Author's Note

This takes place right after the last chapter.

Damage Control Part 1

Sombra was in his room, shivering and trying to calm himself down. His tough guy act had been shattered and he knew that Fluttershy would put her own fear aside to help him, which he didn't want her to do. But he couldn't do it anymore. The Ying-Yang group had tortured him, filled him with diluted poisons and chemicals to gauge his reaction before healing him, removing all traces and scars from his body before letting him recover for barely a day or two. He whimpered as the memories ran through his head and he collapsed, curling up and wrapping his hooves around his head, trying to protect himself from invisible terrors.

"Sombra?" He curled even tighter, mistaking Fluttershy's voice for that of somepony out to get him. A gentle hoof caught his chin and forced him to look up. Her face was blurred from his tears but he recognized her. Fluttershy settled down in front of him and moved her hoof to his cheek. He whimpered again as she did so, pulling away slightly. Fluttershy sighed and leaned forward, resting her forehead against the base of his horn while wrapping her hoof around his neck. Sombra started trembling as his fear got the better of him and distrust festered in his heart. In his heart he knew she wouldn't hurt him, but his head was screaming otherwise. Fluttershy gently pulled him close and began to rub his back. His heart won and Sombra pressed into her, returning the hug as he started sobbing.

Fluttershy could feel his tears soaking her fur but she ignored it. He needed her right now far more then she needed him in the past few months. She couldn't even begin to guess what they did to him before she arrived. But if his fear of her just now said anything, it was that he had been put through more pain than would have been given had he been punished for his crimes. Fluttershy stayed silent as he wept his pain onto her shoulders and neck, opting to simply hold his shaking frame. This was not the same stallion she'd known four years ago. Her thoughts went to Twilight after the destruction of her home. Even she'd not cried this much or this hard. Sombra's grip tightened as he curled his back legs into his belly.

"Oh, oh, it's okay. Your safe and sound, Sombra and nopony's going to hurt you. We won't let them. It's okay, it's okay." While his grip loosened slightly, he didn't stop crying for a good half-hour. As he calmed, Fluttershy gently rubbed his back and shushed him. Sombra nuzzled into her neck and sighed, still trembling. Fluttershy twisted her head and pressed her muzzle into his mane. Sombra slowly relaxed as she held him, the sound of her steady heartbeat calming him down. After he'd calmed down, they got up and left the room, Fluttershy in the lead. When they got back to the throne room, Shining and Cadence were clearly preparing to leave while the two elder princesses already gone.

"We'll talk to them but I don't think they'll be to keen on the idea."

"What idea?" They turned and smiled sheepishly, while Twilight walked over.

"Well, we managed to get my brother to trust you but there is one thing we need to do. Something you're not gonna like." Sombra looked around before locking eyes with Cadence. As they stared at each other, a look of realization then horror filled his eyes.

"OH, no. You don't mean the..." Twilight nodded and confirmed his fear.

"Yes, you need to make amends with the Crystal Ponies. My brother's going to tell them when they get back and a week from now, we're heading over for a visit." Sombra's head was spinning, multiple outcomes flashing through his head and none of them good. His breathing sped up as he spiraled. Fluttershy placed a hoof on his shoulder and smiled at him.

'T... that's a very, very bad idea. I... I don't want to, Twilight. I really don't. Do you remember what I did to them?" Twilight smiled, her eyes kind, as she nodded.

"You've changed though, Sombra. If we can get them to see that, then we've made progress. This is going to take more then one visit. Trust for them won't come easy but it will come with time and effort." Sombra looked down, his ears back as he thought. He could remember everything he'd done to them and with how much he'd changed, it killed him. However, he was scared to go back. No one there would be willing to give him a chance and he had a feeling that he'd be attacked a few times. But he didn't want to let his friends down.

"O.. okay. We can give it a try, Twilight." She squealed and wrapped her hooves around a very tense Sombra. One thought was going through his head. This is going to fail.

Sombra sat on his bed, trembling violently as he stared out the window. He scratched at the ring around his horn. When the Crystal ponies heard about him, they were outraged. The only way they had agreed was if he wore a restricting ring to stop his magic. Twilight hadn't wanted to but it was necessary. He felt Fluttershy lay a wing over his back and lean into him. Luckily he was facing away from her, as it hid his heavy blush.

"We're almost there. Are you doing okay, Sombra?" He nodded, still not looking away from the window. Sombra could see the glow as they left the snow behind and entered the outer plains that circled the Empire. Soon, the station came into sight, though Sombra was on the opposite side of the train. He squirmed when Fluttershy moved away, missing her warm body pressing to his side. Sighing again, he rested his chin on the sill of the window, his breath fogging the glass. As the train rumbled to a stop, he pressed his ears back as fear filled his body again.

"Well, here we are. It's do or die time." Twilight wasn't helping his nerves at all. as she kept talking about how much was riding on this, he snapped.

"Will you shut up, Twilight!? You're not helping my nerves in the slightest!" He turned and glared at her. She lowered her ears as guilt crossed her face.

"Sorry." His angry expression melted to one of fear and he turned away. A gentle hoof rested on his withers and he tensed, turning to Twilight smiling at him. Sighing, he jumped off the bed and followed the girls off the train. Nopony was at the station, though that was hardly surprising. The girls formed a tight circle around him with Fluttershy wrapping a wing around him. Sombra had his ears pinned to his head while he looked down. When they started through the Empire, the few ponies out on the streets stopped and sent the seven of them glares, mainly Sombra himself. His short tail flicked and he lowered his head. After what seemed like an eternity, they reached the castle.

"Sombra. How was the trip" His pained, sad eyes made Cadence drop the subject rather fast. She sighed and nodded to the guard standing off to the side. The purple stallion stepped forward and rounded up the girls, though he did give Sombra a hard shove and made him stumble. The girls all clustered around him with Rainbow sending a glare at the guard. As they were led to their rooms, Twilight was talking with Rarity about Spike, with him staying in Ponyville to take care of the castle.

Fluttershy looked at Rainbow and Sombra. The cyan pegasus was talking with him quietly, though he didn't seem to be saying much. They were all beside one another, with Twilight being the only one by herself. Rainbow was paired with Applejack while Rarity was with Pinkie Pie, leaving Fluttershy with Sombra. Sombra went straight to bed without a word. Fluttershy sighed and flew up to the top bunk. She whispered a quick 'goodnight' before curling up under the covers. This was going to be a long two weeks.