The cave became my secondary home, it became harder and harder for me to stay away from it everyday I went there. I never got the answers I lusted for, but I did gain something that made it worth it to travel there, power. Everytime I interacted with the dark crystal I felt stronger, better, and happy. It was my sancturary for 2 years, during that time I spent practicing dark magic. The crystal made my magic stronger, filling my body with more power.

I only had one goal, and that was to show chrysalis how strong I was. I didnt need her to protect me like she had the first time in the cave. The first few times I touched the crystal I passed out, but around my 30th visit I could handle it's power. The visions though never happened again, which to say the least disapointed me. I didnt know who those ponies in my vision's were, it was driving me mad just trying to figure out what those blobs meant.

I was sitting by the old tree collecting my thoughts when the some large stallion came up to me with a grin acrossed his lips. "Well Sombra its been awhile, where have you been?" The stallion was the same one I had beaten up 2 years ago, and his simple mind apparently didnt get the message the last time we faced.

"Ive been productive with my life, what about you? Your probably still wasting it on mares and small talk." The stallion looked at me with anger, I wasnt afraid of him.

"You know what sombra? Youve gotten smaller since we last met and ive gotten stronger. How about a rematch half blood?" It was true I had grown very thin from lack of eating. I figured it would be more productive to spend my time with my magic.

"Okay, but Im not going to go easy at all." I smirked knowing I could beat him in one blow. He ran at me trying to ram his side into me. I dodged to the left and threw out an attack with my magic. The attack did more than I had wanted, It hit his body throwing him aside like a pebble. His body hit the tree with crack, and he fell to the ground lifeless. I stood there in awe at how strong such a simple spell had been. I didnt want to kill him, but I guess I know how strong that attack is. Plus, he wont bother me again. I walked away and left his body behind, since their arent any unicorns here. Nopony will know what happened.

I thought over that spell I had used, and wondered what my other spells could do. I went to the outskirts and began testing my magic on various rocks and animals, seeing that I was alot stronger than I had ever thought. I went back to the castle knowing that Typho and chrysalis were going to come for negotiations again in about a day, so I was wanting to get ready for chrysalis's arrival. I never talked to my mother anymore, but everytime I did. I just wanted to become king faster. I was tired of waiting, I wanted the empire more and more everyday.

The next day the dead body of the stallion came into light and everypony was scared. Their had never been a murder before in the empire, and they were panicing. I enjoyed the thought of their fear, I began working on fear related spells later on in the day. I only stopped when chrysalis arrived. She had grown alot taller since we had last seen each other, her mane was of a deeper blue and her eyes were greener. She saw me and hugged me.

"I missed you sombra! I cant believe its been two years!" for some reason I didnt feel like being with her anymore, instead I wanted to go back to the cave.

"yeah...I uh missed you to" She seemed to not care at my uncaring tone.

"You wanna go to the tree?" I asked trying to get closer to the cave.

"um, sure I guess. I just thought I just thought you would want to do something else together first or something." She looked up at me with her eyes, they didnt make me feel the same as they had last time. I dont know why but she just didnt make me feel the same way as she had 2 years ago. Typho didnt look well, he looke like he hadnt slept in days and hadnt eaten in weeks. He still gave me the same fatherly smile, but he didnt do anything else.

The tree was still as twisted as last time, but it had grown larger and looked sicker. Chrysalis cuddled as we sat next to the tree. She seem overjoyed to be with me, I just couldnt return the feeling. I still put up a good fake act of enjoyment though.

"Do you ever think about what was so special about that cave?" she looked up with concern.

"No, I had actually forgotten about it. Why do you ask?"

"well, I visit it everyday and I can never figure out why I had never seen it before. I just thought you might have seen something while I was passed out." I was looking over at the cave, I wanted to go their more than ever now.

"Well when you were knocked out it seemed as if the room became darker and shadows seemed to grow darker." she looked down at her hoove.

"I was scared that you had died, and it was something I dont want to experiance again."

"Is your dad okay? He seemed worn out." her face was full of sadness.

"No, the changlings are growing impatient at the crystal empire. They want land, but Jade keeps taking it away. My dad is scared that a war might start, so hes trying everything he can to keep the peace." An idea began to form in my head at her words.

"Well if I was king I would give the changlings all the land they wanted." I smiled at the plan that was forming in my head.

"But, you wont inherit it for several years. Im happy to hear you care about us though." The truth was I wanted the power of two empires more. We hung out for a couple of more hours before the negotiations ended. We went back to the castle and saw typho begining to leave.

"Im glad you didnt get into any trouble this time chrysalis." He let out a little chuckle as he hugged her.

"Well bye sombra I hope to see you again with more time." He smiled at me and began to leave. Chrysalis ran up to me and hugged me.

"I hope we got some land, I hope we get to see each other again soon sombra." I hugged her back, and reassured her everything was going to be okay in the long run.

That night I began to put my plan together. A plan that would end in me becoming king, and chrysalis happy. But in order for this plan to work some ponies had to die. I knew it was going to be hard to kill them, but it was a necessity for everything to turn out as I wanted. Jade and Typho needed to go. Next Chapter: The fall Estimated time remaining: 9 Minutes