//------------------------------//
// Chapter Four: The Hero Inside 
// Story: Pure Shadow 
// by Crystal Night 
//------------------------------//

After falling asleep, Sombra woke up, but this time not in Twilight's bedroom. But in the middle of a snowy blizzard. 
He looked around to see anything that could help him, unfortunately the blizzard was too dense.
"Maybe I'm dreaming?"- he wondered.

Suddenly, from the ground small crystals appeared, almost giving him a direction. Sombra followed them, curiously.
The crystals are white instead of dark.
He could imagine he was close to the Crystal Empire, that's the only place he knew that had snow, besides the mountains, of course.
The journey lasted for a few meters, until the crystals finally stopped.

Without even noticing the blizzard was now more weaker. 
Sombra looked down, gazing what appear to be a path, but made out of crystal. 
Following the path, he saw small flowers, also crystal.
"Why it seems so familiar?"- he thought.

Soon his question was answered when he found a crystal grave.
He lowered his ears by the sudden realization. Sombra sat his flank on cold snow.
The purple mist coming from his eyes decreased. The glow on his red eyes faded.
Again, Sombra felt sadness and loneliness. Just like the past, when she left.
He lowered his head while tears fell, landing on white snow.
"I'm sorry Cynthia..."- he paused while cleaning the tears. "I did so many bad things..."- Sombra stated.

Sombra didn't heard the hoofsteps approaching from behind.
"If you were here, could you forgive me for my actions?" Sombra lifted his head to gaze at the crystal grave. "I miss you so much."

A blue wing landed on Sombra's shoulder, wrapping him. He didn't tried to turn his head, he knew.
"She was the only good thing I had, in the next day she was gone." Luna didn't spoke.

"What do you do when you lose everything?"- he asked with his eyes filled of sorrow.
Luna understood him. After she returned to Equestria, things didn't ended well.
"Start all over again!"- she stated, pulling him closer. Sombra's ears lifted. "You did the right choice, you decided to banish your evil and start all over again."- she paused to breath. "After all, everypony deserves a second chance, don't you agree?" Luna smiled at Sombra.

Feeling better, Sombra smiled back.
"You're right!"

Returning to the real world, Sombra woke up, still hugging Twilight close to him.
The curtains were blocking the sun light. The stallion lifted his head, trying to see Spike, but he remembered he did a sleep over at Sweet Apple Acres. His stomach growled for food.
Sombra hoped the sudden noise didn't wake her.
Getting out of the bed, he trotted towards the door, before looking back at Twilight.
"She looks really pretty."- he thought for a brief second. "What did I just said?"

Entering the kitchen, he opened the fridge and with his magic he grabbed some food.
"Well since Spike isn't here to make breakfast, I could try."
It took a few minutes preparing everything, by then Twilight was already awake.
During the breakfast they talked about books, spells and other stuff.

After that Sombra was lying on the couch reading a Daring Do book. He admitted it was quite the fun reading that.
Twilight passed by him, she levitated her scarf, placing around her neck.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Where are you going?" 
Twilight glanced back at Sombra with a smile.
"I'm going to the Castle of the Two Sisters."

"Hmm, in that case I'm going too, I want to see that castle."- getting up from the couch, he reached his red cape.
Twilight was going to open her mouth, but Sombra interrupted her.
"I have made a decision."- he stated while he used his magic on the door.

In the middle of the Everfree Forest, they had a nice conversation, this time about the castle.
Even the forest was covered in white.
"After Nightmare Moon was defeated, Princess Celestia decided to make a new castle? Why?"

"Well, you see after their battle, the castle was in a bad shape."- she paused. "Building a new one was the only option."
They reach what appeared to be a bridge. Sombra and Twilight trotted carefully, trying not to step on the holes.
"And this was the place you found the Elements of Harmony?"- the stallion continued following Twilight.
She nodded after crossing the bridge. Sombra got beside her, with a sad look on his face.
"Before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna defeated me, I warned Luna. By now, you must know I can make you dream with your worst nightmare with a simple spell?"

Twilight nodded, that wasn't a moment se wanted to remember. The fear to almost fail her mission as Celestia's student.
She did had a few nightmares, but that one was the worst she ever had.
They come to a stop when reached the old castle doors.
"Celestia's worst nightmare was Luna. She was afraid that Luna would become something...else."- he straightened his red cape. "I even told Luna that she couldn't change her fate."

They entered the castle, obviously the inside was full of snow because of the holes on the ceiling.
Stone pillars were scattered everywhere. Some of the banners were in a really bad state.
Sombra could see why Celestia moved, the castle was barely stable. At any moment the castle could fall apart.
"Why are we even here?"- he asked while following Twilight through the castle hallways.

Twilight smiled.
"To get some books."- she told him. "Many even more, if I know myself."
Sombra giggled at her statement. He found she was, what they called was a "egghead", according to Rainbow Dash.

Minutes later, the two of them were at the library, going through some interesting books. They even lost track of time.
It was almost night time. Sombra glanced at Twilight. She was gathering some books.
"We should go now, it's getting late."- changing his gaze at the books on his back. "I believe we have plenty to read later."

"Sure, just wait a second."
Without they even noticing, the roof was starting to crumble because of the weight of the snow.
A few small stones fell from the ceiling, landing on Twilight's head. Twilight looked up.
Sombra could hear crackling noises coming from above. All of the sudden, the roof finally gave up.
Huge boulders of stones were now falling, going straight at Twilight.
She wanted to dodge to incoming boulders, but her body froze from the sudden fear. Instead, she curled into a ball, with her eyes closed.
Sombra glanced at Twilight.
"Not this time!"- he thought with determination. Sombra ran towards Twilight with his horn glowing.

Twilight waited for the worst, when she heard the stones falling she flinched. After a brief time, she opened her eyes.
"What happen?"- she thought, until she looked up to see Sombra standing on top of her.
He smiled with some difficulty.
"A-Are you alright?" Twilight nodded, shifting her gaze to his horn. She looked around, its seems like Sombra was using some kind of crystal shield.
"Good, now wait a second!" Closing his eyes, he focused his magic on the horn, that was glowing more than before. "Aaaaah!" With that, he throwed the boulders, part of them was destroyed, while the others landed far away from them.

Twilight stood up on her four hooves.
"Are you alright Sombra?"- she questioned. Sombra was breathing heavily.
He kept smiling, taking some long breaths.
"It's been awhile I don't use my magic like this."- he paused. "Now can we go back home?"

"It's better."- Twilight said with an embarrassed tone.

"It wasn't your fault."- he assured her. Twilight was going to speak, but Sombra placed a hoof her mouth with a gentle smile. She blushed.
But then she thought.
"Wait, did he just said "home""?

The journey back was easy, without any sort of trouble.
They placed the books on the table. Sombra yawned, he was really tired.
He went towards the couch, until he felt a hoof on his shoulder.
"Or you could sleep with me?"- she said with a smile while blushing.

The dark stallion smiled with a tiny blush on his face.
"I suppose I can."

Moments later, they rested on Twilight's bed. But this time Twilight was facing Sombra, still with her blush.
"Thanks again, I guess."
He giggled.
"For you, anything."
She was starting to get really tired, she buried her face into Sombra's chest making sure her horn didn't hurt him.
Sombra pulled Twilight closer to him. He kissed her horn gently.
"Good night my Princess."- whispering into her ear.

"Good night Sombra..."- she fell asleep without completing her phrase.
For sure tonight they would have a good night of sleep. Into each others hooves.