Sombra's Tragedy

I was so close, the heart was right there. Within the reach of my hooves; hooves I had not seen for an age. The smoke around me faded and I was back to my full, glorious power and as I reached out to claim my Crystal Heart; she appeared. Flying through the sky, she caught the heart and safely landed on the ground. From atop my spire I could hear the Crystal ponies crying out, calling this pony "The Crystal Princess", I believed them all to be foolish. The last Princess had died by my horn, and I was ready to end this mare the same. However I was terribly wrong.

The alicorn raised her voice, loud enough to be heard by all around the castle. Loud enough to be heard by me.

"The Crystal Heart has returned. Use the light and love within you to ensure that King Sombra does not."

Who did this mare think she is?

My thoughts raced and my heart pounded, as the words leave her mouth the ponies begin to bow, and glow with light.

I ordered them to stop, but my rule was halted, these ponies no longer feared me; therefore no longer obeyed me. Their disgusting love and friendship returned power to the heart, and in its light I experienced a pain unlike anything I've ever felt. The light did not shine over me, it passed through me. Roaring in pain was all I could do; for the power of crystal was strong. All light faded from my eyes and the only darkness I have ever feared washed over me. It was the darkness of Tartarus.

Day One

The blinding light that surrounded me has now faded, and all I see is darkness. I try to move, but can't. My eyes are opened, but I cannot see. As I breathe my lungs burn, the air inhaled into my body is toxic. I force out a cough, that only furthers the pain I feel. My brain seems to have caught up. My limbs obey my commands to move. However as my senses come back to me I begin to feel a more intense pain. A burning sensation jolts through my body, it comes from where I lay. The ground upon which I lay burns me.

I could bear this torture for only a few more seconds. My legs barely have the strength to lift me and as soon as I rose my body betrays me and I fall. My vision however, returns to me slowly. The only thing I can see is the flickering of a red light. As my vision continues to clear up I realized where it was I lay. My body sat in an ocean of fire, an ocean with no land nearby for me to take refuge on. A scream escapes from between my lips, I am ashamed by it, but due to ferocity of the blaze I had no control.

Why have I not died yet?

Glancing at my hooves I make a terrible discovery. The fire is bringing pain to me, but my body is not burning. There is no sign of charred flesh or blackened skin.

How do these flames not burn me?

I succumb to this pain and lay myself onto the flaming ground, waiting for death to claim me.

Little did I know, he already had.

After what felt like an age passing, somepony comes for me. When they lift my body from the blaze the pain subsides. Opening my eyes slightly reveals the ones who carry me are ponies. Hidden behind black armor, crimson coloured eyes gleamed out from inside their helmets. I ask them who they are, and to where they take me. No answer is given, at least not one I can understand. The noises these ponies make are strange; like whispers not meant to be heard. Without the endless pain from the fire I allow myself to sleep.

Soon I hear the sound of hooves on gravel, the sound brings my sleep to an end and I force open my eyes. It's confirmed we are somewhere new, the ground all around us is made from loose, black rocks. The ponies that carry me on their backs trot towards an obsidian gate directly in front of us. As we approach the gate, it slowly opens; behind it sits a massive stone castle. Again I ask the ones who carry me where I am being taken, and again I receive no answer. All I hear are more whispers.

The castle's doors open all on their own and I feel myself lifted up into the air and over the heads of those who have carried me. Magic tosses me carelessly into the middle of the castle's first room. I stand up, pushing through the pain that still plagues me and look around. The ceiling is tall and the walls are bare. Not a sound is heard, not a soul seen. I call out, hoping someone will tell me where I was, and how I got there. Suddenly, I hear a familiar voice, one that I heard long ago.

"Welcome, Sombra," It echoes throughout the empty castle. I recognize the voice and gallop to the door, hoping to escape it. I concentrate on the castle's entrance and will it to open, but my magic seems to have betrayed me.

"You cannot leave, Sombra. Your time has come. I told you many years ago that you could not escape from me. As always, I was correct, and here you stand," it says to me. Only before it sounded far away and now... It is right behind me.

Gravemind.

I slowly turn and find myself face to face with Death himself. The lord of Tartarus is a terrible sight to look upon, with a coat that flickers between perfect, and decaying. With a mane that appears beautiful one moment, and burnt the next. The only thing I have ever feared now stands before me, meaning only one possible thing. I am dead.

Gravemind smiles, and speaks not with his mouth, but with his mind. His thoughts transmitting directly into my mind.

"Welcome, Sombra," he repeats. "Did you honestly think I would not find you? That you would not stand in these very halls? I knew your death the moment I met you, Sombra. Now, it is time for your judgement," The eyes of death turn blacker then the night sky, and as I look into them I feel as if my very identity is being stripped away. The process took an eternity, but eventually I am spared from the odd feeling his gaze held on me. His eyes return to normal and he smiles once more. His mouth opens, his deep voice shaking my very bones.

"The atrocities you commited throughout your long life are inexcusable. You shall be cast into the pit, where you will find the one thing you always needed, and watch it slowly be ripped away from you. For that is true torture. Goodbye, Sombra!"

The floor beneath me opens, and I fall right through. My descent was not very long; the journey ends with me appearing in a small room. I blink my eyes to help focus my vision and what I see is shocking. The wall directly in front, behind, above and to my left are made entirely of red stone. The fourth wall to my right are bars, made of metal.

I sat in a prison, and I am not alone.

Day Twelve

Sombra, what happened to you? Why did you change?

Ventus shakes me awake, telling me I was having another nightmare. I push him off, and shout at him for touching me. I am a king, and no lowly peasant such as him will touch me.

My cellmate, Ventus is a young stallion. Cast into the pit of Tartarus after accidentally being the cause of his sister's death. He believed me to be "his friend" but he is foolish. I need no friends. I am Sombra, and all I desire is everypony to bow before me.

He is right about one thing however, the dreams I have had since I arrived in this cell are nightmares. I hear the voice of a mare, one I lost long ago. Her voice forces my heart to ache. Her voice is a reminder of something I felt long ago.

The reminder of my weakness.

A loud voice bellows from outside our cell, making Ventus jump. I cannot help but laugh at his fear.

"Wake up, scum! It's time to dig!"

The voice belongs to one they call "The Caretaker", he is respected by all who reside in The Pit. All but me. I have no fear for this pony, with his flaming whip and threatening words. As the ponies sentenced here work, he furthers our torture with hateful sayings and countless whips.

I learned quickly that The Pit is one of four pony prisons in Tartarus. It sits at near the bottom of this underworld, close to the core of the Earth, which explains the unbearable heat. Ponies sentenced to The Pit are forced to dig it deeper. We work endlessly during what we assume is daytime, for there is no sun down here to prove it us otherwise. We dig to make room for more cells; for the ponies that are sent here daily. The task is easy and pointless, but I pretend to obey. The time will come when I will be able to escape, and I will escape soon.

Day Three Hundred and Sixty Five

Everypony deserves a second chance

I sit up quickly, feeling the sweat trickle down my head. Her voice has haunted my dreams ever since my first night here. Asking me why, and telling me my redemption is coming. Whenever I wake... I feel a bit... happier. However when I remember where I am, I no longer have these feelings.

Ventus is already awake, and he looks excited to see me.

"My Lord, today you have been here for a year! Can you believe it!"

This pony never ceases to infuriate me. His excitement about my anniversary of imprisonment is childish. Ever since my first day he has kept track. Using a small rock he smuggled in from the bottom of the pit he has made one mark for each day that has passed. The only thing I can find to appreciate is his obedience, and recognizing me as 'His Lord'.

The day continues like any other, we wake, we work, and we sleep. Food is no nourishment we are allowed to enjoy. The pain of hunger is one we are forced to get used to. After all...

It isn't possible to die twice.

We are given small amounts of water to have the strength to work however. While we are unable to die again, fatigue and pain are still things we are forced to endure in Tartarus. The tortures of this place never seem to end.

This day however introduced me to something new. While we dug, a pony by the name of Shears decided to mock me.

"Have you found any crystals today, 'My Lord?'," He says. His attempt to upset me is pointless. The flightless Pegasus does not deserve my attention. However Ventus thought it fit to defend my honor.

"You do not speak to him this way! He is the wisest and most kind of those in Tartarus!"

I again am amazed by Ventus' stupidity. If he truly knew my past he would not think of me in such a way, but I allow him to continue thinking of me this way. The sudden outburst of my cellmate caught the attention of hundreds of ponies working throughout the pit. The sudden decrease in labor caught the attention of The Caretaker. In a sudden blast of fire he appeared before us, flaming magical whip hovering over his head.

"What is happening here? Why do you slaves stop working?" He roared out over us. "Speak!"

Shears, being the coward he is, places the blame on me. Accusing me of inciting a riot. The Caretaker turns his powerful gaze on me, readying his whip to strike. I have awaited this moment for a year. When The Caretaker would try and attack me, when I would strike back. As I lowered myself, ready to dodge his whip and fight back against him, Ventus stood between us. Stating it was he that tried to gather those to riot and not me.

"Then you, shall feel pain," The Caretaker hissed, bringing his punishment down on the young stallion.

Ventus' cries of pain shocked me.

Why did he protect me?

The scene lasted some time before Ventus succumbs to his pain and falls unconscious. The Caretaker looks at me, and orders me to carry Ventus back to our cell. The pony was light, the effort to climb up the long stairs to our cell was not difficult. He wailed softly as we arrived at our cell. The doors magically opened for us, and closed behind us. Ventus' injures brought tears to his eyes, but at the sight of my face he smiled and asked if I was ok. I ignored the question, and asked him why he stood to defend me... his response was simple.

"Because you are my friend."

At first I did not understand... I had never had a friend... and never felt I needed one. Yet this pony here believed me to be so. After a moment of pondering this, I smiled at him.

"Yes, we are friends."

The words of Gravemind echoed in the back of my mind.

You shall be cast into the pit, where you will find the one thing you always needed

Ventus, was my first, and only friend.

Day One Thousand and Ninety Five

Three years I have been imprisoned here, but I have learned to enjoy it. Ventus has taught me so much about friendship, and happiness. No longer does he call me 'My Lord', to him I am Sombra. I no longer think about a time when I ruled over ponies... instead regret has grown over my heart. I question my actions in the past...

Why had I not seen the truth?

Friendship is something I was denied even on the day of my birth. Love was something I had lost, leaving only rage. Now, I know friendship, and it makes my eternal punishment bearable. Today is the day I decide to tell Ventus about my past, but when I look over at his bed I notice something strange. Using his chalk, he wrote his name on the wall. He turned to me and says "I keep forgetting it... Sombra, why do I keep forgetting my name?"

You shall be cast into the pit, where you will find the one thing you always needed, and watch it slowly be ripped away from you. For that is true torture.

I remember what Gravemind said to me in full... the true curse of this place. Ventus was losing his memory, which means soon he will not remember me. He will not remember out friendship. I refuse to allow this.

I will help him remember.

Day Unknown

Ventus is no more. All that was left of him was an empty shell with no emotion and no memory. He sits in the corner of our cell and cries. Always questioning where he is and why. The sight of my friend in this state breaks me, but when I try and comfort him he tells me to go away... he is afraid of me. It is not fair. Why has this happened? When I think these things I can hear the laughter of Death. He mocks me, finding amusement in the fact that the one thing I've always needed, is now gone.

As the days continue I have no choice but to ignore Ventus. His memory of me is gone and our friendship is non-existent.

I begin to try to think back to the days when I was alive... trying to remember if I had friends in the past... but I cannot, my memory is now fading as well. If I had friends, their memory is no more. The face of the mare I see every night in my dreams is now unfamiliar to me. Her white coat and mane, and blind eyes tell me nothing of a past we might've had together... and now I only wish I had a second chance to do it all over again. Things would be different, and I would have been loved.

Tonight, I wrote my name on the wall. I refuse to forget who I am. I am Sombra, and I know where I went wrong.

My first and only friend cries himself to sleep, not knowing where he is, or why he's here. He doesn't even believe Ventus is his name, even when it's written clearly on the wall.

I am afraid to sleep... I think tonight will be my last night as Sombra.

Celestia, find me...

Celestia forgive me.

The Final Day

When I slept, I saw the beautiful white pegasus mare again. She smiled at me, telling me I was ready for another chance. That my heart has been purified by friendship, and can now be brought back to the light.

Brought back? Second chance? That silly mare, I've been in The Pit my whole life! My nameless cellmate and I wandered down to the bottom of the pit, like we do every day, and dug it deeper for The Caretaker. His flaming whip is terrifying, and we do as we are told to keep from being hit by it.

After we worked I strolled back to my room alone. Today me and my cellmate tried to figure out our names, but couldn't come up with anything that felt right. The gate to my room opens and closes on its own as always, and as I enter the mysterious writing on my wall catches my eye. The white lettering has done this for as long as I can remember... I wish I knew what they meant.

Maybe the beautiful blind pony knows? When I see her again, I'll ask her.

"Sombra, is that you?"

I turn to find a purple unicorn standing directly outside my cell. Four others are on the opposite side of the bars that keep me trapped inside this place. I ask the pony who he is, and he tells me he is my friend.

Friend?

Suddenly I see her again, the blind angel from my dreams. The other ponies don't seem to react at her unexpected appearance, maybe they just can't see her? She puts a wing around me and kisses me on my cheek. Her touch is cold, a feeling I have never experienced down in my super-heated home.

Go Sombra, you have earned your second chance

As soon as she appeared she is gone, and the purple unicorn waves at me to get my attention.

"Sombra, we need you to come with us. There's something... something we need your help with," he says to me.

Friends

I have always wanted friends... I believe I will go with these ponies. Who knows where they might take me, and what things I might learn about who I am. For in the few moments I have seen this pony he has answered the question that was written on my wall for as long as I remember.

Who is Sombra?

Sombra... is me.

I have my chance, and I'm gonna take it.

Author's Note:

This is my Everfree Northwest contest entry... I thought I'd try my luck!

I think Sombra had so much potential as a bad guy... but following Everfree Northwest's theme... what if in the end, he wanted to be the good guy? This is my first attempt at a first person story... I don't think I did very good, but let me know what you guys think? I accept any type of criticism, even the tough kind. Lol just don't make me want to kill myself.

This story will slightly tie into my Spirits Trilogy in the future... When the day comes that I am able to finish it lol.
(Yes Death's name is the same as one from the Halo game series. I think the name is sinister, and fit death perfectly... lol)

Thanks so much for reading

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Comments ( 21 )

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Biker_Dash

Biker_Dash #1 · Mar 1st, 2014 · · ·

You're welcome. It was very well written and my evening was that much better for reading it. This story should do well at EFNW.

Tidal

Tidal #2 · Mar 1st, 2014 · · ·

4018695 I thank you for those kind words!

Biker_Dash

Biker_Dash #3 · Mar 1st, 2014 · · ·

4018704 Honest words. I do not give false praise. You have earned it.

Surry

Surry #4 · Mar 1st, 2014 · · ·

Pretty darn good if you ask me!!

Tidal

Tidal #5 · Mar 1st, 2014 · · ·

4019194 Thank you!

I gotta read your newest 'voices' chapter before I can read your EFNW story

But I'll read both tonight and message you as soon as I do!

Surry

Surry #6 · Mar 1st, 2014 · · ·

4019303 I think we both got a pretty good shot!!

Vixavior

Vixavior #7 · Mar 1st, 2014 · 1 · ·

Well, if you're willing to write it, and I read it, I might as well comment on it eh?

I'll go for something of a running commentary style so, my apologies if it's a little long .

Setting wise, the depiction of Tartarus's ominous permeation is excellent, love it. It has that weighty atmosphere of vapours in the miasma that I adore. It really does feel reminiscent (rather than derivative) of Satan's trudge over the brimstone shores in Paradise Lost which, I think, simply works.

The secondary characters work nicely too. They don't feel there to pad out a cast and they don't overshadow Sombra's tale either. (f Ventus's name relates to him never being quiet, well, I adore that )

Now to Sombra himself. I'll readily admit, he's one of my least favourite characters in the series with one of my favourite ideas. You built upon that concept wonderfully, expanded it out, and really made it work in a terrific manner. The idea of him not being some being tantamount to, say Sauron, but merely as an exemplar carries his personality farther by being both defiant and yet vulnerable. It exposes his weaknesses and turns them rather than sugar-coating or dramatically changing his personality. It's not the external conflict, or some presupposed hidden niceness, but the internal vulnerability, and it makes him a far stronger character for it!

The story itself is insidious and overall one of the best plots I think I've seen in a long time. The shift in time from the perceptible to the imperceptible is fitting and the slow change in attitudes and moods works wonders for me. The ending makes me wonder about the potential connotations around what it could mean really mean and some of the messages within it.

In the end, if you can come out with a positive comparison to Milton's Paradise lost, it's worth a watch and favourite. So excellent job mate You may have actually turned my opinion on Sombra too. I don't know what the 'competition' will be like but you've got a marvellous story! Très bien! Many thanks for making it and putting it up.

Think I'll have a peek at that trilogy now.

Tidal

Tidal #8 · Mar 2nd, 2014 · · ·

4019775 wow! I am so happy reading this! I'll admit I was a little nervous about this story, and I'm glad you received it so well! You felt everything I wanted to convey, and that right there makes me feel like I have wrote a successful story! Thank you so much!

If you begin The Spirits of Equestria I feel I should mention it was my first story so my writing may not be excellent... But my future chapters will be improved as I have learned a lot about writing these past few months! The other two stories in the trilogy will come out over the next few months! Thanks again for the fav, watch, and comment I hope I continue to entertain!

Vixavior

Vixavior #9 · Mar 2nd, 2014 · · ·

4020143
You're quite welcome! And you certainly deserve it as I mean every word.

Looking forward to seeing what happens and how it'll work too. Don't worry about little variations getting better is always a great sign and I know for a fact that even over the period of a short project you'll see literary changes and improvements by the end. It's a nagging worry for most writers of course, but I guess that little bit of fear is helpful to remind us not to get complacent eh? At least that's what it does for me, I'm usually struck dumb before hitting that 'publish' button .

Anyway, trust you shall and thanks again for putting the story up for us!.

FaleYur

FaleYur #10 · Mar 2nd, 2014 · 1 · ·

Holy shit. The potential behind this story is enormous. The writing and the theme is heartfelt and impeccable.

You have created something amazing here Tidal. My god.

Tidal

Tidal #11 · Mar 2nd, 2014 · · ·

4023722 FaleYur your words make me feel so good about my writing
Thank you so much! I feel excited, and I think that this story has a chance to do well at Everfree! I always look forward to seeing your comments, thank you again

Strythio

Strythio #12 · Mar 4th, 2014 · 1 · ·

Other than maybe going over the word limit of the competition a little bit, I would say, you did well with this story!

It was a satisfactory read, and though I have to get up early in the morning, I really didn't mind adding this story to the list of things to do. The mystery of what and how everything seemed to tie in well with Sombra's reflection. Even though we knew dang well the jist of what was going to happen to Sombra's cellmate, it was still a bit of a surprise within the flow of the story, just as it had been for Sombra.

Strange though, the irony of it all. The only thing I grate on is Sombra mentioning lost love and denied friendship. I have this burning question of why, even if in brief, was it denied to him? Had Sombra elaborated just slightly on this, it would give a greater sense of empathy, as while I suspect it may have been a petty reason for the first and a strange twist the second, it still leaves much to be wondered.

And then he mentions Celestia, perhaps the mare from his dreams, when supposedly he has forgotten the connection between her and her form. Seemed weird, though I hardly noticed it my first read-through.

Overall, good story, I can see that much can be spun off from this "beginning of the end in the end" tale.

Tidal

Tidal #13 · Mar 4th, 2014 · · ·

4031773 Oh wow! I appreciate you taking the time to read my story!

I understand your points, and I wish I could've elaborated a bit more on the lost love but I had already gone over the word count and am worried that the story could get rejected for it...

I am glad however that you made mention to the pony in his dreams... It is not celestia, but somepony else, a pony he loved, and lost many many years ago. It ties into my plans for my other main project 'Spirits' which is about multitudes of different spirits returning after years of being absent and the worlds reaction to it... Key words in the description I gave the pony in his dreams was "white coat and mane" and "blind"... That's who she is.

Thanks again for reading and sharing your opinion! I really appreciate it

Strythio

Strythio #14 · Mar 4th, 2014 · · ·

4031895

Ah, I probably understood that my first read-through, and after finishing the story and going back over it, I must have made the false connection.

It may be a little late in some regard, but since we already know how Sombra could be defeated, maybe the introduction regarding how he was defeated might could have been shortened to make room for it.

I dunno. I do see the story you referenced, Spirits, and just by the short description I can see how this might have a nod or two to that story.

Tidal

Tidal #15 · Mar 4th, 2014 · · ·

4032102Yeah your right... why didn't I think of that!... darn that word count! Snowdrop isn't a random ship I created.... There's a whole reason behind it all!

In the future it will play a HUGE role in my 'Spirits Trilogy' since in the final story since it takes place mostly in Tartarus...

I'm excited for the tie in, but I only hope my spirits story gets some more attention by that point. Since I'm improving my writing and storytelling I hope to attract more readers!

Thanks again for your feedback Hope if you ever come across any other of my stories you enjoy them as well!

PonyTim

PonyTim #16 · Mar 5th, 2014 · · ·

Very interesting story, I quite like it! Has some room for improvement, but most enjoyable.

I am curious though. Is the unicorn who says he's Sombra's friend at the end Ventus? I assume it is since he does say he's Sombra's friend, I'm just curious to know how he recovered.

Tidal

Tidal #17 · Mar 5th, 2014 · · ·

4038953 no it is not Ventus, I should have elaborated on Ventus' coat color which I envisioned to be Green, and the pony at the end was purple. There was just a work count for the contest
Thanks for reading and enjoying! This story ties in to my 'spirits' series which will fill up all loose ends and questions, but that won't be for a while. Thanks again

Cromegas_Flare