Green Trees slammed his pickaxe against the hard rock wall. Sweat beading his forehead as he took a few seconds to catch his breath. All around him, Crystal Ponies repeated the same pattern. But none of them dared to stop. Even for a one minute break. They all knew that their "king" disliked it when they weren't working. Under the circumstances of severe punishment by the Obsidian Guard.
Green Trees swung the pickaxe again. His right her flickering when he heard hoofsteps coming in his direction. He quickly pulled and swung his pickaxe again as the black armored stallion walked by. A cold, merciless look in their crystal eyes. What had once been friends and neighbors were now transformed into ruthless soldiers to the dark king. Dark armor completely hiding their bodies and clanging each time they moved. The guard walked by. Examining each pony to see if they were working.
Green Trees felt the other stallions hot breath brush against his short mane as he looked over his shoulder. The armored stallion gave an approved nod and resumed his inspection. Green Trees sighed a soft sigh of relief as soon as the stallion was further down the tunnel and out of his sight. He'd been having to endure this labor for over a year. Since Sombra had retrieved the Crystal Heart and reclaimed the Crystal Empire. Not only that, he had a mate that is just as sinister as him.
As soon as they were sure that the guard wouldn't be back for another while, Green Trees and the other ponies with him dropped their pickaxes and huddled together in a small group.
"Are you guys ready for this?" a gray crystal stallion whispered lowly. "We've been planning for this for months. This could be our one chance in stopping Sombra."
"W-what about the queen? Twilight Spar-Terror." a mare, Amber Leaf, asked hesitantly.
The stallion, Ash Hooves, sighed gravely. "From what we've seen, she's beyond saving. The nicest thing we can do is put her out of her misery."
Green Trees raised a hesitant hoof. "A-are you sure you wanna go with this? I mean... It's not gonna be easy sneaking into the castle. Pluse this is King Sombra we're talking about. The one who personally snuffed Shining Armor.
Ash Hooves suddenly narrowed his crystal eyes at the other stallion. "Don't tell me you're thinking of backing down now, Green Trees. We've been planning for this for months!" He then daggered his pale gray eyes into Green Tree's pale yellow ones. A serious expression on his worn out face. "Do you want to have to work in a mine for the of your life while that son of a bitch is busy fucking his wife every other day?"
Green Trees tensed a bit and bit his bottom lip. Finally, he shook his head. "No." he sighed. He really did miss his freedom. He missed the days where he was able to walk freely without constantly being watched or in chains. He missed the good old days when King Sombra was more of a decent unicorn than a tyrant king. "Let's do it, then." he said.
...
The Earth Pony stallion grumbled to himself as he made his rounds through Mine 7 again. Clearly bored with having to check on slaves every five hours just to make sure they were behaving. The first section of the tunnel went well. The ponies were doing exactly what they were suppose to do. The second section of the tunnel was also doing good.
Green Trees and the others waited patiently for their turn. Casually swinging their pickaxes like they've been doing for the past year or so. They soon heard the sound of clanging armor and Green Trees clenched his teeth tightly. The guard entered their part of the tunnel with a fierce, yet glazed over look in his eyes. The stallion passed Gray Hooves.
In a quick movement, the crystal pony swung his head and struck him in the back of his neck. The guards eyes widened with shock as he let out a surprised gag. The others soon followed; swinging their pickaxes down mercilessly on their former neighbor and friend until they were sure he was dead. It affected them greatly because of the fact that they just murdered one of their own. But this was a cruel world they lived in now. Plus they weren't the same pony anymore.
"Alright... One down." Ash Hooves panted as he wiped some blood off his face.
Green Trees stared at the dead Crystal Pony by his hooves. Silently envying them for finally being free of Sombra's wretched hold.
"Amber Leaf" Ash Hooves turned to the young mare, "Go tell the others. It's time to show King Sombra what we're made of!"
"R-right." the mare said hesitantly before galloping up the tunnel.
Green Trees and the others took the time to wipe off any blood they had on them before picking up their pickaxes and started charging up the tunnel. They soon met with the other ponies and together they charged out of the mine. Pickaxes raised and ready for battle. As soon as they reached the surface, however, they all came to a skidding stop.
Obsidian Guards, almost half of the current army, stood waiting for them with their weapons. They surrounded the Crystal Ponies; blocking off any sort of escape route. The pegasi and unicorn crystal ponies who worked in the mines had their horn or wings clipped off to prevent any sort of escape or attack. So they immediately lost hope of escape. Standing before them was none other then King Sombra, Twilight Terror, and Black Fire.
Sombra chuckled. "Oh, you foolish slaves." he said smoothly. "Did you honestly think you would get away with a rebellion without me finding out?"
"How?" Ash Hooves snarled. Putting up a brave face. That face was quickly replaced with one of sheer shock when Amber Leaf emerged from behind the dark unicorn. Head lowered and ears flat against her mane.
"A-Amber?" Green Trees asked shakely. Also shocked by this sudden act of betrayal from the young mare.
Amber Leaf opened her eyes and looked at her former friends. In tears, she said remorsefully, "I-I'm sorry everyone. But I just had to..."
"But why!?" Ash Hooves screamed.
"Because there's no way!" Amber screamed back. Tears flowing down her face as she glared at the others. "We can't defeat King Sombra! We just can't! There's no possible way! Even Shining Armor or those six ponies couldn't stop him! It's hopeless! Just hopeless!"
"Such a good mare." Sombra cooed fondly as he brushed his hoof against the mares mane. "Now. Why don't you tell us who the masterminds of this little rebellion are?"
Amber Leaf sniffled and gulped before looking at the group tearfully. The other crystal ponies looked at her fearfully and anxiously. Silently begging her not to tell.
Don't tell him, Amber. Please, Green Trees thought.
"A-Ash Hooves. Green Trees. A-and Crystal Arrow."
The ponies whose names were called closed their eyes and sighed heavily.
"Step forward." Sombra commanded.
The ponies looked at one another before dropping their only weapons and stood before the dark king. Putting up brave faces. Sombra nodded and turned to Black Fire. "Black Fire, kill them." he ordered without remorse. The crimson pegasus nodded before raising his prized weapon; a black halberd he called "The Harbinger". Amber Leaf desperately wanted to close her eyes or look away, but she knew that the king would be very displeased if she did so.
The Crystal Ponies from the small resistance group and the others watched as Fire Black decapitated Ash Hooves's head cleanly. The head fell to the ground in a hard "thump" that caused Amber to flinch. Crystal Arrow was next. The stallion bravely closed his eyes and waited for the moment his vision would go permanently black. Like Ash Hooves, his head was sliced right off. And then it was Green Trees's turn. He continued to stare at Amber Waves even as Black Fire stood before him with the blade of his halberd resting mere inches from his neck.
He wouldn't die hating her. He would choose not to hate her for her betrayal. Instead he mentally thanked her; for he was finally going to be free from this hellhole. Amber Leaf blinked just as the blade ran through the green stallions neck. She squeaked in terror as she watched his head fall and roll to the side while his body fell above Ash Hooves's.
"Let this be a reminder to all if you ever try to defy the throne." Sombra said gravely.
The Crystal Ponies huddled together in one group and bowed their heads slightly in submission. Sombra then turned to some of his guards and gestured to the ponies. "Take them back to the mine. And make sure they work until noon, tomorrow."
Amber watched quietly as the guards herded her former friends back into the mine while others took the heads and bodies of Ash Hooves, Green Trees, and Crystal Arrow. She got up and took a few steps towards the mine. Thinking that her duty was done.
"Not you, Amber Leaf." Sombra said in a much more gentler tone.
The mare stopped and looked over her shoulder to find both the king and queen smiling at her. It sent shivers down her spine. She stayed still as the black unicorn approached her. She looked into his burning eyes. Was this the same unicorn who'd given her his red scarf? The same unicorn who comforted her? The same unicorn who shared a similar love interest in her while she did in him?
No.
The Sombra she knew a thousand years ago was dead. Having fallen through an ice-covered lake and drowned by his own shadow. This was a different Sombra. A Sombra she did not recognize one bit. Yet...she helped him.
"You were wise to alert us a few days prior to this." Sombra praised the young mare. "Perhaps you could prove quite more useful than just working in the mines."
Amber blinked. Her eyes widening in curiosity.
...
"Are you sure about your decision with her?" Twilight asked as they crawled into bed that night. Sombra nodded.
"Yes. I am fully confident about my decision for her."
Twilight raised her brow curiously before she straddled her husband's lap. Leaning her head down to nuzzle him lovingly. "I saw the way she looked at you." she growled softly, "She better not try anything funny with my king."
Sombra chuckled before her kissed her passionately. "Relax, love. She won't try anything on me. Everypony knows how you get when you're angry."
Twilight scoffed in false offense and crossed her arms. "What does that suppose to mean?"
"It just means you won't be having competition any time soon." Sombra suddenly grabbed Twilight's waist and flopped places. The young alicorn laughing in surprise as she was pressed against the mattress before sharing a heated kiss.
...
The train ride back from Appleloosa was a quiet one for all of the Royal Guard members. Some of which found it hard to sleep that night. Both Rainbow Dash and Star Knight thought it would be best if they got away from the others and hung out at the end of the train. Dash thought on how she was going to break the news to Little Strongheart when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She looked up and found Star Knight looking down at her with concerned green eyes.
"Are you still troubled about what we saw back there?" he asked gently.
Rainbow Dash sighed and buried her face in her hooves. "It's just... I don't how I'm going to explain this to Little Strongheart. She's all alone now!"
"Doesn't she know another herd that would welcome her?"
Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Not that I know of."
"Hmm." Star Knight gave his new friend a gentle nudge with his elbow. "Cheer up. You'll think of something. I know you will."
Rainbow Dash said nothing in return.