The Ice Heart Thawed

by Applefai

Fallen Kingdoms and Rising Feelings

Silverstream was taken down the hall of Sombra's castle and brought to a room that had straw lining the floor, drafty areas, a lone bucket, and a window only big enough to stick the bucket out of. The guards pushed Silverstream in the room causing her to fall on the cold stone floor and slammed the door shut.

Silverstream got up and surveyed the room, she approached the door and tested the handle, it moved and Silverstream opened the door just a crack and peered into the hallway which was lined with armed guards, how she didn't see them she had no idea, she shut the door and went to lay down in the straw which was moist and cold.

Silverstream sat silently in thought thinking at least there won't be anymore slaves, this was for those she loved, at least she might of saved Zecora from typhoid, but unbeknownst to her, she was about to get a starting surprise.

She sat alone in her chambers until she heard the door open, she looked in horror as Sombra was standing before her with a bruised and battered Zecora in tow.

"Oh, my dear, did you not know that I send my guards to gather slaves also? I had just sent a few to retrieve Zecora before our deal, evidently they had to wait until some doctors left her hut, they heard the doctors tell her she was cured of typhoid, all the better for me, I need a slave that's good with medicine." Sombra threw Zecora in the room along with an Equestrian first aid kit and demanded Zecora to treat Silverstream's wings by casting them up and said he'll have a separate room prepared for her later.

Zecora got to her feet spitting up blood with Silverstream helping her stand.

Zecora just moaned in pain, shed put up quite a fight, but was ultimately defeated, she thanked Silverstream for helping her up and looked at her wings and opened the med kit, within it were items to make splints and crude casts or excellent ones in the right hooves. Zecora got to work casting Silverstream's wings while she talked to her.

"This is quite the surprise to overtake my eyes, tell me what brings you here." Zecora said while wrapping up Silverstream's wings.

"I thought I could stop the coming war, but I was wrong, I offered myself as a slave to Sombra, but he's planning his conquer I f the changeling kingdom as we speak." Silverstream said in an utterly upset voice.

Zecora just nodded and spoke. "I see my friend, you sought to bring the coming war to an end, It was a valiant effort." Zecora said her rhyming becoming less and less frequent.

"I do want to thank you for sending the doctors, you saved my life, they told me that you wrote in your note that I had typhoid; how you know eludes even me." Zecora told Silverstream as she finished wrapping up her wings. "There you go."

After Zecora had finished casting Silverstream's wings two of Sombra's guards swung the door open and escorted Zecora to her new chambers, Silverstream just got a glimpse of Zecora's chambers which was adjacent to her's, it had potions and a brewing station which Silverstream found odd.

Silverstream then sat alone in he chambers for what seemed like hours as she peered out her window and watched the sunset paint the sky hues of red, orange, and purple. The sun had just disappeared over the horizon when she heard the door creak open to see Sombra.

"It is time you told me how to use your pearl shard." Sombra said in a calm voice. Silverstream just stepped up to him and bowed.

"Yes, Sombra." Silverstream said causing Sombra to slap her again knocking her down to the floor.

"CALL ME MASTER!" he demanded "YOU ARE A SLAVE, A THING FOR ME TO USE; YOU DON'T DESERVE TO UTTER MY NAME YOU PEASANT!" he bellowed with fire in his eyes and thunder in his voice

Silverstream shackingly stood up, blood spilling from her mouth staining the straw lined floor; her cheek was already swelling from the blunt force and it felt like he had dislodged a tooth, but thankfully he didn't.

Silverstream with tears in her eyes just apologized. "Yes Master, please forgive my insolence." Silverstream said bowing before Sombra's feet, groveling at them. "I will tell you have to utilize the shard, but a question if I may."

Sombra grinned at hearing her word, "That's better, you may ask you question." Sombra said maintaining his regal posture

Silverstream was hesitant to ask fearing angering Sombra even further, but went through with it. "Well, you said slaved don't deserve luxuries, why did you grant Zecora the luxury of potions and a brewing station?"

Sombra let out a cold, heartless chuckle before answering, he stroked Silverstream's mane and gave his answer, "I can't have slaves dying from sickness or injury now can I? That itself is a luxury for it grants freedom, no, I will work every slave I have until they die of old age."

Silverstream had no words, all she could say was that she'd shoe Sombra how to use the shard and followed him to his army which wad getting prepared to move out of the fortress and assault the changeling kingdom.

Silverstream saw soldiers armed to the teeth prepared for battle, she say earth ponies, unicorns, pegasi, and a few hippogriffs; she felt her heart drop when she saw that the captain of the platoon was none other than General Seaspray, Silverstream just hug her head and followed Sombra to the front where she told him how to use her necklace; after telling the information to Sombra she witnessed Sombra using the power of the shard to turn half of the earth ponies and unicorns into a hippogriff to give a slight edge to his army.

After using the shard Sombra told his guards to escort Silverstream back to her chambers and his maid to feed her, he then led the troops out, his robe fluttering behind him.

Silverstream was escorted back to her chambers by the two guards accompanying her, she walked silently into her chamber and the door closed behind her.

Silverstream sat there alone haunted at what she was forced to do, she felt she could never show her face to Ocellus again, she could never show her face to Twilight or Thorax again; she began to tear up until she heard the door open, looking at the ajar door she saw food be tossed in, a burnt piece of salmon, burnt hay fries, and a small pitcher of water,

Silverstream took the food and reluctantly ate, knowing it was the only food and water she was going to get; the taste of the burnt food made her want to hurl, but she just swallowed it down and washed the taste down with the meager amount of water she had. After she was done eating she laid down to go to sleep on the moist, cold straw floor that was stained with her blood that she had coughed up when Sombra hit her, despite her fear and loss of hope, she drifted off to sleep despite being a bit cold.

Silverstream slept soundly, occasionally waking up to use the restroom; the bucket was uncomfortable and filled up quickly, needing to be dumped out the window often, there was even a time she got a splinter in her haunches and had to remove it herself which made her flinch; the worst thing was that there was nothing to wipe with besides the straw that lined the floor leaving her with two options, either wipe or don't, but she did her business and went back to sleep after when the need arose for it.

There was a time when she couldn't fall back asleep and opened her locket to look at the picture of her family; looking at the picture brought a tear to her eyes as she hugged the picture only to feel colder, soon she began talking to the picture.

"Mom, Dad, Terry, I love all of you, which is why I couldn't tell anyone in person about my plan, I'm starting to wish I did, I just wanted to save other's, I thought he wouldn't invade the kingdoms if I offered my freedom in exchange, but I was wrong." Silverstream said to the picture which fell on deaf ears because she was only talking to herself.

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Meanwhile at the changeling kingdom chaos was erupting, Sombra and his troops were moving in fast knocking aside changeling soldiers left and right; Pharynx the head of the changeling kingdom patrol was even struggling against the onslaught, he made the foolish decision and told Thorax to run, go to Twilight and Ocellus, he could have used the extra hands and he was suffering for it; the words he and his brother exchanged echoed in his mind as the sounds of war surrounded him; "Get out of here Thorax, you can escape through the tunnels I set up, use them and you'll avoid the army entirely." Pharynx remembered himself saying.

"But Pharynx, What about you? We're brothers we should fight together. I can't just leave yo--." Pharynx remembered his brother Thorax saying before he interrupted him.

"NO! You're my little brother, it's my job to protect you; use the tunnels, avoid the army, go to Ponyville and be with your family, project our queen, YOUR queen and our princess, they need you more right now than we do." Pharynx remembered telling his brother as her teared up remembering the last things he said to his brother. "I love you, brother and tell Ocellus, uncle Pharynx loves her."

Pharynx led a last ditch charge, but in the end was subdued and forced to surrender to Sombra. Having won Sombra didn't take them as slaves like he promised, but instead claimed the kingdom in name of Sombra and planted his flag in the ground.

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Sombra returned to his castle happy with the defeat of the changeling kingdom and marked it conquered on his map and set his next target, he marked Yakyakistan as his next target, he turn proceeded to go to his quarters, but something possessed him to go check on his slaves; he ventures down the hall lined with guards at every chamber and checked in on Zecora through a slot in the door; he saw that she was sleeping soundly. He then proceeded to check on Silverstream though a slot in the door and saw her sleeping peacefully, she was breathing gently and looked so angelic in her sleep, Sombra was overcame with a desire to ravage her, but something held him back, he closed the slot in the door and walked away, not giving what he felt any second thought.

The next morning Silverstream woke up feeling like she was drowning and awoke to see one of Sombra's guards had woken her up by practically waterboarding her and told her that her duties start today and to go see Sombra; Silverstream stood up dripping wet and coughing due to the water in her nose and left her chamber traveling down the hall lined with guards.

Silverstream got to Sombra's chambers which was filled with battle strategies and a huge map of what she assumed was his targets and Yakyakistan was next if she was correct.

"Y-you wanted to see me Som--" Silverstream said shakily as she caught herself "you wanted to see me, Master?" Silverstream corrected herself which pleased Sombra be as he was raising a hoof in preparation.

Sombra smiled and approached Silverstream, "Yes, I have a job for you." Sombra said with a malevolent smile on his face.
"It appears that Zecora is refusing to make potions and medicines for my other slaves like I demanded her to do, she needs to be put in her place."

Silverstream had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach as Sombra continued.

"She has already been prepped, I want you to waterboard her until she breaks, use this bucket and don't forget, you're my slave to, unless you want to share in her punishment I suggest you don't refuse this order." Sombra said with authority.

Silverstream fearing Sombra's wrath took the bucket and proceeded to where Sombra instructed her to go; as Silverstream walked to Zecora's torture chamber her heart was beating like a war drum, she had been waterboarded this morning, but it was only once, this is going to be over and over for Zecora until she breaks and agrees to brew the potions and medicines.

Silverstream arrived at the torture chamber where Zecora laid on a table restrained by straps with a cloth covering her face, standing right beside her was a lone guard awaiting Silverstream and right beside him was a small sink for getting water. Silverstream with a heavy heart approached the immobilized Zecora and shed a single teat.

Before beginning the waterboarding the guard removed the cloth and let Zecora see Silverstream; Zecora's face went pale as she saw Silverstream standing above her with a bucket.

"Silverstream, I shall not hold a grudge against you, but I want you to know, you don't have to do this." Zecora told Silverstream as the guard put the cloth back on her face and told Silverstream to begin.

With tears in her eyes Silverstream slowly poured the water on the cloth causing Zecora to scream and cough; Silverstream with a heavy heart could only say "I'M SO SORRY, PLEASE, PLEASE FORGIVE ME, IF I DON'T DO THIS SOMBRA WILL DO IT TO ME." Silverstream said with tears in her eyes as she slowly poured a second bucket.

Silverstream had lost count of how many bucket fulls of water she had poured until Zecora finally broke and said she'd start brewing potions and medicines, after Zecora had broke and was being escorted back to her chambers shaking and coughing from being waterboarded; Silverstream stayed behind in the waterboarding chamber looking at her claws.

Silverstream stayed there for about an hour until a guard touched her shoulder and brought her back to earth; she jumped at the feeling of his hoof on her shoulder and realized an hour has passed since the deed as ended; she walked back to Sombra to inform him that the waterboarding had ended.

"Master, the deed you requested of me is done, I do ask for your forgiveness for my tardiness in relaying this information to you." Silverstream told Sombra while bowing down to him on her knees.

Sombra just grinned and spoke, "Excellent my faithful slave, I have another request for you tonight, sleep with me, let us spoon each other under the night sky upon my satin sheets; I expect you to do this quest tonight as soon as i get back."

"Yes master, wait when you get back? Please pray tell, where are you going?" Silverstream asked with respect and curiosity.

Sombra smiling at this respect provided the answer, "my dear slave, I'm going to conquer another land, this time it will be Yakyakistan to knell before Sombra." Sombra said coldly as he motioned for Silverstream to get out.

Silverstream left A Sombra's chambers and returned to her own slowly, the memories of what she done was replaying over and over in her mind; Zecora begging her to stop, begging for mercy which had to fall on deaf ears, Zecora may have told Silverstream she would not be angry with her, but Silverstream couldn't help but to feel like a monster. Silverstream returned to her chambers where to her surprise Zecora was waiting on her with a guard by her side.

The guard told Silverstream Sombra had ordered Zecora to check on Silverstream's wings, to make sure they weren't getting an infection, Silverstream with tears in her eyes approached Zecora and extended her wings so she could cut off the casts, Silverstream was quite for the most part, but then broke down.

"I'M SO SORRY ZECORA!" Silverstream wailed as tears flew from her eyes while she buried her head in Zecora's chest. "Sombra ordered me to do it, he threatened to do it to me if I didn't comply; you must think I'm a monster, I wouldn't blame you if you don't consider me a friend anymore." Silverstream said before Zecora started rubbing the back of her head to calm her.

"Silverstream, it's ok; I do not think of you a monster for following an order. You were scared and you didn't do it of your own volition; and I understand, I will not end our friendship because of that." Zecora spoke as she held Silverstream in her arms. "Now let's see what I can do about your wings." Zecora said as she removed the casts resulting in Silverstream sighing in relief both at hearing Zecora's reassuring words and feeling her wings free of the casts allowing them to breathe.

"But Sombra will just break them again." Silverstream said as Zecora examined her wings and applied some potion to them.

The guard in the room spoke, "by order of King Sombra, the zebra is to heal the break in your wings by using the potion she just applied, he said there's no need to break your wings again and he doesn't wish to sleep with a crippled slave." The guard said as he stood watching the ordeal.

Silverstream with a puzzled look just nodded not knowing what to say, so moved her wings to see that they were fixed and thanked Zecora who after healing her wings, was escorted back to her chambers by the guard leaving Silverstream alone with her thoughts.

In the loneliness of her thoughts, Silverstream couldn't help but to think of her friends' homes and how she had a claw in helping Sombra take them over, she'd say to herself, "I won't be able to look any of them straight in the face again, not Ocellus, not Yona , not Smolder, not even Sandbar and Gallus, once all the kingdoms fall. I'll only have three friends left by the time Yakyakistan falls.

Silverstream began to tear up as a torrent of emotions and thoughts flooded her mind and heart, she didn't want to sleep with Sombra, but she knows she doesn't have a choice, she had to; she offered her freedom for others, but it appeared to be for naught; their lands were still being invaded though it appeared that Sombra kept his word on not making them his slaves.

Sombra at this time was in Yakyakistan battling the yak soldiers for dominance over their land, Silverstream winched at the thought and laid down to escape her thoughts by sleeping, but was still plagued by her thoughts as she slept.

Silverstream was awoken by a guard from a deep sleep and was informed that it was time, Sombra had returned and was awaiting her in his chambers.

Silverstream got up from where she laid and followed the guard to Sombra's chamber; when they arrived Silverstream entered and seen Sombra hanging up his robe which was dripping wet, probably due to the snow melting, Sombra stood before her without any clothes as her grabbed her claws and guided her to his bed adorned with satin sheets.