Lock Light: The Second Son of Sombra

Chapter 6 - Lightning and Power

“But wait,” Twilight asked “how did you solve the problem on Sweet Apple Acres and also follow Applejack?”

“That was easy,” Lock Light said “I’d had contact with the Doctor by that time. Remember what I said about time and space? Well, it’s simple really. Through magic you can teleport and I can through science.”

“How did you feel about when Trenderhoof came to Ponyville then?”

“I knew enough about Applejack’s character by then that I knew she wouldn’t go for him,’ he said “and even if she did. It still wouldn’t deter me from helping out on the farm, even if it meant only helping out Granny Smith, and she needs all the help she can get. Let’s move on. We can’t let the others get ahead of us, I can feel that Lightning is close.”

“Tell me about him,” Twilight said.

“About who?”

“White Lightning.”

“Didn’t the Doc show you everything?”

“No,” Twilight said “he left a lot out. We ran out of time befor he showed us what you two did inside the castle.”

“Oh,” Lock Light said “that. It was a tournament, that’s all.”

“What happened?”

“I…”

Lock Light stopped talking, his head snapped upwards and his eyes glared in front of him.

“What is it?” Twilight asked.

“The Doctor’s calling,” he said. Then he dashed off, the sound of his hoofs reverberating from the rock walls “come! They’re in trouble!”

With that they sped off down the tunnels, coming to a large central chamber reminiscent of Tardis. The Doctor was there, as were Rarity and the others. They were surrounded by enormous bats with wing spans twice the size of normal ponies. They darted to and fro, clinging on the walls and hanging upside down. They screeched “Who dares enter the Court of King Sombra?”

Lock Light came to the tunnel atrium’s entrance and stopped. He knew these bats. They were ancient, their age stretched back centuries to the dawn of Equestria. He also knew them by name.

“Hasaliss,” he said “Captain Hasaliss! Where are you?”

The bats continued to swarm around them until one broke off and glided towards Lock Light landing on the ground in front of him. Twilight took two involuntary steps backwards. She didn’t like the way this bat looked. An eye patch covered one of his eyes, his skin was cracked and wrinkled. Where there were cracks, thin lines of blood constantly oozed onto his black wings. He crept up to Lock Light, his fangs barred. Then he reached out his left claw, and touched Lock Light’s face “I know your face,” he said.

“I know you do honored Captain of the Underworld,” Lock Light said.

“Your voice,” he stammered “but surely not…”

“Oh but it is my old friend,” Lock Light said coming a step closer.

“I thought you must surely be dead,” the bat said, tears swelling up in his eyes “after what happened in the halls above…”

“You know this thing?” Twilight asked.

“Yes I do,” Lock Light said “and a truer friend you couldn’t have or find below ground.”

“My prince,” the bat said “my captain, and my lord. Bats! Come! See! He has returned! The prophesies have come true! The prophets of our kind foretold this day would come, when the heir of the King would come to us again!”

“What in Equestria is he babbling on about?” Rarity asked.

The bats suddenly ignored them and swarmed on Lock Light but not our of malice. They all remembered him “My Lord Lock Light,” one said “forgive us, I beg of you. We knew not that you had graced us with your presence in these, our darkened halls.”

“Long has it been since I was here last,” Lock Light said smiling fondly and his voice suddenly changing. It became more regal and refined, not the pony which they had met earlier “it is not you who need my permission to enter into your dark realm my friends. For when I was but a lowly fugitive, and a prisoner in my own home, you took me in and fed me and gave me warmth. I have never forgotten such kindness.”

“My Lord,” another bat said “would you be so kind as too…”

“My Lord?” Rarity said her eyes getting wider “you can’t possibly be serious? A Lord? You are just an ordinary pegasus I thought.”

The bats hissed in distaste at Rarity’s tactlessness “Peace my good friends all,” Lock Light said, still in that strangely quiet yet regal sound “good Guardians of Darkness, my pony friends knew not much about my past. I am an enigma to them. But to you who know my true nature, remember to show courtesy to those who do not.”

“But Rarity’s right,” Twilight said “how can you be royalty? Your only a pegasus.”

“This is no ordinary pony,” the Doctor said “this is Lock Light. The Second Son of Sombra, and true heir to the Crystal Empire, proclaimed from the mouth of King Sombra himself at the Royal Tournament of Champions. Captain of the Resistance of Crystal Empire Ponies Against Sombra, Champion of the Crystal Empire!”

The bats kneeled and bowed their heads in respect. The girls stood there in shock.

“But only Alicorns can…” Twilight began.

“Be royalty?” Lock Light finished. He flicked his mane and a unicorn’s horn jutted out from his mountain of mane. They all gasped.

“How is it possible?” Rarity asked.

“The tournament,” Lock Light said “the Royal Tournament of Champions. What the Doctor didn’t show you was that both White Lightning and I competed there. He had to, he was Sombra’s Son. I chose to just to see how well I’d do. I beat out fifty other competitors. White Lightning defeated only forty nine. In the end we had to fight each other. I wore a mask because I didn’t want to be humiliated in case I didn’t fight too well. I didn’t expect to be in the final round. White Lightning and I fought like mad horses. We fought for nearly an hour or so the other Lords had said. In the end, I kicked him in the jaw and he lay there knocked out cold. Sombra flew down from his throne and berated me, asked me who I was who thought he could dare defy the line of Sombra. He ordered me to take of my mask. Though I didn’t want to, I had to, my king had commanded me. So I did. I remember the crowd gasping and King Sombra laughing in genuine humor ‘Well,’ I remember him saying ‘if it isn’t Saber’s Son. Unfortunately you couldn’t be one of mine. You were always the superior to my own flesh and blood. I wish I had you for a son.’ Then one of his advisors walked up to him and whispered something in his ear which I couldn’t hear. Then he exclaimed ‘Of course, I am king after all.’ I then felt a searing pain on my forehead. It was as if my very skull was being stretched and elongated. I was powerless. I couldn’t do anything. White Lightning woke up just as he saw me being turned into an Alicorn. ‘What?’ he said glaring icy daggers at me ‘he’s an Alicorn too? He can’t be! He’s just a common pony!’ ‘Not so,’ Sombra said ‘I am king here. My word is law.’ Then he faced the crowd ‘Hearken unto me noble mares and stallions of the Crystal Empire. From this day forth, I proclaim Lock Light, formerly known as the

Son of Foss Saber, Captain of my Advanced Guard to be named Lock Light the Second Son of Sombra and I proclaim him heir to my empire.’”

Lock Light paused for breath and then went on “White Lightning was furious with me after that. He refused to speak to me for years. He said that I used him, that I only was his friend so that I could impress his father enough. I destroyed his entire world. I knew that I was better at him then somethings but I didn’t realize how his father treated him. I found out later the hard way. Sombra constantly yelled and beat his son, calling him a coward, good for nothing, and lazy. He kept comparing myself to Lightning. He’s bitter towards me because not only in his mind did I take everything away from him, but I ruined his life. Though I was the Second Son, I was always first in the eyes of Sombra.”

“What did you do?” Fluttershy asked.

“After a year,” Lock Light continued “I snuck out. I couldn’t live there anymore. The guards searched and hunted for me. I was Sombra’s favorite, but I would never be a son of his. He made me his son through magic, but Foss married my mother and he loved her.”

They listened in silence as he went on. How he discovered the caverns below the castle. How he befriended the oppressed Guardians of Darkness. How he would free slaves and bring them down to the caverns to form the resistance. How he eventually raised an army and confronted Sombra in open warfare. How he nearly beat Sombra, but through his study of magic and the Elements of Harmony, he knew that he, Lock Light, couldn’t place the final blow because only the Princess’s Celestia and Luna could do so while unified and wielding them. He also told them of White Lightning’s escape from capture, even though he was well treated, and his turning to evil, following in the footsteps of his father, how he hunted Lock Light to every cave and corner across Equestria until he became a member of Princess Luna’s Advanced Guard.

“She remembered me from when we defeated King Sombra,” he said “this was before she became Nightmare Moon. I was second in command of her Advanced Guard and part of what we called the ‘Officer’s Cadre’ or a council of her most loyal and faithful officers. I felt more comfortable around her than Princess Celestia because of my past, and I also didn't receive as much prejudice from her guards as I did from Celestia's, so that's why I joined. But over the years, I saw that she became bitter and more resentful towards Princess Celestia. I myself an am amateur astronomer. But I was one of the few ponies who appreciated Princess Luna’s generosity and skill with governing the night. Slowly, she walked down more and more paths which led her deeper and deeper into true darkness. Then one day, she called a meeting of the Cadre. She explained to us her plan and it was at that moment that I knew, that that gentle, kind, and gracious pony, had turned to the wickedness and jealousy that was in her heart. She’d become what she had once helped me defeat.

“I fled her court. Once more, I was hunted to every corner in Equestria. I avoided Ponyville to keep your parents safe. I knew the good that you all would do for Equestria one day, more so than the Doctor and myself. I finally arrived in Canterlot where I announced myself to the Princess. She had also known me since I was a colt. Through her power magical, she was able to see the truth in all that I had said. Together, she, myself, and the Doctor banished Nightmare Moon and her guards to the Moon itself. The Doctor placed a special type of protection which locked the Nightmare Moon on the Moon…”

“It was simple really,” the Doctor said confidently “it was a powerful black hole powered self regenerating force field that completely surrounded the Moon in orbit. I designed it myself…”

“Until the Princess broke out,” Twilight interjected “there was a flaw in your plan.”

“Yes,” the Doctor said “well, not all plans are perfect. But it did work for a few bloody hundred years I could tell you.”

“It did Doctor,” Lock Light continued “the conditions for Nightmare’s release were set by Celestia herself. She knew that you all would play a key role in defeating Nightmare Moon. However, since she also saw that the Doctor and I worked so well together, she made us a team and tasked us with fighting all the evils which would beset Equestria both from Nightmare Moon and White Lightning.”

“So,” Twilight said “when you said earlier about communicating with each other. You knew all along?”

“Yes,” Lock Light said.

“And even earlier,” Rainbow Dash said “when you were helping Fluttershy out. The door was locked and you simply unlocked it using magic?”

“Yes.”

“And with the apples,” Applejack said “you made work get done faster than my whole family working together with magic?”

“Yes.”

“And my chores?” Rarity asked.

“Yes.”

“And the cleaning? And the other helpful things you did around Ponyville?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Yes.”

“I just have one more question,” Twilight asked “you didn’t teleport with the Doctor didn’t you. You could use magic, just like in the tunnels right?”

He nodded.

“That makes total sense!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. They all turned to her.

“Huh?” Spike asked.

“Twilight,” she continued “you remember yourself that only someone with magic could have done all of those things for every pony every night right? Well doesn’t it stand to obvious reason and logic that it would be either a unicorn or Alicorn?”

“Yes,” Twilight said “but I don’t remember…”

Pinkie Pie cut her off “and Applejack, you knew that whoever pony was helping you also had to have magic right?”

“Well,” she said “like Twilight I don’t exactly…”

“And Rarity,” Pinkie went on “you remember…”

“Yes darling,” Rarity said “we get the picture finally. Everything’s coming together. You don’t have to get all excited about it. It makes perfectly rational sense.”

“Right!” Pinkie Pie said “so now what I understand is why he had to say anything?”

“My lord,” one of the bats said tugging at Lock Light’s leg “does this one annoy you with her incessant babbling?”

“No good friend,” he neighed “she’s asking out of pure curiosity. Captain Hasaliss, could you show us where the old throne room is?”

“Yes, my lord,” he said hissing softly “we’ll glide in front of you. We’ll guide you with our voices in the dark.”

“We need to hurry,” Lock Light said “Doctor, you need to guard the girls. I’ll go on ahead, this is my fight.”

The Doctor nodded and Lock Light turned to face Captain Hasaliss “Captain,” he said “you need to leave one of your own here to help the others follow us.”

“We’ll provide them an escort my Lord,” said Hasaliss “Cassalis, you will stay behind.”

“But Captain,” Cassalis started in protest “I wish to fight and die beside you and his lordship.”

“There will be a time for that,” Hasaliss hissed “for now you must stay behind. You are my most trusted Lieutenant. The others would be lost without us to guide them. The remainder of you will stay with me and provide safe passage of the Sssson of Ssombra.”

With that, they sped off down the tunnel, the bats flying above and using their echo location to see in the dark. The girls, the Doctor, and Cassalis, stood there for several moments “We mussst move,” he said gesturing to them “I, like my brothers in front of you, will glide in front to show you the safest routes through the dark caverns and tunnels of our world.”

“Excuse me Cassalis,” Twilight asked “how do you know Lock Light?”

“He was a young colt,” Cassalis said “as he said, and it is true. He was hunted by Sssombra, and his guards. Tired, weak, and barely able to stand, he crawled into our caves and laid down as if to die. But we recognized him. We knew who he wasss. I was the one who discovered his shape in the shadows.”

“Why did he want to run away if he had life so good with King Sombra?”

“Do you really thhhink that?” Cassalis said as he soundlessly flew in the eternal night of the cavernous tunnels “Even as Ssombra’s Son, he had life pretty bad. His name, wasss, a mere title, White Lightning was through blood. He was constantly harassed by hisss new and jealous brother. Though White Lightning wasss older, Lock Light was more favored in the eyes of their father. We could hear the tantrums and rages of Sombra, even down here in the dark from the halls above. Lock Light left because he only wanted to be the pony hisss true father wanted him to become, and not a wizard’s student. Lock Light became an Alicorn through force, not desire. It was thrussst upon him as he said. We all knew, we the servants of the Empire. Ssso, we all secretly did that which we could to help the poor creature. We knew of his generosity, of hisss compassion, of hisss kindness towards all creatures and lack of segregation. He accepted all who came to him and who wished to be with him. Secretly, we all wanted him to ascend to the throne instead of White Lightning anyway, and I thhhink Ssombra knew that, which is another reason why he made Lock Light an heir to the throne.”

“How about yourself? How come you live down here?”

“We are a forgotten people,” Cassalis said “our function was to serve King Sombra. He created us in the chambers where we are going to now. Thisss is our home. We guarded the caverns which he forced slaves to work, preventing their escape from the tunnels of our deep realm. We are an abomination in the eyes of your princess and therefore, we only hearken to Princess Luna, should she grace us with her presssence. But even she finds us repulssssive, and now even she the Lady of the Night, won’t visit her most loyal subjects. We are a very lonely people.”

Twilight felt sad for the bats, she looked at Fluttershy she also had concern on her face. Piping up she asked “Are there any more of you down here?”

“We are the lassst of our kin,” Cassalis explained “we were born through mutation and genetic alteration. We cannot breed but we are spawned from the Demon Pit of Karakhum. That is where we are headed now. All that is needed is a single piece from our bodies to spawn. It is a great sacrifice for it is painful to tear into your own flesh, but it is needed to produce another. We are a weak people, though once we were strong. Once we swarmed and there were many, many in the caverns below. But it was our war with the Changlings which brought an end to our race. They used our love for each other and our love for our people againssst us. Their queen took over this Kingdom, making it a stinking place where rats freely roam and there are no sounds of laughter or of song.”

“Why do you think Lock Light didn’t tell us earlier that he was royalty?”

“Would you have treated him any different?” Cassalis retorted “he is not like every other noble pony who you come across. Have you ever met royalty before?”

“Yes,” Rarity said “and the only thing royal about them is that they are a royal pain!”

“Indeed,” Cassalis said giving a hissing chuckle “ssso we thought alssso. But Lock Light wouldn’t have told you if we hadn’t forced his hand. Our Captain blew his secret, and so he had to tell you. Otherwise, he would have continued without letting you know. It is a secret which he has kept for many years and one he isn’t proud of.”

“But he couldn’t help it,” Applejack said “he didn’t want to become Sombra’s son. I mean he ain’t that type of pony, at least from what I can see. He ain’t evil, and he’s thoughtful too.”

“Indeed,” Cassalis said “we joined his resistance when he formed it here in the caverns below the castle. We were given the charge to protect the tunnel’s entrances both by day and by night. The guards wouldn’t dare enter while we still were here. The Changelings, though dominant, were on another portion of the caves. So we were free to move within our own half, at least, those of us who remained.”

They suddenly came to a second large chamber. This one lit with bright red torches. Blue light danced as if reflecting water from a large pit in front of them. Lock Light stood there, his eyes shifting around, the bats surrounding him protectively. The girls, the Doctor and Cassalis came in. Lock Light spun around “Girls,” he shouted “don’t…”

The door slammed shut behind them. Rainbow Dash tried slamming against it but stopped as soon as the pit in front of them erupted them in white fire. A face appeared before them. It seemed tattooed in jagged white scars on a black face with dark blue eyes and a white mane. The face laughed maniacally.

“So,” the voice said “after all these years, we’re finally together again, aren’t we, brother.”