//------------------------------// // In Blood Do We Declare // Story: A Duo of Fangs // by Bro Dash //------------------------------// There was literally no light. Twilight used a simple illumination spell. And then her mos powerful illumination spell. "Why can't I use magic?" "You can. But any form of light beyond the Twin Lanterns cannot physically exist here. Speaking of...Where is that ghost? It may be because someone new has entered." "Sombra?", Twilight called. She were far away now. "Marco." "Uh...polo?", Twiligth called back. "Come here. I'll wait for you." "O...k...?", Twilight called back. She hurried over to his voice. And Sombra listened. "Stop." She halted just before him. "What now?" "How about not speaking into my ear? You heard that right? Wod floors. This is the foyer. Also known as the First Room." "How many rooms are there?" "Don't know. Been in three so far." "Do you try to map this place out?" "Impossible. No landmarks. The wood is one solid piece. You can only know where you are by the sound of your hoofsteps." "Oh." A long moment of silence passed. "Sombra?" He shushed her. He could feel one of the Dark Masters as they slowly made their way across the wooden floor. For several long moments, they waited. Twiligth opened her mouth more than once to speak, but immediately shut it. Sombra gave her specific instructions. A minute passed. And another. The minutes drew on longer and longer. The buckle on her left saddlebag came undone withotu warning, and her weight shifted as the bag were removed. "Sombra!", she said hushedly. "Open your mouth, then bite down, we ahve to move, and I cannot let you get lost in here. We jsut need to travel deeper together..." He shoved the strap into her mouth,a nd took off, jerkign her along until she took to a gallop as well. And that's all they heard. Galloping hoofsteps across wood. Then it changed to stone. Sombra came to a slow stop. "Why'd you stop?", Twilight asked. "I summon thee, Grim, Angel of Judgment." "I've been waiting for you to say something.", Grim replied in turn. Then chuckled. "Who...is...this?", he uncovered the lantern, shedding ligth on the three of them. Twilight shielded her eyes, if for a second. Sombra did not. Ater she regained ehr sight, Twiligth gasped, and took a few steps back. "Calm, Twilight. Grim. We have two contracts that need to be made. They intertwine." "Oh? A coupled agreement.", Grim hummed. "It can wait. This new disciple you have brought me is a worthy find. You were indeed correct. I am impressed." "Contracts first.", Sombra pressed. Grim turned his gazef rom Twilight, then stood up right. He produced a massive scythe from his robes, and slammed the end into the stone, crackingit, forcing it apart, and hung the lantern in the blade. "W-What are you?", Twilight asked. "In a minute, Twilight.", Sombra answered. "What are these contracts you desire, Sombra?", Grim asked. "Two contracts that I write myself. If you wouldn't mind, Twilight, provide me with two pages from your books." Twilight didn't hesitate, and in but two seconds, supplied him with two papers. "Grim, if you wouldn't mind, I do need a quill." "But I ahve a quill. I have three. I hope you didn't drop that bag." "I didn't. But your quill won't work. These contracts are to be written in blood, and signed equally. No less." Grim supplied along black case from hsi robes, opening it to the stallion. Sombra took one, stabbed his first hoof, deep, then began writing as the blood began to pour. The First Contract Princess Twilight Sparkle:___________________ Dark Master Grim:____________________ King Sombra:_______________________ These three are hereby bound by this contract once the last of the three has signed. This contract voids the previously signed contract that has rendered King Sombra's connection to black magic inert. This contract renders any future contracts with any Dark Master and Twilight Sparkle impossible. Exception: Any Dark Master whom signs this contract. Upon signing this contract, King Sombra reclaims his ability to perform black magic, and gains the title as Dark Apprentice under Dark Master Grimm. Upon signing this contract, Twilight Sparkle gains the title as Disciple of the Abyss under Dark Apprentice King Sombra. Sombra Presented the contract to Grim. Grim took his time reading over the contract. A lot of time. In fact, as the time drew on even longer, Sombra grew more and more worried. "This is a game to you, isn't it?" "If the only way to win is to play...", Sombra answered. "What an answer filled with whit.", he levitated the contract before him. A rush of black magic, and the small light show under his hood later, the contract practically emanated a black glow. Grim pulled his left sleeve up, and cracked open one of hsi bones. As an inkwell for his quill, he dipped it lightly, then signed his name and title. Dark Master Grim, Angel of Judgment. Sombra signed his name and title. King Sombra. As the contract was brought to Twilight, she hesitated, unsure of what to do. Sombra offered her a quill that neither of them had previously used. "Sign." Twilight read it over. Quickly. Then jabbed the sharp tip into her hoof, pulling it free to sign her name and title. Princess Twilight Sparkle. "Sombra, please-" "Silence.", Sombra took the contract. As he presented it to grim, three more Masters fo Darkness began to near the lantern's light. Two, Sombra had never known of. But one of them...One of them he knew. "We will return, you ahve my word!", he grabbed Twilight, castign the spell which tossed them out of the abyss, and it shot them out of the door, sending them tumblign out of the door they had entered. "what jsut happened?", Twilight asked. "I tossed us out of the void before we were torn to pieces!", Sombra said swiftly. He took a few seconds to calm his hastened breathing, looked at the settign sun, and sighed. "Did I do something wrong?", Twiligth asked. "No. Not at all. You did everythign you were told. And that was perfect. And I got my magic back.", Sombra tossed black magic arcs between his hooves. "Perfect." "So, you can teach me blakc amgic, now?" "No. No, you need to make a contract with Grim, first. And one very specific rule, you never, ever, use the word 'my' in any contract. Instead us the word 'this', so that they cannot take from you what you had not intended to lose." "Is that for the contracts for-" "Only one contract. And that contract gives you black magic. You have to give up somethign of equal or greater value. I gave up my kingdom. And made the mistake of using the dman word as well...They took my kingdom, turned it to ashes, then took my body. I am the king, therefore part of the kingdom." Twilight approached Sombra. "What now?" "I'm distressed. Give me a minute. Or maybe an hour. This doesnt go away by me simply calming down, it goes away over time. That was Dark Master Avarice. And his magic is horrid." "I thought that was Grim." "No. Who you saw was Grim. Who was approaching, and had grabbed me, was Avarice. My mind is filled with paranoia, fear, and I can't calm my beating heart." "I can just use a Happy Days spell on you, that should clear it up." "You don't understand, Twilight, it's black magic! You have no ability to evade or slow this, or even change it in any possible way! It's there to stay until it ebbs away!", Sombra took a few rapid breaths. "I'm lucky...I'm lucky he only touched me." Fluttershy took Sombra's side, and it shocked him enough to make him jump, but her gentle touch was familiar enough, he held himself from striking her. "Fluttershy. I forgot you were here..." "Teach em this magic so I can help you...", she whispered in his ear. "Twiligth leave.", Sombra commanded. "Twilight. Leave. I'll bring you back later. Just leave." Twilight nodded. "Alright. I'll...leave you two be. Rarity!", she called to the alabaster unicorn who was well into her fifth pot of tea. "Repeat...after me. Placidus saltus, lenis anima. Luminis." "Placidus Saltus. Lenis Anima. Luminis." Fluttershy felt the the very strength of her body drain completely, and her breath, disappear. A small light accumulated in front of Sombra, and as he gazed upon it, it washed away everything. No more avarice trifling his mind. He snapped his attention to Fluttershy and worked his magic, cycling the air in and out of the deathyl exhausted mare's lungs. It took a moment. But she came to. Not awake, but she were breathing again. Lightly. Sombra laid down beside her, put his forehead to the ground, and covered his head with his hooves.