Chapters 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.
Spike narrowed his eyes and moved away from the colt seeing he was staring at his painting with a slight smile on his face. His ears flicked as he stared at Spike who quickly ran away to the princesses.
"And then me and m--" Twilight was quickly interrupted as she felt a claw poke her back hoof, "What is it spike?" Spike didn't say anything but just pointed at the room Sombra was in, "he's painting a picture of himself as a shadow form." He looked up at Twilight.
Celestia perked her ears and a sudden rush of motherly instinct ran through her body, she quickly trotted over to the room he was in and walked in.
She tilted her head seeing Shadow was staring blankly at his new painting with a smile on his face. Celestia sighed and lowered her head "Little Shadow. What is this drawing?"
Sombra looked up at her and smiled more "It's darkness." He pointed at it while still looking at her.
Celestia sat down besides him and took the canvas off the easel and put a fresh one on the holder, "How about me and you paint a picture together? That isn't darkness, a happy picture." She smiled and picked up a paintbrush and gave another one to Little Shadow.
The colt blinked and nodded, beginning to paint along with Celestia.
Luna walked in the room quietly and instantly saw the canvas that Sombra recently painted on, she picked it up carefully and took it with her to the throne room and examined it.
She shook her head seeing how detailed it was, he really wasn't lying about this darkness... To him it seemed so vivid at least.
-/-
Celestia continued painting with Little Shadow, they eventually painted a picture of a castle. Sombra mainly adding more of the detail to it. She smiled softly and let him paint while still watching him just in case.
She looked outside seeing it was starting become afternoon. She hummed and looked away.
"Mom?" He asked and looked at Celestia, she blinked and flicked her ear, looking at him... This was the first time he called her 'mom'.
She at least took this as making progress with him.
She smiled and perked her ears "Yes?"
Little shadow furrowed his brows "Am I family?" He perked his ears and tilted his head.
Celestia nodded and smiled more "Yes, little one, you are apart of the family.." She nuzzled him gently, "Don't let any other pony tell you other wise."
Little Shadow smiled "Even if I am different?"
Celestia blinked and nodded again, "Of course Little Shadow.." She was confused why he got the idea already that he was different.
"Ok.. Because some ponies were talking and talking, saying I was not a pony." He went back to painting. He blinked and pinned his ears back, looking back at Celestia "What am I if I am not a pony?"
Celestia felt her heart pang as she looked down at the ground, she couldn't lie of what he was, she coughed and looked at him "You're an Umbrum."
The small colt nodded and looked away, going back to painting again.
-/-
Eventually it was time to go and Celestia ordered her carriage again and took off to the castle with Luna and Shadow.
Shadow was confused what an umbrum was... He wanted to know soon.
They all arrived back at the castle after a decent amount of flying through the air on the carriage. Luna had allowed Little Shadow to sit on her back while they walked into the castle, she was slowly getting used to him.
Luna let him down on the ground and went to go raise the moon, as well as Celestia lowering the sun. Sombra was left in the hallways... Alone.
He sighed and walked around, he blinked seeing a painting of a king that looked like him. He tilted his head and tried to look like him, intimidating. He let out a giggle seeing how fun it was to pretend.
Little Shadow pranced around the hallways and giggled more but forced a straight face "I am a king!" He chuckled cutely "I am King Shadow!" He smiled and bared his little fangs.
He stopped pretending seeing a guard walk past him carrying a filly that seemed to have gotten into the castle.
Little Shadow tilted his head and walked over to the guard and tapped him on his hind leg "Let her go." He frowned and the guard did as he was told and let the filly go.
"Hi" He smiled but she quickly blinked and stared at him.
"You're not a pony, are you?" She asked curiously, walking around him and examining his features. Little Shadow shook his head proudly "No. Mom says I'm an umbrum." He flicked his ears, "Everypony says I'm weird."
The filly giggled and hugged him "That's okay! I'm weird too."
Little Shadow smiled widely "I'm Little Shadow, who are you?" He blinked waiting for a response from the little filly.
"I'm Rosehope." She answered "Aren't you Sombra though? I saw you in the newspaper." She tilted her head.
Little shadow flattened his ears "Sombra?... I thought I was little shadow though.. Mom and everypony else calls me little shadow."
Rosehope shook her head and giggled "No. You're Sombra."
Their conversation was interrupted when Celestia walked into the room they were in and blinked "Little Shadow who i--"
Sombra frowned and stared at her "I thought I was Little Shadow not Sombra..." The filly nodded in agreement as Celestia choked on her own words.
"Where did you get the word Sombra from?" Celestia asked as Sombra glanced over at his new friend, "Rose told me my real name. King Sombra, right?" Rose simply nodded.
Celestia flattened her ears, she felt like she failed at being a mother-like figure. All because of this filly... Luna walked in and blinked "What is all this commotion?" She asked.
Sombra frowned more "Why did you lie?..." He asked softly, the guards quickly escorted Rose out of the building.
Celestia stuttered "Little Shadow, please, don't be upset." She cooed and walked towards him, the colt moved away from her and flicked his tongue out "I bet you even lied about that magical heart too..." He felt tears swell in his eyes.
"I-I bet... I'm...the m-monster everypony hides a-away...from..." He sobbed and ran away from the princesses, locking himself in a room.
Luna felt her heart pang and stared at Celestia "You lied about the crystal heart?..." She asked quietly, Celestia ducked her head and nodded.
-/-
Sombra slammed the door behind him and sobbed, he rubbed his eyes and sniffled "I don't need them..." He said to himself and choked on his words realizing what he said.
He looked around the room and saw little jewelry and such. He sniffled again and walked around.
Celestia and Luna quickly ran to the room Sombra was in and knocked on the door desperately "Little Shadow please come out." Luna called out for him, there was no answer from the colt.
He flattened his ears sadly and shook his head hearing Luna's call for him. "I never needed them..." He whispered to himself and touched a piece of armor for a guard. The moonlight projected into the room, giving it a slightly creepy feel to it, Sombra didn't really care.
Celestia on the other side of the room sobbed quietly and knocked on the door again "Please little one, come out."
Sombra was busy looking at the necklaces and such, golden armor and shiny crowns. He smiled seeing a prince crown that seemed to fit his head, he furrowed his brows and used his magic, shakily taking the prince crown off the holder and placed it on his head.
Sombra did a happy soft squee and wagged his tail, now he was a real king even if the crown was for a prince.
He looked around for a cape of some sort. Luna quickly used her magic and slammed the door open, the colt had a small kings cape on and frowned. He looked away from Luna and grumbled.
Luna walked over to the colt and placed a hoof on his small shoulders "Why did thou run away?" She asked softly.
Sombra looked up at Luna and bared his fangs at her for a moment "You both lied to me..." He pouted "I'm King Sombra like Rose told me..."
Luna sighed and shook her head, looking over at Celestia who's eyes were red because of her sobbing.
"But you're Little Shadow to us, okay?" Celestia weakly said.
The colt blinked and looked at Celestia, she walked over to the small colt and took the crown off his head "We don't want you to be a king just yet..." She ruffled his mane softly with her hoof and sniffled.
"But... Rose said..." Sombra was about to continue but Luna interrupted his sentence "It does not matter what Rose or what any other pony may say, you're still our little shadow." She smiled down at him.
He perked his ears and hugged Luna's hoof, and looked up at his mother-like figure; Celestia.
"I'm sorry, mom.." He ran to her and hugged her, nuzzling her hoof. Celestia smiled weakly and picked him up with her arm and hugged him back,
"It's okay, my little shadow..."
Author's Note
Yaaaaay forgiveness
Little Shadow giggled softly after Princess Celestia and Luna decided to spend some time with him. Playing pretend and making aluminum foil crowns.
"Thou shall not pass!" Luna chuckled, standing in front of the colt.
The colt raised an eyebrow "Oh yeah?!" He giggled and ran right past her to the jar of cookies. Luna simply smiled and made a fake worried expression, "Oh no! Not the cookies!" She gasped and walked to the colt who helped himself to some of the cookies.
He blinked and swallowed a mouthful of cookies.
"Too late. They're mine now." He laughed which turned out to be a snort at the end. Luna chuckled and levitated the jar and put it back in its shelf. She hummed and ruffled his mane.
Celestia was reading a book after playing with Luna and Sombra and let out a tired yawn. Little Shadow trotted over to her and lied down under her wing and smiled.
The alicorn blinked and looked to her side seeing it was just the small colt.
Luna yawned and made her way to the door "I shall go now sister, I have to visit dreams." She trotted out of Celestia's room. Celestia nodded after Luna shut the door behind her. The alicorn closed her book and set it aside. The small colt snuggled close to Celestia as she felt a smile creep across her face.
She sang softly to him of a lullaby she knew, she glanced down at him seeing he was fast asleep under her wing. She sighed and kept the smile on her face.
She eventually fell asleep next to him, keeping her wing over him so he would stay warm.
-/-
Celestia woke up in the morning and got up quietly so she could raise the sun, Sombra was still asleep, curled up cutely.
The princess came back soon after rising the sun for Equestria. Sombra was still asleep which wasn't really odd, she knew he would sleep a lot anyways.
Princess Celestia walked across the floor quietly and decided to send a letter to Cadence asking if she may come over to the Royal castle. After sending it she blinked hearing a cute yawn escape Sombra's mouth. He stretched and had bit of a trouble to keep his eyes open since he was never used to waking up early.
She chuckled softly seeing this and swiftly walked towards the small colt, "Goodmorning little one." She sat down besides him.
He blinked and flattened his ears "I had a bad dream.." Little Shadow frowned, Celestia perked her ears with slight worry and tilted her head "Hm?... What was it about?"
The colt stared absently and shrugged after he couldn't remember "Can't remember."
Celestia simply nodded, "Anyways.." She added on "Remember the pretty pink alicorn in that castle when you met me? Her name was Cadence."
The colt tilted his head for a moment but nodded soon enough, "Yeah she was pretty." He smiled.
The white alicorn glanced out the window and looked away, "She'll be coming to visit soon, today." Sombra perked his ears cheerfully "Really?" He felt a rush of sadness go through him for a moment but payed no attention to it.
Celestia nodded, "Indeed."
She blinked hearing the royal door knock, "That must be her, come along." She got up and trotted down to the door to let Cadence and... Shining armor in?...
Shining armor snorted "I didn't want to leave her here alone."
Cadence rolled her eyes as a little baby alicorn popped out of her mane. She cooed softly and nuzzled her mothers mane. Celestia frowned seeing Shining but nodded "Come in..."
Sombra blinked and looked up at Shining armor when he walked through the doors. The grown stallion returned a glare at the foal, pinning his ears back. It was obvious Shining never liked Sombra or even this new form of him.
Little Shadow whimpered softly and moved away from him, tucking his tail between his back legs. Cadence blinked and heard his whimper, she shot a angry look at her husband...which terrifies him half to death.
Sombra lowered his head and walked away from the group of ponies, sitting down in a corner away from everyone. He sighed quietly seeing Shining armor had a smirk on his face.
God... Little Shadow just wanted to slap that stupid smirk off his face an--
The colt blinked and shook his head, rubbing his face. Was he really beginning to have violent thoughts?..
Cadence saw the little foal and moved towards him, "Hey there. Don't mind Shining, he's bit of an butt sometimes..." She wanted to say the other word but didn't want to teach him bad things.
Little Shadow nodded and looked away from her, letting out another sigh and moving away from the alicorn princess. He walked to a room and slammed the door shut.
-/-
"They're stupid ponies..." He muttered to himself quietly.
Inndeeeedd. Theeeeyyy arrrrreee .... A voice called out to the small colt who jumped in response.
"W-Who's there?!" He asked, trembling now from the sudden voice that appeared in the room.
Yoouu doonntt reememmbeerr yyooourrr owwn moottherrr ...?
The voice took form of a tall dark grey mare with a horn just like Sombra's, she had a queens crown on that shimmered in the sunlight that passed through the window.
Sombra flattened his ears "B-But... I thought..." He choked on his words "I thought...Celestia was my mom..." He looked up at the mare.
The mare chuckled and shook her head, placing a hoof under her sons chin, "No... My dear... I am your mother." Her voice was now sweet instead of the endless echoes through the room.
Little Shadow broke into tears and flattened his ears more "She lied to me..." He sobbed.
Queen Ebony wiped his tears away gently with her hoof and looked at him "No. My little Sombra... Celestia shall never be your mother, only I." She hummed and made a prince crown appear with her magic.
"How about you keep pretending to be a king and maybe one day... Just possibly one day you shall?" She lowered the crown on his head, it looked almost like his crown he wore when he was grown, except it was coal black.
Sombra blinked and smiled "Okay, mother..."
Ebony made little coal black armor and a kings cape appear and allowed him to try it on. He happily perked his ears and ran around in his new armor "I love it, I love it! Mo-- I mean... Celestia never wanted me to be king."
The queen made her way to the now armored Sombra, "Now listen to me, my son, do not speak of my presence." She adjusted his mane like any mother would, the little prince nodded "I won't tell any pony." He smiled brightly at her.
Woooonndeeeerrrffuuuulll ... She instantly disappeared into midair.
-/-
Little Shadow opened the door and blinked seeing that there was no Celestia, no Luna or even the other ponies looking for him. They probably don't care.
He pranced around in his new armor, humming to himself when he accidentally bumped into Shining Armor. The foal blinked and moved away from him, Shining's eyes widened seeing the armor he was wearing and ran to tell the princesses.
"I'm a king. I'm a king." He chuckled quietly. He saw the painting of the same stallion that he was pretending to be.
Celestia stepped in front of Sombra as well as Luna and Cadence, "Why are you wearing that?" Celestia asked and looked down at him.
The colt blinked and looked up at his... Well... He wasn't sure if she was much of a friend, she wasn't much of a mother-like figure either.
Little Shadow frowned "I made it." He lied swiftly, remembering not to speak of Ebony's presence.
Celestia pinned her ears back "Little Shadow I know you did not make that, now where did you really get that armor from?"
Shining armor levitated the crown off the foals head and crushed it underneath his hoof, the princesses stared at Shining, worried about how the foal will react.
Sombra snarled and bared his fangs at Shining, "I hate you." He spat and flicked his tongue out.
The grown stallion blinked, realizing what he did and quickly tried to fix the crown but ended up making it ten times worse than the damage that actually happened to it.
The foal stared at the princesses "I hate all of you!"
Princess Luna stomped her hoof and growled "That is no way to speak to your mother, me and Cadence!"
Sombra simply laughed quietly and stared at Celestia, "You are not my real mother. I've realized it since the day I got here. You've been blinding me ever since." Celestia blinked and flattened her ears "I..." She stuttered looking for words.
The colt walked away from the group and out the royal door, Celestia ran after him but he was already nowhere to be found in the snow.
Celestia sobbed and ordered a search party to look for the colt.
-/-
Little Shadow shivered while walking through the empty streets of Canterlot. He wasn't sure where his mother was at but he needed to get away from this place for sure.
The foal blinked and saw a small ledge that seemed to go down straight to Ponyville. He was surprisingly good at climbing for his age.
He sneezed and walked carefully down to Ponyville.
The snow was heavy and blew against his fur, causing him to stop and let out a breath a few times. He eventually made it down to Ponyville grounds after forcing himself to walk through snow.
Ebony was soon to be found behind a building as Sombra quickly ran up to her and hugged her.
"Wonderful my little Sombra." She blinked and stared at his head "Where is your crown?"
The foal sneezed and coughed "A stallion broke it on purpose."
The queen nodded and ruffled his mane like the princesses would do "That is fine, little one. We can always make you a new crown."
The foal blinked "Where will we stay? It's cold..." He shivered.
Queen Ebony hummed and looked around, "Where everyone else is staying at."
Little Shadow tilted his head curiously "There's more of us ?..."
The mare nodded and motioned him to follow her, she used her magic and made both of them appear in a dark castle.
-/-
Little Shadow blinked and stared at the decor, everything was neatly in its place. He stopped looking around as a pure black stallion with feathering on his hooves walked in front of his mother, he had a curved horn as well.
"I see you have brought back our little Sombra?" He asked gleefully and looked down at the small colt.
Ebony nodded and shooed him away from her child, she walked to her throne and sat down, "Do what you please, little one, we shall be teaching you the right magic when the sun rises again tomorrow." She hummed and added onto her sentence "If the princess is even sane enough to rise the sun." She muttered.
Author's Note
A little bit of feels in this one I must say.
Crystals
Celestia sobbed in her room and waited for the news that if the guards ever found the foal. It was her fault. Everything was her fault she believed so.
Cadence was screaming at Shining.
Luna was taking care of Flurryheart.
Everything was going to complete hell. All because of one mess-up. The elements of harmony were ordered to look for Sombra as well, there was no absolute sign of the once tyrant.
While at the Umbrum kingdom, the little colt was playing pretend with the other fillies and colts, it wasn't a happy game mainly but he didn't complain. It was about crystals, slaves and a evil king, which Sombra wanted to be because he enjoyed being a king.
"Why can't I be a good king?" He asked curiously and adjusted his new crown his mother gave him, the two foals stared at him "Why not be a evil king for once?" One of the foals answered him.
Little shadow blinked and flattened his ears shyly, a bit embarrassed that he was trying to look for words but didn't know, "I don't know... I just thought kings were always good."
The foals gave each other looks and tilted their heads, looking back at Sombra, "Not all kings are good, sometimes it's way better to be evil." The filly smiled, baring her shiny fangs. All umbrum ponies had fangs, it was a natural trait for the species.
The filly stood up and coughed, "My king! Please give us food!" She begged pathetically like a slave would.
The colt frowned and shook his head "No. Go back to work!" He spat.
The filly chuckled "See? Like that. You're a natural at this!" She smiled more. She was a earth Umbrum, pure black... Just like half of the ponies in the kingdom. The only thing different with her is that she had a small little star on her forehead.
Little Shadow laughed like a evil king, chasing the two foals.
-/-
Rarity groaned "How much farther Twilight? We've been walking foreeeeverrr" she cried.
The alicorn princess sighed and looked at her unicorn friend, her other friends came along as well. Twilight looked away and pinned her ears back, "Celestia lost Sombra. We need him back. She thinks he's in great danger." She began picking up her pace and trotted faster, almost cantering.
Rarity rolled her eyes and grumbled, biting her lip once she felt a gush of cold air rush upon her, she didn't approve of the idea of trying and changing the old king.
Twilight eventually reached a black castle, she face hoofed and groaned. But quickly stopped after seeing a little King Sombra running around with a few other Umbrum foals.
"I'll get you! I am the evil king of Equestria!" He laughed and continued to chase the filly and colt, "Please no my king! We apologize greatly!" She begged but let out a chuckle soon after.
Little Shadow stopped chasing the foals after he heard a 'psst' coming from the entrance of the kingdom. He tilted his head and looked around, seeing Twilight.
He frowned and walked over to her quietly.
"What do you want?..." He asked and stared at her. The princess enthusiastically replied to him quickly, she was so glad she found him "Your mother has been wo--"
Little Shadow instantly stopped her midway "She isn't my mom. I found my real mom." He growled.
The purple alicorn blinked and exchanged looks towards her friends "Oh?.. Um... Who's this mother?..." She asked cautiously.
Little Shadow shook his head, still remembering not to tell of the queens presence, "Not telling."
Rainbow was about to go up to him and threaten him until he would spit it out but held herself back. The prince looked behind him and saw his mother walking up to the group of ponies.
She lowered her head and nuzzled her son, giving a glare to the group of mares, "What seems to be the trouble?" She hissed.
Twilight let out a angry snort and pinned her ears back "We're here to take Little Shadow back to his rightful home."
Ebony smirked and made a fake gasp "Oh no! My son? I do believe you got the wrong place..."
A blue pegasus flew up to the queen and tapped her breastplate, "Enough with the chit chat, give us back Shadow."
The queen simply shook her head and ruffled her sons mane, "I don't believe I can do that, child." She hummed and looked down seeing that Sombra was confused.
Rainbow raised an eyebrow, "Oh yeah?! Why's that?"
Ebony glanced at the mare and then back at her child, "Because this foal is my son." She hummed and tapped her chin with her hoof, "Unless I'm so foolish to think this isn't his right home."
Twilight frowned, "Just... give us Shadow... Please."
Queen Ebony shook her head simply, Twilight was now extremely frustrated and charged a blast of magic towards the queen, slamming Ebony against the castle wall -- it seemed she broke a few bones of some sort from the blast.
Little Shadow felt tears swell in his eyes as he ran to his mother, who was now coughing up blood.
"Mom?.." He cried and nudged her after she went limp. The foal sobbed and nudged her again, her once flowing mane fell to the floor and slowly evaporated, along with her body, her soul was leaving her body.
Ebony's once tall mare body formed into a small crystal, he sobbed more and looked around seeing that the citizens of the kingdom were disappearing, too, even the little filly he was playing 'evil king' with.
The filly gave one last smile to him before she faded into a black crystal and fell to the snow floor.
Twilight stared at the small colt who was sobbing harder. She felt horrible. Why did she do this to him?... He didn't deserve it...
The alicorn sighed and walked to the colt "Come, let's go.." She nudged him as he followed, taking the crystal of his mother and his friend with him.
-/-
"Your highness... The foal was found." A guard bowed down and walked out of Celestia's room.
The white alicorn rushed out of the room and ran to the colt who had red eyes from his consistent sobbing.
"Little one I was so scared for you.. Please come here.." She lowered herself down, but to her surprise he ignored her and walked up the stairs, leaving her lying down on the ground. The alicorn sighed and looked at Twilight.
"He... Found his real mother earlier and... I just... Got so frustrated and blasted her.. She died and.. And.. Turned to crystal.." Twilight stuttered a few times. The mane 6 was shattered at the event that recently happened, the colt went through so much already and they did nothing but make his life way worse.
Celestia shook her head seeing the small foal walk alone, she thought he needed some time alone before she would talk to him.
-/-
Little Shadow sniffled and rubbed his muzzle. He had nowhere to go now, but just staying in this blasted castle...
He walked near a wall and slid down, lying down on the floor once he reached it, he stared down at the two crystals he picked up and kept them close.
Little Shadow shifted in discomfort seeing Shining armor walk past him, he frowned and looked away from the tall stallion. Everything was mainly his fault.
Shining Armor sighed and lied down next to the small colt, he was a distance away but was still somewhat close to him. The stallion looked down at the colt who made a angry puff of air escape his nostrils.
"I'm sorry about the damage I've caused to you, So-- I mean... Little Shadow.." He tilted his head, but the dark ash coated foal didn't give a look to him, he instead looked down at his crystallized mother and friend.
Shining nodded and got up, realizing that he wanted to be alone for now. He walked away and didn't say anything else.
The foal realized that he really didn't have much time to live if his mother and friend died as well as a whole city of Umbrum ponies. Everything felt numb.
Little Shadow tried to get up but ended up falling back to his side. He felt tears form but quickly held them back, it burned his throat. He forced himself to get up again and ended up making progress, he slowly stood up, having his front knees on the floor and his hind legs standing.
He grumbled and tried to make one of his front legs stand, which to his surprise, went well... Now just for the other one...
He fell right back down as he let out a groan of frustration, he knew he was weak... Umbrum lived and depended on their queen, Little Shadow witnessing her death didn't help at all he was just confused why the guards of the kingdom didn't help her... Maybe because that purple pony was a pegasus and a unicorn...? He shrugged it off and just lied on the floor.
A few hours passed, not even realizing the time. The baby alicorn he saw before walked up to him and booped him on the nose, making him wrinkle his muzzle in confusion, "Hi." She smiled sweetly.
The colt tilted his head "Hello?..."
She flapped her wings and booped him on the nose again, "I am Flurryheart."
Little Shadow smiled and weakly reached out, booping her on the nose softly, "I'm Little Shadow... But I'm not sure if I am Little Shadow or Sombra..." He frowned.
Flurryheart blinked, fluttering her tiny eyelashes, "I will make up a name for you." She sat down in front of him and held a hoof up to her chin.
She pondered for a while, trying to think up a name for the colt, she put her hoof down "How about Somby?"
Little Shadow nodded "Okay." Was all he said.
Flurryheart smiled widely and closed her massive wings, "Wanna play, Somby?" She asked cutely, waiting for a yes or no response from the darker coated colt.
The colt nodded "Sure." He blinked and tried to stand up but ended up falling again, "I don't know if I can't stand up..."
Flurryheart blinked a few times and patted him on the head "It is okay, we can play a game right here." She perked her ears happily.
Little Shadow smiled "Ok. What do you want to play?"
While the two foals were talking to each other about games and such, playing simple sitting games like a staring contest, which Sombra seemed to win, Cadence was watching them talk. She was surprised Flurryheart got along with Sombra, her knowing what he is because of the continuation of warnings from her father.
Maybe they'll be best friends like Cadence predicted.
-/-
After hours and hours of talking, Flurryheart had to leave but did tell Luna that 'Sombry' couldn't get up.
Luna walked over to the small colt and helped him on her back, he kept the crystals close to him still. Luna glanced over at the young colt and sighed, knowing why he couldn't walk.
Princess Luna placed Little Shadow down on her bed since Celestia was writing letter after letter to the ponies in Equestria informing them about the recent incident and she couldn't be bothered at this current moment.
Luna flicked her ears and pulled out a drawing book for Sombra to draw in, she gave it to him and watched a curious expression form across his face, "What's this about?" He asked, flipping through the pages seeing there was nothing written in it.
Luna chuckled and shook her head, handing him some pencils, "It's a drawing book. Thou seems to like to draw and paint, plus I've never used it once... I figured I shall give it away." She walked away and sat down on some pillows.
Little Shadow furrowed his brows in concentration and slowly levitated the pencil with his magic, he flipped to the next page and began shakily drawing with his magic. Luna watched him carefully and flipped through books trying to find a spell that would help him become a little bit more strong.
Although, him being able to pick up a pencil with his levitation abilities of magic was a good sign.
She was just glad that she could distract him from the pain.
Princess Luna had took note on his newly formed crystallized crown -- possibly from his mother. She trailed her gaze to his magic seeing it was a dark aura, she frowned and looked away.
She had eventually came across a page that held the spell to strengthen the small weak colt back to his regular state with the same strength he would have as a foal.
Little Shadow stopped drawing and blinked, glancing over at Luna who was mumbling the words of the spell to herself. He cocked an eyebrow and continued to watch her.
The moon princess stopped and looked at the curious prince.
Luna placed her book aside and got up, walking to her bed in which the little colt laid upon.
She took a small glance of his drawings as they were of him with some shadowy-like pony with green eyes and the purple smoke that at times evaded his eyes. Luna sighed and shook her head at that, moving her gaze back upon the child.
"Little one, I will perform a spell on you to make you feel a bit better, alright?" She tilted her head to the side, allowing her mane to flow through the wind.
The colt simply nodded, he looked around cautiously after feeling something was watching him from afar. He flattened his ears and looked back at Luna.
The princess pulled a puzzled expression and blinked, "Something troubling you?" She asked curiously.
Little Shadow shook his head, taking a short pause before speaking "..No." He lied carefully and watched her expression loosen up. Something about her comforted him, even though she was slightly scary at times to him or intimidating for a princess, she was still gentle and calm.
With that, the alicorn simply nodded and lowered her head down to the foals, touching the tip of her horn to his as instructed by the book, a bright blue glow came directly at the tip of hers and faded off of her horn soon after.
The little colt stared in awe after feeling the sudden rush of magic go through his body but soon nestled into proper placement.
Luna moved away from the colt and went back to her corner, lying down quietly.
Little Shadow saw she was distracted eventually and got up, hopping down quietly from the bed and taking his two crystals with him, he walked out the room and past the various trinkets and paintings, one of which is that kings painting that seemed to give a glare to anyone that passed by it.
He quietly walked into the sun princess's room and slowly creaked the door open, shrugging off the fact that she was writing a lot of letters.
Celestia turned her focus to the small armored colt who carefully walked up to the tall alicorn, he sighed and sat next to her. The princess put her quill down and her friendly glowing aura disappeared, making the room rely on the candles to keep the room lit.
Celestia spread her large wing over the colt and kept him close as he quietly fell into a comforted and protected state.
The little colt nuzzled her side and sighed once more but quietly, he felt terrible for acting the way he acted earlier towards the princess. He was so frustrated with everything that happened and couldn't stand the fact that he was being lied to all this time. But now he knows about half of things of his life, that is name is King Sombra. He's an Umbrum unicorn. He's supposedly is a dark ruler as he was told but he had no memories of such events.
He glanced up at Celestia's trustful gaze and looked away soon after, "I'm sorry I ran away..." He apologized in a soft, gentle tone.
The princess smiled and shook her head, shifting her wing that was over the colt, she hummed "Don't be," she continued "You're here now and everything is fine." She stared at the dark coated crystals for a moment but looked away.
Little Shadow simply nodded and closed his eyes, although it was still evening he felt tired from today's activities.
Why did everything happen so sudden? Everything was going fine at least, but even though he was troubled by the fact every single pony he trusted and relied on had lied to him. Was he somepony else and they all resisted to tell him the truth? He didn't have a clue.
Celestia rested her head on the ground next to the little colts head who was resting his mind as it seemed to her, she knew he had gone through so much today so she remained silent; allowing him to process relaxation. She took a glance over to her side catching a shadow-like figure that was staring straight right at her.
The princess flinched quickly, she blinked a few times seeing that it was now gone. Must've been her mind..
Little Shadow picked up his head, snapping his eyes open feeling Celestia flinch, he tilted his head and stared at her "What's wrong?..."
"Nothing. I'm fine little one..." She stared at the empty room for a moment before turning her head and looking back at the colt.
Little Shadow frowned and pinned his ears back knowing that what she said was nothing but lies. He sighed softly and looked away from her.
"You're not fine..." He piped up finally in a bit of a mumble.
Celestia trailed her gaze back to where she saw the shadow figure, ignoring what the little Sombra said to her.
The colt wiggled out from under her wing and huffed quietly out of frustration; he picked up his crystals with the now fulfilled magic he was received with. He trotted out of the room with a flick of his tail.
His tiny metal armored boots gave a 'clank' at each step he took through the hallways, making each guard stiffen their posture once they passed him. He was alone; besides the endless lines of guards.
The little king perked his ears and stared at a specific guard who stifled a laugh at the sight of a little foal wearing kings armor that was fit for his size.
Little Shadow's once light frown deepened and he grumbled, walking away from the stallion who was now giggling like a school girl.
-/-
He passed the painting of the king he seemed to admire so much and decided to give it a good examination.
The stallion in the painting had a curved horn like his, it was red as well..
Green sclera's, slit pupils and the obvious purple mist that escaped the edge of his eye.
He wore a large rusty breastplate that held together his red kings cape.
Little Shadow blinked and tilted his head, he was puzzled. Something about this stallion reminded himself of someone. Was it him? No. The painting portrayed a grown stallion and he was just a colt...
He stopped frowning and looked away, why do the princesses even have a painting of an umbrum king... He mused, it's creepy, it's not like they're an umbrum themselves.
Little Shadow hummed and walked away, not wanting to stress himself over a painting, although it was confusing why they even had the painting there in the first place.
-/-
The dark colt came across the hallway of windows, seeing the same one he asked about. He examined it more closely.
It was just like some regular stained window, it was bright and happy at least.
He felt something surge through his heart that made him hiss at it, something about that window made him extremely upset. Was it the princess? Maybe the dragon? Or... The heart? ... The heart... That was it. He felt like he just realized the answer to a test. The
It was the heart all along. It wasn't pretty like he first complimented it, it was his death. Or at least, the defeat everyone thought he was dead. That's what his mother warned him about, 'the heart isn't your friend, Sombra, it will be your death if you put your trust into it. ' Her voice echoed throughout his head.
Little Shadow frowned at this and walked away. Looking up at the two crystals that floated alongside him.
They seemed to pulsate a dark energy from their core but he payed no mind to it.
He sighed and looked away from the two crystals, he just wanted answers to why he was here. The small colt blinked remembering he was supposed to be learning 'real' magic today... What type of magic? He wasn't sure. His mother was dead so he had no reachable mentors that could teach him this... 'Real' magical powers.
Unless...
No. It wouldn't work, she's dead and gone right?
Little Shadow stopped and sighed, taking one last glance at the crystal of his mother before setting it down on the ground. Maybe he could contact her through his horn?
He furrowed his brows and narrowed his eyes, focusing all his magic towards his horn. The colt placed his horn at the center of the crystal and waited patiently.
Soon enough, a rush of magic met the tip of his horn as the spirit of his mother came in contact with his brain.
'Heeeellloooo mmyyy liitttlleee Soooommmbrraaa...! ' She hummed, talking to him from the crystal, each little word she said made the crystal throb with a red glow.
"Hi mom." He answered cheerfully, keeping his voice down.
'Wwwhhyyy ddiidd yyyooouuu summmooonnn mmmeee...? ' Her voice seemed to echo a lot for most Umbrum ponies.
"I wanted to learn true magic..." He sighed and curled up around the crystal.
His mother paused momentarily before answering his request '...I sssseeee... ' Her voice hissed at the sound of 's' going down to a whisper.
Little Shadow blinked and tilted his head, "So when can I learn magic?" He asked quietly.
The spirit of Ebony chuckled, making the crystal shake, 'Yoooouuu wwaaaanttt toooo leeeaaaarrrnnn dddaaarrrrkk mmaaaagggiccc oonnnccee moooreee, liiitttllee Sooommbrraa, yyeeess...? '
The colt blinked "What do you mean by once more?..."
Ebony paused, confused, 'I thhhoouughttt yooouu gggaaavvee uppp yyoouurr mmeeemmoriiees and ppoowweers tooo ttrrransforrrm yourrseeelff innnttoo aaa cooltt tooo eeessssscapee deeaath...? '
Little Shadow shook his head "No?..." He coughed, now way more confused.
Queen Ebony hissed and quietly answered, 'Hhmmm... Aaallrriightt thennn... jjusssst pplace yyoouurr hoorrrn ooonn theee crysssstal anndd I ssssshall deeelieever ttheseee pppowweeerss toooo yoouuu... '
The dark colt did what he was told and placed his horn on the crystal, which the crystal began to pulse to a different color, it was flashing neon green.
-/-
Soon enough, the crystal stopped talking and faded to its regular color -- black.
Little Shadow's mane began to flow, as well as his tail, just like how his mothers used to flow. The white part of his eye was now replaced with a neon green, his once normal pupils now were slit.
He now had the powers Celestia never wanted him to reach...
He felt...
Untouchable...
Author's Note
A little bit of drama in this one.
Black Abyss
A jolt of energy rushed through Little Shadows small body, he blinked and rubbed his face from the sudden power.
He stared down at the now lifeless crystal and took a look behind him seeing a group of guards were holding swords at the foals face -- they were all startled by the sudden event.
Little Shadow flattened his ears and slowly picked up the crystals, but before he could even do anything a tall male guard tried to slap the crystals away from his grasp but ended up getting thrown across the hallway and slamming against the wall.
The foal backed away slowly and grabbed the two crystals, scurrying off away from the crowd.
"After him!" A male guard shouted while the few other guards ordered a doctor for immediate attention.
Little Shadow galloped as fast as he could and hid behind a throne that seemed to be Luna's, he panted quietly and watched the guards look around like a predator after prey.
He seemed to hold his breath as they gave each other glances and made a signal for them to split up.
A white pegasus guard walked towards the thrones of Celestia and Luna, thoughtfully examining the two royal chairs, the foal shook and forced his eyes shut trying to be quiet as he could.
Something snapped in his heart.
The colt used his magic suddenly and threw the guard up against a glass window, shattering it with ease from his frame.
Little Shadow realized what he did and whimpered quietly, the guard now being unconscious he decided to run off now while he still had the time, why was he feeling like this? He had no clue. He took a look behind him seeing the guard was bleeding from the head and a few glass shards impaled his wings, he looked away and ran off again.
-/-
"Your highness!" A guard rushed through Celestia's room without warning, "Sombra has attacked many guards on patrol. We don't know where he's at."
The white alicorn seemed to go more pale than she currently was, "Send troops to look around the castle, I'll look for Little Shadow as well." She stated.
The guard frowned, "But, your majesty-"
"Do not argue with me. Do as I said." She stood up and ran out the room to look for the little colt.
Luna was soon informed about this incident and quickly dropped what she was doing and looked for the colt along with her sister.
"Sister. I do not believe we can actually change him now." Luna looked up at her sister while still trotting, Celestia was examining every part of every room in the castle.
Celestia sighed and flattened her ears, "I failed at being a mother-figure, Luna..." She lowered her head, soon picking her head up after Luna placed a comforting wing over her older sister.
"Do not fret, sister." She addressed, continuing to speak, "Little Shadow was driven towards the wrong path by his real mother. We all know what she is, as well as what he is..." She sighed quietly.
Suddenly Luna perked her ears after hearing something clank and shatter on the ground, the moon alicorn slowly walked over to the cause of the sound and saw a crying Sombra.
He looked up and hissed at Luna, baring his fangs at her. The poor colt was corrupted, just how Luna lost him many moons ago.
The princess flattened her ears and reached a hoof out to gently pet the colts mane but he refused and moved away from her.
"D-Don't touch me..." He muttered under his breath and wiped his tears away.
Luna frowned at this and lowered herself down to him while Celestia simply watched, "Little one. Why did you do all of this?" The foal tried moving away completely and run off again somewhere in the castle but he was blocked by Luna's wing.
He looked up at Luna and pinned his ears back, suddenly his voice turned dark and he began talking backwards 'Uoy era lla stoidi! '
Luna growled, figuring out what he said, "The only idiot here is you! Leave this colts body and mind at once you foul demon!"
Little Shadow only smirked a toothy grin and suddenly the colt fell to his knees, he sobbed and rubbed his eyes, the smoke returning to his eyes once more.
Luna ran her wing over the colts back and tried to comfort him, he instead flinched and stared at her with one complete green eye with no iris whatsoever, the other one was normal except for the vicious and intimidating smoke that escaped the edges of both eyes.
Little Shadow felt pain wash over his body as he yelped in agony, moving away from the princess. He found himself cowered against the corner of a wall.
Celestia finally got the courage to walk next to Luna and comfort the little colt.
"Little one, you do not need to fear anything..." She reached out to run her hoof through his small mane but he snarled aggressively and slapped her hoof away from him with strength that it stabbed her hoof with immense pain.
The colt stared at her with fear in his eyes and a sense that there was someone else controlling him.
Celestia rubbed her hoof and bit her bottom lip at the pain, it was horrible excruciating pain. Almost as if dozens of knives were cutting away at her bare skin, cutting deep into her hoof and allowing leeches to suck up her flesh.
The colt stared absently at the two princesses, he was scared and Luna could sense that.
Little Shadow quickly moved away from the two princesses and ran off once more, trying to hide himself away in the castle.
The two princesses ordered a group of guards to go look for the colt.
-/-
Celestia ordered the elements of harmony to come along once more, explaining the depths of the issues and needed every single pony to split up to find him for he could harm someone else or harm himself.
Little Shadow found himself walking an empty hallway, his small armor making metallic sounds, his sclera's were both green.
"Come out, come out, where ever you are you little beast." A guard spat while leading a group of guards in throughout the hallways, he stopped hearing metal boots tap on the floor.
The guard waved his hooves signaling his group to stop and walked towards the sound.
They all stopped once they saw a little colt walking alone, having his back facing them. The guard smirked and nodded his head, giving another signal but it was a different one -- to attack.
Little Shadow aimlessly looked around, a worried expression now shown on his features.
The little unicorn flattened his ears and whimpered hearing odd sounds in his head, he heard a faint 'turn around' and he did so; quickly coming muzzle to muzzle with a guard.
The guard used a knock-out spell that put the foal to sleep instantly.
-/-
Pain washed upon his body once more. His head throbbing more and more.
The colt groaned and lazily opened his eyes, coming in contact with pink, white, blue and purple alicorns all standing next to each other and a white stallion that stood close to his wife it seemed.
Little Shadow flinched once he realized who they were and flattened his ears, "I'm s-sorry.."
Celestia shook her head and looked away, the grown stallion who had once apologized to the colt had a deep frown on his face.
"I didn't m-mean to I promise.." He stuttered and tried sitting up but felt a shock in his head.
He groaned and rubbed his forehead feeling there was something attached to his horn. The colt gasped and tried getting it off but instead got another wave of shock through his head.
Luna sighed and flattened her ears, "It's for your own good, little one. We attached a magic ring around your horn so you won't be able to hurt those around you or yourself..."
Cadence spoke up and nodded "We had also disposed of those crystals if you were wondering."
The colt blinked and stared blankly.
"You..." He started "You took my mom and friend away..."
Twilight nodded and glanced over at Shining who rolled his eyes at the colt.
Little Shadow bared his fangs at them for a moment and hopped down from the bed, wobbling a bit.
Shining Amor tensed up and moved closer to his wife who continued to stare at the now-untrustworthy colt. Shining knew all about this colt and warned other ponies about him but they never listened now did they?
Celestia sighed and looked at Little Shadow "The guard you hurt is now dead." She rubbed her forehead and cursed herself mentally for telling him out loud.
Little Shadow seemed not to care and shrugged his shoulders "I don't care, really." He smirked and looked at the 5 ponies, "It wasn't my life so why should I even have the deepest concern for such thing?"
He seemed... Different.
Luna noticed this quite often now, after he ran away to his umbrum mother, everything took a turn for the worst.
Shining armor growled and stomped his hoof, receiving no action from the colt besides a mere scrunch of his muzzle, "How could you even say such a thing you pathetic child!" He snarled.
Little Shadow once more shrugged and walked past them and out the room, but suddenly received a excruciating shock through his brain. He whined and fell to the floor, now he couldn't even walk out the room without being shocked way worse than its normal buzz and pinch... This felt like multiple punches in the stomach.
Celestia blinked and walked to the colt, standing in front of him and lowering her head to his, "You must now be escorted to your location to now leave this room, Shadow..." Her voice was stern and strict.
The colt shook in pain as his vision began to spin, he gagged at the sudden feeling to vomit.
Luna sighed and looked away, she couldn't bare seeing the colt suffer in a way such as this -- even though he deserves it...
Little Shadow began to gasp for air after feeling another wave of shock through his body, it was way worse. How was he even surviving through this? Why wasn't he blacking out already?
Shining had a stupid smirk on his face when he saw the colt Sombra was suffering. He couldn't go to prison for the act of violence because of his "age".
The dark grey foal looked up weakly at Celestia, his muscles twitching from the pain. She merely stared back down at him.
Little Shadow forced himself to get up and weakly jump away from her, before he could even take another step... He knocked out into an abyss of black.
Black was all he saw.
Nothing else came to mind except for the darkness.
What a damn shame it was...
The foal groaned and slowly opened his eyes, he took a glance outside seeing it was now midnight. Did the shock really make him knock out for that long?
He blinked and touched his horn lightly, preparing himself for another slap of violent energy though his head -- nothing. It just simply glowed.
Little Shadow looked around cautiously seeing there was light emitting from outside, two hooves were in the way giving the hint someone was outside. He frowned softly and hopped off the bed. This place was now a hell.
Everyone says he used to be a ruthless tyrant that put so many at risk during wars... Mining... Just things he couldn't comprehend to why they would think of such things about him. Maybe it was true? Maybe he was just a grown stallion now stuck in a colts body.
He slowly walked around, there was no trace of his once glorious armor he loved dearly.
Suddenly a guard knocked on the door and opened it slowly, Little Shadow simply gave him a glare.
"The princesses and the elements wish to speak to you." The guard said firmly, stiffening up his posture when he saw the colt just give a glance at his horn and then the wooden floor.
Little Shadow nodded and went to the guards side, he took a deep breath in through his nostrils and took a step forward, bracing himself for another shock of pain but it didn't -- he then remembered it would only happen if he was to leave the room without an escort.
The two ponies walked, Sombra catching an angry glare by a guard who held the door open for them both.
There was a large room with four thrones for the alicorns he supposed.
He took a look around, suddenly feeling the same tingly sensation in his eyes after catching a glance of Celestia.
She is a liar. A deceiver- his musing about the princess was cut off when he got a shock through his head. He whimpered and flattened his ears trying to relax, the ring around his horn sensed anger and hatred towards those and he would get a shock if he was not being polite, even mentally.
Celestia sighed and sat on her throne, followed by Luna, Cadence and Twilight Sparkle.
They gave each other sympathetic looks and nodded, the elements of harmony stood next to the guards watching every move from Sombra.
Cadence frowned remembering the first time she saw the small little colt running into the castle, scared to death. She sighed and closed her eyes, "You were brought here for the truth, Little Shadow."
The foal took a glance to his side seeing a specific blue pegasus mare was glaring at him, "Which is?" He looked away quickly.
"Of what and who you are."
Little Shadow nodded and shrugged, "I know. I'm an umbrum."
The alicorns looked at each other once more and Cadence piped up again, "No. No. You don't quite understand.. You ARE an umbrum but who are you exactly?"
There was silence from the foal as he gave an uncertain look. Who was he really? Was he just some regular umbrum child or was he that evil king everyone had been discussing about? He coughed, finally deciding to speak up "I... I don't know."
Cadence sighed once more "You are an umbrum king named Sombra... You are not 'Little Shadow'... I found you when I was taking a walk through the castle in the Crystal Empire. You were scared. I'm not even sure how you found your way back to the empire... Last time in your 'past life' you were defeated twice, the second time you were blown to bits by the crystal heart and everypony believed you were dead. We are still undergoing how you actually got back..."
The foal stayed silent for a moment and stared at the floor, he twitched and tilted his head to the side for a moment and moved it back to its regular center placement, "Why couldn't any of you tell me the truth for once?"
Celestia stared at the colt, "Because we didn't want to cause panic and hurt within you, Sombra."
Little Shadow or now known as Sombra once more shook his head "You have inflicted more pain today on me than any other sad day I have existed."
Luna gave a look at Celestia and sighed, the princess of the night stared at the colt who had purple mist viciously escape his eyes now, "We only wanted the best for you, Sombra."
Sombra gave a menacing glare towards the princess and snarled, "You failed miserably at it then." His words cut deep in her like a knife and another shock of pain was delivered into his head.
The once former king snarled again and reached his hoof up to his horn and tried taking the ring off, he was desperate to get it off and just continued to get shocked repeatedly.
Twilight stared at the foal desperately trying to get the ring off, she gave Celestia a look and sighed seeing she was just watching him suffer.
He ended up breaking down and still trying to get the ring off, he fell to the floor and began to cry. There was no one there that would want to comfort him, not even Fluttershy for she was too scared of what he might do, he lay there and sobbed.
Shining rolled his eyes and blew his mane out of his face, watching the little king cry.
Twilight sparkle eventually got up off her throne and walked to the colt, "Sombra. It's alright." She placed a reassuring hoof on his shoulder softly.
Shining armor tensed up in fear of his sisters life, he slowly walked up close to the two ponies and the guard who stared down at the colt.
"It..." He got another shock and hissed at the pain, "It's not alright..." He glared at the princess.
Twilight looked over at Celestia who seemed to be still bitter about her guards death.
Sombra had a hard time keeping his eyes open and rubbed his face quickly in frustration, he took one last glance at Celestia before knocking out once more on the cold floor.
Twilight flinched seeing he started twitching, he looked over at Celestia and pointed down at the colt with her hoof "Princess, I'm sorry to say this but... Sombra doesn't need ANY of this! It's torment... He's suffering.." She looked back down at the colt who's breathing was now slow and shallow.
Shining stared at Twilight and blinked, not believing what she said "Twily. This is King Sombra. He killed a guard recently and needs to be disciplined for his actions!"
"That gives no right to make him suffer like this! He's already gone through enough suffering in his other life." She stated and looked around the room and then back at Sombra who was now completely unconscious.
Shining armor groaned and moved away from his sister, not wanting to argue with her knowing it would turn into a heated debate.
"Celestia, I politely request you take the ring off of his horn-"
Celestia simply shook her head, "No, Twilight, I'm sorry but I cannot. He killed a guard, injured another and cannot be trusted further more. I tried to guide him to a rightful path but it seems that I cannot."
Twilight felt her heart drop hearing her say that and desperately looked at her friends who all sighed.
"I agree with the princess, dear..." Rarity said softly.
Fluttershy sighed quietly and nodded at Rarity's sentence.
The rest of her friends gave a look at the princess meaning they all agreed with her.
Twilight frowned and sat down next to the small colt and ran her hoof through his mane, "Then I'm the only one that says he shouldn't go through this at all." She smiled seeing that the mini Sombra gave a light smile after she ran her hoof through his mane.
Cadence sighed and stared at her hooves, she was unsure of what to do, a part of her told her to just let Sombra get the lesson he deserves but then again -- just as Twilight said, he didn't need this type of suffering and torture.
Luna shook her head and flattened her ears, "Although I do agree with you, Twilight, he has taken a life away from this world, please think about that thoroughly."
Twilight sparkle nodded "I have and that doesn't change my opinion that he shouldn't go through this mental and physical suffering." She sighed.
Celestia signaled the guards to take Sombra back to the room he was in before, they instantly took him away from Twilight sparkle as he went completely limp in their hooves.
She watched them take the young Sombra back to the room as she looked back at Celestia.
"I don't want this as much as you do, Twilight... I truly don't... But I must, it's to keep my citizens safe." Celestia said as the guards that carried Sombra out left the room.
The purple alicorn stood up and simply nodded, she kept her ears flattened and just let out a sigh.
-/-
The guards placed Sombra on his bed and walked out, one of course, staying outside the room.
Eventually, the small colt woke up and groaned, rubbing his forehead. His eyes were dry from crying and his head throbbed with pain.
He shifted and was immediately greeted with pain that shot down his spine. He screamed in agony and twitched. The guard outside seemed to not care about his cry of agony.
Sombra tried moving slowly this time and the pain didn't hurt as much. He sighed and rubbed his face gently with his shaking hoof.
He knew why he was hated.
He knew every single reason why he was despised.
The colt stared blankly at the colorless wall. In a way, he felt like he could relate to it. Unable to speak what he must, dull and used as a punching bag sometimes.
He sighed and forced his eyes shut, not even wanting to think about his comment about the wall -- it only made him feel worse about himself. His ears rang and pain surged through his body at the easiest movement.
So he was a king before?... A evil one for that matter...
Defeated by that heart his mother warned him about...
But by who? Who even dared to defeat him?
He blinked, getting an idea, that dragon. The dragon on the stained window, THAT'S who defeated him. But how? He didn't even seem like a grown dragon for that matter anyways.
Sombra let out an annoyed puff of air and curled up, the pain was slowly dying down and he was thankful for that at least.
His attention was soon focused at the sound of the door opening slowly and in came a white alicorn with a long graceful flowing mane and tail. Sombra took a look over to see who it was but let out a grunt once he just saw the white coat.
"Little Shadow-"
He immediately cut her off "Don't call me that. I am Sombra after all, remember?" He sighed and nestled under the blankets.
Celestia simply nodded, "I do remember but you're still Little Shadow to me." She said softly, earning at least a roll of his eyes... It was better than no reaction at all at least.
The white alicorn lit a candle and placed it on the night stand and walked over to the small colt.
"What is it?" He grumbled and stared at her.
Celestia shook her head and looked at him, "You do know why you have that ring on your horn right?" Sombra just nodded in response.
"Alright then..." She sighed and lit up another candle.
"Why? Are you going to take it off?..." He asked somewhat happily but his happiness was erased when she shook her head once more. He frowned and looked away.
Celestia hummed "I only came to talk, you seemed lonely."
The colt rolled his eyes and scoffed "I'd rather be alone and not be bothered by you or any other pony."
Celestia frowned hearing him and nodded, staring down at her hooves hearing the pain and truth in his voice -- he really did want to be alone. She was only bothering him.
"Very well." She bowed her head "I'll leave." With that, she walked out of the room and left Sombra alone.
-/-
Sombra sighed, he had to get out of this hell hole once and for all even if it meant he would be suffering all the way through with endless shocks.
Unless...
He grunted and got up off the bed, looking through the drawers and closets for something that would pry the ring off his horn.
Eventually he gave up and began to rub the ring on his horn across the wood of the bed trying to slide it off his horn, he was of course greeted with the worst shock of all but survived through it.
He had muffled his cries of agony with a pillow while getting the ring off.
Surprisingly enough, it worked.
He panted and threw the ring on the bed, he pulled out a piece of paper beginning to write to Celestia and Luna.
Sombra sighed and placed the ring next to the letter, he personally didn't care about bringing anything, it's not like he had anything left anyways.
He tested out his magic and smiled seeing he was able to levitate the paper, he placed it back down and quietly walked over to the window, opening it and flinched hearing it creak but the guard seemed not to notice.
Sombra was lucky enough to have a room that wasn't so far away from the ground. Just having to slide down the roof and jump down from there unless there was another way to get down. He honestly didn't care, he would do anything and everything to get away from the castle.
He slowly took one step out and took a deep breath in, letting his hoof touch the roof of the castle. Sombra placed another hoof and eventually fully stepped out of the room. The once former king hummed quietly feeling the wind blow against his fur, he slowly slid down the roof quietly and eventually met the part where he had to jump. It wasn't a big jump but he didn't have much good of a landing spot.
There was only a small bush, he took that opportunity and just jumped down, landing in the bush which at least didn't make him get as damaged.
He winced feeling he had got a few scratches from the sharp fall but he paid no mind. The little colt slowly moved out of the bush and began to gallop down to the exit of Canterlot not even looking back.
He had nothing to look back to anyways...
-/-
The foal eventually came to the same exact spot where he first left to go see his real mother. He simply took this path, trying to get away from the castle as far as possible.
Sombra looked around, trying to look for anything that would catch his eyes. A cave was spotted clearly. It was away from the castle and he took it just for him.
The colt came to a halt and looked inside, he let out a whistle to hear if anything would make a noise or snap. Nothing.
He hummed and walked in, curling up in a small ball and watching the night slowly fall and the sun rising. Sombra in a way felt bad for leaving the castle but maybe he'll return sooner or later to pay a visit to Celestia and Luna. He didn't really know.
The stars fell with the moon and the sun shimmered up into its place.
Sombra shivered at the sudden breeze of cold that shoved itself into the cave he was in but he soon felt comfort with the coldness.
He slowly... Slowly... Drifted into a peaceful sleep. A type of sleep he never really had since that horrible thing was presented on his horn.
-/-
Luna came running into her sisters room with a small note and Sombra's ring.
"SISTER! Sombra has left once more!" She showed the letter and ring to her sister, Celestia stayed there flabbergasted. How did he even take that ring off? Was it not properly sealed correctly on his horn?
Celestia gulped and took the letter from her sister and began reading what was written.
'Dear Celestia and Luna.
I have decided to leave for the obvious of reasons. I cannot live like this anymore. I just can't... Maybe I used to be a evil king but I have emotions and I don't think you both see them.
You will not hear from me and I have specifically ensured that you won't.
I'm fed up with everyponies lies to me, their mockery and such I guess. I figured out who defeated me, that dragon really helped that princess make a heart, right?
Remember, it's really pretty.
I might work myself to become a better king than how I presented myself to Equestria the first time.
Who knows.
Maybe I'll end up dead or something.
From, King Sombra'
Celestia felt a tear trickle down her cheek after reading the last part of his letter.
'Maybe I'll end up dead or something.'
It swirled in her head as she placed the letter aside and forced her eyes shut. She really did mess up this time. The way he worded everything made him seem like he was a king already even though he was just a colt.
He suddenly changed his choice of vocabulary after the meeting with his mother...
Luna closed her wings and shook her head, "Sister, what shall we do?..." She stared at Celestia who was trembling.
"I don't know sister..." She sighed and tried to calm her nerves, "We just have to wait until his arrival once more..."
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.
Celestia fixed her gaze upon the leaving of Little Shadow as she still considered him to be to her in a sense. A scared grown stallion in a growing ponies body, she still was unsure to why he was still like this to not forgive the past and forget. He was delicate; but yet... still tough emotionally. She didn't even pay attention to the sounds of the guards gasping for air.
Before she could stammer about his actions, insisting he should stay for dinner the tall kingdom doors slammed -- interrupting her quiet thoughts.
Sombra sighed quietly as the streets went dead and foals were pulled back into their mothers grasp as everyponies vision studied the teenagers actions. His armored boots echoed through the streets, beginning to make his way back to the place he called home.
Luna carefully walked towards the entrance of the castle and saw her older sister staring endlessly at the door Sombra stepped out of. She frowned and watched as her sister opened her mouth to speak of him; but nothing seemed to come out. The moon princess adjusted herself in a more relaxed position, "He'll change." She smiled reassuringly towards her sister yet her sister thought otherwise.
Celestia sighed and shook her head, her view was now upon Luna "I don't think he can change, Luna.." she admitted through gritted teeth continuing forth with her words "..If he could then he would've.. I.. simply couldn't help him. But he looks up to you.." she complimented her for the work she tried to do with him as he was a foal, she was more of a mother-like figure than Celestia was to Sombra after the various fights and disagreements.
Princess Luna blinked, her eyelashes fluttering for a mere second as she gathered her words "I understand, sister. I warmed up to him not even a few days later when we brought him in after Cadence found him."
The princesses remained quiet as the guards fled back to their placement in the castle.
-/-
Sombra took his usual path down to the cave but was stopped by a familiar mare with a filly next to her, simply walking on the side of the dirt road. He allowed himself to slow his pace and stare at her, taking in her details of appearance.
She seemed.. too familiar. Her light pink coat and white mane with streaks of a soft shade of a rose color, along with a rose as a cutiemark followed by a golden harp on the side and above the rose was a bright halo. Her appearance and height made her seem like a ordinary teenage mare, matured enough to already have a foal.
The mare nudged her foal but halted once she saw a coal colored stallion staring straight at her, "Uhm. Hello? Do you need something?" She quietly asked to him in a polite manner.
Sombra shifted from the breeze, "My apologizes, I believe you seem like somepony I knew before."
She frowned, "I think you have the wrong pony.."
Sombra squinted his eyes and shook his head, trying to focus on what his mind was telling him "No. You seem.." he blinked figuring out who she was. He awkwardly fixed his posture "You're Rosehope, aren't you?.."
The mare shrugged, her green eyes glimmered in the soft sunlight "I guess. I have a lot of different names, you are?"
He furrowed his brows and stared at the ground "It's.. King." He took in a breath, hesitant to say his formal name "..Sombra. You came into the royal castle when I was smaller." The teen watched her black sabino coated foal hide between her mothers front hooves; he suggested to himself it got around not only to just the rich parts of Equestria.
Rosehope stared at him for the slightest of moments, "Uhm... Yeah I do remember you actually.. weren't you placed under a recarnation spell that failed and turned you into a colt with no memory?... and then raised by the two princesses..I presume?"
Sombra flicked his ears, opening his mouth to protest about the princesses but quickly nodded to respond.
He closed his mouth "...Indeed."
Rosehope gathered herself and let out a sigh, "The elements of harmony swore to find you once you left the castle but it came to a conclusion after constant meetings that you wanted to be left alone."
She lowered her head and smiled down at her filly, her vision focusing back on the patient stallion, "The only pony that seemed to trust you enough was the element of magic, kindness was frightened because of your presence surprisingly enough."
He nodded and turned to leave but was stopped by the soft voice of the mare, "Please come down to my cottage for some tea if you may.." she suggested, only receiving a low grunt from the stallion.
She folded her ears "If you do come.. my cottage is on the left turn, just keep going down the path after you get off the bridge. You should see a few cottages, mine is the very last. We're in ponyville.. nopony will see you though if you go the backways..." With that, Rose carefully resumed her way home.
Sombra patiently waited until she had left, she seemed to leave her annoying filly personality behind and evolve into a more sophisticated character, a shy, cowardly one for that matter if anything.
He eventually left back to his cave and released the camouflage spell, the stallion sighed and took off his boots -- staring down at two pictures from earlier. Slowly, he levitated them out from the metal and unfolded them taking in what he drew as a young colt.
His bitterness got the best of him as he crumbled the paper together and threw them against the wall, they were all judging ponies that would love to rant about him even for a mere minute.
"I lost everything--because of them.." he muttered, rolling the word 'them' off of his tongue like poison. Sombra mused carefully about the royalty, Shining Armor included.
Cadence seemed to stop visiting narcissistic loony sun princess after Sombra stepped in, the elements distanced themselves and Shining armor didn't dare to even hunt him down earlier today, unless he currently is.
It was all confusing. Maybe it was for the better to just stay away from him anyways.
Everything to put it down in one word was simply complicated, they all seemed to believe that he would reform within the next few months or possibly even a year. Yet through each night, each glimmering ray of sunlight that passed by him, he was never to be reformed from just them.
Sombra stared absently at the cave walls, rolling his shoulders and letting out an irritated sigh, he didn't look back at the crumbled paper and made his way to a shattered mirror.
His sleek dark coat, a perfect shade of grey seemed to grow a darker gradient near his hooves, his mane still flowed a inky black. His self-esteem for his looks never seemed to fail, he was handsome just not the pony to be deemed as 'regular', his mothers words never fled from his mind that he was truly one of a kind ((haha hey that rhymes!)) his curved unnatural horn was still complete, cracks were found along here and there but not enough to worry him. Simply stress and practicing of powerful magic.
Sombra stepped aside from his precise reflection despite the shattered glass that made his looks appear off. He gently picked up a black cloak, levitating it over himself and placing it around him. As much as he would enjoy to stay where he was at and sleep, visiting Rose was more of a better idea he supposed.
The young stallion got everything that was needed, putting his armored boots back on and taking one last glance of himself in the mirror before placing the camouflage spell upon the cave, making his way towards the village.
Ponyville was filled with happy ponies and smiles that were contagious, at least to the citizens living there. He quietly took the path as directed to Roses cottage. Sombra placed his hoof on the door but was quickly greeted by the mare, allowing him in.
He was oddly creeped out how she knew he was there, not even a knock was needed and she opened the door for him. Sombra allowed himself in and took off his cloak.
Rose smiled a genuine smile and stiffened her posture, quickly trotting to the kitchen and carefully grabbing the tea.
Sombra was about to ask her something, raising his hoof but put it down seeing she was gone. He scrunched up his muzzle and sat down on the living room chair.
The mare came back and poured him a cup, as well as her own and placed his cup in front of him "Did everything go well?"
"I beg your pardon?" He questioned, levitating his cup of tea.
Rose chuckled "My bad.. your walk here, everything went okay?"
Sombra took a sip before responding to her question. The tea had a bitter taste but he didn't complain, she seemed to live in slight poverty judging from her home and very little of common things.
He nodded "Everything went well."
Rosehope took a sip of her own tea and smiled more "That's good." It was more of a awkward silence for a minute at most until Sombra broke the silence.
"So, things are quite different here in.." he took a breath, cursing himself mentally for coming here "..things are different here in ponyville I presume? Judging from the expressions and bubbly personality of the ponies here."
The mare awkwardly made her way towards another chair and sat down "Not really I guess.."
Sombra tilted his head, he thought Canterlot was bad with the rich snobs, "How come?" He asked, putting his cup down -- not bothering to take another sip of the horrendous taste.
Rose noticed his distaste of her tea and furrowed her brows, she shrugged in response.
The stallion narrowed his eyes in slight annoyance, "Well there's more than likely something going on if you dislike Ponyville."
The mare chuckled slightly and got up from her chair "It's just the annoying factor of this town, it's never quiet. You must be lucky living out on your--"
Sombra stared at her, cutting her sentence off short.
Rosehope frowned and shyly pawed the rug with her hoof, "There's too many memories here... that's all... I'll give you a brief summary of what happened, okay?"
He nodded, waiting for her to carry on what she was going to say.
Rose folded her ears "My 'special' somepony left me after he found out I was pregnant with Lilly, we were both drunk at the time and I didn't figure out I was pregnant until a while later.. I was so happy when I took the test and it came back positive but he thought otherwise, left me right on the spot and 12 months later I had Lilly. Do I regret her? No. I don't. She's the reason why I'm still holding on." She stared at the ground "..Each hearth's warming she would wish to see her father. She doesn't know about him yet."
Sombra frowned slightly "Oh, I apologize for that.." he sat up more in the chair watching Rose roll her shoulders into a shrug.
"It's fine."
Sombra relaxed his stare and perked his ears, "Do you know anything about me when I had power over the Crystal Empire?"
Rosehope pondered for a moment but looked back at Sombra "I believe so. As a foal I was always told stories about a powerful stallion that rose to the throne in hopes to enslave all ponies and gather the secrets of the greatest magic yet. He believed that the magic was within the crystals to keep the empire alive and keep it powerful, he hoarded all of the crystals to himself.. in hopes to make himself the greatest stallion to ever live."
Sombra gritted his fangs and released the tension, "I don't have any memory of that.."
Rosehope rolled her eyes "Of course. The spell, remember?"
He blinked and felt an awkward rush of heat cross his face "Oh. Ha. Sorry I continue to forget about things, even something such as the spell.."
Rose explained Sombras past as best as her capabilities could; explaining each detail, each screw-up he had and each battle that was recorded between him and royalty...
Author's Note
I apologize for not updating this in quite some time, nor being active within this website as much as I should be
This isn't the best but I've gotten lazy over time so excuse me and take this mustache as my apology gift