Sunlight

Chapter 3 - Getting to Know You

Sunburst followed behind Twilight, Starlight, and Cadence as they descended the spiral staircase that led into the underground parts of the castle, listening as they formulated a plan of… well, not attack. A plan of… Enfriending? Befriendment? He shook his head, forcing himself to focus on the actual conversation. He really needed to pay attention right now.

“Remember, we want to try and find out why he did what he did,” said Twilight. “Knowing the motivation for someone’s acting out can often help you get to the root of a friendship problem!”

“But this isn’t a friendship problem…” Starlight countered.

“Maybe not, but it could still help!” Twilight said with enthusiasm.

Starlight sighed dramatically, and Sunburst suppressed a chuckle. He was sure he saw a smile on Cadence’s lips, too.

They reached the bottom of the stairs, then after a short hallway they found themselves in front of a pair of heavy doors. Tall, thick, and crystalline, they certainly looked secure. In addition to diamond-hard doors and heavy locks, Sunburst knew there was a magical seal placed on them to prevent any outside interference with them. He could practically feel his horn buzzing from being near them. A very uncomfortable sensation, in fact, and he wondered if it felt as bad inside. Probably.

Two sentries flanked the doors, spears at their sides. The sentries checked their identities carefully - a precaution that had been implemented in carceral settings throughout the Crystal Empire and Equestria after the second instance of Changeling infiltration had been fought off. Once they had been thoroughly checked over, the doors were unlocked and they were ushered through. As soon as they were inside, the doors closed heavily behind them. Sunburst felt the magical seal on the doors reassert itself with a definite snap of energy. His horn twinged and he shivered with discomfort, then the feeling passed.

Inside was a long, low hallway lined with cells. The air was cool, but not uncomfortable. There was a clean smell, but the air was slightly stale, as if the room were rarely entered or used. It probably was, Sunburst thought. The crime rate in the Crystal Empire was almost nonexistent, and cases rarely required actual imprisonment. He wasn’t sure he’d actually ever seen or heard of someone being arrested in the Empire.

Cadence led them to the cell closest to the doors. There was a thick, low-lying bed, with sparse but relatively comfortable coverings. A single shelf, securely set into the wall, served as a table and a place to set any meager belongings that a prisoner might be allowed to keep with them. Heavy iron bars, set directly into the solid crystalline ceiling and floor, lined the front of the cell. An equally formidable door was the only way in or out, and Sunburst could tell it was just as heavily protected as the doors behind them. Luckily for any occupants, it seemed steps had been taken to prevent the presence of such heavy enchantments from causing any discomfort, because Sunburst did not feel the same buzzing, tingling sensation as he had outside the doors.

Now that he thought about it, he wondered how the guards could stand there an entire watch with it right next to them. Maybe they got used to it? Doubtful. Maybe there were other ways of compensating for the presence of an enchantment field like that? If not, maybe he could come up with something! He hated to think of anyone having to stand still for hours on end, and have their horn buzzing the whole time. It might be worth asking the guards about that when they left the dungeon…

What were they doing here again?

Right, right. Sombra. Interrogation-slash-befriendment.

He quite liked that word. Befriendment.

Focus, Sunburst!

He made himself focus on what was in front of him again. The cell, the bed and shelf.

When they came in, Sombra had been laying on his bed, looking bored and vaguely irritated. Now he had gotten to his hooves, and was facing them through the bars. He had been stripped of his armor and mantle. The side of his head and torso were both covered in white bandages, in stark contrast with his coal-gray coat. As he stood to face them, he seemed to tower over all of them - except for Princess Cadence, who looked him in the eye without any apparent discomfort. Even wounded and imprisoned as he was, Sunburst still found Sombra very intimidating.

“Ah, visitors.” Sombra said with a twisted smile. “I do apologize for the state of my quarters. But you see, I wasn’t prepared to receive guests.”

“Good afternoon.” said Princess Cadence with a polite smile. “I trust your current accommodations are sufficiently comfortable?”

Sombra let out a sharp bark of laughter.

“This is, by far, the most comfortable prison cell I've ever seen.” He chuckled. “My, how soft you princesses have gotten.”

“We try to treat our guests well. Even our unwilling guests.”

Sombra scowled at her, eyes flashing with suppressed anger. He looked between the four of them, sizing them up. Sunburst fidgeted uncomfortably under that crimson glare, one of his forehooves playing with the hem of his cloak.

“Yes, well. Enough pleasantries.” Sombra said with a hint of a growl. “What do you want of me?”

“We just want to talk,” said Twilight, trying for an amiable smile.

“You have done plenty of that already!” Sombra said with a derisive snort. “About what?”

“We'd like to get to know you a bit better!” Twilight declared cheerfully. “Understand what happened, that kind of thing.”

“Like, why did you attack the Crystal Empire? Starlight cut in. “Twice?”

Sombra let out a derisive huff.

“To reclaim what is mine, of course! This Empire, and the power that comes with it.”

“Right…” said Twilight. “But… then what? You retake your throne and power, and then you…?”

She made a circular gesture with her hoof, inviting him to continue the thought.

“I do as I please, of course.” Sombra said, with the air of one explaining a simple concept to a nagging child. “What of it?”

“So you spread terror and destruction because you wanted power.” said Cadence, raising an eyebrow. “And you wanted power, so you could… do whatever you wanted? You were king, you already had the authority to do that.”

“Well…” Sombra began defiantly. Then he stopped, his expression slowly changing from disdain to… confusion? Sunburst watched him closely. What had caused that shift?

“No one just ‘wants power,’” Starlight said. “At least, not at first. I know that much from personal experience…”

“I-I have a different question.” Sunburst put in suddenly, an idea coming to him. “I’m curious about your earlier reign?”

He smiled nervously as Sombra turned his red eyes on him. He felt a strange thrill in his chest as the dark stallion looked down at him, considering him. It felt like he was being analyzed for weaknesses - and wow was he tall! Sunburst swallowed nervously, then continued.

“Y-You didn’t originally show any interest in conquest, or anything. By all accounts, it was a quiet and prosperous time for the Empire. What, um… what changed?”

For a few quiet moments, Sombra seemed to be taken aback by the question.

“I don’t n-” Sombra started to say, an odd expression on his face. Then it changed to anger and contempt. “I don’t need to explain myself to you! A king’s reasons are his own, and if he chooses not to share them, that is his affair!”

He turned away from them, tilting his head up with regal disdain.

“Now leave me! I grow tired of this conversation.”

He waved a hoof at them, as if he were dismissing a troublesome gaggle of servants who had overstayed their welcome.

Cadence silently indicated they should go. Twilight and Starlight turned and walked out, and Cadence followed after a moment. Sunburst followed her, glancing over his shoulder as he did. Sombra was glaring at the cell wall, seemingly deep in thought. Then the guards shut the dungeon’s heavy doors, hiding him from view.

A couple of days later, Sunburst again found himself walking down to the dungeon to visit Sombra. This time he was accompanied only by Starlight. The two princesses were otherwise engaged - with matters of state, he thought - but Cadence had encouraged them to go anyway.

“Maybe you’ll have more luck without us.” she had suggested, patting Sunburst on the shoulder.

Sunburst shook his head as they walked down the stairs, wondering what could have given her that impression. She’d been a commanding presence in their last encounter. Would they even be able to get a word in without her there?

“You alright, Sunny?” Starlight asked, bumping her shoulder against his. “You look… tense.”

“Shouldn’t I be?” he asked, frowning.

“I mean…” she shrugged. “There’s a difference between tense and alert, you know. He’s not going to try and eat you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Sunburst snorted, then sighed.

“I hope we have more luck this time,” he said. “It didn’t feel like we got anywhere before.”

“It isn’t easy, you know.” she said, with a self-conscious laugh. “I had a preeetty hard time letting go of my anger at Twilight and her friends.”

And me…? Sunburst wondered, before pushing the thought away.

They reached the bottom of the stairs, and started down the narrow corridor to the dungeon.

“Maybe we’re going about this wrong,” Sunburst suggested. “We’ve been so caught up in what he did and why. Maybe we should just… talk to him? Like, to him?”

“Huh?”

“You know.” Sunburst circled a hoof, trying to find the right words. “We were so busy interrogating him, we didn’t just… talk to him?”

Starlight nodded. “Yeah, I see what you mean.”

They arrived before the heavy dungeon doors. After the sentries flanking the door had searched and cleared them, they opened the doors for them. The two unicorns stepped inside, and the door shut behind them with a solid thud and a hum of magic. They found Sombra resting on his bed, legs tucked underneath him. He looked up as they came in, red eyes examining them closely.

“Hello, again!” Starlight said, smiling awkwardly at the king as he turned his head to regard her. “How’re yooou?”

“I am locked in a prison cell, trapped inside the castle that used to be mine.” he said flatly. “Other than that…”

He pretended to consider for a moment. “No, I’ve still been better.”

“Alright.” Starlight said, laughing awkwardly. “So, uhh… I don’t believe we had a chance to introduce ourselves! My name is Starlight-”

Sunburst let out a forced huff as she patted him heavily on the back.

“- and this is my friend Sunburst!”

“H-How do you do… oh, well, I guess you already… um… yeah.” Sunburst stammered, moving to offer his hoof to Sombra before dropping it again. “Sorry.”

Sombra regarded Sunburst for a moment, then a small smile lifted the corners of his lips. He got up, grunting slightly as he stepped down off the bed. He came up to the bars and offered his hoof to Sunburst. Sunburst, startled, reached out to take it.

“I won’t have it be said that King Sombra does not respect gestures of courtesy.” Sombra said, shaking Sunburst’s hoof firmly. His touch was warmer than Sunburst expected. “Whatever circumstances they may be offered under.”

Sunburst smiled nervously, but his mind was hard at work. Sombra seemed different. Only days ago he had been threatening all of them with death and darkness. Now he was shaking hooves and talking about courtesy? What had happened to the Dark King they’d fought?

“So… do you mind if we sit with you for a while?” Starlight asked, gesturing to the floor outside his cell.

They should have brought something to sit on, Sunburst mused. The floor looked really hard and cold.

“For what purpose?” Sombra asked, his expression and posture tensing slightly.

“Just to visit.” she answered. “May we?”

“A-Actually, I had some questions I hoped you could answer.” Sunburst interjected, chuckling nervously. “I’ve always found the early history of the Crystal Empire fascinating, but, well, primary sources are kinda hard to come by.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, smiling uncomfortably.

Sombra seemed to perk up slightly, but he quickly tried to conceal his reaction with a sigh.

“Well… it is rather dull down here.” Sombra said with feigned reluctance. “Some company would not be entirely unpleasant.”

Then he smiled at Sunburst.

“And I was there. I am quite the scholar myself, you know.”

They sat down, facing each other through the bars.

“So…” Sombra said thoughtfully. Where to begin…”

In the middle of a lively discussion about the expansion of the wool trade with Yakyakistan during the middle-Kingdom period, there was a loud knocking on the dungeon’s doors.

“Mr. Sunburst, Ms. Starlight!” came one of the guards’ voices. “I’m afraid your time is up for today.”

“Aww…” Sunburst whined, crestfallen. “Why does it always have to happen in the middle of negotiations?”

“Oh thank goodness!” Starlight exclaimed, jumping to her hooves from where she had slumped to the floor in abject boredom. When she saw the raised eyebrow Sombra directed at her, she sat up and grinned. “I mean, oooh nooo! Not before we find out how many bits the yaks wanted!”

Sunburst rolled his eyes at her. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw Sombra’s lips twitch in a smile, but when he looked back the dark stallion’s expression was neutral again.

“A pity.” Sombra said, standing. Sunburst followed suit. “This was… pleasant. Perhaps we could continue, sometime?”

Starlight looked horrified at the idea of spending more time listening to them talk about historical trade negotiations and tariff agreements. Sunburst patted her on the back.

“You don’t have to come for that, if you don’t want to.” he said kindly.

“Oh, well…” she said, failing spectacularly at looking like she might protest. She didn’t have to finish her thought though, her expression spoke clearly enough even for Sunburst’s poor expression-reading abilities. He patted her back again, then turned back to Sombra.

“I’d like that,” he said.. “I don’t know for sure when that’ll be possible, but I’ll certainly ask.”

“I look forward to it.” Sombra said, offering his hoof again. Sunburst took it more readily now, trying his best to match the other’s firm grip.

“Me too.”

They left, and after the guards had checked for anything they might be taking out - Sunburst had no idea what that would even be - they headed back up the stairs.

“Did you notice anything different about him?” asked Starlight. “Aside from his behavior, I mean.”

“Like what?” asked Sunburst, frowning.

“I’unno. Just… something…” she said, as they started up the stairs back to the main body of the castle.

Sunburst followed her automatically as he thought back over their time with the imprisoned king. He was more polite, more communicative. An interesting change - and a nice one, too, he thought. But nothing had really stuck out to him. If not his behavior, then maybe something else. His appearance? What could have changed about that?

Then it came to him.

“His eyes.” he said, looking up to find they had somehow reached the wide western corridor.

He really needed to get better at paying attention to what he was doing. He couldn’t afford to repeat the… incident. He suppressed a shudder.

“You’re right.” Starlight said. “They were… well, normal.”

Sunburst found himself visiting Sombra often in the following days. Sometimes someone or another would join him, but he often found himself alone with the imprisoned king. Sombra was intelligent, well-spoken, and very clever. He was surprised - and delighted, though he couldn’t bring himself to admit it, given the circumstances of their conversations - to find how much they were able to talk about. History, philosophy, magic; these topics and more passed between them in the deep dungeons. Sunburst had rarely had the opportunity to give full vent to his interests with someone before. Of all his friends, only Starlight and Twilight had any interest in his more esoteric interests - meaning fixations - but they were both very busy ponies, and could rarely converse for more than a short time. Sombra seemed to enjoy the time as well, becoming more alert and engaged. He had plenty of questions for Sunburst as well, about the current state of the world, about magical and technological innovations, and things he’d seen and done.

But Sombra also seemed very tired. During many of his visits, Sunburst found him resting against the cell wall, or laying in the bed. Even after a couple of weeks had passed since the battle in the Great Hall, he still had his bandages wrapped around his side and plastered to his cheek and forehead. When Sunburst asked about it, Sombra brushed it off.

“I’m just taking a while to heal, it seems,” he said, smiling. He smiled a lot more now than he had in the beginning - though only small ones. “The doctor that… that Princess Cadence has had looking after me has assured her that I’ll recover in time.”

Despite all of the other changes that seemed to have come over him, Sunburst had seen that Sombra was struggling with the fact that someone else was in charge now. Him giving her her right title had been a big step forwards, though he still wouldn’t acknowledge anyone else as the right sovereign of the Crystal Empire.

It was evening in the Crystal Empire, though it was hard to tell in the depths below the Crystal Castle. Sunburst sat outside of Sombra’s cell, on a cushion he’d finally persuaded the guards to let him bring inside the dungeon, telling him about the time he’d traveled through the long valleys in the Unicorn Range, where the waterfalls from Cloudsdale often plummeted in spectacular displays of mist, casting dozens of rainbows in the bright sunlight. Sombra sat with his back to the wall, eyes closed, listening. When Sunburst had finished, they were both quiet for a few moments.

“I’d like to see the sun again.” Sombra said it in such a soft, unobtrusive way, Sunburst almost didn’t realize he was speaking. “And the moon. The sky. It’s been such a long time…”

“O-Oh.” Sunburst said. In what time they’d spent together, he’d never heard Sombra talk like this before. “Y-Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Sombra said, with a slight smile. He’d taken a liking to some of the more modern words and expressions Sunburst had used while talking to him. Sunburst found the stark contrast between his older, more formal manner of speech and the occasional “yeah” or “‘kay” incredibly endearing - though he’d never dare to tell Sombra that.

“Ah.” Sunburst swallowed, glancing between Sombra and the thick iron bars. “I… that is… um…”

Sombra chuckled, sitting up straighter and turning his head to look at Sunburst more directly.

“I’m well aware I can’t. I was only expressing the desire.” he said, stretching his back with a slight grimace. “Mmf. Hard wall.”

“I told you.” Sunburst said, shaking his head with mock-shame as Sombra stood up and stretched out his legs.

“Yes, yes.” Sombra agreed with a laugh, rubbing at his sore back. “I should have listened.”

Sunburst stood up as well, and then hesitated. It felt strangely awkward at this point to shake Sombra’s hoof, with how often they’d been seeing each other. It was so… formal. But he reminded himself that, as much as he enjoyed visiting the king, he was acting in an official capacity. He should act like it.

“Thank you, Sunburst.” Sombra said, offering his hoof. “I appreciate your taking the time to come see me.”

“Of course.” Sunburst said, shaking his hoof in what he hoped was a formal way. “I’ve enjoyed it.”

“I’m gratified to hear it.”

Sunburst nodded, clearing his throat.

“Well. Um.” He rubbed at his foreleg with his hoof. “Have a good night.”

“You as well.” Sombra replied. “Until next time?”

“Y-Yeah. Next time.” Sunburst agreed, unable to keep a smile from his face. “Good night.”

“Cadence…?” Sunburst asked, knocking on the door to the Prince and Princess’s private chambers. “Shining Armor…?”

After a few uncomfortably long moments, he heard hooves approaching the door and scooted back to what he thought was a more respectful distance. The door opened, and Shining Armor was looking down at him.

“Hey, Sunburst.” he said. “Is something the matter? It’s a bit late for a social call.”

“I-I know, sorry about that.” said Sunburst. “I’m sorry, I just, I was hoping I could ask you guys something?”

“Alright…”

Shining Armor opened the door further and stepped back to let Sunburst pass. He closed the door behind him and followed him into the sitting area. Soft couches and chairs surrounded a low table. The walls were draped with tapestries and other hangings, softening the hard crystal edges of the room. Cadence was waiting for them there, reclining one of the couches, next to a Shining Armor-sized gap. Sunburst realized that he’d interrupted something - and he quickly decided not to try and figure out what.

Not after… the incident…

“Good evening, Sunburst.” Cadence said, shaking him out of his reverie. “Is everything okay?”

“Fine, thanks.” he replied, sitting nervously on the edge of one of the armchairs opposite the couch, where Shining Armor rejoined his wife. “I just… I have a, well, a request. I-It’s a bit of a big one, though, so I understand if you say no.”

“Yes?” Cadence prompted.

Sunburst had the uncanny feeling he was being scanned by the Princess, with the way her blue eyes seemed to be searching his face and body language. He knew she was very, very good at reading ponies’ thoughts and feelings, and he wondered what she was seeing in him. He fidgeted a little, pulling his cloak around him.

“Um…” He fidgeted on the chair. “So, I was talking to Sombra earlier.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask you about him, actually.” Cadence said, leaning forwards. “How do you think he’s doing?”

“Oh. Well…”

Cadence and Shining Armor listened attentively as he shared his observations from the time he’d spent with Sombra, alone or accompanied. About the shift in his attitude and behavior, and what he’d managed to glean from what Sombra had shared.

“He seems like a completely different person.” Shining Armor remarked. “He was completely civil last time I spoke with him.”

“That’s not quite how I see it.” Sunburst said, tugging at his beard as he tried to process his thoughts into something anyone else would understand. “More like… more like there was something missing. He’s coherent now, he’s communicative. From what I’ve been told, he was barely even a conscious being the last time he attacked.”

“Interesting.” said Cadence.

“So what have you been talking about?” asked Shining Armor, leaning forward with interest. “You’ve been down there a lot.”

“Y-Yes, well.” Sunburst stammered, feeling a bit flustered. “Just… stuff. Little things, really.”

Sunburst, now looking down as he played with the hem of his cloak, found himself smiling as he thought back over their conversations. “Some of the traveling we’d done. He asked me about some of the places I’d like to go someday. Stuff like that.”

“Mmm.” Cadence said. Unseen by Sunburst, a hint of a smile had appeared on her lips. “I see.”

“It’s just, today, he said something unexpected while we were talking, about wanting to see the sun and the sky again, and it gave me an idea. Do you think it would be possible for Sombra to, um… leave his cell?” Sunburst got quieter and quieter as he continued, feeling like their eyes must be burning into him. “F-For a bit? Maybe? If that’s okay with you I mean.”

Sunburst waited for them to loudly protest, to start listing all the reasons that it wasn’t possible. The risk of escape, the danger to the ponies of the Crystal Empire. Even if he did behave himself, there was the possibility of a panic if anyone saw him! Why had he thought this was a good idea? Was he crazy?

“What do you think?” Cadence calmly asked her husband. “Has it been long enough?”

“I think so.” Shining Armor said, nodding slowly. “And there are precautions we can take, of course.”

“Huh?” Sunburst said.

“We can’t keep him locked up for the rest of his life.” said Cadence, turning back to Sunburst.

“And after all, the whole point here is to help him become a better pony.” said Shining Armor, nuzzling his wife.

“Yeah, exactly.” Sunburst said, relaxing. Apparently they’d given this a lot more thought than he had. “So… he can?”

“Certainly.” Cadence said with a warm smile. “But there are conditions. Pleasant conversation and civil speech are all well and good, but we’re going to need more proof that he’s been reformed before we let him wander at will.”

“Of course.”

“Here’s what we had in mind…”

As Shining Armor and Cadence shared the arrangements they’d come up with to allow Sombra a small measure of freedom, Sunburst couldn’t help but feel excited. He couldn’t wait to let him know.