"I just hope you're doing the right thing."
Luna and Celestia were sitting in their seats while enjoying tea and a slice of cake.
"As do I."
Three weeks before
"What do you mean by "I don't desire the Crystal Empire anymore" ?"
Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and King Sombra stood inside the throne room, looking at each other.
"You heard me well, I don't want this kingdom."
Luna stared at her sister, the look in her eyes made her worry.
"Sister?" - Luna nudged her, using her left wing. The sudden touch broke Celestia from her deep thoughts.
"I'm sorry, sister, but can we speak in a more private room?" The white alicorn glanced at Sombra, who replied with a nod.
The princesses followed him, close by, their royal guards followed them. There was still cloud of distrust, apparently Sombra had his reasons.
Something that Celestia noticed in his eyes. Sombra was acting different, the tone in his voice was soft and sincere, instead of being harsh.
They entered a small room next to the throne room. Sombra closed the doors.
"Please, take a seat!"
Celestia looked at Sombra, with a deep breath she finally spoke.
"If I know well, you must have a reason for your decision."
The dark stallion nodded.
"I do," - he paused "I don't wish to rule in this world, especially when everything is different." Celestia raised an eyebrow. She wasn't sure why Sombra was acting like this, but there has something else than that.
"Different? What do mean?" - the lunar princess asked.
Sombra sighed, he was getting nowhere with this discussion.
"You are getting weaker?" - Celestia inquired.
"Is that obvious?" - he asked, not very suprised by the question.
Luna, at this point was confused, she glanced between her sister and Sombra.
"I don't understand."
"Do you still remember how Equestria was many moons ago?" - he asked Luna, who was now thinking. "Even before we first met?"
"I..." Luna started talking, but was interrupted when her sister spoke.
"A dark place filled with sadness."
Sombra nodded his head.
"Exactly, I know you don't like dark magic, but I'm sure you know how dark magic works." His eyes kept on Celestia. If there was something they both shared in common was dark magic, they knew how it worked. Luna, in the other hoof was slightly confused, but said nothing.
"Dark magic comes from the fear and hatred, I know about that matter too well and I know what you're saying."
Luna decided to intervene.
"I still don't understand sister."
She glanced at Luna with a sad expression.
"Equestria was a dark place, without hope, even before we fight against Discord or Sombra. You remember right?" Luna nodded. "Now Equestria is a happy place, filled with joy. Do you understand now?"
The lunar princess thought for awhile, until she finally gather the pieces together.
"You're losing dark magic?" - she asked.
"I'm not losing my magic, basically it's getting weaker."
The Solar Monarch had an unsettling question in her mind that needed to be answer.
"Tell me Sombra," Sombra gazed at her, he noticed her expression was different. "What will happen to you if dark magic no longer exists?"
This time, Sombra was caught by surprise. He pondered, this a question he didn't thought. If dark magic was disappearing, did this meant he was going to have the same fate?
"Honestly, I didn't thought about that, but I don't care."
Both princesses stared at each other for a brief second before glancing back to Sombra.
"Why?" - Luna inquired.
"For what I have done." Sombra lowered his head and sighed. "Most apologies, I'm really tired."
Celestia was about to ask something, however Sombra passed out, before he could hit the floor, his body was surrounded by a yellow aura.
Celestia and Luna approached the dark stallion, lying on the floor.
"How is he?"
"He only passed out," Celestia answered "we should take him back to Canterlot. He's very weak."
"Are you sure sister?"
Celestia looked at her sister with a deep expression.
"We can't just leave him here."
Present Day
Sombra stood in his new bedroom, offered by Princess Celestia. It was to kind of her to do that, even he really didn't deserve such treatment.
Sitting in his reading chair, his eyes were focused on the pages, but his mind was still recalling the last events. Never in his life he thought he would see Canterlot, in this case live there, inside the castle.
He kept his days busy by just reading, although Celestia had try to summon him for several times.
Sombra knew well about about the castle staff fears, after all he could sense that fear. It was a very pleasent, regardless of that his magic was still very weak. In order for Sombra not to pass out again or worse, the royal blacksmiths made him a neckless along with Celestia and Luna's magic, that piece would make sure that wouldn't happen again. After a brief explanation as to why that happened.
Two weeks before
Sombra's eyes slowly opened, he felt his head was spinning and his body was weak. He tried to move a hoof, but his movement was stopped when a hoof softly pressed against his chest.
"Careful, you're still very weak." Celestia replied with a her soft voice. Sombra turned his head to see her.
"W-Where am I?"
"In Canterlot, to be more precise, in the castle's infirmary."
With some help from Celestia, he was able to sit straight on the bed. He still felt a little dizzy.
"What happen?"
"In the middle of our conversation, you passed out." The stallion lowered his eyes, glancing at his hooves.
Luna, however didn't understand why that happened.
"Is there a reason for that?"
Still, glancing at his hooves, he spoke.
"I presume you didn't tell your sister?" Although he wasn't looking at the Sun Monarch, he knew she shook her head. "This world is filled with happiness, something that makes me feel so weak, I can't sense evil anymore. That's the reason why I'm weak, I can feel my dark magic fading away from me." When he finished speaking, his eyes stared at Luna.
Luna, in the other hoof, saw in his eyes nothing but honesty, if what he was telling was true, what was going to happen to him?
"I'm afraid I have to ask this, but what will happen if you lose your magic?"
"Since I'm the essence of dark magic, I suppose I disappear. My magic comes from the most darkest desires of somepony's heart," - Sombra glanced at Luna "When we fought, I felt your dark side, which made me stronger, at least for awhile." He returned his gaze to the Princess of the Sun "But if everpony is filled with happiness, it's difficult for me to focus on dark thoughts."
"Fortunately, there's a way to help you." - Celestia replied.
Present Day
A knock on the door disturbed Sombra's thoughts. If he was right, that probably one of Celestia's guards. Once more, he was going to deny another invitation from her, not because he hated it, but he wanted to be alone.
Still, he had to ask, with a deep breath he spoke.
"Yes?"
"Princess Celestia demands your presence to her chamber!"
Sombra raised an eyebrow. "She demands my presence in her chamber?". Usually, she would sent an invitation, but the choose of words meant something was different.
"Did the princess said why?"
"A proposal." Sombra glanced at the door. After a seconds of silence he replied.
"I shall be there."
Princess Celestia's Royal Chamber
"I'm happy you decided to join me."- Celestia started with a soft smile.
"Well, you demanded my presence and since I wasn't doing anything, why not? I need to stretch my legs." Thanks to Celestia, he was starting to enjoying having tea, that warm liquid was quite relaxing. "The guard told me you had a proposal."
The white alicorn nodded her head.
"It's true"- she stopped before taking another sip of tea. "Since you arrived here, you haven't done nothing much other than reading, which I find surprising, even for you." Sombra smiled, if there was something he really liked, was reading.
"I'm a stallion with many secrets dear princess."
"I know, that's why I want you to be my personal advisor."
For a brief second, his magic failed, almost slipping the tea.
"Could you repeat that again?" On the other side of the table, Celestia kept drinking her tea calmly.