//------------------------------// // Chapter 22 // Story: Defender of Justice, King Sombra! // by VashTheStampede //------------------------------// With the moderate success Sombra had seen after his first session with Twilight, the unicorn decided it would be both in his best interests and for the benefit of Twilight if he were to continue with her. He arranged with Brighter to have, dire circumstances aside, Sunday mornings off from work at the orphanage, and he took about an hour and a half of that newfound free time to continue his lessons with the young Princess of Friendship. She was a supportive mare, and Sombra rather liked her. She was always so… happy to help him. Sometimes she treated him a little like a foal, just barely coming to grips with magic for the first time, but then again, he may as well have been. Sombra thought she might have made a fantastic teacher, should there ever be (Faust forbid) a reason Cheerilee could no longer continue in her role. The only downside was that Twilight wanted more data on dark magic. Twilight was a prodigy, that much Sombra could tell within moments of first meeting her, but even in his weakened state he still had a firmer grasp on dark magic than she. While Sombra wasn’t exactly fond of the idea of intentionally submitting himself to the darkness for even just a few minutes a week, Twilight was always there to pull him back or flash-bomb him if the need arose. Every week she had new charts and tables and graphs and suggestions of cautiously proceeding from Celestia, and to be completely honest, the only parts he really understood from any of it was the solar Princess instructing them to be careful. Even still, as the weeks passed, his magical proficiency grew. After just a month, most of his skills with basic psychokinesis had returned, and just two weeks after that, he had gained enough fine control to write legibly. Many times his lessons with the Alicorn ended with the pair arguing over whether his success was due to having an excellent teacher, or due to her having an excellent student. It was a silly, pointless argument, and Sombra had to admit, to an extent, he insisted on having it each week solely to antagonize the mare. As his magical talents grew, so did relationships in Ponyville. Or two, at least. In a surprise turn of events, Snowflake had actually moved out of Redheart’s house and now lived in the orphanage with Brighter. Redheart hadn’t let him hear the end of that, but he took it well, and Sombra wasn’t sure he’d seen the Pegasus stallion happier. He also took his record player, which made Sombra a little sad, but Snowflake had made it very clear Sombra was welcome at any time he wanted to come over for social visits. On the other hoof, Sombra pretty much never had to work mornings anymore, with two of the orphanage’s employees living on-site, much less just those Sundays with Twilight. On the subject of his own marefriend, though, Sombra had to say things were coming along nicely. Or so they were by his standards, at least. After a little encouragement from Snowflake and Brighter, Sombra had explained to Redheart that he seemed to not suffer from his horrid memories while, well, sleeping with her. Before he’d even been able to get his request out, Redheart had happily suggested they share a bed (so long as Sombra didn’t “get any ideas,” she had added with a smirk), and he found himself spending his nights in the decidedly more comfortable embrace of Nurse Redheart. His fortnightly payments from Brighter for services rendered at the orphanage were a nice supplement. As Redheart already had full ownership of the house, she adamantly refused to accept any form of rent, but with a bit of convincing, she had agreed to let him shoulder his share of the cost of utilities and food. The couple also kept up their tradition of alternating paying for dates, which in the long run amounted effectively to splitting the bill, but made the both of them feel a little better about themselves. In addition to spending more time with Redheart, Sombra made an effort to help out around town and make as many friends as possible. This particular Thursday, Sombra happened to not have work until later in the evening. When he awoke he found the other side of the bed empty, and a brief moment of confusion flashed through his mind before he recalled Redheart did in fact have to be at the hospital today. He yawned and stretched his hooves out over his head, feeling a couple pops in his lower back as he strained his body. With a quick flash from his horn, the sheets floated neatly back into position, smoothly covering the queen-sized bed. Sombra smiled and stepped out of the bedroom and down the hall to the bathroom, taking a quick shower and brushing his teeth. He glanced at the clock on his way down the stairs, and, seeing that it was still relatively early in the morning (and it had been a couple weeks since he had last gone), he decided to visit Sugarcube Corner. He tucked a hoofful of bits in his mane and set out across town. --- Sombra inhaled deeply as he stepped into the combination café and bakery. The place always had a pleasantly sweet aroma to it. One might expect it to be almost sickly sweet with the amount of sugar being thrown around in the back room, but no, it was… like a grandmother’s kitchen, a soft, ever-present smell that could make the mouth water at the memory. “Good morning, mister Sombra!” Pinkie Pie greeted him cheerfully from behind the counter, “It’s been a while! Since I’ve seen you here, at least. How are you today?” “I am just fine, Pinkie Pie, thank you,” Sombra replied, nodding at the mare and taking a glance around the room. At a corner table, two of the other Elements of Harmony sat together. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, if memory served. He had tried to make friends with all of them, but of the six, these two had been the most resistant to the idea. Well, Rainbow Dash was resistant at least, it was hard to get Fluttershy to even talk to him. He walked up to the counter. “What can I get for you this morning?” Pinkie asked him, smiling broadly as she always seemed to be doing. “The usual?” “Yes, if you do not mind. I would also like a medium hot chocolate, if that is okay,” the unicorn smiled as he placed his order. “Of course,” Pinkie nodded and grabbed the maple glazed (with sprinkles) doughnut from underneath the glass of the display case and deposited it in a brown paper bag for him. “That’ll be five bits for the doughnut and hot chocolate,” she said to him as she placed the bag the counter, “The drink will be ready in just a couple minutes.” “Thank you very much,” Sombra replied, and passed her the requisite bits, gently depositing them in her waiting hoof with magic. “You’re getting pretty good at that, you know?” “Thank you, it really is all thanks to Twilight though,” Sombra smiled and picked the bag up with magic, and turned around to head towards the only occupied table in the place. Rainbow Dash’s ears flicked and turned towards the sound of his hoofsteps and the faint shimmering noise of magic moments before her head swiveled away from Fluttershy. “Good morning,” Sombra began. “Do you mind if I-” “What do you want, Sombra?” Rainbow Dash’s eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at him. “You’re scaring Fluttershy.” “Oh, actually, I’m-” Fluttershy started, but stopped and took another drink of her coffee when Rainbow Dash nudged her leg under the table. “I just wanted to say hello. I know you… do not really care for me, but I thought it would be nice if we could at least be on neutral terms, if not perhaps friends,” Sombra offered, suddenly finding it hard to remember what part of the face you were supposed to look at when talking to somepony. His eyes flicked from Rainbow Dash’s own, to her nose, to her mouth, to the tips of her mane dangling down, back to her eyes. “I don’t want to be your friend, Sombra,” Rainbow Dash spat, “Come on Fluttershy, let’s go.” “Oh, I, um…” Fluttershy trailed off, before taking another drink of her coffee. “Ugh, fine,” Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and stood up, “I’m leaving though. Later, Pinkie!” “Bye bye, Dashie!” the earth mare called as her friend flew out the door. Sombra turned back to Fluttershy as the rainbow afterimage faded from his vision. “Is… is it alright if I sit here?” “Oh, um, yes, of course,” Fluttershy responded, taking yet another drink from her coffee. It smelled strong, far stronger than anything Redheart ever brewed at home, and Sombra noticed that she was drinking from the largest cup sold at Sugarcube Corner. And that there were three empty ones next to it. “I must admit, Fluttershy,” Sombra said as he took his seat, “I would never have thought you to be one for coffee, least of all for so much of it.” “Oh, it’s really… I just drink it because I like the flavor,” the yellow Pegasus mare replied, breaking eye contact and looking down at her drink. “That is by far the strongest coffee I have ever smelled,” Sombra commented, “Is it not bitter?” “Sombra! Your hot chocolate is ready!” “Oh, I will be right back,” the unicorn smiled and stood up, trotting over and retrieving the warm, sweet drink. He thanked Pinkie Pie once again, and returned to his seat. “I’m sorry I sent Twilight after you like that,” Fluttershy blurted out suddenly. Well, in as much as Fluttershy could ‘blurt’ something, at least. “What?” “When you first came here. The reason Twilight came bursting into Redheart’s house. I saw you at the café, and I was scared and I didn’t know what to do so I went to Twilight.” “I can hardly blame you,” Sombra said sadly. “What? Why not? I could have gotten you arrested or killed or even-” “Fluttershy,” the unicorn spoke quietly but firmly, gently interrupting the Pegasus mare, “You had no reason whatsoever to know I had changed, and given my… actions in the Crystal Empire, you took the most sensible course of action at the time. That said, I do very much appreciate your apology, Fluttershy. Thank you. I am glad we can be friends.” The yellow pony smiled. “I’m glad too. It’s so much nicer having friend than enemies, isn’t it?” “It very much is. You should tell that to Rainbow Dash, though,” Sombra added with a faint laugh. “I’m sorry about her, too, she’s just so-” “Fluttershy, I am kidding,” Sombra found himself interrupting her yet again, “No one can force another pony to be friends with somepony else. If Rainbow Dash does not wish to be my friend, well… I can hardly blame her. Perhaps she will come around eventually, perhaps not. Sometimes two ponies just are not meant to be friends.” “I suppose,” Fluttershy said, turning up her coffee cup as she drank the last couple drops, before setting it down with an alarmed look on her face. “Oh! I’ve been here too long! I need to get home or Angel will start to worry. He’s much more attached to me than he’d like to admit,” Fluttershy giggled. “It was nice to talk to you, Sombra, even if it was only for a little bit. I’ll see you around!” “Goodbye, Fluttershy,” Sombra nodded as she turned to leave, “It was nice to speak with you as well.” Sombra turned back to his own food as Fluttershy left the building. Drawing the doughnut out of the bag, he smiled, and bit into it. --- “Hey Sombra, how’s it going?” Snowflake greeted him loudly as he entered the orphanage. “I’m doing fine, thanks,” the dark pony replied, “How are you?” “My day’s been pretty good so far. Foals are at school, but they should be back…” Snowflake glanced at the clock, “momentarily. Brighter’s got a bit of paperwork to do since Sunrise and Dusky were adopted last night, I’ve just been cleaning. You wanna lend a hoof with that magic of yours?” Snowflake grinned. “I’m afraid I’m not quite that advanced yet,” Sombra said with a shake of his head, “But I’ll help you out just the same.” “Thanks!” Snowflake smiled and, in a repeat event, tossed a broom over at Sombra. This time, however, the unicorn was ready, and caught it deftly in his magical grasp. “I am getting better, though,” Sombra replied with a cocky, lopsided grin, and took the broom to the floor, beginning to carefully sweep up the dust. “So how have things been with you and Brighter, if you don’t mind my asking?” “Pretty well if I may say so myself,” the hulk of a pegasus replied, picking up the wastebasket next to Brighter’s desk, examining it quickly for anything that may be important, and upturning it into the large trash can he was rolling behind him. “I mean, we haven’t had the most time for dates, but we get some in here and there. And I mean, even though we don’t really get dates that much, we’re here together most of the time anyways.” “That’s nice,” Sombra said, “I’m glad you can find some time to be together even with all the work you two have here.” “Really, it’s not so bad anyways. Like I said, we’re here together almost all of the time, even if we’re not alone.” “You’re right, I guess I’m just a bit spoiled with how often I’ve been able to go out with Redheart,” Sombra sighed, “Brighter has been so understanding with our shifts so we can have time together. It isn’t really fair to you two, you have your needs as a couple as well…” “Hey, if you and Redheart want to arrange some time where you two can run the place while Brighter and I get a few nights off, I’d be more than grateful,” Snowflake suggested with a chuckle, “It’d be convincing Brighter that’d be the hard part.” “She’s grown so attached to Tag-a-long so quickly, hasn’t she?” As if on cue, Brighter stumbled into the room through the front doors, being dragged by the hoof by the filly in question. A small stampede of children followed them. “Fine fine, we can go get ice cream. You know the rules though, we have to bring everyone!” Brighter threw her head back, pointedly making the statement to the rest of the foals. “I know, mom!” “Well I didn’t mean it quite so literally,” Sombra commented. “Oh, hello Sombra,” Brighter greeted him through a giggle, using a brief flash of magic to straighten her mane, “How are you today?” “I am doing well, thank you for asking,” Sombra replied with a smile and a bow of his head, “I’d ask you the same, but I think the answer is apparent.” “Did you just make a pun?” Snowflake asked in disbelief. “Contrary to popular belief, magic isn’t the only thing I’m learning here in Ponyville,” Sombra slung his head around to look at Snowflake, a sly grin on his face, “My occasional visits to Sugarcube Corner have helped somewhat with understanding modern humor and culture. Pinkie Pie has been particularly… well, helpful might not be the right word, but let’s go with… informative.” Snowflake shook his head and chuckled. “You ever get those eyes of yours back to normal and there wouldn’t be a pony in town who could tell you aren’t from here.” “Run along now, dear, go get the other children,” Brighter’s voice made itself known at the lull in Sombra and Snowflake’s conversation. An understated, happy smile rested on her lips as she watched the little filly run into the other room, and she sighed gently before looking to Sombra. “Did Snowflake mention to you that thing, the conference I need to go to in Canterlot?” “Hmm?” Sombra’s voice reverberated in his grunt of acknowledgement, “No, I’ve only been here but a few minutes, he hasn’t really had much opportunity to talk about something like that. You’re taking a trip to Canterlot?” “Oh, yeah,” Snowflake answered this time, “Sombra, you think you could spend the night? There’s an annual conference with the Princesses to discuss funding for the homes throughout Equestria, and Brighter’s got to head out tonight so she can get there on time in the morning. I know I could use the help tomorrow.” “Would it… perhaps be improper for me to invite Redheart when she gets off her shift at the hospital?” “I was thinking we could make it a sort of guys-night thing.” “I…” Sombra thought for a moment. He certainly wanted to help Snowflake out, the stallion was Sombra’s best friend. At the same time, though… I’m sure one night won’t hurt. “If you will allow me to go to the hospital briefly to tell Redheart where I will be, then yes, certainly.” “Oh, yeah, of course,” Snowflake said, surprised that he hadn’t thought of that himself, “Yeah, just come on back as soon as you can.” “Thank you. I will return shortly.” The evening had passed uneventfully – while Sombra had not been able to inform Redheart of his location in pony, he had left a message with Nurse Lightheart, who had been at the reception desk at the time. When he had returned to the orphanage, he had continued to help Snowflake clean around the place, and had assisted Brighter with some of her preparations for leaving. When it had come time for her to go, Sombra stayed behind with the foals to let Snowflake see her off at the station. Snowflake had suggested, seeing as Sombra had listened to the soundtrack of that old movie so many times that it was, perhaps, time to watch the film properly. While the animation of the film had been, quite frankly, atrocious, the soundtrack made up for it, and it was good fun to watch, and honestly, Snowflake enjoyed it immensely, which was more than enough for Sombra. Snowflake had slightly reluctantly agreed to Sombra’s request to share a bed. While the giant Pegasus didn’t quite match the comfort of his younger sister, Sombra was rather pleased by the huge pony’s warmth, and gently, the two fell asleep.