> Mother Knows Best
>  by CrimsonRose97
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Part one: The Birthing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time means nothing in the pit of Tartarus I was in, drifting away into nothingness that surrounds me. Always falling, never finding sweet taste of relief nor ever finding solid mass to which I may lie. Forever slowly slipping into madness and soon to become nothing.
How did it come to this? Everything I had planned wasted away… the Empire… my destiny… All gone… gone due to a Princess and a baby dragon… A BABY! Of all the wretched things in this world that could possibly beat me? How humiliating! A baby dragon brought about my downfall.
A King I once was...now...trapped in a single piece of horn that wasn’t blown to smithereens. Blasted into the wintery wasteland of the frozen north, as a last result, I had placed my soul within the horn...in hopes one day I may be reborn by my fellow Umbrum for I shall reclaim my throne and destroy the three princesses and the heart once and for all…
So long… so, so long… Drifting away aimlessly.
As I drifted into the empty space, I was consumed by this white light. This light was terrifying yet somewhat calming, filled with this feeling… one I haven’t experienced in so long…
Hope...
“Sombra….” A soft voice cuts through the veil of shadows. Small and meek.
“Sombra...wake up…” It grew louder, and I found myself crawling towards the voice.
At first, my vision was blurry, only seeing a crystallized blob. However,the more this voice called me out, the more of my vision came to be. Slowly, so slowly, my sight had returned, a pair of bright, crystal blue eyes stared back at me.
This bright beautiful smile beaming down at me. My eyes widened when I realized where those bright blue eyes belonged to.
“You…”
It was Radiant Hope.
Hope let out an exciteful screech before jumping onto me, wrapping her hooves around my neck and held me in an embrace. “Ooh Sombra, I missed you so much!”
I was taken aback at this greatly. What was Hope doing here?
More importantly, where in Tartarus was I? I looked around and found myself in some cottage. Laying in the middle of the living room floor. With Hope wrapped around my neck in such embrace.
I started to cough, licking his lips. It’s been too long since I last spoke. My lips were dry, cracked. “Where am I?” I croaked.
“Oh,” Hope pulls back but still had her hooves around my neck. “You’re in my home. Sombra, I brought you back. It took me a moment find the right spell in combination with my healing magic. But you’re here! you’re alive!” She nuzzled up against the crook of my neck.
I pushed Hope off of me before standing up. I suddenly felt light headed before I was forced to the ground again. My body felt extremely weak, and my legs began to twitch slightly... I had spent a long time inside of the horn… almost too long. My limbs felt like jelly, and I was barely able to stand.
“Sombra, hold on,” Hope used her magic to carry a pillow and tucked it under his head.“Although you’re back, you are far too weak to move. You’ve been gone for five years.”
My red eyes twitched. Five years? I’d been gone that long? FIVE YEARS?!
The Umbrum, I could’ve sworn I’d return by their hooves, not this pony.
The last pony I never wanted to see. Her betrayal to me still hurts, and I still held a grudge. Even after all these years…
“Impossible,” I growled. “I haven’t been gone..” I pushed myself up again, my legs wobbled and I fell to the ground once more. I couldn’t even feel them waking up, that’s how numb they felt for me.
“Yes, you have,” She sternly replied while turning to me. “I worked hard bringing you out. Just give me a second to...” Hope trailed off, and then used her magic, her calming yellow glow ignited her horn and wrapped the aura around me. The familiarity of calmness and healing cascaded over my body and mind. Feeling my strength returning to me. How Hope used to heal me when I was a child long ago.
The magic faded, and I felt my strength returning. Testing it for myself, I pushed myself up on hooves, feeling myself balanced out.
I took a glance down at my hooves and saw my armor was not on me. I had given myself a once over and noticed a few other things were astray; my dark crimson cape and my crown were gone. The symbol of my ruling. It was not on top of my head anymore.
My red eyes at the mare before me. “Where is my crown?” I growled at her.
“I don’t know.” Hope said, taking the black cape off of her. “It wasn’t here when you came out.”
With a snarl, I looked around her home. It was small, barely any room for the both of us. A small cottage with the hellish winter wasteland as a backdrop from the window. “Why did you bring me back?” I asked her.
“I brought you back so I can help you.” Hope replied, slowly trotting towards me. “I didn't help you before was because I was scared. I’m not anymore.” This idiot. She has no idea whom she’s dealing with. Even at my weakened state, I still have power over her. I could feel it. “I know there’s goodness in your heart, maybe if you just let me help you-” She reaches out with her hoof to touch me.
I slapped it away from me. “Help? Why would I want help from the likes of you?” I spat out with a snarl.
“Because I’m your friend!” Hope snapped. It surprised me, Hope raising her voice like that. She never did it before when we were children, even when she betrayed me. “Because I still love you!”
That word, that one word tasted like bile in my mouth. I started laughing, it was absolutely ridiculous! Love means nothing to me. A creature born out of hatred and fear knows nothing of it...not anymore.
What happened at the Crystal Empire was a flook. I wasn’t strong enough to destroy the Heart then. Now that I was alive again, I can complete my mission, my destiny.
“Sombra, why are you laughing?” Hope asked.
“You foolish pony!” I cackled, using my magic, blasting a beam of crimson energy at Hope. Hope screamed was hit, she flew across the tiny cottage. Breaking through the door and landed in the snow outside.
Taking a hooded cloak she had in the home, I made my way over to her, lying unconscious on the ground. The snow quickly sticking to our bodies. The cold was bitter, but it didn’t bother me at all.
I looked down at her. Maybe a long time ago, I loved her as well. But when she betrayed me and left, she became dead to me. She still was.
Shuffling the snow around me, I gazed ahead towards the distance, barely seeing the tip of the Crystal Castle. The Empire was far, but I could make it. Taking one last look at Radiant Hope, I took off running towards home, leaving her there in the snow. Whatever happens to her, I wouldn’t care.
But when I merely got five feet away from the cottage, something shot out of the snow and grabbed hold of me. It was black, transparent, wrapping around my body in a deadlock vice.
I tried using my magic and blast it away, it only went through it and began dragging me into the ground.
I tried teleporting away, turning into my shadow form, it only grips tighter. 
I had continued fighting this off before I was consumed by the ground.





What felt like another eternity, I could barely lift my head. As if what energy I had from before was completely depleted. Rolling over to my stomach, I realized I was in a throne room. Green and black torches flickered, the shadows dancing on the onyx stone walls. The floor stretched in a dark marble, large column stretched as far as the eye could see, disappearing in the dark ceiling above. 
Blood red carpet stretched from where I was at to the throne. What appears to be sharp jagged spires, and bones of various creatures were impaled as decoration. Sitting on the throne, a rather large female umbrum was casting a glare that had me coward from her gaze. Though it was the first time I’ve seen this place and the first time seeing this frightening creature, I knew who it was sitting on the throne. There was no denying it.
This creature was the Queen of the Umbrum. My mother…
“So.. you have returned…” she hissed, her elongated fangs bared at me.
“Mother…” I muttered, pushing myself.
“You have no right being back.” The queen said. “You failed your mission. You’re nothing to me.”
“I underestimated the enemy. I won’t allow that to happen again.” I gained my grounding and stood up. “Just give me time and the Empire is-”
With a stomp of her hooves, the braziers erupted and more of the umbrum appeared in the hall. All roaring and snapping at me, their clawed hooves reaching out and their attempts to touch me. 
“So you can fail me once more?” She laughs. “You’re kidding, right? Not only you were thwarted by the princess of love, but you had your flank handed to you by a baby! You’re a laughing stalk of the whole kingdom!”
“I can take all of them down!” I roared. “Just give me a few days, and I eradicate them all!”
My outburst just made them laugh harder.
Shadow tendrils shot out and wrapped around my body, the forceful pressure was crushing my sides. I shouted and went to move, but the tendrils tightened. Each movement I made, the tendrils tightened their grip, making it impossible to breathe. My magic as weak as it was, I couldn’t escape.
“Oh my son, you can’t possibly expect that I’ll-” The queen was then cut off by the whooshing sound of the doors opening.
“My queen, it’s time!” This disembodied voice echoed through the room. The throne room became quiet by the sudden announcement. For the longest moment, no creature made a sound. Only to the sounds of my erratic breathing echoed the dark hall.
Time for what? I wondered.
Narrowing her white eyes, she stepped off of her throne. Turning to the other umbrum, she snarled. “Leave us!” Her voice boomed.
The umbrum dissipated, leaving only me, Mother and the umbrum who spoke. When mother turned to me, she scuffed. “I might as well bring you around to see what we have been constructing these past five years.”
I was then engulfed by this black, transparent aura and levitate in the air by dark magic. My mother and the umbrum began to glide — not walk, glide — across the marble floors with me floating behind them.
Down the darkened halls, though it has been centuries since I last came here long ago, it remained the same. From the crystals lining the halls, shadows crawling in every corner. Creatures in malform forms screeching. Hollering out as if they were in eminence torture. This was home. This hellish pit was… home. How I had forgotten the sounds of this place. The way the sounds reverberate down in my bones. The disembodied shadows screaming and snarling like the beasts we are. A constant reminder how different and terrifying the umbrum are truly are compared to the ponies above us all.
With memories returned to me years ago, I’d suffered nightmares of this place. Unknowingly why I had dreams. Dreams that used to keep me up at night, with Radiant Hope by my side, soothing awa-
No! I will not think of that wench! She is of no concern to me. I made sure of that.
What concerned me was the three of us going deeper through the halls. “Where are we going?” I asked, trying to move within the magical barrier but it was a useless move.
Mother didn’t look at me when she answered. “If you must know, since your so-called “defeat” and the birth of the newest princess, the Crystal Heart is stronger than it's ever been before. Even if you were to regain your strength, you wouldn’t be able to get close to it, despite you having a pony form. You won’t survive being around it. That’s how more powerful it become.”
Coming towards a long winding staircase, taking me into a chamber. The chamber was round, with a single light shining down in the center. In a makeshift bed, screaming this hellish, blood curdling scream. The worst than I ever heard - and it should be music to my ears.
In the center of the room, being surrounded by two umbrums tending to it…
Was a young unicorn. Her coat was a deep purple, her mane and tail a darker shade. Her cutie mark had seized to exist by the ghastly scar on her flank - a result of losing her identity. What left of her horn was sawed off so she couldn’t use magic... And from what I could tell from where I was.
The mare was heavily pregnant, the way she was screaming and sweating, she was in labor.
“Sombra, meet Vira,” the queen introduced us.
“What is this?” I asked her again, watching Vira contorted and screamed, the two umbrum around and held her down.
“As troubling as it is, an idea came to mind, since no one can even get close to Heart and destroy it, what if we make a creature that can not only get close and do the deed, but instead of shattering that trinket...they corrupt it.” She explained, not even phased by the mare’s deathly scream.“Similar to of your making, I know. But my son, you are a shadow in pony form. So, I had the idea to make a creature that can withstand the power of the heart.”
The thought of that did send shivers down my spine. She was talking about creating a Hybrid. Half Umbrum, Half Pony.
An abomination.
“Now, as the years past, we did have some hiccups, not finding the right mare to breed with. All of them were weak. Either weak or the offspring die before or during the birthing. In cases the mare dies as well.”
“How many have you done…” I asked her, watching Vira screamed more and more before the two umbrum got in place.
One shadow held her forehooves and the other got to her hind legs, prepping her up.
“If this one fails,” Mother shrugged.“Nineteen.”
Nineteen?! Nineteen tries?!
“Don’t give me that look, son, at least I kept going after each failing instead of trapping my soul in a horn like a horcrux.”
.Then, the screaming stopped.
Both Mother and I turned to Vira. She lay limp on the bed. From what I could tell, her chest wasn’t moving.
One of the shadows pulled back, in its transparent hooves was the foal. Its skin was just as dead as the mother.
Mother let out a curse. “Blast it!” Her magic disrupted, and I fell to the ground with a yelp. She glided over to the bodies and snarled. “I could’ve sworn this one would be different! I was sure of it!” With her magic, both bodies began burning in a green hellfire. She looked at the two.
“Continue scouting. We won't give up!” She ordered.
I glared at her as I began sitting up. Mother had to be insane. Even though I want nothing more to have my own Empire and be feared by any means necessary, but children dying nineteen times - now twenty. That was evil, even for me.
Before I could subject something to her, the green flames of the mother began changing.
This chill began taking hold of everything. The sudden temperature drop was startling, the ability to see all of our breaths.The fire continued to burn but the colors changed from green to ink black.
The room began shaking, the walls began to crack. This horrific scream rang through all of our ears. This scream wasn’t the sound of creatures being tortured, the sound sounded like it was coming from the deepest dark pits of Tartarus!
This power surge. I could feel it. It was all around the room. It was nothing unlike I ever felt. It was strong, more powerful than I ever felt. At best, this energy rival that of the Princesses.
But with that, came this sense of fear. Sheer, unadulterated fear, as if Mother had messed with forces she couldn’t understand.
Forces that will surely kill us all!
I tried leaving, but Mother had again trapped me in her magical barrier. “Where do you think you’re going?!” she hissed.
The foal and the mare were reduced to ashes and that sound stopped with everything standing still…
The next sound we all heard, was a sound of a baby crying.
Mother and I turned to the table. There, lying in the ashes, at its heart’s content, barely bigger than my hoof was a little foal, a filly.
Her coat was a lighter shade of grey, but her muzzle, all the way down her neck and belly was a dark purple, her hooves were granted to that same shade as well. Her short mane and tail were light velvet. Eyes were brightly blue through the barrage of tears.
Mother lets go of me and went straight to the filly. “So much power…” She said lowly, lifting the crying filly in her magic up in the air to examine her more. “Can you feel it my son? So much pain, hatred...fear.” She chuckled darkly.“Sweet, delicious fear. Almost destroyed you didn’t I?” She cooed softly, making the baby cry louder.
Mother looked at me and sweetly smiled - which was very unsettling. “She’s too tired to attack. But what did she do before we found her? Aw! You felt her power.”
I was sickened with this. For a baby, she was able to hold that much power, a newborn to that! I watched as Mother coddled the tiny creature, wondering if the girl could do all that — though it wasn’t much, it got the point — imagine with the right training, she would be unstoppable.
“Sombra,” Mother then called for me. She held the baby out. “Say hello to Umbre…”
> Part two: Hope's Here
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Countless nights, Mother had tended this...Umbré. This atrocity of an infant. As the weeks that went by, preparing it for transfer to the top world, I feel despise towards the child.
Mother had propelled me aside like garbage, discarded me of my crown and practically granted it to the abomination. Giving it my destiny, my throne, MY EMPIRE!!
I knew to destroy the child was out of the question due to the fact it’s always being within Mother’s grasps, surrounded by guards. No leeway to scarcely attempt it.
With each passing I made of its room, I would always see the child in its crib. This green crystal filled with dark magic that was flowing inside it. To make sure she is filled with enough evil energy that will last throughout the rest of her life. At least one of the umbrum guards told me one night.
Umbré this and The Chosen One that, that was what I consistently hear when I traveled down to the underground city (Yes, the city of Niflheim, even living under the Empire, surrounded by endless shadows, the Umbrum established a miniature city filled with everything the shadows need of...On the exception of authentic food for me. Those exactly have to be scavenged.) The cave ceiling above me gave the impression of the night sky, stars above us all.
The citizens keep talking about that creature in the grand hall. It was sickening, praising it when it scarcely performed anything yet.
In fact, it hasn’t achieved anything since it’s birthing!
“Pah!” I scuffed as I trotted towards a ruined fountain and sat on the stone. Raising an apple one of the things Mother was able to get since I have a physical form and took a bite out of it. “If I hear one more thing about that brat, I’m going to kill them.” I knew it was petty, sweating over a baby...but given my recent track record with them, it’s an understatement.
I sighed, shaking my head before throwing the apple across the cavern.
This was outrageous! I’m worryingly over a blasted infant! I still have power. I’m getting stronger every day!
And I’m going to show Mother what I can do.
I will regain my throne if it’s the last thing I’ll do!



Lying in this prison of this crib, little Umbré found herself constantly scared. These monsters were everywhere, either taunting her, acting like they were going to injure her, or trying to gather her in their ghastly hooves.
This “Mother” was the worst. She killed Umbré’s mother and her twin, declaring sweetly sickening things on what she’ll have Umbré do. Indeed trying to present absolute evil inside her.
But unbestowing to all of them — including the baby herself — if anyone would take a good look at the baby, there was a very faint outline, a faint blue glow around her whole body. Her magic was defending her without grasping it. Protecting from the evil crystal. The pony half of her was protecting her. The side of love and hope.
But hope was dying the more the baby stays here, if they keep replacing the crystal, it’s only the matter of time before it could carry out its job.
The evil crystal, drained of its color, stops pouring it’s evil essence in her, it was empty. And at the same time, the magic barrier disappeared. Leaving Umbré drained of energy.
She yawned before curling into a ball and proceed on taking a nap. Then, overhearing the collective voices coming from down the hall, caused Umbré to start crying.
The guards moved aside as the Queen marched in.
“How is my little Nightshade?” The queen cooed softly at her.
Umbré cries louder, scooting as far as she could away from her.
The queen practised her magic to snatch the child up to her. “Has she accomplished anything?” she summoned the guards.
“No ma’am, she hasn’t performed anything worth wild.” one of the disembodied ghosts informed her.
“It’ll take time. She is a baby after all. Power takes time, patience.” She said, bestowing the crying babe a kiss on her screaming head.“Don’t worry, mommy’s here, you’ll come around eventually. Mother knows best.”
That’s what she thinks!
Umbré whimpers before a small collective of dust fills her nose. She let out a loud sneeze…
And poofed out of Mother’s hold.
“Oh?” Mother alarmingly said, examining the baby teleport in a blue light.
Her and the guards looked around before looking down the hall and saw Umbré sitting on the ground dazed. Confused.
“Told you boys.” Mother chuckles. She went picking her up again when the baby sneezed again and poofed off again.

***
Somewhere in the Hall, Umbré appeared, landing on something subtle and silky. Something that caused her to coo curiously.
“What the hell?!”



I groaned loudly, I was on my way to find Mother when all of the sudden, something fell on my head.
Practising my magic, I lifted whatever it was on my head. Of course it was the child.
At first glance, the baby looked innocent enough. One wouldn’t think she was a source of fear and power, not fully a whole unicorn.
So small, so meek, one effectively placed wall or the appropriate height to conclude this. No one around to stop me.
As they say, “Get them before they grow.”
“Ah~choo!” it sneezed. A poof of a blue aura later and the child teleported out of my hold.
I noted something on my head again. The child was lying on top of my head once more.
It cooed softly, its hooves were messing with my mane. Subsequently, it started to babble happily, nuzzling against me.
I growled before transferring the child off of me. “I’m not your mother.” I told Umbré.
Umbré started to giggle, it’s hooves out reached for me, no fear in her eyes.
My guess, since I’m the only umbrum with a physical form, it seems mo as not a threat. I glared at it before placing it down on the ground. “Leave me alone.” I snarled before wandering elsewhere.
“Choo!” Umbré’s sneezes again and this time it disappeared and reappeared on my back.
I put it down roughly, already I was getting annoyed.
It starts crying.
Grrr! It even sounds like a normal baby.
I went to leave again when I noticed sparks of blue magic. I looked and saw the baby’s horn was sputtering magic. As the baby cries, the magic grows.
Unicorn foals are known for having magical spurts till they are stable as they get maturer. Same goes for this abomination.
“Alright, enough of that.” I said, constructing a soundproof barrier, hearing total silence. Through the red cage, the baby’s magic grew and grew. The barrier should prevent it contain from teleporting away.
I felt dust entering my nose and sneezed myself. There was so much dust in this cavern it’s ridiculous.
“Sombra.”
Mother and the creature’s guards marched towards us.
I glared at them as they approached. Lifting the crying child. "Did you lose this?”
Umbré stopped crying but her horn still sputtered in magic. It tried reaching for me, facing away from Mother.
“It seems Umbré has developed a liking to you.” Mother said, observing us.
“The feeling is one sided.” I grumbled. I passed it off to them. “Mother, we need to ta~”
“AH-CHOO!!!” Umbré sneezes very loudly. A beam of magic energy shoots through the barrier - shattering my spell and dropped the child on the ground, screaming in pain. The beam shot at the ceiling, a stalagmite got hit and it starts falling directly at us.
Mother projected a black beam at it to destroy it. At the same time, the child let out another huge sneeze and teleports away.
“She’s gone!”one of the guards announced.
No duh! You think?!
Mother snarled before thrusting her ghostly hoof at my face and executed an order. “Sombra, you want a second chance, I’m placing you in charge of the task of retrieving the child!”
I hissed, pushing her hoof away. “Why would I ever want to find-”
I was cut off by Mother’s power exploding, engulfing everything in shadows.
This sheer pain starts taking hold of me. It started off in my chest, then every fiber of my body felt like it was being torn apart. Piece by piece of my soul was being ripped away from my very being. I screamed in agony. The pain felt all too familiar.
When the crystal heart was charged up and my body was shattered!
“Unless you want me to finish what that heart started, find the child and bring her back to me!” Mother disembodied, demonic voice hissed loudly, emphasising by another mighty pull of my body. Feeling my body, my soul being stripped away.
The pain was too unbearable, I screamed and screamed, close to begging her to stop.
As soon as it came being, the pain stopped. The darkness disappeared. I was left breathless, sweat pouring down my body. I looked up at Mother, gasping for air.
“BRING ME BACK MY BABY!” the Queen roared.



Umbré rolled in the snowy hill till she struck the bottom. The skies blackened as a storm was raging on.
The severe cold strikes her hard. She cries out, but no one was nearby. Umbré tried to move, but pain takes hold of her. Her left forehoof was broken. It happened when Sombra accidently dropped her.
The snow muffled the sounds of the baby’s painful crying. The cold froze her tears, her body shuddered, desperate need of warmth. She had no idea where she was, this wasteland. No pony was nearby.
Umbré almost wanted to go back to that dark place… at least it was warm.
The frigid cold takes hold of her. Her eyes became very heavy. So...so tired, she couldn’t help herself as her cries slowly turned to soft whimpers, then to nothing at all. She began closing her eyes before she felt her body lifting up in the air. This feeling was warm, calming. Nothing at all that she would normally feel when being lifted by magic.
Before Umbré was consumed in slumber, she hears the most gorgeous voice ever.
“It’s gonna be okay, it’s gonna be okay.” The feeling of hooves and cloth wraps around the baby.
“Everything’s fine, I gotcha now...Hope’s here.”
> Part Three: A Hopeful Care
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monsters, monsters were everywhere. The Empire had fallen, the umbrum ran amuck on the city. On all of Equestria. The citizens were either captured and enslaved or lying in the streets as corpses.

The princesses were all but dead.

And the Crystal Heart, the most powerful weapon to fight back the dreaded shadows, it lie in pieces. The shiny blue of powerful love was blackened , filled with fear. And after it did its job of filling the ponies in all of Equestria full of fear, it shattered.

Standing over it all, standing in the dark castle, taking it all of the chaos and destruction…

The Demon of Shadows, the Harbinger of Death. Next to it was a tall unicorn. Her coat was dark grey, her mane was flowing in shadows with a single white streak to show her older age. Her dark mystic cutie mark was covered by her dark crimson cape, her obsidian crown above her brow was Mother. The Queen of the Umbrum.

“Take it all in, my dear.” Mother sighed happily. “This is what the Empire is meant to be. The way it always was. Amore never had the guts to use her powers to rule them all. Her benevolence cost her everything.” She placed her hoof on her demon’s head. “This is all for you, Umbré.”

The child, all grown up, looked up to the Queen. “Yes...Mother…”





Baby Umbré woke up screaming in fright from the nightmare. It felt all too real, one of the things the Queen wanted her to do.

“Hold on, I’m coming!” This voice calls out. A warm pair of hooves lifts Umbré up and holds her close to their chest, rocking her gently. “It’s okay, it’s just a bad dream.” The pony assured her. “You’re safe now, little one.”

Umbré whimpered softly, her crying slowed. She opened her eyes and…

A pair of crystal blues was staring back at her. This pony was absolutely gorgeous! Her purple coat and light blue mane shined, her crystalling pattern glistening in the light of the roaring fire. Her demeanor was warm, welcoming.

“Why hello.” She giggled, seeing  Umbré awake.

Umbré tilts her head curiously at the pony. She wasn’t made of shadow nor looked like that mean stallion that dropped her. She whimpered softly while her eyes darted across her new surroundings.

“Oh, it’s okay little one.” The unicorn said. She slowly spun around, showing the infant the tiny cottage. The main door was held together by glue and duct tape.

Like something was thrown out of the door and broke it. “Whoever just dropped you off in that storm should be ashamed.” the kind pony sighed before looking at Umbré and smiled softly. “My name’s Radiant Hope. I’m the one who saved you, and healed your arm.”

Umbré coos softly before looking at her arms. She remembers somewhat one of them was broken, right? She shook both of them to check. No pain, no sign of damage. Like it never happened.

“I have a special type of magic. I can heal any ailment. You’re right as rain.” Hope giggled. A timer went off somewhere. “Oh, you woke up just in time for lunch.”

To Umbré, lunch was this yucky gooey stuff the monsters make her drink. Half of the time she pukes it up, it was that bad.

Hope used her magic, she lifted whatever she made and brought it up to the baby.

It was a bottle of white liquid.

“It’s formulated milk. I went shopping while you were resting.” She told Umbré,

The bottle was the same design the monsters used to feed her. So Umbré was hesitant, pushing the bottle away from her with her hooves.

“It’s good, warm too.” Hope assured her, waving the bottle.

Well… Umbré was pretty hungry. Starving even.

Hope brought the bottle to the infant’s lips. She takes it and drinks.

It was delicious! Umbré ends up taking the bottle from the mare’s magic, grabbing the bottle with all fours and drank hungerly. The drink disappeared instantly.

“Oh my!” Hope gasped softly.

When nothing but air was suckled out, Umbré whimperes. She took the bottle and shook it, shaking it to see if more would come out. It was empty.

Umbré started to cry for more. Waving the bottle like crazy in front of Hope’s face.

Hope giggled. “Okay, okay,” she says before taking the bottle back and getting her a refill and then giving it back to Umbré.

Who takes it and drinks the milk down within ten seconds. The baby empties it too and starts crying again. Hope gave her another refill and once again Umbré hungrily drinks it down till it was gone and cries again.

“Wow, you’re really hungry. Has anypony been feeding you?” Hope asks, looking at her. She lifts Umbré up and saw how skinny she was. “Whoever was your parents, they should pay for not taking care of you.” she shook her head. Clearly both upset and angered on whoever dumped her outside.

She puts Umbré over her shoulder and patted the crying babe’s back.

Umbré continued to cry before the patting sensation caused her to burp…

And in turn, sets the couch on fire. Flames sporting in black.

“Oh that’s a goo-” Hope was cut off by the smell of burnt fabric. She turns around and gasped loudly. “On my!”

Hope collected snow from outside by using her magic and dumped the snow on the burning couch. Quickly dousing the flames. Umbré giggled, seeing the expression on the crystal pony’s face.

“I know unicorn foals have weird magical spurts, but burping black flames-”

“Choo!” the baby sneezed and teleports out of Hope’s hooves and reappeared on her countertop.

“Teleporting, maybe.” Hope couldn’t even help but smile at her. She couldn’t even get mad at the baby.

Hope walks up to her, tickling her sides when she got to her. Umbré giggled and squealed in laughter. “I might have a spell that can stable your raw magic, until you’re ready that is.”

Then this horrid awful smell hits Hope like a freight train. Causing her to arch away. “Pooey! You be a stinky baby. When was the last time you were changed… or given a bath?”

Now she really realized that Umbré was very ill taken care of. To her, whoever had her were cruel enough to mistreat this innocent baby, went out of their way on dumping her in the cold to die.

If Hope only knew what she was tending to or knew the whole story.

Umbré was left by herself most of the day back in the underground place, in that crib. Surrounded by monsters. She never even heard of the word “bath”.

“Well, I’m gonna fix that.” Hope said, using her warm magic, she lifts Umbré up and carried her across the small cottage towards a large tub.

The faucet turns and warm water spews out of the spout. After removing the deceptive excuse for a diaper and threw it in the fireplace, Hope proceeds on putting Umbré in it.

Umbré whimpers. This bath was scaring her. She looked to Hope and starts fussing.

“It’s okay, the water is nice and warm.” Hope assures her more before lowering her in the tub.

Umbré jolted when the water first touched her, but soon welcomed it. As it wasn’t harming her.

“See? It’s not so scary,” Hope giggled, giving the water a tiny splash.

Umbré cooed curiously. The water made a weird sound. She tried her hoof at it. Slapping the water surface. When hearing it made that sound again and the water splashed all around, she starts giggling. Raising both her arms, Umbré repeatedly splashed the water out of joy.

This place was already better than the dark place. No scary monsters, Umbré was fed properly and now enjoying her first bath.

And it only got better when Radiant Hope puts in this sweet smelling liquid in and this strange foam formed in the water. Tiny little floating orbs flew in the air.

“Nothing makes bath time more fun than bubbles!”

One of these bubbles floated down to Umbré’s nose and popped on contact. The sounds of her laugh was infectious.

“Bubbas! Bubbas!” Umbré then squealed as she played.

Hope stopped there. “Huh?” She looked at Umbré. “Did...did you just talk?”

“Bubbas?” Umbré repeated the word. Now covered in the sweet bubbles. She looked at Hope with her big innocent baby blues.

Hope looks at her closely. “Aren’t you a little young to be speaking?”

Umbré grabs hooffuls of bubbles and blew it at Hope’s face and laughs. “Bubbas!”

Hope blinks at that before wiping it off of her face and giggled. “You’re intelligent for a baby. That’s good.” she smiled. “Maybe you can tell me your name then? Can’t very well keep calling you ‘little filly’ or ‘baby’.”

Umbré looked at her confused.

Hope then points at herself with her hoof. “Hope. Ha-ope.” She then points at the baby.

Umbré opens her mouth. She made grunting sounds as if she’s trying to speak.

Then…

“Ha-op-ey.”

“Excuse me?”

“Ha-opey.” Umbré repeated, sounding a bit clearer. “Hopey!”

“Hopey?” Hope mutters before realizing Umbré was saying her name. “Oh! I’m Hopey!”

Umbré waddles up to Hope through the barrage of bubbles and hugged her face. “Hopey!” she cooed happily. “Hopey, bubbas!”

Hope laughs at the adorableness. “Yes! We shall provide more bubbles!” Umbré squeals in delight.

After at least another ten more minutes of playing, Hope proceeds on washing the foal. Umbré really enjoyed it.

This kindness the child never received until now, coming from a stranger to boot. Feeding her, giving her a bath, treating her what she was in fact: a baby.

When bathtime was over and Umbré was cleaned and properly changed, she snuggled into a fleece blanket that was very warm.

“Hmm,” Hope thinks,”something’s missing.” she said. When the unicorn smiled, she levitates a brush and a long ribbon. She brushes Umbré’s short messy mane before gathering it up and tied it in a bow.

She then hovers a mirror over to have Umbré look at herself.

Umbré looked confused, seeing her reflection. The bow on her head was white, shiny even.

“It’s the only ribbon I had lying out.” Hope smiles. “But it looks sooo cute!”

Umbré joyful coos agreed with her.





Where could that infernal brat go!? I silently cursed as I looked around the frozen landscape.

For a baby, it couldn’t have gotten this far! And if the child could come out here, I doubt it if it’ll even survive the frigid temperatures.

I walked around with this pain in my stomach. My limbers were starting to ache with each step. This pain, I recognized it from my youth. The first year I came here, when the Faire was occurring and I fell ill.

The faire; though I haven’t been around for years, I still remember the date. It wasn’t until tomorrow and yet I was already starting to feel the effects of the Crystal Heart. Even out here, I could still feel it’s power.

Mother was right. If I were to even attempt to recapture the Crystal Heart, I wouldn’t even get close to it without it destroying me with one touch.

If mother was right, then this should should be able to withstand this power of love.

I traveled the snowy barren lands. Hearing the harsh whistlings of the scorching winds. Barely hearing the sounds of a train echoing in the distance.

I gaze towards a random path, I saw  a smoke of a fire risen from a chimney. The only sign of any life outside of the Empire.

I gritted my teeth, remembering who’s home was out here. I wanted to turn away but something told me to pursue more. Following a hunch.

One I’d be very agitated if correct about it. I started following the smoke trail...all the way to Hope.

The closer I got to the cottage, the more sick I felt. I knew her home was far from the castle, but it seems there was more power coming from the tiny cottage.

More..love.

I ended up kneeling to the snow. I was barely at the door before I collasped. The energy here was too much. I jerked my head up, looking through the window, I could make out the child.

THE CHILD WAS HERE?!

It’s horn was lit, objects were flying around, it’s hooves flying freely and giggling.

Picking up the fallen items, trying her best to play with the creature was Hope. From what I saw, there was joy in her eyes. Hope was tending to it as if the foal was hers. So full of love and happiness.

The child, now not surrounded by the Umbrum, was feeling the same, no fear in her whatsoever.

So much for mother’s plan to put evil permanently in it.

Still, I have to get the child back. As much as it sickens me, but I had to wait until after the faire. I felt weak even out here. It hasn’t been a whole day and yet the love in this area was strong.

With a hiss, I turned into my mist form and flew away to bide my time.





Hope finally caught up to Umbré. She thought after the bath that the baby wanted a nap. NOPE!

Umbré wanted to play with her new friend. Hours upon hours playing left both of them exhausted.

“Okay, little filly. It’s time for bed.” Hope chuckled tiredly.

Umbré tried to fuss - to protest, but all she could was yawn. It was a long and joyous day for her.

Hope giggled softly before carrying the infant over to her bed and both of the lie down on it.

Umbré curled up against her as Hope pulls a blanket over them.

“You know...I’m an orphan like you. The orphanage wasn’t bad…” Hope told the baby. “But… but I think I should keep you here, with me. Would you like that? I can raise you, show you all kinds of things, we’d play all day long.”

Umbré cooed happily, nuzzling against her neck. “Hopey…” She said tiredly.

“And maybe, someday, instead of Hopey, you can...call me mommy? Would you like that?” Hope looked down at Umbré and saw she was already fast asleep. Hope smiling brightly before kissing the top of her head before curling up herself. “Goodnight…”
> Part four: The Faire
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T GET HER?!?!.” Mother roared at me when I told her.

Standing before her in the Main Hall, I told her of the child’s location and who has it and why I didn’t have her with me.

“Like I told you, Mother. The faire is today. I won’t be able to get remotely close to her without the Heart tearing me apart.”

“And she’s in the hooves of your...old friend, no less.” She hissed at me.

I shook my head. “Hope is nothing to be of concern. I do have a plan on taking the child from her and bringing it back.” I stated. “It will take some time though, so be patient.

“Even if it means going against her? Will you be able to strike the pony down to complete your task at hoof?”

I nodded. “There’s nothing more important than finishing the mission.”

“Good…” Mother lowly said before waving me out.

I turned and left the Hall. My mind was already planning to retrieve the child. It should be easy considering hope was never much for a fighter. She may be a powerful healer, but she never fights. Despite her vivid imagination of her being a knight, she could never harm a fly.

Still…

Facing Hope… for my sake, I hope the ghost of my past, my lesser being doesn’t come for me.





The moment Umbré woke up, she woke with a smile on her face.

She sat up with a yawn, stretching her tiny arms over her head. Umbré then flickered the bow with her hooves and giggles. She really, really liked it.

Umbré giggled softly before looking up and seeing Hope’s face. Sleeping peacefully.
“Hopey,” Umbré happily said, but Hope continued to sleep. Her hooves were over the baby’s body in a loving embrace.
Umbré tilts her head to the side. This feeling swirling inside her, it wasn’t fear nor anger writhing inside like she felt towards the monsters.
This feeling towards Hope, it was different, she liked it.
Umbré made happy noise before turning around. The bedroom was small. There was only a dresser filled with clothes, a single picture in a red shiny frame. Books were stacked high all around the room. It made it very small.
Though, Umbré couldn’t keep her eyes off of the shiny frame. Hope was asleep and the bed was high enough to where Umbré would get hurt if she were to fall off.
So, magic would have to be suffice.
Umbré concentrated as hard as she could. She lifted things last night, she could do this. Her horn sparked blue, the frame became engulfed in its aura and starts levitating up. The infant giggled as she takes the picture and brought it over to her. Cooing in triumphant, she starts nomming on one of the corners.
The frame quickly became coaxed in her drool.
Run! Run before the dragon gets you! He’s right behind us!
Umbré stopped nomming on it. She thought she heard Hope’s voice and turned around to face her.
She found out that Hope was still asleep. She hasn’t moved an inch. Confused, Umbré turned back to the photo. And now really looked at the picture instead of the shiny frame. It had two young foals. One looked like young Hope was running and laughing. Following behind her…
Was a young colt. He had dark grey coat and shiny black wavy mane and bright emerald green eyes that were full of laughter and happiness. He was playing whatever game Hope was playing. 
Umbré started to hear the same voice again coming out of the photo, but this time, she starts hearing the colt talking as well. HAH! A dragon could never defeat me! I’ll take him on!
His voice… it sounded familiar. Then again, Umbré didn’t know who he was. Still, voice coming from the pictures? The memory of the past capturing the final moments before getting caught in this slip of glossy colorful paper. Ghost of the past was talking to her.
“Oh? And what do you have there?”
Umbré tilts her head up and saw Hope looking down at her and smiled.
Hope took the photo away from the baby and looked at it and sighed. “Sweet Celestia… I forgot about this one.”
Umbré frowned slightly, she saw this subtle sad look on her face.
Hope looks at the photo and then look back at the baby. “This is me.” She points at her younger self. Then she slides it to the colt. “This...this is Sombra. He was an orphan too. He was my best friend.”
Sombra? Why does that name sound familiar?
“He’s gone… he gave into the darkness and I lost him.” Hope placed it on her nightstand. “Let’s hope I don’t lose you, Filla.”
Umbré made a face. Seriously? Filla?
“What? Filla is a cute name.”
Umbré shook her head no.
“Hmmm, Gemstone Waterfall?” Hope asks.
Umbré stuck her tongue out on that one. Nope!
“Ruby Deathstroke?”
Umbré made an X motion with her arms and blew her tongue.
Hope then spits out more name that might be good enough to use for the baby’s name. Umbré tossed all of them out. Declining each and every one Hope threw at her.
She sighed. “Okay, Miss Smartypants. If those names don’t feel like you, do you have an idea?”
Umbré already had a name. Though the Queen named her, it was still her name nonetheless. And oddly enough, it sounded more interesting than the others.
Hope looked at the baby as she tried to sound her name out.
“U...Umbré.” though Umbré pronounced it with an Om  as in Ombré
“Umbré?” Hope asks, even pronouncing it the same as the foal. Her eyes then sparkled before picking her up and hugging Umbré. “At least your folks gave you a cute name! Umbré, Umbré, Umbré!”
The way Hope said it was full of warmth and joy.
“Well then, Umbré, nice to finally meet you.” Hope giggled, booping the infant’s muzzle. Umbré babbles happily, grabbing her hoof in hers and cooed lovely.
After she was fed and handled the other main baby duties, the two played for a while, enjoying each other’s time. The tiny cottage was filled with laughter and squeals of joy coming from both parties.
But slowly as the day progressed, Umbré starts getting this strange feeling. This feeling slowly creeping up to her every few moments. Every so often, Umbré would look out towards the door. There was something outside attracting her.
Around lunch time, Umbré waddled up to the door. She starts banging against it with her tiny hooves, wanting to get out.
“Umbré?” Hope asks, seeing her with a raised brow. “What’s wrong, sweetie?” She approached the foal.
Umbré kept beating on the door. She couldn’t reach for the handle so she began using her magic and turned the knob before walking out.
Hope used her magic to stop Umbré and brought her up to her face. “What’s gotten in you? Why do you want to head outside?”
Umbré babbles loudly, trying to walk outside while trapped in this golden magical aura bubble. Something was beckoning her.
More importantly, towards the Crystal Empire.
Hope looked out, casting a look towards the Empire as well. “The Crystal Faire is today.” she chirped in realizing. “One of my favorite memories from when I was your age was the time my parents took me to the faire! Last I went, they didn’t have enough flugelhorns….” She then sighed softly. “Time sure goes by fast… even if it’s been a thousand years since I last went. It’s still the most magical time of the year… Hearth’s Warming being second.”
Umbré looked like she was still walking in the magic.
Hope began to smile, an idea began forming in her head. She turns to Umbré and gotten her attention. “Do you like to go see the Crystal Faire?”
Umbré looked to Hope and curiously babbles.
Hope giggled before grabbing her saddle bag. “To the Faire we go!”
“Hopey!” Umbré cheered and soon the two were off.


****

The faire was compact full of crystal ponies and tourists from all over Equestria and beyond. Lively games and music echoing loudly through the shiny city. Food and booths were out on display as they all get ready for the main event.
Hope waltz around the streets with Umbré riding on top of her head. Since Hope’s mane was soft, it was hard for her to get down. She didn’t mind.
“While we’re here, we should do some shopping. You do need some toys and a bed.” Hope said as they moved. “Though after last night, i don’t mind the evening snuggles.”
Umbré emphasises with a hug of her head.
A flash of light startles her then. Umbré’s horn lit up and a shout later, Hope gasps.
“HEY!” The two of them looked down and saw a little piglet with a pony’s face and a camera attached to it. “What’s the big idea?!”
“Oh sweet Celestia, i’m so sorry!” Hope quickly said before using a spell to reverse the change. The young colt faced before them. “She’s still getting used to her magic. You scared her.”
Umbré looked at the pony and babbles softly.
“I should’ve asked, but you two just look so cute, I couldn’t help it.” He giggled. The photo pops out of his camera. “Here,” he said, hoofing it over to them.
Hope takes it with her magic and giggled when looking at it. “Wow, you’re right, we do look cute.” She said before showing it to Umbré.
She took it from the mare and looked at the picture. Like earlier back at the cabin, she could hear the voices prior to the photo taken.



Right down to hearing herself happily hugging Hope. She then took the picture and put it in her mouth and tears a corner piece of it off.
Hope quickly took it away from her. “No no, no nonononono! That’s not for eating!” she took it and placed it back in her saddle bag. “Not for eating.”
Umbré let out a whine before it was gone quickly by a bottle of milk and drinks it down happily.



Up in the Crystal Castle, baby Flurry Heart was being pampered and getting ready for the Faire.
“Oh my gosh! Your first Crystal Faire, this is most exciting!” one of the mares brushing her mane said.
“This is even more Exciting than her Crystaling and her birth!” the other mare said, picking a dress out for her.
“Hopefully not as exciting as her crystaling.” Princess Cadence came into the room and giggled.
Flurry cooed excitedly upon seeing her mother. Her wings flapped in happiness. She the flew out of the mare’s hold and came up to Cadence and hugged her. She babbles happily.
Cadence chuckles and hugged her back. “Do you think you can behave today?”
Flurry Heart cooed as if she was answering.
“And how are my two favorite fillies doing?” Shining Armor trotted in, adjusting his guard uniform.
“Just getting Flurry ready.” cadenced smiled at her husband. The two shared a sweet kiss before kissing the cheeks of their daughter.
Flurry squeals in delight.
The got Flurry ready and soon left to the fair below. Ever Since Sunburst stabilized her magic, Flurry wanted to have some fun. After hearing about the faire for months, she was excited.
Even if it means getting into trouble.
But….
As soon as they stepped outside, the crystal ponies quickly gather around them. Wanting to hug and hold Flurry,. Saying how cute and pretty the baby alicorn was.
As much as Flurry Heart adored the praising...she didn’t want to just sit around everypony else. She wanted to play the games the faire was hosting.
She tried to fly away but her parents kept her as they addressed the ponies.
The baby grunted as she sat on her daddy’s back with her arms crossed.
“Don’t worry, honey,” Shining said to Flurry. “We’ll get to the faire. Just give us a moment.”
Then, a pony comes running, her green and brown mane sizzling. “Help, help! There are some ruffians destroying the faire!”
“I got her.” Cadence said as she took Flurry in her magic and held her.
“I won’t be long.” Shining said before walking to the pony. “Okay, show me where.” he said before following the mare out.
The two saw the prince consort leave before Cadence turned back to her subjects. She tried to push them back but they seem to keep coming.
Flurry grunted loudly before shaking her head.
She wants to enjoy the fair, not just sit there and let these guys crowd around her.
Flurry Heart sighed, before - in her own way - says screw this and takes things into her own hooves and teleports off.
“Flurry?!” Cadence immediately took noticed and looked around. “Oh no...not again!” She groaned.



Hope and Umbré were walking around. Sharing a rather large thing of crystal cotton candy. Umbré’s face was covered in specks of the sugary sweetness.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Hope asked with a giggle.
“Hopey, Hopey, Hopey!!” Umbré cheered.
Then, Hope felt something stirring in her belling. “Ooh…I gotta go.” she said, trotting the nearest stall and sat the infant down in the ground.
“Umbré, I’m only gonna be in there for a minute. Hang tight okay?” Hope said before giving Umbré the rest of the cotton candy and went inside of the stall to use the restroom.
As Umbré happily ate the rest of it, she looks up to the sky and saw this colorful creature flying across the skies. She raised a brow out of curiosity. It was tiny, just like her.
Umbré cooed softly before using her magic. She wanted to go to the tiny flying thing. At first, her magic started hurting her head, but pretty soon, her body was covered in her blue aura and was levitated up in the air. She giggles in triumph and took off flying after it.
Hope soon came out of the stall with a sigh. “I think that candy was bah-baby Umbré!?” Hope gasped loudly. “Oh no! Where did you go?!” She looked around before taking off down the streets. “Umbré! Where did you go?! Umbré!? Umbré!!”


[Now entering Rugrat Umbré and Flurry <3]


Flurry landed ontop of a roof, she looked down at the faire below.
“Now, what to do first?” Flurry asked herself, scanning the ponies below. “Eat some candy? Play some games? Scare daddy?” Flurry giggled evilly, rubbing her hooves together. “That’s always fun.”
“What’s fun?”
“EEK!!” Flurry jumped by that voice and turned around.
Umbré stood behind her with a smile. “Ello!”
“You scared me!!” flurry puffed her cheeks. “And how did you get up here?”
Umbré shrugged. “I dunno.” She then looked at Flurry with a raised brow. “What are you?”
“Huh?” Flurry looked at the pony as if she had two heads. “What I am? You don’t know who I am?”
“Should I?”  Umbré asked. “Well, you look like me. We’re babies, we have horns...but you have wings.” she circled around the tiny little princess. “Very pretty.”
Flurry giggled, watching Umbré circling her. “You’re funny. I’m Flurry Heart.”
“Umbré.” Umbré giggled back. She hovers her cotton candy over to Flurry. “Want some? It’s really good!”
Flurry takes it with her magic and tears a piece of it and ate it. “Yum! This is good!”
“Hopey bought it for me. She’s really, really nice.”
“Hopey? Is she your mommy or sister?” Flurry asked.
“Mommy?” Umbré asked confused. “What a mommy?” Umbré thought to the queen at the dark place, calling herself “Mother,”.
“Mommy? Oh, she’s a pony who loves us and takes care of us unconditionally, no matter what we do.” Flurry said, looking down to see Cadence running with her guards to try and find the baby princess. “A Mommy gives birth to us.”
Umbré didn’t hear that last bit as she looked down below and saw Hope running through the streets as well, lifting various things trying to find her.
Umbré sighed happily. “Hpey…”
Flurry then tapped her shoulder. “Since you have magic like me, wanna blow stuff up?”
Umbré squealed loudly. “WOULD I!”
The two foals giggled loudly before taking off



*TEN MINUTES LATER*

Ponies were running all over the streets. All of them screaming as beams of magic energy were being blasted all around. Being done by two magical foals who were laughing their tiny butts off
“NOT AGAIN!!!” one pony screamed.
“This is fun!” Flurry laughed as they flew around, causing mayhem.
“This is! But…” Umbré looked to her. “Would other ponies get hurt because of this?”
Flurry shrugged. “From what I heard, something always happens during this time. No pony is getting hurt.”
“Ow! My leg!” a pony in the distance cried out.
Both of the foals frowned.
“Yeah, you’re right.” flurry said. “Wanna see something?”
“Sure!”
The two took off to the base of the Crystal palace. On its pedestal was the jewel of the Empire.
The Crystal Heart.
“Oooooooooh!: Umbré awed at it. She floated towards it.
“It is. I was named after it.” Flurry explained. “Something about….shattering it and the snow….or something.” She shrugged.
“Hmm.” Umbré said.
This heart. It was shiny, pretty blue… She lifted a tiny hoof up. “Can I touch it?”
“Sure.” Flurry shrugged. “Just be careful. It’s breakable.”
Umbré placed a hoof on the Heart. The Heart started to flash pure white. Soon, everything was covered in this blinding white light.
“WHOA!” Flurry covered her eyes with her hooves and wings to block the light. It lasted only a minute before the light just vanished.
“That was...owie…” Flurry groaned, rubbing her eyes before unfurling her wings and opened her eyes.
The Heart was still there, still shiny and blue…
But… Umbré was gone.
“Umbré? Where did you go!?” Flurry whines loudly.
> Part Five: You can choose
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Umbré woke up, everything was white. She looked around for any signs of life. There was nothing. No pony but her.
She sat up, the floor was reflecting every move she made, rippling each time as if it was made of water. “Hopey…” Umbré whimpers softly. She looked for Flurry too but no one came calling.
As she sat there, not knowing what to do, she starts hearing sounds of hooves running across the void. Umbré turned to look just to be tackled down.
The creature just let out a horrific screech, starting hitting Umbré with it’s claws.
Umbré cried before teleporting away in the air. She held herself up and gasps when she gazed down on what attacked her.
The creature was small, a baby itself. Taken pony form, it’s coat was grotesque grey, eyes purely black with purple mist flowing, horn was long and curved, stained in red. Though small, the horns on its head were prominent. The tail and mane merged into flowing shadow, this darkness seeped from its body, flowing tendrils on either side of it.
A demon.
It screeched loudly before wings rippled out of the darkness and took off after Umbré.
Umbré eeped loudly before flying away.
The demon made pursuit, flying after her.
The two raced around the white void, the demon shot at Umbré with ti’s dark magic, but the goal managed to dodged from the blasts. Umbré rolled and flew as hard as she could, she demon was right at her tail. She could feel the demon’s claws just touching her flanks, causing her to fly harder. Umbré was so scared, she didn’t know what to do against it.
The demon screeched loudly, it’s dark horn glowed, consuming  the foal in it’s aura. Umbré cried out as the demon slammed her out of the sky and collided with the floor.
This demon, this creature was full of blood lust and unadulterated hatred towards the filly, throws Umbré around like she was a rag doll. The foal screamed loudly in pain as it slammed her repeatedly on the floor. 
It ended up jumping on top of her. Umbré screamed out of terror, she tried to fight it off but it became quickly apparent that it was stronger than her. She shut her eyes close and awaited for the end.
Until…
“I think that’s quite enough.” A beautiful female voice echoed the void. Soon the demon foal disappeared.
Umbré opened her eyes. Instead of seeing the demon, she sees this beautiful unicorn. She was tall with a pink coat and curly mane that faded from fuchsia, to a lighter pink to a blue at the end. She had a pretty jeweled saddle on her back a tiara on her head. This whole aura full of love and happiness and a sense of royalty radiated out from her.
The unicorn giggled to see her. “Why hello little one.”
Umbré tilted her head confused and babbled as if she’s trying to ask What was that?
The unicorn engulfed the foal in her blue magical aura and placed her on her back. “Everything’s is fine. That creature wasn’t hurting you, it can’t.”
More questions than answers apparently.
“Umbré, my name is Princess Amore. Where you are in is inside of the crystal heart, the void.” she explained. “When you touched the heart, I brought you in here so we could talk.”
Umbré frowned. “Hopey…?”
The princess smiled. “You’ll be with Hope soon enough. Don’t you worry about that. I just need to talk to you. I know you are a different filly from the others, you being a hybrid of shadow and pony.”
The foal whimpered at that. She hated that word, hybrid, being reminded of what she was. Even though she was only a few weeks old, she understands more than others think.
The princess’s radiant smile then retracted to a serious look. “I know you have a terrible destiny at your hooves, you’ll probably forget this as you grow, but I am here to tell you. In hopes you carry this somehow while you age to maturity. There is a way to defeat the darkness that lurks inside you.” She motioned her head towards the side.
Umbré followed and gasped. She saw the demon foal sitting alone just a few feet from them. She wrapped her hooves around the princess’s neck and coward down for protection. 
“It can’t hurt you...but Umbré, this demon is you...what Obscura - the Shadow Queen - has planned on what you’ll become when you mature.”
Umbré shook her head no at that. She didn’t want it to happen.
“Sadly, that creature will always be inside you, but Umbré, you can control it.” Amore explained as the creature faded from their view. “Balance is everything. The light is also inside you, you can balance the darkness inside you. You may not understand this right now, but you will soon. Balance hatred with love; fear with happiness. I tried telling this to my old student, but he allowed the darkness to take fully control. I hope you are able to do a better job than him.”
Umbré listened to her, but she was confused, what was she talking about?
She then smiled softly at her. “You already saw how the Umbrum were, how awful they were towards you. You already saw of one future if Obscura should win, you want to change that. And you can. You can choose your destiny, Umbré. I have a feeling you already did.”
Now that Umbré understood fully. She didn’t want to harm any pony, she wanted to be surrounded by love, sunlight, happiness, no more darkness, no more hatred.
The princess’s horn began to glow. “It’s time for you to go. I hope you take all I said to heart.”
****
Umbré woke up with a groan, she rubbed her head before shaking it.
That was a very vivid dream she just had. She sat up to look for Flurry Heart but she wasn’t there. The skies had turned to night and the streets were emptied.
Or so she thought.
“Umbré!” hope’s voice shouted in the streets. The pony came to view and gasped loudly when she saw Umbré near the heart.
She ran over to the foal, picked her up and hugged her tightly. “Oh Umbré, you scared the devil out of me!” she kissed her head before lifting her up and examined her for any injuries. “Where did you go? Why did you run off?!”
Umbré babbled cutely, trying to explained in her baby talk but Hope didn’t understand any of it.
Hope then just sighed. “I searched for you during the celebration. You should’ve seen it, the heart glowed brighter than ever.” She levetated Umbré to the top of her head. “Welp, there’s always next year, you little snot.”
Umbré giggled, hugging Hope’s head.
Hope smiled before she walking off.
Umbré turned around to glance at the crystal heart. She saw a white shine from it and smiled softly.
> Part Six: Who you want to be.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes! After days of agonizingly waiting for the wretched festival to end, I was finally able to execute my plan to retrieve the child from Hope. Though the effects of the Crystal Heart were still contaminating the air and made it almost hard to bare it. I have to complete the task at hoof.
Meeting with Mother before the assault, I stood before her as she sat on her throne.
“Tonight is the night,” Mother said, staring down at me, “the child will return to us so we could continue our plans. Sombra, do whatever it takes to bring Umbré back.”
I nodded in response, granting her a small bow as in result. “I’ll bring it back to you.”
“Don’t...fail me this time, my son.” mother hissed at me before sending me on my way.
With a nod, Mother’s horn glowed, my body engulfed in magic before teleporting me up to the surface world.
The cold brutally hit against my coat, standing in the field of the hellish field of ice and snow to only see the smoke of the cabin in the far distance. The stench of love lay thickened in the air, making me sick to my stomach just standing out here. But I have to shut it out, the time was nigh.
If Hope knows what was good for her, she’ll back down and hand the child over. If she doesn’t, I will have no choice but use my powers on her…
Even if it means killing her.
I began my descent towards the cabin, my magic melting the snow all around as I walked, warming the air all around.
Sombra….
A ghastly voice rang in my ears as I moved forward.
Please my son, don’t do this!
That voice...I was filled with such hatred when I realized who it was speaking to me from the great beyond. Only one other mare called me that and she was the one who made me this way..
Amore…
“Amore...you have no hold over me no more,” I gravely spoke. Mists of dark magic seeped through my eyes as I kept walking towards the cabin. My dark abilities were clawing out of my flesh, wanting to unleash it all around the Empire, all over Equestria. “I don’t know how you are speaking to me from your shattered parts, but get out of my head.”
I looked to and saw the apparition of the former princess, her transparent ghastly body was obscuring the home.
I’m sorry for banishing you, I’m sorry for everything, but please...leave the two alone. You’ve been brought back to life for a reason. Use this to begin a new life, out of Obscura’s reigns. The princess begged for them.
I snarled at her feeble attempt before passing through the figure, the apparition faded away and so did her voice.
Damned her be, it was her fault that drove me into my dark path. She was my teacher, and I her student. A mistake was made and she casted me out, Hope didn’t even pleaded for my stay and let me out here to die. Mother brought me back, gave me purpose, my intentions of ruling the Empire.
I will have that chance, even if I have to use the child to get my throne back.





These past few days were amazing to Umbré. Nothing but love and affection from her new caretaker. The tiny cabin was slowly expanding so the foal could have her own room where she could do pretty much whatever she wanted. Toys were literally scattered everywhere and empty bottles of milk were present as well.
Hope enjoyed having the filly around. Her heart swelled each time she’s around her, especially since after the faire she went to the court’s office and gained the adoption papers so she could legally adopt Umbré. She was also currently talking to Sunburst to see if she couldn’t have the spell that could tone down the filly’s unstable magic just enough to where she won’t hurt anyone.
But until then, the furniture, the photos, the kitchen sink, all of that was in the air and became the baby’s playthings.
“I see some little filly is going to be a powerful unicorn.” Hope giggled as she marveled Umbré’s magical properties. 
Umbré squealed in laughter and joy, periodically levitating herself so she could hop off the surfaces of things she was lifting up.
Hope watched her with a smile. “Umbré, can you call me, mama?” she asked as she sat on a chair and watched her.
“Hopey, Hopey, Hopey!” the foal squealed as she floated into a basket. Hope used that time to grab the basket and pulled her down to her and hugged her.
All the stuff just dropped to the ground, causing the mare to jump with a nervous yelp.
“Oh my.” Hope commented on that as the baby giggled in innocence. She looked to Umbré and smirked. “I’ll get you to call me mama eventually.” She nuzzled up to her cheek. “I have you all to myself, adopting you and all that. You’ll come around soon.”
Now those were the words Umbré could get by. Hope was everything Mother - Obscura - was not. Hope was caring, loving. Would do anything to keep her happy, feed her, change her...love her.
Love...this amazing feeling that surrounded her tiny heart. The darkness was there, but with love to keep it company, she felt complete, whole. And it’s all thanks to Hope.
Umbré planted a kiss on her cheek and cooed in happiness….
Then, this looming dark presences crept along her spine. This feeling of fear and darkness and smoke filled her bones. She remember this feeling. Though when she first came cross paths with him, she thought he’d be an ally...but he was an ally with evil, with Mother.
And he was right outside the cabin.
Umbré started to fuss loudly. Pushing Hope on her head to get her to turn around or to do something. To warn her that a very bad stallion was here.
“Hopey, Hopey!” Umbré cried out. Repeatingly pushing her to move her head to look or to get going. She tried lifting her using her magic but Hope wasn’t budging.
“Huh? Umbré, what’s wrong?” Hope asked with a concerned look. “Is everything okay?”
Umbré cried out, trying to get her to understand. Hope stared at her before she looked up just in time to look up at the mirror and caught a crimson red beam growing closer to them.
Hope gasped loudly before holding her daughter close, her magic quickly engulfed the two and they teleported just as the beam hits the cabin and it exploded.
The two rolled into the cold snow, Umbré started crying loudly being outside once more.
“It’s okay, honey, I got-” hope gasped when she looked up and saw that the cabin was reduced in crimson blaze. The sky turned red and grim, this feeling crept her nerves. Holding Umbré close to her body, the unicorn slowly stood up and turned around…
And faced Sombra himself.





“Sombra…” Hope muttered my name softly. Holding the child in her hoof. Seeing it holding her for protection, depending on her to save it’s life.
There was something different about Hope. Last time her eyes were filled with hopes of redeeming me, thinking we would be together if she would to revive me. There were still love in her eyes, but something else. It was colder, darker towards me. No fear, no traces of such when she looked at me.
“I’ve come for the child, Hope.” I demanded at her, stepping towards her. “If you know what it’s good for you and your wretched life, you will give it to me willingly.”
Hope tightened her hold on Umbré, stepping away from me. Trying to put as much distance as she could between me and the foal.
“Why should I? So you and whoever you have allied with could poison her with the same evil that poisoned you? Not a chance, Sombra.” Hope hissed at me.
“That foal is not a normal filly. It is-”
“I know what she is. A hybrid.”
The child’s eyes widened in surprise, looking up at Hope. “Hopey…?” it spoke softly.
Hopey? Now that was just ridiculous.
“I know what she is. I didn’t know at first, but I quickly learned that she’s like you. An umbrum.” Hope said, staring me down.
“Then you know that having it around you will only cause you pain and destruction. Give it to me at once.” I told her, standing only mere five feet from Hope. “Don’t make me have to kill you.”
Hope’s magic glowed, engulfing the child hold. It cried loudly as the foal was ripped from Hope’s arm. But instead of levitating it to me, she carried Umbré to a tall shelf that was lying down in the snow, picking it up with her magic to set it up straight and placed the foal on the top shelf and placed a shield around it whole.
“I will not let you take my daughter away from me.” Hope stood defiant.
“Hopey…” Umbré whispered from her perched.
I let out a humorless laugh. Daughter? She was that idiotic to even care for the little abomination. To even calling it that as if the child was truly hers.
“Foolish idiot. So be it!” My horn engulfed in its magic before blasting at her.





Umbré was forced to sit back on this shelf and watched Hope have a magical duel with Sombra. She whimpered softly, curling up into a tight ball of fear.
When Sombra shot that high concentration of magic beam shot at her, Hope teleported out of the way, appearing to the right side next to where the beam hit with a snarl. 
Hope’s horn engulfed in gold aura, the snow underneath the unicorns’ hooves began to move, raising up in the air above her head. They swirled around Hope before they rapidly solidifying into sharp icicles, aiming right at Sombra and shot at him.
Sombra turned into smoke, letting the icicles ran through him before taking off into the air. His horn consumed in darkmagic caused the ground below Hope to shake. Large shards of black crystals raised up and encased her.
Lights broke through the crystals and they shattered into tiny little pieces. Hope snarled before shooting at Sombra with her magic, the blast was so powerful that when it hit Sombra, he was knocked him out of his shadow form and knocked him to the ground out of surprise.
“Thanks for that longevity curse you set upon me years ago, I had over a thousand years of practice.” Hope snarled.
When Sombra took over the Empire, before he and the empire were banished, he cursed Hope with longevity, forced to spend all that time alone while her home was lost. She had a lot of time to work on her magic.
Sombra started to laugh, staring down at her. “Well good, I didn’t want this to get boring anyway!”
Umbré shook from where she was at. Watching this fight rage on. The classic battle of good vs evil, everything was - as cliche it was - everything was at stake. If Hope wins, she’ll be able to have a good decent life, a normal life filled with love and joy. If Sombra wins...if Obscura wins, then Equestria would be lost forever.
Beams of gold and purple/green flashed across the red streaked skies. The terrain around them was getting destroyed by the magic being flown around. The foal watched in fear, placed her hoof out on the shield and watched.
Fear...she felt this feeling before, during her first few weeks underground, being constantly afraid by the shadows, by mother. The feeling returned twice over, this time...she feared for Hope.
As she watched the magic duel, she didn’t see that her purple hooves where turning black.





I couldn’t believe this, fighting with Hope in equal terms. All I ever known of Hope was her uncanny ability to heal all alement, seeing her with this much power, being able to keep up with my power, it was something else.
When I cursed her with long life, I meant it for her to suffer for betraying me, suffering of being forced to watch as her so called home becoming my empire, seeing her people become my slaves…not learning these powerful spells being used against me.
The spells Hope used was impeccable. From blasts of concentrated magic, manipulating the ground around her, even creating a golem out of ice and snow to fight alongside her. The spells she was using was at that of an alicorn.
Truly, from what we saw in the reflection of the crystal heart many eons ago was correct, she has a potential of becoming a princess. Her power right now shows it.
Having problems, my son? I heard mother’s voice echoing in my head. 
“I got this!” I hissed at her as I used one of my powerful spells. The skies above flickered in lightning, the winds picking up heavily, the ground shook. A to-
This is getting ridiculous. The child is more important than this sow. Mother's voice rang again. Allow me to help…
“I said I got this!” I snapped at her as a funnel formed above us. Lightning and ice swarming inside of it, coming to touchdown and wreak havoc.
But as it touched the ground, the spell sputtered out. “Huh?!”
“What's wrong?” Hope called out.
I tried using my spell again but the results were the same. “What the hell is fucking going on?!”
Ooh. I should've mentioned your magic has a limiter on it. I placed the spell there just in case you want to try and betray me.
Oh my Goddesses that did not just happened! I was too speechless to comment on that. She put a limiter spell on me, knowing what I was doing!!??
“Sombra?” I snapped head back up to Hope. Her gaze softened at me. Giving me that one look that meant she still cared for me. “Is everything okay? What's wrong with your magic?”
I don't even fully realize it myself.
Well, that's bad on my part, love. I'm sending  reinforcements to your aid. Just grab the foal.
“What?!” I shouted.
“Sombra?” Hope startledly asked.
The ground shook beneath us. Crackling beneath our hooves, opening to the underground city. Sounds of the umbrum screaming and shrieking as something rushed above the surface.
I looked down at the hole before looking at Hope. “Hope, run!”  something deep inside of me shouted out. My voice wasn't disembodied like it was before. A piece of my old self came out to warn her...followed by this old flame igniting. “Get out of here now!”
Hope looked at me before she gave me a nod and took off towards Umbré.
But...she didn't even get close to her.
“MAMA!!!!”  Umbré screamed.
> Part seven - What have I done?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Standing there in total disbelief, I couldn’t believe what I had just witnessed. Pain stricken in my chest, feeling sharp claws squeezing and crushing my heart.

Thump thump, thump thump.

The sounds of such rapidly drowned in my ears, legs shook, feeling like jelly once more.

Looking beyond scorched ground and burning cabin, the child had somehow gotten off the shelf and was on the ground, crying over what appeared to be a body lying in the blood soaked blanket of snow.

I didn’t want to believe it was really her. I didn’t want to look and see. These feelings swirled in my mind, emotions I haven’t felt in over a thousand years. What I have believed I had tarnished, came back to the limelight.

Following this metaphysical pull, it tugged me over to them. I had fought the pull and tried to command my body to stop moving but I had failed in doing so. My body had a mind of it’s own and it took me over to the child and the body.

Hope… I had warned her to run. In admists of the battle, I told her to run. To grab the infant and run.

A piece of my old self, the stallion who was once in love with her, who had fallen for her during the course of our childhood had re-emerged after all this time. The stallion I used to be, for that one moment, he came back.

I approached the body and froze. Everything, from sounds, smells, the feel of the wind faded into the background as one thing came to focus. The body laying on her side, limbs were twisted all the way around and bent at an awkward angle, blood from various places seeping into the snow.

My fears were realized right there…

It was Hope, lying motionless. Her chest ceased to move, eyes never fluttered by the sound of Umbré’s loud screams and cries. At the moment, the child didn’t even exist; all that it seems was Hope right in front of me.

Sombra, the deed is done, Mother’s voice echoed in my mind. I could feel her claws tapping on my metasoul. Wrapping her arms around my shoulders and given me a cold embrace. Grab the child and be done with this, my beautiful King.

Mother...Mother killed Hope. She had all this time to get the abomination herself instead of making me do this.

Oh Sombra! Sombra wake up sleepy head, you slept in, you silly goose!

I wouldn’t sleep in if you hadn’t kept snoring all night long.

I don’t snore!

Sombra, look what I got!

You...you got a letter from the Princesses of Canterlot?

YEAH!...but, but I don’t know if I should go. We can go together, we can start a new life here.

Hope, if the Princesses wanted me, I would’ve gotten the letter. You have potential and they see it. It would be unwise not to go.

I’m scared.

We’ll always be together Hope. Come hell or high water, we’ll get through this together.

I love you!

Heh, love you too.

 Voices of Hope when we were children flashed before my eyes as I mindlessly stared at the body.

Memories flashed before me of our lives together, she and I were irresepartable, even when she went off to Canterlot to learn with the Alicorn Princesses, we never strayed apart.

One mistake ruined everything.One drastic mistake of my part changed both of our lives. Lead us down this dark path we were in now.

A path lead to blood and death of one.

Tears streamed down my eyes, a painful guilt overwhelmed me.

“What...what have I done..?”

Before I could react or respond to what happened, there was this loud scream, the sound blew out the flames and the snow around us. The blast of the sound threw me across the tundra, skitting along the ground.

What...What the actual fuck was that?!

Gathering up my senses, I looked up and gasped. It was Umbré.

And she was changing.
> Part 8: All your fault
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Umbré couldn't believe what she was seeing. Hope lying still in the snow, the cabin that was meant to be her new home was no more.

As young as the child was, she knew already what death was. She felt it the moment her mother and sibling passed away. This sickly, yucky thing occured while she was in the womb.

Hopey was supposed to be Umbré's mother. Hopey said she would take care of her.

As the child stood over the corpse, something brushed against her tiny hooves. The unicorn looked down and her tiny heart stopped.

It was the photograph of her and Hope at the Crystal Faire. Though the corners of the photo were burnt, she could still hear the voices…

She could still hear her…


While we're here, we should do some shopping….you do need some toys and a bed… though after last night, I don't mind the evening snuggles…


The only voice Umbré could hear was of Hope… her Hopey...

Umbré let out a scream, the sound was loud and powerful enough to kick the debris, the fire and snow away from her. The shockwave of the scream was even powerful enough to blow Sombra across the tundra.

A leash snapped from within the screaming child, purple mists seeped from the corners of her eyes, bones cracking and repairing itself, skin turning grotesque grey, long curved horn grew on her head, her tail and mane merged into flowing, flickering shadows. More horns grew along her spine and head, fangs grew longer and more noticeable. Her hooves turned cloven, dangerously sharp. Wings like a dragon grew out and extended, the same length and width as Flurry Heart’s massive wings.

The Demon has awakened.

When turning towards Sombra, she snarled. Eyes solid black, filled with rage and anger, she attacked.

Sombra was surprised that the child had changed, teleporting out of the way as the demon lunged at him. When reappearing not far from her, Umbré attacked again.

“H-hey, it’s not I who did this!” Sombra dodged again. When he threw up a shield so the child couldn’t get to him, the demon slipped through the shield like it was nothing and tackled him to the ground.

The child’s cloven hooves dug into his chest, causing Sombra to shout in pain. He threw her off of him with his magic, blood seeping from his chest, right where his heart was. the wound not closing. The area began darkening, black veins began to spread.

“Poisoned hooves...great.” Sombra gritted his teeth. Starting to sweat and breathing heavily. He just looked up just in time to see a burst of black fire shooting at him. He gasped and teleported out of the line of sight, appearing five hundred feet from where he was at. 

The demon appeared where he was at, a beam shooting at him, blasting Sombra across the tundra. The power of the blast was able to send the ex-tyrant all the way to the Crystal Empire.

Sombra slammed against a building and fell to the ground.

His head spun when he tried to get up. Whatever poison the child had, it was spreading quick. He felt his whole body heated up, making him weak.

“Oh my Sweet Celestia, it’s King Sombra!!” The scream of a Crystal Pony echoed the Empire. “The Tyrant is back!!”






Ponies started screaming in panic that I was standing in front of them and took off running in fear.

How bloody hard is it to get that child? What’s taking so long? You better not be going against me, my son. Mother’s voice echoed in my already swimming head.

I snarled at her, this poison was strong enough to keep me down. I tried to use my magic again but it fizzled out. “Oh no…”

Sombra?

“Shut the hell up! This is all your fault!” I snapped at Mother before the child dropped from the sky and landed right in front of me.

The child’s horn lit up, charging what I thought was another energy blast. One powerful enough to potentially kill me.

Enough!!!

This voice cuts between us and a flash of white blinding light sent me screaming. Pain enveloped me before I vanished...
> Part Nine: the aftermath
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“What's the status of the child?” Prince Shining Armor asked the guards outside of the holding room. It has been a week since the assault of the Crystal Empire, the damage around was significant, still cleaning the debris and rebuilding.

“She hasn't left from her spot, sir.” The guard on the left responded. “Denied food and other substances.”

Shining sighed. He looked towards the door. “I feel bad for her, she's just a kid.”

“So was Cozy Glow, but we saw the damage that little filly did.” The guard in the right said.

“Still, she's just a baby…”


On the other side of the door, the holding room was made for a young foal, toys, games, a bed for her to sleep on. There were four bottles of milk, still full, all were on the table.

In a corner, back turned from the door, was Umbré. She was in her pony form once more, however…

The purple on her muzzle and hooves were a deep black, her eyes were red with an emerald green sclera surrounding. A flowing black mist flowed from the sides of her eyes. Her tiny horn were curved, tiny fangs protruding from her lips. 

After that flash of the white light, Umbré was found by soldiers in the debris at the base of the Crystal Heart, after taking her in to get her checked out for injuries, was placed in the cell. Investigation lead to the findings of this little foal's destroying the city.

And by the citizens' surprise and horror, the foal was fighting Sombra.

They were shocked to find another shadow creature among the ponies.

After the weight of everything had crashed down, Umbré couldn't believe everything that had happened.

With Sombra, Hope dying…

The little foal was in tears as Hope's face flashed in her eyes. Guilt and sadness overcame her. Hope died because of her...

Shining told the guards to stand guard before opening the cell door. He stuck his head in and looked inside. Seeing the foal sulking in the corner.

He couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Being a father himself, it could easily be Flurry in this place…

She was just a baby after all.

"Little foal?" Shining called out to her softly when he heard her whimpering.

He walked a little closer to her, the Prince Consort took note of the full bottles on the table, the toys not touched. He felt confident since they temporarily binded her unstable magic so he wouldn't get hurt.

Once Umbré heard him get a distance, she slowly looked over her shoulders and looked up at him, eyes, though misting, was puffy red and her cheeks streaked with tears.

What was he going to do to her?

Shining thought a moment before levitating a bottle with his magic. "Hey aren't you hungry?" He asks, carrying the bottle over to the foal. "Here you go."

He knew that this foal was dangerous, but he couldn't help it, his fatherhood was showing.

Umbré looked at the bottle. Her eyes glared at him as she reached up and smacked the bottle out of his aura with a yell. The bottle flew out of his hold, colliding in the ground, spilling its contents 

Shining gasped, retreating a step back from her.

Umbré whimpered softly before turning her back away from him.

The white stallion waited a moment before sighing softly. "I'm sorry that you're going through this. A child your age should be with a family...not in some cell." He looked to her as he inched closer.

The foal didn't move. Shining could see this depression clouding Umbré.

"I have a daughter, you know. She's a little older than you."

" Flurry…" Umbré muttered, caused the stallion to stop.

"You can talk?" Shining asked, taken aback. The foal only looked a couple of weeks old, and yet she spoke. His daughter's name no less. Not realizing that Flurry and Umbré had spend time together. "What else can you say? Maybe you can say what happened. Why were you fighting Sombra?"

Umbré slowly turned her head to Shining. She gave him the most evil, dirtiest look a baby could give anyone. The words, "don't ever speak of that name.", Though she couldn't quite say it, the expression on her face was quite clear.

Shining was unwavering to her gaze. "Do you at least have a name?"

The child stared at him for a moment. "Umbré." Umbré responded before turning away from him again. Like before, the way she pronounced it was Ombre.

Shining stared at the child for a moment before sighing heavily. He lifted up another bottle of milk from the table with his magic. He heated it up with a spell before approached her, slowly placing it next to her.

"You still need to eat, Umbré." Shining said calmly, pronouncing the same way she spoke her name.

"Excuse me, your highness." A guard comes in. "Princess Twilight and company have arrived." 

Shining sighed. " I'll be there soon." He turned back to the foal. "I'll be back soon… hopefully with a solution for you."

With that, he left the child in her cell.









I barely had the strength to be able to open my eyes. Everything was literally red, everything upside down.

I had no idea what happened, nor how I ended in this state. I tried to move but there was something that blocked my movements.

"Oh? Look who's awake?" Mother strides in. The shadow queen had a sickly smile on her face. Her voice was a little muffled but I could hear her.

"What…. happened..." I heard myself spoke, but my voice wasn't normal. Disembodied…

Mother chuckled softly, her eyes gazing at me menacing. "This is what happens when you don't do your job properly." She said. 

I didn't understand. But I was going to soon enough.

Mother began circling me. "Remember when I told you to kill Princess Amore?"

" I did…" I hissed. I tried to look for my body…

All I saw was a black mist. "What am I… in?"

Mother shook her head. "Her body yes. You turned her into a statue and smashed it. It's her power you fail to destroy. That energy went inside of the Heart. Amore is still alive." She chuckled darkly then. "an eye for an eye."

My body… by the gods…

"Don't fret however, my dear King." She giggled, raising a ghastly hoof up and stroked what cage I was in. "I manage to save your spirit. You'll have your body again." Her horn glowed black and I felt my eyes getting heavy to keep them open. " By the time you awake, your next mission will begin." She said. " Sleep well, my son."

Then everything went dark.







" Are you sure about this?" Twilight asked Shining on regards to Umbré.

" Aren't you afraid she might be like Sombra?" Spike asked as well.

" No, I don't think she will be." Shining responded. "She's a baby."

" A baby with dark arcane magic that destroyed the empire while fighting an evil tyrant.' Twilight said.

"All babies have unstable magic."

Shining, Twilight, Spike and Cadence were at the Foal center. Standing in the hallway, watching the many orphaned foals play together through a viewing window.

"Twily, this is just to see how she'll react to the others. She's harmless now." Cadence said. Gosh she wanted to hug all these babies.

" Well, it does not look like she's playing." Spike said.

He was right. Sitting far from the happy and giggling foals, Umbré casted herself from the others in a corner.

Only playing with a ball by herself. Pushing the ball back and forth with her magic. The other children were nervous to be around her.

"Despite the destruction, Umbré is young…" Shining said. " She isn't hurting anypony."

"So… putting her up for adoption might make things easier?" Spike asked, watching the baby play alone.

" It might make her not be so… depressed. We'll see what happens.".Maybe putting her with ponies that would love and take care of her, that would solve some problems.
> Part Ten: Three Days Later
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A train was heading straight for the Empire, wife and husband duo Ambrosia and Ranger Arc were one their way to an important appointment.
The hot pink pegasus nervously tapped her hooves in her seat. "Ooh, can't this train go faster?"
"We'll get there soon, just relax, hon." The blue unicorn assured his wife, raising his left hoof to brush her long white hair out of her face. A stark contrast to his short black mane. “By the time this trip is over, we’ll be parents.”
“I still can’t believe it took us this long to do this.” she rubbed her muzzle with her hooves. “I really hope it's not like that other orphanage. I still can’t believe that poor colt was taken from his real home.”
Ranger grunted when reminded of that. That was very messed up. He continued to pet her head to soothe her - and himself - “Now darling, things are different now. The lawyer and I did an extensive background check on Chestnut Fall’s Crystal Heart Foal Center. Everything is legal.”
After being unable to have children of their own, Ranger and Ambrosia were on their last option of being parents.
No matter what happens on this trip, these two were going to be parents.
Ten minutes later the train pulled right into the station and with a KOOSHing sound of the brakes and sounds of the horns, they arrived at their destination.
What the couple wasn’t expecting was the fact that the Empire was still cleaning up from its earlier insurrection. Ponies are still reconstructing buildings of fallen crystal and gem.
“O-oh dear.” Ambrosia gasped, seeing the damage. “What in Celestia’s name happened??”
“I don’t know.” Ranger said, looking around. “L-lets go.” He said. His horn lit up a light purple, the same color as his eyes and the color of his cutie mark - which was an actual bow and arrow with a shimmer fused together, and their luggage levitated out of the train and the two quickly left the station.
Thankfully, only some buildings got hit, from what the two could gather on their way to the local inn. No pony was injured so that was a good thing. Talks of Sombra’s return and what had transpired seemed to be the talk of the town.
After checking in and putting their things in their room, Ambrosia and Ranger Arc made their way to the foal center.
When they arrived, the couple could see that there were already some children, five colts and four fillies, were playing with each other and in the sand box overlooking them all was a chestnut colored crystal pony. Parts of her wavy brown mane did have some gray but it didn’t deter the beauty she still held. Her blue eyes, still very young and vibrant, sparkled when she looked up to see the expecting parents.
“Well hello, you two must be Ambrosia and Ranger Arc, I assume.” She greeted them.
“Yes, that's us.” Ambrosia giggled, her wings gave a little flap of excitement as she looked at all the colts and fillies. Oh she wants to adopt every one of them, her heart filled with delight and longing for them.
“Easy love.” Ranger chuckled before looking at the pony. “Sorry, we’ve been waiting for this moment for a while.”
Chestnut Falls smiled. “I think it's the same for the children, they too share the same excitement of finding their families.” She giggled once some of the children stopped for a moment and took notice of the strangers. A couple even worked up the courage to walk up to them, giggling and hugging them.
Ambrosia whimpered before she fell to the ground so she could hug them. “Oooh why do we have to pick one!” she whined.
Ranger smiled sadly for a moment before walking up to her, putting a tender hoof on her arm before looking at the mare. “I think we’re ready to get started.”
The two foals let go of Ambrosia and ran back to play with their friends.
“This is the second graders, they’re having recess at the moment.” Chestnut explained. She walked through the door, giving one of her employees the word to come out to watch the children.
Ambrosia looked at the children around her for a moment longer before she followed the crystal mare with her husband at tow.
Once the pink pegasus heard the unmistaken sound of tiny foals cooing and giggling, her heart exploded as Chestnut Falls led the two to the foal section.
It was sectioned off in two rooms. The large room was obviously the play area as the tiny foals that were still in diapers were playing among themselves. Plush toys and building blocks were scattered about the lavender color carpet. Some of the tiny unicorns were displaying their spontaneous magic by tossing and lifting things in the air. Some of the pegasi were zooming about screaming with glee. Earth foals running about and intermingling with the others while. There were 4 large round table benches where a couple of foals were drawing, one had their head on the table asleep. Some colt or filly had stuck pencils and candy in their very poofy toxic green colored mane. Through a closed door was a little smaller room, but it was filled with mostly empty beds where the tiny foals sleep. Some were currently inside and taking a nap. In total, there were ten tiny foals inside this facility.
“Oh my gosh, hon, the babies.” Ambrosia cooed as she saw the tiny foals around. However, she did remind herself to take caution; she didn’t think she could take another incident like last time they tried this.
Ranger giggled when he saw some colts were rolling around on the ground and both were squealing. A colt and a filly were racing around laughing as well.
It was quite loud, that’s for sure.
“It’s feeding time, we could use  some help, if you don’t mind, that is.” Chestnut offered with a smile.
A little technique she tends to use for those looking for a foal to adopt, a bonding exercise, usually the first foal either parent picks up to feed is the one that gets a home. 
Ambrosia nodded eagerly, her wings flapped in emotion.
“You truly made my wife’s day, Ms. Falls.” Ranger smiled, looking at his wife as two unicorns came in behind the three, one was pushing a three tier cart that was filled with baby bottles.
Ranger levitates two bottles up and floats it over to his wife as a swarm of babies gathered around their hooves wanting to be fed.
Chestnut Falls grabbed a bottle and a foal of her own, the two unicorns grabbed four and five bottles, emptying the cart and all of them grabbed a couple of foals with their magic and everypony proceeded in feeding a baby.
The foals squealed and cooed in delight as they were either held in the adult’s arms or cradled in magic and fed. Ambrosia was filled with joy as she held a tiny orange and pink spotted pegasus colt with pumpkin color mane and tail. His coat sparkled the same as the adult crystal ponies and among the rest of the foals in the center.
“So sparkly babies.” The pink pegasus cooed as she looked at the colt. He giggled and babbled as he drank his milk from the bottle.
Ranger tended to a little filly rose color crystal earth pony, her candy cane striped mane in pigtails. She drank two gulps of the formula and then puked at his face.
“Oof.” Ambrosia winced with a giggle, the caretakers chuckled. One of them levitated a towel over him.
“Thank you.” he said, taking the towel with his magic, removing his glasses and cleaning his face.
“You okay darling?” his wife asked, trying to not let him hear her chuckling.
“Good, I’m good.” He said with a grunt. Chestnut Falls sighed softly as she took the puking foal.
“I do apologize for that. Excuse me for a moment.” she said as she took the foal out of the room so she could get the filly cleaned up.
Ranger sighed as he cleaned his round rimmed glasses before putting them back on his face. His eyes adjusted seeing through for a moment till something caught his eye at the far corner of the room.
There was a bottle placed in front of a young dark colored unicorn. He noticed that she wasn’t moving towards it, was just looking at it.
Ranger took a step towards her to get a better look. He noticed that her horn was much smoother than the other unicorns in the room, and it was curved. Her eyes were strange as well, being red and green.
“Is there something wrong with this one?” Ranger asked the two caretakers.
“Just about everything.” one of them mentioned. “I’d be careful with that one.” caretaker one warned.
“Why?” Ambrosia asked, looking to where her husband was looking. Seeing the lone filly all by herself.
“You heard about what happened right?” Caretaker two asked.
“We heard.” Ranger muttered. Then realizing, turning towards the caretakers. “Are you saying that’s the filly everypony’s been talking about?” 
The caretakers nodded.
“Yeah, that’s the one. Another shadow pony like that creature Sombra.” Caretaker One snorted as she switched foals to feed. “Probably his bloody spawn.”
The second that name was mentioned, the little filly consumed that bottle with her magic and chunked the bottle at the mare with a hateful screech.
“Whoa!” That caretaker, along with the foals she was holding with magic, jumped back as the bottle flew past her, hitting the ground and rolled away. The other foals began crying in unison. The adults’ ears flung back as the radiating sound of  babies wailing echoed in the room. Even the ones who were napping woke up and started screeching.
“Sour Sweet, you dingle bat.” Caretaker two groans.
“What’s going on??” Chestnut Falls came back with the now clean filly foal, entering a screaming room.
“That little monster made the babies cry, that’s what.” Caretaker One, known as Sour Sweet, grunted as she began to try soothing her collection of crying foals.
The screaming was deafening to Ranger but he and his wife both tried to consol the babies in front of them.
“Oh dear.” the head of the foal center sighed heavily as she began shushing and holding the foals around her. “I am so sorry about this.” she apologized as she tended to the foals.
“I-It's not a problem. Honestly.” Ambrosia said as she managed to get a couple of the children around her to stop crying. Ranger managed to get two of his own to stop crying as well, showing off their parenting skills around the situation.
As the pink pegasus just put a colt to sleep with a rocking motion, she turned her head back to the dark unicorn. She could get a sense that everypony around the facility was uneasy with her. Even the children, for example the crying foals, didn’t like the young filly.
She hoofs the colt over to one of the caretakers before she trotted over to the milk cart and grabbed the last baby bottle and walked over to the dark foal.
“Be careful.” Ranger warned her as she approached the baby.
The tiny foal let out a low growl as Ambrosia walked up to her. “Hi.” the pegasus said as she sat in front of the child. 
She then set the bottle down between the two.
“What’s her name?” Ambrosia asked the caretakers while not taking her eyes off the foal. She could tell by the filly’s eyes that she was not really happy. There was anger, but there was something else.
“Umbré.” Chestnut Falls responded. “At least that’s what Prince Shining Armor said when he personally brought her here.” she said as she watched Umbré and Ambrosia closely.
Though the filly’s magic was stable, she could still do some damage.
“Umbré, huh.” the pegasus said, looking at the foal. She gave her a soft smile. “Hello Umbré.”
Umbré continued to stare up at the pegasus.
“You must be hungry, here.” she said, pushing the bottle with her wing a little closer to the foal. “No one is going to force you to feed,”
Umbré grunted before pushing the bottle back towards her with her magic.
“She’s also very stubborn.” the second Caretaker muttered.
Ambrosia smirked. “I’m not moving this spot however. Not until you drink.” 
Umbré stuck her tongue out at her, showing off her very tiny, needle sharp fangs.
The pegasus just sat there, looking down at the foal with that smile. A stare down if you will.
Umbré then used her magic to push Ambrosia away. The pegasus let out a yelp when being shoved six feet back. 
Ranger quickly made his way to his wife. “Are you alright?” he asked her, making sure she wasn’t hurt.
“Ranger, I’m good, I’m good.” Ambrosia said, patting her arms. “I’m fine dear.” 
“We’re going to have to cut this short, i'm afraid.” Chestnut announced, looking at the couple. “The foals need to lie down after this.”
“We’ll be coming back tomorrow, same time then?” Ranger asked as Ambrosia stood up.
The headmare nodded and then the two was escorted out of the center. The pegasus took one last look at Umbré before she left.
She now knows what that something was. It broke her heart to see it in her however.
The foal was deeply sad. That sadness was shown in her eyes. No pony that little should be sad.
No matter who she is.
> Part Eleven: You'll be in my Heart - finale
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Umbré sat alone in the playroom while the fillies and colts her age were outside. She had a ball she has been playing with for a good fifteen minutes, rolling it around with her hooves.

Outside the room, two of the caretakers were stationed outside. They had one bottle of milk that they were supposed to give to the foal.

“Okay, you go in there, Sweet.” Caretaker one said to their partner.

“Uh uh, I’m not setting one hoof in that room. That little monster nearly knocked my head off my shoulders the last time.” Sour Sweet retorted. She points her hoof at caretaker one. “You go in and feed it.”

Caretaker one grunted. “I told you to do it.”

“Why do you want me to do it?”

“Because I have seniority.”

“Oh oh you’re pulling that schtick, huh? Listen here Branch, I outta~” as Sour Sweet was getting all up at the other one’s face, she stopped when they heard a disapproved cough.

They stopped and turned around to find Chestnut Falls was standing behind them. She stares at them, looking at the full bottle sitting on the ground between them. She then glanced over to the lone unicorn foal playing by herself and back at the two caretakers.

“What were you two doing? Why is there a bottle here and not in there with her?” she asked them.

“We tried,” Sour Sweet lied. “Little devil is on some sort of hunger strike.”

Chestnut Falls glared at the mare. “That is uncalled for. She’s a baby, babies don’t do hunger strikes.”

“No offense ma’am, but why are you even letting that thing here? She’s whatever the heck Sombra is.” the mare grunted.

“Umbré is not him. Every foal, no matter who or what they are, deserves the same chance to have a home and a family to love them.” Chestnut said as she walked over to the bottle and picked it up with her hoof. 

“Just don’t want you to make another mistake, ma’am.”

Chestnut Falls stops short from the entryway to the playroom. Her heart ached as what memory she has of the ex-tyrant when he was a young colt. Back when he was happy and full of life, remembers the fun times she had with him and seeing him running with Hope…

It all seems like a thing of fiction to what she knows now of Sombra.

A knock on the door snapped the crystal pony back to reality. She turned her head to see Prince Shining Armor himself. “Hi, sorry, I hope I’m not disturbing you, ladies.” He said.

“Oh no, it’s fine, I was just about to feed Umbré.” Chestnut said. “Seems I have two chickens handling foals for the looks of it.”

“Hey!” Both caretaker ponies grunted in unison.

“What brings you here, sire?” 

Shining casted the two ponies a look before saying, “I’m actually here for Umbré. The guards found something of hers.” The prince consort used his magic to open his saddle bag and then pulled out a photo. The corner of it was chewed off and it had some scorch marks as if there was a fire.

Chestnut Falls looked at the photo and she let out a soft gasp, seeing who it was in the photo. “That’s…how….” She stares at the photo as tears begin to swell up.

It was of Umbré and Hope taken at the Crystal Faire. Though Umbré in the playroom looks different from the one in the photograph, there was no mistake, it was her.

The two ponies looked happy and love radiated from the both of them.

Chestnut looks at Shining. “Did you find her? Did you find the mare in the photo? Radiant Hope?” she asked her.

Shining frowned at that. “I’m afraid so….she was found in the snow north of a burned down cottage. There looked to be some sort of fight that took place.”

“You think that thing killed her?” Branch - caretaker one - asked.

“We don’t know that!” Chestnut Falls snapped, raising her voice at her. She then reeled back with a shudder. “Sorry…I-I knew Radiant Hope. I never imagined that…that…”

Shining watches her and sighed softly. “I’m here to determine if she did or not. I personally don’t believe that.”

“Believe what?”

The ponies turned their heads to see Ranger Arc and Ambrosia entering the area. “Oh, Your highness!” The hot pink pegasus bowed her head towards the prince consort, Ranger also bowed before him.

Shining waved his hoof at them, “No need for formalities,” he said with a small chuckle.

“Ah, I was wondering if I was going to see you two again,” Chestnut Fall said, wiping away tears with her hoof.

“We still have business here to conduct.” Ranger said before looking at Ambrosia. “She has taken an interest in one of the foals since yesterday.” his wife nodded in agreement.

“Oh that’s great! They’re all outside if you wanna go and see them. I have to feed Umbré and I’ll join you two.” the owner said.

“It’s actually her I wanna see.” Ambrosia said with a smile.

The other two caretaker ponies stared at the mare as if she just grew a second head.

“You wanna see more of that thing?” Sour Sweet asks.

“I suggest that if you don’t have anything nice to say in regards to that filly, please stop talking.” Shining said, being quick to shut the negative talk down.

“Sir, what brings you here? If you don’t mind me asking.” Ranger Arc asked the prince. “Are you and the princess here for some sort of event?”

“Oh no, it's just me, Ranger Arc is it?” Shining asked, Ranger nodded in response. “I’m here conducting an investigation. No doubt the two of you heard of the Empire’s recent endeavors?”

“Oh we heard.” he said. His eyes then fell on the photograph. Shining passes the photo over, Ranger picking it up with his magic and he and Ambrosia look at it.

Ambrosia covered her muzzle with her hoof. “I-is that her mother?” she asked, looking at Hope in the photograph.

“We really don’t know anything yet.” Shining said. He then looks at Chestnut. “I can feed her, if you don’t mind.”

The mare nodded before Shining Armor took both the bottle and photograph back. “Just give me a minute and you can go see her,” he said to the couple before he trots into the playroom.

Everypony else watched closely from the hallway to see this interaction.

Umbré continuously threw the ball up at the wall and it bounced back to her and she caught it with her magic. She continued the process over and over until she threw the ball too hard and it shot over her head before she was able to get it.

The ball flew before it was caught by Shining’s magic. “Whoa there!” He chuckled, causing the filly to whip her head to see him.

She gave the prince a look before she faced away from him and stared at the wall.

Shining Armor stared at her with a soft gaze, studying her for a moment. Like before, she was avoiding all contact, pushing herself away from everypony.

He placed the ball on the ground and then used his magic to roll it forward before dispelling it, letting the ball roll freely till it bumped against Umbré’s flank gently and stopped. He then sees her looking down at the ball.

The foal didn’t do anything but looked at it for a moment before she engulfs the ball with her magic and resumed throwing it at the wall and catching it repeatedly. Completely ignoring the stallion behind her.

“Umbré, are you hungry?” Shining offered, like before, he placed the bottle near her. “Have the ponies here been taking good care of you?” he asked her.

He was met with the repetitive sounds of the ball hitting the wall.

Shining sighed heavily as he approached her. “Umbré, I’m about to show you something, it might help clear things up for me and a lot of others.” he said.

Umbré continued to throw the ball, and when she felt he was getting too close she let out a warning hiss without looking as she threw her plaything.

She was about to catch the ball again before she heard faint whispers that caused her to miss the ball and it bounced off somewhere else. The whispers seemed to get louder and louder as Shining levitated the burnt photograph and placed it down on the ground in front of her.

Umbré’s eyes gazed at it, her slit pupils widened and tears began to swell. Seeing her and Hope together, hearing only her voice echoing the moments before their picture was taken at the Crystal Faire.

Her lips quivered as she placed her hoof on the only photograph of Hope. “Hopey.” she whimpered. “HOPEY!!” She then starts wailing, crying loudly, grabbing the photo and holding it against her chest, wanting to be with Radiant Hope again. Everypony could see the pain in her eyes, the deep sadness and grief coursing through her tiny body.

“Think that answers that question.” Chestnut Falls muttered, feeling her own tears swell. They all could tell that this shadow creature loved Hope and the way she was mourning proves it.

"Wait, that thing can talk?!" The caretakers yelped.

Ambrosia bit her lower lip, her husband looked to her and saw the gears in her brain were turning. The pegasus looked to the mares. “Do you girls by any chance have any craft supplies? Fabric, stuffing and what nots?” she asked them.

“I’m sure we can scrounge some, what;s  this about?” Chestnut asked her.

“I have an idea.” She said before she followed one of the other caretakers to where the supplies were stashed as Shining left Umbré with the photograph.

“Well, it seems this wraps a few things up, thank you for letting me have the time.” he said to Chestnut.

“No thanks necessary sir.” she said.

Shining Armor nodded before turning his attention back to Ranger. “If you don’t mind me asking, why do you have interest in that little filly? Given what you know of her and what she is, she is potentially dangerous.”

Ranger considered it for a minute or two, adjusting his glasses with his hoof before responding, “Ambrosia has the tendency to hone onto ponies who are in great emotional pain and would do everything in her abilities to make them feel better. She’s been like that since our time in the foal center up in Dodge City.”

“Were you two orphans yourselves?” 

Ranger smiled. “We’re orphan sweethearts. I had it rough when I was younger and she was drawn to me nearly the second I was admitted there. Like Umbré there, I didn’t want to be around anypony either, Ambrosia brought me out of my shell.”

“I-I-uh, I will be right back, please excuse me.” Chestnut Falls leaves the area, heading to the restroom so she doesn’t completely break down in front of the clients and the prince consort.

After fifteen minutes later, the hot pink pegasus and Branch returned. Every pony eyed at what she had made in her hoof.

“Uh darling, not that I don’t appreciate your skills, but do you think that would be wise?” Ranger asked, staring at it.

“It’s crazy enough that it might help her,” Shining said, looking at the craftsmanship.

“It’s so crazy that it will help.” Ambrosia giggled in confidence before she flew in.

“Good luck.” Sour Sweet muttered in response.


Umbré’s wailing softened but she was still crying, curling up into a tight ball, unaware that the pink pegasus from before had returned.

Ambrosia frowned, hearing the baby crying. She desperately wanted to land and give her a hug but she didn’t want to push it just yet.

She quietly lands just a few feet behind her. 

Umbré continued to cry, even when her ears flickered towards the sound of the pegasus's hooves clinking against the crystal floors.

"Umbré?" Ambrosia called to her.

The foal whimpered as she raised her head up, turning to look over her shoulder. The look on her face was heartbreaking.

Ambrosia, keeping her gift away from the foal's sight, approached her slowly.

"Hello there, little one," she said calmly.

She looked at the bottle of milk that was left on the ground. Ambrosia walked over to it before pushing it aside with her wing, keeping an eye on Umbré, watching to see what she'll do.

"I made you something. I had something similar when I was your age, when I lost my family." Ambrosia said before bringing what she made in front of her.

Umbré let out a breathless gasp and sat up when she saw what this pegasus made for her.

It was a doll of a unicorn, sitting upright by itself on its flank. A sparkling purple unicorn with light blue mane and tail. The buttons for the eyes were blue as well.

Umbré tilted her head to the side curiously. "Hopey?"

She got up on her hooves, one hoof clenching the photograph possessively to her chest. Her legs wobbled when she approached the doll. When she stood in front of it, Umbré looked at it, looked back at the photograph and back at the doll.

She sat down before raising a free hoof and touched it. The doll had a plush feel. She cooed and babbled at it.

"Do you like it?" Ambrosia asked her, seeing how the foal was acting towards it. 

As Umbré went to grab it, the pegasus stopped her. "There's something special about the doll here." The pegasus glanced at her cutie mark - that of a sewing thread, needle and a sewn up heart - and back at the doll. 

Ambrosia slowly grabs the doll and turns it around. On the back of the doll was a zipper. The pegasus then grabs the zipper with her teeth and pulls it down. Umbré watches her confused before seeing that there was an empty  pocket  sewn in the doll.

"Can I see the picture please?" Ambrosia asked her.

Umbré let out a hiss and screeched at her, turning her body back around away from the mare, clinging the picture for dear life.

Unafraid, Ambrosia steps closer to her, pushing the doll closer to her. "You're not going to lose Hopey, I promise." She said.

The foal fussed and babbled, but the pegasus didn't know how to speak baby.

Ambrosia gets dangerously close to her. "Please?" 

Umbré slowly turned her head to look up at her. The mare gave her a smile that felt... familiar to her. This mare had this familiarity to the foal. It wasn't by looks, it was how she was approaching her. This warm feeling...

It reminded her how Hope was towards her.

"Tell you what, " Ambrosia lifts the doll up, "why don't you put the picture inside? That way she will never leave you again. The more love you give to this doll, the more alive she'll become."

Umbré stares at the mare and back at the doll. She held the whispering photo in her hoof, thinking about it for a moment before she used her magic and levitated the picture up. She stared at it before she placed the photo inside of the doll.

Ambrosia smiled as she watched the child. “See? Now she’s more alive now.” she said, sealing the doll back up with the zipper.

Umbré looked up at the pony before she looked back at the doll. She could still hear the picture coming from inside it but it was rather faint. She reaches over with her hooves and grabs it.

She stared at the doll as fresh tears began swelling and she hugged it tightly. “Hopey, Hopey, Hopey~” She whimpered out her name, eyes shut. The doll felt warm when she hugged it, though she can only hear those same words from Hope, having something like this doll to physically hold and the voices made her feel like she’s holding Hope again.

Slowly, Ambrosia scooted closer to the child, and she started humming a melody. It was soft, it echoed in the room that was pleasant to all ears.

Then she opened her mouth and started to sing a song. A lullaby of sorts. She sits right next to Umbré, her soft wings brushing up against the foal's side.

Umbré's frantic crying softened as she heard the lullaby, causing her to open her eyes. When she did, Ambrosia saw that the red and green coloring from her eyes were gone, along with the black mist that was flowing seemed to have disappeared as well. Her sclera was white - slightly red and puffy from the tears and the bright baby blues eyes returned.

As if it was some sort of distraction, Ambrosia raised her hoof and gently placed it on Umbré's shoulders.

The foal tensed up and let out a gasp when she felt the pegasus touch her. Ambrosia was still singing the lullaby, bringing the foal some comfort. Her touch was warm to Umbré, her voice was like sweet honey to her ears.

Umbré stared up at her, she trembled before curling up to the pegasus, face buried into her chest and sobbed.

“Shh, shh there there,” Ambrosia whispered softly, wrapping her hooves around the foal and bringing her in for a much needed hug. “There, there, let it all out.” she said in a soothing tone.

“Well I be,” Shining smiled softly as he and the other ponies were watching from the hallway.

“Is that mare~” Sour Sweet was about to say something smartass like before Ranger stopped her.

“If you are going to say something about my wife, please do so with as much praise and admiration as she deserves,” Ranger said, giving the mare a warning look before looking back at Shining Armor. “Told you she has that kind of magic.” He chuckled before he trots over to his wife and Umbré.

Ambrosia had managed to get Umbré to stop her crying when he came up to them.


Over the following days, the couple would come and visit Umbré at the foal center. Each moment the two had was to slowly make sure Umbré trusted them cause there were moments that she was unsure of the two but she soon came to enjoy them visiting her.

She enjoyed Ambrosia’s warm embrace and her voice; Ranger she was more hesitant towards but he soon broke down her tiny barriers. Slowly and surely, day by day, she started to look more like she was in the photo - the purple gradient on her hooves, muzzle and underbelly had returned, her tiny fangs had disappeared and eventually, her horn even straightened out and had ridges like a normal unicorn right before the two’s very eyes.

One morning, Umbré, with her doll, sat in the playroom at a tiny table with a couple of other foals with building blocks. Every once in a while, the foal would look up at the door that led outside and up at the clock, watching it tick by. Waiting for the two to visit her again, they would always come around at the same time of day like clockwork.

However, when it was time for them to show up, the two didn’t show up. Umbré tilted her head confused when she saw that they weren’t there. She waited for a few minutes but they still didn't show. As time continued to tick by, she was starting to get nervous.

Did they leave?

They wouldn't leave without saying goodbye? Right?

She had started pacing around with the doll on her back, staring up at the clock and the door. She was fussing and whimpering.

Chestnut Falls came into the playroom to check on the little ones when she saw Umbré making a hole in the floor from the non stop pacing. “Umbré, what are you doing, dear girl?” she giggled.

Umbré babbled, waving her hoof where the two usually come in.

Chestnut approached her, scooping her up in her hoof. “Well, whatever it is you’re waiting on, that can wait, it’s time for a bath.”

Umbré did enjoy the baths she was getting at the center so she didn’t make a fuss about it. However, she did look over the pony’s shoulder, expecting to see the ponies she wanted to see but there was no one. She let out a sad whimper as she was whisked away.

Chestnut was being gentle when she placed the foal in the warm soapy tub, managing to grab the Hope-like doll before it could get ruined by the water and set the doll up on the sink countertop. 

Umbré grunts and moans, waving her arms at the doll, wanting it by her side. “Hopey, Hopey.”

“You’ll have Hopey after bath silly.” the mare said as she took a cup she had in the tub and scooped some of the water and gently poured it over the foal’s head. “If we get the doll wet, she’ll get ruined. Just be patient.” She then boops Umbré on her tiny snoot, causing her to giggle.

Instead of using the typical standard baby shampoo and soap the caretakers here would use to clean her up with, what the crystal pony was using had a sweet pea and lavender scent to it. And after she was dried, the mare styled her hair, bundling it up and placing a few bows on it.

And for the first time, she  put on a very cute bright blue dress on the foal.

“Oh my gosh you just look so adorable!” Chestnut Falls couldn’t help but gush at how fancied up she looked.

Umbré babbled as she looked down at the puffy fabric, trying to sit up but she kept rolling on her back. It felt weird actually wearing clothes for the first time, she didn’t know what was happening.

After getting her dressed, Chestnut Falls carried the foal out down the hallway. Umbré looked and saw that she didn’t grab Hopey on the way out. Her horn sparked and the doll was consumed by the blue aura and it lifted Hopey up off the counter and floated towards her. Umbré raised her arms out and grabbed the doll, the magic dispelling and she nuzzled up to the doll.

“You have a special surprise ahead of you, Umbré.” the crystal pony said, smiling down at you. “I think you're gonna love it.”

Umbré cooed in response, suckling on her hoof.

Chestnut carried the foal to a door. She opened in and Umbré gasped softly.

There were Ambrosia and Ranger Arc waiting inside this office. Ambrosia turned her head to see the two come in, saw how pretty Umbré looked and she squealed.

“Oh my Celestia, Umbré! You look so beautiful!” She shot out of her chair, flew over to them and grabbed Umbré who had her arms out for her.

Umbré cheered and laughed when Ambrosia lifted her up in the air before the pegasus showered her cheeks with kisses. 

Ranger Arc snickered, “Sia dear, let the girl breathe.” He said, calling her by her nickname, but he can’t help but marvel at how the foal looks as he felt a sense of pride.

“I know, I know, but I’m just so excited that I can’t stand it!” Ambrosia said, nuzzling against Umbré. She giggled and cooed as she hugged the pegasus’s face before looking at Ranger.

She then reached her arms out for him and babbled.

Ranger chuckled before using his magic to engulf Umbré and picked her up. Umbré squealed as she was carried out of Ambrosia’s hooves and levitated over to his arms.

 Umbré made happy noises and nuzzled up against him. He felt warm like his wife but there was something about him that she felt safe. He wasn’t a strong looking pony but he wasn’t a skinny beanpole either. She just felt like she wasn’t scared of anything in his arms.

She looked up at the stallion who kept making silly looking faces to make her laugh. Umbré felt happy to see these two again, relieved the fact they didn’t just up and left her alone. 

Umbré looked at Ranger before she leapt up from his arms and landed right on top of his head. The adults laughed as they watched the foal playing with his mane. 

“I think we’re just about done here,” Chestnut Falls giggled, watching the happy baby and the couple. She trots over to her desk and pulls out some paperwork from the drawer and sets it down in front of the two. “All I need is your two’s signatures and you will officially be parents.”

Parents??

Umbré tilted her head at that word and babbled.

And as if they were able to understand baby talk, Ambrosia spoke, “We’re taking you home with us, Umbré. You’ll be our daughter and we’re going to be your parents.” She smiled before pointing a hoof at herself. “I’m gonna be your mama,” she then points at Ranger. “And he’s going to be daddy.”

Mama? Daddy?

Ranger picks Umbré up with his hooves before picking her off his head and holding her again in his arms.

Umbré looked between the two and Chestnut.

“You’re being adopted, Umbré, they’ll take great care of you.” the head caretaker said, getting tears of joy. She always gets teary eyed when seeing one of her foals is with their new families.

She held Hopey in her hooves as she looked back and forth between Ranger Arc and Ambrosia, trying to get an understanding of what they were saying. 

The word daddy was foreign to her ears but mama wasn’t new.

Obscura called herself Mother, and Hope wanted Umbré to call her mama.

They said they were taking her home with them. Did they mean they’ll leave the Empire with her?

That thought itself sounded really good, she didn’t want to stay in the Crystal Empire, not after what happened. She wanted to get as far away as she could from the monsters.

“So Umbré, what do you say?” Ambrosia asked, she stood in front of her and Ranger. She stared down at Umbré with love and admiration. “Would you like to come home with us?”

Umbré watched the two for a moment, considering she enjoyed being with the couple. She weighed her options before making her decision.

She looked at Ambrosia and pointed at her. “Mama,” she spoke. Ambrosia’s eyes lit up like Hearth’s Warming Tree. Umbré turned her head and looked up at Ranger. “Dada.” Ranger smiled as Umbré called him.

The couple then signed the official paperworks and that was it.

They just became the proud parents of little Umbré, and soon, the new family boarded on the train. Umbré eagerly sat in the seat, Hopey the doll sitting right next to her. Mama and Dada sat in the same aisle as her, they watched their little filly looking at the window.

She saw as the train was moving that the Empire was getting smaller and smaller from view. And quickly, she saw that it was gone. Gladly putting as much distance as she could from that place, awaiting to start her new journey.





Several years later…

Somewhere in the Everfree Forest, just right outside of Ponyville, a door to a nice looking house swung open. 

“Okay Mommy, okay Daddy, I’m heading out now!” leaping out of the door was Umbré. Reaching around eight years old, her purple mane had grown out some, with a small bit of her hair bunched up to a tiny ponytail with a large white bow in her hair. She wore a bedazzled saddle that had a seatbelt on it; sitting on her back was no pony other than Hopey the doll. The seatbelt was to make sure the doll didn’t fall off as she ran around.

“Umbré, please be careful, we’re still in the process of unpacking and we still don't know what’s out there.” Ambrosia called out to her daughter as she and Ranger stepped out the door. The tiny unicorn waved at them.

“I will!” Umbré said in a chipper voice. “Okay Hopey, let's go on an adventure!” so full of life and free spirited, taking off down the stone pathway and into the forest.

The little unicorn ran through the woods, looking around her new environment. Mostly felt calm and tranquil, watching everything around her. From the trees to the cute woodland animals. Taking in her new land she now calls home. 

As she ran around, looking at everything her little eyes could see, her stride came to a slow stop. A sensation washed over her, her nerves were lighting up all over the place.

She turned her head and looked at some bushes, peering into the darker parts of the woods.

“Hello?” she called out. Feeling eyes were watching her.

She didn’t get a response, only sounds of the birds chirping and little animals going about their day. But there was no mistake, Umbré knew somepony was watching her.

“Hello? I know you’re there. I won’t bite, you can come on out.” she said with a smile. “Won’t we, Hopey?” she used her magic to make the doll nod her head in agreement.

She heard some rustling in the bushes but nothing came out. She steps closer to it. “Do you need help?”

Umbré’s ears flickered when she heard something fast approaching her from behind. She looked over her shoulder just to see plunder vines shot out from the other side of the path and right at her. Umbré tried to run but the vines grabbed her and Hopey and lifted the two up.

Umbré screamed as the vines swung her around. “Mommy! Daddy! Help me!” she screamed out for them as the vines began pulling her out of the pathway and started retreating back to where it came from with their food in tow.

“Help me, help me! Somepony help me!” Umbré cried out as she struggled to break free but it was fruitless.

The vines wrapped itself around Umbré completely, her screams and cries for help were muffled. She then hears sounds of magic being used and this bright red magic beam shoots out of nowhere and hits the vines several times.

The vines unravel and Umbré drops to the ground with a yelp. When she saw Hopey was being dropped as well, Umbré desperately used her magic to grab the doll in midair before flinging it over to her and she hugs it close, covering her head with her hooves as the attack continues. 

More of the red magic blasts the vines until most of it is reduced to ashes. What was left of it retreated back to its cave out of fear.

“Well, that was a waste of time.” a new voice said with an annoyed huff.

Her ears flickered when she heard the voice. She removes her hooves from her head to look up. She looked to the pony who saved her. She curiously tilted her head as she looked at her savior.

It was a young colt, maybe a couple of years older than her, with wavy jet black mane and tail, dark gray coat and strange looking red eyes. His horn was weirdly shaped as well, it being slightly curved and smooth looking as well. He stood over Umbré and gave her a scowl.

“What are you staring at?” he asked her.

Who was this pony and why does Umbré feel like she knew him?