//------------------------------//
// Chapter 44 
// Story: A New Beginning in a New Land 
// by REDACTED99999 
//------------------------------//

Jax was less than happy when he got home, and very tired. But there was still a shower that needed to be had, and… something. He felt like he was forgetting something. Something important…
Ah well. He shrugged and started taking off his clothes. A shower would do him good.
‘This place is even less impressive on the inside.’ Sombra informed him.
‘Your mom is less impressive on the inside. Must be why you turned out so rotten.’ Jax was really too tired to think of a good comeback. He hadn’t used ‘your mom’ comebacks in a while, so why not?
To his surprise, Sombra actually laughed at that. ‘My mother was unimpressive inside and outside, just like my father. No, the reason I am so magnificent can be found in my determination to succeed.’ Was it just him, or did Sombra sound different than before? Less like a raging lunatic, and more like a self-assured psychopath. Whatever, he was just nuts all over. 
Would Luna be offended that he used the word ‘lunatic’ like that? Was it even a word here?
‘You look absolutely ridiculous.’ Sombra commented as he went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. ‘I cannot believe that I did not think of this stupid body before I tried to take you over. I should have stayed with the red stallion. Big and strong.’
Jax grid his teeth and ignored the idiot in his mind. How long would he be able to stay sane with a second party giving him comments through thoughts that could be his own if he didn’t know that he would never think ‘you look absolutely ridiculous’ when looking at himself. It was a bit frightening actually. His thoughts and Sombra’s comments were only distinguishable by context. He would have to keep on his toes the day Sombra stopped sprouting bullshit.
After his shower, Jax felt better. A bit more relaxed and awake, ready to deal with everything. He noticed that Luna had sent some letters via dragonfire, and went over to see what it was about. There was one that wasn’t in an envelope, the rest were and had names like ‘Pinkie Pie’ and ‘Beating Heart’ on them. It was easy to see where this was going.


Dear Jax

To be honest, it still feels a little unreal that we are together. It still makes me giddy to think about. I would like to meet with you again soon, but alas, I am still a princess, and I still have duties. I will try to set some time aside as soon as I can.
Your presence makes everything easier… I think you already know that, but it feels nice to write it. I look forward to seeing you as soon as possible.
I have sent you letters that I would appreciate got into the correct hooves. I promise I will use the postal system after this time, but I have been gone for a while and they have waited enough. I promise to make it up to you when we see each other again.
Until then, I hope you have a nice, relaxing time.

With love
Luna.


Jax had a warm smile on as he read the letter. He could get used to this. It felt nice to be loved. He could hear Sombra scoff inside of him, but even that didn’t bring him down. Jax only hoped he proved more adapt at being somebody’s mate than he was at avoiding trouble.
‘Is that… dragonfire? And is Luna not one of those stupid meddling princesses?’
Jax suddenly remembered what it was he should do. He should tell the princesses about Sombra. He had already told Applejack, so it wasn’t like he could keep it secret, and they would want to know.
Wait a minute… ‘Earlier, before I showered you commented on my appearance when I looked in the mirror… can you… can you see through my eyes?’
‘Catching on, are we? No, it was not pleasant for me to watch you wash yourself.’
‘Oh… my… God.’ A stupid piece of shadow could see everything that he saw. God, this was like being with Luna all over again, except Luna was the sweetest, kindest, most beautiful creature in the world, while Sombra was a piece of shit that he didn’t want near him, let alone inside of him. God this was so wrong. How did he keep his panic in check till now?!
Jax reached for a quill before he started to hyperventilate, but then just stared at the parchment while his breath became more and more superficial.
‘Finally! Fear me mortal, for I am King Sombra, shadow of the north!’ Sombra got that edge to his voice that he had when he first tried to take over.
“God damnit Sombrero! I’m trying to write a letter here!” He let his frustration get the better of him and shouted out loud.
Something someone would probably define as an ‘evil’ laughter rang through his head. To Jax it just sounded stupid. ‘Yes, yes! Let your rage take over!’
Jax almost choked on the familiar sentence. ‘What are you, a sith?’ He forced himself calm. If Sombra wanted him to embrace his inner sith, he would do the exact fucking opposite. What would Yoda do? Keep calm, you must. Keep rage at bay, you will.
‘Noo! Stop fighting it and let your emotions run loose!’
Good, it was working. He ignored Sombra as he kept raging inside of him. He would have to write a detailed report to Luna of what had happened.
…
…
Nothing. How did Twilight do this? He was fairly certain she kept Celestia up to date.


Dear Luna.


Wait… Was that a good way to start a letter? No wait, that’s how she started her letter, so it should be fine.


Dear Luna.

I write to you with great urgency.


Wait… should he acknowledge her letter first? Probably…
***
Okay! He had finally finished the letter.


Dear Luna.

It brought me great joy to receive your letter, and don’t worry, I will make sure ponies get their mail, but I’m afraid I have bad news.

You remember why Rainbow Dash ended up in the hospital? Well, Sombra was impressed by my little trick of connecting two places together, so he tried to possess me. Yes, tried.
Although he wasn’t successful, because he used a spell to do it, he is still trapped inside of me, because chaos magic. Yes, I have a psycho inside of me, watching my every move and talking in my thoughts. To be honest, it freaks me out quite a lot.
On the bright side, you have a good reason to come visit now.

I hope to see you soon
Jax


It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do. He didn’t feel like writing the whole thing again because he changed his mind on the last sentence.
He folded it and sent it before he could change his mind and rewrite it. Letters were so different to write than the messages he was used to.
Sombra was still raging on, now about being ignored, so Jax continued to do just that.
Of course it wasn’t that easy. When words were spoken, they could be tuned out by the brain. When words were spoken inside the brain, they were called thoughts and were harder to tune out, since normally there was only one’s own thought in there. Normally.
Is this how people with multiple personality disorder felt? Or was that something else? He missed the internet…
With a sigh, Jax decided that there was nothing to do but to sleep. He didn’t know when Luna would answer after all. If she was as busy as she seemed, it might be a while.
Wait… where was Mr. Bear?
***
Jax was woken by something entering his bed. It had not been easy to fall asleep, and he felt like he hadn’t been asleep for very long, so in his sleep deprived state he didn’t realize that he should be home alone.
Not that it mattered, since the creature in his bed was very welcome there.
He recognized the blue fur when she started nuzzling his cheek.
“Luna!” He burst out with the biggest smile, suddenly wide awake. She gave him a smile that turned into surprise when he attached himself to her neck, forcing her to lay down with him.
‘By the crystal city, what is going on?’
“It is good to see you again, my dear Jax.” Luna said with mirth in her voice, as Jax nuzzled her like she hadn’t seen her for God knows how long. It felt so good he couldn’t stop smiling.
Jax was alerted to a third presence in the room when she spoke up. “I agree. It has been a while.” Celestia’s voice was warm and friendly, as was her smile. It fell a little when she continues. “Do you know why we’re here?”
‘Great. How did you attract both princesses?’
“Well I was hoping it was a social visit. It has been a while since I’ve seen you, Celestia, and I always love seeing Luna.” He smiled at Celestia, and her warm smile returned in full force.
‘ugh… how can you be so cheerful? It is making me sick.’
“If that is what you wanted, you should have written to me. We did agree to have a full day to get to know each other, back when you were still in the hospital because of Twilight. I’m twice as interested now that you seduced my sister.” She winked at him, seemingly taking joy in Luna’s blushing face. “But that will have to wait. I am here because Luna wanted to come when she received your letter, and I didn’t want her to fall into some devious trap set by Sombra.”
‘Any trap I would set, they would not see coming...’
Jax looked out of the window. It looked like it was sunrise.
“Sister, it is clear that this is not Sombra. Remember when we fought him, back then? A maniac whose only talent was dark magic and to scream about his right to the throne. He was not an actor that could copy Jax’ smile so perfectly.” She ended by looking at him lovingly, and he felt himself blushing. This girl…
‘I have more talent than you ever will! I am King Sombra, rightful ruler of the Crystal Throne!’
‘Are you going to comment on everything they say?! You just proved her point, now shut the fuck up, Sombrero!’ Jax finally snapped at him.
“I would rather not underestimate him, Luna. He did somehow kill Princess Amore. Anypony who can kill an alicorn, is worth the caution.”
‘That was easy. She practically doomed herself.’
Apparently it was Jax’ turn to be ignored. He sighed. “So what do you suggest, Celestia?” Suddenly the lack of sleep caught up to him and he felt so very tired.
‘Probably something imprudent.’
“Well there are several options. Luna, what do you think? You have more… experience, after all.” Celestia looked very uncomfortable at bringing that up, not that Jax could blame her. Luna looked pretty uncomfortable herself, before taking a deep breath and descending into thought. Then she looked at Jax.
“You say he used a spell?” Jax nodded. “When I was falling under the influence of the Limelight, it never used a spell. It is something about where it resides when it tries to take over your body. Between the body and the soul, as far as I remember.”
‘How does she know that?! The Limelight…?’ Jax’ eyes widened at Sombra’s confirmation. What did that even mean? There was nothing between the soul and the body, was there?
“So just because he has not been able to take over, does not mean that he will not become able to do it the same way the Limelight did. By filling my head with dark thoughts, letting negative magic easily take root in my body. Once enough negative magic had gathered, my thoughts turned… even worse. By then, I practically gave over my body to it, for the promise of power…” A melancholic look overtook her features. Jax’ heart ached at seeing her like that, so he rested a hand on her muzzle. She closed her eyes, so he started stroking her.
‘That sounds like how the parasite should have operated…’ What?
Celestia spoke up again. “So we have to make sure the same does not happen with Jax. I believe I have a temporary solution, until we find out more.”