Shadow of Reform

Formalities

Sombra’s expression remained stoic, but on the inside his mind was completely bewildered. ‘Brother?... Me?... Who is this guy?’ he thought.

“Well that was a bit blunt, but then again you always did lack any tact.” said Radiant Hope after finally speaking up. The tattooed stallion smirked at her statement in response. She walked forward until she was standing between the two stallions before speaking, “Sombra, I’d like you to meet somepony very special. One who has been central to this grand design.”

“Allow me to introduce: Kage.” said Radiant Hope while extending a hoof towards the tattooed stallion.

Kage, as he was named, looked back at Sombra and noticed the other stallion’s further confusion at the whole scenario. “I have been eager to meet you for well over a millenia. But seeing you here, before me, I gotta say I’m a bit unsure of how to go about this.” he said. “But now that I have been formally introduced, go ahead and ask your questions.”

Sombra at first remained silent, his brow furrowed as he contemplated what to say before finally speaking. “You called me ‘brother’ when you walked in… what did you mean by that?”

Kage said nothing at first, only turning to slowly walk around the area before finally responding. “I’m sure you are aware of the history of our kind, the ‘Umbrum,’ and their subsequent history, are you not?”

Sombra’s red eyes followed his movement as he kept his guard on high alert, not liking how the stallion was circling him but answered none the less. “Yes. I am aware.” he stated plainly.

“Then you should also be aware of their rulers before their imprisonment correct?” asked Kage.

“Yes… Queen Rabia and King Havoc, the powerful monarchs of the Umbrum Tribe. Said to be unrivalled in both might and magical power…” Sombra stopped his sentence before continuing, “and my mother and father.”

“Exactly. And what do you know of The Umbrum’s overall history?”

“The only history I know of was what I could gather from the Crystal Library in the Crystal Empire. That the Umbrum were the original rulers of the Frozen North, and that they declared war with the Royal Sisters shortly after the founding of Equestria.”

Kage stopped his pacing and was again standing in front of Sombra. “Precisely. And you also mentioned that Queen Rabia and King Havoc were your parents yes?”

Sombra did not respond, only hardening his face as he wondered where this conversation was going. “Your point?”

“Did you know that before their imprisonment they hid their two foals in secret locations apart from each other, and cast a spell on them to guard against any detection spells, and to only be undone until a specific amount of time had passed before the spell finally faded?”

Sombra’s eyes went wide at hearing this explanation. Could this be why the crystal ponies had found him in the snow all those years ago? Is that why he had no further recollection from before he was discovered? But what was more surprising was the speculation of his mother and father and— wait. Brother?

Sombra came out of his thoughts and looked back at the stallion before him with eyes widening in possible realization.

“That’s right.” said Kage with a knowing smile, almost as if he could tell what Sombra was thinking. “And as I said when I walked in…” Kage walked up to Sombra, now standing only a few inches away. “It's good to finally meet you… Brother!”

Sombra’s jaw opened in pure shock and confusion. His mind moving at a million miles an hour as he stared at the tattooed stallion before him.

~~~

It’s so good to see you again Twily” said Shining Armor as he hugged his little sister. “It’s good to see you too BBBFF” said Twilight as she returned the hug.

The six mares had and Spike had arrived in the Crystal Empire just a few minutes ago and already they had seen that the preparations for the upcoming Crystal Fair were already underway.

“Well we’re all glad you called us out here Shinin’ Armor” said Applejack.

“Oh yes. It will be simply marvelous to get this Empire primed and ready for the main event” added Rarity.

“Not to mention the super awesome Wonderbolt aerial show that’ll happen before then” announced Rainbow Dash.

“Well I’m just glad that all of you are here to lend a hoof and make sure everything goes smoothly” replied Shining Armor.

“Don’t worry! Making things go smoothly is what we’re all about. This is going to be the bestest, crystaliest Crystal Fair ever!” said Pinkie Pie.

The six mares, stallion and dragon then turned to walk down the main street and towards the palace.

~~~

Back in Hollow Shades

“Surely you don’t expect me to believe any of this” said Somra. “Everything you’ve said up to this point has all been interesting, but you haven’t shown any proof that what you have said is true. So I don’t believe you” Sombra spoke while looking between Radiant Hope and Kage.

“Sombra, I can assure you that what he says is true. I’ve verified it myse-” ''It’s alright Hope… I can understand why he’s reluctant to believe me” Kage cut off Radiant Hope before continuing. “Maybe you won’t believe me if I tell you… but perhaps I can show you” said Kage as his yellow eyes changed, his sclera turning a pitch black and billowing plumes of blue smoke.

Kage’s horn crackled with black and blue Dark Magic as he prepared a spell. Sombra’s red eyes glowed with their trademark green and purple smoke as he got ready to cast a counterspell but Kage was faster. He fired a beam of black lightning that struck Sombra’s horn. Sombra recoiled from the pain as the spell took effect, his eyes shot open as they became completely engulfed in the green glow.

~~~

Images flashed in Sombra’s mind. Images of dark figures fighting off other strange figures, all of the screaming and shouting with metallic sounds crashing together.

Another image flashed across Sombra’s mind. This one of a tall, slim, white pony, a mare from the looks of it, holding two small shapes in her forelegs.

Two small foals.

The scene changed to the whipping snow of the Frozen North, the mare was facing a stallion, she handed one of the foals over to the stallion as she cradled the other as the stallion turned to leave.

With low sobs sounding from the mare, she tearfully lowered the foal into crack in the icy ground.

Now from the foal’s perspective, it looked up as it saw the mare. Her horn began to glow and great flash engulfed the scene.

~~~

Sombra reeled back and fell into a heap on the floor as he gasped and wheezed from the shock.

Kage’s horn simmered and fizzled out as his magic died down, his eyes returning to normal. “Now do you believe me?” was all he said as he approached Sombra.

Sombra regained his composure as he picked himself up and looked back at Kage and shifting his gaze at Hope before looking at Kage again.

All remained silent before Sombra finally spoke, “What is the first part of your plan?” an evil smile forming on his face as his eyes began to emanate with Dark Magic.

~~~

The decorations in the Crystal Empire were already underway. All of the Crystal Ponies were hanging ornaments and banners and ribbons. Some were setting up stands and others were dusting and cleaning all of the crystals and adding to their shine.

Meanwhile in the Crystal Palace, Twilight Sparkle and Cadence were walking down a hall while having a conversation. “Thanks again for you and your friends to helping prepare Twilight. It really means alot that everypony is lending a hoof” said Cadence.

“Aww it’s our pleasure, besides we were all excited to make sure that nothing goes wrong” said Twilight. “That reminds me, has anything… magical... happened after our trip into Sombra’s study?”

“No… Nothing’s happened since we went down there. Though I will admit I’m not very excited about going back there again” said Cadence.

“Well there is nothing that you need to worry about only you and me know the spells to get down there. And besides we already checked every inch of King Sombra’s study! So there is nothing to worry about” said Twilight to reassure her sister-in-law.

Reluctantly, Cadence agreed, “Your right Twilight. Right now we need to focus on getting ready for the Crystal Fair, and I’m so excited for it cuz this is going to be Flurry Hearts first one ever.”

“Ohhh I know! And as my duty as the best aunt EVER, I will make sure Flurry Heart enjoys it.”

The two alicorns continued to walk down the hall.

Neither of them could have foreseen the dark storm that was quickly approaching.