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// Chapter 20. Hate is my meat, fear is my wine. 
// Story: The Last of the Dark Ponies 
// by Askre 
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Chapter 20

Sombra turned his head sharply from the journal he was writing in when hearing hoof steps. In the entrance appeared Private Iceland, looking livid. The king frowned, wondering what this was all about it.

“You remember me, don’t you!” Private claimed, pointing an accusing hoof at Sombra.

“What are you blathering about, Private. Furthermore, didn’t I tell you to stay up in the fort?” Sombra growled and rose up from the podium.

“Don’t play this game with me. We’ve met before, before you possessed me!” Private snapped and took a step closer.

“Yes I know, I abducted you when you were a colt for seven days,” Sombra snorted, but arched his brow when his prisoner did the same.

“Not that time, you met me before that, in the Empire, when you were still a prince,” the unicorn snorted, still thinking this was all just a sick game being played on him by the king.

“I have no idea… wait…” Sombra blinked as some very old and dusty memories did began to surface. Slowly his jaw descended. “It can’t be… I always thought you looked familiar... but that was because I abducted you back when you were a colt.”

“Y-you really didn’t remember that?” Private’s anger was subsiding. It started being replaced by panic as he realized he was practically defying the unicorn, who could at any time do serious harm to his family if he misbehaved.

“It was over a thousand years ago. You realize how jumbled my memories are after having been banished to ice and then blown up by that infernal heart?” Sombra grunted and rubbed his forehead tiredly. “I’m still trying to get some of them in order. Why do you think I keep confusing you for Timido?

“I did not just confess that.” The king hoofed his face. But then his eyes flew wide open, his hoof dropped down and he stared at Private as suspicion began crawling all over him. “Wait a minute, why is this suddenly occurring to you now?”

Oh… crud, Private suddenly realized his error, Whooves had told him that there were reasons his memories of this had been locked away.

“How did you go back in time to visit the Dark Pony Empire? How come you never showed any indication of remembering that?!” Sombra started to approach with quite a menacing stare.

“I had locked memories…” Private took a step back, grinning nervously, actually wishing he could go back in time right now and stop himself from running down to confront the king.

“Yes, I saw the locks back when I was in your head. You don’t have the power to do such memory locks. Are you telling me they just became undone, just like that?” the king continued to approach.

“Okay fine, my old history professor in my university turned out to be a time pony and he sometimes took me and my friends back in time to view historical events!” Private blurted out, knowing too well it would be pointless to lie or try any type of concealment of what he knew. Sombra could still enter his mind at any time.

“Time Ponies? Those pompous, arrogant morons?” King Sombra’s anger vanished in a blink of an eye and he actually was laughing. “Are you telling me that one of them suffered the indignity to be teaching you? ‘Normal ponies’ they consider beneath them?”

“Well this one was kind of… different,” Private pointed out, wondering if he should be relieved over the mood change. “He was the one who locked the memories of meeting you because they knew I would meet you again.”

Private blinked when the Dark Pony threw his head back and roared in laughter. That was not even close to the reaction he was expecting. He glanced around and realized he was currently in the tunnel, having backed out of the lab when the king was approaching.

“Oh, oh let me guess. They were afraid I would learn of them and their precious time magic. Oh, those self-important dimwits. ‘Keepers of Time’, more like ‘we know time travel, so we are better than you’ idiots,” King Sombra chortled and was shaking his head.

“Wait… so you don’t want to learn time magic?” his prisoner frowned, even more confused than he thought possible.

“I am not touching that manure ever again. I learned that lesson when pulling ponies back in time. I had to use a lot of my dark magic just to stabilize the spell, it nearly drained me. I prefer moving forward than messing with time. That’s just a can of worms I’m keeping firmly closed,” Sombra snorted in disgust. Then he eased his features and looked at Private again.

“Well this is a wrinkle, I’m starting to remember meeting a rather strange set of Equestrian tourists - a rather unusual sight back then. I showed you around the palace, didn’t I? We dined together,” the king chuckled, smiling now at the memories.

“What happened to you? You were so nice and wholesome… I was actually excited to meet you,” Private asked and looked sadder.

“What happened? The Saddle Arabians happened,” King Sombra frowned hard and turned away. “They always painted us Dark Ponies as monsters. Fine, they wanted us to be monsters. I became one.”

“I wanted power and to make my own decisions, not live under the iron hooves of my mother. So, I over indulged in my dark magic until it grew stronger, too strong in fact. It nearly consumed my body,” the king returned the to podium and sat down.

“Then… I heard the Saddle Arabians finally invaded. Mother was dead, my sister was queen, inexperienced and not really fit to rule… They overwhelmed the empire, slaughtered most, scattered the rest. When news of it broke to me I hurried back, but I was too late, so I turned my wrath on them. I became the monster they feared. I slaughtered their king, made him suffer as he had made my sister suffer. Then I took my sister’s body. I don’t know if it ever was found, but I buried it underneath the Crystal Empire.”

Private hesitantly entered the lab again. Sombra hadn’t resumed writing, he just stared down at the journal. The unicorn stopped when the king glared at him. “I suggest you head back up to the fort, Private,” he grunted.

That’s not a bad idea, Private backed away and left the lab, hurrying back up to the fort and returned to the bedchamber.

Why unlocking my memories now? What has it accomplished? This doesn’t change anything, does it? he thought and returned to the corner he had been in before Whooves had appeared before him.

Except confirming what Whooves told us a long time ago. Most time ponies wouldn’t give us Equestrians the time of the day. They didn’t lock these memories for my benefit, they did it thinking they were protecting themselves from Sombra. Turns out Sombra couldn’t care less about them, he snorted.

Heck, they keep stopping Whooves from helping, time and time again, especially when he could be at his most useful. Granted he couldn’t sweep in here and save the day, but he could still do a lot to help. Private lay down and leaned on the wall.

Wait a minute. The unicorn raised his head as something occurred to him. Now that he recalled, often when bringing up the past one way or another, Sombra seemed to back off. When he reminded Sombra that his mother was also Timido’s descendant, he had allowed him to continue to talk. When seeing how Private had been like a father to his nieces, it reminded Sombra how much he had been like a father to his own sister and suddenly assured Private he wouldn’t harm the girls. Just now earlier, when confronting him with the unlocked memories, Sombra hadn’t even punished him for disobeying his orders to remain up in the fort. Just told him to go back up there.

Does he miss the Dark Pony Empire so much that mentions of it calm him down? he wondered. The experiments had stopped momentarily when Sombra learned Timido was Private’s ancestor. And dad is right, his regal gear is the male version of the ruling Dark Pony monarch.

“Private?”

Private looked up. Sombra had entered the chamber and was watching him quizzically. The dark unicorn gestured to the bed.

“There is a perfectly good bed over there. Why are you lying on the floor in the corner?” the king asked, sounding mildly confused.

“I… uh… didn’t know it was an option?” Private offered, though the real reason was because he didn’t really want to lay on it, knowing the king used it as well.

“Oh don’t be ridiculous,” Sombra grunted, grabbed the unicorn up with his magic, pulled him over to the bed and dropped him on top of it. “I’m not currently using it.”

“So how much trouble am I in for… disobeying?” Private asked, wondering if the king had come upstairs to finally discipline him.

“You’re not,” Sombra simply stated as he walked over to the wardrobe and opened it. Inside were stacks of books, the dark unicorn started to go through them, looking for a specific one.

Huh, perhaps I am onto something with with the past memories. Private thought and lay his head on top of his front legs. Was that why Whooves unlocked them finally? So I had something to distract… heck even calm him down? No, it doesn’t calm him down that much, just kind of delays him a little. 

“You still haven’t told me how those memories got unlocked,” the king said while still going through the stacks.

“Uh… there is a code word that unlocks them. I said it,” Private simply told him. It wasn’t a lie, he just omitted the fact that Whooves had been here earlier to tell him that.

“And what prompted you to suddenly say those words?” Sombra finally closed the wardrobe. In his magic he held a very old looking book. He turned towards the bed.

“I don’t know,” Private muttered, also not quite a lie, he hadn’t really known why Whooves had wanted him to say them. “Maybe figured something in them would help me.”

“Hmm, well I suppose that makes sense. You were probably feeling desperate.” King Sombra nodded and walked closer to the bed. He seemed satisfied enough with that explanation, though Private wasn’t sure. For all he knew, his captor was just humoring him for now.

“What’s that book for?” Private glanced at the book.

“Hmm? This? Oh, just something that might help me with ideas for the trap I’m setting up,” Sombra smirked and pattet the book with a hoof. “I’m expecting them to be here within a day or so.”

Crap, forgot about that, Private cringed slightly. “So… uh, what happens tonight?”

“Whatever do you mean?” the king asked. He was already looking through the book.

“You know, tonight, when you go to sleep,” Private sighed. He wasn’t so much worried as opposed to more, not relishing another night with the king. It was clear to him why had been confined to the bedchamber.

“I go to sleep,” Sombra glanced from the book. Then he seemed to realize. “Oh right. I’m not really in the mood. Don’t worry, your rump is safe.”

“But I’m still supposed to also use the bed?” Private looked up, uncertain and confused.

“Well if you want to sleep on the floor, I won’t stop you,” the king muttered. He was now examining the book very closely. “The floor is hard. Your back might suffer for it.”

Should I tell him I’m used to napping on the floor at home in front of the fireplace? Private dropped his head back down. Then again, I do have a rug for it.

“So, if I’m now grounded to the fort, do I no longer fetch food and water?” he asked when that suddenly occurred to him. He recalled he was supposed to be a servant, after all.

“You do have a point there. Fine, I will just block access to the prison cavern when I send you down to get food,” Sombra sighed, then he climbed onto the bed and lay down next to Private and continued to read the book. “Now be quiet. I’m concentrating.”

Fine, Private grumbled and turned how he lay so his back was towards the king.


Private started from a sound sleep, he was mildly surprised he had in fact fallen asleep. The unicorn could still feel King Sombra’s body pressed up against his back and wondered how long he had been unexpectedly napping. He raised his head and saw that Sombra was at that moment in the process of dropping the book down on the nightstand.

“Well that was waste of time,” the king grunted in disappointment. Clearly the book hadn’t been as much of an assistance as he had hoped.  “Guess I’m just doing it the old-fashioned way.”

The king shifted his body a little so he could see where Private lay. He smirked slightly when seeing the smaller unicorn was awake again. Private just kept his usual neutral expression.

“You know, speaking of those good old days, back then, I really did want to show you more intimate hospitality. I was getting a little tired of my then current companion,” he told him, his smirk turned into a warm smile.

“Well… back then the feeling was mutual…” Private muttered and looked away. “By the way, you can’t freak me out with that anymore.”

“Yes, I’ve noticed you are more - how should I put it, more at peace? Hmm, pity. I kind of enjoyed your little freak-outs,” Sombra leaned his head down and started to nuzzle at the unicorn’s mane. “That delicious fear - it was invigorating.”

“You were not that good,” Private snorted, shuddering a little when recalling the groping hooves and muzzle all over him last night. Now that a little time had passed, he was beginning to regret allowing the king to have his way with him. Yet he still felt it was well worth it to spare his brother from further experimentation.

Still Private didn’t move his head away from the invading muzzle this time, either. He still felt that as long as Sombra’s attention was on him, his family would be left alone. The unicorn would endure it. He just tried to picture it being Prince Sombra instead of the king.

“And what do you have to compare it with? I do believe I’m your first,” the king chuckled and kept nuzzling him, moving the muzzle to the neck. Private just grumbled, having no answer to that.

“I thought you weren’t in the mood,” Private finally just said, slightly worried and too aware that he was completely at the mercy of the king.

“Well I’m not going to mount you, but I’m feeling like enjoying my companion a little,” Sombra murmured softly. “Not every action has to end in intercourse.”

No, I suppose not. Oh well, if he wants to cuddle, at least he isn’t torturing Barricade or the others, Private sighed. He felt a leg go around him and pull him closer to the king.

“Are you this inexperienced with relationships, Private? You should realize sometimes it is just about enjoying each other’s company,” Sombra said and continued to kiss and nuzzle his neck.

“I would feel much better about this if I wasn’t a prisoner,” Private muttered, not really feeling like talking right now. He just wanted to brave this out in silence.

“You don’t have to be,” the king raised his head to whispered into his ear. “Just submit. Give in. Accept it. I can even provide you the blue mare that you have craved for so long.”

“You leave Dew Doe out of this,” Private hissed and his ears went flat. He shivered when hearing the cruel laughter echo in his ears.

“Why? Because you know I would probably enjoy her too?” Sombra grinned. He could feel building hatred within his prisoner. 

“Don’t. You. Dare!” Private growled and slightly turned his head to glare at the grinning gaze of the pony next to him. “Look… do with me what you want, but you leave HER alone!”

“My, my, you really do care about her,” the king grinned wider. He noticed though that Private wasn’t really struggling in his grip. He had though quickly realized what he needed to do to really get that hate out. The Dark Pony almost licked his lips in anticipation. “She is a very beautiful mare. So small, delicate and tender.”

“You touch her, I will KILL YOU!” Private suddenly tore himself away, rising to stand on the mattress of the bed and glared daggers at the king. The anger vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The unicorn was dumbfounded he actually had the nerve to do this.

King Sombra didn’t look surprised at all, if anything he looked more like he had just finished eating, smacking his lips.

“Mmm, that was very good hate. I didn’t know you had it in you,” Sombra smiled smugly, licking his lips and acting more like he was complimenting a chef at a restaurant for the fine meal he just had. “Much more… primal.”

“You... sick… bast...” Private trailed off as he couldn’t believe it and sat down. “So since you can’t freak me out the other way, you are going to do this instead?”

“Hate is my meat, fear is my wine,” the king stated and lifted his front leg that was closest to the unicorn. There was still hunger in his eyes. “Now, come here, I’m not done with you.”

Private grimaced, not really relishing being embraced by the Dark Pony again. With heavy reluctance, he crawled back over, shuddering when Sombra’s leg was laid over him again and he was once again pressed up against the much bigger body. He felt a little sick when the hoof gently caressed his side.

Will the voice that’s enjoying this please be quiet. Private cringed when feeling the muzzle of the king on his neck again as it started once more to nuzzle and kiss him.

The unicorn wasn’t really sure for how long this cuddle session lasted, but for the rest of it. King Sombra didn’t do much else except hold him close and nuzzle at him. No more words were exchanged and Private was somewhat grateful for that. He did wonder though if those past reawakened memories had played a part in Sombra’s mood.

Maybe he misses doing this with Timido, he thought and felt slightly relieved when the nuzzling and kissing finally stopped. Sombra didn’t let him go though, instead laying his head on top of his.

“You know, shortly after you left the court along with your friend, mother replaced my then companion with Timido. I recall being surprised at the mild resemblance. Huh, maybe mother saw how I missed you and found a colt who resembled you,” Sombra mused, then chuckled. “If she only knew, she hoofed your ancestor to me.”

“Perhaps,” Private muttered, really wanting to be alone right now. He was starting to get the usual feeling when he was all ponied out like he called it, when he really craved solitude, to be away from other ponies. “Wait, you missed me?”

“Oh, you have no idea, I really enjoyed your company. You were the first foreigner I met who didn’t have any reservations about us, weren’t on your guard. You seemed to enjoy your time with us,” Sombra told him. He lifted the leg around Private to gently caress him on the cheek.

“I did,” Private confessed, closing his eyes and worried again that the king was now suddenly in the mood for more.

“And now we’re back together again. What an odd twist of fate,” the king murmured and lifted his head and dropped his hoof down to the mattress..

Cruel fate is how I would put it, the smaller unicorn thought, relieved that Sombra had moved his head off him.

“Well this is all well and good and amusing,” Sombra then claimed. He removed his leg from the unicorn and started to rise from the bed. “But I do have a trap to set up.”

Oh thank Celestia. Private sighed in relief. Maybe that meant he would be allowed to be alone. Then he realized what he actually was being thankful for. Wait, setting the trap is bad.

“You know, I might just be in the mood for some more fun once I’m done setting up the trap,” Sombra said and bent over the bed, grabbing Private’s muzzle in a deep kiss. When they parted, he was staring at Private with desire in his eyes. “I had forgotten how much Timido excited me!”

Private couldn’t really respond, still dazed at the kiss and whimpering. When he came to his senses and remembered the trap, it was way too late to do or say anything. Sombra had already left the bed and departed the chamber. Groaning, the unicorn lay his head on his forelegs, hoping that maybe the rescue party could evade the trap.

Then he grimaced, not looking forward at all to it when the king would return from his work setting it up.

End chapter 20