The next day was a typical day for Twilight, or at least it would have been if she didn’t have another pony’s mind stuck in her own. But other than that sad fact, it was surprisingly normal.
The day began, of course, with Twilight’s Checklist of Things To Do Today. First was eating breakfast.
Most ponies don’t need to remind themselves to eat.
It’s not about reminding myself to eat… though I have had to do that on occation… ugh, the whole list is about keeping track of events and having an orderly schedule!
You seem almost obsessive about it.
You have no idea. She sighed. I’m… working on that.
Second on the list was the matter of getting more writing supplies: quills, parchment, ink, and the like. Twilight set out with money in her saddlebags, Spike on her back, and Sombra in her head.
I’d forgotten, one of the perks of being king is that I didn’t have to bother with such menial logistics myself. I hope you intend to use these for more than making more checklists.
I’m working on that, too!
Several visits later and Twilight had her supplies and had dropped them off at the library.
What kind of a shop sells sofas and quills together?
“Spike, what’s next on the list?”
From upon Twilight’s back, Spike read out from a list. “Next up, we’re going to get a pie from Sweet Apple Acres…”
Such was how the day went, with Twilight going about her business and Sombra snarking in her head. There was, however, one incident that stood out…
Twilight was standing before a shop stall selling bread. The vendor, a brown earth pony stallion, had just said something to the effect of:
“10 bits for a loaf of bread!”
Twilight and Sombra had similar reactions.
“10 bits? That’s outrageous!”
“If you don’t like it, maybe you can magic yourself some bread.”
Sombra’s reaction was immediate and intense. Twilight felt a wave of indignation and fury rise up in her as Sombra said to her, That son of a…! How dare he!
At that moment the vendor turned his head as a pair of fillies ran through the stalls, laughing. As he attempted to shoo them away, Twilight used her telekinesis to lift a set of ten bits from his bit box behind the counter. The vendor turned back as the sound of bits hitting the counter sounded out. He suspected nothing, not even Spike’s wide eyes giving Twilight’s crime away.
“Here’s your ten bits.”
“Much appreciate it. Good day.”
Sombra snarled as the vendor passed Twilight a loaf of bread. Twilight put the loaf in her saddleback and quickly trotted off. Disgust was on her face, and surprise was one Spike’s as the latter said, “I can’t say I sympathize with him, but wasn’t that…”
“Excessive? Maybe. Right now, I just want to go home.” She was feeling angry at Sombra and ashamed of herself for following whatever emotions he felt.
What was that all about?
I know contempt when I hear it in a pony’s voice. He was charging you extra because we’re– because you’re a unicorn. That’s all.
That’s still no reason to-
Don’t try and pin this all on me, Twilight. You felt everything I felt. You’re the one who stole the bits.
Twilight sighed. What she’d felt at that moment wasn’t just the indignation of being ripped off. It was a… a sense of outrage over being targeted like that. Or at least, what Sombra felt was discrimination. She wasn’t sure if he was right or not, but… something had struck a nerve with him.
Sombra… what happened to you? Before you became king?
There was a long silence, along with a feeling of… was that regret?
…I wish I knew.
…What!?
I’ll explain later. I… I need to get my thoughts in order.
The sun was setting as Twilight reached her home. Dropping off her supplies and filing them all in their correct places, she walked over to her bed.
Spike piped up, “Isn’t a little early to go to bed, Twilight?”
Twilight glanced back at him. “I just want to lie down. It’s been a rough day.”
“Are… are you all right?”
As Twilight settled under the covers, she replied, “I… I don’t know.”
Sombra…?
Twilight dreamed that she was in a black chamber. No light source was visible, yet she could see her own body just fine, as though it were bright as day. Everything else, however, was darker than the blackest night. She couldn’t tell what was floor and what was wall, or what was empty space.
She looked around her, and saw something in the distance – a few pinpricks of light like stars. With nowhere better to go, she began to walk towards it. Though her pace was slow, the lights accelerated towards her faster than she could gallop. Images began to form around her, forming a corridor leading to her destination. At first, the images were nothing special, merely images of fields or towns. But as Twilight grew closer, the images became more recognizable – images of Canterlot, of Ponyville, of the Everfree Forest. And soon, Twilight herself began to appear in the images.
Twilight stared with awe at the images as she walked. It was almost as though she were watching herself through her own eyes, reliving memories through the lens of time and personal perception.
In no time at all she came to a place where the images formed a dome, depicting moments from her memories, particularly her time with her friends. And standing in the center with a forlorn expression was a stallion Twilight barely recognized. Gone was the armor and robe which Twilight remembered. His mane hung about him roughly, making him look almost ruggedly handsome were it not for the fact that he was quite emaciated, with ribs showing and the outline of his skull visible beneath his face. Most noticeably, his eyes were red, but lacked the green sclera and purple trails that indicated dark magic.
“This is who you are, Twilight,” Sombra said, not looking at her. “Happy, successful, and content. You have everything you want. I…” He finally turned to look at her, his gaze severe. “…I have nothing.”
Twilight returned his gaze. “You have no one to blame but yourself for that, Sombra. You turned to dark magic and became an evil tyrant, and then you lost it all.”
“Yes…” He sighed. “That’s true. The Sombra you knew deserved every bit of what he got. But… do I?”
Twilight raised her eyebrows in confusion. “The Sombra I knew…?”
He turned away from her, as the images on the wall became replaced with images of the Crystal Empire, of the castle, of Twilight and Somba, with Sombra pinning Twilight down and staring into her now-corrupted eyes. “This… this is where my memories begin, Twilight. The first time Sombra touched your mind. Before that, I remember nothing. I remember nothing of what brought him – and me – to this point.”
The images shifted again. It was a similar scenario – Twilight and Sombra in the latter’s throne room, locked in a battle of wills once more. Then suddenly a flash of light appeared, and a wave of blue magic swept the throne room. Only one unicorn was left standing – Sombra was shattered and destroyed utterly, his horn falling to the ground as the black, corrupted crystals of the castle became pure once more.
The stallion now standing before Twilight said, “Sombra died that day. He died, and he left me as a parting gift in your mind. All of his legacy, all of the wrath he incurred, and none of his memories. He left me a purpose, and the only reason I followed was because I had no choice. I ran off inertia, functioning like Sombra for a time… but these past days have taken their toll on me. With no memories to distract myself, I’ve done nothing but reflect. My entire existence, practically, has been spent dwelling on the fact that you turned your back on power, because of friendship. The fact that Sombra was killed by the power of love. Both were concepts anathema to dark magic… to his very existence.”
“Sombra…” Twilight began. The pause was all “Sombra” needed to interject.
The images changed to show Twilight’s life once more. “This… this is my life now.” He stamped a forehoof. “Who am I, Twilight? Am I really that tyrant you detest so much? Or am I a new pony? Do I get a chance?”
Twilight was silent as she thought about this. Could he be trusted? Their connection was muted while in the dream world, but Twilight had sensed that somewhat was changing about him. Did everypony really have the chance for redemption? Even if he was lying about his memories… Twilight had sensed something within him…
“…What is it that you want?”
“The same thing that’s defeated foe after foe. That’s carried you through countless perils. I want…” He hesitated a moment, as though trying to pronounce a foreign word, “…Friendship. And I want a life to live with that.”
Twilight smiled. “All you had to do was ask.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want your pity. And I still one day want a kingdom, because that’s who I am. But…” He glanced at the images, scenes from Twilight’s life. “…At least some of what Sombra had become was because of dark magic. Your mind and body aren’t blighted by that… and neither am I. For good or ill, I am what the Black King was before he mastered dark magic. From now on, I shall no longer be called Sombra. I shall be…” He closed his eyes, thinking. “…Shade.”
He opened his eyes in surprise as Twilight hugged him. “Then consider me your first friend, Shade.”
“I already do.” He gave a faint smile in return.
Inside, Twilight felt a slight warmth. It was reassuring to know that, in their own way, everypony had a bit of good inside.