Twilight opened the door, and turned her eyes to the balcony where Sombra was sitting, a book in front of him and a drink levitating in his magic. Sombra followed her with his eyes as she approached, and waited.
“Listen, I just want to thank you for your help with the changeling attack.” Twilight sat down on the hard crystal, ignoring the slight discomfort. Sombra narrowed his eyes, and took a sip of his drink. Twilight jumped slightly as something hit her in the face, and realised it was a spare pillow. Standing up, she sat down once more, comfortable this time.
“Thanks,” she spoke again awkwardly, glancing down to the book he was reading. To her surprise, it was the story of Nightmare Moon. Leaning over, Twilight pointed to it as she placed her own book down.
“Oh hey, that’s the book about the Elements of Harmony, and how Nightmare Moon was defeated around the same time you were.” Twilight waited as Sombra narrowed his eyes once more, closing them as he paused to take a drink. Turning his gaze on her, his despondent expression said it all.
“I know.” Sombra said nothing else, and returned his eyes to the book, flipping the page after a moment. Twilight blinked, he was quite a fast reader. Picking up her own book, she opened the first page and began to skim it. Soon enough, however, she realised that it was too extensive for her to merely skim, it would require actual studying.
“Hey Sombra, could you teach me about tactics?” Twilight turned the book around and showed Sombra the heading. Taking it in his magic, he opened the first page and gave it a read, before tossing it into the room and closing his own book.
“A book that worthless isn’t going to teach you anything.” Sombra stood up, finishing off his drink and picking up his pillow, walking inside the observatory. Perplexed, Twilight followed, watching him place it down and begin to search the room for items. Twilight waited as Sombra levitated over a small coffee table with a checkerboard pattern on it, barely taller than her ankle, and brought over some paper and ink. After drawing some symbols on the paper, he sliced it up using magic into very weird shapes.
“This is a game my father taught me that he learned during a visit to the Griffin Kingdom. It is called Shogi.” Sombra paused, and quickly placed the pieces of paper down, closing the doors and windows with his magic so as to prevent wind from blowing away the pieces. Finished that, he then briefly explained the rules.
“So this is a game? How is this going to help me learn tactics.” Twilight tilted her head as the barest hint of a smile appeared on Sombra’s face. Moving a single piece, he opened his mouth.
“If you defeat me, I will tell you.” Sombra waited as Twilight narrowed her eyes, and then made her move. Looking down at his pieces, he proceeded to defeat Twilight with minimal effort. Mouth hanging open, she glared and pointed at the pieces.
“Best two out of three!” Twilight watched as Sombra once more set up the pieces, and settled down for the most resounding defeat she had ever suffered, as Sombra defeated her again without effort. Gritting her teeth, she rubbed her headache away and levitated over the tactic book, and glanced to the first page.
“I told you, that book is useless to you.” Sombra once more set up the pieces, shaking his head as Twilight widened her eyes, and then turned to narrow them at Sombra, slowly, a smile fell on her face. Sombra raised an eyebrow, and the next match began.
“Nooo! I almost had you that time!” Twilight fell backward and waved her hooves in the air, crying out in anguish. Sombra shook his head, and picked up the book, opening it to the page Twilight had gotten her strategy from instantly.
“Real battle does not follow a textbook. I can easily change tactics once I know which one you are using, and thus ensnare you.” Sombra smirked as Twilight glared at him, and swiped at the table, causing the piece of paper to fall out of line. Sombra wordlessly placed them back in their places.
“Fine!” Twilight sat up and narrowed her eyes, opening the book and sitting down to read it extensively, ear flicking as she noticed Sombra leave for a moment. As she closed it, she groaned as her head felt close to bursting. There was so much information, so much to remember, it was overwhelming. It was then Sombra returned with two milkshakes, Twilight took hers and sipped it, moaning in delight.
“I needed that,” she commented, feeling her headache begin to ebb and fade away. Sombra sipped his own and picked up the book on Nightmare Moon once more, flicking it open and giving it a read while Twilight finished her drink.
“Alright buster! This time I’ll win!” Twilight waited as Sombra put the book down and made his move. Twilight began her move as well, and Sombra frowned.
“Hrm,” he commented, and made his move. Both were deadly silent as each tried to predict the other’s actions. Sombra hesitated over one piece, and glanced toward Twilight, who was biting her lip. If he moved it, she would lose any chance of winning the game. Sombra showed no emotion, nor any sign he had seen Twilight’s slip up, and he narrowed his eyes as he raised his hoof off the piece, and brought it to his chin.
“You know, you said that book was useless, and yet here you are.” Twilight smirked, faking confidence. Would he realise the move that would doom her? No, stay positive, hold that poker face. Sombra lowered his hoof, hovering over that piece, and Twilight felt the moment slow down.
“That is called a lie, you should look it up sometime.” Sombra moved his hoof over a piece that would still protect him, but also give Twilight a chance to push through his defences. Twilight immediately saw it, and smirked.
“Well I don’t think I need to look it up, because I’ve just beaten your flank!” Twilight slammed the piece down, and won the fight, ending the game as she flew into the air and hoof-pumped. She had done it! Twilight had beaten Sombra at his own game!
“Congratulations,” he spoke, beginning to pack up the table and burn the paper with a quick spell to get rid of it. Opening the window, he tossed the ash into the air, where the wind did the rest. Twilight smiled sheepishly, and landed, coughing to get Sombra’s attention as he once more set himself up on the balcony.
“Thank you Sombra, that was actually really fun.” Twilight smiled warmly, and bowed once as she prepared to leave the room. Sombra opened the book, and began reading once more, a bored expression on his face.
“I am so glad you enjoyed yourself.” Sombra’s voice carried no emotion, and Twilight glared. Was that sarcasm? Oh he was going to pay for that. Twilight turned and headed for the door, closing it behind her. Pausing, she discarded her irritation as she thought back to her victory. A beaming smile fell on her face as she descended the stairs, leaving Sombra alone.
Sombra watched her go, and chuckled silently to himself, before returning to his book, a very faint smile still on his face.