Sombra was moving quickly through the inner mind of the one named Grithumbar; behind him the beat of giant wings told him to quicken his pace. As he moved down a street hovering over the black stones. His eyes were looking for an escape route, or for a place where the dragon's wings would not be a advantage.
Then he spotted what he was looking for, a hole in the street, it would lead underground tunnels too small for his pursuer. Sombra stopped in front of the hole forming his head and horn and turned to face the Black dragon bearing down on him. Sombra shouted a challenge, "Well then let's fight if you want to so kill me so badly".
The dragon didn't take the bait it hovered many yards away, its massive wings beating the air; Sombra cursed under his breath, "Just fantastic it has a brain", he thought. The dragon knew the shadow was up to something,and the dragon breathed a plume of fire at the shadow king. Sombra quickly created a massive dark crystal wall to shield him from the flames.
The fire made short work of the crystals, shattering them into a thousand pieces on impact. The dragon landed heavily on the street, and when the dust cleared the shadow was gone.
It roared in anger and began tearing at the ground digging massive holes with each strike. Despite this great upheaval the shadow had disappeared, and was untraceable for it had no scent or sound. The dragon's eyes moved as if thinking of a solution to this problem; its red eyes lit up apparently a solution had been found, and with a flap of his wings was gone.
Deep in the caverns of Grithumbar's mind Sombra smiled as he heard the beating of wings grew silent. He let out a long throaty sigh; he thought to himself, "That dragon was very difficult to lose", his green and red eyes scanned the cave he had ended up in due to his escape.
The dark stalagmites and stalactites reminded him of his castle in better days, but his castle no, his empire was so repulsive now. A eye sore he intended to correct if he was successful; he knew where overconfidence got him last time..as a disembodied horn surrounded by nothing but snow. Sombra began to focus on the matter at hoof that dragon was going to be back, and he needed something to distract it. Sombra's horn glowed with energy as he took a unicorn form once more, and with a second spell he made his shadow break off into a incorporeal form.
The shadow hovered in front of Sombra as it waited for his command. Sombra pointed a hoof at the shadow creature, "You must keep the dragon occupied for as long as you can". At that command the shadow flew toward the surface. Sombra smiled evilly the beast would be distracted for hours, and then he'd have free roam while he searched for a weakness in his host a horrible memory, or his favorite method their deepest fear.
Sombra looked at his surroundings; the cavern he was located in had stalagmites and stalactites around a glowing pool of murky water. Sombra heard every few seconds a drop of water falling from a stalactite over the pool, and with every drop the pool would emanate a flash of light.
Sombra looked into a pool and saw an image float by of a lizard standing on two legs it had a slender figure hidden behind a royal cloak. 'this must be memories of Grithumbar particularly of someone dear to him". Sombra set his horn in the pool then the water grew dark.
- - - -
Bright flashes of memories raced in Sombra's mind of killing families, leveling massive cities, destroying planets in minutes, and civilizations in ruin. Millions of lives destroyed by Grithumbar's hands, and in the flashes of memory it was apparent that Grithumbar enjoyed destruction. In the flurry of memories Sombra was able discern the name of Grithumbar's race Proxian. When the storm of memories calmed one particular memory came to Sombra.
It was raining lightly on his body, and his massive black arms were wrapped around the dying form of a green haired female Proxian. Her eyes were becoming glazed over, she was at deaths door. Her chin was covered in her blood, and a giant cut in her stomach was bleeding profusely.
Sombra felt Grithumbar's mouth open, "Sister! Sister! Elexis please don't leave me". Sombra felt a warm tear go down the cheek of Grithumbar. "I can stop the bleeding and...", his massive hand was brushed away by her's.
Elexis's gentle hand slowly wiped Grithumbar's tear away, her blooded lips smiling, "No beloved brother I've lost too much blood my time has come. Please don't try to fight that which you can't win against", a tear ran down her green bloodstained face. "Promise to take care of my son, and to watch over him until he can fight his own battles". His head moved nodding yes. Elexis's hand went to her breast, "As empress of the Proxian Empire I hereby free you from your oath of loyalty to me, and command you Grithumbar Worldbreaker be your own master".
The vision shook, no doubt Grithumbar shaking his head, "What will I do without you? All I've ever done is follow your orders, and I've never had to think for myself". He held her close her blood transferring to his armor, and he loosened his grip leaving her hanging in his arms.
"I know you will figure it out; you will have to", Elexis smiled, a look of contentment in her eyes. "No matter what you did I will always love you my big brother". She looked right into Grithumbar's eyes as if she saw right into his soul. "I am glad I found you that day, and I don't regret it". She shook her head to enforce her point, "Not once did I regret finding you".
Her eyes darkened, the light of life fading from her body. "Goodbye my brother; tell Ire'brak mother loves him, and that she will see him someday in the great land of the dead". The breath of life left her body, but her brave smile remained.
Sombra could feel Grithumbar's body shaking with a unfathomable rage he began breathing in and out as the fury rose inside. Grithumbar was going to make her killers pay dearly.
- - - -
The memory ended and bodily control returned to Sombra, and he pulled his horn from the pool of memories. Then plans began to form in the mind of the fallen king, and each was grander than the last. A laugh formed on the tyrants lips, and it soon became a deep maniacal laughter. It's sound reverberated across the walls growing louder and louder until a chorus of his laughter filled the air.
Sombra smiled evilly in the light of the pool. This creature Grithumbar may be unmatched in strength, but where there is strength there is weakness. This great weakness came from a broken heart, and such a heart was easy to manipulate. This was going to be like taking candy from a filly. "Now", he placed a hoof into the waters turning it black, "where to begin".
-End of Chapter 3-
Here is a picture of the cave and sombra enjoy;
http://thecreatorofmonsters.deviantart.com/art/Grithumbar-s-pool-of-Memories-417870138 ga_submit_new=10%253A1386228346