Defeat and imprisonment are not enough to break King Sombra's spirit. He may be down but he's not out...
King Sombra, the dark sorcerer and former ruler of the Crystal Empire, has been defeated by Twilight Sparkle and the other bearers of the Elements of Harmony, leaving him stripped of his magic and imprisoned deep below the surface of Canterlot Castle. There, he waits for his chance to take revenge against Princess Celestia and conquer Equestria, though his affection for both his long-lost daughter and the mare that he loves have him question everything that he knows. Can the shadow-pony learn forgiveness and mercy or will he let his deep-seated anger and desire for vengeance consume him?
All in all, it was not a shabby-looking place to call "home". Sure, it was a ten-by-fifteen barred cell in an old dungeon but considering where Sombra had been forced to inhabit before, he could honestly proclaim this to be a step up. With one guard holding the cell door open, two others grabbed Sombra by either foreleg and shoved him inside, sending him careening face-first into the wall. He spun to bare his fangs at the royal guards, who ignored him as the door was slammed and locked shut. As to be expected, the grim-faced royal guards were more than willing to get rough with the ex-king, seeing him as the enemy of their beloved princesses and thus worthy of their everlasting disrespect.
While it was true that Sombra was more than capable of handling them even without the aid of dark magic-as he stood taller than most other stallions and possessed a more muscular build-he never once fought back. He held no illusions that Celestia sought to keep him imprisoned until he eventually died centuries later but attacking his jailers would do nothing for his already tarnished image. It was his very, very faint hope that by acting as the ideal prisoner, Celestia would reduce his sentence due to good behavior and allow him to see his daughter. My daughter. The umbrum rolled lazily onto the squeaky cot, his eyes trained on the cracks above him. The word was still foreign to him, holding an odd bittersweet sentiment to it. Cadence had used his affection for her against him, leading to being stripped of his magic and being locked away by his most hated enemy. Then again, she only did it to keep her friends safe.
"But that's why I'm here!" Sombra shouted to nopony. "To free and protect Equestria from Celestia's clutches!" He sighed wearily, suddenly feeling as old as he was. "But of course, nopony sees it but me."
Rage boiled his heart in white-hot magma.
Are the ponies really so blind that they can't see what's right in front of their idiotic little snouts?! Equestria isn't some happy little place with no worries! Can't they see the corruption? The danger?
Sombra rolled onto his side, a hoof absentmindedly traveling to stroke the space on his back, right below his withers. He could still feel the pain of the red-hot blade as it cut through his flesh.
Alicorns cannot be trusted.
Sombra stared at the wall, particularly at the fourteen tally marks carved into the slate surface. He'd been imprisoned for two weeks, although it certainly felt longer than that. To be fair, he only maintained his sanity during his thousand-year banishment due to the simple fact that he'd been converted into a living shadow. Shadows can't feel cold or tired. They don't know hunger or restlessness, all of which he himself experienced ever since reclaiming his flesh and blood form.
Every day, Sombra was served some kind of mush serving as breakfast before being taken out to a spacious underground chamber, latched to a giant wooden arm and forced to walk in a circle for an hour. Then, he was tossed right back into his cell, served more mush and herded into a rudimentary wash room, where he had to scrub himself with a smelly bar of soap before being blasted with a water hose and sent scurrying back into his cell. This was followed up by a trip to a city-certified psychiatrist, a skinny, condescending little know-it-all and then, surprise, another helping of mush. And this was Sombra's schedule. Every day. For two weeks.
"Why does Faust hate me so?"
~*~
The trip down to the long abandoned dungeons was as silent as the grave. Twilight Sparkle-now known as Princess Twilight Sparkle-felt her bones rattle with every step, her body shivering the closer she reached her destination. Two weeks had passed since she'd last conversed with Sombra, with whom she shared a complicated relationship with. Yes, he'd tricked her into going on a date with him and stealing her first kiss but for some bizarre reason beyond even her understanding, Twilight found herself intrigued by the stallion and sought to unravel the mystery that was King Sombra. Who was he? How did he come to be who he is?
Shortly after the coronation, Princess Celestia sat Twilight down and told her the story of how she and Sombra, then known as "Prince Tourmaline," had first met at a Grand Galloping Gala. Celestia's mother and Tourmaline's parents, the then-rulers of the Crystal Empire, decided to unite their kingdoms through an arranged marriage between their children. Despite the arrangement, the two became friends and that friendship blossomed into love, and they decided that they wanted to be married to one another. She didn't know the specifics of Sombra's fall but knew that it involved discovering his true nature and his tutelage under the dark sorcerer Grimoire Incantatus. This led to Celestia's pregnancy, Cadence's birth and the two sisters' last battle against Sombra.
Finding her curiosity unfulfilled, as well as her own fascination with Sombra, Twilight made an impromptu visit to Canterlot to speak with the umbrum, who she was hoping would be talkative considering the circumstances of their last encounter. A large steel-barred door swung open and the two royal guards led her into a spacious chamber, where a cage-like cell lay tucked away in the corner. Her heartbeat quickened as she locked eyes with the dungeon's sole occupant, who slowly rose from his cot as if in a trance. Somehow, Twilight found herself advancing towards the cell, stopping only when a guard called out for her and she froze on the spot, finding herself three feet away from the bars.
"Twilight...I wasn't expecting to see you," Sombra said softly with an air of bewilderment but also relief.
"Neither was I," she replied somewhat shyly. A minute of uncomfortable silence had passed before she could speak again. "I brought you some books to read." Her saddlebags opened up and several books came magically flowing out, sliding themselves through the bars of the cell and placing themselves into a neat pile. Sombra inspected the waist-high stack. "I wasn't sure what you'd be interested in so I brought you books on fiction, astrology, art, history, science and philosophy."
Sombra was stunned. Why was she being so nice to him? He'd tricked her into developing feelings for him, stole her Element of Harmony, hurt her friends and tried to kill her mentor. Anypony else in her position would rightfully hate him and keep their distance. But here she was, actually showing concern about him.
A small smile graced Sombra's face. "Thank you Twilight. I mean, Princess Twilight."
The mirth, it seems, was contagious. "Just 'Twilight' will do. And...you're welcome."
As far as she could tell, Sombra had minimal comforts and no access to books of any kind, which was a grave taboo to her. She couldn't imagine being locked up with nothing to read! It was just barbaric! Although Twilight was genuinely concerned with his well-being, she hoped that this display would serve as the first stepping stone on the path to earning his trust. After all, Canterlot wasn't built in a day.
"So Twilight, what, uh...what have you been doing?"
"Well, after the coronation, a former student of Princess Celestia's stole my tiara and escaped through a mirror to another world." Sombra froze at those words. "I followed her and ended up being in a place with these beings called, 'humans.' Anyway, I beat the thief, convinced her to turn over a new leaf and came back."
"I see..." Memories flooded Sombra's mind. He recalled Garnet and his usage of his "parents'" magic mirror, of traveling to another world and becoming a bipedal ape-thing.
Garnet forgive me...
Twilight looked at him queerly. "Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost!"
Sombra shook his head. "I'm fine. So then what happened?"
Though concerned by the change in topic, as well as Sombra's spooked face, Twilight decided not to push the issue. "Well, I, erm, also started going out with this royal guard named Flash Sentry."
Sombra's hooves dug into the floor. "I'm happy to hear that. Just happy for you two," he managed through clenched teeth.
Why am I angry? I told her to move on and forget me. In fact, why would I tell her to move on in the first place?!
"And a royal guard! Well done!"
I'm going to be sick!
Twilight tapped her front hooves together. "A-actually, we're not together anymore."
Wait what?
"I mean, he was so nice and sweet but when we kissed...there just wasn't a spark. Nothing. So I told him that it'd be better if we remained friends. He was surprisingly okay with that."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Twilight."
Yes! Yes, yes, yes!
"Break ups are always difficult. Believe me, I know."
Twilight rubbed the back of her neck. "Well, thank you, Sombra. I'm not really sure why I told you but thanks for listening. My friends are still on my case about it. Talking about how I threw away a 'future hubbie' and all that."
Although Sombra didn't know what "hubbie" meant, he was actually happy to help. "It's my pleasure, Twilight."
The alicorn turned but then looked right back at Sombra. "Are you...are you still going to try to conquer Equestria?"
As much as he wanted to lie, Sombra decided the truth would be better.
After all, wasn't his goal a pure one? What did he have to be ashamed of?
"Yes, I am. This land is plagued by villainy, corruption and cruelty. It needs a strong leader, one that can make the difficult decisions. Both Celestia and Luna are unfit to rule."
Twilight was aghast. "But they do what's best for everypony! They make us happy and the citizens love them!"
Sombra stared into Twilight's eyes. "Ruling a kingdom isn't about being loved. It doesn't matter if your subjects love you if your kingdom is in total disarray. Being a ruler means making the hard choices, the ones that help your kingdom thrive. Even if it means everypony hates you, you must do what is right for the realm. It's about more than just wearing a crown and living in a palace."
Twilight seemed to ruminate over his words. "You make...a fair point. But you still went too far during your reign."
Sombra raised an eyebrow. "If you're referring to my treatment of the crystal ponies, I was preparing for war and that meant mining for materials to forge weapons and armor and that requires labor. Besides," he said more to himself as he turned his head, "They got what they deserved."
The alicorn searched Sombra's face, finding it etched with anger and sorrow. "What did they do to you?"
Sombra gulped, his throat suddenly dry. "It's not what they did to me. It's what they did to my kin." He then met Twilight's gaze once more. "I'm the last of my kind for a reason."
After Sombra's little reveal about the cause of the umbrum's near-extinction, nothing more was shared between the two. Twilight politely bid him farewell and promised to return, though he still couldn't fathom why she'd make such a promise. Then again, he didn't expect her to hold herself to her word so he paid it no mind. The cell door squeaked open and a shadow was cast over Sombra, who lowered his astrology book to stare confusingly up at this interruption. Three royal guards, one unicorn and two pegasi, glared darkly at him.
"Good evening, gentlecolts. A little late for my daily exercise."
The unicorn, a silver-gray stallion ironically named Golden Shield, nodded his head sharply at his winged compatriots, who each grabbed ahold of Sombra's forelegs. Despite his protests, Sombra found himself dragged out of his cot and tossed onto the limestone floor of his cell. He winced as he lifted his head, having scraped his cheek and temple.
"What in Tartarus are you-...?"
One of the pegasi, a burly-looking gray-brown thug, slugged Sombra on his unmarked cheek, sending him tumbling once more onto the dusty floor. "You don't get to speak, you slime ball!"
"Thunderhead! What did I tell you?!" Golden Shield admonished. "No marks on the face!"
It was somewhat amusing to see the much larger stallion hanging his head like a colt caught stealing from the cookie jar. "Sorry, Sir. I just got excited."
"Well try to keep your excitement in check! Nopony can know what we're doing here!"
The second pegasus, who was white maned with a light blue coat, chimed in, "Shouldn't we hurry this along? Our shifts are going to end soon and we don't want the guards relieving us to get any ideas!"
Golden Shield patted the pegasus on the back. "Good thinking, Swift Spear. We should get to work instead of wasting time arguing. We won't get many chances to do this."
Rising to his hooves, Sombra gritted his teeth and was ready to curse the trio out when Golden Shield's right hindleg shot out, delivering a hard blow to the umbrum's side. He was sent rolling into the wall behind him, the wind knocked out of his lungs from the collision. Stars filled Sombra's vision. It'd been a long time since he'd felt any real pain and swore at himself for his inability to use magic. Fear stabbed at his heart. The fear of helplessness.
The three guards quickly got to work, punching and kicking Sombra in the ribs, back and stomach, their strikes a random frenzy of pure hatred and disgust. Agony dominated Sombra's world, along with terror and humiliation. Is this what I've been reduced to? A scared little punching bag? Perhaps I should've stayed dead.
Mercifully, the torment ended and the three guards were left sweaty and panting for air. The one called Thunderhead slammed his forehoof into Sombra's sternum, sending blood dripping down the ex-king's lips and chin.
Please, just...let it end. Faust, let it end.
He wasn't a doctor but he knew that something had to have been broken.
Golden Shield then leaned downward, his breath reeking of diced peppers and cheese. "You're not going to mention a word of this to anypony. If anypony asks, you had a nightmare and tumbled out of bed. Are we clear?"
Sombra couldn't respond; the pain was too much for him to bear. A rear hoof then slammed into his left hock, eliciting a scream out of him. Iwillpersonallyobliterateyou,youblackguards,IsweartoFaust!
"I said, 'Are we clear?'"
Fight through the pain, fight through the pain!
"Yesssss….yes! Cr-crystal!"
Golden Shield nodded and walked away, a noticeable swagger in his step. Thunderhead then appeared in Sombra's line of sight and grinned maliciously. Something hard came into contact with Sombra's head and he then let the darkness take him, the banging of the cell door and the guards' laughter seemingly miles away.
Light pierced Sombra's eyes and he slowly blinked them open, a soft sustained grunt slipping through his lips. Once the fog in his vision dissipated, he realized that he was in a bedroom of some kind, an orange female unicorn wiping his brow with a wet rag.
"Oh good, you're awake!" The unicorn gasped, her scrubs and stethoscope serving as obvious signs of her profession. "Due to the severe pain of having three cracked ribs, four broken ribs, a fractured hock and a concussion, I wasn't sure how long you'd be out for!"
"Wh...where am...I?"
"In the castle," a familiar voice boomed from the doorway, interrupting the doctor. Surprisingly, it was Princess Luna that had chosen to grace the room with her presence. "That'll be all, Doctor First Aid."
"Y-yes, Your Majesty!" Doctor First Aid bowed and scurried out of the room, magically slamming the door behind her. Sombra groaned and took a deep breath.
"Her bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired."
Princess Luna peered at him unamusingly. "Indeed. Would you care to tell me how all of this happened?" She asked, gesturing to all of Sombra, her face blank but her eyes conveying what appeared to be...worry? Concern?
"I was having a nightmare, woke up and fell out of bed," Sombra replied without missing a beat.
Princess Luna lifted a skeptical eyebrow. "Did you now? It must've been terrible."
"You have no idea." Something then crossed Sombra's mind. "Why? Why would you help me?"
"Because even though thou art a prisoner, thou art still a pony and in our custody," came her curt reply. "It would've been barbaric to have left thou on the floor."
"You mean, 'merciful'?" Princess Luna appeared confused so Sombra elaborated. "Here I am, wasting away in a Tartarus-forsaken dungeon, no magic, being watched by my worst enemies, presumably until I die, which is still centuries away. You should've left me there on the floor."
"Mayhaps," Princess Luna admitted, though her softening features made it clear that she wasn't being serious. "Then again, there would've been a time when I would've said the same exact thing. I assume that you learned about Nightmare Moon?"
"Yes."
"Then you should know that I committed horrible acts, acts that will haunt me from here to eternity. Perhaps..." She looked towards the window, staring at the starry veil of night. "...I see myself when I look at you. I see a lost soul, one that needs to be guided. Somepony that, like myself, needs to be brought back into the light."
"Spare me your 'there's-still-good-in-you' crap!" Sombra spat, wincing as he sat up. "There's no good left! Your whole wretched race made certain of that! And there will come a day when I escape here, regain my power and take you and Celestia out! I am now, and forever, your enemy!"
The Princess of the Night observed Sombra for a few minutes, as if piecing together a rather difficult puzzle. "Then why are you still here?"
Sombra's anger gave way to perplexity. "What do you mean? I'm your prisoner, that's why!"
"Let me rephrase that," Princess Luna stated calmly. "If you are truly and wholly lacking in goodness, then why are you still here? The Elements of Harmony took away your magic yet left you unharmed. You weren't banished to another realm nor turned to stone. If you truly were as wicked as you state to be, then why have you avoided a worst fate?"
"Because..." Sombra's brow crinkled in puzzlement. That was a good question. Why was he still here?
"I remember a time when you were like a brother to me," Princess Luna said softly. "When you were kind and gentle. When you were Prince Tourmaline."
"That name," Sombra growled, "Has no meaning to me. 'Prince Tourmaline' was a lie, a façade for the crystal ponies to traipse around. He wasn't real. This," he affirmed, gesturing to his chest with both hooves, "Is the real me."
Princess Luna shrugged, "If you insist" and promptly made her way to the door.
A chill ran down Sombra's spine. Twilight had said something similar the first time she'd visited him in his confinement.
It doesn't matter! They're all looking for something that isn't there!
"But consider this," Princess Luna added, snapping Sombra away from his thoughts. "A truly wicked stallion would not have hesitated to kill his enemies when he had the chance." She then closed and locked the door behind her.
Blow after blow struck Sombra's body, his ribs cracking underneath the pressure of the royal guards' strikes. Strangely enough, the guards were twice their normal size and possessed blood-red coats and manes. They cackled while their mouths stretched open impossibly wide to show off rows of shark-like teeth, all of them glistening with gobs of thick saliva. Please...just let me die... Sombra inwardly whimpered. They paused and peered down at him with literal burning coals for eyes.
"You don't get to speak, you slime ball!" Thunderhead roared, blisters and popping boils dominating his crooked face. "You don't get to speak, you slime ball!"
Swift Spear kicked Sombra in the back, pinning him to the floor. "Shouldn't we hurry this along-along-along? Our shifts are going to end soon-soon-soon...!" He grunted with an eerie echo, his voice sounding like somepony rubbing together pieces of broken glass. The rancid stench of diced peppers and cheese practically suffocated Sombra and he found himself face-to-face with Golden Shield.
"You're not going to mention a word of this to anypony. If anypony asks, you had a nightmare and tumbled out of bed. I said, 'Are we clear?'"
Sombra tried to speak but nothing came out. Suddenly, all three guards started to spasm, their bones breaking and sections of skin sliding off their bodies in sludges of meat. Northern Imperial armor decorated their shimmering bodies, spears and swords dripping with blood appeared in their hooves. The crystal ponies towered over Sombra, who realized that he was now a colt! He turned to flee, only to be confronted with piles of umbrum corpses, all of them stacked up haphazardly in the snow.
"Sombra..." A single, dark-furred mare stood in the fog, her red eyes tearing up as she beheld Sombra.
Mother! Sombra yelled, only for it to come out as, "Móðir!"
"Sombra, barnið mitt …"
The crystal ponies took notice of the mare and shoved their weapons deep into her chest and torso. Sombra could only watch in horror as her abruptly massive body fell backwards and landed on top of him, crushing him beneath its bloody weight and trapping him in a world of perpetual darkness.
~*~
"MOTHER, NOOOO!"
Sombra's eyes sprang open, his chest painfully drawing in lung-fulls of air. He blinked and lifted his head up from his pillow, which was drenched in a thin layer of sweat. He was back in his temporary room in Canterlot Castle. No royal guards, no crystal ponies, no-
He took a deep breath and banished the images of his nightmare. He'd already lived through the Dravite Hill Massacre once. Twice was enough in his book. Laying his head back down, Sombra sighed and stared up at the ceiling, mentally counting the individual paint chips. There was no way in Tartarus he was going back to sleep so he might as well find a way to keep himself occupied until morning.
One...two...three...four....fi-
The door swung open, revealing an earth pony royal guard and the Princess of the Day herself who, judging by her moderately disheveled mane and ruffled coat, had just woken up herself.
"Thank you, Bastion, that'll be all," Princess Celestia said gently to the guard, who bowed and shut the door behind her. Very lightly, she slowly made her way across the room and stopped a couple of feet away. Sombra's heart seemed to slow down and speed up at the same time, a wellspring of emotions bursting forward inside of him. "A guard hurried into my bedchambers to awaken me. Apparently, he heard somepony screaming and it came from this room."
"It was nothing," Sombra lied, already annoyed by her presence. "It was probably the wind."
Princess Celestia lifted a brow. "The wind yelled out, 'Mother, no!'?"
"Why are you here, Celestia?" Sombra snapped. "So what if there was screaming? Since when do you give a care about me anyway? I'm the enemy, remember? The evil king that must be vanquished so that there can be peace throughout the land and the benevolent princess can be adored by her brain-washed masses."
What made Sombra's blood boil was Princess Celestia's reaction. He'd expected anger or disgust, perhaps a prepared speech on how wicked he is. Instead, she stared at him pitifully, like a disappointed mother.
"I do care, Sombra. That's why I'm here, why you're resting in a bed instead of bleeding in the dungeon."
It seemed as though she wanted to say more but elected to leave it at that.
Whatever. It's no skin off my muzzle.
"What was your mother's name?"
The question was so random that Sombra was momentarily rendered speechless.
"Persephone," he finally said, unaware of the slight crack in his voice. "Her name was Persephone."
Nodding understandably, Princess Celestia moved closer and Sombra instinctively tensed up. Her hoof came to rest on his own and despite his disgust, he made no attempt to move it away. Pink eyes full of tenderness met his own and he forgot why he was even angry in the first place. He remembered a different life, one ages ago when he was a prince and fell in love with a young princess. They chased one another through the Canterlot royal gardens and laid atop the rooftop of the Crystal Castle's observatory tower. And the way they danced at the Grand Galloping Gala! It was as though only the two of them existed and the music was playing for them and them alone.
"I lost my mother too. I understand."
At that moment, it was like a romance story. The long-lost lovers are reunited and in spite of their past feud with one another, they find it in their hearts to forgive each other and lock lips in a passionate and long-overdo kiss. Of course, this wasn't a romance story. Sombra wretched his hoof away, the anger returning to his heart. All of the happy memories of youthful love were replaced with ones of lies, betrayal, murder and battlefield bloodshed.
"So what? Is that supposed to mean that you understand what I've been through? That you know what it is to truly suffer? No Celestia. You will never understand. You haven't seen the horrors of the world. I have."
Stunned and hurt, Princess Celestia stayed frozen to her spot for a solid minute or two before she finally backed away. Sombra refused to watch her go and heard the door open and slam shut. He smiled and turned his head to face the window.
Serves her right for being an insufferable know-it-all. "Oh, I'm the Princess of Equestria and that means I know everything!" Presumptuous cow.
And yet, for some inexplicable reason, Sombra was touched by her concern. It'd been centuries since he'd felt like anypony gave a second thought about him, what with his status as an umbrum and dark sorcerer. Yet what puzzled him the most was that it was Celestia of all ponies. Why? Why would she care whether or not he was jostled by a bad dream? He was her mortal enemy, the antithesis of everything she stood for.
Hours had passed since Princess Celestia's visit and the sun finally rose, bathing the room in vibrant light. This, however, came to the supreme irritation of one certain ex-king. True to his word, Sombra had been unable to go back to sleep, instead spending the rest of the night counting paint chips and whatever else he could find. It was preferable to the nightmares awaiting him during sleep.
1,202 Paint chips 52 Polka dots on the curtains 23 Stripes on the fainting couch 1 ticked-off umbrum
Sombra sighed and tapped his hooves together out of sheer boredom. He tried to come up with a plan to escape from his current predicament but found, to his immense displeasure, that nothing came to mind. He laid there and puzzled and he puzzled until his puzzler was sore.
This would be so much easier if I wasn't banged up and magic-less.
In the past, the majority of Sombra's victories came from a combination of his keen tactical mind and dark magical prowess. Now that one of those was missing, the other was simply incomplete.
The door unlocked and swung open to reveal Princess Luna flanked by three royal guards and one unicorn mare, who held a stainless steel tray and cover. One guard stood by the door while the other two accompanied the mares as they neared Sombra, who watched them with an emotionless expression. The unicorn lowered the plate onto the table next to the bed and removed the cover, revealing a thick broth, a spoon and a piece of bread. She then hastily darted backwards towards the safety of the door and, with a permissible nod from Luna, bowed and exited the room.
"Good morning, Luna," Sombra grinned, letting his fangs peek over his bottom lip. "This is certainly a surprise."
The alicorn stared blankly at him. "I'd ask if the food is to your liking but I don't care. You should be both fortunate and grateful to be receiving what you have."
Sombra's grin never wavered. "Then for you, my dearest Luna, I am both." He looked towards the tray and concentrated, a slight pressure developing in his forehead.
What the hay? Oh...right.
It was Princess Luna's turn to smirk. "Is everything alright, my dearest Sombra?"
He gave out a growling huff and snatched up the tray with his hooves.
Now I remember why I hate you.
It reminded him of when they'd first met, back when she was a teenager and he was still a young stallion. Back then, she was going through a rebellious phase (though not as extreme as trying to kill her own sister) and wasn't keen on seeing Celestia married off to some random prince. So she behaved as snarky as possible, taking every opportunity to take shots at him (sometimes literal) but they eventually became friends and Sombra, or "Tourmaline," even started to view her as another sister. Although he'd never admit it, Sombra missed those days.
After a few spoonfuls of broth, which was surprisingly delicious, Sombra set the tray aside and wiped his mouth before studying Princess Luna carefully. "I take it you're not just here to feed me. What's the real reason behind this little visit?"
The princess' stoic mask slipped. "I know you had a nightmare last night. Even though I was unable to enter it, I could feel it and the terror you exhumed. It was one of the largest I had felt in a very long time."
Normally, Sombra wouldn't care but this new information had him intrigued. "I thought you could enter any dream?"
"Yes, but non-ponies such as dragons and griffons are a tad trickier. As you are still of an equine race, I should still be able to access your dreams. The concerning part was that something was keeping me out."
Sombra's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean, 'keeping you out'? Are you saying that I did that?"
Princess Luna hummed, taking a moment to explain it properly. "Sometimes...when a subject is experiencing a nightmare based on a traumatic experience, the brain will force them to confront it and it will do this by blocking out all external forces. In short, I believe that you subconsciously kept me out as a way of facing this particular trauma. What was it that you were dreaming of?"
Turning his head away, Sombra let out a heavy sigh.
"Dravite Hill," he murmured half-truthfully.
Though he couldn't see it, Princess Luna's eyes widened with horrified recollection at those two words. The actions performed that day lived on in infamy, not just as a black mark on her mother's record but on the alicorn race as a whole.
"I...I'm so sorry, Sombra. I had no idea that even after all these years, you would still-..."
"Just leave it be, Luna." Sombra's voice came off as more tired than angry. "What's done is done."
For a moment, Princess Luna's hoof hovered over Sombra's shoulder. She wanted to say or do something to alleviate his pain, both physical and emotional but nothing came to mind. Withdrawing her hoof, she sighed and motioned for her guards to follow her.
"The past is never done with us," she said tenderly as she began pulling the door closed. "Whether we want it to or not, it continues to shape us each and every day. The only thing we have a say in is what it molds us into."
~*~
The hours rolled by, though Sombra hardly noticed. He was locked securely in his own mind, trapped in a whirlwind of thoughts that dragged him through the air of contemplation. Luna's parting words were some of many that had plagued him. He also recalled his talks with Twilight and Celestia, though he wasn't exactly certain why. All he knew was that they never left him be.
"Perhaps...I see myself when I look at you. I see a lost soul, one that needs to be guided." "I do care, Sombra. That's why I'm here..." "Somepony that, like myself, needs to be brought back into the light." "You know, I think that deep down, you're a good person. You've just forgotten how to be." "A truly wicked stallion would not have hesitated to have killed his enemies when he had the chance." "It doesn't matter what we want, what matters is what we need...!"
He found himself abruptly ripped from his thoughts when a loud commotion erupted outside his door, sounding like clattering and an argument between the guards and somepony, presumably a mare judging by the high-pitched voice.
Wait a minute... that voice sounds familiar. Oh no. Please, please in the name of Faust, don't let it be...
The door burst open, revealing a pink earth pony mare wearing a white and red striped cotton dress and a nurse's hat and dragging a wheeled chest along with several heart-shaped balloons. A sickeningly-sweet, wide grin was plastered on her idiotically cheerful face.
Pinkie Pie...
Winding up a crank, the chest's top split open and a series of horns, pipes and whistles erupted from within, accompanied by a bouncy, upbeat tune. Bounding around like a wild spring on her head and tail, Pinkie Pie belted out:
I am Pinkamena Diane Pie And I'm cheerful all day long! If somepony said that I was sad, Then that pony would be wrong! I heard that you were feeling down and blue, So here's a super thing that I will do! I've come here to help brighten up your day, And chase all of your blues away! Tra la la, fiddle dee dee Hope you get well soon! Ho ho ho, he he he, Have a heart-shaped balloooooooon!
She slid across the floor on her hocks, shoving said balloon into Sombra's hoof as confetti burst forth out of the chest, showering Sombra in the damnable pieces of colorful paper.
Buck...my...life...
There was a pause. And then: "You are ridiculous in every meaning of the word."
"Thank you!"
"That wasn't a compliment!"
Pinkie bounced to her hooves and grinned, "Aw, somepony's just grumpy that they fell out of bed. Don't worry! I'm here you make you feel all better!"
Sombra cocked an eyebrow. "So you're going to heal my injuries, restore my magic and aid me in overthrowing the current regime of false gods so that I may reign over Equestria and usher in a new era of peace and stability?"
"No silly! I'm here to heal your emotional injuries so that you don't overthrow the current regime and we can all be friends and you don't have to be so mean anymore!"
"Then you're as useless as a bucket missing its bottom."
Upon realizing that he was still holding the balloon, he yanked it so that the tip of his horn impaled it and he watched with immense satisfaction as it deflated into a frowny-faced piece of rubber.
"And what use is a bucket with no bottom?"
A pink shape appeared on the left side of his bed and replaced his popped balloon with an identical duplicate. Sombra stared incredulously at the mare and then at the spot she was just at.
How in the...?
He carefully rolled over to peer at the right side of his bed.
It's too narrow for her to crawl under and she definitely didn't walk around the bed. What sore of witchcraft is this?!
"There's plenty of uses for a bucket with no bottom! You can turn it into a hat, you can use it to make a mailbox, you can turn it into a drum, then, of course, there's always the option to..."
The mare's words filtered through one ear and out the other. All Sombra could focus on was the flapping of her gums and wondering to himself how she could possibly keep talking without any breaks or need for air. Then there was her issue with space as she was standing dangerously close to him. Close and incessantly chattering. If one could listen closely, they could hear the last of Sombra's nerves fizzling up and dying like worms caught on the sidewalk during the afternoon sun.
"Sooooo, what do you want to do now?!"
Sombra's left eye twitched. "I want to toss you out of the window and watch you go 'splat' on the ground below."
Pinkie Pie blinked and then slapped her hock. "Oh Sommy, you're such a kidder!"
"'Sommy'?!"
"Weeeeeell, 'Sombra' sounds a bit harsh so I'm going with something funner!"
"No!"
"'Som-Som'?"
"No!"
"'Sombry'?"
"Don't you dare!"
"'Som'?"
Sombra shoved his face into Pinkie's so that they were nose-to-nose. "I don't care if it sounds 'harsh.' My name is Sombra! It's the name my mother gave me and it's what I'm going with, you blabbering simpleton!"
By the time Sombra withdrew his face, Pinkie's was frozen in some sort of blank expression.
Finally! It's about time somepony was able to shut this accursed mare up-...
Pinkie's trademark grin returned as she cupped her hooves together. "Awww, that's so sweet! Somepony loves their mommy!"
"Enough!" Sombra screamed, throwing his hooves in the air like he didn't care (which he didn't). "Why?! Why did you choose to willingly come here? What possible reason could you possibly have to be in the same room as me?"
Pinkie Pie blinked and stared at him as though he'd told her that carrots were conspiring to take over the world (which, according to Pinkie Pie, would've been ridiculous considering how it was clearly the work of killer tomatoes).
"Well...it's because my special talent is making other ponies smile and to brighten up their days."
"Yes...but why me?"
I swear, it's like talking to a brick wall. Then again, at least the wall can't talk back.
The pink mare glanced at Sombra, her big blue eyes shimmering with compassion. "Because everypony deserves to be happy, even if they themselves don't think that." Sombra didn't answer, so Pinkie continued. "You've been hurt, haven't you? I can see it on your face. Somepony or several someponies hurt you and that's why you're so mean."
Sombra clenched his teeth. "Maybe they did. It doesn't matter."
He flinched when Pinkie placed her hoof over his own.
Seriously, why are these mares so touchy-feely?
"It does because you're unhappy and that makes others unhappy." She then slid away from him and began to pack everything up, her mane and tail slightly deflated and straight. "Don't give up on other ponies. If you let your pain control you then all you'll ever do is hurt yourself and everypony around you."
Something wormed its way into Sombra's heart and he suddenly felt himself feeling bad for the weird mare. She just wanted to help him. No schemes or profits. Just to see him happy.
Wheeling her chest out of the room, Pinkie gave Sombra one last lingering stare and asked:
Sombra awoke with a groan and his eyes flickered open, observing the low lighting in the room.
At least this time they remembered to draw the blinds.
After spending a millennium without sunlight, he'd become accustomed to sleeping in the dark and oddly found comfort in it. If there was even the teeniest bit of light, then sleep would be impossible to attain. That is, if he slept.
Since his nightmare the other night, even the simple act of taking a nap seemed impossible and Sombra was quickly becoming very aggravating. Combined with his limited mobility and mind-numbing boredom, he was extremely close to having a nervous breakdown. Rubbing his face and muttering in umbrumese, he reached for his glass of water when he paused and realized that he wasn't alone.
"Twilight? What are you doing here?"
The purple alicorn smiled nervously. "Well, I came to talk to you but I saw that you were sleeping so I decided to wait until you woke up. P-Princess Celestia said that you weren't sleeping well so I figured that you'd wake up soon."
"You were watching me sleep?"
Twilight waved her hoof around in little circles on the floor. "Well, when you put it like that, it doesn't sound good, does it?"
Sombra groaned slightly as he sat up. "Not that I'm unhappy to see you but why are you here?"
Twilight sighed and seemed to carefully mull over her words. "First I wanted to see if you were alright. I heard about your injuries and I was worried." Sombra nodded, touched about her concern but weary of an ulterior motive. "Secondly...well, ever since the incident at the crystal castle, I've been thinking about how little I actually know about you. The history books are of no help and Princess Celestia has confirmed that most, if not all, of the information is incorrect." A raspberry-pink glow surrounded one side of her saddle bag and a quill and notebook floated out. "I want to get the true story straight from the source."
Sombra watched her curiously. She was anxious but hopeful, excited and yet also...scared? Maybe she was afraid of what he'd tell her. Then again, it wasn't as though he had anything better to do and it would disperse the boredom that'd accumulated around him like a storm cloud.
And perhaps maybe, just maybe, everypony could know the unadulterated truth of the account of the "Shadow King".
"Alright then. I will do it."
Twilight yipped and did a hoof thrust, only to realize how she looked and cleared her throat, a blush quickly reddening her cheeks. "Ahem. So, um...what is your earliest memory?"
"I was perhaps a few months old, maybe a year. I remember traveling in a large caravan with my parents and many other umbrums. Unlike what the history books would tell you, my kind had established settlements ages before the first ponies appeared. We were largely nomadic, traveling place to place, getting a feel for the land. I remember foals running around playing and my parents interacting with the other adults, laughing and singing." His lips turned upward in a warm smile. "My mother had a lovely voice and would dance while my father played his flute."
Sombra's smile vanished. "We finally set down roots in the Frozen North, in a place that we dubbed 'Hnefaleikarinn' or 'Giant's Fist'. It was then we came across the crystal ponies, who had also laid claim to the area and gave it its modern name: 'Dravite Hill.'"
Twilight visibly winced but kept writing.
"The crystal ponies were scared at first but soon began trading with us and an agreement was reached that we'd keep Dravite Hill and stick to that area, never setting hoof in the Crystal Empire. That worked for us; we had no use for their city. And then, the war arrived."
"The Umbrum-Draconequus War?"
"The very same. My village may've been an umbrum settlement, but we had long since removed ourselves from our kind's empire and wanted nothing to do with the war. The crystal ponies were asked by the other equine races for aid but stayed out of the first two years of the war. That is, until a crystal pony trading outpost was decimated in an umbrum attack for aiding wounded earth pony and pegasus soldiers. Then the Crystal Empire had no choice but to answer the call to war.
The village chieftain met with King Carnelian, then ruler of the Crystal Empire, and asked to turn Dravite Hill into a refugee camp for umbrum settlers that wished to escape the fighting and he agreed. I was five or six by the time the war reached its end."
Sombra's vision had fogged over and tears dotted his cheeks but he didn't notice and Twilight didn't bring it up.
"The draconequui were all but extinct and the Umbrum Empire had joined up with the Army of Light. It looked as though it was all over and peace had finally been reached." His voice then took on a colder, harsher tone. "But looks can be deceiving."
"My village had a protective barrier placed around it to keep enemy forces out but allowed the bulk of the crystal pony armies to enter uncontested. It was an hour after dawn when the crystal ponies descended upon us. I remember the bell in the village's square being rung and my father running to aid the chieftain. My mother grabbed me and we started running amidst the blood and fire and chaos."
Twilight scribbled furiously in her notebook but kept her attention solely focused on Sombra, her expression one of horror but also rapt fascination, like the face of one witnessing a house fire.
"As I said before, the barrier was designed to keep things out. Unfortunately, it also appeared to keep things in as well. Anything non-crystal pony." Sombra's hooves twisted the bed sheets. "There were villagers throwing themselves at the barrier, just...a crowd of them snapping and shoving at one another in an attempt to escape the slaughter. I don't know how many were killed by the soldiers or by their fellow umbrums but by the end of the ordeal, over three-hundred and fifty umbrum stallions, mares and foals laid dead in the snow."
Twilight finally spoke, her voice hoarse and quaking.
"How-how did you survive?"
He turned in her direction, his red eyes depositing a steady stream of angry tears.
"During the massacre, my mother was running with me clasped to her chest as she fled to our hut. Just as she made her way to the entrance, three soldiers caught up with her and hurled their spears at her. She fell and I ended up beneath her. I guess the soldiers had more work to do so they just went to retrieve their weapons and moved on.
"I don't know how long I remained beneath my mother's corpse, drenched in her blood and trapped under her weight. It could've hours, maybe minutes, just stuck there with the stench and the fear, the knowledge that the soldiers could be back. I prayed to the gods to keep the monsters away. I begged them to let me live. I guess they heard me."
The notebook and quill clattered to the floor. Twilight was sobbing now, wiping at her face as she wept.
"Why?" She whimpered, violet eyes sparkling through her tears. "Why would they do something so..so...horrible?" It was painful to see her in such distress but it wasn't as though Sombra could anything. What could he do? "I don't understand."
Sombra swallowed and exhaled through his nostrils. "Queen Concordia and the other Army members realized that with the draconequui gone, the umbrums posed the greatest threat to the new nation and their alliance with King Erebus would end in either his betrayal or theirs so they took the initiative. After disposing of the king and his forces they believed that the settlers would retaliate and they weren't going to take that risk."
"I...read about the Dravite Hill Massacre in-in the royal archives but the details were limited." Twilight sniffled, staring at him apologetically. "I had no idea that it was that awful."
"Now do you understand why I took up my crusade? Justice needs to be enacted, the guilty punished and Equestria liberated of its current regime. It requires new leadership, one that only demands obedience in return for peace and security. Nothing comes without a price, Twilight. Not even freedom."
The alicorn stood with her mouth agape. "Sombra, I understand your pain. What was done to your people-your mother-was wrong beyond description and I'm so sorry for what happened to you. But getting revenge on Princess Celestia and Princess Luna won't bring them back or take your own pain away. Revenge isn't an option."
"When you have nothing left," Sombra leaned forward. "Revenge is the only option."
Unexpectedly, Twilight's hoof reached out to touch the tip of Sombra's.
"You do have something Sombra. What about Cadence? What about your daughter?"
Sombra's shoulders hunched over, his face no longer angry or bitter.
"She wants nothing to do with me."
"Just give her time. Your last two encounters weren't exactly the best impressions."
"What if," Sombra asked, his voice small and dry, "It were better if she stayed away?"
Twilight wrapped her hoof around his pastern and unlike the two other mares, Sombra didn't mind her touch.
"Then neither one of you would ever know what it'd be like to be in the other's life."
The umbrum squeezed Twilight's hoof. He felt like a foal all over again and it was deeply troubling.
"Then...could you give me something to write with and help me write her a letter. And then send it to her when I'm finished?"
From the private diary of King Carnelian, Sovereign Ruler of the Crystal Empire (Recovered from the site of the Crystal Empire's disappearance) ~*~ Dated February 14th, 1401 PES (Post-Equestrian Settlement)
What in Hyperion's name have we done? The village, a collection of simple wooden huts, towers and walls, lay in ruins, either smashed or burned in the aftermath of the attack. No. "Attack" isn't strong enough to describe what I'm looking at. There isn't a spot of soil I can step on without coming into contact with a dead umbrum. This was a MASSACRE. I stopped before the bodies of a male and female, about sixteen or seventeen, their fore and hindlegs wrapped around one another in a protective embrace.
My ears swiveled to register the approaching hoofsteps but I didn't turn to look at their owner. Even blindfolded and locked in the wine cellar, there was no way I could mistake those for anypony else's but those of General Sunstone.
"What have we done?" I whispered, not caring whether or not he heard me.
"Your Majesty? Are you alright?"
I felt a hoof on my lower foreleg; Sunstone wasn't tall enough to reach my shoulder.
"We just committed genocide and slaughtered civilians, including foals. Should I be alright?"
My tone came off more sharp and bitter than I meant it to be but his question, while intended to be sympathetic, was slightly idiotic. Out of the corner of my eye, Sunstone shook his head.
"No, Your Majesty." He then added: "We're all going to Tartarus for this."
"Indeed we are."
And with that, I gave the two one last glance before marching away, Sunstone accompanying me. Now don't get me wrong, I've seen my fair share of dead bodies. I had, after all, spent the last four years fighting on the front lines, despite the protests of my advisors. But that was war! These were carpenters, potters, millers. And the foals... Sweet Alicornia, the foals! May Hyperion have mercy on all of our souls.
Even from inside the palace, the bonfire could seen roaring in the distance, the smell of burning flesh and clothing sickeningly choking the air. After the few dozen bodies, it was determined that burying the corpses would take too long so one of the privates suggested simply burning them and nopony objected. To my everlasting shame, I agreed. The huts were quickly ransacked of any and all valuables, no matter how trivial, and loaded onto the wagons. Food, spare clothing, blankets. The more personal items were either burned or tossed out into the snow. So this is how it happens. A race is killed and all remnants of their existence destroyed. This is what Equestria is being built on?
"Carnie?"
My head swiveled around. It was my wife and queen. Terror was written across her face in all capital letters as she surveyed her surrounds, her chest slowly breathing in an out. Her wings twitched at her sides. Every hoofstep slow and heavy. It was as though she was sleepwalking.
"Aquamarine, I thought I told you to remain in the carriage. You weren't meant to see any of this."
"Nopony was," came her response, her eyes filling up with tears.
For once, I had nothing to say to her. Instead, I placed a wing around her and sighed as she rested her head against my chest. She shuddered and sank deeper into me. I shook my head, my mind still reeling at the sight of the slaughter. We knew that the umbrums were dangerous but Queen Concordia made it absolutely certain that they had to be exterminated. I don't know what happened to have enforced this idea in her head. Was the loss of Solaris so daunting that this seemed reasonable?
"Your majesty!" Sunstone pointed and I followed his hoof.
A young mare, perhaps twenty-two or twenty-three, was laid out on her stomach in front of the entrance of a hut, presumably hers, if her outreached foreleg was of any indication. Her top half was rising up and down and I could hear little frenzied grunts coming from underneath her. What the hay? Puzzled, I magically turned her over and what I saw next will forever chill my blood whenever I write or speak of it.
A colt, six years of age by looking at him, sat up, his dark gray coat stained with dried blood and soot. His little chest was speedily sucking in pained breaths of air, small rasps accompanying each lungful. Large red eyes stared ahead of him, unblinkingly observing nothing but seeing everything. It was the look I'd see on many a soldier's face, what they called, "the Thousand-Yard Stare." It was the look of one who'd seen great horrors and tried to leave them behind.
The look of Death.
"UMBRUM!"
A detachment of guards had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, swords and spears raised as they surrounded the colt, who continued to stare off into space as if they didn't exist. General Sunstone had unsheathed his own blade and had it leveled in the direction of the colt like a teacher's pointing-rod. Something shoved me slightly backward and I became aware of a lack of warmth that'd been there but was now absent. I saw Aquamarine lunge forward and face the soldiers, her wings displayed aggressively as she shielded the absent-minded colt. We were all stunned.
"Aquamarine, what are you doing?!"
She flapped her wings forward at a guard that'd gotten too close and shot another a death-glare, causing the youth to drop his spear and jump backwards.
"Carnelian, please. No more."
Her green eyes pleaded with me, begged me to intervene. My response was hesitant but swift.
"General, tell your guards to stand down."
Sunstone glanced back at me questioningly but nodded. "Everypony, you heard your king. Stand down."
The guards looked to another perplexingly and slowly did as they were told. Aquamarine shot me a grateful smile and my heart immediately began to race. Lowering herself to the ground, she faced the colt. He didn't hear her approach, instead muttering the same word over and over again:
"Móðir..."
Although I didn't speak umbrumese fluently, I knew enough to know that he was saying "Mother" and my eyes focused on the dead mare beside him. For the briefest of moments, I saw my own mother lying there in the snow, the mare's dark gray coat replaced with one of teal green and her long black mane was now short and colored winter green with streaks of white. I dislodged the illusion and watched as Aquamarine began to say something, cooing in the colt's native tongue. Slowly, she enveloped him into her forelegs. The colt offered up no resistance.
Then, his eyes blinked away the fog that had inhabited his mind and he looked confusingly at my wife.
"Hvar er móðir mín?" >Where is my mother?<
Aquamarine paused, one wing brushing his mane.
"Hún hefur flutt á, litla einn." >She has moved on, little one.<
I'd expected tears or shouting, but no. Instead, he turned away from her and resumed staring out into nothing. Aquamarine pulled him in close, humming as she continued to stroke his mane, fresh tears racing down her cheeks. None of the guards moved or said anything. What could they say or do? Aside from his family and culture, we'd also killed his innocence.
The carriage ride to the Crystal Empire was occupied mostly by silence, interrupted now and then by Aquamarine humming or whispering positively to the colt, who was wrapped in a blanket and laid with his head against her chest. I knew why she was doing this. I couldn't blame her but somepony had to be the voice of reason. Reluctantly, I cleared my throat.
"Aqua, I know what you're thinking but don't. We can't keep him."
She scrunched her face up painfully, both wings moving to cover the colt in a protective cocoon.
"Carnie..."
"He isn't ours. By order of Queen Concordia, all umbrums are to be-..."
"Carnelian..."
"...executed on sight. Just by harboring him, we are committing treason."
Aquamarine's head dropped but her eyes were still on me. "After what happened to that village, are you really going to sit there and tell me that you're going to kill this colt? Just...add him to the fire?"
The colt in question was sleeping, his face oddly serene considering what he'd endured. A soft whimper or rumbling purr would slip out of his mouth but he was otherwise quiet. I looked out the window.
Taking advantage of my lack of a response, she continued. "The physicians said that we're both healthy and yet we're unable to conceive. Don't you see? This colt is the answer to our prayers."
I watched the snowflakes drift on by. "You're asking me to help you commit treason against our queen, against the Equestrian Empire and risk the safety of our kingdom. He's an umbrum."
"He's a child!" She hissed, being careful not to wake the colt. "He's a child with nowhere to go and nopony to care for him. We're not going to throw him out there to freeze to death nor butcher him and feed him to the fire. We have a chance to give this poor colt a loving home. Please Carnie, do this. If not for us, then do it for him. For me."
I met her eyes and was awestruck by their brilliance. I knew how badly she wanted a foal of her own and I couldn't deny how heartbroken I was when the physicians told us that we might never be able to have that luxury for ourselves. But this? I stared once more at the sleeping colt and a pang of remorse hit me. Even though the red had been washed off of his coat, he was still covered in blood. As were my hooves.
I sighed, "Very well then. We'll have to be very careful about how we do this."
Aquamarine chirped happily and nuzzled the colt, who in turn smiled in his sleep.
"We've been out of the public eye since the war began. It shouldn't be too hard to convince everypony that we had a child in secret. His birth was confidential as to keep our enemies from finding leverage on us during this crisis."
I smiled despite my reservations. My darling wife was quite clever when she wanted to be. I'm still convinced she somehow tricked me into proposing to her.
I hummed in contemplation. "That shouldn't be an issue. However, he's not a crystal pony. Then again, the mages do say that the Crystal Heart has certain transfigurative powers. Plus his memory could always be altered."
"He needs a name," Aquamarine beamed joyfully. Giving him a once over, she smiled, "I like 'Tourmaline'. It was my grandfather's name and is strong-sounding."
The colt lazily kicked one hindleg and nestled in close, causing her to giggle.
"'Tourmaline'. Hmm." I tossed the name around in my head. "Tourmaline it is then."
The crowd of advisors and nobles dispersed and were shepherded out of the throne room by the royal guards, giving Princess Cadence some much needed breathing room. With the doors slamming shut, the room was cast in eerie silence. Rising from her throne, she climbed down the steps of the dais and poured herself some chamomile tea.
"Well, that was stress free," Shining Armor joked, earning him a light shoulder jab.
"Very funny, Shiny. At least you get to stand there and look pretty."
"Don't pretend like you don't enjoy the view," Shining Armor countered with a double eyebrow raise.
Princess Cadence rolled her eyes and took a sip of tea. "Okay, you've caught me." She rested her head on his shoulder and smiled sweetly at him. "I just love the way you look in your armor. So tough, so handsome." Their lips met and she melted into his forelegs.
Buck, I love a stallion in uniform....
The doors flew open and a pegasus was led in by two crystal pony guards, ruining the couple's moment to themselves. The two pulled away and Princess Cadence cleared her throat, putting on her royalty mask.
"How can I help you?"
The pegasus, a mail pony by the look of his uniform, bowed and pulled an envelope from out of his mail bag.
"Your Majesty, I come bearing a letter from Canterlot. It bears the royal seal."
"What?" Being careful not to appear as rude, Cadence patiently waited for the pegasus to hoof her over the envelope before turning it over, discovering that the wax seal did indeed bear the sigil of the Canterlot royal seal. She tore it open and unfolded the piece of paper inside of it, freezing as her eyes began skimming it. "Sweet Celestia..."
"Cady? What is it? Did something happen?"
Princess Cadence didn't hear Shining Armor, her attention fully engrossed by the letter's contents and, more importantly, its writer:
Cadence,
I hope that this letter reaches you and that you've chosen to read it. I know that I'm probably the last person in Equestria you want to hear from considering our past history. Even as I write this, I can feel the anxiety choking me. My mind is a maelstrom of emotions, the two primary ones being remorse and hope. I regret how I came back into your life, especially the manner in which I chose to reveal your parentage. You and Celestia were right; it was not up to me.
Even though I claim to want only to have your best interests, the truth was that it was more for my benefit than yours. I wanted to hurt Celestia and for you to recognize me as your father. However, it escaped my notice how selfish and cruel it was and for that, I'm sorry. Words cannot describe the guilt that haunts me for hurting you. I never want to see you upset and knowing that I caused you distress wounds me more than having broken ribs.
Despite the guilt, I also believe in the remote but possible hope that you'll one day forgive me for my transgressions and perhaps even pay me a visit. You are the only positive thing to come out of my dark and sordid life and that alone fills me with pride. The fact that such a brave, kind and caring mare somehow came from me leads me to believe that perhaps the world isn't as terrible as I previously thought. Twilight is here helping me to compose this letter and wishes that the two of you will hang out soon.
In closing, even with my current incarcerated state, things still are not as bleak as they could be. Sure, the world is awful, but at the same time, as long as you are in it helping couples find their true loves, then how miserable could it possibly be? I await your letter and should you choose not to reply, then I completely understand. Just knowing that you're alive and well is good enough for me. Many blessings upon you my child and may your days know nothing but happiness.
Sincerely,
Sombra
The alicorn gulped and calmly placed the letter into Shining Armor's hooves before falling into a nearby chair. "It's my father. My birth father. He wants to make amends."
Alarmed, Shining Armor's head snapped down to the letter, his mouth moving as he read the words. He read and reread it, puzzlement written as clear as day across his face. Folding the letter back up, he stuffed it into his belt and turned to the guards.
"Take this mail pony outside and shut the doors. Await for further instructions." The guards nodded and the doors shut behind the three, leaving the royal couple alone once more. "Are you alright, Cadence?"
Her hooves on her temples, Princess Cadence smoothed over the skin, slowly shaking her head back and forth. "I...I'm not sure, Shiny. I think. It's just..." She threw her forelegs up and let them fall into her lap. "It's a lot to process." She stared up at him. "What should I do?"
Kneeling before his wife, Shining Armor placed one of Cadence's hooves against his cheek and smiled hopefully. "I know I can't possibly comprehend what you're going through but I do know that this is something that isn't going to just go away. If you write him back, you're asking him to be a part of your life and if you don't, it's going to gnaw at you for the rest of your days. Yes, he's one of the worst villains in Equestrian history but from what you've told me and what I just read, Sombra really does care about you. Even if he's a monster, he's still your dad. You forgave Celestia for lying to you. It'd be kind of hypocritical to not give him a chance."
Princess Cadence's smile returned and she lightly kissed Shining Armor on the lips. "I love you, Shiny."
"I know." And then: "I love you too, Cady."
~*~
Sombra let out a sigh and set the book down, rubbing at his eyes and letting out a yawn. To keep from falling asleep, he decided to keep his mind busy by reading, first a book on recent developments of magical theory and application, then a fiction novel of a series Twilight recommended about a pegasus archaeologist/adventurer. Admittedly, it was amateurishly written and lacked detailed description but was certainly ambitious and engaging, detailing the exploits of a charming and intelligent lead and colorful villains. He wasn't a fan of fiction but still devoured the book in one sitting. Now he was bored and in a non-reading mood with nothing else to do.
His salvation from mind-numbing tedium came in the form of a surprisingly exuberant Twilight Sparkle, who burst into the room waving an envelope around with her magic. Humming an upbeat, soulful little tune, she spun around on one hindleg and laid the envelope on Sombra's lap and grinned expectantly.
Sombra stared at the envelope then at Twilight, who rolled her eyes comically, "Well, aren't you going to read it?"
The envelope in question bore a wax seal depicting a snowflake with the Crystal Heart in the center, indicating that it was sent from the ruler of the Crystal Empire. Cutting it open with the tip of his fang, Sombra wiped away the sweat that had suddenly formed on his forehead and gingerly began to pull out the letter that was inside. How such a simple piece of paper could induce so much tension was beyond the umbrum but he soldiered on, his eagerness to hear from his only child overriding his fear. He was still getting used to using his hooves, an experience he found extremely cumbersome, and slowly unfolded the piece of paper. Controlling the shaking of his hooves, Sombra took a deep breath and proceeded to read:
Sombra,
As it has become plain at this moment, I've received your letter and written you a response, the very same one that you are no doubt reading at this present time. Even now, I can't quite accurately describe my feelings towards you at the moment but despite our history, there are two or three individuals that are ahead of you on the list of those that I'd ever wish to speak to. Initially, I was shocked and a bit scared upon reading your letter but after rereading it a few times, I found myself a bit touched by the effort that you put into it as well as your heartfelt apology. Although I'm not yet ready for us to have a face-to-face meeting, I would like it if we continued to correspond like this. Shining Armor told me that forgiving my mother for her wrongdoings but not giving you a chance would be unfair as well as highly hypocritical.
After learning the truth of my parentage, I sat my adoptive parents down and they told me the whole story, at least what they knew, filling in blanks that have plagued me for my entire life up to this point. Even if they aren't my birth parents, they are the ones who raised me and I still love them and accept them as my family. That being said, I've been trying to spend more time with Celestia in order to get a better sense of where I came from and from what she's told me, it's a very tragic picture. However, she did tell me stories of the stallion that she fell in love with and how kind and noble he was. I can't imagine the terrible ordeals that molded you into who you are but I sincerely believe that he's still somewhere inside of you.
It took a lot of courage for you to admit your fears and to ask for help in composing your letter. To hear you speak about me with such pride despite barely knowing me is very humbling and I wish to rectify this by telling you about myself. My name is Cadence and I grew up in Southern Canterlot, the only child of Brooks Medley and Lilac Spring. When I was five, I wanted to be a ballerina and to tour all over Equestria, even in the regions unexplored. I was sixteen when I earned my wings and I was scared because I thought that meant I wouldn't be myself anymore.
After a talk from my parents and Princess Celestia, I realized that instead of choosing, I could be both Cadence and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. Thankfully, Celestia agreed to postpone the coronation until I turned eighteen, allowing me time to finish school and enjoy my teenage years. It was around this time that I acted as a foalsitter for Twilight and our friendship was firmly established. A few years later, I met a young Royal Guard named Shining Armor and fell unabashedly in love with him. Our wedding day was spent fighting Queen Chrysalis and her changeling hordes and while this was far from how I pictured it to be, it brought me closer to Shining Armor and Twilight so I wouldn't change it for the world.
Shining Armor and I were then elected to be the new sovereigns of the Crystal Empire and the rest you already know. Since then, it's become something akin to its former glory, despite my relative inexperience of running a kingdom as well as my position as an outsider. Thankfully, the crystal ponies were very accepting and it didn't take long to build trust between us. Did you ever feel scared or anxious about the prospect of being a ruler? I was ready to lose my mind!
Even though things are difficult at the moment, I do honestly believe that, given enough time, we could build an actual relationship and it's not impossible for me to one day forgive you. If it's any consolation, I accept your apology and I wish for your own health and happiness. Please don't hesitate to write to me should you feel lonely and I'll try to respond as soon as I can. Just know that even though I'm not yet your daughter, you're still my father.
Best wishes,
Cadence
P.S. Tell Twilight that I look forward to our SILT and I'll let her know when my schedule opens up.
Sombra reread the letter three times before he carefully folded the letter back up, placed it inside its envelope and set on the bedside table. He sniffled and rubbed at his eyes, wetting his face with fresh tears he didn't even know he'd shed. For the first time in a long time, he felt real hope for the future and this both terrified and delighted him. Cadence hadn't yet forgiven him and brought him into her family but he was on the way. Looked over at a concerned Twilight and almost did a double take as he'd completely forgotten that she was even there.
"Are you alright?" Twilight asked softly, hovering at the foot of the bed.
Sombra nodded and rubbed at his eyes again. "I think so, Twilight. Thank you."
The starry curtain of night had dropped upon Saddle Arabia and all was still and calm. From atop his perch on the highest minaret, Sombra basked in the cool breeze as it lightly whipped his billowing cloak and keffiyeh headdress. As Shadhavar the Melodic, he'd arrived in the desert country to learn from the native mystics any and all spells and arcane techniques that he could find. Other than a street magician, a jinn-summoner and an alchemist, he found his search rather fruitless. Sure, they were all fine on their own but he sought true, old-world dark magic, something powerful enough to aid him in his defeat of the Royal Sisters.
Saddle Arabia was but the latest locale in a long journey. As Macho Nyekundu, he'd explored most of Zebrica, finding low-level shamans and spirit channelers that all spoke in complete rhyming couplets for some strange reason. In Abyssinia, he'd lived under the guise of Karkadann and was known as Imhooftep to the Anugyptians. In both instances, he discovered con artists and priests with little to no power. Still, at least they were better than the arrogant degenerates of Prance, a group of bored aristocrats that delved into the occult as an excuse to show off to their snobbish friends.
Raising a silver flute to his lips, he played a dulcet tone that carried on the wind, filling the streets with a mesmerizing melody that soothed savage beasts and lulled even the most stubborn insomniacs to sleep. Aside from acting as a focusing rod for his magic, it was also his meal ticket, as he'd spent many hot hours in the marketplace playing for the amusement of passersby. The country overall was actually quite nice and if not for his crusade, Sombra would actually consider staying awhile. But alas, he had work to do.
"I must say, that was quite impressive."
Sombra turned and met the gaze of the Princess of Night. "Hello Luna. Still creeping into other pony's dreams?"
The mare leapt down from her perch and strode up to him. "Tis our sacred duty to watch over the dreams of our subjects, ensuring that they art protected in the realm of sleep."
"Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"That! Switching between modern speak and Old Equestrian!" Sombra replied, jabbing his flute at her.
Luna turned away and muttered, "I'm still getting used to this time period's lingo. I was locked away for a thousand years after all. It takes time."
Sombra shook his head. "So was I or have you forgotten that?"
Luna's wings spread open as she took a defensive stance. "Thou wast out of control! We had to stop thee!"
"Oh? From what I read, the same could be said of you."
"That...that was different."
Sombra snorted, "How so?"
"I wasn't in control of myself!" Luna stomped a hoof down, a resounding thud that echoed throughout the dreamscape. "I was being used by Nightmare Moon! What's your excuse?"
It was amusing to see the normally reserved and icy princess losing her cool but Sombra knew that it was wise not to laugh. "I don't have one. I can take responsibility for my own actions."
There was silence. Luna looked as though she was going to say something but then turned away, pain and self-loathing gleaming in her eyes. For some inexplicable reason, Sombra found himself feeling...sorry for her, for what he'd said. In many ways, the two were actually more alike than different. They'd both been touched by the darkness and forced into roles neither one of them asked for but had to fill regardless and were demonized for it.
"Luna, I...regret what I've just said to you now." Luna turned her head slightly. "It was wrong and I apologize for it." Feeling the mare's skepticism, he added, "I'm sorry."
The alicorn's features softened. "Sombra-..."
Just then, the world began to shake as the tower and buildings crumbled around them. Luna spread her wings and ascended in a ray of light. "You're waking up. We'll talk later. And Sombra...thank you..."
Sombra's eyes slowly fluttered open and he found himself once more in his bed.
~*~
Twilight Sparkle entered the room to find Sombra awake and waiting for her, his crimson eyes soft and faraway. Since their last meeting, she'd really felt as though he'd made progress; not only did he manage to successfully reconnect with his estranged daughter but he seemed genuinely more pleasant and happy. Sure, his encounter with Pinkie Pie could've gone smoother but it was telling that the party pony was more upset for him rather than at him. Digging her quill and notepad from out of her saddlebags, Twilight took a seat at the foot of the bed and smiled at Sombra.
"Good afternoon, Sombra! How are you?"
"I'm alright. I dreamt that I was once again Shadhavar the Melodic-..."
"Wait, you were Shadhavar the Melodic? The Saddle Arabian flutist, mystic and alchemist?"
Sombra slyly grinned. "Indeed I was. That was back when I was touring Equestria in an attempt to track down sorcerers to train me in the dark arts. It took some time before I found a suitable master. Anyway, I was enjoying a nice dream when Luna paid me a visit."
Twilight was intrigued. "What did she want?"
"I don't know. Something about looking after the dreams of her subjects," he said with a wave of his hoof. "Funny. When I first met her, I never would've imagined that she'd one day be the Princess of Dreams."
Twilight scooted a little closer to him, her quill and notebook at the ready. "And how did you meet her?"
The umbrum sat up slightly. "Would you mind if we didn't talk about me for once? I'd like to discuss you."
"M-me?"
"Hmm-hmm. There's still so much that I don't know about you and I'd like to get to. It's only fair."
Twilight considered this, not expecting him to ask about her life story during his interview. She did want to talk to him about something other than his own trials and tribulations and was touched that he wanted to know more about her. Plus, it'd help to establish more trust between them and thus make him more open. It was certainly a risk but it was one that Twilight was willing to take.
"Okay. What would you like to know?"
Sombra smiled and it was one of warmth and sincerity. "How about the beginning? Where were you born?"
"Well, I was born here in Canterlot. You've already met my brother."
"Yes, Shining Armor. He's certainly got guts. Not many would've attacked me head-on to defend their loved ones."
"Sounds like you admire him," Twilight smirked.
Sombra drew his head back. "Merely an observation. It was also foolish, charging at an unknown threat with total disregard to his own safety. I could've easily killed him without a second thought."
"So...why didn't you?"
"Fear. I sent him back scared out of his wits in an attempt to frighten you and the others. I may not have been in complete control of my mental faculties but I knew enough to try to break your collective spirits."
Twilight shuddered, "Well it worked, at least a little. You are pretty scary when you want to be."
The umbrum gave her a toothy grin. "It's a gift. Now, I believe we were talking about you."
Twilight shifted uncomfortably in her seat. It was certainly a change to have a stallion so invested in hearing her life story, especially one that happened to be a notorious former tyrant. Scarlet eyes peered deep into her own, shimmering red mirrors that focused on her and only her. Now that she stopped and thought about it, Sombra actually was quite handsome, his long, angular face bearing strong masculine features that wouldn't look out of place on an old Roaman bust or mosaic wall.
"Twilight?"
"Hmm?" Sombra's voice dragged her back down to Equestria. "I, um...well, as a filly, I was very inquisitive. I was always asking questions and wanted to know how things worked. My parents brought me to the museum or the public library whenever they could. I spent more time with a book than I did with the other foals." Twilight cringed at the memory. Her family thought her academic interests overrode her social life and pushed her to try to be more open.
Sombra smiled warmly and it touched Twilight's heart to see it. "Ah, I see. A budding scholar, eh? Well, there's nothing wrong with that. Social interactions are overrated."
"That's what I thought too but my friends in Ponyville taught me differently. Knowledge is great but it can't cheer you up when you're blue or give you a helping hoof when you have a problem. Friends are the most precious commodity in this world and I wouldn't give mine up for anything or anypony."
Shifting around on the bed, Sombra laid back and nodded in consideration. "Perhaps they are but not to me. Allies are better than friends because they can be bought or bargained with. Friends only make you weak."
Twilight stared with her mouth slightly agape. "You can't mean that."
"And why not?"
"Because friendship doesn't work that way! Friends make you strong because they're strong. They stick by you when times are tough and celebrate with you when times are great. Isn't there anypony that was like that? Anypony that you shared a connection with?"
Sombra turned away, his eyes drawn to the filtered sunlight shimmering through a crystal water pitcher on the nightstand. "Garnet...."
A Thousand Years Ago...
"Ready or not, here I come!" Prince Tourmaline spun around, his eyes keenly scanning the surrounding landscape of the Royal Garden. Humming to himself, he wove his way past some crystal sculptures and began searching the hedgerows. As big as the garden was, there were only so many places to hide. "Come out, come out wherever you are!"
His left ear swiveled upon catching the sound of a cut-off giggle and he turned in the direction of a row of petunia bushes. "Hmm, I wonder where Garnet may be?" Tourmaline smirked and trotted towards the bushes. Poking his head through, he gasped, "There you are!"
A magenta-colored filly with a swirly rose-red and ivory mane squealed and fell backwards. She then crawled halfway out of the bush but soon found herself stuck. "How come you always find me?"
"Because you insisted that I should stop letting you win, remember?" Tourmaline chuckled, magically lifting Garnet out of the bush before taking a long look at her. After he was born, the doctors told his parents that they couldn't have any more children and this saddened him because he wanted a little brother or sister. So imagine everypony's surprise when Tourmaline was eight years old, his mother gave birth to a healthy baby girl. From the moment little Garnet entered the world, he was dead-set on being the best big brother ever.
The filly pouted. "Well, do you think you could start letting me win again, Toury?"
Tourmaline shook his head and let out an amused sigh. "No can do. Anyway, it's getting late. Mom and Dad are looking for us and we have to get ready for the Grand Galloping Gala."
"Why do we have to go? I thought Mommy and Daddy didn't like Queen Concordia."
Tourmaline stopped and looked down at Garnet. "It's not about like or dislike. She is the queen of all of Equestria and we need to show her respect. The gala is a time for kings, queens and ambassadors from all over the land to come together and just be merry. It strengthens the bonds between all our races and thus our kingdom."
Garnet nodded and ruminated on his words. She was very bright for her age. "So everypony goes there to be nice?"
"Something like that."
"Huh." Garnet threw back her shoulders and held her head up high. "Then they need to be extra nice to Princess Garnet of the Crystal Empire!"
Tourmaline put a foreleg around Garnet and pulled her close as they approached the castle.
"Oh yes, they'd better beware her royal wrath! All hail Princess Garnet!"
"Hail myself! All hail me!"
In his back of his mind, Tourmaline was secretly dreading the upcoming gala and the announcement that would be the highlight of the festivities. I wonder if my betrothed is feeling the same?
"Who am I?" The room was empty but that was okay; this question was more for Sombra than for anypony else. "Who am I?" Being left alone for hours on end with nothing to do gave him plenty of time for contemplation and, once allowing his mind to wander, he found himself thinking about something other than his daughter or his revenge. "What am I?"
A hoof ran along the length of Sombra's fang-like horn. I'm a unicorn that can't do magic. I'm a king without a kingdom. I'm a relic from a bygone age. I'm the last of my kind. Was this what hopelessness felt like? Could it be that he was experiencing what the crystal ponies saw day and night during his reign all those centuries ago?
Sombra stared morosely out towards the window. Defenestration is hardly original but it'd get the job done. Besides, it's not as though I can get my hooves on any poison or rope. Sombra, Lord of the Crystal Empire, the Shadow King, Conqueror of the Frozen North, was now bedridden and reduced to suicidal musings. The mighty certainly had fallen.
"I'm not going to kill myself. Stop being so melodramatic," Sombra chided himself. Aside from his long-overdue vengeance and quest to save Equestria, he did have other things to live for. He had a daughter to reconnect with, even if it'd take months or even years for her to accept him. And then there was Twilight. That mare refused to leave his thoughts. Why was that?
Sombra tapped his chin. She was beautiful, there was no doubt of this, possessing a sort of loveliness that was somehow down-to-earth and yet also heavenly. And those eyes...so much intelligence, so much warmth. Physical traits aside, Twilight was also smart, tenacious and uncompromising in her beliefs. She wanted to know him, to hear his side of the story, even knowing full well who he was and what he'd done. Such a mare doesn't come around every millennia.
Here you are again, falling for yet another alicorn princess. Have you forgotten what happened the last time?
A twinge of pain vibrated up Sombra's upper back.
"No, I haven't but this time is different. She's different."
Doubt was burrowing its way into Twilight's heart, opening her eyes to the truth about Princess Celestia and her beloved homeland. It didn't matter if the public at large rejected Sombra's story. All it takes is a small number of individuals to start a revolution. And what a revolution it will be.
~*~
Day Court was, well, typical and this annoyed Celestia greatly. The delegates each came and went, presenting their reports, documents and complaints in a seemingly endless procession that exited the throne room doors and appeared to stretch on to infinity. Princess Celestia loved her subjects dearly and would do anything to keep them happy and safe but there were often times she'd wished she could just leave and never come back. Being the chief ruler of Equestria was unbelievably daunting and what made it worse was the image the regular ponies conjured up of Celestia, that of the perfect monarch that never lost her cool. The truth was, she was calm on the outside but boiling with rage on the inside.
I could kill for a slice of cake right about now.
"Sister," Luna interjected. "There is an urgent matter that I need to discuss with thee. Alone"
"Of course, Luna. Everypony, leave us." It took all of Celestia's willpower to remain seated in her throne rather than pump her hooves in the air and holler loudly. Once the pair were alone, she clapped her hooves together. "So, what was it that you wanted to discuss?"
A rare mischievous grin touched Luna's lips. "Nothing. You just looked as though you needed a break."
"Why Luna, you sly fox you." Celestia heaved a heavy sigh, her back lightly popping as she stretched in place. "Now that we have a moment to ourselves, why don't we order in some sweets like we used to when we were little?"
"Mother always hated that," Luna smiled and in a posh demeanor, she faux-griped, "'Princesses shouldn't bury their snouts in sweets. You both are noble ladies of the highest alicorn pedigree-..."
"'...-Not mud-toting savages,'" Celestia finished in an equally uptight voice. They stared at one another before bursting into a fit of wild laughter, the kind that leaves the laughers aching and gasping for air. Anypony on the other side of the doors (such as the royal guards, for example), would believe that the sisters had gone insane from all of the ruckus that they were making. Once the laughter died down, they both sighed and fell into silence.
"I miss Mother."
"So do I, Luna. So do I."
Luna's smile slowly fell. "Actually, there was something that I wanted to discuss with you."
Something about Luna's sudden starkness threw Celestia off. "What is it?"
The starry-maned mare tapped her forehooves together, something she'd always done before admitting a painful truth or asking a difficult question. "Are you...do you still love Sombra?"
Do you know why I hate you, Celestia? It's because I never stopped loving you...
The elder alicorn turned away.
"I've seen your dreams. You still think about him."
Celestia stared off into the distance. "It's...true. I never stopped."
A Thousand Years Ago...
The grounds of Canterlot Castle were flooded with seas of mauve, gold, crimson and sapphire as the guests began arriving, their jackets and gowns forming the waters of an endless rainbow sea. Aside from the three equine races, there were also foreign dignitaries from different parts of the kingdom, ranging from minotaurs, griffons, and even a few dragons. The lower classes saw the Grand Galloping Gala as nothing more than an overly-extravagant show for the gentry to put on in order to flaunt their wealth. In truth, it was a social event meant to bring together not just the Equestrian ponies but all of the land's creatures for one night of diplomacy and merriment. No war, only peace and acknowledge of different races and cultures.
For one certain young princess, however, this was an occasion being held for an entirely different reason. Celestia gulped, her stomach twisted in so many knots that it was a miracle she could even breath. Her long pink locks were held up in a braided ponytail held together with silk ribbons and beads of pearls. She inspected herself in the mirror.
I wonder if the prince will like my dress.
Corsage du Rouge tut-tutted her. "Your Majesty, try not to frown so. You will get wrinkles."
"I'm sorry, Corsage. I'm just worried about the gala. My mother will be announcing my betrothment to Prince Tourmaline." The royal dressmaker was a calm and trustworthy mare, making her one of the few ponies Celestia felt as though she could confide in. "I just hope he won't be disappointed."
"Ma chère Celestia, stop with this foolish talk!" Corsage placed her hooves firmly on the young mare's shoulders. "Look, look at the mirror. I see a vibrant, beautiful lady and so shall he. Besides, in this dress, you shall do more than turn his head, non?"
The dress was a high-collared ballgown with puffy shoulders, bodice and silk train with a plunging neckline. It was made out of an iridescent blue-violet fabric and embroidered with Columbia-blue accents, which were the colors of the Crystal Empire's flag. Celestia shifted on her hooves and turned to the side, admiring the way the light reflected off of the fabric. Sure, it felt good but that still didn't completely vanquish her anxiety. After all, she was a ripe sixteen years old while Tourmaline was eighteen, practically an elderly bachelor. Would he really want somepony as young as her?
The gala was in full-swing by the time Celestia arrived and, much to her own delight, managed to catch the eye of many males, both pony and non-pony. She spied Luna standing over by the staircase, her dress simpler in design but no more less beautiful: pine green with high-puffed shoulders and ruffled sleeves and neckline. The younger princess was chatting with Discord, who had chosen a maroon doublet and a black feathered cap. The two were practically attached to the hip ever since the draconequus' arrival and while Celestia was initially put off by his strange appearance, she now considered him one of her best friends. She just hoped he would behave himself tonight.
"I was wondering when you'd appear."
Celestia stopped and slowly rotated, finding herself once again face-to-face with the most handsome stallion that she'd ever seen. He was a smoky gray crystal pony garbed in a lace-collared sky-blue military jacket and matching silver-gilt embroidered satin cloak. His mane had been swept backward, forming a wave of jet-black hair that she desperately wanted to run her hooves through. Rose-colored eyes shimmered with warmth and mirth as they peered into her own. Although the two had already been acquainted, it was as though Celestia was seeing him for the first time.
"Prince Tourmaline, it's wonderful to see you again," she greeted with a curtsy.
The crystal pony bowed in return. "As it is the same with you, Princess Celestia, although I'd prefer it if you weren't so formal with me. It's not as though we're strangers or anything. Tourmaline will do."
That smile would be the end of her. "O-of course, Tourmaline. I'm glad that you're here. It's nice to see a familiar face amongst all of these strangers."
Tourmaline gave her an understanding grin. "Yes, it's certainly daunting although I'm not the only friendly face here tonight. Look, Garnet's here as well."
A pretty young crystal pony mare found her way over to Luna and Discord and joined in on their conversation. Garnet's mane was done up in a traditional Crystal Empire bun-comprised of ringlets and inlaid with gems-and wore a golden gown with silver floral patterns and scarlet ribbons. She was becoming quite the lovely young lady and would have no trouble finding a husband soon. Tourmaline took Celestia's hoof in his own and bowed.
"Would you care to dance?"
A heavy blush heated up Celestia's ivory cheeks. "Yes, please." Taking Tourmaline's foreleg, she allowed him to lead her towards the dance floor, unabashedly sneaking a glimpse at his flank. His cutie mark was, appropriately enough, a crown encircling three crystals, a symbol for his birthright as the Crystal Empire's future king.
And I am to be his queen.
Celestia shuddered, though she couldn't tell if it was from anticipation or fright.
The music started up and Celestia found herself in Tourmaline's forelegs, their bodies moving in synch to the waltz. "Sorry, if I seem distant. I'm just very anxious for Mother's announcement."
Tourmaline's smile dropped. "I can see why. I apologize for the suddenness."
They spun around and it seemed to Celestia as though her gown was on fire. "You have nothing to be sorry for."
"Still, I should've pushed harder for my parents to postpone the engagement."
It was somehow both relieving and painful to hear him say that.
Celestia gulped, "Tourmaline?"
"Yes, Celestia?" The prince asked worriedly, picking up on the unsteady tone of her voice.
"You don't think I'm too young or not pretty enough for you, do you?"
The pair stopped moving, much to the chagrin of the other dancers but neither of them cared. Puzzled, Tourmaline cupped one of Celestia's cheeks. "Well, you are a bit young for me but 'not pretty enough'? You're beautiful Celestia, inside and out. Any stallion noble or poor would be proud to call you his wife." He then softly added, "I know I would be."
"Oh Tourmaline..." Celestia collapsed into the crystal pony's embrace and mashed her lips against his own. Marriage may've been too much for her to handle but this felt right to her. No matter what happened, being with this stallion was where she always wanted to be. Her heart was his, always and forever.
Sombra stared up at the ceiling to count the familiar cracks of his old cell. With his ribs all healed up, there was no further reason to keep him in the guest bedroom and so he was totted off back to the dungeons. Not that he could complain too much; this simply meant that he'd get less visitations from the False Goddess, Princess Sleep-Stalker and Crazy Pink. He placed a hoof against his chest, noting the slight pain in his breast. If he resented them, then why did it feel as though he...?
"No, no, no! I don't miss them! I can't!"
Celestia was a two-faced, condescending egotist, Luna a patronizing hypocrite and the pink one? Well, she was just weird and annoying. Sombra rubbed his face irritatingly. They were all his enemies and yet they all tried to cheer him up or give him words of encouragement.
But why help me? I'm not worth their time or their energy. Is it pity or-...?
A sudden creaking sound caused him to bolt up sharply as the cell door was wretched open. Sombra felt his heart freeze at the sight of three familiar Royal Guards: the unicorn Golden Shield and his pegasus cronies Thunderhead and Swift Spear. They were followed in by a fourth companion, an unarmored teal-colored crystal pony clutching what appeared to be an old leather medical bag. Every muscle in Sombra's body urged him to flee-as futile as the gesture was-but he instead remained seated, held in place either from terror or defiance. Or both. The fear must've been evident on his face because the ringleader smirked crookedly at him.
"Look at the mighty King Sombra, scared as a little foal without his mommy. Can you believe that this sad sack used to one of the most feared beings in all of Equestria? How pathetic."
"Very pathetic," Thunderhead dumbly nodded.
"Let's get started before we're found out," Swift Spear stated worriedly.
Golden Shield nodded as the four surrounded Sombra. "Too true, Swifty. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance and as much as I'd like to take time to enjoy it, we are on a time limit."
You're not going to mention a word of this to anypony...Are we clear?
Images of the previous attack flashed through Sombra's head, his hooves digging into the mattress as his heart both sped up and slowed down at the same time. The stallions were laughing, their limbs wildly kicking and punching him as he rolled on the dirty floor, trying to fend off his attackers. He remembered laying in agony until passing out, fear and pain clouding his senses like thick smoke. Something awoke in the umbrum as the four approached him, some semblance of the ruthless warrior that he used to be. Swift Spear and Thunderhead lifted him up by his forelegs and this was the opportune moment to strike.
"Dauði þeirra sem eru á móti mér!"
Sombra yanked his left foreleg free, jabbing his elbow into Swift Spear's jaw, knocking him away before swinging his head around and shattering Thunderhead's snout. Ignoring the geyser of blood that clung to his head, Sombra lunged forward and ducked beneath Golden Shield's haymaker, clamping his jaws down on the unicorn's shoulder. Warm blood seeped into his mouth and he had to gag to avoid swallowing it. Punishment no longer mattered; he was not going to allow himself to be tormented by these wretched miscreants any longer!
In between his shrieking and furious babbling, Golden Shield smacked at Sombra and swung him back and forth but the umbrum continued to sink his teeth into his flesh, further opening up the wound and coating himself in his own blood. Shoving Golden Shield into the bars, Sombra pulled his fangs free and turned to face the crystal pony, only to catch a blackjack to the cheek. The crystal pony swung again, clubbing him in the chest and stomach before knocking him to the floor with a blow to the other cheek. Sombra mentally chastised himself for his foolishness but those thoughts were put on hold when all four assailants grabbed him and violently jerked him up.
Gasping heavily, Golden Shield pulled his hoof away from his bleeding shoulder with a wince and presented it to Sombra. "You bit me? You wanna bite me?!" He slapped Sombra and then slammed his forehoof into his gut while the crystal pony rummaged through his medical bag. "Hold him up. I want him to see this."
The two pegasi eagerly obeyed, forcing Sombra's head up while the crystal pony passed Golden Shield a pair of pliers, which he fastened painfully around Sombra's horn. Sombra bit down to muffle his groans of agony as the pliers were squeezed but was unable to keep himself from crying out aloud. A unicorn's horn was the most sensitive part of their body so any intense pressure was more harmful than a cut on the lip or a blow to the ribcage. Twisting the pliers back and forth, Golden Shield began to grin wildly and Sombra wondered if he was a sadist.
Golden Shield then stopped and causally said, "You don't know Jasper here but you sure did a lot of damage to his home and his family. Imagine generations of crystal ponies plagued by nightmares, unable to recall being happy or rid of your influence." The crystal pony, or "Jasper" as he was known, entered Sombra's field of vision, a bone saw cradled in his hooves. "I told him I could get him payback and he was all too happy to jump at the opportunity."
The bone saw's teeth glittered forebodingly and the panic immediately set in, sending Sombra into a spasming frenzy as he attempted to twist himself out of the Royal Guards' iron-hoofed hold. No, no, please! Anything but that! Even if there was the slimmest chance of his magic never returning, there was no way in Tartarus Sombra could ever part with his horn, the last remnant of who and what he used to be. In his culture, an umbrum without a functioning horn was known as einnánvald, or "one without power" and was considered the lowest of the low, even below the crippled and elderly.
"It's time for you to pay for your sins, Sombra!" Jasper screamed, placing the bone's teeth against his horn.
"No, no!"
"What are you doing?!"
There was a burst of light intense enough to rival the sun's and everypony had to shield their eyes lest they went blind. A few seconds passed before Sombra opened his eyes, his body seizing up at the awe-inspiring sight before him. The mare in front of him appeared to be Princess Celestia, only all of the warmth and kindness had been banished from her face, instead replaced with a fury the likes of which not even he'd ever seen before. Her normally flowing, rainbow-colored mane and tail were now streams of crackling, smokeless flames and her soft pink eyes a golden-orange with cat-like pupils that glared unblinkingly at his captors with raw hatred and disgust.
"Celestia...?"
The four ponies tentatively backed away from Sombra, cowering before the true might of their Princess of the Day, their previous goal of revenge and torture completely forgotten. Sombra was so enraptured by Celestia's new form that he almost missed the squad of Royal Guards standing stoically behind her, their spears pointing almost accusatory at the four torturers. Trying and failing to hoist himself to his hooves, Sombra was thankfully aided by a pair of Royal Guards, who carried him out of the cell and away from the conspirators, whose faces ranged from horror to guilt and even awestruck bewilderment. Celestia momentarily glanced at Sombra, her gaze soft and sorrowful as her fiery mane flickered into a small blue column. She then turned her attention back to the guilty party, her face locked in a ferocious snarl and her mane once again a giant, orange-and-yellow-colored stream.
Golden Shield was the first to recover his senses. "Your Majesty, this is not as it appears-..."
"And how, pray tell, does it appear?" Celestia demanded. "Because it appears as though you and your friends abused your positions in order to assault and attempt to mutilate a prisoner." Her cold eyes fell on Jasper. "And smuggled in a civilian to aid you in your endeavor."
"But Your Majesty-..."
"Captain, arrest these pieces of scum and lock them up far away from Mr. Sombra. There will be a formal hearing before they are dishonorably discharged from the Royal Guard."
Celestia locked eyes with the three, especially Golden Shield. "You are all a disgrace to the title and the uniform. Get them out of my sight."
Jasper shouldered his way past the guards and threw himself before the princess. "And what of me?"
"That is for Princess Cadence to decide," Celestia stated coolly. "Take him away too."
Sombra must've passed out-either from his injuries or the emotional exhaustion-because he found himself in Celestia's forelegs, her appearance reverted back to its natural form. She was stroking his mane and peering down at him tenderly almost like a mother to her foal. "Sombra, can you hear me?"
"Yes...Celestia, what was that? I've never seen you so angry before-...."
She placed the tip of her hoof over his lips. "Shh, don't worry about it," she murmured, her voice soothing, hypnotic even. Sombra could feel his eyelids becoming heavy. "Just sleep, Sombra. Sleep..." Without any further interruptions or concerns, Sombra complied and shuffled off to the land of dreams that awaited him.
~*~
The guards took their leave and Princess Celestia was alone in the guest bedroom, silently watching over the resting stallion on the bed before her. She gazed at Sombra, noticing for the first time the peacefulness of his expression, how serene he appeared. It appeared to her that without the deep-seated anger and thirst for vengeance, Sombra had a calm, almost look about him, as if the years that brought on his hatred had all suddenly melted away. He was not Prince Tourmaline, nor would he ever be that person again but right now, he was close enough. Pulling the covers over him, she gave him one last once-over before bending over and laying a gentle kiss upon his brow.
"Good night, Sombra. I love you, now and always, my prince."
Sombra raised his teacup to his lips and nodded in agreement. A cloudless sky hung overhead, allowing the sun's piercing beams to illuminate the scintillating environment of the Crystal Empire. The breeze gently kissed his face and he briefly closed his eyes as it swept through his mane and fur. Setting the teacup and saucer down with his magic, Sombra then beamed warmly at the magenta-furred crystal pony seated across from him, amazed with how much she'd grown and what a fine young mare she'd become. He reached over the table to place his hoof over her own, feeling the smooth, glass-like texture as if uncertain of its authenticity.
"I'm so glad that we could enjoy it together," Sombra asserted tenderly, his voice wavering slightly. He stared down at their pasterns, both of which had a bracelet made of beads fastened to them. He could still recall them making bracelets together and the joy that they both felt as they exchanged them. What started out as a childish activity soon developed into an almost sacred tradition between them that continued into adulthood.
Garnet smiled softly, "So am I, big brother," her hoof lightly taking his own.
Sombra's throat felt raw, his eyes watering up. "Garnet, I-..."
The sky suddenly darkened, as though a great tarp had been draped over the kingdom, ruining the twos' reconcilable moment as well as getting on the umbrum's last nerve. Sombra exhaled and watched his breath materialize as a fine mist.
"This couldn't wait, could it?"
A star-maned alicorn slowly emerged from the edge of the balcony. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to see if thee were alright." She inspected Garnet, who was both literally and metaphorically frozen, her body having developed a thin layer of ice and frostbite. "I wasn't aware thee gave her much thought."
"She never left my mind," Sombra stated sharply. "Out of my many atrocities, what happened to her...what I did, will always be my single greatest regret." He lightly caressed one of Garnet's icy hooves. "I loved her."
"So what did thou do with her?"
Sombra sharply rose from his seat, his teeth bared threateningly as he narrowed his gaze at Luna.
"That's not any of your business. Why are you here?"
Ignoring Sombra's biting tone, Luna examined him closely. "Why do you do that? Why do you lash out at those trying to help you?"
"I hardly call invading my sleep and sticking your nose in my private life 'help,'" Sombra acerbically shot back , adding in air-quotes with his hooves. "I neither want nor need your help."
The Princess of the Night stared despondently into his eyes and Sombra felt a knot form in the pit of his stomach. "Then I shall bother thou no more. I'm sorry for wasting thine time." She turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Luna stopped abruptly and turned to face Sombra, who was just as shocked by his outburst as she was.
Why did I say that? The two remained in silence as Sombra fumbled to say something.
"I'm guessing that you told Celestia about my encounter with the guards the first time."
Luna nodded but said nothing.
"And, well..." Sombra wrung his hooves and bit his lower lip. "Thank you."
"What did you say?"
Sombra crossed his forelegs. "I'm not going to repeat myself."
Surprise gave way to barely-concealed joy. "You're welcome, Sombra. Now it's time to wake up."
~*~
Twilight peered up from her book, back down and up again, her attention torn between the exploits of Gusty the Great post-Umbrum-Draconequus War and the unconscious umbrum lying less than six feet away from her. She sighed, having repeated this process for the past thirty minutes. As much as she tried, Twilight couldn't keep her attention focused on the book's contents, which was amazing considering how reading usually led to her completely shutting out the world around her, even to the point where she'd sometimes skipped meals or even sleep. Now the fear over Sombra's well-being was the only thing that occupied her thoughts. Putting her book aside, she telekinetically lifted her chair up and placed it on the bed's right side, allowing her to gaze down at Sombra's sleeping face.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
When Twilight had heard about the guard's attack on Sombra, she rushed as fast as she could to the castle, barely allowing enough time to inform Pinkie Pie to watch Spike or to grab a book for the journey. The train ride to Canterlot was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of her life, the letter from Princess Celestia crumbled and wrung beneath her hooves until it was little more than a pile of scraps.
How bad is the damage? Did he get a brain injury? Is he in a coma?
All Twilight knew was that some Royal Guards had assaulted Sombra and that he was now resting in a spare bedroom inside the castle.
The train had just barely pulled into the station when Twilight galloped out of her car and towards the castle, shoving and barking orders at passersby like a madmare. It didn't matter to her if she looked insane; let everypony think what they wanted. She breathlessly choked out a command to the guards posted outside the castle's main entrance to admit her before charging inside, ignoring the sounds of their angry shouts and clanking armor as they pursued her. Please, please, please, just let Sombra be okay! Bursting through the throne room's doors and practically bowling over two pegasus guards, she skidded to a stop and drew in several very loud gasps of air.
"Princess Celestia...I got here as fast as I..."
Twilight paused. Before her sat a small congregation of advisors, delegates and civilians patiently waiting for an audience with their sovereign, who looked down from her throne at Twilight with an expression stuck somewhere between slightly amused and partially worried. If Twilight had a mirror, then she would've seen what everypony else was gawking at: a sweaty, frizzy-maned mare with a platoon of Royal Guards cautiously approaching her with spears drawn.
"Guards, stand down!"
All eyes turned towards Princess Celestia as she rose from her throne. "I hope you all will forgive Princess Twilight's sudden outburst. She was answering a summons of a personal nature. We will reconvene tomorrow morning at eight o' clock. Court is adjourned." Aside from some muttering, nopony dared to object and they all dispersed until only Twilight and Celestia remained.
"I'm...so, so sorry, Princess Celestia. I didn't mean-..."
"Say no more, Twilight," Princess Celestia smiled in her usual motherly tone as she descended the dais' stairs. "I apologize for my letter's scarcity of details but I had no idea you'd take it as seriously as you did." She now stood over her former pupil and placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "I can see why you would though. Come on, let's go check on Sombra."
Twilight brushed some hair out of Sombra's face, her touch baby-soft as she didn't wish to wake him. Once you got past the scarlet eyes and sharp fangs, he was actually quite the looker, with strong, angular features and a clean coat of dark fur. His mouth, which was usually drawn in a frown or a scowl, instead formed a small "o" as he snored softly. One leg lightly kicked every now and then, which elicited a light giggle from Twilight.
He seems like a colt when he sleeps!
A light growl followed by a moan interrupted Twilight's musings as the stallion's eyelids slowly opened to reveal a pair of tired scarlet eyes. After a few blinks, they widened fully.
"Twilight?"
As much as Twilight wanted to hug Sombra and celebrate his current state of health, she was reminded of her anger.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were being beaten by the guards?"
"Celestia told you, didn't she? And I thought Luna was the big mouth."
"Well?"
Sombra shifted the covers to sit up, revealing his bare shoulders and chest. Twilight's eyes quickly flickered downward to admire his physique before snapping them back to attention. He sighed, "It...it wasn't your concern."
This was not what Twilight wanted to hear. "Not...'It wasn't my concern'? Do you hear yourself? Is that all you can say to me?!" She loomed over Sombra, now feeling the desire to hit him for saying something so stupid.
Sombra didn't flinch. "What do you want me to say? If somepony had told you that three members of the Royal Guards-the best and most loyal of Celestia's subjects-had cornered King Sombra in his cell and beaten him, would you have believed them?"
"I...I, erm…"
"Exactly. Now you see my point." His tone wasn't angry or bitter, instead coming across as disappointed. "It was their word against mine. Tell me, what would you have done if our roles were reversed?"
Twilight slowly sat back down, feeling slightly ashamed of herself. "I probably would've stayed quiet too."
Sombra sighed, "It's okay, Twilight. I'm...just happy that you're here." He then rolled over so that he was facing the wall. "Thank you. You didn't have to come but you did."
"Of course I did! Why wouldn't I...?" Twilight's train of thought derailed as she soaked in the sight of Sombra's naked flesh. Right in between the withers and the back, she could see two, diamond-shaped scars, one larger than the other, peeking up through the dark gray fur, like jagged mountain ranges. She rose trance-like from out of her seat to get a better look.
That placement...but that would mean that he had wings and the only way that would be possible was if he was...
"Sombra...were you an alicorn?"
The umbrum bristled a bit but said nothing as he pulled the covers around himself, hiding his scars once again from view. Finally, he muttered, "Once. A very long time ago."
The silence that enveloped them was maddening. Twilight sat up and prepared to leave when something grasped her foreleg firmly but gently. She turned to meet Sombra's gaze. "Could you...could you stay with me? Just until I fall back asleep?"
Twilight nodded and sat on the edge of the bed. "I'll stay all night if you need me to."
From the private diary of King Carnelian, Sovereign Ruler of the Crystal Empire (Recovered from the site of the Crystal Empire's disappearance) ~*~ Dated February 14th, 1421 PES (Post-Equestrian Settlement)
Today, I write this entry not as a king but as a father, even if the subject of my dictation is not of my blood or even of my species. Tourmaline has grown up to be a fine young stallion, a paragon of virtue that embodies the best traits of the Crystal Empire, which is tragic and somewhat ironic given his background. As a colt, he was so warm and friendly to everypony, no matter their social status or age and I can't help but wonder if it was a result of the Crystal Heart altering his memory or my wife's influence on him. Aquamarine and I catered to Tourmaline's every whim, showing the absolute warmth and love towards him as if he were our own flesh and blood. It's actually astounding that he didn't grow up to be a spoiled ponce like much of the Crystal Empire's elite upper class.
When Aquamarine delivered Garnet, we had feared that little Tourmaline would be plagued by envy and fury, bitterness at having a newcomer stealing his parents' love. To our absolute amazement, however, he tenderly kissed Garnet's forehead and smiled, "I love you, baby sister." From then on, he rarely left his sister's side, always playing with her or keeping an eye out for anything that might cause the filly harm. And Garnet thought the world of her elder sibling. Whenever she played with her friends, she would always brag about how amazing or magically skilled Tourmaline was. It is truly a wondrous and rare bond the two share to this day and it fills my heart with deep love at the sight of them, which makes concealing the truth behind Tourmaline's past all the harder to bear.
There was a time when I'd felt awestruck at being associated with Queen Concordia, marveling at her poise and inner strength. However, following the Massacre of Dravite Hill, Aquamarine and I have shared feelings of wariness and even disgust at the thought of our alicorn ruler. The ignominy of her callous genocide of both the Draconequus and Umbrum races have left us to regard a close former friend as a cold-hearted creature wearing the form of a pony. Despite this, she is still our monarch and regardless of whatever she's committed, we are duty-bound to serve her for the good of Equestria.
I may have regarded Queen Concordia with distain, but her two daughters were a completely different story. Celestia, the elder of the pair, was fair and dignified, the very image of a princess. She was also warm and kind-hearted, and when Concordia first broached the idea of wedding her to Tourmaline, I almost immediately agreed with the match-up. In order to bring the pair closer together, Celestia was often brought to the Crystal Empire and as a result, Aquamarine and I came to regard her as a second daughter and Garnet treated her as a big sister. I have watched Celestia's growth from filly to mare and I can say with the utmost confidence that I wouldn't have anypony else wed my son.
Luna, the younger daughter, was a different story altogether. It wasn't that she wasn't worthy of our attention nor was she distant and unfriendly. In fact, she was sweet and very bright, spending many hours speaking of art and poetry and it seemed that she preferred the company of adults than those of her own age. That, coupled with her patience of Discord's antics, painted the picture of a good-humored and well-adjusted mare. The issue was that Celestia was simply around us more and thus I felt a stronger connection to her than with Luna. I hope to change that someday.
Now that Celestia is closer in age to Tourmaline, the two have finally agreed to be married and preparations for the wedding are under way, making it the largest event in recent memory. The entire kingdom has become infected with joy and all of the excess love has made the Crystal Heart shine brighter than I've ever seen it. If you had told me twenty years ago that the umbrum colt I was harboring would one day be the source of so much adoration and positive change in my life and in the Empire's, I would've thought you insane and have you thrown into an asylum. I know, I know, Tourmaline and Celestia have been spending time exploring their feelings for one another but I almost wish that they'd get married already and give me grandfoals. It's a tad selfish on my part, I'll admit but is that such a bad thing to wish for?
"Father?"
I turn and find myself face-to-face with my adoptive son.
"Tourmaline, come and take a seat."
Taking his place at the opposite end of the table, he peered over the chess pieces laid out in front of us. I couldn't help but smirk. He'd taken to the game like a duck to water and it was a pretense for him to share information. A blue aura surrounded a white pawn piece and pushed it forward.
"I'm nervous about the wedding."
I moved my pawn and nodded. "Really? Is that all?"
A white knight rode out to meet my forces and I replied with a black knight.
"Don't get me wrong! I love Celestia and I want to marry her but I feel..."
"Like running away and hiding somewhere?" I suggested, earning me a chuckle. "Believe me, I went exactly the same feelings as you are when I was betrothed to your mother."
"Really? That doesn't sound right." Tourmaline seemed puzzled. Our pieces kept moving but my attention was focused on my opponent. "I mean, you and Mother are so madly in love with one another."
"That is true but we weren't always like that. Unlike you and Celestia, we didn't have time to get to know one another. Our families arranged the union and I didn't meet Aquamarine until the day of our wedding." I sighed nostalgically, recalling arguably the greatest day of my life. "I stood there, limbs spasming, arguing with myself as to whether to run or not. Then this beautiful, vibrant young mare came walking down the aisle and those feelings went away."
A nearby servant, an indigo earth pony mare, was sweeping the floor but was not-so-subtlety listening in to our conversation. Normally, I don't condone this behavior but I found myself not caring as I was in such a good mood. Ignoring the sudden pain in my head, I continued with the story.
"I was captivated by the bride. She had to be just as scared as I was and yet she was much calmer. And then...she smiled at me and I couldn't help but smile back. We may not have started out in love but that night was the stepping-stone to our relationship." I noticed Tourmaline's contemplative expression. "It may not be a fairy tale romance, but then again, life hardly ever is. The point is this: uncertainty can plague any one of us regardless of the situation. It's how we handle that uncertainty that matters. Do you understand, son?"
Tourmaline beamed. "I do, Father. And I also understand...checkmate!"
I blinked. "I'm sorry?"
"Checkmate," Tourmaline repeated and I sat up. Lo and behold, one of his knights had my king up against a wall while my forces were scattered. "I'm sorry but I couldn't help but take advantage of our little heart-to-heart. I really was anxious but I figured that I could use that to my advantage and I was right." He held a hoof out. "Excellent game."
I smiled despite myself. Yes, it was ungentlestallion-like of him to use my emotions against me, especially in a moment of father-son bonding but it just showed how bright he was. I went to shake his hoof when I stepped forward and nearly collapsed upon the table. I felt dizzy and out of breath, as if running for many hours.
"Father? Are you alright?"
Gripping my head with both hooves, I swallowed and nodded. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched the servant-mare pass by me and I caught a flash of green in one of her pupils. I slowly rose and nodded.
"It's nothing, just getting old is all." I slowly turned one of my discarded rooks around on the table so that it pointed behind me and indicated the figure making her exit. Tourmaline nodded solemnly and cleared his throat.
"You there, servant-mare!"
The earth pony nearly went toppling forward as she abruptly stopped and then turned.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
Tourmaline's horn slowly flickered to life. "The king isn't feeling well. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
The mare gulped. "O-of course not, Your Highness. Why-why would I?"
"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind taking it up with the guards?"
As he spoke, two armored Royal Guards approached the mare, their spears pointing almost accusingly at her.
Muttering something under her breath, the mare vanished in a flash of green flames, revealing a sinister black being straight out of a foal's nightmares. It resembled a pony, only more insect-like and with large, sharp fangs. The changeling hissed and flew high above our heads, evading the spears of the guards. Bolts of green energy fired at Tourmaline, who conjured up a crystal pillar and redirected the bolts. The changeling dodged the first of the rebounded bolts but the second struck true, smacking the bug-horse in the stomach and sending it plummeting into the freshly-swept floor.
Struggling to upright itself, the changeling hissed challengingly at Tourmaline and a stream of green flames darted towards the stallion. Just as the deadly missile was about to strike its target, a sky blue wave crashed forward, engulfing the green pillar and spitting out a violet bolt. The changeling was violently thrown across the room and collided with a wall so hard that I thought it had died upon impact. Instead, it rolled onto its side and before it released an ear-shattering screech as it rocked back and forth. I limped over to Tourmaline and cocked my head.
"Wh-what did you do to it?"
"I took the love that you'd been feeding it and amplified it with my own," Tourmaline explained as the guards plunged their spears into the changeling's carapace and its screeching gradually faded until the thing went limp. "Fill a goblet with too much wine and it overflows. It essentially drowned in good memories." I have to admit, I would never have thought of that.
"Your Majesty!"
I turned and found myself transfixed. Tourmaline was surrounded with a silver-gold aura that lifted him into the air. Streams of light generated off of him as the aura expanded, its light intensifying to the point of being blinding. A popping-crackle later, and he was gone! I tried reaching out with my magic but I couldn't locate him.
Then, I felt it. A strong pull, as though something was grabbing a hold of my horn and urging me forward. I instinctively knew that something monumental happened and though I wasn't entirely certain what it was, I did know that it involved a great transference of magic. There was an explosion of light and the familiar image of three crystals in a crown appeared overhead, though it'd been momentarily transformed into the likeness of a black crystal cradled by a crackling purple flame. This was troubling but I pushed it to the back of my mind at the arrival of a bright light with little scintillating stars.
After a minute and a half, Tourmaline dropped from the light source like a stone, his hooves thudding against the floor and echoing throughout the hall. The light soon vanished and all was calm as it was before. Apart from some slight wobbling, he appeared in good health and gave me a reassuring half-grin.
"You nearly scared me to dea…-"
The words died in my throat as two large gray appendages made themselves known, unfurling behind Tourmaline like great, windswept banners. By Malachite's horn, they were wings! I could've sworn that in that very moment, my heart was torn in two by a shared mix of both prestigious pride and immense fear at the unexpected sight. He was an alicorn. My foster son-the secret umbrum-was an alicorn.
Metal slippers screeched against the marble floor as Cadence halted in her half-charge, allowing Shining Armor to catch up with her. One look at the love of her life and the pink mare's rage almost completely dissipated, shoving the poisonous emotion aside if only for a moment. Upon receiving word of Sombra's attack, she rushed post haste to Canterlot, wishing to immediately confront the attackers-one of whom was one of her own subjects-and to check on her father's health. The slight green glow vanished from Cadence's eyes and she sighed wearily.
"I'm sorry, Shiny. I'm just so..."
Shining Armor rubbed Cadence's back comfortingly. "It's okay, Caddy. I understand. Just remember to breath. I'm sure Sombra's doing okay."
Princess Celestia's letter was rather scarce on the details, only saying that three Royal Guards and a crystal pony had gained entry into Sombra's cell and brutally beat him. Sombra, thankfully, wasn't seriously injured but this did little to assuage Cadence's anger at the situation. No matter the state of their relationship, he was still her father and he'd been assaulted by three stallions who'd sullied and abused their positions as well as one of her own subjects. The crystal pony's involvement, despite what Shining Armor told her, still made Cadence feel as though she was partially to blame.
I swear that I will make this right.
Two earth pony Royal Guards stood statue-like on either side of the gilded oak wood door, snapping to attention at the pair's arrival. Cadence nodded at the two guards and, accompanied closely by Shining Armor, magically opened the door. Deeply inhaling, she stepped inside.
Sombra lay propped up in bed, his face buried in a book entitled, "Equestrian History Over the Past Fifty Years." He looked up from his book and, upon seeing Cadence's face, froze in place. A myriad of emotions took hold of Cadence as she gradually made her way over to Sombra's bedside, her light purple eyes never leaving his scarlet ones.
"H-hello Sombra."
"Cadence," Sombra said timidly. "I...didn't think I'd ever see you again."
The tenderness and vulnerability in his voice gave Cadence pause. As the Princess of Love, she was not only responsible for the love that exuded from others but also the love she herself gave. The stallion in front of her had done terrible things, to her subjects and to her family but in the end, he was still her father. Plus, as his letters proved, he wasn't heartless and was making a genuine effort to be a part of her life.
"I wasn't sure myself," she admitted. "When I heard what happened, I had to come. Are you alright?"
Sombra tapped the tips of his hooves together.
"Bruises fade, broken bones mend. The only real harm was done to my pride."
It was clear from the undertone of anger in his voice that he wasn't letting this go, though it was understandable. He then smiled and it was such a surprisingly heartwarming gesture that Cadence found herself returning it.
"I'm just so happy to see you."
"Me too. I'm glad you're okay."
The field of love that Sombra was generating had taken Cadence slightly aback; she didn't think that he'd feel that particular emotion for her so strongly, especially given their prior meeting.
Hmm, there's a lot of love here...and it's not just for me. He also loves...Twilight?
Cadence drew herself back a little. She knew about his time in Ponyville and his "dating" of her sister-in-law for reconnaissance purposes but she never would've imagined that he'd fall for Twilight. And yet, the evidence was right in front of her as clear as day.
I'm genuinely confused on how to feel right now. Now the only question that remains is how does Twilight feel?
"Caddy, are you alright?"
Shining Armor's voice snapped her out of her thoughts. "I'm fine, Shiny. Just...thinking."
"He's right," Sombra nodded, just now acknowledging the unicorn's presence. "You look a bit pale."
"I'm alright, really. Anyway, I just wanted to see how you were doing and to say...I'm sorry."
Sombra cocked a brow. "Sorry? What for?"
"It was my fault! Jasper was one of my subjects and he hurt you. If I'd been stricter on security or-..."
Sombra's hoof lightly patted Cadence's, his touch warm and soothing.
"Cadence, look at me." She complied, finding the umbrum staring at her with paternal affection. "It wasn't...your...fault. You had no way of knowing. Please don't blame yourself for what happened. I don't blame you and neither should you."
"Thanks, Sombra," Cadence smiled sweetly, her other hoof covering his own. "We still have a long way to go but I think that you should know that despite everything that's happened between us, I still want to get to know you."
Sombra's eyes began to mist up. "Me too." He turned to Shining Armor. "I know that our last two meetings weren't the best but I want you to know that I couldn't have asked for anypony better for my daughter."
For once, the corners of Shining Armor's lips pointed upward. "Thank you."
It was a slow start, but a start nonetheless.
~*~
Golden slippers clicked on the marble floor as Celestia hesitantly trekked through the hallway, the butterflies in her stomach performing loop-de-loops the closer she approached Sombra's bedroom. A quick flash of gold magic banished the droplets of sweat that had been accumulating on her brow. Preceding that first night that she had spent at Sombra's bedside after the second attack, she'd been hit with that revelation that she, Princess Celestia Solis Regina, was still in love with King Sombra! Since then, she'd felt skittish about being around him and as such, buried herself in her courtly duties in an attempt to avoid visits. Eventually, she realized that she was acting like a filly and decided to drop in, even if only for a minute or two.
You're one of the rulers of Equestria, not a schoolfilly with a crush! You need to act like it!
One of the two guards stationed beside the entrance opened the door and stood back.
I've faced down dragons, power-hungry centaurs and hordes of changelings. This is a piece of cake!
….Great, now I want cake. Maybe Luna was right. I DO have a problem.
Cadence sat at Sombra's bedside while Shining Armor stood leaning against the wall facing the door, all three ponies stopping to observe the new arrival. For a moment, Celestia stood there uncertainly, her wings twitching slightly at her sides, her heart hammering wildly in her breast. Sombra's scarlet eyes appeared to bore into her soul like a pair of red-hot drills and she had to swallow to moisten her throat. Awaking from her stupor, Celestia smiled cordially.
"Hello everypony. Cadence, Shining Armor, I wasn't expecting you so soon."
"Hi Auntie Celestia!" Cadence beamed. Despite the revelation of their true relationship to one another, Cadence still referred to Celestia as her "aunt," not only out of habit but also to publicly conceal her true parentage. Seeing as how Equestria was lately in a constant state of strife, the scandal would do more harm than good in these tumultuous times.
"Caddy insisted that we come ASAP," Shining Armor warmly replied. "She wanted to ensure that Sombra was alright considering everything..." He carefully switched his gaze back to Sombra, clearly still having difficulty trusting him. Not that anypony present could argue with that.
"I'm not an invalid," Sombra stated somewhat sourly as he folded his forelegs.
Celestia's smile widened. "Of course not. We're just all worried about you." I said, "We're," didn't I? Well, the cat's out of the bag. "Don't be such a grouch."
Sombra rolled his eyes, though the hint of a smile worked it's way onto his face.
"I suppose it's good to see you, Celestia."
Some things never change. Whatever you call yourself, you're still the same stallion that....that I love.
"Huh?" The purple mare's hooves ceased their assault on the typewriter and she peered down at the dragon standing with his arms akimbo. "Yes Spike?"
The diminutive drake gestured all around him. "You've been in here for hours. Ever think about taking a break and enjoying the sunlight?"
Twilight peered around the room. Piles of papers stood like temple columns while clumps of scrapped notes overflowed the trash bin, giving it the appearance of an erupting volcano.
"I suppose I overdid it just a bit."
Spike raised an eyebrow. "Okay, a lot. But Spike, have you read this?" She magically lifted a sheet of papers up to Spike's face, who glanced at her queerly before taking it and clearing his throat.
"'We have all heard the tale of the ruthless dictator known as King Sombra, a name that continues to strike fear in the hearts of those who hear it, a name associated with cruelty, malice and a desire to dominate all of Equestria's free races. At least, that is what we are taught. But is that the only reputable source of information? After all, as the old axiom tells us, history is written by the victors and the victors in this case being Princesses Celestia and Luna.'"
"Skip to page eight," Twilight urged and with a slight eyeroll, Spike obliged.
'"Sombra was born to Weland and Persephone...' What kind of a name is 'Weland?'"
"Don't be rude, Spike. It means 'Crafting One,' which is fitting since he was a blacksmith."
Spike continued: "...Two members of an umbrum nomad tribe that had settled in Equestria to escape the rule of the Umbrum Empire. After reaching the Frozen North, they settled down in Hnefaleikarinn, which means 'Giant's Fist' in Umbrumese. It is, of course, better known as Dravite Hill, a name given to it by the neighboring crystal ponies-..."
"Page twelve, please."
"'General Sunstone of the Diamondheart Battalion led a charge on the Dravite Hill settlement, leading to..." Spike paused and reread the sentence before continuing. "'...The senseless slaughter of three-hundred and fifty umbrum civilians, the last of the umbrum race.' Wow. This is some heavy stuff, Twi."
"I know! I mean, reading about it is one thing but hearing it from a survivor is a completely different experience!" Twilight laid her glasses on the desk and stood up to stretch. "I'm trying to get both sides of the story. So far, we've only heard the one side. In order to be unbiased, we have to listen to both accounts in order to get to the truth."
Spike nodded. "I get what you're saying but you are in desperate need of a break." He then sniffed and groaned. "And a shower! Everypony else is already at Sugarcube Corner and waiting for you." He waddled to the door and closed it behind him.
Twilight sniffed her armpit. "I don't smell that bad!" She yelled after him.
~*~
Sugarcube Corner was, thankfully, quite sparse by the time Twilight strode through the double doors of the establishment, her mane slightly damp and carrying with it the scent of wild berries. Quickly spotting her friends-minus Pinkie Pie-from across the room, she trotted over the table and hopped up onto a chair, her nostrils filled with the overwhelming aroma of fresh-baked cookies. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since breakfast time. Ever since reviewing her notes from Sombra's interviews, Twilight had been seized by a creative desire to craft his biography. After all, how many ponies could say that they had the opportunity to speak to King Sombra and hear his life story from his own lips?
"Howdy Twi. How're ya doin'? Haven't heard from ya in days." Applejack was the first to greet her, gnawing on a straw while cradling a half-empty glass of lemonade.
Rainbow Dash leaned back in her chair. "Yeah, Egghead. Working on some new magic doohickey?"
"Or a new potion?" Fluttershy asked softly, munching on a cinnamon scone.
A pink pony materialized with a pencil and notepad. "Hiya Twilight! What can I get for you?!"
"Hi Pinkie. I will have..." Twilight perused the menu and tapped her chin. "...a chocolate-glazed, cream-filled donut and a cup of coffee."
"Got it!" Pinkie Pie shouted enthusiastically and zipped back to wherever it was she came from.
Shaking her head, Twilight turned back to her other friends. "Anyway, the reason that I've been absent lately is because I'm writing a book."
"Really?" Rarity daintily took a sip of iced tea. "What is it about?"
The purple alicorn nervously began to wring her hooves. "Well, remember my visits to see Sombra?" At the sound of his name, the others traded nervous looks. Twilight gulped and reluctantly continued. "I'm, well, writing a biography...about his life."
The table grew deathly quiet. Twilight could feel her fight-or-flight response violently kicking in, her heart pounding in her ears. She spotted the exit out from the corner of her eye.
Maybe if I hoof it, I can get out of here before any of them have time to recover from the shock. One, two, thr-…
"One chocolate-glazed, cream-filled donut and a cup of coffee for my favorite princess!" Pinkie Pie cheered, sliding a plate and mug in front of Twilight, her service and timing as impeccable as usual. Noticing the odd silence, Pinkie's blue eyes scanned the faces of her closest friends. "What'd I miss?"
Applejack sighed. "Apparently, Twilight's turnin' her visits with You-Know-Who an' writin' a book 'bout them."
"I still don't like the thought of you in the same room as him...even if he is locked up," Fluttershy shivered, though she relaxed somewhat as Rainbow Dash rubbed her back soothingly.
"Really Darling, I don't know why you waste your time with..." She shuddered. "...King Sombra."
"Maybe she has a crush on him."
Everypony turned towards Rainbow Dash and stared at the blue pegasus....before bursting into laughter.
Twilight slumped down in her seat, her cheeks burning red with embarrassment.
"Ha, got you! As if, am I right!"
"Darn tootin', Dashie!"
The only two not laughing were Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie; the former was blushing hard into her mane while the latter's brow was knitted in thought, which was quite an odd look for the normally happy-go-lucky mare. She tapped her chin with a hoof and peered at her friends.
"I don't think Sombra's so bad. He's just very angry and lonely. He just needs somepony to be there for him."
"M-maybe. I mean, he was pretty nice to Twilight when he was in Ponyville," Fluttershy admitted.
Rarity's eyes sparkled, her hooves tightly clasped together as she swooned. "It's kind of romantic, isn't it? The dark king and the gentle mare that can see past his wicked ways and tame him."
"Rares, yuh've been readin' way too many romance novels," Applejack snorted with an eye roll.
"So Twilight," Rainbow Dash intoned. "Do you like him?"
All eyes focused on the hapless alicorn, who'd unconsciously begun to sweat profusely.
"What? Pffft! Of course not! That-that's ridiculous! I'm merely interested in...documenting and publicizing a first-hoof account of my experiences with King Sombra! That's all."
Applejack grinned. "Y'all see? Twilight's just being her usual geeky self. No need ta worry."
Twilight felt Rainbow Dash's playful shoulder punch and heard Rarity and Pinkie chatting about a "sunk ship" but she'd shut herself off from the gaiety occurring around her.
"Yeah...no need to worry."
~*~
Luna's moon shone brightly overhead, the curtain of night scintillating with the multitudinous stars twinkling above the heavens of Equestria. All was calm and quiet for the inhabitants of Ponyville. All except for one mare.
Twilight tossed, turned, rolled and struggled beneath the covers, losing her fight to drift off to sleep. She groaned and kicked the sheets away, her fore and hindlegs splayed out in an X formation. Her brows knitted in frustration. The humiliating discussion at Sugarcube Corner earlier that day had begun an inner battle within her head, one which left her restless. The inner machinations of her logical mind were overtaxing themselves; data was extrapolated, memories of past encounters with the umbrum replayed before culminating in one singular, epiphanic question:
"Do I have feelings for Sombra?"
She thought back to a few months ago, back when Sombra reappeared and took on the identity of Parcel Post in an attempt to spy on her and her friends. He quickly gained Twilight's friendship, with a combination of charm and exploitation of their shared love of books and Twilight found herself enjoying the company of somepony that shared her interests. As much as she loved her friends, there were times she wished that they more like her, possessing a keen intellect and love of science and reading. Then, much to her own surprise, "Parcel Post" complimented her and asked her out for a date and to her own surprise, agreed.
Nopony outside of my friends and family had ever called me beautiful.
It was Twilight's first date ever and, of course, she had been an absolute wreck, anxious about proper dating etiquette and fearful of messing up. But all of that changed on the actual date, where Sombra took her to a nice restaurant and they spent the rest of the night talking and laughing. He then walked her home and after a heartfelt discussion, gave Twilight her first kiss.
Twilight's breath hitched, her hoof lightly tracing her lips as blush dominated her cheeks at the memory.
When Sombra let his guard down, he was actually quite amicable. He was smart, well-read, thoughtful and even charming. It wasn't hard to see why Princess Celestia fell for him in the first place. And then there was his physical appearance to take into consideration. True, the curved horn and fangs were a bit off-putting but the rest of him was actually aesthetically pleasing, in an exotic sort of way.
He was tall-much taller than the average stallion-and well-built, possessing the physique of a bodybuilder. His red eyes, which were undeniably frightening at first glance, now reminded Twilight of rubies shining in the sunlight. And then there was his voice, a rich, velvety bass that was commanding and authoritative but also soothing and gentle. There was no doubt about it, Sombra was a handsome stallion.
"Sweet Celestia, I do have feelings for Sombra!"
Is that such a bad thing? A voice piped up in her head.
Twilight tossed the question back and forth in her mind.
"Well, my friends won't like it. And then there's my family! And the princesses!"
If they really care about you, then they'll understand.
"B-but he's considered to be one of Equestria's most loathed villains!"
True, but then again, so was Princess Luna once upon a time. Everypony forgave her.
The more she debated with herself, the more confident Twilight became.
"I'm scared."
Scared of what your friends and family will think?
"Well, yes. That and, well, what if Sombra and I do become a couple? Will it really work out?"
You should stop worrying what others think of you and start thinking about what you think of you. As for Sombra, are you so scared of getting hurt that you won't even try it? Besides, when have you let fear stop you before?
The alicorn sat up. "Huh. I bring up a lot of good points." She stared at her alarm clock and sighed. "I'm not getting sleep any time soon. I might as well go do something about this."
~*~
"Here we are, Your Majesty," the unicorn Royal Guard stated, his yellow horn sputtering with teal-blue light. "I'm not sure why we're here though. The prisoner's asleep."
Twilight stared ahead at the cell, where she could make out the unconscious form of Sombra, who laid curled up on his cot. After consulting with a physician, Princess Celestia had him moved back into the dungeon and relegated his watch to a specially-selected group of guards she could trust without question. Rolling onto his side, Sombra murmured something and kicked out his left hindleg. This provoked a light giggle from Twilight. He's like a foal!
"Unlock the cell door."
The guard stared at Twilight as if she'd grown a second head. "Your Majesty?"
"Unlock the cell door and close it behind me," Twilight stated unflinchingly.
"Your Majesty, I must protest-..."
"It's alright, Captain. He won't hurt me."
Where this certainty came from, Twilight had no idea. The words exited her mouth without a moment's hesitation and it somehow just seemed right. Reluctantly, the guard tentatively opened the cell door and then promptly locked it behind Twilight, torn between staying as close to the princess as possible and keeping his distance away from the prisoner.
"I will be right here if you need anything," the guard swore, though his words didn't register with Twilight.
She slowly approached the cot, her breathing hard but controlled, her limbs wobbling and heavy with every movement. For the first time, she could make out an expression of peace on the umbrum's face, as if all of the pain and stress of his life was suddenly absent. Gusts of hot air hit her in the face, accompanied by the light snores of the stallion sleeping in front of her. Twilight smacked her lips, abruptly finding them very dry. Slowly, she climbed onto the cot and snuggled up beside Sombra.
Curling up against Sombra's chest, Twilight found him to be surprisingly warm and comfortable, relishing in the feel of his coat against her own. She placed her muzzle into his neck and inhaled his scent: freshly-cut oak with a hint of lemon. Sighing contently, Twilight wrapped her forelegs around him and gently pressed her lips against his cheek.
"Good night, Sombra."
Sleep had never found the mare more quickly than it did that night.
For the first time in centuries, a pleasant dream visited Sombra's sleep.
He was floating miles above Equestria, the wind sweeping through his mane and the oddest sensation of peace taking hold of his body. A thousand years. That's how long it'd been since Sombra had last known what it was like to be in the air, the feeling of being completely cocooned in weightlessness. No, that was Prince Tourmaline. He was the one who could soar high above the clouds. King Sombra, on the other hoof, was as far away from the heavens as one could get without taking residence in Tartarus.
An incredible warmth filled Sombra's chest and he found a large cloud pressed up against him. He chuckled and wrapped his forelegs around the cloud, pulling it into his embrace. The cloud twisted and expanded, chunks flying off as it began to morph, taking on a more equine shape. Sombra found himself staring at a fluffy white version of a certain alicorn.
"Tw-Twilight?"
Cloud-Twilight smiled sweetly and held onto him as if for dear life. Sombra caressed the mare's mane, the welcoming aroma of wild berries and lavender sliding into his nostrils, his heart skipping a beat at the scent. Even though this was a simulacrum of the princess, the scent and texture of her fur were astonishingly vivid and Sombra could almost swear that Twilight was actually with him.
"Sombra..."
The umbrum's eyes slowly peeled open, groaning at the revelation that he was no longer asleep and dreaming. He slowly sat up and rubbed at the back of his head, quickly dispelling an itch that had developed there. Sombra expelled air from his nostrils and frowned. Why did he have to wake up? He was having a good dream! He laid back down and wrapped the covers tightly around himself, allowing the scent of lavender and wild berries to envelop him in their wonderful fragrance.
Wait a minute!
Sombra pressed his face against the sheets and drew in a huge whiff. No, there was no mistaking that scent.
So why does my bed smell like Twilight? It's almost as though she-...
Sombra's eyes widened at the revelation.
"Did Twilight actually sleep in my bed with me?"
His thoughts were interrupted when the dungeon's ironwood door screeched open, revealing a Royal Guard that Sombra didn't recognize. He was a gamboge-colored pegasus and a young one at that, appearing to be around Twilight's age and carried with him the air of someone just starting out on their own. Sombra snorted, wondering how much money the new guard's parents put forward in order to get him to this position.
There's no way he's ever seen combat of any kind.
The guard stopped four feet in front of Sombra's cell and raised a mildly shaking foreleg in a salute. Sombra looked the greenhorn from top to bottom. His armor was spotless, even more so than the more seasoned guards, comfortably fitted around an almost mare-like body. Vivid blue eyes stared at Sombra from a young, delicately-framed face that was slightly feminine in shape.
"Private Flash Sentry reporting for duty," the guard stated in a loud but anxious tone. The pegasus' nostrils flared as he suddenly sniffed the air. A slight frown worked its way onto his face before his eyes met Sombra's and he snapped back to attention. He shook slightly when Sombra's pounded onto the stone floor and he rose from his bed.
"Flash Sentry?" Now why does that name sound so-...
The answer sailed through Sombra's mind like an arrow. It was the name of Twilight's ex-coltfriend, the one that she attempted to move on with after Sombra's imprisonment.
THIS was who she dated after me?Him?!
While it was true that Twilight dumped Flash due to not being attracted to him, Sombra nonetheless felt an odd rage poking at him upon seeing the stallion. It wasn't as though he jealous or even threatened by the pegasus. And yet, just the idea of this colt kissing Twilight or touching her set Sombra's teeth on edge.
"And I take it that you're to be my new guard?" Sombra wore a mask of casual indifference, being careful to keep his anger out of his voice. He didn't need this pipsqueak knowing that he was getting under his skin. "How exactly did you come by this job opportunity?"
Flash stared straight ahead, avoiding direct eye contact but kept his gaze flickering towards the prisoner every now and then.
"I, er, v-volunteered. Sir."
Sombra raised a skeptical brow.
This is getting interesting.
"Did you now?"
Flash nodded. "I figured that it would be a chance for me to prove myself. I mean, if I can handle being a foot away from the Crystal Conqueror, then there's nothing that I can't do."
Makes sense. He's a young, idealistic wannabe hero that wants to prove his worth to crown and country.
Sombra nodded, experiencing a moment of respect for the new guard.
I must admit, it takes guts to volunteer being one of my guards. Let's see if he has the will to stay.
"I see. You speak with an Upper Equestrian accent, meaning that you come from a well-off family, possibly even of the aristocracy. Your slim figure and mareish features means that it's difficult for others to take you seriously. So you came here, to the Royal Guard, to prove your stallionhood to your parents and to yourself."
Sombra leaned close to the bars. "How close am I?"
Ever so slightly, Flash's eyes widened, his upper lip quivering. He finally turned to lock eyes with Sombra, his brow furrowing with anger. "You see a lot, Your Highness. But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? Why don’t you…why don’t you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you’re afraid to.”
Sombra's eyes glinted dangerously in the torchlight as he shoved himself right up against the bars, causing Flash to shrink slightly. Despite the thick pieces of iron separating them, Sombra loomed over Flash like a living monolith, an ancient idol prayed to by ancient tribal ponies from some long-forgotten eon.
"I've lived through enough horrors to last me six lifetimes, horrors that I wouldn't even wish upon my worst enemies. A thousand years spent in the ice and darkness, with nothing but burning fury to keep me warm and the imagined voices in my head for company. I've seen massacres, war and cruelties committed by a remorseless master."
Sombra chuckled darkly before returning to his previous austere expression, his eyes never leaving Flash's.
"'Afraid'? You don't know the meaning of the word, colt," the ex-king spat icily.
Before their verbal conflict could escalate, the main door creaked open and both stallions turned to behold the purple alicorn that had strolled in.
Oh horseapples….
~*~
Twilight Sparkle's hooves dug into the stone floor, dragging her to a complete stop. Her heart dropped, a lump forming in her throat at the sight before her. Sombra was in his cell as usual but the guard rooted to the floor stupefied before the umbrum was unexpected to say the least. Twilight swallowed the lump.
Flash Sentry...wh-what's Flash doing here?!
The tense air between the two stallions was palpable. Regaining his senses, Flash stood up straight, a semi-confident grin lighting up his face, though it was obvious by his poor posture and the look of trepidation in his eyes that he was caught off guard by Twilight's appearance. Sombra, meanwhile, retained an aura of dignity, stepping away from the bars with his head held up high and his expression an inscrutable mask. He then lowered himself slightly, making himself appear smaller but without sacrificing his nobility. The mask slipped a little, his scarlet eyes turning from rage-filled to compassionate and a wry smile working its way onto his lips.
Twilight slowly made her way over to Flash.
"Good morning, Flash," she said lamely, managing an uncomfortable smile.
Flash awkwardly rubbed one foreleg. "Good morning to you too, Twilight."
The two hadn't seen each other since their breakup-actually, it was more correct to say that she dumped him-and thus, were thus quite unprepared for their reunion. And to think, Twilight thought that this day would go over so easily. Waking up that morning after a pleasant night of sleep, she was confident that she'd admit her feelings to Sombra. Instead, she was here caught between her ex-coltfriend and her sorta-ex-coltfriend and maybe-future-coltfriend.
Why did this have to happen to me?
"How...how've you been?"
Flash's voice pulls her back to the present.
"Okay, I guess." After a short lull, she then cleared her throat. "Flash, could you give us a moment?"
The pegasus looked between Twilight and Sombra, a brief frown registering upon his countenance.
"Yes, course." And then: "Ahem, I mean, yes, Your Highness."
After a quick genuflection, Flash exits the room, throwing a backwards glance towards Twilight. His gaze spoke of worry and affection, though this changed to suspicion and disgust once he turned to Sombra. Shooting him a dirty look, he hastily closed and latched the door behind him.
Twilight shook her head before turning her attention to Sombra. "How are you doing?"
Sombra causally shrugged. "Fine, I suppose. Just out of curiosity, I couldn't help but notice that my bed-sheets carried your scent. Did you..." His pastern rolled lazily, spinning his hoof in a clockwise motion. "Did you fall asleep in my bed?"
The question threw Twilight off guard; she hadn't anticipated his bluntness. She soon sighed, her ears folding backward. "Yes, I did. I came over here last night to talk to you but you were already asleep and I was so tired so I-..."
Sombra held up a hoof, interrupting Twilight's ranting. "It's fine, Twilight. I'm just curious as to the reason."
Here it was: the moment of truth, the one that Twilight had both been dreading and looking forward to. Her right front hoof made little circles on the floor, her eyes darting up between the floor and Sombra's gaze. She inhaled and exhaled, steeling herself for what she was preparing to say. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, she whispered:
"I really like you."
Silence. She picked her head up to see Sombra staring dumbly at her, his brows knitted in confusion. In all honesty, it was a bit adorable and Twilight had to bite her lip to keep from giggling aloud.
"You...you like me? As in, you harbor romantic feelings towards me?"
Twilight slowly nodded. "It took some time but I figured it out. I like you."
Slowly, the corners of his mouth turned upward. "Then this is good. Right?"
"Yes, it's real good," Twilight hesitantly answered. "But...where do we go from here?"
A hoof reached out from between the bars and caressed Twilight's cheek. She groaned pleasurably at the feather-soft touch. Sombra was smiling at her and it was the biggest, most joyful one she'd seen on him yet. It was so infectious that she mimicked the expression.
"One step at a time, Twilight," Sombra answered quietly. "One step at a time."
Day Court had just been adjourned and Princess Celestia couldn't be more grateful, exiting the throne room briskly but dignifiedly, her golden slippers clacking against the marble floor. As much as she could've teleported, she enjoyed walking through the castle, passing by the guards and staff and speaking with them. It made her feel normal. After enquiring about a maid's recent marriage, she slipped into her bedroom and latched the door behind her.
"Finally!" Princess Celestia slumped into her favorite chair rubbed at her temples. The Court was especially grueling that day, consisting of a seemingly endless line of nobles whining about recent tax cuts or petty grievances. Whenever something hit their wallets, they came to her to complain. Lady Frou-Frou had to give up her fourteen-drawn carriage due to a new labor law and she was unhappy to say the least, her flabby jowls humorously gyrating with every screech out of her fat mouth. Jet Set and Upper Crust, one of Canterlot's richest and most influential power couples, appeared to demand exemption from increased taxation due to their philanthropic endeavors.
If that wasn't bad enough, Prince Blueblood, Celestia's "nephew," came prancing into Court to publicly demand more of an allowance so that he and his snobbish entourage can vacation in Foaledo. Celestia fought with every fiber of her being to avoid snapping at the impetuousness of her adoptive son, instead retaining her usual serene countenance and calmly declining Blueblood's request. The stallion threw a miniature temper tantrum and stormed off, an act that would be hilarious if it wasn't so heart-breaking. She'd raised him since the time he was seven, had doted on him and loved him like her own son and yet, he'd somehow turned into an entitled, petulant and selfish brat.
Perhaps Celestia was unfit to be a mother, wife, friend or a mentor. Her first student Sunset Shimmer left Canterlot cursing her name and Discord's transformation into an amoral despot was partially Celestia's fault. Tartarus, she'd taken on a maternal role with Luna when their mother Queen Concordia was absent and everypony knew what that road eventually led to. Luna, Discord, Sombra, Cadence, Blueblood, Sunset Shimmer....she'd failed them all in some form or another.
Isn't there a certain purple student that you're forgetting?
Celestia beamed. Ever since their first meeting years ago, she knew that Twilight Sparkle had great potential but even she would never have predicted the outcome of her apprenticeship. Twilight had not only brought together the Elements of Harmony-and becoming one the Bearers herself-but she also defeated Discord, detained an ursa minor, traveled back in time and became an alicorn. Now Equestria has another princess watching over it and Celestia couldn't have picked a better choice.
Shifting in her seat, Celestia conjured up a crystal ball and poured her magic into it. She cleared her mind, bringing into focus the one whom she desired to see. Red eyes, black mane, foul temper. Whenever she had free time or was unable to sleep, she often peered into the crystal ball to watch Sombra. Not in a creepy way or anything but as a concerned ruler and wife. Well, ex-wife. Since their vows included the "till-death-do-you-part" stipulation and Sombra had actually died, their marriage was no longer valid.
The crystal ball's cerulean surface swirled with a white-silver energy, coalescing into a sparkling golden hue before changing into a thick, black mass. She made out Sombra's cell, though it was much darker than usual and eerily silent. Squinting, she found an inert figure huddled in the corner, its stony face dominated by a pair of unblinking red orbs. Sombra didn't move a muscle, instead staring off into space as if in a vain attempt to find meaning in the cell's brickwork. It had to be one of the most chilling things that the mare had ever seen.
A pounding on her door broke Celestia's concentration. She hastily removed the scrying spell and teleported the crystal ball back to its rightful place.
"Come in!"
An orange pegasus guard entered, his helmet tucked beneath one foreleg.
"Flash Sentry? What's wrong?"
He raised his head. "Forgive me, Your Highness but I had to come get you. It's King Sombra. He's acting...erratic."
Celestia thought back to the vision in the crystal ball. "Very well, Private Sentry. Lead the way."
"....and then he just flipped out! Tossed a chair and yelled at me to get out!"
Flash finished his tale as the pair entered the lowest levels of the castle. Four unicorn royal guards, two on each side of the door, silently bowed to Princess Celestia, their spears aimed towards the ceiling and their faces etched with apprehension. Celestia's horn glowed, opening the door and remained lit as she and Flash entered the dungeon.
"Private, why are there no torches lit?"
Despite Celestia's gentle tone, Flash flinched slightly. "Before I left, the prisoner requested that the torches were to be put out. Well, screamed for it."
It made some sort of sense. Sombra had spent a millennium in total darkness so it wasn't that hard of a stretch to assume that that was where he was the most comfortable. The golden aura fluctuated, sending out a series of orbs with several sharp popping sounds. Each orb scattered across the room and landed on a torch, igniting the oilcloth tops and abruptly washing the room with light. Celestia diminished the glow of her horn and cautiously stepped towards the bars.
The cell had been completely trashed, resembling the aftermath of an unattended foal's playtime. The cot's mattress had been tossed up against the bars, books and papers laid strewn across the floor and the small pinewood writing desk laid on its side. Black etchings lined the walls, depicting many strange symbols, half of which Celestia herself couldn't decipher. Her attention was drawn to the stallion in the far right corner, sitting with his hindlegs drawn up and his forelegs resting lazily on the floor. Two scarlet eyes pierced through the darkness. Sombra's mane was disheveled and hung around his face like an organic ebony veil. His breathing was sharp and ragged.
"S-Sombra?"
A minute and a half had passed before the stallion's head snapped up suddenly. He licked his lips and pursed them as if to speak. Finally: "What?"
Celestia smiled softly, though it was somewhat forced given the circumstances.
"Sombra...what happened here?"
Sombra then answered monotonously, "Redecorating."
"'Redecorating'?" Celestia mimed skeptically.
"Yes, it is my cell, after all. It was getting dull."
"I see." Whatever it was that was going on with Sombra was scaring her a bit. "And what brought about this sudden need to 'redecorate'? You've had the same cell for months."
One blink. Then three. "Why are you here, Celestia? You haven't been down to see me since they moved me back here. Why do you care now?"
That one hurt. Since discovering her lingering love for the umbrum, Celestia has done all she could to keep herself busy in order to gather her thoughts. The situation had not been helped when, glancing into the crystal ball one night, she discovered that Twilight had climbed into bed with him and slept alongside him. That sight alone brought the Sun Princess' blood boiling with an emotion that she'd not felt in centuries: envy. She was envious of Twilight.
When Nightmare Moon returned, it was Twilight who changed her back to Princess Luna and returned Celestia's sister back to her. True, while it was Celestia who oversaw Luna's slow but steady return to society, Twilight had managed to banish the darkness from the night-princess' heart and initiate her reclaim of her life. King Sombra had returned-yet again-and not only did Twilight defeat him but also successfully worked her way into his heart. Twilight had told Celestia about Sombra's confession of love and she'd scoffed at it at first, believing it to be nothing more than a ploy to manipulate the young mare. Now evidence to the contrary had arisen and Celestia was feeling powerless once more.
"I've always cared, Sombra. It's just that recently I've been rather preoccupied."
Sombra remained seated. "Mmm-hmm. So to what do I owe the honor of your presence?"
"Don't use that tone with me!" Celestia growled. "I only wanted to see if you were alright!"
Springing to his hooves, Sombra bared his fangs. "Of course I'm not alright! I'm locked up in a dungeon while you send in your head doctors to try to dissect my mind with their babbling."
"That 'babbling' is meant to get to the root of your problems. I want to help you!"
"If you really wanted to help me, then you should've killed me when you had the chance!"
Celestia's anger immediately receded to make way for confusion. "W-what?"
There was a pregnant pause. Sombra turned away and sighed. "I'm....torn, Celestia. I wish for nothing more than my freedom but now there's this pain inside, the likes of which I've never felt before." The mare said nothing, so Sombra continued. "Things are so bleak. I have no magic, no title, no future. We both know that even if you don't have me executed, you'll ensure that I never see the light of day again. I'm not Tourmaline, nor King Sombra or even Sombra. I think I want to die."
A soft golden corona filled the dungeon and when Sombra turned, he found Celestia inside the cell and situated right in front of him. She slowly made her way over to him and he began to back away from her. What is this mare doing? A tender wing cupped his cheek and he gave out an unintentional groan.
"Just because it feels like the end, doesn't mean that it is. Think of this as a whole new beginning, for all of us. I want to help you, Sombra. Please let me help. Don't shut me out again."
Sombra nodded numbly, tears trickling down his cheeks. "Don't....don't let Twilight see me like this."
"Of course," Celestia said softly, a twinge of hurt in her chest. She ignored it, for both of their sakes.
Flash Sentry watched all of this, unsure of how exactly to feel. In that moment, he didn't see the horrible monster he'd read and heard about. This was a broken stallion that was in pain and wanted it all to end. While Flash admittedly didn't care for him, he didn't want Sombra to suffer like this. Depression, especially of the clinical kind, was a poison in its own league. Like it or not, this was the stallion that Twilight chose and if she saw something in him, then he must be worth something.
Doesn't mean that I have to like him. Celestia pulled Sombra into an embrace, wrapping him up in her ivory wings. Seriously, how did he get Twilight AND Princess Celestia to fall for him?
Closing the window and latching it shut, Twilight Sparkle slumped down into a wooden chair. She rubbed her face and took a sip of lukewarm tea, which had cooled down during her period of contemplation. Unfurling the scroll once more, she re-read it worriedly:
Dear Twilight,
I have noticed a visible change in Sombra's behavior and it's evident that your sessions with him are the cause. Nopony else could've performed the service you have and for that I am very proud of you. However, you must put your meetings with him on hiatus, for the time being. As of late, Sombra has been feeling unwell and has asked that you not see him until he is in a better state of mind. Please be patient. I will promptly send word to you as soon as he is well.
Your friend,
Princess Celestia
Two weeks had passed since that letter was delivered and Twilight was really starting to worry. Sometimes mere days would sometimes pass between visits but weeks? If Sombra was in emotional distress, then she must be there to help him. She rolled up the scroll and carefully filed it along with the other Princess Celestia letters. Even with her special somepony (?) in trouble, that didn't mean she would just toss away a letter carelessly.
"I want to help but Princess Celestia told me to wait."
Yes, she TOLD you, not ORDERED.
"That's true, but-..."
But nothing! Are you or aren't you the Princess of Friendship?
"I am."
So what are you going to do?
Twilight stood up, now reinvigorated by her increasingly-troubling internal monologues. There was a pattern to Sombra's affliction. He was in an especially bad place and it only started two weeks ago. What was it that set him off? Frantically pouring over her notes, she sorted through them until hitting upon the solution and felt her heart sink.
"Oh no."
According to the information that Twilight had gathered from the Royal Archives, today was the birthday of one Princess Garnet Nesosilica. She knew Sombra felt extreme guilt over Garnet's as-yet-unrevealed fate, so it'd make sense that the ex-king would fall into such a melancholic state. So what did happen to the Crystal Princess? The history books and official records state that she went missing around the time of Sombra's reign and Twilight, personal feelings aside, didn't believe for a single second that the umbrum had her killed or performed the deed personally. Despite his many faults, Sombra had loved his adopted sister; Twilight could see it in his eyes whenever her name was brought up.
Deciding on a course of action, Twilight sped out the door, completely ignoring Spike's inquiries, and galloped full-speed to the only pony she knew that could help in such a time. Sugarcube Corner practically glowed like a beacon and Twilight raced towards it without a second thought. The bakery was adequately busy, with several booths and tables occupied by ponies either lost in conversation or stuffing their faces with confectionaries. Pinkie Pie zipped across the room and bounced in place not two feet away from Twilight, her ever-present grin lighting up her face.
“Hiya Twilight! What can I do you for?”
“Hey Pinkie. Listen, I know this is short notice but I need you to help me plan a small party-..."
Pinkie's smile widened to a supernatural degree. "You had me at 'party'! Is it a retirement party? A surprise party? A party-party? If it's an office party, then I could rig a party cannon to-..."
A purple hoof silenced Pinkie's high-speed babbling. "It's nothing major. I just need help setting up a small party for...." She leaned in and whispered, "...Sombra."
The pink mare stopped bouncing. "Sombra?!"
"Shhhh!" Twilight wrapped a foreleg around Pinkie's shoulders and pulled her in. "Yes, Sombra. He's been very depressed lately and I was hoping you could cheer him up. Today is his sister's birthday and I thought that maybe a small party would lift his spirits. What do you say?"
"What do I say? Let's get baking!"
~*~
Passing between his stone-faced brethren, Flash Sentry silently wove his way down into the bowels of the dungeon, the only sounds being the shifting clacking of his armor, the thudding of his hooves and the squeaks of the food chart that he was navigating. So far, guarding King Sombra wasn't exactly what he'd pictured when he volunteered for the job. Oh sure, he knew that the prisoner would be difficult, spiteful even, if their first meeting was of any indication. The past two weeks, however, were off for him. Rather than psychoanalysis or petty insults, the former king's interactions with Flash depended on his mood.
Some days saw Sombra gloomy but semi-civil, curtly thanking Flash for bringing him his meals before ushering in an hour of prolonged silence. Other times, he screamed at the pegasus to leave, punctuating his foul mood by launching something at Flash and swearing in his native tongue at the top of his lungs. What scared Flash the most however, were the moments he'd walk in to find Sombra curled up on his cot, his head between his hooves as he sobbed into his pillow.
This whole experience was surreal to say the least. Ever since the reemergence of the Crystal Empire, everypony had heard tales of King Sombra's cruelty from the transparent-skinned ponies, from his savage takeover to the thousand-year curse he placed upon them. Now that same pony was locked up and suffering from mood swings that consisted of violent anger to despondence. It was possible that Sombra suffered from bipolar depression but why only now did it manifest?
Flash descended further down the twisting corridors of Canterlot Castle's subterranean catacombs until arriving at the dungeons, the doorway guarded by four unicorn guards, two on each side. They performed a thorough check of both Flash and the cart before sending him through. As much as he understood security protocols, he admitted that this was getting tedious. After all, they'd known him for years and thus would have no reason to question his motives. Then again, Golden Shield, Thunderhead and Swift Spear served twice as long as he did and look how they turned out.
The room was dimly lit by soft torchlight and Flash had to strain his eyes a little to make out the stallion curled up in one corner of the cell. Thankfully, he didn't look to be in a defensive mood, so this put the pegasus at ease as the cart came to a stop. Unsurprisingly, the tray from lunchtime remained just outside the bars, the soup and bread untouched and the cup of water still full. For the past three days, Sombra refused to eat or drink anything but Flash still brought him sustenance, if only to show that he was indeed still doing his job. He replaced the old tray with the new one, which featured a spinach casserole and a fresh cup of water.
"Take it away," the shape in the corner murmured.
"Ah, so you are still alive. Look, just eat this and-..."
Sombra sat up slowly and shook his head. "No. I'm not eating. I will not break my fast."
Flash quirked an eyebrow. "'Fast'? Why are you fasting?"
Tired red eyes met his blue ones. "Penance," Sombra stated and laid back down, indicating that he was no longer in a talkative mood.
"So, um..."
Sombra rolled over to stare at Flash. Even laying down, the umbrum was physically imposing.
"Do you mind if I have it?"
A half-committed shrug was all the answer that Flash required before he dug into the casserole, which was actually quite well-made and fresh-tasting. He'd eaten a rather small lunch and was thankful for the meal, not even caring about the company he had presently. Licking his lips, Flash peered over at the prisoner and mulled over his words very carefully before speaking.
"Listen, I know all about you...and Twilight. The two of you....together."
Silence.
And then: "Is that so?"
"Yes. And that is, at least partially, why I volunteered."
A faint smile tugged at the corners of Sombra's lips. "You wanted to size me up?"
Flash nodded. "Pretty much, plus I thought it'd help my career." He sighed and set aside his tray. "Look, I'm not stupid. I know Twilight broke up with me because she still had-has-feelings for you. And I'm trying to be mature about this-..."
"Because you're in love with her."
Flash blinked in confusion. "Am I really that obvious?"
"Not to a certain purple alicorn," Sombra stated as-a-matter-of-fact.
"Yes, that I can see," Flash muttered. "Even if she never returns my feelings, I promised myself that I'd always be there to look after her, as her friend and servant."
He expected cruel, belly-deep laughter or insults. Instead, what he got was:
"Then you're a bigger stallion than I."
Okay, he had not expected that.
Sombra stood up and sluggishly made his way to the cell door. "I mean it. If our places were reversed, then I'd be an angry, inconsolable mess and plot out the most horrendous ways of ending you."
"Um...thanks? I guess."
Neither one of them spoke, instead allowing the stillness of the moment overtake them. When Flash had woken up that morning, he hadn't anticipated having a moment with his prisoner and romantic rival.
Sombra basically said that he respects me...sort of. Apart from the revenge-plotting part, he was quite rational and well-mannered. Must be the lack of food or something.
His ruminations were interrupted, however, when the dungeon door slammed open and a pink ball of spastic energy shaped like a mare came galumphing in. He was only vaguely familiar with Pinkie Pie: Element of Laughter, Ponyville baker and one of Twilight's closest friends. In all honesty, she kind of scared him, even more so than Sombra. At least Sombra was powerless and locked up. Pinkie was...on a whole other level.
Probably a rogue experiment of Discord's or something.
Said defier of physics (and logic) had pulled in a cart that held a three-tiered chocolate cake with red icing and green sprinkles. A yellow pegasus entered, who Flash remembered was named Fluttershy, who was toting a smaller cart filled with cups, plates, forks and jugs of what Flash assumed to be punch. She was followed by none other than Twilight Sparkle, a record player suspended in her raspberry aura. He turned to see that Sombra was also watching the display with confusion and it helped him somewhat to know that they were both equally dumbfounded.
"Twilight...what is all this?" Flash asked once the record player was carefully set down.
The purple mare beamed. "Hey Flash. I figured since today was Sombra's sister's birthday, we'd throw a little party to celebrate." She looked past him and her ears folded back. "If that's okay?"
All eyes were on Sombra. He glanced at the party supplies, then at the faces of the newcomers and then away. After a minute, he nodded hesitantly.
"I believe that it'd be 'okay.'"
"Then let's party!" Pinkie shrieked excitedly and switched on the record player. A quick-paced jazz song echoed throughout the room as she bounced around with a series of audible squeaks. She shifted to her hindlegs and rolled her forelegs around each other counter-clockwise, her hips swinging to the beat.
Well, at the very least she can dance. Unlike....
Twilight, meanwhile, kicked one hindleg at a time, bobbed her head wildly and punched the air, doing a pretty good imitation of an elderly mare that had muscle cramps and was also being attacked by fleas. Where she learned to dance was a complete mystery but the even bigger mystery was why nopony had ever bothered to correct her. Sombra watched with amusement, swaying in his cell and cheering the mare on.
Fluttershy nodded her head around and gently swayed to the music, keeping her movements as minimal as possible. There was an odd sort of awkward grace to her movements, as if she were a professional that was trying to restrain herself. It was a shame; Flash thought that she was a sweet and lovely mare that could so much more if only she wasn't so scared and self-conscious all the time. He joined her on the "dance floor," offering up a smile as he mimicked her movements. Just as he'd hoped, Fluttershy's stress began to deteriorate and she loosened up, allowing herself to relax and enjoy the dancing.
Pinkie was bouncing around on her mane and tail. "This is great! If there were two of me, the fun would be doubled! Oh wait, there was that incident with the Mirror Pool so never mind!"
Sombra stared at her. "The what-now?"
~*~
Well, this was unexpected to say the least.
Sombra never imagined that a party be held in the dungeon, let alone thrown in honor of his deceased adoptive sister's birthday. As much as he was loathed to admit it, he was actually having fun. It'd literally been centuries since he last danced and for a thousand-year-old, he felt as though he was doing quite well. This made him feel...normal, if only for a little while.
Pinkie zipped up to his face excitedly. "Soooo.....Did I do a good job? Did, did I, did I?!"
Sombra blinked. As strange as the mare was, a feeling akin to affection warmed his heart and he found himself smiling broadly, making Pinkie's own clownish grin widen even further.
"You did. And as for our last encounter, I....apologize for my behavior."
A pair of forelegs coiled tightly around Sombra's barrel. He was gobsmacked to discover Pinkie had somehow entered his cell...right as he was talking to her and was now squeezing him in a death-grip hug.
"Awwww, Sombry, there's no need to apologize! I've already forgiven you but thanks anyway!"
Faust, she's strong!
Lifting Pinkie up into his chest, Sombra reciprocated her embrace while being mindful of his own strength. He didn't want to hurt her-if such a thing were possible-and it'd look bad on him if he'd injured one of Twilight's friends as well as an Equestrian national hero.
"Aw, this is nice...oh look, cake!"
And just like that, she was gone, appearing on the other side of the room by unknown means, shoving a slice of cake too big for her face right into her mouth.
Black magic...it's some foul, forbidden art of some kind.
Sombra shook his head and swiveled to watch the purple mare twisting and locking in some imitation of dancing.
Yes, Twilight danced as though getting stung by hornets, but Sombra didn't care one bit, instead savoring the carefree spirit in her motions. Rising to his hindlegs, he stomped the ground with his hooves and clapped along with the melody, as strange as it was. His hindlegs crossed and uncrossed as he leapt in place, clapping his front hooves above his head. He was so caught up in his choreography, that he almost missed Twilight jerkily dance-fight her way over to him.
"Are you doing alright?" Twilight giggled. "It looks like you were bitten on the flank by a horsefly."
Not breaking from his routine, Sombra replied, "What? The glaðurdans is a tradition of my people."
Twilight observed him and then attempted to mimic his actions, shockingly managing to perform quite well. The pair danced close to one another and if the metal bars were absent, they'd be connected chest-to-chest. Their movements slowed, their bodies becoming almost stationary. Sombra gently pulled Twilight into an embrace and gently began to rock back and forth. She placed her forelegs around Sombra's neck, hopping up on the tips of her back hooves.
"Twilight?"
"Hmmm?"
"Thank you. For everything."
She nuzzled his cheek and whispered, "You're welcome, Sombra."
Even when the music ended and the next song came on, they continued to slow dance, stuck in their own little world, oblivious to anything or anypony else. No bars, no drama. Just each other.
"Your Majesty, shall I escort you to your chambers?"
Tourmaline marked the place he was reading and set the book aside. "No thank you. I think I shall spend a few more hours in here so you are dismissed, Spinel."
The yellow-brown crystal pony bowed, stomped one forehoof on the floor and spun around. Once he'd left, Tourmaline waited for a few more minutes before springing up from his chair and navigating his way through the library, checking around him to ensure that he wasn't being watched or followed. His parents possessed an odd fascination with ensuring that their son almost always had a royal escort and, quite frankly, he was sick to death of it. Garnet also received similar treatment, though it was nowhere as severe to the degree as it was with Tourmaline. Was it because he was the crown prince or was there a more clandestine motive?
"Now where is it?"
He searched through the magic section, gathering up every book or scroll he could discover on the topic of black magic and curled up on the floor. A few days ago, Tourmaline was studying on polymorphic theory in his study when he inadvertently enveloped a lamp in a black light and crushed it into a twisted mess of glass and copper. His first inclination was to inform one or both of his parents about it but the strange sensation of déjà vu flashed through his mind and he decided to keep the information to himself. Not only had his scholarly nature been evoked, but there was a feeling nagging at the back of his skull that he was meant to do this. Despite repeated warnings on the taboo subject of dark magic, using it had feel good...natural even.
Closing his eyes, Tourmaline steadied his breathing, focusing on nothing and yet picturing fully what his objective was. His horn crackled with arcane energy and a soft crack-tinkle was heard. He opened his eyes. A cluster of black crystals had formed on the floor in front of him. He laughed in marvel at the new development, unaware of the purple mist seeping from his eyes. A newfound joy entered his chest, filling him to the brim with the kind of bliss he hadn't felt in ages.
"Skuggabarn, ég er með svörin sem þú leitar að."
Tourmaline spun around. "Is somepony there?"
As strange as it was, even though he'd never heard such a language spoken, he knew what the words meant.
Before Tourmaline could question it, the voice began again, this time louder:
"Shadow-child, I have the answers you are looking for."
The stallion shook his head. Was he really going to follow a mystery voice?
"Um, no thank you. I think I'll remain here."
"Are you sure? You feel empty and yet do not know why. You suspect your parents are hiding something from you. When you cast dark magic, you get the sensation of being complete. I can tell you why."
Warily, Tourmaline cantered in the direction the voice seemed to be emanating from, his mind abuzz with questions. He should've been terrified but was mostly curious. Answers were what he needed and by Malachite, he was going to get them. Why did dark magic come so easily to him? Why did it fill a void in his life that family and love couldn't? Why did it feel as though his parents were hiding something from him?
"Follow the sound of my voice. I will aid you in what you've forgotten."
Tourmaline's journey concluded at the very end of the eastern wing of the royal library, where a gilded fence closed off a particular section, one that was expressly off-limits to even him and his sister. The Forbidden Section, a subdivision dedicated to all books, tomes, scrolls and parchments whose knowledge on black arcana rivaled that of the royal library at Canterlot. A chill skittered down his spine. He'd never dared to enter the Forbidden Section, his fear of punishment overruling his natural curiosity and scholarly interests. Now times were different. He wanted answers and they appeared to be just beyond this gate.
The young prince scanned the gate with his horn, revealing a series of faint purple beams that wrapped web-like around the section's gate and fence. This confirmed his suspicions that there was indeed a spell cast on the gate designed to alert the caster of any intruders. He frowned and voiced his concerns.
"I can't get through. Mother or Father placed a warning charm on it."
"Do not let such trivialities halt you. Focus. Use your natural talents."
He nodded and breathed, feeling magic soaking in through every pore of his body, filling it up with a seemingly-endless pool of energy. A sky-blue glow emanated from his horn and flowed into the gate. The strands of the warning charm began to slowly but steadily snap before giving way and vanishing into nothingness. With the web now disabled, Tourmaline went to work on the lock, quickly prying it open and tossing the piece of metal aside before slipping past the gate.
"You are almost there, shadow-child. Just a little bit further," the voice whispered encouragingly.
Lacking any of his former reservations, Tourmaline continued ahead, his soul reinvigorated by the very notion of defying his parents' orders and breaking into the Forbidden Section. The shelves around him were packed full of texts both new and old, detailing the history and methods of spells prohibited by regular society. He paused in front of a horizontal glass case and peered inside, observing a leather-pound book that appeared to be made out of flesh and featured a pony's screaming face for a cover, its mouth locked in an eternal wail. He made a mental note of it and strode forward, for once completely dauntless and purpose-driven.
At last, Tourmaline's hooves planted themselves in front of a glass cube atop a wooden pillar. Inside, there was a book whose spine, front and back covers were constructed out of a series of interlocking black crystals and radiated with a great and terrible power. He could practically taste the dark magic that seeped out of the tome, the book calling to him to pick it up and pour over its secrets. But should he? Was this forbidden knowledge outlawed for a reason?
"You wish to know the emptiness inside yourself? Take a look inside," the voice softly goaded, removing any shred of doubt that the book in question was the source of the mysterious guiding voice that had started him on this journey.
Tourmaline's body began moving on its own accord, every movement languid yet precise. It was as though he was in a dream and yet he never wanted to wake up. He tapped the surface of the glass with his horn and commanded it to shatter, watching almost with delight as the glass shards tumbled to the floor. Plunging both hooves inside, Tourmaline grasped the book and heaved it out, beyond caring that this was the point of no return. Catching the upper right edge of the top edge, he opened the cover.
Images and voices bombarded his head, overloading it with stimuli as he felt himself lifted off of the floor and six feet into the air. He may or may not have shouted but it was impossible to tell over the torrent of visions hammering his skull. He remembered bobbing and weaving between a train of wagons with a small group of foals. A slender mare with a maroon scarf wrapped around her head called his name and he eagerly leapt into her embrace as a heavily built, barrel-chested stallion wrapped his forelegs around the two. They...they were his parents!
The memories turned south, however. Fires raged throughout a snow-covered village, screams of terror piercing the air. He could see his father swinging an axe at some armored crystal ponies, his face covered in crimson war paint. The large stallion managed to take down five soldiers before a reddish-orange crystal pony struck him down with a sword-jab between his shoulder blades. Tourmaline recognized him as General Sunstone, one of his father's-no, King Carnelian's-oldest friends.
Everything came back to Tourmaline: hiding beneath his mother's still-warm corpse, his discovery and subsequent rescue by Queen Aquamarine, being taken to the Crystal Heart and not only transformed into a crystal pony but also having his memories harvested by the royal couple. It would seem that memory erasure would become a pastime of Carnelian's as he would alter Tourmaline's memories every time the prince would rediscover his dark magic or had a nightmare about the massacre he'd witnessed. Cracks leapt across his crystal skin, creating crevasses that spikes of green and black light peeked through. Anger pulsated deep within Tourmaline's heart as a crackling black and purple orb began to encompass him. Overcome by this betrayal, his maw opened up and he released an ear-splitting cry of anguish.
The orb exploded, launching bookshelves, shattering windows and setting fire to books and loose pages as they fluttered in the air. The room's sole occupant slowly descended to the floor, indifferent towards the devastation he'd unleashed and only concerned with what had just transpired. Lumbering towards the black crystal book, which was the only object to survive the burst of dark magic, he wrapped it in a black aura and stuffed it into his saddle bag. He turned and his eyes locked onto the fragments of shattered light gray crystals that lay strewn about. Sifting through the shiny detritus, he retrieved a piece that looked suspiciously like half of his face and peered into it as though looking into a mirror.
The face that stared back owned a dark gray coat with sharp, angular features. Purple smoke trailed out of his eyes, which possessed crimson irises that burned in the darkness like dying embers. Dropping his "face," Tourmaline ground it beneath a hoof, somewhat satisfied at the crunching sounds it made. He wobbled slightly but quickly righted himself, rage fueling his muscles. How? How could the so-called righteous and just rulers of the Crystal Empire do this to him?
As if on cue, a platoon of royal guards swarmed the room, their crossbows and speared aimed directly as the intruder. King Carnelian and Queen Aquamarine followed closely behind, at first bewildered but then shocked when they observed what was unfolding before them. Tourmaline's eyes went from the stony faces of the guards to the horrified countenances of the king and queen. It was then at that moment that he saw what he'd been blind to before: fear.
They were afraid of him.
"This isn't over," he angrily promised, vanishing before anypony could say or do anything.
~*~
Those who lived in the Crystal Empire knew well enough not to travel through the Frozen North at night, especially not when it was still winter. Thus, they considered it nigh-impossible to accomplish. One lone stallion, however, didn't care whether or not it was smart. All he knew was that he couldn't be in the Crystal Empire for another second longer. Once he'd teleported away from the royal library, Tourmaline gathered together his warmest clothes, some food and a collection of bits before storming his way past the royal guards stationed at the city's front gates. The guards did little to stop him, believing it foolhardy to chase after a criminal fleeing into the unforgiving wastes.
He ran through the darkness, tearing a path through screaming winds and antagonistic snow, shoving through the white clumps in order to put as much distance between him and the crystal ponies as much as possible. Despite the sensation of his very veins freezing inside of him, the knowledge of his "parents'" betrayal burned deep within his skull, alighting his insides with the fires of fury and vengeance. He'd tried flying and managed to get some distance before being forced into landing and resuming his perilous trek through the snow. There was a reason that the wind was known as the "Teeth of the North."
The outcrop of a small hill caught his attention and Tourmaline squinted to ascertain the existence of a cave embedded within it. Silently admonishing his limbs into compliance, he trudged towards the mouth of the cave and lit his horn, illuminating the darkness. He paused, knowing full well that something could be living inside the cave and waited. Deciding to put this theory to the test, he released a flare of popping golden-orange that sailed through the cave and fizzled out. Half a minute passed by before he heard the roar.
Something big and angry plodded out of the cave's entrance, standing to its full height. It was a dire-bear, a species indigenous to the wastes known for its sheer size, bone-crushing strength and razor-sharp teeth and claws. Its maw snapped open and flashed its tusks, issuing another roar. Tourmaline offered one of his own and a stream of green and purple flames erupted from his horn, striking the dire-bear right in the face. It staggered back in agony, giving its opponent the opportunity to seize the dire-bear in a telekinetic grip and smash it repeatedly against the cave's upper lip until its spine snapped.
Tourmaline nestled into the cave, feeling quite content with himself. Following his battle with the dire-bear, he'd dissected the animal's body for applicable recycling, using its fat and bones for makeshift torches and its fur in the creation of a toasty-warm blanket. Ponies could, on very rare occasions, survive on a carnivorous diet so he supposed the dire-bear's meat would serve as food for the time being. The storm would eventually pass and then he could see about finding his way out of the Frozen North. He huddled beneath his fur-blanket and basked in the fire's heat.
His discovery in the royal library refused to be ignored so he ruminated on it, his anger at the knowledge increasing with every minute. Yes, they spared him from death but did that excuse their behavior? They lied to him, erased his memories and manipulated him like a marionette, tugging on his strings so that he could dance at their whim! Did Garnet know? No, she couldn't keep a secret to save her life. Celestia? His chest burned at the question and then he ruled her out. Celestia worshiped the ground her mother walked on and would've informed her as soon as possible.
Tourmaline pushed one wing out of the blanket to stare at it, watching the feathers ripple atop the muscles with revulsion rather than fascination as he once did. He recalled King Carnelian's reaction at his ascension. He wasn't struck with awe. It was terror, terror at knowing that an umbrum was granted the power of an alicorn. Tourmaline scowled.
Alicorns….they're the reason things are so terrible! They're behind everything!
Flinging the blanket aside, Tourmaline erected a six-foot-tall crystal and conjured a sword, dipping a foot of its blade into the fire. It didn't matter that he'd lose power, he couldn't go on existing life as one of those...things. He was a shadow pony and he would live as one or not at all. Cramming a leftover dire-bear bone into his mouth, he magically pulled the sword from the fire and stood in front of the crystal, staring into its reflective surface. Spreading one feathery appendage, he raised the sword above where the wing's shoulder socket met the back muscles, his skin crawling from the heat of the white-hot blade.
Tourmaline bit down into the bone and inhaled deeply as the blade descended.
Agony overloaded his senses, plunging him in and out of darkness. He laid atop the dire-bear fur, his stomach to the floor and his mutilated back facing skyward. His severed wings laid crumpled up in the corner. Once he'd had the strength, he kicked them away and piled clumps of snow onto his raw back, ignoring the screaming of his flesh. The initial burns were terrible but it was the stinging afterwards that was worse, almost as if his skin was being repeatedly stabbed by a thousand tiny daggers.
As Tourmaline laid there collecting his thoughts, he realized that he could no longer call upon his title or his foster parents for aid. He was all he had now. The alicorns would pay for their crimes, against both him and Equestria. The Crystal Empire may not have been his by blood-right but it would be by conquest.
"I am no longer 'Prince Tourmaline.' I will use the name my birth and true parents bestowed upon me. I am Sombra and I will have my revenge in this life or the next."
Celestia winced slightly as the brush tugged through her pink tresses, which was not helped by the fact that her mane was still wet from her twenty-minute bath, a daily routine that normally took only ten minutes at the most. The change in her bath time was due to her washing her mane twice, her coat three times as well the use of a new shampoo and conditioner, giving her the appealing aroma of passionfruit, wild berries and citrus. Contrary to popular belief, neither Celestia's nor Luna's manes were consistently flowing with ethereal energy. Such a unique trait could be switched on and off and washing their manes kept them looking pristine and healthy once reapplied with magic. Keeping up with their royal duties sometimes meant that Celestia and Luna had to keep their ethereal manes whilst sleeping.
Waving over her mane with a hair dryer, Celestia brushed every strand into compliance, ensuring that not a lock was out of place before setting aside her brush and hair dryer aside to look upon her reflection in the vanity mirror. Her coat was sparkling clean, her royal regalia polished to a near-blinding shine and her wings preened and spotless. After applying lip balm, mascara and some face powder, all that was left was her mane. Light golden specks adorned her head like a corona of tiny stars, dancing and racing through her pink mane, levitating it around her as if by an invisible breeze. The majority of pink hair vanished, leaving a single strip as it was soon joined by segments of blue and green while it all took on a more mist-like, iridescent texture.
An impressed hum left Celestia's lips as she double-checked her appearance, wholly satisfied with the final product and eager to let everypony see her. Or rather, one pony in particular. Ivory cheeks reddened at the thought and she had to chastise herself for her schoolfilly-esque behavior.
I'm over a thousand years old AND a princess! I'm going to fawn and swoon like some maiden with a crush.
And yet, deep down, Princess Celestia knew that she had it bad.
As was the norm, Celestia was accompanied to the royal gardens via royal guards, though there was no way in Tartarus that she was ever going to complain. The royal guards had been tasked with guarding her and the other nobles since their inception and she prayed for each and every brave soul that put on the armor in service of their nation. The sun was high in the sky by the time they'd arrived, shining its rays onto the guards' golden armor and allowing them to glisten and sparkle. A table, some chairs and a large parasol inserted into the table's center had all been set up for her little rendezvous. A scullery maid finished decorating the tabletop with plates and silverware just as a butler gingerly arranged a still-steaming teapot near the table's center, along with various sweets.
"Well done, everypony, well done!" Celestia beamed, earning her deep bows and satisfied grins from her servants. "You are both dismissed. Thank you."
The two servants left without a word and Celestia eased herself into a polished, white-oak chair. She poured herself a cup of tea but let it sit to allow it time to cool off and to wait for her guest to arrive. The cookies looked and smelled scrumptious but it was the intoxicating scent of cake that left her mouth watering. It was no secret that the Princess of the Day had a fondness for cake, one that followed her from foalhood to the present and she tried her best to limit herself on the amount she consumed day and night. The keyword was "tried." It was just too hard to resist.
A chorus of metallic clacking drew Celestia's attention as a small cadre of royal guards entered her line of sight. Forming the rough formation of a house-like shape, they stopped ten feet away and the guards in the front parted, revealing a heavily shackled and muzzled Sombra at the formation's center. His large, crimson eyes were narrowed, not in anger but rather from the light. Celestia had forgotten that he'd spent the last few months indoors and in dimly-lit dungeons so the sunlight would be torturous for him.
The iron shackles and thick leather muzzle wouldn't be helping either. Celestia noted, catching the beads of sweat trickling down Sombra's brow.
Flash Sentry stood erect beside Sombra, one hoof planted on his shoulder. Sombra was noticeably shaking, his eyes twitching to inspect the guards situated around him, his teeth bared and his face stuck in an intimidating scowl. Given his assault at the hooves of the crooked guards, Celestia couldn't blame him for his mistrust of the gold-clad sentinels. The only one who appeared to be exempt from this appeared to be Flash Sentry, though this could've come from his familiarity with the young stallion.
I chose his new guard well it would seem.
"Private Sentry, please bring Sombra forward."
Flash solemnly escorted Sombra towards Celestia, their progress slightly hampered by the bonds on the prisoner. The other guards stood by apprehensively, their eyes locked on Sombra, their weapons aimed at him and ready to strike him down at the slightest sign of aggression towards their monarch. Sombra, meanwhile, kept his gaze solely on the alicorn sitting serenely before him, his eyes unblinking and caught between a mix of suspicion and anger. The latter seemed to vanish by the time the two arrived at the end of the table, instead replaced by an emotion Celestia couldn't quite place. With some help from Flash, Sombra was seated and staring puzzlingly at Celestia.
"Thank you, Private Sentry," Celestia said softly before directing her attention to the other guards as well. "You may all take your leave."
Hesitantly, the other guards bowed and slowly filed out, leaving the three of them alone.
"You can take a seat as well, Flash Sentry."
This caught the pegasus off guard. "Um, th-thank you, Your Majesty," he stammered, taking a seat on the left side of the table between Celestia and Sombra. He reached for a tea cup and saucer but stopped abruptly, not moving until Celestia nodded and magically filled his cup for him.
"You're quite welcome, Flash. Oh, I almost forgot!"
A flash of golden energy momentarily blinded the two stallions. When they blinked away the spots and regained their vision, they noticed with shock that Sombra's leather muzzle and shackles were gone. Feeling around his pasterns and throat, Sombra stared open-mouthed at Celestia, his eyes as wide as dinner plates. She had to giggle at this new expression of his.
"There's no need for restraints here. This is just a regular tea party."
There was another burst of energy, this time conjuring a full tea cup and a plate full of cookies in front of Sombra, who stared down skeptically at everything as if expecting an attack.
What a notion! Killer tea cups and homicidal cookies. Celestia then reconsidered this. Then again, there WAS that one world Star Swirl and I encountered during one of our trips through the magic mirror...
"You look...different."
Celestia yanked herself out of her musings upon registering somepony addressing her. Smiling broadly at Sombra, she blushed, "Well, I was just feeling like making myself extra nice today."
"You look very pretty, Your Majesty," Flash managed through a mouthful of almond cookies. "Oops, sorry."
"It's quite alright, Flash and please, just 'Celestia' will do for today. And thank you." Her eyes never left Sombra's face. "What do you think, Sombra?" She asked with a light eyelash flutter.
"Nice, I suppose," Sombra muttered into his tea cup.
"Nice"? Well, at least he didn't insult me. Still, would it kill him to...-?
"So why am I here?"
"Pardon?"
Sombra folded his forelegs. "You lock me in the dark for months, barely acknowledge my existence and feed me slop that a pig wouldn't accept. Now you feed me gourmet meals, bring me out for fresh air and invite me to tea parties. What is it that you want from me?"
"I just want you to love me again, Sombra."
Celestia's hooves flew to her mouth.
Why did I say that? I didn't want him to know that!
Flash choked on his tea, violently banging on the table until he could breath again. Sombra, meanwhile, was staring at Celestia, his expression changing from righteously indignation, to confusion, and finally, to jaw-dropping shock. Celestia could swear she felt her heart stop from the embarrassment. The silence was deafening to say the least. A cricket could chirp from fifty feet away and they would all hear it.
"You...what?!" Sombra finally sputtered.
"I love you! Faust, I've always loved you and it wasn't until recently that I realized that!" Celestia blurted out.
"Seriously, how do you do it?!"
This time, Flash was the one to speak. "First, you end up with Princess Celestia, one of the hottest mares that I've ever seen, then you get Twilight Sparkle to fall in love with you." Flash "eeped" and shoved another cookie into his mouth.
Sombra glared at Flash. "I don't know! As a foal growing up in the Crystal Empire, I thought I was too book-oriented and solitary to ever get a marefriend." He clamped his mouth shut, only for it to stretch open and the words to pour out. "Then I landed the princess with a flank big enough to crush mountains before going head-over-hooves for the one whose eyes drive me crazy!"
Mouth agape, Celestia took a moment to inspect her rear end. "You...think I have a big flank?"
"Everypony knows it!" Flash shouted. "No, I didn't mean that!"
"Yes you did! That's partially why I was excited when our parents arranged our marriage in the first place!" Sombra ranted, yanking on his mane. "I...I've always loved big-flanked mares! In fact, when we were together, I also noticed how nice Luna's was." He smacked his head on the table with an audible thud and began swearing in his native tongue.
A vein popped in Celestia's forehead. "You were attracted to my baby sister?!"
"Well, can you blame him?" Flash's teeth clattered together. "Apart from you, she's the hottest ruler Equestria's ever had!"
Several white sparks exploded all around them and a serpentine being materialized, his boisterous laughter echoing throughout the garden. "Oh ho ho, this is just too priceless!"
Sombra exhaled loudly. "Great, now I'm hallucinating that Discord's here."
The draconequus grinned, "Hmmm, well as a hallucination, you couldn't have picked a better-looking one!"
Celestia rubbed her forehead. "Discord, what are you doing here?"
Discord popped right beside Celestia, a tall green top hat bearing the headband "In this style 10/6" perched atop his head as he sipped from a tea cup missing its bottom. He tapped his chin with a bird's talon.
"Because I adore tea parties! Say, why is a raven like a writing desk?"
Flash rubbed the back of his neck. "Um...because Edgar Allan Foal wrote on both?"
Discord stared at the pegasus. "That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard."
"WAIT A MINUTE!" Sombra roared, pounding both hooves on the table as he rose from his seat. "Are you telling me that Discord is actually here right in front of us?"
"Yep! I also added a truth serum to your tea. Juuuuust to spice things up," Discord chirped, the tea cup and top hat vanishing as he lazily swam on his back through the air.
Sombra narrowed his eyes at Celestia. "What...did you...do?"
The venom in both his gaze and his tone sent knives of pain into Celestia's heart. "I...asked Twilight Sparkle and her friends to reform him. I thought Discord could be a major ally-..."
"So...." Sombra's hooves twisted atop the table. "You had me imprisoned and later executed for taking over one kingdom and yet he conquers all of Equestria and you decide to set him free and give him another chance...."
"That pretty much hits the nail on the head!" Discord chipperly added.
"Sombra, listen to me-..."
"No, I don't have to listen to a single bölvaður word you have to say!" His head snapped over to Flash. "Sentry, take me back to my cell. I've lost my appetite for tea and cookies."
Celestia could only watch helplessly at the two departed, Sombra not even throwing her a passing glance as he marched away and Flash Sentry trudging alongside him. She sagged into her chair, her head hurting and her chest aching. This wasn't how this day was supposed to go. How could things spiral out of control like this? Tears raced down Celestia's face, smearing it with mascara but she didn't care.
What...what have I done?
Discord inched next to Celestia, placing his lion's paw on her shoulder. "Was it something I said?"
The pink mare in the reflection of the crystalline armrest stared back at Princess Cadence, peering closely at her and scrunching up her muzzle. Nope, her eyes remained their normal shade of purple and her mouth had a lack of fangs, much to her own relief. Her examination by both Princesses Celestia and Luna determined that the awakening of her dormant half-umbrum side had to have been activated by an intense burst of dark magic, namely the energy given off by Sombra's resurrection. Umbrums were natural receptacles for dark magic and Cadence, being a half-breed, had unintentionally repressed her capacity to wield the unholy art. Thus, when her dark magic side was opened, she was unaccustomed to it and nearly lost control as a result.
Royal physicians and conjurers worked tirelessly to help Cadence restrain and ultimately gain control through a mix of spells and meditative techniques. She could now call upon her reserves of dark magic without risk of falling victim to the temptations, not that she'd ever want to use dark magic now or in the foreseeable future. Just briefly transforming into "Princess Persephone" to trick Sombra was terrifying enough so she would only use dark magic in a true life-or-death emergency. In a strange way, using dark magic made Cadence feel closer to Sombra, connecting her to him only she could as his blood relative and a small part of her reveled in the display of her newfound power. As a princess, however, her obligation was to Equestria and not to herself.
"Message from Canterlot, Your Majesty."
Cadence's head snapped down from her throne to gaze at the grayish-blue crystal pony.
"Thank you, Zirconic," she beamed, her cornflower blue aura encapsulating the scroll and bringing it hovering over to her. She waited until Zirconic had left before breaking the seal and unrolling it, interested in whatever news came from the capitol.
Dearest Cadence,
It has been far too long since you and I have had a moment for just the two of us, with our respective royal duties necessitating our attention. If you are not too busy, then I would be elated to have lunch with you here at the castle. I know things have been tense to say the least but I hope to see you again soon.
Love, as always,
Auntie Celestia
Cadence perused the letter again. Everything seemed...off. The calligraphy, though penned in Celestia's usual flowing style, was a tad jagged in places, almost as if she were digging in too hard with the quill. Then there was the general aura of the parchment. Thanks, as it turned out, to her half-umbrum heritage, Cadence could not only detect the emotions of other living beings, but could actually experience the emotions of objects they'd recently come into contact with. The letter was soaked in anger, sorrow, envy, guilt and heartache, enough to make the pink alicorn's head spin.
"...Things have been tense..."
Following Sombra's second return, the past few months had Cadence feeling more stressed and conflicted than anything else in her life preceding this. Discovering that one of Equestria's worst villains was your biological father would've been terrible enough and would've filled an entire book with how earth-shattering such a revelation it was. But then it turns out that Princess Celestia, Cadence's supposed aunt, the one whom she trusted and depended on since her teenage years, was actually her biological mother and had been lying to her since the very beginning. How can anyone in her position expect to go back to their normal life after this? Just because Cadence had forgiven Celestia for her deception didn't mean that she'd forgotten it either.
Still…
As both the co-ruler of the Crystal Empire and the Princess of Love, Cadence was expected to show kindness and affection towards everypony, setting a positive example for her subjects to follow. Regardless of any feelings of consternation, she had a duty as both a princess and a daughter to be there for her "aunt" in her time of need. Besides, how often had Celestia come to her aid? This was the same Celestia that came charging in to rescue her when she was being held captive by Sombra, despite being out of her element and magically outmatched by the dark lord. If that wasn't a show of love, Cadence didn't know what was.
~*~
"Right this way, Your Highness," the pegasus royal guard stated respectfully, leading the young alicorn down the sprawling corridors of Canterlot Castle. Not that she needed it. During her princess training, Cadence had come to live in the castle and spent many hours exploring it, dedicating every nook and cranny of the old structure to memory. Nevertheless, she appreciated the act, even if it under Celestia's orders and followed the pegasus to the royal dining hall.
Enormous double doors swung open, revealing light purple walls, white marble columns, and checkerboard black and white tile floors. Even after all these years, the room remained the same. Celestia was something of a stickler to change, referring to herself as a "traditionalist" and favored keeping the castle's décor as it had been since even before her reign. Still, at least she allowed minute alterations to accommodate Luna's return,
On the right side of the long table, Celestia turned in her seat and grinned.
"Hello Cadence! Come and join me." She then looked down at the royal guard. "Thank you, Gallant True. You are dismissed."
The pegasus bowed reverently, stating, "Yes, Your Highness," before turning and shutting the doors behind him.
Cadence slowly took her seat. Even without her empathic abilities, she could tell that Celestia's motherly smile was forced. Sure, she her joy at seeing her secret daughter was genuine but it was tinged with an undercurrent of anxiety and uncertainty. There was also strong love bubbling up inside the older mare, love that was not reserved for Cadence, that much was clear.
"So, erm, how-how are you?"
Celestia's smile wavered and she sighed. "To be honest, terrible. I'm..." She paused, twirling a hoof in the air. Finally, she stammered, "I'm still in l-love with S-Sombra."
Silence briefly overtook the room. Cadence forked an eyebrow. "Is that all?"
The white alicorn's jaw dropped. "You...you know?"
"Well, I am the Princess of Love. I knew before you did."
"O-oh, well, now do you see the problem?"
Scratching her chin, Cadence ruminated on this. The last time that she'd seen either Celestia or Sombra was back in Sombra's room after his second run-in with those corrupted guards. Despite the circumstances, it was actually a nice moment given that this was the first time that she was in a room with her birth parents without them trying to kill each other. She read their emotions, shockingly detecting long-buried but not forgotten love within Celestia. Sombra, on the other hoof, was radiating a swirl of emotions that nearly knocked Cadence on her flank: anger, regret, vengeance, a smidgen of conflicted affection. But no love, at least, not active.
There were traces of love still in Sombra's heart for Celestia but it was more for the mare she used to be rather than she was now. He still cared for her, but that was it. His love was now reserved for another instead, a certain purple sister-in-law of Cadence's. That was a confounding issue for another day. For now, she had to deliver the news to her mother as gently as possible.
"Celestia, the thing is, Sombra doesn't...he doesn't love you."
Looking off to the side, Celestia tapped a hoof atop the tabletop. She took in several breaths before meeting Cadence's gaze again. "But...he could...right? Sombra could love me again, right?"
It killed Cadence to dash the hope in those pink eyes but it had to be done. "No, he's...in love with somepony else. I'm so sorry."
Celestia gazed down at her hooves. "It's Twilight, isn't it?" When Cadence failed to answer, she nodded bitterly. "I knew it. Thank you, Cadence, for your honesty."
Cadence made her way to the other side of the table and wrapped Celestia in a tight embrace, petting her head with a wing like the sun-princess used to do for her when she was younger. Numbly, Celestia returned the gesture, burying her face into her chest. Small gasps exited Celestia's mouth, her chest heaving in rhythm with her sobs. As much as Cadence enjoyed her position, helping ponies to find their mates, it was feeling the heartbreak of somepony else that sometimes made her regret being the Princess of Love.
~*~
At that moment, time didn't matter to Celestia, neither did the cold or the dark as she remained standing motionless inside the dungeon cell. Nearly two hours had passed and she'd not moved a muscle as she loomed over the sleeping stallion. He was still so handsome and despite everything that'd passed between them, her heart still ached for him. She remembered the night that Sombra had called for a truce under the condition that Celestia enter the Crystal Empire alone. Once there, they met atop the castle's tallest spire and after a heated argument, they fought a brief battle before giving into their passion. It was there and under the light of the pale moon that they united as one, resulting in not only Cadence's conception but her own eternal love for the dark king.
Red eyes slowly opened and Celestia stiffened, hoping that their owner would fall back to sleep.
"What is it with mares watching me sleep?"
Well, so much for that. "H-hello Sombra. Sleep well?"
Sombra shifted into a reclining position. "What are you doing here, Celestia?"
Even with being a foot taller and standing, the mare somehow fell much smaller than her prisoner, who continued to glare at her with annoyed contempt.
"I was wondering..."
Sombra rolled a fetlock impatiently. "Yessssssss?"
Celestia stamped a hoof down. "You said that you never stopped loving me. Was that a lie?"
The umbrum's expression softened somewhat, clearly not expecting this inquiry. He contemplated this for a few minutes before replying, "It wasn't. I was being completely honest. I still love you, Celestia but I'm not in love with you. Things have changed between us."
"So," Celestia gulped, "You're moving on. Just like that?"
Sombra stared perplexingly at her. "Why not? You did. I was gone for a millennium and I know you've had several husbands and many children during that time."
"That was different!" Celestia roared. "I was lonely. Do you think I wanted to send you away, to just meet other stallions and love them, all the while remembering what I did to you?"
"I was lonely too," Sombra replied coolly. "What, did you think that'd I would just run back to you? I wanted a connection and I found it."
"With Twilight?" Celestia's rage vanished, replaced instead with hurt. "Why did you choose her?"
Taking a cue from her, Sombra calmly stared up at Celestia. "She talked to me. You never tried to ask questions or get to know me as I am. Twilight offered me what you never did: friendship."
Celestia hung her head low. "Sombra-..." She started, reaching a hoof out to him.
"It's over, Celestia. Our time is done. Accept it."
The offered hoof dropped uselessly to Celestia's side, her mind reeling from those nine simple yet destructive words. She sniffled as the tears started to streak down her alabaster face.
"So then, I cast a 'want it, need it' spell on Smarty Pants and gave him to the Cutie Mark Crusaders and they go crazy for it! I swear they were fighting over that doll like it was made of gold!"
Twilight lightly chuckled at the memory, wondering how it she'd ever thought that plan was a good idea. Sombra, on the other hoof, was emitting a full-on cackle, slapping a forehoof against one of his hocks. Instead of her usual place on the other side of the bars, Twilight was situated right across from Sombra on his cot, a plate of peanut butter crackers between them. Hearing the stallion's laughter was not only a pleasant sound given its rarity but was also reassuring for her. He'd been rather moody from what she'd heard and when she had entered the room, he went from gloomy to ecstatic in a millisecond.
She'd tried to ask about Sombra's recent melancholy demeanor, but the answers she received from her multiple sources was either vague or nonexistent. Princess Celestia merely stated that it was an "awkward situation" and that "things were said and done that couldn't be taken back". Something was wrong with the way the older alicorn said that to her but Twilight couldn't figure out why. Flash Sentry, meanwhile, could hardly meet her gaze, his cheeks the color of ripe tomatoes as he suggested that she ask Sombra. And that, ladies and gentlecolts, was easier said than done. Instead of a blunt question, she decided to ease him into it, hence the snacks and funny anecdotes.
Sombra wiped his eyes, his raucous laughter subsiding. "I swear, if I pulled off such a stunt when I was your age, they'd never let me out in the sunlight again. Quite the impressive feat, Twilight."
"Yeah, well, it was stupid at the time. Anyway, after some, he he, mishaps, Princess Celestia arrived and ended the spell. She told me to only send her a friendship report if I had something to share. To think that I'd been worrying about nothing!"
"You know, you could've just written to her explaining that you didn't have anything to report and request time to compose something." Sombra flashed her a smug, fang-exposing grin.
Twilight stared nonplussed at him. "Yes, that's a good idea," she said through gritted teeth, although she wasn't really angry with him and instead more miffed at herself for not thinking of that in the first place. Her slight annoyance dissipated once she reminded herself that she was on a private mission of sorts.
"Hey, um, Sombra?"
"Yes?"
"You've been very moody lately. Is everything alright?"
The room became deathly quiet. Sombra's eyes darted away and then stared back at Twilight.
"As it turns out, Celestia decided to reform Discord and now he's free to roam around and spread his chaos all willy-nilly," he spat, those crimson orbs aflame with anger. "'Equestria is a place of peace and understanding.' Lies, I tell you. Celestia can preach love and harmony all she wants but at the end of the dead, she's just a two-faced, hypocritical beldame."
Twilight was about to answer when Sombra continued. "And you knew. You aided in Discord's reformation."
She shrank beneath his gaze, ears folding back. "I...I did. Princess Celestia charged my friends and I with reforming Discord. I'm so sorry that I didn't tell you. I figured that you'd been through enough and I didn't want to upset you."
Unexpectantly, one of Sombra's forelegs brushed Twilight's cheek. It amazed her how gentle the large hoof as it stroked her flesh. Red eyes that were just burning were now tenderly fixed upon her.
"I understand, Twilight. I'm a little hurt that you didn't tell me but I know why you did it."
"So...you're not mad?"
"At you? No. Even if I was, I could never stay mad at you. You're only one of two individuals in this world that I care about."
Hearing that caused Twilight's cheeks to burn hot enough to toast marshmallows. She gazed thoughtfully at the stallion across from her. Since discussing their feelings for one another, nothing really changed, aside from Twilight spending more time inside the cell rather than outside of it. Sombra accepted hugs and the occasional nuzzle but about from this moment, he never initiated physical contact. He didn't even try to kiss her.
Taking the deepest breath that she'd ever mustered, Twilight murmured, "Um, Sombra? I was just wondering...why is it you're so distant with me?" Deciding her question was too vague, she added: "I noticed that we're effectively 'together' and yet, you've never tried to touch me, other than a hug or a cuddle. Did I do something wrong?"
Sombra blinked. "No, you did nothing wrong. It is just that this relationship is new and I didn't want to run the risk of making you feel uncomfortable by overstepping my boundaries."
Twilight cooed lightly as Sombra's other hoof took her own. He just wanted to assure her that despite their budding relationship, he would never do anything to her without her explicit consent. Whether it was from the sudden contact or his words, Twilight felt her heart stop, restart and thunder away in her chest all at the same time.
"Sombra?"
"Yes Twilight?"
"Will you...kiss me?"
The corners of the stallion's mouth tugged upward. "Of course."
Slowly, while keeping a hoof to Twilight's cheek, Sombra lowered his face to her own, their lips lightly brushing up against one another. Twilight released the breath she hadn't been realizing that she's been holding and pushed forward, deepening the kiss, her tongue flicking against a fang. This elicited a moan from the mare, her chest hitching with desire, both physical and emotional. Despite their numerous conversations, she wanted to know this stallion who she was locking lips with. Every pain, every joy, every moment both good and bad.
They finally pulled away and rested their foreheads against one another, their shared smiles bright and full of affection as they stared long and hard into each other's eyes. No words were needed. The message was clear: I'm yours.
~*~
The crystal ball shattered beneath a gold-slippered hoof. A small crackle of magical energy erupted from the broken scrying device and dissipated like smoke in the wind. Princess Celestia's chest heaved with pain, choking sobs welling deep within her as tears trickled down her cheeks. Wobbling on her legs, she collapsed to her belly and watched as the scene of the two lovers in a tender embrace before the image flickered away, leaving the crystal ball as a useless fragmented bauble. Bitter wails of heartbreak echoed through the Sun Princess' bedchambers but she was too lost in her agony to care. Curling into a ball, Celestia wept painful tears she'd not shed in centuries.
"It's over, Celestia. Our time is done. Accept it." "Celestia, the thing is, Sombra doesn't...he doesn't love you." "What, did you think that'd I would just run back to you?" "No, he's...in love with somepony else. I'm so sorry." "I was gone for a millennium and I know you've had several husbands and many children during that time."
Celestia pounded her temples in a vain attempt to dislodge the memories but it was no use. How could she be in any way be culpable for her actions? It wasn't her fault that she was lonely during Sombra's banishment. She was a mare, just like her subjects and as such, she had needs too, like love and companionship. So why does everypony forget that?
Her thoughts turned once more to her former paramour. How could Sombra be so cruel? Yes, she loved her husbands and children dearly and their deaths continued to weigh heavily on her soul. But in all that time, Celestia never expelled Sombra from her thoughts or her heart. He was her first love and the father of her eldest and still-living child. Did that mean nothing to him?!
"No, he's...in love with somepony else. I'm so sorry."
Celestia lifted her head off of the floor as a thought sprang forth.
Yes, that IS an issue but one that could be remedied...
She leapt to her hooves, backing away quickly as though recoiling from a nonexistent attacker.
She shook her head. No, I could never do that to Twilight! She's my pupil and like a daughter to me! It would break her heart.
Celestia stared down at the shards of the crystal ball.
Then again, wouldn't Sombra do that himself? If not now, then later. He will never change. Discord was like a cloud: formless, easily malleable and always on the move, never stopping. Sombra, on the other hoof, was a river: curving and bending but ultimately stuck to one path.
I could spare Twilight that pain.
Yes, she could protect her student from the inevitable heartbreak as well as ensure that she stayed on the course that was so meticulously laid out for her. If Twilight was one day going to take Celestia's place, then she would be far better off without somepony like Sombra as a consort. Besides, Sombra himself admitted to still loving Celestia. All it would take is something to remind him why.
"I'm not going to give up on you, my love. You will be mine again."
Ever since his return from death's domain, Sombra had been plagued by nightmares of his long-deceased adoptive sister, which came in the form of memories or phantasms involving her dying and blaming him for it. In his eyes, he deserved it and willingly suffered through them in some sort of an attempt at penance. For the first time in a long time, Sombra didn't dream about Garnet and for that, he was somewhat grateful. He was being summoned to the throne room of Canterlot Castle by the princess but when he arrived, it was Twilight seated atop the throne in place of either Celestia or Luna.
"Please, there's no need for that," Twilight giggled when Sombra bowed. She had grown taller, tall enough so that he only came up to her shoulder and become much more lithe as a result. Her usual purple and violet mane was now a glittering cascade of mist that flowed in a nonexistent breeze. She was beautiful before but now she was a goddess. "After all, you're my husband, are you not?"
"Husband?!" Sombra sputtered as Twilight slowly descended her throne, every movement precise and soundless, despite the golden slippers she wore on each hoof. Reaching up, the umbrum tapped something metal on the base of his horn and when he glanced down at the shimmering floor, he saw that it was indeed a gold wedding ring. He then realized that Twilight wore an identical one on her spike-like horn.
Twilight stopped before him and gently caressed one of his cheeks, inducing a slight shudder from him.
"Yes, mine and mine alone. Forever."
"Twilight..." His own hoof automatically extending to return the gesture. It stopped however, when a presence made itself known. He withdrew his hoof and rolled his eyes. "Couldn't stay away, could you?"
"My apologies," Princess Luna intoned with a slight bow of her head. Her eyes then briefly drifted past Sombra towards Dream-Twilight. "But despite my own interest in the subject, I wanted to speak with you."
Sombra smiled despite himself. "Believe it or not, it is good to see you again, Luna Dream-Walker."
A small grin appeared on Luna's lips. "Now that is a name that I've not heard in a long time, Sombra Darkhame." She then adopted a more serious expression. "I came here regarding my sister's current emotional state."
All mirth vanished from Sombra's face. "Don't tell me: Celestia came crying to you, didn't she?"
"Celestia locked herself in her chambers and refused to come out," Princess Luna replied icily. "When she finally let me in, she was bawling her eyes out and stuffing her face with cake. After an hour of listening to her sobbing and incoherent muttering, she told me that you completely shot down her offer of reconciliation."
Sombra rubbed his temples irritatingly. "First off, I'm with Twilight now, so getting back together with Celestia is not an option. Secondly, given our history together, it should come as no surprise that I'd be hesitant about rekindling our romance and thirdly, I was more than patient with her. Did she tell you that she came in my cell in the middle of the night, first to watch me sleep then demand that I take her back?"
Luna stared down at the floor, letting her body sag slightly as all aggression left her. "No, she was rather vague about the whole ordeal..."
"Well there you go!" Sombra threw up his forelegs in exasperation. "Celestia just needs to get over it. She was just fine without me for the last millennia. The rest of her life shouldn't be an issue."
Luna thought carefully on this point. "Still, as correct as you are, would it hurt if you said this to her, albeit more gently?"
Sombra cocked a brow at this. "'Gently'? Luna, she's over thirty-and-a-thousand years old. She doesn't need to have her hoof held; she needs a good smack of reality upside that thick skull of hers."
Shaking her head, the younger diarch stared at him. "Don't you see? If you want to get Celestia to cease her pursuit of you, harsh words won't win the day. You need to speak her from the heart."
"By the gods, you are naïve."
"And you are cynical."
"Of course I am," Sombra replied imperiously. "Have you not seen the state of the world we live in?"
Luna sighed. "I still don't know what young Twilight sees in you but clearly it is special."
Speaking of Twilight, Sombra was closely inspecting her dream doppelganger. Was this to be her future? He shuddered at the thought, though whether it was from excitement or dread, he couldn't tell. She was already a princess and Celestia's favored student. Knowing the elder alicorn as he did, Sombra suspected that Celestia had a much bigger goal in mind for Twilight Sparkle. Whatever Twilight's future, he only hoped that he'd be by her side to help her through it.
"I wish I knew too."
~*~
"Thanks for coming with me, Rarity," Twilight beamed as the pair trotted through the castle's corridors. As well-acquainted as they were with the interior, the architecture never ceased to amaze them. Canterlot Castle was originally a section of Aethera Palace, the center of power in Alicornia and the site of the greatest discoveries in early thaumaturgy. Shortly after the Doom of Alicornia, King Solaris had a legion of his most ardent followers transport the still-intact sections of the castle away from the island's ruins and place them in what would now be Canterlot. This way, the new home of the royal family would be a conglomeration of the tradition of their homeland and the customs to be made in Equestria.
"Think nothing of it, Darling," Rarity said with a dainty wave of her hoof. Her eyes scanned the stain-glass windows before she turned back to her comrade. "After all, isn't this what friends are for?"
"That's true...but you've never volunteered to come with me to visit Sombra before."
They rounded a corner and proceeded down the stairs leading to the castle's lower levels. Out of the corner of her eye, Twilight noticed Rarity shiver slightly at the name while maintaining her stride and dignified posture. It made sense as to why Rarity was still scared of Sombra seeing as how so far neither she nor Applejack and Rainbow Dash had yet to be in the same room as him.
"That I haven't," the white unicorn nodded, tossing her indigo mane with a flip that somehow didn't disrupt its pristine form. "Which is why I'm making up for it now. After all, I have a duty as a friend to get a proper feel for the scoundrel that stole my favorite princess' heart." She then added, "I just want to ensure that he hasn't ravaged you when you're both alone."
Twilight quirked an eyebrow. "You've been reading those romance novels again, aren't you? The ones where a young mare falls for a bad-colt with a tragic past and tries to mend his broken heart?"
Rarity looked away from her. "I've...maybe?"
Rubbing her temples, Twilight sighed, "Look, this isn't a romance novel. Sombra and I are a couple, yes, but that doesn't mean that he's going to completely abandon his entire identity for me. Life doesn't work-..."
She came to halt upon catching sight of a familiar pegasus guard.
"...-Like that."
Flash Sentry paused and cleared his throat. "Hi-hiya Twilight. Rarity."
"Hi Flash."
Noticing the lull in conversation, Rarity patted Twilight on the shoulder. "I'll...just go on ahead." She squeezed by the two and briefly looked back at them. It was sad how oblivious Twilight was to Flash's crystal clear infatuation with her, how he continued to pine after her even after being dumped and placed in the Friend Zone. Everypony agreed that Flash was perfect coltfriend and future husband material: kind, sweet, easy on the eyes and with a respectable and high-paying job.
Nevertheless, if the passion wasn't there, then why settle? Twilight clearly didn't reciprocate Flash's feelings and it seemed to Rarity that keeping the pegasus as a friend showed just how much the alicorn cared about him. And then there was Sombra...
Is that...music?
Magically pushing the door open, Rarity was met with the gentle tone of a piano, giving her momentary pause. Soothing melodies weren't something that she was expecting when it came to the infamous ex-tyrant but then again, she didn't know him on a personal level. She quickly took note of the gramophone and glanced at the record sleeve, which read: "Goldberg Variations, BWV 988~Johann Sebastian Buck."
At least he's a stallion of taste.
"Good evening, Miss Rarity."
Sombra sat on the edge of his cot facing her, a large black maroon-colored book with black accents cradled in his forelegs. The first thing that Rarity noticed were his scarlet eyes. While red wasn't an odd color amongst ponies-in fact, a resident of Ponyville named Vinyl Scratch had red eyes behind her ever-present sunglasses-it wasn't the color alone which unnerved her. They appeared to glow in the shade of the cell, burning with an inner fire that spoke of rage and passion. She gulped. Those eyes possessed all of the keenness of a predator. Does that make me the prey?
"...Good evening, King-...I mean, Sombra. What are you reading?"
"The Great Poetry of the Masters. I'm glad to see that some things have improved with time."
Sombra then closed his eyes and intoned:
"Oh, weep for Adonais--he is dead! Wake, melancholy Mother, wake and weep! Yet wherefore? Quench within their burning bed Thy fiery tears, and let thy loud heart keep Like his, a mute and uncomplaining sleep; For he is gone, where all things wise and fair Descend—oh, dream not that that amorous Deep Will yet restore him to the vital air; Death feeds on his mute voice, and laughs at our despair."
His eyelids slowly opened to reveal his scarlet eyes, which now shone like rubies as he turned his attention to the stunned mare in front of him. To say that Rarity was caught off guard would be an understatement. First the classical music and now poetry? Things were getting interesting.
"That was beautiful," Rarity admitted.
Sombra carefully placed the book behind him and, rising to his full height, strode right up to the bars.
"Thank you but they're not my words. Still, I have an appreciation for the written word."
"I can see that." Regaining control of her senses, Rarity stated, "I take it that's part of your seduction method? Reading poetry to young mares and bringing them to your bed?"
Sombra's smile faltered. "I understand. You came here to measure me, didn't you? After all, I am dating one of your best friends. You're worried about my intentions towards Twilight."
"Indeed I am," Rarity answered resolutely. "And given your past misdeeds, you can understand my concerns."
Sombra nodded and grinned, drawing Rarity's attention to his fangs. The prey aspect of her brain recognized them as dangerous and that she should flee. And yet, another part of her was...excited by the sight. Coupled with his predator's gaze, Rarity found herself feeling hot around the metaphorical collar.
"Naturally. You're suspicious of me. Then again, you can trust everything that I say...unless the truth-telling spell has been deactivated."
Rarity blanched. "How did you know that?!"
"I didn't. You just told me." When Rarity didn't answer, Sombra continued. "I had my suspicions. After all, if one were to interrogate me, they would naturally be skeptical of everything I say. Not that I blame them."
"They did use a truth-field spell on your cell and your temporary room," Rarity confirmed. "But Twilight took it down weeks ago. She said that she could trust you, seeing as how you never once tried to lie to her or anypony else for that matter."
Sombra nodded slightly and then appeared to ruminate on something.
"Rarity?" He asked in an oddly quiet and earnest tone. "I know you have every right to be mistrustful of me but please believe me when I say that I love Twilight and that I would never do anything to intentionally hurt her."
Inching herself a foot away from the bars, Rarity stared up into Sombra's face, looking for any signs of deceit. As a businessmare and socialite, she was fairly trained in observing and interpreting vocal inflections, facial features and body language. Liars and two-faced crooks always had a tell, whether it be a minute tic or quick darting of the eyes. The stallion in front of her, however, was either completely sincere or the greatest actor in all of Equestria.
"I believe you, Sombra. Just don't ever break her heart. If you do-..."
"Then you'll kill me?"
Rarity smirked, a dangerous little grin comprised of humor and ill-intent.
"I'm glad that we understand each other. Now then, let's discuss how you've been treating Twilight on your 'dates.' I just so happen to have a few pointers to make them even more romantic!"
Twilight watched Rarity trot away and instantly felt the anxiety creeping up her spine at the loss of her support system. As Flash was Sombra's new guard, she knew that there was a high probability of running into him, hence why she brought along a companion. Following their break-up, which was actually Twilight breaking up with Flash and relegating him to the role of male friend, she felt somewhat nervous around him but could still be in the same room with him no problem. Now that she was with Sombra, however, the situation had become very complicated indeed.
Turning her attention back towards Flash, Twilight noticed the pegasus had been staring intently at her while her attention was diverted and had snapped his eyes up to a spot behind her. Deciding to let this slide, she offered up a small smile, to which Flash returned the expression. Hopefully, things would get back to normal between us. Hopefully.
"How've you been Flash?"
"Oh, fine, good. You know, living," Flash chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "How-how about you?"
"Pretty good! My friends and I ended up getting stuck in a magic comic book."
Flash chuckled. "Somehow I knew you'd say something like that. You girls are always getting into weird adventures."
"I know! It's like we're weirdo-magnets or something."
"Comes with the Elements of Harmony job description, I think," Flash shrugged.
"Hmm-hmm. So how are things with Sombra going?"
The pegasus' face sagged, a clear indication of his feelings pertaining to the imprisoned umbrum. "Twilight, I know you want us to be buddies but it's just not going to happen."
"Flash-..."
"I'm serious, Twi. You really want me to befriend him?"
"I know it's a bit unorthodox but you really should give Sombra a chance," Twilight said gently.
Flash rubbed his nose and sighed. "Twilight, you're a smart mare and you can make your own decisions but you're making a mistake. I don't trust him and neither should you."
This wasn't how Twilight wanted this conversation to go. She knew that Flash would be hesitant and even a little wary of Sombra but given his kind heart, she thought he'd at least make some kind of an effort. He was amicable towards everypony so why did Sombra deserve his mistrust?
"You don't know him like I do."
"Don't be naïve!" Flash grabbed Twilight's forelegs. "He's just using you! King Sombra is a-..."
"Monster?" Twilight finished agitatedly. She wormed herself out of Flash's grip. "It's so easy to toss judgement around, isn't it? Especially when you don't know somepony and won't even try to."
"Have you forgotten who he is? What he's done?"
"No and neither has he!" Twilight's wings subconsciously shot out defensively. "Everypony is so quick to remind him of his past yet they give no thought to his future." She took a breath and allowed her wings to subside as she gazed at Flash with pleading eyes. "There's good in him. I've seen it."
Flash shook his head. "Whatever you think you've seen is fake. If he was ever good, it died a long time ago. Okay, maybe he isn't outwardly terrible but how do you know he isn't trying to fool everypony? If he had his magic back, I guarantee you that he'd find some way to break out and kill the princesses. I'm trying to protect you."
"I'M NOT YOURS TO PROTECT!" They both jumped at the sudden outburst but Twilight continued to stand her ground. "You're just jealous because Sombra is my special somepony instead of you!"
Flash was silent for a moment. "You...you know how I feel?"
Twilight gulped, suddenly feeling very dizzy. "I...I do. I thought that if I let you down easy then we could move past this and be friends." She then grew very angry. "But know I see you won't let either of us move on. I feel sorry for you."
"Twilight-..."
The purple mare refused to look at Flash as she stormed past him. She was mad at him for thinking that she belonged to him. She was mad at other ponies for assuming the worst about Sombra. She was mad at her friends for thinking that she was making a mistake. She was mad at Princess Celestia for lying to her. Most of all, she was just mad at how unfair life was.
When Twilight entered the dungeon, she was met with the sound of Johann Sebastian Buck and felt some of her angry slip away with the aid of a piano's dulcet tones. Rarity stood directly in front of Sombra and through the bars it was clear that they were involved in some sort of discussion. When she walked in, both stopped in mid-sentence to observe her. Well...at least they aren't trying to kill each other.
"Darling, how did your conversation with Flash Sentry go?"
Oh she had to bring HIM up. "Fine, just fine. What were you and Sombra talking about?"
Rarity smirked and briefly glanced over at Sombra, who rolled his eyes at her. "Oh, nothing of consequence. I was merely giving him some much needed advice. Oh my, I do believe it's time for me to go." She smiled at Sombra. "It was nice talking to you, Darling."
Sombra bowed his head slightly. "And you too, Miss Rarity."
Rarity giggled and gave Twilight a "See you later!" before trotting out the door, humming a song that seemed a little too metal for the dainty unicorn. Twilight stared after Rarity then cocked a brow at Sombra, who smiled mysteriously at her.
"What was all that about?"
"Rarity was just giving me dating tips." His smile gradually faded. "Are you alright?"
Twilight gave a rebarbative exhale and vanished in a raspberry flash, reappearing beside Sombra and falling into his forelegs. She buried her face into his chest and huffed in the scent of pine and old paper. It was a smell she'd never get tired off. Twilight peered up at Sombra.
"Flash told me that he doesn't think that you can change. He thinks you're a...monster."
Sombra pulled Twilight close and her heart fluttered when he kissed the top of her head.
"Do you think that I'm a monster?"
"No! You're not!" Twilight was aghast to even hear those words come out of his mouth.
Calmly, Sombra brushed her cheek with a hoof. "Then I don't care. Yours is the only opinion that matters to me."
His lips brushed against her own and Twilight welcomed the contact.
He's not perfect but he's no monster. I will help him return to the light. I swear it.
Dark waves smacked and rocked the Venture like a thousand claws, shaking the vessel as it cut through the sea towards a less-than-ideal destination. The ship's crew dashed to and fro across the deck, screaming orders and adjusting the rigging in order to maintain some sense of control in the dangerous squalls. Amidst the chaos, a single figure stood calmly at the bow, his blood-red cloak flapping around him like the wings of some great beast. His name was Sombra and the focus of his attention lay beyond a thin layer of mist. To everyone else on the Venture, their destination was a fool's errand but to Sombra, it was his destiny.
For three years, he'd traveled the world, searching and failing thus far for a proper teacher in the dark arts. Maleficium, as it was properly referred to as by academics, was a taboo study and thus most of its practitioners were either imprisoned and executed or forced to flee and hide in the most remote corners of the world. This, however, did not deter Sombra and his journey took him from Anugypt and Saddle Arabia to Abyssinia and the Far East. There were warlocks and witches to be sure, but none of them possessed the knowledge that Sombra desired, so he left them and continued his quest. At least it wasn't a complete waste, as he picked up various spells and charms for offensive and defensive magic.
Besides magic, Sombra also learned a variety of skills and trades that only ensured a steady stream of bits for food and travel but also to aid him in a deeper understanding of his own potential. In Japace, he studied metallurgy and the application of poisons and toxins such as curare and iocane powder and in Chineigh, acupuncture and techniques for pain tolerance. Saddle Arabian scholars instructed him in the ways of alchemy and chemistry while in Zebrica and Anugypt, he learned beast-taming and healing respectively. It wasn't until Sombra was staying in Englope when he'd heard rumors of a master sorcerer hiding out on the mysterious Black Skull Island, an area infamous for its barren landscape and site of a dark magic war that left its stain on the land ever since. "This," Sombra decided, "Is where I will find my teacher."
Sombra glided his hoof across the cover of the black book, the very same one that had reawakened his memories and transformed him back into his natural form. As it turned out, it was actually the Rödd skugga, a tome created by the greatest umbrum conjurers and thought to be lost during the Great War with the destruction of the umbrums. For whatever reason, King Carnelian kept it in the Forbidden Section of his library as opposed to destroying it, possibly due to his own curiosity. It was written in umbrumnese, a dialect no longer spoken and this gave Sombra an edge in translating its secrets.
He never heard the mysterious voice again. Perhaps it was the dark remnants of whoever created the book? He read that beings like eidolons and revenants existed so it was well within the realm of possibility. Although he could read the language and perform the spells, Sombra still needed a teacher to help him mold his magic into something lethal enough to take on the final five alicorns-Celestia, Luna, Concordia, Carnelian and Aquamarine-and bring Equestria out of the dark ages. If the rumors were true, then his long search was over and his revenge would finally be complete.
"Ye sure yer want er go ter Black Skull Islan’?" The captain was an old, shaggy-coated stallion from Sireland with a crooked muzzle. He shifted to Sombra's left and gazed out at the mist before them. "Thar’s nathin’ for yer dare but san’ an’ death."
"Then that's where I have to go," Sombra replied simply, growing irritated of the old fool's presence.
"Yer nu, if it wasn’t for de pay, oi never wud risk me ship or me cru ter brin’ yer dare," The captain muttered as a mountain came into view. "Oi ‘ope yer trip wus worth it, Mister Darkhame."
"So do I," Sombra whispered but the captain was already stumbling back to the stern by then.
~*~
Black Skull Island, despite its name, was neither black nor shaped like a skull as Sombra was quick to discover. The sand dominating its beaches was a dark gray with bits of black and any natural fauna was shriveled up and dead, as though the plants refused to live in such a place. It received its name from the aforementioned mountain, which was shaped like the fanged black skull of some leviathan. Other than a quick, "Gran’ luck ter yer, Sir!" nopony spoke to Sombra as his rowboat was lowered into the water; none of the crew were brave enough to bring his boat to shore, so it fell upon Sombra to enter the island alone. He was halfway to the beach when the Venture had turned around and vanished into the perpetual mist, not that he was surprised considering the superstitious nature of sailors as a whole.
The sand gave way to foul-smelling clay-like soil as Sombra trekked across the island, his eyes and ears ready to detect even the faintest trace of another living being. There was nothing: no wind, no chittering animals or even the call of birds. The entire island was like a giant cemetery except even cemeteries, ironically, had signs of life. He closed his eyes and allowed his horn to pulsate with a light black and purple glow. He could feel the dark magic around him, infecting every stone and contorted tree. It was a veritable nexus of dark magic and a chill crept down his spine at the sensation of so much evil. What could've possibly happened to create so much darkness? Not even the Umbrum-Draconequus War left beyond this big of a pocket of malice in its wake.
An hour of searching led him to the island's namesake as he arrived at the foot of the mountain, where the highest concentration of dark magic was gathered.
This is the place.
Sombra readjusted his saddlebags and trudged forward. He soon came across a series of artificial stars carved into the mountain and slowly followed them up, each step bringing him closer and closer to his destiny. His horn flared with activity as it caught traces of recently-used magic. He quickened his pace, breaking into an all-out gallop, running faster and farther than he'd ever ran. The stairs led to a large flat cliff where he spotted a lone stallion staring at him from the darkness of the mountain's shade, his brilliant gamboge eyes full of alertness as they narrowed at the newcomer.
Sombra approached the figure, only to have his fore and hind hooves trapped in place by a flickering sickly-yellow aura. As he pulled and struggled against his bonds, which appeared to sporadically vanish and reappear, the stallion stepped into the light, his face haggard and world-worn. His coat was a grayish aquamarine that was knotted and even missing in places and his shaggy snow-white mane and beard were kept long and streaked with dark gray patches. He was dressed in tattered white silk robes whose design and construction indicated that they'd once been worn in high social circles before being allowed to fall into permanent disrepair. What was most striking, however, was the gnarled, blackened horn that sat atop the crown of his head, resembling the burnt remains of a tree after a wildfire.
The stallion then spoke in a booming baritone:
"Who are you and why have you trespassed onto my island?"
Sombra stopped struggling. "I have heard tales of a dark sorcerer living on this isle. I wished to confirm this."
The old stallion cocked a busy eyebrow. "And why would you do this?"
In response, Sombra threw his hood back, revealing his face to the stallion. "My name is Sombra, last of the umbrums, and I wish to learn from you."
The aura sputtered and faded as the stallion slowly circled Sombra, regarding him with a mixture of shock and fascination. "An umbrum, you say? I thought they were all wiped out. I witnessed the demise of King Erebus and his followers myself."
Sombra noticed his white robes and the pieces fell into place. "You...you're Grimoire Incantatus, the teacher of Starswirl the Bearded. Grimoire the White."
The old stallion froze in mid-step, leaning on his black walking stick. "I was...a long time ago. I was the court magician and main advisor to King Solaris himself. That is, until my back-stabbing whelp of a pupil sold me out and had me banished from Equestria."
"Didn't you switch sides during the War?"
Grimoire nodded. "The umbrums had much to teach us, only Solaris was too much of a fool to see this. As a result, I was stripped of my title and tossed away after my former student did this." He tapped his horn for emphasis. "I've been living here ever since, waiting for a chance to take my vengeance upon the alicorns."
Sombra carefully approached him. "That is why I'm here. I want to avenge my kind but I need to grow stronger if I'm going to do this. Teach me your ways. I want to destroy the alicorns and everything they've built. I want them to suffer as I've suffered. Only then can my kin rest in peace."
Grimoire's brow furrowed deep in thought as he softly muttered to himself. Sombra noticed the madness in the old stallion's eyes, a kind of disturbed magnetism in their intensity. A great silence dominated the mountain and it was a few minutes later that the elder magician finally consented.
"Very well then. I will teach you the ways of maleficium. That is the way of it after all. A master and an apprentice. One to embody the power and the other to crave it. Follow me."
The two entered a large stone archway into the mountain, where an entire fortress had been carved into the stone. Giant pillars reached up to the high ceilings, which were all covered in letters from an alphabet that even Sombra couldn't identify. Great stone sconces clasping green flames littered the great hall and statues depicting enchanters of old stood like silent guards. It was unknown if this place existed before Grimoire's arrival and if it didn't, then it would've taken years, decades even, for this single old pony to create this place. Sombra was impressed either way. He noticed Grimoire magically wrenching the top off a barrel, the yellow glow waxing and waning as the old stallion violently ripped something out.
Sombra dropped his saddlebag to the floor and asked, "What is it that you have there?"
A large, crimson beetle was suspended in mid-air and kept at a safe distance as it irritatingly snapped its saw-toothed mandibles at the stallion. Grimoire turned his mad gaze towards Sombra.
"Do you know what this is?" He asked with a dark smirk.
Sombra shook his head. Grimoire floated the beetle out so that he could see it better. It possessed four legs, the first two of which ended in two, scythe-like appendages. A series of armor-like plates encompassed its thorax and several hooks ran along its sides.
"Think fast!"
Grimoire tossed the beetle at Sombra, who barely had enough time to dodge, allowing the beetle to cut his cheek with one of its thorax-hooks. Before Sombra had time to question Grimoire's actions, he heard a high-pitched, chattering-shriek and spun to evade the beetle, which was now whizzing through the air on blood-red wings. He shot at the beetle with a concussive blast but missed and rolled to avoid its scythe-like graspers. Grimoire chuckled amusingly.
"That, my young friend, is a berserker-beetle. Once it detects blood, it launches itself into a mindless fury and attacks its prey. I've heard that it can strip ponies to the bone in a matter of minutes."
Issuing another shriek, the berserker-beetle launched itself at Sombra, who rolled and fired off another magic blast, this time knocking the beetle out of the air. Just when Sombra thought that he'd won, the beetle recovered in mid-air and zoomed around him, grazing his foreleg with a grasper. At the smell of more blood, the berserker-beetle shrieked once again and zipped straight on towards Sombra. Now he was in a dilemma: either he reveal the full scope of his abilities or allow the beetle to cut away at him.
How can I convince Grimoire that I'm a novice if I don't use any spells? And I can't learn from him if I'm dead!
One look at Grimoire's sadistic grin and Sombra came upon a solution. He turned and ran, leading the beetle towards the old stallion. Once he was convinced that he had a clear shot, Sombra dropped and hit the beetle square in its underbelly, sending it careening towards Grimoire. The beetle struck him on the nose, scratching him with its thorax and eliciting another battle-shriek from the blood-hungry arthropod. Sombra couldn't help but grin at the sight of the old pony as he dipped and ducked the beetle's attacks before grasping it in a telekinetic hold and slamming it into a nearby wall until it was a pulpy mess.
Grimoire turned from the beetle's remains to assess Sombra.
"Clearly you need proper training but you have a good head on your shoulders. Well done. Your training starts tomorrow."
Twilight let out a soft moan and sighed, her entire body relaxed at the muscles went completely slack. She laid on her side and her body situated atop Sombra's, her head resting on his chest. Every slow breath was hers to savor, his every heartbeat a lulling melody in her ear. A gentle hoof caressed the back of Twilight's head, gently brushing through her mane with the delicateness of a glassmaker shaping a priceless vase. Words could not describe the state of sheer bliss she had entered.
"What was the happiest moment of your life?"
Sombra's gently-spoken query snapped Twilight out of her semi-sleeping state and back into full consciousness.
"Well, let me see. That would be...the day I earned my cutie mark."
"Do tell."
Twilight let out a soft chuckle. "When I was a filly, all I wanted was to attend Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and become the next Star Swirl the Bearded. I spent days, weeks even, studying in hopes of getting in. One day, my parents got a letter saying that I had been accepted for a chance to enter. All I had to do was pass the entrance exam: hatch a dragon's egg.
"I was so nervous and the judges were so...well, judgmental. I mean, that goes without saying, but they were really giving me the judging eyes. Anyway, I tried and despite my best efforts, nothing happened. My little heart broke. It looked like my biggest dream was slipping out of my grasp right in front of me."
The hoof continued its loving strokes. "So what happened?"
"I heard this loud bang and felt something, as though a surge of energy were coursing through me. It wasn't until years later that I learned that at that exact moment, Rainbow Dash was performing her first Sonic Rainboom. Suddenly, my horn ignited and the next thing I knew, I had hatched the dragon egg! But then my magic went haywire and..."
"And what?" Sombra asked, his voice full of intrigue.
"I, well...also levitated the judges, turned my parents into houseplants and transformed the baby dragon into a behemoth. The next thing I know, I'm glowing and spasming before Princess Celestia herself appears and everything goes back to normal. I was so embarrassed! I thought for sure she was going to scold me. Imagine my surprise when she told me that she wanted to train me as her own personal student! Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, lo and behold, I had earned my cutie mark!"
"That's amazing, Twilight. Truly. And what, may I ask, happened to that baby dragon?"
Twilight rolled her eyes. It was that same tone Sombra used when he was asking a question that he already knew the answer to. "Princess Celestia took custody of him and he later became my sort-of baby brother and assistant Spike."
A deep chuckle tickled her ear. "You two really are as thick as thieves. That was one of the best first-cutie-mark stories that I'd ever heard."
They slipped back into silence, a common occurrence when words ran their course but neither of them had a problem with that. Whether chatting the hours away discussing academics or simply enjoying each other's company, they were just fortunate to spend time together. A question formed in Twilight's inquisitive mind, one that she was afraid of voicing but was too curious to let go of. The seconds stretched on to minutes until finally, she couldn't take it anymore.
"Sombra? Could I ask you a personal question?"
Possibly picking up on her trepidation, Sombra laid a hoof on Twilight's back. "Yes, you may."
Twilight bit her lip. "It's something that I've been wondering for a while but only now did the question actually form. A-and you don't have to answer it if you don't want to. I don't want to bring back any bad memories or upset you. You know I don't want to make you uncomfortable or-..."
"Twilight, breathe. Now, calm down and ask it," Sombra said patiently.
Gulping in air, Twilight exhaled and steeled herself. "What...what was it like to die?"
Silence. The hoof on her head abruptly halted its ministrations. Twilight craned her neck to gaze up at Sombra, afraid that she'd offended him. Instead, his face took on the look of somepony caught deep in thought and figuring out how to phrase their explanation. Twilight sighed, exhaling relief but waiting with anticipation at the response. At least he wasn't upset with her.
Sombra started off slow, introspective even, as though he himself were discovering the answer alongside her. "It was like...imagine the worst pain that you've ever felt and then picture it happening in every part of your body all at once." His eyes stared off into space. "Burning agony, the kind of which that has your every muscle and nerve ending screaming all in the same instance. My flesh was cracking and splitting open, my bones breaking and my insides erupting like a volcano."
Twilight winced, the hairs of her neck standing at attention. The description alone make her feel sick to her stomach. She thought she'd gotten the scope of it but Sombra wasn't finished.
"And the moment came. As I started to explode, my first thought was, 'Thank Faust it's over.' But it wasn't. The pain was magnified as every last part of me was torn apart and cast to every direction of the winds. I watched myself being scattered across the Crystal Empire, felt the sensation of becoming shreds of crystalized flesh and raining down upon the snow. Then came the Void."
His grip tightened on Twilight's head and back, though not enough to cause her any discomfort.
"It was as if I were back in my prison beneath the ice only this time, it was different. Back then, I knew that I was without form but I still had some awareness of being me. After my death...do you remember the feeling of your hindleg falling asleep? I felt that everywhere. A numbness. Only my mind could move. I was beyond fear, hatred or even pain. I was nothing yet something, floating around between the lands of the living and the dead. Just...floating."
He sighed, his hooves relaxing and laying limp.
"Sorry if I upset you."
Twilight found her voice, albeit scratchy and barely perceptible.
"Don't be. I'm alright."
That was a lie; she was far from alright. Whatever atrocities Sombra had committed in the past were irrelevant. Nopony deserved what he'd gone through. Twilight wouldn't wish that fate upon any of her most hated enemies. The pain in his voice alone told the alicorn everything that she needed to hear.
"You know, Spike had nightmares for weeks. He hadn't meant for...what happened to you."
"I don't blame him. Not anymore. No child should have to endure such a sight."
"No indeed."
Silence found them once again as Sombra's hoof resumed its tender stroking.
"Twilight?"
She turned her head. "Yes, Sombra?"
The gaze that met her own was so tender that she felt her chest ache.
"Thank you. For listening."
Twilight smiled and pecked the tip of his nose.
"Anytime."
And then she added:
"What was your happiest moment?"
Sombra contemplated the out-of-left-field inquiry.
"When Garnet was born."
Twilight let the answer sink in. She then asked, "Whatever happened to her?"
Sombra blanched. "I'll tell you another time."
"Why not now?"
"Let it go, Twilight," Sombra replied a more forcefully, a bit of a growl creeping into his voice. Recognizing his tone, he then pleaded, "Please. Don't ask me again."
Sombra never begged so the sight was startling to say the least.
"I promise."
Content with her answer, Sombra wrapped Twilight tightly in his forelegs and pressed her against his chest. "Thank you. So much. I promise that one day I will tell you. Just not now."
Even with the loving promise and the close embrace, Twilight felt a chill run down her spine.
Princess Celestia had never felt so high-strung in a very long time. Everything had to be perfect. She had cleared out the grand ballroom, had the kitchen staff hard at work preparing the entrees and main course, selected an orchestra band for the entertainment and brought in Gustave Le Grand himself to bake and serve desert. After signing a non-disclosure agreement, of course. The less individuals that were privy to Sombra's existence the better. She didn't want a panic on her hooves.
After a long bath, during which she washed her mane twice and her body three times, Celestia employed the royal dressmaker to aid her in fitting into her gown. The dress was old fashioned but hopefully "retro" as the youth of today would call it. A high-collared piece of an iridescent blue-violet color with Columbia-blue accents, a plunging neckline, bodice, puffy shoulders and a silk train. Applying just the right amount of rouge, eyeshadow and lipstick, Celestia topped it all off with a tiara and a large bow on the back of her head. Her mane was kept in its natural pink form, cascading down her shoulders and back.
"You look magnificent, Your Majesty," the dressmaker nodded approvingly.
"Thank you, Chantilly Lace." I do look good, don't I?
An explosion of confetti nearly knocked both mares off their hooves as a parade of six-inch-tall Discords marched across the floor, all identically dressed in red and blue shakos and military vests, which would be amusing if the timing wasn't so off. He was a literal one-stallion band, music blaring from their impossibly-tiny instruments. Flag-spinners and gymnasts joined the glide-stepping bandmembers, who turned and began to encircle Celestia and Chantilly, forming a ring of blue and red. The ring then formed to create a solid mass, which promptly stood up to reveal a full-sized Discord in full band regalia. He swept off his shako hat and bowed.
"Thank you, thank you! Please, hold your applause!"
"What are you doing in here? Can't you see Her Highness is busy?!" Chantilly shrieked.
As much as she wanted to agree with the unicorn, Celestia knew that screaming at the draconequus wouldn't help the situation. "Chantilly, please. Discord, not that I don't appreciate it when you drop by...unannounced, but do you think you could, um, reschedule a meeting? I'm in the middle of something important."
With a snap, Discord was bare once more, his clothing teleported to...wherever he sent them.
"Oh really? Hmm." He leaned forward, carefully inspecting her. "Going with the au naturel look, I see. What's the occasion? It's not your birthday, as far as I know."
"I'm...preparing a special dinner for tonight. I have a guest."
A devilish grin adorned Discord's face. "It wouldn't happen to have anything to with a certain ex-king, would it?"
Celestia's blush said it all. "It-it may. Which is why I need you...elsewhere for this evening."
Discord frowned and crossed his arms. "Is that so? Well, what's in it for me?"
"Couldn't you do it for an old friend?"
"Hmmm." Discord tapped his chin with an eagle's talon. "How about...no?"
Celestia could feel her incredible patience wearing thin. She knew that she was in no position to stop him from turning the castle upside-down. Literally. She sighed, "What do you want?"
A large globe popped into existence and Discord coiled himself on top of it, his lips spreading into a calculated smirk. "I just need a teensy, little bit of Equestria to spread my chaos. For say, twenty-four hours?"
"Absolutely not!"
He shrugged, smacking the globe and watching it spin, causing his eyes to momentarily rotate in their sockets. "Then I guess I might as well make myself comfortable."
Celestia rubbed her brow with a wing. "Alright. You get to do whatever you want in Fillydelphia for fifteen hours."
"Twenty-four."
"Fifteen."
"Twenty."
"Twelve. And you don't have to turn everything back."
Discord eyed the outstretched hoof. "Deal!"
He gleefully shook the hoof with his lion's paw and disappeared in a cloud of sparkles.
"Your Majesty?" Chantilly stared wide-eyed at the princess. "Was that wise?"
"Don't worry, Chantilly. I have a plan. Now then, we have a dinner to prepare."
~*~
The chair creaked as Princess Celestia scooted it out slightly and draped one foreleg over the other. It had been the eighth time she'd repositioned her chair, desiring the ideal position to greet Sombra in. She frowned and unwrapped her forelegs, drawing them back until only the hooves were visible at the edge of the table. Glancing down from the corner of her eye, she noticed that her silverware weren't quite straight. Again. A golden corona enveloped the set and rearranged them so that the fork, spoon, and knife were carefully laid down onto a folded napkin.
Finally satisfied, Celestia smoothed out her gown and exhaled. She nodded towards the band and they readied themselves, no doubt wishing to bring their A-game in front of the princess. As the best orchestra in Equestria, they had nothing to worry but it was still flattering that they felt that they had to be perfect for her. Celestia gently smiled at the band and this helped to ease their worries. The gentle lulls of clarinets and bassoons started the piece and were joined by the dulcet plucking of a harp. This was Celestia's favorite melody by Tchaitrotsky and always made her spirit soar each and every time she heard it.
Just as the Prench horns began to lead the clarinets and basses, he entered the room, a dignified gait added to every step. Sombra's coat had been thoroughly washed, his mane shampooed and his curved horn waxed and polished to a glimmering shine. A royal blue cloak inlaid with silver hung from his shoulders and flowed behind him like ocean waves. The cloak was secured around his neck via a brooch housing a pear-shaped ruby, which aided in appearing to make his eyes glow even brighter in the light. In conclusion, Sombra was a stud.
Flash Sentry appeared shortly after him, his golden armor pristine and perfect as usual. He looked across the room at Celestia and his eyes widened, his jaw dropping slightly. Ever since his confession at that tea party, he started acting skittish towards Celestia, though she assured him that she was flattered and didn't think any less of him. Regaining a look of professional stoicism, he pulled out a chair for Sombra, who murmured a thanks and took his seat. Both stallions now peered at Celestia.
"Your mane isn't enchanted," Sombra noted.
"I decided to try something different!" Celestia grinned, though all Sombra could do was cock an eyebrow. "I see you've been putting the gym equipment to good use."
In place of the pole, Celestia instead relegated an empty dungeon cell into a workout area for Sombra, using old and donated weights, dumbbells, and even a rowing machine for his usage. And my oh my, had he been using it. The umbrum had, frankly speaking, become rather skinny over the past few months but now he was regaining the muscle mass that he'd lost. Sombra shrugged and Celestia could see the taut muscles underneath his skin. It looked like dinner and a show.
"I have been, yes." He took notice of the music and perked up. "Beautiful. Simply beautiful."
"Isn't it?" Celestia giggled. "The best orchestra in Equestria. It's a personal favorite of mine."
"I don't blame you," Sombra nodded and closed his eyes, swaying his head along to the music.
Even though he had yet to compliment her on her mane or dress, Celestia was nevertheless happy that he was acting somewhat cordial with her. True, he sounded bored but it was better than angry. Two kitchen staff, an earth pony stallion and a unicorn mare, appeared and made their way to the table, each of them wheeling in a covered cart. Celestia clapped giddily.
"The first entrée!"
The unicorn mare magically deposited a silver cloche and tray in front of Sombra and levitated the cloche off, revealing a steaming bowl filled with soup. "For the gentlecolt, fresh-made potato and radish soup with a sprinkling of salt and parsley."
"It's your favorite!" Celestia squealed as the earth pony stallion removed the cloche in front of her.
"For Her Majesty, salted cucumber soup and garlic bread."
"Well done! It looks amazing!"
Sombra sniffed the soup and concentrated for a moment before groaning and grasping a nearby spoon, having evidently forgotten for a brief moment that he was powerless. Tasting the soup, he nodded and helped himself to another serving. Celestia, meanwhile, barely touched her meal, delighting in watching the stallion as he silently enjoyed his soup. She actually had to stifle a giggle so it wouldn't be misinterpreted as mocking. Around them, the music continued playing.
By the time the actually meal was served, lasagna with a serving of cauliflower curry, the orchestra was midway through another song and Sombra chose now to speak up.
"You there! As much as it pains me, stop the music!"
The members of the orchestra gradually slowed to a halt, confusingly chattering amongst themselves.
"Sombra, what's wrong?"
He stared at Celestia. "Don't think I'm unaware of what it is that you're doing."
"I don't know-..."
"Oh stop it! The food, the music, the fact that you're wearing your mane down. And that dress!"
Celestia peered down at her garment. "What about my dress?"
"It's the same as the one you wore during our first dance!"
"You...remember?"
Sombra rubbed at his temples and groaned in frustration. "I have a perfect memory but then again, you were counting on that. You were hoping that I'd remember and that would get me nostalgic and send me crawling back to you."
Celestia could feel herself losing control of the situation. "I...yes, alright, I did. But Sombra-..."
"I already told you that I'm not interested in rekindling a romance with you."
The heat appeared to have gone up and Celestia began to fan herself. The room was beginning to spin and her heart was pounding in her ears. She could distantly hear Sombra pushing his chair back and beginning to walk away. No, he couldn't leave yet!
"Is it because I'm older?"
Rejoined by Flash Sentry, Sombra had almost made it halfway to the door and both stallions froze in place, albeit for different reasons. Sombra turned.
"I know I'm not young and beautiful like Twilight but you try going a thousand years without earning at least one crow's foot!"
To everyone's shock, laughter rang out in the ballroom. It started off low before building to a crescendo of deep, gut-bursting chortling. When he finally finished, Sombra shook his head.
"I get it now. You're not in love with who I am now. You're in love with who I was then. You're going through a post-millennium mid-life crisis!"
Celestia leapt to her hooves. "Don't you dare laugh at me!" She roared.
"Why not? It's so pathetic that it's actually funny."
And with that, he shoved the double doors open and left. Flash threw an apologetic glance at Celestia and followed him out. The orchestra and servants all turned anxiously towards Celestia. She stood petrified, her body shaking and tears streaking down her alabaster cheeks, creating a trail of smeared makeup.
Without warning, she let loose a deafening wail of sorrow that rivaled the Royal Canterlot Voice and teleported out of the room, searing the floor where she once stood.
Ignoring the pegasus, Sombra cantered on ahead, drawing nervous glances from every guard he strolled past. Spears rattled in high-strung hooves, ready to be released at the slightest hint of aggressive movement from the prisoner.
"I said, 'Wait!'"
Sombra came to a halt and spun to face Flash Sentry.
"What?"
"That was uncalled for," Flash admonished. "What gives you the right to speak to her like that?"
He stiffened as the umbrum advanced on him, his muscles tightening as Sombra loomed directly over him.
"Mind your own business, Private."
"The happiness of the princess is my business," Flash countered.
Sombra drew back and snorted. "Who are you trying to fool? You want me to get back with Celestia just so that you can have Twilight all to yourself."
All color drained from Flash's face. "That's not...I mean..." He shook his head and growled, "Don't you try to take the high road with me, King Sombra! You may have everypony else fooled with your 'good colt' act but I know the truth!"
"I never claimed to be good. I told everypony from the start that I'm not good yet they try their hardest to believe otherwise. Twilight, Luna, that beldame back there. I'm still going to get out of here eventually and when I do, I'm going to crush Princess Celestia into the dirt while her subjects watch."
Flash's mouth was agape. "You...you're a monster..."
Sombra grinned. "Here's the difference between us: I am who I've always been. I never try to be anypony else and I make my intentions very clear. You're too scared to admit what it is you truly want."
Bestowing one more threatening glance upon the bewildered pegasus, Sombra turned and resumed his march back towards the dungeon, content in having put the guard in his place.
Flash, meanwhile, remained where he was, ruminating on Sombra's parting words. It was true that Sombra's behavior was pretty consist across the board, never acting as though he were somepony else. He never feigned geniality nor meekness, always maintaining an air of hostility towards those around him. Twilight was the rare exception and that was only after she was patient and earned the dark stallion's trust. It was hard to really get a reading on Sombra.
And, he had to admit to himself, Princess Celestia is a bit fixated on Sombra...
Something loud and booming smashed through Flash's thoughts like a wrecking ball. It was the haunting, thunderous screech of a creature either dying or in extreme agony. The thundering of hooves sounded in his ears before he was almost run down by a fleeing group of ponies that he recognized as the orchestra band. His fellow guards charged full-speed towards the opposite way and a weight appeared in his chest as the realization dawned on him.
The princess!
He smelled the smoke before he saw it, a curling tail of black gas seeping out of the open doors of the ballroom. Shouldering his way past a sea of golden armor, Flash stumbled forward and was immobilized by the scene taking place before him. Kitchen staff were running back and forth dumping water on the burning velvet curtains. Freeing himself of astonishment, he took to the air, directing the attention of the other guards.
"Unicorns, use enchanted barriers to prevent the spread of fire. Earth ponies, escort the staff out and Pegasi, find the nearest source of water to put out the blaze. Go, go, go!"
To their credit, the royal guards quickly sprang into action. Auras of blue, gold, mauve and violet wrapped the flames inside of bubbles, isolating them and cutting off their source of oxygen. The kitchen staff and other servants were pulled away from the conflagration, a few of them passed out from smoke inhalation. Meanwhile, the pegasi were passing buckets, bowls, cups and pots of water back and forth between each other. Slowly, the flames began to sputter and die out. Only after the room was fire-free could everypony calm down and assess the damage.
The far end of the table had been charred and a chair had been reduced to smoldering rubble. The nearby curtains were practically incinerated, a wall had been stripped down to the foundation and a section of the marble floor was blackened with flame and ash. Despite this, Flash concluded that only a small portion of the ballroom had been affected and it would only take maybe a day or two to repair the damage. All in all, the situation could've been much worse.
But how did this start?
He soon found an earth pony sitting against a wall with his head in his hooves and recognized him as a server.
"Excuse me, but could you tell me what happened here?"
The stallion looked up at him, fear dominating his eyes.
"P-princess Celestia...it was after that stallion left. You know, the gray one? She stood there, not saying anything before letting loose this...awful noise. She teleported away in this ball of fire and, well..."
Flash nodded, now understanding the full picture. It was the area around Celestia's side of the table where the damage was. He guessed that she left in an angry and humiliated huff and her solar-based teleportation field accidentally set fire to the chair, table and curtains.
Sombra's words must've really affected her if her magic got this out of control. A conjurer's magic is tied to their emotions, after all.
~*~
With a groan, Sombra stretched out on his cot and wrapped himself up in a blanket. The guards outside were helpful enough to lock him back in and for once, he was happy to be back in his cell. After the abysmal dinner and the confrontation with Flash, all he wanted was to relax and get some sleep. Who knew dealing with both their crazy ex-wife and possible romantic rival could be so exhausting? Sombra moaned and rolled onto his side, ready to be taken away to the Dreamscape.
Unfortunately, as hard as he tried, sleep continued to elude Sombra. First he tried more blankets then less blankets then fluffed and turned over his pillow. He positioned himself on his side, stomach and back but none of that brought him even a wink of shuteye. Reading a book on the history of pre-Equestrian thaumatological practices failed so he paced around his cell before flopping back onto the cot. Why couldn't he sleep?!
Sparks zipped and popped before a burst of gold energy exploded, slamming him against the wall. When Sombra opened his eyes, he found Princess Celestia herself, albeit looking worse than he'd ever seen her. Her dress was torn and even singed in several places and her mane, which was still in its pink form, was bedraggled and knotted. She took a huge gulp out of a wine bottle and sway-stumbled from side to side.
Guðir mínir, she's drunk!
"I have...I have words! For you," Celestia shout-mumbled, her pink eyes unfocused. She stepped forward and knocked over a stool with her hindleg. "Curses!"
Sombra sat up. "Celestia...what are you doing?"
"I told youse...words! I have a lot to say to you."
The wine bottle tumbled from her telekinetic grip, bounced and then shattered, spilling the remainder of its contents. She bobbed her head downward and sniffled at the aftermath.
"Why? It's such a waste!"
"I can't do this," Sombra muttered. "Talk to me in the morning when you sober up."
Celestia slammed a fiery hoof onto the floor.
"WE'RE TALKING NOW!" She bellowed in the Royal Canterlot Voice.
"Or, we could talk now."
This seemed to placate the mare. For now.
"Good. Now Sombra, you were very, very, very, veeeeery mean to me earlier. I do nice things for you. I made you a personal gym, I order you food, I even let you send letters to our daughter." She paused to contain a burp. "I even invite you to dinner and get all dressed up and looking pretty for you...and you never even say, 'Thank you.' Do you know how that makes me feel?"
Sombra raised a foreleg. "I'm going to say 'terrible'?"
"Yes! Terri-ble! Terri...turra...really bad!" Celestia slammed her large backside onto the floor and pouted. "I do so much for you. And you...you don't notice. You don't care!"
This is getting ridiculous.
Sombra then replied in his most gentle voice, "Celestia, didn't you ever think that because you make my imprisonment better, it only helps to remind me that I'm imprisoned?"
Celestia stared blankly at him. "I could make it worse, you know. I could take away your privileges. No more nice meals; just flavorless gruel. You'd never be allowed to exercise again. You can just stay in your cell and slowly grow too weak to stand. Your little visits from Twilight? Gone. You'd never see another face as long as you lived. And Cadence? She'd never hear or see another word from you again."
At the risk of his very existence, Sombra rose and glared down at the seated alicorn.
"Then you'd just be proving that you are far worse than me. That you, Princess Celestia, are truly Equestria's greatest villain."
In a moment of lucidity, his "guest" was back on her hooves, towering above him like some ancient monolith. Celestia's mane had erupted into a crackling stream of fire, her outspread wings dripping embers. Black-slitted, orange eyes blazed with fury and seeped smoke as the Princess of the Day revealed her true face. Not the all-seeing goddess or the benevolent mother but a false deity that believed her own legends. This was the true Celestia.
"WHO HAS DEFENDED EQUESTRIA TIME AND AGAIN FOR OVER A THOUSAND YEARS? WHO USHERED IN AN AGE OF PEACE AND PROSPERITY? WHO DO THE PONIES PRAY TO EVERY DAY FOR SAFETY FROM THE FORCES OF EVIL? WHO-...?"
"...-Is acting exactly like Nightmare Moon?"
Celestia's eyes widened at the revelation, regaining their pink hue.
"Luna was possessed by a dark force beyond her control. What is your excuse?"
The fire crackled and fizzed out, converting once more into tresses of pink locks. Ivory wings folded up as Celestia sank once more to the floor, shame engulfing her sagging features. For once, she resembled an old mare, weighed down by the stresses and trials of a very long life. Was this what it took to rule this land? For centuries, she watched over Equestria alone, with no proper guidance or aid. In that moment, Sombra pitied her.
"I'm so ashamed," Celestia wept, tears continuously flowing down her face.
Sombra said nothing, allowing her to bask in her own hubris. Minutes sped by before the mare addressed him again, her intonation like that of a scolded child:
"Do you hate me?"
Sombra exhaled through his nostrils and carefully inspected the whimpering, blubbering mess before him.
"No, I don't. I hate what you've done, what you continue to do. But I don't hate you, Celestia."
Wiping her nose with a wing, she sniffled, "Then, do you think that we could ever be friends?"
"Yes," Sombra lied and then followed it up with a half-truth. "You and I are done as lovers. We're not the same ponies as we were so long ago. Time and experience has changed us both and I don't share the same feelings for you that I once did. But yes, it's possible we could be friends one day."
Celestia then beamed at him and it was almost enough to melt his heart.
"Thank you, Sombra. I'll admit, I still have feelings for you but I don't think it's love. I do want a relationship of some kind though."
"Same here. Will you be alright with Twilight and I?"
Celestia's brow furrowed and she glanced down at her hooves.
"Um, it's still strange for me and could take getting used to. I think, that maybe, I am. Twilight is like a daughter to me. Just promise me that you'll treat her right."
A genuine smile appeared and Sombra nodded. "I promise." He then hesitated before adding, "And just so you know, I don't think that you're old or ugly." That was the second truth he told in that instant.
The alicorn's cheeks heated up. "Thank you. Thank you so much." She rose onto her wobbling legs and lurched to the left. "I'll have to say goodnight now. I think I'm going to throw up!" A flash of gold and she was gone once more.
Sombra groaned and crumpled onto his cot.
"That was illuminating."
He then fell asleep right away and dreamt of nothing.
Blinding rays of sunlight smacked Princess Celestia in the face, forcing her eyelids shut as she grumblingly rolled away from the offending solar beams, inadvertently causing her to tumble off of the bed and smack-dab right onto the floor. Slowly lifting her chin off of the floor, Celestia winced and raised a hoof to her aching skull. How much had she drunken last night? She spied a pile of empty wine bottles tucked away in the corner.
Okay, that is the last time that I drink that much.
Due to her alicorn physiology, Celestia's metabolism worked at a much higher rate and thus she was capable of imbibing much more alcohol than your average pony. The downside, however, was that this meant that the higher alcohol content eventually results in a much more intense hangover. Celestia belched and held her stomach as she sat up.
I haven't gone on a bender like that since I was eighteen.
Before she could stop herself, a spew of red and greenish-brown vomit erupted from her mouth, soaking her expensive Foledo carpeting. She smacked her lips and then peered at the orange lumps.
"When did I eat carrots?"
She yelped and gripped her head at the thudding at her bedroom door.
"It's open!"
A blue head poked in. "Are you alright, Sister?" The door widened, revealing Princess Luna with a tray of food clutched in her magic. "I brought sustenance."
"Thank y-..." Celestia bolted upright, aggravating her stomach. "I forgot to raise the sun!"
Luna placed the tray on a nearby writing desk. "Calm down, Tia. I already took care of that."
"Oh. Thank you." Dragging herself into a chair, Celestia took a sip of coffee and gulped. "Oh, that hits the spot!" She then noticed Luna staring at her queerly. "What is it?"
"How much do you remember about last night?"
Celestia cut into her scrambled eggs and shoveled it into her mouth. "Not a whole lot, to be honest."
"I see. To get you up to speed, you set fire to the ballroom, sent the staff into a panicked frenzy and according to Sombra, you appeared in his cell, drunk off your behind and proceeded to threaten him."
The fork clattered onto the plate. Celestia stared up at her incredulously. "I...I did what?"
Luna nodded. "You told Sombra you would take away all of his privileges and leave him to rot alone." She then smiled. "He also said that you two were able to put your differences aside and decided to at least try to become friends."
Warmth burrowed into Celestia's heart at those words and snippets of last night came into focus. She vaguely remembered talking to Sombra-well, shouting-and turning into a blubbering mess.
Oh my Goddess, I burst into flames! How could I be so foolish?
If there was ever a time when she'd acted so disgracefully, last night certainly beat it in terms of magnitude.
She buried her face into her hooves and mumbled, "I was so awful! What should I do now?"
Gently, Luna wrapped a wing around Celestia and lifted her chin up with a hoof. She flashed her a warm, sisterly grin. "Now, you make this right."
~*~
Twilight placed the letter back in her saddle bag, having re-read it twice at home, three times on the train and once more for luck as she entered the castle's grounds. Receiving mail from Princess Luna was, in and of itself, a rare treat but the news that it conveyed was as unbelievable as it was head-tilting. Princess Celestia, the matriarch of Equestria and Twilight's personal teacher, friend and mentor, had set a portion of the ballroom on fire, gotten drunker than a sailor at a bachelor party, and made threats against Sombra's life. It was so out-of-place for the Princess of the Sun that Twilight originally thought it to be a joke.
It was well-known that the Royal Sisters often engaged in prank wars with each other. Shortly after her return, Princess Luna dumped a bunch of star-spiders on Princess Celestia while she was taking a bath. Even though star-spiders are a non-poisonous and actually passive species of arachnid, Celestia hadn't taken well to the joke and in retaliation, sprayed Luna with a temporary de-aging potion while she was sleeping. When Luna awoke, she was a five-year-old filly again and had to spend the next few hours struggling to reach doorknobs and dealing with the raucous laughter of the royal guards. Many ponies had their pay docked once she was full-grown again.
No, even with their shenanigans, neither one of them would go this far. If something was seriously wrong with one sister, the other treated it with the severity that it deserved. Twilight wanted to do everything in her power to help her mentor, even something as mundane as giving her a hug. Plus, she could spend time with Sombra, so it was a two-for-one kind of trip. "You always have to take the positive with the negative," her mother always told her.
Twilight swept a loose feather from her shoulder and made sure she was presentable before knocking on the bedroom door. A blue aura encompassed the door and pulled it open, revealing Princess Luna.
"Hello Twilight. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
"Of course, Princess. How can I help you?"
Looking both ways, Luna ushered Twilight inside, closing and locking the door behind her. Princess Celestia sat on her bed, her eyes red and teary, as if she had a terrible night sleeping. Treating this like any other visit, Twilight grinned at her, making it one of friendliness and reassurance.
"Good afternoon, Princess Celestia! How are you?"
"A little sick but otherwise alright," Celestia replied somewhat sadly. "Luna told me to expect you."
Luna nodded and explained, "Last night, Celestia was...not herself. She did and said things she deeply regrets. There's something that she'd like to talk to you about." From both her voice and her expression, this was an order and not a suggestion.
Celestia glanced at Twilight sheepishly, tapping the tips of her front hooves together with trepidation. The normally poised and serene mare was now reduced to a filly sitting in the principal's office. She cleared her throat and began softly, "Twilight, the truth of the matter is...I still might be in love with...Sombra."
Twilight's ears flipped upward. "Really?! I thought Sombra was exaggerating!"
Celestia cringed slightly. "You must understand, he-he was my first everything: my first love, my first husband, the first stallion that I conceived a foal with. Feelings like that...they're not something that just goes away. And having him here just makes them stronger."
Twilight glanced downward. "Are you...not okay with Sombra and I being together?"
"What? No, no, no!" Celestia waved her hooves in front of her. "It's not like that! I'm happy for you both. I just-..."
"You just...?" Luna prodded.
Heaving a sigh, Celestia gulped and stared at Twilight. "Could you let me kiss Sombra? One last time?"
Luna placed a wing on Celestia's shoulder. "I think what my sister is so indelicately trying to say is she is unsure of her feelings and this unresolved tension might shed light on that."
This wasn't what Twilight pictured when she hopped on the train that morning. First, her teacher and mother-figure had feelings for her coltfriend. Now that same mare wants to kiss him? Twilight's head was spinning.
Are relationships supposed to be this complicated?
"Well?"
Twilight met Celestia's gaze of uncertainty. It was as though their roles were reversed; Celestia was a young mare in need of a guidance and Twilight the teacher aiding her in finding answers. Twilight loved Princess Celestia and would do anything to help her but allowing her to kiss her coltfriend? A surge of jealously wound its way through the young alicorn. A part of her felt threatened by Celestia, envious even. She was the co-ruler of all of Equestria, a mare worshiped by her subjects and even desired for her beauty. She was tall and lean while Twilight was short and pudgy. And yet...
Sombra loves me....
That single thought warmed Twilight's heart and her self-doubt instantly vanished.
"Let's give it a try."
~*~
Sombra finished the last page and closed the book, setting it aside as he rubbed at his eyes. He'd spent the few hours finishing Daring Do and the Abyss of Despair, which was an improvement over its predecessors, in both storytelling and writing. Despite its amateurish storytelling and simplistic plots, Sombra thought that it was a good series overall, making up for its shortcomings with interesting locations, interesting facts about archaeology and history and realistic characters. If Twilight was here, she would no doubt chat his ear off about the amazing prose of the novels or the research that went into their creation. Sighing wistfully, Sombra laid back on his cot, his thoughts consumed by violet eyes.
The squeak of the dungeon's front door caught his attention. Instinctively, the umbrum leapt up onto his cot in a defensive stance, only to relaxing slightly at the sight of Twilight accompanied by Celestia and Luna. His gaze went from one mare to the next, detecting the uneasiness on the trio's faces. Twilight's lips were tightly pressed together and her eyes flickered from Sombra and Celestia. Meanwhile, Luna led Celestia by the wing like a foal, the latter's movements stiff and heavy-hoofed.
"Twilight...what's going on?"
His marefriend drew little figure-eights on the floor. "Sombra, the thing is...well..." She sucked in air and blurted out, "YouneedtokissPrincessCelestia!"
Sombra blinked and dug a hoof in one ear. "Forgive me, but something is wrong with my hearing. It sounded like you wanted me to actually kiss Celestia."
Luna rolled her eyes. "That's exactly what she said."
Celestia lifted her head. "I know we're trying to go the friend route, but I just need to be sure."
Sombra looked to Twilight. "Is this what you want?"
A nervous giggle escaped Twilight's lips before she cleared her throat, her face taking on a more serious expression. "Celestia thinks that this will either confirm or deny her feelings for you. If it means helping out a friend, then I'll do what I can."
This was...unexpected to say the least. Sombra pondered on this dilemma. If he kissed Celestia and she didn't like it, then this would get her off his back and she could focus on something other than him. If she did like it, that meant she would continue to be obsessed with him and lead her to abandon her duties.
No matter the outcome, I still win.
"Fine."
All three mares collectively gasped.
"A-are you sure?" Twilight nervously asked. "You don't have to."
Sombra fixed her with an adoring grin. "I know and I swear, nothing will change between you and I."
Shaking off her bewilderment, Celestia shrugged off Luna's wing and stood proudly albeit still visibly nervous. "Alright then. Ahem, let's get this over with." She gradually approached the bars, indecisive weighing down every step. Soon, she stood but a foot away from Sombra, her perfume wafting into his nostrils.
Rolling his eyes, Sombra stuck his muzzle through the bars.
"Well, what are you waiting for?"
Celestia stared down at his lips with the trepidation of a first-time snake wrangler, her chest heaving with every breath. Her wings twitched at her sides and her nostrils flared almost angrily, as if attempting to ward off a bad odor. Slowly, she descended and her lips met his own. Her lips were still warm and the taste of vanilla and almonds persistently lingered. Neither the taste nor the technique were bad but it wasn't heart-stopping like it was with Twilight.
They broke the kiss and Celestia hummed, smacking her lips as if to retain the flavor. She mulled it over for a full minute before shaking her head. "It was good...but I didn't feel anything."
"Neither did I," Sombra freely admitted. "So is everything okay then?"
"Indeed it is."
"Yes!" Everypony looked at Twilight, who stopped mid-hoof pump. "What?"
Luna shook her head bemusingly. "You are just too amusing, Twilight Sparkle."
Sombra grinned at his marefriend. "Yes, she is. Now get over here. I need a real kiss."
Twilight, it seems, was all too eager to comply, charging at him and mashing their mouths together. She moaned as she savored the taste and feel, her wings flapping to keep the two at eye level. For Sombra, he was expressing absolute bliss, wrapping his forelegs around the mare and pressing her against the bars. It was in this moment that he truly loved her. And he realized that it would be his undoing.
Fluttershy was not what you would call "the spontaneous type." True, she was fine with going with the flow, especially when it came to what her friends were doing. Other than that, she preferred to play it safe, doing what she knew. Today, however, she felt a compulsion to buy a ticket to Canterlot, hop the Friendship Express, and enter the castle with a single goal in mind: talk to King Sombra. With the princesses' permission, of course. She only hoped that Sombra was in a talkative mood.
The trip to the dungeon was a nerve-wracking one and it wasn't just because of the dark hallways, low, torch-lit corridors or cobwebs. The last time that she'd seen Sombra was at the party she helped to set up for him and she barely spoke to the stallion, just introducing herself and purposefully keeping her distance while he danced with Twilight. Or rather, while he danced and Twilight flailed about like a fish out of water. Seeing Twilight dance always put Fluttershy at ease but what really solidified her growing acceptance for Twilight and Sombra's relationship was the sight of the two slow dancing through the bars of Sombra's cell, the way they became lost in the other's eyes. Even though Fluttershy was a novice when it came to romance, she knew true love when she saw it.
Flash Sentry stopped before a large Oakwood door. "He's a difficult one so don't hesitate to call if you need anything."
Ignoring the obvious contempt in his voice, Fluttershy smiled, "Thank you very much."
Taking a deep breath, she silenced the butterflies in her stomach and slipped past the door. The dungeon was much the same as she last saw it sans decorations. Other than the gramophone and a short stack of records, the room was spartan and well-swept, leaving far too much empty space. The cell itself contained a desk and chair, books, a sink, toilet, sleeping cot and a collection of coal drawings on the walls. What captured her attention, however, was the stallion seated on the floor, a book laying open in front of him. Noticing the new company, he promptly closed it and glanced up at her.
"Hello Fluttershy."
If the yellow pegasus were to be honest, Sombra was quite intimidating as far as looks went. He easily towered over the average-sized pony and the red, curved horn on his head resembled a viper's fang. His crimson eyes glinted in the artificial light and while she found them frightening at first, upon closer inspection, discovered that they were actually kind of pretty. He was rather like a bear or a bat in that, on first glance, they were scary but a good eye revealed that there was more to them than how they looked.
The umbrum's mouth opened in a toothy grin. "Thank you and you look lovely yourself."
"You're too kind," she answered bashfully, briefly hiding behind her mane. She then remembered the basket she'd brought and pulled out a vase of water lilies. "Here. I thought the room could use some color." Setting it down, she then carefully placed a wrapped bundle in front of the cell. "I also brought some oatmeal cookies. They're my favorite."
Gingerly, Sombra picked up the bundle and unwrapped it. He popped a cookie into his mouth and let out an appreciative grunt. "They're very good. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The dungeon then fell very quiet, the only sounds being the crunch of the cookies and the thundering of Fluttershy's heart in her ears. After a few minutes, Sombra mercifully broke the silence:
"You're very brave, you know."
Fluttershy's jaw dropped slightly. "No, I'm not brave."
Sombra leaned forward. "Are you afraid of me?"
"...Yes. A little."
"And yet, here you are. You came alone to speak with me despite your fear. 'Bravery' is simply doing what needs to be done in spite of one's fear or self-doubt. If that's not courage, then I don't know what is."
Fluttershy couldn't help but beam with confidence. "Do you really mean that?"
Sombra spoke again, his voice warm and soothing. "I do, yes. And there's no need for you to be afraid of me. Aside from the fact that you're one of Twilight's closest friends, I actually like you. No harm will befall you while you're in my presence. I promise."
It was truly amazing how far Sombra's progress had come. Once upon a time, he was one of Equestria's most notorious villains and it had almost been a year since Fluttershy and her friends used the Elements of Harmony to capture him and seal away his magic. Now here she was, having a nice conversation with Sombra while he dined on her cookies. Nopony could've guessed that he and Twilight would start dating either. Life sure was strange.
"Tell me, Fluttershy, how are your animals doing?"
Now this was a topic that peaked the pegasus' interest. "Very well, thanks for asking! I helped a mama raccoon give birth, relocated a nest of baby robins and reunited a pair of chipmunk brothers."
Sombra laid down on the floor and propped his head up on his crossed forelegs. He grinned up at her. "That's very nice. When I was a colt, I had a dog named Rowf. He and I did everything together. He was a big dog too, with shaggy black fur and the biggest amber eyes. I miss him."
Hearing about the ex-tyrant's dog piqued Fluttershy's interest considerably. He didn't seem like the type to have ever had a pet but again, looks could be deceiving. "How did he die?"
He gave a wistful sigh. "Old age. I used to take him for walks on the Crystal Castle's grounds. One day, he laid down for a nap and never got back up. I was...twelve, I believe. Twelve or thirteen." He sighed again dreamily. "Such a good dog. I never got another pet after him."
Fluttershy scooched herself closer to the bars. "It's never easy to lose a pet, especially one that you loved. I don't know what I'd do if I lost my Angel bunny."
"You'd persevere" Sombra said warmly. "You have a brave heart and a strong spirit."
Against all fear or reason, Fluttershy slipped her hoof through the bars and rested it on top of one of Sombra's. "Thank you. You're a good friend."
The stallion stared up at her with astonishment. "I'm your friend?"
"Of course!" Fluttershy laughed, as if his shock was genuinely amusing. "Aren't I yours?"
Sombra's puzzlement gave way to introspection, his eyes gazing out far past Fluttershy and when he answered, it was in a distant tone:
"Yes. Yes you are."
~*~
Applejack was a mare who wore her heart on her nonexistent sleeve; what you saw was what you got. When she was angry or worried, she didn't try to cover it up and upon looking at her, you knew exactly how she was feeling. And right now, with a fast pace in her step and her jaw set in a worrisome frown, it was evident something was stuck in the country mare's craw. When she heard that Fluttershy was off in Canterlot by herself, Applejack's intuition, which had yet to steer her wrong, told her that it was to meet with a certain tall, dark and moody. Marching past a pair of blank-faced guards, she swung the corner and started down the steps leading to the castle dungeons.
It wasn't that Applejack disliked Sombra per se; in fact, seeing Twilight so happy made her reconsider her previous thoughts on the former Shadow King, which weren't too friendly to say the least. Still, she was cautious when it came to Sombra, never fully allowing herself to let her guard down around him. Some ponies, despite all outward appearance, never changed. You can put a hog in a dress and call her Lady Habberdashery, but at the end of the day, it was still a hog. Ah only hope Twilight didn't put her faith in tha wrong stallion, is all.
Trotting down the main corridor, Applejack steadily approached Sombra's room when she heard a familiar, bell-like voice humming a soothing melody. There, exiting the double doors, was none other than Fluttershy herself, stopping to bid Flash Sentry a good day before spotting Applejack.
"Oh! Hi A.J."
"Erm, howdy Sugarcube. How'd it go?"
"Very nice!" Fluttershy giggled. "Sombra and I talked about animals and how he used to have a dog. Did you know that? I never would've pegged him for the dog owner type but looks can be deceiving."
Applejack scratched her head. "Yeah, how 'bout that. Ya sure yer okay?"
"Oh yes. So I take it you're here to talk to him too?"
The orange mare readjusted her hat. "Yes. Yes Ah sure am. Just wanted ta make sure yah was okay first."
Fluttershy wrapped a wing around Applejack. "Thanks Applejack but I'm okay, I promise. Just remember, Sombra can come off as abrasive but if you give him a chance, I'm sure you'll see a different side to him."
"Right. Well, Ah'll see ya later."
"You too!"
After Fluttershy had skipped away, Applejack turned to Flash. "Well, Ah'm goin' in."
The pegasus placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Applejack, I know you have a good head on your shoulders, so I know you'll take what I have to say to heart. Please don't trust King Sombra. You and I both know he's planning something."
Applejack liked Flash Sentry. He was sweet and a real gentlecolt, treating everypony nice and being friendly all the time. However, once he got an idea in his head, it was hard to talk him out of it. She wiggled free of his grasp and looked him dead in the eyes.
"Flash, ya need to calm yerself down. Ah trust him 'bout as much as Ah trust a rattlesnake but that don't mean Ah can't give him tha benefit of tha doubt. If Twilight sees somethin' in him, then Ah must too."
Shaking his head ruefully, Flash stepped away from her. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you."
In place of a retort, Applejack stepped through the double doors and entered the dungeon, walking headfirst into an orchestra rehearsal in progress, a gradual swell of horns and strings that devolved into a piano solo dominated by discordant keys. Admittedly, she wasn't the kind of mare to gush over classical music, but even she felt amazement at the composition. The fact that Sombra was into this kind of music was somehow unsurprising.
Speaking of, Applejack spotted the stallion seated at his desk, eyes closed and forelegs swaying as though he himself were the maestro. She chuckled, unaccustomed to seeing him look so peaceful. He about a foot taller than Big Mac, easily making him the largest stallion she'd ever seen, and while Big Mac's size and powerful muscles were a front for a calm and even laid-back demeanor, Sombra's height added to his viciousness. Coupled with the fangs, red eyes and large, curved horn, he was a rather intimidating pony. However, based on talks with Twilight, she knew that he could also be gentle and earnest, speaking about what was on his mind and how it affected him.
Honesty always is th' best policy.
Sombra's eyes slowly opened and he noticed the new arrival. "Hello Applejack. This is a surprise."
"It, uh, sure is. Ah saw Fluttershy walkin' out, so Ah figured Ah would talk to ya next."
"I see." Sombra placed his hooves together with the frogs touching, reminding her of a school councilor. "So, what would you like to talk about?"
Applejack strode right up to the bars and stared up at Sombra's inquisitive face. "Ya know how Twilight's one of mah best friends?"
"I was made aware of this fact, yes."
"Well, Ah just want ta look out fer her. Ah still don't quite trust ya."
Sombra leaned back and smirked. "Then you have a good amount of common sense."
"Look," Applejack sighed. "Ah'm gonna ask ya one question: do ya really love Twilight?"
The stallion's smile faded, his face taking on a more serious countenance as he considered Applejack's question. "At first, I loved the idea of Twilight Sparkle, what she represented. However, the more time that I spent with her, the more I realized that I loved the mare Twilight Sparkle. So yes, to answer your question, I do really love her."
Applejack carefully scanned the contours of Sombra's face, noting the movements of his eyes and facial muscles. He was telling the truth. Hay, as the Element of Honesty, wouldn't she be the best judge?
"So does that mean...yer gonna give up on takin' yer revenge an' all that?"
"No."
Applejack's eyes shot open. "Wh-what? But, ya love her!"
"And? Did you really think that love would be enough to change my mind, to fundamentally change who I am?"
"Sombra, listen ta me. Ah lost mah parents when Ah was a filly. Ah know what it's like ta lose somepony close ta yah-..."
Rising from his seat, Sombra appeared in front of the bars. "Do you love your family?"
"What? Of course Ah do!"
"What about your friends? Or your farm or Ponyville?"
Applejack was getting aggravated. "What're yah gettin' at?!"
"Imagine," Sombra began, his tone becoming hoarse, his eyes full of sorrow. "Losing...not only your family but your entire race...your culture, your way of life. Imagine watching it vanish before your very eyes, leaving your memories as the only proof that they even existed."
Sorrow gripped Applejack's heart, the words and the agony that emanated from causing her cheeks to moisten. There was no faking the pain that Sombra was exhuming.
Sombra continued, tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. "Imagine...that they were butchered and not only that, but the killers are never brought to justice and even exalted for what they did." He then spoke much quieter, as if the words were poisoning his throat. "How would you feel?"
Applejack gulped and sniffled. "Ah...Ah'd be angry...furious. Ah'd want them ta suffer."
Red eyes shimmered with fresh tears, reflecting Applejack's face right back at her. "Then you know why I can't rest until Princess Celestia is brought down. There must be retribution."
Applejack's hoof sought Sombra's through the bars. "Killin' Princess Celestia won't bring yer family back."
Withdrawing his hoof, Sombra retreated into the darkness of his cell, his eyes burning in the blackness.
Time held no meaning for Sombra as he laid spread-eagle on his cot, eyes unblinkingly staring up at the ceiling. Sleep avoided him like the plague and a knot in his stomach prevented him from enjoying full meals, instead relegating himself to little nibbles of food. He didn't have the tolerance for music and reading held no interest so Sombra left his books where they were. Life before was complicated but who knew that it would become even more complex after his death and resurrection? Sombra sometimes wondered if coming back was a mistake after all.
The Element Bearers, excluding Rainbow Dash, were a surprisingly friendly and accepting group of mares, each one adding their own blend of affability to every meeting. The more time that Sombra had spent with each one, the more he'd come to like them. Pinkie Pie was a chatterbox with a rather sporadic train of thought that bordered on the childish and even mentally instable. However, she contained a certain odd degree of clarity, so much so that he wasn't certain whether or not she was insane or merely playing the fool. The fact that she could cook was a bonus.
Fluttershy was arguably the most surprising, considering that she once chose to cower under a table rather than face Sombra in combat. Yet she'd found the courage to speak to him alone and that earned her his respect. There was that moment when Fluttershy touched Sombra and declared him to be her friend. For whatever reason, it made him feel unworthy of her benevolence. Why? What could possibly make him feel so unworthy of some timid little mouse's friendship? Was it the innocent trust in her eyes or the naïve sincerity in her voice? Whatever it was, it felt awful.
Then there was Miss Rarity, the small-town mare that was somehow more of an aristocrat than any royal he'd ever encountered. She was dainty and high-class yet possessed an inner fire, an indomitable spirit and ferocity that momentarily left him blindsided. There weren't many ponies that would openly threaten the Conqueror of the Frozen North to his face and this strangely endeared the fashionista to him. Who knows? Maybe she was an umbrum in another life.
Although Sombra had only spoken to Applejack briefly, he found the country mare respectful but earnest, two qualities he greatly approved of. She spoke openly to him, even attempting to sympathize with him, making her the only mare other than Twilight to try to understand him. It was clear that Applejack cared about her friend but didn't allow this to develop into overprotectiveness or narrow-minded paranoia. Maybe she could be a future ally? Perhaps more time was needed before Sombra could confirm this.
He rolled onto his side and faced the wall. What were these ponies doing to him? For the first time in centuries, Sombra felt as though he might actually belong, that there was something other than revenge in his life. This thought catapulted him up into a sitting position with his head between his hocks. No, he mustn't think it! He had a goal, his raison d’être and he would not abandon that!
Cadence's framed picture smiled at him from his desktop.
"My daughter..."
He gently rubbed his hoof against the glass.
I have a family...
Beside the photograph, there was a smaller picture, this one of Twilight Sparkle.
...and a mare that I love.
What about your parents? A voice deep inside of him asked. Or your tribe? Your entire race? Do they mean nothing to you?
"Of course they do! It's just..."
You forget, it was by the will of wyrd that you survived the Massacre, that you are alive now. You were meant to survive, to punish the guilty and ease the suffering of your kind.
Sombra sighed and sat down on the edge of his bunk. For the first time, he had doubt about the course his life had taken, the course he'd taken. Twilight and her friends were noble and good, selflessly protecting Equestria even under the reign of the false-ruler Princess Celestia Solaria. Was he wrong in his beliefs about the corrupt state of the land? Would his reign truly be just?
"Um, Sombra?"
He snapped out of his philosophical reverie to find Twilight standing right outside his cell.
"Twilight? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in."
"Are you alright? You were pretty spaced out and that's a lot coming from me."
Sombra waved this off nonchalantly. "I'm alright. I don't have much to do but think. Anyway, how are you?"
Twilight shyly rubbed one foreleg against the other. "I'm o-okay. I was just wondering...since we're a couple, perhaps we should have a proper...first date?"
Never before had Sombra smiled so brightly. "I would be honored. But...would Celestia allow that?"
Twilight nodded. "I asked her before I came down here and she authorized it...buuuuut under a few conditions."
Of course she did. "What 'conditions'?"
A scroll floated out of Twilight's saddlebag and she unfurled it, clearing her throat as she read from it. "'The prisoner is to remain on castle grounds under surveillance by no less than eight royal guards and in an enclosed area. The date may start between the hours of eight to ten in the morning but is to conclude no later than four in the evening and this scheduling is non-negotiable.'"
Snorting contemptuously, Sombra rolled his eyes. "I see the beldam is being as thorough as usual."
"Hey, I fought hard for this deal!" Twilight interjected. "It's either this or nothing."
Sombra reached through the bars to touch Twilight's cheek. He had to smirk at the way she cooed and rubbed herself against his hoof, letting out a little sigh of contentment.
"Then for the sake of my favorite princess, I accept."
~*~
"Oh my goddess, I'm so excited!"
Twilight ducted as spools of fabric and various other instruments whipped around the room. A measuring tape wrapped in a cornflower blue aura coiled around her flank and right hindleg.
"Um, Rarity?"
"Shall I go with slate blue or indigo?" Rarity wondered aloud, a pencil scribbling furiously onto a sketchpad. "Or maybe a nice Prench violet?"
The measuring tape zipped around to lay perpendicular to Twilight's head and neck.
"Are you sure this is necessary?"
Rarity's red glasses slid down her muzzle. "'Necessary'? Darling, this is yours and Sombra's first official date as a couple. You both must look your very best!"
"Twilight's right, Rares," Applejack said. "Ah mean, do they both need ta get all gussied up?"
Rarity paused in mid-sketch. "Of course they do! This is a special occasion, not one of your 'hoe-downs' or 'hootenannies.'"
Pinkie Pie bounced up and down in a circle around the room. "Yeah, or a party, fiesta, bash..."
"I think that it should be special, considering that you both never get to do anything romantic," Fluttershy sweetly added. "If you don't mind me saying so."
"...shindig, festival, celebration..."
"I don't see the big deal," Rainbow Dash gloomily stated, leaning against the wall with her forelegs folded. "Why should you go out of your way for King Sombra, anyhow?"
"Now Dashie, Ah know yah've got reservations..."
"'Reservations'?! Are you kidding me, AJ?!"
"Really, Rainbow Dash, must you be so obtuse?"
"...ball, gala, banquet, luau..."
"Oh, I'm sorry if I'm the only one that cares that Twilight's dating a monster!"
"DON'T CALL HIM THAT!"
Everypony froze. Twilight's muzzle was an inch away from Rainbow Dash's, her wings unfurled threateningly.
"...potluck, clambake, barbeque or picnic," Pinkie Pie finished quietly.
Rainbow narrowed her eyes at Twilight. "What are you biting my head off for? I'm only trying to look out for you!"
"Maybe because you're insulting my coltfriend? Why can't you just be happy for me?"
"Are you blind? Your 'coltfriend' is only one of the worst villains in Equestria!"
"Oh, please don't fight," Fluttershy whimpered, though her plea went unheard.
"You've never even tried to talk to him! If you'd gotten to know Sombra like the others have, then you'd see he's not such a bad guy!"
"Can't you see that he's just using you? He doesn't care about any of us; he just wants to take over Equestria!"
Twilight scowled. "How do you know that? He loves me and you know what? I might love him too!"
Rainbow recoiled, her face that of somepony that just saw a ghost. "You don't mean that. You can't possibly mean that!"
Meanwhile, Twilight gasped as she replayed the words in her head. Somehow, they just came out so fluidly that it also seemed second nature. Was that truly how she felt?
"Yes, I do," she finally declared after briefly mulling it over. She sniffled, her violet eyes misting over as they filled up with tears. "And if you were truly my friend, then you would accept that."
"Twilight..."
But it was too late. Twilight turned and galloped full speed out the door of the boutique, nearly mowing down Spike as she fled from sight, her choking sobs attracting the attention of passersby.
"Twilight!" Spike stepped inside and looked around confusingly. "What happened?"
All eyes were on Rainbow Dash.
"I...I didn't mean..."
Applejack patted her on the back. "Ah know, Sugarcube. But yah need ta talk ta her."
~*~
Twisting its way across the ground, the Darkness slowly approached the outskirts of Ponyville in a decidedly serpentine way. Nopony saw her coming, just as she preferred it. Slithering past a street corner, the Darkness quickly clung to the underside of a bench to evade a group of passing foals before continuing her trek towards its destination. She lifted her head up and sniffed. Ah, what exquisite sorrow she detected...
Ever since her defeat at the Castle of the Two Sisters, she'd been left in a weakened state, cut off from her primary food source and left to starve, unseen and unnoticed. Those foolish mares thought that the Elements of Harmony destroyed her but she persevered. Nightmare Moon was gone but the Darkness was very much still present. At first, the Darkness tried feeding on a pack of diamond dogs but those empty-headed canines were barely even an appetizer. She attempted to create strife amongst them to devour their anger but that failed to satisfy her hunger.
A chimera in the Flame Geyser Swamp was better as it was seething with rage at being bested by a pony. Alas, prideful resentment wasn’t fulfilling enough so she abandoned the ornery hybrid in search of a more satisfying host. After days of wandering, the Darkness finally arrived in Ponyville and was now on the hunt for her next host. All she had to do was follow the trail of anger and melancholy. She could almost taste the despair.
Navigating the streets of the small town, the Darkness arrived at what looked to be a treehouse which, if the sign was to be believed, also served as a library. How incredibly childish. Gliding up the side of the structure, she slunk her way into an open window and quickly took refuge behind a lamp as the sounds of sobbing peaked her interest. To her own surprise, it was none other than that meddlesome purple unicorn, except now she'd been elevated to alicorn status and was currently face-down on her bed and bawling her eyes out. What a bonus!
The young alicorn didn't even flinch when the Darkness pounced, latching herself onto Twilight's horn and seeping in through the appendage. The time for revenge had started anew...
~*~
The trip to Twilight's felt endless, even at the speed in which Rainbow Dash flew there. A knot had twisted itself in existence in her stomach. Despite being the Element of Loyalty, she felt as though she'd let down and even betrayed one of her closest friends, somepony who'd stuck by her in her darkest moments. She hadn't meant to hurt Twilight; if anything, Rainbow wanted to protect her and that was by trying to be honest with her instead of being meek. Granted, her approach may've not been the best but she had the best of intentions!
Golden Oaks Library loomed overhead like a stone statue in a Daring Do novel. Ordinarily, the treehouse was the last place that Rainbow would feel any sort of hesitation about entering but now it was the scariest place in Equestria. She sucked in a deep breath and nudged the slightly-ajar door open even more before taking a few reluctant steps inside. The place was immaculately spotless as usual, deceptively in fact, almost making her forget the current situation. Step-by-step, Rainbow climbed the stairs and arrived at Twilight's bedroom. She raised a hoof, allowing it to hang tightly balled up before knocking.
"Go away!"
The voice was muffled, strained even and Rainbow had half a mind to heed that advice. But then again, she always was the stubborn type. "It's me. Could I come in?"
There was a brief pause and then: "Okay..."
Slowly pushing the door open, Rainbow entered, finding Twilight curled up in a ball on her bed, her eyes bleary and her face stained with tears. She sat on the edge of the bed, sinking into the mattress as Twilight sniffled and rubbed at her face. Rainbow was never good at emotional stuff but she had a friend to console so to Tartarus with uncomfortability.
"H-hey Twilight. I, uh, just wanted to see...if you were alright."
Twilight sniffled again. "Not really. What you said back there really hurt."
Rainbow clutched a foreleg. "Yeah, um...that wasn't how I wanted that to go down." She sighed and steeled herself. "I don't trust Sombra. But that's mainly because I...really care about you and I'm scared. I'm scared okay? I don't want you to get hurt. I wanted to protect you but I just ended up hurting you myself and that hurt me too. I mean, what's worse than upsetting a friend?"
Twilight nodded. "I understand where you're coming from. You didn't have to be so mean about it though."
"I know. I don't do well with this touchy-feely stuff. But you're my friend...and I'm sorry."
Slowly, Twilight clambered across the bed and wrapped her forelegs around Rainbow's shoulders.
"Thanks Rainbow Dash."
Rainbow chuckled and tapped Twilight's back. "Sure thing. So are you still going on your date?"
"Uh-huh."
"Well..." Rainbow exhaled through her nostrils. "...you'd better get ready."
Twilight drew away and stared at her confusingly. "Wait, really?"
"Yeah, really," Rainbow sighed. "I don't want you to go but I can't stop you."
She was suddenly yanked into the tightest hug of her life.
"You really are the best, Rainbow."
"Yeah...I know. Now let's get back to the boutique. Rarity's going to have a heart attack if I don't bring you back soon."
Sombra groaned impatiently. "How much longer is this going to take?"
"Uh-uh-uh!" Rarity tutted, magically buttoning his dress coat. "Stop fidgeting. I'm almost done."
"I haven't worn a suit in many years so I'm feeling very restrained," Sombra grumbled, shifting from one hoof to another.
"Almost done and...Voila! I give you...New Sombra!"
In the full-length mirror, two ponies stared back at them except one was dressed like he was attending an opera. He was garbed in a black dress coat and pants, white button-up shirt, violet waistcoat and mulberry bowtie. His mane had been styled in a kind of combed-back pompadour and his fur carefully brushed. Sombra hmmed and looked himself over. Overall, he made for quite the gentlecoat and this thought brought a humorous smirk to his face.
"You've done well, Miss Rarity."
"Oh pshaw, you give me too much credit. I simply used the tools that I was given."
"Nevertheless, thank you. I mean it." Sombra smiled softly, genuinely thankful for her help.
Rarity nodded, her blue eyes shimmering. "You're welcome. Anything to help make your date with Twilight perfect."
Sombra gave his reflection another glance. "Just being with the mare that I love will be enough." A shimmer of gold armor in the glass reminded him of his quote-un-quote "chaperones" for the day.
Well, almost enough.
There were eight royal guards stationed in Rarity's room: four standing in front of the door, two at the window, and two more on either of Sombra's sides. Despite the mare's protestations, the guards refused to leave, citing official orders from Princess Celestia herself and she had to work around them to both make the outfit and dress Sombra. All in all, Sombra felt Rarity kept her composure quite expertly and the quality of her work showed. If only those guards weren't in the room. Sombra wished he had his magic so he could get rid of them but seeing as he didn't, he remained still.
"I'm going to help Twilight get ready," Rarity chimed in, gliding towards the door, the guards parting to allow her passage. "Now be a dear and behave yourself."
"No promises," Sombra grimaced, his glare failing to meet the gaze of the guards.
"Oh, don't be such a drama king." The door closed behind her, leaving Sombra alone with the armored unicorns.
They can't even look me in the eye.
Sombra didn't know if this was due to fear or professionalism but he didn't appreciate it.
Returning to his reflection, he lifted one foreleg, then the other, trying out the dress coat. As part of Twilight's agreement, Sombra didn't have to wear any kind of restraints for their date so at the very least he felt lucky that Celestia didn't have him clapped in irons. Not only would it be uncomfortable and ruin his nice new clothes but would also diminish the meaning of their date if he showed up in fetters. Even though this technically wasn't the couple's first outing, it was nonetheless a bit nerve-wracking for Sombra, given that this was the first time that he'd be on a date with Twilight as himself. Pretending to be a dopey mailpony with not a care in the world was one thing but an ex-tyrant and dark sorcerer was in a whole other league.
"What am I so worried about?" Sombra asked the stallion in the mirror. "I've taken on two alicorns at the same time, survived being poisoned by a peluda and killed a full-grown basilisk. This should be a walk in the park."
After two hours of mind-numbing anticipation and boredom, the bedroom finally opened to reveal Pinkie Pie dressed in a blue and white striped bowtie and a matching waistcoat.
"Wow, you look hot!" She declared and poked him in the chest. "Ssss!"
"Pinkie Pie? I was not expecting you."
"Nopony ever does! That's why it's called a 'surprise!'"
"So...why are you here exactly?"
Pinkie casually slung her foreleg over Sombra's shoulders. If anypony else but her or Twilight did this, they'd lose said limb. "Duh! I'm escorting you and your friends to your date!"
"They're not my-..."
"Let's move out!"
Forming a ring around Sombra, the royal guards marched forward, tailing Pinkie Pie as she merrily bounced forward on her tail like a pogo stick. Mentally shrugging, Sombra decided to let his questions go, as valid as they were. In his experience, there were some old and mysterious forces at work and not everything could be easily explained. The dectet journeyed through the castle's halls and climbed a great staircase that seemed to go on for miles. Sombra recognized it as the path to the southwest watchtower, an area he'd not laid eyes on in many years.
The party entered the large, circular room, which featured a long wooden table in the center of the room, a candelabra atop its surface and two intricately carved cherry-wood chairs on either side. Candles littered the room, each one a different side and color, each held in sconces or candlesticks of various heights and styles. A folding table sat up against the wall on the left and was decorated with bouquets of red and white roses. Red silk curtains decorated the windows and mistletoe was strewn around the room like streamers. Sombra was impressed, feeling that the simple design of the room was far better than Celestia's gaudy attempts at romance.
The guards rearranged themselves so that four stood on both of Sombra's sides, two guarded the entrance and the remainders rigidly took up position next to the window across from Sombra. Zipping across the room, Pinkie waved Sombra over to an empty seat on the other side of the table, the one with its back to the window. Slowly making his way to his seat, he sat down while Pinkie pushed his chair in and zoomed to the other end of the table.
"So where is Twil-...?"
Pinkie held up a hoof and after a brief pause, pointed behind her as the doorknob gripped was by a light raspberry aura. The door creaked open and Sombra's heart rapidly jackhammered against his ribcage. Twilight Sparkle wore an off-the-shoulder evening gown made of black satin with scarlet lace over the shoulders, neck and waistline. The bodice and skirt were embroidered with a silver-gray teardrop design while her bangs had been brushed off to the left side and her mane was gathered up into a chignon bun. Red lipstick and a light appliance of magenta eyeshadow completed the look, not that she needed it in Sombra's opinion.
"What do you think?" Twilight asked, doing a little twirl and adding in an eyelash flutter.
"You look stunning." Sombra smacked at his dry mouth. "Absolutely stunning."
Twilight turned away but Sombra had already seen the rosy tint of her cheeks.
"Thank you. You look handsome."
Pinkie cleared her throat and excitedly patted the seat of the empty chair. Getting the message, Twilight carefully became seated as Pinkie pushed her chair in. Sombra's gaze never left Twilight and she met his eyes, the two not talking but speaking volumes. Their hooves slid across the table and lightly connected. Even that brief contact was electrifying to them both. They so lost in each other that they almost didn't hear Pinkie.
"I'm Pinkie Pie and I'll be your waitress!"
~*~
Through the binoculars, Rarity could make out the shapes of Twilight and Sombra seated across from each other and positioned to where she could see their profiles. Indescribable joy surged through her at the sight of the couple reaching out for each other, so much so that she let out a half-squee and clamped a hoof over her mouth. Not only were her outfits perfect, each reflecting the color scheme of the other wearer, but the love between them was so apparent and true that a blind changeling could tell how they felt. It was difficult to tell what they were saying, even from her vantage point on the balcony of the adjacent spire but every now and then she picked up on a word or two. Rarity peered at them while taking notes, reasoning that somepony had to document their romantic rendezvous and that out of the most experienced of the group, she was the ideal choice.
"Enjoying the view?"
Rarity whooped, then shrieked in alarm, the binoculars fumbling from her grasp and quickly saved from a nasty fall via her magic. A pink alicorn sat behind her, a wicked little I-know-what-you-were-up-to grin on her lips.
"Princess Cadence?! What are you doing? You almost gave me a heart attack!"
"Sorry about that, Rarity," Cadence giggled before adopting a more penitent expression. "I wanted to startle you but I didn't think that I'd scare you that badly."
"It-it's perfectly alright, Darling. I suppose I'm a little on edge."
"What are you doing up here anyway?"
Rarity bit her lip and searched around for an answer before settling on her binoculars.
"Birdwatching! Yes, that-that's what I was...doing. Just now."
Cadence lifted a skeptical brow. "'Birdwatching?' Are you sure it wasn't to spy on Sombra and Twilight's date?"
Rarity sighed. "Yes, I came here to spy on them. I wanted to see how they were..." Something clicked in her head and she pointed an accusatory hoof at Cadence. "Wait, what are you doing here?"
The alicorn drew back in surprise. "I was, erm...okay, fine! I came to spy on them too."
"Why is that?"
"Well, I am the Princess of Love and this is a unique case," Cadence explained. "That and it's my sister-in-law and my father that are in there making goo-goo eyes at each other."
Rarity scooted over and patted the seat next to her, which Cadence gladly accepted.
"You know, it's a pity we don't know what they're saying."
"I can fix that." A light blue glow generated from Cadence's horn and shot out in front of them, creating a rippling disk of blue energy. An image appeared in the disk to reveal Twilight and Sombra, except now it was as though they were all in the same room. "There we go."
"I have to say, Twilight, you've really outdone yourself," Sombra's voice reverberated.
There was a giggle followed up by: "I'm glad you like it. I spared no expense."
Rarity and Cadence intently listened in. The white unicorn then smirked at her companion.
"You know...you might have to start calling Twilight 'Mom' pretty soon."
Sombra could not take his eyes off of the gorgeous mare seated across from him. Her cheeks were round but not enough to make her look like a filly and her coat was silky smooth and brushed to perfection. Her small but full lips enticingly slid over top of each other, just begging him to plant a kiss on them. He inhaled, noticing that her scent was a powerful amalgamation of natural musk, lavender and jasmine, the former of which originated from a smidgen of perfume she wore. Temptation was a powerful mistress, one that he was all too happy to be at the beck and call of.
"Sombra?"
"Yes?"
Twilight blushed. "Did...did you hear what Pinkie said?"
He peeked up at the pink mare standing patiently nearby, her ever-present grin worn like a mask.
"No, I'm sorry. I was...distracted."
Twilight let out a squeak as she squirmed in her seat, her face practically crimson.
Pinkie declared, "I said, that for dinner there's a nice cream of mushroom soup with a side of garlic bread. Then there's fondue and wine followed by dessert, which is a super-secret-yummy surprise!"
Still gazing into the shimmering violet pools across from him, which were enhanced by the candlelight, Sombra rubbed Twilight's hoof and grinned, "I'm looking forward to it."
"Great! I'll be back faster than you can say, 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!'"
Once Pinkie Pie dashed out of the room, it became quiet once more. Every now and then, a royal guard would breath loudly or shift in their armor but Sombra and Twilight didn't make a peep, instead merely enjoying the other's company. All of the uncertainty from before vanished. At the moment, all Sombra wanted to do was spend his time with the purple beauty across from him, staring entranced into her sparkling eyes. When at last they spoke, it was a mess.
"You know I-..."
"I was thinking that...-"
They both laughed at their little faux pas.
"After you," Sombra gallantly offered.
Twilight giggled and smoothed out her bun. "Thanks. I was going to say that we should do this more often. Don't get me wrong, the cell is nice and all but it feels nice to get out, even if it's in another part of the castle."
Sombra nodded, "I like that idea. It's almost as though we're an ordinary couple."
"Well I don't know about you, but I'm far from ordinary."
"You don't have to try to convince me," Sombra purred. "Even now, while doing nothing, you're extraordinary."
He jumped slightly at the feel of her right hind hoof rubbed against his own.
"What was that?"
Twilight's ears folded back. "S-sorry. It's called 'playing hoofsies.' I read that some couples do that."
Couples today have strange rituals.
"It's alright. You just startled me is all."
Silence fell once more, only now it was of an awkward nature. Sombra glanced around at the room's settings. Everything had been carefully set up and despite its simplicity, the decorations had been set with love. He leaned back and grinned slyly.
"I have to say, Twilight, you’ve really outdone yourself."
Another giggle escaped Twilight's lips. “I’m glad you like it. I spared no expense.”
"I can see that! A room with a view, candles, red curtains! All for little old me!"
Twilight threw a dismissive hoof. "Pshaw, it was nothing! Money's no option when it comes to my coltfriend." She then drew little figure-eights on the table. "I was hoping that you'd like it."
"Twilight..."
She looked back up at him.
Gone was the relaxed gentlecolt and jokester. Sombra wore a more serious, tender expression, his eyes glistening with love and affection. "I don't just like what you've done for me. I love it." Laying his hooves on her shoulders and slowly drawing her in, he added breathily, "Just as I love you."
This wasn't the first kiss that they shared but it was certainly the best. Their lips scraped against one another lightly before pressing up against each other, their muzzles mashed together, teasing, nipping, tasting. Twilight's senses were overloaded. She could taste the cool raspberry mints that she knew Rarity kept at all times, fell the weight and rough texture of Sombra's hooves on her shoulders and cheeks, his touch electrifying the mare to her very core, sending her heart beating into overdrive. The world spun around them but neither of them noticed or even cared. For now, they were the world.
The candles, which lit the room in a soft glow, now crackled and rose, illuminating the tower like a great torch. Something awoke deep inside of Twilight, a rush of desire for the stallion she was lip-locked to a want, no, a need. She needed his breath, his touch, his very essence. He belonged to her and nopony else, not even holier-than-thou Princess Celestia! With that thought in mind, Twilight deepened the kiss, devouring Sombra's lips, moaning into his mouth to give him her air, her life.
Sombra, meanwhile, was in absolute bliss. Despite Twilight's inexperience, she more than made up for it with enthusiasm and raw passion. He could tell that she wanted him, possibly more so than even how he wanted her. Those luscious, supple lips carried the tang of watermelon, a favorite food of his from foalhood and he clambered to a better taste. The scent of lavender shampoo and jasmine body wash wafted into his nostrils, along with a third scent, one more sweet and spicy, a scent that he was all too familiar with when it came to an excited mare.
Feeling the need for oxygen rising, Sombra begrudgingly drew back, only for Twilight to gently grasp his lower lip between her teeth and pull, stretching it until it almost hurt before releasing. He could only stare in stunned silence as Twilight lightly fluttered her eyelashes at him, fixing him with the most smoldering, sultry gaze that he'd ever seen out of her. Cute, sweet, awkward Twilight was now watching him with all of the lustful mastery of a skilled seductress, her lips curling into a slow, predatory grin. If Sombra hadn't seen the transformation himself, he would've sworn that he was dining with a completely different mare. To be honest, this sudden metamorphosis was actually working for him.
Before Sombra could comment, Twilight jerked her head back, a quick inhale slamming through her nostrils and back into her chest. She blinked and stared around at her surroundings confusedly before settling on Sombra. Her mouth gradually opened in disbelief before she gasped and covered it with her hooves. She now looked at him in an almost ashamed way.
"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't know what came over me!"
Gently, Sombra took her hooves into his own and stroked them delicately.
"It's alright, Twilight," Sombra smiled softly and this relaxed the mare. "I was actually enjoying the treatment."
Twilight's cheeks inflamed. "Y-you did?"
"Mmm-hmm. There's no need to be embarrassed. There's never a need when you're around me."
Twilight sighed, humming at his touch.
"Oh Celestia, I think I'm going to be sick."
Both turned, locking eyes with one of the guards standing next to the door. In their enjoyment of their time together, they'd forgotten that they weren't alone. The other guards briefly glanced at one another as the hapless unicorn, who was probably a greenhorn, chuckled sheepishly.
"You know, this feels uncomfortable enough without your commentary," Sombra growled lightly.
"Sombra, be nice," Twilight half-heartedly admonished. "This is his first real assignment and he's probably nervous and weirded out so far."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Sombra, however, was not amused. "Fine. But nothing other than, 'Yes, Your Majesty,' or 'No, Your Majesty,' had better fly out of your mouth."
The young unicorn nodded jerkily and snapped once more back to attention.
"Sombra..." Now Twilight was slightly annoyed. "Don't go harassing the help."
Throughout his whole life, Sombra acted how he felt and never apologized for it but seeing his displeased fillyfriend's face was making him rethink his earlier aggression.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't tell me."
The guard stared hopefully at him.
Sombra sighed, "I'm sorry..."
"Private First Class Gleaming Helm, sir!"
Rolling his eyes at the colt's salute, he intoned, "I'm sorry, Gleaming Helm."
Sombra stared back at Twilight, who had gone from strict to perky in a millisecond.
"There, was that so hard?"
"Yes," Sombra answered without missing a beat.
"Grouch."
Sombra flashed a toothy grin at her. "And I think...you love it."
Twilight shivered slightly as she bit her lip. "M-maybe just a bit."
"'A bit'?"
"Don't push it." Although it was issued as an order, there was no hiding the humor on her face.
At that moment, Pinkie arrived with a metal cart containing two steaming bowls rested atop it along with silverware, napkins, salt and pepper shakers, a basket of garlic bread, two empty glasses and a pitcher of water.
"I'm baaaack! Sorry about the wait. The castle's really, really big!"
"It's alright, Pinkie," Twilight said earnestly. "Wow, I hope that tastes as good as it smells!"
"And looks as good as it sounds!"
With all of the finesse of a professional waiter, she filled both cups by utilizing her mane curl (puzzling Sombra to no end) and sped around the table, setting the silverware and napkins, even folding some of them into shapes like swans or alligators in the blink of an eye. Spinning the basket on her hoof, she then flipped it up in the air before juggling the soup bowls. Pinkie then spun in place and the soup bowls joined the basket in the air before said basket came down to rest in the center of the table, shortly joined by the empty bowls. Finally, the soup landed in both bowls without spilling a drop.
Sombra was convinced: the seemingly-simple Pinkie Pie was some sort of a great and terrible god.
"Thank you," he managed.
"You're welcome! I'll go check on the fondue!"
Sombra looked queerly at Twilight as Pinkie ponked! away.
"Fon-what?"
"You'll see."
~*~
"Aw, that was so sweet! Don't you think, Darling?" Rarity gushed, hooves clasped together.
Princess Cadence, meanwhile, looked traumatized. One eye twitched slightly.
"I just saw my father sucking face with the mare that I used to foalsit."
"Princess Cadence?"
"I used to push her on the swing set and read her bedtime stories..."
"Cadence?"
The mare shook her head and regained her royal composure.
"I'm fine." And then: "At least, I think so."
Rarity stared at her skeptically. "Are you quite sure?"
Cadence continued to watch the magic scrying pool.
"It's...weird. Really weird. But I can't ignore the sheer love that they're giving off."
Cadence felt a hoof on her shoulder and found Rarity smiling reassuringly.
"It'll be alright. Can you honestly say that you don't want them to end up together?"
Turning away, Cadence thought deep and hard on the issue. She knew some of the pain Sombra had endured, having both spent time with him as well as experiencing the agony first-hoof and felt some emotional healing was in order. Perhaps romantic love was a pathway to healing his heart? And then there was Twilight Sparkle, her close friend and sister-in-law. Twilight was innocent, unlearned in the ways of love and all that came with it, having spent the majority of her life with her muzzle in a book.
Now that Twilight was actually undergoing the real deal, it was like opening up a brand new world to her. She'd learned of her own loneliness and incompleteness at lacking friendship and had blossomed after welcoming it into her life. Cadence watched Sombra and Twilight eating their dinner, their eyes never leaving the other. Love was a great teacher, Cadence discovered this years ago and now it seemed as though Twilight was learning a thing or two from it. But given his past and flaws, was Sombra really the one best suited to guide her along that path?
As the Princess of Love, it was Cadence's sacred duty to ensure that all Equestrian citizens received aid and, ultimately, success in affairs of the heart. She'd helped many races, both equine and non-equine, to find their partners, regardless of distance, species or gender. Ponies, griffons, dragons, all flocked to ask for her services and she denied nopony or no one the chance at happiness. Would it be hypocritical of her to deny Sombra and Twilight's love simply because she had a personal emotional stake in it? Certainly a princess was expected to separate her own selfish desires from her royal duties, even if they clashed with her at a fundamental level.
The couple was now finishing up their soup, their hooves in constant contact and their gazes kept on each other the whole time. They were an odd pairing and if fate indeed deemed them to be a match, then who was she to stand in the way? Sombra had committed atrocities, yes, but that alone didn't define him, as he showed himself capable of change. Twilight was maturing into a great ruler, perhaps the one that Equestria needed and it was clear that her relationship with the umbrum was aiding in that development. Cadence sighed, knowing full well what the answer was.
"I can't interfere. If they love each other, then I won't stop it."
It doesn't mean that I have to necessarily like it.
First Date: The Actual Date (Sequel to the Sequel)
Although on the surface Twilight Sparkle was calm and collected, inside she was panicking harder than Fluttershy at a public spelling bee. Honestly, she was anxious about the date and freaking out about every little detail, such as the color of the curtains or placement of the bouquet. Then came her concerns about what shampoo to use, her mane style and whether or not Sombra would like lipstick. Something that gave her peace of mind was that fact that dessert came out perfectly, thanks to her research and Pinkie Pie's culinary prowess. It was now up to her coltfriend to see if it was right.
Twilight's grand entrance couldn't have blown her expectations more than it did, if Sombra's reaction was anything to go by. Throughout the whole date, he couldn't keep his eyes off of her and she had Rarity to thank, although the unicorn insisted that Twilight did most of the work. Regardless, the way that Sombra's gaze tracked her form was exciting and she'd never felt more beautiful or desired than she did now. To be fair, Rarity also did an amazing job on Sombra, the suit drawing attention to his handsome features, particularly his eyes, which she'd always found fascinating. His smile, with or without fangs, would flip-flop between warm and tender and shamelessly lustful.
Most of their time was spent in silence but it spoke volumes of their relationship that they were so comfortable saying nothing. Sombra's eyes and caresses did all of the talking, his touch soft but applying the right amount of pressure and his gaze lovestruck and somewhat licentious. No stallion had ever paid her that kind of attention, not even Flash Sentry, who had openly expressed his genuine appreciation of her looks. Having unintentionally surrounded herself with better looking friends her whole life, Twilight was unaccustomed to the attention but welcomed it. And why not? She was a gorgeous young mare with foal-bearing hips and a plump rear that any stallion would kill for.
Whoa, where did that come from?
Perhaps all of the stimulation from Sombra's admiration was overflowing her head with endorphins and heightening her own sense of physical desirability. She inhaled, taking in the scent of Sombra's blackcurrant body wash and pine shampoo, as well the stallion's own thick, mouth-watering musk. Her chest constricted, her heartbeat quickened. Sombra leaned forward, his lips seeking out her own and she invited the contact, desiring to explore the stallion, her stallion. As soon as their lips met, Twilight could imagine fireworks exploding in the background.
All at once, Twilight could focus only on Sombra yet found herself drowning in external stimuli. The bright redness of the curtains, the flavor of Sombra's breath as his air flowed into her, the texture of his lips, the feels of his wandering hooves. She was in a storm of senses and enjoying every second of it. It started out slow and tender, soon devolving into a sloppy, passion-fueled battle of lip-smacking and mouth-groping. Every repressed feeling collapsed like a row of dominoes, giving way to a new side of Twilight that she didn't even know existed. She was now a hungry tigress of primitive instincts, on the prowl and searching for her mate, to fulfil her primary function.
Loosing herself to pleasure, she became vaguely aware of her magic flowing outward, encapsulating the whole room and reveling in the freedom. The flames atop the burning candles expanded, leaping from their wicks to banish the darkness so that the royal guards in attendance could bear witness to their passion. The beast within Twilight had been released from her cage, confined by years of self-doubt, her inhibitions broken free and grasping at the object of her affections. Oh, Sombra was doing more than satisfactory in stoking the fires of her ardor but it wasn't enough for the mare. She wanted more, needed more.
Suddenly, Sombra was drawing back, no doubt to refuel his lungs with lost oxygen. This brought a silent giggle from Twilight and a naughty idea formed in her head. Lightly taking Sombra's bottom lip in her teeth, she pulled it back, putting enough tension on it to make it both please and hurt him and then let it go. His expression of both confusion and arousal was more gratifying than words could ever hope to say. Fluttering her eyelashes, Twilight poured all of her pent-up lust into her gaze, ensuring that she was the perfect picture of feminine seduction.
To top it off, she shot him a salacious grin, a silent plea for him to claim her as his own, to experience everything he had to offer her when a switch was flicked and the haze in Twilight's head cleared. Her head snapped back as air rushed to fill up her lungs. As if awakening from a dream, she blinked rapidly, her eyes adjusting to the environment as the light from the candles slowly dimmed, their flames shrinking back to their previous size. She quickly found Sombra staring dumbstruck at her and the realization smacked her in the face. She felt dirty, ashamed of the show she'd put on and how desperate she looked.
Her hooves flew to her mouth. What had gotten into her? It was like she was a whole other person!
"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't know what came over me!"
Twilight was certain she was going to burst into tears when she felt two hooves tenderly pick up her own and caress them as gently as possible. She found Sombra smiling at her, his eyes and smile radiating with love. He wasn't angry or put off by her; nothing had changed between them.
"It's alright, Twilight. I was actually enjoying the treatment."
"Y-you did?" Twilight was shocked, touched and aroused all at the same time.
"Mmm-hmm. There's no need to be embarrassed. There's never a need when you're around me."
Again, his tender gaze pierced her very soul, looking upon her as though she was a precious gem. A part of her felt unworthy of his dedication but a stronger, more confident part was beaming at the pedestal Sombra had placed her on. Why couldn't she enjoy it? Ever since becoming a princess, Twilight has felt uncomfortable, overwhelmed even by the title and was still nervous whenever anypony addressed her as such. Was it really because she didn't want to be seen as being different than a normal pony or was it due to fact that she'd rather not be put at the same level as Princess Celestia? Regardless, it felt blissful to have her stallion view her like that.
My stallion.
Her musings were interrupted when one of the Royal Guards decided to comment on their tender moment. Fool! Wasn't it the job of a guard to be seen and not heard? She should lock him in the stockade for daring to address them in such a way! Twilight blinked, once more confused and appalled by her aggressive train of thought. Sombra, meanwhile, decided to give the young guard his two bits.
When Sombra growled at the guard in his usual gruff tone, Twilight could feel a heat generating from her chest...and a few other places. However, it wasn't proper etiquette and she was quick to reprimand her coltfriend for his rudeness, no matter how hot it made her feel. As it turned out, the only thing better than seeing Sombra being domineering was Twilight exerting command over him. It was exhilarating to know that arguably the most dangerous pony alive was under her control and she reveled in it. It made her feel like a mare. No...a princess.
Upon Sombra's apology to the young guard, a Private Gleaming Helm, Pinkie Pie took that as her cue to reenter the scene with a metal cart that held their dinner on it. The exquisite aroma of the mushroom soup was positively mouthwatering and served as a reminder to never skip lunch again, no matter the anxiety. Pinkie's little show while setting the table was amusing, especially the way Sombra gaped incredulously at the earth pony. To this day, she still had no idea how Pinkie did any of the things that she was capable of but it wasn't worth getting a skull-splitting migraine over.
Some mysteries are better left unsolved.
The couple ate their dinner in silence, which was fine for Twilight and only helped to solidify her feelings for Sombra. She once asked her mother Twilight Velvet how she knew that her father was the right one for her. The elder Twilight replied, "Most couples think that talking is the best way to connect but that's not true. Ponies talk all the time but most of the time it's just a lot of noise. Night Light and I are just as content saying nothing. When you share a moment of silence with somepony, that's how you know they're special. If the two of you are comfortable enough with each other to not say a word, then you both can talk to one another when it really counts."
After finishing their soup, Pinkie returned to collect their plates and Twilight could feel her excitement rising after her first surprise. Seeing as how Sombra missed out on a millennia's worth of amazing things, she decided to literally bring something modern to the table. It wasn't longer before Pinkie returned with two steaming caquelons or fondue pots, along with dipping forks, a bottle of wine, two wine glasses and bowls of various snacks. She set it up as speedily and as efficiently in her usual Pinkie Pie style, even placing bibs around their necks. Sombra stared quizzically at Twilight, an expression that always brought a smile to her face. He was actually pretty cute when he was confused.
"What is this 'fondue' thing you brought up?"
"You'll see-ee!" Twilight responded sing-songy.
Sombra snorted and rolled his eyes but the amused grin remained.
"For tonight," Pinkie started, lifting the lids off of the fondue pots, "We have gouda and cheddar fondue with a selection of pretzels, bread, apples, pears, broccoli and roasted potatoes. For your refreshments, a nice bottle of white wine, although personally I would've gone with grape soda."
"Thanks Pinkie! Everything looks great!" Twilight leaned forward to inhale the aroma of bubbling gouda.
"Thank you," Sombra added, peering at the steaming pot of cheddar.
"You're welcome! Enjoy!" As before, Pinkie dashed away, presumably to prepare Sombra's "surprise".
Twilight picked out a dipping fork with her magic, jabbed an apple slice onto it and lightly slathered in cheese. She then blew on it and popped the apple into her mouth, letting out a pleased groan. Curious, Sombra mimicked her, except he chose a fat roasted potato and smothered it in cheddar cheese. Twilight stopped chewing to watch him, almost aghast by the potato that'd been drowned in cheese and shoved into her coltfriend's mouth. This was almost shoved aside by Sombra's vocal delight in the dish but she couldn't help herself.
"How is it?"
Sombra grinned toothily. "Magnificent. You chose...wisely."
She watched as he plunged a slice of bread into the gouda pot. "That's, um...a lot of cheese..."
"Just the way I like. In my village, cheese was essential at every meal."
"I just like cheese just fine..." Twilight cringed at the hot gouda drizzling off the bread. "...But not when it's in huge amounts. That's why I'm afra-...ahem, I don't like quesadillas."
Sombra corked an eyebrow and swallowed. "What's a 'kee-sa-dia'?"
"'Quesadilla.' It's a Mexicolt food. Basically, it's a piece of thin bread wrapped around cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, peppers and beans."
"Sounds delicious."
"I'm not a fan. The only thing that scares me more is-..." Twilight bit her lip and sipped some wine.
Sombra, however, was not letting it go. "Is....?"
Twilight gulped and tapped her hooves on the table. "Promise not to laugh?"
"I'll try not to."
"Okay," Twilight breathed. "I'm afraid of ladybugs."
Sombra blinked then let out a loud bark of laughter, throwing his head back and slamming a hoof on the table. Around the room, the royal guards broke out in a round of snickering, with Gleaming Helm and an unnamed mare giggling to themselves like schoolfoals. Twilight hmmped and narrowed her eyes at Sombra, who was now gasping for air.
"You promised you wouldn't laugh!"
"A-actually," Sombra managed in between breaths. "I only said that I'd try not to. I never promised anything."
Twilight threw up her hooves. "Well, I'm so glad that my deep-seated phobia amuses you!"
Patting his chest, Sombra chuckled before adopting a more serious expression. "I'm sorry, Twilight. I meant no offense." Twilight crossed her forelegs and spun away from him. She then heard him lean back in his chair and sigh, "When I was a colt, I was afraid of...cows."
Twilight jerked herself around to stare at him. "What?"
The umbrum was staring off into space, his countenance that of one who was doing something that he'd been forced into. "They just had those big dumb eyes that followed you everywhere."
Twilight contemplated this before snorting, and not a dainty one you'd find out of Rarity but an honest-to-Celestia pig-snort. Frenzied laughter ensued, those of the gut-bursting kind that left you struggling for breath. Tears gathered around her eyes and she coughed a few times before her guffawing continued. Sombra could only watch with mock-disdain; he'd started it and what goes around comes around. He shot Gleaming Helm a warning glance when the young stallion joined in.
"Are you quite finished?"
"I'm...pfft! S-sorry! Sorry-bwah-ha-ha! Okay, okay, I'm done!" Twilight wiped the tears from her eyes, the biggest, goofiest grin plastered on her face. A few more inhale-exhales later and she'd regained her composure. "Ahem! Anyway, that was really sweet of you to share that with me." She slid her hoof over to his, which he accepted, curling it around hers.
"Well, I couldn't have you thinking that I was making fun of you," Sombra grumbled.
"Aw, you're so sweet!" Twilight cooed and planted a smooch on his cheek, then giving it a few more kisses for emphasis. "Mwah! And that's why I love you."
Both ponies went ramrod-straight. An awkward hush filled the air, bringing any and all activity around them to a screeching halt. The candles lightly sizzled at the ends of their wicks as the breathing of the otherwise silent guards became more pronounced in the wake of the sudden stillness. Twilight stared up at Sombra, who was gaping wide-eyed into her eyes, his chest rising and falling and quick little spurts. Sombra swallowed, his lips smacking together lightly.
"What did you say?"
There was nothing negative in his tone, no shock or fear, just curiosity with a dash of hopefulness. Red, tender eyes held Twilight's gaze so she couldn't look away. Those three little words tumbled out of her mouth so casually, it was as though she'd spoken them to him before. It was scary, exciting but above all, right. Sombra's less-than-subtle feelings towards her had been there right from the start but for Twilight's part, she'd been more uncertain of how she regarded the umbrum.
Intrigue turned to friendliness, friendliness sprouted into familiarity and familiarity blossomed into affection. She knew she'd liked Sombra for a while now, was aroused by him but it went beyond mere physical attraction. Just being around Sombra, talking to him, laughing with him, sharing his both his joys and his pains, had meant more to Twilight than anything she'd ever felt towards a stallion. He was a former tyrant, dark sorcerer, slaver, parricide and possible sororicide. Yet he was also capable of compassion and love, showing loyalty and devotion towards those he cared for.
No more indecision or introspection.
"I said...," Twilight started, rising in her seat so that they were mere inches away from each other, their breathes intermingling. "...I love you."
Those red eyes she loved so much misted over, tears streaming down from them to wet Sombra's cheeks. His hoof lightly grazed her cheek, its featherlight caress making Twilight's heart preform backflips. He leaned down, their lips tracing each other before meeting. There was no desire behind it, only a silent promise they'd made even before the words came out of her mouth that led to this moment. A promise to love each other.
They pulled away at the same time, their chaste kiss short but powerful. Their muzzles remained close, their eyes locked and their breaths hot and heavy. A smile tugged at their mouths, followed by a chuckle as they simply gazed at each other. Nothing needed to be said. This was their moment.
"Awwww, that was so sweet!"
...And that moment was gone.
Simultaneously, they turned to find Pinkie Pie with her hooves squeezed up against her cheeks, her shimmering blue eyes growing to an almost cartoonish size. Somehow, they'd both expected this.
"You two are so cute together! I can't wait to throw you a 'I-just-said-my-first-I-love-you party!'" They watched her wildly bounce all over the room, chanting, "Twibra! Twibra!" They merely shrugged at this. It was just Pinkie being Pinkie.
"Sooooo," she drawled, a foreleg around both of their shoulders. "When's the wedding?!"
Immediately, their faces reddened. Sombra began guzzling down his wine, his eyes pleading with Twilight to answer the question as he was too occupied to do so. Twilight nervously chuckled.
"Ha-ha-ha...um, Pinkie? Don't you think it's a little early to be talking about marriage?"
Pinkie's smile dimmed somewhat. "What do you mean? You love Sombra, Sombra loves you! Everypony knows that marriage is the next step! Ooh, ooh, could I be the flower mare? No, wait, I want to be the caterer!"
Having finished his drink, Sombra cleared his throat. "Pinkie? Wasn't there something about dessert?"
The pink mare practically leapt out of her skin. "Of course! I forgot dessert!" She was gone once again, leaving behind a Pinkie-shaped cloud and a relieved-looking Twilight.
The alicorn sat back and exhaled. "Quick thinking, Sombra."
"Thank you, Precious," Sombra grinned, his smile faltering. "Could you say that again? Please?"
Twilight held back her laughter at his almost coltish tone. "I love you."
His hoof massaged her foreleg. "I love you too, Twilight Sparkle."
A pink blur interrupted them once more, this time wheeling in a covered dish. Pinkie gave Twilight a big wink as her hoof trembled over the cloche. "And for dessert, I give you..." The cloche was yanked away, revealing a loaf of rye bread containing blackberries and soaked in honey.
"...svássbrauð!"
Both mares turned to look at Sombra, who'd risen from his seat, mouth agape and hooves plodding against the floor as he approached the cart. Hesitantly, Sombra reached for the bread knife beside it, a move that caused the royal guards to ready their weapons but a warning glare from Twilight had them all stand down. Sombra stared at the loaf almost reverently, the knife hovering over the end piece. Tediously, he cut through the bread and picked up the chunk. After a few sniffs, he placed the chunk into his mouth and began to chew.
To their astonishment, Sombra began to cry, his chest heaving while rivulets poured down his face. Twilight was ready to check on him when he smiled, even letting out a little laugh as he chewed and swallowed. It looked like she and Pinkie were in for some self-congratulatory back-pats.
"How? How did you know?" Sombra asked them incredulously.
"Well, I remembered that you mentioned something about a special bread your mother used to make you as a treat, but I couldn't remember what you called it. So I did some digging in the archives and found some references to this 'svássbrauð' and searched until I found a recipe. Pinkie took care of the rest. What do you think?"
Sombra pulled Pinkie into the largest hug Twilight had ever seen out of him as Sombra wasn't a big fan of hugging. It warmed her heart to see this, especially when Pinkie giggled and squeezed him back. Setting the earth pony down, even adding a head rub for good measure, Sombra strode over to Twilight and she braced herself for The Glompening: Part 2. Instead, he lifted her up in the air so that their eyes met, his lips formed into a beam full of adoration.
"I think I'm more in love with you now than five minutes ago."
His lips mashed against her own, an unexpected but welcome surprise. Not bad for dessert.
The First Date: The Actual Date (The Final Sequel)
"I think we've seen enough," Princess Cadence concluded, wiping her eyes with a wing. A blue light emanating from her horn and the image of Sombra and Twilight shifted and distorted before vanishing completely, the blue disc popping out of existence. She turned to find her companion fighting back tears of her own.
"That was beautiful!" Rarity wailed, blowing into a tissue. "Just the best thing ever!"
Melodramatics aside, Cadence had to agree with the unicorn. To think, she'd doubted the scope of the love between Twilight and Sombra but having seen it herself, all reservations had been brushed aside and replaced with hope for the couple. Oh yes, it was awkward to be sure, having her father dating her sister-in-law but she could live with it. Love was fundamentally the best thing in life and unlike in songs or fairy tales, it was a commodity that was sadly in rare supply. Plus, they looked so darn cute together!
"It kind of reminds me of me and Shiny. The way that Sombra was looking at Twilight...Shining looks at me just like that." Cadence smiled. "I suppose I'll just have to accept it and move on."
"That's the spirit, Darling!" Rarity cheered, placing a foreleg around her. "And besides, if things continue the way that they are, you might be getting a little brother or sister soon!"
Cadence frowned. "Good night, Rarity."
"Oh come now, don't be so..."
Bamf!
"...sour," Rarity finished, having been teleported back in her room at the castle. She looked up at the ceiling and stomped a hoof. "Oh real mature!"
~*~
Princess Cadence turned and leapt off the tower, her wings extending as she took to the sky. Once the young alicorn was out of sight, Princess Celestia lowered her camouflage field and stepped to the edge of the roof. Through the window across from her, she could make out two ponies engaged in a slow dance, their bodies tightly pressed together. A sliver of envy entered the Princess of the Sun's chest and she swallowed a lump of heartache. Embers steadily began to coalesce and flow from her mane, her rainbow-colored locks erupting into flames as smoke billowed from flaring nostrils.
She hadn't been lying when she said she'd felt nothing from kissing Sombra. The technique, taste and feel of his lips on her own was divine yet lacked the spark of their previous kisses. Celestia's love hadn't gone away and she couldn't figure out why the experience was so underwhelming. She may've lacked Cadence's empathic abilities but that didn't mean she couldn't pick up on the obvious amorous connection between Twilight and Sombra. Just the way that they looked into each other's eyes and made physical contact caused her skin to crawl.
As much as she loved her student and ersatz-daughter, Princess Celestia found herself glaring at the purple mare with anger and jealousy. Why? Why did Sombra choose Twilight? What was so alluring about Twilight Sparkle that made Sombra forget all recollection of her? He was her husband and her mate first! Yet he treated those facts like they didn't matter!
Well, it looked like she was going to have to remind him of that fact.
Taking a deep breath, Princess Celestia steadied her breathing, the flames changing back to flowing, rainbow-colored hair. She gave the couple one last baleful glance before teleporting away in a golden flash. Sombra would be hers again soon enough....
~*~
Twilight sighed as she and Sombra swayed from side to side, the gentle, slow-paced big band music emanating from a nearby gramophone. Bending towards each other on their hindlegs, they kept a foreleg wrapped around the other and their heads on the other's shoulder. There was were some adjustments to be made given their height differences but they made it work. She noticed some of the guards gently bobbing along to the music and bit her lip to keep from laughing. It was good to see them relaxing around them since they'd been so high-strung around Sombra earlier. Surely by now, they had to know that he'd never hurt her, right?
"You know," Sombra mumbled by her ear. "This has to be the best day I'd had in a very long time."
Words failed Twilight, a lump appearing in her throat at hearing those words so she settled for a mere, "Mmm-hmm," and nuzzled up against Sombra's cheek. She blinked away the tears of joy that'd formed and took a whiff of pine-scented musk. He was her stallion. Her love. Her King.
What fine offspring we'll make, hmm?
Sombra must've felt her jolt because he pulled back to give her a worried stare. "Twilight, are you alright?"
Sombra chuckled and took his jacket off, draping it over Twilight's shoulders. "Is that better?"
It was soft, warm and covered in his scent. "Much better..." she sighed breathily.
Pulling her into his embrace, Sombra chuckled, "Anything for you, Twilight."
A guard cleared his throat. "It's nearly four o' clock, Your Highness."
Twilight jerked her head to face him. "Really? Wow, the time went by fast!" She turned towards Sombra and gave him an apologetic look. "I want to stay longer. I'm so sorry."
Sombra nodded and kissed her forehead right below the horn. "Don't be. I wouldn't trade this for anything in the world."
The guards gathered around them, one of the female guards leading Twilight away as the others surrounded Sombra. He stared past them and smiled softly at her. "Thank you for the perfect day, Twilight. I love you."
"I love you too, Sombra," Twilight uttered as she was escorted out of the room. The journey down the tower and through the castle was mercifully silent, as Twilight wasn't in the mood to talk. Thankfully, her guard had nothing to say but kept peeking sideways glances at her. Was it because of what she witnessed between Twilight and Sombra? Did she disapprove of their relationship or was she seeing the truth that they were happy and in love?
They were halfway to Twilight's bedroom when Pinkie Pie came bounding up to them, her usual carefree grin adorning her face. She skidded to a stop and leaned over to Twilight.
"Sooooo….how was it?!"
"It was..." Sad? Arguably the greatest day of her life? "...magical," she finished lamely.
Pinkie, bless her heart, was oblivious to Twilight's sorrow. "Yes! Operation: Give-Sombra-And-Twilight-The-Best-Date-Ever was a smashing success!"
"Yeah it was, Pinkie. Thank you for everything."
"Your welcome, Twilight! So did you two kiss? Are there any wedding bells a-ringing?"
"Pinkie," Twilight intoned a little more forcefully. "I'm tired and I want to go to bed. I'll talk to you in the morning."
If Pinkie noticed the edge in her friend's voice, she didn't show it. "Okey-dokey-lokey, Twilight! Good night!" Pinkie bounced away, loudly humming "Mendelsstud’s Wedding March."
Bidding her guard good night, Twilight shut the door behind her and sluggishly levitated her dress off. Washing her face, she brushed her teeth and crawled into bed, feeling a mash-up between depression and elation. "Deprelation," perhaps? She'd just been on the best date ever with the stallion that she loved and who had had as much fun as she had. However, it saddened her that they couldn't go out whenever they wanted, that he was locked up while she roamed free.
You could break him out.
Twilight sprang up in bed. No, she mustn't continue with that line of thought! Whatever her feelings towards her coltfriend, Sombra was dangerous and needed to be contained. Princess Celestia may've kept Twilight in the dark about aspects of Sombra's past but he was still a dark magician with a serious score to settle with the elder alicorn. It was a terrible truth but one that Twilight couldn't be blind to. If Sombra ever got out, he would kill Celestia.
"B-but I can change him, can't I?"
I think the real question is, do you want to?
"Why wouldn't I?"
Because you secretly love the darker parts of him. It thrills you to have such a menace as your coltfriend.
"Well...maybe a little..."
Admit it, you desire him as he is: dark, bold, tameless as the sea and just as deadly.
Twilight was losing this battle with her conscious. "Yes but I can still save him."
Can you? Let me ask you this: can you save somepony that doesn't WANT to be saved?
Lacking a sufficient answer, Twilight pulled the covers over herself and after a brief struggle, drifted off to sleep, her dreams comprised of cold and darkness.
~*~
The cell door latched behind Sombra and the guards filed out the door, with Gleaming Helm giving him a little wave. Sombra snorted at this. He was a bit of a wimp and doltish, but he wasn't half bad. Sighing deeply, Sombra carefully shed his dinner wear, folded it up neatly and slumped onto his cot, his belly full and his heart full of cheer. All in all, it'd been a great day, the best perhaps.
"She loves me," he said aloud, his lips tingling as he pronounced the words. "Twilight Sparkle loves me." He searched his memory and couldn't find anything that came close to matching that moment, save for discovering the existence of his supposedly-dead daughter. Sombra had done it. He found first a friend, then a lover who accepted him for who he is, sordid past and all.
Exhaling, Sombra placed his hooves behind his head and relaxed into his cot. The future was still unknown to him, however for the first time in a long time, he was focused on the present. He may've lost his magic, had his freedom stripped from him and denied his rightful vengeance but he wasn't alone. He had his Twilight.
Something clattered and Sombra jolted out of his cot. Slowly approaching the floor near his desk, he noticed a piece of coal that hadn't been there before. Placing it once more on the desk, he was about to walk away when the coal was surrounded in a black aura. His horn vibrated slightly and the aura intensified, little purple bubbles radiating off of it. The glow vanished but Sombra's grin remained.
In the village situated on Hnefaleikarinn, a collection of ponies went about their daily routines, either tilling the ground, spinning yarn for clothing or constructing baskets. Amongst themselves, they were known as the Skuggafæddur or “Shadow-born,” named so for their unique ability to become living shadows. The other equine races, such as the crystal ponies that neighbored them to west, called them "umbrums," a title that held no significant meaning to them but one they simply went with out of convenience. It wasn't their fault if the others couldn't pronounce their given name.
In the center of the village, an umbrum mother was washing clothing in a brass basin filled with hot water. She curiously watched as her young son was swinging a stick at imaginary foes.
"Sombra, what are you doing?"
The colt stared up at his mother. Like the other members of her race, Persephone possessed a thick, dark gray coat, red eyes and a black mane, which she kept styled in a long braid banded with iron rings.
Raising the twig aloft, Sombra declared, "I'm going to be a great warrior like Father and Father says that great warriors always train."
Persephone smiled. "That's right, little one."
The nearby banging from the village forge halted and a stallion with a braided beard approached the two, wiping his brow with a cloth as he took a seat next to Persephone and planted a kiss on her cheek. Weland was the chief village blacksmith and one of the finest warriors of their tribe, his scarred body a testament to his many battles. He chuckled deeply and peered at his son.
"So tell me, what makes a great warrior?"
Sombra clambered onto his father's lap, his hooves clutching at his filthy apron.
"Being the biggest and the strongest!"
Weland shook his head. "No, but it certainly helps. What makes a warrior is his mind."
The colt stared up at him in puzzlement. "I don't understand."
"I wouldn't expect you to." Weland shifted on the log-seat, bringing Sombra up higher on his chest. "You see, to beat your enemy, you have to out-think him. Guess what moves he makes before he makes them and turn his weaknesses against him. Only then can victory be yours."
Sombra knitted his brow. "I still don't understand, Father."
"One day you will, my son. And on that day, Woden help your enemies."
~*~
Sombra groaned and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. Today was another day of training and he hurried in getting out of bed, neatly folding up his blankets and exiting the cave. Grimoire didn't allow him to stay at the temple, something about helping to toughen him up for training. Instead, he was directed to a cave on the other side of the island, one that was dangerously close to the crashing waves of the sea. It was ridiculous but Sombra understood the reasoning.
Maleficium, or dark magic, Grimoire explained to him, drew on the darkest parts of a pony's thoughts and emotions, using their anger, hatred and even despair to fuel their spells. The stronger the emotions, the stronger and, more importantly, the deadlier the magic. Nearly two years had passed and Sombra's skills had grown exponentially, though to Grimoire, he was a passable student. Naturally, Sombra kept the Rödd skugga a secret from his teacher, having chosen to conceal it from the old fool from the very beginning and would never reveal its existence. During the day, he studied under Grimoire's tutelage but at night, he poured over the pages of the black tome, combining both the old wizard's teachings and the book's lessons.
In all of Sombra's travels and with all of his various instructors, he learned one, very crucial rule: the student must never outshine the teacher. He held back while in Grimoire's sight, appearing as full of potential but not fully gifted. If he'd shown his capabilities right then and there, Grimoire wouldn't have underestimated, and thus, trusted him enough with his secrets. That way, the longer Sombra could draw out his training, properly hone his skills and prepare himself for his return to Equestria. Revenge was all the more gratifying if his victims didn't know that it was coming.
Making the arduous climb up the temple's steps he did every morning and night, Sombra entered the main throne room and bowed before the seated conjurer, lightly huffing from the trek. Grimoire nodded, his cue for Sombra to rise as he pulled himself from his throne, circling the younger stallion.
"Tell me, what are the tenants of maleficium?"
"You must embrace your hatred; hatred is what drives you. You must own your fear but never let it consume you; those that are consumed by their fear are weak. You must wield your anger like a blade against your foes; keep your blade sharp and you will conquer your enemies. You must feed your desires; those that starve their desires have no right to exist. You must be strong; strength is the difference between life and death. You must have power; only through power can victory be obtained. You must have victory; without it, your training has meant nothing."
The edges of Grimoire's lips curled up. "Good. Very good. And what is dark magic?"
"Dark magic is the tool of the strong. The strong are the inheritors of the weak. The weak are the victims of fear. Fear is the path to power. Power is the means to achieve victory. Victory belongs to the strong, the powerful and the fearless. And strength, power and mastery over fear lead to dark magic. Through dark magic, I am freed from my bonds."
Sombra recited, inscribing the words in his heart and mind. Despite his treachery, he had respect for Grimoire's teachings, so much so that he modified them, improved on them. Victory did indeed belong to the strong, powerful and fearless, but first, you must have one key component: intelligence. If you lacked intelligence, you couldn't realize your strength, figure out your own power or find the insight to conquer your fear. Victory was only obtained by those whose ambitions were clear enough to grasp it.
"You have learned well, Sombra," Grimoire praised, ending his rotation. "Very soon, you will be ready to aid me in conquering Equestria. Our master will be pleased."
Sombra turned towards the old stallion in confusion. "What master?"
Grimoire's burnt husk of a horn weakly glowed, the sorcerer letting out a pained hiss as it crackled and ebbed with magic. A nearby black staff rattled in place before floating over to him. Taking a hold of the staff, he puffed as the glow around his horn fizzled out and he leaned up against the staff for support. It was a sad sight to see a once-renowned wizard reduced to such a feeble state.
"Tell me, have you ever heard of Grogar?"
"The Father of Monsters? Yes, every foal in Equestria knows that story. But he's dead."
Grimoire's eyes enlarged, a mad look dominating his face. "Oh no, my apprentice. Emperor Grogar is alive. He is merely trapped in between worlds, his magic weakened by those meddlesome fools Gusty the Great and Clover the Clever. I've heard his call."
Sombra knew that Grimoire's mind had been going for quite some time, no doubt as a result of his age and twenty-year isolation on this island. Now he was claiming that he was in contact with a dead warlock. It was hard for Sombra to decide whether he was disgusted by Grimoire or pitied him.
"A new power is rising," Grimoire continued, hobbling back to his throne. "Everypony thinks that Emperor Grogar is gone but this isn’t so. He’s merely waiting, waiting for the opportune moment to seize back control over his empire. There is only one choice before us: we must join him. It would be wise, Sombra."
The time for waiting was over.
"I would be honored to serve His Majesty Emperor Grogar," Sombra stated with a bow, much to Grimoire's delight. "Through him, our vengeance will finally be realized."
Grimoire leaned forward on his throne, eyes alight with joyful madness. "I knew you would agree. We are visionaries, you and I. We see the truth behind the hypocritical lies of the aristocracy. Together, we three will burn Canterlot to the ground and from the ashes, a new Equestria will arise, a better one." He then clapped his hooves. "Bring me the wine. We shall drink to victory!"
Bowing once more, Sombra quickly collected a bottle from the wine rack and two goblets. As per his "training," Grimoire had Sombra harvest Starlock berries, one of the few plants capable of growing on the island, and using it to make his wine. Under his teacher's watchful gaze, he selected the ripest berries, cleaned them, stomped them into juice via a large wooden tub. After fermentation, he bottled the juice and gave Grimoire a sample, splitting it with him to prove that nothing poisonous had been added to the mixture. The elder stallion was old but not foolish.
Pouring the latest batch into the goblets, Sombra levitated them over, his magical aura popping around the vessels. He floated one to Grimoire, who shook his head and pointed to the other one.
"Just to be certain," Grimoire uttered, his horn crackling and flashing a weak light as the other goblet was slowly pulled over to him. It wobbled in the air and nearly dropped a couple of times but he managed to get it to his hoof without spilling it. "To our new alliance and the destruction of the Royal Family."
"To Grogar."
"To Grogar!"
They both downed the wine, Grimoire watching Sombra all the while before his goblet too was empty. He smacked his lips and grinned. "Your best work, my apprentice. Very well done."
Sombra nodded, a sly smirk appearing. "Thank you, my master but I had a bit of help."
The old stallion's brow furrowed. "Oh? From whom?"
"Not so much a 'whom' as a 'what.' Did you know that Starlock also goes by the name of Blue Viper's Kiss? The berries are harmless but the juice from the roots? It's very...toxic."
Grimoire's eyes bulged, his mouth flopping open and shutting, a horrible gasping croak rattling in his throat. His hooves flew to his neck, hacking violently as he fought to get oxygen into his constricted airways. He pitched forward, toppling onto the floor, gagging and coughing out globs of blue-colored spittle. His bloodshot eyes found Sombra's, his face contorting into a snarl.
"You...you..."
Sombra watched him curiously, having never seen the effects of this particular poison in person.
"Yes, me. Incidentally, gradual exposure to the root can result in immunity to the poison's effects."
The unicorn then began convulsing on the floor, his limbs jerking and bending as he flopped around like a fish out of water. His throat swollen up, he could only manage weak heaving and muted screeching, blue liquid dribbling down his lips and beard. Pointing a trembling hoof accusingly at Sombra, Grimoire shook and trembled a few more times before going still, his facial muscles twitching while his eyes rolled back in their sockets. His hindlegs ceased kicking, his hooves finished digging groves into the floor. A couple of last shudders of his chest and his head lolled over to the side, signifying the end of Grimoire Incantatus.
Taking a moment to inspect the corpse, Sombra closed Grimoire's eyes and wordlessly conveyed his farewell to his teacher. Although cruel, it was necessary, as the sorcerer's damaged horn hindered his magic and coupled with his age and growing mental instability made him unreliable as an ally. If anything, Sombra performed him a mercy. As for his "alliance" with Grogar? Well, Sombra had no time for a madpony's delusions. He had his own plans in mind.
Grimoire's stash of spell books and magical relics was pitiful but not fruitless. The Enumeration of Hexes and Thulsa Groom's Rites of Necromancy would service him well. He found the lost Girdle of Morgan le Hay as well as the Seven-League Horseshoes of Shadowfax the Swift. Those might have a use later so Sombra set them aside. Lady Amalthea’s Mirror of Truth dispelled even the strongest illusion and glamour spells, showing an individual or object as they truly were.
When Sombra looked into the mirror, however, he found only a smoky, black blob. He shrugged, concluding that it wouldn't serve much of a practical use and covered it back up with a dusty old cloth. Nearby whispering drew his attention to a sword with a black blade and he found himself peering at the infamous Black Sword of Elric of Melniponé, which was said to steal the souls of those it slew. It called out to him, promising him his heart's desire if he picked it up but he ignored it. Even in his vengeful heart, he wasn't foolish enough to meddle with something that dangerous.
Wait, what's that?
On the bust of a nondescript pony, he found a circlet forged from silver and bearing blade-like barbs. He couldn't believe it. Here was the Crown of Timorus, an object said to grant its wearer the power to see the greatest fears of his enemies. Encapsulating it in his magic, Sombra placed it on his head, its eldritch power flowing into him. Yes, this would serve him well.
Sombra climbed down the steps of the temple, daring to look behind him at the conflagration. After plundering the rest of the temple, he had poured various potions and concoctions all through the halls before setting the chemicals ablaze. Then, gathering Grimoire's bed sheets, wrapped the dead sorcerer in them and tossed him from the top of the temple. It'd be the closest thing to an honorable burial that Grimoire would ever receive. Deciding that he'd lingered long enough, Sombra descended the rest of the stairs without looking back.
His boat loaded with the Rödd skugga and the other books and relics, Sombra took one last fleeting glance at the island. The fire still raged at the top of the temple, giving the skull-shaped mountain the appearance of being alive. In a strange way, he'd miss both the island as well as its owner, having become accustomed to them over a two-year period. Still, that was the past and he had to move forward. Steadily rowing, Sombra floated away from the island, watching it slowly vanish in the perpetual fog that surrounded it until it faded from view.
Masking the unexpected return of his magic was not difficult for Sombra. Flash Sentry would spend barely even a minute in the dungeon with him and Twilight was busy at the moment, leaving him all alone to experiment to his heart's content. His magic, unfortunately didn't come back all at once, initially just basic telekinesis and being out a practice for a year meant that it wasn't at its full potential. Slowly but surely, his strength increased as did the weight load, switching from a book to his cot. Why Sombra chose to remain tightlipped about this was due to a myriad of reasons.
For starters, he preferred to have an ace up his metaphorical sleeve. Should Celestia ever decide that he should be permanently placed into isolation or threaten him like she did that one night, he'd like to be able to "persuade" her not to do so. Then there was the secretive aspect, relishing in keeping this hidden for himself. For so long, Sombra's magical prowess had defined him, even in his life as Prince Tourmaline and losing it made him realize how much of himself he'd lost that day. Much like a long-lost child, he wanted to keep a tight hold on it and never let it go.
Regrettably, if Twilight knew about the return of his magic, she'd alert her precious teacher and he'd suffer the consequences, meaning that his marefriend had to be kept in the dark with everypony else. There was a nagging voice at the back of his mind that said even though they loved each other, she didn't like his usage of dark magic and would no doubt try to change him. Sombra stared ruefully down at Twilight's photograph. As much as she meant the world to him, he knew where her loyalties truly lied and it was with Equestria, not him. It hurt but it had to be done.
Taking a deep breath, Sombra focused on the spot, his horn slowly filling with energy. A small dot appeared on the stone floor, steadily growing until it formed a black crystal no bigger than a tooth. Sombra concentrated, beads of sweat appearing on his brow, his jaws clamping together as he poured everything he had into the crystal. It crackled and expanded, forming two mini-crystals, shifting to become two inches tall before the strain became too much. He disengaged, panting heavily as his chest burned and his horn ached from the effort.
Chattering on the other side of the door made Sombra's heart pound, his nerves twinging with apprehension at being discovered. He hastily levitated his cot back into place and arranged the blankets so that the surface beneath the cot was concealed. The door was slightly ajar and Sombra snatched up a random book, flopping atop his cot and managing to crack the book open just as the door swung open to reveal Celestia herself. She finished chatting with some royal guard before turning to the prisoner, apparently unaware of his recent activity.
"Hello Sombra," Celestia greeted with her usual friendliness, though Sombra wasn't buying it.
"Celestia," he responded. "How can I help you? You don't visit unless there's an ulterior motive."
"'Motive?'" Celestia parroted, genuinely confused. "Is it so wrong that I'd want to see you?"
"Yes."
She frowned and it took all of Sombra's willpower to resist a smirk. "I know you don't trust me-..."
"Understatement of the millennium."
"-...but I do care about you." Celestia was right next to the bars. "Are you alright? You're sweating."
"It's hot in here," Sombra said without hesitation, having thought of a lie and thought it up quick.
Celestia bought it. "I'm sorry to hear that but there's nothing I can do."
"So why are you here? And don't say that it's because of my health."
One golden flash later and Celestia was in the cell with him. Sombra navigated himself backwards, ensuring that his body was blocking the bed and the black crystal that'd sprouted up underneath it. He stared suspiciously at the mare. "Now what are you doing?"
"I wanted to be close to you," she replied morosely, taking a step forward. "Why are you so cruel to me?"
Sombra didn't have time for this. "I thought we already settled this. I let you kiss me and you said you didn't feel anything."
"I didn't! B-but I still love you." Pink, watery eyes searched his. "Maybe if we tried again-..."
"No! It's over, done!" Sombra waved a hoof between them. "You and I...we're finished. I have somepony else now. Do you understand?"
Celestia was in tears. "But we're married! I am your wife!"
"You were," Sombra acerbically spat. "Our vow was 'till death do us part' and I fulfilled that stipulation. Or did you forget that you sent your student and her friends to kill me?"
"I'm sorry! I thought I was doing what was right!"
"No, you did what you thought was right for you!"
All semblance of dignity and poise was lost, leaving Celestia resembling like a regular, brokenhearted mare. Her chest was heaving, tears steadily rolling down her cheeks. If Sombra had any pity left for her, he wouldn't show it. He refused to budge even an inch for his mortal enemy. He tried being reasonable, he tried anger and even compassion but nothing worked. This mare was a lost puppy jumping at a bone that she couldn't reach and never would.
While he had her attention, Sombra rubbed salt in the wound. "Congratulations Celestia, you finished the work your vile mother started only this umbrum ending up coming back."
Tremulously, Celestia's gaze narrowed, her teeth bared in a grimace. "Don't you...ever...speak an unkind word...about my...mother!"
"Your beloved mother was a coldhearted, vicious, vindictive-..."
"Stop it..."
"-...bloody-thirsty, war-mongering, greedy-..."
"Stop it!"
"-...egomaniacal she-devil that ripped apart whole families just for her own sick pleasure!"
"Stop it!"
An intense flare of magic smacked Sombra square in the chest, sending him colliding with the wall, pinning him against the mortar. Through his pain, he witnessed the alicorn radiating with golden energy, her mane and tail streaks of fire. Slitted orange eyes zeroed in on him, burning with intense rage the likes of which he'd never seen before. Her breathing was ragged, uneven as she appeared to contemplate something, something that was no doubt horrible. Then, just as suddenly as it came, the energy died down, the flames receding to their normal rainbow colors.
Sombra was released from the hold he'd been in and sank to the cot, a slight twinge of fear touching his heart. She could've killed him, he realized. She wanted to kill him. Celestia blinked, trading the orange eyes for her regular pink ones. She stared around at the aftermath of her outburst, noticing the scattered books and toppled furniture before her gaze found him, remorse and horror quickly taking ahold of her.
"I...I didn't mean to..." Celestia's tears resumed. She moved as though to try to comfort him but kept her distance. "I just couldn't stand to hear you talk about Mother like that. It...it wasn't her fault! I was only a filly! How was I supposed to know that my mother would take my words to heart!"
Slowly, Sombra encroached on Celestia's personal space, standing four feet in front of her.
"What are you talking about?"
Celestia didn't appear to notice him, staring past him, past the wall, as though piercing time and space with the vacancy of her gaze. "It was during the last year of the War. I was so young. Father was on the front lines so I never saw him. I wanted us to be a family again..."
More than a thousand years ago...
The filly giggled at the doll flopping around in her baby sister's hooves, hitting the floor as she began to gnaw on one of the legs. Celestia loved playing with Luna, enjoyed watching the yearling thrash and throw her toys. Their father was leading some big grown up's fight while their mother was either talking to her advisors or staring out the castle window. That left just Luna and sure, she was too little to play the kinds of games Celestia wanted to play but she was excited that she'd one day teach them to her. Celestia gently pried the doll away with her magic and floated it above Luna's head, making it do a little jig and eliciting amused laughter from the infant.
Nearby, Queen Concordia sat moodily, watching her daughters. She envied their innocence but also thanked Faust for it, as the Umbrum-Draconequus War as they were calling it, had taken so much already. King Solaris, her husband and their father, had insisted on leading the war effort personally and every day she feared that she'd be delivered the news all wives feared to receive. Alicorns, as the populace was generally unaware, were not in fact gods and most certainly not immortal, instead merely having been granted eternal youth and a very prolonged lifespan. They themselves learned this the hard way during the Destruction of Alicornia and the near-extinction of their race.
Concordia had begged Solaris not to go but with that charming confidence of his, assured her that his draconequui guards would keep him safe and able to return to her and their daughters. He sealed this proclamation with a kiss, vowing to return to her once the war was over and peace was achieved. That was two years ago. He would briefly stop by with updates but those were often months apart. She was beginning to fear that the war would never end.
"Your Majesty." The chamberlain was a light reddish-brown unicorn-as were most of the castle staff-with black markings around his mouth and limbs and a wavy, teal-blue mane. He was garbed in a dark green doublet and feathered cap, a large golden key pined to his chest served as a reminder of his position. "There is a soldier here from the front line with news of your husband."
Concordia's chest ached, her throat dry. "Send him in."
The chamberlain motioned to a young pegasus no older than fourteen but possessed the battle-weariness seen in his elders. His right ear, temple and part of his cheek were covered in burns, leaving the skin bare and his armor was severely dented and scratched. It was regrettable that somepony so young had been reduced to such a state but that was the price of war. He bowed before Concordia, his movements slow and stiff, as if he were racked with pain and trying not to worsen it.
"Rise," Concordia bid him, feeling her chest tighten with every passing second. "What news do you have?"
"Your Majesty," the pegasus began mournfully. "Your husband, King Solaris...was slain in battle."
The queen toppled forward, seizing ahold of the back of her chair and supporting herself on the chamberlain's shoulder. She knew it. Deep down she knew it but held onto to the foolish hope that she'd been worried over nothing. "Are you certain?"
Nodding grimly, the pegasus replied, "I witnessed it myself, Your Majesty. He fought bravely but the enemy was too strong and he was eventually overwhelmed." He then added, "His...his guards were not with him."
Concordia snapped her head up. "What do you mean?"
"They...they were separated. Called to the other side of the battlefield."
"Thank you, that will be all."
The pegasus bowed and was led out by the chamberlain, the doors booming as they shut behind them. Concordia slumped back into her chair, her body numb but somehow able to feel everything. Colors blurred, sounds faded, the whole world spinning around her like a top. Her Solaris was dead and the war still raging...all because of those loathsome umbrums and the equally rotten draconequui. Anger and sorrow resided in her chest but hatred overpowered them.
"Mother?"
She became aware of a tiny hoof clutching at her skirt. Celestia stared confusingly up at her.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
Levitating the filly into her lap, Concordia held her tightly to her chest. "Your father is gone, my dearest. He is never coming home." Her voice quivered, her throat feeling raw. "The umbrums took him away." She wept and pulled Celestia in closer, sobbing at the loss of her true love.
"No, not Father! He promised he'd come home! He promised!"
"I know, little one. I know."
"I hate them! Why can't they all just go away? They should all die!"
Slowly, Concordia peeled Celestia away to glance down at the filly, her countenance vacant.
"You're right, dearest." she said tonelessly. "Yes...they should, shouldn't they?"
Present Day
Sombra could only gawk wide-eyed as Celestia finished her tale, sniffling and viciously wiping at her eyes. He stumbled backwards, catching himself and teetering left and right to try to keep his balance. Hearing such an admission had left him stunned, his mind scrambling to gain its bearings. All this time, he'd blamed Concordia for Dravite Hill, citing her as a cruel, remorseless mass murderer. Now it turns out that she was merely the fire and Celestia the one who held the matches.
"It was you..." Celestia shook her head tearfully but Sombra wasn't dissuaded. "It was you all along."
"No, I didn't mean to..."
"You did it!" Sombra began breathing heavily, scarlet eyes alight with anger at the deceit and subsequent revalation. "You killed my family, my whole race! And this whole time you knew and let the blame fall on another's shoulders!"
Celestia reached out to him. "Sombra, please it wasn't like that..."
Sombra smacked the hoof away and Celestia recoiled from his sudden aggressive display. He soon paced around her in a predatory fashion. "My family would still be alive if it wasn't for you. I wouldn't have become the monster I am if you hadn't loosed your mother on us!"
"I didn't know. I-I was young and angry. Please, I didn't-..."
He abruptly stopped, his back facing her. "Leave me. I don't want you in my sight."
"Sombra-..."
The umbrum whirled on her, lips curled around his bared fangs. "I SAID LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Celestia had never teleported away faster than she did then.
Purple haze flowed from Sombra's eyes. "Let it be war upon you, Celestia Solaria. May your death be my wergild."
The Forbidden Jungle lay towards the southern tip of Equestria, a dense forest stretching for miles with the Badlands on one side and the sea on the other. Deep in the collection of thickets and tangled flora, a group of changelings journeyed to a mountain towards the center of the jungle, their black carapaces slick with cooling secretions. Leading the band was their monarch Queen Chelicerae, her purple eyes fiercely purveying the area from atop her litter. She'd been invited by a mysterious party to attend a meeting of Equestria's enemies, promising her vengeance against the Three Tribes and their precious alicorn leaders. Doubting the concept of an ambush, she nevertheless brought with her a troop of fifty changeling soldiers not only to be cautious but also to show her own might.
Above them, a great loomed overhead and the platoon halted, the litter-bearers kneeling down so that Queen Chelicerae could plant her three good limbs onto the ground. Despite her lame left hindleg, she held herself with dignity and lightly hobbled to address her second-in-command.
"General Pleuron!"
A red-crested changeling in purple armor bowed his head. "Your Majesty."
"Come, let us introduce ourselves."
She strode arrogantly towards the mountain with General Pleuron silently tailing her, arriving at the mouth of a great cave at the mountain's base. Inside, a series of wall-mounted torches lit the tunnel and soon they found they way into a giant cavern, the stalactite-covered ceiling rising three hundred feet above their heads. A being made of molten rock and flames was in a heated discussion-pun not intended-with a cyclops while a large diamond dog sat silently amongst four others of his race. At the other end, a trio of bat-ponies were hissing to each other in their native tongue before their heads darted to stare at the newcomers, the eyeshine of their retinas making their eyes glow in the dim light.
Known also as cavalums and thestrals, they were similar to pegasi except for their thicker coats, bat-like wings, tall pointed ears and enlarged canines. Bat-ponies were hematophagous; they drank blood instead of eating fruits or grains, making them unwelcome in Equestrian society. The tallest of the bat-ponies approached the changelings, his hooves carrying him soundlessly across the cavern floor. He was pale white with a bald head and glowing yellow eyes that contained almond-shaped pupils. He was dressed all in black and unlike his kin, his fangs were located at the front of his mouth side-by-side, giving him a rat-like appearance.
General Pleuron stepped forward to intercept the bat-pony but Queen Chelicerae held him back. The bat-pony's wings twitched as he addressed Chelicerae, speaking with a strange accent.
"Are you the one who called us here?"
"No, I am not. I am Queen Chelicerae of the changelings."
The bat-pony's head jerked slightly as he bowed it. "I am Orlok, king of the thestrals or 'bat-ponies' as we are called." By the tone in his voice, he didn't particularly care for the designation.
"I see," Queen Chelicerae replied softly, pouring on the charm. "It is an honor to meet you."
"Can someone tell me who arranged this?!" The molten creature boomed.
"Be silent, fire-spawn!" The largest of the diamond dogs hissed. "Black Shuck did not bid you to speak!"
Flames burst from in between the cracks in the molten being's armor-like hide. "I am Lavan, king of the fire demons and I will not be commanded by a filthy mutt!"
"Ex-king," the cyclops, Brontes, haughtily pointed out. "You rule over an extinct race in a dead realm."
"I will burn you to cinders!"
"ENOUGH!"
They all turned. A unicorn appeared on a ledge one hundred feet above their heads. Even the cyclops had to strain to look up at him. The stallion leapt, transforming into a wispy shadow that descended onto the center of the cavern's floor and rematerializing. Queen Chelicerae's eyes widened at the newcomer, not trusting her sight but forced to accept the truth. The unicorn was dark gray with a black mane and a red, curved horn protruded from his head.
Red eyes darted from one attendee to the next. "I summoned you all here."
"That's not possible," Queen Chelicerae uttered. "The umbrums were all destroyed in the war!"
The stallion turned towards her. "I am Sombra, the last umbrum."
"For what purpose did you bring us here?" Brontes demanded.
Sombra addressed the whole group. "We have all of us been wronged by the Three Tribes and their precious alicorns. Our races killed or even wiped out, our homes taken from us, forcing many of you into less-than-ideal living arrangements."
"Indeed," Orlok nodded. "Before, my kind dwelled in the lands of our forefathers before King Solaris forced us out and dubbed it 'Canterlot.' Ponies fear and despise us, claiming that we steal their foals in the night."
Queen Chelicerae roared, "Changelings used to live all over Equestria but thanks to the ponies, we're forced into swamps and the deepest forests, starving and deprived of our main food source. Oh sure, we could leave, but Equestria is ours! We should not have to flee! We are changelings!"
"Diamond dogs claimed much of Equestria's underground but ponies think of us as stupid mongrels that don't need their underground. Black Shuck has asked Queen Concordia for more land but she refuses!"
"King Solaris personally killed many cyclopes during the War," Brontes growled. "We now are few in number."
"That's better than I!" Lavan proclaimed. "I once led an army of ten thousand strong, ready to turn the world to ash. Now I have only myself and a burning desire to destroy everything lush and green."
"And that," Sombra enunciated. "Is why you're all here today. I wish to propose an alliance between all of us. Aid me in conquering the Crystal Empire and soon, the rest of Equestria."
"Why should we listen to you?" General Pleuron spoke for the first time since entering the cavern. "You were but a colt when the War concluded. We changelings sided with the umbrums but they lost and we suffered for it." He stood beside Chelicerae, who stared pitifully at her lame hind-leg.
"So that's it? You're just going to give up and allow Concordia and her ilk to stroll freely over your territories?" Sombra turned to each and every one of them. "One loss and you're ready to cower?"
"I cower before no one!" Lavan slammed a stone fist against his chest.
Sombra grinned, purple smoke swirling from his eyes. "Then help me storm the Crystal Empire and together, Equestria will fall. You will all get your retribution, your homes. No longer will you hide in the shadows or swamps. Show the ponies why stealing your lands was a mistake."
"There are five alicorns in charge. Can you face them all?" Brontes asked skeptically.
"I can and I will. They may be powerful but they are also arrogant. Peacetime has turned them into a freshly put-out bonfire: all smoke and no flames. Besides, with the time that's passed, they won't expect us to rise up against them. By conquering the Crystal Empire, we'll take out two of their own and show Concordia that we're a force to be reckoned with."
The stallion spoke with such vigor and conviction that Queen Chelicerae found herself unexpectedly moved. "I will join your campaign. May the streets run red with the blood of alicorns."
"My flames will scorch the earth so that nothing grows again," Lavan intoned, pounding his chest.
"Black Shuck agrees to your alliance. Ponies will fear the wrath of the diamond dogs!"
Brontes knelt before Sombra. "I will send word to my people. We are yours to command."
The three bat-ponies screeched to one another before Orlok nodded towards the other male in his group. "In the name of our sovereign Orlok the First, I, Eclipse of the Clan Nightfall, do formally acquiesce to your proposal."
"How do we conquer the Crystal empire?" Queen Chelicerae enquired eagerly.
Sombra's eyes glowed a sinister green. "Leave that to me."
~*~
The wind ripped through Sombra's mane as howling gales reverberated throughout the seemingly endless ivory plains of the Frozen North. Ignoring the frigid temperature and the gusts of winds, he continued his trek through the four-inch deep snow, the spires of the Crystal Empire looming just overhead. A mix of both triumph and trepidation entered his heart but he ignored them, choosing instead to march forward as if nothing happened. Movement entered his peripheral and he cocked his head slightly to the left, his gaze fixed onto the silvery, blue-gray shapes that stopped to glare at him. Ice-wargs: giant wolves that roamed the expanse of the tundra and served as the bane of many wayward travelers.
The largest one, whom Sombra took to be the pack leader, stepped forward to lock its gold-speckled brown eyes on him. Sombra returned the stare and after a minute of unflinching eye contact, the lead ice-warg turned and with a toss of its head, directed its packmates to follow it as it vanished into the fog. With a faint smirk, Sombra continued on his journey. Neither pony nor beast shall impede me on my quest. My cause is just.
It wasn't long before he'd arrived at the entrance to the Crystal Empire and placed a hoof on one of the howlite beams, flooding his mind with memories he had assumed long dead and buried. Shaking his head, Sombra freed himself from the haze of nostalgia and found himself facing two crystal ponies in royal guard armor. They jabbed their spears at him threateningly.
"Halt! Who goes there?" The first one barked.
"Identify yourself!" The second one added.
"Sombra Darkhame, here to see the king and queen."
They shared puzzled looks between them before the first one spoke up. "We've never heard of you."
"Good."
A green glow filled Sombra's eyes, its ebbing light drawing the royal guards in, their jaws going slack and their eyes drawn wide open. They swayed slightly, their eyes briefly becoming green as they fell into a trance. Sombra's voice was distant but soothing.
"Is General Sunstone still alive?"
"Yes," the first guard droned. "But he retired a year ago."
"General Azurite has taken over his position," the second guard answered.
"Excellent. Now, listen to me very carefully..."
~*~
The copper-colored stallion stared morosely into the fireplace, his thoughts as wild and searing as the crackling flames. Sunstone took a gulp of wine and grunted, his incandescent hide glittering in the light. The Umbrum-Draconequus War had long since passed but the memories of the conflict haunted him daily, especially those of the war's conclusion. Historians termed it "the Dravite Hill Massacre," but it should've been called "the Dravite Hill Annihilation." When his troops were finished, not a single umbrum villager was left alive, save for one traumatized colt.
He rose stiffly, his joints cracking as he shuffled to refill his glass. A suit of umbrum armor stood on display, an everlasting reminder of the atrocities they'd committed, what he committed. When the war was over, Sunstone and his platoon were given medals and declared heroes, but there was nothing heroic about the deaths of civilians whose only crime was being the same race as those Equestria was at war with. Sunstone had recently turned seventy and when King Carnelian asked him to retire, he gracefully accepted and even chose his successor. The fact was that even though he loved his rulers and his home, he could no longer continue to serve either and it wasn't just due to his age.
Sunstone slid back into his chair and sighed deeply. The empire hadn't been the same since the prince vanished. The official story was that he merely went missing while exploring the Yaret Range but he knew better. He knew Tourmaline's true identity, as he was there the day the king and queen spared the colt's life, their biggest act of kindness but also their greatest folly. He'd witnessed the umbrum shedding his crystalline shell and rediscovering who he was, what he was and knew that it'd only be a matter of time before he returned to wreak terrible vengeance.
His front door pounded. "Sunstone, sir! Open up in the name of the king!"
Setting aside his wine, Sunstone gently pushed himself to his hooves and ambled as fast as he could to the door, not wishing to delay his guests. A pair of royal guards were waiting for him on the other side of the door, their postures statue-like as they curtly bowed.
The larger of the two stated, "Sunstone, we've been dispatched to inform you that the king wishes for your presence immediately. It concerns grave matters pertaining to the empire's security."
Sunstone gave an understanding nod. "I will be right back."
Shutting the door, he quickly brushed his mane and donned his hat and scarf. He was ready to rejoin the guards when he paused before an open window and frowned. It wasn't open a minute ago. He shrugged and closed it, turning to head back to the door when a dark shape loomed above him, a pair of red eyes burning in the blackness. Sunstone tried to scream, only for a tendril to wrap around his muzzle while two more took a hold of him and threw him into his chair, lashing him to it.
The shape diminished, shrinking until it was at eye-level, shifting into an equine form. It was a unicorn stallion with a red curved horn, dark gray fur and a pitch black mane, a silver spiked crown atop his brow. Sunstone's eyes bulged in recognition, a muffled howl in his throat.
"Hello General," Sombra uttered. "It's been a long time."
The tendril around Sunstone's muzzle retracted and he shifted his jaws around to get the feeling back.
"You...you've returned. I knew you would."
Sombra chuckled darkly. "Why wouldn't I? This is my home, my kingdom." He then took on a more grim expression. "The Crystal Empire is mine by right. Consider it restitution for the slaughter of my village."
The crystal pony had never been more terrified. "L-look...Sombra, I know you're angry and you have every right to be-..."
"'Angry?' No, I'm furious!"
"I-I know! I didn't want to do it, I was just following orders! We all were!"
Leaning forward, Sombra snorted, though there was no humor in his face or his tone.
"You...were 'just following orders.'" The tendrils tightened around Sunstone's chest and hindlegs. "Is that what you tell yourself day and night to justify your actions? 'I was just following orders.' Do you lull yourself to sleep with those words? 'I was just...following...orders.'"
His eyes wandered over to the armor. It consisted of a steel gorget, leather coif, vambraces and greaves. A low, grow vibrated in Sombra's throat. "And what is that? A trophy of your conquest?"
Sunstone struggled in his restraints but they were too tight. "They're a reminder! A reminder that that day happened! So I never forget what I lost and what I continued to lose! What Equestria and the empire are built on!"
The umbrum continued to study the armor before returning to Sunstone. "You really regret your actions, don't you? It doesn't matter; I have such plans in store for you, my friend."
A sensation of dread developed in the pit of Sunstone's stomach. "Are you going to kill me?"
"No." Sombra's eyes lit up like green searchlights. "I have something else in mind for you..."
Flash Sentry furrowed his brow, scrutinizing the board with intense concentration. Chess was never really his thing and it irked him to be shown up by his prisoner. It had started out as another typical day: he woke up, ate breakfast, shined and pulled on his armor and headed to his post. He heard from an overly-excited guard named Gleaming Helm the details of a rendezvous between Princess Twilight and Sombra, instantly ruining his morning. Apparently the two laughed, danced, exchanged I love you's (Flash's eye twitched at that) and kissed a lot (he was shaking with rage).
"It was the most romantic thing I'd ever seen!" Gleaming exposited and Flash was ready to pick the new recruit up and toss him out the nearest window. "I mean, who knew King Sombra was such a softie? I'm not gay or anything but I'd totally…-"
"I have to go," Flash stormed off, ignoring anything else that flew out of the unicorn's stupid pie hole. He descended the staircase and trotted towards the dungeon. How did it come to this? The mare of his dreams leaving him for one of Equestria's worst enemies? Was he just taking crazy pills or what?!
Sombra, irritatingly enough, was in a chipper mood, humming to himself and sweeping his cell. Flash was never a fan of violence but he what wanted more than anything was to knock that stupid grin off his face with a Buck Norris-style atomic roundhouse kick. At least the umbrum had the decency not to rub his date with Twilight in Flash's face. Instead, he requested a chess board so the two of them could play. Flash fervently refused but after a strangely aggressive order from Princess Celestia, he soon found himself roped into a match, with him on black and Sombra on white.
Flash pushed one of his knights forward onto an empty space with his wing. Sombra countered by using one of his knights to capture a pawn. It was a mistake. Finding an opening, Flash struck, his king taking out Sombra's knight. The game was finally turning in his favor.
Sombra moved his bishop and stated, "Check."
Undeterred, Flash knocked the piece off with his king and sat back. "Looks like I have you now."
A sly grin appeared on Sombra's face. "Do you?" Before Flash could reply, he took his queen, which he'd kept in the back the whole game, pushed it straight across the board and tipped over Flash's queen. "Checkmate."
The pegasus could only stare in disbelief. He'd been played!
"I've taken your queen," Sombra grinned, removing the piece from the board. If it was a boast about the game or Sombra's wooing of Twilight, Flash wasn't certain. He hated his opponent's smugness.
"That's great. Am I done here?"
Sombra blinked innocently. "Why, aren't you having fun?"
"Not the word I'd ever use in association with you," Flash grumbled and stood up, giving his wings a few flaps. "I played your game. Now I'm done."
"I see. A sore loser."
"A sore...?" Flash glared at him. "You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Getting me riled up, making me look bad in front of Princess Celestia or Twilight?!"
Sombra's fangs peaked through his lips in a sly grin. "Trust me, you don't need my help to make you look bad."
Flash strode up to the bars. "What's your endgame? Huh?! You got what you wanted! You won!"
The grin disappeared and Sombra shook his head pitifully. "This isn't a game, Flash Sentry nor is Twilight a prize. She chose me and you're going to have to deal with that."
"Stop pretending like you don't have an ulterior motive! I know you're just using Twilight to-..."
Suddenly, Sombra was up and his face right against the bars so quickly that Flash instinctively fell backwards and onto his hindquarters. "Shut your mouth, you pathetic excuse for a stallion!" Sombra roared, his eyes burning like wildfire. "You don't know anything about me so don't presume to! I love Twilight, heart, body and soul and if you can't accept that, it's your problem not mine!"
Flash stared up at the fuming stallion, his chest rising and falling rapidly at the end of his outburst. He always spoke so calmly, acting as though he had the situation in hoof that for Flash, just seeing him explode like that was startling. "You really love her...don't you?"
Sombra turned his back on him and Flash could barely make out his next words:
"More than you'll ever know..."
Flash grunted and pulled himself off the floor, wiping dust off his now slightly scratched armor. This is going to be a nightmare to polish. He shook his head and glanced at the moody umbrum. Slowly approaching the cell, he noticed Sombra was now facing him, adopting a mask of quiet stoicism.
"Look, ever since getting to know Twilight, I've grown to love her. By Celestia do I love her." Sombra said nothing, so Flash continued. "I don't know what she could possibly see in you but I will admit that I've never seen her as happy as she is when she visits. And kills me to know that you did that instead of me, that I couldn't make her happy. I just....I wasn't enough."
He heard a sigh in the darkness. "I feel the say way sometimes." This got Flash's attention. "I know I've done some bad things in my life, very bad things that can never be forgiven. Twilight was the first one to look beyond my crimes to see the stallion underneath. She was willing to give me a chance and I'll never be able to be who she thinks I am."
For the longest time, neither one of them spoke a word, either because they didn't know what else to say or if there was anything left to say so Flash merely left, a million questions on his mind and no easy answers. It was the first time he walked away from the dungeon feeling something other than anger and jealousy towards Sombra. And it irked him not to know what it was.
~*~
"I still don't see why you dragged me here."
Twilight rolled her eyes at Rainbow Dash. "I told you it's because you and Spike are the only ones that haven't been to see Sombra since his imprisonment. I hoping to change all that."
Beside her, Spike was waddling with a large plastic container in his arms. "Whew! When Pinkie said she was making cookies, I didn't think she meant she was working on enough to feed a swarm of parasprites."
"Well, she was trying out a few new recipes and figured that Sombra could be a good taste-tester."
Rainbow flapped lazily above them. "Come on, baking Sombra cookies? Next thing you know, he's going to be attending tea parties at Fluttershy's house!"
A hole opened up next to them and out popped Discord's head. "Absolutely not! That's our tea time!"
Twilight laughed as Rainbow jolted and rolled in the air. "Sorry about that, Rainbow Dash. Discord's been moody lately."
The draconequus stretched the hole and stepped out, crumbling it up in his paw to stuff it into a pocket-like flap of skin on his hip that vanished. "Of course I have! Princess Celestia played dirty!"
Recovering from her tumble, Rainbow Dash sputtered, "I thought you liked playing dirty!"
"Only when I do it!" Discord grumbled. "Princess Celestia said that I could do whatever I wanted in Fillydelphia for twelve whole hours. I teleported back to the castle to let her know that I was finished."
"Huh, so that's why there were reports coming out of Fillydelphia of a parade of giant lollipops and mustachioed rubber ducks," Spike offhandedly mentioned.
"So? It sounds like you got what you wanted!"
SNAP!
Discord turned towards Rainbow, only his head became that of Princess Celestia's.
"'Oh Discord, don't you recall our agreement?'" He said in a mocking falsetto, hands clasped together. "'I said that you didn't have to turn everything back. I never said that you couldn't not clean up after yourself!'" Another snap and his head was normal...ish. "It took me hours to clean up everything by paw and claw. Hours!"
Twilight smirked, "Weeeell, that's what you get for entering a bargain with Princess Celestia."
"Oh zip it!"
SNAP!
A zipper forced Twilight's lips shut. "Hrrmm!" She tried to pull the zipper only to find that there was no slider. "Hrrm-hrrd! Hrrd hrrm hrrrmg hrrff hrrm hrrm hrrrm!"
Discord gave her a cheeky smirk. "Oh I'm sorry, I can't understand what you're saying."
"Discord..." Rainbow Dash warned him while Spike was trying to calm Twilight down.
"Ugh, fine! You ponies are no fun!" He snapped his fingers, the zipper dematerializing as Twilight gasped for air. "Anyway, I simply must be going. Enjoy your little pow-wow with tall, dark and edgy."
He vanished before anything else could be said. Ironically, despite being the Spirit of Chaos, and thus by definition in a constant state of unpredictability, Discord could be amazingly predictable. The three continued on their way and although two of them were nervous about their upcoming meeting, Spike wasn't doing a very good job of hiding it. Rainbow Dash's air of nonchalance was crumbling the closer they reached the dungeon and by the time they were in the same room as Sombra, she was feeling an urge to fly away as fast as she could and never return. She held off, however, upon realizing that it'd hurt her image and didn't want her friends to think that Spike was braver than her.
Twilight skipped up to the cell and embraced Sombra through the bars, the two nuzzling and peppering each other with kisses. Rainbow gagged at this display, wondering how any rational mare would voluntarily kiss King Sombra of all ponies. Still, she was a little touched by the scene, not that she'd ever admit it. Spike, meanwhile, was beginning to visually relax, allowing his shoulders to settle and his tail to uncurl. The couple then both turned in their direction.
"Sombra, you remember Spike."
"Hello Spike," Sombra said, being as friendly as possible. "It's been a long time."
Spike began to shake slightly. "Um, yep, it has. How, uh, have you...been?"
"Could be better. I'm not a fan of the décor but that's out of my hooves."
Spike weakly laughed at the umbrum's attempt at comedy. "Hehe, funny. Hey Sombra, about that business in the Crystal Empire...?"
Sombra waited a moment before finishing, "...when you helped to fill me with love magic, causing me to explode into a million pieces?"
"I, uh..." Spike was sweating now.
"Water under the bridge! In all honesty, I've let that go."
"What? Really?"
Sombra nodded. "I don't blame you and neither should you."
Spike was dumbfounded. "Th-thanks, I guess."
"Good, good. What's in that case?"
"Huh, oh, Pinkie made cookies for you to try." At the mention of "cookies," Sombra's eyes glazed over. "Uh, is he okay?"
Twilight waved a hoof. "Pfft! He's fine. He just really likes Pinkie's baking. Or sweets in general."
"Yeah, that's great. Can I go now?"
Sombra snapped out of his sugar-daze. "Why? Is there somewhere you'd rather be?"
Rainbow crossed her forelegs. "Yeah."
"Then go."
"What?"
Sombra gave a noncommittal shrug. "If you'd rather not be here then there's no use in you staying around."
Rainbow eyed him closely. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. Take care."
"Um...okay. Bye."
She turned and raced out, only to return a minute later. "Hold on a second! You're trying to use that reverse psycho mumbo-jumbo on me. By saying that I can go, you're really saying is that I have to stay and by saying that you're sure, what you really mean is that you're not sure. You actually want me around!"
Sombra frowned and sighed, "Yes, you're absolutely right."
"Ha! You're not so smart after all, huh?"
"I guess not."
Rainbow's left eye twitched. "Oh no you don't! By saying that I'm right, what you're really saying is that I'm wrong...!"
Spike and Rainbow Dash soon left and this meant snuggle time for Twilight and Sombra. Rainbow had spent much of her visit thinking that Sombra was using reverse psychology to keep her around, which he wasn't, and ultimately gave up, telling Sombra that he "wasn't that awful" and dashed away. Everything with Spike had gone much better. He unwound enough to sit near the cell, albeit keeping a distance of four feet, as the three munched on cookies and chatted about nothing in particular. It warmed Twilight's heart immensely to see them talking and Sombra even laughed at some of Spike's jokes.
Pretty soon, the young drake was tuckered out and was escorted up to a spare bedroom by Flash Sentry, who was surprisingly cool around them. Sure, he was still sparing Sombra suspicious glances, but lacked any real signs of aggression. Perhaps it was a sign that he was reconsidering his feelings about their romance? Filing it for future consideration, Twilight instead focused on the feel of fur-on-fur contact as she laid next to her coltfriend. She had some imaginings about the two of them but decided that it was better to wait for that kind of thing.
There was one thing that was gnawing at her though.
"Sombra?"
The stallion stopped stroking her mane. "Yes, Twilight?"
Rolling around to face him, Twilight bit her lip. "What...what happened to your sister?"
Sombra pushed himself off the bed and turned away from her. "Not now, please."
"Then when?" Twilight rose and placed a hoof on his shoulder. "Please Sombra. Don't you trust me?"
"It's not about trust." Sombra sounded tired, pained even.
"Then what is it?" She walked around in front of him to find his gaze downcast and his ears flattened. He looked frightened. "Sombra, what's wrong? Why can't you tell me?"
"Because..." Sombra muttered something in umbrumese and licked his lips. "I can't tell you because...you won't be able to stand the sight of me anymore."
Twilight blinked. "What? Is it really that terrible?"
"Yes, it is," Sombra answered somewhat defensively. "If you knew the truth about what I did, you'd never forgive me. And you wouldn't love me anymore."
The barrier was gone and for the first time, Twilight could see the real stallion that he'd tried so hard to conceal. He never looked more lonely, miserable and vulnerable than he did now. And she loved him for that. Nopony else would ever see this side of him for fear of appearing weak and yet he was sharing it with her. She cupped his cheek, rubbing at the thick but soft fur.
"I know you think that you're beyond forgiveness but nothing could ever make me stop loving you."
He stared at her, red eyes that were usually full of fire and confidence, but were now tear-filled and emoting hopefulness. "Really?"
"Yes," Twilight confirmed resolutely.
He chuckled softly. "I always though it took a fool to ever love somepony like me."
"Then I'm the biggest fool in all of Equestria."
Sombra sighed and directed Twilight back towards the bed while he remained standing.
"You want to know about Garnet? Then I will tell you..."
~*~
"I had just mind-controlled Sunstone, the former general of the Crystal Empire's army and one of my "father's" closest confidantes and friends along with two random guards. I had instructed my newfound allies to await my signal before attacking. I knew the empire inside and out and I knew we had only one shot at seizing control. To that end, I instructed Sunstone to call a meeting with his replacement General Azurite and his highest-ranking officers. After that, the kingdom would be mine."
General Azurite was a pale blue crystal pony barely out of his thirties, having been chosen to succeed Sunstone due to his impeccable service record and held in high regard by his troops. Sunstone had just brought him a message saying that he suspected a plot against the crown and needed Azurite and the highest-ranking officers to attend a meeting. Azurite, having long held respect for the ex-soldier and war hero, was quick to agree. The royal family had apparently fled to their hidden bunker and now it was up to them to quash this plot. It was what he was appointed for.
They met in a private tavern that catered to active duty soldiers and veterans only, the perfect place for a clandestine meeting. When Azurite and the others arrived, the place was empty and he was gladder for it. It meant less eyes and ears to watch out for. Sunstone was there, along with the tavern's owner Old Sard and two guards he recognized as Pyrite and Zircon. All four of them looked spooked but he chalked it up to the severity of the situation.
"It's great to see you, Sunstone!" He clasped the old stallion's hoof and gave him a hug.
"Azurite, I wish we were meeting under better circumstances," Sunstone murmured sadly.
"Too true, old friend. Anyway, I brought everypony. All of the Crystal Empire's top officers and military advisors."
"Excellent work."
They all jumped at the sound of a strangely familiar voice. A shadow slid across the floor and formed into a stallion dressed in a crown and armor, his eyes glowing green and twin streams of purple mist emanating from the sides. He strode forward and Azurite paused, identifying the newcomer but unable to believe it. He looked like...
"Prince Tourmaline?"
The stallion stopped. "The name is Sombra. King Sombra."
Azurite drew his sword an inch from the scabbard. "King of what exactly?"
"The Crystal Empire, of course." He raised a hoof and a strange-looking helmet appeared.
"What's that for?" One of the officers asked.
"Here...let me show you!" The helmet flew across the room and onto the stallion's head. After a brief struggle, he calmed down, the eye holes filling with an eerie green light. Similar helmets materialized and shot off, attaching themselves to more and more of those present. They scrambled for the door and windows, only discover that a magical barrier prevented them from leaving.
King Sombra was laughing now, taking pleasure in the confusion. Soon, Azurite was alone, everypony that he'd brought now wore a gray and black helmet and stood perfectly still. He drew his sword and rushed over to Sunstone, grabbing ahold of his scarf. His eyes were faraway, same with Pyrite and Zircon.
"Sunstone, what's the matter with you?"
"He can't hear you. None of them can," King Sombra explained. "Mind control. They belong to me now."
Azurite pointed his sword at the stallion. "Well I don't. I'll die before I betray my king."
"I'll hold you to that." The glowing of King Sombra's eyes intensified. Suddenly, Azurite felt very sleepy, the sword dropping from his hoof and clanging on the floor. He was aware of the dark stallion approaching him but it didn't bother him. "Now be a good little soldier and listen to my orders..."
With the general and top officers of the Crystal Empire's army under my control, the kingdom was defenseless. General Azurite ordered all remaining troops to the city's center while Sunstone shot a flare from the top of the tavern. Within minutes, a horde of changelings, thestrals, diamond dogs and cyclopes were storming the kingdom. Meanwhile, I took advantage of the pandemonium to slip inside the castle. It didn't take long to find my "family," having followed protocol and met in the throne room.
The doors to the throne room exploded open and the guards were quickly dispatched by a living shadow. The royal family watched in horror as the shadow entered the room, a group of crystal ponies behind him as he became a unicorn. He smiled as they realized who the invader was.
"Sombra..." King Carnelian gasped. "You've returned."
"I have, Father." He turned to find Queen Aquamarine tightly holding a very grown up Princess Garnet. He found his voice cracking as he addressed them. "Mother...Gar."
"Seeing my sister again hurt more than I thought it would. She'd grown up so much in my absence that I barely recognized the young mare standing before me."
"Toury?" Garnet went still in her mother's embrace. "Is that really you?"
King Sombra nodded. "It's me. I missed you so much."
Queen Aquamarine tried to place herself between Garnet and King Sombra, almost as if to shield her from him. "Why? Why are you doing this?"
King Sombra's face hardened. "You know why. I'm an umbrum, the last umbrum." He jerked his chin up at Garnet. "Does she know? Or did you keep the truth from her as you did me?"
"Tourmaline..."
King Sombra jerked his head towards King Carnelian. "'Sombra'...my birth mother named me 'Sombra.'"
"Alright, Sombra...there's no need for this."
"H-he's right!" Queen Aquamarine nervously added. "Please, just consider what it is you're doing."
"I have. My entire race was slaughtered and I want a wergild, compensation for their deaths."
King Carnelian approached, his hooves held up in a placating gesture. "Whatever it is, take it. Just leave us alone."
"I want the Crystal Empire."
Garnet slipped from her mother's grasp and knelt before King Sombra, her hooves grasping at his forelegs. "Sombra, please, this isn't who you are. I know what they did to you but don't do this!"
He brushed some loose hair behind one ear and stared into her teary eyes. "Garnet...I'm so sorry but I can't. I've already come so far and there's no turning back. I have to do this."
Stepping around the despondent mare, King Sombra found the king and queen huddled together, clutching at one another as he neared them. "I now know the truth. The thing you both feared the most...is me."
"That's not true," Queen Aquamarine wept. "You were our son. We loved you."
"Really? Then why is your voice trembling?" Sombra turned towards her husband. "And why can't you look me in the eye?"
King Carnelian stared fearfully at Sombra. "You...are a monster."
The umbrum's breathing became harsh, his face portraying heartbreak. "I know," he susurrated, a tear gliding down one cheek. He squinted hard and reopened his eyes, his expression now radiating fury. "But I'm the monster you created."
A black, bubbling aura surrounded his horn. Swinging his head forward, King Sombra howled as a bolt of energy struck the two crystal alicorns, freezing them in place as a network of black crystals crawled up their bodies. He was aware of Garnet screaming but tuned it out, focusing on the task at hoof. Once they were enshrouded in the material, King Sombra cut off the beam's power supply, his horn softly powering down. He took baby steps towards them.
They tightly clutched one another, their faces forever trapped in mid-scream.
"I always loved you," King Sombra whispered. "Maybe in time I could've forgiven you." He re-activated his horn and took aim. "But I can't have you in my way."
"Sombra, noooooooo!"
The black and purple bolt tore through the petrified remains of King Carnelian and Queen Aquamarine, disseminating them across the throne room, whole chunks toppling onto the floor and shattering into tiny fragments. King Sombra turned away from his handiwork to find Garnet weeping, her hooves cradling a shard. He knelt down beside her.
"Garnet-..."
"Get away from me!" The unicorn fled towards the doors, only to have her only exit blocked by an army of mind-controlled slaves. Her eyes widened as King Sombra strode towards her. "Stay away!"
King Sombra paused, reaching out for her and wearing a look of despondency. "Garnet...it's still me. I could never hurt you. I love you. I'm still your brother."
Garnet was crying tears of anger now. She shook her head, eyes sorrowful but defiant. "No, you're not. My brother's dead. I don't know who you are."
For a moment, King Sombra appeared to have gone comatose, his face becoming blank. He then awoke and coldly proclaimed, "So be it."
Garnet fired a reddish-pink beam at him but the umbrum was faster, batting it aside with a magic lash and then firing it at the princess, knocking the wind out of her. Marching towards the unconscious mare, King Sombra created a black crystal sword and held it above his head, ready to strike down the last obstacle on his road to the throne.
"Did you do it?" Twilight asked breathlessly.
The sword shook in the air, its wielder full of indecision.
"No, I couldn't."
King Sombra lowered the sword, allowing it to deconstruct itself, the pieces clattering to the floor.
"When I looked down on her, all I saw was the filly that I'd held mere moments after her birth."
"You!" King Sombra barked to a drone. "Collect the pieces of the ex-rulers and pile them up in the city square. I want everypony to know what happens when you defy me."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Searching through the sea of drones, he discovered the one not wearing a helmet and removed the mind control spell, Sunstone's eyes refocusing at his environment. "Where...how did? Oh. Oh no..."
King Sombra knelt before Garnet, gently brushing her mane.
"What have you done?!" Sunstone roared only to be grabbed by two helmeted drones.
"What was necessary," King Sombra replied. "First the Crystal Empire, then Canterlot."
Sunstone struggled but couldn't get loose. "Why did you remove the spell? Why didn't you kill me?"
The new monarch rose, the unconscious mare cradled in his aura. "So you can spend the rest of your days serving me, fully aware of the fact that you aided in the deaths of your precious king and queen. Take him to the dungeons."
"My new allies now had free reign over the city but none disputed my rightful claim over it. The fittest crystal ponies were put to work mining for raw minerals to forge weapons and armor while the elderly became house servants. I kept Garnet mystically sedated and hidden away, knowing full-well what Queen Chelicerae or Lavan would do to her if discovered. As battle plans were drawn up, I racked my brain coming up ways of handling my sister. I couldn't execute her and keeping her locked up would raise far too many questions, plus there was the possibility of escape."
"So what did you do?"
"While exploring the castle's lower levels, I happened upon a magic mirror created by Star Swirl the Bearded, one that has a twin in Canterlot. The mirror acts as a doorway between this world and many others. Searching through the options, I happened upon one that was perfect. Not only was it relatively peaceful but also had no magic and was inhabited by strange, bipedal beings."
"The human world...that's why you were so spooked the first time I brought it up!"
"Indeed. I had to make sure that Garnet was alive but unable to return to claim the throne."
King Sombra glanced down at Garnet's immobile form, his hoof gently stroking her rose-red mane with the ivory streak. He taught Garnet her first spell, was there when she took her first steps. He didn't want to do this but he had to. As long as she was alive and in Equestria, the crystal ponies would rally around her. She was the only family he had left.
Which was why it was all the more difficult for him when he lowered his horn to Garnet's and invoked a memory spell. A red mist curled around her horn, enveloping her head and rotating around her skull before seeping through her skin. When it was done, Sombra released a shuddering breath, his chest aching so badly it was as though his heart was literally breaking. He was taking away all she ever was and ever would be. He kissed her brow below her horn.
"I love you, baby sister. Always."
It was time.
The magic mirror's reflective surface was replaced by a swirling vortex, one he soon entered with Garnet across his back. He felt his body shift and morph, his insides on his outside, his form rigid and unbreakable but also fluid and elastic. There was a bright flash of light and Sombra discovered that he was in the woods somewhere, just past sunset. He was situated on what were now his hands and knees. Gently, he took Garnet off of his back and placed her on the ground beside him, a bipedal, magenta-colored female in her place. He stood, wobbling a little on his legs, which ended in feet covered by steel sabatons.
He carried Garnet in his arms, being mindful of the gauntlets that covered his hands. He soon entered a clearing and came across a wooden hut near a small stream, an axe buried in a nearby tree stump. Sombra had spent time watching the hut's inhabitants, a "man," his wife and son, finding them to be good humans. He saw movement inside the hut but it was just the man settling into bed. He set Garnet down in front of the door and unfurled the note he'd comprise to ensure that it was written well enough, being something of a perfectionist when it came to this sort of thing.
Her name is Garnet. Due to reasons I cannot specify, I am unable to take care of her and thus entrust her well-being unto you. She will be unable to remember who she is or where she comes from so please be patient with her. If ever should she ask about where she comes from, tell her only that she's from far away and has a brother that loves her very much but is unable to ever visit or see her again. Treat Garnet as if she were your own flesh and blood and you will see her for the treasure that she is. May your days be long and full of merriment.
Rolling it back up, Sombra wiped his eyes on his sleeve and pinned the letter to a brooch affixed to the front of Garnet's forest green dress. He took one last, long look at her, the knowledge that they'd never see each other again threatening to make him forgo his plan. No, no distractions. Despite his reservations, he still had work to do. Steeling his heart, he banged on the door and fled faster than he'd ever ran, never stopping until he reached the still-open portal.
Dashing through the portal, Sombra found himself back in the castle and restored to his pony form. The vortex slowly dissipated, leaving overly a large mirror with a distraught stallion staring pitifully back at him. Now came the part that Sombra would dread the most, something that would forever cement the path that he'd chosen to take. Charging his horn, he fired a ray at the mirror, blasting a sizable hole in it and littering the floor in glass shards. Exhausted by the deed, Sombra fell to the floor and wept, a thousand little stallions crying bitterly beside him for what he'd lost forever.
~*~
"...After that, the nightmares came. And they've been following me ever since."
Twilight sniffled, her coat moist with freshly-fallen tears. She'd never heard a more heartbreaking story before now, one that made her horrified, angry and melancholic all at the same time. His tale finished, Sombra hovered over Twilight wordlessly, unspeakable pain etched into his face. He'd bared his soul to her and in a weird way, the ugliness he showed her was kind of beautiful. It was the last piece of the puzzle and despite not wishing anypony to know, he still shared it with her and her alone.
"You can leave now. I won't stop you."
Sombra's voice brought Twilight back to reality. "W-why would I leave?"
"Because my story disgusted you," Sombra peered at her inquisitively. "Aren't you horrified by what I've done?"
Twilight rose from the cot and walked right up to him. "You clearly weren't listening to the same story I was. The part with your adoptive parents...that was awful, just horrible. But when it came to your sister...do you really feel that makes you unforgivable? You spared her life. You loved her."
"Did I? I killed her parents, took away the only home she'd ever known, robbed her of her memories and trapped her on a strange world she can never escape from. For all I know, the people I left Garnet with probably sold her into slavery or worse. If not, then she went through life thinking that she was abandoned and having no clue who she is or where she comes from. That's a fate worse than death."
Twilight winced at this. "You did what you thought was right because you couldn't bring yourself to hurt her. That doesn't make you a monster, it makes you a pony. It proves that despite all the atrocities that you've committed, that deep down, you can still feel compassion and love."
Tears of disbelief trickled down Sombra's face. "How? How can you stay by me after learning this?"
Twilight felt herself tearing up again and laughed, resting her head on his chest. "Haven't you been listening? It's because I love you, you idiot."
Slowly, he snaked his forelegs around her and kissed the top of her head. "I love you too, Twilight Sparkle, you incredible, unbelievable, stubborn mare you."
They laid down onto the cot, pressed up against one another for warmth, secure in their love for one another. Sleep soon visited them but for Sombra, it came a little later. Even though he'd divulged his biggest secret to his marefriend, he was still keeping her in the dark. No matter how hard she pulled, he wouldn't be joining her in the light any time soon. There was still a mission he had yet to complete.
The black crystal expanded, rising like a blooming flower before retracting. Sombra repeated the process over and over again until he was certain that he could get it right without any effort. Once he was free, he would need to do much more extensive testing but for now, it seemed as though he was getting the hang of his restored magic. Like a muscle or limb, it needed constant exercise or atrophied from disuse. He was getting stronger and soon, he'd have his freedom.
He thought back to the other night when Twilight was over and he divulged his biggest secret and the worst atrocity of his life. Sombra was so certain that she'd resent for destroying the life of an innocent mare that he kept it to himself for a year, just out of fear of how she'd react. To his own astonishment, Twilight didn't leave in disgust and insisted that she still loved him. She truly was one-of-a-kind and he thanked whatever gods or forces in control of things that she was in his life. How long that would last was something that scared Sombra to his core.
Was his mission of vengeance really so much more important than the love of his life?
Sombra rubbed at his temples. There was no way Celestia would ever let him go, his very existence serving as a threat to her rule. Even if-and it was a huge "if"-he were to somehow abandon his plans, he was still a notorious criminal and guilty of heinous acts both legally and morally wrong. A life with Twilight involving marriage, foals and dinner parties with her friends were nothing more than pipe dreams. He could never live in peace; nopony would ever allow it.
He heard voices outside the dungeon's main entrance and hurriedly levitated the cot back into place and leapt into his seat in front of his desk, hastily scribbling something down on scrap paper. The door opened and Sombra didn't have to look up to know that it was the anathema that took the form of Princess Celestia, the white alicorn striding into the room, her demeanor as chipper as usual. There was no doubt going to be some more pleading in a desperate attempt to get him to take her back. That mare just didn't comprehend the meaning of the word "No."
"Good afternoon, Sombra."
"It was until you showed up."
Celestia wasn't fazed by his dour remark. "Must you always be so rude?" She chided him.
Slamming his quill down, Sombra placed his hooves together. "What do you want, Celestia?"
There was something...off about her. The way her smile seemed painted on or the twitching of her ears. But it was her eyes that were the most startling, how they unblinkingly stared at him.
"You are a selfish, bad-tempered braggart."
A soft glow appeared around the cell door, a rattling chink sound echoed as it slowly swung open.
Sombra backed away from his desk. "What are you doing?"
Celestia didn't answer, silently entering the cell and approaching him with flaring nostrils.
"I could've thrown you into Tartarus or sealed you back beneath the Frozen North but no, I gave you a nice cell and access to reading materials. I fed you, saved you from those guards and allowed visitation rights. Never once have you thanked me!"
She loomed over him, her tone and gaze invidious. Sombra was actually getting nervous.
"Celestia, you're being unreasonable-..."
"'Unreasonable'?! I do so much for you and all I asked for was a chance to win your heart again but even that was too difficult!" She was crying now. "I wanted you to love me, like when we first got married and were happy. Instead you replaced me!"
Despite his reservations, Sombra wasn't going to back down. He glared up at Celestia, bared his fangs and shouted, "You're such a hypocrite! You locked me up for a thousand years, had dozens of husbands and hundreds of children yet when I move on, it's wrong? Or maybe you're just angry because you know that deep down, no matter how many good deeds you perform or how much your subjects adore you, there's a hole that'll never be filled and you'll keep scrambling to find things to fill it. Face it, princess, you're just an empty little filly playing dress up."
WHACK!
Celestia's gold-slippered hoof flew out and smacked Sombra across the face.
He maintained eye contact as he wiped the blood from his lip. The Princess of the Day's attempt to be intimidating instead came off as childish and ignominious, the last act of a mare without any notion what to do next and hardly the behavior of the co-ruler of Equestria. That being said, the blow still hurt something fierce. Sombra spat a red glob onto the floor.
"Are you finished?"
Celestia's golden aura surrounded Sombra and hoisted him off of his hooves, dragging him until the two met eye-to-eye, their muzzles inches away. She was breathing hard now, staring daggers at the hapless stallion, her face full of anger but mixed with something else.
"No," Celestia grimaced and slammed her mouth against his. Sombra's eyes bulged open, having not expected this maneuver. She moaned loudly, forcing air down his throat. It tasted like strawberry and vanilla frosting. Unfortunately, the magic field kept him in place so he couldn't even push her away. Every part of his body began crying out, begging him to do something.
It mercifully ended, Celestia separating with a loud smack. "M-more," she breathed and began nibbling on his neck.
"Stop, stop this right now!"
She didn't hear him, too busy licking at his collar bone.
"I said, STOP!"
Black energy flared from his horn, bursting forth as a large sphere that sent Celestia slamming into the bars. Furniture flew and smashed into the walls, papers littered the floor like leaves and the framed photographs shattered on impact. Sombra gulped in air, inspecting the damage of his magical attack. Chunks were missing out of the stone walls and the cell's bars are bent slightly. Recovering from the hit, Celestia gawked up at Sombra, who quickly realized that his secret was out.
"You...you have..."
Without missing a beat, Sombra closed his eyes and focused, an image taking root in his mind. The air rippled around him, his body warping and fading in and out of existence. He was soon engulfed in a wave of darkness and was gone, barely missing a golden bolt that pierced the wall behind him.
~*~
There was not a single Canterlot street corner that lacked a royal guard. Pegasi surveyed the city from overhead while unicorns and earth ponies interviewed every passerby, enquiring if they'd seen a red-eyed stallion with a curved horn. The ponies in gold were told to report if they found anything but not to engage, as the perpetrator was considered extremely dangerous. To avoid a general panic, Princess Celestia informed the newspapers that due to the incidences with Queen Chrysalis and Discord, she issued a new training regiment for the military. Currently a drill was underway, a simulation of an escaped prisoner that every available enlisted solider was participating in.
Royal guards covered every square inch of the castle by the time Twilight and her friends arrived, a golden-armored pony stationed every few feet around the palace. They'd received an urgent summons to promptly meet the princesses though Princess Celestia was bereft of any real details and this was always a worrisome sign. The six mares, and one dragon, were escorted to a large chamber that had seen little use in recent times, if the covered equipment and dust bunnies were of any indication. A round a large circular table, Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Shining Armor and Flash Sentry were gathered, pointing at a map as different sheets of paper were spread out across the table's surface. The discussion ended once the septet came into view, Princess Celestia being the first to greet them.
"Twilight, Spike, ladies. I'm so glad to see all of you."
"Princess, what's going on?" Twilight noticed her brother kept a foreleg around Princess Cadence's shoulders. Flash was clenching his jaw in angry while the diarchs stared at the group with apprehension, their wings fluttering nervously at their sides.
"I'm afraid Sombra has escaped."
"WHAT?!" The group screamed at once.
"B-but how? When?"
Princess Luna answered, "A few hours ago. Our entire military has been hard at work trying to track him down. As for the how..." She turned towards her sister.
"Sombra's magic has returned," Princess Celestia intoned gravely.
"Seriously?!" Rainbow Dash was livid. "I told you guys he was bad news! I told you!"
"That's enough, Dashie! Can't ya see Twilight's upset?"
Applejack rubbed Twilight's back reassuringly but she couldn't feel it. So many questions were brewing her head, her mind racing faster than a Wonderbolt flier as she tried to piece together this startling news. It just...didn't add up.
"How? I thought the Elements of Harmony took them away."
"They did," Princess Luna nodded. "But it seems as though it was only temporary, more akin to sealing them away. Perhaps he's had them for a long time."
"I don't think Sombra would lie to us like that," Fluttershy said softly. "He's changing, I've seen it."
"What are you saying, Flutters?" Rainbow smacked a hoof to her forehead. "He's King Sombra! Of course he would!"
Twilight shook her head. "That doesn't make sense. If he had his magic back, then why didn't he try to escape months, or even weeks ago? It had to have been a recent development."
"Twilight's right," Princess Cadence agreed. "Magic is like a muscle: you have to exercise it otherwise it gets weak. If Sombra had regained his magic sooner, he would've had time to get it back to full strength and escape when he had the chance."
Shining Armor hugged Princess Cadence. "Let's say you're both right. Why now? Why not wait until he had complete control of it again? We all know how he likes to plan things out in advance."
"Unless something went wrong and he was forced to take action," Rarity speculated.
"So what could've triggered it?" Spike wondered aloud.
Princess Celestia hung her head low. "I...I struck Sombra. And I forced a kiss on him."
Twilight was stunned. "You...you what?!"
Princess Celestia faced her former pupil with regret in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. We were talking and he said something that upset me and I just flew off the handle. I-I lost control. I didn't mean to."
Flash Sentry crossed his forelegs. "I still say he was faking it the whole time."
A loud sigh escaped from Princess Celestia. "I don't think so. Luna and I scanned the room and found traces of dark magic that were only a few weeks old. I think he was waiting until his strength returned when he attacked me, acting solely on instincts of self-preservation."
"It matters not. Now he's out there," Princess Luna pointed out. "We need to find him."
"So how do we do that?" Rainbow asked.
"I think we should set up more guards at the Crystal Empire's border," Shining Armor suggested. "It'd be the first place he'd go back to, being his former seat of power and all."
Flash pointed on a spot on the map. "No, I think here's still here somewhere in Canterlot. We all know he's fallen for Twilight so he'd be going to find her. We should dispatch a team to guard her and wait until he arrives."
"That won't work," Twilight interjected. "Sombra's on the run and he's certainly not stupid. He's aware that we know of his old home so he won't be at the Crystal Empire and Ponyville is out. He wants to regain his strength and won't risk capture. Not even for me."
"You seem to a lot about how he thinks." Flash rubbed his chin.
"What are you implying?" Twilight probed through gritted teeth. "I hope you're not suggesting that I helped him."
"Well, you are hopelessly infatuated with him," the pegasus countered. "We have to explore every option."
"Oh don't give me that! You're just blinded by your jealously!"
"And you're blinded by your affections for that creature!"
"Don't call him that!"
They got into a shouting match, Flash jabbing his hoof in Twilight's face while Twilight was shoving him with her magic. Applejack squeezed herself in the middle to try to calm Twilight down while Shining was working to restrain Flash. Spike was nearly squished trying to pacify a very irate Twilight, who looked as though she was going to put her ex-coltfriend through the wall. Rainbow Dash was ready to knock Flash's lights out while Rarity was soothing a very distraught Fluttershy.
"Everypony please!" Pinkie Pie yelled. "You guys can't fight here. This is the War Room!"
"ENOUGH!"
The Royal Canterlot Voice shook the room. Everypony turned to a very flustered Princess Cadence.
"Stop...arguing. This is bad enough without you pointing hooves and fighting!" They all took turns looking guilty. "Now then, let's calm down and figure this out. Where could he have gone?"
~*~
Dark magic oozed from every tree, bush and stone in the Everfree Forest. Sombra wasn't surprised that the area had maintained a reputation for being haunted after so many years. The forest had once been the sight of the nightmare city of Tambelon, the home of Grogar the Cruel, first Emperor of Equestria. The necromancer was rumored to have conducted foul experiments so horrifying that his own race banished him. Tambelon had radiated so much dark magic that it forever tainted the nearby ecosystem and tales of the forest's horrors survived to this day.
Followed the map's instructions, Sombra journeyed deeper into the forest, not rattled by campfire tales or ghost stories. During his escape, he "convinced" Celestia's assistant Raven Inkwell to show him where his armor was being kept and managed to purloin it before fleeing the capitol. Infused with protective charms, they could take more damage and survive hits that could crush the stallion, making them ideal protection for traversing the Everfree. He found an unusual plant or animal along the way but nothing warranting concern. Two manticores were swiftly dealt with and a short detour around a patch of poison joke took him longer than he would've liked but it was no problem. One brush with a bramble of thorny, clawed vines later and Sombra knew that he was on the right track.
He closed his eyes and felt through the background magic, tuning everything out until he pinpointed what he was searching for. Opening his eyes, Sombra came across a small clearing where a large boulder that had no earthly business being there was plugging up a hole in the ground. Lifting it aside, he flashed a beam of light from his horn, discovering a winding ramp. Traversing the ramp, he soon found himself staring at a crystal-clear pond. Finally, the legendary Mirror Pool.
During Sombra's "birthday party," Pinkie Pie had mentioned it in passing and curious, turned to Twilight for answers. Twilight elaborated that there was a magic pond deep in the Everfree Forest that could clone whomever peered into it. It'd stuck in the back of Sombra's mind for months and when his magic returned, he decided to read up on it. While he was more than capable of making duplicates of himself, this way was less magically taxing, allowing him to focus his energy on other endeavors. He cleared his throat and chanted:
"And into his own reflection he stared, Yearning for one whose reflection he shared, And solemnly sweared not to be scared At the prospect of being doubly squared."
It wasn't the exact rhyme but would have to do. The pond's surface rippled and Sombra stood back at his reflection reached out through the water and pulled itself onto the cave's floor. The new stallion resembled Sombra perfectly, even bearing his wing-scars on his back. Sombra trotted around his doppelganger, closely inspecting him and once satisfied, grinned at him. The new Sombra stared at him puzzlingly.
"Who are you?"
"King Sombra and technically, you are me as well."
The duplicate scrutinized one of his forelegs. "I...feel as though I know that. Why am I here?"
Sombra's eyes glowed ominously. "You're going to help me take care of something..."
~*~
Golden Shield trudged up the stairs to his crappy little Canterlot apartment, unlocked the door and slammed it, not caring if he being too loud or upsetting the neighbors. Tossing his coat and briefcase aside, he cracked open a cider and slumped into his torn armchair, staring out the window at the street below. He was once a royal guard, somepony that mattered, somepony that ponies aspired to be like. So what if he and his friends were beating up a prisoner? King Sombra had it coming and the princess was mad that she didn't think of it first.
The unicorn sighed and took a swig. Dishonorably discharged. All that work, all that time and effort gone down the crapper. Now his folks or his sister won't even speak to him, calling him a disgrace to the uniform. If anything, he was doing a public service and would've permanently crippled that monster if Princess Celestia hadn't stuck her muzzle into it.
Slowly, the light faded until it was pitch black. A soft glow from Golden Shield's horn fixed that, although he was confused why there wasn't any sunlight. Or a window for that matter. In fact, was it just him or did the room get bigger. No matter how far he walked, he encountered nothing but empty darkness. If he was being honest with himself, it was downright spooky.
"Golden Shield...it's been too long..."
"Who is that? Show yourself!"
Two green orbs shined brightly in the dark. Golden Shield could make out a face but just barely.
"Who...what are you?"
A deep chuckle rumbled in the void. "You don't remember me? You were eager to get acquainted with me when you and your friends ambushed me in my cell at Canterlot."
Golden Shield's body stiffened. "King Sombra?"
Another chuckle. "Exactly. I have a gift for you." A burlap sack was tossed at Golden's hooves. It was lumpy and stained a rusty-red color. "Open it."
Slowly, Golden opened it up and was ready to hurl. "Th-thunderhead? Swift Spear? Jasper?"
"If it's any consolation, their demises were quick."
"This isn't real!" Golden Shield could feel urine pooling around his hooves.
The eyes grew, burning in the dark as they approached him.
"Do you know the difference between me and a nightmare?"
A pair of fanged jaws snapped at Golden, driving the cowering unicorn into curling himself up.
"A nightmare eventually ends..."
Golden Shield shrieked as the jaws swallowed him whole, screaming until his throat was raw.
~*~
Amidst the commotion, a dark brown pegasus royal guard came swooping in, huffing and clearly out of breath.
"Yes, Sergeant?" Princess Celestia inquired, causing everypony to quiet down and turn to the newcomer.
The pegasus, a middle-aged mare, saluted, "Your Majesty, the prisoner's been located."
"What? Where?"
"In an appartment building in Lower Manehattan, Your Majesty."
Princess Celestia nodded and addressed Shining Armor. "Captain, dispatch a platoon of your best spellcasters and urge them to use extreme force. Sombra is no ordinary opponent."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Princess?" Celestia found Twilight peering up at her worriedly. "Is this really necessary?"
Princess Celestia swallowed but remained detached from her personal emotions. She placed a sympathetic wing over Twilight's back, the latter shying away slightly. "I'm sorry Twilight, but Sombra is a threat to national security. He cannot be allowed to just wander freely. You know this better than anypony."
Twilight tried to speak but in lieu of a response, she simply nodded and stared down at the floor.
~*~
The apartment building in question, an old brick structure that'd seen better days, was once a grand hotel that catered to the city's elite and saw the greatest parties in all of Equestria. However, after changing hooves and falling prey to bad business practices, it fell into disrepair and was converted into a cheap housing facility. Graffiti dominated the exterior, the walls featuring stuff like, "Jets territory" or "Piebald loved Smoky Cream" . Some of the windows were boarded up and trash surrounded the perimeter.
Above the building, six pegasi combed the sky to monitor all entrances and exits while twelve strong unicorns carefully head inside. The platoon fanned out, the beams of their flashlights searching the building as their horns steadily glowed with magic. As it turned out, the interior was even worse. The walls were covered in scratches and spider web-esque cracks, the paint peeling off and piling up on the faded wooden floors like dandruff. A musky, unpleasant odor filtered through the air, smelling like paint thinner and rotten wood.
Ignoring the stench, they silently traversed a stairwell reeking of cheap liquor and approached Room Number 412, their collective breaths held in anticipation. The leader, a grayish-green mare with purplish-blue locks, nodded and a soldier sorcerously burst the door down, the apartment quickly being flood by the guards. It was a shabby dump to be putting it bluntly, a spartan dwelling place dominated by dirty magazines, crumpled up take-out bags and empty beer bottles. Its owner was quickly located in the bedroom, curled up in the fetal position and whimpering to himself like a beaten dog. Nearby, they found a sack of fish heads.
"Golden Shield? It's Lieutenant Misty Sunrise," the leader said softly, rubbing the stallion's shoulder.
Golden Shield raised his eyes up, lower lip trembling. He seized Lieutenant Sunrise by the upper forelegs. "It...it was the demon...the Green-Eyed Demon!"
"Shield Wall, Mad Minute, get him out of here."
Two large grunts hoisted the gibbering stallion up and carried him out, ignoring his frantic mumbling about living shadows and heads in bags. A thorough search of the apartment turned up nothing so Lieutenant Sunrise lead her troop back into the hallway, ready to make a report to the princess. Unbeknownst to the unicorns, something small and dark darted around their flashlights, blending perfectly in with the darkness. Above them, a semi-solid black mass seeped down from the ceiling, silently landing on the floor and congealing into a pony-shaped form. And then, he struck.
A tendril grabbed a soldier and hurled him out a window as several black missiles struck four others, knocking the wind out of them. Dodging oncoming fire, Sombra spun around, clocking a unicorn in the face with an elongated kick and creating a magical arc that bounced their blasts back at them. He slithered across the floor and up the wall, crawling across the ceiling like a lizard, his eyes alight with malice. Flipping back onto the floor, a beam hurled towards his head only for his face to split down the middle, the beam sailing harmlessly by. He launched himself at the unfortunate spellcaster with a snarl, slamming her backwards with his semi-shadow form body.
Adopting a solid form, Sombra erected a rectangular barrier just as blasts of yellow, blue and purple were about to strike him. The blasts ricocheted off, hitting two of the soldiers as another was held in place by black crystal restraints around his hooves. That just left their Lieutenant. Misty Sunrise was shoving Golden Shield into a janitor's closet and spun to face her foe, momentarily distracted by the defeat of her whole squadron. Her horn burned with blue-green light.
"For the princesses!" She charged towards Sombra, bobbing and weaving as she released a barrage of magical streaks at him. The beams didn't stop him, either passing through his body or redirected with a few swipes of his magic. A tidal wave of black crystals forced the lieutenant to swerve, opening her up for a blast that struck her horn, covering it in stinging crystal shards and sending her careening into a door. Her magic fizzling, Lieutenant Sunrise could only lay in pain as Sombra's shadow fell over her, purple mist seeping out of his burning scarlet eyes.
Seizing her in a telekinetic hold, Sombra roughly yanked Misty up so that he could look her in the eyes.
"You fought bravely, soldier. For that, I'm giving you a message to deliver to your princess. Tell Celestia there will be a reckoning coming soon..."
Howling winds ripped at King Sombra's mane and cape but he didn't care; he was a stallion on a mission, his horn emitting a blinking black glow with popping purple bubbles. He strode through the snow, climbing a small hill and scanning the landscape until he found his quarry. After a few short teleportation jumps, he arrived at a ridge of the Crystal Mountains, heading up towards the Yaket Mountains. There King Sombra searched until he found a cliffside containing a set of cone-shaped cairns, fifteen-foot tall structures made of piled-up rocks. He placed a hoof against, sliding it against the rough surface of the stone and recalling the day that he made them.
Withdrawing his hoof, King Sombra marched past them, arriving at the face of a cliff that rose high above his head. His horn crackled with green and purple flames and he swept it in front of the wall, magically melting away a thick layer of ice and snow to reveal a pair of massive stone doors built into it. Ornate patterns of interlacing knots and fierce beasts were meticulously carved into the cliffside, an endeavor that'd taken hours even for the umbrum but was worth it to his pride as a craftspony. A triple-horned triskele was situated in the middle surrounded by a ring of ancient runes. He placed his horn's tip in the center of the triskele and spoke aloud:
"Opnaðu gáttina, svo talar ég!"
A deep rumbling boomed around King Sombra, the stone wall rattling as the runes were illuminated with a piercing trail of crimson light. The light traced the various carvings, bathing him in a bright glow before the doors groaned open, allowing him entry into a place not visited in over a millennium. Fire from King Sombra's horn revealed the expanse of the cavern he'd created, a safehouse of sorts should he ever needed to hide. He ignored the shelves of dust-covered books and chests full of gold, not even sparing a glance at his collection of magical weapons and relics. Digging through a large crate, he found a small chest hidden within and gingerly opened it to reveal a simple bracelet of precious stones that he clasped to his chest.
The afternoon sun bathed the Crystal Empire in scintillating light, illuminating the translucent buildings of the kingdom and creating a sea of shimmering lights. Crystal ponies dotted the streets, the glow of their radiant coats creating dancing beams of multicolored light. Atop a balcony on the Crystal Castle, Prince Tourmaline watched the sparkling masses below, his rose-colored eyes studying the common folk as they mindlessly went about their lives. A young couple pushed a stroller with a foal down the street, laughing and amongst themselves mirthfully. He wondered what it'd be like to be a commoner, just another face in the crowd instead of the crown prince of the Crystal Empire.
It wasn't that he didn't appreciate his privileged life; rather it was curiosity that caused Tourmaline to ruminate on the topic. After his ascension to alicorn status and subsequent marriage to Celestia, it had occurred to the stallion that other than a few trips to Canterlot, he'd never actually left the Crystal Empire and thus had no idea what Equestria was like. Something was missing, though Tourmaline hadn't a clue as to what that something was. Ever since he was a foal, he'd felt as though there was a part of him that was absent, like the misplaced piece of a jigsaw puzzle. Whenever he brought this up with his parents, they merely assured him that it was normal to feel that way but he never bought it. Their words were always warm and kindly but somehow felt to him as being disingenuous.
"They say that if you make a face long enough, it'll become stuck like that."
A crystal pony mare with a glittering magenta coat strolled into the room, a triple-pointed tiara set upon her chest-length, ivory and rose-red mane. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled with deep-seated affection and good-natured humor. Other than Discord, Tourmaline had never met anyone with such a hint of mischief in their gaze, and mischievous she was. Garnet loved making trouble, practical jokes especially, and he was often the one who had to clean up her messes.
"That's just a myth, Gar," Tourmaline grinned, shifting his wings at his side. "When I first told you that, you refused to smile for a week. The servants starting calling you, 'Princess Stoneface.'"
Garnet tittered. "Mother and Father weren't pleased." She took a seat at the sky-blue azurite table and magically opened up a wooden box, retrieving two strings and several beads made of various minerals. "They grounded you for two days, if I'm not mistaken."
Tourmaline sat down across from her and, wrapping one of the strings and a cluster of beads in his light blue aura, pulled the materials towards him. He selected a few beads and threaded the string through it, going in a pattern of blue, green, teal and violet before starting over again. Bracelet-making was a tradition they'd started when Garnet was five and they simply continued it, building up quite a collection over the years. They knew that is was only a matter of time before she too was married off and the siblings wouldn't have the time to partake in this activity so they elected to enjoy it while it lasted. Honestly, where did the time go?
"They quickly forgave me after I spent an hour straight making you laugh."
"I nearly wet myself I was laughing so hard!"
Tourmaline chuckled. "I know! With the way you were laughing, they could hear you in Mount Aris!"
Shaking her head, Garnet stared at him somewhat seriously. "You really need to get out there and make some friends, Toury. You can't just stay inside the castle with your books all day."
"Excuse me, but I have plenty of friends."
"Name five."
Tourmaline scratched anxiously at the back of his head. "Well...there's you-..."
"Siblings don't count."
"Celestia-..."
"Spouses don't count either."
"Um, Luna?"
"That's one."
"And Discord."
"Two."
"And...me, myself, and I!" Tourmaline rattled off and crossed his forelegs smugly.
Garnet facehoofed herself. "That's cheating!"
"Don't care!"
"Well you should." Garnet leaned forward with a crooked grin. "I don't think ponies will take it so well if they found out Tourmaline the Benevolent was a friendless cheater."
The gray alicorn frowned at her. "I hate that name."
"I know! So I love it!" She hummed and tied the ends of her bracelet together. "Done!"
They exchanged bracelets and Tourmaline had to admit, this one had to be her best work yet. It glittered with stones of yellowish-brown, light pink, wine-red, pale green and deep blue. He slipped it onto his right pastern and took a minute to admire the look and feel of it against his skin. As an empath, he could literally detect the love emanating off of it and felt a swell of pride at being so blessed at having a sister like her.
"Thanks Garnet. I love it!" Tourmaline telekinetically yanked Garnet out of her seat and into his open embrace.
Garnet chuckled and buried her head into his chest. "I'm glad. I love you, big brother."
"And I love you, little sister."
Kissing the bracelet, King Sombra slipped it on, watching the light dance across the stones.
"Soon, this'll all be over, Garnet. Soon."
~*~
"You're dismissed," Princess Celestia sighed towards the earth pony guard, slumping back into her throne. The team of unicorns she'd dispatched to capture Sombra had all failed, every single one of them requiring medical attention, even hospitalization for several of them. She knew that Sombra was dangerous, but his viciousness and brutality continued to surprise her. Thankfully, none of them had been killed though one stallion had several broken bones from being tossed out of a third-story window, only reducing his injuries due to splits-second magical application. Ex-royal guard Golden Shield, alongside his cohorts, was now a jabbering lunatic.
"I don't understand, Sister," Princess Luna asked. "Why did Sombra spare their lives?"
"It's a tactic of psychological warfare," Princess Celestia explained. "He knows he has the power of life and death in his hooves and can either grant it or take it whenever it suits him."
"Perhaps..." Princess Luna was deep in thought, clearly not convinced by Celestia's rationale. She'd visited his dreams on multiple accounts, as well as those of Twilight Sparkle's. They had a positive influence on one another, mostly on Twilight's end and had seen changes in the ex-king's behavior. Maybe he spared those soldiers out of mercy or even a shred of basic decency?
A pegasus royal guard entered the room, a hooded unicorn behind him.
"Your Highnesses, Adept Red Sulfur is here to seek an audience with you."
Princess Celestia quickly adopted her benevolent ruler expression. "Thank you. How can we help you, Adept?"
The unicorn bowed, pulling lightly on his light burgundy beard. "Your Majesties, I have dire news. There was a break-in at the School for Gifted Unicorns. Traces of dark magic was detected."
Both alicorns gasped. Princess Celestia leaned forward on her throne. "Was anything taken?"
"We discovered that a document was missing from the Restricted Archives Section. A map supposedly leading to the Flashstone."
A shiver ran down Princess Celestia's spine. "Are you sure of this?!"
"I am, Your Majesty," Red Sulfur confirmed grimly.
The Flashstone was an old and extremely powerful artifact, an amulet capable of altering the very fabric of reality. Five hundred years ago, an ancient sea-dwelling being known as Squirk attempted to use it to flood Equestria. Princess Celestia was able to defeat him and steal the Flashstone, using it to seal the leviathan back beneath the ocean's depths where he belonged. Unfortunately, destroying the amulet would've resulted in a cataclysmic burst of magical energy powerful enough to split the continent in two, so instead she hid it away in the Badlands. If Sombra wanted its power, then he was more desperate for revenge than Princess Celestia could've given him credit for.
She turned to her sister. "Luna, send a message to Twilight and her friends, tell them to hurry to the Badlands as fast as they can! Sombra cannot possess the Flashstone! Faust help us if he does."
Red Sulfur bowed once more. "I must hurry back to the school, Your Majesty. The recent break-in might attract more thefts."
"Be on your way, Red Sulfur and harmony be with you."
"As with you as well."
~*~
The Badlands were a large patch of red-orange sand, scorching earth and blistering heat, a wasteland stretching for miles where nothing grew water was considered a luxury. At one point, prisoners who were to be executed were left out there to perish. King Sombra was learning this lesson himself, his thick fur damp with sweat beneath his cloak and cowl. His kind were built for the cold, not the heat and he pitied any creatures that were foolish enough to make this place their home. As it just so happened, there were bands of ponies living in the Badlands, just not of the regular Equestrian variety and it was their aid that he sought.
Past a cluster of dunes and through a giant canyon, King Sombra hiked beneath the boiling sun until he came across a makeshift camp of dozens of tents. Slowly, he approached the camp and got a better look at its proprietors. Scorponies were nomadic in nature and a more recent addition to Equestria's races, having only arrived within the last two hundred years. They were similar to their more classically equine brethren except their backs, limbs and underbellies were covered in a thick, armored carapace that ranged in color from light brown to dark purple. Their segmented tails ended in pincers that contained a neurotoxin strong enough to knock out a full-grown pony with even the smallest of scratches.
The males varied in size, being comparable to a pony or even growing a foot taller than Sombra while the females were either exactly the same size or a little larger than a foal. Some of them were garbed in multihued articles of clothing, with scarves, belt sashes and straw hats for the males and shawls and head scarves for the females. As it just so happened, they had chosen to set up camp exactly where King Sombra needed them to be. A few sentries, noticing his approach, leapt forward with spears and daggers raised. Their tails were arched and their pincers clacking rhythmically.
Slowly peeling back his cowl, King Sombra kept his hooves raised as he lowered himself to the ground submissively. "Greetings, fellow travelers. I wish to dine amongst you and if possible, meet your leader in order to discuss trade."
Speaking to one another in a strange tongue, they surrounded him with the largest one cocking his head left and right. He then gestured for King Sombra to follow him, his fellow tribesponies poking at the umbrum with their spears. All activity in the camp ceased so that they could observe the newcomer, eyes full of mistrust but also curiosity. They hung a left and marched into a large tent, coming face-to-face with an old, scarlet-colored scorpony reclining on a pile of cushions. The big scorpony whispered into his ear and he nodded, sitting up to face King Sombra.
"They tell me you wished to meet with me?"
King Sombra bowed. "That is the truth, Great Chief."
The old scorpony stroked his beard. "Who are you who so brazenly enters our camp?"
"I am Sombra Darkhame, King of the Crystal Empire, Conqueror of the Frozen North and Son of Weland. I am known as the Shadow King, Láthspell, and Shadavar. As Imhooftep, I was High Priest of the pharaoh Djogser and also Karkadann of the Abyssinian Plains. To the natives of Zebrica, I was known as Macho Mekundu, or 'Red Eyes.' I am the Resurrected, the Avenging Son and the Last Umbrum."
"You have many names, Sombra Darkhame," the old scorpony hummed. "And 'umbrum'...yes, I have heard that name in my travels. The shadow-ponies from the Land of Mist and Ice, long since dead. They were great warriors." He rose and walked around King Sombra. "I am Charybdo, the Scarlet Death, the Breaker of Skulls, Poisoner of Demons and Great Chief to the Blazing Star Tribe."
"I am honored," King Sombra bowed.
Charybdo poured two glasses of water and offered one to King Sombra, who gratefully accepted. The old scorpony sat upon his pile of cushions. "Why are you here, Darkhame?"
"The ruler of Equestria did me a great disservice and I've sworn vengeance upon her."
Charybdo lowered his glass mid-sip. "You mean the Sun Mare?"
"The very same. She is responsible for the death of my kin and family."
"That is unfortunate," Charybdo stated. "But what does that have to do with us?"
"Great Chief," King Sombra began, "The Sun Mare will be sending six of her defenders after me. They will track me here and I wish for your warriors to fight them off but not kill them."
"Do you now?" Charybdo's tail flicked at his side. "Why should we aid you?"
In response, King Sombra pushed his saddlebags forward and nodded towards them. Puzzled, Charybdo summoned a mare to take his glass while one of the sentries passed the saddle bags to him. He soon retrieved a wooden, Y-shaped object covered in symbols.
"That is a dowsing rod, enchanted to find the nearest source of water. Grasp it by the prongs."
Doing so, Charybdo jumped slightly as the dowsing rod began to glow bright blue, gently vibrating with a gentle warble. It directed him to the glass cup sitting on a nearby chest. The other scorponies chattered amongst themselves, evidently in awe of the magical item. As a former member of a nomadic race, King Sombra knew that wanderers didn't care for riches or fine materials like silk. The only thing that mattered were the basic essentials for survival, such as food, weapons and of course, water, especially if your physiology and lifestyle was acclimated to hot temperatures.
"In exchange for your services, you get to keep that."
Passing the rod to a sentry for inspection, Charybdo hummed to himself and idly stroked his beard. He then smiled, "You are a shrewd one, Sombra of the Dark Coat. We have a bargain."
~*~
"So how much further? All of this moisture is making my mane all frizzy!" Rarity squealed impatiently.
Twilight followed the glowing pendant around her neck before glancing behind her. "According to this dark magic tracker, we're almost there."
Rainbow Dash wiped her brow. "Great! I can't wait to lay the smackdown on King Sombra!"
"Uh, Dash? Aren't ya forgettin' tha last time we faced him? He wiped tha floor with us!"
"Applejack is right," Twilight mumbled as she peered out into the Badlands. Ever since their journey, she'd been quiet, reserved. Heck, even Fluttershy had more to say than her. Normally this would've been an issue but given the circumstances, the others left her alone. "Sombra is way too much for any one of us to handle, even if we team up."
From atop his perch on Twilight's back, Spike patted her head reassuringly. "Hey, everything's going to be alright, Twi."
"I wish I could believe that," Twilight numbly replied. "I thought Sombra was getting better. I knew he was still hurting and I...I thought I could help him. But I wasn't enough."
Applejack placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Hey now, don't say that. Everypony's got demons that they just can't shake. Yah can't expect ta change everypony. Especially somepony like Sombra."
"Yeah! Plus Sombra really, really loves you!" Pinkie Pie jumped in. "He didn't say anything because he didn't want to hurt you!"
"But by saying nothing, he still hurt me! I thought he trusted me and I trusted him!"
"I was saying it all along-..." Rainbow started when Fluttershy of all ponies shut her up with a warning glare. "Sorry."
"Let's just get going," Twilight murmured and strode ahead.
It was an hour before they neared a small camp of some unusual-looking ponies. Their bodies were coated with armor-like plating and in place of hair, their tails were segmented metasomas ending in a pair of pincers. Scorpius equus, also known as "scorponies," were a mysterious type of equine race that roamed the deserts and harsh wastelands of Equestria, having adapted to arid climates and barren landscapes. They were mistrustful of outsiders but still offered aid to wayward travelers. So far, they declined any efforts by ponypologists to study their culture, making this a golden opportunity for Twilight and the advancement of social sciences.
The seven approached the camp when they heard a shout in a language they'd never heard before a crackling ball of reddish pink energy sailed over their heads. An explosion threw them forward, tumbling through the hot sand as a band of scorponies charged towards them.
"Everypony, run!"
Taking a cue from Twilight, they fled away from their attackers, taking refuge behind an outcrop of rocks.
"Ah! Why are they shooting at us?!"
Fluttershy hugged Rarity tightly. "Maybe they think we're attacking them?"
Twilight shook her head. "No, they're a warrior race but they're not hostile."
"A duck? Where!" Applejack managed to yank Pinkie down just in time to avoid a thrown spear.
The scorponies advanced, some firing magic missiles from their tails while others were using spears or slings and rocks. Twilight peered over the rock, carefully assessing the situation. She spotted a large rock back and to the left of the charging horde and an idea formed.
"Alright, I'm going to teleport to that rock over there and provide you with cover fire. Applejack, start breaking apart some of these stones so Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy can attack from above."
"Gotcha!"
The earth began slamming her hindhooves against a large boulder, cracking it and sending chunks of debris tumbling down as the two pegasi gathered up their new ammunition.
"Great! Rarity, you and Spike will hit them from here with your magic and fire."
"Sure thing, Twi!"
"You've got it, Darling!"
"Ooh, ooh! What about me?!"
Twilight grinned and placed a hoof on Pinkie's shoulder. She pointed up to a nearby hill. "Do you see that hill? I need you up there to barrage them with rocks."
"Okey-dokey-lokey! Pinkie Pie's on the job!"
Teleporting into position, Twilight unleashed a wave of magical bolts while Rainbow and Fluttershy hurled rocks from the air, striking the enemy but their thick hides repelling the smaller rocks. Beams of blue energy fired from Rarity's horn in conjunction with Spike's fire breath. The scorponies' armored skin was no match for dragon fire and they knew it, choosing to flee rather than getting burned. Zipping around the area, a pink blur collected a ridiculously large amount of rocks and in the blink of an eye, was crouched atop the hill. Her forelegs spinning like windmills, Pinkie pelted the scorponies with a torrent of stones, laughing madly as she did so.
"Yippee-ki-yay, melon farmers!"
Applejack crushed a large stone chunk into smaller pieces when she heard a clicking sound and felt a sharp pain in her right hindleg. She cried aloud and rolled onto the ground, coming face-to-face with what looked to be a scorpony filly. Three more scorponies joined her, two males and one female, the four of them forming a semi-circle around the downed mare. A burning sensation rippled through Applejack's leg and she tried to stand, only for her affected limb to go numb, sending her careening into a boulder. She was hit by a wave of dizziness, the world spinning as a nauseous feeling dominated her stomach.
"Applejack!"
"Wha…?"
Something blue rocketed past her, kicking up a cloud of dust and knocking the scorponies, sending the tumbling across the ground. Applejack shook her head, her eyes struggling to re-focus on her rescuer. A wing settled around her and she was lifted up, her left foreleg situated over a small but strong set of shoulders. Three blurry faces briefly conjoined into one, forming the face of a worried-looking Rainbow Dash.
"You okay?"
"Psh, me? Ahm just gravy. Could ya stop spinnin' though? Givin' me a migraine."
A rumbling, trumpet-like sound echoed throughout the Badlands, evidently one that the scorponies recognized as they scurried back to their camp. Twilight and the others turned, finding an old, red-colored scorpony holding an animal's horn. Cautiously, the team met back up, gathering around behind a large rock. Now that they could take a minute to catch their breaths, they realized that their foes were now staring at them. What was going on?
"Emissaries of the Sun Mare!" The old scorpony called. "I wish to address your leader!"
All eyes turned to Twilight. Slowly, she stood up and walked out in front of the rock.
"My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle. Why did you attack us?!"
"Forgive me, Twilight Sparkle! I am Charybdo, Great Chief of the Blazing Star Tribe! We were honoring an arrangement with King Sombra Darkhame to keep you distracted!"
This was worrying news. "'Distracted?'" Twilight called over, "You mean King Sombra ordered you to distract us while he stole the Flashstone?!"
Charybdo frowned. "'Flashstone'?! No, no stone! He said that you had to be out of the way so his battle with the Princess Celestia could go on uninterrupted."
Apprehension struck Twilight as the pieces fell into place. "This wasn't about the Flashstone…"
"What do you mean?" Fluttershy asked.
"I mean, this was just a ploy to lure us away from Canterlot! We have to go back!"
~*~
In the courtyard of Canterlot Castle, a swirling orb of darkness opened up and out stepped a gray-coated stallion, red eyes glowing with satisfaction. Twilight and her friends had taken the bait and not only did that mean they couldn't interfere, but that Twilight was safely out of harm's way. King Sombra was sorry that he had to deceive her but she would've prevented him from completing his plans for retribution. It was Red Sulfur who removed the map from the school, with a little persuasion on Sombra's part, his thought-controlled mind then erased of the whole event. The Mirror Pool was such a success that it just had to be utilized more than just once.
While four of the duplicates were taking care of Golden Shield and his cronies, King Sombra sent the fifth and last one to negotiate with the scorponies, using a carefully crafted script and an old trinket he finally found a use for. Once they were no longer necessary, he summoned them to his hideout and quickly disposed of them. It was strange to kill what was essentially himself but that was a thought for another time. They'd served their purpose, confusing the enemy and giving him time to train, to regain his former strength and prepare for the final battle. To think, it took over a thousand years to get to this point but King Sombra was nothing if not patient.
In a kingdom of darkness, in a castle of fear, King Sombra, the Conqueror of the Frozen North, sat on a throne of blood, his heart heavy with remorse but his iron-clad will resolute in the umbrum's plans for domination. He rose from his throne, his limbs carrying him in long-legged strides past Sunstone, who winced as his dark master's shadow fell upon him and watched him march towards the balcony. Staring out at his domain, King Sombra could not help but grin with malign satisfaction. The once clear blue skies were now a dome of yellow brown with thick, ugly clouds hanging in the air. The once-shimmering ivory palace was now a crooked mass of black crystals that climbed up the structure like thorny vines, green and purple flames erupting in several spots.
Down below, a queue of shackled crystal ponies stretched out, their bodies weighed down with hopelessness and their despondent faces bringing the Shadow King much unexpected glee. He was a stallion on a mission, a sacred quest to avenge his nearly-extinct race and to end the tyranny of the alicorn menace yet he couldn't deny the pleasure of bringing the crystal ponies to their knees. They'd brought it on themselves, taking active part in the massacre of the umbrums and fabricating lies about their destruction, painting themselves as heroes vanquishing a great evil that threatened peace and harmony. This feeling of sadism and superiority was alien but not unwelcome. Why shouldn't he bask in success at taking over the Crystal Empire?
Sunstone, meanwhile, could only remain rooted in place, helpless as a newborn colt as his people suffered at the hooves of this tyrant. The old stallion would've done whatever it took to avenge his rulers' demise, even killing an unarmed pony, but the odds were stacked against him. As Prince Tourmaline, Sunstone knew the stallion to be clever but as King Sombra, he took his intelligence and honed it into deadly cunning. He knew that his new master was aware of his less-than-friendly thoughts about him and took measures to ensure his servitude. He scratched at his neck, where a magical ring of symbols had been placed, a "collar" of sorts that prevented him from causing any actions that could bring harm to King Sombra, such as bashing him over the head with a vase while his back was turned.
There were also the mind-controlled guards to account for, such as the six that stationed in the throne room, two near the throne, two outside the doors and two more standing near the balcony. This was especially genius on King Sombra's part as not only did they follow his every command without question but on the off-chance that any rebels managed to break into the palace, they would have to harm even kill innocent ponies who were not acting according to their free will. It was a fact that most individuals wouldn't cross that line and King Sombra knew it, preying on compassion for the sake of holding onto his throne. Aside from the guards, legions of changelings and bat-ponies patrolled the castle grounds, their strange appearances and capabilities giving them an edge in intimidation and psychological warfare. A once beautiful utopia had been reduced to a kingdom of monsters.
The throne room's doors swung open and the members of King Sombra's alliance marched in like a macabre parade, a collection of horrid beasts that Sunstone could only pray would die slow, agonizing deaths. King Sombra quickly met them, greeting each one and listening to their tales of looting and pillaging. Talk of their victories had spread and they were now joined by minotaurs and even a few dragons. Soon, they would invade Canterlot and Equestria would be theirs, divided up amongst themselves for relocation or in Lavan's case, to turn into a barren, scorched wasteland. It was shaping up to be a conflict on par with or even surpassing the Umbrum-Draconequus War.
A changeling hastily buzzed into the room and landed, bowing before Queen Chelicerae.
"Ah, Metastoma. What news do you bring us?" The queen crooned.
The messenger looked frightened and out of breath. "Your Majesty, I have just received confirmation that Queen Concordia is dead."
Such a heavy bombshell exploding like that caused all discussion to cease.
King Sombra neared the changeling. "Dead? Are you certain?"
Metastoma nodded uneasily. "Y-yes, Your Lordship. There was a funeral procession and an official announcement made by her daughters. I managed to get close enough to the body to confirm it."
"It seems as though the Night Mother has answered our prayers," Orlok hissed excitedly.
Lavan, however, was displeased. "I would've loved to have taken her out myself."
"Does it matter? Big Pony Queen is dead," Black Shuck grunted. "Black Shuck is pleased by this news."
Amongst the affirmations, King Sombra was strangely reserved, merely retreating to his throne. Everyone turned to the umbrum, confused by his silence. If there was anyone who should be thrilled by this news, it'd be him. The slayer of his kind was no more, leaving Canterlot in the hooves of her inexperienced daughters. When King Sombra finally voiced his concerns, none dared to interrupt.
"This could be a ploy to have us lower our guard." He pointed an armored hoof at Metastoma. "Are you certain that it was the queen's corpse that you saw? It could be an illusion or a double."
Metastoma shook his head. "No, Your Lordship. I had taken the shape of an undertaker's assistant and performed a thorough inspection of the body. Queen Concordia is dead."
"What was the cause of death?"
"A spear wound but magically conjured. It was made out of...chaos magic."
King Sombra's eyes widened. "'Chaos magic.' Discord...how interesting."
The changeling was nodding so hard it was a wonder his neck didn't snap. "That was it! Princess Celestia said in her announcement that it was Discord who assassinated the queen."
Purple mist flowed from King Sombra's burning orbs. "Whether he knows it or not, he did us a great service. However, I refuse to believe that the princesses are incapable without their mother."
"And why not? They are mares with no combat experience," Lavan pointed out with an air of superiority.
"Never underestimate your opponents," King Sombra countered. "That is the quickest route to defeat."
"So what do we do now?" Queen Chelicerae asked, a tinge of hunger in her voice.
King Sombra arose from his throne and climbed down the dais. "Traditionally, a royal pony funeral lasts for a week. Canterlot will be heavily guarded during this period and will be expecting a direct assault. We must use this opportunity to strike the nearest villages and cities, demoralize the ponies and force the princesses to acknowledge us as a genuine threat to their reign."
"Your Majesty," a crystal pony interrupted, her voice slightly distorted by the mask she wore.
"What is it?"
"A messenger is here from Canterlot, Your Majesty."
King Sombra thought for a moment. "Send them in."
The pegasus envoy was visibly shaking. He was surrounded on all sides by changelings, cyclopes, diamond dogs, bat-ponies and even a fire demon. A large unicorn in steel armor stared at him through reflective red eyes. The unicorn waited for him to speak and this calmed the pegasus a little.
"Princesses Celestia and Luna would like...ahem, to extend an invitation to King Sombra of the Crystal Empire to join them at Canterlot Castle for a diplomatic meeting to discuss a possible end to this conflict."
The menagerie of creatures broke out in uproarious cheers and applause while King Sombra continued to stoically study the pegasus. Finally, the edges of the umbrum's lips curled into a grin.
"Very well, then. Tell your princesses that I accept."
~*~
Princess Celestia couldn't calm the rapid beats of her heart or the twitching of her wings. After so long, she was going to finally be reunited with her husband but it wasn't going to be the joyous reunion she'd been hoping for. Shortly after his disappearance, King Carnelian and Queen Aquamarine reluctantly sat her down and explained the truth: the massacre at Dravite Hill, using the Crystal Heart to change him into a crystal pony, wiping his memories, raising him as their own son, his unexpected rediscovery of his true identity and subsequent departure. "Disbelief" couldn't even come close to expressing Celestia's reaction to this information, her whole view of her beloved as well as her mother changing in ways she never could've imagined. If it hadn't been for Luna, she doubted that she could've been able to make it the last few years.
The castle was feeling more and more like a tomb, a dreary reminder of Queen Concordia and reminding everypony that she was gone. As was tradition, the color black dominated the scene: black drapes, black sashes for the royal guards, black veils, black tunics. Upon their thrones, the Princesses of the Day and Night radiated with grief, their usually flowing manes wrapped into buns beneath their veils and mourning cloaks, eyes red from perpetual weeping. Sorrow intermingled with anger, as their foalhood friend had taken their mother away from them though it was harder for Luna as Discord had been her secret consort. Now there was the threat from the Frozen North to contend with, this King Sombra and his deadly alliance.
Aristocrats, monarchs, representatives and other dignitaries were in attendance, having gathered to pay their respects to the late queen or to try to weasel their way into her daughters' good graces. Nothing was more opportunistic for a social climber than a tragedy. A few members of the staff were present as well, an insult by some nobles' standards but the princesses didn't care. Violet Twinkle, the aging owner of the local orphanage and longtime friend of the crown had come to offer her condolences, three foals under her care accompanying her. She'd raised Discord as a colt and expressed her feelings of guilt, feeling complicit in the queen's death but neither Celestia nor Luna would have any of it, insisting that she did the best she could and was not at fault.
The sound of savage winds howled in the throne room as a black sphere suddenly materialized, purple and green flames crackling in spurts from its obsidian surface. Receding almost fluid-like, the sphere peeled away to reveal a unicorn, though he was unlike any the court was familiar with. His dark gray coat was covered with armor and a red cape, a spiked silver crown atop his black-maned head. Glowing green orbs dominated his face, streaks of purple flowing from the orbs' sides. Immersion in the forbidden arts had turned his curved horn crimson and granted him a pair of fangs, which were visible when he opened his mouth.
"Good day, Canterlot," he stated in a faux-respectful tone. The green subsided, revealing scarlet eyes that burned like fire as he turned his gaze towards Celestia and Luna. "This is quite the gathering."
Violet stepped in front of the foals protectively while several royal guards quickly surrounded the umbrum, who remained chillingly calm despite the spears pointed at him.
"What do you want, Sombra?"
King Sombra regarded Celestia with steely-eyed distain. "You invited me, remember?" He leaned forward to peer at a spear point that was a foot away from his muzzle. "Or is this a bad time?"
The earth pony grasping the spear rattled in his armor but remained where he was.
Princess Luna was immediately on her hooves, veil tossed away, her face seething with rage. "You dare to make jokes at this time of mourning?! You're an omen! Láthspell, I name you!"
With a grin devoid of humor, King Sombra proclaimed, "You've always had a sharp tongue, Little Luna. Perhaps one day I shall tear it out and wear it as a pendant."
Calmly, Celestia laid a hoof on Luna's shoulder and guided her back to her seat. The elder alicorn turned to address Sombra, her gaze stern but controlled. "We summoned you here to stop a war not to start one. We are willing to discuss the terms of a truce."
"Interesting. Go on."
"You will disband your band of renegades, cease your attacks on cities and villages and relinquish control of the Crystal Empire to an appointed steward of my choosing. In exchange, your life will be spared but you will be banished from Equestria. Permanently."
"No," King Sombra said simply.
"'No?'" Celestia parroted confusingly.
"Let me clarify: the Crystal Empire is mine by right of conquest. Consider it a wergild for the massacre of an entire race." Gasps and mutterings were scattered throughout the throng of bystanders. "The crystal ponies, under Queen Concordia's orders, brutally wiped out an umbrum village of stallions, mares and foals, who I would remind you-..."
"That's enough, King Sombra!"
"-...were neutral civilians in the War and YET CUT DOWN IN THE SNOW!" King Sombra roared, his voice taking on a deep, raspy tone, purple smoke seething from his fiery scarlet eyes. "I am the last of my kind and I am due to compensation. The rule of the Crystal Empire is mine and I will die before I part with even a single acre of it!"
A spear pierced Sombra's face, entering right below his left eye and exiting through the back of his head. Yet...there was no blood. Confused, the royal guard withdrew his spear and made a vertical cut, the spearhead slicing cleanly through the Shadow King's muzzle as though it were made of fog.
"Did you really think that I would personally arrive to speak with you?" The image of the umbrum faded slightly, becoming more transparent before solidifying. "Princess Celestia, I am no fool and I would appreciate it if you didn't treat me like one. Come to the Crystal Empire...alone...and I swear upon the blood of my kin that you will not be harmed in any way."
He then dissipated, his fury-filled eyes being the last thing to vanish.
It was foolish but Princess Celestia knew that she had to do something to prevent all-out war. It took her a few days to fly to the Crystal Empire, much to Luna's protestations, who insisted that she should take a chariot and two guards but Celestia refused. King Sombra specifically asked for her and that she should come alone and she was not one to back down from a challenge. Perhaps it was the wishful thinking of a mare but Celestia doubted that Sombra would harm her. After all, they were still married and he had to still love her as much as she still loved him, right?
A gale slapped Celestia back to reality, the force of the wind knocking her off course but she quickly righted herself. The Frozen North was a massive tundra, cursed to permanently snow all year round and was one of the deadliest areas in Equestria. Why anypony would choose to live there she couldn't even hazard a guess and quite frankly didn't want to know. Dusk was fast approaching and Celestia let out a visible breath when she neared the Crystal Empire, making her grateful that Luna agreed to take over her duty for her. She'd have to remember to write her an IOU sometime.
As Celestia approached the kingdom, she realized how much worse the state of things appeared the closer she came. A dome of yellow brown encapsulated the city and the once-shimmering buildings were now ivory crystal spires. Hordes of bat-pony, changeling, cyclops, minotaur and diamond dog ground forces littered the streets, all armed and prepped for invasion. It was the crystal ponies that grieved her the most, the shiny-coated equines now dull and lifeless, their necks and limbs chained as they drudged forward in long lines. Things were far more dire than she could've anticipated and now she was more motivated than ever to end King Sombra's reign.
Landing gracefully, Celestia shakes her fur-lined hood off and notices the enemy soldiers staring at her but making no move to attack. A large shape lumbers towards her and on instinct, ignites her horn with a fiery golden aura. It has a molten rock body with "veins" of lava, large golden eyes adorning a fanged, almost feline face. Clawed hands and feet rest at the end of limbs constructed out of fire and little spurts of smoke seeped out of the cracks in its shell. Fire demons were once commonplace in the world but seeing one now is a rarity in and of itself.
"You Princess Celestia?"
"I am."
The fire giant snorted and turned away from her. "Follow me."
Seeing no other option, Celestia complied though she kept her aura running in case of trouble. The fire giant, who a passing changeling guard referred as to "Lavan," shepherded her through what looked to be a large camp, an array of tents situated in random rows. Bat-ponies went in and out of the tents or sat around and talked, their eyes flitting to her as she passed by. Given that there were foals and none of the males or females were armed, it appeared as though they were civilians, refugees even. She always thought of them as monsters yet they all cowered before her or stared at her, their wide-eyed gazes projecting distrust and even fear.
"Why are there bat-ponies here that aren't soldiers?"
"Thestrals or cavalums. They don't like to be called 'batponies,' Lavan rumbled curtly. "Since you ponies kicked them off their land, King Sombra gave them asylum here and promised to give them their lands back. Don't know why he bothers. Bug-eyed little freaks..."
It hurt Celestia to hear that. When the Three Tribes arrived, yes, there were already creatures inhabiting Equestria but Mother had told her that they'd been relocated to other parts of the continent. Of course, when she got older, she learned the sad truth that they were forced out by the pony settlers, who also "relocated" other races like changelings and cyclopes. Was Sombra really helping the bat-ponies reclaim their homes and heritage? She had no doubt that this was a campaign fueled by revenge but perhaps he sympathized with the hematophagies, given what happened to the umbrums.
A group of changeling warriors glared at the alicorn, some even hissing and hurling what she believed to be curses at her. Two scarred minotaurs were laughing at a joke but upon spotting the alicorn, scowled and turned away, one spitting at her hooves. But why? Equestria was prospering, wasn't it? They had no reason to scorn her or her family for doing the best they could.
The fire demon stopped before the entrance to the castle, a gloomy structure of black crystals and purple and green flames, dark magic radiating so thickly off it that Celestia didn't need to scan it.
"The king's inside. Go to the tallest tower. He's waiting for you there."
Lavan then turned and stomped back the way he came, evidently impatient to get as far away from the princess as possible. Shaking her head, Celestia continued on alone, passing two crystal ponies wearing spiked armor and gray and black helmets, twin glowing orbs emanating from the eyeholes. Neither one of them moved a muscle, the slow rising and falling of their chests the only indication of their status as living beings. She waved a hoof in front of their faces, the movement failing to register a reaction so she reluctantly strode past them and entered the castle.
The interior was a labyrinth of ebony crystals and crackling dark magic fire lighting the halls from claw-like wall sconces. More masked guards patrolled the castle, their gaits stiff and mechanical and Celestia pitied the clearly mind-controlled crystal ponies, silently swearing to free them of this nightmare. It was impossible for her to navigate the hallways and considered asking one of the guards for aid when her prayers were answered in the form of a copper-colored crystal pony wearing a black robe with the image of a great eye on the front. He was old, possibly in his seventies, his wrinkled face dominated by a forlorn expression. Bowing, the crystal pony held out a foreleg and a small smile slightly twitched across his lips, almost as though the act itself were a great strain.
"Greetings, Princess Celestia. It has been a long time but we've met before. I am-..."
"General Sunstone," she answered at once. "I'd never forget an old friend of my mother's."
Sunstone nodded gravely. "I heard about Concordia's passing. I'm so sorry."
"Thank you. Why aren't you mind controlled like the others?"
The stallion turned away. "His Majesty decided that I should be fully conscious while I serve him, my punishment for what happened at Dravite Hill."
Seeing his pain, Celestia decided to change the subject. "I am here to meet King Sombra. Could you show me where the tallest tower is?"
Sunstone bowed. "Right this way, Your Highness."
Down they went, navigating through dark corridors that all looked the same and Celestia wondered how it was anypony could find their way in such a maze. They walked in silence for the better part of an hour, the gloominess of their surroundings prohibiting any sort of an attempt at small talk. Eventually, Sunstone brought her to a large archway and opened one of the double doors.
"Right through here, Your Highness. I wish you luck."
Celestia smiled sadly at him and placed a hoof on his shoulder. "I swear to you on my life, the Crystal Empire will be liberated. King Sombra's reign will end soon."
Sunstone nodded, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Thank you, Princess Celestia."
Giving his shoulder a squeezed, Celestia pulled away and, taking a deep breath, began her ascension. Higher and higher she rose, the knot of uncertainty twisting tighter and tighter the closer she got to the dark stallion. Perhaps this whole meeting was a trap after all and he was either going to kill or ransom her but it was too late for regrets. After the longest climb of her life, Celestia entered the top of the tower, all of the Crystal Empire laying beneath her. King Sombra stood a few feet away, having anticipated her arrival, his back turned to her as he gazed at his kingdom.
"Hello Celestia." He turned his head to look behind him. "Care to join me?"
"You ask as though I have a choice," Celestia bitterly responded, horn aglow as she searched for any enchantments. Nothing. He'd apparently been telling the truth back at Canterlot. She kept a six-foot distance between her and Sombra as she joined him at the edge of the tower. "This place was once so beautiful when last I visited. Now it's hideous."
"It was always hideous," the umbrum replied starkly. "It was just covered up with shiny gems. I merely cast aside the illusion and showed everypony what it truly looked like."
"You're delusional!" Celestia barked. "Do you hear yourself? You invaded the Crystal Empire and enslaved innocent ponies, ponies who did nothing wrong!"
When Sombra turned his gaze upon her, it was one of exhaustion and anger. "'Innocent' is such an easy word to toss around, isn't it? No, they might not have wielded the spears or torched the houses but they are not innocent in this. They chose to live in willful ignorance of their misdeeds, to shirk responsibility rather than accept it. Just as your mother did."
Conjuring a sword, Celestia leapt at King Sombra, her blade held high and ready to deliver a killing stroke. A wave of black crystals flew in front of King Sombra to materialize a crystalline sword, blocking Celestia's blow. The Shadow King rotated his whole body, trails of purple smoke flowing from his eyes. The two blades continued to scrape and push at one another before Celestia disengaged, spinning and directing her sword in an under-hew slash, bouncing off of its sister weapon. Rather than anger, King Sombra was instead disappointed.
"Attacking a pony while his back is turned? Hardly behavior befitting a princess."
Issuing a snarl, Celestia whirled her sword around, delivering a flurry of stabs, though they were met with several, lightning-fast parries, sparks flying off of their respective blades like raindrops on a roof. She withdrew her attack, leaping backwards to give Sombra the opportunity to attempt to play the aggressor. Instead, he directed a slew of small crystal darts to fly at Celestia, her golden-hued barrier barely managing to raise in time. The darts harmlessly bounced off and the shield dropped, only for Sombra to lunge at her with an overhead chop, their swords meeting in a bind once more. Both opponents shoved at the other, blades and eyes locked.
"You're a foul, black-hearted monster!" Celestia belted out, heart pounding and blood heating in her veins.
"And yet, you've never been more attracted to me."
Before Celestia could refute this statement, Sombra dove forward, claiming her lips in a sneak attack, her eyes bulging in their sockets. Prince Tourmaline was always gentle, his kisses featherlight as though he were afraid of harming her but King Sombra was the complete opposite, mashing their mouths together in an act of unbridled passion. The two were like water and fire: one soft and restrained while the other was all fury and action, claiming what he wanted and unconcerned with boundaries. A heat worked its way through the mare and surrendered to the kiss only for Sombra to draw away, taking the heat with him and leaving Celestia hungering for more. He tossed away his sword, the weapon shattering on the floor and disappearing.
"Admit it, Celestia, you don't want to fight," he huffed, a confident grin forming.
The sword in her telekinetic grasp rattled, her aura faltering due to indecision. Celestia couldn't deny the fire the dark stallion had ignited in her and even though he was a ghost of her husband, she shamefully admitted to herself that Sombra was much more attractive than Tourmaline. His once rosy eyes were scarlet globes of raw desire and the sharp fangs of his grin inviting danger but also untamed passion for her. It'd been years since she last felt a stallion's touch, remaining loyal to Tourmaline in hopes of his eventual return only to toss him away for a technically different individual. Celestia sighed, the sword vanishing in a flash of gold before she charged Sombra and pressed her lips against his, reciprocating the longing and desperation in his own kiss.
Surrounding the tower in an obscuring aura of purple, black and gold, the two claimed one another, no restraint, no second-guessing, just carnal passion. That night belonged to just them, the two enemies-turned-lovers lost in an ocean of ecstasy, their bodies crashing together like waves beating against the shore. For Princess Celestia, it was an act of pure love, a testament to their union as husband and wife, despite the unfortunate circumstances. She hated what he'd become but found herself hopelessly devoted to him, adoration and loathing boiling inside of her until at last the deed was done. As they laid there, she couldn't help but feel a mix of mortifying shame and blissful satisfaction before the veil of sleep was pulled over her eyes.
Celestia's eyes winced at the intrusion of light, opening and closing them to banish the fogginess that had dominated her vision. She was in her room back in Canterlot, lying beneath the white silk sheets of her bed. Had it all-...? No, it was no dream. She remembered flying to the Crystal Empire, recalling the icy cold of the savage winds on her wings, the wet, musky smell of the bat-pony camp and the heat emitting from the fire giant as he led her to the castle. Yes, the castle, where she climbed the tower, fought King Sombra and then-...
"Oh my!"
A pressure in her stomach made Celestia trudge from the warmth of her bed to the bathroom, where she emptied her stomach in sour-tasting bile. Three times she vomited, and was left dry-heaving on the floor. She hadn't had anything to eat recently and wasn't feeling feverish, feeling perfectly healthy before her lone journey to the Frozen North. The thought of last night's activity flashed before Celestia's mind and a sense of panic gripped her at the implication.
"No..."
~*~
Eleven Months Later...
Atop his throne of purplish-black crystals, King Sombra surveyed the large crystal table that'd been set up in the center of the throne room, its surface buried beneath a mountain of maps, scrolls and battle plans. The leaders of the alliance gathered around it: Orlok, Queen Chelicerae, Lavan, Black Shuck, Brontes and Asterion of the minotaurs. Princess Celestia had vanished from the public eye, apparently hiding out after an attempt on her life, leaving Equestria ripe for the taking. Unfortunately, an unforeseen complication arose, one that took the form of the last remaining draconequus. Discord, having suddenly developed a taste for world conquest, had taken over much of the continent, leaving only the Crystal Empire, Yakyakistan, Griffonstone and the Dragon Lands unaffected by his special brand of mayhem.
Asterion, a red-brown bull with a facial scar and split lip, pointed at a spot on the map just outside of the mysterious Everfree Forrest. "Here is where Discord has decided to make his capital. According to the cavalum spies, he's literally turned the place upside down and is making it rain chocolate."
"Draconequui," Chelicerae groaned. "Doesn't matter if it's one or many, they are always a menace."
"You're right. This will be tricky."
They all turned in the direction of the unfamiliar voice. A misshapen creature that wasn't there a minute ago leaned forward to gaze at the map through a pair of ridiculously large reading glasses, scratching his chin in contemplation. "May I suggest cutting him off at the pass?"
"DISCORD?!"
Disappearing in a cloud of sparkles, Discord reappeared next to King Sombra sans glasses, throwing an arm around the disgruntled stallion. "It's been too long, Tourmaline!" He then slapped himself and said with air quotes, "Oops, I mean 'King Sombra.' Love the new look, by the way. The red and black really bring out the homicidal despot in your eyes. Oh and before I forget..."
SNAP!
Sticks of peppermint appeared in everyone's mouths, Discord himself included. King Sombra spat out his stick while Discord took a huge puff and blew, a red and white cloud rolling out that soon coalesced to form the shape of a rocking bassinet. The draconequus beamed widely.
"Congratulations on becoming a father! Eh, I hope the kid takes after the mother."
"What are you babbling on about?" King Sombra demanded.
Discord flicked his stick into the air and caught it between his jaws, swallowing it whole. "Oh, you mean you don't know? Princess Celestia just had a filly..." He leaned forward and pointed a claw right at Sombra's chest. "...and you're the father..."
A Few Hours Later...
"Wretched beldam!"
The door to King Sombra's bed chambers banged loudly shut, sending a sound akin to breaking glass echoing throughout the castle's hallways. Slamming down a goblet, King Sombra filled it with wine and threw it back, the sour-sweet taste flowing down his throat. He quickly refilled it, shaking with rage at the meeting he'd just returned from with that vile alicorn, who confirmed that yes, she had indeed become pregnant with his foal from their tryst months back and that it was a filly. However, she also claimed that she actually aborted their child, killing the only family Sombra had left as well as the last piece of his pony side. Now the only thing left was an overwhelming desire to burn Canterlot to the ground and shove the ashes down Celestia's throat.
King Sombra steadied himself against a table, unsure if he was going to go blind with rage or vomit his guts out. He shuddered, glancing over at the baby blanket folded up on his bed. Tears rolled down his cheeks, his chest heaving with every pained breath. With a roar, he slammed a hoof down on the table, splintering the wood with the blow and filling the air with a loud crack-bang.
I knew she was rotten but to stoop so low...
A four-knock beat at the door interrupted his thoughts. King Sombra hurriedly wiped his face with his cape and inhaled sharply through his nostrils. "Enter!"
Sunstone hesitantly entered the room and bowed. "Your Majesty, King Orlok and Queen Chelicerae are awaiting in the throne room. They wish to speak with you."
"Tell them to wait."
"But Sire-..."
"TELL THEM TO WAIT!" King Sombra bellowed, glass shattering and objects flying around the room. The crystal pony fled as fast as his old limbs could carry him, slamming the door behind him. Hanging his head, King Sombra's eyes found the baby blanket once more. "Before, I was going to spare Celestia's life. But now...she dies."
The changeling gulped. "E-exactly that, Your Lordship. The Royal Sisters used some relics called the Elements of Harmony and...turned him to stone."
Not a word was exchanged in the court of the Shadow King. The Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony, a being that nearly took control of all of Equestria in mere hours, had been beaten, apparently without even a fight. Many of the court's attendees peered at one another uneasily. If the princesses had that kind of power, what chance did they have? King Sombra's head jerked around at the sound of a voice.
"Your Majesty," Brontes began. "Perhaps it would be prudent to withdraw our troops?"
King Sombra glared at the cyclops. "I beg your pardon?"
"I mean, before our odds were better but with these 'Elements of Harmony,' we don't stand a chance in Tartarus against the princesses. The cyclopes will no longer be party to this folly."
The umbrum waved a hoof dismissively. "Go then, flee! Run back to your meager territories like cowards!"
Letting his brothers and sisters exit before him, Brontes merely shook his head sadly. "Better a live coward than a dead fool," he uttered and closed the door behind him.
King Sombra was on his hooves, slowly descending the dais, eyes carefully scrutinizing all those present.
"Would anyone else like to run away?"
Black Shuck rose from his seat and barked orders to his lackeys, together the diamond dogs retreated without a word, followed shortly by the minotaurs and the few dragons that joined them. That left Lavan, the changelings and the cavalums. King Sombra was swearing on the inside as he paced around the remaining alliance members. At least they actually had backbones and once Celestia was dead, they could have whatever parts of Equestria they wanted but the Crystal Empire was his. Lavan actually had the nerve to demand the Crystal Heart before Sombra persuaded him otherwise, instead settling on burning everything south of Canterlot.
"We're not backing down now, not when we've come so far," Queen Chelicerae declared. "The alicorns have vanquished one lowly draconequus. We are many!"
"I came here to burn the forests of Equestria," Lavan boomed, steam hissing from his armored hide. "I will not stop until their precious capital is ash and debris."
Orlok shambled forward stiff-legged. "The cavalums will feast on alicorn blood, this do I swear in the name of the Night Mother."
King Sombra grinned sinisterly. "Then it is agreed. We march on Canterlot."
~*~
The door was inscribed with the image of a crescent moon, which Princess Celestia gently traced with a hoof, wincing as she heard her sister's muffled weeping. Discord had been defeated, reduced to a stone statue and now standing in the royal garden, his face frozen in an eternal bout of laughter. He'd been their foalhood friend and Luna's first love, the younger alicorn taking his imprisonment harder than Celestia would've imagined, barricading herself in her room and barely touching whatever food was left for her. It was only through Celestia's similar experience with Sombra that she was so understanding, believing her little sister needed time alone for her emotional wounds to heal. Luna had been Celestia's rock during her pregnancy and the subsequent enchanted sleep of her daughter but now it was her turn to do the same.
As Celestia wandered through the castle's halls, she was reminded of how empty the structure was now and thought back to all those that she lost. First, there was her husband Prince Tourmaline, now King Sombra, a vicious, revenge-driven warlock and tyrant. Then, there was her dear friend and mentor Star Swirl the Bearded, who vanished along with the other Pillars in a battle with the Pony of Shadows, depriving her of his guidance and wisdom. Next was Discord, once a bright, optimistic colt that Celestia would've been proud to call her brother-in-law but had been reduced to a mad, irrational being of pure disorder. Finally, her mother Queen Concordia, the mare who raised her and the last family outside of Luna and Cadence that she had.
The throne room was vacant, as bare and hollow as the hole in Celestia's battered heart. Slowly, she trotted up the dais and stared at her throne then at Luna's. How much more would either of them have to lose? Time and again, they've defended their kingdom from foes both foreign and domestic yet the grief never waned nor the costs never fully paid. There were moments, strong but fleeting, where she considered hoofing over the crown and responsibilities to another, to let them rule in place of her. As much as she loved her home and her subjects, sometimes it felt as though she was being torn in two, splitting off into both Celestia and Princess of the Day.
In those moments, Celestia quieted her mind and allowed the voice of her mother to reverberate through her memory: When you take up the role of Equestria's ruler, you don't just bear the weight of a crown but also the lives of every pony that exists and will exist in our kingdom. It is akin to being a mother to thousands of foals and any good mother cares for each and every one of her children, putting their needs and desires above her own. One day, Celestia, you will be Mother to Equestria. Will you put aside your selfish ideals for your children? If not, then you don't deserve to wear the crown.
"I'm trying, Mother," Celestia whimpered, sniffling lightly. "It's just so hard."
"Tia?"
Her sister's voice gently echoed in the empty throne room. Wiping her face, Celestia turned and smiled at Luna, doing her best to put on a brave face. "Luna...sniff...you're out of your room."
Luna nodded solemnly, her slippers clacking on the floor as she approached the dais. "I...I hadn't seen you in a few days. I wanted to know if everything was alright." She lowered her head shamefully. "I'm so sorry, sister. It was foalish of me to lock myself up and cry while you took care of things alone."
Gently, Celestia tilted Luna's head up. "Don't apologize, Lulu. I understand why you needed time alone. It's not healthy to keep things bottled up. Believe me, I know." She nuzzled her cheek, placing a wing over her shoulder. "I'm just so happy to see you."
"Me too, Tia," Luna sighed, leaning into the nuzzle. "It just...hurts. So much."
"I know," Celestia cooed.
Luna gasped, hot tears spilling down her muzzle. "I hated what Discord became but...I still love him."
"It's not easy, Luna. Love is complicated, harsh even. You have no more control over your heart than I do over the wind or the tides. All we can do is try to wait out the storm."
The crashing of the throne room's doors jolted both princesses, both turning towards the disturbance with horns aglow only to relax at the sight of five royal guards, who surrounded a hooded figure, a chain attached to a metal collar around their neck. Whoever the figure was, they were equine in shape but their over-sized cloak made identification impossible. The lead guard, a goldish-brown pegasus, halted and raised a hoof, the others soon pausing. He nodded and another guard yanked back the stranger's hood to reveal that it was a changeling.
"Your Majesties, we found this thing outside the castle entrance. It was actually begging for an audience with you," the pegasus stated harshly.
"Thank you, Captain Phalanx." Celestia peered at the changeling closely, noticing the slight tremor in its limbs, its face twitching as it bit at its lip. This thing was terrified. "Why are you here?"
The changeling raised its head but didn't meet her eyes. "I-I came to warn you...Your Grace," the changeling replied shakily, a female judging by the higher pitch of her voice. "King Sombra and his allies...th-they plan to march on Canterlot in three weeks, a-at dawn."
Celestia raised an eyebrow at this. "And why would you share this information with us?"
"Perhaps it is a trap," Luna glowered. "They've sent an emissary to deceive us."
"Maybe..." A golden spark shot from Celestia's horn and encompassed the changeling in a golden bubble. "Is this a trick? And no lying. It will only get worse for you."
"It's no trick. I came on my own and no one knows that I'm here," the changeling answered without hesitation. She was inside of a truth field; if she'd attempted to lie, the field would've turned red and given her a mild shock, compelling her to tell the truth. Celestia was intrigued by this.
"Why are you telling me this? Don't you have a duty to your queen?"
"I have a bigger duty to my hive. They think that they can beat you but their pride blinds them." A tear, an honest to Faust tear, trickled down her cheek. "If they assault Canterlot, many of my brothers and sisters will die and I can't allow that. I...I just can't."
The truth field vanished, the collar around the changeling's throat unlocking and clanging to the floor. Everypony gawked at Celestia, who strode past her guards to lower herself until she was at eye level with the changeling. Understandably, the insect-like pony shrank as Celestia gazed at her curiously, examining her as one would a painting or a marble sculpture.
"What is your name?"
The changeling gulped. "M-mirage, Y-your Grace."
Celestia smiled at her. "You love your siblings very much, don't you Mirage?"
Mirage nodded. "I would die for them."
"I believe it." Celestia then rose to her full height and turned to Captain Phalanx. "Captain, I want you to tell the staff to prepare a room for Mirage and assign a guard to watch her. She is a guest and if any harm befalls her, there will be great punishment for failure to protect her."
The pegasus, still reeling from the shock of what had just occurred, was nonetheless too loyal to contradict his monarch. "Y-yes, Your Majesty. Brightwork," he announced, an earth pony stepping forward and saluting. "Escort Miss Mirage to one of the dignitary quarters."
"Yes Sir!"
Mirage bowed before Celestia and took her hoof in both of hers. "Thank you, Your Grace. Thank you."
Brightwork led Mirage out the throne room, followed shortly by Captain Phalanx and the other guards, who were still just as dumbstruck as he was at their princess' decision. Luna, meanwhile, was fixing Celestia with an inquisitive expression, trying to figure out her sister's reasoning.
"Is this wise, sister? Letting an enemy stay at the castle?"
Sliding back into her throne, Celestia nodded. "The truth field didn't detect any falsehoods in Mirage nor did I find any deception in her eyes or face. She was telling the truth."
Luna was still doubtful but willing to drop the subject. "So what is the plan?"
Celestia leaned forward, her gaze a hundred miles away. "They conspire to attack us in a few weeks. We must strike when they'll least expect it." She turned to Luna, pink eyes shining definitively.
"We must take the fight to them...immediately."
~*~
No one had seen King Sombra in two days. Gossip around the kingdom, mostly amongst the crystal ponies and perpetuated by the changeling soldiers, was that the Dark Lord of the North had locked himself in his spire of fear, practicing forbidden rituals of the foulest magic to bring him victory. Whisperings of foal sacrifices and offers to vile gods circulated throughout the empire and given that the king was rarely seen outside of his castle, the rumors only grew in scope and vileness. Conspiring with blood-drinking bat-ponies, love-stealing changelings and a foul-tempered fire demon certainly didn't help the umbrum's case. One would need only to look to the shattered remains of the previous rulers to confirm their suspicions of King Sombra's occult dealings.
Deep below the castle, in a secret chamber known only to a very select few, King Sombra had been toiling away creating a new weapon, one that, with any luck, could match or even surpass the power of the Elements of Harmony. Even if these wondrous relics didn't exist, it still wouldn't hurt to have something to aid him in taking on two alicorns. Drawing upon his metallurgical skills, King Sombra crafted a talisman from rare adamantine steel, spending hours forging it and cutting an alchemically-made ruby to adorn it. Using his collection of dark magic texts, combined with his maleficium training, he infused the talisman not only with magic but also a portion of his own soul, ensuring that if anything happened to his physical body, his consciousness would survive. The process had been draining and the soul-splitting ritual agonizing beyond words but his masterpiece was finally complete.
When at last he strode into the throne room, King Sombra wore his newest creation with pride, red mist curling from his eyes. The Alicorn Amulet would perform great feats of magical prowess without taxing the wearer but as an added bonus, should anypony other than him wear it, it would slowly drive them mad with power and feast on their very sanity. It could not be removed, save for the wearer themselves but with such a powerful relic, why would they willingly surrender it? Ponies weren't difficult to figure out. All it took was a taste of something extraordinary in their dull little lives and they would be willing to kill to keep it.
Suffice it to say, his allies were caught off guard by his reappearance.
"Where have you been? We've been standing around waiting for you!" Queen Chelicerae snapped.
A red beam of light struck her. Everyone gasped when in place of the queen, they instead found a changeling larva. Another beam restored her back to adulthood, the changeling gasping in heaving breaths as she clutched at her body. All eyes turned towards King Sombra.
"That is where I've been," he stated coolly, reclaiming his throne. "Creating a weapon to challenge the Royal Sisters. With the Alicorn Amulet, we can stand a chance against these 'Elements of Harmony.'"
"It works...well," Lavan offered up, the usually unperturbed fire demon looking especially uneasy. "So what now?"
"'Now'? Now we prepare for war."
~*~
Princess Celestia sat completely still as her attendants affixed her golden armor to her, the cold, heavy steel alien to her flesh while it was buckled into place. She was no stranger to violence; being one of the two rulers of Equestria sometimes required personally quelling a threat to its existence but fighting on a battlefield? Celestia detested violence as a testament to her personal code of pacifism, only resorted to combat as a last resort, unlike her more hot-tempered and headstrong sister. Luna could perfectly feel at home either swinging a battle-axe or sipping tea with Canterlot's aristocracy. Hopefully there would come a day when such measures were outdated and abandoned.
"Are you alright, Tia?"
Luna wore blue-violet armor and a spiked helm, her mane reverted to its natural light blue color and styled into several braids. A black-hilt sword with her cutie mark in the pommel was strapped to her side and she balanced a spear over one shoulder. Her movement spoke of one accustomed to the weight of armor and thus she moved with grace and purpose. A mare ready, and even hungry, for combat.
Celestia nodded, standing up once her greaves were in place.
"I'm scare and nervous. I've always been more of the diplomat so I'm not used to battles like you are."
"Who says I'm used to it?" Luna placed a wing over Celestia's shoulder. "I could fight a hundred battles and never rid myself of the pre-conflict fear that affects even the best of us. What you're feeling is natural but the important thing to remember is not to let your fear overcome you."
"But I'm going to have to face Sombra and I might have to..." Celestia turned away, unable to finish her sentence. "I don't know if I have the strength to go through with it."
"You will," Luna smiled. "Because you'll have me by your side. We can and will win. Just believe it."
Celestia gave Luna a reluctant nod and hugged her. "I know. It will be you and I."
"You and I, dear sister. Always."
Down below, their forces were armed and prepared for the battle ahead. Scores of earth ponies, unicorns and pegasi made up the bulk of their forces, with griffons, yaks and hippogriffs comprising up the rest. Dragon Lord Vermithrax refused to lend any of his forces to aid them in their "foolhardy squabble," closing off the Dragon Lands and declaring it a neutral zone. According to Mirage's intel, news of Discord's defeat caused most of Sombra's allies to abandon him, leaving the umbrum with his mind-controlled crystal ponies, King Orlok's bat-ponies, Queen Chelicerae's changelings and one fire-demon. Although this still added up to a sizable army, it was now closer in number to Celestia's and this gave her great hope for victory.
The Princess of the Sun drew in breath and nodded towards the gathered generals, who each took command of their forces and began the long march to the Crystal Empire. Thousands of armored soldiers stomped and clanked forward, giving the impression of thunder, their hoof and footsteps almost rhythmic as they stepped in time with the pounding of war-drums. Banners waved above the crowds like overcast clouds, flying the colors of Equestria, Yakyakistan, Griffonstone and Mount Aris. They were lucky to have the support of the hippogriffs but the only reason Queen Aura agreed to send aid was with the understanding that Celestia and Luna were to destroy all references to Mount Aris and the hippogriffs. They'd lost many of their kind when they joined Equestria late into the Umbrum-Draconequus War and wished for nothing more than to live peacefully in solitude far away from the conflicts of the outside world.
Ancestors, grant me the strength to overcome my weaknesses and do what needs to be done.
Donning her helm, Celestia nodded to Luna and together, they took flight.
~*~
Sunstone slowly dragged himself towards the throne room, every step reminding him of his age, which was further hampered by the monumental stress of recent events. The crystal ponies in the mines were being run ragged to provide the raw materials for weapons and armor. King Sombra and his entourage planned to invade Canterlot, an ambitious but overtly futile plot that was doomed to fail, even with the king's dark sorcery and nightmarish allies. Approaching the throne room's entrance, two equine guards stood by motionlessly, the greens of their helmets' eye holes burning ominously. Neither made a move to stop Sunstone, having long since been made aware of his role as the king's majordomo.
Nearing the steps of the dais, Sunstone felt himself shrink beneath King Sombra's glare as he watched him from atop his black crystal throne, the dark stallion exuding scorn for the old stallion. Sunstone would've preferred arrogant contempt or even sneering superiority to hatred. He lowered himself in a forcefully respectful bow.
"Your Majesty, I come with a message from the Crystal Empire's citizens. They have concerns about the state of things, how the empire is being run."
King Sombra's expression was one of cold annoyance. "Oh? And what are these 'concerns'?"
Sunstone swallowed, his throat suddenly feeling extremely dry. "The miners and craftsponies are being overworked and underfed. Some have even collapsed from exhaustion. Thankfully, there have been no deaths. So far."
"If case you've forgotten, we are readying ourselves for war," King Sombra briskly replied. "In order to take Canterlot, we need siege towers, ballistas, trebuchets. These things don't just build themselves."
It was a great risk to try to argue with the king but Sunstone wasn't going to sit back and watch his fellow ponies die from taxation. "Please be merciful towards them. They've suffered enough."
The umbrum leaned forward in his throne, teeth bared in contempt. "'Suffered enough'? No, they could always suffer more. They deserve to suffer and they should be grateful that I'm not nearly as cruel as I could be."
Right, so appealing to King Sombra's emotions wasn't going to do it. He was a creature of logic and thus thought in terms of benefits. "Yes, but if you wish for better productivity, the workers need to be kept healthy and well-rested. Every sick or injured worker just equates to further delays." He then hastily added, "Your Highness."
King Sombra sat back and mulled on this point. "Very well then. Ensure that every miner and craftspony is given a half-hour break and plenty of water. That is as far as I am willing to go."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Sunstone bowed, being careful as to not smile externally. "There are other matters as well. With the heavy emphasis on aiding in the war effort, many crystal ponies are concerned about the social and economic implications. You've already banned the Crystal Fair and other celebrations and most businesses have been closed since the increase in slaves needed to build armor and war machines. Might I suggest keeping the essential businesses open?"
"Such as...?"
"Th-the schools for one. Many feel as though you're deliberately depriving their children of a proper education. Then there's also the apothecaries, tailors, bakers. Anypony really that can keep the non-slaves functioning."
From the king's baneful countenance, Sunstone was almost certain he was going to literally going to get the axe. Sure, so far the only ones to be executed were criminals and rebels but every day for him felt like a struggle to see tomorrow. Perhaps King Sombra would stay true to his word to keep Sunstone alive as long as possible, perhaps not.
"Very well then. Announce an official decree stating that all essential businesses are to be opened and kept staffed by anypony not suited for physical labor. That will keep the mares, foals and weak stallions occupied."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Sunstone bowed once more. "It shall be done." He turned and ambled away.
"Sunstone..."
The crystal pony turned.
"Don't think for a single minute that I'm going soft on you or the citizens," King Sombra uttered coldly. "I am merely doing what is necessary to quell any further thoughts of open rebellion. I don't have time to deal with the riff-raff."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
It wasn't until Sunstone exited the throne room and the doors slammed behind him that King Sombra exhaled and slumped into his throne. The pleasure that he was deriving from punishing the crystal ponies had all but evaporated at this stage. There was the fact that retribution for the umbrums' extinction had been dealt out but even that had lost its appeal. So why was he still going forward with making their lives miserable? Was it some sense of deluded self-righteousness?
Sombra manually lifted the crown off of his head and studied it, the light reflecting off of the steel band. A tool constructed to give the wearer the power to see their enemies' greatest fears, now it was a symbol of his oppressive reign. No, he couldn't wrong, could he? They're the ones who were responsible for the course his life took, killing the innocent and manipulated him like some sort of demented puppet. The umbrums were wiped out, gone like dust in the rainfall, their histories either rewritten or lost to the ages. His was the performance of justice, to right the wrongs of Queen Concordia and the crystal ponies.
For the first time in a long time, Sombra was uncertain of himself.
~*~
A week passed before the allies of Equestria arrived at the Crystal Empire, their shared anticipation of battle combined with a desire to see the false king overthrown kept them moving forward. Their resolve was absolute, with neither icy winds or freezing snow prevailing to turn them around. Celestia and Luna would take turns casting an imperceptibility spell, allowing their army to trek through the ever-snowing expanse without being seen or heard. It was a favorable sign that the weather was as tame as it was, not only affording them all uninterrupted breaks but also ensuring that their journey was unimpeded by storms. Apart from the occasional dire bear or ice wolf, their quest was uneventful and before it wasn't long until the Crystal Empire came into view and the army froze in its tracks.
What was once a literally shimmering utopia was now a dull, colorless collection of ugly structures piercing the dirty yellow-brown sky that hung above it like a storm cloud. The Crystal Empire used to possess glimmering spires that sparkled in the sunlight that had been reduced to jagged black crystalline buildings. Celestia could only shudder to think what the interior was like or what King Sombra had done to its citizens. She gulped, rattling lightly in her armor and it wasn't due to pre-battle jitters. A gentle hoof patted her shoulder and she turned to find the smiling face of her sister.
"Are you alright, Tia?"
"I think so," Celestia answered uneasily. "I'm still nervous about having to face Sombra."
Luna nodded understandably. "I know. Don't worry, we shall prevail. And we'll do it together."
"Right," Celestia smiled before adopting a more stoic expression. "We have a kingdom to liberate."
~*~
King Sombra took a swig of wine and rubbed his temples. Every once in a while, he would take a tour of the Crystal Empire, either assuming a disguise or covertly shifting into his shadow form to spy on the masses. It was no secret that he was despised by the populace, excluding the changelings and cavalums, who were grateful to him for providing them with a sanctuary. The crystal ponies hurled insults, calling him "tyrant," "false king" and "monster." The last one was deeply insulting but he paid it no heed.
For whatever reason, while King Sombra cared nothing for the crystal ponies, the current status of the foals was troubling. Perhaps it was the way their parents held them or the way their vacant stares penetrated his gaze but whatever the reason, he couldn't help but feel immense guilt at how they were living. Once he'd arrived back at the castle, he ordered some wine and locked himself in his chambers, requiring solitude to unravel his strange new emotions. After a fruitless hour of soul-searching, he sent for Sunstone and patiently awaited the old stallion's arrival. Finally, the crystal pony arrived.
"You sent for me, Your Majesty?"
King Sombra refilled his goblet and stared at the crimson liquid, taking time to formulate his thoughts before facing Sunstone. "I need to talk to somepony. I have...an issue."
Sunstone stared blankly at him. "An...'issue,' Your Majesty?"
"Yes," King Sombra curtly confirmed. "I was out and about earlier when I noticed that there were some foals just...standing there. No laughing nor playing, just standing. And their expressions were so lifeless." Sunstone nodded but remained silent. "I don't know why but I felt awful. Why is that?"
Furrowing his brow, Sunstone gawked at the king before staring thoughtfully out the window. After a prolonged silence, he finally concluded, "It sounds like you feel guilty, Your Majesty."
"'Guilty'? What have I to feel guilty about? The peasants are lucky that I'm not as terrible as they think I am. I could let them all starve or feed their children to the cavalums but instead I allow them to live in peace. Have you noticed that crime has decreased since I came into power? And yet nopony ever brings that up. I keep everypony fed and healthy but this is apparently not even worthy of discussion."
Despite his argument, King Sombra's excuses felt like ash in his mouth.
Sunstone sighed, "That may be so but you also took away our right to express ourselves culturally, force us to work in your mines and every citizen is required by law to wear shackles. You're not exactly a benevolent ruler."
Abruptly, he found himself yanked up by his collar in a telekinetic hold and flung forward so that he hung directly in front of King Sombra. Purple smoke flowed from the shadow pony's eyes, which now radiated a bright green glow. "You've forgotten your place, Sunstone."
The fear drained from Sunstone's face as he glared at the dark sorcerer. He no longer cared if Sombra struck him down. "No...I haven't. It's between my kind and you."
Studying Sunstone for a moment, King Sombra released his hold, dropping the old stallion to the floor. Rising to his hooves, he pushed back his chair and towered over the crystal pony. There was no fear, nor hatred, only defiance and some form of pride. The glow and smoke vanished from King Sombra's eyes, returning them to their usual scarlet. Regarding his servant curiously, King Sombra held a hoof out, which Sunstone wearily inspected before reluctantly taking.
"Perhaps you have a point, Sunstone. The truth is I...-"
King Sombra's speech was cut short when his horn began humming with screeching black and purple energy. He turned and raced towards the window, a deep growl emanating in his throat.
"The perimeter spells have been activated," he explained as images flashed before his eyes. He saw a massive army comprised of ponies, hippogriffs, yaks and griffons marching towards the Crystal Empire, their standards flying proudly above their heads. The motley collection was led by two fully armor alicorns, one blue with a starry mane and the other with a coat as white as snow and a multi-hued mane like a rainbow. How could this be?
King Sombra caressed the Alicorn Amulet situated on his chest, the red center gem shining with dark arcane power. It was time to test its might against the power of two alicorn princesses. Of course he was no fool, knowing that the chances of his success were very slim but he had to try. He was an umbrum and by Woden, he was either going to succeed or go down fighting. Besides, it wasn't as though he didn't have any contingency plans.
The Crystal Heart was a symbol of the Empire and thus Sombra removed it to demoralize the crystal ponies. It kept the Frozen North from swallowing up the Crystal Empire so instead of destroying it, he had the Heart drained of its love magic, courtesy of Queen Chelicerae. It was then hidden, accessible only through the use of dark magic and by entering a special gateway he'd created that forced whoever went through it to experience their greatest fear. There was also his phylactery, the Alicorn Amulet itself, which not only increased his magic but also housed a piece of Sombra's soul and should he die, its necromantic energies would restore him. In a rudimentary way, it was alive, driven by Sombra's very essence and would defend itself to ensure its survival.
"Sunstone," King Sombra intoned, smoke curling from his eyes. "Alert the other rulers, tell them to relocate their citizens. The time for war is nigh."
~*~
As the Equestrian forces neared the Crystal Empire, Princess Celestia couldn't help but feel as though this was all too easy. King Sombra was devilishly clever and yet there weren't any signs of sentries or watchtowers. The goal of a sneak attack was to catch an enemy off guard but the umbrum wasn't careless and would no doubt have a trick or two in case of such a maneuver. Celestia paused and held up a hoof, signalling the troops to stop. Luna trotted up to her confusingly.
"Sister, what's wrong?"
"I think that we should send ahead a few scouts," Celestia stated. "We have to make certain that aren't any surprises waiting for us."
Luna nodded and waved over a pegasus, a griffon and a hippogriff.
"You three, scout ahead and report to us your findings posthaste."
The warriors nodded and took to the sky. For the next few minutes, Celestia held her breath. Luna must've sensed her dread because she placed a wing over her reassuringly. In the distance, the scouts circled the Crystal Empire when something knocked the griffon out of the air, sending her plummeting to the snow. The other two swung around to flee as a volley of arrows were launched at them, striking the pegasus in the wings and back while the hippogriff was pierced in the side.
Summoning the last of his strength, the hippogriff managed to fly out of range skid to a rough stop, half-collapsing on the ground while a group of his brethren carried him off. The Royal Sisters watched an army marching through the empire's gates, a dark alliance comprised of bat-ponies, changelings, crystal ponies and even a fire demon. At the forefront, King Sombra himself led his forces, red eyes aglow with cold fury as purple wisps trailed from the edges of his pupils. The Dark Lord of the North grimly strutted towards them, his sigil flying high upon spiked pole arms carried by his brain-washed servants.
Celestia took a shaky breath and steeled herself. She nodded towards Luna, who called out to the other generals and they resumed their pace, ready to meet the enemy. Breaths puffed out visibly in gusts of mist, the steel clacking of a million shifting limbs beating out an ominous tempo. Without warning, King Sombra shouted something in a foreign tongue and his troops charged full-speed ahead, spears and sword drawn. The Equestrian forces responded in kind, hooves and claws beating a path through the ice and snow until at last the armies met in a furious avalanche of metal and flesh.
Bat-ponies and changelings threw themselves at the airborne troops while the masked crystal ponies assaulted the ground forces, mercilessly cutting down anyone and everyone they came into contact with. The fire-demon, Lavan, was conjuring stone pillars from out of the ground to batter his foes with while regurgitating lava and toxic smoke. The savagery with which the crystal ponies fought with was unexpected and horrifying. Celestia couldn't help but give Sombra some credit: by not only sending in soldiers that were sapped of their willpower, creating warriors that felt neither compassion nor exhaustion but also instilling in their enemies hesitation to hurt their fellow equines, especially those that were acting against their own will. She swallowed and joined Luna above the battlefield, their eyes collectively searching the chaos for their target, finding him slamming a unicorn into the snow and dispatching two pegasi with a magic blast.
Their eyes met and it was then they knew that it was their final confrontation.
Rocketing into the air, King Sombra adopted a semi-shadowy form, fanged mouth emitting a war cry as a barrage of red orbs bombarded the sisters. Weaving around the orbs, the two alicorns spun and ducked to deliver their own missiles, which either soared through the blackness of the umbrum's body or were deflected by his horn. Luna jabbed at Sombra with her spear, narrowly missing his face as Celestia attacked with her sword. Dodging the weapons, King Sombra whizzed towards the ground and skidded along the snow, twin arcs of black and purple flames leaping upward to incinerate them. Celestia conjured a golden shield while Luna simply flew around her arc and plummeted towards Sombra with her spear leveled, ready to end the conflict.
Just as the spear was about to hit its mark, a black crystal pillar sliced through the shaft, followed by a storm of crystal shards that would've skewered Luna if not for her split-second barrier. The Princess of the Day sliced at King Sombra, who conjured a series of crystalline swords, meeting every one of her blows and giving him an opening. A ball of crackling, toxic black energy smacked Celestia in the chest, sending her rolling across the snow. Luna, meanwhile, struck at Sombra with twin swords, hacking through his own constructs before aiming both blades for his head. Vanishing momentarily, King Sombra appeared on Luna's left and seized her around the throat with a black tendril.
"I didn't ask for this, Luna. You shouldn't have come."
"You...you shouldn't have...started all this."
"It was your kind that started this, not I!" King Sombra growled.
A flash of silver sliced through the tendril, freeing Luna and enabling her to strike Sombra with a blue projectile. Celestia directed a golden blast to enhance the attack when the blast disappeared and reappeared, almost hitting her if she hadn't have ducked. Teleporting magic beams? Now Sombra was just showing off. Speaking of the Shadow King, Sombra followed this up with strafing them with energy blasts, an expression of pure rage on his face as the pair danced around the attacks.
As much as Celestia loathed to admit it, Sombra was good. No, he was great. One individual should not be able to hold his own against two alicorns and yet here he was. A mixture of innate talent, years of dark arts mastery and a cunning intellect made for an impressive foe, one that she should've known not to underestimate. Was she blinded by her affections towards Sombra, her love for the dark enchanter alive and present even at this crucial time?
Luna furiously swung her swords at King Sombra, who allowed them to phase through him and then lashing out a hindleg, catching Luna in the ribs before igniting his horn and grabbing her in a red aura. Following the illumination of Sombra's horn, Celestia discovered the amulet situated on his chest, the red gem at its center emitting the same red glow. It was the amulet! In a moment of unspoken synchronization, the sisters exchanged a nod and Celestia shot off a series of fiery arrows in rapid succession, ensuring that each one flew at her opponent at multiple points. As to be expected, King Sombra erected a ovular paper-thin shield to wildly deflect the projectiles, giving Luna the opportunity to hit the amulet and sending it flying off into the whiteness of the ground.
Reeling back, the umbrum's eyes widened in shock at the maneuver, clearly caught off-guard by the stratagem. Recovering his wits, King Sombra threw his head forward, a series of red crescent-shaped energy constructs spinning towards Luna like razor blades. As she blasted them out of the air, Sombra shifted into his shadow-form and charged Celestia at full speed, taking a hold of her and slamming her into the ground, using her head to dig a trench through the snow. Tossing Celestia aside, Sombra assumed a corporeal shape and erected a jagged crystalline cage around her. He approached the bars, his expression one of half-anger and half-sorrow.
"Give up, Princess. You're out of tricks as well as time."
Celestia met his gaze. "And you're out of allies."
Curious, Sombra turned to discover the alicorn's words rang true. The Equestrian army had beaten back his own, the survivors retreating into the Frozen North or laying down their weapons in surrender. Any crystal ponies still out on the battlefield had been subdued and their helmets shattered, freeing them of Sombra's influence and they were subsequently released to run back to the empire. The fire-demon, having seen the turn of the tide, was last spotted retreating and had fled to parts unknown. Whirling on Celestia, Sombra emitted a throaty growl, purple smoke flowing from his eyes as he fixed her with a resentful glare.
"You may have won the battle but you've still lost the war."
"Sombra!"
Luna hovered over them, magically pulling three glowing gems-orange, blue and red-from her belt pouch, the gems swirling around her like three orbiting moons. This was the part that Celestia was dreading: the usage of the Elements of Harmony. They'd agreed to use the relics as a last resort and seeing as how Sombra was too powerful for them, only the Elements could end his threat. Silently asking for forgiveness, Celestia focused, her Elements flowing out of her own belt pouch, one pink, one green and the last one purple. The cage shattered, the shards flying out and disintegrating, powerless against the might of the gems, against Kindness, Generosity and Magic.
Joining Luna, the Royal Sisters floated above Sombra, their combined Elements encircling them both. Together with Loyalty, Honesty and Laughter, the Elements of Harmony were whole, the physical representation of Equestria's best traits as well as the pair's bond. With a roar, King Sombra struck them with a toxic, bubbling pillar, only for it to bounce off of the white sphere that was now being generated by the gems. He then tried a different tactic, releasing two steady streams of fire but they again had no effect. Incredulous terror had set in but King Sombra refused to flee, instead standing in defiance of the princesses.
"I'm so sorry," Celestia whispered tearfully and, nodding to Luna, unleashed the true power of the Elements.
~*~
It was over. The Alicorn Amulet was lost in the snow, Sombra's armies were scattered and now, the princesses were using their ultimate weapon, the so-called Elements of Harmony, something that could overcome even his magic. However, it was just had he'd told Celestia, that she may have won this battle but she'd lost the war. Before entering into battle, Sombra uttered a dark curse on the Crystal Empire, one that would ensure that the alicorns wouldn't get their grubby hooves on it. If he couldn't have the empire, then by Donar nopony would, not even its inhabitants.
A wave of rainbow-colored magic struck Sombra, lifting him into the air.
"CELESTIAAAAAA!"
His muscles screamed with agony as pieces of his armor flew off of him, followed shortly by his flesh and bones. A cold emptiness entered his interior, leaving Sombra feeling less-than-equine and the reason was soon obvious: he was now a black, cloudy mass, a real shadow pony. Just when he thought his torment was over, he found himself flung far from the battlefield, soaring past endless plains of snow until he was cast into an icy chasm. Falling for what seemed to be ages, Sombra finally hit the bottom, though he didn't feel the impact or the cold. Just then, the top of the chasm slammed shut, eliminating the light and leaving him drowning in nothingness.
~*~
Celestia gasped, not realizing that she'd been holding her breath until she and Luna descended, the Elements of Harmony safely tucked away once more in their pouches. She didn't know what she expected to happen when Sombra was exposed to the Elements' power but she didn't imagine that they'd do that. Discord had been turned to stone, harmlessly situated in the Canterlot royal garden and she thought that it'd be something like that. It was true that Sombra had to be stopped but that felt like a step too far. She stared off in the direction she'd last seen Sombra and mourned him.
"Tia, look!"
Snapping her head around, Celestia's jaw dropped. Cries of despair echoed in the Frozen North as the Crystal Empire began to shake and fade in and out of existence before vanishing completely, leaving behind an empty space where the kingdom once stood. She hastily flew over to the area and felt around for any structures but to no avail. It was as if the empire was never there in the first place. She glanced over at Luna, who was just as dumbstruck as her.
"Your Majesties," an earth pony soldier called out to them. She and two more ponies were leading a wounded bat-pony on a makeshift leash, the enemy limping as one crooked wing twitched. "We captured him as he was trying to escape. He claims to know what's happened to the Crystal Empire."
"Speak!" Luna commanded.
The bat-pony hissed at her and then addressed Celestia. "The king said that if he were to lose, he did not want the empire to fall into Equestria's control. He enacted a dark curse, one that he claims would ensure that the kingdom would vanish in the event of his death or capture. 'Inn-sewer-ants' he called it."
Celestia shook her, dismissive of this creature's words but knowing deep down that they rang true.
"Take him away. See what else he knows." As the bat-pony was hauled away, Celestia turned to Luna and sighed. "'You may have won the battle but you've still lost the war.' That's the last thing that Sombra said to me. I thought he was just being dramatic."
"You couldn't have known, Tia," Luna assured her. "Not even I would've guessed he'd stoop so low."
"We must find a way to undo his curse," Celesta stated resolutely. "We owe it to the crystal ponies."
~*~
Gerald plodded through the snow, his armor weighing a ton and his mood sour. He thought for sure they'd be some looting at that Gem Kingdom or whatever it was, a free-for-all while they liberated the city. Instead, it disappeared into thin air, meaning no riches for him and his fellow griffons. He slouched as he walked, his bloodied axe dragging behind him, creating a red trail like a road indication on a map. What was the point of risk if there was no reward?
Something gleamed in the sunlight and Gerald came across something half-buried in the snow. Casting aside his axe, he dug the object out with greedy claws and wiped away the excess snow, revealing an amulet of some kind with a large red gem. Gazing around suspiciously, Gerald relaxed upon confirming his solitude and gingerly clasped the amulet. He could sell it, no doubt able to procure as much fancy stuff as possible! Why, he might even be able to buy Griffonstone itself!
The amulet shone like silver, its red gem glittering star-like in the light. No, why should he give it up? He found it and no one else had the right to have something so beautiful as this. He worked hard for it and no lazy-bones bird was going to get it. Tucking the amulet into his breastplate, Gerald retrieved his axe and made his way back to the rest of his platoon, eager to get himself better acquainted with his new treasure.
~*~
Queen Chelicerae stared out from aboard the ship's deck, she and her remaining subjects disguised as ordinary ponies. She knew that defying the alicorns was a mistake but the confident young stallion's words moved her, gave her hope when she thought it'd died out years ago. She was a fool to think that they could actually win. Perhaps the cyclopes and the diamond dogs were right to leave when they did. She noticed a tan pegasus with white spots approaching her, recognizing her devoted general no matter the form he took.
"Your Majesty," General Pleuron bowed slightly. "All civilians are accounted for, with the exception of Mirage."
Queen Chelicerae grimaced. "Perhaps it was she that ratted us out. I always knew that one was spineless."
"It's possible. If she's in hiding, we'll find her." He looked at the rapidly-shrinking landmass. "Are we really leaving Equestria, Your Majesty?"
"For now, General. It may take years or centuries even but some day, we will return."
~*~
Mirage gazed awestruck at the item wrapped in a golden aura and then up at the pony presenting it to her. It was a scepter in the shape of a beetle, a yellowish gem in between its mandibles. Gently, Mirage lifted it up and inspected it. She bowed at the two alicorns atop their thrones.
"Thank you, Your Majesty but what does it do?"
Celestia beamed, "It is a special talisman that can detect the presence of other changelings, even if they've been gone for years."
Mirage bowed once more. "I cannot thank you both enough."
"Are you sure you want to leave? There is still much that we have to learn from one another."
The changeling smiled warmly at Celestia. "I'm certain. As kind as you both have been, I don't belong here. I must find my kin and try to explain myself before the queen."
"She might execute you as a traitor," Luna gravely stated.
Mirage nodded. "She might. But I still must try."
Celestia smiled. "Then good luck on your journey, Mirage. We will never forget what you've done for us."
~*~
That night, as Celestia tossed and turned in her bed, she struggled to catch even a wink of sleep. She soon found herself standing at her balcony, glancing out at the city beneath her. Her thoughts turned to the Crystal Empire and its missing citizens, now lost for a thousand years or so. She thought of her infant daughter, who was kept in an enchanted sleep, hidden deep within the bowels of the castle. She also thought of Mirage, the one who ensured that Equestria was not in fear of being ruled by a murderous tyrant and wished her well.
Lastly, she thought of her lost love Sombra and how much she missed him. Despite everything he'd done, everything he'd put her through, Celestia's thoughts were focused on him most of all. She considered a world where he'd never discovered the truth of his parentage and they raised Cadence as a loving couple. They would've lived a long, happy life together, maybe even as king and queen. Celestia paused her thoughts, knowing full well that it was foolish to think of the could-have-been's instead of the what-shall-be's.
There was the future to consider and it belonged to her and Luna.
Princess Celestia paced back and forth in the throne room, her guards watching uneasily at the sight of their monarch appearing so distraught. According to Twilight's letter, the Flashstone was just a red herring, a misdirection with the sole purpose to get the Elements as far away from Canterlot as possible so that King Sombra could attack it without fear from the only tools powerful enough to stop him. Time and again, Celestia had remained conscious of the dark sorcerer's cunning nature but he once more proved himself far more devious than she would've given him credit for. Now it was the moment she'd been dreading ever since Sombra had broken loose: their rematch of a conflict one thousand years past. Nothing was more dangerous than a foe that was strategically-minded, had a personal score to settle and possessed the will and ruthlessness necessary to carry it out.
Celestia turned towards her aid Raven Inkwell. "Raven, send out a royal decree that Day Court is cancelled for the foreseeable future and that the castle is not accepting visits from any civilians or foreign dignitaries."
The unicorn dutifully jotted this information down and peered at her employer through her thick-rimmed glasses. "What of Prince Blueblood, Your Majesty? He is due back from his vacation in Monacolt any day now."
"Send a letter to my nephew explaining that the castle is going through some renovations. He is going to stay with Princess Cadence and Shining Armor in the Crystal Empire." Celestia sighed, rubbing her forehead. "If Luna returns to the throne room, tell her I need to be alone right now."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Thank you, Raven. You're dismissed for the day."
Reluctantly, Raven Inkwell bowed and exited. Celestia heaved a heavy sigh and soon followed, informing her guards to remain where they were in case Luna came back. If Sombra was going to sneak in, it would be unwise to leave the throne room unguarded. As for her own safety, Celestia knew that Sombra wasn't going to try any underhoofed tactics with her, his own arrogance and umbrum sense of honor refusing to go that low. She knew that he wanted to destroy her but it would be in a fair fight, her magic against his and this, in truth, scared her.
Perhaps a change in location would aid her in coming up with a solution.
~*~
High above Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna was surveying the area for any signs of unrest, her body tingling with excitement at the prospect of a battle with King Sombra but also fear at facing such a dangerous adversary. In this era, wars were not as prevalent as they were in her time so she was often left bored, her dream-walking sessions being one of her few instances of entertainment since her return. That and bowling, which she'd taken to like a duck to water and acted as a an excellent way to blow off steam. Both Luna and Celestia were rusty when it came to combat scenarios but she was certain that they could hold their own against Sombra long enough until Twilight and her friends returned with the Elements of Harmony. She furrowed her brow in contemplation, recalling something that she'd forgotten until now.
Last time, the Elements merely prohibited King Sombra's ability to wield magic for a limited time. Would they even affect him now?
She gracefully landed onto her bedroom balcony and found a pegasus royal guard awaiting her.
"What are you doing in my room?"
The guard saluted, "My apologies Your Majesty, but Princess Celestia requests your presence. She is waiting for you in the royal garden, in front of the hedge maze."
Luna looked the guard over, almost positive that she'd spotted him patrolling the southwest exterior of the castle. She shrugged and chalked it up to a mix of anxiety and exhaustion.
"Thank you. You are dismissed."
Making her way towards the royal garden, Luna soon spotted a familiar white mare standing alone a few feet away from the hedge garden entrance. Slowly approaching her sister, she stood on Celestia's left side, finding her staring off towards the the hedge maze, her face etched with melancholy.
"Sister?"
The elder alicorn turned. "Luna? I...I just needed some fresh air..."
"You don't need to explain yourself. I understand."
They remained silent for a few minutes before Luna spoke again. "This was your spot, wasn't it? Your's and Tour...I mean, Sombra's?"
Celestia nodded. "We used to visit here every day." She smiled softly in reminiscence. "He would chase me into the hedge maze and tackle me to the grass. We would roll around and just lay there in exhaustion, staring at one another. No matter where I ran, he always knew where to find me."
In their youth, the two were the best of friends and it was only by the ironic twist of fate that they'd become the worst of enemies. Luna loved both of them dearly and it broke her heart to see them reduced to this but she had no control over ponies. She might as well as been asked to move the ground or permanently change species. Sombra may've been a victim of circumstances but he made his choice to become what he is and for that, she did not pity him one bit. She gave Celestia a reassuring smile while all the while uncertain how to help her sister in matters of the heart.
"That's because he could always spot your enormous backside a mile away."
Celestia snorted and shook her head but her smile soon vanished once more. She turned her whole body towards Luna and placed a hoof on her shoulder. "Luna, I hope you know that I love you."
This confused Luna. "But of course I do. Tia, I don't understand-..."
"I'm so sorry that you had to be involved in this," Celestia continued gravely, tears streaming down her alabaster cheeks. "Just know that I never wanted to hurt you but I can't let you interfere."
Celestia then bowed her head, dissipating like mist just as a black and purple light struck Luna in the chest. Before she could recover from the shock, she found something creeping up her limbs and over her back and midsection. Her body was rapidly becoming encapsulated in a black crystalline shell that soon traveled up her neck and muzzle. Before her eyes were concealed, she could make out the form of a penitent-looking King Sombra. And then, all was dark.
~*~
Twilight Sparkle was panting as she soared through the air, her lungs burning and her muscles aching with fatigue. Getting from the Badlands over past Dodge Junction required her to alternate between galloping at full-speed, tirelessly beating her wings and teleporting several times over a few miles. Coupled with keeping Spike secure on her back, she was beyond exhausted but knew that she could not give up just yet. Even if Princess Celestia received her letter, Twilight couldn't allow the two to try and kill one another, one being her mentor and maternal figure and the other her coltfriend. Sombra wasn't evil; deep down, he was just a hurt, broken stallion that had difficulty putting the past behind him.
I won't leave this up to fate. If there's even a one percent chance that I can alter the outcome of their fight, then I will take it. I can't lose either one of them. I won't.
"Twilight, I think you need to take a break!" Spike exclaimed, noticing the sudden drop in altitude.
Blinking away the debility, Twilight puffed, "I....can't. I have to stop Sombra and Princess Celestia from fighting!"
"Watch out!"
An oncoming flock of geese nearly collided with them, sending Twilight into a tailspin, corkscrewing downward to avoid impact. Spike held on for dear life as the two plummeted, narrowly evading a series of treetops before diving headfirst into a nearby river. Thankfully, the water wasn't too deep and the low current enabled them to paddle to shore, where they proceeded to roll over and pant. As they caught their breaths, Twilight let her head drop on the moist grass and shook her head from side to side. There was still a lot more ground, as well as air, to cover before they made it back to the castle and stopped the conflict but Twilight was feeling tuckered out.
"I can't do it," she murmured and swallowed with an audible click. "I can't go any further. I-I'm just too tired."
Spike rolled onto his side. "It's okay, Twi. We'll just take a couple of minutes and rest-..."
"We don't have time, Spike." Twilight stared up into the great blue yonder. "For all we know, Sombra has already made it to Canterlot and is fighting Princess Celestia right now." She let out a frustrated scream and smacked her cheeks with both hooves. "Why didn't I send Rainbow Dash?! She would've gotten there fast and ended things without breaking a sweat! Fluttershy could've used her stare or Pinkie Pie...well, I don't know what she could do but the point is, anypony else would've been a better choice than me!"
Twilight fought back the tears of frustration, the crushing weight of her ineffectiveness causing her to feel like the biggest failure in Equestrian history. Something deep inside of her agreed with that assessment, practically whispering discouraging statements about how out of her league she was. It wasn't quite a voice, rather it was more of a niggling sense in the back of her head reminding Twilight of how this was all her fault. She never checked to see if Sombra's magic had returned or made certain that he was properly secured with anti-magic dampeners. Instead, she let her emotions blind her to the truth, that Sombra was a lost cause and would never change his ways.
Not even for me.
"You're wrong, Twilight."
Twilight turned to meet Spike's gaze. "What?"
The drake sighed, "You said that anypony would've been a better choice than you. That's not true."
Pausing, Spike gave her a small smile. "You did what nopony else could: you saw the goodness in King Sombra. The way you talk about him, the way he acts when you're around...it's obvious that you both have had an effect on the other. You got Sombra to lower his defenses and open himself up to friendship. That's what he needed. Not loyalty, generosity, kindness, laughter or honesty but friendship. Anypony can be nice or open with others but it takes a real special somepony to take that extra step to let somepony else know that they have a place in the world. That's what friendship is: opening your heart and letting someone in, even if everypony else thinks it's a bad idea."
The negativity bubbling inside of Twilight fought to rise to the surface, to overflow the alicorn and consume her. It was, however, still too weak and with the end of such an impassioned speech, it retreated back to the recesses of its host's mind to patiently await the day it'd take her over completely. For the time being, the Darkness would just have to feed off of the scrapes of insecurity and helplessness until it came time for the main course. Only then would it finally have its revenge, not only on Princesses Luna and Celestia but on all of Equestria. They would all cower before their true princess...no, before their queen.
Twilight sniffled and took Spike in her forelegs. "Thanks Spike."
"Anytime," Spike chuckled, settling into the warmth of his ersatz sister's embrace.
Picking them both up, Twilight unfurled her wings, looking northward with renewed purpose.
"Let's end this."
~*~
Smacking her lips, Princess Celestia placed her empty wine glass on the table right next to a half-empty bottle. Or was it half-full? She could never figure that one out. A thousand years old and she had yet to grasp a simple rhetorical perspective test. If one were to ask Luna that question, she'd probably retort that the bottle's volume was trivial, the only matter of importance being if there was enough for celebration. Celestia snorted humorously at this but once her laughter subsided, realized how much of a challenge her rematch with King Sombra was truly going to be.
For the past few decades, Celestia had become more of a diplomat rather than an active combatant, signing peace treaties instead of leading armies. The changeling invasion a year prior served to demonstrate this fact, illustrating her comfortable role as a bureaucrat rather than a warrior. True, while Queen Chrysalis was empowered by love energy and Celestia was no longer the Elements bearer, it didn't change the fact that the Princess of the Day had gotten rusty. Her magic was always more defensive in nature, with Luna's being offensive, serving as a great counterbalance between them. In the years since Luna's absence, she'd come to rely on the Elements far too much and as a consequence, lost her connection to them and had to hide them away until new worthy bearers were selected to continue the fight.
Meanwhile, there was Sombra, a powerful spell caster that'd spent decades honing his skill in the arts, both in light and dark magic. Coupled with his naturally strategic mind and ironclad will, not to mention a burning desire to see Celestia's head on a plate, Sombra was a dangerous adversary to go up against. Lord Tirek was a powerhouse when it came to battle while Discord and Queen Chrysalis had their respective out-of-the-box thinking and cunning ruthlessness but none of them matched Sombra in terms of keen intellect or raw magical prowess. For Faust's sake, it took the might of two alicorns and the Elements of Harmony just to take him down the first time. The Elements may no longer be in her control but she still had Luna to aid her in the upcoming battle.
Celestia lifted her head up, wondering what her sister was up to.
"No sense in staying locked up here with a belly full of wine."
The path from her bedroom to the throne room was pretty straight forward, not only architecturally speaking but also in consistent repetition. More than a millennium had passed and Celestia knew this castle like the back of her hoof, confident that she could make the journey while blindfolded and walking backwards. It wasn't long before she found herself pushing past the double doors, finding that the platoon of royal guards were still stationed there. She smiled as she approached them, each one of them bowing their heads towards their princess. She stopped in front of Flash Sentry.
"Any news?"
"No, Your Majesty. Princess Luna is patrolling the royal garden and so far, nothing is amiss."
"I see."
Something felt off. Surely by now, Sombra would've made his presence known. What was keeping-?
The double doors to the throne room were blown off their hinges, landing with a loud thud as the entryway was filled with debris and smoke. A series of black clawed hands shot forward and seized each royal guard, the arms wrapping around them like tentacles and slamming them to the floors or walls. The arms congealed into crystalline pillars, trapping each guard and holding them in place as a figure slowly strode into the throne room. The newcomer's gaze burned with the intensity of a thousand suns but was as icy as the coldest tundra. He smiled at Celestia though it was devoid of any warmth or humor, instead carrying with it the expression of a predator ready to seize its prey.
"King Sombra!" Celestia bellowed, horn blazing with a golden aura.
"Princess Celestia," King Sombra replied condescendingly. "And friends. So nice to have an audience."
"'Audience'? An audience for what?"
"The holmgang." All humor drained from King Sombra's face, the umbrum adopting a look of severity. "You and your kind have besmirched the honor of me and my kind so now we will fight to the death."
Celestia growled at him, "Enough of this madness, Sombra! You can't hope to defeat us!"
"'Us'?" King Sombra looked around. "There's just you. No lackeys, no Elements of Harmony and no sister." Celestia's eyes widened at the implication. "It's just you and I, here and now."
"What...did you do...to Luna?!" Embers sizzled as they drifted down from Celestia's mane.
"None of your concern, beldam. Now face me!"
A stream of crackling golden energy lanced right past Sombra's left cheek, followed by another that nearly took his head off. Sombra countered with a magic projectile of his own, the malice oozing off of Celestia as she glared spitefully at him. This was it. This was the ultimate culmination of their combined fate stretching back to their initial meeting so very long ago. The final battle.
Another ordinary day was transpiring in Canterlot, her citizens ambling through the streets in droves as they went about their normal routine. The royal guards that had been stationed on every street corner had been recalled back to the castle, apparently acting as part of a training drill but to the average pony, it appeared as though they'd been looking for somepony. Every citizen that'd passed by a guard were asked if they'd seen a dark gray stallion with a red curved horn and scarlet-colored eyes, which was oddly specific for a simple drill but once out of sight, the inquiries were put of mind as life went back to relative normalcy. Aside from being the seat of power for the land's dual monarchs, Canterlot was also the most populated and prosperous city in the nation, acting as the primary center for business. Businessponies trotted to and from their offices while shops offering various services were teeming with customers of a primary equine persuasion.
The peace of the beautiful day was interrupted, however, when witnesses observed a rumbling crash and two shapes smashed out of the roof of Canterlot Castle, flashes of golden and black and purple light exploding like fireworks. The two figures encircled the other, rays of magical energy ripping from their horns while Canterlot's denizens dropped everything to watch the conflict. One of the combatants, Princess Celestia herself, swung her neck out as she hurled a ball of fire at her foe, who countered by teleporting out of the way, seizing the ball with his magic and tossing it back at her. The ball split upon contact, the Princess of the Day unaffected by her own creation though it was evident that fury consumed her very soul. She let loose a roar and charged her opponent.
The other combatant, King Sombra, was held aloft in an aura of purple and black, his eyes green with curling streams of smoke, teeth bared in a vicious scowl. He raced to meet his foe, a column of magic rushing from his horn. Princess Celestia answered with her own column, the two energy blasts colliding with a deafening boom. They shoved against one another, one momentarily gaining footing before its opposite took control, resulting in a stalemate. Recognizing the futility, King Sombra broke contact and spun downward to avoid Princess Celestia's attack, releasing a multi-directional blast of telekinesis that propelled her backwards through one the castle's spires, knocking the structure loose.
Recovering from the impact, Princess Celestia quickly seized a hold of the debris and once certain that everypony nearby was safe, tossed it to the side to resume the battle. Surprisingly, King Sombra elected not to take advantage of the distraction, instead waiting for her return. Perhaps there was some shred of honor left in the former monarch or he simply didn't want to further tarnish his image in the eyes of the public by striking the princess down while she saved the lives of innocent bystanders. Whatever his reason, he was instantaneous in his assault, conjuring several purple spheres and launching them all at Celestia, who ducked to and fro to avoid them as they exploded all around her. Utilizing a falling leaf maneuver, Celestia broke into an aileron roll and fired bolt after bolt at her foe.
King Sombra erected a black, all-compassing force-field around himself, the bolts bouncing off the sphere like apples on a trampoline as Celestia barreled past him. Halting to turn, she locked eyes with the umbrum, a golden orb forming over her as the pair continued to share glowers of hatred. Without any prompting, they both zoomed forward and collided, creating a blinding flash of light that temporarily disoriented the spectators down below. The force-fields struck again and again, the booming of their impacts resonating like thunder, drawing all eyes and ears to their battle. Ear-splitting cracks and blazing lights commenced as the ancient nemeses rammed into each other, neither wishing to give even a quarter to their foe, adrenaline and deep-rooted animosity fueling them.
At the final collision, both of their force-fields shattered with a booming crack, sending out a shock wave of energy that knocked them both backwards. Without missing a beat, they both immediately recovered and locked eyes with the other, their intense gazes full of the untold animosity between them. They propelled themselves forward, raining bolt after bolt of energy in the other's direction, their projectiles either canceling each other out or missing by a hair's breath. In the streets down below, the citizens of Canterlot could do nothing more than watch the skirmish unfolding above them, the unblinking masses perceiving the struggle with a mix of awe and apprehension. It was as if they were witnessing the very conflict of light versus dark, the battle between gods with the very fate of Equestria hanging in the balance.
None of them knew how right they were.
~*~
Twilight Sparkle dashed through the streets of Dodge Junction, nearly colliding with several citizens and ignoring their incensed protestations. Normally she would've stopped to apologize for her rude behavior but right now, she was a mare on a mission. Her soul reinvigorated by Spike's speech, she was determined more than ever to stop Sombra and Princess Celestia from killing each, neither wishing to lose her teacher or her coltfriend. Her wings were still overexerted from the flight so the only option left was to catch the next train to Canterlot and prevent the incoming carnage. As dramatic as Twilight usually was when it came to losing, in this instance, failure was not an option.
"Whoa, Twi, wait!" Spike piped up from atop Twilight's back.
Twilight dug her hooves into the dirt and spun as she skidded to a stop, creating a small dust cloud.
"What's up, Spike?"
"Can't you just teleport?"
Twilight peered at the drake and bit her lip uncertainly.
"I've never tried that distance before! I could end up getting stuck in a brick wall or overexerting myself and winding up in a coma!"
"You've got to try! All Equestria is at stake!"
Spike was right, of course. Odds were that the next train would either be late or not even arrive in the desired time and even if it did, the ride itself would take too long. Twilight experimentally tried to raise a wing, the appendage refusing to open up to its full length. Okay, so flying was out of the question and that just left either teleportation, which was already established to be a bad idea, or running all the way to Canterlot. Twilight sighed and closed her eyes, focusing on her room in the castle, mapping out every detail in her mind's eye as she channeled her magic into her horn.
"Oh, I wish that this works. I wish, I wish, I wish!"
Light flashed before Twilight's eyes, her body going momentarily numb at the sensation of space displacement. Every fiber of her being cried out but she mentally silenced their complaints, gritting her teeth and willing both hers and Spike's forms to appear in the castle. Her body was stretched, compressed and compacted but finally, the pair materialized in the familiar settings of Twilight's room. Aside from new sheets, nothing had been changed from her last visit, which seemed to have occurred ages ago. Spike wobbled and fell off, managing to catch himself while trying to keep the compulsion to vomit down.
"Ugh, well...you did it, Twi."
Spots danced before Twilight's eyes, her vision fogging up as her eyelids began to droop. She teetered to and fro, legs stamping on the floor in an attempt to keep her balance. Her heart was racing yet also sluggishly limping along, chest aching with every breath. She collapsed against a chair for support only to inadvertently topple it over, almost joining it on the floor. Twilight swayed her heard lazily, a stabbing pain twisting at the back of her skull.
"I need to...rest a moment. Just...rest..."
She tumbled to the floor and darkness slowly crept up on her, Spike's alarmed voice barely registering in the background.
~*~
Manifesting a halberd, Celestia aimed the pole arm at Sombra's head only to be countered with a newly-conjured war hammer. Sparks leapt from their weapons with every impact, the clanging of steel on steel ringing like the tolling of a large bell. Celestia managed to get a jab in with the butt of her halberd, nailing Sombra in the ribs and, twirling it around, swung the top spike in a perpendicular slash. The top of the war hammer flew off of the shaft, the halberd's tip scraping against Sombra's gorget. Rolling over the halberd to avoid a thrust, he converted the war hammer into an S-shaped staff topped by a long, curved blade.
The scythe flashed, hacking the ends of Celestia's mane clean off, the pieces of hair turning pink as they uselessly tumbled through the air. Celestia tracked the scythe's movements, deflecting every blow with increasing difficulty. It'd been years since her last duel, magical or otherwise, and she was actually amazed how well that she was holding up. Nowadays, she'd spent more time behind a desk or at a peace summit rather than training for combat and this was even before the gathering of the new Element bearers. The truth was, this new century had been rather peaceful, that is, until Nightmare Moon's return and even then, she'd left Equestria's defense to Twilight and her friends.
Sombra, meanwhile, was visibly becoming tired, his strikes precise but lessening in speed and strength. While he was no novice in the ways of magic, Celestia had him beat in both raw power and experience, learning much in her thousand years as ruler of Equestria. Her opponent was exceptionally gifted, training rigorously with both books and application of spells and if it were a millennium ago, King Sombra could've easily won this bout very early on. It, however, paled in comparison to Celestia's own capabilities though she did have to give him credit for making it this far. Yes, she'd taken this far enough; it was time to end this contest and have Sombra back in his cell by dinnertime.
Disengaging, Celestia crossed her wings into an X and as Sombra charged her, flapped them forward, blasting him with a gust of air that sent him colliding into a billboard that was ironically an advertisement for couples' counseling. The umbrum smashed through the wood and vinyl, hit the side of a newspaper kiosk and rolled across the concrete. Calmly, Celestia landed a few feet away, her halberd poofing away as her horn crackled with power. Sombra grunted and slowly rose on shuddering limbs, chest heaving in breath, his eyes meeting Celestia's. A golden ray slammed him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him.
Wincing in pain, King Sombra ignored the ache in his chest to watch Celestia nearing him. The truth was, no matter the time he'd taken to train himself up for this bout, the alicorn was the superior conjurer and warrior, outclassing him in both strength and arcane knowledge. While he'd been no slouch, reading modern books on magic during his time in Ponyville and imprisonment, it paled in comparison with what Celestia could feasibly know. She was no longer the green-horned mare he'd once known so a new strategy is in order if Sombra had any chance of victory. Thankfully, having known Celestia for so long meant that he knew which buttons of hers to press.
"I'm sorry about Luna!" King Sombra called out, making Celestia quirk a brow in confusion.
"What are you talking about?"
"Aside from the Elements of Harmony, the only reason you won our last duel was because of your meddlesome sister, so I had to remove her from the board...permanently."
Celestia visibly shuddered, her jaw agape in disbelief. "You...you couldn't. Not even you would sink so low..."
"Why not?" King Sombra grinned maliciously. "I disposed of my adoptive parents and sister. The only difference being that Luna was so much easier. Poor mare didn't even put up a fight. It was pathetic."
Celestia began hyperventilating, tears trickling down her face as she fought to keep herself from audibly weeping. She raised her eyes to King Sombra in anger, her normally pink irises replaced with orange, the pupils reduced to cat-like slits. Her rainbow-colored mane and tail straightened and ignited, combusting into streams of roaring orange and yellow fire.
"No...NO!" She roared, flames streaking across random spots of her ivory coat. "NOOOOOO!"
Like a fiery bullet, Celestia charged Sombra at full speed, knocking him through the air right through the display window of a clothing store. A flash of green and purple and Sombra emerged to leap back through the broken window, a cruel toothy grin dominating his features. He materialized a black double-bladed axe and dashed towards Celestia, swinging the weapon wildly. Fireballs shot out at Sombra in rapid succession, their target either slapping them aside with his axe or bobbing and weaving away from the deadly projectiles. This only added fuel to the metaphorical and literal fire.
"I'm going to kill you!"
A column of flames predictably raced towards King Sombra but before they could reach him, he disappeared in a swirl of blackness. Puzzled, Celestia's head jerked around, eyes surveying the nearby area for any signs of the dark magician. What game was he playing at?
"Where are you, Sombra?! Show yourself, you coward!"
She spotted him racing behind a nearby cafe only to suddenly reappear on the roof, twirling the axe above his head as he wagged his tongue at her lewdly. When Celestia screamed that she was going to kill Sombra, it wasn't a figure of speech, like, "If my mom finds out, she's going to kill me." No, she was being one hundred-percent serious. Forget imprisonment, it was going to be the morgue for him. Celestia shot up and landed onto the cafe, her hooves cracking the rooftop.
"Now, you die," she growled.
Sombra grinned. "I've already done that. Care to give it a try?"
Beating her wings, Celestia rose above Sombra, her entire body combusting into flames. With a roar, she unleashed a massive column of heat, bathing Sombra in a conflagration that reduced the umbrum to ashes.
"FEEL THE WRATH OF THE SUN! RETURN TO THE SHADOWS THAT SPAWNED YOU!"
After a minute, Celestia disengaged her attack, revealing a blackened hole where Sombra once stood. She frowned, sensing that something was off. For how hard the two had fought, she'd expected more of an effort out of Sombra. He just stood there instead of running, teleporting or even use umbrakinesis. Inspecting the hole, Celestia scanned the area and discovered the presence of recent dark magic usage, particularly a cloning spell.
That would mean that the Sombra that I blasted-...
A sensation like being struck with a sledgehammer hit Celestia full-force on the back, propelling her onto a neighboring rooftop and crashing along the stone and gravel. She glanced over her shoulder to find a black shape landing on the roof, morphing into the form of Sombra. Celestia turned in a half-circle and pushed herself to her hooves.
"You forget Princess that shadows are formed by the light," Sombra half-smirked.
The two met in a flurry of strikes, bright golden rays clashing against bubbling black and purple arcs. Celestia struck at Sombra with a ring of spinning swords, only to be countered with a spiked flail, shattering the swords and responding with a series of ebony flechettes. Swatting the flechettes aside, Celestia deflected Sombra's flail blows with her force field before using it like a battering ram. Sombra retreated to the air in a black streak and Celestia gave chase, reigniting her fiery mane as well as her hatred for her opponent. They traded blows once more, only this time there was more vitriol behind every impact.
This time, it was a duel to the death for both involved parties.
~*~
Flash Sentry struggled against the black crystals that held his hooves in place, desperately tugging at his limbs to free himself and aid his princess. He could only watch impotently as that scumbag King Sombra attacked Princess Celestia and while there was no doubt in his mind she would prevail, the ex-tyrant actually managed to fend off her attacks. The spectacle was short-lived, however, when they blasted a hole in the castle's roof and vanished from sight. Irregardless of magical prowess, or lack thereof, it was Flash Sentry's mission to defend the princesses and he was going to do just that. As schmaltzy as it sounded, he was willing to die for them, Twilight especially.
Even if she'd never love him.
He groaned, thrashing angrily until he tired himself out. His fellow guards fared no better, some being trapped in crystalline pillars that snagged half their bodies or stuck to where only their eyes were visible. They all shared the same thought: "How did this happen?" One minute, it was just another day in Canterlot and the next, they were unable to stop a supposedly ineffectual enemy of the crown from attacking their co-monarch and forcing her to flee to Faust knows where. Hours passed, during which Flash started up a cycle of grinding his teeth as he feebly attempted to free himself, slump back exhaustively and then try again once more.
In between breaths, Flash thought back to his previous interactions with Twilight as well as King Sombra. What did she see in him anyway? He was repulsive for one thing, possessing a curved, blood-red horn and those horrid fangs. Internally, Sombra was worse, a cold, sadistic, heartless monster that should've been executed a long time ago. And then there was the blatantly obvious fact that he was a vicious tyrant, one of the most prolific villains in Equestrian history.
Flash, on the other hoof, held the distinction of being a royal guard, a coveted and noble profession dating back thousands of years. Ponies killed to even be where he was, which he had attained through a grueling and rigorous stint in boot camp. This not only was a socially respectable position but one that gave him benefits that could allow him to financially support any mare of his choosing, with the exception of Twilight given her royal status. As for looks, well, not to toot his own horn, Flash was considered quite the handsome stallion, being a heartthrob in his schoolcolt days and at one point voted "Most Likely to Succeed at Life." Although he was far from perfect, he tried his best to be nice to everypony and to push himself every chance that he got.
So why did Twilight choose Sombra of all ponies over him?
A soft, rumbling sound drew Flash's attention to the black crystals encapsulating his hooves. Cracks like lightning bolts shot up the dark mineral, the opaque stone shattering to the floor and dissipating upon contact. As random as it was, he wasn't about to question a good thing and instead chalked it up to divine intervention. As he shook the feeling back into his limbs, he noticed the same thing happening to his fellow guards, their crystal binds mysteriously crumbling down all around them. One by one, they were all freed, running up to one another and chattering excitedly, even throwing in some hugs and hoof bumps for good measure.
"Flash!"
They all turned, finding a short, stubby reptilian running into the throne room. He stopped and bent over, his claws on his knees and panting heavily. Flash approached the newcomer, puzzled at his sporadic appearance.
"Spike? What are you doing here?"
The dragon wiped his brow and swallowed some air. "It's Twilight! She teleported us here to help Princess Celestia but she fainted! I think she needs a doctor!"
Flash needed no further prompting. "Gleaming Helm, Blazing Shield, you're with me. Windsprint, find a doctor as quick as you can. Everypony else search the castle grounds for any signs of Princesses Celestia or Luna. Spike, lead the way."
Spike hurried up the steps towards Twilight's bedroom, where they discovered the mare lying unresponsive in a heap on the floor. Flash gave her a gentle shake and uttered her name but she refused to give any indication she felt or heard him. Carefully, the three guards placed her into bed and pulled the covers over her. If it hadn't been for the steady rising and falling of her chest, one might get the impression that she was dead. After a few minutes, Windsprint came speeding in followed by an elderly stallion Flash recognized as Doctor Urgent Care the royal physician .
"It's good to see you, Mr. Sentry, even under these circumstances."
"You as well, Doctor. Princess Twilight isn't responding."
"She teleported us from Dodge Junction and then just collapsed!" Spike exposited anxiously, waving his arms. "Will she be okay?"
Studying the unconscious alicorn, Doctor Urgent Care stood back and wiped his glasses. "Princess Twilight Sparkle is suffering from magically-induced exhaustion. She expended too much energy and now her body has temporarily shut down from the strain," he concluded.
"When will she wake up?"
Doctor Urgent Care turned to Flash. "Thankfully, there's no permanent damage. It might take a while, an hour or more."
Flash moved a stray hair out of Twilight's face, regarding her with a mix of love and worry.
Downtown Canterlot was beginning to look like the center of a war zone. Smoldering craters dotted the streets, the concrete roads littered with broken glass and bits of stone and metal debris like fallen leaves. Those who foolishly elected to remain in lieu of fleeing were treated to the most knock-down, drag-out fight any of them had ever seen. How many ponies could say that they'd seen Princess Celestia duking it out with a dark sorcerer? A corner of an apartment building was smashed to rubble when the princess slammed her opponent through it, drawing out a round of adulation and applause from her loyal subjects though she hardly noticed, instead peering through the cloud of smoke to locate the umbrum.
Lost in the heat of battle, Princess Celestia had only one thought on her mind: destroy Sombra. She once allowed her complicated feelings for him rule her heart, compelling her to treat him as one might a loved one but hindsight, as they say, is twenty-twenty. Up until recently, Celestia thought that she could help Sombra, going so far as to allow her student and her friends visit him in hopes of changing him. Now she realized that you can't change somepony that doesn't want to change. It was almost sad really. Almost.
Evading a series of bolts, Celestia corkscrewed towards Sombra, her horn raining golden beams upon him only to predictably bounce off of his force field. Spinning like a fiery wheel, she dive-bombed against his force field, creating an explosion that propelled him through an office building window. She watched with satisfaction as Sombra violently tumbled across the floor, crashing through desks and cubicles before becoming buried beneath the shattered remains of a bookshelf. A viscous strip of inky blackness seeped beneath the wreckage, reforming into a glaring King Sombra. Charging towards her, he teleported all over the office, building momentum until erupting in a toxic bubbling black orb.
But Celestia was prepared for this, conjuring a wave of magic that shielded her from the force of the blast. With a cry, she redirected the energy towards Sombra, who barely managed to phase through it, rematerializing just in time to receive a hind leg to the gut. A newly-created sword descended, the very tip slicing through Sombra's right cheek when he tried to pull away. In response, he shot a familiar ray at Celestia's horn, only for the black crystals to immediately dissipate. The Princess of the Day couldn't help but smirk at this feeble attempt.
"Did you really think that I wouldn't have discovered a counter-spell to your nasty little anti-magic trick?"
Aside from a frown, which appeared more disappointed than angry, Sombra's face was surprisingly calm. It didn't matter; his little ace in the hole was useless against her now. Once Celestia valued Sombra as a powerful spell caster and cunning strategist but now she only saw him as a one-trick pony. Celestia's sword darted to and fro like a hornet, bouncing off of a trident that Sombra created. Sweat trickled down his face and Celestia took this as a sign that his endurance was finally at its end. Now she could finally end this feud. For Luna. For Equestria. For herself.
~*~
Deep within the depths of her mind, Twilight Sparkle wandered aimlessly, the landscape an eternal void of darkness and swirling violet clouds. She had no idea how long she'd been here, the existence of time appearing to be a non-factor. The last thing that she remembered was toppling over and the blue-gray carpet rushing to meet her. Twilight groaned and chastised herself for being so foolish, no doubt suffering the side-effects of magical overexertion. And it couldn't have come at the worst of times.
Princess Celestia and Sombra were no doubt engaged in a battle to the death and here she was lying in a coma due to her own ineptitude. She curled up into a ball and shoved her face into her crossed forelegs. Ever since ascending to alicorn status, she thought that life as a princess would get easier not harder and her extra bump in magical prowess and full-time access to the Royal Archives meant that she'd always be prepared for anything. Yet here she was, a silly mare once again in over her head while Canterlot was caught in the crossfire between two old enemies. Never before had she felt so helpless.
"Are you just going to lie there and feel sorry for yourself?"
Her head shot up at the voice. There, standing across from her with a disapproving glance was...
...herself.
Twilight rose to inspect her doppelganger, noticing the same fur color, same eyes and same, well, everything. Except this Twilight seemed a bit more haughty, her expression and stance speaking volumes of an arrogant individual that thought much too highly about herself. The second mare didn't budge when Twilight moved in for a closer look, slightly spooked by the arrival of her double.
"Who...who are you?"
The second Twilight snorted. "You, obviously. A much better version but still you."
"Why are you here?" Twilight asked.
Twilight Two rolled her eyes. "To watch the show, of course. Well, obviously not the King Sombra-Celestia smack-down. Although that would be a treat now, wouldn't it?"
""A treat"?! What a terrible thing to say!"
"Oh? You're not in the least bit intrigued by the idea?"
"Absolutely not! They could get hurt or worse!"
The second Twilight rubbed her nose. "And so what if Celestia lost? Are you seriously going to look me in the eye and tell me you WOULDN'T want to rule Equestria as Sombra's queen?"
Images danced across Twilight's gaze, visions of twin thrones upon which sat Sombra and her. All of Equestria bowing to them, proclaiming them as their rulers. It was actually kind of-
"No! I-I don't want that! Listen, I HAVE to stop them!"
Twilight Two sighed and shook her head. "Oh well. It you're really THAT bent out of shape about it, I suppose I could...lend you a hoof."
The original Twilight tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I will lend you some of my strength so you can play Little Miss Goody Two-Hooves. You'll crash hard but you'll still avert the end of the world as we know it or whatever. I feel fine either way but go ahead."
"'Go ahead'?"
Twilight felt herself jolt awake, her chest aching as she released several sputtering coughs.
"Twilight?" A brilliant orange pegasus leaned forward in his chair. "Thank Celestia!"
"Flash? What are you-...?"
"Twilight!"
Spike leapt onto the bed and buried his face into her chest, muttering a series of apologies. Twilight chuckled and enveloped him in the tightest hug that she could muster. As much as she missed her Number One Assistant, however, there was still some very important business that she had to resolve. She fumbled with the covers, peeling them away from her with shaking limbs.
Flash was on his hooves. "Listen, you shouldn't even be awake right now let alone moving. Just lie back and-..."
"There's no time! Where are Princess Celestia and Sombra?"
~*~
Infuriating an alicorn was, admittedly, one of the most idiotic things that one could do but Sombra did this for a specific reason. In all of his years mastering the dark arts, he'd learned how to harness his negative emotions-his rage especially-and shield himself from their influence. Anger, hatred, fear, they all empowered him, drove him forward and gave him focus. Princess Celestia, like all other practitioners of light magic, focused more on knowledge and defense, letting more of their logic dictate their craft and leaving themselves emotionally vulnerable. By manipulating Celestia's anger, Sombra could turn her into a tsunami: a powerful, destructive force but one that is directionless and short-lived.
And as luck would have it, he knew exactly how to get under her skin.
"Are you really angry about Luna? Or are you relieved that she's finally out of your life?" Lances of golden light streaked past him, embedding themselves in a newsstand. "No more baby sister to hold you back. No more holding Luna's hoof all the time."
A blast of flames nearly struck Sombra, who catapulted himself above it, spear raised to deliver a killing blow. The blade was caught in a golden aura and promptly shattered, leaving Sombra open to a punch to the ribs. This was followed up with a telekinetic right hook then a left, knocking him senseless before he was lifted up and slammed onto the roof. He rolled over to dodge a searing blast of heat, barely managing to erect a magic shield that protected him from a fiery battering ram and knocking him off the roof altogether. He changed into his shadow form and crawled down the side of the adjacent building, leaping off it to land on the pavement in his flesh-and-blood form.
Sombra felt the weight of the object inside his cape's inner pocket. When he'd bewitched Red Sulfur into breaking into the School for Gifted Unicorns, it wasn't just to stage a fake robbery and to report the existence of a supposedly missing item in order to send the Elements of Harmony on a wild goose chase. The hypothetical "Flashstone map" was not Sombra's true objective, rather it was a smaller, seemingly innocuous item that nopony would kick up a fuss over its disappearance. Thankfully, Adept Red Sulfur would see to it that such an item wouldn't show up missing in the school's artifacts inventory. Now the only issue that remained was finding a way to use it.
Celestia circled overhead like a carrion crow, mane and tail still aflame. Upon spotting her quarry, she dive-bombed towards him, striking the ground hard enough to split the concrete and create a small tremor that swept him off his hooves. Sombra bounced and rolled, slamming into a public mailbox hard enough to uproot it, laying gasping atop its hard metal surface. If it wasn't for the physical augmentation spells, the impact would've surely have broken his back instead of knocking the wind out of him and he silently thanked Grimoire for teaching him at least that much. Shakily lifting his head, Sombra found Celestia advancing on him, the flames crackling and hissing like vipers.
"I'm going to end this, once and for all," she stated darkly, her shadow falling over the fallen stallion, horn blazing with fiery light. "Letting you live was the single biggest mistake of my life."
"S-second."
Celestia stared puzzled at him. "And what was the first?"
A pair of inky tendrils seized Celestia, coiling around her barrel and neck to angle her horn so that it was pointing away from their master. Sombra rose triumphantly as a third tendril reached into his cape and removed the object, the sight of which made Celestia's eyes widen. It was a silver ring carved with intricate symbols and adorned with sapphires, which was then promptly shoved onto her horn, the glow around the appendage immediately fizzling out. The tendrils tossed Celestia to the ground and retracted back into Sombra's body. Celestia tried to focus but nothing happened.
"I wasn't one hundred percent that it would work on you," Sombra freely admitted. "But considering that it was locked up separately from the other neutralizer rings, the odds were looking favorable."
Celestia groaned in exasperation, her magic sputtering weakly. "You planned this?"
"I had to get you so angry that you couldn't think straight. By the way, Luna is still alive, just indisposed."
"But you said-..."
"I lied. Sound familiar?"
A black and purple bolt hit Celestia square in the chest. Lifting her up telekinetically, Sombra slammed her onto the ground again and again before launching her as far as he could hurl her. He grinned at the sight of Celestia smashing headfirst through a carriage and skidded to a stop, no doubt a painful experience for her. Celestia clumsily shifted herself to a half-seated position when Sombra struck her with another missile. And another. And another.
"How does it feel to be powerless? How does it feel?!"
The onlookers watched on with horror but Sombra refused to relent, feeling centuries of fury lifting off his shoulders. When he was finished, the sanctimonious and self-righteous Princess Celestia lay covered in soot at the bottom of a crater. He heard whispering and took notice of the gathering Canterlotians. Raising a hoof, Sombra gestured towards the semi-conscious alicorn.
"Behold! Here is your precious princess!"
The dread written on their faces was beyond words. Poetry could not fully portray his bliss. If Sombra could bottle their abhorrence, he would guzzle it until he burst. He wasn't enjoying the fury developing on some of their muzzles, so he summoned a magical dome around the two of them so there would be no interference. He'd waited far too long for this moment and he didn't need any unnecessary heroics. He spotted some movement out of the corner of his eye, catching a glimpse of a figure staggering out of the crater.
A shadowy tendril with a five-fingered claw grabbed Celestia roughly by the throat and smashed her onto her back, eliciting an audible shout of pain from the mare. There was a series of crackling pops before a ring of green and purple fire formed around her. Sombra crafted an ebony-bladed sword, sparks leaping off of the tip as he dragged it along the ground. In place of hatred or animosity, his face was a mask of imperceptibility. The ring of fire momentarily parted to make way for the umbrum, as if afraid to come into contact with him, and resealed itself once he was within its border.
"I...I thought I could get you to love me again. But there's no room for love in your heart, is there?"
The mask never slipped. "Not for you, no."
Planting a steel-covered forehoof on Celestia's chest, Sombra levitated the sword so that its point was aimed at her head. "In a strange way, I'm going to miss you. You know, we're alike in a way. Deep down, we're both rotten. The only difference is I can actually admit it." Tears trickled down Celestia's cheeks as the grip of the shadow-claw tightened. "Goodbye Celestia."
"Sombra, stop!"
Hearing his name, Sombra turned his head slightly, his features registering astonishment. Three pegasus royal guards landed, two of which were supporting Twilight between them, her forelegs draped over their shoulders. The third, who carried Spike on his back, was none other than Flash Sentry, the stallion's steely blue eyes burning holes into Sombra's very core. Ignoring him, Sombra instead focused on the purple alicorn.
"Twilight, what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in the Badlands."
"Sombra please, you can't do this. Let Princess Celestia go!"
His eyes darting quickly down at Celestia, Sombra once more glanced at Twilight. "It has to end, Twilight. You know this. After everything she's done and will continue to do, somepony has to stop her."
Twilight sniffled, her eyes overflowing with tears. "This isn't who you are. You're a good stallion."
"No, I'm not!" Sombra shot back. "Why do ponies insist on telling me this? I'm a black-hearted wretch and that's all I'll ever be. Stop seeing things that aren't there!"
"You're wrong!" Twilight wept. "I've seen the good in you. Just because you don't believe in yourself, it doesn't mean that others can't. I still believe in you." The sword shook in Sombra's magical grasp. "I love you, Sombra. Please...don't do this. It won't change the past. Your family wouldn't want this."
To everypony's disbelief, Sombra blinked away some stray tears that'd gathered. "I...this is all I know. The blood debt must be paid. Celestia has to be punished. This is justice."
"No it isn't. You're hurt and you want everypony else to feel as you do but you're so much more than your pain." Twilight smiled then and despite the cracking of her voice and her teary, bloodshot eyes, she'd never looked more radiant than she did now. "Just let Princess Celestia go. Prove that your kind didn't die for nothing."
"Ugh, S-Sombra..."
Sombra looked down and noticed Celestia peering up at him. He allowed the shadow-claw to loosen its grip. In turn, Celestia was able to gasp in lungfuls of air.
"I never told you..." Celestia gulped, her eyes meeting his own. "I...I'm sorry." Sombra's eyes shot open. "For everything I've done, I am so, so sorry. If...taking my life will even the score, then it's yours."
Indecision gripped Sombra, a battle internally raging inside his head while everyone watched with bated breath at his next move. Never before had he seen Celestia so vulnerable, so honest. Stripped of her royal veneer and aura of authority, she was just a mare, one that was apologizing to him. He felt the magic in his horn sputtering, causing the raised sword to shake and rattle. Here was his sworn enemy finally at his mercy and yet, he felt...nothing. No righteous indignation, pride or even hatred.
Just emptiness.
Seemingly eons passed before Sombra made his choice. Fixing Celestia with a resolute gaze, he spun the sword around and shoved it point-first into the ground, the weapon dematerializing into mist. He felt exhausted, both physically and emotionally and wanted nothing more than to rest for a century. Leaning down, his muzzle hovered over Celestia's. After a minute, he glared at her and spoke.
"I've given you your life today, which is much more than you deserve. When you think back to this moment, when you're alone at night with nothing more than your thoughts, I want you to remember that the only reason that you continue to draw breath is because I allow it. Most of all, I want you to remember that I...beat...you."
Slowly, Sombra dissipated into shadows, taking one long sorrowful glance at Twilight before vanishing.
~*~
Now that Sombra had fled the vicinity, the force field popped out of existence, followed shortly by the ring of fire. It wasn't long before a cadre of royal guards flooded the area, forming a protective barrier around Princess Celestia and keeping civilians away from her as Doctor Urgent Care tended to her injuries. Princess Luna arrived promptly, having been freed of her crystalline prison upon Sombra's departure, embracing her sister while avoiding her sore spots. A few hours later and Twilight's friends arrived back from the Badlands, having convinced the scorponies to release them with the caveat that they would ask the Royal Sisters for a meeting to expand their territory. That conversation, however, would have to be put on hold for the moment as Canterlot's upper side was in desperate need of repair.
A few stores and businesses had been demolished during the skirmish, along with some streets, sidewalks and one furious cabbage vendor's cart. The castle's throne room, roof and northwest spire had also been damaged in the fight and were restored as close as to their original appearance as possible. Construction crews worked round the clock to repair everything and they were handsomely recompensated for their time and effort. It wasn't long before shops opened back up and life seemingly went back to normal, the status quo once more reigning supreme in Canterlot. Yet the real damage had already been done.
The entire city had been driven into a panic, resulting in several instances of looting and public brawls. There were also many injuries, both as a result of the fight and from fleeing ponies trampling each other. The sight of seeing Princess Celestia beaten and near death's door was an upsetting and demoralizing one, most likely deliberately on Sombra's part as a way of tarnishing her reputation. If Princess Celestia, who'd managed to keep the peace for more than a thousand years, could no longer keep everypony safe, then who could? And they were not the only ones contemplating this.
"Luna?" Celestia asked her co-ruler once they were alone.
"Yes Sister?"
"Perhaps it's time that I looked for a replacement. One more suited and deserving of ruling Equestria than I."
Two and a half weeks had passed since Sombra vanished from Canterlot and nopony had seen or heard anything from him, much to everypony's relief and concern. Twilight Sparkle, however, was not one of them. Zecora had heard from the others about the extraordinary story of the princess' relationship with the dark magician, from their initial meeting in the Crystal Empire to the recent events in Canterlot. It troubled the zebra to see her friend looking so forlorn, especially when being in love should give one joy not sadness. She herself had once loved a stallion from her village but that was a tale for another time and she was one to enjoy her mystique.
It was mid-afternoon in the Everfree, when the insects were buzzing and the sun was at its apogee. Zecora had performed some divination readings that morning, casting some bird bones and staring into the waters of her cauldron, thereby gleaming that she was to receive a most interesting guest. Gathering some supplies from both town and the forest itself, she prepared some tonics and balms for her usual customers, her stomach in knots at the anticipation. After dusting the hut and putting on a kettle of her best tea, Zecora calmly sat at her table facing the door. She could hear the soft pattering of hooves on dirt and the shadow of what she presumed to be a stallion.
“There is no need to hide from view. Come into the light where I can see you.”
The door creaked open, revealing a dark gray unicorn in a black hooded robe.
“Ah, do my eyes deceive? The Dark One known as ‘Sombra,’ I believe?”
The stallion lowered his cowl and a pair of red eyes came into view.
“You are as good as they say you are, Miss Zecora. I should be surprised that you know who I am but I am no stranger to the ways of Zebrican shamans.”
Zecora nodded. "In my village, there are stories of a wanderer from far away, a stallion with eyes of red and coat of gray. To commune with spirits he was taught but it was the darkest of magic that he sought. The village elders banished the student from their land and promptly he vanished into the sand. I see now that the stories are true; you are the one known as Macho Mekundu."
Sombra chuckled, "Now that's a name I've not heard in a long time. A long time."
"Perhaps you would join me and enjoy my special herbal tea?"
“Tea would be lovely. It is much appreciated,” Sombra replied, taking the seat across from Zecora.
Filling both their cups, Zecora placed her hooves together on the tabletop.
“There is no need for false camaraderie underneath my roof. It is time to get to the topic at hoof. I take it you wish that I perform for you a chore. Why else would you choose to darken my door?”
Sombra frowned and placed his cup down. "There's something that I need your help with. In exchange, I am prepared to repay you with a service of my own. Whatever it is, I will do it."
Zecora thought on this. "I just received a letter from my home. It seems a new threat has just been shown. A demon of hunger has been released, a bringer of famine whose attacks will not cease. I will aid you how I can and in return, you will rid the demon from my land."
"I accept," Sombra said without hesitation.
~*~
Twilight stared out her bedroom window, her gaze searching through Ponyville for any signs of her missing-in-action coltfriend. Two and a half weeks and no word of Sombra's whereabouts, not even a single letter letting her know that he was alright. Then again, given the wards placed on the library and the surrounding grounds by Princess Celestia, she wasn't completely surprised by the lack of communication on Sombra's part. Still, would it have killed him to find some way of keeping in touch with her?
Following their emotional last meeting, Twilight spent the rest of the day and the following morning in a miniature coma, succumbing once more to her magical overexertion. Upon waking, she was examined by the castle's physicians, who were unable to explain how it was that she was able to get out of bed in the first place. She'd thought back to her confrontation to her doppelganger and, chalking it up to a bizarre dream, decided to keep that tidbit to herself, instead electing to play the fool. For whatever reason, Twilight felt the oddest sensation that the dream or whatever it was was somehow private and that she didn't need or have to share it with anypony. And why should she? It was her business.
Her hoof tapped a pile of papers atop her desk. It was the only copy of her finished biography on the life of King Sombra, a one-of-a-kind memoir depicting the truth behind the infamous former tyrant and dark magician, now wanted fugitive and enemy of the crown. She'd gone back and forth between publishing it and keeping it all for herself, eventually deciding on the latter. After all, things were already tumultuous enough, what with the recent attack in Canterlot and the ongoing reconstruction efforts. The public just wasn't ready for a tell-all of the stallion who'd assaulted their leader in broad daylight and incited a public panic.
Twilight sighed and peeked at the top page.
When Darkness Falls: The True Account of the Life, Death, and Return of the King Sombra.
Her chest ached at reading his name, the thought of his red eyes and soft, thick gray coat sending shivers down her spine. She missed Sombra, every day feeling more and more like a lifetime away from him. He was complicated to say the least, neither wholly good nor completely bad, certainly the most baffling of her foes. Twilight loved Sombra, loved him almost as much as she loved her friends and family and yet was furious at him for what he'd done. Manipulating everypony just to get a shot at Celestia was understandable but completely asinine.
Are you angry that he tried to kill Celestia or that he tricked you into leaving Canterlot?
There was that voice again, the one she'd heard after her first official date with Sombra. It sounded eerily like her own, only a bit colder, more darkly conceited. Although it was alarming, Twilight once more had the compulsion to "forget" to bring this up with Princess Celestia or her friends. Perhaps it was merely a part of herself that she'd been ignoring till now, her conscience or what-have-you that'd been forcing her to ask the big questions. So far, it had yet to steer her wrong.
A bit of both to be honest. Was he just trying to keep me safe or ensure that I wouldn't interfere?
I think it was both. He loves you, ADORES you but he first had to get rid of Celestia. And he couldn't do that with you there.
That's...true. But he still shouldn't have done that. Now he's a wanted fugitive and MIA.
But at least he and and Celestia are both still alive.
Twilight couldn't refute that fact. As much as the situation was unfair, she could count her blessings that she didn't need to mourn the loss of her love or her mentor. She swiveled one ear as a pounding sound boomed from downstairs. Seeing as Spike was out gemstone hunting with Rarity, the task of answering the door was relegated to her. Traipsing down the steps and into the foyer, she magically turned the knob and opened the door, finding a zebra waiting patiently on the other side.
"Zecora?"
"Hello Twilight dear. I am so happy that you are here," Zecora beamed. "I know that you are feeling down so I bring a gift to erase your frown." Reaching into her saddlebags, Zecora retrieved a small wrapped package and held it out expectantly. Enveloping the package in a raspberry-colored aura, Twilight opened it up, revealing a stone amulet covered in mystic symbols she'd never seen before.
"Thank you Zecora, but what is it?"
The zebra smiled enigmatically. "I can see that you are confused. A mutual friend will explain it to you. Show nopony and wait until tonight. By then, the truth will have come to light." Before Twilight could ask what she meant, Zecora promptly turned and trotted away, melding into the throng of townsponies dotting the streets.
The day ended without incident and Twilight soon found herself pacing inside her room, the amulet tucked into the top drawer of her nightstand. She had a pretty good idea who the "mutual friend" Zecora mentioned was but needed confirmation to prove her hypothesis. Shuddering with anticipation, Twilight sat on the edge of her bed and rubbed her face, uncertain of how she'd react on seeing him. How would he even get inside the library? Princess Celestia's wards would immediately detect him or any traces of dark magic so there had to somehow be another way.
Slowly, an image faded in and out in the center of the room, appearing as transparent and formless as steam but gradually morphing into the shape of a pony. No, a stallion. Wrapped in a billowy black cloak, he lacked his signature armor but it was undoubtedly him.
"Sombra?"
The umbrum grinned. "Hello Twilight."
Astonished, Twilight rose dream-like from the bed, her hooves dragging as she ambled towards him.
"How...how are you here?"
She reached a hoof out, only for it to pass through his face.
"I'm not physically here. Astral projection."
She'd heard of that. Put simply, it was a technique that allowed a pony to enter into a meditative trance and focus their mental energy into a ghost-like projection that could travel through space. Aside from being rare, astral projection was also very taxing on both the mind and body, requiring intense concentration and plenty of rest for the caster since the more time spent in the astral plane, the most exhausted the user. Considering that it took a great deal of time to master it and possessed no real combat applications, it was considered to be a useless and outdated talent.
"Did you receive my gift?"
Twilight nodded. "I did...what is it?"
"It's a summoning beacon. Simply charge it with your magic and I'll be there if you need me. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to make a more efficient one and thus this is good for only one use."
"Where are you? Where have you been and why didn't you contact me sooner?"
Sombra exhaled through his nostrils. "I've been in hiding. Following my skirmish with Celestia, I'm now Equestrian Enemy Number One. In exchange for delivering my beacon to you, Zecora tasked me with aiding her village. It seems somepony awakened a hunger demon and there aren't many ponies with my particular expertise."
"When will you be back?"
"I don't know," Sombra answered after a brief pause. "After seeking revenge for so long, I don't even know what I'm supposed to do next or even have a clue as to who I am. I need time to find myself." Noticing Twilight's disappointment, he then sighed, "It will take some time and I know I can't ask you to wait for me-..."
"Sombra."
Twilight rose onto her hindlegs and placed her hoof over one of his cheeks, the contact sending a small series of vibrations through her frog. It was like placing her hoof over a stereo speaker. "Wherever you go, whatever you do...I will be right here waiting for you."
Sombra's hoof hovered over Twilight's cheek. "You truly are an incredible pony, Twilight Sparkle."
Twilight sniffled, fighting back the oncoming torrent of tears but they flowed anyway. She wanted him here with her, his flesh and blood hoof touching her. She finally found somepony to share her life with but they couldn't be together, at least not right now. She gasped as his form fluctuated, regrettably signalling the end of their conversation and the conclusion of their all-too-brief reunion.
"I have to go, Twilight. I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this up."
"Goodbye Sombra," Twilight wept.
A bittersweet smile graced Sombra's lips. "Don't say, 'goodbye.' Goodbye is used when ponies aren't certain of meeting each other again. We will be together again soon. I swear it."
Sombra flickered and faded before disappearing altogether.
Twilight stood rigid as a statue, her hoof still held out as though the action would return Sombra to her. A few minutes passed by before she dropped to the floor and curled up into a ball. The floodgates were opened all the way, wetting her face and forelegs as she cried silently into the carpet. None of it was fair. Why would fate be so cruel as to give her a coltfriend that she couldn't keep?
