In what was at first this vast white empty void, it was quickly filled with the endless sight of what could have been the Crystal Empire, his empire. The lights that were generated by the lampposts, the tall city skyline, the bustling economic and social empire he dreamed of creating… all in the far-off view from his cliff edge, but in no real way could he ever approach nor enter it.
As much as he would gloat and proclaim his ambition as King Sombra, as much as he would try to expand his ego and goals of success, as much as he was rightfully feared for his intellect and ingenuity as both a military leader and an innovator in the field of magic, he was at heart, a somber soul, Somber Heart.
He was once a unicorn of the very same empire he grew up and loved, and eventually ‘led’. He was consumed by what he feared, the only thing he feared, the shadow of his own peers, to be left in obscurity. It was ironic because he himself would end up becoming consumed by what he had created, becoming a shadow of the persona made in response to his fear. After all, he did initially believe that to conquer fear, one has to become feared.
He was a King in name and an Emperor in everything else. He had built and turned the Crystal Kingdom into an Empire, what he was and could have been only becoming a distant thought, as that door of opportunity had already closed for him long ago.
The cold winds did nothing to help him in any way, only serving to remind him of what he had become. The distant city seemed to shout his name in his mind, calling out to him in echoes and the like. He longed to see his empire become the center of this world, and with it, his name forever etched in the annals of history! Well, he did get what he wanted… party that is.
But the moment he so longed for couldn’t last forever, and the sad reality of his situation finally came crashing down with the entrance of a new figure amidst the cold winter weather he was in.
“Quite the weather you’ve got going on,” the skeleton remarked, slowly and respectfully trying to make his way closer to the former Umbrum, “he who was once a unicorn, turned to himself only to become an Umbrum, and then once defeated, cast aside as Harmony had no intention to reform a soul that was consumed by its own volition. Quite the life you lived, albeit, misled one till the very end I suppose.”
Somber Heart didn’t reply, let alone give the skeleton a glance of recognition. Content with the edge view he was provided for at that moment.
“You still fear that reflection, don’t you?” The Captain asked, knowing what the answer of the unicorn deep down was. Hell, the papers he had read said as much, most of the things he knew came from these background checks of papers, one of the perks of being a Captain in the House of Death, he supposed.
And a twitch in Somber’s eye and a quick flick of his ear was all that needed to be said to tell his answer. So instead of trying to peer a wedge between them, he decided to steer the conversation to new.
“It’s a nice view we got up here…" he remarked, admittedly being impressed by what the void projected, that being the reflection of one's subconscious, or in this case, in particular, it was Somber's own dreaming subconscious, what he truly longed for.
Of course, the remark elicited a heartwarming grin from Somber, who decided that he should take a jab at steering this conversation. "Now this is what I’d like my place of rest to be like. When I came here, I wasn't exactly expecting such a sugarcoating of dreams, but then I started to think… What if it was a twisted method of retribution? You know, since I died and all.”
“Ah well, that's not exactly true, but you could say that.” was all the Captain could say in reassurance.
“Whatever the case may be, the first time I came back, the Crystal Heart sent me to Limbo, or something similar to it. But… when those six entered the throne room in Canterlot with that Draconequus, well…”
“The chaotic bastard was better than what he lets on, isn’t he? A force of nature when it comes to acting, and with that convincing silver tongue of his, he’s better than what most could ever expect from him and give him credit for, perks of being the Spirit of Chaos, I guess.”
Somber, who was now somewhat taken aback by the fact that he'd have to wholeheartedly agree with the Captain on his remark of Discord, was slow in his response. “Ah, well yes… that and the fact that I guess the ‘Elements of Harmony’ was much more, erm… harsher.”
“Ahh…” now that was a point that the Captain didn’t quite expect, not so early on at least. “Yes… Well, we'd have to agree to disagree on some points eventually, what with you having tried to destroy the fundamental vassal of Harmony. But then again, you wouldn’t be here if retribution wasn’t the case, now would you? The Spirit of Harmony does have a tendency to radiate some sort of holy-ish presence when in use. Hell, I’d wager that for sure you felt that dark heart of yours change before you ended up here.”
A small smirk was shared between the two beings, as Somber realized that this skeleton probably knew more than he’d let on, a fool’s game at play it seems.
“True, true.” He remarked.
That slight smirk was eventually replaced with a genuine grin from the skeleton as he realized something. “Well, that was certainly pleasant, clearly a better turnover from the last one I had handled.”
“Why? What happened?” Somber asked in curiosity, but he still refused to look at anything else except the Empire he dreamed of.
“He was… shall we say, dead set, a stranger with an admirable persistence that was… ill-placed, more or less. He wasn’t necessarily able, to be honest with what he wanted and had no real ambitions outside of having an obsession, so I had to send him to, um… the boss.” The Captain reluctantly explained, hoping that he didn’t reveal too much to dissuade the unicorn.
But when too looked to see any form of elicited or erratic reactions, he was surprised to find the unicorn in his calm demeanor.
“So it is true…” he mumbled to himself, which caught the ear of Somber, whose flick of the ear made him turn to look at the skeleton in a puzzled tone and look.
“What is?” he asked the skeleton, finally turning his head as he was unsure if he wanted to know the answer to his own question.
“That you… King Sombra –”
“Somber, Somber Heart, and I know you know it, so please use that.” He interjected, hoping to distance himself from the name he had given himself and widely known to be as. He was dead at that moment and believed it was better to breathe the fresh air of something different, even if it was as trivial as a name.
“Right, right,” the skeleton yielded, “that you, Somber Heart, feared nothing but how you would be remembered, either in shape or memory.”
A deep breath in and the King gave his take on what he had just heard. “I’m sure the Grim Reaper’s Captain wouldn’t mind indulging himself in listening in to my story, yes?”
Shrugging in approval, the skeleton gave him the go-ahead to speak. “Not like I have anything better to do, so go ahead, pique my interest, I look forward to it.”
Somber ignored the insult and persevered through with his story. “Then I guess I should tell you now, I became an Umbrum, not because of selfish intentions nor was it because of what I saw in that Heart.” The calm demeanor of the king did not falter, but it was clear from the gaze that he gave that he didn’t appreciate what he was going to share. “No, you see, I saw just how flawed the Crystal Kingdom had become at that point. Give or take, I was ridiculed for not only my name but also fate. And so, I did something to change that, I seek different forms of guidance, the heart was just the nail in the coffin if you ask me.”
“And why is that?”
A small, devilish grin befell Somber, as he relished the passing moment in his thoughts. “The heart was…. Shall we say, more of a tool than anything, a means rather than an end, so to speak? The way I see it, the Kingdom was being leashed, dragged down from ever achieving its full potential. I, on the other hoof, led and did what everyone knew had to be done but didn't have the guts nor heart to do so.”
He saw the Captain about to speak, but he already knew the question. “And no, I don't know where or when everything changed, but I do remember the time when I became king, and subsequently began my conquest. I ruled with fear to keep most in check, and I regret nothing. Trying to make history through my conquest or actions was one thing, it was another to make and unify an empire, and although I may have doomed myself to a place beyond that of Tartarus, I would have rather upheld a dozen fold deaths and still become a source of fear that united my kind rather than having lived through my life in fear and silence, in a monotonous world.” His gaze over the Captain had never ceased, his eyes turning into something dark as he tried to channel the fears of this being.
“Then you should know that in death, you could fear absolutely nothing and literally everything at the same time. So that gaze isn’t going to work on me, no matter how hard you try.” The Captain remarked, with Somber quickly realizing that his little scheme for control would bring nothing to fruition. “And besides, you lost, twice as a matter of fact.”
Quickly blinking to dissipate the dark form of magic he had tried to use on the Captain, he gave an honest remark. “Better having tried than never knowing, amirite? And besides, like most things, the sad fact was that it would have eventually ended, it was just a matter of time.”
His quick retort earned him a heartfelt chuckle from the Captain, who responded in kind. “That’s, well, true for the most part. So, are trying to gain my favor with that story of yours? Or are you playing on a different angle here?” Unbeknownst to Somber, the Captain himself was hoping for something more out of him, would be a shame to waste such ingenuity and intellectual pony after all, especially since he’d have plenty more souls to manage later on down the line.
Still unfazed, Somber answered the Captain’s question without a second thought. “In a way, one has to try and sway the odds in his favor, that includes taking chances, and while I was alive, consequences came and went. And I’m sure you know a thing or two about consequences, you’re a servant to death after all.”
Ignoring the jab that was made at his standing, the Captain found himself smiling in his own way, he was more than happy to give the unicorn a break, and he had to admit, he saw a bit of himself in that unicorn. Something about dreaming bigger really did resonate with him, even if what resulted was bloodshed, having been accustomed to… shall we say, unforeseen consequences.
“Speaking of consequences, as I’m sure you know, you’re destined to a place beyond Tartarus for your, shall we say… less than virtues life.”
“I expected that much.”
“And so I have to ask, are you interested in…” he paused hesitantly, “an opportunity?”
“…” their gears were turning and churning inside their heads.
“And where are you going with this?” Somber uneasily asked. Raising his brow skeptically at the prospect of this sudden offer being thrown his way.
As much as his curiosity fueled him, the back of his neck begged to differ as his coat seemed to tingle and scream in opposition, seeing as the skeleton also seemed to have second thoughts on their answer. ‘Who knew reading into emotions and fears could tell you so much about them,’ he thought to himself, internally patting himself at being able to spot small giveaways…
Finally, the skeleton seemed to have made up its mind. “Although there is a strict code of ethics shared between most… benevolent beings, including those of the Forces of Nature, such as the Spirit of Harmony, there stands a few… creative liberties gifted to a select few, including my position.”
Well… that wasn’t convincing enough to win him over, judging by the fact that Somber was clearly still skeptical. “Really? Well, you’re going to have to try a little harder than that.”
“I know, I know,” the skeleton muttered, quickly thinking of ways to put forward his offer. “The premise of it is really simple, become a courier of Death, and under my supervision, postpone your judgment and maybe, just maybe, get the opportunity that you never knew you needed!”
Still undeterred, however, the skeleton was quick to see that he really did have to try harder than simple words. So he decided that maybe it was appropriate to have a bit of showing so that he hammer home what he was telling. And with a snap of his finger, the mountain scenery that once encapsulated them was quickly turned into the quiet hallway, something he'd hoped would play a subconscious role in convincing the unicorn to see through with his offer.
“Empires galore!" He exclaimed. "You may have once feared being left into obscurity, but with an iron will and, erhm… shall we say, more or less bloody path, you changed your fate and many more!”
“Don’t try to sugarcoat my story,” Somber remarked, insisting and intending to keep things straight and honest as much as possible between the two of them. “Because we both know the extent, and it’s not gonna stick with just how you seem to handle your shtick.”
“Riiiight…” the skeleton reluctantly replied, but despite that, he quickly found himself and Somber wandering about near the portraits that the hallway showed. In particular, the portrait of King Grover I, the Unifier of the Griffonkind, whose reign eventually paved the way for the GGE’s formation.
“Well, your rule over the Crystal ponies wasn’t exactly a massacre of an entire race, and excluding the fact that you did for a brief period in time send them into extinction, let us think about the end result of it, what you achieved. And I believe you'll have to agree with me on this, you did succeed in your goal of being remembered, albeit with an unfortunate catch. Now to sprinkle this back to my offer would be very simple, you see, all I ask is that you take on one role, a small but significant one, to become one of my many couriers in the mortal realm! To live amongst the living once again, or should you want another form, so long as you become a courier to a courier of death! And who knows, I might just decide to form ranks if I have the spare time to organize the lot.”
“But…” Somber's mind halted, not out of confusion, but more so the fact of the extent of this opportunity that was presented to him. His hesitation was clearly evident as the moments lingered on, with the portrait of Grover overlooking them both all the while.
“If you could look past the fact that you will be my employee in this endeavor, then I tell you now that rest assured, I do treat those under my care with utmost respect and dignity, and although I am not in charge of the breath of life, I could pull for you a few favors should you need it. Consider it your third chance in potential life, you screwed the first two, but hey, as the old adage goes, the third time's the charm! So what do you say? Do you want to make this chance count?”
The unicorn could only stare in shock at what he heard. Was it true? Or was he being deceived into false hope? He was unsure as temptation really was in every thought as he weighed his options.
“Should you need to be reassured further of your ‘living’ situation if you take my offer, I am willing to show you the nature of such positions and…”
But Somber didn’t care about what he'd have to endure, much less the empty words that were spewing out of the skeleton. No, for all he cared that wasn’t the point, because what he was up against was something he wished he'd never thought he’d have to face again, a choice.
For so long in his reign was he defined by what everyone else thought of him, a dictator, a monster, or whatever great evil would come to mind, all brought about from the one choice of taking fate head-on, whether it be the moment he becomes an Umbrum or as a so-called dictator.
He thought he’d only have to face that decision once, but now, after his death, he is once again faced with the same question he had on the fateful day he choose to try and change fate head-on…
But back then, he had his resolve, patience, and willingness because he believed he had more to gain and near nothing to lose, now, however? Was he content to be remembered as a monster, in some delusional feeling of deservingness of retribution?
“You may have been fearful once, a shadow that once hid in the shadow. And you eventually came out with the help of another fellow, you aspired to be something and to become something. The only wrong turn you took was your studies in shadows, and by extension –”
“Fears,” Somber said, completing the line of thought presented.
“Yes, but, well, I'd be lying if I said that wasn’t quite the smart move, because as you can see…” a single flick of the hand by the Captain again, and the scenery changed from the overlooking mountain of Somber’s dream empire into a new hall with the portraits of the many Emperors of the Great Griffon Empire and then some. “You’ve become distinguished, subsequently becoming something more than what even the majority of the sovereigns in the greatest empire in your world’s history could even wish of accomplishing.”
It was awe-inducing, as if the sheer scale of the hall shrunk them into insignificant at the moment, Somber could as far as his eye could see the hundreds, if not thousands of Kings, Dutch, and Emperors of the GGE and more! And something deep down really did resonate, although he could very well move on into an afterlife and receive the consequences he pretty much deserved, there stood before him an opportunity, a one-of-a-kind standing for him to accept or forgo.
The question that stands in his way, his mind now was, should he take it? Did he deserve it? Or is there something greater at play?
On the other fence of this mental charade, the Captain should be eternally grateful that higher beings, like him, could mitigate magic to some capacity. He didn’t expect Somber to be exceptionally proficient in his field, especially since his form of magic, which dares he admit it, was near-alike to Cadenza’s form of magic in love, only that it differed it catering to capturing the emotion of fear and… apathy.
That was what the Captain feared: if Somber had grown to numb out his emotions like fear, which would really be apathetic, he couldn't see the light of his offer. His gamble was that Somber had changed just enough to at least put some semblance of trust in his word on the balance, and he really wasn’t given a break as it was clear that Somber still weighed his actions heavily on the consequences brought about by his alter-ego, which made it seem like the unicorn could go either way, which of course wasn’t good for him.
He wasn’t playing a game, as much as Life and Death might put the entire balance of everything as a ‘game’ of stories, he was genuinely a cut shorter than them. He still had lingering emotions from his bygone past, which played a big role in trying to be something more than a courier of Death.
Although unlike the being/s (?) who preceded him, whom he believed simply operated on a need-to-know basis and a simple pretense of delivering any said quota just for the sake of it. Their actions, at least according to just how unrelenting and seemingly inhumane some of the stories could get, were provocative, to say the least.
Of course, that was his thoughts on the matter, as he himself had his own fair share of dealings before his time as the Captain of Death, having been involved in some pretty lucrative dealings whilst he was alive. His palms weren't clear of blood either, far from it, he could probably bathe an entire continent in blood if he had to compare. And yet despite that undeniably less than a merciful standard of life and achievements he led, he never considered himself a ‘great’ nor even an associate of one, despite the contemporary being true.
Despite that, he did still become an unsung hero of sorts, and although he never got his name written in full when he worked or was contracted, he still proved his worth in the mastery of his craft in warfare and business.
Life wasn't exactly smooth sailing for him, for a start, he tried to build and work himself a reputation that got him "posted", but more on the lines of being exiled in the Baltics under Russian, Swedish, and Germanic supervision. There, he learned the art of the sea trade and basic warfare, and would, later on, use that when there came a problem in the Americas, he was sooner posted to be working for the EIC to further develop his trade and connections, eventually having put what he'd learned to earn a place in commandeering the Santísima Trinidad and L'Orient on different occasions for convoys and such.
To say the least, his time did teach him a thing or two about the value of blood and spice, and by extension, the cruel reality of waging war and business. After all, he did believe one has to play all sides to not only understand the world but always come out on top.
He had grown accustomed to it, it was the nature of his past forte after all, and having grown accustomed to such has since lent itself to bring a mixed conundrum for him. On one hand, his expertise proved his worth in the form of his professionalism and a unique charm that usually allowed him to come out on top of his dealing with higher beings or his subordinates, on the other, it was the very thing that latched onto him from his old life, something he can't simply let go and has since occasionally revisited in the form of nostalgia and memory, a constant reminder of sorts.
That was then that he realized he was getting sidetracked again, so much for having a conscience. The Captain realized he still had a job to do. “So, I must ask, do you wish to become something more with the opportunity that I give you? Or are you content being the shadow of an ego that robbed you of the life you had?"
Now, there was a clear hesitation shared, but what set this time apart was Somber staring back at the Captain, as if he tried to gauge his features and discern if it was a ploy, evidently, Somber seemed to be leaning in believing it wasn’t one. “Then… yes, if I am able to turn my fate around, then I will take this chance.”
‘Well, well, looks like someone learned a thing or two about fates… maybe he’ll get to learn about immortality as well.’ But that was another topic for another day. Somber’s affirmation was what he needed to hear, and a slight grin slowly formed across the Captain’s face as he knew he had just earned himself another asset, and a useful one at that, unlike the Storm King…
“But…” Somber relented a bit, “how are we going to set things in stone exactly? After all, although I know that caveats and the like aren’t my forte, I can still sense there’s something deeper than what meets the eye.”
“Ah,” his mind wandered to a quick thought, finding it humorous that Somber was quick on the gun as a small chuckle escaped him, it reminded him that of course, nothing is usually final until it’s actually laid out on paper, fine then. “Then a document entailing everything related is what you want, yes?”
And with a quick flick of the wrist, a paper containing all the formalities was conjured up and was levitated for the unicorn to read, and eventually sign. It outlined everything, even the Captain's intention and some other formalities.
All the while, Somber didn't realize the gaze of the hundreds of thousands of the portraits of the GGE, who all seemed to be staring down unto them, as if they observed the entire preceding as it unfolded, their expressions never changing but their eyes laid set on the two beings who were making a contract.
On the off-hand, the Captain could tell that he was being watched, and it was unnerving, the literal feeling of being watched, which wasn’t there initially, making itself known as if to push onto the facts and remind him of the situation. He was being observed, like a vulture circling its meal, and although he wasn't fazed, he could tell that something was up, something was turning outside the backdrop he had created.
“So, is this where I sign?” Somber promptly asked, pointing at a blank space left specifically for his name. Having skimmed through most of the document whilst having read thoroughly through the important clauses and parts that he thought were important.
A quick nod was made by the skeleton, and the unicorn proceeded to reread the paper for a final time, and the only thing needed was his name and signature to seal the deal with the contract, which he would promptly give in due time.
The Captain, having noticed Somber finishing up, simply flicked his wrist once again and a pen appeared for the unicorn to use. Which was of course quickly encapsulated in the magical hue of Somber’s magic, as he wrote and signed his name on the given space on the paper.
“Excellent,” the Captain quickly remarked, taking the piece of paper and quickly skimming its contents, making sure everything was in order.
“So when do we start?” Somber eagerly asked, awaiting what he thought to be his ticket back to the real world, whether it was resurrection, reincarnation, or another way he didn't care so long as he was sent back alive, a subordinate of a Captain perhaps, but alive nonetheless.
After all, he did believe he’d have his third chance in life at the cost of some additional work, if what the Captain’s position as a somewhat benevolent being implied that is, and he was willing to endure that to write the wrongs in his legacy, to try and make a difference once again.
The Captain for his part, looked away hesitantly when the unicorn asked him, initially unwilling to push through with what he’d have to do.
But he knew what had to be done, and he simply must set things straight, now. “Ah yes, you see… as much as I acknowledge your tenacity and abilities, Somber. You’ll have to wait for a good while until I’ll send you back there. After all, as a captain, I form and operate in fleets, not individuals.”
Wait, what!? Was he tricked? Lead on and be manipulated? Somber didn’t know, as he felt the odd sensation of drowsiness slowly take effect, affecting his willpower to slowly leave him and the effects of exhaustion to make itself known to him. Making it harder for him to stay awake and infer what was about to happen at any given moment.
“Although as I said, you did get the job." The Captain said, more at a vain attempt of reassurance. "The problem you face now is simply being put on standby, but not to worry, I'm just sending you to a place like Limbo, so it’ll feel like a quick nap. So until I'll see you again, sweet dreams.”
And without even a second thought, the Captain sealed Somber's fate for the foreseeable time. Somber didn't even have time to react, as his body simply went limp and the pupils in his eyes disappeared, leaving a white backdrop in his eyes.
He could only stare at the hollow shell called a body. Looking around, he saw all the portraits in the hallway staring down at him as if they judged his actions.
But he was unfazed, and much as he could sense Somber wanting to give a remark or protest in the last moment, he was quicker on doing the deed needed to avoid growing an unwanted attachment, which would have made things subsequently harder later on down the line.
The Captain could only breathe a sigh, running his skeletal hand down his skull with a hint of regret. He started to walk, slowly at first, but picking up the pace into something akin to a stroll, all the while he looked around at the portraits that hung from either side of the hallway wall.
The Grim Reaper really was pinning him in a tight spot every now and again. Now, he'll just have to wait for things to play out… but there was a nagging feeling deep inside him.
He knew the willpower of a spirit is stronger than what even he’d give it credit for, and he feared that if he’d keep omitting, he might very well meet his match in one of the many forms of Fate, or in the worst case, a vengeful spirit. Something he didn't wish to deal with nor be given the prospect of even preparing for.
He continued on with his stroll, finding it to be the only thing he could do for the time being. He'll come around eventually, he knew it, just didn't know when.
He could hear it, the distant bells, the bells that symbolized a distant coming. The Captain breathed a sigh, god he really should be thankful that he was able to keep a façade on despite tough jigs.
Although given the fact, the two Kings he had recently dealt with made him realize a grim lesson he had long since set aside, having dedication was a double-edged sword, and it really dug into him that it required time and willingness, two things that he simply grew dull towards since his servitude to the Grim Reaper. And something that he had to work his way into building again if he wanted to earn the trust of the couriers he would recruit. For now, however, he can rest assured that he at least made sure that an asset was secured, which was something.
He was in his office, eagerly waiting for the report he expected from his informants. After all, he didn't simply handle those in between the mortal realm and the afterlife, he also had to keep himself posted on recent events and unfortunately, transgressions. He knew that the business with souls wasn't cut-and-dry as he'd love it to be, with vengeful spirits usually brute-forcing their way back into the mortal realm, a problem that he hasn't encountered in a while, but believed would have to deal with eventually once more.
Regardless, as the moments settled on, the Captain felt a nagging, almost boiling feeling in his stomach. Which was weird, because he didn't have one, to begin with.
Trying to help himself, he realized something, he still hasn't heard from Grim Reaper in a while, and surely his sibling would have reached out to him if something was up for this long. It served to slowly remind him of the part of the job that pissed him off the most. Just how was he going to wait!? He knew the Grim Reaper could be cruel at times, and he never got used to the antics, which meant he harbored a small sense of resentfulness, of course, one could have a different opinion on the matter.
That was until he realized the sensation in his stomach wasn't an unfamiliar one. It was on the tip of his tongue, he just couldn't find the word until the realization hit him a tad bit too late.
“SON OF A BITC –” but before he could finish his angered exclamation. He was poofed into nonexistence…