Darkness Remains

The princesses and their company left the train station and was met up by a dozen guards and in the middle of the gathering of armored ponies stood the two regents of the empire.

Forgetting everything she knew about proper etiquette and how to behave with other royalties, Twilight simply couldn't hold back the urge as she dashed forward to her brother and sister-in-law. Cadence met her halfway and together they performed their little dance which Cadence had taught her when she was just a filly. With perfect synchronization in their movements and tone they sang: “Sunshine sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake”.

The guards looked at each other in confusion at the childish act.

As soon as the little routine was over and done with they properly exchanged courtesies and they were on their way to the castle in the center of the city. Twilight became ever so slightly frightened when suddenly the royal guards moved themselves to stand as a circular wall around her. She turned her head to see through the small gaps between the guards that Luna's bat-ponies and Celestia's guards did the same to them. “What is going on” Twilight asked.

“Be at ease, Twilight Sparkle” Spoke Luna. “The guards are merely taking the necessary precautions to handle our current predicament”

Twilight nodded but still felt uncomfortable as they made their way towards the castle. Once inside they walked into the throne room, dismissed the guards and began their meeting.

“Cadence, are you certain that King Sombra has returned” Celestia asked.

She nodded. “There are no doubts in my mind. We have the testimony of his presence by his loyalists and we have seen the monster with our very own eyes. Sombra is back and he is now more dangerous than ever before”

“W-What a-are we supposed to do” Fluttershy asked, timid as ever.

“First we will interrogate Silver Lining to find out what he knows about Sombra's plans. Afterwards we will take necessary precautions to make sure that Sombra's plan does not come to fruition. Whatever is about to happen it is happening today and I would expect soon”

“Wait, Silver Lining” Luna questioned. “Isn't he your advisor and accountant”

“Was would probably be more accurate. He turned out to be a traitor that was working together with Sombra to bring us down. He is currently down in the prisons/mines until further notice”

“What makes you so sure that he will attack today” Twilight asked. “Couldn't he just wait for a while and hope for a better opening”

“We do not think so. Before we had the chance to capture him, he said something that made us believe that he has the very specific plan to take Shining Armor out on this day”

“What did he say” Applejack asked.

Shining Armor quoted the dark stallions words impeccably well. But where as the words seemed to fill Shining with nothing short of dread, the other ponies just seemed confused.

“...pit below, such as he had promised” Twilight repeated to herself. “That doesn't even sound remotely sensible”

“No, but it sounds awesome” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Twilight glared angrily at her cyan friend before going back to her thoughts. “The legion and the lesser evils must be the nobles and farmers he has killed. The Rat must be you Shining Armor. But this sounds very much like a quote. Does anypony know where it is from”

Everypony shook their head. “Why would that be important anyway”

“If he is indeed imitating something from a book or something then we might get a clue as to what his next move will be. If I could find the book-”

Celestia interrupted Twilight in mid-sentence. “No, Twilight. I fear that there is no time for you to search through the endless collection to find it. We must find Sombra and deal with him immediately”

Twilight gave a firm nod in understanding.

“If there is nothing else to say, lets retire for now while our guards press Silver Lining for more information. We will call for you all again once we have heard something of use” Said Shining Armor.

The guards was allowed in again and they escorted the element wearers to their room and as well as the princesses. But Luna stayed behind as she wanted to bring up a question to the two crystal royalties before she took off.

“Pardon me, Cadence and Shining Armor, but I would like to make a small request”

“And what would that be” Cadence asked her aunt sweetly.

“I would like to request permission to be there during the interrogation of Silver Lining. If he knows something about Sombra then I would like to personally be there”

“I don't see what purpose it would serve since we will get the information he has anyhow. But if it makes you feel at ease then of course you may. A guard will escort you there right away” Said Shining.

“Thank you. I will return when I have learned something new” Said Luna and trotted off, with a group of four guards accompanying her.

Once arriving at the cell in which they held the prisoner Luna found the prisoner in the middle of interrogation. “You are not leaving this cell until you have told us what we want to hear” shouted an orange pegasus guard. “So let's try this again. Where is Sombra and how long have you known about him”

Silver Lining remained silent and stared down at his chained hooves.

The pegasus sighed. “Listen, if you are afraid then you do not have to worry. Just give us the information required to bring him in and we will protect you from him, that I swear”

“I do not fear Sombra, nor do I doubt your word, sir guard. What I fear is that you will fail to fulfill your duties against that which is coming for me if I say as much as a word”

The guard was about to press matters further until Luna halted him. “You may leave” She commanded the guards who left her alone with the prisoner. Uncertain of what he would be capable of she remained on the other side of the bars and starred the pony down.

“Why did you do it” she asked.

Silver lining looked up at her. “Because Shining Armor is unfit to be considered anything close to a prince in our kingdom”

“Why is he unfit? Has he not proved his capability as a leader”

Silver Lining let out a small chuckle. “Yes he has. He is an excellent captain, he has shown an understanding of the political game and how to make the people happy. By all means, I should be happy with him. There is just one thing in the way for him to be a perfect prince”

“And that is”

“His heritage. He is not of noble blood”

Luna just lost every single drop of concern and pity she felt for the old stallion. “That is it? That is your reason” she spat.

He shook his head. “I don't expect you to understand. The bloodline is already tainted. It must be purified with noble blood”

“Why is that so important and how is it tainted”

He was about to answer but then quickly shut his mouth, regretting whatever he was about to say. “It does not matter. Soon the day is over and his plans will be for nothing”

“What do you mean”

“He was intent on making the kill today or not at all”

“Is it about that seven days thing? Where is that from anyway”

He looked hesitant to answer. As if speaking the words would set his fur on fire. “It... It is from the Kirlan, our holy scriptures. It speaks of how God fought the ultimate evil, The Rat, and its armies”

“God? Sombra believes in a god”

“That he did. But moving on, it does not matter that you are here princess, I will not say one word... I dare not”

“But we can protect you from him. Just tell us where he is and we can capture him all while you'll be protected and safe”

“I already told them, your guards cannot stop him from getting to me”

She did her best to appear even taller than she was and it seemed to have the desired effect on the pony. “Who said anything about guards”

Silver Lining stared at her for a moment with wide eyes and then turned away, mumbling something to himself. After a few minutes of silent mumbling he turned back to the princess and said: “Yes. Yes, that might work. With you and your Sister protecting me, not even Sombra would dare to confront me. Princess, if you can guarantee my protection then I will give you everything I know about him and how you can find him”

“Excellent. So where can we find him”

“That is a bit of an issue. I have no idea where he is hiding, but I know how to bring him out” he said with hope growing in his chest.

“Very well, how do we bring him out”

He leaned in close to the bars. “When you are all alone, just speak the words...” He waved her closer. She leaned into him until her ear was right beside his muzzle. Quietly he whispered the words in her ear. Her eyes grew wide as he spoke the incantation. So it was him! She thought to herself.

She retracted her head and ordered the guards back. “Escort Silver Lining to my sister. Tell her that she must keep him from harm at all cost”

They saluted her and without a word said they did as she had commanded them.

She returned to her own assigned room and carefully made sure that she was all alone. What if he attacks? She thought. “Well if he does then I am certain that I should be able to hold him off long enough for me to receive reinforcements” she told herself.

She took a deep breath and then said: “What's that in the mirror or the corner of my eye? What's that hoof step following, never passing by. Perhaps it's just waiting, perhaps when we are all but dead. Out it'll come a slithering, form underneath my bed. Its you. Its always you”

Suddenly the air became cold as ice, frost spreading across the windows and crystalline walls and all candlelight died out. She heard a growling sound from the spot where her bed stood and from beneath it crept the smoke-like shadows out. And slowly took form. “You summoned the wolf” asked the smoke-fiend.

Soon there was a pony standing before her. He was shrouded by the darkness in the room and she could not make out the details about the pony. But there was one feature which she could never mistake. The eyes. The green where the whites should be, the red irises and the slitted pupils and the dark magic radiating from them like purple flames.

“We have much to discuss, Sombra” said Luna

“Indeed we do, princess” said a voice that awakened something within her. A memory since ages past. A memory she could not for the life of her recall at the moment. “But if you intend to waste my time with talk, then you may at least use my proper name”

Luna scoffed, shoving her earlier thought away from her and to the back of her mind. “Then what, pray tell, sort of name do you go by now then”

“The same name as I have always had. My name is-”

Almost two hour has passed since Luna went on her way to the prison where they held Silver Lining and Luna had now summoned everypony back to the throne room to reveal what she has found out. Celestia was last to arrive to the room and behind her skulked a Silver Lining trembling like an autumn leaf. Shining Armor shot him a glare that could have made anypony fear for their own wellbeing. But Silver paid him no mind, instead he spent all his time looking in every direction in search for any possible threat. While Shining Armor felt nothing of a kind nature towards the aged pony he still understood what he was going through.

“Luna, dear sister, I hope that you have found something of use? Considering the situation” She asked sweetly while gesturing towards the covering pony behind her.

“Indeed I have, sister of mine, and I may even have found a solution to our dilemma”

“Is that so” Celestia asked. “What sort of solution is that”

Everypony gathered closer to hear what Luna had to say. But before she was able to say as much as a word to any of them the doors flew open with with a mighty slam that sent cracks in the walls. And from the entrance stood a pony foreign to all of them except for two. Rarity's and Twilight's jaws hit the floor as they saw who it was.

“Mares and Gentlecolts, may I introduce to you our “Sombra”, the assassin Frigidos”

The violet pegasus walked towards them in a very calm and regal manner. The air seemed to freeze around him and everything positive in the room was slowly being drained away.

Beyond what the two ponies noticed about him the last time there was a few new details about him. Instead of the old blue-purple night guard armor he was now clothed in red scales, a royal blue version of the cape that Sombra wore but with an additional hood. Leather bracers around his front hooves. And the final three most striking features: Eyes like those of Sombra, ice blue glowing tattoos covering his face and every bare surface of his body and finally, the front row of sharp teeth as he flashed them all a toothy grin.

In many ways he resembled Sombra and it stood as no wonder as to how they had confused the two of them.

“F-Frigidos” Rarity asked hesitantly.

Luna looked between the two of them. “Do you two know each other” Luna asked.

Twilight beat Rarity to the answer. “He was on the train with us! He posed as one of your guards”

“HE WHAT” Exclaimed the gathering of ponies.

“Heh, well, I never really kept that a secret, now did I? I even confessed to you Rarity that I was simply acting the role of lieutenant” said Frigidos.

Before anypony had the chance to reply they heard the drawing of a sword. They turned around and saw Shining Armor holding a sword in his magic and charging forward.

“Shining Armor, Cease!” Luna commanded but he paid her no mind. Before him stood the one that had tormented him the past week and the very one who had killed six ponies in his kingdom, farmers and nobles alike. He was not about to let him go now that he stood so plainly in sight. Frigidos grinned and took battle position. He too charged forward, intending to meet him in combat. Shining Armor dealt a quick cut in neck height with the full intent of decapitating the fiend. But Frigidos was faster than what Shining Armor was with the sword. He easily dodged the swing of the blade and just as quickly delivered a powerful uppercut sending Shining reeling back. Frigidos took the opening to deliver a quick flurry of punches and kicks to Armor's whole frame.

Shining Armor laid on the floor writhing in pain. Cadence rushed to his side without a word and started tending to him while sparing Frigidos a glare.

Frigidos sighed. “You are so ungrateful, your highness. Do you even realize how easy it would have been for me to finish you off there and then? And after all the effort Luna went through to save your miserable little life. All I would have had to do was bring this out-” he said and flicked his hoof, sending a hidden blade up which he grabbed in his malleable hoof. “-and all would have been over”

“Frigidos! We agreed that nopony would come to harm” Exclaimed Luna.

“Well i'm sorry, but I can't be blamed when somepony attacks first. Besides, it's not like he has received any substantial damage” Frigidos defended. As they argued, Shining Armor was slowly getting back up on his hooves, groaning by the effort. “See? He is fine! So moving on from one subject to another, Luna said that you had a job for me”

The ponies in the room shot angry glares at Luna, except for Celestia who seemed to be in deep thought. “Luna, may I share a word with you” Celestia said. Luna nodded and walked with her sister into another corner of the room.

With their leave the room was drowned in an awkward silence. Everypony exchanged glares and confused looks and Silver was trying to hide behind the thrones, all while keeping an eye on Frigidos and Twilight stood stoically in front of Spike, trying to keep him away. Frigidos noted how very similar she appeared like how a mother protects her young. He smiled at the thought which either confused or scared the other ponies.

“So, am I to assume that I am in the same room with the elements of harmony” Frigidos asked. The Six ponies grouped together, as if their unity could protect them even without the elements. In a mocking tone he then proceeded to bow and say: “I am humbled by your presence”

“Enough of your games, Frigidos! What do you want from us” Cadence exclaimed.

He shrugged. “The same thing I want from all my contracts. I want money. Plain and simple. It's what I wanted from Silver Lining, it's what I want from you as well”

Shining spared Silver Lining a look before asking Frigidos: “How much did he offer”

“700 000 bits. You would have been my most valuable target ever”

“700 000. Is that the worth of a life to you” Twilight asked in disgust.

He shook his head. “Absolutely not, a life can not be measured by mere coin. Not even all the coin in the world could justify the taking of his life”

The other ponies stood stunned. Did they just hear that right? “Did you just say that his murder would not have been justified”

“Indeed I did. There is no just reason to claim a life for the sake of wealth or any form of personal gain”

“Frigidos” spoke a kind and motherly voice. Everypony turned their heads towards Celestia and Luna who had returned to the rest of the gathering. “We have a mission for you”

“Excellent, what is to be my task” he asked with enthusiasm.

“We ask that you accompany princess twilight and her friends back to Ponyville and remain there until further notice”

The ponies were about to protest but Frigidos beat them to it. “What?! I came here to do a job, not to take a vacation. You better have a good reason for this. Or better, good payment”

“There is. You will receive a monthly income of 500 000 bits in exchange for your service. And should we ever need you to do us a favor, you will answer the call” said Luna.

Every jaw hit the floor at the mention of his income. “Celestia, with all due respect, that is too much” Twilight protested.

“Not for us” Celestia countered. “So what do you say, Frigidos? Do we have a deal”

Frigidos recomposed himself and took a small bow. “I am at your service” he said but something told them that he was not exactly fully pleased with the outcome of this.

“Good, then you may remove yourself and retire to your room”. Luna called for some of her night guard to escort him to his quarters.

Cadance kept her smile up until Frigidos had left out of sight.

“Celestia, Luna, my dear aunts. Just one little question” she asked. Celestia and Luna nodded. “ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE?!”

“Listen my little ponies, this pony is special. A pegasus with magic, that is unheard of. If he has powers anywhere near Sombra's range of abilities then Equestria would benefit vastly from his cooperation. So I have an additional mission for you as well. Like with Discord, it will be your duty to reform him. Get to know him, be his friends and make him turn away from the path he is walking. And you will have the Elements of Harmony at your disposal to use depending on how badly it goes”

The discussion went back and forth for almost an hour before the mane six finally gave in and agreed to the task. “Wonderful. Tomorrow we shall return to Equestria and begin the reformation of Frigidos”

In the dark and dank mines was Melon Harvest with his family, telling them how they will soon leave the mines.

“I swear, I convinced the prince and princess to get us out of here, soon we can live on the surface again, in a proper house and fresh air” Said Melon Harvest.

“How did you manage to accomplish that? What could you possibly have offered them in return for our release”

“Information” said a venom dripping voice.

Melon Harvest spun around and Saw Frigidos standing before him. “L-Lord Frigidos. I-I didn't know you were here”

“I wasn't. But something you said brought me here. You believed me to be Sombra, if I recall”

“That was you” Asked Harvest's wife and daughter.

“Indeed. And perhaps you would like to know how they found me to begin with”

Harvest's wife and daughter turned their gaze towards him. “I-I can explain” he said.

“He sold me out so that you could get out of here. He betrayed me, and what's worse, since you believed I was Sombra that means he betrayed him as well”

“Sir, please”

“So I think you will understand when I say that your husband and your father has grown too unreliable to be of further service” he spoke and slowly approached Melon Harvest who backed up until he came in contact with hard compact stone. He was trapped.

“My lord, please understand, I was only looking out for my family”

“Oh I understand. I understand completely. I understand that your own comfort was more valuable than your loyalty”

Melon Harvest was stumped. He looked towards his family for assistance. All he could see was angry stares that screamed that he was getting what he deserved.

“At least your family knows where their loyalties lies”

“My lord, forgive me! I didn't see beyond my own desires. I am but a pony. A weak but humble servant. Please forgive me” He begged on the edge of tears and moved to his knees.

Nothing happened for a good while. Soon Melon Harvest looked up and saw that Frigidos extended his hoof towards him. Hesitantly he took his hoof and was pulled back up. “You are forgiven my friend. By me and by god” he said and embraced Melon Harvest. Melon hugged him back and when they let go of each other he and Frigidos share a smile. Frigidos turned around and made his way out.

Suddenly Harvest's skin felt as if it was set ablaze. His muscles tensed up and he started choking on the air. He heard a faint sound over his gasps. A small croak.

A tiny multi colored frog jumped on his muzzle and gave a final croak before disappearing in a puff of smoke.

“So join him in paradise” was the final thing Harvest heard before he was claimed by death's cold embrace.