Chapters Chapter One: Celestia's Advisor
"I just hope you're doing the right thing."
Three weeks before
"What do you mean by "I don't desire the Crystal Empire anymore" ?"
"I'm sorry, sister, but can we speak in a more private room?" The white alicorn glanced at Sombra, who replied with a nod.
Celestia looked at Sombra, with a deep breath she finally spoke.
The dark stallion nodded.
Sombra sighed, he was getting nowhere with this discussion.
"Is that obvious?" - he asked, not very suprised by the question.
"Do you still remember how Equestria was many moons ago?" - he asked Luna, who was now thinking. "Even before we first met?"
"I..." Luna started talking, but was interrupted when her sister spoke.
"A dark place filled with sadness."
"Dark magic comes from the fear and hatred, I know about that matter too well and I know what you're saying."
Luna decided to intervene.
"You're losing dark magic?" - she asked.
"I'm not losing my magic, basically it's getting weaker."
"Tell me Sombra," Sombra gazed at her, he noticed her expression was different. "What will happen to you if dark magic no longer exists?"
This time, Sombra was caught by surprise. He pondered, this a question he didn't thought. If dark magic was disappearing, did this meant he was going to have the same fate?
Both princesses stared at each other for a brief second before glancing back to Sombra.
"For what I have done." Sombra lowered his head and sighed. "Most apologies, I'm really tired."
"He only passed out," Celestia answered "we should take him back to Canterlot. He's very weak."
"Are you sure sister?"
Present Day
Sombra stood in his new bedroom, offered by Princess Celestia. It was to kind of her to do that, even he really didn't deserve such treatment.
He kept his days busy by just reading, although Celestia had try to summon him for several times.
Two weeks before
Sombra's eyes slowly opened, he felt his head was spinning and his body was weak. He tried to move a hoof, but his movement was stopped when a hoof softly pressed against his chest.
"Careful, you're still very weak." Celestia replied with a her soft voice. Sombra turned his head to see her.
"W-Where am I?"
"In Canterlot, to be more precise, in the castle's infirmary."
"In the middle of our conversation, you passed out." The stallion lowered his eyes, glancing at his hooves.
Luna, in the other hoof, saw in his eyes nothing but honesty, if what he was telling was true, what was going to happen to him?
"Since I'm the essence of dark magic, I suppose I disappear. My magic comes from the most darkest desires of somepony's heart," - Sombra glanced at Luna "When we fought, I felt your dark side, which made me stronger, at least for awhile." He returned his gaze to the Princess of the Sun "But if everpony is filled with happiness, it's difficult for me to focus on dark thoughts."
"Fortunately, there's a way to help you." - Celestia replied.
Present Day
A knock on the door disturbed Sombra's thoughts. If he was right, that probably one of Celestia's guards. Once more, he was going to deny another invitation from her, not because he hated it, but he wanted to be alone.
"Princess Celestia demands your presence to her chamber!"
Sombra raised an eyebrow. "She demands my presence in her chamber?" . Usually, she would sent an invitation, but the choose of words meant something was different.
"A proposal." Sombra glanced at the door. After a seconds of silence he replied.
"I shall be there."
Princess Celestia's Royal Chamber
"I'm happy you decided to join me."- Celestia started with a soft smile.
"Well, you demanded my presence and since I wasn't doing anything, why not? I need to stretch my legs." Thanks to Celestia, he was starting to enjoying having tea, that warm liquid was quite relaxing. "The guard told me you had a proposal."
"I'm a stallion with many secrets dear princess."
"I know, that's why I want you to be my personal advisor."
Chapter Two: Choices
Three days after the proposal
Once more, Sombra stood in his bedroom, sitting on his chair, infront of the large wooden table, not reading instead, taking care of some papers. Well, maybe some wasn't the right word. On right side of his table, there was a small space for the paper work that was ready to be send, which was empty. On the left side, a huge stacks of papers was gathered. The dark stallion sighed, maybe accepting the job was a bad idea.
His eyes scanned the page contents, something about land marks and build stuff. Overall, something that made him sighed again. Probably he would take days to finish half of the paper work. On the right side, he could enjoy having more tea."Somepony is skipping their duties."
A knock on the door broke his thoughts, making himself more presentable and clearing his throat, he spoke.
"It's me, Celestia." One thing he noticed was the lack of royalty. He always hated when ponies addressing him as Sombra, completely forgetting the King. Now that part was forgotten, but it still surprised him.
"Enter please!"
"Not doing well." - he answered with a boring tone on his voice.
Celestia took some quick glances at the paper and she smiled.
Sombra let out a huge sighed.
Three days before
"Could you repeat that again?"
The black stallion raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," - she paused to collect her thoughts. "I'm certain by now you know the truth about Nightmare Moon and Discord?" He nodded. "I am know for giving ponies a second chance, even if they don't seem to deserve one." Sombra nodded, fully understanding the princess's words.
"Besides, you lived long enough, I'm sure you know a lot about Equestria not only the Crystal Empire."
Sombra took a moment to collect his thoughts. Celestia was right, as usual, he did possess a lot of knowledge and she was giving him a second chance to live a normal life. Celestia was a honest pony, she didn't have reasons to lie to him or hide something.
"Since you're giving a second chance, I guess I'll accept it." A smile appeared on Celestia's muzzle. "With one condition."
"More tea."
Present Day
Celestia chuckled at the memory. Of all the conditions she had heard, Sombra's was probably the funniest of all.
"I'm not complaining about the tea, but this paper work..." - Sombra huffed.
"I suppose I can."
"Today there's a party at the castle..." Before she could continued, Sombra raised an hoof.
"Let me guess, you want my presence in the party?" Celestia nodded her head, not surprised by the sudden question. He was a quick thinker, in some cases. "I'm sorry, but I must refuse such invitation."
"Why?" - she inquired.
"Me." Sombra saw her confused expression and tried to explain. "I'm sure most ponies know about me by now. Parties are supposed to be...happy, and with my presence there, I doubt about it." In a way he was right, his presence would cause some discomfort, but she didn't want him to be alone in such occasion. However, Sombra made his mind by returning his focus on the papers, not even waiting for her answer.
Celestia sighed. He was right.
She rose from the cushion and levitated back to the bed.
"If you excuse me, I have others matters to attend before the party." Celestia was heading towards the door, when Sombra spoke again.
"Celestia," The princess turned her head back, looking at him. "how do you deal with the nobles?"
The stallion glanced between the door and the tuxedo, with a sigh, he placed the tuxedo on the bed and went back to his work.
One hour before the party
The Princess of the Sun stood in the middle of the center hall, overlooking the last decorations, next to her was her sister, Luna, also checking some last details. The lunar alicorn glanced at her sister, for the last few minutes she didn't spoke, just watched everypony working. By experience, she knew something was troubling her sister, so she decided to ask about it.
"I asked if is there something wrong."
"Don't worry, I'm only sad that Sombra declined the invitation."
"At least he said why?" Her sister nodded. "Maybe is for the best. Not everypony thinks like you."
"Well, I'm here!"
Chapter Three: Dark Regrets
"Well, I'm here!" Both Princesses glanced at the dark unicorn.
"We must say, you look rather...fancy." - Luna praised.
"Impressed Celestia?" - he asked, knowing the answer.
"Very."
"For an old tyrant, you sure know how to be properly dressed for the occasion." - Luna said with no amount of regret.
"Don't worry Princess," - he said, stepping between them. "She isn't wrong in her words, but a stallion must always be presentable for this occasions."
Celestia made sure Sombra did really left before speaking to her sister.
"We still don't trust him, neither should you sister of mine." Celestia frowned. Her sister had always been a stubborn pony. "If you don't mind, we need to get ready for the party." - said Luna, leaving Celestia by herself.
Somewhere in Canterlot Castle
Sombra was trotting away from the center hall, reaching to no destination. He just wanted some space.Tyrant He knew that wasn't a lie, in fact, everypony in Equestria knew, maybe even the Griffons. Yet, that comment did really upset him. Was he...sad?
Party - Fifteen minutes after the party started
Before the party could begin, Princess Celestia announced that the ex-tyrant, King Sombra was no longer an enemy and was living at the castle, not everypony seemed to enjoy the news, regardless they clapped. Sombra just stayed in the shadow watching their reactions. Most of them was concern, some fear and others, well...nothing. He decided to stay far from the party, but at the same time he wanted to be close.
Celestia and Luna stood on top of the staircase, observing the party guests, making sure everpony was happy and enjoying themselves.
His eyes fell upon an open door that led to the gardens. Seeing that nopony was looking at him, he decided to have some fresh air. Slowly, he made his way to the gardens. Celestia saw everything and thought it was time to have talk with him.
"Where are you going?" - Luna asked, sensing something was wrong.
"I'm going to talk with somepony."
Luna watched as her sister stepped outside, she was concerned. Sombra was still very dangerous.
A lone stallion could be found outside in the gardens, sitting on a stone bench, gazing at the night sky. He had to admit, the Lunar Monarch did wonders with her night, of course he wouldn't dare say that to her. She didn't needed any more reasons to mock him.
"Mind if I join?" - a voice asked.
The two sat in a awkward silence, their eyes on the night sky. The silence was starting to bother Sombra, he took a quick glance at Celestia, who was still gazing at the sky, what really impressed him was the way she look under the moonlight. The moon was providing enough light to see her features, the colour in eyes seemed even more intense and her celestial mane was gently flowing in the air. Her expression showed she was relaxed, in peace with herself. Sombra gulped, in his mind, Celestia was...beautiful? His heart skipped a beat at that thought.
Celestia glanced at him, still with a smile on her muzzle. He quickly looked back at the stars, praying that Celestia didn't see him.
"Because you have" - she placed an hoof on his chest. "a heart. Monsters don't have hearts." Sombra's eyes were wide open. She didn't consider him as a monster? "I don't know much about your past, only what Radiant Hope tould me." Sombra frozed at the sudden name. "Do you still remember her?"
"Of course I do!" - he snapped. "She was my first and only friend," His voice was barely a whisper. "and I broke her heart." A single tear went down his muzzle, Celestia gazed the ex-tyrant with a sad expression. Sombra wasn't handling well with himself, not ever since his return.
"Why can everpony else be happy but me? I just wanted a normal life, I didn't ask this." - he pointed a hoof at his red horn. "Why? Why do I have to suffer? Why did I have to lose my only friend, that truly cared about me?" Tears were falling down his muzzle, he didn't care. "To make things worse," - he took a deep breath. "I loved her so much...now she's gone. I didn't even said goodbye." At that moment, Sombra's mind broke at the sudden reality, she was gone and it was his fault. Everything bad that happened was because of him. He didn't deserve do live. The sobbing turned into a cry, filled with pain and sadness. It hurt Celestia seeing Sombra breakdown like this. Everpony assumed that King Sombra was nothing but a tyrant with a cold and dark heart that shared no emotions. Yet, right in front of her, there he was, the real Sombra.
Celestia drapped a wing over Sombra's back. Without thinking, Sombra hugged the white alicorn with the strengh he could. She returned the hug. This remember her about Luna, when she return. She was so fragile and scared. The first couple of nights, Luna was afraid to sleep, so instead she would sleep with Celestia. Sombra and Luna shared a few things in common.
She lifted Sombra's face with her hoof. "Ponies will forgive you, like when they did with my sister."
"Give them a chance." Celestia smiled once more. "Do you trust me?"
"Good, now let's dance, shall we?" His reply was small grin as they returned back to the party. "Are you ready?" The stallion took a deep breath and nodded at her. With her magic she opened the doors.I can do this!
