No Heart Left to Break

By all means, King Sombra should be dead; the blast he was hit with was not set to stun. Deals made with those that could’ve easily crawled right out of Tartarus had their benefits though, and now Sombra was going through the impossible task of coming back from the dead. Surviving solely on magic was something that not even the great unicorns of history had been particularly talented at, but surviving on hatred was something that Sombra spent his whole life perfecting.

After some time King Sombra found himself with both the regenerated body of a unicorn king, regalia and all, as well as the power and strength of a very young filly.

“Curses, curses, CURSES!” Sombra shouted to nothing in particular.

“To Tartarus with all of them! So help me when I return I will see them all burn!”

King Sombra limped and hobbled with as much grace as he could muster and made his way toward a crystal cave to find somewhere to rest; shouting at the world had really taken a lot out of him. Sombra took shelter in the deepest part of the cave he could and began preparations for his next move. Regenerating his body was an adequate first step, but the former tyrant would be absolutely nothing without his dark magic, and without a great source of fear and hatred that would take time to regain. Sombra set up spell to allow himself a stasis inside some of the crystals of the cave and transformed into his shadow state to begin.

“Crystals. One way or the other it always comes back to you and me.” Sombra spoke to crystal as he made contact with its surface.

“ A number of years, perhaps a few decades and then I return to take back what is mine. Until then…” Sombra cut his words short as he merged with the crystal and entered a dark slumber.

*********

The crystal began to crack and fracture much sooner than Sombra had predicted, it could hardly have been more than a year or two, and as his consciousness began to once again return he sensed how wrong the situation was. Returning to a physical form he attempted to blink away the temporary blindness that hibernation left one with and tried to work out what had happened. He wasn't at a tenth of the power that he should be at, and he knew he had performed everything perfectly. This meant there was only one possibility: outside interference.

“Rise to face us Sombra, the former tyrant of the Crystal Empire”

He knew that voice, and now Sombra felt akin to having just been kicked in the throat. Perhaps he could’ve done better than a random cave, but by now it was far too late.

“It would appear that my taste in hiding places leaves much to be desired; wouldn't you say Princess Celestia?” Sombra spoke with as much malice as he was capable.

“I would submit many things about you to be far worse than your ability to conceal yourself” Celestia spoke with a fair amount of spite in her calm tone.

With the world returning to focus King Sombra began to take a look at his surroundings to try to get a better idea of how utterly doomed he was. A few glances told him that he was not in fact still in the Crystal Empire, but it would seem that he had been transported to what must be the castle in Canterlot. The next thing Sombra began to take notice of was the fact that he was not there alone with Celestia, in fact far from it. Sombra was staring down the princess of the sun, as well as her sister Princess Luna, no less than two dozen guards and the current rulers of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor and Princess Mi Amore Cadenza.

No words were currently being exchanged, but Sombra needed none to feel the hatred present in the room. He could taste every bit of anger from his present company, and most any other day he would’ve reveled to be near such a source of loathing, though at the moment he would be content to trade it for not staring down his eminent demise. The pretty pink princess alicorn herself rose to speak to him.

“How is it that you are standing here when there are witnesses to your death at the Crystal Empire?”

Sombra began to smirk, “I got better.”

Cadence held her gaze for a few moments before continuing.

“Sombra, you are here to stand trial for your crimes against the citizens of the Crystal Empire” she spoke with eyes narrowed on him.

In spite of all his current anger and disappointment Sombra began to laugh. “HAHAHA. Is that what you call all of this? Oh so then tell me, which one of you is the judge, which is the jury, and which one is the executioner?” Sombra spoke eyes scanning the four in front of him.

This time Shining Armor rose to speak. “The laws of the Crystal Empire are not exactly clear on how to treat a criminal that makes a victim out of every possible jury member. Likewise we are unlikely to find anything better here in Equestria and so this unique matter is being handled by a trial with the leaders of the Crystal Empire and Equestria. Honestly its far beyond anything that you deserve.” Shining Armor finished by averting his eyes, as if he would have outright maimed him then and there had he continued to look.

“And I suppose you would’ve had me blasted straight to Tartarus he moment I was found were it up to you?” King Sombra asked tasting his hate.

“You do not even want to know what I would do to you were it up to me!” Shining Armor shouted back.

“Shining Armor restrain yourself.” Celestia spoke up in an obviously irritated manner.

Shining Armor lowered his head and stepped back, but now he kept his eyes focused on Sombra

“Besides,” Luna began to speak, “Equestrian law has long since rid itself of capital punishment. Were it not done to protect ourselves or our subjects, disposing of you would still be murder.”

“HAHAHA,” Sombra began to laugh again, “ you’re all staring a monster in the eyes and your precious laws won't let you touch me. You know you really should've killed me when you had the chance.”

“Believe us, we tried!” Shining Armor shouted.

“Shining Armor your outbursts will not be tolerated here and I would advise you to not try my patience again.” Celestia spoke with ice in her words.

King Sombra was not very fond of the situation. He had no way out and he would much rather see everypony in the room annihilated, but he was enjoying how easy it was to force a reaction out of these ponies. The most level headed rulers that there were to offer and Sombra had them practically boiling over already. If he could do nothing else in his life he was at least pleased to feel the hate that he inspired, as if it was a testament to how much of an impact he had actually had.

“If we could continue with this…trial, I would like to hear any defense that you wish to provide for yourself at this time.” Princess Cadence spoke maintaining her composure.

“Bite me.” was all Sombra provided.

If the tension were high in the room before, now it had gone and jumped over the moon. Sombra knew there was nothing he could say to make his situation even the slightest bit better. He could get behind the idea of being defiant until the end though.

“Burn out; not fade away” Sombra thought to himself.

Celestia took a few moments to collect herself and her thoughts and then began to speak,”Given this particularly unique case and the defendant's refusal to provide any form of defense, perhaps it would be best to simply decide upon a punishment.”

Cadence nodded in agreement and spoke, “I will have him banished from the Crystal Empire for life. Should he ever attempt to return I will consider it an attack on my subjects.”

Picking up on the meaning Shining Armor spoke up, “Then there will be nothing a law can do to save you.”

Sombra cracked a smile at this. Celestia opted to let the comment pass.

“I believe it should go without saying,” Luna said, “that we cannot leave the ex-king with the powers that he wields. I suggest the immediate sealing of his magic power.”

A seal by three alicorns princesses was not going to be broken through easily. In fact it boarded on impossible. Sombra felt like a knife was being continuously twisted in his gut. All the things he did for that power, all of the sacrifices…

Then Celestia began to speak, “While I will not contest either of you on the suggestions that he have made, quite the contrary I believe that they should both be enacted with the utmost haste, I also believe that Sombra is far too dangerous to be left alone. I believe that a lifetime imprisonment is the most proper course of action.”

There it was. The foregone conclusion to this little meeting that these rulers had set up so that they could go about their posturing and put in the history books that even the most heinous monster gets a trial.

“Do you understand the position that you are in Sombra?” Celestia asked

“I haven't been focusing on anything that you’ve said.” Sombra replied

“And why is that?” Celestia asked

Sombra looked her in the eyes. “The whole time you were talking, I was too busy picturing you dead.”

Celestia took a few brief moments and then began to speak once again, “Are there any objections to this sentence?”

The silence in the room was deafening.

“Then Sombra I hereby-”

“I OBJECT,” came a disembodied voice in the room.

Those in the room began turning their heads for the source of the interruption. At this time the stained glass window began to rearrange itself into a duplicate of a well known draconequus.

“I didn't miss my cue did I?” Discord spoke as he jumped out of the window and began pulling bits of glass pieces from his ears, rearranging them into a vase.

“Discord,” Celestia started, “what interest could you possibly have in-”

“Hold up,” Discord said as he raised a finger to Celestias lips. At this he pulled flowers seemingly out of nowhere and put them into the vase and presented them to Celestia.

“While I know that you are always happy to see me, I can understand why right now you might not be as thrilled about my presence as you otherwise would be, but you see I came here with an important purpose and I plan to see things through.” Discord spoke

“You can’t be THE Discord can you?” Sombra spoke up

Discord twirled around.“I believe that I can be, what is that to you, uh… Somber was it?”

“No its KING Sombra. I just never thought that the great Discord, Lord of Chaos, would ever be reduced to licking Celestias boots.” Sombra shot at Discord.

“First off, you certainly aren't a king anymore. Second, Celestia doesn't even wear boots. She has those fancy royal… metal… things that she wears.” Discord responded scratching his head.

“It was a figure of speech” Sombra replied.

“Oh really? From what I’ve heard you were never very good at even the ‘speech’ part.” Discord said with a smile.

At that Sombra began to growl at Discord.

“Yes! There it is; all those growls and grunts, you’d think that you were… oh never mind.” Discord said turning back around to face Celestia and the other rulers.

Donning a pair of spectacles and pulling a law book out from behind his back Discord began to pace in front the the royal company. “Now I’m sure you all note that we have an unprecedented case here and that any decision made will be of great importance. Now try to understand that you are all not in the least bit capable of making an unbiased decision.”

Scowls from all around the room prompted Discord to put his paw and claw up in defense. “Here me out. A lifetime ban from the shiny empire, sure. A little seal on his dark arts, whatever.”

At this Discord removed his spectacles and began to put on a serious look, which was so uncommon all ponies present seems to become even more attentive.

“But are you really going to say that the best course of action is to throw him in a cell for the rest of his days? That dungeon practically hasn't even been used in centuries as I understand it, and now you’re going to go ahead and add a permanent resident?” Discord spoke, mostly keeping his eyes on Celestia.

“Discord I see that you have qualms with our decision making ability, but we simply cannot allow one as dangerous as Sombra to roam free.” Celestia spoke

Discord cocked his head and began to say, “Thats funny Celestia because I seem to remember some other ridiculously powerful villain being allowed freedom at your decree.” with this Discord pulled out a number one foam finger and pointed it at himself.

Celestia sighed and spoke, “I understand that you were allowed your freedom but you were a far different case.”

“And how is that my dear? One king of darkness and the Crystal Empire vs one king of chaos and Equestria.”

Sombra spoke up, “I’m a regal king and you’re a freakshow for one.”

Discord lowered himself to eye level with Sombra and spoke quietly, “I just might end up saving your life here so you’d do well to bite your tongue.”

For reasons he really didn't understand Sombra decided to do just that. Minus actually biting his tongue. He had fangs, and that would really really hurt.

“Sombra enslaved ponies, he must be responsible for countless deaths and he must pay for that!” Celestia practically shouted.

“While I brought never ending chaos and no doubt did just as much damage if not more. Can you honestly say that just because I never planned on taking over the world that my actions were any less harmful? That my actions didn't ruin, or perhaps end lives? Are you saying that I should pay more for my actions as well?” Discord asked.

“You had an imprisonment of over ten centuries and now have the ability to benefit Equestria, Sombra has not payed like you have.” Celestia answered back.

“Oh my dear, thats where you’re wrong. Sombra lost centuries in his own right the same way that the Crystal Empire did. By banishing him and cutting him off from his powers you will effectively leave him with nothing. No family, no friends, no property, nothing at all.  Now I’m not suggesting that we are dealing with a ‘great’ pony here, maybe not even a ‘good’ one, probably not even a ‘halfway decent’ one so banishment and a power lock are still fine with me, but I still hold to the belief that if I am to be given the chance that I have, he should as well.”

“So thats what this is about,” Princess Luna began to speak up, “you feel that you and him are kindred spirits of course and you are trying to treat your own guilty conscience by passing on a kindness to another. Well I have news Discord: he isn't worth it.”

“Funny that you of all ponies should be saying that Lulu.” Discord said looking to Luna

“Pray tell what you mean?” Luna replied raising an eyebrow.

Discord steeled himself for what he would say next. It would either work spectacularly or blow up in his face and likely get him sealed back in stone.

“What I mean to say, and don't take this the wrong way, is that you are not so free of wrongdoing yourself. Your own actions as Nightmare Moon could easily warrant a court like this.” Discord spoke, bracing himself for impact.

“HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME AS SUCH!” Luna spoke utilizing her angry royal canterlot voice, which was said to be able to shatter eardrums from 10 miles away.

“Discord I believe that you have said quite enough!” Celestia spoke up, “I see no reason why our decision should change or why you would ever dare bring Luna into this!”

Sombra began to look back and forth among the royal ponies and the ruler of chaos. He hadn't been around for the two Nightmare Moon incidents and had no idea what they could possibly be arguing about. Stranger still was why the god of disharmony was trying to work for justice in a trial involving one of histories greatest tyrants. Sombra chalked it up to him having so completely lost his mind that he was now simply acting with no agenda at all. Didn't seem to be doing much good though, Sombra was still likely going to be thrown in a cell, but at this rate Discord may join him.

Princess Cadence and Shining Armor bit their tongues as well. While great and important rulers in their own right what was going on now was clearly out of their depth. With tensions running as high as they now were, so long as the Crystal Empire would be safe and Sombra punished somehow, they would have to be content.

Discord took in a deep breath and looked at his now rage-filled company, “You see thats just it Celestia, its all the things that you are refusing to see that prompt me to do the things I’m doing. You freed me not because you believed that my punishment was good enough, you freed me because you’re biased and like me. After you saw me you felt like there was a way for me to do some good. Listen, I know you, and I know how forgiving you can be, so if you looked at Sombra like you looked at me you would at least be giving him a chance.”

Celestia began to blink while she thought on Discords words. Craning his neck he turned to Luna.

“Now Luna I know that it is not my place to bring up a subject as sore as this ever, but I think your past makes you more quick to judge and condemn others more than you’d like to admit. You wish you could simply punish every other monster and wrongdoing to atone for what you see inside yourself, but somepony, or somedraconequus, needs to tell you that that is not the way to go. Perhaps this represents a different way; you can extend the same forgiveness you received to another, and perhaps you can find some peace in that.”

Luna wanted to say something but nothing came to mind.

Discord stepped back now to addresses the four altogether

“There are three former terrors in this room that have caused great distress to Equestria in the past. One of them is now royalty, one of them roams free with powers unchecked, and one of them is about to be banished, cut off from power and then thrown in a cell to rot for his whole life. My eyes aren't what they used to be, but that doesn't look like justice to me. With no dark powers Sombra isn't even a threat to Equestria, and If I’m wrong we can throw him back in a cage, but not before we give him a chance.”

Celestia and Luna were mildly stunned. Even more than they were offended by Discords words they were shocked at the possibility, that somehow, someway, the god of chaos and disharmony had managed to become the voice of reason in the trial.

Celestia recovered first and began to speak, “So what would you have done in this situation Discord? You would set him free to try to find some way to seek his revenge, or more likely die on the streets?”

There was his green light. Somehow Discord managed to avoid dooming himself.

“Not at all,” Discord said, “I said that I believe that he should be offered a chance like I was, and after you square away the whole, no traveling and no dark power thing I think that he should be put under a pony’s care and allowed to change.”

Luna spoke up, “You are saying that you would like him to be reformed, just as you were?”

“Thats not quite what I’m getting at here. I needed reformation and I got it. I believe that we should give Sombra here the chance at redemption.” Discord said

Celestia stared at Discord, looking as resolute as he ever had, and she began to think that maybe crazy fool was onto something; he was certainly more confident now than she was.

“Do the rulers of the Crystal Empire have anything to say at this point?” Celestia said looking to the others present.

Princess Cadence’s eyes shuffled from right to left trying to decide what to say. “... While I would prefer the harshest punishment available… I will not question the judgement of the rulers of Equestria.” Cadence spoke and shot a look to Shining Armor to shut down any comments he may have thought about adding in.

“I see,” Celestia said, “If that is the case then I propose that Discord be given his wish. Sombra will be watched and should he take any hostile action a more severe punishment will be enacted, however for the time Sombra will be banished from the Crystal Empire and cut off from his dark magic, though he will also be given his chance at redemption as Discord says.”

Sombra was absolutely flabbergasted. What had just happened? He somehow went from being blown to smithereens, to facing life imprisonment, to being given a chance at… redemption? If Sombra believed one thing he believed that whatever happened in the past, Discord should be considered the winner, because this world was clearly mad.

Celestia now addressed Discord, “We will begin arrangements to have his power sealed and have him transported as soon as possible. What exactly were you planning on when you said ‘put under the care of a pony’?

Now Discord smiled so wide it seemed it just might come off his face. “I am so glad that you asked that Sunbutt. Sombra needs somewhere to stay and somepony to watch him, and I think I know a very kind yellow mare that just might be able to help us…”

***********