//------------------------------// // Heads up here we go. [Fix ups] // Story: Sombra's Return // by TheNomad //------------------------------// "If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?" -William Shakespeare Crystals. Crystals are nice. Crystals don't kill you, no matter how hard they might try. Not even a dragon could kill me. Ponies. Those are a different story. They hold on to the past. Crystal ponies. That can't do anything. They can't fight, hold on to the past or else they go to the mines hungry. They fear me. They fear my name. They fear Sombra, King Sombra. I like fear. Fear is an unpleasant emotion induced by a threat perceived by other living entities, which causes a change in the brain and ultimately a change in behavior, such as running away, hiding or freezing up. This is why I love fear. You’re pray trying to run or there face when they see you. They may hide in the darkness or Shadows. Shadows and Darkness are nice too. If you need to hide they are your best allies. But alas this is my domain. I am fear, darkness and shadows. And the Crystal Empire it's Crystal Ponies are mine! That crystal was what defeated- no. It only prolonged my return to my kingdom. Princess Celestia I know she sent thy ponies. They are the same ponies who found the heart. The alicorn got the heart from the dragon. Yet even that heart can't kill me. My horn, the very same thing that got me into the empire, the same thing that lets me uses my magic. The same thing that withheld against the hearts power. It's been a few mouths at most several weeks at the least. In that time I've been buying my time. My horn has been gathering all the magic in the area. Slowly but surely I have been rebuilding the rest of my body. At this point in time my body is an endless, swirling, black void in the vaguest shape of a pony. It will be a few more weeks until it hardens into a form I can use. So now I wait. " RRRRRRAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW " My voice bellowed as my body finished itself. The pain I felt was only a fraction of what the heart did. The feeling of being cooked inside out was unbearable. "Finally I BACK. HA HAHAHA- wait, what?" My voice, MY. VOICE. I haven't heard it in years. It was wonderful to hear it again. It was a low soft silky voice not like the growls I had before, not so deep it sounded like I was gargling rock salt. Now that I think of it I never found out how or why I sounded like that but right now I don't care! "Doe ray me fa so la ti doe." I sang testing my voice. It sounded so alien after not having it in so long. "Ah... I'll never part with you again. But right now I need to find out where the hell I am." Taking a look around I was glad I was still in the north. Snow was all around. To the north east was The Crystal Empire. How I know that... well when I see a giant happy white light to the north east I think I have a good idea of where The Crystal Empire is. But knowing where it was only half the battle. "There you are." I said to myself happily. And With that I set off. Three days. It has been three Faust forsaken days! On the first day a blizzard rolled on in. Being trapped in ice for a thousand years really helps against the cold. But with all the snow I had no idea if I was still heading the right way anymore. I liked it better when I ruled where everything was dead grass not snow! But luckily on the second day it looked as if it was starting to pass. BUT NOPE SURPRISE!!! It came back twice as hard. It has turned my run into a slow crawl. Oh but now it looks as if it's slowing down but just in case I'm going to keep an eye out. Ok I think I might have been wrong in just a few hours the blizzard has die down a lot. Now with that out of the way and I can keep on going. My crawl slowly turned into a trot then to a full on gallop. I was closing in on The Empire. But I only just realized that it was night. I forgot how bright The Empire was at night. The glow of it went on for miles. I herd somewhere before you could see it from the Castle of The Royal Pony Sisters. "But now, NOW The Crystal Empire will be mine. Mine, mine, mine RAAHHAHAHCRYSTALSAHAHAHA MINE MINE MINE!!!!!" I quickly slapped a hoof to my mouth. Shaking my head clear. "I got to be more quiet don't want them to hear me coming a mile away." I whispered to myself. An hour later I reach it The Crystal Empire. I walked up to the grass. Closing my eyes I took my first step, then another step, then another, and again. Opening my eyes I looked around to see I was in. I let out a breath I didn't relies I was holding. I slowly walked farther into The Empire. I didn't want to be found out; just yet anyway I needed a disguise. Quickly trotting to the living district I ducked into and alleyway. I took to the shadows in the alleyway like a fish takes to water. My body faded away into a ghostly mist. Now in my shadow form I waited for a guard or a crystal pony to walk by or into the alley. Imagine my surprise when a crystal guards pony just so happened to walk by. Quickly and quietly I slid into his shadow, becoming one with it. We- well he walked around Living district for a good hour or so before he was swapped out for the night. He walked up to a rather large Inn of sorts. Walking in the inside had a warm air about it. Wooden tables, floors and walls. A single fan spun over what looked like a stage. An Earth pony with a cowpony hat and guitar was singing rather strange song. Drunken Crystal ponies, guards, unicorn, pagysi, and earth ponies alike happily song along. The crystal guard walked up to the Inn keeper. She was a light green earth pony blond hair done up in a bun. She heard the rather large stallion walk up. "Welcome to the Crystal Inn and Tavern how my I help-" Turning around she saw how was in front of her. "Crystal Shield is that you?" The stallion nodded "I all most didn't recognize you." "Yea it just feels so weird. Being a guard and all." Crystal Shield said. "I would think so. But if you ask me I think it suits you well" "You think so?" "Of course I do. Would I ever lie to you?" She looked in to his eyes. A dreamy look in her eyes- Oh COME ON really out of all the guards in the Empire I got stuck will lover boy here. "Well-" He was cut off by a rather old Pegasus. His ruff beard and dusty coat along with his main and tail so silver you would think it was silver. "Brew Drink! Git yer' ass back here an' help with ta' Brew YOU know I have a bad eye!" He yells from the kitchen "Sorry to cut you short but you know how he gets when the costumers can't get there drinks." Brew Drink said sadly "I understand well I'm heading to my room" A slight blush on his cheeks "So Night?" "Yea, Night." And with that they parted. Heading up stairs he took a left and in to the third door on his right. The room itself wasn't too small. Enough room to walk around a bed wardrobe and a writing desk. The desk was cluttered with parchments. It was hard to make the gibberish on them from the stallion’s shadow. A single candle was on the desk lighting it he sat down. He let out a sigh and started to write. An hour later he finished up. Oh an hour it's not like I can't wait longer. Well it's not like I could HAVE USED THOSE!!! But I Digress. He took off his armor and put into the wardrobe he finally blows out the candle, sending the room into complete darkness. Walking over to the side of the bed whispering something about shields and a better life then laid down to go to sleep. I waited at least fifteen minutes. The average pony takes seven minutes to fall asleep but it's always to be better safe than sorry. Take my pony form once more I slowly crept over to the wardrobe. Opening it there was his armor and some other clothing I could use. There was a small bag of bits yoink I happily took those. In the wardrobe I also took his plain brown saddle bags as well as a plain brown hooded robe. Placing the bits into the saddle bag I put it on, then the robe. Rummaging through the rest of the wardrobe I found a small mirror. Holding it in my magic I took a good look at myself. The hooded robe covered -luckily I might add- my horn and face. No pony would or could tell who I was. Pulling the hood down, I relied something. My eyes were different. Instead of the green and violet mist there were... oh how do I put this. They were normal yes I think that's how I'd put it. My eye mist was gone and the green was reverted to a white but my eyes were still a red, thankfully. With that I put the mirror into my bag and pulled the hood over my head. Walking over to the desk I grabbed some parchments, some ink, and a few quills. All prepared I went to the door and exited not before make one last remark "Hey Crystal Shield thanks for the stuff." I whispered "Oh and before I go good luck with Brew Drink. Get thy filly some Crystals. Fillies Love Crystals" And with that I left.