Author's Note

This is a part of the Jest Days of Christmas, where I update something every single day of December. Go check out the link for the full list and check back everyday for a new update!

Always Ascending Part 2

The room was quiet, its inhabitants sitting there in a state of shock, confusion, and in one case, rage. Why the four ponies would be angry at one another wasn't readily apparent, for they had all been enjoying the act of roleplaying together. Snacks, drinks, dice, and sheets of paper were strewn across the table, marking a long day spent mostly sitting in one spot.

A record player in the corner of the room belted out relatively bland background music that they had all heard several times today. Though the song itself wasn't terribly interesting, it added to the ambiance, or at least would, had the game not come to a sudden stop. Most of the ponies present were staring down at the table, and the miniatures that sat atop the map, or at Spearhead.

Who was wincing and rubbing the back of his neck nervously, as if he expected to be assaulted at any second. Beside him, Knight Night looked confused more than anything, his full health character not illuminating any of the mystery around what had happened. On the other side of Spearhead was Shining Armor, and unlike the other two, he was more than a little angry.

The stallion clenched and unclenched his jaw, gaze going from the singular fallen piece at the center of the board back to his friend. It was clear that Shining Armor wanted to say something, something not exactly nice and he was holding himself back. Sombra, still disguised as Crystal Throne, held nothing back, the stallion snickering to himself as he watched the scene play out before him.

Sure a bunch of his notes had been freshly placed to the side and turned over, no longer needed but that was fine. For despite the fact that some of his freshly laid plans had to be tossed out, the moment was indeed a dramatic one. The event in question seemed to be Spearhead’s fault, and the game board backed up that assumption.

For the group’s characters were arrayed across a crude map of an ill-used carriage road winding through a dense woodland. In the center, there was a single figure, one which belonged to Spearhead, the miniature wielding a flute in one hand and a longsword in the other. On either side of the road, seemingly forgotten were the other two players at the table both of whom had yet to act.

The lone character who had acted rolled a natural twenty, and then max damage, if their dice were any clue. And the single fallen miniature amidst the small group of hooded figures was evidently the bard’s target. A target which once it had fallen, was revealed to be a child bearing a distinct x scar on his cheek and who wore an amulet around his neck.

“It's always a kid,” Spearhead muttered.

“And yet you always roll first and ask questions later!” Shining Armor shouted, throwing his hooves up. “How many times do you have to commit child murder before you think, oh maybe I should find out who I’m trying to kill before you plunge a knife into their back.”

“Actually this time I shattered the kid’s mind with viscous mockery,” Spearhead pointed out.

“I don't think that's better,” Knight Night offered.

“It was quicker if nothing else,” Sombra added.

“That is not better,” Shining Armor groaned. “We’ve been looking for this kid all day, and like what, five days in game?”

“Six,” Knight Night replied.

“I’m kind of impressed, you know,” Sombra remarked. “I baited you into killing that first kid because it was funny but I haven't even tried to push you into any infanticide since then.”

“H-hey!” Spearhead shouted. “Quit trying to make me out to be a monster.”

“I mean if we judge our characters based solely on the amount of kids we’ve killed you’re clearly the evil one in this party,” Knight Night prodded.

“Hey, Shining Armor killed one kid when he burned down that orphanage,” Knight Night shouted.

“That was an accident,” Shining Armor quickly fired back. “It was only one, and I resurrected him after so it doesn't count.”

“It does so,” Spearhead exclaimed.

“I mean technically it would be manslaughter but I think we’re splitting hairs at this point,” Knight Night muttered.

“Augh whatever,” Spearhead murmured, only to sit up suddenly. “The body is just lying there, right?”

“You are not looting the prince we were charged with protecting!” Shining Armor quickly intruded.

“Well, why not? Part of the quest was to bring back the special amulet of his and it's not like that's damaged, right?” Spearhead asked, glancing at Sombra.

“I don't know. He did fall face forward when you killed him, so it may very well have shattered,” Sombra replied.

“Good going Spearhead, you blockhead,” Shining Armor exclaimed.

“We should like, go check on him right?” Knight Night asked.

“Nah he's dead dead. I rolled max damage,” Spearhead replied.

Knight Night sighed. “And we used our last scroll of resurrection on that merchant we thought was a vampire.”

“That's right!” Spearhead exclaimed, turning to Shining Armor. “Why did you think he was a vampire in the first place?”

“Well there were those rumours in town,” Shining Armor nervously began. “And he had fangs, plus he had this whole blood theme about him.”

“He was a thestral, and really liked the color red. That shouldn't be a death sentence you racist,” Spearhead shot back.

“Racist? I just…” Shining Armor groaned. “Look, I think its best if we just take a short break and grab some food or something. The sun went down an hour or so ago so I’m fairly certain we missed dinner.”

“How can you miss a meal that was never made?” Spearhead pointed out.

“He's got a point,” Sombra added.

Shining Armor rolled his eyes. “Let's just pack things up for the moment and get some food going. I’m starving.”

“Ditto. This trail mix is good but it's not exactly filling,” Knight Night declared.

“Hmm, true,” Sombra began. “So, what's the plan after this?”

“We were thinking of switching it up and drinking tonight,” Shining Armor stated. “I know we planned on doing that tomorrow, but the weather is supposed to be great and it would be a shame to not go on that hike.”

“True,” Sombra murmured.

“Plus I’m dying to get my drink on!” Spearhead declared.

“I am less enthused about this turn of events,” Knight Night muttered.

“Oh come on Knighty,” Spearhead proclaimed, catching the other male in a sideways hug. “You are always so high-strung. A little booze will do you good. Besides, you liked the stuff we ordered at the club, right? It's just more of the same.”

“That was kind of good,” Knight Night murmured.

“Then it's settled. I’ll throw together a nice salad, while y'all finish cleaning up here,” Spearhead declared.

The stallion released the hold he had on the other pony and walked over to the kitchen. While he walked away, the others he had left behind, including Sombra, packed up the various dice, papers, and other game pieces that had not been tucked away yet. Sombra himself was deep in thought and didn't speak a word until Shining Armor unexpectedly broke the silence.

“You know this campaign has been really good so far,” Shining Armor offered.

Sombra blinked. “Oh, uh thank you. I rather enjoy crafting a good story, even if you three seem to have a habit of throwing a wrench into things.”

“Sorry about that,” Knight Night offered.

Sombra scoffed. “Think nothing of it. I would not be an adequate dungeon master if I could not adjust my plans in accordance with your actions.”

“You are pretty good at that,” Knight Night murmured, packing up the last of his dice and stepping away from the table. “I’m going to go help Spearhead. Thanks again for the fun game.”

Sombra nodded and watched as the demure male hastily trotted over to Spearhead, who had assembled a line of vegetables by then and was beginning to dice them.

“It does seem a bit familiar for some reason,” Shining Armor exclaimed suddenly. “The game that is. You aren't basing this on historical events or something, are you?”

Sombra paused, a bolt of panic shooting threw him with enough force to knock him off balance. It was true, the game was roughly based on his rise to power, but no one could have possibly known that. He had made sure that there were few who witnessed such events and fewer still who escaped with their minds intact.

“Perhaps subconsciously,” Sombra murmured.

“Ahh that makes sense. Cus I can't tell from where but this feels like it's inspired by some historical event,” Shining Armor offered, only to wince. “Not like I’m insulting the story or anything. I love it, and a bit of historical inspiration is always good.”

“It's fine,” Sombra dismissed. “There is a bit of history in there, but mostly it's unique, though I did also add in a few characters from fiction that I enjoy.”

“It’s the vampire you keep teasing right? The one with the backward name and the big red hat?” Shining Armor replied.

Sombra frowned. “Is it that obvious? I tried to change him up.”

“I mean it's a little obvious but that's only because everyone was putting him in their games for a few years there,” Shining Armor admitted.

“Well I was notable to play with anyone so I hardly think it fair that I get lumped in with them,” Sombra retorted.

Shining Armor chuckled. “That's fair. So, ya looking forward to having a drink? You barely had any back at the club.”

“Oh, I drank just as much as you. I merely didn't make a big deal out of it,” Sombra replied, tucking the last of his notes together.

“You do seem to have more experience in that regard,” Shining Armor pressed.

Sombra bit back a grimace and forced a thin-lipped smile onto his face.

“Not much, just the odd cup of wine here or there,” Sombra declared. “Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to put my notes away and use the outhouse before supper.”

“Cool, I’ll finish up here,” Shining Armor offered.

Sombra merely nodded before setting off, making a beeline to his and Spearhead’s room. Along the way he passed by the kitchen, and noted that the two stallions present there were laughing at some unheard joke. Sombra didn't give them any mind, and continued on, quickly dropping off his notebook before grabbing a few things and heading for the door.

Passing by the two chefs a second time, Sombra couldn't help but feel a little jealous over Spearhead. Sure, if all things went according to his plan Sombra would be single, and Spearhead would be dating Knight Night but for the moment he was still Sombra’s. Yet he was laughing along and sharing an intimate moment with the other stallion despite the fact he was taken. Such thoughts were quickly brushed aside by the time-displaced king, who quickly refocused himself on the task at hoof.

With his bags resting on his back, he exited the cottage and made his way around the backside of the building. There he paused, glancing around the area. After he determined that no one was looking out the window and that there was no one else around, he set up his camera. Hiding it in a snow pile, and further obscuring it with an illusion spell, Sombra was confident it wouldn't be discovered, at least not by accident anyway.

With that done, he proceeded to the outhouse, where he hastily did his business, now painfully aware of how cold it was getting. With the sun having set, and the wind having picked up, even Sombra, who rarely if ever felt cold had begun to shiver. He didn't tarry long and was soon out of the cold, and back into the warm embrace of the cottage.

“Ya get lost out there?” Spearhead asked, a smirk on his face.

“Just enjoying the pleasant evening,” Sombra replied.

“It is rather nice. Even if it is kinda spooky,” Knight Night murmured.

“What's so spooky anyway? We’ve been here like a bajillion times at this point,” Spearhead remarked.

“Its dark there are bears, wolves, and worse out there,” Knight Night shot back.

“I keep telling you Knight, your completely safe in here,” Shining Armor declared. “The wards on this place extend to the edge of the property and do everything from repel predators to purify water.”

“Purify water?” Sombra asked.

“Yeah,” Shining Armor answered. “There's a well under the cottage which connects to a system that pipes it up through to the taps. Pretty crazy to think it's like, super old.”

“That is interesting,” Sombra murmured.

“Yeah this old place has a ton of crazy old magic placed on it,” Spearhead added.

Sombra trotted past the others, the disguised king noting idly that they were setting up the table, and getting ready for dinner. The salad had been mostly assembled, though it lacked the signature bow-tie pasta that was to be added. Sombra himself would have never thought to have added such a thing to salad, never mind one primarily made of spinach but living with the Sparkle family had opened his eyes in many ways.

With his belly rumbling and his mind now occupied with food, Sombra made his way to his room and closed the door. Once alone, he dug out his bag, dropping the thing on his lap in order to better peer into the thing. It didn't take long for him to locate the alcohol, though while searching, his hoof brushed up against the lust potion.

Disguised as a simple bottle of water, it had a minor avoidance spell cast on it. Lighting his horn, he checked on the enchantment and found that it was degrading unusually quickly. It would last at least as long as it needed to, Sombra calculated, but the fact that it was being worn down somehow unnerved him.

Switching his magic to a more generalized scan, he followed the lines of energy that crisscrossed the cottage. It wasn't long before he was able to locate the tight night of spellwork that lay at the heart of the small house’s ward network. What he found was not surprising, though it was certainly annoying.

The thing was dense, more so than even the network that had been embedded in the walls of the Sparkle family manor. Where there the spells were intertwined with skill and experience, here they overlapped to create a mess that didn't make much sense. This was clearly the testing ground for the main family home, as Sombra could easily see the small, subtle flourishes he had grown accustomed to seeing.

“Over complicated, and downright masturbatory,” Sombra muttered bitterly to himself.

“Hey, supper’s ready. You coming, Crystal?” Shouted the familiar voice of Spearhead.

Sombra stowed his irritation, and put on a calm, neutral expression.

“In a moment, dear. I am just organizing some of my notes,” Sombra called back.

“Cool, I’ll dish you out a plate,” Spearhead replied.

Sombra smiled faintly as he uncorked the bottle of whiskey, pausing for a moment to enjoy the scent. The pleasant earthy notes and oaky aroma tickled his nose, urging him to partake of the dark brown liquid. He didn't resist this temptation, and took a quick swig, downing only a small mouthful of the stuff. The taste was complex yet pleasant, tantalizing his taste buds with a complicated mix of different flavors. Though he was tempted to take a second swig, Sombra resisted and instead dumped the contents of the lust potion into the bottle. The resulting liquid turned an unpleasant greenish color before returning to the normal dull brown of the whiskey.

“Perfect,” Sombra whispered. “Now to wait until the perfect moment.”

He used a quick spell to reseal the bottle before heading back to the kitchen, whiskey floating behind him. Reentering the main area of the cottage, Sombra realized he must have been getting lost in the ward system for longer than anticipated as everything was done. The three other stallions were all sitting there patiently at the table, none having started to eat yet.

“Finally. I thought we’d all starve before you showed up,” Shining Armor remarked.

“You didn't start without me?” Sombra asked in confusion.

“Well that wouldn't be very polite now would it,” Spearhead declared.

Knight Night nodded his head in agreement.

Sombra placed the whiskey bottle off to the side before sitting down next to his boyfriend.

“Well then,” he began. “Let's dig in before you all perish a regrettable death.”

Sombra reclined in his seat, the stallion sipping on his cider while observing his companions. Conversation had ended abruptly, at least for the moment anyway, as everyone else took a moment to grab something to drink. Spearhead and Shining Armor were getting beers from the enchanted ice box, while Knight Night was mixing himself something sweet made primarily from vodka.

The sitting area had been cleared, and the unused couches had been moved so that they faced the fireplace at a slight angle. The result was a warm, cozy, and rather intimate atmosphere that lent itself nicely to exactly what Sombra had in mind. The disguised stallion’s musings were interrupted by the arrival of Knight Night, who plunked down on the couch across from Sombra.

“Got the mix right this time?” Sombra teased, gesturing to the other male’s drink.

“Oh um, yeah I think so,” Knight Night muttered. “But it's getting kinda hard to pour stuff, so I’m too sure.”

The other male took an awkward sip of his drink before placing the cup down on the floor to the left of the couch. His motions were jerky, and he swayed slightly in the process of moving but he was not so drunk that he spilled his drink or fell forward. Which happened to be about the same level of intoxication as Spearhead, who returned next, the male flopping down next to Sombra.

“Ahh there's that hot guy I’m dating,” Spearhead exclaimed, planting a not unwelcome wet kiss on Sombra’s cheek. “Thanks for keeping my spot warm.”

“It is no trouble at all dear,” Sombra replied.

Spearhead giggled as his partner gave him a kiss right back. Across the way, Knight Night shrunk inward, the stallion averting his gaze and growing noticeably colder. The moment lasted only a second, as Shining Armor’s sudden and bombastic arrival soon distracted everyone.

“Woo!” Shining Armor shouted, appearing in a pop of magic. “This wheat beer rocks! Why didn't anyone tell me that not all beer was like that awful Wiser stuff my dad made me try when I was a kid.”

“Me, for one. I told you that,” Spearhead offered.

Shining Armor fell onto the couch with a thump. “Fair. Though you could have at least been a bit more convincing. Simply saying ‘Come on, try it.’ Over and over wasn't exactly a winning strategy.”

“Pfft, you shoulda just trusted me,” Spearhead retorted.

“Shining Armor’s dreadful mistrust of his oldest friend aside. What were we talking about before?” Sombra asked.

Shining Armor snorted bitterly. “I think Knight Night was complimenting Spearhead about his cooking. Though I could be wrong about that because he was mumbling pretty hard.”

“Oh, you were? Well then, do start from the top and praise me again,” Spearhead proclaimed, the male grinning from ear to ear.

“It was erm…” Knight Night swallowed hard. “Very nice, thank you.”

“Ahh that feels nice,” Spearhead murmured.

“You say that like he just sucked you off,” Shining Armor remarked with a chuckle.

Sombra watched as Spearhead began to blush slightly, his gaze drawn to the nearly tomato-red Knight Night. It was the look of someone with a crush, or at least a physical attraction anyway, it just needed a bit of pushing. With that thought in mind, Sombra leaned in and elbowed Spearhead in the midsection, whispering in his ear.

“Maybe I’ll let him,” Sombra declared in a hushed tone. “It would make for an enjoyable sight.”

“What?!” Spearhead shouted. “I mean, uh haha you’re so funny Crystal.”

Sombra chuckled evilly to himself.

“Look at them, giggling and sharing secrets. Makes me feel like a bit of a third wheel,” Shining Armor remarked while leaning toward Knight Night. “Or would this be fourth wheel?”

“Can you have two third wheels?” Knight Night replied.

“Ha! Don't feel too bad. We promised we’d keep the lovey-dovey stuff to a minimum,” Spearhead exclaimed.

“A shame,” Sombra muttered, reclining further into the couch and sipping his drink.

“Well I appreciate it,” Knight Night remarked with a bit more bite than he evidently intended.

“I don't mind the whole public display of affection thing, myself,” Shining Armor offered.

“Of course, you don't, Cadance is all over you the moment we’re in public. You’d think she has a kink for being watched with how hoovesy she can get,” Spearhead exclaimed, the stallion jabbing an accusatory hoof at his friend.

Shining Armor genuinely winced, his slight intoxication temporarily forgotten as his shoulders turned inward.

“I can't help it. She’s just so forceful sometimes. Not like I mind it, it's just…” Shining Armor shrugged.

“Sounds… not abusive,” Sombra began, glancing briefly at Spearhead. “But like she doesn't understand the unspoken language of consent and desire.”

“Oh we desire one another that ain't the problem,” Shining Armor declared.

Sombra rolled his eyes. “That's not what I meant.”

“Anyway, getting off less intense topics,” Spearhead interrupted. “We should totally do a toast! Maybe even break out that hard stuff Crystal’s kept hidden away in the cupboards.”

“Yeah, totally!” Shining Armor proclaimed. “I bet it's not nearly as bad as you said it was.”

“I don't know,” Knight Night murmured. “Isn't it still kinda early? We should take that out later.”

“Pfft, it's almost midnight. If not now, then when?” Spearhead retorted.

Sombra smiled, and silently congratulated the other stallion for inadvertently aiding Sombra in his plan. The disguised king made a note to thank the other male a bit more personably, should he ever get the chance again. For with his plans going the way they were, that option may not present itself any time soon.

“Fine,” Knight Night murmured. “But just one shot.”

“Wooo! Let's go!” Spearhead shouted.

“Do you got it, Crystal?” Shining Armor asked.

Sombra rose from his seat. “Yeah, I’m a little more sober than you. Wouldn't want to spill another drink, now would we?”

“Augh I hadn't even started drinking yet. You just distracted me,” Shining Armor retorted.

“Me just standing there is not a distraction,” Sombra taunted.

“Just go get your stupid drink already,” Shining Armor proclaimed.

Sombra chuckled and did just that, though as he walked away he was fairly certain he heard Shining Armor whisper something about ‘stupid sexy Crystal’ under his breath. Upon reaching the cupboard, Sombra retrieved four glasses, and the bottle of prepoisoned booze he had been saving. For a moment he considered casting an immunity spell on himself, or maybe even faking it somehow but decided not to. With a shrug, he simply poured himself an equal-sized serving of the lust-infused alcohol and returned to the circle, cups floating before him.

“Alright boys,” Sombra began. “Time to see if you’re half as tough as you say you are.”