//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5 
// Story: Starlight and the son of Sombra 
// by Will Atkinson 
//------------------------------//

At Shadows castle, Shadow Flames was taking a bath to get ready for dinner that Starlight, asked him out to.

"Tonight, is the night master." Said Torch, as a bucket of water was thrown on to Shadow, by Starblaze.

"I'm not sure I can do this Torch." Said Shadow, as he brushed his mane out of his eyes.

"You don't have time to be timmied." Said Torch, as he pointed his hoof to the book that had only five 
pages left.

Then he looked back at Shadow, and said.

"You must be bold, daring."

"Bold, daring." Said Shadow, as he shook the water off his mane and tail. Getting Torch wet in the process.

"There will be music, romantic candlelight, provided by myself." Said Torch, as he wiped himself off with a towel.

With that done, he went back to his master as he was getting dried off and said to him.

"And when the moment is right, you confess your love to her."

As Shadow was done being dried off he looked at Torch and said with an Inspired tone in his voice.

"Yes, I -- I con--No, I can't."

After hearing that Torch, tried to make Shadow Flames to think positive.

"Oh come on master, you care for the girl, don't you?"

"Yes, of course I do Torch. I love her more then anything." Said Shadow Flames, as he was getting his mane cut by another one of his servants.

"Well then you must tell her." Said Torch.

After the pony was done cutting Shadow Flames' mane, Torch looked at it and said.

"Voila. You look so...so...um"

The hair cut that the pony gave Shadow Flames was cut with pig-tails and bows in it. Shadow looked at it and said to Torch.

*Sigh* "Stupid."

Hearing this Torch chuckled and said.

"Not quite the word I was looking for. Perhaps a little more off the top."

After Torch said that the barber pony started to cut Shadows mane again until Silver Hooves came in and said.

Silver Hooves: Ahem ahem ahem. Your mare awaits.

Hearing this Shadow, was more nervous then ever.

"Oh dear this is not going to end well."

"Oh come on master, stop being such a baby." Said Torch, as Shadow got done getting his suit on.

"Yeah master, you will do just fine just look at yourself." Said Silver Hooves, as he brought a mirror to Shadow so he could see himself.

As Shadow looked at his reflection he looked hansom, he had on a brown vest on with a white scarf and over was a blue suit.

"Oh wow your right Silver, I'll do just fine." Said Shadow, as he admired himself in the mirror.

"See master? Now go and show the girl a good time." Said Silver.

After that Shadow put on a brave face and started to head to the ballroom where Starlight was waiting. As Shadow made it to the Ballroom there was Starlight, in a golden ball gown. Seeing this Shadow, was blushing hard but he shook it of and started down the stairs towards her. As the Two meet they smiled at each other and then bowed low to each other, after that they descend the last section of stairs and continue on their way to dinner, then Caroline started to sing.

Caroline: Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends unexpectedly.

Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared, 
Starlight and the son of Sombra.

When Starlight was done with her dinner she got up from her chair and came up to Shadow, put her hoof out and said to him.

"Dance with me?"

Hearing this Shadow blushed again and said nervously.

"Oh, no, I can't, I...."

But before he could finish Silver and Torch shouted.

"Dance with her!!"

With that Shadow quickly got up and they both moved to the dance hall and started dancing with Caroline continuing to sing.

Caroline: Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Ever as before, ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange,
Finding you can change, 
learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time,
Song as old as rhyme, 
Starlight and the son of Sombra.

just then Touch dimmed the lights as Caroline finished her song.

Tale as old as time,
Song as old as rhyme, 
Starlight and the son of Sombra.

When Caroline was done sinning she turned to her son who was next to her and said to him.

"Off to bed with you now, Blitz. It's past your bed time."

With a yawn Blitz said to his mother.

"Ok mamma, goodnight."

With a goodnight kiss Blitz, set off to bed.

"Goodnight love." Said Caroline, as she watched her son heading off to bed, but before he went to bed he looked at Starlight and Shadow one last time with a smile on his face.

After the dance Starlight and Shadow headed to the balcony, when they got there the two sat down, then Shadow said to Starlight with her hooves in his.

"Starlight? Are you happy here with me?"

When Starlight heard that she smiled at the dark stallion and said to him.

"Yes."

Then Starlight looked off in the distance with a worry look on her face, seeing this Shadow asked Starlight.

"What is it?"

After Shadow asked that, Starlight looked back at him and said with tears in her eyes.

"If only I could see my friends and the princesses again, just for a moment. I miss them so much.

Shadow looked at Starlight, with a look of sadness for a moment and then it turned to excitement.

"There is away Starlight, come with me."

With that Shadow took Starlight by the hoof and they started towards the West Wing. Once there Shadow used his magic to pick up the magic mirror and said to her.

"This mirror will show you anything, anything you wish to see."

As he finished Starlight took the mirror in her hooves and said.

"I'd like to see my friends, please."

After she said that the magic mirror shined into life, and Starlight had to turn her head away as it flashed. Then the mirror showed Twilight and her friends badly hurt.

"Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Luna, Celestia, Candace. Oh no. they're hurt badly, who, who could have done this?"

Shadow came up to Starlight and said to her.

"Asked the mirror who has done this."

With that Starlight looked at the mirror again and said.

"Show me the one who did this to my friends."

After she said those words, the mirror flashed again to revile King Sombra sitting on Celestia's throne.

*Gasp* "It can't be, it's Sombra." Said Starlight, shocked.

"But how can it be my father? He suppose to be died." Said Shadow, also shocked to see his farther alive and well.

"I'm not sure Shadow, oh we've got to do something." Asked Starlight.

When Starlight, said that Shadow looked at the spell book and saw it had four pages left. But with a sigh he turned to Starlight and said to her.

"Then...you, you must go to them."

Hearing this Starlight walked up to him and said to him in a surprising voice.

"What did you say?"

"I release you. You are no longer my prisoner." Said Shadow as he turned back to the book.

"You mean....I'm, I'm free?" Asked Starlight, in amazement.

"Yes." Said Shadow, as he used his magic to left the ring off of Starlight's horn. Seeing this Starlight smiled at Shadow and put a hoof on his face.

"Oh, thank you." Starlight said, as she looked back into the magic mirror and said.

"Hold on, my friends. I'm on my way."

But before she could leave she turned back at Shadow, to give the mirror back to him. But he stopped her and said to her with a sad look on his face.

"No, take it with you Starlight, so you'll always have away to look back, and remember me."

After he said that, Starlight smiled at him and said to him.

"Thank you for understanding how much they need me."

As Starlight turned to leave Shadow stopped her.

"Starlight?"

"Yes?" Starlight asked, as she turned around. 

But Shadow couldn't say the words he wanted to tell her so with a heavy sigh he said to her.

"Nothing, just go, hurry."

With that Starlight hurried away to save her friends from Sombra. Just then the ponies came in the room with happy expressions on their faces.

"Well, master, I have had my doubts, but everything is moving like clockwork." Said Silver Hooves.

"Yes, Well done sir." Said Caroline, as she clapped her hooves together.

"Ah, true love really dose win the day!" Said Torch.

"I Let her go." Said Shadow sadly, as he took off his coat.

Hearing this the ponies were shocked.

"You... WHAT!?" Asked Silver Hooves, shocked.

"Master.....how could you do that?" Asked Torch.

"I had to." Said Shadow, as he continued to look at the spell book.

"Yes, but why?" Asked Silver Hooves.

"Because, I love her."

After Shadow said that, the ponies looked at him in shock, then Caroline spoke up.

"I can't believe it. After all this time, he's finally learned to love."

"That's it, then. That should break the spell." Said Torch, hopefully.

But Caroline, just shook her head and said.

"But it's not enough. She has to love him in return."

"And now it's too late." Said Silver Hooves, sadly.

"But she might still come back." Said Iris, hopefully.

But Shadow Flames, looked at them and said.

"No. I’ve set her free. But there is something that I would like you all to do."

"Really? And what's that master?" Asked Silver Hooves.

"I want you all to help Starlight."

When the ponies heard this they were shocked.

"What? But master, are you sure?" Asked Torch.

"Yes, now please go and help her fight my farther." Said Shadow.

With that the ponies nodded and left the room, when they did Shadow began to sing.

Shadow Flames: I was the one who had it all
I was the master of my fate
I never needed anypony in my life
I learned the truth too late

Shadow Flames steps onto the balcony of his lair. From his point of view, he see's Starlight getting ready leave the castle.

I’ll never shake away the pain 
I close my eyes but she’s still there 
I let her steal into my melancholy heart
It’s more than I can bear

Starlight then sets off for Canterlot and Shadow starts to fly to the top of the castle.

Now I know she’ll never leave me
Even as she runs away
She will still torment me, calm me,
hurt me, move me come what may

Shadow continues to fly higher and higher, to keep Starlight in his sights as she gets further and further away. 

Wasting in my lonely tower
Waiting by an open door 
I’ll fool myself she’ll walk right in 
And be with me for evermore

When Shadow made it to the top of the castle, he looked on as Starlight continued to go further away from the castle.

I rage against the trials of love
I curse the fading of the light
Though she’s already flown so far
beyond my reach 
She’s never out of sight 
Now I know she’ll never leave me 
Even as she fades from view 
She will still torment me, be part of 
everything I do
Wasting in my lonely tower
Waiting by an open door
I’ll fool myself she’ll walk right in 
And as the long long nights begin 
I’ll think of all that might have been
Waiting here for evermore

When Starlight made it though the gates of the castle she used her magic to teleport to Canterlot. As she teleported away unknowing to her  Silver Hooves, Torch, Caroling, Iris, and Starblaze were going full speed to get to Canterlot in time to help Starlight, but little did they know they had a stowaway on bored. Blitz was lessening to the whole conversation between the ponies and Shadow and desisted to hop in the airship as well to help out. Meanwhile at Canterlot, Sombra laughed at the ponies who lay on the ground weak and hurt.

"HAHAHAHA!!!! You ponies are pathetic, but now it's time to end this." Said Sombra, as he fired a ball of magic right at them.

But before the ball could make contact with the ponies Starlight appeared and blocked the big ball of magic.

"What the, who are you?" Sombra, asked.

"My name is Starlight Glimmer, and you have no right to hurt my friends." Said Starlight, as she did her fighting stents.

Hearing Starlight voice, the ponies, and the princesses said in a weak voice.

"Starlight your back."

Starlight turned to her friends and said with a smiled.

"Yes I am, and now it's time to take care of this monster once and for all."

Hearing this Sombra laughed.

"Oh that's rich, you think you can beat me, little pony?"

"I'm not sure but I am going to try." Said Starlight, as she charged right at the evil stallion.

"Big mistake pony." Said Sombra, as he fired a powerful lightning spell right at Starlight.

But Starlight was quick to doge it.

"Nice try Sombra." Starlight said.

just then Starlight saw that Sombra was gone.

"Hey, where did he go?" Starlight, asked.

Just then, the ponies saw Sombra right behind Starlight.

"Starlight, he's right behind you!!"

When Starlight heard them she turned around and saw Sombra, smiling at her with his evil grin.

"Gotcha." Sombra said to Starlight, then he turned around and bucked her hard into a wall.

"Starlight, are you alright!?" Screamed Twilight.

As Starlight, struggled to get up, Sombra started to walk towards Starlight.

"Starlight, look out!!" Shouted Applejack.

Starlight looked up to see Sombra standing over her.

"How dare you challenge me and now you shall die."

Sombra was about to kill Starlight, but then he saw the mirror that Shadow had given her.

"Hey, what's this?" He asked, as he picked up the mirror with his magic.

"Hey, give that back." Said Starlight, as she tried to get up.

Then she saw Sombra laugh.

"Hey what's so funny?" Asked Starlight.

Sombra looked at Starlight and said.

"This is my mirror where did you get it?"

Starlight looked at Sombra, and said.

"I'm not telling you."

Sombra just scoffed and said.

"Fine I don't need you to tell me I can just ask the mirror."

With that, Sombra looked into the mirror and asked.

"Show me where this pony got you?"

After he said that the mirror glowed and then the mirror showed Sombra a castle and then there was Shadow flames looking at his spell book that had only two pages left.

"Well, well, well, my son Shadow. My how he's grown."

Just then Starlight got up and ran towards Sombra.

"Give that back."

But before Starlight could get Sombra, he used his magic and lifted Starlight to eye level with him.

"No, I don't think so enfact once I per-sway my son to join me you will be my bride and your friends will die."

When Starlight heard that she said in an stern vioce.

"He would never join you."

Sombra laugh at this and said to Starlight.

"Oh we'll just see about that pony."

And with that her thew Starlight towards her friends and then he used his magic to trap them in a cell.

"Now that is out of the way, it's time to see my son again."

With that Sombra, tuned into smoke and headed to the castle where his son was leaving the ponies alone in the cell.