> Sombra's tale, a MLP fanfiction. > by KingSombraTheTyrantRuler > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > A discovery > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-1: A discovery. As Cadence stepped off her throne to greet Twilight, she said- “I want to thank you for coming again, Twilight. Celestia tried to teach me how to do it, but I can’t make it work.” Twilight replied- “Are you kidding? We’re sisters, remember? When you call, I come running! I don’t like to use it. It hurts my head, but this is important.” Twilight uses her magic to reveal a hidden passage. Cadence looks down it and asks- “You went down this, by yourself?” Twilight replies- “Yeah, it’s spooky, huh? Are you ready?” Cadence nods and they both start their journey down the stairs. Twilight asks- “So, do you think he’s coming back?” Cadence answers- “Sombra? No, I think he’s gone for good this time. But we still should be prepared. They thought they had defeated him before. Do you hear that?” Twilight replies- “Probably just an echo.” Cadence continues- “It’s even worse that we have all of this information missing from our records. The crystal ponies’ memories came back, but there were a lot of books and records that Sombra destroyed.” Twilight asks- “And you think he might’ve kept something? Do bad guys keep journals?” Cadence answers- “Well, he sure liked himself. I’d be surprised if he didn’t record something.” Just as Cadence finishes talking, they reach the bottom of the stairs, and find themselves in front of a large metal door. Twilight exclaims- “Here we go!” Cadence says in a knowing tone- “I knew it! He had to have a room, just like this! Just look at it!” Twilight replies- “I am. I so need an office, just like this! Well, except for the busts of myself.” Cadence walks to the desk and sees a black book, with the words ‘Sombra’s diary’ on it. She starts saying- “Here it is! Here’s his diary! It could tell us everything! Okay, you evil pony, let's see what you had to say." > King Sombra's diary, part 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter- 2: King Sombra’s diary part 1. Cadence opens the diary and starts reading- “Sombra, it was the only word I could remember when they found me.” Twilight interrupts- “When they found him? Who?” Cadence continues reading- “The crystal guard said I was alone, out in the wastes, just north of the empire. They asked me where my family was, but I couldn’t tell them. All I could say to them was this one word, Sombra. So, they made it my name. And that is how I, the king of all monsters, named myself. Not having any family to return a lost colt to, the crystal guard took me to Chestnut Falls Orphanage. I was years behind my classmates, they all knew about things I had never even heard of. Saying their words, felt like chewing peanut brittle, like my mouth wasn’t supposed to say them. But I was a quick learner, and Ms. Chestnut Falls would always help me when I couldn’t understand the homework. Sadly, the same could not be said for others. In my youth, there was only one other young pony who was kind to me. Her name was Radiant Hope, and she was the most amazing pony I’ve ever met. She was a bit weird, but I enjoyed it. She had the greatest imagination. Soon, Hope and I became the closest of friends. I sat next to her in every class. We had our own language that we wrote notes in. A secret little code, all our own. The other ponies still laughed at us, but as long as we had each other, we didn’t care. The others wouldn’t let us play their games, so we made up our own games, where only we knew the rules. Or I thought I did. Sometimes, only she knew the rules. And all that year, every time we got any jewels, we put them in our dragon bank.” > King Sombra's diary, part 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-3: King Sombra's diary, part-2. “Hopes favorite memory was this time of year that her parents had taken her to see what she called, the most magical celebration in all of Equestria. I asked her if we could see the Crystal Heart, and she said yes. We both went there, to see the Heart. Little did I know that I was meeting my greatest enemy, and that I was about to have one of the most important moments of my young life. When I looked into the Hearts reflection, I saw myself with some darkness, or shadow. Princess Amore asked me what I saw, and I told her I saw nothing, just my shadow. Then she said that she had always believed that we could control our destiny. I was wracked by guilt, all the way home. I believed that I had just lied to a princess. I didn’t realize, how close to the truth I’d come. But all that worry and self-doubt were long forgotten four days later, because it was finally my time. Hope came in to wake me up to go to the Crystal Faire. I laid there as she left. I thought of all the things we would do, when suddenly, a cold terror crept upon me. I could not move my legs. I called Hope for help, and she called Ms. Chestnut. Ms. Chestnut called the doctor. The doctor arrived, and began examining me. But he had no idea what was wrong with me. He couldn’t find a piece of mane out of place. And it only got worse throughout the day. Not only could I not see the Crystal Faire, I felt as weak as I had ever felt in my whole life. Eventually, Radiant Hope told Ms. Chestnut that she would stay with me, and Ms. Chestnut went to see the Crystal Faire. I wanted to be strong for Hope, but I felt like I was being torn apart. It wasn’t until late that night, after the festivities, that I was able to get some sleep. Hope didn’t fall asleep until after I did. And the next day, I felt as if it had never happened. Hope and I immediately began planning for the next years Crystal Faire. But a year later, there we were again. And the year after that. Each year we grew, and my desire to see the Faire grew, and my pain grew, until... It felt like nothing I'd ever known. Like I was leaving the weak Sombra behind. It was a transformation. A moment of becoming what you are supposed to be. A moment of true destiny. It just wasn’t mine. For a moment, I was actually happy for Hope. When we were alone there, sharing her special moment. I knew that it meant something, but I couldn’t figure it out until I saw how everypony else reacted. Then I realized that the ability to heal any ailment was powerful magic, and everypony knew what happened once a unicorn developed really powerful magic. The moment I saw the letter, I knew what it was. It had the seal of the two sisters on it. They wanted to each her. That meant they thought she had the potential to become a princess. Which meant... The only thing I wanted to do was run. I knew Hope, and I knew that with Celestia and Luna’s help she would become a princess. She would leave me, and if my whole-body didn’t disappear without her here... What she had seen in the reflection of the Crystal Heart was real. It had never seemed real before. Now I knew it was, and I knew... If Hope’s destiny had found her, mine would soon find me. And in my eagerness to run from it, I had run to it.” > King Sombra's diary, part 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-4: King Sombra’s diary, part 3. “I ran into a large red crystal, which said it was my mother. It said I had to destroy the Crystal Heart, and it gave me my true powers. It told me everything, why I didn’t have a cutie mark or a family. And just like that it was like someone had turned a switch on in my brain. Suddenly I knew who I was. I knew why all of those terrible things had happened to me. I knew what I had to do, and I knew how to use the magic of my people. The image in the Crystal Heart had been clear, but I had never understood it until just then. I had always taken it to mean that the darkness would overtake me. But the darkness was me, the true me that had been hidden for so long. Destruction was my talent, and darkness was my cutie mark. I knew that if I was going to make my move, it had to be then. The heart knew my secret, and I was certain that Princess Amore did too. I touched the Crystal Heart, but I got a sudden wave of pain from doing so. Even then, months after the Faire, the Crystal Heart had so much power over me. I had to make my choice. It would be either me, or the Heart. Finally, I knew that I would never have to suffer through another Crystal Faire again. If my fate hadn't been sealed before, it was then. As I was about to leave, Princess Amore suddenly appeared in front of me. I didn’t know what to do, I felt scared. But even then, in my darkest moment, I felt my fear melting away. I had been so afraid of everypony, my entire life. Princess Amore offered to help me out of the darkness, but I got angry and turned her into a crystal statue. I had just defeated a princess, and now I knew that there was something stronger that love, fear. Fear was the strongest power of all, and I would take the fear they had put in me, and repay each of them with it. Hope came and saw me with the Crystal Heart. She told me to run, and hide somewhere before the guards came and hurt me. I told her that we’d be the ones doing the hurting. That I'd be the king, and she’d be my queen. Then she saw the statue of Princess Amore. She tried to help the princess. I told Hope that Princess Amore may seem like a saint on the outside, but on the inside, she was broken. As I said the word broken, I stomped my hoof on the ground as hard as I could and smashed the statue of Princess Amore. I scattered the pieces all throughout the world, so nopony could stop me. Maybe one day somepony will restore her, but I'll be too strong for her by then. Hope told me that the others were right, that I was a monster. I laughed and told her that I was not just a monster, but in fact the king of the monsters. She just ran, and I did nothing to stop her. When I recount it, I will say that it was my one mistake. I still loved Radiant Hope, and I let her go. The foolish mare, still thinking that she could save me, told our tragic tale to the two sisters. So, they decided to do what they did best, vanquish monsters. I enslaved all of the crystal ponies to raise my umbrum army, but now time runs short. I know I am no match for Celestia and Luna, but they will not save these crystal ponies. I will make them pay with a thousand years of suffering. And Radiant Hope, she’ll suffer the worst. She betrayed me, just to save this ‘home’ of hers. I’ve developed a new spell, just for her. How bitter will her victory taste when she has no home left? > Diary Discussion > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-5: Diary Discussion. Cadence finishes reading. Twilight says- “And then there’s nothing else.” Cadence replies- “That must’ve been the last thing he wrote before Celestia and Luna banished him.” Twilight asks- “Should we take it with us? Should his diary be in the library?” Cadence answers-” I don’t feel right moving it. In fact, this whole place gives me the heebie-jeebies.” Twilight says- “I feel bad for him. He never got to see the Crystal Faire, and it was the only thing he ever wanted.” Cadence says- “That, and to crush the crystal ponies under his hoof. I wouldn’t feel too sorry for him, Twilight. I think I need some air. Are you coming?” Twilight replies- “No, I want to stay here and keep looking. I might find something important. " Cadence says-” Ok, tell me if you find anything.” Twilight replies-” Sure.” Cadence starts her journey up the stairs, and not long after she goes, Twilight hears something rolling down the stairs and then the sound of something falling on the floor. She decides to investigate. > Investigation > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-6: Investigation. Twilight goes outside of the room and sees a curved, red horn. She takes it into the room to have a better look at it. She says to herself- “This looks familiar.” Then, she hears a voice saying- “Long live the king.” Twilight asks- “Who said that?” The voice replies- “Don’t you recognize my voice, Twilight Sparkle? You are holding my horn in your hooves after all. Or are Alicorns unable to recognize voices?” Twilight replies- “I don’t recognize your voice. And of course, Alicorns can recognize voices. Just tell me who you are.” The voice says- “Patience is very important. Didn’t Celestia teach you that? You were her star pupil. And anyways, you’ll have to guess who I am.” Twilight guesses- “Are you a changeling, whose horn somehow got cut off?” The voice replies- “No. I never will be a changeling.” Twilight gets impatient. She demands- “Just tell me who you are!” The voice replies- “So, you couldn’t guess who I am. I am King Sombra.” Twilight is shocked- “But the Crystal Heart destroyed you. You couldn’t have survived!” Sombra says- “All that Amore’s weapon did was weaken my powers. I knew that it would destroy me, so I used a spell to put my shadow in my horn. So, the only thing that happened to me was the weakening of my magic.” Twilight asks- “So, what will you do now?” Sombra answers- “I’ll wait for my magic gets stronger, and then I'll take the Crystal Empire for myself. Who’s ruling it now? I heard the ruler of this Empire is just like Amore. I’ll be able to destroy her easily. They both were incompetent fools.” Twilight gets angry. She half shouts- “Don’t you dare talk about Cadence like that!” Sombra says calmly- “But if you do me this one favor, maybe I’ll spare the Crystal Empire from my tyranny.” Twilight asks- “What favor?” Sombra answers- “Take me out of here.” Twilight says- “And let you destroy Equestria? No way.” Sombra replies- “How do you know that I will destroy Equestria? I might even be reformed if you take me out of here. I’ll promise to be good.” Twilight asks- “How do I know you won’t break that promise?” Sombra replies- “We’ll make an unbreakable vow.” Twilight asks- “How do we do that? I never found any books on unbreakable vows in any library.” Sombra tells her- “I have a book on how to do it. You’ll find it on the third bookshelf. It’s called- A guide to unbreakable vows.” Twilight gets the book. > A vow > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-7: A vow. After Twilight gets the book, Sombra tells her to open it to page- 43. She does that. He tells her that after he says the vow, she will touch their horns together until his horn glows. He says- I, King Sombra promise to not intentionally destroy Equestria. If I do so, then upon me shall be destruction.” After Sombra says the vow, Twilight makes her and his horn touch. After 10 seconds, Sombra’s horn glows and she moves her horn. Sombra asks her- “Now will you take me out of here?” Twilight replies- “Yes, after I finish looking for more things.” Sombra wants to get out of his room as soon as possible, so he tells her- “Can you see that lever on the wall? Press down on it.” Twilight presses on the lever, and the wall moves, revealing thousands of crystallized ponies. She is shocked again and asks him- “Did you turn all those ponies to crystal?” Sombra replies- “Yes.” Twilight asks- “How can I turn them back to normal?” Sombra answers her question- “I think I have a book on that. Look on the bookshelves for a book named- How to turn crystallized ponies back to normal." Twilight searches for the book, and finds it. Sombra tells her to read it. She reads it, and after she reads it says- “This spell needs two Alicorns to do it. I’ll ask Cadence for help.” Twilight is about to leave when Sombra tells her- “Put my horn in your bag. I don’t want to be found by anypony else.” Twilight does that and then runs up the stairs, to Cadence. She finds Cadence in her study room. > The spell > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-8: The spell. Twilight runs into Cadence's study room and says- “Cadence, I found something! Come with me!” Cadence says- “I'm coming.” Twilight teleports them to Sombra's secret room and shows Cadence. She says- “Look what I found. There was a lever on the wall, and I pressed down on it and then the wall moved to show all these crystallized ponies. I found a book on the bookshelf that shows how to undo the spell, but two Alicorns have to do it.” Cadence looks at all the crystallized ponies and says- “This is terrible. It's a good thing you found the counter-spell for it. Where is the book?” Twilight gives Cadence the book. After Cadence reads it, they both get ready to do the spell. They concentrate hard on what they want to do and at the same time, two bright lights come from their horns and goes onto each crystallized pony. All the ponies are not crystallized anymore and Twilight and Cadence teleports each pony into the throne room. Twilight teleports down there one last time to lock the door. She does it and then walks back up the stairs, since she is too tired to teleport. Once she reaches the top, she sees Cadence telling each pony that they were turned into crystal statues, and were left like that for over a thousand years, and that King Sombra was defeated and that they are safe. After Cadence finishes talking, all the ponies leave. Cadence turns around and tells Twilight- “So that's why there aren't any unicorns or pegasi in the Crystal Empire. They were all crystallized.” Twilight says- “I was wondering too, why there were hardly any unicorns or pegasi in the Crystal Empire.” Cadence asks Twilight- “Are you going to go back to Ponyville now?” Twilight replies- “Yes, I'd love to stay, but I have to go back home.” Cadence says- “Oh. Well, if you're going to leave now, the next train to Ponyville leaves in 10 minutes. Promise to visit soon?” Twilight replies- “I'll visit as soon as I can. It's a promise! Bye, Cadence.” Cadence waves and says- “Bye Twilight. See you again soon!” Twilight waves and then runs to the train station. She reaches there and gets on the train just a few minutes before it leaves. > Back in Ponyville > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-9: Back in Ponyville. As soon as Twilight got off the train, she saw Spike waiting for her. She said- “Spike! I missed you so much!” Spike replied to her- “I missed you too, Twilight. Why did you have to go to the Crystal Empire?” They start walking back to the castle and Twilight tells him- “Cadence needed my help. She told me that there was so much information missing from the records, and so many books and other stuff that Sombra destroyed. So, she wanted to look for some information. She thought Sombra might've recorded some information, and that he might have a secret room in the castle. She needed to use dark magic to open the passage, but she couldn't do it. So, Cadence asked me to help. I opened the passage and we went down the stairs. Sombra, had this secret room. We went in there and found his diary. Cadence read it. It had so much information about his past. After reading it, Cadence said she needed some air and she went. I stayed, to look for more things. Then, I saw a lever on the wall. When I pressed on it the wall moved and showed thousands of crystallized ponies. They were all unicorns and pegasi. I found a book on the bookshelf showing the counter-spell. But it needed two Alicorns to cast the spell. So, I asked Cadence for help. I teleported the both of us to the room and we turned all the ponies back to normal. You know how there are hardly any unicorns or pegasi in the Crystal Empire? Sombra turned them all to crystal, leaving only earth ponies. Cadence and I teleported them all to her throne room, and she told them about what had happened to them, how many years had passed, and that Sombra was gone, and that they were safe.” Twilight finished talking and Spike said- “That explains a lot. Could you tell me what was in Sombra's diary?” Twilight replies- “Maybe later, because I'm tired out from having to teleport so many times and also from talking.” Spike says- “Ok. We're at the castle. You go and have some rest.” Twilight replies- “Sure.” They both went inside the castle, and Twilight drank some water. Twilight then went to her bedroom and slept after putting her bag on the table. > A restoration > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-10: A restoration. Twilight wakes up, and the first thing she thinks of is Sombra. The unbreakable vow. Wait a second, was that vow even real? There was only one way to find out. And that was… to ask Sombra. Twilight gets off her bed, and goes to her table. She opens her bag, and takes Sombra’s horn out. Twilight says- “Sombra, are you there?” The reply is- “Of course I am. It’s not like I can go anywhere without a body. What do you want?” Twilight asked- “You know that unbreakable vow that you made, was it real?” Sombra replied- “Of course it was real. Why wouldn’t it be real?” Twilight says- “Because, I’ve never found any books containing unbreakable vows, and I read that Star Swirl The Bearded was the first pony to make unbreakable vows, but Princess Celestia locked them all away. And that happened before you were born, so how could you have a book about them?” Sombra replied- “I wrote the book, myself. I was interested in unbreakable vows, and how they could stop ponies from doing things, and if they broke it, then they would die. So, I made a few of my own and used it on the crystal ponies.” Twilight says- “Oh.” Suddenly the door opens and Spike comes in. Twilight quickly hide Sombra’s horn and opens a book. Spike asks- “Twilight, why didn’t you come down for breakfast?” Twilight says- “Because, I was reading books.” Spike says- “You really should eat breakfast before reading books. And by the way, who were you talking to?” Twilight says- “To myself.” Spike says- “But it sounded like somepony else was in here.” Twilight thinks of something to say. She says- “But I wasn’t talking to anypony else, Spike. I was just talking to myself about the things I need to do today, and if I should re-organize the library today, or tomorrow.” Spike says- “Oh. I’ll see you later, Twilight. Bye.” Twilight waves- “Bye Spike.” After Spike goes, Twilight gets Sombra’s horn and asks him- “Is there a way that I could talk to you without anypony else hearing me?” Sombra says- “Through a telepathic link.” Twilight answers- “How can I make a telepathic link between us?” Sombra tells her- “No books say how to do it, but I know the spell. I would cast it, but I need my body for that.” Twilight asks- “Really?” Sombra answers- “Yes.” Twilight thought for a few minutes. Giving Sombra his body back would be a big risk, and she didn’t trust him. If he had his body back then there would be two problems. Firstly, it would be harder to hide him, and secondly, he might take over Equestria. But then she thought that if she could reform him, then that would be great. And then she remembers how Fluttershy reformed Discord a few years ago, by being kind to him, trusting him, and befriending him. So, she decides to risk it. She asks Sombra- “So, how to give you your body?” Sombra answers her question- “You can find the spell in a book called- Everyday spells that every unicorn should know.” Twilight exclaims- “I have that book in my library!” > A telepathic conversation > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-11: A telepathic conversation. Twilight runs to her library and gets the book. Then she teleports to her room. She opens the book and finds the spell. After reading it, she casts the spell on Sombra’s horn and a cloud of smoke appeared. For a moment, Twilight was afraid that she had done something wrong, but her panic went as soon as she saw Sombra stepping out of the cloud of smoke, and off her table. She looks at him and sees a few changes from the last time she saw him. Sombra’s horn was like a normal unicorn, he still had his armor, crown and cape. His eyes are green instead of red, and the only thing that showed that he wasn’t a normal unicorn was that he didn’t have a cutie mark. Sombra sees Twilight’s expression and then conjures a mirror out of thin air and looks at himself. He nearly drops the mirror in shock. He says to himself- “I look like a normal unicorn.” After saying that, he casts the spell to create a telepathic link between him and Twilight and says to her through the link- “How do you like my new appearance?” Twilight says through the link- “You look exactly like a normal unicorn, without a cutie mark.” They continue talking through the link. Sombra asks her- “Why are ponies so happy when they get a cutie mark?” Twilight answers- “Because, when a pony gets his or her cutie mark, it means that they have found their special talent. For example, my cutie mark is sparks. So, it means that my special talent is magic.” Sombra asks- “How did you get your cutie mark?” Twilight answers- “When I was a filly, my dream was to be in Celestia’s School For Gifted Unicorns. I was so happy when I was let in. But to be in there, I had to pass the test. I read a lot about using magic, magic spells and stuff like that. But it was a bit hard to use. The test was to hatch a dragon egg using magic. I tried and tried but it was too hard. Just as I was about to give up, I saw a rainbow and felt a sudden wave of magic. The magic connected with mine, and I hatched the egg, turned my parents into plants, and nearly destroyed the castle. It was like I lost control of my magic. And then Princess Celestia came and put my magic back into control, and when I looked at my flank, I had my cutie mark. Princess Celestia said that I could be her personal student because of my talent, and that’s how I got my cutie mark.” Sombra sighs- “You are so lucky to have a cutie mark. At least you never got bullied for not having a cutie mark.” Twilight notices Sombra’s sadness about him not having a cutie mark, so she asks him- “Do you like reading books?” Sombra is surprised by the sudden change of topic and says- “Yes.” Twilight says- “Then let’s go to the library!” Twilight takes Sombra to her library and they start reading books. Sombra looks at all the books and says- “It’s been a long time since I last stepped into a library, or held a book in my hooves. You are very kind to let me read your books.” Twilight replies- “That’s what friends do! You can read as many books as you want, just put them back in their places after you finish reading them.” Sombra walks to a bookshelf and gets a book. He sits in a corner of the library and starts reading the book. After he reads the book and puts it in its place, Sombra looks at the wall. He touches it with his hoof and feels a warmth coming from the crystal. He says to himself- “This wall is made of crystal!” Sombra is about to get a piece of crystal off the wall, and then he remembers that this is Twilight’s castle, and that it wasn’t his castle. So, he decides to conjure some crystals out of thin air. To avoid filling the library with crystals, Sombra conjures crystals that are small enough to fit in his hoof. He feels the warmth of the crystal and conjures more. He keeps doing that until his hoofs are full of crystals. Lost in the warmth, Sombra falls asleep in his pile of crystals. Twilight finishes reading her book and sees Sombra sleeping. She thinks to herself- “He is looks so cute when he sleeps.” After a while, she hears Sombra saying things in his sleep. She thought- “Maybe he’s just having a really good dream.” Sombra starts acting like somepony else was there. She hears him saying- “How could you not tell me? I deserved to know, and you knew, and you kept it from me this whole time. You knew what I was. I bet you just made that Crystal Heart to destroy me.” Twilight gets worried when Sombra crystallizes the flower in front of him, and wakes him up. She says- “Sombra, wake up. It’s just a bad dream, wake up.” Sombra says sleepily- “Hope? Is that you?” Twilight says- “It’s me, Twilight. Wake up.” Sombra says- “Hope?” Twilight conjures an alarm clock and sets the alarm to 05: 17 PM. The alarm rings loudly and Sombra wakes up. He jumps awake and sees Twilight with the clock in her hoof. He asks- “Did you have to wake me up with an alarm clock of all things?” Twilight asks- “Why not?” Sombra says- “I hate alarms.” Twilight says- “I’ll remember that next time.” Sombra sees the crystallized flower and asks- “Who crystallized the flower?” Twilight replies- “You did.” Sombra says- “But I don’t remember doing it.” Twilight explains- “That’s because you did it in your sleep.” Sombra says- “Oh.” Twilight exclaims- “I’ve never seen anypony do magic in their sleep!” Sombra says- “This isn’t my first time. I usually do it when I have nightmares.” Twilight says- “I think you were having a nightmare. You were saying things in your sleep.” Sombra tells Twilight- “I have nightmares every time I sleep. They’re all about the night I got my powers.” Twilight asks Sombra- “Every time you sleep?” Sombra answers- “Yes. From the night I ran into my destiny, I’ve been having nightmares.” Twilight is about to say something, but Sombra puts his hoof over her mouth and says- “You won’t be able to cure me of my nightmares, so don’t try.” Sombra moves his hoof and Twilight says- “If you get too many nightmares, then I will.” Sombra uses his magic to pick his crystals up and put them on the table. He conjures more crystals, and doesn’t stop until the table is covered. Twilight asks him- “Could you show me how to conjure crystals?” Sombra replies- “Ok.” Sombra conjures a crystal and tells Twilight- “To conjure a crystal, you have to concentrate your thoughts on the crystals color, shape and size. Then you have to concentrate on making it real, and you’ll get a crystal.” Twilight tries, and after 10 minutes, she conjures a crystal. She asks Sombra- “How can you do it so quickly and easily?” Sombra answers- “I’ve been practicing for years. At first it took me 3 minutes, and as time passed, I could do it in a second. If you keep practicing, then you’ll be able to do it in a second too.” Twilight says- “Ok.” Twilight practices and practices. When she’s done, its night, and the library is full of crystals. Sombra is sitting on the crystals with a smile on his face, as he holds some crystals. Twilight says- “It takes me 5 minutes to conjure a crystal, and I’ve been practicing for so long!” Sombra hears her and says- “It will take some time to be able to do it as quick as me.” Twilight sighs and looks at the clock. She says- “Its 12:00 AM! We’d better sleep now!” Twilight takes Sombra to a room and tells him to sleep. After that, she goes to her own room and sleeps. > Nightmares > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter-12: Nightmares. Sombra is on his bed taking his armor off. He takes it off and then closes his eyes. He hopes that he will have a good dream, but that won’t happen. It is now 04:20 AM, and Twilight hears somepony screaming. She teleports to Sombra’s room and sees him screaming and crystallizing things. She turns the light on and tries to wake him up. She says- “Sombra. Wake up.” When that doesn’t work, she taps him with her hoof and says- “Wake up. It’s just a dream.” Sombra only screams more. So, Twilight gets an alarm clock and sets the alarm time to 04: 27 AM. The clock rings loudly, waking Sombra. Sombra rubs his eyes and sits up. He sees Twilight and says- “You’re awake?” Twilight replies- “You had a nightmare and was screaming.” Sombra says- “Oh.” Twilight asks him- “What was it about this time?” Sombra tells her- “That Celestia came and saw me, and she turned me to stone. I tried to crystallize her, but she took all of my magic.” Twilight says- “That would’ve made me scream. Here’s some crystals. Try to sleep now.” Sombra nods and closes his eyes. Twilight stays in his room for a bit, and then she goes to her own room and sleeps. But she can’t sleep for long because she hears Sombra’s screams. She teleports to his room and wakes him up. She asks him- “What was it about this time?” Sombra answers- “It was like a part 2 of my nightmare. I saw that I managed to break out of the stone, and Celestia saw. So, she told you and your friends to use the elements of harmony on me, and I was banished to the darkness forever. It felt so real.” Twilight teleports them to her room and says- “You can sleep with me. It might stop your nightmares.” Sombra says- “Ok.” Both of them go into Twilight’s bed and sleeps. Twilight falls asleep easily, because she is so tired, but Sombra tries to stay awake. He only manages to stay awake for 2 minutes, and then his eyes shut. > Nice smells > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sombra’s P.O.V: When I woke up, I was confused. This was not the room that I had spent the night in. Then I remembered. I had nightmares, and Twilight Sparkle heard my screams and woke me up. Then, she offered to let me sleep with her. The whole time that I was sleeping with her, I had no nightmares. Speaking of Twilight, where was she? Maybe she had gone so I could finally take over Equestria? I couldn’t take over Equestria because of that unbreakable vow. When I used to rule the Crystal Empire, I tested it on one of my slaves, and he exploded after breaking it. I didn’t want to explode, so I couldn’t break the vow. When I looked at the bedside table, I saw a note. I picked it up and read it. It said, “Sombra, I’m in the library. Have a shower and then go there. Remember to use the dark blue bottle of shampoo and bodywash.” After reading that, I smelt my fur. It didn’t smell so nice, so I decided to have a shower. I opened a door, but instead of seeing a bathroom, I saw thousands of books. I closed the door and opened another one. This time I saw mares clothes. I quickly shut the door and walked out of Twilight’s room. I kept opening doors, but didn’t find any bathroom. An hour later, I finally found it. I opened the door and went inside. Then, I shut the door. I stepped into the bath and turned the water on. Hot water came out and washed my fur. Once I was completely wet, I decided to use the shampoo. I turned and saw three dark blue bottles. I didn’t know what one to use, so I decided it would be safer to use a violet bottle. I opened it and put some of the stuff on my mane and tail. After I washed it off, a nice smell came. I decided to use more of the stuff, and used half a bottle of it. Then, I saw a purple bottle that said bodywash on it. I opened it and put some on my fur. It smelt nice too, so I used lots of it. An hour later, I finally finished my shower and walked out of the bathroom. I used a drying spell and it made me look fluffy. I found the library and went inside. > Friends? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After I went inside the library, and shut the door, Twilight said, “Sombra! You’re finally here. What took you so long?” I replied, “I was having a shower like the note said I had to.” Twilight put her book down, walked to me, and smelt my fur. Then she said, “Why do you smell like a mare?” I said, “I don’t know.” She asked, “What color bottle did you use?” I answered, “The purple and violet bottles.” Twilight told me, “You should’ve used the blue ones.” I replied, “There were three of them, and they might not smell as nice as the ones I used.” After saying that, I heard somepony laughing. It wasn’t Twilight. I turned around and saw a light purple unicorn. I hid behind Twilight, so that I wouldn’t be seen. But, it was too late. Twilight said, “Starlight! Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be with Trixie now?” Starlight answered, “I was, but then I heard you talking and I saw you talking to King Sombra. Why is he here?” Twilight said, “Sombra? Here? Why would he be in my castle? And where is he?” Starlight laughed, “He’s right behind you. Don’t pretend that you haven’t been talking to one of the worst villains in equestrian history.” Starlight walked to where I was. Not knowing what she would do, I hid myself behind my hooves. She said, “Don’t worry Sombra, I won’t hurt you.” I looked up and asked, “Really?” She replied, “Yes. I’ve been watching you and Twilight, and since you haven’t hurt her, or made any plans, I trust that you aren’t any harm.” I still didn’t trust her. She continued, “I’m Starlight Glimmer, Twilight’s student. I used to be a villain but Twilight reformed me.” I asked, “How did she reform you? Did she put you in a dungeon and keep you locked there without any food or water until you accepted friendship? Or keep you in chains?” Twilight laughed. “And why would I do that? I’m the Princess Of Friendship, not the Princess Of Hurting Villains Until They Are Reformed.” I looked at Starlight. She said, “It’s true. Twilight said she’d be my friend and I accepted.” Starlight looked at the clock and said, “Bye Twi, I need to go now! I’ll see you later. Bye Sombra.” Saying that, she ran. > An idea. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saying that, she ran. I asked Twilight, "Did she really used to be a villain?" Twilight replied, "Yes, she did." I ask, "What did she do when she was a villain?" Twilight says, "She took a whole village's cutie marks, and when my friends and I stopped her and gave it’s cutie marks back, she wanted revenge. One day I was giving a speech about Friendship and Cutie Marks, and Starlight was there. I said about how me and my friends have a cutie mark connection, and Starlight thought it would be perfect to go back in time and make our flanks cutie mark-less. And that's exactly what she did. But by doing that, she changed Equestria. I went after her in time and each time I was close to catching her, she sent me to a place of what Equestria would look like if me and my friends never met each other. Each next place was worse than the first. Starlight used to think that cutie marks took friends away, and if she couldn't have her friends, then nopony else could. After I told her that it wasn't true, then she became my friend, and that's how I reformed her." I asked, "You just forgave her like that? You didn't punish her for what she did?" Twilight said, "Of course I didn't punish her. In Friendship, you forget and forgive." I said, "Tell me about myself. Everything that you know about me." Twilight drank some water and then said, "Ok. A few years ago, when the Crystal Empire returned after being lost for a thousand years, Princess Celestia told me that a thousand years ago, a stallion whose heart was as black as night took over the Crystal Empire. He made all the Crystal Ponies his slaves and forced them to work all day and night. When Princess Celestia and Princess Luna sealed him away in the frozen north, the Empire vanished with him. When it came back, he tried to retake it, but was defeated by the Crystal Heart's power. That's everything I know about you." I asked her, "When you read my journal, why did you feel sad for me?" She replied, "Because, you suffered so much when you were a colt and then when you took the Empire, your only friend betrayed you and Celestia and Luna banished you without trying to find another way." I asked, "What would you have done if you were in their place? Imagine that in front of you, there is a tyrant king who wants his revenge. His only friend betrayed him and told you to banish him. What would you have done?" Twilight said, "I would've tried to help him. I would've taken him to Ponyville, and reformed him instead of freezing him in ice. I would've asked him why he wanted revenge. And when he told me, I would've told him that he didn't have to be a monster, and that he could always change." I asked, "But why would you be so kind to a tyrant who killed ponies and turned them to crystal and shattered their statues?" She answered, "Because in friendship, you are kind, you forgive and forget. It doesn't matter what a pony does in their past, because that was the past. If they had a bad past, then help them to have a good future." By the time she finished talking, I had an idea. The next thing I said was something that I never thought I'd say. "D-Do you think you can forgive me?" She said, "Sure!" "Do you think they'll forgive me too?" She asked, "Who?" I told her,"The crystal ponies." Twilight said, "I'm not sure, but if you apologize, then I'm sure they'll forgive you." "Ok." Twilight smiled, "This is great, Sombra! You'll be reformed in no time!" "You really think so?" "Yes!" ****************************** Author's note: For those who are confused, Sombra is pretending to be good, and will keep doing so until all of Equestria trusts him. > Spike > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After Twilight's exclamation, she ran and came back with a purple dragon. I recognized him as the one who had saved the Crystal Empire from me. She said, "This is Spike." I sarcastically asked, "Your pet dragon?" She replied, "No! Spike is my assistant, NOT my pet." The dragon looked at me and screamed, "Twilight! What is HE doing HERE?" The dragon hid behind Twilight, and she said, "When I came back from the Crystal Empire, I found Sombra's horn and gave him his body back. I'm reforming him." He asked, "But Twi! Did you even tell Princess Celestia?" Twilight replied, "Of course not. If I tell her now, then she'll banish Sombra." The dragon tried one last thing, "But he-he's dangerous! He's a tyrant!" But all Twilight said was, "I know. Now go and say hi to him." She pushed the dragon in front of her, and he nervously said, "H-hi S-s-Sombra. I-i'm S-spike." Twilight smiled at me, and I forced out with a smile, "Hi Spike. As you already know, I'm Sombra. Are you Twilight's pet dragon?" The dragon seemed offended. "I'm her assistant, not her pet!" I ended the conversation, "Oh well. It was nice meeting you, Spike. I'll see you some other time." The dragon ran out of the room. Twilight glared at me, "You know, you could've been nicer to Spike." I said, "Sorry, but I don't know what being nicer is." Twilight sighed and opened a book. She started reading when I interrupted her. "You told me that Celestia taught you some dark magic. Do you want to learn more?" She replied, "I don't need to learn more of that than the princess taught me." And then she looked back at her book. I reasoned, "But it's still learning, right? And you love learning. You could test if dark magic could be used to do good things instead of bad." Twilight looked up and said, "That sounds like an interesting idea. When do I start?" "I could start teaching you tomorrow if you want." "Sure!" I smiled as a thought started in my head. Soon this mare would be mine, all mine. And corrupted too. While I was thinking, Twilight returned to her book, and I decided to read some books. I got a few off the bookshelf and started reading them. > Night > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- By the time I looked up from my books, it was night. Twilight was putting the books back in their place. She took the books out of my hooves and said, "You need to sleep now." She took me to my bedroom and left me there. I took my armor, cape, and crown off and put them on the table. Then, I shut my eyes and slept. It had only been a few hours when I woke up, screaming. I saw Twilight next to me, a concerned look on her face. She said, "You were screaming, again. Was it another nightmare?" I replied, "Yes, it was." "Do you want to talk about it?" "Not really." "Your choice." She then left me to sleep. But my mind was disturbed by another nightmare. I found Twilight once again by my side. This time she had a glass of water with her. As soon as I opened my eyes, she gave me the water, and I drank it. I said, "Thanks.", and gave the glass back to her. She was worried. "I'll sleep with you so that you won't have any nightmares." I accepted her offer, "Ok." I made some space for her, and she laid next to me. We were very close as the bed wasn't so big; I could feel Twilight's warmth. We fell asleep like that, with each other. This mare had an effect on me because when I slept with her, I had no nightmares. > Chapter 18 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Here's the rewrite. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've made a start on rewriting Sombra's tale, and have posted the first chapter. The rewrite is called Poetic Justice, and is waiting to pass moderation. Here's the link: Poetic Justice. The second chapter will be posted soon!