A small groan escaped Lightning Dust as she started to regain consciousness. Every part of her ached. It felt like a combination of pushing her body too hard in a workout and getting struck by lightning. Nothing felt severe enough to need medical attention or have her laid up in bed, but she was definitely going to feel it for a few days. Even her coat ached.
With a wince of pain, she rolled onto her back and spread her wings out at her side. Lightning Dust opened her eyes, blinking rapidly to get everything into focus. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out as she stared up at the stars above.
The last thing she remembered was chasing after Rainbow Dash, when there was suddenly a bright, multi-colored explosion and the necklace Sombra had given her shattered. That was still hundreds of feet above the ground. It seemed she had passed out from it, but had still somehow managed to reach the ground safely.
Small miracles.
Lightning Dust considered staying where she was for a while. It was a beautiful night -- quiet with a clear sky full of stars -- and the grass underneath her felt wonderfully soft against her stiff and sore muscles. All things considered, it seemed like the perfect spot to stretch out and sleep for the rest of the night.
A pair of glowing green eyes and gleaming white teeth appeared above Lightning Dust, making the color drain from her face.
"Well," Sombra purred, "it seems to me that you have survived."
He leaned down, teeth nearly touching her nose.
"And it also seems," he growled, "that you have failed."
"Oh, you are not blaming me for this," Lightning Dust snapped, pointing a hoof at him. "I did exactly what I was supposed to. How was I supposed to know that all her talk about 'responsibility' would cause that stupid stone to light up and do whatever it did? Or that Rainbow Dash could do... whatever she did that knocked me out. At least you're rid of the stupid unicorn."
"Incorrect. This... Rainbow Dash was actually able to catch Twilight and the stone. Not only are both alive and unharmed, they now have a second Element of Harmony."
"...Oh..." Lightning Dust said. "Well it doesn't change my point. I did exactly what was expected from me. Maybe the problem is that you need help."
King Sombra glared at Lightning Dust as he opened his mouth, ready to yell at the pegasus mare. He suddenly stopped. The black unicorn placed a hoof against his chin, lips pursed as he thought about it.
"Perhaps you are correct," he said.
"What?" Lightning Dust asked, blinking at him and raising an eyebrow.
"Considering my past failure and the fact that the group seems larger than a mere princess," he said -- though it seemed more like he was talking to himself than to her -- "perhaps I should be amassing more than a single unicorn to assist me in my endeavors."
Lightning Dust continued to stare up at him. She could not help but suspect that this must have been a trap of some sort. That he was trying to get her to lower her guard somehow before attacking and doing who even knows what to her.
King Sombra turned his full attention back to Lightning Dust.
"Tell me, do you think you could find other pegasi that would be willing to serve me?"
"...Probably?" Lightning Dust said slowly. "Why?"
"An army needs soldiers," Sombra stated, "and commanders. Tell me, Lightning Dust, how does the title 'Captain of the Shadow Bolts' sound to you?"
She looked up at him, letting the statement sink into her mind. Slowly, a grin spread across her face.
"Sounds like fun."