Sombra was falling. He didn't know for how long; time seemed unimportant here. The world around him was bleak and daunting, composed of grotesque shadows that streaked and stained the murky sky. The air was damp, warm and claustrophobic, making the vast astral plane around him feel more like the confines of a small room, small enough to crouch in, but neither wide nor tall enough to stand or lie. In likewise fashion, Sombra curled into a ball and let the windless "night" take him.
Screams pierced the sky, screams of gryphons and ponies. The faces of his escort, ethereal and riddled with agony broke the peace of the night and made Sombra scream out in terror. "Luna..
LUNA!"
With a start, he woke.
Sombra wiped the sweat off of his forehead and groped at the loose dirt of the dusty ground, panting with mixed relief and shock. It was unusually silent. With effort he pulled open his eyes and for the first time became aware of his surroundings. The first thing he noticed was the air; the cool, refreshing air that was accompanied by a strong breeze. The breeze emanated from.... a hole? An opening? Sombra focused his eyes and shook himself awake. The breeze was coming from the opening of deep cave. The mouth also let in a shining light from the orb of the proud moon, illuminating his surroundings.
"Woken up, have you? Well you took your time about it. You were lying out cold for most of the time that Grogar was dispatching your "friends". In fact, you've been out cold for nearly a day. Well now you're awake how about you come over here and repay the favour."
A voice croaked from a way behind Sombra, grabbing his attention. In fact, it wasn't the discovery of company that made him turn round in shock.
"Dispatched? Wh- what do you mean? Who are you? W-WHERE ARE MY GUARD?"
The gryphon simply laughed heartily and tossed a bone, picked clean, into a fire beside him. His face was covered mostly by the shadows and a golden helmet, adorned with curled and intimidating horns. The only visible part of his face were his eyes. The distinctive eyes of a gryphon, and one who has seen too much darkness in the world. The product of this was a set of piercing red eyes, like blood from a wound and with abnormal slits. They were in contrast with his dulled feathers and shabby blue coat which was bedraggled and thinning.
"Oh, they got what they deserved. That is to say, they have all perished."
He laughed again, it sounded forced and not entirely genuine.
Sombra felt tears well up in his eyes, but he forced them back and steadied his shaking legs. With all the power he could muster, he distorted his face in concentration and sent sparks through the tip of his horn.
"You'll pay for what you've done, you mean brute!"
With this he shot a bright flare from his horn and aimed it at the gryphon's face.
Sombra stared on in wonder as the gryphon rose from his casual position on the ground and the air grew dark around him. His pupils faded out leaving two bright gaping red eyes that stared down like floodlights. With a swipe of his claw and the crackle of energy, he quieted the flare and spread his wings as he hovered above Sombra.
"Do not take Grogar for a rogue and a barbarian, you fool of a royal ward!"
The air hissed and seemed to explode around Sombra, he lay quivering on the floor, covering his sobbing eyes.
"You stand against Grogar, sorcerer of Tambalon, he could have destroyed in an instant along with your escort, yet he did not. Sit still and trouble him no more and he may tell you!"
Sombra did as he was instructed. Fearing for his life, he slumped and sat stock still as the gryphon told him everything.
"Your so-called 'friends' never took you to the empire as an ally or in goodwill, nor did they ever wish for you to have any power. Quite the opposite. You see, the empire planned to sell you to the diamond dogs as an offering of peace. Grogar rescued you from this fate for good reason, young protégé."
This was too much for Sombra. He crumpled to the floor and sobbed, his resolve had been crushed by Grogar's news. "I.. I don't understand, why would they do that to me? L-luna... Luna! Where are you Luna? He.. help me...."
His choked voice trailed off into nothing. Grogar scoffed at this, his laugh was no longer even masked as anything but cruel and wicked.
"Your precious Luna and her dratted sister Celestia would not help you now, even if they knew of your whereabouts in this dark forest! Grogar would put good money on them knowing all about the Crystal Empire's little plan, yes, most certainly. You see, there is not truly anything more to this game of sovereignty than power. They would have traded anything to keep the sanctity of their throne intact. That includes even their precious tool protégé. Think Sombra, how easily did they send you away from them? How easily did they force you on this dangersome journey? And over what? A petty political problem.. You were disposed of because you were a problem. The fact that you could be useful in increasing the alliance with the Crystal Empire was merely a happy coincidence for them."
Sombra despaired at this knowledge. No. Not knowledge. This was a lie, the princesses would never do this to him. Would they?
"Join Grogar, Sombra. Let him take you under his wing, train you, make you stronger than them; in mind and body. Then you will be able to take justice on the foulness of this land. You may be doubtful now, but this is the only way. At the end of the day, it is your choice. Join with Grogar or return to your puppeteer. Do not take this offer lightly."
Grogar held his arm outstretched, talons open. "Make your decision, Sombra. Make the right decision."
Sombra recoiled from Grogar's hand, to his disappointment. Surely he had to be lying, Luna had treated him as a son when he was in her care. Then again, if Grogar spoke the truth, then this had all been an act and returning home would lead him to death and falsehood.
Gritting his teeth in grim defiance, he took Grogar's outstretched arm on one condition. He would never do anything to hurt the princesses or their kingdom of Equestria.
