Sombra walked back toward the palace flanked by several of his soldiers. It had been a good day for battle. None of the Equestrians could react fast enough to his attacks. And none of them could land any blows when he phased into his shadow form. The battle was still occurring, but he had had enough for today. His armor was stained with blood and he was beginning to feel hungry. Best to leave fighting for tomorrow.
He chuckled to himself. He wouldn't have lasted as long as he had before his transformation. He'd been so weak in comparison. He walked up the stairs of the palace, sighing as he thought of a good, hot meal.
"Return to the battlefield."
The soldiers obeyed without hesitation. The helmets had been holding up remarkably well for the last thirteen years. Sombra congratulated himself on his hoofwork. He entered the palace and made for his throne. He was ready to rest after battling Equestrians all day.
"Page! Have my dinner prepared!"
He waited for an answer. And yet none came. Sombra looked around.
"PAGE!!"
Nothing. A twinge of fear went up and down Sombra's spine. Every Crystal pony in the palace was under his control. So why wasn't the page responding?
"I command you to come here at once!!"
He slammed his hoof against the floor. Still nothing. Sombra was getting angry. Where were his servants?! He looked around the main hall, trying to find signs of anypony. He began backing up toward his throne.
"Guards!"
Nopony appeared.
"GUARDS!!!"
He fell into his throne, unsure of how he could have lost control of them.
"Are you actually frightened, Sombra? Can you not meet without a battalion between us?"
Whatever fleeting moment of fear Sombra may have felt melted away as rage took hold. His eyes glared upward, finding Celestia and Luna hovering near the ceiling.
"Sneaking in uninvited, are we?"
The alicorns lowered themselves to the floor, folding their wings against their armor. Celestia was the first to speak.
"This ends today, Sombra."
Sombra rolled his eyes.
"You say that after thirteen years of war. I'm sure everypony appreciates you taking your time."
Luna stepped forward.
"Sombra, please! We've been trying to save the Crystal ponies. But those helmets you built...they're like something from a horror story!"
Sombra turned to the dark blue mare. She was as beautiful as the first time he'd met her. The only difference now was that her eyes looked older. Worn down in a way. Had he been the cause of that?
Sombra lit his horn, lighting the room to a nearly blinding level. It was gone after a few seconds.
"There. The helmets are dead. The Crystal ponies can remove them without any trouble."
Celestia narrowed her eyes.
"What are you playing at?"
Sombra sat back in his throne.
"I don't need them to fight anymore. I've gotten what I was after."
"And what was that?"
He smiled down at Celestia.
"Time. All the time I need in fact."
Celestia scowled at him.
"Enough of this!"
She shot a bolt of magic at him. He shifted his form to a shadow for a split second as the bolt connected with the throne. He rematerialized again and chuckled.
"You'll have to do better than that."
He transformed again and flew around the room, extinguishing lights and throwing the hall into a darkened state.
"Tell me Celestia, how do you kill a shadow?"
Celestia shot bolts around the room.
"Come out, you coward!"
Sombra's laughter filled the hall as he flew back to his throne.
"You know, now that I've gained this power, I've been able to work on some other spells. It's always good to have a variety when you-"
Celestia stomped her hoof.
"ENOUGH!!"
The room grew lighter again and Sombra frowned.
"It's rude to interrupt your host."
"I've had enough of your games, you monster!"
Sombra sighed and shook his head.
"Monster? There are worse things than monsters."
A crooked smile formed on his face.
"Let me show you."
He shot the magic so quick, Celestia couldn't react. Her eyes were engulfed in green, like Sombra's. She seemed frozen in place. Sombra turned to Luna, his smile softening.
"Now that we have a few minutes alone, what is your opinion of me?"
Luna stared at her sister. She seemed unsure of what to do. Sombra descended from his throne and approached her.
"I know I've done some terrible things, Luna. I only wanted a chance...to prove myself."
Luna shook her head in dismay.
"You call this proving yourself?! What happened to the stallion that was happy with his life? The stallion that I-"
She choked on her words for a moment.
"-that I loved?"
Sombra found himself faltering ever so slightly.
"I'm...I'm still here Luna. It's just...I had to find a way."
"A way?"
"Yes! I told you I would find a way for us to be together!"
Luna shook her head.
"Sombra..."
Sombra furrowed his brow.
"Tell me you don't love me anymore and I will give myself up. Tell me the truth, and this all ends now."
Tears filled Luna's eyes.
"I...I..."
The tears began to fall.
"I can't."
Sombra sighed at this small triumph.
"Even after everything?"
Luna shook her head.
"You have no idea what it's like. I hate what you've done. But...some part of me feels like there's more to all of this then I understand. It feels almost like a forgotten memory..."
Sombra's ears perked up. Was she fighting through his memory enchantment?
Luna shook her head again.
"I hear about what is happening here and try to stop loving you. But deep down...I know the stallion I fell in love with is still there somewhere."
Sombra tried to take a step back, but felt his legs give out. He sat clumsily on the floor, unsure of what to say.
"Luna...I-"
"Luna?"
Both of them turned to Celestia. Sombra's spell had broken and she was shaking her head to clear it. As soon as Celestia found Sombra in her sights, she glared at him.
"Get away from her!!"
Sombra barely had time to dodge Celestia's magic. He felt searing heat coming off the mare. Celestia kept firing at him.
"It's your fault! You're the one who filled her head with this nonsense! But I won't let you take her from me!!"
Sombra found himself feeling threatened. He actually feared for his life, even though that was absurd at this point. How was he suddenly at a disadvantage? What exactly had she seen in her vision?!
"What are you trying to do, Celestia?! Kill me?!"
"If that's what it will take to end the nightmare!!"
Luna tried to pull her sister back.
"Celestia, no! There has to be another way!"
"Luna, this is not a negotiation! He has to pay for what he's done!"
"With his life?!"
Sombra peaked around a pillar, seeing that Luna had gotten in front of Celestia. She was distracted! He stepped out into the open.
"Luna's right Celestia. We can talk this out."
Celestia locked her eyes on him and pushed Luna to the side.
"There will be no talking! My sister doesn't understand what's at stake!"
Sombra unleashed his magic quickly so as not to be on the defense again. A bolt of red lightning shot at Celestia.
And that's when Luna jumped in front of her sister.
"NO!!"
The magic connected and Luna crumpled to the floor. Sombra stared at her body, unsure of what his magic had done.
"Luna...LUNA!!!"
Sombra barely noticed that Celestia had shot back at him. He felt the magic hit him in the chest and looked back at her. She was glaring at him with a stare that could have burned a hole through his head.
"I banish you, Sombra. Your rule is at an end."
Sombra felt his body beginning to break apart.
"What?!"
He was turning into a shadow again, but not of his own free will.
"No!"
Sombra could feel himself being pulled away from the world. He couldn't go! He had to know if Luna was safe! He looked again at her body, seemingly lifeless on the floor. He looked back at Celestia and saw a small smile on her face. The last of his hatred began to burn as he cursed her.
"Damn you, Celestia! You'll pay for what you've done!!"
He still felt his magic. It wasn't too late for one last spell. His horn lit up as he amplified Celestia's own spell. If he was being sentenced to purgatory, he was taking her with him! Celestia seemed to guess that something was happening though. Sombra watched as she grabbed Luna and took off into the air.
Focusing, Sombra pushed his spell to the limit, not knowing how far it would reach. He cried out as the last of his strength left him. With his last breath, he felt pain, heartache, and rage.
He felt his body disintegrate.
He would never forgive Celestia.
He would never see Amore again.
He would never know if Luna survived.
The last thing he saw was the wall of ice towering over him as he was dragged into the depths of the frozen tundra.
-------------------------------------------------------
Shade opened his eyes and took a deep breath. He felt chills all over his body as the remnant of Sombra's pain subsided. His heart felt like it was ready to burst. Yet, at the same time...
His head felt lighter than before.
"I think...I think it's over..."
Yes, it is.
Shade stared at the crystal in front of him. It had lost its color, turning a vibrant shade of black. The voice, which he knew all too well, spoke from the crystal itself.
You've been a remarkable pony through this endeavor, Shade. Thank you for helping me.
Shade nodded.
"It was no tr- Actually it was a lot of trouble."
I'm sorry that I've put you through so much in your life. You should know that your encounters with me have never been with the entirety of my soul. Not even this interaction is truly pure. But my memories are as close as you'll ever get to knowing my full story.
Shade sighed.
"It'll take time to process, but I think...maybe...one day I can put you behind me. No offense."
I wish you a peaceful life free of my meddling. Celestia?
Celestia turned her gaze to the crystal.
I thank you for finally listening to my side of things. I don't expect your forgiveness.
Celestia nodded.
"Nor I yours. We both handled things poorly back then. We have to live with that."
Agreed. Luna?
Luna leaned forward; her eyes locked on the crystal.
"Yes?"
Words can't express how happy I am to finally know your fate after that day. I can never forgive myself for the pain I caused you. And I expect no forgiveness from you either.
Luna began to cry as Sombra continued.
Just know that I never stopped loving you. I don't know what weight that carries after everything that's happened, but it's the truth. I never stopped loving you and hoping we'd be reunited one day.
Luna wiped her tears and sniffled.
"I never stopped either, my love. I just...wish we'd reunited under better circumstances."
The crystal shimmered and an image of Sombra appeared. It was him from before his transformation. From what Shade could tell, it looked to be Sombra from when he first met Luna.
Sombra smiled as a tear rolled down his cheek.
I have no right to ask anything of you, my love. But...would you protect this crystal? It now holds the remainder of my soul. I don't know how long it will last for but, while I still have life, I would spend it under your care.
Luna smiled and nodded.
"I would love nothing more."
Sombra smiled as he faded back into the crystal. The room fell silent as Luna gingerly picked the crystal up and set it in her saddlebag.
Celestia stood up and pulled her sister into a hug.
"I'm sorry Luna. So much happened back then and I was a terrible sister."
Luna returned the hug.
"We've both had a lot of history since then. Let's not dwell on the past."
Shade stood up and stretched his legs.
"I need to get some fresh air. I've been stuck in this room for a week."
Celestia smiled at her brother.
"Would you like us to join you?"
He shook his head.
"That's ok. I need a little time with my own thoughts."