Chapter 1
In the heart of the Crystal Empire's great palace, amidst a thousand lights glittering off a thousand more facets, darkness pooled. It thickened, turning into something more than a shadow, becoming tangible. The true Lord of the Crystal Empire rose once again.
He immediately fell as the bucket his hoof materialized in slipped out from under him. He sprawled forward through the door of the closet, and the brooms and mops stored within followed. Grumbling, he got back on his hooves. This insult to his dignity was nothing compared to that of usurping his throne, but he vowed that it would be repaid all the same.
He could scarcely recognize his palace. The atmosphere of gloom and despair he had worked so hard to create had been tossed out. In its place were all kinds of wreaths and sprigs of holly and mistletoe, and all of those were themselves covered in baubles and lights. It was cheerful and happy, and that made him sad.
He tried to ignore it, but it was relentless. How could anypony live like this? There weren't even any screaming prisoners chained to the ceiling. He trudged on through the oppressively happy palace. It was hard going, he had not had enough strength left after resurrecting himself to cast even the most basic no-smile spell. A series of some foal's pictures pinned to a wall came dangerously close to warming his heart.
There were trees in his throne room. Trees. They were all green, and alive. Not cold, hard crystal. It was sad, he shed a single kingly tear.
A little table was set up next to one of them. It was positioned like it was an offering, a red cloth covered it, and a plate of cookies. He could not remember which of their spirits it was that it was meant for. Sombra thought they had dealings with far too many. Sombra usually took things too seriously like that.
It wasn't what he would call food, but he did need to eat something. He claimed the offering for himself, swallowing the overly sugary things down before they could insult his tongue too much. One was shaped like an alicorn and decorated with Celestia's colors. He bit her head off, imagining what he would do to the real pony.
There was a scrape of hooves behind him. He wondered if a guard had finally decided to do their job and try to stop him. He turned to strike the fool down, but was confronted only with a foal.
He only just had time to register her sickening pinkness before she darted forward to hug him, letting out a deafening shout of "SANTA HOOVES!" Her unnatural agility caught him off balance, bringing him crashing to the floor for a second time.
As she stepped back sheepishly, he saw what he was dealing with. Wings fluttered at her side, and a horn, long for her age, protruding from her forehead. He tensed. An alicorn, even a child, needed to be handled carefully.
She grinned widely, "I knew I'd catch you this year! What'd'ya bring? She darted around him, looking for something.
Sombra was confused. He had been prepared to take over the empire again. Not... this. But then again, Sombra was so naughty that he had never even heard of Santa Hooves. He was so naughty that coal used to be threatened with being sent to him when it misbehaved.
As far as he could tell he was supposed to give her something? He thought about trying a spell on her, but the way she vibrated with barely contained energy told him that there was no chance of controlling her. She was in charge whether he liked it or not. He put on a fake grin. It was the middle of the night and nopony else was around, so it didn't seem like her being up was part of the holiday. "Ah, ah, ah. Not until morning, little one."
Flurry had been waiting a long time for this, and she wasn't going to give up so easily. "Pleeasssse?" She put on her cutest puppy dog eyes.
"It's just a few hours more. Why don't you go to sleep until then?" He held back a sob. It was absurd to be put in this position by a filly.
"Now!" she cried cheerfully, teleporting on to his back. "I can't sleep 'cause I'm too excited," she explained even as her magic began to bubble over, adding showers of sparks to the decorations.
"I want to see everypony's presents," her precocious arcane power wrenched open his pocket dimension, spilling its contents across the floor.
His personal armory clattered out, swords and spears and armor. "Cooool," Flurry proclaimed. This was the best Hearth's Warming ever! She picked up a sword. It was all black and spiky, and sharp like the ones daddy didn't let her touch. But this one was all hers!
Sombra could only watch. He had struck down dragons with that sword and now she was using it like a toy.
She spun around suddenly—the sword did too, lopping off a lock of his mane.
Flurry didn't notice that or his yelp of surprise. She was too busy darting in to hug his leg. "I love it."
Sombra, for his part, was too busy trying to dodge further slashes as she carelessly waved the razor sharp blade around. He silently swore his revenge against her. As soon as he figured out how to get his weapons back, that was.
Flurry finally paused for a moment. Her muzzle scrunched up in thought. "What did you get my friends?" Magic crackled around her once more. "Did you get Snow Cone that catapult he wanted? He's been extra good this year, I promise."
"I... Yes, I already visited him." He tried a friendly smile. It took him a second to remember how, and it was tiring. He was surely going to outlaw it when he was in charge again.
"Hooray! Can we go see him? I wanna see him when he sees it."
"I'm sorry, little one, but I"m very busy tonight. I don't have to go back to houses I've already been to." A growl was steadily creeping into his voice, but Flurry did not seem to notice.
"Awwww." The light in the room faded as her ears drooped. Something cold touched his soul. What in Tartarus was this filly?
The darkness only lasted a moment before her ears perked up again. "Do you want more cookies at least? We got lots more cookies. C'mon!"
It was phrased like a question, but not treated like one. She dragged Sombra along with her magic, down the halls, to the kitchens.
There were hearts everywhere. He was pretty sure they hadn't been there when he left. Why did Equestrians do this? He wondered if he'd at least have the chance to ambush Flurry as they moved deeper into the palace.
But even early on Hearth's Warming morning, the kitchens were busy with ponies making treats for the day ahead.
"Hey everypony," Flurry yelled. "Santa Hooves is here and he needs more cookies right now!"
Everypony looked up from their tasks. The ones who didn't faint at the sight of Sombra ran from the room screaming. They carried a wave of panic with them through the castle.
Flurry was shocked at their reaction. She looked at Sombra with wide, then narrowing eyes. "S-Sombra?"
Sombra laughed. "Yes, foolish child. I am not your 'Santa Hooves.' I am Sombra! Rightful ruler of this kingdom!"
His taunting was cut short. Flurry's horn and whole body crackled with magic, and he had just enough time to get a whiff of ozone before a wave of yellow light washed him away.
Only Flurry remained. She had gotten rid of the meanie all by herself. Mommy and Daddy would be so proud. Plus she still got presents from him. Also cookies.