A Flurry of Darkness

by Alyssa Hartwick

First published

Flurry Heart has allways felt ...alone. Sure she had "friends"...but the only reason they hung out with her was beacuse as fate would have it she was a princess. Except for her one true freind, "Mr. Shade". For Nothing Goes better than Cold and Dark.

Dear princess Celestia

Ever Since Flurry Hearts 5th birthday we noticed that she's been playing with her new imaginary friend . "Mr. Shade" Alot, she describes him as a " Magical Smoke pony with pretty green eyes". She says that he tells her many secrets and that if she told us then he would have to go away. We are worried and we would like some advice on the matter. Sincerely Princess Cadence

Celestia read the letter once again. Tears filling her eyes. For that was sent so long ago... "I wish i could have seen the signs sooner...then maybe... she whispered quietly to herself, she broke out into a sob once again wishing she could have done something to change fate for the sake of her dearest niece as well as her daughter...







Hello this is my second story that I have been working on it was inspired by Flurry Heart Wants a Pony By TheDriderPony who let me use this idea! And A Thanks to my editor, The Great n’ Powerful Spellcheck DragonHistorian

Check them out!
I hope you enjoy
(Coverart by me!)

Prologue

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After the events of “The Crystalling”, the Crystal Empire had experienced many years of peace and prosterity, but that was not going to last much longer, for darkness can never be truly extinguished for it lived in the shadows.




It was Flurry Heart’s fifth birthday, and she had everything a filly could want. Toys, friends, servants, great parents and cake! But still she felt rather… distant. She was treated differently than the other filly's and colts because she had a horn and wings. She wanted to be special not because she had magic and flight, she wanted to be special in a different way. She had friends, sure, but none really understood how she felt, And being a five year old she didn't know how to cope with it. So she played along.

Her friends screaming with laughter, the adults chatting, the sounds of her favorite songs playing in the background, but that was all it was. Background noise. So much noise. She felt alone. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a cloud of smoke going through one of the many doors that littered the large hall where the party had taken place. She followed it. Sneaking past all of the ponies in the room, she reached the dark doorway. She looked back to see if any pony had noticed her leaving. Of course none did... they never did they were to busy celebrating her birthday even though she wasn't. Her ears pressed against her head, she walked into the room.

The room was dark. She could not see really much of anything. She turned her head, looking for the smoke she had seen. She then called out.

“Is anypony there?”

She walked deeper into the darkness of the room. She jumped at the sound of the door being closed loudly. She quickly spun around trying to see who had shut it. Seeing nothing, she slowly turned away from the door, still eyeing it. She looked back in front of her and saw two glowing green eyes, flowing with purple magic. Her eyes widened in shock but that was all it was, shock. She was not…afraid. Those eyes were almost....comforting. As she gazed into those green magic filled eyes, she thought how they were the prettiest eyes she had ever seen.

And how she wanted them. Then the smoke spoke ...

“Hello…” , its voice deep and rumbling. Her eyes widened in awe as the shadows in the room gathered to create the shape of a stallion. A red horn had formed on its head, above those green eyes that she could not look away from. She then said "How did you do that?" her voice filled with amazement.

His answer was simple "Magic, what else could it have been?" he said with a sharp toothed smile

Feeling pleased with the answer she received she nodded. Flurry then asked “Where can I get eyes like those?”

The Smoke pony replied with a chuckle, “You have to do many things before you can little one”.

“Please? It’s my birthday!” the filly stated.

“Oh is it now!” The shadow mused. “Yes it is” she said in a matter-of-factly tone.

“But eyes like these are hard to come by you know, I can’t just give them to you” the thing said. She replied with “Okay, then tell where I can get them!” she said, annoyed.

“Well I got them someplace very hard to reach, and not even your mommy can get them” the thing replied. The filly getting angry said “How can I get them, then!” she huffed angrily.

“Hmmmm…” the creature pretended to ponder. “How about we make a deal?" He said. She then asked him "What's your angle mister?" she asked him skeptically. He chuckled at her response for he had not expected her to be this cautious

"I don't have an angle" he said in half truth.

He continued "Here's the deal, If you become my friend, then I can get you pretty eyes like mine, but its going to take a long time but I can teach you things while you wait, that no pony else can teach. Its as simple as that.” the creature said with a mischievous grin. If the filly’s eyes could widen any further, they would have. Her smile was practically radiating off her face.

She joyously said “Okay! Its a deal! she said with the utmost happiness.

" Thank you Mr.…?” She then said questioningly.

“Sombra, but you call me Mr. Shade” He said in an almost fatherly voice. “Thank you Mr. Shade!” she said.

“But” he then said “You can’t tell anypony about the secrets I tell you, especially about the eyes or you won’t be able to see me ever again” He said in a more hushed tone.

She then nodded “I Pinkie promise!” she then proceeded to do the motions “I Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye!”

“Flurry!” Cadence and Shining Armor called. Flurry looked towards the door then back at Mr. Shade. He then Smiled and nodded. Flurry then ran out of the door beaming over her new friend. He was now alone, his eyes glowing softy in the darkness… for he knew that he had already won.

“There you are!” Cadence called in a sing-song voice as she watched as her daughter came out of one of the small guest rooms that lined the large hall. She was about to ask Flurry why she had gone into the room instead of staying and playing with her friends until she saw the huge grin plastered across her baby’s face. “What’s got you so happy, sweetie?” she asked in a sweet tone only a mother could use .

“I made a new friend!” She replied excitedly. “Oh! and who is this new friend!” Cadence replied happily to her as she was glad her daughter has yet again made another friend. Flurry then responded...


“His name is Mr. Shade!”

Chapter 1: Resonance and Lessons

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~ 3 weeks later~

“-And those are the runes that are at the basic level” Sunburst said, setting down the chalk from his aura, concluding the first lesson of the day. As he turned his head towards his only student, he noticed she was drawing. "Flurry!” he called, his voice stern. Flurry, surprised at the sudden call of her name, looked up from her wooden desk that she sat in, littered with drawing of various magical symbols.

She quickly tried to hide her current drawing but failed, due to her magic not cooperating with her, and instead caused her to fall out of her chair in shock sending many sheets of paper, along with the drawing in question, to fly off her desk and onto the floor.

Using his fiery gold aura, Sunburst removed all the papers from the floor. He picked up the drawing that she was working on and began to eye it down, looking at Flurry with an eyebrow raised, then looking back at the paper. His mouth opened as if he was going to speak. Expecting to be yelled at, Flurry closed her eyes tightly and flattened her ears onto her head, waiting for the large amount of scolding to fill her ears like the many times before.

Silence was the only thing to cut through.

Peeking one eye open, she looked at her private teacher and babysitter. Sunburst was looking intently at the drawing, his eyes scanning every inch of the paper. Slowly she lifted her head and unfolded her ears in her confusion. He then spoke, asking, “Flurry…where did you learn how to draw this rune?” he said in a confused tone, it was an advanced Permafrost rune!

“I uh…Learned it in a book I found in the library”

She lied.

Sombra had been teaching her many runes and a few spells in the past three weeks, and she found it rather easy to learn things from him. It was as if he could make her see the things she was learning differently.

“Well this an extremely intricate and advanced rune for someone of your age to be-“Sunburst froze, realizing what he was saying. His eyes opened wider with glee. “I need to tell your parents of this immediately!” He shouted. He then ran out of the small classroom where her lessons took place, a large smile dancing across his face.

Flurry then got up and popped her head out the door. “What about Class!?” she called after him

“You can have the rest of the day off!!!” he shouted back, running into his room to write to Flurry’s parents, who were out on royal business, as well as starlight, who he had been writing too (a lot) about how Flurry was practicing advanced magic on her own.

She finished picking up the papers that had been scatted across the floor by Sunburst running, as well as packing her own things from where she was sitting she started wandering the long halls. Flurry was once again alone in the large cold crystalline halls of the castle she called home , her small hooves clicking against the crystal floor, the sounds reverberating through out the halls ahead of her.

She had been quite lonely lately. It had been about 2 days since she had last seen her friend and her second teacher, Mr. Shade. She wanted something to take the loneness out of her mind. So she then began to sing to herself.

“Alicorns, Princesses, and Things I hate to remember...”

She sung walking through the long corridor lined with many dark rooms.

“But in the dark someone sings, deep inside the shadows."

As she sung a dark cold mist began to form behind her.

“I enjoy things that are cold, but ponies won’t prance through the pretty snow...”

As she walked on, every step she took begun to leave an icy trail on the crystal floor.

“But the sun dances gracefully, across their memories!”

She began to hear what seemed like a choir singing in a haunting tune. Knowing who must have been behind such wonders, she was filled with joy as she began to follow the music. She ran through the halls, searching for the place where her friend, as well as where the sweet sounds of instruments and voices harmonizing were residing. She began singing once again

“Dearest Friend. Hold me safe and warm, Make frigid fears turn to stone!”

“Make me known for who I am, not what they want me to be!”

She found the source of the sounds. It was coming from deep inside the heart of the castle. No pony was allowed down there. But the large rusted iron door was unlocked and flaming red torches leading down the ever looming spiral stone staircase were lit.

She ran down the hard cold stone stairs and kept singing.

“In the dark, No seeds are sown...”

She sang as the flames within the torches began to extinguish behind her.

“The moon as dim as an Ember!”

She felt a cool breeze gently blow past her. She sensed a feeling of calmness rush over her as she continued to sing the haunting melody.

“Things my heart yearns to know...”

“Things filled with such splendor!”

She belted as she had reached the last of the many stone steps.

She then sang quietly in the dark.

“But in the darkness someone sings…..”

A familiar deep voice filled the room.

“Deep inside the shadows…..”

_-()-_

“Welcome to my home little one.” He said gently.

Her eyes filled with wonder at the sights. It was a large crystal filled cave. She felt as if she was on the inside of a geode, filled with color. The crystals that sprung from the ground, the walls and the ceiling all glowed with luminescent light, each shimmering with a different hue. She saw spiraling clouds of inky blackness floating softly at the high ceiling above her. It appeared to almost be absorbing the light that bled into it.

It was simply beautiful.

“How did you find this place?” She said in awe.

"I was banished here" he said calmly

"Oh im sorry..." she said sadly

"Its not your fault. I was a bad pony back then."

His eyes downcast at his memories.

He was brought back by the sound of Flurry sniffling.

Her eyes sad as she hugged his leg tightly. “You’re not a bad pony!” She yelled as she squeezed his leg harder

“You’re just different, like me!” she said.

He looked into innocent eyes, that could not fathom what he had done to ponies during his rule. And what he had planned after he took back the throne.

“Yes, we are just different.” He said simply, as he patted her on the head.

Happy with the answer she had received, she let go of his leg. He rubbed it vigorously trying to get feeling back in his foreleg, as she had been squeezing it so hard it had stopped his blood flow.

He then started explaining to her of the many crystals that surrounded them. How their color represented the type of crystal, and the brightness the power that laid with in.

She asked him in a curious tone, “How did you make the pretty sounds?” , All the while not taking her eyes off of the many colors that flooded her vision.

“Hmmmm?” he responded, confused.

“I mean, like the orchestra and the choir and stuff!” she said this time.

“Oh that.” He said with a light chuckle. “It’s very simple my dear.” he said smirking

“It’s magic!" He said as his magic began to ignite.

The crystals slowly began to glow brighter, bathing the room in a multicolored light. It had gotten so bright it almost blinded the filly. A soft ethereal sound started radiating from deep within the crystals, reverberating inside the large cave.

Then the inky clouds began swirling down, softly churning as it cascaded down towards Flurry. It seemed like an eternity for her, as she watched the clouds slowly spin gently toward the crystalline ground right in front of her.

A mares face appeared from it. It had no eyes and a dark grey face looking to be as smooth as clay. Its mane was of flowing shadow that went all the way up to the ceiling. Its whole body formed from the cloud like shadow its body a solid dark gray color. It gently floating above the ground in front of her.

As soon as its fore hooves touched the ground in front of her, The floor began to vibrate. Wind blew all around her as the swirling inside the black clouds that made up the mares mane also became violent, as if trying to separate its self from the entity. Once the mane touched the ground, it started flooding into the ground acting like ink being pouring into water. She watched as the dark blackness dove into the ground in front of her, shaking the whole room, that was still ringing with the sound of powerful wind and the crystalline tones. She turned away from it to watch how the crystals were reacting.

They looked like large crystalline jars filled with black inky clouds swirling playfully with colorful lightning.

Then the music began to play

The crystals pulsed with music, resonating as sound waves overlapped and bounced off the cavernous walls. Vibrating tones went unheard, only audible to those in the room. The resonance sounded otherworldly, angelic to her ears as a disembodied voice formed from the resonance, one that rang out from the room itself.

It was coming from the entity.

“Your teacher never tells you but he loves you so, yet you only smile just for show!”

The shadow sung to her.

“You're only happy when your sorry head is filled with cold, I hope you be okay till the day you're 17 years old!”

She was confused by the lyrics sung by the shadow mare in front of her, but she was so entranced by the sight and sounds she could not care less.

“You're dripping like saturated moonlight, You're spilling like an overflowing sink...”

Sang the shadow and the crystals around her appeared to be bleeding their color.

“You're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece"

"And now you’re tearing through the pages and the ink!”

Then color flowed from the crystals flowing onto the ground flooding it with the colorful liquid.

“Everything is blue, your heart, your Hooves, but not your destiny!”

Looking at the colorful liquid pulsating at her hooves as it was changing color.

“And now you’re covered in the colors, pulled apart at the seams!”

She looked at her body to see splotches of ink like substance coating small patches of her fur.

“And it's blue!”

”And he’s blue...”

the voice sang as the song started to reach its end.

"Every thing is grey his Heart, his Hopes, and his faded Dreams"

The shadow of a mare sang

"And now he's so devoid of color He don't know what it means"

"And he's blue"

"And he's blue....."

The creature sang before joining back into the cloud of blackness

Flurry looked at Sombra, sad over the silence that had now engulfed the room. His were eyes unfocused, his horn glowing softly with magic.

The room slowly returned back to its original state. The colors flowed back to their respective crystalline homes and the shadows returned to their cloud like state.

He noticed the curious face of flurry eyeing him.

"why did the music have to stop? she asked sad that the song had to stop

"Because even magic has its limits young one" he said calmly

Noticing his answer didn't stick with the filly for she still looked confused he then explained in further detail.

"The dark magic formed by the compacted shadows radiates towards the crystals and the crystals absorb it and in turn create a luminescent glow which creates the light that the shadows absorb creating a symbiotic relationship between the two magic types" he in triumph

still not hearing from the filly he looked at a very confused flurry

" a symbi- what now?" she said in con fusion

He face hoofed knowing that he should have known better that to explain this to her the way he did.

He sighed in defeat and said " The crystals eat magic from the pretty clouds and the clouds eat the light from the crystals and after the music they get sleepy and need to rest"

She nodded at his answer finally understanding what he had said.

"Oh....ok" she said in understanding

His eyes softened at her behavior. He gave a reassuring smile and said “ You may come here any time you wish to visit me when we aren’t doing lessons. Does that sound alright to you young one? “He said warmly.

Excited about the news she bounced around the room in joy. She the spread her wings and took off in to the air and flew around the bright room shouting "WHOOO HOO!" exitedly

She then shouted from the air. “I’m guessing I can’t tell my parents about this neither huh?”

He laughed heartily at that and shouted back. “What else can I say! I am a magical shadow pony after all little one!”

She flew straight past him causing a powerful gust of wind to blow past him. Knocking him to his haunches. She laughed tauntingly at him as she gently landed a few yards. “Why you little-“he began to say as he was running after her as screams of laughter filled the room.“I’m going to getcha!”He yelled after her before intonating the game of chance.


It was a good day

Chapter 2: Memories and Adorability

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Sombra walked up the long stone staircase quietly, a passed out Flurry on his back. After playing chase for a good hour, the filly decided they should play a game of hide and seek, for she was getting tired from all the running and flying.

_-()-_

Young one where are yo-“ He was saying, before he saw something that did not surprise him, but still caught him off guard.

Flurry Heart had curled up against a warm fire crystal, and had passed out. Sombra swore that it was one of the cutest things he has ever seen in his life.

He facehoofed, he was the king of shadows and crystals for Faust’s sake! How did he find some small filly cute?! He looked back at the filly snoring on the ground, and sighed in defeat. She was adorable. No way around it.

He watched her sleep for a moment. He then remembered that she needed to get to bed for two reasons. One being that if her parents could not find her, both him and Flurry would be in trouble, and two, the floor did not look all that comfortable.

He gently nuzzled the little filly to try to wake her. She opened her eyes sleepily looking up at the large grey blob towering over her.

“What?...” She said groggily.

You need to go to-“ He began to say, before the filly laid her head back down, as her snoring once again filled the room.

“Really?” He said mockingly.

Come on, let’s get you to bed young one.” He said softly, before using his magic to lift the sleeping Flurry off of the floor and on to his back.

Flurry felt weightless in her dream, before she felt like she was being placed on a squishy fuzzy and warm surface. She nuzzled into her new bed, finding it comforting, before her dreamscape took over her mind once again.

_-()-_

He slowly pushed open the steel door, trying to stay as quiet as possible. He did not want to get them caught, nor did he want to wake the filly. His hoof steps echoed through the large crystal halls as navigated through them. He remembered when those halls were his.

He sighed at the memory. He then started thinking about when he was banished by the crystal heart, and trapped in the caves below the castle.

After escaping his thousand-year banishment he tried to enslave the ponies of the crystal empire again, only to be banished once again in the same day.

He was imprisoned in his cage for three more years before something happened.

_-()-_

Sombra was pacing through his large crystalline cave. His crystal shackles jingled as he navigated throughout the colourful cave system.

This place is going to be my tomb…” He thought bitterly as he walked.

He suddenly found himself at a dead end… again.

I’m never going to escape this place am I!?” He yelled in frustration, as he banged his head on a particularly large ice crystal that jutted from the ground next to him.

He pressed his head against the cool object as his temper cooled off. Attempting to remove his head before it froze on to the large Crystal, he realized it was too late.

Oh Great! What else could possibly go wrong!?” He nearly yelled in anger.

As he attempted to summon a heat spell to get his face unfrozen from the stupid rock, a splitting pain erupted from his horn.

Oh buck me!” he shouted in annoyance and anger

His horn had also froze to the thing.

Placing his hooves on either side of his head, he pushed against the shiny piece of rock, attempting to remove his head from this situation.

BANG!

A large shattering noise shook the cave instantly, peeling his now shocked face from the rock.

He fell onto his back in shock. He looked up at a partially large lava crystal that was hanging above him. The room was still shaking violently from whatever was happening. Looking at the crystal above, his eyes widened in horror as the thing suddenly broke free from the high ceiling.

AHHH!!!” He screamed, as he shot up and started running from his impending doom. He barely escaped being crushed by the thing, its heat singing the end of his black smoky tail… which caught on fire.

Why me!” He screamed, as he ran from the tidal wave of spewing hot lava that was trailing behind him. More lava crystals fell in to the river of boiling hot death, seeming to want to join in on this deadly game of chase.

He suddenly found a small opening into much smaller cavern. He dove into the small hole, using his magic to drag rocks behind him, so the lava would not follow. He slid uncontrollably for a long distance, for he was still panicked.

That was until he made contact.

Ding!

He went face first into a steel door. If sompony was on the other side, they would have seen an indent of a really unhappy and unamused ponies face.

_-()-_

Flinching at the memory, Sombra brought his hoof to his muzzle, rubbing it apologetically at the abuse it had gone through.

He looked around and realized something, as a familiar feeling hit him.

Aaand I’m lost.” He said quietly, before facehoofing.

All the halls looked the same to him. At least when he ruled, he had signs and directions so his soldiers and slaves would not get lost. He was such a benevolent ruler, or so he thought.

He turned his head back to Flurry. He did not want to wake her up as ask her for directions. She looked so peaceful as she slept.

He smiled. He remembered how terrifying she was when he first saw her. He shivered at the memory. No filly, not even an alicorn filly should look like that. Ever.

Her baby self and her present self were stark contrasts of each other.

How could such a nightmare inducing baby turn into such a cute and gentle filly? He asked himself.

He remembered when he first laid eyes on her…

So Creepy!

A Plan Forged and Lullabys

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As Sombra continued to walk the vast halls of the crystal castle, he thought of the events leading up to him meeting Flurry for the first time.

_-()-_

As he was yanking his face from the cold metal door, a loud pop resounded throughout the room. His face now free, but he was now tumbling backward until his back hit a water crystal.

He sat there watching as little birdies flew around his head. He shook his head to regain his senses once more. Slowly he stood up, his legs still sore from both running, and freeing himself from…the door!

He looked up at the metal door, now dented with a handsome imprint, if he could say so himself. He trotted up to the door, expectant, he didn’t know what to expect. Guards? The elements of harmony? The princesses? A DRAGON?!

He paused in front of the door, pondering whether or not he should go through. But he thought about how it might lead him to freedom. And Freedom was definitely worth the risk!

He slowly pushed open the unhappy metal door with his forehoof, to be met by a large looming stone staircase to which, for all he could see, only led up. He sighed as he felt his legs screaming at him not to go up the accursed stairs. He knew no matter how much his legs begged with him, he was going to do it.

So, with this in mind, he began his trek.

_-( 125 steps later)-_

He should have listened to his legs. His hooves were cramping and his legs were now pleading to Celestia of all ponies to save them from this fate. But he kept crawling...

Even though it sucked.

Sombra looked up once more Expecting to see more stone stairs. He was surprised. He saw a metal door. He sighed in relief as he crawled his way to freedom. Using his magic, he opened the door to be met by a beautiful sight.

Light! Real natural sunlight!

He never thought he would be so happy to see it.

He crawled out into the hallway, overjoyed that he had escaped his prison.He was still sad that he had left his friend, Wilson behind. But it was to late. The lava had already claimed the poor rock.

Sombra shook the thought from his head, as he remembered the brief time where is mind broke and begun talking to the rock. But he knew, deep down, he would never forget him.

The king of shadows slowly got off the floor even though his legs still protested.He looked and saw nothing but crystal halls. He knew his walk wasn’t nearly over yet but before he could even take a step...

“FLURRY!” A feminine voice called out.

Sombra turned his head toward the voice. He looked in horror, as he watched an alicorn Twilight Sparkle running towards him.He quickly ducked into the stairway before he could be spotted. He watched as Twilight ran through the hall way in a panic.

Sombra felt so confused at the moment as so many questions ran through his brain.

Why is she an alicorn?” “How is she an alicorn?” “Why is she panicked?” “And why is she looking for sompony named Flurry?

So many questions went through his head, as he stepped back into the hallway. He looked left and right before he began to walk once more though the crystal halls.

_-()-_

He had been walking for a straight hour. He had been ducking behind pillars and doors to avoid the random ponies that were running around like chickens after a rain storm.

And all of them were calling out the same name.

Flurry Heart?” Sombra spoke aloud

He had no clue who they were looking for, and why they were looking for them, and at this point, he was getting annoyed by hearing that name every 5 minutes.

Suddenly, a fiery pain shot through his body. He immediately collapsed on the floor, as he griped his head from the unbearable pain. He felt as if his horn was splitting in two.

His eyes glowed an even darker green than usual, as the purple magic that flowed from his eyes, thrashing violently into the air. He didn’t know what was happening, and all he felt was a searing pain explode through his body.

Then the world went black.

_-()-_

Sombra opened his eyes. The world appeared way too bright as he closed them once more. He tried to move but a sore ache echoed through his body as he stirred once more.

With his eyes still shut, he sat up.

He slowly opened his eyes as he used a hoof to shade away some of the light. Before long, his eyes began to adjust to the brightness. His heart dropped at what he saw.

Ponies. Ponies everywhere

He felt panic grip him. He backed up against the wall, closing his eyes as he waited to be noticed by the many ponies around him.

He sat there for five minutes, waiting to be captured. Yet nothing happened. He opened his eyes in confusion. He looked around as he watched the ponies walking through the halls or talking to one another.

Slowly, he slid down, off of the wall and on to his hooves. Still weary, he began to walk forward into the middle of the hallway. As he walked, he looked at the ponies around him. Not one looked back.

He stepped in front of ponies. The acted as if he wasn’t there. He waved his hooves in front of them. He did everything he could. And yet they didn’t see him.

This was strange to him.

Cautiously, he began walking once more. As he walked the halls, he watched as ponies lived their lives. How could they not see him? Fear him? How could they not see the king of shadows himself, as he graced them with his presence?

These thoughts clouded his mind as he walked through the halls. As he walked he soon found himself alone once more. He noticed a room. Two guard ponies stood there at full attention at the doorway.

He scoffed.

He walked up to the guards and stuck out his tongue. Then he proceeded to wave is hindquarters in another guard’s face. This went on for a good two minutes before he grew bored.

He then looked into the room. It was dark.

As he stepped inside he felt as precious darkness etched its way back into him. A feeling he hadn’t felt in years. Suddenly he heard a sound.

“Buwaba!” The small voice cooed again.

He looked to the center of the room. What he saw perplexed him.

A crib, a baby crib.

He walked over to it, why was a crib being guarded? As he looked in the crib, a small bundle was gently moving. And above the bundle, a small plaque read the name “Flurry Heart”. He instantly put two and two together.

A princess....” Sombra said in awe as he looked at the squirming little figure. He gently used his magic to try and unwrap the little tike. But She beat him to it.

Sombra jumped in shock at the sight. “What in darkness’s name!” He called out in horror.

A small white alicorn with purple and pink hair laid wide awake. It had comically large wings and its eyes were that of a monster. Well, that’s what Sombra thought.

The small filly made little noises as it wiggled around in its crib. Sombra had an evil idea. He crept up towards the crib, as he turned his body into shadow. Slowly he crept up the crib.

RAWR!” He called out attempting to scare the filly. The filly stared at him for a second. But the only response he got was a giggle, as the filly reached up towards him.

He stared at the little filly. An evil plan began to form in his mind. He smiled a sharp toothed grin at the filly. She sat there giggling up at the strange black blob.

Sleep now little Flurry..."

He began to sing, as his plan began to forge in his mind.

Let your dreams take wing..."

He sang as he moved around the crib.

One day when your big and strong,”

You will make me King!”

The baby gurgled sleepily up at the blobby figure.

Good night little princess, soon we will rule Equestria.”

He sang as he left the room.

_-(back at the cave of crystals)-_

I've been exiled, persecuted and left alone with no defense!

He sang as he walked through the maze of crystals.

And when I think of what they did to me..."

I GET A LITTLE TENSE!

He sung as he used his magic to decimate a fire crystal, its flame's lighting up the room in a hellish red glow.

But I dream a dream so hellish, so that I don’t feel so obsessed,

It soothes my inner demons, and helps me get some rest!"

The sound of Cadence’s dying gasp, her daughters power in my grasp, her husband’s mournful cry!

He sang as he turned to shadows, his smoke like body absorbing all the light in the room.

THAT’S!"

MY!"

LULLABY!

He sang, as the only thing lighting the room was his glowing green eyes.

_-(Present day)-_

Sombra sighed in relief. He had finally found Flurry’s room. Using his magic, he lifted the filly off of his back. After he tucked her in he began to walk out.

“Wait” a small voice called out.

Sombra stopped and turned back toward the bed. “Yes young one?” he asked her.

“Can you sing me a lullaby...

Can I do what?” he asked once more.

“Can you sing me a lullaby…

Little one I don’t know what your- “He began

“Can you please sing me a lullaby!” she squeaked out.

He looked at her with a small smile. But it quickly faded.

Flurry was sitting up in her bed holding her plush bear tightly as tears began to stream down her face.

Shhhhhh little one, what’s wrong?” he said calmly as he sat down next to the bed.

“Mommy used to sing me a lullaby before I go to bed but….” She began to choke on her sobs.

But what young one?” he asked as worry etched into his brow.

“SHE’S NEVER HERE, AND WHEN SHE IS, SHE’S TOO TIRED AND DOESN'T SPEND ANY TIME WITH ME ANYMORE!” She shouted through the sobs.

Shhh, Shhh. It’s alright little one” He said as he jumped up on the bed and proceeded to hug her.

She cried into his chest. They sat like that for a few minutes.

He sang. “Dear little Flurry, Dear little Flurry La, La, La, La!

Flurry giggled at that.

I used to wonder what friendship could be! Dear little Flurry!

Until you shared its magic with me!” He sang loudly.

Flurry laughed and cried at the same time. And Sombra laughed as well.

Eventually they stopped laughing. Flurry yawned.

Sombra smiled and hopped off the bed, before tucking her in.

He turned to leave once again, before a small voice piped up once again.

“What about my lullaby?” She said, with big eyes and a small smile.

Sombra groaned with a smile.

Fine...then I'll sing you a lullaby.” He said.

And sing he did.