Candy's P.O.V:
"You really want to know?" asked Moonlight. It was the weekend, and Moonlight and I were getting to know each other better.
I had asked her about the statue.
"Yes," I replied.
"Alright then..."
"Sombra!" Moonlight yelled.
"Yes, my love?"
The bat pony thrusted a hoof in the direction of the enormous statue behind her. It was a perfect likeness of her, except much larger than she was, and it showed her rearing up on her hind legs with her wings and head high in the air, her mane and tail being blown to one side by a strong gust of wind.
"Why in the name of Tartarus is there now a huge statue of me in the city center?!" she demanded.
"Do you not like it?" Sombra asked her, grinning.
"Well," she hesitated, "it's not that I don't like it, but - don't you think it's a bit - uh-" she waves her hoof in the air as she searched for the right word, "excessive? It seems like something Sunbutt would do. Statues of herself to show how great she supposedly is."
"I can have it removed if you would like that." He didn't look directly at her, but he was still smiling.
"Well, it's here now, and it looks like it took a lot of work to carve, so it would be a waste to get rid of it now, and it would also look really rude to everypony else, so..." she sighed. "Fine, it can stay. But make sure everypony knows that this was not my idea." She stared at him and narrowed her eyes.
"What is the matter? I thought that it would be romantic. A gift for my little heroine."
She grinned back. "Oh, really? Well, if you're in the mood for buying me gifts, I'd like a large bouquet of roses, a ten-tier chocolate cake, five pet pure-bred kittens, as large a shipment of mangoes as you can afford, a diamond necklace, a new royal party dress made by one of the top fashion houses in Prance..."
"And do you know what happened after that? Sombra was actually going to get me all those things!"
We both burst out laughing.
“Although, I am simple in living.” Shade added, causing me to nod.
“Despite having grown up in Canterlot, I prefer simple things. It's just that I spent most of my life there, so I couldn't imagine moving to another city or town.”
“Understandable. As for me, I could have never imagined to be a Queen and live in an Empire. It's funny how life can turn out. I just wanted to show ponies that even Sombra can change and…here I am.” The batpony looked briefly down.
Now, I could not help but sigh. “Any news from the messenger yet?”
“Not yet but I assure you, we’ll do anything in our power to show your family you're safe and get you back home, But if Celestia makes things hard on us…” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You’ll have a home here.”
“Much appreciated.” Forcing a weak smile, I could not help but worry about my parents and myself. Would Celestia see me as a traitor and…execute me? Brand my family too? The very thought of that happening made me shiver.
Shade seemed to notice my fear and pulled me into a hug. “Shh, don’t be scared, Candy... You're safe here; I promise.”
“Ma’am!” A Crystal guard rushed in. “It's urgent!”
“What is it?” Shade asked as the guard saluted.
“A Solar Guard by the name of Stellar Shield has requested to meet you. He says he has a message to deliver to you from Princess Celestia. "
The mare turned towards me. “Candy, stay behind me.”
I did as told as she switched into her armour, going outside towards the entrance to the Empire. My eyes fell on a stallion in golden armour. His fur was grey, and his dark blue mane fell over his golden eyes which looked tired but still focused as he looked at me and the batpony with a neutral expression.
“What happened to the messenger I sent?” Shade asked with slight distrust.
“He sadly did not make it, I was sent as a replacement,” Stellar spoke with an accent I could not place. “Her Majesty, Princess Celestia, has a simple demand. Release the Equestrian Citizen you hold captive at once, or force will be used.”
“What?!” I exclaimed, not able to hear what was just said, “No, they treated me fairly, I swear! And I am not a captive! King Sombra and Queen Moonlight saved my life!”
“Yes, I can confirm this, tell Celestia we won’t tolerate such lies!” my host warned, and the guard seemed to sigh as his gaze fell upon me.
“I did try to get you to listen, " he says, and then whistles loudly. Shade and I look at each other in confusion, and then an arrow comes whizzing through the air, aimed for her.
Shade saw it coming and casted a shield spell, deflecting the arrow, only for the guard to smile as he cracked her shield and lunged at her with a knife.
My host grabbed the knife to prevent her attacker from killing her. I wanted to help but my body was frozen in shock.
A cry of pain tore me out, as Shade got stabbed in her chest, which was an unprotected area. And then dark mist suddenly surrounded the guard, making him clutch his head as he screamed in pain before being thrown off.
I used this opportunity to check on Shade, she was pressing her hooves on her wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
“Take this Solar Guard to the dungeon at once!” Sombra ordered some of his guards.
"Yes sir!"
While the Crystal Guards took Stellar away, I knew that I had to get Moonlight to a hospital. Because if I didn’t get her there in time…she would die from the blood loss.
“King Sombra!” I shouted as I ran towards him. “Shade’s in danger! She’s losing lots of blood, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to get her to the hospital in time!”
King Sombra immediately stopped what he was doing and ran towards Moonlight, teleporting the three of us to the hospital. I got a stretcher, and he levitated Moonlight onto it, after which I took her to an emergency room to begin the operation.