Once upon a time, in the distant past and on the outskirts of the Crystal City, a nameless, unidentifiable boy appeared on a cold, winter's night. Two guards were patrolling that night, and stumbled across him in the snow. As was only right, and being decent folk, they got hold of him, and took him to the hospital. There was no info on him at all. He was in no record files, and he had no means of identification. All he had to wear was what appeared to be clothes which seemed to have scorches on them. Meaning he had just arrived from some terrible conflict which had erupted somewhere. Perhaps that was why he would not speak - if he even could. All he could do to answer was nod, and shake his head. And when asked, he basically told them he couldn't remember what had happened to him. No memory of his parents, his home, or anything else pertaining to him except for a single name One which kept echoing in his head over, and over again until he wrote it down when they asked for his name.
Sombra.
So, with no other choice, the present ruler of the empire, Princess Amore, gave the order to have him sent to their cities orphanage to be taken in as one of their citizens. Once that was done, he was registered to attend the local school in order to continue any possible education he might have had before. The only problem was how distant he was, and how out of place he seemed to be. Although he had no memory of what happened to him, the trauma of it all effected him on a psychological level. Without even realizing it.......he had all but lost his innocence as a child. And its effect on him made him an outcast among the other children. They saw his awkwardness, and his shy stature as something to make fun of. So they either mocked him either silently, or aloud, or just outright ignored him. This only made him feel more isolated, and alone in a world he did not know. He had noone.
That is, of course, until he met a young girl named Radiant Hope. A kind, and caring child who saw his loneliness, and the pain he was in, and wanted to heal it the only way she knew how: by befriending the dark-skinned boy. And the two seemed to hit it off very well, for after this fateful meeting, they did everything together. They plated, studied, hung out with each other, sometimes shared treats together. And most importantly, they laughed together. For the first time since he arrived, the enigmatic child felt like a child again. His heart began to open up, and he was no longer afraid to speak. Hope had entered his life thanks to the girl named after it. And because of it, they became the closest of friends with the strongest of bonds. And in time, friendship would turn to something even greater: love.
As the years go by, so too do they grow up. Not only that, but they begin to blossom in different ways: Sombra, since becoming more open, and confident, has taken to studying, and researching numerous scientific, and technological fields. He took plenty of classes within them, and proved he was quite the prodigy as he obtained his degree in these fields early, and graduated. Radiant Hope was proving to be quite the medical scholar - one the brightest alchemical minds ever seen. Ever since she healed Sombra from an ailment that befell him many years ago, she had become inspired to enter the study of medicine. And she excelled at the craft, earning her own degree as well before graduating. Now the two were ready for the world, and preparing to decide what they should do. Each had been considering taking up certain careers.........but had some hesitation about it due to the fact they were so close to each other - and they had never been apart.
Sombra, however, was beginning to grow afraid Hope would find some amazing career in the medical field she would be perfect at - not because he was jealous, as he wanted her to be successful with her dream because he loved her - he was afraid that once she took it, he might not ever see her again after that. Only made worse by the recent nightmares he was having of a monster who looked like him, but was clad in silver armor, and resembled a horrible, nightmarish being of shadow. He was afraid that a part of him he didn't know existed was attempting to emerge - and if Hope left him, he would be unable to keep it contained within himself.
One day, to both the surprise of Hope, and Sombra, was when they met Princess Cadenza. She had heard of the two gifted students who graduated ahead of their classes a few days ago, and admitted to being impressed. She hoped to meet the two of them for herself, and see what the Empire's most promising citizens were like. She seemed especially impressed with Radiant Hope, who stated she was now a specialized Alchemist specializing in medicine - to which her own professors admitted that she had a talent which may have exceeded her predecessors. A thing the princess congratulated, stating she may have a bright future ahead of her. For a moment when she turned to Sombra, however, there was a brief hint of........hesitance. And he saw a glimpse of sadness, and guilt in her eyes which flickered for but a moment.
But then she returned to her beaming form, appraising him for having what appeared to be a brilliant mind in the field of science, and technology advancements. He thanked her while saying how such compliments made him feel honored - although he admitted to still feeling a bit uneasy of late. When asked, he admitted to having nightmares which had been bothering him lately, yet neglected to mention the nature of them. It was here Amore spoke of how dreams can often be a vision of the future: peering into one's soul, and reflecting whatever destiny may await them. But told Sombra not to worry of such things. For destiny is not set in stone, and we all have the power to choose our fate. And hoped that he would work to make his fate one which could truly benefit the world. She left afterwards, leaving the two to dwell on her advice. Of course, it only made him wonder about his dreams.......and if it was a part of fate - and whether he actually COULD control it.
The issue, however, died down a bit as Sombra, and Hope continue on with their lives. As time grows on, their bond of love does indeed grow stronger. To the point that on one of their dates, Sombra decides to do what he perhaps should have done already: he planned to propose to Radiant Hope. Everything was set, and perfect. After sharing a meal, and doing the new activities they'd developed as they grew up, it all culminated in them sitting together on a hill in the park, where they always used to sit together to enjoy the scenery of the empire. It was an amazing sight which filled Hope with wonder, and amazement. This was when Sombra made his move. He had a little speech of how their friendship blossomed over the years, and just how much special he felt because of her. He thanked her for saving him from a life of loneliness, and estrangement, and for giving him cause to be happy again. Without her, his life would be incomplete......and he wanted to share the rest of his life with her as more than friends. He reached into his pocket, and began to draw out the ring, as she waited with baited breath.
He almost had it drawn out.........But then a loud signal had gone out. To the pair's surprise, the signal for a dignitaries arrival had sounded off. They hadn't heard of who was arriving, and Hope was much too curious for her own good. She rushed off to the palace to see their arrivals, urging Sombra to follow - making him glumly put away his ring. The both of them arrived to the palace just in time to see the dignitaries vehicles arrive - the rest including their security. Just as soon as Sombra moved to the front of the crowd with Hope, the dignitaries exited their vehicles with their security standing back. At that moment, Sombra saw it.
You see: the dignitaries were from the American Government, who were friends with the Empire. This had been another meeting of the countries interests, as there had been every few years. Radiant Hope was excited to see representatives of the US here in the Empire. She could only what wonder what sort of business brought them here. However, while Hope and the other citizens were watching with curiosity, and interest, something happened to Sombra. He saw the flags on their cars, and the appearance of the american soldiers who were standing guard. All together, they had begun to trigger something in his mind. Something he had never imagined he would ever have. Something he never knew was within. But now was something he wished he no longer had. His memories had returned to him - and none of them were good in any way.
As it turns out, Sombra DID have a family when he was a boy. And he had a home, too. Sadly, it was one that was an enemy to both the U.S. and the Crystal Empire: The Nation of Umbrum. A nation that believed that no government, or monarchy should hold dominion over anyone. For years, they sought to liberate the world from what they considered the tyranny of those nations. Unfortunately, this made them a target of both sides. And the day the forces launched a united assault against Umbrum was the day Sombra's world fell apart. The city of Umbra, which he and his people lived in, was besieged by opposing forces that outnumbered theirs by a hundred to one. Despite their efforts, none could withstand the combined assault. And in the end, it led to a full on extermination project - ordered by the Government itself. Only Sombra survived because his mother, and father had hidden him away from sight. So by the time he had heard the silence, brought by the departure of the invading forces, it was over. He emerged from his hiding place to find his home damaged, the streets reduced to rubble, set ablaze, and hundreds of people dead. Sadly, this included his own parents, as well. Such a traumatic experience can be much to handle - especially for a young boy. And Sombra was no different. Consumed by grief, horror, despair........and without even realizing it, Hate, he fled his former home to escape the horrors that were surrounding him. That was the night he arrived in the outskirts of the Empire. He had forgotten everything because his mind had no ability to cope other than blocking it out - and shattering the semblance of his former life forever.
The memories had rushed into his head like a flaming torrent, or even a crashing wave. It almost threatened to tear his head apart. He couldn't stay any longer, and had to get away. Pushing past the crowds, he ran as fast, and as hard as he could. Radiant Hope called out for him, and tried to follow. But he ran too fast for her to catch up. This gave her cause for concern at first. But she decided to give Sombra time to himself, since he seemed a bit out of sorts. She decided she had enough with observing the scene at the castle, and decided to head on home. Before she could, however, a pair of palace guards graciously approached her. The asked her to come with them to the palace. Princess Amore had requested an audience with her.
Alone with his thoughts, Sombra was free to consider everything. At last, his memories had come back to him - and all he could think of was how he was living a lie. Everything he knew. Everything he'd experienced was all because of the loss he was forced to suffer. All this time wondering what happened to his home, and his family, only to learn that their murderers were the ones who had taken him in. Worse yet, they had allies in the form of the Americans, who gave the firepower needed for such a thing to happen. But then......that must mean Amore knew who, and what he was. He remembered meeting her in person, and that brief look he noticed. She knew something - as did the whole Empire. But they were conspiring to keep the truth from him. He knew the truth now. And now he felt a hatred unlike any other burn within his heart.
All he could think of was making them all pay for what happened to the Umbrum. But he knew he couldn't take both the Empire, and the US by himself. And despite this revelation, he still loved Radiant Hope. He could not - WOULD NOT raise a hand to harm her. Yet if he told her what he now knew, and what his plan was, she would likely be against it: for she would never wish harm on another living thing, let alone her own people. But maybe if he explained everything he remembered, she would listen. He had to try. If he was to gain his revenge, he had to try in order to protect her from what he was going to do.
He rushed back out into the streets to find her. He had to tell her everything he ended up learning. She needed to know what he knew so that she could get her out of the city before it was too late. If he was to have any chance of achieving revenge, he needed to make sure she was safe beforehand. He had a hard time doing so as she was nowhere to be found. This made him grow worried. Especially with the American dignitaries still here. So it was at least an hour before he finally found her. To his surprise, it was at the local cafe' with her girl friends. They seemed to be happy, and cheerful about something. Radiant Hope even moreso when Sombra arrived. He tried to tell her he had something important to say, but before he could she asked that she tell him something first. But what she told him only made his heart sink.
The dignitaries had come here because they had heard of a talented alchemist who specialized in the medical field. Apparently, the higher-ups had heard of her progress, and Amore had asked her to the palace to receive an invitation to join the U.S.'s highest medical branch in the government. She was so very thrilled because of her talents being recognized. Now she was being offered a chance to join them for D.C. in a few days. Now she could help those who truly were in need of her skills with her art. This opportunity made her very happy. But Sombra was absolutely devastated. He assumed, right at that moment, that she was going to leave him. He was already in such an emotional turmoil, and filled with anger that he couldn't even think clearly. His mind made him assume she had taken the offer she mentioned........when she never said she had done so. In fact, before she could explain that she was hoping to get his opinion on the matter on if she should accept it, or not, he ran with tears in his eyes. She called for him, but found it pointless. Once again, she had grown fearful of her beloved, more than ever before, since she had never seen him like this before. And this began filling her with a sense of doubt, and uncertainty. Once again, she had no idea what she should do. Perhaps if she had gone after him, then what happened next would have been avoided.
He had no idea how long he had been running for. But when he had finally stopped, Sombra noticed he was near the mountainous regions. Here, a snow storm had appeared, covering the ground in its blanket of whiteness. Yet this cold was nothing compared to what he was feeling. In his heart, Sombra had come under siege by emotions he could barely hold together: anger, frustration, betrayal, sadness, despair, confusion......and strongest of all, Hate. Of all his emotions, hate was the greatest in his heart. A voice inside him said how his beloved Radiant Hope had been corrupted. Corrupted by the influence of those american dogs........and Amore. He had not considered it before, but now that he considered things, he began thinking of what he remembered. In his memories, he now recalled seeing not only U.S soldiers, as well as some advanced guard covered in golden armor-like suits............he also recalled seeing soldiers of the Imperial military. Living in the empire all his life, he knew what his countries own soldiers looked like - though this was NOT his country, after all. The one that was his had been destroyed when he was only an innocent child - and Amore was in charge even back then. She must have known something about this, if not had direct involvement. If so, then he would make her the first to pay for what happened.
They would ALL pay.
As fate would have it, however, he apparently stumbled onto something while in the wilderness. Something glowing brightly in the distance. Almost as if it were calling to him: drawing him to it. He went after it to see what it was. In a cave, not too far away, he found a chest which was glowing bright red until he had approached it. Though weary at first, the lure of the power he could sense was too great for him to deny. He reached over to open it. And to his amazement, he found a crimson, glowing crystal which was part of a cluster. He reached down to touch it, and upon holding it, he felt his body surge with power. Power he had never imagined in his life. And the rush he felt from it was almost intoxicating. He also found something else in the chest which he did not expect: a series of notes, papers, and books pertaining to the study of combining actual magic with alchemy. As well as the identification of the gem in his hand: the Philosopher's Stone. From what he read, it was a source of mystic power which would enhance the natural abilities of those who wield it - including allowing an alchemist to by-pass the law of equivalent exchange. The biggest surprise was that these notes were written by members of his own people: the Umbrum.
In his mind, Sombra surmised that THIS was why his people were exterminated like vermin - because they had learned how to harness the power of sorcery, and magic. He should have known it was not simply because they were rebels: but because they were too dangerous for the Empire, and the Government to allow to live. But he laughed at the irony of it all. Despite all their efforts, they did live on through their greatest work. He did not know how the stone itself was created, as the notes did not say, but it didn't matter. He at last had the means of claiming his revenge. Of course, he first needed to learn all that he could in order to reach his full potential. Though he was a man of science, he DID believe in the other realms of possibility, such as magic. And his alchemy was also quite exceptional. Now, with these tools at his disposal, he would be able to become more than he had ever been.
Only one thought remained as he thoughtlessly reached into his pocket: Radiant Hope. Pulling out his ring for which he had planned to propose to her, he felt a small sense of hesitation. If he went through with this, and his ever-growing plans, then it may mean he would have to abandon Hope. He wished he didn't have to do it..........but then shook his head when he remembered that she was going to leave him, anyway. So it was already too late to worry about her. He still loved her, but he could not allow her to be in his way. So with a single gesture......he threw away the ring. He could not return to the empire now that he knew what he did. And there was nothing left for him there. All that remained was his righteous vengeance - and the tools he now had to see them through. Once he had them all perfected, he would make the world tremble upon hearing the mention of his name. He merely needed time, effort........and a number of followers willing to aid in his cause.
And he will have his Revenge.