Sombra escaped his death at the crystal empire narrowly, and has since been hiding in a Manehatten suburb. He has a house, a roommate and a female pegasus with a daughter who is interested in him. This is problem. Oh and he is hearing voices.
Sombra escaped his death at the crystal empire narrowly, and has since been hiding in a Manehatten suburb. He has a house, a roommate, and a female pegasus with a daughter who is interested in him. This is a problem. Oh and he is hearing voices...really annoying voices that mock him. Terrific right? He has plans to restore his power, and take back the Crystal Empire but unfortunately for him, Celestia knows he survived too. Worst of all...in order to not be found, he has to be...nice.
Popular list as of 10/29/14. Thank you all for your support.
Tags will be added as they become relevent. Partly inspired by Kudzuhaiku's The Chase. Mostly inspired by a friend.
Of Shadow, and Sunshine Chapter one The Darkness, and the Light
A lone stallion walked down the streets of the Manehatten suburb, as he had everyday since he had moved there. The neighborhood had, in fact, been wary of this strange new unicorn when he had moved into the abandoned house. The townsponies had more recently warmed up to him as they had begun to see that he meant them no harm. The house he had chosen out of all the houses in the area had somewhat of a history to it. Unicorns had always been the owners of the house, and every last one had been driven insane within two days of their arrival. They had been chased from the town (and in extreme cases killed by a mob made up of townsfolk) only to die later of self inflicted wounds.
The unicorn smiled as he recalled their warnings. For they had only confirmed to him that he needed to have that particular house. There was so much fear surrounding it. The fools had been feeding his power without even noticing it. Of course, that was in decline now and he would need to find some way to instill fear in them once more soon. When he did they would all feed him again. His power would be restored, then he could once again attempt to take back HIS Crystal Empire. Though, what he would do to inspire fear in this many ponies while still keeping the secret that he was...well alive would be very diffierent.
Then, the playground full of young, innocent fillies and colts came into view. Laughing and playing as they frolicked unaware of the close proximity of one of the most evil unicorns in Equestria’s long history. Had anypony been looking, they would have said that Mr. Somber’s smile was almost…...predatory.
“Mom I’m heading to school!”
“Okay, my little Sunshine! Oh! And don’t forget that I won’t be able to come pick you up today, since I am re-starting my medical courses at the Canterlot Academy. You will be staying with Mr. Somber for the next couple of weeks! And maybe if you ask nicely, he will teach you some magic! “ said Angel Wing to her young daughter. Angel was a very good mother, she honestly didn’t want to leave her twelve year old daughter in the care of the big, muscular, handsome unicorn...
Angel Wing blushed and shook her head to clear that train of thought. She knew Mr. Somber hadn’t been interested in her that way, yet she couldn’t stop from admiring him. It was probably due to him being a stallion, not solely interested in rutting her, yet, she couldn’t help but be reminded that he was also a powerful unicorn (with an abnormally large amout of physical strength) and he had offered to look after Sunshine while they had been talking. She had told him everything from her pregnancy, to her coltfriend ‘leaving’, to her putting off what her Cutiemark demanded from her. This was her destiny after all, there was no fighting it. And she had finlly found a way to make it work, Mr. Somber was single, moderately wealthy, and had free time that could be used to watch her daughter. And he was lonely, though she was reasonably certain he would never admit it. She saw this as a way to make everypony happy, though she had NO idea if he was qualified to watch over her daughter, Angel Wing was willing to take the chance.
He was being very kind to them and that was what mattered. And the other parents were starting to take notice as well, wondering if he would take care of their children. It wouldn’t be very long before he found himself swamped by their offers, if the gossip held true.
“Okay mom! I love you, bye!” and with those words, Sunshine left her home hoping that today would be a great day for her.
Sunshine trotted to school happy as can be, knowing that because of Mr. Somber’s offer to take care of her. Mommy was EXTREMELY happy and could do the thing that made her the most happy… besides her special filly. Sunshine giggled and continued on to her school. If she was really lucky then Mr. Somber would teach her to protect ponies with her magic like he had when the mean griffon lady had shown up and beat up that poor pegasus mare. He had beat up the griffoness, AND he had made the griffoness say sorry. And now the big mean griffoness was his FRIEND and she lived in his HOUSE! (needless to say Sunshine was enamored with him)
And so she went along her way to school. Over joyed that her mom was happy, and that she would get to spend a whole week with her new hero. And little did the young filly know, that it would be a week that would change her life forever. Though when she was done with her newest adventure, she hoped that she would have made a new friend.
Mr. Somber couldn’t believe his luck! All he had done was beat the crap out of an annoying griffon, and be *shudders* nice to a few ponies. Pity a mare in a dreadful position between loving her child and her own destiny, offer to help, and now they all wanted him to take care of their children! He chuckled slightly at the inability of his fellow ponies to be able to accurately judge character. They were honestly quite gullible and that was working in his favor. All he had to do was ensure that Gilda didn’t screw this up. Then, after he tormented and tortured the children for awhile, he could leave and retake his empire.
Of course he would find ways to torment the children that would not expose him, perhaps scary stories? As for the torture, he could make the stories come to life perhaps… but he would figure them out at a later date, he had a few ideas involving nightmares that he wanted to try on the filly that would be staying with him. And when she woke up from them, there he would be waiting to comfort her, affirming her trust.
And her love, which is what you really want...
And there was that annoying voice that had shown up after the crystal heart had blown him to smithereens, it sounded rather like that stupid pink alicorn and was always berating his ideas for conquest, and fear creation.
You know I am right and yes, most of your ideas suck.
Little wooden puppet pony gets a homeless, happy-go-lucky, quiet, bug and I get you? The bug never criticized the puppet like this. Not fair in the slightest. Mr. Somber thought venomously.
The voice laughed, "I am not your conscience you dolt. But nevermind me, what are you going to do, hmm? Make a nice little filly pee her bed, which you will have to clean by the way. And then comfort her? Right, because-"
" Nopony asked you for your opinion, weird voice thing. You don’t know the first thing about fear."
" Sure I do. You were feeling it just a bit ago, when you thought about that pegasus mare."
"Shut up.", Sombra thought irritably, as he attempted to tune out the now VERY annoying voice.
Face it Sombra, you have changed now. Just let the rest of the change take place. You will be happier. tuning out the voice was apparently working, as it was now too quiet to hear.
nothing has changed, and I refuse to let it. When Sombra heard nothing more he mentally pumped his hoof and continued his walk…
Maybe I can talk to Angel Wing before she leaves…to discuss how to take care of her daughter of course.
The only answer to his thought was a very quiet chuckle in the back of his mind.
As Sombra/Mr. Somber trotted towards the home of the mare whose child he would be caring for, a group of ponies arrived in Canterlot to speak with princess Celestia herself, though these ponies had been called to do this before so it wasn’t that big of a deal. Though one mildly repressed and somewhat OCD alicorn thought differently.
“Princess, what is it this time? Do we have to wage war against the Griffons? Or is Chrysalis coming back again? DID MY PARENTS TURN EVIL AND I MUST SMITE THEM?! AM I GOING TO ALICORN KINDERGARTEN?!?!”
“See, told you she would freak out.”
“Hush Dash,” Rarity said as she booped the pegasus on the nose with a hoof.
“Actually Twilight isn’t completely off base,” Celestia said to the group, “though she isn’t going to any sort of kindergarten. My sister and I have felt a surge of dark magic in Equestria recently, and the signature of the dark magic is very familiar. It is our fear that King Sombra has returned.”
“WHAT?” the group shouted in unison.
“But wasn’t he destroyed?” Applejack asked.
Before the princess had time to respond Rainbow spoke, “Yeah! We all saw him get blown to smithereens by the Crystal Heart!”
“That is the problem Dash,” Celestia responded, “The crystal heart cannot be used to destroy ANYTHING. It is powered by love after all, it only removed a threat temporarily and most likely attempted to “fix” it.”
Twilight sat down on the floor with an audible thump.
“But Sombra isn’t immor-”
“Yes, he is Twilight,” Celestia replied calmly, “While he isn’t shadow and darkness ponified, I am afraid that he is in fact immortal, and VERY powerful. Powerful to the point that we cannot pinpoint the location of the magic used when he regenerated. Powerful enough, so Luna and I had to use the elements against him, and not fight him directly. And he did survive for a thousand years with very little of his magic.”
“But his horn was the only part…”Twilight gasped as she realized what this meant. “Do not worry Celestia we will find him, and we will-”
“Inform me when you do. Sombra will most likely be somewhere ponies won’t recognize him, and far from the Crystal Heart as well.”
“Don’t worry Princess, you can count on us,” Rainbow affirmed as she snapped her wing out in a salute.
"I certainly hope so Rainbow Dash, I most certainly hope so..."
“We will not engage him, unless he is threatening other ponies. If he is, you will be able to find us quickly, I will make sure of it,” Twilight said hoping to mollify the Princess. In reality however Twilight’s words only filled her with dread.
“Already packed I see.”
“GAH!” Angel Wing screamed as she whipped herself around. (and whipped the pony behind her with her tail)
“Ow,” Mr. Somber said as he rubbed his snoot with a fetlock, “I didn’t mean to scare you, I am sorry.”
" Now I wish I had though."
“Huh? OH! Oh I am soo sorry Mr.-
“Please dispense with the formalities, please just call me Somber,” Somber said with a smile.(he was sure his disguise was holding up well, due to the lack of screaming that comes from seeing a pony with fangs)
“O-okay Somber, I will make sure to do that in the future,” Angel Wing replied with a smile, her voice trembled slightly. He has a very nice smile, she thought as her eyes closed halfway.
Ummm… am I misreading that or are those bedroom eyes? Somber thought as his ears flicked about nervously.
“Good then I can call you Angel right?” he said showing confidence once more. And here you said you weren’t attracted to her.................Dammit…you are back? At least form yourself in the picture of a bug so I can see you when you speak and make fun of you?
“So why did you drop by? Are you here to see me off? Or is this because you have changed your mind..?”
“Oh no! I haven’t changed my mind, I actually just came by to see if there are anything I should know about little Sunshine before you go, like allergies and things of that nature. I don’t want to hurt her by accident after all.” I will be hurting her on purpose anyway
I am going to give you a headache if you keep doing that. Somber ignored the voice and kept wishing for it to look like a bug.
“Nope Sunshine doesn’t have any allergies, but, she is kind of naive. And the fillies and colts at her school pick on her a lot, so be prepared for some tears,” Angel Wing said as her features contorted with guilt at leaving her only foal alone for a week.
“Maybe I shouldn-” she began before being cut off by Somber.
“Oh no you don’t you are going to Canterlot to finish being educated on being a emergency medical services filly and that’s that!” Somber said as he picked Angel Wing and her bags up in his magic.
“Oh! Oh no wait! That tickles hehehe!! *snort* p-p-please stop!” I just snorted, didn’t I? Oh kill me now...
That snort was kinda cute. Wasn’t it Sombra?
“Now you go and do what your Cutiemark is telling you to do and I will watch your daughter. I insist, and if it turns out that I am in over my head, Gilda will help. I know you are all afraid of her, but in truth she was ill and needed a friend.”
And by ill you mean, utterly high AND drunk AND depressed because her best/only friend blew her off for a bunch of ponies she met earlier in the year, right?
If you don’t be quiet I am going to get drunk and YOU will have to deal with the hangover as well.
........
Better
“Okay Somber and please tell my little girl I love her.”
“I will, now get going, you brutish pegasus” Somber said with a playful grin.
“Onlyifyougoonadatewithme!” the clearly distraught pegasus mare yelled.
“Yes! Fine! A date! Now go before you are late for the first part of your class!”
Angel Wing swooped low and kissed him full on the mouth, before flying away leaving the former tyrant king of the Crystal Empire stunned wondering what had just happened.
'You agreed to going on a date with her simpleton, and no I will never let you live it down,' said the now pony shaped voice in his head with a smile.
“Well Gilda will have a drinking buddy tonight it seems.”
As Sombra started to walk away from the house, a shadow passed overhead and he was at first filled with a desire to send a bolt of magic at the airborn menace. He quickly squashed the feeling down after all, Griffons no longer attacked Ponies as prey. This particular Griffon was also somewhat dear to him-
I knew you cared about her! You can't hide things from the voice in your head! The Voice said in a singsong way.
Sombra sighed, the voice was now using the image of a mare (that was rather attractive) to occupy his mind. It was currently doing a victory dance, standing on her rear hooves, and sliding one of them across a floor before stepping forward with the other and repeating the process. Her forehooves were pushed out and pulled back, with the rhythm formed by the rear hooves. Given that when she had used a singsong tone that was rather melodious and her current dancing, he decided to call her Head Voice. (also the pun upped his evil factor) Though a more adult themed name might be appropriate, given that she was also giving him an excellent view of her...
HEY! Thanks for the name and all, but my eyes are up here! Head Voice exclaimed while hastily covering herself and blushing.
Thank you for using an image in there when you speak, doesn't seen like I am completely losing my mind that way. Very good choice, quite pretty... for an incessant, whining, overly boisterous, know-it-all, that cannot stay quiet to save their soul! One more word and Gilda will have permission to break out the HARD liquor!
Okay, okay! Yeesh! Do you have to be mean all the time? Head Voice seemed to be genuinely hurt by the fact that he would threaten her.
How odd...and speaking of odd here comes Gilda.
Gilda skidded to a stop just in front of him kicking up a cloud of dust he casually blew away with a gentle wave of magic. "Sup Sombrero. So where is the foal? Honestly with the way our relationship started I thought foals would be the last thing on your mind, " the griffoness stated as she spit from her semi pliable beak.
Head Voice immediately broke into hysterical laughter.
"Gilda, you really need to think more about how things will sound, BEFORE you say them." Sombra said as he facehoofed.
Gilda's cheeks immediately turned crimson as the other way her words could be interpreted dawned on her. Wow, that was smooth Gilda, really classy. Now he will have no choice but to fall for you!
Gilda sighed inwardly, Great now I am doing it again. Berate yourself mentally in front of your crush and he will fall in love with your odd facial expressions as you yell at yourself internally and look like a mental patient.
"Maybe going out today was a bad idea. I think I will be going back now," Gilda said in a forlorn sort of voice.
"Nonsense, I actually need you to do a few things today Gilda."
Gilda was momentarily startled by Somber's voice, she hadn't been expecting him to ask her for assistance at all. Not that she was disappointed, just kind of surprised. She was also surprised by the sudden responsibility being given to her. Somber had done everything, letting her recover from her depression, and her more recent addictions. He had been there for her in ways that nopony or birdy had. He wasn't off put by her being the daughter of the King of the Griffons either. He hadn't been solely kind. No he had forced her to give up her addictions, despite the pain this caused her. She was happier now though, and she could get alcohol when she felt like it. She had dreamt of him most nights, some were terrifying, but most had been pleasant and innocuous. The last few weeks her dreams of him had become rather lewd though, leading to some embarrassing mornings for her. Apparently she moaned in her sleep...
"Yes, I need some help today Gilda," Somber said, snapping her out of her thoughts. "I need you to go get things for the filly to play with. Board games and the like, and more food for all of us. Make sure to get plenty of fish for us. Flour, baking powder, some kind of chocolate, milk, eggs, *squawk* sorry, something tells me she will enjoy baking though so we will need these. And anything else you think of." He said as he levitated a large sack of bits to her.
"The foal is a unicorn, so should I get her a foals spellbook?" Gilda asked, thinking it would be a good idea for her to have one.
"No, I will make one for her. Besides the spells in the standard store bought copies are completely worthless." Somber answered, surprising Gilda again.
Well for somepony that only wants to suck the fear out of this filly, you are going to an awful lot of trouble for her. Are you sure you haven't changed? Head Voice asked in a rather serious manner.
Yes I am in fact VERY sure I am still the evil King Sombra.
"Well I am off, I am going to see what I am up against in this young filly. Her mother also mentioned bullies, so I am going to have a talk with the teacher," Somber said as his expression shifted to a much darker look.
For a moment Gilda thought Somber appeared as he did the day he had incapacitated her, his horn malformed and red, fangs protruded from his mouth sharp and dangerous in appearance. Then as quickly as the as it came it was gone, leaving the same unicorn stallion that she had come know. Gilda felt bad for whoever was making life for that filly difficult.
Why did I have to be the one to help this school? Cheerilee thought miserably as the children did everything possible besides learn. Three children were attempting to make fireworks in the back of the class, two were running about, booping everypony on the nose and laughing. The only one who was actually doing something conducive to learning was the same yellow unicorn filly who was always well behaved unless told to have fun, she would sit there and do her work quietly, raising her hoof when she came across something she had a question about. Cheerilee had openly praised this filly, and as recourse the other students had taken to picking her.
Miss Cheerilee had been selected out of the countless teachers in Equestria to come here to this school, in order to set it straight due to her own outstanding record of dealing with her own.... difficult class while still making learning enjoyable for them. This school had been plagued with troubles of every sort. the teachers who worked here were less than enthused to be placed at what they considered to be a sub-standard place of education. The students were therefore in a near constant state of riotous chaos, and Cheerilee was only dealing with one class of the older students, she shuddered to think what the Kindergarten class was like.
Cheerilee sighed as she remembered that there was a VERY special guest coming for a visit today. Hopefully the children would have a greater respect for learning after they met with such a perfect example of what education could bring them. The letter Celestia had sent her noted that while this guest was in fact visiting the town for the express purpose of security for the kingdom, Cheerilee should milk this opportunity for all it was worth. The teachers would likely improve when they learned that the guest would be staying to help the local guard stations improve performance. A very good idea since the local Diamond Dogs were becoming more active and and had threatened a few ponies. The world was quickly becoming a more dangerous place. The MInotaurs were apparently preparing for something building massive airships that were being outfitted with weapons of a magical nature. The Griffons were stockpiling weapons, armor, food, and building materials. Both of these nations were in fact also currently engaged in diplomatic relations. The Diamond Dogs remained separated from the rest of the world, divided into their various tribes. Their numbers were great but they lacked the cohesion of the other countries. The changeling hive had been unusually quiet for quite some time and it was suspected that they were warring internally. All of this was spelling trouble for Equestria, and Cheerilee noted that she had learned all of this from simply reading the newspaper on a daily basis. The Princesses information was likely to be far more detailed and put together. If they suspected that their neighbors were going to be attacking, they would have taken greater steps to secure the country. Steps that didn't involve sending one soldier to this suburb. It was a reassuring thought and made her feel better.
A knock at the door interupted her train of and the room quickly became quiet. Cheerilee had to use all of her will to simply remain seated instead of throwing the door open and begging the pony behind it to deliver her from this place.
"Come in!" she called unable to keep all of the excitement from her voice. (she had been praying that the guest would deliver her from the madness this place was sure to bring her)
As the door opened the classroom became pin drop silent. The figure in the doorway was large, and that of a unicorn in officers armor. The figure stepped into the room and greeted the class.
"Hello fillies and colts, my name is Shining Armor."
The cheering from the class was near deafening, as one of the bestest unicorns ever was right in front of them. He had married a princess and fought King Sombra after all.
King Sombra entered the school still disguised and immediately turned towards the room closest to him. The foul noises coming from this particular room suggested that powerful necromancy was at work inside, the screams of Eldritch horrors and abominations, demons and tortured souls sounded close and brought a sense of foreboding to his mind. He laughed loudly along with Head Voice when they saw the truth behind the door. It was a music room. Sombra stopped laughing as he took note of the age of the students inside. They would be heading to secondary school soon if not at the end of this year and this was one of the classes that chose to be in music for the love of it... and they couldn't play to save their souls. Sombra had respect for learning that was far greater than most ponies. Where would he have been had he not learned magic?
This entire class is headed straight for low paying jobs at best, they will never be able to support a family at this rate. And look at the slack-jawed idiots in charge, that one is reading a Daring Do book! And the other is just playing the cello over there! They are completely ignoring them and dooming them to a bad future! By the sisters... most of them don't have their Cutie Marks yet. They have no idea what their destiny will be and they are nearly grown stallions and mares! Something NEEDS to be done here!
As Sombra looked at the mare in the room her mane for the first time found himself agreeing with Head Voice. Where would he be had he not been educated? He certainly wouldn't be the most feared unicorn to ever walk the face of Equis. To his own surprise he found himself becoming enraged at the system in this school for allowing this callous state of affairs to exist. They were essentially throwing away these lives simply because it was easier than actually teaching them.
As much as I hate to admit it, you are right Head Voice. So I will do something. Sombra thought as he strode through the door of the classroom.
Treble Clef and Octavia looked up at the large stallion in their classroom. Treble's green eyes widened with surprise as she was lifted by his powerful telekinisis and unceremoniously plopped into the corner of the room.
"Now, you are to stay there until the end of the period, and when this is over you WILL actively teach every filly and colt that comes into your classroom. Or I will personally go to Canterlot and tell Celestia how you are treating these young lives. Understood?"
Treble had no choice but to agree by nodding her head her blue eyes never leaving the stallions blood red eyes. She watched in absolute amazement at the way this stallion was reacting to this schools way of doing things. When she had come here she had had the same mindset, had been completely furious. But she hadn't acted on her feelings as he was. She had allowed the status quo to remain unmolested and simply fell in with the rest of the teachers. She was surprised yes, but mostly because he wasn't a parent or a teacher here. Just a stallion doing the right thing. Octavia was also inspired as she ran out the door towards Cheerilee's classroom calling for her as loudly as she could.
The stallion grunted in irritation and began to play the piano in the front of the room and speaking at the same time as he reacquainted himself with the instrument.
"I am going to show you all what you will be capable of if you practice to the very best of your ability, and try to get better everyday."
The piece he chose was done from memory and Treble remembered it from the radio the other day.
It started slow with only the piano being played, and the stallion singing in his voice between a baritone and tenor, but soon it picked up in pace and several other instruments were added, an acoustic guitar, a tamborine, drums, even an electric guitar made specifically for unicorns to power and use. The song was done to absolute perfection not a note missed, it was as though this stallion had written the song himself. Though everypony knew Don McLean had, it certainly seemed as though this was not the case. Unbeknownst to the occupants of the room they had gathered drawn quite the crowd.
Previously in Cheerilee's room
"So does anypony have any questions?"
Shining Armor was pleased with how well this had gone. He had been expecting far less enthusiasm than had been generated. He was certain that now the children would learn far more than they would have otherwise. They would be driven to be their best, a few had gained Cutie Marks while he told them of his adventures and through his lecture. They would make excellent soldiers, guards and town constables. Others still had to find their destinies, but they had been inspired to search for it.
One yellow filly with a red mane raised her hoof.
"Yes miss..." Shining said as he called on her not knowing her name.
"Sunshine," the filly said shyly.
"Well Miss Sunshine, what is your question?" Shining said, smiling pleasantly.
"Have you ever fought a Griffon?"
Shining was taken aback. He hadn't been expecting a question about combat from the filly. Then he remembered the report that had come in concerning the inebriated Griffoness that had been fought by a unicorn who had recently moved into the area. Shining had considered the event a lucky win for the stallion in question. But these ponies obviously believed he would be able to protect them better than the local guard, or better than him! He needed to make sure that they knew it was a fluke. And that the guard is the best protection the world had to offer.
"No I haven't. Why do you ask?"
"Because Mr. Somber stopped one from hurting one of my mom's friends, and he said it was really easy."
Shining opened his mouth to respond, but never got the chance as an earth pony mare burst into the room yelling for Miss Cheerilee.
"Miss Cheerilee a unicorn burst into our classroom and took over teaching!"
Cheerilee sighed, this was going to be one of those days.
Twilight and her friends were wandering near aimlessly looking for any sign of Sombra. They were following the slightest signs of shadow magic they could find. And after scaring the horse apples out of several Lunar Pegasi, and one demented unicorn who believed they were there to take his tree stump, they were no clser to finding him than they had been. They had become somewhat disheartened and were currently in Los Pegasus. They had been searching rather hard to find a place that was exuding large any amount of dark magic, before Twilight had the idea to search for the effects of the dark magic rather than the dark magic itself having decided that Sombra would be near a large group of ponies in order to harvest more fear. And having scoured the city and the surrounding the surrounding area, to no avail, they were now trying to rest. They were in a rather swanky hotel in the city, attempting to relax after a day of fruitless effort. Everypony was making their own personal displeasure known to everypony else about it, and Twilight was rapidly running patience. She was attempting to make use of her time studying on ways to block and nullify dark magic.
"Honestly, couldn't Sombra have the decency to simply attack us like all of our other foes? It certainly makes things easier when they do," Rarity said "My hooves hurt from all of this walking around."
"I wouldn't like that at all," Spike said, "I had nightmares about him. Even after Tirek and everything else we have gone through. His traps nearly stopped Twilight. He didn't DO anything... other than disable Shining Armor's magic, and he almost beat us....... If he is getting more power BEFORE he attacks, it just scares me."
"Well from what the princess said, we would be in pretty big trouble if'n he did," Applejack answered. "I mean exactly how can we stop something like him? He was smart, powerful, and for all we know he is hiding in one of the shadows in this here room. We don't have a lot to go on."
"Aj... your making Spike feel worse," Rainbow said in a strange reversal of rolls. " Don't worry Spike it's not that bad, I mean we actually know he isn't here. Right Twilight?" Rainbow said with a confident look at Twilight who was reading.
"That's right unfortunately. The spell being used to block Celestia from tracking dark magic is meant only for mid to long distance cover. We covered this city completely, and we didn't find a single trace of his magic close up. Which means he isn't here."
"But that means we need to cover every last little teensy tiny bit of Equestria doesn't it? How are we going to do that?" Pinkie asked her voice full of concern.
"Well, we might not have too." Fluttershy said quietly as she slid beneath her covers, before being scared witless by the sudden knock upon the door.
Rarity picked up most of the furniture in her magic ready to hurl all of it at the pony on the other side of the door and Twilight's horn came to life as she brought several spells to mind that would melt the face off of the intruder and she readied several shields to be cast around them. Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack were stretching themselves before tensing to strike as they saw Twilight's magic aura wrap around the handle.
Twilight slowly opened the door, and a cart was wheeled in by...
"Room service for one MISS PIE!" the azure unicorn who was wheeling the cart screamed as she was magically pulled into the room. She was wearing the standard uniform for the wait staff that was part of the norm when ordering room service. She was clearly distressed about the situation as she was faced with five mares about to attack her, and one who was currently eating from the assorted pastries lining the carts top. She immediately ran to the door that was being held shut by Twilight's magic and began to pull on the door knob frantically attempting to open it.
".............Trixie? Is that you?" Twilight asked as she looked closer at the mare delivering Pinkie's food.
Trixie stopped pounding on the door and turned slowly to face Twilight "Twilight? Ummmm... nice wings?"
"Thanks?" Twilight said, very confused before she started thinking about this seeming coincidence. "Spike take a letter, we may have just gotten some more help with our mission."
Trixie looked worried. "Mission? And what do you mean I may be able to help?"
"That was very good, Mr..... I am sorry, but I don't know your name." Cheerilee said as she and Shining Armor walked between the ponies that were gathered outside the room. Only to look up at the stallion as he raised himself from a sitting position. She had to tilt her head to look him in the eye. With Shining Armor, she only had to let look up slightly to meet his gaze. Shining was big for a unicorn. Somber was large for an earth pony.
"Mr. Somber or just Somber will be fine."
I have to agree with her Sombra. That was very good, and you seem to have even more admirers. You lovable, reformed bad guy you,
Hush you.
"I must admit it was rather well done," Shining Armor said matter of factly. "So you are this Mr. Somber I was just hearing about fro-"
"Hiya Mr. Somber! Are here to get me? Cause school isn't over yet." said the small yellow filly, with the mane the colors of the sky at sunset. Gold and purple mostly with some red and orange mixed in.
Oh my gosh... SHE IS ADORABLE!!!!!!!
Ow.
Sorry Sombra but she really is adorable. Head voice said as she gave a contented sigh while looking at the little filly through Sombra's eyes.I wish I could have children...she said wistfully.
So why don't you shut up and find a way to make a few fillies and colts in there. Just be careful you don't anger me too much if you do. I might imagine spike pits. he thought darkly, while chuckling internally.
And that right there is why I can't. I am pretty sure I am here to help you, I don't know why... but I feel like I am. Besides, I want actual children. Not figments of my imagination.
Sombra was now at a loss for words. He had assumed Head Voice was a figment of his imagination. Or an artificial construct made by the merging of his essence with that of the wave of magic from the Crystal Heart, and that she was his body/minds way of coping with it. The fact that she had an imagination... was mind boggling.
Now seems you were the one to shut up Sombra.'
Indeed.
"No I am not here to pick you up little Sunshine. Well not yet anyway. I had Gilda run some errands so you won't be bored and I can begin your tutelage in the prestigious art of Thamaturgy." Sombra said to his new charge. He had to admit she was rather cute. Something about her simply melted his heart. And though he was unaware of it, he started to like her.
"Any way Mr. Somber, I need to talk to you for a minute," Shining Armor said, in as authoritative a voice he could muster. "You see it would seem that after your LUCKY win against-"
"Luck has nothing to do with how I win," Somber cut him off, "Unlike the guard who were near completely useless during the changeling invasion at YOUR wedding, I happen to have a few things called skill, intelligence, and power."
Treble Clef snorted attempting to hold her laughter back, before failing miserably. Soon most of the ponies around Shining Armor were laughing uproariously. While he could only blush and try not to tackle Somber through the wall. His temper was rising quite quickly.
"Then perhaps you wouldn't mind giving them a demonstration tomorrow? Of an actual duel between unicorns?"
"Gladly, boy. You believe that Equestria is the end all be all when it comes to magical power. I am rather excited to prove your beliefs wrong." Somber said calmly, before giving an evil looking grin towards the young guard captain.
Treble Clef couldn't believe her luck. Somepony was going to fight Shining Armor for her. Her eyes flashed green for a moment.
Finally, my revenge will be assured.
Angel Wing was sitting in her bed at the Canterlot Academy hoping that all was well back at her home. She had settled into her old routine for the classes quite easily, but that wasn't the biggest surprise of the day. When Angel had gone to reapply for her scholarship, it seemed she no longer was allowed to have it. She had broken down and begged, the clerk was however unmoved.
"Please, you have to help me somehow! I can't just go home now, I have finally found a way to make this work! My daughter is waiting at home with the only pony I have met in the last seven years who was willing to help us, just waiting for me to go home and tell her we don't have to struggle to get by anymore. Please, my coltfriend left me right after I found out I was pregna-"
"Well that is hardly the problem for the Canterlot Academy of Medicine now is it? We don't want you to be here if you can't pay. It isn't our fault you decided to become a whorse for some stallion that didn't like you at all. Now remove yourself from the premises or I will have you escorted out by the guards."
Angel collapsed like her dreams, bawling onto the floor unable to keep her emotions in check as her heart was crushed yet again, as everything she had spent her time hoping for was taken from her in a matter of moments. The things that had kept her going were now gone. She had her special little filly, and that was all. Somber probably didn't like her either, he was more than likely filled with pity for her.
"Stupid whorse, GUARDS GET HER OUT OF HERE N-"
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?"
Angel turned her head slowly to see Princess Luna through her tear filled eyes. Luna bent down and looked at the pegasus in front of her. Her Cutie Mark making it clear that she was destined to be in a medical practice of some sort, a big pink heart with a red cross on it, that seemed as though it was rushing towards something on her flank.
"What is going on here? Why isn't this mare in her classes yet? I come down here to cheer myself up, and see the wonderful young minds hard at work trying to make Equestria a better place. And what do I find? A former secretary berating a mare who wants nothing more than to help ponies and make life better for her daughter. You may leave. GUARDS!
In a flash Luna's personal guard were at her side joining her in scowling at the secretary. "Remove her from these premises. If she resists, use force and throw her in jail."
"Y-y-you don't have the authori-"
"Actually I do have the authority. I FOUNDED this institution before I became Nightmare Moon. Now, remove her."
"No."
Startled Luna turned towards the mare who had spoken. She struggled to her feet, and momentarily lost her balance before one of the Lunar guards moved to steady her on her hooves. She gave the guard a smile as thanks and turned to face Luna.
"Don't fire her over me. I can get by. She probably needs this job as well, and I'll bet she has had a hard life too. She probably didn't mean any of it, right?"
The secretary stood off to the side flanked by Luna's guards. Her own eyes now filled with tears, as she walked forward to Angel. She wept as she put her forelegs around Angel's neck and held her close whispering thank you, and I'm sorry, repeatedly while Angel sat and comforted her.
"Very well. She will retain her position, provided she doesn't treat anypony like that again." The secretary continued to bawl like a foal on the floor. " Now as for you Miss..." Luna faltered.
"Wing, Angel Wing."
"Miss Wing, the Crown will pay for your education, and you will be given the best room I can find." Luna said as she smiled wistfully at the sight before her, internally weeping alongside them both, the sight of the emotional situation nearly getting the better of her.
It was Angel's turn to be startled, she tried to stammer out a rejection of the hand out, only to be stopped by Luna once more.
"Nonsense, Miss Wing. You are fully deserving of the scholarship I am providing you with, you have put off your own destiny long enough. And all for a foal that you might have given over to the services of Equestria. No, you will not pay a single bit for your courses. You are the model of the morals and values I want more of my little ponies to have after all. This is NOT a hand out, rather it is a hand up. I want Equestria to have more mothers like you. And I fully intend to thank this stallion that has taken in your foal personally."
Angel had wept, just broken down and cried at the kindness she was receiving from the Princess of the Night. Luna had held her and simply let her cry herself out. Before Luna left Angel had given a description of both Mr. Somber and his home, so Luna could indeed thank him, pony to pony.
And now here she was sitting in the very best room the Academy had to offer, in utter comfort all thanks to her being a good mother and her current romantic interest. She blushed when she caught herself wishing he was here to hold her now. Luna had departed earlier today, and she would be at her home in a matter of hours. A sudden violent shiver traveled down her spine, and she was suddenly filled with fear for her little filly. As though something was happening that she had no control over, and couldn't hope to stop.
Please Somber, protect my little Sunshine.
News of Shining Armor's upcoming duel had reached Celestia just as she was enjoy some time with her niece. Cadance had of course facehoofed at the news, and began ranting about how he was always charging in blindly ready for anything while actually being unprepared for it. Then Celestia had told Cadance of Sombra's return. The effects were immediate.
"So, Sombra is back and Shining just accepted a duel with a stallion who beat a griffon. And the Changelings have ousted Chrysalis who was last spotted in the area of Baltimare and-"
A scroll popped into existence in front of the two mares, Celestia barely able to catch it before it ruined the cake they had been sharing, while another scroll popped up above the teapot which Cadance caught. Cadance and Celestia shared a look of mild contempt as they unrolled the scrolls. That was of course before Blueblood walked in. He had been rather subdued as of late, hardly leaving his room. As far as Celestia knew he had caught himself calling a nurse in the infirmary a "filthy mud pony" and he was rather distressed by this turn of events. He took his seat, sighing loudly as he looked at the two princesses.
"What is it now Blueblood?" Celestia asked as she read through the report from her sister about the incident at the Academy of Medicine.
"The Gala," he replied, "That gala where everything went wrong, that was the start of the worst of my behavior. I treated that poor mare terribly. And I have come to a decision, I am going to be a better prince for Equestria. I just don't know how...."
Celestia looked to her nephew, and smiled. "I am glad you have seen the error in your ways, nephew. And as for being a better prince-"
"Hmmm... so many things are centering around that area... I wonder." Cadance mused aloud inadvertantly cutting off Celestia "I mean we assumed he would be closer to the Empire, but when you look at the whole picture...."
The door to the throne room burst open, and Celestia was startled from her reverie, only to face yet another development that boded ill for her little ponies. Yet as she looked she could feel her heart twist as the pain of this particular loss was still unhealed.
"Princess, I want to come home."
"Sunset..."
"Are you really going to duel the prince Mr. Somber?" Sunshine asked her cute little mane bobbing as she walked beside him. "What if his mom finds out? I got into a duel once and when my mom found out she grounded me for week, and she said that it is naughty to fight other ponies, so are you gonna be a bad pony now?
"The way we are doing this doesn't make us bad, little Sunshine. We are doing this to show all of how to protect yourselves, and other ponies."
'And so you can beat up a prince, and prove to me that you are unchanged even though most of your actions today say otherwise,' Head Voice said smiling smugly.
Very well, you leave me no choice. I will tell you. But first, what is the best way to cause fear?
'How should I know? Though it would be far quicker to just drop this diguise and go on a rampage.'
Possibly, but then everypony that I would have to fight would all race to the Empire to defend it, or they would all come here to fight me. I am very powerful, but I am NOT omnipotent, I would lose quickly without doing much damage at all. Back to the question on fear, the best way to make a pony feel fear... is to give them a hero, to give them hope, to fill them with the white light shining from him, show them love and kindness.... and take it all away. To show them the light they loved was blackness, the kindness and love, were cruelty and indifference in disguise. That their hero was in fact the villain.
I have no words for how unspeakably cruel that is. Perhaps you haven't changed...yet. I will hold onto hope.
Sombra shook his head. And why would you do something as stupid as that?
Because it is all I can do. I can keep trying and hoping. Those are the most important things anypony can do.
Perhaps you are right. Sombra thought as he looked at the young filly in front of him. Her eyes cought sight of a butterfly and she gave a cry of delight as she chased after it. And as Sombra watched the display of innocence, he couldn't help but smile softly.
Luna landed outside the home of the stallion whom had been good enough to take care of Miss Wings daughter. She immediately felt a chill run down her spine as she looked over the house and realized that evil had once called this place home. She made a mental note to tell the local guard to be on the lookout for anything that seemed out of the ordinary. Then she saw the ninja. A rather dirty, disheveled ninja that looked as though she had been to Tartarus and back. Her wings poked out from the suit, under one of them was a large package. Parts of her skin tight suit were ripped revealing her light green fur. Her mane and tail were golden in color, the suit having holes specifically made for them to come through much like a Wonderbolt's suit it was also revealing her muzzle and eyes. Eyes that looked right at her, and snapped wide open.
Mother of me, those eyes are beautiful! Such luscious gold eyes like pools of liquid metal, and her fur and mane I just want to grab hold and ...Wait... What?
As Luna came to from her musings towards the pegasus' beauty, she promptly blushed and continued walking towards the house, completely unaware of the pegasus' own slightly different thought pattern.
Oh, horseapples! What the Tartarus did that stallion have me pick up?! First those griffons tried to kill me, then that tan pegasus chases me across the country, now Princess bucking Luna is here?! I am sooo dead... Okay okay, just calm down maybe I can play it off! Yeah, and maybe she isn't the former arch-nemesis of the latest princess, who just so happens to be a mare that I almost killed, and who is now one of her closest friends. Whatever I'll just go with what that stallion told me to say. Yep, I'm screwed..... Of course, from her I might not mind...Wait... What?
If the ninja's cheeks had been visible a stark red blush would have been showing. As luck would have it for the strangely dressed mare Luna did not have X-Ray vision, and Rarity wasn't in the area to condemn her to life in prison for her attire. She did however manage to clear the look of utter shock and fear from her face before Luna could guess that she was here for a less than legal purpose. Luna continued to walk up the front door of the house, stopping only when she was beside the ninja mare in question. And when she she did, she immediately sat next to her, definitely not being creepy at all, she wasn't trying to smell the mare next to her. No, she was just taking in the smell of the clean air of the suburb. And the ninja was simply doing the same, just enjoying the smell of the air. And certainly neither of them were trying to look at the others plot when they weren't looking. Just... making sure they were well toned! Yeah, that's it. Wait... What? "Soooo... um, why are you-?"
"Oh! I'm uh, just making a delivery for Mr. Somber," the mare said in a scratchy tomboyish sort of voice. "He just wanted it done discreetly."
"Hence the outfit?" Luna said struggling to contain her mirth.
"No, that was actually so nopony would recognize me when I flew over Ponyville. I know a few of the residents there and we don't get along well. Or rather we did, but now..."
As the strangely dressed mare trailed off a look of sadness became apparent to any who were looking at her eyes. And Luna was.
"I'm sorry, I didn't intend any disrespect," Luna said as she looked away from her ninja-ish companion, "Truly though I understand such things, perhaps better than most ponies."
"Did you almost kill most of the Elements of Harmony in a tornado because you were too lazy to clear the sky the safe way?" the pegasus asked as her wings ruffled slightly and her ears pinned against her skull, before she started slightly and clapped a hoof over her muzzle. Her eyes were wide and filled with absolute terror as she looked towards Princess Luna. Who strangely enough was struggling rather hard to hold back laughter.
"What?" the now revealed Lightning Dust asked mildly annoyed that her mistakes and woes were the cause of someponies mirth.
*snerk* "Actually," *hehehe* "I remember hearing about that. And the truth is," *ahaha* "when Nightmare Moon tried to destroy the elements," *pfffft* "SHE DIDN'T COME NEARLY AS CLOSE AS YOU!!!" And with that the sovereign ruler of darkness, princess of the Night, dissolved into a giggle fit. This of course left Lightning in the somewhat awkward position of being told that she was accidentally more dangerous than one of Equestria's most powerful villains. Which being the humorous concept that it was, also caused Lightning to dissolve into a giggle fit. They laughed at the absurdity of the situation long and loud, and it was only when a certain filly yellow filly joined in their laughter that the two began to realize that they were no longer alone.
"So what are we laughing about?" the inquisitive Sunshine asked, her ears perked happily as she looked between the two of them smiling without a care in the world.
"Well, that makes more than one surprise today. And a royal visit, truly I am humbled," said a deep male voice.
Sunset was in an incredibly happy, albeit mildly confused mood. She was not expecting Celestia to love her still. She hadn't thought she loved her in the first place. She had known that the princess was fond of her, though the extent of her fondness was apparently lost on her. She was going to extraordinary lengths to make sure Sunset was safe and happy. Even so far, as to bend the laws of the country for the sake of her student. Special services agreement indeed. Once more since the two had set out for Twilight's location in Las Pegasus, Sunset found herself giggling, much to the annoyance of her companion.
"Miss Shimmer, if you don't mind could you please attempt to control your spontaneous outbursts of foalish giggling?" Blueblood asked in annoyance, his ears pinned against his head as he covered them with his hooves in a futile attempt to end the bothersome noise. "I am attempting to study up on our quarry and brush up on my combat tactics if you don't mind."
"Why? This is just another test. It's not like she was serious about 'the boogey pony' coming back. And if he was, if King Sombra, the evil Emperor of the Crystal Empire really had returned, why wouldn't she be going to find him herself? I'm sorry "prince" but it doesn't add up."
When her companion didn't respond, Sunset swelled with pride for a moment, basking in the glow of yet another deductive victory, only to deflate when she heard Blueblood sigh.
"Miss Shimmer, I-"
"Just Sunset will be fine."
"Very well, Sunset, how would the average pony respond to hearing that Princess Celestia, one of the ruling members of our entire nation, was looking for a dark wizard of immense power and immortal stature, that feeds off of fear? The answer is simple. They would as the commoners say, 'freak their shit'. Now imagine hearing that the elements of harmony and a few of their other friends are out looking for something, or somepony, they have been doing this for quite some time now, so the average citizen will likely say something to the effect of, " oh, so their at it again huh? Well good for them, it's nice to see the new princess and her friends doing good for Equestria, I guess she is still the same." Blueblood eyes had assumed a vacant look as he spoke, apparently staring into the middle distance, and his voice sounded rather like the cartoon mouse the humans had in the other world. "Celestia is also doing all she can, she has Twilight's older brother out preparing guards and teaching self defense in most of the towns in Equestria, she is coordinating this entire mission and Luna is also out searching for him I believe. Cadance is helping share the workload for coordination and has her empire on high alert. Celestia has sent the elements, you and I, the elements found another high power unicorn, her sister, and her niece. If this was a test for two unicorns, no matter who, why would she have so much already done? And why would there be so many others involved?"
And so it was at this point that Sunset Shimmer found herself utterly stumped. She couldn't believe that this stallion was so calm about this. Here he was, knowing that he was traveling towards his doom... And he seemed relaxed about it! There was no doubt in his mind that King Sombra had returned, and that his aunt had just sent him on a search for him, that he had been sent to find an evil unicorn that utterly outclassed him and most of those sent to find him (with the possible exception of Twilight and Luna) and he decided that instead of praying for survival... He was going to attempt to fight him. Of course her thoughts were derailed before she could form the cognitive processes that were required to ask why he was ready to die uselessly, by the voices that sounded out from within the carriage, One of which was male, the other female.
"I agree with the colt."
"Night Light! Shush!!"
"W-who is there?" Sunset asked nervously, as her ears pinned against her head. As much as she wanted to deny it, she had begun to believe Blueblood and that they were in fact hunting down THE Boogey pony. "I'm w-warning you! I'll blast this carriage to smithereens!"
"Miss- I mean Sunset, please calm-"
"NEVER tell a distraught mare to calm down! Now show yourselves or we all go down!" Sunset exclaimed as she powered up her magic causing a glaring yellow glow to form on her horn.
"Well poop. They heard us Velvet. Heh, I guess that's my bad, huh?"
"Night Light you still surprise me. Listen, we will show ourselves but you need to calm yourself first. If we do so we appear now, you will likely destroy this carriage from shock. We a going at a pretty decent clip too," the voice called Velvet said.
"Not to mention that we are several hundred feet in the ai-" the male voice dubbed Night Light began before being cut off by a rather angry Blueblood.
"NO! DON'T YOU DARE SAY IT!" he roared, "I didn't force the fact that we are in the air from my mind just for you to bring it up and make me piss myself and pass out!"
There were several quiet moments in the carriage following Blueblood's outburst, which Sunset used to calm herself down. And as soon as she did, two unicorns popped into existence next to them. The stallion next to Blueblood and the mare next to Sunset. As she looked at them Sunset couldn't help but feel as though she knew them from somewhere.
"There," the mare said in a motherly, soothing kind of voice. "Now everypony can calm down. Night, introduce yourself."
"My name is-"
"Night Light, rank 1 Equestrian black cloak, clearance level Alpha, designated as secret Chief of Intelligence and lead combat expert by Princess Celestia herself after the defeat and subsequent destruction of no less than twelve necromantic cults and five groups bent on the return of Nightmare Moon," Blueblood finished his monolog and turned to the mare. "Twilight Velvet, also rank 1 Equestrian black cloak , worked side by side with Night Light on all missions, designated as Lead Spy and head of the Bureau of Covert Operations afterwards, as well as maintaining the cover operation of being an astronomer, and a book publisher." Blueblood looked at Sunset and continued.
"Before they retired from that particular line of work anyway. Both are likely still skilled in abjuration, healing, hoof to hoof combat, destructive magics, teleportation, assassination, enchanting, illusion, and of course they are the parents of Princess Twilight Sparkle, and Prince Shining Armor. So, what are you two doing here?"
Sunset was caught off guard by the latest revelation, and the fact that Twilight Sparkle's parents were probably rather angry with her for the whole attempted murder of their daughter thing, and that in a fight of any kind they would likely beat her into the ground. Therefore her mind decided it would be a good idea to shut down now.
"Guh." and with that eloquence, Sunset fell to the floor of the carriage with a loud thud.
"Huh... I guess she needed a nap. Either that or she tried to kill somepony we know."
"Night, honey, I love you but nopony is that stupid. Our children are both royalty now, who would be dumb enough to try to harm somepony we know?"
"Well Twilight? What's the letter say?" Rainbow prodded incessantly, desperate for some kind of movement on the part of the group.
"Well, it says a whole lot. And Fluttershy is right, we may not need to search across the entirety of Equestria. Cadence found a lead. And even if it turns out to be nothing likely Sombra will be near a populated area. He needs ponies to draw fear from to make him powerful again," Twilight explained, earning groans from her friends and Trixie who looked worried as well.
"Twilight, as much as Trixie would love to go with you to hunt down the most dangerous unicorn ever to walk Equus, she- I must decline. I need to be here and keep working, living isn't cheap for the average pony," Trixie said nervously, she had already used up her break waiting for the letter from the princess, and that meant she would need to eat a bigger meal before bed. She never slept well on an overfilled stomach.
Twilight smiled as she looked at her former nemesis. It was a comfortable warm smile, pleasing to see and only slightly condescending. "Actually, the princess has offered to pay you. It would seem that she agrees that having a former wielder of dark magic along with us will be immensely helpful. And I told her how we ran into you..." Twilight trailed off as her smile became a sheepish grin.
A silence took hold of the room quickly, drowning the occupants in it's oppressiveness while as Trixie took stock of her situation. She had committed a rather severe crime by taking over Ponyville. And yet the princess was willing to overlook this fact and let her off the hook with a warning. And pay her. Surely the amount would be significant, she might be able to afford a new wagon! Maybe bigger, or a flying wagon... Anything she needed would likely be provided as well. She would help save Equestria, boost her fame, Ponyville would look past what she had done, and she would finally be admired again! As her thoughts traveled along these lines she felt her Cutie Mark tingling, and decided on her course.
"No."
Rarity was beside herself as Trixie gave her answer. "What?! How can you possibly say no to-"
"Rarity, give her a minute to explain," Fluttershy said before noticing every eye in the room was fixed on her now. "Meep!"
"Thank you, truly thank you for the offer. But if I were to do this, I might go back to how I was. I was an arrogant, selfish, and malicious pony. I don't want to be her again. Why do you think I'm delivering room service instead of performing here? I don't want to... hurt anypony anymore. And don't lie, I hurt AND terrified all of you."
As Trixie finished her statement, she turned towards the now empty food cart with an engorged, snoring Pinkie on it and levitated her to the bed Fluttershy was on, and gently tucked her in before turning to leave.
"Trixie," Twilight said as she placed her hoof on the azure mare's withers, "that is precisely why you can follow your Cutie Mark's calling. And if you don't help us, the stallion we're after... he WILL hurt others. He wants not only to destroy the princesses, but enslave everypony. I understand that after everything that has happened to you that you are afraid you might lose yourself again, but we need your help. We can't do this without you, and if we fail everypony will suffer. Mares, stallions, colts, fillies. King Sombra won't care who they are or how old, or even if it will kill them. He will make the world a dark place, and we will be helpless to stop him."
"But didn't you stop him before?" Trixie asked as she looked at the other mares, "If you did it once can't you just do it again?"
"No. We can't. He came back remember? If he survived the first time, he will survive a second time. The princesses are likely planning something but we don't have anything besides our friendship right now. And with more friends we will be even stronger. That's why Celestia sent Sunset and Blueblood to us and... oh I am become error..."
None of them needed to look to know which of the mare's faces were contorting with absolute disgust and rage. The one whose forehead now had veins popping out of it and muscles were straining to the point of bursting blood vessels. So, naturally, they all looked. Somehow even Trixie knew which of them was most disturbed by this turn of events. And though she was going to agree to helping anyway, the fear implanted in her mind by seeing Rarity mad enough to strangle a full grown dragon had no part in her acquiescence to the VERY reasonable request of Twilight Sparkle. Nope, she wasn't scared. Neither was Twilight. They just needed to use the bathroom REALLY bad. That's why they ran screaming from the room as Rarity chased them while screaming.
"SHE DID WHAT!?!?!?"
Luna was surprised. Very surprised actually. She had thought that the Mr. Somber was home and that he was taking a nap before he would have to deal with his charge. After all most ponies understand that foals(even the big ones) require a lot of energy to care for. And now here she was standing in front of Mr. Somber... doing all she could to prevent herself from attacking him headlong. She looked at one of the worst enemies she had ever faced, possibly the single most evil being to walk the face of Equestria. Instead she decided to test him. To make sure she was absolutely certain it was indeed her foe, the unicorn whose evil caused her fall, the being that made her heart rip itself apart those many years ago... So she sent him a message telepathically.
Sombra. So you did survive.
Well he may be stupid, but he isn't weak. Oh I'm Head Voice by the way. And no, he is in fact good now. Because I said so.
Luna stared incredulously at Sombra, her mind utterly blank for a moment. She began to notice a copious amount of drool forming from her prolonged gaping and pushed it to the back of her mind, her thoughts being difficult enough to form without having to think about such trivialities as an overflow of spittle.
Sombra however was at a loss for words for an entirely different reason. His image as one of the most dangerous villains in Equestrian history was crumbling around him. Yes, he had a voice in his head, but that wasn't the real problem here. The problem came when that voice made itself known to Luna, and that it was a very feminine voice, it had constructed a form for itself that was attractive, reminiscent of a crystal pony and was in fact so cute that most ponies would die from diabetes from simply looking at her. And currently while Luna watched, she was in the process of creating a landscape within his mind that was... bare and earthen?
Sombra sighed internally as he saw what she was doing.'Do you really think this is the time to be gardening? We have a bit of a situation here if you weren't aware. Also I do not like carrots.'
Head Voice continued to plant seeds and bulbs at a rather fast pace, as though she hadn't heard any sort of question and thus allowed Luna the respite she needed to be aware of the large trail of spit running down her chin. Though now capable of rational thought (and rather embarrassed at her seeming lack of intelligence) she continued to watch the exchange between the voice and the tyrannically obsessed unicorn overlord. Though she realized she might be wrong, it seemed as though it wasn't insanity that had spawned the voice within Sombra's head. And this wasn't the usual typical babbling of a schizophrenia ridden psychopath either. It truly seemed like a genuine conversation between two ponies.
'Why not? It's not like the conversation needs anything more from me at this point.', she said as she began to plant tulips and daisies. "And even if this exchange warranted more input from me, I am reasonably sure that Luna won't attempt to smite us. She seems like she would be willing to allow us the freedom of living, for the moment anyway. Especially since she has already placed herself into a precarious position involving Miss Wings. Although you may want to tell her that she is drooling again. Looking like a drooling imbecile in front of one’s subjects typically doesn’t go over very well.
“Guh!” Luna exclaimed as she hurriedly wiped her mouth once more and took stock of the situation currently unfolding around her. There were onlookers, a mailmare and a foal. As well as a small crowd that was quickly growing in size as the workday and school day ended. All seemed rather concerned about the silent exchange between the three... no they only perceived two ponies. They had no knowledge of Head Voice or of the fact that that there had been any sort of exchange. At any rate answers would need to wait for now. The important thing, was that they make sure to appear sane, and NOT utterly hating one another. The last thing she needed after her display at the university was for it to seem as though she would go back on her word to Ms. Wings. She also didn’t want to cause possibly unnecessary trouble that would force her newest friend to give up her dreams, or for several ponies to run around screaming that Mr. Somber had suddenly developed MPSD, and was about to go on a rampage due to his belief that he was the defeated King Sombra.
Exactly. It would be best for all involved if Sombra continues as Mr. Somber for now. Beyond that, it would be pretty funny considering how just about every nation, and/or species appears to be gearing up for war, if Equestria had allowed a former villain to be wandering about in a manehatten suburb wouldn't it? I mean I am no expert on diplomacy but, that would look awfully bad wouldn't it?'
Head Voice grinned at the look that flashed across Luna's face. She was right and they all knew it. This was yet another reason why Sombra had maintained his composure whilst interacting with them. Perhaps this "voice in his head" was more than just that. It appeared to capable of rational thought and wasn't capable of a shorter range of emotion like a true secondary personality. Beyond that it wasn’t manifesting outside of his mind, making him behave differently, or act like this… being.This only made more questions that needed answers however. Moreover she needed to find the extent of his plans. More than likely it involved stairs and the crystal empire. But, she had no idea HOW he planned to get to that point.
'I have had the same thoughts as well. Though technically I suppose it could just be a beginning stage of MPSD, the explanation I am using for the moment I have another pony in my head to deal with for now...
Without any sort of warning, a voice rang out nearly making everypony jump at the sudden noise filling the near silent street in front of Sombra’s home. As well as causing sombra and Luna to stand next to one another as they landed from their startled jump. “ Hey Mr. Somber! Can you teach me how to read minds too?”
Luna and Sombra were taken aback by the foals statement. Sombra felt a surge of energy, a sudden exhilaration towards teaching this foal. But he needed to know how she came up with the answer to what was happening. It was as though he could feel a hoof prodding at him as he thought over his response. But that would need to be put on hold for at least a moment.
He smiled as kindly as possible and said, “I am surprised you knew what we were doing Little Sunshine, and while I would like you ask you more about it, we do have a rather important guest with us right now.”
Sunshine’s face scrunched up in cute foalike anger for a moment as she glared at 'Mr. Somber', “Okay, fine.”
Sombra looked to his left to see if Luna was the one prodding him, only to remember that she was on his right. And as he looked to her he saw that she was turning back from looking to her right, shock clearly written across her face as she looked at Sombra before near instantaneously regaining her composure. Sombra thought it was odd to be sure, but was more focused on learning about his pupil’s abilities. “Thank you Sunshine. It is much appreciated that you are very smart to cater to one’s guests.”
“Hey Sombrero! I got the stuff you wanted!" Gilda practically screamed as she landed right next to a now horrified Lightning Ninja... Err Dust.
Lightning took off near immediately screaming about evil griffons wanting her kidneys, while Gilda huffed indignantly and Sombra shook his head
“She still has my package… Se la vie I suppose. One minute a ninja delivers expensive goods to your home the next, she is gone screaming about needing her body parts.”
“Those are really cruel, and OLD stereotypes dumb ninja! Anyway,” she said as Sombra rolled his eyes and took the shopping from her with his magic, her expression fell as she started to walk towards the house, “I guess I’ll head inside so I don’t terrify anypony else…”
“Wait a moment griffoness I have a few… Gilda? Is that you?!” Luna said incredulously as she looked closer at her. “My goodness it is, I am so happy to see you again!”
“Luna?! Dear Faust I didn’t even see you! How have you been? Wait, you’re immortal and rich as Tartarus.” Gilda said with one of the first few genuine smiles she had had in several months.
Luna rolled her eyes as she smiled as well. “Money doesn’t buy happiness featherbrain.”
“HA! Says the dweeb with more money than ponyville is worth!” Gilda said as she smiled even wider. Then both of them laughed long and hard as though they had forgotten just how good it feels to be happy. And despite the circumstances Luna found herself enjoying her visit to this suburb. ‘Looks like I might end up thanking Miss Wings for giving me this opportunity to visit this place.’
‘Those two are friends? Small world I suppose, also I suppose something else bad was bound to happen to me. In any case, what was happening with that odd feeling when Sunshine asked me those questions? I am unsure if I understand, but I know Luna does.’
And at that moment a scroll poofed into existence in front of Luna, causing Sunshine to let out a startled “eep!!” leap onto Sombra‘s back and hide behind his mane… well more IN than behind really.
“Ow! What in the name of Celestia’s massive behind is in my mane?!” at this point Sunshine decided that this was funny, and started to giggle cutely, “Sunshine? What are you doing in- ow! Sunshine please that really- OW!! Alright, I tried to be nice, GET OUTTA THERE!!!” and so Sombra, the once a feared king of The Crystal Empire, began sprinting about madly while bucking (albeit with very little force) with a giggling foal attached to his head as he wove in cris-crossing patterns in front of his home which to Luna's eyes was becoming less and less foreboding. All the while Sunshine giggled, and whenever Sombra told her to let go, she responded with a half giggled, half shrieked “NO!”. As Luna and Gilda watched neither of them could help as smiles spread across their faces, though Luna was genuinely shocked to see that Sombra had a playful smirk of his own.
Luna picked up the scroll and read it, sighing in annoyance and then gasping as she realized the implications of what she had read. Celestia was pulling no punches this time, she was sending every last resource she had available. Including those she didn’t fully trust.
Gilda, looked at Luna worryingly as she gasped, and saw her own worry mirrored back.
“What’s wrong Luna?”
Luna couldn’t believe what she had read still. Surely it was to get her to go home, or perhaps placate their little ponies with all the problems going on in the wide world. But him? What was she thinking? He might end up siding with Sombra! And that wouldn’t be the strangest thing he’d do...
“It's nothing Gilda. At any rate I will track down our horrified Ninja friend, so that “Mr. Somber’s” goods will be returned to him.” ‘And definitely not so I can scan the package itself.’
“So, there is literally no way I can convince you to join with to stop Sombra?” Twilight asked after she and Trixie had made sure the enraged marshmallow was no longer behind them. “Wait a minute… how did we end up in the hotel’s bar and lounge?”
“You look at me as though I know the answer to that question. My guess, spastic fear induced teleporting from you,” Trixie said as she sipped her drink, which caused Twilight to give her a scowl, “don’t look at me like that Sparkle. Trixie’s shift ended WHILE we were running from your friend. What I do now is my concern. And as far as helping you, I think I have suffered enough don’t you? I was blamed for the Ursa, though that was clearly the fault of those dimwitted foals. And I became…” Trixie shuddered involuntarily as she recalled her actions, “An abusive monster of a pony. I slowly changed into an utterly evil pony, and there was nothing I could do about it. I didn’t know it was happening sure. But when it comes down to it, I was becoming the sort of thing you and your friends shoot those nuclear rainbows at. All because of my foalish pride. Whether or not you and the princess help with my career is a moot point. Merely aiding you will catapult me into fame once more. And that was what started this all, my big head. I don’t want to go down that road again only to become a monster once more.”
“We see your point darling, but you need to hear ours before you make an absolute decision on such an important matter,” Rarity said as the other two froze with terror. “Oh please. I was merely upset… okay perhaps murderous is a better term, but I am past that now. When I stopped to catch my breath I thought it through and calmed down. After all they must be desperate to find Sombra, every piece of dirt on their side must be needed. Not that YOU are dirt mind you, I mean another stallion the Sisters have enlisted. Now, you say you fear fame because it will bring about your monstrous transformation once more, yet you are now aware of it. You would be actively fighting it and thus the chance that you will go down that path is extremely slim darling.”
“None of you get it! I am still a monster!” Trixie cried out in exasperation, “I still think about defeating Twilight, I still want to be the most powerful mare in Equestria and I hate myself for it! I have even thought about learning Sombra’s kind of magic to do so! Or going to ally myself with the changelings! I AM EVIL!!”
Twilight and Rarity looked at one another in awe as they tried to think of a way to calm Trixie, and tell her that she wasn’t evil… they could see that she was hurting inside and the wanted to help, but they didn’t know how.
“So what? Who cares if you think about doing evil things?” said the barstool with the bushy eyebrows and goatee, ”I still have less than pure thoughts myself about causing chaos and mischief… and I do occasionally act on them. That doesn’t mean I am evil. And when I do have a desire to wreak havoc upon a city, I talk to my friend Fluttershy. She helps me get through it. You aren’t evil little pony, because you are afraid of being evil. And besides, I am going with you all. Nopony is more powerful than me! Now back to my point, thoughts are but thoughts, not very evil at all unless acted upon. And you seem to have friends that will help you be a good pony anyway. Here you have a chance to build a new Kind and Loved Trixie, don’t let that slip away.”
“Wow, Discord. When did you get so wise?” Twilight asked with a smirk.
“When I realized that no matter what I do, you will all be my friends… I decided to be a better friend to you.” Discord said as he morphed from stool back to normal. “Maybe even earn that throne. But enough “somber” talk let’s get down to business shall we? The other guests as well as a few unexpected members are on their way as we speak.”
“Well, actually... we're already here.”
“DAD?!” Twilight shouted as Rarity and Blueblood saw one another and shrieked "YOU!!" simultaneously.
“Like I said, unexpected,” Discord stated with a smirk of his own.
Sombra walked into his home followed by Gilda and Sunshine, who were both still giggling at him for his antics. ‘Hmmm… perhaps I shouldn’t have taken it so far… that much was probably over-acting to Luna’s eyes.’
‘Yes, probably part of the reason why she decided to make it HER mission to retrieve your package. After all who wouldn’t be interested in the mail a diabolical villain receives hours after he takes a young filly under his roof for a week? Likely that she will attempt to ascertain what is in it. Hopefully she won’t attack you afterwards.’ Head Voice said as she finished watering her mind garden. ‘How long do you think it will take until they are ready to be picked?’
‘How should I know? I was a king with a talent for Dark magic, not gardening.’ Sombra thought irritably. (However soon you want, considering you made it from less than scratch)
“Mr. Somber? I’m kinda hungry. When are we having supper?” Sunshine asked as she put on her best, “If you don’t feed me I shall surely wither away” pouty face.
Sombra grinned down at her. “Really? That’s the best you’ve got? I suppose I should start making something though,” as his own stomach began to growl at him.
Sunshine giggled and walked to the table to sit down and wait as Gilda removed the groceries from Sombra’s magic and began to empty the bags.
“I don’t want to scare you little filly but here the both of us require a special diet, meaning there will be fish on my plate. As well as Gilda’s..” Sombra said nonchalantly as Sunshine gaped at him her mouth and eyes wide after he said it.
“You guys… you eat meat?” Sunshine said with trepidation as she backed away, a look of fear on her features.
“Oh come now. We don’t eat ponies, I am one after all. I have a… problem with my body which requires it. Gilda is a griffon, meaning she COULD eat ponies but chooses fish instead. She likes ponies, some are her friends. You have no need to fear us, alright little Sunshine?” (Used to be anyway, poor bird...)
“Okay!” Sunshine said as she pronked away gleefully.
“...”
“Yes Gilda, she is a little odd but so are you,” Sombra said as he gave her a smug grin.
“Shut up Sombrero,” Gilda mumbled sourly as she went to the living room, “I’ll leave you here to cook and go watch the filly. Please try not to burn the drinks this time?”
“I told you that is a common occurrence amongst unicorns! …Although admittedly I have no idea why.” he said as Gild chuckled and left him alone to cook.
‘Finally some time to myself, sombra thought as he looked at the apparently sleeping pony inside his mind, Now, what am I going to do about my ever increasing list of problems? Luna isn’t likely to leave me alone anytime soon beyond what I’ve heard I did at the crystal Empire there should be no reason for THAT much animosity towards me, though the problem of not remembering much will need to wait until later. I need to get rid of Head Voice, convince Luna and Celestia as well as those blasted mares from the empire, that I am not a threat and I need some kind of trump card for when I make my REAL move for the Empire and the Crystal Heart. He looked around searching for some way to combine his talents, the resources he had and make some kind of plan. ‘Right, as though I can make something to threaten Equestria enough so that the sisters will leave me alone from what I have in my kitchen.’ he thought bitterly.
He turned to the radio and switched it on with his magic, filling the kitchen with annoying static.
Completely useless piece of junk. And here I thought it was supposed to let you listen to music, yet nearly half the time this happens,[/i’] he thought irritably. ’Can’t anypony make simple things like this work properly? I know it is fairly new, but honestly they need to make the signal stronger, the towers better and the receiver in the radio itself capable of processing the signal better. Wouldn’t be hard, or even cost much. I could make them out of crystal and enchant the forsaken things for ponies… sake,’
A grin crept across his features as he began to create his latest and least convoluted plan yet. Then the stove caught fire. Not to mention a small patch of lawn, the living room coffee table, a fire extinguisher, a pith helmet, the fifth stair from the top on the basement staircase, the glass salt shaker next to Sombra, Headvoice, a small container of hot sauce in the fridge, Gilda’s tail, and every piece of toast within a seventeen-point-three kilometer radius.
“What the- HOLY HORSE APPLES MY TAIL!!”
*snort* Huh? What’s goin- WHY AM I ON FIRE!!!??
“So it begins…” Sombra said to himself unaware of the destruction he had (somehow) caused.
“So what you are saying is you two are spies?” Twilight asked her mother with an angry look.
“Well that is the short version yes. The longer version is that we are agents of the Princesses wishes, protectors that fight the things that give fillies and colts nightmares. And the ponies live on none the wiser of the near immanent death that might have awaited them had we not been there to protect them,” Twilight Velvet said whilst giving Twilight a look of infinite patience, then a rather hard look of annoyance. “But this is neither here nor there. You are a princess and MY daughter. I thought you were taught to push aside personal issues unless they were the reason for a disaster? This is something minor, that is about your father’s and my life choices that can be dealt with later, or even on the way to where we are going. This is not the time for this while Sombrero… I mean Sombra… runs rampant and unchecked.”
“Right, I’m sorry I’ll just ignore the fact that you hid who you two really are from me AND Shining for our entire lives up to now. My bad.” Twilight said with increasing hysteria, before giving a resigned sigh. “But you are right let’s get this done before we worry about petty personal things. Girls… Rarity glaring helps no one… Thank you. Now, Girls, and Spike… and Discord and… ugh. Everypony, we are heading to Manehattan to continue our search. According to Princess Celestia, it has become a hotbed of rather odd circumstances over the last few weeks. And… Trixie I am sorry if you still don’t feel like it, this is now a command from your princess. The sisters working together had trouble beating him last time, this is a thousand years later and he is apparently going to be patient about it this time. That being said, no one is allowed to go anywhere without at least two other ponies. Who knows what’ll happen if he finds you looking for him alone.”
“Um that reminds me hon,” Night Light said finally speaking up, “there is one more pony with us, and given her state we probably shouldn’t move for awhile. She passed out on the carriage ride here and we put her into the room you were all in. Your friends don’t really like other unicorns much do they? The instant your friend Rainbow Dash saw her she tried to drop her out the window if you’ll believe it.”
“Now that you mention it Night, you are right. Didn’t say a word either. Just glared and grabbed the mare. She might make a good operative with that kind of detachment towards killing a pony.”
“That poor mare though, good thing we grabbed them before she let go. Celestia might have been mad if miss Shimmer had died.” Night Light said as he nodded to himself.
“Ohhhhh,” Twilight said as she realized why everything had transpired the way it had today, “Now I get it,” she said with a somewhat manic giggle, “the universe just hates me. That’s why.”
She then promptly passed out.
Discord wept silently with a smile as these events transpired in front of him, as Rarity glared at him. “I *sob* know why you are mad Rarity. But this *sob* wasn’t my doing. And that’s why I am crying. Because this world we live in, is so beautiful sometimes.”
He then turned Rarity’s mane into a handkerchief and blew his nose into it before turning it back. “That’s for being my least favorite by the way.” He then stopped and looked around for a moment as if wondering how he had gotten where he was, before glaring at the ceiling above him. “Not cool at all my friend, not at all. Please leave me out of your personal vendetta’s against the ponies in the future.”
Then Rarity screamed and began chasing Discord around in circles whilst the other ponies looked at one another and shrugged before turning to carry the comatose and kinda twitchy Twilight to her room.
“Darn it! Where did that ninja pony go?” Daring Do asked herself as she landed on the street of the Manehattan suburb she had seen the ninja heading towards before she lost sight of her completely. She stamped her forehoof in frustration and glared around as though the pony was simply right in front of her. “First she gets away then someone raids my stuff so i have to take time to get new disguises so i can go out into public, then my helmet catches fire outta the blue! Seriously what the heck?!” She sighed resignedly as she let her head droop towards the ground and mumbled to herself, “If i write about that then i am going to lose my fan-base because they will all think i am insane.”
“It’s alright miss, there is no reason to think you are insane if you think you saw a pony dressed as a ninja.”
Daring started as she heard a kind sounding stallions voice and quickly turned to see the owner was standing rather close to her. He looked slightly out of place in a way she couldn’t describe beyond that him being there seemed almost...lazy somehow. But beyond that tenuous assumption she couldn’t place her finger on it. The earth pony stallion was blue, of an average build for an earth pony and seemingly spotted in two different shades of the color, one was somewhat dark the other light. His mane and tail were brown and he was wearing a black vest that looked like it was a part of a suit that had been taken from the whole outfit. Surprisingly however he didn’t have a cutie mark.
“Like I said, you aren’t insane. I just saw a mare dressed as a ninja talking to Princess Luna about two blocks from here at Mr. Somber’s house.” “I assume you are curious as to why she is there and why she is dressed like that so maybe go ask him. His house stands out fairly well anyway. It’s big, creepy, and looks like something out of a poorly made horror movie. And it’s in that direction if you intend to fly there,” he said as he pointed southeast of where they were standing. He stopped talking and Daring stood there still stunned as to what had just happened.
She rushed towards the stallion with a near squeal of happiness and kissed him on the cheek before spouting a quick thank you and taking off flying in the direction he had offered to her. He smiled kindly towards the mare as she disappeared from view. “You are quite welcome, Miss Do.” His smile changed slightly to a more malevolent one before he reclaimed a kind look and walked away from the insanity he had knowingly caused. “I do wonder about ponies sometimes,” he said as walked with a self satisfied look in his eye, “I mean really. King Sombra, Mr. Somber, big, freaky, powerful unicorn with a natural attraction to violence, purposefully living in a “haunted” house that inspires fear. How hard do they need to be beaten with the proverbial stick before they see what’s right in front of them?”
Daring looked at the house the stallion had described. It was big, creepy and looked like something from a low budget horror movie alright. Yet somehow, it didn’t feel very foreboding at all. Then she heard the yelling.
“I am sorry I set you on fire but in all fairness how was i supposed to know that would happen?! I was cooking not plotting arson! And you were in a different room!”
“That might be true, but you are banned from cooking anyway, I’m better at it anyhow!”
Then the front door slammed open and an angry looking griffon with a giggling foal on her back walked out. The foal appeared to be giggling to the point of tears while the griffon had a bandage wrapped around the end of her tail. She didn’t even acknowledge Daring’s existence as she huffed and took off into the air yelling, “I’m taking the foal to go get food for us all. Try not to set the house on fire this time!”
Daring turned back towards the entrance of the house to see a large angry unicorn in the doorway who yelled back at the griffon, “MAYBE I’LL JUST SET FIRE TO YOUR BED WHILE YOU ARE GONE! AT LEAST THEN I’LL DESERVE YOUR ANGER!”
“Ummmm….” Daring said rather confused and embarrassed at what had taken place in front of her.
“...Of course there is someone outside during this,” sombra said as he sighed audibly, “I am sorry for that. But no I do not wish to explain it.”
“OH! Oh, no i wasn’t trying to find out what’s going on, I was just… alright look. I have been following a pony for a LONG time and they were last seen here apparently. I have reason to believe she is in possession of a rare and dangerous magical artifact and that it is being delivered somewhere in the area. I assumed since she was seen talking to a princess that either the princesses know what is going on, or she randomly encountered them and played off her disguise somehow. The point is, I need to find her before something bad happens.”
Sombra chuckled, “And why are YOU looking for them hmm? Are you some kind of Daring Do super fan or something?”
“Umm… heh well actually,” she said as she showed him her cutie mark, “I am Daring Do. I was asked by the princesses to be on the lookout for this kind of thing happening. Due to some threat returning to the world. And, I discovered that an extremely powerful artifact was being housed near Ponyville. Unfortunately a group of griffons working for my arch nemesis also figured that out. Now I think i beat him here, but he has proven to be able to keep ahead of me on more than one occasion….” a look of shock crossed Daring’s features, “Why am I just spouting all this to-”
She stopped as she looked back towards Mr. Somber. He had a look of utter amusement on his face. “Well to be honest I am unsure why you are, but one thing is for certain. There is probably more to this tale than what you have said. So why don’t you come in for a moment, we can talk in my workroom in the basement and you can rest for a bit.” as he said this both began walking towards the house Daring following him unconsciously while her mind raced.
Okay daring okay just calm down, we need to be sure he doesn’t talk about any of this. To ANYPONY. He is offering a more secure place to talk and he seems to be going about this far more professionally than you...maybe he’s a spy for the princesses! That would make things a LOT easier.
It wasn’t until they had reached the bottom stair of the basement and the lights were turned on, that Daring realized he had locked every door behind them. And that his “workroom” was not the place where he explored whatever hobby he had, small black and dark red crystals jutted out from the floor and walls some forming into various pieces of furniture, others appearing to be harvested in bins and containers. Small crystal...creatures scurried about working on strange contraptions that harvested the crystals or made new objects out of them, including more crystal creatures that scurried off and began to work on something new or took the place of a fallen creature and brought the pieces to what appeared to be a miniature trough where other creatures fed on the dead ones parts. Daring was somewhat horrified by this sight and it was only made worse when they all stopped and bowed to Mr. Somber.
“So, you said something about an artifact… and a former threat come back into the world?”
Daring didn’t want to look at him. She was afraid, the temperature of the basement had already dropped far enough for frost to form on the ground under her hooves. The shadows around her were moving… she wanted to scream, to call for help, to turn and run...but for somehow she was rooted to the spot, her eyes still glued to the crystal beings consuming their dead…
Mr. Somber chuckled darkly, “I am sure they told you the threats name. I am sure you brushed it off as the Sisters simply being paranoid… Go ahead, say the name.”
“S...s… Sombra.”
“ My name is KING Sombra. And you would do well to remember it.”
Daring opened her mouth to scream… and the sound died in her throat. She only got a small glimpse of the pony in front of her before his magic hit, His horn...those fangs… his eyes....
Major, Marjorie Threat was not a happy pony. That isn't to say she was an unhappy pony, more that at this point in time she wasn't as happy as she could be. She was younger than any other pony to rise to the position she had achieved within the royal guard. She made a good enough living to support herself with more than the occasional indulgence of things deemed unnecessary by the lifestyle she lived, or rather she would have been able to if she saw them as important enough. "Why would I want to eat a cake, when noodles and vegetables are cheaper, faster to cook, and provide far more for my body than a cake?" Most of her peers simply gave her strange looks for saying these things, and while a former friend of hers would laugh and then demand she at least try the confection, those thoughts weren't what was bothering he today. No, what was bothering her was that she had been assigned as the official personal guard of Princess Luna.... And the aforementioned princess had taken off rather suddenly for the small suburb she was currently approaching.
'If he was here right now he'd be laughing and saying "Princess Luna is more than capable of handling whatever dark evils lie within this mid, to upperclass neighbourhood. ....I need a sandwich. Let us go forth for the glory of mayo!!" '
She chuckled once at the addition to her thoughts on old friends and smiled sadly missing him. She shook her head slightly before those feelings could take firm hold and focused once more on the task at hoof. She had a princess to find. And as it so happens she did find her. Right then. Chasing a small black and light green blur that was screaming about needing its internal organs. The Princess however didn't appear to want to destroy the blur as she was attempting, and failing, to mollify it. Marjorie sighed and angled he flight path to intercept the blur and began to pump her leathery wings to the gain the speed necessary to do so, without dive bombing it.
She landed directly in front of the blur, now confirmed to be a pegasus dressed as a beat up ninja. The pegasus collided with Marjorie causing the larger pony to grunt slightly from the force of the collision. Marjorie skidded backwards slightly and the pegasus seemed to stop in mid air, then she dropped to the ground and began groaning loudly.
"Uuuuugggghhhhh, did anypony get the number of that truck? Ooooohhhhh, ow that hurt."
'You do realize I'm going to tease you with that later right?', Marjorie's friend said with a snicker as she sighed. 'Just going to be one of those days I suppose,' she thought morosely.
As the ninja mare groaned Princess Luna skidded to a halt next to the two of them before smiling sheepishly at Marjorie who was glaring at her. "Ahem. Um Hello Major, what brings you here to this particular.... Alright, I am sorry. I know I should have let you know where I was going but honestly I had no idea this would take nearly as long as it did. Certain events have transpired that require my ongoing attention for the foreseeable future. So... You may head back to Canterlot as soon as I am-"
Marjorie cut her off with a snort of derision and said, "I am tasked with being YOUR GUARD. Not your messenger. Especially when you are completely capable of sending a message to your sister faster than I can fly anyway. So, I will be staying here with you until you return to Canterlot," as she said it she sat back on her haunches and crossed her fetlocks with a humph.
"Miss... I mean Major Threat, you do not fully understand the circumstances surrounding my stay here. And more importantly I need to scan that box before miss Dust see's that you are a batpony. Who knows how scared she would be if she saw a pony with fangs looming inches away from her!......Oops."
As if on cue Lightning sat bolt upright and stared at Marjorie before cowering before her and whimpering pitifully. "Please don't eat my kidneys.....Or drink my blood."
Marjorie's face scrunched up in anger and she inhaled deeply to give a stern talking to to this seemingly ignorant pegasus pony, before she noticed the small smile she had. And that she was struggling rather hard to hold back laughter.
"Ohhhh. So, you are a comedian and a ninja. I see, I see," and with that Lightning burst into laughter, niether Marjorie, nor Luna could help but chuckle. When their laughter subsided, Lightning wiped her eyes of her tears of laughter and smiled at them. "A lot of Thestrels are in the mail business, she explained with a smile, " most of them handle deliveries that require the package to arrive the next day. I know it isn't as glorious as being a Royal Guard but they are treated more than fairly. Since most Solar pegasi don't like that kind of work with a few exceptions they get more pay, better benefits and they are treated just like any other pony."
"Now," Lightning said as a slightly fearful but stern look crossed her features, "Princess, I am not sure what Mr. Somber ordered or exactly why you want to "scan his package" but even for a princess, rules are rules. That means laws are laws as well. So, without probable cause and you telling me what it is, I can't let you. I am sorry but that's how it is." Lightning sat there and shook slightly as the full weight of what she had said sunk in. If Somber's package was nefarious on nature then she would have to tell them that she ran a small theft ring on the side in addition to her mailing duties. Of it was what he said she had nothing to fear.... Unless she already had scanned it. Hopefully, if it was bad, those she had stolen it from had anticipated such a scan in advance and had taken preventative measures. Also, hopefully she had stolen it AFTER such measures had been taken. Now, she had to pray that she was lucky. Also that such information as to why the Princess wanted to scan it was sensitive enough that she would never-
"Mr.Somber as you call him is not the pony you believe. His real name, is King Sombra."
".....I'm sorry what?"
"There you see? A perfectly good.... Actually yes. What?!"
Luna sighed. 'Its just going to be one of those days I suppose.'
Marjorie's friend applauded, making the fur on the back of her neck rise as Luna began to explain. 'There it is. Wondered when you'd realize something is up. No, I don't know how I'm here, but I don't think saying anything is the right move. At least not right now. I don't want anypony thinking you are crazy and niether do you. Just stay calm and I'll think about this focus soldier.'
A single tear slipped past Marjorie's eyelids and, thinking quickly, she faked a sneeze and rubbed her snoot also quickly wiping away the evidence. 'How? You died, I watched you die, I felt your blood on my hooves, the light faded from your eyes..... how?'
'....I don't know.'
Sunset awoke to the feeling of a pony nibbling on her ear and their fetlocks around her neck. She smiled lightly wondering what stallion she had brought home with her, or if everything before had all been part of some horrible dream and she was in fact laying with her hus- no, that couldn't be it. The pony lying behind her was definitely female. She blushed slightly at the realisation of what that meant she had done the night before and she decided she should probably move and blame whatever substance she had had such large quantities of the night before for the night before. But.... This mare, whoever she was was rather warm, and the nibbling wasn't bad either. She decided that it really didn't matter what gender they were, just that she liked that feeling of warmth. ...Until a distinct voice that was obviously Twilight Sparkle said," just a few more minutes then I'll get up honey."
This caused Sunset to exclaim "WHAT THE HECK?!" As she tumbled off the seat of the carriage and tumble to its floor with an audible "OOF!" Which in turn caused Twilight to sit upright and open her eyes wide, rather aware of the mare whose ear she had been nibbling on previously. "Uhhh, good morning?"
Sunset righted herself, and sighed. "We tell no one. Not a soul. Understand?"
Twilight sighed in relief, "Deal, but we do need to have a quick talk. First, I am glad to see you, but.... I am curious as to why. That can wait for now if you'd like, but I do have to tell you that if you try anything funny, I will make sure you are a smoking crater faster than you can you can say, 'whoops', got it?" As she finished he speech Sunset nodded quickly to assure Twilight that she had no such intentions. "Good, glad that's all straightened out. Can't be too careful right now. You coming back, Sombra returning, the whole world seemingly ready to fall apart. But I am sorry for the harshness. Also, sorry for rainbow trying to drop you out a window."
"No, no I understand.... Wait she tried to do what?"
"Ummm...."
At this point Twilight was saved by the sheer happenstance of her father deciding to check on her. He walked into the room under that pretended anyway. And he promptly slammed the door behind him. They were now in a kind of airship by Twilight's observations. And that did mean more rooms. Though she was curious where they had procured one so quickly. Her father looked into her eyes and chuckled recognising the face of Twilight as she thought about something. "If you are wondering why I am here it's too check up on you two. You were both passed out, and while adorable," his eyes took a far more serious look than what Twilight was used to seeing and it unnerved her more than a little, " it could have been Sombra. You can not be too careful with dark magic users. So, we kept you apart in case one of you awoke as a puppet of his, or some other thing happened.... Sorry in advance. But you may have exploded."
Twilight looked at her father. Looked and didn't see "daddy", no she saw a black cloak wrapped around the withers of a soldier. A pony that had been tasked with keeping their world secure. She kept looking and the more she looked the sorrier she became. What parent wouldn't keep a side themself like this one, cold hard and unfeeling, away from their children? She decided to apologize later for her yelling at the two of them. For now, she had to be a princess, like her father had decided to be soldier.
"It's okay dad. I'm fine, Sunset is.... Well we are both who we are supposed to be. Now, in regards to our mission," she spoke as she stretched and walked past her father, who turned to follow "I will need to be briefed on everything you know about dark magic users, strengths, weaknesses, whether or not they usually establish a cult, what kinds need to work as a cult and everything else you can think of."
Night Light smiled as he walked side by side with Twilight, his daughter, a Princess of Equestria. "Yes of course. Going into such a situation with only two ponies knowing what they are doing, would likely be a bad idea after all." 'seems this trait of protecting others is hereditary after all.'
Daring Do awoke to the sounds of yelling from what she could only describe as a small scared foal. She looked around and realised she was in some kind of solid crystal prison cell. There were semi transparent panels on every side and these were fitted with a large number of holes. As she looked around she saw King Sombra looking at a large crystal block that was being very slowly and carefully whittled away by numerous miniature crystal spiders as he mumbled to himself, likely about an evil plot he was just barely able to hold back unleashing on equestria. Daring held her fear down, it wouldn't do her any good to let it take control. She needed to figure out what he was up to and report it to the princesses as soon as she could. Assuming she could escape from whatever her prison was. She looked closer at it and found she was in cell made entirely of crystal. It shimmered in the dim lighting causing a rainbow to fill her vision and she noticed that as she looked through the rainbow she could see a similar, though not as bright, spectrum surrounding all of the small crystal creatures. And when she looked at Sombra it almost seemed as though she saw another pony standing next to him....no there was also a dark shadow directly above him as well. And as she looked at the shadow trying to make out what it was from it shifted suddenly and Sombra turned to face her as well.
"Well look who is awake. I do hope your amenities are adequate for a celebrity. They were meant for a princess after all. But enough of that. I am in the middle of something and quite frankly I don't have time to deal with you. Beyond this, Princess Luna knows I am here. She has found me. No I did not intend to have to capture you but I have plans in motion that-"
"Oh I'm sure you do! You are trying to conquer the Crystal Empire again!" Daring said cutting him off abruptly. Sombra sighed and walked to her cage. "No," he stated, "if I had wanted to do that why would I go through all the trouble to adopt a guise that allows me to walk among normal ponies and not cause fear with each step I take? I need fear to power the stronger of the magics I posses, remember? Seems counter productive to me. Honestly, I want them to let me into it, without a fight. I have to continue my ancient research on the Crystal heart to fix.... something. This isn't a ruse. I want it to happen without bloody conflict, but at the same time Miss Do, I need to be there. I need to pick up where I left off. Yes. The dangerous artifact is for me. Because it too is ancient and will help with my research, and being the opposite polarity on the good and evil spectrum with provide contrast with the heart. Now, I will-"
Sombra was cut off by a sudden rather forceful knock on his front door. This time instead of sighing he growled angrily. "I swear if this a another prankster with six-hundred pizzas I'm going to kick somepony. I'll be right back I promise."
Sombra shut off the lights in the basement with his magic as he walked up the stairs the only illumination coming from the crystal golems as the continued their methodical carving of the crystal block. Small sparks of magic arced from them slicing through tiny pieces of it leaving tiny shards on the floor which were then picked up by the cleaning golems and brought to the trough to be consumed by the other golems. As she stared in at the endless cycle of crystal golem cannibalism with a sort of bemused horror, she felt a weak draft suddenly pick up and blow across her hooves. She sighed in anger and grumbled about has-been evil tyrants and their drafty basement lairs. With the short flickering lights happening near constantly Daring still had a decent amount of light with which to make out her surroundings and as she looked she saw what appeared to be half finished blueprints across the large room on a desk, for what appeared to be a crystal tower made only from criss-crossing beans of crystal. As she tried to look more closely however something caused a shadow to impede he vision, irritated by this she look for the source and found that nothing was between her and the light source in the room. She looked back towards the desk and saw what appeared to be a large bipedal shadow with glowing orange eyes standing inside her cell. Daring stood stock still with fear and watched as the figure raised an elongated limb from it's torso and put it to what she supposed was it's mouth as though signaling her to be quiet. Then the door to the basement opened and the figure vanished as she heard Sombra talking.
She was suddenly enveloped in a cloud of magic that she assumed would render her prison and her invisible to whomever Sombra was leading into this place. She also saw another prison cell larger than hers spring into existence next to her before disappearing. Daring turned to attempt to warn whoever was being led to join her fate, though when she saw them, her mouth dropped open from shock and she immediately facehoofed.
"No no, it's no trouble at all sir. I had no idea that the item I had purchased was so dangerous! I simply thought it would make for a spectacular gift for my ailing grandfather, perhaps help him to know that we are all hoping he will get better soon. He loved old trinkets you see, but I must be boring you, please, step into my parlor so to speak."
Ahuizotl walked down the stairs none to wiser to Sombra's plan and completely oblivious to the barely concealed threat from the former tyrant king. He appeared to be basking in the glow of victory.
'Must be celebrating winning against me for once,' Daring struggled slightly to hold in a chuckle, 'this should be kinda fun to see.' she thought as a small wry grin spread across her features.
A flash of scarlet magic and a single sad whine proved her correct. Daring Doo smiled widely, and a red light flashed through her eyes.