Chapter 18
Private blinked awake and the first thing he saw was daylight. The next was a tall, dark gray Unicorn with black mane and tail standing in front of him with his back turned towards the pony.
“W-what?” Private half rose up, recognizing Sombra. “H-how? A-are you in a body now?”
“Look at your shadow,” was the only thing Sombra said, not even glancing back at him.
The Unicorn looked down at his shadow. The light was just right so it actually went towards the Dark King. Private blinked. It went straight under Sombra and connected with him. In fact, the bigger pony didn’t even cast a shadow, he rose out of Private’s.
“Y-you’re my shadow?” he asked stunned. Now the king did glance back, flashing his fangs in a smirk. Private wasn’t sure what to think when the black tail reached towards him and actually gently cupped his chin like it was some sort of a fingered limb.
“My powers continue to grow; I can now manifest myself like this outside your body. It’s still some time before I can regenerate it and become flesh again, but at last I can do more than mere projections,” Sombra explained and part of the tail formed a tendril that began caressing Private’s right cheek gently.
Private shuddered, not understanding why the spirit was being so gentle. Sombra seemed to smile a bit wider when sensing the pony’s discomfort. He withdrew the tail, but not before letting it brush over the muzzle, causing his host to sputter. It had felt like smoke had entered his nostrils.
“What are you doing anyway?” Private asked leaned a bit to the side to see what Sombra was blocking the view of. The Unicorn gasped when seeing his brother, his eyes were glowing green and red, but the most shocking was the scowl on his face and that his horn was curved and red.
“W-what have you done?” the Unicorn cried and rose up from the blankets. He hurried over to his brother who seemed to take no notice of him, just kept staring forward.
“I fed on his fears, then I infused him with some of my powers as I wrestled him under my complete and utter control. I think he’ll make a useful sentry,” King Sombra told him and shrugged.
Private looked bewildered between his brother and the spirit. He walked around the hypnotized Unicorn trying to see any sign if Barricade was still there, but his twin just continued to stare forward with a sneer on his face.
“Why?” Private glared at Sombra, gritting his teeth.
“Soon we shall reach our destination, we are going to need somepony to be on guard for any pursuers and delay them,” the Dark King said and turned his eyes to Private. “Your brother is really scared of the royal guards; did you know that?”
“I… I know he’s always been wary of them,” the smaller Unicorn glanced sadly at his brother.
“Indeed. I watched his nightmares, I thought at first he just hated them, but no, it’s terror. He fears them greatly, one would think somepony like that would be more law-abiding to avoid attention from what he fears so much,” Sombra remarked and approached Barricade.
There was nothing really Private could say that could explain it. Barricade had never told why the royal guard made him so nervous, in fact he knew his twin was also wary around royalty, but the reasons why remained a mystery to the family. Sombra was now walking around his new sentry, admiring his handiwork.
“Your brother is certainly a handsome specimen. He really takes care of himself. He only needs a black mane, tail and hooves plus remove the cutie mark and he would be a fine example of the Dark Pony race,” the Dark King remarked and nodded in approval.
“Well he’s not,” Private muttered dryly and walked back to the blankets to sit down on them. He noticed that his shadow stretched so it remained under Sombra, no matter where the spirit was standing.
“There is some food in the saddlebags that’s more suited for you. You’ll need to eat We still have a long way to go,” the Dark Unicorn said and waved a hoof towards where the saddlebags he had stolen from the inn lay.
Private said nothing, just used his magic to float the bags over. He opened one and found that the spirit spoke the truth,. There were some dried fruits, a small package of traveling hay and even some vegetables stashed in one part of it. Seeing food that was far more proper for him and wanting to forget the last meal he technically speaking ate, the Unicorn grabbed some of the hay and vegetables and started to eat.
Can you hear me when you’re outside like that? he thought and glanced to where Sombra was still standing by Barricade. Private recalled the king saying this wasn’t a projection.
You’re a stupid idiot. He tried again when there was no reaction to the question from the spirit. Wow, he actually can’t hear me when he’s like this.
The Unicorn allowed himself to feel little bit relieved when learning this. Finally, his mind was his and nobody else was in it. It probably wouldn’t last. He was pretty sure Sombra could re-enter it whenever he liked.
Enjoy it while it lasts, Private thought and continued to eat. He started a little when the spirit suddenly appeared right next to him, fearing that maybe he had been wrong. Sombra showed no sign that he heard him and just sat down uncomfortably close to his host.
“Who knows, maybe there is a spell that can draw out the ancestry of ponies, making it more prominent. I might just have to experiment with your brother once I have my own body back. There might be a way to restore the Dark Pony race,” the king mused and rubbed his muzzle thoughtfully.
“I-I take it then you’re not letting us go… once this is all over.” Private cringed and felt a little ill when a hoof was put on his back.
“Catching on aren’t you? You two are going to be my first servants once I’m back in my own body, your brother will make a good soldier, he certainly has the ability to fight. You however, we’ll have to see.” King Sombra patted the Unicorn gently.
Is it just me or is he friendlier than before? Private glanced warily at the spirit, it certainly seemed like the Dark King’s demeanor towards him had changed. Now if only he would get out of my personal space.
This would probably be one of the most golden opportunities to get to know about Dark Pony society, if he wasn’t an evil bastard who has pretty much abducted my brother and I in order to do something to retake the Crystal Empire. At least that’s what I’m assuming he’s after. The Unicorn sighed and continued to eat.
“Uh… can I ask a question?” Private asked and looked at Sombra when there was no response. He raised his eyebrow when seeing the Dark Unicorn had his eyes closed but was grinning nastily, the purple smoke emitting from the corners also looked thicker and darker.
The king was like this for at least a minute before finally opening his eyes, letting out a cruel chuckle. He looked down at Private who wasn’t really sure he wanted to know what was going on, Sombra, however, seemed to be in a sharing mood.
“Guards arrived at the inn just now. I sprung the little surprise I had prepared for them,” he said and looked rather self-satisfied as he started to examine his right hoof. The Dark Pony looked at his host again, who was very confused.
“You thought I killed everypony in the inn? No, I merely drove the rest mad with their fears and my spell kept them in slumber until guards arrived. I expect the peons are tearing the hapless guards limb from limb by now thinking they are defending themselves against their fears,” King Sombra explained casually. “I also left a spell active so I can look in on what is happening, if I need to.”
“Is there anything you don’t plan or prepare for?” Private remarked, not really expecting a straight answer.
“You say that as if that is a bad thing. Just look at where it has gotten me - my enemies thought me defeated, yet here I still am preparing once again for my return. You think I don’t know why Princess Celestia didn’t have me blasted the second time with the Elements of Harmony and opted instead of having the Crystal Ponies blow me up with the Crystal Heart?” Sombra said and put a leg around his host, pulling the grunting Unicorn closer to him.
“The Elements of Harmony are not a deadly weapon. At worst, it encases you in a stone prison, like Discord, or banishes one, in my case. It is really big on just benevolently dealing with the threat. The Crystal Heart, however, is an outright a deadly weapon that destroys the threat. Celestia knew I would just keep returning if the Elements were used on me and with each return I would have learned from the last encounter. So this time I was killed - only Celestia didn’t know I had a plan for that as well,” the Dark King continued to explain.
Let go of me! Private was really starting to get uncomfortable, but still didn’t dare speak it out loud. He also figured the king wouldn’t listen anyway even if he did.
“Alright, fine you like to plan,” the Unicorn snorted and tried to slip out of Sombra’s grasp. To his relief the spirit allowed it, but kept staring at him with a smirk.
“Finish your food, we’ll be heading off soon,” King Sombra said and gently caressed Private on the cheek with a hoof before rising up and walking over to Barricade.
It should be finishing any minute now, the Dark Unicorn thought as he examined the scowling Unicorn up and down. In the meantime, I should check if the guards have been torn to shreds yet.
The spirit closed his eyes and activated the spell that allowed him to gain control of Strong Horn the innkeeper. He frowned a little when seeing that the guards were still alive. The yellow mare had erected a shield over herself and the other two to protect them from the onslaught. The stallion was on the ground and was struggling to remain conscious.
“Valiant effort guard, but it will be for naught. You can’t hold up this shield forever and when it fails, you shall all perish and serve as an example as to what happens to those who dare oppose me,” he addressed the three guards. They all looked at him and the king reveled in seeing the fright in the green one.
Sombra knew though that this meant he was pressed for time. The fact that they had stumbled up on the right inn meant things were progressing faster than he had anticipated. He would have to press on and try and arrive at the mountain this evening, even risk using some of his power to aid in that.
“Enjoy your last minutes of living. Know this though - that once the time is right, my maw will close over the pretenders and I will take back what is mine,” he said before releasing his hold on the minotaur.
If only that idiot hadn’t let that mare escape. Sombra looked at Barricade who was finally starting to move. Ah, it’s finished.
“My lord.” Barricade’s voice sounded hollow as he bowed before the spirit.
“Barricade?” Private looked over with a worried frown. “W-why does his voice sound like that?”
“He is under my spells. He will obey only me and protect both of us,” the king explained and glanced over to his host.
Yeah… sure, bet that really means protecting you, I just get it too because you’re still stuck to me. Private shook his head sadly.
Barricade was certainly livelier again. He started to look around almost as if he was surveying the area for danger. Once he was satisfied there was no threat, the Unicorn sat down but clearly remained alert. With a satisfied nod, Sombra walked back over to Private.
“Have you finished eating?” he asked his host, who slowly nodded. “Good, clean up this camp and then we will get moving, you will walk this time though without me controlling the body.”
Joy, Private thought. He rose up and started to gather up the blankets, rolled them up and placed them in the bags. Once the camp was cleared, Sombra pointed him in the right direction to go in and three ponies set off.
As they began walking, Private noticed that the king didn’t really walk, he glided along, always rising out of the shadow of his host. The Unicorn found it a bit uncanny, but then again Sombra was just a spirit right now. He also noticed that his shadow no longer really obeyed where the light was shining on him. It followed the spirit and not the position of the sun.
Screw it, never know when I’ll get an opportunity like this again. I’m asking. The Unicorn thought after they had walked for a while and had cleared the woody areas. His brother was in the rear, but Sombra floated along near him.
“Can I ask about Dark Ponies?” Private carefully eyed the king who looked at him and smiled.
“Of course.” Sombra nodded and sounded interested enough in this topic. Private just hoped he wouldn’t regret it.
“Why are you called Dark Ponies? I mean, is it because of the coat, the mane and tail?” he asked.
“It’s because of our natural affinity for wielding dark magic. We have what you call normal magic,” Sombra said and his horn glowed red for a brief second. “But other magic I display is so-called dark magic.”
Suppose that makes sense, Private nodded. He looked forward and could now see the large mountain rising in the distance. Its ominous, jaw-like peak did not seem very welcoming.
“I was considered the most powerful Dark Pony to have ever been born,” the king mused and grinned a bit. “The best that my mother, Queen Rabia, had produced. I was considered a pinnacle of prowess. I represented the best of the best.”
And so modest. His host rolled his eyes before adding sarcastically. “I’m sure the mares flocked to you.”
“I wish,” Sombra snorted in disdain, much to Private’s surprise. “Mother wouldn’t allow it; no mare was good enough for me, according to her. I had to settle with comfort colts well into my stallionhood when I should have been married off already.”
Comfort colts? Private frowned hard. That sounded familiar somehow, he just couldn’t place it right now.
“One thing you need to know about Dark Ponies. Stallions held no power, but were considered the protectors of the land. The mares took care of the governing and they chose what stallions to marry. However, it wasn’t unheard of that a stallion took the throne. That happened if the Queen only had sons and no daughters,” the king told him and sighed a bit.
“I was Queen Rabia’s only child for a long time. For a while it certainly seemed like I would be taking over after her. I started the studies for it, was groomed with great care. Then when I reached official adulthood at the age of twenty winters, my mother gave birth to a daughter, my sister Ira,” Sombra grunted and hung his head, sounding like this had really irritated him.
Private nodded, mostly because this seemed to fit with what he had been told both about the lost son and what he knew of Queen Ira. She had been fairly young for a Dark Pony when she took the throne and many attributed that to being the reason the empire finally fell, because of her inexperience and different attitude than the iron-hoofed rule of her mother.
“I was told to help instruct my sister as she grew, since I could transfer what I learned over to her. I suppose I didn’t mind at the time. It wasn’t my place to complain after all. Then I learned I was supposed to marry her to preserve the bloodline.” The Dark Unicorn grimaced at the last sentence. Private looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
“You did not want that, I take it?” the Unicorn wondered, almost surprised that Sombra had standards.
“I was not overly thrilled at the prospect of marrying my own sister. I should have been married already anyway to some high-ranking mare within the royal family who would be distantly related enough that it wouldn’t have mattered,” the king snorted. “So I left, decided to strike out on my own, grab power somewhere else and learn to increase my skills.”
I suppose that’s understandable… ugh I can’t believe I’m having a casual conversation with that twisted maniac, Private frowned again. The word Sombra had mentioned earlier was also still bothering him.
“You mentioned ‘comfort colts’.” He decided to risk it and instantly regretted it when hearing the almost sly sounding chortle coming from the Dark King.
“Unmarried Dark Pony stallions in high society could not mingle with unmarried mares unless they were related, or the mares were looking for a suitor. So for companionship, service and other needs, they would acquire a young colt, no younger than sixteen winters, but could be older,” Sombra explained and floated even closer to Private, who was unsure what to think of this custom.
“They were usually from the lower classes. This raised their status. Once the stallion they served married, they had a chance at a better jobs or even to become knights within the royal guards,” the Dark King continued.
I can see how that would then be socially acceptable, if it helped young ponies later in life… Why is he staring at me like that? Private glanced at Sombra and couldn’t help but notice that the king seemed to be watching him with anticipation.
All the color nearly drained out of Private’s face as it suddenly hit him. The way the spirit was acting towards him suddenly, his words of how they would have to wait and see what he would use the Unicorn for since his twin would be a soldier.
“You don’t want me for… oh please tell me I’m overthinking this,” he whispered and stopped walking.
King Sombra halted so he was right next to him. He opened his mouth as if to speak but then frowned suddenly. The king closed his eyes and once again looked to be concentrating, the purple mist becoming darker. Private continued to wait in dread, knowing the previous conversation would resume once the Dark Unicorn was done doing what he was doing.
“Princess Twilight fancies herself to be able to save everypony in the inn,” King Sombra grinned wide as he opened his eyes after a little while and returned his attention to his host. “Perhaps there will only be three Princesses to deal with after all.”
Private cringed when hearing that. Great just great! At this rate he’s going to get to the mountain, regenerate his body, take over the Crystal Empire and… and… please tell me I’m just being paranoid. He flinched when Sombra raised his hoof and began stroking his mane.
“As for your query. I have to admit that if I was still ruling the Crystal Empire, I wouldn’t bother. I paid little attention to the old customs of my race and took any mare I wanted,” the Dark Pony murmured and smiled at the frightened Unicorn.
“However, it’s probably going to be a while before I regain my throne and I have to admit feeling some nostalgia towards the old customs when seeing the Spartacorns in your mind.” Sombra moved the hoof to Private’s muzzle and raised his head a bit.
“Although you are already a stallion, it wasn’t unusual for the colts to continue to serve their master well into adulthood. It just really depended on when the master eventually married,” he said and let go of the Unicorn who closed his eyes and looked away, shivering where he stood.
King Sombra soaked up the fear coming from his host. The added bonus to this was of course the fright Private was portraying, further fueling the Dark Pony’s power. The spirit had toyed with this idea as far back as when he first saw who it was he was possessing. He hadn’t really mentioned it, but Sombra had been ecstatic to learn that he had possessed Private of all the possible ponies he had prepared back in the past.
What sealed the deal was witnessing Private’s fantasy. It brought up so many pleasant memories back when he still lived in the royal court of the Dark Pony Empire. He wasn’t going to admit it openly, but his host actually reminded him a bit of one of his last comfort colts. A fairly young one who had been very quiet and shy, but Sombra remembered being able to get him to talk if he found the right topics to speak about.
Wonder what happened to him? No doubt slaughtered like the others when the Saddle Arabians invaded. Sombra turned away from Private to look towards the sun, seeing by its position that it was already late.
“Enough pleasantries, we have business to attend to. If Princess Twilight was smart, we still have four princesses to contend with and we need to be at the peak before evening,” he declared and looked over to where Barricade stood guard. “Barricade come closer, I’ll need to speed up our journey.”
King Sombra waited until his new sentry was right next to him, then the Dark Unicorn transformed himself into smoke and shadow, even his head. He rose high up like a giant column of nothing but darkness, enveloping both Unicorns in it, grabbing them up with shadowy tendrils. Barricade made no sound, but Private yelped as he was unprepared to be so abruptly grabbed.
“So the Crystal Ponies believe they can hear my howl through that peak when the wind blows through it? Well, let them hear how I truly sound,” the Dark King growled as he began speeding towards the mountain, dragging the twins along with him.
As the king drew nearer, he let out, amplified by his powers, a loud, horrible, beastly howl. It echoed through a large area and from enough distance did seem to be coming from the mountain itself.
It certainly seemed so to the ponies back in the Crystal Empire. Many fearful eyes were turned west towards Sombra’s Maw.
End chapter 18