Atop the Castle of the Crystal Empire, VECTOR sat and stared over the bustling city below. Over at the northern far end, he could see pony soldiers starting to gather and form. Whilst at the Center of it all, you could see the regular ponies getting along with their daily lives without a care in the world, even though they are at the brink of an all-out war.
With a heavy sigh, VECTOR then lazily lay down on the roof. After his little fight with Shining Armor, VECTOR went straight out of the room and climbed up the castle where nopony can reach him. Except for six ponies, that is.
“What are you girls doing here?” asked VECTOR as he sensed the six hiding just behind him. “I could sense all six of you even if you hid yourselves with magic. You six breathe too loud” he added, without even moving from his laying position.
And with an embarrassing chuckle from the six, Twilight lifted the invisibility spell and all six appeared near VECTOR, forming a small circle around the Human.
“About what happened earlier” started Twilight as she rubbed the back of her head. “We heard everything from Fluttershy and----“
“No need to apologize” VECTOR cut her off “Besides, I was the one who beat up your brother” he added, which got them all to gasp (Save Fluttershy, who was there when it happened) in surprise.
“But why did you do that?!” Twilight half shouted at VECTOR with a mix of anger and confusion in her voice and expression. “It’s not like I was the one who was captured or anything. Sure I was the one who planned all this, but. I AM a Princess and I’ve helped beat like two God-like villains, thus making Shining Armor’s decision, quite true” she added whilst pacing back and forth.
“I kinda see your point, Dariling. But like what Twilight mentioned, she was not the one out there, so it’s not quite right, venting your anger at Shining Armor like that” added Rarity.
VECTOR just lay there, silent. True, Twilight was not the one out there, and that she was the only one who planned all this, but that doesn’t mean that Shining Armor couldn’t even question as to why she asked for a map outside of the Crystal Empire. What if she planned to tag along? Twilight said it herself, she was confident in her abilities, so what kept her from not going too? It just so happens that she didn’t go.
And as VECTOR finally sat up after what it seemed to be an eternity of silence, he spoke.
“Look, girls. I haven’t told this to anyone and when I say anyone, I mean ANYONE” said VECTOR in a stern voice, he then added “The one mistake that shattered my life” and as VECTOR spoke this, he slowly lifted his mask, revealing a matured face filled with experience of war and death from underneath the mask. Even if his face showed that he was clearly atleast middle-aged, his cold green eyes showed an empty man, a man that has nothing else left. His empty cold hard face looked at them, and they looked at him right back, but with not pity or disgust, they looked at him with sympathy and sadness, a look that told VECTOR that they are there for him.
“It all started when I was a teenager with my sister, Samantha….”
***
“So the reason your sister died was because she wondered on her own? And was bitten by someone who looked like your dad?” asked Twilight.
“Yes, like you Twilight, she was a genius and a careful girl. Even if I told her not to wander too far, she assured me that she’ll be back. But she didn’t, until I heard her scream.” replied VECTOR.
“And the reason you two were alone was because you and your family had an accident, and that your parents died from said accident?” asked AppleJack, wincing at her own pain empathizing with VECTOR.
“I’m sorry VECTOR but, She and us aren’t exactly alike” replied Twilight with a little hesitation.
“It’s not actually you two being exactly alike Twilight, It’s me being like Shining Armor, I was too confident. Samantha may not be as smart as you, but that same scenario happened. I relied too much, too much in a world where the Dead don’t stay dead” replied VECTOR, he then added.
“And before you say anymore Twilight, let me ask you. Even if you’re careful, do you think accidents aren’t? That’s why their called accidents, because no matter how careful you are, they are bound to happen, you can never prevent them, lessen the damage maybe? But prevent, no. Expect the unexpected as they say” said VECTOR, he then looked beyond them and stood up putting his mask back on and added. “Look, my only mistake is letting the last and only thing important in my life be taken away from me.”
“We won’t let that happen” said Fluttershy as she stepped closer to VECTOR. “I know deep inside, that you are just sad and alone, blaming yourself for the death of your sister. But know that we are here for you, whether it’s to save you when you’re in trouble or just a shoulder to cry on, we’re here for you. It’s because we’re friends.” Added Fluttershy with a tear streaming from her eyes as she hovered near VECTOR and hugged him burrowing her face in his chest.
And as the others joined in to hug VECTOR, inside his mask he closed his eyes, tears and kept emotions starting to well up. He may have failed to save her sister, but he will soon die rather than let it happen again, to his now so called. Friends.
***
“That blasted Chrysalis! How dare she make a fool out of me?!” screamed Sombra as he ended his communication with the Queen of the Changelings.
“She was just lucky to have a Dragon as a pet! But no matter, as maman used to say: ‘Never cry over spilt milk’” he said to himself as Sombra’s shadowy figure started to move and make his way out of his Throne room.
Outside his fortress, Sombra hovered above his little ‘Encampment’, and as a small smile crept to his face when he saw his Goblin Army grow by the hour; from Wyvern Riders to Minotaur Brawlers, and after years of preparing and playing possum, He was almost ready. Even if the Princesses have the Elements of Harmony plus their little ponies, they won’t have a chance.
Because King Sombra will not be alone, oh no, he will have his mighty new ‘Champion’ by his side and that is not all. While the two Princesses are busy with him, they will not know what awaits them beyond the Crystal Empire.
*Feral Scream*
“Master!” screamed one of his Goblin Wyrm Riders. “We have caught a new Dragon for you to use!”
Sombra then wrapped the Goblin Rider who spoke with his shadowy figure and entered its mind. Fully controlled, he commanded the others to follow him to where the new Dragon was caged.
***
‘At an Undisclosed location, in an active Volcano’
“H.Q. this is HUNK, I have retrieved a sample of Albert Wesker’s blood embedded with Uroboros” reported HUNK via communicator.
“Great Work, Mr. Death. Did you encounter any trouble along the way?” asked HQ.
“Besides some BSAA lackeys and some scavengers, it was like a stroll in the park” replied HUNK cockily.
“Good, now make your way back to H.Q. for your debriefing”
“Copy that, HUNK over and out”
As HUNK finished up packing all of his equipment and sample, he heard a certain sound from behind him. And as he looked behind him, he saw something that he couldn’t believe.
“Hello, Mr. Death? Could I interest you with a job?" asked King Sombra still possessing his Goblin Wyrm Rider accompanied with 3 more Wyrm Riders.
HUNK’s answer?
A Bullet in the head of King Sombra.