Son of Sombra

by BubblePuff

Part 5

“This way!” The first guard called out to the other. The two guards had been patrolling the outer edge of the Crystal Empire, close to the frozen north when they both spotted something mysterious.

“Ugh, I signed up for patrol duty so that I wouldn’t have to do anything dangerous!” The second guard complained. The two guards headed towards a cave where they saw a dark shadow disappear into. They both stood at the entrance.

“You stay here and keep watch.” The first guard said. “I’ll go in and investigate.” The guard then entered the cave.

Ten minutes passed, and the first guard hadn’t come back. A harsh blizzard was rolling in, and the second guard was getting concerned. “Are you alright in there?” He called out, but there was no response. Suddenly, the shadows started racing out of the cave at high speed towards the guard.

He tried to run away, but the shadows grabbed him by his hind legs. The guard was then dragged into the cave. “No, No, No!!!” He screamed, but dark crystals formed at the entrance to the cave, silencing his calls for help.

Shining, Cadence, and North Star all sat at the dining table eating breakfast. Cadence fed North Star applesauce.

“Choo Choo! Here comes the train into the station!” Cadence said playfully. She placed the spoonful of applesauce into North Star’s mouth, who gobbled it up instantly.

Shining looked over at the two and smiled. “You know Cadence, we haven’t had a night to ourselves since we adopted North Star. How about this weekend we have a date night?”

“That sounds like a lovely idea.” A slight frown then appeared on Cadence’s face. “Oh, but what are going to do about a baby sitter?”

Shining tapped his chin with his hoof and thought for a moment. “I know, how about Caregiver? She already runs the foal gym, perhaps she can look after North Star privately for a few hours.”

North Star reached out towards Shining. “Dad-dad, up!”

With a smile, Shining walked over and picked up North Star from his booster chair. Cadence couldn’t help but giggle. “He’s really grown attached to you.”

“And I’ve grown attached to him.” Shining held North Star up to his face. “Isn’t that right bud?” North Star booped Shining on the nose.

There was a sudden knock at the door. Shining opened it, holding North Star in his foreleg. He was greeted by Flash Sentry. “Private Sentry, how may I help you?”

Flash saluted back. “Captain, we have reports of two guards missing in the mountains on the northern border of the empire.”

Shining frowned. “Send out the search parties. Have the the pegasi squad search from the air. I’ll lead the ground team.”

“Yes sir.” Flash replied. He then looked down at North Star. “Is this your son North Star? He is adorable!”

North Star pointed at Flash. “Dumb-Dumb!”

Flash stood there in surprise, his eyes wide open. “Private Sentry, I’m so sorry.” Shining said. “North Star, say you’re sorry.” North Star just stuck out his tongue at Flash.

“I’ll just be going.” Flash lowered his head and closed the door. Cadence stared at Shining.

“What?”

“I know that North Star is learning that from you.”

“I don’t like it that Private Sentry makes moves on my sister. It’s not my fault if our son feels the same way.” Shining then winked at North Star and and gave him a bro-hoof. Cadence just sighed and rolled her eyes.

Later that day, Cadence took North Star out on stroll to the local park. They stopped at the playground and she placed him in the sandbox. North Star played with his Mr. Smartypants plushie while Cadence sat and watched from a nearby bench.

Cadence eventually took a book out of her saddlebag and did some reading.

Meanwhile, Shining led the royal guard on a search and rescue mission in the northern mountains. He and the ground team trudged through the thick snow, but could find no sight of the two missing guards. A pegasus member of the air team landed in front of Shining. “Anything to report seargent?”

“Yes sir.” The sergeant replied. “The air team has spotted a cave not too far from here. The entrance appears to be covered in dark crystals.”

A worried look came over Shining’s face. “Take us there at once. I only hope nothing has happened to the two guards.” Shining and the rest of the ground team followed the sky team to the cave. Just looking at it sent shivers down Shining’s spine.

Shining approached the dark crystals that sealed off the mouth of the cave. “The two guards must be in there.” He called out to the other guards. “Unicorns, on the count of three I want you all to blast the crystals with your magic.” Shining aimed his horn and charged up his magic. “One, two, three, fire!” Shining and the other unicorns fired their magic at the dark crystals.

Back at the playground, North Star’s horn lit up. He dropped his Mr. Smartypants plushie and rose up into air, surrounded by dark flames. His eyes glew with a bright red light.

Cadence looked up from her book at North Star, and could not believe what she was seeing. She ran over to him, but the dark flames kept her at bay.

“North Star!” Cadence cried out. North Star looked down at Cadence. He opened his mouth, and out came deep, sinister voice that was not his own.

“The darkness shall fall upon this land once again.”

Shining and the other unicorn guards kept blasting the dark crystals with their magic until they finally shattered. When they did, the dark flames surrounding North Star disappeared and he went back to normal. North Star fell back to the ground, but Cadence was able to catch him. North Star then began crying uncontrollably. “Shh, shh. It’s ok, mommy’s here.” Cadence said in a soothing voice, holding North Star close.

A crowd had surrounded Cadence and North Star. Most looked on in a stunned silence, bust some ponies began speaking to one another in hushed tones. Cadence rushed off to the hospital.

Shining entered the cave. He lit up his horn and searched for the two missing guards. Shining and the rest of the search party were only able to find their armor. Shining let out a sigh. “Notify the families of the guards. We’ve done all we can do.” As shining left the cave, he was approached by a messenger.

“Prince Shining, Princess Cadence has taken your son to hospital. You are needed there right away.”

Shining raced to the hospital as fast as he could. Once there, the nurses led him to a room where North Star was being looked over by Dr. Heartbeat. Cadence rushed over and embraced Shining.

Shining comforted Cadence. “I came as soon as I heard. What happened? Is North Star alright?”

“Oh Shining, it was horrible! It was as North Star was possessed! He was speaking in a strange voice, and was surrounded by dark flames. I was so worried!” Cadence cried into Shining’s shoulder.

Shining looked over at Dr. Heartbeat. “Is my son ok?”

“I’ve ran every test there is, and I cannot find anything wrong with North Star.” Dr. Heartbeat rubbed North Star’s head. “The little guy is as fit as a fiddle.”

Shining began to beat himself up on the inside. “I should have been there. I should have protected my son!”

Cadence held Shining by his hoof. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. I was there, and trust me, there was that either of us could have done. Let’s just be happy that North Star is safe.”

There was a knock at the door. Shining and Cadence turned to see a guard standing in the doorway. “Princess, I found this at the park, as you requested.” The guard gave Cadence Mr. Smartypants.

Cadence smiled and thanked the guard. She then handed Mr. Smartypants to North Star. North Star held the plushie tight and smiled. “Smartypants!” He said with glee. Shining and Cadence looked on and smiled, but what Cadence had witnessed still worried her deeply.

Author's Note:

One of the darker chapters of the story. The next one will be more light hearted.

Comments

[Valiant Charge]

Sombra. No doubt about it.

[BIGMACISBESTPONY]

lol. Flash got served by a toddler. Dumb-Dumb! lol.

[Magthere]

Oh Sombra, Sombra, Sombra, you'll be so surprised to learn how nurture can conquer nature.

[Cupcakes03]

Creepy!

[draco the flamewing]

North Star pointed at Flash. “Dumb-Dumb!”

I think i'm dead...I'm just dead right now.
*A gravestone is marked with this:
Here lies Draco
he was killed by laughter.*