For the first time in centuries, a pleasant dream visited Sombra's sleep.
He was floating miles above Equestria, the wind sweeping through his mane and the oddest sensation of peace taking hold of his body. A thousand years. That's how long it'd been since Sombra had last known what it was like to be in the air, the feeling of being completely cocooned in weightlessness. No, that was Prince Tourmaline. He was the one who could soar high above the clouds. King Sombra, on the other hoof, was as far away from the heavens as one could get without taking residence in Tartarus.
An incredible warmth filled Sombra's chest and he found a large cloud pressed up against him. He chuckled and wrapped his forelegs around the cloud, pulling it into his embrace. The cloud twisted and expanded, chunks flying off as it began to morph, taking on a more equine shape. Sombra found himself staring at a fluffy white version of a certain alicorn.
"Tw-Twilight?"
Cloud-Twilight smiled sweetly and held onto him as if for dear life. Sombra caressed the mare's mane, the welcoming aroma of wild berries and lavender sliding into his nostrils, his heart skipping a beat at the scent. Even though this was a simulacrum of the princess, the scent and texture of her fur were astonishingly vivid and Sombra could almost swear that Twilight was actually with him.
"Sombra..."
The umbrum's eyes slowly peeled open, groaning at the revelation that he was no longer asleep and dreaming. He slowly sat up and rubbed at the back of his head, quickly dispelling an itch that had developed there. Sombra expelled air from his nostrils and frowned. Why did he have to wake up? He was having a good dream! He laid back down and wrapped the covers tightly around himself, allowing the scent of lavender and wild berries to envelop him in their wonderful fragrance.
Wait a minute!
Sombra pressed his face against the sheets and drew in a huge whiff. No, there was no mistaking that scent.
So why does my bed smell like Twilight? It's almost as though she-...
Sombra's eyes widened at the revelation.
"Did Twilight actually sleep in my bed with me?"
His thoughts were interrupted when the dungeon's ironwood door screeched open, revealing a Royal Guard that Sombra didn't recognize. He was a gamboge-colored pegasus and a young one at that, appearing to be around Twilight's age and carried with him the air of someone just starting out on their own. Sombra snorted, wondering how much money the new guard's parents put forward in order to get him to this position.
There's no way he's ever seen combat of any kind.
The guard stopped four feet in front of Sombra's cell and raised a mildly shaking foreleg in a salute. Sombra looked the greenhorn from top to bottom. His armor was spotless, even more so than the more seasoned guards, comfortably fitted around an almost mare-like body. Vivid blue eyes stared at Sombra from a young, delicately-framed face that was slightly feminine in shape.
"Private Flash Sentry reporting for duty," the guard stated in a loud but anxious tone. The pegasus' nostrils flared as he suddenly sniffed the air. A slight frown worked its way onto his face before his eyes met Sombra's and he snapped back to attention. He shook slightly when Sombra's pounded onto the stone floor and he rose from his bed.
"Flash Sentry?" Now why does that name sound so-...
The answer sailed through Sombra's mind like an arrow. It was the name of Twilight's ex-coltfriend, the one that she attempted to move on with after Sombra's imprisonment.
THIS was who she dated after me? Him?!
While it was true that Twilight dumped Flash due to not being attracted to him, Sombra nonetheless felt an odd rage poking at him upon seeing the stallion. It wasn't as though he jealous or even threatened by the pegasus. And yet, just the idea of this colt kissing Twilight or touching her set Sombra's teeth on edge.
"And I take it that you're to be my new guard?" Sombra wore a mask of casual indifference, being careful to keep his anger out of his voice. He didn't need this pipsqueak knowing that he was getting under his skin. "How exactly did you come by this job opportunity?"
Flash stared straight ahead, avoiding direct eye contact but kept his gaze flickering towards the prisoner every now and then.
"I, er, v-volunteered. Sir."
Sombra raised a skeptical brow.
This is getting interesting.
"Did you now?"
Flash nodded. "I figured that it would be a chance for me to prove myself. I mean, if I can handle being a foot away from the Crystal Conqueror, then there's nothing that I can't do."
Makes sense. He's a young, idealistic wannabe hero that wants to prove his worth to crown and country.
Sombra nodded, experiencing a moment of respect for the new guard.
I must admit, it takes guts to volunteer being one of my guards. Let's see if he has the will to stay.
"I see. You speak with an Upper Equestrian accent, meaning that you come from a well-off family, possibly even of the aristocracy. Your slim figure and mareish features means that it's difficult for others to take you seriously. So you came here, to the Royal Guard, to prove your stallionhood to your parents and to yourself."
Sombra leaned close to the bars. "How close am I?"
Ever so slightly, Flash's eyes widened, his upper lip quivering. He finally turned to lock eyes with Sombra, his brow furrowing with anger. "You see a lot, Your Highness. But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? Why don’t you…why don’t you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you’re afraid to.”
Sombra's eyes glinted dangerously in the torchlight as he shoved himself right up against the bars, causing Flash to shrink slightly. Despite the thick pieces of iron separating them, Sombra loomed over Flash like a living monolith, an ancient idol prayed to by ancient tribal ponies from some long-forgotten eon.
"I've lived through enough horrors to last me six lifetimes, horrors that I wouldn't even wish upon my worst enemies. A thousand years spent in the ice and darkness, with nothing but burning fury to keep me warm and the imagined voices in my head for company. I've seen massacres, war and cruelties committed by a remorseless master."
Sombra chuckled darkly before returning to his previous austere expression, his eyes never leaving Flash's.
"'Afraid'? You don't know the meaning of the word, colt," the ex-king spat icily.
Before their verbal conflict could escalate, the main door creaked open and both stallions turned to behold the purple alicorn that had strolled in.
Oh horseapples….
~*~
Twilight Sparkle's hooves dug into the stone floor, dragging her to a complete stop. Her heart dropped, a lump forming in her throat at the sight before her. Sombra was in his cell as usual but the guard rooted to the floor stupefied before the umbrum was unexpected to say the least. Twilight swallowed the lump.
Flash Sentry...wh-what's Flash doing here?!
The tense air between the two stallions was palpable. Regaining his senses, Flash stood up straight, a semi-confident grin lighting up his face, though it was obvious by his poor posture and the look of trepidation in his eyes that he was caught off guard by Twilight's appearance. Sombra, meanwhile, retained an aura of dignity, stepping away from the bars with his head held up high and his expression an inscrutable mask. He then lowered himself slightly, making himself appear smaller but without sacrificing his nobility. The mask slipped a little, his scarlet eyes turning from rage-filled to compassionate and a wry smile working its way onto his lips.
Twilight slowly made her way over to Flash.
"Good morning, Flash," she said lamely, managing an uncomfortable smile.
Flash awkwardly rubbed one foreleg. "Good morning to you too, Twilight."
The two hadn't seen each other since their breakup-actually, it was more correct to say that she dumped him-and thus, were thus quite unprepared for their reunion. And to think, Twilight thought that this day would go over so easily. Waking up that morning after a pleasant night of sleep, she was confident that she'd admit her feelings to Sombra. Instead, she was here caught between her ex-coltfriend and her sorta-ex-coltfriend and maybe-future-coltfriend.
Why did this have to happen to me?
"How...how've you been?"
Flash's voice pulls her back to the present.
"Okay, I guess." After a short lull, she then cleared her throat. "Flash, could you give us a moment?"
The pegasus looked between Twilight and Sombra, a brief frown registering upon his countenance.
"Yes, course." And then: "Ahem, I mean, yes, Your Highness."
After a quick genuflection, Flash exits the room, throwing a backwards glance towards Twilight. His gaze spoke of worry and affection, though this changed to suspicion and disgust once he turned to Sombra. Shooting him a dirty look, he hastily closed and latched the door behind him.
Twilight shook her head before turning her attention to Sombra. "How are you doing?"
Sombra causally shrugged. "Fine, I suppose. Just out of curiosity, I couldn't help but notice that my bed-sheets carried your scent. Did you..." His pastern rolled lazily, spinning his hoof in a clockwise motion. "Did you fall asleep in my bed?"
The question threw Twilight off guard; she hadn't anticipated his bluntness. She soon sighed, her ears folding backward. "Yes, I did. I came over here last night to talk to you but you were already asleep and I was so tired so I-..."
Sombra held up a hoof, interrupting Twilight's ranting. "It's fine, Twilight. I'm just curious as to the reason."
Here it was: the moment of truth, the one that Twilight had both been dreading and looking forward to. Her right front hoof made little circles on the floor, her eyes darting up between the floor and Sombra's gaze. She inhaled and exhaled, steeling herself for what she was preparing to say. Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, she whispered:
"I really like you."
Silence. She picked her head up to see Sombra staring dumbly at her, his brows knitted in confusion. In all honesty, it was a bit adorable and Twilight had to bite her lip to keep from giggling aloud.
"You...you like me? As in, you harbor romantic feelings towards me?"
Twilight slowly nodded. "It took some time but I figured it out. I like you."
Slowly, the corners of his mouth turned upward. "Then this is good. Right?"
"Yes, it's real good," Twilight hesitantly answered. "But...where do we go from here?"
A hoof reached out from between the bars and caressed Twilight's cheek. She groaned pleasurably at the feather-soft touch. Sombra was smiling at her and it was the biggest, most joyful one she'd seen on him yet. It was so infectious that she mimicked the expression.
"One step at a time, Twilight," Sombra answered quietly. "One step at a time."