Queen Chrysalis could not help but cackle as her changeling guards encased the still-inert form of Twilight Sparkle in a thick layer of mucus, which quickly hardened and left her defenseless to the queen's machinations. Ever since the Canterlot wedding debacle, Chrysalis was looking for a way to get back at that meddlesome mare and Sombra's spurning of her marriage proposal had not helped the changeling's feelings either. Now my pretty, I've finally got you and you can be assured that every last bit of love will be drained from you very slowly. She smiled, picturing Twilight's screams of agony as the mare's beauty faded, turning her into a withered old hag.

Chrysalis hissed and rubbed her aching flank, being mindful of the healing bruises covering her flesh. Her hooves gripped at her upper forelegs, digging into the skin as she painfully recalled her mating sessions with Erebus. For the past few days, Erebus would show up, toss Chrysalis onto her back and rut her like a back alley whore instead of the queen she that was. Oh sure, it may’ve been fun at first and was one-hundred percent consensual but it quickly changed, having all of the casual violence and aggression of rape. It took all of Queen Chrysalis’ willpower to avoid sobbing in front of the umbrum, wishing to not give him the satisfaction. She could deal with the scratches and bite marks but it was it was the loss of power and the humiliation that truly wounded her.

It didn't matter that she'd spawned a small army of shadow changelings, which was the point of their alliance. Every time she inspected her troops, Chrysalis would be reminded of Erebus barking orders at her, keeping her thrashing body tightly in place while the ends of his sharp hooves raked her skin. The impossible had become possible: there was somepony she hated more than Twilight Sparkle, King Sombra or even the princesses and what was even worse was that she was actually afraid of her new consort. Changelings didn't know fear or helplessness, they didn't cry themselves to sleep or literally bend over for some outsider. The sooner she completed her mission, the sooner she was one step closer to destroying Erebus and tearing down his precious Crystal Empire.

Teleporting in front of the crystal castle, Queen Chrysalis, while disguised as Twilight Sparkle, took a glance around, shocked by how much the kingdom had changed in her absence. No whooshing purple flames, no black crystals and certainly no miserable crystal ponies or imposing armored Shadow Guards. What in the name of Tartarus is going on? Taking slow, steady steps up to the front entrance, she hesitantly knocked and was promptly met by a purple crystal pony in a black butler's suit. "Hi, I'm...-"

"Welcome back, Twilight! Come in, come in!" The crystal pony grinned and almost shoved Chrysalis inside. "Oh, you can't believe how everypony's been since you left! You're back sooner than expected."

Chrysalis chuckled, "I just had to come back! I missed all of you so much, especially Sombra." Ugh, the positivity seeping off of this dullard is practically stifling me! "Where is he?"

"Up in his room, as per usual. He'll be so excited to see you!"

"Right. Listen, could you escort me up there? I'm tired and I'd be happy for the company."

The crystal pony bowed, "Anything for you, Twilight. Let's go."

Over the course of the past few days, Sombra had kept himself busy, knowing full well that laying around missing Twilight would do neither of them nor the kingdom any good. He had taken to going on walks throughout the center of the Crystal Empire and was shocked to find the citizens greeting him wherever he went, some shaking his hoof and thanking him for the party. A group of children even asked him to play ball with them and he managed to have a good time with them. Contrary to what most what say about him, he had a soft spot for children and could never imagine hurting them in any way, hence why he never cast any misery hexes or memory curses on them. Yes, life was looking good for Sombra and he owed it all to a special mare, one that he loved very much and kicked himself for acting so foolish towards.

There came a knock at the door and Rubinstein came waltzing in, accompanied by a familiar unicorn. "Your Majesty? Look who's here!" The crystal pony enthusiastically announced.

"Thank you, Rubinstein. Take an hour break."

"Thanks, Your Majesty! Twilight."

Once Rubinstein left, Sombra stood up from his seat at his writing desk and observed the mare standing before him. Something felt...wrong. She seemed far too nervous, like she didn't know where she was and seemed to be studying both the room and the king as if committing both to memory. Her posture was too stiff, too stuck-up and aristocratic and the way she held her head tilted at a slight angle was concerning. However, what stood out the most were the emotions he felt radiating off of her. While Sombra had sworn to Twilight that he wouldn't use his empathic abilities on her, there were times in which an emotion would be so strong, he would have no choice but to pick up on it and in this case it was deep-rooted fury with a pinch of vengeance and a teaspoon of humiliation.

"Sombra! My, how I've missed you!" Twilight made her way over to him, a slight sway in her hips as she eyed him the way a bar wench might look at a sailor. Or a predator stalking its prey. Her forelegs wrapped themselves around his midsection and Sombra could've help but notice the way his skin crawled at her touch. Her embrace was tight but lacked any sort of warmth or longing. It wasn't a Twilight Hug.

"I missed you too, my innamorata. I take it you're not mad at me anymore?"

Twilight's eyes met his own and those violet eyes he loved so much seemed dull and lifeless. "Why would I be? I spent time with my friends, talked out my problems with them and I realized that I was wrong. I'm so sorry, Sombry."

That sealed the deal for him. This was not his Twilight. Patting her head, he smiled, "You're forgiven, Twi. You must be parched! Come, let me pour us some wine!"

"That sounds great! I'd love some!"

I bet you would. "Coming right up, my love."

While Sombra fetched the wine from a red oak cabinet, Queen Chrysalis fought off the urge to laugh aloud at the Shadow King's idiocy. Erebus had told her that he was a fool but that was putting it lightly. This stallion's a certified moron! She smiled nefariously as she glanced around at the bed chamber's décor, dark but not especially wicked. I'll change that soon enough.

The changeling was about to snap when Sombra finally brought the filled goblets over and levitated one over to Chrysalis, who was struggling to gag at the goo-goo eyes he was giving her. She faked a grin and patted his hoof across the table. "For you, my queen."

"Thank you, my king," Chrysalis managed and took a gulp, smacking her lips at an astonishingly good vintage. It was even better than what they'd served at Canterlot Castle, having more of a richer, smoother taste. "Mmm. Delicious. It has a subtle nutty taste to it. How old is this vintage?"

"Fifty years aged," Sombra replied proudly after a sip out of his own glass. "I'm glad you approve."

"Of course, Sombra! I'm just appreciative of how much you spoil me sometimes. I really don't deserve it." Chrysalis batted her eyelashes at him when she began to feel deathly sick to her stomach. Is it just me...or is it suddenly very hot in here? She began to fan herself off, suddenly aware of how slack her muscles had become. The whole room's...spinning.

"You deserve it and more, my sweet. Are you alright?" Sombra asked worriedly, though there was something odd about his inflection, sounding both concerned and ambivalent at the same time.

Chrysalis, meanwhile, was having difficulty staying upright in her seat, her limbs spasming as she felt the loss of all feeling in them. "I'm...I'm alright, my love. I just...ah! What's wrong with me?!" She tumbled forward, hitting the surface of the table and collapsing sideways on the floor, the taste of bile filling her mouth. Her eyes met Sombra's as the umbrum sat still in his seat, indifferent to her current plight. "S-Sombra?"

Finishing his drink, he stood up and calmly stated, "Somepony should've told you that Twilight doesn't drink wine. She also has never called me, 'Sombry.' The only one who has is you...Queen Chrysalis."

Succeeding in rolling onto her side, Chrysalis gulped, her throat dry and scratchy. "Sombra, please, it's me. It's Twilight!"

At that moment, Sombra crouched over the stunned changeling, his eyes cold but somehow also fiery and full of rage. "No. No, you're not. I'm not that empty-headed buffoon Shining Armor. I can actually tell when the love of my life has been replaced with a cheap imitation."

"Ch-cheap...!" Chrysalis gagged, angry at both Sombra and herself for being caught. "Why you son of a-..."

A shadowy tendril formed from Sombra's right foreleg and seized Chrysalis by the throat, lifting her into the air and squeezing light enough to allow her to breath but tight enough to show that he meant business. "You should really save your energy, my dear. You've got amphisbaena venom coursing through your veins. It's supposed to be quite agonizing from what I hear. Does it hurt?" The grip tightened around Chrysalis' throat as Sombra's chilling tone echoed in her head. "I hope it does."

"Sombra...please..."

The umbrum's eyes were solid green, purple mist flowing from them like angry serpents. "I have the antidote and I will administer it but first..." He pulled her forward until their noses were almost touching and then he spoke in a voice he hadn't used since before he first touched the Crystal Heart, a harsh, gravelly tone that froze the already paralyzed Chrysalis in place:

"WHERE IS MY TWILIGHT?!"

The two were so wrapped up in their own drama that neither of them noticed the pink orb suspended outside the window, watching them and catching their exchange before being reeled up by a shadowy limb and pulled up onto the roof by a bemused Erebus. He smirked at his reflection in the pink orb's surface, marveling at the crystal ball's usefulness. When he used the Black Bead, he not only divined Queen Chrysalis' location but he had also discovered the whereabouts of one of Clover's Beads, which happened to be located near Griffonstone. Retrieving it, however, was the really fun part. Who knew that it would be so useful at cracking rouge griffon skulls?

The image of Sombra hoisting Chrysalis up by the throat swirled around the Pink Bead's surface like a video recording. True, while Chrysalis infiltrating the Crystal Empire and disposing of Sombra was the discussed plan, Erebus was counting on Sombra seeing through the disguise. It was a fork-in-the-road scheme: either Chrysalis sucks the energy out of Sombra and weakens him enough for a successful take over or, and this was Erebus' true plan, his son realizes that this Twilight is a fake and threatens her with unholy violence. The former Shadow King sneered at the whole situation. Now he had an army and the means of disposing of both his meddlesome child and his no longer useful associate. This day, he decided, could not get any better than this.

"Sister? What's wrong?"

Luna was severely worried when a panicky Celestia shook her awake, her normally calm pink eyes now wide and terror-stricken. Without another word, Luna found herself dragged by the hoof and galloping alongside Celestia at full speed down the castle's halls. As the Princess of the Night, Luna normally slept during the day and wasn't awakened unless something awful had transpired that required both princesses. What could've happened to have scared Celestia like this? They made their way into the royal vault and once the guards slammed the door behind them, the two regained their breath.

"Celestia? What is it?"

"Gaze into the Blue Bead," Celestia hurriedly answered. Obeying without question, Luna peered into the crystal ball's polished surface and what she saw next turned her blood cold. An image appeared of what seemed to be King Sombra holding Twilight Sparkle by the throat, the unicorn weakly groaning as she hung limply from the umbrum's grasp. No, no this cannot be! Is this supposed to be presently occurring or did this already happen or yet to happen?

"You should really save your energy, my dear", Sombra spoke in a detached, almost sardonic voice. "You've got amphisbaena venom coursing through your veins. It's supposed to be quite agonizing from what I hear. Does it hurt?" The tendril holding Twilight by the throat tightened and Luna was sickened by the choking-gags coming from her throat. "I hope it does."

"Sombra...please..." Twilight whimpered as she struggled for air. Luna looked to Celestia to find her sister furiously watching the event through tear-filled eyes, her jaw clenched in rage as her right forehoof was ground and twisting into the stone floor. Twilight Sparkle had been like a daughter to Celestia so seeing her being tortured like this, especially by a former lover, was no doubt soul-wrenchingly painful for her to watch. They had both been so sure that Sombra had changed and that there was no way he'd harm his soulmate. Some things never change. Luna privately scowled.

As Twilight hung in the air, Sombra's eyes turned green with flowing purple haze, a sign that he was preparing to use dark magic. "I have the antidote and I will administer it but first..." Sombra growled and yanked Twilight forward, his fangs bared as he glared into her eyes. Mercifully, the image faded, leaving the Royal Sisters exhausted and shocked by what they had witnessed. Releasing her breath, Luna shuddered and hugged herself, positive that the sight would forever be ingrained into her mind. She looked to her sister, who had wiped her eyes and stared bitterly at the crystal ball.

"Celestia?"

The white alicorn's head whipped around, her face drawn in anger and disgust. "Summon Cadence, Shining Armor and the other Element bearers. We've tolerated Sombra's existence long enough."

Author's Notes:

Oh man, sh**'s getting real!

I am loving Erebus in this story! Just the perfect villain and foil for our favorite umbrum monarch.

Next chapter: SOMBRA SMASH!!!