Chapters “Princess Twilight Sparkle, I have brought the latest news from Southern Equestria.” At hearing the stallion enter, Princess Twilight’s ears perk. Looking up from the book she had been reading, she lifts her head to show that she’s listening. The guard bows quickly before speaking again. “We have lost over one thousand ponies to his army dismorning, Your Majesty,” he says, a shameful tone in his strong voice. Twilight’s eyes narrow as she hits a hoof to the table, shocking the stallion. The Princess of Friendship wasn’t really one to get angry often.
“How are we losing so many?!” She huffs, mainly to herself. “He’s supposed to be weak! Where in Celestia’s name did he build an army that large!?” The stallion takes a step back, letting the princess have room to pace, dozens of scrolls in front of her. “The Elements didn’t work, pleading won’t work, and negotiation would more than likely fail…”
“Have you ever thought of maybe…just eliminating him entirely, my princess?” the guard says, carefully.
“Eliminate him?” Twilight looks at him curiously. He nods.
“Nothing else is seeming to work, with all due respect, we are losing thousands of ponies a day and I’m sick of being forced to see it and tell you.” He grits his teeth, trying to keep down his tone. Twilight taps her hoof against the table, in thought of the idea. She is the Princess of Friendship… reforming villains was supposed to be her specialty. But the stallion is right, too many ponies are dying to think about reformation anymore, this monster must be stopped. Twilight’s voice comes out soft, making the stallion strain to hear her.
“You are right…,” she says softly, her voice raked with disappointment. “Thank you, Artemis.” Artemis sets a hoof carefully on her shoulder.
“It’s for the best, Princess,” he says softly before bowing once more and leaving. Twilight sighs, looking at the map she had placed on the table in front of her as the gears work in her head. She narrows her eyes, dragging her hoof along the map from where the Crystal Empire was to Ponyville. Then an idea snaps into her head, she raises her voice, knowing her personal guard is still nearby.
“Artemis, come back here!” she yells. The midnight blue stallion pops his head back into the room, racing back to her.
“What is it, my princess?” he asks, not expecting to be called back in her presence so soon.
“What if we took the path through the Everfree Forest…?” she asks. “If we lure him there, he won’t know the territory and we will have the advantage.” Artemis studies the map where her hoof is.
“That… could work,” he says, half to himself. “What do we do with him once we get him there?” His eyes look back to Twilight.
“I want to render him magicless, then I want him brought to me,” she says.
“But princess, he could still hurt you--” Twilight raises a hoof and silences him.
“I know what I’m doing, just do what I have asked and be careful,” Twilight says softly, her purple eyes narrowing on him in a way that makes him shiver. “Do I make myself clear?” Artemis nods.
“Crystal clear,” he mutters, still afraid that if he were to bring that monster here… he would lose her to him. He shakes the thoughts away,trotting off again.Twilight however, confidently looks at the map once more. It will work without doubt, the only question is what she would do once he is brought here. She taps her chin and yanks out her book of friendship and lets it drop to the table with a loud thunk.
Flipping through the pages quickly, she comes to one of Fluttershy’s entries. Her eyes narrow once more, scanning over the neat words, taking them in. Perhaps using the same tactic that Fluttershy had with Discord would work. Give the dark stallion something to lose. But what…?
Twilight rubs her cheeks in thought. Fluttershy would never be able to do it, not on him. Discord was at least partially tamed by the threat of being turned to stone again. Yet, there wasn’t any threat that would tame the coming threat. Twilight would have to do it, she can’t have Pinkie or Rarity do it, they would only annoy him beyond anything. Applejack and Rainbow wouldn’t be patient enough to handle it.
She is the only shot. Taking in a shaky breath, she closes her eyes for a moment. What she is going to do might cost her her own life, but in turn, could save Equestria. Her eyes look to the window as she lets out a soft sigh.
The once blue skies clouded with darkness, nothing but gray to be seen. Perhaps this will be the last time she sees the outside, her only hope being that she won’t regret bringing him here.
“Spike!” she calls out to her assistant. Racing into the room, Spike looks to her.
“Yes, Twilight?”
“Evacuate the castle, make sure there is nopony here but me,” she orders. “I don’t want you here either, stay with one of the girls for the time being.” Spike tilts his head.
“Why?” he asks, in deep concern. She sucks in a deep breath.
“Don’t ask questions, just do as I asked.” She huffs. Spike reluctantly nods his head and disappears, leaving the princess alone once more. Twilight sighs again, shifting books back into their places, many out of habit. Her heart races, knowing it is coming closer and closer to the time of his arrival.
Placing the last book on the shelf, she walks back and rests her back into the comfy chair, her back cracking softly from the sudden relief. Closing her eyes, she smiles softly, remembering how brave Fluttershy had been when she went through this. She had been scared at first too. But in the end she worked it out perfectly.
It gives Twilight confidence in herself, finally settling her nerves. Resting back again, she drifts off into a much needed rest.
Chapter II - Set In Motion
Twilight’s peaceful sleep is broken by a curt knock at the castle doors. Startled at first, the purple princess finally snaps back into realization and races to open the door with her magic. Artemis steps in first.
“We have done as you have ordered successfully, my princess,” he says. Twilight takes note to his coat, matted with blood, and his eyes. He hides it well, but looking closer, Twilight catches the heavy pain in his eyes.
“Excellent,” she replies. “After you have brought him to me, I have one last order for the evening.” He stands at attention, obediently listening.
“And what would that be, my princess?” he asks softly. Her eyes rest on his softly.
“I want you and the rest of the fleet that retrieved him to be medically treated and sent to bed immediately,” she says sternly. Artemis looks as though he is going to argue, but with a wince of pain, he nods.
“Yes, my princess,” he says, bowing lightly. “Midnight, Jack, bring him in!” he calls back. Obeying their general, two taller stallions come in, the chained stallion dragged after them.
“Oy, this one wasn’t easy, I tell ya, lass.” Jack, the dark blue pegasus, chuckles. In both of their eyes, pain clouded them just like Artemis, showing they had both loyally stayed with him. Twilight dips her head.
“Thank you dearly, now get the attention and rest you need,” she says softly. Setting down the chains hesitantly, they give each other a look of concern before leaving, Twilight and the tyrant being the only ones left. He is looking at her, his red eyes burning into her soft lavender ones. His fur also is matted with blood, a deep leg wound showing he no doubt gave her troops a hard time. Twilight clears her throat and swallows the nervous thundering of her heart in her chest.
“Sombra,” she says softly. He remains silent for a moment, his expression giving her nothing to go off of. He soon speaks, but his tone is so bitter she wishes he wouldn’t have.
“Twilight Sparkle,” Sombra hisses deeply, “or shall I say Celestia’s puppet?” Twilight grits her teeth.
“You have been brought here under my orders, and you will be kept here until further notice,” she informs, stung by his rude comment.
“As if that wasn’t clear to me.” He sneers. “You are just like her, having your puppets do all the dirty work while you sit up high and watch them die,” he adds, his eyes narrowing. Twilight’s ear gives a twitch.
“My puppets you say?” she asks, and eyebrow raised. “Just like who, Princess Celestia?” She began to walk closer, her eyes sharp, keeping her nerves under control. “I’m sorry for remaining loyal to my ideals.” He cackles softly under his breath.
“Or so you think,” he hisses. “I cannot however say you are quite as bad as Celestia, for at least you face me.”
“You forget this is the second time I've done so, Sombra,” Twilight corrects softly. “Face to face maybe not, but under Celestia’s orders, my friends and I traveled to the Empire and defeated you no sooner after you set hoof inside its borders.” He growls softly.
“Once again, you mention it to be under Celestia’s orders,” he says, trying to gain the upper hoof. “Would you have acted the same if you knew nothing of her order? Or perhaps your own selfish desire to keep your kin safe?”
“I would have acted no different, even if the princess had not ordered it to be so or my brother and sister-in-law were not there,” she states boldly. “My duty as a citizen of Equestria is to do the best I can to keep it safe from tyrants like yourself.” He grits his teeth, about to speak again, Twilight cutting him off before he was able to. “Now your wounds must be taken care of.”
He growls, moving backward as best he can, the chains and pain in his leg making it hard. “Stay away, I’d rather die than to have your filthy hooves touch me!” Sombra hisses. Twilight smiles softly.
“If afraid I can’t allow that, Sombra.” She lights her horn and with a flash of light, he wobbles before dropping to the floor in a deep sleep. Smile fading, she walks forward to look at the wound better. Being alone in the vast castle, she would have to take care of his wounds as best she could.
It was deep enough in which it would need a lengthy time to heal but wasn’t fatal. He would walk just fine again in the future. Her eyes move from his leg to his face for a few long moments, the dark stallion’s breathing soft and relaxed. Twilight sighs softly, he wasn’t so scary without his deep red eyes, in fact he seemed rather gentle almost.
Even in that moment, her heart raced quickly, slamming in her chest so loudly that it rung in her ears. Her only fear being that the spell would break and he would slay her before she managed to do as she had planned.
Twilight sets to work quickly, setting his injured leg closer to her, she manages to clean the wound quickly.
================================<*>=================================
Waking up sharply, Sombra finds himself gagged by the neck and pulled back down against a soft surface. Scanning his surroundings he finds the source, a thick, heavy chain trapping his throat enough to keep him in place. Looking down, he pushes his hooves down to feel the soft surface of a mattress.
Finally, he remembers where he is and snaps his attention to his leg. Bandaged up neatly, he could tell that the purple annoyance had gotten her way with him. Sombra growls under his breath, cursing the fact of how weak he had been to fall under her magic. Her troops had weakened him more than he had realized. Sombra grits his teeth for a moment, swearing he would have that blue pegisi’s head to dress his wall.
He reaches his hooves up to feel the cool metal that irritated his throat, messing up his fur. Trapped like an animal, he lays back and looks to the ceiling, his thoughts racing. Sombra had no doubt he would go mad if he didn’t think of a way to break free of this wretched place. It reeked of her, the purple alicorn that had brought him to his demise the first time, no doubt planning to do the same now.
If she thought he believed that her intentions were kind, she was mistaken. Through learning the hard way, Sombra knew well not to trust any-pony. His thoughts were cut off as the door opened, he expected the little princess, instead of her however was her guard dog.
He lifts his head, dragging himself into a sitting position so that he wasn’t so vulnerable. The tall stallion had stopped in front of the door he had closed. Sombra took a closer look, recognizing him from the fleet that had brought him to this place.
“Come to kill me already?” Sombra snorts in a low growl. However, the stallion stays silent, walking closer slowly. Sombra moves as best he can to get away from him.
“Calm yourself, my princess would have my head if I killed you,” He says softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “In all honesty, I’m not supposed to be here, so I’m disobeying orders just to talk with you.”
“Why disobey the little princesses orders?” Sombra snarls bitterly, no matter how much he distasted the princess, he loathed nothing more than disobedience.
“You could say I’m here to--hm how to put it--threaten you,” He says, moving even closer to Sombra, his gold eyes never breaking their lock on Sombra’s red ones. “Call it funny, call me nothing more than a low peasant,” He begins lowly. “But no sooner than you leave even a paper-cut sized on her, i’ll have your head.”
Sombra laughs darkly. “Oh please! As if you are any threat to me--”
“You forget, you are without your magic, you don’t know this place as well as I, and let’s face it, your ego would trip you so much it would be rather easy,” He hums. Sombra’s words remained in his throat, not leaving there.
The peasant was right about two of those things, he was powerless and didn’t know the terrain well enough to not have magic. He curses bitterly.
“Wretched ponies…,” he mutters under his breath, “as if I’m not suffering enough by just being here!” Sombra rubs his hooves to his cheeks with a groan, wanting nothing more than to rid of this hell hole. Even on the way here, he knew this was his soon to be fate, he wanted nothing more than to take those stallions’ heads and break free.
After thousands of years of planning, thousands of years of waiting, he had failed yet again. He would have to stall, keep the purple annoyance happy until she thought him reformed enough to leave, then he would have her head. He purrs at the idea of her surprised scream hitting his ears.
But in turn, he knew he would have to work for it now. It may take days, months even, but he would make the foolish mare trust him, by then, maybe his leg would be healed enough to fight. Sombra huffs softly, he would begin as soon as he saw her next, whenever that may be.
=================================<*>=================================
Twilight was in her study, a book in hoof and a stack of books beside her. Her ears remained perked, waiting for any sign that the former dark king had woken, he spell to make him rest broke over an hour ago. It made her uneasy, perhaps he had escaped? Just the thought made her grit her teeth as she stood up.
Walking to the door, she opens it and quickly makes her way down the hall. Resting her hoof against the cold wood of the guest room door, she shudders deeply. On the other side of the door rested her greatest challenge yet, chained and moody. She snorts softly to herself, yes, she had expected him to be upset, pissed even, but moody? It was unbelievable to her.
Finally resting her nerves, she pushes the door open and sigh in relief as she sees him still there. Her relief was shattered however as it fades into a state of puzzlement. Sombra was sitting on the side of the bed, strands of his mane covering his eyes. He was just sitting there, eyes closed and slumped over, the chain rested over his outer thigh.
Twilight clears her throat, letting him know she was there. He opens an eye and looks to her.
“Princess Twilight Sparkle,” he hums softly. Twilight was taken aback, he seemed like a completely different stallion than before. Could he really have changed so much in a few hours? Twilight doubted it. “Thank you for taking care of my wounds dear.”
“O-Of course…,” she narrows her eyes,”Are you...alright?” Twilight had only meant to ask that question in her head, but somehow it managed to slip out.
“Other than the irritating chains around my throat and the pain in my leg, yes,” Sombra looks to her, the sudden eye contact making her nervous again. Twilight frowns softly, knowing this was more than likely a hoax and that he was just going to try and make it seem like he was to pity. She wasn’t going to fall for that, nonetheless, she would play alone, maybe get a few answers.
“Would you like me to fetch you some water or anything?” she asks softly, keeping in mind she was a host, no matter who it was.
“That would be appreciated if you would,” He hums. Twilight nods and walks out again, shutting the door and walking back down the hall.
Sombra was up to something...but what?
Author's Note
Alright! Finished the cover and chapter two! Hopefully this chapter is alright, don't be afraid to tell me some tips!
If you down voted, tell me why so that I can use it to be better in the future!
After fixing the damage her soldiers had done to his leg, Twilight had ordered Artemis to lay Sombra in one of the many guest rooms. Of course, knowing he wouldn’t stay there by choice, Twilight had wrapped several spells around the room, making it to where anything below alicorn magic couldn’t break it.
Settling into her study, Twilight opens a book with a soft sigh, trying to focus on anything else but the dark stallion she had locked in her guest room. Even the thought of it made her want to laugh and scream at the same time. Mostly laugh though, the thought that a practically immortal dark tyrant was locked in a room in the castle of friendship amused her beyond anything.
It was only a matter of time before he would wake up and cause her trouble, but in turn, she needed him awake to reform him. Twilight tooka a moment to remember his features, and how muscular he was, she had mostly gathered that information so that she could prepare the room to handle him. Nonetheless, thinking about it for other reasons wasn’t such a bad thing.
Twilight was looking at her book, but her thoughts weren’t letting her read the words on the pages even to the slightest. Giving up, she huffs and closes the book with a thud. Artemis enters the room from behind her, making her jump at the slam of the door. He winces slightly with a chuckle.
“Terribly sorry about that my princess, I tend to underestimate my strength at times-,”he clears his throat, “Sombra has been confined in guest room three.” Twilight nods.
“Good, you made sure he couldn’t escape it?” she asks. He nods.
“I hit the barrier a few times myself, no-pony is breaking out of that,” he confirms. Twilight smiles.
“Fantastic, I know I said I didn’t want anyone here, but I could use you on standby incase something goes wrong.” Artemis cocks a sly grin.
“You sure? I wouldn’t want to be a bother my princess,” he purrs. Twilight rolls her eyes.
“Oh hush,” she pushes the closed book aside and stands up, walking to the door. Artemis watches her as she makes her way over. “Are you the only one here?”
“I have Jack at Sombra’s door, just in case something happened while I wasn’t there,” Artemis says. Twilight gives another nod, walking out and heading down the hallway. As Jack spot her and waves his other hoof that wasn’t holding his spear.
“Oy, top of the evening princess!” he calls out cheerfully. “I think yer beast has awoken, heard a few crashes from inside” Twilight blinks.
“How are your injuries Jackson?” she asks softly. The chipper stallion grins.
“Don’t ya get worried over me princess, a bit of rest and I feel great,” he replies, “I think Arty over there had the worst of it, he wrestled the fella like a bear!” Twilight looks to Artemis with a raised eyebrow, earning a soft cough from Artemis.
“I’m fine my princess, I promise,” he says with a dismissive wave of his hoof. Twilight sighs softly.
“Stallions,” she mumbles under her breath before opening the door and stepping inside, locking the other two stallions outside and herself inside with him, Sombra.
Sombra’s eyes meet her’s from the darkest corner of the room as he lets out a soft growl. Twilight felt her heart rate pick up again, thundering in her ribs painfully. His eyes didn’t move from her, instead they pierced her.
She clears her throat, “Sombra--.” He snarls.
“What do you want from me?” he growls lowly.
“I want nothing but to give you a second chance,” she says softly. Sombra chuckles darkly, so cold it sent a shiver down her spine.
“Don’t act as though you would think I would fall for that,” he snorts coldly. Twilight frowns.
“I do, and I’m willing to wait as long as it takes to have you reformed,” she says confidently.
“Reform? Me?” Sombra crackles, “Might I just call that the modern term of bullshit?”’ Twilight huffs.
“Your absolutely powerless right now, at my mercy, if I had wanted to do anything more to you, I would have done it already,” she points out.
“Not absolutely, might I noted your mind is terribly cluttered, it would be a shame if some-pony found out about those thoughts,” he hums darkly. Twilight grits her teeth, knowing he was bluffing perhaps.
“Nonetheless, you don’t have enough power to face me, nor escape this room,” Twilight says softly, trying to calm her nerves. “So until I say so, you won’t leave this room or this castle until I say you are permitted.” Sombra grits his teeth this time, mostly out of annoyance.
“So be it,” he hums darkly. “But know I will stop at nothing to make sure my stay here is a regret to you Twilight Sparkle.”
“Duly noted,” she mumbles. “I’ll have Midnight Melody come later with your evening meal,” she continues. Sombra spats.
“I would rather starve,” he growls. Twilight frowns but shrugs it off, knowing he was once again bluffing. Sombra’s eyes fall to the ground for a moment in deep thought. “Unless...you make it a deal.”
“A deal?” Twilight’s ears perk. He sticks his hoof out to her, his eyes narrow.
“Shake my hoof Twilight Sparkle, make it a promise to me that your intentions are only good,” he says sternly. Twilight grits her teeth but agrees, pressing her hoof to his, no sooner did she do that however, she regretted it. Sombra moved quickly, snapping his K-9 teeth into her hoof sharply, causing her to yelp in alarm.
Her eyes clouded with tears of pain, trying to pick up a spell. As soon as she had recovered, Sombra moved away and licked the blood from her lip with a dark look in his eyes. Artemis was at her side, pulling her away from him as he snarled at Sombra. It was all happening to fast, Twilight couldn’t take it all in properly. Then it all went black.
Twilight sat up, finding herself in her bed. No sooner than she remembered what had happened, something made her freeze.
“Ahhhhh,” Sombra’s voice echoed in her head. “Foolish princess, you should have known better than to take the hoof of your enemy.”
Twilight gasps, whipping around, looking around for him only to find he was nowhere to be seen.
“Stop tussling, Maggot, you won’t see me,” He crackles. Twilight lights her horn before shouting.
“Get out of my head!!” she yells. Sombra crackles coldly.
“It’s to late sweet filly, you and I are one now,” he growls, a smirk in his voice. To confirm this, Jack busts into the room.
“Oy!! He’s gone!!” he shouts. Twilight’s breath picks up, her heart racing beyond fixing.
“Your fear tastes of salt, how delightful,” Sombra purrs darkly. “You made a deal with me filly, until you deem me reformed, you and I are bond together, my voice constantly in your head!”
No, no, no!! Twilight got up and began pacing rapidly. This was all wrong! Twilight’s head spun, she couldn’t think clearly, it was all happening to fast for her to process it all!
“Oh, you honestly thought I was that weak? I’ll give you credit for that, Maggot, but now I shall bide my time by feeding off of your pathetic emotions until my power is refilled.”
Twilight’s eyes widen, so not only had she fell for his tricks, she was now aiding him?! This truly was horrid ! Jack and Artemis watch her in worry.
“Where ya think that scummy bee went?” Jack hisses. Artemis blinks.
“My princess… did you destroy him?” he asks softly. Twilight stares at him for a moment, yes, she would rather say he was gone than worry them further.
“Ah, not so pure hearted? Alas, you truly are more like Celestia than I had thought,” Sombra snarls. Twilight pushes his voice aside.
“Yes...I hadn’t a choice, he was nothing but a danger and could have killed one of us if I kept him here,” Twilight says shakily. Artemis rests a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder.
“Mmmm,” Sombra hums in interest. “This is only the beginning. Maggot, do not hope for this to get better, your hope has such a disgusting flavor and I will stop at nothing to make sure you are left without it.”
“Why are you doing this…?” Twilight manages to whisper.
“No wretched mortal deserves mercy, it was not granted to me, why would I grant it to you?” Sombra growls.
Twilight’s eyes met the floor again, despair filling her as she drops to her knees and lets the tears fall from her eyes. “I won’t let you win Sombra, you will be stopped, I’ll make sure of it!”
“Many before you have tried, though do try, it will amuse me endlessly.” Sombra growls, the smirk making it’s way back into his voice. “The end of Equestria will come to you, and when it happens, know it was all your doing.”
