Umbra walked along the dirt path on the outskirts of Ponyville. The sun had begun its descent. It had been a long day.
After a hearty meal at Sugarcube Corner, the very place from which he was chased out of the town, he was taken to the town hall. The six had escorted him, making sure none of the town saw him and those that did were made aware of the situation at hand. The sun was still rising with the power of the princess who had banished his father more than a thousand years ago.
After consulting with the mayor, it was decided that the town be called together for a meeting. Umbra’s identity was revealed in front of the entire town. The crowd was full of mixed reactions. A few were indifferent to the news while some were still shocked to hear that this pony, the son of the King of Shadows, was going to live among them. As the crowd dispersed, Umbra saw many ponies glaring daggers at him. It was unnerving. He didn't understand why.
After the meeting, the six mares and offered him a house in the middle if the town. Umbra turned it down. It seemed that the town, or at least some of its residents, were against having him around. He thought it would be better if he stayed just a little outside the town. They told him that the town would be more accepting of him, he just needed to give it some time. Still, Umbra insisted against it. While he didn’t doubt that the ponies would warm up to him with time, there was no need to rush it. He thought the slower, the better in this case.
Pinkie decided to walk him to his home. Umbra wasn’t certain why but she insisted. He didn’t object. They walked in silence most of the way. Umbra didn’t mind the quiet. He simply enjoyed the feeling of someone walking beside him, the company of someone he was absolutely certain he could call friend.
The two reached the familiar area along the edge of the Everfree forest. Between two trees, a small path had recently been stamped out. Umbra was about to give his thanks to the mare when he felt two hooves wrapping themselves around his neck in a close but gentle squeeze. The warmth of her embrace calmed his mind and softened his heart.
He returned the hug.
Umbra held on until tears formed at the corners of his eyes.
“Thank you, Pinkie,” he said, his voice almost a whisper.
Pinkie pulled away from her friend. She offered a tender smile, silently letting him know that everything would be okay.
She said her goodbye and walked back towards Ponyville. Umbra watched her go. He knew that she was his friend and he was hers. It meant all the world to him.
He walked into the forest along the path which lead to a small clearing just beyond the treeline. During the time since he had reached Ponyville and despite the events from the night before, Umbra had become attached to this area. It was somewhere he could actually call “home”. Earlier that day with a little help from the six and a few volunteers from the town, mostly ponies he had met before, the wrecked wagon was cleaned up and rebuilt into something he could actually stand up in.
Umbra marveled at the kindness the six ponies had displayed and wondered why they would go through so much trouble to help him. He wondered if they helped him because they pitied him or because they were his friends. Besides Pinkie Pie, he wasn’t sure if they even considered him a friend. He was willing to think of them as friends. Did they think the same?
The weight that was crushing him before had been lifted. The mask he wore just yesterday was gone; he didn’t have to hide himself anymore. He had almost forgotten what life was like without the mask. It was almost as if he was meeting himself all over again.
However, revealing himself to the town came with its own unique weight. He felt how the weight was there and like before, was doing its best to break him. After confessing who he was, Umbra realized that the weight would always be there. He learned though that he didn’t have to carry the weight alone. That’s what friends are there for. Pinkie Pie, Macintosh, Zecora, even the three fillies, each of them made his burden feel all the more lighter. Umbra knew that assimilating with the town would be full of adversity. It certainly wouldn’t happen in a day but rather the process would be tedious and exhausting. Knowing that his friends were there for him gave him the strength to go on. He was eternally grateful for that simple truth.
Hanging on the wall next to his bed, the white dagger showed his reflection. He was given the opportunity to get rid of the knife. He decided to keep it. It served as a reminder of the easy way out, what could have been done. When he looked into the blade and saw his reflection, it reminded him of who he was and where he had come from.
It worked as a pretty good mirror too.
Umbra collapsed on his new bed, after such a long day, his legs were sore and fatigued. He made a mental note to get in better shape.
His eyes became heavy. He knew what was waiting for him as soon as he fell asleep. This time however, he was not afraid. This time, he was ready.
***
The sky was exactly as he remembered it. The heavens glowed with a never ending twilight. Dark clouds lingered up above. The only difference was the addition of lightning which illuminated the sky at random intervals.
This time however, Umbra found himself standing at the base of the castle. Black fog surrounded the small clearing he stood in.
Sombra stepped out of the black mist. He stopped a few yards away from Umbra, keeping the distance far. The green flame flowed from the blood red eyes on his expressionless face. Umbra thought the flames looked bigger than he remembered. Other than that though, his father looked exactly the same as always.
Lightning cracked overhead. The two just stood there with the long distance between them, each waiting for the other to speak. Umbra was ready to face his father, he just wasn't sure how to begin. The only sound that could be heard was that of the booming thunder in the distance. Finally after an extended moment, Sombra broke the silence.
"So let me guess," he said with sarcasm dripping from each word. "You've come to join me."
Umbra looked at him flatly. His heart beat with anticipation, ready to speak its mind. "I'm here to tell you that you were wrong."
Sombra's eyebrow arched at the statement yet he remained quiet. Umbra took it as a cue to continue.
"You told me that I would be rejected because of who I was and for a while, I believed you. I thought for sure that the ponies would hate me because I have this connection to you. I was right too! When the town found out who I was, I was chased out." A small smirk appeared on Sombra's face which he quickly hid and continued listening intently as his son spoke. "What I learned though, is that the past doesn't make who I am. The ponies can look beyond those things because of that. It's what I choose to be now that really matters.
"You also told me that my destiny is to continue your empire," Umbra said as his confidence grew. Sombra's expression became stern. "That is probably the biggest lie in life. There is no point in anyone's life where we lose control of what is happening to us. My life is not controlled by destiny. I am free to decide what I will do and what my life is about. My cutie mark shows that too.
"I don't think it means that I'm an outcast. I think it shows my independence, how I can decide who I am, what my destiny is."
Sombra stood speechless at what his son had told him. His bitter expression showed he was not amused.
"You know, those nightmares you've been having can get worse," he said threateningly. The green flames grew more intense as he spoke. "You honestly haven't seen anything yet."
"Your nightmare curse isn't all that impressive, Sombra." Sombra's expression changed in an instant as Princess Luna stepped out of the mist behind Umbra. She walked forward until she stood at Umbra's side. Glancing to him next to her, Luna continued. "I've found a small loophole in its structure. It'd be a bit tricky, but it certainly can and will be counteracted." A smirk spread across her face. "Honestly, I expected more from King Sombra."
Suddenly, a small grin appeared on his face. An amused chuckle escaped his mouth. Umbra and Luna looked at each other in confusion.
"Very well then," he said dismissively. "You have already served your purpose to me."
Both ponies stared at the dark unicorn dumbfounded.
"You were supposed to keep my memory alive thus keeping me connected to the world of the living."
He laughed a second time.
"You've presented yourself as my son to not only an entire town but to the rulers of Equestria as well." Sombra applauded him. "Well done, Umbra. Well done."
The two were at a loss of words. Neither of them expected a reaction like this from the evil King Sombra who continued to laugh in front of them.
"As my memory grows, so does my power," Sombra suddenly stopped laughing and his expression became grave. "I will return someday. There will be no mercy when I come. Until then, live your life Umbra. Live it and pray you don't live to see the day I return."
Sombra finished with an evil laugh. The world around them swirled until all became dark.
***
Umbra sat up in his bed. It was easily the most peaceful way he had woken up since he left the Crystal Empire.
He thought back to what Sombra had said. Umbra wasn't quite site what his father's intentions were or how he would accomplish them. He shook his head. It didn't matter, he didn't think I could happen.
A smile spread across his face.
He had done it.
He had really done it.
He had finally confronted his father. He was finally free from the weight that promised to crush him, free from the mask that changed who he was for everyone he met. He no longer had to live in fear of the ponies around him.
Umbra opened his front door.
He looked at the path beyond his doorstep.
It was the path to his new life.
It called for his hooves to tread.
Like a deep and rolling river, he knew it would sweep him far away.
No one could ever know where it would lead, all he could do is take it wherever it runs, never looking back.
Hill by hill, mile by mile, to the farthest shore beyond the sun, he would take it no matter how far.
Just beyond the far horizon, lie a waiting world unknown.
Like the dawn its beauty beckoned with a wonder all its own.
The road goes ever, ever on.