//------------------------------// // Pyrite Doesn't Fool Anyone // Story: Sombra Dislikes Crystals // by The Apologetic Pony //------------------------------// Alex was turned away, and Robyn was nowhere. ‘Hey.’ Sombra said. His father didn’t reply, so Sombra took a step forward. ‘I’m sorry.’ Alex said, then violently whipped his arm. Sombra was grounded and bleeding instantly, stunned by the pain. Sure hooves are hard, but it wasn’t like he’d had time to windup was it? But as he soon realised, Sombra was a foal. Blood still didn’t taste any better. ‘It’s for your own good.’ Alex said. Somepony else was here too. ‘It’s for your own good.’ Robyn said. Sombra couldn’t speak, he couldn’t speak out of the sheer horror at what was happening and he he didn’t want any more of that tangy shit in his mouth. It wasn’t made any better when they kissed each other. ‘Um...’ ‘Take your time.’ Celestia said. He thought this was an even stranger event, until he remembered where the grass beneath him belonged. There was no blood, there was no pain, just that giant alicorn and the garden. (There was nopony eagerly rubbing her feathers against him.) ‘I’ve never been so convinced of the reality of a dream, I guess.’ ‘After some experimentation with your aura I accidently sent myself into a rather unpleasant situation with that, and my poor guard I tested it on said something similar to you.’ ‘Luna show it to you or something?’ ‘Yes she did. But that’s what worries me, Sombra. She has to know what you’re capable of by now, I only discovered that little trick in a few days, yet it seems she’s said nothing!’ Sombra liked that Celestia was taking on so much of the speaking time, much better than the short exchanges with Luna, feels more measured. But that didn’t last long. What ever fucking does? ‘Might have gotten lucky.’ Sombra said. ‘Alicorns don’t get lucky with the magic... If I may, I’ll ask you to confront her about it.’ ‘Feels like I’m getting involved in a familial dispute here.’ ‘We’ll you’re not far off.’ Celestia chuckled. ‘Don’t you see it as in your best interests?’ ‘Luna could not want me to learn it, or wants to leave it for later, I don’t know, but with respect, I trust her more than you might think, Celestia. ’ ‘Perhaps you truly are family then.’ she said, and smiled a smile of suns. Sombra briefly considered if there was a way to wrangle some unintuitive benefit out of his role as an anchor between sisters, but ultimately decided that waiting was rarely unwise. ‘I take it she’s been treating you well, then. I know she can get overexcited.’ ‘No no she’s well, you know, your sister. Witty, and sometimes a bit funny, but just mostly fun. Has she said much about me?’ ‘We’ve spoken little about you and your magic since we argued. She only said that you like the garden last twilight... Unless there’s anything else you’d like to ask me, I’ve got some Lords to see.’ ‘Mind if I hang around?’ ‘Feel free to go anywhere the guard’s will let you. Shame there’s nothing else, between the two of us, they’re rather dreadful. Have a good lesson.’ Have a good Lord meeting thing. As if reading his thoughts she smiled before heading off. Maybe if Luna can see dreams, Celestia can see thoughts? Nah probably not. Maybe daydreams. With two hours to kill Sombra went to the library to scroll through the spines more than anything else. Sometimes he thought he might try and find one on auras, or magic, or whoever the hell Tinker’s father was, but browsing titles such as ‘Mythology Of The Royal Sisters’ and ‘Malevolent Monarchies’ proved far too enticing. There were some really silly stories in the first one, with Celestia sacrificing a phoenix, and Luna indulging in grotesque trickery. ‘Boo!’ ‘Oh, you’re up early.’ ‘Only for you, dear.’ ‘Bet your sister woke you up.’ ‘She might have not wanted you to be so bored, but never mind the petty details.’ ‘Is that for common folk?’ ‘It’s for pedantic folk. Garden?’ ‘As ever.’ ‘And ever and ever!’ she said, bouncing with twilight (morning?) energy. The garden seemed more sombre in dusk, grass duller and trees still, not waving in the wind like they were in the afternoon. ‘I got the impression from her that your petit meeting went smoothly.’ ‘Yes she showed me some things. But she's not pleased with you apparently.’ ‘I’ve known that for a while, I told you.’ ‘No but... ah nevermind. Not important.’ ‘How gracious of you to tease. ‘I have talents too y’know.’ Sombra said, trying to put on some kind of sultry look as best as he could. Then there was a pause, and she burst out in full laughter, Sombra quickly joining. A certain satisfaction came from beating Luna at her own game and it took the edge off that he really did like her, as they both knew. Not that that’s really a bad thing I guess. Sombra did guess a lot of things. ‘Glad to see you’re enjoying yourself.’ ‘Yeah well, maybe its just the wings.’ ‘You wound me so!’ After yet more banter, (mostly about the fairy tales he’d read in that book about her) they finally started the lesson. Everything felt fresh, and Sombra couldn’t tell why. ‘I was wondering, if trying to conjure a pumpkin makes shards do?’ ‘Nothing I imagine, sounds like it would be an infinite regress. Try if you want.’ He did, but even with tweaking, he didn’t get anything. ‘You could try an amethyst.’ ‘Yeah, I could...’ ‘Its that with your aura I’ve only tried pumpkins, Som-bra.’ ‘How about we both try it?’ ‘Two lovers in a magically induced coma sounds good to me.’ ‘Yeah, Luna really?’ ‘It’ll be fine.’ ‘Whenever you’re ready then.’