Count Sombra

It’s been exactly two weeks since Luna’s memorial. Cadence, Shining, and the others are in the cemetery like Celestia asked them to be. It’s dark and quiet, and every noise makes the ponies jump with fright. The mist is so thick that they have trouble seeing what’s around them. Applejack is the first to talk and breaks the silence.

“Does the professor really think that these foals who have vanished in the last two weeks are the victims of—”

“Of Luna, yes.” Shining answers quietly.

“A remarkable theory if I do say so myself.” Applejack rolls his eyes.

Celestia emerges from the shadows, his eyes cold. He opens his bag, just to be prepared. “The grave is open.”

“Perhaps it was just robbers...?” Trixie asks hopefully.

“No no, my friend. It is something more.”

As soon as Celestia finishes his words, a soft melody echoes through the area. Everypony looks at one another, a bit wary. The melody gets closer until Luna appears, holding a filly’s hoof. The pair don’t even seem to notice the group of ponies beside them. Luna has the filly kneel down and gives her a small toy. The filly is too distracted to see that Luna’s fangs are coming within inches of her neck.

“Luna, stop!” Trixie yells. Twilight and Applejack hold him in place. Luna growls and grabs the filly tightly.

Celestia brandishes a cruxifix toward Luna, who flinches. “We command you to release the filly! Release her now!”

The others hold their own crosses to Luna and repeat what Celestia said. Cadence stands on the sidelines and takes in a shaky breath. ‘Oh, Luna,’ she thinks solemnly, ‘what has become of you? Why must he do this...?’

Luna growls once more and relinquishes her grip on the filly. The filly rushes toward safety. Luna disappears into the mist and Celestia runs after her, a stake in his magical grip.

“Don’t look,” says Shining as he embraces his wife. Cadence flinches as she hears her friend’s wails of pain. Tears come to her eyes and she sobs, heartbroken. She tears herself away from Shining’s arms and flies home.

_________________

‘Why must you make me wait?’ Count Sombra’s voice echoes in Cadence’s mind as she enters her home.

“How can you ask me that?!” she yells out loud as tears stream down her face.

‘I am not accustomed to having to wait for so long. I am impatient.’ His tone takes on anger and irritation as it breaks through her thoughts.

“You had Luna killed!”

‘No I did not, my dear. It was Celestia who carried out that deed. No, no. On the contrary...I would have granted her eternal life. It was all of you who made her life end so quickly.’

Candence wipes her eyes angrily. “That is not the Luna I knew. The Luna I knew was sweet and kind and generous. That Luna was nothing but a horrid distortion.”

He laughs darkly. ‘You are right, my dear. But I cannot persuade you of my previous statement until you long for me. And until you let me in.’ His voice fades away.

Cadence sits in an armchair and wipes her eyes once more. Her heart is torn. Torn between longing and loyalty, torn between joy and pain. Even though he is gone from her mind, she knows that he can still hear her. ‘Please...do not make me long for you. I do not need you in my life. If you truly love me...do not make me want you until you love me, until I feel the same way you do...’

No response. Cadence sighs and puts her head in her hooves.

“I know this must be difficult for you.” Celestia enters the room and startles Cadence. “Yet we cannot stop now. We have gathered new information about various ways to find and destroy the vampire once and for all. One from your husband, who found the coffins the vampire sleeps in. They are filled with dirt from the Crystal Empire. He and the others are on their way right now to douse the coffins in holy water. To add onto this, we have learned from Doctor Twilight that a method of communication exists between the Count and Twilight’s patient, Pinkamena Diane Pie. We need not delay this visit further.” Celestia beckons for the other to follow.

_________________

Twilight enters the cell of Pinkamena, who is huddled in the corner. “Good evening, Pinkamena. I have brought some visitors who wish to speak with you.” He opens the door wider to allow the two ponies in.

Pinkamena lifts his head and gasps when he sees Cadence. “You...!”

“You know me...?” Cadence tilts her head, wary.

“Oh, yes. You are the one my master wants. How do I know this, you ask? For five years he has always been inside my head. I always know what he’s thinking. He wants you, my dear. You alone.”

Slowly, Cadence kneels next to him. “Why do you trouble yourself on his behalf?”

“He provides me with what I need,” he says simply with a shrug of his shoulders. “He has promised me freedom as well as Equestria.”

Cadence places a hoof on his shoulder. “Is the world worth more than your soul?”

“You must leave this place immediately. Go somewhere far away. Do not talk to anypony, do not sleep. Just go. I am a dead stallion for telling you this, but you need to leave.”

Celestia puts a hoof on Cadence and leads her out of the room. The cell door slams and Pinkamena is alone.

Not entirely alone, that is.

“Oh, Pinkamena. You were such a faithful pony.” Sombra appears from the darkness and tuts. “But now? Now you have disappointed me!” His horn flares up with a black aura, tinged with green and purple. He directs the beam toward Pinkamena. In a flash of light, the cell is empty.

_________________

“I know where he’s hiding!” Shining exclaims as he enters his own house. Celestia has been watching over Cadence and asked her husband to leave them for a few hours. It’s only been thirty minutes.

“He’s hiding at an abandoned farm not far from mine,” says Applejack.

“We must go at once.” Shining starts to head out.

“You would be better off staying here with Madame Cadence.”

Shining laughs lightly. “Is that really necessary, Professor?”

“Yes, if you want to keep her from falling into the Count’s hooves.” Celestia looks the stallion in the eyes. “Any precaution cannot be too great if it ensures the welfare of...Madame Cadence?” He just happens to glance at the stairs and sees Cadence, who has been there the whole time.

“Of course. You are right.” Shining sighs and goes over to his wife.

“Let me go with you. I do not need protection. I am not helpless, you know.” Cadence looks to Shining and Celestia.

“I think not, young lady. This is not a task for a mare like you.” Twilight speaks up.

“I must agree with your friends. You are to stay here with Shining. End of discussion.” Celestia puts on his coat and grabs his bag. “Now, let us be off.”

“I will show you out.” Shining smiles at the stallions and leads them outside.

Cadence is alone.