//------------------------------//
// One Night's Rest 
// Story: One Night's Rest 
// by Jhoira 
//------------------------------//

Sombra looked around, he was back in the shadow realm. But he was there, in silence. He cantered over to the window and looked out at the horde, but the horde was stopped. They stood there, staring up at the house on the hill, Sombra was baffled. He looked around the house and then gasped, walking over cautiously to the bed that his father and mother had slept in. It, unlike all the other things, had color to it. Hesitantly Sombra touched it with a hoof, and it was solid. After a moment's hesitation, the king threw himself onto the bed. Without even drawing the covers over himself he was asleep instantly.

Sombra's dreams, oh his dreams were the purest joy. Not only was he back in Equestria, he was with his parents, and they were happy. He ran across the fields with the sheep, he sheered them with his father and wove with his mother. He could not tell how many memories he danced through, or for how long he slept, but he knew only that it was not enough. Even as his eyes opened he groaned slightly, trying to close them again, but he fell through the bed, and he heard them. The thundering of hooves up the hill.

But now, Sombra stood up, his rested soul now ready for the chase again. He barged through the wall of the house, turning down the hill, away from the horde seeking vengeance upon him. Though he knew this time, like all other times, this run would end in his death. But this time, he did not fear the coming pain as much as he had. He clung to the memories that the world and his dreams had dug up, clung to them as a starving pony clung to oats.

Sombra paused for a moment outside the home, seeing two headstones. While Sombra would have preferred his parents to be represented together, he supposed this was good enough. Though it cost him precious seconds he approached the two headstones, looking at the larger headstone he frowned.




White Wool and Golden Strands
????-????
Peaceful shepards




Sombra looked to the other headstone, his eyes widening as he read what was on it.




A shepherd's son
????-????




Sombra would have marveled for longer but he heard the thundering of hooves coming for him. As he ran he glanced one last time back at the house, and the horde, frowning a moment. He wasn't sure if it was his memory playing tricks on him, but the horde seemed a little smaller than it was before he returned to Equestria. He turned his concentration back to running, fleeing from his victims. Looking up at the shadowed sky he smiled for a moment. For the first time in his afterlife, he had a sliver of hope for his future. "Father, I earned a night's rest. What can I do to earn my final rest?" Though there was no answer, he couldn't help but think that he saw a flicker of color in the corner of his vision.