How can I explain away something I haven’t done?
If you can’t just hear me now, you’ll never trust anyone.
With all the crazy doubts you have, I’m truthful even still.
But if I can’t change your mind, then no one will.
Those words played in my head as I waited for Celestia to appear. I knew I needed to be proactive. I wasn't just going to keep sitting here waiting for something to happen. I needed to convince Celestia myself that her hate for me was irrational and she should help me. Fluttershy and Luna weren’t going to do it. Even if they tried to help me without Celestia, I didn’t think she’d let them get very far. Or, at the very least, she'd try to delay their progress. I knew that. I needed to take my fate here into my own hands.
Shortly before she left, I asked Luna to speak with her, and Celestia produced herself a little while later. She wore the same expression as always, and stood at the entrance of the bedroom, waiting for me to speak.
I took a breath. “I know you hate Sombra, and I know why, too. I feel bad about what he did, and I'm sorry about that. But I want to know why you hate me when you know I’m not him.”
I know I didn't do a very good job, but I tried to sound apologetic. I was a little sympathetic to her, but I mostly wanted her to know that she was being completely unreasonable to me.
“And why do such things matter to you?” she asked immediately.
I looked at her for a second, confused, then answered, “Um, because you wanted to kill me? I know you're upset with me, but I don’t want you to turn into Daybreaker and try to kill me yourself.”
“Then you should rest assured that I will not let some creature like Sombra turn me into a monster.”
“Okay, but…” I started, then stopped. I wasn’t going to go down the route I wanted to. I needed to stay on track and convince her to help me. “I mean, if you hate me so much, then you should want to help me so that I can get out of your hair. I mean, if you don’t want me here, and I don’t want to be here, then this problem should solve itself.”
“And what happens when we send you away and Sombra returns?”
“Then kill him! I don’t care! Do whatever you want! Just don’t make me stay here!”
She stared at me for a little while, taking in what I told her, and I added, “You don’t even have to do it for me. You could just do it to maintain whatever image you want to keep.”
“Are you threatening me?” she asked.
“Um, no,” I said quickly, trying to clarify what I meant. “But I don’t think Luna would appreciate it very much if you didn’t help me.”
“Are you suggesting that I’m shallow? Because if so, you should understand that if I did hate you as much as you say I do, then what you’re saying is very dangerous for you.”
“I- I just- I want you to help me! If you hate me that much, you should want to help me! You’re not supposed to be doing this!”
“And from what you say, you’re not supposed to be Sombra. It seems like we’ve both gotten our parts mixed up.”
I huffed at that and turned my head away from her, starting to feel hopeless. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll just wait for Luna and Fluttershy to help me. If you’ll let them.”
There was a long silence as I lay on the bed, waiting for Celestia to leave. However, she stood there, and I could feel her eyes staring at me, as though she was thinking. “When you came here,” Celestia suddenly asked me, “was there any gap in your consciousness?”
“What?” I asked back, confused, as I turned around to face her again. Her neutral expression was gone and was replaced with a scowl.
“Was there any gap in your consciousness when you arrived here?” she asked again, more forcefully this time.
“Um, no? What do you mean?”
“From one second to the next,” she told me slowly, as if speaking to a child, a frustrated tone in her voice, “was there anything that happened in between you being in your body and you becoming Sombra?”
“No. It was instantaneous, faster than a blink.”
“And what is it you were doing immediately prior to this?”
“Nothing! I was sitting at my desk!”
“Did you feel anything different before this happened?”
“No.”
“Is there any magic in the place you came from?”
“No.”
She scowled at me harder. “Do you understand how unbelievable your situation is? For everything you claim to be true, Sombra has to have found magic more powerful than anything we’ve ever known, in which case, we would not be able to let you leave.”
“If that’s true,” I countered, hating the way this conversation was going, “then why wouldn’t he have just enslaved the Crystal Empire again?”
“The answer is that he would have, which indicates only one other scenario.”
"And that is...?"
“That you’re lying. A much more reasonable explanation is that you are using your magic to make us see what you want us to see.”
“But Luna told me that Dis-”
“Despite Discord’s high opinion of himself, he is not as all-powerful as he claims to be. And even if he was, it still does not explain-”
“STOP!” I screamed, interrupting her. She looked at me like it was the last thing she expected from me, but I was fed up. I didn’t want to keep going around in circles with her. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do to convince you that I’m me, but either tell me that you’ll help me or that you won’t. I don’t want to wait around here forever thinking about how much you hate me, and I don’t want to waste time trying to get ponies to convince you to help me if it’s not going to matter.”
She thought that what he told her seemed honest, almost desperate.
“You’re being unreasonable, Celestia,” the alicorn princess thought, staring at the black-coated stallion.
She huffed silently at that. She wasn’t being unreasonable. It might have seemed that way because of Luna and Discord’s belief in him, but just because things seemed a certain way didn’t make such things true. While both of them could find the truth in many things, she herself had always been more knowledgeable with these kinds of things.
“That’s true, but as your sister told you, you’re letting your judgment become clouded. At the rate things are going, it’s only a matter of time before they all gang up on you. Do you not remember the fire that began to appear in your hair this morning? Are you trying to turn yourself into Daybreaker?”
She wasn’t going to become Daybreaker. She had too much self control for that. And even if she did, it would be Sombra’s fault for bringing himself here. It would actually work out quite well for him. Appearing out of the blue, tainting their minds so that she could turn into Daybreaker, and then, with her gone, he could rule over Equestria. The way things were going would turn out excellently for him.
“Let's presume that things are headed down that path. Is it not your duty to prevent such things from happening?”
The easiest way to do that would be to take Sombra out of the picture.
“How demented are you? How much sight have you lost? There is a quick solution to this. Publicly apologize, send him away, start a speech about how every creature needs friendship, and be done with it.”
And what if she didn’t want to do that?
“Then keep spiraling and lose everything.”
Celestia growled to herself at that. She didn’t want to help him. She couldn’t even bear to look at him. All she saw was her Sombra. Her Sombra, who became a villain because of this Sombra’s villainy.
“And what does that creature have to do with that? He has done nothing except cooperate with your requests. Moreover, he doesn’t want to be here, and you don’t want him here. As he told you, this problem should solve itself.”
And what happens when he isn’t Sombra? Does that demon come back into his body? The last time she saw him, he nearly conquered Equestria.
“Stop this right now. You’re the most important and looked up to pony in Equestria. If he is Sombra, he’ll reveal himself. If not, you’ll never have to deal with him again.”
Celestia stayed silent at that thought.
“Stop being irrational and direct your hate to something constructive. If you truly believe that creature is making a mess of things, then you should do everything in your power to send him away. If Sombra reappears after this creature is gone, then blast him with all your might.”
“Fine,” Celestia said to Alex after a very long while. “I will see what I can do, if only to get you out of my mane and to prevent you from disturbing the image I’ve worked to maintain. You've caused quite enough trouble for me as it is, and I now have to go through the trouble of repairing it.”
“Thank you!” Alex got out, exasperated, leaving out the fact that it was trouble she started for herself.
"However, once you're gone, if Sombra reappears, he will feel the full force of my rage."
"I don't even care because I'm not him."
“You should be ecstatic,” Celestia told her sister flatly as the two lowered the celestial bodies. “I’ve decided to help that creature.”
Princess Luna rolled her eyes at that. “Yes, I guess you could say that I am satisfied that you’ve decided to stop being so emotional and hateful towards some creature who has done nothing to you.
The white alicorn eyed her sister suspiciously. “Let me ask: why are you so quick to take his side?” she asked her seriously.
“Because I know that if I were not, you would strike that creature down without hesitation.”
She watched as Luna gave her a quick glance, then turned her attention back to the moon. She put her own attention back on the sun’s lowering, and began to think about the situation.
That being was not Sombra. She knew that. And yet, she couldn’t help the immense hatred she felt for him. If not that creature, then that body at least was responsible for the ponies she lost in her life. Even now, she knew that just the sight of it was clouding her thinking, which, in turn, was slowly causing her sister to turn against her, and would push away other ponies from her. Slowly, she could feel herself starting to crack.
It, of course, began with the death of Princess Amore. When Radiant Hope announced that Sombra had killed her, she herself felt as though she’d been physically stabbed. She was a very close friend, and had known her since childhood, and it was a tough blow to hear that she’d been lost. Not only her, though, but the entire Crystal Empire, which, as a result, caused Radiant Hope to decline her tutelage and abandon her destiny.
It might not have been so bad if she hadn’t lost the Sombra she loved to evil in the mirror world. Not just lost, but lost specifically because of this world’s Sombra’s evilness. Had he not been, then her Sombra might still be with her. But he had been, and what happened during her time in the mirror world was unchangeable now.
And now he was back, seemingly taunting her, causing more mischief as he made it so that Luna stood against her, as well as making another former student abandon being princess. And then, after that, to claim no wrongdoing… it burned her badly. It made her hate grow to think about.
“Calm down,” she told herself as she set the sun. “This is a very easy situation to fix. He’s not being malicious. He hasn’t tried to attack or make a move. He’s just…”
Infuriating was the word. She thought he was infuriating, but knew she had to put those feelings to bed. Anger, hate, and pain were awful emotions, dangerous emotions, to hold in. Too many times she saw what it did to other ponies, and knew that, as ruler of Equestria, she couldn’t allow herself to be consumed by them. She would control herself. She would control herself.
10165254
I can see that, but it either had to go here or on 4-1, and I decided here so the next scene could make more sense.
That didn't happen.
And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
And if it was, that's not a big deal.
And if it is, that's not my fault.
And if it was, I didn't mean it.
And if I did...
You deserved it.
The Narcissist's Prayer
10165324
This made me laugh : )
Nice!!!!!
It is as he says: The problem really should resolve itself. It seems hate isn't the only thing clouding Celestia's mind; that pain and jealousy has (perhaps permanently) skewed her thoughts, and until she stops being a roadblock she's just making it harder for literally everyone.
We wonder if the Sweetie Belle Chronicles Sweetie would be able to help smack some sense into her. She's definitely had a tonne of experience dealing with alternate reality versions of loved ones...
Keep going! ;)
I can’t wait for Celestia to misinterpret some action on his part as a mask slipping.
This was alot better than I thought it would be.
Very well.
10164366
In theory yes, in practice... "Boom HEADSHOT".
Also we dont have mind reading and magic... But we have plastic surgery and insane asylms to but people away that pop out of nowere and tell is they are 'yxz' because...
10164392
Depends on story to story. I can give you story names for both be truth or false. But consider this:...
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/215461/dont-let-the-darkness-consume-me
That would be my to go interpretation to original Sombra!
10164405
Wow... You are a hypocritic or need seriouse help...
Life is to short to trow it away... It cant rain everyday...
Also - Your not bored in a life or death situation...
Every minute counts if your in one. For instance:
Im Alex now: Celestia wannt me dead, i cant change that and im in her bloody castle in her city of her nation! Im basicly done for... BUT Luna ( her sister and equal ) is acting like duty, harmony & justice demand. I have her and Fluttershy knowing this. Cant do anything big since im stuck in a place... Or can i? I still need to learn walking/trotting/running, magic telekenesis and check my body in detail. How do it look? What is my bodys movments limit? Guestrooms have mirrors... Can i change my mane style? Maybe check how going to the toilet works... Seriously new body and all... So far we are on day two so i had a few hours to check for that stuff wile thinking about my situation. [To be continued]
10164635
Well your story pacing is fine. Unless the chapters get bigger it cant be helped... Love the details and world/ character -building. So far its a consistent story Maybe 2-3 points could be better but... There is always something
This chapter was one hell of a game changer! Very well done! Now Celestia can prepared to tell the truth take the damage she caused herself to be revealed, say she is sorry and let Luna and Twilight handle it. ... ... ...
Aaannnddd prepare a Elite Guard squad just in case... For Alex safety of course...Huh, I see that the continuity here is straddling the fence between the comics and the show. Did you decide to leave out the Sombra that had chosen to free himself from his supposed destiny and was turned into a true unicorn free from the Crystal Hearts power? I've always held the theory that the Sombra that returned by Discords doing was a solidified echo of Sombra's former evil produced from remnants of Sombra's magic in the Crystal Empire or produced through the horn that got cut off when Sombra tried to enter the Crystal Empire in season 3. That way the horn that was left of Sombra when he got blasted by the Crystal Heart and was found later by Radiant Hope as he was slowly reforming himself was the true Sombra. It fits well enough considering some of the minor continuity differences between the comics and show. Plus, the evil Sombra from season 9 was called King Sombra while the reformed Sombra was just called Sombra when he became a true unicorn at the end of the MLP: FIM issue #37 comic.
With how you intend to bring Radiant Hope into the mix I'm expecting a meeting of Sombra(good) and Alex. Maybe even Discord explaining how the King Sombra and Sombra are two different entities.
Hrmm, this line is particularly worrisome, because it tells us from Celestia's own mouth that the kind, motherly Celestia we know and love is just a public image, and that the murder-happy manipulative Celestia we've seen in the story so far is the real Celestia.
10165520
The greatest deception in Equestrias history...
To be fair she is probably more cold blood calculated than a bloodlusting killer.
Okey..............................
Wait............
FUCK!
I just remembered what pushed the rest of IDW comics story forward
Radiant Hope employed Flim and Flam, Iron Will, Lightning Dust, Chrysalis and her changelings to invade the Crystal Empire.
Then Hope uses her healing magic to restore Sombra's body. As a result, Sombra is able to turn Celestia and Luna to stone.
..........but he unfortunate-I mean fortunately didn't shatter them :) maybe next time
Essentially umbrum are released and later Sombra is needed to seal them away by placing Crystal Heart on the pedestal
From wiki
Sombra, remembering Hope's earlier words about destiny, places the Heart back on its pedestal, causing the umbrum to be imprisoned again. Sombra starts to fade away, but Hope uses her magic to maintain his form, and she and the princesses transform him into a real unicorn.
Having been given a second chance, Sombra sets out to find the fragments of Princess Amore scattered across Equestria and restore her, and Radiant Hope accompanies him.
Also, the second part is also important, isn't it?
10165535
I'm kind of happy thinking Twilight will replace her
One of the rare good things season 9 brought
*happy human noises*
10165381
May I ask what we were thinking would happen?
How to say it...... ah i know, how about a big fat fucking
YES!
will that do?
Oh she’s very demented, she’s downright batshit loony-toons levels of insane, a mix of Daffy Duck Porky Pig and Bugs Bunny wouldn’t even begin to reach the end of her hooves, in fact, she’s even crazier then fucking Yosemite Sam! and he’s so far down the goddam proverbial rabbit hole, his face has smashed into bedrock,
10165774
Wait, if Alex brought up Daybreaker, why does Celestia still think he is Sombra? Sombra wouldn't have any knowledge of Daybreaker. It would make Celestia more suspicious, but it would clear Alex of being Sombra.
10166037
Because Celestia knows he's not Sombra, she's just being completely unreasonable
10166038
Still, I'm surprised she didn't say anything about it other than "I have too much self control for that."
I like the story, but I do find this to be a little odd.
It always disappoints me when the characters in a fic I'm reading have the logical competence of a cartoon character.
Celestia can't set Alex free unless she's 100% sure that Sombra can't return, if she does it would be like setting free a murderous rapist with amnesia.
Even if Celestia can nuke Sombra at anytime setting him free even with monitoring would just give him chances to plot, escape and do untold damage, like killing the bearers in thier sleep.
10165774
I thought you'd thoroughly lack any form of substantial sense.
It's quite a common thing on this site.
The fact that this entire thing follows some level of self awareness is astounding.
Common sense is rare nowadays.
10165332
Current SBC!SB doesn't seem to be in shape to help anypony much. That said, it seems like she's coming around on her own.
10166121
Yeah, the poor dear. But it's been known that extra-fic crossovers don't necessarily need to occur simultaneously with real-world time; it could just as easily occur later in her canon emplacement, especially considering the time-travel shenanigans at play...
Round and round, around we go, follow the trail, wherever it goes...
Well, I guess this might possibly qualify as progress. Even so, Celestia still makes me want to smack her upside the head.
10166198
That's the correct feeling to have
10166230
Being the worse has nothing to do with being evil.
A tornado is neither good nor evil but still cause more damage than a criminal human, which is evil, and is, by definition, worse than said criminal.
10166296
America is only one continent which is divided into 3, north central and south.
Also in North America there is also Canada, making the USA still not "America" even if we only take into consideration North America.
Bloody Celestia and her bloody hormones, the sad part about all this is that Celestia doesn't realize that the Sombra she knows from the alternate Equestria, isn't evil anymore... this entire situation is Celestia being a dumb, stubborn idiot, and what image, you're about to retire, who cares about your image!
10166417
She's not about to retire anymore
10166484
The smaller countries - the islands between North and South America - some of them are considered to be in North America, while Canada, USA, & Mexico can be considered the three major countries of North America, there are other countries in North America
10166436
She was but nope she had to stick to the past
10166716
I see.
10164442
Using just the word America, refers to the USA.
If you wish to refer to the continents you should use one of the following: The Americas, North America, South America.
This doesn't really do anything for her, she still seems driven by hate for hatred's sake, and doesn't make up fir previous actions. She's still totally untrustworthy.
Also something I've noted, is that uf the Crystal Heart hurt Sombra before he was an evil tyrant, why would it bot hurt him after becoming good? The only explainations are that Amore was cruel/evil/racist towards Sombra qnd used the heart to hurt him, that the heart is not inherently good, or that because he was part umbrum he rightfully deserved to suffer because he was inherently evil despite not have done anything. The only reason why the heart wouldn't hurt gim after reforming then woukd be because by redeeming himself he changed species, which further implies being born the wrong thing means you deserve to be tortured.
tl;dr Sombra was the victim of racism.
10169650
The Crystal Heart, just like the Elements of Harmony, is an artifact and it is not "good", just as Discord is not "evil".
The Crystal Heart is neutral and depends on who and how it is used, something from the show is that it can be used to broadcast love through the whole world but it can also be used to broadcast hatred through he world.
10167837
Nah, that is only the US people being overly bearing about it.
America was never and is not only the US.
10169997
Ive never heard of anyone referring to Canadians or Mexicans as American?
Ive been to Europe. Spain, Germany and Czech Republic. They all ask, are you from America.
Hell, type America in Google and you get the wiki page for USA.
Technically, you are correct. But society doesnt care. When people use the singular term America, they more likely than not, are referring to the US.
10170108
Well, the country is called the United States of America, so there is kinda of a justification behind that, plus, most Latinos don't even care, they prefer being called by their nation's name, Colombians, Mexicans, Argentineans, etc.....
Aunque sea creo que así lo ven los demás.
10173048
Thats what im saying.
10165520
yep and it a scary thought..... I don't even want to imagine what Celestia is ,like under that masc of hers *shudders*
10173102
Actualy more like 'write it'...
Did i 'nailed it' ? ... ... ... ♡
10169997
Just because you're correct doesn't mean that you're right
Since this is happening during season 9 there are a lot of things she is not supposed to be doing. But she's still does it because the show writers are a bunch of trolls.