Sombra was a patient pony. Extremely patient. Enough so that he could wait several long years studying her enemy and seeking untapped sources of power in order to exact his revenge against not only the ponies of the Crystal Empire but against all of Equestria and their princesses. These were thoughts the ex-king mulled over as he sat on a throne made of ice.

Strong magic needed a strong source and Sombra had it. Yet, even now, Sombra could feel his power growing weak. Desperation was accelerating his plans. It was because of this his enemy learned of his return. Even now they were marching on him while he power was weakening. Sombra was able to regenerate himself after his supposed death in full strength. Now he could feel the crystal heart had done more damage to him then he thought. That was why he made this plan. Eevn should he die his creation would destroy his enemies. This was how he knew that her desperate plan was growing close to fruition. Three days ago, he had felt the shadows he'd sent out after the last two things he needed and felt that their mission was accomplished and they were coming back. Sombra was an extremely patient pony, but right now, he could only grit his sharp teeth and tapped his hoof against his throne impatiently.

They would have met up at the border of the Badlands yesterday and be returning today; he had sent them with enough of his power to make sure they could travel nonstop as soon as they retrieved the items. This plan would be his last chance for Equestria.

Sombra moved through the dark tunnels, lit only by a series of glowing stones set into the wall, making his way to a special chamber he had been preparing for a long time now. Even now, a few of his shadow minions were making a few finishing touches as they filled in ancient runes with a softly glowing blue paint made from the phosphorescent fungi that grew deeper in the caves.

It was mostly dominated by a large circle, the inner side of its line bearing arcane runes. At the crown of the circle, as well as along the lower left and right in a triangle, curving lines had been drawn, leading toward a much smaller circle at the center. Moving outside the circle, the lines traces to three more small circles that were encircled by more runes. Sombra smiled. The spell would be ready by the time they returned.

Sombra felt his scouts return with items he wanted. A helmet and seven vials that contained blood. Sombra growled and turned to the one shadow who returned with nothing. The shadow simply stood there. These shadows were like ponies in appearance though that was where the difference ended. Their eyes glowed red from Sombra dark magic. They felt no emotions nor pain. That was why it didn't flinch as Sombra blasted it away with his magic. Sombra horn stopped glowing as he turned towards runes.

The shadows who had been making the finishing touches to the circle quickly darted away to be out of their king's way. He approached the circle at the lower right, moving the helmet around to face him, talking to it as if its previous owner were in front of him, “Dearest Nightmare Moon, you had all the power it took to defeat Celestia, and yet, in your foolishness, you forgot to take preemptive measures. To get the Elements out of the way,” he chuckled, setting the helmet within the circle, which lit up and surrounded the helmet in an ethereal dome of blue light, “you lacked... vision.”

He walked to the final circle, standing within it as he smiled, surrounded in his own ghostly dome. He reared back her head to let out a maniacal laughter as he lit up her horn, tapping into the ancient runes around him as he poured the blood from the vial into the center. Yes, ver fitting that the conquest of Equestria will be from the very blood of Shining Armor and the element bearers. They barely escaped his shadows, but they will not stop him.

Sombra concentrated, knowing that this would be the last spell he would be able to cast until he could harvest more energy. It would have to be enough. The glowing blue of the circle was overshadowed by the lights that began to arise from the three circles around the main focus. Sombra's red gem warped and strained against its confines as the line before it hissed and turned an angry red. Across the circle from it, even Nightmare Moon's helmet seemed to fight against the pull of the arcane circle, but it could not withhold its power as the line before it blazed a dangerous new blue. Sombra alone was the one that did not fight it as she allowed the spell to tug at the power inside of her and tear off a piece of her very soul, filling the line before her with a sickly green color as it was carried toward the center.

The noise that arose from the center was a horrifying sound: the pained and terrified cries of thousands of victims that had fed the power of Sombra, topped with the insane, evil laughters of them all. Red, blue, and green, the lines of power began to fade as the powers drawn in toward the center focused into three orbs floating around the center. Sombra soon began pouring into the center his anger, hatred while pulling the darkness from the blood. There was bright flash causing Sombra to shield his eyes from it. It seemed like minutes before Sombra could finally look.

The air was filled with a loud hiss as the smoke began to gather and condense, retreating toward its source at the center. When it was gone, Sombra almost overlooked the figure at the center, only seeing it by a soft movement as it began to rise. He called to one of the shadows near the entrance to the chamber, demanding light and it was mere moments before a torch was produced and brought to his side. Finally, he could look upon his newest creation. At first Sombra seemed to be disappointed at his creation. It seemed like just his other shadows. That was when it opened its eyes revealing bright glowing green eyes that seemed to radiate power. Sombra saw it was quite big as well easily standing over Sombra but not as tall Celestia. Sombra watched as it looked around the room with curious eyes like that of a colt. Sombra deciding to test his creation fired a bolt of magic at the thing.

The shadow turned towards the dark magic bolt heading towards. Sombra watched amazed as he saw change forms into that of Shining Armor while it was still just a shadow. The horn on its head glowed pink causing a pink shield to form around itself as the magic bolt easily bounced off it. Sombra laughed as he walked towards the shadow creature as it simply stared up at him with a curious look while changing to a shadow version of Twilight Sparkle.

"You will my instrument of destruction of my will." The cave was soon filled with Sombra dark laughter.