The Queen of Shadows (an MLP fanfic)

Chapter 2

The night was cold and dark, as it always was in the North. Shivering from the cold, Flurry Heart pulled her red, fur-lined cloak tighter around her body. She had been walking for hours and still hadn't seen any Umbrum crystals amid the snow and ice.

"Sombra?!" She called above the howl of the wind. "Where are you?!" She searched the frozen wasteland that stretched before her. "I've made my decision!" She felt a wrong gust of wind strike her face and turned her back to it. Looking back in the direction she came, Flurry couldn't see her beloved Empire through the snow and ice. She took out the necklace that Sombra had given her when she first heard about his deal.

In the light of her magic, the black crystal gleamed and shimmered, as if it was speckled with glitter.

"Here..." A voice whispered from somewhere in the darkness.

Flurry looked around for the source of the voice. Her gaze landed on a shadow that had no owner.

"Come here..." It seemed to call to her.

"Who? Who are you?" Flurry Heart asked, scared.

"Come here.... Follow me...." The shadow said before slithering away.

"Hey! Wait for me!" Flurry called giving chase.

The shadow led her in a million different directions.

"Do you know King Sombra?!" She had to yell to be heard above the wind. "Are you taking me to him?!"

The shadow didn't respond and just dissapeared like smoke.

Breathing hard, Flurry looked around at her surroundings. She thought she could see the faint outline of a mountain range in the distance.

Taking a step forward, Flurry fell face first into the snow. She stood up and looked at what she tripped over.

It was a black crystal that shimmered in the glow from her horn. She recognised it right away.

"Umbrum." She said.

Flurry looked around and saw a cave cut into the side of a mountain.

That must be his cave. She thought.

She galloped as fast as she could to the entrance.

"Hello?" She called, sticking her head into the cave. "Is anypony in here?"

There was no reply. Taking a carful few steps into the cave, Flurry made her way inside.

It was dark and cold, the glow from her horn providing the only light.

"Sombra?" She called into the darkness. Her only reply was the whispering from the shadows that lined the walls. "Sombra? Are you in here?"

She turned a corner and entered a long passageway. There was a faint, red glow at the end of it. Suddenly filling up with courage, Flurry galloped towards the light source.

When she reached the end, Flurry found herself in what looked like a throne room. There were Umbrum crystals growing from every wall. Even the throne itself was made from the crystals. Sitting on the throne, looking royal as ever, was the Shadow King himself.

"King Sombra!" Flurry called, her voice echoing off the walls.

"Well, if it isn't my precious Flurry Heart." Sombra said upon seeing the young mare. "Have you come with an answer?"

"I have!" Flurry exclaimed.

"Wonderful! Then I shall take the Empire and enslave the Crystal Ponies once more!" He ended his declaration with an evil laugh.

"There shall be no need for that, your majesty." Flurry replied.

"What? Why not? The deal I proposed was that your family would hand over the Crystal Empire. That was the deal. End of story." The King said.

"By that wasn't the only option you gave them, was it?" She smirked at him. "Or perhaps you have forgotten?"

"What are you saying, Princess?" Sombra asked, though he knew the answer.

"I'm saying that I'll do it." Flurry answered. "I'll offer you my hoof in marriage. But only if you promise to never make another attempt to invade and enslave the Crystal Empire."

The Shadow King thought about this for a moment. "Alright. Deal." Sombra lit up his horn.

The next thing Flurry Heart knew, she was sitting beside the King on this throne.

"But you listen here, Princess." He said. "If you become my Queen of the Shadows, then you can never see that precious family of yours again! Understood?"

"Of course. I figured you would say this." Flurry Heart replied. "I came here fully knowing that I could never return."

"Good. Now then." His horn glowed again and a box appeared in his hoof. Getting down on one knee, he took her hoof in his and opened the box. Inside was a red ring with a black jewel in the center.

"Princess Flurry Heart?" He asked. "Will you do me the great honor of becoming my Shadow Queen?"

Flurry Heart replied with two words that can change ones life in an instant. "Of course." She was fighting back tears of sorrow and regret as Sombra placed the ring on her horn. However, in her heart of hearts, she knew she had made the right choice. For she would do anything to protect her Empire and her family. Including marrying the Shadow King.