> Scootaloo and Sombra
>  by RabidTonberry
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Day Before Hearts & Hooves Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was a pleasant February afternoon in the town of Ponyville. It was Friday the day before Hearts and Hooves day and three little fillies were excitedly talking amongst themselves as they walked along the streets of Ponyville. 

“I can’t believe Miss Cheerliee gave us the afternoon off just so she could get ready for her romantic weekend getaway with my brother,” Apple Bloom said. 

“I think it’s sweet,” Sweetie Belle squeed. “Do you have any idea what our sisters are doing tomorrow?” 

“Apparently they’re going on a couple’s trip with Rainbow Dash and Twilight to Las Pegasus,” 

“Aww, Rainbow Dash is going out of town? I was hoping she could show me some new tricks this weekend,” Scootaloo whined.

“You can ask Rainbow Dash to teach you some new tricks anytime Scoots. Hearts and Hooves only comes once a year,” Apple Bloom said.

“I guess,” Scootaloo grumbled kicking up some dirt with her hoof.

“Hey Scootaloo,” Sweetie called.

“Yea, Sweetie?”

“I just had a thought. Is your Dad doing anything for Hearts and Hooves day?”

“My Dad?”

“Yea, he’s been living in Ponyville for almost a year now. I was just wondering if he had a special somepony or a pony he was interested in.”

Scootaloo stopped and rubbed her chin, “You know I don’t know.”

“You don’t know if your Dad is interested in anypony?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Well it’s not really something we talk about,” Scootaloo shrugged. 

“Maybe he’s gay,” Sweetie blurted out.

“He could be,” Scootaloo shrugged. “It wouldn’t matter if he was. Why are you girls so interested in my Dads love life anyway?”

“How can you not be? I mean there’s always a chance that if he is seeing somepony than that pony has the potential to become your new Mom or Dad,” Apple Bloom answered. 

“Well when you put it that way I guess you have a point,” Scootaloo mused.

“Hey Dad are you home?” Scootaloo called closing the door behind her. She glanced around her modernly decorated living room, and was once again relieved that the Stallion that adopted her didn’t have weird taste in decor like she originally thought he would.

“I’m in the kitchen,” a gruff sounding Stallion answered. 

Scootaloo followed the voice into the kitchen. She was greeted with the sight of a dark grey unicorn stallion with a thick black mane and a glowing red horn sitting at the kitchen table going over some papers. He glanced up with his deep red eyes and smiled at Scootaloo. His fangs glistened in the afternoon light that came in through a nearby window. “You're home early today Scootaloo,” Sombra said.

“Miss Cheerliee let us out early so she could get ready for her Hearts and Hooves day trip with Big Mac.”

“I see,” he said turning his attention back to his paperwork.

“Hey Dad?”

“Hmm,” Sombra hummed.

“Do you have any plans for Hearts and Hooves Day?” 

“Nope,” he simply answered.

Scootaloo stood in her kitchen trying to figure out how she should word her next question. After a few seconds she just shrugged and decided to be blunt about it, “Hey Dad is there anypony in town that you have a crush on?”

Sombra paused. He took his gaze from his paperwork and onto his adoptive daughter, “Come again?”

“Is there anypony in town that you have a crush on?” Scootaloo repeated. 

Sombra just sat there mouth slightly ajar. After a minute he realized he had just been sitting there. He quickly closed his mouth and uttered, “Umm, why do you ask?”

“Well my friends and I were talking about Hearts and Hooves day and Sweetie asked if you were doing anything for it. I said I didn’t know and then they asked if you even had a special somepony and I didn’t know that either. So they asked if you had a crush on Anypony and I…”

“And you didn’t know that either,” Sombra interrupted.

“Uh huh,” Scootaloo nodded.  

Sombra pushed himself against the back of his chair tipping it on its back legs and rocking back and forth for a few seconds, “To answer your question,” he began putting his chair back on all fours, “Is no I don’t have a special somepony that you don’t know about,” he chuckled. “Also no there isn’t a pony I’m currently interested in,” he added.

“Why?”

“Well I really haven’t been looking.”

“Why?”

“I’ve been too busy honestly. Running an evil organization bent on conquering Equestria isn’t easy you know and well there’s also raising you. That takes up a lot of my time as well.”

“I’m stopping you from meeting chicks?” Scootaloo asked frowning a bit.

“No no no,” Sombra said magically tousling Scootaloo’s mane to reassure her. “In fact you would probably help in me getting a marefriend. Nothing wins the heart of a mare than a single father with a cute kid,” Sombra chuckled. 

“So the only reason you’re single is because you just haven’t had time to find one?”

“More or less”

“Okay, I think I understand, Scootaloo said scratching her chin and nodding slowly. “Hey Dad is it okay if I go hangout with my friends?”

“Sure, just be safe and make sure your back before dark,” Sombra replied turning his attention back to his paperwork.

“I will be,” and with that Scootaloo was off. 

“So Mr. Sombra isn’t interested in any mare in town?” Sweetie asked in disbelief sitting in her usual spot in the Cutie Mark Crusader club house. 

“So he is gay!” Apple Bloom exclaimed.

“I don’t think he is. He says he just hasn’t been looking. He’s been busy. Trying to take over Equestria isn’t easy you know,” Scootaloo explained.

“I reckon it isn't,” Apple Bloom nodded. 

Suddenly Sweetie jumped up in excitement, “Ohh Oh Oh I just had an idea!” she exclaimed jumping up and down with a big grin on her face.

“Alright just calm down and tell us what it is. You’re beginning to shake the tree house,” Scootaloo told her.

“Well Mr. Sombra says he doesn’t have time to find a special somepony right?”

"Yea that’s what he said.”

“So why don’t we find one for him!” 

“You’re not suggesting we try matchmaking again are you?”

“Yea, it didn’t work out to well the last time. Big Mac still doesn’t trust me sometimes,” Apple Bloom pouted.

“But this time we will not relay on performance enhancing drugs,” Sweetie smiled.

“Well I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try again,” Apple Bloom relented with an eager grin.

“Why not? I’m game,” Scootaloo added with a grin as well.

Sweetie smiled and they all shouted, “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS MATCHMAKERS YEA!!!”

Sombra sighed and relaxed into his living room couch. He had just gone over and approved the budget for the next fiscal year of the Equestrian League of Evil. His eyes hurt, his head hurt, and he was tired. A teapot went off in the kitchen. His horn light up and a few seconds later a teacup full of water and a teabag came floating towards him. He grabbed the cup and dunk the bag a few times before levitating it away in to a nearby trash can. He brought the cup to his lips and right before he took a sip a knock on his front door echoed throughout the house. He groaned and placed his tea on a nearby end table.

“Coming,” he shouted as the knocking echoed again. He opened the door and was greeted by a pale blue unicorn mare with a blue and white mane grinning at him.

“Hiya”, she said eyeing him up and down. “Wow, they were telling the truth. You are quite the looker,” she smirked letting herself in.

“Umm, who are you?”

“Me? Well my name is Minuette but you can call me Colgate,” she purred.  

“Uhh, haven’t I’ve seen you around town before,” he stuttered slowly backing away from the mare and her predatory gaze.

“Perhaps,” she advanced. “I am the town’s resident dentist and I think you’re overdue for a checkup!” she pounced onto Sombra pinning him on his back. She smiled down on him as she summoned a toothbrush from thin air, “You know you have a lot of tarter build up on those fangs of yours,” she whispered into his ear in a husky voice. Suddenly she was encased in a red aura and flung out the door followed by the door slamming.

“What the hell was that,” Sombra panted out. He got up off the floor just as another set of knocking came upon his door. He tentatively approached it and grabbed the handle. He opened the door just a crack and peered through. Satisfied that it wasn’t the blue unicorn trying to get back in, he opened it all the way and regarded the plum colored earth pony on the other side, “Can I help you?”

“No I’m here to help you stud, the names Punch. Berry Punch,” she said with a lopsided smile and a wink. She stumbled through the doorway and Sombra realized that she was swaying a bit and her eyes had a semi glazed look. “Three little birdies told me you were available,” she stated attempting to swagger further into the house, but her uneven swaying was making it hard. She faltered and Sombra reached over to steady her.

“Are you al-” he recoiled from the pungent stench that wafted off her. “My Celestial women you reek!” he covered his nose and backed away. 

“What you don’t like the smell of hair of the dog?” 

“I don’t drink.”

Berry’s eye started to twitch, “Sorry it’s not going to work out. It’s not me it’s you,” and she bolted out of the door as fast as her legs could take her. 

Sombra stood there and watched her go, until a grey blur flew in and collide with him. 

“Alright I’ll get right to the point,” the pegasus mare that pinned him down began. “My name is Derpy, I’m a single mother, and I have a medical condition that makes it hard for me to focus my eyesight.”

“Uhh, nice to meet you Derpy,” Sombra said trying not to stare at the off centered eye that was clearly the cause of Derpy’s eyesight problem. 

“I’m tired of the dating scene with all its little games. I need to know where this is going to go now. Dinky needs a daddy,” she said pulling a little unicorn foal off of her back. 

The little unicorn filly looked down at Sombra with its little golden eyes gleaming and asked, “Are you going to be my new daddy?”

“No,” he deadpanned.

“NO!” Derpy exclaimed pulling Dinky away and placing her back on her back. “What do you mean no? Am I not good enough for you? Is the lowly clumsy Pegasus Derpy not good enough for the former king Sombra!” she spat into his face. 

“Lady I don’t even know you!” he defended activating his horn and levitating Derpy off him so he could get up. “Now will you please leave my house?” he asked releasing her from his magic.

“Fine, I’ll go. You know why?”

“Cause I asked you?”

“No, it’s because I’m a strong independent mare that don’t need no stallion!” she bellowed.

“You don’t need no stallion, mommy!” Dinky echoed. As Derpy turned around and trotted out the door. 

Sombra followed and closed the door behind her. He leaned against the door and sighed, “Why do I have the feeling that Scootaloo and her friends are behind all these crazy mares coming here.” Another knock resonated on the door and Sombra steeled himself before opening. On the other side was Princess Luna in all her splendor and upon her face she wore a cheap plastic Nightmare Moon mask. 

“Oh Nightmare! Do come in,” Sombra said stepping to the side to let her enter. 

Princess Luna gave a muffled, “Thank you,” and walked in.

“So what do I owe this pleasure?” Sombra asked closing the door. “Did I forget that we had a meeting tonight?”

“No, I was just passing through town and I thought I’d pay you a visit,” she replied.

“I see. Would you like anything to drink?”

“No no, I don’t plan on staying long. I just wanted to know if you had any plans for tomorrow.” 

“Tomorrow?” Sombra asked tilting his head. 

“Yes, I wanted to see if you might be interested in joining me for dinner tomorrow night,” Luna nervously blushed behind her mask.

“As in a date?”

Luna didn’t reply she only quickly nodded her increasingly blushing face. 

Sombra staggered back a little and gave her an uneasy looking smile, “I’m sorry Nightmare. I…I uh… didn’t know you thought of me that way. Umm,” he scratched the back of his head and sat down. “I’m sorry. I don’t feel the same way,” he said fiddling with his hooves in an apprehensive manner. “I also think it would be bad for two colleagues such as ourselves to become even semi-romantically involved. So I’m going to have to decline. Sorry,” he finished refusing to look into the eye holes of Princess Luna’s mask.

Luna said nothing. She only stood there staring at the ground. After a few minutes she sighed and looked up at Sombra. “It’s alright,” she said with hurt clearly visible in her voice.

Sombra winced at the sound.

“I’m sorry if I made things awkward between us…I…should go. I’ll see you at work on Monday.” She weakly smiled behind her mask.

“Yea, I’ll get the door,” he said going back to the door and opening it for her.

“I hope you have a good night Sombra,” she said walking out.

“You too Nightmare,” he replied watching her walk away from the house. He stared at her flanks and sighed, “Why couldn't she be Princess Luna? Now there’s a mare I wouldn't mind going out with,” he mused. “Damn work is going to be awkward Monday,” he added. Sombra once again closed his front door, but not even before he was able to take one step away from it. Another knock thudded against it. Sombra rolled his eyes and opened the door.

On the other side stood the resident party pony Pinkie Pie, she smiled and batted her big blue eyes at him, “Hey Sombry you free this-”

He interrupted, “Pinkie this isn’t that kind of fic. Who do you think is writing this Harmony Charmer?” and with that he closed the door on her and locked it. He sighed again and turned around only to be surprised by a dark grey pegasus stallion with a silver Mohawk for a mane that was leaning against the door frame to his kitchen. 

“Hey,” the stallion smiled.

“How did you get in here?” Sombra demanded.

“Through the backdoor, which incidentally is where I’m trying-”

The stallion never got a chance to finish his statement because Sombra decided to blast him (and a good portion of his roof) out of his house. Sombra watched as the Pegasus made a hectic arc through the sky before he was able to stabilize himself and fly off far away from Sombra’s house. Sombra sighed once again before going back to the couch and sitting down. He levitated his forgotten tea over and took a sip. 

“Cold,” he grimaced. 

Less than an hour later Scootaloo came trotting into the house. She paused after closing the door and began to wonder where the newly formed hole in the ceiling had come from. In her musing she was completely unaware of her Dad sitting on the couch sipping a steaming cup of tea.

Sombra put his cup down and cleared his throat to alert her to his presence.

Scootaloo jumped and turned to her Dad, “Oh hi Dad,” she said showing no trace of her previous startlement. 

“Scootaloo did you and your friends have anything to do with those mares that visit me this afternoon?” he asked with no amusement in his voice.

Scootaloo looked away and ran a hoof through her mane, “Uhh…maybe.”

He took a deep breath and let it out, “I’m not mad Scootaloo,” he reassured her. “I just want to know why.”

“Well,” she blushed embarrassed. “You said you’ve been too busy to worry about things like finding a special somepony. So my friends and I thought we would try to help you, and try our hoof at matchmaking cutie marks,” she chuckled.  

He shook his head, “Scootaloo, I appreciate the gesture but if I want to find a special somepony I’ll find her on my own. I never was one for blind dates especially when they just barge into the house uninvited.”

“Yea, when we didn't get our cutie marks we kind of figured things didn't go as planned.”

“Indeed, now where did you find those mares anyway?”

“At that singles bar outside town, you know the Desperate Pony. It’s really busy this time of year.”

“I’d imagine. The way they were acting it’s no surprise why they’re still single,” he rolled his eyes before asking, “Why did you send that stallion?”

“That was Sweetie. She thought it be good to send one in case you were gay.”

He simply nodded his head in understanding.

“Does this mean I’m not in trouble?” she sheepishly asked.

“No you are. You’re not allowed to talk about Rainbow Dash for the next two days and that hole in the roof is coming out of your allowance.”

“But Daaaaad,” Scootaloo whined.

“No buts young lady, you made things really awkward between me and Nightmare by sending her here. You know?   

“Auntie Nightmare came here?” Scootaloo asked confused. “She wasn’t at the bar.”

“…Things are really going to be awkward at work on Monday now,” Sombra mumbled.

“What was that Dad?”

“Nothing, it’s time for dinner.”

In the late hours of the night Sombra sat on his couch, waiting.
A soft knock came onto his front door and he quickly got up and opened it. On the other side was a small pony, completely covered in a trench coat. The only thing visible was a camera slung around his neck.

“You got it?” Sombra asked.

The small pony simple reached into his coat and pulled out an envelope. 

Sombra smiled and levitated some bits into one the pony’s coat pockets and took the envelope. “Pleasure doing business with you,” he said softly closing the door. Sombra returned to his couch and opened the parcel. He pulled out a photo. A photo of a mint colored unicorn with a minty white mane and a lyre cutie mark. He rubbed a hoof against the photo and mumbled, “One day my Minty Goddess. One day.”
> A Trip to the Crystal Empire 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Scootaloo was excited. Today was the Coronation Day. The one day of the year where everypony celebrated the anniversary of Princess Twilight Sparkle's crowning with a three day weekend, and also the low low deals on new and slightly used hot air balloons at Screwballs discount dirigibles. But Scootaloo didn't care about that, although she did think that the Striker Z Balloon by Pegasus Dynamics looked sweet. No she was excited because her dad, King Sombra, was taking her to the Crystal Empire for the weekend. She bounced in her seat staring through her window trying to make out the oncoming train station through the perpetual snow storm that ravaged the northern part of Equestria. 

"You certainly seem excited Scoots," Sombra remarked from the seat across from his rambunctious filly.   

Scootaloo stopped her bouncing and turned her neck to look at her father, "Well yeah I've never been to the Crystal Empire before," she said with an attitude that basically screamed, "Duh, come on Dad." 

Sombra tilted his head, "Didn't your school come here last year for the Equestrian Games?"  

Scootaloo rolled her eyes and went back to looking out the window, "Yeah but that was a school trip. All we did was participate in the opening ceremony and take our pictures with the stupid crystal heart."  

"Well I understand why you wouldn't consider that a real trip then. The crystal heart is stupid," Sombra chuckled as the train conductor chimed on the intercom in to let them know that they would be arriving at the station in a few seconds. Sombra grimaced as the train passed through the barrier that protected the Empire from the elements of the frozen north.   

Scootaloo saw this, “Are you alright Dad?” she asked. 

Sombra gave her a reassuring smile, “Don’t worry I’m fine. I thought I might have trouble visiting because of the crystal heart so I asked your Auntie Nightmare if she knew a way to get past it so she gave me this,” he said pulling his mane out of the way to show Scootaloo the tiny gold hoop earring that was pierced through his ear. “This negates the hearts effects and allows me to walk freely through the town. The aura the heart gives off still stings a bit though but I’ll be good.” 

“You look like a dork with your ear pierced,” Scootaloo chuckled. 

He rolled his eyes at his daughter, “Don’t get used to it. I have to give it back to Nightmare on monday,” he huffed as the train made its stop at the station.  

Once the train completely stopped Sombra got up and levitated their saddlebags out of the overhead compartment. “Hey where are we staying at Dad?” Scootaloo asked as Sombra situated her bag onto her back. 

“Don’t know yet. From what Nightmare told me. There’s no shortage of hotels or motels in the Empire now a days so we shouldn’t have any trouble getting a room.” 

“Could we stay at a real fancy place so I can rub it in Diamond Tiara's face at school on Monday?” Scootaloo asked as they were making their way off the train.  

“We’re going to stay at the fanciest place we can just for that reason alone,” Sombra said ruffling Scootaloo’s mane as they exited the train unaware of the shocked looks the crystal ponies on the train platform were giving them, and one such pony screeched and bolted as fast as she could to the palace. Scootaloo and Sombra paid no attention to this.  

“Ahhh this brings back so many memories,” Sombra exclaimed breathing the fresh Crystal Empire air. “You see that toy store over there Scootaloo?” He said pointing to a brightly colored building with teddy bears lining a display window. “That’s where I use to keep all the foal laborers. They were perfect for getting into those tight little places in the crystal mines. Oh oh and over there,” He pointed to a building with a sign that said Twinkle Spark Attorney at Law. “That use to be where my pony slaves used to line up to receive their weekly rations. I can still see their mud encrusted faces as they received their weekly bread and water. And over there,” he pointed towards an upcoming elegant fountain. “That’s where I would publicly execute the ponies that decided to question my rule. So much blood so many memories,” he sniffed. 

“Whoa, do you think any of the bloodstains are still there?” 

“There’s only one way to find out,” he smiled heading towards the fountain and its surrounding park with Scootaloo in tow. Paying no mind to the Crystal Ponies that gave them a wide berth or cowered in the corners and alleyways of the street.  

“Cool there’s a real big stain right by the fountain here,” Scootaloo awed.  

“You’re right that is a big one, and if I’m not mistaken that one belonged to a pony that was trying to incite a rebellion in the mines. I believe his name was Bolt or something,” Sombra mused scratching his chin in remembrance.  

“What about this one over here,” she said pointing to a small splatter near a plaque. 

“That might have been Princess Platinum’s child. I’m not too sure though. What’s the plaque over there say?” 

“It says ‘We leave these stains on our past visible so we may never forget,’ what’s does that mean?” Scootaloo asked tilting her head in confusion.   

“It means your old man really left a lasting impression on these Crystal Ponies,” Sombra boasted with a grin. “I bet some of them even wet themselves at the mere thought of the Mighty King Sombra!” he laughed. 

Scootaloo joined in with her Dad's laughter but she was interrupted when she heard the jingling of a bell approaching. She looked around and noticed an incoming Crystal Pony pushing a ice cream cart. “Hey Dad can we get some ice cream?” she pleaded hopping up and down a little in excitement.  

“Yes we can get some ice cream Scoots so calm down,” he smirked walking to the ice cream vendor. “Hello there sir-” 

“AHHHH!” the pony stallion yelled once he saw who was coming towards him. He then immediately ducked behind his ice cream cart and cowered.  

Sombra unfazed by all this reached the cart and put his fore hooves on top of it, and looked down upon the cowering gray stallion. “Excuse me sir how much is an ice cream cone?” he asked. 

“Please don’t kill me King Sombra, and please don’t put me back in the Crystal Mines. I have a wife and a kid to think about,” the pony sobbed. 

Sombra raised an eyebrow at this, “Sir if I planned on killing you. You would be dead already.” 

The Ice Cream Vendor poked his head out from the tiny ball he made himself into and gazed at Sombra, “You mean you’re not going to kill me, or enslave me and the rest of my family and friends to work in the mines?” 

“Not today at least,” he shrugged. “Right now I just want to buy some ice cream for my daughter,” he gestured to Scootaloo that was waiting patiently off to the side.   

“You…you have a daughter? When did that happen?” 

“About a year ago it’s a long story. Now are you going to serve me or not?” Sombra leered staring straight into the Ponies eyes.  

“Yes King Sombra sir! Its five bits a cone. What flavor would you like?” he shrieked in a panic. 

“What flavor would you like Scoots?” 

“Chocolate please,” she smiled. 

“Alright one chocolate cone, and for you sir?” he gulped. 

“Strawberry” 

After receiving their ice cream cones they went and settled on a nearby bench. Scootaloo gladly went to town on her ice cream cone. While Sombra sat just taking in the glory that was the Crystal Empire and slowly making work of his own ice cream.  

“This all used to be all mine, and one day it will be again,” he sighed. 

“What was that Dad?” 

“Nothing Scoots,” he said ruffling her mane. “Just reminiscing and maybe planning my future takeover. Or retake over I guess would be the more accurate term.” 

“You said you weren’t going to think about work during our trip,” she glared.  

“I know, I know, I swear this will be the only time I bring it up,” he gave her a reassuring smile. 

That satisfied Scootaloo for she only wasted a second before returning the smile and diving right back into her ice cream. Sombra chuckled at her before taking a direct bite of his own ice cream cone. They sat there in silence just enjoying the mid afternoon day. Just father and daughter enjoying some ice cream in the park. But it wasn’t long before Sombra’s ear perked up hearing the distinctive sound of metal clad hooves marching towards them. Sombra watched curiously as a battalion of ponies decked out in gold plated armor marched and stopped before him and Scootaloo. One pony stood out amongst the group. He was a white Unicorn stallion with a two tone blue mane and instead of gold his armor was colored purple. The purple armored pony step forward and growled at Sombra, “Sombra! You think you can ju-” he stopped when he noticed the orange Pegasus filly that was sitting next to former Tyrant of the Crystal Empire, “Scootaloo?” 

Upon hearing her name Scootaloo looked up from her ice cream, her muzzle stained brown in a few places. “Oh hi Prince Shining Armor,” she waved. 

“Scootaloo quick runaway do you have any idea who that stallion is!?!” Shining shouted. 

Confusion washed on Scootaloo’s face as she looked at Shining Armor and then at her Dad who simply shrugged. Scootaloo looked back to 
Shining Armor, “Umm yea he’s my Dad,” she answered. 

Shining Armor blinked, “Come again?” 

“He’s my Dad,” Scootaloo repeated. 

Shining Armor blinked again and sat down, “Since when?” 

Scootaloo answered, “Oh about a year. It’s kind of a long story.” 

Shining Armor took off his helmet and rubbed his forehead as he tried to process the information he was just given. Sombra took this opportunity to lean in and whisper, “How do you know Shining Armor?” 

“I was a flower filly at his and Cadence’s wedding,” she whispered back.   

“You were a flower filly? I have a hard time picturing you agreeing to be such a thing.” 

“I was bribed with tickets to a Wonderbolts show okay!” Scootaloo grumbled. 

“I’ll have to see if Shining and Cadence have any pictures of you,” Sombra teased right before devouring the rest of his strawberry ice cream.    

“And that’s how I ended up as her father,” Sombra said finishing the story on how he ended up adopting the orphaned Scootaloo. He was currently sitting in the personal royal dining room of the Crystal Palace. Sitting next to him was Scootaloo, who was more preoccupied with devouring her second helping of spaghetti and garlic bread than the story Sombra was telling. Across from them was a confused looking Shining Armor and the Princess of Love herself Cadance who was dabbing her tears away with her napkin. 

“That was so sweet of you Sombra,” she sniffed. “Don’t you agree Shining?” 

“So you’re not here to attack the Empire?” Shining finally asked. The question had been burning in his mind ever since Cadance invited them to the palace for dinner.  

“Shining don’t be rude to our guest,” Cadance scolded her husband. 

Sombra chuckled, “No it’s quite alright Cadance,” he smiled. “No Shining Armor I’m not here to attack the Empire today.” 

“Today?…So what about tomorrow?” 

“No I plan on taking Scootaloo sightseeing tomorrow.” 

“So the day after tomorrow then?” 

“Afraid not will be heading back to Ponyville that day.” 

“So next week?” 

“Nope.” 

“Next month?” 

Sombra shook his head. 

“Next year?” Shining raised an eyebrow. 

Sombra shrugged, “Maybe but I wouldn’t count on it. I don’t really have anything planned at the moment so it’s not set in stone. I’m sure you know the saying Prince Shining Armor. I didn’t enslave the entire Crystal Empire in a day.” 

“That’s…that’s not how that saying goes at all,” Shining mumbled.  

“Oh Shining don’t be such a worry wart he said so himself. He’s only here to visit,” Cadance told Shining, patting his back in an attempt to comfort him. “Now Scootaloo,” she said turning her head to address the filly, “How do you like living with Sombra?” 

Scootaloo looked up from her plate with half a piece of garlic bread sticking out of her mouth, “Mmhr mh ma mer.” 

“Chew your food and swallow first Scootaloo,” Sombra interrupted. 

Cadence giggled at Scootaloo behind her hoof while Shining Armor narrowed his eyes and looked at Sombra, “You do normally feed her don’t you?” he questioned. 

“Of course I do! She just really likes garlic bread. Do you think I’m some kind of monster,” Sombra answered offended. 

“Yes,” Shining answered earning himself a smack on the head from his wife. 

“Shining be nice he’s being civil so should you,” she scolded. 

A large audible swallow brought everyponies attention back to her, “I love living with Dad. He always makes sure I’m fed and have a clean bed to sleep on and everything, and when I get bullied at school he gives the bullies horrific nightmares.” 

“Nightmares?” Cadance questioned. 

“Uh huh, Silver Spoon has to go to therapy now because of them,” Scootaloo smiled. 

Shining Armor and Cadance slowly turned their heads and looked at Sombra who only gave them a toothy grin in reply. 

Sombra levitated Scootaloo into the oversized bed of the Crystal Palace's spare bedroom. The little filly had tired out not long after devouring over three helpings of spaghetti and four and a half loaves of garlic bread. Shining and Cadance had gladly offered the spare bedroom to Sombra and Scootaloo. Well Cadance gladly offered. Shining was rather reluctant but relented when he realized that he would be able to keep a better eye on Sombra during his stay this way. Scootaloo snuggled into the bed with her fore hooves reaching out to a nearby spare pillow and pulling it against her barrel. She let out a peaceful sigh as Sombra tucked her in and gave her a light kiss on her forehead. He turned around and walked out of the room, turning off the lights and leaving the door open a crack as he left. He turned around and started walking down the hall. Cadance had told him that she and Shining would be waiting for him in the parlor. He didn’t need any help finding the room. He knew where it was.  

He entered the medium sized room that used to be where he once displayed all his trophies of war. Now it was used as a personal parlor where the royal couple could gather with family and close personal friends in a non-professional manner. In one corner was a small bar, where Shining Armor was making himself a drink. Along the walls were pictures and mementos of the couples personal life left on display. In the middle of the room were a couple of chairs and a couch surrounding a coffee table, Cadance was currently occupying one of the chairs.  

Sombra was walking along the walls of the room examining the various pictures when Shining called out to him, “Would you like a drink Sombra?” he asked. 

“I don’t drink,” he absent mindlessly replied as he looked at a picture of a teenage Shining playing with a foal aged Twilight inside what looked like a fort made of books.  

“Really, I thought all evil tyrants drank?” Shining asked while straining his cocktail into a rocks glass.  

“Never really acquired the taste for it, but if you’re looking for a drinking buddy I would recommend Discord. He’s always trying to drag me to some bar or whatever,” Sombra shrugged.  

“Oh, do you and Discord hangout a lot?” Cadance asked. 

Sombra continued to look at the various pictures around the room as he replied, “Not as much as he would like to. I’m usually too busy looking after Scootaloo, or working on something for the Equestrian League of Evil.” 

“Equestrian League of Evil?” Shining asked. 

“The Organization I created to take over Equestria. It’s not perfect, but hey it pays the bills.” 

“Umm…how exactly does that pay the bills?” 

“Through sponsorships mostly, but there’s also your normal forms of criminal activity that we use to generate revenue,” Sombra answered. 

Shining Armor looked at his wife and gave her a pleading look that begged, “Please let me lock him up.” Cadance just rolled her eyes and waved a hoof dismissing his worries. “So Sombra how, are you liking living in Ponyville?” she asked.  

Sombra didn’t answer. He was too busy staring at something on the wall.  

“Sombra?” she called again.  

Still no answer. 

Cadance frowned and got up from here chair. She walked up to Sombra and saw that he was staring at an old group picture of her and her college roommates. She gave him an odd look and poked him in the side. Sombra instinctively jumped, turned around, and crouched down preparing to pounce. Upon seeing that it was the princess he righted himself and blushed. “Sorry about that,” he apologized, scratching the back of his neck with a hoof.  

“It’s alright,” Cadance giggled, “I didn’t mean to startle you, but why were you staring at a picture of me and my roommates from college?” 

Sombra’s blush grew darker making itself visible through his dark fur. “Well I know those mares. Well technically I only know two. Actually I only know one; the blue one attacked me on a day before Hearts and Hooves Day. But I’ve seen the mint green one around town,” he rambled out looking away. 

Cadance looked at him suspiciously, “That does sound like something Colgate would do. She’s never really learned how to court a stallion without looking like she’s desperate. And Lyra does live in Ponyville so I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve seen her around.” 

“So her name is Lyra?” Sombra asked trying to hide the interest in his voice, it wasn’t working.  

Cadance gave the faintest of smirks, “Yea, she lives with her friend Bon Bon. You’ve probably seen her around as well she owns the local sweet shop.” 

“Is…she her…marefriend?” he shyly asked. 

Cadance was at full smirk, “No they’re just friends, Lyra doesn’t swing that way, and she’s single so you’re free to ask her out. But I’ll warn you Bon Bon is very protective of her so you better not hurt her in anyway. Bonnie can be really threatening when she wants to be.” 

Sombra wasn’t really paying attention to what Cadance was saying. As soon as she said that Lyra was single he had released a breath he hadn’t known he was holding. He came back halfway through and realized what she was implying, “Oh no you’ve got the wro-”  

“Oh please,” she interrupted rolling her eyes. “I don’t need to be the Princess of Love to figure out you have a crush on Lyra.”  

“She’s right I can even tell you do,” Shining chimed in from his lounging position on the couch, “I would personally advise against it though. She’s crazy.” 

“Crazy?” 

“She is not crazy Shining,” Cadance scowled, “She just has an odd hobby.” 

Meanwhile in Ponyville 

It was a quiet tranquil early evening in Ponyville. Ponies were out and about enjoying the pleasant weather. The local outside café was filled with families and couples enjoying their time together. One such couple was the Princess Twilight Sparkle and her marefriend Rainbow Dash. It was their weekly romantic night out. They had just gotten back from a play that was held by the local community theater and even Rainbow Dash had to admit she had fun; it was a Daring Do play after all. And they were now having a nice romantic dinner.  

Twilight watched as her marefriend dug into her fettuccine alfredo. She giggled at the Pegasus as an errant noodle went flying and landed in her short multicolored mane. Sometimes she wondered how she ended up with such a brash tomboyish lover, but to be honest she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Rainbow,” she called sweetly. 

Rainbow looked up from her plate, sauce dripping from her muzzle. “Yea,” she said looking deep into Twilight's violet eyes with her rose colored ones.  

“I could lost get in those eyes,” Twilight thought blushing, “I just wanted to say that I lo-”       

She was cut off as loud resonating Thum sounded throughout the town shaking the very ground itself. Rainbow took off in surprise knocking over their table and sending her plate of pasta sailing into Twilight’s face.  

“What the hell was that,” Rainbow screamed. 

Twilight just sighed with a mouth full of fettuccine. 

Deep within the basement of the candy shop/house, Lyra Heartstrings cackled madly as another Thum resonated. Her amber eyes shone brightly through her safety glasses as she gazed at the giant stone ring in front of her. Another Thum issued forth from the ring shaking the very foundation of the building. She smiled brightly as she lit up her horn and began feeding magic into the device as eldritch symbols appeared along the edges of ring. A glowing purple aura began to issue from the inner wall of the ring, slowly pulsating and filling in. 
“YES!” she screamed in jubilation, but it was cut short when a resounding crack issued from the ring. 

“Oh shit,” Lyra jumped into a nearby barrel filled with miniature jawbreakers as fissures snaked their way around the ring splitting it apart. For a minute it still stood with only the magic that resided within it keeping it together, but that soon died out with an ear splitting shriek as the ring exploded outwards. After a few minutes Lyra stuck her head out of the barrel. She sucked on a jawbreaker as she checked the room for any damage, satisfied that no lasting damage to the house had been done, she sighed and rested her chin on the rim of the barrel. Her ears perked up when she heard the door to upstairs open. 

“Lyra, you okay?” Bon Bon called from on top the stairs.  

“Yeaa,” Lyra moaned. 

“Princess Twilight stopped by she was wondering if you might keep it down. It was the oddest thing though, for some reason her mane had noodles sticking out of it.” 

The only reply Bon Bon got was the sound of a jawbreaker cracking under the pressure of Lyra’s teeth. Bon Bon frowned, “You better not be spoiling your dinner with candy young lady. Dinner is almost ready so come upstairs and wash your hooves.” 

“You’re not my Mom, Bonnie,” Lyra pouted sinking back down into the barrel of candy. 

“I made your favorite.” 

Lyra rose up slightly out of the barrel, “Mac and Cheese from the box?” 

“Mhmm”  

Lyra jumped out of the barrel knocking it over and rushing up the stairs and out of the basement. “Hey you get back here and clean up that mess I planned on selling those tomorrow!” Bonnie shouted.  



 

“So she’s trying to open a portal to another dimension so she can study a creature called a human?” Sombra asked.  

“Yes, she has this theory that somewhere on another plane of existence evolution took a different turn where apes evolved into the dominant species instead of us ponies,” Cadance answered.  

“Like I said she’s crazy,” Shining yawned relaxing into the couch. 

“She’s not crazy,” Cadance scolded. “It’s just an odd hobby she does in her spare time. Her main profession is being a music teacher.”  

“I see,” Sombra said looking at a nearby clock on the wall. He looked back to Cadance and the now sleeping Shining Armor, “Thank you for the evening you two, and for allowing Scootaloo and I to stay here during our visit, but it is getting late and Scoots and I have a lot of sightseeing to do tomorrow. So I must bid you a goodnight.”  

Cadance smiled, “Don’t mention it Sombra. I love entertaining guests even if they’re evil tyrants,” she giggled. “You have a goodnight now and if you are Scootaloo need anything during your stay here don’t be afraid to ask. I just have one favor to ask.” 

Sombra tilted his head and beckoned her to continue. 

Cadance sighed and looked at her snoozing husband, “Don’t listen to what Shining said about Lyra being crazy. She’s a really nice mare, but most ponies write her off once they find out about her strange hobby.” 

Sombra chuckled, “Do you really think something like that would bug me Cadance? Despite my good manners and raising a child. I am still evil. Oddness does not bug me. She would have to at least agree to go on a date with me before I would allow myself to pass judgment on her.” 

“So you’re going to ask her out?” 

Sombra shrugged and walked towards the door, “We would have to actually meet first but yes,” he said walking out leaving Cadance alone with her slumbering husband. Sombra walked down the hall towards the room he was given. He stopped by Scootaloo’s room first to make sure she was alright. He smiled at the little ball she had rolled herself into underneath the covers. He gave her a light kiss on the forehead again before heading to his own room and nodding off for the night.  

The rest of the weekend went by too fast in Sombra’s and Scootaloo’s opinion. Sombra spent the vast majority of the time showing Scootaloo the sights. Such as the spot where he executed his first prisoner, the mass grave where he dumped all the bodies of every army that tried to dispose him, the crystal mine where the slaves worked (which was turned into a museum that Scootaloo and Sombra both found boring), and where he had his big fight with Celestia and Luna. Scootaloo absorbed it all listening, asking questions, and hanging on to everything Sombra said. During the evening they went back to the Crystal Palace and Scootaloo explored every nook and cranny of the palace while Sombra silently took notes on redecorating the place once he took it over again. During dinner time Princess Cadance and Shining Armor joined them. Cadance told stories to Scootaloo as Shining Armor and Sombra relaxed and occasionally told tales about their time in the military. All and all it was a good weekend. But alas Sunday afternoon rolled around and it was time to hop back on the train to Ponyville. Shining Armor and Cadance personally took Sombra and Scootaloo to the station in their personal royal carriage. They said their goodbyes on the platform and Shining Armor gave Scootaloo a spare helmet from his royal guard uniform so she could rub the fact she spent the weekend at the Crystal Palace in Diamond Tiara's face. During the train ride home Scootaloo leaned into her dad nodding off, clutching her helmet, while Sombra tried to figure out how to introduce himself to certain mint green mare.    
  
> Nightmare Night 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was Nightmare Night and Ponyville was all decked out for the occasion. Cobwebs, jack-o-lanterns, and spooky decorations galore lined every street corner and alleyway in the town. And nopony was more excited for the holiday then the young fillies and colts of the town. This was most evident on the gleeful faces of both Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom as they rushed across the town to meet up with their friend, and cohort in dangerous ideas, Scootaloo.    

Apple Bloom, dressed in her sister's old scarecrow costume and Sweetie Belle dressed as a witch skidded to a halt in front of Scootaloo’s house. They pounded on the door shouting, “Scootaloo are you ready?” 

The door opened a crack and a whispering voice issued forth. “Ready? Am I ready?” Scootaloo whispered from within the house. “The question you should be asking Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle is. Are you ready?” the door opened further, “For Nightmare Scootaloo!” Scootaloo shouted jumping out of the house. Her friends gasped at her appearance. Scootaloo’s normally feathery wings had been replaced with a pair of bat like wings, her eyes were slitted, her purple main and tail were now ethereal like the princesses, her teeth were fanged, and up top on her head was a curved jagged purple unicorn horn.  

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle just stared at her with their mouths agape not moving. Scootaloo frowned in concern, “Hey guys are you-”  

“So COOL,” they shouted pouncing on Scootaloo and pinning her down on the ground. “Wow, are these real bat wings?” Apple Bloom asked spreading one out. “How’d you get your eyes like that?” Sweetie asked starring into them intensely. “And is that a real unicorn horn?” they both shouted pointing at her forehead. 

Scootaloo pushed her friends off of her and stood back up. “No it’s not real,” she chuckled, “its papier-mâché,” she finished pulling off her horn and showing the hollowed inside to her friends before putting it back on her head.  

“Are you wings Papier-mâché too?” Sweetie awed. 

“No Sweetie Belle no,” a dark voice chuckled from. Two glowing green eyes with dark red pupils appeared from beyond the open doorway and started to get closer. “It’s magic,” the voice said emerging from the dark house revealing itself to be Sombra decked out in pure nighttime black armor (in the style of his usual business world conquering armor) accented in streaks of midnight blue, and upon his chest was the emblem of Nightmare Moon. He looked down at the two fillies and flashed his fangs at them. 

“Hi there Mr. Sombra,” Sweetie and Apple Bloom said to the dark stallion. 

Sombra smiled, “Hi there girls. Are you two admiring my work on Scootaloo’s costume?” 

“Yea, how’d you do it?” Apple Bloom asked. 

“Oh just some illusion and altercation spells. Pretty simple stuff really,” Sombra bragged.  

“Don’t mind him girls. He’s just proud that he got it all right on the first try,” Scootaloo playfully teased her dad sticking her tongue out at him.  

Sombra rolled his eyes and ignored his daughter attempts to chide him. “Mr. Sombra?” Sweetie called bringing his attention to her. “I like your costume, but what are you supposed to be?” she asked.   

“Oh, I’m a voluntary member of the Nightmare Guard tonight. Nightmare Moon asked me the other week if I would help the Guard and volunteers collect the candy offerings in Ponyville. We all have to dress up in a similar way like this,” Sombra explained to the little Witch. 

“That’s cool, soo where do you all take the candy?” Apple Bloom slyly asked. 

“Yeah Dad, where do you guys take the candy?” Scootaloo asked sliding in front of Sombra, pointing a demanding hoof at him, and glowering at him.  

Sombra only chuckled at her, “Sorry squirt. Even with your current looks you’re still not threating enough to be demanding answers from me just yet. Besides even if I knew I still wouldn’t tell you three.” 

“Aww why not,” they pouted in unison. 

“Because the amount of destruction and chaos you three could cause while strung out on that much sugar would put both Discord and I to shame, even back during our most evilest of heydays.” 

“Aww, thanks Dad,” Scootaloo squeed giving Sombra quick hug, while Sweetie and Apple Bloom gave each other questioning looks in confusion on whether or not that was a compliment or not.  

Sombra ruffled Scootaloo’s mane while addressing her and her friends, “Alright girls let’s head to town square. I’m meeting Nightmare and the rest of the volunteers there. Who’s your chaperone tonight again?” 

“Dinky’s mom, Derpy is taking us and the majority of our class Nightmare Nighting,” Apple Bloom answered. 

Sombra’s smile slipped, “Did you say Derpy?” 

“Uh huh, her and her friend Colgate volunteered to watch us all tonight,” Scootaloo further explained. 

“Derpy and Colgate,” Sombra repeated.  

“Yup,” all three replied.  

Sombra swallowed. 

Sombra walked around the corner of Sugar Cube Corner and looked over at the town square. He saw the square packed with ponies in various costumes ranging from scary to downright silly. All mulling around food venders and stalls set up off erring games and prizes. He scanned the crowd and spotted the two mares he was looking for near the outskirts of the crowd where several young fillies and colts surrounded them, Derpy and Colgate both going without costumes so it would be easier for parents and guardians of the foals to spot them in the crowd. Sombra looked to his side to make sure the three Cutie Mark Crusaders where still with him before he stared to make his way towards the two mares. “I hope you three have fun with your friends tonight,” Sombra told them. 

“We will,” they answered. 

“Now Scootaloo if you need me for any reason just head to the stage in front of city hall and find Nightmare Moon. She will be behind the stage for most of the night, and if you need me she will contact me and I’ll come right back okay?” 

“Okay Dad. I’ll be fine though, don’t worry.” 

“It’s a parent’s job to worry,” Sombra automatically replied. 

Scootaloo just rolled her eyes having heard that excuse many times before. 

“I’m sure you two know where to find your sisters if you need them, right?” Sombra asked Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. 

“We do Mr. Sombra,” Apple Bloom answered. 

“Good,” Sombra said as they approached Derpy and Colgate. “Hello again Derpy and Colgate,” Sombra said getting the two’s attention. 

“Well, well look who we have here Colgate. If it isn’t Mr. Sombra,’ Derpy huffed sticking her head up and diverting her gaze away from him. 

“Well hello there again Sombra,” Colgate purred. “You know you should really consider stopping by my office sometime for a teeth cleaning,” she finished batting her eyelashes at him.  

“No thank you, I’m completely satisfied with my current dentist. Plus I’m not due for another cleaning for another three months.” 

“I’m sure I can find something else to clean besides your teeth,” she winked. 

“Dad what does she mean by that?” Scootaloo asked tilting her head to the side and looking at Sombra. 

“I’ll tell you when you’re older,” he sighed. “Look I’m just trying to drop my kid and her friends off with you so they can go Nightmare Nighting with her class.” 

“Are you sure that’s all you want?” Colgate asked with a sly grin. 

“Yes,” Sombra deadpanned. 

Colgate shrugged, “Alright have it your way. There are plenty of other stallions in Ponyville. Come along girls we’re just about to get going, she said ushering the three fillies into the rest of the group.”  

Sombra watched them go and waved goodbye to them before heading off to town hall. 

Sombra arrived at the moderately sized stage that was set up outside Ponyville town hall. He made his way around a row of unlit giant jack-o-lanterns that lined the front of the stage, and ducked behind the fake cobwebs so he could access the alleyway behind it. He rounded the corner and was met by no other than Nightmare Moon herself! But really it was just Princess Luna, sans her cheap plastic mask, wearing a very elaborate Nightmare Moon costume. It was made of a morph suit, stage makeup, hot glue, some industrial foam piping, and of course a few extremely powerful illusion enchantments. She really pulled it off. 

“Ah, Sombra there you are! You are just in time. I was just about to explain what you and the rest of the volunteers would be doing tonight. Would you please go stand with the rest of them,” she said pointing to the other side of the alleyway. 

Sombra nodded and walked over to join his fellow volunteers. He saw a few ponies he knew in the crowd, the local DJ Vinyl Scratch, her cellist marefriend Octavia, and the local clockmaker Time Turner. He nodded his head in greetings and stood beside them and some other pony near the end of the crowd. 

“Now that we’re all here,” Luna began smirking at Sombra, “I would like to thank you all for volunteering to help tonight. Now what you all will be doing is very simple. I will be dividing all or you into groups of two…” 

“Psst hey,” a small voice whispered from Sombra’s side. 

Sombra peered over his shoulder at the pony that whispered to him. The pony was wearing a skin tight body suit with homemade black leather armor plates sewn into the fabric. A black hood adorned with Nightmare Moons symbol at the top obscured the pony’s face. “Hmm,” Sombra replied raising an eyebrow at the pony. 

“Aren’t you the pony that burned down the orphanage?” the pony whispered. 

“Am I interrupting something Sombra?” Princess Luna cut in, instantly cutting off Sombra’s reply to the pony.  

“Of course not Nightmare,” Sombra answered giving Luna a shamed smile. 

“Good, now as I was saying your essential duties tonight are to assist my Nightmare Guard in collecting the candy at the drop point that you and your partner are assigned too. Pretty simple really; now does anypony have any questions?” 

“No? Alright then I’ll now assign you all to your partners.”  

“Let’s see, Vinyl you of course will be with Octavia. Mr. Turner you will be with Bulk Biceps,” Luna went down the line of the crowd until there were only two ponies left. Sombra and the one pony in the hood. “Ahh, Yes Sombra you will be with Miss Heartstrings there,” she said pointing to the pony in the hood. 

Sombra nodded his head than instantly stopped and whipped his head back to the pony in the hood. His eyes widened as the pony pulled back her hood revealing her face. “Sweet, what’s up partner?” she said giving Sombra a big cheesy smile. 

Sombra sat silently in front of the stage his back leaning against the wall. He sat there contemplating what he should do with his current predicament. Thankfully to Sombra’s relief as soon as they were assigned as partners and released by Nightmare, Lyra excused herself to in her own words, “use the little filly’s room.” Giving Sombra some much needed time to gather his thoughts.  

“Alright Sombra just calm down,” he silently mumbled to himself. “So you have to spend the whole night in the company of your crush? Pfft, big deal that’s nothing. You’re King Sombra for crying out loud you can handle this. Do you know how many stallions would kill to be in your situation right now? Tons of them; hell you would be among them killing them all and bathing in their blo-”     

“What was that Sombra?” Lyra interrupted startling Sombra out of his mumbled musings. 

“Nothing,” Sombra yelped jumping up onto his hooves, “Just trying to figure out what groceries I need to buy tomorrow,” he lamely covered.  

“Right, trying to remember if you need to pick up milk or not,” Lyra smirked. 

“Yeah, something like that,” Sombra said scratching the back of his head.  

Lyra softly giggled and shook her head, “Come on let’s go find a good seat. Nightmare’s show starts soon and I want a good seat before the crowd gets here,” she said with a smile. 

“Sure sounds good,” he said surveying the surroundings, “How bout there?” he pointed to a closed nearby café that had a few tables set out on its patio. 

“Oh, that’s perfect! Come on let’s go,” she said before trotting away to the table.  

Sombra followed and took the seat across from her at the small round patio table. Lyra smiled at him and Sombra gave her a shy little half grin. Lyra looked away and began tapping her hooves against the table, “Sooooo, Are you the stallion that burned down the orphanage?” she asked turning her head quickly back to him. 

Sombra stared down at the table, “Well uhh you see,” Sombra scratched the back of his neck and looked back up at Lyra. “Yes I am,” he said with a grimace. 

“Good, I never liked Heart and what she was doing to those foals,” Lyra shuddered. “She deserved to die like that.” 

Sombra stared at her and shock then began to chuckle, “I’m sure a lot of ponies agreed to it once they found out about her little hobby,” he said with a dark smile.  

Lyra returned the smile, “So Sombra what do you do?” 

“Hi Dad,” an orange blur said as it interrupted Sombra and collided with his chest.  

“Scootaloo, what are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with your friends?” Sombra asked prying the orange filly off his chest and placing her in his lap.  

“Oh, they’re right over there,” she said pointing to the gathering crowd in front of the stage, “I saw you over here so I asked if it was okay if I sat with you during the show.” 

“And was it okay?” 

“Well Minuette didn’t care, but Derpy said she would feel more comfortable if I stayed with the group. So I sneaked over here without her knowing,” Scootaloo smiled up at Sombra. 

“That’s my girl,” he said ruffling her mane. 

“Well how’s it going squirt?” Lyra called from across the table. 

Scootaloo’s ears perked up and she looked across the table, “Miss Heartstrings what are you doing here?” she exclaimed excitedly. 

Lyra smirked and looked at Sombra, “I’m your dad's partner for tonight festivities.” 

“That’s cool! I really like your costume.” 

“Yours has me beat kiddo. Did your dad help you make that?” 

“Mhmm, he cast a couple of-”  

“Hold on how do you two know each other?” Sombra interjected. 

Scootaloo looked up at her dad like he just asked why Rainbow Dash is the best flyer in Equestria, “Miss Heartstrings is the music teacher at school,” she deadpanned. 

“She is?” Sombra asked looking at Lyra. 

“I am,” Lyra smiled. 

“Come on Dad I’ve told you several times that my music teacher is called Miss Heartstrings,” Scootaloo glared.  

“You have?” Sombra questioned looking confused. 

“Yea! I swear you never listen to me sometimes,” Scootaloo said rolling her eyes. 

“Well in my defense you normally talk about Rainbow Dash all the time. So I must have tuned it out thinking you were going on about Rainbow again,” Sombra smirked at his daughter. 

“Hmph,” Scootaloo pouted and looked away from Sombra. 

“You two are cute together,” Lyra giggled at them.  

Both Sombra and Scootaloo blushed and diverted their gaze from her. Making Lyra to burst out in a fit of giggles, causing Sombra and Scootaloo too blush even deeper, both having their own reasons for doing so. 

“I’m not cute,” Scootaloo grumbled. 

Sombra forced his blush away with some help from his dark magic and cleared his throat, “So you’re a music teacher?” 

“Yup I’m the music teacher at good old Ponyville Element-” she stopped; distracted by an eerie fog that began to issue forth from the stage, “Hold on. It looks like the show is about to start,” she grinned turning to the stage and as if waiting for her cue a ball of green fire flashed on the stage engulfing it. 

“Well, well, well, look at all the tasty ponies just waiting to be gobbled up,” Princess Luna said, her voice echoing into every pony’s ears. 

Sombra payed no mind to this though. He didn’t even flinch when the green fire started to spew little flaming skulls as Princess Luna emerged from within it. He didn’t even listen to Luna’s speech. Why would he? He already knew the story of Nightmare Night. In fact it can even be debated that he was the cause for the creation of Nightmare Moon, but that is a debate for the scholars. Not Sombra, he honestly doesn’t care if he accidently created this holiday in some way. That’s in the past.  
He looked down at Scootaloo. The little filly enthralled in Princess Luna’s little stage show. He faintly smiled at her. He glanced over at Lyra and caught her looking at him in the corner of her eye. She quickly diverted her gaze back to the stage and Sombra noticed a faint blush on her cheeks. Sombra turned back to the stage, but not really looking at it, with a blush of his own. 

The show had ended and Scootaloo excused herself so she could sneak back into her nightmare nighting group leaving Sombra alone with Lyra once again. They both sat in silence watching as the crowd dispersed to other parts of town to participate in other activities. Once the crowd had greatly thinned out Sombra turned to Lyra, “Shall we?” he asked. 

Lyra flicked her hood back up over her head, “Let's,” she replied. 

“So we had just finished performing for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna at the royal concert hall. And right after the ovation for me and the kids. Diamond Tiera lets out this massive fart that was heard all the way in the balconies. Of course the whole audience bursts out in laughter. I’ll be honest I didn’t even know that the vast majority of Canterlot nobles were capable of laughter. So there I am holding back my own laughter. I actually had to walk off the stage before I started laughing at her as well. Because as an educator it would look bad if I also laughed at her in public, even if she did deserve it,” Lyra said to Sombra as they walked through the Ponyville Park on their way to their designated candy pick up point. Sombra had asked her about her job and had led her to recall one of her most difficult experience as Ponyville Elementary resident music teacher, “On the ride back to Ponyville she had the gall to try and blame it on little Dinky but we all knew it was her. She’s such a little shit.” she chuckled. 

“Yeah I know. I have personal experience with the little brat,” Sombra darkly chuckled with her. 

“She’s not picking on Scootaloo again is she?” she asked in concern. 

“Not anymore,” he grinned, showing off his fangs.  

Lyra stopped and looked at Sombra, “You’re not the reason why she and her best friend are in therapy for night terrors are you?” She questioned leering at him with a raised eyebrow. 

Sombra’s cocky grin quickly turned into a nervous one under Lyra’s gaze. “I uhh…can neither confirm nor deny that question,” he mumbled.  

Lyra continued to glare at him until he started to sweat from the pressure. She then smiled, “Good, I always believed those two needed some tough love. But as their teacher I can’t really condone your actions of attacking their fragile minds,” She frowned and snarled, “So you’re not doing it any more are you?” 

“No mam,” he squeaked shaking his head as fast as he could. 

She smiled again and patted him on the head, “Good boy, you’re rather cute and I really didn’t want to kick your flank tonight,” she said before turning around and continuing on her way through the park. 

Sombra stood there watching her walk away. He smiled and ran to catch up with her. “So what made you want to become a teacher?” he asked once he caught back up to her. 

“In all honesty I kind of just fell in to it. My parents were pushing me to declare a second major and I just kind of took teaching classes just to satisfy them. Seriously didn’t think I would be making a career out of it, but hey I enjoy it so it’s whatever, and seeing how happy I make the kids is always a bonus.” she shrugged. 

“What else did you study?” 

“Well my minor was in music of course, and my other major was in Theoretical Interdimensional Anthropology.” 

Sombra stopped in his tracks, “Theoretical what now?”  

Lyra stopped as well and blushed, “It’s this weird off shoot of anthropology were we theorize how life might of evolved in other dimesons of reality. It’s not taken seriously as a real science at the moment since there is no real way to prove our theories. Most ponies laugh at us and call us crazy when we try to discuss our field in the scientific community,” she said awkwardly looking away. 

“Hmm,” Sombra hummed scratching his chin. “You modern ponies have some interesting ways of thinking back in my time we wouldn’t have even thought of making a field of study on hypothetical creatures. Of course back then we were too busy trying to kill each other and study magic that shouldn’t be studied. Ahh the memories,” he smiled. 

“How old are you again?” 

“That doesn’t matter,” he waved off the question. “So the reason you’re all considered a bunch a quacks is because you can’t travel between dimensions to prove your theories?” 

“Pretty much, I was just given a huge grant by the Equestrian Council of Scientific Advancement to try and put together this interdimensional gate I’ve been working on but the damn think keeps exploding in the basement. It’s really starting to annoy my roommate…and Princess Twilight.” 

“Wait, are you the cause of all the earthquakes we been getting these past few months?” 

“Yeah,” Lyra scratched the back of her head. “My magic isn’t strong enough to keep the internal matrix core intact. I’ve tried everything I even brought in ten other unicorns to see if our magic combined could keep it together but it still blew up in our faces,” she sighed.  

“Have you considered using dark magic on it?” Sombra asked as he continued walking again. 

Lyra followed, “I haven’t, I have considered it though but I don’t know any and neither do any of my colleagues. And do you know how hard it is to learn dark magic? First you got to take an eight week long class just to receive a permit that allows you to learn it. Then it’s a two year long class just to learn the most basic spells and then you have to take another class to receive another permit to allow you to learn the next level of spells. I mean I understand why the princesses have the system set up that way but who has that kind of time to learn advance dark magic? Did you have to go through all that to learn dark magic?” 

“No, I just had to steal some forbidden books from the crystal library, sell my soul to some demons, then kill said demons, kill a few dozen ponies, devour their hearts, and boom I was the embodiment of the dark arcane arts.” 

“See that sounds way simpler then the few hundred pages of paperwork a pony has to go through just to sign up for the first permit class.” 

“Would you like me to take a look at it?” 

“At the paperwork? Nah, I gave up on that.” 

“No I mean your gate thing. Would you like me to take a look at that?” 

“Would you?” she happily asked. 

“Sure. I can’t guarantee I’d be a great help, but maybe I could help you get in the right direction.” 

“Really? That would be a great help actually. Thanks Sombra!” she exclaimed grabbing him into a hug. 

Sombra hesitantly returned the hug, “Don’t mention it.” 

Lyra jumped from their embrace and looked around the park, “I think our pick up point is somewhere around here.” 

“I see the statue over there,” Sombra said pointing a hoof further down their path. 

“How? All I see is dark. How can you tell,” Lyra asked peering off in the direction Sombra pointed at. 

Sombra lit up the white of his eyes turning them into a sickly green color and stared at Lyra with a look that screamed, “Really?” 

“Oh hush it’s not every day I hang out with a vessel of pure darkness,” Lyra huffed. 

Sombra chuckled.  

Sombra and Lyra approached the Nightmare Moon statue that was put up for the night’s festivities and noticed something was missing. 

“Hey Sombra?” 

“Yeah?” 

“What time is it?” 

“A little bit past nine.” 

“And what time were the children supposed to drop off the candy?” 

“Around 8:40ish” 

“So where’s the candy,” Lyra asked. 

“I don’t know Lyra, but we are going to find out,” Sombra said casting a spell that illuminated the tracks of anypony that had passed through the area in the past couple of hours. 

“A tracking spell, nice,” Lyra praised. 

“I always found that it is best to have a spell for every occasion that may occur,” Sombra said while examining the hoof prints around him. “The small hoof prints leading to and away from the statue are clearly the foals, but there are also several sets of larger hoof prints leading away from the statue in the opposite direction.” 

“Think they belong to whoever took the candy?” 

“Only one way to find out, come on Lyra,” he said following the tracks with Lyra tailing closely behind.  

They crept along in silence with only the sickly red glow of Sombra’s horn giving them light as they left the lit path of the park and ventured into the darker parts of Ponyville Park; which oddly enough eventually leads to the decently lighted Ponyville Residential District.  

“I think we’re getting close,” Sombra whispered. 

“What makes you say that?” Lyra whispered. 

“Hey bro, toss me some of that candy we stole from the nightmare moon statue,” Somepony shouted. 

“Call it a hunch.”  

Lyra rolled her eyes as they rounded a corner and entered a normal looking cul-de-sac. Well normal if your idea of normal suburbian housing included a smash egg motif on a good 70% of the neighboring houses. Then yes normal, but Sombra and Lyra didn’t find this normal. In fact this made Sombra a little upset.  

“What are you colts doing?!” Sombra shouted at the three teenage colts that were standing in the middle of the cul-de-sac. 

All three of the colts jumped at the voice and turned around. One colt, a unicorn, in attempt to save face with his group of friends put on a tough face and stepped forward, “You better walk away Pops if you know what’s good for ya!” 

“Pops?” Sombra said stopping in his tracks confused. “Was that supposed to be threating?” He asked looking at Lyra.  

Lyra shrugged giving him a baffled look. 

The colt snorted and tried to look menacing, “Look Pops just take your girl and get out of here. You don’t want to mess with us. We’re the Three Camel Gang! Perhaps you’ve heard of us,” he finished with pride in his voice. 

“But you’re not camels. You’re a unicorn and two earth ponies…also since when does Ponyville have a gang problem?” Lyra questioned. 

“Yeah, what she said,” Sombra added confused himself.  

“Jus…just shut up! We’ve already stole Nightmare Moon’s candy tonight. Who knows what we might do next. We might even kill a pony!” the teenage unicorn stammered. 

“Right…here this is what you are going to do you’r-” 

Suddenly the teenage unicorn lashed a spell at Sombra! 

Sombra raise a brow in annoyance and simply deflected the red bolt of energy aside into a nearby bush setting it aflame. The unicorn frowned in defiance and started to launch more spells at Sombra, while his two friends decided to leave the candy behind and bolt for it. They knew a lost cause when they saw it. Sombra sighed and deflected all of the teenage colts attacks with ease, sending the rest of the neighborhoods shrubs aflame as well. The teenager paused in his attack for a second in his attack giving Sombra an opening. He fired a spell at the teenagers’ horn sealing his magic.  

“Now let me tell you what’s going to happen,” Sombra said glaring at the teenage colt as he approached him. “First you’re going to give me back the candy you stole, second you’re going to put out these fires, and three,” he grabbed the colt with his magic and yanked him towards him so he could glower directly into the colts eyes, “you are going to clean the eggs off of that house,” he said pointing at an egg covered house. 

“Why …tha…that house?” the Colt meekly questioned, trembling in fear from Sombra’s gaze. 

“CAUSE IT IS MY HOUSE!” 

Luna snorted in agitation, “Where in Equestria is your father?” she asked, looking down at the sleeping form of Scootaloo.  

Scootaloo replied with a snore and snuggled deeper into her candy bag that she was currently using as a pillow. 

“No fare your aunt wants to sleep too. Wake up and be miserable with me,” she said poking Scootaloo in the side. 

Scootaloo ignored her and rolled over. 

“Princess would you like me to go looking for Sombra and Miss Heartstrings?” one of her guards asked. 

“No let’s give them another five minutes before we send out the search parties,” she sighed. “Go gather the men and tell them to prepare for it, just in case though.” 

The guard saluted and walked off. 

Luna sighed again, “I do-” she stopped her ears perking up from an approaching sound. 

“Oh Celestia that face he made when you told him he missed a spot. I was so sure he was going to piss himself,” Lyra laughed. 

“I’m pretty sure he did a little bit,” Sombra chuckled as they walked side by side down the street heading towards Luna. 

“There you two are!” Luna shouted, “Do you have any idea how worried I was.” 

“Sorry Nightmare,” Sombra apologized. “We hit a little snag and it delayed us a bit,” he said levitating the bag of candy onto the back of a guard. 

“A snag?” 

“Nothing you need to worry about Mam,” Lyra giggled.  

Luna raised a questioning eyebrow at her. 

“Where’s Scootaloo?” Sombra asked looking around. 

“Sleeping with her bag of candy,” she said gesturing to sleeping filly at her side. “When you didn’t show up when you were supposed to Miss Derpy and Colgate asked if I would watch her till you showed up.” 

“I’m sorry, were you waiting long?” 

“Only about an hour,” Luna deadpanned.  

“Hehe,” Sombra nervously chuckled. “I’ll buy you lunch tomorrow at work to make it up to you,” he quickly said as he levitated Scootaloo and her candy onto his back. “See you tomorrow, come on Lyra I’ll walk you home,” he said walking away as quickly and nonchalantly as he could with Lyra on his tail. 

Luna watched them go and frowned. 

“Is everything alright Princess?” one of her guards asked. 

“Luna snorted. “Yes I’m just tired. I’ll leave the rest to you. I’m heading home and heading to bed,” she said taking flight and soaring through her night sky. 

“I think she’s mad at you,” Lyra whispered to him once she caught up to him. 

“Yup, I’m probably going to be buying her lunch all week,” Sombra sighed.   

They walked in comfortable silence with only the occasional gentle snoring of the slumbering Scootaloo breaking it. Every now and then Sombra would glance over at Lyra only to catch her looking at him as well. She would quickly look away and lightly blush. Sombra did the same. It wasn’t long till they reached the candy store/ apartment that Lyra resided in.  

Lyra turned to Sombra, “Well this is me.” 

“Yeah,” Sombra said, scratching his head carefully as to not disturb the sleeping filly on his back. “I had fun tonight.” 

“Same here,” Lyra smiled.  

“Soooooooo…” 

“Hmm?” 

“Would yo-,” Sombra coughed clearing his throat, “Would you like to go out…sometime?” 

“Like a date?” 

“Um, yes” 

“Sure I love too,” she said leaning in to give Sombra a kiss on the cheek. She pulled back and gave Sombra a wink before opening her door and slipping inside. 

She closed the door leaving a dumbfounded Sombra behind. He just stood there unblinking and unmoving. Until a very loud snore from Scootaloo brought him back to his senses, he smiled and started to make his way back home.  
> First Date (Unedited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Bon Bon smiled and waved at the last costumer of the day leaving her store. As soon as the door closed and she knew the customer was far enough away she sighed and slammed her head onto the countertop. 

“What a day,” she muttered into the granite finish. She took a deep breath and let it out before rising up and closing the store. 

She had just flipped the opened sign to close when she heard a loud bang come from upstairs. She looked up at the ceiling for a second and shrugged before locking the door. She headed back behind the counter to begin totaling out the register when another loud bang and a pop came from upstairs. A concerned frown appeared on her face. She turned away from the register and headed to the back of the store and up the stairs that led to her and her roommate’s apartment. 

She open the door to the apartment and called out, “Lyra are you al-” she stopped. Her concerned frown turned into one of confusion as she watched the mint green unicorn run and teleport all over the apartment in a panicked frenzy. 

“Lyra, what in Equestria has gotten into you?” Bon Bon yelled trying to get her friends attention. It worked; Lyra teleported right in front of her. Bon Bon noticed that she had curlers in her mane and a frantic look in her eyes. “Are you okay Lyra?” she asked.

Lyra grabbed Bon Bon’s cheeks and pulled her in close. “Thank Celestia you’re here Bonnie I need your help,” she said staring straight into Bon Bon’s eyes. 

“Uhh…with…with what Lyra? What’s wrong?” she stammered out slightly frightened by her friend’s erratic behavior.

“I don’t know what to wear for my date with Sombra,” Lyra whined releasing Bon Bon from her hold. 

Bon Bon sighed as she slid onto the floor. She covered her head with her hooves. “What a day,” she muttered into the carpeted floor.

“What do you think about this one Bonnie?”

Bon Bon looked up from her scotch on the rocks she was nursing in her hooves and glanced at Lyra. She was wearing a simple black dress that hugged her form nicely. “Like I’ve told you the last ten dresses it’s perfect. Just pick one and be done with it already,” Bon Bon grumbled before downing the rest of her drink.

“But Bonnie this is our first date. I want to make a good impression,” Lyra whined.

“Why don’t you just go naked?”

“Naked on a first date, Scandalous! I don’t want him thinking I’m some whore Bonnie.”

Bon Bon sighed, “Then just stick with the dress you’re wearing then.”

Lyra checked herself out in a nearby mirror. “The black? Are you sure….I don’t know…I’m going to try on the purple one again. I’ll be right back.”

Bon Bon facehoofed, “Fine but you better bring me another drink on your way back.”

“Will do,” Lyra called back as she trotted down the hall to her bedroom.

“I bet Sombra isn’t going crazy as her about this date,” Bon Bon muttered under her breath.

“I don’t know what to wear,” Sombra screamed as he ran through the men’s section of Carousal Boutique. “Should I go with a bow tie or a regular tie? Casual or classy? Casual or classy?  Wait a minute! What color goes well with me coat color…I don’t know! Rarity what color goes with my coat?” Sombra yelled at the seamstress.

Rarity didn’t even look away from her cards, “You’re dark grey dearie. It goes with anything.”

“Thank you,” Sombra called back before diving into a rack of suit jackets. 

“I swear he had a week to prepare for this date and he’s just now choosing his outfit, stallions.” Rarity tsked as she threw a couple of green plastic chips into a multi colored pile on the table in front of her. “I raise fifty,” she said smirking at Scootaloo from across the table. 

“He’s been busy. He reworked his whole entire work schedule just to have this date. He even rescheduled a changeling invasion for it,” Scootaloo replied while nonchalantly throwing a few more chips into the pile. 

Rarity glared at the pile of chips, “Again? I bet Chrysalis wasn’t happy about that.” 

“No she wasn’t, although Dad did say that he would make it up to her,” Scootaloo said.

“That’s nice of him. Well at least the girls and I get another day off from saving Equestria. Maybe we can finally have that spa day we’ve all been talking about having,” she said while pushing her remaining chips into the pile. “All in,” she said staring down the little filly.

Scootaloo smiled and pushed her remaining chips into the pile as well. She then flipped her cards over before walking off to check up on her Dad.

Rarity eyed the royal flush on the table. “It’s a good thing we weren’t playing for real money or I would have just lost this week’s profits,” she muttered as one of her eyes began to twitch. 

Scootaloo trotted up to her dad who currently was behind one of the changing curtains. “Hey Dad how’s finding your outfit going?” she asked.

“Good, I think I’ve found the perfect outfit,” Sombra said pulling back the curtains. He was wearing a simple black vest that was lightly accented in a dark purple. “What do you think?”

Scootaloo let out a wolf whistle, “Looking good Dad!” she said. “But,” she stopped and looked around, “I think you need a jacket to go along with it.”

“I was thinking the same thing squirt,” he said ruffling her mane, knocking loose a few playing cards she had hidden in it onto the floor. Sombra eyed the cards before picking them up in his magic and sliding them back into Scootaloo’s mane. “Keep those hidden from Rarity or she will throw us out.”

“Will do Dad,” she chuckled as she patted them down back into place. 

“Are you two doing alright over here?” Rarity asked as she approached the two. 

“Yes we’re fine,” Scootaloo said blushing as she turned around to face Rarity. 

Rarity eyed her mane, “You know darling I really wish you would let me style your mane one of these days. It’s such a shame you always go for the just got out of bed look.”

“It’s not a look! I did just get out of bed!” Scootaloo grumbled at the mare. 

“She’s not lying she really did just get up from a nap before we came here,” Sombra added.

“I see,” Rarity said prying her eyes from the filly’s mane to look at Sombra. “You know darling I think I have just the coat to go with that vest,” she said grabbing a coat off a nearby rack in her magic and levitating it over. 

Sombra took the jacket in his hooves and inspected it. It was a simple black sports coat with a royal dark purple lining. “Yes I think this will go quite well with the vest Rarity. Thank you,” Sombra said smiling.

“Don’t mention dearie,” Rarity replied returning the smile. “Now if you don’t mind me asking where do you plan on taking Miss Heartstrings this evening?” she asked.

“Oh I plan on taking her to that new restaurant that opened on the outskirts of town, and then…well will just see where the night takes us after that,” Sombra said while slipping on the jacket.

“Oh that sounds lovely, but who will be watching Scootaloo?”

“Actually Discord offered to watch her for me.”

“That’s nic…wait Discord is watching Scootaloo tonight?”

“I get to spend the night with Uncle Discord! Awesome!” The orange filly cheered.

“That’s right, now Rarity how much do I owe you?”

“I…uh…,” she cleared her throat, “Nothing dearie it’s on the house.”

“Are you sure?” Sombra questioned.

“Yes, yes I am. Consider it your late Hearths Warming Eve present,” she said giving Sombra a smile.

“Well thank you Rarity,” he said returning the smile. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Scootaloo and I really must be going.”

“Of course, good luck on your date with Lyra and Scootaloo,” she went on leaning down to Scootaloo’s level so she could look her in the eye, “don’t let me catch you cheating the next time we play poker or there will be hell to pay,” she deadpanned, sending a chill down Scootaloo’s spine.

“Yes mam,” Scootaloo swallowed. 

“That’s a good filly,” she said smiling. She patted Scootaloo’s head knocking out the playing cards she had hidden in her mane. “Now you two have a good evening now.” 

As they were walking out the carousal Boutique Scootaloo leaned over and whisper to her Dad, “How did she know?”

“When it comes to poker Scootaloo, not even I have been able to get away with cheating that mare.” Sombra answered.

Scootaloo and Sombra walked in silence as they cut through the town’s market place to get to Discords. “So,” Sombra began breaking the silence, “do you have any issues with me going on a date with one of your teachers?” he asked. 

Scootaloo peered up at him, “Why would I?” she questioned back. 

“Well I don’t want to make things awkward for you at school, and I don’t want you to get jealous…”

“Dad,” she spoke up stopping him, “You have nothing to worry about. I don’t care if you date Miss Heartstrings, she’s cool,” She said reassuring him. 

“Alright if you say so,” he added as they exited the market place and entered an alleyway that was between Quills & Sofa’s and a brick wall. In the middle of the brick wall was a door. Sombra approached the door and knocked.

“Coming,” a voice yelled from behind the door before opening and revealing Discord. “Ahh Sombra and little Scootaloo! It’s so nice to see you,” he said smiling wide. 

“Evening Discord I’m just here to drop off Scoot’s.”

“Of course Sombra,” Discord said leaning down to look at the filly. “I got some real fun planned out for us tonight,” he said grinning at her and ruffling her mane making her giggle.

Sombra glared at Discord, “What kind of fun?” he asked.

“Oh you know terrorizing Ponyville, annoying a princess, maybe have a tea party if we have time,” Discord said shrugging. 

Sombra stared down Discord before slowly nodding, “Alright, just make sure you both don’t end up in jail like the last time,” he said. 

“I promise,” Discord grinned.

“Alright,” Sombra said nodding once more before looking at Scootaloo. “You be good for Discord okay?” he said leaning down and giving the filly a hug.

Scootaloo returned the hug, “Okay Dad. Have fun on your date.”

Sombra ruffled her name and stood back up, “Don’t get into too much trouble you two,” he said before heading out on his way.

Scootaloo and Discord watched him go and as soon as he was out of sight Discord turned to the filly and asked, “Want to go to Canterlot and use Celestia’s mirror pool to spy on your dad?”

“Uhh Duh,” she answered.

Discord smirked and snapped his talons teleporting them away.

Sombra approached the door that was off to the side of the main entrance of Bon Bon’s Bon Bons. He ringed the doorbell and waited. It wasn’t long before a disgruntled Bon Bon answered the door. “Thank Celestia you’re here,” she said pulling him inside and leading him up the stairs into the living room. “She’s been driving me nuts,” she grunted before turning to a hallway and shouting, “LYRA YOUR DATE IS HERE!”

“BE OUT IN A MINUTE,” Lyra yelled back.

Bonnie sighed and turned back to Sombra, “She’ll be out in a minute,” she said rolling her eyes getting a chuckle from Sombra. Bon Bon eyed him up and down, “So you’re Mr. Sombra. I’ve seen you around town but this is the first time I’ve ever see you up close,” she said circling him.

Sombra curiously eyed the mare as she circled, “Yeah I don’t have much of a sweet tooth so I’ve never had a reason to come into your shop, and please you can just call me Sombra,” he told her. 

Bon Bon nodded as she stopped right in front of him. She glared into his eyes, “I’m going to be blunt. You may a personification of dark magic but I have a certain set of skills Sombra, and if you do anything to harm Lyra. I will not hesitate to take you down. For good,” she said. 

Sombra frowned at the mare, “I may be evil Bon Bon, but I have no intention of ever harming Lyra,” he said with a tad of venom in his voice. 

Bonnie smirked and patted him on the head, “Good, also no hanky panky on the first date,” she added before walking away and settling down on the nearby couch.

Sombra opened his mouth to rebuttal, but he forgot what he was going to say when Lyra’s voice chimed in bringing all of his attention to her. She was wearing a form fitting black dress that stopped just a little below her cutie mark, her mane was about the same although it looked like it was recently combed. Sombra closed his mouth and willed the blush forming on his face away. He cleared his throat with a small cough and nervously chuckled out, “I’m sorry what did you say?”

“I said hi,” Lyra giggled. “So how do I look?” she asked bashfully.  

“Breathtaking,” Sombra awed making Lyra blush deeply, the red seeping through her mint coat. 

“I thought you were going to wear the purple one?” Bon Bon asked from the couch interrupting Lyra and Sombra’s awkward staring contest. 

“No I decide you were right about this one,” Lyra answered as she shook the blush from her face. 

Bon Bon facehoofed, “That’s an hour and a half of my life I’m never going to get back,” she groaned.

“Oh hush, I would have done the same for you if you were freaking out before a date,” Lyra chided her roommate. “Now if you’ll excuse us I think it’s time for Sombra and me to start our date,” she said smiling at Sombra.

Sombra smiled back, “I believe you’re right Lyra.”

“You two have fun,” Bonnie said as they made their way out of the apartment. She looked at the clock, “I have enough time to take a four to five hour nap before she comes home and wakes me up to tell me about the date,” she grumbled as she let out a sigh. “She’s lucky I love her to death,” she said with a small smile.   

“You’re looking nice tonight,” Lyra told Sombra as they walked to their destination. 

Sombra smiled, “Thank you. I believe you already know how I think you look tonight,” he teased.

“Yea,” she replied lightly blushing. “So how was your day?”

Sombra sighed, “Hectic, I had to redo whole the schedule for the next two months. Sometimes it isn’t easy being the leader of an evil organization.”

“I’d imagine,” Lyra said nodding her head. “What is it that you do exactly?” 

“Besides keeping everyone in line?” he chuckled. “I manage the schedules, the budget, I make sure we file the proper permits whenever we have an invasion or whatnot, I’m also in charge of the recruiting and the application process whenever somepony wants to join the organization.”

Lyra whistle, “Damn that’s a lot of stuff. However did you find time to go on this date?”

“I dropped some of the work on Nightmare Moon this week,” Sombra smirked.

“You’re kidding?”

“Nope, I left a whole stack of potential applicants on her desk and told her to sort through them tonight,” he replied chuckling.

Lyra laughed, “I bet she wasn’t happy about that.”

“Oh she wasn’t you should of seen the glare. But she’s my second in command and she needs to start doing her fair share of the paperwork,” Sombra said still smirking.

“I bet you’ll be getting an ear full when you go back into work,” Lyra giggled. 

“Oh yeah, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. So how was your day?”

“Boring,” Lyra groaned. “I’m currently in a lull at work where there’s no upcoming concerts for me to make the kids practice for. So I just have them continually going over the basics and I…”

“This is boring Uncle Discord,” Scootaloo whined. She was sprawled out on a giant cushion that sat near the edge of a large round pool of water in one of Canterlot Castles many rooms.

“Just be patient Scootaloo. This is just the small talk that leads up to the date and the potentially embarrassing moments that your father might find himself in,” Discord grinned while hovering just above the mirror pool.

“Can’t you use your magic to make it go faster though?” she asked.

“Sadly no,” he pouted. “Your father trained himself to sense my magic whenever it’s used around him. So if I did something he would instantly know that I was interfering.”

Scootaloo sighed and buried her face in the cushion. One of her ears perked when she heard the sound of the door opening. 

“Well hello there Celestia,” Discord said greeting the new arrival.

Celestia eyed the two as she entered the room and closed the door. “I thought I sensed your presence in here Discord, but why is little Scootaloo here with you?” she questioned.

Scootaloo lifted her head off the cushion and regarded the Princess, “We’re spying on my Dad while he’s on a date,” she answered. 

Celestia blinked, “Sombra on a date? Count me in,” she smirked summoning another cushion and sitting next to Scootaloo. 

Lyra looked at all the other ponies waiting in the lobby of Cha ling, “I hope we’re able to get a table,” she told Sombra.

Sombra smiled showing his fangs, “I wouldn’t worry about that,” He said walking up to the host. He whispered something to the host and the host smiled before nodding. Sombra turned back to Lyra and beckoned her to follow. 

Lyra followed them through the main dining hall and through the kitchen until they entered a private dining room and Lyra’s breath was taken away. The whole room was candle lit and sitting in the middle of the room was a single table with a bouquet of roses. “Oh my, Sombra!” she squealed. She then deadpanned, “This is a little over the top,” she smirked. 

Sombra blinked and looked around, “Yeah I guess it is a little much, but I’ve always believed in the go big or go home method of dating,” he said before turning to the Host. “Sorry, but could we lose the candle light and get some normal lighting?” he asked.

The Host bowed, “Certainly King Sombra, will get right on it,” he said before turning and exiting the room. 

“Wait, did that pony just call you King Sombra?”

“Well that is my official title after all.”

“Yeah, but let’s be honest the only thing you’re really the king of is dorks,” Lyra said giggling. Sombra just rolled his eyes at her. Lyra composed herself, “Sorry I couldn’t help myself,” she said flashing Sombra a goofy smile. “But in all seriousness. As far as I know, nopony really refers to you as king unless they work for you.”

“Well you see,” Sombra began, leading Lyra to the table. He pulled out Lyra’s chair with his magic and Lyra sat down. He walked to his chair across from her and sat down, “How should I say this…this restaurant is special. You see it’s ran entirely by Changelings.”

“Changelings?” Lyra repeated as if on cue two undisguised Changelings entered the room. Lyra watched as one began to put out the candles and the other turned on the chandler above them. The Changeling then approached the table.

“Good evening King Sombra. I will be you and your dates waiter for the evening my name is,” the Changeling paused when he noticed Lyra staring at him. “I’m sorry mam would you prefer it if I changed to a more soothing persona? I know my appearance can be unsettling to ponies who aren’t use to being around changelings.”

Lyra blinked and lightly blushed as she recovered from her stupor, “No no, you’re good. I’ve just never seen a Changeling up close before. Your coat is just so shiny,” she awed. 

The Changeling chuckled and smiled, “Thank you I just had my chitin polished this afternoon. I was saying earlier my name is Pablo and I will be your waiter this evening.” He levitated them a menu each. “Can I get you anything to drink or do you two need a minute?”

“One of my friends told me that you guys make your own wine here?” Lyra asked Pablo.

“That’s correct miss,” Pablo beamed with pride. “Our special tonight is our dry red if you’re interested.”

“Oh yes I’ll take that one,” Lyra replied.

“Excellent, and for you my Lord?”

“I’ll just have a water,” Sombra replied.

“Most good. I’ll have those drinks right out to you two,” Pablo said before giving a small bow. He then exited the room with the other Changeling following.

“So is this restaurant a staging area for the Changelings to gather before they invade Ponyville? As a resident of Ponyville I think I have the right to know if my potential coltfriend might be involved in my inevitable enslavement into the Changeling collective,” Lyra asked arching a brow at Sombra. 

Sombra chuckled, “No it’s nothing like that. Have you ever wondered how Changelings gathered love for the hive?” 

“The thought has crossed my mind a few times.”

“Well you’re looking at one of their methods right now,” he said gesturing at their surroundings. “All across Equestria you’ll find Changeling operated restaurants. Inside the restaurants are a few changelings whose job is to gather the feelings of love that are floating around from the patrons that are having a meal with their families, loved ones, their dates, and such. It’s a completely safe and even legal way of gathering what they need for their hive,” Sombra explained.

“Wait, how is this legal?”

“Celestia knows all about these places. As long as they don’t harm her subjects she allows them to function. After all Changelings need to Love to survive and Celestia isn’t heartless. She just keeps it secret so there isn’t a mass panic or outcry from the populace.”

“If that’s the case why does Queen Chrysalis keep trying to invade Equestria? Seems rather pointless after learning about all this.”

“Oh that’s easy to explain, she’s a power hungry bitch,” Sombra simply stated.

Lyra busted into a fit of laughter, “You’re kidding? That’s her whole motivation for invading us,” she choked out in between giggles.

“Yup, that’s why I don’t help her much whenever she proposes a new invasion plan. But when you get down to it that’s pretty much everyponies motivation in the League.”

“…Even you?” Lyra asked hesitantly.

“Little bit,” he said with a shy smile. “But it’s mostly a family thing. My father was evil, his father was evil, and his father was evil, and so on and so on. My father used to claim our lineage could be traced back to the pony that committed the original sin,” Sombra explained with pride in his voice. 

“Were they all ruggedly good looking embodiments of dark magic like you?” Lyra asked with a sly smile and wink.

Sombra blushed, “My dad was a warrior king while my grandfather was a shadow government puppet master. That’s actually how my family gained the Crystal Empire my grandfather influenced the nobles to instate my father as king of the empire and the rest they say is history,” Sombra said as Pablo came back into the room with their drinks. 

Pablo levitated them their drinks. Sombra and Lyra thanked him and asked for a few more minutes to look over the menus they had been neglecting. Pablo bowed and exited as Sombra took a drink. “Now,” he began, putting down his water. “I think that’s enough about me. I think it’s your turn to tell me about yourself,” He said smiling at Lyra. 
Lyra blushed at the attention, “What would you like to know?”

Princess Celestia titled her head in confusion, “That’s how the Crystal Empire was formed?” she said in disbelief. “I always assumed he staged a coup and killed the royal family.”

“You didn’t know?” Scootaloo asked.

Celestia shrugged, “Luna and I were going through a shoot first ask questions later phase back then. All we knew was that there was a pony there using dark magic and enslaving ponies.”

Discord clapped his claws together and laughed, “Oh this is rich Tia. Do you know what this means?”

“No, Discord I don’t know what this means,” she replied snorting at him.

“This means you’re the secret puppet master of the Crystal Empire,” he said smiling widely at the alicorn. 

Celestia blinked, “I’m what know?”

He floated over to her and put an arm around her neck, “A puppet master my dear girl. You see the current rulers are your adopted niece and her husband, which you appointed. Now even though they are technically their own nation they do seek your guidance constantly and even sometimes have answered to you. But now that we know that Sombra was actually the rightful king and your chosen rulers overthrew him that means you’re the puppet master behind the usurpers,” he explained. 

“Oh, please” she said grabbing Discords arm with her magic and pulling it off her, “I am no evil puppet master. I do not force Cadence or Shining to come to me for help on ruling their country. They come on their own accord, and if the Empire was unhappy with them and wanted Sombra back I think they wouldn’t have been so happy when we defeated him when they reappeared in our world. Also I can assure you that Cadence is directly related to the previous ruling family of the Empire,” she finished with a huff.

“Wouldn’t that mean she’s related to dad?” Scootaloo questioned.

“Yes but in capacity I do not know,” she answered with a frown. “I may have to bring this up with Sombra sometime,” she muttered to herself under her breath as she turned her attention back to the pool.

“So your mom is the lead choreographer for the Canterlot ballet and your dad is the head librarian of the Canterlot national library,” Sombra whistled, “That’s impressive.”

“Yup, the first time I met Twilight she couldn’t believe I was Musty Tome’s daughter,” she giggled taking a sip of her wine.

“Why’s that?”

“My Dad is very shy and quiet. Likes to spend most of his days reading or writing one of his short stories. I on the other hoof am pretty loud, outgoing, and have experiments blowing up in my face almost on a daily bases. I take after my mother obviously,” she chuckled.

“Does your mother also have things blowing up in her face on a daily bases?”

“You’d be surprised she likes to use a lot of pyrotechnics in her shows. The nobles hate it,” she chuckled.

Sombra blinked in surprise, “That sounds like a ballet I would actually stay awake during.”

“Oh it’s a riot. We should totally go sometime. I bet even Scootaloo would enjoy it.”

“Already including yourself in family outing I see,” Sombra smirked.

Lyra instantly blushed her whole face going red, “I uhh just….you…know…as an educator think it would be a good,” she stopped and took a deep breath to clear her head. “Sorry…don’t know why I was trying to lie with the whole I’m her music teacher card there,” she sighed and looked down at the table. “I’m sorry I was a little too forward there. I get overly excited sometimes and don’t think things through,” she pouted.

Sombra reached over and grabbed her hoof in his. He gave it a gentle squeeze, “Hey its okay Lyra, I was just teasing you,” he explained giving her hoof another squeeze. Lyra looked up and gazed at him, “I’m sure Scootaloo would love to go see your mother’s ballet, especially if there’s fire and explosions,” he chuckled. “I swear that filly is going to earn a cutie mark relating to being a pyro in some way.”

Lyra chuckled at his remark and smiled. “I’m sorry, I guessed I freaked out thinking that I over stepped my boundaries there. I mean this is only our first date so maybe I shouldn’t be making plans for all three of us. I should probably save that for another date, don’t you think?” she smiled at Sombra.

Sombra laughed, “Sounds good to me.” He said as the door opened revealing Pablo and another Changeling. They held several plates of food in their magic and they floated them to the table as they walked to it. “Dinner is served,” Pablo beamed.

“I don’t want to go to some stupid ballet,” Scootaloo pouted, splashing her hoof into the mirror pool disrupting the image for a second. 

“Are you sure? I happen to find the shows that Mrs. Sure Hoof puts on to be most exciting. Especially since she added a live cannon for her most current production,” she said with an inquisitive smirk aimed at the filly.

“I’d have to agree with her Scootaloo. The rendition of Swan Lake they did last year was most exhilarating. I’m even sure a few ponies sitting on the front row got singed a bit from the explosions, if I’m remembering correctly,” Discord mused rubbing his chin.

“That does sound awesome,” Scootaloo grumbled under her breath.

Lyra looked up from here plate of grilled vegetables and stared at her date. She levitated a piece of cauliflower into her mouth as she studied Sombra. He was in the middle of cutting up his steak, rare. He had ordered it off the restaurants secret carnivore menu. It didn’t bother her that he was eating meat. She assumed with fangs like his that he would partake in the custom every now and then. But something was bugging her. Something that was nagging her in the back of her mind. “Sombra?” she called grabbing his attention.

“Yes?” he replied.

Lyra blushed, “I uh…” she stammered and rubbed the back of her head. “I was just curious about something.”

“And what would that be?” he replied giving the mare a reassuring smile.

“Well considering how long you’ve been alive I was just wondering if you were ever married before?” she asked cautiously.

Sombra’s expression softened and he looked down at the ground, “I was once,” he muttered.

“Oh,” she replied softly.

He looked back at Lyra and gave her a small smile, “But that was long ago. Let’s not dwell on that any longer. Instead let’s dwell on what we are going to order for dessert,” he said levitating the dessert menu, Pablo left for them earlier, over. He placed it between them opening it. “I’m thinking something chocolaty. How’s that sound to you?” 

Lyra grinned at the dark stallion, “Perfect,” she replied.

Celestia looked over to Discord and asked, “Did you know he used to be married?”  

Discord shrugged, “Not really something I would ask him Tia dear.”

Celestia huffed, “I’m beginning to think I don’t know as much as I thought I did about Sombra.”

“Gee you think?” Scootaloo remarked at the princess.

Celestia eyed the filly, “Scootaloo are you needing a timeout?”

Scootaloo opened her mouth.

“On the moon?” Celestia added.

Scootaloo quickly shut her mouth, “I’ll be good,” she squeaked. 

“Oh, Celestia I think if I eat another bite of this mousse I might lapse into a chocolate coma,” Lyra groaned floating her spoon down to the table with a clank. 

Sombra chuckled, “Well we can’t be having that now can we?”

“I don’t know the idea of being able to just lay in bed for a couple of months is tempting,” Lyra joked.

“I bet it does but I don’t want to be the pony that has to explain to your roommate that you fell into a coma while on a date with me,” Sombra added.

“Yeah she can be a bit over protective at times,” Lyra giggled. “But she means well and her personality does eventually grow on you. We’ve been friends for years.” 

“You know she threatened me right?”

“Oh she does that to all my dates. You’re a big strong stallion I’m sure you can at least survive a few rounds against her,” she chuckled. 

Sombra playfully rolled his eyes at her. Lyra laughed at him. “How about we finish up here and go for a walk, before I take you back home?” he asked.

Lyra smiled, “Sure!”

Sombra smiled back and lit up his horn. He reached out to Pablo with his magic, sending the Changeling a message, “We’re ready for our check.”

A few seconds later Sombra got a message back, “Your meal is on the house tonight Lord Sombra. Queen Chrysalis hopes that your date has gone well.”

Sombra blinked in surprise as he repeated the message in his mind again.

Lyra looked at him with concern, “Is everything alright?” she asked.

“Yes everything’s grand actually. Just got surprised there for a second. Apparently Chrysalis decided to pick up the check for us,” he said with a little disbelief in his voice.

“That’s nice of her.”

“Yes it is,” he mused scratching his chin. “A little too nice if you ask me,” he lit up his horn again.

“What are you doing?”

“Just asking Pablo a quick question…. And yup I knew it. Chrysalis is hoping that we might be opened to the idea of her feeding off our love if our relationship goes any further,” he said groaning.

Lyra burst into laughter, “Tell Pablo to ask her to wait till at least after our fifth date before asking if we would be interested in a threesome.”
Sombra blushed hard, but he relayed the message with a smirk. 

“What’s a threesome?” Scootaloo asked the elder beings with pure childish curiosity. 

Discord opened his mouth to answer but was instantly gagged by Celestia’s hoof, “It’s when three friends hang out and have a good time,” she answered.    

“Like when I hang out with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle?”

Discord pulled Celestia’s hoof out of his mouth, “Not quite but I’m sure you three will have a threesome at some point. Probably during college,” he said with a laugh. 

Celestia glared at him as she blasted him with a bolt of magic. Scootaloo watched this all in confusion. 

“It’s a lovely night isn’t it?” Sombra asked starring up into the night sky.

“Mhmm,” Lyra replied.

They were currently walking down the street lamp lighted main street of Ponyville on their way back to Lyra’s apartment. Lyra let out a content sigh and leaned further into Sombra’s side. Sombra looked at her and smiled, “Comfortable?”

“Yes, your coat is quite soft. It’s a shame I can’t keep you for the night and use you as my pillow,” she pouted. 

“Maybe next time,” Sombra chuckled. 

“I’ll hold you to that,” she said giving him a wink. 

“So I guess that means you’re up for a second date sometime?”

Lyra just giggled as she stood up straight and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “That answer your question?” she said to a stunned and blushing Sombra. She flicked her tail at his nose as she turned and walked further down the path. After a few steps she realized Sombra hadn’t followed. She looked over her shoulder at Sombra who still stood there blushing, “You coming!” she yelled at him waking from his stupor. “You know,” Lyra began once Sombra caught up, “I’m not complaining or anything. I’ve had a lovely time with you tonight, but as far as first dates go this ones been pretty tame. No cheesy one liners, no magical mishaps, not even a jealous ex-lover or current lover.”

Sombra chuckled, “Well I don’t have any current or ex-lovers anywhere, unless they’re currently one of the living dead. I’ve never really been one for one liners especially of the cheesy variety, and as for the magical mishaps we can save that for the second date. I decided to behave myself tonight since we are being watched.”

Lyra stopped in her tracks, “We’re being watched?” she asked frightened.

“You don’t need to be scared. We’re just being watched by a bored Chaos God, a Solar Goddess with too much time on her hooves, and a certain filly who’s now officially grounded for the next two week. I mean really? Did they think I wouldn’t be able to detect them watching me through a mirror pool? Oh and by the way princess I will gladly have dinner with you and discuss my past.” he laughed looking up and starring at them through the mirror pool. 

Celestia blinked in surprise and looked at Discord, “Well it looks like he’s not too upset about it.”

“Speak for yourself Celestia. I just lost visitation rights for a month most likely and the worst part is he’s probably going to make me actually work next week,” Discord wailed.

“You bet your ass I am, now get Scootaloo to bed. Its way past her bed time” Sombra’s voice yelled through the pool.

“Uncle Discord, why do I always end up in trouble when I hang out with you?” Scootaloo grumbled.

“That’s just a risk you have to take when you roll with the God of Chaos kid,” he said scooping up the filly in his arms. “We’ll see you later Tia,” and with a snap of his talons he was gone. 

Celestia watched as they faded away. She looked back to the pool and saw that Sombra was almost back to Lyra’s place. She sighed, “Sorry for spying Sombra. I’ll send you a letter in a few days about getting together for dinner,” and with that she teleported out of the room.

“Sister?” a voice called from an opening door. “Are you in here? One of your guards said they saw you entering this room,” the owner of the voice continued into the room revealing herself to be Luna. Luna surveyed the room and frowned as she walked further in, “Where in Equestria are you Tia? You promised you would help me with this paper-,” she stopped, noticing the image of Sombra in the pool. She looked closer into the pool and saw that he was with the mint green unicorn he was paired with on Nightmare Night. 

“I believe her name was Lyra. Now what are those two doing out together at this hour?” Luna thought to herself. She continued to watch as they walked to a side door on one of the local shops. They began to say their goodbyes, and just before Sombra turned away to go his own way home. Lyra grabbed him in her magic. She pulled him in close and gave him a kiss. 

Luna’s eyes narrowed on the unicorn. 
Lyra released Sombra and gave him a wink before disappearing behind the door. 
Luna snorted and ground her teeth as she teleported herself out of the room.   
> Dinner With the Princesses (Unedited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The school bell rang and all the fillies and colts in the classroom jumped up to gather their things so they could leave; all except for one.

“Hey Scoots why you still sitting down? You’re usually the first one out the door. You didn’t get detention again did you?” Apple Bloom asked her friend.

Scootaloo snorted, “No I don’t have detention today. I have that tomorrow, and if you must know. I’m waiting for somepony.”

Sweetie Belle walked up to her friends and asked, “Who are you waiting for Scootaloo?”

And as if on cue Lyra Heartstrings walked into the now semi empty classroom, “You ready to go Scootaloo?” 

“Yes Miss Heartstrings,” she said hopping out of her chair and grabbing her saddlebags.

“Miss Heartstrings?” Lyra echoed rolling her eyes. “School hours are over kid you can just call me Lyra. Now let’s get going, we need to stop by my apartment first so I can pick up a few things then we can-”

“Woah there,” Apple Bloom interrupted sliding her way in between Lyra and Scootaloo, “why exactly is Scootaloo going with you Miss Heartstrings?” she asked giving the music teacher a suspicious look.

“Yes Lyra I would like to know as well,” Miss Cheerilee asked as she approached the group. She eyed her fellow teacher with a stern look, “Why exactly are you picking up one of my students from school?”

Lyra looked at Cheerilee and then at Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle who were also giving her questionable looks. She bent down and whispered into Scootaloo’s ear while maintaining eye contact with the other ponies, “Any certain reason why I’m being treated like I’m about to kidnap you?” 

Scootaloo shrugged.  

Lyra huffed, “Is it so weird for a grown mare to pick up a foal that isn’t hers from school?”

She was answered with silence.

“Fine,” Lyra relented with a sigh, “If you must know. Sombra is out of town for the evening and he asked me to watch Scootaloo for him. I even have a note he gave me explaining everything if you want see that?” she finished explaining with an annoyed frown.

Cheerilee’s expression softened, “Relax Lyra I know you’re dating Mr. Sombra. So I believe you. I just wanted to know what was going on.”

“Alright but seriously what was up with the third degree there? I mean if I was going to kidnap some pony I wouldn’t be doing it at the school I work at. I would at least go to another school district if I wanted to that. I mean come on,” Lyra scoffed.

“And you wonder why I was harsh with you just then,” Cheerilee sighed rolling her eyes at the mare. 

“Umm excuse me,” Sweetie Belle said piping in, “If you don’t mind me asking. Where is Mr. Sombra at?”

Flash Sentry smiled as he took his position in front of the Sun Princesses throne. It was near the end of Princess Celestia’s day court and the beginning of his shift as the Princesses personal guard. He had only had the position for a few days and he already loved it more than his last assignment, Personal Guard to the Crystal Empires Royal Couple, for one exact reason. 
It wasn’t cold. Flash Sentry hated the cold, it reminded him of Sombra. It reminded him of the void that he and his fellow crystal ponies were banished too for a thousand years. Contrary to popular belief, but a few crystal ponies after they had regained their memories and broke Sombra’s curse had also began to remember their time in the that empty, cold void they had been vanished too. They remembered the endless fields of nothingness, the feeling of weightlessness, and being unable to move, but most of all they remember the biting chill that radiated all around them. There was a reason why the crystal ponies hardly left the comfort of the crystal hearts protective field, or why a good portion of the population had packed up and left the frozen north once they had returned to modern society. That’s what Flash had wanted to do but he had had no money. So he had joined the Equestrian military in the hopes he would be sent away from the north. Sadly his plan didn’t work out that way. He had spent the last five years in basic training and being assigned in the very place he was trying to leave. It wasn’t all bad he had to admit, but he was final glad to be out of the crystal empire.

“Equestria to Flash Sentry.”

Flash blinked in surprise at the white hoof that waved in front of him. He followed the hoof up to the face of Princess Celestia and gave her a sheepish smile. “Sorry Princess, I spaced out there for a minute.”

“More like five minutes,” she giggled. “But don’t worry. I hope you like your new surroundings?” she questioned.

“Very much Princ-” he was cut off by a loud bang that came from behind the throne room door.

“Oh dear what could that have been? Would you go make sure no pony is hurt Flash?”

Flash stood up straight and saluted the princess before making his way to the throne room door but before he could reach it the door flew open just a few inches short of hitting his face. The stallion that stood in the door way had a mane as black as the night, his coat was dark grey and was  covered in a suit of armor made of pure silver, his eyes were a deep red and they stared down Flash Sentry as the blood drained from the Pegasus’s face. “You there,” the stallion barked. “Please go tell Celestia that I King Sombra have arrived for dinner.”
Flash Sentry fainted. 

“Hey Bonnie I’m home!” Lyra called out as she entered the candy shop with Scootaloo right behind her.

Bon Bon gave her roommate an annoyed look whole all the customers in the store gave the mint colored unicorn a weird one. “Lyra I’ve told you time and time again, our home is upstairs. Downstairs is the shop,” Bon Bon huffed. 

“Then what’s that make the basement?” Lyra asked, scratching her chin.

“The basement is neutral territory, we’ve been over this,” Bon Bon groaned. “Why are you even here? I thought you were watching Sombra’s kid tonight?”

“I am,” Lyra said gesturing to Scootaloo who was off looking at the various candies that were riddled out throughout the store, “I just came by to pick up a few things.”  

“Then why didn’t you go through the back?”

“And deny you the opportunity to bask in my presence!” Lyra gasped. “What kind of roommate would I be if I denied you that?”

Bon Bon just glared at her.

“I might have also forgotten my key… again,” Lyra admitted lightly blushing. 

Bon Bon sighed, “Of course you did.”

Lyra gave her roommate a sheepish smile. 

“Well go on and grab your things. I’ll keep an eye on the kid for you,” Bon Bon said waving Lyra off.

“Thanks Bonnie,” she said hopping over the store counter. “I’ll be right back Scootaloo,” she called back over her shoulder as she went into the back of the store. 


Scootaloo’s ears perked up from hearing her name and made her way over to the counter, “What did she say? I was looking at the jawbreakers and not really paying attention.”

“She said she’ll be right back,” Bon Bon answered eyeing the little orange filly. “So you’re Sombra’s adoptive daughter huh?” 

“Yeah, and you must be Miss Heartstrings roommate?”

“That I am,” she answered still staring at Scootaloo completely ignoring a customer that came up trying to purchase some malted milk balls. 

“Aren’t you going to help him?” Scootaloo asked.

“That depends,” she replied turning to the stallion. “Alright Sweet Tooth you know the deal. I told you I wasn’t going to sale to you anymore unless you went and gotten those cavities taken care of so open up.”

“Aww come on Bon Bon you know I can’t afford to do that.”

“Then why don’t you get a job instead of hanging out in my candy store all day, or better yet take up drinking. Your teeth still might fall out but then I wouldn’t have to see your face every day!”

“I don’t need to put up with this you know. I can just go to another candy store!”

“I’m the only candy store in town so I really doubt that. Now get out of here and get that wreck you call a smile taken care of,” she said shooing the stallion out of the store. 

Scootaloo watched this all happen with wide eyed confusion. “Why did you care so much about his teeth?” she questioned once Bon Bon had returned back to the counter. 

Bon Bon looked around and made sure no other pony was listening. She bent down and whispered in a hush tone to Scootaloo, “Between you and me kid I got a deal going on with Colgate and her dentist office. For every pony I send their way I get a twenty-five percent cut of any dental work done. I’ve been working on Sweet Tooth’s mouth for months and its time for it to pay off.”

Scootaloo whistled, “Damn, I think you and I are going to get along just fine Miss Bon Bon,” she mischievously smiled.

Bon Bon smiled and ruffled Scootaloo’s mane as she went back behind the counter, “You can just call me Bonnie kid.”

“Sooo, Bonnie… can I have some candy?” Scootaloo asked while trying to look as cute as she could be.

Bon Bon snorted in amusement, “Sorry kid, unless you got bits you better ask Lyra. She’s your caretaker tonight after all. How do you like Lyra by the way?” she asked raising a brow at the filly.

Scootaloo shrugged, “I like her as a teacher. This is the first time I’ve ever been around her outside of school. I know her and Dad have been getting along pretty well,” she grumbled a little.

It didn’t go unnoticed by Bon Bon, “Jealous,” she smirked at the filly.

Scootaloo blushed, “Maybe a little,” she said looking away, “He has been spending a lot of time with her.”

“You know it’s not good to bottle up those types of feelings. You should talk to Sombra if you do feel that way,” Bon Bon said feeling a little sorry for the filly.

“I know,” Scootaloo replied as she lightly kicked the floor. She looked back up to Bon Bon, “Can I have some candy now?”

Bon Bon rolled her eyes, “I told you have to ask Lyra.”

“Ask me what?” Lyra asked as she reentered the room.

“Miss Heartstrings, can I get some candy please?” Scootaloo asked sweetly. 

Lyra sighed, “I said that you could call me Lyra, squirt. And sure you can have some, but not too much though. I’m taking you to Sugar Cube Corner for dinner tonight,” she said grinning at the filly.

Sombra sipped at his tea as he gauged the four ponies that sat before him. Princess Celestia sat directly in front of him, quietly humming as she sipped her own cup of tea. Twilight Sparkle sat to her right. She was currently levitating a notebook and quill out of her saddlebag that sat behind her. Next to her was Rainbow Dash, who was grimacing at the tea she had just sipped. And to the left of Celestia standing to her side was the guard pony that Sombra had greeted upon his arrival. He was trying to look confident while also trying to control his knees that were constantly shaking. They were all currently in the royal dining hall with only a single long table separating them from the former tyrant of the north. 

It was Celestia who decided to break the silence first, “So Sombra how was your day?” she asked as she levitated her tea cup back onto the saucer in front of her. 

Sombra shrugged as he also lowered his cup, “Pretty uneventful, spent most of the day finishing up the final details for the Changeling Invasion that’s coming up next month,” he replied. 

“Ahh that’s right,” Celestia said nodding her heads, “I just approved the final permits for the invasion yesterday. You should receive them in the mail soon.”

“Thank you Celestial, hopefully that will stop Chrysalis from breathing down my neck about the invasion every damn day now,” he sighed and looked over at Twilight. “So Sparkle I think I can safely assume that you’re here to take notes?”

“That’s right!” Twilight smiled as she clapped her hooves ecstatically in excitement. “I’ve been meaning to get with you so I could more information about the Crystal Empire before its exile, especially since the vast majority of the Crystal Empire can’t recall it themselves and most of the books in the library were destroyed upon the reemergence of the empire, but I’ve just been so busy lately. So when Celestia told me about her dinner plans I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to get information on the subject!” she squeed.  

“I see,” Sombra nodded, “But why did you bring Rainbow along?”

“Twilight mentioned something about free food so I tagged along,” Rainbow answered. 

Sombra snorted in amusement and turned his attention to the guard that was trying to hide behind Celestia, “So guard what’s your name?”

Flash Sentry squeaked in fear.

“Oh that’s just Flash Sentry, Sombra.” Rainbow answered for the cowering Pegasus.

“Sentry, sentry… why does that sound familiar,” Sombra mumbled scratching his chin in thought.

“Well he is originally from the empire. Maybe you terrorized him at some point during your reign,” Celestia said.

Sombra narrowed his eyes at the orange stallion, “Perhaps but I usually try to remember the names of the ponies I personally terrorize.”

“You do? Why is that?” Rainbow questioned.

“Because it’s the polite thing to do Rainbow,” He replied giving the mare a fang filled grin. He turned his attention back to Celestia, “So will your sister also be joining us for dinner?”

“I’m afraid not. I did invite her but she said she had other matters to attend to this evening.”

Lyra and Scootaloo sat at a table in the crowded dining area of Sugar Cube Corner. All around them families and friends sat together chatting and enjoying each other’s company. All except for a rather tall pony in a trench coat that sat in the corner. They hide behind a comically large sized newspaper, but enough about that pony. 

Scootaloo and Lyra sat in silence as they both traded off in giving each other awkward glances. Both of them not really sure on what they should talk about.

“Come on Lyra! You spend most of your day around foals, it shouldn’t be this hard to talk to Scootaloo,” Lyra mentally chided herself.

“Being around a teacher after school is weird,” Scootaloo thought.

“So Scootaloo how’s school going?” Lyra finally asked breaking the silence between them.

Scootaloo cocked her head to the side, “You’re one of my teachers. Don’t you already know how I’m doing in school?”

Lyra mentally slapped herself, “Oh yeah that’s right,” she chuckled. “Last time I checked it looked like you were doing well.”

“A- average,” Scootaloo smiled.

“That a girl,” Lyra cheered, “Although I did hear from Cheerilee that she had to give you detention for hitting Pipsqueak the other day.”

“I didn’t hit him,” she scoffed, “I just lightly slapped him on the back of the head. He kept going on and on. On how nightmare moon is just princess Luna in a cheap nightmare night mask. He was raving like a lunatic. I had to shut him up somehow.” 

“Wow, that little fella has always been off his rocker about Princess Luna, but to insinuate that she’s masquerading as Nightmare Moon. Well that’s just crazy, but you still shouldn’t have hit him. At least not where Cheerilee would have seen,” she added giving the filly a devious wink. 

“Shouldn’t you be telling me it’s bad to hit other ponies?”

“Hey sometimes you have to smack a pony on the backside of the head. It’s just the way life goes,” Lyra shrugged.

“I think I understand why dad likes you now,” Scootaloo said looking up at Lyra. 

Lyra blushed from the remark, “Right umm,” she cleared her throat and looked away still blushing, “Does he talk about me a lot?”

Scootaloo gave her music teacher a smirk, “Trying to see if I’ll give you some dirt on dad, hmm?”

“What! No no no, why would I ever do that?” She exclaimed grabbing her menu off the table and hiding her face behind it, “So Scootaloo what are you thinking about getting?”

“Yeah Scoot’s what you getting,” asked Pinkie Pie. Both Scootaloo and Lyra jumped in their seats from the pink pony’s sudden appearance. “You would think ponies would be used to this by now,” Pinkie shrugged, “Hey Lyra was your face all red?”

“Never mind that Pinkie,” Lyra grumbled, “I’ll just have my usual.”

“One mint chocolate chip shake and a double chocolate chip muffin coming up, and for you Scootaloo?”

“I’ll take a strawberry shake and a lemon poppy seed muffin, please Pinkie.”

“I’m on it,” Pinkie Pie saluted before hopping away. 

Lyra watched the pink pony bounce away before turning her attention back to Scootaloo, “So about that dirt?” 

Scootaloo rolled her eyes at the mare.

Twilight’s and Rainbow’s paled opened mouth faces stared at Sombra as he calmly ate his steak, rare. Twilight was the first one to recover. She closed her mouth and nervously swallowed before squeaking out, “So you’re telling us?”

“That yes, in the third century the land that the crystal empire was built on used to be inhabited by a race of Woolly Minotaur’s, until my grandfather arrived and enslaved them. He forced them to build the empire from the ground up and basically worked them into extinction. In fact the very last wholly Minotaur died upon my birth. My family took it as a good omen,” Sombra smiled fondly at the memory.  

“Your family killed an entire race,” Celestia balked she looked like she was on the verge of throwing up. However the Pegasus guard behind her was throwing up into a nearby potted plant. “How could some pony even conceive doing that?” she asked.

“Pretty easily actually, they were already there, they were easily frightened by magic. So my grandfather figured hey free cheap labor. Over a thousand died just building the palace alone,” Sombra explained. 

“Wait a minute Sombra, I’m confused?” Twilight spoke.

“About what Sparkle?”

“Well from the few remaining history books I have found on the crystal empire, that I have read. None of this is ever mentioned. Nothing about your family is ever mentioned or that an entire race was wiped out to build the empire. They claim that Princess Platinum formed the empire and raised it from the ground with her magic alone,” Twilight explained.

Sombra smiled at Twilight, “That’s because history is written by the victors Sparkle.”

“What the hay does that mean?” Rainbow squawked. 

“It means that the Crystal Ponies rewrote the history books after I was deposed the first time,” Sombra explained. 

“WHAT!” They all yelled.

“Yup, you see when the Empire was first formed the citizens were mostly members of the various blood thirsty tribes and mercenaries that my Grandfather commanded. They all settled there and started to form families. A few centuries pasted and I inherited control of the country when my Father decided to retire.”

“Centuries? How old are you dude?”

“By the time I was appointed ruler the citizens had evolved into a more peace loving populace compared to what they were a couple centuries past.”

“Seriously how old are you?”

“They didn’t want a war mongering embodiment of dark magic as their ruler so they started a resistance movement against my rule. I thought I could nip it in the bud quickly if I took out the leader Bolt. That only made them more determined. They were able to construct a dark magic repealing field in secret.”

“The crystal heart,” Celestia gasped.

“Exactly, they used it expel me from the Empire. I was exiled into the frozen wastes, while they erased me and my family from their history. When I came back two hundred years later with a new army they didn’t even know who I was. But I made them remember by crushing them back into submission,” he growled. “I forced the whole population into slavery, held mass executions, I invaded their minds to crush their dreams and made sure if I was ever deposed again then no one would have the Empire!” he slammed his fist down on the table shaking everyponies plate. “And I will take back control of the Crystal Empire again!” He snarled as he glared down every pony in the room.

Flash Sentry hid behind Celestia and cowered. 

“It’s okay Flash Sentry, Sombra is just a little riled up right now. You’re okay,” Celestia said soothing the cowering Pegasus guard.

Twilight rolled her eyes at the stallion, “That’s not how a royal guard is supposed to ask Flash. My brother would be really disappointed in you if he saw you now.”

“Wait!” Sombra shouted pointing a hoof at Flash. “I know why you seem so familiar to me now, I knew your parents!”

“You did?” Flash eeped. 

“Yes they were two of my most trusted guards.”

Flash’s jaw dropped as his brain completely stopped. Every pony in the room eyed him for a moment before shrugging and resuming their meals.

Rainbow took a swig of her cider and cleared her throat, “Anyway seriously dude how old are you?” 

Admiral Scootaloo surveyed the approaching Equestrian Naval Fleet from the deck of her personal battle ship. She snarled in annoyance as the scar across her eye began to itch. “So you think you can stop me by sending the whole Royal Navy after me Celestia! I’ll show you! You sun loving whore, nothing will stop my vendetta!” she shouted into the heavens for all to hear. The sound of a pony approaching caused her to turn around. 

Rainbow Dash stood before her. The Rainbow maned pony saluted, “I’m ready to strike on your orders Admiral Scoots!”

Scootaloo took in the older mare. She vaguely remembered a time when she had to look up to stare into her magenta eyes. Time had taken a toll on the mare her hair and coat had dulled with age. Deep aged lines lined her face, but Scootaloo knew that besides all that. She was still as spry as she was thirty years ago.

“You know that there’s a high chance you might not make it back,” She told Rainbow sternly.

Rainbow’s posture softened and she smirked at Scootaloo, “You know me Squirt. I’m always ready to lay my life on the line for a friend, and for the cause.”

“I’m not a squirt anymore Rainbow,” Scootaloo grumbled.

“I know you’re not,” she smiled. “Just promise me one thing Scootaloo,” she said walking out and spreading out her wings.

“What’s that?”

“Make sure you deck one to Celestia for one,” she said giving Scootaloo one final smirk before taking off. 

Scootaloo watched her as she ascended higher and higher into the sky. “Godspeed Rainbow,” she saluted. Rainbow stopped and descended picking up speed. She punched a hole in the very sky as she continued to descend.

“Tactile Sonic Rainboom!” Scootaloo yelled slamming her Rainbow Dash action figure onto her toy boat. Creating a wave that gushed water out of the overflowing bath tub. “The Equestrian Navy is decimated, No Survivors.” She adapted a stern look, “I’ll never forget your sacrifice Rainbow. First Mate Sweetie Belle set course for Canterlot. We have a date with the Sun!”

“Aye Aye, Admiral Scootaloo!” Scootaloo squeaked out raising the pitch of her voice to imitate her friend.

“What are you doing Scootaloo?”

Scootaloo shrieked in surprise and dived under the water. She reemerged a second later blushing and glaring at the mint colored unicorn that was doubled over on the bathroom floor laughing, “Don’t you know how to knock?” she snarled. 

“I was,” Lyra laughed as she righted herself. She got her laughter under control and wiped a tear from her eye, “I was wondering why your bath was taking so long. I was just trying to make sure you were okay. I didn’t mean to interrupt your playtime, honest,” she said giving Scoot’s an apologetic smile. 

"It's okay," Scootaloo grumbled, "I'll be out in a minute."

"Alright, by the way Sombra just messaged me. It looks like his dinner with the princess is running late. He probably won’t be back before you go to bed. Just wanted to let you know," she said before exiting the bathroom and closing the door behind her.

Scootlaloo thought over this information and scratched her chin, "I wonder what dad and the princess are talking about."  

"Did your call go alright Sombra?" Celestia asked as Sombra reentered the royal dining hall. 

"Yes, I told Lyra to put Scootaloo to bed and just spend the night at my place," He answered retaking his seat.

“How are things going with Lyra if you don’t mind me asking?” Twilight inquired.

“They are going good, Sombra smiled.

“Have you guys you know,” Rainbow Dash asked banging her hooves together and winking at Sombra.

Sombra violently blushed, “I don’t see how that’s any business of yours Rainbow,” he scoffed.

Rainbow leaned over to Twilight, “That mean no,” she whispered making Twilight giggle.  

Sombra harrumphed, “If you two are through. I’d like to get back to our discussion. Now if one of you would be so kind to remind me where I left off?”

Celestia smiled, “Yes you just got done telling us about the day that Flash’s parents named you his godfather, and how you use to give him piggyback rides into battle zones when he was a little colt,” she snickered. 

“Yes I just finished telling you about the time I had to calm him down after a pony’s brains exploded on him. Mid battle I remind you.”

The stallion in question was currently curled up into a ball in the corner of the dining room sobbing for the death of his current world view.

“You were just about to tell us about your ex-wife,” Twilight piped in. 

Sombra fell silent and his normally angry glare softened, “Her name was Nova Bright” he said somberly.  
> A Nightmare (Unedited)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	It was a sunny day in Ponyville, and Scootaloo was taking full advantage of it. She was currently running through the local park chasing after her friend Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom was trying to make it to the tree line in an attempt to lose her. 
That wasn't going to work.
Scootaloo smirked and picked up speed. She quickly closed the gap between them and pounced onto Apple Bloom. They collided with a thud rolling across the ground and into the tree line. 

“Ahaha!” Scootaloo exclaimed emerging on top of Apple Bloom from the tussle. “What do you have to say about that!” she boasted looking down on Apple Bloom.

But Apple Bloom wasn’t there. 

“Wha?” She exclaimed looking around. The forest had grown humid. Unbearably so, and had it always been this dark? Wasn’t the sun just out?
Where did it go?

“You’ve been a naughty little filly Scootaloo,” a nasally voice whispered in Scootaloo’s ear sending jagged splinters down her spine.

Princess Luna looked down on the sleeping form of Lyra. The mint colored one was snuggled up in Sombra’s bed. Her mane already a mess, her mouth openly drooling on the pillow she rested her head on. In her forelegs she hugged another pillow close to her barrel snuggling as close as she could into it. One of her back legs twitched every so often as she snorted in her sleep.

Luna frowned at the hot mess before her. “I just don’t see what he sees in you,” she mumbled to herself. “Sure you’re not that bad looking as far as common ponies go, and even I have to admit your flanks are quite supple. But can they really measure up to my royal posterior? Doesn’t Sombra know that a royal ass just don’t quit?” she snorted. “Perhaps it’s my fault for pairing you up on Nightmare Night. And Sombra was pretty dense on all my advances. If only I had the nerves to be direct with him when I wasn’t in my Nightmare persona, maybe he would have been more open to my advances,” she sighed. “Just don’t think I’ve given up just yet. I admit you’re a worthy opponent though-,” she stopped as she took notice of Lyra’s twitching ear. 
“Oh pony feather she hasn’t been awake this whole time has she?” she silently cursed herself but stopped when she heard a faint noise coming from another part of the house. 

It was whimpering 

Luna barley had enough time to make herself invisible as Lyra’s eyes suddenly snapped open. With a blinding speed the unicorn leapt out of bed and trotted down the hall.

Scootaloo ran.
She trotted at full speed through the woods. She didn’t stop for anything. Not even when the wall of diseased trees turned into the rotten looking wood paneling of house she was all too familiar with. She skidded to a stop to bank into a corner but she ran into the one pony she never wanted to see again.
Miss Merry Weather, 
Her whole being froze as she felt a deathly chill run through her, even though the whole place reeked of a burning humid air that slightly burned their flesh and made it hard to breath.

Miss Merry Weather was a sickly pale Earth Pony with smiling clouds on her flank. She wore a pleasant smile on her face. She smiled down on Scootaloo welcoming her home.
Scootaloo shivered so hard she was sure she had dislocated her spine. 
“You’ve been a naughty filly again. Haven’t you Scootaloo?” Merry Weather tasked stepping forward.

“No, I’ve been a good filly,” Scootaloo squeaked backing up.

“Don’t you lie to me little one. I know you’ve been telling lies again around town.”

“I..”

“You told such a horrible lie to your teacher today. A lie so bad that your teacher had to come here to get the truth from me. You know the lie I’m talking about don’t you Scootaloo? Don’t you?”

Scootaloo gulped she made to turn and run away, but Merry Weather slammed a hoof down on her tail. Scootaloo yelped in pain as Merry Weather brought her muzzle down to whisper in Scootaloo’s ear, “She told me that you claimed that the reason you couldn’t fly was because I clipped your wings. Now why you say something like that?”

Scootaloo risked a glance behind her and saw that Merry Weather’s face was scarred and slightly aflame, “You really shouldn’t tell lies Scootaloo. Even if they are true,” she grinned ear to ear as fire started to whip around her and Scootaloo.

Scootaloo screamed.

Scootaloo jolted awake and began to cry. She didn’t even notice when somepony embraced her and held her close to their chest in a tight hug.

“Shh, it’s okay Scootaloo. I’m right here,” Lyra whispered soothingly into Scootaloo’s ear. She rubbed the distraught filly’s back as she continued to cry into Lyra’s chest. “It was just a bad dream. It’s alright, shh,” she continued to comfort. 

Luna watched from the shadows and mentally berated herself, “I…I should have been doing my duty. Not, not, not stalking some pony out of jealously. I’m sorry Scootaloo,” She watched as Lyra picked up the distraught filly in her magic and walked out of the room. Luna sighed, “But I’m not giving up just yet mint one,” she mumbled before teleporting out of the house.

It was well after midnight when Sombra got off the train that came from Canterlot. He slowly made his way through the town, slightly stumbling from the exhaustion. It took him about ten minutes to reach his house, but he could have swore it took longer. He opened the door with a quick spell and made his way through the house while resealing the door with another spell. He noticed it was quiet, but paid it no mind. He entered his bedroom and stopped in the doorway from the sight he saw. Laying in his bed was his mare friend Lyra laying on her side and snuggled deep into her side was his daughter Scootaloo. Sombra knew that something had happened. Scootaloo wouldn’t voluntary snuggled with a pony she didn’t know that well. But at the moment he was too concerned with getting some rest, he would figure out what happened in the morning. He shed his armor off and climbed into bed. He gave a light kiss to Scootaloo and Lyra on their foreheads before snuggling close to Lyra his barrel resting against her back.