Chapters Cadence strolled the halls of her Castle towards he throne room one sunny day in the Crystal Kingdom. Once she approached the doors, she ordered those standing guard to not let a single pony through. One she entered her throne room, she made sure that the doors were secure and the windows, shut. After looking at the floor, her horn started to glow a mixture of black, purple, and green. She was using the most forbidden magic of all: Dark Magic. The floor in front of her shook and parted to reveal a hidden staircase that descended into darkness. She used her horn to illuminate the path ahead of her and began her descent. With every step, it echoed. As she neared the base of the stairwell, she saw a door with a diamond above it. Using her magic, she opened the door and inside was another staircase. I really need to get rid of all of these stairs. she groaned in her head. Instead of climbing regularly, she decided to go upside-down and use the angle of the stairs to slide towards her destination.
As she reached the top, she reverted herself and looked about the room. There were a rather small hoof-full, about five to six to be exact, making sure that the windows were completely shut. "Has she arrived?" Cadence questioned one of the ponies.
"I'm right here, Cadence." a pony announced from near the staircase. "And I still think this won't work."
"That's what you said about Discord, Twilight." Cadence noted.
"But this is the embodiment of hate and rage we're talking about, Cadence." Twilight retorted. "I think reforming him will end up back-firing on us."
"That's why our operation here will be moved to the Everfree where he won't be able to reach anywhere populated." Cadence announced.
"That's why you told me to make sure there's a secure area there."
"Exactly." Cadence nodded. "Now this sort of teleportation will do a number on us. We need to be careful."
"Agreed." Twilight nodded.
Cadence walked to the center of the room where a dark purple fabric covered the one thing that tried to take her kingdom. She removed the fabric and she stared at it. After years of searching, they found it. Cadence and Twilight looked at each other and nodded, giving the signal to the other ponies that they are ready to move. Cadence, Twilight, and the other ponies formed a small circle around the horn and they began to use Dark Magic. They couldn't teleport this normally since he was a being of hate, not love. After a few tense minutes they disappeared, leaving the room empty.
Off in the Everfree Forest, ponies patrolled the clearing that they had chosen. One of the ponies looked around and sighed. "When are they going to get here?" she wondered. "The moon almost full." This pony was Princess Luna, second ruler of Equestria and raiser of the moon.
"Calm down, sister." another soothed. "They'll be here." This pony was Luna's sister, Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria and raiser of the sun.
"They better be here soon. Our window of opportunity is fading, fast." Luna explained. As if on cue, the air near the center of the clearing sparked Dark Magic as the mentioned ponies began to arrive. A ball of the forbidden magic formed then exploded to reveal the arriving ponies and the object. Ponies came to the horn and began with the final preparations. They erected six pillars that could hold a pony on top. "Have the others arrived?" Twilight wondered as she and Cadence walked up to the other princesses.
"Not yet but they are coming." Luna announced.
"I still think that this is going to backfire." Twilight repeated.
"I have my doubts, too." Celestia admitted. "But that's what I thought about Discord."
"Agreed, sister." Luna nodded. "Even though he is hate incarnate, I still think that his past self will come to."
"We're all ready, princess." a stallion declared. "Now we wait for the Elements." As he finished, Twilight's other friends ventured into the clearing wearing their respective Elements. Twilight turned to the set up and flew up to her spot on a pillar. "I think that we can do this, Twilight." Fluttershy admitted as she helped Applejack to her spot. "Even though this will be harder than Discord, I have confidence that we can help Sombra connect to his past."
"But we have the Elements of Harmony just in case things go south." Rainbow Dash added.
"We need to steel ourselves for what might happen." Twilight included. "This won't be as easy as Discord." The mares around her nodded.
She stomped her hoof twice to signal to the pegasi above them to provide cover. She stomped twice more and the earth ponies lit small fires around the horn. With two more hoof-stomps, the protection spells were activated and the opening was graced by a tense silence. "Ready girls?" Twilight wondered. The five around her nodded, the last signal. Her horn and tiara glowed the color of Dark spells. From her tiara, streams of black connected the other five Elements, locking in the spell. No pony could conjure a spell of this magnitude without destroying their own body. After a few more tense moments, beams shot out of the Elements and struck the horn. A beam shot up from the item as a result.
It ascended and hovered in the air above the ponies, vibrating and convulsing. The ponies below, save the Elements, stared in awe at what was happening. The beam subsided as the horn absorbed the magic and detonated. From it, a black watery mass fell to the ground beneath the Elements. "Is everypony alright?" Twilight wondered aloud. The mares nodded and focused in on the mass beneath them. It was motionless for a few seconds before it pulsed. Continually like a heartbeat, it pulsed and began forming the pony who belonged to the horn. A few more seconds later and the mass flattened and a pony ascended from it, absorbing said mass as he rose. The one pony that is truly feared. The being of hate. The infamous Unbrum. King Sombra.
He bellowed as his body dripped the black substance from before. He opened his eyes and wisps of purple formed at the corners. He focused is emerald eyes on Cadence and froze. "Hope..." was the only thing he spoke before stumbling and falling to the ground.
"Hope? Who's Hope?" Cadence wondered.
"A mare from his past." Celestia explained. "The first sign that it's working."
"All we need is time." Luna added as the Elements joined them.
"Where are we going to hide him?" Twilight wondered.
"He is to be held in the Catacombs beneath the Crystal Castle." Cadence answered.
Twilight and the other Elements joined Cadence as they approached the unconscious Sombra and proceeded to begin teleporting back the the Kingdom. Upon arriving in the Catacombs, Cadence looked at the six. "Not a word is to be spoken to anypony." Cadence instructed. "Not even Spike. We can't have the public in constant fear. It will only inhibit our mission."
"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye." the six chanted. This was the Pinkie Promise. Now they can't go back on their word.
"Now begins the reformation of King Sombra."
----It's Been a While----
Sombra's mind was restless. His thoughts made him twist and turn. "Hope!" he eventually shouted as he sprang upwards. He huffed as sweat poured off his body. His eyes adjusted to the candle-lit interior of a bedroom. He looked around and wondered what the hell was going on. Sombra's memory was fuzzy but he vaguely remembered where he was. "Glad to see you're up." a pony called out as they leaned on a wall. He looked over and noticed a lavender alicorn propped on the wall.
"Who.......are you?" he groggily asked.
"My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle." she greeted. A burst of rage sparked at the mention of the mare's name. He lunged out as a cloud of shadow but was bounced back by a protection spell. No, not an ordinary one that any unicorn could conjure. This was made of pure love. It's source: the damned Crystal Heart. Sombra recovered and stood in a ravenous pose with his teeth bared. "Nice to see you again." she scoffed.
"What am I doing here?" he questioned, purple wisps bursting from his eyes.
"You should be grateful, Sombra." she instructed. "Your flank should still be rotting in Tartarus but the other Elements and I are on a mission."
"And what, prey tell , is that?"
"Your reformation." she flatly answered. Sombra relaxed and stood pridefully.
"What makes you think that you can reform me, Sombra, an Unbrum ?" he chuckled.
"We've reformed Discord in your absence." she told. This made Sombra freeze. They really did it. They reformed the Lord of Chaos himself.
Sombra looked at her face to see if she was joking around, but the flatness of it read that she was, indeed, serious. Twilight stood upright and approached him. He relaxed yet again and looked at her lavender eyes. "Now this can only be done with your full cooperation." she informed. "I will start by asking a simple question: who is Hope?"
"Hope....." he sighed as he sat down on his haunches. "She was my marefriend from when I was a colt."
"What else?" Twilight questioned, knowing that there was more.
"When I was young, I would get an unknown sickness during the Crystal Fair." he paused. "But when I was a young stallion, that's when......"
"When what?"
"When I almost completely transformed," he added, "in front of her very own eyes." A visible tear streamed down his cheek. Twilight noted that his reformation was beginning. Sombra wiped the tear away and continued. "Without her immense ability to heal, I would have turned to what I am now at that moment." he paused again. "But after she got a Letter of Acceptance from Celestia's school, I knew that we couldn't be together."
"What did you do?"
"What else could I do?" he shrugged. "I ran. Far away from civilization. That's where I met her ." His tone turned cold.
There was a small silence as rage built up in Sombra. But it was broken by another question. "Who?"
"Mother." he answered coldly. "She molded me into this. Turned me into a monster."
"You met your mom?" Twilight wondered. "Who was she?"
"Not a who, Twilight." a pony answered. "A what ." They both looked at the source: Princess Cadence who idly stood at the door.
"Hello, Amore ." Sombra greeted coldly.
"Twilight, I would like for you to see something." Cadence requested. Twilight joined her sister-in-law and left Sombra alone with his thoughts.
Their walk out of the kingdom was both cold and silent, save for the gusts of winds. They trekked through the snow until the kingdom was no longer in sight. Twilight kept her questions toward her sister-in-law at bay as they approached a building that was in the middle of no where. Once inside, there was a pony who greeted them with a smile. The interior was that of a small cafe, which made Twilight wonder: why was this all the way out here. "Quite a storm, huh?" the mare asked.
"Yes but I'd rather stay inside." Cadence answered. The mare reached under the counter and pressed a button. Cadence led Twilight to the back room where the floor shifted and a hidden stairwell appeared. Down they went, only the sounds of their hooves and the flickering of the torches resonated through the duration of their descent. At the bottom, two guards opened a door and Twilight was in awe. Underneath all of the snow and the cafe was a research room with ponies that could rival her intellect. But what really caught her attention was the ruby in the center. Twilight swore that she saw this type of crystal before. "In case you're wondering, this is the source of Sombra's power." Cadence announced, breaking Twilight from her trance.
"...Not only that...but all Unbrum...past...present...future..." a voice echoed. Twilight looked around but ultimately found the source: the crystal. The crystal chuckled. "...Princess Twilight Sparkle....so nice to meet your....acquaintance..."
"Who are you?" Twilight wondered.
"...Not a "who", Princess.....a "what"..." the voice replied. "I am....or was....the first of the Unbrum....until Princess Amore....not this pathetic one....trapped my soul in here.....and destroyed my body...."
"What do you have with Sombra?" Twilight questioned.
"...Sombra?....He's my son....my perfect nightmare......and your doom...." the voice chuckled.
"I bet you are aware of our plan?" Cadence questioned as she circled the artifact.
"...Yes.....but you will fail.....for his heart.....and soul.....are no more...." the voice informed.
"We'll see about that." Cadence marked.
"...You will rue that day....that you ever stepped......onto that throne.....princess ..." the voice cursed as Twilight and Cadence exited the room. They stayed at the bottom of the staircase and continued the conversation. "So that's the key to his reformation?" Twilight wondered. "Too easy."
"My thoughts exactly." Cadence sighed. "For if we break that prison, she will be freed and will make sure that Sombra does not become reformed. We need to stay light on our hooves and expect anything."
"I agree." Twilight nodded as they began their trek back to civilization.
Author's Note
The periods between the words are supposed to be the voice fading in and out.
Possibly a sign of her weakness from being imprisoned for thousands of years?
Until next time.
----In Your Absence----
Seven weeks later.....
Sombra stood at the iron doors that separated him from the outside. He visibly shook. He imagined mobs of crystal ponies demanding his head on a silver platter. Twilight and Cadence thought that he should go through a series of "tests" to try and rid of the darkness that plagues his heart and soul. He agreed to it. But now Sombra feels like choosing the opposite. Beads of sweat traveled down his face as he throught of all the evil he committed a thousand years ago. He was about to back away when he felt the hoof of Cadence reassuringly fall onto his shoulder. "You can wait a little longer if you want." Twilight suggested.
"No." Sombra replies with a shake of the head. "I need to do this. I feel ready."
"Then get ready." Cadence recommended. She and Twilight place a hoof on the doors. With a simultaneous nod, they pushed the doors open which groaned in response. Sombra covered his eyes as sunlight hit it. He literally hasn't seen the break of day since his defeat, and the princess who controlled it was not too happy. He began to step out as his eyes adjusted to the sunlight, the crisp air of the northern winter sent a shiver through his body. The Crystal Kingdom truly looked beautiful without him. His previous definition of "beauty" was enslaving an entire race and forcibly taking the kingdom.
Cadence and Twilight soon joined Sobra at his sides and waited for him to move. "How long?" Sombra wondered.
"Excuse me?" Cadence replied.
"How long was I imprisoned?" he asked further.
"Over a thousand years." Twilight answered. Sombra felt his heart sink as he remembered the mare he once knew. A thousand years? He knew that there was no getting her back now. A tear began to fall as memories of the times they would play when they were young. Hope. The only mare whom he could call a friend. He broke from his thoughts and began heading forward.
As they move through the streets, Sombra began to feel at ease. There wasn't a single pitchfork or torch in sight. The Crystal Ponies just went on with their daily business, trying hard not to look at the fallen king. Sombra stopped as he felt a ball touch and stop at his hooves. The filly to whom it belonged to looked at him, staying away as she remembered the stories she heard. Sombra could feel the eyes of the filly, the princesses, and everypony around him dig into him.
He knelt and held the cherry red ball in hoof and waited for the filly's response. The filly smiled and ran towards the ball and picked it up with her magic. Before she decided to run back to her friends, she threw herself onto Sombra in the biggest hug she could make. "Thank you, Sombra." she thanked before running back to her waiting friends. Sombra, the princesses, and everypony who watched stared in awe. Before long, the ponies resumed with their day and the princesses joined Sombra. "That was-" Cadence began.
"Surprising." Sombra choked out as another tear began to fall. He had never felt that generosity from anypony since Hope. More memories came of when Hope would help Sombra with any scrapes or cuts. He remembered the day she earned her cutiemark. They day he almost became what he was before her very eyes. He shook his head again and continued on.
Sombra stood with Cadence and Twilight before the gates that lead to the place that caused his heart to sink: The Crystal Cemetery. He slowly moved the gates apart and felt the agony his "slaves" felt when he ruled. Nonetheless, he move through. Cadence moved ahead and stopped at a chamber. The cutie mark on the door was easily recognizable to who it belonged to: Hope. He opened the door and stopped in his tracks. The tomb before him cause his heart to shatter. He went about the room and looked at all the things she was buried with. A stethoscope, her diary, medical license, and a wedding necklace. This discovery was shocking to him. She found a stallion to love? He turned to the tomb and placed a hoof on it but he didn't cry. No, he smiled. Not in triumph, but in knowing that the mare he knew found love and was happy.
He looked at the plaque placed on the opposite side of the door and read it.
Here lies Hope. Loving mother and wife. We dedicate this plaque in honor of her more than helpful research in modern medicine.
He recognized where the plaque came from by the Royal Seal on the bottom of the inscription. He summed up that she took refuge in Canterlot not only to escape enslavement, but the attend Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns. Just knowing that her dreams were achieved gave him a sense of relief.
"Come." Cadence commanded. "There is one more thing that we need to take care of."
Final Challenge and Renewal
Cadence led both Sombra and Twilight through the snow towards her secret laboratory. Sombra needed to destroy his creator, once and for all. Cadence stopped at the bar and gestured them in. "Get a drink if you want. I'll be but a moment." Cadence offered as Sombra and Twilight shook off the snow that collected on them. Sombra took her offer and ordered a hard apple cider. Twilight sat next to Sombra but didn't order a drink. They sat in silence, save for the band that played and the other customers. Twilight could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Seeing Sombra do deeds that saved his name not only was rejuvenating, but it gave him charm .
Twilight tried her best to hide a blush but Sombra noticed it too quickly. "Something the matter, princess?" Sombra wondered.
"Y-Yeah!" Twilight lied as she managed to shake the blush off. Twilight turned to face Sombra but he turned too and things escalated quickly . Both the lips of his and her met. Twilight's face formed a red that rivaled Big Macintosh. Both of them turned away and resumed their silence. Moments later, Cadence came back and told them that everything was ready. They rose and followed Cadence. Twilight knew from where they were headed of what was going to happen. They were going to destroy a god.
"....Sombra.....my son.....my heir....." the voice greeted upon their entrance.
"Mother." Sombra coldly greeted back.
Twilight and Cadence went off to separate areas of the room and watched. "...Why so cold son...?"
"You stole my life from me. You took what I held dear to and forced me to throw it all away." he shot.
"....But I gave you.....enlightenment.....no one loved you.....because they were driven by fear.....to stay away from you...." the voice lied.
"Silence you cur!" he yelled. "Hope was the one who cared for me. Amore saw that I was confused. They tried to help me!"
"....But they kept a secret from you......the secret.....that was......your true nature....an Unbrum sees no light...."
"But I see it while you cringe away like a scared dog!" he yelled, his rage starting to crack the gem and his horn. "I don't care if I'm an Unbrum! I want to be accepted!" Sombra reared up and slammed his hooves down, the gem and his horn shattering to pieces. The voice laughed malevolently in triumph as wisps of black, green, and purple swirled up from the shards. "You incompetent fool!" she bellowed. "Now I will make it so that you won't be able to see even the smallest twinkle!" Several wisps lunged out and grabbed Sombra, hoisting him into a large cloud.
"Cadence!" Twilight yelled over the winds. "What's happening?"
"He's completing his final challenge!" Cadence yelled back. "He needs to destroy her so he can be free!"
Twilight felt something in her as she looked up at the struggling Sombra. What was it about him that made her feel attracted? Was it his charm? His bravery? His loving nature on the inside? But one thing was for sure, she was in love with him. Sombra struggled as he couched out each wisp that tried to take him and as his natural magic shot at the cloud which did little to help him. "Wiggle all you want you traitor!" his mother laughed. "Your efforts are nothing!" Sombra began to grow weak. His vision was blackening. But then he saw it, a small twinkle in his vision.
Sombra's head snapped up and his horn ignited in a fierce blue hue. Beam after beam of magic shot out uncontrollably until they formed one solid beam. "Nooooooo!!!!!!" his mother screamed as the wisps and shards evaporated into nothing. As the last shard vanished, Sombra's Magic Spike cooled and he fell limp and passed out onto the ground. Twilight and a group of paramedics rushed to him and scanned his body. Twilight noticed that his mane and tail changed from a dark black to a lighter black with blue highlights. The one true change was his horn. It was no longer a red gem that notified Equestria of an Unbrum.
She sighed in relief and backed away so that the paramedics could do their work. Twilight turned and saw a smirking Cadence there. "I know what's going on." she noted.
"N-No you don't." Twilight denied with a small blush as she started to head out.
"Twilight, don't forget that I'm the princess of Love. Your secret is safe with me." Cadence vowed as she reenacted the Pinkie Promise. Twilight sighed in relief. If the public got their hooves on this news, her secret relationship would be jeopardized. Now all she needed to do was wait.
Sombra woke up with a groan to the sound of the EKG. "Can somepony turn this blasted thing off?" he wondered aloud and Redheart entered. She walked over and took the pads off his arm and turned off the sensor. Twilight was the next to enter with a smile on her face. "How are you feeling, Sombra?" she wondered.
"Tired. Sore. Thirsty. Hungry." he groaned.
"Well I haven't had any lunch yet, so let's go." Sombra looked at her with a smile. Her charm was extraordinary. If he wanted to, he could call this their first date. But, they weren't in a relationship.
At least he doesn't know about that....
