Private Iceland was really looking forward to this. He had finally gotten his hooves on a volume that went into great detail about the ancient Spartacorn Hegemony. The unicorn had been waiting ages for it to become available, but this wasn’t something a pony could just rent out of a public library. It was considered a research title, thus it was really only available to ponies working on historical research.
Regular run of the mill ponies could still read copies in some of the larger libraries in Equestria, but weren’t allowed to leave the premise with it. Private found a workaround. Being a certified historian and due to his previous work in archeology helping both his parents and other parties, he decided he was plain and simple going to write an essay about the Spartacorns and could thus rent the book. It was costly, his money pouch suffered quite a dent, but as far as he was concerned, it was worth it.
He was really looking forward to getting back to work, any work really. It was only a month or so since he was let out of the hospital in the Crystal Empire and right now he really just wanted to focus on the subject most near and dear to him. History.
Private packed the book into his saddle bag, mumbled a thanks to the pony at the reception desk who had released it to him and really had to restrain himself from running out of the University library that had agreed to rent the book to him. Fillydelphia History Museum, his workplace, had agreed to partially fund the project. The unicorn wasn’t sure why, though he had a feeling his supervisors were happy to have him back and were willing to indulge him a little.
The University of Fillydelphia was a bit of a distance from where he lived in the suburbs, but Private didn’t mind the walk. Even if he wasn’t the fittest of ponies, he still figured he could use the exercise after spending so much time in the hospital. He kept the book safe and secure in his bag as he started trotting for home. The stallion wouldn’t even pick it up until he could rest it safely on the work desk in his room.
Private had lived most of his adult life in the city, so getting around was very little problem for him. He knew all the shortcuts he needed to take to get sooner home and what areas to avoid.
Maybe I should drop by the store and get stuff for pancakes, I don’t think there is enough at home, he thought as his walk took him past a grocery store. Private ignored this one because he knew it was a bit expensive and right now he needed to be careful with his money.
The unicorn had plenty of reasons to be pleased, though not many might notice that he was, considering the neutral expression he constantly wore on the outside. So far nothing had reminded him of the reason he had stayed for so long in the Crystal Empire. He still didn’t like being in dark places and sometimes couldn’t help but eye shadows nervously, but for the past month, nothing had occurred to even hint at it.
Considering how hard it is to get this book, maybe I should buy a lottery ticket because I’m feeling surprisingly lucky, he mused.
After a bit of a walk, he finally arrived at the park he knew was the halfway point. The unicorn considered going through it, it would cut the time to walk home down by a little bit. Going around would take him out of the way for nearly a mile.
Deciding he wanted to get home as soon as possible, he entered the park and used the path that would take him straight through. Many ponies were around, most enjoying the good weather, but Private ignored them. He wasn’t a social pony and those times he visited the park he preferred to find secluded spots to sit in.
Oh wait right, I need buy more paper and ink, I’m almost out. The unicorn didn’t miss a beat in his walk, he turned on the path to a new one that would take him back out of it. He knew of a store near the park that would have the supplies he needed.
This path took him through a lot of trees lined up on either side. For a moment no other pony was in sight. Private personally didn’t mind, in fact he was rather relieved that the racket from the other ponies in the park could no longer be heard. He was really looking forward to the solitude of his room.
Suddenly and without warning, his own shadow started to sprout black smoke. Private barely had time to register it before it had completely engulfed him. The unicorn blinked, he was no longer in the park. He was standing now in a large room made of stone - at best it could be described as a medieval dining room. It had one large wooden table and several wooden chairs in various states of disrepair.
However, Private wasn’t really focusing on the room. The pony was frozen solid as he had noticed who was sitting at the far end of the table, voraciously eating.
It was another unicorn. His dark gray fur was darker than Private’s, the mane and tail were black and the horn was red and curved like a knife. He was wearing a simple black robe with white accents.
Private screamed. The other unicorn looked up sharply, then arched his brow when seeing who was causing the commotion.
“Private? What are you doing here?” King Sombra asked half surprised and half annoyed.
“WHAT AM I DOING HERE!?” Private screamed almost at the same time as the dark pony asked his question. A red magic aura appeared on his muzzle, clamping it shut and muffling his hysterical screaming.
“That doesn’t answer my question, but considering your question, I can only assume you are just as confused as I am,” Sombra snorted, then he frowned as he regarded the terrified pony. “Oh, I see they released you from the hospital already. Curious...why did my spell not let me know?”
Private could do little but stand there and continue to scream internally since Sombra still held his muzzle shut. Another magic aura swept across him, causing the pony to fear even more what the other unicorn was doing to him.
“Ah I see the problem. I wrote the spell incorrectly, instead of alerting me to your release, it got delayed and once the delay passed, it whisked you over to me. I’m really out of practice.” Sombra shook his head in dismay.
He rose up from the table and casually walked over to his petrified prisoner. The whole time Sombra continued to regard Private critically as if he was examining him for other spells. He still kept Private’s mouth shut with his magic.
“You see, this is the reason I haven’t been doing terribly much. My magic is still rusty and I’m still sort of getting used to having a body, speaking of which, I just can’t get enough of it to be breathing again, eating again, feeling the wind on my mane, it’s amazing,” Sombra said as he gestured around with one hoof, talking as if he was just addressing a very old friend.
“I even engaged the service of some…” the king halted and then grinned slyly. “Professional mares, just to see if everything was still in working order. It was.”
Too much information. Private could still do little but listen and worry what would happen next, Sombra was being rather chatty right now, but how long would that last?
“Say, are you going to continue screaming?” Sombra asked and gestured to Private’s muzzle.
Private resigned himself to the fact that he was once more in the presence of King Sombra, so with some reluctance, because he really did feel like screaming more, the unicorn shook his head. The magic was instantly removed from his mouth.
“You put a spell on me that takes me straight to you?” was simply the first thing that came to his mind.
“As I already explained, I wrote the spell incorrectly. It was supposed to let me know you were out of the hospital, not take you to me. I’m not ready yet,” Sombra snorted and started to walk back to the table.
Now was the first time Private dared to look around. He wasn’t familiar with the architecture of the room. There were two doors at the back and one behind him. Windows were on the side walls, there were some old, rotten chests and tables at the window walls.
“Where am I?” he asked and turned in a circle. The room was well illuminated by candles up in the chandeliers, plus daylight poured out from the window. Private had a feeling Sombra had enhanced the lightning power of the candles.
“An old fort I’m taking temporary refuge in,” Sombra responded. He had returned to his seat and started eating again.
“Can I leave, given that I’m not supposed to be here anyway?” Private asked, not really hopeful that the answer would be yes.
“The door is over there,” the dark unicorn gestured to the wall with the single door.
It can’t be that easy. Private frowned, hesitantly he backed towards the door, Sombra made no move to stop him, just continued to enjoy his meal.
Private continued all the way to the wall with no movement from his captor. Quickly the unicorn turned around and used his magic to open the door. It did lead directly outside, but with one problem. Right outside was a sheer drop, the bottom couldn’t even be seen. Private’s jaw dropped. He saw snow-peaked mountains in the distance. They were high up in the mountains somewhere and the only door outside led straight to a cliff drop.
The unicorn quickly backed away and slammed the door shut. He turned around, his heart pounding from almost having stepped outside and fallen to his doom.
“How in Tartarus is that the exit?” Private snapped and indignantly gestured to the door.
“What? I don’t need to walk when I go outside,” Sombra chuckled. He held an old wine cup in his magic and was sipping from it.
“Of course, your blasted smoke form,” Private grunted and hung his head. “You’re not going to send me home, are you?”
“I might, when I feel like it,” the king shrugged and drank from his cup.
Sighing, Private sat down. He wanted to argue, he wanted to demand to be sent home, but he just didn’t have the courage to do it. The pony that had possessed and tormented him, had him captive and he wasn’t really sure if there was anything he could do about it.
Suddenly he was enveloped by a red magic aura and floated over to the table. He was set down on Sombra’s right and released from the magic. Private looked up, still worried what would or could happen.
“Well, we are now outside your mind and at a table with fine food. Do you want your King Horsenidas costume?” Sombra smirked at the question. Private shook his head in response. The king shrugged. “Yes, it’s not appropriate. I don’t feel like donning my gear either, just doesn’t feel appropriate while I’m not actually ruling anything right now. Might put the armor on though if I have to engage in battle.”
“You sound too chipper.” Private suddenly realized that Sombra seemed to be in an extremely good mood.
“What can I say? I’m alive and enjoying it. Sure I’m still in hiding, but I’m not going to be stewing in some dark corner, cooking up wild revenge schemes, brewing on my hatred of the two sisters and their champions. Oh, I do have plans, but patience is a virtue I do possess,” the king chuckled softly and drank from his cup. “That is truly how you get under your enemies’ skin, Timido…Private.”
Private raised an eyebrow. This was not the first time Sombra had referred to him by that name. The name of the king’s last servant before he fled the court of his mother, Queen Rabia of the Dark Pony Empire. He had also made the same mistake back during the time he had possessed his prisoner, shortly after the king had reconstructed his body using accumulated dark magic.
Sombra looked mildly embarrassed and for a second busied himself with eating some of his food. When his prisoner didn’t comment on the gaff, the king resumed talking.
“As I was saying, this is how you truly get under their skin. Making them try and guess what I’m up to, thinking I’m sitting somewhere alone, stewing and cursing their names, cackling at all the insane revenge schemes I have in store for them. Let their imaginations run wild.” He spoke in a softer voice now, like he was struggling to maintain his previous composure.
“Do I really remind you of him?” Private decided to risk asking. He flinched a little at the soft growl from the larger pony.
“You have certain qualities that, yes, are reminiscent of Timido. If I must be honest, my mind is still grasping the fact that it is now contained in a living brain, old and new memories are a bit muddled right now, but I will sort them out.” Sombra narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Private.
“I’ve looked it up, Private. Timido and his mate were in Equestria engaged in trading when the Dark Pony Empire fell. They were granted refugee status and became Equestrian citizens. It is it’s not impossible to assume they have living descendants,” he told him.
“How did you look that up?” Private frowned, a lot of history from that time was really difficult to find written evidence of.
“I have my ways,” was the only reply.
Private decided to let the matter be, it would be unwise to annoy the king too much. Considering the unicorn was utterly defenseless against him, it was practically suicidal.
“If I promise not to tell anypony what happened here, will you please send me home?” Private decided to try one more time, hoping Sombra’s good mood would make him more receptive to this offer. “You said it yourself, you’re not ready to do anything, so there’s no point in me being here.”
“Yes, I suppose and ponies will notice you’re missing and probably quickly put two and two together and then intensify their search.” Sombra lazily spun the wine cup with his magic. Then he looked at Private, his expression turned more serious.
“I will send you home, this time. However, the next time we meet, Timido, I will be ready and then you will belong at my side,” the king said, clearly not noticing his second gaff with the names as his horn began glowing purple and green.
“Uh, you called me…” Private noticed and was about to correct him but the next thing he knew he was back out in the forestry path in the park. “…Timido again.”
What just happened? The unicorn frowned, his memories were fuzzy, it was like something was suppressing them. Private frowned, the harder and harder he tried to remember, the fuzzier it got.
I was… oh right, paper and ink, then he remembered why he was on the path. As he left the path he failed to notice a pair of red eyes watching him from the shadows of the trees, under them a wicked grin.
The end
Author's Note
I wasn't initially going to write a one shot like that, but I had just read so many Sombra stories where he is stewing in a dark corner, plotting his revenge and eventual return, I just wondered, "what if he wasn't?" What if he was just enjoying life secretely, while letting his enemies think he's stewing a corner. So this silly little fluff was born. I also just wanted to write something semi-humorous with Private and Sombra.
Made it part of the Equestria Tales series since it generally fit within it and I just so enjoy tormenting Private Iceland.
