My Shadow's Keeperby CrimsonRose97ChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 1“Sombra… Sombra, wake up.” The ghastly voice of Mother whispered sickly sweet into my ears. I couldn’t open my eyes and move my body. This pounding in my head was almost unbearable to deal with. I wanted to continue to rest. Something wrapped around me and this painful sensation of my sides being crushed was enough for me to wake up with a shout. My eyes shot open and came face to face with Mother. “Finally, you’re awake.” She hissed at me, baring her teeth before throwing me down to the ground. I felt more pain when I landed. When I tried to take in my surroundings, a reflective surface caught my attention. I looked at it and let out a horrid gasp. I was seeing myself, but my body had appeared much, much younger than I remembered the last time I saw myself. “What is this?” I asked, touching my face. Freezing when I heard my voice was much higher. More youthful. And being in these dark catacombs, it echoed loudly. “Is that my voice?” I coughed and spoke again. “Is that MY VOICE?!” I turned to Mother. Thrusting a hoof to the reflection. “What's happening to me?!” Mother rolled her white eyes. “Stop with your sniffling whining, just because you have a body of a child doesn't mean you get to act like one. You should be thanking me for even giving you another body after the last one got destroyed.” I stared at her confusedly. Not fully grasping what she was saying. I tried to remember what happened to me but I couldn’t remember certain events. I remembered being brought back prior to now. But by whom, I was drawing a blank. I remember a fight but whoever I was fighting against, I visually could not for the life of me remember. However, there was one figure I did recognize. The feeling I had of the creature came back. The hybrid herself. Umbré… though she was a foal, that thing brought me such pain and anguish that it made my blood boil. And the thought it was the reason my body was taken once again by a damn baby made me see red. “I'm going to kill that fucking brat!” I snapped. “You will do no such thing, boy.” Mother hissed. “Umbré must be guarded. She is still crucial to your reign.” “But she did this to me!” I spat at her. “You underestimated her abilities, and she was a foal. Her power has grown since, you are not even a match to her.” “How long was I asleep?” I asked, looking back at the reflection. I had not seen this young version of me in such a long time. Though some differences were there. My horn was still red and curved and my eyes were red as well. Remembering I had green eyes when I was a young colt. “Eight years. Eight years was how long it took to reconstruct your new body. Since you are still the only shadow that can traverse the top world physically.” Mother explained. “Set your petty grudge aside and pay attention.” She came up behind me. “Our spies had finally tracked Umbré down in this small village far from the Empire called Ponyville. She is at a critical age where she can be easily manipulated and influenced. Since discovered that we cannot force her to become evil, she'll have to become one willingly in order for our plans to be successful. “Your task, as you can see by your ... .youthful body, is to infiltrate her life. Watch over her, guide her to the path she is destined to go. Become her “friend” and if it calls for later down the line as she grows to adulthood, seduce her if you must. But do whatever you can to ensure she is ready.” My stomach twisted when Mother told me the plan. The sheer thought of her words to have me do such things to the hybrid made me taste bile in my throat. “Oh don't give me that look, Sombra, you've done worse things during your conquests.” Mother scuffed. “This is the long game. If you somehow fail this,” Tendrils wrapped around me, burning sensation traveled everywhere, causing me to yell out. “If you fail, I will flay every strip of flesh and muscle off your wretched bones over and over again until you are nothing but a mutilated corpse.” Mother warned me. The pain I was feeling was a taste of what's to come if I fail. “I-I won't fail you again, Mother.” I gasped out, wanting her to stop! She held onto me to ensure I got the message before dropping me once more. “Good boy. Now, take this,” a red crystal formed in front of my hooves. “This is how we can communicate since my magic can not reach that far, keep me updated on her progress. Do not fail me this time.” Moving can be stressful for any kid, eight year old Umbré was no exception. She and her adopted parents Ambrosia and Ranger were on a covered wagon that was being dragged by large rolling beetles. Umbré was sitting in the back with the luggage, in her purple gradient hooves was her prize possession. Her favorite doll. A purple and blue stuffed unicorn. Ambrosia, a hot pink Pegasus with white long mane, looked behind the luggage area at her daughter. Having a cutie mark of a heart, needle and thread. “We're almost there, Sweet Pea.” Ambrosia spoke softly with a comforting smile. “Why did we have to move again? I liked it back at Memphis, I was just about to make friends.” Umbré looks up at her. “I know you don't like the constant move, Umbré but it's part of my job.” Ranger said in response, glancing over his shoulders to look at her as he drove the wagon. “But I swear it's the last time. Think of it as another adventure.” Ranger had black mane, light blue coat, he had a bow as a mark, having violet eyes with glasses. “Until we have to move again, and again.and again.” Umbré sighed. “Is it that right, Hopey?” She made the doll nod their head in agreement. The parents shared a look. Ranger looks back at her. “I promise, once I finish this book I'm working on, I'll never have us move again. Ponyville is a quaint village, you'll love it here. Small towns make big friends.” “If you say so.” The child said. After eight years of constant moving, she really didn't believe that. The family soon drove the wagon through a road that led through the Everfree Forest. Soon coming to a two story cottage. There was already a few stuff that was shipped from their old house to here. Ranger soon parked their beetle driven wagon next to the cottage and his wife and daughter got out. “Tada! welcome to our new home, Umbré.” Ambrosia sang, flying over to her. “Oh gosh this place looks so pretty right?” Umbré smiled as she looked at the cottage. The exterior was light blue with yellow trims and windows. There were already flowers growing on the gardens, a stone path leading from the front steps and brought around to the backyard. “It's so pretty, mama!” She said. “It’ll be much prettier once we get this stuff in. Come on ladies, care to lend a hoof before this storm gets us?” Ranger calls them. “Coming daddy.” Umbré said. Everyone quickly brought their luggage and dragged their stuff in as the skies started to blackened by the pegasus and thunder started to rumble. When it began to rain, the family stayed in the living room for the night, lights only lit by a lantern. The three were playing scrabble. “Okay, how's this, Serendipity.” Ranger added the word on the ground. Using his purple magic to push the letters in place. “Daddy, that’s not a word.” Umbré giggles. “Oh yes it is, so is supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus.” Ranger hummed with a smile on his face. Seeing his daughter’s face twisted, only making him laugh more. “Okay, now I know you’re making words up.” Umbré laughs. Lightning struck and thunder crashed, causing the child to scream. In a split second, her eyes went from baby blues to crimson red with a slit pupil. She felt her canines elongated and sharpened to a point. The purple on her muzzle hooves and on her belly and mane blackened. Ambrosia quickly slid over to her, wrapped her hooves around Umbré. “Shhh, shhh, it’s okay love. It’s just the weather. Sing with me now, like we practiced.” Umbré nodded, feeling the darkness consuming her again, she held onto mama and the two began to sing. Darkness comes and goes Let your light shine in Calm your mind and heart And let the shadows fade. As the two sang together, Umbré was slowly returning to normal, her purple features faded back. The darkness slipped away. Umbré whimpered and she held her mother and Hopey the doll. She looked at the window, seeing the rain pouring outside. Though she had returned to normal, every so often when she looked at her reflection, a split second, she would see things. The creature that resides inside her. Her inner darkness, the demon of Obscura would reflect back to her. Author's Note Welcome back every brony to the adventures of Sombra and Umbré! This is gonna be a long sequel so heads up. Telling the story that will span several years of these two. Forming a bond that not even Sombra would even see coming. Hope ya'll will like this as much as you liked Mother Know's Best. Lemme know what ya'll think :3 Chapter 2Umbré woke up the following morning stretching her arms over her head. Her mane was messy from slumber. “Morning, Sweetpea.” Ambrosia greeted, already awake. She’s already started on unpacking boxes. “Morning mama.” Umbré greeted, rubbing her eyes before picking up her doll. “And morning to you, Hopey.” She hugged it. She looked around but saw that dad was missing. “Where’s daddy?” Umbré asked her. “Your father is out getting us breakfast.” Ambrosia answered as she opened another box. The first thing she pulled out was a hair brush. She turned to look at her daughter and giggled at her bedhead. “Here, your hair is everywhere.” Umbré used her magic, magic being a bright blue, engulfs the brush and levitates it over to her. She hummed to herself as she brushed her mane and tail out. Sorting out the strays before picking up her white ribbon and began to bunch a part of her mane and tie it up in a bow. “Thank you,” she tells her mother. She set it aside before picking Hopey up and walked over to mom and began helping her by taking boxes out and unpacking them. It wasn’t for long until Ranger Arc came in. carrying with his purple magic were two pink boxes. “Knock knock!” Ranger announced as he came in. “Hi daddy,” Umbré greeted him as she helped raise some plates up to put in the cabinets. She stopped when she got a whiff of what he brought. “Donuts!” “Took a visit to this bakery in town called Sugarcube Corners. One of the bakers was really excited to hear we moved here and said these were on the house.” Ranger said as he joined his wife and daughter in the kitchen and set the two boxes down on the top. “When I mentioned you, she told me to give you this one in particular.” Ranger opens one of the boxes and pulls out a big chocolate donut with red frosting and rainbow sprinkles and soured gummy bears on top. “Oooh! thank you thank you thank you daddy!” Umbré squealed, seeing the sugary sweetness, giving her dad a hug before taking the donut. Ambrosia leans close to Ranger. “She’s going to crash hard tonight with that.” “That’s the plan but it's been stressful for her, let her have this.” Ranger said as they watched their kid eat the goodness. “You already picked out your bedroom?” he asked Umbré then. Umbré nodded, her cheeks puffed from eating and bits of the gummies on her lips. Ambrosia grabbed a towel with her hoof, walked over to her and wiped her mouth as she swallowed. “Have you seen the backyard yet?” Ranger asked. Umbré shook her head. “Mommy said to wait until you get back.” “Because both of us want to see this.” Ambrosia smiled in response. “Eat up real quick.” After the family ate, Ranger and Ambrosia led their daughter out the front door, down the stone pathway to the backyard. It was a little overgrown but what stuck out was a large tree house. The windows were broken, the door was nonexistent, everything was in a state of repair. But Umbré jumped up and down. “A TREEHOUSE!!!!” She squealed in joy as she ran with Hopey up to it. Both of her parents beamed in joy as they watched their daughter ran up the stairs to the patio of the tree. “Careful Sweetpea, don’t hurt yourself.” Ambrosia joins her, flying up to join her, along with Ranger. Umbré enters the house, circling around the trunk in the center of the room. “This is awesome! our very own treehouse!” “Thought it would be a project for you to do. Think you can whip this old place up in tip top shape?” Ranger asked, watching her jump in excitement. “I will make this place the best treehouse in all of Equestria!” She cheered. Umbré stopped when she began hearing faint whispers. She looked down at her shadow. Seeing white eyes opening up. Her face fell as she listened to it. “Someone’s watching.” Her shadow spoke to her. “Umbré?” Ambrosia frowns, seeing her daughter’s demeanor change. Umbré didn’t respond to her mother as she looked at her shadow. “Go on then.” The eyes closed and the shadow slipped away. Ranger watches it go. “Uh… where is your shadow going?” He asked her cautiously. “Just going to look around, everything’s fine.” Umbré turned to them and smiled at them innocently. The parents looked at each other with that. After unpacking boxes, Umbré finished putting her room together. It was just around sunset when her shadow finally returned. She stopped fixing her bed and looked at her wall. “Well? Was it the umbrum?” Umbré asked, seeing the shadow. “Have they returned?” “Nothing, but be on the lookout. They can be anywhere.” The shadow said before slipping back in its place. Umbré sighed but her guard was still up. She looked at Hopey on her bed. “It's been years since they made an appearance. I can’t lose my family again…” She whimpered, rubbing her head. She still remembered what happened years ago. Though she was a baby when Hope died, she still remembers. She remembered the Umbrum, Obscura, events that happened. She remembers Sombra. At least Sombra was gone. She remembered seeing the Heart blasted him. “The gift of knowing and memory is a curse… I wish I didn't remember that place, Hopey. I wish I could be normal but you and I know I’m not.” Umbré said. She then sighed. “But we have to pretend to be normal. For mommy and daddy’s sake. But if Obscura and the Umbrum comes back…” Her eyes turned red and the scleras turned green. Black mist seeping from the corners of her eyes. “It will be them that’ll get hurt.” “Okay Mommy, okay Daddy, I’m heading out now!” Umbré shouted as she ran out the door the next day. She wore a bedazzled saddle that had a seatbelt on it; sitting on her back was no pony other than Hopey the doll. The seatbelt was to make sure the doll didn’t fall off as she ran around. “Umbré, please be careful, we’re still in the process of unpacking and we still don't know what’s out there.” Ambrosia called out to her daughter as she and Ranger stepped out the door. The tiny unicorn waved at them. “I will!” Umbré said in a chipper voice. “Okay Hopey, let's go on an adventure!” so full of life and free spirited, taking off down the stone pathway and into the forest. The little unicorn ran through the woods, looking around her new environment. Mostly felt calm and tranquil, watching everything around her. From the trees to the cute woodland animals. Taking in her new land she now calls home. As she ran around, looking at everything her little eyes could see, her stride came to a slow stop. A sensation washed over her, her nerves were lighting up all over the place. She turned her head and looked at some bushes, peering into the darker parts of the woods. “Hello?” she called out. Feeling eyes were watching her. She didn’t get a response, only sounds of the birds chirping and little animals going about their day. But there was no mistake, Umbré knew somepony was watching her. “Hello? I know you’re there. I won’t bite, you can come on out.” she said with a smile. “Won’t we, Hopey?” she used her magic to make the doll nod her head in agreement. She heard some rustling in the bushes but nothing came out. She steps closer to it. “Do you need help?” Umbré’s ears flickered when she heard something fast approaching her from behind. She looked over her shoulder just to see plunder vines shot out from the other side of the path and right at her. Umbré tried to run but the vines grabbed her and Hopey and lifted the two up. Umbré screamed as the vines swung her around. “Mommy! Daddy! Help me!” she screamed out for them as the vines began pulling her out of the pathway and started retreating back to where it came from with their food in tow. “Help me, help me! Somepony help me!” Umbré cried out as she struggled to break free but it was fruitless. The vines wrapped itself around Umbré completely, her screams and cries for help were muffled. She then hears sounds of magic being used and this bright red magic beam shoots out of nowhere and hits the vines several times. The vines unravel and Umbré drops to the ground with a yelp. When she saw Hopey was being dropped as well, Umbré desperately used her magic to grab the doll in midair before flinging it over to her and she hugs it close, covering her head with her hooves as the attack continues. More of the red magic blasts the vines until most of it is reduced to ashes. What was left of it retreated back to its cave out of fear. “Well, that was a waste of time.” a new voice said with an annoyed huff. Her ears flickered when she heard the voice. She removes her hooves from her head to look up. She looked to the pony who saved her. She curiously tilted her head as she looked at her savior. It was a young colt, maybe a couple of years older than her, with wavy jet black mane and tail, dark gray coat and strange looking red eyes. His horn was weirdly shaped as well, it being slightly curved and smooth looking as well. He stood over Umbré and gave her a scowl. “What are you staring at?” he asked her. Who was this pony and why does Umbré feel like she knew him? Chapter 3I was only supposed to surveillance the hybrid and her “family” for a time before making myself known, but circumstances changed when it got caught by the living vines. Thought it would demonstrate this power Mother said it had on the vines, however it wasn't doing anything but becoming plant food. So I had to make myself known by saving the hybrid. Makes my skin crawl just looking down at her. The child looked at me with a strange look on their face. “What are you staring at?” I asked her with a scowl. She stared at me for a second longer before blinking. “Oh sorry, I thought I was seeing somepony else.” She said as she stood up. “Thank you for saving me!” She smiled so sickly sweet I thought my teeth were going to rot. I was about to say something else but my eyes fell to the doll she had in one of her hooves. At first it looked just like any ordinary doll…but this doll has a likeness to somepony. When I looked at it, I felt a twinge of emotion building in my chest. I didn't know why I was feeling this nor who the doll resembles. I feel like I know who it was but I was drawing a blank. Apparently the hybrid took note of this and giggled. “This is my best friend Hopey. My partner in crime and fellow adventurer. Say hi Hopey!” She then made the doll wave at me. “And I'm Umbré.” “Creepy.” I grunted, taking my eyes away from the doll. “What's your name?” Umbré asked. I rolled my eyes. “So~” I froze. I didn't think of what cover name I would be using. If I use my actual name, surely ponies would know who I was instantly and my cover will be blown. And I would have to suffer the wrath of Mother if I fail again. My eyes darted to the area, trying to find something to use as a name. Looking at trees, the limbs, the ground, bushes, anything for a name. “Uh…..Shadow Mists.” I instantly regretted letting that slip out. Shadow Mists??? Way too on the damn nose! What was I thinking?! Umbré blinked at that before snickering and then letting out a rumbling laugh. My ears flattened. “Why are you laughing?” She laughs a little more before responding in giggles. “Sorry, Sorry, but that name has got to be the most edgiest, edgelord name I've ever heard. It's a little ridiculous.” “The name Umbré is ridiculous. What's your excuse?” I huffed. Already annoyed by her. Umbré still continues to giggle. “I don't. It is a little ridiculous but it's cute. Like me.” She bats her lashes. I had to hold back the vomit that threatened to come up my throat. I swallowed and shivered. “I just moved here, what about you? Have you lived in Ponyville?” Umbré asked. “No.” I said bluntly. “I just moved here as well.” She gasps out loud. “Oh boy, that's amazing, maybe we could be friends. It'll be much easier to adjust to school.” School?! I had forgotten that she'll be attending school here soon. But the actual thought of following her being surrounded by other snot nose brats made me sick. “Right…” I felt like I had enough fill for this brat for the day. I turned my hooves and began walking away. “Hey, Shadow, where are you going?” Umbré asked. I could hear her shuffling behind me. “Home.” I said sharply. Not looking back at her. “Oooh, can I come?” it asked with such enthusiasm I shivered and gagged. “No!” I turned and snapped at her, teeth baring. She jumped back with a frightful gasp. For a split second her eyes shifted from blue to red. Her body was changing. I remembered how she turned into that monstrosity and attacked me. And that when she was a baby. I don't want her to attack me now. She destroyed my last body, I can't lose this one. I coughed and scratched my head. “Uh no sorry, I mean, you can't come over.” I spoke more gently. “My house is a mess, it's not suitable for any visitors right now.” I lied. Umbré blinked her eyes and the blues returned. When she ran her tongue over her teeth, she stiffened when she felt her fangs. Blushing. she looked away embarrassed. “S-sorry, no one is supposed to see that.” She whimpered. “See what, I didn't see anything.” Again I lied. “N-nothing.” It lied, turning her head back to look at me. No traces of the demon coming out. “Why don't you run home, your folks are probably wondering where you are.” I suggested, wanting to get away from the hybrid. “Would you like to come over?” She offered. “I don’t think your mother and father would appreciate some strange colt showing up with their daughter. Go on.” I urged her to go. Umbré nodded. “Okay, bye then.” She starts taking off. She got a yard ahead before stopping. She turned her head back to me. “Shadow, will I get to see you again?” She asked. I nodded. “Oh absolutely.” I gave her an assured smile. She smiled back. “Oh and Umbré, just for the time being, don’t tell anyone about me. It’ll be our little secret.” She nodded and made a zipper motion with her hoof. “Good.” I then waved a hoof to send her off. “Okay then, bye Shadow!” The hybrid said with glee before taking off down the path. I waited until she disappeared completely from view before exhaling loudly. That was a close one! I trotted through the dark woods, kept going and going until I made my way to my camp. What was once a den for Timber Wolves, I reduced them into splinters and used their wood to build a bed and a firepit. My home… I walked over to my sleeping area and picked up the crystal. My horn lit up and my magic consumed it, like how I was taught. After a moment, the crystal glowed. “Sombra?” Obscura’s voice came out. “What is the status?” “I made contact with the child, she can change her form willingly from what I can see.” I told her. “Does she recognize you?” Obscura asked. “No, for the most part, she doesn’t. Plans are in motion.” “Excellent, continue on. Make sure she trusts you and only you. Stick close and don’t lose sight of what is at stake.” I nodded and the crystal faded. With a deep sigh, I set the crystal down. Now it was time to fully set the plans in motion. Get close to the hybrid. To become her friend. Chapter 4There were sounds of hammers hitting nails and planks being sawed inside the tree house. Was it a responsible adult handling all that hardware and dangerous tools? Nope, it was an eight year old with tons of excess energy needing to burn out. Wearing a hardhat and safety goggles, Umbré was near a makeshift table, using her magic to cut what wood she needed to replace the rotting boards and hammering in while coming up with a childish like blueprint of what she wants the treehouse to look like. “How's it going up there, Hopey?” Umbré looks up to ask. Seeing the doll sporting its own hardhat and a plush hammer leaning up against the knocked out window still. She smiled as if she got her answer and went back to the drawing board. “Say cheese!” “Tomatoes!” Umbré immediately responded, followed by a quick flash of a camera. Ranger Arc chuckled, holding up a Polaroid camera. A photo spits out. Umbré grins. “There's my camera!” She chimed, setting her stuff down and went over to him. “It got mixed up with your mom's and mine things.” He said as he gave it to her. Before she could say thank you, Ranger stepped on a rotting board and his right hoof broke through. “Fucking hell!” He swore with a hiss. “Daddy!” Umbré yelped, using her magic to make a bigger hole so he could slip out. Ranger winced when he pulled it out, scraping his hoof in the process. Umbré’s ears fell. “Daddy, I'm sorry, I’m sorry I didn't mean for you to get hurt, are you okay?” She asked as she grabbed a rag that was on her makeshift table and went to clean it up. “No baby girl, it's fine, you didn't do anything wrong. Thank you though.” Ranger winced again when he saw her wrapping his hoof up. “I should've been watching where I was going.” “I could've sworn I got that spot.” She whimpered. “You're fine.” He gave her a reassured smile. “See? You doctored me right up,” he waved his bandaged hoof. “I'm better now.” and gave her a hug which she returned. After a moment of hugs, Umbré said, “You swore again, that's a bit in the swear jar.” She teased. Ranger snorted. “Don't tell your mother. She's the one who set that thing up.” “How else will I be able to afford college?” Umbré smirked, her dad as a result takes the hat off with his magic and ruffles her mane. Hearing her squeal. Watching afar, I witnessed the child interact with one of the ponies that had adopted her sitting on a branch of a large tree. Scowling at the sight of them and remembering when I was a colt the last time. Remembering being placed in that orphanage, not once the adults that came to adopt the other children ever batted an eye to me. Not so much a glance, perhaps sensing I was not normal. Yet this abomination was able to get adopted. This creature has a much more terrible fate and yet two ponies came and got her. Speaking of the two, the wife flew to the treehouse with a tray of food, joining the husband and child. “Do they even know what their precious child really is?” I growled. We came from similar circumstances, while no one wanted me, it gained a family. If I could somehow have these two disown the filly, surely that would set it on the path it was meant to go. “I’ve broken up families before, this would be~” “Hi Shadow!” I jumped out of surprise and began falling off the tree! Before I could turn to smoke, I was engulfed by blue magic, being froze in midair. I whipped my head up to see who it was. It was Umbré. “What?!” I yelped. How in bloody tartarus did she get up there and how did she get so close without me sensing her?! “What’s wrong, Shadow? You look as white as a ghost.” She giggled as she raised me back up to the branch. “How did you get up here?!” Did she hear what I was talking about?! “Oh I have my ways.” She spoke innocently. I turned around and stiffened. Umbré was still in that treehouse with her family. And yet she’s right in front of me! I looked back to the filly in front of me. She raised a hoof to shush. Her eyes turned completely white, her body turned completely black.. Became a shadow and slipped away. I watched bewildered as the shadow flew back over to the cottage. Going back to the treehouse as the real Umbré stepped outside. She looked at the shadow, seeing her head nodding before it returned to its spot and looking up. Looking straight at me and waving at me with a childish smile! It could be in two places at once?!? I found myself waving my hoof back in disbelief. I have my work cut out for me. “Wish I could invite him over.” Umbré sighed, watching Shadow quickly climbing down the tree. She looked at her shadow. “I know you are still me and I wanted to say hi, not to knock him off.” “Knock who off?” Ranger asked, having to assist his daughter by putting up bookshelves. His wife putting up string lights up. “Our neighbor.” She responded. Then remembered she wasn’t supposed to mention Shadow. “Oh? I didn’t know there were other neighbors here.” Ambrosia looked at Ranger. “There is a zebra named Zecora who lives down there.” Ranger replied, pointing a hoof down a pathway. “The three of us were supposed to meet her after we finished setting the place up. Umbré nodded, knowing why she was going to see the pony. “She said him though.” Ambrosia said, floating up to her. Umbré sighed, knowing she can’t hide anything from them. She honestly didn’t think it was a bad thing. “Just a colt. He’s around my age named Shadow Mists. He’s a little grumpy but I like him.” Umbré smiled. “Oh that sounds just lovely.” Ambrosia smiled. While Ranger looked at his wife with wide eyes. “He’s also kinda cute.” Umbré admits with a giggle. “Aaaand that’s enough out of that.” Ranger said quickly, picking up his child with her magic and turning her upside down. listening to her squealing and laughing. “Don't think about things like that until you’re forty.” “Daddy! Put me down!” She laughs before being carried back to the house. She quickly used her magic to get Hopey. It took a few days to get the cottage all situated and unpacked, turning into their new home. What Umbré didn’t realize that the cottage was going to have one more occupant soon enough. Author's Note Yeah Sombra, buddy, the folks know. Chapter 5Umbré and her family were finishing setting the house up. Becoming an official home for the three. Like her father said before, the family decided to take a walk towards Zecora's hut. However, when Umbré goes to take the doll with her, she is told no. “I'm sorry Sweetpea, but Hopey can't come with us this time.” Ambrosia said. “How come? She goes with me all the time.” Umbré asked, confused. Her ears droop. “We were told that Hopey is not needed. She'll be here when we get back.” Ranger Arc ushers her out. “O-okay.” Umbré whimpered, she rarely went out without Hopey. Thinking that she'll miss out on everything. The family walked down the pathway they were given. Ambrosia looks around the pathway, feeling uneasy about what was about to happen. She turned to Ranger. “Range, I am fully aware what we need to do but is this all necessary? Umbré has been doing so well, we've been able to handle her and her abilities.” “It's just a precaution, Sia. Princess Twilight says it's a safe option. This Zecora knows a bit more about the umbrum and their abilities.” Ranger said. “Remember the last school she was in?” “That was an accident.” Umbré looks up to them. “Those bullies wouldn't leave me alone.” “You tore one of their ears off with your teeth, turned into your other form and clawed the other while scaring the whole building.” Ranger reminded her. Umbré whimpered, shying her face away. “So that's why we actually left…” Ambrosia narrows her eyes at him in an intense glare. Ranger sighed. “Umbré, we know you don't mean to hurt others. You know how other ponies are with someone….different as you.” “I know.” Umbré said softly. “This will just help you fit in. This world isn't ready for a pony like you.” Ambrosia said, trying to assure her. “You're perfect the way you are, others may not see it.” Umbré didn’t respond to that. After a few minutes of walking, the family soon came to Zecora's hut. And outside of it was the zebra herself. Zecora was sweeping her walkway when she looks up to see the three ponies approaching her. “Ah, what do we have here I see, my new neighbors have come to visit me. Hello.” Zecora greeted them. “Hello. Zecora, it's nice to finally meet you.” Ambrosia waved. “Hello again,” Ranger nods his head in greeting. Umbré, still upset with what her folks said, looks up. “Hi.” She spoke softly. “Welcome all you three, come inside with your child so i can see.” Zecora motions them at her door. Looking at Umbré cautiously. With a little nudging, Umbré followed her parents inside of the hut. Umbré began to get anxious being inside. Her hooves began to dance without having Hopey to calm her down. “I want my Hopey.” Umbré whimpered “Let's finish this visit and we'll be back home soon.” Ambrosia said, petting Umbré’s hair and back to calm her down. “Just a little while longer.” Ranger watches the mares before turning to Zecora as she walks over to her herbs and ingredients on a shelf on the other side of the large cauldron. “You know why we're here? Princess Twilight said you knew a bit about our child?” Ranger asked her. Zecora nodded. “I was informed by the Princess, my knowledge of the Umbrum is extensive, for me to assist your daughter, I need to assess.” Zecora said as she grabbed a few bottles she needed in her hooves and carried them to the cauldron. She pulled the cork tops with her teeth and dumped the contents in the pot. Looking across it at Umbré. “Do you know what you are?” Umbré gulped. As much as she just wanted to say she's just a normal pony, it wasn't going to happen. “Um…. I'm half Umbrum,” Umbré spoke. “Half… pony.” “The only pony I know of is a shadow, an evil tyrant that once ruled the Empire long ago.” Zebra said. “I'm not him.” Umbré spoke sharply. Feeling the creature stir. She heard a grunt coming from her dad. A quick look from him was enough to make her change her tune. “Sorry, I don't like talking about him.” She apologized to Zecora then. Every time someone brings that pony up, it just makes her so angry. The hatred she has of Sombra, and to her knowledge that he's dead, the anger was strong. The demon fed off that anger and fear and made her want to attack. She wished he never existed. “Umbrum were discovered over a thousand moons, they travel in the dark but burn in the light, you actually have a few fortunes.” “What exactly do you mean?” Ranger asked confusedly. “The Umbrum are creatures of fear and dark, her outbursts can be triggered with a spark. Umbré is young and can be learned how to control.” Before Umbré could say that she and Mom would sing her song but Ranger cut her off. “Is there a way for her to not change?” Ranger asked Zecora. “Outbursts are normal, but is there something to damper the intensity or just make her not turn?” Umbré’s ears dropped and she looked to the ground. Hooves are still uneasily moving. Ambrosia silently consoles the girl. Not saying anything. “It's not a simple thing to stop her from growing. As she ages, her dark powers will be in full swing. There are ways to manage without a potion brew, she's young, I don't think it's best not to physically let her emotions stew.” Zecora looks at the pot, seeing it begin to boil. “There are consequences to one's due.” Umbré blinks as she takes this in. She looked up at her father with a shocked expression. “You want me to not have emotions, daddy?” “No, Umbré, but this is to make sure no pony can get hurt. This is only temporary.” Ranger said. “The effects last a week. It won't take all emotion but you'll be more… meek.” Umbré grunted. Meek?! Ambrosia finally speaks up. “We'll have to talk about this more. Ranger, could we have a minute?” “What's there to discuss? Sia, she's about to start school soon. This will only last until the holidays, do you want her accidentally hurting other kids? This is more protection for herself than anything else.” Ranger looks at Zecora. “How soon can we start it?” “Don't I get a say?” Umbré spoke loudly. However, she was overlooked when Zecora fixes ten vials of this gray colored potion, putting them in a black box. “I would reconsider this.” Zecora warns them. Ranger takes the box with his magic. “Thank you.” Umbré looked at her father in betrayal. Once back home, Umbré grabs her doll where she had left it, ran up the stairs and hid in her room. She ran to her bed and climbed on it, buried her face in both Hopey and the pillow and just cried. She could hear her adopted parents argue about what happened downstairs. Ambrosia was clearly against this while Ranger was still on the mindset of what they are doing is the good thing. The two argued until hearing them coming into their bedroom for the night. Umbré whimpered, nuzzling her doll. “No matter what they do… everypony is going to know…there isn't any pony like me. Mama's right.” She whimpered. She was right, daddy’s right. What her past was right, this world isn't ready for something as destructive as her, even when she has tried her best not to. A perfect opportunity has arisen.
Chapter 1“Sombra… Sombra, wake up.” The ghastly voice of Mother whispered sickly sweet into my ears. I couldn’t open my eyes and move my body. This pounding in my head was almost unbearable to deal with. I wanted to continue to rest. Something wrapped around me and this painful sensation of my sides being crushed was enough for me to wake up with a shout. My eyes shot open and came face to face with Mother. “Finally, you’re awake.” She hissed at me, baring her teeth before throwing me down to the ground. I felt more pain when I landed. When I tried to take in my surroundings, a reflective surface caught my attention. I looked at it and let out a horrid gasp. I was seeing myself, but my body had appeared much, much younger than I remembered the last time I saw myself. “What is this?” I asked, touching my face. Freezing when I heard my voice was much higher. More youthful. And being in these dark catacombs, it echoed loudly. “Is that my voice?” I coughed and spoke again. “Is that MY VOICE?!” I turned to Mother. Thrusting a hoof to the reflection. “What's happening to me?!” Mother rolled her white eyes. “Stop with your sniffling whining, just because you have a body of a child doesn't mean you get to act like one. You should be thanking me for even giving you another body after the last one got destroyed.” I stared at her confusedly. Not fully grasping what she was saying. I tried to remember what happened to me but I couldn’t remember certain events. I remembered being brought back prior to now. But by whom, I was drawing a blank. I remember a fight but whoever I was fighting against, I visually could not for the life of me remember. However, there was one figure I did recognize. The feeling I had of the creature came back. The hybrid herself. Umbré… though she was a foal, that thing brought me such pain and anguish that it made my blood boil. And the thought it was the reason my body was taken once again by a damn baby made me see red. “I'm going to kill that fucking brat!” I snapped. “You will do no such thing, boy.” Mother hissed. “Umbré must be guarded. She is still crucial to your reign.” “But she did this to me!” I spat at her. “You underestimated her abilities, and she was a foal. Her power has grown since, you are not even a match to her.” “How long was I asleep?” I asked, looking back at the reflection. I had not seen this young version of me in such a long time. Though some differences were there. My horn was still red and curved and my eyes were red as well. Remembering I had green eyes when I was a young colt. “Eight years. Eight years was how long it took to reconstruct your new body. Since you are still the only shadow that can traverse the top world physically.” Mother explained. “Set your petty grudge aside and pay attention.” She came up behind me. “Our spies had finally tracked Umbré down in this small village far from the Empire called Ponyville. She is at a critical age where she can be easily manipulated and influenced. Since discovered that we cannot force her to become evil, she'll have to become one willingly in order for our plans to be successful. “Your task, as you can see by your ... .youthful body, is to infiltrate her life. Watch over her, guide her to the path she is destined to go. Become her “friend” and if it calls for later down the line as she grows to adulthood, seduce her if you must. But do whatever you can to ensure she is ready.” My stomach twisted when Mother told me the plan. The sheer thought of her words to have me do such things to the hybrid made me taste bile in my throat. “Oh don't give me that look, Sombra, you've done worse things during your conquests.” Mother scuffed. “This is the long game. If you somehow fail this,” Tendrils wrapped around me, burning sensation traveled everywhere, causing me to yell out. “If you fail, I will flay every strip of flesh and muscle off your wretched bones over and over again until you are nothing but a mutilated corpse.” Mother warned me. The pain I was feeling was a taste of what's to come if I fail. “I-I won't fail you again, Mother.” I gasped out, wanting her to stop! She held onto me to ensure I got the message before dropping me once more. “Good boy. Now, take this,” a red crystal formed in front of my hooves. “This is how we can communicate since my magic can not reach that far, keep me updated on her progress. Do not fail me this time.” Moving can be stressful for any kid, eight year old Umbré was no exception. She and her adopted parents Ambrosia and Ranger were on a covered wagon that was being dragged by large rolling beetles. Umbré was sitting in the back with the luggage, in her purple gradient hooves was her prize possession. Her favorite doll. A purple and blue stuffed unicorn. Ambrosia, a hot pink Pegasus with white long mane, looked behind the luggage area at her daughter. Having a cutie mark of a heart, needle and thread. “We're almost there, Sweet Pea.” Ambrosia spoke softly with a comforting smile. “Why did we have to move again? I liked it back at Memphis, I was just about to make friends.” Umbré looks up at her. “I know you don't like the constant move, Umbré but it's part of my job.” Ranger said in response, glancing over his shoulders to look at her as he drove the wagon. “But I swear it's the last time. Think of it as another adventure.” Ranger had black mane, light blue coat, he had a bow as a mark, having violet eyes with glasses. “Until we have to move again, and again.and again.” Umbré sighed. “Is it that right, Hopey?” She made the doll nod their head in agreement. The parents shared a look. Ranger looks back at her. “I promise, once I finish this book I'm working on, I'll never have us move again. Ponyville is a quaint village, you'll love it here. Small towns make big friends.” “If you say so.” The child said. After eight years of constant moving, she really didn't believe that. The family soon drove the wagon through a road that led through the Everfree Forest. Soon coming to a two story cottage. There was already a few stuff that was shipped from their old house to here. Ranger soon parked their beetle driven wagon next to the cottage and his wife and daughter got out. “Tada! welcome to our new home, Umbré.” Ambrosia sang, flying over to her. “Oh gosh this place looks so pretty right?” Umbré smiled as she looked at the cottage. The exterior was light blue with yellow trims and windows. There were already flowers growing on the gardens, a stone path leading from the front steps and brought around to the backyard. “It's so pretty, mama!” She said. “It’ll be much prettier once we get this stuff in. Come on ladies, care to lend a hoof before this storm gets us?” Ranger calls them. “Coming daddy.” Umbré said. Everyone quickly brought their luggage and dragged their stuff in as the skies started to blackened by the pegasus and thunder started to rumble. When it began to rain, the family stayed in the living room for the night, lights only lit by a lantern. The three were playing scrabble. “Okay, how's this, Serendipity.” Ranger added the word on the ground. Using his purple magic to push the letters in place. “Daddy, that’s not a word.” Umbré giggles. “Oh yes it is, so is supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus.” Ranger hummed with a smile on his face. Seeing his daughter’s face twisted, only making him laugh more. “Okay, now I know you’re making words up.” Umbré laughs. Lightning struck and thunder crashed, causing the child to scream. In a split second, her eyes went from baby blues to crimson red with a slit pupil. She felt her canines elongated and sharpened to a point. The purple on her muzzle hooves and on her belly and mane blackened. Ambrosia quickly slid over to her, wrapped her hooves around Umbré. “Shhh, shhh, it’s okay love. It’s just the weather. Sing with me now, like we practiced.” Umbré nodded, feeling the darkness consuming her again, she held onto mama and the two began to sing. Darkness comes and goes Let your light shine in Calm your mind and heart And let the shadows fade. As the two sang together, Umbré was slowly returning to normal, her purple features faded back. The darkness slipped away. Umbré whimpered and she held her mother and Hopey the doll. She looked at the window, seeing the rain pouring outside. Though she had returned to normal, every so often when she looked at her reflection, a split second, she would see things. The creature that resides inside her. Her inner darkness, the demon of Obscura would reflect back to her. Author's Note Welcome back every brony to the adventures of Sombra and Umbré! This is gonna be a long sequel so heads up. Telling the story that will span several years of these two. Forming a bond that not even Sombra would even see coming. Hope ya'll will like this as much as you liked Mother Know's Best. Lemme know what ya'll think :3
Chapter 2Umbré woke up the following morning stretching her arms over her head. Her mane was messy from slumber. “Morning, Sweetpea.” Ambrosia greeted, already awake. She’s already started on unpacking boxes. “Morning mama.” Umbré greeted, rubbing her eyes before picking up her doll. “And morning to you, Hopey.” She hugged it. She looked around but saw that dad was missing. “Where’s daddy?” Umbré asked her. “Your father is out getting us breakfast.” Ambrosia answered as she opened another box. The first thing she pulled out was a hair brush. She turned to look at her daughter and giggled at her bedhead. “Here, your hair is everywhere.” Umbré used her magic, magic being a bright blue, engulfs the brush and levitates it over to her. She hummed to herself as she brushed her mane and tail out. Sorting out the strays before picking up her white ribbon and began to bunch a part of her mane and tie it up in a bow. “Thank you,” she tells her mother. She set it aside before picking Hopey up and walked over to mom and began helping her by taking boxes out and unpacking them. It wasn’t for long until Ranger Arc came in. carrying with his purple magic were two pink boxes. “Knock knock!” Ranger announced as he came in. “Hi daddy,” Umbré greeted him as she helped raise some plates up to put in the cabinets. She stopped when she got a whiff of what he brought. “Donuts!” “Took a visit to this bakery in town called Sugarcube Corners. One of the bakers was really excited to hear we moved here and said these were on the house.” Ranger said as he joined his wife and daughter in the kitchen and set the two boxes down on the top. “When I mentioned you, she told me to give you this one in particular.” Ranger opens one of the boxes and pulls out a big chocolate donut with red frosting and rainbow sprinkles and soured gummy bears on top. “Oooh! thank you thank you thank you daddy!” Umbré squealed, seeing the sugary sweetness, giving her dad a hug before taking the donut. Ambrosia leans close to Ranger. “She’s going to crash hard tonight with that.” “That’s the plan but it's been stressful for her, let her have this.” Ranger said as they watched their kid eat the goodness. “You already picked out your bedroom?” he asked Umbré then. Umbré nodded, her cheeks puffed from eating and bits of the gummies on her lips. Ambrosia grabbed a towel with her hoof, walked over to her and wiped her mouth as she swallowed. “Have you seen the backyard yet?” Ranger asked. Umbré shook her head. “Mommy said to wait until you get back.” “Because both of us want to see this.” Ambrosia smiled in response. “Eat up real quick.” After the family ate, Ranger and Ambrosia led their daughter out the front door, down the stone pathway to the backyard. It was a little overgrown but what stuck out was a large tree house. The windows were broken, the door was nonexistent, everything was in a state of repair. But Umbré jumped up and down. “A TREEHOUSE!!!!” She squealed in joy as she ran with Hopey up to it. Both of her parents beamed in joy as they watched their daughter ran up the stairs to the patio of the tree. “Careful Sweetpea, don’t hurt yourself.” Ambrosia joins her, flying up to join her, along with Ranger. Umbré enters the house, circling around the trunk in the center of the room. “This is awesome! our very own treehouse!” “Thought it would be a project for you to do. Think you can whip this old place up in tip top shape?” Ranger asked, watching her jump in excitement. “I will make this place the best treehouse in all of Equestria!” She cheered. Umbré stopped when she began hearing faint whispers. She looked down at her shadow. Seeing white eyes opening up. Her face fell as she listened to it. “Someone’s watching.” Her shadow spoke to her. “Umbré?” Ambrosia frowns, seeing her daughter’s demeanor change. Umbré didn’t respond to her mother as she looked at her shadow. “Go on then.” The eyes closed and the shadow slipped away. Ranger watches it go. “Uh… where is your shadow going?” He asked her cautiously. “Just going to look around, everything’s fine.” Umbré turned to them and smiled at them innocently. The parents looked at each other with that. After unpacking boxes, Umbré finished putting her room together. It was just around sunset when her shadow finally returned. She stopped fixing her bed and looked at her wall. “Well? Was it the umbrum?” Umbré asked, seeing the shadow. “Have they returned?” “Nothing, but be on the lookout. They can be anywhere.” The shadow said before slipping back in its place. Umbré sighed but her guard was still up. She looked at Hopey on her bed. “It's been years since they made an appearance. I can’t lose my family again…” She whimpered, rubbing her head. She still remembered what happened years ago. Though she was a baby when Hope died, she still remembers. She remembered the Umbrum, Obscura, events that happened. She remembers Sombra. At least Sombra was gone. She remembered seeing the Heart blasted him. “The gift of knowing and memory is a curse… I wish I didn't remember that place, Hopey. I wish I could be normal but you and I know I’m not.” Umbré said. She then sighed. “But we have to pretend to be normal. For mommy and daddy’s sake. But if Obscura and the Umbrum comes back…” Her eyes turned red and the scleras turned green. Black mist seeping from the corners of her eyes. “It will be them that’ll get hurt.” “Okay Mommy, okay Daddy, I’m heading out now!” Umbré shouted as she ran out the door the next day. She wore a bedazzled saddle that had a seatbelt on it; sitting on her back was no pony other than Hopey the doll. The seatbelt was to make sure the doll didn’t fall off as she ran around. “Umbré, please be careful, we’re still in the process of unpacking and we still don't know what’s out there.” Ambrosia called out to her daughter as she and Ranger stepped out the door. The tiny unicorn waved at them. “I will!” Umbré said in a chipper voice. “Okay Hopey, let's go on an adventure!” so full of life and free spirited, taking off down the stone pathway and into the forest. The little unicorn ran through the woods, looking around her new environment. Mostly felt calm and tranquil, watching everything around her. From the trees to the cute woodland animals. Taking in her new land she now calls home. As she ran around, looking at everything her little eyes could see, her stride came to a slow stop. A sensation washed over her, her nerves were lighting up all over the place. She turned her head and looked at some bushes, peering into the darker parts of the woods. “Hello?” she called out. Feeling eyes were watching her. She didn’t get a response, only sounds of the birds chirping and little animals going about their day. But there was no mistake, Umbré knew somepony was watching her. “Hello? I know you’re there. I won’t bite, you can come on out.” she said with a smile. “Won’t we, Hopey?” she used her magic to make the doll nod her head in agreement. She heard some rustling in the bushes but nothing came out. She steps closer to it. “Do you need help?” Umbré’s ears flickered when she heard something fast approaching her from behind. She looked over her shoulder just to see plunder vines shot out from the other side of the path and right at her. Umbré tried to run but the vines grabbed her and Hopey and lifted the two up. Umbré screamed as the vines swung her around. “Mommy! Daddy! Help me!” she screamed out for them as the vines began pulling her out of the pathway and started retreating back to where it came from with their food in tow. “Help me, help me! Somepony help me!” Umbré cried out as she struggled to break free but it was fruitless. The vines wrapped itself around Umbré completely, her screams and cries for help were muffled. She then hears sounds of magic being used and this bright red magic beam shoots out of nowhere and hits the vines several times. The vines unravel and Umbré drops to the ground with a yelp. When she saw Hopey was being dropped as well, Umbré desperately used her magic to grab the doll in midair before flinging it over to her and she hugs it close, covering her head with her hooves as the attack continues. More of the red magic blasts the vines until most of it is reduced to ashes. What was left of it retreated back to its cave out of fear. “Well, that was a waste of time.” a new voice said with an annoyed huff. Her ears flickered when she heard the voice. She removes her hooves from her head to look up. She looked to the pony who saved her. She curiously tilted her head as she looked at her savior. It was a young colt, maybe a couple of years older than her, with wavy jet black mane and tail, dark gray coat and strange looking red eyes. His horn was weirdly shaped as well, it being slightly curved and smooth looking as well. He stood over Umbré and gave her a scowl. “What are you staring at?” he asked her. Who was this pony and why does Umbré feel like she knew him?
Chapter 3I was only supposed to surveillance the hybrid and her “family” for a time before making myself known, but circumstances changed when it got caught by the living vines. Thought it would demonstrate this power Mother said it had on the vines, however it wasn't doing anything but becoming plant food. So I had to make myself known by saving the hybrid. Makes my skin crawl just looking down at her. The child looked at me with a strange look on their face. “What are you staring at?” I asked her with a scowl. She stared at me for a second longer before blinking. “Oh sorry, I thought I was seeing somepony else.” She said as she stood up. “Thank you for saving me!” She smiled so sickly sweet I thought my teeth were going to rot. I was about to say something else but my eyes fell to the doll she had in one of her hooves. At first it looked just like any ordinary doll…but this doll has a likeness to somepony. When I looked at it, I felt a twinge of emotion building in my chest. I didn't know why I was feeling this nor who the doll resembles. I feel like I know who it was but I was drawing a blank. Apparently the hybrid took note of this and giggled. “This is my best friend Hopey. My partner in crime and fellow adventurer. Say hi Hopey!” She then made the doll wave at me. “And I'm Umbré.” “Creepy.” I grunted, taking my eyes away from the doll. “What's your name?” Umbré asked. I rolled my eyes. “So~” I froze. I didn't think of what cover name I would be using. If I use my actual name, surely ponies would know who I was instantly and my cover will be blown. And I would have to suffer the wrath of Mother if I fail again. My eyes darted to the area, trying to find something to use as a name. Looking at trees, the limbs, the ground, bushes, anything for a name. “Uh…..Shadow Mists.” I instantly regretted letting that slip out. Shadow Mists??? Way too on the damn nose! What was I thinking?! Umbré blinked at that before snickering and then letting out a rumbling laugh. My ears flattened. “Why are you laughing?” She laughs a little more before responding in giggles. “Sorry, Sorry, but that name has got to be the most edgiest, edgelord name I've ever heard. It's a little ridiculous.” “The name Umbré is ridiculous. What's your excuse?” I huffed. Already annoyed by her. Umbré still continues to giggle. “I don't. It is a little ridiculous but it's cute. Like me.” She bats her lashes. I had to hold back the vomit that threatened to come up my throat. I swallowed and shivered. “I just moved here, what about you? Have you lived in Ponyville?” Umbré asked. “No.” I said bluntly. “I just moved here as well.” She gasps out loud. “Oh boy, that's amazing, maybe we could be friends. It'll be much easier to adjust to school.” School?! I had forgotten that she'll be attending school here soon. But the actual thought of following her being surrounded by other snot nose brats made me sick. “Right…” I felt like I had enough fill for this brat for the day. I turned my hooves and began walking away. “Hey, Shadow, where are you going?” Umbré asked. I could hear her shuffling behind me. “Home.” I said sharply. Not looking back at her. “Oooh, can I come?” it asked with such enthusiasm I shivered and gagged. “No!” I turned and snapped at her, teeth baring. She jumped back with a frightful gasp. For a split second her eyes shifted from blue to red. Her body was changing. I remembered how she turned into that monstrosity and attacked me. And that when she was a baby. I don't want her to attack me now. She destroyed my last body, I can't lose this one. I coughed and scratched my head. “Uh no sorry, I mean, you can't come over.” I spoke more gently. “My house is a mess, it's not suitable for any visitors right now.” I lied. Umbré blinked her eyes and the blues returned. When she ran her tongue over her teeth, she stiffened when she felt her fangs. Blushing. she looked away embarrassed. “S-sorry, no one is supposed to see that.” She whimpered. “See what, I didn't see anything.” Again I lied. “N-nothing.” It lied, turning her head back to look at me. No traces of the demon coming out. “Why don't you run home, your folks are probably wondering where you are.” I suggested, wanting to get away from the hybrid. “Would you like to come over?” She offered. “I don’t think your mother and father would appreciate some strange colt showing up with their daughter. Go on.” I urged her to go. Umbré nodded. “Okay, bye then.” She starts taking off. She got a yard ahead before stopping. She turned her head back to me. “Shadow, will I get to see you again?” She asked. I nodded. “Oh absolutely.” I gave her an assured smile. She smiled back. “Oh and Umbré, just for the time being, don’t tell anyone about me. It’ll be our little secret.” She nodded and made a zipper motion with her hoof. “Good.” I then waved a hoof to send her off. “Okay then, bye Shadow!” The hybrid said with glee before taking off down the path. I waited until she disappeared completely from view before exhaling loudly. That was a close one! I trotted through the dark woods, kept going and going until I made my way to my camp. What was once a den for Timber Wolves, I reduced them into splinters and used their wood to build a bed and a firepit. My home… I walked over to my sleeping area and picked up the crystal. My horn lit up and my magic consumed it, like how I was taught. After a moment, the crystal glowed. “Sombra?” Obscura’s voice came out. “What is the status?” “I made contact with the child, she can change her form willingly from what I can see.” I told her. “Does she recognize you?” Obscura asked. “No, for the most part, she doesn’t. Plans are in motion.” “Excellent, continue on. Make sure she trusts you and only you. Stick close and don’t lose sight of what is at stake.” I nodded and the crystal faded. With a deep sigh, I set the crystal down. Now it was time to fully set the plans in motion. Get close to the hybrid. To become her friend.
Chapter 4There were sounds of hammers hitting nails and planks being sawed inside the tree house. Was it a responsible adult handling all that hardware and dangerous tools? Nope, it was an eight year old with tons of excess energy needing to burn out. Wearing a hardhat and safety goggles, Umbré was near a makeshift table, using her magic to cut what wood she needed to replace the rotting boards and hammering in while coming up with a childish like blueprint of what she wants the treehouse to look like. “How's it going up there, Hopey?” Umbré looks up to ask. Seeing the doll sporting its own hardhat and a plush hammer leaning up against the knocked out window still. She smiled as if she got her answer and went back to the drawing board. “Say cheese!” “Tomatoes!” Umbré immediately responded, followed by a quick flash of a camera. Ranger Arc chuckled, holding up a Polaroid camera. A photo spits out. Umbré grins. “There's my camera!” She chimed, setting her stuff down and went over to him. “It got mixed up with your mom's and mine things.” He said as he gave it to her. Before she could say thank you, Ranger stepped on a rotting board and his right hoof broke through. “Fucking hell!” He swore with a hiss. “Daddy!” Umbré yelped, using her magic to make a bigger hole so he could slip out. Ranger winced when he pulled it out, scraping his hoof in the process. Umbré’s ears fell. “Daddy, I'm sorry, I’m sorry I didn't mean for you to get hurt, are you okay?” She asked as she grabbed a rag that was on her makeshift table and went to clean it up. “No baby girl, it's fine, you didn't do anything wrong. Thank you though.” Ranger winced again when he saw her wrapping his hoof up. “I should've been watching where I was going.” “I could've sworn I got that spot.” She whimpered. “You're fine.” He gave her a reassured smile. “See? You doctored me right up,” he waved his bandaged hoof. “I'm better now.” and gave her a hug which she returned. After a moment of hugs, Umbré said, “You swore again, that's a bit in the swear jar.” She teased. Ranger snorted. “Don't tell your mother. She's the one who set that thing up.” “How else will I be able to afford college?” Umbré smirked, her dad as a result takes the hat off with his magic and ruffles her mane. Hearing her squeal. Watching afar, I witnessed the child interact with one of the ponies that had adopted her sitting on a branch of a large tree. Scowling at the sight of them and remembering when I was a colt the last time. Remembering being placed in that orphanage, not once the adults that came to adopt the other children ever batted an eye to me. Not so much a glance, perhaps sensing I was not normal. Yet this abomination was able to get adopted. This creature has a much more terrible fate and yet two ponies came and got her. Speaking of the two, the wife flew to the treehouse with a tray of food, joining the husband and child. “Do they even know what their precious child really is?” I growled. We came from similar circumstances, while no one wanted me, it gained a family. If I could somehow have these two disown the filly, surely that would set it on the path it was meant to go. “I’ve broken up families before, this would be~” “Hi Shadow!” I jumped out of surprise and began falling off the tree! Before I could turn to smoke, I was engulfed by blue magic, being froze in midair. I whipped my head up to see who it was. It was Umbré. “What?!” I yelped. How in bloody tartarus did she get up there and how did she get so close without me sensing her?! “What’s wrong, Shadow? You look as white as a ghost.” She giggled as she raised me back up to the branch. “How did you get up here?!” Did she hear what I was talking about?! “Oh I have my ways.” She spoke innocently. I turned around and stiffened. Umbré was still in that treehouse with her family. And yet she’s right in front of me! I looked back to the filly in front of me. She raised a hoof to shush. Her eyes turned completely white, her body turned completely black.. Became a shadow and slipped away. I watched bewildered as the shadow flew back over to the cottage. Going back to the treehouse as the real Umbré stepped outside. She looked at the shadow, seeing her head nodding before it returned to its spot and looking up. Looking straight at me and waving at me with a childish smile! It could be in two places at once?!? I found myself waving my hoof back in disbelief. I have my work cut out for me. “Wish I could invite him over.” Umbré sighed, watching Shadow quickly climbing down the tree. She looked at her shadow. “I know you are still me and I wanted to say hi, not to knock him off.” “Knock who off?” Ranger asked, having to assist his daughter by putting up bookshelves. His wife putting up string lights up. “Our neighbor.” She responded. Then remembered she wasn’t supposed to mention Shadow. “Oh? I didn’t know there were other neighbors here.” Ambrosia looked at Ranger. “There is a zebra named Zecora who lives down there.” Ranger replied, pointing a hoof down a pathway. “The three of us were supposed to meet her after we finished setting the place up. Umbré nodded, knowing why she was going to see the pony. “She said him though.” Ambrosia said, floating up to her. Umbré sighed, knowing she can’t hide anything from them. She honestly didn’t think it was a bad thing. “Just a colt. He’s around my age named Shadow Mists. He’s a little grumpy but I like him.” Umbré smiled. “Oh that sounds just lovely.” Ambrosia smiled. While Ranger looked at his wife with wide eyes. “He’s also kinda cute.” Umbré admits with a giggle. “Aaaand that’s enough out of that.” Ranger said quickly, picking up his child with her magic and turning her upside down. listening to her squealing and laughing. “Don't think about things like that until you’re forty.” “Daddy! Put me down!” She laughs before being carried back to the house. She quickly used her magic to get Hopey. It took a few days to get the cottage all situated and unpacked, turning into their new home. What Umbré didn’t realize that the cottage was going to have one more occupant soon enough. Author's Note Yeah Sombra, buddy, the folks know.
Chapter 5Umbré and her family were finishing setting the house up. Becoming an official home for the three. Like her father said before, the family decided to take a walk towards Zecora's hut. However, when Umbré goes to take the doll with her, she is told no. “I'm sorry Sweetpea, but Hopey can't come with us this time.” Ambrosia said. “How come? She goes with me all the time.” Umbré asked, confused. Her ears droop. “We were told that Hopey is not needed. She'll be here when we get back.” Ranger Arc ushers her out. “O-okay.” Umbré whimpered, she rarely went out without Hopey. Thinking that she'll miss out on everything. The family walked down the pathway they were given. Ambrosia looks around the pathway, feeling uneasy about what was about to happen. She turned to Ranger. “Range, I am fully aware what we need to do but is this all necessary? Umbré has been doing so well, we've been able to handle her and her abilities.” “It's just a precaution, Sia. Princess Twilight says it's a safe option. This Zecora knows a bit more about the umbrum and their abilities.” Ranger said. “Remember the last school she was in?” “That was an accident.” Umbré looks up to them. “Those bullies wouldn't leave me alone.” “You tore one of their ears off with your teeth, turned into your other form and clawed the other while scaring the whole building.” Ranger reminded her. Umbré whimpered, shying her face away. “So that's why we actually left…” Ambrosia narrows her eyes at him in an intense glare. Ranger sighed. “Umbré, we know you don't mean to hurt others. You know how other ponies are with someone….different as you.” “I know.” Umbré said softly. “This will just help you fit in. This world isn't ready for a pony like you.” Ambrosia said, trying to assure her. “You're perfect the way you are, others may not see it.” Umbré didn’t respond to that. After a few minutes of walking, the family soon came to Zecora's hut. And outside of it was the zebra herself. Zecora was sweeping her walkway when she looks up to see the three ponies approaching her. “Ah, what do we have here I see, my new neighbors have come to visit me. Hello.” Zecora greeted them. “Hello. Zecora, it's nice to finally meet you.” Ambrosia waved. “Hello again,” Ranger nods his head in greeting. Umbré, still upset with what her folks said, looks up. “Hi.” She spoke softly. “Welcome all you three, come inside with your child so i can see.” Zecora motions them at her door. Looking at Umbré cautiously. With a little nudging, Umbré followed her parents inside of the hut. Umbré began to get anxious being inside. Her hooves began to dance without having Hopey to calm her down. “I want my Hopey.” Umbré whimpered “Let's finish this visit and we'll be back home soon.” Ambrosia said, petting Umbré’s hair and back to calm her down. “Just a little while longer.” Ranger watches the mares before turning to Zecora as she walks over to her herbs and ingredients on a shelf on the other side of the large cauldron. “You know why we're here? Princess Twilight said you knew a bit about our child?” Ranger asked her. Zecora nodded. “I was informed by the Princess, my knowledge of the Umbrum is extensive, for me to assist your daughter, I need to assess.” Zecora said as she grabbed a few bottles she needed in her hooves and carried them to the cauldron. She pulled the cork tops with her teeth and dumped the contents in the pot. Looking across it at Umbré. “Do you know what you are?” Umbré gulped. As much as she just wanted to say she's just a normal pony, it wasn't going to happen. “Um…. I'm half Umbrum,” Umbré spoke. “Half… pony.” “The only pony I know of is a shadow, an evil tyrant that once ruled the Empire long ago.” Zebra said. “I'm not him.” Umbré spoke sharply. Feeling the creature stir. She heard a grunt coming from her dad. A quick look from him was enough to make her change her tune. “Sorry, I don't like talking about him.” She apologized to Zecora then. Every time someone brings that pony up, it just makes her so angry. The hatred she has of Sombra, and to her knowledge that he's dead, the anger was strong. The demon fed off that anger and fear and made her want to attack. She wished he never existed. “Umbrum were discovered over a thousand moons, they travel in the dark but burn in the light, you actually have a few fortunes.” “What exactly do you mean?” Ranger asked confusedly. “The Umbrum are creatures of fear and dark, her outbursts can be triggered with a spark. Umbré is young and can be learned how to control.” Before Umbré could say that she and Mom would sing her song but Ranger cut her off. “Is there a way for her to not change?” Ranger asked Zecora. “Outbursts are normal, but is there something to damper the intensity or just make her not turn?” Umbré’s ears dropped and she looked to the ground. Hooves are still uneasily moving. Ambrosia silently consoles the girl. Not saying anything. “It's not a simple thing to stop her from growing. As she ages, her dark powers will be in full swing. There are ways to manage without a potion brew, she's young, I don't think it's best not to physically let her emotions stew.” Zecora looks at the pot, seeing it begin to boil. “There are consequences to one's due.” Umbré blinks as she takes this in. She looked up at her father with a shocked expression. “You want me to not have emotions, daddy?” “No, Umbré, but this is to make sure no pony can get hurt. This is only temporary.” Ranger said. “The effects last a week. It won't take all emotion but you'll be more… meek.” Umbré grunted. Meek?! Ambrosia finally speaks up. “We'll have to talk about this more. Ranger, could we have a minute?” “What's there to discuss? Sia, she's about to start school soon. This will only last until the holidays, do you want her accidentally hurting other kids? This is more protection for herself than anything else.” Ranger looks at Zecora. “How soon can we start it?” “Don't I get a say?” Umbré spoke loudly. However, she was overlooked when Zecora fixes ten vials of this gray colored potion, putting them in a black box. “I would reconsider this.” Zecora warns them. Ranger takes the box with his magic. “Thank you.” Umbré looked at her father in betrayal. Once back home, Umbré grabs her doll where she had left it, ran up the stairs and hid in her room. She ran to her bed and climbed on it, buried her face in both Hopey and the pillow and just cried. She could hear her adopted parents argue about what happened downstairs. Ambrosia was clearly against this while Ranger was still on the mindset of what they are doing is the good thing. The two argued until hearing them coming into their bedroom for the night. Umbré whimpered, nuzzling her doll. “No matter what they do… everypony is going to know…there isn't any pony like me. Mama's right.” She whimpered. She was right, daddy’s right. What her past was right, this world isn't ready for something as destructive as her, even when she has tried her best not to. A perfect opportunity has arisen.
