Chapter 2: Tyrants Make Fashionable Necklaces
I resisted the urge to scream, it wouldn't help and I didn't know how to disable the spell put on the room. I tried to do the calm thing. The collected thing. The cool thing. Celestia help me. I looked him over. Collectedly.
His eyes didn't have the dark smoke, his sclera were currently white and his pupils didn't look draconian, so he almost appeared normal enough, even with his curved horn. Was that normalcy an illusion? After all, his eyes were red—well, technically, they were crimson, but nopony has naturally crimson eyes and of course his had to be unsettling as well.
The rest of him really didn't look like like he was trying to steal the Crystal Heart, either. Sombra's voice didn’t sound ridiculous, either. I had known even as early as when Shiny and I had first arrived that it had to be an illusion. He really just sounded sarcastic, although I don't think he has a sense of humor, since he appears to be more brutish than witty. I'm not even sure if he can read. His mane and tail had a shaggy and unkempt look and he was a bit leaner than before, I imagine whatever resurrection spell he used would have that effect. He still looked rather threatening though, slightly underweight but still threatening. His expression looks to be the sort of a grumpy roommate: they may have gotten enough sleep but that doesn't stop them from being permanently disgruntled, unamused, and in dire need of a good cup of coffee.
But I still have no idea how he obtained the cloak. It was not a king's rich scarlet robes trimmed in white, but a deep crimson piece of fabric that was almost indistinguishable from some Rarity might keep in her shop, only a bit more worn.
Cadance, get back on track! I snapped in my mind.
“You should be dead,” I finally mustered.
He rolled his eyes. “Life is full of disappointments, I'm just not one of them.”
“You’re a disappointment,” I retorted weakly. It's no secret that I'm bad at insulting others, I prefer to find their strengths and counsel them, not do something as petty as make fun of a manestyle.
He raised an eyebrow. “ If I'm such a disappointment, then why were you staring at me that long?”
He did not just go there.
“Is that all you’ve got?” he replied coolly.
I tried a last resort one. “Your family must loathe you!” Making fun of a pony's family is about as low as I can go, but he probably deserves it.
He chuckled darkly. “Never met ‘em.”
Oh gods please don't tell me he killed them, I thought with a shudder. I whimpered a little louder then I should have. He laughed somewhat maniacally, probably able to guess what I was thinking. I just hope that he can't read minds.
“I HATE YOU!” I spat through clenched teeth. His remarks were getting to me and that laugh was chilling. Did he really just think he could stand there and mock me simply because I know I can't come up with an insulting remark about his mother? Is this really where he's trying to steer this?
This is not what I had in mind for ‘exciting’.
“I never would have guessed.” Still aloof.
I went red with anger. That's exactly what he's trying to do, isn't it?!
“WHY ARE YOU IN MY CASTLE?!”
His eye-smoke flared into existence, his sclera turned green, and his fangs poked their way from his mouth. A second later they vanished and he decided to speak, almost as if he didn’t care to slay me. Odd.
“I will not die because part of my original curse is my life force. It is tied to the Empire's. My curse was simple: if I was threatened or worse, the empire would go with me and return with me, as long as it existed I would too. So as long as it exists I will be in a state of temporary immortality for at least another three months, unfortunately for you.” He finished with a smirk and earned a scowl from me.
“My brief period of absence was only so I could reform, by breaking the silly flower that was the bait, you only secured my comeback. Princesses do like flowers, correct?”
Oh my gods I bet you kick puppies and everything.
“I won’t let you re-enslave the Empire!” I asserted, presuming that was his plan.
“That’s not why I’m here!”
“Then why are you here, you didn't exactly leave a spare crown here or anything.”
Sombra frowned and eyed the floor.
"I'm here because I need a the aide of a crystal monarch, and that crystal monarch is you."
As confused and suspicious as I was I decided to hear him out. After making him promise not to harm the Empire, its allies, rulers, or citizens. His claim was brief but urgent – the Empire would be attacked by something he could sense and he knew how stop it.
I presumed he could 'sense' this through some kind of divination.
"I have an idea of where it might be, but I am not completely sure," Sombra kept going on, but it devolved into him mumbling something to himself about exact locations and the Empire's awakening. "We truly are the only options, the crystal princess and somepony with great skill like myself. We are the only two who have a good chance of success, for if the Empire is gone….it will take anypony within a few leagues with it. Also, me, I tied my life force to the Empire and outwitted the Two Sisters.”
He paused for a moment. “Where does your country currently keep its most important records?”
“Equestria keeps them in the Canterlot Archives…” I said, wondering where this was heading.
“First we will need supplies…Then we will break into the Archives.”
“WHAT?!” I cried, he's already trespassed here, and long before that, usurped the throne. Does he just break and enter anywhere he wants to go? He is starting to seem like a petty criminal than a former dictator.
More eye rolls. “There is information within the Archives that we'll need, presuming anypony still bothers to write anything down. I'd hate to gather information through word of mouth alone. I'm also quite certain that you'll despise some of my methods."
“Wait, let me get this straight… something in the Arctic threatens the Empire and we need to commit petty crime in order to obtain what you want?”
“Yes,” he replied, “but supplies first since your frozen corpse is too much of a liability."
He drew his hood as we walked out to gather supplies.
This has to be the strangest pony alive.
...
In the armory which was conveniently empty we found some supplies for our journey. I don't know why but I found Sombra's… taste… odd. Out of all the splendid examples of Pre-Sombra craftsmanship he choose a barely adorned onyx bladed sword with a simple gold hilt and ruby pommel and cross-guard ends. He picked out them plainest brown saddle packs with unsightly-at least in my opinion-onyx fasteners. I've just never thought of it as a nice gem. Then he picked out the most austere iron traveling shoes. For a over-the-top usurper he has some awfully conservative tastes.
I on the other hoof traveled more splendidly wearing a set of durable gold shoes and a rosy pink cape with a lusterdust fur trim and a heart shaped crystal clasp in place of my usual collar. I added some tan saddle packs which bore a similar clasp. Next I picked out any practical items Sombra forgot such as freezeproof canteens. Even if there were plenty of spells to obtain water in the most extreme conditions, it helped to have something to store it in.
Lastly came my weaponry which outshined Sombra's. My small gilded knife with a sea green hilt and pommel matching my cape's. My main weapon was my gorgeous bow, made out of rose quartz with ends sculpted to form hearts and an enchanted gold string. Its arrows were of made of the same stone with deadly heart shaped heads and bore an enchantment of frosty blue fire that sprang to life on my horn whenever they were notched and fired.
...
On the train I worked out how to sneak Sombra into Archives undetected. For the past hour or two I had been writing down half-thought out plans as furiously as a tornado spins until I was surrounded with crumples of balls of paper. Sombra was currently sitting and dismantling small portions of the train car wall and gazing at it like a fool. How in Equestria was I going to sneak his currently useless butt into the most guarded city in Main Equestria? It's not like I can shape-shift and while I'm not very good at creating disguises I know how to spot most fake ones.
I tossed another ball of paper to the ground in frustration, that was twenty seven plans that failed to show any promise. Sure, five of those were some very unflattering doodles of Sombra being a stupid jerk and there were a hooffull of others that were paraphrased excerpts of what I can recall on various psychological issues Sombra probably has.
“I’m out of ideas!” I shrieked. Sombra snorted with amusement and looked up from the window no longer in awe at the concept of a train.
“So… can I say my plan if you’re done rampaging now?”
“Fine,” I snapped scowling at him warily.
He began, “If I turn into a necklace of äerint crystals I can use a telepathy spell to link my conscious to yours... you do wear jewelry normally, don't you?”
I asked why the crystals were called äerint but he ignored me and continued; “…I will guide you to the right Archive materials, all we need to do is sneak in somehow…” he trailed off before quickly asking-
“Are the Archives in part of the Canterlot Castle you mentioned?”
“Yes… and I think we should go with your plan, none of mine seemed very good.” I said hopefully. Sombra ignored the unintentional praise and a troubled look emerged in his eyes.
“You afraid of Celestia?” I inquired, partly teasing.
“No, Princess…?” He asked, voice trailing off once more.
“Oh! You don’t even know my name! How silly of me, I’m Princess Mi Amore Cadenza; or just Cadance to some ponies.”
“Fine, Princess Amore it is,” he responded. “Now, let’s get to work on my brilliant plan.”
His smug expression was just obnoxious.
With a brief contemplating look and a swish of his horn he transformed into a black äerint necklace.
An almost reluctant glance worked its way onto my face as I fastened it around my neck and glanced skeptically in the mirror. This was as ugly as Tartarus.
This won’t do, I thought wondering how I could make the creepy and smoky crystals look better.
Poof.
A elegant pearl necklace guise appeared over it.
I hate you, My now cranky necklace said.
The feeling is mutual, I telepathically chirped back.
That funny looking word in this chapter is the name for his peculiar crystals. I found it somewhere, and adopted it upon having no proper alternatives, and only remember how its pronounced. If I can ever find the source it will get posted here.
*For those of you who care, it's pronounced 'air-rent' 
Even in 2016 I can't find the source of the crystal name.
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Hmm...not sure how I feel about this, but then again, it is the very beginning. You have written a ton more of these, so perhaps you have gotten better at writing. Not that this was bad, it's just that it all happened so fast. Cadance to me seems too trusting, and a little dumb. First thing I would have done when I saw Sombra was knock his ass out, him being all normal-looking, and when that didn't work, I would have locked his tyrannical ass up, then left him to simmer for a few days, then come down for some serious interrogation/torture possibly. I most certainly would not have just heard him out, much less would I have trusted him immediately. I mean he barely explained what he was saying. I would have preferred that to be a dialogue rather than a summary by Cadance.
Now granted, Cadance is the Princess of Love. All that stuff I said is out of character—for her. But where are her interrogators? Don't tell me those dumb guards were the interrogation force, because that is just unrealistic.
Now, I'm gonna keep going with the story, but I do feel this needs another once-over, including quite a few grammar issues, and some lines that were just a little too...generic/cringeworthy/tbh kinda dumb/forced. Hopefully it improves later on. Best of luck to you and your Iceverse.
EDIT: Seriously, how the hell does Sombra not know who Cadance is? He should at least have recognized her magic, or something about her presence or some other shit like that. It just doesn't make sense that he doesn't recognize the mare whose cutie mark is the crystal he tried to hide in order to assume control of a freaking nation.
8514054
Same! It's still eluding me, and I've kinda given up looking, but I hope you're enjoying the story thus far.
Bad Ice Star! No all-caps in dialogue!
Im enjoying this little tale thus far. I have to half-heartedly agree with one of the other comments for a moment, however. Her acceptance of him does seem a little rushed, but it's not a huge detriment. Its hardly a complaint, actually. Its not much of an important part of the story, and you're keeping things short.
8734857
Nyah, sometimes maybe. Bad BeanBean. I have pre-reader rights.
She's a pastel pink candy princess. Of course she's gonna be quick to trust things.
Thanks for enjoying this little adventure with this oddball duo! I love their journey!
Cadence you nothing about him, this is the first time he said anything to you beside crystals.
8905476
C h a r a c t e r F l a w s! :D
Me when I pretend to be chill around pretty girls.
He's got that charisma.
derpicdn.net/img/2014/5/3/616741/full.gif
Sombra be like:
thumbs.gfycat.com/DistantGranularDiamondbackrattlesnake-size_restricted.gif
At Tyler's Vintage Record and Cassette Shop... duh.
Sneaky bastard. Next thing you know he'll need to turn into a pair of lacey panties.
It's not nice to talk about me behind my back.
8987785
He's a glorious boy~
This is fun.
i love that he brings it up twice, like "oh hey did you remember the thing i told you about? the thing? right?" all the while just excessively smug
not a minute out of reincarnation and already planning a heist
that is *incredibly* ostentatious goodness
heheh, cadance's style is certainly not sombra's
damn, Cadance is brutal without even trying to be!
aww i just want to pat Cady on her innocent little head
Sombra wins this round
dang Equestria's OPSEC is really shit. which scans
dang, Cadance is decked out!
i am so here for Cadance's version of spite
hehehe (also loving Cadance's need for aesthetic)
HA! OMG that genuinely got a laugh from me.
Definitely agree with
7746167
That this seemed a bit fast for Cadence to go from "I HATE YOU" to "Let's break into a heavily guarded vault filled with sensitive documents and artifacts"