Twists, Turns, Scars, and Steel

After a few days, Sombra was in good enough condition to be moved, wherein he was transferred to one of the castle's private suites. That said, he was still rather thin, and still breathed with a ragged breath in his sleep. Still, it was better than nothing.

Celestia once again found herself sitting on the edge of his bed, looking at him as he slept. The doctor who tended to him still kept him in a magic-induced coma. She was told it was for concerns of his safety, but Celestia had her quiet suspicions that it was by request of Diodiece.

The Pryhan officer had maintained his position on Sombra; namely that he should be in a cell, and not a suite. She could see where he was coming from. Sombra, back when he first rose to power, was a potent and fierce opponent. He couldn't have banished the Crystal Empire to limbo for a thousand years without possessing powerful magic. And he was certainly ruthless and cunning. However, Celestia still maintained her opinion that Sombra could be reformed, and it was up to her to do it.

However, that begged the question: why did she want to reform him so bad? She had a desire before the Changeling invasion to have at the very least Discord reformed. But why did she feel so strongly about Sombra, when he never even crossed her mind? Maybe it was because he was the only one she could even try at. Chrysalis was dead. Tirek was back in Tartarus. Discord couldn't be released without the Elements of Harmony, and in their current state, they were useless in that role.

She was drawn from her thoughts as the door opened. Turning her head, she saw a doctor and the two Pryhan soldiers assigned to guard Sombra enter the room. The doctor came up next to Sombra, lighting up his horn and examining him. "Well, the good news is that he's back to healthy levels for a pony of his size. He should be able to start ingesting solid food again, but he should still get lots of rest for the next few weeks. Do you want me to get him out of the coma?"

"Yes. I wish to start", she said.

As the doctor's magic glowed slightly brighter, the two soldiers made their way over to the walls adjacent to the bed, holding their thunderlances at the ready. After a second, the doctor backed away and his magic faded. After another few minutes, Sombra's blood-red eyes opened wide.

The blood-shot eyes looked around, taking in the room he was in. The fancy furniture around him, the soft bed, the doctor, Celestia, the Soldiers. After a bit of him looking around, he let out a raspy laugh. "W-well, Chrysilyis. F-finally rea-ady to k-kill me?"

Celestia looked appalled. "Kill you?"

"You've k-kept me i-in thi-this pit for wh-who knows h-how long", he said, letting out another hoarse chuckle that turned into a hacking cough. "So, i-is that it? F-fina-ally ready to p-put me down?"

Celestia caught onto what he thought, and replied, "Sombra, I am not Chrysalis. She has been dead for over a year. I am, in fact, Celestia."

"Liar", he snarled. He attempted to raise himself from the bed, only for his weakened limbs to give out from under him and fall back to his bed, wincing.

"Easy", the doctor said. "You're no longer in critical condition, but you're still too weak to move."

Ignoring the doctor, he pointed an accusatory hoof at Celestia. "P-prove it. Tha-that you aren't j-just that in-insect toying wi-with me."

"On May 17th, 297 AD, my sister and I faced you in single combat at the top of the Crystal Citadel. You were defeated, and the Elements of Harmony turned your physical form to shadow. But, before that finished, you cast a curse on the Crystal Empire, banishing it to Limbo for 1200 years."

Sombra's eyes widened. "It, it is y-you."

"Yes, it is I." She turned to one of the Pryhans, who were both still watching Sombra like he would attack them. She noticed that Sombra was eyeing them as well, and said, "I apologize for the soldiers, but their superior officer was quite insistent."

"I d-don't bl-blame him." He rolled his head back over and looked at her, rasping. "Why a-am I he-here then?"

Celestia thought of a way to say it delicately, but eventually decided she'd just say it. "I hope to reform you. To open up your eyes to the error of your ways."

He rolled his head once again, looking at the ceiling and chuckling. Once again, his chuckling turned into hard, racking coughs. Celestia looked over at the nearest Pryhan and said, "Would you mind fetching some food and water for Sombra?"

"I have my orders", the Caragor said. "I can't leave his presence until I'm relieved. Besides, you want to help him? Do it yourself."

Celestia wrinkled her snout, but understood where he was coming from. She stood up to go get it herself, but the doctor said, "Princess. I'll got get him something to eat and some water."

She said, "Thank you."

"Part of my oath is helping patients recover. Even, less-than-savory patients", he said. He trotted out the door, leaving Celestia alone with Sombra and the Pryhan soldiers.

Celestia said, "So... how are you here?"

"What?", he asked.

"How did you end up in our old dungeon? I assume you weren't in there before the Changeling Crisis", she said.

He snorted; a dry, sick noise that reminded her of a dog's whine. "I c-came fr-from the nor-north. I w-wanted t-to cla-claim my ven-vengeance. I f-found the city aban-andoned, and was att-acked by tho-those bugs. After be-being moc-ocked by th-that Queen, I was left down th-there to rot."

Celestia just looked at him, and only felt sad. She said, "Do you still seek it?"

"What?"

"Do you seek vengeance against me and my sister?", she asked.

He seemed to mule it over in his head, mumbling to himself. After a bit, he rasped, "No."

"What changed?", she asked, curiosity entering her voice.

He replied, "E-every time I-I try to sei-ize power, I am b-beaten do-down. First, you a-and your si-sister banished m-me to the cold. T-then, I was bla-asted by the H-heart, thanks to th-that Hatchling a-and the descendant of A-amore. F-finally... w-well, I al-lready t-told you, di-didn't I?"

Celestia said, "I see." She looked at him, and her eyes darted to the floor.

He seemed to notice and pushed against the bed. After he sat up in bed slightly, he said, "Why?"

She asked, "What do you mean, Sombra?"

"Wh-why are you h-helping me?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but stopped herself and looked at her hooves. Why was she helping him? He had shown no previous signs of being willing to reform. Granted, she had never had much contact with him, only having met him before this twice, but what she had was not good. The first time was during negotiations, where he was rude, arrogant, and incredibly stubborn in his beliefs. The second time, she had fought him with her sister, where he was a relentless and ruthless foe. She had never even considered it before, but now she was here. Willing to do help him, but she didn't really know why.

She was interrupted by the doctor returning, carrying a salad and a cup of water on a tray on his back. He put the tray on the nightstand next to the bed, handing Sombra the cup. "Here. I put a spell on the water. It should help with the throat a bit more."

He grabbed the cup with both hooves, tilting the cup back and gulping down the water. He drank it down as if he hadn't drunk anything in years, which was likely at least partially true. As soon as the glass was empty, he tossed it aside, grabbing the salad and shoving his muzzle into it. He ate like he didn't have a care in the world; a little weary, but too hungry to care.

After a bit, he had eaten almost the entire thing, save a few bits of greens or other vegetables in the bottom of the bowl or stuck to the side of his face. He fell back, sighing. She noticed his eyes were heavy, and she asked, "Are you alright?"

"Tired", he said.

The doctor said, "That's understandable. While he was technically sleeping due to the spell, his body was still functioning at full efficiency to help heal his wounds and fix his body."

"Get some rest, Sombra", Celestia said. "I shall return tomorrow. We can talk more then."

"*YAWN*. V-very wel-ell then. Farewell."

++++~++++

Sombra awoke to the door opening. Rolling his head to the side slightly, he saw it was nighttime outside. He turned his head back to see a trio of creatures enter the room. Next to his bed, he heard the two soldiers say, "Ave, Tribune."

Ave, Pedes", the one in the middle said. "You two are dismissed. Go get some sleep."

The two soldiers that had been watching him when he first awoke bowed their heads and left the room, shutting the door behind them. As the other two took their posts, the one who had spoken came up to the side of his bed. He was a demigryph, with an owl-like head and a black-furred feline body, wearing a blue gambeson adorned with several medals and a field cap with a Pryhan signet on it. He sat in the chair next to Sombra's bed, saying, "So. You are the Tyrant of the North?"

"Hard to be a Tyrant when I have no nation", Sombra replied.

The Demigryphs eye-brow raised. He asked, "You speak Pryhan?"

"I attended University in your Empire. It is kind of a pre-requisite." Sombra then studied him further, before adding, "And if I am not mistaken, you must be an officer in the Caput Legio, no?"

"Correct. Tribune Diodiece, Liason officer to the Equestrian EUP."

Sombra said, "Then, you are the one who put these soldiers to watch me, eh?"

Diodiece nodded. "Correct. Standard practice when watching noted criminals."

"Why are you here?", Sombra asked.

"Straight to the point, eh? Admirable", he said. After Sombra didn't reply, Diodiece continued. "This night, I attended dinner with Princeps Luna and Princeps Celestia. Celestia remarked how you were no longer aspiring to villainous hights, and no longer sought vengeance. Correct?"

"Correct", Sombra answered.

"I see." Diodiece seemed to content himself with his thoughts for a bit, before asking, "Would you like something to drink?"

"Depends", Sombra Anwsered. "What is it?"

Diodiece pulled out a flask, unscrewing the cap and pouring some into the cup on Sombra's nightstand. "Posca. Wine, watered down with water and vinegar. It helps soothe a sore throat. In my experience, at least."

Sombra grabbed the cup in his hooves, bringing it to his lips and downing it all in one swig. Sure enough, despite the harsh smell, it seemed to wipe away whatever harsh grim was leaving his throat sore and dry. "Thank you."

"Want some more?" Sombra nodded, and as he filled back up the cup, Diodiece said, "I have to ask."

"Ask what?", Sombra asked before downing the refilled cup.

"Do you regret it?", Diodiece asked. "Regret what you did, all those centuries ago?"

Sombra once again seemed to consider it. Eventually, he said, "Yes."

"May I ask, why?"

"Like I told Celestia earlier, it's lead to nothing but pain for me", he said. "Have I not suffered enough for me to say that seizing power by means of force and slavery is not worth it?"

"A reasonable asscesment", Diodiece said. "I only ask this because of the differences between Equestrian and Pryhan ideals of reformation."

"And what are these ideals?"

Diodiece said, "For Equestrians, it seems that regretting one's actions and seeking atonement is enough in their eyes. For Pryhans, you need to have given effort. As a laborer, for example. Prove you are willing to accept your wrong-doings and become a better being by physical sacrifice. While not the typical method, I suppose that what you went through in that 'dungeon'. That would be enough."

Sombra didn't reply; he just stared at Diodiece. After a bit, Diodiece said, "Do Not be mistaken in assuming I am letting my guard down, or easing up on you. I am still keeping my eye on you, and my Pedes will still keep an eye on you at all times. While you have undergone a similar punishment to those in the Pryhan justice system, it is too soon to say if you've actually been reformed. Good night."

Diodiece left the room, while the sentries adjusted themselves to get comfortable. Sombra ignored them, falling back to sleep.