Chapter Three: Sombra's Good Deeds
Sombra's Castle
Three weeks later
Sunlight woke King Sombra from his sleep. He yawned, got out of bed and dressed in his cape and armor. He made his way to his throne room, being greeted by his servants along the way. He sat on his throne, for a while with a depressed look on his face. He looks next to him, no other throne besides his. He sighed and began thinking about the Crystal Empire and all he has ever hurt. "I can never have a queen, nor can I go to places without being recognized as an evil king...." then an idea came to him, "Wait, that's it!" He left his throne room and went to a big mirror. He stood there and thought for a moment. His eyes then glowed and his horn powered up. His red horn straightened and turned as grey as his fur; his fangs turned to teeth, and in moments he began to look less terrifying. "Yes! But my voice!" He grunted as if he was clearing his throat, and then spoke in a deep raspy voice. "This could work! Now, all I need is something to wear...." He went to his crystal ball and began searching around until he found Rarity's place full of different costumes, dresses, and jackets. One by one he looked and stopped at a dummy wearing a black leather with red lines on the sleeves, red collar, red cuffs. And around the head was a black headband with black spikes. Sombra grinned and went to a chest full of diamonds and crystals of many colors, but he shook his head and went to another chest. In the other chest was filled with black diamonds, crystal shards, and rubies. He and his servants discovered these treasures while investigating a secret cave they accidentally found. With his magic he took a sack and filled it with the black and red treasure. He looks back in his crystal ball and his eyes glowed again. In the crystal ball he watched as the jacket disappeared, scaring Rarity. Then he transported his sack of treasures right in front of her. Rarity jumped, but she calmed down and opened the sack to find the black diamonds, crystal shards, and rubies.
"Beautiful! I can make an even better black and red jacket! Or maybe even a dress! I don't know who you are, but thank you!"
Sombra smiled and used his magic to put on his new jacket and headband. He looked back in the mirror, "Now no one can recognize me! Now, all I need is a name! Hmmmmm...... Umbra! I'll call myself Umbra!
"Your highness!" a unicorn guard walked in, "You have a visitor!" Princess Luna walked in as King Sombra morphed into his original form.
"Luna?"
"Yes Sombra, it is I."
What beauty.... Sombra thought to himself.
"You were planning on disguising yourself, yes?"
"Yes, because...." Luna beat him to it,
"You fear that no one will forgive you and everyone will still think you're evil..."
"Correct...." he morphed back into his disguise.
"You were planning on doing good things, make new friends, and find a queen." Sombra was surprised to hear this.
"You went into my dreams, didn't you?"
"Yes, and I can't help but take pity on you."
"Pity? You pity me?!" Pity me? No one has ever taken pity on me before.... King Sombra thought.
"Yes, Discord and I know how you feel since we had gone through the same thing. I am also here to say that you don't need to disguise yourself...."
“Why not?”
“If you live a lie you may never know if you have friends or not; real friends will like for who you are, not what you look like.” Sombra thought for a moment,
“I guess that makes sense, but still would they ever forgive me?”
“Perhaps, but it might take some time. If you wish to seek help you may seek Twilight Sparkle. She knows of your return and believes you want to change. You may also seek me out anytime, day or night, with this." she handed Sombra a black circle medallion with a crescent moon and put it around his neck.
"Thank you Luna. I really appreciate it..."
"You're welcome. You may find Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville in the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom. I wish you best of luck...." she kissed Sombra's cheek and flew away. Sombra stood there frozen and turning as red as his horn. Once he recovered he looked into his crystal ball and found the Friendship Rainbow Kingdom. He morphed back into his normal self, turned into a shadow and left his castle. He hid in the shadows and the ponies shadows until he found the castle. He then spotted Fluttershy walking towards the entrance and hid in her shadow. Unaware Sombra was following her, she went into the castle. Once she entered the castle Sombra left her shadow and hid in the dark corners of the kingdom. Thinking someone was following her she looked around, but she saw no one. As a shadow Sombra searched the castle until she found Twilight Sparkle and her friends sitting on their thrones. As Pinkie Pie welcomed Fluttershy her Pinkie Sense started acting up.
"There's someone in here! Someone we can't see!"
"What?! Who is it?!" Twilight Sparkle asked. Suddenly a monstrous shadow appeared right behind her! Rainbow Dash flew in the air,
"Look out!" Twilight Sparkle turned around fast and powered up her horn.
"Wait, Sombra?"
"SOMBRA?!" the shadow started taking shape then Sombra came out of the shadow. He smiled his evil smile,
"Greetings!" Twilight Sparkle powered down and smiled back at him.
"I've been expecting you!"
"You were?!" Rainbow Dash asked in a bewildered tone of voice. Sombra looks around him,
"Not a bad castle. I know I was a jerk to you before, so I suggest we start over. Yes, I am King Sombra." Pinkie Pie bounced around him,
"I'm Pinkie Pie, welcome to the good side!" Sombra then looks up and see's Rainbow Dash,
"I'm Rainbow Dash, the most awesome flyer around!" Rarity walks up to him,
"I'm Rarity, and I have to say your horn matches your cape well."
"Thank you...."
"Howdy stranger! I'm Applejack!" she began shaking Sombra's hoof.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle, welcome to our castle! Hey, where's Fluttershy?" Fluttershy's head popped out from behind her throne. Twilight Sparkle sighed and used her magic to carry her in the air and in front of Sombra. She was shaking in fear as Sombra looked down at her,
"Um.... um.... I'm Fluttershy...." she whispered.
"Appropriate...." Sombra said. Fluttershy screamed, broke free, and started to run only to be stopped by Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
"I thank you for welcoming me in your kingdom, Princess Twilight Sparkle. If you please I wish to reform completely."
"Well, you've come to the right place!" Pinkie Pie said bouncing up and down.
"Shocker!" Rainbow Dash replied. Twilight Sparkle looked up at her angrily,
"Rainbow!"
"What?" "Sorry about that..."
"That's alright, I understand...." he looked down sadly.
"Was it you that sent me those crystals, diamonds, and rubies?" Rarity asked. Sombra looked up her,
"Indeed, in exchange for that jacket." he morphed into his disguise.
"It looks good on you!" Rarity said.
"Thank you, I apologize for being sneaky..." "It's alright! You've done me a favor!"
"That's a start! Instead of stealing you paid!" Pinkie Pie said. "Say, would you like to go shopping with me?" Sombra thought for a moment and remembered what Luna said. He morphed back into his normal self,
"Sure, to be honest I always wondered what you ponies do everyday...."
Ponyville
Pinkie Pie and Sombra started walking through Ponyville. Many ponies shook in fear, ducked down, ran for cover, or just shut their windows and door. Sombra looked discouraged. He then noticed that other ponies were just going about their lives. "You returning and wanting to reform sorta became a Ponyville gossip." Pinkie Pie told him. Then a ball hit Sombra in the hit.
"Hey mister, can you throw that back?" a kid asked. Sombra looked down at the ball, but Pinkie Pie stepped in front and threw it back and continued on their way.
"Here we are!" Pinkie Pie said.
"What is this place?"
"This is the Joke Shop! Rainbow Dash and I get our pranking supplies here!"
"Pranking supplies?"
"Yes! Like whoopee cushions, sneezing powder, disappearing ink, you name it!"
"Is that your idea of fun?"
"Of course! It makes us laugh!" Pinkie Pie headed for the entrance, "You coming?"
"I'll just wait out here...." Sombra answered.
"Okay, but you're missing out!" she jumped in. Sombra stood there for a few minutes when he heard three ponies circling a colt, taunting and teasing him. Sombra started walking towards them until the colt escaped and bumped into him. The sight of Sombra frightened him at first, but when he saw the bullies he hid behind Sombra.
"Awe, how cute! Little baby is trying to hide!" one of the bullies said before they laughed.
"What's the meaning of this?" Sombra demanded.
"They're teasing me because I have no cutie mark!" the colt cried. The bullies just laughed. Sombra looked and saw the bullies had cutie marks.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves! You didn't have cutie marks when you were younger either."
"Who are you to tell us what to do?" one of the bullies said punching Sombra's armored chest.
"Perhaps you need a lesson...." Sombra said before his horn glowed. He lifted the bully in the air,
"Hey! No! Put me down!" the bully yelled before he started moving his front and back legs rapidly.
"If you insist...." Sombra said before he tossed the bully in the fountain. "Not so funny now, huh?" Sombra asked before he smiled his evil smile. The other two bullies rushed over to their friend. The colt walked up to him,
"Thank you, sir...."
"Call me Sombra. Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm alright...." he had tears in his eyes. A female pony ran towards the colt.
"Are you alright?!" she took the colt in her arms. "Yes Mama. Those bullies were teasing me again, and Sombra saved me...." he cried in her arms.
"Sombra? King Sombra?" his mother asked.
"Formerly...."
"Good or evil, I thank you for helping my son!" not having ever been thanked before in pony, he stuttered and stammered.
"Um.... uh.... you're welcome....." They both smiled at him and left. Pinkie Pie bounced around her new friend,
"You did good! You did good!"
"Really?"
"Yeah, you stood up to that bully for that colt! You did good! You did good!" Sombra grinned.
Sweet Apple Acres
"Sweet Apple Acres?"
"Yep! Applejack and her family live here!" she pointed over to Applejack using her hind legs to kick and apple tree. The baskets around the tree filled up. "Hi Applejack!" Pinkie Pie waved at her.
"Howdy!" Applejack waved back. "Yee-haw!" she kicked another tree and filled the baskets. Big Mac started carrying these baskets to the barn when he saw Pinkie Pie and Sombra.
"Howdy!" then he stopped and backed up. "Sombra?!"
"Greetings...." Sombra greeted. Applejack ran up to her brother,
"It's okay! He's on our side!"
"I'm still working on it though...." Sombra added.
"You're doing good!" Pinkie Pie started bouncing up and down again. "I bought you something!" Pinkie Pie handed a box to Applejack who quickly opened it. There was a pie in it. Applejack sniffed it,
"Apple pie! Mmmmm!" while she wasn't looking, Pinkie Pie got out a remote and pressed the red button, setting loose a spring in the box and sending the apple pie in Applejack's face! Pinkie Pie's eyes filled with tears as she laughed and fell on her back. Big Mac couldn't help but laugh, but Sombra just grinned and shook his head. "What are yal laughin' at?" asked Applejack. She licked the apple pie off her face and swallowed it. "Say why don't you give us a hoof helpin' us harvest them apples?" Applejack asked. Sombra looked over at the apple trees and smiled,
"Not a problem...." his horn powered up and in a few seconds all the apple tree's were emptied and the apples were put in different baskets and wagons!
"Land sakes! Thank you!"
"My pleasure...."
Granny Smith woke up and left her rocking chair, "What's all the commotion?" she then noticed all the apple trees emptied and the wagons and basket full. "Golly! You must have been working all day!" Applejack shook her head,
"Sombra did all the work!"
"Sombra?" she looked over to the scary looking unicorn.
"Eyep!" said Big Mac.
"I don't know who you are or where you came from, but thank you for your help!" Sombra smiled his evil smile.
"Anytime...."
"You can't catch me!" Apple Bloom's voice yelled. They all looked over and saw Babs Seeds and Apple Bloom playing tag.
"Don't push your luck!" Babs Seed yelled back. Apple Bloom was looking back instead of in front and bumped into Sombra, hitting her head on the armor! She fell backwards and started rubbing her head. She looked down at Sombra's hooves then up to Sombra's face.
"Ahhhh!!" she hid behind Applejack.
"It's okay lil sister! He's one of the good guys now!"
Babs Seed caught up and stopped in front of the former Evil King. "Howdy stranger! Cool armor!"
"Evening child, and thank you...."
"Would you like to stay for brunch?" Applejack invited.
"Certainly..."
"Follow us!"
They were now sitting at the table with many things imaginable made out of apples. Sombra smelled the air, it was good. King Sombra had a plate with and apple dumpling, a piece of apple pie, a piece of apple crostata, and a cup of apple cider. Sombra used his magic to wrap a napkin around his neck and take a bite of the apple pie. After getting the taste and swallowing he said, "This is terrific!" he then tried the cider, "Not bad!"
"I'm glad you like it. We made them ourselves." Applejack said. During brunch the Apple Family started sharing stuff about themselves: their hobbies, businesses, Babs Seed hometown, their musical instruments, and much more. Apple Bloom spoke up,
"Um.... Sombra...." he looked down at her,
"Yes, young lady?"
"Um.... um.... I'm really sorry for the way I acted when I saw you...." Sombra grinned,
"It's alright child...." Apple Bloom smiled. She started telling him about her and her friends trying to get their cutie marks for some time and how Babs got her Cutie Mark. "You have to earn your Cutie Marks, not work towards them...." Sombra said.
"Yeah, I know. But we want our Cutie Marks so bad...." "
Hey, what's your cutie mark?" Babs asked suddenly. Sombra had a disturbed look on his face, "What's the matter?"
"It's terrible! It resembles me!" He used his magic to remove his cape. They all gasped in horror as they saw his Cutie Mark. Looking at his Cutie Mark was like looking into darkness. He puts his cape back on in disgust.
"I'm sorry, Sombra...." Babs said with tears in her eyes.
"And I'm sorry for scaring all of you.... darkness is what I am...." Sombra began to cry, "It's really difficult to change that...."
"Nonsense!" Pinkie Pie yelled out. "If you were completely darkness you would've stole that jacket instead of paying for it! If you were completely darkness you would be so mean instead of so nice! If you were completely darkness you would've left the colt instead of helping him! If you were completely darkness you would've destroyed those apple trees instead of harvesting all the apples!" Applejack put a hoof over her mouth after that one.
"You talk to much, but I guess you're right. Thank you...." Pinkie Pie broke free,
"Don't mention it!" they finished brunch. Sombra wiped his lips with his napkin and walked out of the house with Pinkie Pie.
"It was a good meal, I appreciate it...."
"Your welcome, partner! Drop by anytime!" the Apple Family waved their hooves goodbye.
"They're a nice family...." Sombra told Pinkie Pie.
"I know!"
"What is brunch?"
"Breakfast and lunch!"
"Interesting...."
"Do you have a family?" Pinkie Pie asked. Sombra looked sad,
"No, I never had a family...."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked that...." she said sadly. Then she got an idea, "I know! Why don't you become part of our family! Our family of friends!"
"Family.... friends.... I think I might like that...." Sombra smiled at the thought.
"I bet you will!" Pinkie Pie started bouncing up and down as they continued on their way.