The Not-So-Normal Adventures of King Sombra and Pinkie Pie

by Harmony Charmer


Chapter 15: Preparing For The Trip

"Do you really need to pack that?" Sombra asked Pinkie, furrowing his brows in confusion at her.

Pinkie rolled her eyes. "Duh!" she exclaimed, "I never leave home without it!"

"Why in Tartarus would you need it, though?" he questioned, raising a brow, "I mean, what would be the point?"

Pinkie crossed her forelegs. "Are you a party planner?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Are you the 'Super Duper Party Pony of Equestria'?" Pinkie asked, walking over to Sombra while quirking a brow upwards.

"You know I'm no-" he tried to say, but was silenced by a hoof to his lips.

"Then do you really have the jurisdiction to say whether or not I bring my party cannon to Canterlot?" she asked, leaning in close.

Sombra frowned and let out a defeated sigh. "Alright, fine. I just don't see how you're going to fit it in with your lugg-" Sombra stopped talking as his widened while he looked around the room. "Where did it go?"

"Where did what go?" Pinkie asked, blinking in oblivion.

"Your party cannon! It just disappeared!" he exclaimed, looking around the room again.

"Oh, silly!" Pinkie laughed, "I already packed it!"

"How? That thing is way too big to fit in your suitcase!" Sombra told her, pointing his hoof at the suitcase on her bed.

"Is not," Pinkie argued.

"Is too."

"Is not!" Pinkie shoved her nose into his.

"Is too!" Sombra shoved his nose into hers even harder.

"IS NOT!" Pinkie pushed Sombra's head down as she shoved her face into his.

As if on cue, Pinkie's suitcase exploded in a flurry of confetti and streamers, showering Sombra and Pinkie in brightly colored crepe paper. After absorbing what had just happened, Sombra gave Pinkie a smug look and grinned at her while he gently bumped his nose into hers.

"Is too," he said, "kiss as a reward?"

"Sorry, mister," Pinkie sniffed, then walked towards the suitcase, "you'll have to do it yourself."

"How in Tartarus am I supposed to do that?" Sombra questioned, giving her a confused look.

"You'd be surprised at what we can do in modern times," Pinkie answered, only confusing him further.

"I'll make a note to ask Sparkler about it later," he said to himself.

Pinkie giggled. "She really hates that nickname, huh?"

"More than you could possibly know," Sombra told her, grinning, "call the lizard 'Spikey-Wikey' and he will lose his mind."

"I'll make a note of that if he tries to give you trouble like earlier," Pinkie told him, scooping up the confetti.

"Here, let me help you with that," he said, walking over to her.

"Thanks!" Pinkie chirped, then added slyly, "You're on your way to that kiss."

"I was thinking something more like last night..." Sombra purred in her ear, causing her face to turn red.

"Sombry!" she exclaimed while giggling, "We have to pack for the trip!"

"No, you have to pack for the trip," he corrected, nuzzling her cheek, "I finished packing with Sparkler earlier."

"I didn't think you would have anything to pack," Pinkie said bewilderedly, completely disregarding his earlier comment.

"You'd think, but no," he replied, then brushed his nose past hers, "now about my thoughts..."

"Nope!" Pinkie said, "Nope, nope, nope! We're gonna finish packing first!"

Sombra gave her playful pout. "You're no fun."

Pinkie gaped at him, completely shocked by his implication. Sombra looked away from her, mainly to hide the grin working his lips upward. He knew that by making that comment, Pinkie would be overly motivated to prove it otherwise, which worked right into Sombra's hooves.

"Give me thirteen seconds," Pinkie ordered, putting her hoof to his lips to silence him.

She dashed away from him and zoomed around the room at a breakneck speed, creating a tiny whirlwind as she did so. Sombra, somewhat used to her random and erratic behavior, watched in interested silence as she continued to dart around the room while counting to thirteen to amuse himself.

"Done!" Pinkie panted, stopping in front of him just as he finished counting. Sombra looked around the room and was surprised to see that it was absolutely spotless, all the carnage from the party cannon explosion completely gone.

"Have I ever told you how much I enjoy your randomness?" Sombra asked her, leaning towards her.

"Actions speak louder than words, Sombry," she replied, her nose brushing his.

Pinkie kissed Sombra lightly on the lips, which he gladly returned.

"Come on, Twilight's probably wondering where you are," PInkie told him, pulling away after a moment.

Sombra grinned. "I asked if I could spend the night with you, you dork," he replied, leaning in for another kiss.

"And she said yes?" Pinkie asked bewilderedly, "Did she at least protest?"

"If anything, she was practically pushing me out the door," he told her, then gave her small smile, "I think she's just glad that I'm not declaring wars or spouting off about ruling Crystal Ponies anymore."

"That was a bit annoying," Pinkie admitted, then giggled when she saw his frown and booped his nose, "but I still like you, you dork!"

"I like you, too," he replied, then leaned in even closer, "but if anyone's the dork, it's you."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not!" Pinkie shoved her nose into his like earlier.

"Are too!" Sombra shoved his nose even harder.

"Am not!" Pinkie forced Sombra's entire body to bend backwards from her nose shove.

They gave each other glares for a few moments before Sombra grinned and kissed her lips.

"Are too," he whispered against her lips, relishing in her surprise.

"Do you wanna keep arguing or get back to kissing?" Pinkie asked, raising her brows at him.

"What do you think, you dork?" he answered, kissing her lips and pulling her close.

* * *

Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,

It has come to my attention that you have not reported any of your progress with Sombra's reformation or of his relation to the Element of Laughter in quite some time. Although I trust in your abilities and judgement, I cannot help but feel as though there is something amiss the Element of Laughter and the former King of Shadows.

I wish to see Sombra's progress for myself, though privately, at your request. Although Pinkie has a rather... interesting way of going about his reformation, if your reports are anything to go by, I would like to see Sombra's behavior without his reformer present. For all we know, it could be an elaborate ruse to catch us off guard.

I would appreciate that you keep this to yourself, Twilight. I will see to it that Sombra is treated as his behavior will earn him and that Pinkie will be thanked, regardless of the result.

Sincerely, your mentor and teacher,

Princess Celestia

"Why did you let Sombra go to Pinkie's, Twilight?" Spike asked, holding up a scroll, "I mean, you seemed pretty freaked out about it this morning when we went to go get him."

Twilight blinked in surprise and shook her head to clear her head of troubled thoughts as she reread the letter Celestia sent to her earlier that morning.

"What did I tell you earlier?" she retorted, not answering his question.

Spike rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms. "I know, I know, tell me when I older. But how come he gets to stay with her? They're gonna see each other tomorrow!"

"Spike, the chances of Celestia letting them share a room together are slim to none," Twilight explained, then added quietly, "especially when she finds that they're dating..."

"Is that what they were doing for their monthiversary?" Spike asked, causing Twilight's eyes to widen, "I guess that's why they're doing it again."

"Uh, Spike, just how much do you know about what adults do for... stuff like that?" Twilight questioned, giving him a deadpan look.

"Well, I know when two ponies like each other very much, they kiss," he answered, causing Twilight sigh in relief, "but I don't understand why Pinkie and Sombra kiss each other so much, though."

"Because they do like each other!" Twilight defended, then froze. Celestia mentioned in her letter that Sombra could be pretending to be good in order to catch everypony off guard as a way to get revenge from his defeat.

'No, that's ridiculous!' Twilight told herself, 'I've seen how they are together! They care about each other, I know it!' Then, she remembered how quickly Sombra had taken to Pinkie in terms of their relationship and felt her dread grow even more.

'Dear Celestia, he could be using her!' she thought, horrified at the idea of it, 'Wait! Pinkie would never be somepony who didn't love her!' Another horrifying thought reached her.

Sombra's powers had dissipated after he reshaped himself and he could no longer use dark magic as a means of getting what he wanted, meaning that he had lost his mind control ability that he used on the Crystal Ponies during his time of rule. But, when the Crusaders and himself had fallen down the trench near the farm, he had managed to teleport Sweetie Belle and himself to safety while Rainbow Dash had grabbed Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

'What if he lied about his powers?' Twilight thought, her breath catching in her throat. He could have easily done so as a way to trick everypony into a false sense of security! But, if that were the case...

Could it have been possible that Pinkie was under his influence so it would help his image as a "good guy"?

"Twilight?" Spike asked in concerned tone, breaking Twillight out of her thoughts, "you kinda zoned out there. You OK?"

Twilight nodded her head slowly. "Yes, I'm fine," she told him, but she was so obviously not.

"Uh, alright, then." Spike turned around and walked over to the saddlebags where he was packing Twilight's scrolls and books.

Twilight sighed. 'I'm being ridiculous,' she told herself, 'Sombra and Pinkie are absolutely fine together, and he certainly doesn't have his magic back.'

But, even as she told herself that everything was absolutely fine, a part of her knew that it was the exact opposite.

* * *

The morning came quickly for Sombra and Pinkie, who were still embracing one another in their sleepy stupor. It wasn't until the sunlight hit Pinkie's peaceful face that she was awakened, much to her disappointment.

With a yawn, Pinkie cracked her eyes open and lazily looked up at Sombra's still sleeping form. She smiled to herself and snuggled into him, letting a sigh of content.

"Did you sleep alright?" Sombra asked, his voice causing her to freeze in surprise.

"Gah!" Pinkie exclaimed, jumping back a bit, "How long have you been awake?"

Sombra chuckled at her surprise. "Just enough to know that you haven't gotten over your snoring," he replied, nuzzling her muzzle.

Pinkie frowned. "You snore, too!" she argued.

"Not nearly as loud as you do, Dork," he said simply, then sat up in bed.

"Where are you going?" Pinkie asked, blinking in confusion.

"As much as I'd love to lay down with you, we got a train to catch," he told her, walking over to her side of the bed, "And I don't think Sparkler would appreciate it if we showed up late on account of us cuddling together."

"Never thought I'd hear you say 'cuddle'," Pinkie mused aloud, but sighed as she climbed out of bed, "alright, let's get to Twilight's so we can go to the train station."

Sombra bumped his shoulder into hers as she stood next to him. "Try not to worry about it, Pinks," he told her, "this trip will be over before you know it."

Pinkie smiled at him. "Hehe, you called me 'Pinks'!" she giggled, "Alright, I'll try not to worry!"

Sombra smiled. "Good. Let's get going."

And with that last note, the couple made their way downstairs, ready to face the challenge of travel.

* * *

"You want us to what?" Applejack questioned, her eyes wide as she quirked a brow in confusion.

Twilight sighed. "Look, I know it sounds unethical," she started, "but I'm really worried about Sombra's behavior."

Rarity shook her head. "Twilight, dear, we've seen Sombra and Pinkie pine after one another for ages!" she exclaimed, "It's absolutely ridiculous that Sombra would hold any ulterior motives in being with her!"

"I don't know..." Rainbow Dash drawled, earning the attention of her friends, "He may be with her just to catch us off guard."

"You can''t be serious!" Rarity cried, "They love each other, I know it!"

"Whoa, there," Applejack said, holding up her hooves in a 'back-it-up" way, "Ah wouldn't go so far as to say they 'love' each other, Rares."

"IT'S TRUE LOVE!" Rarity argued, her eyes narrowed to thin slits, "You didn't see them back at the boutique all those months ago! You didn't see how loving they were!"

"Oh, I think we've all seen how 'loving' Sombra and Pinkie can be together," Rainbow said suggestively, raising her eyebrows.

"Oh, dear..." Fluttershy said quietly, "that was rather... surprising, to say the least."

"Ugh, Rainbow, now is not the time to be vulgar," Twilight told her, "And while they do have a rather... intimate relationship, that could just be a bonus in manipulating her."

"No, Twilight," Rarity said firmly, "I simply refuse to believe that Sombra is capable of hurting Pinkie in such a way! You'll have to continue your plans without me!"

Twilight sighed. "I understand your reluctance," she replied, then looked at the rest of her friends, "but we need to watch Sombra's behavior more closely than before, seeing as how Pinkie's judgement may be fogged from her being with him."

Fluttershy sighed. "I'm afraid to say I agree with Twilight," she told everyone, "I don't want things to get out of control like with Discord when we first released him from his stone prison."

"Fluttershy!" Rarity gasped, her eyes wide.

"I'm with Shy," Rainbow said, stepping to Fluttershy's side for support, "I don't trust Sombra all the way, even if Pinkie's dating him."

"Ah don't wanna say that Sombra's usin' Pinkie," Applejack started, her brows furrowed in troubled thought, "Ah'm gonna have to say no, Twi. Ah'm with Rares on this one."

Rarity smiled. "Good to know that somepony else has the sense to know love when they see it," she said, giving Twilight a disapproving look.

Applejack frowned, but refrained from commenting on Rarity's quip.

"Well, I still have Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash to keep eyes on Sombra," Twilight told Rarity, returning her negative look.

"Come on, now," Applejack said, stepping between the two mares, "Let's not get uncivil."

"May the best team win!" Rarity challenged Twilight, her eyes narrowed as she ignored Applejack.

"And may the worst team..." Twilight stopped as she struggled to find the right word, "Lose!"

Both mares turned away from each other with a loud "hmmph!", their tails smacking against each other as they flew behind them.

"Come on, girls," Twilight huffed, stomping away from the Applejack and Rarity, "we got to get the train station."

"Oh, my..." Fluttershy whispered, "this doesn't look too good..."

"Come along, Applejack!" Rarity said in a clipped tone as she sauntered off, "We don't want to keep the loving couple waiting!"

Applejack sighed. "This is going to turn so uncivil," she said to herself, "I can just feel it."