Under the Shadow's Rule
Years ago, sunshine would spread across the land. There would be birds singing in the trees, clouds lazily drifting about, and the sea of grass would sway with the breeze. A paradise someponies would say. The crystal ponies once knew a time of pleasant joy and fair days. But as the way fate works, if one were to believe in that sort of thing, such bright times seldom last forever.
“Help, please. We need help. Too dark... too much suffering... need help.”
It was a dream that Glint had far too often for his own liking. This dream never gave him a good feeling of rest for the impending day, but there was little he could do about the matter other than simply bear with it. Within the dream, he would find himself calling out to a white abyss, only to hear a harsh reply of silence. The night saw him awake many times and once awake, he would look up to where that black crystal hung in the air. King Sombra saw everything through these strange crystals of his. They were his eyes and ears and were found in every room of every house. Only after spending hours upon hours toiling away, deep in the Nether-Crystal Mines, would the crystal ponies be allowed time to eat and sleep.
Nopony knew why Sombra had them searching these ancient tunnels. Someponies thought he was searching for the Heaven Shard, a mythical relic that was believed to hold the skies up. Others mused that Sombra wanted to relocate the entire kingdom below ground, to be completely surrounded by crystals that he could manipulate. Glint had his own theory: Sombra was simply a mad tyrant who took amusement from watching the crystal ponies cower before him and rot away from exhaustion.
Sombra's methods were also something of a mystery. Only one pony from each household would be sent to the mines. When another member of the family was chosen to go down, it meant that family had lost one of its own. The ponies who went down there did not like talking about the things that lurked deep below. Secrets and shadows dwell in those caverns beneath the surface; there were not many ponies who wished to learn more.
And so it was these days that Glint knew; days filled with fear and hardship as he waited quietly near the front door. The chosen diggers never got much sleep and rarely saw their family before leaving for the long day of toiling. The sun had not yet come up, but the room was alight with a dull gleam from the flame-crystals. These objects were enchanted to illuminate when a pony was nearby and were oft used as lamps within homes. Impatience swelled within him, yet he wished for time to slow further.
Finally, after waiting for an uncountable amount of seconds, he heard the noise he was eagerly awaiting but at the same time, dreading. Hoofsteps, heavy in sound, but light in step sounded behind him.
“Couldn't sleep again, Glint?” spoke a mare's voice to his back.
He eased a smile to his face, but did not look to his back to where she stood. “When do I ever anymore? At least some good comes from it. I can at least see you off each day.” His gaze did not leave the door, willing it to remain closed for as long as possible.
A few more steps found the mare sitting beside Glint. Together they waited in front of the door. The light in the room danced upon their coats, his a dull ruby and hers a faded teal. He took his stare from the door to give her a glance. Her violet mane ran down her neck, shifting to cover her right shoulder. In her gray eyes, he saw his reflection. His dark brown mane was a mess, not that it ever was different. He just never bothered with it. It never got in his way before, only a few stray strands would fall into his face.
A black outline glowed along the edges of the door. It opened bring in the cool, morning air and with it, a feeling of unease to both ponies, though they both tried not to let it show.
“Gotta go, Glint,” the mare spoke apathetically. She stood up, but did not begin heading to the outside.
“Violet... don't go.” Glint did not stand, but just continued looking at her. His eyes fought with him as he tried to maintain a strong gaze, but victory was not to be had.
Violet only loosed a sigh in response before turning her head slowly to meet his eyes, tired of this repeat performance. “You and I both know how this goes by now. You say that, and I say 'But I have to'. Then you assure me things will get better, but we both know they won't. Eleven years have passed since She left us and He locked It away. So just stop.” These words did not carry anger or hint of irritation. She spoke in the same tone that many others did. Aged beyond life and heavy with nothingness, her voice wafted through his ears like a dreary drone.
Despite hearing this response and even expecting it, his heart still broke apart. He said nothing more as he just sat there as she took to the outside, heading for the only entrance to the depths below. Each day, he feared for her. It was just her and him now. Their mother had been relocated to Sombra's castle to attend to his dwelling and whims. Those ponies who went there did not ever leave and no word of them was ever spoken of again except by a questioning foal with drenched cheeks. Their father was the first member of their family chosen for the mines and only three months ago were they informed Violet would be going down there next time.
His thoughts scrambled around him of all he could remember of his life, as they did every day. Every day... it was the same. The same sun that never quite shined very bright, as though it were trying to pierce a dense fog. The same murmurs and whispers echoed around the ponies outside. The same emptiness that encapsulated the essence of the once-glorious kingdom itself. The King of Shadows claimed every feeling of hope or joy that used to permeate the ground. He took it all from them in a haze of tyranny and intimidation. Glint remembered those that resisted. He wished he would forget, but their faces of agony, their bodies writhing with the twisted and horrifying magics Sombra unleashed upon them, the absolute terror that left them begging for a way to make it all stop... all those images and sounds from those ponies plagued him every time he let his mind wander. And with little else to do during his time awake, it was somewhat difficult to keep himself occupied and distracted.
The door groaned as it subtly swayed on its hinges. Glint got up and walked outside, shutting the door behind him. Around him were walking replicas of himself, only with different colors. Grim and forlorn, the crystal ponies that were left alone meandered about aimlessly in a cruel dance to a dead rhythm. Black crystals hung thick in the air like vultures with piercing eyes. Sombra needed no guard; he was a force unto himself. He could wreak his havoc through these crystals of his and so could mete out his fury without ever having to leave his castle. Rarely did he “grace” the crystal ponies with his physical presence for any reason except for the Reminder.
“Hey, Glint! Wait up!” called a nasally voice behind him. He turned and smiled as a young, egg-white colored stallion galloped up to him eagerly, panting slightly. “Up to anything special today? Mind if I tag along? I was just supposed to get some celery and carrots but that won't take long.”
Glint kept walking while his friend continued talking, mostly to himself, waiting for a break in the streak of words to answer the initial question. Finally after a minute, a short intake of breathe gave Glint the opportunity to break in. “Nice to see you, too, Lance. No, nothing special today. Just thought I'd walk around the garden for a bit.”
Lance was a good friend of Glint's. Lance came from a large family and had many brothers and sisters. Although his parents were both still alive, Lance and his siblings had to take care of each other. His father fallen into a deep depression over his mother's illness. Now, his father would not talk nor sleep and barely ate anything offered to him. His mother was a strange case. Her mind was broken beyond anything anypony had ever seen. The words she spoke made no sense, her movements wild and untamed. And so Lance and his siblings cared for their parents and themselves. Currently, his oldest brother was charged with working the mines.
“Ah, the garden, huh? Such a nice place. I will definitely join you, then.”
The garden was always a nice place to go. It was a small area of land that Sombra had left alone. There was a tiny pond surrounded by untrimmed bushes, with patches of flowers growing wildly. True, the flowers' colors were fairly faded, the bushes held an unfriendly demeanor, and the water in the pond looked nearly poisonous, but those things are not what made it special. Before the time of Sombra, the garden had been part of a much grander, much brighter, and certainly much better managed park. Relaxation and serenity drowned out all miserable and unpleasant feelings in the park. Now, the crystal ponies only had the garden. Sombra allowed the garden to remain as a reminder to the crystal ponies of what they had lost. Although it did bring up memories of what no longer remained, it still provided a smidgen of refuge from a pony's unhappiness.
Glint and Lance strode up to the edge of the small bed of water. Lance chose to roll onto his back to look into the sky. Glint laid upon his stomach and stared into the liquid mirror. His reflection returned his piercing gaze and the two examined one another. The tarnished water gave his double a putrid hue, yet Glint felt that the outside now matched how he felt on the inside.
“Hey, Glint?”
Glint blinked away his internal musings and looked to his friend. “Yeah, Lance?”
“Tell me about back then. Before King Sombra.” Lance didn't take his eyes off the clouds hanging overhead.
With a short motion, Glint flipped onto his back to mimic Lance's position. “You already know everything I do. And I can't even remember every–”
“Come on, Glint.” Lance gave a soft nudge to Glint's side. “Please?”
Glint sighed in defeat and let his mind wander back in time to a period when he was younger, the sky brighter, and the ponies happier. Lance and him both closed their eyes as a cool breeze whisked them away to a land painted by imagination and memories. “Well, imagine the sun as bright as a hundred flame-crystals. It cradled the land in its warm and loving rays. Laughter and singing could be heard all around the kingdom. Flugelhorns would sound as two fierce knights galloped at dangerous speeds towards each other in a contest of courage and strength. I think I remember one knight in particular whom the crowd loved dearly, but I can't remember his name exactly. I think it was Tailor? No, it was Shower. No, that's not it either.” A grin formed on Glint's face as he continued fake noises of contemplation.
Lance chuckled a little. “Valor, Glint. My grandfather's name was Valor.”
“Oh, that's right. Valor, yes. The crowd loved him. He was the greatest knight the Crystal Empire had known, unequaled in both skill and chivalry. He dedicated each of his victories to Queen Mi Amore Tempora and her young filly, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Under the Queen, each day was a blessing. The crystal berries were always in season, no matter the weather. Faces held smiles and bellies were full of delicious food all the time. Paige Scripture was not as old, but still full of wrinkles, and she would read young colts and fillies stories in the library every day. She would even dress up to make each tale more fun. The joy everypony felt, the simple happiness of life, radiated all throughout the kingdom. Those feelings filled the Crystal Heart with luster and power. It was that artifact that had kept our empire safe from the monsters of the tundra and the savage storms that raged endlessly. There were terrible things beyond the Crystal Empire.”
“That's why the queen's two sisters left, right? Because they wanted to help the rest of the world from all the bad things that were happening.”
“Mhm. Before Princess Cadenza was born, the three alicorn princesses ruled the Crystal Empire together. The oldest was in tune with the great sun. The middle was in tune with the serene moon, and the youngest, the Queen, was in tune with the hearts of her subjects. Yet, the two older sisters decided they needed to save the rest of the land from the many dangers. With a heartfelt farewell, the two older sisters gave the title of Queen to the youngest, signifying that she was now completely in charge. Although it was only to be temporary, it is said the Queen wept for a full day and night at the loss of her two sisters to the unknown. So it was that she decided she wanted a daughter and... well, we don't need to go into detail on how all that happened, but needless to say, eventually, a daughter she had.”
Glint continued talking. Some of the things he mentioned were true, other things were not quite so true, but made the story much more enjoyable for Lance, so it hardly mattered. Together, they found themselves amidst a sea of blue, covered in twinkling stars and a luminous beige orb. A whirlpool sucked them into a spiraling slide made of clouds as they landed in a lush field. Flowers of red, blue, yellow, and almost every other color imaginable danced upon a stage of green. The sun itself circled a spire that reached into the heavens. At the base of the spire was a city lit with warmth and kind faces. The jousting arena held a vast crowd. Sounds of metal hooves pounding mercilessly on the ground and the crunching of food in the stands were overwhelming. Cheers erupted every so often. Bruises and friendships blossomed in the arena.
And overlooking it all was a ruler whom the entire kingdom adored. She was beyond beautiful and full of love for her subjects. Her eyes held wisdom that could heal the woes of anypony and a smile akin to a ray of sunlight. Her magenta and indigo mane tied into three ponytails, two over her left shoulder and one over the right of her bright-pink coat. A necklace of only the most splendid crystals wrapped around her slender neck. Draped over her back, a red cloak that faded to black near the edge where it met a white, woolen lining with small, black crystals embedded in the design.
The storytelling took quite some time. Before the two friends had realized it, the withered sun had climbed to its peak. It was then a nearby black crystal lit with a dark-purple flame.
"It is time for the Reminder." These words echoed with a venomous ring from the crystal.
Both Glint and Lance shot up to all fours. Their faces had dropped all traces of pleasant memories, fear growing in their eyes. Without a word, they both took off towards the central plaza. Breathes became short and strained as they neared a forming crowd of ponies with similar expressions upon their faces. A wide break in the crowd appeared with gasps and fearful whimpers.
King Sombra walked through the crowd. At his side, a young, pink filly with a grave look in her eyes kept her head down, avoiding the eyes of all the ponies around her. Her multicolored mane of rose, violet, and pale-gold limply hung around her small frame. The eyes she had were bloodshot and dry. The crowd had formed a ring around the center of the plaza were only a black circle was drawn on the ground. King Sombra and his companion stopped short of the edge. Sombra's face twisted into a hideous smile.
Nearly everypony had arrived by now, with stragglers filling up the outer ring of the circle. Everypony held their breath for what they knew was coming.
King Sombra held his head high, looking out to the crowd of shivering ponies. “The time for the Reminder has arrived once more. It is a necessary ritual to help quell any futile thoughts of rebellion. The cost is the same. One soul will fall.” His horn ignited and the circle collapsed into itself revealing a pit that contained only darkness. If it was possible, his smile became more devilish. “But today is special. For I will not be the one to decide who falls.” His eyes lowered to the filly. Her jaw clenched and her large eyes screamed as they forced out another tear. The filly's body began to tremble uncontrollably and Sombra reveled in her suffering. “Tell me, my dear Princess Cadenza. Who shall it be?”
All the ponies around were caught between fear and sorrow for the torture Sombra was putting their young princess through.
Cadenza coughed and wheezed with each sharp breath she took as her head slowly rose. She timidly looked out into the expanse of faces. Her lips quivered without pause as she stuttered each syllable of every word. “I c-can't. N-no. Please, no...”
Sombra gave what a cross between a laugh and snort would be. “Shall I choose five, then? It is your choice, my dear.” That vile grin Sombra wore did not falter. He could feel the terror that nested within her soul. He relished in that feeling.
Cadenza's eyes grew as she was at a loss for what to do. She could not possibly choose a pony for this. But if she didn't...
“I volunteer, Your Majesty,” spoke a stallion that had stepped forth. Glint and Lance both gasped as they saw who it was. “I will pay this tribute.”
“Pierce, no!” cried Lance for his older brother. Out of the seven siblings in the family, Pierce was the third oldest. Lance had tried to jump out of the crowd, but was stopped by a pair of hooves around his neck. “Glint, let me go!” Lance struggled wildly to get loose, but Glint's hold was firm and strong.
Pierce looked over at Lance, then at Glint with an appreciative nod which Glint reciprocated.
Cadenza was unsure of what to do. Sombra's smirk lessened to an expression of mild annoyance.
Pierce looked dutifully at his princess. “Please, Princess Cadenza, let me do this for you and everypony else.”
Cadenza began to choke on words. Sombra lowered his head to her ear and whispered, “Send this one to his death or I will–”
“Yes!” she blurted out. She felt herself short of breath. With an attempt of more control, she tried once more to speak. “Yes, you will pay tribute. You will fall.” Everypony could hear her words. But what was more audible was her breaking heart as she said them.
Pierce gave her a nod. He flashed a smile to where Lance had stopped struggling and merely looked on in horror. With a single bow to Princess Cadenza and, only because it was necessary, to King Sombra, he let himself plummet into the abyss. Only a few seconds passed before his figure had been consumed by the shadows. Sombra's horn lit once more and the circle enclosed itself, leaving that same black circle on the ground as if nothing had happened. With a final snort, Sombra turned and began to head back to his castle. After few steps, he halted and turned his head back to where Cadenza had not yet moved an inch. A scowl formed on his face and his slammed his hoof into the ground, causing a loud crack to shake Cadenza from her stupor. She slowly turned and began to follow Sombra back to the castle in silence, a new feeling of guilt joining her misery and fear.
After the shock of the events had worn down, the crowd began to disperse, with many heading to the garden to try and forget the awful thing they had just witnessed. Only a handful of ponies remained behind. Glint had let go of Lance, but Lance did not move. His other siblings gathered around him, trying to offer words of comfort.
Gemsy, the sixth sibling and youngest sister, stepped away from Lance for a moment to talk to Glint. “Thank you, Glint. I'm glad you were near enough to stop him from doing something... costly.” She spoke with a heavy voice as she tried hard to hold back tears. “If you don't mind, we'd like–”
“Of course.” Glint nodded in understanding and began to head back home. He heard the group of brothers and sisters shuffling behind him as they headed to their own home.
He spent the rest of his day trying to get some of the sleep he hardly ever caught at night. His attempts were not successful as he only fought with his sheets, pausing only to stare angrily at the hovering black crystal overhead. Finally, he gave up and went to the kitchen to prepare some food for his sister and himself. A simple salad with a couple tomatoes and carrots tossed in. A chef, he was not for certain. Just as he set the table, the door opened, revealing his sister as she returned just as she had every night, dirty and tired, but also with a look in her eyes that spoke of sad thoughts. Neither spoke as she passed by to go wash. Once clean, or at least, mostly clean, she returned and sat at the table, not even taking notice of the food in front of her, much to the chagrin of her roaring stomach.
Glint didn't know what to say, but he had an idea. His sister was like this on occasion and when he had forced her to tell him why, he wished he hadn't. Now that he did know, however, he wanted to at least get her to talk about it, if only to give some ease to the weight she was feeling. “Another?”
Violet nodded. “Three this time.” Her voice was so soft it would have been muffled by any noise whatsoever. With such a weakness few times seen, she began to eat. Glint ate with her, unsettled by the news. It was a hard thing to imagine. He knew it had to be near unbearable down in the mines, but he couldn't imagine the sight of seeing ponies... end their own suffering. Most had thought that there were terrible beasts of shadow that took the ponies away. That theory may still have merit, yet nopony had really thought of the other possibility. He shuddered at the thought of his sister... no, he couldn't allow himself to think it. She was strong. But when he looked over at her, strong was one of the last traits anypony could have used to describe her.
After the silent dinner, Violet went to her room, leaving her brother with only a word of thanks for the dinner he had prepared. Glint sat alone for a while, eyes growing heavy. His muscles ached and his legs demanded rest. He rose to his hooves and with no small effort, found his way to his welcoming bed.
Tired though his body was, his mind did not give him peace. Glint was surrounded by his memories. These memories picked up the story where his time with Lance had left off.
Around him the world was bigger and the ponies wore such different faces. Everything just seemed to have its own glow. Nopony thought anything bad would ever happen. The Crystal Heart would protect all. At least, it was supposed to. Forged of long forgotten magic, save for the Queen of course, the Crystal Heart sat at the base of the palace. Nearly everyday, all crystal ponies would at some point pass by it and give thanks.
Then one day, it vanished. Gone. To say that fear quaked through every heart would be an understatement. Life had revolved around the relic. With it no longer around, what would become of everypony? Ponies muttered to themselves and looked around in paranoia. The Queen had yet to make any appearances or announcements. Paranoia turned to suspicion and ponies began accusing others of taking the powerful artifact. The mighty, frosted winds swept through every inch of the empire, closing around it like a claw of winter. Fearsome shadows could be seen out of everypony's eyes, but they never came into the open. These beasts of the white snow leapt about and circled the land like prey, waiting for the last shred of protection once offered the Crystal Heart to completely fade.
When the sun's light faded and the terrible creatures of darkness loomed in anticipation, crystals as black as a moonless sky broke the surface, shielding the empire. Hundreds of eyes looked to the palace where their magnificent Queen resided. She had stepped out onto a large balcony, the one she used to address all her beloved subjects. Yet her face held no warmth or joy, only sorrow and anger. Behind her was a stallion of coal. His mane made of whipping black flames and eyes that illuminated a green aura with violet tendrils seeping outwards. Upon his head, a curved horn tipped with a malevolent red that spoke the color of blood.
The Queen opened her mouth to speak. Frail words fell out, muffled and blurry with no substance. Words that were heard told of an ending reign and a new ruler, a king. King Sombra. With a farewell, she turned to take her leave to the dungeon. But as she turned, chains of shadow flew at her, binding her completely. Dark crystals formed upon her horn, depriving her of any magic. Her cloak was torn from her back, moved through the chains like smoke, and found a new resting place upon the back of the new king. His grin flashed with malice and she was flung over the side of the balcony. Many of the ponies below gathered together to try and break her fall. Yet, she never reached the ground. A large, black crystal shot out of the ground, scattering the ponies. It rose and its sharp point had found its mark. Crimson had recolored the sky now as ponies looked on with newborn fear.
“No! This can't go on... please... help. We can't live this nightmare any longer. Please...”
Glint was in the vast, white expanse. He had been here numerous times and it looked just as it always had. A sigh passed his lips. As always, only sil–
“Who is there?” shot a voice from what seemed like everywhere. It echoed all around him.
Frantically, he looked around. In desperation, he began galloping at full speed to the first direction that popped into his head, straight ahead. He panted and sweated, things he had no idea were possible in a dream. “I am here! You must help us!”
As if coming in from fog, a figure stepped out before him. He had stopped his mad dash, yet felt like he never moved. The figure appeared hazy at first, but soon formed into the figure of a mare. This mare looked much like the Queen, yet her coat was a deep blue, similar to a moonlit sky. Her mane was a starlit heaven unto itself.
“Please you must help us! The Crystal Empire is dying. Our Queen has fallen. Please co–”
Her demeanor changed from stoic to disturbed. “The Crystal Empire!? Impossible!” She turned and ran back into the fog without another word.
Glint tried to follow, but she was lost to him. He screamed about, trying to get her to come back, but as he was too often used to, only silence answered. In that empty place, he waited. If time existed there, he lost track of it. Endlessly, he paced back and forth wondering if she would even return. He contemplated about the mare, wondering if she was possibly one of the older sisters. Either a few seconds or an eternity passed before he began to lose hope.
“We will come immediately.”
His eyes shot open. The night was almost half-way done. Usually, after one of those dreams, he felt drained and a sense of hopelessness wash over him. This time was far different. A renewed vigor flowed through him with rekindled hope. He knew that help was coming. But there were a few things he needed to do before then. The black crystal above hovered as it always had. Glint looked to it and for the first time in his life, he felt no fear.
Carefully and quietly he made his way out the door, gently closing it so as not to wake Violet. Since working in the mines, her ears had become very sensitive to loud noises. Glint saw the terrible place where Sombra was no doubt watching over the kingdom, never sleeping. The castle was not his destination, not yet, anyway. He scrambled up the backside of the house he was at and rapped a few times on the window.
“Uh, wha–? Glint what are–” a long yawn interrupted Lance's question. “What are you doing?” Thankfully, Lance had his own room. His family had a rather large house with five bedrooms. The two oldest slept in the same room as his mother and father, to make sure they were safe. That left four rooms to the, now-remaining, four siblings.
“Lance, I need your help. Come outside, please. This is important.” Lance rolled his eyes. With doubt in his mind that this truly was more important than sleep, Lance met his friend outside his front door. They took a few steps away in the deserted road, toward the castle.
“OK, Glint. I'm up, outside, and ready for serious importance. What's going on?”
Glint ignored his friend's sarcasm. “We're taking Sombra down. Tonight.”
The world froze for a few moments to let Lance catch up with what his friend just said. “Say again?”
Glint sighed and realized that was the wrong way to start things. He would doubt anypony who'd have said such a thing himself. “Lance, please listen. You know that dream I always have? The one where I'm in a place of nothingness? It wasn't so empty this time. I saw one of the Queen's sisters. She told me that she would come help us.”
“Glint, I think you just–”
“I know it sounds crazy! But she said she would come and I know she will. She said she's even bringing help. I don't know how powerful she is, though. Which is why I need to distract Sombra so he doesn't get wind of them coming and does something that might stop them. I know it sounds crazy and even foalish! But this is the first time that something might actually change. I can't just stand by and let something go wrong. I'm going to make sure that his eyes are on me and not the sky, or ground, or wherever that mare is coming from.”
Lance's face filled with every expression he could muster, from dumbstruck and doubtful, to amazed and hopeful. “That sounds great, but why do you need me? I don't think I can be as distracting as you or anything.”
“No, I wouldn't want you to be anywhere near Sombra.” Glint almost chuckled at the over-dramatic sigh of relief Lance just let out. “But that castle of his is full of ponies he could use as hostages or worse, shields. While I'm with Sombra, I want you to get all of the ponies out of the castle, including Princess Cadenza.”
“The Princess and... me!?” A rosy hue burned in Lance's cheeks. He shook his head side to side to cool his face down. “I don't know, Glint. This doesn't seem like a good idea.” Lance looked up to his friend. Never before had Lance seen such determination. And all that determination was bearing down on Lance full force.
“Lance. You are my best friend. You are the only one who gave any thought that my dream may actually mean something other than that I was crazy. I would not be asking this of you if I was not certain. Please, Lance. I need your help.”
The young Lance looked at his friend a few times. An annoyed groan let Glint knew that Lance was with him. “Alright, fine. You win. But Glint, if we die, I'm gonna kill you,” Lance spoke in a defeated tone.
With a smile, Glint began to head for the castle doors with his best friend by his side. The doors to the castle were never locked. There was never a need. Nopony in their right mind would voluntarily go into this twisted and depressing place. The entry hall was deserted. The castle was the only place that used these strange, ever-burning blue flames for light. Sombra had created them and spread them throughout the castle. They did illuminate the interior, but they also added a foreboding sense of unease to the atmosphere.
Slowly, with a heavy dread laid on their backs, they made their way up the spiraling, crystal staircase that wound around the edge of the entry hall. Shadows hidden beyond their sight followed them with curious eyes and amused smirks. The second floor found a great circular room which branched into near countless halls. A lone mare was dusting the walls. It was obvious she was doing a meaningless task, as there was not a speck of dust on the fine crystalline walls. Her weathered movements signified a job that was ordered by a malevolent tyrant.
Trading glances, Lance eventually took the initiative since this was his part to play in this mess. He stepped forward a little and coughed into his hoof. “Uh, excuse me, miss?”
The mare turned around at great speed, in utter shock and disbelief anypony was so stupid as to be in the king's castle. She was about to yell at them both to leave, but stopped, holding her hoof to her mouth. Her eyes locked on Glint. She strode straight past Lance as if she didn't even notice him. “Glint?”
A tidal wave smashed into Glint as he fully realized who this mare was. “Mother!?” It had been too long since he felt her warmth radiate on his coat. His mane dampened with her tears. They held each other close, fearful that the moment would end too soon. The memories of days long past rushed back. Glint was again in a time when he was happy, when everything was perfect. His family was whole: a strong and loving father, a kind and gentle mother, and a smiling and laughing sister. Nothing had felt so right as they embraced. All too quickly, it ended, as many things must.
“What in the world are you doing here? You need to get out, now!” she whispered loudly as if the reflective walls could hear. She looked around nervously.
“No, mother. You need to get out. A pony heard me calling for help in my dreams and is coming to help with others following. I need to keep Sombra's attention so he won't notice them coming. Sombra is going to fall tonight and I don't want anypony around for him to use as a hostage.”
“What are you talking about?” his mother asked growing slightly hysterical. Glint couldn't blame her for getting anxious.
“Mother, I need you to trust me. Please.” Glint looked at her with his gaze full of brazen courage. He didn't have the time to persuade her with words. He needed to show her that he was not going to back down now.
His mother turned away from him and hung her head. “I never could leave the castle. I've never had the chance to see you grow up.” A tear rolled down her cheek and fell to the floor in a splash of sadness. “We hear about what goes on outside, you know. Every day I'm terrified I'll hear the name 'Glint' or 'Violet'. I'm thankful each day I don't.” She lifted her head and faced her son. Glint didn't know what to do or say. He had no idea it would be this hard for her, or for him. He suddenly felt selfish. His life was of paramount importance to his mother and he was about to risk it on a dream he had? “I hate what you're doing. I truly do. Because you could get hurt or... But I won't think of that. I've never seen anypony so determined on something. Stubborn. Just like your father.” She wore a smile he only saw in his memories. A cascade of confidence fell over him and he returned her smile. “I'll get the others out of here, don't worry.”
“So, you believe me?” He was ecstatic to find another that believed his wild dreams.
“No.” His smile left to be replaced by a confused expression. Her smile widened. “But I believe in you. So go.” With another warm hug, she left to gather the others down the numerous hallways.
“So what about me?” Glint looked back in surprise, forgetting his friend was still there.
“What do you mean?” Glint was still processing what had just happened with his mother. A piece of his mind was telling him this had better work or it would be his fault if something happened to her.
Lance sighed in exasperation and put a hoof to his face. “Getting the other ponies out was my job, remember? If your mother is taking care of that, then what do I do?”
Glint caught on. “Oh! Well, I guess you can just come with me then.” Lance certainly did not like that idea and let it show in his face. “Actually, why don't you go help my mother out? I bet it would make things go quicker.”
Lance let out another over-dramatic sigh. “I like that plan much better.”
They nodded at each other and parted ways. Glint began climbing the staircase once again. He didn't exactly know for certain that Sombra would be near the top, but it made sense that he would place himself above all others.
Lance had scampered off partway down a randomly chosen hall before looking back. Glint's form had just gone up the stairs and out of his sight. Lance took a few more steps down the hall, then looked back at the vacant room they had recently entered and left. He muttered to himself. He sat down on the cold floor and argued with himself, raising one hoof to his right, then raising the other to his left. Frustrated with himself, he darted back to the circular room and climbed the staircase.
Glint was at the top of the staircase now, in a large, dark circular room. It was quite smaller than the previous floor, but still a sight to behold nonetheless. An ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, bearing those blue flames. There were three sets of double-doors on this floor. To his right, two doors made not of crystal or any metal, but of wood. A golden handle was held to each door by what appeared to be a diamond. The doors were simple and did not hold an air of superiority. Glint had an idea of whose room that was. In front of him was an open room. The double-doors of an ornate dark crystal were held open by sinister-looking black crystals. The doors themselves were a wonder to behold for upon them were runic symbols and arcane etchings the likes of which Glint had never fathomed. Inside, was a vast room which could have been mistaken for a house in itself. From other-worldly treasures to hideous trophies, there was hardly any empty space on the walls. The floor was covered in exquisite rugs that reminded Glint of the clouds, full of softness and comfort. Three great chandeliers similar in design to the one in the room he was in lay in a triangular shape. In the center of that triangle, was a bed of immense proportions. A dozen ponies or even more could spread out comfortably and doze. Sheets and quilts of designs both gruesome and inspiring lay upon it, reaching up to what must have been at least fifty pillows of varying sizes and shapes. And finally, to Glint's left were doors that he guessed led out to the great balcony where that tragedy occurred many years ago.
“Glint, wait up!” Lance called from below. Glint turned around and immediately felt relieved that his friend had rejoined him.
“Lance! I'm glad to see you. But what changed your mind?”
“Well, when I saw you head up here on your own, I began to argue with myself about whether I should follow you or not. I made a pretty convincing case that it was better to remain behind. But then I got myself when I reminded me that I was your friend and that was the only reason I should need to help you out.” Glint beamed at his friend. Sombra had failed. While he had tried to eradicate all the good things in the hearts of ponies, he could only shroud them with fear and sorrow, yet even in the bleakest of times, the goodness of ponies will shine forth when most needed.
“Thanks, Lance. There is one thing I need you to do for me.” Glint pointed at the set of doors to the right, the wooden doors. “I think Princess Cadenza is in there. You are going to be her personal escort out of here.”
“What?!” Lance had just come up here to be with his best friend before they both most likely just walked into their coffins.
“You heard me. Mother is getting the other workers here out, but she can't possibly have the time for all of them and the Princess. So it's up to you, pal. It's your job, your duty. I'll wait until you both are going down the staircase before I confront Sombra and distract him until help arrives.”
“You're sure about this? You're sure about me doing this?” Both questions received a nod from Glint. Lance let breathed in and out a few times before making his way to the wooden doors. Slowly, he reached up with one hoof and gently tapped a couple times. “P–princess? I'm, uh, here to rescue you... I hope.” His voice trailed meekly at the end, earning him a stifled snicker from Glint. Lance waited and the door in the right opened slightly.
A young, pink filly alicorn stood in the doorway, half obscured from the slightly ajar door. “Excuse me?” She spoke with a soft voice that did not care for any games or jokes. Her face showed every hint of doubt and confusion all at once.
Lance gulped a little and coughed into his hoof before taking a deep breath. “Yes, Princess. Don't be afraid. Help is coming to do away with Ki– Sombra. I'm here to get you out of the castle and away from him.” Lance tried his best to look like he knew what he was talking about and held a goofy grin of confidence which would have been more believable if he was not sweating so much.
Cadenza did not look very reassured but did step out from her room. From what little Glint saw, it did not look very luxurious. All he could gather were a few small sconces hanging along the wall and a quaint, little bed with pink sheets and pillows. There was a nightstand near the bed with a picture of the Queen on it. The glass sparkled with recent tears. Though not nearly as bad as earlier that day at the Reminder, her eyes still held a little redness. “What is going on? And who are you two?” She quizzically stared at both Lance and Glint, unsure of what to make of the situation. After all, it was not everyday two stallions appeared and said the evil tyrant of the empire was going to fall.
Glint noticed that Lance was stuttering with his words and was having just an awful time figuring out what to say to the Princess before him. “I am Glint. To be brief, Princess, help is coming from one of the sisters of the Queen.” That got her attention off of Lance's mindless babbling. He sighed a thanks in Glint's direction. “I am going to keep Sombra distracted so that he isn't able to prepare for them. Lance, here, is going to escort you to safety, out of the castle.”
She had a worried look on her face. “Confront King Sombra?” The idea struck her as ridiculous. Yet the thought of one of her aunts coming stayed in her mind, bringing a small light to her eyes. She glanced to the closed doors across the room to the balcony. “He went out there only a few minutes ago. You should not try to fight him, you will surely fail.”
“I do not intend to fight. Only stall for time. I will not let him use anypony as a hostage or shield, which is why Lance and yourself, Princess, must leave.” Glint tried to feel half as confident as he sounded.
“Well, I–”
“Princess Cadenza, listen to him. He is a good friend of mine and the bravest pony I know. If he says this will work, then I believe him and so should you. Have faith, Princess.” Lance shocked both ponies with his strong words. He even managed to surprise himself. Something had hit him inside that caused him to feel a little strange.
Cadenza traded glances between the two and looked across the room to the closed doors once again. Her eyes rested back to Lance. “Very well. I will trust in your judgment. Let us hurry off then.” She took a step and stumbled, wincing sharply. Lance and Glint saw a horrible gash across her front left leg. She noticed they saw it. “It was... punishment for allowing a 'volunteer' at the Reminder today.” She shook her head to get rid of that memory. Exchanging a nod with Glint, Lance ran up to her and helped balance her. She rested her injured hoof across his back, earning him rosy cheeks.
Before heading down the staircase, Lance stopped with Cadenza by his side and turned his head to look at Glint. “Glint?”
“What is it?” Glint saw a different Lance before him. No more was this the young, goofy friend he had spent many days with. This was a different Lance, one who bore responsibility with dignity and strength.
“You said you didn't wish Sombra to have a hostage. Yet you will be right with him.” Lance's stare pierced Glint, unsettling him a bit.
Glint only smiled. “Don't worry about it. I have a plan to work around that.” Glint gave a wink and a nod at Lance who only narrowed his sights. “Trust me.”
“I do, Glint. I trust you.” Lance and Cadenza carefully stepped down the staircase, slowly at first, but they picked up speed when they found a rhythm that worked well for them.
Glint watched with a satisfied grin as they disappeared to the lower levels. He turned his attention to the closed doors to the balcony. In his mind, he called himself crazy. It could have been just a dream. Then again, he felt in his heart that help was coming. His mind wandered back to his mother, wondering if she and the other workers were already away from the castle. Then his thoughts settled on Lance and Cadenza. Glint closed his eyes and sighed. He thought about what he said and hoped that his lie was not too obvious.
With a final check in his mind to make sure this is what he truly felt necessary, he braced himself as he pushed open the large door on the right to the balcony. It was heavier than he thought and he struggled for every inch. After a few inches, the door became lighter with momentum and he swung it with a hard push.
His heart froze as he saw the evil tyrant, sitting before him, with his back turned. Sombra was gazing out to what he claimed was his empire. From the back, Glint could see the violet wisps that seeped from Sombra's eyes. They flickered like mad candles in a soft breeze. Now that Glint was here, exactly where he knew he needed to be, he had no idea what to do next. Surely Sombra was aware of his presence by the groan of the door as he opened it.
“Unsure of what to do, foal?” Sombra's voice reverberated around Glint's head. Thunder cracked in his head as he felt snakes made of ice creep up his spine. Hearing Sombra speak directly to him was beyond any feeling of fear Glint had ever experienced. Just a few moments ago, Glint had been so sure of himself. Now more than ever, doubt and hesitation clouded his thoughts.
Glint closed his eyes, hoping it would help him at least say something. “I... I am n-not a foal.” He felt as if he had sprinted around the entirety of the empire twenty times over. Sweat began dripping madly from his brow. His teeth began chattering like he was buried under a hundred feet of snow and ice. The ground seemed to swallow his legs. He chanced a peek and immediately wished he hadn't.
Sombra still sat in his same spot, but his head had turned enough so Glint could look into his right eye. Horror, anxiety, shock, dread, and panic all swelled in Glint's heart, making it hard for him to breath normally. Next, Glint noticed Sombra's smile. It was absent. Whenever Sombra made an appearance, he would always have that smirk of superiority on his face. Simple unease is entirely unfit to describe the feeling Glint had. Sombra was not going to play games with him.
“You are all foals before me. Pathetic. I demand order in my kingdom and you are disrupting that. I am most displeased.” If words could kill... “As soon as you entered my palace, I was aware of your presence. I was even aware of your plan to confront me.” Surprise took hold of Glint before being drowned once more in the terrifying aura of Sombra. “I saw that look in your eyes you had in your home. At once, I knew of what you intended. But I am curious. Tell me, subject, what makes you think you can stand against me?” Sombra's hold over Glint dropped. Glint looked into Sombra's face and saw that he expected an answer. The fear Sombra's presence inspired still hung heavily, yet, either by Sombra's will or renewed belief in his dream, it didn't affect him as it just had.
Glint thought about why Sombra would care. Then it came to him. Sombra was actually unnerved that a pony had the mettle to challenge him, no matter how futile an effort it was. If Sombra did not care at all for Glint's foalhardy, reckless bravery, then Sombra would have just ended Glint's life right then and there. The snakes of ice recoiled. The ground spat his legs back out. “I am not standing against you. We are standing against you!”
Sombra stood to his full height, his shadow stretching on its own and shrouding Glint in its fury. Sombra softly cackled under his breathe. “If you are referring to the Princess and her 'protector', then your faith is sorely misplaced. After all, it is your beloved princess who is to blame for my rise to power.” With a muffled gasp from Glint, Sombra's lips curled into a sly smile, knowing he had Glint's attention. “A little filly who doesn't know any better goes to a place she was told not to. There she found a withered shadow, struggling to survive with no light to feed upon. A simple request for a magical relic that can save the shadow's life. Two pitiful, failed attempts later, she finally brought the waning shadow the Crystal Heart. The artifact absorbs and feeds on the light given to it by the love and unity of the crystal ponies and so it had much power for the shadow to feast on. But while the Crystal Heart reflects that light to create powerful protection magic, the shadow devoured it. I was reborn!” Sombra gave Glint a triumphant stare. “It was then only a simple matter of letting your Queen decide between her position of ruler or the lives of her subjects.”
“But the Queen looked all over the Crystal Heart! How could she not find it?” Glint couldn't believe that Sombra had been able to outsmart the Queen with the Crystal Heart's location.
A toothy grin flashed on Sombra's face. “True that she sought it out and I let her. I knew she would never find it. I hid it in a place she would never had thought to look... in her daughter's room. She searched every hidden room and secret passage within the castle. Not a place unchecked save one, the place she associated with her innocent and beloved daughter.” Glint did not enjoy the mad laughing of Sombra a single bit. It rattled Glint to the core of his being to hear such a villainous snicker. “Now I have set it in a new location where I am certain not a soul would be able to discover. So tell me, subject. Is it only two foals and a foalish princess that stand against me?”
Glint tried his hardest to put on a tough front. “Not just us, no. More are coming. Many more! And we will see you fall, Sombra!” He knew right away he should not have said what he just did. A black aura surrounded his neck and he lifted up off the ground. He was levitated to look straight into Sombra's overwhelming gaze.
"IGNORANCE! YOU DARE SPEAK TO ME AS AN EQUAL?! I AM YOUR KING!!” Glint felt his front legs break in ten different places. At least a thousand crystals pierced his skin and shredded his flesh over and over. He felt himself tossed wildly around as though he were a scrap of parchment caught in a terrible storm. The world spun in two directions when he opened his eyes. He was hanging over the balcony. Down below, he noticed faces, many faces. They all looked horrified. Two sets of eyes especially stuck out among all the others, filled with worry and regret. “Subjects! I have summoned you all to hear my words. This one would seek to disrupt my rule. Those such as this filth are why the Reminder was put in place. It was meant as a warning that my reign is absolute. Defiance is meaningless. Yet I see that only one tribute for a Reminder is not enough! Three souls shall be the new tribute. When a friend or loved one falls to their demise, remember it was the acts of this one that brought it about. Do not forget, I am your king!” Glint was flung, nearly lifeless, into the crystalline wall near the door, his blood continuing to seep out.
His eyes cast a blurred gaze out to the horizon. The stars looked so nice. They glistened and twinkled with such elegance. Two especially held such light. Surely the other stars were jealous of such radiance. While his eyes were losing their vision, his mind saw in their place. It was a feeling of clear water that dripped into the black lake of his heart, dispersing the clouds of darkness. What started as only a few drips, escalated to a waterfall. He felt revitalized with purity. The cuts and bruises on his body did not heal, but it did not matter what became of him anymore. His strength of spirit moved his broken form. Slowly, his legs found solid ground and held him up. “No.” Sombra's head whipped around, not in surprise, but in a torrent of anger. “No!” Glint's voice found new strength and carried along the wind to reach the ears of the ponies below who stopped their mortified return to their homes. They looked back up to see Glint standing and facing down Sombra with such ferocity in his voice. “You are no king, Sombra! A king is a pony who looks not down at his subjects, but on even ground with respect and loyalty. A king is made by the ponies he serves and without faithful subjects, the king only rules the uncaring land and the unmoving trees. A king is not served by his subjects, but instead serves them. A king is admired. A king is respected. A king is loved! You are no king, Sombra. You are a cruel monster with no control over us.” Glint had advanced on Sombra and looked up slightly to stare deep into Sombra's raging eyes.
The blooded horn glowed ominously. “Then die by the monster you so hate.”
Glint found himself wrapped in chains of shadow and tossed over the side of the balcony. Time slowed down for Glint as he mused over what had just happened. Though he could not see it, he heard the approaching black point of a closing crystal below. As he fell, he smiled in genuine happiness. He was no longer held by Sombra's tyranny. No more was there a looming shadow in his heart, nor was there a dark beast in the corner of his mind. He was free.
It came as a surprise, though a welcome one, when he felt himself slow in his fall. There was no sharp edge that pierce him, simply soft ground. Around him, all ponies looked to the sky. Above them all, were two grand-looking ponies. Held in the sky by majestic wings, the two alicorn sisters gave such intimidating glares at Sombra, who himself had become wide-eyed in astonishment. The world stood silent as the two alicorns prepared themselves to do away with the evil ruler.
Glint felt the chains vanish in a cloud of dark smoke. He stood and looked around, searching for a couple specific ponies. A tap on his shoulder told him he was not looking in the right direction. Turning, he came face to face with Violet and next to her, his mother. Words failed each of them. They merely embraced. That action spoke exactly what needed to be. Everything was going to be perfect again.
A bright flash burned around them all. “If I am to vanish, then I will take my empire with me to the abyss!” The army of black crystals that had always simply hung in the air began to glow and warp around themselves in a twisted fashion. They all became wisps of shadow that began to snake through the air, reaching for nearby ponies. As ponies became entangled by the shadows, they began to melt away into nothingness. Panic spread like wildfire as ponies began screaming and running madly for their lives.
“Run! Everypony run!” cried one of the alicorn sisters above. The two sisters tried desperately to counter the wicked magic of Sombra's final ploy, but found this magic too great to handle in the short time they had. Shadows had even begun to fly through the air to snatch them as well. With slight trepidation, they began to fly away to the edge of the empire.
Glint and his mother and father were nearly trampled by the horde of other ponies dashing around in a craze. The three of them began to run in the same direction of the two alicorn sisters. Off to the side, Glint noticed another odd sight. Lance was running like mad in the same direction he was. Lance, however, had a burden on his back. Princess Cadenza was hanging onto Lance as hard as she could, tears streaming down her face and caught by the rushing wind. Lance also took notice of Glint and gave him a face that spoke “You are one idiotic hero.” Being best friends for such a long time allowed Glint to understand perfectly what Lance was attempting to convey.
Somepony behind him stumbled and fell. Glint looked back to see Violet on the ground, screaming, though it was hard to hear amidst the rest of the yelling. A shadowy snake had bitten into her leg and began to envelop her. Glint stopped dead in his tracks and bee-lined for Violet. He took her hooves and began to pull her away from the vice-like grip of the shadow. She was beginning to break free. Then another shadow leapt out and caught Glint around the neck. His mother appeared at his side in an instant, trying to break him away. Another shadow shot out of the air and circled around her torso.
Glint's vision began to blur and the world around him started to fade. Only now did he feel the throbbing pain of his front legs. He had moved them through sheer force of will and adrenaline. The pain did not even register. Now that he was motionless, he laughed at how much it hurt. Before him, though, Violet did not look so amused.
“Glint... I'm scared,” she whimpered. He could see her fading before him.
“Don't be. Nothingness is nothing to be scared of.” He spoke calmly, trying to make her feel a little better before it ended for them both.
“Really?”
“I've been right about stranger things, haven't I?” Through the nothingness that took hold, he could feel it in his heart that she had left smiling.
Lance had seen Glint go back for Violet. Worse, he kept looking and saw his friend consumed by shadows. He almost didn't see the shadowy snake that darted in front of him. With a new strength he never before felt, he leaped over the shadow and quickly kept sprinting, narrowly avoiding its bite. Around him, he could see other ponies being taken. He had even seen the rest of his family fall into nothingness. He breathed rapidly, inhaling and exhaling at a pace faster than the wings of a hummingbird. But he could not stop until they were safe, the Princess and him.
Shadows loomed left and right, from below and above. Lance had never really thought about how many of Sombra's black crystals hung throughout the kingdom. There seemed to be no end to them. It was thanks to this new spirit within him that gave him the foresight to dodge and weave in exactly the right ways to avoid the onslaught. This strange feeling was keeping him safe. No... that wasn't it. He was being given the strength to protect the Princess. When he realized up in the castle that her well-being was in his hooves, it had possessed him. He felt full of strength. He felt full of courage. He felt full of... valor. A smile crossed his lips. Thanks, grandfather he whispered with his mind.
He felt hooves unwrap themselves from his neck and he skidded to a halt. “Leave me! I'm only slowing you down!” he heard Cadenza cry. A shadow quickly approached her from behind, ready to envelop her in its cursed grasp. Lance flew at a speed that would have shocked even the Queen. When the shadow struck down, it found no prey.
Cadenza wasn't even sure what had happened until she felt herself thrown onto somepony's back and began bobbing as the pony ran at break-neck speeds. “I will not leave you, Princess!” She realized it was Lance who had come back for her and now bore her once again on his back.
“But–”
“It is my duty to protect the Princess. I will not fail in my duty.” Despite what was going on around them, Lance still let out a smile. “I am your knight in shining armor!” This declaration saw him increase his speed even further, amazing both the Princess and himself. He caught the figures of the two alicorn sisters above. Despite his rapid pace on the ground, the winds carried them faster.
Shadows danced around him, catching up to him. He leapt to the left and spun to the right. His movements a mixture of beautiful dancing and a panicked sprint. With every move he made, he was sure to maneuver so that Princess Cadenza would not fall from his back.
Forgetting the world around her for a brief moment, Cadenza marveled at Lance. Such heroism adorned his eyes. Such faithfulness and loyalty within his spirit. She was captivated by him, even as their lives were in peril. Somehow, she knew that with him, she was safe. It was such a warming sensation after having been in the cold for so long. A strange, yet familiar feeling crept into her heart. It was love, certainly. Love for her knight.
Lance was making progress, but he knew it was not enough. Little by little, he was slowing down after having pushed his muscles far beyond their limits. The shadows were getting closer and closer. He had no idea how far this curse of Sombra would chase them, though he had an idea. They will keep chasing until they catch something. The spirit of his grandfather gave him more than just great strength and speed. It also bestowed him with much wisdom. These shadows will never rest until they consume something. So it must be. He looked up to the sky to where the two sisters were gaining distance from him. “Hey! Down here!” he called, using what little remained of his strained breathe. No response. He kept calling, ignoring the questions from the Princess over his shoulder.
His last yell caught the attention of one of the alicorns in the sky. She looked down to him, sitting on the wind.
“I have the Princess! Save her!” This seemed to startle the alicorn, as she faltered for only a split second in the air. As she neared, Lance could make out a brilliant white coat with a spectrum of colors for her mane that shifted as if it were alive. With the last of the strength he could muster, he threw his back forward, launching the Princess into the air as high as he could. The moment he stopped, he felt grabbing on his hind legs.
Cadenza flailed in the air a few moments before being caught by the white alicorn. “No! You were my knight in shining armor! You can't leave me!” Sadness welled in her heart as she saw Lance being covered by those horrible shadows. Teardrops rained from her misted eyes.
“I suppose you'll have to find another,” he whispered with his fading voice. He looked to her beautiful eyes and knew he had done right. It truly was an act of valor. The white alicorn looked down at him with sorrow, yet he felt none of his own. He returned her gaze, showing a great smile as wide as he could bring himself to make. Nothingness surrounded him, yet there was no emptiness in his heart. His duty was done. He deserved a nice rest.