I couldn't sleep.

Even with the rain pattering against the window and the soft rumbling of thunder and the slow breathing of the one in my arms, I could not sleep. My mind, though the voices were silent, was nowhere near restful. Thought after thought raced across it: faces, lights, sounds. No matter how hard I tried I could not shut the faces of those soldiers out of my head. I usually can't remember what happened whenever I was in my manic state but this time....

Why is this time so different?

Fluttershy stirred next to me, turning to face away from me but still holding herself close. At least she was sleeping well, I can be glad for that. I can hardly believe that it was only a short time ago that I found her in this bed shivering and crying from being thrown from her world into mine. Now....well I don't even know what this is....or what I'm doing....it was just.....a feeling?

Or an impulse?

I look down at her and marvel at her. How could a monster like me find a place beside her? I've never seen so much innocence wrapped into one soul. She is perhaps the most perfect individual I have ever met.

And she's a pony.

I am suddenly reminded of a story I read as a child. About a beast that lived in a dark castle and a beauty that finds him and slowly breaks the curse upon him and returns him to his true self. Is that what's happening here?

God I hope so.

I close my eyes as I wrap my coat around Fluttershy in an attempt to find sleep and I wonder again: what could her world be like? It must be perfect living there from what she has told me, so different from mine but so much better. I feel myself yearning to just give up my exploits and find a way to escape with her to her home and just live out the rest of my days there. But I know I can't do that. Not until I'm done here and I've fulfilled my promise. I just hope when the time comes and she learns about everything, she will understand.

But I should stop thinking about the future. It's not helping me sleep. I continue to watch Fluttershy sleep and remember everything we've done since her arrival and slowly I can feel my eyes close and my mind begin to slow down and I fall into the realm of sleep to the falling rain and the rumbling thunder.

The minute Jacob had fallen asleep; a figure appeared in the door. He watched the two sleep ever so peacefully. His face remained unchanged behind his mask. The one known as Guard began to address the situation at hand. An alien appears in their home and through her kindness, does the impossible. Was this fate or something else? He had to find out...

He turned away from the door and walked into the living room where the shadowy figure of Tom stood with his hands in his pockets.

"Show me." Guard said.

Tom obeyed and removed his hands and the sight of them surprised Guard. It was like they were disintegrating right in front of him. Pieces flaked off and floated away before disappearing altogether. Essence smoked out of Tom's fingers and despite the sight of his hands, Tom was smiling.

"It's happening Guard. It's actually happening." He said in an excited whisper.

"Yes," Guard replied, "The procedure is unraveling which means that Jacob is somehow curing himself. Or she is curing him through some unseen way. If Jacob is cured then he would be free. Free to make his own decisions and live his own life without his head being filled with voices and extra emotions."

"Free....I like that word and that's what I want for him. But....what about us?" Tom asked, "What awaits us when we go away?"

Guard walked back to the door to take one final look at his ward, his friend, and said, "Peace," before grasping the doorknob and shutting the door.

The storm was getting worse, the rain fell harder and harder as the wind began to reach dangerous speeds. Not only that but the lightning seemed to be striking more frequently than usual. On the other side of the town from the hideout of the Firestarter and Fluttershy, a multitude of bolts began to strike the top of a tall hill. Suddenly, with a loud crash and a bright flash of light that seemed to illuminate the entire state, a huge column of lightning struck upon the hilltop.

From the smoky ruin, a figure appeared. He stood up on two armored legs and breathed in the air. His skin was grey and his armor was black and sharp. His black hair billowed around him in the wind and in his right hand he held a red dagger. He then opened his eyes revealing them to be red and smiled revealing sharp teeth.

He began to laugh as he caught the scent of his prey. The one he had been searching for across multiple worlds. Finally he had found her. Now to finish what he had tried to do back on Equestria.

"Fluttershy," he said in a very dark voice that sounded like fire and cracking stone, "I have found you."

He then let out a howl that everyone in the town heard and they woke up in a terrible fear as parents grabbed their children and even the harden soldiers began to crawl on the ground with terror stricken faces as they tried to get away from the sound. And in the home of the Firestarter......Fluttershy began to scream.

For her worst nightmare had come true.

This place was no longer safe.

For Sombra had found her again.

And he was coming to kill her.

End of Part One

Author's Note

The first part of the story is complete and in the next part the rebels will be gathered and the revolution will begin.
Whose side are YOU on?

Thank you for all of your support and patience and I hope you all have a very happy All Hallow's Eve.