This may very well be the night we have waited for, my brothers. Even now I feel myself fading, something Valkris will not have missed. We were fools to think our kind could outlast the patience of Dragons and their willingness to destroy harmony in the name of the old ways.

Should it come to pass that I meet my end and our presence fades from the world, I hope that the rest of you can at least find solace in the knowledge that our time was not spent in vain. For through your sacrifices, the plan is safe, we have made it so.

~ Recovered from the journal of Amethyst Song: Final entry

/ / / Citadel of the Crystal Knights / / /

Pain, there was only pain here. It was a pain that consumed everything else, devoured every sense of the outside world, every nerve impulse that defined hot or cold, hard or soft, light and dark. Dead or alive. There was nothing, nothing but an endless void that stretched on forever, promising naught but this continued torment from which you would never wake…

Wake, the very idea seemed impossible, the amount of effort required inconceivable, and yet. An idea? From whence had that come? Ideas came from minds, did they not? More to the point, what was a mind, truly? Logic, awareness, questions of a self defining nature? There could be no doubt, buried beneath this never ending sea of pain and darkness, was a mind. Not just any mind either, it was his own mind!

Yes, he was certain now, certain that he possessed such mental faculties. There had been other things too, a body, strength, magic, laughter and life, and his love of stairs! There was something else as well, a memory, yes he had those as well it seemed, a memory of a name. He had a name? What had it been? It was faded and tattered, but there, hanging just out of reach, slipping away every time he moved towards it.

The word was so close; he could almost taste it, like the coppery tinge of blood in his mouth. He reached for it, muscle fibers tensing, going taut for what felt like the first time. His ears listened for it, straining to hear the whispered words over a chilled wind. A wind that bit at his flesh as fiercely as the voices that shouted over it, calling to him, telling him to fight on.

Sombra opened his eyes, peering blankly through the swirling white mass before him, the meager effort nearly enough to plunge him back into that place of oblivion. He refused; the void was a cruel nonexistence, a place of pain and without purpose. But here, laying on this cold frozen crystal, he welcomed the pain. It meant he was alive, and that a reason would find him.

Sombra, yes that was his name, Sombra dared not close his eyes, lest he forget again. His limbs were numb from the cold, and the icy air burned his lungs, but he did not care so long as he could continue to stare at the brilliant orange light fighting its way over the edge of the world. He squinted, trying to force his blurred vision to see through the wind whipped snow, fighting just to catch any glimpse he could of the burnt reds, or of the little sliver of familiar yellows. Almost as if it had been waiting beyond the horizon for him to wake, the sun rose.

There was something different about that sunrise, perhaps it was a mere figment of his shattered mind, but, it almost looked sad. Like the face of a perpetually joyful companion, to see them in distress simply felt wrong. That is how this sunrise felt, wrong. It was all wrong, as if the sun had peeked over the edge and seen what had happened here, taken aback by what was left to be witnessed. The balance lost.

The sunrise was not the only thing that seemed different either; everything just felt, off somehow. Whether this was a moment of deluded perspicacity or divine clarity, Sombra could not say. Perhaps it could all be equated to the pint of his own blood staining the snow covered crystal, but for one brief moment, it was all too clear to his damaged self. The balance of magic itself, was wrong…

He could see it, he realized as comprehension slowly took hold. Thousands upon thousands of little strands like fine spider silk, crisscrossing and weaving over everything, a glow not unlike starlight shimmered from within. And they were breaking. The number was barely noticeable, just a few here and there. But each one felt as though it shook the ground under his body when it snapped, the sound like thunder.

It was funny, in some ironic cosmic sort of way. Here he was lying on death’s doorstep, his life draining away, yet Sombra had never felt more connected to the world. It was as if he were seeing it all again for the first time, every wonder was new, fresh and crisp. If only it were so. His muscles spasmed as another thread snapped nearby, the force of it tearing through him without mercy.

There was a rhythm to it, he realized at last, ears ringing as yet another thread snapped somewhere in the hazy distance. It was a familiar sound, bold and percussive, yet steady and somehow comforting, like a heartbeat. It thrummed around him, beating in time with the clouds of powdered snow that drifted past on the gusting wind. Everything moving as one, moving in time with each other, to the sound of the drumming heartbeat. His heartbeat.

There was no way to tell just how long he had lain like this, ‘Snap!’ Time seemed to have passed him by in its endless trek. It could have been minutes, it could have been years, it was all the same in his mind’s eye. ‘Snap!’ He was so tired, haggard and weary with age. ‘Snap!’ He was on the floor playing with his toys, his mother calling him for supper. ‘Snap! Snap!’ He was looking down upon himself, reaching out, calling for himself to rise up. ‘Snap!’

For the first time since he had awoken, fear took him. It was a primal fear, something that had been buried deep within his conscious self, something that resided within all life. Sombra felt it, heard it. He knew it more than he knew himself. The rhythm had changed, had slowed with every deafening crack that consumed him. He felt it shift the ground as surely as he had felt the Dragon land.

The Dragon that had stolen the heart…

A fire lit somewhere deep within Sombra, igniting his soul and urging him to take action, promising strength where he had thought there to be none remaining. Not comprehending the means behind it but feeling an undeniable urge to heed the voice calling for him Sombra began to move. With great effort he pushed off from the blood slicked stone, and stood.

The place Sombra found himself however, was most definitely not the place he had fallen, he was certain of that. He stood at the summit of a colossal mountain, its height greater than any he had ever witnessed.

As he took in the view Sombra slowly spun in place, observing the broken and jagged appearance of the lands far below. The landscape appeared almost as though it had fallen from the skies above, jumbled together with the scattered remains of ancient structures that could have once been a majestic city. What madness was this, another delusion as he breathed his last?

It was rather convincing as illusions go, the Unicorn thought, taking in a deep breath of the earthy scents on the air, noting just a hint of salty sea spray in the mix. Had he merely been unconscious, then been carried off by the Dragon as well? If so, to what end, why was he here?

As if in answer a crescendo of snaps and all consuming booms forced Sombra to the ground once more, tears of pain blurring his eyes as the world seemed to end around him. The mountain shook like a thing possessed as the sky cracked with noise and hellish red light. Something was about to happen, something that he needed to see. It was all instinct, just the little voice telling him he had to move forward.

A sudden wind battered Sombra as he found himself crawling towards the crumbled edge of the summit, an urge to peer over the side taking his hooves from his bleeding ears. There was something that he had to see, to understand and to one day, help prevent. With a final grunt of effort Sombra reached the edge, and immediately wished he had not…

Far below on the shoulders of the mountain raged a war to end all wars, a conflict belonging in tales of old that would decide the fate of all. Sombra could only stare in stupefied awe as the ground continued to shake under him, trembling under the power of the combatants.

Dragons, Alicorns and creatures the likes of which Sombra had never seen before clashed together, battling across miles of the devastated lands. They were obliterating what little remained of the natural order. Magic more powerful than anything he had imagined surged from one side to the other, devastating entire lines, tearing through metal, flesh and scales. Yet scores more came, replacing those who fell, perpetuating a cycle that ended thousands in the blink of an eye.

In the thick of it all Sombra soon spotted two beings he knew by name, the Alicorn king Terra and his Queen, Aterna. Never before had he witnessed such fierce commitment in battle, where dozens of their kin lay slain the pair of royals stood firm, refusing to give ground as they were beset upon on from all sides. Where they stepped the ground shattered, enemies that drew their ire were put down by displays of power that boggled his mind.

Through the flashes of light and billowing clouds of dragon smoke Sombra could see other creatures in the mix of combatants. Smaller forms darted between the dueling titans, striking alone where least expected, or overwhelming singled out targets with sheer numbers. Ponies of all races adorned with armor that shone with magical fire from within. Changelings in a never ceasing dance from one form to another in a bid to stay ahead of their foes. Griffons moving in coordinated flocks that swarmed over their prey, overcoming impossible foes, always in a state of fluid motion.

It was impossible for him to look away, this was a spectacle for the ages, a fight for the fate of all. Sombra could not say how he knew these things, it was as if he had been there before, like he had seen this all a thousand times on a thousand other battlefields. Yet, something was different, just as with that sunrise this to somehow felt, wrong. It felt, as if it would be the very last...

With his focus fixated firmly on the battle below Sombra’s heart nearly burst from his chest as a noise reminiscent of thunder split the air high over his head, the sound echoing across the combatants below for miles around. Many in the skirmish halted their attacks at the disturbance, turning to the skies in search of the source, many wearing growing looks of dread.

Craning his head up to look Sombra nearly fell from his perch as the mighty wing beat of a positively monstrous Dragon sent him sprawling, the displaced air landing like a physical blow as it struck the mountaintop. Soaring overhead before diving on the scene below was the same beast that had attacked the Citadel, the Dragon that had stolen the Heart.

No longer concealed by the storms of the north Sombra could see just what had stricken his fellows down. The Dragon was indeed massive, perhaps even more so than he had first perceived! Though the way its glossy black hide blended into the darkened sky made it difficult to say with certainty. The smoke left trailing in its wake certainly did the eye no favors…

In a frightening moment of agility the wings of the great beast flared for but a second, before snapping back and propelling him towards the ground at ludicrous speed. The Dragon continued onwards, an obvious destination in sight. He did not falter as the forces below now turned their sights upon him, even when their numbers began to include many of his own kin. Onwards he flew, ignoring blasts that would surely have claimed him as other Dragons intercepted the attacks, giving their lives for his.

Sombra squinted, his eyes struggling as the distance became too great, the Dragon already miles away. Flashes of colored light illuminated the plains, explosions chained together along the length of the Dragon’s body, but he would not fall. Sombra could see him nearing the ground, the defending forces throwing themselves into his path, yet he did not slow.

A heartbeat later the Dragon augured into the side of one of the crumbled structures, the mass of ancient masonry exploding in a spray of pulverized rock as the thousand ton leviathan crashed further inside. A cloud of smoke and dust quickly covered the new entrance from view. Scores of creatures from all walks of life poured towards the building, most no longer taking the time to fight as they ran, crawled, or climbed over each other in a maddened rush. The din became so loud it reached the top of the mountain.

Then for a moment, it was silent. The howls of the wind hushed as the air grew worryingly still, the million voices below eerily absent. There was something else missing as well, a deepening sense of unease filled Sombra as he realized it. The rhythm had ceased, no further snaps of the threads split the air, no more heartbeat thundering in his ears.

It was all gone…

The hazy air over the scene below rippled like disturbed water, warping and billowing away from the ground, propelled upwards by an unseen force. The mountain began to tremble violently, its rocky faces crumbling apart like old clay. Then, Sombra heard it, a single noise that grew to smother all others, a single unending roar like that of a waterfall. It was like the deep creaking of an ancient glacier, or the loudest of infernos. It was as if the world were rending itself asunder.

An explosion of light erupted from within the depths of the crumbled structure, obliterating its dilapidated walls in an instantaneous release of energy. Sombra screwed his eyes shut in pain as the radiance blinded him, the light too intense to behold. Even through closed lids all he could see was its all consuming glow, turning his back did nothing either as it only seemed to increase in its intensity.

Then he was falling, falling as though the mountain had simply ceased to exist from under his hooves. Instinctively Sombra reached out for a hold, something, anything that might bring him salvation. Faster and faster he fell, almost as if something were drawing him downwards, the same faint voice from before calling his name, distant and frantic. Sombra! Sombra! Sombra!

With a spasming twitch of his muscles Sombra found himself once again laying on the snow covered crystal, his world spinning as he blinked away the all too real vision. The voice called out his name again and he became vaguely aware of upward motion, a single muscled arm hoisting him from the bitter cold of the floor. Sombra blinked again, realizing finally that the strands were nowhere to be seen, and the sounds of them breaking no longer filled his ears. He found it an unwelcome silence.

Hearing his name called over the wind yet again Sombra forced his head up to see his would be rescuer, and was surprised to say the least when met with the grim face of a Minotaur looking down upon him. As unsettling as that would have been for most, it granted Sombra a brief moment of relief to know that at least one other Knight had survived.

Steele Resolve stood tall, holding Sombra to his chest in the crook of his arm like one might hold a newborn. Concern made itself apparent on the massive bull’s features as he took note of the still freely weeping wound to the pony’s neck. With a grunt he took one last look at where the heart had been before turning and making his way to the edge of what remained of the relic’s chamber.

As they neared the place the stairs had been Sombra peered over the arm that held him, the sight that greeted his eyes was something out of a nightmare. From his vantage Sombra could see down into the heart of the once mighty structure, its walls shattered and crumbling. He absentmindedly wondered what had become of the roof as he peered through the blowing snow, the morning sun highlighting what little it touched in a hellish orange glow.

Squinting into the depths Sombra finally saw them, the bodies. Fallen Knights littered the floors of every level he could see, their broken and bloody silhouettes already being covered by the snow as it ventured further into the structure.

Steele Resolve paused for a moment, shifting Sombra’s weight slightly before he leaned over the edge and jumped. The thirty plus hoof high drop to the level below did little to phase the hulking Minotaur, his muscular legs absorbing the force of the landing with minimal effort. Turning with a sense of urgency in his steps he strode towards a somewhat sheltered place under the landing above, hoping that he was not too late.

Still only partially aware of his surroundings Sombra found himself focusing more on his fellow Knight, or more specifically, the way he carried himself. In his still partially delusional state Sombra could not quite place his hoof on why, but Steele seemed to be moving in an unusual manner, leaning harshly to one side, unbalanced and uneven in his motions. He was also clearly in pain…

That is when Sombra finally noticed it, the horrific damage done to his comrade’s right side, mainly his arm. The limb had been nearly completely removed; only a savaged stub remained stubbornly inserted in the shoulder joint, which itself had been ripped apart in places. Then Sombra’s nose detected the odor of charred flesh, and he realized what the mortally wounded bull had done to save himself.

Now that Sombra was aware of the smell, it made him want to retch, if only he had the energy. His body felt shattered, his pulse hammered away unsteadily in his ears, and a dark rim had grown around the edges of his vision.

Sombra struggled to raise his head to meet Steele’s gaze, he wanted to say something, to hear the minotaur’s voice. To know he wasn’t another illusion, or whatever that had been. He tried to speak, managing only a strangled rasp before a fit of coughing overtook his efforts, the worrying taste of blood lining his mouth when he finally managed to regain control of himself.

Letting his head lull back to a more comfortable position Sombra lifted a hoof to examine the wound to his throat, the returning pain reminding him of its presence. His worry quickly turned to alarm at finding the tattered piece of robe he had used as a bandage completely soaked through with blood, the liquid oozing out and matting down his fur. If only his mind would clear, perhaps he could mend himself.

These thoughts were pushed aside however as he became aware of the others standing around him as Steele Resolve came to a stop, the massive bull showing great care as he gently lowered Sombra to the floor. Waiting a moment to make sure that the equine could stand Steele kept a hand on his friend’s shoulder until he found his balance.

Though his body screamed for rest Sombra remained standing, his stance becoming rigid as he caught sight of something laying on the crystal floor just beyond a gathered circle of the others. Forcing his limbs to move Sombra managed to take a few tentative steps forward, pushing his way between a pair of bystanders, their whispers of worry and finality brushing past his ears.

As Sombra stepped beyond the inner row of his fellow Knights what blood remained in his veins went cold, his eyes finally landing on what held their attention. He knew who it was even before he saw the body, his worst fears taking hold until he saw his master’s head move, struggling to look in his direction.

Amethyst, after great effort, managed to raise his gaze to watch Sombra approach. The faintest trace of a warm smile brought some life back to his face. With a gentle push of a hoof he waved away the healer attempting to infuse his body with fresh magic, the normally life saving spell having no effect.

“Sombra,” he choked out weakly, his outstretched limb falling to the floor. He was nearly transparent as he continued to fade away. “With you alive, the plan is safe, forgive, me.”

Sombra shuffled closer, nearly collapsing as he sank down onto his knees, catching Amethyst’s hoof in his own. Some of the pieces fell into place as he looked his friend in the eye. “You knew, all of this. You knew?”

Amethyst offered a single solemn nod, a few tears gathering in the corners of his eyes as he looked around at the others, the few survivors. “It became necessary, if we had not failed, then Fate would have intervened.”

“I do not understand, that Dragon, how could this be better?” Sombra asked, leaning closer as Amethyst sank further down against the floor, his body barely visible now as life seemed to leave him with every breath. “Please, Amethyst, what are we to do? This can not be the end you intended, there must be something, some instruction, name it and it will be followed!”

The dying stallion’s eyes flashed with pride, his barely visible smile growing as he found the strength to raise a foreleg one last time. He wished he could have had more time with Sombra; he had grown so much in his five short years here and would continue to do so in the days ahead. If only he could see it.

“Follow your heart my friend, if you listen carefully to what it promises in that gelid dark, you will find hope. Let it guide you home,” Amethyst whispered, pressing down firmly against Sombra's chest, directly over his heart. "Infinity still abstains from its final strokes, blind the Oculus to keep it in nihility."

Sombra reached for his mentor’s leg, wishing to ask what that could mean, but his hoof passed straight through Amethysts’ own. “Master? Amethyst?!”

Amethyst slowly fell back against the floor, his body dissolving into glittering motes of violet light. Motes that swirled about on the ground for a moment before coming together and sinking into the crystal floor.

Sombra watched with confusion as the light dispersed throughout the room, shooting off towards the far walls before diving down through the structure towards the foundations far below. For a long moment he just stared at where Amethyst had been, his mind racing as he tried to piece together what had happened.

Finding no answers Sombra turned to look back at the others assembled behind him, noticing for the first time just how few Knights remained. He still did not understand, how could this have been better? If Amethyst had known of the Dragons coming, why had he not taken steps to prevent this?

Sombra struggled back to his hooves, his eyes going over every knight that was still standing. Many were nursing their own wounds and they in turn were watching him. Sombra wanted to say something, to do something that would prove they were not beaten yet, but what could he say?

He took a step forward, searching for the right words. Unfortunately, his body chose that moment to finally speak for itself. As Sombra took one last struggling step forward, the loss of blood took its toll. His vision swam away into the blackness and he collapsed. The last thing he heard were hooves hitting the floor near his head, then he knew no more…

Next Chapter: VII: Oculus Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 52 Minutes