Shy Can See

"Are you sure you wish to go through with this?" King Sombra questioned as he stood next to Fluttershy, ready to cast his spell. "You're aware that this is dark magic, correct?"

"Dark magic..." She hesitated. She considered the possibilities of what would happen as Sombra waited patiently for her response. She shivered slightly as she placed a hoof onto the force field. There was no choice but to go through. Even if she chose not to do so at this moment, she'd have to eventually. The mare's legs shook as she exhaled and looked up at him, nodding her head slowly.

"Alright. Instructions are simple: As soon as it's cast, jump through, and make sure your entire body is through the barrier. Signal when you're ready."

Angel clasped onto Fluttershy's tail and climbed up onto her back. "I'm sorry Angel, but you can't come with us. It's too dangerous out there." She admitted. Angel frowned as he hopped off of her back, and pouted at King Sombra. The stallion looked back at the white bunny with his red irises, grinning wickedly at his misfortune. "Alright Sombra... I'm ready."

Sombra's horn bubbled green and purple, and his red irises turned completely green; the same as his scleras. He intertwined his hoof with Fluttershy's, and his spell was unleashed onto the two. They were then shrouded in a dark mist. Fluttershy wheezed and groaned in pain. The mist was obstructing her from properly breathing, and was invading her lungs. Sombra tightened his grip on the Pegasus as he jumped through; Pulling her along with him to the other side. Gently, he lowered her to the ground to recover. She fidgeted lightly as she took in large breaths of air. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she laid there. The King sat beside her with a hoof on her shoulder. His expression was stolid as he gazed at the mare.

Her breathing soon slowed down to a reasonable pace. "I-I'm okay... I'm..." She inhaled and exhaled once more. "Okay..." The yellow pony steadily rose onto her hoofs. Sombra kept his hoof on her to help correct her balance.

"You did surprisingly well." He stated in a husky tone of voice. Fluttershy smiles as she begins to blush. Sombra lightly smiles back at her. It's certainly rare for him to give the mare compliments. But when he does, she blushes every time. "So, where exactly are you planning on going?"

"I need to get to my Cottage. I have Peroxide and Gauze there to treat your injury." She said as she flew above the trees to see which direction her Cottage resided. She soon flew back down to the ground, and motioned for Sombra to follow her. They both moved at an inconsistent walk, due to the fact that it was difficult to see. Every now and again she'd take quick glances at Sombra. His head was raised high, and he walked gracefully; Despite his wound. He always appeared so serious."You know," The Pegasus began, "You don't have to walk like that. I know royalty has to keep up physical appearance, but the only pony here is me." Fluttershy smiled.

The King shrugged, acknowledging her statement. He gave no response.

"Oh come on now, don't be so solemn around me. At least give me a smile, a laugh, something!" She demanded.

King Sombra stopped walking, causing Fluttershy to stop also. "Alright, then. Make me laugh." He ordered with a smirk on his face. He walked up close to the pony, and waited. Fluttershy put her hoof over her lips, thinking of a joke that he may like.

"Oh! I've got one. What's the Strategy of choice in Pony conflicts? Flanking Maneuvers." She grinned, hoping to get a laugh.

Fluttershy only received a chuckle from the dark unicorn. "Valiant effort," He proposed, "However, It's going to take a little more than that."

They both continued walking once more. "I know of others... But I'm afraid you're going to be offended by them. They're about you."

He raised an eyebrow at what she said. He quickly became curious as to what the joke was. "Do tell. I'd like to know what they say about me." He grinned.

"Well, if you say so." She took a deep breath. "It is said that no matter how many stories to a building there is, Sombra will always take the stairs."

Sombra's first reaction was a smile. That smile developed into a snicker, then a laugh, then into a full howl. The way he laughed was nefarious, and sent a shiver down her spine. Nonetheless, she laughed right along with him, happy that she managed to get him to temporarily break out of his disposition.

"What's the difference between an earth pony and a unicorn?" Sombra asked as he tried to quiet his laughter.

"What?"

"One is more horny than the other!" Both ponies burst out laughing once more. Fluttershy blushed when he wrapped his hoof around her as they walked.

Fluttershy continued cracking jokes. "What happened when Sombra bought one of Chrysalis' clones for a servant?"

"He got Changeling for a dollar!"

The two continued on with their guffaws. The trees rustled from the large amounts of commotion. They playfully pushed each other around as they walked, as if they were old friends. Eventually the roughhousing and laughter subsided. "You know, Shy, that's the most I've laughed in... I don't know how many years..."

The yellow mare's face glowed with happiness from hearing him say that, and for addressing her by one of her most common nicknames: Shy. "Do you really mean that, Sombra?" Fluttershy asked softly.

Sombra's voice shifted into a soft-spoken tone. "I'm being most sincere." He confirmed with a smile.

Fluttershy's Cottage could now be vaguely seen. The mare picked up her pace, as did her following companion. They were both now at the very edge of the Everfree Forest; her Cottage in plain sight. Sombra carefully scanned the open grassy field in front of them, making sure nopony was around. "I'll need to conceal myself. Just in case."

"How are you going to-"

Before she could finish her question, Sombra's physical pony form blackened and melted down with her shadow. Her eyes widened; Impressed with the technique. She trotted forward and across the bridge to her home. She opened the wooden front door and walked inside, closing it behind her. The King emerged from Fluttershy's shadow, back to his regular form. It's almost 2:00am now that they're inside. "Just wait here while I go get the supplies" She instructed as she walked across the hallway and into the bathroom.

He laid on the couch, stretching his limbs and taking his cape off to inspect his wound. A small amount of blood is still dripping. Fluttershy soon comes back with a large gauze, bandages, hydrogen peroxide, and a towel. She sits on the floor right in front of the couch, setting the all of the materials down except for the peroxide. Sombra gazes at her as she unscrews the cap to the peroxide. "Please try to remain still while I pour this. It's going to be painful..." She admitted, hovering the bottle over his wound. He gives a silent nod.

Slowly, she tilts the bottle. The peroxide is poured onto Sombra's flesh wound. He clenches his teeth in pain and his muscles tense up. Fluttershy lets the chemical sit on his injury as it fizzes up. "Almost finished." She smiles. Lightly, she dabs the affected area with the towel, and grabs the bandages. "Get off of the couch for a moment, please?"

Sombra grumbles as he forces himself off the couch. She maneuvers the bandages around his rib cage. Once finished, she steps back and eyes at her work. "I think you're fine for now." She concludes as the king lazily lays back down on the couch. "I'm gonna go take a shower. I'm going back to Everfree to get Angel as soon as I'm done."

The Pegasus walks across the hallway to the bathroom once again, shutting the door behind her. "I should probably tell her about Twilight..." He said to himself as he poked at the bandages.

----------

Fluttershy stepped out of the shower, drying herself off. She looked at her mane in the mirror, making sure it's completely free of anything foreign. Bags formed under her large eyes from sleep deprivation. Soon she left the bathroom and was ready to go get Angel. She walked into the living room to find Sombra levitating various paintings and decorations towards him, looking at them curiously. As soon as he saw the mare, the placed everything he was levitating back to their previous spots in the room.

"Come on, let's go get Angel. If you're ready, that is." Fluttershy said.

The king shook his head. "Not just yet. Come here for a moment. There's something I need to inform you on."

The still-damp pony trotted over, and sat in front of Sombra.

"I'm just going to make this short. I came across one of your princesses the other night. Princess Twilight Sparkle..." He began. Fluttershy leaned in as soon as he said her friend's name. "She demanded that I unhand you, but I lied to her."

A look of concern was now on the mare's face. "What did you say?"

"I told her you were no longer alive..." he mumbled. Fluttershy now appeared confused.

"But why..?"

"I just..." He trailed off, trying to find the correct words. He let out a long, drawn out sigh. "It's not important" The unicorn finally said. "However, I know that it won't be long before Celestia comes knocking on my domain. If Twilight knows of my escape, then so will Celestia, I bet."

The yellow mare turned away with a frown. She thought for a moment, then turned back to Sombra with tears in her eyes. "They all may think low of you... But I think you have a chance at proving otherwise." Fluttershy smiled softly.