Oblivion said nothing as the teleport faded, and he found they were in front of the barn. He looked at the still-silent pony on his back and moved to the far side of the barn where he knew a picnic table sat. It had been placed there several weeks earlier due to the needed repairs. His magic covered the table, and he repaired the pieces needing it. He looked back a groan sounded out from his back. Sombra stirred on his back, and his magic covered him and set him on the ground and his belly. He waited several seconds as his magic helped him up and waited for him to become less disoriented.

Sombra jerked as he saw the azure flame covering him. Once the grey pony seemed to have calmed, Oblivion removed it. “Easy, Sombra.”

Sombra looked up quickly at him, his eyes wide and stunned. He stared at the black pony as Oblivion turned to reach out to him to help him to his hooves. Sombra looked at the offered hoof and hesitated before he took it. Oblivion pulled him to his hooves, and he wavered for a few seconds as Oblivion motioned for him to sit at the picnic table.

“Where am I?” Sombra asked, his voice slightly shaking as he spoke.

“Ponyville.” Oblivion supplied.

“I don’t remember coming here.”

“You were unconscious when I teleported us here.” Oblivion said to him as he sat down.

Sombra sat down across from him and stared at the black pony. “Wait… Teleported?”

“Yes.”

“You teleported us to here? How far is it from my… The Empire?”

“It is a fair distance.” Oblivion admitted. “Far enough that many would say it is impossible to move from here to there magically.”

“Oh.” He said. “You’re just able to do it without help?”

“I can, yes.” Oblivion said to him. “I can do it alone without help from other ponies.”

“Why would you bring me here? I’m guilty of so much suffering. What makes you think I won’t try to do it again here?”

Oblivion laughed at his words, earning the gray pony a very startled look. “True enough. There is no erasing the past and the deeds that were done then. But in your defense, it was not wholly you’re doing.”

Sombra stared at him as he spoke. “What do you mean it’s not my fault? I’m the one that enslaved them all.”

Oblivion held up a hoof to stop him before he got going on a self-loathing rant. “As I said, that is true. But I am the Element of Spirit, and I can see the spirits of the creatures of this world. I can tell how strong, weak, damaged, or broken they are. It is my job to protect, cleanse, and guide the spirits of ponies if needed.”

“I remember the Elements. They stopped me before, and I think I cursed the Empire for a long time. Why would you protect me?”

“You think?” Oblivion pressed him gently.

“I… I don’t remember cursing the Empire,” he admitted. "I know I hated them for coming to try to stop me. But I don’t know how it all ended. I know it did… I’m not sure how.”

Oblivion leaned back on his haunches on the seat and ran his claws through his forelock. He folded them back into his hoof as Sombra’s eyes followed the hoof. “I’m a Witcher. Clawed hooves are normal for my kind.”

“Oh,” Sombra said quietly, averting his eyes from the table between them. “I'm sorry.”

“It’s fine. You have no way of knowing, so questioning is not bad for you.” Oblivion said to him. “I’d be concerned if you questioned nothing. We will see what else we can find out about the fall of the Empire from before. For now, we will focus on getting you on your hooves.”

“So… Why did you protect me?” Sombra asked after a minute of silence.

Oblivion paused and considered what his reply should include. He could come clean a bit to Sombra about the basics of things about him guarding the World Spirit, or he could lie. He knew that telling him would help assuage some of the pony's rampant guilt. But simultaneously, he had to know that Sombra would not talk about what he had been told. Telling him about how he had been infected, he knew it would do much for the pony, but it came with its issues. He decided to focus on how he had corrupted him and see how it played out.

“I can tell you that many years ago, there was a pony using a form of corruption that causes cruelty and evil in ponies. He was infecting them as he traveled; I could tell you were one of those ponies. He did it before you were sealed away.”

Sombra’s jaw dropped open for several seconds as he thought over what he had been told. “So you were literal when you said I wasn’t like that by choice?”

“Not originally. You were one of his many victims. It is not well known about him but those who do know have tried to correct it as they found the issues.” Oblivion said to him.

“So, how was I infected?”

“I am not sure exactly. What do you remember from before the sealing?” Oblivion asked.

Sombra looked thoughtful, and then an uncertain look crossed his face. “I… Don’t.”

“Meaning?”

“I don’t remember much from before it. I remember fighting the Princesses’, but not much before it.” Sombra said with an unhappy look on his face. “I don’t know anything.”

“You know more than you think.” Oblivion quickly said to him. “Your memory might come back with time. How I cleansed you was not the kindest method I could have used.”

“Not the kindest?”

“No. It was quick and brutal, to be honest.” Oblivion admitted. “I’ve cleansed a pony once before but did it differently.”

“Like how?”

“I spent months building up his spirit and then cleansing the corruption. With you, the opposite was done.”

“Would you have preferred the other method?”

“Yes. But with you, that would have been impossible.” He replied. Sombra tilted his head slightly. “His corruption was much less than yours. You were drowning in it and were only a week or a couple of days from being lost to it completely.”

“What made you think that?”

“Shall I show you what I could see of you?”

Sombra looked nervous and seemed to be considering that he had asked. “Yeah. I need to see this.”

“Very well.”

Oblivions horn lit as he sent the image to the barn wall. He showed Sombra the mass of darkness that he had been and the pony shivered at the sight. “Look toward the middle.” Oblivion instructed. “Can you see the difference?”

“That little spot?” He asked, and Oblivion nodded. “Geez.”

“Yes. You were losing the fight against it. You didn’t have the time left for me to take my time in cleansing you of it. You would not have lasted.”

“That’s what was left of me?” Sombra asked, his voice small.

“Yes. You had been fighting it for so long, and I’m amazed you lasted so long.”

“Dare I ask how long it was?”

Oblivion hesitated before he responded. “A thousand years.”

Sombra’s head whipped around to look at him, his eyes wide and shocked. “What?”

Oblivion said nothing further and nodded. Sombra turned to look at the image once more and then waved his hoof through it. Oblivion let the image fade to nothing as Sombra sniffled and turned to look at him. He waited for the pony to recover from the surprise.

“Why save me then?” Sombra suddenly asked. “It was so much effort to save me? Why bother? You would have been a hero if you had let me go.”

Oblivion was quiet as he considered his next reply. “You had been suffering for a thousand years. I went out into the snow to save you. No matter what the effort that it took to do so.”

“You’d have been a hero if I had died.”

“I have no need or desire to be a hero. I have never needed to be heroic. I choose my actions no matter their popularity. If needed, I will do what is not always popular, and even then, I will not regret my actions. It was my choice to save you.”

Sombra chuckled as he looked at the black pony. “Not one to mince words, are you?”

“Not really. Taking that time is more effort than I am willing to invest in it.”

A blast of azure fire went out, and Sombra yelped as a letter appeared in his magic. Oblivion was silent as he unrolled the scroll.

Oblivion Shadow:

My sister and I have been made aware of your cleansing of King Sombra. While this is good news, it does not excuse him of his prior crimes. While the fact that you saved him is admirable, it does not mean he is forgiven. My sister and I request that you bring King Sombra to Canterlot to await trial for his crimes against the ponies of the Crystal Empire.

We thank you for helping Twilight and the others in the Empire. It was a very brave thing to confront King Sombra as you did. We also are grateful for you helping Princess Cadance as well. It takes great magic to power a shield of that strength, so we are not surprised that you bested King Sombra. We ask that he be presented to my sister and I before the end of the day and are thankful for your help bringing him to justice.

Princess Luna, Princess Celestia

He rolled the letter up and let it hover around his head for several seconds as Mac approached. He started at the sight of the two of them. He blinked at them for a moment before he gave his head a little shake as he walked up to them.

“Howdy, bro. When did ya get back?” He asked the black Unicorn.

“About an hour ago.” Oblivion replied. “This is Sombra.”

“Nice ta meet ya,” Mac said as he reached out a hoof to greet the gray pony.

“Hi.” He replied and reached out to shake his hoof. “Nice to meet you as well.”

Mac grinned as he let go of the pony’s hoof. “So what’s yer plan fer ‘im?”

“I had planned on asking Granny Smith if he could remain here with us,” he admitted. "Can you sit with him while I speak with her?”

“Ah, can, yeah.” Mac drawled and sat across from Sombra while Oblivion left for the house.

Oblivion moved toward the farmhouse and walked into the house to find the elderly mare. He found her in the front room in her recliner, and she opened an eye to look at him as he entered the room. He approached her, and she motioned for him to approach her.

“Good afternoon.” He said to her as he came close to her and sat down in front of her. “I have a request for you, if I may?”

“Ah course.” She said to him. “What can Ah do fer ya?”

“I have a pony with me that needs a new home. He is not welcome in his former home.” Oblivion explained.

“Did ‘e ‘urt anypony?”

Oblivion hesitated before he nodded. “He did, but that was many years ago. I redeemed him, and he is no longer that pony.”

“Ya vouch fer ‘im?” She asked.

“I do, yes.”

Granny Smith nodded and was quiet for several seconds before she nodded again. “Well, Ah suppose we can make room fer ‘im. Ya okay with sharing yer room?”

“It’s big enough for the both of us so I have no issue with that.” He replied.

“Well then get ‘im set up and comfortable.” She said with a sagely tone to her voice.

“Thank you, Granny Smith.” He said to her as he got to his hooves.

He turned and walked out of the room and out to rejoin the other two ponies. He strode out and found them sitting quietly and Sombra stared at him as he came around the barn and joined them. He sat down beside Mac and the roan said nothing as he sat down.

“Sombra will be staying with us from now on. Can you build a bed for him and put it against the wall in my room?” Oblivion asked Mac.

“Sure. Ah can make one up fer ya.” Mac said to him and he began to get up. “What size do ya think?”

“Not as big as mine.” Oblivion replied. “Maybe about your size? That way he would have plenty of room.”

“That’s makes sense. Ah’ll get it goin’.” He said as he moved away from them and toward the woodshop.

Sombra said nothing for several seconds before he looked up at the black stallion. “What do I do now?”

“You work.” Oblivion said with a chuckle. “I work here as well. So you will have the same deal I do. You will probably need to get used to being called one of their family as I did.”

Sombra numbly nodded. He suddenly stopped and his head snapped up to look at Oblivion, his eyes wide. “What?” Oblivion tilted his head slightly as Sombra went on. “The last part of what you said.”

Oblivion went over what he had said and he realized what Sombra had gotten caught up on. “Oh, the family comment?”

“Yeah. Why would they call me that?”

“I was stunned when they called me that as well. They are a family that welcomes in anypony that comes to them. They found me in the forest and I was welcomed among them that same day and called family over the next few days.”

Sombra was quiet as he considered what had been said. “But I was a…”

“I did not mention what you once were to her. I did explain that I cleansed you of something and that your spirit had been redeemed. It seems to her that was enough to let you call this place home.”

Sombra looked stunned and he leaned back. Oblivion watched him to ensure that he didn’t fall off the bench. Seconds turned into a few minutes as he suddenly leaned forward and looked down at his hooves.

“I guess going back to the Empire is a no go?”

“Not any time soon.” Oblivion admitted. “It would be a poor choice at this point in time.”

“That’s true. I wish things were different though I know I can’t change anything.”

“In time things may fade but for now we are not able to do anything about it at this moment.”

Sombra said nothing further as he gave a slight nod in agreement. “I wish I remembered more about before I was lost.”

“Do you recall anything from before you became the tyrant?”

“That’s the thing… not really. I remember tiny bits and pieces but together they make no sense.”

“Perhaps over time things will clear and you can put your previous life back together. For now, we will work with what we have.” Oblivion assured him.

“I understand.” Sombra agreed. “What do I need to do now though? Everypony knows what I was.”

“Nopony here does. I wilt talk with the others and let them know who you are at the core of yourself. Who you once were is not who you are.” Oblivion replied.

Oblivion started to speak further when a familiar pair of lights started coming toward them. He could see that it was Sasa and Applejack. He was not sure how she had beaten the others back to Ponyville but he could see that she had. He stepped out from where they had been sitting and motioned for Sombra to remain where he was sitting. He could see the mare looked determined and the set of her jaw told him that she was ready to fight if needed. She spotted him and Sasa trotted ahead of her.

“Hello, Chosen.” Sasa’s voice rang through his mind as her cheerful tone told him she was ready to meet the pony with him.

“Hello Sasa.” He said back to her.

Applejack paused as the cat cast a glance back at her, telling her to wait. “Where is he?”

“Sombra.” He said as Sasa approached.

“Yes?” Sombra said to him, his voice hesitant.

“Come out to meet Sasa. She has been looking forward to meeting you.” Oblivion said to him.

Sombra nodded and approached the black stallion. He drew up beside him and saw the large feline waiting for him. “Holy shit. That’s a big cat.”

“She is friendly I assure you.” Oblivion said to him.

“Can you allow me to speak to him?” Sasa asked as she came to sit down in front of them.

Oblivion horn lit brightly as his aura covered the cat and allowed her to speak to the others.

“Hello Sombra.” She said to him.

Sombra jerked as her voice went through is mind. “Umm… Hi.”

“It is my pleasure to meet you.” Sasa said to him.

“Pleasure is mine.” He finally spoke up as her cheerful tone seemed to embolden him.

“I’m glad that you seem to be in good health after your fight with my Chosen.” She said to him. “You’re most certainly not the same pony that we had heard about in the Empire.”

“I’m glad.” He replied, his voice quiet. “You don’t hate me?”

“No. I have no reason to. My Chosen has cleansed you of the corruption that had made you into what you once were. That was not directly your fault. Being corrupted as you were warps your personality and makes you almost into the exact opposite of who you truly were.”

Sombra stared at her as she spoke and he sat down heavily and his head hung. Sasa saw his distress and she approached him and pout her head under his chin and lifted his head to allow her to easily nuzzle him. He quietly reached out and wrapped his forelegs around her and buried his face in her fur. Oblivion stood quietly beside him as Sasa purred. Oblivion looked up and he could see Applejack watching, her face a mix of uncertainty. He walked over to her and he lowered his head so that they could speak quietly between them.

“Welcome home.” He said to her.

“Thank ya. But Ah was ready fer a fight wit’ ‘im. But Ah don’t see anypony ta fight.” She replied.

“You don’t need to fight him. There is nopony worth fighting. I would have stopped you if you had been looking to fight him.” Oblivion said to her.

“What did she mean by corruption?” Applejack asked.

“I am currently following the trail of a pony that a thousand years ago was infecting ponies with something that caused them to go insane over time. He was able to leave items in his wake that would corrupt ponies and lead them to violence and cruelty. I believe he was also able to infect them directly.” He explained and she stared at him then back to Sombra. “Yeah, he was one of his victims.”

“Oh, by Equestria,” Applejack said as she surprisedly put a hoof over her mouth. “How are ya certain?”

“I don’t have exact times and dates. But I am sure that Sombra was a victim. This pony’s favorite thing to do was to infect ponies and leave them to suffer in his wake. Sombra was infected and barely survived it with his spirit intact.”

Applejack Stared at him and then her eyes went to the ground as she considered what he had said. “So ‘e isn’t the pony that the Crystal Ponies remember?”

“He doesn’t remember much from before he was infected. He knows that something happened but he has no idea what it was. Over time I am hoping her can slowly recall what happened. I am hoping that he can remember when he was infected and how.”

Applejack nodded and Oblivion looked back as Sombra let go of Sasa and the feline happily licked his cheek. Applejack sighed and walked past him as she approached the grey pony. Sombra was her coming and he jumped to his hooves. Oblivion saw fear shoot through his spirit and fell behind the orange mare. Seeing him on her heels seemed to settle Sombra slightly, but he watched her closely as she reached him and stood beside Sasa.

“Ah’m sorry.” She said to him as Sombra looked up and regarded her. “Ah judged ya before Ah met ya. That wasn’t fair to ya. Ya sure don’t act like an evil pony that turned them into slaves.” Sombra flinched, and she paused. “Sorry. Ah mean Ah shouldn't judge ya. So can Ah start over?”

Sombra nodded and slowly stood up after releasing Sasa’s fur. The cat moved to stand next to the gray unicorn. Applejack held out her hoof. “Ah’m Applejack. It’s nice ta meet ya.”

“Sombra. Pleasure is mine.” He said as he shook her hoof.

Oblivion was silent as he backed up a few steps and thought back to the letter from Luna. ‘I won’t take him to them. He has been through enough and has earned a pardon. The fact that he managed to survive so long with that corruption eating at him is testament to his strength of character.’ Oblivion thought to himself as he watched Sombra interact with Applejack. ‘I will go to Canterlot in his stead. If there is a punishment to be meted out, I will accept it in his place. Though hopefully there will be no need and a simple explanation is enough.’

“Sasa.” He said to her.

The she cat looked away from the ponies and over to the black unicorn. “Yes, Chosen?”

“I am going to Canterlot. I have been asked to bring Sombra before Luna and Celestia to stand trial for his crimes against the Crystal Empire.”

“You cleansed him already. Why would they seek to punish him further?” She asked him, annoyance slipping into her voice.

“I agree. That is why I will go in his stead.”

“Are you certain of this?”

“Yes. Punishing him is not going to help anything in this case. Stay with him and try to keep him calm.”

“Understood. He is going to ask about you, though.”

“Oblivion,” Applejack said to him as she turned back.

“Yes?”

“How did ya help him? Ah mean so that he isn’t the same pony?” She questioned.

Oblivion thought about it before he tried to explain. “The Element of Spirit can see the aura of those around him. I could see Sombra within the darkness and found that the original spirit was still there, but it was being overrun by corruption. So I removed it.”

“How?”

“By force. Not the best option normally, especially with him. It could have been a disaster but thankfully we were able to avoid the worst case scenario. By removing it, that allowed Sombra’s real spirit to retake control and become the pony you see now.”

Applejack stared at him, her jaws open. “Ya... Wow. Ah never thought it had that ability.”

“It’s not an easy one. So far as I can tell, many of the Elements' abilities are kept secret. The reference guide about them does not have everything in it. One must have a trump card or two if needed,” Oblivion explained. “I do need to go to Canterlot in a few minutes. Luna has asked me to go there.”

Applejack pulled up her jaw and nodded. “She wanting ya to explain? Like ya did with us?”

“Possibly. I don’t anticipate it taking very long.” He replied.

Sombra looked nervous and paused before he spoke up. “Is it about me?”

“Could be. It is not uncommon for Luna to ask me to go to Canterlot for other reasons. She often wishes my opinion or some such.”

Sombra nodded as Sasa rubbed her head on his shoulder, nearly knocking him off his hooves. “Let me know if there is anything I can do. I’m sure they are both not happy that I’m alive.”

“I’ll deal with it if it comes up. Sasa will remain here as well. If you have any questions ask her and she can guide you till I return.” Oblivion stated as his horn lit and he vanished in a burst of flame.

Author's Note

Have a good week guys!