//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Sombra Returns // Story: Sins of the Father // by Robobrony //------------------------------// Chapter 11: Sombra’s Return Sombra cackled as he reveled in having obtained his form back and banished his son’s mind into the darkness to be devoured and destroyed. “AH HA HA HA HA, FINALLY, I have my body back, now to first get my hooves on that blasted crystal heart before the ponies know I’m here.” Sombra turned to leave the room and was confronted by the two guards that Midnight Star had put to sleep. “Hm, I figured my son’s sleep spell wouldn’t last long, worthless colt.” The guards stood in horror before Sombra. One finally found the courage to speak. “It…..it can’t be…..Sombra!” The other guard spoke up as well. “It can’t be, how has he come back.” Before the guards could do anything else. Sombra lit up his horn with a solid black aura and fired it at the two guards, encasing them in a black crystal with a look of fear frozen on their faces. “HA HA HA , lousy fools, you will now be stuck forever living out your worst fears and nightmares. Merely killing these crystal ponies is not enough of a revenge for how they destroyed me. I will make them suffer greatly for what they did.” Sombra lit up his horn again and summoned a large black crystal from the ground, it rose up and stopped short of the ceiling. Sombra merged with the crystal and it began to rise again, plowing its way through the floors of the castle to the surface. Outside, where the crystal heart was suspended between two crystal spikes, one on top and one on bottom, the ground began to shake with great force. The crystal ponies stopped in their tracks and began to worry. Thinking it was an earthquake, they fled in all directions. A large black crystal emerged from the ground with a black mist emmiting from it near the crystal heart. Sombra’s laughter could be heard from the crystal. His form emerged from the crystal and jumped out. Upon seeing him, the crystal ponies panicked more. “No, it can’t be!” One pony said. “It’s impossible, he’s supposed to be dead!” Another said. Sombra approached and eyed the crystal, licking his lips. “At last, the crystal heart, it is mine, I will no longer have to worry about this accursed thing.” He then took it in his magic grasp and levitated it over to him. In one bite, he swallowed the crystal whole. “Now to deal with Shining Armor and Cadence.” As he said this, more crystal guards emerged from the castle. “Stop, in the name of the crystal empire!” One of the guards called out. “I’ll deal with you lot later.” Sombra said with a smirk. In a black flash, he was gone. Up in the throne room, Cadence and Shining Armor were worried about all the commotion going on, they had no idea what was happening. In a black flash, Sombra appeared before them. “That’s my Throne your sitting on you accursed ponies, how dare you take over my kingdome!” Sombra shouted. ***** Twilight and the group were waiting just outside the borders of the crystal empire, waiting for Midnight star to return. As they waited, a rumble began to shake the ground beneath their hooves. “Wh-What’s going on?” Fluttershy asked. “An earthquake, but this area isn’t subject to such things.” Luna stated. It was then that a dark laughter could be heard in the distance. “What was that?!” Twilight asked worriedly. “Something is wrong, we must go to the castle and see what is happening!” Luna exclaimed. Without hesitation, the group took off for the castle. ***** Back in the throne room, Shining and Cadence were stunned to say the least. “WHAT, but how, we destroyed you?!” Shining asked in confusion. “Something I plan to pay you back for you userper!” Sombra shouted as he fired a black bolt of magic at the two. Shining was able to put up a barrier around himself and his wife to protect them. Shining grunted as the bolt made contact with his shield. “Not bad, but do you really thing you can stop me?” Sombra scoffed. Shining dropped his shield. “I plan on trying!” Shining said as he too fired a bolt at Sombra. Sombra just smirked. He quickly summoned another black crystal in front of him. Shining’s bolt was absorbed into the crystal, the crystal let off the same colored glow as the bolt for a moment before being fired back at twice the power. Shining was surprised by this and tried to put up another shield, the bolt was too powerful and shattered his shield and struck him in his chest, sending him flying backwards a good distance until he flew out beyond the balcony and towards the ground. “SHINING ARMOR!” Cadence called out in fear as her husband was sent to plummet to his death. Cadence spread her wings to try and fly off to save him, but a black flash occurred before her. Sombra now stood before her, before she could react however, Sombra fired a beam of black magic and encased Cadence in the same black crystal as the guards he first encountered. “Enjoy your eternal torment princess.” Sombra said mockingly. As Luna and the group were galloping to the castle, they were met with a horrid sight. “SHINING ARMOR!” Twilight cried out as she saw her brother falling from the castle to the earth below. Luna wasted no time and took action. She spread her wings and flew as fast as she could to catch Shining before he met the ground. Almost at the last second, Luna caught Shining on her back and carefully brought him back to the others. Luna levitated him off her back and gently set him on the ground on his belly. They all gathered around him, fearing the worst. Those fears were soon alleviated by seeing he was still breathing. “Shining Armor, can you hear me, what happened?” Twilight asked. Shining’s eyes slowly opened, he was feeling a great deal of pain at the moment, but soon forgot it when he heard his little sisters voice. “T-Twily, is that you?” “Shining, Thank Celestia……and Luna your all right. What happened to you, who did this?” “S-Sombra, I don’t know how, but he’s come back. I tried to fight him, but he’s too powerful.” “Easy Shining, you are greatly injured, one moment and I will perform a healing spell on you.” Luna offered. “CADENCE, she’s still up there, GAHH HA!” Shining grunted in pain as he suddenly remembered his wife. Luna cast her healing spell and Shining Armor was now feeling better. “Wait, what do you mean Sombra’s back?” Applejack questioned. Before her question could be answered, the crystal castle started to change, it’s once beautiful smooth, crystalline shine, started to dull and look sharp and menacing as it changed to black, looking similar to the black crystals Sombra would summon. “The crystal castle, what’s happening to it?!” Rainbow asked as she looked on at the transformation. “Like I said, Sombra has come back, Cadence is still up there, we have to help her.” “Shining wait, did you see a unicorn with him looking somewhat the same as sombra, grey coat, black mane and tail, easel and paint brush for a cutie mark?” Twilight asked. “No, why?” Shining answered. The girls all got very worried at Shining’s answer. “There’s no time to explain, we need to get up there then, com on girls, let’s go.” Twilight ordered. Luna, Shining Armor, Twilight, with Spike on her back, and the girls all galloped to the castle to find Sombra and try to find out what happened to their friend, Midnight Star. “I sure hope nothing bad happened to Midnight.” Fluttershy said as the group galloped on. Shining heard Fluttershy’s comment. “Who’s Midnight Star?” He asked. “He’s Sombra’s son….and our friend.” Twilight informed. “WHAT, Sombra’s son, how is that possible, and why are YOU all friends with some pony whose the son of that evil unicorn?” Shining asked in disbelief. “There’s no time to explain Shining, Midnight is nothing like his father, and we need to stop Sombra and find out what happened to Midnight.” Twilight explained. As they made their way through the castle, they noticed the continuing changes being made by sombra as all the smooth crystal like surfaces of the castle were replaced with black and sharp stones. Eventually, they made it to the throne room were Sombra now stood before the throne with a wicked smile on his face. “Well, well, well, it looks like I have company…..and look, Shining Armor survived his fall, how nice, now I get to exact my revenge on you the way I wanted.” Shining saw his wife encased in a black crystal sitting next to the throne. “What have you done to Cadence?!” “OH, her, nothing really, I just froze her in a black crystal where she will forever live out her worst fears and nightmares. A fitting punishment for those who have defied me and tried to kill me, don’t you think?” Sombra responded with mock civility. Twilight then stepped forward with a question. “Where’s Midnight Star, what have you done with him?!” “You mean that worthless son of mine? HA, It was so cute how he thought he could reform me, I wanted my body back, but I could not simply make a new one from just a horn. I needed a whole body, all I had to do was combine my old horn with my son’s, from there, I simply banished his mind to the darkness to be devoured and disposed of and reformed his body into my own. Midnight Star is gone.” The girls all gasped in fear. Luna also began to fear the worst as it was displayed on her face. Rainbow then took on a stern look and glared at Sombra. “NO, YOUR LYING, you have to be.” “I can assure you I am not, I have no use for a son who has such ridiculous morals like doing what’s right and such. He was weak, hence was disposable.” “How could you do that to your own son?” rarity asked through teary eyes. “You monster, he cared about you, despite all the bad things you’ve done, he still loved you and hoped to make you good again!” Applejack cried out. “You big mean meanie mean pants, give us back our friend!” Pinkie exclaimed. “HA HA HA HA , I’m afraid that isn’t going to happen, he is gone now, and there is nothing you can do about it. I also took the liberty of devouring the crystal heart so the crystal ponies can’t use it against me. And don’t even try to use your elements of harmony against me, I know you need time to charge them, and my dark crystals can simply deflect any form of magic.” “Then I guess it’s up to me to weaken you so we can use them.” Luna said with a stern expression. “Bring it on princess.” Sombra challenged. Luna charged her horn for an attack, she fired a powerful magic bolt towards Sombra, Sombra managed to teleport out of the way and reappeared to the side of Luna, he then quickly fired a black bolt of his own, knocking Luna away and causing her to slide on her side. She looked to her wing and saw a black crystal encasing her wing, she quickly cast a spell to remove it and shattered it before it encased the rest of her form. “Not bad, try and handle this!” Sombra called as he quickly summoned a multitude of small black crystals and fired them off at Luna, she quickly put up a barrier that managed to hold off the assault of black crystals. “I will not let you win Sombra!” Luna exclaimed from behind her shield. “As if you can stop me, even you cannot hope to win.” Sombra’s horn flared to lice again. He summoned a large crystal from underneath Luna, she managed to jump out of the way just in time before it caught her. “Don’t you see, this entire castle is my weapon, I can summon black crystals from anywhere in here now. You cannot win!” Sombra called with a smile. Shining Armor then decided to get in on the action and help Luna out. While Sombra’s attention was on Luna as he tried to summon his black crystals to knock her out of the air, Shining was about to try a sneak attack. He got up behind Sombra and fired a lightning spell at Sombra. Without warning, Sombra teleported away before the spell could hit him. Sombra reappeared in front of a very shocked and surprised Shining Armor, Sombra’s horn still glowing, ready for another spell. Sombra fired and Shining’s body was soon encased in a black crystal as well. “SHINING ARMOR!” They all called out, his crystal encased form fell over with a clink on theground. “NO, Shining!” Luna exclaimed as she flew down towards Shining. Sombra took this opportunity of a distraction to do the same to Luna, he fired his beam and struck Luna right in the chest she too was encased in crystal. “PRINCESS LUNA, NOOO!!” Twilight called out. The girls all merely gasped and huddled in fear. “HA HA HA HA HA, AH HA HA HA, not even the princess of the night can stand up to me! And now for you seven.” Sombra said as he turned his attention to the element bearers and dragon. ***** “Where am I? who am I? What is all this?” A simple unicorn floated deeper into darkness with his head pointed down as he wondered these things. He had no memory of who he was. “Am I dead, or am I dreaming? Why can’t I remember anything?” His eyes were half open as he fell slowly. “Midnight Star” A feminine voice echoed in the darkness. Midnight’s eyes opened all the way. “Hello…who’s there?” His voice echoed in the dark abyss. He scanned the darkness for the source of the voice. “Midnight Star” The voice called again. “Midnight Star, is that my name, it sounds so familiar.” A point of light caught his attention off to the side. “Midnight Star, come to the light.” The voice commanded, but held a kind of gentle tone. “That voice, why does it sound so familiar.” Midnight tried to right himself so he could try and get to the light that the voice was emanating from. He began to float towards the light. “Come into the light Midnight Star.” Midnight continued his path as the light began to grow brighter As Midnight drew closer and closer, the light grew brighter and brighter. Midnight had to soon cover his eyes with his left foreleg as the light grew unbearable to look at. After a moment, he lowered his foreleg and now found himself in a void of pure white. “Hello….is anypony here?” Midnight called out to the white while looking around as his voice still echoed. A figure soon emerged as her form rippled into existence and took on a solid form. Standing before Midnight was a pale pink coated unicorn mare with a white mane and tail. “Hello my son, it’s good to see you again.” There was a heart shaped crystal floating next to her. Midnight looked at her confusingly. “Son, what do you mean son?” “Just what I said, you are my son, I suppose you don’t remember anything after being in that dark void for so long.” “I….I can’t remember anything, you say you’re my mother, then you must know who I am?” “I do, come closer and I’ll help you remember.” She said with a smile. Midnight wasn’t sure about this, but there was something familiar about this pony. He cautiously stepped forward and drew closer to the mare before him. “Now this may tingle a little.” She advised as she lit up her horn in a pink aura and lowered it to his. Midnight closed his eyes as he felt his head begin to tingle and surge with memories. After a few moments, the mare stopped with her spell and lifted her horn away from Midnight. He opened his eyes and looked at the mare before him. His mouth began to hang open as he remembered who she was. “M-M-Mom…..is it really you? But……but….MOM!” Midnight’s eyes filled with tears as he lunged for her and wrapped his forelegs around her and held her tight. Heart String did the same as she embraced her son. “My little colt, I missed you.” “MOM, I’ve missed you so much, I can’t believe you’re here.” Midnight cried into his mother’s coat, staining it with his tears. The two held each other in their embrace for what seemed like hours before they finally broke apart and just looked into each other’s eyes. “Mom, I can’t believe it, how is this possible, your dead.” His mother responded. “The crystal heart has allowed me to be here, it’s magic was able to combine with the last bit of goodness within your father to allow me to speak with you. The only bit of light within your father the darkness that consumed him couldn’t touch was his memory of me.” She motioned with her head to the crystal heart, not wanting to let go of her son. “Somehow, it has allowed me to come here to see you and help you escape this place so you can go back to your friends. I have been watching over you for a long time my son, despite everything you have been through, you kept a good and strong heart, I am very proud of you.” “But, where is here, what is this place?” “This is the last light of your father that is left. I’m afraid that it will not last much longer.” “But, doesn’t that mean there is still a way to save him then, to bring him back?” Heart String’s sorrow became evident as she frowned. “I’m sorry son, but there is not enough left of him for the elements of harmony to save. However, they are the only thing now that can stop your father from his evil.” Midnight also frowned. “So…..that’s it then, he really is gone for good…..isn’t he?” “I’m sorry, I know how much you cared for him, and so do I, but there is nothing we can do for him. But there is something you can do for your friends, you have to go back and try to take control of your body so you can stall him long enough for your friends to use the elements of harmony against him.” “What will happen if I get hit with the elements though, will it destroy my father again, will I get my body back?” “I don’t know son, I wish I did, but even I don’t know what will happen. You must go now son, time is running short and your friends need you. Go to them.” Midnight looked at his mother with teary eyes and a sad smile. “All right mom, I’m going to miss you, I love you.” “I love you too son, and remember, I will always be watching over you.” The two then embraced each other for one last hug before they had to say good bye. They broke apart and Midnight found himself once again surrounded by darkness. He fought his way up and headed to his mind. ***** Sombra stood over the six ponies and dragon as they cowered in fear. “HA HA HA HA HA HA, you are all doomed, I will rule all of Equestria!” Sombra redied his horn to encase the girls and dragon in his crystal prison. Before he could cast a spell, his evil smirk changed to clenched teeth and a look of surprise, he then quickly closed his eyes and looked as if he was struggling with something. “WHAT, NO, IM-Impossible. GRR GR” “G-Girls…quick…..you…..have to…..use the elements…..of harmony….NOW!” The girls stopped their cringing and looked at the scene before them, Sombra had spoken with Midnight Star’s voice. “Midnight…..is that you?” Twilight asked in surprise. “Yes……hurry…..use the elements…..I don’t know…….how long I can……..stall him.” He grunted as he struggled to maintain control over the form. “NO, Impossible…….you should have……..been consumed by…….the darkness.” “GIRLS…….PLEASE…..you have to use them now.” “But what will happen to you if we do?” Pinkie asked. “JUST DO IT!” Midnight shouted in frustration as he continued to struggle for control. “NO……I…..will not…….be defeated again.” “HURRY GIRLS!” Without another moment, Twilight brought out the elements from her saddle bag and levitated them to their respective owners. The girls then took up position and focused on their elements. Their bodies began to glow with the color of their element as they lifted up off the ground, their eyes closed. After a few moments, Twilight opened her eyes revealing pure white glowing eyes. The girls then shot up two rainbows that formed a double helix and combined into one big rainbow that shot forth towards Sombra. The rainbow hit it’s mark and encased him in a rainbow dome. “NNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” Sombra’s voice called out from inside the dome, a bright explosion of light burst forth, spreading out throughout the crystal empire and changing everything back, freeing all those who were encased in black crystal. Back in the throne room, once the light show was over, the six ponies got up from the ground after feeling tired from using the elements of harmony. “Twily, you did it!” Shining Armor called as he ran to Twilight to embrace her in a hug. Twilight quickly got up and hugged her brother. “Shining Armor, you’re ok!” “Shining, Twilight, Thank Celestia your all alright.” Cadences voice then sounded as she approached the two. Shining then let go of her sister and faced his wife. “Cadence.” The two then embraced each other in a hug as well. Luna then approached the group as well. “Well done girls, you did it, but how were you able to get enough time to use the elements against Sombra?” Twilight began to explain. “Midnight Star somehow came back and managed to fight with his father for control, it was him that got us the time we needed to use the elements……MIDNIGHT!” It was then that they all remembered him. The group all turned to where Sombra was. The sight was not what they had hoped. Midnight Star’s body now stood before them……encased in stone with his front half lowered and looked as if he were struggling, it also looked as if Sombra was trying to leave the body at the last second as his face was seen coming out of Midnight’s back with a mist behind his head. The crystal heart lay on the ground in front of him. “No, Midnight, what have we done.” Twilight said as the girls all gathered around him with tears in their eyes. Even Spike was having trouble holding back. “Midnight, no, I can’t believe this.” Applejack said. “How…..how could this have happened?” Rarity asked out of disbelief. “Midnight….no.” Fluttershy said. “It’s not fair, Midnight was good, why did he get turned to stone, it’s not fair!” Pinkie bawled as she started a torrent of tears. “Why….why did this happen to him, why?” Rainbow said as she was ready to cry as well. Twilight slowly approached the stone statue of Midnight star as she cried. She stopped just in front of him and put a hoof to his cheek. “Midnight, I’m so sorry, I’m so……so sorry.” Luna came up behind Twilight and put a hoof on her shoulder. “Twilight,” Luna was about to say something but Twilight cut her off. “Luna, how could this have happened, why didn’t the elements of harmony remove Sombra from Midnight stars body? Why did they turn him to stone too?” Luna looked to Twilight with a frown. “I’m sorry Twilight, but I think Sombra’s darkness was greater than Midnight’s light, because of this, he was turned to stone as well.” “Isn’t there something we can do to help him, there must be something? There has to be.” Twilight asked desperately. “I’m sorry Twilight, but there is nothing we can do, Midnight Star is gone.” Luna said with a heavy heart. Twilight turned to the statue of Midnight once again, now joined with her friends, they just stood there in silence and cried over their lost friend. ***** A few days later, Midnight Stars statue was moved to Ponyville where Celestia was about to give a speech in honor of Midnight star. Twilight and her friends all stood at the front of the crowd. Midnight Star was being placed at the center of the park. “My beloved subjects, we are gathered here today to honor the memory of a kind pony who fell victim to many things. The first of which being prejudism. Because of his father being King Sombra, the evil unicorn king who took over the crystal empire a thousand years ago, he was hated and feared as if he himself were Sombra. This was a terrible injustice. Midnight Star was a kind, caring, and talented pony. All he ever wanted was to be accepted and find a home. Before his father’s defeat, Sombra used a spell that allowed his soul to enter Midnight’s body, because of this, he gave up his happiness to protect those around him. Sombra’s spirit threatened his friends if he did not do as he was told.” “Due to unfortunate events, it became necessary to use the elements of harmony on him and froze him as you see now. Let this statue be a reminder to never judge one before you get to know them, no matter where they come from.” The six girls and Spike were all crying at this point, even Luna was feeling like she was about to cry. She had finally met a pony who knew what she was going through, and now he was gone. The crowd dispersed after some time, leaving the six ponies, dragon, and the two princesses. “Twilight, I am truly sorry for his loss, he really was a kind hearted soul.” Celestia said as she looked at her distraught student who didn’t take her eyes off Midnight. “It’s not your fault princess, he managed to save us, he gave us the time we needed to use the elements and stop Sombra. I still think it isn’t fair that he…..he had to.” Twilight couldn’t finish her sentence as she was too grief stricken. Her friends came together for a group hug as they cried. Luna came to the front of the statue to look at it and read the plaque placed at the base. Midnight Star, the son of Sombra. Friend, hero, artist. Let not ones background be that which defines them. Always look deeper in ones heart for their true self.