//------------------------------// // Meeting // Story: The Truth Behind Him // by Roxas hikari //------------------------------// A grey and black colt laid still, deep in snow, his chest barely rising and falling. His eyes slowly flickered open and his gaze seached the snowy plain. He found shards of armour sticking out of the snow, each shining in the non-existing sun. He grunted as he staggered to his hooves and he spoke, testing his voice. “How... Where... Am I?” He touched his hoof to where his horn was supposed to be. “Good, still there...” He thought it was blown off not too long ago. He started to walk to the north, staggering every few steps. The colt let out a burr... and he continued on, curious on what he might find. Twilight sat in front of her desk, her eyes traced the pages of a book before changing the page with her magic. She yawned before stretching her wings out. The mare stood up and closed the book, levitating it up to where it belonged. She smiled slightly before trotting up the stairs. She opened her door to find Spike already asleep, snoring loudly. She yawned once more and turned off the lamp, getting into her bed. She slowly drifted off to a dreamless sleep. *** The colt saw a small town in the distance now; he raised an eyebrow in curiosity. He broke into a run and he began to pant slightly before stopping not too, far from where he began. “Okay maybe I am not made for running.” He said and trotted up to a sign. Ponyville. He read silently. He walked along the path to Ponyville, soon entering the town. He saw ponies gasp and mutter, as he looked the way of the muttering the ponies fell silent. The ponies he was eyeing quickly panicked and ran off in the other direction; he flattened his ears and sighed. As he roamed the streets of Ponyville, he found the streets to be conveniently empty. Twilight awoke to Spike rummaging through a chest. “What are you doing?” She asked groggily. “Looking for something.” Spike spoke and pulled something out of the chest. “Ah ha!” He said and ran off. Twilight rolled her eyes and trotted downstairs. “Spike, I’m going out for a bit!” She left the library and cocked an eyebrow as she saw the streets empty. “What..?” She looked around with confusion and saw a black and grey colt walk by. “Hi, um do you know what’s going-“ She stopped as he looked at her, narrowing his eyes. “S- Sombra!” She almost fell back before catching herself. Her horn glowed and stopped just as quickly as it started. There sombra sat, normal sombra, but not him at the same time. His eyes were wide with... Fear? Twilight stepped forward and looked down at Sombra. “Why are you here?” She spoke. “I do not know.” He said. “Okay, then why do you look... Younger?” He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She stifled a small giggle. “I guess... It was a compliment.” “Hmph...” Sombra grunted. “You don’t seem as bad as what every-pony says.” Twilight said finally after a long silence. “You don’t know that.” He looked her in the eyes. “Wouldn’t you attack me by now, ‘King’ Sombra?” “I guess, but I might just be waiting.” “Hey, I thought you blew up...” Twilight realized. “Yeah well... I didn’t.” The colt stated the obvious. “I can see that.” She rolled her eyes and saw Flutter shy. “Flutter shy!” She called to her friend. The yellow and pink mare spotted her and flew over, landing next to Twilight. She folded her wings to her side and she looked twilight in the eye. “Yes, Twilight?” She asked before noticing Sombra. She let out an ‘Eeep!’ and leapt back. “Twilight! It’s k-king Sombra!” She shook madly. “It’s alright Flutter shy...” Twilight smiled at her friend. “Welcoming...” Sombra flattened his ears. “Oh... I’m sorry.” Flutter shy mumbled. “Hm?” Sombra raised an eyebrow. “She said sorry.” Twilight said. “Thank you.” He looked at Flutter shy. “It is okay.” The colt stood up and turned and walked off. Twilight and Flutter shy looked at each other with confusion. “He’s... Changed.” Twilight spoke. Flutter shy nodded in agreement. Then, the two of them turned and flew into the sky. *** Sombra sat in a meadow, gazing up at the stars. His mind swirled with questions. “Where am I going to stay tonight? How does every pony know whom I was? Why am I still alive!?” The questions echoed through the endless night sky. He rested his head on his hooves and he sighed. He had become weak after his near death experience. He knew he should have just stayed and frozen to death in the snow. Sombra head hoof steps coming his way and he turned his head to face a familiar lavender alicorn. He snorted and put his head back on his hooves. The colt just wanted to be alone, most ponies accepted that, but, he wasn’t about to shoo off a princess, now was he? “May I sit next to you?” Twilight asked. “Fine.” He spoke. Twilight sat down next to the colt, looking up at the sky. Her mane covered her eyes and she smiled. “Have you thought about where you’re going to be staying tonight?” “Yes. I am going to stay here tonight.” “But,” “I think this is a nice place to stay.” He interrupted her. “Nice?” Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Wow, you really aren’t yourself.” She said. “Well, I was not always... ‘King sombra’” He looked at her. “I used to be nice. Actually, I was protecting my subjects.” “By enslaving them?” Twilight frowned. “Yes.” He nodded. Sombra was given a dirty look and he rolled his eyes. Twilights gaze softened. “Tell me.” Twilight said. “Not tonight...” He yawned. Twilight nodded and yawned as well. She looked at Sombra, whom looked as if he was asleep and she smiled. The mare’s eyes slowly closed and she leaned up against him. She seemed to be a little more relaxed now and soon enough, she drifted off to sleep.