//------------------------------// // The Search // Story: Shattered Glass // by Eric Michael Kline //------------------------------// CHAPTER 2 THE SEARCH =Mirror Equestria= "Dear! Dear wake up!" Awakening with a grunt, Farmer Orange winced as he rolled over. With the war over, he and his family had finally been able to return to their orchard in Appleloosa. But even though the land was fertile once again, the property itself was still wrecked. And while Discord had issued a proclomation that he'd get around to fixing everyone's house eventually, Orange was not the kind of Earth Pony to just sit around and wait while there was work to be done. He fully intended to have the homestead up and running before Discord got to Appleoosa, no matter how sore he got in the proce;ss. "Ungh! What is it?" "I heard something," his wife whispered. "I think it's down in the fruit cellar!" "It's just yer imagination," he mumbled. He had almost gotten back to sleep when the sound of breaking glass snapped him back to reality "What in tarnation?" "See?" "Wait 'ere," he told her. Grabbing a lantern in his mouth, Orange crept downstairs and out the door as glass after glass continued to break. From around the shelter of the back porch, he saw the door to the fruit cellar standing wide open while on the ground, the lock the he had used to secure it lay snapped in two. Though he knew the smart thing was to go get help, Orange didn't dare leave his wife and daughter alone with whatever was strong enough to do that. Besides, they had been chased off their homestead once before. He'd start growing apples before that happened again. Steeling his nerves, Orange crept around the side of the house and down into the cellar. In addition to the breaking glass he could also hear slurping and smacking. Whoever was down there was eating the first batch of orange preserves, the very thing he and his family depended on for their livelihood. As he reached the bottom stair, he saw that the floor was covered in pieces of broken glass and bits of orange preserve. And over by the furnace, a dark figure was busy stuffing its face with another jar. "Hey!" he yelled. "What do ya think yer doin' down..."but before he could finish, the intruder turned and lunged, knocking Orange back against the spare wood pile and sending the lantern flying from his grasp. Then it was looming over him, its eyes shining red with hate and radiating with a purple light as it opened its mouth to snarl though clenched fangs. "No please!" he begged. "You can have it all! Just don't hurt me and my family!" The creature stepped into the moonlight and when he saw its face, Orange's eyes widened in shock. "Who...wha?" Now it was just inches from him, it's mouth opening as if threatening to swallow him whole. Orange closed his eyes and helplessly waited for the inevitable when the cellar suddenly went silent. Cautiously, he opened his eyes and saw that he was alone. From upstairs, the sound of galloping hooves alerted him to his wife racing down the stairs toward him. "Dear!" she yelled as she kneeled beside him. "What happened? What was it?" But Orange was still too shocked to answer. The creature, whatever it was, had looked just like King Sombra. In the blue stone halls of Canterlot Castle, the provisional council had gathered in its chamber for their biweekly meeting. Arranged around a horsehoe shaped table, three of Equestria's most powerful guardians, along with what had been two of its greatest enemies, had come together under the pretense of ruling and rebuilding the kingdom until King Sombra fully recovered from the battle that had finally ended the war. At the table's head sat Princess Trixie, former apprentice to King Sombra and acting head of state. To her right sat Discord, defender of the realm and hero of Equestria. On the seat next to him was Chrysalis, the beautiful and gentle queen of the changelings, a race of insectoid creatures whom Sombra had permitted to settle in Equestria. To Trixie's left, along the tables's second wing, sat the reformed Princesses Luna and Celestia. Granting them a seat on the council had not been met with widespread approval among the citizenry, considering all the suffering Celestia had brought upon the kingdom and Luna's betrayal of the king. However, Trixie had argued that in rebuilding, Equestria would need all the help it could get regardless of where it came from and assuaged the public's fears by placing them under house arrest. Last but not least, at a podium placed between the table's two wings, stood Prime Minister Derpy Hooves. As one of King Sombra's closest councilors, Derpy was greatly respected for her wisdom. Though she too had been offered a seat, Derpy had pointed out that having an even number of members created the potential for beauracratic deadlock in the event of a tie vote, accepting an advisory and secretarial position instead. At the moment, Discord was giving his report regarding his work repairing the houses that had been wrecked in the fighting. "Now that Cleveland Bay is up and running," Discord explained. "I'll be heading down to Brandenburg next and then Appleloosa. From what I've heard though I won't need to do much. The Earth Ponies of Appleloosa have a long standing friendship with the Buffalo Tribes which has helped them both recover quicker than some others." "Very good Discord," Trixie said. "Celestia, you have an update regarding Equestria's infrastructure?" "I do," her former enemy admitted. "As I'm sure you're aware, very few train tracks survived the war in working order. The Diamond Dogs have been working nonstop to repair them, and in the meantime have allowed us to use their tunnels to transport food and other supplies to some of the more isolated areas, but they can only spare so many guides to help us through. On a more positive note, the repairs to Manehatten Bridge were completed yesterday so that should take some of the preassure off of the ferry traffic in and out of the city." "You've done excellent work," Trixie admitted. "And we are appreciative of that." "I could do more however if my sister and I were permitted to handle our assignments in person," Celestia pointed out. "Or at the very least be allowed to do so without supervision." "You know we can't do that," Derpy reminded her. "The ponies aren't ready to accept you and your sister after everything that's occurred. I'm afraid for the foreseeable future this is how things will have to be." "Well not necessarily," Discord commented as he teleported to Celestia's side. "Celestia may not be able to leave the castle, but Mare Do Well can!" As he spoke, a dark purple costume materialized into Discord's lion paw. "Picture it. Mysterious Mare Do Well, loyal sidekick to Captain Goodguy. Together, we shall reign a costumed crusade against all villainy! What do you say?" In response, Celestia fired a ray of light from her horn that reduced the costume to ash. "I'd rather not." With a sulk, Discord teleported back to his seat. "You know, a little fun would do wonders for that mood of yours." "If you two are finished," Trixie interrupted, "we still have the issue regarding the captured fugitives." Adjusting her glasses, Chrysalis read off from her report. "As of the current date, 18 fomer associates of Celestia and Luna have been tracked down and captured, most recently Clutterstep the Merciless." "The one Earth Pony with the scar right?" Trixie asked. "I'm sure a lot of ponies will be glad to hear that." "He wasn't one of my fiercest and most cunning warriors for nothing you know," Celestia reminded them as Chrysalis continued. "We also have a lead on the whereabouts of the Mane 6-" "-Seven," Discord corrected. "-Seven Gang along with their benefactor Mad Granny Smith, head of the Apple Family Mob. Three of the Shadowbolts have also been captured although their most recent member, Flash Sentry, is still unaccounted for. There was also apparently a bit of an incident yesterday in court." "What kind of incident?" Trixie asked. "Excuse me," Derpy said, "but I know exactly what went wrong. It was during the trial of Zecora, Celestia's former potion master. She made an obscene rhyme that caused such an uproar that Judges Flim and Flam had no choice but to adjourn for the day. I won't repeat it. Let's just say it involved babies and a stew pot." "Unggggghhh!" Chrysalis shivered. "I see," Trixie grimmaced. "Well congratulations on rounding them up. It seems as if we've found almost everyone." "Not all of them," Luna said. Immediately, a cloud fell over the entire council. It seemed that no matter what the agenda, this one issue dominated every meeting. Though she could already guess the answer, Trixie finally broke the silence. "Does anyone have any new leads on the whereabouts of King Sombra?" "I'm sorry but no," Chrysalis admitted. "I've had my changelings searching day and night but all they've been able to find were his cape and armor which he discarded on the edge of the Everfree Forest." "And until he uses any of the dark magic he absorbed from the princesses," Discord added, "there's no way I can track him either. I thought I felt something in the Castle Gardens late last night, but it was gone by the time I got there." "Is it possible that he could have fled Equestria?" Trixie asked "I doubt it. With the kind of power he has, I'd feel him the moment he crossed the border. To be safe though I've taken the liberty of calling in outside help." "Outside help?" Celestia asked with a raised eyebrow. "Please tell me you aren't talking about...." "Not to worry," Discord assured her. "I explained the situation to him and he promised to be discreet about it." "Wonderful," Celestia groaned. "Knowing him that probably means he'll be kicking down every door in the land rather than shouting it from the mountain tops." "In any case," Discord continued, "he offered to send his Gargoyle Brigade to scout through his land and all the other areas bordering Equestria. If Sombra's out there, they'll pick up his trail sooner or later." "Princess Trixie," Derpy said, "forgive me for interrupting but I'm afraid we can't keep everyone in the dark for much longer. Rumors are beginning to spread. None of them are close to the truth fortunately, and my agents are doing their best to circumvent them, but if we don't find his majesty soon we may have no choice but to admit the truth." Trixie pursed her lips in thought. It had been her idea to deceive the citizenry about the fate of their missing king, rather than the tragedy of what had really happened. "We may have to consider the possibility that Sombra doesn't want to be found," Celestia added. "Or even that he's been entirely... "No!" Luna suddenly shouted. "I refuse to believe that! Even with all the dark magic he absorbed from us, King Sombra's heart is far too pure and noble to let it take him. He wants to be found! He wants us to rescue him! He...." as she realized that all eyes in the room had been locked onto her, Luna hung her shoulders in embarrasment. "Forgive me for my outburst. That was unbecoming of a member of this council." "It's alright Luna," Trixie assured her. "I think we've covered everything we need to. If no one has any further business then we'll reconvene in three days time. Meeting adjourned." As the council rose and departed en mass, Trixie remained behind in order to gather her thoughts. "Is everything alright Trixie," Derpy asked. Like herself, Derpy had also been born a commoner. But through dedication and hardwork, along with a little support from King Sombra, they had both risen to two of the highest posts in the land. That was why she and Trixie had become fast friends, remaining so even after Trixie became a princess. "Not really," she admitted. "Derpy am I doing the right thing?" "I realize lying to your subjects is far from ideal. But we all agreed that it was better than risking a possible panic." "I mean everything. When you all came to me and asked me to serve as council head, I agreed because I thought as King Sombra's apprentice that it was my duty to do so. Ever since he took me under his wing, I've always struggled to live up to his example. Even now, every choice I make is based on me asking myself 'What would he do?'. And I've been able to carry things on so far but I don't know if I can do so for much longer." Removing her glasses, Derpy walked up to her friend and laid a comforting hoof on her shoulder. "Well then," she told her, "maybe you should stop relying on what Sombra would do and think more about what you would do." Trixie looked up at the wise pegasus and smiled as she felt her doubts disappear. "You're right Derpy. Thank you." Derpy nodded and departed as Trixie leaned back in her seat. It was the same advice Sombra had given her as a filly... ...With water dripping off of her, Trixie hung her head in shame. The dancing water spell was supposed to create living puppets from the pond in front of her, but all she had managed to accomplish was getting her and her teacher completely soaked. "Well," King Sombra laughed as he wrung out his cape, "I guess I've had my bath for the day. Why don't we dry off and break for a snack." "Okay," she sighed. "King Sombra? Am I bad student?" "Whatever are you talking about? Of course you're not." "But the only spells I get right are simple sideshow tricks. Maybe I'm not cut out to be a great wizard." "Don't say that," he assured her. "You have immense talent in you. Much more than I have." "But you're the king!" she cried. "You've contained a raging dragon, fought the goblins, and even repelled Celestia. There's no way I could do anything like that." Laying a hoof on her shoulder, King Sombra smiled warmly at her. "My magic may be strong," he told her. "But my overall skills are poor. Aside from basic spells, the only real power I have are my barriers." Alighting his horn with a golden light, Sombra created multiple energy spheres around them which he sent floating into a nearby fountain. "Take your fireworks trick for example. It may seem like a mere party spell but it's something I'll never be able to do. But maybe I don't have to." As Trixie watched, the tiny force bubbles rose dripping out of the fountain and burst overhead, scattering the water coating their surface into a vapor that broke the daylight into a rainbow. "You see it's not about being unable to do what others can. It's about doing the things that only you can. All it takes is an open mind and a little imagination." Eyes wide with wonder, Trixie looked up at her mentor as the rainbow seemed to bend around him like a halo. King Sombra, she thought, you're so cool... ..."You never gave up on me," she said aloud. "And I won't give up on you either." Now that the meeting was over, Discord teleported himself to the royal gardens. Though he had gone over the area with a fine toothed comb, he couldn't find any real evidence that King Sombra had been there. But if he hadn't then what had triggered Discord's senses last night? Just forget it, he told himself. If that really was Sombra then all that dark power would have left a residual imprint still lying around. Leaning back to lie down on the air, Discord looked up at the statue of him in his Captain Goodguy costume. It had started as a joke. Just a little something to get a rise out of Celestia during their battles. In time however, it had become a symbol among the Equestrians for defiance against fear and tyranny. Back then I never thought I'd amount to something like that, he thought. We've come a long way haven't we Sombra?... ...Floating about the grotto, Discord clicked his fingers and the trees around him began to dance like ballerinas. He clicked a second time and fish began to swim through the air. He clicked a third time, and a living pie materialized into existence that promptly began to eat itself. Discord sighed as he clicked his fingers a fourth time and everything was back to how it was. What was the point? It didn't even amuse him anymore. And the fact that he now had to deal with uninvited company didn't improve his mood much. "I know you're there," he called. "What do you want?" From behind a tree, a tall grey unicorn wearing a purple cloak accompanied by two guard ponies in slate armor stepped into view. "So you're the one called Discord?" the leader asked. "To be honest the tales I've heard of you were so incredible that I considered you a myth." "Well as you can see, I'm not. Now who are you anyway?" "Ah yes. Forgive my rudeness. I am Sombra, King of Equestria." "Kings are a dime a dozen in this world," Discord remarked. "You're going to have to do a lot better than that if you want to impress me." Lowering their spears, Sombra's two guards advanced toward him. But Discord snapped his fingers and their spears turned into ropes that came to life and bound them head to hoof . "You really should teach your subordinates better manners. Especially when they're outmatched." And now out would come the righteous indignation common to every royal. But instead, Sombra simply bowed in apology. "You are right. Please forgive them for their over-zealousness." Unbelieving what he had just seen, Discord snapped his fingers and the guards were released as a tea table appeared in the grotto's center. "Well, I suppose it would be equally rude to be the ungracious host. Why don't we start over and discuss matters like civilized beings?" "I would like that very much." As they both took their seats, Discord summoned miniature storm clouds that rained tea into their cups. "Sugar?" "Please." In the middle of the table, the sugar bowl sprouted legs and galloped to Sombra's cup where its lid opened and three cubes leaped out into the tea. "So what does the King of Equestria want with me?" "To be honest, I came here hoping to obtain your allegiance." "Ah yes," Discord said. "I do seem to be the popular one these days." "Then Celestia has already tried to recruit you to her side?" "Tried and failed. Her attitude left a lot to be desired so I sent her home with a little parting gift." "What sort of gift?" "Well you know what they say about visiting the forest in the middle of skunk mating season." And Sombra laughed so hard that he nearly chocked on his tea. "I wish I could have seen that." "But I'll tell you the same thing. I have no interest in serving anyone or getting involved in your little squabbles. I only wish to be left alone." "Is that really want you want though?" "And what is that supposed to mean?" Sombra raised his hoof. "I mean no offense. Just hear me out. It seems to me that despite all your power you aren't particularly happy with it." "Whatever I do with my power is entirely my business!" "So what exactly is it that you do with it then?" Discord found himself unable to answer. "I thought so. You could do so much with your powers but you're just wasting them if all you use them for is self-gratification. You should find a purpose for them. Something that really makes a difference." Taking his saucer, Discord dipped it in his tea before taking a bite out of it. "And what purpose for them would you suggest?" he asked through his mouthful. "Why don't you try being a hero?" Sombra asked. "A hero?" "Why not? You've obviously not evil. If you were you would have accepted Celestia's offer. Or at the very least let your power go to your head and run around abusing it and others. But if you were to join me, it would go a long way to ending the threat Celestia and her followers pose to the kingdom. My subjects need your help Discord. I need your help. Not as a servant, but as a comrade and friend. So what do you say?" A hero huh? To be honest the thought had never occurred to him. "I don't know," Discord said. "Seems like it would be more trouble than it's worth." "It's true," Sombra admitted. "The journey I'm asking you to accompany me on is not an easy one. But if you have the strength to see it through, I'm sure you'll find the rewards to be well worth it." Discord thought it over and finally shrugged in resignation. "Oh very well. It's not like I have anything better to do at the moment. But I'm only staying until I get bored. After that, I'm gone"... ...But it didn't get boring. Adventuring with Sombra, fighting evil, being a hero. It was because of Sombra that Discord finally found the missing meaning in his life. I won't let the journey end like this, he vowed. We've still got too many adventures ahead of us. With all of Equestria spread beneath her, Chrysalis flew towards the changelings' hive in the Foal Mountains. It did her good to see the kingdom restored to its former glory. And with Celestia no longer a threat, the hearts of the kingdom were already starting to swell with the joy and love that had first drawn her kind to this land. Suddenly she felt a disturbance in the emotional harmony beneath her. Flying low to investigate, Chrysalis saw a little Earth Pony filly wandering the woods. "Patches," the child called. "Patches where are you? Please come home!" Expanding her senses, Chrysalis searched for any other disturbances and felt one in the near distance. She followed the feeling to its source and came across a hollowed out log where a frightened kitten crouched inside of it. "Here now," she gently whispered. "Don't be afraid. I won't hurt you." Timidly, the kitten emerged from the log and sniffed at her extended hoof. Once it was certain she wasn't a threat, Chrysalis allowed the kitten to nuzzle against her leg before she picked it up and flew back with it to its owner. "Here you are little one." "Patches!" the filly cried. "Thank you your highness!" "You're quite welcome." As she watched the filly head home with her kitten safely mounted on her back, Chrysalis was grateful she and the other changelings had a place where they could live openly with others. She could still remember a time when that was little more than a dream for them... ...With the two ponies following after her, Chrysalis led them down the rocky trail that ran deep within the mountains. Occasionally, she would cast a hesitant glance back at her companions. What she was doing didn't make any sense. As the Queen, the safety of the Changelings rested entirely on her shoulders. But at the same time, nor could she claim that she sensed any malice from them towards her. Even when she had revealed her true form and tried to drive them off, the one called Sombra had merely sealed her in a barrier; releasing her after he explained that he and the mare called Luna were only investigating why the white alicorn they called Celestia had attacked the mountains. Once introductions were completed, Sombra had asked if there were any others and Chrysalis agreed to show them the hive. "Is it much further?" he asked. "We're already here actually." Passing through a fissure in the rock, she led them into the cavern where the hive had established it's temporary home. All around them, wingless workers blasted at the rock to carve new abodes which they then lined with silk produced from their own bodies while overhead, winged soldiers clung to the ceiling, ready to take flight if the white alicorn launched another attack. "Your majesty this is amazing," Luna marveled. "Their culture is similar to that of social insects with clearly designated caste levels. But their physiology suggests none of the reproductive restrictions one usually finds in such creatures." Upon realizing that non-changelings had entered the colony, the workers grabbed the larvae and fled into the safety of their burrows as the soldiers dropped to the ground, their horns glowing and ready to fire. "It's alright everyone," Chrysalis assured them. "They're not with the one that attacked us. Apparently she's their enemy as well." With their queen's assurance, the soldiers stood down as the other changelings emerged from their silk lined lairs. As they gathered around them, Chrysalis couldn't help but notice how those closest to King Sombra underwent a change as their eyes and carapaces went from dull and listless to bright and shining. "Why are they reacting like that?" Luna asked. "My kind draw sustenance from love and other positive emotions," Chrysalis explained. "But because of our appearance, many deem us as monsters and drive us away. That's why we evolved the power to change our form." As she spoke, Chyrsalis' body glowed with a green light and shifted her appearance to match that of Luna. "This way we can gather the energy we need without being detected." "So you just take the place of whoever you turn into?" Luna asked. "No of course not!" Chrysalis cried out as she changed back. "We don't mean any harm to anyone. We just use our transformations to blend in and absorb whatever ambient love is around us. Once we have enough, we move on without anyone knowing we were there." "It must be difficult living a nomadic lifestyle," Sombra said. "It is," she admitted. "But it's our fate. That's why we came here to Equestria. The ponies here are so happy and loving to each other. And after meeting you, I can see why. Please, we don't mean to cause any trouble. Just let us stay long enough to regain our strength and we'll leave." King Sombra looked at the poor weakened creatures around him and shook his head. "I'm sorry. But I'm afraid I can't allow that." "Your majesty!" Luna cried out, but Chrysalis raised a hoof to stop her "It's alright. As king, he has a responsibility to his subjects first." "You didn't let me finish," Sombra interrupted. "What I meant was that I can't allow you and your kind to wander anymore without a home." "Wha...what?" Chrysalis asked "You said yourself you don't mean any harm. If you need to be surrounded by positive emotions then why not settle here in Equestria and help me protect those feelings. With an enemy like Celestia, I could use as many allies I can get." "But...what about your subjects?" she reminded him. "The ponies of Equestria aren't like the beings you've encountered before," he assured her. "Give them a chance. I'll introduce you. I promise no harm will come to you or your subjects." And so the next day, escorted by King Sombra and Princess Luna and accompanied by a handful of her soldiers, Chrysalis stood in the town square of Canterlot where a mob of curious onlookers quickly gathered around them. "Ponies of Equestria," Sombra's voice called over the crowd. "These are the changelings. Like us, they are enemies of Princess Celestia. As such, I have invited them to dwell in our kingdom so that they might join the fight against our shared enemy." Hiding her face behind a lock of her hair, Chrysalis fidgeted under the stares of Canterlot's citizenry. Never before had so many looked upon her true form at once. Her escort took position around her to allow her room to flee if the ponies attacked when a little Pegasus filly suddenly came up to her. "Oh...hello little one," Chrysalis nervously said. Though she loved children, they did not seem to share the same affection for her. She waited for the inevitable scream or frightened tears, but instead the filly just smiled up at her. "I wish my wings were as pretty as yours," she said. No sooner had she done so, the ponies of Equestria came forward en mass to greet them... ...You were the first to not treat us as monsters, Chrysalis thought. No matter what's happened, I know you're not a monster either Sombra. And when we find you, I'll do everything I can to help you realize that as well. From the veranda of Canterlot Castle, Princess Celestia lowered the sun to bring the day to an end. Although it had been over a month since Sombra had drained the darkness in her heart, it still felt strange for her to use the sun to bring harmony and peace instead of suffering and terror. I suppose Derpy is right, she thought. The creatures of Equestria really don't have any reason to trust me and my sister. It would take a long time, but Celestia was ready to accept responsibility for her actions whatever it took. Short of being Discord's sidekick of course. The amount of time she already spent with him was irritating enough. As the sun began to vanish beneath the horizon, Celestia looked around but saw no sign of her sister coming to raise the moon. That had to mean she was back there again. Spreading her wings, Celestia took to the sky as two nearby guards on patrol lowered their spears. Really, she thought. Even if I wasn't trapped in this castle it's not like you could do anything to stop me. As part of the condition for keeping her and Luna under the council's control, Discord had fastened a new pair of collars for both of them which only he could take off. With his magic infused into them, Luna and Celestia were unable to go any further than the castle grounds unless in his company, regardless of whatever means they used. Over the castle she flew to the main keep where she entered into what had once been Sombra's throne room. As she expected, Luna was there, staring up at the now vacant seat of power. "Luna," Celestia called out. With a start, Luna turned around and Celestia saw streams of tears falling down her younger sister's cheeks. "Oh, Celestia! I'm sorry. I was just thinking and I lost track of time." "Luna you can't keep doing this to yourself." Turning back to the throne, Luna hung her head as her voice broke with barely contained sobs. "What else am I supposed to do?" she asked. "Everything was my fault. If I hadn't given in to my jealousy none of this would have happened. The balance of our world wouldn't have been thrown into disarray, the rift wouldn't have become aggravated, and Sombra wouldn't have sacrificed himself like that." You're wrong Luna, Celestia thought as she approached her. Regardless of your own actions, I was the one who set everything in motion. Just as it was my betrayal of you that caused the barrier to come crashing down in order to force the other Celestia to our world. And while Luna had not born any resentment towards her, as long as she lived she could never forgive herself for hurting her. Laying her wing across her sister's back, Celestia pulled her into an embrace. Caring about others and their welfare was another aspect of her new existence that she had yet to adjust to.... ...Flying above Canterlot Castle, Celestia watched and waited. Normally, she wouldn't be able to get this close to the Castle without being detected by that fool Discord. But with the Draconequus investigating that disturbance her Shadowbolts had caused in Vanhoover, she could finally put her plan into fruition. Long had she been watching the denizens of Canterlot and one in particular had caught her attention. If Celestia could turn her to her side then the balance of power between her and Sombra would shift greatly in her favor. Finally, she saw the one she ws looking for. From out of the castle, her younger sister ran out onto the verandah, her face was flushed with anger and trembling with barely contained frustration, exactly as she had hoped. "Hello dear sister." Luna whirled around as the Evil Princess of the Sun dropped to the ground behind her. "Celestia," Luna bristled. "You've got some nerve coming here!" "No need to be so hostile Luna," she laughed. "I just came to talk." "You really expect me to believe that?" "My poor Luna," Celestia replied "Has Sombra's betrayal of you really hardened your heart to the point that you would reject your own sister when she's trying to help?" "What are you talking about? His Majesty would never betray anyone close to him." "Are you sure about that?" Igniting her horn, Celestia conjured a glowing sphere that shifted into a scene from the previous year's Grand Galloping Gala. In the image, King Sombra was dancing with a white alicorn wearing a golden dress who was nearly a perfect copy of herself, the Celestia from the other world. "I fail to see what your intention is," Luna said as she looked away. "They make such a beautiful couple don't they," Celestia remarked. "A heroic king and his beautiful princess. I even understand that he changed the Gala's date so she could attend without being absent from the one in her world." Luna didn't answer. "But I wonder. Is it right for them to go on this way? After all, she isn't even from this world. Neither of them can surrender their thrones to be with the other. And there are so many deserving mares in our world that would be much more suitable for him." Luna looked up at her sister and glared in defiance. "I know what you're trying to do," she said. "And it won't work Celestia." "Oh but I'm not trying to do anything," Celestia grinned. "I'm merely stating the truth. It just doesn't seem fair to me. You've served King Sombra loyally for so long. Done whatever he's asked of you. And how does he repay you? By ignoring your feelings and treating you as just another servant." "You...you're wrong. The king isn't like that." "Oh?" Celestia asked. "If not then why do you seem so upset?" Luna lowered her gaze in shame. "He wanted me to try deciphering the notes we recovered from Star Swirl's hidden lab again. He's convinced that he had been conducting the same research as the one from the other world into transdimensional travel." Celestia smirked at that. Star Swirl the Goateed had been a brilliant sorceror, but had overstepped his bounds when he attempted to usurp Celestia's throne for himself. As for his notes, trying to garner anything from them was a fool's errand. Even she could not decipher the code he had written them in. Luckily, an alternative plan had already been formed and would begin with Luna's defection. Taking her sister's chin in her hoof, Celestia lifted the younger alicorn's gaze back to her own. "He's so captivated by something he can't have that he can't even see the precious jewel standing right before him. And she's just as much at fault as he is. I can see that you consider her a friend; that she's exactly the kind of elder sister you've always wanted. But a true friend would see that she was hurting you. She would see the feelings you carry and work to alleviate them instead of ignoring them for her own benefit. But I would never do that to you Luna. I may not be the sister you want but unlike them I am here for you. It's time for you to stop wishing for what you can't have and be satisfied with what you can." "Celestia...I..." but before Luna could finish, a golden beam flew past her head and blasted her sister back. "Celestia!" King Sombra yelled. "What are you doing here! Luna are you alright! Did she hurt you?" "Your majesty," Luna gasped. From down on the ground, Celestia moaned in pain. Sombra may have lacked talent but his strength was every bit a match for hers. That blast would have broken a normal pony. "Luna, go get the guards! I'll hold her down. If we can keep her restrained until Discord gets back, he can seal her magic and then it'll finally be over." "And then what?" Celestia asked. "What need will he have for you without me?" "Luna what are you waiting for?" he ordered. "Go now!" "Decision time Luna," Celestia stated. "Will you continue to suffer and yearn for what you can never have? Or will you accept and take what you can?" For what seemed like an eternity, Luna stood still as a statue before she finally stepped forward to place herself between her sister and her king. "Luna what are you doing?" Sombra asked. But Luna didn't answer. Instead, she turned her back to the king she had served for so long and helped her sister to her feet. "Let's go!" she said. Celestia smiled as she spread her wings and with her younger sister by her side, flew off into the night. With their combined power, all of Equestria would soon be theirs. And quite possibly the other as well. "Luna!" Sombra yelled. "Luna don't do this! Come back!" As Canterlot Castle faded into the distance, Celestia looked at her newest ally and smiled. "Don't worry dear little sister," Celestia laughed. "Those tears will dry very shortly..." ...."We both share the blame for what happened," she told her. "Now we have to make amends for it. Sombra's alive Luna. He's out there. And when we find him he's going to need all the help you can give him so you need to be strong." Luna buried her face in her sister's neck as Celestia cast the spell that raised the moon on Luna's behalf. It was ironic. Celestia had spent centuries battling Sombra, dreaming of the day when she would finally cast him down and reign over all of Equestria. Now she was, albeit in a limited fashion, and she would give it all up just to have him back. Sombra, she wondered. Where are you? In the Macintosh Hills that separated southern Equestria from the Badlands, a complex series of cave systems and abandoned mines crisscrossed the entire region, creating a maze that a pony could get lost in if they weren't careful. Or a hiding place for somepony who didn't want to be found. Stumbling as he walked, his hooves chipped and cracked, Sombra, exiled King of Equestria, wandered deep into the mine tunnel. Once he felt certain that he was hidden from sight, he sank to the ground to rest where he pulled a golden crown from within his ratted cloak. "Celestia," he whispered as he cradled the headpiece. When he had taken the dark power of the Evil Pony Sisters into himself, his mind had been clouded by rage and a burning hunger to destroy everything, until the sight of her face pulled him back from the abyss. Her expression at what he had become, so full of horror and grief, was so great that he couldn't bear to have her look at him. So he had fled like a coward. And now that the mirror linking their worlds was shattered, the crown was the only remnant of the Alicorn whom he had loved so deeply. So deeply that he was willing to become a monster to keep her from sacrificing herself to heal the rift that had threatened both their worlds. The crown and the memories attached to it was the only thing that keep the darkness from taking him over completely. Ever since he had continued to flee, discarding his armor and cape for a beggar's cloak, resisting any urge to use his magic to avoid being detected by Discord. He knew that Discord, that all of them, would be looking for him. But he couldn't go back. He was no longer their king. It took all of his will just to maintain control over the darkness that constantly threatened to overtake him. Even now he could hear it calling to him, demanding that it be set free. He had almost done so when he had broken into that farmer's fruit cellar outside of Appleloosa. He hadn't eaten for three days and the smell of the preserves was too much to resist. And when the farmer discovered him, the desire to unleash his fury was overwhelming. He could practically smell the farmer's fear for himself and his family. It was such an wonderful scent that Sombra almost felt as if he could devour it whole. But at the last second, he had regained control and forced himself to flee into the night. And once he crossed into the lawless Badlands, far from civilization, he could finally rest. There, he could keep the darkness contained where it would never threaten his kingdom again. He would never see Canterlot or the comrades he had shared so much with. Just as he would never see his beloved Celestia again. "It's cold," he murmured. His eyes heavy with exhaustion, Sombra slumped against the hard stone floor. But even in sleep peace didn't find him. The darkness continued to gnaw and claw at him, attempting to drag him into a void from which he would never return. But then it all stopped. Adrift in silence, Sombra felt something caress and tickle his face as a warm sensation suddenly spread through him. Who's there? he wondered. This feeling, why is it so familiar? He opened his eyes and instead of the mine he found himsef in a sunlit spring field. And above him, a pair of warm magenta eyes gazed down at him as their owner cradled his head in the lap of her forelegs, her shimmering mane cascading over them both. "Celestia," Sombra whispered. "How are you here?" But his love didn't answer. She simply lowered her face and gently nuzzled it against his. "It was all a dream," he sighed in relief. "Just a dream." A feeling of peace he had feared he would never feel again began to overtake him as all the rage and fear he had taken onto himself faded into memory. "Sombra," Celestia softly cooed into his ear. "Tell me about your world." Floating above Sombra's sleeping form, the shadow looked upon the former king with overwhelming disgust. It hadn't been hard to track him down. The scent of dark magic was well known to him but he hadn't expected to find this. Was this broken wretch truly this world's version of...the shadow couldn't even stomach the thought. Such a waste that this marvelous power should find itself in the hands of a coward that skulked and hid like a rat in a hay loft when he could be enslaving the entire world. But at least his struggle against its influence had weakened his will enough to be ensorcelled. The dream glamour placed upon him would keep his spirit calm and placid so the shadow could obtain what he sought. "Sombra," he whispered as he laid a shadowy limb on the sleeping king's forehead. "Tell me about your world." Their minds connected and the information flowed from the other Sombra into him. Sorting through his puppet's memories, he harvested any information that could be useful such as all potential enemies and the history of the war with this world's Celestia. One item of particular interest regarded how long ago, she had employed a sorceror by the name of Star Swirl whom she had banished following a failed coup. If these two worlds are true mirror reflections of each other, he mused, then the Star Swirl of this world must have been performing the same research as the one from mine. So why had the Celestia of this world lured the other one here in order to take that secret from her? He delved deeper and saw that the notes Sombra and his allies had recovered were written in a code that not even Discord's magic could decipher. And if that was the case then that could only mean one thing. And then, he uncovered what he sought above all others. Incredible, he realized. This exceeds all of my expectations. Even if the secrets of this world's Star Swirl were unobtainable, he had still gained enough to take at least this world for himself. Satisfied that he had everything he needed, he broke the connection and flew off into the night. He would wait a few days before taking any further steps. The curse he had placed on his world's Celestia would take at least that long to fully take hold. He just wished he could be there to see it for himself. In the meantime however, he had to make sure his pawn didn't perish. (Special thanks to MLP-Silver-Quill for allowing me to make a reference to his OC Clutterstep, comics of which can be viewed on DeviantArt)