//------------------------------// // What? Sombra's alive? // Story: Sombra's Surf Shop // by BigBadBorox_Is_Back //------------------------------// Twilight was sitting with her friends at her new castle. Though a little hard to take in at first, the new castle had been refurbished in areas to accommodate Twilight's friends when they would visit. When villagers offered on bent knee to help, the six ponies politely refused the villager's assistance,"We're still just ponies," they would tell them,"Its not like we're royalty now." In the days that followed Twilight spent most of her time organizing her things and trying to replace the ones lost from her battle with Tirek. The massive loss of her books from his wrath had left Twilight rather melancholy not to mention her old home being burned down. Her friends did what they could, but still had their respective jobs to do. Celestia visited every once and awhile to chat and examine her pupil's castle. On this particular day they sat with a small lunch between them in the throne room, the crystal like walls glistened in the noon sun. Celestia informed the lavender alicorn that her brother and sister-in-law would be visiting in a few days. "That's wonderful!" Twilight said with glee," but its such short notice...shouldn't we have the town prepare for their arrival?" "You know how Cadence is," Celestia smiled," She prefers a quiet vacation, not a loud parade. There is something though..." her voice became quiet. "I-Is it serious...dangerous?" The white alicorn leaned closer to Twilight and looked around for prying eyes before she spoke," I've heard from Luna that...Sombra is still alive." Twilight gasped," What?!" "Shhh!" "Oh sorry, what?" Twilight whispered," I thought we got rid of him...who else knows?" "Only the three of us...for now." Celestia regained her elegant composure and levitated a tea cup to her lips. Twilight racked her brain with possibilities of the information as the other princess sipped away. "Are we going to tell Shining and Cadence?" Twilight asked half hopeful. "Of course, your friends and those two were the ones who defeated him after all...who else would we tell?" She poured herself more tea casually. "Is he up to something...this is rather serious and your-" she cut off and Celestia stared back at her with a half eaten cucumber sandwich. "What?" she asked like a teenager in the middle of a hayburger. "Princess this is serious!" Twilight said through her teeth," If he tries to come back and is stronger what can we do?" "Wait, Twilight, we don't know anything yet," Celestia shrugged. Twilight pouted in response. The white alicorn thanked Twilight for the meal and told her she and her sister would be chaperon the royal couple to the new castle. Twilight waved good bye and watched Celestia fly off. Twilight sat and thought about the news, after awhile Spike walked by with a laundry basket. Twilight motioned Spike over and told him to send a message her friends to get to the castle as soon as possible. Spike answered the request with question, but the message was sent. "What is it Twi?" he asked. "Its...well somepony is back that...shouldn't be." "Uhhh like who?" Spike folded his arms and looked critical at the alicorn. "Just wait Spike, I'll try and explain it as best as I can when the girls get here." The wait was short. As usual Rainbow was the first to arrive and the rest followed quickly. They all met up in the throne room. The mares were all surprised and a bit worried when they saw a look of impending doom on Twilight's face. They gathered in a semi circle around her. "Tell us Twi," Apple Jack said," What's this hullabaloo 'bout?" "Yes Twilight," Rarity cooed," I was in the middle of a dress...er...completely open schedule." "Girls," Twilight said quietly," I have some bad news..." "Come on! Spill the beans already," cried Rainbow," whats the worst that could happen?" "Sombera is still alive," Twilight said. Her friends gasped. Rainbow's brash face now looked nervous. Twilight continued," He's somewhere near Equestria and his power is growing every minuet." "Oh, the big-pointy-tooth-shadowy guy?" Pinkie asked. "Yes Pinkie," Rainbow groaned,"That guy." "I-Is he coming here?" Fluttershy asked as she hid behind Rainbow. Twilight put a hoof to her temple,"We don't know...all we do know is that he's alive and near by. The royal sisters will be here with Cadence and Shining in a few days...we'll know more then." "Well....ummm...what should we do then, sugar cube?" AppleJack asked. "We...wait," Twilight groaned. A few days had passed and the mane six grew restless. Thankfully Cadence and Shining arrived along with Celestia and Luna. They all gathered in Twilight's throne room. A formal, serious tone hung over the group. Twilight sat next to her sister in law and the lavender alicorn's friends soon arrived. Pinkie was the last to enter and was carrying a large box with random bits of ribbon and several hats. "I probably shouldn't have brought the disco ball and punch mix, huh?" Pinkie asked as she placed the heavy box to the floor. The rest groaned in response. "Pinkie, this is serous!" Twilight cried. "Twilight, calm yourself," Luna said flatly," We don't need to lash out at one another." Shining Armor raised a hoof,"Princess Luna, your sister told me on the way here that you were the one to learn of the problem at hoof. Could you tell us, if I'm so bold to ask." Luna sighed," That is what I'm here for. You see, the late ruler of your Crystal Empire isn't in fact...late. He's still alive...somewhere close by." "Do you know where he is?" Twilight asked," Any information is crucial." Luna closed her eyes for a moment, as if she was 'seeing' somewhere else. She opened them after a few moments and seemed oddly relived. "He's off the coast of Applewood, west from here. He's much weaker then he was the last time you met him." "Good!" Rainbow smirked," We can get him while he's down, let's go girls!" She flew off her chair and over to the large door. "Wait, Rainbow Dash," Luna said. The Pegasus stopped mid air, "Aren't you going to pack?" the midnight princess asked," You and your friends are going to Applewood, 'tis a long trip." The mane six looked at each other with puzzled expressions. Applejack shifted her weight in her chair and spoke up to Luna,"Pack?" she asked," Pardon me yer highness, but why in tarnation would we need to pack for Applewood?" "Oh, don't you remember our trip to there Applejack?" Rarity asked dreamily," The giant ball of yarn, the Princesses' Monument-" "Yes 'Ah do, an the train ride, which was 'goin the the wrong direction by the way. And the...plane ride..." Cadence looked to the royal sisters, ignoring the domestic debate next to her," So are Shining and I going along with Twilight? Sombra was the one who tried to take over our kingdom in the first place." "Perhaps," Celestia said thoughtfully," Who would watch over your kingdom while your gone?" "I could!" a small voice said. The assembly looked around for the speaker. "Ahem," Spike coughed," I could...I was the one who saved it...after all." "Spike! what are-" Twilight said but was interrupted by Cadence. "King Spike huh?" the pink alicorn said smiling," What do you say Shining? Want a fire breathing dragon protecting the crystal ponies?" "Ummm" Shining leaned closer to his wife," Are you sure you want that, I mean...he's still just a kid, right?" Celestia whispered to the crystal king," Shining, my sister will watch your kingdom while your gone, don't worry. I do believe that a job like that for Spike would be good though. Besides, your subjects do admire him." Shining looked to his wife who smiled back. They both nodded to the solar princess and she stood up. "It's settled, Twilight. You will go to Applewood with your friends, Cadence, and Shining Armor. Luna and I will help Spike watch over the Crystal Empire in your absence." Luna stood up as well,"My sister and I will arrange the trip, meet us in Canterlot tomorrow with everything you see needed for the trip. Until then, good bye!" Luna and her Sister left in the large door way. The royal couple slouched slightly once the sisters left. Twilight's friends left for their houses in the now darkening evening. Cadence and Shining retired to a guest room for the evening, since they had packed for the trip to Ponyville already and had enough for a trip to Applewood. Twilight and Spike however, were not as prepared as the royal couple. In Twilight's room, the lavender princess was sitting deep in thought as Spike dashed around the room, giggling happily. The castle was dark and seemed cavernous in the dim light of the evening. Twilight looked out the window, thinking about how to prepare for the encounter with that shadowy monster. She shuddered when she thought about what he could do to somepony's mind. "Do you think I look good in this?" Spike asked Twilight. She turned to see him and blinked in surprise. "The crown and boots are bit much huh?" Spike asked as he kicked off his gem encrusted boots. "Spike, you may be going on a 'vacation' but this is serious! Sombera is dangerous and we need to be ready for what ever happens, he could be setting a trap this very moment!" Both of them looked suspiciously at the dark room and the window. Twilight stood up rather suddenly and went off to the books Celestia had sent her when she moved in. Spike trod tiredly beside her, the crown barely fitting his head. They moved with caution as they approached the tomes. "Twi, are bringing something for the trip to read?" Spike yawned. "Spike! This is serious!" Twilight whispered harshly," I need to bring some powerful spell if I want to put this matter to rest quickly." Spike rubbed his eyes sleepily,"Twi, you might be taking this to seriously...I mean, what if he's been reformed like Discord was?" Twilight took this hope to heart. She lifted a dusty tome up," Let's hope your right...but we should still be ready"