//------------------------------// // Chapter 19~ // Story: Sombasi, Brother of Sombra // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// To say that the lunar princess was beyond shocked by current circumstances would be an understatement. Here, before her very- well, she was going to say ‘eyes,’ but she was still trying to make sense of things. All she knew was that she was surrounded by darkness again, following the windigo’s words and actions. Stars above, this was so similar to her dream walking, but seemingly a much more ancient variant. Nay, she supposed it was more accurate to say…primal. Regardless, Fimbulvetr, a windigo - a creature that had existed even before her and her sister’s time - had reached out to the lunar princess. He, judging by their tone of voice, wanted to speak to her. Did she mention that a windigo wanted to speak to her? A loud yet haunting neigh suddenly breaks the silence and draws Luna out of her state of shock and questioning her reality as she was once more forced to ‘shield her eyes’ from another luminous phenomenon. The alicorn slowly opened her eyes - actual eyes, as far as the dream was concerned. She could finally see her surroundings and her own body, but something else instantly demanded her attention. She was on the outskirts of the Crystal Empire. The vast blankets of snow, small patches of forestation with snow-covered barks, and the crystalline domain itself were all prominent indicators. But what’s more…it was during the end of the umbrum’s reign—the very same historical event when Princess Amore banished the shadowy monstrosities with the Crystal Heart. Luna could see them, all of them. The umbrum swooped down from the skies as fires bathed and danced on many structures, from simple housings to booming businesses and attractions. The cries of horrified victims echoed from the domain, accompanied and followed by the monstrous roars of their shadowy, ghostly tormentors. “Wh…what is the meaning of this?!” Luna fought the urge to fly over to the crystal domain to aid its denizens. This was only a dream; she reminded herself. “Why art thou showing this to me?!” She had no choice but to shout, considering there were no signs of the windigo. “What significance doth this possess to Snowdrop?!” “It has everything to do with her.” “Graawgh!” Luna screamed in fear and with a jolt as she fell onto her flank while turning to the windigo, who manifested ‘himself’ alongside her so abruptly. “Apologies for scaring you.” The windigo floats forth and positions ‘himself’ in front of the alicorn, looking down on her with…concern? A windigo was showing concern…   “T-thou did not frighten me.” Luna tried to cover up her previous embarrassment with a look of realization, hurriedly getting back onto her hooves as patches of snow fell from her rear. “I am the night. I am darkness. None can scare me, for I am fear.” A chuckle escapes from the windigo, inwardly shocking the alicorn. A windigo, chuckling?  “Very well. My beloved told me not to pry in such situations, so I will not do so. However, you must be aware that emotions are one of the things my kind feast on. Of course, this also allows my kindred to sense the emotional spectrums of other beings, so lying to me is a pointless endeavor.”  -...Beloved? What even…- Luna snorts, casting aside those thoughts. “I believe we’re getting off-topic here. Tell me, windi-” she caught herself, “pray, forgive me. Fimbulvetr, was it?” Fimbulvetr nods. “I see. Art thou…male?” The windigo tilts its head. “That’s an interesting question.” “Well, excuse me for taking precautious.” The alicorn rolls her eyes. “Thou seems to think that I’m well-versed in speaking with windigos. Hay, I thank the stars that you even speak the same language as I do, or vice versa. In truth, I merely wish not to antagonize thee with accidental insults.” Fimbulvetr simply stares at Luna with those haunting blue lights for eyes that ooze mystery and omen. The awkward moment caused the princess to clear her throat, “In any case, I have met races who possess a male tone of voice yet are female in nature, like the lizardfolk of the Aztec Swamps in the Forbidden Jungle south-east of mine sister and I’s domain.” “Ah.” Fimbulvetr seemed relieved by those words. “Yes, I am familiar with them. It’s good to hear that the offspring of Quetzalcoatl are thriving.” -Que…who…?- “I am sadly ignorant of this Quetzal entity thou speaketh of,” Luna said outwardly, following her inner shock.  “That doesn’t surprise me.” Fimbulvetr sighed. “The world has changed drastically following the events of Ragnarok.”  Not many words had been spoken, yet thousands of mysteries demanding answers practically bombarded Luna’s psyche as they continued to converse.  “Many cultures worldwide have their own alias for the end times, but all refer to that same event. And Ragnarok is the term used for the northern cultures.” Ragnarok. It was a belief held amongst the yaks, moose, wolves, and other denizens of the north - the cataclysmic end of an era, Luna had summarized. Actually, now that she thought about it, did the Crystal Empire share those beliefs? Luna was beginning to regret her several past denials of accompanying Celestia to their annual meetings with Princess Amore and other allied nations. She was also close to rejecting their current visit to the empire, but something urged her to- “I am grateful that you chose to accompany your sister. Although…‘chose’ might not be entirely accurate.” “W…what…?” The lunar princess’s eyes widened as her throat went dry. She did not like what that sentence was insinuating.  Fimbulvetr seemingly sensed the alicorn’s current state of pure shock. “I had hoped that you’d agree to come with her on your own initiative. But when I saw that you were resigned to denying your sister’s request again…I had to act.” Realization dawned on the alicorn’s features as her gaze fell slowly to the snow-covered grounds. No…he couldn’t possibly be…  A growl slowly builds within Luna’s throat and leaks through gritted teeth that grind together. “How dare thee…” Her tone was low but laced with venom. She then shoots her gaze up to meet the windigo’s, “How dare thee meddle with mine mind!” She shoots out an accusing forelimb.  “Thou hath no right!”     The blue lights that made up Fimbulvetr’s eyes seemed to vanish as if simulating the action of someone closing their eyes. “You are right to be angry with me.” “How did thine wretched fiend do it?!” Luna asked of the mental interloper, causing his unique eyes to ‘open’ again. “An alicorn’s mind is not so easy to intrude upon! Even Discord failed to manipulate me and mine sister’s thoughts during our confrontations with that chaotic jester! So tell me, how could thee be capable of such prowess?!” Luna’s outbursts were being absorbed by Fimbulvetr, who willingly took the full brunt of the outspoken force. He couldn’t fault her, either. It was a natural reaction, and if their roles were reversed, he’d be furious, too. Actually, he was pretty sure that he’d do everything in his power to turn Equestria - just Equestria - into a frozen wasteland out of pure spite. Of course, that would be a difficult endeavor, given that the unity of the ponies was a literal bind and repulsion for his kin, but he’s sure he’d figure it out somehow. But the seething lunar princess in front of him needed to know something beforehoof, and urgency would dictate his coming words - time was running out. “We must be swift, moon and star. Time is running out in the physical world, and there is something I must show you. But before that, If I agree to reveal the secret of how I can enter your and your sister’s minds, do you swear upon your mother and father’s names that you’ll cooperate peacefully?” Luna’s features narrow in suspicion. “Thou speak as if thou knew of mine parents.” “I didn’t just know them,” Fimbulvetr emphasized glaringly. “I fought alongside them.”  With those words, Luna’s muzzle dropped in disbelief as Fimbulvetr continued. “Both Solaris and Selene were my allies during the events of Ragnarok. Or, as they referred to it in their - your culture, the Fall of Olympone.” Luna dared not to speak, and the anger that once resided in her form was replaced by awe and wonder. She was being given information that pertained to her parents, of whom neither she nor her sister ever had the pleasure of physically meeting. As far as their births were concerned, all she and Celestia had to go on was that they were discovered by Starswirl the Bearded at the edge of the Everfree Forest. And they would have no knowledge of their parents for quite some time, just two unicorn fillies being raised by a well-renowned sorcerer who saw promise in them.  But on the day when they became intrinsically linked to the celestial bodies, which was also when they ascended into alicornhood, they could hear voices whispering to them.  It was a strong yet caring stallion’s voice for Celestia, and for Luna, it was a sweet yet authoritative mare. And it was through this connection that the sisters had, at long last, learned of their parents’ presence. They were literally the sun and moon. “I made your parents a promise,” Fimbulvetr’s words drew Luna out of her thoughts, “when they claimed their resting place amongst the sky. I vowed to watch over you two but could only do so through minor intervention.” The pieces were falling into place, and a sudden recollection was drawn from Luna’s memories. “Mine sister and I…before we faced the Lord of Chaos, we set out to…” her eyes widened in realization. “By my mother’s moon…it was…thee. Thou art the one who told us about…” Fimbulvetr nods. “The Elements of Harmony. And where you could find them.”