//------------------------------//
// Chapter 15~ 
// Story: Sombasi, Brother of Sombra 
// by Pomp-Neigh 
//------------------------------//

Stunned silence engulfed the masses as the protective wall erected by Olstrom Shattershield began to crumble. At the same time, the saddle arabian looked over his right shoulder, hazel eyes resting upon Hoo’Far’s stupefied frame.

The inner walls of Hoo’Far’s throat had dried out due to reiterated and sudden air intakes as he tried to regain his composure. What did that damned prince do? What was this power? These were only some of the numerous questions that flooded his mind and, undoubtedly, the psyches of the onlookers beyond the arena, although they lacked the damning of Olstrom.

However, if Hoo’Far’s now flickering ears hadn’t deceived him, the red hybrid could also pick up the murmurings of familiarity as some amongst the armor-platted audience seemed to recognize the phenomenon. But this only further festered anger and shame within his body, much to his displeasure. 

But the anger isn’t what caused Hoo’Far’s inner shame. In fact, he never hid his disdain for the royal family of Saddle Arabia. It was the lack of recognizing the prowess Olstrom displayed as someone who had saddle arabian blood flowing through his veins that, admittedly, made him regret several life choices.

Chief among those regrets was the complete dismissal of learning more about his saddle arabian roots. And yet, that also intertwined with why he completely abhorred Saddle Arabia’s current ruling lineage. 

Hoo’Far then jolts to attention as Olstrom turns around and begins to approach, clearly displeased with the crimson unicorn-arabian’s actions. But the sudden exclamations of militarized greetings of the crystal guard-comprised audience drew the attention of the arena’s two inhabitants.

“I-It’s the General!”

“General Atlas!”

The crowd began to split apart, almost akin to a royal procession, as a pathway toward the direction of the Crystal Empire’s spires of structures slowly formed.  

“General on-site!” a mare’s gruff, masculine voice boomed over the now silenced masses. “Attention!”    

All who made up the armored gathering, save for Sombra and Sombasi, who simply looked on in curiosity and wonder while still positioned at the base of a crystalline corral panel, stood at attention and transitioned with a unified step following the exclamation. 

Olstrom and Hoo’Far soon made out an encroaching, middle-aged, well-built unicorn stallion donned in high-ranking platted armor taking on a roman motif, whose five-foot frame was trotting down the cleared pathway with a wall of guards saluting him on either side. 

And there, resting on his chest plate, was the heart-shaped badge of his office: 





True to his rank, General Atlas radiated pure and unbridled authority as he trampled over blades of grass during his stroll. His light-brown coat and dark-brown tail and mane lacked the shimmering effect crystal ponies were renowned for, indicating his origins were not of the Empire. Even so, he had earned the respect of both his crystal and non-crystal equine brethren. 

Olstrom instantly recognized the unmistakable prominence of a seasoned warrior and well-respected leader. But the very mention of the general’s name sent ripples of familiarity throughout Olstrom’s form, which soon became present on his features.

“Well now,” he smirked. “Let’s see if Tzana was right about you.”

“General Atlas…” Hoo’Far muttered with wide eyes before immediately presenting himself, standing at full stature and dusting off any semblance of dirt that tarnished his appearance.   

General Atlas soon stood several feet from the arena, intaking the forms of Olstrom and Hoo’Far within before looking to either side of the wall of crystal guards.

“So.” his resonant, boisterous voice reveals itself after a clearing of their owner’s throat. “Which one of you mares, stallions, and technicalities in between is gonna tell me what’s happening here?”


……….


As the adults conversed, Sombra and Sombasi had long been lost in awe at the presence of General Atlas.

“General Atlas,” Sombasi said with stars in his eyes, sitting on his rump while compressing his cheeks with his forelimbs. “He’s so awesome.”

“It’s said that he’s achieved the most feats compared to any other pony that has ever managed to reach the highest ranks of the crystal guard.” Sombra blinked several times to manage through his form of starstruck. 

“He led the charge in pushing back the invasive Moose of Hailberg, aided Princess Amore’s parents in the clash with the Amphitheres, the winged serpents of North Polar Lair, and chased off a pack of a snow variant of Timberwolves that ravaged the Empire’s outskirts.”

Sombasi nods rapidly and repeatedly in agreement. “And he attained the rank of General after the banishment of the Umbrum!” the younger sibling clapped with his forehooves giddily. 

“Of all the Crystal Empire’s heroes Miss. Chestnut has ever told us about; he’s my favorite.”

Although the brothers had been impressed by the saddle arabian prince, Olstrom simply couldn’t compare to the general in their eyes.

“So cool!” they screamed in unison.


……….


“And that, sir, is my full report.” a pegasus crystal guardsmare of silver beauty finishes her tale while lowering her saluting gesture.

General Atlas clicks his tongue while taking a moment to absorb the information thoroughly. “I see. Thank you for that, private.”

“Sir!” the pegasus adjusted her wings as General Atlas began to walk away.

“Let me have your foals.”

“What was that?” the general inquires, stopping in place while looking back to her over his right shoulder, ears shifting toward her direction.

“It’s just bickering between foals, sir!” she quickly lets out, garnering several groans and snickering from her fellow guards.

The general raises an eyebrow, looks back to the arena, and chuckles in amusement. “Those are some big ass foals, then. Hah! Seriously, what are they feeding you, youngsters, nowadays.” 

The pegasus admires the general’s parting form with a goofy grin as a green earth pony stallion present at her rear leans in with a smirk.

“Smooth, Silvia. Very smooth.”

“Oh, go clop yourself, ice-for-brains.”


……….


“Good afternoon, gentlecolts,” General Atlas began upon reaching a corral panel of the arena as Olstrom and Hoo’Far stood adjacently on the other side. And as the duo attempts to lower their forms in proper greeting, the general ceases their actions with a raised forelimb. 

“Ah ta ta ta! Save all that kneeling for Princess Amore. Besides,” he gestures toward Olstrom, “you’re the royalty here. Why in Tartarus’s butt crack would you kneel to me, to begin with?”

“I’m not exactly royalty, General Atlas. I was merely adopted into such privilege, not born into it.”

“Huh. You say that like there’s a difference. Still, your brother was right about you. You’re very humble; I’ll give you that.” the general’s eyes then rest on Hoo’Far. “And from the information I was given, I take it this is the recruit who challenged you?”

Since the general’s arrival, Hoo’Far had become inertly troubled by the ramifications of his actions. It didn’t take a genius to decipher what this could mean for his career, and although he doesn’t regret his actions toward the saddle arabian prince, he does regret having to tell his mother of his inevitable failure.

“Yes, General Atlas,” Olstrom answered while shifting his gaze to Hoo’Far. “He is.”

With those words, Hoo’Far already accepted his fate. He would be discharged from the crystal guard… and disgrace his father’s name. 

“Your father was one hell of a soldier, Hoo’Far. One of the best I ever had the pleasure of knowing.” the general’s words drew Hoo’Far out of his inner conflict, ears raised attentively. 

The unicorn-arabian’s body trembled for an instant before he managed to recollect himself. All while Olstrom observes the exchange in neutral silence.

“That… that he was, sir.”

“Your old stallion fought at my side in countless battles, and when the Umbrum attacked, he charged forth like one of those Rhinos from Zebrabwe… and saved countless lives in doing so, including my own. Yes, I wouldn’t even be here were it not for that titan of a saddle arabian.”

“I know where this is going, sir… and I’m sorry. I truly am.”

“Damn right, you’re sorry.” Atlas asserts, followed by a tired sigh. “I’m just disappointed to see that you don’t remind me of him one damn bit, son. You even have his name, for Amore’s sake. How could you show such dishonor to your father, a stallion who died to ensure the Empire’s future? To ensure your future?”

“I-I…” Hoo’Far’s eyes fell downward. “I have no excuse, sir.” he sighed, raising his eyes to meet Atlas’s own. “I accept any punishment you deem fit; just know that I’m genuinely sorry. However,” his eyes scornfully shot toward Olstrom, “I do not regret giving this honor less swine a piece of my mind. I will always hate you, Shattershield,” he spat, “and any member of Saddle Arabia’s royal family for- f-for...” unable to finish his bombardment, the unicorn-arabian looked away with a scoff.

Olstrom could only look upon the hybrid with a sense of inquiry and determination. He didn’t know why Hoo’Far despised him so much, but he’d be sure to get to the bottom of it. However, there was also that ever-lasting tug at the back of the saddle arabian prince’s mind, and he couldn’t help but feel like the name ‘Hoo’Far’ brewed a sense of... familiarity. 

The general stares at the red hybrid in thought as seconds pass by, barely managing to form a whole minute as the high-ranking unicorn turns in place to address the onlooking masses.

“Alright—show’s over, everypony! Time to turn it in, so get your crystal flanks down to the Mess Hall on the double. Dismissed!”

“Sir! Yes, sir!” the armored legion bellowed while stomping a foreleg in unison.

The sounds of clanking armor followed as the crystal guards heed their general’s command and trot toward the northern direction of distant crystalline structures. After several minutes, only the general, Olstrom, and Hoo’Far remained until a duo of dark-gray unicorn colts approached them via small hooves trekking through the arena’s dirt-filled grounds.

“Excuse us!” Sombasi eagerly called out, eyes fixated on General Atlas. “Sombasi just wanted to say that Sombra and I are your biggest fans, Mr. Atlas, sir.”

The brothers plant themselves between Olstrom and Hoo’Far as Sombasi’s words garner a chuckle from General Atlas. However, unbeknownst to anyone else present, the general was already quite familiar with the two brothers without them seemingly knowing about it. 

After all… General Atlas was there when Princess Amore found them. And he was among the few who Princess Amore trusted with a staggering truth regarding the young duo:

That they, themselves… are Umbrum.