Redemption: original

Chapter 7

Sombra sat in Stonewall's old tent as the moon rose high in the night sky, slightly illuminating the near empty tent. Everypony had left behind anything that was not absolutely necessary, and Sombra wasn't the type of stallion who would make his troop do something he didn't do as well. The only things inside the rather large tent were an easily taken apart table, a stool, and a small cot that was intended for a soldier. The lack of any furniture made the tent seem even larger and lonelier. Sombra looked over the map on the table again. He didn't want to believe what had been clearly marked; there was no way for the army to return to the Crystal Empire. When the battle had been won he ordered for a scouting party to search for a suitable route back to the Capital, what they found was that the Diamond Dog Armies had been far larger then anticipated. When the Empire had sent out its invasion force, so had the Diamond Dogs. The difference however was that the Diamond Dogs had sent a force of 50,000. The size of it was mind boggling. The Diamond Dogs had more soldiers in their army then there were citizens in the Capital. The Diamond Dogs had sent a token force to deal with Sombra's army, but the main force had moved past and blocked his withdrawal. He was behind enemy lines with a broken army a tenth of the enemy force with no chance of retreat. Sombra hit his head against the table, his curved horn making it easier for him to do so without getting his horn stuck. He heard the sound of the tent fabric door being opened by somepony and looked up. It turned out to be the orange and brown mare. She saluted him and sat at attention. This was going to take some time to get used to. "At ease....uh.... you never told me your name."

She lowered her salute and walked to the table. "It's Private Evening Ray, Sir."

"Well Evening Ray why have you come to me so late?"

"Sir, I'm here to give you the camp report. If you’re busy I can come back in the morning." Her face was completely emotionless and professional.

Sombra sighed he needed somepony to talk to and not be so devoid of emotion. "No, stay. Give me the report I ... I could also use your help in other matters."

"Very well sir." Evening Ray sat down next to the table, pulled out a scroll and placed it on the table. Sombra took the scroll and began to read its contents Evening Ray gave a summary of its contents even though Sombra hadn't asked her to. "After we made camp a head count was conducted. In total 4039 Soldiers are clear for combat, an additional 47 are wounded and being treated. The majority of our casualties came from the fifth legion with 567 believed dead, the next highest casualties was the first legion with 147, followed by the second legion with 102, the fourth legion with 98, and the third legion which had no reported casualties. Food supplies are in fair stock and should last us two month if-" Sombra had already read the document, he didn't need to be told the same thing twice and besides all that remained was the stocks of food, weapons and medical equipment.

"Thank you, Eve. Do you mind if I call you that?" She looked up at him surprised at just how informal he was being.

"No, sir. Eve is fine."

"Good, now also stop addressing me as sir. Just call me Sombra." Her jaw dropped at his words. It was almost as if he had insulted her mother or something of that nature. He didn't wait for her to respond and went straight to what was troubling him. "Yes I know I'm being informal and blah blah blah, but I'm going to be completely honest, I should not be leading this army."

She shook her head in a double take, her mind managing to process the 'Impossibilities' he was saying. "B-but si-Sombra, you're a hero!

That final word echoed in his head. 'Hero' nopony had ever thrown any such a title onto him. As a foal he had been 'freak' due to his horn's curved birth defect, when he left to be a smithy he was 'disappointment', when he had delved deeper into the dark arts between hammering plows into blades he was 'apprentice', when he left his shop in disarray and joined the guard shortly after his fathers death he was 'maggot'. Now he was 'hero'? It didn't feel right. "You can call me a hero as much you like, but that doesn't make me anymore fit to lead this army. I'm barely even a captain; I got the promotion simply because I got a good word in by Sergeant Slate Pie. I know nothing about how things are supposed to work, or anything. I'm just a smithy who joined the guard to prove to his father that he wasn't a disappointment... You on the other hand know much more then me, you're formal, which I cannot stand to be when I speak to somepony one on one, and you seem to know all the rules and regulations of command. Now why does a private no more about commanding an army then a captain, and why isn't she in charge?"

She starred at him blankly letting his words process in her mind. "Si- Sombra, you just lead a shattered army to victory. You led over a thousand soldiers into battle, within minutes of coming into command. You are more then worthy to command this army, and as to why I know so much. I was an assistant to General Stonewall, I helped him with many of his reports, and I practically memorized the rule book to make it easier for me to help him. I have no abilities in leadership; I couldn't lead a starving stallion to food much less an army." Sombra buried his muzzle in his hooves. He got his answer, but he didn't like how it thrust him back into command.

"... I keep thinking this is a dream... That any moment I'm going to wake up in the barracks back in the Empire... But that's not going to happen... I'm here, and this isn't a dream..." Sombra looked up at Eve. "Here I am responsible with the lives of four thousand eighty two guardponies. We are out numbered over ten to one, a fifth of our force has been killed in our first battle, we are behind enemy lines and I have to find someway to get everypony home..." Sombra looked back at the map covered in markers to represent enemy troops. It looked so hopeless.

"Sombra..." Eve moved close to him and placed a hoof on his shoulder. "I know this looks impossible... but if there is anypony who can lead us to victory, it's you. I'm going to help you run the army, and you just focus on leading this army to victory." She smiled warmly at him, and Sombra couldn't help but nod and smile back. "Now while we are here we might as well pick the new captains, and commanders. We have an entire command structure to rebuild, and troops from the fifth legion being moved everywhere." Sombra groaned at the prospect of the upcoming task but felt much better at the prospect of leading these ponies.

Sombra woke up slowly glad that the last dream did not send him back into consciousness with a pounding heart. He had barely slept at all. He had barely slept the last three nights and it was affecting him. He hoped that the dreams would stop, but that hope was draining fast. He sighed and got ready to leave in anticipation of going to Fluttershy's house, at least no crazy shenanigans would happen there.

"What do you mean you don't sing?!" Pinkie nearly shouted straight into his ear.

"I mean that. I. DON'T. SING." Sombra snarled at her, even walking to Fluttershy's cottage this mare was annoying.

"But singing is amazing. Whenever I don't know what to do, or I'm overloaded with thoughts, I sing. It always makes everything make sense and easier." Sombra didn't even look at her but he expected that she had a big smile on her face.

"Good for you. I'm still not singing." Sombra walked faster trying to get to Fluttershy's faster.

"Party pooper." He heard her stick her tongue out at him, but neither looked back nor responded. he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of a response.

They walked in silence for several minutes until suddenly Fluttershy's cottage appeared. He ran straight to her door and knocked, happy to finally be able to relax. Slowly the door opened and a male some what deep voice spoke. "Well if it isn't King Sombra." Standing in the doorway was the mismatched creature known as Discord. The Draconequus scooped Sombra up and gave the ex-king a big hug. "I'm so glad that you have joined the reformation train. I was getting lonely."

Sombra pushed and squirmed against Discord's grasp, but no matter how much he resisted he could not get away. "Unhand me you foul demon!"

Discord dropped Sombra and placed a claw on his heart looking insulted and sad. "Sombra that hurts, I thought we were buddies, pals even." a single tear was the cherry on top of his performance.

Sombra got up from being dropped from four feet in the air and glared at Discord. "We are not friends; in fact I want nothing to do with you. Now tell me, why are you even here!?!" Sombra was shooting daggers with his eyes and was on the verge of trying to kill the mad... thing.

"I'm here because Fluttershy is my good friend and she asked me to come show you what is like to be reformed." Discord smiled ear to ear while Sombra's eye twitched.

"I am in a bad mood Discord. Leave me alone. Because I swear if you try any funny business with me I will mur-" Sombra was interrupted by Discord shushing him with a finger across his mouth.

"Now Sombrero you know I can't understand you when you aren't speaking your native language." Sombra was completely confused by the mad jokester as Equish was his native language. Discord snapped his fingers and moved his other hand away from Sombra's mouth.

Sombra was completely confused by Discord's actions. "Que?!" Sombra's eyes went wide as the perfectly pronounced word rolled of his lips. Discord giggled loudly happy with the deed he had done. "Que hiciste con mi voz?!" No matter how hard Sombra tried to speak in Equish the other language came out instead.

Discord broke out in hysterical laughter. "I have done nothing to your voice Sombrero. Your words on the other hand not so much." Sombra readied himself to rip the god of chaos apart. "I must admit you sound pretty cool speaking Sponish." Sombra launched himself at Discord only for the trickster to dodge out of the way, so that instead Sombra slammed into a wall. "It's been fun Sombra but I must go. TA TA." With that Discord flew out the door and into the sky.

Sombra shouted after him. "Te voy a matar Discord!!" Sending Discord into yet another laughing fit.