//------------------------------// // Chapter 23~ // Story: Sombasi, Brother of Sombra // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -Crystal Empire: Crystal castle: Amore’s Residence- “And that, Celestia, is the circumstances of Snowdrop’s origins.” Amore took a recuperative breath after finishing her tale, waiting for the solar alicorn to form a response. Celestia had listened attentively and now absorbed what was revealed with closed eyes while a trail of vapors reached for the sky from her teacup, which sat on the table before her along with a variety of assorted cookies and, as much as she hated to admit it, the all too alluring and delicious banana cream cake.   Despite her mask of neutrality, the white alicorn was simply dumbfounded. Heimdale Bifrost, who wielded the Gjallarhorn, which could transport its user anywhere almost instantaneously via the fiery beam of a rainbow called Bifrost, was the mother of Snowdrop and the bride of a windigo, who goes by the name of Fimbulvetr. By her mother and father’s grace… Just how many mysteries and tales had been lost to time?  Nevertheless, the fact remains that Snowdrop is a windigo and pony hybrid. But that caused a suspicion of sorts to fester in her mind. “Amore,” Celestia starts, garnering the vermillion mare’s attention. “Doth Snowdrop feed on strife like the monsters she-” “She’s not a monster!” Amore interjects in pure rage. “How dare you, Celestia! Why, I have a mind to slap you across your insensitive face right here and now!” The crystal unicorn ruler breathed angrily, bearing her teeth and scolding the alicorn with narrowed eyes while flaring her wings, which slowly began to fold as she tried to recollect her composure moments after. “Art thou finished?” Celestia inquired, still wearing a neutral mask. Amore was about to retort, but the alicorn seized control. “Thou hath made an assumption, my friend. Pray, I never intended to demean Snowdrop in any way.” Dead silence takes hold, save for the frequent humming of the crystals that made up the castle. “I-i’m sorry…” Amore’s gaze fell to her bedsheets, “But you don’t know these kids like I do, Celly.” She meets Celestia’s eyes with determination. “These are babies, not monsters. Sombra, Sombasi, Snowdrop, they don’t get to choose what they’re born as.” “I am quite aware of that-” “No,” Amore asserts, Celestia, sighing. “You, apparently, are not. Or did you already forget how you and Luna reacted to my friend, Arthrodite?”   “Thou’rt comparing a full-grown individual, who’s had years to be influenced by her mother, to foals that hath never been corrupted by such villainy. There is a considerable difference here, and I’m right to be wary of her.”   “Arthrodite has been nothing but a complete benefit to the Crystal Empire, and she’s someone I’d trust with my life.” “Maybe.” Celestia fires up her horn and magically lifts her tea in a golden aura, bringing it up to her muzzle, “Until a better offer presents itself.” She said before taking a sip, causing a wave of pain to explode throughout Amore’s form and presents itself on her face. Another choking silence ensues. “Get out.” “Amore, I-” “Get. Out.” Celestia sighed. “Very well.” She lifts herself off of the couch, clodded hooves clopping against the floor. “Thank you for the tea,” she stated with a respectful bow, “and the sweets.” Amore remained silent and looked away with folded ears as Celestia walked around the table and toward the exit to her right.  The alicorn stopped, sighing again. “I still love thee, Amore…” She said somberly before looking back over her shoulder apologetically. “Please just…exercise caution when meddling with forces we know next to nothing about.” Amore shifts her gaze to the alicorn with a scoffing sigh. “You’re one to talk.” Her ears rose as she brushed her tail against the bedsheets, her face softening. “I love you too, Celly. Even when you’re being a complete plothole.” Celestia turned her gaze forward while chuckling. “Fair enough. By the way, she will be arriving soon, and I’ll give her some slight adjustments to our agreement.”    The crystal ruler nods in understanding. “Then I shall send an escort her way once the time arrives. Oh, and Celly?” “Yes?” “About your sister… My only piece of advice is this: listen to her. And I mean, really listen to her and not dismiss anything as an afterthought.” “...I… I’ll keep that in mind. Until next we meet, my friend.” With those final words, Celestia magically grasps the right side of the double doors and pulls it open, walks through, and closes it behind her. Amore sighs as she’s now left alone with her thoughts. Things would only get more complicated and, admittedly, quite irritating. But determination then presents itself. If all goes according to plan, Sombra and Sombasi will become invaluable to the empire’s future. It would become their home. This, she would bring to fruition. After all, what better way to fight off any possible future umbrum invasions, or any threats in general, than with two umbrum of their own? -Crystal Empire: Crystal Heart Foal Center-  As the foals of the orphanage play on the playground present at the building’s rear and walled-off for their protection, Sombra, Sombasi, Radiant Hope, and Snowdrop are gathered around their prized tree with a hanging black tire. They all sat silently at the tree’s base as the nearby hanging tire moved slightly due to the wind, having just discussed a seemingly unpleasant topic(s). “Wowie.” Hope began while spreading her forelimbs apart. “We’ve been having some pretty crazy stuff happening lately, huh?”  “You got that right,” Sombra agreed. “Sombasi is still amazed by that vision you saw, Sombra.” The dark colt garners everyone’s attention; Snowdrop simply follows her ears. “It’s just…wow. Yours too, Hope.” Hope giggles. “Yup! Watch out, everypony. Princess Radiant Hope is coming!” She emphasized with a raised forelimb. “Hah!” Sombra laughed boisterously. “Let’s not forget that Sombra and Sombasi met the prince of Saddle Arabia, and we got to watch him fight and show off some amazing power.”  “It sounds like it was a lot of fun,” Snowdrop comments. “You have to see it to really-” Sombasi’s eyes widened in realization, followed by sheepish laughter as Sombra shook his head in disappointment at his brother’s carelessness, even if it was an accident. “Heh. S-sorry about that, Snowdrop.” “It’s ok,” the blind pegasus responds in understanding. “I know you didn’t mean anything bad by it.” “Speaking of meeting royalty,” Hope began while looking at Snowdrop. “Are you sure you’re ok, Snowy? After everything that happened at the castle, I was so worried about you…” Sombra and Sombasi looked between the two fillies. “You still haven’t told us about what happened after you two went to the castle with the Sisters,” Sombra said. Sombasi nods. “I’m sorry, guys,” Hope states with ears folded against her head. “The princess told us not to talk about it.” The brothers groan in unison. “Oh, come on.” “Sombra doesn’t think that’s fair at all.” “Ah, ah, ah,” Hope playfully said with a hoof pressed against her muzzle, Snowdrop giggling. “Super secret princessy stuff. Even my fairy friends said that I shouldn’t break my promise.” “I also made a promise,” Snowdrop comments. “I’m sorry.” The brothers sigh in defeat. “Sombra understands.” “Sombasi gets it.” A sudden thought occurred to Snowdrop while the brothers began conversing, even stepping away to play with the tire as she looked over to Hope. “Hey, Hope?” Hope happily turned to the pegasus. “Yeah?” “Did…something happen after I fell unconscious?” “Oh, pfft!” Hope waved a forelimb dismissively. “No, no. I mean, you had us all worried when you bumped your head, ouchie! But it’s a good thing the princess healed you right up, huh?” -I’m so sorry, Snowy…- It deeply pained her to lie to her friend. She had to, though… Listen well, my sweet Radiant Hope. What you saw tonight must never be revealed to anyone, not even Snowdrop herself. But why, Princess Amore? This is a complicated situation, Hope. In time, we shall indeed reveal the truth to Snowdrop. Until then, please…promise me that you won’t say a word to anyone. I’ve already sworn Snowdrop to secrecy, but she doesn’t know about…that. O-ok, princess… I don’t like lying to my friends, but if it’s for Snowy’s safety, then I promise. Snowdrop, oblivious to the lie and Hope’s inner struggle, chuckled. “I guess you’re right. Still, I can’t help but feel like I’m missing something.” “Ah-dunno.” Hope shrugged. She lied again. “Oh!” She suddenly beamed with a thought, although it also served as a distraction. “Sooooo?” Snowdrop blinked. “So, what?” “How was it with Princess Luna, silly? You two seemed to be very happy together.”  A blush formed on Snowdrop’s cheeks, “Y-yes.” She closed her eyes. “She’s a really nice pony once you get to know her. She even confirmed how the night sky looks, you know, from what I’ve seen in my dreams?” Hope nods. Oh, silly her, Snowy probably couldn’t see that. “Yeah-hah.” There, much better. “What else happened?” “Oh, well, we talked about all kinds of stuff like current affairs in Equestria, some of its history. Uhm… Oh! And thestrals!” “Thestrals?” Hope asked, tilting her head inquisitively.  Snowdrop nods. “Yeah. They’re ponies with fearsome eyes and bat-like wings and are omnivores. They can even see in the dark and work for Princess Luna as her personal elite force.” “Oh, wow!” Hope exclaimed in excitement. “They even have a way to navigate without using their eyes and-” ………. The intercom positioned over the doors of the entrance/exit of the building suddenly chimed.  -“Snowdrop, honey!”- Miss. Chestnut’s voice beckoned from the device. -“Come to the front desk, please. Snowdrop, come to the front desk, please. Thank you~”-    ………. Everyone’s ears had perked up at the announcement, and as the foals on the playground murmured amongst themselves after it ended, Snowdrop, Hope, Sombasi, and Sombra were in the process of walking across the field and toward the orphanage. “What do you think she needs you for?” Sombra asked. “I don’t know,” Snowdrop replied. “Only one way to find out. Come on, everypony!” Hope declared as they hurried along and soon entered the Crystal Heart Foal Center.  After some time, the four foals found themselves walking alongside Miss. Chestnut, having met up with her at the front desk as she then escorts them all down a hallway and toward one of the eight offices spread out evenly on either side—notably, the last office down the hall to the right.   “And here we are, my darlings,” Miss Chestnut said as the chestnut-colored mare, true to her namesake, turned around to face them. “It’s so sweet for you all to come with her, Sombra, Sombasi, Hope.” “Of course!” Hope boasts. “She’s our friend,” Sombra adds. “And we’re here for her.” Sombasi grinned. “And so, here we are.” “Thank you, everypony,” Snowdrop said with reddened cheeks. Miss. Chestnut giggled. “Can’t argue with that. Well, shall we head on in?” “W-wait, Miss. Chestnut,” Snowdrop began as her nostrils flared. “This smell… It smells like…” Catching onto the blind pegasus’ capability, which the chestnut mare proudly played a part in honing, the orphanage’s caretaker pushes the door wide open, causing Sombra, Sombasi, and Hope to gasp from what, or who, they saw sitting comfortably within. The familiar scent bombards Snowdrop’s sense of smell, and a familiar voice graces her ears from within.   “Ah! There thou are, Snowdrop. Come. Come to thine Princess of the Night.” A huge smile adorns Snowdrop’s face. “Princess Luna!” She cries out before stampeding into the room, which gives off a green and blue hue that transitions between one another, crosses the crystal floor, and jumps into Luna’s outstretched forelimbs. Miss. Chestnut and Snowdrop’s friends enter the room and take up positions while Snowdrop buries her face into Luna’s chest. She then looked up at her, despite the pegasus’s blindness.  “Did you come here to visit me before leaving for Equestria?” Luna closed her eyes with a gleeful hum. “Thou couldst certainly say that, confidant.” As Sombra, Sombasi, and Hope looked at the scenario in awe, Miss. Chestnut brings a hoof up to her muzzle, covering a knowing smile. “I didn’t come here to say goodbye, child.” Luna opens her eyes. “Not necessarily.” Snowdrop’s ears twitch. “O-oh? What do you mean, Luna?” The lunar alicorn caresses Snowdrop’s mane gently as she looks down upon her like a true treasure. “I came for thee, Snowdrop… Wouldst thou do me the honor of becoming my daughter?”