Sunlight

Chapter 7 - Together in the Sun

Sombra’s first impression was sunlight. Even without opening his eyes, he knew what it was, could feel it on his face. Morning light, uniquely warm and gentle. He shifted, feeling something soft over him. Blankets. His mind started to wake up a bit more, and he took a deep breath. The air was cool and clean, and smelled faintly of flowers.

As he woke up further, he remembered what had happened. But instead of jolting upright or panicking, he felt an unexpected sense of peace. He still remembered the terror of it, of standing at the very edge of death, and the Shadow over all… but it seemed to have no more power to torment him.

Then he heard a soft snoring. He opened his eyes, blinking in the sunlight streaming in from his room’s tall window. It was open, allowing a gentle breeze into the room. Shifting in the bed, Sombra looked down at the foot of the bed. Sunburst was laid against the side of the bed, his head resting on the covers.

Sombra smiled, and felt a growing warmth in his chest. Carefully, he sat up, then leaning over he gently shook Sunburst’s shoulder.

“Zzznnnkk. Whassit?” Sunburst snore turned into a snort, and he pushed his head off the bed with an incoherent mumble. “I di’n’ take the last cinnamon roll, promise.”

Sombra couldn’t help the little sound of mirth that came out of him. Sunburst turned his bleary eyes on him, still trying to wake up the rest of the way.

“Where’s mine, then?” Sombra asked, grinning at Sunburst. He felt so happy right now, he couldn’t explain it. So he decided to enjoy it instead.

“Huh?” Sunburst said, dazed. Then his expression cleared. “Oh, Sombra! Oh, oh thank Celestia! You’re awake!”

He rushed forwards, hugging the bigger stallion tight. Sombra wrapped his arms around Sunburst, rubbing his back.

“How’re you feeling?” asked Sunburst, pulling back, but keeping his hooves on Sombra’s arms.

“I… I feel good.” Sombra said, looking down at himself. The bandages were gone, his coal-gray coat unbroken by cut or bruise. “I feel better than I have in a long time… than I ever have, maybe.”

“That’s wonderful.”

Sunburst beamed, ears perked up and eyes shining in the morning light. He started rambling off about the healing process and the Crystal Heart, and Sombra couldn’t help himself. He gently placed a hoof on Sunburst’s mouth, stopping him. He took Sunburst’s head in his hooves, and tenderly kissed his forehead. Then he pulled him back into his embrace and started rocking back and forth.

“Thank you… so much, Sunburst…” he whispered into Sunburst’s ear.

Sunburst felt his breath catch in his chest as Sombra pulled him in, resting his head on top of his own. As he leaned against Sombra’s strong neck, he felt tears in his eyes. Sombra felt warm and alive, and he smelled like wood and warm spices. Sunburst leaned into Sombra’s embrace, all of his lingering fears slipping away.

“I love you.” Sombra whispered, pressing his muzzle into Sunburst’s mane. “I love you, Sunburst. So, so much…”

“I love you too.” Sunburst whispered back, burying his muzzle into the crook between Sombra’s neck and shoulder. “I wanted to say it, w-when… but I was scared, I-I didn’t…”

“Shhh…” Sombra shushed him softly, leaning down to rest his forehead against Sunburst’s. “It’s okay… everything is okay now.”

“I-I know.” Sunburst said, tearing up. “I’m sorry, I…”

“It’s okay.” Sombra said again, caressing his cheek as he nuzzled him. “I’m here. I won’t leave. I promise.”

Cadence waited a respectful amount of time before going in. She couldn’t help a small, satisfied smile as she saw the two together. Everything had worked out as well as she could have hoped.

When Sombra saw her, he kissed Sunburst’s cheek, then gently extricated himself from the smaller stallion’s arms so he could face her. Sunburst let go reluctantly, but he kept his hoof on Sombra’s.

“How are you doing?” she asked him, examining him.

His body had healed as well as any doctor could have hoped for, but the royal physician would quite probably commit regicide if she didn’t keep this visit brief and exertion-free. She was livid after being overridden about moving Sombra, and had declared in no uncertain terms that Sombra needed time to recover, “magic healing rock” or no.

With a great effort, he shifted and made to get out of bed. Well shoot, Cadence thought. She’d have to double her guards for the next… forever.

Sunburst tried to stop him, but Sombra, bracing himself against Sunburst’s shoulder as he swung his legs down said, “I’ll be okay. I need to do this, Sunburst.”

Sombra stood, shaky but resolute, and looked Cadence in the eye.

“Princess Cadence.” he said, bowing. It was the first time he’d addressed her with her title without any apparent hesitation.

“I, Sombra, 17th king of the Crystal Empire, do hereby renounce my claim to its throne, crown, and all its dominions, now and forever.”

Cadence was taken aback by the frankness of his statement, but she nodded.

“Sunburst, do you bear witness?” she asked, adopting a more formal tone and posture.

“O-Oh, um.” Sunburst looked at Sombra. Sombra nodded, resolute. Sunburst nodded. “Yes, I bear witness.”

“We hear and accept your renunciation, Sombra, in the presence of a witness.” He bowed, and she nodded back. Then she smiled. “I, however, do not accept the renunciation of all nobility.”

He looked up, eyes searching hers. Then a small smile came to his lips.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said softly. “I… I would also beg your pardon, for all the difficulty and distress I have caused you, your family, and your realm.”

“That, too, we grant.” she said. Then she dropped the formalities, and spoke as quickly and quietly as she could while still being heard. “Now for the love of Celestia, get back in bed! You look like you’re going to fall over, and Princess or not the doctor will kill me if that happens!”

She helped Sunburst get Sombra back into bed. Once she was satisfied his accommodations were in good order, she promised to visit him again soon, then departed. There was a look of smug satisfaction on her face as soon as the door closed behind her.

Ha! Nailed it! Go Cadence!

After the door had closed behind Cadence, Sunburst turned back to Sombra with a troubled look. He bit his lip, hesitating. Then he spoke.

“I don’t understand… why did you give up your title? Now that you’re… well, you again, you do have a legitimate claim. I’m sure you could persuade-”

“It isn’t mine anymore, though.” Sombra said softly, with a little shake of his head. “That time has long since passed.”

He held out his hoof, and Sunburst came over to him. Sombra scooted over, making space for Sunburst to climb up and sit next to him. Sombra leaned forwards to touch his nose to Sunburst’s. He chuckled quietly, and Sunburst couldn’t help the smile that grew on his own face.

“Besides…” Sombra murmured, leaning in closer. “What need have I for an Empire… when I have you?”

The doctor kept Sombra confined to bed for a solid week before she was satisfied he had fully recovered. He had protested, saying he felt great, but she had brandished her stethoscope so menacingly that he didn’t dare argue with her again.

When the prescribed week was finally up, it was impossible to keep him in bed. He could be found all over the castle, walking, talking, and listening to everyone. There was a joy on his face and a lightness to his step that no one could remember ever seeing, even by those who had known him before he had fallen under the Shadow. He was further delighted to learn that, during his weeklong recovery, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor had released a statement to the Crystal Empire, detailing Sombra’s return and affirming his reformation.

The day after he was allowed up and about, Cadence and Shining Armor came to visit him in person.

“We release you from our custody.” Cadence said, as Shining Armor removed the antimagic cuff from Sombra’s horn.

“But not from our friendship.” Shining Armor added, offering Sombra his hoof. Sombra took it, grasping it firmly. Then he leaned in, and mock-whispered, “Remember, Ogres & Oubliettes, every Friday.”

“We’ll see.” Sombra chuckled. His horn flickered, then glowed with a steady dusk-red light. Several knick knacks floated up off the desk and floated in the air. He let out a sigh of relief, and put them down.

“Remember, you can keep your room in the castle as long as you need or want.” said Cadence, moving towards the door.

“Thank you.” Sombra said, bowing his head. “For that, and everything else. You have done so much for me.”

“It was our pleasure.” she said. “See you later.”

Sombra watched them leave. As soon as the door was closed, he turned and strode through the room, levitating furniture and other objects as he went. It had been driving him crazy these last few weeks, not being able to move anything on his own. Now that he could, he was going to reorganize the room to his liking.

As he was considering where the table and chairs ought to go, he heard a gentle tapping on his door.

“Come in!” he called, not turning around. Maybe longways, in line with the right wall? More space that way…

“Oh, it’s off!” Sunburst’s voice came from behind him. Sombra glanced back at him, smiling.

“Yes, finally,” he said, walking around the table and chairs. “Here, which way should I put this?”

“Oh, um…” Sunburst stepped further into the room, looking between Sombra and the room full of floating furniture. “I… I’m sorry, I really don’t know.”

“Mmm. Well… I like it this way.” Sombra decided, lowering the table and chairs into place.

“I have to admit, I never thought of you as an interior decorator.”

“Certainly!” said Sombra, nuzzling Sunburst’s cheek as he passed him on his way to the space the bed had occupied. It hovered at a concerning angle overhead. “Who do you think picked out the hallway carpets?”

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” asked Sunburst. He glanced up. “Without the, um…”

“Of course.” Sombra lowered everything to the ground, and turned to give Sunburst his full attention. “What is it?”

“So… you’re free now.” Sunburst smiled. “You can leave the castle, and everything.”

“I am.” said Sombra, smiling back. “And I can.”

“Let’s do it, then!” said Sunburst, bouncing on his hooves. “Right now.”

“Right now?” asked Sombra.

“Right now!”

Sunburst herded Sombra out the door. Together they hurried through the castle corridors to the Entrance Hall, and thence down the castle’s front steps. Sunburst didn’t stop until he was out from under the castle’s shadow, standing in the broad daylight. Sombra followed more slowly. Eyes closed, he lifted his face to take in the sunlight and listen to the city. Ponies were milling about on the edges of the plaza, shopkeepers were calling out, and buyers haggling. Birds sang, foals were playing, and the kindly west wind sighed as it flowed through the trees and among the shining buildings. It carried the smell of flowers, of cooking food, and of perfumes. And, faintly, from the distant white fields, the smell of clean snow under the noontide sun.

As Sombra breathed in the free air, he was at peace.

When he finally opened his eyes, he found Sunburst waiting patiently next to him.

“What do you want to do now?” Sunburst asked, stepping closer.

“There’s so many options… I just don’t know.” Sombra grinned. “We can do whatever we want.”

“We?” asked Sunburst. He felt like his heart was climbing out of his chest.

“We.” Sombra repeated softly, taking Sombra’s hoof.

“We can do whatever we want, now” Sombra said. “What would you like to do, beloved?”

“Beloved?” Sunburst said, with an amused snort.

“No?” Sombra said with a raised brow. “Very well, I’ll keep trying.”

“Okay.” Sunburst giggled.

“Okay.” Sombra said with a soft smile. “What would you like to do, Sunburst?”

“Well, um…” Sunburst said, ears falling slightly as he stumbled over his own words. “H-how about… dinner? I know this nice restaurant down by the city park. I think, I mean I… I hope you’ll like it?”

He took a deep breath, steadying himself.

“Would you like to have dinner with me, Sombra?”

Sombra leaned down and started nuzzling and kissing Sunburst’s cheek. Sunburst laughed, blushing and flustered by the tall gray stallion’s brazen display of affection.

“I’d love to, Sunburst.”