Sombra: A Tragedy

Sombra made his way down the hall towards the observation tower. It was in the top room of the observation tower that Luna and Sombra always had their talks. Ever since harmony had been restored to Equestria the two friends would spend most of their free time there. It was a quiet secluded place where they could talk about anything and not have to worry about anypony interrupting them. They liked the idea of being able to keep their personal lives separate from theirs lives as a Princess and an Element Bearer. Only in this tower did that seem possible.

Sombra arrived at the tower and started up the spiral staircase. It followed the outside wall up to the top passing several doors leading to different rooms. He finally made it to the top where the door to the observation room was. The door was closed so Sombra pushed it open and walked in. He found Luna looking into one of the telescopes, getting ready for the sun to set.

Luna looked up at Sombra. "I know I wanted to talk, but if you could just wait for a minute?"

"You're fine," Sombra said. "It is your duty, after all, as Princess of the Night to bring the night."

"Thank you." Luna went back to her telescope.

Sombra went over to the work bench where there were scattered several star charts. "Anything specific planned for tonight?"

Luna didn't look up from telescope. "Mostly general star patterns with a full moon. However, we will be seeing the Harmony Hexagon tonight."

Sombra made his way to the window to get a better view. He watched as the last sliver of the sun left the sky. Luna stepped back from the telescope and her horn began to glow. Sombra watched as the full moon rose into the sky. Then the stars started to appear slowly, one by one, then all of a sudden the sky was full of stars. He looked for the hexagon and found it at the highest part of the sky.

The glow from Luna's horn faded. She turned her attention to Sambra. "Now that I'm done with that, we can talk."

Sombra continued to look at the sky. There was a smile on his face. "This is always my favorite part of the day. Getting to see the night sky coming to life."

Luna blushed and smiled. "Oh, it's nothing."

"I just wish more ponies could appreciate your night."

Luna's smile went away. "Well, at least I don't have to try to please everypony. I can do whatever I want with the moon and the stars. Besides, if my best friend likes it, that's enough for me." There was I pause. "I wanted to talk about earlier. Are you feeling okay?"

Sombra's smile was replaced with a blank look. "I'm fine."

"I can tell you're lying."

Sombra gave a sigh. "There is nothing to talk about."

"Yes, there is."

"I don't see why we need to talk about it again."

"Because you're obviously still upset about it!"

Sombra turned to Luna. "Well wouldn't you be!?" he snapped back.

Luna took a step back.

Sombra looked down at the floor. He took in a deep breath then exhaled. "I'm so sorry. That came out of nowhere."

Luna stepped closer to Sombra. "No. It's my fault you snapped. I just thought it would be good to get it off your chest."

"It would be good, but I don't have anything to say that I didn't already."

"Why don't you tell me what you've already said before? That might help." Luna went over to the work bench and sat down then motioned for Sombra to join her.

Sombra reluctantly went over and sat down next to her.

"Before we defeated Discord, we were all just regular ponies. Right after we won, you and Celestia suddenly disappeared into a flash of light. I don't know about the other three, but I thought you were dead. I was so scared. Then the two of you reappeared as alicorns. The only thing I've been able to figure out is that your change had some connection to defeating Discord. If I'm right, why didn't the rest of us change?"

Luna interjected, "Do you mean why you didn't change?"

Sombra didn't answer. "Where did you go when you disappeared?"

Luna sighed. "I honestly have no idea. If I knew, I would tell you."

"Would you?"

Luna gave a surprised look. "Of course I would!"

"Then what do you know?"

"I know that I don't know what I am except that my power has increased greatly and that everypony sees me as some kind of god. Celestia and I have been trying to research this ourselves. Until now, alicorns were just a myth. Any records of other alicorns are long gone. We have discovered that in a time long ago, before the three pony tribes came to be, there may have been an alicorn race. A very ancient race that we believe to have been the start of civilization. Sadly, we do not yet have any proof that this is fact."

Luna finished, but Sombra didn't respond.

"That's it." Luna said.

"Really?"

Luna paused then said, "That's all I'm allowed to tell."

"What is Celestia hiding?"

Luna gasped. "I am shocked that you would accuse my sister of hiding things! Besides, I agree with her! We don't actually know anything about our new forms. We can't go around claiming fact about things that are only a guess. And-"

"Sorry! Again, I am so sorry. I'm just frustrated that's all."

They were both silent for while. Both were staring at the star charts.

"There is one thing we know for sure. There is a castle, here in Equestria, that was not made by unicorns. Its architecture is way different from how the unicorns would have designed their castles. There is depictions of alicorns all over the place. When we first found it, we had no idea what it might be since we weren't alicorns yet." Luna paused. "It's where we found the Elements of Harmony."

Sombra tensed. He had to be careful what he said next. Maybe if he knew where the Elements were, he could keep them from being given to Discord by the 'other servant'.

"Where is this castle?"

"In... the Everfree Forest."

Sombra could feel his heart pounding. "Are they still there?"

"Why do you ask?"

Uh oh. "For... uh... curiosities sake."

Luna gave Sombra a quizzical look. "Yes, they are still there. Sombra, you're acting very strange. Did something happen to when you left the party?"

"No!" Sombra answered a little to quickly. "I mean, no. Nothing happened when I left."

Luna gave Sombra a long stare. "I know you're lying."

Sombra gave no response.

Luna gave a little smile. "It's alright. I won't ask you to tell me. I just want you to know I am always willing to talk about whatever you want. However, I think we might want to be done for now. We need to rest before the celebrations tomorrow."

Luna gave Sombra a hug then went to the door. "Good night." Then she left, leaving him alone in the observation tower.

Sombra relaxed and gave sigh. Then he turned to see the night sky one more time, but something else caught his eye. Laying on the telescope was what looked like the shadow of a fox, but with dark red eyes looking straight at Sombra.

Sombra had seen this creature before. The last time he met with Discord before his reign ended, this fox had been lying on the ground next to the throne. This was the 'other servant'. Had he been there the whole time?

Meet me in your bed chambers.

Then the fox vanished.