sense, we don’t all need to investigate that ghastly looking laboratory,” Rarity said as she, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie entered the room they now knew had belonged to Prince Temor. The three of them had returned to it to see if they had overlooked something, while Cadance, Twilight, Applejack and Rainbow Dash took a closer look at the lab.

“I still can’t believe Rainbow Dash saw a pony kill herself,” Fluttershy muttered and shuddered a little. Her two friends could only just nod in agreement, when Rainbow had returned and told them what had happened. Even Pinkie Pie had paled up in horror.

Prince Temor’s room had a nice-looking bed, there was a dresser, a desk, shelves filled with books and scrolls and a closet. A side door led to a personal washroom, due to the age of the castle it was obviously one thousand years out of date with no signs of indoor plumbing.

Rarity started with inspecting the closet, opening it using her magic. The fashionista had to admit being curious what clothing the Prince had regularly worn aside from the cape and armor. The unicorn was mildly impressed to find a finely woven red silk robe.

“He certainly had some taste,” she murmured as the mare rescued the robe from the closet and started looking it over. “Not quite in style anymore, but I bet he must have looked quite dapper in it. Hmm, actually I wonder if I could bring this design back - a callback from the Crystal Empire?”

Fluttershy only hummed and nodded as she was closest to Rarity while checking through the dresser. The drawers were mostly empty. There was a comb and a brush and other items she figured were used back then for mane and coat care.

“Nothing but dust under here,” Pinkie Pie reported crawling out from under the bed, having squeezed herself under it earlier.

“Nothing in the dresser,” the yellow pegasus said. She and Pinkie then noticed that Rarity had neatly folded up the robe, placed it on a chair and was now inspecting the inside of the closet.

“There are scribbles inside this closet. Very faint,” the unicorn told them. “Not really easy to see without some light.”

Soon enough three heads were peeking into the closet. Thanks to Rarity’s horn that now illuminated the inside, they could indeed see faint scribbles at the very bottom of the closet. They weren’t flowing, but looked more like the clumsy mouth-writing of a young foal.

“What do they say?” Pinkie wondered, tilting her head this way and that to try and make sense of the writing.

“Let’s see now, it does look like someone later tried to scratch over them to remove them or conceal them. I think that one there says, ‘home’ and that one, ‘hurt’,” Rarity answered as she peered at the scribbles. She took one step into the closet to try and see better, the bottom gave way a bit, revealing it to be false.

The three ponies blinked, Rarity quickly stepped back and removed the bottom. Now they could see a few worn papers and old, wooden toys. The unicorn carefully lifted the papers up and noted they had the same foal mouth writing on them.

“Hi, I’m Emerald. I know am not supposed to talk to you, but I’m not talking to you, I’m writing you notes. What is your name?” Rarity read on one. She turned it around and arched her brow when seeing that on the back was written in a similar clumsy foal writing. “Private Iceland. But the king calls me Temor now.”

“I hope you like the toys.” Pinkie grabbed one of the notes and read it. Turning it around revealed a response. “I do. Thanks.”

“Are you alright? I heard you crying,” Fluttershy took the third note and read from it. Once more there was a response on the back. “No. He keeps forcing magic into me. I want him to stop. It hurts.”

The three friends exchanged glances. There were a few more notes and most of them were similar - Emerald wrote something and Temor responded on the back. It seemed though that Temor kept the notes. Rarity wondered if it was because it was easier for him to keep them hidden. She doubted King Sombra would have liked his son sharing notes with a slave.

“What happened yesterday?” Rarity had arrived at one of the last notes. Flipping it she saw a response. “He caught me writing on the note. He burned it with his magic, asked who had written me. I lied, I said nopony, that I was just playing. I don’t think he believed me.”

“Oh no, do you think they are alright?” Pinkie gasped in shock.

“Darling, this happened a thousand years ago, Temor is an adult now and so is Emerald,” Rarity reminded her friend gently.

“Oooh, right,” the earth pony grinned sheepishly. She had gotten so into the notes she had temporarily forgotten that little fact.

“What does the last note say?” Fluttershy wondered.

Rarity scanned it at first with her eyes, preparing to read it, then her brow sunk a little. She quickly turned it around to see the back side was blank.

“I know you have stopped writing back, I know you don’t remember me anymore because the king did something to you, but I still like you, Private Iceland. Maybe one day we can be friends again. Love, Emerald.”

Rarity noted that the mouth-writing was a little more refined and better worded, indicating it was at least written by an older foal than the first notes. She quickly scanned over the other notes and definitely saw improvement in the writings as they processed, indicating that time had passed between each one.

“But, if he had forgotten her, why is this note there with the rest of them?” Rarity frowned, still staring at the papers.

“Well, Emerald became Temor’s personal slave. Maybe she put that last note there,” Fluttershy suggested. She could really see no other explanation. Both her friends nodded in agreement.

The notes were carefully put on the dresser in a neat stack. Pinkie Pie grabbed the wooden toys and put them next to the notes. Rarity then poked her head back into the closet to light up the hidden compartment again, but it was empty now, so she returned the false bottom to it.

“We should show these notes to Twilight and Princess Cadance, but I do believe we may have solved the mystery of who Emerald was waiting for,” Rarity said as she grabbed the papers again with her magic.

“Yeah, she must have remembered how Temor used to be and maybe she is secretly hoping he remembers again and maybe even went with him willingly now that King Sombra is dead, wanting to reunited with her old friend,” Pinkie Pie said with a huge smile. Fluttershy and Rarity glanced at each other. They had to admit the notes did support Pinkie’s theory.

With the room otherwise thoroughly explored now, the three mares trotted out of the room. Pinkie Pie quickly returned though to grab the wooden toys and hid them in her mane, grinning innocently as she returned to her friends who hadn’t even noticed.





Twilight stared at the cage. It was located in one corner of the laboratory. It had old hay for bedding, a bowl and was just big enough that an adult pony could lie down in it. The unicorn wondered what the cage had been for and who had been the unfortunate occupants.

The laboratory was illuminated by a dim red light producing from the very walls. They had lit up the moment the four ponies had walked in. It had a few tables with various equipment for both magical and chemical experiments. Most of it was centuries out of date by today’s standards, though Twilight had spotted some primitive versions of things she had used herself back in school.

Rainbow Dash hung back, not really that interested in the lab. Applejack looked around for a little bit before noticing. The orange mare went to the blue one, having a feeling she knew what was bothering the pegasus.

“You want to talk about it?” she asked gently.

“What’s there to talk about? A pony killed herself in King Sombra’s name,” Rainbow snorted, ignoring the glances from Cadance and Twilight.

Applejack considered prodding, but an exclamation from Twilight caught their attention. The purple unicorn had found a stand with an old looking journal on it. Curious, the apple farmer ventured closer and Rainbow reluctantly followed.

“Let’s see now… oh darn it’s in dark pony script!” Twilight sighed in frustration, she had been excited to see the journal, hoping to glean all kinds of insights into King Sombra from it and maybe even clues about Prince Temor, but to her dismay a very foreign language greeted her eyes.

“Dark pony?” Applejack didn’t like the sound of that name.

“It’s an extinct pony race that lived mostly north of Saddle Arabia,” her bookish friend explained. “I can translate this, but I’ll need to take the journal to the library in Canterlot and it will take few days.”

“By then Prince Temor could completely disappear with Emerald,” Cadence pointed out with a worried frown.

“Then maybe we’ll need somepony who can read that?” Applejack suggested. Twilight and Cadance looked to her, then back at the book.

“It is possible somepony at Canterlot Science Society has a dark pony expert. It is an obscure field in Hippology, but it is always possible,” Twilight muttered, tapping her muzzle with a hoof.

“Uh, what do hippos have to do with this?” Rainbow Dash chimed in, arching her brow.

“Oh no,” Twilight chuckled. “Hippology means the study of horses and ponies. It’s from an old Hippeios word, meaning ‘horse’. The ‘hippopotamus’ that you’re thinking of, Rainbow, just means ‘water horse’.”

Rainbow Dash had to hold back a remark about eggheads. Right now the pegasus just wasn’t in the mood to give her friend a hard time.

“Of course, it’s always possible either Princess Celestia or Princess Luna can read this,” the unicorn then noted. Cadance nodded and closed the journal and gave it to Twilight.

“Then it’s probably faster if you take the journal to Canterlot. Shining and I will keep an eye out for any more clues here in the Crystal Empire,” the princess told her.

Twilight nodded and sighed a little, regretting now having sent Spike home. She could have used him to send a message immediately to the princesses. The four ponies left the laboratory and met up with Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy near the throne room.

Rarity explained what they had discovered in Temor’s room and her purple friend immediately began pouring through the notes. Twilight already noted the same as the white unicorn had about the notes, frowning when seeing the last note.

“So, his name is actually Private Iceland and by the looks of it, King Sombra was doing horrible things to him since he was just a colt.” Twilight shuddered and placed the notes in the journal for safe keeping.

“But where did King Sombra get him?” Cadance asked, looking a little grimmer after hearing what the notes said.

“That answer might be in the journal,” her sister-in-law responded and patted the book with a hoof. She then looked at her friends. “Well girls, while Cadance and Shining Armor continue investigate here, I’m going back to Canterlot to get this journal translated. You can either stay here and help them, or come with me.”

“I’m staying,” Rainbow Dash said firmly, fire in her eyes suddenly. “I’m getting to the bottom of this crazy pony that killed herself.”

“Ah’ll stay with Rainbow,” Applejack offered, more because she felt someone needed to keep an eye on their rainbow-maned friend.

It was thus four ponies that headed back to the train station. Twilight walked, deep in thought, thinking about everything they had learned so far. Once they were aboard the train, she poured again over the notes Rarity had found and the notes Celestia had given her. She even opened the journal a few times, hoping to at least find some passages that were in another language, one she understood.

Fluttershy and Rarity sat closest to the studious unicorn, though neither said a word, and just enjoyed the train ride. Pinkie, who sat the furthest away, pulled out one of the wooden toys from her mane - it was a crudely carved horse figure, painted to look like it had armor, clearly meant to be a soldier.

I wonder if she gave it to him to make him smile, it must have been super hard to smile living with that big meanie king, she thought, stroking the toy with a hoof.

What Pinkie Pie couldn’t possibly know was that one piece was missing from the wooden toy set. Another pony figure, now carefully hidden in the backpack of the missing crystal pony who had given them originally to the dark prince so long ago.

End chapter 7
> Chapter 8. Arrival in Equestria.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8

Prince Temor arched his brow at the green lush landscape that now greeted him. Glancing back, he saw the frozen tundra of the north that led towards the Crystal Empire. Forward however, were green grassy fields with lakes and streams, a forest was also nearby and the occasional cloud in the sky looked very white and fluffy.

“So… this is Equestria,” Temor muttered. In a distant memory he actually found something vaguely familiar about all of this, but it was buried so deep that the prince almost considered it simply a dream.

“Parts of it, at least,” Sombra said and frowned a little. Things had definitely changed in his eyes. The spirit had no recollection of the landscape looking like this beyond the borders.

Temor grunted and glanced at Emerald who was the only one staring in awe. The mare, having been brought up in the dark bleak city under Sombra’s oppressive rule, had never experienced this much color or plant-life.

“Well at least if you run out of rations, you will still have food,” Sombra remarked. His son had to really restrain himself from whirling around to stare confused at the spirit. Instead Temor looked forward, eyed to his side and whispered, “What exactly are you talking about?”

The dead king didn’t vocally respond, instead just pointed towards the green grassy fields in front of them. It took a second for Temor to realize what he meant, the unicorn had to summon a lot of willpower not to sneer in disgust.

“You mean… grass… right off the ground?” He quickly eyed Emerald to see if she had heard his sharp whisper. Fortunately, the crystal pony was still too distracted by the pretty looking landscape to notice.

“We’re on the road, Temor, that means eating what is available to you,” his father snorted. “At least you don’t have to find meat as well.”

Temor cringed at the remark, another reminder to him that he was not a true dark pony. His father’s race had been omnivorous and ate meat products just as much as plants. Being Equestrian, the prince was herbivorous and had never eaten meat in his life.

“Is that a city up in the clouds?” Emerald remarked startled before remembering herself and flinched, half ready to be struck for speaking without permission. She didn’t need to worry, however, as Temor had looked and was equally startled to see in the distance what looked like a city up in the sky.

“Cloudsdale, the ancient capital of the Pegasi Tribes…it looks different,” Sombra muttered and arched his ghostly brow.

“They have a city up in the clouds?” Temor all but shouted, just as baffled as the crystal pony. His father looked at him and was mildly confused.

“Don’t tell me that your most distant memories don’t recall the pegasi city of Cloudsdale?” he inquired.

Temor was a little embarrassed now. Of course he knew that the pegasi did have a city only they could reach, but the young stallion had always assumed it was high up in the mountains, not literally on clouds up in the skies.

“Cloudsdale has never been conquered. It’s mobility and position in the skies makes it one of the most formidable fortresses in all of Equestria. Only Canterlot could arguably be considered more superior due to all the magic that’s contained there,” his father said and continued to stare towards the distant cloud city with a heavy frown.

“What about when Discord conquered Equestria?” Temor whispered and subtly glanced towards his father.

“Didn’t you hear what I said about the mobility? They moved the entire city...guess where?” Sombra looked at him. He noted that Emerald was too engrossed in looking around since Temor hadn’t punished her for speaking up.

“Over the Crystal Empire…your magic and the Crystal Heart kept Discord out…you didn’t mind?” Temor also noticed that his concubine was busy so he risked speaking more directly with the spirit. Sombra’s response was to simply nod.

“Of course, not directly above the city, but within my area of influence. I paid it no mind. The Pegasi were too busy helping the Princesses find ways to defeat Discord and I suppose I foolishly thought that by granting them this sanctuary the Princesses would in the end leave me alone.” The dead king sighed in dismay.

Temor just nodded and started to walk onwards as there was no real point in standing where they were. Emerald followed immediately and behind them floated the spirit of Sombra. The king arched his brow a little when noticing that the crystal pony was occasionally giving the prince a glance.

Curious...I do wonder about you, Sombra thought and for now remained silent, wanting to see how this would develop.





The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign.

“Come along, Emerald don’t delay,” Reflective Quartz whispered sharply to her youngest daughter as they made their way down the hallway that lead to the slave quarters. The yellow crystal mare wouldn’t relax until she was back in her room and had counted her foals.

Emerald trailed behind her mother. The little filly had been helping her with the chores as she was still too young to be assigned special duties. During the work, she had spotted a young colt the girl had never seen in the castle before. When Emerald had asked about him, her mother had just shushed her and told her to keep working.

The girl didn’t really understand why there were so many rules, still too young to fully understand that she was a slave just like most of the other crystal ponies. The colt had sparked her curiosity because so far, she and her siblings were the only children present in the castle.

Amber is teaching me to write, maybe I can write him a note, maybe he will be my friend, she thought and smiled a little. Aside from her siblings, she’s never had a friend before.

Her mother sighed in relief when seeing a purple-colored colt sitting outside the door to their room. The boy was a little older than Emerald, close to his teen years. He rose when seeing them arrive. He looked really tired.

“Rubinstein.” Reflective reached to hug the boy. “Where is Amber?”

“Inside,” Rubinstein responded quietly.

Emerald happily greeted her brother who managed to crack a smile at her in response. Other slaves hanging around also smiled when hearing the cheerful voice of the girl. The little family entered the room. On the ground in one corner, lying on blankets, was a purple filly around the same age as Rubinstein, maybe a year or two older. She looked tiredly up when her family entered.

“Amber,” Reflective smiled weakly and walked over to her daughter and they rubbed their heads together.

“Mom… he was looking at me again,” Amber whispered, causing her mother to frown slightly.

Emerald paid little attention to the talk. After greeting her sister, the filly went to her own corner. There, in a worn bag, the girl stored what little she was allowed to own; a few pieces of paper and some chalk to practice her writing and some wooden toys that had belonged to her brother, but once he had gotten older and had more duties, he had passed them on to her.

The filly sat down and for now played with her toys while she thought what she should write the colt. Emerald also wondered how she would deliver the note. The girl didn’t even know where he was staying in the castle.

A knock on the door caused all four ponies inside to look over, three of them with half-dread. Emerald was the only one to show genuine curiosity in her expression. Reflective walked over to the entrance of their room and carefully opened it, half-worried who she would see on the other side. The mare visibly relaxed when seeing the old blue crystal mare on the other side.

“I’m terribly sorry to disturb your rest, Quartz,” the old mare said and smiled apologetically.

“No, no it’s alright, Turquoise. Do you need anything?” the younger mare asked.

“Here is the thing. The king has appointed me as the nursemaid to the young child he’s adopted recently. I was hoping I could count on you to assist me if need be as you are the only one of us here who has children,” Turquoise explained.

Emerald perked her ears when hearing this. Since she usually accompanied her mother during the day, this could mean she could deliver the notes herself. The girl was pretty sure they were talking about the colt.

“I will have to rein Emerald in. She is still so curious… but yes, yes you can call on me if you need me,” Reflective assured the old mare who nodded her thanks.

Turquoise left the little family and Reflective stepped over to where her youngest daughter was still playing. Emerald looked up. She could already guess what her mother was about to say considering what she had just said to the other mare.

“Emerald, it is very important that if we go and help Turquoise that you do not talk with the colt. I know you probably want to, but don’t,” her mother said. It was pretty much what the girl was expecting.

“Okay,” Emerald whispered. One thing she had already learned was that it was pointless to question why.





The present.

Emerald stretched her sore limbs, trying not to make any noise. The prince was sleeping right next to her and the mare knew too well not to disturb him. They had walked for a long time before finally making camp near the edge of the forest. They still hadn’t seen any sign of a town or other civilization aside from the still distant cloud city.

The crystal mare sat up and sighed a little. The environment was very alien to her, the noises from the forests didn’t sound like the howling wind of the frozen north, things felt more alive and the magic in the air felt more wholesome. She just wasn’t used to all this - the only familiarity was in the stallion snoring next to her.

I hope they are all right, not trying anything dumb like looking for me, she thought and glanced over at Temor. I just had to get him away. They would have strung him up, considered him just as guilty as the king.

Emerald allowed herself to smile now that the prince wasn’t looking, not knowing that another pair of eyes were watching everything intently. The mare carefully edged herself to the saddlebags and silently opened one and started to rummage through it. She stopped when uncovering an item - an old wooden figure of a pony warrior. The mare didn’t pick it up, just stared at it.

He may not remember the notes and the things we shared, the king finally did something to him, forced him to forget, she thought and reached in to pet the figure. The mane and tail had been crudely painted in a yellow color. But the prince never told him that it was me, that I was his only friend the whole time.

The mare covered the figure up and closed the bag. Carefully, she crawled back to lie next to the prince, thankful that he was a very heavy sleeper.

I don’t know how I’ll get him to remember, but until I figure that out, I must stick by him and ensure he isn’t caught. I owe it to him for never revealing me. Emerald laid her head down and tried to go back to sleep, unaware of the ghostly eyes that had watched her every move.

King Sombra hadn’t missed a thing, seeing the warm smile Emerald gave his son, the wooden toy in the bag and the conflict brewing in her eyes. The spirit furrowed his brow in thought, gliding closer, staring intently at the mare who was starting to slumber.

Is it possible? he thought. Did I guess right that it was you?

Sombra had always known about the notes his son received, yet Temor always claimed it was just him playing. The king knew that the boy had clearly been friends with one of the slaves in the castle. He just never really could pinpoint who, though he had his suspicions.

The toys, the missing confections...I must admit of all my slaves, you always did look surprisingly content with your life, the spirit frowned and now he did wish he could enter Emerald’s mind.

I must admit I chose you to become the concubine of my son based on those suspicions, figuring if it was you, what a cruel irony it would be that you were now the personal slave of the colt you had called friend, who could now do with you as he pleased. Sombra started to smirk but it quickly dropped as this train of thought reminded him of something else. Of course then I had to explain to Temor what concubines were for… that was rather embarrassing.

Then again, carnal desires were never of much interest to Temor. He was always much more intent on his studies, always eager to impress me. His gaze shifted towards his slumbering son.

A soft sound caught the spirit’s attention. He glanced over and saw movements up in the trees. Sombra frowned and wondered if he should rouse the prince. The dead king was about to float over to Temor when the moonlight escaped the clouds and landed on the trees, revealing the faint outline of a few bats fluttering around.

Sombra snorted and relaxed a little, returning his gaze to the sleeping ponies. He scowled when hearing whimpers coming from Temor. The spirit floated closer to his son and seeing that he was still asleep could only conclude that the prince was having a nightmare.





The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign.

Private Iceland or Temor as he was now called, screamed in both fear and pain. The colt struggled hard against the magic that held him in place as dark magic energy kept pouring into his horn. Over him stood King Sombra. The stallion showed no emotions as he held the boy in place with his dark powers and kept pouring a portion of them straight into him.

“Stop! Please! It hurts! I will be good! Stop, please!” Temor sobbed, but to no avail. This hurt so much more than the spells and potions the dark king had poured into him in the lab.

There was no response from the king. He just kept pouring his magic into the colt despite the pleas. Nearby stood Turquoise, cringing and her heart stinging at hearing the cries from the child, but the old mare didn’t dare interrupt her master.

Finally, the procedure stopped, Temor bolted off the moment the magic hold was released. Sombra didn’t follow. Instead he just glanced at the old slave. She shivered at the cold,  emotionless gaze of the king.

“Bring him back to me,” Sombra snorted.

Turquoise could only bow before she reluctantly went to chase down the fleeing colt. The King waited, casually examining the steel hoofguards on his right hoof while doing so. After a little while the slave returned, forced to drag the protesting and crying colt with her.

“S-sorry my lord. He hid inside a closet,” Turquoise whimpered, feeling almost ill for having to bring the child back to the king.

“I don’t want to hear your pitiful excuses, slave. Bring my son to me!” King Sombra growled and his eyes flickered green for a moment.

“No, no I don’t want to go… no!” Temor cried as the old mare was forced to push him towards the towering, dark stallion.

“It is your Equestrian blood that is making this procedure hurt so much, Temor,” King Sombra growled as he once again grabbed Temor, but this time with his normal red-colored magic and forced the colt to stand in front of him.

“But your dark pony ancestry is already welcoming back the dark magic that was natural to your ancestors but has been weeded out of you through centuries of breeding with lesser races.” Sombra allowed a smile to cross his muzzle as he looked at the tear-stained face of his adopted son. “You may not recognize it now, but you will one day look back at this day and thank me for giving back to you what was robbed from your ancestors.”

Temor didn’t have the courage to shout that he would never thank him. The colt just wanted to run away, hide somewhere and preferably stay there forever. All he did was stare back, whimper and shiver. He flinched as much as he could while held in the red magic aura when an iron-clad hoof was placed on his back.

“I will make you strong, bring your ancestry forth. You have already taken the first step, but there are many more to take. You will leave now with your nursemaid and she will prepare you for the literary part of your studies. I expect to see you in the library within an hour,” the dark voice of the king told him, surprisingly gently compared to the harsh tone Sombra had spoken in just moments earlier.





The present

Temor bolted up from his sleep, breathing heavily, sweat pouring down from his body. The young stallion scrambled to his feet and almost ran forward blindly, but the prince stopped just before he crashed right into a tree.

“Sire?”

The prince looked back and saw Emerald watching him with concern from the spot they had been sleeping in. Temor didn’t respond. Right now his eyes were wide open with fear and he was still breathing heavily and it was taking him a moment to calm back down.

“My lord, are you alright?” the crystal pony risked asking. It was clear to her that her master had woken up from a powerful nightmare.

“I’m fine!” Temor snarled between his teeth and looked away. The stallion fixed his eyes on the tree in front of him, seething as he tried to calm down from the memories that had plagued him during the night.

He was right. It was for my own good. I needed those powers. They were my birthright. I’m a dark pony. I’M A DARK PONY! NOT A WEAK, PATHETIC EQUESTRIAN WHO CRIES HIMSELF TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT! The prince was pretty much screaming internally, trying to force the memories away and bury them.

Calm down...father is watching me...must not show weakness. He wants me to be strong. Must be strong. Finally, Temor took a deep breath and let it out slowly, marginally calming down when remembering that the spirit of his father was present. He just couldn’t address him while Emerald was directly watching them.

“What time is it?” the prince turned around and could see the moon lowering in the horizon and the first light of the sun beginning to show itself.

“I-I can make you breakfast, my lord,” Emerald offered and when getting a silent nod from her master, moved to the saddlebags.

Tartarus, I hope father didn’t see that,Temor thought as he walked back to the campsite and sat down while waiting for his food.

The prince failed to see King Sombra emerge from the shadows of the tree he had nearly crashed into. The spirit was staring gravely at him - he hadn’t missed a thing and could already guess what his son had been dreaming about.

My son, Sombra thought. I’m… I’m sorry.

End Chapter 8


> Chapter 9. Mirage.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 9

“Professor Mirage Rock, there is a Twilight Sparkle and her friends here to see you.”

The old bluish-gray unicorn mare glanced up from the work that was piled up in front of her on the desk. In the doorframe of her office stood her secretary. Mirage regarded the yellowish earth pony for a moment. She had been so deep in her work that it was taking her a moment to focus again on the present.

“Oh, do I have anything scheduled?” she asked and glanced at the clock on the wall to see what time it was.

“No ma’am, just a meeting later in the afternoon, otherwise your schedule is free,” the secretary informed her.

Mirage eyed the mess on her desk. She quickly began tidying up the stacks of papers, grinning uneasily. She cringed when seeing that some of the framed photographs had been toppled over and quickly set them back up. One photo she stared at the longest, a small, weak smile crossing her lips before it changed into a perkier one as the old mare turned her attention back to her still-waiting secretary.

“All right I think I’m ready. Show them in,” she informed her and sat up straight behind the desk.

The secretary just chuckled slightly, clearly used to her employer and her antics, before leaving the office. Shortly later, Twilight Sparkle entered, right behind her came Fluttershy and a bouncing Pinkie Pie.

“Hello Professor Rock, thanks for seeing us on such a short notice,” Twilight greeted the professor with a grateful smile.

“Oh please, just call me Mirage. You don’t work for me nor are you my student. I think we can let formalities fly,” the old mare chuckled.

Hi Mirage, I’m Pinkie Pie and that’s Fluttershy,” Pinkie Pie greeted enthusiastically and presented the yellow pegasus with a flourish. Fluttershy just smiled and waved. “Our friend Rarity is here, too, but she had to use the restroom.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Mirage nodded and then looked at Twilight. “So is there a reason you came here for a visit? Not that I don’t mind visitors, always nice to get a little chance of pace.”

“Actually yes, there is,” Twilight said and produced the journal out of the saddlebag. “I was told that you are the foremost expert on the study of dark ponies.”

“Well I don’t like to brag, but yes they are a subject of great interest to me.” Mirage nodded and watched as the younger unicorn presented the journal to her. “What is this?”

“This is the journal of King Sombra, the former tyrant of the Crystal Empire,” Twilight explained in a quieter voice. The return of the empire and the defeat of its evil king was still not widely known and she wasn’t sure how much she could personally spread about it right now. Celestia hadn’t even made an announcement yet in the papers.

While Twilight explained their situation to the professor, Fluttershy and Pinkie began exploring the office. The two soon gravitated to the picture frames on the desk. They blinked when seeing a familiar face on one of them.

“Wait, isn’t that Dinky, Derpy’s daughter?” Pinkie exclaimed before remembering herself and grinned sheepishly. Fortunately Mirage only chuckled at the interruption.

“Yes, she’s my granddaughter. Her father is my son,” Mirage said and gestured to another photo. It showed a dark gray stallion with a blonde mane and tail, his cutie mark a brick wall. Next to him was a maroon pegasus with a navy blue mane and tail, her muzzle and back were white and so were parts of her right front leg and left hind leg. Her cutie mark was three suns. On that picture was also a black unicorn filly with silver gray hair and a slightly older gray brown pegasus filly.

“That’s him, Barricade, with his wife Foxy Stripes. Their daughter is the little unicorn, Coal. The pegasus filly is Cara. He had her with another mare before meeting Derpy or Foxy,” she explained rather happily of her family.

“They all look lovely,” Fluttershy complimented. Then her eyes were drawn to a picture of two colts, both very young, no older than two or three years old. They were dark gray with blonde manes and tails. She noted that one had blue eyes and the other’s were indigo. Looking at the picture of Barricade with his wife, she saw that that stallion had indigo-colored eyes.

“Oooh, who is that?” Pinkie pointed at the blue-eyed colt, having noticed the same.

Twilight immediately noticed how the older mare got sadder. Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie soon followed that observation when there was no answer from the professor.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to fall silent,” Mirage smiled weakly. “That’s my other son. Private Iceland.”

Twilight’s eyes opened wide in shock when hearing the name. Fluttershy gasped and grabbed her mouth with a hoof. Pinkie’s jaw was scraping the floor. The old mare noticed the strange reaction of the younger ponies and arched her brow.

“I hope it’s not a too personal question, but where is Private Iceland?” Twilight Sparkle asked. Mirage’s expression turned sad again and she looked down at her desk.

“Well… it happened 23 years ago. My boys were six. I put them to bed one night and the next morning when I went in to wake them up and prepare them for school… there was only Barricade,” Mirage’s whispered and tried to hold back tears. “Private was just gone, vanished without a trace. He was never found. Something happened to my poor baby… and I don’t even know what.”

Twilight looked at her friends. Even Pinkie was cringing as they all three realized they were about to answer a 23-year-old mystery for the old mare.

Finally Twilight Sparkle put on a determined look and approached the table with both the journal and the notes Rarity had found and the papers Celestia had given her. Fluttershy dared to go behind the desk to console the old mare and apologize for bringing up the bad memories.

Once Mirage had calmed down, the purple unicorn began to explain to the professor in far more detail what they were doing and why, telling her about Temor and that that the journal might contain the answer as to how Sombra had gotten him. Then finally Twilight took the greatest risk - she gave Mirage the notes written by the foals a thousand years ago.

The three friends held their breaths as Mirage took the notes and began reading them. Her eyes widened and she gasped when reading the one where Temor identified himself with his real name. The notes dropped from the professor’s magical grasp, but instead of becoming upset again, she instead grabbed the journal and carefully opened it.

“Yes, it’s written in dark pony script. I can read this… he’s talking about pulling ponies back in time, infusing them with spells so that he could possess them if he died in their timeline,” Mirage spoke in a hurried voice as she poured through the book. “Oh my,” the old unicorn fell silent when she reached a page and put a hoof over her mouth.

“You found something?” Twilight asked intrigued.

“Y-yes,” Mirage bit her lips. “He describes… a colt… he pulled back.”

The old unicorn looked at the picture of her two sons. Then she looked at the younger mares, her expression was turning sad again.

“Excuse me… I think I need some time alone,” she whispered.

“Of course, I’m so sorry to have brought all of this up. If I had only known,” Twilight said apologetically.

“It’s alright. At least I’m finally getting some answers,” Mirage smiled weakly.

The three younger ponies hurried out of the office after saying goodbye. The professor promised to be in touch with what she discovered. Out in the lobby, they met up with Rarity.

“Oh, that was quick. Did you meet with the professor?” the unicorn asked when seeing her friends.

Twilight nodded and explained what had happened on their way out of the building. Rarity gasped in shock when told that Mirage was actually Temor’s mother.

“This does answer how Sombra got Temor… I mean Private Iceland,” Twilight shook her head. In her mind she was resolved to refer to the prince now by his actual name. “But there was also the implication that he would be sent back. Why didn’t that happen?”

The purple unicorn realized that the answer to that was probably in the journal, so they would have to wait until Mirage had recovered and could report on her findings. Wanting to digest this newest reveal, the four friends found a nearby café to sit down. Pinkie Pie ordered herself a giant sundae, but the other mares settled on tea.

“Six years old...that means he must still have some memories of his past before Sombra,” Twilight muttered as she thought the recent events over. “Of course, we need to find him first.”

“You think after 23 years of living with King Sombra, he will even remember anything before that?” Fluttershy asked. She had the most concerned expression of her friends.

“I’m sure if we tell him about the family he has it will bring back some happy memories,” Pinkie Pie nodded eagerly.

“Yes, I mean it can’t have been a happy life he led with that awful monster,” Rarity agreed. Twilight nodded in agreement, though she was only half-listening. Fluttershy looked unsure, but didn’t voice her disagreement.

The café was located across the street from the Canterlot Science Society building and from where the mares sat outside. It thus didn’t escape their attention when they saw a familiar old mare step out of the building, wearing a cloak now and carrying saddlebags.

“Hey isn’t that Mirage?” Pinkie Pie remarked. Twilight and Fluttershy nodded. Rarity had not seen the Professor, so all she could really do was look over.

Mirage glanced around before trotting off. Twilight Sparkle wondered where she was going dressed like that. The unicorn had noticed a familiar book sticking a bit out of the bag, rose up and quickly started following her.

“Twilight?” Rarity addressed her, but all her bookish friend did was shush her and gesture for her friends to follow.

Shrugging, Rarity and Fluttershy obeyed. Pinkie was about to come too when her sundae arrived to their table. The pink pony cringed, glancing between the treat and her friends who were now following the professor from a discreet distance. With a resolve in her eyes, Pinkie grabbed the large glass and gulped the entire contents at once before bolting after the others.

Meanwhile, Twilight, Fluttershy and Rarity had followed Mirage into the deeper parts of Canterlot. They watched her approach an old house with a steel fence surrounding it. Old looking statues of ferocious birds guarded the entrance. Without hesitating, the professor pulled a string and the gate opened, letting her in.

“I know that place,” Twilight muttered. “It’s home of the owner of the curio shop. I don’t remember his name. He always has strange things to sell.”

Rarity and Fluttershy just nodded. Before the three mares ventured closer, Pinkie Pie caught up with them. Twilight shushed her, fearing Mirage would hear them as the old pony was still outside the house. When the professor showed no sign of having noticed the mares, they risked going closer.

As they hid in some bushes near the steel fence, the door to the house opened and a gray earth stallion peeked out. His indigo mane was braided and he wore a curious looking hat and on his muzzle rested indigo-tinted glasses.

“Ah, Sister Mirage, what brings you here? The meeting is not for another hour,” the stallion remarked as he furtively glanced around.

“Brother Wing, I bring news. News of the Return,” Mirage whispered and patted the saddlebag. The eyes of the stallion widened in surprise.

“Then by all means, come inside. We will alert the High Shadow,” he said and opened the door wider to let the mare inside.

The four spying ponies watched as Mirage entered the house before glancing at each other, unsure what they had just witnessed. Taking a deep breath, Twilight risked a teleportation spell to get them inside the fence and closer to the house. She was fortunately getting better at those, so it didn’t cause too loud an explosion or a too a bright flash. They thus managed to sneak over to a window where they saw movements and peeked inside.

Mirage was sitting down on a couch. She had dropped the cloak, looking forlorn. The stallion was holding the journal and the notes. He looked at the old unicorn skeptically.

“You are sure this tells of the Return?” he asked, unconvinced.

“No. This does not speak of the Return. I was told of the Return by the mares that brought me this journal and the notes,” Mirage clarified.

“It has already happened?” the stallion gasped in shock.

“It appear so. It just hasn’t been announced. He was defeated in battle as foretold but… his son… his heir,” Mirage choked on the words. “It’s my boy who disappeared 23 years ago. The journal tells how the king brought him to the past.”

“Your son was the Chosen one?” he asked, looking even more stunned. Then the pony began looking through the journal and the notes.

“Brother Wing. I will not deny that the Order has brought me peace, it has been a comfort during the trying times ever since my husband was killed, but if the King is so benevolent, why would he cause me so much heartache as to take away my son?” Mirage asked, tears in her eyes.

“Why? To bring him back to you of course, as the herald of the King’s true Return,” a soft voice spoke out of the shadows. The two ponies jumped as something tall began emerging from them.

It couldn’t be seen clearly as it was wrapped in a dark cloak and a dark mist shrouded it partly, but it had a pony shape and was very tall. It was impossible to tell if it was stallion or a mare. The creature approached the two ponies, who were bowing their heads.

“High Shadow,” they both murmured in reverence.

Outside, Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were frozen in shock and bewilderment, not quite sure what they were just witnessing. They watched the shadowy pony approach Mirage and gently put a cloaked hoof on her back.

“Already our agents are at work, making sure nothing impedes the process. Your son will come back to you, Sister Mirage. Trust me when I say that the King has treated him well and raised him to be strong and worthy,” the creature said gently. “Do not be sad. You should rejoice that it was he who was chosen for such a worthy task.”

“True, the Order always said the King would deliver,” Mirage nodded slowly.

Twilight glanced at her friends. They realized they had to get out of there and quickly before they were discovered. Dearly hoping that no one inside the house would notice, the unicorn activated a teleportation spell and vanished with her friends from the building.

At the house Brother Wing opened the window and peered outside, suspicion growing in his eyes. Behind him, the High Shadow and Mirage watched him.

“Sister Mirage, are you sure you were not followed?” he asked as he closed the window and glanced back.

“I…” the unicorn mare cringed and looked at the large shadowy creature standing by her. The shadow just raised the hoof again and gently caressed the old pony on the head.

“Do not worry, it will be dealt with,” the shadowy pony said gently.

End Chapter 9
> Chapter 10. Our Town.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 10
 
“Well it didn’t take us long to find some semblance of a civilization,” Temor grunted as he observed a village down below in a rocky valley. The prince glanced back the way they had come. After about half a day’s journey he and Emerald had left the greener landscape and entered a more barren and rocky area.

Hearing no protest from his father, Temor had continued onward. He was trying to avoid going closer to Cloudsdale, which still could be seen in the far-off distance. Eventually they had come across the valley surrounded by rocky hills.

“Not many houses and they are lined up on either side of the only street, except for that one house at the far end,” the unicorn muttered. He glanced to his side when becoming aware that the spirit of Sombra had appeared, having been absent since last night.

Sombra didn’t say anything, he just stared down at the small town. His expression was critical and there was a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

“Proceed with caution, some of my powers are coming back to me and I’m already feeling something off in the air here,” the king spoke quietly after a while even if only his son could hear him.

Temor inclined his head a little in a nod. He glanced back at Emerald, who was looking back towards the greener pastures far behind them longingly. She already kind of missed having green grass under her hooves.

“Come on, we need to get some idea of where we are in Equestria. Might as well see if the yokels down there know anything,” Temor grunted and started to head down the slope that would take them down to the village.


It didn’t take too long and soon the houses and ponies were close enough to see clearly. Temor was not very impressed by the buildings - they looked dull and exactly alike. The ponies looked even stranger to him and Emerald. The stallions had the exact same head and tail cut, and the mares had the exact style of braids. As they got even closer, both he and Emerald arched their brows when seeing that every single pony that wasn’t a foal had the same strange equal sign as a cutie mark.

What in Tartarus is up with that? The prince wondered, then he also noticed the strained smiles on them. Okay that’s creepy.

“There is definitely some magic at work here. These ponies have had their cutie marks removed, their inner magic has been suppressed. Even the lowliest of earth ponies should radiate more magic than this,” Sombra remarked as the spirit looked around.

“What magic could do that?” Temor muttered between his teeth, making sure Emerald was not looking towards him as he did.

“I’ve heard of a few spells. I know some of them, but none of them remove cutie marks. I’ve always felt that was unnecessary cruel. The Crystal Ponies may be idiots, but they were more useful as slaves with their inner magic intact,” this father responded.

Temor and Emerald didn’t go unnoticed as they entered the town. Immediately the ponies in the village were looking towards them, smiling their unnatural smiles. Emerald cringed a little at the sudden attention.

“Welcome!” various ponies started greeting them, their voices sounding more like someone straining to be cheerful.

“There is fear at work here,” Sombra muttered, while glancing at the ponies greeting his son and Emerald. “I’m almost impressed.”

The spirit continued to casually observe as they continued forward under the chorus of welcomes. Finally they were halted when a white earth pony stallion stood in their way. Sombra heard him introduce himself as Double Diamond, but the king could already see he was just as much magically suppressed as the rest.

It takes quite a bit of magic to remove a cutie mark and it has to be stored somewhere. Magic is energy and it doesn’t just disappear, it has to go somewhere. Only a unicorn or an alicorn could harness such magic, Sombra thought and his eyes began examining every single unicorn nearby. However, all of them were just like the others.

“I’m Starlight Glimmer, the leader of this little community.”

Sombra looked back towards where his son and Emerald where. A new unicorn had arrived.  She had the same equal sign as a cutie mark, but unlike the other mares, her mane was not braided and her tail was longer. Her coat was pinkish purple and her mane and tail were dark purple with a sky-blue streak in them.

The king frowned as he watched the new mare speak to his son. Her inner magic wasn’t suppressed. He could feel it radiate from her. Sombra went closer to listen in on the conversation.

“Oh we are pretty remote here. Though if you go far enough south you will find Manehattan,” Starlight Glimmer explained, her smile slightly condescending, but much more natural than on the other ponies.

Temor sighed. It was already annoying talking with Double Diamond. He had had to restrain himself from not strangling the stallion, but this mare was just blaring all kinds of alarm bells inside his head. On any other day he might actually be mildly curious about cutie mark removal, but hearing his father say their magic was suppressed in the process had quickly cured him of any ideas of inquiring further.

“Is it bigger than this village?” he asked, since he had no idea what Manehattan was. Starlight blinked, indicating to him that he had asked what many ponies in Equestria would call a stupid question.

“Uh yes… it’s quite a bit bigger. It’s the biggest city in Northeastern Equestria,” Glimmer said,  trying to sound polite, but Temor could almost hear her mocking him quietly.

“That sounds good enough for me. Goodbye,” Temor snorted. He quickly glanced skywards to see where the sun was so he could determine where south was before turning to leave.

“Are you sure you two don’t want to stay? I mean, new ponies are always welcome,” Starlight asked. Her confident expression almost vanished when Temor glared back at her.

“Don’t try me, lady. I know mind-control and manipulation when I see it. Oh I’m sure everypony here is happy and blissful and all that crap,” he growled and turned around to face her.

“Look, let’s be on the level why don’t we? I don’t care what is happening here. I have more important business to tend to. If you want to play pretend utopia, go ahead knock yourself out. If you are worried that me and my sl… traveling companion will rat you out, don’t be. I’m not exactly popular with the authorities either and I rather avoid them myself. So, let’s just go our separate ways and keep out of each other’s manes, okay?”

There was stunned silence around them. Even Starlight looked stumped. Sombra chuckled having figured Temor would quickly spot himself who the ring leader was. It was fairly obvious when one thought about it and considering how the other ponies were behaving.

Starlight managed to recover some composure, but instead of looking incensed she seemed to be thinking. Then she glanced at the other ponies around them and resumed her smile.

“It’s alright. Not everypony can be understanding of what we are building here. It is quite natural since they haven’t joined us,” she said aloud as she approached Temor and leaned her head closer in to whisper, “Can I talk with you privately?”

Temor was about to answer flat no, when he noticed the ghostly form of his father standing behind Starlight. The king was nodding.

“I’m curious to hear what she has to say,” he said with a devious smirk.

“Fine. But make it quick,” Temor groaned.

“Please follow me,” Starlight perked up and all condescension and smarminess seemed to vanish from her. She gestured to the house at the far end of the village. Temor relented to follow her.

When they arrived, both the prince and Emerald noticed that the other ponies were now keeping their distance. Starlight opened the door and gestured for Temor to enter.

“Your slave can wait outside,” she said and smirked when seeing the look on Temor. “Oh yes, I heard what you were actually going to call her.”

Shaking his surprise off, the prince followed the mare into the house after ordering Emerald to stay outside. He was offered to a seat, but decided to stand.

“Alright, what do you want?” he asked as Starlight began preparing tea.

“I do hope you forgive my previous attitude, I have to admit I thought first you were just two regular wandering ponies who happened to stumble upon my little village,” Starlight started while pouring water in a kettle.

“And what made you think we aren’t?” Temor asked.

“Oh I have no doubt you’re wandering and that you just happened to stumble upon us,” the mare remarked and put the kettle on the oven. She turned to look at Temor.
“But regular ponies? No. Not with that horn.”

Temor froze and quickly put a hoof on his horn. He had forgotten to conceal it with an illusion spell. He could see the spirit of Sombra hoof his face. The prince growled at himself for the stupidity. Of course his red curved horn would be a dead giveaway that something was not right with him.

“Alright, so we’re not regular ponies. What of it?” Temor grunted trying to look uninterested again.

“Relax. My villagers won’t say anything. They don’t even leave the village. As for me, I’m interested in all kinds of magic and though I’ve never received a formal education in it, I do consider myself pretty adept in,” the mare said with a chuckle.

“That’s putting it mildly. A cutie mark removal spell is a highly advanced magic,” Sombra muttered. Temor had to restrain himself from looking at his father.

Starlight returned her attention to the kettle and continued making the tea, being silent for now and allowing Temor to mull things over. Sombra continued to observe the mare and although the king was suspicious, he was certain his son could handle things.

“Tea?” Starlight Glimmer offered a cup to the prince. Temor took the cup but didn’t sip from it, not until he saw the mare drink from hers.

“Alright, it’s obvious you want something,” Temor stated after sniffing his drink to be sure it hadn’t been tampered with.

“Well, aside from your horn, it caught my attention you that you said you weren’t popular with the authorities.” Starlight sat down by the table as she began explaining herself.

“And as you probably have guessed, what I am doing here with my little community probably wouldn’t go well over with the Princesses. I realize not everypony would appreciate and understand what I’m trying to do here.”

“What are you trying to do here?” Temor asked and carefully sipped his tea.

“I’m trying to show ponies the evil of cutie marks. They divide ponies, not unite them. They make ponies feel superior over others. No, I want to show rest of Equestria that true happiness and friendship can be found with no cutie marks and nopony should be better than others’ because they have a special mark on their flank,” Starlight told him. There was fire in her eyes and in her voice as she said this.

Temor arched his eyebrow when hearing this. He pretended to look around just to see where his father was. The spirit looked like he was straining to contain laughter. The prince wondered what he found so amusing, granted the spiel from the mare had been absurd to even his ears, but he wasn’t exactly feeling like laughing out loud about it.

“I see. So where do I come in?” The prince was starting to think though that he was wasting his time here.

“First, tell me. Are you Prince Temor, the son of King Sombra?”

The question caused Temor to spit out the entire content he had taken into his mouth and the cup clattered to the ground as he dropped it. Even his father looked at the mare in utter surprise. A murderous look came over the prince as he glared daggers at Starlight who herself was now gasping in shock.

“It is you! WAIT!” Starlight quickly shouted when seeing the stallion advance towards her with a growl. “I can explain, Sire. Let me explain.”

“Calm down son, let her explain!” Sombra ordered. It hadn’t escaped him what the mare had just called the prince. Temor stopped, but was still sneering and his eyes were beginning to flash green.

“There is another reason I chose this spot for my village. Aside for my own personal quest to rid the world of cutie marks… I have another mission. I was told that upon the return of the empire, the heir of the Shadow King would pass by from the north. I was to be ready to aid him and introduce him to modern Equestria,” the mare told him, speaking with rather impressive speed.  She seemed to simultaneously be in awe and mortally afraid.

“Who told her that?” Sombra looked at his son, clearly as confused about this as Temor was.

“Who told you about my arrival?” Temor repeated what his father had asked since the spirit could still only be seen and heard by him.

“The High Shadow, the leader of the Order of Umbrum,” she admitted and suddenly dropped from her seat to kneel in a bow. “Forgive any insolence, my lord. I had to be sure it was you.  The descriptions were vague and I’ve always been suspicious in nature.”

“The Order of Umbrum...isn’t that the elite guard force you created out of loyal followers?” Sombra asked his son who was blinking in surprise at the current development, all anger vanishing from him.

“Who is this High Shadow?” Temor asked and sat down finally. “And how did he… or she know about my arrival?”

Starlight looked up, uncertain how to answer. She rose up but didn’t return to her seat. Using her magic she got a cloth to wipe up the spilled tea and grabbed the cup from the floor.

“No one knows really. She claims to have assumed leadership of the Order when the empire disappeared. She’s recruited ponies from all over Equestria to the cause of the Shadow King. She taught me a lot of the spells I now know, including the spell I use to replace ponies marks with the same sign. She always encouraged me to seek out my goal and told me to build my village in a remote location in northern Equestria because she foresaw that you would come this way,” she finally explained while cleaning the kettle and her own cup.

“Son, there is only one way to see if she is telling the truth. You must risk entering her mind,” King Sombra advised his son, the spirit still unsure what to make out of this mare.

“Alright, if you are who you say you are, a member of the Order of Umbrum, you will obey me,” Temor snorted and approached Starlight who was facing him again.

“Of course, sire. I am tasked to assist you as much as I can.” She nodded without hesitation.

“First I must enter your mind to make sure.” The prince’s eyes began glowing green and red, purple smoke began pouring out of the corners. His mane began flowing and he locked his eyes with hers. Soon Starlight’s eyes had turned the same color, but there was no struggle from the mare, in fact she almost looked excited at what was happening.

It took a minute, but then Temor broke eye contact and stepped back. Starlight was smiling much more genuinely now, as if a long time wish of hers had come true. The prince knew he couldn’t vocally confirm to his father what he had seen, so instead he spoke to Starlight, but making sure to do so that his father would know what he had seen.

“So you are a member of the Order after all. I created it originally to have a good loyal security force around my father and to investigate and weed out any possible resistance in the empire. I didn’t figure it would evolve into a secret order to herald my father’s return.” Temor was moderately impressed.

“Oh yes, sire. The High Shadow has agents in nearly every level of Equestrian society, except those closest to the Princesses. She feels the time is not right for that yet. Of course Nightmare Moon’s return and reformation back to Princess Luna set some of her plans back. She had hoped to recruit Nightmare Moon to our cause.” Starlight sighed a little at the last bit. She then noticed the confusion that came over Prince Temor. Unseen beside him, King Sombra was just as confused.

“Oh right, that happened after your time. See, Princess Luna became envious of Princess Celestia, and her envy turned her eventually into a creature of darkness called Nightmare Moon. She tried to invoke an eternal night, but Princess Celestia banished her to the moon. Just over a year ago, she returned. I’ve not heard all the details of how Nightmare Moon was defeated, but she was reformed back to Princess Luna and the High Shadow mentioned the Elements of Harmony were used,” she explained.

“Oh for the love of… I tried for months to corrupt those two and it happens to one of them AFTER I’m banished!?” King Sombra snarled loudly and stomped a ghostly hoof on the floor. Starlight jumped and looked around startled.

“Did you hear something?” she asked, growing a little suspicious. Temor had to really restrain himself not to look like anything else except just as surprised as her.

“Interesting, if I sound angry and loud enough ponies can hear me.” Sombra immediately mellowed down when noticing this.

“Maybe it’s nothing, but maybe one of your villagers decided to eavesdrop. Or we have an uninvited guest.” Temor decided to play along. He figured his father didn’t want to be revealed just yet, plus he didn’t trust Starlight completely even if he had entered her mind. He also figured that she was the type of pony who needed to see things to believe them. “I can check it out for you.”

“Please, though my villagers should know better. You can’t be too careful. They don’t know I’m a member of the Order,” Starlight nodded.

Temor activated his dark magic again and though he didn’t need to, swept for anything in the immediate area. But as he already knew, he could only feel Emerald outside. She seemed to be organizing their gear that had been left with her.

“Nothing,” he reported. Starlight relaxed a bit when hearing it.

“Well this area is rocky and there are hills nearby, maybe an animal dislodged a rock,” she reasoned.

“Possibly,” Temor shrugged, allowing the mare to find the explanation plausible.

“I’m going to go get a map of Equestria. I have a feeling you’ll need it. It’s the most modern map I’ve managed to get, though it could be slightly outdated if recent events are any indication,” Starlight Glimmer told him and headed for the stairs up.

The moment she was gone, Temor looked at his father. He had dropped into thought. The prince figured though, he had a good idea what Sombra was thinking. These recent revelations certainly had changed things quite a bit.

“How much of our initial plans have changed?” he asked.

“Well, our priority is still to get me resurrected, but the news that your security force survived has definitely put a new spin on it. I think it is prudent we meet this High Shadow. That for the record, is the title of the leader of the Dark Pony religious order. It is an office that has been extinct since the Saddle Arabians destroyed the Dark Pony Empire,” Sombra responded and looked at his son fully.

“And who held that prestigious title last?” Temor wondered and immediately noticed the solemn expression coming over the dead king.

“Ira… my sister. The head of the religious order was also always the Queen of the Empire,” he answered after a moment of silence.

Temor could only nod. He had heard his father speak sometimes of his beloved sister. It was probably one of the few times he could hear the king speak kindly and lovingly about someone.

“I guess we should try and locate this High Shadow then,” the prince said and glanced towards the stairs to see if Starlight was returning.

“You need not locate me, for I am here,” a soft voice spoke suddenly. Temor jumped, turned around and his eyes opened wide when seeing the tall and cloaked creature emerge from the shadows. He was so distracted by its appearance that he didn’t see the look come over his father.

“That… voice…” the spirit whispered.

“Pardon the sudden arrival, but I had just recently heard news that the return had occurred and just could not wait, so I’ve kept an eye on Starlight’s village, eagerly hoping that your path would indeed lead here as I had foreseen,” the being spoke and approached the prince.

“You’re the High Shadow, the leader of the Order of Umbrum?” Temor wondered, though that was probably asking the obvious at that point.

“Oh no, my prince. I am merely substituting. You are the founder and leader of the Order. I’ve merely led it in your absence,” the High Shadow clarified. Temor could almost swear she was smiling under her hood.

“Who are you? The title High Shadow is reserved for the sovereign of the Dark Pony Empire, which is long gone.” The prince frowned a little, starting to get a little suspicious.

“Ah, the King taught you well about us. Yes, that is indeed a very special title,” the High Shadow said and started to raise one leg. It escaped from under her cloak, revealing it to have a dark gray coat and hoof. Slowly the mare raised it all the way to her covered head and removed the hood to reveal it.

King Sombra’s jaw dropped at the sight. Temor arched his brow. Standing before him was clearly a tall unicorn mare, with a coat similar to his father. Her mane was black, long and lush. Her spiraling horn was the same color and her coat, she had red eyes and as she smiled warmly, Temor could spot fangs not unlike his father had.

“It cannot be.” Sombra couldn’t believe his eyes. “Ira?”

“Uh… shouldn’t you be dead?” Temor was about as dumbfounded as his father was and just asked the first thing that came to his mind. Fortunately his father was too stunned right now to really be bothered by the question.

Ira merely chuckled at the question, took a moment to examine her hoof a little before dropping it and looked back at the prince.

“I was. But as your grandmother would often say, death in a world so magical like this one, is merely an inconvenience if you know what to do,” she told him and started to approach. Temor didn’t move, in fact he was starting to feel a little awestruck to be in the presence of the last queen of the dark ponies.

“Welcome to back from your exile, nephew. As a spirit I watched you grow under my brother’s care. Now that I am flesh, I will assist you in bringing your father to it as well,” she said as she gently raised her hoof to touch Temor’s cheek.

“I’ve waited so long. I barely can believe the time is almost near,” Ira’s voice dropped to a whisper and her smile changed into a wicked grin.

End chapter 10
> Chapter 11. More mystery.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 11

“Then this big shadow being appeared. They called it the “High Shadow” and started to bow to it and they talked about Temor being the herald of King Sombra’s True Return,” Twilight rambled on as she paced in front of Celestia’s throne in Canterlot Castle.

Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie and she had rushed right over to the castle to report what they had witnessed. Twilight was now at the very end of her tale, having spared little detail for both Celestia and Luna, who could do little but listen. The other three mares stood to the side, but did look as agitated as their purple friend.

“The Order of Umbrum, True Return, High Shadow?” Princess Luna exchanged confused yet worried glances with her sister.

“Twilight, are you telling us that there is a secret order operating in Equestria that is working on bringing King Sombra back and that Temor is the herald of that?” Celestia looked back at her student.

Twilight stopped pacing and faced the two princesses. The unicorn still hadn’t really calmed down after their escape. “That’s exactly what I’m telling you, Princess.”

“This is worrisome. Umbrum is an old Saddle Arabian word for the dark ponies, King Sombra’s race. The High Shadow was a religious authority figure in the old Dark Pony Empire, a title held only by the queen,” the Solar Princess explained to the ponies.

“What should we do?” Twilight asked, unsure.  Their one lead had almost led them to be captured by ponies loyal to a currently dead enemy.

“Continue to try and find Prince Temor. Luna and I will look into this Order of Umbrum business. It would probably be for the best if you go back to the Crystal Empire and rejoin the others,” Celestia advised.

Twilight and her friends nodded, bowed and departed the throne room. Just to be safe, Celestia asked a few guards to accompany them to the train station. Then she looked at her sister.

“Luna, have you seen anything in ponies’ dreams that might hint that they are members of a secret order?” she asked.

Luna stopped to think. She was still a little hesitant to go into the dreams of ponies, the memory of being Nightmare Moon was still fresh on her mind. However, she had started to slowly venture into them, focusing mostly on foals for now who seemed to be more accepting of who she was now.

“No, I’m sorry, sister. Dreams are seldom so simple. Some ponies have such vivid imaginations and can dream up such wonders that are in stark contrast to themselves,” she told her.

Celestia frowned as she considered this, then nodded. It had been a shot in the dark, she had to admit, not understanding the dream realm as well as her sister did.

“Then we have no choice but to start with those ponies Twilight and her friends told us about,” Celestia said. “You handle Wing, I’ll see about Mirage.”

Luna nodded and with a plan now, the two sisters left the throne room.





“All right Bright Spark,” Shining Armor said as he and the crystal pony entered his barrack’s office. “What can you tell me about this Order of Umbrum?”

“Not a whole lot, sir, but I will tell you everything I do know,” Bright Spark said, standing erect and refusing to look around.

Shining Armor couldn’t help but smile a little at how the crystal pony conducted himself. It was clear the guard wouldn’t easily leave the military mindset, even if a portion of his career had been under mind control.

“At ease, guard. Just tell me what you know,” he instructed and got seated behind his desk.

“The Order consisted of crystal ponies loyal to the king, guards and civilians alike, those who liked his reign, profited from it and didn’t require mind control to be subordinate.” Bright Spark eased his stance a little, but continued to stare straight ahead.

“It was formed by Prince Temor as a gift to his father. From what I could see, he instilled the same fanatical devotion into them that he himself had for the king. He would sometimes even test their loyalties by ordering them to injure themselves, never fatally, but still drawing blood.”

Shining nodded as he listened. This would explain Calcite’s actions. If she was so devoted to King Sombra, killing herself instead of surrendering to those she saw as his enemies fit in with this report very well. There was no doubt in his mind now that she had been trying to cover the prince’s tracks.

But by the report from the guards and Rainbow Dash, there were too many trails for just one pony. The others who helped her must have escaped. She must have been the last to leave the area, the captain thought.

“What can you tell me about this Prince Temor?” he asked. Hearing about the leader of this order might gain further insight into it, plus whatever information he could gain about the prince he could forward to his sister since she was supposed to be tracking him.

“Bright Spark?” Shining Armor noticed that the guard had gone silent for a moment.

“He’s the King’s greatest atrocity,” Bright Spark finally whispered and for the first time he looked directly at Shining Armor.

“I do not know where the King got that young colt, but he transformed an innocent child into his most loyal, dutiful servant -  unquestionably devoted, just as cold and merciless.” The eyes of the crystal pony looked sad and his coat lost some of its sheen.

“Even though I had no control over my body or actions, I still could hear and see. I remember him suddenly appearing with that tearful, frightened boy. Sometimes I could hear the child scream in fear and pain. When my duties were to guard the door to the room the child was assigned to, I heard him cry bitterly, begging for his parents to come and take him away.”

“But as the years passed, the corruption of the King took hold. The boy started addressing him as father. He would no longer cry. He took any punishment with silence. He was utterly transformed. His horn turned red, his coat and mane got darker. He became the King’s son in all but blood.” Bright Spark sighed and his eyes drifted downwards. “It was disturbing, sir, to see a pony transform like that. I was one of the first guards to see the boy when the King suddenly appeared with him and I couldn’t help but feel pity for him. Then to watch as he was slowly twisted into that thing...”

“I can only imagine,” Shining Armor nodded.

“There was one thing though, sir.” The guard looked at him again. “It’s the strangest thing, I can’t explain it.”

“Well by all means, let’s hear it.” The captain motioned for him to continue.

“When the Prince was still young and still resisting what was being done to him. I think he made a friend with one of the children of the slaves, Emerald, I think her name was. The thing was, Emerald would leave out gifts or a note in inconspicuous places, then I would hear her say, ‘Make sure Private gets it’ and a voice would respond ‘I will.’ The problem is, there was nopony there,” Bright Spark explained. Shining Armor arched his brow.

“The prince would also leave a note or a gift of some food in inconspicuous places, but he would not say anything. But somehow Emerald would get it,” the guard concluded the strange tale.

“None of this was reported to King Sombra?” Shining Armor found it hard to believe that if a guard was witnessing this, the king wouldn’t know about it.

“Unless directly ordered, those guards who were mind-controlled tended not to do much except guard an area. In our mind-controlled state, we would ignore the children unless they were going somewhere they were not supposed to. Only the guards who were not mind-controlled would probably act on something like this. That was another thing. It was like both Emerald and Temor knew to exchange notes and food when only the mind-controlled guards were around,” Bright Spark explained.

“So, someone unseen was helping the children who were friends?” Shining frowned in thought. That was interesting, but didn’t seem to be very useful information. Perhaps a servant was actively helping, but managed to remain unseen.

“So let’s go over what you have told me. This Order of Umbrum is fanatically loyal to King Sombra, even in his death, to a point that they will help Prince Temor no matter what, especially since he is their leader. The Prince himself is unquestionably loyal to King Sombra thanks to being condition to be so since he was a child.” The captain started jotting down notes. He also added the mystery with Emerald, even if he didn’t see it as really important, he figured his sister might want it since Emerald was also missing, possibly with the prince right now.

“Can you identify or name members of this group?” Shining looked up at Bright Spark who nodded.

“Well, not all of them, but I do know of some of the guards and some of the civilians. They always came to the castle to report to the Prince,” the guard said. He walked closer to the desk when the captain motioned for him to do so.

Shining Armor got a paper and put a quill in front of him. Bright Spark started writing the moment he was given a sign to do so. The guard had to stop to think few times, but soon enough he turned it around for the prince to see.

The unicorn looked at the note and noticed immediately that the guard had even done the names into a guard or civilian category. He already recognized some of the names; most of the guards were already under arrest for working willingly with King Sombra, some of the regular ponies were those reported missing. Obviously they had flown the coop once it was clear their king wasn’t taking back power.

“Thank you, Bright Spark, is there anything else you think you could tell me?” he looked at the guard again.

“I do not think so, sir, but I can report back if I think of anything,” Bright Spark offered.

“I think I can do better.” Shining smiled and grabbed another paper and started to write on it, then proceeded to stamp it and sign it with his name. Then he made a copy of the same letter before handing one over to the crystal pony. “Please report to the armory and get your uniform, then report to Sharp Spear for your duties.”

Bright Spark looked stunned as he read the, paper which was essentially a reinstatement of him into the Crystal Guards, by order of Prince Shining Armor, Captain of the Royal Guards.

“Thank you, sir… may I ask why?” the guard barely could believe this.

“We’ve already proven that you were working unwillingly under mind control and you have already given us quite a lot of information regarding this Order of Umbrum. Your list of names  includes ponies we have under suspicion but haven’t been confirmed yet as being willing cohorts of King Sombra. In my mind you’re cleared of all doubt,” Shining Armor explained to him. “You’re dismissed.”

“Yes sir!” Bright Spark shook off his surprise, saluted and left the office.

Besides, I could just see the hatred in your eyes towards King Sombra when talking about Prince Temor. Shining Armor rose from his desk and walked over to the window. He had a view of the training area from there and he could see some of the guards doing drills.





“I’m sorry, your Highness. She said she was going out, but she hasn’t come back yet, which is unusual,” Mirage’s secretary told Princess Celestia where they stood at the reception in front of the office.

“Do you know where she went?” Celestia asked, mildly frowning and wondering if Twilight and her friends had been seen.

“No, I’m sorry your Highness, I figured she had just gone out for a quick lunch.” The mare smiled apologetically and shifted nervously where she stood.

“What can you tell me about your employer?” the Sun Princess asked, easing her frown. She didn’t want the poor pony to think she was angry at her.

“Uh, very nice and accommodating. A bit eccentric, but not oddly so. Really loves talking about her family, especially her granddaughters,” the secretary started counting up.

“Oh, she has children?” Celestia smiled now. Maybe locating them would help her investigation into Mirage.

“A son who lives in Fillydelphia with his wife and daughters. I think his name is Barricade. Her husband died many years ago in an accident on a dig,” the secretary explained.

“Thank you for your help. I might come by later and see if your employer has returned. Maybe she is just running late,” the princess said and turned to leave. The secretary nodded and went back to work at her desk.

Celestia quickly departed the building. There was no doubt in her mind now that Mirage and those other ponies Twilight and her friends had spied on had seen them, or at least suspected they had been watched. Mirage was probably long gone into hiding.

My schedule doesn’t allow me to go all the way to Fillydelphia… then again. Celestia frowned.  She did have a few meetings to attend to soon. If what Twilight told me is correct, then Prince Temor is Mirage’s son. I can’t reach Mirage, but I can find out where her other son lives.

No, Celestia, you can’t just abscond from your duties just for your own private investigation that ran into a dead end when the Crystal Empire vanished. The princess sighed. She spread her wings and took to the air, intending to return to the castle. On her way she met up with Luna.

“Sister, I went to Wing’s house, but it was empty. I also went to his store, but it was closed and nopony was around,” the Moon Princess reported to her sister as they flew side by side.

“Then Twilight was seen or they at least suspected being spied on.” Celestia shook her head. This was becoming more mysterious by the minute. “Mirage has apparently not returned to work either.”

“Then what do we do?” Luna wondered.

“I got one lead on Mirage. She has a son and granddaughters in Fillydelphia. The son is named Barricade. However, I must soon return to my duties so I can’t follow up on it,” Celestia said and sighed in dismay, wondering if she would ever have a slow day.

“I can go,” her sister offered, seeing the disappointed expression on the Sun Princess.

“Are you sure? It’s only been few hours since you awoke and I know you wanted to get some practice done.” Celestia glanced at her sister, unsure.

“That can wait. We must get as much information as we can on this Order of Umbrum and High Shadow. You go attend to your duties sister. I’ll head off to Fillydelphia,” the Moon Princess assured her and was already starting to change direction on her flight.

“Very well, but be careful,” Celestia relented, chuckling a little when seeing that her little sister was already heading into the direction of Fillydelphia.

The Sun Princess continued towards Canterlot Castle and landed on the balcony that led to the throne room. As she entered,  she met with her own secretary, who immediately gave her a sealed scroll.

“Excuse me, your Highness, but this arrived for you after you left,” the pony explained.

Celestia arched her brow and took the scroll with her magic. She broke the seal and unfurled it. As she read the contents, the alicorn started to frown.

“Dear Princess Celestia.
 
I am the High Shadow, the temporary leader of the Order of Umbrum, sworn protectors of His Majesty, King Sombra.
 
Sister Mirage and Brother Wing are safe, but I felt it was necessary for their privacy for them to take a temporary leave of absence. Much like you protect and care for your subjects, I too protect and care for the members of the order.
 
I know your spies were spying on my meeting with them, I do not fault you for this, you do, after all, view the King as an enemy.
 
However, things are not as they seem. I have planned for the True Return of the King for a very long time now. I foresaw his destruction by your agents and though it pained me to see him so brutally slain, I knew it would be temporary.
 
I know of your interest in his son. I know you have sent the same agents that helped murder his father to look for him. Let me thus tell you that I will protect the Prince from them. The True Return WILL happen. Call off your agents and all will be well. Do not and I will not be held responsible for what might happen.
 
The High Shadow”

Celestia crumbled the scroll in her magic, her frown not easing one bit. Without a word she summoned a scroll and a quill and started writing her own letter.

“My dearest student Twilight Sparkle.
 
The High Shadow is aware of our investigation into Prince Temor. I’m afraid you were spotted when spying on them. Proceed as planned, but be careful. My sister and I will continue our investigation into the Order of Umbrum.
 
Your teacher, Princess Celestia.”
 
The princess rolled up the scroll and sent it away using her magic. Remembering that Twilight had sent Spike home, she made sure it would be teleported straight to her student. Then she looked at her secretary.

“Raven Inkwell, cancel all my meetings for today,” she ordered the confused unicorn.

“Um, you have many meetings scheduled, your Highness. What should I tell them?” Raven asked as she produced her clipboard.

“That I’m attending matters regarding national security,” Celestia said and headed straight for the doors of the throne room.

End chapter 11
> Chapter 12. The High Shadow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 12

“Wait, you watched me when father was raising me?” Prince Temor asked, staring confused at the former queen.

“I did. When my brother avenged my execution and took my body to be buried, I found myself as a spirit, following him. I do not fully know the reasons for this, but eventually Sombra had me buried underneath the castle in the Crystal Empire once he took over. As a result, my spirit thus roamed the castle,” Ira explained and sat down, beckoning Temor to do the same.

“As a spirit, time had little meaning to me. I saw things in the distant future and things from the past. It was often difficult to concentrate on the now - part of me also wished to depart from this world as I was dead and should move on. I was stuck in-between it all. It is very difficult to explain fully.” The mare sighed, then she glanced up when Starlight came descending the stairs.

Starlight stopped short when seeing who had arrived. She almost dropped the map in her magic grip. Quickly the unicorn bowed.

“High Shadow! I didn’t know that you would be showing up,” she said before rising.

“Forgive me, Sister Starlight. I am not here to displace the role I had set out for you. However, I had recently received news that Prince Temor had in fact arrived and I could not contain myself.  I had to see him. He’s my nephew, after all,” Ira assured her then smiled. Starlight smiled in turn and nodded.

“I understand perfectly, I’ll leave you two be for now,” the light purple pony said and quickly made herself scarce back upstairs.

Prince Temor glanced at his father, who had been completely silent since the High Shadow had revealed herself. The young prince noted that Sombra was still staring stunned at Ira. It was like he could not speak a word. Temor turned back to his aunt.

“So you were saying that as a spirit, time had little meaning to you,” he reminded her.

“Right. So at first I was just an aimless spirit, stuck in the Crystal Empire because part of me didn’t want to leave and the other strained to do so. Then you arrived,” Ira continued. Her expression became more solemn.

“Something happened, nephew, I cannot explain it fully, but you were meant to return back to your own time. As a spirit, I saw it happen. You returned, grew up, my brother possessed you as an adult and cruelly tormented you.” The mare started to frown. “Then I felt something like an earthquake, but it wasn’t an earthquake, it was a quake between both time and worlds.”

“I swear, Temor, I wish I was making this up. What I saw I barely understood. I saw glimpses of another world not ours, but very alike in many respects. I saw my brother, yet it was not my brother. He was courting a strange mare with black eyes. Then saw a device, blue in color, that smashed into time. Something went wrong. A pony came out of the device, grabbed the black-eyed mare and my brother tried to aid her. This whole struggle caused a tear that tore through time and space, that sent a quake between worlds,” Ira looked just as confused as her audience. She started to rub her forehead with a hoof.

“I saw our own world split by the quake - in one you were sent back as you were, but here in this one, you stayed. The spell failed due to the damage to time and space and you became stranded.” The mare looked back at Temor. Unseen Sombra woke up from his own stupor when hearing how his son had become stuck with him.

Of course, a cascade effect through time and space, caused by some dimwit in another reality who clearly didn’t know how to operate his time traveling device! He didn’t realize - or did not care about the damage he caused, not just to time and space, but in the multiverse itself. That broke the tether meant to send Temor back. Sombra slapped his own forehead. Time travel spells and devices! I’m glad I quit messing with that after Temor got stuck. It’s just not worth the trouble or the headaches it causes.

“I apologize, I didn’t mean to ramble on like this. I just, I ramble when I’m excited,” Ira chuckled and looked sheepish. Sombra chuckled at his sister’s confession.

“I didn’t understand half of what you just told me,” Temor admitted, still looking confused.

“Good, you are not the only one. All I really know is that suddenly you were not going anywhere, my brother decided to adopt you and suddenly I found myself with more strength and resolve. I found I wanted to watch over you as best as I could,” the mare said. She looked away as if sensing something neither Temor or Sombra could.

“Further explanations must wait, nephew. We need to prepare. You are the herald for your father’s return. Already our agents are preparing the grounds, but those who would oppose us are on the move as well. They will seek to stop us.” Ira rose up.

“I take it you mean the princesses,” Temor grunted and wasn’t too surprised that the High Shadow nodded.

“They believe they can use your past to betray your father, they think you need saving. Until we are ready, you should stay here in Starlight’s village and learn what you can of the modern world. It is well hidden and you will be safe here until we are ready,” she suggested.

Temor frowned. While mulling it over, he made a point of glancing in his father’s direction to see if he had anything to offer. Sombra was himself considering this, but Ira wasn’t done shocking the two.

“While you think this over, why don’t you go up and talk with Starlight while I talk with my brother,” she said, smiling knowingly, staring right at Sombra’s spirit.

“You can see him?” the prince blinked and even Sombra looked perplexed.

“I was dead once. The spirit world is not closed to me even if I escaped it,” Ira chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the surprise on the two stallion’s faces.

“But how can he stay down here if I go up. He’s kind of bound to me right now,” Temor looked at his father. This time it was Sombra who had the answer.

“I maybe bound to you, but I can wander a distance away. Upstairs isn’t even the limit. Now do what your aunt tells you, we clearly have…” Sombra fell silent and looked at Ira before speaking again. “We clearly have much to speak about.”

Temor sighed and relented, going to the stairs and disappearing up them, leaving the dark pony siblings alone.

“It’s… good to see you again, sister,” Sombra muttered as he glanced at his sister. She had assumed a more neutral expression as she observed the spirit.

“The tables have certainly turned. A thousand years ago I was a spirit wandering in your castle and you were flesh and blood. Now you are just a shadow while I live once again,” Ira remarked. It didn’t take Sombra long to realize what she meant. His sister was furious.

He couldn’t say he blamed her. He had left the Dark Pony Empire to escape their mother’s iron grip. Had not been there when the Saddle Arabians destroyed it and executed her. She must have felt alone and abandoned since their mother had been killed before that, forcing Ira to become the queen before she was really ready for it. That is at least what Sombra thought, but his sister was still not done surprising him.

“Just look at you Sombra. You’ve become exactly what the Saddle Arabians accused us of being. Monsters. Hate and fear-driven, cruel monsters. You are so saturated with dark magic that it even oozes through your eyes. Instead of making allies out of the Crystal Empire and Equestria to retaliate against the Saddle Arabians, you conquered the Crystal Empire and let Discord have his way with Equestria.” Ira didn’t raise her voice, just spoke in a quiet yet furious tone. “What in Tartarus happened to you?”

Any other day and if anybody else had said this, Sombra would have laughed it off, even taunted whoever said it for trying to reason with him. Hearing these words from his sister however, actually made them sting and he was mildly surprised at that.

“And the boy, by the first queen, Sombra. You weren’t just my brother, you were my father, you raised me just as much as mother did. You were the best father I could have ever had...how you treated Temor…” Ira stopped when Sombra’s pained expression immediately changed into fury.

“Do not speak about my son like I did not care!” he growled. “He was the only thing that kept me sane while I was stuck in the ice during my exile. Do not think I have not regretted at times the pain I have caused him! I am fully aware of the nightmares he still has. You don’t know how worried I was when I saw the Crystal Heart activate, not knowing if it would affect him as well. I saw no sign of him when I returned. I called his name, but he didn’t respond. I was terrified that our enemies had incapacitated him somewhere so he couldn’t escape.” The spirit rose and moved closer to the mare.

“Yes, I instilled loyalty into him, yes I fused some of my own magic into him so he would be stronger, but do not ever insinuate that I didn’t care about him.” The siblings were now muzzle-to-muzzle in front of each other.

“You didn’t at first,” Ira coldly replied. “He was just a means to an end at the start, wasn’t he?”

Sombra sneered, but it gave away to a resigned sigh as he backed away and hung his head.

“I admit that, yes, I was less than pleasant the first few years and yes, initially I just saw him as mean to an end, but that changed Ira and I do not lie when I say that,” the dead king whispered.





The Crystal Empire – King Sombra’s reign.

“Sire!” a guard came running into the throne room, halting quickly and ducked his head in a bow when the king fixed his grim eyes on him.

“What is it?” Sombra growled.

“There was an accident. Your son snuck into the armory to play there. A suit of armor fell on top of him,” the guard quickly explained, not daring to look up.

Sombra suddenly felt a very alien feeling inside of him. Worry. He struggled to maintain the grim expression as he stepped off the throne.

“Where is he?” he asked.

“He was taken to his room. The doctors are already tending to him,” the guard reported, nearly toppling over when shadow and smoke rushed past him, leaving him alone in the throne room with the rest of the servants who had been tending to the king.

King Sombra didn’t waste much time heading straight for Temor’s bedroom. The king nearly broke down the doors as he rushed inside, seeing two ponies fussing over the colt on the bed. It had been been almost two years now since Temor had been brought to him, but only a year since the boy had accepted his new name.

The king stopped before getting too close, wanting his doctors to finish their work. He actually cringed when hearing the boy whimper painfully. Turquoise, the crystal slave assigned to tend to Temor was also by the bed, trying to comfort the colt, telling him he would be alright.

The armor I have made for the guards is heavier and sturdier than those the Equestrians use. A young colt would be crushed… this could have killed him. Sombra actually felt dread. He had been this close to losing the boy he had been forced to adopt.

One of the doctors turned and bowed to the king. It took a moment for Sombra to notice as he was still lost in thought.

“Report!” Sombra ordered, noticing that Temor winced when hearing his voice.

“He is bruised and battered. He may have cracked a rib or two. One leg is sprained, but he will survive,” the pony told him. The king nodded and started to approach the bed. Temor whimpered and tried to hide under the blanket.

“S-sorry… I-I was just playing…” the colt cried.

“Leave us!” Sombra ordered both the doctors and Turquoise.

The slave was more reluctant to leave than the others, but the old mare did so eventually. When he was alone in the room with his son, Sombra walked all the way to the bed and used his magic to pull the blanket away from Temor’s face who stared at him frightfully.

“And now you know why you are not supposed to play in the armory,” Sombra stated assuming a stern look, hiding his deep relief that the boy was alright.

“S-sorry. Won’t do it again,” Temor whispered and looked down. His adopted father continued to observe him.

He is so small and fragile, one set of armor was enough to injure him. I can’t forget that his ancestry hails from my race. I am not losing the last link I have to it. I must adjust my approach to his education while he is still so young, Sombra thought, unaware that in one corner the spirit of his sister was observing everything unseen and unheard.

“See that you do. You will stay in your room while your injuries mend. Your nursemaid will attend to you, but I still expect you to attend your literary courses. I will bring the books here.” He glanced towards the door. “You can come in now, slave.”

As he had already expected, Turquoise opened the door almost immediately, having been standing outside. The old crystal pony bowed before heading towards them. King Sombra stepped in front of her before she could approach the bed.

“My son is not to leave this room while he is healing. You will make sure he studies the books I send down here,” he ordered before glancing back at the bed. “Also, let him play with the toys he thinks I don’t know about.”

Turquoise somehow managed to hide her surprise. Temor visibly cringed but the king said nothing more as he walked out of the room. Once Sombra was outside, he finally let out an audible sigh of relief he had been holding in the whole time.

The first thing I’m doing once he’s well enough is to change the spells that are still within him. I’m not possessing my son if I die prematurely, he thought as he started to make his way back to the throne room.





Equestria – present time.

“I remember that,” Ira said, her expression softening a bit. “I so wished I could have hugged him back then.”

“Perhaps you are right, sister. I could have been a better father. But I do not regret raising him.  Yes I could be harsh and I drilled discipline into him, but never try and say I did not care about him,” Sombra snorted and glanced towards the stairs. He could hear faint voices. Temor was speaking with Starlight about something.

“Seeing him like that, I actually worried I might lose him and there have been times I wished I could have sent him back to his own time, but I couldn’t. I could have easily just tossed him to the slaves and let them take care of him, but I didn’t. Think what you like, but that is my son up there and I will not have anypony think that I do not… love him,” he turned his head downwards, sighing deeply.

“But what about the Crystal Empire. Why saturate yourself so much with dark magic?” Ira looked at him, arching her brow when Sombra started to chuckle.

“Oh that? Simple. Power. Plain and simple power. I wanted power and I wanted more of it. The Crystal Empire was a primary source of power and I had hoped to harness the crystal heart for even more of it. The Dark Pony Empire was gone. I had nothing left. If the Saddle Arabians wanted me to be a monster, fine. I became a monster,” he said but then rolled his eyes. “And you can see where that eventually got me.”

Ira frowned but said nothing, feeling there was more to this than just that. However she did know her brother and knew he wasn’t one to confess all his motivations very easily, not even to her.

“I will eventually reveal how we are going to go about resurrecting you. For now we still need to prepare. Before I leave, I would strongly suggest you tell Temor to grant Emerald her freedom,” she said and started to approach the stray shadow of a piece of furniture.

“Why?” her brother looked at her somewhat confused.

“Spoilers,” Ira smirked before stepping into the shadow and vanished into it.

“You and your riddles,” Sombra grumbled, but then a thought hit him. By all accounts, Emerald helped Temor on her own volition. Our enemies will not just be chasing him because of the potential danger he poses, but to free her, thinking she is not here of her own free will. Freeing her will be the ultimate test of loyalty. If she still sticks by us, even after she’s been freed, our enemies lose that ammunition against us.

He glanced to the stairs when seeing Temor and Starlight descending from the second floor. Sombra arched his brow. Now to sell that idea somehow to Temor.

End chapter 12
> Chapter 13. The plot thickens.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 13

Luna landed softly in front of a small two-story house in the suburbs of Fillydelphia. It was painted white and blue with a red roof. Surrounding it was a white picket fence. In the yard was a toy fort and more outside toys strewn around it.

The Princess approached the house, only casually glancing around and knocked on the door. A voice from the inside told her to hold just a minute. Shortly later a maroon pegasus mare with a white muzzle opened the door. The pony’s eyes opened wide when seeing who stood on the front step.

“Your Highness,” she quickly bowed.

“Greetings, I am here to speak with a pony named Barricade,” Luna said with a smile. “What is your name?”

“My name is Foxy Stripes. Uh Barricade is in the living room, want to come inside?” Foxy quickly stepped aside and gestured for her to come in. Luna nodded and entered the house. The mare escorted her to the living room where a dark gray unicorn with blonde hair was reading a newspaper.

“Barricade, Princess Luna is here to see you,” Foxy said immediately as they entered. Barricade snapped his head up, blinked then threw his paper away and jumped off the chair he was in.

“Uh, Your Highness,” he said as he bowed. “What brings you here?”

“I do apologize for barging in here unannounced, Mister Barricade, but speed is of the utmost importance. I need to speak with regarding your mother, Mirage Rock,” Luna explained to him.

Barricade raised his head, arching his brow. Foxy showed the princess to a seat before heading out of the living room, announcing she was going to fix something to drink. The stallion in the meantime returned to his seat, eyes fixed on Luna.

“What about my mother?” he asked carefully, not quite sure how to read the princess who betrayed no emotions right now.

“I’m saddened to inform you, Mister Barricade, that your mother might be involved with dangerous ponies,” Luna started. She then told him an abridged version of the recent events, but still leaving out important names, only telling him what Twilight and her friends had witnessed, with some minor references to the Crystal Empire.

“Hmm,” Barricade furrowed his brow. “Mom has never been the same since dad died. Well you could almost argue she hasn’t been the same since my brother disappeared when we were little. She did sometimes mention she had met  friends who were helping her cope, but never gave us any details.”

“Your brother disappeared?” Luna tilted her head, asking more out of courtesy since thanks to Twilight she actually knew the details, but didn’t think this was the appropriate time to reveal what she already knew.

“Yeah, over twenty years ago. I just remembered us going to bed, then mom shaking me awake asking me where my brother was. He had just vanished. I don’t think mom ever really recovered from that. Frankly, I sometimes wonder what happened, why didn’t I wake up? We were still sleeping in the same room,” Barricade sighed and shook his head.

“So you say your mother met new friends to cope. You never met any of them? Saw anything strange?” Luna asked, looking up when Foxy arrived in the living room offering her a drink which she accepted.

“No, just that they met regularly, but she didn’t want to bother us with it. I was a bit of a wild pony in my younger years and after I finally settled down with Foxy, she tended not to want to bother us with her personal life. Told us it was just a group of older ponies reminiscing about their younger years,” Barricade shrugged and grinned a little.

“Wild, is putting it lightly,” Foxy remarked, sticking her tongue out at her husband who returned the favor.

Hmm, well it is a secret group not even my sister and I knew about. It would make sense Mirage would leave her only remaining child out of it, Luna thought as she sipped her drink.

“I don’t really think we can help you with anything. I’m actually a little shocked to hear mom might be involved with something dangerous. You think she is alright?” Barricade asked, sporting a worried frown now.

You didn’t look too shocked when I told you about this, Luna glanced at Barricade, but didn’t voice her thought aloud. Instead just smiled reassuringly.

“Whatever she is involved with, rest assured Mister Barricade, my sister and I will get her out of it. We are already working on it,” she said and rose up. “Well, thank you for your drink, Mrs. Stripes. I won’t be bothering the two of you anymore.”

“No bother at all, I’m just sorry we couldn’t be of more help,” Barricade said and rose up as well. Luna nodded and after saying goodbye, allowed Foxy to escort her back outside.

Shortly later, the maroon mare returned to the living room, looking very concerned. Barricade walked to the window and looked outside, watching as Luna flew up and used her magic to teleport away.

The stallion turned away from the window, but before he could say anything, Foxy was already handing him a crystal amulet with strange engravings on it. Barricade nodded in approval and walked further into the living room, holding the trinket in his indigo-colored magic.

“High Shadow, in the name of the first queen, we need your audience,” the unicorn muttered and then floated the amulet over a shadow of his chair.

The shadow started to stretch and began to rise. From it a soft, green light began to emit and it started to swirl into a small portal. In it appeared the visage of the High Shadow draped in her cloak.

“Brother Barricade, what is the matter?” she asked softly.

“The Lunar Princess was here, asking about my mother,” Barricade explained, bowing his head as he did.

“It is as I foresaw. The Celestial princesses are investigating all possible leads they have. I have already taken your mother to a safe place. Perhaps it would be best that you and your family join her until you can reunite with your brother,” the High Shadow told him. 

Barricade nearly dropped the amulet from his magical grip when hearing that. “M-my brother?” he whispered astonished. Foxy held one hoof over her mouth.

“Yes, your brother. He is the herald of the True Return. The King has named him his son. Come, bring your daughters. I will take you all to Mirage,” the High Shadow told him and what could be seen of her muzzle formed a smile.


Outside the house and using her powers to remain invisible, Luna watched the exchange through the window with a heavy scowl. The Lunar Princess was almost tempted to barge inside and demand proper answers, but already she could sense immense powers coming from the portal and the being on the other side.

Looks like the whole family is involved, she thought as she watched Foxy bring two fillies into the living room. They were all soon engulfed in a shadow and vanished.

“Isn’t spying a bit beneath a Princess?” a voice addressed her.

Luna whirled around and her eyes opened wide when seeing the High Shadow standing there right behind her, staring right at the alicorn, despite the cloaking spell. Seeing no point in maintaining it, the princess dropped the spell and became visible again.

“Your voice sounds familiar,” Luna remarked. “Who are you? Reveal yourself!”

“You are not my sovereign, Princess Luna. I do not take orders from you. I have already sent a letter to your sister, warning her to stay away. I was hoping I could give you a similar warning,” Ira said calmly, not moving to take down her cloak.

“While you steal away our subjects? Using them as pawns to have the vile King Sombra return?!” Luna growled and her wings rose up in irritation.

“I have stolen nothing. All those who follow me do so of their own free will. I have made no alterations to their minds, nor used any spells to compel them. I simply gave them a promise and have delivered on that promise,” the High Shadow countered. “My goal is simple - to regain what I once lost.”

“You expect me to believe that!” the princess snapped, half ready to charge, but holding back since the High Shadow was only talking and not showing any indications of hostility.

“Believe what you want, it changes nothing. I’ve given you celestial sisters a warning to stay away,” Ira stated and then jumped back, immediately sinking into the shadows of the picket fence.

Luna growled and swiftly took to the air. From there she activated her magic and teleported back to Canterlot.





“We know nothing really new about Calcite, except that her family says she sold her soul to Sombra, but she was a fairly minor member of his collaborators, just living the high life at the expense of her fellow crystal ponies,” Shining Armor reported to his wife.

Cadance rubbed her forehead tiredly, not liking what a mess this was turning out to be. Bright Spark’s list had at least eased the investigation on several ponies suspected of collaborating with the king.

“What ponies dared to tell me about this Order of Umbrum is that they could never tell if a pony was a member or not. They dared not speak ill of the king near anypony in fear that a nearby pony was a member and would report them,” Applejack said, shaking her head in dismay.

“So basically just the same as Bright Spark told me,” Shining sighed. “A lot of suspected members have already disappeared. Guess news spread fast about Calcite. We only have a few former guards detained.”

“This jerk ass Prince is sick, making a group like that,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. “What kind of a pony has his followers kill themselves if captured?”

“Never underestimate what a loyal fanatic is willing to do,” Shining Armor remarked with a heavy frown. The attention of the four ponies were brought to the entrance of the throne room when Twilight, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie came running.

“Twily, any news on the journal?” her brother said when seeing his sister.

“Oh boy, do we have news,” Twilight said but before she could say more, Pinkie Pie was already talking.

“We went to this nice lady called Mirage Rock, who was an expert on Dark Ponies to read the journal. But then it turned she is Temor… I mean Private Iceland’s mom and he disappeared away from her over twenty years ago. The Journal told her how Private Iceland was captured and she got super sad, so we decided to leave her alone for a little while. She got better and had translated more of the journal for us. But then we saw her sneak out to meet this guy called Brother Wing who called her Sister Mirage and they called someone called the High Shadow who was über creepy and she told them that King Sombra was coming back and Temor had been chosen to do it and then we quickly ran back to Celestia and Luna to tell them about all of this and then we came back here,” the pink pony sped out without taking a single breath in-between, leaving Cadance, Shining Armor, Applejack and Rainbow Dash to stare at her a little bit confused. Twilight and the rest just nodded to confirm what Pinkie said.

“That’s basically what happened. Mirage is a member of an order called Order of Umbrum. They are preparing for Sombra’s return and Private Iceland is apparently the key to it,” Twilight Sparkle said, raising her brow when Shining Armor looked at her sharply.

“We have already had a run in with the Order of Umbrum. Remember Calcite, the pony Rainbow Dash saw kill herself? She was a member,” her brother told her and then explained to her what the group in the Crystal Empire had discovered.

Twilight groaned in frustration and sunk to the floor. It was dawning on her that this was far more complicated than she had initially thought, and while they had been wasting time both here and in Canterlot, Prince Temor could be just about anywhere at this point.

“Twilight, where is the journal?” Cadance asked.

“Mirage Rock took it to this High Shadow. The Order of Umbrum has it now,” her sister-in-law bemoaned and slowly sat back up. “The worst part is, we still don’t know where Private Iceland went.”

“Why do you call him Private Iceland?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Isn’t his name Temor now?”

“Because that is the name his parents gave him. I don’t care what Sombra has twisted him into,” her purple friend said defiantly. “We need to find him. Hopefully his brother isn’t in on this and we can remind him that he still has a family here. Even if his mother is lost.”

“I’m afraid it won’t be that simple,” a voice spoke up, once again all eyes were on the entrance. Celestia and Luna stood there both looking uncharacteristically grim.

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked as she stood up and faced the two princesses.

“I went to talk with Temor’s brother, however something in his behavior aroused my suspicion and I feigned leaving. Listening in on him and his wife, they too are members of the Order,” Luna reported.

“Twilight, you did get my letter warning you about the High Shadow?” Celestia asked, looking at her student who cringed.

“I got it on the train, but I was in such deep thought over what had happened, I put it in my bag to read later,” the unicorn confessed and pulled out the letter with her magic. Celestia just smiled and nodded.

“I understand. It’s no matter, I got a letter from the High Shadow, warning us off interfering in what is happening,” the Solar Princess told the rest.

“And I met the High Shadow,” her sister then added and scowled hard. “There was something familiar about her voice but I couldn’t place it. She too gave me a warning, claimed she was merely regaining what she had lost. I could sense great powers in her.”

The meeting was interrupted when suddenly a swarm of bats came flying in from the open nearby balcony. Rarity immediately ducked, covering her mane. The small creatures started swirling around the group, screeching as if they were in a hurry to say something.

“What is going on?” Twilight looked at the bats confused. “Fluttershy, can you understand them?”

Fluttershy flew up to the swarm of bats as she concentrated on the screeching. “Little friends, calm down. This isn’t a cave and it’s daytime. You should be napping.”

Everybody on the floor watched as Fluttershy continued to talk with the excited bats. They couldn’t really hear much from the one-sided conversation except the occasional “oh,” and “oh my.”

Finally though the swarm rushed right back to the balcony door and back outside, save for one bat that kept fluttering around Fluttershy who was waving the rest goodbye. The pegasus then slowly descended back down, the bat still circling her.

“First of all, Leatherwing is awfully sorry for interrupting us like that, but he and his family saw something really strange a few days ago,” she reported, the bat screeching a little as if to agree with her statement.

“They first went to Ponyville to see me, thinking this was something important to tell us, but Angel told them I was here, so they rushed to the Crystal Empire to tell me about it,” the pegasus continued.

“What did they see?” Celestia asked. Most of the ponies were all ears though Rarity kept eyeing the bat warily and kept her distance.

“Near the borders of Equestria and the northlands, they saw two strange ponies. One seemed to have a green crystal coat, the other one was gray but with a red horn,” Fluttershy told them.

“That must be Temor and Emerald, they are already in Equestria,” Twilight gasped as she recognized the description.

“Wait, why would the bat know to report something like this to you?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Oh, Leatherwing and I are old friends, I helped his sister when she hurt her wing. He sometimes likes to come to me and tell me stories of what he sees from afar,” Fluttershy chuckled. The bat made some screeching sound that could almost be a laugh. “He thought this looked important because he’s never seen ponies like that before.”

“And Leatherwing was right to come to you with this news,” Celestia nodded in approval, causing the bat to blush a little. “We finally have a lead to where Temor is headed.”

“Fluttershy, can Leatherwing show us where he saw those ponies?” Twilight asked. She didn’t even really need her friend to ask the bat. Leatherwing was already nodding and screeching in excitement.

“Good. Twilight, you and your friends go with Leatherwing and try to track down Temor from there. Luna and I will confer with Cadance and Shining Armor about the current situation,” Celestia ordered. She didn’t need to say it twice, Twilight and her five friends were immediately rushing out of the throne room along with the bat.

End chapter 13
> Chapter 14. Hypocritical leaders.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 14

“Come in,” Starlight called when there was a knock on her room. The door opened, revealing Temor standing there.

“Oh sire, uh has the High Shadow left?” she asked curiously and stepped away from the desk she where she had been jotting things down on a paper scroll.

“Not just yet, she needed to talk with somepony before she left,” Temor explained, not lying strictly speaking, just omitting it was the ghost of his dead father. “She suggested I went up and talked with you. She thinks I should stay here and lay low and learn about modern Equestria while my enemies search for me and she makes the final preparations to resurrect my father.”

“Oh she did?” Starlight blinked for a moment, then smiled. “But of course, whatever the High Shadow commands, I obey. We will need to do something though first, just so the villagers don’t get suspicious.”

“As much as I would love to get rid of that book on my flank, I’m not replacing it with that equal sign,” Temor growled, remembering how his father said it suppressed magic.

“Oh, no, no, no,” the mare quickly assured him, then she grinned deviously, turned so her side was visible to the prince. She then grabbed a cloth nearby and rubbed it over the equal sign on her flank, revealing an actual cutie mark underneath a layer of light purple and gray colors.

“Wait, you still have your cutie mark?” Temor arched his brow, then watched as Starlight applied powder with the same color as her coat on top of the mark, concealing it, before grabbing a paper with an equal sign cut out in the middle of it and applied gray powder, through it, recreating the equal sign cutie mark on her.

“Why of course. The cutie mark removal spell takes away a unicorn’s magic. I need my magic to perform the spell and protect my village,” Starlight shrugged lightly.

“That is hypocritically sadistic,” Temor remarked, before smirking. “Stop it, Starlight, I might just actually begin to like you.”

“I figured you would approve,” she chuckled and looked him over. “Granted with your cape on, your mark is concealed, but want a powder job just in case it’s gets a little breezy while you stay here?”

“Actually, I wonder if an illusion spell would do the job.” Temor glanced at his cape-covered flank. He fired up his horn, lifted the cape up, revealing the book cutie mark on his flank. The stallion sneered in disgust, before applying magic. Slowly the image seemed to fade away, leaving his flank bare, then a lighter gray equal sign cutie mark appeared where the book used to be. “There, that should do it. Since I wear a cape, a paint job would probably just get smudged anyway.”

Starlight had watched the whole process a bit stunned, then she slapped her forehead with a hoof. “Illusion spell, of course, why didn’t I think of that? You know how much powder I go through because I need to reapply it after I take a bath?”

“I can imagine,” Temor said. “Now then, since I’m staying, I need housing for me and my slave.”

“Oh well, I have the rule that new members stay in my house for a little while, so the villagers will think nothing of it if the two of you stay here,” Starlight informed him.

Temor nodded. That solved that problem. He made a mental note to do a similar illusion spell on Emerald, just to keep up the façade. The unicorn was actually looking forward to sleeping in a bed after those nights of lying on the hard ground.

“Is the High Shadow really your aunt?” Starlight suddenly asked as she approached.

“Yes, she is my father’s sister. I do not know how she is alive, but she is.” Temor noted a bit of excitement sparkling in the mare’s eyes. “Anyway, Equestria, what can you tell me?”

“Oh right.” The mare cleared her throat and composed herself, reminding herself that this was the founder of the order she was a member of and the High Shadow had told her that he would resume leadership upon his return.

“Well, like I told you earlier, we are rather remote out here, so we don’t get all the news that happens outside the village. I will tell you though what I can,” she said.

Temor nodded and sat down. Starlight then proceeded to tell him what she did know of Equestria and how things had changed in the past thousand years. The stallion did note that there were gaps in her explanation. She would refer to Celestia’s champions, but clearly was unsure who they were. He arched his brow when hearing that Discord had been released but was put back in stone by them. What he found though most interesting was hearing of the failed changeling invasion.

Oh come on, Aunt Chryssy, you could have saved us a whole lot of trouble if you had succeeded in that, Temor groaned internally, allowing himself to refer to the changeling queen with the pet name he had for her in his thoughts. He had surprisingly fond memories of the changeling queen when she had visited the empire a few times, even if she wasn’t really his aunt, he liked to view her as that considering some of the magic spells she had taught him.





The Crystal Empire – Sombra’s reign.

“If I didn’t see it, I wouldn’t believe it.” A haughty voice addressed King Sombra sitting on the his throne. The king only gave the owner a casual glance. Entering the throne room was Queen Chrysalis. The tall changeling had a mocking smirk on her black muzzle as she stared at the young colt sitting by the throne. Behind her came three smaller but armored changelings.

“Are you actually playing daddy now?” the queen asked, shifting her gaze towards the dark unicorn.

“I have adopted an heir, yes,” King Sombra simply said. “Is there a reason for your visit Chrysalis?”

“Chaos reigns in Equestria, hate and fear rule the Crystal Empire, a changeling can barely find any love around the place anymore,” the queen snorted. “I don’t suppose you can spare any for a starving hive?”

“Now why would the monarch of hate and fear have any love to spare?” the king asked mockingly. The two royals now stared at each other eye to eye, frowning hard.

Temor glanced between them, furrowing his brow, still not quite sure what to make out of this new visitor. He remained silent, not wanting to disturb his father. He was surprised when the two royals eased their frowns and started laughing.

“You haven’t changed much at all, have you, Chrysalis,” King Sombra grinned now before gesturing a hoof to colt. “This is my son, Temor. I took him in a few years ago.”

“Oh aren’t you kind,” Chrysalis smirked and looked at Temor again. She then put a hoof on her chest. “Well little prince, you have the honor of gazing upon the Queen of the Changelings. I’m Chrysa…”

“Why do you have holes?” Temor asked, tilting his head. “They look stupid.”

“Such impudence.” For a brief moment Chrysalis looked enraged, but she almost instantly changed it to a smirk. “I like him. Reminds me of his father.”

“I have taught him well; however, I do expect him to show more respect towards our allies!” Sombra said, giving Temor a slight glare. 

The colt flinched. “Sorry, father,” the boy apologized.

“Changelings can change into any form they want. Queen Chrysalis has lent me the service of her drones several times to serve as spies for me. Valuable allies like that are hard to find and as such we do not insult their appearance, even if it may look strange to us,” King Sombra wasn’t quite finished with his lecture, though he did ease his scowl.

“I understand, father.” Temor bowed his head a little.

“Speaking of valuable allies, it was not just jest when I said there was little love to find. With Discord causing chaotic misery down south and you doing your thing here, it is starting to become harder for my subjects to find any love to suck out of creatures,” Queen Chrysalis spoke up, looking now more serious. “Since we are so valuable, you will forgive me if I expect you to aid us in this matter.”

“That is a reasonable expectation and granted, though I rule in hate and fear, love is still around here. The slaves have families and friends. I suppose I could spare a few for your hive, I do not quite know how feeding on love works for your kind, but I suppose though that it might taste bitter after years of desperation and fear,” the king turned his attention back to the changeling.

“Eh, beggars can’t be choosers. How many do you think you can spare?” Chrysalis shrugged.

“Take fifty. Adults only. I’ve recently come to appreciate how valuable foals are for the future and I’d rather they grow up and to be trained to be better slaves than the current set of adults,” Sombra told her, giving Temor a glance.

Chrysalis chuckled, not escaping her why the king suddenly had this new found appreciation for the younger generation. She glanced back at Temor, the colt unflinchingly stared right back.

“How long have you had him?” she wondered. The boy looked about ten or eleven.

“It’s been almost five years now,” King Sombra looked at Temor. “There were some difficulties at first, but they have been mostly rooted out by now.”

“My father is teaching me to be strong and powerful,” Temor stated, puffing his chest a little where he sat. Sombra smirked at that and glanced over to Chrysalis who was rubbing her muzzle thoughtfully.

“You certainly have a good teacher for that,” the changeling queen dropped her hoof down, grinning slightly. She valued the alliance with King Sombra and now wondered if she had a way to strengthen it. “You know, Sombra, I could teach your boy a thing or two that might come in handy later.”

King Sombra narrowed his eyes a little, if there was one thing he did know was that Queen Chrysalis was very crafty and even he only trusted her so far. In turn she probably only trusted him just as much. Then an idea came to his mind.

“Temor, wait outside the throne room,” he ordered his son. The boy nodded, rose up and bowed to both him and Chrysalis before heading out. Sombra then used his magic to shut the room.

Temor looked back, shrugged and sat down outside the throne room. Further down the hallway he saw Emerald peeking from behind a pillar at him. The colt, quickly shook his head and pointed to the closed throne room, signaling that his father was not done with him and he was to wait.

Emerald nodded and disappeared. The colt sighed a breath in relief. He’d so far managed to hide his friendship with the filly from his father, but it was risky business for them to meet and play.

The young prince didn’t need to wait for too long. Soon enough the throne room opened again and Queen Chrysalis and her entourage started walking out, closely followed by King Sombra.

“Temor, you are to accompany Chrysalis while she selects the slaves she will be feeding off of. She is going teach you for a little while,” Sombra addressed his son.

Temor frowned a little, but obeyed and hurried to follow the changelings. He glanced back when he heard his father say. “You know what to do, Chrysalis.”

“Have no fear, Sombra. Rooting out love is one of my specialties,” Queen Chrysalis responded back, causing Temor to wonder what they were speaking of. The colt though quickly shook it off and continued to follow his new teacher.





Equestria – Present day

“And that’s about it from what I do know,” Starlight finished her brief explanation of Equestria.

Temor nodded in response, though he had only been half listening. Most of the information had sounded unimportant to what he was trying to achieve. His mind also drifted a little to the past back when he had first met Queen Chrysalis.

“I better go downstairs and do the same illusion on my slave,” he glanced at the back of his flank. Surely Ira and Sombra had finished talking by now. Starlight agreed and the two left the room and headed downstairs.

As he had figured, Ira was no longer downstairs, only the spirit of his father. Starlight was already heading to the kitchen, so since she wasn’t looking. Temor motioned to his father that he was stepping outside. Sombra nodded and floated after him.

They found Emerald resting by the saddlebags just outside the house. The she immediately rose up to bow for her master when she spotted him.

“We are going to be staying here for a little while, laying low while our enemies search for us. I need to cast an illusion spell on your flank so you appear to have the same cutie mark as the other villagers,” Temor explained to her, but kept his voice low, since there were a few ponies outside in the village close enough to Starlight’s house.

“Very well, my lord,” Emerald simply said.

“When you’re done with her, my son, send her inside. I need to speak with you. Just have her tell Starlight that she’s supposed to prepare whatever bedroom you will be staying in,” Sombra told his son.

Temor only slightly inclined his head in a nod, before he made sure nobody was looking. Then he quickly cast an illusion spell on Emerald that made it look like she now had the equal sign cutie mark.

“Take our stuff inside and tell Starlight that you are to prepare the bedroom I’ll be staying in,” he then ordered. The crystal pony bowed her head, picked up the saddlebag and entered the house.

Glancing back, Temor felt it was safer to just head to the back of the building to be out of sight from the village. Once he was sure they were alone, he looked at his father.

“My sister advised me to convince you to grant Emerald her freedom,” Sombra began, raising his hoof that he wasn’t finished when Temor opened his mouth to say something.

“Let’s consider our options here. Our enemies are not just looking for you, they are also looking for Emerald. They probably don’t even consider the fact that she saved you on her own volition and followed you willingly. Even if they did think something along those lines, they would just consider her brainwashed or under mind control,” the dead king continued. Temor clamped his mouth shut and listened, but with a frown.

“We can test her loyalty to you with this. If she stays in your service, then she is truly loyal, if she opts to leave, well that’s that, we honestly do not need her at this point. We have reached allies that can aid us to a far greater extent,” his father then pointed out.

Sombra could see that Temor was not quite sold on this idea yet. The king shook his head, his son was just too used to service, being waited on and having a personal slave to order around.

Perhaps it was a mistake to have Queen Chrysalis remove the love he had for her as a friend back when they were children, the king thought. Great, one more regret to add to the pile.

“The two of you used to be friends,” he suddenly just flatly stated.

“Wait what?” Temor blinked in confusion.

“The first four to five years you were with me, you befriended a slave. You never confessed to me what slave that was. I always suspected it was one of the foals the slaves had and when I realized there really was only one mare in the castle that had foals, I narrowed my suspicions on her,” Sombra somewhat reluctantly began to explain, just knowing this would blow up in his ethereal face.

“Why don’t I remember any of this?” Temor asked, granted now that he thought about it, some memories were far fuzzier than others from those first few years.

“I suppressed the memories and Queen Chrysalis removed the love to these memories,” Sombra said and just waited for the eventual explosion.

“So that’s why she saved me and followed me willingly?” Temor glanced at the house before returning his attention to his father. “How do you know it was Emerald?”

“Before we reached the village, just after we first reached Equestria. I spotted her poking around in one of the saddlebags. She was caressing one of the toys you thought I didn’t know about. How could she get one of those without knowing exactly where they were? She no doubt is the one who gave you them in the first place,” his father answered. “Hold on, I think I have just enough power.”

Sombra’s horn began to glow and Temor suddenly felt like something clicked into his mind. It was suddenly flooded with memories of Emerald as a filly, the games they used to play, the notes they wrote each other. When he was done the King looked much more faded than before, having used a lot of the power he had already accumulated.

“I didn’t want you to be friends with a slave, a crystal pony. I had other plans for you and felt she would impede the process,” Sombra said, sounding much weaker. “I am really sorry.”

“Father?” Temor frowned at first, then he blinked when Sombra just simply vanished from his eyes. The prince rushed over to the spot where the king had been. “Father, where are you?”

“Must… rest… I’ll… be back…” he barely could hear Sombra’s voice somewhere around him. Temor frowned and closed his eyes, when he concentrated he did still feel the presence of his father, but it was very weak.

“Wait if he suppressed the memories, why didn’t he know from the start it was Emerald?” Temor wondered. Then again we never spoke each other’s names out loud, only mentioned them in our notes and to him one slave just looks like another. Wow, this is weird, I suddenly know this.

Temor stopped to think this over, going over these new old memories. Now he understood though when Queen Chrysalis had demonstrated how changelings suck out love, by taking a tiny fraction of it from him without hurting him. That must have been the time she removed the love attached to those memories.

Suddenly the prince started laughing as he realized something. Although the process had certainly removed him from his friend, it had on the flip side, protected Emerald. Granted she had still been a slave and eventually been made into his personal slave, she had at least never been severely punished for daring to speak to the prince.

I hated my father for the first few years, because I didn’t understand that he was just making me strong and giving back to me what my lineage had lost through centuries of interbreeding. Can I really resent him for inadvertently protecting my friend? He reasoned in his mind.

“Oh right, he has a point though. I probably should grant Emerald her freedom… Oh I just realized what we did together when she was older… agh… are you even supposed to do that with friends…” Temor sat down and started rubbing his forehead. “Alright… clean thoughts… clean thoughts… I didn’t know and well, she was a slave… I’m not making it sound any better.”

“Okay first things first, free Emerald, second thing have Emerald get her own bedroom,” Temor rose up, quickly shaking his head as old memories clashed with certain others ones to try and clear his head, then trotted back to the front of the house.

End chapter 14
> Chapter 15. Otherworldly experience.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 15

Somewhere

Private Iceland was falling, straight down, he was in freefall, face down into blackness. The dark gray unicorn had no idea what was going on. The last thing he remembered was going to bed, was he dreaming? Weren’t you supposed to wake up if you dreamt you were falling?

If this is a nightmare, I wouldn’t mind waking up right now, he thought as he kept barreling towards yet unseen ground.

If it was a dream, it could be stress related. Things had been quite hectic at work. Even if he usually was just holed up in the back room of the history museum, he did sometimes help outside and it had been field trip day. Lots of school foals coming for a visit, running around, going into places they weren’t supposed to go, touching things they were not supposed to touch. Almost breaking invaluable historical artifacts. It had not helped his mood and Private was already considered grumpy on a good day.

He was so done when the day was over and not even pancakes had helped quell his very sour temper. Thankfully he was not expected to come in tomorrow and the unicorn planned to pretty much hibernate for most of it. Something better be on fire if his attention was needed somewhere.

What was it they say, it’s not the fall that kills you but the sudden impact? He cringed and really, really hoped this was a dream and he would soon wake up with a start.

Then everything came to an abrupt halt and his face planted hard on very solid ground. Private groaned and for a moment just lay there, contemplating if he wanted to rise up. So far he wasn’t feeling the softness of his bed.

Slowly he looked up. The stallion frowned. Things weren’t black anymore, more grayish-brownish. There was no visible source of light but he could see. Rubbing the sore spot on his face, he rose up. Even the ground was the same color as everything around him. He arched his brow...this was hauntingly familiar.

Okay this is the second weirdest thing ever to happen to me, but if it is a dream it’s not even in the top ten. He started to look around but so far saw nothing of particular interest, aside from the color, everything was empty.

Suddenly a sound caught his attention. It sounded like hoofsteps. Something was approaching. There was a metallic sound to them, like the hooves were clad in armor. Private’s frown turned worried. Hesitantly he glanced back. His heart stopped, his eyes opened wide, he felt weak in the legs.

Approaching was another unicorn, bigger, darker gray than him, his wild lion like mane was black, the horn was red and curved like a knife, the eyes were intent and red. Clad in armor, wearing a crown and the back adorned with a red cape with white trims.

I WANT TO WAKE UP NOW! Private couldn’t move, just kept staring at the approaching unicorn.

King Sombra stopped close to Private, observing him with a grim expression. The smaller unicorn still couldn’t move, just kept staring and desperately hoping that something would wake him up soon.

“I…I’m dreaming right? You can’t be here… I was in my bed, I went to sleep…” Private whispered and finally managed to will up the courage to turn to face the king.

“This is no dream,” King Sombra said, tilting his head as he continued to observe the frightened pony.

“Oh come on! Why have you taken me? How? When?! Celestia have it! Can’t you leave me alone?!” Private snapped, then quickly put a hoof over his mouth, he couldn’t believe he had worked up a nerve to actually do that. Strangely enough, there was no mocking laughter. Sombra just continued to watch him, almost curiously.

“I have done nothing,” the king said and arched his brow. “Believe me, I am as confused about this situation as you are.”

Come again? Private was not used to this. King Sombra wasn’t even taunting him, just kept observing him curiously. “Okay… is this a new game of yours with me?”

“I’m playing no games,” King Sombra said, then looked contemplative. “The last thing I remember was having to rest. I had just confessed to my son…” The dark pony’s eyes narrowed as he looked around. “Never mind that. What is this place?”

“If you don’t know, I certainly don’t,” Private snorted, feeling unusually bold since the king didn’t seem to be tormenting him. Then the unicorn blinked. “Wait, you have a son? Since when?”

“By the first queen. You’re… Temor, if I hadn’t raised him,” Sombra seemed to realize and took a step back. Private could only stare in utter confusion. This was not how the King Sombra he knew acted.

The king took another step back, then started to look around. “In my weakened state I must have been pulled here, but why? Why to you?”

“What are you talking about, you have been constantly tormenting me since you possessed me a while ago. I was hospitalized for months because of you!” Private snorted, not sure why he was feeling so brave. Perhaps it helped seeing the king act so differently, or perhaps this was a dream after all.

“I did what? I would never…” Sombra growled and scowled angrily, but halted when seeing Private flinch and shrink a little as the smaller pony squeaked an apology.

“This is not your world, spirit!” a commanding voice spoke out of thin air. A bright moon appeared high up in the air, generating a soft glow on both stallions. Then it suddenly transformed into a midnight blue alicorn with an ethereal mane. She glared at the king while slowly descending to the ground between them.

“Princess Luna.” King Sombra sneered and took another step back.

“Yes, it is I. But not the one you know,” the Lunar Princess snorted, then she glanced back at Private who was still registering the fact she had arrived. “Have no fear, Private Iceland. This is the dream realm and you are safe.”

“Oh… so this is a dream?” Private whispered and rose up again. “Is that why he’s acting so weird?”

Luna chuckled slightly and turned her gaze back to the king. Sombra had resumed his grim expression and remained silent.

“You are asleep, but this is not quite a dream,” the princess explained as she started to approach the king. “He is acting so weird, because this is not the King Sombra you know.”

“I… what?” Private didn’t look even close to understanding what she was going on about.

“When you were a colt, King Sombra abducted you through time and space and imbued you with spells to potentially possess you. I believe he also imbued some of his essence into you, am I correct?” Luna asked as she started circling the king who never took his eyes off her.

“I… yeah I recall something like that being said, whatever that means really,” Private muttered, not really wanting to remember that part of his life.

“This Sombra did the same, except, in his case the colt never returned to his proper time,” Luna told him. She stopped and gave the king a pointed look. “He was stuck with you wasn’t he, Sombra? So you had to raise him yourself.”

“Woah, hold on, can we please speak in less cryptic manners?” Private asked, his head was starting to hurt.

“Yes, my son was from another time who I pulled back to make him ready to serve as the vessel for my spirit if I would happen to die in whatever time period he was from,” King Sombra spoke then sighed. “Something went wrong, he wasn’t sent back. So I adopted and raised him.”

“Can somepony, PLEASE tell me what is going on?” Private finally snapped. He felt like he was missing something really important information to fully understand what the heck was going on. He glared at Luna who was chuckling.

“King Sombra here is a dead spirit, from another world. A world where a version of you was not sent back to your proper time. This Sombra raised that version of you. He was in a weakened state and was pulled to you while you were sleeping. The dreaming world and the spirit world are closely linked. He was probably drawn to the essence of Sombra that is still within you,” the Lunar Princess calmly explained to the confused unicorn.

“In his world, you are his adopted son, named Temor,” Luna then finished and tried not to laugh when Private’s jaw nearly scraped the ground.

“Yes, that sounds about right. I had just used a lot of magic to unlock some memories within my son, memories I had locked away. It drained me and in order to prevent myself from drifting away, I had to rest. Then I did feel a pull and I was suddenly here. I felt something familiar.” King Sombra’s expression softened a little. “I apologize, Private. I did not mean to cause you any discomfort or confusion.”

“Did King Sombra actually, genuinely apologize to me?” Private blinked. This was just too surreal.

“I have recently had many regrets regarding my son. He’s the only thing that kept me sane during my exile. You are what he could have become if I hadn’t…” King Sombra sighed then looked at Luna. “I probably should leave…”

“King Sombra, what you see before you is what would have happened had your previous plans succeeded with your son. This pony has been hounded and tormented by his King Sombra. He still bears the mental scars after a possession that could have very well have driven him insane. He is lucky to be still alive,” Luna stated dryly to the king.

Private arched his brow when seeing the look of horror come over the dark pony. Sombra looked at him. There was a hint of regret in his eyes. Then the king’s expression turned solemn, slowly he began to fade away until he was gone.

“I still have no idea what just happened here,” he muttered, watching Princess Luna turn her attention to him.

“That is the nature of alternate worlds I fear, Private. They can be very confusing. What you saw was the briefest glimpse if things had gone differently,” she told him as she spread her wings and started to ascend.

“I would not trouble yourself over this, just consider this a very strange dream if it makes you feel better,” the princess smiled before disappearing in a bright flash.


Private woke up with a start. Sitting up revealed he was in bed and in his room. A faint glimmer of light was starting to pour into the window, indicating a new day was coming. The unicorn glanced around, wondering if perhaps he had had one too many pancakes before bed.

Weirdest dream, I have ever had. He thought and lay back down. Despite a reputation of being a morning pony, he wanted to try and sleep in.

As he drifted back to sleep, he was observed from one corner of his room by a very faint image of King Sombra. The king had a small smile on his face. A fatherly smile.

“You are in the wrong world, spirit!” a dark voice addressed him. It was his voice but did not come from him. “This world is mine, Private is mine. I will not have you interfere here!”

“Private Iceland belongs to himself,” Temor’s father scowled. “Frankly, I do not care for how you treat him.”

“I do not concern myself with what dead failures think. Get back to your world. There is nothing for you here,” the voice snorted.

Sombra narrowed his eyes, but then sighed, regretfully, admitting that the version of him that belonged to this world was right. With one last look at the sleeping pony on the bed, the spirit faded away, departing back to where he came.






King Sombra was starting to understand what his sister meant when she talked about being a spirit. In his weakened state, things were beginning to become confusing. Time didn’t really seem to exist. He saw the past, the present and what he figured was perhaps the future muddled together.

So far the dead king had used his iron will to just tether himself to his son and focus on the task that lay before them, his resurrection. But after using his accumulated powers to unlock Temor’s memories of Emerald, he found it more difficult to be in the now. He even felt a pull, something wanted him to just leave, move on. It took everything the dark pony had to ignore it.

Then that strange thing had happened. Where he had appeared before his son, but it wasn’t his son, it was the pony his son would have become had he not become stuck with him. Then there was that ominous threat from a version of himself. Sombra had to admit he didn’t care for how obsessive it sounded.

To get back he had to do what he did back in his exile - center all his thoughts on Temor. It started to work somewhat. He could see Starlight’s village, but for now was just a distant observer. He was still linked to his son, but could not yet appear before him.

To get his mind off that strange and rather confusing event, he began focusing his attention on the village and its inhabitants. “Look at this waste of resources, drained of their magic. They can barely do any job properly.”

Sombra narrowed his eyes as the king watched the villagers go about their business. “Granted, I give her props for manipulating loyalty from those dimwitted idiots with her ridiculous spiel, but seriously. She has one tiny village in the furthest corner of Equestria, nearly isolated from the rest of it. How does she expect her propaganda to spread?”

Sombra continued to observe, feeling a bit stronger again. He considered going back to Temor, but found himself strangely reluctant to do so, especially after that strange vision of what could have been. The king then figured since he was out there, he might as well see how things were in this village and be a look out for any trouble.

The villagers were blissfully unaware of the spirit now walking amongst them. Sombra couldn’t see them do anything unusual, most of them were just doing everyday things, none of which interested him in the slightest.

Then a whimper caught his attention. A foal had tripped and hurt her leg. The parents were already on the scene, the father picking up her daughter and giving her a comforting hug. The mother gently caressing her on the head, telling her it was going to be alright, it was just a scratch.

King Sombra growled softly and turned away, ignoring a strange feeling building up inside of him.

“I love you daddy.”

The spirit looked to his side where the source of those words had come. Seeing a colt hugging his father, there were no visible signs of why the child had suddenly made this declaration. Sombra watched silently as the father returned the hug, assuring his son that he loved him too.

Why don’t I scout outside the village, the king thought and started to quickly float away. Things were getting more and more uncomfortable as he observed more parents interact with their foals.

Soon he was on the cliffs overlooking the village. He could feel he was stretching the limit he could go from Temor, but right now that wasn’t too high on his mind. The king just couldn’t understand why seeing these peasants enjoying their time with their children was making him uncomfortable.

Focus. There is no time for this. Sombra sneered and started to levitate into the air so he had a wider view of the area. He could just about see the borders to the frozen north and where Equestria became a grassy plane again.

I did alright, didn’t? His glance slowly drifted back towards Starlight’s house. It wasn’t my fault he got stuck with me… I…

Wasn’t it? It was I who was messing with time spells, pulling ponies back from the comfort of their own homes. Fusing spells into them at the slim chance I might die in their time period. The spell was risky and experimental. It cost two ponies their son… the king closed his eyes, growled softly and turned away from the village.

Oh for the love of… I have no use for sentimentalities right now, focus! King Sombra slowly opened his eyes again. He was facing towards the west. The spirit narrowed his eyes...he saw something no normal living pony could see in the far distance. Perhaps it is time to test the limit of how far I can go from Temor.





“Is Leatherwing sure this is the way he saw them go?” Twilight asked, glancing at Fluttershy as the group stopped for a moment to rest.

The six ponies plus one bat had reached the edge of the grass plain and before them was a barren land of rock and sand. They had been traveling for a little while now, having found a campsite near the trees where Leatherwing had seen Temor and Emerald, they headed in the direction the bat told the yellow pegasus the two ponies had taken.

Fluttershy took a moment to talk with the bat, before looking at Twilight again. “He says yes.”

“Rainbow, you said you saw a village when you tried to see something from high above?” Twilight now turned her attention to the other pegasus who nodded.

“It will take a while to get there on hoof. I can zip over there and see if anyone saw, Temor,” Rainbow Dash offered, almost ready to just dart off in an instant.

“His name is Private Iceland,” the purple unicorn insisted with a frown. “But no, we must stick together. He’s maybe not King Sombra, but he was raised by him, so we don’t know what he’s capable of.”

“Twilight is right, no sense going off alone. Besides the fellow could be in the village and if he became aware that we are looking for him, who knows what he might do?” Applejack concurred. Rainbow Dash folded her front legs and grumbled.

“Fine,” she relented and descended to the ground when she saw that her friends were all sitting down. Pinkie was pulling out goodies from her saddlebags and giving them to the other mares for eating.

“Alright, you take care, say hi to your family from me.” Fluttershy was still speaking with Leatherwing the bat, before he flew off. “He said he needed to go now and join his family for their day nap.”

“So what exactly is the plan if we catch up with this Tem… I mean Private Iceland?” Rarity asked Twilight. The white unicorn had pulled out a blanket from her saddlebag, draping it on the ground before sitting down.

Twilight sighed. In all honesty she wasn’t quite sure. If Leatherwing hadn’t shown up to show them where the pony had gone off to, they would probably still be in the Crystal Empire trying to figure out where he had gone. To complicate matters, Temor’s entire family was involved with this Order of Umbrum by the sounds of it. She had hoped telling him about his family would help, but that didn’t seem to be an option now.

“I’m not sure. At least we’ll try to reason with him before taking any other action. Hopefully we can turn him away from following that monster,” Twilight then said quietly, her friends nodded in agreement.

“So much for not going on a long weary chase huh?” Rainbow commented. That resulted in Twilight planting her face on the ground as she groaned in frustration. Pinkie grinned nervously, recalling saying something along those lines.

“Tell me somethin’, how would this fellow go on about resurrecting his father? Ah mean, it’s not exactly something that happens everyday,” Applejack inquired with a thoughtful frown. Twilight looked up again as she contemplated the question.

“Raising the dead is not exactly something taught in magic school, that I can tell you. I don’t even think Starswirl the Bearded could have done something like that,” the unicorn then responded, rubbing her muzzle.

“Then again I can’t dismiss that King Sombra was a powerful user of dark magic. I don’t quite know what he is capable of. I’ve only experienced small samples of it myself and let me tell you, I did not like the feeling of it.” Twilight shuddered as she remembered the traps in the Crystal Empire.

“You don’t think the prince will summon Sombra’s ghost, will you?” Pinkie gasped and looked a bit freaked out.

“No Pinkie, ghosts aren’t real,” Twilight chuckled at her friend. The others also giggled.

Unbeknownst to the six mares, they were being watched carefully by a pair of unseen eyes. Hearing the unicorn’s remark about ghosts, caused the spy to chuckle mockingly.

Don’t believe in ghosts, huh? King Sombra smirked, fixing his eyes on Twilight Sparkle. He was currently really straining the limit he could be apart from Temor. If he tried to get any closer he would be pulled back.

Well I can’t say I blame you, not like I can do much in this form. Especially since I’m linked to Temor, he thought and rubbed his muzzle thoughtfully with a hoof. Despite the strain he could feel his strength returning.

Never mind that though. You all being here now, poses a problem, he thought and began fading away. I can’t do much, but I know who can.

Unknowingly being observed, the mares continued to eat the food. Twilight was currently raking her brain over what they should do if they caught up with Temor since her initial plans were out the window.

And I just realized we don’t even have the elements with us, she frowned. Of course they were only supposed to use them in a dire emergency, but she was starting to feel this was exactly that.

“Well we better get going and see if he’s gone through the village,” she declared and started to rise. “Let’s go find Private Iceland.”

“Private Iceland is dead!” a sharp voice addressed them hatefully. Turning towards it they saw Temor step up on a large boulder, scowling hard and his horn sparkling with energy. The sky began darkening above them as the prince observed the six ponies below him.

“I am Prince Temor, son of King Sombra, grandson of Queen Rabia of the Dark Pony Empire and nephew of the last Queen of the Dark Ponies.” Temor narrowed his eyes to slits.

“Will you quit grandstanding and just attack them,” his father whispered sharply, unseen from behind him.

“Just having a little fun,” Temor whispered before quickly using his dark magic to change into a towering shadow form, with only the eyes visible glaring daggers down at the startled mares below him.

End chapter 15
> Chapter 16. Insistent terminology.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 16

The day before the encounter with Twilight and her friends...

Temor followed Emerald into a small bedroom that was close to the one Starlight had already assigned him. The crystal pony was still looking a little stunned after the prince had come racing inside, then told her to stop working on preparing his room. More shock came over the mare when Temor then promptly told her he remembered them being friends.

While still digesting that, Starlight had peeked her head in and told them Emerald could use the bedroom they were right now walking into. The unicorn mare however let them be, always showing deference to the prince.

“So… wait… you remember, sire?” Emerald couldn’t believe it, she had been breaking her mind trying to figure out ways to have Temor remember, parts of her almost ready to give up and simply resign herself to the fact that he didn’t.

“YOU. Do not. Call me sire!” Temor snapped but cringed when he realized he had dropped right into his usual prince routine when dealing with servants and slaves when seeing Emerald flinch. “Sorry. I meant to say, you can just call me Temor.”

Temor rubbed his forehead as he considered what to say next. The memories were still going around his head, he saw that the two of them had done a lot of fun together. She had made the early part of his life with the king far more tolerable. Yet he found there was still a disconnect, no doubt what Chrysalis had done on her part to let him forget her.

“Look, yes I remember. Father suppressed the memories and had Aunt… I mean Queen Chrysalis remove the emotional attachment to them,” he started explaining and sighed slightly. “Father suspected that it was you all along.”

Emerald grimaced when hearing that, figuring now why she had been chosen as the prince’s concubine. No doubt that had been her punishment for daring to befriend the king’s son. Yet, she couldn’t say it had been that bad, the prince had not been really that interested, most of the time he just had her serve him in other ways.

“So, is that why you saved me after the Crystal Heart broke my horn? Because we were friends?” Temor asked and sat down, that was one of the biggest mysteries for him right now, why the emerald green crystal pony had rescued him.

“Yes,” Emerald lay down on the floor, head downcast and she started to trace a circle on wood with her hoof. “I knew the others would just see you as they saw the king. Consider you as guilty as him, they would want you thrown into the dungeons or worse, executed. I couldn’t let it happen.”

“But why? You were free, your family was free, your nation was free.” The prince could still not quite get his head around the fact.

“I was and it was my choice to help you, because you made my life as a slave more bearable. Even if I was assigned to you… it was better than some of the alternatives,” Emerald said and looked up. “I wanted to repay you, because we were friends.”

“Even if my plans involve resurrecting the pony who enslaved your family in the first place?” Temor asked with an arched brow, despite it all, he was still loyal to his father. As far as he was concerned, Sombra had simply by accident, protected Emerald by doing this.

“C-can you resurrect him?” Emerald asked nervously, she wasn’t sure how to interpret the unimpressed glare she got.

“I was not supposed to tell you this, but my father’s spirit has been tethered to me since we reached that mountain top. I found his horn, it merged with mine. He’s been with us the whole time,” he told her, then pointed to the door. “Starlight is a member of the Order of Umbrum. They have expanded across Equestria, they are dedicated to assist me. Sombra’s sister, Ira is alive, she expanded the order. King Sombra is coming back.”

Emerald’s eyes widened at the first revelation then froze when hearing that the Order of Umbrum was still active. The mare gulped and wasn’t sure what to say, deep down she had just hoped they would be on the road, on a wild goose chase to find Sombra’s horn while she figured out how to restore his memories.

“However, I’m recognizing your years of service and in lieu of our friendship, I’m granting you your freedom. You can choose to stay with us… or go back to the Crystal Empire,” Temor said and stood up. “We will not stop you.”

The prince left the room to allow Emerald to think this over, going to his own to get some rest. He was also a bit worried about his father, the spirit seemed to have plain vanished. Starlight did come a little later, asking if he wanted some dinner. The prince wasn’t really in mood for company, the current events still heavy on his mind, so he asked the unicorn to deliver it to his room. 

“Take some to Emerald as well,” Prince then told her. “Or have her join you, I don’t care.”

Starlight had simply nodded. Temor had to wonder why the leader of this village was so happy to serve him, even if she was a member of the Order. He brushed it off for now. Once he had eaten, he decided to go to sleep. Hoping his father was still around and would return the next day.


When Temor woke up the following morning, he scowled when seeing no sign of the spirit. He threw off his blanket and climbed out of the bed, he put on his cape and left the room. Looking at the door to Emerald’s room, he decided breakfast could wait and he stepped over and knocked.

Hearing nothing, he opened the door and peeked in. Emerald was still asleep and had not been awoken by the knock. Temor debated whether to wake her and was taking a step inside when suddenly he saw a swirling mass of blackness form right next to him. It took the form of his father. The prince immediately bowed.

“Father, you’re back,” he whispered relieved, not noticing that the crystal pony was slowly looking groggily up from her bed.

“No time for that. It’s time to see if your horn has healed enough. There are enemies nearby,” Sombra snapped, ignoring the confused crystal pony nearby.

“What?!” Temor scowled, then sneered, his eyes beginning to glow green. “Show me, father!”

With that Temor teleported away, leaving a very confused Emerald behind. She had only seen the prince speaking to the thin air. She had woken up when feeling a cold chill go through the room. Deciding this could wait until the prince returned, the mare lay her head back down and tried to go to sleep again.







“Private Iceland, wait!” Twilight cried as she ducked an explosion when a dark magic beam landed close to her and her friends. The rest of the mares scattered to avoid it.

“We just want to talk!” the unicorn looked up at the massive shadow like smoke, towering above them.

Temor didn’t respond, already infuriated by being addressed by his old name. He shot out tendrils that slapped Rainbow Dash out of the air, the pegasus had been attempting to barrel right into him. Then crystals began erupting from the ground, forcing the other mares to flee in all directions.

“Don’t over do it!” Sombra whispered. His spirit had joined Temor’s shadow form, though all he could do was give advice.

Twilight helped Rarity back up and the two unicorns quickly dove out of the way from more magic blasts. Applejack was kicking away more crystals that erupted from the ground, while Pinkie and Fluttershy did their best to avoid them. Rainbow was back in the air, glaring at the shadow.

“Darling, I don’t think he wants to talk,” the fashionista remarked as she and Twilight were forced to take a shelter behind some rocks, they were soon joined by Pinkie and Fluttershy.

“Too slow,” Rainbow Dash shouted as she managed to dodge the incoming tendrils this time. She increased her speed and began going around Temor faster and faster, trying to force the large shadowy smoke into a more compact form.

“Shoot where she is going to be, not where she is!” Sombra told Temor, who had begun shooting magic at the pegasus, but kept missing due to her speed. With a sneer, the prince aimed and fired a large dark magic blast in the path of the pegasus.

Rainbow Dash just barely managed to avoid it, swiftly changing her direction up, but this had slowed her down enough to be slapped hard out of the air again by a tendril.

“Rainbow!” Applejack ran after her friend. She unfurled her lasso, which she had grabbed from her saddlebag shortly after the battle started, and used it to expertly snatch the pegasus and pull her back, just before Rainbow Dash hit the jagged-looking crystals that had produced out of the ground.

“Private Iceland, please!” Twilight jumped up on top of the rock she and the rest were hiding behind. “You don’t have to do this. King Sombra is dead. You don’t have to follow him anymore!”

The massive shadow and smoke turned to face where she stood, giving Applejack time to drag a disoriented Rainbow Dash to cover. The shadow started to shrink until Prince Temor was back in his pony body. On his head was the helmet and he was wearing his full armor and cape. His eyes were narrow and stared hatefully at the purple unicorn.

“Private, it’s not too late, you can return to your family, your mother,” Twilight said pleadingly.  Even if she knew the prince’s family were members of the Order, she still hoped that would stir something in him.

“Wait isn’t his mom…” Pinkie peeked out from behind the rock but was quickly pulled back by both Rarity and Fluttershy. Both the unicorn and the pegasus shook her head at her, then pointed at Twilight, indicating to let the purple pony do the talking. The pink pony chuckled nervously, mouthing a sorry.

“The king…” Temor sneered, dark magic was building up again in his horn. “Was my family, MURDERERS!!!”

With a roar, the prince shot a powerful blast that exploded the rock, sending Twilight flying. Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie were also thrown by the blast. The four ponies landed harshly on the ground.

“King Sombra raised me!” Temor snarled, grabbing Twilight up in a stranglehold with his magic and lifted the mare harshly up from the ground and started shaking her. “He taught me magic! He made my strong! He gave me back my heritage!”

“King Sombra is my father!” he snarled and slammed the unicorn back to the ground, stalking closer to the groaning pony, too disoriented and weak from the blast to do or say anything. Murderous glare was in his eyes and his horn was sprouting purple and green fire.

“Hey Prince Bozo!” Rainbow Dash suddenly came flying, ramming herself into the prince, throwing him off his path.

Temor landed hard on one of the many crystals now littering the landscape, but he came down on his feet, glaring at Rainbow Dash who hovered in the air right above the ground staring right back at him, hooves ready for a fight. Applejack was running to Twilight, and the others were picking themselves up from where they had landed.

“Private,” Twilight addressed the prince again, supporting herself on Applejack. “We know what he did to you. We know he abducted you when you were just a small colt, trapped you with him. It must have been horrible.”

“He didn’t trap me,” Temor growled and but for now kept his distance. he had used up a lot of power and he could already feel a strain on his horn. “Yes, I got trapped, but that was an accident. He had no intentions to keep me. I was to be sent back. He was as surprised as I was when I got stuck.

“And you know what that ‘horrible’ king did?” the prince stood to his full height as he stepped away from the crystal. “He took me in. He didn’t kill me or throw me in with the slaves. He fed me, he clothed me, he taught me, he raised me like any parent would.”

“To be just as cruel and merciless as he was?” Twilight shouted. She was starting to fear there was no reaching him. “This isn’t you, Private!”

“My name is TEMOR!” the prince screamed and stomped both front hooves so hard on the ground that it made long cracks. “That sniveling little crybaby is dead. I rose from him, stronger and more powerful. I am the son of King Sombra and your frantic spiel won’t change that!

“I am a Dark Pony!” Temor snarled and started shooting dark magic again. Rainbow Dash had to duck out of the way and the rest of her friends ran for cover. “I am not a weak-minded Equestrian who blathers on and on about friendship and harmony!”

“Temor, you are overdoing it!” Sombra saw that his son was reaching the limits of what he could do right now. His horn was still too recently healed. He had been silent so far, somewhat stunned and touched to hear his son’s declaration of loyalty to him. He cringed when seeing Temor’s horn was beginning to pulsate.

“Private Iceland! Stop shooting magic right now!” he finally snapped and stomped a hoof on the ground. Temor immediately ceased firing. Slowly the young stallion looked stunned at the spirit.

He wasn’t the only one surprised. The six mares were all staring, jaws agape. They had not only felt the earth-shaking stomp, they had heard the dark voice ordering Temor, using his real name to cease. They now actually saw the faint visage of Sombra, staring sternly down at the prince.

“It… can’t be,” Twilight whispered.

There was though no time to fully react to this startling event. Suddenly all six mares found themselves floating in glowing white magic bubbles. Out of a shadow emerged Ira. Cold fury was in her eyes.

“This is enough!” the High Shadow declared, snapping Temor’s attention to her.

Sombra merely glanced towards his sister. Ira slowly turned her gaze towards the six trapped mares. Rainbow Dash tried to bang her hooves on the magic surrounding her, but nothing happened. Twilight had recovered from her shock, but now stared sadly down at the mare holding her and her friends.

“I warned the princesses. I told them to stay away!” Ira whispered, her mouth and eyes twitching. “Yet they keep pressing on. Keep interfering.”

“They are quite annoying like that,” King Sombra remarked as he floated closer to his sister. Temor slowly approached. He looked like he had just been slapped hard, a small crack had formed on his horn after the lengthy battle.

“The True Return will go forth. My brother will return to life!” Ira continued to glare at the six trapped ponies. “And my nephew will be reunited with his family.”

“You corrupted his family!” Twilight shouted with tears in her eyes, recognizing her voice now.

“I have corrupted nothing!” Ira snapped and floated the unicorn’s bubble closer.

“I gave them solace; I gave them comfort during trying times. I promised Mirage the return of her son. I promised Barricade that his brother would come back,” the tall mare pointed at Temor. “And behold, I am about to grant them exactly what I promised!”

“Wait… what?” Temor finally looked up and found his voice again. He looked at Sombra who still had his attention on Ira.

“You are about to give them back a monster that King Sombra created - not Mirage’s son and not Barricade’s brother!” Twilight argued. She cried out when she was shocked by the magic all around her. Her friends let out a shout of protests, but were shocked as well in turn.

“SILENCE, Celestia’s pet! My brother did what he could. He was not the best father, but he was a father to him,” Ira spat. Then she looked at Temor and her features eased instantly.

“Oh, my poor nephew...your horn.” She raised a hoof and gently touched the crack on Temor’s horn. Then she dropped it lower to caress his cheek. “Return to the village. Tell Starlight to prepare. We will soon depart.”

“Alright,” Temor whispered, all fight out of him. He used what magic he had left to teleport away.  With him, the spirit of King Sombra also vanished.

“Nephew?” Rainbow Dash remarked with confusion. Her friends felt pretty much the same, though Twilight continued to stare angrily at Ira.

“I am Ira, the last Queen of the Dark Ponies. Sister of King Sombra, daughter of Queen Rabia.” Slowly Ira turned her head back to the six mares. Then she suddenly glared at Pinkie Pie.

“You have something that belongs to my nephew!” she snarled and out of the pink pony’s mane the wooden toys floated out.

“Hey!” Pinkie protested and tried to grab the toy figures back, but they left the magic bubble and floated over to Ira. The dark unicorn held up a hoof and the toys clumped together, floating above it in their own magic ball.

“He loved playing with these. Emerald gave them to him. When I was still a spirit, haunting the Crystal Castle, I ensured he got them. Oh, the adventures he had them go on,” she whispered, smiling down at the toys, before she dispelled them for now.

“Does anypony know what the hay’s she talkin’ about?” Applejack asked, wondering about the sudden change in attitude. No one could really answer. Ira seemed to have forgotten all about them for now.

“What am I still doing here? I have things to do, to prepare,” Ira shook her head and started to walk to a shadow of a boulder. She gave the magic bubbles a withering glare.

“Oh and you are all coming with me since you are so insistent on seeing the Return!” she snorted and began sinking into the shadow, dragging all six magic bubbles after her into it, causing alarmed cries from the six mares trapped within.

End Chapter 16
> Chapter 17. Meanwhile in Canterlot.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 17

Celestia and Luna were not looking very happy when they finally returned to Canterlot. The Celestials sisters entered the throne room of the castle sporting grave expressions. Things had not gone well in the Crystal Empire, things had in fact turned rather alarming.

All suspected collaborators of King Sombra had by now vanished without a trace. The most baffling of all though, all the soldiers identified to have been working willingly with Sombra had also vanished, right out of their cells in the dungeons. One cell had a haunting message scrawled on the wall in blood.

“Our king summons us.”

There were also reports of a few things missing - things that the royal couple had suspected belonging to the Dark King, including a damaged silver tiara that had been found in the room he had used as a bedroom.

“We must get to the bottom of this Order of Umbrum business as soon as possible, sister,” Luna remarked as they stepped up to their thrones. The princess scowled when recalling her own meeting with the order’s leader. “That High Shadow...she sounded familiar. I’ve heard that voice before.”

“Please try and recall from where you heard it, it might just help us towards a solution,” her sister said, sitting down on her throne. She had already sent a message to summon for her secretary and was awaiting her arrival.

“I will. I shall be in my study,” Luna said with a sharp nod and walked past the thrones and left through a side door.

Celestia sighed, then glanced over when seeing that Raven Inkwell was arriving, on the run as usual. The princess raised her brow. Her secretary looked rather frantic. She waited patiently while the unicorn bowed before looking up at her sovereign.

“Your Highness, thank goodness you’re back,” Raven said and summoned a high stack of papers and immediately levitated them over to the Sun Princess.

“What is the matter?” Celestia asked. She accepted them hesitantly, thinking perhaps these were matters she would be forced to put on hold for now.

“These reports have been coming in from all over Equestria. Vanhoover, Manehatten, Ponyville, Baltimare, Appleloosa, even here in Canterlot - you name it,” Raven continued. “Ponies have been vanishing from all over!”

What? Celestia started to immediately go over the papers. There were missing pony reports of family members, co-workers, friends...all were being reported missing to the local authorities.

“I don’t understand...these are ponies from all walks of life - teachers, artists, construction ponies, police officers…royal guards?” the princess couldn’t believe her eyes. She pushed the papers to the side and looked at her secretary. “How many are there?”

“The reports are still coming in, but we are talking hundreds,” Raven explained and dropped to her haunches. “My assistants who handle incoming messages are overrun.”

The papers dropped from Celestia’s magic grip and scattered to the floor around her throne. The princess continued to stare in disbelief at her secretary. If this had happened a few days ago, before the Crystal Empire had returned, the princess might have immediately risen and ordered search parties to be dispatched. However recent events made her suspect she knew exactly who those ponies disappearing were.

Who can I trust? She thought, realizing now more than ever that anyone could be a member of this order. Wait a minute, this is a national emergency. Why wasn’t I notified earlier? Raven knows how to contact me, even if I was in the Crystal Empire. Why wait until I had returned…

“Raven.” Celestia looked closely at her secretary. “Do they know what is causing it?”

“No, your highness,” the unicorn shook her head.

“Why wasn’t I notified of this sooner?” the princess then asked with a frown.

Raven blinked and quickly rose back up to her hooves. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again. Celestia felt an empty pit in her stomach when seeing her secretary smile and her previous frantic body language vanish. The unicorn chuckled softly.

“I guess I was bound to slip up eventually,” Raven claimed, glancing down for a moment before looking up again. There was contempt now in her eyes.

“Hail King Sombra!” she cried and almost instantly her own shadow enlarged and swallowed the mare and she vanished from the throne room.

Princess Celestia choked. Her own beloved secretary had been a member? Resisting the tears and rising anger towards the High Shadow, the alicorn rose from her throne and almost tore the side door off its hinges as she walked through.

Not Raven too. What lies did the High Shadow tell you to win you over to her side? she thought, still fighting back the bitter tears as she made her way to Luna’s study.

Luna was going through an old diary when her sister burst in. The Lunar Princess looked up and was startled to see Celestia on verge of tears. She rushed over and was immediately grabbed in a hug by the older alicorn.

“They have ensnared Raven Inkwell,” Celestia cried and now that she was in privacy with her sister, finally let the damn bust. “Ponies are disappearing all over, all members of that horrid cult dedicated to King Sombra!”

Luna wasn’t sure what to say and do. She had never seen her sister break down at all like this, even when facing the horrific chaos of Discord. For now Luna concentrated on calming Celestia down, taking her over to a couch and sat down alongside her.

“It was shocking enough when Raven came with the reports that ponies were vanishing, but when I grew suspicious, because this should have been reported to us immediately while we were in the Crystal Empire, she said it to my face, ‘Hail King Sombra’ and then just vanished into her own shadow,” Celestia started to ramble. “Who can we trust?” she whispered.

“Twilight and her friends,” Luna reminded her. Celestia let go of her and for a moment stared at her sister, then she smiled.

“Of course, they are looking for the prince,” she said and sat up more properly. The Solar Princess took a moment to compose herself. “Please forgive me, I was just too shocked at what I saw.”

“No need to apologize to me, sister,” Luna said gently and draped her wing around her sister. “You know you don’t have to act all regal and formal with me.”

“Oh of course,” Celestia sighed and leaned down to place her head on Luna’s. “I’m so glad to have you back, to be able to talk with somepony so openly.”

“But it is still grave news that ponies are vanishing. Raven’s betrayal clearly indicates that these are members of the Order being called to serve this High Shadow, perhaps even witnessing this True Return.” Luna then frowned as she considered what her sister had told her.

For a brief moment Celestia was a little incensed hearing Raven’s actions being called betrayal, but she quickly calmed herself. Luna wasn’t wrong in that regard - deep down the Solar Princess just hadn’t fully accepted it yet.

“Then we must trust that Twilight will find Prince Temor and bring him to us. Perhaps then we can deal with this ‘High Shadow’,” Celestia said and raised her head, not liking to think that  there was terribly little they could do. They didn’t know where the High Shadow was, where she had summoned her followers and so far their only key was Prince Temor.

“Speaking of the High Shadow.” Luna grabbed up the old diary from the table with her magic and floated it over. “I think I may have her identity, though I can scarcely believe it.”

“Well go on.” Her sister looked at the book. She recognized the diary she knew Luna had kept a long time ago, back before her exile to the moon.

“As you know, the High Shadow was a religious title, held by the queen of the Dark Ponies. Something the High Shadow said, that she was ‘regaining what she once lost’, stuck with me,” Luna went through the old worn pages. “Her voice was soft and a bit gentle. Remember when we visited the Empire?”

“Oh yes, that was quite a while ago, back when Queen Rabia still ruled.” Celestia frowned when she remembered the powerful Dark Pony Queen. Then she sighed deeply as she remembered the destruction of the empire. “It’s too bad we never got a chance to meet Queen Ira when she took over.”

“No, but we did meet Princess Ira. Remember how soft and gently she spoke?” Luna reminded her.

“I did, yet her eyes always shone excitement when seeing something new,” the Solar Princess chuckled. “She was so different from her mother, kind and caring. She seemed to know the entire palace staff by name, played with their children.”

Celestia stopped her reminiscing as it suddenly dawned on her what Luna was hinting at. Slowly her head turned towards Luna, once again utter disbelief and shock washed over her.

“You aren’t saying that… the High Shadow is... Ira?” the Solar Princess whispered, her eyes growing wider when Luna nodded. “But she was brutally slain when the empire was destroyed. Her body was paraded down the streets, then strung up on a spike. The Saddle Arabians bragged about it for weeks. We cut diplomatic ties with them over this. I might have mended our relationship with them after they destroyed the empire, but what they did to the population and Ira… I just could not forgive that. Not until their descendants began referring to it as their Greatest Shame. ”

“The High Shadow’s height matched Ira’s. Her voice sounded exactly the same, albeit there was a hint of bitterness now in it. Sister, I do not know how, but the Last Queen is back and she intends to resurrect her brother and regain what she lost,” Luna said firmly and showed her sister a page from her journal. It had an old rough sketch of Ira in a regal outfit. Luna had recently added to the drawing, an outline of a cloak covering her body. “She matched perfectly to the High Shadow I saw in Fillydelphia.”

“Regain what she lost…” Celestia repeated after Luna and now frowned. She rose from the couch and headed to the entrance. With a glance back she motioned for her sister to follow her.

Luna put the diary back on the table and stood up. The sisters departed the study and headed back to the throne room. The papers were still scattered around Celestia’s throne. The Sun Princess gathered them all in her magic.

“I think we will find a connection with the names on these reports,” Celestia said and showed them to the younger princess. Luna frowned and took one paper in her own magic and scanned in thoroughly.

Celestia in the meantime used her magic to summon a large book. Showing it as well to her sister, the title was, ‘The official count of the descendants of the refugees.’ Luna arched her brow, then looked at her sister quizzically.

“You remember shortly after the empire was destroyed, Dark Ponies that escaped the destruction began arriving in Equestria? They and those already here sought refuge with us. We took them in, gave them a new home. They blended in, eventually their children marrying Equestrians. Their descendants still hold the occasional gatherings, and keep accounts of their lineage, though in some cases the records are spotty,” Celestia explained and opened the book.

The Solar Princess began comparing names from the report to names in the book. Her face turned graver as she began finding them. Some names were not listed as descendants, but were married or otherwise connected to them.

“By now at least three percent of Equestrian ponies can trace their lineage to the refugees - not a big number, but still enough to have ponies all over,” Celestia whispered and then saddened when seeing Raven Inkwell’s name, not as a descendant but married to a pony that was. The princess sighed. She had officiated that marriage, remembering how happy her secretary had been that day.

“So that is where Ira gathered her followers from - approaching the descendants.” Luna frowned and took a look at the book. She spotted Barricade’s name, listed as the son of Mirage Rock and Hard Shovel. His daughters were listed as well, along with his wife.

“So it seems.” Celestia closed the book and sat down in front of her throne. “Along with all those connected to them.”

“Such a task would have taken her a long time,” Luna frowned. Of course it all depended on how long it had been since she had returned.

Princess Celestia just nodded, starting to feel weary. This whole Order of Umbrum business had turned out to be far more complex than she had initially believed. All she could do now was hope there was a message coming soon from Twilight on her progress. By how quickly Raven had disappeared, it was clear they could not prevent more Order members from vanishing. All they needed to do was hail their king and they disappeared into their own shadows.

Her thoughts turned to Ira, remembering meeting the young Dark Pony princess, so long ago. A polar opposite of her stern mother.





The Dark Pony Empire, over thousand years ago.

Princess Celestia stepped out on the balcony, it gave her a view of the sprawling city in front of the palace. To the south beyond the city walls stretched a vast desert. The princess watched the distant populace going about their business. They seemed so separated from the walled off palace. Quite unlike how it was with the Castle of the Two Sisters, it was open and welcome to the Equestrian population.

The Sun Princess wasn’t alone for long. Beside her appeared Princess Ira. The young Dark Pony mare wore regal clothes; purple cape, hoof guards made from silver and a delegate tiara. Celestia looked at her and smiled.

“I was just stepping outside for a moment to admire your capital,” she addressed Ira.

“It is pretty.” Ira nodded and smiled herself, glancing over the city for a moment before looking at Celestia. “Why are you a princess if you rule such a large nation like Equestria?”

“I do not rule alone. My sister does as well. We rule together and it never felt right to call ourselves queens,” Celestia explained. Ira furrowed her brow in confusion.

“To be honest it wasn’t even us who granted ourselves these titles. The founders of Equestria did. When it turned out Luna and I could move the sun and the moon without draining our magic, it was agreed that we would lead the new nation formed by the three tribes. They did want to call us queens, but as I said, we didn’t really feel like queens. We reached a compromise with princess,” she continued. “We would have been just as satisfied with Leaders, but Commander Hurricane and Princess Platinum were rather insistent on a more regal title. Chancellor Puddinghead was neutral on the issue.”

“I do not fully understand, but Sombra said different nations have different cultures and it is not ours to question them.” Ira shrugged and seemed to accept this explanation. Celestia chuckled.

“Your brother is a good teacher,” she mentioned, thinking about the prince.

“I think so, too. I don’t know what I would do without him,” Ira put a hoof on the stone wall of the balcony. “All these things I must learn, they are so confusing. I would much rather just play with the children, talk with my friends in the palace. There are so many things I don’t understand.”

“I’m sure you will do fine,” Celestia said and placed a hoof on the young mare’s back. “Your brother will be there to help you when the time comes. You have a kind and loving heart. I think you will be a great ruler.”

“Unlike my mother?” Ira lowered her voice. Celestia’s smile faltered a bit, recalling the previous meeting she’d had with Queen Rabia.

“Your mother has her way to rule, but that doesn’t mean it has to be your way,” the princess said in a low tone of voice. “Just remember, if your subjects love you and not just respect you, things will be much easier.”

“I want them to love me,” Ira stared over the city and smiled. “Not force them to love me, I want to earn their love. I see it sometimes in their eyes when they bow to mother, there is fear… I don’t want that.”

Celestia smiled warmly at hearing that. She was a bit amazed that such a kind and loving mare was growing up under the iron hooves of the queen, who sternly and firmly ruled the empire and guarded it from their enemies in the south. Perhaps it was the influence from her brother.

“I shall look forward to visit your Empire when it is under your leadership,” Princess Celestia told her, not knowing at the time that she never would.





Modern Times.

“Celestia?” Luna gently touched her sister, who seemed lost in thought.

“Oh, I was just, considering our situation,” Celestia said and rose up. Perhaps what she needed was some sleep. It would be time soon to lower the sun. “Sometimes I hate being only able to wait.”

Luna nodded in agreement. Celestia departed the throne room with the word that she would lower the sun soon, so the Lunar Princess went to prepare herself for her nightly duties once she had raised the moon.

The thoughts of both princesses where though on Twilight Sparkle and her friends, who right now engaged their target, not knowing that soon all six of them would be captured by the High Shadow. They did not know how close the True Return was.

End Chapter 17
> Chapter 18. The Order of Umbrum.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 18

Prince Temor arrived at Starlight’s house looking weary. The unicorn mare was waiting for him, looking surprised to see the prince looking so ragged. She wasn’t really sure what had happened, just earlier the prince had vanished from the house.

“Sire?” Starlight quickly went to the prince’s side and helped him to a seat. Temor sat down with a tired sigh.

“It looks like I won’t be using that bedroom for much longer,” he muttered. “Enemies had arrived, I went to repel them. The High Shadow then came and captured them. She told me to tell you to prepare and that we would soon depart.”

“Oh…” Starlight seemed mildly disappointed. “Well she warned me this might happen. She said  that there would be a backup plan if enemies came too close and tried to stop us. I suppose then we are heading to the headquarters.”

“Headquarters?” Temor raised his brow confused.

“The Order of Umbrum has a fort in the mountains down south in the Badlands. It’s just outside of Equestria proper. The High Shadow uses it as her headquarters and to shield away anypony who has been discovered by our enemies,” Starlight explained and sighed deeply, glancing to the door, as if she was viewing her own village.

“All my work here… but if enemies got this close and the High Shadow is calling us, then I suppose I must just rebuild again,” she said ruefully before looking at the prince again. “Can I bring you a drink, Sire? Help you rest?”

“No… I need to be alone for a moment,” Temor said, subtly glancing towards his father who stood and watched.

“Very well. I will start preparing for our departure,” Starlight nodded and trotted over to the stairs and ascended to the second floor.

When Starlight was gone, Temor looked fully at his father. A very burning question was now on the prince’s mind. The battle was playing again and again in his head, up to the point his father had ordered him to stop.

“Why did you call me by that name?” Temor asked confused and bewildered.

“Your horn was about to explode. I had to get your attention quickly and so far… only your old name seemed to work to do that,” Sombra told him and sighed. He didn’t show that deep down he had been terrified over what could have happened.

Temor showing so clearly his loyalty to him had really touched him, making the king regret more that he hadn’t been a better father. The king was determined to repay that in whatever way he could. 

“You could have died. I could not allow that,” Sombra added, he had felt the same dread and when Temor had been injured by the toppling armor when he was just a colt.

“I hate that name. It reminds me of…that weakling I used to be. That…I’m not…a true Dark Pony…” Temor looked down, grinding his teeth. Sombra looked at him and smiled warmly, knowing what to say now.

“You are a Dark Pony, Temor.” Sombra approached him. “You have mixed blood yes, but it has only made your ancestry stronger. I saw the rage of a dark earth pony, the cold fury of a dark unicorn, the battle prowess of a dark pegasus. You just need to control it more properly.”

“But I still have this!” Temor lifted the cape and dispelled the illusion spell, revealing the book on his flank.

Sombra regarded it for a moment, knowing too well that the book was a symbol of Temor’s origin. A symbol his son deeply resented. The king knew better what it could represent. He knew his way around his son’s mind, having a pretty firm hold on it, the events of the battle alone just showed that. The spirit realized he needed Temor to see it differently, that would help if his enemies tried again to use his origins against him.

“And is it so bad to have the magic of Equestrians in you as well? You keep looking at the wrong things Temor. You keep looking at the disadvantages instead of the opposite,” the king smiled gently, wishing he could put a reassuring leg around his son right now. “You think I would have adopted you if you were just a run-of-the-mill Equestrian?”

Temor frowned and glanced at the hated book image. He had cried when it had appeared so many years ago. He had gotten engrossed in old history books in the library, kept studying more and more of the history of the Crystal Empire, kept asking Sombra about the history of the Dark Pony Empire. Sombra had been more than pleased to tell him of it. Then in a flash, the book appeared on his flank.

Personally the king hadn’t really cared, he always knew eventually Temor would get a mark. Even his corruptive magic wouldn’t prevent that. However, Sombra saw now that he had been a little too effective in instilling loyalty into his son. To Temor, the book represented a pony and a life he could never return to again. That needed to change, the king needed him to gain a new perspective on it.

“Think of it Temor - you not only have dark magic of the Dark Ponies, you have Equestrian magic and that is more powerful magic than you can believe. These Equestrians banished the Windigos, they put Discord in stone. You know how much dark magic I had to pound into that annoying spirit to keep him away from the Crystal Empire? One flash, the princesses got rid of him,” Sombra continued and sat down in front of Temor. If there was one thing he had taught Temor, it was to respect power.

Then he thought back to the battle and realized he had hurt his son by using his old name. Sombra’s face turned more solemn. He was done hurting his son.

“I do however, apologize for dragging up your old name and using it to stop you. I had to stop you somehow. I did not want to see my son blown up like I was.” He hung his head. “Losing you would be just as bad as when I lost my sister.”

The prince looked at his father. He dropped the cape so it would cover his flank again. Temor nodded, thinking about it he could see why his father had to stop him. He had just become so enraged by that unicorn’s insistence on calling him by his old name. His horn was still healing and Sombra knew magic better and how it worked. Upon reflection, Temor also realized that his father had a point about his cutie-mark.

Perhaps it’s time to stop being so bothered about it, he thought.

As Temor calmed down, he remembered Emerald, he had left her still sleeping in her room as far as he knew. The prince started to rise up from his seat.

“I better go and see if Emerald is still with us or wants to leave,” he said and started to walk away.

“You have freed her?” Sombra asked, choosing to remain where he was.

“Yeah,” Temor nodded and departed to where the bedrooms were.

Sombra smirked. Though his apology and pep talk had all been genuine and indeed meant to help his son, there had been another purpose to them as well. It hadn’t escaped the king what Twilight Sparkle had been trying to do, by not attacking and just trying to talk.

Nice try, little pony, the spirit thought, his smirk turning more sinister. I’ve been in there for far too long.





Temor found the crystal pony still asleep in the room. Next to her was a toy wooden figure of a pony with a mane painted blonde. The prince tilted his head. Carefully using his normal magic, he picked up the toy and pulled it closer.

She actually kept this? he thought. He remembered painting the toy, fantasizing that he was this strong brave warrior long time ago. Then his eyes diverted back to the sleeping mare. You know, she is kind of beautiful like this.

Temor smiled and put the toy figure on a nearby nightstand. He stepped closer to the bed and continued to admire the sleeping form of his former concubine. The unicorn was almost tempted to lean over and kiss her, but held himself in check.

No… I will tarnish this beauty no more. If she wants me, she will come. She is not mine to keep. She is my friend, he thought. Something seemed to click within him and suddenly he found that he really did care about the crystal pony, it was as if the long lost emotions to the memories he had of her had all rushed back. He didn’t know that Chrysalis had warned Sombra that the drain was only temporarily and needed to be done again periodically. That hadn’t happened in a long time now.

“Emerald,” he spoke softly and reached with a hoof to shake her gently. Slowly the crystal pony woke up.

“Temor… I fell asleep again,” Emerald muttered and started to rise. The prince stepped back from the bed. “What happened earlier. I saw you talk then you vanished?”

“Our… I mean, my enemies were closer than I thought. I had to go and repel them,” Temor explained, then he grabbed the toy and showed it to her and smirked. “I can’t believe you kept this.”

“I…” the mare cringed and grabbed for the toy. Temor let her, watching her hug it to her chest. “I was hoping it would help restore your memories… also it reminds me of you… before…”

“Before father suppressed the memories.” The stallion nodded. “Keep it, it’s yours. I have no need for it where I’m going.”

“You’re leaving?” Emerald looked startled at the unicorn, nervously stroking the toy figure.

“My aunt...she was not happy that my enemies had arrived. Starlight and I will be departing to the new headquarters of the Order of Umbrum soon, I think. I don’t think she wishes to risk them finding me again,” Temor explained and sighed. He began rubbing the back of his head. “Like I told you yesterday, you’re free. You no longer have to serve me and I will not force you to come along. I can ask Starlight to arrange to take you back to the Crystal Empire.”

Emerald looked down at the toy. Things had certainly not gone as she had thought they would. The crystal pony continued to caress the figure, wondering what to say or do. She didn’t recall ever having a choice in her life.

Except when I befriended him. That was my choice, she thought. Slowly the crystal pony looked at Temor again. No… I have to see this through. I can’t leave him now.

“I’ll come,” she said and put the toy down.

“Really?” Temor blinked, still confounded by this loyalty she was expressing towards him. “Are you sure? We may be friends, but I still intend to have my father brought back to life. Nothing will change that. In fact, that part is out of my hooves. The High Shadow will be doing that, somehow.”

“At this point, there is no point in going back. My family is free, that’s good enough for me. I will come with you,” Emerald assured him.

Temor restrained himself from rushing forward to hug her. Instead he just smiled and nodded. Then he instructed her to pack before leaving the room to see how Starlight was doing with the preparations of their departure.





Ira appeared in a large stone hallway lit with torches. Banners were strung on the walls with dark insignias that showed a unicorn’s head with a bent horn. Coming after the dark unicorn mare were the six spheres holding her prisoners. Already approaching were ponies wearing dark-colored armor.

“Your Majesty, the summoned have begun to arrive. Most have gathered in the great hall as instructed,” one of the soldiers addressed her as they all bowed before Ira.

“Very good,” Ira nodded and smiled. Then she released her prisoners from their magic prison, letting them all drop onto the hard stone floor. The High Shadow then lit up her horn with dark magic and manacles formed on the horns of Twilight and Rarity, suppressing their magic. Restraints formed on the wings of Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, then finally shackles linked with strong chains formed on the legs of the six mares.

“Take them to the dungeon for now. I will have them called forth when the time comes,” she instructed the guards who all bowed before grabbing the six mares and began dragging them away.

“You won’t get away with this,” Twilight called, struggling for a moment but giving up when finding her restraints too strong.

“I will have my family back. I will gain back what I so cruelly lost!” Ira snarled as she glared back at the prisoners. The purple unicorn arched her brow when hearing this. So did her friends.

Ira took a moment to compose herself before she headed in the opposite direction. Guards bowed to her as she passed. The mare smiled gently at them. When she approached a large doorway, servants hurried to open it, revealing a large, brightly-lit hall beyond it. Large crowd of ponies were already gathered on either side of the long red carpet that led to a stage. Hanging from the ceiling were similar banners as in the hallway.

“Hail the High Shadow!” The ponies began chanting when they saw her.

“Hail Queen Ira!” They then called as the dark unicorn began walking towards the stage. Ira looked at the crowd as she did, always sporting that gentle smile.

“Hail King Sombra!” with that final hail the crowd burst into stomping applause and cheering loudly.

Ira stepped up to the stage and turned to face the large crowd of ponies before her. She kept smiling as they continued to cheer and some even repeated the three previous hails. Finally, she raised a hoof and everything went silent as the ponies waited for her to speak.

“My dear subjects,” she started and felt herself choke up a bit. “It warms my heart to see you all answering my summons. Many of you can trace your ancestry to the once great Dark Pony Empire which was so brutally destroyed and I, the last Queen, viciously slain. But I am back to embrace you, the descendants of those of my ponies who escaped.”

Ira looked over the crowd, tears formed in her eyes. She had dreamt of this day for a long time and it was finally happening. It had started small, figuring out what Dark Ponies had escaped the destruction of the empire, then slowly building up a following of their descendants. Always working in the shadows and out of sight from prying eyes.

“I failed to protect the empire and my beloved subjects in its greatest hour of need. I will not fail now; I will not fail you. I have supported you all, given assistance in your struggles, helped you during trying times. Offered my shoulder to cry on, comforted you, assured you. You are all so very dear to me.”

As she spoke, Ira spotted two particular ponies in the crowd. Her smile turned warmer and she gestured to Mirage Rock and Barricade to step forward and come to the stage.

“Sister Mirage, Brother Barricade,” she spoke softer now as mother and son hesitantly began climbing to the stage. “To you two, I have promised the most.”

When Mirage arrived on the stage, Ira raised her hoof to gently caress the mare on the cheek. “You lost so much. Your son, your husband. I cannot bring Hard Shovel back, but I did promise to bring back your son.”

She then turned to Barricade, who stepped closer to his mother and gave her a gentle headrub to assure her. Ira smiled wider. “And Barricade, you lost a brother and a father. Your father’s memory will live with all of us, but I bring back your brother.”

Ira lit up her horn and there was a flash of light. On the stage appeared Starlight Glimmer, along with Temor and Emerald. Mirage gasped when seeing the prince, Barricade arched his brow. Temor looked around in mild confusion, at the crowd, at Ira and then at the two ponies next to her. Unseen, Sombra observed, quite impressed by the large gathering before them.

“Behold. Prince Temor, adopted and raised by King Sombra as his son and herald of the king’s True Return.” Ira gestured to the newly arrived. Temor took that as a sign to walk closer. He glanced over the crowd as it began cheering and stomping their hooves in approval.

“P-Private?” Mirage whispered and hesitantly approached, then darted forward and grabbed the prince in a tight hug.

“Do not throw her off, that must be your mother,” Sombra whispered into his son’s ear. Prince Temor had been just about ready to toss the old mare off him.

“Private?” Barricade finally shook off his own shock and took a hesitant step closer. He almost took a step back at the glare from the prince.

“It’s Prince Temor,” Temor snorted. He made no attempt to return the hug from his mother.

“I don’t care what you call yourself now,” Mirage spoke up and parted from her son, tears streaming down her cheeks, but the old pony was smiling. She put a hoof on his cheek. “Look at you, you’re all grown up.”

“Thank you, mother.” Temor raised a hoof, but used it to gently remove Mirage’s, figuring it was best to keep up a proper appearance right now. “My father raised me well.”

Mirage seemed almost ready to hug her lost son again, but this time Barricade stepped up and kept her back. He smiled nervously at the prince. The unicorn was fit, but Temor looked far better built and with the armor and red horn looked quite fierce.

“Now let it never be said that I do not deliver on my promise,” Ira spoke up, the attention turning back to her. She gestured to Mirage and her two sons. “But I still have one promise yet to deliver. Behold your king!”

Ira activated her dark magic and sent out a spell. Sombra frowned as he watched his sister in action, then he realized that all eyes were on him. Stunned, amazed eyes. Everybody in the room could see him. He heard Emerald whimper where she still stood next to Starlight. Then every pony in the crowd began bowing. Barricade dropped in a bow as did Mirage and even Starlight.

“Hail King Sombra! Hail King Sombra! Hail King Sombra!” the crowd chanted as well as those on the stage, save Temor, Ira and Emerald. The crystal pony looked terrified at the spirit.

“Speak brother, as the hour of your resurrection is near,” Ira addressed the spirit with a smile. For a moment the king looked at her, unsure, then he smiled

“The hour is near indeed,” Sombra returned his attention to the crowd. Everyone still stayed bowed before him. “My enemies thought me vanquished and defeated. How wrong they were, for they did not take into account my son. Rise and behold the one who delivered your king!”

The ponies started to rise and as instructed looked at where Temor was on the stage. Mirage and Barricade were smiling at the prince who looked over the crowd with a stern yet dignified expression.

“Long live the king!” Temor simply shouted and that prompted the crowd to begin chanting the same. A smile came over the prince as it dawned on him how truly close to his goal he was.

“Now my dear subjects,” Ira spoke once more once the chanting was over. “I ask you to go and prepare yourselves, for the True Return is near.”

“Sister Mirage, Brother Barricade, you may remain,” she then addressed the two ponies.

“I will return once I have escorted my wives and our daughters to our quarters,” Barricade replied, bowing his head. He looked at Temor, as if he was waiting for permission. It took a second for the prince to realize.

“Right, you do that,” Temor had to admit having momentarily forgotten that he was strictly speaking in charge of the Order. He had figured his sister had already given the permission to either stay or remain.

Barricade jumped off the stage and Temor watched him go to two pegasi mares, one gray and the other maroon with a white back and muzzle. Three fillies were with them. The unicorn spoke softly to them before walking with them out of the hall. The prince turned his attention to his mother, watching her. 

He felt nothing.

Ira looked at the spirit of Sombra and motioned to him to follow since he could move a distance from his son. The High Shadow walked over to the stage where Starlight and Emerald were and had them follow out a backdoor. Leaving Temor and Mirage behind, mostly alone, a few guards did remain.

“It’s really you,” Mirage whispered and stepped closer, not even daunted by the emotionless expression she received.

“It is, as the High Shadow promised. I am back, but it’s Prince Temor now. You may have named me… Private… but that name holds no meaning to me anymore,” Temor said sternly, wanting to immediately address the naming issue.

“Yes of course,” the mare nodded and wiped away few tears. “I’m just so glad to see you again. What happened? How did the king get you?”

“Does it matter? He raised me, made me strong and then I returned,” Temor turned to fully face her. He looked at the mare intently, wondering if the relief of just seeing her long lost son was overriding all her other feelings.

“Yes… of course,” Mirage nodded slowly. Temor wasn’t really sure how to read that. Frankly he didn’t really care. However Ira had made a big show of him being reunited with his mother and brother and he would play his part.

“Why do you not go to your quarters. We will talk later. I need to speak with the High Shadow anyway, learn what is going to happen next,” he said. He did detect a hint of disappointment in the mare now.

“Yes of course,” she nodded and started to go down from the stage. At that moment Barricade returned. He stopped to speak with his mother who smiled weakly at him before leaving the hall.

“So, you are my brother.” Temor jumped down from the stage and strode over to the other stallion.

“Uh, yes, I guess I am.” Barricade looked at Temor and inwardly gulped, still feeling that the prince looked quite intimidating.

Temor started to circle his brother as he examined him thoroughly. He glanced at the image of a brick wall on the stallion’s flank, snorted, then stopped when facing him. The prince had to admit they did have uncanny similarities aside from the image and the indigo-colored eyes.

“Barricade, wasn’t it? I must apologize. The king was my only family for a very long time,” Temor said and smirked. “I’m not accustomed to having a brother.”

“Well… neither am I. Not after you disappeared,” Barricade muttered, the sorrowful look on his mother was still high on his mind.

“How did you join the order?” Temor asked curiously.

“The High Shadow approached me. She helped me through a difficult time in my life and was very supportive. She even mended the relationship I had with my wives, Foxy and Derpy,” Barricade said and frowned. “She was the only one who accepted that I could have two wives. Derpy had to live in Ponyville with our daughter until the proper time came, which I assume is now?”

“It is. My father will soon return and you will be rewarded for your service to the Order. I will reward our mother as well. I understand she did us a great service while I was still on the run,” Temor declared, then his smirk turned devious. “You have any military experience?”

“Some. I was in military school but quit the guards after a while,” Barricade said nervously.

“Then come with me to talk with the High Shadow. I have something in mind for you, dear brother,” the prince chuckled and started to head back to the stage, his direction was the backdoor. Barricade hesitantly followed.

End chapter 18
> Chapter 19. A family business.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 19

Barricade looked down at his armored chest. The stallion was now in full guard uniform with a captain’s rank. The unicorn felt uneasy wearing this, but he knew a great honor had just been bestowed on him and it would be foolish to reject it. He looked up, in front of him were Temor and another guard.

“I trust there are no objection to this,” Prince Temor looked at the guard, a white stallion with blue mane and tail.

“None at all sire, the High Shadow in her wisdom never actively recruited guards from higher ranks. She felt it was too risky to get that close to the inner circle of the Celestial sisters. The furthest she went was the secretary to Princess Celestia, and that was only because she married a descendant who was already a member,” the guard said, never dropping the hard look on his face. He did arch his brow though after a short moment. “However, I would be honored to advice your brother, if you so wish, sire.”

“Sounds good enough to me, you will be his instructor then,” Temor returned his attention to Barricade and smirked deviously. “Well brother, looks like you got yourself a teacher. I’ll leave you in his capable hooves.”

“Uh… thanks,” Barricade could only mutter. Wondering why his brother was promoting him so high, he had kind of hoped just to continue being a minor member in the Order. Then the unicorn realized he was sort of breaking protocol. Quickly he stood to attention and saluted. “I mean, thank you sir!”

“Don’t be too surprised though if my father drops by after the True Return to give further instructions,” Prince Temor chuckled when his brother repeated the thanks in more proper way. The prince turned and walked out of the armory.

When the prince was outside, his father materialized next to him. Temor didn’t quite address him until he had walked down the hallway for a bit.

“Wondering why I put my brother in charge of the guards?” he asked quietly, he wasn’t sure if the spell Ira had cast was still working and others could see Sombra.

“No, I see your strategy, you want them to think you are so glad to be back with your family, you are doling out favors,” the king said said simply. He had noticed that ever since arriving in the fort, Temor had shown much more confidence, far more akin to back when the king ruled the Crystal Empire. Sombra wondered if Ira’s little ceremony had a hoof in that. Then again, his earlier pep talk to his son may have gone better than he figured it would.

“There is a little more to it than that,” Temor chuckled and gave his father a glance. “If he wants his brother, he must earn it. What better way than to serve us directly.”

“I see,” Sombra frowned a little in thought, realizing that hadn’t been a dissimilar tactic he had himself used on Temor. He looked at his son. “I think you should speak with your mother again.”

“Why?” Temor grunted, not really seeing the point. He could barely remember the old mare. Right now he was going to see how Emerald was doing, he hadn’t had a chance to speak with her after arriving in the fort.

The prince had managed to talk with Ira, who explained to him in brief that right now they were really just getting ready for the True Return. She was going to fast forward few things since she didn’t want to risk their enemies trying to stop them. When Temor asked about the six mares, he had laughed when hearing they were now in the dungeon. Ira had then approved of appointing Barricade to the lead the guards, especially when Temor’s brother confirmed having military experience. The few royal guards who had managed to come, were themselves fairly new recruits and the crystal guards were a little out of date.

“Her mind is in turmoil, she’s seen who her lost son has turned out be. Let her accept who you are now and she might not do something drastic to attempt to get back the son she lost,” his father explained to him. Secretly he was thinking: Besides, she is your mother. The mare I stole you from.

Temor grunted, unable to argue against that logic. He really could do without having an old mare running around after him, trying to reminisce about days he barely could remember by now.  With a resigned sigh the prince changed his heading to go to the section with the living quarters of the high ranking Umbrum members. Deep down he also didn’t want to disobey an order or an advice from his father.

The fort had turned out to be much bigger than the prince had initially thought when he first arrived. It was divided into several sections connected by stairways and hallways, all decorated with the same banners. There were areas for the lower ranking members near the base of the fort, higher ranking at the middle and at the top Temor and Ira and eventually Sombra would reside. Emerald, being more of a guest had been granted a room at the top, since she was considered a friend of the prince.

Before he reached the door that lead to his mother’s quarters, Sombra vanished from view. Prince Temor, grumbled, wanting his father to be there even if there was a chance right now that his mother could not see the spirit. With some hesitation the unicorn finally knocked on the door.

“Enter,” a quiet voice spoke.

The prince opened the door and strode in. Mirage was sitting by a table and staring at a picture held up in her magic. When the old mare looked over, she smiled weakly. Temor was glancing around, the quarters were decorated with pictures on the wall, the bed looked rather nice and there were relaxing looking reclining chairs in two corners. A fine woven rug covered part of the floor.

“Mother,” Temor addressed her and approached a step closer. “I do apologize that our talk earlier was so brief, however, I did have duties that I had to attend to. I am very busy.”

“Of course, the True Return.” Mirage nodded and put the picture down. She rose from the table and faced her son. For a moment the mare regarded the prince, before she glanced down to the floor sadly. “Look I know how he got you, I read his journal… I just hoped to hear it from you, wanted to hear if you remembered it…”

Temor arched his brow, he couldn’t detect anger or resentment in Mirage, just sadness and disappointment. The stallion then frowned as he walked closer. If she already knew how he was taken by King Sombra that at least made things a little simpler. Not that Temor really cared, as far as he was concerned the mare might just as well be a stranger.

Then again she was already a loyal member of the Order. Ira had told him that she had alerted her to their enemies. He remembered Turquoise, the old crystal mare who had been his nursemaid while growing up with his father. He had to admit that Mirage’s blue gray coat and dark azure mane kind of reminded him of the kindly old crystal mare, who had been the closest thing he remembered as a mother figure.

“I do remember it, it was a difficult time at first,” Temor said, now standing right in front of the mare. His frown changing into a scowl, not really wanting to recall those memories at all. “If you really must know, I did hate every minute of it at first. I was not initially intended to stay there, I was meant to go back. But I got stuck and the king, instead of just tossing me to the side, took me in. He more than paid for his first cruel treatment of me by adopting me and teach me. I have forgiven him and he became very much my father.”

“Oh, I know Temor… I know,” Mirage sighed deeply and sat down, raising her head to look at him. “The High Shadow told me, when she found out you were my son, she told me everything.”

“You… you did?” Now Temor was actually surprised, then he hoofed his face, realizing he had completely forgotten that Ira had watched him grow up as a spirit. It would only make sense that Ira would then tell his mother of his life with the king. From what he could already tell, his aunt never seemed to deceive her followers.

“Of course she suspected it for a long time, but it was confirmed when we got the journal of the King and I saw the passages describing you. She brought me and Brother Wing here and then told me everything,” Mirage looked up again. “I… was confused, upset first. But everything was happening as she had foretold. How could I be angry?”

“So you do not resent my father for taking me?” Temor frowned, not quite buying that. Then again, much like his father, he was just as highly tuned to emotions like fear and hate and he detected none from the mare.

“I believe it was fated for you to stay with him, I can’t resent fate. The King did hurt me by taking you away, but I understand and accept you had a greater role to play than to stay with me,” Mirage smiled now warmly. “I am a member of the Order of Umbrum, my son. I am so proud of you. You are a prince, you stand so tall and proud. Sure I wish things could have been different, but you do not always get what you wish.”

“What matters to me is… you’re back,” she picked up the picture from the table with her magic and showed it to him. It was of Temor when he was five, holding a sword and wearing a knightly helmet. “In some ways, you have grown into the knight from your favorite stories you used to play as. ”

Temor had to hold back a maniacal laugh as the words of Twilight Sparkle went through his mind. She had tried to use his own family to reach him. Now he stood here, face to face with the mare who had the most just cause to fully resent his father, pretty much stating that she was quite alright with how he had turned out.

The prince instead grabbed Mirage’s hoof, raised it to his muzzle to kiss it. Then he looked at his mother with a smug expression. Quite a bit of admiration shone in his eyes directed to his aunt, how she had so completely manipulated Mirage to their side.

“Mother,” he said, this time without any reservation. He now saw it would be quite easy to reward Mirage for her loyal service and dedication to the Order. “I do believe you have your son back.”





Emerald sat in the room she had been assigned deep in thought, staring at the toy figure. The room was much nicer looking than the one she had for a brief time at Starlight’s house, the bed was bigger, there were velvet curtains in front of the windows, lounging chair and a small table near it, a dresser and closet. She even had access to her own private bathroom. Frankly she was surprised they had granted her this luxury, not that long ago she had been a slave.

Right now, she was considering her situation. She had been quite frightened, seeing the spirit of Sombra during the ceremony, almost wanted to sink into the floor. Terrified when hearing the ponies chant praises to him.

We may be friends, but he is still loyal to the king, she thought sadly, remembering when Temor loudly shouted ‘long live the king.’ Perhaps I should go back to the Crystal Empire.

A knock on the door brought the mare out of her thoughts. She looked over and quietly invited whoever it was to enter. She expected it to be Temor but was surprised to see it was Ira. She put the toy on the dresser and rose up.

“Hello again, Emerald,” Ira addressed her with a warm gentle smile as she walked into the room.

“Uh… hi,” Emerald whispered, not sure how to address this pony.

“You don’t remember me?” the High Shadow asked curiously. “You don’t remember the friendly voice that made sure Temor got your notes and the toys you gave him. Who brought you the nice food and sweets he sent you?”

“That was you?” the crystal pony gasped as she realized the voice was very familiar.

Ira nodded and walked all the way over to her. She looked at the wooden figure on the dresser, smiling wider when seeing who it was meant to resemble. Emerald kept watching her, still not sure what to say or think or do.

“So there was one missing,” Ira chuckled and raised a hoof, a ball of magic materialized above it, holding many toy figures. Gently the dark unicorn let the sphere float over to the dresser and released the toys on top of it. “That should complete the set.”

“My brother made these, then he gave them to me when he was old enough to attend to more duties,” Emerald commented gravely, staring at the toys. “Then, when seeing how sad Temor was, I gave them to him. I wanted to cheer him up.”

“And they did.” Ira looked at her again, dropping her hoof back to the floor. “Oh you should have seen the adventures he had them go on. Fighting all kinds of monsters, finding treasure, exploring the great unknown. You really cared about him.”

“I did… I do…” Emerald sighed and sat down. “It’s just his father…”

“The king caused your family and your nation a great harm, I know,” Ira still spoke gently and placed a hoof on her cheek. “You do not have to like his father, just to remain by Temor’s side.”

“I… guess?” Emerald frowned and looked up. “I’m just so afraid… the Order of Umbrum…”

“You have nothing to fear from us.” Ira raised her hoof to gently caress the top of the pony’s mane before tracing it back to her cheek. “We wish you no harm. In fact, we are in your debt for what you did for my nephew. You got him away from those who no doubt would have wanted to harm him.”

“I… did.” Emerald found herself unable to look away from the red eyes looking at her, they looked so kind and welcoming. So unlike the red, intent eyes of the king.

“I will not keep you here against your will, Emerald. I consider you a friend and you are a friend of my nephew. Say the word and I will take you back to the Crystal Empire, back to your family,” Ira assured her and removed her hoof.

Ira stepped back, still smiling that warm smile at the crystal pony. “But if you choose to stay, if you join us. I will protect you from my brother if you feel that is needed, you never have to speak to him. You can be with your friend again, that I promise and I deliver on my promises.”

“I want to stay with, Temor,” Emerald whispered, she was still unsure if it was a good idea to return back to the Crystal Empire. What if they thought she was a spy for the Order? She had rescued an enemy, on her own free will.

“You are welcome to stay. The Order of Umbrum welcomes you to stay. Most of them are just normal ponies that I have offered comfort and support. Comfort and support that I failed to give when I ruled my empire for brief time.” Ira saddened a little as she remembered different times.

Emerald slowly nodded, deep down she had no desire to leave the prince. He had been a constant stability in her long life as a slave, the only real source of comfort after she was separated from her family to serve him. She realized that facing so many free choices frightened her, she was just unable to really choose, the only thing that really made sense to her was to just stick by Temor.

“Then I stay, I will not lose my friend,” the crystal pony declared. Ira stepped closer and again caressed her cheek with a hoof.

“Then be welcome to the Order. I will protect you as fiercely as I protect the others, this room is yours, not even my brother may come here uninvited after the True Return,” Ira told her before stepping back and turned to leave. As she walked  to the entrance, there was knock on the door and Temor peeked in.

“Oh, Aunt Ira, am I interrupting?” the prince asked with an uncertain frown.

“Not at all, I was just leaving,” Ira told him, Temor opened the door fully to let his aunt out as he entered.

Temor looked at Emerald who was staring at the toys on the dresser. The prince arched his brow when seeing the full set of wooden figures. He approached the mare and the dresser, glancing between them and wondering what had gone on between her and the High Shadow.

“Hey,” he finally addressed her. Emerald jumped a little and quickly turned, she relaxed when seeing who it was.

“Sorry, I was just… oh never mind. Anyway, I just joined the Order… I think.” Emerald frowned, she remembered kind words, compassion, but the whole discussion with Ira was getting a little fuzzy in her mind. Hail the High Shadow.

“You joined the Order of Umbrum?” Temor arched his brow, once again dumbfounded by the show of loyalty from Emerald. “You joined the actual order that wants the king back?”

“The High Shadow assured me that he would not bother me.” Emerald looked up at him and smiled a little. “Besides, I just want to be with you.”

“Well, I came to see if you were settling in and if you had figured out if you really did want to remain here… I guess that answers that,” Temor chuckled, he offered a hoof and helped the mare to stand up. He smiled now warmer. “I did want you to stay, but I didn’t want to order you to stay.”

“I know.” Emerald smiled back and then looked at the toys. “Your aunt brought the rest of the toys.”

“So I saw.” Temor glanced at them for a moment. “She knew they were important to us.”

“She was our secret friend,” the crystal pony told him and reached out to pat the wood figure with the blonde mane. Hail Queen Ira.

“Yeah, I was starting to figure that out myself,” the prince nodded, then he glanced back to the door. The spirit of Sombra stood here, smiling knowingly before drifting out of the room. “We seem to have a habit of having spirits around us.”

“Seems so.” Emerald nodded in agreement. Hail King Sombra.

End chapter 19
> Chapter 20. The True Return.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 20

Twilight sighed sadly, staring down at her shackles. She couldn’t really do much more, her friends were around, but there wasn’t much they could do either. Rainbow had tried to force off her restraints, but to no avail, even Applejack couldn’t break off her own shackles.

“I’m sorry, I failed, failed Celestia, you all,” she whispered and leaned on the cold wall of her cell. Rarity scooted closer and put a leg around her.

“No, no it’s not your fault, Twilight,” she said reassuringly.

“Yeah, we didn’t know this High Shadow would butt in like that,” Rainbow said where she now lay bored out of her skull further in the cell.

“And Temor just didn’t listen, that Sombra has clearly screwed with his head worse than an apple smashed in a cider maker,” Applejack pointed out.

“So what do we do now?” Fluttershy asked worriedly, she and Pinkie lay huddled next to Applejack.

“What can we do?” the apple farmer said, shaking her head. “Except wait.”

“What do you think they will do with us?” Pinkie asked, shuddering a little as her wild imagination started thinking up all kinds of uncomfortable scenarios.

“Whatever it is, I hope they will do it soon. I’m getting stir crazy just laying here,” Rainbow Dash grumbled, ignoring the unimpressed glares she got from Applejack and Rarity.

“Look, whatever happens, I will try and ask to have the five of you released. Whatever they want to do, they can do to me. They clearly hold us responsible for the death of King Sombra, but it was me who found the Crystal Heart and had Spike deliver it to Cadance. Hopefully they will accept that the heaviest responsibility lays on me,” Twilight spoke up and looked at her friends.

“Absolutely not,” Rarity immediately protested and the others sharply nodded in agreement.

“Yeah, if you are going down, we all go down,” Rainbow declared.

Twilight wanted to protest herself, try to reason with her friends that it was for the best, but realized it would be no use. Instead she resigned herself to wait for the inevitable.

The mares weren’t sure how long the were kept in the cell. There was no window outside, all the light they had was from a lit torch high up in the ceiling and out of reach. Periodically a pony would come to give them food and water and that was really all that broke the monotony of their stay.

Eventually Pinkie did try and engage them in a various I spy games, but none of her friends were very enthusiastic in participating. As time dragged on, Twilight was beginning to wonder if they had simply been forgotten about.

The friends were now positive that at least a day or two had passed when the small peeping hole on the cell door was slid open. Into their prison stared Prince Temor, smirking mockingly at the sight before him.

“Private…” Twilight started and was silenced by a stinging glare from the prince.

“You really don’t know when to quit, do you?” Temor snorted, then resumed his smirk. “Then again, I wouldn’t expect anything less from Celestia’s prized pet. Father told me how preachy she could get.”

The prince chuckled at the glares he got from some of the mares. Then he looked at Twilight again, who still watched him with that sad pleading expression.

“I didn’t come here for idle chit chat. I just finally had time in my busy schedule to come down here and see for myself, the murderers of my father, chained up,” Temor growled, narrowing his eyes.

“Seriously, what prayer did you think you had? You honestly think I had any interest in hearing what the ponies who killed my father had to say? Even using my family, who are all proud members of the Order of Umbrum, to try and reach me? Pathetic!” the prince spat, scowling hard, then he gave Twilight a withering glare.

“I remember you very well purple one. I saw you evade my fathers traps, locate the Heart and sent your little lizard out with it so it could be used to shatter the one pony I cared about. The only pony I had for a family,” Temor snarled and gave the door a loud kick.

“Know this well, Twilight Sparkle. I will never forgive that. I will never forgive you for what you did. You have made an enemy for life!” the prince snapped, he then looked at the others.

“If I had my way, I would have had you all executed right here, right now. However, your fate is not in my hooves. This is Ira’s show, you are her prisoners. Pray that she is more merciful than I would be.” With those final words, Temor closed the peephole and the mares could hear faint clanging of armored hooves stomp away.

The six friends gave each other worried glances. Applejack did her best to hold Fluttershy now to comfort the upset pegasus. Pinkie’s mane had deflated a bit and the pony had very uncharacteristic frown. Rarity did her best to comfort Twilight who looked very dejected now. Rainbow Dash growled to herself but stayed where she lay.

After a while a click was heard on their cell door and it swung open. The mares all looked up to see Barricade, wearing his captain armor, step in followed by several guards.

“The slayers of the king are to witness the ceremony,” the stallion coldly declared and then with a point of his hoof, ordered the guards to round up the prisoners.

Rainbow Dash growled and pushed off a guard who was going to drag her to her hooves, the mare chose to stand up on her own. Applejack did much the same, then pushed a guard away from Fluttershy who was petrified with fear. Speaking calmly to the frightened pegasus the apple farmer managed to coerce her friend to stand up. Pinkie and Rarity were similarly pulled up and so was Twilight who made no effort to struggle.

Barricade walked out first, followed by the mares and the guards. The prisoners were led out of the dungeon and to the upper levels of the fort. They passed through several hallways before reaching the one they had first arrived in. From there they were pushed forward until they arrived at the doorway leading to the great hall.

Twilight and her friends all gasped at seeing the crowd of ponies, all glaring back at them. The guards pushed them onwards and the mares obeyed yet couldn’t peel their eyes off the crowd. Suddenly they realized that some of these angry faces directed at them were familiar.

“Wait! Derpy?” Rainbow Dash had spotted a gray pegasus with crossed yellow eyes, standing next to a maroon pegasus and three young fillies.

“The spa ponies?” Rarity blinked when seeing a pair of earth pony mares, one pink and one blue.

A cold dread came over the mares as more and more familiar faces from Ponyville, Canterlot and other places they had been too were spotted in the crowd. It dawned on Twilight that all these ponies were members of the Order of Umbrum.

“Those… were our friends…” the purple unicorn whispered, tears in her eyes. It stung her heart to see so many ponies she had known for so long stare at her so hatefully.

“Bring the murderers to the front of the stage!” a cold yet familiar voice ordered.

The mare’s attention was drawn to the stage at the end of the hall. On it stood Ira, she was wearing a regal red cape and silver hoof guards. On her head rested a tiara that looked recently mended. The guards pulled the six friends all the way and forced them to sit at the very front. They could feel the burning eyes of the crowd on the back of their heads.

“Now look, murderers.” Ira stared at them with cold emotionless eyes. “Your work will soon be undone. Step forth, Prince Temor.”

Twilight and her friends could do little else but watch as Prince Temor arrived on the stage. He was once again clad in his full armor, including the helmet. Everything had been polished, and his cape washed and cleaned. He stared down at the six ponies with contempt.

“Everypony, please…” Twilight glanced back at the crowd, hoping to spot at least one friendly face.

There were none.

Ira fired up her horn with dark magic and restraining muzzles materialized on her and the other six mares that prevented them from talking.

“You be silent! Your poisonous words will not be allowed to spread here. We will hear no more of the lies Celestia has taught you to preach,” Ira snarled, glaring daggers down at the six ponies who all flinched.

Temor smirked down at the prisoners, then he turned to face Ira who was composing herself. The mare then looked over the crowd. On balconies overlooking everything sat Mirage, Starlight, Emerald and few other high-ranking members of the order. The six mares silently gasped when remembering the description of the crystal pony they were also supposed to look for.

Emerald is one of them too? Twilight just felt all hope flee from her heart.

“I apologize for my outburst; this is an emotional moment for me. Long have I dreamed of this day… now let us rejoice, for the hour is here,” she addressed the crowd and her smile turned warm and the eyes shone love.

Rainbow glanced back at the crowd and frowned when seeing all the ponies smile back at the dark unicorn, some stared at her with admiration and love. The pegasus returned her attention to the stage, wondering how Ira had managed to win over so many ponies.

“Nephew, step forth. I apologize, this will cause you some discomfort,” Ira spoke to Temor and watched him come closer to her. She activated her dark magic and a purple and green aura formed around his horn.

Temor gritted his teeth when feeling a pull. He glanced at Sombra who watched, now unseen again, the proceedings. The king looked concerned but not alarmed. The prince gasped when feeling something yank from his head. Then he blinked when seeing Ira holding aloft something red. He felt for his horn and cringed when feeling it was cracked like after he had been blasted by the Crystal Heart.

“Behold, the horn of the king,” Ira declared and held high a red horn. Temor looked around and frowned, he could no longer see his father. The crowd began cheering and stomping their hooves.

Ira closed her eyes; her own horn began bending and became as red as Sombra and Temor’s. Purple mist began pouring out from the corner, she opened them and they were glowing green. Twilight and her friends could do little but watch in fear as the Dark Pony began pouring dark magic straight into Sombra’s horn.

The prince and the crowd watched in awe as the horn seemed to drink it up, more and more came from Ira and then her horn turned normal and so did her eyes. The mare stumbled and her magic faded, Sombra’s horn dropped to the stage floor.

“Live again… brother,” Ira said weakly and struggled to stand, clearly worn out.

Temor frowned in concern and started to approach his aunt but stepped back when his father’s horn began shaking on the floor. Suddenly black shadow and smoke began pouring out of it and lift it up. Slowly green eyes with purple mist in the corners formed under the horn, gradually a head formed, then a body and finally legs.

The six mares cringed when seeing the smoke and darkness disappear, in its place stood King Sombra, fully formed. The Dark Pony looked momentarily stunned as he touched his chest with a hoof, then he looked up and a smile formed on his muzzle.

“I live,” he whispered, his eyes landed on the crowd of ponies who immediately ducked in a bow and started to chant.

“Hail King Sombra! Hail King Sombra! Hail King Sombra!”

“Sister.” Sombra looked concerned as he turned to the mare who had managed to stand tall again but looked weak. She smiled at him and gave a sign that she was alright. Then the king turned to his son who was still in awe that his father was alive once more.

“My son.” the king stepped closer, putting a hoof on his cheek. “You have no idea how I have longed to do this.”

Twilight blinked when Sombra promptly pulled the prince in a tight hug. Her friends were equally surprised, they couldn’t comment though, not with their mouths bound like they were. They did however began eyeing each other, very worried.

“Brother,” Ira addressed Sombra. Her brother let go of Temor and glanced at her, all the mare did was gesturing to the six prisoners. The king slowly turned his gaze towards the worried, some frightened, ponies.

Sombra started chuckling and walked closer to the edge of the stage, never taking his gaze off the prisoners. For agonizing long moment, he continued to just regard them, smiling. Then his horn lit up and the muzzles preventing them from talking were removed.

“What say you now, little pony? Despite your efforts, despite Celestia’s efforts, I stand now here, alive. Reunited with my sister and…” Sombra halted and looked at Temor. “My son.”

“He’s not your son!” Twilight snapped, ignoring the angry murmurs from the crowd and the glare she got from both Ira and Temor. Sombra, however just laughed as he returned his attention to her.

“Than what shall I call the pony I raised, hmm?” the king asked and stepped over to the prince, gesturing to him. “The young colt I gave shelter, fed, clothed, had my servants bathe. He’s certainly not my servant nor my slave. I certainly gave no such comforts to them.”

“You stole him, you tortured him, changed him into the same monster that you are. Who are you to call yourself his father and him your son!” Twilight growled, somehow feeling braver since Sombra wasn’t forcibly shutting her up.

“Yes, I stole him. That is true,” Sombra nodded, stunning Twilight that he so simply admitted to it.

“He was originally just one of my many contingencies I had in the event of my untimely death. I always intended to return him, in fact the spell I used was designed to return him.” The king shrugged and walked back so he was in front of Twilight.

“The spell failed, a mishap that not even I can fully explain caused it. I was suddenly stuck with a boy I had no clear idea what to do with.” Sombra’s expression turned graver. “What was I to do? Throw him to the slaves? Just dispose of him? I considered it but no. Not him.”

“I was cruel and brutal to him at first, yes, in fact I was downright horrible.” Sombra closed his eyes, sneering a little. “He deserved so much better than me as his father.”

Twilight opened her mouth to respond but felt silent, she looked at her friends who looked at her, just as confused by this confession. When they returned back to Sombra, he was opening his eyes again and looked more solemn.

“Yet, the boy grew on me, he began worrying me constantly. I lost sleep when he fell ill, worrying he would die. He made me laugh when he did something absurd.” Sombra turned to look again at Temor. “When I was exiled, all I could think about was him. When I returned, I found I only wanted to reunite with him. I felt cold dread when seeing the Crystal Heart activate and not knowing if it would harm him or not.”

“My son… I have seen what has happened if my initial plans had worked, if you had been returned and… I do not want to be that creature my sister saw torment you. I heard him, staking his claim on you as if you were no better than a slave, you are not my slave, you are not my servant. You are my son,” Sombra declared, he fired up his horn and looked down at the six mares again.

The prisoners braced themselves, expecting some horrendous torture to happen. What they didn’t expect were all their restraints coming loose. The manacles disappeared from the horns of the unicorns. The six friends blinked and looked down at their hooves, then with heavy frowns glanced up at the king, who stared at them gravely.

“Believe what you will. Nothing I say will change it, nothing my son says will change it, all you will hear is the words of someone you believe I brainwashed and tortured to be loyal to me,” Sombra snorted and turned away, his horn glowed again and on him appeared the crown, cape and armor.

“Release them. Send them crying back to their precious princess. They can whine about their failure to her!” he snapped as he began walking away.

Twilight’s jaw dropped at hearing the order, she looked up at Temor who was walking away, following the king. Ira seemed somewhat surprised by this turn of events herself, but then quickly composed herself and raised a hoof, looking over the crowd.

“Behold, the mercy of the king!” she declared, receiving thunderous applause and cheers. Then she looked at the prisoners who were being surrounded by guards. “And you begone. Show them the exit, they can make their way to Equestria on their own.”

The mares could do little to protest. Already the guards were forcing them to back away towards the exit of the hall. Soon they found themselves being escorted right out of the large stone fort up in the mountains. When the steel gates slammed shut behind them, the six friends looked at each other.

“Okay, what the hay just happened?” Applejack asked what everybody else was thinking.

“Well I for one am glad to be out of this dreadful place, did you see those banners? Ugh,” Rarity shuddered.

“So what do we do now? We can’t just let them get away,” Rainbow snorted, stretching her sore wings since she finally could.

“We must at least get back to Equestria and report to the princess, she must be worried sick about us by now,” Twilight said, they really had no idea how much time had passed since their captivity. There wasn’t though much determination in her voice. She looked regretfully back at the fort looming over them.

“Yeah, then we should just get the Elements, go back and blast that shadowy creep and his sister too!” the rainbow pegasus nodded sharply. None of them noticed Fluttershy frowning when hearing that.

“That may be our only option now.” Twilight nodded and the six ponies began trotting away.

Fluttershy halted on her walk and looked back towards the fort. The events in the meeting hall still played in her mind. The timid pegasus furrowed her brow in thought. Then she resumed following the rest of her friends.

End chapter 20
> Chapter 21. The mark of the Order runs deep.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 21

It took the six friends almost a full day to make their way down the mountains, as they reached closer to bottom, Applejack did start to recognize the area as the Badlands, a desert south of Dodge City. Twilight breathed a sigh of relief when hearing that, this meant they weren’t that far away from Equestria.

Emotionally the unicorn was exhausted, she had allowed herself to become very invested in this mission. Ever since reading that passage in the history book about the then unknown prince, who the chronicler had no idea where he came from. As she learned what Celestia knew and what they discovered from the investigation, Twilight had become determined to get back the pony King Sombra had stolen.

Twilight had been so sure she could do it, that she just needed to remind Private of the family he had here, that he was free of Sombra now that the king was dead. Then they had finally met him, the pony the Dark King had molded into his heir. Her words just angered him; his old name infuriated him. Nothing she said got through. By the time she was even considering finally using magic to defend herself and her friends it was too late, the High Shadow had arrived and ended the battle.

Temor had been right, they hadn’t stood a chance using talk. She should just have focused on taking him out of commission and bring him to the Princess Celestia as she had been told to do. The final words from him to her still rung through her head, ‘enemy for life.’ Twilight now knew that whatever pony Private used to be, he was dead. King Sombra had corrupted him beyond any hope, he hadn’t even flinched when Sombra hugged him, in fact he had looked happy.

The six friends found a shelter in a cave near the bottom of the mountains for the night. It was almost more comfortable than the cell they had previously been in. It probably helped that they weren’t in chains. Twilight slept uneasily for most of it, Temor’s words still bothered her, there had been so much venom and hatred in them.

The next day, they started to head north hoping they could reach Dodge City and take a train from there to Canterlot. The trip was mostly done in silence, Twilight just didn’t feel like talking right now. Rainbow Dash flew above them, both to see how far they had to go and to be on the lookout for any sign of trouble.

They did have a problem though, one they discovered when still going down the mountain. There were no supplies, the backpacks had not been returned to them. Going back to the fort and ask for them back had not appealed to the ponies at all. Twilight didn’t want to risk teleporting until she knew where they were and right now she wasn’t sure how far Dodge City was. She could accidentally teleport them way off course.

“I am thirsty,” Pinky finally broke the silence, she was starting to drag her hooves, tired after a long walk and parched.

“I know.” Twilight looked up, not a cloud was in the sky so they couldn’t ask Rainbow to go up and have it rain on them. The unicorn frowned, she had maybe failed her mission, but she was not going to let her friends die of thirst in the desert. “Let me try a spell.”

Twilight fired up her horn and aimed it at the ground. It was a difficult spell, one she was still mastering, but the unicorn knew they had to try it. She fired the magic and it sunk into the sand. The ponies gathered around, waiting in anticipation. Then to Twilight’s relief, water began pouring out in a fountain like stream.

“Drink up, it will only last for so long,” she told them. Her friends didn’t need to be told twice and eagerly drank up the flowing water. Then Twilight had an idea and used another spell to conjure up six canteens, thankfully the water spell lasted long enough to fill all of them up.

Twilight berated herself for not thinking of doing this sooner, back when they first realized they had no supplies. They could still go on for a while without food, but water was much more vital for survival, especially now.

“I’m sorry girls,” she apologized as she gave each of them a canteen. “I was just thinking so much about what happened… I just didn’t think to use my magic to help you.”

“Don’t fret it Twilight, we know,” Applejack patted her gently on the back. “Not been our most pleasant of missions, has it?”

“Pinkie dear, don’t drink up all the water in one go,” Rarity warned the pink pony who was gulping from her canteen.

“It’s alright, Rarity, I can still do this spell few more times before I get too tired to do it.” Twilight smiled, she much rather see Pinkie like this, gulping down quickly whatever edible or drinkable she had. It just seemed right, the only thing currently that did.

“Aaahh,” Pinkie sighed in contentment as she put down her canteen. She was already feeling much better, she shook the container and grinned when hearing the water splash inside of it. “Still got plenty.”

“If you need more, just let me know. I already had my fill from the earlier,” Rarity told her friend and hung her still full canteen around her neck.

“Alright, let’s get going, we probably still have a bit to go before reaching Dodge City,” Twilight told her friends, all of them feeling much more refreshed after drinking the water.

They were about to head off but froze in their tracks, ahead of them stood Ira. Staring at the six ponies in contempt. Rainbow Dash growled and would probably have charged if Twilight hadn’t held up her leg to stop her, then the purple unicorn frowned and stepped forward.

“What do you want, High Shadow?” she asked warily, the previous spell had taken some effort and she wasn’t sure she was up for a duel. Twilight almost wanted to groan when once again she and her friends were encased in white magic bubbles.

“How does she keep doing that!” Pinkie complained, folding her front legs in a huff.

“Don’t worry, Celestia’s pet,” Ira said softly and approached the six mares. “You are going to Canterlot, to report your failing to your princess. I just realized I made an error in letting you leave by the front door.”

“And what error would that be?” Applejack asked, grunting as her bubble and the others were lifted from the ground.

“Well, there is no point of having a secret order, if our enemies know its location, now is it?” the dark unicorn now smiled. “How fortunate for me that you hadn’t made it too far yet. I must admit, I half expected the element of magic to have teleported you far off by now.”

Twilight cringed, regretting even more now not having just done exactly what Ira had said. Berating herself to have been so hung up on the mission and how she had failed. The High Shadow was right, she should have teleported them the moment they got out of the fort.

“Thankfully my magic has recovered enough after resurrecting my brother. Just needed to rest a spell, how considerate of you to take the long route while I did so,” Ira chuckled, suddenly her horn began bending and turn red, her eyes turned green and before the ponies could even protest they were all locked in her gaze.

Ira let out a soft cold chuckle. Then her gaze turned towards Fluttershy, a sinister smile crossed her lips.





Twilight and her friends all yelped as they poured out of a shadow right in front of the royal palace of Canterlot. The ponies started to pick themselves up, disoriented and confused. The last thing they remembered was Ira telling the guards to toss them out.

“When she said toss, she really meant toss,” Pinkie Pie grumbled, gingerly rubbing her sore head.

“We’re in Canterlot.” Twilight realized quickly, yet this didn’t feel right, it was like something was missing in her mind. She was almost certain that Ira had said they had to find their own way there.

“Then what are we waiting for, let’s go tell the Princesses…” Rainbow Dash was just about to dash off but immediately halted mid flight. “Wait, do any of you know where we were?”

“Not a clue. I for one am glad to be away from that dreadful place, did you see the banners? Ugh,” Rarity shuddered, then she noticed her friends were giving her strange looks. “What?”

“Woah, déjà vu,” Pinkie remarked, the other ponies agreed, that had been oddly familiar.

“No time for that, we need to tell the Princesses what happened.” Twilight quickly shook her confusing off and dashed towards the palace, quickly followed by her friends.

The six ponies expected warm welcome, what they didn’t expect was Celestia and Luna looking ecstatic over their return. The Sun Princess even draped her wing around Twilight and pulled the unicorn closer in a hug.

“Oh am so I relieved to see you, Twilight,” the Princess whispered, then looked at the other five ponies. “And your friends too.”

“You have been gone for several days, we were about to dispatch search parties because we had heard no word from you,” Luna explained to the surprised mares.

“We would have sent them sooner but… we were having some difficulties determining who to send,” her sister sighed sadly. “The Order of Umbrum has proven to be more extensive than we previously thought.”

Twilight and her friends cringed, remembering all the familiar faces in the crowd at the fort. The hateful stares from ponies they had known for so long, friends they had spent time with, be it meeting at the spa, Sugarcube Corner or just on meeting them randomly on the street.

“Yes, we know,” Twilight said looking dejected.

The ponies didn’t get a chance to explain much just yet, the princesses quickly ushered them through a side door in the throne room and to a private dining parlor. The six friends were instructed to sit down, then Celestia had a servant bring in food and drinks. She gave them all a firm order to eat and relax before saying anything.

Pinkie didn’t need to be told twice, diving into the food when it became available. The others conducted themselves more calmly, except for Twilight who barely ate, just slowly nibbled on her food.

“Celestia…” she finally spoke up and looked at the princess. “I failed… I didn’t get the prince. He was too far gone.”

Celestia gave Luna a glance, before nodding to Twilight to proceed. The celestial sisters then listened attentively as Twilight and four of her friends told them of what had happened. The only one who remained silent was Fluttershy looking deep in thought.

“So Sombra draws breath again,” Luna frowned in concern. “It was bad enough having to deal with this secret order dedicated to his return, that they have succeeded…”

“What of Temor?” Celestia asked though from what Twilight had already said, the princess could already guess the answer.

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t get through to him. Sombra had just done too much damage. Whoever Temor used to be, he’s gone,” Twilight sighed regretfully. Celestia hung her head, closing her eyes as she did.

“We may have a chance though, maybe the Elements of Harmony could help, vanquish Sombra before he and his sister can do any harm,” Twilight then suggested, four of her friends nodded in agreement. Luna scowled, Celestia raised her head again, furrowing her brow.

“No.”

Everyone looked at the yellow pegasus who had suddenly spoken up. Fluttershy was frowning hard where she sat, strange uncharacteristic determination in her eyes. She shook her head.

“What was that?” Rainbow asked, arching her brow. “Why did you say no?”

“We should not use the Elements, what harm have they really done?” Fluttershy asked, looking straight at her rainbow maned friend.

“Harm? A pony killed herself right in front of me!” the pegasus snapped, watching Calcite killing herself was still vivid in her mind.

“As sad as it is, that was her choice, nopony forced her to do it,” the pegasus pointed out.

“Fluttershy, darling, that’s because she had been brainwashed to…” Rarity fell silent when her yellow friend gave her a look.

“Let Fluttershy speak,” Celestia spoke up, looking kindly at the timid pegasus.

“Look, I’m not excusing what King Sombra did in the past, but I can’t be the only one who actually listened to what he said on that stage. Princess Celestia, would the cruel pony who ruled the Crystal Empire, just release six ponies he knew could defeat him?” Fluttershy asked, giving Celestia a pointed look.

“No, Sombra is too pragmatic to just let his enemies go away like that,” the princess answered after a second of thought.

“You saw what the first thing he did when he was fully formed didn’t you guys?” Fluttershy looked at her friends pointily now. “He looked at his sister with concern, because she looked so weak. Then he turned to hug Temor. He didn’t even laugh, mock or gloat. He even allowed us all a chance to debate him about Temor.”

“Yes, I was really scared about what he would do to us. But…” the pegasus looked down. “I saw kindness, I saw love, all directed towards Temor. I for one will not use my element on Sombra without a good reason. Do we have any evidence what he plans to do?”

“Raising a child can be a life-changing experience,” Luna spoke up and all eyes turned to her, the Lunar Princess directed her smile towards Twilight Sparkle. “Remember when I told you that.”

“But…” Twilight started to speak then frowned as she thoughts those words over.

“What about Emerald, the crystal pony?” Rainbow Dash spoke up still not quite believing the others were turning away from the initial idea of using the Elements.

“Well, she kind of chose to help Temor because they used to be friends, besides, we saw her up on the balcony, she’s clearly one of them,” Pinkie now spoke up. “Sorry guys, I have to go with Fluttershy on this one, Sombra sounded pretty genuine when talking about Temor.”

“Besides, the Elements are for defense, not offense,” Celestia spoke up. “Plus, I am not convinced they are a very effective weapon against Sombra.”

All eyes went to the princess, expecting some sort of an explanation. The Solar Princess shook her head sadly.

“The elements cleansed Luna of her corruption and set Discord to stone. They merely banished Sombra and even then he could curse the Crystal Empire to vanish,” she started explaining, then she frowned. “And in a cruel twisted way, he didn’t introduce disharmony. He introduced order, twisted, cruel and tyrannical order, but order still.”

Twilight gasped as if something just suddenly occurred to her, the attention turned to her. The unicorn grimaced as if she really didn’t want to say what she had just thought.

“He used his own twisted version of the elements on Temor. He was kind and generous by taking him in, he said himself that Temor sometimes made him laugh, implying in a good way. He was completely honest about abducting Temor, didn’t even try to hide it and in his own way very loyal to him,” Twilight whispered. “He was Temor’s… friend… as well as a parent… no wonder he got into Temor’s head so badly. No wonder he managed to twist him so well into what he is now.”

“I fear you’re right,” Celestia agreed, so did her sister. Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie also nodded though with more hesitation.

“So, we are just going to let them go free? What about our friends we saw in that crowd?” Rainbow Dash growled, practically roaring to go now that she had rested a little and eaten

“Rainbow,” Twilight looked at her rainbow friend. She was smiling solemnly. “I know it was hard to see our friends in that crowd, staring at us like that, like we were enemies. But what can we do? We don’t even know where they are.”

Rainbow Dash huffed and crossed her front legs, not liking to admit that her friend was right. The Elements of Harmony didn’t exactly work without knowing where to point them at. Plus, it sounded like they wouldn’t be used at all anyway. She had just been so enraged to see ponies she had known almost all her life in that gathering. She was almost positive that they were brainwashed and mind-controlled.

“Rainbow Dash, we do have one advantage, we do know now that the Order of Umbrum exists, we can now work on rooting it fully it out. I’m not entirely convinced that all members were present at this gathering,” Celestia said with a gentle smile, remembering how Raven hadn’t left until she had been discovered.

“So yes, we are going to let them go for now. But we will be watching, we know who the High Shadow is and we know Sombra is alive, so we won’t be caught by surprise if they do plan something,” Luna then told them.

Twilight just nodded, knowing there wasn’t much else she could do. Rarity and Applejack also agreed, Pinkie shrugged and started eating again. Rainbow Dash still huffed, making some plans of her own to question ponies if they were a member of this stupid order later.

The only one smiling genuinely was Fluttershy. The timid pegasus sipped her tea, feeling happy and content that this was over for now. She remembered that kind comforting smile, those red eyes filled with love and compassion. They chased away her fright, calmed her down.

Hail the High Shadow. Fluttershy accepted another cake from Celestia, who was now telling them about the investigation into the order she and Luna had done.

Hail Queen Ira. Fluttershy allowed Rarity to refill her tea cup, thanking her friend kindly.

Hail King Sombra. Fluttershy drank her tea and at her cake, listening attentively to what the Celestial sisters had discovered.

End chapter 21
> Epilogue. Biding their time.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Epilogue

Prince Temor sat behind a desk in his new study in the fort of the Order of Umbrum. The unicorn was going through a list of names, held up in his magic. His horn was mending, now only a thin line showed were the crack had once been. On the desk was a cup filled with wine which he periodically drank from.

He looked up when shadows started to congregate in front of the desk before rising to form King Sombra. Temor rose up and bowed his head, sitting down only when the king gave him a nod.

“How does your research go?” King Sombra asked, using his magic he grabbed another cup and a flagon of wine and filled it up. He put the flagon away and sipped his drink while waiting for an answer.

“Very well, my aunt was very busy these long years she waited for the Crystal Empire to return,” Temor responded and looked up. “She’s filled every nook and cranny of Equestria with members. We have thousands of them.”

“Intriguing,” Sombra grinned, he had himself been busy. Receiving members who had not come to the ceremony, renewing their loyalty to the Order and to him.

“What we had at the ceremony was just a drop in the ocean. Ira summoned those who would have been the most easily identified as members of the Order, the descendants and those connected to them,” Temor continued to explain, he grabbed his wine cup and drank. “We are going to keep them hidden away, both here at the fort and the underground settlement we are constructing.”

“That one I’m aware of,” his father nodded. “Though I know my sister had hoped the secretary could have remained at Celestia’s court for a little while longer, having her pretend she didn’t know her husband was a member of the Order. Ah well, she will just have to start her duties sooner serving me.”

Temor put the cup down and the papers. There was one thing he really did want to ask, but wasn’t sure if it was his to do so. “So, I take it you heard what my aunt planned for me?”

Sombra looked at him, then shook his head. “We are stallions, Temor. It’s the mares who decide who we marry. If you really wish to be a Dark Pony. That is a custom you must get used to.”

“I thought you didn’t care for that part of our custom,” Temor sighed, his thoughts were on Emerald. They were friends, but he had kind of hoped with her staying there could be something more. Yet he didn’t want to force that issue, he did not want her as just another concubine anymore.

“My objection was that my mother intended for me to marry Ira. However, I see no problem with arranged marriages between unrelated ponies. Starlight is a powerful mare, bit misguided in her ideals, but we can fix that. She would serve well as your consort,” Sombra told his son sternly. Temor winched then nodded.

“We must not forget, Temor that Ira is the Queen of the Dark Ponies. We cannot reject her queenship. The oath of the first Queen Odio forbids it. However, she is willing to share her rulership with us as she was never interested in ruling, have no fear,” the king chuckled and sipped from this cup, his grin was turning malicious. “We aren’t losing power, if anything we are gaining more.”

Temor arched his brow and looked at his father, not quite seeing whatever it was Sombra was seeing. His father approached the desk and leaned over it, so he was staring right at him.

“My sister is naive. Never fully grasping how her powers worked. Or how any power worked for the matter. She may have rebuilt the Order of Umbrum, but always maintained that it was you who were in charge and that I oversaw it as well. She’s hoofed all those followers over to us, she just wanted the Dark Pony Empire back,” King Sombra’s voice lowered. “Oh, I will make her a queen over an empire again, that empire will just simply include Equestria as well.”

The prince blinked for a second, then he started grinning just as devilishly as his father. It dawned on him what his father meant. While they allowed Ira to play the Queen and High Shadow, they would be the ones really in charge and would in the end destroy their enemies.

“I must admit father, with all this sentimentality you were showing at the ceremony, I was starting to worry you were growing soft on us,” Temor chuckled, he clung his cup with Sombra’s.

“Nothing wrong with finally showing that I care for you, my son. I’ve raised you well, you rejected that pet of Celestia, proved your loyalty to me and eventually I will be fully able to reward you for it all. How does ruling Canterlot in my name sound?” Sombra stepped back and finished from his cup.

“I think I can handle that. Very well, I will wed Starlight, not that I had any choice I suppose,” Temor shrugged and refilled his cup. He offered his father more, but the king shook his head and returned his cup to the desk.

“Let your aunt play the Dark Pony Queen for now, she’s earned it,” Sombra said and started walking to the entrance of the study. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some followers to attend to.”

Temor watched the king open the door, outside were two earth pony mares, one blue and one pink, both with similar mane cuts. The prince rolled his eyes when seeing the seductive smile come on his father as he regarded them.

“Your Majesty, I believe you ordered a massage?” the blue pony said, she had a strong foreign accent. The mare smiled sweetly at the king.

“A massage? I suppose we can start with that. Come, we’ll go to my chambers,” King Sombra said as he stepped out of the room and closed the door.

Prince Temor shook his head and rolled his eyes again. His father was certainly not wasting much time using his new body to the fullest. The unicorn turned in the chair so he faced the window behind him. He could see over the mountains through it, further to the north was Equestria.

A sinister grin started to crawl over his muzzle, his thoughts were on the past few days. How not that long ago, he had been on the run from the Crystal Empire, only in the company of his former slave and the spirit of his father. Now he sat in a fort, his father alive and surrounded by loyal followers.

They never stood a chance, he chuckled, remembering the six mares who had tried to find them. His aunt had been there from the start, guiding events from the shadows, always watchful and ensuring things went as she had intended.

Ira still hadn’t told them how she had come back to life, but the prince suspected it had been a similar process to the one she had done to resurrect his father. She was a Dark Pony and just as capable of accumulating dark magic, spirit or not.

She admitted having intended to wait several more days, allow her dark magic to build up more, but their enemies forced her to speed it up. That’s why she was so weak after the resurrection, she had nearly emptied her reserves.

“Just wait Twilight Sparkle, I’m coming,” he whispered and turned back to the desk, he kept staring forward, eyes narrow but still sporting that sinister smile. “I was brought to my father in fear and fear is my name.”

“I am Prince Temor!”

The end