Shadow of Reform

Prison Break (Part 2)

Sombra was in his fighting stance. Both forelegs with shadow-claws open and at his side, ready to strike. He scanned the enemies that were surrounding him and all were screeching and growling, fitting for a bunch of shadow beasts that looked more dead than alive.

They were beings that resembled apes in appearance, except for the fact that there bodies were covered in shadows and their bones were made of black crystal with red glowing eyes.

He counted seven, three in his line of sight, one on his left and right, and two behind his flank. “Yes… this’ll do nicely” he thought as an excited smile graced his lips.

Suddenly, a legionnaire jumped into the air. Howling as it dove towards the dark gray stallion in an attempt to attack.

But Sombra only furrowed his brow and brought a claw back and struck the legionnaire right in its face with an open palm strike. Sombra followed up with a left hook before striking with a right hock to the legionnaire’s gut and finished the creature with a left punch, knocking it to the ground where it dissolved into nothing.

The other legionnaires turned back to the pony in shock, where he answered by stomping his right back hoof and back into his fighting stance.

The legionnaires all lunged toward the stallion, where Sombra dove and rolled forward to avoid the apes coming down on him, before turning and striking one with a fierce punch and doing the same to another before ducking under the swing of a fourth legionnaire before hitting it with a roundhouse.

A fifth legionnaire attempted to pounce on the stallion, but Sombra intercepted it by knocking it down with fierce left hook before flipping onto its back and and headlocked it’s head with his forelegs, before snapping the shadow ape’s head in a complete 180.

Sombra then lunged toward another legionnaire before tackling it to the ground, holding its neck with his shadow claw before punching the legionnaire repeatedly until it was dead, where it dissolved into nothing like the others.

The remaining four apes all ganged up on the stallion. They dogpiled him and attempted to get in a few lucky shots, before they were al flinged across the corridor as Sombra shook them off.

Sombra later grabbed a downed legionnaire with his teeth before flinging up and slamminging it down on the hard stone. He used it to bat another legionnaire away before slamming it down on one and then the other remaining legionnaire before twirling around and sent them crashing into the walls before dissolving.

With those two taken care of, Sombra took the legionnaire he had in his grasp and grabbed its head and mid-section with both shadow claws and, with a shout, ripped the legionnaire in half, tossing both it’s pieces to the side.

The previous shadow ape that Sombra had knocked away had regained it’s bearings, and was now running towards the dark unicorn stallion at full speed.

Sombra noticed it, and pulled his right foreleg as far back as it could go while raising his left hind leg. Before swinging it at full speed down, the momentum driving his hoof straight toward the charging ape.

Where it struck with bone breaking force.

Sending the shadow ape rocketing back towards the full end of the stone corridor, where crashed through a set of large wooden doors.

Sombra straightened himself and broke into a full gallop towards the broken doors.

When he stepped through, he was met by a large foyer, one with an elegant but worn and old rug in it’s center, and large stained glass windows. But what really caught the stallion’s attention, was the large spiral staircase leading up to a balcony with a set of wooden double doors.

But before Sombra could proceed further, he was stopped in his tracks by the same voice that had spoken to him before.

“Well, I see that even the tortures of the Umbrum, Malicia, could not stop the Beast of Vengeance. That’s good… you’ll need that drive for the long road back” said the voice.

Sombra darted his head around but couldn’t see anything or where that voice could have come from.

“Show yourself!” shouted the Umbrum stallion.

Then suddenly a cloud of blue and black mist began to form in front of the stallion, and it suddenly began to take form.

A skeletal and creepy figure formed from the mist. It’s body black as the shadow, with long bony claws and black, featherless wings, and a head which held icy blue glowing eyes and a beak. The creature was a specter floating in a mist of its own material, but greatly resembled a griffin.

“Have you really forgotten about me? We’ve only been in here a week! I don’t believe Malicia could have knocked you around so much that you could have forgotten everything that’s happened or how we got here!” said the specter as it crossed it’s claws.

“Who are you? Answer me!” demanded Sombra.

“Calm down. Everything will be cleared up soon, but right now we need to focus on getting our flanks out of here so we eviscerate that bitch!” said the specter. “But before we continue there's something you will need” said the specter as he summoned blue and black magic around his claws.

Sombra saw a cloud of magic forming and elongating, but his jaw fell open and his eyes went wide at the object that was summoned.

It was a sword.

But not just any sword. This was a sword that Sombra was all too familiar with.

It was a longsword. It’s blade was double-edged and made of steel, and along its central ridge leading to the crossguard, it flattened, where the metal was engraved with runes written in old Sumareian. And on the left side of the strong, it formed jagged edges resembling flames. While on it’s opposite, only had two points.

Then there was the rainguard. It was formed of a deep dark gray metal that was shaped like a diamond, with two small, curved, crescent-shaped points. And it was all connected to a crossguard with an obscure design.

It was in the shape of a demonic horse skull, with curved horns protruding from it’s top and wrapping around the thin, steel quillons. And all of it was connected to a thick metal hilt wrapped in brown leather, and topped off with a metal ball of steel.

“Rancor…” was all Sombra said as he approached the blade.

“That’s right. But there’s no time, we must hurry. And before we go, the name’s Krag… since you’ve so carelessly forgotten. Now come on!” said the specter before disappearing in a cloud of it’s mist.

Sombra was apprehensive, and uncertain of his situation and his self-proclaimed ally. But though suspicious he may be, he knew he had no choice than to trust the specter known as Krag.

He formed a shadow claw on his right forehoof and grabbed Rancor from it’s suspended positioned.

He admired the blade. It was a large sword, but yet felt so remarkably light and fast in his grip. He had slain so many souls with this sword and yet he never got used to it’s haunting allure. It called out to him. Begged him to feed it the blood of his enemies.

Sombra brushed the thoughts away and sheathed Rancor onto his back and galloped forward.

He made his way to the base of the grand spiral stairs and galloped upwards towards the balcony.

All while thinking in his mind: What was going on? Where was he? And more importantly, the names of his ally and enemy, Krag and Malicia. He had heard those names before, but couldn’t put his hoof on it.

But Sombra cleared those thoughts from his head as he neared the top of the staircase.

He skidded to a stop in front of the double doors, where he turned and bucked the doors open with a sound that reverberated throughout the air.

He had walked out onto a second balcony. And this is where Sombra got a good look at where he was. He was in some kind of massive, abandoned cathedral. And from the snow and winter winds and chill in the air, Sombra deduced that he was somewhere in the Crystal Mountains.

But the Umbrum stallion’s attention was soon drawn downwards.

The balcony he was currently standing on was overlooking a large and spacious courtyard.

And down below, the courtyard was littered with shadow legionnaires, but these were different. They wore black crystal armor and helmets, and were all brandishing either axes or swords, all screeching and howling mindlessly.

Sombra vaulted over the balcony railing and dropped down into the courtyard below.

He landed with a heavy thud and had kicked up a light plume of dust.

All the shadow legionnaires stopped howling and turned to him as the stallion rose up and stared down at the mass of dark crystal ape skeletons. By looking passed them, Sombra saw a large set of iron steel steel doors with a large stone pillar blocking it.

Suddenly, Krag manifested himself, “Alright, that’s our way out. But we need to get passed these fools if we want to leave.”

The shadow legionnaires all began to screech and howl as they brandished their weapons and prepared to kill the Umbrum stallion.

“Sombra…” Began Krag as Sombra formed shadow claws on his hooves and reared up onto his hind legs. “I think it’s time to introduce yourself!” said Krag in anticipation.

At this remark, Sombra gripped Rancor with his right claw and unsheathed the sword, letting it’s edge strike the ground as a sign that he was ready.

And with a tightening of his muscles and a grit of his teeth, Sombra lunged forward.

“AaaaaAAAAAAHHHH…” cried Sombra as he engaged the shadow legions.