//------------------------------// // Crystalline // Story: Bright Darkness // by Rattus and The Victor //------------------------------// Sombra. The word filtered through his mind, floating there as though submerged in water. Muddled. Unrecognizable. Reprehensible. That was how the Princess made it sound. The name made him overflow with dread, misery and pain all at once. Hearing it was like shoving a limb into an endless narrow tunnel of broken glass to try and retrieve some memory, but all he got back was...red. Red. He knew the color somehow. It was a part of something familiar yet dangerous. He couldn't feel anything other than his mind- which he had little control over now anyway. He tried to answer the question of who he was, but still only conjured up blanks. Radiance-Radiant. Something about that word brought pale comfort momentarily to him. Even a youthful, care-free giddiness before that too turned into a burning sadness. For reasons unknown to him, he sprung out of his restless thoughts and back into reality. Opening his eyes to see a room darkened by the night. Through the window he viewed the gorgeous star-jeweled sky and the gentle moonlight trickling onto the land. He savored the fresh air that wafted in, noticing someone had kindly opened it for him. He gulped when he saw that he was still surrounded by guards- many of which were unicorns. Fear attempted to suffocate each breathe he took in. He feigned sleep when one of the guards turned to look at him. Blue. That was familiar too, and snuffed our his thoughts of red. "He looks starved half to death!" groaned a voice. "He needs some sustenance if he is to even survive until the interrogation!" "He is a prisoner of war," a cold voice replied. "He is not valuable enough to consume our resources." "Prisoner of war my flank! "M'am, no! You are not permitted to-" a gruff voice warned before being defeated by a softer one. "By my order she is." A hush overtook the room before hooves feverishly clambered his way. "Thank you Princess, honestly. Guards this age 'ave not an ounce compassion in them. Would be be kind enough to wake him? Can't exactly feed and treat him effectively this way." "Oh- of-of course." Cadence said hesitantly. "Just as a precaution-" the familiar sensation of the orb tearing through the room wafted over him- this time he noticed it felt more like a breeze than a blizzard. "Oh and-" a heavy thudding of hooves sounded from the hallway. "They can wait ou' there but I am going to need my space," the voice grumbled. "Already gon' be sharing it with other ponies from all medical walks o' life anyway." "Just a few more leading experts from across Equestria, Ambrosial." Ambrosial mumbled something crude under her breath before sighing in acceptance. "I can't believe war criminals get better health service than us." a voice hissed from the back of the room. Silence spread like a disease before being a horn touched his head. Though he has known to expect it from listening, he still jumped in shock, his eyes shooting open. Candence's amethyst eyes stared back into his palm-leaf green ones. This exchange continued as her eyes turned from shocked to angry. "It taken a powerful magic to break the spell I put on you," she hissed, "I may not have Celestia or Luna's magnitude of power but I know it would take a profound understanding and deliberate power to break through-" "Your Highness," pipped up a voice, "I fear I may be at fault, as you see-" Accusations of possession and insubordination shook the room before dying down as the princess offered to hear the rest. "I noticed-thought Sombra was having trouble sleeping last night and may be consumed in a nightmare and I-I well knowing Princess Luna is so busy qwelling all the other nightmares his resurgence has spawned, so I attempted to use a spell that would plunge him into a more restful sleep; however I may have recklessly fooled with magic I do not have a fundamental understanding of- healing magic that is. I am trained as a warrior you see and-" "You will be dismissed of your duties and stripped of your position for endangering the Empire and Equestria as we know it. While I am satisfied you know how reckless your actions were, they will not go without punishment." Cadence's works sliced through the air, somehow managing to convey a compassionate understanding but unwavering strength. "I will not tolerate such foolishness in my higher ranks- though it has been a pleasure and honor having you in my guard, Moliminous Willows, I relinquish your title, you will be escorted off the grounds." An anger continued to bubble up in every word she enunciated. She let in a deep breath. "Be kind to yourself though, your service will never be forgotten- but neither will your actions today." Cadence turned towards him. "You will be paying with your life if I find I dishonorable discharged one of my Guards." All he could do is nod. "Can't see 'ow he could." Ambrosial jutted in. "With 'ow damaged his horn is- I am afraid we may not be able to save it, love." This last part had been directed at him- and a hollow sadness filled him. Though it was a part of his physiology, he hadn't actually realized he had a horn to begin with. And upon discovering he did he was also told he may lose it. He stared at the dark purple earth pony at his side. Her eyes were the color of early cherry blossoms and her hair a tired chestnut tied back into a bun. "Don't get into too much o' a fuss about it," the middle-age mare said, "It may help your cause to live without." A rush of something swirled in his head, though he was met with a sharp pain when he tried to let it flow. He winced in pain and embarrassment as pathetic blue and red sparks lit up the inside of his horn- which was shattered in many places, barely sticking together. A flash of sympathy was shown in Cadence's face before she turned around, leaving him to a roomful of guards and what he assumed would be his care-giver for the moment. "Who..." he started, not knowing which question to ask first. Who is the Princess? Where am I at? Why am I being treated like a criminal? Who are you? Who am I?/ "Yes?" Ambrosial asked, ears poised to listen as she rubbed ointment onto his horn to dull the pain. "Who-who is Sombra?" She went stiff. She eyed him suspiciously before continuing. "You got a good act goin' but it ain't going to fool me." "Sombra," a familiar voice from across the room sounded, "Where to start?" "Torrid!" Ambrosial protested, "You're not falling for this madness now too, are you?" Torrid eyed him scrutiniously , his orange eyes burrowed deep into his mind. Ruffling his wings he replied, "Man asked a question. Even if he is full of it, he will only waste his own time hearing of his escapades. If he is sincerely clueless, than I am gravely sorry for any anxiety I caused, and I hope that with learning our history you'll understand." Torrid began relaying the history of Sombra's rule, fall, and suspected resurgence. "Would be like the coward to dress an innocent stallion in his likeness to advert attention elsewhere- shadow hopping is what they call it I think." Mystified, yet filled with melancholy and hate for the historical figure just explained to him- a part of him trembled with the realization he could be this figure. But if he were wouldn't he know? Or was he just another victim? Ambrosial interjected. "Yes, but in his weakened form he could only shadow hop for so long. Masking someones appearance permanently requires a great deal o' power, so I would expect to see some signs of the true pony who owns that body to come through. Like a change in the roots of the mane or coat or-" She eyed his horn. "That does seem to be unnaturally crumbly- like i's not meant to be. But that would be like him too, scar an innocent pony to confuse us on 'is true identity." After being fed a multitude of different variants of medical ponies flooded the room. Each one testing, mending, examining, and asking one thing or another. The sun had already begun to set by the time it was done. Ambrosial seemed hell-bent on staying in the room the majority of the time however. By the end of it all she crooned over him. "Tha' was a busy day love, tomorrow will be easier. For Celestia's sake, I didn't realize just 'ow bad you were. Poor wounds haven't been properly treated and mended in days- to no one's fault but my own. I am an expert at detecting magical aliments and lightly tendin'." He numbly nodded, not being able to care much either way. Casts now took over two of his legs- evidently a bone had been broken or fractured at some point. "I am feeling better," he choked out, more for her benefit than his own. A bright smile crossed her lips. "Oh love, that makes me happy 'o hear, especially since your showin' more sings of being a shadow hopper after it all." Her coat rippled with an odd texture. He couldn't help but be enchanted as it turned from dull fur to a ethereal crystalline. Though he had just been fed, an overwhelming hunger knotted in his stomach and intestines. It pounded at his reason and he desire to lunge out at take it from her- take her pure, almighty crystal texture away. He shook his head, which she took for as confusion. She wasted no time in explaining how the crystal ponies and their fur worked, the shimmer of hers slowly dying down. Even as she left for the day his hooves were still shaking just at the thought. The thought of crystals danced in his mind, completely enamored with the visualization, even after Cadence took away most of his consciousness. Blue. Crystal. He knew these were connected somehow.