He had been in that flashback for four hours. It wasn't Sombra's record, but it was still a while. According to Doctor Flatline, he had started to panic after taking Starlight's cutie mark and then started acting up. He was panicking, mumbling, and wandered off into the Everfree. Nopony was hurt. But the same couldn't be said for a couple of animals. Sombra managed to slay two hydrae and a male chimera. He didn't know how until they mentioned black crystals. He was able to summon those without magic for some reason. And they were most potent when he wasn't all there upstairs.

Thankfully, Doctor Flatline and Doctor Full House want to continue working with him about cutie marks. Along with the possible connection between them and the drop in production of the Y Chromosome. Sadly, Sombra was made to be in a much more secure room. The silver lining was that he had a bigger bed, and they gave him food other than fish to eat. He was getting very sick of fish.

Sombra didn't know who that rainbow pony had been. Scootaloo did though. She had practically broken into the hospital to make sure Sombra was ok, which he secretly respected. It took a lot of balls to do something like that. She reminded him of an orange and purple dragon called Jasper. She was a lot more crazy, and Sombra had only met her a very few times, but she had been very friendly.

Sombra had met crazier. A Draconequus for example. Well, she was half Draconequus and half changeling. Arisu. She was very odd, mumbling about space, ships that sail through stars, Kling-somethings, and so on. Draconequus were all strange creatures. Nobody could fully understand them. They just assumed that she invented a different reality for her mind.

The room Sombra was in had a window. It wasn't anything special. The magic enchantments on it didn't impress him. The enchanter would feel safer if he didn't dissolve their work. They may even feel like they were stronger than he was. If that became the case, they might become arrogant. He'd discovered that when someone believed they were in complete control, they showed what was under their mask.

Silver Stream taught something to Sombra that he would never forget. Don't judge people by how they treat their equals, but by how they treat their inferiors.

There was a bed that was larger than before, which he liked. He had to squeeze into the other one. It looked like a cats bed, mostly because of its circular shape. It felt more comfortable to be curled up than lying straight. There was a bookcase of books he was going to read when he got around to it. And there were art supplies. They probably didn't know what he liked to do so they just gave him anything that he could waste time on.

On the wall next to the door, there was a mirror. Now, Sombra wasn't an idiot. He knew it was a window disguised as a mirror. It was so obvious that the blind could see it, no offense to Snow Drop. Whatever happened to her? Probably dead from old age, but he liked that mare. She, and the Wendigo's, really hit it off.

There was something else, something Sombra hadn't figured out yet. There was a black screen facing the new bed they had gotten him. He didn't know what it was and was a little hesitant at trying to find out. Next to his bed was a small black box with buttons on it, but he didn't know what that was either. Best to leave it alone until somepony explained it to him.

He heard his door open, but he didn't face whoever came inside. He recognized this magical energy. It was the mare who had freed that abomination called a heart.

"Sombra." He could practically hear the arrogance in her voice. Those enchantments were probably her most powerful, making Sombra a little disappointed.

His ears twitched up as he heard the sound of shuffling wings. So Celestia had made another abomination? How quaint. Celestia was weak, a fact he came to exploit during their battles. She had a lot of raw power, but she was too lazy to harness it. Most of that power was just so that she could move the sun. Sombra had no respect for a coward who hid behind her little sister and sent *underage* mares to clean up her mess.

"I don't think he likes you." Sombra looked at the dragon next to her. The dragon smelt like he had just gone through stone-scale, which he found strange. The dragon looked like he was around thirteen or fourteen years old, he should've gone through that stage in his life when he was three. He was underweight, stunted, his baby teeth weren't gone yet, and he was carrying a scroll and quill. He'd seen this before.

Ponies kept dragons underfed and stunted their growth to keep them from getting too big. When dragons were as small as this one was, they couldn't produce real fire. Instead, they released a pseudo-fire. You could tell a dragon's fire glands were underdeveloped because their flames were tinted green. Ponies enchanted the fake fire to send messages to others. It was despicable. It also made them infertile because the fire glands affected testosterone production.

"He's at least paying attention to you." Sombra looked into the mares moderate violet eyes, disgust written all over his face. "Starlight doesn't know why he snapped. The Doctors on the other hoof think that Sombra remembered something and it triggered a flashback or something." Spike shrugged, writing it down anyway. "Nopony got hurt, but that might not be the case next time. We don't know how dangerous he is or when he'll snap again." He was right there, and she was talking as if he wasn't in the same room. Her arrogance was astounding.

"Don't ponies get flashbacks if they go through something traumatic?" Spike wasn't sure what he should do. Scootaloo and Starlight both said that Sombra was dealing with a lot of mental scars. The Doctors agreed with them, stating that it was best that Sombra was allowed time to adjust to his new situation. Twilight thought all of it was a facade and had come for answers. Spike had agreed with her. But after seeing Sombra's scars for himself, Spike wasn't as sure was before.

"Sombra isn't a pony Spike. We don't know how his mind works." Sombra felt insulted. Why? He had heard much worse, but this was what made him feel bad? It was probably left over feelings from Lapis. "Scootaloo said that he's an Umbrum. I've tried searching for it, but I haven't found it anywhere."

"I'm the only one." He didn't want her to slander his species. It was bad enough she had a slave. "The rest of the Umbrum have been sealed away, and I don't know how to free them yet." Sombra didn't like thinking about it. Was his father alive? Did he have a family? He wouldn't know until he freed his people. It made him anxious just thinking about it.

"If the Umbrum are sealed, then how are you here?"

Sombra glared at her viciously. He didn't want to answer that question. He didn't even want to think about it. Armadura de Estrella, a mare Sombra never got the chance to meet. He wished he did. Silver Stream had only known her for a day or two, so she was a complete mystery to him. Nobody knew her. She was just a name to him. He didn't even know her face.

"My mother escaped while heavily pregnant with me. She hid inside a cave where a pegasus called Silver Stream found her. He looked after her until she gave birth to me. I wasn't even ten minutes old when your kind came and slaughtered her." He was struggling to keep his rage under control. He needed to be in control. He wouldn't insult her memory by lashing out. "I was taken. And I have been a slave since."

Sombra didn't have physical shackles anymore, but the emotional and mental ones were still on tight. He was willing to admit he was afraid. He was scared to face what he had been hiding and burying for decades. He wasn't ready to face his demons, not yet. What happened to him didn't matter, not until he got his revenge. Not until he got *their* revenge.

"A slave?" Twilight was surprised. It was the other way around. Sombra enslaved the crystal ponies, and they didn't do a thing to him. "How could you be a slave? You took over the Crystal Empire!"

"Aren't you the same mare who thought she had killed me but didn't bat an eye? You could have been a murderer, and yet you aren't bothered by that." He inwardly grinned when he caught her off guard. "Who told you I was the bad guy? Celestia. Who told Celestia I was the bad guy? The Crystal Ponies. I'm not the hero of this story, but I'm also not the villain." He climbed down from his bed and towered over the alicorn. "Do you know who you're defending? Whose side you're taking? Are you willing to listen? Or are you ignoring the truth because of your personal bias?"

"Y-You don't have any evidence!" Twilight felt that something was wrong. Sombra wasn't telling the truth, he had to be lying. He was the villain, but why did he make such a strong point? She thought she had defeated him, that she had rid the world of another evil. Twilight had killed him, or she believed that she had. She didn't feel upset over the idea. Twilight felt proud. She felt pride in killing another.

Sombra's inward grin widened. He had her. For her to listen to him, he needed to block her mind from personal bias. Acknowledging that she felt pride in murder may have been harsh, but it was the tool he needed. She had family in the empire. She couldn't process the thought that they were in a world of monsters.

It was a little sad how ponies didn't seem to understand that they weren't on the top of the food chain. They controlled the weather, they controlled fauna, but they didn't control nature. He was the predator, and she was the prey. It was something that she needed to understand. It didn't make Sombra better than her, nor did it make her better than him, but it had gotten into ponies minds that they could try and change that.

The ponies had been too controlling for centuries. Nature sent many creatures to prove that ponies weren't on top, but they didn't learn their lesson. Wendigo, Centaurs, Sirens, they hadn't been enough. Not even a Draconequus was enough. But what about the Umbrum? He had enough magic to go hoof to hoof with a Draconequus, something even the ponies couldn't do. He had fought Celestia and Luna, survived the darkest of the dark and had beaten all odds. If he had a purpose in this miserable life, perhaps it was to knock these fools from their self-made pillar.

"Where is your evidence that they *haven't* committed atrocities?" He was starting to lose control of his anger. He needed to keep it in check before he'd do something he would regret. It wasn't beneficial to think like that. His mind wandered to dark places when his emotions weren't in check.

"Where's yours?" Asked the little dragon. Sombra took his vicious gaze and looked at Spike with a softer expression. The dragon was pony raised. He probably didn't understand anything about his species. Sombra could relate to that. He'd never met his parents, and probably never would. Similar to this little dragon.

"You shouldn't ask questions you don't want the answer to." Sombra frowned, looking at the dragon's wings. "I'm sorry." Spike looked at him, confused. Why was Sombra apologizing to him? "I've known dragons for most of my life, little one. What you have gone through is called De-Spicing." Spike blinked at the word. De-Spicing? What was that? "A pony takes you in as an egg and raises you like a slave. You're fed only gems to keep you underweight, small, and manageable. Your fire glands never grow, keeping your fire green and useful. You never reach proper puberty because those glands produce testosterone, their underdevelopment keeps you docile and infertile. You're a eunuch, a servant who will forever be small and will never be a parent. For that, I'm sorry."

If not for his regenerative abilities, he would be in the same boat. It depressed him. Sombra had evidence, but it was unfair to give it to them. He'd have to share a memory with the mare, and he doubted she would be able to withstand it. He didn't want to protect her, but she didn't deserve what he had seen. She was arrogant, but she wasn't even aware of it. Did she deserve to be punished for that? Maybe not. Sombra wasn't supposed to take out his anger on ponies who didn't do anything.

But this mare wasn't innocent in this twisted tale of misery.

"I... What?" Sombra didn't give the dragon pity. That would be cruel. The dragon had just learned that he wasn't going to be like the rest of his kin, Sombra was going to give him time. If he let it rule him, then Sombra would live with the guilt that he broke the drake. If he lived on despite it, Sombra would have respect for him. Not many could handle the sour taste of the truth. "That has to be a lie!"

"Truth is a particularly sour lemon. Some handle it better than others." Twilight scowled, ordering the dragon to leave them alone. Spike didn't argue. He left the room, frustrated and confused. "What a nice slave you have." Twilight glared at the much bigger stallion, rage in her eyes. His inward smile grew again. She was becoming conflicted, wasn't she? He knew more about dragons than she did, so she didn't know how to argue. She had no proof that Sombra was lying. He shouldn't be enjoying this.

But he was.

"What in the hay was that!" Twilight shouted, rage thrumming throughout her very being. Sombra was a monster. He had mentally attacked Spike, a dragon who shouldn't have been near such scum in the first place. Twilight pressed her muzzle against his, having to beat her wings to be able to do so. "Why did you do that!? Spike didn't do anything to you!"

"I'm not the one who de-spiced that young dragon." There was something Sombra had learned from his many arguments. If you were quiet or if you remained calm, it made your opponent even more furious. He didn't know why, but it was fascinating to him. "Mare, I advise that you get out of my face. It isn't wise for a sheep to butt heads with a wolf." He grinned, deliberately showing all of his carnivorous teeth. "And this lion hasn't had sheep in a long time."

Twilight flew backward and landed, surprised. Sombra was a carnivore. There wasn't a herbivorous tooth in sight. He was far more dangerous than he was before. He said everything as a matter of fact. He stood proudly, holding his head high and locking his gaze with hers. He was a very intimidating sight. But Twilight was stronger than before. She could defeat him.

"I haven't done anything to Spike," Twilight said adamantly.

"What do you know about dragons?" Twilight didn't have much of an answer. Despite building relations with the Dragon Lands, the dragons were very reluctant to give away anything about them. It was frustrating, but the bridge they had built was fragile and flammable. They needed to progress at the dragons pace so that the bridge could be stronger in the future. "I have been raised by them, and around them. Ask the dragons about me, and you'll hear the same thing I'm telling you. The Crystal Empire evil."

"You have connections to the dragons?" Twilight scoffed, not believing what she was hearing.

"I have connections to many of the non-pony cultures." Sombra smiled as he sat down. He was still taller than Twilight, but at least they were eye to eye now. "Ask any of them. They'll tell you the same thing." Twilight glared, but she didn't know what to say. There was something she could do though.

"If you aren't going to tell me, then I'm going to have to force it out of you." Sombra rose a brow at the mare. Uh-huh. This mare, whose name he didn't have yet, was going to force him to talk. Even the Empire didn't manage to do that. "I'm a lot stronger than I was before. I'm an Alicorn. I can defeat you if you resist me."

"Sweetheart, I don't even know your name. The fact you're a goat with wings doesn't mean a thing to me." Sombra closed his eyes. Purple smoke started to flow from them as his breathing calmed. "You're nothing compared to me. You're just a unicorn with wings who has to rely on magical trinkets to overcome her enemies." His eyes opened, becoming the only source of light in the abyss of darkness. "I, on the other hand, have overcome the impossible on my own." Yes, he had many friends in the beginning, but they weren't here anymore. Not physically at least. "I have studied with Scorpan, Starswirl, Catrina, Quietus the Wendigo King, even Grogar himself. I have over one thousand years of practice, experience, and knowledge. What do you have?"

Sombra most benefitted from Quietus and Scorpan, the others, on the other hand, had their issues. Starswirl was alright, but Sombra quickly surpassed him. And a lot of his spells were from Scorpan anyway. Catrina was a backstabber. Literally. After learning some of her potions, she tried to kill him with a poisoned dagger. She had failed, but he didn't take it out on her. She had taught him alchemy after all.

And Grogar?

Grogar was both a mistake and a blessing. He taught Sombra a lot of magic, but a lot of them weren't worth the trouble. Necromancy, for instance. Sombra was capable of it. He could raise the dead, but after seeing Grogar do it, Sombra didn't want to. That goat was nothing but trouble. Even so, a couple of Grogar's spells proved to be invaluable. Many required something in equal exchange, similar to alchemy, but was a lot darker. While his magic was gut-wrenching, Grogar was honest. He twisted words, but he never told a lie. Sombra was more afraid of that than his magic.

"Remember this Sombra. The game of life is not chess but is cards. Everyone has a part to play, and there are many variations of that part. It is about strategy, patience, and luck. The trick is being able to count the cards and keep a few secret aces, and it's wise to keep at least one ace hidden at all times. Losing a few rounds of the game can be just as important as winning them. You learn your opponent's style. You lose a few battles, but you learn how to win the war."

That goat terrified him.

Twilight could breathe, but it didn't feel like it. Sombra was right. He had a lot more than she did, and was easily proving it. There was so much magic around her that she could taste it. He claimed to have studied with some of the most powerful beings in Equestrian history.

Twilight hadn't heard of Catrina, but she must be important. She didn't know that the Wendigo was still around, let alone there being a king of them. Twilight couldn't believe that Starswirl or Scorpan would associate with Sombra, and she could prove his lies by talking to Starswirl himself.

But then he had mentioned a name that froze her soul. Grogar. A goat that had cemented himself in legends for being one of the most powerful monsters alive. He was the only known necromantic, and one of the very few who had achieved immortality. He was so evil that he didn't see pony kind as anything more than ants and ignored them. It was both an insult and a blessing.

"What monster doesn't work for Grogar?" She said nastily.

"I never said I worked for him." Then it was all gone as if it hadn't been there. Twilight tried her hardest not to show the amount of fear that was inside of her, but it was proving difficult. Sombra could see she was afraid. That was enough for him. She was just an arrogant pony who didn't know anything. She didn't deserve to know the details of his life. "I'm not going to show you my nightmares. I'm not petty enough to burden you... Not that you could comprehend them. As a species with a superiority complex, it's only natural that you cannot accept that you're capable of things like de-spicing."

Sombra felt confused, angry, disgusted and other things. He needed to be alone to lock all of these feelings away, not let him work himself up. His emotions were dangerous. If Sombra didn't have control, then he could do some serious harm. He would release his centuries of anguish onto those who deserved it, not ponies who weren't involved. Sombra needed to make the mare go away so he could fix himself.

"You're just confusing me!" She shouted, irritated beyond belief. How could he be so annoying? And have so many good points even if she didn't believe them? "And by the way, my name is Twilight. Princess Twilight Sparkle!"

"Princess of what exactly?" He questioned. If Twilight said that she was Princess of candles, it'd be more impressive than the other three. Celestia of cakes, Luna of self-pitying and Pinkie the Javelin. He didn't know her name and didn't care.

"I'm the Princess of Friendship!" Twilight said proudly. "If you accept the magic of friendship, maybe you wouldn't be so evil." Sombra's eye twitched, his seal on his anger breaking. "That's it, isn't it? You're envious of us. We have friends everywhere, and you have nopony." There was a line. And it had been crossed. Sombra stood up and pushed his face into hers, rage filling his eyes. A primal growl emanated from his chest and vibrated through her body,

"You know *nothing*!" He snapped. His horn bubbled with dark magic, preparing a spell without even thinking of it. "But I'll show you..." It took a lot to make him snap, and not many lived to tell the tale.

Twilight blinked and found herself in the Crystal Empire. What had happened? Where was Sombra? Why had he snapped like that? Was she right? She must have been. It probably wasn't a good idea to poke the bear as hard as she had. But Twilight knew she was right. Whatever nightmare Sombra was going to throw at her, she could easily beat it. Well, maybe not. He was a lot more powerful than she was. But she was the Element of Magic. She shouldn't let him get to her.

"What a load of wendigo shit," said a young voice. Twilight turned around, and her eyes widened. It was Grover, the legendary King of the Griffins. He was a chick, probably only nine years old. "How can Glitter Shitter expect me to wash her Yeti? She feeds Ateus to that monster!" He was talking to a small dragon around Spike's height. He looked like another Spike, only he was white and blue and had a fin atop his head that covered his left eye.

"I like that. Glitter Shitter." Twilight blinked when a colt walked up to the two. He looked like he was a year or two younger than Grover. He had a grey coat, a flaming black mane, and dual-colored eyes, along with a red horn. "She's gotten worse over the years. I think it's because her husband cheated on her with Neat Beryl. As you can see, she's venting." The little colt was Sombra, and he had a foul-smelling substance covering him.

"Damn Som, you got into the shit pit again?" The little dragon's voice made him sound like he was thirty or older. "Neat Beryl is such a bitch. Glitter Wind and herself have been fighting over that player for years, and instead of growing a pair, they take everything out on us." Grover walked over and patted Sombra on the back, trying to comfort him. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up. You stink."

"No shit," Sombra sighed as he followed the small dragon. Grover chuckled, covering him with a wing. Sombra silently thanked him for it. "I'm going to be the butt of all jokes now, aren't I?" Gover grinned at him.

"Nah, you're just where those jokes land," Grover cackled, tightening his grip on the colt. Sombra rolled his eyes, unable to help but chuckle. Vapor joined them, unable to resist their infectious joy.

Twilight was wrong. Sombra used to have friends. And that dragon which looked just like Spike gave evidence to what he had called de-spicing. Sombra kept showing that he wasn't lying, but she couldn't believe him. Could she? Twilight had to resist him. She couldn't let him beat her. Twilight was the Princess of Friendship, she had earned her wings, and she was going to resist his dark magic.

Twilight wasn't moving, but she was forced to be by their side. Grover and Sombra joked more with one another, the small dragon laughing along. The two reminded Twilight of Shining Armor and herself when they were young. Grover looked like he was a year older than Sombra, making him the big brother. She might not go as far as dirtying herself for the sake of a younger sibling, but she could relate.

"Sombra!" shouted a thick Trottish accent. Twilight watched as an old Pegasus raced to the little colt, rage in his mesmerizingly green eyes. His entire color scheme was dark or light grey, save for his dark brown Stetson hat and shining silver streak in his mane and tail. Either Twilight was going mad, but his feathers had a silver tint to them as well. " I've been looking for you for hours! Where in Tophet's ass have you been!?"

"Neat Beryl threw him in the shit pit again," Vapor sighed with a frown. "And with cholera going around, I'm surprised the little shit didn't drown." Sombra glared at the older drake who merely smirked at him. "All jokes aside, he's gonna get sick soon. If he isn't already."

"Did the wee bastard have any open wounds when he got pushed in?" The stallion asked. Despite having a thick accent, Twilight could hear the concern in his voice. "Bloody hell laddie, you're gonna give me a heart attack one of these days. And I doubt Jupiter Ballad could raise a plant let alone you." The stallion picked up Sombra and put him on his back, raising his wings so Sombra wouldn't fall off. "Now, were you hurt before you went in?"

"I..." The colt shivered. "Neat Beryl brought Shining Tanzanite and The Red Monster over..."

"R.C?" Vapor hissed. "Silver Stream, you better check for *the other* kind of hurt." The Pegasus scowled, his beautiful eyes narrowing viciously. "Grover, you go with them. I'm going to the stables. I'm gonna make sure everyone has heard about this." The stallion nodded. He watched as the dragon walked away, then he headed home.

Twilight didn't get to see where the dragon went. She was being pulled to stay with the Pegasus stallion called Silver Stream. Odd? Twilight had a hippogriff with that name. Sombra was very hateful towards ponies, but this one was a friend of his. She still didn't understand how Sombra and Grover could be friends. The chick and the colt acted as if they had known each other their whole lives. Since Grover was a legend amongst griffins, that meant the whole of Griffinstone would take Sombra's side against Equestria.

As Twilight looked around, she saw many more creatures. She saw changelings, griffins, a zebra, dragons, and more. None of them were happy. Most of them were in chains, and they ranged from under three to the elderly. All of them were slaves. The ponies on the other hoof looked like they were from Canterlot. They were beautiful, clean, and didn't bat an eye at the misery around them. A lot of the slaves had injuries on them, both old and new.

To the Princess' amazement, she saw a Haetae. He was only a cub, barely older than four years of age. Twilight had read about them, but she had never seen one before. His front half was a lion, and his other was equine. It was a beautiful white color. He was following a mare that Twilight recognized. Autumn Gem. Twilight had interviewed that mare the first time she went to the Crystal Empire.

The Haetae was carrying a bag too big for him, and he dropped it on the floor. Autumn Gem turned around and, to Twilight's horror, kicked him in the face with a hind leg for it. Nopony said anything. He just got to his feet, picked the bag back up and followed her, a bruise forming around his left eye. She'd hurt him for little to no reason, but nopony cared. A stallion even nodded in approval to her.

"Listen, laddie," Silver Stream started, secretly glaring at Autumn Gem. "I donae want you tae go near that mare. She isnae in her right mind. Especially while that red prick is around." Twilight was more focused on that poor little Haetae than whatever the stallion was saying. How could Autumn have done that? He didn't do anything wrong, but she hurt him anyway. It wasn't necessary, but she did it.

"How?" The colt asked, his ears flat against his waving black mane. "Neat Beryl bought me. If I stay away, you'll get in trouble."

"You could give me one of those laxatives, and I couldnae give a shit. Your ma, rest her soul, wouldnae want her only son tae suffer because of a delusional mare." She wouldn't want him anywhere near this place if she had anything to say about it. But she was dead. She didn't deserve to die, but at least she managed to hold onto her little one before she left. Silver regretted not asking more about her. All he knew was her name, Armadura de Estrella. Silver wished that he could tell her that her son was in good care, but he wasn't much for lying.

"If you haven't noticed, Sil, everypony here is delusional. Sad to say that includes you. You think that you can make a difference, but that's as likely as the gods giving a damn about us. By the way, what even are the gods? Ponies babble about the Pantheon all the time, but even Krazius doesn't know much about them. And he's a massive egghead." Twilight then drew her attention to the little griffin. What Pantheon? What gods? She had never heard of any of this before.

"They're a bunch of deities that sit on their flanks all day. If they're real, they should be fired and replaced." Grover shrugged. "Aye, they're most likely tae be like politicians. Those twats are closely related tae diapers, y'know. Both need tae be changed regularly for the same reason."

Silver Stream reminded Twilight of the one-legged Doctor at Ponyville Hospital. Only this stallion had all his legs, wings, and a thick accent. He appeared to be acting like a parent. That would explain why Sombra was so relaxed around the Doctor. She followed them outside of the city and into a small house just in the outskirts. Silver Stream walked inside first, then held the door open for Grover.

Twilight didn't want to believe. But how can she deny what she was seeing? There was too much detail for it to be made up. She could feel that something was wrong. But what? Silver Stream and Sombra went into what she assumed was a bathroom and followed. It was very primitive compared to Equestria, but she was expecting that. The thought that Sombra was playing a game with her still lingered, but it seemed less likely. It wasn't impossible, but when she looked into his rage-filled eyes, he didn't appear conscious of what he was doing. She'd never heard of somepony making a spell like this in a fit of unconscious anger before.

Then again, he wasn't a pony, was he?

"Why do they hate us...?" whispered the small colt. Silver pressed a rune stone, watching water fill the crystal tub. Silver didn't have an answer because he didn't know. As far as he knew, there wasn't a reason. Silver Stream didn't want to leave the colt's question unanswered though. He deserved more than that. They all deserved more than this.

"I donae know lad. I wish I did." Sombra watched the water rise, his ears still flat against his head. "Maybe it's because they're afraid of you? Maybe it's because they want control over nature? Ach. I donae know. I doubt I ever will." When Silver felt that there was enough water in the tub, he walked to a little door on the ground and kicked it. "Wake up ye useless bag of scales. Time tae dae your one job."

Silver confused Twilight. He certainly sounded like a horrible pony, but he wasn't. He stepped back as a small dragon crawled from the small door wearing a grumpy expression on his face. The dragon was a wyvern. He was a peachy shade of orange with a golden underbelly. His eyes looked like magma, and his expression matched. The dragon sucked in a breath and then breathed a blue-tinted flame onto the coal. It immediately set on fire, steam already flowing from the water.

"Sil, I can't wait for the day I burn you from grey to black. The mere idea helps me sleep at night." He had a deep voice as well, further proving what Sombra had called De-Spicing. "Hey, where's my pay?" The dragon asked grumpily, glaring into Silver's eyes.

"I should turn you into some dragon skinned boots." The dragon rolled his eyes and went back. Twilight knelt down and saw that the small door led into a small room that looked like a tiny bedroom. He lived here. "Ach, nevermind Dusty. He's an asshole but has some damn good fire." Silver Stream lowered a wing, testing the water. "And knows how not tae turn the water scoldin' hot." He nudged the small colt into the water, the clear water changing color almost instantly.

"Where's Jupiter?" Twilight now paid attention to Silver and Sombra. Now that the colt was wet, he looked a lot smaller than before. Instead of eight, he looked six or five and looked thinner. Was his fur that thick? "I didn't see him when we walked inside. I..." He paused for a few moments. "I wanna learn more magic."

"Jupiter is treating some of the other Ateus. Burning Citrine wanted a bonfire today. Donae worry lad. Most of 'em survived." Sombra looked down, feeling a shiver go down his spine when Silver mentioned the name. Burning Citrine had a fetish for fire. He set fire to Ateus for fun. There was also a rumor that he was a cannibal, surprising nobody. "Close your eyes lad. I'm gettin' the bucket."

Silver Stream pulled a bucket, scooped some water and dumped it over Sombra. The water around him turned dark as the substance started to slide from his coat. Twilight sat down, watching. The colt was a lot thinner than he had looked earlier. Silver took a bottle from a shelf and poured it on the colt's back, rubbing it in like soap. As the muck disappeared, injuries both old and new appeared.

On his back, Twilight saw raw whip marks. Silver didn't look surprised, but he was still irritated. He rubbed the lotion into Sombra's coat, being careful to avoid his wounds. Now he wasn't dirty, Twilight could see more scars. Even a few bruises thick enough to appear through his thick coat. He looked half the size of Grover now, a small colt with far too much damage to his little body. Silver sighed, silently asking what had caused this. The colt shivered but answered.

"I had to rearrange Neat Beryl's family room to make it presentable. But when they came, I was still trying to move her couch." His ears dropped even further in shame. "She got angry at me. Tanzanite got a whip and... well, you can see what he did." Silver scowled. "I didn't mean to be late!" He said quickly, shivering. "It was too heavy for me. That's not my fault, is it?" His voice was breaking her. She didn't want to watch anymore, but she couldn't leave the room. She was made to watch and listen.

"No, it isnae. That wench shouldnae have whipped you or kicked you in the shit pit. You're gonna get an infection again." Silver was disgusted. He'd brought this colt into a world of pain and misery, and he regretted it every day. "Now, you said the monster was there. What did he do?" The colt stiffened. "Lad, I cannae help you if I donae know." Silver's face grew somber, sadness in his emerald eyes. "Did it happen again?" Sombra's own filled with water and dropped into the dirty water around him. It was all Silver needed. He put his forelegs around the colt and held on tightly, trying his best to control his anger.

Twilight didn't understand. How could she? She had heard that Sombra was dealing with a lot of personal problems, but none to this extent. How could he have faked this? It wasn't possible. Silver Stream was odd. But his love could not be faked.

When Twilight compared her life to his, she didn't feel proud anymore. She hadn't suffered any of the hardships he had. She had an alicorn as a foalsitter. She lived in Canterlot, a place so wealthy that a cookie was ten bits each. She'd gone to the very best school in the country. She'd gotten to live inside of the royal castle. Her teacher was the Princess of Equestria. The Tree of Harmony gave Twilight friends. She had been given wings, along with the title of princess, but didn't do anything with it. A meaningless title. At this age, Twilight was sleeping with Celestia because she was scared that there was a monster in her closet.

Sombra didn't have any of that. It made a lot of her accomplishments feel worthless. Here he was, covered in pony muck and being hugged by one of the few ponies in his life that didn't want to hurt him. If she had been in his place, she didn't know if she'd be able to survive. But he had. He had gone through hell and was still standing.

"Hey, Som?"

Twilight's train of thought fell off the rails when Grover spoke up. She looked at the Griffin, a cheerful expression on his face. The small griffin was smiling, but she could see in his eyes that he was just as sad. He was hiding his misery for Sombra's sake. It was like the time Shining Armor got dumped by his first marefriend. He put on a cheery face around Twilight so she wouldn't be sad, but was crying on the inside.

"Not now laddie," Silver said softly. Grover nodded and slowly backed away. Before he left the room, he put a small parcel on the floor. Silver could feel the shivering form in his forelegs grow limper by the moment, the exhaustion of the day claiming him. He slowly pulled a towel from the wall and wrapped it around the colt, then nested him on his back. He bit onto the parcel and carried it out of the room.

Twilight watched him put it on a coffee table, then walk into a different room. She didn't have anything to say. What was there to say? Grover walked into the bathroom, likely to go and clean himself. Or talk to Dusty the grumpy dragon. Twilight walked towards the door, watching as the stallion put the colt into bed. It was a crate with pillows and blankets stuffed inside, so it was less a bed and more a draw. Silver took his hat off and put it on the half-asleep colt, kissed his forehead and then left the room.

Silver Stream looked at the parcel and then opened it. It was a cupcake. Grover walked from the bathroom, his feathers dripping wet. Silver looked at him with a raised brow. Twilight also wanted to know where it had come from, and how Grover had gotten it.

"The word about Ruby Court spread quickly. Stinger and Chrissy managed to steal that from Neat Beryl. Who is currently fighting with Glitter Wind about it." Twilight become worried. What would happen if they got caught? Their punishments were very brutal here. They might even die if they got caught, but they risked their lives anyway. They could have died over stealing a cupcake. "I can't have my little brother being this sad, can I?" Grover said proudly, tucking his wings against his body. It took a lot for Twilight to remember that he was only nine. He acted a lot older than that, but then again, you had to mature fast in a world like this.

"Aye," Silver smiled. "Ye better be getting back to Morning Morganite. That old bastard is gonna beat you with his cane if he doesnae find ye." Grover nodded, waved, then he left. Now he was alone, Silver sat on his couch, put his hooves to his face, and broke down crying. Twilight glanced at the door he'd just walked from, seeing a little red eye peeking through a gap. It too was watered.

She felt like crying as well. Silver Stream was Sombra's acting father, and he couldn't protect him. It was probably destroying him on the inside. It was hurting her as well. Compared to this, she didn't feel like she was right to stake a claim to anything. Would Rarity risk her life to steal a cupcake? Would her friends risk torture to try to make her day a little brighter? She doubted it.

Then it was over. Twilight was back in the hospital room looking into the eyes of a fully grown Sombra. He looked like he was seconds from breaking down, and she felt the same. Everything she ever had or ever gained felt worthless. Twilight gave a silent apology, turned around, and left the room. She didn't know if Spike had followed her, and deep down, she hoped he didn't. She didn't want to look at him knowing what she'd done.

Now Twilight had seen the truth, she just wanted to curl up in her bed, and never wake up. She hadn't even experienced what they had felt, but it still hurt her. Grover was only a year older than Sombra, but he acted like he was ten years his senior. He had so much love for his brother that he gave him a gift that could've cost him his life. Stinger and Chrissy would be in danger as well, but it felt more personal with Grover.

Twilight hadn't realized that she'd walked all the way from Ponyville hospital to the castle until she walked into a door. Twilight opened it, then headed for her room. Twilight then noticed that Spike was trying to get her attention. Spike, the dragon who's life she had ruined. He was asking many questions, all going in one ear and out the other.

"I'm sorry Spike," Twilight said, depression heavy in her tone. The dragon blinked when water started to trickle from her eyes. She opened her bedroom door, walking inside slowly. She locked Spike outside and climbed into her bed, hiding under the covers. "I don't know anything..."

Author's Note

My god is Grammarly demanding!

A big thank you to everyone who has stuck with me so far. Your advice and your likes are a massive help!