Fallen Shadowby EluChaptersPrologueChapter 1 - BrokenChapter 2 - HopeChapter 3 - GreenPrologueSomewhere in the arctic wasteland, a strange red crystal was situated. It was full of dark magic, it could be felt even by those who can't use magic at all. Every creature avoided the red crystal for as long as the crystal itself remember. A lone pony, gray stallion, walked through the arctic to the crystal. The stallion wore steel armor, a crown and a red cape. His eyes were red and slit pupil, purple smoke was in the corners of his eyes. The stallion bore a curved red horn. Sombra, the King of Monsters. He made his way to the crystal and stopped near it. "Mother..." The stallion bowed in respect. "You summoned me. I managed to become whole again, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to get the Heart destroyed," he said. "You will not," the crystal spoke. Its voice was cold. "You failed me, Sombra. Twice. And now, thanks to your journal, the crystal princess and another alicorn are coming here!" The powerful voice forced Sombra to take a step back. He looked terrified. "You are worthless! It was a simple task, yet you failed! You shouldn't have let Radiant Hope escape! "I was disappointed when you failed the first time, yet I let you live and complete the task. I gave you a second chance. And you failed again!" Sombra looked at the crystal with fear of what it'll do to him. It gave him life, it can take it. "I will fix everything, mother!" he said, his voice shaking with fear. "I will! I need some time and everything will be done!" "No, you won't. You wasted your opportunity" the crystal stopped. "But wait..." Sombra was forced to look back. He saw two alicorns, pink and lavender, making their way to him. He growled, she recognized the first one. The one who used the crystal heart to shatter him. "But maybe, maybe I will forgive you if you do something for me," the crystal suggested. "Yes, mother." "You must kill them both. Then I will forgive you." "As you wish, mother." Sombra turned around and faced two alicorns, which stopped in their tracks. They saw him too. Sombra grinned and his eyes became solid green. "Surrender, Sombra!" Cadence shouted. "You have nowhere to run!" Sombra snarled and shot a beam of magic at Cadance. She barely dodged, then shot her own beam. Sombra summoned a black crystal which raised from the ground and blocked the beam, absorbing it. Then the crystal melted. "Sombra! It's not too late to change your ways!" Twilight shouted. "I know what happened to you!" "YOU KNOW NOTHING!" Sombra roared and charged a powerful beam of dark magic, aiming at Twilight. She managed to block the beam using a shield spell. Sombra snarled and glared at her. Suddenly, a block of ice hit Sombra in his side, sending him flying. He hit the snowy ground and groaned in pain. He stood up, shaking, and his muzzle met a beam of blue energy. Sombra cried in pain and collapsed. He tried to stand up but found himself too weak. "You have proven that you are worthless, Sombra. Now, you will never fail me again. Now, you will be cursed. No longer you are a king." Sombra's armor shattered, his cape faded. He wanted to say aomething, anything, but couldn't. "No longer you are the powerful." His horn's color changed back into normal one, his eyes changed into normal green, his mane and tail stopped waving. Sombra's mouth opened in silent scream. "You are the weak!" For Sombra, everything went black. Twilight and Cadance looked at Sombra. His body, stripped of his armor, was vaporized. Only a scorched black ice remained where he was. "What happened?" Twilight asked worriedly, then looked at Cadance. "Cadance?" "It wasn't me... Did you feel it?" "Dark magic..." Twilight looked at the red crystal, then at the place where Sombra had been. "The crystal... It vaporized him!" "Yes, I did," the crystal replied. "He is unworthy. He failed." "No one deserves such a fate!" Twilight yelled. "I know you were the one who made him a monster!" "He is umbrum, he is supposed to be like that!" the crystal said angrily. "And he's not individual anyway, he is a part of umbrum army. He would NEVER join you!" "You are monster!" Twilight shouted and shot a beam of magic which shattered the crystal into tiny pieces. Soon after, the pieces faded into black smoke and disappeared. Nopony has ever heard of this crystal ever again. "Have... Have you just destroyed it? The crystal?" Cadance asked, looking at the place where the crystal was. It was but a pool of water which was quickly freezing. "Seems so..." Twilight answered. Then she looked back at the scorched ice, sadness in her eyes. "Maybe if we found out who Sombra was earlier, everything would be better. It hurts me to know that there is a pony who is not happy." "He didn't want to change, Twilight. And crystal ponies would never forgive him even if he did." Cadance replied with a frown. "He is who he is. Umbrum. Not a pony but a shadow which look like one. He is hurt by love and joy. He can't be like us." "Maybe you're right," Twilight frowned and sighed sadly. "Let's go home... It's cold." Sombra woke up in an unfamiliar place. He was lying in the dark forest. He stood up and looked at himself. "No... no, no, no!" he tried to cry. Only weak wheezing could escape his mouth. Sombra looked more a skeleton than a pony. His tail changed, now long and skeletal. There was a pond near Sombra. He galloped to it and looked at his reflection. His head looked like a skull, his mouth's corners became closer to his ears. But the worst thing was his eyes. They were white and had gray stains. Sombra inhaled and cried: "NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" His cry faded turned into monstrous howl, and timberwolves echoed him. Chapter 1 - BrokenSombra found out that he appeared in the Everfree Forest, the most dangerous place in Equestria. He walked among scary trees, and many beasts of the dark watched him with interest. He looked like a pony but was a monster. So, the forest accepted him. Sombra could barely survive. He ate grass, drank water, but it was not enough. He always was at the edge of starvation. Eventually, he realized that he won't be satisfied with enough food nor will he be dead without it. He stopped eating and drinking, he just existed. He could go out of the forest but he didn't. He understood that ponies would only hurt him. He knew that he is a monster to them, no matter in which physical form. His only allies were timberwolves. They accepted him as the leader of their pack. So, Sombra became the leader of those which were hated and feared. But first of all, Sombra blamed Cadance and Twilight for his exile and his curse. He wanted revenge, to bit in every throat of those ponies or turn them into his personal slaves. Oh, he imagined how they would serve him. Nevertheless, he had no power. Without it, he was useless, even more than a common pony. He understood that, but it is one thing he couldn't accept. Sombra tried to commit suicide many times, but failed nevertheless. No matter how hard he tried, he lives. Eventually, he accepted his fate and just existed, wandering through the forest. A year has passed since Sombra appeared in the forest. He witnessed the rise and fall of Tirek. When Tirek caught Sombra, the former didn't even bother to suck out Sombra's magic, for it was too weak to be any good for the hungry demon. Sombra witnessed the creation of Castle Friendship. He often came to the edge of the forest to look at the Castle. It reminded him of Crystal Empire. The empire that was lost to him forever. Oh, how was Sombra hungry for power, to see all the ponies suffer. He witnessed the dream that Luna casted upon everypony in Ponyville. Somehow, Sombra took part in it too. He just hid, watching. He could become anything in his dream, yet he didn't. He knew that no matter how powerful he'll be in the dreamscape, once he wake up he will be the same shadow of his former self. And if he was seen, everypony would try to find him and being him his end. But then, there was something that changed his fate... Apple Bloom, the small yellow filly with red mane, walked through the Everfree Forest back to her home from Zecora's. Apple Bloom was interested in making potions, and the zembra was willing to teach. They often spent time together, Apple Bloom helping Zecora and Zecora making all kind of potions to heal ponies' diseases. The filly often looked around as she walked along the path. No matter how often she went into the forest, it was always scary. She knew what hides behind the trees, and it scared her. She heard a howl to the right. She turned her head and saw a pair of green menacing eyes. A timberwolf moved out of the bushes, blocking the path. Apple Bloom turned around and prepared to run back to Zecora, but saw two more timberwolves which blocked her path there. They surrounded her and growled. Suddenly a gray skinny pony-like creature jumped in front of the scared filly. She screamed and closed her eyes. The creature snarled at the wolves, and they retreated to the dark of shadows. The creature turned around and faced the scared filly which kept her eyes closed. Apple Bloom opened her eyes and met creature's white eyes which had a few gray stains in them. She was petrified by the sight. In front of her stood not a pony but a skeleton of one. It had gray, dirty fur, long black mane as dirty as the fur. It also had a skeletal long tail. The creature's mouth was wide to the point where its mouth's corners were near its ears. Two sharp fangs peeked out of its mouth. The creature bore a curved horn. The creature examined the filly with his eyes. Three minutes it stared at the filly, the longest three minutes in her life. The creature opened its mouth and spoke one single word. Run. Apple Bloom turned around and ran as fast as she could without looking back. Applejack was pacing back and forth. Her little sister Apple Bloom was late, and it worried Applejack. "Mac, do ya see her?" "Nope," the big red stallion replied, his gaze upon the forest. "Do ya think she's lost?" "Eeyep." Suddenly the two saw Apple Bloom who galloped as fast as she could. "Sister! Brother!" she shouted from afar. "Apple Bloom!" the two replied and galloped to her. "Apple Bloom! What happened?" Applejack asked worriedly. "T-There is... There is..." "Calm down, sugarcube, and tell us what happened." Apple Bloom deeply inhaled and exhaled, calming herself down. "There is somethin' in the woods." "There is always somethin' in there, Apple Bloom." "No, it was... Somethin' like a pony." "A pony? There? Who was it?" "Ah don't know... It was scary. No, he was scary. He is like a skeleton, his tail is long and skeletal, his fur is gray and mane is black. Sister, his eyes... They are white and have somethin' gray in 'em." "Ya sure it was a pony? It looks more like a monster." "Ah don't know... But he said somethin'... He told me to run as fast as Ah can. Aand before that, he stopped the timberwolves which were about to eat me!" "Hm..." Applejack rubbed her chin. "Maybe Ah should tell Twilight. Apple Bloom, stay at home, sis. Big Mac will protect ya." "Eeyep," the stallion replied and nuzzled his little sister. "Apple Bloom, come inside, Ah give ya somethin' to eat." "Thank ya, big brother," Apple Bloom smiled and went inside the house. Back in the dark forest, Sombra was pacing back and forth, encircled by timberwolves. "Why, why did I let her go?" he asked himself, his voice weak and trembling. Sombra was on the edge of panic attack. "They, all of them, will come here! They'll find me! They'll make my curse even worse!" He collapsed in uncontrollable sobbing. "No, NO!" he cried. "I don't want to be trapped in ice for another millennium! No, no, no!" He sobbed, groaned, snarled, roared, rolling on the ground and shaking. Suddenly, he stopped. He got up with a wicked grin on his muzzle. "I know what I'll do..." he giggled maniacally. "I will not surrender my will! I will fight! Blood will be spilt!" He started laughing maniacally. "Yes... Yes... I will have my revenge. I will take as many of them as I can! But... No, first... Uh... Grah! I will try to escape. Grr... If they chase me and have me trapped, I will fight! Yes, yes! That's it!" Applejack walked into the Castle Friendship and met Twilight. She was about to leave. "Oh, hi, Applejack." Twilight greeted. "Twilight, there is a pony in the Everfree Forest." "Come again?" Twilight asked, confused. "There is a pony in the forest." Applejack repeated. "Oh... Who?" "Ah don't know. But it saved mah sister from the timberwolves. And, if Apple Bloom was right, the pony isn't, well, a pony." "Apple Bloom saw it?" "It's he. Apple Bloom said it looked more like a skeleton. Gray fur, black mane, curved horn. It looked like it was a starving unicorn which somehow got in the forest." "Starving unicorn? We must help him! Maybe right now he's dying, fighting the wolves!" Twilight exclaimed. "Hold on now, Ah didn't tell something. The pony has skeletal long tail and a pair of white eyes with gray stains." "Another monstrous creature?" "That's what Ah'm asking mahself. But Apple Bloom told me he can speak. That's what worries me." "I think we all should go and search for him. And I'll send a letter to the princesses about it." "Ah think ya're right. Ah shall go for Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy. Ah can't fly so ya'll have to go for Rainbow Dash." "Agreed," Twilight nodded. "Spike!" "Yeah?" he answered from somewhere inside the castle. "Write a letter, please." Princess Celestia had a dinner along her sister Princess Luna. Soon enough, Celestia will lower the sun, and Luna will raise the moon. Suddenly, a letter appeared out of thin air. "A letter from Twilight Sparkle." Celestia smiled warmly. "I wonder what did she and her friends learned or found out today." She opened the letter and started reading. Soon enough, her smile faded. "Sister?" Luna asked with worry. "What is it?" Celestia silently passed the letter to her sister. Dear Princess Celestia, I think you should know what we discovered today, princess. Apple Bloom, Applejack's sister, was returning from Zecora when timberwolves attacked her. However, a mysterious pony-like creature saved her. And it seems it was a unicorn stallion. From Apple Bloom's words, the stallion looks like he is starving, to the point where his ribs are visible. He also has long skeletal tale. His fur is gray, his mane is black. His eyes are white and have some kind of gray stains in them. And the horn isn't regular one. It's curved. I hope we'll be able to help him. Yours, Twilight Sparkle "Sister?" Luna called. "Do you think..?" "Yes. I think it's him." "Sombra? He was shattered into tiny pieces a few years ago. It's not possible for anypony to survive." "If what Apple Bloom told was true, then it's him. Weakened, without much power, but certainly him. But... Something is wrong. Why would he save a filly?" Celestia frowned. "I think I should talk to him." "Sister..." Luna was at loss of words. "I don't think it's a good idea." "Evil King Sombra would never care for anypony, especially for the sister of one of his enemies. " Luna sighed. "Do you want me to come with you?" "Luna, don't get me wrong, but I want you to remain here, in the castle. I don't think Sombra will be happy to see us both at this time." Twilight and her friends walked through the forest, searching for the pony. It has been already twenty minutes, and nopony was found. Strangely, no timberwolves. Twilight could feel that they were watched, but everything was fine. Walking out of the bush, Twilight and her friends walked in a clearing. In the centre of it, the unicorn stallion sat. And he looked like Apple Bloom's described him. "Hello?" Twilight called. The stallion got up and turned around quickly. Fear and hate could be read from his muzzle. "We mean no harm!" The stallion hissed. "Please, come with us. We can help you!" Twilight took a step towards the stallion, he sprung and started running. It was difficult to follow the stallion on the hard terrain. But he had nowhere to run but to Ponyville. He galloped very fast, as if he wasn't just skin and bones. Eventually, he got surrounded in the middle of the village. He rotated his head, and stood in the fighting stance. He snarled and prepared to defend himself. Six ponies looked at him with confusion. "Who are you?" Twilight asked with worry. She didn't dare to come closer to the strange creature. "Why are you running away? We aren't going to hurt you." "He is Sombra," a soft feminine voice sounded from above. Celestia, the Princess of the Sun, landed near Sombra. He cried in terror and hurriedly took a few steps back, then stumbled and fell. "No! No, no, no!" he shouted. "Sombra... I wish to talk to you. You..." "I know what will come next!" he interrupted and snarled with all anger and hatred he had. "I will not obey! Grah! I hate you!" He started shouting, tears rolling down his sunken cheeks. "I HATE YOU ALL! You are the reason I am what you see before you very eyes! Celestia..." He looked straight into her eyes. Celestia didn't dare to look back, afraid to see and feel the hate, the anger, the terror. "You and your sister... What you did... Grrr, it's.... Argh! Rrr... In ice, for a thousand years.... AALONE! Do you know how it felt? But before... First, I found out that Princess Amore never told me the truth! I... I had to SUFFER because of HER! Argh! Grah! Then... Then... My only, my friend, Radiant Hope.... She BETRAYED me! EVERYONE betrayed me!" Sombra collapsed, sobbing. "After one thousand years... After this millennium in ice and desolate cold... I WAS BLOWN UP AND SHATTERED INTO PIECES! You... You don't know how it HURTS even now! It's a pain beyond understanding... Aaaergh! Mm... Then... A few years more of being alone... And then..." He looked at everypony with hatred. "Then... Because I failed... My own mother... MY MOTHER!.. She... She CURSED me! Because of YOU!" He pointed his skeletal tail at Twilight. "YOU! And... and your stupid friend... Cadance... How I HATE her! I HATE YOU BOTH! IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT! Mother left me, cursed me, and now... Now... I am this! Too weak to even fight... No... Too weak to use magic! Too weak to have the POWER!" He snarled at Twilight and got up. He stood on all his four hooves, his tail was pointed at Twilight. "Now... Before I will be damned beyond belief... I... Grah! I shall take my REVENGE!" He roared in a monstrous way and charged at Twilight. He jumped and turned around, swinging his tail, using its sharpness as a blade. Twilight managed to put on her magical shield and protect herself from the blow which could easily cut off her head. Sombra kept trying to break the shield, hitting it with his tail. He quickly grew tired and, eventually collapsed on the ground, too weak to stand up. Twilight took off her shield and took a step towards Sombra. He snarled and started crawling away. "We only want to help you, Sombra," she said with worry and sadness. "I know your story. And I know how to fix everything." "You know... Nothing! You don't know how it is to be hated by everypony just because I! Was! DIFFERENT!" He stopped crawling, too tired to move. "Well, this is it..." he spat. "Do it. Send me to Tartarus. Make a statue of me. Banish me into the ice. Blast me with your magic. Do it..." "Twilight..." Celestia started, looking at the broken shadow of a pony. "I can see a broken soul, and there is nothing I can do. But I believe you and your friends can. If this story is true... Then, I was wrong. I should have reasoned with him all this time ago. I did something I now wish I didn't..." "Celestia..." "No." Celestia raised her hoof. "Even good ponies make mistakes. I leave him to you. Do what you can to bring him to the light." And with that, Celestia disappeared in a flash of yellow light. "Sombra..." Twilight walked to him and looked down at him. Sadness was in her eyes. "Come with me, please." He just sobbed uncontrollably, looking at her with hatred. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Sombra. Sleep." Her horn touched his, and he quickly fell asleep. Before he did, he spat three words. I hate you. Chapter 2 - HopeSombra... Sombra opened his eyes. He appeared in the whiteness. He looked at himself and saw that he had his former body. Sombra... He turned around, looking for the source of voice. He could only see the whiteness. "Sombra." He jumped in surprise and saw a colt version of himself. "What?" "Sombra?" They stared at each other. "Wha... Why are you... No, why... Uh..." "Sombra?" the colt replied, sadness in his eyes. "Why am I here? I mean, other I. I mean, you?" "Sombra?" the colt tilted his head in confusion. The stallion took a step towards his younger counterpart. The later screamed in terror and ran away, quickly fading into gray smoke. Suddenly, Sombra felt terrified. He wanted to scream in terror, a fear of neverending pain struck him like a lightning. And then Sombra woke up. Sombra quickly got up from the bed he was sleeping on and tried to cry, but only a faint wheeze escaped his mouth. He coughed and fell on the crystal floor. The fall made him feel even worse as all of his body was aching. He groaned in pain once more and got up. Soon enough, he stumbled and fell, luckily on the soft bed. "Just a nightmare... Just a nightmare." Sombra muttered to himself white adjusting on the soft bed for better comfort. "Where am I?" He looked around. He noticed the crystal walls, ceiling and floor, which reminded him of Crystal Empire's castle. His room had a large window with a glass door which led to the small balcony. There was another door, to the right side of the bed, big and made of pinewood. It was closed. There was yet another door, a little smaller and made of wood that was painted white. The door was opened and led to the bathroom and toilet. There was a small table and a chair in the corner of the room. There was a pile of paper and a quill with inkwell on the table, as well as some books. And only now Sombra understood how dirty he is. He got up from his bed and walked to the bathroom on his shaking legs. He closed the door behind him and slid into bathtub. Using what remained of his magic, he let the water flow. He adjusted the temperature so it would be comfortable, and relaxed. "Why did Twilight Sparkle let me stay in her castle after what I've done?" he asked himself, moaning in pleasure as warm water touched his skin. "If she wanted me dead, or imprisoned, or worse, she could have done it yesterday. Or has it all happened two days ago? How long have I been asleep?" As dirt was washed away, Sombra was becoming better and better. He washed his mane and tail, scratched his fur. He found a piece of soap and used it to soften his fur and mane. After completing washing procedures, Sombra slowly stood up and stood on the white tiled floor. He found a towel and dried himself. He felt himself much better then. He opened the door and entered his room. He walked around the bed and tried to open the big wooden door. It was locked. Sombra groaned and went to lie on his bed. He was too weak to do anything else anyway. Five minutes later the big door opened and a lavender alicorn walked into the room. Sombra seemed to be asleep, and Twilight slowly made her way to the bed. She put a gentle hoof on Sombra's back. Suddenly, he rolled on his other side and met her with a pair of eyes filled with hatred. His sharp tail swung and nearly pierced Twilight, but she managed to dodge the blow. "Sombra!" she yelled. "Why are you doing this?!" "Do not touch me!" He wheezed. "Do not come near me! You are the cause of what I am now, and I hate you for that! Why am I in this room?" "I..." "Is it because you want to toy with me and then throw me out?" "No, I..." "Is it because you want to watch me suffer while I can't do anything to you?" "Sombra..." "Or are you going to announce that all of the Crystal Empire is invited and will rip me apart?" "No, I won't do any of this!" Twilight yelled. "Sombra, stop!" "Stop what? Telling the truth? All ponies did was hurting me! Why should I believe you won't do just the same?" Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but closed it. Indeed, why should Sombra trust one of his mortal enemies? "I see you have nothing to say, Twilight Sparkle." he said, snarling two last words. "You don't have the answer, do you?" "You are right, there is no reason for you to trust me, not yet." Twilight replied. "But I will do whatever possible to earn your trust, Sombra. I am not your enemy, I am not going to hurt you." "And why did you hurt me when we first met?" "Because I didn't know your story. All I knew is that you enslaved the Empire. I knew nothing else, I swear! If I knew, I would never hurt you!" "I see no lie right now." Sombra replied and fell back on his bed, sighing. "Leave me for some time." "But..." "Leave." "You can't just drown in your misery, Sombra." Twilight said and exited the room, closing the door behind her. Some hours later. "Twilight, how is Sombra?" Fluttershy asked. She and Twilight were walking along the river bank. "He is in pain," Twilight replied with a sad sigh. "I don't even know how can we help him. He thinks that ponies only hurt him. Well, he is right, from his point of view. I don't think he sees himself as evil, and he wasn't evil when he was just a colt. It is what that red crystal thing did to him. It flooded his mind with anger and hate he had for the crystal ponies who didn't want to accept him." "But... If he wasn't evil when he was a colt, there was sure a pony who helped him not to become one." "There was. But she wasn't enough..." Twilight sighed. "Her name was Radiant Hope, and she was Sombra's only friend. She cared for him, she healed him when he was almost destroyed by the crystal heart. She always was there for him. But more than a thousand years have passed since then." "Twilight, maybe it's a key? Kindness?" "I don't know anypony who Sombra doesn't hate which is not complete stranger. Crystal ponies will never accept him, Celestia and Luna are enemies to him, and we are too. He doesn't trust me, he won't trust you or any of our friends." "Maybe if we remove the curse he has he'll trust us?" "I have no idea how to do it. I have studied Sombra while he slept. And nothing, the magic is too strong for me to undo. The only part of it that I managed to remove was the eternal hunger curse." "Oh my, that crystal was sure evil! Cursing its own son... I can't imagine anypony doing that! It is too cruel, even for Sombra. And after what you told us a year ago, I don't think Sombra was evil at all. Well, not super-scary-world-consuming type of villain, that is." "Thanks for support, Fluttershy. I really needed to talk to somepony about this all." Twilight smiled at Fluttershy. "It's no problem at all, Twilight. Friends help friends, that is." Fluttershy smiled back. Back at the Castle Friendship, fifteen minutes later. Sombra was pacing back and forth, sudden hunger took better of him. "Why am I so hungry? Why does it hurt so much? I feel like I need something to eat, and fast." the stallion groaned. "Food, precious food. Apples... Daisy sandwich... Anything!" Suddenly, he heard the door opening. Twilight entered the room, a plate of food was being levitated behind her. Sombra looked hungrily at the plate and gulped, swallowing his saliva. He saw hay fries, three big, red apples, two daisy sandwiches and a glass of crystal clear water. "It is for you." Twilight said. Sombra quickly took a hold of the plate using his own magic and levitated the plate to himself. He quickly started consuming all the food it had. He ate it in ten seconds flat, and drank all the water from the glass. "You have my gratitude." Sombra said. He felt himself much better now. "I managed to remove a part of your curse while you slept." Twilight said. "Sorry, this is all I could do. Now, you are no longer at the edge of starvation. You will be able to eat and recover." Sombra silently stared at Twilight, disbelief in his widened eyes. Quickly, his expression became neutral. "I owe you now, Twilight Sparkle." Sombra spoke. "Is there anything you wish to know?" Twilight hesitated. Finally, she asked the question. "Can you, please, tell me more about Radiant Hope?" Sombra glared at Twilight. "Out of question." "I... I am sorry..." Twilight replied. "If it pains you to remember..." "Oh, you don't know how much it does." Sombra snarled. "I wish no longer to talk." Twilight sighed and left the room. She closed the door and headed downstairs. 'I shouldn't have asked...' Back inside the room, Sombra was quietly sobbing. Chapter 3 - GreenSombra was lying on the floor, breathless. He didn't know why had he been crying before. He fought the urge to growl. He had so much boiling anger in him. 'Twilight Sparkle... Oh how I will be glad to sunk my teeth into you! I do not want to be reformed. Why can't everything go as planned?' Sombra stood up, his stained white eyes stared at the scenery outside. 'So peaceful... What would my life be if I joined Princess Amore?' He shook his head violently. 'No weak thoughts! History can't accept 'ifs and woulds'! I have what I have now, nothing more, nothing less. Radiant Hope is gone, Princess Amore is gone. If she didn't lied to me... If she told me the truth... But she kept it hidden! Disgusting... She had seen me suffer. She could do something! Anything! And what do I get? 'Sombra, you can still change!' Pathetic... I shall not surrender! I didn't bow before Amore, didn't bow before Royal Sister, and I will not bow before Twilight Sparkle! It will never be her way!' Sombra started laughing. Slowly, his laughter raised from barely heard to a hysterical laughter of maniac. He never felt himself better. He kicked the table, breaking one of its legs. Books, paper and ink created a mess on the floor. Sombra continued laughing, as last of his sanity was gone. He kicked the window, shattering it. He looked down and saw that it was pretty high to jump. He saw ponies staring at him with shock. 'Never!' was Sombra's last thought before he jumped off the window. With a sicking sound, he collided with the ground. Many his bones broke or shattered. In a few agonizing seconds of pain, Sombra was good as new. His hysterical laughter continued as he galloped towards the Everfree, scaring every pony that could see him. "Sombra!" he heard a voice shouting for him. He looked back and saw Twilight Sparkle galloping towards him. She was good hundred meters away but was closing the distance quickly. Sombra made a short laugh and charged his magic into his horn. He felt a ball of green energy escaping his horn and nearly colliding with Twilight. She dodged but stumbled and fell, hitting her head hard against the surface. Sombra grinned and continued his escape to the Everfree Forest. Twilight groaned. She head a nasty headache. "Princess, are you alright?" one of the ponies helped her stood up. "Yeah, thanks..." Twilight thanked the pony. "What was that?" it asked. "Uh, just point at the direction it ran, okay?" "Um, right. That way." the pony pointed. Twilight nodded and started galloping fast. Unfortunately, direction was wrong. Pony's eyes changed to menacing green. "I have different plan for him, your highness." The pony chuckled and started to trot towards the Everfree Forest along with another pony from the crowd. Sombra dashed through the forest without a particular direction. He earned various scratches while galloping through the bushes. Suddenly, he couldn't feel the ground under him. He stumbled and started rolling down the side of gorge. Finally hitting the bottom, he groaned in pain. He had no strength left to stand up. "Well well, what do we have here..." Sombra turned his head enough to see two changelings approaching him. "Who... are you?" he asked, his voice weak. "We are the Hive. Our Great Mother sent us here to retrieve you. You are going with us." "Your queen? What..." "It is either you go with us or we leave you to Twilight Sparkle. Even she cannot offer help as we can, umbrum." It didn't take long for Sombra to make a final decision. "I agree." he said. He slowly stood up, his legs shaking. The two changelings gestured him to follow. Some time later. Sombra entered the large cave. He had no idea how the two changelings led him there. He mindlessly followed them, not really looking around. He could still see that he is in the Everfree Forest, yet something was different. The three entered the cave. Changelings' horns glowed and a large boulder closed the path to the surface. Descending down through the caves, Sombra saw numerous green cocoons with more changelings inside. Hundreds changelings were sleeping, their cocoons attached to walls and ceiling of the cave. Sombra and his two companions walked through many tunnels, and finally came into a large cave that looked like it was a big hall of the castle. "Hello, Sombra." slightly distorted, feminine voice sounded further into the cave. Suddenly, the cave lit with sickening green light. Sombra looked at the source of the voice and saw a majestic changeling. As tall as Celestia herself, the slender changeling stood before Sombra. She had aqua blue mane, green slit pupil eyes, and pitch black chitin. "My greeting, King of Shadows." Queen Chrysalis grinned, exposing her sharp teeth. "I am Chrysalis, and I am the Queen of Changelings." Sombra nodded, a little too weak to introduce himself since the queen has already known his name. "I see your suffering, King Sombra. And I am offering you help." "Why do you?" "Because we will benefit from it. You will have your power back, I won't have to watch my children starve." Chrysalis replied before changing a topic. "Do you know what a changeling is?" Sombra shook his head weakly. "A changeling is not a pony. We are those who can shapeshift into ponies at will. But we need one certain thing to survive... Love. It is invaluable to us. Since ponies will never give they love freely, we have to steal it or forcefully suck it out of them." "And how can I help?" "I can tell you seek revenge." "Twilight Sparkle..." he growled, the image of friendly alicorn filled his mind with hate. However, it felt wrong... "Yes. She ruined my life too. With our combined strength, we will unleash our revenge unto her! You will chain her with fear and I will drain her of her so precious love and magical energy! Together, we will rule Equestria, bending ponies to our will! No more will a changeling starve! No longer the King will be a peasant! "You were in her castle, you know more of her than I do. We will use it to our advantage. Our attack will not be expected. And I know the curse that was put on you, King of Shadows. I will remove the curse and you will not be the poor carcass you are, you will be more powerful!" Sombra grinned. Without any hesitation, he stretched his right hoof to the queen. "Let's give 'em hell, Queen Chrysalis."
PrologueSomewhere in the arctic wasteland, a strange red crystal was situated. It was full of dark magic, it could be felt even by those who can't use magic at all. Every creature avoided the red crystal for as long as the crystal itself remember. A lone pony, gray stallion, walked through the arctic to the crystal. The stallion wore steel armor, a crown and a red cape. His eyes were red and slit pupil, purple smoke was in the corners of his eyes. The stallion bore a curved red horn. Sombra, the King of Monsters. He made his way to the crystal and stopped near it. "Mother..." The stallion bowed in respect. "You summoned me. I managed to become whole again, and I am ready to do whatever it takes to get the Heart destroyed," he said. "You will not," the crystal spoke. Its voice was cold. "You failed me, Sombra. Twice. And now, thanks to your journal, the crystal princess and another alicorn are coming here!" The powerful voice forced Sombra to take a step back. He looked terrified. "You are worthless! It was a simple task, yet you failed! You shouldn't have let Radiant Hope escape! "I was disappointed when you failed the first time, yet I let you live and complete the task. I gave you a second chance. And you failed again!" Sombra looked at the crystal with fear of what it'll do to him. It gave him life, it can take it. "I will fix everything, mother!" he said, his voice shaking with fear. "I will! I need some time and everything will be done!" "No, you won't. You wasted your opportunity" the crystal stopped. "But wait..." Sombra was forced to look back. He saw two alicorns, pink and lavender, making their way to him. He growled, she recognized the first one. The one who used the crystal heart to shatter him. "But maybe, maybe I will forgive you if you do something for me," the crystal suggested. "Yes, mother." "You must kill them both. Then I will forgive you." "As you wish, mother." Sombra turned around and faced two alicorns, which stopped in their tracks. They saw him too. Sombra grinned and his eyes became solid green. "Surrender, Sombra!" Cadence shouted. "You have nowhere to run!" Sombra snarled and shot a beam of magic at Cadance. She barely dodged, then shot her own beam. Sombra summoned a black crystal which raised from the ground and blocked the beam, absorbing it. Then the crystal melted. "Sombra! It's not too late to change your ways!" Twilight shouted. "I know what happened to you!" "YOU KNOW NOTHING!" Sombra roared and charged a powerful beam of dark magic, aiming at Twilight. She managed to block the beam using a shield spell. Sombra snarled and glared at her. Suddenly, a block of ice hit Sombra in his side, sending him flying. He hit the snowy ground and groaned in pain. He stood up, shaking, and his muzzle met a beam of blue energy. Sombra cried in pain and collapsed. He tried to stand up but found himself too weak. "You have proven that you are worthless, Sombra. Now, you will never fail me again. Now, you will be cursed. No longer you are a king." Sombra's armor shattered, his cape faded. He wanted to say aomething, anything, but couldn't. "No longer you are the powerful." His horn's color changed back into normal one, his eyes changed into normal green, his mane and tail stopped waving. Sombra's mouth opened in silent scream. "You are the weak!" For Sombra, everything went black. Twilight and Cadance looked at Sombra. His body, stripped of his armor, was vaporized. Only a scorched black ice remained where he was. "What happened?" Twilight asked worriedly, then looked at Cadance. "Cadance?" "It wasn't me... Did you feel it?" "Dark magic..." Twilight looked at the red crystal, then at the place where Sombra had been. "The crystal... It vaporized him!" "Yes, I did," the crystal replied. "He is unworthy. He failed." "No one deserves such a fate!" Twilight yelled. "I know you were the one who made him a monster!" "He is umbrum, he is supposed to be like that!" the crystal said angrily. "And he's not individual anyway, he is a part of umbrum army. He would NEVER join you!" "You are monster!" Twilight shouted and shot a beam of magic which shattered the crystal into tiny pieces. Soon after, the pieces faded into black smoke and disappeared. Nopony has ever heard of this crystal ever again. "Have... Have you just destroyed it? The crystal?" Cadance asked, looking at the place where the crystal was. It was but a pool of water which was quickly freezing. "Seems so..." Twilight answered. Then she looked back at the scorched ice, sadness in her eyes. "Maybe if we found out who Sombra was earlier, everything would be better. It hurts me to know that there is a pony who is not happy." "He didn't want to change, Twilight. And crystal ponies would never forgive him even if he did." Cadance replied with a frown. "He is who he is. Umbrum. Not a pony but a shadow which look like one. He is hurt by love and joy. He can't be like us." "Maybe you're right," Twilight frowned and sighed sadly. "Let's go home... It's cold." Sombra woke up in an unfamiliar place. He was lying in the dark forest. He stood up and looked at himself. "No... no, no, no!" he tried to cry. Only weak wheezing could escape his mouth. Sombra looked more a skeleton than a pony. His tail changed, now long and skeletal. There was a pond near Sombra. He galloped to it and looked at his reflection. His head looked like a skull, his mouth's corners became closer to his ears. But the worst thing was his eyes. They were white and had gray stains. Sombra inhaled and cried: "NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" His cry faded turned into monstrous howl, and timberwolves echoed him.
Chapter 1 - BrokenSombra found out that he appeared in the Everfree Forest, the most dangerous place in Equestria. He walked among scary trees, and many beasts of the dark watched him with interest. He looked like a pony but was a monster. So, the forest accepted him. Sombra could barely survive. He ate grass, drank water, but it was not enough. He always was at the edge of starvation. Eventually, he realized that he won't be satisfied with enough food nor will he be dead without it. He stopped eating and drinking, he just existed. He could go out of the forest but he didn't. He understood that ponies would only hurt him. He knew that he is a monster to them, no matter in which physical form. His only allies were timberwolves. They accepted him as the leader of their pack. So, Sombra became the leader of those which were hated and feared. But first of all, Sombra blamed Cadance and Twilight for his exile and his curse. He wanted revenge, to bit in every throat of those ponies or turn them into his personal slaves. Oh, he imagined how they would serve him. Nevertheless, he had no power. Without it, he was useless, even more than a common pony. He understood that, but it is one thing he couldn't accept. Sombra tried to commit suicide many times, but failed nevertheless. No matter how hard he tried, he lives. Eventually, he accepted his fate and just existed, wandering through the forest. A year has passed since Sombra appeared in the forest. He witnessed the rise and fall of Tirek. When Tirek caught Sombra, the former didn't even bother to suck out Sombra's magic, for it was too weak to be any good for the hungry demon. Sombra witnessed the creation of Castle Friendship. He often came to the edge of the forest to look at the Castle. It reminded him of Crystal Empire. The empire that was lost to him forever. Oh, how was Sombra hungry for power, to see all the ponies suffer. He witnessed the dream that Luna casted upon everypony in Ponyville. Somehow, Sombra took part in it too. He just hid, watching. He could become anything in his dream, yet he didn't. He knew that no matter how powerful he'll be in the dreamscape, once he wake up he will be the same shadow of his former self. And if he was seen, everypony would try to find him and being him his end. But then, there was something that changed his fate... Apple Bloom, the small yellow filly with red mane, walked through the Everfree Forest back to her home from Zecora's. Apple Bloom was interested in making potions, and the zembra was willing to teach. They often spent time together, Apple Bloom helping Zecora and Zecora making all kind of potions to heal ponies' diseases. The filly often looked around as she walked along the path. No matter how often she went into the forest, it was always scary. She knew what hides behind the trees, and it scared her. She heard a howl to the right. She turned her head and saw a pair of green menacing eyes. A timberwolf moved out of the bushes, blocking the path. Apple Bloom turned around and prepared to run back to Zecora, but saw two more timberwolves which blocked her path there. They surrounded her and growled. Suddenly a gray skinny pony-like creature jumped in front of the scared filly. She screamed and closed her eyes. The creature snarled at the wolves, and they retreated to the dark of shadows. The creature turned around and faced the scared filly which kept her eyes closed. Apple Bloom opened her eyes and met creature's white eyes which had a few gray stains in them. She was petrified by the sight. In front of her stood not a pony but a skeleton of one. It had gray, dirty fur, long black mane as dirty as the fur. It also had a skeletal long tail. The creature's mouth was wide to the point where its mouth's corners were near its ears. Two sharp fangs peeked out of its mouth. The creature bore a curved horn. The creature examined the filly with his eyes. Three minutes it stared at the filly, the longest three minutes in her life. The creature opened its mouth and spoke one single word. Run. Apple Bloom turned around and ran as fast as she could without looking back. Applejack was pacing back and forth. Her little sister Apple Bloom was late, and it worried Applejack. "Mac, do ya see her?" "Nope," the big red stallion replied, his gaze upon the forest. "Do ya think she's lost?" "Eeyep." Suddenly the two saw Apple Bloom who galloped as fast as she could. "Sister! Brother!" she shouted from afar. "Apple Bloom!" the two replied and galloped to her. "Apple Bloom! What happened?" Applejack asked worriedly. "T-There is... There is..." "Calm down, sugarcube, and tell us what happened." Apple Bloom deeply inhaled and exhaled, calming herself down. "There is somethin' in the woods." "There is always somethin' in there, Apple Bloom." "No, it was... Somethin' like a pony." "A pony? There? Who was it?" "Ah don't know... It was scary. No, he was scary. He is like a skeleton, his tail is long and skeletal, his fur is gray and mane is black. Sister, his eyes... They are white and have somethin' gray in 'em." "Ya sure it was a pony? It looks more like a monster." "Ah don't know... But he said somethin'... He told me to run as fast as Ah can. Aand before that, he stopped the timberwolves which were about to eat me!" "Hm..." Applejack rubbed her chin. "Maybe Ah should tell Twilight. Apple Bloom, stay at home, sis. Big Mac will protect ya." "Eeyep," the stallion replied and nuzzled his little sister. "Apple Bloom, come inside, Ah give ya somethin' to eat." "Thank ya, big brother," Apple Bloom smiled and went inside the house. Back in the dark forest, Sombra was pacing back and forth, encircled by timberwolves. "Why, why did I let her go?" he asked himself, his voice weak and trembling. Sombra was on the edge of panic attack. "They, all of them, will come here! They'll find me! They'll make my curse even worse!" He collapsed in uncontrollable sobbing. "No, NO!" he cried. "I don't want to be trapped in ice for another millennium! No, no, no!" He sobbed, groaned, snarled, roared, rolling on the ground and shaking. Suddenly, he stopped. He got up with a wicked grin on his muzzle. "I know what I'll do..." he giggled maniacally. "I will not surrender my will! I will fight! Blood will be spilt!" He started laughing maniacally. "Yes... Yes... I will have my revenge. I will take as many of them as I can! But... No, first... Uh... Grah! I will try to escape. Grr... If they chase me and have me trapped, I will fight! Yes, yes! That's it!" Applejack walked into the Castle Friendship and met Twilight. She was about to leave. "Oh, hi, Applejack." Twilight greeted. "Twilight, there is a pony in the Everfree Forest." "Come again?" Twilight asked, confused. "There is a pony in the forest." Applejack repeated. "Oh... Who?" "Ah don't know. But it saved mah sister from the timberwolves. And, if Apple Bloom was right, the pony isn't, well, a pony." "Apple Bloom saw it?" "It's he. Apple Bloom said it looked more like a skeleton. Gray fur, black mane, curved horn. It looked like it was a starving unicorn which somehow got in the forest." "Starving unicorn? We must help him! Maybe right now he's dying, fighting the wolves!" Twilight exclaimed. "Hold on now, Ah didn't tell something. The pony has skeletal long tail and a pair of white eyes with gray stains." "Another monstrous creature?" "That's what Ah'm asking mahself. But Apple Bloom told me he can speak. That's what worries me." "I think we all should go and search for him. And I'll send a letter to the princesses about it." "Ah think ya're right. Ah shall go for Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy. Ah can't fly so ya'll have to go for Rainbow Dash." "Agreed," Twilight nodded. "Spike!" "Yeah?" he answered from somewhere inside the castle. "Write a letter, please." Princess Celestia had a dinner along her sister Princess Luna. Soon enough, Celestia will lower the sun, and Luna will raise the moon. Suddenly, a letter appeared out of thin air. "A letter from Twilight Sparkle." Celestia smiled warmly. "I wonder what did she and her friends learned or found out today." She opened the letter and started reading. Soon enough, her smile faded. "Sister?" Luna asked with worry. "What is it?" Celestia silently passed the letter to her sister. Dear Princess Celestia, I think you should know what we discovered today, princess. Apple Bloom, Applejack's sister, was returning from Zecora when timberwolves attacked her. However, a mysterious pony-like creature saved her. And it seems it was a unicorn stallion. From Apple Bloom's words, the stallion looks like he is starving, to the point where his ribs are visible. He also has long skeletal tale. His fur is gray, his mane is black. His eyes are white and have some kind of gray stains in them. And the horn isn't regular one. It's curved. I hope we'll be able to help him. Yours, Twilight Sparkle "Sister?" Luna called. "Do you think..?" "Yes. I think it's him." "Sombra? He was shattered into tiny pieces a few years ago. It's not possible for anypony to survive." "If what Apple Bloom told was true, then it's him. Weakened, without much power, but certainly him. But... Something is wrong. Why would he save a filly?" Celestia frowned. "I think I should talk to him." "Sister..." Luna was at loss of words. "I don't think it's a good idea." "Evil King Sombra would never care for anypony, especially for the sister of one of his enemies. " Luna sighed. "Do you want me to come with you?" "Luna, don't get me wrong, but I want you to remain here, in the castle. I don't think Sombra will be happy to see us both at this time." Twilight and her friends walked through the forest, searching for the pony. It has been already twenty minutes, and nopony was found. Strangely, no timberwolves. Twilight could feel that they were watched, but everything was fine. Walking out of the bush, Twilight and her friends walked in a clearing. In the centre of it, the unicorn stallion sat. And he looked like Apple Bloom's described him. "Hello?" Twilight called. The stallion got up and turned around quickly. Fear and hate could be read from his muzzle. "We mean no harm!" The stallion hissed. "Please, come with us. We can help you!" Twilight took a step towards the stallion, he sprung and started running. It was difficult to follow the stallion on the hard terrain. But he had nowhere to run but to Ponyville. He galloped very fast, as if he wasn't just skin and bones. Eventually, he got surrounded in the middle of the village. He rotated his head, and stood in the fighting stance. He snarled and prepared to defend himself. Six ponies looked at him with confusion. "Who are you?" Twilight asked with worry. She didn't dare to come closer to the strange creature. "Why are you running away? We aren't going to hurt you." "He is Sombra," a soft feminine voice sounded from above. Celestia, the Princess of the Sun, landed near Sombra. He cried in terror and hurriedly took a few steps back, then stumbled and fell. "No! No, no, no!" he shouted. "Sombra... I wish to talk to you. You..." "I know what will come next!" he interrupted and snarled with all anger and hatred he had. "I will not obey! Grah! I hate you!" He started shouting, tears rolling down his sunken cheeks. "I HATE YOU ALL! You are the reason I am what you see before you very eyes! Celestia..." He looked straight into her eyes. Celestia didn't dare to look back, afraid to see and feel the hate, the anger, the terror. "You and your sister... What you did... Grrr, it's.... Argh! Rrr... In ice, for a thousand years.... AALONE! Do you know how it felt? But before... First, I found out that Princess Amore never told me the truth! I... I had to SUFFER because of HER! Argh! Grah! Then... Then... My only, my friend, Radiant Hope.... She BETRAYED me! EVERYONE betrayed me!" Sombra collapsed, sobbing. "After one thousand years... After this millennium in ice and desolate cold... I WAS BLOWN UP AND SHATTERED INTO PIECES! You... You don't know how it HURTS even now! It's a pain beyond understanding... Aaaergh! Mm... Then... A few years more of being alone... And then..." He looked at everypony with hatred. "Then... Because I failed... My own mother... MY MOTHER!.. She... She CURSED me! Because of YOU!" He pointed his skeletal tail at Twilight. "YOU! And... and your stupid friend... Cadance... How I HATE her! I HATE YOU BOTH! IT IS ALL YOUR FAULT! Mother left me, cursed me, and now... Now... I am this! Too weak to even fight... No... Too weak to use magic! Too weak to have the POWER!" He snarled at Twilight and got up. He stood on all his four hooves, his tail was pointed at Twilight. "Now... Before I will be damned beyond belief... I... Grah! I shall take my REVENGE!" He roared in a monstrous way and charged at Twilight. He jumped and turned around, swinging his tail, using its sharpness as a blade. Twilight managed to put on her magical shield and protect herself from the blow which could easily cut off her head. Sombra kept trying to break the shield, hitting it with his tail. He quickly grew tired and, eventually collapsed on the ground, too weak to stand up. Twilight took off her shield and took a step towards Sombra. He snarled and started crawling away. "We only want to help you, Sombra," she said with worry and sadness. "I know your story. And I know how to fix everything." "You know... Nothing! You don't know how it is to be hated by everypony just because I! Was! DIFFERENT!" He stopped crawling, too tired to move. "Well, this is it..." he spat. "Do it. Send me to Tartarus. Make a statue of me. Banish me into the ice. Blast me with your magic. Do it..." "Twilight..." Celestia started, looking at the broken shadow of a pony. "I can see a broken soul, and there is nothing I can do. But I believe you and your friends can. If this story is true... Then, I was wrong. I should have reasoned with him all this time ago. I did something I now wish I didn't..." "Celestia..." "No." Celestia raised her hoof. "Even good ponies make mistakes. I leave him to you. Do what you can to bring him to the light." And with that, Celestia disappeared in a flash of yellow light. "Sombra..." Twilight walked to him and looked down at him. Sadness was in her eyes. "Come with me, please." He just sobbed uncontrollably, looking at her with hatred. She sighed. "I'm sorry, Sombra. Sleep." Her horn touched his, and he quickly fell asleep. Before he did, he spat three words. I hate you.
Chapter 2 - HopeSombra... Sombra opened his eyes. He appeared in the whiteness. He looked at himself and saw that he had his former body. Sombra... He turned around, looking for the source of voice. He could only see the whiteness. "Sombra." He jumped in surprise and saw a colt version of himself. "What?" "Sombra?" They stared at each other. "Wha... Why are you... No, why... Uh..." "Sombra?" the colt replied, sadness in his eyes. "Why am I here? I mean, other I. I mean, you?" "Sombra?" the colt tilted his head in confusion. The stallion took a step towards his younger counterpart. The later screamed in terror and ran away, quickly fading into gray smoke. Suddenly, Sombra felt terrified. He wanted to scream in terror, a fear of neverending pain struck him like a lightning. And then Sombra woke up. Sombra quickly got up from the bed he was sleeping on and tried to cry, but only a faint wheeze escaped his mouth. He coughed and fell on the crystal floor. The fall made him feel even worse as all of his body was aching. He groaned in pain once more and got up. Soon enough, he stumbled and fell, luckily on the soft bed. "Just a nightmare... Just a nightmare." Sombra muttered to himself white adjusting on the soft bed for better comfort. "Where am I?" He looked around. He noticed the crystal walls, ceiling and floor, which reminded him of Crystal Empire's castle. His room had a large window with a glass door which led to the small balcony. There was another door, to the right side of the bed, big and made of pinewood. It was closed. There was yet another door, a little smaller and made of wood that was painted white. The door was opened and led to the bathroom and toilet. There was a small table and a chair in the corner of the room. There was a pile of paper and a quill with inkwell on the table, as well as some books. And only now Sombra understood how dirty he is. He got up from his bed and walked to the bathroom on his shaking legs. He closed the door behind him and slid into bathtub. Using what remained of his magic, he let the water flow. He adjusted the temperature so it would be comfortable, and relaxed. "Why did Twilight Sparkle let me stay in her castle after what I've done?" he asked himself, moaning in pleasure as warm water touched his skin. "If she wanted me dead, or imprisoned, or worse, she could have done it yesterday. Or has it all happened two days ago? How long have I been asleep?" As dirt was washed away, Sombra was becoming better and better. He washed his mane and tail, scratched his fur. He found a piece of soap and used it to soften his fur and mane. After completing washing procedures, Sombra slowly stood up and stood on the white tiled floor. He found a towel and dried himself. He felt himself much better then. He opened the door and entered his room. He walked around the bed and tried to open the big wooden door. It was locked. Sombra groaned and went to lie on his bed. He was too weak to do anything else anyway. Five minutes later the big door opened and a lavender alicorn walked into the room. Sombra seemed to be asleep, and Twilight slowly made her way to the bed. She put a gentle hoof on Sombra's back. Suddenly, he rolled on his other side and met her with a pair of eyes filled with hatred. His sharp tail swung and nearly pierced Twilight, but she managed to dodge the blow. "Sombra!" she yelled. "Why are you doing this?!" "Do not touch me!" He wheezed. "Do not come near me! You are the cause of what I am now, and I hate you for that! Why am I in this room?" "I..." "Is it because you want to toy with me and then throw me out?" "No, I..." "Is it because you want to watch me suffer while I can't do anything to you?" "Sombra..." "Or are you going to announce that all of the Crystal Empire is invited and will rip me apart?" "No, I won't do any of this!" Twilight yelled. "Sombra, stop!" "Stop what? Telling the truth? All ponies did was hurting me! Why should I believe you won't do just the same?" Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but closed it. Indeed, why should Sombra trust one of his mortal enemies? "I see you have nothing to say, Twilight Sparkle." he said, snarling two last words. "You don't have the answer, do you?" "You are right, there is no reason for you to trust me, not yet." Twilight replied. "But I will do whatever possible to earn your trust, Sombra. I am not your enemy, I am not going to hurt you." "And why did you hurt me when we first met?" "Because I didn't know your story. All I knew is that you enslaved the Empire. I knew nothing else, I swear! If I knew, I would never hurt you!" "I see no lie right now." Sombra replied and fell back on his bed, sighing. "Leave me for some time." "But..." "Leave." "You can't just drown in your misery, Sombra." Twilight said and exited the room, closing the door behind her. Some hours later. "Twilight, how is Sombra?" Fluttershy asked. She and Twilight were walking along the river bank. "He is in pain," Twilight replied with a sad sigh. "I don't even know how can we help him. He thinks that ponies only hurt him. Well, he is right, from his point of view. I don't think he sees himself as evil, and he wasn't evil when he was just a colt. It is what that red crystal thing did to him. It flooded his mind with anger and hate he had for the crystal ponies who didn't want to accept him." "But... If he wasn't evil when he was a colt, there was sure a pony who helped him not to become one." "There was. But she wasn't enough..." Twilight sighed. "Her name was Radiant Hope, and she was Sombra's only friend. She cared for him, she healed him when he was almost destroyed by the crystal heart. She always was there for him. But more than a thousand years have passed since then." "Twilight, maybe it's a key? Kindness?" "I don't know anypony who Sombra doesn't hate which is not complete stranger. Crystal ponies will never accept him, Celestia and Luna are enemies to him, and we are too. He doesn't trust me, he won't trust you or any of our friends." "Maybe if we remove the curse he has he'll trust us?" "I have no idea how to do it. I have studied Sombra while he slept. And nothing, the magic is too strong for me to undo. The only part of it that I managed to remove was the eternal hunger curse." "Oh my, that crystal was sure evil! Cursing its own son... I can't imagine anypony doing that! It is too cruel, even for Sombra. And after what you told us a year ago, I don't think Sombra was evil at all. Well, not super-scary-world-consuming type of villain, that is." "Thanks for support, Fluttershy. I really needed to talk to somepony about this all." Twilight smiled at Fluttershy. "It's no problem at all, Twilight. Friends help friends, that is." Fluttershy smiled back. Back at the Castle Friendship, fifteen minutes later. Sombra was pacing back and forth, sudden hunger took better of him. "Why am I so hungry? Why does it hurt so much? I feel like I need something to eat, and fast." the stallion groaned. "Food, precious food. Apples... Daisy sandwich... Anything!" Suddenly, he heard the door opening. Twilight entered the room, a plate of food was being levitated behind her. Sombra looked hungrily at the plate and gulped, swallowing his saliva. He saw hay fries, three big, red apples, two daisy sandwiches and a glass of crystal clear water. "It is for you." Twilight said. Sombra quickly took a hold of the plate using his own magic and levitated the plate to himself. He quickly started consuming all the food it had. He ate it in ten seconds flat, and drank all the water from the glass. "You have my gratitude." Sombra said. He felt himself much better now. "I managed to remove a part of your curse while you slept." Twilight said. "Sorry, this is all I could do. Now, you are no longer at the edge of starvation. You will be able to eat and recover." Sombra silently stared at Twilight, disbelief in his widened eyes. Quickly, his expression became neutral. "I owe you now, Twilight Sparkle." Sombra spoke. "Is there anything you wish to know?" Twilight hesitated. Finally, she asked the question. "Can you, please, tell me more about Radiant Hope?" Sombra glared at Twilight. "Out of question." "I... I am sorry..." Twilight replied. "If it pains you to remember..." "Oh, you don't know how much it does." Sombra snarled. "I wish no longer to talk." Twilight sighed and left the room. She closed the door and headed downstairs. 'I shouldn't have asked...' Back inside the room, Sombra was quietly sobbing.
Chapter 3 - GreenSombra was lying on the floor, breathless. He didn't know why had he been crying before. He fought the urge to growl. He had so much boiling anger in him. 'Twilight Sparkle... Oh how I will be glad to sunk my teeth into you! I do not want to be reformed. Why can't everything go as planned?' Sombra stood up, his stained white eyes stared at the scenery outside. 'So peaceful... What would my life be if I joined Princess Amore?' He shook his head violently. 'No weak thoughts! History can't accept 'ifs and woulds'! I have what I have now, nothing more, nothing less. Radiant Hope is gone, Princess Amore is gone. If she didn't lied to me... If she told me the truth... But she kept it hidden! Disgusting... She had seen me suffer. She could do something! Anything! And what do I get? 'Sombra, you can still change!' Pathetic... I shall not surrender! I didn't bow before Amore, didn't bow before Royal Sister, and I will not bow before Twilight Sparkle! It will never be her way!' Sombra started laughing. Slowly, his laughter raised from barely heard to a hysterical laughter of maniac. He never felt himself better. He kicked the table, breaking one of its legs. Books, paper and ink created a mess on the floor. Sombra continued laughing, as last of his sanity was gone. He kicked the window, shattering it. He looked down and saw that it was pretty high to jump. He saw ponies staring at him with shock. 'Never!' was Sombra's last thought before he jumped off the window. With a sicking sound, he collided with the ground. Many his bones broke or shattered. In a few agonizing seconds of pain, Sombra was good as new. His hysterical laughter continued as he galloped towards the Everfree, scaring every pony that could see him. "Sombra!" he heard a voice shouting for him. He looked back and saw Twilight Sparkle galloping towards him. She was good hundred meters away but was closing the distance quickly. Sombra made a short laugh and charged his magic into his horn. He felt a ball of green energy escaping his horn and nearly colliding with Twilight. She dodged but stumbled and fell, hitting her head hard against the surface. Sombra grinned and continued his escape to the Everfree Forest. Twilight groaned. She head a nasty headache. "Princess, are you alright?" one of the ponies helped her stood up. "Yeah, thanks..." Twilight thanked the pony. "What was that?" it asked. "Uh, just point at the direction it ran, okay?" "Um, right. That way." the pony pointed. Twilight nodded and started galloping fast. Unfortunately, direction was wrong. Pony's eyes changed to menacing green. "I have different plan for him, your highness." The pony chuckled and started to trot towards the Everfree Forest along with another pony from the crowd. Sombra dashed through the forest without a particular direction. He earned various scratches while galloping through the bushes. Suddenly, he couldn't feel the ground under him. He stumbled and started rolling down the side of gorge. Finally hitting the bottom, he groaned in pain. He had no strength left to stand up. "Well well, what do we have here..." Sombra turned his head enough to see two changelings approaching him. "Who... are you?" he asked, his voice weak. "We are the Hive. Our Great Mother sent us here to retrieve you. You are going with us." "Your queen? What..." "It is either you go with us or we leave you to Twilight Sparkle. Even she cannot offer help as we can, umbrum." It didn't take long for Sombra to make a final decision. "I agree." he said. He slowly stood up, his legs shaking. The two changelings gestured him to follow. Some time later. Sombra entered the large cave. He had no idea how the two changelings led him there. He mindlessly followed them, not really looking around. He could still see that he is in the Everfree Forest, yet something was different. The three entered the cave. Changelings' horns glowed and a large boulder closed the path to the surface. Descending down through the caves, Sombra saw numerous green cocoons with more changelings inside. Hundreds changelings were sleeping, their cocoons attached to walls and ceiling of the cave. Sombra and his two companions walked through many tunnels, and finally came into a large cave that looked like it was a big hall of the castle. "Hello, Sombra." slightly distorted, feminine voice sounded further into the cave. Suddenly, the cave lit with sickening green light. Sombra looked at the source of the voice and saw a majestic changeling. As tall as Celestia herself, the slender changeling stood before Sombra. She had aqua blue mane, green slit pupil eyes, and pitch black chitin. "My greeting, King of Shadows." Queen Chrysalis grinned, exposing her sharp teeth. "I am Chrysalis, and I am the Queen of Changelings." Sombra nodded, a little too weak to introduce himself since the queen has already known his name. "I see your suffering, King Sombra. And I am offering you help." "Why do you?" "Because we will benefit from it. You will have your power back, I won't have to watch my children starve." Chrysalis replied before changing a topic. "Do you know what a changeling is?" Sombra shook his head weakly. "A changeling is not a pony. We are those who can shapeshift into ponies at will. But we need one certain thing to survive... Love. It is invaluable to us. Since ponies will never give they love freely, we have to steal it or forcefully suck it out of them." "And how can I help?" "I can tell you seek revenge." "Twilight Sparkle..." he growled, the image of friendly alicorn filled his mind with hate. However, it felt wrong... "Yes. She ruined my life too. With our combined strength, we will unleash our revenge unto her! You will chain her with fear and I will drain her of her so precious love and magical energy! Together, we will rule Equestria, bending ponies to our will! No more will a changeling starve! No longer the King will be a peasant! "You were in her castle, you know more of her than I do. We will use it to our advantage. Our attack will not be expected. And I know the curse that was put on you, King of Shadows. I will remove the curse and you will not be the poor carcass you are, you will be more powerful!" Sombra grinned. Without any hesitation, he stretched his right hoof to the queen. "Let's give 'em hell, Queen Chrysalis."
