//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Knights of Ice and Crystal // by Leila Drake //------------------------------// "Look at this - Sombra disappeared!" Peridot's hooves clattered on the wooden floor as she stormed into the bedroom. Eclipse jumped up, dropping his book. "What?! How?" he gasped. "'Authorities confirmed that after releasing the former self-proclaimed King two months ago, he has not been seen ever since. The City Guard was not ava-available for a comment,'" read Peridot aloud. She slapped the newspaper onto Eclipse's bed. He picked the paper up and looked at the front page. No trace of Sombra, it said, and, Former tyrant in hiding? The article was so large that the small column on a changeling infiltrator had been pushed to the lower right corner. "He probably ran away," said Eclipse. "Guess I would have done the same thing. Poor guy..." "Are you seriously pitying 'King' Sombra?" Peridot asked incredulously. Eclipse shrugged. He pushed the newspaper away. Hie gaze fell on the small golden badge that hung framed on his wall. He had gotten it along with a special commendation for the time when he would apply for training as a Royal Guard. It had felt weird to receive it; Eclipse still remembered how much his legs had been shaking on that balcony, standing right next to the Princess and Captains. At least all his family and Darren had been at his side. Darren had received a badge of his own - and an honorary membership of the Royal Guard. Eclipse was not sure if Darren was really interested in any of those but the knight had graciously accepted both. What he really seemed to appreciate, though, was that he did not have to pay the fee anymore that the Princess had ordered. "I dunno. I mean, Darren said it wasn't really Sombra's fault with the Void Lord taking over his mind and whatnot. If I knew that the entire Empire thinks of me as the bad guy I sure would wanna get as far away from it as possible." "They also wrote that he was innocent this time," Peridot said hesitantly. "As if that would make a difference," snorted Eclipse. "Everypony hates Sombra. Okay, if they don't hate him they don't like him." He picked his book up and reopened it. Reaching for his pencil, he added, "If he wants a new start we shouldn't stop him. Then we don't have to see him again, either. It's a win-win." He smiled briefly and resumed making notes of his latest lesson with Darren. Peridot sat down next to him, inching closer. "What did you learn this time?" "Er... how to dispel magic. Like when somepony's cursed." "Wow..." Peridot sighed in awe. "So cool." "Yeah, I guesh. I'm not sho good ad id yed." Eclipse spat the pencil out. "You know what's weird? I thought I'd be able to see Levinia all the time now - but no. She only shows up when I do magic." "She's the ghost, right? The one that watches you?" "Uh-huh." "I mean - it's kinda weird. I know I'm getting stronger but she's not even visible to Sunburst or Captain Shining Armor." He closed the book and stored it in his treasure box. Reaching for his trusty shield, he beckoned for Peridot to follow him. "Maybe it's got something to do with the nature of your magic. It's not unicorn magic, it's more like... Nightmare Night magic..." She trailed off. "Yeah. Maybe you're right." They left the house and walked down the street. A blue pony with a long brown mane approached them. He was a few years older than them but that did not matter. His dad was in the Guard, just like Feather. More importantly, he was the dungeon master of their new pen and paper game. "Hi, Deep," said Eclipse happily. "Hey." Still Waters smirked. "Ready to hunt some windigoes?" "Definitely!" Eclipse grinned. "At your place this time?" asked Peridot. "Dad's got a shift tonight," Still Waters answered. "I've got the place to myself." "We're allowed to stay until eleven," said Eclipse. "That should be long enough to reach the Fragmented Forest." "I'll bring the snacks," offered Peridot. "And I the soda," added Eclipse. Deep bumped hooves with the two siblings. "See you later, knights," he declared with a grin. "See ya!" Eclipse called, twirling his shield around. He looked at Peridot, grinning widely. She smiled back at him. "You know what?" he said. "This is gonna be awesome."