The charcoal gray stallion stood upon the peak of the peninsula, peering ahead as His small band of warriors were making their final way to the top to join Him. Beneath the thick, soft blanket of fog, He knew they had ocean to their left – a wide expanse at the edge of the continent, with no land sight to the horizon and a natural bay to their right. Still early morning, the sun had barely crested over the horizon.

Something didn't feel right. Fear tickled the edges of His senses, told Him His prey was close by, but not a single pony nor settlement was visible anywhere.

He smiled. They hid well. But of course, not well enough.

“Sire?” the voice of his Guard Captain was at last behind Him.

The King of Shadows turned only slightly to address him. “Are your men all present, Captain Iron Blade?” He asked.

“Yes, My King,” the Captain performed a perfect salute. He joined Him in scouting the land and sea ahead, seeing nothing, but knowing better. King Sombra would not have brought them here if they were not close.

“Such damn fog!” Blade complained, snorting. “Good thing Terrain warned us about this weather.”

“Yes,” Sombra nodded. He smiled, exposing more than the usual tips of His fangs. “It gives me great advantage in this war. I daresay it could make this the last campaign I need to throw our kingdom's resources at.”

Iron Blade laughed. “That would relieve Tight Planner. He acts like he cannot manage Your schedule when You leave the country for a week.” He regarded his King, looking for signs of mirth. It had been a long, hard trip to Marazon that had worn on everypony's nerves. Everypony except the Shadow Pony was looking for humor and distraction at this point in the campaign.

He did get a small, tight smile and a grunt His long-time Captain and friend caught. While everyone else was slightly more frayed than usual, Sombra was still full of a fire and exuberance Blade had not been witness to since the two had successfully taken the Crystal Kingdom into the New Era.

“Camp your men – there - “ Sombra pointed a steel-toed hoof in the direction of a grove of trees not far from their position. “I will scout ahead. The Marazons are well concealed, but they are here.”

Iron Blade wordlessly signaled his men towards the grove. While en route, once out of their leader's earshot, one newer recruit spoke up in a hushed whisper. “Captain, why has King Sombra chosen to accompany us this time?”

“Because, Sure Step, He wanted a bit of exercise,” came the strange reply.

“And the last two expeditions never returned,” one of the unicorn archers added.

“Better we succeed, and to ensure that, He has chosen to lead us this time. It annoys Him so little is known about the Marazons, it has become a drain on His resources.” The Captain stepped lightly over the heavy layering of dried forest litter that crunched under hoof.

“He must also want to satisfy His curiosity as to how a tribe of mares has routed some of His best men,” an archer called True Aim, added. The group came to their position and turned back to the hillside where King Sombra still stood, studying, listening to Celestia-only-knew-what the land and air was telling Him.

“This time it's more curiosity,” Iron Blade shook his head. “He went to great lengths to confirm the Marazons have the prize He seeks.” The Captain smiled. “It's rare He finds something so elusive of Him. Trust me, He's taking pleasure in this hunt.”

The recruit's eyes widened. “'Hunt'?” he repeated. “You say that like He' a predator!”

The Captain smirked. “You didn't notice His fangs? Tell me when you have ever seen a pony with fangs?”

The stallion shuddered. It was true. Herbivores did not possess fangs. So what did that make King Sombra?

A cold, westerly wind chilled them through their coats. All eyes were drawn back to their King. It was good they were still upwind, but this area had proven it could change wind direction quickly. He would have to -

- they all blinked and their King was gone.

“What?” the recruit whispered. “How?”

“You'll see. Wait,” his Captain nodded, settling in on a rock. He pulled out his sword and began sharpening the blade, knowing there was nothing more to do now but hold their position.

* * *
“Queen Ainippe!”

A tall, stately mare turned from her council as a scout reported back. “Yes, Quiet Hoof?”

The scout bowed. “They have returned.”

One of her advisers, an older orange and crème colored female called Neris, nodded.

“This is no surprise.”

The Queen considered the news. “This is quicker this time.” She clicked at the falcon perched on the tip of her throne. “And according to Light Wing here, there are fewer of them.” She considered what it could mean. “I do not like this.”

“It confirms what I saw, my Queen,” Quiet Hoof agreed.

“Why fewer, Your Highness?” the adviser asked, speaking up again.

“Their best warriors this time, Neris,” she said grimly. “Or worse.”

The falcon chittered. She took in the news uneasily. “Wing says their leader is a dark pony with a flaming horn and dark magics.” She crossed quickly to a pond of still water caught in a cistern of silver. “Luna help us, Quiet Hoof, I fear it is He who she warned us about!”

The falcon screeched, uneasy. The noise of the counsel drowned out its sudden panic, but then it grew eerily calm shortly before the Marazon Queen got her people's distress back under control. As the Queen waved her hoof over the water container, the others gathered around her, the falcon also flying over to perch at the side of the waters. “Is this the creature you saw?” she asked the scout and the falcon as she drew forth an image of King Sombra standing over the cliffs of the bay, searching for them.

Both equine and bird scout nodded yes. Ainippe looked closer at the falcon, seeing an unsettling glean of green in its black eyes. She glanced down at the water. The image of the Pony King faded, replaced for an instant by the reflection of the falcon in its depths.

The image changed again.

Ainippe gasped and staggered back. The older councilmare came over to see what could have frightened their battle-hardened Queen. A pair of burning green eyes that glowed with purple mist peered back at her. Neris screeched, shrank back quickly. “Nyx was right, as usual,” she shuddered.

The Queen made a harsh hoof gesture. “NO!” she said sharply. “Do not think of her. Say nothing! Think NOTHING!” She backed away from the bird, grabbed a spear from one of the guards, aimed it, and pierced the falcon's heart.

Or tried to. As soon as the blade touched the predator, it dissolved into dark shadows. A stallion's harsh laughter accompanied the shadow's lightning quick movement across the marbled floors and out into the coastal air. Concerned murmurs ran through her council.

The spear clattered to the floor. “We leave NOW!” Ainippe commanded.

* * *

Back at the camp, Captain Iron Blade stood suddenly, his body posture stiffening. The platoon around him tensed in response. Their recruit blinked in confusion, but gathered his weapons at the ready nonetheless.

True Aim grabbed his quiver and slung it quickly over onto his back. He saw the tinge of something in the corner of their Captain's eyes. “Sire!” he called out. Everyone dropped to one knee in one swift motion. The newest member dropped a moment later, unsure what had just happened, looking around for their King.

He froze in fear as their Captain turned to them, his eyes glowed an unnatural green. When he spoke, it was not with his own voice, but with the colder, hollow-echoed rumble of King Sombra using his vocal chords. “They are alerted. Iron Blade will lead you to them while I keep them - “ and here he smiled coldly. “occupied.”

Author's Notes:

This story has grown from several thoughts. First, it seemed suspicious to me that in the fantastic animation by Silly Filly Studios, "Fall of the Crystal Empire", King Sombra already knows Princess Luna's fate. Almost like he had the gift of prophecy. If he did, well, where did he get it from?

Second, I love the Greek Amazons and wondered what they would be like as ponies. Would they be clever enough to survive the King of Shadows unwanted attentions?

And lastly, was it possible to create a character who could stand up to King Sombra without getting herself killed while keeping her dangerous prophetic gift away from him as long as possible?

Can it be done? I guess we'll see.

UPDATE - 1/19/16 - There's a tag for sex because later, well, you'll just have to wait and see, wontcha?
I removed this tag within the first few minutes of posting the story because the first two ratings were thumbs down. Geeze, people! You judge so harshly when there isn't an immediate gratification of your carnal perusings! It will happen later, though, once Sombra...well...that would spoil the story to say here, wouldn't it? So, okay later, I will reinsert the tag and pray I don't get bombarded by more downward-ranked thumbs.

UPDATE - 1/19/16 - I fleshed out the dialogue a bit in the very first scene and adjusted the reference to the time of day. Originally it was midday, but I dialed it back to dawn because traditionally all armies start their skirmishes as early in the day as possible to take advantage of the light. Normally this would not be a problem for the King of Shadows himself as he has a distinct advantage facing his enemies in the dark of night, but here he has to be mindful of the limitations of his mortal army.