//------------------------------//
// Chapter Seven: Beautiful prism, tempered glass 
// Story: The Tale of One Shadow 
// by RadBunny 
//------------------------------//

Burning tears traced their way down Sombra's cheeks, his jaw clenched to try and hold back the cacophony of emotions.
That only lasted for a moment, and the stallion lowered himself to the floor, sobbing like a foal in the arms of his parents. 
Amber walked past them, her own eyes wet as she nodded to the filly standing at the foot of the stairs leading to the second story bedrooms.
“Som-som back?” The filly asked, scrubbing sleep from her eyes.
Amber nodded, giving her little sister a nod before nudging her back to bed.
“Yes, yes he is. Go back to bed Sinnie, he'll be here in the morning.”
“Good. He fun.” The sulfur-colored foal muttered as she tottered back up to her room.
Walking over to Sombra and her parents, Amber sat next to them, leaning her head over to rest on Sombra's back.
“I'm glad that you're back Sombra.” Violet whispered.
“Likewise.” Picks added.

They all stayed there for a moment, everyone's tears slowly fading.
“Mom, Dad, Amber, I.....” Sombra's voice drifted off as he shuffled to a sitting position, a gentle smile on his features as he looked at each of them. His expression then took a bit more of a sober tone.
“There's someone I need to visit, a few people actually, if that is ok.”
Picks nodded slowly, wiping his eyes from tears.
“Go. We'll be here when you get back. I understand you must have a lot to think about right now, son.”
Emotion rose in Sombra's throat as he nodded simply. He took a deep breath and walked to the door, nodding to the guards.
“I need to go somewhere. I take it one of you has to follow me?”
The light blue Pegasus in question nodded briefly.
“Thank you for understanding. I just need to-there are things-” Sombra's train of thought broke down as Picks walked over to nudge Sombra's chest with a hoof.
“I get it Sombra. Go.”
Violet nodded, as did Amber after a glance to her mother.

Without another glance, Sombra strode off down the street, one of the two guards in tow.
Picks looked to his daughter, nodding once.
“Go after him.”
Amber didn't need any more encouragement other than that.

Sombra's hooves became more heavy as he approached his intended destination. The scenery became more simple and peaceful, and thankfully there were not many individuals on the streets at this time.
Or at this place.
Entering a secluded area of the graveyard, Sombra's guard waiting at the entrance.
Farther away from the center of the city, a few snow flurries dusted the headstones as Sombra fell to his knees, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks. The pain was as dark and sharp as ever, biting deeper than any cold and drawing more blood than any mortal wound.

“I'm sorry.”
His voice was a soft whisper as Sombra looked to each headstone.
 Pixie, and Sulfur.
Mom and dad.
Garnet.
Little brother.
Heatherstone.
Little sister.

I am so sorry. 
I failed you. 

A cry ripped itself from Sombra's throat as the pain of a thousand years tore from his heart. 
 Amid that demon's grasp, I almost forgot you. I almost forgot everyone. I tried so hard, but I lost my way. 
I wanted to do the right thing so badly, that I went too far.

Sombra's eyes darted over the headstone as he stood. His large frame expanded and contracted with each breath, the air misting with each exhale. Tears still ran down his cheeks, but where a broken stallion had once stood, a new one had risen.
“I won't fall again.” He whispered, horn beginning to glow with magic.
A sword summoned itself at his side, and a few small crystals sprouted from the grave sites, each taking the shape of a simple flower.

Sombra lowered the sword, spinning it in the air to send it slamming to the earth, burying it up to the hilt as he bowed his head before his deceased family.
“I know you all are listening, watching, so I promise you, I won't fail again.” His chest heaved as emotion threatened to cut out his voice.

“I made a mistake. I looked into things I shouldn't have. I wanted to be better, I wanted it so much, that I forgot what was most important to me. I forgot the good in the world, and settled on what was best for myself, and only myself. Mom, d-dad. I fell. I hurt a lot of good ponies, innocent ponies, with my mistake. One big mistake, and a lot of smaller ones. I can't make it up today, or tomorrow, but I promise I'll try. I want you to be proud of me.”
Sombra stopped, trying to reign in his feelings.
“I hope you will be, someday.”
He took a shuddering breath as warmth filled his frame- and Sombra got the distinct feeling that he wasn't alone. For a brief moment, he swore that the faces of his family were in front of him, each with a kind smile on their features. A trick of the light or snow, he didn't know- but the outline of his father briefly mouthed a few words.
 Go get 'em son. 
We love you.
Each of the faces mouthed the final phrase together, then vanished into the night. 

Sombra's tears then obscured all of his vision as he fell to his knees once again, sobbing briefly. The warmth in his chest was overwhelming, the same that had filled him when his other parents had wrapped him up in their embrace. He swore that he felt the arms of his deceased family around him...

The feeling faded as mysteriously as it arrived, leaving the stallion looking at the headstones once again. 
On shaking legs, Sombra stood, yanking his sword from the ground. Twirling the weapon around his frame, he danced the blade inches from his muzzle, causing it to slowly twirl on its vertical axis. 
“I'll finish what I started, but not fall down that path again.” The stallion muttered quietly, a few more crystals popping into existence around him. They revolved themselves around Sombra as his eyes glowed red, the faint outline of crystal greaves forming on his hooves.
“I promised to protect. I guess I've forgotten that oath.”	
His eyes closed briefly.
 I cannot forgive myself, let alone ask it of others. Not yet.
I will prove it. I will earn the trust and admiration I so sought after.
I won't stop until I have clawed my way out of this hole I have dug for myself.
I cannot quell the anger, the rage, the loathing. These feelings, these horrid thoughts...
I can channel them. I targeted the wrong ponies last time.
I always wanted to be a guardspony. It's about time I got about doing that. Even if I am denied, rejected, shunned, I won't stop. I cannot stop. 
The sword flashed out of existence, along with the crystal clouds of razor-sharp projectiles, and Sombra opened his eyes. They lit up the scene as they flashed red with a single pulse, then fading back to their normal hue.

Despite walking almost daintily on his long legs, the stallion that strode up to the guard almost  commanded  respect. The pony that entered the graveyard had stayed there.
The stallion that nodded to the guard had the pegasus doing a double-take. Sombra held his head high, keeping his eyes straight forward. 

“Amber, Guards, lets go back home.” Sombra said, the two ponies following him down the road.
The mare nudged his shoulder gently, slightly unnerved by the look in his eyes. 
“Sombra? Are you-?” A shaking of his head stopped her unfinished question.
“I am far from alright Amber, very far from it. But tonight, it was a step in the right direction.” The stallion said soberly. After a moment, a smile twitched onto his lips.
“I'm better than I was earlier, and that's a start.”

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The trio of ponies passed by an alleyway on their way home without incident. A few moments after they had faded from sight, a shadow detached itself from the wall, making its way in the opposite direction. It was a simple path to the small hideaway, but an outpost in the large city.
The hooded pony met the eyes of the individual at the door, nodding once.
“We need to meet. Things have changed.  He  will want to know of this new development.”