The Rise of King Sombra (Fluttershy)

Hazelblossom smiled happily as she walked through the gardens at a gentle pace with Ginger, her handmaiden, following close behind. The Crystal Sanctuary gardens were much calmer compared to the bustling streets outside. Preparations for the upcoming festivities always overtake the entire kingdom. Practically every street had become so hectic her father almost considered changing his mind about letting her go. But a promise was a promise, and her father was not one to go back on his word, especially when she was involved.

Although mother was going to be disappointed when she returned. The gardens were lovely, but it wasn’t exactly a place where eligible bachelors spent their days. The only gentlecolts she encountered were there with their wives. Any potential bachelors were far too preoccupied with the festivities and, to be honest, Hazelblossom was grateful they weren’t here.

It was already stressful enough when she had to socialize at the social events and the suitors that would flock to her home. She just wanted the gardens to remain the one place she could go without feeling the need to impress someone.

From the second she stepped through the doors into the glass dome she was overwhelmed by the garden’s beauty. Everything was so vibrant with budding and blossomed flowers of various colors and size everywhere she looked. Proper decorum required her to act as if she was mildly impressed but Hazelblossom couldn’t keep herself from smiling happily as she strolled through the gardens with Ginger.

“My lady, are you ready to depart?” inquired Ginger, “Your father was very clear when he said he wished for you to return before the sun set.”

Hazelblossom took one look at the sky through the glass ceiling then back at Ginger. The sun was nowhere close to setting. She knew this was because her father was a colt who hated the concept of someone being late. He had fired staff for even being a second late in the past. But Hazelblossom hadn’t been to the gardens after she had debuted into society and she wanted to make it last.

“We will depart soon. I just want to stroll through the gardens for a little longer.” Hazelblossom replied.

“Of course, my lady.” said Ginger with a curtsy.

They continued down the pathway without another word. Hazelblossom would pause every now and again to examine some of the floral she found interesting or to watch a butterfly fluttering its wings on one of the nearby flowers. Other than the occasional greeting toward a passing noble couple it had been one of the more quiet days she has had since her debut.

Everything was so peaceful, and she wished she could make this moment last forever. She paused once again and leaned down to smell the tiger lily she had come across when a sudden rustling sound came from one of the bushes nearby. Hazelblossom let out an unlady like squeak at the sound and her gaze shifted toward the rustling bush.

“Oh, good heavens, we better move along quickly lady Hazelblossom. Who knows what sort of things could be roaming around these gardens.”

But Hazelblossom didn’t move; her body felt as if she was frozen in place. What if it was some sort of monster that snuck into the gardens? A monster that ate ponies! The very thought caused Hazelblossom’s fear to spike even higher. Part of her rationalized whatever there was, could probably be a gardener, or a foal who got separated from their parent. Yet she still couldn’t move.

But before rationality could bring her to move, the cause of the noise jumped out of the bushes. It wasn’t a monster or some innocent gardener pony but a small white bunny. Hazelblossom’s fear melted into joy and excitement; she had never seen a real bunny before! When she was younger, she had read every single book her father’s library about animals, but bunnies were one of her favorite animals to learn about.

“Lady Hazelblossom we must move away from this vermin post haste! It could have diseases or fleas.” Ginger wrapped her front right hoof around Hazelblossom’s and tried to pull her away from the harmless animal.

“It’s just a bunny Ginger, they’re harmless, aren’t you little one.” Hazelblossom pulled her hoof out of Ginger’s grasp and slowly approached the bunny.

She knelt down and held out her hoof close enough for the bunny to investigate without feeling attacked. The bunny sniffed the air curiously and hopped forward a bit and stared up at Hazelblossom and tilted their head. Then the bunny smiled and hopped into Hazelblossom’s hooves and nuzzled against her cheek.

“Oh!” Hazelblossom gasped and held the bunny as gently as she could. She wasn’t expecting that sort of reaction but it just filled her heart with joy.

“My lady,” Ginger tried to urge again. “It is most unbecoming for-”

“Well would you look at that, I told you we would find the vermin eventually.” Called an unfamiliar voice.

Hazelblossom looked up to see two unicorn royal guards walking up the pathway toward her. They both wore navy blue suits with silver armor to show their ranking. One had an orange crystal coat with wheat colored hair. The other seemed very familiar to Hazelblossom; he had a crystal white coat and a black mane, but she couldn’t quite place where he knew him. If her mother were here, she would have been mortified to see her being caught by someone doing something so unlady like.

“Good afternoon, sirs.” Hazelblossom greeted. Even with the bunny in her hoof she was able to curtsy albeit rather strangely. “I just found him wandering about and was going to find a safe place to release him.”

“That’s quite alright ma’am,” said the orange crystal guard then he got a mischievous smirk on his face. “Though I must say we did not expect to see that vermin with someone as exquisite as you.”

Hazelblossom blushed and looked away in embarrassment, “I… I found him by chance.” Her voice was barely above a whisper; though it seemed it was loud enough for the other crystal guard to hear.

“Regardless we are thankful for your assistance Lady Hazelblossom.” The other crystal guard sent a warning glance toward his partner then looked back at her with a gentle smile that didn’t quite meet his eyes. “If you don’t mind handing the rabbit over we will be on our way.

That voice, it was so familiar and had such a commanding tone that urged her to wish to comply. He also seemed to know her name though she never gave it. Then it was as if something clicked into place. The second crystal guard was Lord Comet. He was one of the lords that had called on her last week. But she didn’t know him well enough to determine if he was one to spread rumors about and ruin her reputation over one act of kindness. If her mother were her she would have handed over the bunny immediately. But it didn’t seem right.

Yet when Hazelblossom looked into the pleading eyes of the bunny and back into the cold demanding ones of the gentlecolt in front of her she knew what she had to do.

“No, I don’t believe I will.”

Ginger let out a small gasp in shock, but Hazelblossom stood her ground. Though internally she was terrified, she had never stood up to another pony before. If her parents found out they probably would never allow her out of the manor until she was married off. But the thought of someone hurting an innocent bunny was enough to create a small spark of bravery.

Lord Comet’s smile quickly turned into a stern frown and his companion appeared to be fighting back his laughter. Not one to be detoured, he quickly brought back a small smile and let out a lighthearted chuckle. “You seem to misunderstand me, Lady Hazelblossom. We only wish to help the ve- little rabbit, find its way back to the forest. I give you my word we do not wish any ill will.”

“That’s right, nothing to worry about at all.” Chimed in the orange guard.

“I appreciate your reassurance, but I can handle this on my own, I bid you a good day gentleman.” Hazelblossom tried to step around them, but the orange crystal guard just held out his hoof and tutted in disappointment.

“Not so fast. We cannot allow you to pass until you hand over the rabbit.”

Hazelblossom refused to be deterred. She may have not known where this sudden burst of bravery and disregard for rules had come from but she was going to use it to the fullest before it disappeared. She tried to step around the guard again but the orange crystal guard blocked her once again.

“Please move out of the way sir.” Hazelblossom requested, her voice wavered slightly but she stared the crystal guard down. As if she were a braver pony and was daring him to try something.

“My lady they’re just trying to do their job. Please just hand over the rabbit.” Hissed Ginger.

The two colts shared a look before looking back at Hazelblossom and Ginger. Lord Onyx smiled confidently as he and the orange stallion started moving forward. The spark that had once filled Hazelblossom with such bravery had disappeared in a blink at the new sense of danger. She backed up nervously until she hit the small stone wall that held up a raised bed of Juliet roses. No colt had ever dared to corner her before, let alone in the gardens of all places. Fear was slowly beginning to overwhelm her as they stared her down.

“Lady Hazelblossom please we just need the rabbit then we will be on our way.” Coaxed Lord Comet. His voice seemed to be laced with honey but his eyes told a completely different story.

“And perhaps something more for our troubles.” Muttered the orange crystal guard, he stared at her with such hunger unlike anything Hazelblossom had seen before.

“No, I don’t believe you. Please just leave us alone!” whimpered Hazelblossom.

______

If he were a chipper pony Sombra would have been humming a tune as he trotted through the gardens toward the location of the Anemone flower. The gardening staff were rather grumpy when they realized who he was and why he was there, but they allowed him in without incident. All he had to do was figure out where the blasted flower was. They had given him vague directions but the entire place was more like a maze rather than a Sanctuary. If it was part of some kind of ploy to get him to give up they weren’t going to win. Sombra refused to go home empty hoofed; he had fought to hard to get to this moment to allow some ridiculous Sanctuary and their staff to get between him and his goal.

He turned another corner hoping to find a sign or at least some other pony willing to give him some sort of direction. Well, he did find a pony, four to be exact, and two of them were crystal guards harassing a young lady and her handmaid. It wasn’t exactly what he was expecting but it wasn’t his problem. Sombra backed away and turned to try and find some other pony to assist him.

“Lady Hazelblossom please we just need the rabbit then we will be on our way.” Coaxed a familiar voice.

Interesting, it seemed his dear brother was back in town. It had been a long time since they had last seen each other. Though Sombra would have preferred to go a lot longer before running into him again.

“And perhaps something more for our troubles.” Muttered the orange crystal guard. Yet it was not as quiet as they thought.

“No, I don’t believe you. Please just leave us alone!” whimpered the young mare.

Surely somepony else would come along to assist the young lady and her maid. It wasn’t’ his responsibility to protect someone of the upper class; even if he was still considered a lord in some circles. But no other pony seemed to be around.

Sombra gritted his teeth and forced himself to turn back and walk toward the young Lady and maid in distress. He may have a cold heart, but he was not heartless enough to allow this to go on without someone interfering. Even if it meant it had to be him.