MLP: FiM
Piercing the Heavens
By: Calm Wind
Chapter 164: Wonderbolts Never Die (Arc 3 Finale Part 5: A Somber Return)
The moment Sombra left the magical veil of the shield behind him, his eyes were locked in place. He stopped just inside the barrier and stared straight towards the sight that lay before him.
The Crystal Empire… clear as day… shimmering brightly and lighting up the surrounding area, its vibrant glow producing its own light that shone elegantly, even with all traces of the sunset outside obscured by the whirling blizzard.
Within the shield, there was no more snow in his way, no more flurries to block his view. He felt the warmth of the controlled climate, his skin and fur tingling as it came within contact with the comfortable temperature… but it was not the only source of a tingling sensation.
The Empire itself was before him in full view, and so close now too. He was at the edge of the barrier, but he was now the closest to it he had been yet. His eyes slowly grew wider as he took in the sight, his breaths quick and light, inhaling sharply every few seconds as rushes of awe and excitement filled him. The way his body jittered and how his jaw refused to close, one would think he had felt he’d never get this close to it again… and he hadn’t even started moving yet.
Inside his mind, Soarin’s spirit was torn between two focuses. He had a frantic worry for Dash pouring through him. Something had clearly gone wrong with the Elements, but Soarin didn’t really give a damn about some mystical stones or their lack of effect. He only cared about Dash and how said stones appeared to leave her in a heap on the ground with her squad supporting her. At this point he knew there was nothing he could do to help. He was at Sombra’s mercy. But beside him he could see the image of Dash, the piece of her soul stuck with him… she was twitching and grimacing in pain, eyes shut tight, little sign of energy or drive as it inched back and forth beneath the bindings. He wanted so badly to look back and make sure Dash was okay, but he could no longer see her… because Sombra had their eyes locked on one thing and one thing only.
Soarin suddenly noticed that Celestia had gone completely quiet. Considering her connection to the Element bearers, he thought she would have more of a reaction to what just went down. Interestingly, she hadn’t made a peep, nor had she appeared to budge from her spot. Her strange reaction almost made Soarin wonder if she wasn’t surprised at the result, even if it was unexpected?
One thing was clear, she was focused on Sombra’s silhouette and no doubt seeing his reaction from the outside as well.
Sombra just kept staring, as if the sight itself was more than he could fathom.
“I…” he suddenly spoke. “I…” he repeated, but apparently couldn’t find the words. His mouth finally closed, his eyes narrowed slightly. “It’s…” his eyelids began to twitch and his lower lip quivered. Emotion was beginning to show. “It’s so…” he kept trying, but to no avail, words were failing him. He was so lost in his thoughts that he wasn’t paying any mind to any of the crystal guards who were standing nearby, a few divisions all shaking in their armor with their weapons pointed towards him, not sure what to do after seeing Sombra walk right through the shield they were told would repel him.
Sombra suddenly blinked, looking down and all over Soarin’s body, looking back and awkwardly moving a wing as he examined himself.
He did not crystalize.
Sombra’s eyebrows tipped up in dismay, quickly realizing that the body he controlled did not meet the prerequisites to have the crystal effect no matter how much he wished for it. Soarin, after all, wasn’t a crystal pony. Sombra’s soul alone wasn’t enough to make it happen.
He sighed, exhaling through his nose as he accepted it reluctantly, instead returning his attention to the Empire.
Without a word… he started walking. The moment his hoof inched forward to take the first step there was a very frantic and audible stir among the nearby guards. The clanging and clattering of armor and weapons running into one another as those in front backed right into those behind them.
But Sombra kept his eyes on the Empire, paying no mind to the guards at all.
“Move up! Hold your positions!” A voice yelled from among the guards. Those in front lurched towards him, but none of them went very far. Weapons were drawn, crystal ponies of all three races edging forward. The earth ponies digging tower shields into the ground with a spear pointed. The unicorns behind them with spears lifted in their magic, and pegasi hovering slightly above with spears in their hooves. They kept leaning as if ready to charge, but never made any moves.
“HALT!” One brave voice yelled from the crowd.
Sombra did not.
“Don’t take another step!” Another yelled.
But Sombra did and kept doing so.
And then one finally snapped.
“HRYAAAA!!!” An earth pony up front hooked his shield on his back and charged with his spear in his teeth, leaping towards Sombra while passing the spear to his hooves in midair.
Sombra finally looked down, seeing the guard mid-jump. In an instant, his magic came alight and the earth pony halted in midair, surrounded by the blue aura.
He blinked as the rest suddenly charged as well in an unorganized manner, in clumps as only a few found the confidence to move at a time.
“No.” Sombra said aloud, his horn glowing brighter and surrounding the first group to approach with his magic. They all halted in place, their hooves moving, but going nowhere. Sombra floated the earth pony down to join them and then gently moved them aside, continuing on his path.
One by one, the small groups of four to six at a time rushed at him. Sombra generated a shield in front of him, a kite-style shield that had angled edges. It expanded to cover both himself and a five-yard radius outward on both sides. The guards ran right into the shield one right after the other. The impacts were soft, the surface of Sombra’s shield bending inward slightly as they threw themselves into it before the angled surface pushed them aside and out of his way.
As they were forced aside, several tried to slide off and flank Sombra, charging again, but the results were no different. Sombra used his magic to generate large sweeping veils of light that resembled panes of glass but bent like rubber as they swooped around and pushed the guards away harmlessly.
Sombra’s eyes either remained up at the Empire or down at the ground as he continued this process, unable or unwilling to look into the eyes of the guards as they tried to stop him with every ounce of effort. He kept taking one step at a time, the Empire growing closer and closer.
As he moved, the guards continued to fail. Some of them ceased attacking, instead looking on curiously. Eventually nearly all of them had stopped except for a determined few. Perplexed and bewildered, they began following instead, weapons still drawn, but very much noticing that Sombra was not playing rough, his methods of fending them off were gentle and lacking any kind of violent force.
By the time Sombra was well on his way to approaching the northern gate, all attacking had stopped, every last one of the guards present realizing that nothing they were trying was working. While feelings were mixed, they were not blind. Sombra did not hurt any of them and there was no way it was unintentional.
Yet even after leaving the guards to wonder what was going on, Sombra found himself standing before the large northern gate of the Empire. Waiting for him was a whole new group of guards, much larger than the first. They all pointed their spears at him, several more running out to join before the gate closed behind them. Lots of yelling and ordering could be heard from within, some orders being shouted down to them from peepholes in the wall above, others being shouted to guards stationed inside the gate itself.
Sombra looked around at all the pairs of battle ready eyes locked on him… and sighed again.
This was going to be how it was… wasn’t it?
None of them would lay a hoof on him, much less a spear, but they were all convinced he was an evil monster. Those he had made his way through were still behind him, following and wary, not even his display of mercy completely convincing them, or so it appeared.
Sombra looked up, taking in the sight of the large gate behind the guards, a sharp exhale of breath hissing through his nose as he wished they would just stand aside and let him in.
But the slight barrier to entry quickly became an afterthought… as a bright flash of distorted purple light came from his left.
Sombra and all the guards flinched and turned their heads to see Discord fall face first to the ground. He looked just as beaten and worn out as Sombra had left him earlier as he gasped and wheezed flat on his stomach. Standing behind him were Shining Armor, Cadence, and a very stricken, disheveled looking Luna. The prince and princess of the Empire immediately made their way towards the guards, but something didn’t look right about Luna, as if she had just seen a ghost. Her body was jittering, her expression was shifting through a mess of unrecognizable emotions, and her mane look frazzled, its normally elegant ethereal state all over the place.
Sombra kept his eyes locked on Discord and Luna, narrowing them considerably into a glare as he completely disregarded Shining and Cadence running by towards the gate and sliding to a stop in front of the guards.
They both set their hooves, taking defensive positions and glaring towards Sombra, but Cadence looked over her shoulder, her head moving as if counting the number of guards.
“Shiny, go to your guards! We’re going to need more!” she yelled. Shining blinked and looked right at her like she was nuts.
“I’m not leaving you out here alone!” he exclaimed with great concern, but Cadence quickly shook her head.
“I’ll be fine! But neither of us will be if we face him with such a small force! GO!” she demanded. Shining Armor gritted his teeth and growled to himself, but quickly did as he was told. He quietly agreed with his wife 100% despite his concern for her safety. He ran right towards the gate, the guards behind them parting slightly to let him through. The gate opened just enough to let him through beneath it before slamming back to the ground.
With Shining doing his part, Cadence turned to face Sombra, but was surprised to see him looking away. In fact, he had turned away from her and was facing the two gods as Discord slowly peeled himself off the ground and stood up, wobbling.
Sombra snorted loudly, Cadence and all the guard flinching even though he wasn’t looking at them.
“Unbelievable,” Sombra spoke up with a growl. “You two just don’t know when to quit, do you?” he snarled. “All of your tricks and games have failed and even those around you are questioning your word. Now begone!”
“Never…” Discord said quietly as he held a hand to his head and shook his head out.
“Hmph…” Sombra harrumphed. “You lack the right to take that tone with me, scoundrel. Or do I have to break your nose a few more times to make that clear?”
“DON’T lecture me… mortal!” Discord barked at him as he struggled to remain upright. “I will never yield to the likes of you!”
Sombra’s eyes narrowed and he started walking towards them.
“And what will you do?” he asked as he approached, his eyes shifting periodically to Luna, wary of her somewhat concerning appearance.
“The Elements…” Discord’s voice shook slightly. “They… NO!” her gritted his teeth as he glared at the approaching Sombra. “The Elements are WRONG! They are misguided in their judgement of you! I will—!”
He was cut off as Sombra reached up, grabbed Discord by one of his horns, and slammed him head-first to the ground. Discord released a muffled yell of pain with his nose practically jammed into the grass. Luna instantly backed away and a stir of alarm came from both the guards and Cadence.
Sombra bent down and placed his mouth right beside Discord’s ear.
“You… will… do… NOTHING!” he hissed.
“Discord!” Cadence yelled as her magic sparked to life on her horn, her natural aura flaring up with silver swirls of light encircling it as her reserves of Alicorn magic rushed forth as well. Her eyes shined brightly with white light as she tipped her horn forward, a loud crackling screech filling the air as a large beam of magic fired from her horn. It was concentrated, roughly a yard in diameter with white streams encircling it that looked like solid crystal.
Sombra’s magic lit up, forming a kite shield that jammed into the ground beside him. The beam slammed into the shield. It tipped up, the shield’s angle causing the beam to split upward and shoot in several directions, fragmenting into the air harmlessly. The impact made a loud shattering noise, like a crystal smashing against a solid surface as it broke apart and shot into the air.
“RGH!” Cadence winced after a few moments, the Alicorn magic taking its toll on her from extended surging use. She pulled back as the silver light surrounding her natural aura flickered and vanished. “GAH! Haaaa…” she coughed and wheezed, holding a hoof to her head as she stepped back and a few white sparks jumped from her horn as her own aura remained. She blinked and looked up, several mouths slowly hanging open among the guards behind her as the dust cleared and Sombra’s shield remained with not even a crack, dent, or smudge on it.
Sombra was still glaring at Discord while holding him down.
“This does not concern you, young Alicorn,” Sombra spoke up as his shield dissipated and he slowly turned his head to look at her, keeping the pressure down on Discord’s head. “If I were you, I’d—”
Sombra suddenly stopped and blinked, staring at Cadence. Cadence reclined, her eyes going wide as she saw his focus, his eyes looking her up and down, scanning her face, her mane, and her whole body.
“Are… are you…?” he trailed off, tipping his head curiously.
“LU…LU…!” Discord’s voice suddenly came from below. Sombra’s head quickly shifted back, glaring down to see Discord had slipped just far enough to free his mouth. “DO… IT… NOW!”
Sombra perked up, his ears standing straight up and turning back and forth, as his eyes shot right to where Luna was standing before.
She was gone.
Sombra frantically looked about, his eyes eventually catching an unnatural light coming from his peripheral vision. He looked the other way and saw Luna, standing several yards away, but with so much magic pulsating from her horn that her aura was rising higher than anypony could see from the ground.
“LET… IT… GO!” Discord yelled.
Luna stood up on her back hooves and pulled her head back, the rising light from her horn bending and flowing with her movements. Her eyes lit up with intense white light and her whole body was surrounded by an undulating dark blue aura.
Luna shouted, if it could even be called that. It sounded like an unnerving scream of agony that echoed in every direction as she lunged forward and thrust her horn towards Sombra.
A large beam of dark blue light filled with white shimmering sparkles ejected from her horn. It was easily ten times larger than the one Cadence had just attempted, the power output in line with her supernatural powers.
Sombra immediately took his eyes off of her and the rapidly approaching blast, instead looking around at all the guards nearby.
“NO!” Sombra yelled, his magic flaring up quickly. “HRRRAGH!!!!!” he yelled, conjuring two shields that widened considerably upon materializing. He slammed one down in front of himself and threw the other one over to the guards.
Sombra grunted as Luna’s magic slammed into his shield, multiple cracks immediately forming on its surface. Yelps and cries of desperation erupted from the guards. Sombra’s eyes widened as Luna’s magic began punching holes through the shields.
Something was different, she was forcing her magic to a point he had yet to see, possibly explaining its odd darker appearance as well.
He did not waver. He dug his hooves in and pressed his shoulder to the shield, anchoring it in place and using his own body to support it while using a majority of his efforts to strengthen the shield protecting the guards.
Sombra’s ears perked up as he caught the sound of screams behind him. He gasped and looked over his shoulder. Cadence was behind him, but not close enough to be completely shielded from the wildly out of control magic and scattering split edges of the beam.
“HRMPH!” Sombra attached his shield to his arm, shrinking it down and leaping backwards, his body feeling the burning rush of the magic slam against it as he heaved himself and the shield all the way back to Cadence. The moment he was directly in front of her, he expanded the shield again and anchored it once more, protecting her from further harm.
A few explosions rang out from above. Sombra looked up to see a few wayward splinters of the beam slamming into the walls of the Empire, a few making it over and threatening damage to the buildings just within.
Without a second thought, Sombra pushed his magic further, conjuring several bows that launched magic arrows into the sky. Each one intercepted the out of control split beams with perfect accuracy.
“HRGH!!!!” With an extra effort, Sombra conjured a spear and narrowed his eyes towards Luna. He was not going to let this continue. He pulled the spear back, locked his eyes right on her head, and—
“AAAAAAAAARRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!” Luna suddenly roared in pain, the same unholy echo filling the air. A large blue explosion erupted from her horn, her magic instantly ceasing as she was thrown backwards and fell to the ground.
In an instant, it was quiet again. Sombra still had his shields up, the bows floating above and the spear ready to throw near his shoulder. But the moment he saw Luna on the ground, he snorted and lowered the spear, eventually letting it vanish along with everything else.
“Overwhelmed by your own power…” Sombra said to himself, shaking his head. He glanced back at Cadence. She was on the ground, covered in magic burns, and twitching, but she was moving, slowly trying to support herself.
Sombra’s face began to scrunch up slightly.
He looked over to the guards he had protected. Most of them looked okay, but there were a few being tended to who were unfortunate to be struck by the slivers that made it through the shield.
Sombra growled, his lips parting to reveal gritted teeth as breath hissed through his nose. He angrily glared towards Luna.
“YOU!” he yelled, his voice filled with rage as he stomped towards her with fast, heavy steps that nearly shook the ground. Luna was on the ground, curled up in a ball, and shivering with her eyes stuck open wide, a constant sizzling noise coming from her horn. Sombra reached down, grabbed her by the neck and yanked her into the air. She did not yelp or scream. She only exhaled loudly as Sombra hoisted her up. “YOU WOULD SO RECKLESSLY CAUSE HARM TO YOUR OWN?!”
Luna was limp in his grip. She simply stared up, neck bent back, eyes still wide, and said nothing.
“FEH!” Sombra scoffed, letting go of her. She fell into a heap at his hooves. He turned quickly, but froze in place. The guards who were up and ready were all facing him, and had their weapons drawn cautiously.
Sombra opened his mouth to speak, but promptly shut it. He was angry with Luna, but… that little reaction likely didn’t help their perception of him.
“What the…?!” Sombra blinked as a flash of purple light and a crackle came from nearby. He quickly looked towards where he had left Discord… he was gone. He then heard another crackle behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Luna gone too, and the brief remnants of Discord’s magical aura flickering before they vanished.
They were gone.
He was caught off guard by the escape, but his next reflex was to look towards Cadence and…
They had left her behind, still on the ground and struggling to stand.
Silence spread among all those around, nothing but the light clatter of crystal weapons and armor from the guards, some showing interest in making moves to help Cadence, but mostly remaining still with Sombra nearby.
Sombra’s mouth began to twitch, a look of disgust forming on his face as he looked back and forth between where Luna and Discord last were and the guards. He growled to himself, doing his best to stay calm amidst his extreme disdain for the actions he just witnessed. As he did, Cadence finally got to her hooves and dragged herself over to the guards. A few guards went out to grab hold of her, supporting her as she moved. But as they got close, she suddenly wrestled herself free from the guards and forced herself out in front. Several of the guards called to her pleading for her to stand down, but she did not. She glared towards Sombra as he continued to stare at the spot he dropped Luna.
“Hmph… Cowardice… nothing but cowardice…” Sombra grumbled to himself as he struck Luna and Discord from his thoughts. Instead… he refocused and started walking towards the gate again.
He lifted an eyebrow as he approached, noticing that Cadence had gotten to her hooves and stood protectively in front of the guards.
He couldn’t help but smile.
“Hm… now that’s a leader…” he said to himself as he kept approaching. The guards shuffled around, pointing their spears forward. Cadence steadied herself and growled, forcing her magic into her horn, but it lacked any sign of alicorn power.
Sombra walked right up to her and stopped, looking down at her calmly as she glared up at him, her magic flickering.
The stare down lasted several seconds, but none of them noticed that Sombra’s eye was twitching slightly.
“SOMBRA! DO NOT LAY A HOOF ON HER!” Celestia yelled, startling Soarin beside her as she suddenly yelled after being quiet for so long. “IF YOU DO I WILL—”
“Listen you…” Sombra growled as Celestia’s binds suddenly tightened and squeezed the breath out of her. She wheezed and was nearly flattened to the ground. Sombra’s silhouette turned all the way around and got right into her face. “Are you daft? I just protected her from YOUR SISTER. And you have the gall to suggest I’d just punch her in the face for my own amusement. I’d sooner do that to you for being so uppity in here!” He snorted and pulled back, turning his head around to refocus. “Now silence… don’t ruin this for me.”
Soarin blinked as he watched Celestia’s bindings ease up on her a little, and then returned his eyes to Sombra.
‘Don’t ruin this for me?’ Was Sombra really going somewhere with all this?
The stare down between Sombra and Cadence continued, Sombra looking her over as he had before as Cadence remained poised, yet faltering. She couldn’t stop wobbling and her magic was beginning to flicker, the aura on her horn visibly weakening. The guards behind her appeared unsure, they were tipping forward with weapons drawn, but they hesitated. Protecting Cadence was their duty, but whether or not Sombra would harm her was the question of the moment. Were they to judge him by his actions against Discord and Luna? Or by his passiveness towards Cadence?
“Ah…” Cadence suddenly lurched her neck forward, releasing a sputtering gasp as her magic flickered and faded. She just barely remained upright, her body bending down, yet remaining on her hooves.
“Move aside,” Sombra suddenly ordered as if he was waiting for her efforts to give out. “I have no qualms with you,” he stated calmly. Cadence growled and forced her head back up, glaring at him despite her injured state.
“Well, we have plenty of qualms with you!” she shouted passionately, but her legs wobbled and she fell to her haunches the moment she got the last word out, gasping and shutting her eyes tight while gritting her teeth. “NO!” she yelled as her attempts to rise all failed. “I… will protect my…”
“Look at me,” Sombra cut her off while reaching down and placing a hoof on her chin. Cadence froze and an audible reaction came from the guards as he touched her. She remained perfectly still with her eyes wide, but Sombra only gently lifted her head so she could look right at him, his head bent down to get a closer look at her. The magic fumes disappeared from his eyes, revealing his red pupils gazing deep into her eyes, examining them thoroughly while also looking her over once more.
As he was occupied with Cadence, the gate to the Empire suddenly creaked and lifted up just enough to let ponies through. Guards poured out from beneath it, it was impossible to count them. So many of them flowed and spread out that the small group that was already there quickly became a small army, encircling Sombra completely at a ten-yard radius with a depth of at least ten ponies going front to back. Shining Armor’s voice came from within the crowd, shouting directions and orders as all of the guards got into place. Sombra was now completely surrounded by hundreds of crystal guards, but he stayed focused on Cadence.
“CADENCE!!!!!!!!!” Shining yelled out as he forced his way through the guards, placed himself in front and ground his hooves into the ground, snarling towards Sombra with his magic alight on his horn, the bright magenta light shimmering off the surface of his armor. “GET YOUR DAMN HOOVES OFF MY WIFE!” he roared, forcing his voice to its limit as he aimed the harshest glare he could muster towards Sombra.
Sombra didn’t look at him.
Shining growled, his magic gripping the hilt of a sword dangling from his waist. He pulled it so harshly from the scabbard that the belt keeping it in place snapped and fell to the ground. Shining brandished the longsword and held it out in front of him, pointing its tip at Sombra. The sword looked to be made of solid white diamond.
“NOW!” Shining added.
But again… Sombra did not look at him.
Shining had had enough. Without another word, he charged towards Sombra, twirling the sword around and placing it at his side with the blade turned out. He leapt into the air towards him and used his magic to swing the sword’s blade right for Sombra’s neck.
Without looking, Sombra’s magic lit up on his horn and a kite shield expanded between him and Shining. Shining’s sword slammed into the shield, immediately repelling from its surface. Shining had enough time to gasp and see his sword go flying away from him before he ran face first into the shield and fell roughly to the ground.
He quickly rolled backwards and onto his hooves, his helmet falling off as he whipped his head around and snatched the sword off the ground with his magic. Remaining on the ground this time, he charged again, roaring as he slammed his sword against the shield again and again, the sword simply bouncing off of it each time. He eventually grabbed the hilt with his hooves and poured all of his physical strength into a swing, but the result was the same. The sword was repelled, flying right out of his hooves and knocking him backwards, his hooves sliding along the ground until he came to a halt, panting as his magic grabbed the sword again. He looked about at all his soldiers as he gritted his teeth.
“WHAT ARE YOU ALL STANDING AROUND FOR?!” he yelled at them. “ATTACK!”
Sombra perked up, finally looking up from Cadence as the guards suddenly charged, closing in on him.
“HMPH!” Sombra threw his head up, a ball of blue magic quickly collecting on the tip of his horn before it exploded, releasing a powerful shockwave that slammed into all the guards. Yelps and gasps rang out as the guards were forced right back in the direct they came, slamming into one another and toppling over like dominos as the clings and clangs of armor pieces colliding filled the air. Shining Armor anchored himself, throwing up a shield around his body to withstand the blast.
When the dust cleared and Shining removed his shield, he noticed Sombra had gone right back to looking at Cadence. The guards were moaning and groaning, but as they got up they all began to realize they were unscathed. The blast was nothing but a strong force. It had caused no harm.
“Remarkable…” said Sombra as he slowly removed his hoof from Cadence’s chin, but she kept her head up and her eyes on him. “You look just like her…”
“What…?” Cadence barely uttered, her voice raspy and weak.
“Thank you for watching over our home, she would be proud of you,” he added as he finally turned away from her and started in the direction of the gate again.
But the moment he moved, Shining was up and in front of him again, brandishing the sword once more.
“Tenacious, aren’t we?” Sombra said as he looked down at Shining, looking at his armor in particular.
“Not one more step!” He yelled up at Sombra. Sombra blinked and lifted an eyebrow, a smirk crawling onto his face.
He took a step forward.
“HRAH!” Shining roared as he lunged forward, making good on his threat as he brought the sword around in his magic. Sombra immediately generated his own sword, bringing the blade of the large magic claymore around and meeting the sharpened diamond edge. A loud CLANG rang out, followed by sparks as the diamond sword struck the surface of Sombra’s and ground against it.
“Ah… so you don’t make empty threats, I like it,” Sombra commented. He forced his sword forward, pushing Shining back and causing him to stumble and fall. He got right back up and charged again. Sombra’s lips parted, revealing a smile.
He met every strike, Shining swinging the sword skillfully, but never getting past Sombra’s guard. Sombra’s magic swordplay was on an entirely different level, the swift movements seeming effortless compared to the intense movements of Shining.
After allowing Shining to throw several blows, Sombra took a step back and wound up his blade. Shining noticed his stance shift and quickly crossed the diamond blade in front of his face to guard. But Sombra’s sword twirled, stuck into the ground behind him and dug through it, breaking and cracking through the earth as he forced it through and towards Shining. Shining winced, gritting his teeth as the blade swung up from the earth, Sombra’s sword striking his blade from below. A bright flash forced Shining to shut his eyes, but he felt no force. He opened his eyes and stared at his sword, his jaw dropping as he stared at the blade.
The top half of the blade was gone, cut clean off. A quiet THUNK came from nearby as the top half of the blade jammed into the ground nearby. Shining’s pupils shrank as he looked between what was left of his sword and the rest of it close by, unable to wrap his head around how Sombra had just cut cleanly through solid diamond.
“You are skilled,” Sombra spoke up, drawing Shining’s eyes to him. “But there is no weapon, no matter how finely crafted, that can be as strong as your own force of will,” he said while tapping a hoof of his horn and bringing his sword around. “I commend your effort, alas you—”
Sombra blinked, caught off guard as Shining tossed the sword away and charged headlong at Sombra without a weapon. Shining leapt into the air, pulling back a hoof while a large collection of magic shot from his horn to the hoof, collecting into a ball made of pure magic aura. Sombra quickly hardened his gaze and generated a shield, placing it between them, but the moment it was down, Shining teleported, disappearing and popping up a little to the left, flying right past Sombra’s shield.
Sombra’s eyes widened. Shining was already throwing the punch with all his magic poured into it. With no other option, Sombra lifted his own hoof.
A loud POW and bright flash rang out, the guards forced to shield their eyes as a shockwave followed, not nearly as powerful as the one Sombra released, but it startled them.
When the bright light faded, Shining was still in the air, and his hoof was grinding against Sombra’s hoof, crackling with the aftermath of the magic buildup. There was no magic around Sombra’s. He had caught it with his bare hoof, but he was grinning from ear to ear, as if he was enjoying himself.
Shining fell to the ground, landing on his hooves gasping and panting.
“Not bad…” Sombra complimented while looking at his hoof as it jittered slightly. “You have the makings of a fine warrior…” he said as he bent down to get a look at him, but he quickly took note that Shining was not crystalized, something that he had overlooked due to the captain’s armor he was wearing. “Hm…” Sombra hummed to himself as Shining looked up and glared, still catching his breath. “I don’t recognize you… and yet…” Sombra glanced around at all the guards. “Perhaps I should not be surprised by your skill… you appear to be the new captain of my military.”
“NOTHING here is yours!” Shining defiantly shouted into Sombra’s face, forcing himself back up. Sombra did not flinch, simply standing up tall and looking down on Shining.
“Perhaps not from your point of view,” Sombra said calmly as his magic receded and his sword and shield disappeared. Shining blinked and tipped his head. “But that is a tainted view, one fed to you by your gods.” He said as he looked towards the Empire.
“I’ll believe ‘MY GODS’ over you any day, you monster!” Shining barked, remaining in Sombra’s way. Sombra kept his eyes fixated on the Empire for another moment, but then looked back down at Shining.
“Really?” Sombra asked while lifting his brow. “The very same gods who were so quick to abandon you just now?” he motioned an arm around. Shining glanced back and forth, just now realizing that neither Luna nor Discord were present. Sombra then moved his arm towards Cadence. “The same gods who cared not for the safety of your wife and your guards just now while you were absent?”
Shining blinked, his eyes widening and his mouth opening a little as his eyes darted to Cadence, still on the ground and looking towards them.
“You would do well to ask her who inflicted those wounds she bears… it was not I,” Sombra took a step to the right and Shining didn’t move to block him. “You would also do well to ask her who put himself in harm’s way to protect her… or maybe any of your guards who were here before you returned.” He took a step to place himself beside Shining. “We’ve no reason to cross blades further… your wife is hurt. Go to her.”
“N... no…” Shining suddenly found his voice, turning to face Sombra and his magic flickering. “I won’t be fooled… You will not run rampant!”
Sombra sighed, looking down and shaking his head before glancing at Shining.
“Run rampant?” he repeated while making a head motion towards the gates. “In my own kingdom?”
Shining was speechless, so many conflicting thoughts running through his head as nothing about Sombra here matched anything he knew about Sombra. Sombra was not attacking any of them. He even treated Shining’s attempts to stop him like a friendly duel. All the guards had lowered their weapons as well, all of them watching curiously as Sombra continued to have presence without any signs of aggression.
Sombra turned away from Shining and stared at the gates.
“I just want to go home…”
Sombra said no more as he began slowly moving towards the gate. Shining Armor just watched, making no effort to get in his way. He shuffled, keeping his eyes on Sombra as he moved towards Cadence, still not sure what he was looking at.
What’s more, while the guards kept their weapons ready, they moved aside, willingly letting Sombra through as they stared with curiosity. Even those who had just arrived with Shining stayed their blades.
A path opened in front of Sombra, giving him an avenue right up to the gate. When he reached it, his magic lit up. A few guards flinched, but relaxed when the magic surrounded the massive gate and effortlessly lifted it, pushing the large barrier all the way up until it locked into its safety latches at the top with two loud CLANGS.
The main road through the center of the Empire was now stretched before Sombra. He stared into it for a moment, standing right outside the gate and staring at the line that marked the boundary of where the walls of the Empire extended and the fields without began.
He took a deep breath… and took a step inside.
Chills ran through his body as his hoof touched down inside the walls of the empire, touching the ground within the city bounds. A chill that Soarin felt just as much within his mind as he continued to feel everything Sombra felt.
But no sooner did he take that step did the sound of shouting and pounding hooves fill the air along with a few gasps and yelps of shock and surprise.
Sombra looked up to see citizens of the Empire running away and a large division of guards rushing forward to meet him.
Sombra flattened his brow and sighed as the guards amassed and pointed their spears at him, Unicorns, Pegasi, and Earth ponies alike standing their ground dutifully.
“This is becoming tiresome…” Sombra said aloud as his magic lit up again. The guards all braced themselves, but were caught by surprise as every single spear in their possession was suddenly surrounded by the bright blue aura of Sombra’s magic. The spears were ripped right out of their hooves or unicorn telekinesis. Several of the guards stepped back, alarmed. Some of them shielded themselves, expecting to have their own weapons used against them.
But the spears were turned flat and lowered to the ground, resting at their hooves.
“Enough,” Sombra spoke to them as he started walking. “I shall not fight with my kinsmen any longer.”
Shocked and confused, the guards watched as Sombra approached them, and as with those outside the walls, they stood aside as Sombra moved. Every step was peaceful, not a glare nor threatening gesture present at any time. His pace was slow and steady, and his eyes were wandering towards his surroundings as if he was taking it all in.
There was a pause among the guards, then suddenly some movement. Several looked around as some of them began following Sombra. Those who remained still watched in confusion as their colleagues moved, some very eagerly… and without retrieving their spears from the ground first. Names were called and some tried to physically stop them, but they refused, pushing aside any resistance to keep up with Sombra, albeit at a safe distance.
Sombra was too lost in thought to notice. He was walking right down the main street of the northern side of town, looking back and forth, noticing that everything looked just as he had left it. Though as he moved… the surrounding citizenry devolved into immediate panic.
Sombra blinked and looked down as screams of terror rang out, the sound of frantic galloping hooves all around him.
Crystal ponies, civilians, all turning and running as they saw Sombra moving down the street. He paused, stopping in his tracks as he watched them all run from him, and it made his heart ache. No doubt they had been informed of what was going on… they must’ve been told they would be safe behind whatever barrier was surrounding the Empire.
That… or his legacy had been so tainted that the mere sight of him struck fear into their hearts, like he was a nightmare given life.
Yet this did not entirely come as a surprise to him. His appearance, the way he was controlling Soarin’s body, gave him a similar appearance to his short reign as a brutal dictator. The curved, red jagged horn, the fangs… the only real difference was Soarin’s fur and mane color. Everything else was the same as his twisted body in the past.
He knew it would be pointless to speak. They would not listen, not with what they had been led to believe. The only way he’d be convincing was through action, showing them that he was not there to hurt or enslave them.
So he kept walking down the street slowly, instead taking in the sights and paying no mind to the citizens’ fear. Guards began popping out of side roads and buildings, rushing forth to confront him. But every time they drew near, Sombra simply erected shields to nudge them aside.
Some of the guards tried taking a second shot at him with the same result, but ultimately stopped once Sombra did not attack them. Sombra himself did not bother to look and see why, but the guards were taking notice of other guards following behind him since his entrance. It was a peculiar sight, of which many of them did not understand, but just as before, there were some who broke off and joined the group shadowing him.
Sombra felt a tightness in his chest as he continued and drew closer to the Crystal Palace. Consequently, Soarin could feel it too from within as he watched every move Sombra made. Soarin swore he could almost feel Sombra’s thoughts as well, that or he could understand how he felt. It didn’t matter how many ponies he encountered, or how many times he walked by without threatening a single soul. Everypony just kept running from him, every guard rushed forward to confront him. Feeling such hostility within the walls of one’s own home… Soarin could imagine the pain, and feel it to an extent within.
But then among the cacophony, Sombra stopped as a family unwittingly stepped out in front of him. An earth mare and stallion. The stallion was pulling a cart with a very young colt sitting in it amongst their belongings. They were clearly in a hurry due to seeing other ponies run and scream, though they likely did not know why.
The two parents froze on the spot, turning and staring up at the looming giant casting a shadow over them. Sombra gritted his teeth beneath his lips, feeling a lump in his throat as the looks on their faces turned to pure terror in seconds.
They both screamed, turning quickly to run away. As they turned, the cart lurched, several of its contents spilling out onto the ground… including their son. The colt yelped as he felt, landing roughly on his side on the crystal road.
It took the parents a moment to realize what happened, and they were already twenty yards or so away when it dawned on them. They both screeched to a halt, staring wide eyed in horror as their son lay on the ground at Sombra’s hooves.
The colt whined, rolling over and sniffling as he grabbed his side, reaching up and rubbing a spot he had bumped his head as well. Sombra stared down at the colt, blinking in surprise. The colt had to be no more than four years old, crying and calling for his mother as he rocked back and forth on the ground.
“STEP AWAY FROM THE CHILD!”
Sombra looked up, quickly noticing that he was surrounded by guards. They were all angrily pointing their spears at him.
“NOW! DO NOT LAY A HOOF ON IT!” a guard demanded as they kept edging forward.
But Sombra did not listen to them, instead looking past them and seeing the father of the colt holding onto the mother tightly as she shook in fear, tears in her eyes as if expecting their son to meet a terrible fate.
So that was how much he was feared? Sombra almost couldn’t take it. Was he seen as so diabolical that a mother and father would make no effort to save their child in his presence? The guards were even hesitating!
No. He would not stand for this.
He looked down at the crying colt, his magic coming to life on his horn and surrounding the child. Sombra winced as the colt’s mother screamed, the guards yelling more empty threats his way as he lifted the colt off the ground and up to eye level. The colt had stopped crying the moment he had been picked up, his eyes wide in confusion as Sombra turned the colt upright and two looked each other right in the eyes.
Sombra stared at the child, the child staring right back at him, frozen and clearly scared. Sombra tuned out all the yelling and screaming as he gently turned the colt to see the bruises on his side and on his face. The colt didn’t move, holding completely still.
“Hmm…” Sombra examined the minor injuries and shut his eyes. A moment later they opened, engulfed with the light blue light of his magic and vapors rising from his eyes. Everypony stepped back, the shouting ceasing quickly.
Sombra’s magic shone… the light focused on the colt’s bruises. They slowly disappeared, healing on the spot.
This got the colt’s attention quickly, no longer frozen and quickly touching hooves to his face and side curiously, no more pain or tears.
Without a word, Sombra floated the colt over towards his parents, his magic cradling the young tyke gently through the air and right past the bewildered guards. Their weapons remained pointed at Sombra, but their eyes followed the colt as he was slowly flown back over to his reaching mother.
The moment the colt’s mother grabbed him, Sombra released the magic. Despite being squeezed tightly by his mother, the colt looked over his shoulder, back at Sombra with fascination.
Sombra spotted the little pair of eyes looking towards him and smiled. Glancing around, he noticed that the commotion had drawn a small crowd. The guards were still surrounding him, but behind them many crystal ponies were peeking around corners and staring from doorways and windows.
They had all just seen what happened. The only screams and yelling that remained were in the distance from those who had already run away.
But what Sombra was looking at here in this spot was exactly what he wanted. More accurately, it was what he hoped the reaction would’ve been from the start, but it was clear the past had been rewritten. Even now, with his gentle handling of the colt, he could still see confusion in the eyes staring at him. There was no certainty or epiphany to be found, a degree of caution ever present with a mixture of fear lingering in the back.
Sombra wanted to call out to them. He wanted to speak out and declare his return. But that wouldn’t do any good.
So he just started walking instead. The guards flinched, their weapons still pointed at him, but Sombra did not care. They were locked in pace, letting him right by as he moved and continued down the street. They turned, their eyes following him as he strode, not a single one of them barking any more orders to stop or cease.
Sombra glanced to and fro as he walked. Every time his eyes met those of a crystal pony watching from afar, they quickly ducked and hid, but several peeked right back out, curious enough dare risk eye contact again.
The reaction seemed to spread. Ponies began noticing that those in locations further out were not running from him, simply being cautious. It was like a stranger from a strange land had arrived and was walking casually through the streets, heads poked around corners and peered through drapes. Pegasi looked down from the safety of rooftops as unicorns and earth ponies observed from the shelter of buildings.
Perhaps it was becoming clear that Sombra was not there for destruction, but Sombra was unaware of the real reason. His eyes were forward with no intention for a look or step back as he moved closer to the palace. Yet behind him, a number of guards were following, a few more breaking away here and there with each encounter. Just as before, those following left behind those who remained still, surprised by the moves of their colleagues.
This was what was truly causing the calm as he grew closer. The citizens were seeing a group of their own Crystal Guard following behind who they were told was the very threat they were being protected against. They were confused, unable to comprehend what was playing out. What’s more, why was this group following? What drove these individuals to move while the others stayed still?
None of them knew, and Sombra didn’t even know it was happening. He was too enthralled with his surroundings, too focused on the palace growing closer and closer as he made his way forward. The brief moments of time he looked away from the castle were growing shorter and shorter. He was thrilled to see the market, thrilled to see the high end streets as he came closer, he was thrilled to see many places he once visited often still remain, both here and throughout his entire walk, at least on this end of the city. But every glance away only lasted an instant as his eyes kept snapping right back to the palace.
Soon he neared the bridge over the canal, and on the other side was the approach. By now, his eyes were set and moving nowhere else. His chin was tipped up and his lips were slightly ajar.
Soarin could feel it. A sudden surge of emotion and a tingly feeling all over. The way one would feel as if they were closing in on the one thing they’ve wanted most all their life. It felt like his heart was swelling up with anticipation, tightness in his throat. It was coming from Sombra and at this moment he could feel all of it in his own body.
From without, it was no mystery to those watching cautiously what Sombra wanted. His red pupils were so wide that everypony could see them clearly behind the magic vapors rising from them.
His eyes were filled with longing, not hostility. No amount of altered history could hide that from onlookers.
And then, a moment that felt thousands of miles away despite being just across a bridge came to fruition.
Sombra stood before the gate that led into the Crystal Palace courtyard.
It was open.
The guards standing outside of it were frozen, staring at him. It was clear both by their expressions and the status of the gate that this was not an encounter they expected. They had weapons nearby, but none of them made the move to grab one as Sombra stopped right outside the opening of the gate and stared through it. The guards following behind Sombra came into view, and the stationed guards relaxed a little, tipping their heads in confusion. Instead, simply focusing on Sombra as he stood directly before them.
Sombra was looking right through the gate and at the Palace, now in full view before him, the courtyard path stretched out from the gate all the way to the doors into the main hall. The beautiful crystal grass and trees sparkling along with the natural shimmer of the gorgeous Crystal Palace architecture.
Sombra stared at the palace for a long time, not taking another step for several minutes as the guards remained in place, not sure what to say or do. Sombra’s posture was strong, upright, and leaning forward slightly.
Soarin remembered this. He had felt it before. It was the same posture Sombra had when he viewed the Empire for the first time from afar, high up in the mountains. Only now, his eyes were filled with twice the awe and wonder.
Sombra’s jaw relaxed, his mouth open and drawing short, quickened breaths. His body was shivering, his eyelids jittering as they turned up with his eyebrows. He looked like he was about to cry.
The guards kept watching, noticing all of it. The guard that was standing with one hoof on the lever controls for the gate slowly let go and lowered his arm back to the ground.
With nothing in his way, and his mind swirling… Sombra took a step.
And then another.
And another.
And was well on his way into the courtyard without a single pony trying to stop him.
His pace quickened as he moved along the path, his steps quickening into a trot and eventually a light canter as if he couldn’t take another moment of seeing the Palace from the outside.
He reached the front doors. Large, looming crystal doors front and center that led directly into the main hall of the palace. His pace slowed quickly, coming to a gentle halt in front of it and staring up at the doors.
He looked down to see two guards standing outside.
Both of them looked shocked. It was a reaction that he was becoming accustomed to, but…
One of them relaxed mere seconds after, staring into Sombra’s eyes. Sombra couldn’t see the guard’s face very well. The helmet was obscuring his face, but when they made eye contact, it looked as if the guard was seeing something the other wasn’t.
Then the guard suddenly turned and shifted towards the doors, his colleague still frozen.
CLUNK
The frozen guard perked up and frantically turned around.
Sombra blinked in surprise.
The guard had unlatched the door and put his shoulder to it, grunting as he forced the left half of the enormous door to open with a loud creak and crackle of crystal grinding against crystal.
The guard exhaled as he finally got the door open wide enough. He stepped back out, stood aside, and motioned an arm towards it.
The other guard was holding onto his helmet with his jaw nearly unhinged, looking at his fellow guard as if he had lost his mind.
But to Sombra, it looked like just the opposite.
This guard… was the first to do this. The first to sense the lack of hostility outright. He looked carefully through the guard’s helmet and into his eyes. But he didn’t have a clear view… the only thing he could discern… was that the eyes looked aged.
“Thank you…” Sombra said to the guard as he eagerly looked forward, but he quickly composed himself, getting a hold of his emotions and standing up tall.
A king had to be dignified within the halls of his castle.
He stepped into the main hall.
The instant his hoof touched the crystal floor within, he inhaled sharply, shivers running through his body to the point where he had to bend his neck down and slam his eyes shut.
“Sombra…” Celestia spoke up, but Sombra did not reply. “Sombra…?”
Still no reply.
She looked at Soarin, but Soarin was staring in silence.
“I…” Sombra spoke up. “I… It’s…” he stuttered. “My…” he swallowed. “I’m… home…”
Soarin’s eyes shot open as he felt the pressure holding him down ease up. He quickly looked back to see the shadowy bindings holding him were receding, sliding away and slinking back into the dark blue surface beneath them.
Soarin stood up, unable to tell if it was intentional or not.
He looked over to Celestia to see she was still being held down, but the look on her face had brightened, as if excited? Soarin just stared at her, trying to read what the look was for. Was she expecting him to do something?
Her look slowly began to fade as Soarin did nothing, her eyes darting back and forth between him and Sombra, whose back was turned to them. At least he assumed his back was turned. There was no way to really tell with just the silhouette. Based on his behavior, Sombra’s focus was only in one place right now.
Soarin tipped his head curiously as Celestia began making head motions towards Sombra.
Then he put two and two together.
Was she expecting him to attack Sombra? Use his freedom from the bindings to try and get his body back? That was really all he could think of and based on her continued odd actions, he assumed that’s what it was.
But first of all… How? What could he even do?
And second of all… why?
Soarin surprised himself a little with that one. He actually asked himself why. The obvious answer would be to get his body back, but at this point after everything he had seen, heard, and learned?
Soarin glanced at Sombra, closing his eyes for a moment and focusing. He saw through his eyes as Sombra began moving through the castle, he could now feel his emotions even stronger than before. Throughout this whole sequence it had felt as if he and Sombra had formed a connection. He didn’t know if it was intentional or not, perhaps Sombra’s intense focus on the Empire had caused a bit of control to return to Soarin, if only just feeling and spiritually. He was being subjected to the very euphoria and anticipation flowing through Sombra. But most of all… at this point…
Soarin opened his eyes and gave Celestia a stern look. He shook his head subtly and looked away from her. Celestia’s jaw dropped, her ears flopping down as she watched Soarin turn and move towards Sombra.
At this point… Soarin wanted to watch Sombra and see for himself.
He walked right up beside the silhouette of Sombra. Sombra flinched and turned his head quickly towards Soarin, the shadow’s movements enough for Soarin to know he was being looked at.
But Sombra did nothing, reading Soarin’s movements as he placed himself beside him and returned the look. The look in his eyes said everything Sombra needed to know. Soarin gave him a simple nod, not a glare or growl coming from him as he looked forward, and closed his eyes to focus on what was being seen through his body’s eyes.
Sombra examined Soarin, looking him up and down. He looked over his shoulder to see Celestia staring in shock.
“Hmmm…” Sombra hummed to himself as he glanced at Soarin again. He stared for a few moments before leaving Soarin be and returning his focus without. Soarin was unbound, but Sombra was still in control and Soarin was making no moves to push back.
If Soarin wanted to experience this moment alongside him, Sombra wasn’t going to stop him.
Sombra was in no hurry. His slow, invigorating first steps into the palace were quickly replaced by an evenly paced, gentle yet dignified stride, turning down the first hall to explore rather than heading right to the throne room.
Guards placed about the halls were constantly caught by surprise, Sombra’s sudden appearance startling them. Yet Sombra’s lack of malice gave them a strange sense of pause that washed over them as unexpectedly as Sombra’s appearance. They held their place, simply watching as he walked by without so much as glancing at them.
The servants were not so at ease, all of them turning and running the moment they saw Sombra. Some called for guards, but were alarmed to see them all standing still. Sombra paid them no mind. They were afraid of something he once became, something they had been warned of, and taught of. Falsely taught of… but that’s just how things currently were. He did not feel it worth the trouble at this moment to try to explain himself.
He was too distracted by the beautiful interior architecture and elegant decorations. He walked through the halls in a manner similar to a king observing the condition of his castle.
He made several stops, peeking into almost every room he came across, just to see what was inside and if it sparked any memories. Sometimes he only gave them a glance, other times he paused as if recounting a moment of his life from within.
He slowly combed the outer edge of the castle’s eastern wing, peeking into a large dining room. A servant standing right beside the door shrieked at the top of her lungs as Sombra’s large head poked through the door. The stack of plates she was carrying flew into the air and scattered as she broke into a gallop. Sombra quickly grabbed all the plates in his magic, looking towards the servant just in time to see her slam the door opposite of him.
“Hmmm…” Sombra hummed quietly as he stacked the plates and placed them gently on the ground before he turned his attention to the long table in the center, his eyes locking at the two chairs placed at the corner. He huffed, disapproving of the chairs not being properly placed on both ends, but stared at the other side, looking at it for a long moment.
Soarin felt something as Sombra stared, a feeling similar to a heart pang or ache. Something about the table evoked a physical response from Sombra.
Sombra forced himself to look away while gritting his teeth. He shook his head and moved on, making his way through a large library. He stopped about halfway through it, examining a particular shelf and shuffling some of the books around with his magic. But he scrunched his mouth as he flipped around the titles, apparently not finding what he was looking for. He did not take any notice of the librarian sitting behind the counter, staring with his glasses slowly slipping off his face and clattering on the desk as his jaw nearly hung unhinged.
Sombra shook his head again, grumbling to himself quietly as he stopped sifting through the books and walked right by the frozen librarian, making his way into the hall and making a turn to head further inward.
Soarin wondered where they’d go next, but quickly saw an opening at the end of their current hall, leading outside. A few moments later, they emerged in the large outdoor garden courtyard. Sombra continued forward with his steps leading off the crystal path and into the grass, making his way towards the beautiful crystal flower arrangements, the multiple fountains and other varieties of crystal brush, trees, and plants. Everything was glistening, shimmering as he moved by.
Nearby guards held their place and palace gardeners quickly vacated the area, most of them dropping their tools as they sped off in fear. But Sombra’s eyes were locked on one spot as he made it to the center. He was looking at a particularly thick arrangement of tall bushes located beneath some of the taller trees strewn about, his path veering towards them.
Sombra did not stop as his body pressed into the bushes, continuing forward and forcing aside the branches in his way. After forcing his way through, he emerged in a clearing hidden in the center of the arrangement. A spot that was roughly six yards long and wide with the tall bushes completely surrounding it and the thick leaves of the trees above dousing the spot in a cool shade. The grass was a little longer, and not as well taken care of, likely due to it being out of sight.
Sombra stopped the moment he was completely inside, staring at the ground. Soarin watched and wondered what sort of significance this spot had. Sombra was just wandering the halls of a royal castle, yet he chose to come here as well?
“Hmmm…” Sombra hummed, closing his eyes for a moment. “At least… this spot is the same.” He said to himself, a hint of annoyed sarcasm present.
“Sombra… why did you…?” Celestia’s voice suddenly chimed in. She trailed off, sounding surprised and a little flustered.
Sombra snorted as he heard her speak.
“Not everything here is about you,” he said simply as he turned, lowered himself down, and lay on the slightly unkempt grass, releasing a heavy sigh and closing his eyes.
Soarin remained quiet as Sombra kept his eyes closed. This must have been some sort of private spot. Maybe it was a place to read or perhaps to relax? Based on Celestia’s reaction, maybe it was also a place they often snuck away to. Whatever it was, it was significant enough for Sombra to return and even lie down. Without a peep coming from outside, it did have a very natural, peaceful feeling to it.
Maybe that was it. Sombra was once a king after all. Maybe this was his place of respite when needed. One would never think to look for the king hiding in the courtyard bushes.
But something else had caught Soarin’s attention and he continued to think about it as Sombra slowly rose back up to his hooves. ‘At least this place is the same.’ That’s what Sombra said, finally breaking his silence that had persisted from the moment they entered the palace. It sounded disappointed and underwhelmed. He looked unsatisfied with the state of some of the rooms they had visited so far.
Was the current state of the palace displeasing him, or was it something else?
Sombra pushed his way out of the bushes and back out into the open. He blinked as multiple gasps and audible shuffling came from nearby. He looked over to see guards backing away, several of them near the bushes. Some of them turned and ran, but others held their ground, just staring.
Sombra only gave them a quick glance before he turned and made his way around the thick brush and into an open area of the courtyard, leaving them behind without a thought. Instead, he approached a long field of grass extending all the way to a large staircase and three sets of large double doors, all of which led directly into the large hall right outside the throne room.
But as Sombra stepped into the field, something changed and Soarin quickly noticed. His pace slowed, his steps became light, and his breathing became stronger. Soarin felt heat in his head, the kind of feeling one gets while… angry? A feeling of emotion or adrenaline flowing.
Soarin focused on the field, and thought carefully. Sombra’s shift in emotion and the field in front of them put together caused him to think back to Sombra’s story. The hiding spot was a mystery, but the open field in the courtyard wasn’t.
This field… This was where Sombra and Celestia fought each other before the Empire was sealed away. The spot where they not only clashed, but also where she made the move to remove and absorb his soul…
That explained Sombra’s sudden reaction to the area, he was remembering everything that happened right in this spot and Soarin could feel it.
Celestia was deathly silent. Soarin figured she had nothing to add to where they were. She knew full well what was going through Sombra’s head right now.
How ironic that the spot where they met in battle was so close to a spot they presumably shared tender moments.
“Rgghhh…” Sombra began to growl as he continued to trudge through the grass. His eyes were locked on the doors growing closer, but his thoughts were being tugged at by the past.
Soarin said nothing. He didn’t need any explanation, but the moment Sombra stepped off the grass and onto the crystal steps, the heat vanished in an instant. Sombra stopped with one hoof on the first step and looked down, exhaling loudly as if gathering himself. He shook his head out a few times before looking up and staring sternly at the middle set of double doors.
“Enough…” he said quietly to himself as he climbed the stairs, making his way right up to the doors and pushing through the center archway. The doors creaked and groaned as if they hadn’t been used in ages, at times resisting Sombra’s push, but he forced them open.
The royal hall, normally filled with servants, attendants, and guards, was completely empty save for two very nervous looking guards standing near the door to the throne room. By the looks of things, the news of Sombra being in the castle had spread and most had fled.
At this point, Sombra almost felt that was for the better. He didn’t want any more distractions, all he wanted was what was through the last set of doors in front of him.
He drew close, one of the guards visibly shaking while the other held still. Sombra stopped in front of the doors and slowly looked at the shaking guard. The moment he made eye contact, the guard lost his cool, screaming as he threw his spear to the side and broke into a gallop, turning the corner and vanishing in seconds.
Sombra gave no reaction, slowly turning his head to look at the one frozen on the other side. The guard’s eyes were wide, he was sitting down, and he was clutching his spear as hard as he could. Upon closer inspection, the guard was whimpering, his eyes were bloodshot and wet as if he was holding back tears. He was holding his post as his duty dictated, yet he was looking at Sombra as if he was about to be killed and there was nothing he could do about it.
Sombra’s expression softened. For some reason, this one hurt more than any of the others. This guard looking at him, he was staying at his post as he should, but the fear in his eyes told Sombra that he was afraid to die. Perhaps he had a family? A wife and children? There was something he was scared to lose and it was written so fully over his face that not even his helmet could hide it.
“Go,” Sombra suddenly spoke, the guard flinching so hard his helmet tilted crooked on his head. “I can’t bear you looking at me like that,” he said while making a head motion towards the doors he came through.
The guard did not speak, but his eyes had changed slightly to be open wide. Without taking them off Sombra, he started scooting on the floor. He shifted subtly at first, but as he inched away he eventually got up and broke into a gallop, charging right for the open door to the courtyard and leaving.
And now it was only Sombra… and the doors to the throne room.
He didn’t waste time mulling over it. He put a hoof to the door… and pushed it open.
Sombra inhaled sharply, a weak gasp escaping his throat the moment it came into view.
Through the door, down the carpet, up the small set of stairs that extended from one side of the room to the other. At the other end…
His throne.
The crystal throne. The very same one he once sat in.
Sombra eagerly stepped into the room, the door shutting behind him with a soft thump that echoed from one end of the long room to the other.
The room was completely empty, not a soul in sight as Sombra stood at the entrance and gazed towards the throne. His eyes shifted, looking about and taking in the great crystal windows, the banners, the pillars and architecture. The crystal lamps alight with blue flame that caused nearby surfaces to glow and shimmer.
His eyes returned to the throne, stuck open wide. His lower lip twitched as his mouth hung slightly agape. His breaths were short and uneven, his body tingling all over as shivers coursed through him.
Soarin felt it all, it was by far the most intense physical reaction he had felt through his body yet.
The feeling persisted as Sombra began to move slowly, walking at a slow pace through the throne room. The quiet pat pat pat of his hooves against the carpet was the only sound present, quietly echoing within the silence of the room.
He reached the small set of room length stairs at the center of the approach. He was tall enough to see over them, but he took the steps two at a time to quickly scale them.
Sombra paused for a moment at the top, now on level ground with the throne and halfway across the room towards it.
He broke into a trot with steps so quick that he was nearly forced into a canter. Soarin watched through his eyes, the view bobbing up and down as the throne grew closer and closer and closer and…
Sombra slowed down, stopping five yards from the throne and staring at it, his eyes darted up and down, examining every inch of it.
He took the final few steps one at a time, slow with anticipation.
He reached the throne, lifted a hoof and placed it on the arm.
But he tipped his head blinking, lifting his hoof off and staring at it. He inhaled sharply, swallowing the breath before he placed the hoof on it again. He shut his eyes and shook his head out.
Without a word, he turned himself around… and sat on the throne.
And…
Did nothing.
He simply sat, staring directly ahead into the empty court. The silence was eerie as he sat still. Not even the commotion of the battles around outside of the empire could be heard, completely drowned out by the walls.
Soarin didn’t say a word, nor did Celestia. Soarin himself was waiting to see what happened next. Sombra was sitting on his throne, this was where he wanted to be, this was his destination.
So now what?
Nothing was happening. Sombra was just sitting there.
Soarin tipped his head, surprised. He glanced at the silhouette of Sombra within his mind, yet it was perfectly still as well. He looked back at Celestia’s spirit. She was staring, apparently waiting just like he was.
“Huh…?” Soarin perked up. His attention snapped back forward. He shut his eyes to focus on his body.
He could feel his body jittering… and…
He felt something on his face.
His face felt… wet.
Tears?
Sombra was… crying?
“S…Sombra?” Celestia’s voice chimed in.
“What… am I doing?” Sombra spoke, his voice weak and shaking. He tipped his head down and slammed his eyes shut, a few tears squeaking through. “This is…” he gritted his teeth. “This… is…”
Soarin was speechless. This was the last thing he expected.
“Why am I here…?” Sombra shook his head again. “What did I hope to gain?!” he raised his voice a little, rapping a hoof against the arm of the throne. The clack of his hoof against the crystal echoed throughout the empty chamber.
A long pause dragged out. Soarin and Celestia remained silent as Sombra began to sniffle, the silence and emptiness of the room extending before him.
“Is this what I wanted?” he continued. “Is this where I’ve been going? I thought returning here would show me the way… I thought it would restore my faith… I thought it would fill me with purpose as it once had… yet I feel nothing.” Sombra opened his eyes, gritting his teeth and glaring at the ground as the tears dripped down his face. “I feel no pride, no power, no drive, nor any… satisfaction.” He slowly looked up and started straight ahead. “None of it is right. None of it feels the way it once did. I’m sitting exactly where I belong, but the hall is empty, my court is absent, my knights are not by my side, and I just watched my very citizens scream and run from me in fear and confusion… not one of them saw beyond the monster I became. Everything I accomplished, everything I once was has been erased from history, it’s gone.”
He looked down and scanned his body, lifting his arms up as his eyes darted over them, over his chest, legs, and back. He grunted loudly and shook his head out.
“For heaven’s sake! My body isn’t even crystalized!” he yelled into the empty room as he let his hooves fall back down. “Because… it isn’t even mine…”
He looked up again, scanning the room as a heavy sigh escaped through his nostrils. His head turned slowly, his eyes examining every inch of the throne room.
“The castle… it appears the same. I don’t care about a few books or some new décor. It’s ultimately just the way I left it, but…” he let his head hang. “The world has changed.”
He paused for a very long time. A few minutes passed in complete silence with neither Soarin nor Celestia finding any words, not with Sombra unexpectedly breaking down before them. His strength and poise had vanished, as if they were looking at a completely different stallion.
“Over a thousand years have passed…” he finally spoke again. “I might as well be in a different universe now.” He slowly looked up, staring straight ahead again into the empty throne room. “After all the time trapped, after all the mulling, after the conclusions, the goals, and the persistence… I finally return… and feel like this? I… I can’t… I don’t… I…”
A soft pitter-patter sounded from the carpet at the base of the throne. Tears were streaming down his face and dripping from his chin, his eyes hardened into a glare as he tipped his head down and gritted his teeth.
“Why…? WHY?! WHY DO I FEEL THIS WAY?!” he yelled angrily. “Why does it all feel so wrong?! Why don’t I feel the strength within me I once did?!” He slammed his eyes shut and growled, whipping his head back and forth as heavy breaths escaped from his lips. “My passion to save the world… it burns within me…” his tone had lowered, growing weaker. “But does it burn for this world… or my world?”
Sombra slumped back, his back pressing into the throne. He slid down slightly, his posture collapsing into an undignified, shattered position as his tears began to drip into Soarin’s fur. His glare remained fixed to his scrunched up face, his anger constantly struggling for control against his despair as everything he hoped for crashed down.
He said no more. He simply sat on the throne, his body shivering while staring blankly into the empty court.
It didn’t feel the same, yet he did not remove himself from the throne.
He had nowhere else to go.
CREAK
Sombra perked up, his ears pointing up and his eyes shifting to the doors at the other end of the throne room as they suddenly made noise.
The door slowly opened, but it was hard to see who had opened them with the elevated floor on his end of the room.
As he listened, he began to hear the sound of hoof steps and the clattering of armor. What started as just the sound of a few hoofbeats quickly multiplied until Sombra was sure several were pouring through the door.
But he didn’t care. He let his body rest back against the throne, remaining slumped. If they were the guards coming to confront him… again, so be it. It would be a useless attempt. None of them could hurt him and if any of them tried, he’d make sure they understood that he wanted to be left alone, by force if necessary.
His suspicions were confirmed quickly. Crystal guards began emerging over the small flight of room length stairs, stepping onto the elevated floor. Sombra only glanced at them before averting his eyes, sulking to himself as the number of guards present began to match the number of hooves he heard earlier. A hundred or so guards, perhaps a little more, were stepping up over the stairs and moving towards him. They were all clad in full armor, more and more appearing as those at the front moved towards him, doubling the number present. But…
Sombra blinked as he glanced at them again.
None of them had weapons?
“What…?” Sombra said to himself as he sat up, looking at the approaching group curiously. He began examining their posture and movements. There wasn’t a threatening gesture or advance among their steps. It was a peaceful approach. There was also no sign of fear, the group slowly growing closer and closer without a moment of hesitation.
Then the group abruptly stopped, the ponies in front standing roughly ten yards away from the throne.
Sombra looked them all over. His face was still wet from the tears, but the flow stopped. They were all staring at him. The helmets covered their faces, but the eyes told the story themselves.
Curiosity… with the guards? How could that be? Sombra saw with his own two eyes how his presence was treated from the moment he stepped into the Empire, all the way to the castle. Though, this was nowhere near the full force, just a hundred or two… why had these ponies come forward?
Sombra’s attention was drawn as one pony stepped out from the group. It took Sombra a moment, but he quickly recognized him as the guard who had willingly let him into the castle.
The stallion slowly strode all the way up to him, stopping right in front of the throne while never taking his eyes off him.
He removed his helmet.
Sombra’s eyes grew wide.
It was an old, viridian stallion. He looked to be in his late fifties, perhaps early sixties with a silver mane that was cut extremely short. He was missing an eye, the lids shut and sealed tight with a large, wide scar traveling down from the top of his head through it, and down to his chest. Its distinct shape implied it was caused by a very large claw of some sort. Several other battle scars littered his face and body as well.
Sombra and the pony stared at one another, the pony swallowing as he opened his mouth to speak, but hesitated.
“My… Liege…?”
Sombra’s body stiffened, a loud gasp escaping his throat as the words met his ears. Within, Soarin felt a shock. Sombra’s strong reaction sending a jolt through his spirit.
Then unexpectedly… Soarin felt something in his mind. It felt like a memory or recollection, but it was not something he was familiar with. Was Sombra recalling something? Was the rush so intense that Soarin himself could picture what Sombra was thinking?
It wasn’t a clear image, but Soarin could feel it…
Sombra’s vision tumbling, grunting and gasping as the loud clatter of armor rang out around him.
A sharp movement, Sombra’s eyes pointing towards a large dragon with black scales descending towards him with an arm pulled back to swipe. It’s massive, razor sharp claws extended.
Then suddenly, a pony clad in a unique set of crystal armor rushes in front to protect him.
A loud scream…
A broken helmet flying off his head and landing at Sombra’s hooves as the pony flies backwards into him.
The pony’s blood splattering over Sombra’s face…
The pony lands before Sombra, screaming in pain as blood spills from the wound over his face.
The colors are blurred, but Soarin can make out viridian fur and a silver mane.
Sombra sets the stallion down and quickly rises, roaring towards the dragon with rage as he conjures his sword and leaps at the dragon…
Then in an instant, the images faded, and Soarin was once again looking through his own eyes as Sombra kept his focus on the old stallion before him.
Sombra pressed himself against the back of the throne, his eyes widening as he continued to look at the pony in shock and amazement.
“A…Adamant?” Sombra spoke the name shakily.
Soarin quickly put two and two together.
This pony standing before them… once fought beside Sombra? Fought black dragons? How could that be? Unless…
Sombra remained silent, utterly speechless. His eyes darted up as the rest of the ponies began removing their helmets. Sombra frantically looked about, his breaths short as all the faces were revealed. They were all old, not a youthful face among them, but… they were faces he knew… all of them. He looked back down at Adamant standing before him. Adamant reached a hoof towards Sombra, an astonished look in his eye.
“Is it truly you…?” Adamant asked.
Sombra began to shake as the familiar eyes all looked up to him. Slowly, names began returning one by one. Sombra pressed a hoof to his chest, his expression going soft as if the sight was overwhelming him.
That sealed it. Soarin could feel everything Sombra was feeling and there was no doubt about it. All of these aged ponies had fought beside Sombra during the scourge of the black dragons. The visions of Sombra’s memory implied they were young stallions at the time... they grew old as he did… and suffered under Sombra’s brief rule as a twisted tyrant before being sealed away with the Empire for a thousand years.
Could they remember? Could they tell it was the real him even in his borrowed body that showed similar signs to his twisted state?
Sombra gathered himself and quickly leaned forward. He stood up from the throne, barely holding himself steady as he looked down at all the aged ponies. His sudden movements did not get a single reaction out of them. They all remained still and looked up at him calmly.
“It…” Sombra started, but his voice nearly broke. He swallowed and tried again. “Yes… It is I.”
There were no words Soarin could find to describe the way all the old faces lit up upon hearing Sombra say it. The smiles were bright upon their weary faces, growing from ear to ear with joy all around.
“My King!” Adamant yelled. Several others exclaiming the same. They started moving forward until they were all as close as Adamant, gathered tightly near Sombra at his hooves. “It’s you! It’s really you!” Adamant exclaimed as several other voiced their delight as well.
But they suddenly all stopped very abruptly, as if something about their reaction struck them all at the same time. They went silent, putting their excitement in check…
All at once, they knelt and bowed at Sombra’s hooves, showing respect.
Sombra felt a tightness in his throat, as if he would choke up at any moment, but for entirely different reasons this time.
They DID recognize him. The REAL him. That explained the slightly mixed reaction as he moved through the Empire. Among the guards were old veterans who noticed the way he carried himself, how he showed no interest in conflict, how he viewed the beauty of the empire, sought out the castle, wandered the halls, and returned to his throne.
They knew…
They knew he was Sombra the Great.
From within, Soarin watched the scene with awe. However, Celestia averted her eyes. Soarin quickly took notice of her behavior. Something was different about it. She looked defeated, yet not quite the way she had before. It looked like a silent admission of defeat as she kept her eyes away. As if what Soarin was seeing right now would vindicate Sombra.
Or perhaps she felt it proved she was wrong about him? That she was wrong to push her narrative about Sombra as if she truly believed he was a danger to the world? That he would misuse the power he now wielded within Soarin’s body? She had her reasons for speaking out against him, but with what Soarin was seeing right now, the truth of who Sombra really was could not be denied.
Now all that remained on Celestia’s shoulders was the burden of the mess she herself had created.
“My knights…” Sombra spoke as he stepped down from the throne and towards the bowing ponies. “My soldiers… my… my brothers, I… please… I beg of you… rise and let me see your faces!” Sombra implored them.
They all obeyed, standing up and looking at him again as Sombra reached them, and looked down at Adamant.
“Adamant…” Sombra says his name again as if he still couldn’t believe it, gently placing a hoof on the old stallion’s shoulder.
“My King,” Adamant nodded with a smile.
“You still guard this realm? Even now?” he asked incredulously.
“Yes, my liege,” he replied dutifully while placing a hoof on the hilt of a sword that dangled from his side. “It is my sworn duty.”
Sombra’s eyes grew slowly as Adamant said those words without a hint of remorse or reluctance.
“You were gone when we awoke from our long slumber, but… the Empire is still here,” he shook his head. “As long as the Empire stands, so will I to protect it.”
Sombra’s jaw dropped as Adamant looked over his shoulder at the rest of the ponies.
“We will all stand to protect it,” he spoke, receiving nods of agreement from every single one of them. “As long as we still live.”
Sombra’s hoof slid from Adamant’s shoulder and back to the ground. His back legs grew weak and he tipped backwards, sitting down.
“The… Empire is still here…” Sombra repeated Adamant’s words, looking at the floor. “As long… as the Empire stands…” he slowly looked up at all of them. He tipped forward, pushing himself back up onto his hooves. He placed a hoof on his chest, blinking several times as if he felt something new in his chest. Soarin could feel it as well. It was a warm, tingling feeling.
Without a word, Sombra moved forward, walking right into the group of old guards. They parted to let him among them, all smiling, and looking up towards him.
Sombra made several stops, taking his time to address several of them by name and recall fighting beside them, their feats and honors, things long forgotten to time. Each one looked as if they never wanted to hear anything else in their life as Sombra spoke to them. Everything said was foreign to Soarin, and a bit overwhelming. Sombra was discussing events that were over a thousand years old with ponies who were actually alive at that time. The tables had completely turned, suddenly Soarin felt like he was in a different universe as he listened with great curiosity.
All of them were part of the past, much like Sombra. And just like Sombra… they were all still here, persisting far beyond their time.
Sombra suddenly stopped moving about. His eyes grew wide as he reached up and placed a hoof on his chest. The warmth had grown stronger.
“This…” he spoke out loud. “This feeling…” he smiled as all his old knights remained close. “This was what I was looking for…” he said with a dash of excitement hidden in his voice, but he quickly gathered himself, shutting his eyes tight, forcing the smile down, and opening his eyes to reveal a strong, stoic expression befitting a king.
He looked up and exhaled.
“The world has indeed changed… but…” he looked down and around at all his old, faithful knights. “A small part of my world was still here, waiting for me…” he looked towards the doors, the throne room extending far beyond the gathered group. He hardened his eyes, a look of determination filling them. Soarin could feel the shift in Sombra’s emotions. It was strong and steadfast. “And that part…” he started moving, the guards parting to let him through as he started towards the doors. “Makes it all worth saving.”
“Dash! Please! Get a hold of yourself!” Little Star pleaded as Dash twitched, her neck bent backward and her eyes twitching as Matteo supported her. “Are you alright? Please give us a sign or something!” she pressed.
“Enough!” Matteo scolded her as Squall pulled her away. “Yelling at her isn’t going to help!” he snarled as he was suddenly forced to cover up Dash, Squall pulling Little Star down with him as Fleetfoot and Angel shot by right overhead, grappling in midair.
Squall and Star were blown over by their wake as they passed, Matteo bracing himself before looking up and growling. They were no longer ahead of the fighting, the time they had spent trying to get some sort of coherent response out of Dash allowed the mass of conflict to reach them. It also didn’t help that top tier Wonderbolts and Shadowbolt captains were dueling directly above them. What’s worse, the blizzard had picked up, visibility was poor. There was carnage nearby but they could only hear it. Collisions and clashes, roars of anger and pain, the screeching of thestrels… All despite the fact that the reason they were all fighting was long gone through the Empire shield.
It was nothing but a pointless brawl at this point, and Dash and the Elements of Harmony lay groaning and twitching on the ground right beneath it.
“Get offa me!” Star yelled as she tried to wiggle free from Squall. “We need to do something to help her!”
“What the hell are we supposed to do?!” Squall barked at her as he held her back, finally snapping. “Look at her!” he yelled while pointing Star towards Dash, laying limply in Matteo’s arms with a very weak and nauseous look on her face. “She’s been like this since they used the Elements! Nothing has changed!”
“But… but…” Star’s lip began to quiver.
“LOOK OUT!” Matteo yelled, protecting Dash again as the Streak twins both crashed nearby. They both frantically tried to rise, but were both in an unfavorable position as Blade rushed down from above with his magic sword pulled back to strike.
Before he could reach them though, Descent charged out of the blue, tackling Blade and sending them both in another direction. Misty Fly and High Winds landed beside the twins, quickly helping them up before they all took to the air again.
“This is just GREAT!” Squall growled as Little Star clung to his side, peeking out to see if it was safe. “Dash is out, her friends are out…” he glanced over his shoulder, seeing the rest of Dash’s Ponyville friends sprawled out much like she was. They were all flopped over, some holding their heads. Applejack was trying to stand, but every attempt ended before she even got an inch off the ground, her hooves going back to her head. Twilight was on her back, her neck arched and a constant painful gasp escaping her throat as her sizzling tiara remained fixed to her head. Pinkie was face down in the snow, her flank in the air and her tail dangling over like a deflated balloon. “Sombra went right through the shield, and now we’re stuck here under this shit show!” he blinked and looked up, the winds growing stronger. “And the blizzard is getting worse!”
“Enough whining!” Matteo shouted at him as he picked up Dash in his arms, her limbs dangling limply and her mouth stuck open as she uttered a quiet groan. Squall shot him a glare, but he ignored it. “Dash isn’t going to get up on her own right now! We need to gather them together, and get them all to safety!”
“Safety?!” Star threw her arms out. “WHERE?!” she asked sarcastically while motioning around them.
“Not here would be a fine start!” Matteo quickly rebuked. “Fancy and the others haven’t shown up to help them, so it’s up to us, ARGH!” he grunted, shielding himself and Dash as the winds suddenly rushed and howled.
The snowfall intensified, swirling madly for a few moments before calming down, leaving behind a thick, dense mist that nearly cut off all visibility for them, save for the Elements of Harmony. Yet regardless, the sounds of fighting persisted all around them, the loss of visibility doing nothing to deter the chaos.
Matteo looked around frantically, showing a more alert reaction that Star and Squall as they stared, confused. Something about that sudden shift wasn’t natural.
“Well, well, well… welly welly welly well…,” a familiar voice echoed around them from several directions at once. “Ooooo hoo hoo hoo… what do we have here?” The voice’s location seemed to shift, the tones gathering together at a single point nearby until a silhouette of a pegasus appeared in the mist… moving towards them.
Matteo quickly shifted forward, shoving Dash into Squall’s arms as he set himself firmly in front of them. Squall and Star both peeked around as the silhouette grew closer and…
Ruin appeared.
He stepped out of the mist, grinning from ear to ear, and looking around at all of Dash’s friends. Strangely, he wasn’t wearing his Shadowbolt suit, nor did he appear to have any crystals.
Star yelped, throwing her hooves over her mouth. Squall tensed up, turning Dash away protectively as he kept his eyes glued to Ruin. Matteo held firm, standing in front defensively as strong hisses of air shot from the holes in his beak.
Ruin wasn’t paying them any mind, though. He was daintily stepping around Dash’s friends, slinking up to each one of them and getting uncomfortably close as they lay powerless to say or do anything.
He stopped at Rarity first, cooing as he touched a hoof to her face and softly slid it down her cheek to her chin.
“Ah, what an exquisite beauty…” he said snidely as he shifted towards Fluttershy, reaching down and twirling a hoof in her long mane, tipping his nose down to smell it. “Hmmmm… A fresh aroma of nature…” he disengaged and slid over to Applejack. “Oooo…?” he tapped a hoof against her shoulder and ran it down her built physique towards her flank. “This one’s extra solid!” he giggled to himself. He hummed casually as he walked past Pinkie Pie, stopping only for a moment to use her dangling tail to scratch an itch on his flank.
He shot a glance towards Dash’s squad, all of them flinching as his eyes met theirs. He paused for a moment and looked them over carefully. His eyes shifted about, but whatever he was looking for wasn’t there.
“Pffft, don’t look so tense over there,” he said snidely while bouncing his eyebrows. “You’ve caught me in a really good mood.” He threw his head back and closed his eyes. “Ahhhhh… the sweet, sweet noise of uncontrollable madness. I have to hoof it to you morons, you really stirred the pot with this one! So much backstabbing and double-crossing… And all without me lifting a hoof! I couldn’t have done it better myself. Color me impressed, I don’t think I’ve ever been more entertained!” He shivered with delight as he grinned wide and stared towards them again.
But he quickly averted his eyes, looking towards Twilight on her back.
“And the icing on the cake…? Look at all these lovely mares all in one place… the legendary power sure has good taste in choosing its wielders!” he said snidely, lifting a hoof to his lips and licking it once slowly as he sauntered over to Twilight with a very exaggerated sway in his hips. He stood over Twilight, staring down at her with a VERY creepy smile on his face. “Ah… they are a sight to behold…” he shut his eyes briefly, opening them up to reveal the pure black eyes with tiny white pupils.
“The Elements of Harmony!”
---To Be Continued---