//------------------------------// // It's Bound To Come True // Story: I Don't Want To Fall Back In Love With You // by Princeling //------------------------------// The last thing Discord had heard before the room around him was consumed by a blindingly bright light was a loud, animalistic scream of pure agony. Slowly, as the flash dimmed, a stallion arose from the center of the room. Stripped of his armor, cape, and crown, King Sombra shakily stood up, and opened his eyes. “Halt! Who goes there?” A deep, mischievous laugh echoed throughout the crystalline room. Guards stood posted at each and every door, holding spears sharp enough to go straight through a pony. Fortunately for the mysterious intruder that remained unseen, he was no pony. A loud snap was heard, and before any of the guards could understand what was happening, a serpent-like, chimerical creature appeared, sitting atop a doorway. The creature grinned down at the ponies, before teleporting their spears into his claw and paw. “For such ‘highly trained’ and ‘elite’ guards, you’re all really fucking stupid.” The creature’s voice sounded nothing like his laughter. In fact, he sounded more like a teenager than anything else. Still grinning, he popped the weapons into his mouth, chewing a bit, before swallowing them. “Mm. Crunchy. Has a bit of a... sharp taste. Eh?” The creature rolled his eyes, after a few moments of horrified silence from the guards. “Oh, everyone’s a critic.” With a snap of his talons, the guards were teleported to several locations, before eventually landing in a fountain. The creature’s laughter continued until he heard the creak of a door, and promptly fell onto the ground. He looked up and smiled sheepishly at the drowsy, irritated, teenaged unicorn standing above him. His deep, ruby-red eyes seemed to pierce the creature’s very soul, standing out against his dark coat. “Hello there... your highness.” The creature managed a slight smirk. The unicorn rolled his eyes. “Discord, you can’t keep traumatizing the guards like this. Ponies will get suspicious.” Discord pouted. “Oh, come now, Somby, it’s all in good fun.” The unicorn sighed. “Your ‘good fun’ is going to get you in serious trouble, one day.” “Aw, like you’d let that happen to me? I’m hurt.” Discord pouted and put his paw on his chest in mock offense. Sombra groaned quietly and put his hoof to his forehead, closing his eyes. “Why do I feel as though you’re going to be the death of me?” “Love you too, Somby.” How the hell could this have happened? Sombra was dead. Twice over, in fact. And yet, there he stood, completely alive. Granted, his body felt like it had been dragged through Tartarus and back, his magic wasn’t working, and he was unable to see a thing. Slowly, as the former king’s senses began to function, he rose to his full height, and opened his eyes, As his vision adjusted to the brightness of the room, Sombra began to assess the situation. Extravagant rugs and marble floors, likely some kind of palace. He would know, after all. With one glance at the elaborate stained glass window commemorating his second defeat, Sombra knew all too well where he was. Canterlot Castle. Because apparently, he hadn’t suffered enough. “Did it work...?” A mare spoke. Sombra recognized the voice, but couldn’t quite place it. He could tell he didn’t like her, though. “I think so.” The grey stallion snarled quietly at that. Now that was somepony he recognized. Twilight Sparkle, the mare who had cheated him out of everything he once had. Unfortunately, his magic still failed him, hence why he was unable to blast the purple deathtrap into oblivion. Sure enough, as he slowly and painfully turned his head, there she stood. Oh, there were so many things he wanted to say to her, if only he wasn’t in so much pain. But those... choice words could wait. Sombra knew better than to waste what little energy he had on the insignificant, sorry excuse for a princess. He turned his head a bit more to the right, seeing nothing of interest. Until his eyes reached the corner of the room. And there stood none other than Discord himself. Naturally, a blast of magic shot forth from Sombra’s curved horn, straight towards the draconequus’ chest. He took two steps forward, and then the world went black. That would mark the third time Sombra had been cheated out of the sweet release of death. Groaning quietly, he studied his surroundings. His vision came to him quicker, this time, and he immediately noticed that he was lying upon a rather comfortable bed. Judging by the decor, he was still very much in Canterlot Castle and seeing as he wasn’t in a prison cell, Discord remained alive. “That lying son of a-” “You mean me?” Lo and behold, none other than the devious draconequus himself stood in the doorway. “You.” Discord rolled his eyes. “Yes, we’ve established that it’s me. I figured you knew, seeing as you shot me.” He glared at Sombra, before continuing on his tirade. “And here I was, beginning to think you had a brain. I suppose it was a bit much, expecting you to have some self-control. Not to mention, the absolute fool you made of yourself.” A wicked grin appeared on his face. “Though, you didn’t have much self-respect in the bedroom either...” Sombra chucked a pillow at him. “The moment my power returns, I am going to throw you off of a very high cliff.” Discord chuckled. His long torso partially encircled the stallion in midair. “Oh, Sombra, Sombra, Sombra... after all these years, you still don’t get it. You’ll never be rid of me.” The chaotic being glanced away briefly. “No matter how much we both want it...” he muttered. “I know, but I can certainly try.” Sombra pulled another pillow over his head. “Could you at least explain to me why you and those pathetic excuses for royalty won’t let a stallion rest in his unmarked grave?” Discord rolled his eyes. “Well you see, your highness, Princess Sparklebutt and her sister-in-law have by some miracle, decided to pardon you for your crimes against Equestria.” The stallion looked up, surprised. “I beg your pardon?” “You don’t have to. You’ve already been pardoned, that’s what I just said. Yeesh, Sombra, I know you’re old, but really, keep up. Anywho, you’re not spending a lifetime rotting in the Canterlot dungeons.” Sombra was almost relieved until he realized something. “That doesn’t explain why they brought me back to life. Surely, they aren’t so foolish as to let somepony such as myself wander around Equestria unattended.” “Ah, there’s the catch. You’ve been pardoned, but...” Discord grimaced. “Only on the condition you agree to be reformed.” “I beg your pardon?” Exasperated, Discord spoke. “Sombra, how many times do I have to say, you’ve alrea-” The sharp glare the stallion shot him was enough for Discord to cease his taunts. “I mean, the Perfect and Illustrious Princess Almighty of Friendship has decided to give you another chance to reintegrate into society. I personally think it’s a waste of time.” “I agree.” “But, since the Princess ordered- Wait, what?” “I said I agree. I’m a lost cause. I enslaved and killed ponies in cold blood. I was a dictator and tried to take over Equestria several times. You should just let me die and finally be at peace.” Sombra glared. “Fine then,” Discord huffed. “Tell Twilight you want to be dead again, see if I care.” “Fine.” “Fine!” Both turned away from one another, grumbling to themselves. An awkward silence filled the room, and Discord felt like if the door hadn’t been opened, they would’ve suffocated. Fortunately, Twilight opened the door (Without knocking, Discord might add), and looked at the two of them. “Am I... interrupting anything.” “NO!” they both shouted at once. “Oh, shut up, would you?” Sombra said, the disdain for Discord apparent in his voice. “Why don’t you shut up, your majesty?” “Quit mocking me, you two-bit, birdbrained, fuckface.” Discord stuck his tongue out. Twilight cleared her throat and lightly stomped her hoof on the ground to remind the pair that she was still in fact in the room. “Discord, have you told him about, well, you know.” Before the draconequus could answer, the former king began to speak. “He has, and full offense, Princess, but I’d far rather remain dead than become you or your friends’ little pet project.” Slightly taken aback, Twilight looked at Sombra. She had to give him credit, she couldn’t tell what he was thinking from his face alone. “What...?” “Well, it’s quite obvious you’ve beaten me, seeing as I should be dead. If I were to continue my attempts at conquering Equestria, it would only end in my humiliating defeat.” Twilight smiled. They were getting somewhere. “There’s nothing left for me in life, so it seems only natural that I go back to being dead.” Her smile fell. Nevermind. “Sombra, just hold on a moment.” Discord sighed, despite the grin on his face. “Well, we tried. Oh well! Now, who gets to kill him?” “Nopony is killing Sombra.” “Aw, why?” Discord pouted. “Because I said so.” Twilight put her hoof to her forehead in annoyance. “Sombra, I don’t think you’re really understanding this. It’s either reformation or a lifetime in the dungeon.” “I don’t care.” The apathy in Sombra’s voice made the princess want to cringe. How could anypony care so little for their own life? “How?”, she asked, voicing her concerns. “Simple. It is as I said. There is nothing left for me in Equestria.” “Unless... there was.” Now, both Discord and Sombra were surprised. Looking towards the purple mare in confusion, the pair awaited an explanation. “Discord, could you confirm the nature of your relationship with Sombra?” Neither of them liked the small but growing smile on the mare’s face one bit. “Er, well... You see, it’s a bit complicated, and really, it’s-” “We were ex-fiancees and adopted a child together,” Sombra interrupted. “But I haven’t seen her since my imprisonment in the ice.” Discord froze up. “Sombra... your daughter’s alive.” His eyes widened. “Screwball... she’s... she’s really alive?” Twilight nodded. Sombra turned to Discord. “Is this true?” Discord mumbled a confirmation. “Sombra, accept our offer, and you’ll be able to see her again.” Twilight smiled. “You have my word.” A long silence later, and Sombra spoke. “I have one more condition.” “Hm?” Twilight braced herself for what would come. “I want to throw him off a very tall cliff.” Sombra pointed a hoof at Discord. Twilight suppressed her laughter. “That can be arranged.” “I object!” Discord said. The princess rolled her eyes. “Overruled.” “Then I accept.”