Redemption's Shadow

Canterlot

Both ponies were traveling along within the city, currently the two of them where at the corner of Halter Avenue and Second Street in what out-of-towners charitably called “downtown” Canterlot. Blue knew this area of Canterlot was mainly where most of the eating establishments where located, so he knew this would be the best place to take Sombra.

"So what sort of restaurant are you taking me to?"

"Well...what type of food do you wanna try out now that your a Unicorn?" Blue asked.

"Honestly... anything goes, I think." Sombra thought for a bit: "I am curious to see how there's... a change."

Blue thought for a moment before he would lead them to a restaurant close to the entrance to the district. Blue knew of this place from the times he had to do some shifts in Canterlot. It wasn't the most fancy place but it was still a good place with good food. Then, a crisp aroma filled both ponies nostrils. It was the familiar scent of baked goods coming out of the oven, which instantly made Sombra move slightly faster then Blue, which got a chuckle out of him.

"Welcome to Straw Hat Cafe," a voice said.

"Table for two please?" Blue asked. Sombra looked around the place slightly as the hostess nervously looked at him. Both trying to not stare at the other.

"Of corse...you two can take the empty table off to the right." She said, as the mare directed the two over to the table

Sombra seated down when the hostess showed them a table for two. "It's... different. I quite like it."

"That's good, don't worry this place will be good, I've been here before, they have very nice food" He said, the stallion would then smiled as they waited for the waiter, Sombra nodded, leaning closer, letting his hoof trace Blue's own softly. Blue smiled as he felt Sombra do this. Eventually their waitress came and the both of them ordered there food and drinks.

Sombra took his first bite of his food and stopped for a moment after swallowing. "... it... it's funny. It doesn't taste different, but it feels... well, different."

Blue chomped down on his own food, gulping softly "Really? Different how?" He asked.

"it feels... sating. Good." Sombra smiled a little: "... but I still feels so wrong."

"Wrong in what way?" Blue asked, tilting his head a bit.

"You recall how you compared Umbrums to that of Changelings when it came to transformation?" Sombra asked, Blue nodding slowly in response. "Well...the same can also be said on how we feed off emotions. We don't necessarily get...full...like a normal biological pony would be after eating a large meal. Instead it essentially keeps our magical aura at full power, allowing us to use our dark magic, and the same can be said for a Changeling when they feed off love. However as I told you a while back we either bottle the emotion from the atmosphere or straight up siphon it from the air, unlike Changelings who need to be at close range to suck the love out of another."

Blue would quietly continue to eat his food, the stallion observing Sombr and listening to him

"For me however it is different, because I am half Unicorn, when I ate emotions it only kept my magical aura powered up. It is one of the very few things I learned about my culture, but nonetheless it proved to be helpful, if I hadn't learned it I most likely would have starved out in the Crystal Wastes." Sombra said, the stallion then looking to his food and then back at Blue. "Do you know why I eat meat?"

Blue nodded softly, the stallion paying attention to everything being said by the him and taking in the info "...I uh... I'm not sure to be honest...I didn't want to ask in case it was a sensitive topic" Blue said "I recall you mentioning once you could taste lingering emotions from meat, but not mutch else."

"It isn't so much that it is a necessary dietary need in fact, it is practically unnecessary in normal circumstances. I learned it to avoid starvation. Happy, positive, loving Empire in my youth was rather... averse to the dietary needs of something like me, and with nopony -me included- knowing I needed something special to sate me, I ate what I found to work for me, somewhat. Death is a rather harrowing, fearful experience, so the meat still carries traces of the emotion I needed." The stallion paused, remembering moments: "Hay, apples, I could eat a bushel and not feel like I got my fill. I... was used to the feeling of hunger in my youth, despite our caretaker's best efforts. At some point I just... started to hunt, thinking I was somehow even more off than before."

"Well...what about now?"

Sombra thought for a moment "I suppose it is...different now...given that I have a biological form, I don't have to rely on the emotions to sedate me." he said "But...it doesn't feel right to me, it's like...i feel empty when I eat now, rather then feeling the raw energy from emotion I'm used to."

"Well...its a trial and error thing right? I'm sure we can eventually figure something out." Blue said, smiling softly as the server gave the two their bill, to which Blue would put down some bits, and smile as he got up from his seat "Shall we?" Blue said, offering a hoof to Sombra. Sombra chuckled as he grabbed Blue's hoof, softly getting up as the two of them left the door to enter the night. Sombra held his breath, ready to see a paparazzi hiding somewhere, but to his relief none were there. After walking back to their hotel room, the dark stallion sat Blue down: "...I have been thinking."

"Oh?" He asked, tilting his head.

"... if... I were to do something that... isn't strictly legal, but would help take down Yellowjacket, at least for a while, what would be your reaction?"

Blue would think for a moment, sighing softly "Sombra...if im being honest? Ive once or twice...bent...the law for the greater good..." He said "Yellowjacket will most likely go to trial against Spitfire and Orion, where his entire blackmail ring will be exposed..."

"Hmh, I... am not sure I share the sentiment. Your friend hurt him, did he not? I would imagine the stallion has both enough wealth and the nerve to twist it before and during trial. I would prefer... guaranteeing he goes down."

"...I would like to believe that Orion and Spitfire both had a reason for going to Yellowjacket...and if my hunch is correct, its because they were both blackmailed." He said, pacing slightly "But you do have a point...he has alot of money and wealth to twist the narrative...what needs to be done is having evidence put forth against him"

"And I think his hospitalization is a brilliant chance to even the playing field. As much as I would enjoy seeing him lifeless, I much, much more enjoy seeing him holding onto the mud-dragged remains of his previous life, ruined to the point of no return..." For a moment, Blue was reminded that Sombra had been terror in his earlier years, and he started to understand how as the stallion growled with a wicked grin.

"Ahem... but... I can keep you out of the loop for your safety. You don't break your guard's oath if you do not know what I'm doing, after all."

"...how about we do this" Blue said, looking to Sombra "You can go to Yellowjacket house and snoop around, don't touch or remove anything however, just look around. You take notes on what you saw, then you tell me those notes, then I can find a way to be put in charge of the Yellowjacket Case...I'm sure Luna won't need much convincing" He said "Then with me in charge, I can put your notes to good use and find them for the right side."

Sombra took a moment to look at Blue, surprised by his cunning, quietly muttering with a heavy sigh "If you were there 1,000 years ago, and lived in the empire. You would have made a fine general in my army"

Blue chuckled softly "Thank you, I was more or less just thinking of the safer route where you didn't necessarily break any laws other than breaking and entering. Plus if I take over the investigation I can use your notes to properly get the evidence, and no one would be of the wiser."

"I agree, the plan sounds good, however we will need to make me an Umbrum again if I were to go ahead and do such a thing. As with my current Unicorn Biology, I am not able to take my smoke form." Sombra said.

"Well...we are heading back home tomorrow, so we can visit Twilight and then we can see some options."

"Very well." Sombra said, yawning softly the stallion flopped down, laying on his back, hooves crossed over his chest, "sleep well, Blue."

"Sleep well Sombra..." He said.

Canterlot Jail

For Yellowjack, the past few days seemed the same. His cell was perpetually dim. During the day, a small rectangular opening high up in the wall let in a few rays of the sun. At night, the only source of light were the few enchanted torches that burned in the corridor behind his cell's door.

The sound of heavy, metal-clad hooves outside his cell was a clear sign that a dinner would be served. He sighed and put down the quill he was holding in his mouth, quickly inspecting the page he wrote while there was still enough light to read. he was going to be going to trial soon, and he needed to prepare himself for his defence.

he grabbed the piece of paper and carefully stored it under the mattress, Although 'mattress' was a bit too generous a word. How does one call a compressed bunch of hay sewn into a cloth? In any case, he slept on it, so he thought that he might as well call it a mattress.

The hoofsteps were closer now. Judging by his quick pace, the guard was in a hurry today. A little unusual. his guard was hardly a speedy fellow. If anything, Yellowjacket would describe the normal pace at which he did things as 'glacial'. Due to his quick pace, he didn't have to wait much longer until the guard was in his view.

"You have a visitor, step away from the door and prepare to be shackled." The guard said.

"Oh how wonderful, perhaps its Discord himself, come to torture me with something that isn't this damn boring cell." he taunted with venom in her voice and made his way towards the back of his cell, turning around so his wings could be shackled. Once they were, the two ponies made their way over to the visitor center. Yellowjacket taking a seat down on a stool as he looked across the way and through the glass.

In front of him stood a very sharply dressed pony, he had a suitcase and some paperwork with him. He looked to Yellowjacket before speaking up. "That orange jumpsuit does not look good on you."

"Im aware of that. Please tell me you didn't just come here to taunt my fashion sense?" Yellowjacket said, brows furrowing in frustration.

"Of course not" The stallion said "You will be happy to know, my team and I are working du-diligently on your case, so far we have a solid plan. We will try to pin the blame on both Spitfire and the Guard Captian, saying they abused their rank and station to gain access to your home, and then physically assaulted you."

"Hmfh...sounds simple enough...and what of the Blackmail?"

"Unfortunately...that information will be leaked regardless, as the defense has plenty of evidence to tie you to the blackmail ring" The lawyer said "However, we can use this to our advantage."

"How? The moment the jury finds out they will immediately know we are withholding information, my reputation will be dragged through the mud." Yellowjacket said, growling.

"It will help, because Spitfire and the Guard Captian also tried to blackmail you into quitting the blackmail ring." He said "The moment they pull out their trump card, we will pull out ours. We may lose social reputation but so will they."

"And so both parties will be guilty of Blackmail, meaning there isn't a clear black and white view of the situation...very good" Yellowjacket said, smerking.

"There is...one thing I wished to bring up to you" The lawyer said, pulling out a piece of paper and showing it to him from behind the glass. "I was digging around trying to get some information on the guard captain, when I stumbled upon this."

"What is it?"

"According to this paperwork, Orion Snow was recommended for the guard captain position by the General of the Night Guard...Blue Crest."

"Blue Crest? why does that name seem familiar" Yellowjacket tapped his chin.

"It's because, it's the same pony who is dating one King Sombra."

"That's right! That damn guard and King Sombra were my last blackmail victims before I got thrown in here..." He said "But why is this Blue Crest so important?"

"Because, according to this information he has a degree in law. There is a high possibility that he will try to take the lead in the case."

"Alright, then convince the law offices to throw it out due to personal bias."

"Unfortunately, we cant." The lawyer pulled out a piece of paper again "Section 5; Subsection C of the Guard Tribunal Act. It states that if any guard is put on trial, a peer of the guard or the guard's commanding officer may represent them in a court of law, bias and personal prejudice put aside."

"Why the fuck is that even a law?!" Yellowjacket said, banging his hoofs on the table. He then eyed the guard a few feet away, calming down as to not make a scene.

"The law was passed in 1025 ANM. Celestia herself approved of it." The lawyer said "It was done shortly after Nightmare Moon's imprisonment, it was so the Night Guard and Bat Ponies could be tried fairly without their opinions of Princess Luna affecting the case or lawyers' sway, as a lot of them had participated in activities which resulted in arrests."

"Fan-Fucking-Tastic. So if Blue Crest represents Orion and Spitfire, how mutch shit are we going to be in?" Yellowjacket asked.

"We should be fine, I've read over Blue Crest's files and while impressive he has only ever been in court twice. He will be outmatched in years served." The lawyer said "Even so...we have people looking into his relationship with King Sombra, if we can dig anything up that will make it impossible for him to act as a defence lawyer, we will jump at it immediately."

"You better. Because Im not going to let my life be ruined by Two Captains, One General, and a fucking Wannabie Tyrant turned House Pet!"

"Don't worry Yellowjacket...we won't loose." The lawyer said "I swear it."

Canterlot: Hay and Stay Hotel

Eventualy some time would pass, with both ponies having slept through the night, and the morning now arriving, with the sunlight shining bright through the balcony onto the bed Sombra turned around and buried his face to Blue's fur, not wanting to get up, however in doing so he stirred Blue awake. The stallion huffed softly, nuzzling him "Mngh...morning..."

"Nn...not yet..." The stallion murmured

Blue smiled softly as he nuzzled him again "Come on its morning..."

"Nnnnooo... hnn..." Sombra pulled the bedsheet over his head and grumbled.

Blue chuckled as he would remove the covers, giving sombra a gentle nuzzle again Sombra huffed and nuzzled the stallion back. "Ok fine...I'm up..."

"Good, now help me pack up."

"Right...we should get home so we can visit ugh... Twilight." Sombra said, rolling his eyes with a slight disdain tone in his voice.

"Hay, I'm sure Twilight will be ok...she is usually the most reasonable of the Mane 6"

"Mmh. I am not much of a fan, nonetheless." A shiver ran down his spine as he was reminded of the excruciating pain of having your body destroyed so very thoroughly. Not to mention imploding."...curse this bed and this sweet stallion for being this comfy..." He kissed Blue lovingly.

"Aw...you called me sweet~" He said, chuckling softly as he kissed him back. "Just get yourself ready, we can talk more later" He said, walking to the bathroom to get himself freshened up.

"Mm... shame." The stallion shrugged and stretched, eventually grabbing his clothes with his magic: "... Blue tell me... Green or red?"

"I'd say do a combo of both, try experimenting a bit" He said from the bathroom, the stallion combing his hair and washing it as well.

Sombra huffed, but tried it on, the dark colors both some of his favorites. "Hmm... maybe not. I'll go with green today, I think.

Blue would walk out in his newly tailored uniform from Rarity, smiling at the stallion "Looks great to me" He said.

"I could wear a potato sack, and you'd say that." Sombra huffed with a slight nervousness in his voice.

"Yea well...you look handsome to me regardless"

"Thank you." Sombra said "Ready to go?"

"Yea I am" He said, smiling as he trotted to the door "Hopefully the trip back isn't too long"

"It shouldn't be. But we still have a bit of work to do before that." Sombra nodded, trotting out of the door with Blue, and making their way toward the train station as they trotted along, Canterlot was per usual quite busy. However there where a few more guards out then normal.

Sombra gave Blue a questioning look: "Seems the stabbing has guards antsy..."

"Mh...yea I think they are doubling patrols"

"Well... I would wager that it makes the hmh, nobles feel safer. And the general populace as well, in my experience." The stallion replied, his eyes flicking towards the train station "... Equestria isn't exactly known for violent crime, far less the capital."

"Yeah but this meany guards is concerning...I'm wondering what the Princesses are doing..." He said, eventually the two of them got onto the train, taking there seats in a private car, Sombra however taking extra precautions this time around as he quickly did a scan of the coach car for any hidden devices or cameras. Blue would have said something, but given the reason why he was so jumpy, he knew he had a justifiable reason.

The trip back was long, with both ponies mainly talking and taking small naps, however by the time they made it back it was around lunchtime. The two of them getting off the train and gently trotting off to Blue's home. "I admit I didn't think the ride would take so long. But we are here none the less."

"Yes, now are we going to head back home? or go immediately to Twilights Castle?"

"Oh I have somepony sending our luggage back home for us, perks of being a General" Blue chuckled "Let's go."

"Very well then."

Ponyville: Twilights Castle

As the two ponies entered the Castle, they where greeted by Spike, who nervously guided both of them to Twilights Library, the young dragon looking back at Sombra every now and then. They would eventually reach the room and open the doors to see Twilight reading through numerous amounts of scrolls and books.

Sombra wasn't entirely surprised of the scene unfolding in front of him. Twilight appeared calm on the surface but even as a unicorn Sombra could see the little, subtle cues that the mare was hardly in a good place right now. Her wings twitched with a nervous jitter, and the way she smiled had just a bit too much force in it.

"Princess Twilight, thank you for taking the time to meet with us...is uh...everything ok?"

Twilight paused: "No, no it isn't exactly alright, but it will be alright shortly I am rather certain, there's so much to do to keep ponies from reacting badly to anything or rumors from spreading and---" Twilight took a breath: "...but that is nothing to do with you. I... hope, at least?"

Sombra raised a brow: "...none with me, if that is what you're implying. I am not some ill omen. Besides, even if I did somehow make anxiety happen, I couldn't cast such a spell."

"Right, the dispel on your magic--" Twilight started, sighing, but Sombra continued with a raised hoof.

"That and I am currently an unicorn."

"...what." Twilight's voice was flat.

Sombra took a breath, and explained his situation and the spell Celestia had cast on him. "...but, I do not actually enjoy this. I had hoped I'd be more unbothered by the change, but..."

"We...where hoping that you could help a bit?" Blue asked "When Sombra turns back into an Umbrum, we where hoping you could help us in regards to his eating habits. Seeing as he feeds on emotions as a food source. Regular food isn't cutting it out, and I really want to find a way to have him eat comfortably."

"Oh... oh?!" Twilight gasped and Sombra had to put all of his body into resisting rolling his eyes.

"Yes, yes, I will explain you more of my ahem, species later, if you could just..."

Twilight stopped for a moment, thinking: "OH! I might have the perfect thing!"

"You do?" Blue asked.

"Oh, yeah, years ago I used a spell to make parasprites basically eat anything except food, of course that didn't exactly go according to plan then, but with a bit of um... tweaking, I could change your dietary needs and physiology so that you could get energy and necessary nutrients from actual food-- Uh... pony food. Sorry." Twilight's ears flicked back flat against her head almost like she expected the dark stallion to do a 180-degree pivot on his entire process so far and march on conquering the throne by combat. Sombra merely shrugged

"Not the first time I've heard it put like that, probably won't be the last. You're excused."

"Right, and the spell won't cause any pain or change Sombra in any seriously consequential way?" He asked "Not that I'm not confident in your abilities Princess, but given this is a...first time...basics I am a bit weary."

"Well, the parasprites were rather content eating fence posts after the spell. And an entire barn. But that was because they're known for ferocious appetites! And I... admittedly, didn't think the spell through when I cast it last time." Twilight blushed just a bit.

"...could you show me the spell? I don't think Celestia's spell would hamper me casting it, and I am an accomplished sorcerer." Sombra sounded proud, assured of his skill with magic and also feeling most secure casting this sort of alteration himself.

"Oh... I... yeah, I could give you a copy of it, so you don't have to memorize it immediately." Twilight said.

"Right...uh speeking of Celestia...I assume she and Luna are dealing with the uh...current ruckus in the city?" He asked.

"Yes, they're handling a lot of the press right now while I handle the administrative things. Prin-- Ahem, Celestia has press conferences after 1000 years honed down to an art form. So, let me just cast that spell to put you back into your form and I'll get you that dietary spell."

"Right, thank you" Blue said as he watched the two of them leave the room and moments later Sombra was back to the room with Twilight, putting away a scroll into his saddlebag. "So, I assume everything went well?"

"Yes, I think we're ready to go home." Sombra muttered, taking a deep breath as something in him felt right, felt like a piece of a puzzle that fit in its spot.

"Great" Blue said smiling, as he turned to the Princess "Twilight, since we are here. I do assume you would want to know of our progress? The last time we spoke was when Sombra was assigned to me." Blue said "Or have the Princess's updated you?"

"Oh, that would be good. We didn't have much time to chat this morning." Twilight smiled and motioned Blue to continue: "So... how have things uh... worked out for you?"

"Well, Im happy to report that Sombra's Reformation Progress is going very well. He has improved overall in social skills, as we frequently go out in Ponyville on walks and also going into shops and restaurants." Blue said "And, now that Sombra's dietary needs are handled with your spell, I feel there will be great improvements as well."

Sombra blushed a little but said nothing, his tail slyly entwining with Blue's own. "My social skills were perfectly fine before. I just don't care for constant prattle."

Blue chuckled "Like I said...its good...still needs slight improving" He said, blushing from the tail entwining, he had a feeling Twilight would likely notice, but the stallion is beginning to warm up to that.

Twilight smiled a little: "...when I have, I would actually like to discuss some less... dire things with you, Sombra." Sombra raised his gaze, looking confused more than anything, to which Twilight continued: "Just... history things, magic, stuff like that."

Sombra huffed, but nodded: "...perhaps that can be arranged."

"Sounds fun!" Blue said smiling, before quickly bowing "Thank you again Twilight for your help, this means alot to us" He said.

Sombra in contrast raised his muzzle to the air, finding it insulting to bow to a creature 1000 years his junior, but reluctantly -and with a soft kick to his leg from Blue- nodded his head down, unwilling to go to a full bow.

Blue would raise his head, then he would gesture for Sombra to follow, and as the two left, Twilight could very clearly see Blue's Tail fully entwining with Sombra's in a loving gesture Sombra huffed after the door behind them closed, looking like he had to crawl through Tartarus just now.

"I think that went rather well"

"Yes...I suppose it did." Sombra said "Though, I think that the Princess is quite the talker."

"Hay, just be glad it wasn't Pinkie Pie."

A shiver went down Sombras spine "Don't even remind me, I went into her head once and it made me never want to go in again."

Blue chuckled "Come on, lets go home."