Starlight hesitated.

She eyed the key floating in front of her, the blue glow of her magic ready to insert it into the lock and open the door.

It’s what we do, it’s what Twi would do… She sighed, and unlocked the door.

It was the first time the door opened since its inhabitant was placed in that room. A whole day ago. The shape of the tall bulky unicorn slouched over, sitting on the edge of his more-luxurious-than-deserving bed. Starlight was cautious still, even with the inhibitor on the dark king’s horn, he was still dangerously strong and fast.

Today was the planned day he was to begin some basic lessons in friendship and harmony, all that needed to happen; was for Starlight to get over her nerves and speak.

“Sombra?”

He lifted his head, but didn’t turn.

“It’s time… can you come with me please?”

The red glow of his eye shown through his thick black mane, it wasn’t menacing at all, just tired.

“Must we… at least you can refer my name appropriately.” His voice rumbled, throat stiff from being frozen for a thousand years, and then some. While he resembled a tall and rather young-looking stallion, his eyes and tone betrayed his better descriptors.

Narrowing her eyes, Starlight muttered. “Kinda need a kingdom to be a king. Can we move this along?”

Sombra kept his gaze, and slid off onto the floor. He approached slowly, stopping just in front of the mare.

“Let’s.” Breathing out his submission, anything to avoid these meaningless insults, he then followed Starlight int the hall.

Starlight passed through a doorway, and then immediately Sombra was flanked by two royal guards. They were likely placed there to catch him if he ran this way, maybe there were more the opposite side of the corridor.

Clever, but I’m not stupid…

a long walk throughout the castle and the small phalanx arrived to the front entrance.

“I’ll take it from here.” Starlight spoke over her shoulder, and the two armored ponies halted, looking on menacingly as Sombra continued with his jailor down the dirt road.

Sombra’s mind wandered, as it often does when faced with an intriguing problem.

I’m much too strong for this tiny pony, I could easily break her spine in half.

He glanced around, noticing no more guard ponies, just the unicorn.

These ponies are either really foolish… His attention again landing on Starlight.

Or this is the most dangerous creature in Equestria.

However, he thought, it all came down to why he was here in the first place. A promise he made, but keeping it seemed more difficult than before all of the judge and jury, and a seemingly excessive confinement period. But if his absolute freedom was by doing what these ponies told him, and a fake smile, it would be worth it to get away and begin the real plan.

More used to the snowy plains in the north, and the organized greenhouses under the protective magical field, this apple orchard he looked over seemed strange. What was to protect this supply of food and income from wildlife or thieves, a short wooden fence? And the barn that stood high in the center, bright red and towering, was impressive as the country ponies were capable of constructing it.

“Applejack!” Starlight called out, “I’m back!”

The orange earthpony appeared next to a cart, carrying a basket of produce.

“Welp…” She locked eyes with the tall dark unicorn. “Ah suppose we’re doin’ this.”

“We said we would.” Starlight hummed, “And we’ve only got a day, so better not waste the time we have.”

Not settled, but excepting of her position, AJ tipped her hat and approached beside the former king.

“Well, ah ain’t got much today. Well, nothing I’m gonna do.” Her tone directing at Sombra, and with a side eye that put off the stallion.

He looked down at Starlight, who stood bye. “I’d like to leave.” His bluntness reflecting the farm pony’s.

Starlight eyed the two ponies, finding herself the only one to move things along.

“Okay!” She forced a smile, walking over behind the two ponies to herd them to the designated area.
“We’ve wasted plenty of time, we only have today, so the sooner we can start, the sooner you two can crawl into your little nooks.”

Sombra quickened his pace, solely to avoid contact with the pony behind him, and kept a small gap between himself and his hostile tutor. The three stopped by the barn, and Starlight giving AJ an expecting nod. AJ took a deep breath, tipping her head back.

“A’ight, so y’all think you’re some kinda ‘all powerful sorcerer-er’ or something.”

Sombra looked as though he’d been hit in the face with a brick, and Starlight’s expression was equally shocked.

Sombra then narrowed his eyes at the earth pony. “Yes, I do.”

AJ was calm, and pointed a hoof at a hoe leaning against the barn. “What about that?”

“What about it?” Sombra grumbled.

“Pick it up…”

“Why?”

“You’re so high an mighty, then you can till the field yourself.” AJ points at a long stretch of dirt, weeds sprouting up every few hooves.

Sombra was taken aback, yet again, shock and disgust as his teeth clenched. He looked back at Starlight, expecting some kind of reveal to the joke that clearly was orchestrated to humiliate him. But the hoe was forced into his hooves, the force knocking him back onto his haunches. He held it awkwardly, wanting his magic to take over. AJ standing in front of him, he got up and whipped around to face the spectating unicorn.

“What is this?!” He demanded, hissing through his fangs.

“You’re here to learn, aren’t you? So, learn.” She gave a somewhat encouraging look, but it was forced.

This is crazy!

Sombra was met by AJ again, who stood by to direct him to the patch of unusable soil. Believing it was some horrid nightmare, the stallion did not resist. He stepped into the fenced off patch of ground, hoof wrapped around the staff of the hoe.

He stood a good while, staring at the ground. What was this again? A friendship lesson? He was digging in the mud!

He attempted to try leaving again, but Starlight and AJ kept eyes on him while they prepared fertilizers and sprouts to plant.

“Ah said, ‘get to it’.” Apple jack grunted.

Coming to terms, the stallion kept his back to the ponies, at least keeping them from seeing his face as he gripped the tool with his hooves. Swinging once, it slipped neatly into a clump of grass. As fragile as a single blade is, the plant was firmly set deep in the soil. It took some effort, but a good tug ripped it out of the ground. One down, over a hundred to go.

Waste of time, let’s get this over with.

Starlight looked on, for quite a while as well. She glanced at her friend, looking concerned. “Are you gonna talk to him?”

Applejack looked at her with a blank expression, questioning to herself if she should even do that. But there was no arguing here, the element sighed and walked to the fence.

“How’s it hangin’ Kinggy?” AJ rested her arms on the fence, leaning on it as she watched the unicorn stallion.

He paused and lifted his head to glare at her, then went back to swinging the hoe. “What is it to you?”

“Just sayin’, kinda rough fer your type to be out here workin’ fer once.” AJ stated plainly. “And fer a thousand years, that’s gonna put you up there.”

The look in his eyes showed he was thoroughly insulted. “I’ll have you know; Celestia could barely stand against my power.”

He grunted, and continued tilling the ground. “I’m more than capable to plant your filthy garden.”

“Filthy huh? … What have you ever done to be honest?”

Sombra grunts as he pulls a clump of roots from the ground, “The truth has caused nothing but pain.”

“And why’s that?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” The stallion sneered, baring his pointed teeth. “Everything I’ve done was to keep this from happening, to keep my empire above all others.”

AJ shrugged off his sore behavior, “At least you are here.”

The hoe stabbed into the ground, and the stallion leaned on it. He looked up at the farm pony through his matted mane, a clear glare as he sighed. “My actions were just.”

“Doesn’t mean you did the right things.” Applejack added. “Ya’ll can still be worse than those who wronged you, whether they deserved it or not.”

“I won, didn’t I?”

AJ met his gaze, and became stern. “And you caused more pain then needed to ponies who didn’t deserve it. Y’all keep tellin’ yerself you did the right thing, but it was only the start of bad things for everyone, including you.”

Before Sombra could speak, AJ added. “You’re here, aren’t ya?”

The words caught in his throat, frozen leaning on his tool. A second passed and his teacher turned and walked down the fence, leaving him to his work. With this, Sombra’s mind was clouded for the remainder of his task.

It was a few hours later, Starlight came back to the garden plot and found it entirely weed free. Sombra flicked the last clump of grass away with the hoe, and leaned against it. He looked up as Apple jack and the pink unicorn returned.

“You did pretty good.” She smiled, “Sure you haven’t done this before?”

Sombra glared at her, unamused. The farm pony eyed the ground, expression blank, she stopped and stood in front of Sombra. Starlight stepped back, levitating the tools and empty sacks to move them.

“Yeah, kinda does.” AJ muttered, beginning to examine the rows.

Starlight ignored her, and watched as Sombra moved to the grass and sat down. The stallion kept his mouth shut, but breathed heavily. He kept expression calm, but his eyes betrayed his exhaustion.

Noticing the former king was more “worked” than “friendly”, she rounded the patch to meet Applejack in the middle.

“Hey, did you teach him anything?”

The farm pony looked at her, and back at Sombra. “All I could, now it’s up to him to do what’s next.”

The two unicorns went slowly up the road, Sombra was not having it.

“You’re a princess, aren’t you? Just call us a carriage.” He grumbled, now dragging his hooves.

“Not a princess, and we’re fine.” Starlight answered, though pondered the idea of becoming a princess. The princess of counseling, if that’s even an element.

Sombra groaned to himself, “You’re not the one who slaved away in the sun for two hours.”

Starlight raised a brow, “says the stallion who lazed around for a thousand years, some exercise is good for you.”

Partly wanting to jest, but also needed to put him in his place. The look Sombra gave her told that the conversation was over, and was like that until they reached the castle. The guards waited inside, opening the doors as the two approached.

The two armored earthponies stayed close on either side of Sombra until he was in his room, and the door locked behind him. Starlight left to the library, mind working on what to do next. There’s only a week, not much time to do much of anything, and these things need time more than hopes.

I won’t fail you Twilight, most of all, I won’t fail you Sombra. We’ll get you out of this.

A moment after dinner in the library, Starlight went to check on the prisoner. Something she’d forgotten, and needed to get to him before he may have fallen asleep. Stopping at the door, Starlight saw the guards had switched out for the Night Guard, with two bat ponies in dark purple armor.

One unlocked the door, and Starlight peered into the darkness. She saw nothing but the night sky through the window and some silhouettes of furniture. Feeling like she’d missed her chance, the headmare went in anyway, flipping on the light switch.

Sombra was in bed, the blanket suddenly pulling over his head.

“Quid agis!?” He hissed.

Starlight walked over, “I almost forgot something.”

“Unfortunately, you remembered, can’t it wait for tomorrow?”

Starlight exhaled her held breath; the moment was ruined. She levitated a small book, quill, and ink pot onto the desk by the window. “You’ll need these.”

Sombra slid out of bed, walking over to examine the items. “Why?”
He turned the pages with his hoof, “It’s blank!”

Starlight rolled her eyes, “Yeah, it’s a diary. Twilight would want you to write down your own experiences, rather than I write your letters for you.”

Going silent again, Sombra eyed the small book. Starlight nodded, and turned to leave. Just before walking out, she looked back. “We got someplace else to go tomorrow, so get some sleep.”

Sombra did not respond, still staring at the book. The door closed, locked, and he was alone again. The light still on, Sombra turned trudged to it and back to bed. Easily seeing the moonlit outlines, and with there being next to nothing in the room, tripping was the least of concerns.

That book however, why, why write down these ridiculous lessons, sleep was all he could think about.

With another six days of this, Sombra wondered if he’d even last that long, let alone write it all down.

Author's Note

*terrible writing intensifies*