He hadn't expected any resistance. His former subjects were too relaxed, they had lived too long in peace. How could they have known about the return of the Darkness that rose like a wall behind him, drawing closer to the borders of the Crystal Empire by the hour? But Princess Celestia seemed to have sensed something, understood something... King Sombra arched an eyebrow at the pony who dared to come out against him. For a moment he thought she was Twilight Sparkle, but this mare was much taller, much stronger, and much... meaner.
"What's your name?" he hissed, stopping at the snowy border. Mare lifted her right leg, which was encased in a beautifully engraved steel hoof. She didn't seem to be paying any attention to him, but suddenly pony turned her head to face the king… And he burst out laughing horribly. "Ha! Celestia's not doing well if she's sending hornless invalids to fight me!"
"I can kick your ass with my hooves solely", the unicorn with broken horn struck Sombra with the coldness of steel in her voice. It's not an equestrian character at all- "But if you're trying so hard, you'll have to use your magic as well. Princess Celestia has ordered me to delay you as long as I can".
"So who are you, suicidal one?" the black stallion frowned. Pony grinned viciously.
"Get Ready, Sombra. Tempest is coming for your soul".
She suddenly screamed and got up on her hind legs. The black king backed away as icy sparks shot out of the horn, and then white lightning shot towards Sombra. He took a step back, ducking his head, and magic flowed from the red tip of his sabre-shaped horn, creating a dark green shield in front of the king. Lightning struck him and disappeared, but King's magic also disappeared with a loud bang. The defiant pony didn't stop as a fresh, weaker bolt of lightning flew towards the enemy, striking the king's armor. It didn't do any damage, but Sombra sensed he was dealing with a dangerous opponent.
"So, are we going to fight, or are you going to hide in your hole until the next ice age?"! the Mare stood half-sideways to the unicorn. "Weakling! Coward! You can only bully your subjects, but you're afraid to fight-"
Sombra stepped forward, and the snow whipped up behind him. For a moment, mare's face showed an expression of fright, as the snow curled into icy needles, pointing their points at the pony.
"So can you tell me your name finally?" Sombra's dry voice was bone-chilling. "There must be something to write on your grave!"
"My name is Tempest Shadow. Remember that name, and you'll have nightmares about it in your eternal rest".
Black magic pushed the needles forward. The unicorn squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head as magic slashed across the ice, breaking it into pieces. But Sombra rushed towards the pony, determined to show her all his monstrous power. Tempest let out a strangled cry as King pinned her down, grabbed her, and spun her into the air. Iron hooves dug into her flanks, and the scarlet horn glittered with searing magic. Sombra pulled the Mare under him and tried to direct magic at her muzzle, but tempest responded with a lightning bolt that made both ponies' fur stand on end and their armor turn black. Sombra let go of her with a howl, and Еempest tumbled to the ground.
She was lucky — she fell into the snow, rolled on and straightened up, escaping with only a few bruises. But a black cloud was already falling on her from the sky. Feeling the world wobble, the unicorn dug her hooves into the ground, the fragment of her horn glinting... and then fading. Sombra's magic knocked her off her feet, hurled her into the air, and hit her so hard that consciousness left her body. The magic dissipated, leaving Tempest Shadow lying in the snow behind Sombra, who was now a meter closer to the Crystal Empire. For a short time, she managed to hold him off her enemy, but even for her, he was too strong.
Still, Sombra respected the force - the only thing in this world that mattered to him. That's why the magic stopped swirling on his horn.
"Don't you dare block my path again," he snapped, not looking back at his fallen foe. His hoof was already rising above the snow when tempest lifted her head and looked after him.
"You can't win anyway," she croaked. "No matter how strong you are, these ponies are still stronger than you.
Sombra continued walking forward.
"Can't I?" tempest heard his growling voice. "Well… I'll give you a chance to see my triumph. And then you'll know how wrong you were!"
Tempest tried to get up, but her legs wouldn't support her, and she sank back down into the snow.
"No, Sombra. This will show you how wrong you are about ponies".
King could no longer hear her. The sun did not rise that day, but at the hour when Princess Celestia usually raised the sun, Sombra entered the lands of the Crystal Empire.
And darkness... It's back.