Tomb of Magic

When I woke up, the sun was shining on the mountains and hills of Equestria, and Sombra was staring blankly at me as I hoisted myself right side up.

"Good morning?" I offered.

"How do you sleep like that?"

He must have caught a glimpse of his reflection in the window, because he smoothed his ragged mane a bit so it didn't look quite as ruffled.

"Were you watching me sleep?" I asked, extremely creeped out.

He reeled back in what seemed to be suppressed anger.

"NO! I was waiting for you to wake up, there is a difference."

Creep.

"Okay well I'm awake now."

You're a creep Sombra. An awful horrid creep. I hope he didn't do this to Cadance.

He cleared his throat very loudly.

"Listen Purple Eyesore, I got your message..."

And is he here to apologize? I sat up a bit straighter.

"...and I came up with the solution."

I wilted at this and watched as he gestured to the table on the opposite side of the car where a disturbing amount of bottles were strewn on the floor. What struck me as strange was not how I didn't notice this immediately but that the cup on the table was filled with the most unholy looking concoction of liquid I had ever laid eyes on...

By Luna and Celestia and all of Equestria....

Sombra rolled his eyes. "Yes, I was going to get to that if you were patient."

"What exactly do-"

"Quiet. Now. I'm talking. How does anypony ever put up with you?"

I wonder the same about you.

Better let him blowhard on I guess, though hopefully I can find out what he plans to do with that...potion.

"Since according to the letter and other objects you have that I looked through when you weren't paying attention-"

He did not...

"-Celestia wants me to teach you these runes..."

He magically grabbed the book from my bag and dangled it in front of my face.

"...and since neither of us can seem to, ah, cooperate, I decided to make this."

His magic aura enveloped the strange drink for emphasis.

"Which is what?"

He sighed and grumbled something to himself.

"This is a combination of measured liquids from that car containing food...because you just had to have a passenger train...that based on the contents should make the drinker very drowsy and slow their reactions. It also might make you throw up."

"What?! Are you saying you want me to drink that?"

"Yes."

"Why can't it be you? Why does this need to be ingested by anyone in the first place?"

His expression went from unamused to annoyed.

"Disoriented teachers don't function for one, two I need a student I can put up with if I am to teach you anything, three I'm the last pony in the world you would ever want to see after they consume this."

"But that still doesn't excuse-"

His 'I'm fed up with this' expression softened and changed, but not exactly in a way helpful to my situation. Instead he now looked like his normal scheming, cocky, unamused self.

"You know you are completely lost without me."

"And why is that?"

"Because I know exactly where Starswirl the Bearded's refuge is."

That did it. I stood up and walked across the car, smashing my hat onto my head.

Hopefully this will end well...

"Any day now, Purple Eyesore."

...or at least not as messily as I'm anticipating it to be.

I drank it.

...

Hic.

Sweet Celestia, Matron of Equestria, what did he put in this?

My stomach feels like a hamster wheel filled with rocks, my throat is on fire, I can no longer feel my eyes, and my ears can taste the flavor pineapple.

"Purple Eyesore, I am not over there. Focus on the paper." said Sombra, who was sitting across from me.

"Wh-a-at did you put in this?"

"Dish soap and some other stuff, that's not important."

"That's poisonous! How much did you put in?"

"Only enough to make you sick but if you want me to kill you I can do that later."

I stared down at the paper in front of me.

"Now this rune here...wait, do you remember anything I just told?"

Hic.

"I feel dizzy."

He frowned.

"Maybe making you drink that was a bad idea, this is starting to become inconvenient."

Hic.

Ugh, I really do feel like I'm going to puke. I don't even know any spells to reverse this.

"Do you learn well through lecture?"

I nodded.

"Okay now drink this, it will reverse the effects of the other potion, if one can call it that."

His horn lit up and a mug appeared, filled with a substance that looked like mashed bananas and smelled like crayons. I pulled it close and began to slowly drink it, like one would cocoa by a hearth.

  "These runes are an ancient alphabet of a language, one that I am not sure is spoken anymore in your present time. Its original speakers are unknown as it can only be traced back to the Unicorn Court in the time of the three tribes. Arcane magic is heavily complicated and requires years of study. This pony magic can be performed by any kind of pony, since some aspects require only runes an incantation and a power surge. Although it is most potent when wielded by unicorns and was for years considered a unicorn magic only, like most arcane arts at the time. The only other species known to wield it well are Alicorns...and the lesser alicorns as well, but we didn't exactly have...I digress. This magic is mostly limited to traps, curses, summoning, combat, scrying, and enchanting. Charms are also possible. I am one of the few ponies that can perform this kind of magic."

I sipped my drink further as I listened to this, my mind had cleared at least, and my stomach had quieted.

"Sombra?"

He snapped back from whatever vision of the past he was thinking of.

"Yes?"

"Could you show me an example?"

He nodded and grabbed his sword. Quickly he traced an outline on the ground until an intricate glowing circle appeared.

"Now Purple Eyesore, an Arcane Master doesn't have to use an incantation. And an Arcane...Demigod? Okay, I can't quite think of a proper term, but somepony at this status would have both extreme knowledge and power, enough to summon circles, runes, and everything else from memory or via power surge."

I stepped closer to the circle.

"Write that rune I taught you inside the circle."

He passed his sword to me. Shakily, I began to trace out the symbol in wobbly lines. A wide triangle with a cross, like that on an ambulance, on the bottom.

"See this?" Sombra asked showing me a small piece of torn notebook paper with some of these peculiar runes on it.

I slowly nodded, curious to where this was heading.

"Now throw it in the circle."

With my magic I gingerly grasped the paper eyeing Sombra's writing: legible but scratchy, which was impressive, considering he wrote with a pen in his mouth instead of using magic to hold writing utensils.

As the paper landed in the circle I watched the glow change from its normal white to green, then to blue, then to orange, and so on.

"Wow..."

"That was nothing," Sombra said. "The rune you drew in the circle is found in ninety percent of spells in Arcane magic. Literally transcribed into other alphabets it means 'six'."

Six. Six Elements of Harmony. Magic is the Sixth, The Spark. That's why its so useful.

"So every time I write that it activates a spell?"

"It activates most."

"So if you can use magic why do you write with your mouth?"

He turned toward me, eyes flashing with wrath.

How did I do something wrong...? How was that a bad question...?

"Don't ever ask me that again, lesson over," He snarled and stormed into the sleeper car.

Why was this pony so sensitive?

The so called 'drowsy' potion must have not had its effects completely reversed, because I fainted.

...

Sombra was the most dysfunctionally anti-social pony I knew. My lessons continued in an even more austere an distant way. As long as I asked him no questions I was allowed to 'learn' this difficult new subject despite its general familiarity of being magic. This lack of being able ask questions has led me to do most of my studying on my own.

Two good things came out of this: he kept 'Phobos' in its sheath and I did not have to down any more strange beverages. Other than that, we still had a way to go before we ended up in the Crystal Empire.

I enjoyed walking around the train which definitely had a long route, considering the large amounts of stops it had and it also contained tour groups. No other ponies talked to me much outside of a friendly 'hello'. I was still nervous and slightly ashamed of what I did back in Appleloosa Territory and wondered if I was marked as 'Missing' in Ponyville or if Applejack wondered where I went or...

Deep breaths, Twilight Sparkle, deep breaths.

This regret may explain if I acquired a temporary reclusive attitude.

I began to keep a journal, which was no more than some tied parchment under one of the chair cushions.

Today's entry:

Only five more days until I see Cadance and Shining Armor. Though I wonder if he is in Canterlot so his broken leg can be checked out again. Last I heard it was getting better. My rune progress is coming along well. I can't wait to talk to Cadance. Not only will it be nice to talk to a sister but I can ask her if Sombra tried to poison her as well. Maybe he was the one that gave her the faint scar on her wing. I bet its gone now, last time I saw her it was barely even visible. That made hardly even worthy of the name scar.

Though, regarding Sombra, I swear that evil pony is just waiting to skin me. Princess Celestia said she trusted him to protect me but how can he do that if he can't even shield me from his own temper?! He is clearly paranoid, out of his mind, unable to reply in a socially acceptable manner to simple questions. All he is is some mindless sadist who has read a bit about magic. I'll have to watch him to see if he does any more strange things.

T.S.

My entries continued in this manner for about two days before I felt the need to add some more of Sombra's mannerisms: a twitch in his left eye, and a lack of diurnal behaviors. I don't think he does anything but sleep during the day.

As we neared the Empire, I began to write less and less and instead devoted my time to my solitary lessons, as frustrating as they were.

Curiously, on the day before we arrived in the Empire, I actually got a chance to sleep in the bunk car instead of on the chair. Why Sombra let me I don't know.

At least my back doesn't hurt as much anymore.

...

When I woke up, it was to a bell announcing the train's arrival. I gathered up my things and burst into the common car where a few days before I had seen a circle glow.

Sombra, and all traces of him were gone.

Guessing he woke up early, I flipped up the special chair cushion to get my journal.

It was gone.

Frantically I checked the other chairs in the car before running outside.

...

"Where is Cadance? Is my brother here?" I panted. Cadance was supposed to meet me by the Heart Square, which is where I was. A Crystal guard stood where my sister-in-law should be.

"Your brother is not here, Princess," said the guard, "I have been sent to tell you that when you arrived you should head up to the meeting room closest to the throne room."

I nodded my thanks and rushed up to the throne room, taking a few turns before coming to the door of said meeting room.

Why was it closed?