> A Shadow Falls Upon Twilight
>  by SpectralFury
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Shadow Falls Upon Twilight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight Sparkle idly tapped on the shield overlapping one of the windows of her gilded cage, wondering if it would be possible to destabilize it without her magic. Of course, the inhibitor secured around her horn would be the least of her worries if she set foot outside the palace; Sombra’s enthralled guards patrolled every inch of the Crystal Empire. Escape was next to impossible.
    She sighed, pushing away from the windowsill and scowling at her room. The finest of luxuries were available to her, yet she was still a prisoner of that disgusting tyrant. He hadn’t even really spoken to her after her capture either, just a promise that her future position within his empire would soon be made clear.
    Every day she wondered if she made the right decision in surrendering to him. After destroying the Tree of Harmony, he made an ultimatum to her: surrender herself to his custody, or he would conquer Equestria.
    With the main power of Twilight and her friends destroyed, a fight was a foregone conclusion. In order to save the lives of her friends and subjects, the deal was struck. He offered a magical contract with simple terms. As long as she was in his custody, neither Equestria nor the Crystal Empire would attack or harm each other in any way.
    That was three weeks ago. After a short stay in the palace dungeon and several tearful words with Cadance, she was stuck in the bedroom. She barely saw Sombra aside from his marching down the streets, everything having been taken care of by servants of dubious mental freedom.
    Staring into their blank, glowing eyes never failed to send shivers down her spine.
    What does he want with me? she wondered. A mere hostage didn’t feel right, plus if he wanted her for something more, he would have tried his mental domination on her.
    Her question would be answered quite quickly, as the door to her room opened without her consent, as always. A pair of guards wearing those hideous mind control helmets walked in, and looked at her.
    “Master Sombra commands your presence,” one said in a dull monotone.
    She scowled, but stood up. “As His Majesty commands,” she replied, not even bothering to hide her sarcasm. She hoped what whatever remained of the pony underneath was able to get a hint of amusement from it.
    As they walked, she stared straight forward, not daring to meet the eyes of any of the palace staff. All the guards were mind slaves, but the more menial servants were often left with relative freedom, their shackles being those of fear. The short flashes of hope upon seeing her, followed by despair when they realized she was just as helpless as them, were worse than the blank stares of the drones.
    They finally reached a large door, and the guard knocked on it with his fist.
    “Enter,” said Sombra’s deep voice from inside.
    The guards opened the door, leading her in. The den of Sombra’s chambers was as she expected. Lots of black, red, furs, and wealth. There was a distinct lack of gold, however. The stallion himself was seated at a desk, scribbling at some paperwork with a quill. What he could possibly need that for was anyone’s guess, as he could simply order something done, and it would happen.
    “Master, Twilight Sparkle, as ordered,” a guard droned.
    He looked up. “And so she is. Leave us.” They each gave a bow and left, closing the door behind them. He leaned forward on his desk, his unnatural red eyes boring into her for a moment. She met his gaze head on with a glare of her own, daring him to say something. She may have been helpless, but she was still a princess of Equestria, and she had her pride.
    “I trust your accommodations are to your satisfaction?” he asked, leaning back and lacing his fingers together.
    She just crossed her arms and glared some more, to which he rolled his eyes.
    “Oh come now, Twilight Sparkle. Surely there’s no reason we can’t be civil with each other? We aren’t enemies, after all. I kept my end of the bargain; your subjects are safe.”
    “You foalnapped me and are using me as a hostage!”
    He scoffed and rolled his eyes again. “If you want to see it that way, fine. To me, it was a simple matter of capturing an enemy’s leader in order to force peace. And you went along with it because you care about your pathetic peasants.” He snorted and stood. “Admirable, but foolish. Still, I secured a pact of non-aggression out of the deal. Now I have all the time in the world to secure my power base.”
    Twilight sneered. “And if you attack Equestria, the deal’s off. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will not let you last for long.”
    He smiled. “We shall see, Twilight Sparkle.” He clapped his hands together. “Now! I have a gift for you, for being such a good and obedient prisoner.” He snapped his fingers. A second later, one of the doors leading further in opened, and Twilight had to stifle a scream.
    Cadance walked in wearing a maid’s outfit, a blank stare on her face. She was carrying a small box.
    “Cadance!” she whispered, only to snarl at her captor. “You let her go!”
    I shook his head. “I think not. It brings me no end of amusement to see Amore’s descendant licking my boots, and she’s another valuable asset to discourage the Two Sisters.” He jerked his head towards Twilight. “Give it to her,” he commanded.
    Cadance did as she was ordered, and walked over to Twilight, opening the box. Within was a petite black collar, a blood red heart adorning the front.
    “Is this some kind of a joke?” Twilight asked.
    “I rarely joke,” Sombra said warningly. “Put it on.”
    Twilight’s lips twitched to another frown, but she relented, reaching out. As soon as her fingers touched the black metal, she recoiled from the dark magic infusing the object.
    “What is that!”
    “It matters not. You will wear it.” Sombra crossed his arms, his gaze brooking no argument. Still, Twilight argued.
    “Absolutely not! I won’t put on whatever that thing is!”
    He sighed. “Cadenza?”
    “Yes, Master?” Twilight felt her heart sink at her old friend saying those words.
    “Equip Twilight with her new accessory.”
    Unlike Twilight, Cadance did not have an inhibitor on her horn, and immediately after the words left Sombra’s mouth, Twilight found herself enveloped in Cadance’s magic. Her legs, arms, head, and anything else were frozen stiff. She could only watch as Cadance picked up the collar and smoothly secured it around her neck, despite Twilight’s quiet mumbles.
    The dark magic felt wrong as the metal pressed against her neck, but that didn’t compare to what happened when the latch was secured. Strangely, the vague prickling sensation disappeared, but something pulsed through her.
    Twilight knew that whatever Sombra had planned, he had already succeeded. Against a direct spell, she might have been able to will herself out of it, but with a dark artifact latched onto her, it was ultimately a losing battle.
    “You aren’t allowed to remove that, by the way,” Sombra said with a smirk. Of course, Twilight ignored him, and as soon as Cadance’s magic released her, she reached up to remove the cursed thing, only to blink in confusion as she grabbed at the clasp.
    Her fingers refused to move.
    She let go, curling her fingers to make sure they still worked, reached for the clasp again, and scowled when they refused to budge.
    “What. Did you. Do to me?” she growled.
    He showed his inequine teeth as he smiled. “You’ll find out very soon.” He looked to Cadance. “Leave us.”
    “As you command.” She left without any further word.
He snorted. “Such a shame. All that power bound by talent as useless as love.”
Twilight snarled. “She’s stronger than you’ll ever be.”
“Her obedience suggests otherwise. Now be still, look at me.” She did as she was bid, but felt strange while doing it. Her movements were detached and distant. As he stepped towards her, she tried to pull back, but found her body disobeying her.
“What’s happening, what-” She grit her teeth as he reached forward, gently running the back of his calloused knuckles against her smooth cheek.
“Such a shame. You would make for a beautiful sorceress.”
    “I would never delve into dark magic.”
    He smirked. “And yet you did so to retrieve the Crystal Heart.”
    “That was one time, and necessary,” she said dismissively. “Now tell me what you’ve done!”
    “It is not a slave’s place to make demands of her master.” He said in mock admonishment. He smiled once again. “Release.” She felt her body return to her control, much to her relief.
    Twilight scrunched her eyes shut in relief as her body obeyed her once again. Was Sombra demanding she play some sick game? If he at least told her what he had done, then fine.
    She took a deep breath, and evened her voice. “My Lord, may I know what you have done to me?”
Sombra looked at her in surprise before it mellowed back to his usual mild sadistic content. “Mmm. Perhaps, I think you should relax first. He walked over to a cabinet, opening it to reveal several bottles of liquor. “Drink? It will help.”
    She sneered and crossed her arms again. “I don’t drink. It poisons the mind.”
    “Oh, I agree. Many a pony have drowned their lives in drink,” he said, pouring two glasses. “However in moderation it can be quite relaxing.” He held it out. “Drink. I insist.”
    “You can take that- WHAT!” Her body stepped forward and approached him. “What’s happening!” Delicately taking the glass, she raised it to her lips and drank it all. She winced at the burn that went down her throat, and once she was finished, she dropped it, coughing and hacking at the unfamiliar sensation. She even collapsed to the floor, trying to regain her breath.
“What...did you...do?”
    He frowned. “And here I thought you were a scholar.”
    She coughed a few more times before pulling herself back up. “I have no use for dark magic. Why would I study it?”
    He sighed and shook his head disapprovingly. “Any mage of respect in my day explored all aspects of magic.” He snorted. “What a narrow-minded culture Celestia has made. Still, were you to ask, I might be persuaded to share some of my secrets.”
    “Not going to happen,” she said coldly. Still, at the back of her mind, she was slightly curious, the ever-present scholar wanting that hidden and forbidden knowledge.
    Maybe after she was rescued she would indulge, but not from him.
    “Tsk. Such a shame.” He took another drink of the liquor before setting the glass down. “Tell me, are you not the least bit curious? I speak not of simply the power of darker magicks, but of the power I represent.” He stepped closer to her once again, and she hesitantly stepped back, but not by much. She knew that Sombra had some manner of control over her body, and if it meant that he would stay his hand, she had to humor him.
    “I am not,” she said, looking away.
    He laughed softly. “Oh come now, Princess. One ruler to another, don’t lie. You like the power your position brings, don’t you?”
    Her lips twitched to a frown. “I mean, I used to find it bothersome” -her eyes widened as she realized she wasn’t denying it- “but sometimes the perks are nice.”
    He smiled. “You see? Isn’t it much easier to speak when we’re truthful. Honesty is one of the virtues of Harmony, is it not?”
    She shot him an acidic glare.
    “Such fire. It’s a shame we are on different sides.” He gently gripped her chin, pulling her towards him. “Together we would be unstoppable. Is there nothing I can say to convince you to join me?”
    She pulled herself from him, snarling. “I will never, not in a thousand years, ever join with somepony as vile as you!”
    If he was fazed by that declaration, he didn’t show it. Instead he sighed and shook his head in disappointment. “So be it...for now. We will see how long that attitude of yours lasts.”
    A spike of fear shot through her, but she hid it well. A Princess did not do well showing such things to her enemies, after all. “So you’re just going to turn me into one of your mind slaves?”
    He turned and smiled again, and this one made her mask fall off. “Oh no, Twilight Sparkle. I respect you far too much to take your mind away. No, family will keep you in your place.”
    “How dare you threaten my family!” she snapped, but the knowing smile he gave her told that a different fate awaited if she disobeyed.
    “Why would I ever threaten my own offspring?” he said curiously.
    A massive pit opened in Twilight’s stomach. “W-what?”
    “I require an heir, Twilight Sparkle.”
    As the words left his mouth, she started trembling. He wouldn’t- he couldn’t- would he?
    He stroked at his chin. “Of course, just one foal wouldn’t be enough. If I’m to eventually conquer the world, I will need plenty of children to install as regional governors. I’m powerful, but even I can’t direct the entire world by myself.” He looked at her hungrily. “Twenty should do, more or less.”
    Twilight’s mind shut down. Before she even knew what was happening, she had turned and ran to the door.
    “You can’t leave,” Sombra calmly said.
    As soon as she grabbed the doorknob, her arm refused to budge. She let go and gripped it again. “No!” She tried again. “NO!”
    “Come to me.”
    She squealed as her body obeyed, calmly walking over to Sombra. Her heart was hammering, but her limbs were still. She walked forward, but tears started flowing from her eyes.
    “P-please. Don’t do this.”
    He reached over and stroked her cheek again. He leaned in, taking in the flowery scent of her shampoo. “You are stunning. I do not lie when I say it does pain me somewhat to harm such beauty, but for my Empire to live, I need strong, powerful foals. An alicorn and the Bearer of Magic will provide me with them.” He gently tilted her chin up, forcing them to lock eyes. “This will happen. Whether or not you do so willingly is your decision. Choose now.”
    Her mouth trembled, and she quickly came up with a lie to stall for time. That’s all she needed to come with a plan to get out before the unthinkable happened. She opened her mouth.
    “I will never do this willingly,” is what came out. Her eyes widened as a previous command forced the truth from her.
    He nodded without anger, having expected this. “So be it. Perhaps later, when you have an anchor here, you will change your mind.” He turned, heading towards a door. “Come. There is no time like the present.”
    She whimpered as her body did as it was commanded, and he led her to a luxurious bedroom. This was happening. It was really happening. How could she have been so stupid to have surrendered to him?
    “Be docile,” he said, and turned, wrapping an arm around her waist. She wanted to pull away from him, to kick and fight and scream, but her desires went unheeded by her vessel. He looked her in the eye once more, inspecting her like a piece of art. He gently gripped the back of her neck, and pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers. She didn’t return it, thankfully, but she couldn’t do much more than let out whimpers in protest. A higher squeal left her as he felt his hand on her breast, gently squeezing it through the fabric of her dress.
    He broke it, letting out a sigh. “I wish you could share in this. It would make it so much better.”
    “You’re sick,” she spat.
    “Perhaps to you,” he mused. “But you have no idea what I gave up for this world.”
    “I find it hard to believe you would ever give up anything.”
    “Such certainty. I will correct your assumptions later. For now, the future of the Empire is at stake.” He let her go. “Disrobe.” He turned and walked to the bed, doing the very same to himself. Twilight bit her lip as her arms and fingers moved of their own accord, removing the rather expensive dress she was sure came from Cadance’s collection. By the time she was finished, Sombra was sitting at the foot of his bed, completely exposed.
    She had to admit, the slaver king did not skimp on his body. He was muscular, but not disturbingly so. A true specimen of a stallion. However when she spied his erect member, a wave of revulsion spread through her.
    “Your disgust is noted,” he said dismissively.
    His look to her was hungry, but not ravenous. Twilight never really thought of herself as much of a looker, but other ponies often tried to imitate her. It never really made sense. Still, seeing Sombra so ‘attentive’ made the little voice in the back of her mind wonder if she really was that attractive.
    “This is your last chance to submit,” he said. “I promise to make it worth your while.”
    “Go to Tartarus,” she said through grit teeth.
    “So be it. Come. Bear my foal.”
    The hot anger was replaced by fear once more as she walked over, taking his hand and crawling up onto the bed with him.
    She squeaked as he wrapped his arms around her, pressing his lips against hers once more, kissing her deeply. Her traitorous body followed along with every step, hugging him back and pressing just as hard against him. Gentle, quiet sobs escaped through her nose as tears ran down her cheeks.
    “Shh…” he consoled. “Fret not, for I treat my lovers well.” She was about to make some snide remark when he felt his hand start sliding down her chest, belly, and finally rested on her loins.
    “Don’t you- eep!” She shivered slightly as he pressed against her, gently stroking at her lips. She bared her teeth and tried to snarl, tried to push him away, but she was utterly powerless to stop him.
    She absolutely hated to admit it, but Sombra was quite skilled. His gentle touches, his experienced movements, Twilight’s body couldn’t help but quickly become aroused as he fingered her. Soon enough, she was slick with fluid, and her mild protests slowly transformed to quiet moans. All the while, Sombra quietly worked on her, preparing her for what would come next. He kept his touch gentle, soft, smoothly kissing her neck, breasts, and belly.
    As if he knew she was near, his movements quickly sped up, became harder, harsher. Twilight felt her body tense up more and more as it approached its precipice, and with a despairing yell, she climaxed.
    He continued his movements, leading her orgasm on longer and longer as she craned her back up towards the sky. All things must end, however, and she finally collapsed into the covers.
    “Did you enjoy it?” he asked.
    She didn’t want to say yes. She absolutely did not, not consciously. However when her mouth said, “Yes,” it was the most shameful thing she had ever admitted to.
    He traced the outline of her face once again, wiping away her tears. “Have faith. Whether now for yourself, or later for your children, you will choose to stay out of your own free will.”
    She just let out another sob.
    “Now, I believe it is my turn.” Twilight squealed as he leaned up and turned her on her back. “Pull your legs back. Present yourself.”
    “You...I will never forgive you f-for this!” she said quiveringly as she obeyed. Her legs spread and she grabbed them, pulling them to her chest. She eyed the stallion’s throbbing member as he approached, trying to fight it, to get her magic to work, to cry out for any diety that could hear her for help.
    But nothing came.
    She let out a croaked sound as he laid the shaft upon her lips, gently rubbing it against them. Her body betrayed her as he stroked the inside of her legs, causing shivers to run across her skin once again. Instinct was a powerful thing, and now that it was being paid attention to, her body demanded to fulfill its purpose.
    Sombra took a deep breath as he repositioned, pressing the head against her opening. With as much attention she had been receiving, it gave little resistance as he slowly pressed in, filling her with its warm, pulsing flesh.
    Twilight let out a final cry of despair as he slowly filled her, realizing that it was all over. It was a curious thing. He was so gentle that, had she not been staining the bedsheets with her tears, the two might have been considered true lovers.
    As soon as he was down to his base, Twilight went quiet. He gave her another gentle caress of the face, and for some reason she met his eyes. They weren’t kind, but there was a gentleness to his gaze.
    Without a word, he started to move, slowly pulling out of her, angling himself to press against her interior as he passed by.
    Soon the only sounds that could be heard were Sombra’s ever growing panting, Twilight’s matching breath, and the repetitive sound of flesh against flesh.
    Twilight had quit protesting. No more sounds, no more snarls, no more looks. Instead she simply accepted her fate and chose to remain quiet and try to get some manner of enjoyment out of it, however empty it might have been.
    As the minutes passed, their bodies began to glisten with sweat, and drops of it were flung off by their movements. Twilight’s quiet squeaks had grown to reluctant moans, and her mind began to muddle from the conflicting thoughts that were going through her head.
    Suddenly, without warning, she tensed.
    “I’m gonna-” She let out a strangled noise as she climaxed once more, clamping down on Sombra as her body demanded to be filled.
    Sombra took this opportunity to speed up, slamming into her over and over to finish himself off. With a loud groan, he finally pressed in firmly, spilling himself within her. The two struggled and shook as the aftershocks of their mating withdrew, and with a final exhale, Sombra pulled out of her.
    “That was…” Sombra let out an impressed noise as he looked towards his unwilling lover. Twilight, her job complete, relaxed as the spell released its control on her. She gave him a quick glance before wincing and turning away. She could feel Sombra’s warmth within her, tarnishing her body with its unwanted presence.
    “Please don’t do that again,” Twilight whispered, her hands pressing to her belly.
    Sombra frowned. “This will continue regardless of your feelings on the matter.” He snapped his fingers, and Twilight felt most of the magic of her collar retreat. “Go, return to your quarters. When you are with foal, you will get your break. Until then, this will continue every day.”
    Twilight couldn’t say anything to that, so she grabbed her dress, threw it on, and ran out of Sombra’s chambers.

===

Five Years Later

    “Announcing Princesses Celestia and Luna of Equestria!”
    The guard gave his monarchs a respectful bow before retreating, allowing the two sisters of the Sun and Moon to enter. Their gazes were cool, but as soon as they saw Twilight, their steps faltered.
    She wore an expensive looking dress of black and gold, and had a noticeable belly. She held a young foal in her arms, and had five more amongst her legs. While that was bad enough, she regarded her former friends with a cool and indifferent gaze, her eyes bearing slit irises.
    Next to her, King Sombra rested a hand on her shoulder, a challenging look set at his expression.
    Still, the Two Sisters were there to have their first state visit with their neighbor to the north. They vowed to speak to Twilight after it was over, but for now they had a job to do.
    Sombra had kept to the treaty, and never attacked Equestria, instead focusing on expanding his territories north and east. Celestia and Luna, despite their misgivings, respected Twilight’s sacrifice and used the time she bought to build their own forces for a war that would never come.
    Twilight broke the first time she was raped, and while Sombra never laid a hand on her otherwise, the lack of support and repeated violations eventually crushed her will to dust. When her first foal, Midnight, was birthed, she knew she would never leave her child alone with Sombra.
    To save her child from becoming like him, she agreed to marry him. This gave his reign legitimacy, and allowed her a larger amount of freedom.
    It was inevitable she would investigate dark magic, if only to learn how to defeat the various mind control spells he so loved to use. Like so many before her, she fell prey to its allure, and while she never quite fell into the abyss, she developed a certain edge to her actions that would forever remain.
    Sombra kept his promise. Whenever Twilight was pregnant, he did not touch her. However, as soon as she was free to do so, she found herself in his bed once again.
    She loved her children very much, enough to eventually give up on her plans to murder their father. It would simply break their hearts.
    And so Queen-Consort Twilight Sparkle settled into her position, bearing her husband’s children, helping him run the country, and gradually working to soften his policies.