//------------------------------// // An expected Journey // Story: Long live the king // by Msande //------------------------------// "Well," AppleJack said as the group road the tracks in relative silence, as everyone kept silent. Everyone was letting Sombra have his space. "We will have to stop the train before we get to the station. I have no idea what a corrupted Alicorn will do or if the she will be keeping an eye out. So we play it safe," Sombra advised only for everyone to look at him blankly. "I see, feel free to take that under advisement, I may have been crazy but i still hold secrets and means that will make this easier than your last visit," He said grimly. "Right, Sorry we have been rather warm but you giving orders is really rubbing me the wrong way." AppleJack admitted as Sombra shrugged. "But his voice is so deep and cool, I mean it just screams listen to me," Pinkie commented getting a resounding. "Pinkie!" from everyone with Sombra as the exception. "So anyway i was wondering and I don't think I ask, or maybe I did but what is up with your horn is it like mutated or do you get when you become evillllllll. But Nightmare moon didn't have one but she wasn't really evil, but then again it turns out neither were you just a corrupted Stallion who took things to far." Applejack rushed to play damage control as Sombra just stared at the pink one. "Pinkie, you can just ask about stuff like that," Rarity chided even if nearly everyone seemed very interested in the answer. "I was born that way," He said with a shrug, "But sadly Discord's reign kind of killed a lot of lore and even basic knowledge so if there is something behind it I am not aware of it," "Still, do you know any ways in?" Twilight asked, "There is a secret entrance to the north it was built as an old escape but can be used to get it in. It will take us to," Sombra frowned as he glanced over them. "It leads us to the dungeon doesn't it?" Rainbow Dash asked her eyes half open in a rather board expression. "How did you know?" Sombra asked, "Seventh book in the Daring Do series has Daring Do infiltrate an old castle she uses and old escape rough that takes her to the dungeon. were she is captured by her arch rival Ahuizotl captured her expecting this action, and," Rainbow Dash paused as now everyone including Sombra was looked at her for a long second. "I am starting to think an alternative plan is now needed," Sombra admitted, "What is an Ahu-zolo. Huh?" he asked just looking at her. "You have never heard of the greatest book series ever?!" Rainbow Dash asked suddenly appearing in his face. "We have plenty of time you should be able to at least get through the first book, if you don't take any breaks," she said, "I will be right back, i have the whole collection at my house," "Hold it, we don't got no time for such stuff," Applejack said lassoing Rainbow as Sombra just stared at Twilight in concern. "The more i am around you the more i question Celestia's sanity for putting the fate of the land in your hooves," Sombra said as he glanced over. The six mares all frowned at him as shook his head. "Anyway any other ideas?" Twilight asked, "Give me a hour a quill, and some paper and I could compile a good sized list but i think my first idea," "And Why is that?" Applejack asked, "Cause if i am as Evil as i am presented handling a divided group of Elements rather than all at once would in face be much easier so i don't think Dividing would be well received nor would I advice it." he admitted. "That seems reasonable," Fluttershy admitted, Twilight elbowed Applejack, as she gave the fame girl a uncertain look before glancing at Sombra. "So, were is Spike at?" Rarity asked casually hoping to keep the train car from going silent, and Twilight seemed all to happy to oblige. "He is staying at the Library to keep everything going while we are gone I don't want him to see what we all think we are going to see," "Cadance dressed up like Nighmare moon?" Pinkie pipped in. Twilight drooped her head as her ears fell flat, as she looked a Sombra. "I know we helped nightmare moon but do you think it will do what it did to Princess Luna all those years ago?" Twilight asked, everyone glanced away nobody was sure the Elements had an odd track record of doing different things. "Magic of this level is never predictable, but since we do have something to go buy you should have little trouble with just purifying her, it's the rest of the place that has me worried." Sombra said out loud. Little was said, Twilight was lost in her own concerns and while everything was rather smooth, the trip north reignited past concerns; and Sombra's cold complaints and criticisms did little to win friends on the matter. It wasn't long before the train slowed and came to as stop as everyone looked to the left out of the train to see that they had made it as far north as they would be taken. "Okay everypony, time mosey," "Mosey," Pinkie Pie giggled as they all got into there winter wrap up gear while Sombra threw a grey cloak over his form. They dropped into the snow as the wind whipped around them. Sombra glanced at the castle that now seemed to have a cruel red glow to it. His horn glowed purple as the snow was tunneled into he lowered his head as he lead the way. "How in the world are we going to see were we are going Darling?" Rarity asked, as Pinkie Pie suddenly pulled down a periscope "Like this silly," Pinkie Pie said as Sombra stopped and looked at the object. "what in the world?" Sombra asked as he looked at the object and the pony in question. "Magic, it was always wondered if earth ponies had magic and I have seen the proof. As for location. He pulled out a compass, I see we will have little issue in the mater." Sombra kept yo the pace as he kept going forward checking his position on occasion with the compass and Pinkie Pie's periscope. "Would you like me to take over for you?" She offered as Sombra paused to look at her, and with a shrug backed off. "So what do plan to do your knowledge?" Sombra asked casually as he looked at her. "What do you mean?" Twilight asked, "Well, Celestia rules with her knowledge, your brother protects, and I fight, are you going to blaze your own trail or do you have something in mind?" Sombra asked, Twilight didn't respond, she thought to herself on the idea, "She had done both she had taken charge on some occasions while many other she was an agent of protection. And while most of the protecting she did involved fighting she never saw her self as combatant. "Why do you want to know?" she asked, "Well I what you plan to do will determine what i do," He admitted,"If I feel you don't need me I plan on globe trotting, maybe find a new student and explore the world, I have been gone a long time. But if you need someone with a bit more skill and a bit more hands on I wouldn't mind hanging around." "Oh," she replied, "I am going to say what will keep me around so you answer the question truthfully," Sombra admitted, and with that he took cast his own spell doubling the speed they were moving at. The two finally came to a stop as Twilight uncovered a circle, Sombra levitated above his head and everyone headed down into the dark and cold stone of the escape route. Rarity light up the way, Twilight lead the way as Sombra as he levitated the cover back above and then collapsed the snow tunnel. He dropped down next to fluttershy who hung her head away from him. Sombra glanced down at her for a second before looking forward decided that he had nothing to say. "Thanks for agreeing with me, I appreciate it," with that he kept quiet. "This so boring can we just charge in or something? man and you guys are so slow," Rainbow Dash complained clearly upset with all the sneaking around. "Rainbow Dash darling you would think after all this time you would be use to things taking some time, after all Daring Due only gets a new book once every other year or so," Rarity commented, casually "I know, its so hard to dell with but you guys could at least pick your hooves up a bit more," She replied, "As a lady i will not be rushed," Rarity insisted, "Oh brother," Rainbow Dash Commented, rolling her eyes at Rarity's comment. "Is Big Mac her, who's brother?" Pinkie Pie asked as she hopped along. "Were is your periscope?" Sombra asked, "Don't tell me you left out in the snow," he said realizing he may have just lost her object permanently. "Oh i have plenty of those no big deal," she said waving it off, as she hopped next to Sombra, "Hey I have an idea do you think you can..." she whispered as Sombra's eyes went wide as he looked at her. "I don't see why not, he said casually, Rainbow would you like to have a race to the end?" he asked casually with a sly grin on his face. "Please like you could beat me I could walk all the way fast than you could get there," Sombra said casually as he polished his hoof on his chest. "Is that a fact, fine than this will so easy, I will have you beat in ten seconds flat." she boasted "Prove it," Sombra challenged she race of in a blur of colors when suddenly she shouted from far behind them. "What did you do!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "Just having a bit of fun, the race still on unless your giving up," Sombra said casually as rainbow Dash flew and flew and flew each time leaving a rainboom and he wake but still managing to make it no farther as Pinkie Pie just giggled along the way. Twilight was eyeing them clearly torn between calling them out and enjoying the show. Dash finally fell out of the sky next to Sombra as she tried to pull her wings in but they flopped to the side. "Hmm you lasted as long as old Hurricane she was a trooper as well." He said with a smile. "Really?" she insistently perked up at the comment. "Yeah the old war horse and I use to transp around kicking flank and protecting the realm," He said his chest swelling with pride. "We even took down a changeling Queen once. Oh man that was one heck of ride, we almost took each others head off that night. Ah boy that was so much fun, it wasn't at the time but, I miss her so much," "Don't tell me your going get all sappy what's next did you get married or something?" Dash asked rolling her eyes but she paused a bit longer. "Well, no, ahem," he cleared his throat. "She was never that kind of mare and I was a bit to much of a spoiled royal brat, but I had my uses." he said laughing out loud as fluttershy turned every shade of red. The group reached a point as Dash froze at it, "What spell did you cast?" Twilight asked as her magic rippled across what seemed to be a wall. "just a simple space spell, i put a spell on it that meant anyone going faster than a trot would be find themselves at the other opening at the very start. It's rather fun you can have one at your home and one in the castle library and jump back and forth between them. I never did teach that one," He realized as he bit his lip at the oversight. ""But that goes against the rules star swirl put down," Twilight replied, "you can't sustain the spell," "Star swirl? was a loon bound by the rules he persevered since when did magic or friendship need to abide by a set of rules?" he asked smirking. His horn glowed purple as the wall vanished show a stone arch way that seemed to be bricked off. His horn kept glowing as the stone parted away showing of more darkness as well as a mass of cells. "You know I never understood why we have those they never seem to get any use," Rarity replied casually. "Oh these ones got used," Sombra said, "You really know how to kill a mood you know that Sombra?" Applejack asked raising an eyebrow. "I know Take the stairs head straight up and keep your head down I want to check the cells just in case," Sombra replied as he walked to the left. "We should stay with you help you search," Twilight advised. "Do you really want to see something like this? see Your Cadence marked any more than you will have to when you see her again?" Sombra asked, She nodded as Sombra walked away from them his horn glowing brightly as he walked away. He mentally counted them as he walked by his cloak felt like his old cape as the dark magic that had left nothing more than a small spark in him burned a little hotter. He stopped outside of a door and it slowly opened. Inside was the skeleton of a pony, the one that was leading the group against his presence. The pony had starved to death during his reign, "You should have been tried not killed, no pony deserves to die like this," he said letting his shame and regret was over him. "Help!" cried out a voice as his head jerked up. "By the Faust no," He rushed around a corner when his eyes met Shinning's The captain of the guard was locked up his coat was dirty and the stallion looked have starved. "You!" he shouted as his eyes wide, as he fell back, as Sombra cast a spell opening the cell up as Shinning just stared at him in confusion. "The whole world has gone mad!" he declared. "Candace is locking me up and your freeing me, I must be having a nightmare," "Here eat something, your wife opened up a door, and got corrupted your sister and her friends are here to help, and if we are lucky the world will be better place if not everything will be back to normal and I will be locking up and Candace can break you out." "I can't tell if you are making a joke or not," Shinning replied looking at the stallion had to heads. "The Hummer of this land is filled with puns, I cannot stand it," he shuddered at the thought. "What in tartarus Happened to you?" Shinning Armor asked incredulously. "The same thing that happened to your wife, now come on your sister is going to need your help," Sombra replied, Shinning was out the cell around the corner as before Sombra was half done. He raced after them when a crystal pony fell down the stairs rolling hard as Sombra and Shinning noticed the pony had a red tint to it. "I still don't understand why are they red," Shinning said, "The feed of of emotion, what ever Cadance has done with that damn heart has lopped back its a connection, I don't remember everything but the heart and the crystal ponies are connected," Sombra explained as the pony hissed at them, Shinning frowned realizing the pony was not in the right state of mine and kicked the pony down the stairs. "Ten pits says my sister is up there," Shinning said as he charged up the stairs. The two got up and both ducked as a pony crashed down the stairs both winced as the crystal pony seemed to hit each step on the way down. The glanced over to see all six breathing heavy but every single one was standing and ready to keep going. Shinning whisteled at the amount of flank that was kicked. "Perhaps i was to hasty in my initial judgments," Sombra admitted, "You wouldn't mind repeating that to Princess Celestia would you?" Twilight asked with a sly grin. "Everyone needs a critic," he replied casually, as he took a deep breath. "Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo, what's next," asked Pinkie Pie, "I have no idea," Twilight admitted. "I think she's in the throne Room!" Pinkie Pie shouted, "How would you know that?" Apple Jack asked, "It's were i would be," she replied everypony glanced as they had no argument or alternative the group raced off as Shinning Armor took point concern and worry etched on his face.