Mi Amore Cadenza groggily recovered from her comatose stupor, her Alicorn physiology doing in hours what would have taken lesser equines weeks. Once the haze in her vision cleared, the Alicorn could see that she was in the royal chambers laying on the bed, wings and hooves bound tightly and the accursed cold iron ring securely around her horn. She was not alone in the room. Brutish legionaries had been stationed along the walls and in front of the doors and windows. All of them stared straight ahead, not paying her any attention. Cadenza tried to pull against her bonds but they held fast.

“Ah, I was wondering when you’d wake up.” An oily and familiar voice said.

The pink Princess craned her neck to look at the speaker. Silhouetted against the roaring fireplace was the now corporeal form of Sombra, sitting at a small table with the royal couples special case of cider. Cadenza felt a wave of dread wash over her. If the tyrant had regained his body that could only mean he had gotten his twisted clutches on the Crystal Heart. That did not bode well for her little ponies.

“Would you care for some cider?” Sombra offered. “I much prefer to drink with company and it would be a shame to let this go to waste.”

The captive Crystal Princess just glared murderous daggers at him, the inhibitor on her horn preventing her from doing what she truly wanted to do: obliterate him along with those loathsome eyes. Sombra caught on to the Alicorn’s impotent fury and just smirked imperiously at her.

“That looks uncomfortable.” He said as he gestured to a guard. “Sit her upright, would you kindly?”

“Of course.” The guard droned.

“Of course, ‘sir’.” Sombra insisted with a hint of annoyance in his voice. “You will refer to me as sir, your majesty, master or any variation thereof at all times. Do you understand?"

“Yes.” The legionnaire confirmed.

“Yes, what?” His king needled.

“Yes, I understand.” The dullard answered simply.

“Yes I understand, SIR!” Sombra growled in impatience.

“Yes.” The thrall said, oblivious to his master’s rising temper.

“No! Sir!”

“Of course.”

The tyrant slammed his head into the table in defeat. Cadenza could not help but snicker even as the guard roughly moved her into an upright position so that she did not have to crane her neck.

“Ugh, this is maddening!” The slaver bemoaned as he rubbed his temples with his hooves. “I’ll have to look into refining the domination process. It takes too long for them to develop obedient autonomy.”

“You’re pathetic.” Cadenza said plainly. “A real king wouldn’t need to brainwash others into following him.”

Sombra shot a death glare at the Alicorn, his eyes smoldering with rage. She had obviously hit a nerve. Twisted magic cracked off his crimson horn but the slaver managed to reign in his temper and stopped himself from flaying Cadenza alive.

“Not all of us can be ‘oh-so-perfect’ Alicorns with legions of zealous followers, you smug cunt.” Sombra said, his voice gravelly with rage just boiling below the surface. “Some of us have to deal with the plebs the hard way: with words, gold, and force of arms. Even then, there’s always the risk of them turning traitor at the first opportunity.”

“So you robbed them of their free will?” The Princess accused. “How can you possibly justify such evil?”

“It was necessary!” Sombra shouted. “I was trying to save them!”

“From what?!” Cadenza demanded.

“From total annihilation!” The king declared.

A stunned silence fell between the two arguing monarchs. Cadenza’s mind was going into overtime trying to find the logic in Sombra’s rather outlandish claim. The only notable evil in his time was, well, Sombra himself. Was there some greater danger that only he knew about? The slaver must have read the expression on her face as he chugged another bottle of Applejack’s cider before explaining himself.

“It was not long after a trade agreement had been signed between Equestria and the Crystal Empire.” He said in a more subdued tone. “I remember bringing one of our magic-active crystals to Canterlot as a show of good will but that’s beside the point.”

Cadenza recalled seeing said crystal on display in Canterlot some time ago. Princess Celestia liked to use it to demonstrate the effects of light and dark magic to her students. When she asked the Solar Alicorn where such a gem came from, she had brushed it off as just a trinket from a noble hoping to get into her good graces. Now she knew why the elder Princess had declined to tell the truth or at least the complete version of it.

“I was warned by a… lets call it a trusted 'benefactor'…of a great darkness that would engulf my empire. 'Send it into oblivion' to quote.” The king said solemnly. “I did what was necessary to protect my nation.”

“By becoming the very evil you were trying to fight against.” Cadenza said flatly. “It sounds like a self-fulfilling prophecy to me.”

“You’re wrong!” Sombra snapped. “If the Princesses had not stuck their noses in my business, I would have succeeded and we wouldn’t be here right now!”

“They tried to help you!” The Alicorn insisted. “Sombra, Equestria has faced many dangers before without resorting to tyranny to stop them! There is always a way to-“

The increasingly furious tyrant reached his limit. Before Cadenza could finished, he pulled back and backhoofed her across the face. The Alicorn fell sideways onto the bed, the coppery taste of blood in her mouth.

“LIES! DAMNED LIES!” Sombra yelled as his anger boiled over. “They weren’t trying to help me! They were helping themselves and your damn family!”

Cadenza remained silent. She knew that Sombra was way past the point of reason and it was best to just let him vent. She was, however, interested in what this villain’s perspective of the matter was and how to best deconstruct it.

“They were going to force me to step down.” The tyrant seethed. “When I refused, they damned me.”

“You were a monster.” The Alicorn said calmly, the pain in her cheek having subsided. “Still are, in fact.”

“Rgh! You deluded, naïve, little pony.” Sombra growled. “I saw a true monster the day this city was condemned. The very darkness I was trying protect the crystal ponies from came in the form of the one Equestrian I thought I could trust: Princess Luna or rather Nightmare Moon.”

“What?” Cadenza’s mouth hung open in surprise. "The Usurper?"

Had Sombra truly been forewarned about the Lunar Rebellion? If he had, it put a lot of his actions in perspective. Nightmare Moon posed a threat to the entire world, not just Equestria. Mortal strength seemed like a minor deterrent compared to the power of the fallen Princess but it was not like he had many options available. Sombra’s eyes lit up in excitement as he could tell his words were sinking in.

“Now do you see?” He asked. “If the Princesses had left well enough alone, they might have seen the evil festering within her black heart. Instead, I spent a thousand years in Hell while Equestria endured one of the bloodiest conflicts in history!”

Cadenza mulled over his statement. Could so much death and destruction have been avoided if Sombra had remained in power all those years ago? As much as she did not want to admit it, it seemed plausible.

“And it’s not over yet.” The slaver pressed his advantage. “Surely you’ve noticed that the agents of evil and darkness are on the rise. They grow bolder and more powerful with each passing day.”

The Princess shivered as she recalled the conflicts with Chrysalis, Tirek, The Lurker, and most recently the Marked Legions. The last of which had actually triumphed over her ponies.

“What are you saying?” She asked.

“I’m saying that there may be worse to come.” The sorcerer answered. “It could come from within the heart of Equestria itself or beyond the moon and stars. We need to be ready when it does.”

He stooped down to look Cadenza in the eye. His witch-fire eyes were alight with some type of hopeful exuberance. For a moment, he actually looked genuine.

“For the good of the crystal ponies, I am willing to forget our history, Mi Amore.” He offered as he placed a light hoof on her shoulder. “Only together, as Emperor and Empress, can we give the crystal ponies the only thing they will ever need: inspired leaders to defy the darkness.”

Cadenza looked away, unsure. The slaver did have a point. The enemies of equine kind were growing increasingly dangerous. She recalled numerous times where the Princesses, including herself, had sworn to do whatever it takes to defend their little ponies. Had Sombra just reached the logical conclusion of such a goal? To truly protect their subjects, would they have to take away their freedoms?

She then realized something. While the foes of Equestria had grown stronger, so have they. Time and time again, evil descended upon their nation and it was always repulsed. Not because they grabbed power from their subjects, but because they worked with them. Only by working together, from highborn Alicorn to common laborer, did they manage to expel Chrysalis, exorcise Tirek, and reform Discord. Each and every pony possessed unique strengths and abilities that when brought together allowed them to overcome any obstacle. That was the beauty of their harmony.

She returned her attention to Sombra. Looking at him now, she finally understood why he could never understand this magic. He saw the crystal ponies as property; just slaves and tools to be used as he saw fit. In his mind, they had to be guided by a single superior intelligence like a horde of mindless drones. Therein lay his downfall. In obtaining this absolute power, he had corrupted himself and the very soul of the city. Now he only wanted the power to rule over others and there were no depths he would sink to obtain it. If he had any genuine love for his empire it was long gone by now. There was no saving him, not at this point. Cadenza knew just what to say to the loathsome tyrant.

“Go to Hell you bastard.” The Alicorn sneered. “I will never betray my empire or my husband.”

The king flinched as if he had been slapped. His previously hopeful expression darkened to a murderous fury as his eyes ignited and crackled with his twisted power. Wordlessly, he turned his back to the Princess and trotted back over to the table. He stood still, fuming for a brief few moments before, with an enraged snarl, he kicked the whole thing into the fireplace. The high proof cider ignited in the flames and exploded, sending bits of glass and crystal out like shot from a cannon. Sombra ignored the projectiles as he brooded over what to do next. He let out a ragged sigh as he calmed down enough to speak coherently.

“I should have known you’d be like any other Amore.” He growled dangerously. “Stubborn and blind to the big picture.”

He turned back around to face Cadenza, a dark scowl on his features.

“I suppose I have Celestia to thank for that. She has filled your young, impressionable mind with dangerous thoughts and ideas like she did with my slaves.” He said bitterly. “You would never do as I say without frankly ludicrous amounts of psychoactive controls.”

Sombra demeanor suddenly changed. His lips curled back in a spectacularly evil smile as he produced a small silver crown from his cloak. Cadenza felt a twinge of fear run down her spine. There was no way this was going to end well for her.

“Well if that’s what’s necessary, it’s a good job your mental defenses have already been breached.” The domineering despot said as he fed some of his magic into the silver crown.

It dawn on Cadenza that after everything the empire had been subjected to from the Lurker to the Legions, they were indeed all vulnerable to Sombra’s vile influence. The Princess began to panic. She twisted and turned, trying desperately to break the ropes that bound her but to no avail. The evil king signaled two of his guards to hold her still as he stood over her, his crimson and emerald gaze burrowing into her own.

“All you need now is a finishing touch.” He continued once the Alicorn was fully immobilized. “A special imperial crown…just…for…you!”

He placed the piece of jewelry onto Cadenza’s head. It was a perfect fit. As the sinister silver made contact with her skin, Cadenza felt herself being pulled away. It was as if some benthic creature had ensnared her and was dragging her into a cold, dark abyss while somepony else rose to take her place. Before she succumbed completely to the void of her subconscious, she heard Sombra’s oily voice echo about her mind.

“You’re mine now.” He said victoriously. “You’re mine and you will do everything I say.”

“Within reason, my dear Emperor.” The new Empress Cadenza cooed with a sly smile.

---

The festive atmosphere in the great hall was beginning to wind down. As the drink and food began to run out, thoughts turned toward the future. Some wished to gather their things and set out for their next conquest. Those tired of wandering along the outskirts of civilization made plans to stay within the empire. Others still elected to quit the now rudderless Marked Legions and try their luck alone or in smaller groups of bandits, raiders or marauders. While the legions slowly began to break apart, two of the vanguards were focused on something far more enjoyable. With their wager ending in a draw, Stone and Max had elected to combine their rewards. As their loot was already pooled, the minotaur and griffoness had found an empty private dining room to enjoy the other reward. Thus did the two embrace with Max wrapping her lioness legs around the standing Stone's waist and her eagle arms around his thick neck while he supported her from below and held her close with a free hand placed against her back between her flared and twitching wings.

"Mmm~ I could sharpen my talons on these muscles." The feline bird purred as she leaned back and traced the bull's pectorals with a talon, admiring his build. "And you could break me in two with these tree-trunks you call arms~"

"That's just what you are doing with these gorgeous legs of yours." The bipedal bull said with a strained gasp as he ran his hand up her toned legs to her rear. "And word cannot accurately describe this ass."

He gave said rear a hearty slap, earning a surprised chirp from the griffon. She smiled lustfully at her lover and attacked his mouth with kisses. There was some awkwardness as her sharp beak met his broad snout and the latter earned a few new cuts for their efforts. In time, they finally locked their equivalent of lips. The bull's long, wide tongue was met with the griffon's sharp and fluted one. Much like the two vanguards, the lovers duel in their mouths reflected their abilities. Max was faster and more aggressive but Stone was far stronger and could outlast most of his kin. The minotaur stomped forward with his furry and feathery passenger until he hit a table and laid Max down on it. The two broke their kiss with a breathy gasp.

"Haa. That was fun." Max sighed as her eyes grew hazy with lust. "Fuck, you have no idea how horny I am now."

"Let's get to it then!" Stone said excitedly as he nearly tore his belt off. "I feel like I'm about to burst out of my pants!"

The griffoness swished her tail in anticipation. The minotaur finally managed to loosen his trousers and was about to drop them when there was a loud knock at the door. The two froze and shot deadly looks at the interrupted.

"Oi! Luvbirds!" Fleabag's distinctive voice called through the keyhole. "Put your pants back on! Sum ting important is goin' on out 'ere!"

"Fuck off, mutt!" Max screeched.

"I'm serious!" The diamond dog insisted. "Spookum's git is 'ere with an announcement!"

Stone frowned and looked at the still hot and ready Max. Neither of them wanted to stop but at the same time they did not want to miss any developments in the empire. The minotaur let out a long and frustrated sigh as he retrieved his belt. The griffon made as if to complain and seemed fit to just jump him and continue what they started but relented.

"We'll be right out." Max spat as her feathers ruffled in frustration.

"Sorry, Max." Stone said as he helped her off the table. "It might be best if we finish this once we are out of the Frozen North."

"I guess." The griffon huffed. "But we are going all the way once we get the chance. Roses, champagne, hot tub, chocolates, the works!"

"I didn't take you as a romantic, air-pirate." The bull teased with a grin.

"What?" Max shrugged. "A chick can dream."

Once properly composed, the two would-be lovers exited the dining area and entered the great hall. They got a few whistles, winks and nudges from the legionaries who approved of their relationship upgrade. Fleabag waved them over to a spot with a good view of the elevated VIP section where Spinel stood along with a pair of Crystal Blackguards.

"Marked Legions!" The thrall called for attention and got most of it. "I hope you all have been enjoying your victory. You have more than earned it."

A cheer went up from the legionaries. Sombra's herald waited for them to calm down before she continued.

"Alas, the mighty Dugore is not here to join the in revelry." Spinel lamented.

"May he kick ass eternal in whatever afterlife dragons go to!" A griffon called out prompting another round of cheers.

"The Horde of Souls!" A more knowledgeable legionnaire answered. "May Geist the Void-Dragon find him worthy!"

Spinel fumed in silence as she waited for the rowdy marauders to settle back down. By the time they did, she had decided to cut to the chase less she spend all night leading rounds of cheers.

"Yes, you all have been instrumental in returning the Crystal Empire to its rightful ruler." The thrall said curtly. "So it is with great pleasure that I announce the return of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Sombra!"

The audience broke into varying levels of sincere applause that morphed into murmurs of confusion when the now flesh and blood tyrant trotted out proudly. The slaver dismissed his thrall and addressed the uneasy pillagers.

"I have returned, Marked Legions." He announced. "Something that would not have been possible without your dauntless strength, ruthless cunning and unerring tenacity. In the absence of Dugore, I would have you all continue to serve me."

"Why would we do that?" A unicorn voice the majority opinion of the legionaries. "Dugore earned our respect. You just skulked around with that slut of yours."

"Why?" Sombra regarded the vocal equine with a devious smile. "Why don't you ask some of your fellows?"

The Emperor ignited his horn to signal his embedded Blackguards. All along the perimeter, brainwashed minotaurs, dogs, griffons and equines suddenly snapped to attention and drew their weapons. The free-willed suddenly found themselves surrounded and quickly drew their own weapons. A massacre seemed inevitable.

"Join me, dread legions." Sombra raised his hooves as he announced his ultimatum. "Serve as the new imperial army and we will return the Frozen North to its proper glory!"

"Fuck you!" A minotaur retorted. "I'd rather go down fighting!"

"Hahahaha! That is adorable." The tyrant cackled. "You think I am giving you a choice."

As if on cue, another equine joined him before the eclectic horde. A pink Alicorn dressed in a sheer gown that hugged her curves and crowned with a silver tiara trotted toward the Emperor with a sway in her hips. Empress Cadenza reached the ashen unicorn and pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss.

"Is this rabble to be our army?" She asked after breaking the lip lock and indicating the confused legionaries with a lazy tilt of her head.

"Indeed." Sombra said with a grin. "They just need a little persuasion."

Cadenza matched his smile and ignited her horn. A light blue wave of magic washed over the great hall and spread to every legionnaire within the empire. Pesky aspects like individual will and motivations were stripped away, leaving sycophantic obedience. Their immense abhorrence of Sombra was replaced with undying loyalty and love for the Empire and its pair of rulers.

"You belong to us now, my lovely legions." The honeyed voice of the Amore whispered sweet nothings into their ears. "There will be much to do in the future but the...rewards...will be great."

"All hail Sombra." The new imperial army hailed in unison. "All hail Cadenza."

In the sea of unified thought, there was but one island of independence. The voice in Stone Skin's head demanding obedience started strong but slowly became muddled and slurred before falling silent. He became aware of the attempt to control him just as the scars across his chest burned as if someone had pressed a brand against him.

"Gah! Son of a bitch!" The minotaur dropped to one knee as his mind was cleared by purifying pain. "Wha-? What's going on?"

He looked up from his kneeling position to see Sombra and Cadenza basking in the adoration of their new slaves. He glanced down at his chest as the pain subsided. The bull could not explain it but it appeared the Shadow Fiend had just saved him.

"Maybe all that freaky undeath magic it uses is interfering with the mind control? Fuck if I know." He muttered. "I need to get out of here."

The minotaur thanked his luck that he was toward the back of the room and less likely to be spotted. He carefully approached Max and tried to get her attention.

"Max? Max! Come on!" He dared not go above a whisper. "Snap out of it!"

"All hail Sombra." The griffoness droned. "All hail Cadenza."

The scarred bull grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her to no avail. He then slapped her across the face a few times with the same results. Stone then noticed the odd corvus feathers in her wings. He traced the scars across his chest as he made the connection. After covering her mouth as a precaution, he pinched one of the black feathers and yanked it out.

"MMMPH!?!" Max immediately snapped back to reality.

"Shh!" Stone held a finger to his lips. "Keep quiet. We're getting out of here."

Max nodded and the two stealthily made their way to the door. With their former cohorts under the thrall of the dark royals, none of them raised an alarm. Along the way, they passed Fleabag hailing the power couple in his peculiar accent.

"All hail Spookums." The dog deadpanned. "All hail Kahdenza."

"We can't leave the poor mutt behind." Max whispered. "Even if he is a cock-blocker."

"Yeah, he kinda balances us out." Stone agreed. "Give me a moment."

He looked over the dog for a 'Lurker trigger' but could not find one. The bull tried scratching him behind the ears but all that earned was a reflexive tail wag. He then spotted his bandaged paw. With precious few other options, Stone muzzled the hound with his hand and stamped on his paw.

"Oi! That smarts!" Fleabag unexpectedly leapt back and hopped on one leg as he held the other in his hands. "Wot I do ta- mmph!"

"Quiet!" Max chirped as she held his maw shut with her talons. "Grab what you can. We're getting out of here."

The diamond dog looked around in confusion for a bit then nodded in understanding. Together, the trio quietly grabbed whatever loot they could, a substantial fraction of what they had previously. With all the legionaries they once considered brothers and sisters in arms stroking the imperial's ego, the former vanguards slipped out of the great hall unnoticed.

---

Down in the depths of the catacombs of the Crystal City, the crystallized statue once known as Mica stood alone in the silent archive. The fading light of the lantern above it gave the hunk of gemstone an almost haunted appearance as if something was stirring within. As the light faded and shadows crept closer to the petrified mare, she began to tremble. It started small at first, barely a twitch, but soon she was shaking like she was caught in an earthquake. Fissures formed along her body, hissing like vipers as a pitch black smoke escaped like stygian steam from the unfortunate mare. As the last light of the lantern died and darkness enveloped the room, Mica burst open in a shower of crystallized flesh and blood. Like a snake shedding its skin, the tenebrous form of the Lurker uncoiled himself from the hollowed out husk of his host. He slowly brought himself up to his full height and inspected his shadowy body for any signs of damage.

“Good, nothing permanent.” He thought once he had concluded his inspection. “More than I can say for Mica.”

The Lurker looked down at what remained of his former host. All that was left of her had collapsed into a messy pile of crystals, leaving no recognizable trace of the pony it once was. The shadow fiend shook his head slowly. He had grown accustomed to the mare’s body and the sense of being flesh and blood again. She had nothing on his original vessel, of course, but it was something. The Lurker turned away from the pile of shiny stones and looked over the vast collection of knowledge around him. His baleful pale eyes narrowed as his thoughts turned toward the treacherous mortal who had attempted to imprison him with them.

“Sombra, your death will not be a gentle one.” The Lord of Shades said darkly as he imagined just what type of horrific torment he could inflict on the impudent unicorn. “But first things first.”

The Lurker shifted into his nebulous form and spread out like a black fog. Once he had enveloped the archive from floor to ceiling, he seized its contents and absorbed them into himself. Every book, scroll, tome, and trinket was taken, leaving nothing but the bare shelves and empty display cases. The shadowy scholar pulled himself together and made sure the trove of knowledge was stored securely.

“It took me three days to get here." He thought. "I'm not leaving it behind.”

With his prize stowed away, the Lurker moved toward the iron door leading out of the hidden library. As expected, it was locked and sealed by the same magic Sombra had described during their descent. The dark creature was not deterred, however.

“I believe the sequence was: Up twice, Down twice, Left, Right, Left, Right…” He recalled the order the traitor had used to enter the archive and used his claws to piece the iron door and tap the crystals on the other side. After remembering to mirror the order since he was on the opposite side, the Lurker’s efforts were rewarded by the door swinging open.

“All too easy.” He thought confidently. "Although I could have just busted the doors down."

The Lurker floated out of his intended prison and began his ascent through the darkened corridor. As he traveled through the secret staircase, he began plotting the demise of his former ally.

“Simplest way is to just find him and cut his throat.”The otherworldly horror thought. “But he’s bound to the Black-Crystal Heart now. If he dies, it’ll just resurrect him.”

The shadowy monster sighed when he realized what he would have to do.

“So I would need to get to the Heart and nullify it…again.” He mentally groaned. “That would be, what? The third time I’ve done that?”

The void stalker continued up the stairs as he shifted his mental focus from killing Sombra to the bigger picture: the conquered empire. He had no doubt the Marked Legions still occupied the city but he wondered how long the normally roaming horde would stay. The tyrant had made it very clear that he viewed his partnership with Dugore as temporary.

"He might try to dominate the dragon to force him to serve." The tenebrous terror mused. "With Cadenza at his side, there is no limit to Sombra's influence."

The stygian stalker slowed as he realized he was but one being against a powerful sorcerer, the Alicorn of Love, possibly an armored dragon and a horde of battle-hardened soldiers including a whole cabal of mages. As terrible and mighty as he was, the Lurker was well aware of his vulnerability to magic.

"I need help." He concluded.

The necromantic being considered raising another spectral army. Hundreds if not thousands of mortal had surely died in the siege. It would only be a matter of gathering enough blood to bring them forth. After a few moments of consideration, the dark creature discarded the idea. Drowning a whole city in a sea of undead, while a spectacular solution, would draw the wrong type of attention to himself.

“I don't need Equestria sending hunters after me.” The tenebrous traveler thought. "Hmm..."

A metaphorical lightbulb clicked on over his head. When one wanted something done right, one brought in experts and who better to deal with the empire than those who had done so once already? There was a reason the Marked Legions had gone out of their way to avoid Equestria's attention.

"There is just the matter of summoning them." The Lurker mused.

Even before the conquest of the Legions, the Crystal City was relatively isolated from the rest of the world. He had not heard of any signal towers along the border nor did he know of any magical communication spell between the two capitals. Any interdictor enchantment around the city ruled out coercing a unicorn to teleport a message to them. The ancient animus had to admit his options were limited.

"I'll think of something. One problem at a time." The shadow fiend thought upon coming to a dead end. “Like how am I getting past solid crystal, for example.”

Directly above him was the set of stairs that swung downward. With no combination to punch in or magic to activate it, it seemed brute force was his only option. The creature solidified and was about to break through when he heard the sounds of hooves on crystal. He paused and reconsidered his course of action.

“It sounds like there are at least two of them and they are in a hurry.” The dark being planned. “If I can time this right, I might be able to get something out of them…”

Like a trap door spider, the Lurker waited for his prey to get within range of the false stair case. Closer and closer the unsuspecting mortals drew until they were right on top of him. The creature sank his claws into the seam between the steps and pulled down hard. The secret stairs resisted for but a moment before they swung down with a crash. The sudden shift in direction sent what turned out to be a pair of Solar Guard unicorns turned legion mages tumbling down into the undercroft. Without missing a beat, the Lurker pounced upon the mortals before they could recover. He grabbed their throats tightly to silence them and hoisted them into the air, making sure that their horns were aimed away from him while leaving their legs to dangle uselessly. A firm squeeze of their windpipes ensured they were giving him their undivided attention.

“Listen very carefully.” The Lurker said evenly. “I am going to ask you some questions and if you do not answer in a manner I find satisfactory, I will start cutting off extremities. Do you understand?”

The mare and stallion nodded rapidly, eyes locked with the pale orbs staring at them.

“Good. Now then…” The stygian stalker started as he relaxed his grip slightly to allow them to speak. “What is the current status of the city?”

"C-completely under Legion control." The stallion answered. "The remaining Crystal and Solar Guard have either been killed or pressed into service like us."

"I figured as much." The Lurker said plainly. "So what were you two in a hurry for?"

"There is some confusion over who leads the legions now that Dugore is dead." The mare answered. "We thought we could slip out during the confusion."

"The warlord is no more?" The animus cocked his head to the side in curiosity. "Pity. Who dealt the killing blow?"

"Prince-Regent Armor." The first guard said with a hint of admiration. "That dragon messed him up pretty good but that stallion is made of stern stuff."

“Ah, I see the royal life hasn’t made the good prince soft.” The Lord of Shades observed. “But with the warlord gone, Sombra has his army at his beck and call. Still, at least I won't have to deal with the dragon.”

"But he's in no shape to stand up to Sombra now." His partner added. "That witch-eyed freak plans to assume command. He's dreaming if he thinks many are going to stick around to be his slaves.

"Dreaming..." The gears in the Lurker's mind began to turn.

"Last question." He said, much to the guards' apprehension. "Where are you keeping the Prince-Regent."

“I-I think they're holding him in the dungeons.” The mare babbled nervously.

“Down in the sublevels.” The stallion backed her up.

“I suppose I should thank you.” The fiend told the terrified ponies. "I suggest you forget you saw me and flee while you still can."

Before they could say anything, the Lurker dropped them in a heap and floated out catacombs. He was confident they would neither raise the alarm nor tell of their little conversation to anyone. Back in the halls of the palace, the first thing the Lurker noticed was that Sombra’s style had already spread to the ground levels. The once pristine pastel crystal walls were now made of dark obsidian decorated with red and black banners bearing the same mark as the door to the Black Library.

“That must be a family emblem now that I think about it.” The astral interloper thought as he waited for the mortals to scramble out of the catacombs and pulled the fake stairs close behind him. “At least there are plenty of shadows to hide in.”

With that in mind, the Lurker made a point of sticking to the dark crooks and crannies as he made his way through the palace. Without a disguise to fool the thousands of guards, stealth was his only advantage for the moment. Sure he could cut through most of them like a hot knife through butter, but his plan hinged on him remaining out of sight and out of mind of the dark imperials until he could reach the dungeons and find the Prince-Regent. As far as the Lurker knew, he was the only equine left in the empire with a direct tie to Canterlot that was within his reach. After avoiding a few patrols, the Lurker eventually came to the central atrium and its many branching halls.

"Now which one leads down?" The shadow stalker thought as he checked the corridors from his hiding place among the shadows of the ceiling.

His search was interrupted by a commotion from behind the largest set of doors. He could hear muffled shouts that were cut off by a sudden wave of blue magic that flooded the halls. The Lurker's mind was filled with Cadenza's sweetly seductive voice as the spell washed over him.

"You belong to us now, my lovely legions." The Empress cooed. "There will be much-"

The animus banished the enthrallment charm with a swift tap on his head. His mind was a veritable vault after his eons spend in the Void and it would take more than a sultry Alicorn to compromise it. Down below, the doors to the great hall opened and a familiar trio of creatures snuck out and closed the doors behind them.

"Gor! I can't believe I was almost one of dose mindless gits!" Fleabag grabbed the minotaur and griffon in a grateful hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you both! I couldn't ask fer bettah mates."

"You can thank us once we're out of this damn city." Stone said as he extracted himself from the diamond dog's embrace. "Where should we go? East and West just lead to more frozen wastelands and there is nothing North except Yakistan."

"Kind of answered your own question, Stony." Max pointed out. "I'm not a fan of Equestria but South is our best option."

"Let's leg it then!" The gem hound urged.

"It appears Sombra has assumed command." The Lurker mused. "And Cadenza makes an effective puppet mistress in her own right."

A destination in mind, the trio hefted their bags and sprinted out the exit into the city. The unseen observed watched them move down the vacant streets and beyond the outskirts of the occupied city.

“Looks like its almost dusk.” The interdimensional interloper mused as he noticed the overcast skies begin to darken with the onset of night. “Good timing.”

While he tried to determine which hall lead downward again, the Lurker spotted a guard carrying a bucket of gruel in his teeth and a ring of keys on his belt; a warden bringing a prisoner his meal. The shadow fiend silently drifted after the guard, traveling by shadow less he alert his target. After going down a few levels, the jailer reached a barred iron door. He fumbled with the keys for a moment before unlocking the entrance to the prison and trotting inside, the Lurker shadowing him all the while.

“Now, where is the good prince?” The Lord of Shades wondered as he past row after row of empty cells.

He did not have to search long. After one more turn, the warden headed right for the only occupied cell in the prison block with the ration of ‘food’. The guard knocked on the bars to get the prisoner’s attention.

“Dinner time, Armor.” He said flatly. “Hope you like left overs.”

The Lurker extracted himself from the shadows behind the unknowing guard and looked in the gloomy cell. Inside was a battered and beaten Shining Armor, lying in a rough bed of hay. Were it not for the steady rise and fall of his bandaged chest, the void escapee would have sworn he was dead.

“Hmm. From one bandaged equine to another.” The Lurker mentally observed. “Let’s get this guard out of the way and then we can become better acquainted.”

The abyssal animus extricated himself from the shadows and silently came up behind the unsuspecting Crystal Blackguard, rending talons extended and ready. He had nothing against the Solar Guards, turncoats though some of them may be. The Crystal Blackguards, however, he felt no such compunctions.

---

Shining Armor could not bring himself to acknowledge Diamond Cutter. The thought of him and the other traitor ponies he once fought side by side with made bile rise in the back of his throat. He instead focused on a fly that had trapped itself in a cobweb as Cutter scooped out something wet sounding on a tin plate.

“You and me both little fella.” The stallion thought as spider emerged from its hiding place and crept over to the insect. “Well, sort of.”

“Look, I’m sorry Armor.” Cutter said as he pushed the messy meal into the captive’s cell. “You got to understand, I coul-GERK!”

The clattering of the wooden bucket hitting the floor tore Armor’s attention away from the arachnid enjoying its meal to the now empty corridor. Save for the pitiful plate and spilt bucket, there was no trace of the traitor guard. The soldier part of the Prince-Regent's brain perked up along with his ears.

“Friendlies?” He wondered. “By the Sun, I hope so.”

“Who’s there?” He asked loudly. “Identify yourself!”

The shadows of the hallway crept forward like smoke, curling and twisting around the iron bars and into the captain’s cell. The murky darkness condensed into, not the Solar or Night Guards Armor was hoping for, but a tall, jet black creature with solid white eyes. The Prince felt the fur on the back of his neck stand on end as a wave of dread crawled down his spine. The Lurker wordlessly crept toward the wary unicorn, its approach as silence as the grave.

“So this is how it ends?”The Solar Guard veteran thought, uncertain if this was the original Shadow Fiend or a new one. "Sombra sends one of his pets to kill me? Well, I won't go quietly!"

“Bring it on!” Armor challenged even as he struggled to sit upright. "I'm not trapped in here with you! You are trapped in here with me!"

"Bold." The dread voice of the Lurker stated in wry amusement. "Good. I need someone with a strong will right now."

"Wha-!?" Armor's next round of challenges hitched in his throat as the tenebrous terror seized him by his head.

A numbing sensation spread from the unicorn’s skull to his limbs, like he had been dunked in ice water. His thoughts became muddled and confused as the stygian stalker made eye contact with him. The baleful orbs seemed to gaze into the depths of his soul. Thoughts of the nightmare he had been subjugated to resurface in the Prince-Regent's mind.

“Do not resist.” The unnaturally calm and collected voice of the Lurker commanded with all the authority the veteran normally associated with the Princesses.

While his broken body was compelled to obey, the stalwart stallion’s mind was not so easily subdued. Ever since the Changeling Invasion, Armor had undergone rigorous and often painful training to fortify his mind against mental domination. If this monster wanted in, it would have to fight for it.

“My mind is my own!” The white horse thought resolutely. “I am NOT letting some pitiful excuse for a monster rummage through my brain!”

As the Shadow Fiend phased into his body, Armor felt himself being cast adrift in the black sea of unconsciousness once more. Unlike last time, however, he was prepared. He anchored himself by remembering what he fought for, creating an island in the sea of darkness from that which gave him his drive and purpose. The support and admiration of his fellow ponies, the unbreakable bond with his younger sister, his duty and honor to the Princesses and the undying love of his wife. All of these made him the stallion he was today and what was what got him through the thick and thin of his eventful life.

“Your friends and family have made you strong.” The insidious voice echoed about the sea. “But they alone will not be enough to carry you through this dire peril.”

The Prince-Regent’s little island began to move as if something had hooked into it and started towing it like a drifting ship. After a few moments of being tugged through the darkness, the absolute nothingness melted away. Armor found himself suspended in midair with the ground far below him. He hung in the air for a second before gravity remembered he existed and he fell to the unforgiving ground with a hard ‘thwomp!’. Armor landed flat on his face, creating an impressive dust cloud in the process. As he groggily lifted his head, the pale dust cleared enough to reveal that he was in a field of colorless grass broken by jagged rocks. He could hear a river nearby but nothing else.

“Where the Hell am I?” The Prince-Regent asked himself as he got to his hooves.

“Calm down, soldier.” The drill instructor part of his mind ordered him. “This is no time to panic. Survey the area and get your bearings.”

Once his initial confusion passed, the captain fell back on his training and got a better look around. He was in some sort of field spotted with meadows of pale asphodels. The river he had heard wound its way through the landscape, its waters dark and murky. A single gnarled willow tree stood atop a gentle knoll. All of this stretched out before the stallion under a bleak, sunless sky.

“Princess Luna would love it here.” The Prince-Regent thought jokingly as he trotted up the knoll to get a better vantage.

As Armor reached the lone tree, he tried to place where he was. The dreadful landscape had obviously been touched by death, either from war or famine. The unicorn wracked his brain for anything he may have read or heard of about such a dismal place.

“I bet Twily has.” The brother of the youngest Princess though after turning up nothing. “By the Stars, I miss her.”

The white stallion scanned the horizon and spotted a structure in the distance. Massive cyclopean walls and towers reached into the black sky. Beyond the edifice, he could barely make out cathedral-like spires and flying buttresses.

“Ha. Now that is a stronghold.” The Solar Guard veteran said with a short laugh. “It looks like it was built in the ancient Imperial style only...bigger. Perhaps an even older design?"

“How observant of you.” A cool voice said from behind the military unicorn.

Acting on pure instinct, Armor reared back and attempted to buck who or whatever had managed to sneak up behind him. Rather than the meaty crunch of hoof meeting muzzle, he heard the solid clang of steel horseshoe striking metal. Before he could react, something caught his rear hooves and flipped him tail-over-head with contemptuous ease. He landed roughly on his back against the willow tree, tail hanging down to his belly. The disoriented unicorn looked up to find a tall, bearded stallion looking down at him, a lethal looking metal bident by his side.

“I do apologize for that, Crystal Prince-Regent Shining Armor.” The robed earth pony said politely. “But what did you expect to happen?”

“You!” The unicorn scrambled to right himself as he recognized the distinctive voice. “You’re the Lurker!“

“I have been labeled as such, yes.” The pale horse nodded in affirmation.

“So what is this, huh?” Armor asked incredulously. “Some type of trick to break my mind?”

"Nothing of the sort." The pallid pony shook his head. "I wished to speak with you without interruption so I've moved us into the private confines of your mind."

"You didn't answer my question, fiend." The unicorn pawed the ground irritably. "What type of equine do you take me for to not see through your tricks?"

“A brave, if somewhat hard-headed, stallion.” The seemingly unflappable earth pony said flatly. “I am not your enemy, Prince Armor, but we do share one in common.”

The unicorn lessened his accusatory glare somewhat. He knew villains who used affable politeness in order to get him to lower his guard but the Lurker, or whatever he was, seemed genuine. Given his current circumstances, Armor welcomed any aid he could get but he was not quite willing to take anything the Shadow Fiend said at face value.

“You mean Sombra.” Armor said neutrally.

“That I do.” The hollow-eyed pony nodded. “He is guilty of a great many crimes that cannot go unpunished.”

"I could only guess at the long list of crimes he has to answer for." The Prince-Regent said with a huff. "So is that it? You developed a conscious and now want to break away from your master?"

"In a manner of speaking." The stygian stallion said simply. "I shall explain briefly but I ask that you hold your peace as I do so."

"This ought to be good." Armor grumbled but complied by gesturing for the strange stallion to proceed.

His mental guest tapped his bident on the ground once and a series of images surrounded Armor. The first one was a loop of the Lurker's first appearance in the Crystal Tower. The white stallion looked away awkwardly as the loop included he and his wife making love. The pale horse explained that his intrusion was not part of some diabolical plot but a clumsy and undignified return from exile.

"You were exiled?" The Prince-Regent asked.

"Yes but please save any questions until I finish or we will be here all night." The Lurker answered with a hint of annoyance.

"Carry on then." Armor waved him on with a frown.

With the aid of visuals, the robed equine went through his reformation in the wastes, his encounter with the Equestrians in the mines, possessing Mica's 'corpse' and so forth up until the death of his physical body at the hooves of Sombra, explained as the tyrant disposing of what he thought was a disobedient slave. By the end, Armor's mouth was hanging open.

"As you have seen, I am not Sombra's puppet nor any creation of his." The Lurker concluded as he closed the memories. "The 'Shadow Fiend' story was a necessary deception I concocted to maintain my cover."

"I thought something was off when Mica started to act more, well, pleasant." The Prince-Regent held a hoof to his face as he processed what had been dumped on him. "You may not be a demon but you are a clever devil."

"I suspected you would not dwell on a positive change in character." The not-quite Shadow Fiend said with a shrug. "Not to speak ill of the departed."

"And all that just to learn more about the world?" Armor asked as he leaned against the tree.

"A mundane task for you, perhaps, but try accomplishing it while looking like me." The Lurker summoned a image of himself in the waking world. "Perspective is key, my good Prince."

"I can't completely blame you given your first impression of us." The Prince-Regent admitted. "So bringing us back to my first question, why are you here with me; in me?"

"I have learned many things these past few days. Chief among them is that Sombra must die." The tall stallion said seriously. "But my skills alone are not enough to put an end to his madness."

The unicorn still had loads of questions but the pressing matter of his occupied city had been placed on the back burner long enough. If what he had seen after his duel with Dugore was any indication, the tyrant had claimed the Crystal Heart and was likely back in physical form. That made him all the more dangerous and if he had Cadenza in his clutches, he was the only free willed pony in all the Frozen North that could stop him. If the shadowy equine had similar goals, perhaps he would not have to do it completely alone.

“I guess that makes two of us.” The white unicorn said as he straightened up. “You’re proposing an alliance, is that it?”

“I was thinking more of a partnership.” The pallid stallion replied. “A symbiotic one.”

A confused look from Armor told the monochrome horse to clarify.

“You’ve seen what I am in the waking world; an animus.” He explained. “Likewise, you are crippled and powerless. If we were to join together…”

“You get a body and I get a power boost.” Armor finished for him. “Is that right.”

“More or less.” The Lurker gave a noncommittal shake of his head.

The unicorn rubbed his chin in thought. The proposal had many benefits, namely the power to challenge Sombra and rescue Cadence. There was just the matter of the nature of his possible partner.

“I’m still not sure I can trust you.” He said cautiously.

“Who can you trust?” The greyscale pony countered. “But think of it like this; you will become the Prince of Justice you have always dreamed of being and in turn, free your wife from the bonds the tyrant has placed on her.”

"He's brainwashed her?!" Armor asked in shock. "How is that possible?!"

"Sombra's power has grown since you last encountered him. " The tall pony said evenly. "Now he has added both the Crystal Heart and the Alicorn of Love under his command. Do you think, as a burnt out unicorn, you can match all three alone?"

The Prince-Regent shut his eyes as he mulled over the now very reasonable and logical offer. In time, he let out a tired sigh and gave the stallion a hard look.

“I don’t like it but if it means saving Cadence, I'll do it.” He said while extending a hoof.

“Excellent.” The Lurker said as he met Armor’s hoof with his. "There is wisdom in recognizing when you only have one choice."

“So, what the plan?” Armor asked, ignoring the older stallion's pontificating. “Please tell me you have one.”

“I got the framework laid out.” The bearded horse admitted. “There’s just one more element required which is why we’re here in this particular landscape.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask.” Armor said. “Where is here?”

“We are in your mind but viewing my dreams.” The seasoned stallion answered. “Think of it as watching my play in your theater.”

“Thanks for the analogy.” Armor said, not wanting to think about it too hard. “So then, who’s the playwright?”

“See, now you’re getting it.” The robed earth pony said. “You may call me Grey, as in the color.”

“Grey.” Armor repeated, thinking hard whether if he had heard that name before but could not come up with anything. “Well, I appreciate the help. The empire needs all it can get.”

“That much is evident.” The bearded earth pony said as he noticed something behind the white unicorn. “Speaking of help…”

“Wha-?” Before Armor could ask another question, Grey pointed behind him with his staff.

“Like you, I have friends in high places.” The seasoned stallion said candidly. “You may know this one.”

In the middle of the asphodel meadows, a portal of swirling stars and eldritch designs had manifested. Bolts of eldritch energy arched off it as something on the other side tried to force its way in. Armor winced as a throbbing pain drilled into his skull.

“You still have your mental defenses up.” Grey reminded him. “You may want to drop them.”

The unicorn complied and dispelled the bulwark guarding his mind. It did little good now since Grey was already inside. Without interference, the portal stabilized and Princess Luna herself flew through. The Alicorn of the Night hovered over the field for a few seconds before gracefully landing, her powerful wings sending ripples along the colorless grass. The regal royal stood tall and scanned over the dreary fields. When she found the statuesque from of Grey, she smiled sweetly.

“A pleasure to see you again, Grey.” One of the Diarchs of Equestria said formally as she trotted over to the stallion. “I trust this night finds you well.”

“Now that you're here, Princess Luna.” Grey greeted the Lunar Alicorn cordially.

Once she was close enough, Luna notice a familiar white unicorn staring at her dumbfounded. She raised an inquisitive eyebrow at the Crystal Prince’s presence.

“Prince-Regent Armor?” She inquired. “What are you doing here?”

Armor had heard rumors that Princess Luna was a dream strider but he had never expected to see it for himself. The paranoid part of his mind made him wonder if she had spied on him during some of his more erotic dreams. He did have Cadenza to inspire them, after all. The Solar Guard Captain pushed these thoughts out of his mind. There was an empire that needed saving and help had arrived at last.

“Your highness.” Armor said respectfully, remembering proper etiquette as he bowed. “It’s a long story…”

Next Chapter: Devil in the Details Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 36 Minutes