Little Shadow

The now teenage "Little Shadow" paced around in a cave he once sought refuge in away from society and isolated himself away from any living being

It's been years since his disappearance... Everyone thought he was dead, some were even glad he was gone.

He didn't look any different, besides a trio of red crystals as a cutiemark and his height grew. Same red horn, red ruby eyes, the same soft dark grey coat and his flowing charcoal colored mane and tail.

"What shall I tell her..." He mused aloud and stared outside. The stallion was confused to why the guards have never even looked here for him when he was a colt.

He survived off stealing food from markets from Ponyville, during the harsh winters he would force himself to live through the bone-chilling winds.

Today was the day to visit his once motherly-figure as a colt.

She didn't know he was planning to visit at all. He just felt like coming to finally see her once more.

The teenage stallion placed a red cloak that was almost similar to his kings cloak with the fur trim, it had a black fur trim instead. Made with the best black fox fur.

He also slipped on some silver armored boots, placed a silver chest plate and decided to take off.

He... Of course had stolen all of the goods he wore, he didn't have the bits for neither.

Sombra trotted out the cave and sealed the entrance away in a camouflage spell so no one would come and raid through his stolen goods.

The stallion was greeted with mares holding their foals close and shops even closing down when they saw him trot into Canterlot, there had been tales about the princess caring for an umbrum foal but... Never once had he been seen to step hoof into Canterlot ever since his disappearance.

Sombra instead of returning glares back to the snobby rich ponies continued trotting, a familiar white unicorn guard stared as he let out a loud whistle, other unicorn guards that were perched on the balcony of the castle aimed their bows directly towards Sombra's head.

"I mean no ill-will. Only a simple visit to Celestia and Luna." He looked up at the guards that were staring him down like a hawk.

The captain snorted and rolled his eyes, "Yeah sure whatever Sombra."

The teenage stallion tilted his head "You do not believe me?" He questioned softly in a tone he never did before.

Shining Armor stayed silent, feeling a bit awkward at first from his sudden tone but stiffened his posture, puffing his chest out to look more intimidating for a stallion.

Before Sombra could even say anything Shining motioned the other guards to lower their weapons, he glared at the teen and allowed him in but made him halt at the gate, holding a hoof at his chest.

Sombra glared at him in response and Shining pinned his ears back.

"Try anything funny and I swear on the holy gods above that I will rip your horn off and shove it where Celestia's sun doesn't shine." Shining snarled softly, the teen just nodded and had suddenly formed into a shadow and walked through his hoof.

"Duly noted..." He formed back into his regular pony form.

-/-

Sombra walked through the royal doors and instantly saw Celestia, the alicorn blinked for a moment.

"Little Shadow?..." She perked her ears and ran down the stairs to greet him.

The stallion nodded and looked at Celestia, it's been years since he talked to her and didn't portray any expression that he was happy to see her.

Celestia smiled widely and wrapped a hoof around the teen and hugged him, she had grown taller.. That was just about it that he could notice.

Sombra sighed and shifted slightly -- he never enjoyed hugs ever since he left. He was just out on his own and never had the warmth of a wing that hovered over him when he slept or a pony that would at least keep him company.

The alicorn stopped hugging him and noticed the stallions cutiemark, she closed her wings and moved besides him, she was so glad to see he was alright but kept herself calm seeing the stallion wasn't much excited to see her as much as she was to see him.

Sombra coughed awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck with his hoof, "Where's Luna?" He finally spoke up. His voice went through changes obviously, from a little childish foal voice to a dark and deep stallions voice.

Celestia motioned him to follow her as she once again trotted up the stairs and walked to the library to where Luna was furiously flipping through books that seemed to be about Sombra...

She seemed upset, not angry, just saddened.

The alicorn nudged Sombra with her wing, he didn't cough to interrupt Luna but just walked over to her and stayed quiet.

The princess of the night groaned and placed the book about Sombra in its shelf and looked in front of her and slowly blinked, was it truly him? Or was she so driven to try and find Sombra that it got to her head?

"S-Shadow?" She stuttered and flattened her ears.

Sombra nodded, "Indeed it is I." He smiled, revealing his fangs. He was greeted by the princess instantly hugging him with tears streaming down her face.

Sombra didn't move away or push her away for that matter. He just allowed her to hug him.

The library was a mess, books were scattered and there were little drawings he remembered he made when he was younger.

Luna stopped hugging him and wiped her eyes, "I'm sorry I just... Thought you were dead for so many years.." She sighed quietly.

Sombra simply shook his head "Not at all." He walked away towards the familiar pictures and levitated them with his magic, he smiled seeing it was a little drawing of him, Celestia and Luna. He decided to take it and placed it in his armored boot.

The dark blue alicorn hummed and walked over towards him and pointed at a small drawing, "Remember this?" She smiled.

It was a poorly colored drawing of him and Luna happily running in a field it seemed, Sombra seemed intrigued by it as he slowly levitated it and examined it.

"Ah, yes I do." He stared at it thoughtfully, a flashback blurring into his memory.

-/-

The little colt him giggled as Luna passed down a black pencil to finish off the drawing, "Yay, I finished!" He smiled gleefully as he showed Luna the drawing.

The moon princess chuckled at the drawing of her and Sombra running together in a field. It was adorable she has to admit.

"It's lovely." She ruffled the small colts mane.

Little Shadow giggled again and stood to his hooves, shaking his coat.

Luna smiled and stood as well, towering next to the little Sombra, he walked over to Celestia and lied down underneath her wing like he always did; perking his ears when he heard a spark of magic from Luna's direction.

The moon princess brought a blanket and placed it over Celestia, lying down on the cold floor besides the two ponies.

Celestia was fast asleep on the floor from her recent studies and suddenly pulled Little Shadow close to her in a protective manner. The colt didn't say anything but nuzzled her side and closed his eyes.

-/-

The flashback suddenly ended when he felt eyes were staring at him, his eyes felt damp and the picture had tear drops on them.

The stallion blinked and rubbed his eyes quickly, placing the drawing back down.

"Are you alright, Shadow?" A voice trotted towards Sombra as he gave a quick nod.

"..I-I'm fine.." He muttered.

Celestia nodded slowly and placed a comforting hoof on his shoulders, "Will you stay for dinner?" She offered.

The stallion opened his mouth to reject the offer but just nodded, he placed the drawing in his armored boot with the other one.

Luna blinked "So... Shadow. Where are you staying currently?" She asked trying to get his location.

Sombra shook his head and frowned, "I will still not discuss my location. I wish to be left alone..." He was still traumatized from his past events as a colt.

The moon princess sighed and nodded "I..see..." She trotted out the room, followed by Celestia.

Sombra stayed behind and began to pull his thoughts together. He walked to a window and stared outside. He flattened his ears seeing everything turned to monochromic colors to only him.

It was normal for that to happen to him at specific times, but everything seems to just...

...Stop...

It seems to all just stop in place, everything and everyone.

Everything seemed so dead; like it never had a purpose.

Sombra blinked and rubbed his forehead, seeing everything went back to its bright colors and such.

He tended to have small episodes of such vision, usually if something bad was going to happen, he would get fits such as that.

The stallion furrowed his brow and looked around the empty streets seeing there was nothing, what could've made his vision suddenly have a fit?

"Hello... My son... It seems you've grown so much in a matter of years, hm?" A wicked voice rang in his ears, Sombra quickly turned around and saw a faint shadow-like figure that dripped black.

Sombra stuttered and stared at the figure "I..." He blinked and shook his head, "Mother?.."

The shadow figure smiled a toothy grin and nodded "Indeed..."

He thought she was dead and gone since they destroyed the crystals, he rubbed his face and saw the figure suddenly fade away.

Maybe it was just his mind playing games...

The stallion moved away from the window as his armor boots made a loud clank on the floor. He walked out of the library and found himself wandering the halls.

Everything was a bit different from how he left it, the paintings were rearranged, some rooms were locked up, he blinked and stopped suddenly; seeing the room he stayed in.

-/-

Sombra slowly pushed the door open as it made a loud 'creak' he stepped in and had no words for what he saw.

There were drawings of his as a foal, the bed was neatly prepared as if they were waiting for him to come back, there was even a little aluminum foil crown that he remembered was used for when Luna and him would pretend.

Everything was... In order.

He never remembered leaving it like this anyways, they did this.

Sombra quietly walked around the room, the old wooden floor creaking underneath his hooves.

It was quiet... Too quiet.

The stallion tilted his head seeing there were extremely wilted flowers on the nightstand and a melted candle.

He blinked and slowly took a wilted rose out of it's vase; it suddenly crumbled even at the lightest tough of magic. Sombra sighed and placed the stem of the rose back on the nightstand and continued to examine the room.

"We waited a long time for your arrival again..." A soft voice made the stallion flinch and stare at where it came from.

Sombra blinked and nodded, slowly looking away once he saw it was just Celestia. He stayed silent for a moment and forced himself to spit some words out, "I..suppose so." The teen simply said and ran his hoof across a drawing that was presented on the wall.

He didn't technically like Celestia ever since he ran away. She was too commanding, too controlling and overall just a bad pony towards him once he started to age.

Celestia sighed and dipped her head, staring at the ground, "I see you're still upset about the past..." She stated.

Why lie? She knew he was upset about what happened still. Sombra simply nodded as a response "Indeed." He approved in a cold tone. The mare on the other hoof picked up her head in surprise hearing his voice lower down to an unexpected displeased tone.

Celestia sighed once more and nodded "I can tell.." She watched his muscles tense and soon relax.

What did she mean by 'I can tell'?! The stallion simply grumbled and took his armored hoof off the picture and trotted out of the room, his boots causing loud clanks through the hallways.

Sombra frowned deeply watching guards stare at him when he angrily stormed out the room.

-/-

He was greeted by an angry captain standing in front of the teen.

"What did I say about doing anything funny, Sombra?" He hissed in anger, the teen was simply confused. Sombra didn't do anything besides walk out the room though.

Sombra tilted his head, "I beg your pardon?"

Shining stared at his armor and met his eyes again, "You know what you did. We all just figured it out."

The teen stallion perked his ears realizing that he meant, he stole the armor a few months back. Sombra simply blinked "Oh."

Shining held his hoof out, "I request you give back the armor or you'll be put in the Canterlot dungeons."

Dear Celestia, this guy is so eager to put me in jail isn't he? Sombra snickered to himself mentally. The teen stallion flicked his tail and simply shook his head "No can do, Shiny." He snorted at the little nickname.

Shining armor growled and placed his hoof back down "Very well." He whistled twice and made a few guards surround them both.

Sombra showed no emotion and didn't even seem like he wanted to take his armor off, once again, he'll have to take off or kill another guard if needed. Shining pinned his ears back "Once again, if you're too deaf to hear me, I request-"

The teen smirked "I heard you once, Shining armor, no need to repeat your words."

The grown stallion frowned "Then give me the armor if you heard me."

Sombra chuckled "I just don't wish to, that's the thing." Shining armor knew exactly where this was going, it was one of his funny little games he liked to play on ponies, he would argue with them.

Shining signaled the guards and they all aimed their swords at Sombra; one of which was held at his chin and held his head up.

Before Shining Armor could warn Sombra again, his once regular pony form turned into a black mass of shadows, towering over the group of guards.

Sombra seemed not to care about the endless arrows going right through his shadow figure. It didn't harm him, it just felt like a little pinch. His form made the guards that were attacking him pin up against the wall by full-black tendrils that wrapped around their necks; slowly choking them.

He stared down at Shining who was now running for his own life, the form of Sombra glanced at the guards who were all gasping for air and choking. With a sudden click he made the tendrils leave the guards bodies and return back to his own. Sombra returned back to his umbrum pony form and rolled his eyes seeing the guards cough loudly.

The teenage stallion walked over to a guard who was the one who held the sword up to his chin earlier, he used his magic and held him in the air by the neck.

"Don't you ever forget this day." He threw the guard against the wall and walked to the doors to leave.

This 'plan' Celestia had to try and reform him didn't work. He wasn't surprised, it's not like she would ever successfully actually care for an being that wasn't even close to a pony. Maybe her phoenix but besides that, it seemed to not faze him that she couldn't care for him properly.