Night had befallen Ponyville on a cool summer eve. Fluttershy was sitting on the couch in the living room of her cottage and watching television. The Equestrian News was on with a reporter from Cloudsdale talking about the weather. “Temperatures are starting to cool down now as rain clouds roll in from the northern region. We can expect some light to moderate showers later tonight, lasting until noon the following day.” The Pegasus mare explains.
“The weather is changing soon. I guess it’ll be good to cool everything off. This summer has been warmer than usual this year.” The buttery mare thought as she lightly ruffled her wings against the couch. Fluttershy took a sip of her wine, her thoughts partially on the animals outside having to endure incoming rain. But her other thoughts were on simpler things like where her stallion friend, Sombra, could be. He wasn’t usually late in getting home and was hoping to share the bottle of wine with him over dinner. Her dark king must’ve been off doing something important.
The news changed to an Earth pony stallion bringing up the next segment. “Coming up at 8: Scientists stumble upon a shocking breakthrough in medicine, justice may finally be served for the murder of 14-year-old Citrus Seas, and most importantly: Did Princess Celestia eat an entire wedding cake by herself?”
“Of course, she did, everypony knows her ass is so fat because of all the cake she consumes. How is she not a diabetic by now?” Fluttershy mumbled to herself. Without thinking of it, she started picking at her nose. It was one of those unconscious actions that anyone would do when they were alone. Just a normal random itch…inside her nose. The door behind the couch opened quietly, so quietly that her ears didn’t register it. Nor did she sense the sudden presence behind her.
Suddenly, a shadow was next to her and solidified into the dark unicorn himself. King Sombra sat on the couch, his regal red cape draped across his broad shoulders and bare chest. His mane was a curtain of moving shadow yet still solid. His eyes glowed a bright emerald as he placed his hand atop his mare friend’s head, thoroughly scaring the hell out of her. His buttery smooth voice growled out: “What’s my lovely mare up to?”
Fluttershy, whose face was red with obvious embarrassment and eyes popping out of her head in shock, just squeaked out, “Not picking my nose if that’s what you’re wondering!” Her wings were flared out, almost with the instinct to flee, but she kept herself seated. Sombra chuckled beside her and pulled the mare into his lap. Fluttershy folded her wings and placed herself in her hands. Her heart was still racing in her chest and she was too scared to even look at the king. The two continued to watch the news in peace and Fluttershy started to calm down. “Perhaps he didn’t see me?” She thought as she started to look up.
“I saw you,” Sombra whispered. Hearing that, Fluttershy buried her face behind her mane and whined.