Follow Twilight Sparkle and her reformed coltfriend the former tyrant Sombra
After returning to the side of good and banishing a threat to Equestria, Sombra is dealing with new changes, both physically and emotionally. He is now dating Twilight Sparkle and has moved to Ponyville with hopes of a fresh start. What kind of wacky adventures can the former Shadow King get into?
The ex-ruler of the Crystal Empire stretched himself out on the bed and smiled, his eyes drinking in the sight of the purple unicorn nestled against his shoulder. It had been an hour since he'd moved into the three-story cottage, taking a total of fifteen minutes to officially christen it and to use the headboard to put a fresh dent into the wall. Sombra stared down at Twilight Sparkle and kissed the top of her head, rewarded with a soft moan as she squirmed against him. And to think, it'd been only five months prior when he'd still been an evil despot and had demanded Twilight Sparkle's hoof in marriage in exchange for the freedom of her friends. Now he was just another stallion living an average life with his marefriend.
He slid out from underneath Twilight's body and stood up, his wings stretched out behind him. Oh, and now he was also an alicorn, something that he'd earned after helping Princess Celestia and the Elements of Harmony destroy his wicked father, a vile waste of pony flesh that made Sombra look like a daycare employee. He stared long and hard at one feathered appendage, idly wondering if there'd ever come a time when he would get used to having them. Aside from having wings, Sombra was also due to receive an official coronation, making him a prince and placing him alongside Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence as a ruler of Equestria. But what could he possibly be the prince of? Shadows? Darkness? A surprisingly soft and luxurious mane?
"Sombra? Are you alright?"
Tearing himself away from his thoughts, Sombra glanced down reverently at the mare sprawled out on the bed, his skin goose-pimpled at the sight of her short but undeniably feminine body. "I'm fine, Twi." He then gave her a once-over and gulped, "Tartarus, you're beautiful."
Twilight fluttered her eyelashes at him and he could've died from the way her smoldering violet eyes gazed into his own. "You're quite the looker yourself, Sommy. You flatter me too much, you know that?"
Sombra sank to his hocks and took one of Twilight's hooves into his own. "That's because you're worthy of it," he said gently, placing kisses on her hoof and forearm. "You're the most beautiful mare I've ever laid eyes on."
"Even more beautiful than Princess Celestia?" Twilight enquired dubiously.
"Well, let me put it this way: I can actually stand to look at you when I wake up in the morning."
Twilight giggled and kissed Sombra's nose. "Just don't let her hear that." She rose and stretched her hindlegs. "Okay, let's get going. We agreed on fifteen minutes and that was twenty minutes ago. Trust me, you don't want to miss a Pinkie Pie Party™. We'll never hear the end of it."
By the time the pair showed up on the Sugarcube Corner doorstep, the party was already in full swing, the music blaring from inside the establishment while conversations and hollers echoed through the walls. Sombra stopped and took a deep breath, concerned that perhaps his presence at this shindig wasn't really the best option, even if it had been organized for him. Oh, what am I doing? There's no way that this can end any other way than in a disaster! Well, I guess I can go home and start that Daring Do series Twilight recommended. "You know what, Twi? I'm not feeling well all of sudden. I'm just going to go home and sleep it off. You can go on without me."
A firm but gentle hoof wrapped around his front pastern. "Sombra, look at me." Twilight's violet eyes shimmered in the light emanating from the building's windows and he was lost in their brilliance. "You have nothing to worry about. I'll be right by your side, I promise."
Sombra nodded and braced himself as Twilight knocked on the door. By the third rap, a pink earth pony zipped into the doorway and beamed excitedly, "Hi Twilight and Sombra! Welcome to the party! What took you two so long?" Before either of them had time to answer, Pinkie Pie shoved a party hat on each of their heads and yanked them inside, slamming the door behind them. Pinkie motioned to the DJ to turn down the music and proclaimed, "The guest of honor has arrived!"
As to be expected, the few ponies that had gathered there looked less than thrilled and gave Sombra a wide berth as he and Twilight made their way to the center of the room. "Um...H-hello there?" Some ponies greeted him back while most remained silent, some even half-heartedly clapping. He honestly couldn't blame them, given his reputation but was still amazed by the amount of ponies that did show up. Then again, it was hard to pass up on dancing and free food.
Pinkie put a foreleg around Sombra and cheered, "Alright party ponies, let's get this Welcome-to-Ponyville-Slash-New-Bestie-Slash-Best-Friend’s-New-Coltfriend Party started!" The applause was louder the second time around and the music kicked back in, signaling the partygoers to resume their dancing, though trying their hardest to keep away from Sombra.
True to her word, Twilight stayed by Sombra's side, a hoof kept firmly wrapped around his own. They enjoyed some punch while Pinkie introduced them to the locals, including Cranky Doodle Donkey and his girlfriend Matilda, Octavia Melody, who Sombra seemed to especially get along with, Muffins "Derpy" Hooves and Lyra Heartstrings. Pinkie led the couple to an amber-colored stallion with a dark brown mane. "And this is Time Turner, he runs the town clock tower and is the local inventor." Sombra took note of the stallion's attire, which consisted of a Panama hat and a cream-colored frock coat with what looked to be a piece of celery pinned to the lapel. "Time Turner, this is Sombra! He's Twilight's new coltfriend and my new bestie!"
"Pleasure to meet you," Time Turner grinned and held out a hoof, which Sombra gladly took. It was nice to get somepony who wasn't so hesitant to socialize with him. "Welcome to our fine little town. I do hope you enjoy your stay and if you need anything, please don't hesitate to come see me."
"Thank you, Time Turner. I might just take you up on your offer. You know, Pinkie was just telling me that you're not originally from here. Where are you from?"
"Gallopfrey. Er, I mean, Chicobgo," Time Turner smiled awkwardly. There was a brief pause before he exclaimed, "Sorry, must dash!" and ran off with Derpy in tow. The three glanced confusingly at the departing stallion and collectively shook their heads. What's a Gallopfrey, anyway?
"Wow, he's a bit odd, isn't he?" Pinkie commented, earning her an audible face-hoof from Sombra.
Warning: This chapter contains violent and disturbing imagery. Viewer discretion is advised.
Mist seeped through the air, covering the land in a thick blanket and obscuring much of the city's interior. Sombra slowly made his way through the vacant city, the eerie silence punctuated by the echoing clomps of his hooves on the pavement. The mist began to dissipate somewhat, affording him a view of the ruined buildings and smashed households. Broken crystals littered the ground and upon inspecting a large chunk, he drew himself back in disgust. It was part of a crystal pony's skull and eye, staring up at him in unblinking terror. What happened here? The Crystal Empire lay in ruins, the once-great kingdom now a dull, colorless mausoleum of snow and debris.
A clattering sound drew Sombra's attention, his eyes catching a glimpse of a figure in the distance. "Wait! Come back!" He chased the figure further into the fog until he came out in what appeared to be Canterlot, the shining beacon of Equestria reduced to a pile of rubble. He stared awestruck at the remains of the castle, which had been completely demolished and lay unceremoniously like a corpse on the mountainside. This doesn't make any sense! The Elements of Harmony should've been able to protect both Canterlot and the Crystal Empire. What went wrong? The figure sped by and Sombra once more gave chase, both distressed and annoyed by the stranger and whatever game that they were playing. And if there was one thing Sombra hated, it was somepony playing games when something important was on the line.
He swam through the thick fog to find himself in Ponyville, a flaming wreck of ash and carcasses, which were piled up by the hundreds and picked at by fat carrion birds. "No, no...!" Pinkie Pie hung from the end of a rope, her normally bubbly and carefree face twisted into one of fear and agony. Rainbow Dash had been pinned to a nearby wall with a spear and her wings sprayed open with large rusty nails. "Ah, no...!" He found Fluttershy cradling her bunny Angel, their heads laying nearby along with a disemboweled Rarity and Applejack, the latter's mouth and throat stuffed with apple cores. Young Spike had every bone in his little dragon broken and his head twisted around three-hundred and sixty degrees like a doll. "Spike...not you. No..."
Something flashed by in his peripheral and despite his urge to look away, Sombra found his eyes forced wide open and, fighting back the tears and bile, he sank to his hocks and wept loudly. He found his beloved Twilight Sparkle's body had been suspended upright in some sort of iron cradle, the flesh of her chest and stomach stretched back with cruel-looking hooks, exposing her rotting insides. "Twilight! No...no, no, no, no!" He beat at the ground with his hooves, slamming them hard enough to leave bloody marks on the cobblestone street.
That voice... He slowly turned his head to discover a gloating male umbrum, his single eye shimmering with sadistic glee as he grinned proudly at the macabre display. "...Father?"
Erebus chuckled malevolently. "Did you miss me? I must say, this is a much better sight than the old place."
Sombra rose to his hooves, fury raging in his chest like an inferno. "You...you did this!"
"Me?" Erebus cocked his head inquisitively. "Oh my dear son," he smirked, "You give me far too much credit. I have YOU to thank for all of this." The fog vanished, revealing that Canterlot, the Crystal Empire and Ponyville were all located in the same vicinity, a twisted combination of the three merged together into a single site of death and destruction.
"No, no...you're lying!" Sombra roared.
"Am I?" A second figure appeared next to Erebus, his features hidden beneath a thick, hooded robe. Sombra recognized him; It was the same figure he'd been chasing this whole time. Erebus put a foreleg around the figure. "This, my son, is the true architect of this masterpiece." He pulled back the figure's hood, revealing another umbrum male, his solid crimson eyes surrounded by wisps of purple smoke. "I assume you're already acquainted with each other?"
Sombra stared with horror at the second umbrum, who sneered at him with a devilish grin. "It's not...it's not possible. You're gone! You both are! Dead and buried! I'm not like you! I'm...I'm good! I'm good!"
The two umbrums both cackled, a discordant sound like the scraping of glass across a metal surface. They seemed to merge into one another, the flesh of their faces and bodies connected by strands of skin. They then both spoke, a horrifying mixture of both voices: "We know otherwise, don't we? You may have a pair of wings, but you'll never escape us! Behind the soft heart and sad, penitent visage, you will always be King Sombra. You will always be...US!"
"ENOUGH!" A voice boomed, filling the town square with a silvery light and when it dissolved, the King Sombra-Erebus figure was no more, as were the city ruins and piles of dead bodies. The landscape instead became the interior of Golden Oaks and to his relief, Sombra was face-to-face with the Princess of the Night herself. "Hello Sombra. Art thou alright?"
Sombra wiped away his tears and nodded. "Y-yes. Ahem, yes, I think so. Thank you, Princess Luna."
The alicorn smiled, "Of course. Thou art, after all, one of my subjects as well as a prince-to-be. I would've been derelict in my duties had I not come." She looked away shamefully, sorrow written across her face. "I apologize for my tardiness. Thou shalt not have had to bear witness to such atrocities as you have for the past week." It was truly amazing how far the two had come. They'd once been mortal enemies. Now she was actually worried about him!
"Still, I'm glad you came when you did. It could've become much worse. Thank you."
Luna looked once more at Sombra and a light smile touched her lips. "You're welcome. Now then, let's get rid of these nightmares so that you can-..."
"No."
Luna stared incredulously at Sombra. "'No'? What do you mean, 'no'?"
Sombra sighed heavily. "Luna...so much has changed in only a few months' time. I've found love, I've regained my honor, I said a proper goodbye to my mother. And look." He spread his large gray wings. "Now I'm an alicorn, soon to be a ruler of Equestria." His wings folded back up at his sides as he took a seat. "But none of that can erase what I've done. These nightmares are my penance. They remind me of what I could've become had Twilight not come into my life. I don't deserve a second chance and yet a second chance is what I have. I wish I could take back everything I've said and done...but I can't. Crowns, wings and friends can't change the fact that I will always be King Sombra."
A gentle wing came to rest on Sombra's shoulder. "I understand, more than you can possibly imagine. Though I am Princess Luna, Nightmare Moon will always stain both my name and my soul. I too feel as though I don't deserve redemption but here I am. I will grant you this but remember, you have friends and a marefriend that loves you. Please keep that in mind."
"Thank you, Luna. And I will. Also, please...don't tell Twilight about this. She worries enough as it is."
Luna smiled and tapped Sombra's foreleg with a gentle hoof. "I won't. But you should."
Once she'd left, Sombra exhaled wearily. "Easier said than done."
Twilight stretched and arched her back, moaning a bit as she felt the little kinks pop. She then rubbed at one eye and peered over at the alicorn sleeping next to her and a sweet smile crossed her lips. In order to smooth over the new transition, she usually slept over at Sombra's place whenever the two hung out, just to build up some trust with Spike until she could bring her new coltfriend over to the library. Huh, "coltfriend." The word brought Twilight a kind of indescribable giddiness but also felt as though the term was too flimsy. "Coltfriend" sounded temporary, like a short-term fling before moving onward to somepony else. While she liked "soulmate," it was a special word, one that she would use hesitantly out in public. "Inamorata" was too wordy and hoity-toity while "partner" made her feel like an actor in a bad cop show. She shrugged, deciding to work on the terminology at a later date as she gazed at Sombra.
It seemed so unreal that only a few months ago that he was a wicked tyrant and she his captive, a hostage exchanged for the safety of her friends and family. Truth be told, she hated him but after spending time with Sombra and seeing a different side of him that he'd purposefully kept hidden away, Twilight had grown to love him and now couldn't bear the thought of being separated from him. She froze when she noticed his right hindleg kicking spastically and his hooves seemed to grip and claw at the sheets, his breath ragged and hurried as he began to hiss and groan.
"Sombra?"
"N-no. Ah, no, no!" Sombra turned over quickly, his teeth gritted as he curled up into a ball. "NO!"
Twilight embraced Sombra and rested her head on his shoulder, her horn illuminating as she cast a calming spell on him. He stopped twitched and she thanked Celestia when his breathing returned to normal, a look of peace passing over his face. Ever since they'd come to Ponyville, Sombra had looked more tired and spooked and it didn't take a detective to figure out that he'd been losing sleep. Whenever Twilight stayed the night, she'd notice that he was plagued by nightmares and did whatever she could to alleviate them, by either hugging and rocking him or using a calming spell. While it hurt that Sombra wouldn't tell her about his issues, Twilight figured that it was a personal struggle and would wait for him to tell her. As his soulmate, she could feel the fear as it resonated off of him and knew that whatever it was, it had to do with his psychotic, black hearted-of-a-monster father. I can't blame him; I'm shocked that I don't have nightmares about Erebus.
Throwing the covers over, Twilight rose from the bed and made her way downstairs, deciding that if she wasn't going back to sleep, she'd might as well get the day started and make some breakfast. Digging through the pantries, her eyes fell upon a bag of pancake batter and grinned, remembering the day that Sombra made her pancakes, filling a whole table with stacks of the food as he'd spent hours trying to get the recipe just right. My budding chef. She chuckled and took the bag out, concluding that it was not only what she was in the mood for but would be something nice to do for Sombra once he woke up. Humming a merry tune, she mixed in the batter with some cinnamon and apple slices before frying it, filling the room with its sweet aroma. Some thumps on the staircase announced Sombra's arrival and she turned to greet him, still somewhat in awe of his large wings.
"Good morning, Sommy!"
The alicorn smiled sleepily and kissed her cheek. "Right back at you, Twi. Wow, that smells good." He took a seat at the table and yawned, placing his chin on his hooves as he watched her. It was a little hard for Twilight to focus on making breakfast when he stared at her like that, a mix between amorous devotion and wanton affection. And to think, once upon a time, Twilight used to be afraid of those red eyes of his. Now she wanted to stare into them for hours on end.
"Thanks, though I doubt they can compare with yours."
"I'm sure whatever you make will be the bee's knees." Twilight turned away to roll her eyes. Being trapped in ice for a millennia caused Sombra to miss out on centuries of popular culture and she'd encouraged him to read up what he'd missed out on in order to get him better acquainted with the new era. Now he'd taken to using outdated words and expressions, which was kind of annoying but mostly endearing. Now he sounded as old as he was. I still don't think I can forgive Pinkie for introducing him to old rap terminology. I can't get over hearing him use the words "yo" or "tight" in a sentence.
"So Twi, what's on the agenda for today?"
Twilight turned to find Sombra with a spoon stuck to his nose and she bit her lip to keep from laughing. "Well...since you've arrived here, you've been spending all your time alone and I was thinking that maybe you could socialize. I asked Applejack to let you help her do some apple bucking on the farm today."
The spoon clattered onto the table. "I don't know about that, Twi. Last I checked, your friends aren't exactly chill with me. I know Applejack's your friend and all but are you sure she'd want me around? Sounds like a lot of unneeded stress on her part."
Twilight placed a hoof on her hip and shook her head maternally. "Listen Sombra, sooner or later, you're going to have to learn how be around other ponies, particularly my friends. You're both an important part of my life and I want you to get along. You can't spend all day locked away in the library with the curtains drawn sipping away on jasmine tea."
"Actually, it's Morhockan mint." Sombra gulped at Twilight's castigatory expression. "Right, sorry. Okay, I'll do it."
Twilight's face brightened. "Great! She's expecting you at twelve so don't be late."
"The things I do for love," Sombra grumbled, much to Twilight's amusement.
Tightly pulling the gray cloak around himself, Sombra moved at an even pace throughout the streets of Ponyville, his eyes darting back and forth as he moved through the throngs of ponies, who unsurprisingly chose to give him a wide berth. Since he'd moved there, the residents mostly did their best to avoid him with some of the bolder ones giving him the stink eye or spitting at his hooves as he walked by. Not that he could blame them. He trotted up to the entrance of Sweet Apple Acres and was met by an orange earth pony mare leaning up against a fence with her hat pulled down low, most likely for dramatic effect. "Well, yer right ahn time, so tha counts fer somethin'," Applejack stated dryly. "Come on, let's git started."
Pushing herself off of the fence, Applejack turned and made her way towards the orchard, throwing a peek over her shoulder to find Sombra following her two paces behind. She actually felt kind of bad for the guy; day one since he'd moved in, he'd been courteous and quiet, keeping his distance from the other ponies and being on his best behavior. Once, she'd seen a pony throw an empty soda can at him and Sombra merely walked away, something the old Sombra would've no doubt sought retribution for, most likely via shoving the pony's head on a stick. He seemed very skittish, as though his very presence would cause problems. Maybe Ah'm too tough on the feller. He is makin' an effort to change his ways. She stopped and said, "Alright Sombra, here's the deal: yer goin' to be helpin' me buck apples. We're goin' ta knock tha the apples offa the trees an' make sure they fall into tha baskets. Any questions?"
To his credit, Sombra shook his head. "No Ma'am. Seems pretty straight forward."
"Good, just knock off that 'Ma'am' business. 'Applejack' will do just fine. An' ya can take off yer cloak. Nopony can see us past this here tree line." Sombra nodded, undoing the clasp and Applejack watched as he shrugged out of the thick gray fabric and let it fall to the ground, revealing a broad-chested and toned physique. It wasn't over-the-top like Bulk Biceps' nor was it thin, being somewhere in the middle, like an old Greek statue. "Do ya work out?" She winced as she realized that the words had escaped her lips.
Sombra blinked. "Um, yes, actually. I mostly do it for Twilight, as she likes the way I look."
"Ah reckon she does," Applejack muttered. "Ahem, now this is how ya apple buck." Planting herself firmly on the ground, she lifted her hindlegs and thrust them into the trunk of a nearby tree, rocking it and causing some apples to fall into the basket underneath it. She smirked at her handiwork and turned to Sombra. "As easy as apple pie. Now ya give it a try." Scrutinizing the tree, Sombra carefully folded his wings up against his sides and, raising both hindlegs, kicked the tree and knocked nearly all of the remaining apples loose. Applejack nodded, "Very good, nice form. Keep at it and Ah'll watch yer progress for a bit. Give tha tree another wackin'."
"You've got it." Sombra kicked the tree trunk again, this time doing it with one leg and letting out a grunt. Filling up the basket, he went to the next tree in the row and repeated the action. Applejack fought to tear her eyes away from his muscles stretching over his buff frame, her ears tingling with the sounds of his masculine grunts and the sounds of his hooves banging on wood. Whoo, is it suddenly hot out here or is it just me? She fanned herself with her hat, this time noticing Sombra's teeth clenching with every blow, the way the sweat flowed down his shoulders and onto his broad chest. She had to admit, Sombra was quite the looker and Twilight was plum-lucky to have him.
"Applejack? Applejack! Are you alright? You've been daydreaming for the past five minutes."
The orange mare shook her head. "Ah'm fine, j-just concentrate on yer work. Ah'll be back ta check on ya later." With that, Applejack leisurely walked away until Sombra's back was turned, then she broke into a full gallop all the way to the house and to the upstairs bathroom. Slamming the door behind her, she splashed water on her face and looked at herself in the mirror, bewildered by what had just transpired. "What in tarnation is goin' on with me? Uh-uh, there's no way Ah've got tha hots fer Twilight's coltfriend." She thought back to how she observed Sombra working, how fit she noticed he was, the way his powerful hindlegs struck the tree trunk- "R-right?"
A few hours had passed by before Applejack exited her hiding spot at Golden Harvest's carrot farm and worked up the courage to face Sombra once more, deciding to ignore her own feelings and keep things professional. She arrived on the spot where she'd left Sombra and became frantic when she couldn't spot him. "Now where did tha varmint go? He better not be goofin' off!" She searched through the orchard until she found Big Mac in the barn working on a cider press. "Heya Big Mac? Did ya happen to see which way Sombra went of ta? He's s'sposed to be apple buckin' but now I caint find him."
The red stallion stopped and replied, "I saw him go up to da house about, oh...an hour ago?"
"The house? He better not be just lazing about! Thanks Big Mac."
"Eeyup." Applekjack left her brother to his task as she stormed up to the house, ready to give Sombra a piece of her mind, no matter how big he was or how attractive she found him. As she neared the house, she stopped when she heard the unmistakable sound of laughter and confusingly peered around the corner. Sombra was sitting on the front porch steps across from Granny Smith in her rocking chair, appearing to listen with rapt attention as the old mare spoke. "Now what is he doin'?" Applejack whispered to herself, somewhat intrigued by this new development.
"...So then Goldie Delicious and Ah told Apple Rose that we hadn't seen her apple fritter pie and at that very moment, tha pie fell from tha ceilin' and clocked her right inna head, completely splatterin' her with the stuff!"
Sombra, who was in the middle of drinking some apple cider, spat the liquid back into his mug and guffawed, slapping his hock hard enough to leave a bruise as he fought for air. The two shared a laugh before Sombra managed to sputter, "So-so then what happened? She was pretty angry, wasn't she, Granny Smith?"
"'Purdy angry'? Shoot, Apple Rose looked ornery 'nuff ta yank tha wings offa dragon is what she looked like! And tha words she called us! Good thang her pappy wasn't in the room ta hear the language she was usin'." The two became aware of Applejack's presence and Granny Smith patted the wooden stool next to her. "Howdy Applejack! Why don'tcha grab a seat here and join us? I was just tellin' yer friend here about tha time Apple Rose was fixin' ta kill Cousin Goldie Delicious and I for swapping out her apple fritter pie right before tha big bake sale. By tha way, why didn't ya bring this fellah to tha farm before? He's such a gentlecolt!" She then added coyly, "And not bad lookin' neither."
Sombra snorted, "Oh Granny Smith, stop! We both know it'd never work. If I wasn't with Twilight, maybe you'd have a shot. You know, if you don't mind being a young mare dating an older stallion."
Granny Smith tittered, "Yer too much, Sombra! If this is what all stallions are like at tha Crystal Empire, then Ah might just pack mah things and move over yonder and start huntin'!"
Applejack scratched the back of her head. Seeing the two getting along so well was odd but deeply touching. Sombra wasn't one for socializing and it was nice to see him enjoying himself outside of the comfort of his cottage. Even if he's flirtin'-not-flirtin' with my grandmother. "So, how long have ya been talkin' out here?"
"Oh, about an hour, hour and a half?" Sombra replied and took a drink. "Still, it was great! Your Granny Smith is quite the accomplished storyteller!" He then wiggled his eyebrows. "And she's pretty easy on the eyes too."
"Now, now, Sombra, what would Twilight think of ya sweet-talkin' other mares?"
"Hey, if she doesn't ask, then we won't tell!"
Applejack rolled her eyes. "This has been interestin', but Ah think it's time fer Sombra to skedaddle."
"Eh, fair nuff. I've got some baking ta do anyhow," Granny Smith nodded, slowly rising from her rocking chair. "Now Sombra, don't be a stranger 'round here. Ah expect ta see more of ya, ya hear?"
Pecking the old mare on both cheeks, Sombra chuckled, "You bet. See you later, Granny Smith!" He joined Applejack and they walked back into the orchard, where Sombra wrapped his heavy gray cloak once more around himself. "You know, your grandmother is really quite amazing! Oh, the stories she has to tell!"
"Uh-huh. She, uh, seems rather taken with ya too. Ah didn't know anypony else outside tha family that could stand her long-winded stories before. Yer really interested in 'em? No lyin'?"
Sombra redid the clasp and looked at Applejack as though she said the moon was made out of cheese. "Of course I do. Who wouldn't? It honestly felt nice to talk to her, or rather, have her talk while I listened."
"Oh, Ah forgot, there's really not many ponies that are in yer age range, are there?"
"Well, that and I've never had a grandmother. Even if for just an hour, it felt nice to pretend like I did."
And with that, all of the suspicion and skepticism melted away from Applejack's heart like an ice cube in the sun. Sombra turned to leave when Applejack stopped him with a firm hoof on his shoulder. "Hey Sombra? It'd...it'd be nice i-if ya came over fer dinner tomorrah night. Granny Smith makes the best apple casserole ya ever did have."
Sombra stared incredulously at her. "Do you mean that?"
Applejack smiled, "Yeah, Ah do. Yer...welcome here whenever ya like."
Sombra kissed the tip of his hoof and threw a dirty glance at the hammer magically suspended in front of him. He hefted it across the room before turning his attention at the dilapidated cabinet in front of him. To help cope with his boredom and semi-isolation, Twilight suggested that he should take up a hobby and he readily agreed. After model ship building, soap carving, knitting and clay sculpting, Sombra tried his hoof at cabinet making, which went about as well as the other attempts, perhaps even worse. With a charge of his horn, he blasted a flaming hole in the cabinet, scattering it across the living room and showering him in wood dust and bits of debris. Steady, old boy. Steady. He took a deep breath and plopped down on the floor. Who am I kidding? Nothing works!
I'm sure something will tickle your fancy. You have to just keep looking.
Sombra shook his head. Sometimes the Darkness was ironically too positive. Yeah, right. I'm not good at anything except for magic, breaking stuff and having sex. And I'm too frustrated to do that last one.
Is that REALLY all? Come now, Sombra, think! What else do you know?
Hmm. I'm quite adept at geology. I'm knowledgeable in history, poetry, classic literature, chemistry and alchemy. And Twilight told me how much she enjoys my pancakes...
"Wait, that's it! I could try baking!" Sombra said triumphantly aloud.
Sombra could feel the Darkness lifting an eyebrow. Really? Baking? That's what you're going with? Just because you managed to make flapjacks doesn't mean that you're Gourmand Ramsey. Besides, a foal can make pancakes!
"I knew it was a bad idea to start watching those cooking shows," Sombra irritatingly replied. To help acclimate him to the new age, Twilight sat Sombra down and together, they watched numerous shows and movies from different eras. He found he quite liked the older stuff, like the Cutie Marks Brothers and Abbalk and Cobstello, leading to Twilight to call him, "Grandpa". Well, it wasn't his fault that most TV shows and motion pictures sucked nowadays. Huh. Maybe I am a bit of a grandpa. Then again, I'm over a thousand-years-old; I'm allowed to act it.
Fetching his cloak, Sombra tightly secured the garment around himself and walked out the door, sighing as he felt the sun on his skin and the wind at his back. As was to be expected at this point, the other ponies avoided him like the Magenta Plague, ducking to move out of his way and staring accusingly at the stallion. If only they knew what they were really throwing their dirty glances at! Sombra wished he could just display his wings to these fools but that would violate the agreement he had with the princesses and he was trying to keep on the straight and narrow, for Twilight's sake. That was also the reason that he ignored the totally justifiable urge to start swinging at his gawkers.
Ugh, I should've never given up drinking! He privately grumbled, smacking his lips at the lingering taste of wine. Of course, Twilight insisted that part of his reformation meant no more self-destructive behavior, including, sadly, the consumption of alcohol. In my defense, I've been through and seen a lot! Why else would I drink so much? He shelved the complaint for another time, having arrived at Sugarcube Corner, the work place and residence of one Pinkamena Diane Pie, his self-proclaimed "bestie" and local party planner.
Aside from the odd, hyperactive behavior she exuded and insistence on invading personal space, Sombra really found nothing wrong with Pinkie and actually came to admire her varied skill set and dedication to making others smile. Entering the restaurant, he found, to his complete lack of surprise, said pink mare zigzagging from one table to the next, her energy and precision still astounding to say the least. A few of the patrons turned to stare at him and he decided to come back later when a pink blur came barreling into him and wrapping him in a hug strong enough to crush the air out of a rabid amarok. "SOMBRA! IT'SSOGOODTOSEEYOU! CANIGETYOUATABLEORABOOTH? DOYOUNEEDAMENU'CAUSEI'VEGOTLIKEFOURORTWENTYTOSPARE!"
"Pinkie...air...please..." He managed before Pinkie took the hit and sheepishly set him down. Seriously, how can one little mare manage to be so strong?
"Sorry Sombra, it's just that you've never come in to see me before. Not a nice way to treat your bestie," she added with a pout, which quickly flipped right back into her usual happy-go-lucky grin.
Sombra scratched the back of his head, wondering how exactly to word what he was going to say next. "Well, the thing is...Twilight told me that getting a hobby would be helpful to my mental health and I figured I could try my hoof at baking. So...do you think that you could...mmpf!"
Pinkie's hoof clamped over Sombra's mouth. "Say no more! Follow me!" Finding himself short on options, Sombra followed the bouncing, squeaking pink puffball into the kitchen, where they encountered two more ponies, a mare and a stallion. Sombra had only met the Cakes once back at his welcoming party but found them to be very friendly and could see why Pinkie was so fond of them. "Hey Mr. and Mrs. Cake, look who I found!"
Mrs. Cake set down the tray of cookies she was carrying and quickly enveloped Sombra in a full-contact but tender hug. "Hello Sombra! It's so very nice to see you again, dear!" Damn it, why are you people so lovable? Sombra wondered, surrendering to the hug and taking in the cerulean mare's scent, a pleasing mix of fresh cake batter and vanilla. He was still getting used to physical displays of affection, something as once foreign to him as ancient Saddle Arabian and only allowed a very, very select few to do so.
After Mrs. Cake unhooked herself, Mr. Cake thankfully gave Sombra a short hug and a firm hoofshake. "Good to see you, Sombra! Cup and I were wondering whether or not we'd see you in here. I was starting to think you wouldn't show."
"Yeah, well, Twilight thought it might be nice for me-..."
"Sombra's looking for a hobby and he suggested baking!" Pinkie interjected, an action that Sombra would've found rude and irritating if she wasn't so bubbly and adorable. "So I decided to teach him and maybe he could even help out around here? Please, please, please?!" Pinkie was on her knees with her hooves together in a pleading gesture, her blue eyes somehow larger and more vulnerable-looking. Oh for the love of Ahriman, just give her what she wants! It's too cute!
The couple looked at one another, appearing to have a mental conversation before Mr. Cake nodded, "Alright, he can stay. But you're in charge of him. And whatever mess he makes, he has to clean up." Pinkie bounced up into the air and wrapped her forelegs around Sombra's neck, yipping and repeatedly thanking the two for making her day "super-special-awesome!" Why do I get the feeling I just agreed to something truly regrettable?
It's Pinkie Pie. Would you expect anything less?
"Okaaay. Now we're going to mix the batter!" Pinkie stated in her usual, peppy tone. Call it crazy, but Sombra found her joyfulness kind of infectious and was now grinning like the world's biggest idiot. "Good, good. Gently! Baking is about making something out of love. You have to be gentle!" Sombra mimicked Pinkie's actions, stirring the batter slowly but firmly. He didn't think it'd be this much fun but lately he liked to be proven wrong. And if being wrong means I get delicious baked goods out of the deal, then I never want to be right!
"Now to put it into the oven! No, don't just shove it in! Gently place it!" Sombra was sorely tempted to make a sex joke but he figured that Pinkie wouldn't appreciate it while she was conducting, in her opinion, a serious lesson. Plus, given her mental maturity, it'd probably go right over her head. "That's better! Think of baking like raising a foal. Only you're beating it with a spoon, putting it in an oven and then eating it. Wait, bad example! Let me think of another one!"
Sombra patted Pinkie's head, delighted by the feel of her poofy mane. Though he'd never tell her that, of course. "Relax, Pinkie. So far, I think you're a good teacher."
"Really?!" A giant grin stretched impossibly wide across her face. She bounce-danced around the kitchen and picked up what Sombra assumed to be a deformed iguana. "Did you hear that, Gummy?! Sombra thinks I'm a good teacher! Ha, in your face, grade-school-classmates-that-said-I-couldn't-do-it-but-now-are-so-clearly-proven-wrong! Ha!"
DING!
"Looks like it's done!" Pinkie gasped excitedly and placed the lizard on top of her head, being sure to fetch a pair of oven mits. "Mmm, smells good!" Sombra anxiously waited, his excitement growing by the second as Pinkie pulled the tray out and set it on the countertop. He frowned, and tilted his head. The cake had somehow come out looking like a sagging, cream-colored cone full of lumps and popping air pockets. How did...I followed her instructions to a "T"!
He noticed Pinkie staring at his creation strangely. "I'm so sorry, Pinkie. I failed you."
"What do you mean?" Pinkie asked, tearing a chunk of the semi-solid mush out and stuffing it unceremoniously into her mouth. She gulped and licked her hoof. "It's edible, isn't it? Besides, that's the real lesson in baking: it's not the recipe of making the food. It's the fun of making the food!"
Sniffing the cake, Sombra took a bite, finding that it was creamy with a velvety aftertaste. Placing a foreleg around Pinkie, he grinned appreciatively, "You know something, Pinkie Pie? You're a genius!"
"Thanks Bestie. And no matter what everypony says, you're a good stallion."
"Thank you...-wait. What does everypony say about me?"
Sombra opened his eyes, finding them focusing on a clear blue sky as he felt the sun warm his body, causing it to shimmer and glisten in the light. Wait, I'm...shining?! He tried to get up, only to find that his oddly-shimmering body was refusing to obey him. Then again, with the warmth of the sun and the softness of the grass, how could he? He sighed, despite not telling his body to do so, and stretched himself out, his forelegs cradling the back of his head.
"Heliodor! Come here!" That voice... It was like honey being poured into his ears. Where do I know that voice from? Sombra wondered as he rolled onto his side and rose to his hooves, catching a glimpse of his reflection on a nearby greenhouse. He was a transparent, golden-yellow crystal pony unicorn with an orange mane that caught fire in the sunlight. AND I'm a ginger?! Are you freakin' kidding me?
"Helly, oh Helly!"
"I'm coming, Rose Beryl!" Sombra, or "Heliodor" rather, answered with a chuckle. "So impatient!" He half-trotted to the top of a hill where he stopped to admire the most radiant mare in the world. She too was a crystal pony unicorn, only her coat was a glistening lavender pink and her long, wind-swept mane magenta with a streak of ivory. My Rose... Rose Beryl then smiled at him and he truly believed his heart would stop from such a sight.
"I'm only so impatient because I can't ever wait long enough to see you!" They wrapped their forelegs around one another, their lips finding each other's. Her kisses were tangy and sweet, like a rare fruit; Heliodor couldn't imagine kissing anypony else's lips. Hey, hey! I'm already taken! Stop kissing her! Much to Sombra's relief, the pair finally pulled apart and stared into the other's eyes, her heliotropes meeting his scarlets. "I love you, my Helly."
Sombra's mouth moved, his voice tender, barely above a whisper. "I love you, my Rose."
The crowing of the rooster interrupted the weird dream and Sombra groggily sat up, scratching at the crust in his eyes. "Ugh, what a dream," he yawned, shaking the sleep off of him. "It felt so real. And so...familiar." He couldn't place why, but he just felt as though it was something he's lived through, like a long-forgotten memory. Maybe I'll ask Twilight about this. She's more into the modern "psycho-akitry." He thought as he rolled out of bed and stretched his wings, having become accustomed to the new appendages more and more each day. It would only be a matter of time before the coronation took place and he no longer had to hide them. "Prince Sombra" had a nice ring to it but it still eluded the former umbrum what it was he was supposed to represent. Celestia was the sun, Luna the moon and Cadence love. He shrugged and after pulling on his cloak, decided to eat breakfast at that nice café he checked out in passing.
Finding himself on a semi-busy street, Sombra stood patiently and hummed to himself, ignoring the stares he received from passersby and simply choosing to forget about it. At least nopony's glaring at me or whispering. I hate it when they whisper. By the time the street emptied, Sombra was on his way and he rounded the corner, arriving at the small café. To his immediate relief, the ponies there went about their business as usual and he quickly found himself a table in the back. The waitress glided a menu over to him with her unicorn magic and asked, "What can I get for you, hun?"
He perused the menu briefly and decided upon an omelet, politely returning the menu and giving the waitress a big grin. "I will have one omelet with ketchup and a tall orange juice, please."
Either the old mare was too crabby or tired to care for chit-chat. "It'll be right out in a couple of minutes, hun." She then turned and shambled away, leaving Sombra alone with his thoughts. "Hun." That's anther word that I don't want to be associated with. That and "Darling." He shuddered. He liked Rarity enough but thought the word was too intimate for his liking. And why does it seem as though she's obsessed with getting me to model clothing for her? Boundaries, mare!
After finishing the omelet, which Sombra felt was absolutely delightful, he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. An outside commotion drew his gaze to the window and he heard shouting. He rose and tapped the shoulder of the stallion sitting near him, a bearded fellow named "Letrotski" or something. "Hey, do you know what's going on?"
"Well, man, if I had to guess, I'd say it's those Cutie Mark Crusader tykes," the dopey stallion replied. "They're always causing some sort of ruckus around here but hey, that's their thing, man." Cutie Mark Crusader...? Oh yeah, Twi mentioned them. Sombra recalled his marefriend talking about these three fillies that do all kinds of dangerous stunts in an attempt to earn their cutie marks and shirk the rather-degrading title of "blank flanks." At least they're being proactive.
"Thanks Letrotski."
"It's 'the Dude,'" Letrotski corrected with a smirk. "Or, uh, 'His Dudeness' or 'Duder' or 'El Duderino'..-"
"Sure, sure, thank you," Sombra interrupted and placed a couple of bits on his table. "Enjoy a cider or two." He didn't stop to listen to the stallion's thanks for the charitable act, instead paying for his meal at the register and heading outside to see what the hubbub was about. He found three fillies being scolded by a red-maned mare he recognized as Golden Harvest, a local carrot farmer and produce vendor, whose cart had a large crack running along its side and a missing wheel. Apparently, the fillies were attempting to fly a makeshift hot air balloon constructed out of a large wicker basket and old sewn-together bedsheets. "What seems to be the problem?"
Golden Harvest turned to regard him. "Oh, hello Sombra. I was just in the middle of letting these girls know what they did wrong. They wrecked my cart and caused a panic! They must be punished for being so thoughtless and-..."
"The cart doesn't look too bad to me."
"What?" Golden Harvest asked confusingly.
One of the fillies spoke up as well, this one looking like a mini version of Applejack. "Wha?"
Retrieving the missing wheel, Sombra magically reattached it before turning his attention to the crack. After telekinetically sealing the edges of the wood together, he stood back to allow the mare to inspect his work. "See? No harm, no foul."
"Well, um, th-thank you, Sombra." Golden Harvest ran a hoof along where the faintest hint of a crack could be seen. "Ahem, what about the fillies? They should still be punished."
Sombra trotted over to the three and place his forelegs around their shoulders. "I was on my way to Sweet Apple Acres. I'll take them there and their parents can come pick them up. Sounds good? Excellent, come on, ladies!" Without waiting for Golden Harvest's response, Sombra led the Cutie Mark Crusaders away, putting distance between them and the slightly-still-irate mare. Once they were far enough away, he stopped and waved them off. "Okay, have a nice day!"
"Wait! Wait a minute!" Sombra turned back around, meeting the confused gaze of the three. The filly who had spoken, a unicorn with a purple and pink mane, stepped forward and inspected him.
"Aren't you going to take us to Sweet Apple Acres?"
Sombra blinked. "No, I just said that to get you off the hook."
"Why?" The pegasus asked.
"Well...I didn't like seeing you getting yelled at. Honestly, I thought your hot air balloon was quite ingenious."
The three all smiled and the earth pony pointed a hoof at the unicorn. "Sweetie Belle was tha one who sewed together tha sheets. She found some thread an' fabric strong enuff ta support us."
The unicorn, Sweetie Belle, chuckled, "Yes, that's true, but you found the wicker basket and the rope. Plus it was Scootaloo's idea to use that old coal scuttle and a baby salamander to keep the balloon afloat."
"Yeah, it was a pretty awesome idea, wasn't it?" Scootloo smirked before turning to Sombra. "We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Scootaloo, that's Apple Bloom and that's Sweetie Belle. And we are..."
"THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" They all yelled in unison, placing their hooves over one another and throwing their forelegs into the air, an adorable gesture in Sombra's humble opinion.
"We know who you are," Sweetie Belle began and Sombra could feel the sweat gather on his brow. "You're Twilight's new coltfriend, right? My sister Rarity told me that you just moved here after helping her fight an evil sorcerer in the Crystal Empire."
Oh thank Tartarus! "There's more to the story than that, but that's the basic gist, I suppose."
"How come yer always wearin' that there cloak everywhere? Don'tcha get hot?"
Sombra tapped his chin. The princesses told him that his existence as an alicorn must be kept a secret until the coronation. Then again, he didn't see the harm in letting these fillies know the truth. "Can you three keep a secret?" They all eagerly nodded and did the Pinkie Promise, which amused Sombra to no end. "Well...here goes nothing!" Shrugging out of the heavy cloak, Sombra unfurled his large wings, thankful to give them the chance to breath.
The fillies stared at Sombra with open jaws, their eyes sparkling with wide-eyed amazement. Apple Bloom stumbled forward, her mouth opening and closing. "Yer…yer an alicorn? But tha would mean..."
"You're a prince!" Sweetie Belle squealed with delight. "Twilight's new coltfriend is a prince! How romantic!" She then crossed her forelegs and huffed, "Lucky!"
Scootaloo clapped her cheeks. "That's so awesome!"
Sombra scratched the back of his head. "Actually, I'm not a prince yet. The coronation isn't for another few weeks." He noticed Scootaloo inching herself closer to him, a hoof reverently reaching out to stroke one of his wings. "Um...what are you doing there?"
The orange filly caught herself and cast her gaze downward. "I just wanted to touch your wings. I'm sorry."
"But you're a pegasus, aren't you? You have wings already."
Scootaloo's wings popped open and Sombra winced inside as he took note of their small size, mentally slapping himself for not seeing it sooner. She trembled and stated morosely, "I...can't...fly."
Great, now I look like a jerk! Think, Sombra, think!
Why don't you give her a lift? Show her what she's missing out on!
Gently grasping Scootaloo's chin with one wing, Sombra tilted her face up and smiled softly, "What if, for one day, I could change that?"
Scootaloo sniffled and raised a confused eyebrow. "What-what do you mean?"
Spreading his feathery extensions, Sombra lifted Scootaloo into his forelegs and smirked, "Ready?"
"Um, y-yes, I think-whoaaa!" The two shot off into the air, leaving Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom to cheer them on. Higher and higher, the two rose, soaring high above the clouds. At first, Scootaloo buried her face frighteningly into Sombra's chest but soon found herself gazing downward in wonder at the ground far below them.
"Wow," she breathed and held her forelegs outward, feeling the wind rip through her mane. She whooped and hollered, joining Sombra in wild laughter as they spun and dove through the air. She then closed her eyes and flapped her measly wings, imagining what it'd be like to one day soar among the heavens. Sombra stared affectionately down at the filly, an unfamiliar emotion causing his heart to swell. He'd never really considered fatherhood but flying with a foal in his forelegs only strengthened his resolve to one day fill that role.
"Hey Sombra?"
He found Scootaloo smiling up at him appreciatingly. "Thanks."
"Anytime, kiddo." Sure, fatherhood could be nice sometime.
Wait...where am I?! Twilight's head jerked around in confusion. From the crystalline houses, it was clear that she was in the Crystal Empire, but she didn't recognize any of the buildings. Or did she? There was Quartz Eyes' apothecary shop and Mrs. Azurite's bakery, where the kindly old mare concocted the best cinnamon rolls this side of-
Twilight rubbed her temple. How do I know any of this? Who are these ponies? She wove in and out of the crowds of crystal ponies, each one wishing her a good day or speaking a blessing on her good health. What was stranger was that each one referred to her as "Rose Beryl." That was the name of the first queen of the Crystal Empire! She paused in front of a storefront window and her jaw nearly dropped. She stood a little taller than Cadence, her shapely, elongated body a dazzling lavender pink and her long, curly mane was a brilliant magenta with a streak of ivory. Lilac eyes stared curiously back at her as Twilight raised a hoof, her reflection repeating the motion with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, this is bizarre."
Something went off in her head and the next thing she knew, she was racing towards a small park, determined to keep her appointment. Whatever it was. "Heliodor?!" She called merrily, finding herself on top of a small hill overlooking the park. Heliodor? The first king? Oh right, he and Rose Beryl were married. So why am I here...-?
Her heart raced upon catching sight of the most handsome stallion in all the world. Wait, Sombra's the most handsome stallion in the world! What am I thinking?! Like Rose Beryl, Heliodor was taller than the average crystal pony, his limbs and muzzle more elongated and he carried himself with a sort of quiet dignity and grace but not so much that it made him conceited or unapproachable. His golden-yellow coat and orange mane caught fire in the mid-afternoon sun, threatening to burn Twilight-Rose Beryl with his brilliance.
"Helly, oh Helly!" She called, to which the approaching stallion simply rolled his emerald green eyes.
"I'm coming, Rose Beryl! So impatient!" Heliodor replied with mock annoyance and Twilight found herself placing her hooves on his chest tenderly. She scoffed and tapped him lightly on one shoulder.
"I’m only so impatient because I can’t ever wait long enough to see you!"
Wrapping their forelegs around one another, Twilight was powerless as their lips connected, the taste of strawberry and fresh-made vanilla cream exploding into her mouth. Their kiss was slow and tender and she soon felt herself moaning into Heliodor's gums as her lips smacked against his own. As absurd as it was, she'd never felt more alive than in the passionate embrace of this stallion. When they finally broke the kiss, Twilight, or rather, Rose Beryl whispered, "I love you, my Helly."
Heliodor stared lovingly into Rose Beryl's eyes. "I love you, my Rose."
Twilight's eyes flew open as she found herself once again in her own bed at Golden Oak Library. A dream...it was just a dream. So why did it seem so familiar? She threw the covers over and snuck past Spike, who was curled up in a ball and snoring like a hippo with sleep apnea. After a refreshing cup of coffee, Twilight checked out every book she had on the history of the Crystal Empire, hoping to discover why the kingdom's first rulers were the subject of her dream. Unfortunately, she only had two books and the information they contained was pretty scarce, doing no more than tell her what she already knew. Wait, Celestia said that eventually soul mates dream of the same thing. Maybe Sombra knows something about this. I'll ask him when he gets back from his flying lessons with Rainbow Dash. Oh, I hope she isn't too hard on him.
I hate mornings. Sombra thought begrudgingly, rubbing the crust from his eyes. He didn't know why Rainbow Dash insisted on scheduling their flying lessons so early but he suspected that it was just to try to ruffle his feathers. Oh, he was aware of her standoffish behavior towards him and while it was understandable that Twilight's friends were ambivalent on the matter, Rainbow seemed to especially hold a grudge against him. Why was that?
He didn't have time to answer his own question when a certain, rainbow-maned pegasus came swooping in, landing gracefully and skidding to a stop, kicking up a fair bit of dirt and grass. Looking Sombra up and down, Rainbow Dash swept some of her mane out of her face, her gaze contemptuous and almost agitated.
"You're late."
Be nice. Don't be cynical or mean-spirited. As much as Sombra wished to tell Rainbow off, he had to show restraint; she was one of his marefriend's best friends and didn't want to make things more difficult than they already were. "I've been waiting for fifteen minutes. If anything, you're the one that's late."
Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. "Are you calling me slow?"
Wow, that came out of nowhere. Insecure, isn't she?
"No, I was merely pointing out that you failed to show up at our prearranged time, thus-..."
"Save the smart talk for the classroom! This is a flying lesson. No books, no quills, just the sky."
"Yes, ma'am."
"'Ma'am'? Do I look like an old mare?" Rainbow scolded, shoving her face towards Sombra's.
Sombra could feel the desire to throttle her rising. "No, you don't."
They stared unblinkingly at one another, neither one willing to break eye contact. Finally, Rainbow Dash turned her back in him in a huff. "'Miss Dash' will do." She then spread her wings and lifted herself ten feet off of the ground. Sombra imitated her, being certain to keep his distance. He knew that she had a temper and didn't want to stir up that particular hornet's nest. They soon circled around each other, their gazes intensely fixed on the other flier.
Rainbow angled her wings so that the remiges were facing upward. "Be more relaxed. I said, 'relaxed'! Curl up your secondaries. No, no, like this!" She slapped a hoof to her forehead. "Goddess, you're an amateur!"
Sombra ignored her, adjusting his wings to match her own. It wasn't his fault that she'd been born with hers and he'd only recently acquired his. Without looking at the pegasus, he could feel Rainbow Dash inspecting his wings. Not to sound egotistical, but they were rather impressive: large, raven-like appendages whose marginal, primary and secondary coverts were midnight black and the primary and secondary feathers were a dark, silvery gray. He could see why Twilight was so obsessed with them, as they essentially served the same purpose as a bird's plumage.
"Okay, that's better. Not by much, but still a vast improvement."
At this stage, Sombra was actually an adequate flier and suspected that Twilight's insistence on these flying lessons were merely her desire to see the two spend time together and to hopefully get along. Yeah, and a cutesy little filly is going to outsmart the Elements of Harmony. Without warning, Rainbow Dash zipped past Sombra's head, hitting his head with her hind hoof and sending him spinning towards the ground. He managed to right himself and remained airborne, stopping to glare at his teacher.
"Stop daydreaming!" Rainbow shouted. "This is flying and flying's not for the faint of heart!"
"Alright, that's it!"
Planting all four hooves together, Sombra dropped to the ground, using his wings to create a drag and slow his descent. Puzzled, Rainbow Dash landed a few feet away and, closing the distance, jabbed a hoof into his chest.
"What do you think you're-...?"
"What is your problem? Huh? Why do you take such issue with me?"
Rainbow folded her forelegs across her chest. "I'm just trying to teach you-..."
She let out a squeak as she found that the stallion's face was right in front of hers, his scarlet eyes locked onto her own cerise ones. "Bullshit! You've had it out for me since I moved here. I get it, I'm the big bad guy that held you prisoner and later used extortion to force one of your best friends into being with me. All of you have the right to hate me but the others at least have given me a chance. So why is it that you are the only one to hold me in such low regard?"
"Because you made me doubt myself, okay?!"
The two stood fuming, their respective chests heaving with anger. "What?"
Facing away from Sombra, Rainbow let out a weary sigh. "Ever since I was little, my parents have pushed me to be the best. I had to be better than everypony at everything, no matter how small or insignificant the challenge. And I believed it. I got a thrill from winning, from being the fastest, the strongest, the best." She stopped to clear her throat. "When you took Twilight, I...I felt as though I was weak, weak for not being able to save my friend. What is the point of being the best when you can't protect the ones you care about?"
Sombra remained silent, picking up on the fact that she wasn't done speaking. Rainbow continued: "I actually cried when Twilight said goodbye. I don't cry; I don't have the luxury of letting things get to me. After that, I tried to push myself to be better than I was but I just realized that I couldn't. I felt broken. Here I was, Rainbow Dash, the one that everypony thinks is tough and indestructible...feeling weak and helpless, crying like a little filly." She looked back at Sombra, her lips curling up to form a little smile. "The truth is, when I was knocking the stuffing out of you, I felt a little bit as I was before. Before I let me doubt myself, before I felt vulnerable. You being here reminds me of that."
For the next few minutes, nothing more was said, both parties letting Rainbow's confession sink in. Sombra lowered his head, shameful of his past misdeeds and the effect that it had on others. He knew that Twilight's absence had been a negative experience for her friends but he had no idea how deep it'd went. And now he worried about the damage he'd caused to Twilight's loved ones, particularly her parents and brother.
Sombra tentatively placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder, who winced slightly but otherwise remained stationary, peering at him curiously. "I...I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash. For-for making you feel that way. If I could take back the things I've done, I would but I can't and that hurts. It hurts knowing that my actions had such horrible consequences for those who've done nothing wrong. I don't deserve your forgiveness or your friendship but I'm going to fight for it. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right, even if it takes me the rest of my life."
The pegasus seemed to contemplate this then shrugged Sombra's hoof off. "You know...maybe you're not so bad after all. I'm still not a hundred-percent okay with you and Twilight but you're at least twenty-percent okay. Maybe thirty."
Sombra grinned and found to his surprise that Rainbow returned the expression. "Then I'll have to work hard to get it to one hundred. For what it's worth, I think you're a great teacher."
Rainbow threw a hoof out. "Pffft. You're just saying that."
"Actually yes, yes I am."
"Annnnnnd you're back down to twenty."
They shared a laugh and returned back to town, this time as almost-friends.
Shutting the door behind him, Sombra hummed himself a little tune as he drew the shades, happy to make some headway with one of Twilight's more difficult friends and eliminate another problem from his already impressive list. Now all I need to do is win over Fluttershy, Twilight's B.B.F.-Whatever and their parents. Oh Joy. Speaking of which, he found his marefriend sitting on the living room sofa, her hooves resting on her lap. "Hey Twi, what're you doing here?"
The purple unicorn fidgeted with her long mane, which had been styled into a braid hanging over her left shoulder. "Sombra, do you think we could talk?"
"Sure, anything for you."
Hanging up his cloak, Sombra took a seat in the chair across from Twilight and waited patiently for her to get whatever it was that was bothering her off her chest. He hated seeing her distressed.
"I know you've been having trouble sleeping and I was wondering if you had any odd dreams? About the Crystal Empire, maybe?"
This wasn't what he was expecting but it was certainly better than what he was thinking. "Well, there was one where I was a crystal pony stallion named Heliodor. I was in a park somewhere and I heard somepony calling for me. It was-..."
Sombra's eyes widened. "Yes. Her name was Rose Beryl and she was standing on this hill overlooking the kingdom. She was pink and her mane was-..."
"...Magenta with a white stripe."
"And I was-..."
"...Golden-yellow with an orange mane."
Neither of them said anything, instead letting the gravity of the situation speak for itself. What in Celestia's name is going on? Their eyes met and all time appeared to stand still yet speed up at that same exact instance. Sombra's mind became hazy and he once again found himself in that park, except now that mare across from him was changing back and forth between Twilight and Rose Beryl. She was somehow both of them and neither of them, just like how he was and wasn't both Heliodor and Sombra.
Twilight bit her lip. "I...I love you, my Helly."
"I love you, my Rose," Sombra breathed and then shook his head. "What the hell is going on?"
The train ride up to the Crystal Empire was quiet and uneventful, which was how the two preferred it. After all, things were weird enough as it was without the added stress of nosy ponies or scheming villains to ruin their day. Writing ahead to Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, the co-rulers were informed of the situation and invited Sombra and Twilight to comb through their royal library and discover the meaning of their dreams. Plus it also gave Twilight an opportunity to see her brother and sister-in-law. It'd been a month since Twilight saw either of them and Sombra thought it'd be a nice treat to give her. Even if he felt a tad unwelcome.
They sat next to one another in their private cabin with only the constant clacking of the train's wheels on the rails being the only perceivable sound. Twilight was resting her head on Sombra's shoulder, the both of them enjoying the warmth of the other without empty conversation. He then began to rub her back, humming something both gentle yet strangely sorrowful.
"What is that tune? It's beautiful."
Sombra sniffed and smiled, "It's a lullaby my mother used to sing to me."
Large, sparkling violet eyes stared pleadingly up at him. "Could you sing it for me?"
Damn your beautiful eyes! Sombra nodded and with a tiny squeal, Twilight snuggled up against him. He paused to collect himself and continued to hum before softly singing:
Sleep my child and peace attend thee, All through the night. Soft the drowsy hours are creeping Hill and vale in slumber steeping, I my loving vigil keeping All through the night.
While the moon her watch is keeping All through the night While the weary world is sleeping All through the night.
Deep the silence ‘round us spreading All through the night. Dark the path that we are treading All through the night.
Still the coming day discerning By the hope within us burning. To the dawn our hoofsteps turning All through the night.
Though our hearts be wrapped in sorrow, From the hope of dawn we borrow Promise of a glad tomorrow All through the night.
A tear rolled down Sombra's cheek. "What did you think, Twilight? Twi?" Light snoring found its way into his ear and he laid a gentle kiss on Twilight's brow. "Nighty-night, Twi." He then closed his eyes and joined her.
"Next stop: the Crystal Empire! Again, the next stop is the Crystal Empire!"
Sombra awoke with a jolt, unaccustomed to experiencing a dreamless sleep. He looked to the sleeping mare in his forelegs, holding back the laughter at seeing her lower jaw jutting out and a thin line of drool connecting her to his cloak as she snorted. Oh...my...Celestia, she is so adorable! I almost hate to wake her! Almost... "Twi-liiiiight! Time to get uuuuup!"
After a few more shakes, the purple mare nearly flung herself out of the seat, her hooves wildly striking at the air. "I studied for the exam I swear!" She blinked away the sleep and stared up at a snickering Sombra. "What's so funny?"
"Hmm? Nothing. Anyway, we're here."
As per the letter's instructions, Sombra and Twilight were met at the train station by a cadre of royal guards, who had Sombra on edge seeing as how they used to be his mind-controlled slaves. Fortunately, they were either commanded to ignore what the former tyrant did to them or forgot as the effects of the curse wore off. Either way, they stoically formed a protective perimeter around the couple and led them to the castle. As they passed the various shops and businesses, crystal pony passersby waved and cheered for the two, hailing them as heroes for fighting off the umbrumling invasion. It was certainly a welcome change than from how they would've reacted to Sombra in his pre-reformation days.
The royal guards navigated them into the throne room and after Cadence dismissed the guards and did her silly little secret dance with Twilight, she then proudly beamed at them. "It's so good to see you again! Hello Sombra!"
He bowed deeply. "Hello again, Your Majesty. It's nice to see you too. Hello Shining Armor."
Shining Armor finished giving his sister a hug and stared wearily at Sombra. "Hello Sombra."
Well, at least this time he didn't say it like he had a mouth full of vomit.
"Thanks so much for having us!" Twilight grinned, throwing a foreleg around Sombra. "Everything looks amazing! Are the archives ready?"
Princess Cadence nodded. "We pulled everything we could on King Heliodor and Queen Rose Beryl and it's all ready for you both to look through. In the meantime, let's have lunch, shall we?"
"Great idea, hun." Shining Armor threw a warning glance at Sombra and proceeded to follow his wife into the dining hall. Sombra stopped Twilight and stooped down to whisper into her ear.
"Am I going to be safe here? Your brother looks like he wants to throttle me."
Twilight looked to the doorway and then back at her coltfriend. "Trust me, Shining isn't as bad as you think. Just give him time and you'll see that you two have more in common than you think." She then trotted off before hearing his reply.
"I hope so, Twi. If not, then you might either be burying a coltfriend or a B.B.F.B...whatever."
"Nope, that's it! It's official: your brother hates my guts!"
Sombra stormed into the guest bedroom, flung himself onto the bed and spread his voluminous wings out. Twilight checked to see if anypony followed them before shutting and locking the door. She made her way to the bed, where Sombra lay muttering to himself in Umbrumese and although she couldn't yet fully speak the language, she knew enough to know that what he was saying couldn't be repeated. She sighed and stroked a wing, seeing a ghost of a smile return to Sombra's face. She rubbed at his speculum feathers, feeling some of the tension leaving his body through her hoof.
"I'm sorry, Sommy. I swear, if you give Shiny a chance-..."
"Me give him a chance? Are you forgetting what just transpired downstairs?"
Twilight knew that the two didn't exactly see eye-to-eye and that Shining Armor still viewed Sombra as a heartless kidnapper but she didn't know how far that loathing truly went. After the destruction of King Erebus and the rebuilding of the Crystal Empire, she thought that the animosity had ended, especially with Sombra's abdication of the throne. His subsequent ascension to alicorn status should've been the turning point but apparently not even the cosmos could make her brother change his mind. Since returning to Ponyville, Shining Armor's letters retained their usual mirth but made no mention of Sombra, disregarding him and pretending as though he didn't exist. She was hoping this trip would change that.
Lunch had actually started out pretty civil. Well, mostly civil. After the servants finished serving them their meal-sour cream and parsley potato salad-and poured them fresh-squeezed lemonade, the four ponies conversed amongst themselves, discussing what was going on in their lives and what they'd been up to since the defeat of King Erebus. Well, three of them spoke; Shining Armor stayed quiet through most of the discussion, sometimes answering a question or two and keeping his responses short and to the point. Evidently, the royal couple had just finished with some recent remolding.
"Really, Cadence, I love what you've done with the place!"
Sombra agreed with Twilight. "The columns really tie the room together and the chandelier is an excellent touch. Late Industrial Prench era?"
Princess Cadence finished her lemonade and nodded. "Thank you both and yes, it is! Good eye, Sombra!"
"What can I say? I have in interest in antiquities and architecture." He then took Twilight's hoof in his own, which drew him a slight glare from Shining Armor, something that went either unnoticed or was purposefully ignored.
"Well Shiny here actually picked it out!" Princess Cadence exclaimed, wrapping a foreleg around her husband's shoulders. "And to think, we found in a Canterlot dumpster!"
Twilight shook her head. "It's amazing what ponies throw away!"
"You would know. You're holding hooves with a piece of trash," Shining Armor muttered into his cup.
Sombra narrowed his eyes at the unicorn. "Would you care to repeat that?"
"I said that you're a piece of trash!" Shining Armor yelled, slamming both hooves onto the tabletop.
"Shining! That was very rude!" Through their clasped hooves Twilight could feel her coltfriend shaking, his anger appearing to radiate off of him in little waves. Wait, I can feel his anger? She concentrated and found that yes, she was actually experiencing his emotions, practically tasting his fury and disgust at her brother's statement. Celestia and Luna said that this would happen due to the soulmate link, that they would not only share dreams but also be able to detect the emotions of the other.
Princess Cadence smacked Shining Armor on the chest. "Shiny, Sombra is a guest in this house and we treat all guests with respect! Now apologize to him this instance!"
"With all due respect, Your Majesty," Sombra interjected. "While I appreciate your consideration, anything that comes out his mouth will be disingenuous. I want him to apologize because he feels remorseful, not because somepony forces him to."
"Finally, something we can agree on!" Shining Armor crossed his forelegs indignantly.
"Shining, knock it off! You're acting like a colt!" Twilight hissed.
Shining Armor stared incredulously at Twilight, caught off guard by her biting tone. "Twiley, are you really going to just sit there and forget what he did!" He turned to Cadence pleadingly. "He locked us in a dungeon! He threatened to burn Canterlot to the ground! He took Twilight away from us, from her friends and family! And yet, here we are, sipping lemonade with this monster!"
Before anypony could blink, Sombra was out of his seat, horn blazing with red light, his wings outstretched like those of a furious eagle. "Watch what you say next very...very carefully."
Although he was scared at first, Shining Armor quickly recovered and rose to stare Sombra in the face. "You see? You can give him wings and make him a prince but some things never change."
The gray alicorn jerked his head back, as if realizing where he was for the first time. His horn powered down and his wings slowly folded themselves up. "I...I'm so sorry. Princess Cadence, Twilight, I'm sorry." Carefully sliding his chair out, he then gave a short bow before shamefully bolting out of the room.
"I'm so sorry, Sombra," Twilight said softly, dragging her hoof across his wings. "I didn't know it'd turn out like that. Shining Armor was way out of line!"
Sombra exhaled through his nostrils, his gaze cast downward. "I was called a monster as a colt. I really thought the other foals would look past my appearance but they couldn't. When Shining Armor said that I was a monster, it just...reminded me of those days. Of him." Twilight didn't need to be told to whom he was referring to. "Then again, maybe your brother is right. Just because I have wings now doesn't mean that everything I've done has been erased."
"Sombra, look at me." He turned and once again found himself lost in those violet oceans. "You are not a monster. Yes, you've committed terrible acts. But now, you're working to make up for it. You've changed and admitted that you were wrong. Not anypony can do that, especially not a monster. You're the stallion that I fell in love with. You're good."
Sombra caressed Twilight's cheek, drawing a purr out of the mare. "Only because somepony believed enough in me to help me see that. You truly are the Element of Magic."
Twilight returned the gesture, tracing Sombra's cheek and jawline. "Well what can I say? I was powerless to resist your charming personality. Remember our first dinner together?"
Sombra's cheeks reddened. "How could I forget?" He leaned forward and made a trail of kisses up and down Twilight's neck. "I was dining with the smartest, bravest, and not to mention, sexiest mare in Equestria." His mouth latched onto her ear and gave it a playful nibble, enjoying the little moans that came as a result. "Tartarus, I wanted you then and there," he whispered.
A pair of petite hooves found their way to his stallionhood. "That dance nearly did it for me," Twilight moaned. "Celestia, I was so aroused! I just had to get out of there. Otherwise, a young mare like me would've been seduced by a much, much older stallion." She massaged his now-erect tool, relishing the feel of it against her frogs. And she wasn't the only one.
Gods above and below! "To be fair, the Royal Sisters stripped me of my physical form, essentially-oh Faust!-leaving m-me as a spirit. Technically, you fell for a dead guy. Necrophilia trumps cradle-robbing."
"Well," Twilight giggled, a surprisingly sexy sound. "Looks like here's something that's far from dead."
Growling deeply, Sombra grabbed Twilight with his magic and deposited her onto her back, her chest heaving with arousal. He smacked his lips against hers in a greedy kiss, their mouths mashed together as raw sexual hunger took them over. Sombra hastily tore his cloak off while Twilight yanked her mane free of its hair tie, allowing her long purple locks to tumble down her shoulders. Their lips met again, their hooves exploring each other's bodies with rapid vigor.
Both of them breathed heavily as their eyes met. "I'm going to rut you into a coma."
"Mmmm. Put a foal in me."
Sombra went rigid. "Wait, what?"
They stared at one another at the implication of her words. Twilight gave him a hesitant smile. "It's just...you know, to get you into the mood?"
"Twi, I love you but I'm not entirely sure about...-"
A knock at the door thankfully put that conversation on hold. "Enter!"
The sky-blue crystal pony guard saluted them and announced, "Princess Cadence wishes for me to inform the two of you that your presence is requested in the throne room, post haste."
"Th-thank you," Twilight managed and she and Sombra shared the same thought: what could she want possibly with them?
The air of the shimmering throne room was so thick with tension that one could cut it with a chainsaw. Twilight and Princess Cadence were both upset with Shining Armor while he was glaring threateningly at Sombra. The two males both stood straight with their heads held high, their eyes piercingly and unblinkingly staring into the other's. The gray alicorn's height and wingspan made him more imposing but to Shining Armor's credit, he held his ground, refusing to let his fear of the ex-king get the better of him.
"How can we help you, Your Majesty?" Sombra bowed, never taking his eyes off of Shining Armor.
"It's become apparent that you and my husband have issues with one another," Princess Cadence elaborated. "In order to settle your differences with one another, I believe that I've come up with a solution." She nodded towards two crystal guards, who each hastily placed a wooden staff at both Sombra's and Shining Armor's hooves before scurrying away.
Twilight was puzzled. "Um, Cadence? What is this 'solution'?"
"It's simple: they're going to be like the nobles of old and fight. As I understand it, fighting somehow brings stallions together and if that's the case, then hopefully they can get that aggression out of their systems."
The two males immediately went for the staffs, blue eyes meeting red, their bodies poised and ready for combat. They slowly encircled each other, both waiting for their opponent to make the first strike. Twilight held her breath, unbelieving of the situation unfolding in front of her. This was supposed to have been a trip to discover her and Sombra's connection to the Crystal Empire's first rulers, not to watch a fight between her big brother and her soulmate. She didn't even know who it was she was supposed to be rooting for!
"You can't win," Shining Armor grunted. "I was the captain of the royal guard for three years."
Sombra shot back, "And how much actual combat experience do you have? I'll bet you've never even set hoof on a battlefield, greenhorn." He shrank back to avoid an oncoming blow, holding his staff out horizontally to catch Shining Armor's. "I've actually fought and killed and seen my fellow warriors slain. I didn't spend my time traipsing about palaces or attending ribbon-cutting ceremonies."
They disengaged and Shining Armor twirled his staff around to jab the end at Sombra, who side-stepped and swung at him with a perpendicular chop. The unicorn deflected the attack and huffed, "At least I did something noble. I didn't take over a kingdom and enslave its population!"
"True, but you're the numbskull that couldn't tell that the love of your life had been replaced by a changeling! Chrysalis tried the same thing with me but I love Twilight enough to be able to spot a fake. Are you stupid or were you just horny for some bug ass?"
With a roar, Shining charged and tackled Sombra, throwing them both across the floor, their staffs clattering out of reach. "Go to Tartarus!" He bellowed, slamming his hoof into Sombra's left cheek, murderous rage burning in his eyes. Sombra rolled and launched a hindleg out, kicking Shining square in the stomach and causing him to double over in pain.
"Tartarus? I've already been there!" Sombra growled, his elbow catching Shining in the jaw and following it up with a back-hoof. "And I didn't suffer like I did just to get berated by a judgmental ponce like you!"
The room suddenly dropped several degrees, all of the fur on Sombra's body standing up on end as the air boomed and crackled. "What's going on?!"
Princess Cadence shook her head. "I don't know! Twilight?"
The purple unicorn looked back at her helplessly. "I have no idea either!"
The space towards the throne room's entrance rippled and warped as sparks of black and violet energy danced around in an circular formation. The group could only watch with fascination and intrigue as a swirling vortex roaringly opened up, revealing what appeared to be a darker version of Canterlot castle in the background. A small figure stumbled forward and collapsed to its knees before the fissure closed. The figure rose, revealing itself to be a pony, except he was a type of pony that none of them had ever seen before. It was apparent that he was young, maybe eight or nine years old.
His coat was dark gray and partially concealed beneath a red T-shirt and jeans and stood on his hindlegs, which ended in large hooves. He rubbed at his jet-black mane with a strange appendage ending in five digits. What threw everypony off, however, were his red eyes and curved forehead horn. He noticed them staring at him and froze.
"Why...why are you looking at me like that?"
Her heart full of trepidation, Twilight slowly approached the colt. "Hi there. My name...is Twilight Sparkle." The colt seemed to relax a bit but was still rightly cautious. "What's your name?"
If a pin had been dropped...no wait, scratch that. If a feather had been dropped, everypony would've heard it due to the eerie silence dominating the throne room. All eyes had congregated to stare at the odd newcomer, a million different thoughts running through each of their heads. Shining Armor was horrified with a pinch of inquisitive while Princess Cadence was shocked but calmly sitting still, trying her best to rationalize the situation. Twilight, though baffled, did her best to remain composed as she didn't want to frighten the colt more than he already was. As for Sombra?
He looked over the youth, startled by how alike he resembled him, the only differences being little Sombra's bipedal stature and his almost claw-like appendages. Over than that, the colt could pass for a younger Sombra. Or a son. The soon-to-be-prince shook his head. That was a deliberation that needed to be shelved for another time. Hopefully nowhere soon.
"Why are you all staring at me? And why do you look so funny?"
Twilight smiled, moving towards Little Sombra with gradual steps. "It's just...we've never seen anypony like you before. Where are you from, Sombra?"
Though weary of Twilight, he let her advance, apparently finding no reason to fear any harm from the unicorn. "Canterlot. I live there with the ponies that banished my mom. Where am I?"
The colt's words shook Twilight slightly but she decided not to push the issue for now. "This is the Crystal Empire. Like I said, I'm Twilight and I welcome you here." She crouched slowly so that the two were at eyelevel. "Don't worry; I just want to talk, that's all." She slowly reached out to him and whether it was her voice or her posture, he offered up no resistance and allowed her hoof to gently grasp onto his shoulder.
The colt beamed but then stared past Twilight, his eyes finding Sombra and Princess Cadence, his mouth dropping in a terrified grimace. He then proceeded to shrink down, as if using her to shield himself from the gaze of the others. "No, don't let them get me!"
Puzzled, Twilight wrapped a foreleg around Little Sombra and brought him to her chest, glancing around the room to search for an unknown foe. "Who Sombra? Who's going to get you?"
A hand pointed out past her. "The alicorns! They're bad!" Something materialized in Little Sombra's hand and, curling his arm back, lobbed it directly at his adult counterpart, clocking him on the crown on his skull.
"Ow!" Sombra rubbed his skull, and threw at warning glare at a snickering Shining Armor. He then picked up the object, which turned out to be a stone inscribed with a red symbol that had apparently been made out of blood. "He threw a rock at me!"
"And I'll do it again too!" Little Sombra huffed, another identical stone appearing in his hand. Before anypony could blink, he lobbed the stone at Sombra, this time hitting him on the left shoulder. The alicorn grimaced and rubbed his shoulder, catching Princess Cadence snort-laughing at him.
"What's so funny?" He demanded.
"Stop hitting yourself!" The Princess of Love chortled. Sombra shook his head dismissively but joined in once the humor bug bit him. Even Shining Armor's sour mood was brightened by the corny joke.
Twilight rolled her eyes and turned to the colt. "Could you please not throw rocks at them? One is my sister-in-law and the other is my coltfriend."
Little Sombra gawked at her. "You...you're friends with them? They're your family?"
She sighed and drew him a little closer to her. "Yes, they are. I don't know what happened to you but I can tell you that not all alicorns are bad. Princess Cadence over there was my foalsitter and my coltfriend saved Equestria from an evil sorcerer." Twilight turned and gestured for Sombra to step forward. Reluctantly, he agreed. "Sombra, I want you to meet...well, Sombra."
The colt shook his head and stared, recognition developing in his wide eyes. "You have the same name as me. You look like me too. Except your horn's straight and you have wings."
Sombra nodded. "After beating the sorcerer, I became an alicorn. I don't know what it is exactly that I'm supposed to do but I know it's going to be something that'll help Equestria become a better place."
This seemed to pacify Little Sombra. "Well, I guess you're okay. Sorry about the rock-throwing."
"Honestly, I probably would've done the same thing. You said that your mom was taken away?"
The colt nodded sadly. Sombra placed his hoof over Little Sombra's hand. "So was mine."
WELL, THIS IS A TOUCHING MOMENT.
Everypony spun to meet the figure that had suddenly appeared out of thin air. The strange thing was that none of them even detected the stranger teleporting into the room, which was the only way that he could've entered as the only set of doors were locked and watched over by guards. A chill entered the room, no doubt caused by the newcomer's presence. He was tall, being a foot taller than Princess Celestia and was garbed in a hooded cloak of midnight blue. He resembled a unicorn except with a skull for a face and legs that ended in bony three-toed hands and feet. A scythe was clenched in one fist. Nopony had to guess his identity; their instincts screamed at them who the stallion was.
Sombra stared incredulously at the emaciated unicorn. "You-you're Thanatos. I thought you were a myth."
MOST ARE UNDER THAT IMPRESSION SO I WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST YOU. The mortehippus stated simply, his voice like two stones being rubbed together. CONGRATATULATIONS ON THE PROMOTION, BY THE WAY. EVEN I DIDN'T SEE THAT COMING. IT'S A FIRST FOR AN UMBRUM.
"If...you don't mind my asking, but why is the Stallion of Death here?" Princess Cadence spoke as diplomatic as possible.
Twin glowing orbs shined in Thanatos' empty eye sockets. YOU MAY ASK. I AM HERE BECAUSE OF THE COLT.
Instinctively, Twilight wrapped her forelegs around Little Sombra. "Why him?"
I WAS DRAWN HERE BY HIS ENTRY INTO OUR WORLD. YOU SEE, THIS YOUNGER VERSION OF SOMBRA IS FROM A PARALLEL UNIVERSE AND SUCH BREAKS IN THE INTERDIMENSIONAL BARRIER ARE OF INTEREST TO ME. AFTER ALL, THE AFFAIRS OF LIFE AND DEATH ARE OF GRAVE IMPORTANCE TO MY DUTY AS A SOUL-COLLECTOR.
Twilight nearly toppled over when Thanatos abruptly appeared right in front of her. He hadn't moved or teleported. One minute he was far away and the next minute he was simply closer. Nevertheless, an almost maternal need to protect the child took control of the purple unicorn and she clutched protectively at Little Sombra.
Thanatos must've read Twilight's mind as he said, FEAR NOT, TWILIGHT SPARKLE. I MEAN THIS SOMBRA NO HARM. THOUGH YOUR DEVOTION TO HIS WELL BEING IS ADMIRABLE.
Little Sombra nodded at Twilight and she hesitantly released him, allowing him to stand directly before the Pale Horse. "Wow. You're tall. You remind me of my mom."
AH YES, LORELEY. ANOTHER ASPECT OF DEATH INCARNATE.
"'Another'?"
Thanatos turned to Sombra. DEATH IS A UNIVERSAL CONCEPT. THEREFORE, I EXIST IN ALL DIMENSIONS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER. THEY ARE ME YET I AM NOT THEM. ANTHROPOMORPHIC PERSONIFICATIONS COME IN ALL FORMS. He then focused once more on Little Sombra. THIS ONE HAS BEEN IN THE PRESENCE OF DEATH. I WILL BE WATCHING YOU, YOUNG ONE. Then Thanatos vanished as though he were never there.
"He seemed nice," Little Sombra commented, surprisingly calm for having met the immortal and timeless Harvester of Souls.
"Um, sure," Twilight shuddered. It would certainly be an experience that she would never forget. "Would you like something to eat, Sombra?"
The colt nodded and took her hoof into his hand. "Could I have a peanut butter on rye sandwich? With no crusts?"
The adult Sombra stared incredulously. That's my favorite sandwich too! Faust, this is kind of creepy.
Twilight giggled and tousled his mane. "Of course you can. Follow me!" The two left the throne room, followed by a still-dazed Big Sombra. Princess Cadence smiled and shook her head. She then found Shining Armor rubbing his temples.
"Shiny? What's wrong?"
"Now...there's two of him. I regret getting out of bed this morning."
Twilight Sparkle couldn't help but titter a bit as the colt wrapped around her foreleg excitedly pointed out his surroundings. After his meal, Little Sombra asked Twilight to show him around the castle as he'd never seen a structure quite like it before. Naturally, she was all too eager to act as a tour guide and her Sombra even tagged along, as he was just as curious about his young doppelganger as Twilight was. As to be expected, Little Sombra kept himself close to Twilight the entire time, sparing a moment here and there to throw a glance back at the dark alicorn tailing them but seemed to be less bothered by him as time went on. Turning a corner, they ended up in the dining room and Twilight was instantly reminded of her first dinner Sombra and his attempt to seduce her with his dancing.
"Twilight? Are you okay?"
She realized that she'd paused and looked down at Little Sombra, her cheeks inflamed with both embarrassment and arousal. "I'm fine. I was just...thinking of something." Behind them, Big Sombra was staring at Twilight worriedly when he took a whiff and grinned salaciously. Twilight's tail clung tightly against her stomach and covered her marehood. Well, I'm not going to be getting any sleep tonight.
Little Sombra sniffed the air. "Does anypony else smell wild berries?"
Twilight shot Big Sombra a warning glare as he bit his lip trying not to laugh. "Nope! Anyway, let's get...some lunch! Yes, it's about lunch time and I don't know about you but I'm famished!"
The three sat at the dining room table with Twilight and Little Sombra on one side and Big Sombra on the other, who tried his best to not stare at the colt across from him and simply enjoy his daffodil sandwich. Silence dominated the room, as nopony could think of anything to say. Glancing up from his bowl of porridge, Little Sombra said, "I could've sworn I smelled wild berries earlier. Could I have some?"
Twilight gagged on her egg salad and gawked at the colt. "Um, well, the thing is-..."
"You know what?" Big Sombra smirked mischievously. "I'd love some wild berries too." He then winked at Twilight, who glared at him unamusingly.
"Sorry, I'm all out," she grunted and crossed her forelegs, shooting him a somepony's-sleeping-on-the-floor look.
Little Sombra, unaware of the implications of her statement, finished licking his bowl and pushed it out in front of him. "Um, Twilight? I'm done with my porridge. C-could I have seconds?"
"Of course you can, sweetie. I'll be right back," She smiled and levitated the bowl. Locking eyes with Big Sombra, she sashayed out the door, deliberately swinging her hips at him. The alicorn could only pant at the display and regained his composure once those delectable flanks were out of sight. Shaking his head, he turned to find his young counterpart studying him astutely, his fingers drumming on the tabletop in sync with the tick-tocking of the clock.
"So...you're basically me, but grown up and an alicorn?"
Big Sombra nodded unsurely. "It would appear to be the case, yes. Do I disappoint?"
The colt shrugged, "You're okay. At least you've got a marefriend that's nice and pretty."
"I do, don't I?" Big Sombra smiled warmly. "Perhaps someday she'll become more than that."
"You're going to ask her to marry you?"
"When the time is right."
Little Sombra seemed to relax his posture a bit and actually scooted his chair in. "What about foals?"
The room became deathly quiet once more. Big Sombra blinked and tugged at the collar of his cloak, feeling the temperature in the room suddenly climbing. "Beg pardon?"
"You said you want to marry her," Little Sombra annunciated. "Does that mean you want kids too?"
Big Sombra sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "It's...tough for me to answer that. On the one hoof, yes, yes I do. To have children with the mare that I love would be an incredible thing. But on the other hoof, I...just don't know." It was a lame answer and they both knew it.
"Well why not? You want it and I think Twilight wants it. So what's the problem?"
"Look, kid," Big Sombra replied somewhat testily. "It's just something personal that I'm trying to work through. I know it doesn't make much sense but please drop it."
Little Sombra simply nodded. "Okay. Just don't take forever. I don't want to see Twilight get hurt."
"I would never do anything to hurt her," Big Sombra stated.
They made eye contact and let their gaze do all of the talking. "I believe you."
"I'm back!" Twilight announced, setting a still-steaming bowl on the table. "Here you go, fresh from the kitchen!" She took her seat and stared at the two. "Did I miss anything?"
The dining room vanished, leaving the smooth, swirling black and white surface of the Black Bead clear once more. Princess Cadence stepped backward and gestured towards an impassive Shining Armor. "What do you think? Didn't I tell you that having the two in the same room together wouldn't hurt anypony?"
Shining Armor clenched jaw moved from side to side. "You did. And our Sombra seems pretty sincere when it comes to the matter of my baby sister but I still don't think that-..."
"Shiny, what will it take to convince you that Sombra's changed? He helped to save the Crystal Empire, willingly gave up the throne and hasn't been causing trouble since he arrived in Ponyville. In fact, Twilight's letters have told us that he's gone out of his way to try to get her friends to warm up to him. Why can't you forgive him?"
The unicorn stared at the floor and then back at Cadence. "It's just...tough. After everything that's happened, I just find it hard to believe that such an infamous figure-one who attacked us no less-and who Princess Celestia warned us about, could do a complete one-eighty and not only turns nice but is also dating my sister. He imprisoned an entire race and kept them in a perpetual state of terror for the last millennium and is now going to be crowned a prince of Equestria." He sighed and felt Cadence place her head on his shoulder. "It's a lot to take in, Cady," Shining Armor admitted, stroking her mane. "How do we know he won't just turn evil again? It'd break Twiley's heart."
Princess Cadence hummed pleasantly, enjoying the feel of her husband's hoof through her mane. "You just need to have faith, Shiny. Twilight has faith in him and so do I. She wouldn't have chosen him if she didn't see something worthwhile in him." She gazed adoringly into his eyes. "Love isn't about caring about somepony's strengths. It's about accepting their shortcomings and helping them to overcome them."
Shining Armor shook his head. "You're right...as usual. It won't be easy though."
"Nothing ever is. Now, I believe you owe somepony an apology."
"I'm sorry, Cadence." Dipping his head, Shining Armor aimed for Cadence's lips, only to find her hoof pressed against his muzzle.
Princess Cadence snorted, "Not me."
Shining nodded reluctantly. "Okay, fine. But I'm not kissing him."
Twilight curiously watched the two Sombras sitting on the floor across from one another, freely conversing and even smiling at one another as they exchanged playing cards. It gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling to see her Sombra interacting so amicably with a child, even one as strange and foreign as his bipedal, cross-dimensional counterpart. When it came to having a foal of their own, Twilight knew about Sombra's reluctance on the subject and understood it, though she also thought it was ridiculous. She'd heard about his interactions with the CMCs and believed that he's make a terrific father but they'd have to put that particular conversation on hold for the moment.
"I win!"
Sombra stared skeptically at his doppelganger. "I don't believe you."
With a "challenged accepted" look in his eye, Little Sombra laid his cards down and crossed his arms haughtily. "Ten of Hearts, Ten of Diamonds, Ten of Clubs and a Jack. I...win."
The alicorn glared down at the cards set down in front of him-two Aces, a Queen and a Two of Spades-and knocked them aside. "I hate this game."
Little Sombra grinned, "Come on, don't be a sore loser. Let's face it: you're good but I'm way better."
"We'll see how good you are when you're locked in a trunk at the bottom of the sea," Sombra grumbled as Little Sombra stuck his tongue out at him.
Twilight sauntered over to Sombra and giggled. "Oh don't be so sour, honey. You're still number one to me." She then pecked him on the cheek, earning her a light blush. "There's that smile!"
Princess Cadence and Shining Armor chose that moment to enter the throne room, having spent the past few minutes observing the trio, especially the two Sombras. It was kind of adorable to see the ex-tyrant acting so foalish and Shining Armor had to roll his eyes when Cadence cooed affectionately at Twilight and Sombra's interactions with each other. Given the events that'd transpired months ago, things would never cease to be weird but Shining had promised Cadence that he'd try to be more civil to Sombra. Queen Chrysalis jab aside, he had to admit that Sombra had been rather passive towards him. Maybe this could work after all.
Cadence cleared her throat and the three turned to spot the two newcomers. "How is everypony getting along?"
Little Sombra scurried to his hooves. "Great! I just wiped the floor with Sombra here!"
"Only for three games in a row!" Sombra argued. "Seriously, that was a fluke!"
"'Fluke' my butt! You just suck!"
"I-I'm just a little rusty that's all!"
"I think 'terrible' would work better."
"Why you impotent, little...-"
"Sombra!" Twilight interjected.
"Sorry Twi."
"How very mature of you," Cadence deadpanned. "Hopefully you'll grow up one day, young colt."
Sombra's head drew back. "Wha-...'colt'? I'm more than a thousand years older than you!"
"Then you'd better star acting it."
"Yeah, act your age," Little Sombra parroted arrogantly.
"Listen you little...-"
A loud boom interrupted their argument, which was followed by a popping-cracking sound as a sparkling, prismatic disk flashed into focus. The disk expanded into a ten-foot circle and stabilized, giving the onlookers a glimpse of a war-torn city of rubble and collapsed buildings. A figure then appeared, stepping out of the portal and into the throne room, startling them with her visage. She was an alicorn mare whose pink eyes coldly sweeping over them as if assessing the room for any possible threats. A gown of golden and ivory samite wrapped around her body and her free flowing, rose-colored mane danced in a nonexistent breeze.
"Princess Celestia?"
The mare squinted curiously at the group's collective exclamation. "So I do have a double in this world. How curious." She soon turned her attention to the colt hiding behind Twilight. "There you are! Do you have any idea of the trouble you've caused me?!" Little Sombra shivered and hugged Twilight's foreleg. "My scouts were looking everywhere for you and it turns out that you've hopped realities! Get over here right now, young colt! When we get back to the palace...-"
"Hey, lay off the kid!"
Princess Celestia hissed, "What did you say?"
Little Sombra stared awestruck at his quadrupedal counterpart.
Sombra stepped forward, his wings spread out aggressively. "I said, 'Lay off the kid.' Don't talk to him like that."
Peering closely at him, Princess Celestia's eyes momentarily widened in shock before narrowing again. "I see this world's Sombra is just as crude as my world's. And an alicorn. I must admit, I didn't see that coming."
"Nopony did," Sombra replied, placing his hoof on his double's shoulder. "You shouldn't be so hard on him. Clearly he's been through a lot and what he needs is a guiding hoof, not a raised voice."
"You're not his guardian nor do you know where I got him from so I would advise you to keep your muzzle shut."
Sombra opened his mouth but Cadence quickly placed a hoof over it. "You're quite right, Your Majesty. Please forgive my colleague's impertinence. He's still quite new to his position." Sombra scowled but said nothing.
Princess Celestia smirked. "At least one of you knows the meaning of respect."
Something darted towards her face, only for a corona of gold energy to swiftly catch it. Celestia held the stone up and glowered at Little Sombra. "Sombra, say your goodbyes and come."
The colt stared helplessly up at the two ponies at his sides. "Please, I don't want to go."
Twilight's heart went out to him but she gently pulled away. "I'm sorry but she is your guardian."
"Twilight's right. Besides, if you stayed here, you'd be the only one of your kind," Sombra added softly. "Trust me, it's a lonely existence, one that I'd never wish for anypony to ever go through."
Little Sombra cast his eyes to the floor. "I wish I could stay with you guys."
"I know, little guy but this is the way it has to be." Sombra lifted the colt's head up with a wing. "But that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. I know life seems unfair but that doesn't mean you have to give up. Make the best of what you've got and try to make the world better than it's been towards you." He then magically pulled his brooch from his cloak and passed it to Little Sombra. "Here, take this. Let it be a reminder to always try to be fair and just."
Little Sombra took the brooch and cradled it, inspecting the silver, alicorn-shaped fastener. He sniffled and wiped away the tears that'd gathered in his eyes. "Th-thanks, Sombra. I'll never forget that. Or you."
He dove into Sombra's chest and wrapped his arms around him. The gesture threw Sombra off but he eventually returned the hug, covering Little Sombra with his wings. Cadence and Twilight were both tearing up and even Shining was touched at the tender moment shared between the two Sombras. Princess Celestia tapped one hoof impatiently.
"Sombra..."
The colt reluctantly pulled away. "I'm coming!" Fastening the brooch to the front of his shirt, he saluted Sombra before giving Twilight a monster hug. "Thanks for everything, Twilight. I'll never forget you."
"I'll never forget you either, sweetie." Twilight sniffled and kissed Little Sombra's cheek, giggling at the colt's dumbfounded expression. He shook his head and rubbed at his beat-red cheeks.
"Goodbye Cadence, goodbye Shining Armor."
"Goodbye, Sombra. Good luck on your travels," Cadence beamed.
"It was great meeting you," Shining chuckled.
Realizing that he'd kept his guardian waiting for far too long, Little Sombra jogged over to her and took her outstretched hoof. The two neared the portal and he gave the trio one last, despondent glance before he and Celestia passed through the portal, vanishing in a bright flash of light and a thunderous boom. With a crackle-fizz, the portal shrank and poofed out of existence.
Sombra stepped over to where the portal was and heaved a heavy sigh, his head dropping down and his dark wings sagging to the floor. Though their time was brief, he was going to miss Little Sombra. As weird as it was, it was almost as if having a foal of his own. Sure, he still had his reservations, but maybe a colt or a filly of his own wouldn't be too bad. A gentle hoof rubbed at his shoulder and he lifted his head back up to stare into a pair of violet eyes he knew and adored all too well. Yeah, that wouldn't be too bad at all.