open 1x1 with Caligula and Califorum: Return of the King

[Props Valroa 26,043]

OOC: 

The curved red horn, that was the remains of the former King Sombra was blasted away in an explosion of light, upon the failure of his plan to secure the Crystal Empire for the second time. The Crystal heart was returned to it's place, and the Crystal Empire would be peaceful once more. Everyone went back to their daily business, after the King was defeated. However, little did they know, he was still around, albeit in a weakened state. His horn was blasted high into the sky, and the wind carried it far, far away into the frozen north where it fell into a chasm in the ice. A similar one that he was banished underneath, years and years ago.

His horn would remain within the chasm for several months, maybe even a year, the timescale didn't matter, it didn't register for what remained of the King. Through the months his magic gradually returned in his unconscious state, his body gradually reforming from the shadow, his flesh, armour, all of it gradually returning slowly, but surely. On that fateful day, his red eyes opened, as he panned his surroundings with his crimson eyes, which were soon replaced by his green eyes, red iris and purple magic flowing from them like a river. His body moved, he got himself on his hooves as he looked at the howling snow and wind. The cold never bothered him, this was the only time it bothered him if only slightly. He growled in intense rage, his horn shimmering purple and green as he summoned in black crystals to function as stepping stones out of the chasm. It felt like an eternity, though he eventually made it.

His snout sniffed the air, even from here, he could sense the energy of the crystal heart, and it's love. He had to do it differently this time, the first 2 times were done through brute force...and he failed both times. He had a plan, he was going to sneak into the castle, and 'take care' of the leaders of the Crystal Empire. He growled and his form shifted, into that of pure shadow, moving through the wind and snow completely unhindered, leaving no tracks, and moving at a very rapid pace towards the Empire, though off to the left a bit. It was an unknown amount of time before he finally arrived, his form returning to that of the pony form, his hooves, hos legs, and his head seemingly melting out of the shadow as it solidified, looking at the Empire, it was dark at this time, only the lights in the streets, and the crystal heart itself illuminated the night. Sombra Smirked, this was his time to shine. 

Like that, his form shifted into shadow once more, flying over the streets and guard ponies in the streets, unaware of his return. The shadows flown into a window, and seemingly melted into the existing shadows of the dark halls of the castle. A lone pony by the name of Shining Armour was patrolling the halls, alone, and with a light spell as he walked the halls. All was quiet, until he heard a deep, dark, slow laughter coming from the dark.

@Caligula

[Caligula 87]

It should be just an average, simple night. No imminent dangers, no dark powers crawling toward the palace, just a peaceful, calm stroll around the corridors. To be honest, a prince-consort of the Crystal Empire and the leader of its armed forces normally shouldn't be bothered with such a mundane task, but Shining Armor - being both a very diligent stallion and a royal guardian to the core - wanted to set an example to the soldiers of his ancient kingdom. The last ruler left crystal ponies in a very sorry state, and both he and Cadance had to do their best to turn their terrorized subjects, detached from the outer world for entire thousand years, into happy, productive ponies that are able  to fit to the modern world.

However, this night was... different. He couldn't really put his hoof on it, but there was something just wrong. There was something in the air - a sickly smell, a chilling presence. His own magical senses were screaming to him, but he couldn't understand them. This feeling... was it a memory? Of course, it could (hopefully) be simply just a sign of paranoia - walking around the empty halls covered in the dark of the night was able to trick pony's mind, after all. There was a reason why fresh guardians didn't like patrolling city at the night. 

Shining Armor didn't believe that, though - he could feel that something was wrong, ergo something really was wrong. Besides, he was far too experienced to be scared of darkness. Unfortunately he couldn't wake up his soldiers just because he had an inexact impression...

... laughter? Very familiar laughter. Way too familiar. One that he hoped he would never hear again.

"Oh no".

His casual trot turned into a gallop, as he ran towards the barracks - he had to set alarms.  

 

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

The laughter continued and seemed to get louder even. As he ran it suddenly stopped, the sounds of his hooves trotting on the floor echoed through the darkness, it seemed to get louder and louder, but maybe that was his imagination, or was it something more dastardly? The latter was probably the case. The shadows seemed to move and distort ever so slightly, showing horrible and graphic images with their dark and twisted shapes.

The laugher returned, more of a cackle, echoing throughout the halls, though quietly, as if a whisper. Then it hushed up. Once it hushed up, Shining Armour found himself blocked off by a wall of sharp, black crystals that rose up from the floor itself. Behind him the shadows pulled themselves into a spot in the middle of the hallway and from that spot, as if melting out of it, the form of a dark stallion with a curved red horn, complete with a set of heavy armour and a red cape stepped out. The hoofsteps echoed through the silence of the halls.

 

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

This dark bastard was playing tricks with his mind... So that was really him - the dark creature that was able to mess up with the minds of crystal ponies so much that they preferred amnesia over memories about him. The only known sick psycho that decided that being a master of fear is a satisfying choice.

Shining knew that running away was hardly the bravest possible option, but he needed to call others - if Sombra was really in the castle somepony had to alarm the civilians, wake up Cadance, preferably send a letter to Celestia and Luna as soon as possible... Unfortunately his hopes were cut short when suddenly he was stopped in the tracks. He desperately fired once at the wall, but to no avail - not even a single scratch appeared. In meantine dark tyrant decided to finally materialize his ugly face and walk towards prince-consort.

Too bad he decided to be a warlock. With his sense of drama and illusionary tricks he could be the greatest actor or playwright ever known. White unicorn turned to face his enemy with a grim, yet determined look on his face.

"You want to be beaten to a pulp for a third time that badly?  Or maybe you simply like humiliating yourself, Sombra?", he spouted. The light on his horn flashed as he prepared to set up his favourite spell - shield. 

 

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

King Sombra took one step forward, his deep red irises, green eyes, and the purple flowing magic seemed to pick up the intensity a little bit. He had tried to toy with his opponent here, but evidently, it didn't make Shining afraid or anything. How pathetic that was, but there was something within Sombra, who liked his attempt to defy him. The King stared into his eyes with a deep, soul piercing glare.

Sombra sneered and lunged forward, whilst saying, "Such defiance...such strength...quite a shame you are not by my side..." Sombra growled darkly while his horn glowed a deep shade of purple and green, as a few black crystals were fired out towards Shining Armour to attempt to stun him, but were blocked by his shield causing a few cracks. "You allow yourself...to be shoved to the side...by the weak rulers of this world..." he smirked, trying to corrupt Shining Armour by only using his words as he prepared another spell, a few more black crystals rose up from the ground. The shadows seemed to cheer on King Sombra, the figures twisting and contorting as they cheered silently, but the cheering could still be heard all the same.

"How amusing..." King Sombra growled with an ever so slight glee and mischievous tone hidden within the growl, only slightly noticeable. King Sombra proceeded to charge at Shining Armour, in an attempt to ram him against the wall. 

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

Alas, king Sombra's tricks would surely work on another ponies, but Shining Armor had a few traits that were embolden him, even in the face of such danger - he knew that he has to defend his family and country. He was the defender of the realm, the first and last line of defence against the darkness brought by former tyrant - and he had no desire to fail, not without at least roughing his enemy.

"If they are weak than what are you? Powerless?". 

Now, when it came to a fight, Shining Armor was able to shine. Despite focusing on defensive magic he wasn't fully passive, quite contrary - for experienced user a shield could be as deadly as real weapons. That's why, when he noticed charging king, he merely pushed his shield as forcefully as a possible - turning this pink barrier into a projectile of sort. He immediately dodged to the  side, not exactly willing to stay on the path of charging warlock.

"ALARM! TO ARMS, EVERYPONY!", Shining Armor shouted with all strenght left in his lungs. Even if he wasn't able to reach barracks... his voice had a fair chance for that. 

[Props Valroa 26,043]

King Sombra went on charging past, though he kept on running for a bit he almost immediately turned around and stopped in his tracks, though as he did so, the shield hit him and he was knocked across the floor, and pulled himself up, staggering slightly before assuming a royal and regal stance. He smirked widely at Shining Armour's call for attention. It was obvious that Sombra's manipulation attempts were not going to work on his enemy here.

"I am anything but powerless." he said in a low, obviously angered growl, highly offended at such a notion. He didn't charge or do anything direct yet, his horn glowed a deep purple color as black crystals rose from the floor around the duo, and kept on rising. It was evident that the King was attempting to trap his foe, with him. At this time the other guards had arrived, but only to see a massive circular wall that prevented them view of what was going on inside other than through cracks between the crystals and such. 

"You can't defeat a force of nature." Sombra said, almost as if an ancient and knowing tone, but hostile nevertheless. As he said those words, the room seemed to get darker and Sombra resorted to firing dark green lasers at Shining's shield, not really even attempting to hit it that much, just distract him, and then he tried to ram the shield, to break it all together. 

All around the ponies that had arrived on the scene, the shadows on the walls took upon various, intricate but graphic shapes showing intense images of the crystal ponies being servants to the King that had oppressed them, aswell as his mind controlled guards punishing crystal ponies and shadowy figures all about the place, it was a fair work of art, ashame that it depicted such violence. Then they heard whispers from the dark, of another language they didn't understand or know, it sounded ancient, but sinister. No doubt Sombra was up to his tricks, still. 

@Caligula

 

Edited April 23, 2019 by Califorum

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

In a way it worked - Shining could hear the hoofsteps... but, alas, he couldn't see the incoming reinforcements. Sombra entrapped them both with a circle of crystals, preventing anypony from interfering with their duel. Duel in which prince-consort was painfully aware that he was outmatched. After all he wasn't the one who managed to take over entire country only by himself. As far as he was concerned, his only hope was that he will be able to stall him long enough for Cadance to use Crystal Heart.

Piece of cake. He didn't have to win, merely to delay.

To counter Sombra's attacks he resorted to a new tactic - using two shields at once. While king was strong enough to break one with an ease, breaking two at once was something completely different... and it was giving Shining a time to rise another one. Well, he was a sitting duck, unfortunately, but he had to endure, for the sake of the entire state.

Unfortunately, his crystal guards weren't as resolved or bold as him... and the mere appearance of dark tyrant's magic was enough to bring back the worst memories of his cruel rule immediately making them useless, at the best, or outright willing to surrender just to don't anger their former 'owner'...

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

The images around Shining's crystals arms continued to distort the minds and subdue the actions of the guards, as if trying to hypnotize them or make them into servants for the King. The more weaker ones would submit, and actively go around to cause acts of violence and fear inducing acts in the castle, while those who were more mentally strong would merely stay like statues, fighting within their minds against that of their worst fears.

For King Sombra, this was getting irritating for him. How the Shining armour, cowardly hides behind his shields, just goes to show the weakness of Shining armour, in Sombra's eyes. The King proceeded to go smash through the other one, before quickly turning around and firing black crystals at Shining Armour's legs, which seemed to lock him into place on the floor, holding him so he couldn't move.

"Your shields will not save you from your eventual fate, submit." Sombra said, while preparing to charge a spell as he looked into Shining Armour's eyes with intense rage and hatred.

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

The weaker guardians couldn't stand the terrifying assault on their minds and fled the scene, almost immediately forgetting about their vows or training. It wasn't even that bad - as the weakest one simply surrendered, submitting to Sombra's dark will. His influence started to spread like a plague, as each possessed soldier was able to attack others that were trying to resist king's mind tricks, making them fail, or even drag there unwilling servants unlucky enough to sleep in nearby rooms.

However, Shining Armor didn't know that, and was still fighting as hard as possible - which, unfortunately, meant that he was quickly getting weaker. Not only Sombra was able to smash his shields more quickly than he was able to create them, but also his attack on his legs caught him off-guard. While prince of Crystal Empire was standing in place anyway, the mere realization that his enemy was able to bypass his defences was... concerning

Especially  as he knew that he won't be able to stand against him for too long.

"NEVER!", he growled as he resorted to the last, desperate measure - his horn flashed far brighter than before, as he was preparing for the one, final attack. All or nothing. No more shields, no more dodging, only a raw firepower. 

[Props Valroa 26,043]

King Sombra was about to say something to Shining Armour, that flash and the laser that was sent forth from Shining Armour was unexpected, he attempted to dodge the laser, though it hit his leg. Sombra stood there in shock, but it quickly was transfered into a growl of pain and anger that seemed to echo through the entire hall, those that were left to fend for themselves against Sombra's possessed guard found themselves hear that growl before they too, were possessed. The possessed guards proceeded to go throughout the castle, spreading forth Sombra's darkness and causing chaos, attempting to wall off the castle from possible word being spread to the Empire.

King Sombra bared his teeth to Shining armour like an animal, Shining would notice that Sombra's teeth were not that of a regular pony, but it was different, and with 4 fangs, even fangs, perfect teeth. That is the last thing he would see before King Sombra would charge up his horn and fire a blast of pure dark magic at Shining Armour, the magic would work it's way into Shining's mind and try to corrupt him to serve King Sombra, and as one last thing, Sombra would seal the rest of Shining's legs in dark crystal, and leave him to fight against the darkness within him.

With Shining Armour taken care of, Sombra's form melts away into pure shadow, and soars through the halls. He had to get to the Crystal heart before anyone would come to get it. He moves through the halls as quick as he can, entirely silent and pure of stealth.

@Caligula

Edited April 26, 2019 by Califorum

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

On one hoof, Shining managed to at least hurt Sombra - on another hoof, it didn't seem to even slow him down. If anything, it merely angered him, and angry warlock was even more dangerous. (Un)fortunately prince didn't actually had to put up fight with him in this state, as the the very next attack broke through every single one defence he still had. The fight has ended - but Shining still had to struggle against the unholy, dark incursion into his mind. Anger, hate, fear... darkness inside him was growing, as he was trying to fend off terrifying visions and painful memories brought up by cruel king's spell.

Whether or not he would win or end as a mentally scarred puppet - it didn't matter. He was defeated and immobilized, and the soldiers he called turned out to be so easy to brainwash that it was pathetic, really. 

Meanwhile Cadance woke up, as chaos has started to reign in her palace. It didn't took too long to realize that the entire Empire is in danger - everything was practically reeking of dark magic, and she could hear Shining's screams alarming everypony. She had to act quickly - first she woke up Sunburst (he was always a heavy sleeper, not even a battle in the palace managed to disrupt his sleep) and sent him away with Flurry Heart. Now, with safety of her daughter dealt with, she quickly ran to the imperial treasury - where Crystal Heart was placed.

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

The corrupted guards continued to spread their old master's influence throughout the castle. The corrupted guards began fighting uncorrupted guards in the hallway in droves. The corrupted guards began picking away at the castle's defenses and spreading fear and panic to disorganize the Crystal guard, which was now in disarray and would likely soon fall to King Sombra. Black crystals littered the halls, all emitting a pure dark presence that began wearing down at the minds of anyone who went near them.

As Cadence proceeded to the treasury, she saw the disarray of the place. She couldn't exactly see what was going on, though she could hear fighting in the halls and just sense the amount of dark magic coming from the castle, it was quite alot. The shadows seemed to mock Cadence as she ran down the halls, seeing fallen guard ponies with corrupted magic debilitating them, making them too weak too stand.

As Cadence entered the area where the crystal heart was placed, she could tell that something was off about the area already. The shadows twisted and contorted into various, painful and graphic shapes. Then quietly up above, King Sombra's form solidified from the dark shapes and a dark purple beam was sent down from above, right at the crystal heart, knocking it off it's holder and it fell to the floor.

The sound of it's fall seemed to echo through the halls, which suddenly began to quiet down with the last remaining soldiers falling to Sombra's influence and darkness. The dark magic that gained control of the soldiers began to slowly undo the damage to their bodies .The soldiers proceeded to go march through the streets, terrorizing ponies in the streets and corrupting them, however, that was not of Cadence's main concern right now.

Her main concern was the fact that King Sombra himself, jumped down from the upper level right infront of her with a leering, triumphant grin. "Quite ashame your ponies are so weak..." he said with a dark chuckle. "But I hardly doubt you are just as weak...this will be fun..." he growled as his horn shimmered a dark purple and green.

Edited April 28, 2019 by Califorum

[Caligula 87]

While Cadance, as an alicorn, was far powerful in terms of raw magic than her husband, her fighting abilities were... somewhat lacking. Up to this day she once managed to fend off changeling invasion using love, and protect Crystal Empire from Sombra - once again with a help of her husband. Anything more than that? Not so much. 

As soon as she noticed distortions caused by dark magic she speeded up, just to get the Heart as soon as possible - before anypony would get seriously hurt. Her own guardians were fighting each other - just how far was this madness going to go? She knew many of them by the name, and it hurt her to see them in such a state. Her first thought was to stay here and help them fight off the corruption, but she quickly discarded this as illogical - considering how many of them were already under Sombra's influence, and that he was still rampaging somewhere, the Crystal Heart was the only option left.

Alas, as soon as she stepped into treasury and saw the Crystal Heart falling to the floor she knew that Twilight and her friends are probably the last hope for Empire left.

However, it didn't mean she was going to give up without fight.

Cadance didn't want to waste her time for banter, she had no interest in delaying him or stalling - so she simply and immediately powered up her horn and shot raw magic right at the dark king.

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

King Sombra simply smirked rather widely at her attempt to subdue her. The magic was seemingly pulled from the air and collected into a dark pool of magic on the floor which was seemingly absorbed into the King. His form seemed to get ever so slightly larger, and more intimidating, he almost seemed to relish the extra energy, now being stored within his mana pool.

"How amusing." Sombra chuckled as he charged forth directly at her at almost stunning speeds. She didn't have a shield so she was easily tackeld. Her face now face to face with his as his dark eyes looked into his. "How long I have waited...to take back what belongs to me...what YOU stole from me..." he said with a leering, almost insane grin before it descended into a growl as she felt dark crystals moving over her legs, trying to restrain her against the ground.

"I have a rather special PLAN for you...my darling..." he said, grinning as his hoof touched the crystal heart. His other hoof touching her horn and began to pump raw dark energy and magic into her. "I will CORRUPT you....I will BREAK you...into...the new Queen." he cackled loudly, his cackling echoing through the halls rather loudly.

"Behold! Heartbreaker!" he shouted loudly as his dark magic began to draw more of an influence in her mind, trying to bring out her raw, untempered emotions, and make them 'serve' her, but also form a new 'entity' within her. The darkness that lied within Nightmare Moon, lies within everyone, everyone has darkness within them, his magic stirrs that up within her, to bring out her own darker self, like Nightmare Moon to Luna, but with Cadence. 

As he kept pumping the dark magic into, he kept taunting her, reminding her of the poor situation, of what happened to Shining, and the fact her daughter was sent away, tormenting her with words. 

Edited April 30, 2019 by Califorum

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

Maaaaaaybe it was a mistake. However, what other options she had? With no real experience with fight, let alone with magical duels, Cadance didn't know that it would be so easy for Sombra to absorb her magic. She also didn't expect a warlock to charge and simply tackle here instead of using any of his fancy dark magic spells. Alicorn of love liked surprises - but not like that.

Considering that Cadance was an alicorn and a powerful magic user, it was quite disappointing that she was defeated so quickly. Overwhelmed by Sombra and his crystals she could merely scream in anger as he started to corrupt the Crystal Heart. That view alone was able to inflict a physical and mental pain, as the most sacred and important artifact in the entire Crystal Empire was getting desecrated. It was the sacrilege. It was the ultimate mockery of everything Cadance was loving and standing for. 

His plans about corrupting not only Heart, but Cadance as well, had two major flaws. First, she was fully realized as a princess, mother and wife, and nothing he could offer was enough to tempt her into darkness. Second... who said that corrupted princess of love would have any reasons to stand by Sombra's side?

The fiercer attack on her mind was, the more anger was boiling in her. He was threatening her country, her subjects, HER FAMILY! But she was weak, too weak to defeat him without Shining or Crystal Heart... and the latter was already taken over by Sombra. What options she had?

"You... will be... UNDONE BY ME!", Cadance growled furiously as she struggled viciously against the dark crystal that were holding her. 

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

The crystals didn't seem to budge all that much, though one of them cracked. That glimmer of hope was crushed by the crystals getting thicker and going up her legs more to fully restrain her legs, and wings to the floor. He just cackled and cackled for what seemed like hours, but what was only minutes. The dark influence in her mind was growing, so was the influence of his magic over her.

"I highly doubt that, my dear...." Sombra sneered as he pumped up the intensity of it. The dark magic causing a good degree of pain on Cadence, a very good degree of pain throughout her. She could see her body...transforming? Into different shades, colors, hues, in some areas. Her body was getting corrupted by his dark magic.

What was also getting corrupted, was the Crystal Heart. Between 2 larger black crystals the Heart was held, and dark magic was spreading throughout the heart aswell, black crystal seemingly growing within the blue crystal which grew fainter and fainter by the minute. He was doing this on purpose to make her more angry and hopeless.

"You will be the...perfect asset against the rest of this land...imagine the looks on their faces when they see...the Alicorn of love leading the conquest of Canterlot..." Sombra cackled more and more, the cackles seeming to resound within the dark magic that flowed through her, causing some headaches. 

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

Cadance was fighting against the unwanted corruption, but in her current situation - with dark magic crossing right into her veins and spilling into her mind - it was quite... tiresome. She was already confused, scared and angry, and Sombra's words, actions and spells were quite efficiently countering any attempts of her to calm down and focus. The only chance she had was based on the possibility of rescue - Shining Armor, guards, or maybe (miraculously) Twilight with friends.

Unfortunately, it looked like no miracles were planned for this day by the cruel, uncaring universe.

The headaches weren't helpful as well.

However, there was still one thing that she couldn't understand, and the more furious she was getting, the less she understood... Why did Sombra think that, even under the effects of corruption, she could be an asset?

Purple clouds bursted off the corners of Cadance's eyes, that started to glow with sickly green.

"This time I will PERSONALLY make sure you are dead", she growled as the bubbles of dark magic started to gather on her horn.

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

That insult seemed to catch Sombra, he seemed a little awestruck at what she had said. Not the insult, but the word 'dead'. He huffed with a slightly somberness to the huff and then growled as he kept the spell going. "You will never be able to kill a force of nature." he said, putting extreme emphasis in those words. "What you fail to understand is that...there must be balance...that is why creatures like I exist." he said, putting his hoof to his chest and then cackled somewhat, whatever sense she had just brought about for him to say, now completely gone, there was more to him, than meets the eye. "It's just that I take...EXTRA PLEASURE in my KEEPING of balance..." Sombra cackled and aimed his horn at Cadence's heart.

He could easily kill her right now and then, but no, he wanted to break this alicorn for what she did to him. She defeated him, humiliated him, and was responsible for his weakened state, where he couldn't do anything but simply heal while in intense anger about his predicament. His horn glowed a deep shade of purple and black swirling together as he knocked away her attempt to strike him down and touched his horn to hers, then after. 

What happened next was a mind control spell, that flowed through his horn to hers, to seize control of her mind and bend it to his will and only his. As this happened he said the following, 

"Your empire is based on weakness and love...this...will teach you what happens to those...who are weak minded..." he said with a cackle as that spell worked its way into her mind. As the spell took hold, she couldn't even think against him or think for herself. First she couldn't move even if she wanted to, then she couldn't speak...and then...she wanted to serve Sombra...and then...do his bidding...whenever he needed or wanted...however, she was still her 'own'...afterall, she was 'Heartbreaker' now, wasn't she?

 

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

Maybe there was a bit of truth in Sombra's words - there was a little weakness in Cadance and her empire, if by 'weakness' one means taking care of subjects instead of acquiring riches and weapons. Princess of Love's mind bent under the weight of mental assault, but didn't break - at least not in the way dark king expected. The longer he was talking and treating her with dark magic, the more her fear was replaced with a completely different feeling - frustration.

It's always a bad idea to toy with powerful beings instead of dealing with them swiftly and brutally,

Cadance's mind was forcefully flooded with dark magic, artificial negative emotions were twisting her thoughts and feelings, but there was an unchanging constant - fiery, burning hate towards king Sombra. Normally calm and somewhat meek nature of kind-hearted alicorn of love would keep it at bay, but right now tyrant was doing his best to unknowingly unleash it. Serve him? Do his bidding? What a joke! As if a phoenix could bow to a fly, or lion share his hunt with a mice!

"Force of nature? Don't make me laugh...", princess of love focused. Purple smoke started to  erupt from the corners of her eyes - and in a moment crystals holding her broke, just as her mind broke under the pressure of power granted by dark magic. In a blink of an eye she teleported effortlessly herself into a standing position - angry god of fury.

"... insect". Her next spell was directed right at the Sombra - a powerful slash of dark magic. Contrary to her attempt before this time she wasn't attacking to stop him, but to kill.

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

It worked! Though, not in the way he hoped...He didn't realize that he was doing more harm than good, inevitably creating a monster that he couldn't control. Little did she know, he actually felt a very slight tinge of fear within. He tried to look on the bright side at least slightly, at least the princess of love was, or at least the way she used to be was gone. He was about to grin wickedly at his 'creation', though he never got the chance.

Sombra dodged to the side though the slash managed to slash off a large portion of his robes and do severe damage to his armour aswell as causing a good deal of pain and bruising on him, though it was not visible. He growled in intense rage at his failure to make her submit to him. He dashed to the side, charging up his horn and proceeding to fire a bit of a barrage of dark lasers, before proceeding to charge at her, in an attempt to ram her against the wall, to restrain her movement.

"I should have destroyed you!" he growled in a deep rage, the cackling and entertainment with the situation completely gone, now replaced by pure rage.

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

"How? By bleeding on me?", Cadance sneered with a grim satisfaction in her voice. She didn't waste her time or energy by trying to counter his spell, instead immediately 'blinking' out of his way - short distance teleportation was so easy to use with powers of darkness on her side! Her next spell was more focused than her first attack, as she shaped magic into a spear and hurled it right at the dark king. A bit of guilt jabbed her - Sombra's cape was nice, it was such a waste that it had to be destroyed. Maybe she should get one for herself later, as soon as she'll finish this little pest control?

"You should be used to defeats, insect. I'm actually surprised you went so far this time!". While princess of love never learned before how to fight properly, it seemed like she was a quick learner, as she almost immediately casted another two spears, not giving Sombra any respite and immediately blinking away, hiding in the shadows from his counter-attacks. 

She didn't have too much experience, yes, but her raw magical power was incredible - a normal state for an alicorn. This time, however, it was supported by dark magic and her utter lack of self-restraint, turning her into far more dangerous enemy than she would be normally.

"Scared, insect?".  

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

Sombra growled, the growl seeming to echo through the darkness itself. His form melted away like that of a shadow, allowing the spears to go flying through where he once was, his dark form flew up onto the higher level and he proceeded to attempt to wall off the lower levels from her moving around, or to perhaps seal her in somewhere to make her more manageable to deal with. 

"Oh, not really...but you will be..." Sombra said with a bit of a sneer. He slammed his hoof on the ground and dark crystals began rising all over the area, making it harder for his enemy to move around without getting poked, while he himself was up above, and she was down below. He was attempting to restrict her movements down below to make it easier for him to ween out and target. 

 

[Caligula 87]

@Califorum

"Seriously? Are you that dim?", Cadance's reaction to dark crystals appearing was pretty simple - she just spread her wings and flew into air, avoiding effortlessly any traps. It was actually dissapointing - who would think that Sombra would use so primitive tactics against enemy that was able to fly and teleport?

"It's a rule of nature. Royals, like me, fly. Maggots, like you, crawl in the dirt".

She could practically hear the shadows - they were whispering to her, promising her their loyalty and servitude, practically begging her to command them... With this power she could protect her Empire and her family for eternity, turning entire land into a country filled with love and joy! Why she never noticed it before? She was imprisoned by that pathetic changeling worm, Chrysalis, and later she barely hold off Sombra - but she refused to see the obvious. She had a power of gods, destiny itself has chosen her as a princess, and yet she was afraid to understand her duties properly.

Oh, she was almost grateful to Sombra for showing her a better alternative. Of course her gratitude didn't change the fact that she was going to utterly and completely destroy his very being. 

Cadance merely nodded slightly and crystals have arisen around Sombra's shadow form - but this time they were under her command, clinging to fallen tyrant to hold him down long enough for her next spell to strike him. She was going right for the head. 

Edited May 14, 2019 by Caligula

[Props Valroa 26,043]

@Caligula

The way she was talking was so unlike the old Cadence. He had truly transformed her into a monster. What has happened was irreversible in his eyes. However that was not his main concern. He growled as his form moved down, the spell missing his head but striking his shoulder, and he growled. For once, he knew how it felt to be powerless and not in control. He narrowed his eyes and stared deeply into her soul.

"Ah, I see...let the strongest...survive..." he said with a leering growl as a dark laser blast pelted the area she was in, the lasers going in a rather wide area to deny her the ability to dodge or teleport away, or at least he hoped. He realized he created an unstoppable monster, at this point. He may need to seek...help and began thinking. He hated the idea of getting help from others, though, if he's going to take her down he might need it. He's going to try his damnnest to stop her on his own, though.