//------------------------------// // The Everfree // Story: Sombra makes friends // by Honest Wisdom //------------------------------// Sombra gasped and panted as he traveled the long winding path to the large, barn-like house. he feebly raised a hoof to knock on the door, only for it to fly open and an Earth pony stallion to be tossed out. "An' Stay out!" The door slammed again in Sombra's face. "This is most obviously a sign." He started to turn around but came face to face with Scootaloo. "Gah!" He jumped back tumbling off the porch and into an empty barrel. "What is with you pegasi and sneaking up on unsuspecting unicorns?!?" Scootaloo shrugged. "Maybe we're just naturally sneaky." Sombra opened his mouth to argue but realized it was probably true. "Any way, Applebloom says that you can make it up to her by finding something she lost," Scootaloo helped him out of the barrel. She dragged him towards the edge of the farm and pointed at the thick expanse of trees. "in... The Everfree!" Out of nowhere dramatic music started to play. Sombra jumped and looked everywhere. "What was that?" Scootaloo giggled nervously. "Sweetie Belle and I spent an hour setting that up." Sweetie Belle Popped her head out of the bushes. "Did we get him?" "Yeah, We did! He was so scared!" The two giggled and Sombra scowled, muttering under his breath. Why does the God of Death even care if I make Friends? Scootaloo poked him in the side. "Come On, It'll be fun! We just need to go to Zecora's Cabin. It's not even that far." Sombra sighed. "Fine." Scootaloo grinned and took to the air with slow and steady flaps. "I see you're getting better with the physical part of Flying." Sombra blinked. That was Odd, yet... Genuine. Why do I care? She beamed. "Yeah! Rainbow Dash says I'm doing great. I have a ton of wing power, but I'm not moving my wings the right way, And look!" She stretched her wings out. "I'm getting a Wing Spurt!" Sombra Smiled as Scootaloo launched into an explanation about the mechanics of flight and how awesome it was that she was being taught how to fly by a Wonderbolt. A sense of familiarity filled his being as a memory rose from the foggy depths of Pre-King Sombra. Onyx bounced up and down in place, That insane grin filling her face like she had just won a million bits. "I'm So excited! Are you excited Limestone? I bet you are! This is an important day in the Empire, What do you think the Princess looks like? I bet she's beautiful! Princesses have to be beautiful. It's like a rule." Limestone was completely still and silent, a sharp difference between him and Onyx. "Onyx?" "What?" She paused mid-bounce. "Shut up." The Curtains on the castle balcony swung open and the Royal Family stepped out. Onyx Stopped moving and went deathly still. Her wing snapped into a salute along with every other pegasus Guard. The new princess, a pink pegasus filly, was looking out among the crowd of assembled Ponies. All of them let out a thunderous cheer. The poor filly yelped and ran back to her father. Sombra caught a glint in Onyx's eye as a small tear rolled down her cheek. "She's more beautiful than I thought. So innocent too." It was barely a whisper but both Sombra and Limestone could hear her. Sombra never understood why she had cried that day and he never found out until long after that day. "... And that's How Equestria was made!" Sombra barely had time to ask what she meant when Sweetie Belle cut in. "Look! We're almost there! Last Pony there is a rotten egg." She kicked up a cloud of dust and Scootaloo left a purple and orange contrail. Sombra smirked and lit up his horn. *Poof* "I win." He placed a hoof against the door. "Let's just get what we need and lea-oof." Both fillies rammed into him, knocking him right into the Hut. "Ow." Friendship hurts. They heard a low chuckle fill the room. "Well that certainly was entertaining. Wasn't it Zecora?" A light gray stallion sat at the table, sipping tea with a zebra mare. "Indeed it was my friend, I wish their visit need not end." She lifted the teapot and poured more into his cup. "Who are you?" Scootaloo snapped, immediately rising to attention, ready for a fight. "I have many names, My enemies call me the Devourer, My family calls me sweet angel, My friends however call me Skull-butt." He sipped the tea. "Hmm... Honey and lemon." "That really doesn't answer the Question." Sweetie Belle chimed. Thanatos looked confused. "It doesn't? Shame." He took another sip and scrunched up his muzzle. "Blegh, raspberry. Any way The only reason I'm hear was to give a little something to Sombra." His horn flashed and suddenly a cutie mark appeared on Sombra's flanks. The Girls gasped. "Your Cutie Mark!" The said in unison. "...Jinx." Thanatos chuckles. Both girls go silent, terrified expressions on their faces. "Oh I'm just kidding. It's not a real Cutie Mark, I'm claiming him as my student, that mark will fade once he leaves this forest. But if he were to met Celestia, Luna, Or any other Princess they will not be able to harm him. It's a thing we alicorns do when we take Students." "Why?" Sombra gasped, staring at the mark in his flanks. "I'm Evil." "Correction, You were evil. I sense that someone recently used a Purify spell on you. There is no evil left in you. And Even If there Was," Thanatos' Grin widened. "I doubt that would have been a problem for me. Your friends things are in that corner, You might want to hurry up before she decides to raze the forest searching for you." He sipped the tea again. "Hmmm... is that... Peppermint?" Scootaloo placed the bag on his back and they left. Zecora looked back at Thanatos and spoke in Zebrican. "What is that mark really for?" "Really? It's so I can keep an eye on him." Thanatos sipped that last of his tea. "Ah Black tea, my favorite. I'm sorry Zecora but I really should get going. I have a lot of preparations to make. Change is on the horizon." He vanished in a flash of light, leaving the smileng Zebra by herself.