Little Shadow

Sombra was presumed to be dead, it didn't take a genius to figure it out. But yet, not even a genius would believe he was still alive.. reincarnated for that matter..

The fear of the grown stallion spread across the land after the war between the two royal sisters and the tyrant himself.

His banishment was bliss, and foal-stories of a ruthless king meant to scare on dark nights were now mere fairytales. No pony believed he would come back.

Right?..

An emergency meeting was requested for the elements of harmony to immediately rush to the empire as quick as their capabilities may.

Twilight galloped though the empty streets of the crystal empire, doors were locked and windows barricaded. Nothing but the howls of the frozen north wind were to be heard, along with Twilights hooves and her friends.

Quickly, they rushed up the stairs and were escorted by the royal guards to the room Cadence and Shining armor were in.

Slowly, she entered the room "Cadence? Is everything okay? I got the message about a return of somep--" the purple mare had her words cut off after seeing the head of a little foal peek out, his big ruby eyes and green scleras already gave a hint on who it was.

Cadence lowered her head and looked down at the foal underneath akings cape, she chuckled and looked at Twilight "Mmhm. Everything's delightful."

Shining armor watched every movement the little lord made, still unsure and uneasy about this situation as much as Twilight and her friends were.

Twilight sparkle opened her mouth but quickly closed it after hearing the most obvious pony..Fluttershy let out a squee "Isn't he precious?!" The yellow mare exclaimed, making her way towards the little colt.

Applejack raised her hoof "Ah don't believe ya should get too close to the lil fella.. he migh--"

The confused small version of Sombra quickly hid underneath the cape and whimpered after seeing the excited pale mare make her way towards him.

Applejack rolled her eyes "...get scared." She coughed.

"Oh... I didn't mean to frighten him!..Oh dear.." Fluttershy nervously babbled, her awkward shy character began to show more as she began to back up towards the group of ponies.

Twilight sighed and looked over at Cadence, "Please explain what happened.." the annoyance in her voice gave a hint that she wanted answers.

The princess of love bit her bottom lip, "I don't know. The little guy just found himself here. The whole empire locked themselves in their houses after seeing his presence." She let out a sigh but smiled seeing the small colt peek his muzzle out from the cape, then his full head.

Twilight nodded and walked slowly to the colt, laying down carefully on the floor, Sombra in return flinched -- hiding back under his cape.

The alicorn levitated the cape off of him and placed it aside, "Shh I won't hurt you, okay?"

Sombra cowered, making himself even more smaller as he stared up at the princess.

Shining armor let out a huff of anger, pinning his ears, beginning to protest about this whole thing "Twilight. Get back. He's dangerous, remember?!" He shouted making the foals eyes swell in tears as the colt quivered.

Twilight folded her ears, looking towards her brother "He's not.. if he was he would've done something by now. Don't make accusations, mother always said you never judged somepony for their past doings."

The stallion puffed out his chest and stormed out the room in anger and disapproval of the ruthless brutes bringing to the empire.

The princess stood up and relaxed her worried expression, "Are the princesses on their way?.."

Cadence nodded and folded her pink wings "They should be on their way.."

Fluttershy was still crying to herself about the meeting between her and Sombra, still apologizing awkwardly for making him scared.

Rainbow scoffed and crossed her forearms "Come on Twi, can we really trust him? For Celestias sake he's King Sombra! You know.. king of the shadows? Not to mention he's enslaved thousands of ponies against their will!"

Twilight sighed, "We're trying everything we can, okay?"

The blue pegasus groaned and crossed her front hooves, "Fine but if something happens between Equestria and Sombra, don't say I didn't warn you..." she muttered.

-/-

The two royal sisters were escorted to the Crystal Empire, Luna being more of the one nervously speaking to herself mentally.

Celestia was informed on who it was, just not in specifics that it was a foal of the once violent tyrant. She let out a deep sigh and glanced over her withers seeing her little sister nervously tapping her hoof on the floor.

"Everything alright, Luna?" She asked softly, making her sister jump in return from the sudden interference with her thoughts.

The blue alicorn stared at her sister and pinned her ears "Just exquisite."

Celestia chuckled at her annoyed voice "Everything will be handled professionally. It's only Sombra. I'm sure he cannot do anything."

Luna sighed and looked away, "I'm scared, sister, we've only had to deal with Sombra once between us. The second of his little visit was trashed by the elements and Cadence. What if he's more powerful than he was before?"

Celestia pondered for a moment, she smiled keeping the atmosphere calm instead of tensed, "Don't you believe that the crystal heart would've blasted him out of the empire as it did before? Maybe he has love inside of him this time."

Luna nodded in response "I suppose so.."

The white mare perked her ears "There you go. We'll see once we arrive at the empire, shouldn't be too long now."

Slowly, the empire came into vision. It was immensely quiet, usually you were able to hear the laughter and chatter from the civilians within the force field.

The train made a screeching halt and allowed the princesses off into the empire, only the sounds of their royalty shoes clicked across the crystal floor. Followed by the clanking of the escort guards hoof armor.

Luna sighed and gritted her teeth, taking in a deep breath through her nostrils and allowing it to exhale through her mouth. She looked up towards her older sister seeing nothing but focus on her expression, conveying the idea that she was prepared unlike her younger sister.

The guards lead both of the royalty to the large room which held Sombra, Cadence and the elements; as well as many guards, carefully the guards opened the door and allowed them in.

Twilight was talking to the foal Sombra, trying to get him to trust her but to her avail -- he was not much of one to talk. The purple alicorn quickly turned around and trotted towards the older alicorn, "Celestia! We're glad you came along.."

Celestia simply tilted her head and looked towards the small coal colt, she carefully walked towards him and halted once she saw him crouch down and walk away from her, "...This is...Sombra?"

The princess of love nodded her head, "Indeed, it is. I found him earlier today.. hence the reason why the empire is a complete ghost town outside."

Twilight folded her ears "He's been mute ever since Cadence found him. We're not even sure if he can talk."

Luna was staring absently towards the small Sombra, "Does he... remember?" she asked, looking at Cadence.

Cadence nervously flicked her ears "I..I don't know, all I know about him is that this is Sombra and he's a foal, that's all! We've been trying to gain his trust so he can talk to us but he cowards away and hides in the corner!"

Celestia nodded "That's quite okay. Don't get nervous. We'll earn his trust soon.. it seems as though there was a reincarnation spell placed on him though. That's not even available to my capabilities, it's illegal for even royalty to perform on corpses." The white alicorn lied down quietly, somewhat near the little Sombra.

Luna coughed and moved her vision away from Celestia and Sombra, "Sister. We don't know if this is a clone of his, more of a foal disguised as Sombra in order for the actual stallion to get his way back into the empire!"

Celestia gave her sister a 'really' look and raised one of her eyebrows, "If this was a regular foal corrupted to look as Sombra I don't think he would bare the horn of him. This is an umbrum foal and Sombra was a pure umbrum at birth, I believe it would be awfully painful to get a horn as the same as Sombras.. his is unnatural from the constant corruption as a young colt."

"That's awfully confusing, sister." The younger mare replied in a monotone voice.

Celestia remained silent but continued on, looking back at the foal seeing he was creeping his way towards Celestias wings "This is Sombra to adjust it for you, I'm sure of it.."

Sombra looked up at Celestia as the mare quickly looked away, not wanting to frighten him away. He focused back towards her wing and made his way under her wing, quietly curling up and letting out a huff of air.

Celestia simply smiled and looked over at Luna who rolled her eyes towards her sister.

Pinkie Pie squeaked as she hopped up into the air and was pulled down by the gravity, over and over again "This is just great! A little baby Sombra! Weeeeeee!"

Applejack shot a glare at the pink bouncing mare as her cheerful features relaxed to a neutral smile.

"Oh. I mean..." she lowered her voice "..weeeeee!"

Fluttershy piped up quietly before Twilight could, "Um. Princess Celestia? What are you going to do with Sombra? Shouldn't he have a place to stay?..."

Twilight raised her hoof "I was about to ask the same thing. I mean I could but--"

Celestia shook her head, "No. I'll care for him."

Luna perked her ears as a nervous expression shot across her face, "WHAT?!" Her voice yelled, making the walls shake in their places. She quickly flapped her wings from stress and closed them, "You can't do that sister! He's planning something I can already tell! What if he--"

Celestia frowned "Enough Luna!" She barked back at her sister, a more of an aggressive tone than Luna's "Sombra is coming to the royal castle and that's final!"

Luna frowned and slowly moved her focus down towards the crystal flooring "Fine."

The sun princess slowly rose from laying down, watching as Sombra got up along with her "Now... I bid you all goodbyes. We shall be leaving to canterlot, now." Celestia sighed, carefully levitating the small Sombra up onto her back as he caught his balance and sat on her back.

Twilight nodded "May we visit tomorrow? Or you may both come to my castle at Ponyville. Either one is perfectly okay with me, princess."

Celestia carefully kept herself steady so the little foal wouldn't fall off her back, "We'll accompany you in Ponyville, Twilight, the elements are welcome to come along if they choose to. It'll give him the chance to meet you all."

All mares of the elements nodded in agreement, Fluttershy especially.

The purple mare smiled "Perfect!"

Celestia slowly walked out of the room, followed by her royal guards and her sister back to the train station.

-/-

The moon princess sat away from the group as the small colt found his way around the train. He wobbled and struggled to sit on the seat next to Luna.

Luna stared at him and rolled her eyes, her horn casting a sparkling sound and levitating the foal onto the seat of the train, he giggled and smiled.

Celestia took note and remained quiet, watching Luna try and keep her distance away from the little colt.

The foals eyes flashed back to the regular white scleras, he tilted his head to the side and poked his hoof through Luna's waving starry mane; making a star glimmer at the touch.

Sombra moved his hoof away and smiled up at her, baring his tiny fangs.

Luna flicked her ears and stared outside the train window, letting out a quiet sigh. She didn't think Sombra would return as well.. this..

Celestia frowned and watched the colt fold his ears and remain silent, "Luna I believe he wants a little attention.."

The darker princess flinched from her thoughts, looking towards Celestia with a puzzled expression, "..I apologize, sister, I'm just caught up in my thoughts about this whole situation with Sombra."

Celestia simply nodded and yawned, she quickly held her hoof to her mouth "Dear me, I apologize sister I'm quite tired... but we'll have a conversation in private once we reach the castle."

Luna stared at Celestia for a moment and glanced down at Sombra who didn't move an inch, she went back to her thoughts -- staring out the window.

Sombra curled up besides Luna and let out a huff, furrowing his brows and catching a glimpse of Celestia -- he simply smiled and closed his eyes.

Luna felt the small colt lay besides her, she didn't scoot away nor did she ask for her sister to move him over. She remained silent and placed a gentle wing over him.

Celestia chuckled at that, hushing her tone to a whisper "He's not the Sombra we knew before.."

The white alicorn smiled and glanced out her window seeing the empire fading in the distance.

Luna felt the colt go limp besides her, indicating he fell asleep, she narrowed her eyes -- carefully moving a strand of his forelock away from his muzzle, she rolled her shoulders and looked towards Celestia "I don't know sister.. it's odd.."

Celestia tilted her head "How so?"

Luna raised an eyebrow, "How are you not confused nor worried about this ordeal? He was reborn into his colt age, ponies in Equestria are not allowed to use such magic!"

She hummed calmly, eventually seeing the light reach the window "Although such magic is banned from our lands, we'll still figure out who decided to bring him back into the world -- hopefully reform him." Celestia smiled.

Luna frowned and rolled her eyes "..Okay."

-/-

Slowly. The two royalty and a new comer were brought to canterlot by the train. By then, the small colt was awakened by the screeching of the train and followed the princesses inside the castle, guards surrounded the group to ensure proper protection while in public.

He perked his ears and watched how the two princesses walked, mocking their movement -- he proudly puffed out his smaller chest and lifted his hooves in a royal manner while walking along side them both. Celestia caught a glimpse of the once-grown tyrant following how royalty acted, she couldn't help but chuckle at how hard he strived to look like royalty.

Eventually, the two mares and colt arrived at the castle -- the guards were now in place at the walls, watching the movement from outside.

The little colt blinked, "Woah! Look how big this place is!" He galloped up the velvet stairs, looking up at the ceiling and the various paintings around the current hallway they were in.

The two princesses exchanged stares to one another, they didn't know the smaller version of Sombra could speak -- rather that he even wanted to. Celestia coughed awkwardly and smiled, "Indeed, it's tremendously big."

Sombra quickly galloped back towards the princesses, hopping down the top of the stairs to the very bottom with instant balance.

Luna furrowed her brows, leaning over to her sister and whispering quietly into her ear, "He's quite the hyper one isn't he?"

Celestia chuckled and only nodded as her response.

Luna let out a quiet fake yawn "Well, sister... I'll be in my chambers if you need anything." She then walked off, leaving the older mare and the colt alone.

Celestia slowly made her way up the stairs as her ears flicked to the area where Luna's door closed, she quietly walked through a hallway filled with stained glass windows.

Sombra tagged along, close besides the white alicorn. A specific window caught his attention of a dragon and a crystal heart -- at least that's what his imagination could picture, along with a pink pony with a horn and wings just like Celestia, he poked the glass window "What's this?"

Celestia stopped and tilted her head to the side, catching a glimpse of the colored window -- she let out a shaky sigh and smiled "Many years back, a princess and a dragon helped create the crystal heart. Everypony believed a dragon couldn't help an alicorn princess, but they showed that anypony and anyone can be friends." She swiftly lied about the ordeal of the crystal heart.

Sombra was taken aback by the short description of it, he flicked his ears and smiled "It's pretty. Do you think I can see it too?"

She nodded.

The foal smiled and continued to follow Celestia, glancing at the stained window one last time.

-/-

Eventually, both colt and princess found themselves camping in the library where Sombra cuddled up besides Celestia for the warmth, staring down at her book she was currently on.

He stared at the confusing words, Celestia was still utterly confused how he even has a vocabulary if he was reborn. She shook off her thoughts and focused her mind on the book.

Sombra let out a hum and blinked a few times, casting a few looks on her page she was on that read 'page 213' just by judging the pages, there was over 400 pages or so.

Celestia smiled and looked at him, "It's a spell book, little one."

Sombra nodded in response and yawned, nuzzling into her side and resting his head on the floor.

It was quiet, eventually the small umbrum foal fell asleep close to Celestia, muttering words to himself about today. Including the stained glass window he encountered earlier with Celestia in the royal hallway.

"Goodnight. Little Shadow.." Celestia closed her book and blew out the candle.

As time swiftly passed by, both princesses did their duties to rise the sun and lower the moon and all it's properties. The sun rose high above in the crystal blue sky, dapples of clouds found here and there and the sun emitting a soft glow into the older sisters room.

Sombra was on the bed, curled up underneath the warm embrace of the covers in which they were sewed for the princess, with a picture in the middle of the blanket just like her cutiemark.

Celestia was on the floor, casually reading a thick book filled with information about other breed of ponies and there wasn't just typical ponies, she knew that, Chrysalis was an example. Although she wasn't merely a pony, she was considered along the lines of a equine, they all shared equine properties/characteristics.

She quietly flipped her page and began studying upon 'little shadows' breed of pony. An umbrum. There were so many types of equine considered beings in the world of Equestria, too many and there's probably some that aren't even recorded.

Sombra opened his eyes and blinked tiredly, looking towards Celestia he lazily hopped out of bed and caught his balance, eventually falling straight on his muzzle.

The princess couldn't help but chuckle but she rose and offered the small colt some assistance, which he politely denied and got up himself.

Sombra blinked a few times, taking a few steps forward and looking up at the tall alicorn, he murmured an embarrassed 'hi' and went on his way towards the tall window.

Celestia followed along side him and saw his main focus on Ponyville, not too far away from Canterlot. She smiled and perked her ears but before she could explain what the village was named, he spoke up.

"What's that place?" He poked the window in the direction of Ponyville.

Celestia hummed "Ponyville."

The foal tilted his head and moved away from the glass "Will we go there?"

The princess hesitated, not sure about the civilians reactions towards Sombra. But she didn't want to upset him by making him sad that they were unable to go. Instead, Celestia simply nodded.

Sombra bounced around happily like a child getting what they wanted, he smiled brightly.

Celestia carefully made her way out of the room, going to Luna's chambers, which wasn't too far away from her own. She quietly knocked and was allowed in.

There was silence for a brief moment but the dark alicorn allowed her sister inside.

"Yes?" She questioned.

Celestia shook her head "Would you be willing to come along with us--"

Luna tilted her head, "What do you mean by us?"

There was an awkward silence but Celestia smiled lightly and chirped, "Me and Little Shadow."

The princess of the moon stared at her sister "...Little...Shadow." She repeated, she sighed and placed a hoof on her own forehead "I'm guessing that's Sombra?"

Celestia slowly nodded in response, "Yes... that's Sombra's new name to keep him from asking what his born name is." She shook her head "Anyways, would you like to accompany us to Ponyville?"

Luna folded her ears "And what shall we do about the screaming or worried civilians, Sombra--" she corrected herself quickly "..Little..Shadows presence is already known in local areas."

Celestia chewed on her tongue and unprofessionally shrugged, "I'm not entirely sure on that case, but please sister, come along with us, it'll give him the chance to see what harmony is about."

Luna sighed and tapped her front hoof "Alright sister, only because I wish for him to take a brighter path.."

-/-

Celestia had ordered her royal carriage in which all three royals boarded the carriage, taking their flight to Ponyville.

It was more of a quiet flight, the small colt remained close between Celestia and Luna, watching the view of Canterlot fade into the distance and the arrival of Ponyville came into view.

The two pegasi stallions landed carefully as the two royal sisters and the newest addition quietly began their walk to Twilights castle, both princesses received bows and quiet murmurs while the darker colt received glares and whispers about the ruthless tyrant that lived within him still.

Sombra gladly walked into the wide castle, followed by the two rulers of the land.

Twilight was studying a book but quietly pushed it aside when she saw the sister arrive "Hello!" She glanced to her side "Oh, I see you brought a guest." She smiled and ruffled the colts mane, carefully avoiding his horn.

Celestia smiled "Yes, he wanted to take a look around the village."

Spike came rushing down the stairs "Hey, Twi, remember that comic book? I can't find it--" he halted and saw the small colt that looked entirely like Sombra, he nervously shook and slowed his pace down to a slacked walk as he moved to Twilight.

Twilight slapped the back of Spikes head seeing the colt had purple smoke evading his eyes, the mare nervously smiled "So, do you like Ponyville so far?"

Luna stared at Sombra, watching as the colt looked away and shrug carelessly.

"It's okay." He admitted.

Spike rubbed his head in the area where Twilight whacked him with her wing and walked towards Sombra, he smiled and patted his head "Maybe Pinkie can get him something from the bakery?" He suggested but the colt moved away from the dragons claws.

Twilight looked at Celestia in which both exchanged stares, they were unsure, the purple alicorn smiled "Spike, why don't you show him to the studying room, there's an easel with paint on the side if you'd rather paint than read." She perked her ears after seeing him nod in response.

Spike bared his tiny fangs and gestured Sombra to follow him, which he did.

-/-

Celestia let out a shaky sigh after both of them left, she glanced over at Luna and shook her head "I don't know how I can continue on with this, it's so unpleasant. I feel horrible for keeping his past away from him and it's already starting to show that little touch of corruption.."

Twilight folded her wings, taking a look at her feathers to see they were intact but moved her focus back to Celestia and Luna "Hm. Well. What do you call him now? Sombra or something else?"

"Little shadow." Luna answered for her sister.

The younger alicorn nodded, "I don't think he remembers us calling him Sombra, does he?"

Both princesses shrugged, Luna making her way to the tables and allowing herself to sit next to Twilight, Celestia sitting on the opposite side of Luna.

Celestia nervously rubbed her front hooves together, making the sound of metal clank once they met, "I just don't know how to raise him, I've never dealt with a foal besides my school for the gifted but I was an instructor there, I've never actually had a foal."

Luna folded her ears, "Along with the fact he's an umbrum."

Celestia nodded at that and sighed.

Twilight shook her head and pondered for a moment before stretching out her wings and closing them again, "Well." She began "Keep him out of danger for one, keep him away from things that would pull in an umbrum like darkness or fear for example.

Keep him happy." She smiled.

In the other room, Spike was beginning conversations with the mini Sombra, but the colt was far more interested in painting rather than listen to a dragon go on about a story or two.

Spike didn't even pay attention to what Sombra was drawing, but once he did he only saw the colt placing mass amount of detail within the shadows.

It was a large combining of darkness, where Sombra even had the chance to paint or learn where to, he didn't know, but he knew how to.

Spike nervously chuckled "What are you painting?"

"Darkness." Sombra answered in a monotone voice.

Sombra placed the paintbrush away and stared at the now fulfilled canvas, "It comes to me when I'm asleep sometimes. It likes to tell me I'll be king." He looked at Spike "Will I be king?"

The dragon placed a claw in the air and quickly nodded, unsure what he would do if he spoke out of term "Of course! I need to do something, I'll be back. Stay right there."

Spike left the room and figured out the 'darkness' was him.

Him.

In the future.