> Sweetie's Shadow
>  by Note Sketch
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1. Bound
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


▂▃▅▇█▓▒░۩ Arc 1 Start ۩░▒▓█▇▅▃▂


"Rarity?!" A voice called out from the second floor of the boutique. The mare in question sighed as a sense of annoyance took over her. This was suppose to be a calm and quiet day for her to focus on her work, but having her sister around suddenly increased the chances of something breaking...or burning down.

"Yes?" The white mare replied as the sewing machine began to wind down. Looking over to the door, Rarity foresaw her younger sister barging in, and sure enough, she did.

"There's something I really really really need your help with!" Sweetie Belle said as she held the door open. The small filly was breathing heavy as her eyes were wide open in fear. This look of desperation quickly tore away whatever annoyance Rarity was feeling and replaced it with concern.

"What's wrong dear?"

"There's some weird guy in my room!"

"What!?" Rarity asked as she quickly stood up, knocking her seat down. "How did he get in here?"

"I-I-I-I don't know, he just...appeared!" Sweetie Belles replied as her sister ran to her, placing her hooves to the filly's shoulders. 

"Shh, shh, it's okay Sweetie. I'm here now." Rarity said as she tried to calm her sister down, which seemed to be working. "Now, where is he?"

"In my room."

"Okay, let me go get something real quick and we can go see who this pervert is." Rarity said with a reassuring smile that brought some calm to the poor filly. Sticking to her older sister like glue, Sweetie Belle followed Rarity as ran she to grab a bat she had stashed away, mostly to hide it from Sweetie Belle.

"Hey, that's mine!"

"Correction, it was yours until you and your crusader friends decided to break my window with your baseball game."

"It was to get our cutie marks!"

"Did you get them?"

"No..."

"Then it wasn't worth a custom made stained glass window." The white mare said with a teasing smile as she walked off to the room where the culprit was last seen.

Slowly opening the door just a bit to peep inside, Rarity looked around the pink room as she searched for the intruder. She continued to open the door until she got a glimpse of some pony who was laying on the floor of the room. It was strange. By the scorched marks around the body, it was almost like a failed teleportation spell or something like that.

"Hello?" Rarity asked out as she slowly walked in, bat in the air above her with her blue magical aura around it. "Who are you?" 

Nothing. The body remained motionless. Was he...dead? Getting ever closer, Rarity cautiously looked over the body. It was much more strange to the eyes now that she was nearer.

The pony's body was...moving, but like if it was trying to fall into place. Like a graphical glitch, the skin crawled as it found it's place on the stallion's body. He was turned away from her so she couldn't get a look at his face, but that was the least of her worries at the moment. Suddenly the dark stallion breathed in, scaring the white mare enough to get her to retreat from the room.

Again she opened the door to peek in. 

"H-Hello?" She asked out one more. 

Again, no response, though now it was clear the stallion was breathing in. Had it been holding his breath or....

"Is he still there?" Sweetie asked as she peeked in as well from behind the door.

"Yes, though I'm not sure if he's okay..." Rarity said as she slowly lowered the bat. "How did you say he came to your room?"

"There was this bright light and there some weird chanting, and then poof, he was there." The filly responded as she pushed the door open all the way.

"It kind of sounds like he messed up his teleportation and wound up here." She said as she once again came close to the stallion, still cautiously though. Gently poking him with her bat, she called out to him. "Hellooo? You alright there?"

Still nothing from him. 

Gaining some confidence, Rarity loosened her tense body and began to walk upright as she circled the stallion. Squinting to get a better look at him, she looked the stallion over now that she had access to his face. It was definitely a unicorn, but his horn was completely strange. Instead of a spiral horn, it was more of a red spike, which immediately caused the mare a sense of dread.

"It...It can't be." She said in a shaking voice as she gazed over him.

"Do you know who he is?" Sweetie Belle asked from the door frame. 

"I think so...I just have to make sure of something..." Rarity replied as she raised her bat. Gently, she moved his mane out of his face to get a better look at him. With his muzzle revealed, her fears were confirmed. As if the white arrows between his eyes weren't enough to distinguish the stallion, his fangs certainly accomplished the job. It was none other than the Tyrant of the Frozen North. The Unicorn King of the Crystal Empire.

"K-King Sombra..." She whispered to herself in disbelief. As if his name was the trigger that would jolt him awake. The dark stallion opened his eyes wide as he was suddenly pushed into reality. Blood thirst filled in his glare, he threw himself up and tackled Rarity against the wall as a terrifying roar escaped his mouth. 

Frozen in fear, Rarity was pinned against the wall as her magic allowed the bat she was holding to fall to the floor and roll away. His vision beginning to clear, Sombra became more lucid as he look over the mare he was holding by the throat.

"You...I recognize you! You and your friends killed me...or at least came close to killing me. I will enjoy tearing you apart!" He shouted as a smirk stretched across his face. A smile that brought chills down Rarity's spine as she saw his fangs glimmer in the light. 

"Don't hurt her!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she ran over to them. 

A pain surged over Sombra. A pain that seemed to take control of his body as his grey coat glowed, forcing him to pull away and let the mare go. Shaking his head as he tried to breath through the anguish coursing through his muscles, he looked back at his 'prey'. 

"Sweetie Belle...get back!" Rarity shouted between the coughs her body let out from suddenly released from the hold on her neck. The filly didn't exactly listen as she stood between Sombra and her sister, a soft growl escaping her.

"You...what did you do to me!?" Sombra shouted out as he began to power his horn with dark magic. His red irises faded into the sickly green his eyes were now glowing as he began to attack. Or tried to at least. As much as he willed himself to attack with his magical abilities, he couldn't seem to execute them. 

He wasn't out of magic or anything, he simply could not bring himself to shoot out his magic. It was like if he was forced to stand down. Growls and snarls were heard as Sombra strained himself trying to attack. Nothing. Giving up on magic, he instead ran up to the filly as he intended to instead use physical force, but as he came inches away from her, he was once again forced to stand down.

Taking a second to look at the white filly, he shouted out. "Why can't I kill you!?"  Again he jumped forward but was pushed back as if he had hit an invisible barrier.

The sisters looked confused at one another as Sombra simply looked like he was being pulled away by some pony only to charge at them again and then dragged off again in a strange and almost funny cycle.

"A-Are you alright there?" Sweetie Belled asked as she began to sweat at his strange actions. 

"No I'm not! I want to tear you both to pieces but something won't let me!" He shouted as he finally gave up and simply stood back.

"That's good. It would be bad for us if you tore us up to tiny pieces." The filly said with a smile, the gruesomeness of the threat flying right over her head. 

"It looks like we're safe here...Some pony must have put up a force field to help us or something." Rarity said as she came to her hooves. "If we here in the corner we can wait until some pony comes to help."

"Ooohh." Sweetie said as she completely ignored her sister and walked straight up to Sombra to look at his long mane. As she came to his side, he flinched his muscles as some movement on his part was denied.

"Get back over here!" The white mare said as she used her magic to levitate her sister away from Sombra. "King Sombra could have killed you!" She scolded as she hugged Sweetie Belle to keep her close.

"Believe me, I tried." Sombra declared as he looked over at them. "Chee, I don't have time to wait around here. No doubt I'll be caught and sent to the princesses or something if I stay here." He said as he turned around to walk away and head towards the door

"Wait!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she broke free of her sister's grip.

"Argh!" Sombra shouted as his body froze, a powerful strain on all of his muscles. 

"He...He actually waited?" Rarity asked as she cautiously followed her sister to get close, both confused and concerned about what was going on.

"You can't go without apologizing to me and Rarity for attacking us!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she blocked the exit, not that it mattered since Sombra wasn't allowed to move by some strange force anyway.

"I...will not apologize to either of you!" He responded with a pained voice. 

"It's rude not to! Do it!" Sweetie Belle scolded.

Sombra's head jerked up as his body suddenly took a formal pose. His hooves together, he clenched his jaw as he felt his voice begin to come out, but refused to allow it to do so.

"Apologize." She demanded again.

He persisted to remain silent, but for some reason could not seem to be able to disobey the filly. Still, his will and pride would not allow himself to do such a thing as apologize. For a moment he grunted and growled at the discomfort he first felt when he was forced to stand formality towards Sweetie Belle became another surge of pain across his entire body.

"P-Please forgive my actions." He finally said and as he did, his body fell to the floor. The force that had held him in place finally let go now that he had obeyed the filly. From the ground he tried to stand again but was left exhausted from struggling a moment before.

"Okay, I forgive you." Sweetie Belle said as she raised her head pridefully, happy that she had gotten an apology. "You can go now if you want." She said. At once, Sombra began to dissipate into the air. 

His body de-materialized into what seemed like smoke and spiraled in the air before flying straight to Sweetie Belle. She flinched as she saw the smoke come her way, but it changed trajectory at the last second and instead hit the ground, becoming the shadow that she didn't know she was missing.

Both Rarity and Sweetie Belle stood quiet for a while. The events that had taken place still processing through their minds.

"Uh...Sweetie Belle...Dear."

"Y-Yes Rarity?"

"What exactly were you doing before King Sombra appeared in your room?"

"Reading off a spell book I got from Twilight's library."
> 2. So Much for First Impressions
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come out!" Sweetie Belle shouted into the air with a large grin upon her face. At once her shadow moved and peeled itself off the floor and into the air before beginning to take the form of a stallion. Landing softly on the ground, a dark being was revealed as the darkness washed off of his coat. 

King Sombra laid down on his stomach as he glared at the filly who had summoned him...again. With a grunt, he looked away as the filly came close to speak with the stoic stallion. 

"It really works!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she ran around him. 

"I thought you would have understood that by the fifth time..." Sombra muttered as he glanced down at her.

"Twilight said you need to test things out a lot to make sure something is true and not just coincidence." Sweetie Belle justified herself. "Besides, it's really cool to see you come out of my shadow like that!"

Again he grunted. The adrenaline of being brought back from the dead and seeing one of the mares who had presumably killed him had wore off. More calm and able to think things through, Sombra studied the small filly as she continued to mess with his features, mostly his long mane. Try as he did, he just could not hurt her. Some strange force would stop him each time he tried and send a wave of pain across his body.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity shouted out as she entered the room. "I told you not to do that!" She finished as she ran over to her sister and pulled her away from him.

"But why? It's not like he's gonna hurt me." Sweetie replied as she gazed up at Rarity in a pouting face. 

"Oh my Celestia..." Another voice called out from the door way. Twilight, whom had been brought over by her friend, was shocked to see that Rarity was telling the truth about the events of the morning. Eyeing him up and down, she got ever closer to him as if he was some sort of strange specimen to be studied.

"See? It's King Sombra." Rarity said as she and Twilight both looked at the dark stallion. 

"Ohh ohh, and watch this!" The filly of the group called out as she once again broke free of her sister's embrace. "Become my shadow!" She cried out with a smile.

Sombra sighed as he felt his body begin to shift densities. Slowly pulled apart to become a thick black smoke, he levitated into the air before diving down at Sweetie Belle's hooves and taking the place of her shadow. Twilight was in awe at the sight and kneeled down to see the shade the filly created before poking it with her hoof. 

"How did you do that?" Twilight asked out as she looked down at the ever so happy filly. 

"I have no idea!" She responded with a grin. The 'whys' or 'hows' mattered little to her, all she cared about was the fact that it worked and it happened. "Come back out!" She shouted again.

For the seventh time, Sweetie Belle's shadow lifted from the ground and shot away from her. Hitting the ground it generated into Sombra's figure and solidified. An annoyed grimace upon his face, he stared blankly at the trio who eyed him. Though something caught his eye. A smirk spread across his face as he noticed Twilight.

"Well well well..." He said in softly. The sound of his voice made the skin all the mares crawl as they slowly turn to see his devilish smile.

"W-What is it?"

Quickly he pounced from his laying position onto Twilight as he shot out dark bolts of magic. Evading to the side, The purple mare slid across the floor as her hooves struggled to maintain her in balance.

"It seems that I can attack you." His voice echoed as his eyes began to burn in purple flames. 

"I thought you said he couldn't hurt us!" Twilight shouted out at her friend as she took a defensive pose.

"H-He can't!" Rarity replied, though not truly believing herself as she saw Sombra perform his attacks. Last time, he couldn't even begin the motion. This time he might be able to seriously hurt them, though he seemed to be fixated on Twilight alone.

"Stop it!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she got between the two fighting ponies. 

"Move out of the way!" The young alicorn said as she pulled the filly away, though was surprised that she didn't need to do that. Sombra seemed to actually be listening to her, or at least was forced to. 

Quivering in place, it was easy to see how much Sombra was being strained to stay in place. His bravado from before was all but gone as he growled out. All of them remained still as he finally stopped struggling and backed away, his muscles released of tension. 

"Damn it all. What sort of curse have you placed on me?" Sombra asked out in a loud voice to the filly. She, however, seemed to ignore the question all together.

"Why did you begin fighting? We were all getting along just fine!" She screamed out, scolding the stallion who was not very amused by the fact that some pony the fifth of his size was opposing him so easily.

"Sweetie Belle." Twilight began as she leaned down to speak to her. "Tell Sombra to do something again." 

The request left the child confused as she turned to look at the mare. "Huh? Why?"

"Just do it please."

"Umm...okay." She replied before turning her gaze back at Sombra who was glaring at her. "Say you're sorry!"

"This again?!" He asked as he felt his body begin to force into place like last time. Again he gritted his teeth as he did his best to keep his mouth shut. 

Twilight was left in awe as she looked over at the dark stallion who's veins were popping out of his forehead. The strain on his body was intense as it soon became apparent he was in a lot of pain. Still, he refused to do as the filly told him to. 

"Say it!"

"No!"

"It's rude to attack ponies"

"I care not for what is rude and what is not!"

"King Sombra!" Sweetie Belle shouted out. As she did, a purple light appeared all around them as both she and Sombra seemed to grow strange tattoos on their bodies. They were identical, though they had the sense of shackles. The tattoos that glowed on Sombra were especially bright as he was forced into a formal stance. "Say you're sorry!" She once again shouted out.

"Forgive my rude behavior." He finally said as his tattoo shackles forced him to move in an apologetic gesture. Once the action was complete, the glowing markings on both of them faded away, allowing Sombra to move freely now. 

Falling to the floor, the stallion was once again left exhausted from struggling against what force drove him to obey. Sweetie Belle, who had been head strong up until now, showed a face of concern now that she noticed just how hurt he looked. Rushing over to him she kneeled down by his head.

"A-Are you alright?" She asked.

"Am I alright? Funny coming from the one responsible for my ails..." Sombra replied as he struggled to his hooves, no doubt his pride wouldn't allow him to remain on the ground for very long. 

"I caused this?" The filly asked as a wave of guilt fell over her. Her eyes opened wide in regret for shouting at him, she was gently pulled away as Twilight took her place in front of Sombra.

"King Sombra, what exactly did you do to Sweetie Belle?" The mare asked, beginning an interrogation. 

"What I did? It was this insufferable child that did something to me!" He responded as he glared to Sweetie Belle. Her only response was to hide behind her sister's legs as she felt horrible for what had happened.

"You mean you didn't plan to do something evil now that you brought yourself back to life?"

"I didn't bring myself back to life. I was forced back. That filly is a necromancer of some sort. She seemed to have put some strange spell over me, cursing me to do as she says." 

"Is that true Sweetie?" Rarity asked as she turned around and crouched to her younger sister's side. 

"No! I was just reading off of Twilight's spell book that was supposed to cure me!"

"Cure you of what?" The white mare asked.

"Talking in front of my class..." She replied, almost too embarrassed to say what it was about.

"She came to me asking for a way to get over public speaking." Twilight said as she walked over to the sisters side of the room. "I told her I had a book that could help her, but it was just a book with instructions on how to overcome your fears, not a spell book that would make them go away." She finished with a downed look. "I have no idea how she would be able to get a necromancy spell out of that."

"Chee, you're speaking to us right now. That mean's you're not afraid to talk in front of other ponies." Sombra uttered, not really comprehending the strange phobia the filly possessed. 

"Talking in front of ponies I know and talking in front of all my classmates are two different things!" The filly responded as she jumped out towards Sombra. With an eye brow raised he chuckled to himself as he stepped towards the filly.

"Well you clearly don't lack courage." Sombra spoke as he and Sweetie Belle locked eyes in what seemed like a stand off. The air around them tensed for a bit as the mares began to look at each other in a worried expression.

"Ahem." Rarity said as she stepped up between the two of them. "Sweetie, darling, I think it's about time you get going. You'll be late to school otherwise."

"Oh! You're right!" The filly replied as she glanced over at the clock on the wall nearby. 

"Come, I'll walk you out." The white mare said a she and her sister made their way out, though she threw her friend a troubled glance before shutting the door behind them.

A moment of silence occurred as Sombra and Twilight were left alone in the boutique. 

"Well this is awkward." The dark stallion said as he looked over at one of his...'killers'. 

Clearing her throat as she placed a hoof to her mouth, Twilight looked for the right words to say. She certainly didn't expect to ever see Sombra again, let alone have a moment for them to talk. "So, King Sombra. I am going to have to question you some more. Even if this isn't your fault, we can't have you running around with Sweetie Belle and...Sombra?" 

Twilight looked over at her companion in surprised as she heard him pant in exhaustion. 

"A-Are you alright?" She asked the dead pan stallion as he began to stagger in place. Slowly looking up to the mare, his dull eyes struggled to keep in focus as her words began to disorientation him.

"That...in insufferable filly..." He said between pants. 

"What? What about Sweetie Belle?!"

"She's...she's too fa-" His speech was interrupted as he felt himself disappear. Melting into the floor, Sombra became a shadow that quickly slid across the ground and under the door. Twilight was dumbfounded as her mouth opened in surprise. She remained in that state for a good minute before she realized what he had meant to say.

"Oh Celestia damn it!" She shouted out as she ran out the door.

The shadow Sombra had become forced itself to move quickly along the ground as it glided through the hallways of the boutique. Moving to the wall as it reached the stairs, the shade continued to make its way around to the the front door where the sisters were speaking to each other.

"Is King Sombra going to be alright?" The filly asked.

"I'm not sure. We have to see what Twilight and the other princesses say about this entire ordeal. But don't you worry, I'm sure everything will be fine by the time you get back from school." Rarity said with a reassuring smile.

"Do you think maybe I can use this as an excuse to skip out on school today?" Sweetie Belle asked with pleading eyes and an exaggerated grin.

"None sense! You have that very important presentation today." The mare said as she pushed her sister out the door with her muzzle. 

Walking away with her head down in a frown, Sweetie Belle waved bye half heartedly. Her sister, on the other hoof, held a smile as she began to feel better now that she was no longer with a dangerous stallion. Just as she turned around to close the door, the shadow moved under her and avoided the mare's gaze before connecting with the walking filly. Again in it's place, the shade took the shape of Sweetie Belle as it mimicked her movements.

"Jeez..." She said to herself as she walked oblivious to the fact that her shadow had returned to her. "I still haven't made any progress with talking in public at all! I am sooo gonna blow this." 

"Sweetie Belle!" A familiar voice called out her to. Turning to look at who was shouting, her face brightened up when she saw a small orange pegasus waiting for her up ahead.

"Oh hi Scoots!" 

"Ready for the presentation today?" Her friend asked as she began to walk beside her.

"Arrgh. Don't remind me..."

"Aww, what's wrong? It's just a speech over your role model."

"Yeah, well I don't like speaking in front of other ponies!"

"What? But you sing in front of other ponies. Isn't that like the same thing?"

"No it's not!" Sweetie Belle whined. Though her pouting expression disappeared as a chuckle was heard in her head. Turning around to see who it was that laughed, she tilted her head in confusion.

"Something wrong?" Scootaloo asked.

"I just thought I heard some pony laugh."

Must be your imagination." She replied. Though as she did, a bell was heard ringing in the distance. "Oh no! We're late!" The pegasus shouted as she began to run as fast as she could.

"Hey wait for me!" 
> 3. School's Out
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Hurry now my little ponies." A pink mare said as she welcomed all the colts and fillies storming her school. "Class is starting!"

"Yes Miss Cherilee!" They called out, obediently going in and taking their seats. As each child walked in, the teacher counted them, no doubt taking roll as she saw them pass. A frown took the place of her smile as she saw the last pony walk in and with a sigh looked off into the distance. 

Just as she had expected, two small fillies were running as fast as their small legs could take them. An annoyed look upon the mare's face, she 'patiently' waited until the arrived to speak to them. Panting and sweating, the two fillies looked up at their teacher who was blocking the door way with forced smile and embarrassed expressions.

"Uh...good morning Miss Cherilee..." Scootaloo said as she looked up at the mare whose only response was to raise and eyebrow.

"Got held up again?" Cherilee asked as she eyes them from head to hoof.

"How'd you guess? Heh..."

Switching her gaze instead to Sweetie Belle who was still trying to catch her breath, she sighed once more. 

"Scootaloo I was expecting to be late, but you? Sweetie Belle, you're usually the first pony here."

"Something happened this morning!" The white filly said as she jumped. "You wouldn't believe it, but I somehow-"

"They probably just don't take their studies seriously. It's no wonder they can't get their cutie marks yet." A rather annoyingly high pitched voiced said as she poked her head out towards the fillies being scolded. 

"Shut up Diamond Tiara!" Scootaloo shouted back at the laughing filly. 

"That's enough." Cherilee said as she placed a hoof to her forehead. "It's way too early for this. Just get inside now. We're about to start the presentations." She finished as she lead the way inside. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both glared at the pink filly who had insulted them on their way in.

What a brat.

A voice echoed once more in Sweetie Belle's head. This time for sure she knew she wasn't just hearing things. It was a voice she recognized. 

"King Sombra?" She said under her breath as she walked to her seat.

You can hear me?

"You can talk to me?!" She erupted in surprise.

"Uhh, yeah, but no pony wants to." The tiara wearing filly spoke as she took prideful strides across the classroom to her own seat. 

"Good one DT!" Her ever obedient companion Silver Spoon said as she offered a hoof bump.

The sound of the hooves coming together in a clap was enough to irritate Sweetie Belle. The stallion within her shadow took notice and if he had a face to show his expression, he would have a smirk of amusement. 

You know, I wouldn't be opposed if you told me to kill those two. Just putting that out there.

Sweetie Belle didn't respond. Whether it was because she didn't want to look like she was talking to thin air or because she was actually considering Sombra's proposal, no pony could really know. Suddenly a hoof pressed against her shoulder, bringing her back to reality. 

"Don't listen to them. Those two are always just tryin' to cause a scene." A filly with a large pink bow said. 

"I know..." Sweetie Belle responded as she climbed into her seat. "But I still don't like them."

"Ah know. None of us do." Applebloom said with a smile. 

"Yeah well I wish some pony showed them a lesson! Or at least Diamond Tiara." Scoots spoke as she flailed her arms around in exaggeration. She, like every pony else in their little circle of friends, had just about had it with their bully.

I volunteer.

Sombra spoke again from within Sweetie's head. Was he kidding? Was he serious? She wasn't exactly sure, though she didn't exactly have the opportunity to question it. Drawing attention was the last thing Sweetie Belle wanted to do right now. Students were beginning to do their presentations.

"My role model is Spider-Mane!" A colt said as he stepped up to the podium. Many giggled at what he said though that didn't seem to affect him in the slightest and continued to give his presentation on his role model.

Spider-Mane? Who in their right mind would put spiders in their mane? Sombra asked out. 

"No, Spider-Mane is a comic book super hero." Sweetie Belle whispered to herself. 

And what, pray tell, is a 'comic book'?

"It's like a story book with a lot of pictures."

And how is that any different than a regular book?

"Uh...well I guess it's cause its all pictures and the only writing is what the character say."

Sounds odd...

"It is! I never understood why colts like them so much." Sweetie Belle said, though her speech had gone from a whisper to almost a shout, causing herself to become the center of attention. No doubt every pony thought she was talking about the presentation that she interrupted. "Uh...sorry." She said in a blush.

Sombra chuckled at his 'master's' expense as she felt herself melt into her desk. 

"That's not funny..." She said in a whisper again.

It is from where I'm standing.

"Where are you standing anyway? I thought you were back with Twilight."

I was...until you got too far away. You forgot that I'm bound to you. I can't be very far from you or else I will simply return to your shadow.

"Oh...that's weird."

You're the one who bonded me. How do you not know?

"I told you. I didn't do it on purpose. I was trying to get rid of my fear of public speaking."

"Next pony please! How about you Scootaloo?" Cherilee asked out as she stood up to help the colt down form the podium. 

"Sure!" The orange pegasus shouted as she grabbed her saddle bag and ran up to the front of the class room. Quickly taking everything out, she built up a large poster of the pony every pony knew would be her role model. Rainbow Dash's image proudly stood up for all to see. 'Rainbow Dash is my role model!" Scoots proclaimed out to every pony.

Ah, yet another one of my murderers.

"You keep saying that, but did my sister and her friends really...kill you?"

You tell me Necromancer.

"Stop calling me that, I don't even know what that word means!"

"What? A Sonic Rainboom?" Scootaloo asked from her podium as she held a pointer to a chart that she too had made and brought to emphasis her presentation. "I've told you like a bizialian times."

"I..uh..." Sweetie said, not sure how to excuse herself this time, though the chuckling in her head wasn't exactly helping. "Yeah, I kinda...forgot?"

"Oh, well I'll just explain it again!" Scoots replied with a smile as she began to dig into her saddle again. Many grunts and sighs were heard as she was once again going to go over her favorite subject.

Necro means dead. Mancer means he that controls. That's the simple explanation.

"So you're saying I...control the dead?"

You control me by some spell, and I'm dead. So yes, you're a necromancer.

"So you're like, dead dead?"

Killed by your sister and her friends. Yes.

"That's mean of them!" She said in a hushed tone, barely raising her voice up.

You're telling me. Though I don't blame them. We each had something we needed to do. Too bad I simply wasn't strong enough to accomplish it.

"What did you want to do?"

... 

A pause. For once Sombra kept quiet. It was a strange feeling to Sweetie Belle. Was he still there at all? She certainly couldn't feel his presence, let alone know if he even heard her at all. But for some reason, that silence in her head made her chest ache. Wait. Was it her chest that was aching? Or Sombra's own feelings bleeding through to her?

"Sweetie Belle?" Cherilee asked out to the filly who was in a daze of sorts. Quickly jumping back into reality in a yelp, she stared blankly at her teacher.

"Uh, yes Miss Cherilee?"

"Since you have been so...into the presentations. Why don't you go next?" She asked with a slight annoyance in her tone.

"But...I um, forgot my flash cards!" Sweetie tried to excuse herself out of it. Though it didn't seem to matter to the pink mare staring down at her.

"It's alright. Since you wrote it down you at least know what it's about. Just got on up and try it out. We won't laugh at you."

"I will." Diamond Tiara whispered to her friend in a giggle fit.

Sweetie Belle was trapped in corner and feeling defeated she slowly nodded. Walking up to the podium to trade spots with Scootaloo, she kept her head down as her heart began to race. Clearing her throat and looking out to her classmates, she began to talk.

"M-My role model is...my sister Rarity and...and..." Sweetie Belle began to trail off now that every pony had their eyes glued to her. It was overwhelming for her. All those ponies staring at her, waiting for her to continue. It scared her. 

She gulped as she tried to re-hydrate her dry throat. It was no use however since no matter how much she tried her voice would not come out. Sweating and more nervous than before, she began to look around the class room for a source of comfort. Seeing her friends all smile at her brought some sense of security to her though it didn't last long. Over in the corner of the room she saw Diamond Tiara laughed. No doubt at her. 

"I think she's going to choke." She said with a giggle. 

"I...I..."

"Are ya okay Sweetie Belle?" Applebloom asked, clearly worried about her.

Falling down and curling up behind the podium, Sweetie Belle began to mumble to herself.

"I wanna go home...Some pony make it so I don't have to do this stupid presentation!" She said as tears began to weld up in her eyes. 

Arggh... She heard Sombra grunt out. 

"Wait, no I didn't mean to-"

It was too late. Sweetie Belle's shadow moved away from her and slid across the floor and out through a nearby window. Once outside, Sombra's image bled out and rose from the ground as his horn began to spark out in green and purple lightning. Quickly shooting out a bolt of dark magic, he aimed at the bell that was placed at the very top of the school. 

A large BONG was heard as the bell crashed down on the roof. Every pony remained quiet as they looked up at the ceiling.

"What...was that?" Silver Spoon asked out as she stood up from her chair. 

"Who cares." Her friend responded she returned her gaze to the podium. "I just want to start hearing the poor little Sweetie Belle cry. No doubt she's about to cry like the little baby she is." She finished with a devilish smirk, not at all paying attention to the ever increasing cracks appearing above her.

At once, another cracking noise was heard as the room above them began to bend and let down some dust and debris. Diamond Tiara didn't even have time to react. The ceiling above her burst open and the school bell landed on her, trapping her in the bronze cone as her screams were muffled by the thick casting of the bell.

"Every pony out!" Cherilee shouted as she opened the door for her students to flee. The school was coming down and pieces of the roof were beginning to fall on top of them. All at once the colts and fillies ran out trying to stay clear of the falling debris. Sweetie Belle, on the other hoof, just now peeked over the podium to see what was going on.

While looking around at her panicked classmates Sweetie Belle didn't notice the large support pole that was falling down towards her. In a dark flash, the small filly felt something grab her by the nape as she was swung around and thrown into the air. Landing on a soft grey coat, she looked down to see Sombra running around the falling pieces of wood as he dash towards the window on the other side of the school. 

Jumping out and sliding on the grass outside, Sombra panted as he looked back to the school that was now nothing more than rubble. 

"Y-You saved me." Sweetie Belle said in surprise as she looked down to the stallion who's back she was riding.

"Yeah, don't get used to it..." He said as he turned around to see two rather angry looking mares. Both Twilight and Rarity just appeared on the scene on time to see two things. Sombra jumping out of a school window and the school itself destroyed. 

"It's...not what it looks like..." He said with a nervous chuckle.

"It's not? Care to explain then?" Twilight asked out, though her tone didn't really say, 'understanding'.

"Is any pony there?" A muffled voice asked out form the wreckage. Diamond Tiara was still alive it seemed, but there was no way of getting to her under the bell with all the broken wood panels and other debris on it. Many rushed to try to dig her out, but they seemed to make little progress.

"Okay. It's exactly what it looks like."
> 4. King of Chess
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"I cannot believe you destroyed the school!" Twilight shouted at their new 'friend' who was less than happy to be scolded. Laying down on his stomach and crossing his front hooves in disinterest, Sombra looked back with dull eyes as he waited for her to finish her rant. "Nothing? You won't say anything?"

"What else is there to say? I may be a 'Tyrant', but I'm not a liar. It's true, I was the catalyst for the destruction of the school, though my only intention was to cause some havoc to make every pony leave. After all, that was what the child asked of me." He responded as a yawn escaped his mouth.

"I didn't tell you to destroy the school! I just said that I wanted to go home!" Sweetie Belle said back. To this, the old king raised an eye brow, after all, there was a small piece of information she left out.

"And?..." He question, pushing her to keep talking.

"And for some pony to make it so I don't have to do my presentation...." The white filly said softly as she looked down. 

"I doubt that calls for the destruction of the school." Rarity said as she sat by her sister. "So don't start making it Sweetie Belle's fault all of a sudden."

"I'm not. But the curse she put on me sent a wave of pain across my body. I was obligated to act and fulfill her wish unless I wanted to be in constant pain. So I did the first thing I thought of. Can you say for a fact that you would think clearly while under pain?" Sombra asked as he placed a hoof to his neck to help pop it. Relieving some tension from the cracking of his bones, he once again made eye contact. "So yes, I did this, but I would not say I was exactly 'at fault'."

"H-He's right..." Sweetie Belle admitted as she began to step forward towards Sombra. "It's not his fault, it's mine." Since Sombra was laying down, he and Sweetie were able to see face to face as she stared at him with regretful eyes. She simply felt horrible about the blame being put on him.

"Okay, maybe your words made him act, but you weren't the one who brought the school bell down, breaking apart the school and trapping Diamond Tiara under it. Do you know how hard it was for us to get that off of her?"

"I didn't plan that." Sombra said as he gestured with his hoof. "That was just icing on the cake, right?" He asked as he looked down to the filly.

"Yeah! I mean no!" Sweetie Belle said, mostly due to the glare her sister was giving her from her response.

Chuckling at the scolding Rarity was about to give her sibling, Sombra smiled as he spectated the scene in front of him, though another pony wasn't exactly thrilled to have him so entertained.

"You just love causing trouble don't you?" Twilight asked with an annoyed frown.

"Who? me?" Sombra asked out, though his body language still spoke 'bored'.

"No, the other Tyrant of Darkness."

"Oh, you really must introduce us, I am sure we would have a lot to talk about." Sombra said as he held a cheeky smile. Popping his bones by twisting his neck back and forth, he stood up to stretch.

"You're very frustrating, you know that?" Twilight asked out as she was the dark stallion take everything happening like just another day. 

"Then just kill me again. Nothing's stopping you." He replied before laying down again. His actions were like that of a lion. Proud and powerful, so powerful perhaps that he didn't need to show his strength in posture and glares, those around him just knew and gave him the space he wanted. He could then just relax in the domain granted to him by those around him.

"What?!" Sweetie Belle asked out as she overheard. "You can't kill him!" She shouted as she ran over to the stallion, her encroachment on his territory an annoyance to him, though there wasn't very much he could do about it. "Isn't once enough?!" She finished as she looked over at the pair of mares who had been responsible for Sombra's death.

"S-Sweetie Belle, I'm not one for violence, you know that. "Rarity began. "But this is the Tyrant of the Crystal Empire we're talking about. We can't just let him wander around like that."

"I'm not 'wandering'. I am bound to this filly." Sombra clarified as he glanced down at Sweetie Belle who was still too close for his comfort.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that..." The young alicorn said as she inspected Sombra up and own. "And I think I have a solution."

"Do you really?" The white mare asked.

"Just give me a second..." Twilight replied as she began to focus her magic. Beginning to glow in her purple aura, Twilight's mane waved from the intensity of her magic. Slowly Sweetie Belle was pulled away from Sombra who was still laying down with disinterest in anything around him, though a little more happy to have his 'territory' back. 

Finally, in a bright flash of light, a bolt of energy shot out of Twilight's horn. Though aimed directly at him, Sombra didn't move, or even flinch. Instead he just yawned as the magical bolt came ever closer. Exploding in front of him, the purple magic Twilight had thrown out erupted and spread into a cage of sorts. Surrounding the dark stallion in his place, it gave him enough room to stretch about, but little else. 

Taking a moment to look around at his new environment, Sombra shrugged and then rested his head on his hooves as he continued to relax. 

"What is that?" Rarity asked as she looked at her friend's handiwork. 

"It's a force field that should keep 'King' Sombra trapped in there." Twilight responded with a sense of pride, puffing her chest out as he looked over at the 'trapped' stallion. "Its mystical properties block magic, so he can't even use levitation from in there."

"What of what happened earlier? Won't he return to Sweetie Belle's side if they get too far?"

"I think we should be okay as long as Sweetie Belle doesn't leave the house. I believe that's the maximum amount of distance they can be apart before he is rubber banded back to her.

"Are you alright in there?" Sweetie Belle asked as she came close to the cage of light. 

"From one prison to another." He responded. "It makes little difference which one I'm in, I still don't have the ability to move about freely." Sombra finished with a dry voice before turning his head over. The filly looked at him sadly as her ears flopped down against her head.

"Now we just have to wait until Princess Luna and Princess Celestia come to see what they want to do with Sombra." Twilight said as she began to lead her friends out of the room. 

"Oh, they're coming?"

"I haven't told them what happened yet, but I asked them to come by for something to discuss. They said they could arrive tomorrow."

"Oh isn't this just wonderful Sweetie Belle?!" Rarity asked out as she lifted her sister with her magic to spin her around happily, quickly making their way out together.

The words became muffled as they left the room and shut the door behind them, leaving Sombra to his thoughts. Slowly opening his eyes half way, he looked around the room without moving his head. Different feelings began to plague his mind as he went over what had happened today. 

"Why did I save that filly?" He asked himself as he thought about the crumbling school. "I could have gotten rid of my 'master' in one fell swoop and be free." Sombra voice spoke softly. 

So why did I save her?

He thought, his mind slowly drifting off into sleep. Sleep, something he hadn't gotten in what seemed like an eternity. Was he tired because Sweetie Belle had left the room? Or was the exhaustion from forcing one self back to land of the living finally catching up to him?


《=●=》


"Daddy?" A voice asked out as Sombra looked around a grass land. The images were blurred and unfocused to him. As if everything was in slow motion, every time he turned his head after images were left behind. 

"I'm here." He responded softly. 

"Daddy? Where are you?" The voice asked out again.

Again Sombra turned his head to look for the voice of the pony calling out to him. As he glanced around the wind moved the tall grass back and forth in a hypnotic manner. Nothing was heard however, no natural sounds, not the grass rustling, not even the whistling of the wind, just that single voice that he was so focused on.

"I'm right here." Sombra said once more.

"Daddy where are you? I'm scared." The voice called out again, but as the echo of the resonated in the slow ever slow scenery, the sky began to glow a bright shade of orange. The sun was going down. 

"I'm here!" Sombra called out again. 

"It's getting dark. I'm scared."

"Come to me. I'll keep you safe."

"Daddy?"


《=●=》


"Mister Sombra?" A soft voice called out, waking the dark stallion from his slumber. Looking up from his hooves that served as a pillow, Sombra saw Sweetie Belle standing on the other side of the cage. Sighing and lifting his head to face the filly, Sombra once again placed a hoof to his neck as he popped his bones. 

"What is it filly?"

"Oh, I just never thanked you."

"For what?"

"Saving me. I could have died back there when the school was falling apart."

"Yes you could have."

"So uh, thanks." Sweetie Belle said awkwardly. She didn't exactly know what to say, and the circumstances they were under weren't exactly helping either. Slowly looking up at Sombra quickly made eye contact, she stared into his red eyes, his thin pupils easily able to scare most fillies, but not her. 

"Was there something else?" He asked, not wanting to stay locked in their staring contest.

"Oh, not really." She said as she looked away. Again silence. "A-Are you alright in there?"

"In this cage?"

"Yeah. I mean, it's kinda small for you, right?"

"So you would put me in a larger cage if it was up to you?" Sombra asked as he once again leaned his head on his hooves.

"That's not what I meant!" Sweetie Belle shouted out. "I just...don't like seeing you in there like that."

"Like what?"

"Like if you were some dangerous creature."

"I am a dangerous creature." He responded, causing Sweetie to frown.

"So why did you save me then?" She asked him, a question he didn't have an answer for. Staring back at her, Sombra looked over in a glare at first, a glare the softened into sad, melancholy eyes. It was as if he found himself in a moment of weakness. It was quiet once more as they eyed one another. 

With a sigh Sombra broke eye contact and instead looked around. By the darkness outside the window, it was clear it was past dusk. How long had he slept? The lights were dim since the only light source was the one given off by the cage, perhaps Sweetie Belle sneaked in here in night, no doubt her sister wouldn't have allowed her to otherwise.

"Wanna play a game?" Sweetie belle asked with a smile.

"What kind of game?"

"Chess!"

"You know how to play chess?" Sombra asked with a soft chuckle.

"I've played a few times!"

"And how, pray tell, do you think we can play chess if I can't use my levitation magic to lift the pieces?" 

"Like this. Become my shadow!" Sweetie Belle said, with a large grin. Lifting his head just in time to feel himself begin to melt into the ground, Sombra's essence became a shade that quickly slid under the cage he was in and merged with Sweetie Belle's shadow. "Okay, come back out." Not even getting a second to adjust, the shade jumped out from the ground and solidified into Sombra as he found himself standing all of a sudden.

"That can't be good for my body..." He said as he stretched his limbs out, testing out all his joints. Taking a glance behind him to see the cage he was been in, he raised an eye brow as a compliment escaped his mouth. "Clever girl."

"Here we are..." Sweetie Belle said with a strained voice. Looking over in her direction, Sombra saw her struggling to reach a box at the top of a shelf. Barely able to get a hold of it, she tugged on it though because of the awkward position she was in, wasn't able to get it to move. In a strong pull, she managed to move it, but ended up underestimating her force and instead threw it backwards.

In the air the box opened up and all the chess pieces began to fly out. Closing her eyes as she waited for the loud crash the chess board and pieces would make, Sweetie Belle remained still in a flinched position. Nothing, it never landed. Slowly she opened one eye lid to peek out and see how bad the damage was but was instead met with a different scene. 

"How long do you plan on staying over there?" Sombra asked as he placed the chess pieces down on their spots. He had caught the flying chess game with his magic while it was zipping through the air and was now busy trying to place everything down neatly. The box they were in could double as a board and he was quickly separating the black and white pieces.

"Woah, how'd you do that?" Sweetie Belle asked as she ran over and sat down on the opposite side of the board.

"Any unicorn can catch something with their magic." He replied as he set down the final piece.

"I can't..."

"Then let me clarify. Any adult unicorn can use their magic like that. Now, which color do you want to be?" Sombra asked as he lifted the two king pieces. "White or black?"

Sweetie Belle took a moment to think about it before smiling. "Well that's obvious! My coat is white, and your mane is black." She said before taking the white king and placing it down on the board on the spot it belonged. 

Sombra chuckled as he saw Sweetie Belle explain her reasoning. It was innocent to say the least. "That means you go first."

"Okay!" She said as she moved the pawn in front of her rook two spaces forward. 

Sombra responded in kind, moving a pawn of his forward two spaces to clear a path for one of his bishops. The sound of the pieces hitting the board was all that was heard as the two ponies took turns in moving their pieces, though Sweetie belle seemed to be more focused on simply advancing her pawns forward and ignoring the other pieces. 

"I'll take your pawn." Sombra said as he moved his bishop over and tipped the white pawn over. By coincidence, the bishop landed two spaces in front of Sweetie Belle's knight whom she quickly moved forward to try to take his black bishop in a sort of 'vengeance'. "You can't do that." He quickly said to her action.

"Why not?"

"Knights aren't allowed to move like that. They can only move in 'L' shapes, like so." Sombra said as he moved her knight to all possible locations it could travel to.

"Oh okay..." She said as she looked over to her rook that was in an 'L' shape motion away from his bishop. She quickly made the same mistake and moved a piece in another's moving pattern.

"You can't do that either. Rooks can only move up, down, left, and right."

"Only in those directions?!"

"Well...yeah, but they can move as many spaces as they want."

"That's kinda cool." Sweetie Belle said as she lifted her bishop. "And this one? How does this one move?"

"I thought you said you played chess before."

"I did, but with my sister...and something usually came up mid way through and we could never finish. I never got to move the back row..." The filly said as she motioned to the pieces she was clueless about. Sighing, Sombra rolled his eyes as he began to think it better to simply end the game here. But as he opened his mouth to speak he noticed the rather saddened eyes of the white filly as she looked over at her pieces. 

She had all the intentions of playing if only she knew how, it was all clear to see. Grunting in annoyance, Sombra did something he never thought he'd ever have to do. Give some pony the tools they needed to win against him...

"Bishops move in diagonal motions, though like the rook, can move as many spaces as they want. The Queen, is your most mobile piece in the game. She can move in any straight direction as many spaces as she wants as well."

"Oooooh, that's cool! But what about the king?" She asked as she lifted her white king to Sombra.

"The king is the most important piece in the game, he-"

"Can he move to any spot in the board?" Sweetie asked with big hopeful eyes.

"No, he can move in any direction he wants, but only one space."

"What!?" She asked out, her voice cracking into a squeak. "But you said he was the most important piece!"

"He is, because if your king is captured, you lose the game." Sombra spoke softly as he looked down at the board. Placing his own black king piece next to Sweetie Belle's he made it seem like they were staring off against each other. "The reason they only move one space is because the king is the tactician. He commands the others to move on the board to win."

"But I thought I was the one telling the pieces where to move."

"You are. In the game of chess, you are the king, the tactician, the one the other pieces put their faith in to lead them to victory, even if you tell them to move to a spot where they will be picked off by the enemy. All is for the good of the king, the good for you, and the good for the Kingdom." 

As Sombra spoke, his eyes became dull. He messed around with the pieces, like if he was acting out a story with them as his puppets; Sombra move them to emphasize his points. It certainly helped Sweetie Belle understand, but it was almost like if Sombra was talking about something other than chess as he acted out the play.

"When you tell a piece to move, they move. When you tell a piece to capture the enemy piece, they obey. You know best, you know how to win."

"But...I don't. I didn't even know how they move on the board." Sweetie said with soft eyes as she looked down at the board at all the white pieces that were under her command.

"That's what chess is all about. Thinking ahead and winning by knowing when to move in and attack, and when to retreat and make sacrifices. No pony is good when they first start. It takes practice, patience." Sombra responded as he once again moved all the pieces to their starting locations. "So, do you want to play?"

"Yes!"

Once more they began to play. This time Sweetie Belle had a better grasp of the game, and to be fair, she did move her pieces in a better tactic than she did at first. Though every pony knew what the outcome would be. Slowly Sombra took all her pawns. Her knights and bishops were next. All that was left was her rooks, queen, and king. 

"Check." Sombra said softly as he moved his bishop into position where it could capture the white king. It was a phrase Sweetie Belle had grown used to hearing since this was now the seventh time he had called out a check. 

In response to the check, Sweetie Belle moved her queen to block away the path and keep her king safe. Sombra moved another of his pieces to prepare for another check, but as the filly thought about her next move, a smile grew on her face. Looking over at the rook she had not moved since the game had started, she carefully picked it up and moved it to her king where she replaced it with her rook. Gently setting the king down beside the rook.

"That's interesting." Sombra said as he raised a brow.

"It's called castling right?" The white filly asked as she looked up at her opponent. 

"Yes it is. How did you know about that move?" Sombra asked as he moved his bishop to take the rook who had replaced the king. Sweetie Belle captured the bishop with her queen as she continued to converse.

"I read it once a long time ago. As long as you haven't moved your rook or king, you can push the king out of the way."

"You indeed used the tactic well, but it still won't help you. Checkmate." Sombra said as he placed his queen to the final spot on the board, the white king had no way out, he was captured. Despite losing, Sweetie Belle couldn't have a bigger smile if she tried. 

"I know, but I'm really happy anyway!"

"I can tell, but why? You just lost the game."

"Why? Because I finally finished a game of chess! I don't care that I lost, I finished the game!" She said as she jumped up in glee. Watching her bounce around, Sombra couldn't help but be plague with different thoughts. Was this really the first time she finished a game of chess? How many times had she began one only to be paused so that she could have such a reaction. 

Suddenly a thud was heard. Looking over to where Sombra had last seen Sweetie Belle, he saw her on the floor as she slept with a smile. 

"D-Did she fall asleep mid jump?" He asked himself as he felt a bead of sweat run down his head. "You are one strange filly...."

Slowly making his way to her, he looked down at Sweetie Belle who breath peacefully on the floor. It looked like it was perhaps the most comfortable bed she could lay on by the smile she bore. With a sigh, Sombra leaned down and gently bit the filly's nape as he began to carry her. With soft hoof steps, Sombra walked around the house as he looked for her room. It wasn't particularly hard to find given it was the room he had been summoned in. He knew what he was looking for.

Slowly opening the door to the pink room Sweetie Belle had, he moved towards her bed where he began to tuck her in. Softly placing her on the warm sheets of her bed, she curled up into a more comfortable pose as she felt the covers come over her body. Having finished what he had come to do, Sombra began to make his way back to his 'cage' where he would spend the night.

"Good night daddy." Sweetie Belle said in her sleep. The words rung loud in his head as he suddenly turned to look at the peaceful filly. She didn't say anything else, she was fast asleep, but it didn't stop him from simply staring back. Slowly, he began to move back to her bed side where he looked down at her with soft eyes. 

"Good night...you insufferable filly."
> 5. Good Morning
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

His body heavy, Sombra felt a strange drain of his power the further he walked away from Sweetie Belle's room. There was no doubt about it. The further he got away from her, the less strength he possessed to even move his limbs. Still, he wasn't about to spend the night in the filly's room. The purple mare...what was her name? The new princess, she would surely have his head if he was found outside of the prison she had made for him. He couldn't risk that, despite his attitude about meeting the royal sisters, he had no plans of allowing himself to die again. Not now, not until he achieves his goal. 

A strange rustling from the lower floor knocked Sombra back to reality. Sniffing the air around him, the stallion crouched down and began to walk slowly downstairs. Stalking in the shadows, he moved around carefully as he tried to see what the commotion was about. Did the princess return early? Was he to meet his fate once more? He would not have that. Still...with this much strength, there was little he could do if his fears were true.

"Found them yet?" A voice asked out as more rustling was heard. The sound of drawers opening back and forth filled the air. No doubt these were not the princesses.

"They're over here, look at all these gems and jewels!"

"Quiet down you idiot. We got it, let's get out of here before we get caught." Another voice said as it smacked his companion on the head. 

Sombra pondered whether to attack or not. Obviously they were stealing something, but really, what did he have to gain from sticking his neck out like that? He had a limited amount of dark magic he wasn't willing to use, especially not for the benefit of one of his murderers. Instead, he simply allowed the thieves to walk away, though as they did, he couldn't help but analyze the area around him.

Though he had only heard two voices speak around the corner, he heard six pair of  hoof steps. Four for each, that meant there were actually three ponies making their way out. No, wait, the hoof steps sounded off for some reason. Sombra let out a puff of air through his nose before he turned around and walked back upstairs. He didn't need that extra bit of information, but his brain couldn't help but process it. It was an automatic habit that had helped him survive up until...well, never mind.

Sombra was back to 'his room', or rather, the white mare's work room. There wasn't exactly a lot of room available in her home, and it just so happened that his imprisonment took place in this one. Opening the door, his eyes squinted at the light the cage of magic was giving off. With a heartfelt sigh, he looked at his new resting place and immediately felt grimace. 

"What exactly am I to do?" He asked himself as he walked over to the cage. He turned around and leaned his back against the bars as he slid down and rested in a sitting position. "Come on, think of a way out of this..."

Sombra's mind raced. All sorts of scenarios came to him. All he needed was a short window to escape. That, and for the filly to release her hold on him. For that to happen, however, he had to recall how they even came to form such a contract. Why did Sombra agree to such outrageous terms? These sort of things have to be agreed upon by both parties, so why did he do it? 

Closing his eyes, Sombra tried his best to try to recall that point in time, though all he could remember was the cold feeling of death's icy grip. It wasn't the same freezing feeling he experienced when he was trapped in ice by the Royal Sisters, this was something different. How much time passed while in that state? Sombra couldn't recall. It could have been years, or maybe just a minute. Whatever it was, it felt like he had been dragged into a strange void. A realm with no time, no space, no light. Just... Empty.

Some pony help me...

He recalled a voice. A young voice. It sounded so much like...like she did.

Live!

Was the next statement he remembered, though it was as if he had missed a chunk somewhere in the middle. It didn't mattered now, for Sombra began to do as the voice had told him. He began to be alive once more.

Pain, lots of pain. What Sombra remembered after that was a surge of pain spreading across the body he had forgotten he had. No, it was like his body was being reconstructed. It was like every cell he possessed was fighting to return to their rightful place. It was suffocating to feel so much strain at once, thought suffocation was too accurate of a description. Then, he felt relief. In what seemed to be his second 'first breath', Sombra felt his lungs filling with air again. It jolted him back to the land of living. It was his time of resurrection. And then he heard it. His name.

"King Sombra..." The dark stallion said to himself as he remembered the white mare who was examining him when he first came to. "That was a spiteful memory I don't wish to recall again...though it does bring up some questions..." He said as he slowly looked up. 

"I wonder how long commands extend to..." Sombra said as he stood back up. Looking over at 'his' cage, he hesitantly began to turn his body into that of a intangible shadow, a form he had used once against a paladin back when he was trying to retake his empire. He needed to jump in quick, squeeze in through bars in a single jump, because once one part came inside that cage, he would no longer be able to use his magic, and catching himself half way would spell bad news.

"If that filly commanded me to 'live', so that I may come back to life, that means that I must follow that command. Even if I don't want to, my body will move on it's own to fulfill her request. So if she told me to live...my body will do everything it can to keep me alive." Sombra said as he railed himself up before dashing forward and shifting his body into a shadow before it was forced back into flesh once he was inside. 

"If I anger the Princesses, if I make them want to kill me, my body will react and make me defend myself. If The filly commands me to stop, the two commands will be in conflict. I doubt she placed some sort of safety against this loophole. That means...." Sombra said as he began to lay down, crossing his front hooves as he rested his head on them. "The commands will cancel out, and if I'm lucky, so will the contract. Even if it isn't the latter, I will still have a small window of opportunity while the filly reacts to whatever happens when the commands go against themselves. That is all I will need."

A chuckle escaped him as he began to plot everything out in his head. Every possible action from the mares, every possible reaction on his part. He needed to find a fool proof plan. He was good at these sort of things, after all, the only reason he lost his empire upon his return the first time, was because for some odd reason, the baby dragon wasn't at the purple mare's side when she triggered the trap he laid. 

With an evil smirk upon his face, Sombra closed his eyelids and began to drift off to sleep. He would need his rest. The battle ahead of him would be a tough one with his limited magic. Still, he was sure of his abilities to, if nothing else, escape.


《=●=》


Sleep is to be in a peaceful state. You are resting, gathering energy, and more than anything, comfortable. Though as fate demanded, Sombra would have none of these things. After all, the world has it out for him, nothing ever goes his way...

AHHHHHH!

Quickly raising his head in a reaction to the loud screech, Sombra jumped to his hooves as he was jolted back to the land of the living. A sudden rush of pain entered his head as he raised a hoof to his injury. He let out a small yelp as he glanced up to see himself still within his cage that seemed to be too small for him and was the cause for his headache now.

"Cursed cage." He muttered to himself as he tried to lay back down, though the aching on his head was not helping him feel relaxed exactly. 

"Some pony took my jewels!" Some pony shouted from the floor below. With a sigh Sombra did his best to ignore the shouted and sounds of the mare running around fantastically. He could almost imagine everything she was doing, she telegraphed everything through sound alone, and it was hilarious to imagine her losing her horse apples over the gems that were stolen. But suddenly, there was a strange silence. 

Sombra raised an eye brow along with an ear as he strained his hearing. Did something happen? Why did she stop shouted? Oh wait....

The door to the room slammed open and a very angry mare stood at the entrance, outrage in her eyes. One could say fire was ignited in her pupils like his flames of fear on his own eyes. Quite a parallel to draw, but it was certainly still not an image that could frighten Sombra.

"Can I help you?" He asked, almost mockingly.

"You stole my jewels and gems!" Rarity shouted out as she pointed a hoof at him. The accusation was seen coming, but in a sarcastic fashion, Sombra exaggerated a reaction as he gasped.

"Me? I would never do such a thing. How could you think so low of me?" He asked as he forced back a smirk. His exaggerated gestures did not help the mare calm down, and instead she began to walk closer to him in anger.

"You took them! We all heard you when you were running rampant. You're obsessed with crystals! You probably thought they looked like crystals and stole them!"

"Oh please." Sombra began as he reverted back to his own persona. "Why would I want your gems? Firstly, I know the difference between a crystal and a gem. Secondly, you all misheard. I was just trying to get my slaves back, but instead of saying 'Crystal Slaves', I shortened it to 'Crystals'. And lastly..." Sombra said as he reached out and knocked on the cage of light, a strange echo immigrating from it as his hoof made contact with it to suggest he was still trapped. It was cutting it close to lying, but he never said that he was trapped in here all night.

"Oh....right." Rarity said as she remembered the cage he was in. Taking a few steps back to gather her bearings, she cuffed into her hoof as an embarrassed blush spread across her face. "You're right. You couldn't have possibly have done it. You're trapped."

"Some thieves came by last night, they made off with your gems." He finished as he laid his head back on his hooves. 

"Y-You saw them? Do you know who they are? What they look like?"

"No, I just heard them from the second floor."

"I-I see." Rarity said as she looked down at him. He had long since stopped making eye contact and began to ignore her presence. She couldn't blame him, she did just barge in to throw accusations at him...and she was sorta kinda responsible for his death. Still, this was not a situation she was comfortable with. "Ahem, well, I'll be going then."

"Ta-ta." The stallion responded as he waved his hoof from under his chin, his eyes closed and inattentive to her.

The mare softly began to backtrack and leave the room, quietly closing the door behind her. With the new barrier between them, she was able to breathe easy. It was a strange feeling to say the least. He was so...passive right now. He wasn't angry, or pretentious, or acting like a tyrant at all. Was he always like this? it was certainly unsettling since he tried to kill her just the day prior. 

"Good morning Rarity...." Sweetie Belle said as she reached her older sister with a hoof to her eye as she rubbed away from of the eyelid crush from the morning.

"Oh, good morning Sweetie, you're up early."

"You were screaming." The filly responded as she placed her hoof down and looked over at the room she had come from. Then, a realization came to her as she remembered her small act of kindness from last night. "W-W-W-Were you talking with Mister Sombra?" She asked out meekly.

"Yes. Some pesky thieves seemed to have made my boutique their target last night. Made off with many of my gems and jewels. I thought Sombra was the one behind it, but he couldn't have possibly have done it, he is still trapped in his cage."

"He is?!" She shouted out in shock. Her sister stared back with a raised eyebrow as she tried to make sense of her actions. 

"Well don't sound so surprised." Rarity said with a laugh, quickly dismissing how . "Twilight is good with her magic, her spell wouldn't wear out just over night." She said as she began to walk downstairs, her sister on her heels. 

"Oh, right." Sweetie Belle said hesitantly, not exactly sure what was going on, but happy that she wasn't in trouble for letting Sombra out. 

"Speaking of which, Twilight still isn't here..." The white mare said as she began to pick her mess up. The one she made looking for her stone items. It was a fair assessment that a hurricane would have left less of a mess than she had just now. "She said she would be here with the other princesses first thing in the morning."

"Maybe she got held up."

"Yeah, though Twilight said she didn't exactly tell them why she wanted them over. Perhaps they don't seem to have any sort of urgency because they don't know that the Tyrant King of the Crystal Empire is living under my roof." Rarity said with a sigh, never before did she think she would ever have to say those words in the same sentence. Really now, who would have ever thought of anything this crazy happening to them. 

With a soft glance at Sweetie Belle who was also trying to clean up the mess, Rarity couldn't help but feel like she needed to do something to get them out of this strange circumstance. This was definitely not the ideal environment for a filly to grow up in. Sombra had to go. Shaking the thought out of her head, Rarity decided to instead try to focus on other things, like breakfast for example. Slowly she began to move towards the kitchen and ready the environment for their meal by taking out ingredients she would need.

"He's nicer than you think." Sweetie said, getting her sister out of the strange daze she was in. At first Rarity thought she wanted to help out with cooking, but for once, she seemed to have no interest in lending a hoof. 

"What was that?" The mare asked out, not exactly following where that last statement even came from. 

"Mister Sombra. He's nice when you get to know him." She continued to say with a smile.

"Sweetie Belle, darling, this is the Tyrant that took over an entire Empire we're talking about. There isn't anything nice about him."

"You should give him a chance, maybe you'll like him." Sweetie Belle said as she began go back up stairs.

"A-And where do you think you're going?"

"To go say good morning to Mister Sombra." The filly shouted once she reached the top of the stairs. "You always told me it was rude to not tell you."

"That was me, this is Sombra. Two very different ponies!" Rarity shouted to her sister, though it was in vain, she was already gone. With a frustrated sigh, the white mare stomped her hoof as she saw her sister walk right into the lion's den. "Oooh, why doesn't that filly ever listen to me?..."

Beginning to pace back to her kitchen, the mare continued to talk to herself. 

"I mean sure, King Sombra doesn't seem to be able to actually hurt her, or me since she told him not to. And yeah, she has complete control over him and can't do anything without consent since he is quite literally Sweetie's shadow...but I just don't trust him!" Rarity said as she began to take down a bowl where she placed lots of different ingredients for her meal: freshly made waffles.

"He's the Evil Unicorn King for pete's sake. I just can't allow Sweetie Belle to be around such a bad influence!"

I may be a Tyrant, but I'm not a liar 

Suddenly the words Sombra said yesterday rung in her head. It was a strange statement to be sure, but it gave hint for something...else. A certain amount of morals were implied, even for what he's done, she could at least know he was honest. For whatever it matters anyway. 

"Smells delicious!" Rarity heard her sister say from behind her. Blinking a few times, the mare looked down to see that she was just about done with breakfast, muscle memory had guided her while she was busy in her own thoughts. 

"Why yes, I made some waffles for you and...and....Sombra?" Rarity said as she turned around. Her eyes were wide open as she saw the dark stallion walk down the stairs and stop beside her sister. "W-What is King Sombra doing out of his cage?!" She shouted out as the plate she was holding with her magic fell. Had it not been for Sombra's levitation aura, it would have shattered on the tile floor.

"Oh, I invited him for breakfast. He did skip supper last night. He must be hungry, right Mister Sombra?" Sweetie Belle asked as she looked over at her tall companion. He slowly walked over towards Rarity to held her breath as she saw him creep close. Without paying much mind to the white mare, Sombra placed the plate on the counter before beginning to take some waffles fresh out of the waffle iron. 

"Yes, I'm famished. I do hope I may have a few bites of food before my impending death, no?" Sombra asked the owner of the house who began to feel agitated at his smirk. Narrowing her eyes at him, she gestured him to the table where Sweetie Belle was already sitting at. She didn't exactly had a choice, now did she?

"Yeah...he certainly is honest..." Rarity murmured to herself as she finished her thought from before the duo had arrived. "A little too honest."
> 6. Dog Tired
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sound of tapping filled the room. It was already quiet as it was, but the constant soft nagging of each tap made it even more apparent...and annoying.

Tuck

Tick

Tuck

Tick

A pause. For a small while it was quiet again. An ideal environment for Rarity to work with. At once she took her chance and began to look over her designs for the dresses she was making. Still a rough sketch, but it was a start. No doubt they would soon be the most gorgeous dresses her customer had ever seen. Slowly she took a pencil using her magic to begin re-sketching her design....then it began again.

Tuck

Tick

Tuck

The mare did her best to ignore it, but it was starting to get too annoying, even for her who had to deal with the great Pinkie Pie at her worst. But really, why could she not get some peace and quiet in her own home?

Tuck

"Grr..." Rarity said softly under her breath as the pencil pierced a hole in the paper.

Tick

"Can you two please stop making that noise?!" Rarity shouted as she turned around, her patience at its end. She stared at the ones responsible for her anger, Sweetie Belle and Sombra, who both looked over at her in a confused manner. Between them laid a chess board with pieces scattered all over, no doubt they were a great deal into their game.

"But we haven't said a word." Sweetie Belle responded to her sister's strange behavior. 

"I'm talking about that tapping noise you're both doing!" She replied as she waved her hoof in an angry gesture. Sombra, with a devilish smirk on his face, raised one of his pieces and moved it to his desired location. 

Tuck

"Arrgh!" Rarity shouted as she stood up and made her way to them.

"Something the matter mare?" He asked as Rarity came face to face with him, and even though he was laying down, he still came pretty close to her level of stature. 

"You are so frustrating!"

"So I've been told." Sombra replied as he made eye contact with her. They were locked in a stare for quite a while before Rarity finally broke out of it. 

"Fine, if you two won't be quiet, I'll just take this away!" She said a she turned on her hooves and levitated the chess board and began to make her way out of the room.

"But we weren't finished yet!" Sweetie Belle shouted behind her sister. It was too late though, the mare was out of the room and the door shut behind her.

"Do not worry, I memorized the position of all the pieces." Sombra said as he laid his head down on his hooves, though as the words left his mouth, he suddenly regretted it. Why did he say that? Sure, it was true, he had indeed memorized every piece's position, but the way he said it made it seem like he would continue the chess game with her later. His plan was to escape this very day, and if all went well, never have to see this insufferable filly again. 

"Oooh, Rarity always does this! Whenever something bothers her, even a little, she overreacts!" Sweetie Belle said as she jumped to her hooves and began to pace. 

"You've quite the relationship with your sister it seems."

"Quite. Yeah, that's the word for it. She never listens to me! I mean she does, but never like she should! I mean, no...it's just hard to explain!" The filly said as she slumped down on the ground. 

Sombra looked over at the filly who was so conflicted over what she was saying. It was clear that on one hoof the white mare was a caring sister, but on the other, she didn't seem to be very good at actually being a sister. His eyes grew dull as he looked over at her. The pouting face she was making was quite adorable to most, but it only caused some internal turmoil as he looked over at her. Why....Why did he feel like he should console her?


《=●=》


"I think I might have over reacted a little...." Rarity said to herself as she placed the chess board on a counter nearby. She was feeling extremely guilty, but then again, she had been completely on edge since the day before. "Oh, this is all King Sombra's fault!" She shouted out as she slammed her hooves onto the counter, making everything on it jump. It was then, out of the corner of her eye that she saw something weird.

"Is that..." She asked as she turned to look outside the window. Just a few blocks away she saw three alicorns walking down the streets of Ponyville. Speaking happily to one another as they continued to wander around. "It is! It's Twilight and the other princesses!" Rarity shouted out in joy. No doubt now that they were coming they would take the tyrant away from her home so she and Sweetie Belle could live in peace.

"W-Wait...where are you going?" She asked as she opened the window and get a better look. The Royal Sisters began to take a turn down another streets even though Twilight seemed to have tried to keep them going to the boutique. "No! Come back!" Rarity shouted as she ran around her home and out the door. Why were they walking away from her home? What could possibly be more important that the Tyrant upstairs?


《=●=》


Sombra had long since stopped looking at his 'master', instead he had laid his head over his hooves as he continued to think. He was lost in his own disjointed thoughts. Mostly, the question that kept reoccuring to him. A simple question to be sure. 

Why did he even care about the filly?

One could say he was forced to by the curse that was cast on him, but that wasn't it, there was more to it, he could feel it. Every time he looked at her it was as if he was looking through her, at something else. Something like an old memory. Sombra's eyes had remained closed up until now, but as his thoughts formed more and more around the filly, the urge to glance at her grew. Opening just one eyelid, he looked around the room for her, though he wished he hadn't.

Sweetie Belle, who still had her body planted on the ground, was in the middle of dragging herself around with her hind legs. It was like some strange animal who had lost it's front legs and was forced to push itself cross the ground in a strange fashion.

"Filly...." Sombra began, getting her attention and making Sweetie Belle pause mid step, leaving her in a rather awkward pose. "What in the name of all things pony are you doing?" He asked as he raised his head and stared down at her.

"I'm pacing!"

"On the ground? With only your hind legs? It looks like you're in the middle of a strange dance! Well, given you're a necromancer, I wouldn't put it past you." 

"I'm not a nefomanger!" Sweetie shouted back as she jumped to her hooves.

"Necromancer."

"See? I can't even say it right!"

"Well whatever you were doing, stop it. It's unnerving to watch." He responded as he tried to place his head back on his hooves, though still keeping his eyes on the filly for whatever other oddities she might pull off.

"Rarity took our chess board and she's been gone for like ever." Sweetie Belle said as she walked over to the dark stallion. He quickly raised his head again as an annoyed expression came over his face. She allowed herself to fall down and lay on the ground in a similar fashion as him before speaking again. "There's nothing to do!"

"What do you usually do at this time?" Sombra asked as he backed a few inches to distance himself from the filly. 

"At school, but it's destroyed right now. All the students have the day off until we get a new one." Sweetie said as she crept closer again. 

"Well why don't you go help your sister with whatever she's doing down stairs?" Sombra asked as he looked away, not willing to make eye contact with the rather friendly filly. 

"If she's still not back, Rarity is probably laying on her fainting couch, sulking over her stolen jewels." She responded as she rolled her eyes. Though the annoyance in her expression disappeared as her eyes shined in glee from the thought that just appeared in her head. At once Sombra knew he wasn't going to like the next few words to come from her mouth.

"Let's go find the thieves!" She shouted with a bright smile. Sombra was right, he really did not like what the filly was about to do...or rather, make him do. More over, he needed to remain here. He needed to meet the princesses so his plan might come into flow and he would be released from his prison. 

"There is no way in Tartarus I am going to help recover any stolen item from one of my murderers. Plus, we still have to wait for the others to get here. What would they think if they came here to find us missing? No doubt they would have thought I kidnapped you or some other farce."

"We'll just explain it to them." Sweetie Belle said as she ran around the stallion and climb onto his back.

"What are you doing? Get off of me!" Sombra protested, though it was pointless. His body would not allow him to shake her off since it would ultimately hurt her. 

"King Sombra!" Sweetie Belle shouted out and as she did, both their bodies began to glow in the same strange marking from before. "Help me find the thieves that stole my sister's jewels!" 

Suddenly a strange sensation spread across Sombra's body. It was the curse's way of letting him know that he was about to feel the pain of disobedience if he did not comply with the filly's request. With a sigh, Sombra began his charge out. Opening the window with his magic, the dark stallion ran and jumped out with the filly clinging to his back. As he reached the outside he looked below to see the ground a few meters down and quickly summoned a black spire of crystal to propel himself up and land on the roof of the boutique. 

From there most of the town could be seen. For Sombra who had never been to Ponyville, he made sure to make a quick note of the area, no doubt he would need it for when he escaped, thought it was for ill effort. The boutique seemed to be the only lone building for a good block or so except for a few trees here and there.

"That was fun!" Sweetie Belle said as she stabilized herself on the stallion's back. Barely sparing her a glance, Sombra walked over to the other side of the building and kneeled down to see the strange prints left behind by the perpetrators from the night before. "Whatcha looking at?"

"See those tracks?"

"Yeah."

"Last night, the thieves left the building through the window right under us. Those probably belong to the thieves." Sombra said as he looked over at the tracks and gestured to them. "Notice anything strange?"

Sweetie Belle placed a hoof to her chin as she thought about the question. "Hey! They disappear!" 

"Not exactly." Sombra said as he leaned back before jumping over to a nearby tree from where he hung by a branch. The tracks ended just at the base of the tree he had leaped to. "Take a look here."

"The branch is twisted." Sweetie said as she leaned close to see a half torn branch from where they were at. 

"The thieves knew they would be followed if they just left on hoof. It seems that they climbed the tree and jumped away from here." Sombra said as he climbed higher up with the white filly still on his back. Reaching the top he looked around as he scanned the nearby rooftops of other buildings. 

"Look!" Sweetie Belle said as she pointed out a nearby tree that showed the same signs as the one they were in. "I think they jumped onto that tree next."

"By the looks of it, you're right. The house over by it seems to have a tile turned over, no doubt by the thieves." Sombra said as he readied another jump. 

His powerful legs managed to make the leaps over from the tree to the house in quick succession, though as he and Sweetie Belle soared through the air, he couldn't help but think about how difficult this would have been for an average pony. Who are these thieves? He asked himself as he reached the rooftop and began to slowly walk around, looking for more clues. They couldn't be just any old pony.


《=●=》


"Twilight!" Rarity shouted out as she reached her friends. Out of breath, the white mare took a moment to get her composure back into place as she tried her best to not look like this was the first time she had ran since their last misadventure. 

"Oh hi Rarity!" Twilight said with a smile...a large one, one every pony knew was forced and made only to keep the mood up. "I was just telling Princess Luna and Princess Celestia how you were meaning to 'catch up' on current events."  She said as she pulled her friend close to the other pirncesses.

"Rarity, it's so good to see you again!" Celestia said as she came to hug the mare. "When Twilight invited us over so we could talk we thought we could take this opportunity to get to meet up with all the other elements." 

"I-Is that so?" Rarity said as she glanced at Twilight with the same forced smile. "But you see, the thing is that back at my boutique there's-"

Twilight nudged her friend to keep her from talking. A simple glance around made it obvious that they had spectators. If the word of the Tyrant King Sombra being alive again gets out, it would wreck havoc across Ponyville. If they are all consumed by fear, it will only power Sombra's magic. 

"What resides at thine boutique?" Luna asked, a little confused by the statement that Rarity had not finished. 

"Uh...some imported tea from Prance! I thought you two would truly enjoy it." Rarity said meekly.

"That sounds delightful!" Celestia said with a smile. "Let's go after we visit Pinkie Pie shall we?"

"W-Why not now?" Twilight asked.

"Well, we are right in front of her home aren't we?" The Sun Goddess asked as she gestured to the catering shop next to them. "Would be more efficient if we make our visit now instead of later."

"R-Right..."


《=●=》


"Where are we?" Sweetie Belle asked as she looked around in the barren place they were traveling across. She did her best to keep herself centered on Sombra as he ran across the terrain. 

"Tartarus if I know. This is your home remember?" He responded, not exactly happy about how long it was taking to find the thieves. 

"My home is in Ponyville, we are waaaaay outside of Ponyville." The filly said, quickly making Sombra stop dead in his tracks. 

"What?! Do you know how this looks like if others were to find out?" He asked as he turned his head to face the filly on his back.

"Like...you kidnapped me?" Sweetie Belle said with a nervous smile. Sombra puffed air out of his nose as he tried to keep his body moving. The curse he was under wasn't very patient and the small pause in the search had already began to tingle at his nerves. 

"Let's just do this quickly, shall we?"

"Yeah!" 

Sombra continued to run across the field. The tracks on the rooftops had led them to the border of Ponyville and now further into a mountain side. Climbing it was nothing for him, but once they had gone up, they reached nothing but dirt and rocks, making the tracks more detailed. Detailed enough to know that they weren't hooves anymore...

Sombra's mind raced as he now tried to think about the night prior. He had heard six pair of hooves, but if they weren't hooves, then it meant that there weren't just three ponies...or creatures. Were there indeed six of them last night?

"Watch out!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she pulled Sombra's mane. He was quickly brought back to reality in time to see several holes in the ground. Thinking quick, he jumped over one and landed in a clear spot. 

"Why are there so many?" He asked out as he looked around. All around there were several dug holes and a glance down one of them told them they went down for miles and miles.

"Rarity told me about this place!" Sweetie Belle said as she climbed up a little more and rested on Sombra's head, a motion that quickly irritated him. "The Diamond Dogs live here!"

"The what?"

"Diamond Dogs. They had a run in with Rarity and she ended up tricking them into giving her all their gems."

"She tricked them? Then they are right to seek their gems back." 

"But they had kidnapped her and tried to force her into mining more gems for them!"

"Is that so bad?" Sombra asked as he kneeled down to see further down into one of the holes. 

"Yeah that's bad!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she leaned in close by his face, though he seemed more interested in the depths of the hole than her and her lack of understanding of personal space. 

"I had sent my own slaves into mines to acquire more crystals so we might be able to sell them and make enough gold to sustain ourselves."

"You had slaves?! N-Nevermind, even if you had a reason, it was still bad!"

"Truly? In an empire surrounded by snow storms where we cannot grow our own food, we needed to make gold to feed every pony, crystals were our best option at the moment. They had to mine, there was no way around it." Sombra said as he stood back up. 

"Still, you-" 

Sombra's sudden movements interrupted the filly mid sentence. He had spun away from their position to avoid the grip from a creature that had pulled itself from one of the nearby holes. Had he been just any old stallion, he would have been grabbed on to.

"Who goes there?!" Sombra asked as he regained his footing, though the culprit was gone, no doubt escaped back into the hole it had crawled out of.

"What are you waiting for? Go after him!" Sweetie Belle shouted, though she had forgotten that she was still in complete control over Sombra, making his next action brash as he ran and dived into the hole that the creature that come out off. They quickly descended down several meters before landing abruptly in the middle of a tunnel. 

"There are some weird ponies up there, I tried to grab them but they jumped away!" A Diamond Dog said to another, though they soon took notice of the newcomers. One of them had steel armor and and immediately got into an offensive position while the other ran away, no doubt to let the others know about the intruders. 

"Great...." Sombra said with annoyance. "You just had to make us jump in without a plan, didn't you?"

"Hehe...sorry." Sweetie Belle said as she sweat nervously on Sombra's back. The news of them traveled quickly and soon dozens of dogs began to come from one of the tunnels. His eyes opening wide in shock, Sombra turned on his hooves and began to run as fast as he could with Sweetie Belle holding on for her dear life.

"You insufferable filly!" His shout echoed in the tunnels as he ran away from he pack of dogs. 
> 7. Take a Stand
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The pounding sound of hooves stomping on the ground echoed in the tunnels of the underground. As if things weren't already loud enough, the growling and barks of the pack of dogs chasing Sombra were ever growing in intensity as well. The only thing that made this worse was the squealing at his ear by the very filly responsible for putting him in this ordeal.

"Ahhhh! Run faster!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she wrapped her fore hooves around Sombra's neck. A constraint a little too tight for his liking, but right now, he didn't have time to protest. Instead, he did as he was told. He ran, he ran as fast as his newly created body could travel...and it was quickly tiring him out.

"Filly...I would appreciate it if you thought of a way out of this mess!" He shouted back as he took a sharp turn around tunnel, his hooves sliding across the dirt as he did his best to keep the momentum that kept them alive. 

"M-Me?" 

"Who else?!"

"But I don't know what to do!" The filly said in a pained voice as she held onto Sombra tightly. A quick glance her way made it obvious that she was terrified. She was in no position to make decisions, and even less so to make any smart ones. "I just want to go home..."

The filly's squeals became whimpers as the fright soon began to take hold of her. It was a downward spiral Sombra had seen before, usually a spiral he created for other ponies, but seeing such a small filly go down the same path didn't exactly sit right with him. Still, this was not the time to think about that. Without the filly giving any orders, he was free to make his own decisions. 

"Fine, lets just end this." Sombra said as he jumped and turned his body around. His eyes erupted in purple flames as his dark magic began to bleed out of him. With a powerful roar, he stood his ground as the pack chasing after them began to pounce his way. The dark mage summoned out dark spears of crystal that would have impaled the dogs and stop them in their tracks, but just as they neared the skewers, Sweetie Belle looked up to see the confrontation. 

"No! Don't kill them!" She shouted out. A command Sombra was not expecting. A wave of pain rushed over him as the initial warning of the curse flowed through him. In a rushed switch of tactics, Sombra merged all of his crystal spikes and instead created a wall that blocked the dogs away from their side of the tunnel. 

Taking a few steps back as the pain began to slowly fade away, Sombra leaned against the nearby wall as the filly upon his back looked at him with worried eyes.

"A-Are you okay?" She asked softly.

"What do you think!? Don't give commands willy nilly! You said you wanted to go home, we can't do that if we're being chased by these Tartarus forsaken mutts. So why did you tell me not to kill them?!" Sombra asked as he used his magic to pick the filly up and place her a few steps away from him to scold her. 

"I...I...I didn't mean to..."

"The only thing worse than being at the command of a filly, is being at the command of one that doesn't know what she wants, you realize I'm in pain every time you give me a command right?!" Sombra said as he began to stretch out his legs, that last burst of dark magic taking a toll on his muscles. Though he soon stopped when he realized that the filly had stopped the noise she was making. Curious, he turned to face her, though wasn't ready for what he was about to see.

With a pained expression, Sweetie Belle was quietly crying to herself. Her head down, the tears gently trickled down her face and began to drop onto the dirt below her. Sombra suddenly felt a wave of guilt rush over him, though it wasn't like he was wrong in saying what he did. 

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get you hurt..." The filly said softly, her voice beginning to crack under the refrained cries. 

It was silent. The dogs on the other side of the crystal wall had long since ran off to find a different way to get to them and they were left with a moment of peace. Rubbing the back of his neck, Sombra looked around the tunnel to find a way to distract himself, not really wanting to speak to the filly at the moment, but as he placed his hoof to his nape, he felt a small bruise. It was from when the filly had grabbed onto him earlier. How could such a small and frail thing actually be able to leave a bruise on him? Was she really that scared?

With a sigh, Sombra finally give in and stopped ignoring her whimpers. He stepped close to the filly and picked her up with his magic, something that quickly quieted her crying. 

"Filly, in this world ponies will get in your way when you try to achieve your goals." Sombra began to say as he placed her back on his back. "You cannot falter when it comes to your decisions, else others will take advantage of your hesitation. I say to Tartarus with them all and blow them to smithereens, but I'm sure you've a different approach."

Sombra began to walk slowly down the tunnel and continue to speak to Sweetie Belle who, for once today, had his undivided attention. "I do not wish to die again, especially not in this rat hole, but because of this curse you placed on me, I am at your command. So I ask you this: What do you want me to do?" 

By this time, the duo had reached a strange convergence of the tunnels. For miles up and down all sort of path ways interconnected and thin bridges connected them across this strange void in the earth. Before taking another step, however, Sombra looked over at the filly on his back and waited for her response,

"I...I still want to get my sister's gems back."

"I can do that, but is that all you want? I would like to avoid getting another pain session if you suddenly decided to change your mind on something."

"C-Could you please try not to kill any pony?"

"Dogs aren't ponies."

"You know what I mean!"

"Well then, go ahead." Sombra said as he began to look forward again. The barks coming from the other side of the bridge they were on getting his attention. Though Sweetie Belle was still rather confused by what he had meant by that last statement. "Give me my commands."

"Really? But I thought it hurt you when I did that."

"Only when I disobey. I have to admit, when you give me a command to follow, my body seems to acquire more strength for the time I do as you say. I still have not reached one hundred percent of my dark power, but it beats this feeling of weakness when I just idle around." 

"O-Okay then" Sweetie Belle said softy as she began to hide behind Sombra mane. The dogs were now in view and starting to cross the bridge towards them. "King Sombra!" She shouted out as she clenched his mane. Once more their bodies glowed in markings of light. "Get my sister's gems back from the Diamond Dogs without killing them!" 

Sombra smiled as he took in a deep breath. His eyes were set ablaze in purple flames; he felt energized. His strength from a thousand years ago began to come back to him, and he loved this feeling. Though he didn't have time to enjoy it as a dog began to pounce at them. The snarls it was making made Sweetie Belle shut her eyes as she once again wrapped her hooves around Sombra. The growls, however, were soon replaced by whimpers, causing her to peek an eyelid open. 

"How sad, it seems like the dumb dog ran into a crystal pillar." Sombra said with a smirk as he began to walk around the canine holding onto his face on the floor as it spazzed, causing the filly to giggle at his funny actions. "Who's next?"

"We'll get you for that!" One of the Diamond Dogs said before they all began to run towards them. Though this time, Sweetie Belle didn't hide herself behind Sombra. For some reason, she wasn't scared anymore. 

Dashing ahead as well, Sombra picked up enough momentum to slide on the bridge and trip a dog over them. The stallion quickly shifted his weight to his front hooves as he kicked upward with his hind legs, propelling the dog several meters into the air and propping him into the ceiling were he stayed stuck in the dirt.

This left the duo open, but it wasn't like they actually had to worry about the dozens of dogs jumping at them with their claws. Using his dark magic, Sombra summoned another pillar of crystal from the ground that elevated them, pushing him and the filly out of harms way and making the dogs smash their heads into the hard material. 

The sound of both growls and Sweetie's giggles filled the atmosphere as Sombra swiftly and graciously moved around the dogs trying to attack them. His hooves slid on the ground as he spun around to simultaneously avoid the claws of a dog while tripping him over, causing him to fall onto another of his comrades. 

As he came to his hooves to dust away from dirt from his coat, Sombra blatantly ignored the dog behind him as it reached for them. The filly on his back waved 'hi' at him before a crystal pillar erected out of the ground to sucker punch him before pulling back into the dirt just as fast, leaving the dog stunned in place. 

Finally done dusting himself, Sombra turned and patted the dog on the shoulder. "Better luck next time." Before beginning to walk away. 

Again dogs began to rush at them and though Sombra was able to use his magic to get rid of them all, he was simply enjoying himself too much right now. Reaching back and grabbing Sweetie Belle, Sombra shifted his weight to his hind hooves as he held onto the filly with one of his free limbs. 

He skillfully moved out of the way of an incoming slash of a claw while moving in and uppercutting the dog with his remaining hoof. The canine was propelled back along with all those behind him. Sombra felt a presence at his back, and he quickly jumped onto the hoof he used to punch and balanced himself on it as he kicked his oppressors with his hind legs, knocking the wind out of them. 

Turning upside down on the hoof he was balancing on, Sombra remained still as he did a headstand, waiting for dogs to gather around him. The giggling from Sweetie Belle wouldn't stop as her mane hung down while she held back at Sombra. She was enjoying the show and couldn't stop her laughter. Once again the dogs tried to jump at Sombra, surely he couldn't defend against them with him standing upside down with a filly held in one hoof, right? 

Just as they all pounced out at him, Sombra used his strength to throw himself out of the way and landed at the entrance to the tunnel the dogs had come out of. Just as all the dogs landed at once, the bridge gave in under the pressure and they all began to fall down. Sombra and Sweetie Belle both flinched as the sound of crashing and splinting echoed in the tunnels. 

"I thought I told you not to kill any pony!" Sweetie Belle said as Sombra placed her on his back. 

"My leg!"

"Get your tail out of my face!"

"Get your face out of my butt!"

Chuckling to himself, Sombra began to make his way down the tunnel. "Don't worry, they'll live."


《=●=》


"And then this super duper large order came in!" Pinkie said as she waved her hooves around to emphasize the story she was telling the princesses.

"How awful, even after all the work thou had already done?" Luna asked out, very much into the story her friend was telling. 

"I know right? Can you believe it?! But I got it done! I am the best baker in Ponyville!" The pink mare said as she puffed out her chest.

"Ahem." Mr. Cake cleared his throat as he passed by with a trey of cupcakes balanced on his head.

"Umm, second best." Pinkie finished with an embarrassed blush causing every pony to laugh. Well, every pony but Rarity and Twilight who were all still just saving face and forcing out a smile.

"How much longer do you think this will take?" The white mare whispered at her friend, a worried expression on her face. 

"I don't know. You know how Pinkie can talk for hours..." Twilight responded as she glanced at the clock. They had already been an hour at the shop and it seemed like neither Luna or Celestia were ready to leave. 

"Ooooh, I wouldn't have left Sweetie Belle's side if I knew it would have taken this long." 

"You don't have to worry, I'm sure that she's fine, what's the worse that could happen?" The alicorn said as she patted her shoulder.

"Really? Sweetie Belle? I can't leave her alone for twenty minutes without something breaking. What do you think could happen if I left her alone with full and unconditional control of a Tyrant?" Rarity asked out, her question making Twilight nervous at the thought of all the possibilities.

"Heh heh....Okay, perhaps that was poor word choice on my part...but really, Sweetie Belle is a good girl, she wouldn't do anything dangerous."


《=●=》


"Woohoo!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she smiled, the stallion under her jumping over several dogs who were doing their best to get to them, but were simply too low to reach them. Landing and continuing on their way, Sombra raised a crystal wall to block away the tunnel behind them.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself." The dark stallion said as he ran across the corridor. 

"This is fun!"

"Let's try to remember the objective shall we?" 

"Oh, right. The gems. How are we going to find them in this maze anyway?"

"You mean you had no idea how to get them in the first place?" Sombra asked with a tease. 

"I-I would have thought of something!"

"Sure you would. Just leave this to me."

"And how are you going to find them? Do you know where they are?"

"I've a vague idea, yes. Remember when you commanded me to reacquire you sister's gems?"

"Yeah?"

"Well I am now forced to do so. Any time I begin to move away from the gems, the curse will send a small warning not to disobey."

"So that means..."

"If I ever take a turn that leads me away from the gems, the curse will warn me I am not following orders."

"So you're using the curse as a radar?" Sweetie Belle asked with amazement. She would have never have thought of using such a 'restriction' as an advantage.

"Precisely. And if the curse is any indication of the gem's location, we should be nearing them now."

Taking the final stretch, Sombra began to gallop down the corridor as fast as he could. Coming to the first door since they had entered the labyrinth, Sombra's horn glowed in black and purple as he sent a bolt of darkness out to the door, burtsing through. From the smoke he emerged in a prideful stance. 

"Was that really necessary?" Sweetie Belle asked as she dusted some debris from her head.

"I like making a grand entrance." He responded with a chuckle.

What was in front of him was quite a sight. Three Diamond Dogs and one very large one. A towering presence in the room with heavy armor plating that stood guard over the other three.

"Y-You! Stay where you are or we'll unleash the hounds!" One of them said as he pointed a claw at them.

"Well we wouldn't want that do we? How about you just give back the gems you stole and we'll be on our way." Sombra responded as he began to take a more causal stance.

"What? No! These gems are ours now, we need them!" The dog said as he whistled, telling the large guard to advance. 

"Need them for what?" Sombra asked out in a sly smile.

"We need to sell them! Our families need the bits to buy food!" Another dog shouted out. At once, Sombra's smile faded as his eyes became serious. He quickly lifted Sweetie Belle from his back and placed her down. 

"Stay here a moment." He said before walked towards the large dog. The guard took a swing at Sombra, but a crystal wall was erected from the ground, blocking the blow. The crystal began to grow and consume the dogs paw, trapping it in place. Sombra's movements didn't falter, he quickly made his way to the trio and stared down at them. "You need gems to survive?" He asked out, his voice commanding and intimidating.

"Uh...yes?" One of them said meekly.

"I need a definite answer. Do you need gems to keep your families alive?" He asked out again.

"Yes! If we don't sell the gems, we can't buy food." The shorter one of the trio said. "We Diamond Dogs have very large families, five to eight kids for every marriage..."

Sombra's gaze shifted from one dog to the other as he looked them down. His eyes were still on fire as the intensity of the combustion only grew with each second he stared at them.

"So let me ask you this. Did you manage to steal more gems last night than you would have found if you had continued to excavate for them?" 

"Uh...maybe?"

"Yes or no answers only." Sombra said in a strained voice, making one of them cower in fear at his hooves.

"No!" The tallest of the dogs said, the pressure of being stared down making him fall with his paws over his head as well.

"So you're telling me that you took a night off to steal some gems, when you could have used that strength and time to dig and make more than you did from stealing?"

"Is that...bad?" The last one asked, also falling to the ground when he heard Sombra's voice. 

"Is that bad? Is that bad? On your feet!" He commanded. At once the three of them stood up straight and at attention. "Now this is what you're going to do." Sombra began as he paced back and forth in front of the trio of dogs. "You are going to get all your underlings here and you're going to dig. You're going to dig until your little claws chip and crack. You're going to dig until your paws begin to ache from digging, and do you know what you're going to do after that?"

"Umm, dig until our paws fall off?" One of them asked out as he came out of attention, but quickly fell back into place after Sombra glared at him.

"Are you mad? You cannot dig without your paws! That's why you get shovels and then dig some more! The lives of your families are on the line here and you'd rather waste the time you have playing thief?! If I could know that my own family would be safe by slaving away at a mine, do you think I would hesitate at the thought? No! So you dig you fools, you dig." Sombra shouted out. At once the three Diamond Dogs jumped and began to run to get their henchmen. 

In no time at all Sombra was pacing in front of rows upon rows of Diamond Dogs as he began to give out orders. Sweetie Belle had also done as she was told and stayed back where Sombra had left her. She was amazed to see how well he had began to organized the dogs. 

"So what are you all waiting for?!" Sombra shouted out. "Get to your positions and start digging!" All of the Diamond Dogs rushed out and began to do as he had told them. All were to dig in different directions. Ultimately, there would be no such things as an 'underground' They were to dig themselves out of this hole, not an inch of the mountain would be left by the time they finished and they would have collected each and every one of the gems that laid here.

With a sigh, Sombra with a filled saddle bag finally began to make his way towards the filly who was patiently waiting for him. "These dogs are idiots. How did they think that digging aimlessly would help them find any gems at all?" He asked out with his hoof to his temple as he tried to massage the stress out of his head.

"That was really cool, how did you do all of that?" Sweetie Belle asked out as she ran up to him.

"A King is bold and demanding, if he isn't, none will follow his orders. These mongrels were wasting time and effort in pointless endeavors. It was painful to watch. Ah, speaking of painful." He said as he reached around into his bag and pulled out the gems that had been stolen. "I acquired these back."

"Awesome! Let's go back home then!" She said as she ran around and climbed onto Sombra's back again.

"Oye, who said you can ride my back again?"

"I did. And you said I should be assertive with my decisions!" She said with a grin. 

"Not the answer I was looking for, but ultimately, it isn't my choice anyway. Let's just head back and hope no pony has noticed our absence."


《=●=》


"I do not believe I have ever had the pleasure of visiting your home." Celestia said as she and her sister finally came into the Carousel Boutique."

"We've been here once, in a dream that is" Luna said as she walked in while looking around at all the dresses in display. Rarity quickly dropped her forced smile as she walked into her home and ran directly upstairs. 

"Is something wrong? Rarity looked troubled." The Sun Goddess asked. 

"Well you see, the truth is that there was something wrong since yesterday." Twilight said as she turned to face her fellow princesses. 

"What?! Why did you not tell us sooner?"

"Well it's because it has to do with-"

"Woo! That was fun, let's do it again!" A squeaky voice said as the window nearby opened. Through it jumped Sombra and the filly that had spoken. 

"I think you're enjoying yourself too much." Sombra said with an annoyed expression. "I am not a-....Hi there." He said as he took notice of the audience. Silence. No Pony uttered a word.

"Twilight! Sweetie Belle and Sombra are-" Rarity shouted as she she ran back downstairs. 

"Right here..." Sweetie said softly before  jumping off her dark guardian and standing beside him. "We got your gems back."
> 8. "More Tea Princess?"
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The room was silent as the odd duo stared off against the princesses. Nopony said anything as they each tried to process what was going on. Sombra tried to hold a relaxed smile as he looked over at the princesses, though his eyes betrayed the facade he tried to put up. He was nervous, he was unprepared, he was vulnerable. His red irises looked left and right as he tried to think of possible ways out of this predicament. If a fight were to commence at this moment he would have nothing to defend himself on other than the theory of the 'live' command from before. He in fact, had no hard evidence that that even would work or if commands lasted this long. Sombra could, however, test it. 

The command that brought him back to life was given at about the same time as the one to stay his hoof from the necromancer's sister. If he was unable to attack her, the 'live' command should still be valid. However, if he did attack and was able to do so, then not only would his only hope for surviving this battle be lost, but it would also be the trigger that sends the goddesses into an aggression against him.  The risk was too high, then again, what else could he do?

The tension between the opposing forces began to build as Luna took notice of his hard eyes. She returned the gesture as she too began to plan out her next move. Carefully they both sketched out their next action and every action and reaction after that. 

"H-How about some tea?" Rarity asked out meekly as she moved in between the two groups, trying to cut the tension away.

"Surely thou jests ." Luna responded as she took a step to the side to keep the stallion in view. 

"That sounds delightful." Celestia said before any other could speak out. "The one you said was imported from Prance?" She asked out with a gentle smile.

"Sister!"

"Now now Luna, we're guests in this house. Let's just accept their hospitality."

"Yes, it would be rather rude to cause a scene." Sombra said as he began to make his way towards Rarity whom took a nervous step back when he came close. "For you, as requested from your sister." He finished as he passed the saddle with her stolen gems. Luna scoffed at his nonchalant behavior, all too eager to begin the fight but unwilling to make trouble for her friend.

"T-Thank you. Umm, Sweetie Belle, would you mind helping me set the table for our guests?" 


<=•=>


Sipping away at his warm tea, Sombra enjoyed his moment of peace even though on the other side of the table where he was sitting were mares capable of killing him and having reason to do so. Gently opening his eyes to look at them, he was met with a glare and a soft smile. Each expression belonging to Luna and Celestia respectively. 

"We made cookies!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she ran into the room with a tray balanced on her head. She trotted over to Sombra's side, though in her rush, tripped and the tray flew outwards with the baked goods each heading in their own direction. With little difficulty, Sombra used his magic to catch all of the falling objects and placing them neatly back on the tray which he put on the table. He did so with the same dexterity he had used when Sweetie Belle had thrown the chess board the previous night. 

"You should be more careful." Sombra said as he took another sip from his drink, barely paying mind to the filly.

"Heheh, sorry."

"That was very quick of you." Celestia said as she clapped her hooves in appreciation of his actions. This sent a chill down Sombra's spine. Why was she acting so nice towards him? He had thought that what happened earlier was simply because she did not want to involve the filly and mare if he and the rest of the alicorns began to fight, but they had been alone for quite a while now. She had had the opportunity to initiate an assault against him, no doubt her sister wouldn't be against it; Luna was just itching to fight. 

"A mere reflex." He responded, though it seemed his reply was ill taken by the Lunar Goddess who once again scoffed at him. 

"Sister, remind Us again why we haven't simply done away with this stallion?" Luna asked as she took a drink of the tea in front of her, her eyes closed in annoyance of the entire situation. 

"You would prefer to shoot first and ask questions later?" Sombra bickered back while he grabbed his cup with a hoof as he twisted his body to lean on his elbow to face away from the dark mare.

"We would prefer not to be in the presence of a stallion who took prisoner an entire civilization for his own personal delight. You're nothing more than a-"

"Tyrant?" He finished for her. "Isn't that the title you two gave me?" He asked as he continued to pay them no mind. "The Tyrant of the Frozen North. The Tyrant of the Crystal Empire who ruled with an iron hoof."

"A fitting title for one such as thyself." 

Sombra chuckled as he took one last sip of his tea, emptying the cup and placing it back on the table as he threw a glance at Luna. "I never said it wasn't fitting. I am a Tyrant. I am evil and cruel. I am daunting and savage in my ways. I am King Sombra." The dark stallion said as a malicious smile spread across his lips, a white flash crossing his eyes.

Sombra was taunting her. He felt no remorse for his past actions and even accepted his title of Tyrant. It boiled at Luna's blood as she glared at his cheeky smile. She simply couldn't take it anymore. At the end of her patience, Luna spread her wings and with a strong flap lifted herself up before launching a bolt of energy at Sombra.

The stallion saw the attack coming and as he sat in place he felt a surge of energy. It was like the warning the curse sent him from before, only this time it didn't stun or hurt him, it energized him. Luna meant to take Sombra's life and the spell he was under was reacting against it. He wasn't allowed to die. His eyes burned in purple flames as his felt his dark magic grow inside of him. He quickly jumped off his seat and got on all fours before readying himself to pounce but something stopped him.


<=•=>


"Do you think this was a good idea?" Rarity asked as she placed freshly made sandwiches onto a tray. Looking over at her friend was getting ready some more tea, she flopped down her ears as she waited for a response.

"What? Having Princess Luna and Princess Celestia here? Of course it is! They'll know how to undo the spell and have Sombra back in the afterlife in no time." Twilight said with a smile as she walked over to the white mare and nudged her to up her spirits. "Don't you think so?"

"Yeah, but you saw them just a moment ago. It looked like they were ready to rip each other's throats. I really don't want Sweetie Belle to be here if they fight."

"I doubt Princess Celestia would let any harm come to her, besides, even if they do start a fight, Sweetie Belle could stop Sombra dead in his tracks!" Twilight said before realizing what she had said exactly. She cleared her throat as placed a hoof to her muzzle. "No pun intended."

"I guess you're right. Still, I don't like this situation at-"

"Become my shadow!" 

A voice echoed out from the room over, causing the two mares to pause their conversation. Sharing a glance at one another, they quickly ran to the room where the Princesses and Sombra had been drinking their tea only to find Luna staring off....against Sweetie Belle.

"What trickery is this?" Luna asked out as she looked over at the filly who was standing her ground against the Goddess. 

"Don't hurt Mister Sombra!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she leaned down in an offensive stance, though it was more like a kitten facing off against a lion. 

"Not to hurt- Filly, Doth thou understand who that stallion truly is? He is Sombra, the Tyrant of the Frozen North and barbaric dictator of the Crystal Empire!" Luna tried to reason with her, though it didn't seem to be working. Sweetie Belle didn't let up from her stance.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity called out as she ran over to her sister and hugged her. "What happened?" Doing her best to breath under the suffocating embrace of her sister, Sweetie Belle responded.

"Princess Luna was about to hurt Mister Sombra! I made him turn into my shadow before she could do it though."

"How is that even possible! What kind of sorcery hath Sombra placed upon thee, child?" The dark alicorn asked out as she looked her over.

"Haven't you figured it out yet Luna" Celestia said as she took one last sip from her tea. Gently putting the cup down on the table, she looked over at her sister with a gentle smile. "Sombra is bound to her by a spell."

"What!?" Luna asked out in shock. "What doth thy mean? What hath Sombra done?!"

"It...wasn't Sombra who did anything." Twilight said as she slowly stepped towards her fellow Princesses. "Sweetie Belle bound him to her shadow. How she managed to do so is beyond me, but I was hoping that perhaps you knew of how to break this spell. "

Celestia finally stood up from the table to get closer to Sweetie. With a soft smile she spoke to her. "Would you mind calling Sombra back out again?"

"S-Sure." Sweetie Belle said as she began to lower her guard. Celestia's smile brought a sense of serene stillness that gave her a sort of peace. "As long as Princess Luna doesn't try to hurt him again!"

Looking over at her sister, Celestia waited for her to reply. Though first rather against it, she finally gave in with a sigh. 

"Fine. We shall stay our magic for now." 

Sweetie Belle wasn't fully convinced about it, but she decided to adhere to the request of having Sombra back out.  After all, if things got messy again she could just recall him to her shadow.

"Sombra, come out." She said softly. At once her shadow moved away from her as it jumped out and took the shape of a tall stallion. Landing rather roughly on the ground, Sombra was cast back out in the mid-pouncing position he had been in before forced to the filly's shadow and finally finished the landing.

Stretching out his back to pop some bones, Sombra looked over to the Sun Goddess who was still holding a smile towards him. "How did you figure all of that out so fast?" He asked before taking a few steps towards her.

"When you two first appeared I noticed Sweetie Belle was without a shadow. That, and you two gave off the same magic that I've seen countless times before."

"What kind of magic?" Rarity asked.

"The kind of magic ponies use when they try to revive fallen loved ones. The magic of Necromancy."

"I'm not a Necromancer!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she felt the attention go to her. 

"And how, pray tell, doth thou even know what that is? Actually, a better question is how thou managed to use Necromancy in the first place."

"Like I said, we don't know how it happened. Sweetie Belle said she read a book from my library, but I don't have anything like that in my collection so there's no way I could even have given her the wrong book." Twilight said as she tried to clear things up, but it only brought up more questions. She was about to talk again when she noticed her former teacher raise her hoof, a gesture to hold a moment.

"Sweetie Belle, would you mind telling me what it was that you did before Sombra became bound to you?"

"I was reading Twilight's book."

"And what else? Surely you had to have said something out loud."

Placing a hoof to her chin, the filly began to think about what it was she had done action by action. "Well, I didn't say anything, but I did sing."

"Sing?"

"Yeah! The book said that doing something that calms you down before you talk helps with public speaking! So I sang a song."

"What song was it? What were the lyrics?" 

"I uh, don't remember. I sorta made it up as I went along." She replied with a light blush. 

"Art thou saying thou simply sang out the chant to a powerful spell by mistake?" 

"Yeah?"

"She's telling the truth." A voice said, quickly making everypony turn to look at Sombra who had made his way back to the table and poured himself more tea. "I remember hearing a song. It was hypnotic in nature, but it called out to me." 

"My, you're rather nonchalant about the situation you're in." Celestia said in what anypony would say was a teasing manner.

"I could say the same thing about you." Sombra scoffed. "You have an old adversary in front of you. A stallion who had 'tortured millions of ponies' to 'achieve his evil goals'. Yet you talk as if you were talking to an old friend."

"Would you rather I fight you head on again?"

"It would make more sense if you did." Sombra said as a smile crept on him. One he did his best to hide. His theory was proven correct, and had it not been for the filly calling him to her shadow, he might have done quite a number on the Lunar Princess. If they were to begin another battle, no doubt he would be able to escape, if not win altogether. 

"Become my shadow!" Sweetie Belle shouted out again. With an annoyed face, Sombra was once more forced into darkness that trailed its way to her. "Stop trying to hurt him!"

Oye! What do you think you're doing filly?

Sombra's voice echoed in Sweetie Belle's head. It was a side effect of him being her shadow that she had forgotten about. 

"I'm making sure they don't hurt you!" The filly shouted out, causing all the mares around her to look at her in confusion. 

I require no protection. Let me out so I may face them.

"No way. It's Princess Luna and Princess Celestia we're talking about here. They'll hurt you pretty badly!" 

"Sweetie Belle?" Rarity asked out, concerned for her sister's sanity.

First off, it was your sister and her friends that killed me. The Royal Sisters only managed to banish me when we fought. Secondly, do you really think, I would let myself die so easily? What do you think of me?!

"Wait, so you fought against the Princesses and survived? Wow! You're really strong." Sweetie Belle said out loud with a grin. Those around her were finally starting to piece everything together. 

"Sweetie, are you talking to Sombra?" Twilight asked.

"Huh? Yeah. When he's my shadow, I can hear his thoughts in my head." The filly responded with a smile, oblivious to the indications of such a thing. Quietly they all looked at one another as they studied the filly.

"Sweetie Belle, would you mind bringing Sombra back out again?" Celestia asked.

"No! You'll try to hurt him again."

Ay por el amor de dios. 

Quickly Sweetie's shadow began to move on its own as it converged out of the ground. Pulling himself from the ground, Sombra came to his hooves as he forced his body to obey him. "Stop asking the filly, I am capable of coming out on my own."

"What?! Since when!?" Sweetie Belle shouted out in surprise.

"Since always." He said as he dusted himself off.

"Then why did you never do it before?"

"Never felt the need to." Sombra responded back in a quick back and forth that was rather strange to see. After all, who would have guessed that the all powerful dark lord would be bickering with a filly.

"Well perhaps you can shed some more light into the situation." Celestia said as she stepped close, an action that Sombra disliked greatly and it showed in his face and reluctance to respond immediately. "How did you come to be bound to Sweetie Belle. This isn't the normal revival most ponies go for."

"I don't remember."

"Most likely a lie, sister."

"I do not lie." Sombra responded quickly as he glared at Luna. "I may be a Tyrant, but I'm no liar. Or have you forgotten the letter I wrote?"

"Letter?" The mares asked out.

"You mean the one you wrote to Canterlot when you were King?"

"If We recall correctly, thou hath spoken of us possessing something thou wanted and if we did not give it to thee, thou would take it by force."

"I do not beat around the bush Princess, but instead of a simple response letter, I am greeted by an army at my door step."

"Thou had threatened us! Luckily we caught thou at a time when thy army was nowhere to be seen."

"Oh they were to be seen. They were in the mines." Sombra said as he gestured with his hoof, not really coming to an understanding at how he sounded at the moment.

"You put your army in the mines?!" Twilight asked out, immediately imagining the guards from the Crystal Empire having to work in the mines.

"We were behind schedule as it was! We needed to excavate as many crystals as we could in order to survive the winter that was to come."

"You lived in Frozen North." Rarity spoke out. "It's always winter!"

"You clearly haven't seen a winter in the Empire then." 

"So wait. Are you saying that you willingly fought us and our army on your own?" The Sun Goddess asked. 

"I had no choice. The empire would not have survived otherwise. Not that it mattered it seems. Your goal was to 'relieve' of my position as King. Luckily I managed to place the Empire at a standstill while I was banished, saving it from starvation."

"Thou speak as if thou were a savior." Luna said as she sent a hateful look in Sombra's direction. He responded in kind and they were once again in a rather lethal staring contest. The dark stallion's eyes began to spark in flames as his guard was suddenly raised by the curse he was under. The Princess had killing intent in her gaze, powering him. It was exactly what he wanted. 

"Cookie?" Sweetie Belle asked as she jumped between the two clashing forces with a tray balanced on her head again. Both of them were taken by surprise at her antics and took a step back. "Take one Mister Sombra." She said with an innocent smile.

Bound to follow her instructions, Sombra used his magic to levitate a cookie and take a quick bite out of it in frustration. Again she had interrupted his plans to use the curse to his advantage. 

"W-We'll take one too." Luna said as she tried to move away from the tense atmosphere she had created, but as she reached for the trey, Sweetie Belle moved it out of reach. 

"No! You keep trying to hurt Mister Sombra!" Sweetie Belle said as she took a stand beside Sombra who couldn't help but smile at having somepony at his defense, even if it was just a filly. It was definitely nice to be able to smirk at the expression Luna was making for being rejected a cookie to take.

"W-What!? Such a thing is uncalled for!"

"You can have one if you apologize." The filly said with her chest out, the same expression she had given when she had demanded the same action from Sombra.

"Thou wishes for Us to apologize to a Tyrant?!"

"You were at fault here Luna." Celestia said with a giggle.

"Not thee as well!" Luna shouted out, her face red in frustration. "Thou would act the same way if thy mind was not filled with memories of thine past lover."

In a fraction of a second Celestia calm demeanor was turned into a flustered one as she turned blood red at the face. "H-H-H-He has nothing to do with anything!"

"He hath everything to do with it! Why else would thou be so calm to see Sombra? Thine mind is plagued with 'lovey dovey' memories!"

The two sisters began to bicker with one another in a 'lovingly' sister way, leaving Sombra and Sweetie Belle rather confused with the situation. The mares to their side soon began to undertsand what Luna had meant and their faces shined as they recalled a small detail in one of their adventures.

"Oh right, Celestia fell in love with an alternate version of King Sombra." Twilight said as she smacked one hoof against the other in realization. 

"Don't say that in front of him!" Celestia shouted as she tried to cover Twilight's muzzle, but it was too late, Sombra and for that matter, Sweetie Belle had heard.

"Really!?" The filly squeaked out. "Princess Celestia likes Mister Sombra?!"

"N-N-N-No! It was an alternate version of Sombra!" The Sun Goddess tried to explain, but there was no reasoning with the filly. 

"So do you like her back?" Sweetie asked as he nudged one of Sombra's hooves. His only response was to look away in annoyance and take another bite of his cookie. 

"Ha. Me fall for one of the mares who tried to murder me? Nonesense."

Celestia remained motionless as she heard him speak. She wasn't sure how to take it. Whether to be happy that he didn't seem to take interest in her little secret, or sad that she was rejected so quickly by a version of her former lover. The snickering at her back by her sister was of no consolation either.

"Quiet Luna! This is all your fault!"

"We are not to blame that thou art not capable of captivating King Sombra." She teased back. 

With a heavy sigh, Sombra took a step towards the filly as he began to shift his physical form into darkness. "Call me when their petty feud is over." He said as he returned to Sweetie Belle as her shadow. The filly, of course, paid little mind to his words as she looked over in a giggle fit at the Royal Sisters.

Dumbfounded, Twilight and Rarity stood still as they too looked over at the situation. This was certainly not what they imagined would happen when the Princesses arrived. Sighing, Rarity lowered her head as annoyance took hold of her.

"I'll go make more tea..."
> 9. More Time to Think
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So you want me to break the spell?” Celestia asked as she looked over at her two desperate friends. 

“Yes! Sweetie Belle shouldn't be around ponies like King Sombra. I simply cannot sit by and watch him corrupt my sister.” Rarity said, all too eager to have Sombra leave her home, where he went or what happened to him, she didn't care.

“Besides, you said you've seen this sort of magic before. You must know how to break the spell that binds them together.” Twilight added.

“I have seen this kind of magic before, but not like this.” The monarch said as she began to pace. At the moment, Sweetie Belle, Sombra, and Luna were in another room so she could speak to the worried duo in peace. “But this is a little different.”

“How so?”

“Well, for starters, Sombra is the child’s shadow. When he is out and about, Sweetie Belle is shadow less, and when he is her shadow, they share their thoughts.”

“And that means?”

“It means that they are bound by more than just a contract of master and familiar. Sombra is quite literally part of Sweetie Belle’s being, bound to her by her will...and his.”

“Wait, I’m confused.” Rarity said as she stepped forward. “By Sombra’s will as well?”

“Whatever it was that the filly sang, it resonated deeply enough in Sombra to make him want to live again. Make him take any deal or contract that was offered. It was his will to live that allowed him to retain his memories and personality. It wasn't just Sweetie Belle's accidental spell that bound him to her, Sombra had to choose to accept the contract.”

“How does that even work?!” Twilight shouted out, unable to believe something like this would even be possible. "How can somepony pull themselves back from the dead?" 

They all took a moment to allow the words to sink in, not really sure what their next course of action should be. But as they thought, Rarity furrowed her brows when something Celestia had said began to bug her. “Umm, Princess?” She asked out.

“Yes?”

“What did you mean when you said, 'able to retain his memories and personality'? Does that mean that some don’t?”

“None do…” Celestia said with a saddened tone. “Necromancy is nothing more than reanimating a dead body. A body that is but a puppet to be controlled. No will of its own, not even a voice to speak with. Some ponies had tried to bring a soul back, but those experiments always end in...tragedies.”

“So....how did Sombra come back?”

Looking over at the door that led them to the room where the rest of the group was, Celestia spoke with a tone of voice full of sorrow. “I don’t know. But that stallion is the first to be able to crawl back out of the grave. Whatever he came back for, he is willing to do anything to accomplish it…”

All of the mares remained quiet as dread began to fill their minds over King Sombra, the Tyrant of the Frozen North. He was still evil, an evil that has stood up against Gods and lived. A master of the Dark Arts, no doubt able to do more than he is letting on, yet he remains almost docile unless aggravated. Powerful yet not willing to act unless it brings him closer to his next goal. A spectator until otherwise needed. He is an enigma none of them could truly understand.

“Well, shall we return?” Celestia asked out as she tried to break the eerie mood. "I doubt my sister and Sombra have been very happy about being left alone for so long. We best go back to them before a battle breaks loose.” She said with a soft smile.

Following their monarch, Rarity and Twilight were at the tall mare’s heels as they tried to hurry along. They had forgotten how badly those dark ponies got along. But as they opened the door, they were met with quite the scene. 

“This is the end, Sombra.” Luna said as she began to advance against the black king with a smile upon her face.  She couldn't help but gloat at her soon to be victory.

“Be careful Mister Sombra!” Sweetie Belle shouted out as she saw what was happening. Sombra, on the other hoof, remained confident in his position and instead chuckled at Luna’s rash actions. 

“It truly is the end, but for you it seems.” He replied as he moved forward, taking advantage of her sudden lack of defense. “You've fallen into my trap.”

“It- It cannot be.” The Princess said as she noticed the sudden flank from the side by her opponent.

“Oh but it can. Checkmate.” Sombra finished as he leaned back on his seat, the chessboard between him and Luna now declaring him the victor. Her mouth open in awe at her defeat, Luna lean forward to look down at the pieces in front of her.

“This cannot be! We demand a rematch!” She shouted out, angry at having lost...again.

“You know, most ponies give up after the fourth loss.” Sombra said as he took a cup of tea Sweetie Belle was offering him. 

“Best six out of eleven!” Luna shouted out, not content on leaving the table until she had proven her worth as a chess player.

"Mister Sombra will just beat you again." The filly teased as she stuck out her tongue, her favorite of the two monarchs clear for them to see.

The mares who had just entered the room couldn't help but begin to giggle at Luna's expense, quickly drawing in her attention and making them all quiet down and avoid the dark mare's gaze. 

In her motions, Rarity noticed something peculiar about her sister. Earlier they had all had lunch brought over, homemade sandwiches she herself made, but Sweetie Belle's were practically untouched. 

"Sweetie Belle dear? How come you haven't eaten your food?" The mare asked as she made her way to her. The filly glanced over at her plate and looked a little embarrassed as she responded.

"I just wasn't that hungry." She said with a forced smile.

"But you haven't eaten anything since breakfast. You're usually begging me for something to snack on by this time of the day."

"I dunno', just not hungry." She responded before running off and seating where Luna was just moments prior. It was now her turn to play against him, leaving the white mare puzzled. Sombra, on the other hoof, seemed to have finished everything on his own plate, leaving nothing but crumbs on the dish he had set to the side. Squinting her eyes, Rarity took a moment to think. Surely there wasn't any correlation between that...

"Twilight?" Celestia asked out now that everypony seemed to be in a gentler mood. 

"Yes?"

"You had asked me to break the spell Sweetie Belle had cast but I'm not too sure if I can really do so." She said as she grew close to her old pupil. Unknown to them, Sombra perked an ear up, eavesdropping on the conversation. 

"What?!"

"This is indeed far too strange of a spell to break, especially since I don't know the details of how it came to be. I'm going to need to do a lot of research to figure out the binding's structure." The Sun Goddess said as the others gathered around her. 

"Research?"

"Yes, perhaps somepony somewhere managed to do the same as Sweetie Belle. If I can find their research, or perhaps just find a similar case, I could undo what has been done."

"Is there any way I can help?" Twilight asked, her eyes almost worried. It was odd to know that there were things even Celestia was not sure about, which only increased the urgency of the situation.

"Maybe. If you could send me some details on how this binding works, perhaps figure out some of the rules the contract plays by, it could minimize the work I have to do."

"I can definitely do that!" Twilight shouted out with some glee in her eyes. "I'm a pro at hooves on research papers!" She cheered. 

Sombra thought to himself as he feigned ignorance. The mares seemed to have no way of breaking the spell that he is cursed with, this was good for him. Without a means to break his connection to the filly, he was 'safe' for the time being. They would not try to engage him, not try to kill him, not even take him away. At this moment, it was a blessing to have this curse. 

This gives me more time to plan things out. I had not foreseen the filly's quick reaction to any combat between me and the Princesses, so I am going to have to switch my play around. I need to find a new way to break free and get to that stone. Once I get my hooves on it they can do with me as they wish, kill me or otherwise, I don't care. I just to-

"Check." Sweetie Belle said softly. Her voice quickly bringing Sombra back to the game at hoof. A quick glance down made him realize just how badly he had been losing and was currently in check against Sweetie Belle's queen.

"What?!" Luna shouted out as she ran straight to the board. "We played against Sombra five times and never uttered that word!" 

Sombra's face remained stoic for the moment. Being lost in thought had momentarily made him play badly, but the game was far from doomed it seemed. With a new smirk upon his face, he laughed out.

"Obviously the filly is better than you, but don't you fret, I won't lose." Sombra said as he moved his pawn to block away the queen's wrath. "All I've got to do is buy some time. I'll turn this game around." 

Even though what he said could have been taken as mockery of her play, Sweetie Belle took his words in stride and kept a smile on her face. She responded to his pawn and continued to play. Sure enough though, Sombra began to gain the lead again. A few hard captures of the filly's bishops and rooks made it difficult for her to keep his pawns from reaching the other side of the board, promoting them and allowing Sombra to make up for lost time. 

"Check." Sombra spoke out as he place his bishop in place against Sweetie's king.

"Uhhh..." She replied softly as she tried to look for a way out. "Aha." Sweetie said as she moved her queen to block for her. A strange sense of déjà vu befell Sombra as she moved her piece. 

"Don't tell me you're going to castle again." He asked out as he moved his pawn into the position he wanted.

"Yup." She replied with a smile. Doing just as Sombra had foretold, Sweetie Belle moved her rook to replace her king's spot. 

"It won't save you this time either child." The dark stallion said as he moved yet another piece into place. "Checkmate."

"Yeah, but it's still nice to know that even in the worst of times, somepony has your back." The filly responded with a strangely optimistic smile. Was she perhaps trying to draw a parallel to something? No, this was a chess game and nothing more. 

"We must admit, thine skills at chess art masterful." Luna said in awe, unable to believe Sombra was able to make such a comeback from the bad first half of the play.

"I was a King once, I know that even in the roughest times, there is still hope, even if some sacrifices need to be made." Sombra said as he took another sip from his tea. Luna traded glances with her sister briefly as they heard him speak.

"Yes, we too know the true meaning of sacrifice..." Luna spoke almost in hesitation, making the stallion raise a brow. 

"It is inevitable if you wish to survive. With living comes strife."

"What's the difference between living and surviving?" Sweetie Belle asked out, not exactly following what Sombra had meant. Looking down at his reflection in his tea, Sombra sighed before speaking.

"Filly, in this world, to live is to suffer. But to survive, you must find meaning in that suffering. Things will not come easy, sometimes things will seem impossible to get through, but like you saw just now. It is never too late to turn things around in your favor." Sombra finished as he took another drink, closing his eyes as he did.

When he opened his eyes, he noticed that the room was terribly quiet, especially considering it was a room full of mares. Looking around, he realized he was now the center of attention. 

"...What?" 

"Oh, nothing, that was just...very nice advice to give to Sweetie Belle, that's all." Rarity said with a small blush, not sure as to how to act now that she had seen a rather mature side of Sombra.

"Mister Sombra has been giving me all sorts of lessons about life!" Sweetie shouted out in a prideful manner. 

"Is that so?" Celestia asked as she threw a sly glance at him who brushed it off. "Well in anyway case. It would be best if we took our leave. We'll be in touch, right Twilight?" She asked out and was met with a nod from her ex pupil.

"W-Wait, what about King Sombra?" The white mare of the group asked. "Is he going to be stay here?"

"Unless you wish for us to take Sweetie Belle, Sombra will have to stay in your hospitality for a while longer. Would that be too troublesome for thee?" Luna asked.

"Uh..."

Sombra scoffed as he realized he didn't seem to have a choice in the matter then again, he wasn't exactly against staying in this house away from the princesses. It would certainly be easier to think of a way out without having somepony looking over his shoulder at every moment of the day.

"Come on Rarity." Sweetie Belle pleaded. "Didn't you tell me you were the Element of Generosity? I'm sure we could generously give Sombra a room to use." 

"I-I'm certain we could, yes." Rarity responded half heartedly, only getting a chuckle out of Sombra. 

"Element of Generosity eh?" He said to himself. "This certainly makes things more interesting. Let's see where this takes us." Sombra finished as he reached over with his hoof at the white king on the board. It had remained untouched since his triumph over the filly and every piece was still in place. Though he had yet to do as he usually did when he won. With a gentle nudge, he tipped the white king over making it fall. "Very interesting."

> 10. The Plotting Begins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"King Sombra!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she stood her ground against the Tyrant. At once their bodies began to glow as white tattoo-like markings appeared on them. Strange inscriptions surrounded their limbs and torsos, but what was most peculiar was the ones around their hooves and neck. These tattoos almost seemed like shackles. 

"Amazing..." The alicorn of the group said as she stepped closer. Twilight, strangely enough, felt the need to put on a white lab coat and glasses as she observed the master and familiar, perhaps simply for formalities. "Does this happen every time?" She asked as she inspected their coats up close.

"Only when I call Mister Sombra by his title." The filly said as her tattoos began to dim. The magic of the curse she had placed on herself and Sombra seemed to have 'timed out', so to speak since she took too long to give a command.

"That must be some sort of trigger that activates the binding's properties..." The mare said as she began to write on a clip board. Sombra, on the other hoof, was much too busy looking around the room they were in to care how close the mare was to him.

They had been called to Twilight's castle, and by the chatter of the ponies he overheard on the way here, it was brand new to the town. They were in the basement of the crystal building where Twilight seemed to have a strange assortment of items all foreign to him. Made of metal and wires, strange contraptions surrounded them. Some gave off strange glows and light patterns, others made weird noises and buzzed which irritated him to no end. All weird and unique in their own right making it hard to focus on a single object.

"So what sort of things can you make Sombra do?" Twilight asked the filly as she began to connect her to a strange machine. 

"Uhhh, anything really." She responded, not exactly sure as to what to say. 

"Can you give me an example?"

"Well, I told him to find the gems that were stolen by the Diamond Dogs and he was able to get to them!" Sweetie Belle said with a large grin, one that was almost masked by a large helmet Twilight placed on her head.

"Isn't that, I don't know, just following instructions?" 

"Well, no...Mister Sombra, tell her what you told me." Sweetie Belle said as she turned to the stallion mesmerized by all the technology.

"Twilight Sparkle, you're an insufferable filly." He said quickly, not even sparing them a glance as he continued to poke around the gadgets. 

"Haha, very funny." Twilight said as she rolled her eyes at him, already tired of being in his sarcastic presence.

"No no, I mean the part about the radar."

Sighing, Sombra hesitantly obeyed. After all, the more the mare knew about the curse they were under, the easier it would be for her to find a way to break it. He really didn't want to cut his time short by aiding in that endeavor, then again, he didn't know very much about the curse either. Perhaps there was a risky advantage to being studied. Maybe he could find a few loop holes to abuse from all of this research and if he was lucky, even a way out.

"When the filly told me to find her sister's gems, the curse pointed me in the right direction."

"What? How?!"

"Simply put, I get a wave of pain whenever I disobey an order from her. So if I were to get further away from the gems she wished for me to retrieve, it would send a warning signal. All I had to do was walk in a random direction, if it wasn't a direction that brought me closer to them, the curse would tell me." Sombra said as he sat down, gesturing with his hoof as he spoke.

"R-Really? That's very odd." Twilight said as she looked down at her notes. Skimming the words she had written down, she quickly turned to the filly with a almost hesitant expression. "Sweetie Belle, would you mind doing a little experiment with me?"


<=•=>


"Sombra, jump fifty meters into the air!" Sweetie Belle shout out. Sombra was bound to do as she said and jumped up, though it certainly wasn't the distance he was ordered to do. Landing, Sombra had a strange expression on his face as he looked himself over, almost amazed to find himself unharmed.

"That's odd." He mumbled to himself.

"What is?" Twilight question as she moved forward, the wind blowing her mane to the side along with her long lab coat. She had asked them all to follow her to the roof of her castle so they could perform this little test. Certainly a more open location compared to the basement. Being the top of an already tall structure, it gave an amazing view of the entire town. 

"I'm in no pain even though I didn't do exactly as the filly asked. "

"Just as I thought..." The mare said as she continued to write stuff down on her clipboard. "Now Sweetie, I want you to give Sombra the exact same command, only this time, use his title."

"O-Okay." The filly said as she took a step forward. Taking a deep breath, she began to command her familiar. "King Sombra, jump fifty meters into the air!" 

Sombra's coat shined bright as his tattoos bled out into view. His eyes were set ablaze in purple flames as his power from his days as a Tyrant slowly returned to him. Just as he was commanded, Sombra kneeled down slightly before propelling himself up. 

In a flash, the dark stallion darted through the air until he had reached the specific height. It was definitely the right height since Sombra felt himself come to a sudden stop even though his momentum should have kept him going. At this distance, he could see out for miles and miles, but his eyes were glued on only one location: Canterlot.

"Amazing." Twilight spoke out softly as she shielded her eyes from the sunlight that caught her gaze from looking up. Crashing down, Sombra's hooves broke several crystal tiles as his tattoos began to fade away. 

"This certainly explains a few things..." Sombra said as he looked down at himself, the surge of power he had felt suddenly escaping him and leaving him in a rather weakened state.

"When Sweetie Belle calls you by name and title, it opens up the binding all the way and makes you accomplish whatever was asked of you, no matter the size of the task." The mare said as she began to make her way to the stallion who was still hypnotized by his body and its inner workings. 

"I'm not too sure if it's any task, but certainly a task the Tyrant of the Frozen North could pull off." He said as he gears in his mind began to turn. This certainly changed the playing field. With a soft stare, Sombra looked over at the filly who was coming his way and smiled.

"Hmm?" Sweetie Belle asked out as she turned her head to the side slightly. "What is it? Do I have something on my face?"

"Nothing, I was just thinking." He responded as he ruffled up her mane, causing Sweetie to giggle at his actions. 

"Thinking about what?" Twilight asked.

With cold eyes, Sombra turned to her and spoke in a hard tone. "Never you mind." His voice sent a chill down Twilight's spine. It was an eerie feeling to see him smile like so, almost with some evil intent behind it. The fact that he had been so willing to help with the research also made her worried. Was he being so kind because he knew Sweetie Belle shouldn't allow him to fight? Or did he have something else in mind?...

"Hey Twilight," A rather small dragon said as he made his way onto the roof of the castle. Sombra was all too familiar with who this drake was, after all, he got a really good glimpse of him back when he was killed. "Rarity is here to pick up Sweetie Belle and...and..." 

Spike's nonchalant expression soon became filled with horror as he saw who was in company of Twilight. His jaw dropped open as his eye widened at the sight of Sombra who leered at him intently. 

"K-King Som-Sombra?" Spike asked out, not willing to believe his eyes.

"What is it?" Sombra asked with an almost exaggerated movement of his mouth, most likely to expose his long fangs which shinned in the light of the sun. Spike gulped at the stallion facing him before taking a nervous step back. "Cat got your tongue?" The stallion finished before taking a single step forward.

"Sombra!" Twilight shouted as she stepped between her assistant and him. 

"What? I can't greet the drake?" 

"You weren't going to greet him." Twilight said as she narrowed her eyes at him. 

"And suddenly you can read my mind hmm? "

"I know that you're still bitter about the incident at the Crystal Empire."

"So what? I am just supposed to welcome each one of my murderers with open arms?" Sombra asked as he waved his hoof around, though as he spoke, Sweetie Belle's expressions shifted to a troubled one. 

"That's not- It was you attacking us that made us do that!" Twilight defended. All the while, the filly began to quietly shuffle towards her dark guardian. Her heart ached at the thought of Sombra being murdered, and it only irked her more that it was her friends who were responsible.

What made it even worse was that they didn't feel even the least bit bad about what they did. They defend their acts with the same line. 'Sombra is a Tyrant.' What did that even mean anyway? He had clearly said that he never took that title, rather, it was given to him by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. That meant that he never saw himself as one. 

"Umm." Sweetie Belle began. "Let's get going Mister Sombra." She said as she pulled on his grey coat, pulling away the stallion's attention towards her. Though annoyed at first, Sombra's gaze softened as he saw the worried and puffy face of the filly. It was almost like...she was hiding a face full of sorrow. 

"What? Go where?" Twilight asked as she looked over at the filly who was currently trying to mount and ride Sombra. The stallion seemed a little pestered by her actions, but didn't protest, most likely because he had no choice in the matter anyway.

"I'm going to meet up with Scootaloo and Applebloom. We agreed to get together after our school was broken down." Sweetie replied as she found herself in a comfortable position back on Sombra's back. Her face still showed signs of emotions she was trying to hold back, but Sombra decided against pointing them out. Instead, he simply followed the gesture to begin to move.

"But we're in the middle of doing research on your binding!" Twilight shouted as she began to run to them. "Not to mention we're supposed to keep Sombra hidden!" 

"Don't worry!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as Sombra jumped from the roof top. "If anypony gets close I'll tell him to become my shadow!" 

"That's not good enough!" Twilight shouted out, but it was no use. They were both gone in the distance as Sombra jumped from rooftop to rooftop. With a disgruntled sigh, Twilight stared into the horizon for a while before speaking to Spike. "Sweetie Belle used to be more obedient than this, Sombra is a horrible influence on her."

"I'm still surprised he is even here to begin with!" Spike responded as he joined the mare. There they stood in silence for a moment, the wind the only sound that echoed in their ears.

"So... what should I tell Rarity?"


<=•=>


"That really wasn't necessary." Sombra said as he ran. The speed at which he was traversing the town was almost overwhelming for the filly on his back, but she seemed to make do just fine despite the lack of a safety harness.

"What do you mean?" Sweetie Belle asked back as she pulled herself to Sombra's head where she stared at him with an innocent smile.

"You seem to have a hard time hiding your emotions." He responded as he jumped again. In quick succession, Sombra jumped from rooftop to rooftop to keep away from the busy streets of Ponyville.

"...Is it that obvious?"

"Very."

"I just...I don't like hearing that you were...you know."

"Killed?"

"Don't say it like that!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she tried her best to keep from falling off of him.

"There isn't any other way of saying it filly."

"I just can't believe my sister and Twilight did something like that."

"Perhaps it does come as a shock to you since you're so young, but killing to keep yourself alive is common in the world. It happens in nature all the time."

Sombra continued to run as he spoke, Sweetie on the other hoof began to look down at the ground as they moved through the air. She was not really willing to hear the truth of how nature works if it involved others losing their lives.

Her eyes opened in amazement as she noticed something peculiar about the ground. They didn't have a shadow. It was given that she didn't have a shadow to cast since Sombra was her shadow personified, but neither did he. Neither one of them gave off a shade in the sun, making it impossible for the ponies below them to even notice them moving over them.

"Filly." Sombra spoke again, not willing to let the conversation go. "I do not resent them for what they did. I told you already, I understand what did and why they did so."

"So why are you so mad about it. If it doesn't bother you, why do you keep bringing it up?"

"I am not bothered by the fact that they killed me. I am bothered by the fact that they don't listen."

"Wait, I'm not following." Sweetie Belle said as she clung to Sombra's long mane as he took a hard jump before landing on a lone rooftop near the edge of town.

"They call me a Tyrant, an Evil Overlord, a Dictator, but they never asked me of what good I brought to the Empire I ruled. I do not mind being killed if it was because they thought I was a danger to their lives. I just hate that I was killed because they saw me as evil and nothing else."

"But yesterday you told Luna you were evil." Sweetie Belle said as she adjusted her weight on his back so she may see his face better. 

"Because...I am. "

"You're not making any sense Mister Sombra."

"Perhaps one day I will explain it to you." He said as he reached up to his spiked horn. In a sad expression, he gently touched it and held it a moment to think before speaking again. "But for now, I have one question for you."

"And what's that?"

"Where exactly did you say we were meeting your friends?" Sombra asked as he turned back around, looking over at the entire town he had blindly crossed. "I thought that you would have told me when to make a turn, but we've reached the end of town and we've still to see your friends."

"Oh right..."

"You weren't lying were you?" Sombra asked as he narrowed his eyes at her. 

"Uh...kind of...I just wanted to get you away from Twilight since I thought you two would start to fight." Sweetie Belle said, but just as she finished her sentence she felt a sting at her forehead. 

"Ow!" She yelped out as she held to her forehead. Sombra had flicked his hoof at her head to gently scold her.

" Niña, lying is bad." He said as he continued to stared over at her with an unamused expression.

"Sorry." Sweetie Belle said softly as she held back a single tear that was trying to escape her eye. 

"Now." Sombra began, making the filly shift her expression back to normal. "How about we actually go find your friends? That way it would be like if you had actually told the truth."

"Huh? But I don't know if they're busy or not."

"It's either that, or we return and tell your sister that you lied to Twilight." Sombra said as he began to walk.

"Applebloom's house is that way!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she enthusiastically pointed out with her hoof. This new found spark of zeal came out of the blue. No doubt she would get quite the scolding if they returned to her sister at this moment.

"Good, then let's get going. " Sombra said as he began his gallop again. As he jumped away, however, a thought scratched at the back of his head. 

Why had he been able to flick Sweetie Belle with his hoof when previously he was unable to harm her even if he tried? Was there something special about it this time?
> 11. Going Flying
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Keeping to the shadows, Sombra softly took a few steps forward as he peeked around the corner of a building. He was taking every precaution needed to keep out of sight since they were now in the outskirts of the town, away from any buildings he could use as high ground.

"You look like you've done this before." Sweetie Belle said as she also glanced around the wall from over his head. With an annoyed tone, Sombra spoke as he moved back around, now certain there was no pony there to see them. 

"It comes with years of practice and also keeping quiet." He said, emphasizing the point of being silent. "Ponies may not be able to see us if we keep hidden, but they can still hear us."

"Heheh, sorry." She responded with a light blush. Getting back on track, they once again peeked around the corner as she began to point out a building. "Applebloom lives in that house over there."

Sombra pondered for a moment as he looked around his environment. He let out a soft hum as he thought of a way to go through the open field unnoticed. "Judging by the mere size of the area, the family that owns this must be large. Perhaps if we keep to the edge of the property and look out for ponies we could cut for the house. Better idea even would be to back track a while and come around the other side of the orchard." He said as he turned around to look at the position of the sun. "We might want to hurry if we wish to get there before noon."

"Or we could just walk up to the front door." Sweetie Belle said as she jumped from his back. Looking over to him with a perplexed expression. Why was he talking such drastic measures? 

"A direct approach?" Sombra asked out. "That could complicate things if things go south."

"Why would they 'go south'? I mean, they know me. They'll know I'm most likely looking for Applebloom since we're friends and all." 

"Oh, right. My apologies, I suppose that was just force of habit." Sombra said as he scratched the back of his neck, a little embarrassed to make such a strange mistake.

"Force of habit? When did you ever have to sneak around?" Sweetie Belle said with a smile that alleviated some of the embarrassment Sombra had. 

"It was back from...argh..." Sombra's words came to a halt as he grasped his forehead. The pain he felt was unlike that of a headache, but just as strong. It was though the memories he was trying to recall were blocked away by something. "...from before I was king." He finished as he shut his eyes in great discomfort.

"What were you before you were king?" She asked as she began to walk away just as Sombra had displayed his pain, oblivious to the strain Sombra was under she continued to make her way to the her friend's home.

Breaking out of his dizzy spell, Sombra shook off whatever remained of his strain. Jumping forward and merging with the ground into a shadow, he quickly made his way to Sweetie Belle where the shade took her small silhouette form.

I uh...Let's save this conversation for a later time, alright?

"Okay!" The filly responded as she made her way down the apple farm. It was a scenery she was very familiar with since she often came here whenever she felt lonely at home...which was often. Humming to a peppy tone as she walked, Sweetie Belle held a nice smile on her face from the lively animals she saw in their corals. 

"Well hello youngin'." An old craggy voice called out from afar to Sweetie. Quickly looking around, the filly searched for the pony who spoke and soon found her exiting a chicken coop.

"Oh, hello Granny Smith!" Sweetie Belle shouted back as she waved at the old mare now making her way to her.

"Here to see Applebloom?"

"Yeah! I was wondering that if maybe she wasn't busy with chores or something, we could go out and play." 

"She ain't busy at all. In fact, little Scootaloo came by just a few moments ago. She said something about flyin' somewhere. They're at the barn." Granny Smith said as she pointed out a very large red barn on the other side of the farm. "Ya better hurry on now. Ah'm about to set the pigs free for their morning stroll." 

"Thanks Granny!" Sweetie Belle said before taking off in a gallop. One, because she was excited to see her friends after two whole days of being away from them. And two, because she's seen what happens when the pigs come out.

Just as the filly came out of view, Granny Smith opened the door to a small building and instantly dozens of pigs ran out, almost tramping over her in the process.

"Ya ain't gonna run over me today ya piggies!" She shouted as she used her bonnet to swat away the boar coming her way. "Git! Git! Oh...oh dear. I forgot about you Big Malba..." Granny said as she saw a particularly large pig run at full speed towards her. 

"Yeow!!!" 

Sweetie Belle overheard a scream out in the distance, though she seemed to disregard it completely and continued to hum as she made her way to the barn.

Was that...

"Yup."

Is she alright?

"I dunno, probably." Sweetie Belle said as she looked ahead at the open doors of the barn. 

You don't sound too worried.

"From what I hear, that happens every day." Sweetie said with a smile as she sped up on the final stratch to the barn.

Reaching the barn, Sweetie Belle rushed right in to see what her friends were doing, but as she stepped inside her mouth opened in awe. In front of her was a large airplane, like the ones she had seen in magazines. Though it did look like it was made out of old junk, it was no less breath taking for a filly like her who stared in amazement.

What is that? Sombra asked from within her mind. 

Taking small steps towards the large contraption, Sweetie Belle answered the voice in her head as she placed a hoof on the metal plating of the plane.

"It's called an airplane. Somepony made one recently, it's the first machine that let's Earth Ponies and Unicorns fly as fast as Pegasi. It was all over the newspapers and only the rich have it in Canterlot." 

Alright. Next question, how did one of those get here?

"Sweetie Belle!" A voice called from behind the white filly. Quickly turning on her hooves, Sweetie was met with the tackled hug of two other fillies. Giggles soon followed as they all rolled around next to the plane. 

"Applebloom! Scootaloo!" Sweetie shouted out in a smile as she sat up to see her two friends. 

"Sweetie Belle, this was supposed to be a surprise!" Her pegasi friend said in a pout. "We were going to get you when it was finished!"

"Well it is finished now." Applebloom said as she too sat up like her friends. "We were gonna head over to yer sister's boutique to get ya. Say, did ya'll get into another fight? Ya usually come here when ya two fight."

"Uh, not really."

"Well good. Cause we can't have one of the pilots sad when she's driving the plane!" 

"Wait...are you saying that..."

"Eeyup!"

All at once, the three fillies stood up to look at one another. As their club's tradition, they all jumped up and slammed their hooves together as they shouted in unison. 

"Cutiemark Crusaders: Airplane Pilots!" 

Once on the ground again, the three fillies began to laugh at their own antics, Sweetie Belle in particular had a very large grin upon her face. She was so happy she was able to see her friends again. It might have only been two days, but they felt like an eternity.

Oye, you okay?

"Huh? Yeah, why?" Sweetie whispered as she turned away from her friends to hide her conversation. 

Just felt a strong heart ache. I figured it was yours.

"You...what?" Sweetie Belle asked as a sudden sense of shock befell her. Could he feel what she was feeling? Could he...

"So Scoots." Applebloom asked, redirecting the filly's attention. "How are we gonna get the plan to the cliff?"

"Can't your big brother help us out? I'm sure he could do it in a jiffy."

"Yeah...except that he's probably gonna tell Applejack, and then she's gonna come running over and stop our crusading...again." The farm pony said as her ears flopped against her head. Her sister always seemed to worry too much about her...then again, when she's with her friends things tend to go down.

"I can do it." Sweetie Belle blurted out.

"What?" Scootaloo and Applebloom asked out together. 

"Ah know yer sister makes you carry stuff all the time, but Ah really don't think you can push the plane that far."

"Oh no, I can get-" She began but stopped as she realized what exactly she was saying.

Forgot I was supposed to stay hidden? Sombra asked with a soft chuckle.

"Yup." Sweetie Belle said through her very forced smile, only causing her friends to give her strange looks. "What I mean to say is...that I have a spell that can get the job done."

And what spell is that little one?

"The one that bound you to me." She whispered back. 

"Is yer magic even strong enough to do something like that? Ah mean, no offence, but you were havin' trouble lifting a broom just a few weeks ago."

"My magic is just fine thank you very much!"

"Alright then, let's see it." Scootaloo said as she moved close, ready to see what spell Sweetie Belle was talking about. 

"Uh...." Sweetie said as she looked over at the plane with her friend's eyes glued on her. "Can you help?" She whispered.

What exactly do you want me to do?

"I don't know...something!"  She said in an almost loud enough voice for her friends to hear. A heavy sigh echoed in her head as she felt something strange tingle at her horn. "Mister Sombra?"

From behind the filly a dark crystal began to extend from the ground in a slanted direction. Slowly it grew and gently pressed against the back of the plane. Scootaloo and Applebloom opened their mouths in amazement as they saw Sweetie's horn glow purple and green with magic. Soon more and more slanted pillars were erected to push the plane forward. 

"Woah!" Scootaloo shouted out. "Since when can you do that!?"

"Uh..." Sweetie Belle said as she looked over at the crystal. "Since...two days ago?"

"Cool! Now let's get the plan to the cliff!" Applebloom shouted as she raced to the cockpit and jumped in. "You can push the plan from here can't ya?"

"I uh...think so?" 

Yes filly, I can do that, though I would appreciate some directions this time.

In a smile, the three fillies all jumped onto the plane and began to make their way out of the apple farm. The trip was far from short, as the crystals took time to gently press against the plane or risk damaging it from the impact. That, and Sombra had to dissolve the crystals that had been raised to avoid drawing attention. All this while the girls talked and gossiped. 

"So I heard that Princess Luna and Princess Celestia came for a visit yesterday." Scootaloo said as she looked over at Sweetie Belle. 

"Yeah, Twilight brought them over."

"Why?"

"Uh...to catch up on current events?"

Nice save. Sombra's voice echoed from in her mind. She could only smile as small sweat drops dripped down her brow. The last thing she wanted was to be flicked on the forehead again for lying.

"Anyway, did both of you make the airplane by yourselves?" Sweetie quickly asked, trying to change the topic.

"Yeah! Scoots came by and showed me this book she got. It had a big description on how a plane works and we stared to round up all the materials we needed to make one."

"Yeah! The plane looks just like the one on the picture doesn't it?" Scootaloo asked as she began to dig through the items in the plane, finally pulling out a book with what was presumably the plane the one they were on was based out of.

"Yeah! You two did a great job! But why didn't you invite me?"

"We were gonna, but we heard about the princesses and thought that maybe you were busy. So we wanted to surprise you with it later."

"I was really surprised! Oh, we should probably make a right here." Sweetie Belle said, subtly letting Sombra know it was time to change directions.

"We made sure to get down every last detail of the plane. We didn't want us to be crashing down in a firey blaze if somethin' went wrong."

"Yeah, I think I would get grounded if I did that." Scootaloo said as she began to imagine her parents finding out about the stunt they were about to pull.

"Well, we're about to find out." Sweetie Belle said as she poked her head to the side. They had finally reached their destination. The tallest cliff by Ponyville, just barely outside of the Everfree Forest. 

Stopping just a few meters away from the edge, the three fillies took a moment to take in the large view of the cliff. This wasn't the first time they were here, nor was it their first time trying to get their cutiemarks with flying. Only last time they used gliders instead of a giant metal death trap that could explode upon impact.

"Alright! Let's all make some final checks on the plane before we take off." Scoots said as she jumped off and her friends soon followed suit. 

Being the only one that did not work on the plane, Sweetie Belle was left on the sidelines while the other two went to work. Her smile never wavering, she patiently waited for the preparations to be completed.

How were two fillies able to recreate a machine that took centuries to build in the first place?

"I think they just read the magazine article. It goes a little bit into detail about how the plane works. See? They have all the major parts. The propeller, the wings, this thing-a-majig." Sweetie Belle answered back as she took out the picture that her friend had showed her and pointed things out.

I'd ask if this was safe...but now I'm more curious as to whether that thing will actually get off the ground.

"Okay Sweetie Belle!" Applebloom shouted from the plane's wing. "Everything is all set, let's go!"

In a hyped trot, Sweetie made her way to the plane and quickly jumped into the cockpit along with her friends where they all began to strap in. Scootaloo, being the pegasus of the group, was the one at the wheel while Applebloom and Sweetie Belle were behind her with other levers they needed to operate. 

"Okay, so we just need to get a running start." Scootaloo said as she turned to look at Sweetie.

"Huh? Me?"

"Well yeah, I thought at first that Big Mac could just kinda throw us off the cliff, but since you've got that awesome new spell, think you could use it again?"

"I...I'll see what I can do." Sweetie Belle said with a nervous laugh before turning around and looking at the ground behind them. "Think we could do that?" She whispered to Sombra.

You mean think I can do that right? And yes, but you risk breaking the plane in the process.

"Maybe you could just nudge it off the cliff and then use your magic to keep us in the air?"

That will never work. 

"Well, can you try something?"

I can try, don't expect a miracle child.

Sweetie Belle could feel something build within her. It was the sensation of Sombra casting a spell within her mind. A crystal wall was conjured behind the plane as well as smaller pillars to the sides and bottom of it. All at once they moved closer and touched the plane as they began to mimic a launch pad. Extending the pillars and walls at the same time, the plane began to move forward. Though at first rather slow, it soon began to gain speed and by the time they reached the edge, they were moving fast enough for all of their manes to brush backwards.

For a moment, they all cheered and smile as they glided though the air. The sensation of the wind hitting their faces was phenomenal, especially for Scootaloo who seemed to having the most fun out of them all. But their cheers soon became screams and cries as they realized that their visions was slowly turning towards the ground. The engine didn't seem to be working, only making a few loud crackles instead of making everything move. The ground now getting dangerously close, the fillies all held onto one another as they shouted out. 

"Why isn't the engine working?!"

"Did you test it first?!"

"We had just finished when you arrived, we didn't get a chance to!"

"Mister Sombra help!" Sweetie shouted out in reflex to the situation. It quickly caught the attention of her friends as a large dark stallion pulled himself out of Sweetie Belle's shadow on the seat and proceeded to jump out towards the front of the plane and push leap towards the ground. 

Spinning in midair, Sombra turned himself and quickly thought of all the things he could do. The landing spot was dense with trees and rocks so simply making a ramp to slide them onto the ground wouldn't work. He really didn't have a choice, they'll need to go back into the air.

His horn glowing in purple and green, Sombra began to cast out crystal to take shape of two ramps. One to slow the fall of the incoming plane, and another one to send it right back to the air. His hooves finally touched the ground in a loud crush of the stones around him, but continued to keep his eyes locked on the falling contraption. He worked his magic as fast as he could and just as the plane came short of twenty or so meters, his crystal conjurations had finished coming to form.

The airplane soon touched the downward ramp as it slid along it, though just as Sombra had thought, it began to slide sideways and almost fell off the side of the ramp. He conjured more crystal to keep it on its course. The plane followed the assigned path Sombra had for it, and just as it reached the second ramp, he summoned more pillars to push the plane back up at high speeds. Patiently, Sombra waited for the plane to drag Sweetie Belle away and force him to her side, then he could get to them and jump out to safety with plenty of time to spare. 

"Who is that?" Applebloom asked as she peeked out of the cockpit and looked over at the dark stallion on the ground. What she didn't expect was for a sudden air current to come brushing in and pull her out of the plane.

"W-Watch out!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she saw the wind begin to take Applebloom. Rushing over, she and Scootaloo tried to pull her back in. Reaching out to grab the earth pony's other hoof to pull her in, Sweetie Belle fell under the same wind trap as Applebloom and began to fall out of the plane. In one last attempt at saving her friend, Sweetie pushed Applebloom back in as she began to fall to her own demise.

"Niña tonta!" Sombra shouted out as he ran over towards the forest Sweetie was falling to. Jumping from large branch to large branch, Sombra hurried through the forest towards the surprisingly quiet filly. In a powerful leap into the air, Sombra reached the falling filly who quickly grabbed onto his mane and sat on his back as they both began to descend .

"Mister Sombra, my friends!" Sweetie Belle said as she and Sombra landed on a patch of blue flowers. 

"A thank you would nice..." Sombra said as he looked over at the plane that now lost its upward momentum. "But as for your friends, I doubt we can get to them in time."

"What?!" 

"They are too far away, by the time I get there they'll have crashed."

"But...we can't just leave them!"

Sombra stopped to think a moment. His mind went around in circles as he began to think of a way to take advantage of the situation. If he played his pieces right, he could kill two birds with one stone. All he needed was to push Sweetie Belle in the right direction...so to speak. 

"Well, there is one way, but you'll have to trust me." Sombra said as he gestured for her to get off of him. If she knew one thing about Sombra, is that he didn't lie. With a confident nod, Sweetie Belle jumped off and stood firmly in the blue flowers as she waited for him to do something.

"Sure, anything."

"Limbs in, knees bent." Sombra said with a chuckle as he lit his magic. The ground underneath Sweetie lifted as a pillar of black crystal began to extend, bringing her to his height. He quickly stood in front of her as he tried to get the right trajectory. 

In a giggled scream, Sweetie Belle was launched at full force up towards the plane. Just as she left the ground, Sombra powered an energy bolt that he managed to shoot out before Sweetie had flown far enough to activate the tethering affect. 

At this point Sombra would have become Sweetie Belle's shadow, but she was high enough in the air as to not give one off. Instead, his shade sped right to her and he merged with her body. The bolt Sombra had sent out was quickly approaching her just as she too was getting close to the plane. Both Applebloom and Scootaloo were still in shock about what was happening and the fact that their friend was currently outside of the plane waving at them was no true comfort. 

The three objects lined up. Sweetie Belle was currently between the energy bolt and the airplane. Just as Sombra had planned, the bolt exploded softly next to her and for a brief moment, a shadow was cast on the side of the plane from the new light source. He quickly took advantage of it and pulled himself out of the shadow to grab Sweetie Belle while also reaching for the plane. 

"Applebloom, Scootaloo, grab on!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she crawled to Sombra's back. Exchanging glances for a second, the two fillies quickly obeyed and began to climb onto Sombra.

The plane was now beginning to gain speed as it came down, making them rush over to him. Sombra waited for his new 'passengers' to get adjusted well enough to withstand the force he used to throw himself towards the tall trees of forest and leaped out into the air. Engulfing his hooves in crystal, Sombra smashed right through many branches that 'softened' his fall. By the time he hit the ground, the crystal gauntlets had shattered and were nothing more than small broken shards.

"That was fun! Let's do it again." Sweetie Belle said as she raised her hooves into the air. 

"Let's not..." Applebloom and Scootaloo said from behind her, they were still holding on to one another from their fright. 

"Heheh...okay, maybe we should just go home then..."


<=•=>


"So ya think ya can beat me Rainbow?" Applejack said as she balanced a bucket of apples on her back. "Without cheatin' this time?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Her pegasus friends said as she hovered next to her in a laid back manner. 

"Don't play dumb, ya know that if ya use yer wings when playing tug-a-war ya have an unfair advantage." 

"Then we'll just scrap it from the games. Come on, the Iron Pony Competition is coming up so we still have time to plan out all the games."

"Yeah yeah, maybe this time we can also pick some judges that see cheatin' when it happens."

"Why are you still mad about-" 

Both mares were brought into a halt as they looked over at the pony walking into the orchard. A rather dark presence they thought they'd never seen again. What made things worse was not the prideful steps he took as he walked, no, it was the bickering of three fillies upon his back that almost ruined the image he had.

"So you kept it all a secret!?"

"I had to. Rarity and Twilight told me not to say anything."

"But how could ya keep something like this from yer best friends?"

Sombra ignored their banter and instead walked right over to the frozen mares. He made eye contact with the both of them and then proceeded levitate two of the fillies with his magic. 

"I presume this filly is your sister." Sombra said as he gave Applebloom over to Applejack. "And this one wouldn't shut up about you, so you take her." He said as he gave Rainbow Scootaloo for her to hold. The mares still couldn't find a voice to speak with, but it didn't matter. Sombra wasn't going to wait around. In a quick turn, he began to make his way out of the farm and towards Ponyville.

"Bye! I'll see you later!" Sweetie Belle said a she waved her hoof at her friends. 

Slowly the mares turned to the fillies they were given to hold. Finally out of shock, they asked out in unison.

"What did you two do!?"
> 12. Darkness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rarity opened a door and upon going into the room, quickly shut it and leaned her back against it while she sighed. She and Twilight were made aware of the little mishap Sweetie Belle and her friends had went through and all Tartarus had broken loose upon their arrival. Thankfully Twilight and her were able to calm their anger...to an extent.

"You okay Rarity?" A voice called out to her. Grimace took over the mare as she stared into the bane of her existence.

"Am I okay? That's quite a question after you nearly got yourself and your friends killed!" She shouted out as she began to make her way towards Sweetie Belle who was laying down playing chess with Sombra, a sight she has gotten used to seeing.

"My fault?!"

"Who's else would it be?"

"I would say it was the other fillies." Sombra said as he moved a black piece on the board. "They were the ones that made the plane. Actually, I would say that they would be dead if the filly hadn't been there."

Sending a glare his way, Rarity scoffed at Sombra's voice. "Nopony asked you."

"Hey! That was mean." Sweetie Belle quickly retorted as she stood between her sister and her guardian, who for the first time since she could remember, were not the same pony.

Opening her mouth to speak, but quickly deciding against it, Rarity instead took a deep breath. Sombra noticed this little gesture and carefully watched her interact with Sweetie Belle.

"Yes yes, you're right. I guess I'm just angry about almost losing you...again." She said as she came close to snuggle the filly. "Still, we clearly told you to keep Sombra a secret and you deliberately left to meet with your friends unsupervised."

"I..." Sweetie began before turning to look at her dark guadian watching over them. "You're right. It was selfish and irresponsible of me. I was just trying to get Mister Sombra out of an awkward situation. I didn't mean anything bad to happen, can you please forgive me?"

Rarity stood silent for a moment as she tried to comprehend what she just heard. "W-Wait, you're taking responsibility? You're saying that it was your fault when you could have easily blamed Sombra?" She asked dumbfounded.

"Well, that would be unfair for Mister Sombra, plus it's the truth! Mister Sombra told me it's bad to lie so I'm trying not to."

"But I've been telling you it's bad to lie for years now!" Rarity said with her eyes open in disbelief. 

"Upset that she listens to me more?" Sombra asked as he stood up with a cheeky smile. His eyes had the spark of a predator about to pounce on their prey, just teasing the sensation of danger towards Rarity. She quickly replied as to not be out done by him.

"Me? Jealous of you? Perish the thought." Rarity said with a haughty tone as she tried to blow him off.

"Never even crossed my mind." He finished with a soft chuckle before walking past them. 

"And where do you think you're going?"

"To get a drink of water. Is that against the law here?" Sombra replied with a dry sarcastic tone, a tone that only seemed to bother Rarity, her sister simply taking it as a joke. 

"No no, carry on." 

Getting the half hearted 'okay' from the head of the house, Sombra proceeded to leave the room to get his refreshment, a smirk on his lips the entire time, only enticing Rarity's frustration towards him. It was now that Sweetie Belle began to notice the long stare her sister was giving Sombra and suddenly an idea popped into her head.

"Rarity?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you like Mister Sombra?" She asked innocently.

Rarity's eyes opened wide and disgust filled her at the mere thought of what Sweetie Belle was insinuating. Slowly narrowing her eyes at her, she leaned down and stared at Sweetie before speaking firmly. 

"You perish that thought Sweetie Belle."


<=•=>


Sombra's smirk lasted quite a while even after he had left the room. His thoughts were much too satisfying for it to fade. That little conflict between the two sisters proved his theories and made his escape a possibility. Well, escape was a stretch to say. After all, he would still be under the command of Sweetie Belle, just that it wouldn't be her giving the commands.

Fillies as easily swayed. Their thoughts and personalities are still in the age to be formed and influenced. All Sombra had to do was convince Sweetie Belle he was an ally and that everypony else was the enemy. Seeds that had already been planted and all he really had to do was nurture them and watch them grow. The more the elements opposed him, the more Sweetie Belle would take his side. She already gave him her trust after all.  Soon Sombra will have no problem doing as he pleased, the filly would follow him blindly with the right encouragement. This would be simple. Slow, but simple.

"Uh, yer uh majesty?" A voice said, quickly bringing Sombra back to reality. A quick turn of the head and he found the one speaking to him, Applejack. 

"...Sombra is just fine." He said, raising a brow at how respectful she was in addressing him.

"Right, Mister Sombra as Sweetie Belle calls you. Ah just wanted to thank you." She said as she got close, though still appearing rather uncomfortable and nervous.

"For what?"

"For saving mah sister. She means everything to me and if it wasn't for you, well...Ah just don't know what Ah woulda' done if you weren't there."

Pausing a moment to process the situation, Sombra felt a strange sense of déjà vu pass over him. Had this happened before? No...yet it all seemed so familiar. Placing a hoof to his forehead, Sombra squinted as he tried to remember why this felt so strangely familiar.

"You okay there?" Applejack asked as she turned her head to the side to get a better look at him.

"Yes...I'm just...probably too far away from the filly. I get weak when I'm not around her." He replied. He really wasn't all too sure about the cause of his pain, but the answer would satisfy his morals and her question so he went with it instead. 

"Oh, well take care of yerself. In case you haven't noticed, Sweetie Belle thinks the world of you." Applejack said as she began to walk away, leaving him alone as he tried to shake away the strain on his mind. 

"Don't you worry. My time here has just begun. I won't rest until my goal is reached." Sombra said as he raised his head again, a strong look upon his eyes. He didn't understand what was happening with him, but he didn't have the luxury to try to find out. Time was scarce for him; he was on a timer.

The night crept its way on the day and soon Sombra found himself once again playing his game of chess against Sweetie Belle. Not once since they had began their games did she come close to winning apart from that small hiccup while the princesses came for a visit, yet her enthusiasm over the game never diminished.  

"Come now Sweetie Belle, it's time for bed." Rarity said as she walked into the living room where Sombra and Sweetie Belle were playing. On his stomach and his hooves crossed in his usual pose, Sombra watched the filly in front of him remained laying down in the same position he was in.

"Just one more game..." The filly said softly as she thought of her next move. 

"It's way past your bed time." The mare replied before using her magic to gently levitate her sister and hold her just a few inches from her face, only getting a soft yawn in response.

"But we're almost done..."

"You would have lost anyway." Sombra said as he stood up and began to put the chess board away with his own dexterous magic. 

"Did you memorize where each piece was at?" Sweetie Belle asked as she was placed across Rarity's back to make it easier to carry. 

"Of course I did." He responded out of reflex but quickly felt himself regret the statement. 

"Okay..." Sweetie said before yawning. "We'll continue tomorrow then."

Gently falling asleep on her sister's soft back, Sweetie began to breathe deeply in a soft snore, making her sister smile at her. Clearing her throat to speak, she turned to the dark stallion who was beginning to make his way to her. 

"You recall where your own room is I presume?"

"Of course."

"Then I will see you tomorrow morning."

"As you wish. Buenas noches." Sombra said as he wished her a goodnight before walking past them.  She felt an uneasy chill run up her spin as he walked by, whether it was because of his 'gentle' tone or his dark figure almost mixing in with the shadows around them, Rarity still kept her guard up around him. 

What has gotten into me? I mustn't get too attached to that filly. Sombra thought to himself as he walked through the dark halls of the house. He had only traversed through a few times but he already memorized the layout of the building to the finest detail. Because of that, he quickly found himself in his new establishment of rest...'his room'.

It was small, but then again there really wasn't much anypony could do about it. The house was built for a single bedroom and they were already pushing it by having Sweetie Belle a permanent member of the household. Previously a storage room, Sombra's new room was well disguised to be a bedroom. Other than the small living space, it was richly decorated with fancy furniture along with a humble sized bed. He had a nightstand and a lamp that would go unused by him but welcomed for the mere appearance of them. He also had a small closet that held nothing inside, purely aesthetic for the 'homey' design.

"Truly the Element of Generosity." Sombra said to himself as he began to make his way to his bed. Just a meter or so above it was a small window that showed a bright moon being partially blocked off by dark storm clouds. "The heavens are about to cry for me." He joked as he sat down on the bed to look over his small room. It really wasn't anything compared to the grand bedroom he used to claim as his own when he was King but it would serve its purpose. 

Pulling the covers to the side and crawling in, Sombra was at least thankful for not being trapped inside a cage anymore. If anything, he was at least moving up the ladder from beast to a simple 'guest'. 

He sighed as he rested his head on his soft pillow. He felt his power once again wither as Rarity moved the filly towards her own room. He was able to feel each step they took away from him as it drained him of his strength. Finally they came to a stop as no doubt Rarity was tucking her into her bed. Though he disliked being so weak, he could at least find no trouble finding sleep while in such a feeble state. So with one final breath he closed his eyes as he let himself fall into the realm of dreams. 


<=•=>


The sound of heavy breaths echoed through the thick forest as Sombra found himself running. Was he running away from something or towards something? He couldn't tell nor was it important to him. 

Daddy!

A voice called out as he ran. 

"I'm here!" Sombra shouted out as he ran. Twigs crackled under his hooves as he began to speed up in his run. He used every ounce of energy he had to gallop deeper into the forest.

Daddy!?

A voice shouted out again, only making Sombra exert more power into his already worn out muscles. He felt them begin to give out, exhaustion began to take the place of his bravado but it didn't stop him from forcing his body to move. He pushed though the pain. Nothing. Nothing would stop his sprint. Nothing could get in his way. 

DADDY!

Finally he stopped. That final outcry froze him on the spot. The pain in the voice brought his heart to a sharp halt as he felt something tug away at his being. The voice stopped calling out. There was nopony out there to call out. They were gone. He was alone.

"Amethyst!"


<=•=>


"King Sombra!" 

Sombra blinked a few times as he began to gather his bearings. Sweat ran down his forehead from the sudden nightmare, but that was no longer on his mind. He was instead more focused on figuring out where he was. As he turned his head to look, he felt something push against his chest. Looking down, Sombra found a filly latching on to him.

"Filly?" He asked as he looked at Sweetie Belle who was currently gripping onto his fur coat with all her might. Just as he spoke lightning struck and the room flashed white. The terrible crashing sound of thunder echoed making the trembling filly flinched as a yelp escaped her. 

She didn't speak, she was much too scared to do so, instead she simply buried her face into Sombra's chest as she tried to hide away from the thunder storm raging just outside her window. 

"Did you summon me?" He asked as he looked down at her. A moment past and there was no response. Again the room flashed and thunder was heard making Sweetie Belle tense up again. 

"Are you afraid?" He asked after a short silence.

"Mhm..." She answered in a muffled tone, still not willing to raise her head.

"Of the lightning?"

"Hmm-hmm." She responded as she shook her head against him. 

"Of the thunder then?" Sombra asked out, thought as luck would have it, just as the bellowing sound of thunder echoed again, making Sweetie yelp once more. 

Annoyed by constant interruption of the weather, Sombra looked over at the window to see the storm responsible for them. With a gentle spark of his horn, Sombra's magic ignited into flames from his eyes. Sweetie Belle remained still for a while longer before realizing that there were no longer any flashes of lightning or the horrifying sound of thunder. She slowly raised her head to see herself and Sombra completely shrouded in darkness, the only light source being the purple embers expelling from his eyes as he gazed down at her.

"W-Where are we?" She asked as she locked eyes with Sombra's.

"In your room."

"This doesn't look like my room." She said as she glanced around quickly and looking back at Sombra.

"I surrounded us in darkness. This veil will keep us from hearing the thunder or seeing the lightning." Sombra said as he pushed himself a few inches back from Sweetie Belle who was no longer clinging to him. 

"It's...really dark."

"Are you afraid of the dark too?" 

"Y-Yeah..." Sweetie Belle said as she finally broke their locked gaze for good. "I really don't like the dark..."

"And why not? What is it about the dark that scares you?" He asked as he laid down from his sitting positing and crossed his hooves over one another. 

"I think something will jump out at me..." Sweetie said as she looked out into the darkness around them. The thought of a monster pouncing on her filled her with dread and she quickly retreated to Sombra's side.

"So you're not afraid of the dark then. You're afraid of what's in the dark." Sombra said as he looked over at the filly who was once again invading his personal space. "Would you rather I bring down the veil and be witness to the storm?"

"N-N-No!" Sweetie Belle shouted out quickly, her fear of thunder quickly overpowering her fear of the dark.

"Then you should find comfort in darkness, not push away from it." 

Sweetie Belle looked up at Sombra who still had an annoyed expression. Gathering up some courage, she began to look out again into the darkness but felt her muscles tense as she saw something move. Again she inched closer to the stallion who by this time gave up trying to move away from her.

"There is nothing there. Just your mind playing tricks on you."

"My mind?"

"Fear is a state of mind. You can choose not to be afraid." 

Sweetie's gaze once again met with Sombra's fire lit eyes, though this time felt some comfort in seeing them blaze out. Taking a deep breath to steady her speech, the filly tried to change her focus of the dark instead to Sombra who seemed completely at ease.

"Aren't you afraid of the dark?"

"No."

"Were you ever afraid?"

"..." Sombra took a moment to think. Short memories flowed in his mind as he thought of the time when he too was afraid. They weren't exactly memories he wished to recalled and instead shook them out of his head. 

"I used to be...I used to live in different time period filly. When the darkness of night bled over the day, it meant certain death to us ponykind. We were at the mercy of the beasts that lurked in the dark."

"So when did you stop being afraid?" Sweetie asked, now interested in how he managed to get over his fear.

"When?" Sombra asked as he made eyes contact with Sweetie Belle once more. "I stopped being afraid of what lurked in the dark when I realized I was the scariest creature to roam in darkness." He said as his eyes dulled with each word he spoke.

"You?"

"Of course. Nothing is scarier than I. Nothing is more powerful." Sombra said softly to the filly who seemed hypnotized by the flames of his eyes. 

"Nothing?"

"Nothing at all."

A quiet giggle escaped Sweetie Belle as a smile spread across her face. Sombra raised a brow at her strange gestures but remained quiet. The giggle soon became full out laughter as all her fright completely left her. 

"That means it's silly for me to be scared of anything huh?" 

"Why do you say that?"

Finally calming her giggles, Sweetie Belle looked up to Sombra with a large grin. "Because if you're the scariest thing in the dark, nothing can hurt me!"

"Oh?"

"You always come to my rescue Mister Sombra. I can count on you like a king on his rook." 

Her sudden remark made Sombra laugh. "That's quite the comparison." He said after a short chuckle. "But you do realize a rook can only come to the king's rescue once right? And that certain conditions have to be met before that can even happen."

"Like being bound to one another?"

"I supposed that qualifies as a 'condition'." Sombra said with another soft chuckle. Sweetie Belle joined him in his laugh and together they shared a moment of inner peace despite each other's turmoil. After a moment they finally quieted down only for Sweetie to yawn. 

"Sorry. I'm not used to staying up so late..." Sweetie Belle said as she rubbed her eyes. 

"Shall I lower the veil?" Sombra asked, ready to get the filly to bed so he may retreat to his own bed.

"No...I kinda like the dark now." She replied as she began to curl up next to Sombra and use his hoof as a pillow. A peaceful smile on her as she slowly dosed off, Sombra couldn't bring himself to move away from the filly now resting her weight on him.

"Hmm...doing as you please again." He said in a whisper. His voice had a hint of annoyance in it, but his eyes said otherwise. They were soft and full of care as he looked over the small filly. Using his free hoof to caress her mane, Sombra felt himself fall into a sense of melancholy. Like a long forgotten memory.

As if under a spell, Sombra began to stroke the filly's mane in a soothing motion. Force of habit took over his muscles and he softly hummed to help Sweetie Belle sleep. He didn't know what tune he was humming to, but it was one he had hummed before. Doing what he never thought he'd do, Sombra let muscle memory move him and he began to sing out a rhyme.

♪Una linda niña, duerme en su coral.♪				
(A lovely girl, sleeps in her cradle)
♪Canta, ríe, juega, que feliz esta.♪     
(Singing, laughing, playing, how happy she is.)
♪Y todos preguntan: ¿En quién pensará?♪
(And everyone asks: Who is she thinking of?)

♪Piensa en su papa, quien la cuidara.♪
(She thinks of her dad, who will take care of her.)
♪Mira con dulzura, sueña con papa.♪
(She looks with such a sweet gaze. She dreams with daddy.)
♪Porque ella sabe, que él siempre estará.♪
(Because she knows, that he'll always be there.)

Sombra softly sang the words to a nursery rhyme he didn't know he knew. Or rather, didn't remember he knew. He had sung it before though it was a long long time ago. He too was soon taken by drowsiness and Sombra slowly lowered his head to rest. His eyes slowly shut as he continued to hum softly. His eyes were fixated on Sweetie Belle who still held a smile on her face. For some reason...it was relaxing to see.


<=•=>


Grunts escaped Sombra as he tried to open his eyes. By the amount of light coming from the window, he judged it was late into the morning. Usually he was up before now, yet now his body seemed determined to stay asleep. 

Shaking whatever sleep was still trying to keep him tied down, Sombra got to his hooves as he tried to maneuver around the room. His knees seemed flimsy at best and the room seemed to spin at the sudden motion of standing up. The strangest part of it all was that everything seemed so...large.

"I...need something to drink..." He said to himself as he made his way towards the door, though his voiced seemed a little strange to his ears. He couldn't quite place his hoof on it though and moved past it.

Once opening the door with his magic, Sombra continued to move down the halls of the boutique and make his way to the kitchen. With each step he took, a small bit of his conscious began to come back him. Everything really did seem larger after all, it wasn't his mind playing tricks on him. 

He ignored the pestering thoughts itching at his mind and focused instead on making it to the kitchen where he would be able to get something to clear his throat and his mind along with it. Again he used his magic to open a door and this time he caught sight of another strange detail. The aura used to open the door was green...

Again he tried to ignore these extra bits of details but he soon reached a point where he couldn't do it anymore. The counter to the sink seemed rather tall... Did everything get bigger over night? No... Just as he finally noticed that all of the furniture were indeed several times larger than the day before he heard a voice call out from behind him.

"Good morning Sweetie Belle. You're up awfully early." 

Sombra turned around and saw Rarity also make her way into the kitchen. Looking around the room for the filly she had mentioned, Sombra noticed her make her way to...'him'.

"Are you alright? You seem a little confused." Rarity asked as she came close to him. She was much larger than he remembered, but that wasn't the truth. The reality of the situation was that he was the one who had gotten smaller. 

"Good morning Rarity." Another voice called out from around the door way. To Sombra's dismay, he saw what he dreaded to see. He saw his body walk into the kitchen with a groggy expression. Looking down at his own hooves, Sombra saw small white hooves instead of his. A glance upwards revealed a curly mane hanging loosely over his forehead.

"I...I'm in the filly's body..." He said softly before looking up at 'himself'. "And she's in mine..."
> 13. Time for Class
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sweetie Belle drowsily made her way to the kitchen for her usual routine of fridge raiding. She was still oblivious to the fact she was about a meter taller and had a dark mane hanging loosely in front of her eyes. With a flick of her neck she moved it out of her eyesight and continued to make her way around the boutique. 

"Morning Rarity." She said with a groggy tone, still half asleep as she walked into the room. As per usual, she made her way to her sister for a hug. Rarity took a step back as she saw her close in, but she paid that no mind and began to nuzzle against the curve of her neck.

Rarity's face flushed red as she felt the pony make contact with her in such a familiar manner and reacted as any lady would in such a situation. Before Sweetie Belle even knew what happened, she was flat on her back and with a stinging sensation on her cheek. 

"Wha-What was that for?!" Sweetie Belle asked as she held onto her aching face. Rarity's own cheeks remained in a deep blush as she angrily looked over at her.

"I-I-I-I Don't know what you were trying to pull, but don't get close to me like that again!" She shouted as she took a step back, a hoof against her chest to keep her heart from bursting out from how fast it was beating.

"What did I do?" Sweetie asked as she sat upright, a hoof to her cheek and her big eyes watery with tears of betrayal.

"Haven't you noticed?" A voiced asked from the side. She quickly turned to look at it but when she saw who spoke, she only grew more confused. She seemed to be speaking to herself. Sombra, annoyed to be in a filly's body and forced to look up to speak made his way to Sweetie Belle. "She struck you because she thought you were me."

"Whoa..." Sweetie said as she kneeled down and inspected Sombra closely. "Is that you Mister Sombra?"

"No, it's Princess Celestia- Of course it's me!" Sombra shouted. 

"Why do you look like me?...and why do I look like you?!" Sweetie shouted out, not fully grasping her own situation. "Did we switch bodies? Why!?"

"Why you ask? Stop pretending and undo this mess." Sombra said as he sat down and crossed his small white hooves in impatience. 

"Me?"

"Who else? You probably did something, gave some command and made us like this. You've had your fun, now change us back."

"I didn't do anything!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she kneeled back down to see the now small Sombra glaring at her.

"W-Wait..." Rarity said finally. "You two..."

"Swapped bodies? Yes." Sombra said as both he and Sweetie Belle looked over at her. It was terribly disturbing to see Sombra's body timidly sitting down with innocent looking eyes and Sweetie Belle's body angrily glaring at anypony who looked her way. 

"Oh no...this isn't good. This is terrible!" Rarity shouted out as she placed her hooves to her head. 

"You're telling me." Sombra scoffed before returning his eyes to Sweetie Belle who had quickly began to look herself over, more specifically, her new long black mane.

"You don't understand, yesterday I didn't get a chance to tell you Sweetie-" She began but cut herself away as she found herself looking at Sombra by mistake. Quickly switching to Sweetie Belle who was busy with her mane, she continued. "When I was coming to pick you up from Twilight's yesterday I wanted to tell you that Cherilee came by to tell us she was continuing her classes at the gazebo."

"What? Really?!" Sweetie Belle shouted out with bright eyes. "You mean I get to see all my classmates again?!"

"No..." Sombra said as he caught on to the problem. "It means I get to see all your classmates again."

"Oh goodness! What are we going to do!" Rarity shouted as she began to trot back and forth in the kitchen. "We can't have you two go out in this condition! But we can't have Sweetie Belle miss more days in class, she was already cutting it short when she entered school late this year! Oh Cherilee will going around Ponyville to pick up all of her students! We don't have much time!"

Ignoring the hysterical mare, Sombra turned to his own body and spoke. "You heard the mare, switch us back."

"I told you this isn't my fault!" Sweetie responded as she flailed her fore hooves in frustration.

"Your fault or not, give the command to change us back."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Remember what the purple princess said? Using my name and title will make just about anything happen if it's within my power. Apperantly it is since we stitched once, so command me to switch bodies with you again and everything should be fine."

"Oh, okay!" Sweetie Belle said as she jumped to her hooves and looked down at the small filly still rather frustrated with his new body. "King Sombra, switch bodies with me!"

Both of them shut their eyes as they waited for the command to take effect. A brief moment of silence passed as they sat their with their eyes closed. Finally they each peeked an eye open and found themselves still in the opposite's body, quickly annoying both parties.

"Oye, what did you do wrong?" Sombra asked his companion.

"Me?! You're the one that's supposed to switch bodies with me. You're disobeying a command!" Sweetie replied, coming in closer to stare Sombra eye to eye.

"My magic from a thousand years ago still hasn't returned to me, I clearly haven't gotten a command. Stop playing around and tell me to switch bodies for real this time." He said as he too leaned over, a death filled leer in his gaze.

"I did!" 

"Apparently you didn't."

"W-Wait..." Rarity said as she finally calmed down enough to see what they were doing. "Since Sombra is in Sweetie Belle's body...doesn't that mean he's the one who gives the commands now?"

Everypony remained silent as they thought about it a moment. Rarity opened her mouth to speak but before she could get a word out a knock on the door drew their attention. 

"Rarity? I'm here to pick up Sweetie Belle." A voice asked out. Recognizing the voice for Cherilee, they all exchanged glances as they thought of what to do or say. Hesitantly, Rarity left the kitchen to go greet the mare at her door, leaving the other behind in an awkward silence.

"What do we do?" Sweetie asked.

"Nothing we can do. Let us just try to get through the day." Sombra responded as he began to make his way out the door and to the front entrance. 

"Like this?!"

"What other choice do we have?" Sombra asked as he reached the door frame, using a hoof to remained half in the kitchen, he looked over at her with rather dull eyes. "We'll figure out how to fix this later. Come then fill- Uh, stallion?" He said, though unsure as how to refer to the filly in his body now.

"Just call me by my name." Sweetie Belle said as she got to her hooves and began to follow Sombra.

"Right...Sweetie Belle, come then. Use your magic to become a shadow."

"And how do I do that?" 

"Just, I don't know how to explain in...You just have to jump towards the ground and feel yourself become a shadow."

"Like this?" She said as she dove face first into the wooden flooring, but instead of merging with it and becoming a shade, she felt her body crash and spin on the ground.

"...Not quite." Sombra said as he sweat from seeing his body act in such a disgraceful manner. "Just... Just become my shadow." He commanded. Like he had thought, Sweetie Belle was forced into the ground and as a shadow, slid its way to him, merging to his hooves. 

"Looks like I am the one in control then."

This is so weird!

Sweetie's voice echoed in Sombra's head causing him to hold his temple.

"Please refrain from shouting..." He said with a soft grunt. "It's like you're screaming in my ear.

Oops, sorry.

"All strangeness aside, we should really get going." He said as he began to make his way down the hall. 

So what are we going to do?

"I told you, we're just going to let this pass. That means I'll just have to pretend I'm you for a while. We'll get that purple princess to fix us or something."

Yeah, Twilight would know what to do! 

Sombra stopped mid step as his eyes shut in reflex to the loud mental strain he was under. Recovering from the staggering scream, his gave off an annoyed expression as he spoke.

"Fill- Sweetie Belle, what  did I just say about shouting?" 

Hehehe...Sorry. 

Getting back on track, Sombra began to trot towards the front door, partly so he could move as fast as he was used to. He really did not enjoy his short legs at the moment. Moving around the corner to the main room that served as Rarity's business area, he was met with a strange scene. Quickly backing up to peek around the corner, Sombra twitched his ears as he tried to eavesdrop. 

"Sweetie Belle is feeling a little ill, I don't know if she can make it today." Rarity said as looked over at the troubled teacher. The forced smile she was wearing was almost a dead giveaway that she was lying, but the pink teacher didn't seem to notice it.

"Is that so? I mean, I wouldn't force her if she really can't, but considering how late she began this year, I'm afraid if she missed even one more day she wouldn't be able to pass grade this year." Cherilee said with a worried expression. 

"Pass the grade?" Sombra asked himself as he tried to make sense of the situation.

What are we waiting for? Let's go or I'll fail the grade!

"What does that mean exactly?"

It means I won't stay with my friends anymore. I would be stuck in a different class.

"With your friends? Isn't there just one teacher? I would think you all have to be in the same class." Sombra said as he come back around the corner to speak to himself.

Umm, kinda. Miss Cherilee teaches different grade levels at different times of the day. But enough about that, let's go before she counts me absent!

Cringing at the shouts in his head, Sombra did his best to ignore the pains in his mind. Sighing, he moved back around and began to look around the room as he made his way to the mares. Picking up a sketch book and a pen, he stopped short of bumping into Rarity. Cherilee quickly noticed him and smiled. 

"Oh Sweetie Belle, I heard you were feeling sick."

Sombra lifted the sketch book and pen using his magic and began to write on it. 

'I'm not feeling like myself today.' 

He wrote down and placed it in front of her to see. 

"Can't talk? I'm sorry you're feeling so sick but-"

Holding his hoof up to interrupt her, Sombra turned the page and wrote another sentence. 

'It's okay. I don't have a fever so it's not contagious. I can still go to class.'

"Really?" Cherilee asked after reading. "That's excellent news! Come, we've still half the class to go pick up before we start." She said as she gestured to the small flock of children patiently waiting for them under a tree. 

"Somb- Sweetie Belle, are you sure about this?" Rarity asked as she pulled on his shoulder to get his attention. "Shouldn't we try to get you better before going back to school?"

Sombra took a moment to look at her. His eyes, though still the green eyes Sweetie Belle has, bore a strong sense of grim dryness. He once again took to his pad and pen to communicate, but made sure to keep it out of Cherilee's sight.

'This is important to Sweetie Belle, no? We can figure out how to switch us back later.'

"I know it's important for her, but with you in-"

"Hurry now Sweetie Belle, we're running late." The teacher called out from a few meters away, prompting Sombra to finish his conversation. Taking a quick glance to the class waiting, he thought of his actions and quickly decided on one to take.

Sombra took a step towards Rarity and nuzzled against her shoulder in a quick good bye before running to Cherilee. He tilted his head and smiled to let her know he was ready. Sure enough, they all fell for his ruse and proceeded to walk to the next home on the list.

What was that about?

Sweetie belle asked, referring to his friendly nature towards her sister. 

"Acting. If I am to be you, I need to act like you." Sombra said in a hushed tone, using the sketch pad to muffle his voice.

That's some nice acting.

She replied with a tone of voice a little too haughty for his liking, still, this wasn't the time to have a back and forth. He simply sighed and continued walking. 

"So are you okay?" A colt asked as he nudged closer to Sombra. Still using the sketch book to cover his muzzle, he turned to see who was talking to him. 

It was the colt that had spoken of the comic book hero during the presentations a few days back. Taking a deep breath to get into character, Sombra moved the sketch book and began to write while struggling to keep a smile on his face.

I'm not always smiling you know, you don't have to force it out like that.

Sweetie Belle said through some giggles. Sombra ignored her and lifted the sketch book for the colt to see.

'Just a little sick is all.'

"Oh, you should have stayed home then."

'Couldn't I would be held back if did.'

"Held back?"

'A grade.'

He wrote down, though truth be told, he wasn't all that sure of what that even meant. All he knew was that Sweetie Belle needed to attend class or something bad would happen to her and her friends.

"That's not so bad, my brother got held back a few times and he's just fine." The colt said with a reassuring smile, one that Sombra tried to respond with as well, but Sweetie's talking in his head didn't seem to help.

Yeah, except that the only reason I signed up was to be with my friends!

"Would you like me to write that down?" Sombra asked in a whisper as he placed the sketch pad back over his muzzle. 

No...it's okay. That's more of a personal problem anyway...

"You sound troubled."

It's...it's a long story. My mom and dad-

"Well look who is it!" A rather annoying voice called out from behind them. Sombra's eyes dulled as he braced for the onslaught of oral banter that would soon ensue. "I'm surprised you decided to show your face after your presentation." 

Sombra took a quick glance to confirm his suspicions and saw Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon walking towards him. He returned his glance over to the front and continued walking.

"Yeah, not even the school wanted to see your presentation." Silver Spoon said with a rather strange laugh for a filly. "It caved in on its own because of how bad it was."

"Did you hear? We're going to redo our presentations when the school gets rebuilt, so you haven't gotten off from doing it either!" 

"Yeah, think you're going to choke again?"

Sweetie growled from inside Sombra's mind. She couldn't stand those two, much less now that she couldn't even address them to talk back, but what was weirdest was Sombra's lack of interest with them. After the display of annoyance with them when he first met the fillies, she thought he would at the very least shout at them if not kill them on the spot.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?" Diamond Tiara finally said after a rather long amount of silence from Sombra.  Again no response.

"Maybe she's too scared to talk to us, isn't that right Sweetie Belle?" The grey filly said as she moved forward to block Sombra's way. In an effortless step to the side, he maneuvered around Silver Spoon and continued on his way with the group, blatantly ignoring her very presence.

"Ugg, what's up with her?" Diamond asked as she whispered over to her friend.

"I don't know, but it's no fun if she doesn't talk back!" The filly responded in a pout.

Sombra kept from grinning as he heard them speak, once again placing the sketch book to his muzzle in an effort to hide the smirk building.

Wow, that made them shut up. How did you know that would happen?

"They're only looking for a reaction." Sombra said softly. "There is not greater defeat for a bully that being ignored. After all, they are only looking for attention, robbing them of that will shake them to the core."

I never thought about it like that...I thought you were going to kill them. Not that I want you to!

"Had I been in my own body, perhaps I would have. But I'm playing by different rules right now. And this is the best way to make them feel pain without hurting them." Sombra said with a soft chuckle, barely outside audible levels. 

Soon he began to quiet down as he saw a certain farm appear in the distance. He was to face his biggest obstacle yet...Sweetie Belle's friends. He thought about what he was to do once Apple Bloom and Scootaloo came into play. There was no way he could keep himself hidden for long with them around. Perhaps speaking to them upfront would be best course of action.

Apple Bloom!

Sweetie shouted as she saw her friend coming out from her home, making Sombra cringe once more though was even more tortured by being unable to display his pain. 

"Once we fix this, we are never doing this again." He scoffed before returning to his 'normal' composure, and by that it meant he was cheerfully smiling at seeing his 'friend' run up to him.

"Hiya Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom said as she hugged Sombra. Pulling apart, she quickly took notice of his sketchbook. "What's that for?" At once he took it and began to furiously write out the entire explaination as quickly as he could.

'I'm Sombra, Sweetie Belle and I switched bodies by some unknown force and are unable to undo this curse. For now, please pretend I am your friend while she and I try to survive the day, I would greatly appreciate it if you could also keep me from having to speak, my voice is a mix between she and I and speaking would give us away if not arose suspicions of greater workings...Sweetie Belle says hi.'

Apple Bloom took a moment to read through the word filled page before turning to Sombra who still had the smile he was faking. Somehow, he got the horrible impression that perhaps this wasn't the best idea when she hugged him once more.

"Don't worry, yer secret's safe with me!"

"What secret?" Diamond Tiara asked as she jumped in between the two, a devilish smirk upon her face. 

"None of yer-" Apple Bloom began but was quickly shut away by Sombra who held his hoof to her muzzle. He diverted her attention back to the sketch book.

'Ignore them.'

"What? But ya-"

'It'll be worth it, trust me.'

Sombra wrote with a half smile of his own. The rich fillies quickly crowded around him and they looked over at his book. Even though they were well into his personal space, he paid them no mind and continued the conversation with Apple Bloom as if they truly were friends.

'What did your sister say about yesterday?'

He wrote down, quickly getting a response from the farm pony. The two continued to communicate like this, ignoring the bullies and their every action when they tried to bait a reaction. Though at first they pestered on, they soon grew frustrated with not being recognized.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!" Diamond Tiara shouted as she stepped only inches away from Sombra who responded by taking up his sketch book and writing a reply to what Apple Bloom was saying. The filly became red with anger and finally blew.

"I'm Diamond Tiara! You can't ignore me! I demand you talk to me!" She shouted, almost spitting over Sombra.

"Diamond Tiara!" Cherilee said with a dry tone, drawing in the attention of the filly and getting a subtle smile from Sombra. "Do you think maybe Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom would rather keep to themselves? Stop trying to butt into their conversation." 

"But-But-But-"

"But nothing. Come join me at the front of the group so you don't bother them."

With an angry mumble, Diamond did as she was told, stomping her way towards her teacher who had just about lost her patience with her. Silver Spoon looked back and forth between her friend and Sombra before rushing to the front as well, finally leaving him and Apple Bloom far enough behind as to keep them from hearing them speak. 

"Hehehe, How'd ya know that was gonna happen?" Apple Bloom asked, happy about how Diamond got called out by Cherilee.

"As children, you all play by different rules than I." Sombra responded after his very long silence, finally giving his pen a rest. "I just knew how to manipulate the peices I had to play with." He said as he gestured towards Cherilee.

Apple Bloom stared at him for a good while, never once losing eye contact with him as she processed what she heard. It was strange to have her gaze at him so closely. Sombra spoke if only to break the awkward silence between them.

"What is it?"

"You sound really funny."

Sombra stopped in his tracks as he slammed a hoof against his fore head. Sighing and taking a moment to think things through, he spoke with annoyance.

"Really? I tell you that I switched bodies with Sweetie Belle and you accept it with ease, yet you can't get past my voice?" 

Apple Bloom's only response was a half hearted chuckle as she scratched the back of her head. Though she quickly turned and pointed towards the house they were getting close to and began to run. 

"Come on! Scootaloo's home is next, she'll love to know what's happened!"

"What did I-" Sombra shouted but stopped himself midway. For a second he had forgotten he needed to stay quiet and was forced to hold in his displeasure at the filly's actions. "How do you deal with them?" He asked in a whisper as he placed his sketch book bother his muzzle again.

What? They're fun to be with!

"If by fun you mean annoying, then I agree."

Come on Mister Sombra, give my friends a chance, they might surprise you!

"The only thing that surprises me is that every action they take is more idiotic than the last." Sombra said as he began to run after Apple Bloom. He was sure to rue this day for the rest of his cursed life. He needed to find a way to change things back, as they were, he was unable to proceed with his plans. He needed his magic back.
> 14. Pain
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sombra groaned softly in annoyance. His eyes were dull and full with irritation as he tried to focus on what the pink teacher was saying, and though he didn't truly care for the class, it was a thousands times more interesting than the conversation the fillies to his side were trying to drag him into.

"So I got a new bow." Applebloom said in a hushed tone as to not disrupt the class.

Yeah, I noticed! Oh wait, Mister Sombra, can you tell her I noticed?

"No..." Sombra said softly, still trying to concentrate on other matters.

"It looks just like all the other ones you have." Scootaloo responded, remembering the large stock of pink bows she and Sweetie Belle once stumbled upon on their visits.

"Eeyup, only  this one doesn't have any tears in it! Our crusadin' aren't too kind on mah bows."

"That makes sense."

Ask Scoots about how her scooter is doing. I remember we damaged it pretty badly on one of our crusades.

Again Sombra groaned as he sunk into his sketch book which he still used to communicate to others. This time, however, it served as rest for his head as he tried to stay sane.

"My scooter is still pretty banged up from one of our crusades, I'm gonna have to bring it to the shop to fix it again."

Never mind, she answered the questions anyway.

Sombra's only response were further sounds of annoyance as he forced himself to remain silent despite every inch of his being telling him to shout for them to be quiet. Never before had the chatter of fillies been so disturbing to his ears. In a last attempt to stay quiet, Sombra slammed his sketch book against his forehead in a rather loud groan despite his efforts of staying quiet, gaining the attention of Cherilee.

She glanced over at Sombra, whom she still thought to be Sweetie Belle. Her brows wrinkled in worry as she remembered just how sick she thought Sweetie Belle to be. Any other day she would have taken Sombra's actions as an interruption, but today she decided to take pity on the ill.

"Alright class, how about a little break?" She asked as she stepped away from the portable blackboard she had placed at the gazebo. Currently she was in the gazebo itself while all the colts and fillies sat on the soft grass as she taught. 

"Yeah!" The children all shouted in unison. 

"Then how about we have recess for a while? I just realized that I had forgotten something for today's lesson. You all will have free time while I go back home and get it. Don't stray too far away now!" Cherilee said with a smile as she began to make her way back to her house.

In an instant all the children broke off into their own groups and cliques. Though none could match the speed at which Sombra stood up and dashed off to the woods nearby, leaving Sweetie Belle's friends behind in shock. 

Sombra slid across the dirt as he came to a stop and without missing a beat, shouted out a command. 

"Come out!" 

His shadow moved from under him, quickly jumping out and forming into the silhouette of a tall stallion. Shifting its shadowy state to that of flesh and bones, Sweetie Belle blinked a few times as she tried to keep her balance; the summon being disorienting to say the least.

"Woah...that feels so weird..." She said as she shook her head to break from her dizzy spell.

"An hour, you all kept talking for a whole hour!" Sombra said as he began to pace back and forth. "Do you three even listen to the lecture?! You know what? I don't truly care. You are free to do as you wish, but keep me out of it!" 

"I mean, I would talk on my own if I could, but..." Sweetie Belle said as she reached around for her mane to grasp in comfort for being scolded.

"I am aware of our current situation." Sombra said as he sat down, placing a hoof to his temple as he tried to calm his nerves. "And I wish us out of it as soon as possible."

"How did ya two get like this anyway?" Applebloom's voice asked as she and Scootaloo peeked from behind a tree. 

"I haven't the slightest clue." Sombra said with a sigh. 

"Me neither." Sweetie said as she began to play with her mane. She once again tried to straighten the spike black mane Sombra had, no doubt it could use a good brushing. 

Scootaloo giggled as she saw them. She never thought she'd ever see Sweetie Belle's body look so grumpy and disinterested in everything around her. Sombra's furrowed brows and glaring eyes didn't suit the small adorable appearance he now had. 

The same could be said of Sombra's body. The timid posture and shine within his red eyes was certainly not living up to the title of 'Tyrant'. Sweetie Belle, however, didn't seem to care about the appearance she was giving off in her new body, if anything, she seemed to enjoy her new form.

"Think this a joke?" Sombra asked as he glared at Scoots, who couldn't help but laugh more at the adorable glare she was getting. 

"It is kinda funny though." Sweetie Belle said with a soft smile that irked him.

"That's it!" Applebloom shouted out. 

"What is?"

"Yesterday, ya'll landed in the Everfree Forest right?"

"The forest?" Sombra asked as he placed a hoof to his chin. "Yes, both Sweetie Belle and I touched ground there, but only for a moment."

"Did ya'll touch strange blue flowers?"

"Yeah...why?"

Already smiling, Applebloom couldn't help but begin to giggle as well. Her joy of having figured it out already bleeding out. 

"You think this a joke as well?" Sombra asked with an annoyed expression, though nothing he could really do about their laughter.

"Eeyup, because it is! It's Poison Joke!"

"¿Qué?" 

"It's a plant that likes ta play jokes on ponies that touch it. Really weird things can happen when it does that."

"And making ponies switch bodies is within its power?"

"So is shrinkin' mah sister to the size of an apple and turning wings upside down. If it thinks it's funny, it'll do it. Ah don't really get it, but Zecora knows all about it."

"And who might this pony be?"

"She ain't a pony, she's a zebra. She knows all sorts of magic even though she ain't a unicorn. She fixed everypony right up last time this happened, Ah'm sure she could help you out too."

"Then there is no time to waste!" Sombra said as he jumped to his hooves. "We've less than an hour to get back before the teacher returns to resume class." 

"You're worried about missing class?" Scootaloo asked.

"Would Sweetie Belle get in trouble if she didn't return, wouldn't she?"

"Well...yeah." 

"Then that is your answer. She said you are all in some sort of danger if she does not attend class. But enough of that, time is short. Filly, which way to this Zecora?" Sombra said as he turned to Applebloom. 

"Why are we still referred to as 'filly', but you call Sweetie Belle by her name?" Scootaloo asked in a whispered pout. 

"She lives in the Everfree Forest. Ah can take ya'll there easy!" She said before running off, Sombra hot on her heels. 

"He-Hey! Wait for me!" The pegasus said as she too rushed after them. Sweetie Belle on the other hoof, took a while to process what had happened. She had been too preoccupied with her mane to notice, but when she did notice, it was a little too late to escape the consequences.

Sweetie let out a small gasp for air as she felt her strength leave her. It was a strange feeling, it was as if she was slowly suffocating. Doing her best to catch her breath, Sweetie Belle took to her hooves and began to make her way towards Sombra.

"Mister Sombra!" She shouted as she ran, quickly catching up to the group because of her much longer legs. 

"What is it?" Sombra asked, barely sparing her a glance while he ran.

"I feel- wait, I don't feel it anymore." She said, a little surprised.

"Feel what?"

"Like if I was drowning!" 

"Oh, must be because we got too far away." Sombra said as he looked over at her finally, a hint of care in his dry eyes. "My apologies, it must have been a terrible fright."

As Sombra spoke, he could feel the other fillies listen at their conversation and somehow felt strange about it. In an effort to save them both something to explain, he spoke out a command.

"Become my shadow." Just as before, Sweetie Belle became nothing more than a black figure before jumping into the air and merging with the ground to take on Sombra's shadow. "There, now it won't happen again.

...

"Sweetie Belle?" He whispered as he and the fillies moved across Ponyville. This was no strange sight for the citizens of the small town, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had quite the reputation, and so instead of paying them mind, all ponies around them just casually moved out of their way to let them through.

Does that happen to you?

"What?"

That feeling of...dying.

"In case you haven't noticed." Sombra said under his breath to keep their conversation hidden. "I'm already dead. You are the only thing keeping me alive, if I get away from you, I feel Death's cold grip wrap around me once more."

So will I die if I get too far away from you?

"Nonesense, if we get too far away from one another, I, or in this case, you would just bounce back to me. We are bound, we are one. But that doesn't mean the feeling of death won't come meanwhile. Until we reach that threshold that brings the shadow back to the host, you will feel like you're dying." 

Again Sweetie Belle remained quiet. She never even thought about how things worked in Sombra's perspective. She, who had been so happy to have somepony come to her rescue whenever she needed it, never thought to ask how he felt. Or even what it all meant to him. She had forgotten one vital detail: He is dead.

"The Everfree Forest is just ahead!" Applebloom shouted in excitement as she and her friends ran out of town, leaving the small buildings behind in the distance. 

"Good, we are this much closer to reveting back to normal." Sombra said with a smirk that seemed odd on Sweetie Belle's face. Though Sweetie Belle herself couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong. Why would Sombra want so subjugate himself to such a horrible feeling? Of death crawling at his skin at any given moment.

Finally reaching the forest and with their arrival, they finally took a moment to catch their breaths. All were breathing heavy, but most of all, Sombra was the most affected by exhaustion. He struggled to stay on his hooves, and so with a sweaty face, looked up to Scootaloo who seemed to have already recovered.

"Sweetie Belle....Isn't the most athletic of the group...is she?" He said through pants.

"Couldn't be more far from it." She said with a held in laugh. 

Sorry!

"I can't exactly blame you..." Sombra said as he took a few steps forward to try to keep his momentum going. "We are shaped by our circumstances. You've never had to exert yourself physically, that means you're well off." 

Well off?

"Financially. Haven't had to work as hard." He said as he began to follow Applebloom through the forest. 

Oh...right.

"You sound troubled." Sombra said as his breathing finally settled and was able to speak normally.

It's just- Well...

A long silence followed in Sombra's head. Though he didn't mind finally having some quiet, he couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong with her. 

"You don't have to tell me if you'd rather not. We've all got our secrets."

I know...It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's just a long story. 

"Another time perhaps." Sombra said as he continued to traverse the dark forest, thought as he took one last step forward, he came to a stop. 

Squinting his eyes, Sombra looked around the area. With his magic, he tugged at the tails of the fillies who had gone ahead, prompting them to turn around. Though annoyed by his gesture at first, they quickly became worried when they saw his rather serious face.

"Somethin' wrong?"

"Come here..." Sombra said softly, leaning down in a defensive stance. Trading glances, Applebloom and Scootaloo both rushed over to his side.

"What's wrong?" Scootaloo asked as she and her friend pressed against him. He forgave their lack of personal space this once since things seemed dire. He even went a far as to press back to comfort them. 

"Without my own body's senses, I noticed them much too late. We're already surrrounded." Sombra said as he dug his hoof against the ground as if preparing to charge.

"B-By what?"

"Not sure, I'm not familair with this region of Equestra. What sort of animals reside in this forest?"

"Too many to count."

"Any dangerous ones?"

"You've got no idea..."

Sombra turned to them with an annoyed look, their feedback was no help what so ever to their situation. Though before he could say something to them, a growl from the darkness diverted his attention back. 

Slowly, Sombra saw a paw reach out from a bush. A creature unlike any he had seen before began to emerge. He recognized the figure to be that of a wolf, but unlike the ones he was accustomed to, this one seemed to be made of wooded planks.

"Is somepony pulling a prank?" Sombra asked as he stood up straight at the sight. "Some unicorn using their magic to animate wood?"

"Watch out!" Applebloom shouted as the wolf pounced in their direction. Sombra's sudden movement had caused it to attack. 

As quickly as his small body allowed, Sombra kneeled down and activated his magic. With small sparks of purple flames flowing from his eyes, he summoned out a small spike of crystal to impale the incoming attack. Right away, the wolf exploded and its pieces went flying ever which way. 

Falling to the ground, Sombra gasped for air as he felt his body struggle to remain conscious. He gritted his teeth at the harsh realization that he was no longer in his body. The spell he had used was well out of Sweetie Belle's magical ability. Using such an advanced spell just about drained him of all his strength even though it was but a simple small spike. 

"Are you okay!?" The fillies shouted as they tried to help Sombra to his hooves.

"Maldicion..." Sombra said with a pained grunt. "My magic is too powerful for the body I am in..." He said as he looked up with one eye closed in the strain he was feeling. The wolf that he had defeated was beginning to pull itself back together, making his last exertion of magic a complete waste. If that wasn't enough, the other wolves that had surrounded them began to show themselves as well. No doubt the three of them seemed like an easy target now.

"What do we do?" Scootaloo asked as she pulled one of Sombra's hooves over her shoulder.

"King Sombra!" Sombra shouted out. "Defeat these wolves!"

At once his shadow moved from under him and jumped out in a battle ready position, though the expression Sweetie Belle's face didn't have the same bravado as her body gave off.

"Wh-What?" Sweetie Belle asked as she as came to the world. Her eyes bursted into flames as power began to surge through her. Power almost overwhelming for her to even comprehend, much less use. 

Frightened by the sudden appearance of a new opponent, the wolves targeted Sweetie Belle. All together they jumped at her with fangs bared. A jolt of pain caused Sweetie to act, quickly prompting her to swing a hoof out and knocking a wolf to the side. 

"Defend your blind spots!" Sombra commanded as he and the fillies watched the battle.

Sweetie did as he was told and jumped up to avoid the other incoming bites at her. With her eyes still aflame, she for the first time in her life, attacked another being. Using her new boundless magic, she sent a fiery blaze downward  in a blast of energy. 

While Applebloom and Scootaloo looked in awe, Sombra scoffed at how inefficiently she was using her magic, his magic. Sweetie Belle landed only a few meters away from the trio. Her fire going out, she looked back with a glee filled smile.

"That was awesome!" Applebloom shouted.

"Not quite." Sombra said as he pulled himself from the shoulders of the fillies beside him. "Sweetie Belle, you used an attack with a strong burst, but because of that, the further away you are, the less it harms the opponent. You had leapt too high to do any significant damage to the wolves."

"What?" Sweetie Belle asked, though her next sentence was interrupted by a wave of pain. The pain of disobedience. The moment he saw her use the wrong spell he knew this would happen, and so he prepared another command.

"King Sombra, to me." Sombra said, quickly retracting Sweetie back to his shadow. Thanks to his quick thinking, Sweetie Belle suffered pain for only a second, if that.

From the embers of her blast, the wolves began to emerge in a sight that terrified the fillies. Sombra stepped forward, thought still a little off balance. His mind raced as he looked to all the pieces he had to play with. This certainly looked like a bad situation. There was no way to win this without some sort of sacrifice. With a sigh, he turned to the fillies and spoke. 

"Forgive me, I'll have to leave you two behind."

"What?!" They both shouted together. Though before they could act, he gave another command. 

"King Sombra, trap them in a crystal barrier!"

From within his mind, Sweetie Belle was forced to use her magic to encase her friends crystal. By raising four crystal spikes that connected at the tip like a pyramid, the fillies were both trapped and safe where they stood. 

"Now, Take me away from here!" Sombra shouted as he used the last of his strength to run. Jumping towards a tree trunk and jumping off of it, he landed on a newly summoned stallion who quickly began to gallop away from the wolves. 

The creatures had stayed behind to try to get the fillies, the easier of the two targets. Unfortunately for them, it was useless. There was no way they could break the crystal. They couldn't even make a dent before their own body fell apart. This gave the duo enough time to escape and find a place to hide out while they regained strength and planned their next actions. 

It didn't take long for Sweetie Belle to find a place to hold up. Finally coming to a stop, Sombra fell from her back and landed on his side as he rested his tired body. Sweetie Belle looked down at her hooves the entire time, a depressed look on her face. 

"Aren't you gonna say anything?" Sombra asked as he turned over to find a comfortable way to lay. 

"Like what?"

"I don't know, blame me for leaving your friends behind."

"They're safe aren't they?"

"Well, yeah."

"Then it's okay, we just have to go back and get them." She said with her head still hanging low. Her black mane hanged loosely over her face, as if she was trying to hold back her emotions. 

Silence remained for a time. A time Sombra used to recover his strength, but more importantly, make sense of how Sweetie Belle was acting. This was certainly unlike her in every way. With a sigh, he finally spoke.

"Tell me, what's wrong?"

"That...felt horrible."

"What?"

"The pain."

"Oh, the pain of disobedience right?"

"Mhm."

"I tried to issue another command as to keep you from feeling it for very long." Sombra said as he rolled over to his stomach, getting in his usual position crossing his front hooves.

"I only felt it for a second but..."

"But what?" Sombra said with a grunt, his body still aching.

"I....I..." Sweetie began, but seemed unable to finish her sentence. "I put you through that too."

"Yes. You did." Sombra said, brushing off the pained voice she was giving off. It was something he was unable to do once she finally turned to him. Her eyes drenched in tears and her nose running. 

"I made you feel so much pain...so many times. I had no idea you felt that. I thought, I didn't think-"

"It isn't that bad. I've suffered worse." Sombra interrupted in a harsh tone, bringing Sweetie Belle to a silence. The atmosphere around them began to tense up as her sniffed began to fill the air.

"Why..." She began.

"Why what?"

"Why are you intent on switching bodies again? You said you were evil right? I don't know the details, but you probably have something you want to do right? You want to break free from the contract to do it right?"

"What makes you think that?" Sombra asked, feigning ignorance. 

"I've played chess against you. I know when you're building up for a grand move. I can't always see it coming, but I know something is coming. So why do you want to switch back? You could easily just command me to do whatever you want to do. I would have no choice but to obey."

Silence, only whimpers and sniffles.

"Because you'd be in pain." Sombra finally answered. His words made Sweetie Belle stop her whimpering and look up at him again. "The pain I felt, I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy, much less a mere filly who has nothing to do with anything."

Sombra said as he scratched the back of his head. Clearing this throat, he turned to the side and finished speaking.

"A-And because there would be too much of a lag time between my commands and when you perform them if you were forced to obey. Fighting the princesses would be next to impossible in such a state." He said, trying to excuse his soft nature towards her. Sweetie Belle looked at him with surprised eyes. Somehow, the words he had spoken filled her with warmth. She never thought he actually cared about her. She thought the only reason he did anything was because he was forced to.

"I-I'll help you." Sweetie Belle said hesitantly.

"Why wouldn't you? I'm sure you're now very eager to switch bodies as well. I would expect nothing else from somepony who felt the pain of disobedience."

"No, I mean, with what you're trying to do when you came back." 

Sombra blinked a few times and looked over at Sweetie as he tried to comprehend what he had heard. 

"Help me...with my goal? You don't even know what it is I'm after."

"Will you hurt my friends?"

"If they get in my way."

"But if they don't, would doing whatever it is you want to do hurt anypony?"

"Uh, no, not really. If anything, I think it would help Equestria as a whole."

"Then I'll help!" Sweetie Belle said, whipping her mane back into place and looking at Sombra with determined eyes. 

Sombra chuckled at her enthusiasm and how fast she made a one eighty. "Alright, fine. But first we need to rescue your friends and get ourselves back to normal."

"No problem! We can get to Zecora and-"

"No time. While the crystal may keep the wolves at bay, we cannot disregard the fact other creatures could stumble across and get through the crystal."

"Can something even break through it?"

"I've just seen wolves that reconstruct from wood in what appears to be an endless cycle. I doubt other more powerful beasts are out of the question."

"So what should we do then?" Sweetie asked as she kneeled down to allow Sombra to climb onto her back. 

"Well, I've played my parts as you, now it's your turn to act as me."

"And that means?"

"You need to fight like me. I can guide you using commands, but you need to do your part to fight correctly." Sombra said as he motions her to begin moving back to where the wolves are at. 

"But I don't know how to fight!"

"Spells might be out of the question, but I am good at close combat. Let's not forget you are in my body. Just begin the motion, and muscle memory will take care of the rest. Worst come to worst, I'll be there to help you out." Sombra said with a reassuring smile. 

Sweetie Belle smiled back and quickly began to make her way to her friends. Somehow, despite how everything seemed to have gone to Tartarus for a minute there, perhaps this might have brought them closer. 


<=•=>


"So..." Scootaloo asked as she and Applebloom struggled to stretch their legs. 

"What?"

"Think they'll be back?"

"Yeah! Why wouldn't they?!" Applebloom asked, almost insulted that her friend would even suggest something like that.

"I mean...before we get eaten by that thing." Scootaloo said as she gestured over to the large beast now destroying the wolves that had previously been clawing away at the crystal keep them safe. 

"Oh..." She said before thinking for a moment. "I dunno', maybe."

"I hope so." Scootaloo said with forced smile as sweat began to fall down the side of her face. "Cause that thing looks scary."

"Eeyup."Applebloom said as she too looked over at the creature that had just finished its battle with the toothpicks of opponents. Its yellow eyes looked around to make sure the coast was clear before turning its gaze to the fillies in the crystal trap. It licked its lips before taking a step closer to them. 

"Sweetie Belle... Mister Sombra... please hurry."
> 15. Cursed
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With a large jump, Sweetie Belle used the thick tree branches to propel herself from one tree to another. The strength behind such physical feats had been impossible before, but her body being now that of Sombra's, she couldn't be having more fun making her way through the Everfree.

With a soft giggle every other jump, she continued to make her way through the dense foggy forest, Sombra on her back to make sure they stayed on course.

"Take a left over there." He said as he pointed with his small white hoof. His grip on Sweetie's mane could easily be used to pull her in the right direction, but he took a more gentle approach. After all, he'd like the same treatment if their roles were reversed, which was ironic given the circumstances. 

"Okay!" Sweetie Belle responded as she twisted her body in the air, landing her hooves on a tree trunk and pushing herself away in the direction he had said. "Woohoo!"

Sombra did his best to stay on Sweetie's back, but her sudden exerts of strength made it difficult at times. Still, he kept from saying anything so that she could continue with her now happy attitude, one he missed during her sudden depression just a few moments ago. How in the world did she bounce back so quickly? Was it that she was faking it? Or perhaps a sort of mental guard against negative feelings? Either way, Sombra just wanted her to stay the way she was.

"We're here." He said as he once again pointed with his hoof. At once Sweetie Belle shifted her pose in midair to redirect herself to the ground using the next incoming tree. 

In a powerful thud, the pair landed and cracked the hard ground behind them. The inertia from the landing was much too strong for Sombra this time, and was forced off of Sweetie, face first into the ground. Giggling at Sombra's expense, Sweetie did her best to hide her amusement as she spoke.

"You okay?"

With an annoyed expression in his eyes, the only part not buried into the dirt, Sombra responded. 

"Never felt more alive." His voice was muffled by the earth trying to make its way into his nostrils. In one swift pull, Sombra managed to get himself out of the ground and proceeded to wipe away the remnants from his face. Though as he cleaned himself, he noticed Sweetie Belle to be in a frenzy.

"Wh-Where are they?" She asked as she ran back and forth, looking for her friends. "There aren't any Timber Wolves either, are you sure we're at the right place?!"

"So that's what they're called? Timber Wolves? Fitting name." Sombra said as he finished his grooming.

"Mister Sombraaaaa." Sweetie whined as she came face to face with him, her eyes almost teary at the thought of what could have happened to Applebloom and Scootaloo.

"Calm yourself." He said as he gently pushed her away to a comfortable space. "Remember what I said before? About your turn to act like me?"

"Well, yeah."

"Then what would I do?"

"Umm." Sweetie Belle said as she took a step back to think. "You would probably make a smart-alecky remark about me and then find my friends." 

Sombra chuckled as he made his way to her. Pulling his way back onto her back, he then leaned in over her shoulder to speak.

"That's a start at least." He said as softly. His voice was rather calming to her, he always seemed to know exactly what to do, if only she could do the same. "Close mouth, open your eyes."

Sweetie Belle did as he said. She quickly turned her gaze over to the scenery around them. There was a small black crystal spike poking out of the ground. It was the same one Sombra had conjured up in self defense, that alone proved they were in the right place. 

"Look at everything presented at you. Look at all the pieces you have at your disposal." Sombra said as he gently guided her vision to the next clue at hoof.

Broken shards of crystal laid on the ground. Between them was an almost dug in hole, no doubt from where the fillies were fidgeting around while trapped in the crystal. 

"That's where my friends were!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she ran up to the place and pushed around the shards. "Were they eaten by the wolves?!" She asked out, her eyes stricken with fear.

"Calm yourself, look again for clues." Sombra said as he jolted her head to face him. "There isn't any blood, it means that the wolves did not eat your friends."

"The-Then what?"

"You tell me." He said as he gestured his hoof for her to look at the area around them. 

Taking a deep breath, Sweetie Belle once again moved her eyes throughout the ground and noticed a rather big detail she had missed since their arrival. The ground had all sorts of marking on the ground. Paw and claw prints were all over in a strange manner, some parts of the ground was even broken and scarred from a powerful slash.  

"It looks like there was some sort of fight..." She said as she circled around the large dents on the ground.

"Yes, between the wolves and a rather large creature by the looks of it. Since the wolf's broken pieces aren't around, we can assume..." 

"That the Timber Wolves ran away after they were defeated, so whatever won took my friends. When did you notice them?" Sweetie asked as she turned to him.

"Since before we landed."

"Why didn't you say anything then?"

"If I simply pointed things out without giving you the chance to look for yourself, you'd never learn." Sombra said as he gesture her to follow the tracks that led deeper into the forest. 

"Think my friends are still alive?"

"Like I said, no blood. There are only two reasons why a creature would not eat when fresh food is presented at them. They either fled because of a rival beast like the wolves, or they are moving it to another location so they can eat safely."

"Then we better hurry!"

Using her strength to leap forward, Sweetie Belle once again took to the tree tops to propel herself through the forest. Though now, she had a different air about her, a flame of determination in her eyes. One that Sombra was happy to see. 


<=•=>


"It's dark in here!" Applebloom said as she reached around to find her surroundings.

"Hey, watch it!" Scootaloo shouted back as she felt something hit her wing. 

"Opps, mah bad."

"Just stay still, you don't want it to accidently swallow us!"

"Ah'm wondering why that giant Cragadilee didn't chew when it put us in its mouth."

"You're actually questioning it? I'm happy we're still alive at all!" Scootaloo said as she too tried to readjust herself subtly as to not disturb the spongy tongue they were both on and make the creature accidently bite them.

"Well yeah, Ah'm happy, just curious."

"Who knows, it might be taking us out of the Everfree Forest. You know, it saw two small fillies being attacked by wolves and decided to rescue them?"

"That might be a tad bit on the hopeful side. Ah really don't think that's what's going on."

"Well you think of something then!"

"To be honest, Ah don't really wanna think about what it wants with us..."

"It can't be that bad, right? I mean-"

Guuuurk!

Suddenly both fillies felt something push against them. In a strong twist of its neck the beast spit the duo out onto the water nearby. Scootaloo was the first to surface and face her fillynapper, and with and angry hoof, shouted at it.

"Hey! If you went through the trouble of putting us in your dirty, germ infested mouth, you could have at least eaten us!"

"Scoots! What are ya shouting at it for?" Applebloom said as she too came out of the water.

"What? It will take hours to get this nasty  spit off of my coat." Scootaloo said as she brushed her fore hoof with the other, a large mass of thick saliva peeling off her as it slid across. 

"That don't mean you should make things worse by screaming at it!"

"What are you talking about? It hasn't moved even a bit." She said as she ruffled her small wings while looking over at the beast. It's the same kind that Applejack has told them about once. A large crocodile that's made of stone. This one, however, was much bigger than the one she had described. While the other was still a terrifying monster, this one would fit both of them in its mouth without much trouble. Easily five times larger than the one Applejack and her friends faced.

"Why is it just standing there?" Applebloom questioned as she started to use the water around them to wash away the saliva. Though the feeling of ease soon left her as she felt something tug at her tail from below the water. Confused, Applebloom lifted her hind and propped her tail to see what she had 'caught'. Hanging from her red tail was a small cragadile that was busy trying to chew the hair in its mouth. 

"Uh...Applebloom?" Scootaloo asked as she began to look around, finally realizing dozens of tiny eyes were surfacing around them. "I'm starting to think we weren't tossed in here to wash up..."

"Run!" The other shouted as she began to move across the water away from the mass of baby beasts now making their way to them. Though their first reaction was to get to the shore, they retreated back when they saw the Cragadile mother step in front of them. 

The fillies were now trapped, the babies were creeping ever closer and the mother would not let them pass. Standing back to back, Scootaloo gave out a nervous laugh.

"I guess...we're stuck between a rock and a hard place huh?"

"This ain't not time for jokes Scoots!" Applebloom shouted as she turned to look at her friend. "We need to find a way out."

"Maybe Sweetie Belle and Mister Sombra will get here in time to save us?" Scootaloo said as she watched the small cragadiles now walk on land and make their way to them.

"I hate to say it but-"

"Look out!" A voice cried out as it crashed into the mother cragadile. Using her hooves to brace her impact, Sweetie Belle managed to come to a stop while simultaneously pushing the animal several meters away. 

"You might be right this time." Applebloom finished as she saw Sweetie Belle and Sombra land close to them while the large beast was thrown far behind the tree line.

"Por el amor de Dios, be more careful!" Sombra said as she struggled to keep himself seated on his mount. "I told you you'd crash if you didn't slow down."

"Yeah, but since you didn't tell me to slow down, I thought you were just letting me know or something." Sweetie said as she looked over at Sombra with oblivious eyes. 

"If I had told you to slow down, the curse would have made you slow down by force...and I rather not hurt the one currently in charge of getting us from point A to point B." Sombra said as he looked away, a subtle change in his tone as he came up with the excuse to keep from using commands. In his motions, he noticed the audience and a serious expression spread across his face.

"Sweetie Belle! Mister Sombra!" The fillies cried out as they ran to them. 

Relieved to see them alive, Sombra sighed with a small smile, but it was soon replaced by a serious expression as his vision focused behind the fillies. The Cragadile's actions quickly made sense to him and with a quick tap to Sweetie Belle's shoulder, he gesture her to take action.

"Sweetie Belle."

"I'm on it!" She replied as she cast out some of her magic. Raising a wall of crystal directly behind her friends, she managed to save them from being jumped on by the cragadiles. One of these creatures hit itself hard on the wall and bounced back, landing onto its brethren. Soon they all began to cry out.

A rumble was heard from close by, all the ponies switched their attention in the direction Sweetie had pushed the mother cragadile and in a burst of force, it ran out and jumped its way towards them. Sweetie froze for a second as fear struck now that she had a good view of the monster charging at her. 

"Move!" Sombra said, both bringing her back to reality and activating a command for her to follow. In a dexterous jump overhead, Sweetie Belle managed to leap into the air while the beast sped under her and Sombra, just barely missing the fillies on the ground, a detail Sombra caught.

Sweetie Belle twisted around mid air to keep her sight locked on the cragadile as she landed. Her friends quickly began to come close and clenched onto her hind legs as the babies started to make their way around the crystal wall from before.

"Umm, Mister Sombra?"

"I'm thinking..."

"Should we just run?"

"With both of your friends and me on your back? Your lack of restraint could put us in danger."

"So...we fight?"

"That would leave you friends vulnerable..."

"So what do we do?!"

"I said I'm thinking!" 

Again the mother cragadile began to charge at them and with the fillies at their position, jumping was no longer an option. Sombra glanced around and made a quick plan to keep them all out of harm. He jumped off of Sweetie Belle while issuing a command.

"Propel me at that tree!" He shouted as landed and held onto the fillies. Sweetie Belle obeyed and used her magic to catapult them using an erected crystal pillar. 

Using the same pillar to jump off, Sweetie Belle once again moved out of the incoming charge and avoided the attack. The fillies on the other hoof were less graceful in their landing, or lack thereof. Sombra reached out and grabbed onto a branch as each filly held onto one of his hind legs. 

"Mister Sombra!" Sweetie shouted out as she looked over at Sombra holding himself and the girls in place from the branch.

"I'm fine! Focus on your fight!" He shouted as he gestured with his head for her to turn around. In a rather unstallion like yelp, Sweetie moved out of the way of a slashing tail that crushed the tree behind her. 

No longer just charging at her, the cragadile began to fight more intelligently. Using its claws when Sweetie landed in front of her, and her tail when she landed behind her. Sweetie Belle just couldn't stay on the ground for very long before an attack of some sort rushed towards her. 

Sombra groaned as he used all of his strength to keep his grip on the branch now holding them from the hungry baby cragadiles under them. 

"You okay Mister Sombra?" Applebloom asked.

"I'll manage..." He replied with a strained voice. 

"Scoots, you're a pegasus, flap yer wings and get us on the branch!" She said as she turned her attention to her friend.

"Oh right!" Scootaloo said as the idea dawned on her. She too began to grunt as she furiously flapped her wings to raise her body. 

Sombra could feel some of the pressure holding him down lighten as the pegasus managed to move upwards a few inches. Exhaustion soon took over her however, and Scootaloo's wings quit on her, making her fall back down and putting all the weight back on Sombra. The sudden jolt of weight caught him off guard and even made him let go of one of his hooves.

They shouted as they swung around, their only anchor to the tree now Sombra's right hoof as he tried to reach out with his left once more.

"Quickly! Grab onto da branch!" Applebloom shouted.

"Hooves weren't made for grasping!" Sombra shouted back in an angry and annoyed tone, though he was finally able to grab on and regain some stability.

Sweetie Belle looked over at her friends with a worried expression. Worry she didn't have the luxury of having for very long thanks to her opponent.

"Dang it, I have to win quick so I can help Mister Sombra." She said to herself as she landed far away from the cragadile who wasted no time in trying to close in the space between them. Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself and relaxed her muscles. "Close your mouth, open your eyes."

Sweetie Belle began to analyze her opponent. Apart from the obvious size difference, the cragadile seemed to be just another crocodile in every sense of the word. Its rough skin on the back replaced by live stone that gave it even more of a protection. Though a small detail crossed her mind as she began to recall the crocodile's cousin, the alligator. 

"Gummy is like a crocodile, I mean, they're from the same family. So if a cragadile is like a crocodile, then it must have the same soft tummy gummy has. I could raise a spike underneath it and-" Sweetie's sentence cut itself off as she realized what it was she was about to say. 

She dreaded to believe she was actually thinking of killing the creature before her. Sure it had attacked both her and her friends, but it was a mother. Her children were right here. How could she even consider such an idea? 

Her head stuck with her own thoughts, Sweetie Belle failed to realize just how close the beast was now from her. In only a moment it would be close enough to land an attack. Sombra saw and quickly understood her hesitation.

"So she finally realized it huh?" He asked himself as he looked at the fight. "Sweetie Belle!" He shouted out, snapping her back to reality and making her look over at the one calling her. 

"I said you should act like me, didn't I?"

"But-"

"I would find a solution that would help me reach my goal! There is more than one way to win a fight!" Sombra shouted. Sweetie Belle paused for a moment before nodding and turning her head back at the beast now dangerously near her. 

"Close your mouth, open your eyes, close your mouth, open your eyes. Close your mouth. Open your eyes!" She said as she gritted her teeth in desperation. For a moment, everything seemed to slow down around her. Like Sombra had said, muscle memory took over and Sweetie's eyes quickly looked over the cragadile that was about to take one last step towards her to bite her. She could see everything in incredible detail, making it easy for her to see her next action. "There."

Using her magic to trap one of the monster's claws on the ground, the inertia from the dash made the cragadile spin to the side slightly, barely missing her bite on Sweetie Belle while also having some of her body raised to reveal the squishy underbelly.

Taking a quick step forward, Sweetie Belle reached around with her fore hoof and grounded herself to throw a powerful blow towards the beast. It was far stronger than she had thought, however. Not only did it manage to wound the cragadile, but even tossed it over a meter or two, breaking both the crystal and the feet trapped in it. For all intents and purposes, the mother cragadile was now incapable of fighting any longer. 

The baby cragadiles all quickly took notice of their mother's defeat and rushed over to her, leaving the fillies out of danger for the time being. Just in time for Sombra's hooves to give out and allow them to fall without the fear of being eaten alive.

"Ooomf!" The fillies cried out as Sombra landed on top of them. 

"Mister Sombra...you're heavy." Scootaloo said as she tried to push him off of her. Struggling to his hooves, he slowly responded.

"Blame Sweetie Belle for eating so many sweets." He said as he stood up, but his joke subsided when he looked over at Sweetie. Once more he saw a deep depression in her eyes. Taking advantage of the fillies helping one another up, he made his way to Sweetie Belle and joined her in her gaze of the babies crowding around their mother. 

"Are they going to be okay?" She asked him as he sat down. 

"More than likely. It will take more than a broken foot to stop her from finding her children food."

"But she'll be in pain every time she takes a step." Sweetie said as she turned to Sombra who kept his gaze glued on the beast. The mother cragadile, though clearly in pain, snuggled her young in an effort to quiet them down. She cared little for her own pain and wished simply to ease their worry. 

"A parent would do anything for their child." Sombra said softly. Slowly his gaze came to the ground. "Anything." Though just as fast a flash of memory tried to enter his head, a headache also came, making him grasp his head with one of his hooves.

Sweetie Belle saw this and quickly began to react, but before she could say or do anything, another voice interrupted. 

"Right you are Sweetie Belle, though if that is really you, I cannot tell."

"Zecora!" Applebloom shouted out as she ran up to her friend. "We've been looking for you!"

"Is that so Applebloom? Do you not know that entering the Everfree means certain doom?" 

Shaking whatever pains remained in his head, Sombra made his way to the zebra, Sweetie Belle quickly followed as well.

"I take it you're the one the fillies spoke about. The one who could help with Poison Joke."

"Poison Joke? I suspected as much." Zecora said as she looked back and forth between Sombra and Sweetie Belle.

"How'd you guess?" Scootaloo asked.

"Just call it a hunch." She said with a wink. "Now follow me to my hut, there are herbs to cut." Zecora said as she began to walk away, the fillies quickly tailed her and so did Sombra. Sweetie Belle hesitantly took a step forward, but had to take another look at the cragadiles before following, a guilt weighing down on her heart.


<=•=>


"What were you doing there anyway?" Sombra asked as he sat in a tub of green liquid. 

"Some animals fled from your area in devastation, so I decided to go make an investigation." Zecora said as she poured a small vase of leaves into the tub and around Sombra. He eyed her intently as he tried to get accustomed to her way of talking, though never asking her directly. 

"You would have been very useful while I and the fillies were hanging for our lives." He said with a small tone of annoyance of having herbs tossed onto him. 

The mare laughed as she put the base down before turning to Sweetie Belle who was in a separate tub. She proceeded to do the same thing she had done for Sombra and poured some cut leaves into the water. 

Much to Sombra's surprise, he soon became disoriented as he felt the room change around him. Or rather, a new perspective of the room. Shaking his head to see if he was perhaps hallucinating, he saw Zecora now standing close by.

"How did you-" He began. He was about to question how she was able to walk back to him so fast, but the moment he heard his voice he realized she hadn't traveled at all.

"You are no longer 'cursed', the spell of the Poison Joke has been reversed." Zecora said as she grinned at Sombra. She couldn't help but find his inspection of his body to be strangely adorable for his appearance. But as she looked him up and down, her eyes squinted in suspicion.

"I'm back in my body!" He shouted out.

"And me and mine!" Sweetie Belle screamed as she jumped up. She was soon tackled into a hug by her friends and they all began to play around in a friendly wrestle. One that Sombra smiled softly at. 

"Hmm, that is strange. There still seems to be some change." She said as she inspected Sombra more closely. 

"Pardon?" 

"This cannot be, perhaps this curse is beyond even me." She said as she stepped back and looked Sombra over one more time before walking away to a book sitting on her desk. 

"Umm, Miss Zecora? Is there something the matter?" Sombra asked as he came close to her.

"You still have a drastic change about you. But a cure for it, I cannot brew."

"Are you talking about me being bound to the filly?" He asked, still baffled by what she was referring to.

"The fact that you are her shadow I already knew. It is out in plain view. Yet there is still a sort of curse placed on you. But the cure or how to treat it, I haven't a clue." Zecora said as she turned back to Sombra.

"Lo siento I don't know what you're talking about."

Zecora grew silent as she tried to think of a way to explain what she was trying to say. 

"May I ask you where you learned Spanish?" 

"Huh? Well it was..." Sombra began, but as he tried to recall, a strong headache spread over his mind. He grunted in pain as he tried to recall the memory.

"Your memories, they seem to vanish?"

"N-Now that you mention it. I can't recall some things..."

Again Zecora took a moment to think. Around him she could see all kinds of signs that told her all about him. She could see a dark past in his red eyes, yet in the same gaze, she saw kindness. 

"You seem to act very civil. So may I ask you, how you became evil?"

"How did I...I just am, no?" Again Sombra was hit by a headache, and this time his grunts caught Sweetie Belle's ears. Her giggling from her friends died down a little as she looked over at Sombra. His grey coat seemed to be have a strange change in its color before returning to the normal grey. 

"Mister Sombra?" She asked softly as she saw Zecora try to help his headaches. "Is there something wrong?"
> 16. Charm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"How is your headache? I am quite worried for your health's sake." Zecora said as she walked alongside the dark stallion who still shook his head every so often to break away from a dizzy spell.   

"Bearable." Sombra responded with unfocused eyes. He didn't even spare here a glance, then again, he could barely keep his walking pace steady as sudden waves of pain would stagger him. "I just need a moment." 

"A moment of peace I can give. Though I must ask why pain strikes when your memories you try to relive."

"Tartarus if I knew. Let's just...keep this quiet around them hmm?" Sombra said as he gestured towards the girls running back and forth around them. With a soft smile and a nod, Zecora continued to lead the group further down the path she had carved with her own hooves.

Since she knew the Everfree better than anypony else, she took it upon herself to help them out to avoid any further run ins with monsters and beasts. Sombra was tired and in no condition to fight at the moment, not to mention that protecting three small fillies would not make things easier for him.  Still, the horribly dangerous surroundings didn't seem to bother them in the slightest. 

Sweetie Belle took notice of Sombra's gesture towards her and her friends. Furrowing her brows in worry, she began to think about the strange pain he had been in while back in Zecora's hut. After knowing what sort of anguish he had gone through because of the curse, the last thing she wanted was for him to be in more pain.

"You okay Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo asked as she walked next to her friend.

"Oh, uh, yeah. I'm just worried about Mister Sombra is all."

"Why are ya worried about him? He's strong enough to beat anypony ain't he?" Applebloom said, jumping into the conversation. "If we meet any dangerous critters he can handle it."

"Yeah I know but-"

"Hurry now girls, we're almost there." Sombra called out, pointing out towards the sunlight breaking from the trees meters in front of them. Filled with a fit of giggles, the three fillies ran out ahead of the stallion and zebra, quickly getting an annoyed sighed from Sombra.

"You're a good stallion, that much I see." Zecora said with a soft smile. "Take good care of them, it's my only plea." She finished before turning around and beginning to make her way back into the forest.

"Not going to say good bye to the girls?" Sombra asked as he glanced backward. 

"I shall see you all around, my good byes would only slow you down."

"Slow me...what?" He asked himself as he stood still a moment. What she meant to say eluded him, but he wasn't too keen on spending much more time on the subject. He had spent enough time within the forest as it was. 

Making his way out of the dark forest, he found the fillies sitting in a circle. By the sound of it, talking about their little misadventure. It almost made him crack a smile to see them talk so happily amongst themselves like so. He sighed again, though this time, it was a much softer one, a sigh that alleviated some tension from within him.

"Sweetie Belle, you were so cool when you were fighting that cragadile. I mean, I know you were in Mister Sombra's body and all, but you fought so awesomely!" Scootaloo shouted as Sombra finally reached them. 

"She hesitated in several instances, took too long to focus on her tactics, and failed to execute the quickest way to win." Sombra said quickly as he passed them, getting Sweetie Belle to fold her ears against her head when he heard all his criticisms. "But for a first combat experience, it was a good battle and I applauded you for what were able to accomplish." 

Sweetie Belle looked up at Sombra and a large grin spread across her face. Never before had he thought it possible for somepony to smile from ear to ear, but now he had seen it all. 

"W-What?" Sombra asked rather hesitantly.

"You complimented me!"

"Would you rather I not?..."

"No no no, it's just, well, it's the first time you've said something nice to me like that." She said, her smile lingering past the moment and making him rather uncomfortable. 

"Is that right?" He said, not really looking for a reply but rather just trying to fill a strange silence around him and the fillies. Not that it was needed as soon a loud ringing of the a bell from Ponyville began to echo towards them. 

"Must be one o'clock." Applebloom said as she leaned to the side to look at the town. 

"Hmm, so it is." Sombra said as he too turned to look at the town. They sat in silence for another few seconds before the thought finally sunk in for him. "Wait, IT'S ONE IN THE AFTERNOON!"

"Yeah, we got that already." Scootaloo said as she shielded her ears from his shout. 

Using his magic to place the girls on his back, Sombra quickly began to make his way across town in his usual manner. Sweetie Belle, already accustomed to the ride, had little trouble holding on to him, though less could be said of her friends. 

"W-What's the rush for?!" Scootaloo asked out in a shout.

"It's been more than an hour!" Sombra shouted back, no longer trying to stay out of pony's sight and instead simply running down the streets as quickly as he could.

"Since what!?"

"Since you three were released for your break. You're late. Sweetie Belle is late!"

"Ah really don't think it means ya have to run across town in a frenzy, aren't ya suppose to stay a secret?!" Applebloom asked as she held on to Sombra's coat. She finally understood what he mean by 'hooves weren't made for grasping'.

"Just be quiet and hold on tight!" Sombra growled in frustration. "That's what you meant by 'slow me down.' Why do you have to be so cryptic?" He mumbled to himself as he recalled Zecora's last statement. An image of her giggling popped into his head, only making him more angry.

Getting back to the gazebo was no challenge. Sombra already knew the way and having his body back made maneuvering much easier. The problem, however, lied in the fact there were no buildings around the school meeting. He had little choice but to make a sort of grand entrance, not that he was opposed to it, but it would bring trouble later on with the Twilight. 

In a powerful pounce out of the busy streets of the town, Sombra landed on the soft grass road that led to their destination and continued to gallop. Cherilee, who was busy teaching her class, soon heard the yelps and giggles of the girls upon Sombra's back and paused her lecture to peek her head to the side only to see a stallion sliding on the ground trying to come to a stop and three fillies she recognized all too well. With a sigh and a frown, she began to make her to the group that had overshot her.

"Whoo!" Sweetie Belle shouted. "Let's do that again!"

"Let's not..." Her friends said in unison, their eyes turning in circles from how dizzy they were from all the sudden movements. 

"So that's where you three are!" Cherilee shouted out as she made her way to them. Sombra was currently facing away from her, so she had yet to see his face. 

"Oh no...we are so in trouble..." Sweetie Belle said as she looked back at her angry teacher. Using his telekinesis to place the trio down, Sombra petted her on the head before talking.

"Do not worry, I'll handle this."

"What? How?"

"I've been through many close calls, I know how to deal with this situation." He said with a devilish smile before standing up straight and preparing himself.

"Wait, Mister Sombra, you can't just att-" She began but was cut away by Cherilee.

"What is the meaning of this? Do you have any idea how worried I was about you all? Why I almost went to your parents to...to..."

Finally turning to address the mare, Sombra shifted his expression to happy, gentle one. He held a soft smile and with the turn of his head, his mane flowed to the side ever so gracefully, gently landing on his shoulders. Cherilee felt her heart be pierced by an arrow sent by Cadence herself and hear the chimes of bells as she laid her eyes on him.

"Do excuse them, I am afraid it is my fault that they've arrived late." He said with a dramatized expression of sadness, pulling at Cherilee's heart strings.

"Y-Your fault?" She finally said through a thick blush.

"Yes. You see, I recently arrived to Ponyville for something important. While out and about, these three offered to help me find what I was looking for. I'm sorry to say that the trip across town took longer than expected." Sombra began to explain, moving closer to the flustered mare who could only stand frozen as her heart beat sped up faster and faster.

"These three offered to help you?"

"Why yes, in the most important of tasks too. I deeply thank them for their aid, but I would hate for them to be penalized because of me. Please oh please, would you not consider looking the other way this once?" Sombra finished with pleading eyes, eyes that melted the mare's thoughts into simply nodding in agreement. "De verdad? Muchas gracias señorita Cherilee."

"And you speak Spanish too..." She said in an almost dream-like state.

"Yes, perhaps while I reside at Ponyville, I might teach you the language. It is very beautiful to the ear, is it not?"

"Yes, very..." Cherille said, her eyes locked on Sombra's for a few seconds before he finally spoke to fill the silence.

"But I believe I've held you up long enough." Sombra said as he took a step back, knocking her back to the real world.

"Wha-huh?" She asked, shaking her head in confusion.

"You've a class to teach, do you not?"

"Oh! Right, almost forgot, silly me." She said with a nervous laugh. "Hurry along girls, we still have a lot to cover today. Umm, have a good day Mister uh..."

"Sombra. My name is Sombra." He said with another soft smile as he waved his hoof at her and two of the fillies following her. Finally he turned back around and with a sigh, reverted his expression to one of grimace with the only pony to see it being Sweetie Belle. "That was dreadful..."

"What was that?!" She asked playfully.

"Acting. Sweetie Belle, sometimes, to get what you want you need to use a little...charm."

"Sounds like something Rarity would say." 

"Then she's the right idea. Now get going. Don't make my 'charm' go to waste, I doubt I'll be able to use it twice when the Princess finds out about today." 

"Okay, but you'll have to become my shadow real quick. You know, so you don't feel like dying and all." 

Sombra pondered the thought as he glanced around. There was nowhere nearby he could escape to so he could become the shadow without somepony seeing. He once again let out a deep breath and spoke while nudging Sweetie towards her class.

"No can do. Too many ponies around, it's best if I just go off somewhere on my own."

"But, but-"

"No buts. You needn't worry about me, I spent a thousand years frozen in ice, a little while with 'difficulty breathing' is nothing."

"Mister Sombra..."

"Just go already." He finished with a final push, waving his hoof bye. His reassuring smile the only thing encouraging her to go. 

Sombra remained still for a while longer and got a few waves from the crowd of students after Cherilee pointed him out, forcing him to bring out his bright and happy facade. He then began to walk away from the gazebo and find a secluded place to rest. 

The truth was that he could become a shadow at any moment and probably reach Sweetie Belle with no problem, but he wanted to test something. Up until now, whenever he moved away from the filly he would reach a point of exhaustion where sleep took over. And each time this happened, he would get a strange dream.

"I never thought much of them, but with all of this going on..." Sombra said to himself as he found a quiet spot under the shade of a tree. "Perhaps those dreams are memories. The ones I can't recall."

Laying down on his stomach and crossing his fore hooves, Sombra slowly closed his eyes as the vision in front of him began to blur. The sap of his energy was well underway. He could feel himself growing weak, but instead of thinking about that, he instead forced his mind to think of the memories of his past.


<=•=>


Sombra saw strange waves of light. A dream was beginning to form, but being that he was forcing it into creation, it was unstable compared to the others he's had. Slowly things began to take shape. First the room, a small cabin of sorts. Then the furniture, a table, some chairs, vases, and other decorations. Finally a pony. 

"Daddy daddy!" She shouted as she ran to him.

"Hola Mija, how are you today?"

"Better now that you're here!" She shouted in excited as Sombra carried her with his magic, causing her to giggle.

"Oh? And why is that?"

"Because you said that when you came back you would teach me about magic!"

"Did I really say that?"

"Yes you did!"

"I don't think so."

"Uh huh!"

"No no, I think you're mistaken."

"Daddyyyyyyyyy" The filly whined, pulling at Sombra's short mane and spiral horn in frustration. 

"Amethyst, don't do that to your father, you wouldn't like it if he pulled your mane back would you?" A voice called out from around the corner. The fillies immediately jumped off of Sombra and began to make her way to her mother.

"Daddy wouldn't do that to me, he said he'd never let anything hurt me."

"He did, and you father doesn't lie does he?"

"Nope. Never."

Sombra chuckled as he heard his family talk, it was almost as he wasn't there at all to them. Making his way towards the other room to continue his conversation, he looked around the room to see some strange changes. Claw markings and broken vases laid on the ground, quickly making him speed up his pace.

"Amethyst? Rosa?" He called out as he jumped around the corner. He was met with a growl from large red eyed beast. 

Terror began to take hold of him as he saw the sharp fangs drool with blood, a fright that soon left him when he caught glimpse of a limp body behind the animal, quickly fueling him with rage.

"What have you done!?" He asked with a growl of his own. Unknown to him, his mane was long once more and his horn a red spike. "I'll kill you for that!"

In a quick pounce, the beast began his attack, but before Sombra could react, he felt something tug at him. A voice.

"...ter...ombra...."

"Huh?"


<=•=>


"Mister Sombra?"

Quickly jumping back to the land of the living, Sombra jolted his head up in surprise. He looked around quickly before finally focusing on the fillies in front of him. 

"Oh, hello Sweetie Belle." Sombra said through short breaths and an elevated heart beat.

"A-Are you okay?" Sweetie asked, concerned by Sombra's strange actions and the tears that were still staining the fur on his face.

"Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

"You're crying."

Taking a moment to wipe his eyes, Sombra was shocked to find tears. He rushed to groom himself to be more presentable before speaking again, something  Sweetie Belle patiently waited for.

"I do not know why I shed these tears, but do not worry. I am indeed alright." Sombra said, trying to reassure the filly, only it wasn't working. Sweetie Belle frowned and looked at him once more.

"Did you have a bad dream?"

"You could call it that."

"Wanna talk about it? Rarity says it's good to talk about bad dreams. She says it helps you get over them."

"I'd rather not, it isn't something to talk about with a filly." He said while looking away, unwilling to make eye contact with her now that he saw such a strange resemblance between her and the filly he saw just moments prior.

"Then you should talk to Rarity or Twilight about it."

"I doubt they'd listen."

"I'll make them!" She shouted, determined to get her point across. Sombra couldn't help but chuckle at her words, easing the awkward situation from before. Now he had the time to notice the rather large saddle of books she had on her back. Laying back down, he gestured to them as he spoke.

"What are those for?"

"Oh, Miss Cherilee wants us to do some homework. All of today's work...and all of the work from the days we missed..." Sweetie Belle finished in a depressed tone. 

"That's a lot of work."

"Yeah...It'll take me all night to finish! You don't think you could charm Miss Cherilee again into extending the deadline...could you?"

"Then you'd have tomorrow's work to do as well." Sombra said with a smirk. "Besides, after what happened today, I think the Princess will have my head."

"You mean the running through town? Don't worry, something weird is always happening in Ponyville, no pony will have given you a second thought!" 

"Not sure if I should be happy or concerned..." Sombra said with a stoic expression. "Anyway, get on my back." 

"Huh? Why?" Sweetie Belle asked as she did as she was told. 

"What do you mean 'why'? So we can go home and you can do your work." Sombra said as he stood up and began to walk down the road to Rarity's Boutique. Though the giggle he got in response wasn't something he was expecting. "What?"

"You sound like if you finally feel like the Boutique is your home."

"Well, I suppose it is since that's where I live at the moment." He answered in a hesitant voice, not sure where she was going with this.

"So we're family now!"

Rolling his eyes, Sombra ignored her remark and continued to walk down the road. Somehow, it seems that the filly has became that much more 'sufferable'.
> 17. Conflicted
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Alright, time to get off." Sombra said as he closed the door behind him. Sweetie Belle immediately jumped off his back and landed beside him, though quickly lost her balance due to the extra weight of the books. 

"Oomph, these things are heavy." She whined as she threw off her saddle bag. 

"You've no right to complain Sweetie Belle." Sombra said as he stretched out on his legs to pop his back. "I had to carry them and you."

"But you're big. You can handle it!" 

"Sweetie Belle?" A voice called out before Sombra had a chance to retort. "Is that you?"

"Yeah!" She replied as she placed a hoof to the side of her mouth to project her voice. 

As if that was the magic word that unleashed a demon, thundering hooves were heard as Rarity made her way downstairs as quickly as she could. Upon reaching the final step, she frantically looked around the living room for her sister. Catching sight of her and her dark guardian, she rushed over to embrace her.

"Oh Sweetie Belle!" Rarity shouted as she wrapped her hooves around Sombra. "I was so worried Sombra would try to pull something today!"

Sombra didn't move. He was too surprised to react properly. Only now that he could smell the perfume on the mare currently hugging him did he truly understand what was going on, yet he was at a loss for words, his only response being a light blush on his cheeks. 

"Is something wrong?" Rarity asked as she pulled  away from him, though her attention was quickly drawn to the snickering next to her.

"Heheh." Sweetie Belle let out as she tried to hold back her giggle with her hooves.

"And what are you laughing about Sombra?" Rarity asked out as she narrowed her eyes at her.

"I'm not Sombra." She answered back, her laugh only getting louder. 

"What?"

"Mister Sombra helped us switch back already." Sweetie finished before finally falling over in an all out laugh. 

Slowly, Rarity returned her gaze at Sombra whom she was still holding on to. He had time to regain his composure and now stared back with a smirk on his face, his blush gone. A very loud shriek soon followed as Rarity pulled back her hoof and tried to swing at Sombra. 

Seconds before she was about to make contact with his face, Sombra's body turned black and melted into the ground, becoming a shadow that moved underneath Rarity before materializing again behind her, an even larger smirk proud on his face.

"Is hitting something the first thing you do every time you're flustered?"  Sombra said as he watched the mare look frantically back and forth between him and the place he was just moments prior. 

"What- How- That's not-"

"Sweetie Belle's shadow, remember?" He said before turning around and walking away with a laugh. "Don't tell me you've already forgotten."

"A-And where do you think you're going?!" Rarity shouted out, though mostly to buy time for her to find a proper reaction to the ordeal. 

"To my room. I'm tired and want to sleep." He said as he came to the stair case. Taking a moment to look back at Rarity. "Am I not allowed to? Who's the Tyrant now?" He asked sarcastically before walking up the stairs in another fit of laughter, only making the mare puff up her cheeks in frustration. 

Rarity remained in her angry pose for a little while longer before Sweetie Belle finally spoke and broke her out of her daydream of doing terribly hurtful things to Sombra.

"Hey Rarity?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I have a snack?"

The mare could only sigh and turn her head to the side before nodding, prompting them to walk towards the kitchen. Apart from the Evil Tyrant Overlord living upstairs, things were surprisingly normal in her house hold. If nothing else, Rarity could still hold on to that peaceful thought.


<=•=>


Sombra did as he had said. He quickly made it to his small room and threw himself on his bed. Taking a deep breath and turning to face the ceiling, he placed one hoof on his forehead as he recalled the dream from earlier. His mind raced as he tried to make sense of it, to see whether or not it could actually be a memory of just a dream.

"It wasn't anything like the ones I had before." He said to himself softly. "It was more...vivid."

He closed his eyes and allowed his hoof to slide down to his muzzle as he recalled each moment of the dream. The happiness he felt when he saw the filly...and the despair he went through when he saw the beast and limp body.

"What did I call them? Amethyst and Rosa?" He asked himself, finally sitting up and opening his eyes. "Were they my family? Were they killed?" He said as he stared down at his hooves. "Why wasn't I there to help? How did I allow such a creature to bring harm to them?...Why am I crying again?"

Once more he saw tears as they fell from his face and onto his hooves. Gritting his teeth in frustration with himself, Sombra furiously wiped away the water on his face. He let out one last sigh of frustration before falling back down on his back to stare back at the ceiling.

"Best I just leave things as they are for now. I'll just end up giving myself a headache again." 

Sombra remained silent. His mind was unresting on the subject as, despite his best efforts, it continued to dwell on his dream. Finally, it found one detail to latch on to and inspect: Amethyst. That filly had a very strong resemblance to Sweetie Belle. From her naive and innocent personality, to her soft eyes and curly mane. The colors were off, but other than that, they were almost identical. 

"Did my mind give Amethyst Sweetie Belle's appearance to have some familiarity with what I was dealing with? Or was that how she really looked?" He asked himself as he turned on his side. "It would make sense that since I cannot recall my own memories that my head would fill in the blanks with other things, but if the possibility exists that they indeed look the same...Then maybe it wasn't a complete accident that I'm now bound to Sweetie Belle."

Again he tossed himself on his bed, turning on his other side before continuing his thoughts.

"That filly..." He began. "I thought she was an idiot at first, but she is far from it. She learns quickly and can analyze everything just as fast. Perhaps it's just my teachings, perhaps not. Either way she is some sort of anomaly."

Sombra began to think about all of the time he had spent with Sweetie Belle. Everything they've been through. He smiled softly and sat up as he thought about just how ridiculous everything seemed.

"One...two... three...four." He counted out loud as he passed the time in his head. " Four days is how long I've known Sweetie Belle, and in those four days I can whole heartedly say she has surprised me time and time again."

As his thoughts revisited all of the recent events, Sombra remembered those random moments of depression Sweetie Belle experienced around him. How quickly she would go from having fun and being cheery, to crying and feeling guilty for anything wrong she might have done. It was certainly strange, but more so worrisome. 

Sombra didn't know why he was doing this. He didn't even think about it. He stood up and began to make his way out of his room and towards the staircase. He stopped for a second and listened carefully to what was going on down stairs.

The soft sound of a pin scribbling on paper echoed back at him along with the occasional crunch of food. Sombra put together that Sweetie Belle was downstairs busy doing her homework while eating something. What he also heard was the familiar sound of scissors cutting fabric coming from down the hall. 

Making his way to Rarity's room, he soon found himself wondering what it was he was doing while knocking on her door. 

"I've gone mad." He said to himself before waiting patiently for a reply.

"Come in!" Rarity answered from inside, signaling for him to open the door. He pushed it open and remained at the door frame while looking for the mare. "Oh, it's you." She said from her seat. 

"R-Rarity, was it?" He asked, a little awkward about how to speak to her. "Could I ask you a question?"

"And if I said 'no'?" She said, turning back to her work and ignoring him from the door.

"Then I'd return to my chambers and leave you be." Sombra replied without hesitation, though still waiting for a response to his initial question. Though what he said surprised Rarity.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. Whatever you might think of me, I would not harass a mare for something, especially not in her home." He finished and was about to turn his back to leave.

"Wait!" Rarity called back, making him stop in place. "I might have some time for a break from my work. What is it you wanted to ask?" She said, almost embarrassed about the ordeal as much as he was. It was certainly strange for both parties to treat each other so...pleasantly.

Turning back around and walking in as Rarity gestured to do so, he made his way to her and began to talk.

"It's about your sister. I've noticed that sometimes she gets...depressed. I mean, she goes from one extreme of happiness to the other in the stomp of a hoof. Why is that?"

"Oh...that." Rarity said with a sad tone. "My sister has a habit of jumping to the worst conclusions, mostly, though experience."

"Perdon?" Sombra asked, confused by what she meant.

"Well, our parents. They travel a lot. They're sales ponies and they travel all over the world to sell their craft. I was set on becoming a designer since I was small, so they bought this place for me and sent me money to make sure I had everything I needed to accomplish my dream." Rarity said as she looked around her room. "When I got my cutiemark, I also made my home my business and have continued to work from here since."

"Okay, but what does this have to do with Sweetie Belle?"

"Sweetie Belle didn't have this."

"Money?"

"Stability, darling. She spent most of her life traveling with my parents. She was always switching schools and having to make new friends only to switch schools again. Often times, Sweetie Belle would go out of her way to stay in her classmate's good graces as to not lose them before she had to leave again. She blamed herself if they ever got mad at her, fearing they would leave her."

"I see..." Sombra said as he placed a hoof to his chin, thinking about all the times she had seen her cry.

"When our parents were in town for the Summer Sun Celebration, she met Applebloom and Scootaloo. A few days later they were all invited to Diamond Tiara's cute-ceañera and they became friends when they made their little Crusader Group. Then my parents asked if I could look after Sweetie Belle for a week. That week turned into a month, and that month now into a school year."

"So Sweetie Belle didn't wish to leave?"

"No, she finally found friends that she truly valued and Cherilee was kind enough to allow her to register late. It was the stability she had wanted for so long, who was I to tell her she couldn't stay?"

"I see. So what she sought after was stability, a place to call home?"

"Yes." Rarity said as she finally stood up and looked Sombra straight in his eyes. "Her life revolves having a constant. And it seems now, you are part of that constant."

"Me?"

"Why yes. Sweetie Belle would not shut up that first day about how you saved her from the falling debris of the school. And you've continued to save her ever since. I don't know if you're forced to do it by the curse or whatever, but she trusts you. She believes in you. I pray you don't betray that trust."

Sombra stood silent for a moment. He stared back into Rarity's pleading eyes. He could feel her sincere worry over the matter, over him. Sighing and closing his eyes, Sombra finally broke the silence and replied.

"You've nothing to worry about." He said as he began to make his way out of the room. "I would never hurt Sweetie Belle. If she ever needs me, I'll be there." Sombra finished as he reached the door. Using his magic, he slowly closed it behind him.

"I misjudged you." Rarity said with a smile, prompting Sombra to stop and leave the door half open. "You're a kind stallion."

"No, you judged me right. I am evil. I am every definition of the word."

"Yet you still possess good morals as to not lie and would protect a filly from danger, so perhaps not every definition."

"I'm evil, not amoral." Sombra said before finally shutting the door behind him, leaving Rarity with a smile on her face. 

"Have a good night Sombra." She said softly before returning to her work. "You've earned my trust as well."


<=•=>


The trip back to his room was filled with jumbled thoughts being thrown back and forth in his head. Sombra didn't know why he did what he did. He truly didn't need to know Sweetie Belle's past. He didn't need to know why she would act so depressed. He didn't need to know that he was a pillar holding her up. He didn't need to know he cared...

As luck would have it, as soon as he opened his door, he saw Sweetie Belle waiting for him inside. With a smile on her face, he couldn't help but keep himself stoic as he began the stream line of questions.

"What are you doing in my room?"

"Waiting for you!"

"Okay...Why?"

"So we can make a plan."

"A plan for?"

"A plan to find...whatever it is you're looking for!" Sweetie Belle finished with a grin. "You know, that thing you came back to life to find."

"Oh....that. I forgot you agreed on helping." Sombra said as he walked in and towards the filly. Standing only inches away, he dropped down and laid on his stomach in his usual manner, front hooves crossed. "I'm still not sure it's a good idea for you to help me."

"Why not?"

"Cause it would bring you trouble no doubt."

"Have you seen me and my friends?" Sweetie Belle asked as she dropped down and mimicked Sombra's posture. "We get in trouble all the time!"

"You're not taking a 'no' as an answer are you?" Sombra asked with a slight chuckle.

"Nope." She said before smiling again.

"Well alright then, I'll brief you."

"Yay!" Sweetie shouted before creeping closer towards Sombra.

"While I was King at the Crystal Empire, I had sent out scouts in search for the power of chaos. For years they would return with no news, but one especially harsh winter, they returned with a rumor that there was a stone within Canterlot with such power. I of course sent the rulers of the city a letter asking for it, and the next day I was met with an army at my door step." 

"Just like that? They didn't even send a reply!?"

"Since my own army was currently helping mine the precious crystals we needed to survive, I fought the Royal Sisters and their army on my own. I was ultimately defeated of course, but the mere fact that they arrived so quickly proves they wield that item of power. That stone of chaos."

"So how should we get it?"

"No idea yet. We could sneak in, but I've no information on the Castle's layout. Or perhaps we could burst in and take it by force. Either way it would take both time and resources before we are able to make a move."

"How about we go and ask for it?" Sweetie Belle asked, interrupting Sombra' train of thought. 

"You mean, just appear at Celestia's door step, request for an audience, and ask for the stone?"

"Yeah!"

"That seems like a bad idea...A very bad idea."

"Why? What's the worst that could happen?"

"Well they would certainly deny us the stone and would grow aware of my presence and desire for it."

"But they already know that you want it since they attacked you once a thousand years ago. Not to mention that Princess Celestia already knows you might try to get it again, wouldn't she? You really wouldn't have anything to lose, besides, if we go, we could at least get the feel for the castle while we're visiting if we plan on stealing it."

"Huh..." Sombra hummed to himself as he thought. The filly certainly had a point. There was no element of surprise anymore. The sisters already knew of his return. They know what he wants, and have shown their disinterest in helping him get it. Besides, if he were to approach them in a civil matter and they were the ones to attack, it would technically be them at fault. 

"So what do you say? Should we give it a shot?"

He let out a breath before finally speaking. "Alright Sweetie Belle, let's go to Canterlot Castle and ask for an audience." Sombra said as he stood up, making Sweetie Belle jump to her hooves and run towards him to climb onto his back. 

"Woohoo! Let's go!"

Sombra couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm. It was refreshing to be able to simply allow the flow of things to take him without worry of other matters. Walking over to the window, Sombra opened it and paused for a second.

"Something wrong?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Did you finish your homework?"

"Uh...most of it?"

"You're going to finish it when we return." He said before jumping out, only getting a groan from Sweetie Belle in response. 
> 18. Nightly Stroll
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ground beneath them grew closer as Sombra slowly began to descend back down. He and Sweetie Belle had taken the fastest route to Canterlot from Ponyville: climbing straight up the mountain side. It certainly was no hard task for Sombra. Even if the slope of the mountain was vertical most of the time, he could create a crystal platform to continue his climb. With nothing but powerful jumps did he scale the mountain, jumps that only added to the filly's enjoyment. 

"Woohoo!" Sweetie Belle shouted out in a happy squee. Sombra did his best to ignore the screaming at his ears as he braced for the hard impact below and enveloped his hooves in black crystal.

His landing was not a subtle one. The stone sidewalk underneath him broke just as the crystal casing on his limbs. Many ponies turned to look at him, some even held a face of fright as they looked over his dark presence. 

"Doesn't that hurt?" Sweetie Belle asked as she poked her head to the side to look at him. This drew attention to her instead and upon seeing the child on his back, calmed down and returned to their business.

"That's why I cover my hooves in crystal before landing." He responded as he began to walk, looking around at all the ponies who brushed off his presence now.

"Yeah, I've seen you do that a couple of times but I would have guessed it doesn't get rid of all of the impact."

"Smart girl." Sombra said with a soft chuckle. "No, I still feel a little pain, but I've grown used to it."

"So you do that a lot?"

"I do it enough." 

Sombra lifted his gaze to the castle in the distance, their destination. It was a short sprint from where they were, but he would rather not draw any more attention to himself. Besides, Canterlot was quite the sight to behold. Each street was decorated with strange shops and even stranger ponies. Certainly a place of great commerce.

Both he and Sweetie Belle would look around at the yellow shine of the buildings as the sunset illuminated them in a soft glow. Often she would point at something and both of them would look over and talk. It was nothing of great importance. Sometimes she would ask something like why certain ponies kept their noses up as they walked to which Sombra would answer her without hesitation. Other times it would be Sombra who asked about some new form of technology or a modern item which Sweetie Belle would happily answer.

Though uneventful, the walk was nice and calm. A grand change of pace compared to every other time they had left the Boutique on their own. 

"Oye." Sombra began as he continued to walk to the castle. "Why are you still on my back?"

"Am I heavy?" She asked as she poked her head out again.

"No, just curious. The reason you've climbed onto my back before was because it was faster for me to carry you when we went from point A to point B or because it would be dangerous for you to be on your own in combat."

"Well, you said that you feel drained when I'm away right?"

"Yes?"

"So if I'm close to you, you feel strong. When I'm riding on your back I'm as close as possible to you, so you feel the strongest."

"I suppose that's one way of looking at it." Sombra said with a soft smile. Sweetie Belle responded in kind and went back to facing forward as the sound of his hooves hitting the ground was all that remained to be heard. 

"It's getting dark." Sweetie Belle said after a few moments. 

"Yes, I hope it isn't too late to ask for an audience." He said as he looked up. The Castle was now only a few meters away. The grandiose building was no less awe inspiring up close than far away. 

They soon came to a large gate that had two guards on duty. Both of them were pegasi with spears at their wings which they were taught to use as more flexible limbs as to compete with unicorn guards. They each gripped their weapons as they saw Sombra grow closer only to stop as he reached them.

"Hello, my name is Sombra." He began with a small nod in respect of their authority. "I was wondering if perhaps I could get an audience with Princess Celestia. I have a lot to discuss with her."

"S-Sombra?" One guard asked as he began to sweat nervously.

"Yup, the one and only!" Sweetie Belle shouted out as she pulled her head to the side and came into view of the guards.

Both of them blinked several times as they tried to see if perhaps they were hallucinating. They quickly turned to one another before looking back at the duo who seemed unfazed by the display they were showing. 

"Excuse us for just a moment." One of them said as he grabbed a hold of his friend and dragged him to the side.

"He said his name was Sombra!" One of them said in a whispered shout. 

"I know! He also looks exactly as Captain Shining Armor had described the Tyrant King Sombra from a few months back."

"Think it's the same guy?" 

They each looked back to peek at their waiting guests. Seeing them look their way, Sweetie Belle waved at them with a large smile.

"The Tyrant King with a filly on his back? I don't think so." One of them said as they slowly waved back at her.

"You're right. Even if it was the same guy, he wouldn't be stupid enough to came by the front gates to declare war...or whatever."

Nodding at one another, they stood up straight and cleared their throats before returning to their guests. 

"We're sorry, but if you wish to speak to the Princess you'll have to make an appointment. You can do so at one of our many Request Offices in Canterlot. They are open Monday through Friday, nine to six." One of the guards said as he always did when somepony came looking for the Princess.

"We gotta make an appointment?" Sweetie Belle asked as her ears flopped against her head. 

"Now now." Sombra spoke with a smile. "We mustn't go against the law here. We'll make an appointment when we want to talk to the princess. For now, let's just leave these guards to their duties, no?" 

"Aww, okay." 

With another nod to the guards, Sombra turned around and began to make his way back into town. The two pegasi couldn't help but smile as they saw them walk away. 

"See? That couldn't be the Tyrant King. That's just a caring father trying to have his daughter meet the princess. A good law abiding stallion."

"You're right." They said as the waved good bye at the filly as Sombra turned the corner. Finally out of sight, Sweetie Belle turned to him in a confused look.

"This isn't the way back home."

"No, it isn't."

"Where are we going?" She asked, to which Sombra turned around and smiled a devilish grin.

"We're going to break the law over here." Sombra said, making Sweetie Belle smile at his specifically placed words.

"What happened to making an appointment to meet the princess?"

"I said we'd make one if we want to meet the Princess, I never said we'd wait to make an appointment if we wanted to just have a look around."

"Oooh, sneaky sneaky." Sweetie Belle said as she braced herself for the jump Sombra was about to take. In a matter of seconds they scaled up a nearby building. Well, as nearby as possible. Canterlot Castle was placed further away from the city for obvious reasons. If a tall building was next to the Castle wall, one could easily use it to climb over. It wasn't that Sombra could not make the jump, but rather to have a better view of what he faced.

"Those will be tricky." Sweetie Belle said as she point up at the pegasi flying around the castle. 

"They patrol to make sure no random pegasus gets too big for their wings." Sombra responded as he turned his gaze to the watchtowers were more ponies continued their vigilance. "They certainly aren't low on pony power."

"How can we get in?"

"If it was up to me, I would wait for a patrol to pass, climb up the wall, and turn into a shadow to remain undetected while inside."

"What about me? I can't turn into a shadow!"

"That's true. I suppose we could use the new benefit of our bond." Sombra said as he began to make his way back to the wall. 

"And what's that?"

"That I'm your shadow."


<=•=>


With a powerful toss of his crystal, Sweetie Belle was propelled into the air in a fit of giggles. She made it well over the wall and many of the patrols took quick notice of her. 

"Become my shadow!" She shouted out as she grew closer to the ground. Sombra's shadow form quickly scaled the wall and slid towards the falling filly. He materialized himself just in time to have her land on his back and begin to run at full speed. 

The guards flew after him. Though his hooves were fast, their wings were faster. It took almost no time for them to catch up to them. Taking a sharp turn, Sombra jumped into a bush before leaping back out and continuing his gallop across the courtyard, a scene almost all of the guards were made aware off. With almost the entirety of the guards on duty on him, Sombra found himself cornered at a the outer wall. 

"Stop right there!" They shouted out. Sombra slowly turned around and placed his hooves up. 

"You're coming with us, you've got a lot of explaining to do!" One of them said as he stepped out of the crowd of guards staring at him. Much larger and built, this one seemed to be the one in charge, his smirk certainly gave it away.

"Sorry." Sombra said nonchalantly. "I was told to return to somepony in thirty seconds. And that time is up." 

Merging into the ground as a shadow, Sombra zipped right under the guards and was out of sight before they could even blink. The once bold stallion to have ordered him to stop now stood in silence at how both confused and humiliated he was to have his prey escape him so easily. Growling slightly at himself, the other guards looked at him nervously as they began to back away from him.

"What are you all waiting for?! Find him!" In a flash all of the guards dispersed to do as he had said.


<=•=>


"Welcome back." Sweetie Belle said as she poked her head out of the bush she had been left in while they were being chased.

"Did I keep you waiting?" Sombra asked as he extended a hoof to her to help her out.

"Only thirty seconds, like I told you to." She said with a grin while reaching out for his hoof. Grabbing onto her, Sombra yanked her out of the bush and onto his back. 

"Let's get moving. That only bought us a few minutes, if that." 

"I remember seeing an open window when we were being chased. Think we could use that?" Sweetie Belle asked as he pointed Sombra in the direction. 

"It will work perfectly." He said as he ran over to the new destination. Once there they looked up at the open window that was several stories high. With a quick glance at one another, Sombra and Sweetie Belle read each other's mind.

She quickly jumped off his back like she had in the past only to land on an emerging crystal pillar. Sombra aimed it right and proceeded to toss her up like he had just a few moments prior.

"Become my shadow!" She shouted with a laugh. In an instant she could once again see her shadow on the side of the building from the now rising moon. Sombra reached out from the wall and grabbed onto Sweetie Before throwing himself into the window with her back on his back. "That never gets old."

Sombra chuckles as he felt Sweetie lean in against the back of his head. Had he had more time to enjoy the moment, he might have complimented her on quick reactions from earlier. She managed to stay level headed and even noticed the open window he failed to see.  Yet the sound of hooves from the outside told him it was time to be on his way. 

Looking around the musty room, Sombra found the door out and immediately walked to it. Using his magic to open it and step out, he paused when he felt something touch his hoof. Glancing down, he saw a muffin come to a stop from its roll. He followed the path it had taken and found a dumbfounded Princess of the Moon looking at him with her mouth wide open.

"Hey there." Sombra said as he waved his hoof before turning around and running away from Luna. She remained in shock for a few seconds before realizing that he was getting away. Shaking her head to break out of the shock, Luna opened her wings and took chase after him. 

"Return here scoundrel!" She shouted at the top of her lungs, the walls shaking as she spoke. 

"Is 'Hey there' the phrase you go to whenever you meet a princess?" Sweetie Belle asked as she looked back at the rage on their pursuit.

"How else should I greet them?" Sombra asked as he jumped over a cart a maid was pushing down an intersecting hall. 

"How about, 'Hello your majesty'?" Sweetie said as she jumped off onto a nearby table, leaving Sombra to run on his own. She stayed there long enough for Luna to fly by and waved at her. The Princess was confused slightly by the filly, but shrugged her off and continued her chase. That is, until she heard those dreadful words. "Become my shadow!"

Luna saw Sombra merge with the ground and skid under her as she was forced to came to a stop to turn around and change direction. What infuriated her more was seeing Sweetie Belle wave at her from Sombra's back with a gleeful smile.

"Not really my thing to be so formal." Sombra said, answering her from before. 

"But aren't you royalty? Isn't that kind of their thing?" Sweetie Belle asked as she gestured him to make a turn. 

"Was. And yes, but I didn't grow up a royal." He said as he glanced back to see an angry mare. He chuckled nervously as he saw her grow closer. Quickly grabbing onto a door frame to come to a stop, Sombra pulled himself back and into the room, making Luna turn back and fail to see the butler carrying a tray of food.  

Hearing the loud crash, Sombra breathed normally as he turned around into the room he had pulled himself in but was met with eyes of astonishment. Princess Celestia was in the middle of drinking some tea when he had bursted in and gently put her cup down as she tried to process what she had just seen. Looking over at Sweetie Belle, Sombra cleared his throat.

"Hello your Majesty." 

"H-Hello Sombra, how are you?"

"A little preoccupied, but I have something to discuss with you. Are you free next Tuesday?"

"Umm..." She began as she looked over to her assistant who shook her head 'no'. Sighing, Celestia looked back at him and spoke. "Not anymore. How about we get together for lunch?"

"Sounds grand. Now if you'll excuse me, your sister wants my head." Sombra said as he walked over to another door, the one he had come in was now blocked by a chocolate covered Princess.

"We shall smite thee for thine insolence!"

"Bye Princess Celestia!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she and Sombra rushed out of the room. Luna quickly followed, leaving behind a trail of cake and icing. 

"B-Bye." Celestia said softly as she waved her hoof, sweating from the scene she had witnessed. The assistant walked closer a she scribbled down Sombra's appointment for next Tuesday and nervously spoke. 

"Should we get somepony?"

"No. I'm sure they'll resolve their problems."

"With the castle still standing I hope."

"Me too..."


<=•=>


Luna's chase had forced Sombra and Sweetie Belle to run almost the entirety of the castle. They had made their way back down to the ground floor, all the while doing their best to evade the lunar wrath they might have accidentally let loose on themselves.

"Over there!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she pointed to yet another random door. Sombra did as he was told and made his way to it, sliding under a table to continue his momentum. Opening it with his magic, he came to a stop when he realized it led further down. "What are you waiting for?"

"This will lead to the basement."

"And?"

"You really want to go down into an old castle's basement with one of their monarchs on our tail? They might have a dungeon or a torture room or a minotaur down there."

"Sombra!"

They heard Luna shout as she entered the room they were in. Sombra and Sweetie glanced at one another and realized they no longer had a choice. Rushing down, Sombra began to feel as though things had suddenly taken a turn for the worst.

He continued down into what seemed like a wine cellar. Much larger than any he had ever seen before, but the thing that ailed him the most was the eerie feeling he had. The sudden grasp at his mane told him Sweetie Belle felt the same. 

Finally they reached a dead end, though it was still quite a ways until they reached the wall, Sombra was more concerned with shifted tiles and crooked torch holders. The strange air current in the room just screamed secret entrance at him. Secret entrance, or trap door. Finally he reached the wall and turned around to face the mare.

"Princess Luna, I know that this little event worsened that already bad thought of me you have, but please, let us talk this out."

"Thou shalt have plenty to speak about when bound in chains." Luna growled at him. 

"Sure. Chains, cells, magical barriers, no me importa . Let us just get out of the basement, alright?"

"Ask and it shall be so." Luna said as she finally let herself fall onto the ground. For once since she had seen Sombra, she would give her wings some rest. But as soon as he had seen that she was landing, Sombra shouted out.

"We have to be careful in case there's a-" 

It was too late. As soon as Luna place her hooves down, she accidentally stepped on a tile that sunk in. The ground beneath them opened up making  them fall in. Sombra reacted as quickly as he could. Spinning to grab onto Sweetie Belle, he wrapped his fore hooves around her as he began to aim himself at the wall. Using his magic to conjure a small spike and hold himself in place, he looked down at the filly on his free hoof. 

"You alright?"

"Mhm." 

"What trickery is this?!" Luna asked as she flew close by.

"No trickery, you activated a trap door. Now let's climb back up before something else-"

Before Sombra could finish his sentence the loud gears turning silenced him. High above them the door that had so graciously let them in close back up, leaving them in darkness. 

"...Happens." Sombra said in an annoyed tone. Igniting his dark magic to spark his eyes in a blaze, he created a light source for them, though Luna wasn't too thrilled about it. She too activated her magic to light her horn and help out though they still could not see the bottom. 

"Think there are spikes down there?" Sombra asked out.

"Highly doubt it." Luna responded. "There is but one way to find out the answer, however." She said as she glared over in Sombra's direction. 

"Me? But you've the wings. You're in less of a bind if there are spikes."

"Thou art but a shadow."

"I can't say that's not true."

"Then make haste, or would thou rather stay in place whilst we await for somepony to venture into the same trap."

Sombra and Luna glared at one another, their eyes locked into unspoken frustrations. Finally after getting a glance at the filly in his care, he sighed. Sombra tossed Sweetie Belle over at the mare who clumsily caught her from the surprised action.

"Take care of her." He said before letting go of the spike. 

Both Sweetie Belle and Luna looked at one another before glancing down at where Sombra had fallen. A long moment of silence continued as they waited for something a sign of some sort that either he was dead or not. It lasted for a good minute before Luna caught sight of the smiling filly and she finally put two and two together.

"Sombra resides in thine mind, correct?"

"Yup." Sweetie said in a muffled laugh. "He said he fell too far down, ended up coming right back up to me."

Letting out a long sigh of irritation as she was forced to fly down herself anyway. It had been true however. She slowly descended for quite a while for she could see the ground, or rather a contraption of sorts that served as the ground. Quickly breaking free of Luna's hooves, Sweetie Belle landed on the large wooden panel.

"Come out!" She shouted, making her shadow move from under her and emerge as Sombra once more. 

"You know, I was going to come back out on my own." Sombra said as he popped his back. "Makes it easier on my bones too."

"Yeah, but I wanna leave this place. You can probably break us out right?"

"Do not speak such things. Sombra shall not use his dark powers in Our presence!"

"Oh come on!" Sweetie shouted back.

"Though I do not agree with her reasoning, I do believe it is best if we keep from breaking things." Sombra said as he stepped between the angry duo. "This place seems to be part of a large machine. Who knows what would happen if we bash the wrong wall."

"Precisely. Thine magic is much too arcane. Its effects could be devastating."

"Arcane?" Sweetie Belle asked as she climbed back onto Sombra. 

"She means mysterious or unknown." Sombra said as he began to walk down the only tunnel available to them. 

"Oh I get it now. Ponies are afraid of what they don't understand, right?"

"Exactly."

"Art thou trying to imply We are afraid of Sombra?" Luna shouted as at the filly, though her rage soon left her when she found herself alone. "W-wait for Us!"

Quickly catching up to Sombra who was still leading with his flames, Sweetie Belle waved once more at Luna who only eyed her suspiciously. 

"Doth thou always wave at ponies?"

"Only when it's for a hello or goodbye."

"Was that a greeting or farewell then?"

"A hello." Sweetie Belle said with her never ending glee. Sombra on the other hoof still held a serious expression as he looked for a way out. Those two simply contradicted each other in every possible way. How was it they could get along so well?

"Say Luna, you know the castle right? You know how to get out?" Sombra asked as he walked.

"No. We have yet to explore the entirety of the castle. We've made excellent progress. However, this underground passage is something We were not aware of."

"You don't know your own castle?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"This isn't Princess Luna's castle." Sombra said softly as he inspected a wall.

"I mean, it wasn't for a while, but now that she's back with Princess Celestia, they share the castle right?"

"The castle isn't Celestia's either."

"Correct. As the Royal Alicorns of Equestria, we had our own castle in the Everfree forest. This one was given to Our sister...after We destroyed ours."

"You mean when you turned into Nightmare Moon right?"

"...Correct." Luna said as she rubbed one of her fore hooves. Ashamed to even admit it, she took a step back and lowered her head. Sombra, getting what he needed from the wall, looked back and found her in a moment of weakness.

"It's hard isn't it?" Sombra asked as he began to walk again. "When ponies have a certain mindset of you because of your actions but they don't even bother to hear your side of the story."

Luna remained silent as she finally realized what it was he was hinting at. Looking up at him, she waited for him to continue whatever he was going to say. She expected him to call her a hypocrite, yet he remained quiet. After a moment, he began to walk down the tunnel again. Hesitantly, Luna followed with a heavy heart.

The quietness around the two was eerie. Neither spoke, just walked side by side. Sweetie shifted her gaze back and forth between the two. Perhaps the one feeling the most of the awkwardness was her. 

"So...umm." Sweetie began.

"Yes?" Both Sombra and Luna answered, though after a brief glance at one another, returned their gaze at the path ahead. 

"You're both royalty right?" Sweetie Belle said as she thought of a random question to keep the silence from returning. "And you're both from a thousand years ago. So why does only Princess Luna talk in that loud self plural voice thingy?"

"I already told you, I wasn't born a royal so I was never taught the Royal We." 

"It was a formal tone of speaking for Us. We spoke in a thundering roar to show our omnipotence and grace. That...might no longer be the case at the present. We- I am still having trouble adjusting, though I am making progress." 

"You might not have noticed, but she only spoke in the Royal We when around me." Sombra said as he came to a fork in the road. "She was simply trying to intimidate me like Royals did back then."

"Thou art- were a villain."

"I never once questioned it Luna. I knew full well what your intentions were." Sombra said as he placed a hoof to his chin. He remained still as he tried to decided which one would be the best route to take. Sweetie Belle pointed to the left tunnel, likely a random pick, but he rolled with it and began to walk towards it. 

"Thou doth not resent Us?" Luna asked, though after a soft glare from Sweetie Belle, rephrased herself. "I mean, you don't blame me?"

"No. I don't blame anypony for what decision they make. Obviously they thought it the best thing to do at the time."

"Mister Sombra is very understanding." Sweetie said as she shifted her position on Sombra's back to face Luna. "I think you might like him if you give him the chance."

"Is that so?" She asked as she looked back at him. She was still having trouble trusting him, but up until now, he had yet to fight back even though many could simply call it self defense.

"But just so you know, if you want to date him, there's a long line." Sweetie Belle said, instantly making Luna blush at the thought.

"What art thou saying?!" She shouted as she looked away. The filly pouted slightly at hearing her use the Royal We again, but calmed down when Sombra turned to talk to her.

"Don't worry, I think it's her way of coping with certain situations."

"Thine implications deserve punishment of the worst kind!" Luna shouted out again making Sweetie Belle giggle.

"She's right you know." Sombra said with a smile. "There are few things worse than being bound to a relationship to her."

"Thou art an insolent fool!" Luna shouted as the feathers in her wings ruffled up. Sweetie Belle couldn't help but laugh. Things suddenly weren't so awkward anymore. For her at least.
> 19. Somber Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Still riding on Sombra's back, Sweetie Belle nudged to the side and looked over at the blaze burning at his eyes that served as their light source. She had seen them dozens of times before, but had never paid much attention to them. The way they flowed out was almost hypnotizing to the already drowsy filly. The fire seemed to burn sideways instead of flowing upward like a normal flame, but it was definitely fire. The edgy flicker of the flame and the warmness it gave off proved it to be so.

"You okay?" Asked Sombra as he turned his head slightly to glance at Sweetie. 

"Huh? Oh, yeah." She replied as she broke out of her trance like state. "Why do you ask?"

"You're not usually this quiet. Just wanted to make sure everything was fine." 

"Don't worry about me, I'm just dandy!" Sweetie Belle said as she kicked a fore hoof up in enthusiasm though a yawn quickly followed making Sombra smile softly. 

"I do believe it's past your bed time."

"I can still stay up a little bit longer!" Sweetie Belle shouted out, but her eyes betrayed her words. She had to fight her eye lids from closing, the warmness of Sombra's flames only made it harder to stay awake.

"Take a quick nap. I'll wake you if something exciting happens." Sombra said as he returned his gaze to the tunnel. 

"Promise?"

"Promise." 

Not waiting for another response, Sombra began cast out a veil of darkness over her to soothe her slumber. This created a visible discomfort to Luna who stared intently at the duo. She opened her mouth to speak, but decided against it, and instead she waited them finished since the filly didn't seem to mind his actions.

"Goodnight Mister Sombra..." Sweetie Belle said softly as she slumped down onto his soft mane before she was consumed into the dark.

"Is that safe?" Luna asked as she stepped closed to inspect the mass of black on his back. 

"Yes. The only thing I really did was block out the light and sound around her. She's fine, just sleeping away now."

"I...see..." Luna said softly before hesitantly turning her eyes back at the path. "How did you learn dark magic?"

Sombra took a moment to think. The moment he realized the answer didn't come to him right away he knew it was a sealed memory just like all the others. Deciding against going through another pain session, her simply answered in honesty.

"Can't remember."

"You cannot recall? Truthfully?"

"Yes. My memories are...foggy, to say the least."

"And to say the most?" Luna asked, still curious as to his origins. Sombra looked over at her, his eyes were dull, almost lifeless in nature. The moment they locked eyes she turned away from pure discomfort of looking his way. "Forgive me. I shouldn't have pried."

Sombra took a moment to think through what he wanted to say as he looked ahead. He felt a mix of emotions surge through his body, but the one that stood out the most was irritation. Having his own mind keep secrets from him was incredibly frustrating. What made it worse is that his only method of finding his answers were through vague, disorienting dreams. 

Sombra's eyes widened as he realized something. He turned to the Princess and looked her over. She was the Goddess of the Night. She had been known to venture into a pony's dream to help them through a problem. She could very well be the his answer to the strange amnesia...but did he really want to expose whatever was locked away to her? What sort of secrets could he hold in his head to need them banished like so? 

"I-Is there something wrong with my appearance?" Luna asked as she turned to look at him with a slight blush. He had unintentionally been staring at her with what one would say was a fierce expression. 

"I was just thinking."

"Of what? If I may so inquire."

"Of how far your powers can-" 

Sombra stopped his sentence midway as he felt one of his hooves sink into the ground. He jumped back as quickly as he could and sure enough, he managed to avoid another trap. This time, it had been a falling stone from above him. 

"What happened?" Luna asked as she flapped her wings to take flight and make her way to Sombra without accidentally setting off anymore tiles.

"Looks like it was another of those clever traps from before." Sombra said, already annoyed by the surprises the tunnel had for them. "Sorry, did I wake you?" He said as he felt a sudden movement at his back. 

Sweetie Belle emerged from the darkness with spinning eyes. Sombra's sudden jump back had sent her into a dizzy spell and was still recovering. 

"Uhhhh..." Sweetie Belle groaned softly. "What happened?"

"The castle happened. More traps it seems." Sombra said as he nuzzled her to try to help her recover. 

"How did you manage to react so quickly?" Luna asked as she gently let herself down. 

"I felt the tile sink beneath me. I knew something was about to happen."

"Yes, but such reflexes are unheard of. You are truly gifted with swiftness."

Sombra smiled softly at her compliment yet deep down, he didn't think it was a gift so much as muscle memory. But that only begged the question: Why had he had so much experience with traps? Just like he had so much experience with infiltration. Still, this was no time to ponder.

"Here." Sombra said as he gently lifted Sweetie Belle off his back and onto Luna's before walking forward. "Hold her for a moment."

"Where are you going?" Luna asked as she struggled to keep the half asleep filly balanced on her back.

"You were the one that said so. I'm but a shadow. I'll take point and watch for traps." Sombra said with a smirk before turning back around and walking ahead of them. 

Luna and Sweetie Belle exchanged glances before continuing on behind him. They remained in silence for a while longer with Sombra a few meters ahead the entire time. There really wasn't much for conversation when they couldn't see one another. Though that didn't stop Sweetie Belle from trying now that she had her power nap.

"So how come you didn't see the trap?" She asked the alicorn she was riding on.

"The traps here are well camouflaged. The naked eye alone could not decipher a normal tile from a trap tile." 

"Don't step over there." Sombra interrupted their talk. "That one is a trap." 

Luna furrowed her brows in annoyance from being proven wrong. The giggling on her back did nothing to soothe her anger. 

Sombra on the other hoof had little time to think of what was going on behind him. He only continued to glide his eyes across every inch of the tunnel they were in. Every cobweb, every scratch, every small detail told him a story. The faint hoof tracks scraped on the ground told him which path was safe. And when those tracks came to an end, it meant who ever had walked there had their travel come to an abrupt end early due to a trap. 

The tunnel would twist and turn, making it difficult if they were making any progress in escaping at all. Soon, Sombra no longer knew which way was north or south. Just what was the purpose of this tunnel. Could something be hidden here? Could it be the stone he was looking for?

"Mister Sombra?" Sweetie Belle asked, finally getting tired of the silence again. 

"Hmm?" He responded without turning to face her. 

"How much farther?"

"I cannot say with certainty."

"Does that mean 'soon'?" Sweetie said with a yawn.

"I'm afraid not. It might appear as though we still have a long way to go." Luna said as she turned to look at the yawning filly. She lifted her wings up to make a soft spot for Sweetie Belle to lay her head and fall back asleep while they continued on their journey. One that seemed to have come to an end. A dead end.

"Hijo de la-" Sombra began to say out loud as he saw the wall straight ahead of him. He had, for a moment, forgotten to look for traps. Luckily for him, the sinkable tile at his hooves was barely avoided in his walk to the wall. 

"Sombra, watch your tongue." Luna interrupted as she followed him. She too managed to miss the tile.

"What? She's asleep." He said as he walked over to the wall to inspect it. 

"That does not give you permission to speak in such a manner. Especially in front of your princess."

"Yeah yeah, how do you know Spanish anyway?" Sombra said softly as he kneeled to see if there was any indication of a secret passage. 

"As a princess of Equestria, I must be able to speak many tongues to properly communicate with other countries and make treaties. Is that not the same reason you know Spanish as well?"

Sombra stopped in his tracks as he began to dig through his mind for the answer. He thought about it a moment too long and was soon met with a stinging pain at his head, making him grasp his temple in reflex. He shook away the thoughts before more pain came his way not that it helped any about the pain he was already suffering. Luna did not go without noticing and quickly began to worry from just how hurt he seemed and quickly made her way to his side.

"Like I said Princess...my memories are foggy." He said as he felt the mare kneel beside him. Closing his eyes and slowing his breathing to help soothe his mind in meditation, Sombra began to recover from the staggering headache.

"I...see." Luna said as he walked to his side. "Does that happen often?"

"Only when I try to remember certain things."

"Things like?"

"Things from before I was King." Sombra said as he opened his eyes once more. His headache had drained some of his strength and decided to sit with his back to the wall as he rested.

"All of them?"

"Every single one. Yet everything else after that is crystal clear. I can tell you in full detail what happened on the day I was crowned King. I can do the same with what happened the next day and the day after that. Yet a single hour before then is out of reach. I cannot recall anything else."

"What sort of curse was placed upon you for such amnesia to take place?" 

"Perhaps it's a side effect of being brought back to life by a spell. Perhaps the spell wasn't executed correctly since a filly was the one to cast it and banished my memories. Perhaps I was hit with amnesia from even before I died. I don't know." Sombra said as he lifted his head and looked up at the ceiling. Frustration was beginning to take him.

"Well, perhaps we could find somepony who can-"

"What does it matter?" Sombra said as he closed his eyes while still tilting his head up. "I don't require my memories to know why it is I came back to life. I need just one thing. Just one object to take my revenge."

Luna remained quiet as she looked at him. She remembered now why she had had her guard up when she first laid eyes on him. Despite all of his actions, he was still evil. He said so himself. Even now his only goal in mind was to take vengeance on somepony. That was all she needed to know that he had not had a change of heart. He was still the Tyrant she knew from so long ago.

"Pray tell, what is this object?" She asked as she began to squeeze out any detail she could in hopes of finding a way to stop whatever evil deed he was planning. 

Upon hearing her speak Sombra looked at her and locked eyes. He knew exactly what she wanted. He was fully aware that if he spoke she would do everything in her power to hinder him. Yet even knowing this, he opened his mouth and answered truthfully.

"It's the object I mailed you and your sister about a thousand years ago." He said, not losing eye contact. "The stone of chaos that you two acquired upon entering Equestria."

Luna furrowed her brows as she heard him speak. "I...have no idea what you're referring to." She said as she loosened her tense posture. 

"What?" He asked. Sombra looked up and down the mare in hopes of finding a sign, some sort of body language that told him she was lying or feigning ignorance. It was no use. Luna was legitimately confused about what he was talking about. "You and Celestia do not have such an object?"

"I...I'm afraid not."

"Then why did you attack me on the day I had sent out the letter? Did you really have to attack me if I was spouting nonesense? Would it not have been easier to simply send a response with this exact answer?"

"Sombra, when you sent us that letter, Equestria had just ended a terrible era of great struggle. Surely you remem-" Luna began but stopped mid sentence when she realized how stupid that question would sound. "What I mean to say is that we had no choice. We received a letter with a threat of attack if we did not give over what you wanted. You gave us no description of what it was you wanted from us yet said you would take it by force if we did not comply."

"The day I got the only lead on the stone since my search began, we were busy with other things. The Crystal Empire was running short on crystals to sell in order to buy our food. Even I had to oversee an excavation just moments after writing the letter to you. I was rushing out the message. In my haste, I failed to accurately explain what it was I needed from you and it might have come out a little...threatening." 

"A little? You were blunt in your statement. You confidently said you would take what you thought we had by force, as if we had no choice in the matter to begin with. With such a declaration of war, Celestia and I had to take every measure needed to ensure that the Harmony we had brought into the land was not sent into disarray by a Ty-"

Luna paused as she looked at Sombra who held dry eyes of anger and frustration. He now knew why he was given the infamous title of 'Tyrant'. 

"Not going to finish your statement?" Sombra asked as he stood up. "You're not going to say that you needed to kill the Tyrant of the Crystal Empire who enslaved his subjects into mining crystals for him? Not going to say that I was living a glamorous life since I was the only pony not in the mine when you arrived with an army? An army that I fought alone because if I allowed my own to leave the mine, my entire empire would suffer the consequences?"

"Sombra. I realize now that we might have misjudged you but-"

"What is there to misjudge? Anypony would have thought I was a Tyrant by the show I put on when you arrived. I even went as far as banishing my empire afterward to keep from from dying out without a leader. Yet to you, it was an act of cruelty. A selfish act of 'If I can't have it, nopony will.', correct?"

"I know you're upset by how things were handled..."

"No Luna. I do not blame you for taking action as you did." Sombra said as he turned to look at her with an aggravated look. "You did as any would have in your position. You had all the evidence you needed to back your claim on me. What I'm angry about is that I had to die. I might have survived the battle with you and your sister, but once I returned I was attacked on sight because of what was already thought of me."

Sombra took a moment to try to calm himself down to no avail. Just thinking how he himself was the catalyst for his own demise irked him. Had he taken just a few more moments to write things out in his letter, no, had he sent out scouts to see if the lead was true before confronting the sisters. Had he not acted on a whim. Might not have had to feel the stinging pain of a frozen prison. He might not have had to have been killed.

"To think..." He began. "To think that I died because of a false lead!" Sombra shouted in a loud roar of frustration. His anger was at its limit. The flames emitting from his eyes grew larger and larger as he looked back at Luna who remained terrified at the sight. He was on the brink of blowing everything up in frustration. Yet he stopped. His flames died down as a small voice come from Luna's back.

"Hmm?..." Sweetie grunted as she began to shake awake. "What happened? What's wrong?" She asked as she looked around.

Sombra sighed as his anger was quickly extinguished at the sight of the filly and walked over to the filly who was rubbing her eyes with her hooves. 

"Forgive me, I became loud for a moment." He said softly as he nuzzled her. Luna looked in awe as she saw him interact with Sweetie Belle. He went from on the verge of destroying everything in his path to a gentle caring stallion in a stomp of a hoof simply because the filly woke up. 

"Is everything alright though?" Sweetie Belle asked as she nuzzled back to let him know she was fine.

"Yes, we just have to back track a little. We've hit a dead end."

"Oh okay. Sorry, I must have picked the wrong path back at the fork in the road..." She said drowsily.

"Ah, yes that must be it. Do not worry. It's just a short walk back. We'll take the right path and have you out of here soon."

"Okay."

Sombra smiled softly as he looked at Sweetie Belle yawn. He then turned his gaze to Luna who was still trying to understand what it was that happened. 

"I should ask forgiveness to you as well. I put up quite a bad display. I will be careful it doesn't happen again." Sombra said as he turned back around and gestured her to follow. "But really, we should get moving. Rarity will have my head if I return with her so late.

Luna still could not comprehend what had happened, but she pushed those thoughts aside and simply let things be. All she truly cared about at the moment was that she had been wrong. Sombra didn't only care about his revenge, who ever it might be on. He also cared for Sweetie Belle. If nothing else, that alone made him a better stallion that most. 

With a sly smile, Luna brushed away what fright she might have had and spoke in a quirky voice. "Well she will have to get in line. I am to behead you first."

Sombra could only chuckle as he began to walk. He had been standing right over the trap tile he had missed earlier and failed to spot it yet again. He was fortunate enough not to step on it as he moved away from the dead end. Luna, however, was not as lucky this time. Sombra's ears flickered as he heard the unmistakable sound of a machine being set off. He turned back with widened eyes as he witnessed just as he feared. 

Luna was falling down another trap door with a sharp scream. Quickly reacting as best she could, she quickly spread her wings and began to stabilize herself in the air. Unfortunately for Sweetie Belle, that meant she no longer had Luna's wings to lean on while on her back and instead was flung out into the dark pit. 

Sombra didn't hesitate. He jumped forward and reached out to the falling filly. He caught up to her and wrapped his fore hooves around her before twisting in the air to look up at Luna as the trap doors began to shut. Every possible scenario past through his head as he fell himself continue to fall down the pit, none of them deemed a good outcome. Sombra could only take a gamble, and his best bet would be to leave Sweetie Belle with Luna.

"Luna!" Sombra shouted as he used what strength he had to throw the filly in his hooves through the closing doors. 

Sweetie Belle made it through with time to spare and was quickly caught by princess. She took a few seconds to realize what it was that just happened now that the sudden movements had jolted her fully awake. Reaching out to the falling stallion, Sweetie Belle could only shout out in vain.

"Mister Sombra!"

Bam! The door shut.


<=•=>


Grunting as he struggled to his hooves, Sombra found himself in pure darkness. He let out his dark magic to light his environment with purple flames once more. It seemed that he had fallen down a similar pit as the very first one. Standing on another strange contraption with a single tunnel as the way out. The path upward no doubt still closed.

"Luna? Sweetie Belle?!" He shouted up but received no response. "Maldición." 

Sombra ran to the nearest wall and jumped forward, merging with it as a shadow. He slid upward towards the top but didn't seem to matter. As a shadow, his flames were not present and he was unable to find a crack to slide into to go back up. There also seemed to be no noise whatsoever on the other side. It was likely the girls were no longer there. Giving up, Sombra went back down and shifted back into his pony form to light the way. 

"I guess there's only one thing to do now." He said as he began to make his way down the tunnel in a gallop. "I need to get as far away from Sweetie Belle as possible. When I do, I'll return to her side as a shadow. The curse will ensure that. Just please be safe, and try not to touch anything."


<=•=>


"What happened to Mister Sombra?!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she jumped away from Luna's grasp. She ran back and forth in the corridor looking for the tile that had gone off earlier. "Touch everything! We need to find that tile!"

"Calm yourself." Luna said as she continued to stay airborne and chase after the filly trying to stomp on every tile she could find. "We mustn't set off another trap!" She said as she finally caught the filly again. 

"But Mister Sombra, he fell down there! What if there were spikes, or a torture room, or a Minotaur?!"

"Such thoughts are poison to your mind Sweetie Belle." Luna said as she cradled the filly in her hooves. "It would be unlikely that any of those things can happen."

"Unlikely, but possible!"

"Either way, we cannot do anything about it now."

"What are you saying? You want us to leave Mister Sombra behind?!"

"Would that be so bad?" Luna asked as she raised an eyebrow, waiting for the filly to understand what it was she was planning. Though at first Sweetie Belle wanted to shout for even suggesting the idea, she quickly caught in to her plan.

"No...no it wouldn't cause if we get too far away, Mister Sombra will be forced back to me by the curse!"

"Exactly. Now let us make haste. It does not matter if we find the exit or not. All we require is enough distance to trigger the effect." Luna said as she levitated the filly with her magic and placed her on her back. 

"Okay!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she readied herself for the sudden rush of speed as Luna began her flight down the tunnel. Coincidentally, it was the same direction Sombra was currently traveling in his own corridor. Their actual distance between one another didn't seem to change in the slightest.
> 20. What Comes Around Goes Around
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Luna?" Sweetie Belle asked as she gripped onto the Alicorn's fur. They had continued to make their way through the tunnels of the Canterlot's Castle underground passage way but had been constantly only been making downward left turns, making their actual position not truly stray that much at all.

"Yes?"

"What do you think of Mister Sombra?"

"Why?" Luna asked as she arched a brow, turning her head slightly to face the filly. She had an itching suspicion Sweetie Belle was only trying to poke fun at her again, but the rather troubled expression she bore told her otherwise.

"Just wondering. It seems that just about everypony he meets wants him dead or locked up."

Sighing and keeping her pace through the corridors, Luna recalled the chat she had had with Sombra before they got separated. A weight of guilt pulled her into a pensive state. She knew very little of Sombra, but every detail she found always surprised her. Not just the mistaken identity she and her sister had given him, but just how caring he could be despite his dark powers. 

"I think Sombra is a gentle stallion." Luna finally said as they made their first right turn in a while. "The care he has over you is like that of a father. A father that-"

"Would do anything for their child?" Sweetie Belle finished for her. "Mister Sombra told me that once. That a parent would stop at nothing to make sure they were okay."

"That is correct. Though it begs the question, how did you and Sombra form such a bond?"

"I don't know." Sweetie Belle said as she placed a hoof to her chin. "I guess it just happened. But now that I think about it, Mister Sombra does remind me of my dad."

"Share the same features?" Luna asked, to which she only got a short burst of giggles quickly denouncing her original thought. 

"No, my dad has a mustache, Mister Sombra sideburns...really long side burns. My dad has a short blonde mane, Mister Sombra a long spiky black mane. My dad-"

"I understand. Sombra and your father are opposites."

"Only in appearance." Sweetie Belle said as she leaned down onto Luna's mane. "Whenever I'm scared or in trouble, Mister Sombra always comes running to my side to make sure I'm okay."

"I believe he is forced to do so because of the curse." Luna said hesitantly, not really willing to burst the filly's bubble.

"I thought so too, but that's not the case." Sweetie Belle said with a smile as she climbed towards Luna's head so they could talk face to face. "You see, because of the poison joke, Mister Sombra and I switched bodies for a while. Even though I was the one in it, the curse still held Mister Sombra's body accountable for the fulfilling the commands of my body."

"That must have been terrible." Luna said as she looked at the ever gleeful filly.

"Not really. Mister Sombra was extra careful to make sure I didn't get hurt because of the curse. Anyway, we got into a bit of a fight with a cragadile and everypony was in danger."

"Mhm?" She hummed, trying to get to the meat of where Sweetie Belle was going with the conversation.

"And well, Mister Sombra was in real danger for a while. He was hanging off a branch and if he fell he would have been eaten alive. Yet, I never felt the curse force me to save him. I was able to focus on my own fight at the moment until I was free to go to him."

"So you're saying that-"

"Every time Mister Sombra had come to my rescue, he did it out of his own free will." Sweetie Belle said with a large smile.


<=•=>


"Another dead end?" Sombra asked out in an annoyed tone. Taking a quick look around, he found yet another sinkable tile. No doubt it would activate a trap that would send him deeper into the maze. 

He quickly jumped over it and searched the walls before looking back at the tile. There was indeed nothing going forward, the only direction left to go was down...again. Despite the strange passages, he had certainly traveled a long way, yet he still didn't feel like the curse was taking effect. There had been a few occasions where he would feel weaker, but that sensation would soon leave his body after a few moments. 

"The way this is going, it seems both of us as moving in the same general direction." Sombra said as he walked back and gently pressed down on the tile, making the ground beneath him pull apart and having him fall down. "So the only options left are to out run them, or run back and hope they move away." 

To escape the damage he would take from the great fall, Sombra quickly turned himself into a shadow just as he touched the ground, allowing him to come out unharmed. He pulled himself out of the ground and looked around to see the same contraption from before. Each fall had one at the bottom and they were starting to look like the traps weren't traps after all. 

"I doubt going back is a viable option, especially with how much this place twists and turns, it's like a dungeon." Sombra said as he resumed his gallop across the halls, the echo of his hooves the only noise to be heard. 

Sombra could feel the corridor curve right as he ran. He did his best to make a mental map of the place, but it seemed to be to no avail. The tunnels just twisted and overlapped one another. Some ended in dead ends, others in dead ends with a passage way downward. Yet now, when he was alone did he finally get some time to think.

Luna made it pretty clear. The object he had been looking for is not here, nor was it in the Princess's possession at all. That meant that his only lead was a dud. The entire reason he became king was to have the power and resources necessary to search for it. What could he do now that he was nothing more than a shadow to a filly? Albeit, a filly to happens to be friends with Princesses and sister to an Element of Harmony, but a simply child nonetheless. Why should he put her in any danger without reason?

Sombra let out a deep sigh as he came to yet another corner. Slowing down to a stop and leaning on the wall of the corner, his eyes grew dull as he thought perhaps it was best to abandon the idea all together. He was dead anyway, what use was it to pursue his goal since he would ultimately gain nothing from it? 

"I just need to stop...stop and look at all the pieces I have to play with..." He said in a hushed tone. Returning his weight to his hooves and taking a deep breath, Sombra quickly regained his composure as he turned the corner finally. "Enough of that, right now I have to get Sweetie Belle out of here. If only I can- Al carajo, you've got to be kidding me." 

The tunnel finally broke off into a large room. On the far end of it was a gigantic door, no doubt used for the equally large figure standing just a few meters away from it. The bipedal creature seemed to be fixated on the door, keeping his back to Sombra and leaving him undiscovered for now. 

By the horns and hands, it was clearly a Minotaur. He wielded a large double -sided axe in his hands that only increased his lethalness. His armor was well decorated, but there was a strong sense of familiarity for Sombra. Meaning it was old, possibly a hand-me-down from a thousand years ago. 

"Excuse me." Sombra said as he stepped forward, quickly drawing in the Minotaur's attention. He stood in silence as he looked Sombra up and down before finally turning all the way around to face him.

"Who are you?" He asked, taking a few steps forward.

"My name is Sombra, is that the way out?" Sombra asked as he gestured to the large door the Minotaur had been facing.

"It is." He responded.

"May I pass?"

"..."

They stood in silence as they stared each other down. Sombra looked around to see what he could use to his advantage if things went south, but the area around them was nothing more than a large room. No obstacles, no windows, just the one exit. Finally, the Minotaur spoke.

"I am Iron Wall, of the Iron Minotaur family. For generations my family has kept the underground of Canterlot safe from intruders. Yet here you stand, having made it past me and back."

"I didn't make it past you." Sombra quickly said as he tensed his posture from the aggressive aura the other was giving off. "I accidentally fell into the dungeon in the basement of Canterlot Castle."

"Canterlot Castle?"

"Yes. Though that door might be your entrance, it is my exit. Now I'll ask again, may I pass?"

Iron Wall stood silent once more as he looked back and forth between the door and Sombra. It was obvious he did not know what to do in the situation. Perhaps it was because it was likely nopony had ever ventured into the underground in generations, or that he simply had no policy on what to do if somepony came from the other side. 

"Apologies, but I must uphold my duty to not allow anything to get by me. Nothing will go past me going in, nothing will go past me going out." Iron Wall said as he gripped his axe tightly in his hands. 

"I admire the diligence you have to fulfilling your duties, but I too have obligations to fulfill to a filly. I'd rather not disappoint her." Sombra said as he slid his fore hooves on the ground to get into a battle stance. 

"Then it seems we are at an impasse." 

"Seems like it. How should we resolve it then?"

"You seem to be prepared for battle, so how about a duel?" Iron Wall said as he slowly began to walk to the side as if to find a weak spot to attack. Sombra mimicked him and rotated with him. 

"Name your terms."

"Since neither wishes to be here all night, and this is a peculiar situation, how about the first to land a hit on the other wins?"

"Sounds fair."

Sombra and Iron Wall came to a stop once they made full circle back to their original spots. Gritting their teeth, they both charged forward in a loud roar. 


<=•=>


"What is Sombra after?" Luna asked as she took a moment to choice between yet another fork in the road. 

"Huh?"

"You two came to the Castle looking for something. Sombra said he wanted a stone with the power of chaos within him, yet it was only because of a rumor he had heard. In truth my sister and I have no such object. But I am still curious, what does Sombra wish to do with it?"

"Don't know." Sweetie Belle answered quickly as she too looked back and forth between the paths to take.

"What?!" Luna shouted as she looked up at the filly. 

"Yeah, I didn't ask."

"Art thou mad?!" She shouted out in her Canterlot voice, once again reverting to her old speech pattern while using her magic to levitate Sweetie Belle to her fore hooves and hold her in front of her. 

"There goes that voice again..." Sweetie Belle said in an annoyed whisper. "I never asked any details, though I'm sure Mister Sombra would have told me if I did."

"That is another matter all together. Why would you agree to a plan which you know nothing about?!"

"I trust Mister Sombra. He said nopony would get hurt, or rather, that it would be a good thing for Equestria."

"While I agree that Sombra does speak the truth when asked, his memories are missing. Are you aware of that?"

"Mhm."

"So what's to say that his original motive was evil, but he simply forgot over the years? What if once he acquired what he had been seeking, it turns out it was something harmful to others? What then?" Luna asked. Sweetie Belle looked at her blankly for a few seconds. She thought about it and quickly smiled softly back at her.

"I'm sure Mister Sombra would stop whatever he's doing if he found out it was wrong."

"You place a great deal of trust in Sombra." Luna said as she returned the smile before placing her back on her back. 

"You should try it too. He hasn't let me down yet!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she threw a hoof out in excitement. Luna could only laugh softly at her antics and quickly picked a path at random.

The speed at which they traveled might have made it difficult for any other filly, but having been through rough rides with Sombra, Sweetie Belle could only enjoy the ride. Compared to the sudden jerking around Sombra would put her through during combat or simply maneuvering through Ponyville, this was a gentle trip despite the sharp turns and sudden stops. Though her fun came to an end when they came to yet another dead end. 

"Curses, this place is a maze." Luna grunted out in frustration. Sweetie Belle ignored her remark and instead looked around intently.

"Close your mouth...Open your eyes..." She said softly as her eyes glided across every inch of the corridor. Finally they stopped at a single tile. The lining around it told her it was one of the sinkable ones that would no doubt open a door on the ground. 
Smiling at her discovery, she quickly closed her eyes to concentrate. She had seen the dangers of the magic she was casting out via Sombra's demonstrations while in her body, but surely a simple shard wouldn't be too much to ask for.

Luna opened her eyes wide as she saw Sweetie Belle cast out a purple aura from her horn. It bubbled in shades of black and green as she struggled to use the magic. Suddenly a small shard of black crystal appeared in front of her. She quickly grasped it in her hooves as she tried to steady her heavy breathing. 

"What are you-"

Sweetie Belle wasn't listening, instead she threw the shard down at the tile, making it sink and activating the mechanism under it. Slowly the doors opened, revealing yet another passage downward. 

"Now we can get on Mister Sombra's level..." Sweetie said in a tired tone, sweat running down her face from the small exert of magic she pulled off. 

"I'm sure that you'll be getting on Sombra's level very soon if you continue like that." Luna said in amazement, referring to something else entirely to what Sweetie Belle had meant. Still, by how tired the filly looked, it was no use asking her any questions. Instead, she flew down to the floor under them before the doors closed behind them. 


<=•=>


Jumping back and running sideways, Sombra avoided the incoming assault of axe swings his way. Despite the large size of Iron Wall, he was rather agile, quickly closing the small distance Sombra had traveled and was right back in melee range. 

Using his magic to spring forth a thin pillar of crystal, Iron Wall was forced to stop and block the attack with his free hand. Taking it as an opening, Sombra jumped up and fired a bolt of energy at him. The blast raised some dust and kept the Minotaur hidden for a few seconds and even though he had seen the attack made contact, Sombra did not count it as his victory just yet. 

"You are very strong." Iron Wall said as the smoke cleared, revealing him shielded by his axe. "Truly a worthy opponent."

"You too are very well trained."

"My family used to be the strongest in Equestria. That is the entire reason why the Royalty of Canterlot asked us to keep the secret entrance safe all those years back. Though I am aware that we are probably forgotten, an Iron never breaks a contract."

"So your family has continued to train to protect this abandoned maze?" Sombra asked as he took a more relaxed stance.

"Most of my family have given up on traditions. I alone remain to guard this place. It may not be much, but I enjoy bringing honor to my family." Iron responded as he too took a pause from their battle.

"Had the circumstances been different, I might have retreated by now and allowed you to be."

"But you are bound to keep the promise you made to the filly you mentioned?"

"Interesting choice of words." Sombra said in a chuckle. "But yes. The night is going to be over soon, and she has school tomorrow. I need to get her home so she can finish her homework." 

"Then let us make haste." Iron Wall said as he readied his axe again. "Let us go in all or nothing."

"Let's." Sombra said as he tensed up his muscles again. 

Sombra's breathing slowed as he looked over at the Minotaur. His battle style, though very aggressive, held no real weaknesses. If he wanted to win, he would have to make a opening. 

Charging forward like before, Sombra bound his hooves in crystal as he pounced out to at Iron Wall. He swung his axe at him, cracking the crystal casing but not breaking it. Sombra placed his hind legs on the ground and threw out an uppercut with his free hoof. 

The attack was quickly blocked as Iron gripped it in his free hand. Both of them remained locked for a second. Quickly finding a way to attack, Iron Wall leaned back slight and then thrusted his head forward in a headbutt, the winning strike had Sombra been a normal stallion. He was not. 

Sombra sunk into the ground and became a shadow. He drifted under his opponent and reemerged out with his hoof pulled back, ready to strike. As he did, he felt it grow lighter. The crystal casting finally broke, leaving on his hoof a spiky point that could easily draw blood. If he continued his attack, he could severely hurt Iron Wall. 

He hesitated. It only lasted a second, but Iron Wall took advantage of the time given to him and swung his axe around at him. Sombra just barely any time to react and managed to move his head back just in time to avoid the strike. Almost the entire strike.

Jumping away, Sombra let out soft pants as he looked over at the recovering Minotaur. Suddenly he felt something run down his cheek. Reaching out to his face with his hoof, he wiped a drop of blood from a small scratch. 

"It seems the victory is yours." Sombra said in disappointment.

"Why did you hesitate?" Iron asked as he placed his axe on his shoulder while he walked towards the distraught stallion. "The match was yours had you pulled through."

"Had I gone through with my attack, there would be a good chance you'd be dead right now."

"Had you not moved your head back, you would have been dead as well. Furthermore, for a unicorn, you don't use your magic very much. I did not pull my punches, why did you?"

"The filly I talked about, she told me to try to keep from killing other ponies."

"I doubt Minotaurs count as ponies." 

Iron Wall was right. Sombra had full reign to kill him had he wanted to. The curse had done nothing to handicap his power while fighting him. 

"It still would have made her sad if she found out." Sombra said in a shrug.

Iron Wall smiled. Never before had he met somepony so strange as Sombra. It almost made him want to forget the deal they made. Still, there might be a way to remedy the situation so both parties leave happy. He at least knew now that he was trustworthy. 

"Follow me." Iron said as he began to walk towards where Sombra had come from.

"Where are we going?"

"There is more than one way out. Our deal was that if I won, I would not let you walk by me to that door, but if I lead you out through another one, it would still be in accordance with the deal."

Sombra didn't fight his logic. Instead he rushed over to his side and followed him back through the tunnels. As they walked, Iron Wall made sure to step on certain sinkable tiles to light the hall with torches that sprang from the walls. 

"Ah, so that's what those are for." Sombra said softly, only getting a smirk from Iron as a response. Their trip soon led them to the dead end from earlier where the contraption was been placed. Walking onto it, Iron Wall took out his axe and stabbed the handle into a hidden hole on the wall. Turning it like a key, it set the machine into motion and began to bring them back up. 

"Don't you worry, we'll be out of here in no time."


<=•=>


"We're lost aren't we?" Sweetie Belle asked as the made their third trip down the same hall. 

"There has to be a way through. We've made it this far. Perhaps if you found the hidden tiles, we would have been out by now." Luna said in an annoyed tone.

"You could help too you know!" Sweetie shouted, equally as frustrated. 

"M-My vision isn't...good in the dark." Luna said as she tried to come up with an excuse. 

"You're the Princess of the Night! What do you mean your vision isn't good in the dark?! How backwards can you be?"

"Hold thine tongue, how dare thee speak in such a manner to thine Princess!" 

"Again with the shouting. You know, you'll never make many friends if you keep that up."

"The night is my only comfort, I can live perfectly fine like so." Luna said as she pulled Sweetie Belle off her back and placed her on the floor to stare her down.

"Live perfectly fine? In the dark? Where you can't see? I doubt it." Sweetie Belle teased with a smirk. 

"Take that back!" The Princess shouted shouted as she picked up the filly again.

"Make me!" Sweetie Belle said as she pulled on Luna's cheek, quickly making her return the favor. The two of them continued to struggle for a while longer, trading 'insults' at one another before they finally realized that had an audience. 

"How the mighty have fallen." Iron Wall said as he leaned on the wall. 

"I'll say." Sombra said with a chuckle.

Sweetie Belle quickly jumped away from the Alicorn's grip and ran towards her dark guardian, leaving Luna to pick herself up and save what little face she had left. 

"Mister Sombra!" She shouted as she jumped to him. He caught her and pulled her in for a tight hug. "I was so worried about you!" She said as she pulled away for a moment.

"And I of you. But it seem Luna kept you in good enough shape."

"Yeah, she did her best." Sweetie continued to tease. "But if I had to pick, I would rather have you take care of me."

"I'll do my best not to leave your side again." He responded  as she quickly climbed back onto his back. 

"I am Iron Wall." Iron said as he introduced himself to Luna, leaving the other two to their little moment. "Sombra caught me up on the details. I do not believe I've had the pleasure of introducing myself since your return Princess Luna."

"It is a pleasure, though what are you doing here under Canterlot Castle?"

"Think of me as Canterlot security for this place. Follow me, I shall lead you out." He said as he began to walk ahead. Luna turned to Sombra who only nodded at her to follow. 

They did so quickly traversed the dungeon with Iron's help. He knew the entire structure like the back of his hand. He led them safely through the traps and high up to the surface. Out of amusement, he even offered Sweetie Belle a ride on his shoulders simply so she could brag she had ridden both an Alicorn and a Minotaur, who were powerful beings. It allowed for Luna and Sombra to stay back a while so they could talk.

"Say Sombra?" Luna began.

"Yes?"

"Are you still set on finding that stone?"

"If I can, yes." Sombra said softly. He still hadn't made up his mind, but deep down, he knew his heart wouldn't quit on the idea just yet.

"Sweetie Belle told me that you believe finding it will allow you to bring some good to Equestria."

"Yes, that is the truth."

"What kind of good exactly?"

"I..." Sombra said softly. "Would you believe me if I said I couldn't recall?"

"I thought as much." Luna said with a sigh. "So allow me to ask you this. What would you do if you find the stone, and suddenly remember everything you had forgotten and you realize it was all for an evil purpose?"

"I would stop." Sombra answered immediately, shocking her at the quickness of his response. 

"Truly?"

"I may have done some terrible things in my past. I was a king that kept his people alive, but I was not always kind. I needed to make the difficult choices that nopony else would. I know my goal is ultimately  for vengeance. That in it of itself may be evil in some eyes, but if it my opponent is evil too, well, sometimes to do some good you have to be the bad guy."  

Sombra smiled softly at her. Luna couldn't help but return the gesture. 

"Sweetie Belle was right to put her faith in you."

"I wouldn't go that far." Sombra said with a chuckle. "But I wouldn't do anything to bring her into harms way."

"That is all I can ask of you. Still, if there is some way I could help, do let me know."

"Actually..." Sombra said as his face became serious once more. "There is something I could very much use your help for..."
> 21. Day Off
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sweetie Belle shuffled around in her seat as she kept her head down. To her left sat her sister in a calm demeanor, drinking her usual morning tea. To her right was her teacher, who was arching up a brow at the tale she was just told. 

"So..." Cherilee began as she took up her own cup to take a sip of the tea. "You're telling me that Sweetie Belle was part of a very important expedition?"

"Mhm." Rarity responded sweetly as she lifted her gaze at her. "But don't take my word for it. You have key witnesses right here, isn't that right?" 

Rarity gestured to the others sitting with them at the table. Princess Luna was also drinking some tea as she kept her formal appearance. Her eyes remained closed, as if dismissing what had been going on around her in her Royal Canterlot mannerism. Beside her was Iron Wall, who struggled to get comfortable in the small chair that was clearly not made for Minotaurs. 

"We understand thine reluctance, but rest assured that the truth is being spoken. Sweetie Belle was an important contributor in traversing a difficult maze." Luna said, finally opening her eyes to peer over at the pink mare. Cherilee felt chills go down her spine as she made eye contact with her. 

Clearing her throat and trying to recover some of her composure. Cherilee turned to the larger guest who was currently using every ounce of restraint he had to keep from shattering the cup of tea in his hands. 

"Iron Wall, was it?" Cherilee asked. "Do you also think that Sweetie Belle was very important to your late night...adventure?"

"I cannot say for certain. Most of my time was spent with Sombra." Iron said as he took a drink, easily finishing the entire cup without meaning to. Sighing and putting it down, he looked over at the mare. "But I will say that it is not like Sweetie Belle openly disregarded her studies."

"Y-Yeah, I finished a good half of it." Sweetie Belle said, finally adding her voice to the mix. "I just didn't think it would take this long to come back from Canterlot. Before I knew it, it was morning already and well..." 

A yawn escaped the poor filly mid sentence, proving her point. With a sigh of resignation, Cherilee could no longer deny all the evidence presented for her. Smiling at them, she stood up. This made everypony eye her intently, awaiting her response. 

"Then I suppose I have no choice. I'll give you an extension on your assignment. You have a couple more days before you have to turn in your homework."  Cherilee said with a happy smile. Instantly, Sweetie Belle erupted into a gleeful squee and was quickly joined by her sister in a hug. 

Sombra, who was hiding back behind a corner, also smiled softly as he overheard the situation. He had asked Luna to help the night prior. He knew full well that upon arrival they would get a stern lecture from Rarity. Sweetie Belle would not have the time needed to finish her homework. 

"We thank thee." Luna said in a softened Canterlot Tone as she moved closer to the teacher who was getting ready to leave. 

"Oh, it's no problem. Besides, it would sort of be hard to go against what the Princess says huh?" 

"Indeed." Luna joked. "We had already sent word to prepare a dungeon if thou had declined to excuse the filly."
Cherilee chuckled softly while sweating nervously. Even though it was obvious she was joking, it didn't make her threat more comforting. Instead, she began to make her way out, nodding a good bye to the other guests.

"Anywho, I really need to get going. I still have the rest of my class to pick up. Um, Sweetie Belle?" She said as she looked over at the filly. "I can tell you're not ready, meet me at the Gazebo by eight won't you?"

"Yes ma'am!" Sweetie shouted out happily. 

Returning the gesture, Cherilee made her way out of the boutique. By coincidence, she was also heading in Sombra's direction. Deciding against being caught, Sombra simply stepped back and merged into the ground as a shadow, cleverly avoiding the mare all together. He made his way to Sweetie Belle, where he awaited for Cherilee to exit all the way out before jumping back into the world.

"That still impresses me." Iron Wall said as he stood up, no longer seeing any point in keeping himself uncomfortable. 

"I told you didn't I?" Sombra said as he stretched his neck to pop his bones. "I'm dead?"

"Still can't believe it."

"Neither could I when I first saw him." Luna said stepping forward.

"Ah, finally talking normally?" Sombra teased as looked over at the Princess.

"This was a formal meeting with an instructor. Did you expect me to act casually?" Luna asked, half flustered by the question. She clearly was still figuring out the rules of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Not that there were any for it in this era. 

"Anyway." Sweetie Belle said as she jumped from her seat. "I better go get my things ready."

"Wait, Sweetie Belle!" Rarity called out to the filly as she began her run. Almost falling as she came to a sudden halt, she turned toward her sister who was now grabbing on to her. "What happened to your cheek?!"

"Huh? What do you mean?" Sweetie asked as her sister messed with her face. As soon as Rarity placed her hoof on the small gash on her fur, she flinched in a small jolt of pain.

"How did you cut yourself?" Rarity began the interrogation. Noticing that the wound was on the same cheek he had received from Iron Wall the previous night, Sombra reach for his face. His eyes widened as he felt no cut. His own injury was gone. 

"I don't know." Sweetie said as she pulled away, her hoof on her cheek in slight annoyance. "It wasn't there this morning!" She managed to say before Rarity pulled her away. No doubt it was time to clean the cut to make sure it wouldn't get infected. 

"Did that..." Sombra began in a hushed whisper. Though his attention was shifted to the hoof at his shoulder. 

"Sombra, have a moment?" Luna asked, her expression slightly awkward. 

"Uh, yes." He said as he looked back at the sisters walking away before returning his eyes to her. "What it is?"

Luna led him outside, almost far enough away from Sweetie to activate the tether. A single hoof step forward and he'd be shot back to her. Yet this is as far as they could go if they wanted some privacy. 

Sombra remained just outside the door frame to the boutique. Luna, on the other hoof, began to pace back and forth in front of him. He could tell how much trouble she was having trying to convey her thoughts into words, no doubt it would take a long time for her to treat him like a friend and not an enemy.

"About the favor you asked of me." She began. "You wish for me to see your dreams?"

"Yes. I told you that my memories are sketchy. My dreams seem to be the only thing I can go on. I would really appreciate any help you can give."

Luna remained silent. Her eyes were sternly fixed on him as her mind raced with thought after thought. 

"First off, you realize dreams are products of your subconscious right? They could very well just be an illusion you created to fill the gap in your memories."

"I doubt I would create such a terrible memory for myself." Sombra said as he recalled the most resent dream he had had. His pained expression was soon mimicked by Luna as she began to feel some sympathy.

"Which brings me to my number two. When a pony shuts away their memories, it is usually so they could forget a terrible past. When and if you regain your past, are you willing to accept it? Whatever it may be, however, gruesome, and frightening?"

"Luna..." Sombra said softly. "Do you think you would be happier having the memory of your transformation into Nightmare Moon be a well kept secret? Would you fare better not knowing of the evils you committed while everypony else did? Good or bad, I want to know who I am. Who I was before I was King Sombra."

"Fair enough." Luna said as she closed her eyes. "I'll help you. Though do not say I did not warn you of what could happen."

The Princess extended her wings outward, causing a feather or two to fall from them. She looked over to Sombra who remained still and unmoved by their conversation. Smiling softly at him, she took flight and began her return to Canterlot. 

"I'll keep my eye out for when you sleep. I'll meet you in your dreams then!" She shouted before flying off. 

Sombra couldn't help but chuckle at the grand exit the Princess had made. Though he was not one to talk. He loved making a grand entrance. Unfortunately, his train of thought was interrupted by a sudden surge of inner strength. Sweetie Belle was getting close. By the time he turned around, he saw a small filly with a bandage on her cheek and a smile that almost reached it. 

"You seem happy." Sombra said as Sweetie Belle stopped half a meter from him. 

"I am! Because I just thought of something awesome."

"Are we going to end up going half way across Equestria to do something ridiculously stupid with your friends?" He teased. 

"What?! My friends and I aren't always doing something stupid!"

"Just most of the time, right?"

Sweetie Belle puffed out her cheeks in annoyance as Iron Wall began to exit behind them. Crouching down to get out of the boutique, he stretched his back and let out a long chain of loud bone popping. 

"Are you ready Sweetie Belle?" Iron asked as he continued to stretch out his limbs.

"Ready for what?" Sombra asked as he arched a brow. 

"Well..." Sweetie said as she was picked up by the Minotaur and placed on one of his shoulders. "I just thought that you deserved a break."

"From what?" Sombra asked.

"From, like, everything! Ever since you came to Ponyville it's been one thing after another. You need a break from fighting and running and stress in general."

"I volunteered to take Sweetie Belle to school today so you may rest." Iron said.

"That's all well and dandy." Sombra said as he gestured with a hoof. "But you're forgetting that I'm bound to you. I can't exactly rest when I have to stay close anyway."

"That's just it." Sweetie said with a grin, making Sombra almost nervous to whatever she was about to do. "King Sombra!"

At her voice, Sombra felt himself revitalize to his days of King. His body glowed and revealed the shackle markings on his fur from the curse as his eyes were set ablaze in purple flames. 

"Do whatever you want this afternoon!" Sweetie Belle shouted her command. 

The light that shinned so brightly from Sombra quickly dimmed and he was left back in his previous state, though the power from within him still fueled his body. For the first time since his revival, he felt alive again.

"Say what?" Sombra asked as he looked over himself. 

"Today is your day off!" Sweetie Belle shouted from Iron's shoulder. Her sudden jolt of excitement almost making her fall. 

"You're giving me the freedom to do whatever I want this afternoon?" He asked, still unable to process what had just happened. "You realize how crazy of an idea that is right? I could pillage the town. Kill civilians. Attack Canterlot."

"You could." Sweetie said with a smile. "But I trust that you won't."

Letting out a heavy sigh, Sombra turned to Iron Wall.

"What about you? Aren't you supposed to guard the Canterlot underground?"

"Princess Luna said that she placed some of her own guards there in my absence. She even said she would speak to her sister about the Iron Contract from all those years ago."

"Isn't it great?!" Sweetie Belle shouted again, something she seemed to be doing a lot of lately. 

"Yes, yes it is." Sombra said as he forced a smile on her behalf, though truth be told he didn't know how to feel about the situation he was in. 

"Is everything alright Sombra?" Iron asked at his lack of enthusiasm.

"Of course. Now what are you two waiting for? You're going to be late for class if you don't get a move on." Sombra said as he stepped to the side, his usual firm expression back. Iron nodded and began walking forward.

"Have fun on your day off!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she turned to wave at Sombra. He slowly raised his hoof to wave back and remained still. He waited there for a while. Time passed and he finally accepted that he would not be pulled back to Sweetie Belle due to the distance. 

A sigh escaped him as he walked off in a random direction. He had all the freedom he had once wanted, yet it felt empty. He was back at permanent power, he could easily take advantage of the situation and create havoc if he wanted to. But he felt no need to, no drive to do any of that. Worst part, was the light feeling he felt at his back. There was no filly sitting on it.

Sombra quickly found himself walking into a sort of market place. His instincts made him immediately crowd together with other ponies, as if he was trying to hide from somepony. It was more out of force of habit no doubt. Still, with his tall physique and red spike of a horn, it would be hard not to spot him. 

"Hello Sombra." A voice called out to him. He blinked a few times as the words registered into his mind. Turning to look, he found a smiling Princess with a saddle full of scrolls and books. 

"Hello mare- uh, Princess." He said, quickly correcting his previous method of referring to her. 

"Twilight." She said, formally introducing herself. "And I must say, I'm a bit surprised to see you be so formal with me."

"Sweetie Belle told me to be more respectful of Royalty." He said, glancing away at how dumb it sounded even to him.

"I see..." Twilight said with a grin. She could clearly tell Sombra had not been commanded to be respectful, yet here he was doing it anyway. "Speaking of which, where is she?" She asked as she looked around the busy market. 

"At school."

"And you're not with her? Did she tell you to come buy something for her or Rarity?"

"No...uh..." He began. "She uh, gave me the day off."

"Off from what?" 

"From keeping her saf-" Sombra stopped and cleared his throat. "From being her familiar. She said it was best if I took the afternoon for myself." He finished and quickly began to walk away. He was not willing to stay any longer and explain things further to her. 

"Uh huh." Twilight said with a soft giggle, following him. 

Sombra could feel Twilight's eyes look him over. He could also feel her large grin as she no doubt began to think of all the ways he had 'changed'. Still, it was something he was aware of. He knew that he truly did change, if only a little, since he had come back. 

"You know..." Twilight said, getting Sombra's attention again. "Word around town is that some lunatic ran at super fast speeds with three fillies on his back yesterday."

"Is that so?"

"Also, on an unrelated topic I'm sure, there seemed to be a break in at Canterlot Castle last night."

"Truly?"

"Mhm, strangest thing was that nothing was stolen and Princess Luna was gone for the rest of the night after that. Some say whoever broke in fillynapped her."

"That seems a little far fetched."

"I know right? I mean I saw Princess Luna this morning. Flying away from Carousal Boutique."

"Uh...huh..." Sombra said as he began to sweat nervously. "Is there something you're trying to say to me?"

"No, not at all. Just exchanging gossip with a friend." She said with a smile, a genuine smile. 

"Friend? You realize I tried to kill you?...Twice."

"Yeah, but I've forgiven you." Twilight said as she nudged him. "Not to mention we kinda sorta killed you too."

Sombra smiled and chuckled. Out of all the mares he had met, Twilight probably was the one least aggressive against him, not counting Celestia of course. One could never tell with her. Still, it was sort of nice to be able to talk calmly with another pony that wasn't an eighth of his size. 

Suddenly a pony rushed in front of Sombra, making him return his thoughts to the real world. He and Twilight looked over to the crowd of Ponies beginning to form around a unicorn on a table. He rolled a pair of dice and kept a large grin that showed off a gold tooth. 

"Come one come all, how quick are your reactions hmm?" The pony shouted as he picked up the dice with his magic, gently levitating it into a cup before shaking it around. The sound of the dice hitting the inside of the cup was muffled by the constant chattering of the crowd around them. 

Twilight and Sombra quickly made their way to the crowd, the former with a disgruntled frown. Taking a deep breath before stepping forward, Twilight flew up and landed right in front of the table with the smiling stallion. 

"You realize public gambling is illegal right?" Twilight said as she placed her hooves on the table. By now, Sombra had managed to squeeze by the other ponies and see the two confront each other. One look at the stallion and his expression changed completely. There was something extremely familiar about him, something that reminded him...of himself. 

"Twilight." Sombra said in a very familiar and lively tone. It was the calm, happy-go-lucky persona he took on when he spoke to Cherilee and Twilight knew at once he was up to something. "It isn't hurting anypony, why don't we let him continue?"

"What are you doing?" Twilight asked in a whisper.

"There's something I need to find out." Sombra whispered back before making his way to the table and smiling ear to ear. "So what is this game about?"

"So we've got a contester eh?" The stallion said as he kicked his hind legs onto the table, the dice still rattling in the cup. "Though first things first. I believe introductions are in order."

"I'm Sombra. Just arrived at Ponyville actually."

"What a coincidence! I just got here too, name's Dice. I'm sure you can guess why." The stallion said with a large smile to match his. Both he and Sombra had the exact same expression of delight, only making it eerie for Twilight to watch.

"So how do we play?"

"You're just itching to get started huh? Well it's a simple game. I just roll the dice and we call out the combined number of the dice we think it will be as they land. Call it too fast, you get it wrong. Call it too slow, the other one get's the right number. Simple right?"

"Definitely sounds like it." Sombra said as he placed his for hoof across the table in a relaxed manner. "Is a single bit too small to wager?"

"No bet is too small a bet my friend." Dice said as he took the cup into his hooves and began to shake them about. Getting a nod from Sombra, he was signaled to let the dice roll. 

Sombra's eyes followed the dice. As if everything had slowed down around him, Sombra kept a close watch on the rolling objects, but quickly switched his vision back to Dice. Any sensible pony would have their eyes on the table, yet he was staring back at Sombra. Not willing to waste time staring at Dice, he shifted his eyes back to the table. One of the die had already stopped on 'one', the other was about stop and Sombra calculated the number it would fall on.

"Seven." They both said ahead of time. The die came to a stop on 'six', making their answer correct. Sombra opened his eyes wide in surprise. His opponent was clearly still staring at him, so how could he had guessed the number? 

"A tie it seems." Dice said as he went to pick up the objects. 

"Best two out of three?" Sombra asked as he recovered his charade. 

"Since we both called out the right answer, it's a single point to both of us then?" He said as he began to shake the dice once more. 

"Sure." Sombra said as he nodded. He used his magic to grab the cup and bring it over to him. "But I'm sure you wouldn't mind if I roll the dice this time, right?"

"Not at all!"

Sombra grinned back at him and shook the dice around. Suddenly, he grabbed the cup with his hoof and slammed it down on the table, the dice trapped underneath it. The crowd of ponies began to whisper amongst themselves. Slowly Sombra began to raise the cup. Again, instead of having his eyes on the table, Dice continued to stare at Sombra as the dice came into view. There was a 'one' again. 

"Fou-"
"Four." Dice said ahead of him. 

"Well would you look at that?" Dice said as he leaned back on the chair. "I think I won the 'two out of three', wouldn't you say?"

"At remarkable speeds I might add." Twilight said as she looked over at the dice on the table. She too had been trying to play along, but she had barely any time to register the dice before Sombra and Dice were already shouting their answer. How Dice had managed see the dice ahead of Sombra the second round was a mystery for her.

"One last round?" Sombra asked as he hoofed over the cup and dice. "Double or nothing."

"For just one bit?" Dice asked before laughing to himself. "Sure, though I'm pretty sure I'll still win."

As he shook the dice once more, Sombra smiled as he began to understand what it was that was happening. Dice was by no means playing the game. Actually, he wasn't even looking at the dice when they rolled. What he did was keep his eyes on his opponent's lips and read what he was going to say. At the speed he could talk, he could easily both read and repeat the word another was about to say to win the game. The fact he wasn't even looking at the dice was but an intimidation factor, making his opponents even more nervous. 

It was too bad he was against Sombra. His perceptive eyes allowed him to predict the dice roll ahead of time and speak the number quickly, making no lag what-so-ever between his words. If this kept up, they would end up as a tie once again. Except now Sombra knew his trick and the fact one of the dice was loaded to always land on 'one'. The way it rolled gave it away, no doubt so Dice could spot if the opponent was about to say the wrong answer and could react fast enough to still win.

Dice flicked the cup to the table, sending the cubes rolling again. His eyes still locked onto Sombra, his smile still in place. Though it soon disappeared as Sombra's large grin stretched across his face. For a second Dice thought about looking at the dice to make sure everything was alright but decided against it. Instead he began to read Sombra's lips and speak out he answer faster than him. 

"Se-"

"Seven." Dice said triumphantly. 

"-Nake eyes." Sombra finished with a smile. 

"S-Snake eyes?" Dice asked as he looked over at the cubes. He sat on his chair in disbelief as Sombra stood up and grabbed onto the dice. 

"You know, when two 'ones' come out of a pair, it's snake eyes." Sombra chuckled softly as he showed him the dice and gently placed them back on his cup before walking away. As he did, Dice shook out of his shock and called out.

"H-Hey, what about your bits? Don't you want them?"

"Nah." Sombra said as he waved his hoof in dismissal. "I don't have any bits on me, so I had nothing to gamble with. After all, it's against the law."

"Y-You placed a bet without any bits?" 

"You could say...I took a gamble." Sombra said with a wink as he gestured for Twilight to follow him, leaving Dice back in the middle of everypony else, forced to clear his throat and continue on as if nothing had happened. 

They managed to make it far enough from the crowd of ponies for Sombra reverted back to his usual persona in peace. He let out a breath he wasn't aware he had been holding in and began to look around, ignoring Twilight's giggle.

"Well that showed him." She began as she came to a stop. "Hope he stops trying to show off his gambling skills now. Hmm? Sombra?"

Twilight looked up at the ever serious stallion. His eyes were looking around the street, as if searching desperately for something. Something very specific. 

"Is everything alright?"

"That guy, Dice. He didn't make me place my bit on the table like most gambling parties. He was also using a flashy trick to draw in attention from ponies around, probably having ponies from across town come see him. He wasn't trying to make a profit through gambling."

"And?"

"He was trying to get attention. Twilight, could you discreetly ask every pony to take inventory of their homes? Make sure nothing's missing?"

"Sure... but why? Dice might be a roguish fellow, but I don't think he'd put himself out like that if he was trying to steal something."

Sombra squinted his eyes as he noticed a nearby house with a second floor window open. The curtain by the window frame waved in the soft breeze, a breeze it would not have caught had it not been accidentally pulled out. 

"Start with that house over there."

"Are you sending me on some wild goose chase?" Twilight asked with a heavy tone of annoyance at being ignored. Sombra stopped and turned to look at her with a glare that froze her in place. His gaze softened up as he realized who he was talking and sighed before responding.

"For your sake, I hope it is."
> 22. Your Move
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Alright my little ponies." Cherilee said as she placed her chalk down. "Today's lesson is over. Class dismissed!"

At once the clamoring sound of colts and fillies wrapping up their belongings filled the air. The echo of their hooves and a flurry of laughter soon followed as everypony began to be on their way back to the main town. The Cutiemark Crusaders were easily distinguished from all the other from their happy hopping, almost immediately separating from the group to go their own way.

"What you did this morning was so awesome!" Scootaloo said as she finally came to a stop. 

"Yeah!" Applebloom agreed. "The look on Diamond Tiara's face when ya showed up on a Minotaur was worth a thousand apples!"

"Maybe more!" Scoots finished as she laughed. "How'd you meet the guy anyway?"

"His name is Iron Wall. And he's a friend of a friend, you know how that goes." Sweetie Belle said in a nervous smile. She didn't want to retell the story of last night's misadventure, more so because her friends would likely be upset for being left out. 

"Ya sound like yer sister."

"Do I? I think I sound more like Mister Sombra." Sweetie said as she placed a hoof to her chin. "My sister would probably say something like, 'Oh Darling, don't tell me you didn't expect me to have friends in high places, did you?', or something like that."

Applebloom and Scootaloo both snickered at her impersonation of Rarity. Smiling and bowing at her audience, Sweetie Belle looked over at one of the many trees surrounding them and suddenly remembered something. 

"You guys go on ahead." Sweetie said as began to walk off. "I just remembered something I have to do." 

"Huh? What's up?" Scootaloo asked after she stopped laughing, raising a curious brow at her friend. 

"Nothing big, don't worry about it." She replied, turning around and having a hoof goodbye before galloping away. 

"But ya promised we could copy yer homework!" Applebloom shouted. On reflex, she slammed both her fore hooves to her mouth as she felt a leering presence behind her. With a nervous laugh, she slowly turned around to see Cherilee looking down at her with a raised brow and narrowed eyes. 

"What she meant to say." Scootaloo said as she began to push her friend away. "Is that we promised we'd compare answers!"

Cherilee humored them and remained quiet as they left, but not without staring them down until they were out of sight. Sweetie Belle let out a soft giggle as she saw her friends make off in a dash. Returning to the matters at hoof, she focused her vision on the tree ahead and continued running.

Jumping and sliding on her hooves, she effortlessly spun and threw her saddle bag off of her just as she came to a stop in a sitting position, her back against the trunk of the tree. She quickly took out a small note book and pencil from the bag that landed next to her and began to jot down a number of things.

"Hiding spot number fifty-one." She said as she wrote. 

"Hiding spot?" A voice called out from above her.

"Yeah! I can't believe I didn't think about hiding in a tree! It's like hide and seek 101." Sweetie Belle said as she looked up. High above her on a tree branch laid Sombra. "If we ever get into another fight, wouldn't it be best if I hide while you do the fighting?"

Sombra's hind legs hung loosely to the side of the branch he was on while his fore hooves crossed over it to pillow his chin as he rested. A soft smile was seen stretching on his lips as he glanced at Sweetie Belle whose grin was as large as always. Though he soon grew serious as he noticed the bandage from earlier in the morning. 

Clearing his throat and pushing that thought aside, Sombra let himself fall to the side. He used one of his fore hooves to keep himself to hook himself into a more controlled decent. He landed right next to Sweetie Belle and quickly sat down beside her as he peeked at the notebook she had returned her attention to.

"When did you realize I was in the tree?"

"Since you got here." She replied, her eyes glued on the page as she bit down on her pencil.

"De verdad? Have I lost my touch?"

"Nah. No pony else noticed." Sweetie said as she finished her note and began to pack it in her bag again. 

"So how did you notice?"

"I just kept my mouth closed and eyes open." She finished with a sly smile.

"You've taken that to heart huh?" Sombra said as he chuckled lightly. He stood up and stretched his back as he waited for her to finish up.

"Yeah!" Sweetie Belle said as she threw her saddle bag over her back. "There's been a lot of things that I wouldn't notice before that I notice now!"

"Like what?" 

"Like how Miss Cherilee is always fidgeting with her mane when she's deep in thought, or how Applebloom will bite on her pencil's eraser when she's having trouble with a question. Or or or-"

Sweetie Belle stopped short of her sentence as she felt herself being levitated off the ground. Sombra habitually placed her on his back and began to walk back to town. Sweetie couldn't help but smile wide as she felt the familiar softness of his mane as she grabbed on to him.

"Yes, when you open your eyes to every detail, you start to notice the everyday and mundane as personal quirks of a pony. Soon you'll be able to read them and see a pony for who they really are."

"For who they truly are?"

"I mean to say, you'll be able to see what kind of pony somepony is simply by watching them. You won't even have to speak to them."

"Can you do that?"

"You bet."

"Cool! I wanna learn!"

Once more Sombra chuckled as he felt Sweetie adjust herself so she could throw her fore hoof forward in excitement. Shaking his head with a soft smile, he continued to walk out as she sat down and got comfortable.

"So what did you while I was at school?"

"I discovered a likely thief who has made Ponyville his next target." 

"You just can't stay out of trouble can you?" Sweetie teased. 

"Not in this town it seems."

"So did you catch him?"

"No. Half way through the investigation I came down with a terrible case of 'this isn't my job' syndrome and left it to Twilight instead." Sombra said as they entered town again. Sombra was almost surprised to see that no pony paid them much mind despite his strange appearance and the filly on his back. 

"Well, the afternoon isn't over yet. How are you going to spend the rest of your time off?"

"With you. I hate to say it, but all day today I was half bored to death. Things are more exciting when you're around."

"R-Really?" Sweetie Belle said in surprise. "I thought that you only came to pick me up cause Rarity told you to."

"And since when do I do as Rarity says?"

"Point taken." She finished with a smile. Somehow, the fact Sombra had chosen to remain by her side despite being free to do what he wanted only furthered the point she made to Luna. He cared about her, whether he wanted to admit it or not. Though knowing him, he'd likely never admit it.

Their walk continued. They had no real destination, just aimlessly wondering through town to see what was going on. Though Sombra had already done this earlier, with Sweetie Belle around, things suddenly became more pleasant. Instead of feeling like an outsider who was sneaking around town, he felt it more as a tour with the filly as his guide. Their talks mirrored those of the previous day in Canterlot. Each would make a remark on something and the other would follow up with a question or answer.

Soon, their walk led them to the edge of town. The number of ponies around quickly declined as more and more trees came into view. 

"The park is so pretty in the fall here. With the leaves falling and all." Sweetie Belle said as they ventured out to the small outing they called a park. It was nothing more than some paved paths that interconnected. Statues, bird baths, and benches decorated the park and gave it a more lively feel despite its barrenness.

"And what season it is now?"

"Can't you tell? It's spring!"

"The entire year at the Crystal Empire was basically a different variation of the same season.  Winter, winter with extra ice, and winter with extra snow. Not much in my memory about spring. Or fall. Definitely not about summer."

"You must have been cold a lot then."

"You get used to it. After all, hardships like that only strengthen you." 

"I always just thought hardships meant your life sucked." Sweetie Belle said as she slumped down onto Sombra's head. Her tone and gesture had obvious indications to some event in her past. Sombra thought about asking her but decided against it. Instead, he took a deep breath and peered over at the calm atmosphere around them.

He looked around. He looked for something that might aid him comforting the filly, but the only thing in sight was a statue. His mind clicked and he began to make his way to it as he put this thoughts into words. 

"Sweetie Belle. Look here." Sombra said as he placed her on the ground. He gestured to the stone statue so she might perhaps see some value in it. "What do you see?"

"Umm. I see an old statue."

"Look closely. What is it?"

Sweetie Belle looked back and forth between the statue and him. Taking a deep breath, she did was she was accustomed to and began to focus at the object, following Sombra's teachings. She noticed a variety of things. Scratches. Indentions. Mold build up. Even a few cracks. 

"It's just an old statue. Nothing special about it. Well, it is pretty. Or was. Time hasn't been kind to it." Sweetie said as she finally looked back to Sombra.

"How long has it been here?"

"If I had to guess, since Ponyville was founded. Like, a hundred moons ago."

"And you think any old stone would have lived this long? Remained still and stoic, keeping its posture like this?"

"Umm." She began as she re-inspected the statue.  "Well, it does seem like it's been through some hardships. Is that what you want me to see?"

"What was this statue before it was shaped like this?"

"Just a big rock I guess."

"And somepony began to chisel at it to give it shape, no?"

"Well, yeah."

"So tell me, do you think it was pleasant to have your being chiseled at? Have small parts of you break off repeatedly?"

"No..." Sweetie said as she took a step back, suddenly disturbed at the thought. "That sounds painful..."

"I'm sure it was. Yet the stone endured. It endured the hardship of the chisel. Endured the rasps and riffles afterward. Even after that, endure the polishing and transportation to where we see it today."

"That's...a lot of hardships."

"Yes. Yet here it is. After all those hardships it stand in this park. A beautiful statue. Though time has taken its toll on it, it remains. Had it been the rough stone it was before the hardships it faced, it would not have survived those hundred moons, but because it did, it became stronger."

"So you're saying that even though it went through pain, it now stands stronger because of it?"

"Yes Sweetie Belle." Sombra said as he picked her up. "For you see, in this world, one must take everything that is given to them. Only by knowing sadness can somepony truly appreciate happiness. And only through pain and turmoil will they stand stronger against it next time it comes. To stand ready and face it head on."

He nuzzled her head against his as he said the last line, getting a few giggles from her. The ails she had felt had completely vanished at the affection. Sweetie Belle quickly hugged him tightly before pulling away. 

"Whatever you faced yesterday has made you stronger today. Whatever you face today, will make you stronger for tomorrow."

"What if whatever I face today kills me?" She asked, her expression returning to a saddened one. He frowned at her question, but quickly responded.

"I would be there to make sure it doesn't." Sombra said softly. 

"Like a parent protecting his child?" Sweetie asked after a short pause, hesitant to use that particular metaphor. Sombra took a moment to look her over. He knew what she was trying to suggest. He wanted to say otherwise, but he didn't. He couldn't. Truth be told, it was probably true anyway.

"Yes. Like a father caring for his daughter." He said as he embraced her once more before putting her down. 

She smiled at him. He smiled back. It was a stare that lasted a while. Perhaps too long for Sombra as he soon felt a little embarrassed at Sweetie's happy gaze. Clearing his throat, he looked away and began to think of a way to keep the afternoon going and forget what had just happened.

"We uh, we should probably get going."

"Okay!" Sweetie Belle shouted with a gleeful smile. She quickly turned around and ran off, stopping momentarily to wait for Sombra to follow suit. "Come on, I know of a neat little place here in the park!"


<=•=>


"So you're saying nothing is missing?" Twilight asked as she visited the fourteenth home in Ponyville. Her search had run her dry and had long ago thought it a fool's errand to continue the investigation Sombra had proposed, yet something deep inside her told her to keep going.

"Nope. We checked everything like you asked Princess." The pony said as she walked over to Twilight currently sitting on her couch where she waited for her to finish her inventory. "Why? Did something get stolen?"

"No no, I'm just..." Twilight said as she stood up. Sighing and looking defeated, she began to walk to the mare. "I was just acting on a hunch. I'm glad everything is alright though. I'd hate for somepony to lose something valuable to them."

"Well, I'm happy you cared enough to ask around. All of Ponyville is lucky that we have such a thoughtful Princess in the neighborhood."

"There's Princess Celestia and Princess Luna too you know." Twilight said as she waved a hoof in dismissal, embarrassed by the sudden praise she was getting.

"Yes, except that they live in Canterlot and you live down the block." The mare mused with a smile. Twilight returned the gesture and began to make for the door. She was just moments from opening it and saying goodbye before she heard a colt cry from the second floor.

"Mooooom!" The child shouted as he ran downstairs. "Where's Grandpa's old sword?"

"What dear?" The mare asked as she turned to her kid. 

"Grandpa's old sword from when he was a guard at that one thing-a-majig he always goes on about. I told my friends about it and wanted to see it. But I can't find it in the attic anywhere!"

"That's odd." The mare said as she pondered any other places she might have put it by mistake. "Maybe you just missed it or something cause I'm sure I put it there. I just saw it last week."

"Nuh uh! I looked everywhere!" He shouted back, offended his mother would even suggest that as a possibility.

"Excuse me." Twilight interrupted as she stepped closer.

"Yes?"

"This sword. Think it would be worth a lot?"

"Why yes. My father was part of an old mercenary group that worked as guards for the rich and powerful long ago. It was custom made for his guild and even among all the guild, it was rare for one of them to get it. That being said, each one that received one of the swords would sooner lose a limb than lose it. Because of its rarity, I'm sure it would be worth a lot."

The mare said as she began to recall all the stories her father used to tell her. Half way through her thoughts she realized what Twilight was truly asking. With a sudden shock of realization, she turned to face her Princess. 

"Y-You don't think..."

"I'm...afraid so." Twilight responded with a grimace.


<=•=>


Sweetie Belle finally ended her trot with Sombra close behind. Just a few meters ahead were a group of older ponies all sitting down in pairs playing chess. Each stable was neatly structured as if a class room. Row after row was filled with ponies who remained silent as they moved one of their pieces after another. There were a few spectators, but those were rare and wouldn't stay long. 

"This is where I first learned about chess." Sweetie Belle said as she walked closer to the elderly ponies.

"I see." Sombra said as he followed. He briefly glanced at each chess board as they walked between the rows. He could instantly see who would win each game. Unfortunately, there was no real match making involved and most were paired with either a too skilled opponent, or one not skilled enough.

"Hello Mister Cornstalk." Sweetie said as she hopped at one of the tables. The pony's face instantly shined as he saw her walk to him.

"Oh well there little Silly Yell." He said in an old shivering voice. 

"It's Sweetie Belle!" She said back in a smile.

"Right right, I'm sorry Chili Smell. My hearing isn't what it used to be."

"Hehe, it's okay." She said with a nervous laugh, forgiving him getting her name wrong once more.

"Hey!" Cornstalk's opponent yelled. "It's your turn. Get on with it, I want my fifteenth win of the day." 

"Right, sorry." Cornstalk said, dismissing the pony's aggressive shout. Clearly it was something he and all those around them were used to. "You're always so good at chess."

"Damn right I am. Ain't no pony here that can beat me." He responded, puffing out his chest and wearing a smirk that almost made Sombra break out of his bystander persona. 

Sweetie looked over at the board in front of her. Her friend was losing pretty badly, down several pieces, while the enemy was quickly encroaching on his king. Looking back and both between the black and the white pieces, she squinted her eyes as she thought about what Cornstalk's next move should be. 

"Mister Cornstalk, everything okay?" She asked as she noticed the hesitance in her friend to make a move.

"Uhhh. Yeah, I think I should just forfeit though. Doesn't seem like I can win."

"Damn right!"

Hearing the other pony boast with such arrogance annoyed Sweetie Belle, making her throw a soft glare at him briefly. 

"Then can I take over?" Sweetie asked.

"Take over? It's a losing game girl." The pony shouted. 

"I have to agree, this guy is pretty tough. I wouldn't want you to lose because of me." Cornstalk said as he looked over at her. "You sure you want to play?" 

"The game's not over until a King falls." Sweetie Belle said with a nod. "Right Mister Sombra?"

"Absolutely." He replied, only fueling her confidence. Hesitantly, Cornstalk stood up and allowed Sweetie to sit down where she immediately  began to look over all her options. 

Cornstalk went to spectate along with Sombra, though seemed a little guilty about dumping the losing game on Sweetie Belle. As he looked over at the dark stallion, he noticed a smile on his face as his eyes moved back and both across the board. Sweetie made her move. The move Sombra himself would have made in that situation.

"You're going to regret this girl." The boastful pony said as he moved a piece. "I'll teach you not to stick your nose where it don't belong."

Sweetie Belle didn't respond, only smiled as she moved her piece, capturing the enemy bishop. 

"While we're on the subject of teaching, perhaps I can teach you some humility." She said with a saucy smile as she gestured at him with his bishop in hoof. 

Sombra chuckled as the game went on. Piece by piece, Sweetie Belle slowly turned the tide of the game. Each move she made was the perfect choice and the growing anger from her opponent only made it easier for her. He was getting sloppy.

"What?!" The pony shouted as he slammed his hooves on the table, glaring over at the chess board in front of him. "How did you take my queen?!"

"Cause you left it open." Sweetie replied before making another move. There was now a crowd forming around them. Those that had finished their games were now surrounding them and watching the show.

"Why you..." He began before falling back into his seat. A dastardly smile stretched over his face as he began to plot what to do to 'turn things around'. "I must hoof it to you. You're better than I expected. But you still haven't won."

"Not yet. You still have to make your move." Sweetie Belle said with a smile that only annoyed him further. 

Leaning back in his chair, the pony planned on 'accidentally' kicking the leg of the table hard enough to break it. The table would fall over and all the pieces would be knocked out of place. They wouldn't be able to get them back where they were and would have to abandon the game as a tie. Sombra noticed his strange movement and began to back away into the crowd. 

Out of the immediate sight of anypony around him, he let out small purple embers from his eyes as he began to use his dark magic. Sweetie's opponent went ahead with his plan and bucked the leg of the table, but to his surprise, it was he who felt pain as his hoof made contact. Screaming out in pain, he fell off his chair to see what had happened.

"What's wrong?" Sombra asked as he stepped forward. "Hit your hoof on something?"

The pony looked over at the table and noticed it was now encased in some kind dark crystal. At the strength he had kicked with, he ended up hurting himself and done absolutely nothing to the table in the process. Sweetie looked over to the side and gasps as she realized what would have happened had the crystal not been there. Exchanging glances with Sombra, he winked at her to tell her everything was alright.

"W-When did that-" The pony said as he placed one of his fore hooves on the table to help balance himself. In doing so, he nudged over one of his pieces into a viable place.

"Oh look." Sombra said as he turned to the board. "It appears he has made his move."

The pony could only look in horror as he saw Sweetie Belle take her opportunity and move her rook into place. 

"Checkmate!" She cheered as she threw her hooves up in celebration. The ponies around them all began to stomp their hooves to congratulate her in her victory. 

"That was amazing!" One of the spectators said as she stepped closer. "I've never seen anypony make a comeback like that! Can I play you next?"

"No no! Play me next!" Another pony shouted as he jumped up to be seen from out of the crowd. Sweetie Belle was at a loss for words, all the attention was surprising and didn't know what to say. Instead, she looked over at Sombra. She wanted to play but felt bad to leave Sombra waiting longer.

He smiled back at her and opened his mouth to speak, but just as he did, he felt a chilling presence around him. He looked back and narrowed his eyes at the trees around them. There was a light sound of leaves shuffling in the distance that only brought about more concern for him as he looked around.

"Go ahead and play Sweetie Belle." Sombra said as he looked back at her. "I need to go do something really quick."

"Okay!" Sweetie said as she turned to the crowd. "Now who wanted to play?"

Sombra heard dozens of ponies shout out 'me me!' as he walked away. It made him smile at how well Sweetie Belle was being received, but it also meant he had plenty of time to look into what it was he had felt. All he knew for certain is that somepony was trying to spy on him, though he already had a pretty good idea of what to look for. 
> 23. Beast
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With the sounds of the busy streets of Ponyville once again within earshot, Sombra hurried along the edge of town. Under normal circumstances, he would slow down and carefully proceed, but time was not on his side. The now lowering sun overhead was testament that the afternoon was coming to an end, and with it, his temporary freedom from the curse's bind.  

He hadn't lost all of his composure however. Sombra took his time to look around at everypony that passed him by. He looked for signs of any kind that might lead him to find the pony that had been spying on him, not that it was helping much. Everypony was clean, not a single leaf or scratch on them to tell him otherwise. 

"Nothing..." Sombra said softly as he finally came to a stop near a corner. He looked to his side to notice a street lamp light up for the upcoming nightfall. Certainly it meant it was about time he returned to Sweetie Belle. With a reluctant sigh, he lifted his hoof to begin his travel back.

"Well look who we have here!" A voice said as Sombra was about to walk away. He immediately took on his happy persona to match the voice's attitude. 

"Dice!" Sombra said with a smile as he turned to the voice he recognized in a heartbeat. 

"I see you're still around. I had almost thought you'd left town." Dice said as he came over to talk face to face with Sombra.

"And what in the world would ever make you think that?" Sombra asked as he raised a brow.

For a fraction of a second, Dice's gleeful eyes sharpened into a glare. Had Sombra blinked, he might have missed him doing so. It shocked him for a second to see the docile stallion give him a death stare, but at the same time, he had expected him to be a monster underneath his happy facade, much like himself at times. 

"Nothing in particular." Dice said once he returned to his joyful self. 

Sombra quickly understood what his 'friend' was trying to do. That was no slip up, he was trying to intimidate him into a retreat, no doubt he's figured out he was on to him. A simple warning to let him know he should stay out of his way.

Sombra weighed his options, more importantly, his desire to simply end the charade and break his legs. It would certainly do everypony a favor if he did. Yet even now, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. It was like a pair of eyes were lingering in the shadows, watching them with a killing intent. 

Ponies around them began to take notice of the two facing off with smiles. Despite the expression they both shared, the almost sinister aura they gave off unnerved those that looked their way. At the drop of a coin, both would attack with a killing strike, no doubt Dice had a few tricks up his sleeve to insure his victory if things came down to it. With the sun coming ever closer towards the horizon, Sombra had little time to hesitate. If he was to act, he had to act now.

"Hi!" A voice shouted as a messy pink mane sprung up between them, quickly diffusing the tense atmosphere, or rather, replacing it with shock. 

Sombra took a step back in surprise and quickly looked over at the newcomer. With her mane bouncing as she turned her head, Pinkie Pie smiled as she looked back and forth between the two stallions still staring dumbfounded by her interruption.

"I'm soooo happy I could finally meet you two!" Pinkie said as she jumped up and down a few times before turning to Sombra. "Especially you!"

"M-Me?" He asked as she tried to regain his composure, a small sweat droplet  sliding down the side of his cheek. 

"Yeah! You've been in Ponyville for like an entire week!" Pinkie screamed, her hooves at her cheeks as she stretched them down at how devastating it was for her to wait so long to meet him. "But I just couldn't find the time to come see you!"

"I-I see." Sombra said, still trying to comprehend the mare. 

"And you!" Pinkie once again shouted as she turned back at Dice, catching him in a less than subtle retreat. "I've seen you all over town today and you wouldn't stop to chat! Though...you look a little different now from what I think about it." She finished as she poked her mouth with her hoof, looking him up and down a few times. 

"Right, well." Dice began as he slowly walked backwards, he too was having trouble knowing how to react to her. "Like back then, I have stuff to do. I'll just have to catch you guys later!" He said with a smile before turning and walking away, doing all he could to quickly escape the mare's gaze. 

Pinkie giggled at how quickly Dice was walking away. Carrying on with the mood, she raised her hoof high above her head as she waved good bye at the stallion turning the corner. As Dice come out of line of sight, she switched her attention at Sombra who put up a smile if only to keep his persona up.

"Oh, you don't have to do that silly!" Pinkie said as she gestured her hoof at him before laughing.

"Do what?"

"Pretend you're somepony you're not. Duh." She said as she began to walk away. "I can see right through you!" Pinkie finished with a wink before beginning to hop away, returning to whatever she was doing before hoof. 

Once more Sombra remained speechless as he watched the mare go. How could she see through his fake persona? No other pony could.  Could it be that the only reason she even popped up was to prevent the inevitable fight between him and Dice had she left it alone? Could she even predict such a thing, let alone know how to calm the atmosphere? Letting out a sigh, Sombra decided to simply let it go, he had other matters to attend to. 

Sombra turned around and began walking down the street back to the park. His pace was almost intentionally slow. Perhaps he subconsciously thought that the more he postponed his return to Sweetie Belle the more time he would have to be 'free'. It's not that he didn't wish to return to his bind. If anything, the only frustrating thing about it is that he was going back without accomplishing anything the entire afternoon. 

His muscles soon felt a decline in strength. The sun was down and it was clear his shackles of his curse were being placed back on him. First his physical strength drained from his body. It certainly made his walk more difficult on him. 

His sixth sense began to dull as well. He could almost describe relying on just his sight and hearing as being stripped of his senses entirely. Finally, the last thing that left him was his magic. The power that surged through his veins was no longer there. It was once again locked behind chain after chain of his curse. Now more than ever, he felt weak. 

With his head down and his eyes dulled in an almost lifeless shade of red, Sombra slowly moved one hoof after the other. With his eyes set on the dirt road underneath him, he almost had to force himself forward. He had to give himself a reason to not just let himself fall and rest his tired body. 

"Mister Sombra?" Sweetie Belle asked out as she came into view of him. At once, Sombra raised his head, his ears twitching at the sound of her voice. With a large grin on her face, Sweetie made her way to him. He found a reason.

Sombra immediately smiled at seeing her and straightened his posture, waiting for her to come to him. For a moment, he forgot about how weak he felt and by the time he realized it, Sweetie Belle was now close enough as to not matter anymore. 

"Done already?" He asked as he kneeled down to let her climb onto his back.

"Yeah... I lost."

"Really? But you beat the best guy in the park." Sombra said as he turned his head to see her get comfortable before walking towards the Boutique. 

"Well I got a little carried away. I was thinking five turns ahead and forgot to think about the turn I was in..." Sweetie said, looking away in slight embarrassment. Sombra chuckled, causing her to narrow her eyes and puff out her cheeks in anger. 

"That's why you should take every game seriously, not just when you play against bullies."

"I'm surprised I won against that guy though. I was so nervous through most of the game." Sweetie said as she  climbed higher into Sombra head, gently resting on his soft mane as they moved across town. "I just kinda bluffed my way through most of it."

"Nervous or not, I knew you were going to win." 

"Why?"

"Cause you're better than him. Simple as that."

Sweetie Belle propped her head on her fore hooves as she now basically laid entirely on Sombra's head. If they were easy to spot before, it was even more apparent now with such a strange sight to see. Neither of them really cared though, instead they continued to make their way home.

"But how did you know? I never once won a game against you."

"Of course you didn't. You're a thousand years too young to go against me head to head." Sombra said with a smirk that irritated the filly. "But that doesn't mean you're bad. You've improved drastically since we first began. I've seen you grow and expand your strategy. Seen you become better and better. That being said, I know each of your moves so I can counter easily. But it only makes you better as a player to be challenged."

"So..." Sweetie said as she looked down at Sombra. "You're saying the hardships I faced when playing against you made me stronger for when I played them? Neat."

"You really like quoting me, don't you?"

"Heheh, yeah."

Sombra smiled and returned his gaze to the path ahead, or lack thereof. They were now in front of the Carousel Boutique and were just in time to see the last customer of the day leave the building. Sweetie greeted her and though the mare gave them a strange look for how she was on Sombra, simply giggled and walked away.

As they walked in, Sombra looked up at the sky. No doubt it will the time to sleep would come soon, and with it another dream that might shed some more light on his past. But why wait? He'd forced a dream before, perhaps he could do it again. All he needs is to gain some distance from Sweetie Belle and close his eyes. 

Stepping into the ceramic flooring of the boutique, they were quickly met with a messy array of dresses thrown every which way. No doubt Rarity had a good day of business showing them off to somepony important. That, or a hurricane passed by and luckily only disturbed the dresses. Though considering the strange things that happen around Ponyville, either were just as likely. 

"Oh hello~!" Rarity said in a singing like voice as she did her best to put things away just barely being able to tell who had walked in. "How was your day?"

"Great! I beat up ponies and stole their lunch money." Sweetie shouted out loudly as she jumped off her dark guardian, quickly getting Sombra's attention as he raised his brows at her comment. 

"That's great darling. I made something to eat, help yourself." Rarity said as she kept her eyes glued on her dresses, not even bothered by what her sister had just said. 

"Oh Rarity." Sweetie said with a giggle before turning to Sombra. "She pretends like she's paying attention, but when it comes to her dresses, her head is always off in some faraway place."

"I-I see." Sombra said softly as he watched the filly run to the kitchen. 

"Not coming?" She asked as she reached the door frame to her destination.

"No, I think I'll just head to bed." Sombra said as he waved his hoof for her to go on ahead. 

"Long day?"

"You could say that." Sombra said as he walked over to the staircase before turning to see Sweetie Belle still watching from the door frame. She quickly waved her hoof bye with a grin on her face. He returned the gesture and began his climb to his room. He wanted to get some distance from her.

As he made it to the second floor, he could hear a loud banging of plates and bowls as the filly looked for something to eat with. Stopping where he was, Sombra thought that maybe perhaps he should have stayed with her just to make sure nothing broke in the process.  

Pushing away his afterthought, he continued to on to his room where his bed waited for him. More importantly, his dreams. Leaning on the wall as he entered, Sombra staggered at feeling of his body weaken. It was almost embarrassing so see himself struggle so much after such a short distance away from his 'master'. Celestia forbid he is ever forced to.

With a few grunts, Sombra finally managed to drag himself into bed. His eyelids almost immediately closed. A welcomed feeling of rest overwhelmed him as Sombra did his best to direct his thoughts into a dream. 


<=•=>


Sombra's vision faded to white as the world around him flashed different colors. He found himself in the strange abyss of his dreams. Being his second go at producing a dream, he took things a step forward from last time and instead of letting his subconscious run on its own, he produced things around him. 

Using what memory he had of his dreams, he started where he could. He gritted his teeth as he forced his dream to produce the cabin from before. The forest around it quickly followed and with it, came the night sky and the gentle light of the stars and moon. It was strange, however, last time it was day time when he dreamed this.

Sombra tried his best to keep still as the world around him settled on the scene. Was this the same dream as last time? Or perhaps something else. No, it was definitely different. The image of himself running towards the cabin was proof enough. He was no longer just dreaming, he was a bystander of his memory. Somehow, however, he couldn't shake the feeling that the rumbling up above wasn't a storm coming.

Sombra followed his dream self towards the cabin. For some reason, this version of him had a spiral horn and his eyes were blue, not red. Was his dream wrong? Or did something happen that changed him into what he was now.

The dream Sombra tackled the door and broke in. He stumbled forward and after shaking his head to clear the daze, stood up and continued on his path to another room. Sombra followed, but as he stepped in, noticed the dark interior changed all together. It was now day and sitting on the ground was his past self and a mare talking.

"Just a few more months." She said as she rubbed her large belly.

"Yeah." The dream Sombra said as he scooted closer to place a fore hoof around her. "Don't worry, I'll get the bits we need in no time. Lo prometo."

Sombra blinked in confusion at the couple. The change of atmosphere was just too drastic, but given the shift in time of day, he quickly understood it wasn't the same scene as before. Perhaps two memories were trying to merge into one? 

"Maybe it's because I forced a dream again." Sombra said to himself as he took a few steps back. "My memories are less stable when I draw them out." He began his retreat back through the front door as his kept his eyes on his 'family'. Was it really his family? That was definitely the mare he called out for during his last dream. His daughter's mother. 

Suddenly he began to hear the rumbling from before become louder as he reached the outside. Sombra lifted his head in time to see the sky above him now begin to crack like glass under pressure. His eyes opened wide as she saw shards and fractures begin to form, each one having a different time of day. As if that wasn't enough to worry him, the growling behind him did the job.

Sombra quickly jumped to the side as he turned to see what was making the noise. It was once again the beast from his dream. With its fangs bared out at him, it placed one paw forward as its dark fur waved in the breeze around him. It held the body of a lion, but with those sharp red eyes, it was some other monstrosity. 

Too many things were happening at once, Sombra had little time to process any of it, let alone understand what was happening. The memories, his past self, the sky, even this beast. Everything was foreign and beyond his comprehension. However, he understood one thing. The beast's blood red eyes seemed to be completely focused on him.

"C-Can you see me?" Sombra asked as he felt a bead of sweat run down his forehead. He had never felt fear like this before. Much less from something so...mundane. It was just a beast of the forest. He could easily overpower it. Yet seeing it instilled fear in him. A fear he felt stemmed from something else. What was worse, is that it was beginning to make his way to him. 

In a powerful roar, the lion like creature pounced forward at him. Sombra's reaction was slow, but he managed to side step fast enough to avoid the assault. He wanted to fight back, he wanted to cast out his magic, but he couldn't. He wasn't even able to light his eyes in flames. 

Again the beast turned to look at Sombra. Each step it could matched the screeching sound of the sky cracking further and further. Sombra's breathing became heavy as he felt his heart race and his fur stand on its ends. The beast was ready to attack again. 

"Enough!" A thundering voice shouted from high above. In a blinding light, a figure descended from the shattering sky and cast out a beam of energy at the beast just before jumping towards Sombra. 

Taking short quick breaths, Sombra took a moment to regain his composure before looking up at the mare now standing before him. She didn't seem to happy.

"Hello Luna." He said softly.

"Hello? Is that all I get for saving your dirty little plot?" She shouted back in a haughty tone.

"I was fine. Not like I can die in a dream."

"I wasn't talking about that." Luna said as she raised a hoof to the sky. "I'm talking about that!"

Turning his gaze upward, Sombra looked once again at the broken sky. The constant rumbling emanating from it had come to end but it remained cracked to the point even the gentlest of touches would make it break completely.

"What about the sky? It's a memory, no?"

"No." Luna said with annoyed eyes. "It's your mind."

"My mind?"

"Ever wonder how it looks like from the inside of your head when you get those headaches? That's how."

"You mean that those cracks are the pain I feel when I try to relive my memories?" Sombra asked as he looked at how badly it remained broken. 

"Yes. Had I arrived even a second too late, your mind would have shattered into a million tiny pieces." Luna said as she placed great emphasis on the last part, clearly not too thrilled about having to come to his rescue like this.

"Well..." Sombra said as he returned his gaze to Luna. Her heavy frown and leering eyes told him all he needed to know. "Maybe I really should thank you then. Sorry for troubling you like that. Thank you for saving me."

"You should do more than thank me!" Luna shouted as she looked away. "I told you I'd help you retrieve your forgotten past, yet here you are on your own. Not only did you ignore me, you ventured into my domain! It is Us who holds power over thine dreams. Do not forget it!"

"Okay okay." Sombra said as he rolled his eyes, quickly getting a spiteful glare from Luna. "I'm sorry, alright? But can you blame me for trying to understand who I am as quickly as possible? Being stranded like this can be tedious. I just wanted some answers."

For a moment, Luna forgot how upset she was at him. Instead she saw the sincere sadness he invoked into the world around him. This being his dream, his emotions heavily influenced the state of the dream. 

The grass they were standing on began to blow to the side as a gentle breeze carried them. The moon now positioned itself up high as clouds began to hide its light. Small drops of rain began to fall as cold reminders of the tears Sombra would not allow himself to shed. This, what little fracture of a world it may be, was Sombra's subconscious and it was close to breaking apart. 

Taking a deep breath, Luna waved her hoof to take control of the dream and quickly dissipated the clouds of rain to rid the atmosphere of the negative mournful feeling. 

"Alright, I forgive you. But do try keep from letting this happen again. I doubt your mind could take it." She said as she made her way over to him. 

"So you'll still help me?"

"I will not go back on my word. I shall aid you as far as I can, but do not ask a miracle of me." She replied in a sassy tone again, though it seemed more welcomed this time around. Sombra could definitely use her help with this. "But first, let's do something about this dreadful sky shall we?"

Luna's horn began to glow as she extended her wings and took to the sky. Sombra raised his hoof to cover his vision from the light she was casting and, though it seemed to not help any. Even with his eyes completely covered, Sombra was still overwhelmed by her power. It was almost painful.

Luna did her best to end the process quickly, the grunts down below told her it was already taking its toll on Sombra. Then again, putting one's mind back together after it's been damaged so badly isn't exactly painless. It could only be described as using a rusty needle to sow together a hole in an old, worn out piece of fragile fabric. Any wrong move or sudden pull could potentially tear the entire piece. She had to be very precise in her movements.

Suddenly the light ended and Sombra went from being blinded by white, to seeing nothing but black. His eyes did their best to adjust back to seeing normally, but it took time for him to understand the world around him. 

"What the..." Sombra said softly as he looked around with squinting eyes. 

The cabin that had been near them was gone and was instead replaced by a raging snow storm. The forest was still there behind them, though whether or not that was the same forest he couldn't tell. All he knew was that this was not the memory he had forced out. 

"Where are we?" He asked as Luna landed next to him.

"We cannot force your mind to remember these locked memories of yours. It will break you as you've already witnessed. We must let your subconscious lead us instead."

"So what are we seeing now?"

"Most likely the first memory you are unable to recall chronologically."

"So you mean..." Sombra said as he noticed his past self walking into the raging storm his horn was a red spike like his is now. It was definitely a version of him that went through a powerfully damaging event. The blood lust in his crimson eyes proved it.

"This would be the day before you were coronated as King of the Crystal Empire." Luna said as she moved forward, following the dream Sombra in his path into the winter wasteland. Sombra began to follow as well, though was hesitant to take that first step. 

His heart was beating uncontrollably. It was difficult to know why, it wasn't fear, it wasn't thrill. It was something else. Something he couldn't explain. It was just... A desire to find something. A desire so strong, so heavy in emotion his heart could burst out of his chest. 

Was what his dream self was feeling bleeding into him? What exactly happened to him all those years ago that made him change so drastically? Why are his eyes red and his horn a spike? Why is he on this mission to find something, likely the very stone he is looking for to this day? Who is he?

Only one way to find out.

"Luna, wait for me."


▂▃▅▇█▓▒░۩ Arc 1 End ۩░▒▓█▇▅▃▂

> 24. "I am King Sombra."
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


▂▃▅▇█▓▒░۩ Arc 2 Start ۩░▒▓█▇▅▃▂


"Mister Sombra!" Sweetie Belle asked out as she climbed the steps to the second floor. With her chessboard and its pieces levitating overhead, she quickly turned the corner to Sombra's 'room'. The smile on her face remained constant as she knocked on the door before stepping back and bouncing in place with anticipation. 

A moment passed and there was no response. Sweetie Belle tried again and this time placed the board game on the ground next to her a she patiently waited. Once more, nothing. Her smile faded and her happy expression was replaced by one of confusion with an arched brow. 

"Mister Sombra?" She asked as she stepped closer to the door. "Are you sleeping?"

Curiosity made her press the side of her head against the door as she listened in for something, anything that hinted that her faithful guardian was alright on the other side. To her surprise, however, she heard a rather powerful grunt of pain originate from the other side. The door muffled it, so it was soft and easy to miss if you didn't know what to look for, but her ears managed to catch it and it filled her heart with dread.

Quickly jumping back and using her magic to open the door, Sweetie Belle ran into the room to see Sombra lay on his bed, his head pressed under one hoof. Whispered grunts escape him as he slept, only causing her more concern as she slowly made her way to him.

"Mister Sombra?... Are you okay?" She asked as she reached the bedside, though hesitant to move forward now that she saw his pained expression. It was as she expected, no response.  Just the muffled screams of pain as his body subconsciously held onto his head from what seemed like a horrible headache. 

Sweetie Belle stepped back as Sombra let out a particularly loud grunt. He stirred in his bed and accidently allowed his other hoof to hang from the side. She looked over at it and began to reach for him. As she got close, Sombra twitched in pain again, causing her to pull back. He continued to stir in his sleep until he finally managed to turn his body around and face away from her where he calmed down and slept quietly. 

Sweetie sighed and sat on the ground. She wanted to help, not that she knew any way to do so. It was frustrating, more so because she feared anything she did might make it worse. Instead she sat quietly by the side of his bed, her mind racing for an answer. Her eyes were fixated on his back and the sudden jolts of pain he went through. 

She remained quiet as she looked at him. All this time he was there to help her when she needed it, but now she was powerless to return the favor. It irritated her to know all she could do was sit on the sidelines like always and let him bear the struggle on his own. The dark emotions filled her mind and lit her eyes with purple embers, a light she quickly noticed in the dark room.

An idea popped into her head and she quickly looked down at the floor as her eyes narrowed on a single point. Gritting her teeth, the small purple embers lit brighter at the side of her eyes as she began to cast out her magic. At the point she was concentrating on, a black crystal began to sprout. 

She continued to let it grow until it was adequate size. As soon as it reached that point, she stopped, though mostly because of exhaustion. To be fair, it did feel easier than last time, but she wasn't really focused on her magic, instead she switched attention to the crystal and slowly began to pick at it. 

Her hooves were rather fragile, as any filly's hooves would be. But she didn't care how much they would be damaged or the screaming she might hear from Rarity. All she cared about was carving and giving that crystal shape. A shape that she was all too accustomed to see. After all, if she ever needed to recall how the object she was carving looked like, all she had to do was glance over at the chess pieces sitting on the floor. 


<=•=>



Mister Sombra


Sombra slowly turned his head to the sky above as he heard the soft echo enter his ears. His brows furrowed as he looked around for a clue as to where it had come from, though since it was no more than perhaps a whisper, it was hard to tell if he had heard anything at all.

"Sombra?" Luna's voice called out to him, quickly getting his attention. She remained still as she waited for him to catch up to her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I just thought I heard something." He quickly responded.

"We're flouting around in the memories of your subconscious. You'll likely hear a lot of strange things but it's best to ignore them or it will interfere with the memory we're witnessing." Luna said as Sombra came to her side, a worried expression on her face. One he chose to ignore. 

"Right, lo siento." He apologized in Spanish as he peered on over the cliff they positioned themselves to. Below was Sombra, the one living the harsh memory they were viewing. The icy winds peirced at his fur as he walked on through the thick snow and the relentless elements around him.

"I'm surprised you lived through that." Luna said as she looked down.

"I'm surprised I don't remember it." He concord before jumping down and sliding along the slant of the mountain, riding the snow down. 

Being that they were simply observing the events unfold, they were immune to the cold and the winds. It was more like if they were ghosts. Freely moving through the area, restrained only by how they perceived the ground around them.

Luna and Sombra continued to follow the dream Sombra as he marched in the cold. It was almost eerie to see him do so with no sign of stopping. He didn't rest or eat. Celestia knows just how long he had been walking, but any physical weakness he had was simply overwhelmed by the powerful will to move forward.

The dream Sombra's stagnant glare into the snow-shrouded land ahead made Luna a little uneasy, but it didn't even register in Sombra. Actually, one could say he even shared the expression. The same crimson eyes were dead set on the memory, eager to understand his past and put it to rest. 

The Sombra marching ahead didn't exactly have a destination. His sudden turns told them that much anyway. It was more like he was roaming while hoping to come across whatever he was after. It became the most apparent when he began to make his way towards a mountain he thought to climb. Perhaps if he looked from a high point he could figure out where he was and where to go next. 

Luna and Sombra kept close to the other Sombra. They followed in all of his hoof steps but kept completely quiet. It was more on Sombra's part than Luna's. Sometimes she would wonder if he even realized she was still there. Starting conversation with him was even more difficult when he looked at her with those eyes of his. The cold leer he let off was unsettling to her. 

As the dream Sombra climbed up, the real one couldn't help but notice how he was taking the most difficult route up. He was used to using his crystal magic for anything. He would often use it to throw himself up or create a structure he could use to help get to where he wanted, yet his past self was climbing like he had no said magic. Then again, he couldn't actually remember when he learned his magic or when it became such a huge part in his everyday life.

Finally reaching some sort of ledge, the dream Sombra climbed up to find the entrance to a cave. Without so much as a second thought, he walked in and continued his march. The duo followed suit, but not without exchanging glances at one another. It certainly would make for a good cover from the storm, yet there was something...odd about the cave.

There was no rest for Sombra, even now that he was out of the storm he continued down the cave's path in hopes of finding a way to the top. Suddenly a soft crackle resonated in the ground. Because of the icy tunnel they were in, the crackling was much louder than it might have been otherwise and it quickly caught the attention of the Sombras. Their ears twitched simultaneously as their hooves came to a stop at the same time. 

It was like a shadow of a shadow. Both Sombras turned to the ground to where the sound came from and remained in a locked stare as their eyes narrowed on it. Again the sound of cracking was heard and both quickly jumped away in time to avoid the stone ground caving in. 

The real Sombra leapt to a nearby wall and erected a small crystal spike to latch onto to avoid the collapse. The other Sombra was not so quick to do the same, or rather seemed unable to perform the same task. Instead he jumped from one spot to another, each time he landed the ground would begin to give in again in what seemed like an endless cycle.

"Sombra, you've no need to do that." Luna said as she 'walked' over to him. He had at first thought she was flying because of her elevation, but her folded wings said otherwise. She was standing in midair, one hoof extended to him to help him up.

"Right..." Sombra said as he grabbed on. She pulled him to her level and he hesitantly stood next to her in her unphysical platform. Together they watched the other Sombra struggle to remain on his hooves as more and more of the cavern collapsed underneath him. Before long, he was out of places to jump to.

Accepting his fate, the dream Sombra instead made one last jump so he could position himself and shot himself down into a clearing. His landing was less than graceful as his hooves failed to make the landing well enough to keep balance. Instead, Sombra slipped on the ice and rolled into a wall where a loud crash echoed in the cave. The wall itself cracked as he made contact, only adding to the destruction he had caused.

"Is...Is he alright?" Luna asked as she jumped down to the dream Sombra's level. 

"Of course he is. I'm here, that means this past version of me made it out fine." Sombra said as he joined her in looking at his unconscious self. "I suppose it was time for a break anyway. I doubt my body would have been able to endure much more of this."

"Falling asleep in the cold is dangerous." Luna said as she came close to inspect for any real injury. She knew full well she didn't need to, after all Sombra was correct in what he had said, but it was hard to ignore what laid right in front of her after what she had seen him do.

"My flames will keep me alive." Sombra said as he pointed to the embers at the side of his past self's eye lids. "It is strange though. With all of this going on, one would think I would have used my magic more adequately." 

"You mean your crystals?"

"Yes. It's like I'm out of practice."

"Or you haven't had the practice to begin with. Perhaps this is a time when you were new to the dark arts?"

"More like oblivious to it." Sombra said as he began to walk around and inspect the area. "Is this really the day before I was crowned? I seem much too inexperienced to what I do remember."

"What do you remember Sombra?" 

Sombra suddenly stopped as he heard her question. Up until now he had been hesitant to even try to recall any memory in fear of migraines, but that brought up the question of how far back he could actually remember. 

"I remember..." He began as he looked over at Luna. "A queen. The Queen of the Crystal Empire died and I took her place." As he did his best to recall the Queens face, he slowly began to picture her as Luna. Again his memory of the past and present seemed to mix into one. He shook his head to rid himself of the image.

"And when did this happen?" Luna asked. Sombra looked down and squinted his eyes as he looked for an answer. Another loud crash was heard elsewhere in the cave, quickly drawing Luna's attention. 

"Now." Sombra said as he finally looked up to see his past self begin to awaken. He quickly placed a hoof to his head as his mind began to fight the emerging memory. Again a cracking was heard, only this time it came from outside. The sky was beginning to crack again.

"Sombra!" Luna shouted as she came to his side. "We should stop here. If we go on we could-" 

"No..." He replied under his breath. "I can handle this much. Let's just follow my memory a little while longer."

"But-"

"Please. We're so close. I don't want to quit now." Sombra said as he lifted his gaze to her. His crimson eyes were like daggers piercing into her soul, yet not like he held any malice toward her, just pure determination. Chills ran up her spine as she made eye contact with him and she felt almost unable to disagree.

"A-Are you sure? If we make even the smallest mistake you could lose your mind."

"I've already lost everything else." Sombra said as he began to walk after his dream self who was now on his hooves and making his way to the crash from before. "No pony would mind if I lost myself here."

Luna remained still as she saw him go. Her throat felt dry and her mind was unable to produce the right words to say. Instead, she sighed and closed her eyes to calm herself. 

"I can think of one." She said softly before running to catch up with the Sombras. 

The dream Sombra struggled to keep himself balanced, but he pushed on like he had for the last few days. Before he realized, he heard muffled screams of pain from a close by pile of ice. He came to a stop and kneeled down close to it. 

"Some pony there?" He asked in a raspy voice. No doubt this was the first time he had spoken since his journey began. His only response was a gasp for air and more shouts. 

Luna and Sombra remained back a few meters so he could have a wall to lean on. His headache was getting worse by the second but he wouldn't quit. Especially now that he finally found her. The Queen he barely even remembered. Luna looked over at him with worried eyes but decided against saying anything. Instead, she focused her energy on keeping his mind in check. 

"P-Please... You have to help..." A mare's voice was faintly heard from under the rubble. The dream Sombra quickly began to look around to see if there was anything he could do, but as he weighed his options, he decided it would prove useless to even try to help. She was dead anyway.

"Lo siento." He said as he stood back up. "There's nothing I can-" He began, but his mouth shut as soon as he came to the last word. He was about to lie. He couldn't lie.

"Please..." The mare said again. 

In a frustrated growl, Sombra kneeled down again and began to pull chunks of ice from the rubble as quickly as he could. His sudden action confused the duo spectating. It was almost like if he been forced to help by some ungodly force. 

"No..." The mare said softly as Sombra pulled a particularly large piece of ice from the pile and managed to see the mare. She was crushed and her face bloodied. He could hardly keep her eyes open now that light finally hit her face. "Please...help my Empire..."

"Your what?" Sombra asked as he continued to work on getting ice off of her. His eyes were set in a spiteful glare as he tossed ice aside with his near frozen hooves. It was in his flurry of digging her out that he managed to release one of the mare's fore hooves from its confinement. She quickly used the opportunity to grab a hold of him and keep him still long enough to finally make eye contact.

She was a little off taken by his crimson eyes and the rampant flames coming out of them, but she pushed her fears aside and used what little time she had left to talk. Sombra too was surprised by her image. Her coat glowed in the light he created. Her eyes glimmered in the shape of a crystal. Her mane, though a mess now, was notably detailed and styled back with a silver crown. 

"I...I am the Queen of the Crystal Empire." She said softly. "My Empire is in grave peril. This snow storm came out of nowhere and has left our fields in disarray."

"This storm?" Sombra asked as he looked on at her. Her coat was beginning to dim as she spoke. 

"Yes. This was once a beautiful land with lush green fields. But when that demon passed through everything went to Tartarus. I came here to-" 

The Crystal Queen's sentence was interrupted by a sudden cough where she spit out blood. Sombra did his best to continue to remove some ice from her to help alleviate some of the pressure on her though it seemed to bear little fruit.

"My Empire is in desperate need of help. I am unable to provide for it. I wanted to make contact with the outside world. A place where there is no snow storm but I seem to have met an unexpected end..."

"Easy now." Sombra said as he managed to dig out her torso. "I am from the 'outside'. If it's any consolation, you were almost there."

"Is that true?" The Queen asked as a smile slowly stretched over her face. "Please, you have to help my Empire."

"I can't." Sombra said as he narrowed his eyes at her. "I have other things I have to take care off. I need to find him."

"Thousands will die if nothing changes." The mare cried out at his response.

"And I'm truly sorry about it. But there's nothing I- But I can't waste time. I need to find him!"

At this point, Luna began to pay attention more at what the dream Sombra was saying. She was partially confused by what he was doing. Up until now, the Sombra she knew wanted a stone. An 'it'. Yet this Sombra wants a 'him'. Did he change his mind at some point or is the dream wrong?

"Him..." The Queen said as she calmed down and began to think things a little more clearly. Instead of asking for help, she decided to barter. "You're in search for somepony?"

"Yes. I need to find him. I have no time to waste." Sombra replied. He was this close to simply standing up and resuming his quest.

"Do you know where he is?"

"Well... no. But I'll find him eventually."

"I'm sure you would make better progress if you had more influence in this land." The mare said, her voice now a whisper. "Help my Empire. If you promise to help the Crystal Empire then I shall grant you my crown." She said as she reached for her head and gently took it off. 

"What? You can't be serious. You would entrust your crown to a complete stranger in the hopes he might keep a promise you won't be around to see fulfilled?"

"Yes..." She said as she returned her eyes to him. "Because despite your strange looks and eyes...I can tell you don't want to lie."

"That's a stupid reason to base your decision off on." He retorted. He was about to shout more but was hushed when he felt her push her crown against him. 

"Please. Take my crown, my influence. Find who you're looking for. In return, keep my Empire safe."

"Your Highness?!" Another voice shouted from around the cavern as hoof steps began to echo. The Queen's personal guard and escort had finally managed to find a way down from where she had fallen. Sombra looked over in the voices direction and began to contemplate accepting her proposal.

"They'll never believe me." Sombra said as he finally took hold of the crown as he stared off in the direction the voices were coming from. 

"They will..." She said as she breathed out. "They'll have to if they want to survive..." She never breathed back in.

The thundering sound of hooves finally came to a stop in the chamber Sombra and the Queen were in. Gasps erupted as they saw their beloved Queen go limp while being held by Sombra. His stern eyes quickly flashed in flames before settling down in a more steady burning flow. His purple flames were now exactly as they are in the present when he pulls out his magic. His mind was made up.

"W-Who are you?" One of them asked as they stepped closer though whatever courage he had quickly dissolved the moment Sombra stood up. 

"Me?" Sombra asked as he glanced down at the crown he had in one hoof. Sighing and closing his eyes to think of what to say, he quickly gave in to the Queen's request and pulled back his mane to place the crown on his head. 

"I am Sombra, King of the Crystal Empire. If you know what's good for you, you'll do as I say."


<=•=>


Sombra slowly opened his eyes. The rays of light coming from the window next to his bed peered into his pupils, making it hard to focus on anything. The headache he had certainly wasn't helping with either. He sat up and massaged his temple to try to center himself and it was then that he noticed the guest in his room.

Curled up in a ball, Sweetie Belle laid on the ground and used her tail as a blanket. It certainly brought a smile to his face seeing her, but also raised several questions. Quietly standing up, Sombra used his magic to pick her up and place her on his back and began to carry her out. The sudden movements woke her up and he was soon met with a cute yawn.

"Good morning Mister Sombra..." She said as she rubbed her eyes.  

"Good morning Sweetie Belle." Sombra answered as he walked down the hall. "Why were you sleeping in my room?"

"You were shaking and shouting a lot in your sleep..." She said before yawing again. "I wanted to...to..." Suddenly Sweetie's eyes shot open as she threw herself off of him and began to run back to his room. "MAKILTON!"

Sombra remained speechless as he watched her gallop. If her actions weren't bizarre enough, that strange word she shouted certainly was. He slowly turned around and began to walk back to where she had run off to.

"Where is it! Where is it?!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she ran back and forth in his room. Again Sombra only stood still at the door frame as he watched her move frantically back and forth.

"Everything okay?" He asked with sincere concern.

"Makilton, makilton!"

"What... in the name of all things pony... are you saying?" Sombra asked as he leaned his shoulder on the door frame, one fore hoof crossing over the other in a relaxed stance. Sweetie stopped and looked back at him with a confused look.

"I don't know."

"Then why are you saying it?"

"Cause you always say it when something goes wrong!"

"Me?" Sombra asked as he raised a brow to try to think of what he meant. 

"Yeah! You say makilton in a Spanish accent."

"Makil- You mean maldición?" Sombra asked as he looked over at her.

"That's what I said!"

"No you didn't. It's maldición not makilton."

"Malicion?"

"Maldición."

"Malfiction!"

"Now you're just messing with me." He said as he began to walk over to Sweetie Belle and picked her up to where they were at eye level. "Repeat after me. Mal-dee-see-on." 

"Maldición." She said slowly, pronouncing even the accents correctly now that she saw his mouth movements up close.

"Good, that's exactly how it's said." Sombra said with a smile.

"Neat! What's it mean anyway?"

"It means 'curse'. It's used in the same manner as when someone shouts 'curses' when something bad happens." He said as he placed her back on the ground. Somehow, Sweetie Belle's antics made him forget the terrible experience he had had in his dreams. The dread and pain he had gone through was completely gone and replaced by the same carefree attitude she had.

"Oh I see." Sweetie replied with a grin. Her eyes were quickly drawn away when the light from the window behind her shinned on the crystal she had been working on the night before. She quickly jumped towards it and slid on the ground to grasp it in her hooves. "Gotcha!"

"What's that?" Sombra asked as he arched a brow. "Was that what you were making a big deal about?"

"Yup!"

"Let me see."

"No." Sweetie Belle said as she sat up and shook her head. "It's not done yet."

"Well what is it?"

"It's...a thing." 

"Obviously."

"And it's something special I want to finish!" 

Sombra couldn't help but smile as he saw her hide the object behind her back. The pouting face she gave off only made her attempts funnier to him. Still, he wasn't about to fight a filly over something so small, instead he sighed and shook his head.

"Alright, alright. I suppose I'll just let it go." He said as he walked out of the room, allowing Sweetie Belle to breathe easy and pull her crystal carving back out. "For now." He finished as he stuck his head back in, making Sweetie Belle toss the crystal back and subconsciously hiss at him like if some strange feral instinct took over. 

Chuckling, Sombra made his way downstairs as he imagined the embarrassed face Sweetie Belle would be making right now as he left. No doubt even she was taken by surprise from what she did. He really didn't have any business down on the ground floor, he just wanted to allow Sweetie Belle to finish up whatever she was doing. However, as soon as his hooves reached the first floor he began to regret his decision.

"Good morning Sombra." Twilight said from her seat in Rarity's living room. Rarity herself was sitting down next to her as if they had been waiting for him to come down. 

"Oh goodie." Sombra said sarcastically. "What exactly am I going to get dragged into this time?"

"About that." Twilight said with a nervous smile. "I need to talk to you about our new friend in town, Dice."
> 25. Crystals and Magic
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Will you help?" Twilight asked as she pushed the papers she had brought towards him. "I just can't make heads or tails of any of it."

Sombra quickly glanced over the writing. It was a list of items that were stolen and a description of who and where it was stolen from. It was a very thorough report of her findings. He skimmed through it quickly before sighing. 

"And tell me." He began as his crimson eyes slid across the paper before looking up at Twilight. "Why should I help?"

"Umm, pardon?" Twilight asked, the question taking her by surprise. 

"Take a moment to think about who it is you're asking hmm?" Sombra said as he continued to read on. "Have you forgotten that you and your friends killed me? I am dead. What would it matter to me if these robberies continue?"

"Huh?" Twilight only asked back, the entire conversation caught her completely off guard and couldn't think of a proper response. "But, you're the one who first realized something was wrong to begin with!"

"Yes. And I told you about it, no? I've done my 'lawful duty'. I am not part of this realm. My time ended, had I not been here Dice would have gone on with his thieving anyway. I simply gave you a helping hoof to give you and edge. But like I said, it doesn't really concern me. Why should I help?"

An awkward silence passed as Sombra read on. Twilight remained with her mouth open as she tried to respond. Rarity, whom was quietly spectating felt the atmosphere around them tense up, though mostly on her friend's side. Sombra was as calm and despite his talk, was reading through everything laying in from of him like if he had some intention of helping anyway. Clearing her throat, she shuffled in her seat as she drank the tea she had brought in for her and her guests. 

"Morning Rarity, hi Twilight. Whatcha all doing?" Sweetie Belle asked as she ran down the stairs to their location. Getting a hoof gesture from Sombra to acknowledge her presence, he turned to another page and read further. 

"Twilight is visiting in regard to an acquaintance we have in common." Sombra said as he finally put the papers down and levitated his tea to his mouth to take a drink. 

"Is that polite for 'none of your business'?" She asked as she jumped onto a nearby seat. Sensing her curiosity, Sombra pushed the papers he was already done reading to her and she quickly mimicked him and lifted the paper to skim it. 

"Read for yourself." He responded with a chuckle. 

"G-Good morning Sweetie Belle." Twilight said as she forced a smile to try to forget the awkwardness of a moment ago. In her dark guardian's fashion, Sweetie waved her hoof in an acknowledging gesture and continued reading. 

"Really Sweetie Belle, one would think you two are related with how alike you act." Rarity said as she placed her tea down and made her way to her sister. She proceeded to groom what small details she had overlooked while getting ready in the morning, no doubt she rushed her routine considering the abrupt awakening she had this morning. 

"I learn a lot from Mister Sombra." Sweetie said as she was forced to put her pages down. "Like, I learned the curse word in Spanish!"

Instantly the mare shot a glare at Sombra who could only sigh and glance away from the piercing look. Not looking directly at her, he responded as he placed his reading material down. 

"It's not a 'curse word'. It's a word that literally means 'curse'." He explained , finally saving him of the daggers Rarity was shooting out of her eyes. Though still not completely satisfied with the answer, she took a deep breath and returned her gaze at her sister. 

"Yeah, maldición." Sweetie Belle said with a smile. Her grin made the old bandage on her cheek partially pull off, revealing her healing wound.

"Well, it's nice to see that your little cut is healed up, for the most part." Rarity said as she pulled the rest of the small bandage off her sister's cheek. "Come now Sweetie Belle, let's wash it up and put a fresh band aid on."

"Awww." Sweetie said as she hopped off the chair. "But I wanted to be part of the meeting!"

"Maybe when you're a big pony."

"I am a big pony!"

Twilight smiled as she saw the sisters walk off, no doubt it was Rarity's way of getting out of the awkward air about them. Sombra on the other hoof had a deep frown on his face as he was reminded of the cut that appeared on Sweetie Belle. Gently placing his hoof against his cheek where his own wound used to be, he turned to Twilight.

"Thought of an answer yet?"

"Umm, I can't say I have. Sorry, I just wasn't expecting you to ask something like that." Twilight said in a reluctant sigh. "But you're right. I should thank you for even helping at all. It certainly isn't in Evil Tyrant fashion to help out, but you did anyway."


"I am evil." Sombra said as he drank some tea again. It was a short statement that left more to be desired. Twilight herself wrinkled her brows as she tried to understand his weird actions, or rather lack thereof. It was the same tone he had used each other time he had proclaimed himself as such, but only not had she noticed the small details of his eyes as he said it. They seemed apathetic. Not in the sense that he was evil and didn't care, rather, that he didn't care that he said he was evil.

His actions thus far told a different story. He's been helpful, almost honorable at times. Yet when the subject was brought up, he said otherwise. He wasn't stating a fact when he says that. He's trying to convince others he is. Perhaps even try to convnice himself. 

"Ready?" A voice called out from behind them. As they turned to look, Sweetie Belle was eagerly waiting for them to finish. 

"Ready for what?" Sombra asked as he stood, a soft smile upon his face that completely erased his stoic expression from just a few seconds ago. "I thought there wasn't any school on Saturdays."

"There isn't, but I wanted to go hang out with my friends." Sweetie said as she began to walk out, Sombra quickly following behind her. The routine was already set. Where she went, he went as well, no questions asked. Though this time it was less forced than before. 

"There they go." Rarity said as she joined her friend at the table. "My, how different things are since Sombra had arrived."

"Yeah, can't believe it's been less than a week since he's been here." Twilight said as she slumped on her seat and used her magic to gather her paperwork. "He's so different than when we first met."

"If you mean that he's not trying to kill us for killing him, then I suppose you're right." Rarity said as she stirred her tea, remixing it since it had been sitting a while. "Though I would have Sweetie Belle to thank for that."

"Really?"

"Did you hear what happened with two nights ago?"

"When Luna was 'kidnapped'?"

"Yes. A while back Sweetie Belle had commanded Sombra not to kill anypony." The white mare said as she finally drank from her cup.

"That would have been the first thing I would have done in her hooves."

"Except that it only applies to ponies." Rarity said with a wink. Twilight's expression, though confused at first, lit up in astonishment as she placed two and two together. "Still, I can't say I truly understand him. That stallion is like a shadow filled with enigmas."


<=•=>


"You did all of that?!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she threw her fore hooves up in the air in surprise. Sombra, who was walking rather calmly while carrying her on his back like usual, twitched his head slightly because of her loud scream.

"Yes. Last night was quite the adventure." 

"Why wasn't I invited?!" She said as she squinted her eyes at him, all the while she pouted for her exclusion. 

"You can't exactly dream walk like Luna can, can you?" Sombra asked as he raised a brow. 

"Well... no."

"Then there was no point."

Though she wasn't really satisfied with that response, Sweetie couldn't exactly complain further. He was right, she couldn't help anyway. Not that she was happy about it. It only deepened the guilt from the night prior about being unable to return his kindness towards her.

"So you're going to continue digging through your memories?" She asked softly as she pressed her head against Sombra's soft mane. 

"Whenever Luna allows it." He responded with a shrug. "I hate to admit it, but it's obvious that without her I run huge risks."

"Yeah... I heard you scream in your sleep." 

"Is that why you were in my room this morning?" Sombra asked as he turned his head towards her. She only nodded in response. "Perdón. I'm sure you were worried then."

The rest of the trip was rather quiet. Their destination was the Crusader's club house and they were well over half way there. The town had already gotten used to seeing Sombra and Sweetie Belle, not that they did a very good job at keeping him hidden. Still, considering that only the Element Bearers, the Royal Sisters, and the Crystal Ponies know how Sombra looked like, there was really no point in hiding him. 

With a few short greetings, Sombra would use his happy persona to blend in as much as he could out of habit, certainly making the duo much more approachable. Very few ponies didn't know of Sweetie Belle since she constantly spoke to ponies she saw on the streets. Her involvement in the Cutie Mark Crusades only made her more infamous. Sombra's kind 'guidance' was a welcomed addition as far as the town's folk was concerned. 

"There it is!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she pointed her hoof forward. 

"I can see it." He replied as he felt the filly pull at his mane in an unneeded attempt to get his attention. "You and your friends meet here all the time?"

"Most of the time. It's where we come to think of ideas for ways to find our cutie marks!"

"Hey look!" A voice from the tree house shouted. Scootaloo had opened the window just in time to see the duo walk towards club house. "Sweetie Belle brought Mister Sombra!" She said as Applebloom joined her by the window frame. Together they waved at them and Sweetie returned the gesture. 

Once close enough the filly jumped off of her guardian and ran inside to finally greet her friends. Sombra remained outside for a moment. Mostly because he wanted to brace himself for what was to come. If he knew one thing, it was that spending time with these fillies was usually a bad idea and reeked of ill outcomes. 

"Hurry up inside!" Sweetie shouted as she looked out the window towards Sombra. "Let me show you around!"


<=•=>


"Any luck with Dice?" Rarity asked as she walked back into the living room to check up on her friend. She was still using the entirety of the table to read over all the things she observed and took notes over. 

"No..." Twilight said hesitantly as she lifted her head. As she did, the rapid fire sound of her bones popping were heard. Her eyes shot open as a nerve was pinched in the wrong place and she quickly froze in both pain and shock. This only got a soft chuckle from Rarity as she made her way to her. 

"Well, feel free to stay as long as you'd like if it helps you."

"Thanks." Twilight replied as she placed a hoof to her back, trying to straighten her composure. "The new castle is nice and all, but it gets rather lonely in there when it's just me and Spike."

"What you need are servants, Darling."

"No no, I'm alright." She said as she waved her hoof to reject the mere idea. "Besides, I enjoy visiting you. You make the best tea."

"You're much too kind." Rarity said as she sat next to her friend. "But we both know you came this morning because you wanted Sombra's help."

"Can't really deny that." Twilight said, looking away in slight embarrassment. "I was really not expecting him to turn me down like that."

"He is a Tyrant after all." Rarity joked, though it soon caught a rather serious look from the princess.

"Sure, but that doesn't explain his strange behavior."

"Strange?"

"Well, when we first met he tried to kill us."

"Because we kinda killed him." Rarity excused, gesturing her hoof on Sombra's behalf.

"But then he turns around and helps when Sweetie Belle calls for him. Like, even the smallest of requests! But if anypony other than her asks something him, he flat out rejects them."

"Are you jealous of a filly?" Rarity teased with a slight smile. 

"What? No! I'm just finding his behavior odd is all!" Twilight shouted in a light blush. "Besides, it's a little unnerving that we know next to nothing about him."

"Well I think Princess Luna might know a little more." Rarity said as she stood up and began to head back to her work room. "They seemed rather friendly yesterday. Considering their...rough beginnings."

"Really?" Twilight asked out softly, her friend was already out of earshot but she continued her talk. "Maybe I should go talk to her then."


<=•=>


"And with that I conclude this Cutie Mark Crusader meeting!" Applebloom shouted as she finally stepped down from the podium. 

"I can't believe our sister branch in Manehattan has had so much luck with their cutie marks!" Scootaloo said in excitement as she turned to Sweetie, the only other member in the audience. 

"They are in a city. One of the largest cities in Equestria to top it off. It makes sense that they would have more resources and members than us." Sweetie Belle said as she placed a hoof to her chin. "Once we get our own cutie marks there won't be any more members in need of our help."

"There's Dinky." Applebloom said as she sat down to join her friends. "And Firelock. And Pipsqueak and Aura and Key Lime and Butto-" 

"We get it, there are lots of other Blank Flanks, but none of them are part of our club!" Scootaloo said in annoyance.

"Well that don't mean we can't help anyway!"

"Shhhhh!" Sweetie hushed her friends. They both looked back at her in surprise but she quickly diverted their attention to the currently sleeping stallion in the corner of the club. 

With his back on the wall and his hooves folded over his chest, Sombra slept peacefully. He let out a soft snore every once in a while, but for the most part he was quiet and undisturbed by the fillies. Sweetie Belle grabbed a hold of her friends and pulled them away before whispering to them.

"Try to be a little quiet."

"Wow, I didn't notice him even fall asleep." Scootaloo said as she looked back at him. He nodded forward slowly before lifting his head back up and repeating the process in his fight to stay sitting up right.

"Guess he didn't find our meeting very interestin'."

"He just had a rough night. He was up with Princess Luna looking for clues on his past I heard." Sweetie clarified. 

"You went to Canterlot last night again?!" The Earth Pony and Pegasus asked out, angry they might have been left out of another adventure. Sweetie quickly shushed them again, making them crouch and turn to look at Sombra to see if he had awakened.

"No, she did that dream walking thing she does."

"She entered Mister Sombra's dream?"

"That's what he told me."

"Think she's in his dream now?"

"Who knows." Sweetie said as she quietly began to make her way to the bag she brought with her. Shuffling though the stuff she had placed inside, she quickly pulled out a small black crystal. "But that gives me time to show you this!"

Her friends quickly surrounded her to look at the rather curious item. They tilted their heads and furrowed their brows as they tried to make sense of it. 

"What is it?" Scootaloo was the first to ask.

"Hard to tell right now, but it's a necklace!"

"Where'd ya get it?"

"I made it."

"But how?"

"Magic." She stated blunted. Seeing as it was not a very good explanation, she decided to give a little presentation and stood up.

Her friends watched her intently as she walked into the center of the room. Shutting her eyes and focusing her magic, she began to let out small purple embers from her eyes and soon a small crystal began to sprout in front of her. 

"Woah!" Applebloom and Scootaloo said in awe as they crouched down to take a closer look at the crystal. "It's just like Mister Sombra's!"

"Shhhh!" Sweetie Belle shushed again. 

"Sorry." Applebloom apologized with an embarrassed smile. With a much softer voice, she began to inspect the crystal again. "When ya learn to do this?"

"Saw Mister Sombra do it a couple of times and that one time he pushed our plane to the cliff, he used my horn as a medium instead of his." She replied with a proud grin.

"Medium?" Scootaloo asked.

"Umm, he couldn't use his own horn and used mine instead?" Sweetie tried to explain. "He still used his own magic, but since he was my shadow at the time, he didn't have a body to use to cast the spell. So I learned the feeling of the spell without having to cast it myself."

"So can ya do all the awesome stuff he can?"

"No..." Sweetie said, her pride dying down a little. "I don't have nearly as much magic as Mister Sombra. I can barely do this much. Still, I've gotten better each time I've used it, so I guess I'll be able to over time."

"That's so awesome!"

Sweetie belle pouted at the sound Scootaloo made in her excitement, though it seemed like Sombra was a rather deep sleeper anyway, so it didn't bother him at all. Her attention was instead focused on Applebloom who was still taking a close look at both the crystal that just sprouted and the carving Sweetie had brought. 

"So whatcha gonna do with this?" She asked as she grabbed a hold of the shard carving.

"I wanted to carve a chess piece out of it, but my hooves aren't hard enough to do that."

"Duh. It's crystal. You need like a pick axe." Scootaloo said as she snatched the carving away. "Still, you made quite a dent on it."

"Where there's a will, there's a way." Sweetie said with a smile.

"Why don't you ask him then?" 

"Ask who? Mister Sombra?" Sweetie asked, completely appalled by the question. "It's supposed to be a surprise!"

"No, I meant the will part."

"Will?"

"The Minotaur that brought you to school yesterday, Iron Will!"

"I think you mean Iron Wall." Scootaloo corrected. 

"What's the difference?"

"Apart that his name is wrong. Iron Will is Fluttershy's friend." Sweetie Belle said as she took back her carving and placed it in her saddle bag. "Iron Wall's brother."

"Iron Will and Iron Wall are siblings?" 

"Shoulda' seen that one comin'." 

Giggling to herself, Sweetie Belle levitated the saddle bag and let it drop over her, quickly putting it on and begining to make for the exit. "Come on girls."

"Where we going?" Scootaloo asked as she began to follow."

"Into town, I need a chisel."

"Shouldn't we, uh, wake up Mister Sombra?" Applebloom asked as she too, reluctantly began to follow suit. This made Sweetie Belle stop in her tracks. She looked over at her guardian and began to ponder what to do. 

"Well I don't want to wake him up, I mean he does seem a little tired after all."

"Ain't he gonna' just teleport back to ya if ya get too far away anyway?"

"But that would sorta hurt him..." Sweetie said softly as she continued to think. A smile soon spread over her face as she thought of a simple solution. "King Sombra, sleep until you're satisfied and then come find me if I'm not around!"

At once both Sweetie Belle and Sombra were illuminated by glowing markings of light that suddenly appeared on their bodies. It was a direct command using his title, so it override some aspects of the binding's contracts. For this one, Sweetie believed it was just the distance barrier.

"That should do it."

"What was that?!" 

"I really have to catch you all up to speed." Sweetie Belle said as she walked by them and out into the field. Her friends were quick to follow but even faster to bombard her with questions. Somehow, all the attention was rather enjoyable for the filly, the smile on her face only proving it. 

Sweetie did her best to answer everything, but she did more to give them the entire story of her misadventures with Sombra. All but the parts she didn't know of course. This morning was the first time she had even heard that he had memories locked away, so obviously there were more things going on than she was aware of. By the time she told the story up until current events, they had already reached town where they made their way to the tool shop. 

"So he can't remember anything?" Applebloom asked as she walked to Sweetie's right.

"I don't think it's everything, just stuff from before he was king. It's was he says anyway."

"So the Crystal Empire had a king? How'd Princess Cadence become the royal there then?" Scootaloo asked out. It was yet another question she didn't have the complete answer, or rather two answers that didn't match up very well. 

"Mister Sombra said he was...um, killed. That Princess Cadence took over after that."

"Oh, that explains a few things. Who killed him?"

Sweetie Belle came to a stop and looked at the ground. She remained in deep thought, unwilling to actually let the words come out of her mouth. She didn't want to admit the facts of the matter, didn't want to believe that her sister would commit such an act.

"Rarity and the others did it." She said meekly.

"They what?!"

"Mister Sombra was labeled 'Tyrant', and he became the bad guy of the history books. Like always, Twilight and everypony else were sent to get rid of the bad guys and well..." Sweetie Belle took a few steps forward and then began to dig at the ground. "I can't believe my sister would do something like that."

"Applejack said that the umm, 'monster' at the Crystal Empire was destroyed by the Crystal Heart and the love of the Crystal Ponies." Applebloom stated, giving her sister's own version of the story. 

"And who activated the Crystal Heart?" Sweetie retorted, a hint of anger and frustration in her voice. "Both our sisters knew what that would do to the...'monster'." She finished with a large amount of emphasis on that last word. It was all too clear she hated how Sombra had been addressed.

"I know you're attached to Mister Sombra." Scootaloo interrupted. "Literally actually, but Rainbow Dash and the others are usually right about these sort of things."

"Really?" Sweetie asked as she shifted her attention to her friend. "Cause I heard all the stories too. Nightmare Moon was forgiven and turned back in Princess Luna. Discord was reformed. Chrysalis was blasted away to a far away land. And Tirek was imprisoned. Why was Mister Sombra the only one to get... killed?"

Sweetie's voice began to waver more and more, and soon less words and more emotion was heard escaping her lips. It was difficult for her to believe anypony would accept that killing was a possible solution to a problem. Even Sombra himself wanted to kill somepony else more than once. Had she not stopped him, how many would he have killed? Then again, how many ponies had her own sister killed? For all she knew, she could be keeping more murders a secret. The only reason she even knew of this one was because she accidentally summoned the victim. 

"A-Are you okay?" Scootaloo asked as she and Applebloom began to come closer to their friend. 

"Ya sound...agitated." Applebloom said, trying to be subtle with how to describe her strange behavior. 

"I'm okay...I'm okay." Sweetie Belle said as she began to steady her breathing. "I just needed to rant a little, let it out, you know?"

"How long have you been holding that in?" 

"A while. I just don't want to believe that...that..." Sweetie's speech began to trail off as her eyes began to shift to the side of her friends. Because of the habit instilled into her, she had looked over at the environment around her and noticed a particular detail. "Is that Mister Rain Cloud's house?"

"Uh, yes?" Applebloom answered as she turned to look where her friend was staring at.

"Why?" Scootaloo finished for her.

"Cause this morning I read some interesting things about some new guy in town." Sweetie Belle said as she began to walk towards the house. 

"The gamble guy? Yeah, word spread fast about him. What was his name, Spice?"

"Dice." Scootaloo corrected again.

"Twilight's notes said that this guy had stolen a lot of weird items around town. Mister Rain Cloud had a particularly weird item stolen from him."

"What was it?"

"An old Crystal Sculpture he had bought in a visit to the Crystal Empire. Apparently it had been bought and sold many times over, even having been part of the Crystal Empire's Castle at one point."

"That's all fasinatin' and all, but why are ya so interested in it."

"Well, you know how they say you should bring old stuff from a pony's past to a pony with amnesia? That it helps them remember?"

"Yeah?"

"I think that if we get it back, give it to Mister Sombra, he might be able to remember more!" Sweetie Belle shouted with a smile, the strange mood she had been in just a few moments ago completely gone. Or perhaps she was trying to mask her own emotions with another quest.

"So ya want us to steal somethin' back from what I'm guessin' is a professional thief just to see if it triggers a flashback to Mister Sombra?"Applebloom asked, her brow raised in a doubtful stare. "Do ya realize how dangerous that is?"

"When had that ever stopped us before?" Sweetie Belle asked with a laugh before running off ahead.

"Touché." Applebloom finished in an accepting nod. She was quickly nudged by her friend.

"Come on, AB. It sounds like fun!" Scootaloo said before she too ran ahead. Though she was still a little worried about the situation, things couldn't get that out of hoof. If anything bad happened, they could manage it on their own. Right?

...Right?
> 26. Brewing Storm
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sombra slowly moved ahead. His hoof steps were painfully cautious, more so because of the strange environment around him. The trees surrounding him would brush back and forth in an unnatural way. They would sway to one direction as if a gently breeze moved them, 'reset' back to their natural position, and then go the opposite way. This only made it all the more obvious that he was dreaming, something he's grown quite weary off as of late.

"Did I doze off?" Sombra asked out as he continued forward, though hesitant to do so. It had already been confirmed he could cease to be if he dove too far into his subconscious and Luna was nowhere to be found to undo any damage like last time. This could prove fatal.

Yet even with the danger well in sight, Sombra was attracted to this bizarre plane like a moth to an open flame. The autumn leaves continued to sway back and forth in a hypnotic motion. For a while, Sombra had forgotten to even look where he was heading, not that he had a destination to begin with. But soon he was only fixated on the motion of the wind.

Suddenly his view of the leaves disappeared as he entered a small clearing, quickly bringing him back to the matters at hoof.  It was a familiar sight, a small wooden cabin. His home, at least from what he could gather from his memories. Sombra took a moment to look around as he made his way towards it. It was a calm, serene place with the only real landmark being the small hill that the cabin burrowed into from behind.

Looking at the door knob once he reached the door, Sombra extended his hoof out to it but remained inches away from grasping it. Each other time he had opened that cabin several things happened. None of them entirely good. That being said, he was heavily weighing the pros and cons of venturing further in, but the decision was soon made for him instead. The door swung open and a small filly ran out in a cheerful trot. 

"A-Amethyst..." Sombra said softly as he took a step to the side in shock. His eyes remained glued on her as she pranced around before finally settling down under a nearby tree with a small sketch pad.

Shaking his head to break free of his trance, Sombra awkwardly moved towards the filly who was drawing away with rather a valuable looking quill and ink. It ill suited the modest style of her living conditions.

"Where could she have gotten something like that?" He wondered as he leaned around to look at her notebook. As he did, Amethyst began to hum a familiar melody.

He flinched as a headache hit him. Placing a hoof to his temple, Sombra received a small glimpse of a long forgotten memory. The scene around him quickly shifted to what he was forced to recall and he saw himself in standing over a tall cradle. He saw himself gently rocking a foal in the cradle as he hummed the same rhythm Amethyst had just a moment ago. 

♪Una linda niña, duerme en su coral.♪				
♪Canta, ríe, juega, que feliz esta.♪     
♪Y todos preguntan: ¿En quién pensará?♪

Sombra quickly recognized the rhyme from when he had sung it to Sweetie Belle a few nights back. The song seemed to calm both the cries of the foal and his own headache. By the time his past self finished the lullaby, Sombra found himself back in the forest clearing from before, disoriented from the sudden change of scenes again. 

He shook his head to break out of the daze, something he found himself doing quite a lot lately it seemed. Still, he was quickly able to focus his mind and notice that his daughter's memory had almost finished her sketch.

"There!" Amethyst shouted as she looked over her master piece. 

It was a sketch of their home, the cabin. In front of it was whom Sombra presumed was him, Amethyst and Rosa. They stood together in a family portrait all smiling out towards the front. However, he found her portrayal of him to be a little off. He and the sketch shared similar features, but it was clear that he had not yet undergone the change that left him with a red spike of a horn and crimson thinned out eyes. 

"Now I just need to color it." She said as she jumped up in a rather familiar pep. "Where did papá say he put the other ink he brought?"

"Ah." Sombra said as he watched her go. "So I brought them for her. I probably stole them for her or something." He joked with a chuckle. "Still..." He continued as he looked back at the sketch. "Where did I get them? I doubt she knows either."


<=•=>


"Are ya sure this is a good idea?" Applebloom asked as she hid behind a corner with her friends.

"Yeah, this is kinda dangerous..." Scootaloo echoed her. "It's usually Applebloom who comes up with these bad ideas."

"Hey!"

"Shhhh!" Sweetie gestured as she tried to quiet them down. "It'll only get dangerous if we get caught. Right now we're just following him."

"Because I'm sure a thief don't mind bein' followed right?"

Sweetie Belle ignored the sarcastic comment and poked her head out of the corner. It had been a long journey already to this point and she had a feeling it wasn't getting any easier now. 

Using what she had read from the papers Sombra gave her in the morning and what she could gather from a recent victim of the robberies, she learned very little. Mostly that it seemed that Dice wasn't working alone, yet no pony had seen another newcomer in Ponyville. Instead of trying to find this other pony, she hoped that by following Dice he might lead them to where he had been keeping the stolen items. 

"Where did he go?" Sweetie asked as she failed to spot their target. 

"We lost him again?!" Scootaloo asked as she jumped from around the corner and began to look ever which way to find Dice. 

"Ah don't think we're good at this." The farm filly said as she joined her friends in looking around. 

"We've lost and found him three times already, we can do this." 

"Look, he's over there!" Sweetie shouted as she pointed a hoof to Dice who was quite a few blocks away from them cheerfully talking to a local vendor. Though happy she was back on track, she couldn't help to wonder how he got way over there. Logically speaking, Dice had been walking in another direction. How did he manage to make such a large turn around and missed their line of sight?

Pushing her doubts aside, she simply rushed over in Dice's direction and hid alongside the buildings. They tried to remain inconspicuous, though that bared little fruit as ponies would see and greet them along the way. They somehow managed to keep themselves hidden from Dice, but they would be distracted for a few seconds and lose sight of him momentarily.

"You three be careful now." One of the adults told them as they finished their small talk. "Ya'll get home soon, the pegasi are bringing in another big storm tonight."

"Okay!" Scootaloo shouted back in a smile, though it died out as she turned her face away from the grown-up. "Guh, I hate spring weather. Storms like every other day."

"It's not that bad." Sweetie Belle said, which surprised her friends. They knew that she in particular hated thunder storms. "Besides we've got more important things to worry about. Dice went that way!" She continued as she pointed her hoof at Dice turning the corner.

Pushing the subject away, all three quickly ran over to catch up to Dice, but as they did, they walked into a dead end. They all remained shocked to see there was no stallion anywhere in sight. They remained dumbfounded for a moment since they had all seen him make this turn. For him to be gone seemed impossible. Sweetie Belle slowly walked forward a few steps as she looked around with her mouth open in surprise.

"Again!?" Scootaloo screamed as she threw her hooves up into the air.

"It can't be, we saw him walk in here!"

"Maybe he teleported." Sweetie Belle said, trying to explain the strange occurrence. Calming herself like Sombra taught her, she squinted her eyes and looked around the alley for any clues she could use. 

"Maybe our eyes were playin' tricks on us." Applebloom said as she ran back to the entrance of the alley to peek around for any sign of Dice. She was quickly joined by Scootaloo, leaving Sweetie to her own endeavors at the dead end.

Using her usual tactic, she took a deep breath allowed her eyes to glide around the walls of the alley. With her friends gone, she could hear the soft rustling of fabric and in a couple of seconds, found  what was causing the noise. A window curtain was being moved by the wind, strangely enough it was the only open window in the alley and it had been on the third story of a home. It was also rather close to the entrance of the alley, so they easily missed it when they ran in.

Narrowing her eyes, Sweetie noticed the dirt ground had a few indentions just under the window and that the wall had been disturbed just enough to leave small traces. At first glance, nothing was wrong. Now that she had inspected more closely she found proof that somepony had scaled the wall.  

"Is...is he in there? Is he stealing from that house?" She asked herself softly. She quickly hightailed it back to her friends eager to share the news, but was quickly caught off guard by a peculiar sight. 

Having turned the corner to search for her friend, she caught a glimpse of Dice speaking to a nearby merchant. She slowly walked back to see if she had perhaps mistaken, but she had not. Dice was truly standing only a few meters away. 

"Hey, you found him!" Scootaloo said as she joined her behind cover. 

"Yeah, but I was sure I-"

"I'm going to get Applebloom!" Her friend interrupted, leaving the area quickly. Sweetie Belle never took her eyes off Dice, instead she narrowed her brows and stared at him deep thought. 

There was something off about this. And it only sparked a sense of worry deep in her stomach.


<=•=>


The sound of Sombra's hooves heavily echoed on the wooden floor. Leaving the memory of his daughter to herself, he decided to venture into the cabin home. Everything seemed calm enough for him to take the risk. He wanted to learn more about his home, his family. Yet even now, the question at the back of his mind itched at him: Where was he. 

Before in these more stable memories he would see the ghost of his past self; watch his memories play like a spectator. Yet this time around he was nowhere in sight. Could this be nothing more than a simple dream after all? No. The chilling sensation of dread was much too familiar to be a simple dream. His own absence only made him worry more about what he was witnessing. After all, he knows for a fact something horrible happened in this cabin.

Instead of thinking about that, he focused on the cabin around him. Certainly modest as households go. He couldn't imagine himself making a living in such a place. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but after his years in the Crystal Empire, this seemed rural at best and hermit like at worst. If he had built the cabin, he had gone out of his way to keep it hidden from any roads or passerby's way.

"What a curious place..." Sombra said to himself as he looked around. It was almost melancholic to look at the furniture. Perhaps he had hoof made them all himself. That would explain the feeling of pride he felt as he placed a hoof on a nearby table.

Suddenly, the sound of humming caught his ears. Twitching them for a moment to locate where it was coming from, Sombra followed the sound to where he assumed as the kitchen. He unknowingly cracked a smile as he looked over at the mare in the middle of making dinner. 

She was stirring a pot filled with an array of vegetables and the smell finally reached his nose. He instantly recognized the pleasant scent and moved closer, completely forgetting the hesitance he once had. He poked his head around the mare, both getting a good look at her and what she was brewing.

"You just love this stew don't you Sombra?" Rosa asked out softly. Sombra quickly jumped back wide eyed. 

"Y-You can see me?" He asked, his guard quickly raising at knowing how badly things went last time this happened.

"Well I'll make sure to let you know how it tasted when you get back." She continued with a mischievous smile. "That'll teach you to just up and go when I told you not to."

Sombra let out a held breath as he realized she was simply talking to herself. Though once he calmed down, he began to think on what she had said. It appeared he had left recently, explaining why he wasn't around, but that only raised more questions. If he wasn't around, how is this something he 'remembered'?

He suddenly gritted his teeth as a sharp pain entered his skull yet again. Quickly holding onto his head, Sombra felt a unsettling presence around him. Fighting off the headache, Sombra looked around for the eyes he felt glaring his way. He quickly found them.

Through a nearby window, Sombra found a pair of blood red eyes stare over at him, or rather, through him. Stepping to the side, he quickly understood that he wasn't the target for the glare, but rather Rosa. His protective instincts kicked in and he returned the death stare even though he knew quite well the beast could not see him. 

After a short while, the glowing eyes looked away and slowly crept to the side, away from the window. Sombra breathed easy for a moment, but his peace was short lived as he quickly realized something crucial. 

Amethyst was still outside. 


<=•=>


"I dunno'." Applebloom said softly as she peeked around the corner. "That looks like Dice over there."

"Which is why it's so weird!" Sweetie Belle said in something a little louder than a whisper, not helping in their stealth.

"Maybe it's Dice's partner who went inside the house." Scootaloo suggested as she peeked out of cover to make sure they hadn't lost their target. Content with seeing him, she ducked back to continue the discussion.

"So what, he's keepin' his partner in a magic bottle or somethin'?"

"Well maybe it's a pet of some kind. That would explain why no pony had seen any new face around town. Right Sweetie Belle?"

"Yeah..." She agreed reluctantly. "But ponies would notice an animal carrying stuff like a sword or painting. They couldn't just walk around with the stolen stuff."

"Sooo..." Scootaloo began with a muffled laugh. "No dice?" 

"Haha." Applebloom laughed softly as she rolled her eyes at the pun her friend was making.  

"Still, I wish I knew what he was doing." Sweetie said after they stopped their laughs.

The trio all looked down at the ground for a moment and  tried to come up with ideas but their silence spoke for them. None could come up with an explanation. 

"Ah shoot, if Twilight couldn't figure it out, how could we have any hope to do it instead?" Applebloom asked out in a frustration. Thinking instead to use her energy on something else, she stood up and looked over at Dice only to let out an angry groan.

"Let me guess, he's gone?" Scootaloo asked as she stood up just as annoyed. Sure enough, it had been the case. Dice was once again nowhere to be found. "Great, now we gotta find him again!"

"Wait." Sweetie interrupted before her friends could gallop away. "Let's head back to the house with the open window."

"Why?" Applebloom asked as she came to a stop.

"Let's face it, he's going to be keep getting away. Maybe we can find some clue at the crime scene."

"Well anything beats running around in circles." Scoots agreed with a sigh. 

They all nodded to one another and began to make their way back. It was a short trot and soon they were passing by the alleyway from before. As the turned the corner, however, Sweetie Belle bumped against somepony's leg.

"Oh, sorry." She said as she rubbed her forehead. "I didn't-"

"It's quite alright." Dice said as he looked down at the fillies. They instantly opened their eyes wide as their hearts dropped. 

For a second Sweetie Belle felt her hooves go numb in shock. Her friends were in no better position as they too stared dumbfounded at seeing him. Once again, there would have been no way they would have missed Dice walk back in this direction. Unless he ran around the entire town, Dice would have had to pass them by for him to be here. 

"What's wrong?" He grinned a fake smile as he tilted his head to the side to match his persona. "Cat got your tongue?"

"I...I was just surprised." Sweetie quickly responded as she tried to regain some composure. She thought of what Sombra would have done in her place but the more the thought about it, the more her heart raced. 

"I see. I suppose your heavy breathing is because you and your friends have been running around all day? I've seen you everywhere this morning." Dice continued as he looked up at the sky. "Actually, it's past morning now isn't it?"

"Yup, time sure flies when you're having fun!" Sweetie Belle pushed all her fears and thoughts aside as she settled on what to do. She was to play a persona just as Sombra played his when talking to others. "My friends and I like to run around looking for ways to get our cutiemarks, right?" She asked as she turned her head. 

"R-Right!" Applebloom spoke up as saw her friend look her way. "We're the Cutiemark Crusaders!"

For a fraction of a moment, Dice's grinned banished. He was taken aback by how Sweetie Belle had replied to him. He had expected her to remain scared as he knew full well what their intent had really been. 

"To-Today we were trying to get cutiemarks in being a ninja!" Scootaloo pressed on with the idea as they tried to follow Sweetie Belle's lead. 

"Unfortunately, we didn't get anything today..." Sweetie said as she took a shy step back. It was an act of course, but Dice wasn't exactly in the position to call them out. Especially with so many other ponies around. 

"I'm sorry to hear that." He continued the act. 

With Sweetie Belle taking up the innocent child persona to talk to Dice, he couldn't help but get the feeling of déjà vu. He had a disturbingly similar sensation to when he had spoken to Sombra back when they too held a conversation in alternate personas. As he recalled that, however, things clicked for him and his grin grew ever larger. 

"Anyway, we should really get back to the club house. I hear it's going to start raining soon!" Sweetie said as she looked up at the sky. A few pegasi was seen moving clouds together to begin the soon to come storm. 

With a nod to her friends, Sweetie Belle walked to Dice's side and they quickly followed suit. They remained quiet for a while, but as soon as Dice was out of line of sight, they let out a deep breath. Applebloom in particular placed a hoof to her chest to try to steady her beating heart.

"I've never been so scared in my life!" She shouted out, but Sweetie quickly pushed a hoof to her mouth to keep quiet.

"What's wrong?" Scoots asked.

"I have a bad feeling. Let's just head back to Mister Sombra." She replied with a hint of nervousness in her voice. This only made her friends more weary and they quickly agreed to the idea. 

The first of the rain drops began to fall as they walked away, but in their wake Dice peered from around a corner, his eyes fixated on Sweetie Belle. 

"I bet that's the filly he told me about." He said to himself with a sly grin. "I warned Sombra, now to show I'm not all talk." He finished with a chuckle. Though Sweetie Belle couldn't see or hear him, she felt a shiver run down her spine as she felt his presence around her. Slowly, she edged forward faster.


<=•=>


"Amethyst?!" Sombra shouted as he reached the outside of the cabin. He knew deep doubt it was pointless to shout, but he did so anyway. "Amethyst, where are you?!"

He looked back and forth for any signs of where the filly could be. Looking for clues proved useless as his dream didn't leave any leads for him to go on. It was as if the area had remained untouched for days. He let out a growl in frustration and simply took off running. He didn't have a destination, but he felt he needed to get moving. He needed to find either Amethyst or the beast. He didn't know what he'd do when he did, but he had to. 

As Sombra pressed forward, the soft sound of a low screech echoed in his ears. He didn't have to look up at the sky to know what it meant. He knew he was getting too close to his memories and his mind was fighting against him. He didn't care. 

Though he had run straight ahead, Sombra found himself back at the cabin as if he had ran around the world and back. Coming to an abrupt stop to look around, his surroundings looked different, darker. The front door, for example, had been broken off. Gritting his teeth, Sombra shouted out.

"Rosa?! Amethyst?!" 

He had no response, only a louder screech echo from above him as he felt the tingle of a headache being to sink into his skull. Again he shouted for his family in vain as he searched the cabin. A quick run in proved that this was a different memory as it had seemed aged and dirty. Claw marks decorated the distressed home in a what seemed like savage frustrations. He didn't see any blood or stains, but he couldn't base the truth on what he could see given how faulty memory dreams have proved to be without Luna around. 

Again the sound of glass cracking filled the sky and his head was pierced by a sharp migraine staggering him for a moment. Sombra struggled to balance himself as he placed a hoof to his aching head. Memories began to interlope one another as the sun rose and set in a matter of minutes. After images of Amethyst and Rosa flashed in front of him to signal different points in time. 

The memories faded into one another rapidly and it worsened the pain he felt. At this point the cracking sound was so loud and jarring it began to drown out the sting of his headache. To make matters worse, for a moment, he saw what happened to the memory of Amethyst earlier. 

She had looked up from her sketch pad to find the beast from before coming her way. Standing and running away, it quickly gave chase after her. He now knew which way they had gone but was helpless to follow, especially with the sky on the verge of breaking.

"Maldición!" Sombra grunted. "Not yet. I can't break yet, I want to know more!" 

As Sombra shut his eyes to struggle against the pain, he failed to realize his body began to glow in the markings that bound him to Sweetie Belle. Her command was taking effect as his mind stopped tearing itself apart and even repair itself. Before long, Sombra's mind was stable again though a few spread cracks remained in the sky. By the time Sombra was able to open his eyes and focus his vision, the light of his markings had faded away.

He didn't question why his mind was back to normal, he simply took the opportunity given to him. With a powerful push of his legs, he sprinted forward as fast as he could to follow the afterimage of his daughter. 


<=•=>


With the clouds now dark in the sky, they let down a drizzle of rain that was progressively getting stronger. Many ponies had already left the streets to get to their homes. Sweetie Belle and her friends on the other hoof had not. They were still quite a way from their club house where they would camp out the storm. 

That had meant that they were now walking alone in the empty streets of Ponyville, and though they've done so before, there was something extremely eerie about the situation. Something in Sweetie's stomach just didn't sit right with her.

"You okay?" Scootaloo asked her nervous looking friend.

"Uh huh..." Sweetie replied half heartedly. 

"Hey did you hear that?" Their friend asked as they all looked to their right. For a moment the sound of a splash was heard like if some pony had stomped on a puddle of water. 

They all began to walk backwards away from where they had heard the noise but as they did, the first of the night's lightning hit behind them. That wasn't what frightened them, but rather the fact that they saw not only their shadows but another much taller one. 

Frozen in fear for a moment, the fillies had plenty of time to register what they had seen. With a loud yelp, Sweetie Belle was the first to run forward, away from the shadow behind them. Her friends soon followed after her and as they ran, turned back to see whom they already knew it was. Dice remained still as he watched them run.

"What is he doing here?!" Applebloom shouted out as they ran down the street and around a corner to catch their breath. 

"I dunno, but it can't be good!" Scootaloo echoed her concern. 

"He probably figured out we were following him all day."

"Great, so we managed to tick off a thief. He's probably going to fillynap us!"

"No..." Sweetie Belle said as she poked her head back around the corner. "If he wanted to do that he'd had done it already. We've been on our own for a while now."

"Then what does he want?"

Sweetie Belle didn't really have an answer. All she really knew was that it would be bad if they got cornered by Dice. They needed help, but they were already at the edge of town, away from Scotaloo's home, Twilight's castle, or the Boutique. They had only one choice.

"We need to get Mister Sombra. He can help." 

"Yeah, the club house is just a little further ahead. Maybe if we run real fast we-"

"No, that's a bad idea." Sweetie Belle interrupted. "Remember how fast Dice was able to go from one place to another earlier? He'll catch us for sure."

"So what should we do?"

"We need to split up!"

"Are you kidding?!" Scootaloo shouted. "That's like number one on the list of things not to do in horror movies!"

"Yeah..." Sweetie Belle said as she looked back at her friends. "But this isn't a horror movie, if we split up, he can only come after one of us. The others can get help. Its more like a game of strategy."

"And what game is it exactly?" A voice asked out from behind them. The fillies all stood up straight as their blood ran cold for a moment. Sweetie was the first to turn around to confirmed her fears. Dice stood close by as he leaned on the side of the building spinning a pair of dice with his magic. "Because if you're talking gambling I think I'm much better than you little girl."

"Not the game I had in mind." Sweetie replied after a moment to recover some composure. "I'm more into chess."

"Oh? And what pieces are you playing with?" Dice asked with a smirk. The lightning struck again, lighting up their surroundings and causing her to flinch from fright as she always did. By the time she opened her eyes, he had vanished from sight.  

Without hesitating another second, Sweetie Belle turned around and pushed her friend from around the corner they were hiding. 

"Hurry, we have to run!" 

Though they were lost at what exactly was happening, Applebloom and Scootaloo did as they were told and began to gallop down the raining street. Sweetie followed short behind them, peering over her shoulder to look for their chaser. After a brief moment, she quickly knew he wouldn't come at them from behind. 

She returned her gaze forward at her friends to see a figure quickly run at them from the side. It moved extremely quick and Sweetie didn't even have time to warn them. She did what she could and followed in Sombra's hoof steps. 

Gritting her teeth, Sweetie Belle quickly drew out a spark of flame from her eyes and conjured out her dark magic. A small crystal pillar was erected between Dice and her friends, cutting him off from them and allowing them to continue their escape. She, on the other hoof, suddenly felt enormously tired from exerting her magic.

"What in the world?!" Dice shouted out in shock. The sizzling sound of water hitting a flame caught his ear and he slowly turned to face the filly whom took the opportunity to catch her breath.

"You asked about what pieces I'm playing with?" Sweetie Belle said in between pants for air. "I'm the King with two pawns making their way to the other side of the board." 

For the first time in his lifetime, Dice was intimidated by a filly. The darkness of the night complimented her glowing green sclera and fiery eyes. But soon the rain proved too strong for her small blaze and her magic died back to normal, allowing for him to calm himself.

"Oh? So you're hoping you can get your pawns to the other side and bring back what? Two Queens?"

"No, just one Queen and a Rook." Sweetie Belle said as she finally began to breathe normally.

"And what makes you so sure I won't just capture the King before they get the chance?"

"I'm pretty sure." Sweetie said as she slowly glanced to the side, she saw a wooden fence and barrel close by and quickly ran towards them. Jumping onto the barrel and lunging herself forward, Sweetie Belle called forth some dark magic again to raised another crystal as a platform to jump over the fence.  

Slipping and rolling on the mud as she landed, Sweetie Belle pulled herself to her hooves quickly and continued her escape. But as she ran, the loud stomping of hooves echoed behind her. Looking back, Dice was already on the chase.

"How did he get here so fast?!" She asked herself as she ran. She needed to get away and fast, all she could hope for was for Sombra to get back soon.
> 27. Slice and Dice
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Mister Sombra!" Applebloom shouted as she threw the door to her clubhouse open. Her friend was quick to follow behind her and pushed herself between Applebloom and the door frame.

"Sweetie Belle is in trouble!" Scootaloo continued where her friend left off.

To their surprise, Sombra didn't say anything in response. The only reply they heard were heavy grunts and bright flashes of light. Having already gotten dark out, the flashes blinded them for a moment, but as they focused their eyes, it only made them grow with worry.

Sombra was writhing on the floor, his fore hooves firmly placed at the side of his head as his entire body would flash the binding markings that kept him in this world. Each time they would appear, the curse was coming into effect by Sweetie Belle's last command. The fillies had no idea, but each time the markings flashed on Sombra's body, they witnessed his mind breaking and being put back together. 

His dreams were tearing his mind apart, his only salvation being Sweetie's land command: 'Sleep until you're satisfied.' 

"M-Mister Sombra?" Scootaloo asked, edging closer to the squirming stallion. With each step she took, the pain he was under became more and more apparent. His eyes squinted in intense strain and his teeth clenched in his mouth. 

"H-Hey, Mister Sombra, are you okay?" She asked as a particularly loud grunt stopped her from moving further.

No response. They were frozen in shock at what they were witnessing. What finally broke them out of the daze was the crash of lightning that illuminated the room through a nearby window. Applebloom quickly remembered what they were tasked with doing and rushed over to Sombra

"Hey, this is no time to be sleeping. Sweetie Belle's in trouble!" She shouted as she placed her hooves on his body. She nudged at him, but her strength could barely move him. His pained grunts masked her voice which made it harder to get through to him. It all seemed for naught.

"Applebloom is right!" Scootaloo shouted as well before joining her friend in shaking him. "Come on, wake up!"

As they continued to nudge him, Sombra began to break into a cold sweat and his markings stopped vanishing. They stayed permanently lit on his body as a final shout finally awoke him. In a reflexive action, Sombra wrapped his fore hooves around the two fillies in a tight embrace.

"Amethyst!" He shouted loudly. 

The sudden tight hug stunned the girls, but they dared not talk as they felt his trembling body continue to hold them. Finally, after a moment passed, Sombra himself began to breathe easy again and slowly realize where he was.

"Mister Sombra?" They asked as his body stopped shaking. 

"Wha-What? Oh, I've awoken." He said as he let them go and gently place them on the floor in front of him. His voice was slow and heavy in a depressed tone. His eyes seemed pale and almost lifeless. 

"A-Are you okay?" Applebloom asked as she took a step back to allow him to recollect himself.

"Yes. I think so anyway." Sombra said as he placed hoof to his head, the headache he had experienced in his sleep, though now gone, had left a ringing in his ears as an aftershock. 

"Good, cause we need your help!"

"What?" He said as he slowly shook his head to focus his senses. "Why? What happened? Where's Sweetie Belle?" He asked as he noticed her absence. 

"That's just it! She's in trouble. Dice is chasing her, I think he wanted to fillynap her!"

"Yeah, we followed him all day and think he found out!"

"What?!" Sombra screamed as he jumped to his hooves, his eyes instantly lit aflame and illuminated the clubhouse. "Why did she leave me behind?!"

"She, uh-" Applebloom began but didn't know what to say.

"Tch." Sombra scoffed at her inability to answer his question, but his actions seemed too aggressive to the fillies and they quickly flinched at him.

He noticed their fear, or rather felt it. Their fright only lasted a moment when they thought he would shout at them, but that was enough to remind him of his dream and a strong guilt took him over. 

"Where is she?" He asked softly.

"H-Huh?" Applebloom questioned as she opened one eye. 

"Where's Sweetie Belle?"

"In town!" Scootaloo answered for her. "We were following Dice all day and he found out. He began chasing all three of us, but Sweetie Belle managed to help us get away to come get you."

"I see." Sombra said as he slowly began to make his way out. Moving past the fillies, they noticed his rather lack of expression, but the large flames at the side of his eyes proved otherwise. He was simply holding himself back for their sake.

"M-Mister Sombra?" Applebloom asked. "Are you okay?"

"I will be." He responded as he stepped outside and turned to face them. The rain hit his flames and began to sizzle. Unlike Sweetie Belle's, however, Sombra's magic overpowered the water falling down on him and even began to evaporate the rain that got close to his flames. "For right now, I need you to find Twilight. Tell her what you told me."

The girls nodded at him. Being content with that as a response, Sombra lept from the clubhouse down to the ground level. As he descended, Sombra let go of his restraints and his eyes narrowed in anger. His sclera started to glow green as his magic began to explode outward. The moment his hooves touched the ground, he took off at max gallop, leaving behind a large crater where he landed.

The rain hit his face like bullets at the speed he was running, but he paid no mind to that. His only goal in mind was to get to Sweetie Belle's side. As he ran, he felt his body lighten up, as if weight had been lifted off his back. He quickly noticed the markings of light on his body. His magic was returning to him, it was time to fulfill the second part to Sweetie Belle's command: find her.


<=•=>


Sliding on the mud and slipping under a an opening to a nearby home, Sweetie finally found some shelter from the rain and time to rest from her unrelenting chaser. The sinking mud never felt so comfortable to her before, but she knew she didn't have the luxury to relax. She soon heard hooves walk close by. 

"Now where might you have gone little filly?" Dice asked as he looked around the empty neighborhood. His tone was sarcastic, he knew exactly where she was, but there was some sort of twisted pleasure in playing with his prey that made him tease ignorance. 

Sweetie Belle knew she would be found soon. The tracks she left in the mud would lead him to her. Taking a deep breath, she shifted her body around and placed her hind hooves against the wall of the opening she was in. Once she was in position, she waited for Dice to walk over. 

"Silly little filly." Dice said as he followed the trail. Seeing the opening the tracks led to, he kneeled down and began to peek through the hole. "You just cornered yourse-"

Before he could finish his sentence, Dice moved his head out of away from the filly darting out like a rocket. Sweetie Belle had once again used her dark magic to summon a crystal that propelled her out similar to how Sombra had once used his magic to launch her at the falling plane her friends had made. 

She gracefully used the mud to slide her way out and once she felt herself lose some momentum, threw herself back on her hooves and continued her run away from him. Dice held onto his face, a sudden wave of pain came over him. He didn't move away fast enough and managed to get scrapped against cheek slightly. Not enough to leave a mark, which he was grateful for. However, the pain only angered him further as she once again managed to slip by him. 

"Chee, next time you won't be so lucky." He said to himself as he ran off, though oddly enough, not in the direction Sweetie Belle had gone.

Sweetie Belle, on the other hoof, still thought Dice was hot on her trail. She pushed herself past whatever limit she had long ago and was running on will power alone. With every step she took she felt her lungs burn and strain for oxygen. Her muscles stung and begged her for rest, but she didn't listen to them. She felt like she needed to run, needed to get away. She didn't feel safe just yet.

Finally her body gave out mid dash and she slipped on the mud. Unable to save herself from the fall, she felt herself come to a steady stop as he body flopped and slid on the mud. Gasping for air, Sweetie Belle remained motionless as she limbs screamed at her for not stopping sooner. The rain landed on her in a cold sting a her mind raced to curse her frail body.

"Maldición." She said softly. "Why didn't I run more often?" She complained as her fears came into fruition. Dice began to make his way towards her from the front. It boggled her mind that he somehow managed to get in front of her. 

"All tired out?" Dice asked with a smirk. "I admire your efforts, but in the end a filly can't compete with an adult.

Despite how exhausted she was, Sweetie Belle replied in the sass she learned from Sombra. 

"Yeah, well I'm surprised an adult took so long to catch a sweet, innocent little girl." She replied with smirk of her own, dissolving the smile on Dice's face.

"I don't think you quite understand the situation you're in." He said with a scowl. 

"I could say the same thing about you." Sweetie said as her eyes glanced to the side for a second. Dice widened his eyes and looked in the same direction. Seeing nothing, he returned his gaze to the filly only to see her on her hooves and her eyes lit aflame once again. 

Using what little strength she had left, Sweetie Belle used her dark magic to throw herself over Dice with a crystal pillar. She managed to get quite a few meters high into the air, but he wasn't about to let her get away again.

Jumping out towards the airborne filly, Dice reached out with a fore hoof to grasp the girl. Sweetie Belle didn't have enough magic to throw herself far enough away and was soon close to being grabbed. Just as lightning struck to light up the scenery, Dice felt an overwhelming amount of heat in front of him. It took a moment for him to realize what was happening but the glowing crimson eyes inches from his face that froze the marrow in his bones from fright made things clear. 

Sombra had finally arrived and with him, the fury of a thousand suns. The fire escaping the sides of his eyes burned and fought the rain falling down to the point that everything felt hot instead. What he had come to see what a simple scene. Sweetie Belle exhausted and pushed her limit and the pony responsible. 

Taking the hoof Dice was reaching out with, Sombra threw him to the side and used the momentum of his motion to lead into a kick with his hind legs. Using the strength that Sweetie Belle's command had unlocked for him, Dice was sent flying toward a nearby home, breaking it entirely and burying him in the rubble. Not wanting to let any harm come to Sweetie Belle, Sombra moved his body to the spot where she would land and caught her on his back.

"M-Mister Sombra." She said softly through her tired pants. 

"Are you alright?"

"I am now..." She said as she allowed her body to go limp on his back. She had pushed herself to the extreme and was finally able to rest a moment. "That pony won't be happy about their home."

"That's the least of my worries." Sombra responded as he turned his head and began to nuzzle against the drained filly. His affection was short lived as he felt a hate filled glare directed towards him.

Jumping aside, Sombra narrowly avoided the dagger swung at him. To his surprise, Dice had somehow managed to get out of the rubble, circled around him, and draw a weapon. What was more peculiar was there wasn't a scratch on him. 

"That was impressive Sombra." Dice said as he jumped back to create some distance between them. "I can't believe you got here so quickly."

"You'd be surprised what I'm capable of." He replied with a stern glare. His eyes once more lit aflame and his sclera shined green. Though Dice played of a calm demeanor, Sombra's death stare horrified him. Yet now he understood why Sweetie Belle knew the magic she did.

"Be careful Mister Sombra." Sweetie said as she pushed herself upright against his back. "He's really fast."

"Filly you don't know the half of it." Dice smirked. "Ponies like us hold all sorts of secrets, right Sombra?"

"You think this is a game?" Sombra said as he stood a step forward, making Dice take one back in turn. 

"Mister Sombra?" Sweetie asked softly, not getting the attention of the stallion she was riding. The pure rage he was experiencing bled out of him in the form of a frightening aura that she could almost not bear to look at. 

Sweating at Sombra's lack of interest in playing their personas, Dice used his magic to draw the dagger he had closer to himself in a defensive stance. For a moment, Dice looked to the side and back at his opponent. Sombra noticed his gesture but chose to ignore it, he knew that the instant he looked away he would be attacked.

Sweetie Belle noticed his subtle eye movement as well and decided to see what he looked at. Looking over at the rubble left from Sombra's initial strike, she noticed some of the debris shift around like if something had moved. 

Jumping forward with his blade out in a stab, Dice lunged towards Sombra who moved to the side to avoid the attack. This caused Sweetie to break away from her gaze on the rubble and instead return her focus back at their opponent. Again and again Dice would swing his blade out and Sombra took extra caution to stay out of its way.

Never before had he been more conscious about what sort of damage he might sustain in battle now that he knew that it would transfer over to the filly on his back. He needed to win the fight without getting hit even once, which now proved to be more difficult that he thought. Moving left to right to avoid the flurry of slashes at him, Sombra was backed into a constant retreat as he looked for an opening to take advantage of. 

Quickly reaching into the pocket of his vest, Dice pulled out a small sphere he threw at the ground. It exploded into a smoke cloud that engulfed them and blinded them. Not willing to be taken by surprise, Sombra erupted his dark flames and pushed away the smoke screen in one swift wave of energy. To his dismay, Dice was gone.

"Where'd he-" Sombra began but before he could finish his sentence, he felt a pair of eyes glare at him from behind. 

Both Sombra turned to see Dice thrusting his dagger at them, more specifically, the filly on his back. She too had turned to see what was behind them and was stunned in shock. Sombra didn't hesitate and neither did the curse. He spun in place and used his fore hoof to push the dagger away, however, he got cut in the process.

"You're making this too easy!" Dice said as he jumped back and ran off. 

"You'd attack a little girl?!" Sombra shouted as he took chase. 

"Are you okay?" Sweetie asked as she looked at the cut on Sombra's right fore hoof. It wasn't too deep, but it was already bleeding out. 

"I'm fine." He replied dryly. He didn't really spare her a second glance, Dice's attack towards her had angered him to the point of blood thirst. Yet it was this very anger that, for the first time since they've met, frightened her.

Following Dice around a corner, Sombra was brought to a halt when he noticed his chase simply vanish. He looked around for a brief second before he once again felt the killing intent focused on him. Looking up, Sombra saw Dice diving down at him with his dagger.

This time, however, Sombra cast his dark magic and raised a crystal spike underneath him. Narrowly avoiding his own creation by pushing himself onto his hind legs, Sombra felt a sharp sting across his entire body. The Pain of Disobedience surged through him as he looked at Dice fall to his own demise. 

Luckily for Sombra, Dice responded by using his dagger as an anchor. By stabbing the spike on the side, he grabbed into it with his hooves and slid down the crystal creation, carving a large indention into it. Sombra's pain disappeared just as fast as it had arrived and now Dice was free to attack.

Sombra awaited for a witty remark, but was left puzzled by his opponent's silence instead. Dice pulled out the dagger from the crystal and moved slowly to the side in a predatorily circle, taking a more forward battle stance against him. 

Sombra responded in kind and lowered himself in a slight crouch. He unknowingly let out a soft growl as he and Dice began to circle around. Sweetie Belle, still quiet by how ferocious Sombra was acting, spectated the battle. She felt in danger, but knew that being on Sombra's back was probably the safest place at the moment. Instead, she focused on his teachings: Keeping her eyes open.

She took in all the little details about Dice she could notice. Though she wanted to make note of perhaps his style of fighting, her eyes were drawn to his dagger. The maneuver he performed to avoid getting skewered by Sombra had left a quite a scar on the blade. 

Finally, breaking out of their dance of death, Sombra and Dice moved towards one another. Sombra's pupils thinned even further as he cast out his magic to engulf his fore hooves in crystal; extending three long claw like hooks at the end to have to fight with. His opponent reacted accordingly and came to a stop just out of reach of Sombra's initial pounce. 

Striking with his dagger left and right, Dice blocked the almost savage strikes of Sombra. With every swing of his fore hooves Sombra grew in momentum. Soon, his rampageous strikes began to overwhelm the gambler. 

Sweetie Belle looked in horror as she saw her guardian attack so wildly. His snarls and growls only made himself look more and more feral by the second. With each swing of his claws he would feel the growing surge of pain flow through him as he was getting closer and closer to killing his foe. Finally, before Sombra had the opportunity to crush Dice with his continuous  strikes, she shouted out.

"Mister Sombra, stop!" Her voice echoed as Sombra was forced to a sudden stop by the curse. Taking the chance presented to him, Dice pulled out his smoke pellet again and dispersed the cloud of thick black smoke. 

"Why'd you stop me?" Sombra asked with the same stern voice from before as the smoke cleared and the curse began to allow him to move again. 

"You were going too far."

"You want to protect him?" Sombra questioned as he looked around for Dice. He knew he would be long gone, but perhaps he had left tracks for him to follow. 

"No, but I don't want you to kill him..." Sweetie Belle said, her voice soft by how dry he was acting towards her. 

"He tried to kill you" Sombra said after spotting the tracks he was looking for. He took to the rooftops and began to follow Dice's trails from a higher point of view. 

"W-Why are you acting this way?"

"I'm trying to keep you safe!" Sombra responded as he ran on the rooftops.  His eyes were set on the trail that circled around to the opposite side of the home he was on.

"You were about to kill him! Killing him would make you just as bad as Dice." Sweetie Belle shouted as she tried to hold onto Sombra as he ran to the other edge of the roof. Before he could look over the side, they were met with a smirk and a blade. 

Reacting as fast as he could, Sombra jumped back to dodge the swipe of the dagger's edge. Dice climbed onto the roof with an unusual smirk on his face considering the beating he had just taken. Still, Sombra's only concern was that his target was once again in his sights. 

"Sometimes Sweetie Belle." Sombra began as he crouched down and prepared his attack. "To do some good you have to be the bad guy."


<=•=>


"Twilight! Twilight!" Applebloom shouted as she banged her hoof on the castle's door. "Open up!"

"Think she's even in her castle right now?" Scootaloo asked as she slumped on the ground, tired from her run over. "Maybe we ran across town twice for nothing."

"She has to be." Applebloom responded as she continued to throw her hooves onto the large doors. "Now get off your butt and help me knock!"

"Argh..." Scootaloo groaned as she lazily stood up and joined her friend. "Twilight! Open up, we have a problem!"

For a few more minutes they persisted on practically beating down the entrance of the castle before the doors finally opened.  Placing a hoof to her mouth to yawn, Twilight opened the doors with a groggy look in her eyes.

"Hello? Applebloom, Scootaloo, what are you two doing here? Hurry inside, it's raining." She said as she moved aside to allow them to enter. They declined her offer and instead began to scream out everything that had just happened. 

"Sweetie Belle's in trouble!"
"Dice has her!"
"Maybe not, Mister Sombra went to help her."
"They're in trouble!"
"Probably. I mean, Mister Sombra is pretty strong. He might have everything under control."
"But he asked us to come get you!"
"Yeah!"

Shaking her head to jolt herself awake, Twilight soon lost the groggy feeling when she processed what the fillies had said. 

"WHAT?!"

"They're in town!"

"Yeah! Come on!"


<=•=>


As Sombra and Dice interchanged attacks, Sweetie Belle remained silent with Sombra's words still echoing in her head. Up until now, Sombra's advice and speeches had helped her overcome a problem. They've been a comfort for her in her time of need. This time, she couldn't bring herself to accept what he had said. 

"To do some good you have to be the bad guy?" She asked as Sombra jumped off the roof and onto the ground level. "Is that more advice about life?"

"Not the time Sweetie Belle." He responded as he stepped out of the way of yet another smoke pellet. 

The smoke screen had worn out its novelty and had become little more than an annoying hindrance to Sombra. Already knowing that Dice would use his rather super natural speed to circle around and attack, he turned around with his crystal claw and went for a powerful strike on his blind spot. 

Sure enough Dice was already incoming to attack as well, yet there was a small 'hesitation' on Sombra's part to pull through with his strike. Sweetie Belle only took notice when his fur lit up on the binding marks. Inches from landing the hit in Dice, she realized that Sombra was once again trying to go against the curse. If he managed to land his attack, he would gravely injure Dice.

Not wanting that to happen, Sweetie Belle threw herself over Sombra's shoulder and grabbed onto his crystal hoof. Using the momentum of her swing to kick Dice as he came close to them, she managed to steer him away from the lethal blow and land a few feet away.

"Sweetie Belle!" Sombra shouted as he saw her and Dice land rather close to one another from her maneuver. Dice had already tried his hoof at killing her before and he soon feared the worst of it.

"You should stay out of the way." Dice said as he came to his hooves, sparing a quick glance at her before he walked over to Sombra to resume their battle. 

In a lowered stance, Sombra began to circle around like a lion about to pounce, his hooves still incased in crystal claws. Dice too began their dance as he used his magic to keep his dagger close to him, ready to react to Sombra's attack. 

Now as a spectator from the side, Sweetie Belle watched on as they traded blows once more. Sombra's savage strikes would swing back and forth as his opponent did his best to block them. She had seen this before. As Sombra grew ever closer to overpowering him, Dice released a smoke screen to blind him. She expected to see him dash out and circle around to strike from the back, but she was met with a different scene.

A silhouette dived in from the side, clashing with Sombra's claw and dispersing the smoke from the powerful impact. Left confused, Sweetie looked on to see Dice and Sombra struggle against each other as the screech of Dice's dagger against the crystal casing echoed in the air. 

Narrowing her eyes to look at them closely, Sweetie saw Dice's dagger, in almost perfect condition. She finally understood what was happening.

"Having trouble Sombra?" Dice asked with his annoying smirk. "Can't keep up?"

"I'll crush you!" Sombra shouted as his eyes blazed in a stronger heat from before. 

His smile never leaving his face, Dice crouched to allow their power struggle to end before reaching into his vest again. Before he had the chance to do his usual trick, he felt himself being pushed aside by a rather strong kick to the face. Sombra looked surprised as he saw Sweetie Belle fly through the air and land her attack to send their opponent a few feet away. Though what shocked him the most was the flames at her eyes. 

Looking to the side to see where she had come from, he saw a crystal pillar she had used to propel herself into the kick. 

"You can use dark magic?!" Sombra asked out in confusion. His answer came quick as Sweetie Belle forced an even stronger flame from her eyes and her horn was engulfed in a dark aura. Doing as she had seen Sombra done a couple of times, Sweetie surrounded them in a thick black cloud of darkness, cutting off sounds going in and out.

"What's wrong with you?!" She shouted as she struggled to keep her magic going. "You're not acting like yourself!"

"Sweetie Belle-"

"Why are you fighting to kill? It isn't like you!" 

Silence. Sombra had no response. Though shock still plagued his system, it was Sweetie's tired pants that made him listen to what she had to say. She was under a lot of strain, yet she still found the strength to scold him. 

"I can't accept that this is you. You aren't fighting like you used to. You're trying to use brute strength to overpower him. What happened to analyzing your opponent? What happened to waiting for the right chance to wrap things up quick and simple?"

"I just want to keep you safe." Sombra said as his eyes began to dilate back to normal. 

"You're the one that taught me how to open my eyes..." She said as she grew even weaker from her large magical strain. Even so, she slowly began to move closer to Sombra. "So why did I figure it out before you?"

"Figure what out?"

Smiling, Sweetie came to Sombra's side. Getting the hint, he crouched down to help her climb on top of him. 

"If I told you, you wouldn't have the chance to learn on your own."

Sombra chuckled at her antics. She was turning his lessons around on him. Recalling his dream, he was pulled out of his rage and back to reality as he gazed over at Sweetie Belle. Tired once again, she rested her head on his soft mane before the shroud of darkness banished and they were once again met with their old friend. 

"What was that?" Dice asked mockingly. "Trying to-"

"Close your mouth!" Sombra shouted, intimidating Dice into staying silent. A brief moment passed and Sombra took in a deep breath. "And open your eyes." He said to himself.

Sombra's posture had changed entirely. No longer crouched down like a beast trying to devour its prey, he was upright in his usual prideful demeanor. His eyes shifted from place to place as he took in all the small details and recalled everything that had just happened. By the time Dice was regained the composure to move again, Sombra smiled as he came to the same conclusion Sweetie had. 

"I see. So that's how things are." He said with a grin. Suddenly, his eyes erupted in flames as he threw himself forward in a quick dash. 

Dice moved to the side and reacted with a quick slice of his dagger. Sombra gracefully avoided the incoming strike, being only centimeters away from getting cut. It allowed him a close look at his dagger to prove his theory. Still, knowing how he was performing his feats meant nothing of he couldn't stop him. 

Sombra continued in his advance but remained without returning an attack of his own. Dice became more and more frustrated from being constantly pushed back by his opponent and quickly devised a plan to stop him. 

Jumping back only to push ahead in a strong thrust of his weapon, Dice carefully aimed his blade at Sweetie Belle who just now gathered enough energy to lift her head. With the tip of the blade getting close to her, she oddly enough didn't fear the incoming attack. She felt safe. Now that Sombra was back to his normal self, she didn't have anything to fear anymore. 

Dice's smile disappeared as he stopped moving. The dagger had been shot out of his magical grasp by Sombra's dark energy bolts and his hind hoof had been engulfed in a crystal casing, keeping him grounded. 

"So you're the one trying to attack Sweetie Belle." Sombra said as he watched Dice struggle to free himself. "What's your name?"

"Trying to make fun of me by pretending to forget my name?" Dice asked with fake courage as he pulled on his hind leg. "I told you when we met. I'm Dice." He said as the rain masked his nervous sweat. 

"Mhm." Sombra said with a smirk of his own. Reaching out with his hoof, he encased it in crystal and began the motion to strike. Sweetie Belle looked at him, she thought perhaps he was still trying to kill him, but she didn't feel any blood lust from him. 

Allowing him to carry on with the motion, Sombra swung his hoof out but was interrupted by a strong swing of a damaged dagger. The strike at his hoof was so strong it shattered the crystal casing. He didn't care much for having his attack be interrupted. He finally drew the other guy out. 

"So what's your name then?" Sombra asked as he saw a pony identical to Dice protect the one trapped. Using his dagger to break the casing Dice was trapped in, the newcomer brought it back around to point at Sombra in anger.

"Name's Slice."

"Twins huh?" Sombra asked as he saw Dice rush to pick up his own dagger. "Well, things are about to get interesting."
> 28. Two of a Kind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Girls, wait!" Twilight shouted as she chased after the fillies running through the rain. Though they had already spent most of the night galloping back and forth across town, it seemed a quick rest was all they needed to get their energy back.

"Come on Twilight!" Scootaloo shouted back as she and her friend came to a stop so that she could catch up. "The trail leads through here!"

"Lookie here!" Applebloom said as they turned around the corner just as the short of breath mare had arrived at their location.

Slowing to a stop before reaching the corner, Twilight's mind was still trying to process everything the fillies had told her. Had she not been so worried about Sweetie Belle, she would have already lectured them on how dangerous it was to go after Dice on their own. Thankfully, though, it seemed Sombra was already with her. With him around, nothing could happen to her.

Twilight took a deep breath as she tried to find comfort in that, though it proved more difficult than she thought. As she turned the corner a look of dismay fell on her as her heart san, drenched in worry. The field before her was scarred in what seemed to be the terrible handiwork only a monster could be capable of. Large claw marks decorated the ground as the mud shifted back and forth where ponies had slid and ran. She found reassurance in the crystal pillars and spikes that were also scattered around. Whatever had attacked Sweetie Belle, Sombra had been there to save her. That's the conclusion she came to, anyway.

"Blasted monster attacks!" A voice shouted from the side, quickly bringing Twilight back into reality and making her look over at a less than happy stallion. He seemed to be digging through the rubble that was once his home, though it bared little resemblance to any kind of shelter now.

"Everything okay?" She asked as she came closer.

"Does it look like everything is o-" The stallion shouted out, though his tone quickly changed when he saw who he was speaking to. "O-O-Oh, Princess Twilight! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay." Twilight said quickly, her attention placed more on the destroyed property. Using her magic, she helped the stallion lift all the rubble at once and place it to the side, leaving the shell of his home. "What happened? Was anypony hurt?"

"Fortunately no, I live alone and I wasn't home when it happened."

"Do you know who did this?"

"Like I said, wasn't here when this happened.”He rolled his eyes. “I haven't asked my neighbors either, but if I had to guess, I'd say it was another monster attack. Right Princess?" He said as he turned to gesture at the battlefield behind them.

"Yes..." Twilight responded hesitantly as she too began to study the battle field before them. "Or something close to it."

"Twilight!" Applebloom screamed as she came back to the area. "What are you doing? We found them!"

"Yeah! Hurry up!" Scootaloo echoed her friend. 

Nodding at them, Twilight turned to the victim of property damage. "Sorry, I have to go take care of whatever made this mess. I'll be back tomorrow to help you. Stay inside until morning." She said as she quickly took flight and made her way to the fillies before the stallion could respond.

"Inside where?!" He shouted after the mare long gone.

Using her magic to lift the fillies from a distance, she placed them on her back as she gained elevation. The girls were quick to their laughter as they enjoyed the ride through the sky, though Twilight was still anxious about what she had just seen.

For some reason, a sense of concern ached in her chest. After getting a second look at the battle field Twilight noticed several small details. The biggest thing that stood out, though, was the fact there were only hoofprints on the ground. Certainly a beast with claws would need paws from which to extend them from, so why were there no prints left behind? Dice was a simple unicorn last she saw him, there was no way he was responsible for the claw marks. There was only one option left and she dreaded to even think it.

She prayed she was wrong.


<=•=>


The screeching echo of metal on crystal rang through the air as Sombra and Dice struggled against each other's strength using their tools. Sombra could easily overpower his opponent, yet felt compelled to hold back for Sweetie Belle's sake whom was looking over his shoulder.

Quickly sliding back around Sombra, Slice pulled back his dagger to stab into him. Using his other forehoof encased in crystal, he split his strength in two to battle against the forces thrown from both sides. A soft grunt escaped Sombra as pushed back against them, but it was nothing compared to the exhausted shouts his foes were letting out.

Both of them reaching into their vests at once, the twins pulled out the smoke pellets from before and threw them down beneath Sombra. A loud ring was heard from the large smoke cloud as Sweetie Belle was thrown out from the midst of things by a red aura.

Barely landing on her hooves, Sweetie summoned whatever magic she had left and mimicked Sombra's technique once more. In a small burst of energy, she pushed out a blaze from her eyes and drove the dark cloud away, revealing Sombra in a stalemate position against the twins.

Several crystal spikes extended from the ground beneath Sombra, blocking any and all vital areas the twins would have slashed at. Their daggers dug deep into the crystals by his neck, keeping him safe from harm. They too, however, were surrounded in crystal skewers. They had either ‘missed’ their target or stopped mere millimeters from touching fur. The only reason they were still alive was because Sweetie Belle wouldn’t allow the alternative.

Quickly realizing in what position they were in, Slice and Dice jumped away from Sombra in a quick reaction to seeing themselves almost impaled.

"Mister Sombra!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she continued to pour out her magic and disintegrated the crystals around him. He looked around at the crystal diminishing and was astonished at how well she seemed to handle the dark arts. Though before he had a chance to praise her craft, he heard a thud from where she fell onto the ground.

"Sweetie Belle!" Sombra shouted as he rushed over to grab onto the downed filly. He quickly looked over her and let out a sigh of relief seeing that she merely fell over from exhaustion.  His eyes sharpened as his moment of peace was cut short from the sensation of death glares in his direction. Looking back at the twins, they were quickly closing the distance between them with their weapons ready.

Throwing her on his back, Sombra shot out a powerful magic bolt at the twins who quickly dodged it by moving on opposite sides of the blast. Having separated them like he wanted, Sombra took the opening he made in their formation to attack.

"You need to stop using dark magic!" Sombra shouted at his rider as he began his assault. Sliding under the horizontal slash of Slice's blade, he shot out a powerful blast of energy from his horn,  knocking him to the side in time to defend against the brother's attack. In this hard maneuver, Sweetie Belle began to regain some consciousness.

"S-Sorry." She said softly. Her voice was weak, had she not been next to his ear, he would not have heard her. "I guess I over did it huh?"

"More than that." Sombra replied as repelled the dagger's tip with his crystallized hooves. "I don't know how you even learned dark magic, but you need to stop!"

Following up a quick dodge with a kick to the chest to stagger him, Sombra lifted the gambler and threw him aside.  Slice was quick to react and caught his brother midair, though the momentum sent them both backwards. Having them at a safe distance, Sombra quickly returned his gaze to Sweetie Belle.

"It's too dangerous."

"But you use it." She argued back.

"I trained myself for years. The ability to even create a crystal took me a month of practice and a huge amount of energy. I can’t even fathom how you learned to do it yourself and in such a short amount of time."

"I saw you do it." Sweetie Belle said as she lifted herself, trying to regain some strength from the large strain her magic put on her body. "I just practiced what you did when you used your magic when you were my shadow."

"Training aside, dark magic takes a certain kind of energy to use. It feeds off negative emotions like fear and hatred from others. You shouldn't even be able to do it properly."

"What do you mean negative emotions?" Sweetie asked, not understanding his meaning. "You need somepony to hate you to use your magic?"

"Yes, dark magic requires you to leech your power of those negative emotions. That means you need to actively be malicious, be evil. You need ponies around you to loathe your very existence. Its not a choice you should make lightly."

"Wait." Sweetie said as she shook her head, trying to straighten her thoughts. "You chose to be evil? I thought dark magic made you evil."

"You thought my magic possessed me? No, dark magic is nothing more than a tool to be used. A tool that runs on hatred. One does not become evil by using dark magic. They have to already be evil to use it at all."

“So what Princess Luna said is true? You really were that Tyrant?”

“I was, yes.”

“But you said you were keeping them alive! The Crystal Empire, you were a good king!”

“I made a promise to keep the Crystal Ponies alive, but I didn’t promise to keep them happy. When I was given the crown they thought I had killed their princess, already they had fed me power, power I continued to absorb with each day I was king. I never told them the truth for if I did, I would not be as powerful as I am today.”

“But…”

As the duo spoke, it left the twins with ample time to gather their bearings.

"You alright brother?" Slice asked as he helped Dice to his hooves.

"I'm fine." He replied, shrugging off the help. "This is taking too long. Her 'Queen' will arrive soon."

"We only have one more pellet each." Slice said as he crouched next to him. "What do you propose we do?"

"Only thing we can do. We have to hit him as hard as we can. Once that Iron Defence is out of the way, we can finish this."

"But his crystals-"

"Can break!" Dice said sourly. Never before had he been toyed with like he was now. It fueled him with hatred. "You broke me out of his crystal casing before. His hooves must be no different. We just have to land a well placed strike."

"Okay, leave it to me." Slice said as he stood back up. "I'm better with a blade than you, after all."

"So you are." Dice joined him. "I'll distract him."

"Why though?!" Sweetie Belle shouted back finally. "Why would you choose to be evil?"

"I told you already." He replied, walking slowly towards the twins. "Sometimes to do some good, you have to be the bad guy. The only way I could gain power was to act the part.”

"But- Evil?!" Sweetie Belle simply couldn’t process Sombra’s thinking, it made no sense to her.

Hearing the clattering of hooves charging at them, Sombra chose to remain quiet as the twins charged at them. Running in a zigzag pattern that looped them back and forth, Sombra had a difficult time keeping track of which twin was which.

One of them shouted as he swung his blade out at Sombra whom was quick to duck and avoid it. Trying to counter with sweep of his crystallized hoof, Dice jumped overhead to avoid the attack while simultaneously swinging his blade. As planned, it drew Sombra’s attention away from Slice who was taking his time in finding the perfect spot to strike.

Using his crystal hoof to brace against the slash from Dice, Sombra’s ear twitched as he heard Slice finally take aim with his dagger and lunge forward. He held his hoof up and blocked the rather obvious attack, but as he did, the dagger dug deep into the crystal casing.

Small cracks spiderwebbed from the dagger as they slowly spread across the entire fore hoof. Dice, now landing on his hooves, mimicked his brother’s strike and Sombra was forced to repeat his defence, ending in the same result. Now both of his crystal hooves were breaking.

“Sweetie Belle, sometimes you have to make the difficult choices to survive, to push through. I am evil, for my magic is proof of it.”

He could end it in a single second. He could skewer them at once in a quick killing blow, but he couldn't. The curse wouldn't allow him to even begin the motion. He was forced to stand down. Taking advantage of his ‘hesitation’, Slice and Dice simultaneously slashed to the side with their daggers while stabbed into the crystal. In one strong cut, they managed to break the crystal casing and ready themselves for a second swing to end the fight.

Time slowed for Sweetie Belle as she saw Sombra's crystal casing break in front of her. What's more, was that a thick red liquid was freed from its crystal prison as well. The gash Sombra had gotten on his fore leg while protecting her had been exposed now that the crystal fell off. She stared deeply into it, her eyes trained to spot small details now, she managed to see her reflection in Sombra's blood.

Her heart dropped as she saw herself. A frail filly in the midst of two powerful forces battling each other. Though all she had wanted to do was help, Sombra would have never been hurt had she not decided to follow Dice today. It made her sick to her stomach knowing that even when trying to be helpful she messed up again and again. The emotion building in her chest was almost crippling, it was something she had never truly felt before. The feeling of hatred.

"No!" Sweetie Belle shouted out in a loud roar. Her eyes pushed out a flame stronger than any she had cast out before. Her magic poured out of her as crystal after crystal formed beneath them. Randomly striking out around them, a sort of crystalized rose was formed as her dark powers forced the twins to retreat in fright of being impaled by her rampage.

“H-How?” Sombra asked out in awe at the massive amounts of magic coming from her.

“I can’t accept it…” Sweetie said with her head down, her flames now gone. Her voice soft as she began to whimper a soft cry, her tears were the cause of her extinguished flames. “I can’t accept that dark magic is evil!”

“What else would you call it? What sort of magic needs fear and hatred to work if not evil?” Sombra asked as he dispelled the crystal Sweetie had summoned to release them from her unintended prison.

“You said it yourself! Dark magic is a tool to be used, like a piece on a chessboard. So what if you need to drain hatred? You’ve saved my sister’s jewels, my life, my friend’s lives. You’ve used it for good! You’ve made some bad choices, but you’re good! I know it!”


"Damned brat!" Dice grunted as he wobbled to his hooves. "I’m tired of hearing you talk, just shut up already!"

"Brother wait!" Slice tried to interrupt by reaching out with his hoof.

It was too late to stop him, Dice swung his magic around and threw his dagger out at Sweetie Belle. The metal growing close, she looked away in a flinch. Sombra, more composed to deal with it, shot out a bolt of energy that deflected the dagger into the air.

Sombra stood quiet for a moment, his anger rising again from having Sweetie Belle come so close to getting seriously injured. He took a single step forward as his magic began to extend the three claw hooks from his crystallized hooves again, though something stopped him. He realized he never heard the dagger land.

"You should really be more careful." Twilight said as she stepped out into the field, the gambler’s dagger being held with her magic.

"Yeah! You could have hit us!" Applebloom and Scootaloo said in unison from her back.

"Lo siento." Sombra apologized, his claws disappearing along with the crystal on his hooves. 

Twilight took notice of how quickly he dissolved his crystal casing, though more importantly, of Sweetie Belle who was wiping her eyes. She had seen the entire ordeal, heard everything. Somehow, her presence broke the tension that had been building between them as neither felt it was appropriate to argue with Twilight around.

"So there's two of them? That explains a lot." Twilight said, changing the subject as she came to his side.

"Yes. That's why you couldn't pin the thieving on Dice." Sombra said as he continued to keep his eyes glued on the twins. Since Twilight's appearance, they had edged together and began whispering to one another.

"Princess Twilight arrived..." Slice said grimly.

"Damn, we took too long."

"We need to retreat, Sombra was bad enough, we can't hope to win now."

"We can't just leave, Slice. They know about us, we need to kill them like all the others!"

"But they're too strong!" Slice argued back.

"Heed your brother, Dice." Sombra said loud enough to break them apart. "Surrender peacefully."

"Tch." Dice scoffed. He looked over at the filly on Sombra's back. "Think you've won?" He asked her.

Surprised that Dice would direct a question to her, she looked to Sombra for an answer. He knew that they were obviously just trying to buy time to think, though there was little they could do now. He nodded to her and told her to reply.

Giving off a couple more sniffs to clear her nose, Sweetie Belle recomposed herself as she sat up tall on Sombra’s back.

"My Rook and Queen have arrived. It's checkmate." Sweetie said, following up on the chess analogy from earlier.

"Under normal circumstances, yes, there would be no way a single King could defend against those two pieces." Dice said with a deathful grin. He glanced over to his brother and nodded to one another. "But this isn't a chess game, we don't have to abide by any rules."

In unison, Slice and Dice reached into their vests and pulled out the last of their smoke pellets. Throwing them at the crowd of ponies, Sombra  reignited his flames as Twilight shielded herself with her wings. Running at them with what all the stamina they had left, Dice made a bee line to his dagger that Twilight was holding. He quickly swooped it into his own magical aura while within the smoke screen.

Reacting the only way he knew how, Sombra erected crystal pillars at the twin's locations, knocking them away as Twilight cleared the smoke with a powerful flap of her wings. As the thieves flew through the air, Sombra quickly understood why they had come straight at them.

Using the pillars Sombra had summoned as a running start, Slice and Dice rode the power that sent them flying and hit the ground running in opposite directions. Both he and Twilight realized their plan and took to their targets in a fast chase.

"Don't let either get away!" Sombra shouted out as he took in a fast gallop after his Slice.

"Right!"

Slice ran as quick as he could for a while, though for some pony trying to get away, his path was rather straight forward. No sudden turns or quick escapes. Instead he just ran forward, as if leading him somewhere. Finally, after running almost out of town, Slice slowed down and came to a stop. Sombra did so too, if only to remain on the safe side in case it was some sort of trap. Reaching into his vest, Slice pulled out his dagger as Sombra readied himself for a fight. 

Instead, he threw it to the side, stabbing it on the ground as he turned around. Sombra narrowed his eyes and looked at him in confusion.

“Giving up?”

“No use running since you can catch me. No use fighting since you can overpower me.” Slice said as he raised his hooves in a surrender. “However, it wouldn't be the first time I took one for the team.” He said in a half smile.

Sombra lit his eyes with dark magic and trapped him in a crystal tepee, favoring Sweetie Belle’s non lethal method of conflict solutions. 

“Twilight will catch your brother.” Sombra said as he came close to the small opening in the tepee that served as a window to let air in so Slice wouldn’t suffocate.

“No doubt she will, and when she does, my brother will do what he does best.”

“What does that mean?” Sweetie Belle asked worried. “What does he mean?” She asked again, turning her attention to Sombra was narrowed his eyes to his prisoner.

“It means your friends are in trouble.” He said before he took to a fast gallop again.

Since the very start, it had only been Dice who had attacked Sweetie Belle to gain an edge. No doubt he would use the same tactic on Twilight. What Slice had done was simply led him as far away as possible to give his brother time to out play her. 


<=•=>


"Where’d he go?” Applebloom asked as they landed on the ground. 

“I’m sure he came around this way.” Scootaloo said, reaffirming that their chase should still be around here.

Twilight kept quiet, instead using all her energy at trying to find Dice. He had ran around into a dark alley she was using her horn to light up. Every cell in her body told her it was some sort of trap, but she felt that going back out was exactly what he wanted her to do.

“Look!” Applebloom said as she pointed a hoof out at a home’s open window. “Maybe he went inside. Not sure how he does it, but can scale walls to climb up, we’ve seen him do it.”

“Well, we didn’t exactly see him do it, but we saw the tracks, or Sweetie Belle did.”

Hesitantly flying up towards the window, Twilight poked her head around to see if anypony was inside. Squinting her eyes into the dark interior of the house, she saw a dark figure struggle on the ground. Not sure if it was a friend or foe, Twilight took her time to go inside, her horn still being the only light source. 

As she crept closer, she made out that it was a Ponyville citizen tied down and gagged in the middle of her living room. Twilight recognized her as one of the florist mares and rushed over to untie her.

“Lily?!” Twilight shouted as she came to her side and began to free her. “Are you okay? What happened?!”

“Look out, it’s a trap!” The mare shouted as Twilight took off the cloth that served as a gag. 

Reacting as quick as she could in the direction Lily was looking, Twilight turned around just in time to see a dagger fly at the fillies on her back. She cast out a barrier spell to repel the weapon, though that too had been a distraction it seemed.

Twilight saw a hoof wrap around from behind her, a towel pressed against her muzzle as she was forced to breathe in something strange. She quickly shook off Dice with a strong flap of her wings, knocking him back. 

“Too predictable.” Dice said as he came to his hooves. “Now you’re my prey.”

Dice chuckled to himself as he saw Twilight begin to wobble back and forth.

“Twilight? What’s wrong?” Applebloom asked as she jumped off her her to help keep her steady. Her friend joined in, but it was no use, the mare collapsed and laid helpless in front of Dice. He took a step forward, but before he could gloat any further, he heard something begin to make its way to them.

“Twilight?!” Sombra shouted from the outside, quickly making Dice frown. Sombra's heavy hoof steps splashing on the rain puddles gave his location away blocks over.

“Did Slice get caught already?!” Dice asked as he ran to a window to look. He saw all he needed and quickly turned to go for his dagger. Picking it up, he ran to the other side of the building, jumping out through the window. 

“In here!” Scootaloo shouted as she ran to the first window to direct Sombra in. 

Quickly she moved out of the way as Sombra jumped up, blasting his way through the open window before landing inside.

“You weren’t kidding about that entrance thing…” Sweetie Belle said as she shook some debris off of her.

“Where’s Dice?”

“He got away, but you have to help Twilight!” Applebloom said as she shook her friend, though she wasn’t responding.

“What happened?”

“He made her breathe something weird!” 

Sweetie Belle jumped off Sombra and helped her friend untie Lily as Sombra came to Twilight. Seeing her chest breathe in and out, he looked around and saw the towel used to knock her out.

“He was downstairs with my flowers before he tied me.” Lily said as she shook uncontrollably. "The horror of being robbed, the horror!" For once, perhaps her reaction wasn't an overreaction. 

“Lavender...and Chamomile?” Sombra asked out as he made out the powder that still remained. “A weak sleeping powder, but it seemed to have work. She must have breathed in large amounts.”

“Is she gonna be okay!?”

“She’ll be fine.” Sombra said as he used his magic to lift the Princess and place her on his back. “But we should get her back to her castle. Somepony there should get Slice before his brother frees him.”

“Okay, let’s go.” Sweetie Belle said as she tried to climb onto Sombra’s back again, though there was little room for her to fit on with Twilight sleeping. A quick look around the room at the other two fillies and Sombra quickly made out their plan.

“I am not carrying each of you on my back.”

“But we’ve been running all day!”

"Fine, but hurry!" Sombra shouted as he felt the crowd of ponies climb onto him. His legs barely keeping himself balanced, he turned and blasted the already hold pony sized hole on the wall into a larger one he could fit through with all the extra luggage. 

"H-Hey!" Lily shouted as she saw him jump out. "What about me?!"

"Bring it up with Princess Twilight tomorrow!"


<=•=>


Running through Ponyville, Dice felt the rain splash on his face as he moved as quickly as he could. He was so close to getting away now, nothing could stop him. As he ran, he caught a glimpse of a crystal spire a few streets over. Noticing the dagger stabbed into the ground next to it, he knew that was where his brother was being held prisoner. A second was all he hesitated as he saw the tepee, but if he went over to help, he might compromise his own escape. No he had to keep running.

Slice heard the echo of hooves a few blocks away. Sighing, he knew what was happening. Sitting down and allowing his wet main to drip over his face, he took in the thought of being abandoned.

"Well, at least you can be free, brother." He said to himself. Using his magic to light the inside of the prison, he saw his reflection on the crystal wall. "Two of a kind, huh? Maybe you'll be get me out faster than last time."
> 29. Slice for Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sombra looked over Sweetie Belle as she slept. The other fillies cuddled together next to her, though since they had rushed to bed last night, their covers were blown every which way. He noticed a piece of her mane dragged onto her muzzle and with a gentle hoof, combed it back in place. It brought a soft smile to her face as she felt his warm touch. 

He didn’t return the gesture. The fore-hoof he had used came into view bearing heavy bandages. The wound he had gotten the night prior was still there, it hadn’t even closed up yet. Still fresh, like if he just gotten slashed. He feared perhaps it would pass on to Sweetie Belle like his other cut. All night he watched over her to make sure she was treated when it happened, but thankfully it hadn't.

He didn’t understand it, the curse and how it worked. Was it even a curse at all? He had pushed all these questions to the back of his head until now, but seeing how much he’s grown to care for Sweetie Belle, he could no longer ignore it. Especially after his dream.

His memories had rekindled his desire for revenge, but more importantly, gave him a new found direction in his search. With those red and yellow eyes burned into the back of his mind, Sombra was now more determined than ever to find him. Finally he had pieced all the pieces together and his mind straightened it. It wasn’t a stone he had been after, or rather, not at first. 

“Sombra?” A voice called out, bringing him back to reality. He jerked his head to the open door and saw Twilight. 

“Something wrong with Slice?” He asked as he stood up quickly.

“No.” She said as she gestured him to come to her. “He’s still locked up in the cellar. He’s not going anywhere until Canterlot’s Royal Guard arrives.”

“Good.” Sombra relaxed and lit his horn in a red aura. Making sure Sweetie Belle was covered up well, he turned and began to leave the room to join her in the hallway. Twilight frowned as she noticed that he had uncovered Applebloom and Scootaloo in the process.

Twilight paused. She stared over at Sweetie Belle for a while longer after Sombra had left her side. Patiently he waited for her to break out of her trance and close the door. Together they began to walk down the corridor. It was already an eerie atmosphere on its own, but with their awkward silence, it only intensified. 

Though he didn’t spare her the same gesture, he knew Twilight looked him up and down. He could feel her eyes look him over. 

Her feelings about him were scattered. Yesterday morning she had thought of him as a friend. It certainly wouldn’t have been the first time for an enemy to become an ally, and his actions in discovering Dice ahead of time painted him as just that. After what she saw was left behind in his battle, however, it made her feel the need to be more cautious. 

She had thought that perhaps he had been misunderstood. Her conversation with Luna certainly showed Sombra in a different light. He never lied either, so he had several things going for him. Yet it was only now that she realized that all those instances in which he had been nice, had either been towards Sweetie Belle, around her, or because of her. Whenever Sombra was alone with somepony else, he was a completely different stallion. 

“Care to tell me what’s wrong?” He finally said, breaking the silence and making eye contact. 

Twilight furrowed her brows as she stared down his crimson eyes. His thinned pupils, his deadpan expression, it all spelled out ‘bad news’. 

“Can I ask you something?” She said.

“Depends on the question.”

“Did Slice and Dice have some sort of animal with them? A tiger or lion perhaps?”

“No.”

“A dragon?”

“No?” He raised a brow at her strange questions. 

“Any sort of beast with claws?”

Sombra came to a stop. He finally understood why she had been acting strangely. 

“No. If you’re talking about what was left behind on the battlefield, I made those markings.” Sombra replied as he raised his hoof. 

Twilight glanced over at his hoof then at him, wondering what he was about to do. Lighting his eyes in purple flames, Sombra called out his magic and engulfed his forehoof in crystal. After his new gauntlet was in place, he extended three long blades to create a clawed hoof for himself. 

“I see. You left quite the destruction in your wake. Though, I guess I should be thankful. It led me to you.” She said.

“Sweetie Belle was in danger. I acted accordingly.” Sombra’s flames went out. Thrusting his hoof down onto the ground, he smashed it to pieces before continuing their route. She began to lead him to her study.

Twilight didn’t know if she felt better or worse about the situation. She was terrified of the thought that he was still a loose cannon and his only leash were the rather forgiving orders of Sweetie Belle. Still, his little demonstration managed to bring his injured leg to her attention.

“How’s your hoof?” She asked as they made a turn to the destined room. It was rather messy to say the least. Certainly not like her to keep her personal research area so disorganized, though she didn’t exactly have time to clean up when she was visited by Applebloom and Scootaloo last night.

“Fine. It should heal up.” He said as he grabbed onto it for a moment. That was more of a hopeful statement than anything else. Sombra was in no small amount of pain but he hid it well. It was the reminder of it that made his mind think if his ‘master’. “Any news on what sort of spell Sweetie Belle cast?”

“Huh?”

“To summon and bind me. Weren’t you doing some sort of research?”

“Oh!” She shouted as she hopped into the air, flying over Sombra and simultaneously lifting several books and scrolls in her study to look through them. “I researched every nook and cranny of the Royal Records to find any trace of anything similar to whatever Sweetie Belle had done.”

“And?”

“I didn’t find anything.” She said sternly, still looking for the scroll she was after. 

“¿De verdad?” He asked a little confused. “Nothing at all?”

“Nope.” She finally found the files she was looking for. “In every case where somepony tried to revive the dead it either ended in failure or tragedy. Usually both. So I broadened my search.”

“To what?”

“Well, instead of focusing on finding ponies that were brought back to life, I looked for things that shared your...condition.” She glided down to Sombra and levitated the files in front of him. Consuming them in his own magical aura, Sombra quickly began to read through them. “This is Sir Swift Silver. A pegasus from a well know family in the East Coast. He was born several hundred years ago.”

“And what condition are you talking about exactly?” He questioned as he flipped the pages. It was a very detailed report on the pony. Everything from a very descriptive bio to events he attended in his life and other achievements he was known for. 

“Being bound. I found Swift’s death certificate in Canterlot’s extensive citizen catalogue. He died in battle at one of the many wars he took part in.”

“So he’s dead.”

“Keep reading.”

He did just that, and soon he began to see what she meant. At a monster attack in his home town, witnesses saw somepony who looked very similar to Sir Swift Silver help defeat the menace. This happened seven years after he died. 

Again he was seen aiding soldiers during one of the many wars for control of the coast. He was even reported taking part in a key battle that turned the tides of the war. This was fifteen years after his death. 

Famine, death, any sort of threat that befell his hometown and he would be there to help. The most recent one happening just a decade ago. Sombra narrowed his eyes as he reached the end of the documents before lifting his gaze. 

“Who- What is he?”

“A familiar.” Twilight said with a prideful grin. “Well, that’s my guess anyway. I haven’t spoken to the family in question yet. I’ve sent word that I’ll be heading in their direction soon, but we don’t have a planned date yet.”

Sombra raised a brow as he awaited more to be said.

“If I’m correct and you two are both bound the same way, we could speak to whoever did the binding in the first place. Maybe there’s a way to undo it.”

“Hmm…” Sombra hummed to himself. He had forgotten that that was her goal. His literal undoing. He couldn’t have it. No, even after all this time there is still a shot at his revenge. He can’t have Twilight dispel their binding just yet. 

His stare was almost that of a glare as he continued to look at Twilight. Still, he had little options available. Perhaps, a distraction?

“I-Is something wrong?” Twilight said, visibly uncomfortable with his death gaze.

“I need...help...with something.” Sombra said as he took a few steps forward, placing the documents on the table close by. 

“I, I’d be happy to help.” She retreated slightly. 

Twilight could almost not look at him in the eyes. His gaze was one thing, but his towering stature only made him more...intimidating. She couldn’t read Sombra or what he was up to, but something about how he look at her made her stomach twist. 

“My wound.” He said as he raised his hoof. “It’s not healing.”

“Huh?” She blinked her eyes in confusion. Suddenly, Sombra’s powerful demeanor banished and was replaced with a  weakened pose. 

“I’m worried about Sweetie Belle.”

“Wait, I’m not following.”

“Do you recall Sweetie Belle having a band-aid over her cheek recently?” He said with a sigh. “That was my fault.”

“Huh? I thought you couldn’t hurt Sweetie Belle.”

“I can’t.” Sombra replied, almost insulted by the remark. “That cut was originally mine. But it somehow transferred over to her.” 

“What? How?!”

“Wish I knew.” He said looking down. “But I am worried it might happen again with this.”

“A simple cut is one thing, but your hoof!” Twilight erupted. She almost forcibly took Sombra’s hoof and examined it as she undid the bandages. “It’s a deep cut. If something like this suddenly appeared on Sweetie Belle, it would be unbearable for her!”

She quickly tried to use some healing magic, though it proved ineffective. If anything, her jerking of his limb only caused him to begin bleeding again. It was nothing she had ever seen before.

“No sign of your natural healing taking place. It’s still fresh open!” 

“I know.” He said in a serious gaze. “So I need to ask a favor of you. Since you're doing research on our binding, could you focus on trying to get this situated first? I would think this takes first priority.” 

“Of course!” Twilight replied. “It’ll be like a research paper within a research paper!”

Sombra did his best to hide a smirk. Two birds with one stone. Now he needn’t worry about his time running out any time soon. Still, what he said was true. Looking down at his gash, he could only imagine what sort of pain Sweetie Belle would be in if it transferred to her. 

“Twilight!” A voice called out from the door. Both ponies looked over and saw a rather out of breath Spike panting as he leaned on the wall. “The...Royal Guards...are here.” He managed to get out before falling over onto his back to rest. 

“That’s wonderful! Let’s get this out of the way so I can get back to researching.” Twilight said gleefully, fluttering her wings towards her assistant and levitating him with her magic. “Sombra, let’s go!”

“Right.” He replied almost hesitantly He wasn’t sure of it was because he would soon be out of her hooves or the fact she had a new goal on her research, but Twilight seemed overly excited. “If Dice is planning to rescue his brother, he’d probably do it before he is transferred to a high security prison in Canterlot. Keep your eyes peeled.” He finished as he walked over to Twilight. “Also, do invest in some guards. Making rounds at night gets tiring.”

“I don’t need any guards!” Twilight argued back as she left the room behind Sombra. 

“You’ll regret that when somepony sneaks in.” Sombra’s voice echoed just as the door was shut behind the mare. 

They were gone and the room remained still for a moment. The candles that provided light in Twilight’s study flickered as a shadow threw itself onto the ground. In a soft echoing of hooves on crystal, Dice smiled as he stood up straight in the deserted room. 

“Do listen to him Princess.” He mocked as he stretched his neck. With him, his saddle bag filled with trinkets and gadgets he usually uses to break in somewhere. “After all, I’ve never had such an easy time sneaking into a Princess’ Castle before.”

Dice had snuck in to do just as Sombra had thought, break his brother out, however, he managed to overhear quite the interesting conversation Twilight and Sombra were having. Lucky he was here when they happened to come by. He quickly began to make his way to the desk filled with documents and began to read through the report they were discussing, though the more he poked around the more interesting the tale became. 

“Are you even a pony?” Dice asked himself as he read through Sombra’s bio; reading everything Twilight had on him. “To go against two Princesses and live, just what are you Sombra...And why didn’t you kill us? My brother and I were no match for you…”

Dice took a moment to ponder the thought. Sombra certainly didn’t have a moral code to abide to, not with such a title as Tyrant of the Frozen North. No, there must be something else.

“That filly…” He said as he recalled the fight. “Binding...were they talking about that filly and Sombra? If so...I could use this information.” Dice said with a ghastly grin. 

Hurrying as fast as his hooves allowed, Dice began to stuff his saddle bag with documents. All details he would be wanted to read up on later. Though more importantly, he took the document on Sir Swift Silver. 

“Sorry brother, looks like you’ll have to wait a while longer.”


<=•=>


With the echo hooves shuffling along crystal, Sweetie Belle stirred awake. Her eyes still only half open, she did her best to figure out what she was hearing. 

“This way, umm…” Twilight’s voice said from the other side of the door to the room. 

“Adamant.” A stallion responded. “The new Captain of the Royal Guard. I replaced your brother after he left to be at the Crystal Empire.” 

“Hmm…” Sweetie grunted as she sat up, listening to the passing conversation. “Hey girls, you awake?” She asked as she looked to her friends, though they were still fast asleep. 

Shaking her head violently, Sweetie Belle forced herself awake and jumped out of the bed. Curiosity taking hold, her first impulse was to chase after the voices she heard, though before darting forward she looked back at the bed. Using her magic, she neatly stretched out the covers and placed them over her friends. 

“I’ll be right back!” She shouted as she opened the door and shut it behind her. Surprisingly, the sound didn’t wake the fillies. 

Sweetie Belle made it to the corridor and she began to inspect everything around her. It didn’t serve her any purpose; she couldn’t find anything of importance. With a rather disappointed look on her, she walked in the direction she heard the voices go. 

“I bet Mister Sombra would have figured out who many ponies had walked by by just looking at the floor.” She said to herself. 

“Seven.” Sombra said suddenly from behind her, promptly scaring her and making her hop in place. Turning around to look at him, Sweetie Belle did her best to not shriek in fright.

“M-Mister Sombra?” She asked as she tried to calm herself. “W-When did you get here?”

“Just now. I’ve been following the guards too. Just watching the rear in case Dice decides to show.” He said as he kneeled down to allow Sweetie Belle to climb on like usual. 

“Are they the Royal Guard who are gonna take Mister Slice away?”

“Mhm.”

“How long is he gonna be in jail for?”

“Not too long, I'm guessing.” Sombra replied as he felt her get into place. He began to walk towards the cellar to meet with the others.

“Cause he didn’t hurt Twilight after all?”

“No…” He said grimly.

“Then why do you say he won’t be in jail for long?”

“Well…” Sombra paused. The answer was a little more complicated than Slice being behind bars for any amount of years. No, knowing how things transpired only solidified the idea of an execution with a hunt and bounty set out for the other. 

“Mister Sombra?” Sweetie Belle asked out, still awaiting an answer. He sighed. 

“You would hear about it sooner or later, I suppose….” He said as he came to a stop. “Slice will probably be killed for high treason. Attacking the Princess is a serious crime and if memory serves, he’ll likely be killed quite soon. His brother’s search and death will soon follow.”

“What!?” Sweetie Belle shouted out. “But-but!”

“Why all the screaming?” Sombra asked as he folded his ears against his head, trying his best to shield them from the filly’s high pitched screams. 

“But they’re the Royal Guard! Princess Celestia’s and Princess Luna’s soldiers!”

“Yup.”

“They’re the good guys!”

“Uh huh.”

“Good guys don’t kill!”

“Don’t they?” Sombra asked out, his question suddenly silencing her. Lowing her head, Sweetie Belle was at a loss for words. “I’ve said it once before. Sometimes to be good, you have to be the bad guy.” 

Sombra then began to walk again. Still with nothing to say, Sweetie remained extremely quiet, which made Sombra a little uncomfortable. He knew it would be hard news for her to hear, though he wasn’t exactly sure what to say at a time like this. Still, it sort of pained him to see her this way. She seemed deflated and depressed just by hearing what would be happening.

“Why?” She finally asked out. 

“Kill the bad guys?”

“Mhm.”

“So they can’t be bad anymore.”

“But-”

“Dice got away.” He interrupted her before she could finish. “He now has the liberty to steal, and possibly kill, somewhere else. If Slice is allowed to live for long, he could escape, get broken out, and the cycle of evil would continue.”

“But…” Sweetie said again. “Isn’t there another way?”

“There is.” Sombra said with a half smile. His words suddenly got her to look up with a hopeful expression. 

“Really?!”

“But.” He said firmly, quickly downing her spirits once more. “The way I see it, you can help the world in one of two ways. Be righteous and add to the good of the world, or take out the bad.”

“Add good or subtract the bad?”

“Your friend, Princess Twilight. She’s a good mare. She tries to see the best in ponies and turn them good. She’s the sort of pony that fits in the righteous category. I’m sure many of your friends would also fit in well. Me, however.

“Don’t?”

“No. I played my role as a Tyrant. Say what they will about how I ruled the Crystal Empire, but disorderly it was not. I protected my people from invaders, kept them safe and fed as I promised I would. But my magic required something else. Simple as that.”

“But is it really okay to k-kill somepony?” She asked. She hesitated to even say it out loud. 

“Had I killed Slice and Dice last night, it would have been the end of that. At the end of the day, the twins committed a heinous crime in the eyes of Equestria. They might not die by my hooves, but in the end, they will be executed.”

“Hmm…”

Sweetie Belle, still displeased with what he said, took the time to think things over. Everything Sombra had said was certainly true, she couldn’t deny it. Still, the very thought made her chest ache. Was there really no other way? Was the fate for Slice and Dice really sealed? But after hearing him say all of that, perhaps she shouldn’t hold the actions of her friends against them. The fact that they killed Sombra.

The sound of chains rattling quickly made Sweetie realize that they had arrived at their destination. Looking through the door that led down stairs into the cellar, she could hear the conversation about Slice take place.

“Now be careful, he has a twin brother. He might try to ambush you on the way back.” Twilight’s voice echoed. 

Arriving just in time to see Twilight undo the cage magic she had previously used on Sombra, Sweetie Belle saw the guards forcibly restrain Slice and place a strange device over his horn. 

“There!” Adamant said as he inspected the prisoner.

“What?” Slice said in a mocking tone. “Proposing marriage to me?”

“Very funny punk, but you won’t be so quirky in Canterlot.”

Curious as to what they were doing to him, Sombra squinted his eyes to try to make out what sort of contraption they put around Slice’s horn. Though as he looked over at him, he noticed the leader of the guards. He instantly recognized him as the same captain he had embarrassed by pulling a disappearing act when he and Sweetie Belle broke into Canterlot to see Celestia. 

“What’s that?” He asked out loud, looking at the ring shaped machine.

“Oh! Oh!” Sweetie Belle yelled. “I read about it on the paper! Twilight made it! You see, we have these door things that turn off a unicorn’s magic for a little while. We use them during important events like the Equestria Games, but Twilight made a smaller, more portable version. I hear it’s very popular in with guards and police officers.”

“Huh, is that right?” He said as he continued to look from the entrance. “If I grow my dark crystals on a pony’s horn, I can accomplish the same task.”

“Really? They do that?” Sweetie Belle asked, shocked the crystals had that sort of power.

“Yes. The dark matter they are composed of, they drain and absorb energy and light respectively. They’s why they’re black.”

“Cause black is an absence of color, and white is all the colors at once?”

“I see you know about art.” Sombra joked as he finally began to make his way to Twilight.

“Halt, who are you?” Adamant asked as he took notice of the duo. 

“Just now saw me?” Sombra chuckled. “I could have killed everypony twice over already.”

“Sombra!” Sweetie Belle shushed him, their previous conversation still fresh on her mind.

“Think this is a joke?” The captain said as he got into a battle stance, though Sombra couldn’t help but take him lightly. 

As a unicorn, he had an advantage against him as an Earth Pony in every combat situation presently available to them. He would have to get close to do anything, something that would give him enough time to cast out a spell to end the battle almost immediately. The only thing Adamant had going for him was command over the other guards, though it was a slim chance they proved to be any trouble either.

“Enough!” Twilight shouted, though they continued to glare at one another. “No fighting with one another. Getting Slice to Canterlot takes priority.”

“Princess Twilight.” Adamant persisted. “I recognize him.”

“Yes. He’s Sombra, formerly Tyrant of the Crystal Empire.” She said, thinking she knew what he meant.

“That was clear as day, Your Majesty. But I saw him the other night. You’re the guy that broke into Canterlot Castle the night Princess Luna disappeared, aren’t you!” Adamant growled.

“Denying that would be a lie.” Sombra smirked. 

“Guys, seriously.” Slice called out, though still restrained by the other guards. “Captain Adam was it?”

“Adamant!” He corrected.

“Right, you realize there’s a filly on Sombra’s back, right? Are you really willing to attack knowing you’ll be putting a young girl at risk?”

Slice’s question baffled the ponies. They all looked over at him in astonishment. It certainly wasn’t something they expected to hear from him. Sweetie Belle in particular looked over at him with a wide expression before smiling softly at him. He caught her gaze and smile back for a moment.

“Slice is right.” Twilight re-enforced. “Captain Adamant, I understand your worries, but Sombra is a friend and that night was just a misunderstanding. Luna is back where she is needed. There is nothing for you to worry about. Please take Slice and head to Canterlot immediately.”

The captain remained still, his glare never deviating from Sombra until Twilight’s own gaze finally made him back down. 

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” He said as he quickly ordered the guards to carry on with Twilight’s command. 

As they began to take Slice away, Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but feel bad for Slice. Throughout the fight with the twins last night, she was a constant target to try to corner Sombra and win, but at certain moments in the back and forth, one of the twins refused to attack her. She knew now that that twin was Slice. 

“I’ll come visit!” Sweetie Belle shouted after Slice, trying to give a sense of hope to his dire situation.

“You better make it quick, cause I can promise you that he will have a swift execution.” Adamant said as he watched his guards go on ahead. His remark left Sweetie Belle conflicted on what she wanted to do, and what was the right thing to do. At this moment, she didn’t know which was which. 

“You know I’m at your command.” Sombra said softly to her. Twilight overheard, but kept quiet. “But think of what will happen next if you make that move. Remember, chess is about knowing how your opponent will react.”

“Right…” She said rather sad. Sweetie knew full well the consequences. Ultimately, she decided against helping Slice, though she felt guilty about it. “I’m gonna go. I want to see them off.”

Quickly Sweetie Belle jumped off of Sombra and sprinted towards the door after them. Twilight looked over at Spike who had now recovered from his sprint earlier. In a silent agreement, he chased after her to make sure she was alright.

“I should have caught the other twin.” Sombra said with a sigh.

“I should have done a better job at catching him.” Twilight joined him in sighing. If Sweetie Belle managed to do one thing, it was make them both feel guilty over turning in a thief over to the Royal Guards. 

“You would have if you invested in some combat training.” He said, poking fun at her.

“Again with the investment advice.” Twilight replied as she rolled her eyes. “Though considering what I go through on a daily basis, it’s not a bad idea…"


<=•=>


Coming to a slow stop, Sweetie Belle leaned on the railing at the balcony of Twilight’s castle. She wanted one last look at Slice as he was pushed into a chariot that would take him straight to Canterlot. She wished she could do something. It still felt wrong to her. 

“You okay Sweetie Belle?” Spike asked now that he had caught up to her.

“Yeah…”

“You don’t look it.”

“Just sad.”

“About Dice still be out there?”

“No, it’s a little more complicated.”

“Lay it on me.” Spike said said, jumping onto the railing so he could get a better view, though after a watching the chariot take off, he looked at the filly. 

“Is it okay to kill other ponies?”

“Woah, sounds like Sombra’s getting in your head.” He said, quickly putting the blame on him. Sweetie quickly pouted and looked away from him. 

“You took credit for killing Mister Sombra, so you’re a killer too.”

“Ah…” Now it was Spike’s turn to be short of breath; unable to think of a proper comeback. “Well, you got me there…”

“He’s not all that bad. He’s a little violent, but I can tell it’s cause he wants to do good deep down.”

“You’ve known him what, a week? Don’t you think he’s trying to play you?”

“At first he was. I could tell.” Sweetie Belle said with a sigh. “He purposely said this and that to push me in a certain direction. But after a while his words became more, I don’t know, genuine? I trust him completely now.”

“If Sombra told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it?”

“Yeah. I would bet he has a plan to save me after.” She said as she chariot finally got too far to see. Looking over at Spike and finally making eye contact, Sweetie was met with a grin. “What?”

“I’m the same way. If Twilight told me to do anything, I would have absolute faith it was for the best.”

“So you don’t think it’s weird that I trust Mister Sombra?”

“I’ll admit, he has his moments. Twilight has been keeping tabs on him and well, he’s done good. You know, considering.” 

“Yeah, you’re right!” Sweetie Belle shouted out, regaining some pep. 

Spike smiled at his friend. He wasn’t sure if saying all of that really as the right choice. After all, while he managed to cheer her up, he also re-enforced her faith in Sombra, for good or for bad. 

“Still, when it comes to things you think are right and wrong, I'd follow your gut instead of Sombra. Oh, speak of the devil.” Spike said as he glanced down and saw Sombra and Twilight at the ground, looking around. No doubt they were trying to find Sweetie Belle. 

“We’re up here!” Sweetie shouted at the top of her lungs. “Oh right!” She said to herself as they waved up at her. “I finally finished Mister Sombra’s gift. I need to give it to him.”

“What gift?” Spike asked as he jumped down to look at her eye to eye. 

“I made him a necklace. I forgot it in the room. I’ll just get him up here real quick.”

Looking back down, Sweetie Belle smiled at Sombra and took a deep breath. Making sure she spoke loudly enough, she shouted out a command.

“Become my shadow!” 

Spike’s smile soon disappeared. In a split second between Sweetie Belle saying the command and Sombra coming up as her shadow, a large cut slashed open on Sweetie’s fore leg. All he could hear was a loud shriek of pain as she came to realize what pain she was under. 

No sooner did she yell that Sombra emerged from beneath her and cradled her. Devastation spread across his face as held onto Sweetie Belle to grasped her injured leg. Looking down at his own, his wound was gone. 

Finally Sombra pieced the clues together. Sweetie Belle had only acquired the cut on her cheek the moment he had used his shadow form to escape the sight of Cherilee after their adventure at the Canterlot Labyrinth.

“Twilight!” He shouted out in a mix of anger and worry. She had already made her way up the moment she had heard the shouts. 

“Let me see!” She said as she reached for Sweetie Belle. A quick glance made it all too clear and she got to work on her healing magic. 

After a few moments, Sweetie’s screams muffled as the pain slowly disappeared. Still, her hoof trembled as the echo of pain remained for a moment longer even after the cut had been fully healed. Looking up at Sombra, her eyes swelled up in tears, her voice not finding its way out. 

“Shhh, shhh.” Sombra did his best to calm her down. “It’s okay. Everything will be alright Amethyst.”

His voice was enough to calm her nerves. Her breathing began to catch a rhythm and soon all the pain had disappeared. Shock was the only thing she had left to recover from. It proved to be a difficult task, but soon Sweetie Belle was able to pull herself to her hooves. Her breathing still heavy. The entirety of the pain had lasted but a minute, yet it was such a powerful feeling rushing through her all at once that it had felt like an eternity. She didn't even know how to react, much less say. 

“Are you alright?” Twilight asked out.

“Ye-yeah. I am now..." She said, still trying to stabilize herself. "W-What cut me?”

“It came from me.” Sombra said as he showed her his own fore leg. 

Looking at Sombra and then at Twilight, Sweetie Belle gulped.

“Let’s head inside. I think we need to go over a few details.” Sombra said as he stood up. He opened the door and held it open for the rest to come through. Sweetie was the last to walk by and just seeing her almost limp by made his heart ache. What made it worse, was the small puddle of blood left behind by Sweetie Belle. So much blood for a cut that lasted such little time.

Unknowingly, his eyes had caught in a dark flame. The pain he felt in his chest, it was identical to the one he felt in his dream. The memory of Amethyst.


<===•===>


<==•==>


<=•=>


“Amethyst!” Sombra shouted as he chased after his daughter. She ran impossibly fast. It was difficult to keep up with her. That terrified look on her face told him everything he needed to know. That creature he had seen through the window, the beast that had attacked him in his dreams. It must be after her.

Try as he could, he could not see the beast chase after them. It almost appeared like Amethyst was running from nothing at all. Still, he couldn’t rest until he made sure she was okay.

“Oh-oh.” Sombra said as he began to recognize the terrain. Amethyst was on a crash course with a cliff. Though there was a river at the bottom, it was much too shallow to help her anything. If she was planning on escaping by jumping off, it would prove fatal. 

“Daddy!” She shouted out as she ran. “Where’ are you?! Daddy, help!” 

“Mija, I’m here!” Sombra screamed out, though it didn’t do anything. Amethyst couldn’t hear him. 

Finally the moment of truth. Sombra looked up and took a sigh of relief as he saw his daughter come to a stop. He smiled, knowing that for the moment she wasn’t in danger, or so he thought. Across her face was still the frightened expression of a filly running for her life. 

“G-Get back!” She shouted as she looked back, slowly cowering backward. 

“It’s okay, I’m here!” Sombra said as he came to a stop too. 

“I-I said get back!” 

Turning around, Sombra got down on and got into a battle stance, though he was met with nothing but the empty darkness in the woods. He waited, but the beast never came. 

“Amethyst, where is the-”

“G-G-G-Get back!” She shouted again. She had inched back so far, she was practically at the edge of the cliff now. 

“Amethyst, come here, you’ll fall!”

No response from her. Again he turned around and looked for the beast, but again he saw nothing. Still, that was the least of his worries. Turning around one last time, he took a step forward towards his daughter.

“Amethyst, it dangerous over there. Come here, come to daddy.”

Again she tried to edge back, but her hooves were already at the edge. She felt one of her hind hooves slip back, though she still remained on the edge. 

“One, two, three, four…” Sombra began to count as he made eye contact with Amethyst. Finally he heard the sound of the pebbles Amethysts had kicked off the edge with her hoof. “Nineteen. No, that’s too high a fall. You can’t survive that!”

It was no use, she wasn’t listening. Her terror filled eyes only proved how far gone she was. Maybe if he took a couple more steps closer he could jump and grab her before she falls. That was the only thing he could do. 

Hesitantly, Sombra took one step forward.

“Get back!”

One more.

“No!”

Just one more and she’ll be in reach…

“Daddy!” She shouted as she turned around and jumped off. 

“No, Amethyst!” Darting forward as quickly as he could, Sombra dove in after her. 

For the first time in his life, Sombra’s eyes lit up in a purple blaze. His dark magic unlocked. 

A huge splash of water echoed in the woods as both father and daughter landed in the shallow river. The soft sound of drizzling was heard as the water began to sprinkle back down into the river. The sound of flames sizzling against it hummed as Sombra soon found himself grasping his daughter. 

“Mija, wake up, Mija please wake up.” He said softly as he held the filly’s body close. 

No response. 

She was still and so was he. His head couldn't process what had just happened. The smiling, joyful filly he once knew laid on his hooves, dead. No, he couldn't understand it, could not comprehend it. He wouldn't accept this to have happened. He didn't know what to do, what to think, what to say.  

Finally there was movement as his hooves began to shake. Reality slowly sipped in as Sombra stared at his motionless daughter. He felt his throat choke up as his tears fought the newly formed flames at his eyes. They sizzled as he held on to Amethyst in a tight hug. Finally he let it out, a roar, a cry of anguish as his emotions were finally free to come out. His bellowing shout echoed through out the trees, shaking away the forest around him. A sad silence was his cry's only response. All he could do was weep as he gave his daughter a loving embrace. All of his feelings were poured out into this one shout. 

At was now, at his lowest moment, that Sombra began to understand what was happening. There, in the water, he saw something. His tears blurred his vision, but he could tell. In the water he saw the reflection of the beast. He saw the monster that had attacked him, that had chased his daughter, he saw it, hugging Amethyst. 

Finally everything clicked and his memories were rushing in. The events that occurred just before the monsters appeared, he remembered it all. He recalled a true monster that spoke to him, taunted him. He recalled red eyes with yellow scleras. He recalled this very monster taking him and changed him. He finally recalled the being of chaos, Discord.

What was once agony quickly transformed into anger. Gritting his teeth and baring his new fangs, Sombra's rage boiled with in him. His dark magic bleed out through his eyes as his irises disappeared into the green sclera the his pushed out. His dark blaze only grew more intense as his powerful emotions translated into hot flames. He gave out another shout, this time, though, it was one of a monster. 

The roar that echoed pulsed out, shaking the very ground as any sort of restraint was done away with. The water he sat on pulsed as the fires he let out heated the river, making it emit steam. 

Finally Sombra was quiet. Once more he remained still as his flames raged on, pulsing out wildly. All he could think of was that monster that turned him into this. That thing that thought transforming him would be amusing. Discord was all he could think of. And so, with one last soft kiss on Amethyst's head, Sombra stood up and began to make his way out of the river. 

"If it's a monster you wanted..." He said as his flames pulsed out savagely. "It's a monster you'll get."