Icarus had woken up to some mild discomfort on his side. When he opened his eyes and looked down he noticed a rock poking him. Shifting to move said rock from his side he looked around and saw Sombra at the cave entrance. He was looking into the continuing snowstorm going on.
Yawning, Icarus sat up, “Is it still coming really bad?” he asked. Sombra did not respond for a moment and merely grunted. Icarus rolled his eyes and reached into his saddle bag. Using his wing he flung an apple at the grumpy Unicorn.
“Little Icarus, why do you insist on asking obvio-”Sombra began. Until an apple hit him in the back of the head. Turning around furious he looked at what hit him.
“I’m not little, and there’s breakfast I guess since we can’t leave” Icarus said snickering. The former king would remember this moment. Sombra lifted the apple in his magic and took a bite and re-ignited the fire in the cave. Smiling Icarus felt warm inside and it wasn’t the fire. It was like a hole in his heart got a taste of a familiar feeling. The two were in silence most of the day until Icarus got curious.
“So uh, Mr. Sombra wh-”Icarus was cut off. The Unicorn turned to him and snarled.
“KING Sombra, to you Colt.” Sombra said. Icarus may have reminded him of his family but he wasn’t. At least that’s what Sombra thought, not really how he felt though. Seeing the look on Icarus' face however surprised him again. The Pegasus was unfazed and smirking at him..
“It’s Mr. for now. You need a castle to be a king, or a house. But by all means be the King of this cave” Icarus sarcastically remarked. Sombra couldn’t help himself and he laughed. It was as deep and hardy as Icarus expected it to be.
“Fine Mr. Sombra it is. Now your question” Sombra said. His laughter dying down and Icarus refocusing.
“I wanted to ask, why pick these mountains? Like why are you out here all alone?” Icarus inquired. He figured a dark and mysterious ruler would have some underground castle of some kind. Maybe even a backup mansion somewhere warmer. Sombra merely walked over to fire and sat next to Icarus.
“Hmm, that is a good question indeed.” Sombra said. His once joyful tone, now somber and serious. Icarus gulped waiting for him to respond.
“To atone for my sins. To atone for trying to bring the dead back into the world of the living. To atone for trapping and enslaving the crystal ponies. I am the last Umbrum that deserves to be anything close to happy” Sombra said. He couldn’t figure out why he was so relaxed sharing with this young colt. Yet he was ok with talking to Icarus, maybe he was growing soft after losing.
“I don’t know what an Umbrum is, but I kinda get you. After I lost my parents and my wing I haven’t felt the same. I always think that If I listened to my parents that day. And didn’t fly too close to the sun chariot…” Icarus paused. He hated reliving the day he caused the chariot to crash. His parents helped him out of the way, but were crushed instead of him.
Sombra listened to Icarus tell his story about what happened. All the details that would normally bore the former King, he found himself wanting to listen to. In Icarus, Sombra not only saw his late brother, but himself. In the colts Amber red eyes, there was hurt, anger, and regret all the feelings he knew. But there was another Sombra wasn’t familiar with: hope. When Icarus finished he had tears in his eyes again. This time Icarus did not have to wipe them away alone.
“You strive towards a better tomorrow, I can think of no greater strength.” Sombra said. He used his magic to wipe Icarus' tears away. Realizing what he’d done he coughed into his hoof and looked away. This made Icarus laugh at the Dark Unicorns reaction.
“I know I said this already but, You aren’t as bad as every pony made you out to be. You feel just like every pony else. You made mistakes and seek to atone. Whoever your wife was picked the right Stallion” Icarus said. This made Sombra flinch and his face go red. Neither said anything for a while. They simply sat in silence listening to the fire yet again. Of course neither minded, the past 2 days weren’t so bad. Icarus was happy he left Cloudsdale, even if he almost died.
Sombra had conflicting emotions once again, ones he couldn’t put his hoof on. Was it happiness, no he didn’t deserve that. Was he proud of Icarus for not giving up? Potentially that could have been it. Did he want to comfort the colt? Oddly enough, yes he wanted to help him. He wanted to give advice to him, but he didn’t have the right too. With all of his past mistakes and his reputation for unspeakable acts. Who was he to give ‘good’ advice to anypony. He felt something on his side and looked down. Icarus was leaning on his shoulder looking at the fire.
“I hope the storm stops soon. I'm sick of the ice” Icarus said. Sombra didn’t say anything and just nodded. Grunting in approval to the statement. Much like how the sun melts the ice and snow, Sombra felt the ice on his heart thaw.
“Come on! Who knows when it’ll snow again.” Icarus said. He had by the grace of Celestia herself convinced Sombra to come with him. The snowstorm stopped and Icarus asked just because. Icarus realized he used up all of his good karma doing this but he didn’t care.
“Stop whining, I am coming brat.” Sombra shot back. Though Sombra was grinning while he said this. The new feelings within Sombra’s heart made him accept the colt's offer to travel with him. His magic was stronger than it had been in months as well being around Icarus. When he was barely able to light a fire a week ago, now he felt he could set a forest ablaze. He doubted Icarus would approve though. Why did he care what the colt thought?
“Why did ya stop? You ok because I can’t carry you.” Icarus said sarcastically. Sombra merely grunted and continued walking. Why did he feel the need to keep up with this sarcastic, little sh-. Sombra shook his head and got an idea. Using his magic he made a snowball and threw it at Icarus.
“So how much further until-Oof. ”Icarus began to say. Until a snowball forced him face down into the snow. This made Sombra burst out laughing as Icarus pulled his head from the snow.
“Consider us even for the app-”Said Sombra. As soon as he went to say for the apple there was a snowball in his mouth. Icarus was laughing hysterically at this.
“HAHAHA You better watch out because…” Icarus trailed off. He saw Sombra’s horn glow and a plethora of snowballs formed behind him.
“Who is telling who to Watch out?” Sombra mocked. Icarus froze looking at the dark Unicorn who simply mouthed the word ‘RUN’.
The two of them hiked through the crystal mountains, finding a small village in its midst. Sombra and Icarus sighed in relief, they were kind of over sleeping on the ground for over a month. Even if Sombra claimed to not mind, Icarus wasn’t a fan of it. The only thing Icarus had left in his pouch were bits. A pony can’t eat bits, so scrounging up food was something Sombra had decided he would do. As they walked together Icarus realized that over the past month, he and Sombra hadn’t talked much.
“My last name is Dream, do you have a last name?” Icarus said. They were nearing the entrance to the small village. He realized the two of them hadn’t actually talked much and he wanted to know more about the former Tyrant.
“I do, I have taken the name of my people as my last. Umbrum.” Sombra said. Continuing to walk with Icarus towards the village.
“An Umbrum is what exactly?” Icarus asked. He had never heard of them before and to him Sombra just looked like a Unicorn.
“They are a race that thrive on violence, and cruelty. Though they are some of the smartest and hardest beings to deal with. I am in a way a Unicorn, but that is only thanks to a mistake in a spell.” Sombra said. The joyful tone he had when they would banter was gone again and replaced by a spiteful one.
“I… I see.” Icarus said. As the two of them entered the village they looked for a place to eat. As the two of them looked around they saw a tavern.
“Here. It smells good” Sombra said. Walking into the tavern and finding a seat.
“Hey wait up!” Icarus said. Running after Sombra in the tavern. Icarus was faced with a rather large crowd for the otherwise small city. He looked around for Sombra but couldn’t find him.
“Of course he would disappear, he’s like the wind” Icarus pouted. Walking through the crowd he bumped into somepony.
“Ah sorry about that, I -”Icarus was cut off. He was pushed backwards, and he tripped and fell.
“Watch where you're going,” A stallion said. Walking over and looking down at Icarus. He snickered at him as Icarus got up.
“Yea, my bad so-” Icarus was pushed down again. The stallion had a hoof on his chest, and wasn’t letting him up.
“Yea some compensation would be nice, that did hurt after all” The stallion said. He pressed his hoof harder onto Icarus.
“And yet I’m the one on the ground, compensate th-” Icarus couldn't finish. The stallion had stomped on him, making him cough.
“Don’t get smart with me and pay up!” He said now kicking Icarus. As Icarus looked around, he saw that nobody was paying him any attention. Everyone looked the other way, and Icarus hated that. Nothing had changed since he left home, and no pony was going to help him. Is what he initially thought, until he saw a dark shadow behind the stallion standing on him.
“You gonna pay up or what huh? I got a bar tab that could be paid with your ‘Compensation’ get it?” The stallion said. Smiling, Icarus motioned behind the stallion who raised an eyebrow at him and turned. Only to freeze in horror when looking upon Sombra.
“So, you have a problem with my… Son, do you?” Sombra said. Catching Icarus, and the stallion of guard.
“Ye-Yeah, He bumped into me and it hurt. I wanted an-”He was cut short. Sombra used his magic to throw the stallion out of the tavern. As the stallion got up to walk back in, Sombra was at the door waiting for him.
“If I see you so much as look at me again, I will Kill. Do I make myself? CLEAR.” Sombra said in a low growl. The stallion shivered when he heard this and slowly backed away. Then he turned to run away as fast as he could to get away from Sombra.
Sombra turned and walked back into the tavern to be met with applause. This shocked him greatly and he turned to look for Icarus to leave.
“Over here the owner said we can eat free today!” Icarus said, waving Sombra over. Sombra walked over slowly, eyeing every pony that was clapping.
“What is this all about? Why do they applaud?” Sombra asked. Icarus stifled a laugh and looked at him.
“You tossed out the town bully, for bullying you, what did you say? Son?” Icarus said smiling.
“I- erm, That was just…”Sombra scrambled. He tried to compose himself and failed completely. Stuffing his face with grilled vegetables, Sombra grumbled to himself.
Icarus simply laughed, “Well anyway, Thanks Dad. I appreciate it.” Sombra looked at Icarus with a raised eyebrow. Though Icarus was already digging into the meal they were provided. Sombra closed his eyes and continued eating. All he could think about was this life he had right now, it wasn’t too bad.
“Mhm” Sombra grunted. Him and his Son, Sombra liked that. They could start a life together, a simple but fulfilling one. Sombra had mixed feelings but he ignored them, he was enjoying his meal and company.