//------------------------------//
// Chapter Three: Dark Regrets 
// Story: The Light and Dark 
// by Crystal Night 
//------------------------------//

   "Well, I'm here!"  Both Princesses glanced at the dark unicorn.

"We must say, you look rather...fancy." - Luna praised.
The Solar alicorn nodded, this was in fact Sombra, wearing other things, besides his red cape. She continued to glance at him, even his mane was properly arranged, it still kept the flowing aspect but more in a short style. But what really caught her attention was his eyes. They weren't green with purple smoke, instead they were white. 

"Impressed Celestia?" - he asked, knowing the answer.

"Very." 

"For an old tyrant, you sure know how to be properly dressed for the occasion." - Luna said with no amount of regret.
Celestia glanced at her sister with a look of shock.
"Sister!"

"Don't worry Princess," - he said, stepping between them.  "She isn't wrong in her words, but a stallion must always be presentable for this occasions."
Sombra turned around, leaving the two Princesses behind.
"Where are you going?" - Celestia inquired.
He didn't looked at Solar Monarch.
"Somewhere."  After saying that, he left the center hall, unknown to them, he was upset.

Celestia made sure Sombra did really left before speaking to her sister.
"Why did you said that?"

"We still don't trust him, neither should you sister of mine."  Celestia frowned. Her sister had always been a stubborn pony.   "If you don't mind, we need to get ready for the party."  - said Luna, leaving Celestia by herself.

Somewhere in Canterlot Castle

Sombra was trotting away from the center hall, reaching to no destination. He just wanted some space.
For whatever reason, Princess Luna's words rang in his head.  Tyrant  He knew that wasn't a lie, in fact, everypony in Equestria knew, maybe even the Griffons. Yet, that comment did really upset him. Was he...sad?
Perhaps he was getting more soft, time does that to somepony. Either way, now he just wanted to be alone before the party started.
He had much to think about.

Party - Fifteen minutes after the party started

Before the party could begin, Princess Celestia announced that the ex-tyrant, King Sombra was no longer an enemy and was living at the castle, not everypony seemed to enjoy the news, regardless they clapped. Sombra just stayed in the shadow watching their reactions. Most of them was concern, some fear and others, well...nothing. He decided to stay far from the party, but at the same time he wanted to be close. 

Celestia and Luna stood on top of the staircase, observing the party guests, making sure everpony was happy and enjoying themselves.
The white alicorn smiled, so far everything was alright, even with the recent news. Her smile quickly faltered when she noticed a lone stallion standing in a far corner. It was Sombra. His expression said he wasn't having fun, but there was something else bothering. He gazed around at the guests, not amused by their happiness. Happiness was like a poison to him, or at least it was thanks to the necklace.

His eyes fell upon an open door that led to the gardens. Seeing that nopony was looking at him, he decided to have some fresh air. Slowly, he made his way to the gardens. Celestia saw everything and thought it was time to have talk with him.
"I shall be right back sister."

"Where are you going?" - Luna asked, sensing something was wrong.

"I'm going to talk with somepony."
The blue alicorn frowned, she knew who was that pony.
"Careful." - she pronounced in a concern tone. Celestia, in return nodded and descended, passing several ponies, giving them smiles and some 'Hello', here and there, but she had a clear objective set in mind. Talk with Sombra. Now that she thought about it, Celestia never had a real conversation with him, besides that time at the infirmary and when she gave him the proposal. Other than that, Celestia knew nothing about his past, but that was about to change.

Luna watched as her sister stepped outside, she was concerned. Sombra was still very dangerous.

A lone stallion could be found outside in the gardens, sitting on a stone bench, gazing at the night sky. He had to admit, the Lunar Monarch did wonders with her night, of course he wouldn't dare say that to her. She didn't needed any more reasons to mock him.
There was a gentle breeze in the air, it almost made the indoor party sounds go away. His mind was still filled with concerns and fears, especially regrets.

"Mind if I join?" - a voice asked.
Sombra turned his head around quickly and saw Celestia wearing a gentle smile. Her smile almost caused his heart to clutch, he had seen that smile a long time ago. It only caused more suffering.
"O-of course." - he stammered, trying to hide the pain in his voice. Celestia however noticed, but said nothing. She would get there in time. That was all she needed.

The two sat in a awkward silence, their eyes on the night sky. The silence was starting to bother Sombra, he took a quick glance at Celestia, who was still gazing at the sky, what really impressed him was the way she look under the moonlight. The moon was providing enough light to see her features, the colour in eyes seemed even more intense and her celestial mane was gently flowing in the air. Her expression showed she was relaxed, in peace with herself. Sombra gulped, in his mind, Celestia was...beautiful? His heart skipped a beat at that thought.

Celestia glanced at him, still with a smile on her muzzle. He quickly looked back at the stars, praying that Celestia didn't see him.
On the other hoof, she enjoying herself by seeing his reactions. Sooner or later,  he was going to talk, if she had to guess, he was very close from doing so.
After a couple of minutes, he sighed.
"Why?" - he said, bluntly. She looked at him.  "Why even bother to save me?"  He turned his head to meet her gaze.  "I only caused pain and misery because I couldn't control myself. Why save a monster like me?"

"Because you have" - she placed an hoof on his chest.  "a heart. Monsters don't have hearts." Sombra's eyes were wide open. She didn't consider him as a monster?  "I don't know much about your past, only what Radiant Hope tould me."  Sombra frozed at the sudden name.  "Do you still remember her?"

"Of course I do!" - he snapped. "She was my first and only friend," His voice was barely a whisper.  "and I broke her heart."  A single tear went down his muzzle, Celestia gazed the ex-tyrant with a sad expression. Sombra wasn't handling well with himself, not ever since his return.
He was on a verge of a mental breakdown. He needed to said it, to clear his mind, to silence the voice within. He needed to be...honest.

"Why can everpony else be happy but me? I just wanted a normal life, I didn't ask this." - he pointed a hoof at his red horn.  "Why? Why do I have to suffer? Why did I have to lose my only friend, that truly cared about me?"  Tears were falling down his muzzle, he didn't care.  "To make things worse," - he took a deep breath.  "I loved her so much...now she's gone. I didn't even said goodbye."  At that moment, Sombra's mind broke at the sudden reality, she was gone and it was his fault. Everything bad that happened was because of him. He didn't deserve do live. The sobbing turned into a cry, filled with pain and sadness. It hurt Celestia seeing Sombra breakdown like this. Everpony assumed that King Sombra was nothing but a tyrant with a cold and dark heart that shared no emotions. Yet, right in front of her, there he was,  the real Sombra.

Celestia drapped a wing over Sombra's back. Without thinking, Sombra hugged the white alicorn with the strengh he could. She returned the hug. This remember her about Luna, when she return. She was so fragile and scared. The first couple of nights, Luna was afraid to sleep, so instead she would sleep with Celestia. Sombra and Luna shared a few things in common.
"Sometimes life doesn't give us what we want, but we always have the option to change, even if everything seems to fall apart." - Celestia started in a serene tone of her voice, trying to calm down Sombra.  "I know very well what you are feeling right now, for one thousand years ago my sister was on the moon, I had noone to talk about how I felt back then. I had to banish her and it caused me great pain. But now she's here, among us."

She lifted Sombra's face with her hoof.  "Ponies will forgive you, like when they did with my sister."
After a couple of seconds, he spoke.
"How?"

"Give them a chance."  Celestia smiled once more.  "Do you trust me?"
He nodded, wiping away the tears.
"I do."  They shared one last hug. Sombra was feeling slightly better, but the regret was still lingering in his mind.

"Good, now let's dance, shall we?"  His reply was small grin as they returned back to the party.  "Are you ready?"  The stallion took a deep breath and nodded at her.  With her magic she opened the doors.  
I can do this!