“He’s gone?” Twilight blinked, looking to the empty cell as the guard greeted her, sweat pouring down his face as two Alicorns stared him down.
“Yes m’aam. He said if you asked to say he is going to Luna’s home, made me remove his limiter, and left.” The guard breathed out as both looked away from him, and Twilight tilted her head.
“Well, since he did not mean Canterlot, maybe he meant the castle in the Everfree? That was my home once upon a time.” Luna shrugged, and nodded once. It made sense, Sombra would know of its location. Twilight nodded, and they walked away from the guard.
“I’ll go check up on him then, do you want to come?” Twilight paused once they emerged in sunlight, and Luna shook her head.
“No, I believe it is best I give him space. I know little about what bothers him, but maybe he will listen to you.” Luna bowed her head, and left Twilight alone. Concentrating, Twilight charged a spell.
‘Can't believe he left without a goodbye. How rude.’ Twilight concentrated, and with a poof she teleported to her castle, and headed out the door. Trotting toward the Everfree, she ignored the chills as she entered the forest, and headed down the path to the castle. Once more, she paused at the entrance, and breathed in.
“Sombra?” Twilight entered and headed toward the library, peeking her head inside. Not finding him there, she turned and began to head for the top part of the castle, thankfully still reachable due to great design. Glancing in the rooms, she eventually found one that led to a balcony, and smiled, there he was.
“Sombra?” Twilight slowly walked around to his side and blinked, he was sleeping while sitting upright. Ear flickering, her mouth tilted up as she detected the barest hint of a snore. Twilight turned to head out the room, and jumped as a large thump sounded behind her. Turning, Sombra was holding a pitch black scythe toward her, eyes blinking open as he took stock of his surroundings. After a moment, the scythe vanished.
“You know, you’d get a better sleep if you let Luna into your dreams to help you work through them.” Twilight turned and took a seat beside Sombra as he sat down and looked out on the overgrown garden.
“No,” was his simple reply. Twilight sighed and nodded, she had expected that answer. Putting a hoof slowly on his shoulder, she leaned in and gave him a short hug.
“We'll be here when you’re ready to talk. You’ll feel better once you do, trust me.” Twilight stood up and walked over to the desk covered in papers. It looked like blueprints for a castle, was Sombra planning to restore the castle?
“I can’t talk about it yet, she-they deserve to be mourned. But, a thousand years of being denied that right are hard to overcome.” Sombra stood up and walked over, sorting the papers so they made a more concise diagram of his plan.
“She?” Twilight saw the wince this time, and stepped back, knowing she had crossed an invisible line. However, Sombra simple lowered his head, walked back over to the cushion, and sat back down. Twilight slowly followed, sitting down also.
“She was my light, and I was forced to toss her aside like garbage because of duty.” Sombra’s ears flopped down as he looked at his hooves.
“It sounds like she really meant a lot to you.” Twilight shuffled over and reached a hoof around Sombra, bringing him into a half-hug.
“Without her and my duty to the Empire, my life isn’t worth living. And I have been denied my reward of death. I have nothing.” Sombra closed his eyes and slumped against Twilight, she bit her lip and frowned. After a moment, she relaxed and smiled sympathetically at Sombra.
“Listen, mourning isn’t about crying over your loved ones, everypony experiences it differently. Now, let’s go get you a Pinkie Pie milkshake.” Twilight slowly pulled Sombra to his feet, and concentrated, teleporting them into down. Escorting him to Sugarcube corner, she looked to Pinkie Pie and smiled.
“One of your best chocolate milk’s Pinkie, and don’t skimp on the sugar.” Twilight sat Sombra down at a table as a large milkshake mug, nearly half the size of the table, was placed down. Sombra levitated it off and brought the straw to his lips. Sipping it, his expression softened slightly.
“What are you doing in that castle anyway?” Twilight glanced to the door as all her friends peeked their heads in, and she rolled her eyes and motioned them inside.
“I am planning to restore it so I have a place to live while I work.” Sombra sipped his drink, not looking up.
“Work on what?” Twilight sat down across from Sombra, and he looked to her.
“The magic of the Everfree. If I can harness the wild magic I might be able to create an entirely new type. One that does not rely on our innate magic or alchemy.” Sombra glanced down and blinked, he had finished the milkshake. As soon as he noticed this however, another one was placed on the table.
“Do you mind if I help out? That sounds like fun. I can help with the repairs too. Many hooves make light work.” Twilight tilted her head and smiled, and Sombra gazed at her silently for a long time. Rarity walked forward and pulled out a piece of paper with some patterns on it.
“Oh! I can help you design the furniture and cloth! You won’t live in a more fashionable house!” Rarity beamed as Sombra levitated the designs over and looked at them. As the placed them on the table, a blue face was close to his own.
“And I can help you clear out some of those trees that are growing into it. I’ll even throw in a free performance of the Sonic Crystal-Rainboom.” Rainbow Dash winked, and moved back. Applejack tilted her head and smiled.
“Ah can help yah get that garden of tha’ castle under control if yah want. Least I can do for yah help in cutting down my work.” Applejack stepped aside, revealing Fluttershy hiding behind her.
“I-I can ask the c-creatures n-not to a-a-attack you,” she spoke softly. Pinkie Pie giggled as she put a third milkshake on the table.
“And I’ll make sure your castle is filled with yummy delicious treats so you never go hungry.” Pinkie Pie pulled out a muffin shaped like a crystal. It was part of the next batch, slightly less filled with sugar in the hope Sombra would like them.
“So what do you say Sombra, want some help with your next project?” Twilight and all her friends amassed around the other side of the table, closed their eyes and smiled as they faced Sombra. Sombra looked upon this, feeling his horn lightly spark due to the part of him that was Changeling, and he smiled.
It was not what most would consider a smile. His mouth barely tilted upward, seemingly transforming from his permanent frown to a more neutral line. What really revealed it was a smile was more his eyes, which softened as he closed them, and a low chuckle escaped his lips for a moment. Opening his eyes, he looked to them, and opened his mouth to speak.
“That would be...adequate.”