Dark Horse: A My Little Pony Story

Chorus, Prose and Twilight Sparkle, and Ginger Blush and Savoir Fare all reentered the gala, hastily searching for each other in the crowds. They scanned unfamiliar faces and paced past partying ponies, all focused on their mission. Pixie Dust sang on the stage, continuing her set for all of her adoring ponies. The lights twinkled from the chandeliers on the ceiling. Ponies danced with their friends and partners, blissfully unaware of the imminent danger they were in. Pixie Dust's song rang out over all of the noise.

I'd cross an ocean wide

To be back by your side

I never should have left

I must've lost my mind

Almost as if pulled by fateful magnets, the ponies' paths miraculously crossed, reuniting them once more. As they all saw each other's faces again, relief flooded through their minds.

"I'm so glad to see you guys," Chorus sighed. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to lose my temper like that."

"I'm sorry too," Prose apologized. "We can move past all of that, right?"

"Well, it seems like we're all sorry," Ginger Blush concluded. "We can definitely move past all of that."

The ponies all sighed in relief. Chorus outstretched an arm, motioning for a group hug. Chorus, Prose, and Ginger Blush all came closer together and wrapped their arms around each other. The warm embrace felt like a weight had been lifted off of their shoulders.

"So what are we gonna do about King Sombra?" Ginger Blush asked.

The ponies pulled away from the hug, suddenly anxious, remembering their current situation.

"I was hoping you guys would have something," Chorus admitted.

The ponies glanced around their group, waiting for somepony to speak up.

"I have... something?" Prose spoke. "Twilight and her friends were going to try to warn everypony while we come up with a solution to stop Sombra."

Prose looked at Twilight, signaling that she could begin her portion of the plan. Twilight nodded and promptly headed off to find her friends.

"So, we don't really have anything?" Chorus worried aloud.

"We do have something," Prose clarified. "We have each other."

"So, we have nothing," Ginger anxiously spoke. "We have no plan."

"We will think of a plan!" Prose optimistically boasted.

Savoir Fare spoke up from beside Ginger Blush. "I, for one, think if anypony could come up with a plan to stop King Sombra, it's you three."

Ginger Blush turned to face him. "Thanks," she smiled. She blushed as her and Savoir held eye contact for a few moments.

"So, what do we know about King Sombra?" Prose surveyed. "We know he grew up as a normal pony in the Crystal Empire."

"We know he was born an 'umbrum'; a shadow pony," Chorus added.

"The Crystal Heart is the only known thing that can take him down," Ginger recalled.

"Princess Amore believed there was always hope for him," Prose noted.

"Radiant Hope seemed to bring out the best in him," Ginger pointed out.

"So, we don't have the Crystal Heart, Princess Amore, or Radiant Hope. Not a great start, I must admit. What are his weaknesses? What are the cracks in his glass?" Prose prodded.

The ponies thought deeply in silence for a moment.

"Deep, deep, deep down he has some empathy. If he didn't, he would've destroyed Princess Amore for good," Chorus suggested.

"So he's not all gone. Is that what you're getting at?" Prose asked.

"I believe the old Sombra is still in him somewhere, yes. Behind all of the shadows and darkness, there's the little orphan from the Crystal Empire," Chorus maintained.

"So how do we get him back? How do we stop the 'umbrum' Sombra?" Ginger wondered.

"How do we get him back?" Prose repeated to herself, thinking it over. "The only person to ever really stop his transformation was Radiant Hope. It seemed like he really loved her."

Prose looked over at Chorus.

"Do you think you could take back what you said?" Prose asked.

"What did I say?" Chorus asked.

"That you wouldn't rule with him," Prose clarified. "Could you find him and tell him you changed your mind? You could take him down from the inside," she suggested.

Chorus contemplated that notion, pondering the weight of that task. If he could infiltrate Sombra's plan, he could try to stop him from the inside. But at what cost? And how could he possibly stop Sombra alone?

"I can't," Chorus decided.

"Why not?" Ginger asked.

"I can't just 'stop him' all by myself. I don't even know what he would do if he caught me in the act. Going undercover isn't exactly as easy as it sounds. Besides, Pinkie reminded me that we're better when we band together. We should stop him as a group."

Prose looked deep in thought. "But how? How do we stop a pony known for being unstoppable? How do we reason with a pony who has no regrets?"

Ginger and Prose continued to converse, but Chorus's mind locked in on one phrase. No regrets. He zoned out of his current position and focused on remembering his last conversation with Sombra. He had regrets. Well, he had 'one' regret. He loved Radiant Hope, and he let her leave.

"I think I might have something, guys," Chorus interrupted.

Ginger Blush and Prose paused and looked at him.

"What is it?" Prose asked.

"How was the Crystal Heart powered?" Chorus asked the group.

"By the love and light within the crystal ponies," Prose knowledgeably explained.

"And that made him weak; that was his weakness," Chorus elaborated.

"What are you getting at?" Ginger asked.

"The last conversation I had with King Sombra, he told me had only had one regret. He wished he had stayed with Hope. He loved her," Chorus began to explain.

"I don't think I'm understanding," Prose voiced.

"It's his weakness," Chorus spoke.

"What is?" Ginger questioned.

"Isn't it obvious?" Chorus looked between Prose and Ginger Blush. "It's love!"

"That's so corny," Prose laughed.

"Yes it is!" Chorus agreed.

"So what are we supposed to do? Love him?" Ginger inquired.

Chorus furrowed his eyebrows, thinking. "I didn't think that far ahead."

Pinkie's words, band together, resurfaced in the forefront of Chorus's mind. A little lightbulb might as well have popped up over his head.

"I have an idea!" Chorus cheered.

Prose and Ginger Blush watched as Chorus smiled and gleamed at the thought of his idea.

"Are you gonna tell us what it is?" Prose asked.

"Yes!" Chorus beamed, breaking from his trance. "Can you guys play any instruments?"

Prose and Ginger Blush looked between each other. Savoir Fare stepped forward.

"I can play the guitar," he spoke confidently, ready to help in whatever way he could.

"I can play the piano," Prose spoke up. "I've been taking lessons since I was a filly."

Ginger Blush smiled nervously and spoke up softly. "I can play the... triangle?" she offered.

"Why do you ask?" Prose questioned to Chorus.

Chorus smiled and looked at his friends.

"I think it's about time for a song, don't you?"