Sombra opened his eyes to a prison cell, and turned to face the wall on his thin bed. Closing his eyes again, he let his mind go blank.
“Sombra,” she spoke from behind him. A dark blue hoof tried to touch him on the shoulder, he pushed it away, and resumed his inaction. There was a gentle plop as the form sat down behind him.
“I’m sorry, if I had of been a better friend, I would have gone to you about it before resorting to such extremes.” Luna paused, and sighed loudly, standing up and turning toward the cell door.
“You’ve always been smarter than me you know. Why, I bet you never got jealous of your brother, the way I used to.” Luna stepped out of the cell, and nodded to the guard. The door clanged closed, and the sound of her leaving clattered through the area.
Sombra opened his eyes and stared at the wall. The book had spoken of Nightmare Moon, but had Luna really become so consumed as to be forced into such extremes? And what did that say about Celestia? Sombra’s ear flickered as the sounds of hoofsteps echoes once more. Sombra closed his eyes once more.
“It’s me,” spoke a regal voice he reconised anywhere. Celestia did not enter the cell, opting to stand near the bars, wings folded, and speak into the cell.
“I just want to thank you for that night, all those years ago, where you let us learn about the spell to raise the sun and moon. If it weren’t for you, we would have never earned our cutie marks.” Celestia glanced toward the exit, and began to walk away. Pausing, she glanced back.
“Like the sun, I burn so bright. Shadow runs from me in fright. My warming rays do bathe the planet, but get too close and I melt granite. I am not as wise as many doth think,” turning, she began to walk away.
“Even my armor has some chinks.” Celestia left without another word, and Sombra sighed silently. It wasn’t long before a third, and final Alicorn came down to see him.
“Open the door,” she spoke, holding a letter in purple magic. Trotting into the room, she paused, and then walked over to Sombra.
“You got a message from Cadance, Luna didn’t feel right delivering it.” Twilight levitated the letter to sit on the bed between Sombra and the wall he was currently facing. After a moment, his horn sparked to life, and levitated the letter over to the other side of the room, and dumped it in the toilet.
“Sombra, that’s just plain rude!” Twilight levitated it out of the water and carefully dried it off, and glared at Sombra’s back. Opening it, she cleared her voice.
“Very well, if you don’t want to read it, I shall read it to you. I sure hope it’s not about some embarrassing baby pictures or something.” Twilight looked down, and began to read, tilting her head as she did so.
“To Sombra, former King of the Crystal Empire. As thanks for your work, I now relieve you of all duties you feel you must do for our Empire. Don’t worry, just because I and my husband are bringing in Equestrian ideals, we aren’t going to remove old traditions, for the most part. As such, there is a final gift I bestow upon you. You are free to come visit the Empire whenever you wish.” Twilight folded the letter back up and looked to Sombra.
Sombra said nothing in response.
“I also wanted to tell you something too.” Twilight glanced down and dug a hoof into the cobblestone.
“I’ve talked it over with my friends, but we all forgive you for taking control of us like that. You could have told us rather than going to all that hassle, we could even have smoothed things over with Luna, Celestia, and Cadance too. So yeah, just letting you know you’re welcome to come back and stay in Ponyville if you so wish.” Twilight looked toward the door and let her ears flop. It was time to go, Sombra was obviously not going to speak to her.
“They would have just assumed you were corrupted.” Sombra shifted slightly, but didn’t open his eyes, still facing the wall. Twilight flinched, and looked toward Sombra, incredulous.
“No they wouldn’t have! Sombra, they know me, they would never think that.” Twilight shook her head and stamped the ground, firmly believing her words. Sombra opened his eyes, and sighed, still facing the wall.
“They didn’t believe me back then.” Sombra once more closed his eyes, and Twilight opened her mouth to make a sharp retort, before closing it. Biting her lip, she lowered her head as she realised Sombra was right. From the way Luna had acted during her visit, they had obviously been friends. And yet...they hadn’t trusted him.
“Be that as it may, I refuse to believe that was your only option, and I will prove it.” Twilight once more stamped the ground, and blinked, tilting her head as Sombra coughed, opening his eyes and glancing to her.
“I-Well I don’t know how right now exactly, but I’ll prove it eventually! And that’s not the point I was getting at here. Look Sombra, controlling us was not a nice action but we understand, sort of, why you did it and we’re forgiving you. We’re willing to give you another chance.” Twilight blinked again as Sombra cringed, and turned away, hiding behind his mane. Tilting her head, she wondered what exactly she had said that had set him off.
“I have already used my second chance,” he muttered from his ‘hiding place’. Twilight frowned, and then smiled and walked over. Leaning her head over Sombra, she caught his eyes and rolled hers.
“I never said ‘second’ silly, I said ‘another’. If that pony’s a friend, you give them third fourth and even thirty chances, no matter the crime. That’s what friends do. I mean, you’ve already forgiven Luna for accusing you again when you took us to Canterlot right? Or at least, from what they tell me. I don't remember any of it.” Twilight stepped back and watched as Sombra swiped at the air she had been standing in a moment earlier.
“Leave me alone,” he spoke, curling up slightly. Twilight turned and began to head for the door.
“As you wish Sombra, but if you ever need one of us, we will always make time for you. Even Chrysalis has said she’ll offer what she can to help you. All you need to do is ask Sombra. And this time, no one is going to second-guess you.” Twilight nodded to the guard, and stepped out of the cell.
“If Sombra asks to leave, let him do so.” Twilight quickly silenced the guard as he moved to object, standing up tall, somehow towering over him despite her short height.
“Do you question my authority?” Twilight smiled as the guard shook his head and saluted. Turning, she walked away.
Sombra curled further into a ball, and closed his eyes.