//------------------------------// // Chapter 29: Dark Delights // Story: A Somber Tale: FIENDship is Magic // by Maltrazz //------------------------------// "Are you certain about this, Twilight?" Sombra asked as the mare completed her spell. "Of course," Twilight replied with a smirk. "I've wanted one of my own ever since I saw yours." "Your friends might not approve," Sombra pointed out. "At least, not to it being hidden like this." "What are you two talking about?" Spike asked as he walked up, a book tucked under one arm. The two ponies turned away from what they were staring at to address the baby dragon. "Check it out, Spike!" Twilight said, excited to show off her latest accomplishment. "Uh, you stuck a crystal to the side of the staircase?" Spike asked, unsure as to why that was so impressive. "Well, yes, but it's a bit more than that!" Twilight said with a grin. Turning back to the crystal, she fired a beam of Dark Magic at it. Glowing lines extended outwards, forming a doorway with the crystal at the apex. Through the doorway, a staircase could be seen going down beneath the library. "Wait... Doesn't that look kind of like..." Spike trailed off, glancing at Sombra nervously. "Where do you think she got the idea?" Sombra replied without hesitation. "I decided to do this after seeing Sombra's study with Cadance," Twilight explained, leading the way down the stairs. "I really liked how it looked. Well, aside from all the busts of himself. As they reached the bottom, Spike saw a meticulously laid out office, with bookshelves lining the walls and a desk at the center. However, he had to ask, "Then why are there so many statues of you here?" "What do you-" Twilight looked up in surprise. Then she glared at the stallion with them. "Sombra!" "What?" He said innocently. "I thought you had just forgotten to put them in." "Nevermind, I'll get rid of them later," Twilight said while rolling her eyes. "Why do you even need this?" Spike asked. "It's not like the library is that busy, and you have a desk in your room, don't you?" "I'm glad you asked!" Twilight replied with a smile. "I plan to keep more important or dangerous books down here. I was lucky enough to have a teacher, but somepony trying to learn Dark Magic on their own could hurt themselves or somepony else, for example. Plus, it's nice to have a quiet place to myself, where nopony will disturb me if I want a few moments to myself." "Then, do you need any help bringing books down here?" Spike asked, eager to be of assistance. "Well, there's really only the one I got from Sombra's study, so far," Twilight said, gesturing to the single tome on the otherwise empty bookshelves. "But I'm sure I'll be able to find more that should be kept down here. Now that I've learn so much about Dark Magic, it would be irresponsible of me to leave such material laying around where those without the knowledge to use it safely could stumble upon it." "Speaking of laying around, that reminds me," Spike said, holding out the book he had been carrying. "I found this-" The young dragon was cut off as a dark blur snatched the book from his grasp. As the tendril of shadow retracted, Sombra held the book protectively to his chest. "Where did you find this?" He demanded. "Uh, it had fallen under the table in the library," Spike replied. "What's the big deal?" Twilight asked. "I'd almost think Spike had stumbled across your Super Secret Book of Evil Plans, but I know you wouldn't be careless enough to write those down." Suddenly, her eyes widened in excitement. "OOH! Is it a tome of new magic spells!?" "Nah, it's just some sappy poetry book," Spike said. "The first one isn't even... finished..." The young dragon trailed off under Sombra's resulting glare. "How much?" Sombra asked through gritted teeth. "H-how much what?" Spike asked nervously. "How much did you read?" Sombra elaborated. "J-just the first page," Spike said. "I was looking for a title, but brought it to Twilight when I couldn't find one..." "Wait a minute," Twilight cut in, coming to a realization. "Sombra... do you write poetry?" "I do not," Sombra replied. Heaving a sigh, he went on, "That is why I have been practicing. Perfection does not come easy. I have read many books on the subject, but it has proven more difficult than I expected to craft a piece of suitable quality." "What's the problem if Spike read it, then?" Twilight asked "How would you feel if somepony read a paper you were working on before you had completed it?" Sombra replied petulantly. "I'd ask them for suggestions, of course!" Twilight said. "Two heads are better than one, after all. Why don't you let me take a look at it. I might be able to help." "NO!" Sombra shouted, stepping back suddenly. Recovering his composure, he went on, "That is, I certainly cannot let you see it until it is finished." "Please? I just have to see what sort of poetry the great King Sombra would write," Twilight tried, appealing to his vanity. Sombra's resolve wavered, only to shatter completely when he saw the eager expression on Twilight's face, "Fine, but do not dare to judge it in its unfinished state." Opening it up, he took a bracing breath and began to read. "Your eyes like amethysts, beauty beyond measure. The light in my darkness, my greatest treasure. From icy oblivion, myself made new. Rescued from defeat, my angel in view. A mind so keen, heart open wide. A queen in my eyes, to take this king to her side." Silence hung over the new study as Sombra closed his book. "As you can see, it hardly does you justice," Sombra said, unable to look at the mare he was sure was about to burst into laughter. "That was... wonderful," was all Twilight could say, her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding. Sombra could not stop the smile that spread across his face at her words. "Yes, well, it is still nowhere near as 'wonderful' as the mare it describes," he said. "Sombra..." Twilight whispered. The two simply stared into each other's eyes, until the moment was shattered by Spike clearing his throat awkwardly. "Y-yes, well, I don't think there's anything we need help with right now, Spike," Twilight said quickly, her blush now one of embarrassment. Leading the way back up to the library proper, Sombra said, "Actually, he could probably help us get ready for tonight." "Right, you agreed to cook for the sleepover, didn't you?" Twilight said as she followed him. "Consider it my way of contributing, without participating in, what was it the pink one called it? Ah, yes, 'a girly night of fun'," Sombra replied. "I still do not know what the occasion is, but helping out is one of the things friends are supposed to do, is it not?" "It's not about what you're 'supposed' to do," Twilight said with a smile. "It's about wanting to help each other." Her smile fell as she went on, "As for why, the others haven't been sleeping well, of late. It hasn't been bothering Spike or me, but apparently the girls have all been having really bad dreams. We're hoping a a night of fun will give them some good dreams." "I suspect that whatever is causing it must not effect dragons," Sombra said. "And no doubt our dream lessons have had the side effect of protecting us, as well." "Well, whatever it is, I can only hope tonight helps, for the others' sake," Twilight replied. Darkness surrounded him, only broken up by the glint of light off predatory eyes and sharp teeth. "How quaint," Sombra commented, before casually walking on. The eyes and teeth disappeared, leaving him in a void. Suddenly, screams and wails began to echo around him, their source impossible to detect. "Come, now, surely you can do better than that," Sombra called out. The sounds quieted, and the darkness began to coalesce into a single, massive form before him. "Now, this is just insulting," the stallion said with a frown. You will come to fear us... a legion of voices spoke as one, as the massive creature dissolved. "You think to frighten me? ME?" Sombra asked with a laugh. "I have mastered my fear beyond what sanity allows. I have delved into the darkest terrors imaginable, and harnessed such power for myself. I have seen my own worst fears come to pass, and grown stronger with each that I left behind. The fear of abandonment, I faced before I was even named. The fear of being ostracized by my peers, I saw come to pass as some of my earliest memories. Fear of helplessness I faced yearly, tortured by the power of the Crystal Heart and unable to even help myself. Fear of pain came and passed as my body was nearly torn apart during my last Crystal Faire. Fear of betrayal was one of my greatest fears, but even that I overcame, thanks to Princess Amore's treachery. Perhaps the only fear I had to rival that, the fear of rejection, I was forced to face as Radiant Hope fled my new found power. The fear of isolation was nothing compared to the reality of being sealed away in ice for 1,000 years, and yet I overcame that like all else. Even the fear of death no longer holds sway over me, as not even the destruction of my body meant my end." Sombra paused for a moment, to catch his breath after his rant, before finishing. "I have conquered every fear that has ever held sway over me, and yet you think to frighten me? There is NOTHING that you, or any being else, could do to me to cause me fear!" If not to you... then what about doing something to another? Before Sombra had a chance to react to those words, the darkness parted to reveal the unmoving form of a certain violet unicorn, laying broken and battered in a pool of her own blood... "TWILIGHT!" Sombra yelled, as he sprang out of bed with a start. He looked around the room and panicked for a moment when he saw Twilight's bed empty. However, he calmed down when he remembered that she was just spending the night elsewhere. Knowing he was not going to be able to get back to sleep any time soon, Sombra head down the stairs with a tired sigh. Sounds from the lower floor banished his fatigue, as he snapped to alertness. Spike had gone with Twilight, which meant that he should have been the only being in the library that night. Following the sounds to the source led him to the kitchen, where he saw a familiar figure standing in front of the sink. "I take it you couldn't sleep either?" Twilight asked, looking up as she sensed his magic approaching. "Yes, it seems that without the focus of your training to keep my subconscious mind occupied, not even I am immune to whatever force is causing these night terrors," Sombra said. "But, what are you doing back here?" "I couldn't sleep, but I didn't want to disturb the others, in case they had actually managed to avoid the bad dreams," Twilight said. "I was planning to do some reading, but when I saw that you hadn't had time to finish the dishes before going to sleep, I figured I'd help out. It's the least I could do after you made all that delicious food. Where did you even get Crystal Berries for those tarts, anyway?" "Manifestation can be used for more than combat and construction, my dear," Sombra replied. "That said, when it comes to food, it is best to merely Manifest ingredients, rather than the finished product. Otherwise, the food comes out cold and bland. But come, the dishes can wait until morning." Twilight followed him curiously, as he lead her out of the kitchen. Finding a large enough area of clear floor, Sombra used the spell they had been discussing to create a plush chair and sat down. Twilight was about to do the same when Sombra took one of her front hooves and pulled her towards him. Letting out a surprised squeak, the startled mare tumbled into his lap. As he wrapped his forelegs around her, Twilight stuttered out, "S-Sombra!? W-what are you-?" Sombra's grip loosened. "I-I'm sorry if I'm doing this wrong. I don't exactly have a lot of experience with... such acts," Sombra said, his usually confident tone replaced by an uncharacteristic anxiousness. "I know there have been a lot of changes in such traditions since my time, not to mention the cultural differences between the Crystal Empire and Equestria, and-" Twilight pressed one hoof to his mouth to cut off his nervous rambling. "It's fine. You just caught me a bit off guard, that's all." "As you wish, Lady Twilight," Sombra replied, pressing a light kiss to the edge of her hoof. The pair relaxed after that, just enjoying each other's presence as the night wore on. However, the moment was not to last. Distracted as they were, neither noticed the trio approaching until the door burst open. "Twilight Sparkle! We would have words with you!" Luna declared as she threw open the door. Twilight and Sombra just stared in wide-eyed shock at the sudden intruders, while the trio of princesses were no less surprised by the situation they had walked in on. Leaping to her hooves, Twilight did not need a mirror to know her face was as red as an apple. She recovered enough to ask, "Y-your Highnesses! W-what are you all doing here!?" Sombra got up a bit more slowly, more irritated than embarrassed. "Royalty or not, you should at least have the decency to knock," he grumbled. "It seems you misread the situation after all, Luna," Cadance said with a happy smile. "Indeed, I must agree with Cadance after this heartwarming display," Celestia said, her own smile of a more apologetic bent. "Perhaps, but I for one still have some questions about the situation," Luna said, not wavering from her conviction. Twilight felt her cheeks growing even hotter as she sank to the floor, burying her face in her hooves. 'I wish literally anything would happen to get me out of this...' she thought. Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the calm of the night outside. 'Oh, thank goodness!' Twilight thought to herself, before coming to a realization. "Wait minute! That was Rarity's scream!" She declared, before rushing out the door. The others followed her out, only to see Rarity being carried into the sky by a smoky black cloud, heading straight to the moon.