The Darkness
“Alright alright I’m coming. What could be so special that you had to wake me up this early Sombra?” She joked as Sombra ushered her on.
“You’ll see in just a bit Autumn Gem. And here we are.” Sombra beamed as they arrived.
Here was nothing more than the top of a small hill with a single tree on top. Under that tree was a simple straw basket and a quilt laid out next to it.
“What is this?”
“Do you like it? I thought that we could sit and watch the sun rise over a picnic.” Sombra joked swiping his green mane out of his eyes as he sat down.
“Like it? How early did you get up to set this up?” Autumn giggled as she sat next to Sombra.
“I haven’t been up for that long. All that I had to do was make some breakfast and put everything up here. The hardest part was waking you up.” Sombra joked his blue coat standing on end as he waited for a reaction hoping he hadn’t done something wrong.
“Oh relax. You are such a worrier sometimes.” Autumn giggled gently bumping him on the shoulders as she did. “And I don’t like it.... I love it.”
“Thanks. Do you want a sunflower shake?” Sombra offered his horn flaring and lifting the lid of the basket to show some shakes, pancakes and anything else that he knew Autumn enjoyed for breakfast.
“Thanks.” Autumn whispered shyly as she grabbed the drink.
“Looks like Celestia is raising the sun.” Sombra exclaimed joyously turning to face the sun as it cast it light across the empire reflecting off everything as it did.
“Just for the two of us.” Autumn yawned resting her head on Sombra’s shoulder as she watched.
Normally Sombra would have shrugged anypony who touched him off but when Autumn touched him all he could do was smile. There was something about the mare beside him that made him feel at ease whenever she was near. Something that made him want to spend the rest of his life with her.
“I love you.” She whispered as she drifted off to sleep.
Sombra just sat in silence unable to put thoughts to words with what she had just said. She loved him. She actually loved a stallion like him who was hardly able to talk if somepony asked him something.
“I love you too.” Sombra whispered as he watched the sky unable to think of anything better to say as she leaned against him already asleep.
So innocent and happy he was right there. So helpless. He didn’t even notice as a trail of black floated through the air towards him never slowing before hitting him in the back and entering. He didn’t even notice it until it spoke.
You really think she loves you? Fool. It whispered to him.
“What? Is somepony there?” Sombra whimpered looking around for some bully who might be watching yet it was just the two of them.
She would leave you broken.
“Who’s there? Show yourself.”
I don’t have to show anything. You will simply do as I tell and that is all.
“What the?” Sombra whispered to himself gently taking Autumn’s head and setting it on the quilt so he wouldn’t wake her.
Over here!
“Where?”
Here! Where else!?
“Where is here?”
In you of course. I am you. The true you.
“You can’t be me. I’m me.”
I’m aware of that. You are Sombra and I’m your locked potential. Just do what I say and you can do whatever you want. And be happy forever.
“What do you want me to do?”
I want you to go to the center of town. Find the crystal heart. And get rid of it.
“What? I can’t do that. Then we are exposed to.... you!” Sombra bellowed his horn flaring as he readied for some form of attack. “You're the evil that threatens us aren’t you?”
Evil? Is that what I’m known as? Well I guess that’s what I am than.
“Leave now before I call the guards.”
Oh you wouldn’t do that. I’m in you so the only way to remove the evil from the land would involve you never getting to see Autumn again.
“I’m certain the princesses could remove of you.”
Are you so certain about that? You will help me and don’t worry about me. I can wait as long as it takes.
“Sombra? Where did you go?” Autumn mumbled as her eyes opened.
“I’m over here. I just.... had to use the little stallions room.” Sombra thought quickly not wanting to worry her. “I’m so hungry I think I could eat half this basket.”
“As long as you save the other half for me.”
Get up!
“Wha?”
I said get up!
“Why should I? I’m happy sleeping here with the one I love.” Sombra mumbled looking over at the mare who was laying but a few feet from him.
If you don’t then I shall just shout at you till you do.
“Fine. Why do you want me to get up?”
I just want you to stand on your balcony for a minute.
“Okay?” Sombra whispered as he walked out the small door to his balcony that overlooked the city. “Why did you want me out here?”
To show you this!
Sombra couldn’t help it as his legs were no longer his and he launched forward from the balcony landing on the diamond road with a crack breaking two of his legs as he landed.
“Bucking! Help!”
I can’t do that for long but all I need is some more time until I can. I can make all the pain stop if you just kick the crystal heart from its stand.
“Never.” Sombra cried as he heard doors open and ponies surround him.
So be it. All I need is one moment to end it all.
“Sombra! What happened?” Autumn screamed as she saw the source of the commotion.
“I walked out to the balcony for some air. I was tired and I fell.” Sombra whimpered thinking quickly so as not to make it look bad.
“Oh sweet Celestia! Are you okay?”
“I don’t know. I think my legs are broken.”
“Oh no! We need to get you to the hospital now! Come on let me help you up!” Autumn bellowed trying to lift her stallion as others came to help.
“Thanks.”
“Hush. We have to get you to the hospital. You can thank me there.”
“Alright.” The doctor began to Autumn as he walked out of the room in which Sombra was. “He has broken two legs and sprained his ankles but he should be able to walk with a splint in a few days.”
“Oh thank Celestia. Can I see him?”
“Of course.” The doctor beamed opening the door to show Sombra laying there staring into the air his face wearing a look of pure anger as he did.
“Sombra!”
“Autumn?” He mumbled looking down to see her rushing to his side. “Oh hey Autumn! How are you?”
“How am I? I’m fine how are you is a better question.”
“I’m fine. My legs feel like they are on fire but you're here so I’ll be just fine.” Sombra joked trying to lift his arms to hug her only to groan as they screamed in pain.
Nice try but they are broken fool!
“Careful.” Autumn whispered calmly putting her hooves on his arms to keep them still. “Its okay. I’m right here.”
Take a good look at her. Because when I get control over you. She will be my personal slave.
“Thanks Autumn.” Sombra giggled ignoring the pestering voice in his head as he had for the past three months. “I just wish that I could hug you right now.”
“I don’t want to hurt you though.” Autumn joked kissing him quickly on the cheek. “But that doesn’t hurt.”
Imagine her. Doing whatever you asked whenever. She would do anything you asked if you would just kick the the crystal heart out of place.
“How do you know? Maybe my cheeks are super sensitive right now.”
“Well then I guess that I’ll just have to kiss your lips than.”
She will be the first to see what I am. You can’t protect her and be with her at the same time Sombra! Its her or the Crystal Empire!
“You know that I would give anything for you right?”
So be it!
You can’t hold me back forever Sombra! I gain more control everyday!
“I will keep you back forever if I have to!” Sombra groaned as his own body flung into the wall.
You have no idea what I’m capable of! Just do as I say and I’ll leave you to never return!
“I will not put my friends in danger to be rid of you!”
“Sombra are you okay?”
So be it!
“Yeah! I’m fine! I’m just.... trying a new spell.” Sombra called down from the bathroom in which he had locked himself.
“Oh. What are you trying to do?”
“Its complicated. I don’t think I got it right though.” Sombra moaned looking over at the mirror that had broke during his little skirmish.
“What makes you think that?”
“I need to learn a spell to fix the mirror now.”
“You broke the mirror? Are you okay? Did any of the glass cut you?”
“Just a little. I’ll be fine.” Sombra said looking across himself at the multiple cuts he had earned from jumping into the mirror.
“Come on Sombra. Get out of there so I can help you.” Autumn called as she rushed up the stairs.
“Thanks.” Came the whimper as Sombra opened the door and Autumn saw just how badly the room had been damaged.
There was glass on the floor and holes in the walls that looked as though sombra had been thrown against the wall. There were shards of glass that had a thick red liquid on them that she knew to be blood as Sombra pulled another out of him and dropped it to the floor.
“What kind of spell were you trying?”
“I don’t know why I thought it would be a good idea to try in the bathroom.”
“What was it?”
“It was a spell that was supposed to.... ease the pain in my legs.”
Oh yes that sounds realistic.
“Are your legs bothering you? Here. Let me make you some tea to help you.” Autumn offered rushing downstairs.
You can’t keep this up much longer. How would she feel if she found out that you have been lying to her for almost four months now? Just end this all by moving the crystal heart out of place.
“Why hasn’t the heart gotten you yet?”
There isn’t enough of me to notice. But there is more than enough for me to be the end of everything you know.
“Fine. If I kick the heart then you’ll leave me alone?”
Of course.
“Then I’ll do it tonight.”
Just a bit closer to make sure it leaves its post.
“Why am I doing this?”
Because you know you have no choice. Just end this all.
“No.”
What?! You are so close! You can see the crystal heart from here just end this all and do it!
“No. If I do then you win and I lose. I won’t let you do this.” Sombra cried locking his legs as they were.
You don’t have a choice! I can make you do it myself if I must!
“Then you do it. Because I will not.”
So be it!
Sombra’s legs were no longer his own as he bolted headlong towards that which kept his city safe. What kept him safe. What kept Autumn safe.
“No! Get out of me! Stop!” Sombra shouted trying to get control over himself before he hit the heart. “You can’t do this!”
I already have.
Sombra’s heart dropped as he felt the cool surface of the crystal heart hit his face and leave its place dropping its protective shield as it fell.
“No! I have to put it back!” Sombra bellowed as he hit the floor his body his again.
I’m coming!
The darkness came in from every direction in small streams all aimed at Sombra who was paralyzed with fear. He had to move but he found himself unable to as the black enveloped him. He tried to spark his horn but was left watching as his blue glow took on a sickly green. His coat was losing all form of color as he watched. No longer the bright blue it had been but a black that seemed to suck in the very color from around him.
No!
“My body now! Goodbye Sombra.” The voice yelled as Sombra fell deeper and deeper into the black.
Not my body? I’ve lost it all and now I don’t even get to see what becomes of my home.
“Oh don’t you worry about that one little bit. I’ll take good care of them.”
Never get to see mother or father again. Never get to feel the ground beneath my hoof as I walk. Never get to see Autumn again. I just get to wait until the day I die.
“Die? Ha! Why would I let you die? This is just to much fun!”
No. No! Just kill me now so I don’t have to listen to your damn voice! Let me leave and wait for her! You said you would leave me alone!
“I will. You get to sit and listen to your own thought now. All alone. Forever.”
Then I will wait for her. Forever.
Author's Note
Let me know what you guys think.
