//------------------------------// // Talking with Shadows // Story: Shadows of Equestria // by Silver Inkwell //------------------------------// Chapter Eight: Talking with Shadows “Well hello there, strange ponies,” the stallion who sat on the throne said, “I must ask you who you are exactly and why you are here too.” Twilight stared at him, it couldn’t be him, could it? “You seem shocked and surprised to see me, I don’t blame you.” “No, you’re not real, you can’t be! You were defeated!” Twilight said. “I don’t think so, otherwise I wouldn’t be her today,” he said. “I know who you are, but the Sombra I knew couldn’t be you ever!” King Sombra smiled, “The Sombra that you knew? That’s very curious, by your dialogue I would guess that you’re from an alternate universe, correct?” “That is correct,” Star Swirl said, “And forgive Twilight, but in her world you were a very evil king, but here I can see that you clearly are not however.” “That is right, but if you are to understand my story you first must meet the former rulers of this land, Celestia, Luna, you can come out now.” And with that said two ponies who looked like the princesses came out. “Twilight? Is that really you?” they said coming closer to her now. “No, she’s from an alternate universe,” King Sombra said, “She’s not our Twilight, not your Twilight, and she’s also not your enemy either.” “Oh,” Luna said disappointed, “That’s too bad then,” “What’s up with her?” Twilight said as she walked away very slowly. “She’s the one who feels responsible for creating Midnight,” Celestia said. “What do you mean by that exactly?” Twilight said. “In this universe my sister admitted to me that she was considering to rebel against me, but she didn’t go insane, instead she tried to do something else completely different, she decided to corrupt my students instead.” “I said that I was sorry for what I did,” Luna said. “I know sister,” Celestia said walking over to her. “And as for me, well Luna managed to talk me out of my madness for she was the only who really truly understood my heart, and she was the one who made all my darkness and shadows vanish, but now it seems that the madness and my power that I used to have now reside within the former body of Twilight, for now she has a completely new different name to separate herself now.” “So you created shadows and nightmares, versions that are far worse that we have then,” Star Swirl said, “Excellent, let’s go on now then.” “And we have been trying to stop here ever since the Shadow War.” “Or at least I have,” Luna said to Celestia said, “She won’t listen to any pony anymore, even me but she used to before she went insane.” “I know how to defeat her,” Star Swirl said, “But it would mean a very great sacrifice indeed, one that even I would never try to make at all however.” “What is it? How can we make Twilight normal once ore again?” “Do you know the names Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Applejack, and also Rainbow Dash?” Star Swirl said. “You mean Midnight’s person fashion designer, torturer, business pony, and also her most loyal royal guard?” Celestia said. “Well never mind about that idea of using them,” he said, “Very well then, if you are to bring Twilight back to normal some pony will need to take her curse, they will need to take her power, her darkness, her evil and shadows.” “That does sound very horrible,” Luna said, “But I am willing to do it.” “No sister, I cannot allow you to do this,” Celestia said. “Then let me,” Sombra said, “After all, I am the king of this empire, and since the Crystal Empire is the only thing holding back Midnight I think that I have the final say, and you cannot stop me my very lovely dear wife.” “WIFE?” Twilight said shocked and surprised as they kissed and then Sombra laughed and said, “Yes, we married shortly after I was purged of evil.” “Oh, I can’t believe that this is actually happening,” Twilight said. “You better, because our Twilight has cause pain and chaos making despair and sorrow for all ponies for far too long now, and we will do anything to make her normal and regular again, even if that means that we will have to die.” “I doubt that it will come to that,” Celestia said to all of them. “Well then, why don’t you go do that? After all, we can’t leave just yet.” “Do you really think that we should?” Celestia said. “Trust me when I say that with all of you that Midnight won’t stand a chance.” And with that said they nodded, “Very well then, we leave at once.” And with that said they all left the castle to go to Midnight now.