WARNING: IF you have not read part one, I suggest you refrain from starting here, and first read A "Canterlot Wedding Aftermath" before you read Part 2.
Short recap: With the Changeling infestation taken care of, and the city of Canterlot humbly back in a state of peace, the ponies have gone back to their usual lives. However, unbeknownst to them, a new terror has arisen from the depths of the ancient world. The medal ceremony for Shining armor takes place only a few weeks after his wedding, therefor, the Mane Six had been able to stay a while longer... all the while picking up strange clues that point to a new conspiracy regarding Chrysalis. Before long, all the characters became aware something was wrong, but they did not know what. Now, with the ceremony in full swing, a small group of renegades have breached Canterlot's defenses, and the ancient entity Dark Sovereign has formally made his appearance before Celestia with the assistance of The Great and Powerful Trixie, plus a number of other New, and Never before seen Characters(My OCs)
Let us continue shall we?
PARTE II
A very vivid conundrum has fallen upon Canterlot. A great evil is looming over the rest of Equestria. It speaks with the vivid softness of an old man, yet walks with the power of a god... even now he has put himself before the might of Celestia, and all those to see him. No longer does he hide in the shadows, nor holds his tongue... he is here.
Celestia of all, was the very first to speak, "No...", her pupils were narrowed, her was so appalled, her hoof raised, as she seemed to want to retreat back, "It can't be.", she declared softly. The old pony before her could not be...
Princess Luna stared, softly agape just like her sister, "...Umek.", she begged it... to be both right... or wrong. It was hard to read her expression.
The elder's bladed horn raised, but then lowered with a soft, chuckling smile... bowing very curtly to them, "Ahhh... my little darlings, it has been... oh far too looong...", his tattery gray mane fell over his eyes, before they raised to look upon them, "You two have grown...", he mumbled, his soft blue eyes gleaming quite oddly. It was so misleading, as pure as they appeared... but under the surface, it was so much more.
"Your highness... is everything alright?", Shining Armor asked from the bottom of the alter.
Cadence had curiously taken a more passive stance as she stared head-on into the unicorn before them all. She stood closer to her husband though, rather frightful, "Who is this?", she asked him, her big eyes saddening almost, before she looked back to the elder.
Celestia and Luna remained unyielding, they could hardly pull their eyes away.
Twilight Sparkle's watched with utter confusion, and worry, grouped with her many friends, trying to understand, and hopefully comprehend what exactly was happening right here and now. Who was this Unicorn? Why was he here? And... why did he give her a very bad feeling?...
"Oh what is the matter?...", he asked, his old head raising itself, the long, gray chin-beard hanging more than a foot from his face, "Not happy to see me?...", he finished, before pulling back, a very fake, sad expression, "Ohhhh... do I frighten you?..."
Princess Celestia had been still long enough, before she shook herself awake slowly, and stepped forward in sheer disbelief, "Umek... you... this is impossible. It cannot have been this long!"
"Ohh but it has... it has.", he nodded, the blade glinting with the sunlight... but the clouds suddenly beamed it away... and shrouded the area suddenly... while everyone was basked in the shade... the unicorn himself became a darker shade of color almost... all but his eyes, "In fact...", he began, "It has been far longer than I expected...", he chuckled, looking away for a moment, "One thousand, one hundred and sixty years...", he stated approximately, "Give or take a few months or minutes..."
Luna rushed forward, "Oh, dearest Umek! It is you!", she cried, stopping at the top step of the alter, she did not continue, "Please!", she begged, "Tell us it is you! Tell us it is you again!", she seemed so changed, as if she'd lost her calm collect spirit she had moments earlier.
"Luna!", Celestia called out to her, worried, "Luna, wait!"
The blue alicorn gazed out to the ancient, but retreated in sheer horror, shutting her eyes tight. No one understood, not the ponies around, not the guards... not even Twilight, nor the Mane Six.
Why she did so, they could not figure out, but the old unicorn smiled softly... his hoofs making a step forward, "Well... now that our hello's, and welcomes have been given...", he cleared his throat, before gazing around, "This place has changed far too much since I've slept...", he added deeply.
All around did not understand, therefore all they could do was stare... the long rowed wall of guards had not yet descended, they narrowed their eyes to the ancient... waiting for the order to escort him out of the building.
"Twi...", Applejack poked from behind, "Uh... you have any idea who this honcho is?", she winced a little asking that question, but suddenly... they both widened their eyes as a blue streak rushed by them.
"Who do you think you are?", Rainbow Dash asked quite loudly, crossing her hooves, in the elder's face, "So you think you're cool enough to just barge right in on the Princesses like this?"
… the ancient raised his brows slowly, his ocean eyes scanning over this... mare, "Mmmm...", he exhaled long, and slowly, before he smiled, "Loyalty.", he told her, giving a very soft, yet unnerving smile.
"Huh?", Dash cocked a brow, before she winced, and flipped upside down, "Hey!", she squirmed, "What the!", her tail glowed with a dark purple, before she was hung out before the rest of the crowds.
"And I assume the remaining five are present?", he asked, "Step forward, younglings.", he called out, as if changing the subject entirely
"Let me go!", RD struggled to flatly... no avail at all.
"Let her go!", came the strong-willed voice of Twilight Sparkle, as she, and the rest of the Mane six came stepping forward, determined to help Dash out of his grip. Rarity glared harshly, Pinkie Pie was hunkered like a puma, ready to strike. Applejack stepped forward, with her southern grit... ready to take on whatever was thrown at her, and Fluttershy well... she frowned, quite frightened... but she would always strive to save her friends.
Umekile turned his aged gaze from the one Pegasus to the rest of them, smiling with such a void, "Mmmm...", his long chin-beard, as well as the long tattery mane began to flutter about in a light wind, along with the rest of his clothing... "Then best make it quick.", he told them.
This set the guards lining the entire walkway into defensive mode. Their expressions grew more harsh, and ready to stop the next event... They raised their hooves in unison, and began to step forward.
With a loud crackling fwoosh, all were repelled back into submission. One wall of fire, off of the ancient's right side... and another of baby blue magic to his left... abolishing the guards, and forging a solid pair of walls. The wind exerted from the force violently whipped the old pony's cloaks about in the air, his long blade-horn raised into the air.
"Come now... how unfair of you.", he called out to the princesses. He lowered his head down, for keeping it raised tired him after a while, "It's a good thing I came prepared... wouldn't want their armor to be ruined.", he obviously had more to tell then just mocking the royal guard.
"Umek, I don't understand!", Celestia called out to him, dreading the response, "You would never come alone.", she appeared determined... She did however, feel much more confident with her sister beside her.
The old Unicorn looked his head aside, his soft eyes still gazing on the Princess, "My dear child...", he began, "I assure you... I never come alone.", before they looked away, and back to the marble doors. By now they had been closed...
Yet with a sudden crank, the thick barring device which locked both doors down began to bend, and crack. When it refused to give way, three bright shining lights went off. First blue, then red, and blue again... and cutting the wood from down the center. It slid aside, and hit the ground as the doors began to open.
Umek turned back to face the ruler of Equestria when on the other side, they were greeted by a pale outside world. Standing in the entrance was not one, nor two, not even three... but a horde of raised creatures. No... statues... solid stone. The statues in the Canterlot palace, and the garden. Some in their cold, stone armor, others bare, tall, smooth, or rugged... and those holding up the flags, now mangled, and torn. They moved freely, though a little slow.
And their eyes glowed as they looked in upon the aisle, mostly to the one who had undoubtedly given them "Life".
"Ironic that the things which make this city beautiful... shall be it's destructors.", the old pony told them... his voice had mellowed out, as though that didn't amuse him as much as he thought it would, "Tell me... does that upset you?", he asked, looking up at them more politely.
Luna and Celestia retreated back.
Rainbow Dash still hung, fearfully looking over at the statues, her mane dangling over her eyes, before she began to struggle again, "Let. Me. GO!", she grunted, and started gunning it with her wings... yet to little avail. All she got was the... kindest of laughs.
"Ohh, does that frustrate you?", he asked, smiling lowly, as now he turned, getting face-to-face with the Pegasus, "Do you hate being toyed with?"
"Yes!", she responded, trying to hoof him in the face... but sadly JUST out of reach. Suddenly she went limp with an upset frown on her angry face. But she yelped when he dropped her, a force pushed her back along the ground, back to her friends... skidding her upon her rump.
His horn crackled with a dark purple lightning, "Now then... on to bigger matters."
"Enough!", Shining Armor interrupted him, stepping out in front of Celestia, and lowering his own horn. It began to glow as bright as a nearing star, bright pink-purple on it's own, "I will give you ten seconds to leave the area, or I'll be forced to remove you myself.", as captain of the Royal guard, it was safe to say, Shining Armor knew what he was doing.
However, the old Unicorn lowered his eyes, and tilted his head down, his skinny body going into a limpish stance, "Mmmm... Tick tock.", he replied. But then he began to come forward... meter by meter, he was slow, but he wouldn't stop.
The Royal Guard looked up, an agape frown crossing his face... time was up. He put on a fierce look, and lowered his horn again. Just like the shield he, and Cadence had created the day of their wedding, he generated a moving wall of powerful magic. It was to expel the old Unicorn, rid the room of the evil his heart undoubtedly contained, and as it rushed forward, it appeared like it would surely work.
It passed through him.
"Huh? What?", Shining stepped back, the barrier stopped not far after it overlapped the ancient. All behind, and around him gasped.
Celestia and Luna remained where they were... they lacked the expression of surprise. Just sure fear.
Umekile as Celestia called him, stepped forward more... his presence causing the overlapping shield to shrink as well. With a calm, collect laugh, he shook his head, his beard swaying left, and right, "Come now... did you honestly expect that to work?", that was certainly the question.
"How? I don't understand-", Shining Armor looked at his hooves, then at the barrier as it shrunk around them all.
"Oh, simple colt... You do not know who I am.", he confirmed, his bladed horn crackled again, "Allow me to introduce myself.", he stopped, and suddenly bowed.. with vigor, "I... Am Umekile Scythe... however...", he added, "You all... may refer to me, as Dark Sovereign.", he stood tall again, his tattery mane breezing in the created wind.
"But the evil in your heart!", Cadence added... she knew how the spell worked, but why didn't it?
"Hmh...", the old pony bowed his head, closing his eyes, "An unworthy question.", he told her, before looking amongst the rest, "Allow me to tell you about... impurity...", he announced, his horn glowing. Behind Celestia, the alter began to glow, a glass of Cider was poured... yes... a toasting drink had the ceremony finished. It filled the wine-glass halfly... before floating to him... he took his merry time. Almost wasting a full minute.
"Impurity...", he began, sifting the cider around in the glass, "It is within us all.", he nodded, "And it's one thing... that keeps me in this room.", he smiled, "You all have negative emotion.", he told them, "You all have something you dislike... Fear... Jealousy... Greed... Desire... dislike...", he sighed, "It's within you all.", he chuckled.
The crowd around them began to falter, and grow uneasy. The guards, still unable to pass the barrier, could only watch as they were now, no longer in a straight line, but scattered, and unorganized.
"Umek, please.", Celestia spoke up... but she was silenced.
"Oh no... allow me.", he turned aside, and his horn began to glow... an evil purple color, dark, almost black... twisted colors.
"Cadence!", Shining Armor shouted, as his wife had been snatched up off the ground.
"AHH!", her reaction was one of extreme surprise... she hadn't seen it coming. Her couldn't struggle, it was like a chain binding, squeezing around her like a constricting snake, entwining her, and spinning her about slowly in the air... like a plaything.
Umek chuckled amusedly before he stopped her... a mere foot from his face, "Princes Mi Amore Cadenza.", he told her, "Oooohhh... such a pretty thing.", a wisp of his power crazed her mane, pushing it away from her eyes, "I was impressed... for when the two of you warded away Chrysalis... I honestly did not foresee it.", he told her, his tone remained charming.
"What do you want from me?", she asked, her eyes wide with fright, as the hold did not ease, "Please... please release... me.", she gasped.
"CADENCE!", Shining Armor leapt forward, but the blue magic wall careened from it's position, creating an appendage of equal power. His face smacked clean against it before it sent him barreling back.
Twilight gasped, running to her big brother, "Shining Armor!", she helped him up, before she glared weakly, and helplessly at the Unicorn, "Let her go!"
Umekile only began to smile... almost kindly in return, "Nonsense... I'll not hurt a hair on her...", he mused, "Tell me... does this make you hate me?... Do you hate it when I do this Shining Armor?"
"Let her go!", he replied, his eyes burning up, "I-... I won't stand for this!"
Umek smiled, and suddenly stood more straight, "Mmmm...", he closed his eyes, "That's good.", he told him. He began to spin Cadence more.
"Ahhh!", she cried out, before her own horn glowed brightly, but her magic lacked all control... she was trying to escape too much.
"Oh this is delicious.", he coed, "The new wife of the Royal Guard... or a Princess for that matter... and all I do is fiddle, and play...", Umek looked aside, "This is becoming quite boring.", he told himself, shaking his head, his horn glowing dully.
"Why are you doing this?", Shining Armor called out, still trying to mount another assault. Twilight was beside him, her horn glowing vengefully.
"How dare you!", she added.
But it was all in vain... as it seemed Umek was more interested in speaking with Cadence than anypony else. As much as they wanted to save her... they didn't know what they were up against.
"Please... this isn't right.", Cadence spoke to the old Unicorn pleadingly... she was trying to connect to him, "Release me. I've done nothing wrong.", she begged.
"Ohh... dear Cadence... tsk tsk.", he shook his head, "Don't you realize I'm only having my fun?", he craned his head before her own eyes, inches away, "You're only my pawn...", his long, bladed horn turned with his head, to gesture, "They can do nothing to save you here... perhaps it is best if I just quieted you down right now.", his eyes began to glow... a blistering white. Fuming off his brows.
"Ahh-", she began quietly... but soon became captivated by it... her own eyes began to glow the color of her magic.
"Cadenza!", Luna cried.
"No!", Shining Armor pleaded, "NO!"
The fumes of their eyes were about to connect... fizzing, and crackling... He was putting her to sleep. As she began to go limp in his magic's grip.
"Enough!" SHWAM!
As if he did not stand their moments ago, the Unicorn vanished, taken by the power exerted in a desperate rage to save Cadence from a fate unknown. IT was a beam of light, as strong as a solar flare... it bludgeoned the ground as it grazed forward... sending the tumbling heap of smoke, torn carpet, and marble flooring out the massive double doors... and into the crowd of stone creatures.
Umek did not even get to grunt.
And Cadence was released, dropping to the ground, and gasping for breath. She panted, unable to stand, her eyes began to dim down to what they normally were. She held her chest with a hoof, "I-... Shining Armor...", she called out. As she fell, he caught her.
"Cadence!", his eyes shook, wet with tears, and fearful worry.
Twilight and her friends were agape, before looking back at Celestia. They expected to see the just looking queen, standing before them with her stern, and defensive position. But instead... they only saw a look of horror... the princess leaned back, a hoof in the air... as if she feared what was going to happen next...
"Wha- What's goin on?", Applejack asked her.
"Princess Celestia? What's wrong?", Twilight added.
"Oh ear, is he going to be alright?", Rarity's voice added, "My WORD!", she seemed utterly amazed.
"Sister!", Luna's wing rested on Celestia's shoulder, "Sister please! It was the right thing to do! But we must be strong!", she shook her older sibling a little.
"Twilight, what the heck is happening?", Rainbow Dash shouted over the gasps of the crowd... as even the guard were amazed... an uproar commenced.
"I- I have no idea!", She replied, her purple body turned to look down the aisle. Out the doors, the stone statues only gazed down at the large collection of rubble. And there was not only them... two Zebra's... stood on opposite sides, gazing down with surprised, horrified almost, and genuinely upset expressions. One however... alerted Twilight more than the second.
As the bigger Zebra stared down, he blinked his eyes open, and a harsh... lizard green could be seen, before he turned his head to gaze way on back. The glowing eyes of the statues emanating the now darkening palace garden. As the clouds overhead had gathered without stopping... the day grew more dull.
Though even the barriers of Fire, and Magic faltered... as though they were surprised just like all else.
And everything grew all the more distracting, and louder...
And So it has begun! The first chapter of Part 2 is completed... is anyone the least bit amazed?
Umek's Home? What in the hay does that mean? Why didn't the spell repel him? Why was he so amused with Cadence? Who are the Zebra's!(Black Knight, and Scare Crow) Where's Trixie? Why Cider as the main drink? Where's the fire barrier from? Who's Umekile? And why did he change his name? What was he doing to Cadence?... And how in the hay did Celestia take him out so easily?
**Hands in yer face** All shall be revealed! Just as soon as Chapter two finds it's way into my head.
Hope ya'll enjoyed this first slow... then fast paced chapter ^^
~Lugitorix
P.S: Plz... send me your regards via Review, or PM.