//------------------------------//
// Shining Town 
// Story: King Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bon 
// by Fanon Canon 
//------------------------------//

Imagine, for a spell, that you have awoken for the first time in a thousand years. Everything about you feels different, your entire body has been noticed into something completely alien to you, almost as if it's not really your own being. In addition, the one place you craved for so much, looked upon with greed and envy, no longer suits you, having cast you out by force. Yet, you feel fine about that, you no longer want it but rather you look to a different place, a complete alien place, hoping to find something of value there, something that will suit your new found longing. A longing that you have no idea what it is you exactly want, only that it does not involve the words crystal or slaves.

The King formally known as Sombra had no idea what to think to himself as he trotted to and fro amongst this strange new town he found himself in. Having known nothing other then a lust for power and the frozen empire to the north, everything that he gazed upon was like it came from another world. The only thing he felt that he could really relate to was the cold; something he knew all too well of having been encased in some kind of ice stasis for a thousand years, yet when he felt it, and saw how the ponies did their best to stay away from it, he couldn't help but feel that there was something different about it. 

Something... festive, like this weather was just the right mood, like it was leading up to something special, something that would make all this chill and hardships pay off. But what was that he wondered, and how would he fit into any of it.

The former unicorn paused in his tracks, coming to some kind of dead end within his head. He had not the faintest idea of where to go, where once there was the single determination to see all of the crystal ponies under his domain, now there was a sudden blankness, the only idea that occupied his head was that there was something to do, something that this town had to offer him. But what?

Sombra was suddenly drawn from his trail of blank thoughts by a peculiar noise, a very distinct kind of sound that winded it's way through the wind to meet his ears. Looking around, he got the strange impression that none of the other ponies in the thicket were aware of it. Deciding to follow up on this strange new development, since there was nothing else he could invest in, Sombra made his way through the icy streets, guided by the sound that was growing more distinct as he neared it's source.

Eventually, he came upon a building, the strange sound now at it's clearest. Surveying the scene through the stain glass windows, Sombra made out a scene of merriment; ponies were gathered around tables, dressed in refinery, doing all the activities he had only passing memories of engaging in, centuries back. There was laughing, feasting, dancing led by a single singing voice, and somehow, the mere image was enough to resonate some powerful feeling within the former unicorns former black heart. So, acting upon his instinct, Sombra trotted right through the door to investigate more.

Not one of the ponies in the many clusters seemed to register that he had entered, but as he observed the scene, a strange new feeling upon him now that it surrounded him, his eyes were drawn to the bar directly in front of him. Standing at attention was another stallion, dressed in a waiter's attire who, as Sombra observed him further, seemed to be looking right back at him. Drawn by some compulsion, Sombra trotted up to the figure, who addressed him as soon as he was within range. 

"Good evening sir." He said formally. "It's about time you arrived."

Sombra didn't really know how to react to that. It was one thing to hear a pony actually speak, but it was something else entirely to be told that his presence had been expected. It wasn't long before Sombra realised that he had no idea how to react properly, he wasn't even sure if he had a voice, barely remembering the last conversation he had. So with some effort, he struggled to form words within his head, eventually managing to utter something.

"Crystal... Slave." The former king groaned.

No, that wasn't what he wanted to say, yet it seemed that it was all he was capable of at the moment.

"Excellent choice sir." The stallion replied, and before Sombra knew it, he ducked behind the bar, busying himself with the various bottles at hand, before returning with two and a glass, pouring them to create some strange liquor concoction before presenting it to the baffled king.

Sombra had no idea how to react for the second time. Yet, there was some strange urging within him that suggested that an act like this deserved some kind of transaction of a sorts, but he had no kind of currency about him, let alone whatever the appropriate money for this town was.

"No charge for you, sir." The stallion addressed him, as if reading his mind. "You're the guest of honour tonight."

For a third time, Sombra was taken by surprise. Was this how things worked in this town, he was not sure, yet he got the impression they were not.

"Drink up sir." The stallion informed him, pushing the glass towards the stunned king.

Sombra observed the substance swirling about inside the little glass, the thought suddenly dawning on him
that he had gone a thousand years without a scrap to eat or drink. He wondered if he still knew how to properly digest, what with this strange new form he found himself in. Taking the glass in a hoof, he downed the substance in one, and for the first drink in a millennium, all he could say... was not bad. Now with a thirst for knowledge inside him, Sombra was about to try his hoof at speaking again, but the pony beat him to it.

“If sir.” He began. “You are requesting information about your… condition. Might I offer some advice, if I may?”

He spoke as if he expected Sombra to suddenly reply in the same formal tone he was addressing him with, telling him it was okay for him to proceed. Of course, that was what Sombra was thinking in his head, but he couldn’t find the willpower to turn it into words. 

“Thank you sir.” The pony continued, as if reading his mind again. “There is a certain mare in this town, a worker at the local confectionary, but a speech therapist on the side. If you are looking for a way to… properly project yourself, she might be capable of assisting yourself.”

Wow, Sombra was taking all this in fairly well considering that he had precisely zero idea of who anypony here was, let alone what a confectionary or a speech therapist was. Yet somehow, he could understand that there was some wisdom in this strange stallion’s words. 

“If you are looking for the location of this particular mare.” The pony continued. “Allow me to assist you sir.”

He ducked back down behind the bar again, drawing a map this time, before marking the necessary information on for Sombra to see, before handing it to him.

“I would recommend arriving at this particular mare’s workplace around seven tomorrow evening.” He explained. “That is, if there are no other engagements tying you down sir?”

Sombra took all this in, remembering every word crystal clear. He had no idea what to make of any of it, but if it led to some kind of purpose for his being here, then what other options did he have?

“Now if you will excuse me sir.” The stranger finished. “The bar is closing soon. Please enjoy the rest of your evening.” 

And with that, he turned to leave, heading out of the bar to address one of the other strange ponies who worked there. The former and baffled king, meanwhile, decided to make his exit, trotting out of the door with not one pony paying him any head.

Now on the icy streets yet again, Sombra found himself with little to do yet again. This appointment he had was etched into his blank mind, but whatever could he do in the meantime while he waited. He thought of maybe going back into the bar to indulge a little more, but to his shock, the moment he looked back at what he had known to be the entrance, he found himself staring at a bordered up building, the windows and doors bolted shut.

“Oh and one more thing sir.” The voice of the stranger suddenly uttered from an unknown place into his mind. “It would be within our best interests if you were to… keep quiet about our interactions to any mares and stallions you meet. They would not understand as your former subjects did…”