//------------------------------// // Ch.11 - Of the Red and the Black // Story: Northern Stars // by Reviewfilly //------------------------------// I find myself in a forest once more. As the haze lifts from my mind, I realize I’m laying on the ground, hooves limply stretched out from the sudden teleportation. I slowly raise my head and take a look at myself. My armor and crown are gone. My entire body hurts and I don’t think my magic could float even as much as an apple in my current state. A dull headache throbs in my head. How familiar... Hardly even a moment after I clamber to my hooves, I hear something move through the underbrush. Before I have any chance of escape, a red pony trots before me, mumbling something to himself, seemingly lost in thought. I clear my throat. His eyes drift towards me for a second, still glazed over, before he suddenly shrinks back and stares at me again. His body immediately tenses up. We stare at each other for a moment. With nothing left to lose, I decide to call out to him. “Hello.” His ears flap backwards and his eyes go wide. He shrieks. Oh brilliant. “Hello,” I hear him speak in his vile and horrid voice. Oh, mommy. How was I so unlucky to run into the monster himself? Is this how I will die? My eyes dart around, as I look for a way to escape. I feel my heart beating in my throat. Perhaps if I start running now, he won’t be able to catch me? Or maybe he will take it as an insult and snap my neck with his magic? Oh, what do I do? What do I do? A shriek slips from my mouth. He snorts. Is this how unicorns prepare to breathe flame? “What is your name?” he asks me. Maybe if I tell him, he’ll leave me alone... I think to myself as I catch another glimpse of him. His red eyes are staring at me intently. No, I shouldn’t tell him. I heard it somewhere that those who know your name have power over you. “I- I won’t tell you, sorcerer!” My voice is flimsy and weak, but at least I managed to hold my ground. For now. “If- If you hurt me, my town will take revenge!” “Oh, for the Crystal Heart’s sake!” he groans. I have no idea what that is, but I imagine it is some horrific artifact. “Why do I always have to find the weird ones? I am no sorcerer and I’m certainly not here to hurt you.” Wait, what? No, it has to be some trick. “You just want me to drop my guard!” He sighs. “Look at me. Do I seem to be in a state where I’m capable of doing whatever harm your cowardly mind imagines? Don’t kid yourself.” I force some calmness onto myself and take a better look at him. Despite his lustrous dark coat and shining black mane, he does really seem almost broken. His stature is that of a pony who lost everything. As my eyes pass over him, my body slowly relaxes. I feel some confidence return into me. I even allow myself a tiny smirk. For an ancient, evil king, with awesome power, he seems to be a complete pushover. “I will ask you again, what is your name?” he demands. “My name is Sprout Cloverleaf and you’ll do good if you remember it. For I will be the pony who defeats you and returns the journal!” I start to believe my own words. To my immense chagrin, he begins to laugh. He laughs at me uncontrollably for several seconds, before his laughter turns into a fit of raspy coughs. “Well then, Sprout Cloverleaf, I have to regretfully tell you that you have been too slow on both counts. Not only am I already defeated and my magic forfeit, but I also already returned the journal to your friend.” His words hit me like a tram. I stumble backwards and sit down. I feel my eyes lose focus. “This was all pointless? I’ve struggled and feared and endured for this?” I mutter to myself. He shrugs a little, not showing the least bit of concern. “Don’t worry about it, kid. I think out of the two of us, you still got off better,” he says with a low chuckle. This smugness ignites something in me. I feel my despair morph into a vile, dripping anger I haven’t felt since that day. I glare at him, but he looks just as impassive as before. I feel a sharp pain in my chest as my breathing quickens. How can life be so unfair? I snap my eyes shut and I feel tears gather behind my eyelids. The scene after my mishap flashes back into my mind. How shameful and alone I felt... Although she told me she has long forgiven me, the disappointment in my mother’s eyes still hasn’t truly faded. Every time she looks at me, my heart trembles in pain. And she isn’t the only one. Whenever I walk down the street, I can’t not notice the clear contempt in everypony’s eyes. They are all too eager to point their hooves at me or talk behind my back, as if we didn’t all believe in the same things back then. There wasn’t a single filly or colt who didn’t occasionally wake up, their bed soaked in cold sweat, screaming about not wanting to be abducted by a winged or horned monster. There wasn’t a single mare or stallion who didn’t lock their door twice at night “just to be safe” or, under their cheerful mask, worry, that maybe, just maybe, one of these days this unwritten, flimsy peace would come to an end and the nightmares of their children and their own foalhoods’ would truly become reality. And not a single soul, except for Sunny and her father, ever questioned this. This unease was merely a part of life, a tradition accepted by all. Yet the moment the old beliefs were proven wrong, it suddenly wasn’t everypony’s collective fault, it was only mine alone. The blame was all on me. It didn’t matter that I’d done everything for the sake of protecting my city. Was I misguided? Obviously. Were my plans rushed and even stupid? I cannot deny it. But I hadn’t thought for a single moment that I wasn’t doing the right thing. It’s ironic. Even though I’ve caused her the most pain, it was Sunny who understood me the best. She pulled me back from the edge. After they returned the magic and everypony left to figure out how things would work from then on, I somehow found myself alone at the edge of the city’s cliff, my uniform laying next to me in a crumpled pile. I don’t remember how exactly I got there or when I took it off. I stared down the water as it clashed against the rocks and listened to the soft impacts of the waves. I needed something, anything to take my mind off what would happen to me next. That’s when she found me. I remember how her wings and horn burned into the night, illuminating her face. There was a sad smile playing on her lips. I could not look into her eyes. Not after all that had happened. I turned my back towards her and told her to go away. To just leave me alone, like the rest of them had and enjoy her newfound group of friends, but she didn’t listen. Eventually I lost the strength to even tell her to leave. When that happened she just silently sat next to me and stared off into the distance. We remained there for a while, without saying a word. ”I understand how you feel,” she finally told me. “I know what it’s like to be alone. To be made into the face of ridicule. Even though you did everything with good intentions.” There was nothing accusatory in her voice. It was soft and full of empathy. My heart almost broke. I teased her so much. I never even realized how cruel I must have been towards her. I believed that if I poked a bit of fun at her, she would eventually give up her childish beliefs. But, as it turned out, I was the child after all. I broke down crying then. And yet, instead of leaving me, or rightfully gloating over her victory, or even screaming at me for what I did to her lighthouse, she just trotted over and gave me a hug. As I desperately held onto her, she told me that despite everything I might have done, she was willing to forgive me. That she still wanted to be my friend. After what felt like an eternity, we broke apart and she guided me to the sheriff’s office where I was unceremoniously locked away. I don't remember much from my imprisonment. All I know is that during the next few days she used her newfound fame to get me off the hook with merely a slap on my hooves. After a few days in detention I was a free pony. She even made sure I could keep my job. Things couldn't have worked out for me better than that. And it is all so wrong! She forgave me and gave me her full support without me even having the chance to prove that I can be better. That I can change and grow! I didn’t deserve it! I only took and took from her. And now, even after she offered me her friendship on a silver platter, I wasn't there for her. I didn't ask her the right questions. The only thing I managed to do was disappoint her. In her most vulnerable moment I let my big mouth run and hurt her, instead of giving her the support she deserved. It was my only chance to repay her kindness and I messed it all up. Because that’s who I am. Sprout, the mess-up. Sprout, the failure. Sprout, who can never do anything right. The pony who can never change and who will forever live in somepony else’s shadows. No more. My mind goes blank. I feel my body tense up in a way it never has before. Every little piece of me screams for the same thing. I roar and pounce on him. He doesn’t expect it and I tackle him effortlessly. His head collides with the ground with a violent thud and, before he could do as much as move a muscle, I pin his front legs down. “This is all your fault!” I scream into his face between two erratic gasps. I feel a drop of sweat roll down from my temple. My vision is still a little blurry from my tears. He continues to stare at me. His eyes do not waver. I raise my hoof and aim towards his neck. I ignore that it's slightly shaking. This will end here. They will know I’m not just full of hot air. I can do this. This is what will set me apart from Hitch. He would never dare to do anything like this. This is something only I could do. My mother will be proud. They will never underestimate me again. Sunny will understand just how much I appreciate her. I’m meant to do this. “Go on then.” His unimpressed words douse my fervor like a bucket of cold water. Even though he’s clearly hurt and I’m putting a lot of weight on his chest, a raspy laughs still manages to worm its way out of him. “Finish it already, if you have the guts. Blame whatever inadequacies you suffer from on me, even though we have never even met before. Just don’t be disappointed when you get what you deserve, not what you’re wishing for. I’ve seen your town and I’ve seen your kin.” He glances towards my hoof. “Do you really think they will look up to you once your coat’s color is mixed with another shade of red?” I hesitate. I feel a tightness in my chest and my hoof begins to tremble. I look back at him. He weakly tries to push me off himself, but his efforts are pitiful. I slowly feel the red mist lift from my eyes. Stars above... What am I doing? This is no justice. I am no murderer. I already came far too close to that once. I make up my mind. It almost feels like I’m dreaming as I slowly let him go and clamber off. I mechanically dust my coat off and wipe my eyes, while he slowly raises himself. He touches the back of his head and hisses from the pain, but when he lowers his hoof and looks me in the eyes, his look is one of cold determination, showing no pain nor fear, just a distance-keeping curiosity. I take a deep breath and clear my throat. “King... Umm?” “Sombra,” he grunts. “As of recently, just Sombra.” “Right,” I half-heartedly strike a pose I’ve practiced so many times in front of a mirror. This is not how I expected to speak the words I always wanted, but never had the chance to say. My voice still wavers a little, but I ignore this. “Mr. Sombra. Under the jurisdiction of Maretime Bay, I, deputy-sheriff Sprout Cloverleaf, am placing you under arrest for assault and battery, theft of property, and threats of terrorism. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you. You have the ri-” He raises a hoof and I grind to a halt. “I was a monarch for longer than you’ve been alive. I am more than aware of criminal law and my rights.” My face contorts into a frown. I roll my eyes and sigh. “Right. Let’s just, umm.” I glance around trying to orient myself. I try not to appear too helpless, but he sees through me like a sieve. He raises his eyebrow at me questioningly. My bravado falters. I feel myself deflating. “I just need to figure out how to get back to the city to take you in.” He buries his face in a hoof. ”Of all ponies, you really had to leave me with an idiot,” I hear him whisper bitterly between his teeth. “Shut up!” I snap at him. “Yes, I believe you’ve already made yourself quite clear on that part,” he lashes back, his eyes shining with ire for a moment. He quickly trots closer to a tree and looks around before turning back to me. “Evidently you have been walking towards the south, we should head northwards.” “H-how did you?” “The moss,” he says flatly, pointing towards the tree he just examined. “It grows on the north side of the trees. Just how low have you Equestrians fallen, if you don’t even know this?” The... The south? All this time I’ve been going in the exact opposite direction? Any rebuttals I try to utter get stuck in my throat. “Fine! We will head north,” I finally say. “But I will lead.” I follow behind my unexpected, red-coated companion. He rarely glances back, perhaps out of shame, perhaps out of worry I would humiliate him again with a simple question. I certainly don’t mind that we don’t speak much. Now that he’s not staring at me, I am free to experience the pain his wild thrashing has given me. The back of my head throbs with a sharp pain and I’m aching all over my body. Damned mudpony. Is this the thanks I deserve? I silently sigh. It would be pointless to hold this grudge. He is clearly far too immature to properly understand who he is dealing with. And now that I’m this vulnerable, I cannot afford to elaborate in a way he would understand. Still, perhaps I can use this situation to my advantage, I just need to keep my calm. “So, uh, you were like a king or something back in the day, right?” Oh, just what I needed. Small talk. I give him no response. He glances back expectantly, but quickly looks back when he sees my expression. Another few minutes pass. This part of the forest is so dense and monotonous that the miles melt into each other. “You know, I’m the son of the town’s de-facto mayor. Technically that makes me a prince or something like that as well.” We continue to walk. “Nothing? Okay.” We eventually find ourselves in front of a small creek. I look to the left, then to the right, but there doesn’t seem to be any way nearby to avoid it. Sprout walks through without hesitation. I’d rather not dirty my coat, so I try to teleport myself past or float, but my darkened horn just sputters a few sparks and gives out. He stares at me dumbly from the other side. With a groan, I wade into the freezing water and follow him. “There are actually a lot of these little creeks around Equestria,” he tells me like it is the most fascinating fact in the world. “I found at least five while I was, uh, looking for you.” I stop. My head aches in more ways than one, my legs are drenched in ice cold water, my magic is gone, and I’m forced to listen to his incoherent rambling. I feel my patience slipping. I take a deep breath and slowly let it out. I reach back to stroke my mane, but I stop myself when I see the amount of mud caked on my hoof. He notices the lack of clopping behind him and turns around. “What’s wrong?” he asks without the slightest hint of worry in his voice. “You okay?” That does it. “Let’s make one thing crystal clear,” I tell him, my voice slowly increasing in volume. “The only reason I’m submitting to you now is because powers you cannot even hope to comprehend have crippled me. If I still had my magic, you would be begging for my mercy right now.” He shrinks back at my sudden outburst, but I’m not finished. As I speak I slowly walk up to him and jab a hoof into his chest, leaving a wet and muddy spot. I stare deeply into his eyes and they shrink to pinpricks. “I led an Empire of millions, carving a prosperous dominion into an inhospitable, frozen wasteland. I waged war of untold misery against two beings who were capable of destruction far more terrifying than your wildest imagination could conjure up. I died numerous times only to laugh Death in the face and come back even stronger.” Another coughing fit assaults me and I stumble a step backwards. The violent spasms send waves of pain all over my body until I finally get a hold of myself. My voice is hoarse as I speak again. “And now that I found myself in this alien world ripe for the harvest, I chose to sacrifice my power and eternal life instead of conquering it. I did this to protect the likes of you from a horror the mere description of which would drive a simpleton such as yourself mad.” My tail flicks in frustration. “And what thanks do I get? I’m insulted and jerked around by a neurotic and insignificant chinovnik, who has the audacity to believe his little epiphany actually had any meaningful impact on the fate of the world. What makes you think I have any interest in camaraderie with you after this?” I step back and glare at him. For a moment the only sound that can be heard is the quiet whistling of the wind and my own shallow breaths. He merely stares at the ground, while one of his hooves meekly digs a groove into the soil. “You’re right. I guess I just wanted to do the right thing once,” he finally mutters. “I’m no emperor. I never fought anypony. When I finally got the chance to prove myself, I messed up big time. I seriously hurt my most important friend.” Tears well up in his eyes and his speech becomes slurred. “I... I hoped by defeating you I’d become a hero and nopony would look down on me anymore. That I could still make things right. But when I realized I was about to commit an atrocity and... and you didn’t even flinch, I thought- I just wanted to move on, to not even think about what I almost did.” He shudders and slowly wipes his eyes. He looks even more pitiful than before. Finally he turns around and slowly begins to walk. “You are not innocent either and I am still taking you in for what you did to Sunny, but I am deeply sorry for what I’ve done to you,” he says flatly without looking back. “I will not bother you again.” “No good deed goes unpunished,” I chuckle to myself, satisfied with his reply. He keeps his word and we march on in silence for a few more hours. He doesn’t even look back to see if I’m still with him. We both know I have no reason to leave him behind. Eventually the trees begin to thin out and, just as the Sun is about to set, we finally spot the first few buildings in the distance. “But I... But I’ve been walking for a week,” he whispers to himself in disbelief. I say nothing and, after a moment, he just shakes his head and trots on. We approach the city.