This story is a sequel to Days of the Dead

Luster Dawn, Twilight's most faithful student, is a studious young mare who knows far too much about the afterlife & keeping secrets. Recently, she's uncovered a new secret, a rather dark one that she can't talk about, as speaking of such a secret puts her own life at risk.

Sombra, former tyrannical king of the Crystal Empire, is the King of the Dead, dedicated to saving his subjects from the curse of the afterlife. Under his rule, they are not allowed to reveal themselves to the living, though he has made an exception for Luster. Unfortunately, this has put both her and others in danger.

Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Equestria, is unaware of these secrets, the dead within her castle, or her student's meddling in their afterlives. Surely, these secrets can't last forever? Especially when it begins to threaten the ones she cares about?

I didn't leave room for text on the cover art, oops

It had been around two months since King Sombra took over the Crystal Empire. Even with the best of efforts, the Elements of Harmony, Princess Cadence, Shining Armor and Spike were unable to stop the King of Dark Magic. Spike and Cadence's whereabouts are unknown and everypony else seems to be just a regular slave.

Save for one, who showed off bravery during the very first meeting between her and her future king. She was granted a position as a soldier in his army, where she was brainwashed to believe all that he believed. However, during the first mission to Hollow Shades, she made multiple mistakes and was pulled from the army and has become a Castle Slave.

A maid if you will.

Rated Teen for Implied Torture and Slavery.

The cover art was made by myself.

Not long after the events of the Crystal Empire, Fluttershy discovers the remains of King Sombra's horn in a field while out on a picnic. She accidently releases the tyrant, only to find that he's weak and hurt. And so, unknown to her friends, the mare begins caring for the broken tyrant in hopes that she could maybe reform him...

When the sky over the Crystal Empire is split open by a dark tear, Celestia, Cadance, Luna and Twilight must figure out a way to stop it. But in order to defeat darkness, sometimes you NEED darkness. And that leaves only one option; Sombra.

With his powers under lock down, and a growing connection to the strange darkness, can Sombra learn what it really takes to earn an empires respect, or will he abandon them to the darkness from another world?

UPDATED: Chapter one re-formatted, extra bits added, general tidying.

Edited by Dream Seeker!
Further helped into readableness by Hail King Sombra!

Long ago, in the dead of night, Luster Dawn saw a dark figure in Canterlot Castle's throne room. Longer still before that, Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends defeated one of Equestria's greatest enemies in that same room.

Now, Luster Dawn wishes to disprove the existence of ghosts and allay her illogical fears of the castle being haunted, but a lingering presence is about to teach her something far more important.

Entry in the May 2020 Pairing Contest & Third place winner!

Long before the reign of Celestia and Luna, a beautiful young mare, by the name of "Fluttershy," was on her way to her new job as a teacher at a veterinarian school in Trotsylvania. She soon finds herself in the care of the Countess de Shimmer and persued by the brother of the Countess, who has been locked away in his own home.

Not long after, a gentlecolt, Dr. Van Helstallion, comes into town, hearing of strange deaths. It is then that Van Helstallion meets Fluttershy, immediately befriending her. Now, Dr. Van Helstallion must do whatever it takes to protect the young maiden, as well as the rest of Trotsylvania, from a demon that has been causing all the recent deaths... especially due to the fact that all the victims have been young mares...

Based off of the 1960 horror film "The Brides of Dracula"

Cover art made by Evehly

King Sombra is brought back by what seems to be the imposing father of monsters - Grogar. He is offered an alliance with the 'biggest bads' of Equastria. This time though, the King of Monsters would play his cards just like a true dark lord would...With vicious tactics and spineless caution.

AU: Sombra plays a much bigger role in the finale then what was shown. Slightly OOC, potential mild gore.

While going to meet her new niece in the Crystal Empire, Twilight Sparkle discovered King Sombra's horn and nearly recovered essence in his study beneath the castle. Still weakened, he was captured and transported to the Canterlot dungeons.

Seeing an opportunity, Princess Celestia enlisted Twilight (the one who outwitted his traps and then discovered him) and Fluttershy (who reformed Discord) to try to bring out the good in Sombra.

However, just as they seem to be making some progress, things take a turn for the strange, as four ponies they had never seen before began fighting in the streets with Dark Magic. Four ponies with unusual coloring, yet who seem oddly familiar...

An homage to the artist/author Evehly and their story 'Shy Can See'. Cover art by Evehly, as well.

Fluttershy had become Equestria's resident villain reformer. So, reforming a now powerless Sombra should be easy, right? Well, there's more to it than that. Take one magic-deprived unicorn, mix in some serious emotional baggage, and you get a disaster.

This road won't be easy to walk, but it's one she has to take. That much remains clear.

A collab between myself and my good friend Lord Despair.

Gorgeous cover art a commission from HiccupsTheNoodle on Deviantart.

The Aether. A dark place where the most vile of creature is sent to once their mortal bodies parish. Limbo. A space in between where time itself holds no power over those who are trapped. Within these two realms lies a shadow, forever imprisoned with no hope of escape. However, forever is a long time. A lot can happen.

EDIT: I updated the title card with a redraw. I hope you like it.