When new threat appears, a new, unexpected and unlikely ally offers his help. After all, he is the only known specialist on fear magic.
Something new lurks in the shadows. Something feeding off the fear. And while it sure helped one pony to ressurect himself, it's still a threat to whole ponykind. There will be hard decisions to make, unlikely alliances to keep and impossible goals to achieve. All of that in the name of living through another day.
Fear magic is a tricky thing. It changes both the target and the caster. Only the most powerful unicorns can handle casting it more than three, four times. Yet, there was one certain unicorn, who mastered it. It didn't help him when the Crystal Heart exploded him to pieces though. The broken horn was all that was left of him. Laying in the snow, waiting.
Several years later
Canterlot was two steps from anarchy. Ponies were too scared to leave their homes after dark. The aura of fear was so thick one could cut it with a knife. Something was stirring fear in the darkness, lurking in the shadows. Everypony could feel it. Especially Princess of the Night, Luna.
"This doesn't make any sense..." Celestia whispered to herself while walking to the main chambers of Canterlot Castle.
"Sister, something's very wrong!" Luna yelled, while opening the throne room doors.
"I know, Luna. Something's changed. Reports are coming from everywhere. Ponies are scared off their lives. Some are even going missing."
"It's not only that! Almost every dream is a nightmare! For every dream solved, two next appear! It's like something is making people scared on purpose!"
"I came to the very same conclusions, sister. Something is making these ponies fear their own shadows."
Meanwhile
Blizzards around the Crystal Empire never cease to exist. They just change their place, circling around the empire itself, stopped by the Crystal Heart in the center of it. Even when the summer comes, the snow does not disappear. The Eternal Iceland got it's name not because it sounds nice.
If someone wandered here at night, he would see a red light from under the snow. Luckily for the source of the light, any ordinary ponies wandering through the Icelands at night would freeze to death in about 10 seconds. For something like this, witnesses are burden to take care of. The light was becoming stronger and stronger, until it exploded, vaporising the snow around it. In the center of the explosion, a silhouette could be seen. A silhouette with curved horn.
"I'm alive! Freezing Wastes, I didn't even believe it would work, but I am alive!"The pony yelled and sniffed the air. His face changed from a smile to a very serious expression. "Oh. This smells like trouble."
Canterlot, the city of royalty, the city that never sleeps, etc. I always liked this place. Almost two-thirds of the city has second life, far apart from their humble official persona. Ponies who normally are showering the poverty with bits might be kingpins of the criminal underworld; shy, antisocial ones might be going to clubs at night. I blend in here pretty well, i guess: on the surface, grey unicorn without any distinctive features or traits (mainly because of illusion spells, but it's still nothing compared to make up of some mares here), while under all of that, I am the great tyrant king who feeds his magic on fear. Well, you know what they say, the looks might be misleading. And what exactly am I doing here? Well, I am going to meet my natural enemies for calm, peaceful, civil talk about dangerous creatures that might destroy ponykind. I am sure it will go well. And who knows, maybe their dungeons are made out of chocolate. Same chance.
***
Guarding the door to the palace is a boring job, but the guard didn't have anything to say about that. Or about anything at all. If anypony caught him slacking, the sergeant would know. He always knows. And once he knows, hell begins.
Suddenly, as if summoned by thoughts of the guard, the sergeant appeared, furious as never before.
***
Well, that was easy. Quick nightmare spell and he's too occupied with his fears. Also, really? The thing he fears the most is his sergeant? Frozen Wastes, this is kinda pathetic. Now that I am in, I should conceal my presence and try to find the Royal Sisters. Well, lock me for thousand years if this is not a pretentious title. Not that I, King Sombra (shadow, get it? Frozen Wastes, this joke was stupid even during first 100 years of my rule), Great Tyrant of Crystal Empire have anything to say about that. Well, the most important thing was the fear around it. You see, when using black magic, you got to power it somehow. And unlike the goody-good light magic, it doesn't work on friendship, love and vomi... i mean, other good emotions. And while it works fine powered by wrath, it's so much better when it's powered by fear towards the caster. During my good days, I was able to fight both of the Princesses at the same time. They kicked my ass nonetheless, but I was able to fight! I even trapped the younger one in a nightmare! Oh, look, pair of doors! A pretty big pair of doors at that. And two powerful beings behind them. Jackpot. Now, let's gather some information. And by that, I mean eavesdropping, of course.
"...Reports of nightmares, reports about missing ponies, it's all the same bad news! Luna, did the EIA send anything useful?"
"Dragons are migrating, Griphons are closing borders and changeling double agents were given orders to get back to the hive. It's like everyone knows something, but nothing specific. The only safe zone for now is Crystal Empire, But Cadance says it's starting even there. Whatever is the source, it's something dangerous. Something is spreading fear all over Equestria. Your student is investigating too, but she knows nothing new as well."
"Twilight is brilliant, but too young and näive. I don't really think she will discover anything about this. Even the Friendship Map is not showing anything! Are you sure it's not Tantabus again?"
"We talked about this, sister. And I am still sorry for that." Celestia sighed.
"Sorry, Luna, but this situation is just so... frustrating! We don't know the source, we don't know how to stop it and not a single, pony, dragon, changeling or gryphon will tell us any useful information!"
Well, if this is not a straight line, i don't know what is!
***
Suddenly, the double doors to the throne room opened, and a gray unicorn stepped through them.
"Ladies, I think I have the answers you are looking for!"
Silence.
Really heavy silence.
Suddenly...
BZZZZZZT!
Golden ray of magic appeared at Celestia's horn and aimed for the uninvited guest's head. But, just milimeters from his face, it changed its course by several degrees and burnt the right wing of the door to ashes.
"Oy, this was dangerous! If I didn't know better, I would think you tried to kill me on the spot!"
"And what makes you think i did not want to do that, King Sombra?"
Luna just watched the battle of wits and magic with open mouth and no clue what's going on. "King Sombra? Weren't he more... shadowy? I mean, this unicorn looks so plain. There is no way he could be..." she tought, but then she noticed the green gleam in his eyes.
"I did not come here to fight!" he said, as he summoned a shield bubble around himself.
"Then you should not come here at all!" Celestia answered as she shoot more magic at him. Arrows made out of light disappeared when they contacted the shield.
"Oh come on, I am here to exchange some informations and all I get are death threats and lasers! I tought you are supposed to be civil, noble and peaceful Princess of Equestria! I personally swear on my magic that I shall not actively try to harm you or your subjects for the time of negotiations, should they occur, and a week after that!"
Now both Princesses opened their eyes wide. Breaking an oath placed on ones magic made it ultimately impossible to use it for time being, sometimes even forever. Even this vile tyrant would think twice before breaking it. Celestia sighed and said:
"... I suppose we have to agree. After all, you risked everything to talk to us, so it might be important. But remember, King Sombra, should it be a trick, you will end up with a fate much worse than some inhabitants of Tartarus."
"The threats again... Eh, I guess I have to work with what i get."
His slight smile did not change for a whole time of a fight.
***
Frozen Wastes, I hope my poker face held straight, or I might as well pack my belongings for a visit in Tartarus. She is even more scary than 1000 years ago! What did even happen during the temporal banishment of the Crystal Empire? Or during the time of my revival? I even heard they burnt out magic out of Tirek! I shall never ever again do something as stupid as just walking into a room with several immortal beings powered by insane magic, while being armed only with a smug smile myself. Peaceful, civil, noble Princess my ass! Good thing Luna was too dumbfounded by my stupidity and her sister's quick wits, or there wouldn't be a need for a coffin. Just a broom and a jar. Well, now that I gave an oath on my magic (leaving some escape space in it for myself, should I have to run away really fast and not care about ponies in the way. It's not ACTIVELY try, which means that if someone dies during my daring escape, well, not my fault! Tee-hee-hee, I am so evil), things got pretty civil, but I am not going to relax yet. After all, the fight was the easy part. The hardest part of the negotiations is still before me.
You have never seen a true uncomfortable silence. Really, trust me. Well, unless you did sit with your two sworn enemies at the negotiation table and didn't know how to start so your head would not need reattachment. And every second i was silent, they were getting more impatient. Frozen Wastes, I really have to start thinking about what the Tartarus I am doing. Who am I kidding, I would never follow a plan. Alright then, let's see if Lady Luck still laughs at my antics.
"I bet you are wondering, how could i possibly know anything about this situation. Well, to enlighten you, this stuff here is fear magic. Not a refined one, mind it, but it's still a really crude fear magic."
"Sombra, if this is somehow tied to you..."-Celestia hissed through her teeth
"Well aren't You a little miss Sunshine. Get it? Sunsh..." I suddenly felt really hot beam fly centimeters past my head.
"Sombra, I might tolerate you, but puns are where I draw a line. Are we clear?"
"Crystal, Miss Peace Incarnate." She really should just stop scaring me. It would be hard to understand if I start to stutter.
"Yeah, well, anyway, if this was my job, why would I come here and ask you for help to stop it?"
"It can be an elaborate trap of yours!"
"Sister, please, be reasonable."-Luna said, while drinking some coffee. Not a morning pony, eh?-"If this was his doing, he would stay silent untill he gathers enough power to defeat us. He said it himself, it's fear magic."
Well, colour me impressed, this girl knows some stuff. It seems she remember her times as so called Nightmare Moon (Frozen Wastes, what is it with us evil ponies and our evil titles? I mean, really, every single one of them is so edgy it hurts). At least i won't have that much to explain.
"Alright, let's start with the basics. What do you know about dark magic??"
"It's powered by dark emotions, it's used for illusions, curses, offensive spells and such. You can use it for universal spells like levitation as well."-Celestia answered.
"Answer straight out of a book. Yet, you forgot something. It can also be used for creation. The most basic thing to create are crystals of course, because of their structure. Also, the first part of your answer is incomplete as well. It's powered by dark emotions, but some are more efficient than the others. For example, when using anger as the source, I can use only my own anger, while when using fear and hate, I can use the emotions felt towards me. In other words, Celestia, right now, you are making me stronger."- Wow, that earned a glare. I coughed and said- "What your kingdom is experiencing right now is something close to the dark magic, probably even called by such. I guess you know about changelings?"-and that earned some embarassed looks. I probably shouldn't gloat about my knowledge of their failures.
"Yes, we know about them. We even made an alliance with one hive, which turned away from their typical behavior."
"Yeah, I heard about it. Something about bugs turning into butterflies. Anyway, current situation is caused by their close cousins. You should know that everything on this world is in harmony. So, if something feeds on love..."
"Something has to feed on fear. Curses, we are dense."-Luna finished my sentence, ending with an unflattering opinion about themselves.
***
Heavy silence after this sentence was suddenly broken by Celestia.
"...That sounds too convenient for you to wake up in such times."
"When you are such a master in dark magic, you can redirect fear subconsciously and use it for your own spells. Seems that even when only part of me survived the explosion of love, it was enough to use all that fear hovering in the air."
And just like that, he sold the information about how he came back to live. All with the exact same self-confident smile.
"... Are you trying to tell us that you used the twisted version of phoenix magic?"
"Well, consider this cat out of a bag. I studied phoenixes for a very long time, because, you see, I don't have weird alicorn infinite life-span magic myself. When I heard that you are living so long that you've seen Equestria being made, I was kinda jelous, so i began my research."
"...Incredible. Even Starswirl failed at recreating the magic of rebirth."-Luna said with bewilderment.
"Let's go back to the topic. We will have to wait for Princess Twilight to make a decision. As a reward for your honesty, you can freely walk around Canterlot, but if you leave outside the boundary of the city or stir chaos inside it, I will make sure there is nothing left of you to regenerate from."
***
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! Why in the Frozen Wastes did I tell them how I came back to life? Am I stupid or just dense? For love of Harmony, I should really just call Celestia fat and wait for death. Well, except of that... personal failure, everything went out just fine. I can even walk around Canterlot, imagine that. At least before the Princess of Nerds arives. I have a feeling she hates me a lot. Well, then, one more thing. I hope they won't kill me on spot for that.
"Uhhh... Now, I am kinda embarassed to ask my nemesis for that, but I am kinda out of money." Oh Frozen Wastes, the look on their faces. From surprise to anger and then to laugh. I will have to live with that memory for eternity.
"I guess you can't regenerate with personal belongings. And what exactly do you need that gold for?" Celestia asked with a really malignant smile. Ooooh, I will smite you for that one day.
"I am in Canterlot for the first time. Last time I visited your capital city, it was in Everfree. Is it wrong to want to go sightseeing a bit?" Blatant lie, I just want to go out for a drink, far away from this violent, crazy, old witch. Also, I've seen this city before it became the capital of Equestria and even planted some surprises under it. Maybe that's why they stopped mining crystals here.
"I guess we can lend you some money, with a fee, of course." Celestia, there is a certain place in Tartarus for ponies like you.
"And do you mind telling me how could I pay you back any money with my Kingdom stolen from me?" I mean, I won't just give them gold I have stacked in the Crystal Mines under their great capital. I can't really get it right now, because I am sure they will put a spy on my tail, in case it's all "elaborate trap of mine". I can lose the tail all right, but if I disappear for even a moment, it will put a giant target shield on my head.
"I guess your help with this... problem will be enough to pay for this." Oh, finally, she's resonable. I will remember this embarassment, Celestia, and I will pay you back in kind.
"Well then, I guess I will go out and see how did Equestria change in the last millenium. And, please, if you need to call me, don't use guards. It's a royal pain to create a new disguise that won't attract unneeded attention." And like that, I walked out of the Throne Hall. Enough of this, time to investigate (and have fun) around the city.
While I walked out of the Palace, the first place I went to was clothing shop. While i can just use a spell to store the money, most ponies think it looks suspicious when somepony opens a void and pulls something out of it. Like that, I acquired a short, black coat (why black? Because i like it, duh! Yeah, I know, cliché. At least it's not a trenchcoat) and enchanted it's pockets so i could store almost anything inside them. If I tried to buy pre-enchanted one, I would have to spend a small fortune. It sure feels good to be a talented unicorn.
Anyway, now, properly dressed and with a way to store the gold, I began walking through the city, marveling again at the two-faced nature of it's inhabitants. If i had conquered the Equestria as I planned to, I would probably leave Canterlot as it is, just for the amusement. Oh, I can only imagine the backstabbing and machinations, conflicts of interests and clashes of gangs, all of that under a guise of the most civilised city of ponykind. But all of it had to be ruined by a baby dragon and dead tired alicorn thrown by her crippled husband. And to think I didn't believe that weird zebra fortune teller when he warned me about it thousand years ago. Ehh, I guess I just have to behave for now and wait for a chance to make a new empire. This time I will not be that stupid to leave a dangerous shield relic still intact to study it's power and just forge another one that only i can use.
***
After a while of walking, I got to the entertainment part of the city. Oooooh boy. This is some major tier stuff. Drug dealers, that new "electronic" music, whatever the Tartarus that means, clubs, drunk ponies... You name it, it's here. But, thank Harmony, there are also normal pubs here. Okay, so I guess i will start looking over there in, let me look at the name... ah right, in the "Crooked Horseshoe". Such an entertaining name. I trotted through the door and immedietally felt slight dark aura inside. Jackpot! I sat at the bar, ordering some beer from a really shady looking bartender, released some of my magic from behind my disguise and watched the customers of this cozy, welcoming place.
There you are, my little friend! Now, don't look around, you won't find me anyway. Just like you, i have hiden the source of the energy. But, unlike you, I have years of experience with using it, young drone. Now, let's sip a bit more energy out... Oh wow, he's becoming rather scared himself. How does it feel to become a prey, little hunter? Wow, this beer is good. I guess having a keg on your ass really makes you a brewmaster, dear bartender. Anyway, i just felt an energy spike, so let's look at our little guy over there... Hmm, nice disguise, but a bit flashy. Oh, wait a minute, new energy frequency, let me look at the new customers... Frozen Wastes, are they all disguising as the decoys or what? Every single one of them is so colourful it hurts my eyes! Ooooh, now, those are professionals. It seems this guy over there is just a scout. Those are the ones that get the job done. They hide their energy almost perfectly, but they've got too much of it to hide all of it... at least if you didn't have 150 years to study the stealth spells. Ah, they spotted an unkown energy pattern. But they are not looking around like idiots, they are going straight to their little friend. Pros, huh? This will be fun!
***
Therendix didn't have a nice evening. He was a scout of the hive, one of the victim spotters. Yet, lately, those stupid ponies became paranoid. While it's a good thing for the hive itself, as they were becoming more powerful the more fear was in the air, it was a royal pain for spotters like him. Hard to make a pony come alone to some secluded place when they are too scared to do that. But, hey, at least he was not a worker in the hive itself. Something was really wrong there. The Queen was not as she used to be. Mimics (as they called themselves) were supposed to be stealthier than their cousins changelings. Instead of kidnapping, they used more psychological means of inducing fear. Lately though, all of her speeches were full of phrases like "world domination" and "getting back what's rightfully ours".
But now, all these problems were becoming trivial. All he could feel was fear, because of that weird essence he felt. It didn't feel all powerful, but it was subtle and he had a feeling that the source had much, much more of it. Where is it coming from? Therendix looked around the pub, but he couldn't find anything suspicious... well, anything more suspicious than usual customers. But he also felt that something was making him not see the source and that terrified him to the core. Mimics were supposed to be resistant to mind magic, yet, he clearly felt that something was wrong. It was time to send a call for help. With a spell that was disguised as normal telekinesis, mimic sent a short signal, which alarmed all other mimics nearby. Yes! Someone answered! Oooooh. Oh shit. It's the soldiers.
Soldiers were the sword and shield of the hive. They did the hard job like kidnapping powerful unicorns or even killing the resistance. They were also a military police in the hive. This was going to cost him dearly. But, hey, at least he will live, right?
As the squad of soldiers entered the bar, they clearly felt the energy as well. Yet, they didn't look around like he did, they went straight to Therendix.
"What is the meaning of this?"-their leader asked.
"Code 206-A"-Therendix answered.
This was a codename of the signal. It meant: Danger to the personnel, need backup. Using it was prohibited unless something really dangerous happened, because it could blow the disguises of every mimic involved.
"Did you acquire sights of the danger?"
"It's somewhere here in the pub. Also, It uses the MCM capable of getting through our resistance."
MCM. Mind control magic. Now the squad looked unnerved as well.
"Proof?"
"Try looking around."
One of the soldiers on the back tried, a confused look on his face became a really frightened one.
"He's right, captain. We should go. We must report this"
"Okay then. SD-1427, you will come with us." SD-1427. His codename. SD meant scouting drone, while 1427 meant he was a 1427th drone born in the hive.
"Affirmative."
Therendix grabed his saddlebags, downed his beer and said.
"Ready to go."
***
Oh, going already? Damn, and I really wanted to drink some more of this delicious brew. I thanked the bartender and he raised an eyebrow. Seems like being well mannered in places like this is strange. Well, let's tail this party of bugs. I casted a tracking spell, with a hiding spell immediately after it. Now they shouldn't be able to feel either my energy or the spell i just casted on them. Let's see where you will bring me to, hmm? Oh, nice, a stealth spell! Too bad that I am tracking you right now! I guess I will stay fully visible. If they notice me following them, they might run home even faster.
***
Therendix followed the Soldiers out of the pub. Everything seemed normal, except he still could feel the presence of something much, much more dangerous than anything he ever met, well, maybe besides the Queen herself. Probably. His stronger brothers clearly felt it as well, as they immediately fastened the pace, heading to downtown. Many secluded alleys and dark places made it a perfect place for escape or even ambush if the enemy follows them. Shit, he just wanted to go back to hive and hide for few days. He clearly done enough lately.
As they entered the downtown, he felt the malicious presence even harder then before. There, he pissed himself on a spot. Shit, this is embarassing. Soldiers just looked at him, not even disgusted, but with stares full of pity and understanding. They were not going to laugh at him. Not when they were feeling it too. If they survive this, they sure will become best brothers in hive. Heh, drone can dream, right?
"See that alley? We called backup. Whatever is tailing us, it's going to meet two full squads of Soldiers."- the captain said-"We are not alone, little one"
Therendix was not sure if captain tried to convince him or rather himself.
***
Hah! This guy pissed himself right when i just threw a little bit of my magic at them. This shit is priceless!
Yeah, ehm, anyway, it seems they are going to ambush me. Good luck with that. What? Do i sense more targets? Yes, yes I do! Now, how to hide the evidence so Celestia doesn't hang me by balls... Meh, just go with the flow, I guess. I will worry about cleaning when it's done. Time for some prime time fun. With extra gore.
Now, let's see. One, two, three, four, five... wow, that's nice. Another ten of pros. So about twenty fighters, as I doubt the watersports scout will be much of a fighter. They clearly tried to not underestimate me. At least they tried. Too bad this is far from enough. Now, I guess i will kill the commander and the scout drone last, because they might know something about this sticky situation. Heh, sticky, get it? Because they are bugs! Hah. Good one.
***
As i left the slightly burned alley, now cleaned from the blood of the "mimics", i started recollecting the news i just got from my dearest little informant, Therendix (he will be missed by everyone, I bet). The hive queen going bonkers. Change of strategy. Fear gathering and fear spreading. Someone is doing a hell of a job and he even convinced a freakin hive queen of mimics to help him. Damn, that's hell of a work. If I ever meet that guy, I am going to give him a pat on the back. With a knife, if possible, but still. Now i bet the Little Miss Sunshine and the Moon Moon want to hear that as well. And who knows, maybe I will have some laugh at the Miss Best Student. I think she should be here by now...
KRA-THUUUUUM
THE FUCK WAS THAT? Wait, is that a sonic rainboom? Okay, nice way of calling me, but we have to talk about the meaning of SUBTLE, Celestia! This is by far the least subtle thing you have done besides nearly burning me to death with a laser this afternoon... several times... Okay, i think i am beginning to see a pattern here.
At least i know they are indeed ready for the news. And i hope no one noticed the smell of burning bugs. It was hard enough to clean all that ichor from the walls.
Celestia waited impatiently for the arival of their unwanted guest. It would be hard to notice her impatience if you did not know her for at least thousand years. Yet, there was somepony in the room who had enough time to see some patterns in her behavior, like drinking few sips of tea in exact intervals, looking at the windows and some more, less noticable things that in any other pony would be seen as perfectly normal. Yet, Luna knew her sister better than that.
"Relax, sister. I am sure he is on his way."
"But is he really? Maybe he did not notice the signal?"
'It would be hard not to notice that kind of signal' Luna thought as she recalled the giant, loud Rainboom. Many things she could say about her sister, but being subtle was not one of them.
"I can tell Rainbow to do that again if you want me to, Princess!" Twilight said, always ready to help her old mentor.
"I don't think that will be needed, unless you want to alert enemies, awake dragons and ressurect every dead being in the radius of 60 miles with sheer volume of that thing." said Sombra as he entered the room with his usual attitude.
***
As i entered the Throne Room and stopped some really concerning conversation, every single eye has been centered on me. Did i just really repeat my previous mistake? Well, shit, roll with it.
"As you were busy making the biggest, loudest, most attention-drawing fireworks display since that old fart Starswirl and his drunk magic contests, i have gathered some very useful information." I said, as i looked at Celestia when describing that Harmony forsaken signal of hers. She endured my sarcasm well, gotta admit. Well, all 3 of the equestrian alicorns are looking at me with a mix of both anger and surprise... Oi. Wait a minute. Let me count again, because i can't see a Pink Murderer here. Little Miss Sunshine? Check. Moon Moon? Check! The Ultimate Nerd? Che... What? Wow, now that is just bullying the male part of the equinity. Not a single prince got wings, so i though that you can't just ascend, but this nerd got a fresh pair of feather flaps just by becoming a princess? Hmm, maybe it has something to do with the ultimate jewelry nuke, the Elements.
"Who are you?" asked the accomplice of the murderer, while looking at me with a suspicious gaze.
"You didn't fill her in?" I asked the so called "Symbols of Equestria".
"We decided to leave the introduction to you. It would take too much explaning."
"...Alright then. Well, dear Princess of Unnecessary Violence and Too Much Reading, I am the one and only ultimate overlord of the Dark Magic itself, King Sombra of the Crystal Empire!"
"... Princess Celestia, is this pony nuts?"
"I am afraid he speaks the truth." the leader of the ponykind answered while looking extremely tired of my shit.
"That's impossible! He should be..."
"Exploded into milion pieces scattered through the Frozen Wastes? Well, sorry for being alive, 'Princess'. Didn't want to waste your benevolence and come back to life, yet i am simply too attached to it."
"That was not what i meant! I mean, okay, that too, but you are here alive anyway. Wait a minute. Why are you... sentient?"
"And what do you mean by that, oh Princess of Tact?"
"I mean, weren't you reduced to being a smoke monstrocity unable to speak properly after those thousand years of being banished along with the whole Empire?
***
The gray stallion was laughing so hard he was almost unable to speak.
"You... Frozen Wastes, this is priceless...! You did not notice...? Harmony and Chaos, this is too much! Aren't you supposed to be an Element of Magic? How did you not see through the illusion?"
"Illusion? What illusion? What are you talking about?" Twilight asked dumbfounded by his behavior.
"The damn illusion I put on myself during that idiotic plan of mine to get my empire back!"
"But why would you even do that? It made me think that all we did was saving the Empire from a savage beast!"
"Yeah, well, that backfired slightly. But to answer you: dark magic works the best on fear. What do you fear more? A powerful evil mage, or rather a rabid beast with no mind to speak to, with no plan to understand and no intention to stop until everyone is dead?"
"Impossible. Are you actualy smart?"
"I might be."
"So why did you leave the Crystal Heart unharmed?"
"That is exactly why i said 'might'." Sombra answered with a really sour face with no trace of the smile from just a minute ago. "So, do you want to hear what I learned or do you insist on insulting me more?"
"Oh, I don't know, it seemed like you enjoyed your little talk" Luna answered with a smirk. 'The overlord of the Dark Magic itself' did not look amused by that comment, while Twilight looked rather ashamed of her direct approach and shower of questions.
"One of these days, Luna..." Sombra growled under his breath and started releasing the info he gathered by 'going around the city and eavesdropping like a good pony', as he described it. When asked why did he not intervene, he said he didn't want the enemy to know that he is 'back in the game and on the goody good side of the barricade'.
***
Whew, they bought it. Even the Nerd. While i could tell her i left the Heart intact because of the raging weather of the North, I decided it would be more fun if they don't know it. If anything happens to me, they still won't know what can happen if the Heart is broken. Alright, at least the interrogation is done. Now, the only stuff left to do is finding the hive (Therendix was surprisingly stubborn about it. Ehh, it should not be hard to find a hive of fear eating bugs anyway) and getting the guy behind it stabbed several times.
"As you can surely see, we have to find the hive of the Mimics. I can do that lickety split, so you don't have to co..."
"Stop right there." Celestia interrupted me with a glare. "We are not letting you do as you please."
Shit. I knew it would be too easy.
"So what, you plan on finding them yourself? From what I heard, you are getting old, losing every fight and..." Aaaand we are back to the lasers next to the head. Frozen Wastes, she really wants me to ruin her beautiful carpet with piss. "And consider me silent and agreeing to your plan!" I finished smoothly. Screw you, Deathbeam.
"Thought so. What i meant is you are not going there unsupervised. I still can't believe you did not even harm a single being during your time in Canterlot," don't sweat, don't betray me now, my new reborn body "But I surely won't believe you plan on doing so when you leave the city. So, I am going along." Wait, what?
"Wait, what? Sister, you can't be serious!"
"Hey, I agree on that! I would rather become a wandering magician with no power at all! Leave me be, you walking eye damage!"
"Princess Celestia, are you sure it's wise? He might sound like a total idiot, but he still is King Sombra!"
"I have decided. Twilight, you are young and naive, so leaving this... pony... in your care would be too risky. I, on the other hand, have many ways to keep him from planning any... inconvenient plots." YOU ARE THE INCONVENIENT PLOT, YOU DAMN WITCH!
"Sister, i am perplexed by your behavior. Did his words sting so much?" Luna asked with another smirk of hers that would earn me another laser shot if i did it. "At least allow me to come as well." OH COME ON, ARE YOU BOTH NUTS? Wait. Actualy, I would rather take both of them along. If shit goes south and Celestia starts shooting again, I will use Luna as a shield.
"Yeah, I would rather have someone who can stop you from going all berserk on my poor butt. I agree for Luna to come as well."
"... So be it. Us two against the world, huh? It sure feels nostalgic, Luna." Yeah, thanks for forgetting me, because I will try to ditch you as fast as an opportunity strikes.
"But Princess...!" Twilight almost cried. Why is she even here? To meet the ol' powerful me?
"Princess Twilight Sparkle! To be honest, the only reason i called you here was to inform you of the danger and because i wanted to inform you that I will deal with it myself. Those are my subjects that are in danger, Twilight. It is my responsibility as a ruler to make their land safe again. So as I will be gone, will you rule in my stead? It should not be for long, I hope. Please, My Old Faithful Student." Well, that answers my question.
"B-But...!" the lavender nerd actualy cried before composing herself and answering "I will. But please, stay safe and be careful around this... fiend." Oh thank you, you tactless cunt! Frozen Wastes, I met Sphinxes with better manners, and those guys are biggest assholes ponykind knows!
"Thank you, Twilight and don't worry. I don't think he will try anything after last time he fought with both of us." Oh fuck you, Celestia. I would send you nightmares if not for your sister watching out for any mental invasion. "We shall depart tomorrow. Sombra, you are dismissed to find yourself a place to stay for a night." I am going to enjoy killing you once i regain my full power.
"You are finding it funny, aren't you? Well, I guess that your sense of humour is about as aged as you." I said as i teleported myself back to the city right before she fired at me again. Take that, you hag.