Gathering Shadows: Part 3
It was nightfall of Somber’s fifteenth day of journey from Silent Woods, where he had buried yet another one of his friends. During his slow walk toward the Everfree City, he at least managed to convince himself that this recent death was not entirely his fault. Furthermore, with the use of Occlumency with which he was becoming more and more proficient, he managed to focus his anger and anguish into a single purpose of finding out who was Bone’s superior. His mind was busy thinking and analyzing theories.
For now he was certain of one thing, whoever pulled Bone’s strings had to be one of the higher ups in the Night Guard. But there was a major problem with this theory, he had no real proof that he was right. He would have to listen to the castle gossip in hopes of piecing together anything useful, if he had luck and somepony talked a bit too much that is...
However a steady clop of hooves and the sound of hammers and other tools striking stone brought him out of his thoughts. Before him, Somber could see workers paving the road with cobblestone. It was a sign that he was within a days walk from the capital.
As he passed by them, some of the ponies greeted him cheerfully while others just nodded politely.
When the workers were out of sight a Night Guard pegasus landed silently beside the Solar Knight. Somber looked at his guest and while he tried to not be obvious or impolite, he tensed a bit and began searching the other pony’s form for weapons.
“Do you need help with something or is it a message from Princess Luna?” Somber asked voicing his guesses.
“Just a message. When you reach the castle immediately report to her. The Princesses were made aware of what happened and it was decided that it would be for the best to keep the existence of a fanatic group within our ranks a secret, shared only between the Royal Sisters and you two who went to Silent Woods.” The tone of voice of the bat looking pony was professional and almost devoid of emotions. The unnamed guard gave a slight bow before he took flight again.
For a while longer stood in place mulling over the message. It made sense that Luna would like to keep this under wraps. She was distrusted by many ponies as it was… His eyes widened by a fraction.
“That’s it! Princess Luna!” The dark gray unicorn whispered to himself with excitement audible in those words. She would be able to help him solve this! The dark alicorn made it clear to him during their first real encounter that she was interested with him. Somber started to walk again with a thoughtful frown that slowly morphed into a determined look.
The light of the day was beginning to fade when he saw the city in the distance. Somber could feel the weariness starting to set in. It should go without saying that during his slow walk back to the Everfree not all of the nights brought with them peaceful dreams. He was tired and although he could see the city, he opted to go into the inn that he saw not that far down the road from where he was.
As the dark gray unicorn clad in golden armor approached the inn, he could see the wooden sign hanging over the entrance.
“The Prancing Pony… How original…” Somber snorted with amusement before he entered. Inside he was surprised to find that beside him, there was only the waiter, the bartender and three other ponies.
The room was like insides of any other inn he had seen, maybe a bit newer, cleaner. The furniture didn’t have that well worn look to it. He observed all of this while he was walking towards the bartender.
As it turned out, the room he rented was a bit on the pricy side, but that was to be expected so close to the city. Finally when he entered the room on the upper floor and closed the door, Somber began to undress using his emerald magic. He threw his armor at the foot of the comfortably looking bed, and hung his white cape trimmed with gold on the back of a chair that was placed near a small desk.
The room had one window overlooking the surrounding fields. He had to admit that the fields basked in moonlight under the starry, cloudless night sky made up a peaceful image.
Using his magic to summon a Mage Light, Somber made himself comfortable on the bed before with the grasp of his magic he took out one of the books he took from the Starfall tomb. It had ash gray, leather cover. It had almost no markings on the cover, the only thing that made it recognizable was a stylized roman one inked in black or at least that’s what it was to him.
He had to admit to himself, that even after spending three nights on different occasions reading the book, he still felt quite queasy about it. By some small chance, Somber found this book with no title that had something like an introduction to some of the fields of Dark Magic. This one apparently focused mostly on hatred fueled elemental magic, but it did touch on other fields like necromancy, or summoning creatures from Tartarus…
What made Somber even more sick about his new chosen reading material was that for some unfathomable reason… he was good at it. The few basic fire spells he had tried, he mastered during one night. A shudder went down his spine when he remembered Luna’s words about his inner darkness.
He had a sinking feeling that she would notice that he began using Dark Magic, even if it was in truly minuscule amounts. But in the light of the latest events, maybe it was a good thing… Maybe that would make it easier for him to get close the the shunned Princess.
With a sigh, Somber opened the book on the page he had market by folding one of its corners and began to read.
**********
When the light of the rising sun hit his eyes, Somber rolled over on his other side. After about another quarter of an hour the dark gray unicorn finally, with a sigh decided to get up. With his mane messed up more than it normally was he slowly made his way towards the large bowl filled with water that he noticed yesterday standing on a low table in the far corner, but had no use of it then. Looking around he found a wooden cup standing close. With his magic he dunked it into the bowl and drank the cold, clear water. After that he just splashed his muzzle with the cold water which woke him up a bit more. Quickly he grabbed a piece of linen lying on the low table that he used as a towel.
When he finished taming his mane a bit, and after cleaning as much of himself as he could with the water and the piece of linen cloth provided, Somber stood for a bit looking into the reflective surface of the small amounts of water that were left in the bowl.
Sometimes he had a hard time remembering his human face. But he supposed, that what with him actually living and being happy as the pony he was now for almost a year that was to be expected. He had dreams about Hogwarts and his friends now and then of course, as he had dreams about Dursleys and he knew that he would eventually have to return, but he accepted that maybe it was not such a bad thing to live here as long as he could. Yes, it was a selfish thought Somber mused, but in his opinion he deserved some selfishness after all he lived through in his home world.
Sadly it would seem, he could not live without trouble finding him and those close to him… Somber’s reflection smiled bitterly on the water’s surface.
With a shake of his head he began to gather his belongings and suit up in his armor using his emerald magic. He decided to get a light breakfast before he headed out.
It was late in the afternoon when Somber crossed the gate’s to the inner city. He knew he was ordered to report directly to Princess Luna after he arrived, but for now he decided to head to his and Wind’s home. He couldn’t show up in the castle carrying books about Dark Magic after all.
The first thing he noticed after entering their two story high house, was that Wind Dancer was napping on the small cloud she managed to fit into the living room. The fire was burning gently in the fireplace. He tried to tiptoe to the stairs leading to the upper floor, where the two bedrooms and a small library-study type room were located. For now only the master bedroom was used, but Somber knew that Wind Dancer wanted to put the second smaller one to good use sooner rather than later.
He had made it a few steps up when one of the stairs decided to betray him as it squeaked loudly. Somber cringed and sighed, he always forgot to take care of this step.
Wind Dancer stirred, yawned and slowly opened her eyes only to see a sheepishly smiling Somber at the stairs.
“Sorry for waking you up, you had a busy day?” The dark gray unicorn decided to go and great his mare properly now that he had woken her. Somber nuzzled her affectionately feeling the weird texture of the cloud against his forelegs, it always reminded him of soaked cotton.
“You could say that. More important I think is how are you feeling, the rumors travel fast among the guards you know? I’m sorry for Lightning.” The cream colored pegasus said silently and with worry evident in her voice. She nuzzled closer to him.
Somber didn't really know what to say to that. How did he feel? Definitely not fine but…
“It was a shock when she died, but I’m managing.” While he said those words equally silently, he was praying that she believed him and didn’t ask more questions about it and simultaneously begged for forgiveness for saying half-truths.
“Come on, get out of this armor you need to relax... and I did miss you.” Wind Dancer said while she pushed herself up on the cloud to kiss him passionately. To her disappointment he was not as eager as she was. “So there is something eating away at you…”
“It’s just that I still have to report to the Princess. Sorry... I’ll be back later.” Somber said with a dejected look on his muzzle, but he did lean forward for a quick kiss before he went upstairs. In his haste he didn’t see the worried look with which Wind Dancer was following him.
In his private study, as Wind didn’t really need one, he took off his traveling bags and began to move the books he took from the tomb to a small chest which also had expansions charms on it. After a few minutes he finished and secured the chest with his magic, something he didn't do until now… Only he would be able to open it or somepony stronger magically.
A minute or two later Somber was walking down the stone paved street towards the castle. Ponies he went past by looked at him and greeted the Solar Knight with a nod, some younger ones even waved at him. At the bridge the guards saluted him and let him pass without a word.
Now inside the castle and after thinking quickly, Somber took the corridors and stairs that led to the southern tower’s top floors. It was still quite early for Luna to get out from her room, as the sun was only just beginning to set.
On the second most top floor he stopped before a grand mahogany double doors inlaid with silver veins, guarded by two Night Guards.
“Princess Luna requested my presence.” Somber stood as straight as the other two guards that judged him with their gaze. After a few seconds of that staring match the one on the right finally nodded and quietly entered Princess’s room. When the doors opened again the Night Guard waved at Somber to get inside.
The dark gray unicorn have never been inside Luna’s private study however, he was not surprised to find out that the round room was decorated in dark blues, black and silver colors mostly. As with Celestia’s study he had seen during their tea time, Luna’s had ceiling high bookshelves full of old tomes, rolls of parchment and other knick-knacks. Heavy black curtains hanged where he guessed the windows were, blocking any sunlight from entering. What surprised him was that the room was basked in a cold, silvery glow emanating from vines of silver that were snaking on the walls.
“It’s solidified moonlight not silver, if you're curious.” Luna’s voice brought Somber out of his musing and staring and made him look at the spiral staircase on the other side of the room, at the base of which stood the dark alicorn.
She was wearing nothing, not even her ceremonial black and silver torque and horseshoes. In the cold, silvery glow of moonlight she was looking almost ethereal. Somber bowed.
“We requested your presence to report with details what happened in Silent Wood’s.” Her commanding voice sounded across the room before she started to move closer to him.
“Yes, Princess.” And so he began to retail everything that has happened to their team during their mission, the one thing he omitted were the books he took from the tomb. When Somber finished speaking the room was quiet for a few minutes as the dark alicorn gazed at him in thought, a calculating look was plainly seen in Luna’s cyan eyes.
“While the false Truth Stone is an interesting find… Was there nothing else in the tomb?” She asked turning to her right and walking towards the fireplace, where some birch wood was laying which she ignited with her magic causing a blue-black flame to come to life. When she turned a bit to let him see her body in the dancing bright blue light, she looked at him with a small knowing smile. “The dark magic in you got stronger Sir Somber. You can’t hide things that fall under our dominion from us easily. Come closer.”
He had been expecting this, so he walked up closer to Luna and decided to stand in front of her, their bodies casting long flickering shadows on the floor as both stood in front of the fireplace.
“You do realize that, if somepony catches you studying or worse, using Dark Magic there will be no mercy for you? They would even be inclined to kill you, as a Solar Knight using Dark Magic is the worst sacrilege in the eyes of many.” The dark alicorn said with with a tone of voice that was a strange mix of worry and cold smugness. “Such a thing have never happened before.”
“I do know that.” Somber answered looking straight into Luna’s eyes.
“Then why did you do it?” The question was asked silently but still with that cold edge, as the Princess took a step closer to him and leaned forward.
For a brief moment Somber was rendered speechless and he turned his head to look at the unnatural blue-black flames. That was the question, wasn't it? He used untamed Dark Magic to kill Bones and that should have been it. But he began to study and practice the forbidden magic. He closed his eyes.
“Because I didn't have a choice…” Vividly he remembered the feeling of cold, controlled hatred coursing through him. Ever since that duel he hadn’t managed to immerse himself so deeply into Dark Magic. “Because it made me feel powerful, in control of the duel… Unbeatable even.” He added with self disgust clear in his silent voice.
“Dark Magic can achieve many things most think of as unnatural. It’s powerful, but destructive if not controlled. If you do not admit to yourself that deep in your heart there is at least a part that revels in Dark Magic you will destroy yourself sooner or later.” Luna said making him look at her with her starry mane. “That is the first lesson you will have to learn, our dear Somber. Accepting that maybe your destiny lies within shadows of Dark Magic not in the bright Light of the Sun.”
Again Somber was silent for a few heartbeats as he thought about what Princess Luna just said. She was offering him her guidance in the field of Dark Magic, he was sure of it… But he could also easily see that she wanted him to serve her not Celestia in return.
“If I were to serve you, I would be a traitor. My oath to your sister was quite clear on that matter.” The wide, predatory smile that showed itself on Luna’s muzzle was a bit disconcerting for Somber.
“You should by now realize that we like to operate from behind the scenes, officially you will not be breaking any oath. All we are asking is that you recognize my orders as of equal importance as those of my beloved sister. At least for now.”
“As long as your orders would not interfere with orders from Princess Celestia, I suppose that I would not be breaking the oath.” The last part that Luna said made Somber feel suspicious however, he did realize that there was only so much he will be able to learn from books. And having the backing of Princess Luna if worst thing came to pass and he was to be discovered, was something he could not afford to lose.
“That is an agreeable term. Well then, do you swear to fulfill our orders as long as they do not contradict those of our sister, for the time being?” Luna asked while she made another step closer to him, which made the dark gray unicorn look slightly upwards.
“I do.” Two simple words that would made his life so much more complicated. So there was no surprise that Somber sighed heavily after he said them.
“Very good. Now… I think we should discuss times when you will sneak into my study for some lessons on Dark Magic. Lets move closer to my desk.” Luna turned around and crossed the room, while Somber gazed at her sensually swaying flank and subtly flicking tail. The stallion was quite certain that the Princess didn't walk in such a way earlier in their meeting...
He had a feeling that this secret lessons would become a very trying time for him indeed. He just hoped that Princess Luna would stop just at teasing him...
On the other side of the room, while Somber could not see her muzzle, Luna smirked victoriously. She had finally laid her hooves on a pony that had potential to be her general and actually be worthy of the title. Oh yes, she had grand plans indeed for him and the whole of Equestria.