//------------------------------// // Chapter 12~ // Story: Sombasi, Brother of Sombra // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// Celestia’s beloved star had shifted into its’ afternoon orange hue as its’ warmth and rays were, as always, allowed access through the illusionary yet protective barrier erected by the Crystal Heart.  Sombra and Sombasi are locked in conversation with a green-coated crystal earth pony stallion. He was a guard who holstered a spear over his right shoulder, stationed at one of four exit/entrance points into the crystalline city, each located in the north, east, south, and western provinces.  Each point consisted of an archway with two watchtowers on either side as guards tentatively observed citizens leaving and entering the city from atop and below these structures. “We often use the southern grasslands for drills and even sparring exercises, so I don’t doubt that there’ll be guards out there to keep you two safe,” the guard informs. “That said, you are forbidden to leave the barrier’s boundaries without appropriate supervision. The snow is falling steadily outside, so it’s not too bad for the moment. But trotting through the northern outskirts at your age—regardless of conditions—is simply out of the question.”   The guard narrows his orange orbs. “Do I make myself clear?” he asserts, eyes drilling his words into their skulls. “Yes, sir,” Sombra and Sombasi unified, nodding their heads.   Sombra, in particular, possessed two items wrapped in a purple blanket that were attached to either side of his stomach region with a thin white rope, often garnering curiosity in Sombasi.  “Very good,” the guard nods in approval. But upon noticing the hidden items strapped onto the older sibling, the armored stallion chuckled in recognition. “Interesting,” he muttered. “I’m sorry?” Sombasi asked, ears perking up. The guard shook his head. “Never mind that; it’s just me rambling. Well, don’t let me waste any more of your time, little gems. Have fun out there.”   “We will, sir,” Sombra adhered with a slight bow. Sombasi nods in agreement before turning to Sombra inquisitively. “Sombasi still wonders what you have planned, brother mine.” he eyes the wrapped items. “What are those? Sticks?” Sombra beamed. “All shall be revealed, brother.” Sombasi’s eyes shot wide open. “Oh, no, you always say that before something embarrassing happens to Sombasi!” “Brother mine, I’m hurt!” Sombra feigned with a forelimb resting on his chest. “How could you ever accuse Sombra of such a thing?” Sombasi deadpanned his sibling. “Gee, Sombasi wonders…” Sombra chuckled heartfully, waving his farewells to the guard before starting to trek down a dirt road that cut and arched through the vast grasslands. Small patches of forestation can be seen in the distance, along with spires of alluring crystals that dotted the landscape—both serving as a reminder of the barrier’s boundaries. “Come, Sombasi. Let us be off.” Sombasi observed his brother’s parting form for a moment, groaning in awful anticipation with a ‘facehoof’ sliding down his features.  “Let’s just get this over with…” The younger sibling slowly began to trot down the pathway but soon shook his head with slight laughter. “Sombra! Wait up!” he beckoned, breaking out into a full sprint.  The guard watched as the two brothers became distant dark-gray dots with every passing moment. And with a longing sigh, his gaze went skyward. “I wish I had a sibling…” The brotherly duo kept to the dirt pathway but now approached several nearby oval-shaped corrals of a purple, crystalline composition. Or, as the brothers had aptly named: arenas, each teeming with armored, weapon-wielding equines of all types and genders. Their ears flickered in response to warcries and cheerful exclamations as crystal guards cheered on for the combatants within the arenas. The clashing of wooden, metallic, and even crystalline blades sounds off with accompanying grunts and groans. They admittedly became envious of a pair of unicorns who wielded their weapons with magical auras of a silver and yellow coloration. But their excitement only grew tenfold for the magic lessons Miss. Chestnut had promised them. Once they became of proper age, of course.  “Wow!” Sombasi beamed. “It’s so different compared to when Miss. Chestnut brings us all out here for field trips.” “That’s because she plans it when the guards are on break or have a day off from training,” Sombra matter-of-factly states. “Seeing it on the Crystal Projector back in the classroom is one thing, but seeing it in pony is another.” “But, wait, why are we even here?” “Isn’t it obvious, brother?” Sombra paused in place; his brother followed suit. “I would think the answer is all around you to see.” Sombasi intakes his surroundings once more, the arenas, the combatants, the audience, hay; there was even a junior corral with wooden swords on a rack positioned within a pitched-up tent just to the left of the dirt road’s upcoming fork- His eyes shot wide open in realization with a small gasp. “Oh, sweet Amore…”      Sombra formed a toothy grin. “Did Sombasi figure it out?” Sombasi shot Sombra a stupified gaze. “Are you- are we,” he glanced at the wrapped-up items to Sombra’s sides, “then, are those…” “Heh. They sure are!”  Sombra abruptly grabs onto the white rope holstered around his neck and shoulder, specifically one of the ears of the ‘Bunny Ears’ tie method that held it all together. The cord slips right off of the older sibling by surrendering to the weight of the two wrapped items, said items falling to the ground and kicking up a small cloud of dust. Sombra grinningly seized one of the wrapped items and unfurled the purple cloth covering to reveal a wooden sword, practically a colt’s plaything. But unlike the ones holstered up on the nearby rack, its’ grip was of a red crystal that’s carved into the appropriate shape.  Sombasi eyed the weapon with a slightly agape muzzle. “H-how did Sombra even get that?” “A nice mare gave it to Sombra at the Marketplace about a week ago.” Sombra grabs onto the wooden sword’s grip with his right forelimb, holding it up high in glee. “I think her name was Rafia or… Rabella…?” Sombasi raised an eyebrow.  “What?” Sombra said with shrugged shoulders while sitting on his flank. “It was a whole week ago!” he protests, standing at full stature, “And I haven’t seen her again since then.” “And… she just gave it to you for free?” Sombasi inquired. Sombra swipes the blade sideways playfully. “Well, not exactly. Sombra helped her to move some boxes onto a carriage. And when it was done, she gave these to me in gratitude, saying they were for you and me. Although, I’m confused as to how she knew I had a brother.” Sombasi tilts his head. “She knew we were brothers?” “Yeah, but I didn’t tell her that, and I certainly don’t remember ever meeting her before.” “Hmmm…” Sombasi pondered. “Maybe she saw us at the orphanage?” “That’s quite possible. But never mind all that, come,” Sombra gestures toward the second blade, “that one is for you.” Sombasi walks closer to what he suspected and now knew was another concealed blade of similar composition, possibly even a complete copy of the one Sombra wielded. Even so, the dark-gray unicorn hastily unwraps the weapon, and as was expected, it looked similar to the one Sombra was now practicing strikes with, save for one glaring difference: The crystal that made up the grip was emerald green. Sombasi was simply at a loss for words, even imitating a goldfish as he looked up to his brother, down to the weapon, and up to his sibling again. “This… this is amazing!” his face morphed into joy, “Wow! I love it! Thank you, brother!” Sombra cackles loudly with a hint of excitement. “Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go test these out against each other!”  Sombasi flashed a vibrant smile, nodding. “Sombasi would like that! But, brother,” a thought had been bothering the younger sibling, “why are we even sparring? Don’t get Sombasi wrong; he is grateful for the gift, and it sounds like fun, but why are we doing this?” he spun a forelimb around their general area. Sombra halts his practice, resting the wooden object over his right shoulder. “Sombasi has been having a hard time since this morning, and now you’ll have to live with Blueblood because of what happened.” sympathy presents itself on his face. “Sombra thinks this will be an excellent way for his dear brother to vent.”  In truth, there was another reason concerning a particular vision Sombra had with the Crystal Heart. But whatever the case was, he would ensure that should those events ever come to pass, he and his brother would be prepared to face the danger. Together.  He’ll be sure to tell Sombasi about it later, and mayhaps it’ll make for a great bedtime story. “Remember what Miss. Chestnut taught us, Sombasi, v-” “Violence breeds violence, Sombasi knows,” the younger sibling interjects, albeit not rudely. “Sombasi thanks you for always looking out for him, Sombra.” he finished with a smile. “It’s what brothers do,” Sombra asserts proudly. “So remember: if you ever feel like lashing out at Blueblood again, just come to Sombra. You must understand that she wants you to retaliate so that she can twist the situation to her advantage. Sure, she also got punished, but that’s only because Miss. Chestnut is kind and fair. Sombra trusts you see where he’s going with this?”   Sombasi nods. “I understand, brother.” Sombra takes a few steps closer, resting his free forelimb upon Sombasi’s right shoulder. “It’s ok to defend yourself, of course, but only when you have to, not because you want to,” a mischievous smirk formed on his muzzle, “Speaking of… pick up your weapon. I love you, brother, but I, Sombra, am the stronger sibling. Unless, of course, you wish to prove me wrong?” Sombasi’s left eye twitches, followed by a determined grin. “Sombasi accepts your challenge!” The crystal gate of the small yet maneuverable oval-shaped corral creaks open as the brothers enter the arena. Sombasi trots toward the adjacent side of the arena while Sombra kicks the gate shut with his hind leg, positioning himself in front of it. “Hey, Sombra!” Sombasi calls out, weapon held and braced for combat. “This feels just like our ‘Knights and Princesses’ sessions with Hope and Snowdrops, huh?”    Sombra chuckles, weapon at the ready. “Indeed! Only this time, we’re actually going to fight. And, of course… you’re the princess! Hah!” he puffs his chest out and stands proudly, oozing confidence. “And I have come to take your crown! Without a knight to defend you, princess, victory will be mine!” “Heh, so much for that ‘Violence breeds violence’ talk, huh?” Sombasi retorts. Sombra grins. “Sometimes it has to be this way, princess.” “Then I choose to be just like Princess Amore, strong and fearless! And as for you taking my crown, well, we’ll see about that!” Sombasi roars out before he bites down upon his weapon’s grip and charges forth, eyes narrowed in determination. Sombra matches his brother’s resolve and actions, his weapon’s grip held firmly in his mouth, eyes narrowed. And soon enough, two traveling clouds of dirt being kicked up from two opposing sides drew closer and closer, resulting in the echoing sounds of clashing wood and youthful screams. But unbeknownst to the combatants, they had garnered the attention of one Prince Olstrom Shattershield, who observes their clash from a hilltop with cloth-covered, saddle arabian features.               “Well, well,” he chuckled. “A contest between brothers, I see.”