"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!" I cried as Celestia kept her magic wrapped around my neck and roughly yanked me through her castle. "I'm walking as fast as I can!"
She stopped and turned to me, and gave me the same flat, hateful expression. It made my heart stop and my muscles tense up with fear. I had a feeling that if Luna weren't beside me, she would have torn me apart herself.
"Walk faster," she commanded me, and pressed her magic a bit more tightly around my neck. I made sure that, as I was being practically dragged along by her, I stayed as close to Luna as I could.
She quite clearly didn't like the idea of Fluttershy sticking up for me, and made quick work of ordering her and her friends away, proceeding to shackle me with her magic and teleport me to Canterlot from what I was pretty sure was the Crystal Empire. Although, she was at least kind-hearted enough to take me into her custody. While I could tell she had more hate, I didn't think Cadance would have had quite the self-control of Celestia.
It wasn't long before we made our way into the dungeon, which was where I expected to be taken. She stopped at the first cell we came to and roughly threw me in, causing me to nearly faceplant into the concrete.
"We will be back in two hours to interview you," she said to me. "If you try to escape, we will not hesitate to stop you. Consider yourself warned." With that, she quickly turned to walk away, her sister following behind her.
I took a quick look around to see that there was nothing in here. No bed, no sink, no windows. Just a stereotypical concrete cell. It even had bars like you'd see in a regular prison. Although, it clearly meant that she didn't think I was much of a threat, since Sombra could turn into shadows. Or, more likely, she wanted me to try and escape so she could fight me.
"Well, I guess it could be worse," I muttered sarcastically, tucking my legs under me and laying down on the cold, hard, concrete floor. "Now I just have to prove to a whole bunch of people who hate me and want me dead that I'm not Sombra."
I tried to think about what I could do, but came up empty. It was probably hopeless. They weren't going to believe me. If Applejack, who was supposed to represent Honesty, didn't believe me, there was no way anyone else would. It was a miracle enough Fluttershy gave me a chance. It would take several more miracles before I was able to leave this dungeon. And even then, I'd probably be hated by everyone seeing as I was still Sombra, or, at the very least, looked an awful lot like him. It probably wasn't going to ever change, and was useless to try and do anything about it.
Not that I wanted to do anything about it. I'd been here for… an hour now? Maybe? And in that short time, I already developed a severe fear for being here, and a significant hate for most of its rulers. I wasn’t feeling too excited about proving that I wasn’t Sombra to these ponies. I instead wanted to leave as quickly as possible, and tried to think about how to achieve that goal.
I knew I'd have to get out of this dungeon that I was recently put in at their will. I couldn't try and escape, not that I knew how. I might get lucky and get out in a few hours depending on how my "interview" went, but I wasn't going to count on that. I didn't think I was going to be convincing Celestia, and felt that even if I convinced Luna, she'd just side with whatever her sister decided. But that was okay because I knew it'd be only a matter of time before Fluttershy came by and demanded my release. She was guaranteed to. I doubted that she would stop them from trying to kill me only to have me stay in this dungeon forever. It might be a week, it might be a month, but I was confident that, now that I wasn't going to die, she would come by, and my release would be in the immediate future.
From there, the hard part was going to be convincing Twilight to try and find a way to send me back home. Actually, no. Not Twilight. Starlight. I would convince Starlight to help find a way for me to leave Equestria. She was at least as good as her princess counterpart, and probably wouldn’t immediately want to see me dead. I would get with Starlight to find a way to get me out of Equestria and get me back home. Maybe I’d even get lucky and just wake up at any moment, but that probably wasn’t going to happen. So I would be focusing on getting to Starlight and getting out of here. And then from there, once I was back home, I would resign myself to never thinking about this show again.
Of course, though, I was stuck in this dungeon for now, waiting for Celestia’s interrogation. Not that it mattered. I wouldn’t convince them. But that was okay. I already knew exactly what would happen. I would eventually leave and get myself back home. So for now, I tried to make myself comfortable laying on the concrete, waiting for Celestia’s return.
"Imagine how you would feel if you were that poor creature," Fluttershy told her friends. The six of them and Spike sat in the castle discussing what had just happened. It was a couple of hours after they left the Crystal Empire, after Fluttershy alone decided that he should be given a chance. It was a cause of tension among them, and at Twilight's suggestion, the group sat down to hear Fluttershy's reasoning.
"If I was trapped in some horrible monster, I would want somepony to believe me."
"We don't know if he's bein' honest, Fluttershy," Applejack started.
"You said yourself he sounded truthful. I think you don't want to believe him just because it's Sombra."
"That's exactly why! He could be trying to take over Equestria as we speak!"
"If he wanted to do that, then why didn't he try to escape?"
Applejack paused at that. "Ah don't know. Maybe he thought he might get outta bein' stopped if he surrendered."
"So it's okay to use the Elements against some creature who surrendered without ever attacking? Even after Luna said he would probably be hurt? What if that was you inside of Sombra, pleading not to be hurt?"
That made them all go silent. It was as though the gravity of what they were about to do was finally hitting them. They were about to potentially kill somepony who was begging for their life. “What we were about to do,” the princess said quietly, starting to breathe a bit faster, “is something Sombra would do.”
“I’m not sure even Sombra would stoop that low.”
Twilight started to breathe more deeply, concerned about the way she handled the situation. She was supposed to be the Princess of Friendship. She was supposed to give every creature a chance. "What in Equestria got into me?" She asked herself aloud. “What was I thinking?” she silently thought.
Fluttershy humphed at that, slowly starting to fly towards the door. "Where are you going?" The Princess of Friendship asked her.
"Home. Frankly, I'm ashamed of you all for what you were going to do to that poor creature."
“Celestia, I know how you must be feeling about him, but you cannot allow your judgment to be clouded by your feelings.”
Celestia stared ahead, the look she had on when she first saw Sombra still on her face. “My judgment was not clouded, Luna. I let the six decide his fate, did I not?”
Her sister sighed at that. She knew why she let them decide. She knew the outcome that they would have chosen. Or, at least, the outcome that would have been chosen had she herself not used her words to interfere.
“I understand how you feel,” she told her, “but if you wanted him killed, you should have voiced that opinion yourself. You cannot let your hate for him seep into the young princess and her companions and influence their decisions like was nearly done back there.”
“Did you not say you would go along with my decision? You’re just as complicit as I.”
“I had a doubt, and knew you would not let him be hurt at your own hooves in front of them. I do know you have an image to maintain.”
Celestia’s neutral expression turned into a scowl, her hate for Sombra building evermore. Of course, Luna was right. She was always right. She knew her better than anypony else. Just as well, she knew how much hate she held for Sombra and everything about him.
“I apologize,” she told her, hiding her anger and hate. “I’ll try and control myself.”
Luna could see her anger and hate plain as day.
Two updates in one day? Yo, I'm not minding school being closed anymore...
10129453
"You can't hate me for trying to imprison you for life while I slowly eat you to death because I need to eat" isn't exactly going to garner a lot of sympathy. As Thorax showed, it doesn't even take knowing they could transform in order to have a friendly relationship with ponies. It just takes not being a douchebag and wanting to conquer and turn them into livestock. Ponies will gladly share love with a changeling, as long as that changeling is kind and asks politely.
10129740
I would argue there is absolutely nothing sympathetic about Chrysalis. She knowingly and willingly left Cadance in those caves to starve, and then when Twilight became too much of an annoyance her down there to kill Cadance, which would have destroyed Twilight once realization sunk in. There is no "but I need food for for my subjects" that justifies that kind of cruelty.
10129875
the only thing wrong with that is that ponies would run and scream from the Changelings because they look different and Scary to the Ponies, heck the Ponies of Ponyville hid from Zecora because of what they thought She might do to them with no proof to back it up, so yeah Ponies Be Racist yo.
Well alexw, you've built a heck of an introduction, but this story seems to be lacking a hook. So far, we have "everyone hates Sombra, Celestia most of all, but the protagonist isn't Sombra, everyone's angry for various reasons, and Not-Sombra wants to find a way home and never think about it again." I don't have any taste of a more developed or interesting conflict than "He wants to go home but Celestia hates him." Surely there's more to it than that? Now that you have established the character motivations, the narrative end goal is a little too straight-forward. Where is this going?
10129886
That's a good question, and I do have an answer to that (which I won't be spoiling). Of course, however, when you post four 1.3k word chapters rather than one 5.2k word chapter, it does make it seem as though you're lingering on the same points (which I don't plan on doing)
So, If CH.4 is the conclusion of Ch.1, Why didn't you just title them CH.1 Pts.1-4 (Title text here) or 1.1-1.4 (Title text here)? not trying to tell you what to do, But if you're saying to not expect more update than once a week then it would have made more sense to either do that or just write all that as one whole chapter, Then release that whole chapter. Because coming into this story with more then one chapter uploaded i was going under the assumption that each chapter was its own thing and not parts of one chapter. Also, apologies if i sound like I'm being rude, I can honestly tell you its not my intention. I do Wholeheartedly enjoy this story, just a bit confused why you went that route of chapter updates.
10129902
Well, partly the fact that that I didn't expect it to blow up like it did, partly the fact that I didn't want to upload the first (what turned out to be) quarter of a chapter and then 3500 words to finish it off all at once, partly the fact that I can't stand to have work written in Google Docs and not uploaded, and mostly the fact that I'm the absolute worst at structuring out how long a chapter should be and where it should end. Maybe think of these more as "scenes" inside of the chapter. Although, I will take your suggestion and label them 1-1, 1-2, ect.
10129912
ah, okay that makes sense.
Sir/Ma'am,
Having read the comments, and understanding you better as the story develops, I cannot help but wait for the next chapters/segments to be posted. Keep up the good work and keep being you.
Sincerely,
T.U.B-C-S
10129881
And when they learned Zecora wasn't a threat they immediately accepted her into their midst. Same for Thorax, who after getting Spike's backing was immediately presented with Cadance's baby to squee over. No racist would ever do that.
Seriously, I wish racists in our world were as 'racist' as ponies. Racism would be gone from the world in a month. Even Neighsay, the first genuine racist we've seen on MLP, admitted to being wrong and fully accepted the student 6 and changed his ways.
Anyway, back to the story, finally some sense being talked into the mane 6! You go, Fluttershy. Though you might want to stick around for a bit longer and provide some moral support for not-Sombra. Poor guy needs it.
Good work Tia. You’ve possibly crippled the trust between the elements.
10129938
Ah but you’re forgetting that it depends on Spike(who the Crystal Ponies see as a Hero) who convinced Twilight and the crystal Ponies to accept Thorax ,the Crystal Ponies wouldn’t have accepted Thorax without spike or twilight to convince them to accept Thorax as a citizen of the crystal empire, so yeah my point still stands. Without the intervention from Spike, Thorax would’ve mostly likely been locked up in a cell
10129975
Well, yes? Thorax did participate in the attempt to conquer, enslave and ultimately genocide Equestria. That they're willing to forgive him for that with the support of only one little dragon at all speaks volumes of the pony spirit of forgiveness and second chances, rather than their racism.
I really do wish racism was as easily solved as one guy saying "don't hate him!" to make people go from hating someone to letting them hold their baby.
Oh good, the momentary heat has left them. Well, most of them.
See, now that he's basically made plans, Murphy Law must arrive to buck them to pieces. Unimaginably unintentionally of course.
Keep going! ;)
Nice
A fine read
Mercyful Faust! The comment section exploded in verbal mayhem and practicaly created this chapter MAGNIFICENT
Finaly Fluttershy get there brains restarted. Discord probably would be the simplest way to confirm that BUT whats the more entertaining non traumatic option i wonder? Hope hes delayed to confirm it.
I dont know how... Maybe a Dragonic holyday weekend or something
10129875
I present a story as counter Argument:
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/429845/to-be-a-changeling
Fit basicly in most of the fics not focused or mentioned storys on Changelings.
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10129881
Xenophobe would be more accurate (fear out of lack of information ). Racism is more willingly ignoring or evil intend.
10129886
The story just started. Not even a time storytime has passed. Give it time. World & character -buildng needs time.
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10129975
Indeed. MC Sombra dont have that friend in high places ( yet ). I wonder how the find out hes really just displaced and more over how its done to prevent Sombra from reclaiming his body! For all we know he start bodyswaping creating a massive pool of displaced souls. Be it a plan or a misfired magical spell in the first place that created this opprtunity. Maybe ORIGINAL SOMBRA just steals a Crystal pony body and keeps it or repeats that to seed chaos. Needed to move closer to a Alicorn in a harmless looking petitioners body to archiv power and imortality in one final swap.
Cool. I like this. Would double favorite it if possible
10129938
Dont forget its basicly a kids show. Realism is... Underrated. That why we Bronys enjoy Fimfiction so mutch. More details to get into it. Creativ story turns AND twist to drastic for the original show!
For the love of *insert whats important to you* remember the Derpy debate? That was about something as a disability. We cant expect to seriouse topic in the show... That ones more why we love Fimfiction! Explaining why Changeling do what they do? Have like 4 different takes here. For almost everyone can be found a great story. Like:
'because we were starving' ,
'because i could/wanted it done' ,
'because Equestria stole or homeland its located in'
or 'we needed Ponys to be building up there military to prepare for future events and placed ourself as scapegoat for the good of Equis'.
"Chose your poisen" as they say...
Sheesh. Why all the hate Celestia?
10130059
Yes, but emphasis there is on 'fic.' The story is a good one, but it has Chrysalis being extremely out of character compared to her canon counterpart for the sake of having a warm and fuzzy mother/daughter story. That's not a bad thing, it's certainly a fun story, but it doesn't really reflect on canon Chrysalis.
10130073
Oh I agree, and that knife cuts both ways. Why did Ponyville freak out so much at Zecora? Because the episode wanted to make a nice "don't judge a person just by their looks" lesson. It's far from a realistic show, I just wanted to make the argument that ponies, while certainly skittish, aren't really racist.
I'm asking again. Are you saying with all the magic knowledge of Equestria, there is not one that can be used to determine the truth or force the truth out of a pony?
Dude I'm really liking the story, keep at it but take your time
If "Sombra" mentions the Starlight fiasco, or how Twilight ascended, that would clear him pretty quick.
I really dig this, dude. Keep it up!
But, I mean, don't overwork yourself.
Good work, Celestia is out for blood it seems and she pretty much fucked up the trust between the mane six good job sunbutt.
Anywho, I look forward to more bud, it's rare to find a human turned sombra story and not dead
Ah like this! It’s very real feelin. Well done! Wooooo hooooo.
Yeah, by now he can't trust anybody and has to live in constant fear of death. He's surrounded by people who refuse him not being Sombra, and will treat him doing anything as proof he has to die, so he isn't allowed to do anything other than cower and obey completely or they kill him painfully. And because nothing is applicable as proof of innocence nor do they intend to allow it, he will probably have to do this for the rest of his life. What CAN he do now, aside from suffer? Kill himself?
Yeah, they have totally crossed the Moral Event Horizon. They wish him so much to be Sombra they have become just like the one they hate, condemning a person to a lifetime of absolute fear and slavery. Personally, I think that with how much they desire Sombra to exist despite how evil they say he is, that they either wished him into existance or deliberately turned someone into Sombra to act as the recipient of their hate.
Fluttershy, the real MVP.
10130140
Well, at this point, he's been there for around an hour. We haven't gotten that far yet.
The smartest move he can do now is offer a compromise. As long as they don't use the Elements on him, they can run whatever tests, interrogations, and other stuff they want to ensure he is not Sombra. Access to his mind, soul, whatever it took to prove he is not Sombra; he's just using the body of a monster long gone. If anything, Fluttershy should call in Discord for confirmation, that would be enough, I think.
Spike can also be of help here, he loathes Sombra just as much as Cadance and the gang do, but he's incredibly empathic. He'd be able to notice that the Sombra in front of him is not the actual Sombra.
10130412
Yes, I agree with everything you just said, but hey we won't find out if he does this until next chapter pops up, that and if sunbutt is Willing to actually listen to him aside from murder
10129860
Is a deadly epidemic worth more chapters?
Yes.
10130630
10129860
There's about to be less chapters cause I work in insurance
10129740
yeah.
10130630
indeed
10130324
There's a reason she's best pony.
Not bad. I hope future chapters are going to be longer if they're going to be more rare.
...That's what I should be telling myself as well. I've not written nearly enough for quite a while.
Very much liking where this is going! Can’t wait to read more of it!
10131109
But all updates we see from you can be re-read 3 times in a row so good
Hmmm.... What did Sombra do to Celestia outside of his appearances in the show?
10131546
In the comic, he "killed" princess Amore + Sombra used to be the love of her life
The suspense is going to kill me! (metaphorically.) I'm really enjoying this story, alexw, I look forward to seeing how this continues to progress. Stay safe (IRL) out there.
10131561
That I did not know. Interesting, very interesting. I generally haven't read the comics, is there anything else I should know about?
10131584
Without spoiling too much, Radiant Hope might be making an appearance
10131561
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or another Princess Amore?
Also, since it’s comics... Ah, now I remember the princess he killed. Does that mean Sombra’s love interest is still trapped with a bunch of Umbrum?
10131561
That's mixing up two different Sombras.
I remember there being this whole mirror universe where Sombra was good and in love with normal Celestia.
10131656
vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/6/60/FIENDship_is_Magic_issue_1_Princess_Amore.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20150401230216
This is Princess Amore.
Also, yes, but not technically "trapped".
10131660
Yes, it's two different Sombras, and that's why Celestia hates this "Sombra"
Honestly I find our protagonist to be not very smart as he can easily prove that he isn't Sombra by telling something that Sombra couldn't know from the show, family members names, pet names, events etc.
Granted he would have to explain how he knows it but at least it would prove that he isn't Sombra.