Clause Chronicles

Sombra woke groggily.
A bird stood on the windowsill opposite him, chirping, attempting to get Fluttershy's attention.
Making sure Fluttershy was still asleep, Sombra picked up a slipper and hurled it towards the bird.
Most unfortunately, he missed.
The slipper went sailing out of the window, into the street below.

"I Say!"

Sombra winced.
He got out of bed, trotting towards the window.
In the street below stood a White stallion with blue hair.
He could have passed for Shining's well groomed brother.
Sombra opened his mouth to shout for his slipper back, but was interrupted by the strange stallion.

"You're Mr. Sombra, correct? One of the Equestrian Heroes?"

Equestrian Heroes.
That title had a nice ring to it.
Sombra shouted back down.

"Maybe. What's it to you?"

The strange stallion beamed upwards, unnerving Sombra slightly.

"Goodness Me, I've forgotten my manners. My name is Fancypants, and I've been looking for your lot for quite some time now."

Sombra sighed. He knew where this was going.

"I'm hosting a dinner party this evening, and would be delighted to have you."

Sombra sighed again.
The front door opened below him, and Fluttershy trotted out.

"Mr. Fancypants, please do come in, make yourself at home!"

Sombra rested his chin on the windowsill.
There goes his chance for morning sex.

Sombra sat in the living room, next to Fancy Pants and his wife.
Sombra stared out the window, as Fancy droned on and on to Fluttershy about his "Arrangements"
Sombra stood up, leaving the room quietly.
Fluttershy blushed in embarrassment.

"Ah, Don't mind him. He's just a little bit of an introvert."

Sombra trotted into the kitchen, opening one of the cupboards.
Cereal.
He turned to the fridge.
Milk.
Sombra quickly poured the milk into the box of cereal.
Making sure nobody was watching, he chugged the whole box down.
Sombra burped loudly, looking around once more to ensure his Gold-like moment wasn't witnessed.
Sombra then trotted out the door, into the streets of Canterlot.
Fluttershy could deal with that stallion and his dinner party.
He had his own plans for the day.

Sombra trotted through the Canterlot streets, pulling a checklist out of his magic.
He had been to the park, the lake, the hotsprings, the castle, now it was just about time to head home.
One last thing left to do.
Binge at Pony Joe's.
Sombra trotted towards Pony Joe's stopping only to take a second glance down an alleyway.
A stallion was staggering about in there.
It looked like some sort of ooze was dragging him downward.
The stallion noticed Sombra.

"HELP! HELP ME, PLEASE!"

Sombra moved forward cautiously.
This scene looked familiar.
It was just like...
Just like...
Sombra stepped forward, grabbing the stallion and attempting to pull him out of the oozing blackness.
Every tug he made seemed to do nothing to halt the pony's engulfment.
Eventually, the ooze began latching onto him too.
Sombra stepped backwards.
There was nothing he could do for this pony now.
As the stallion disappeared from view, so did the black puddle.
Sombra was shaken.
He hadn't seen anything like that for a millennium.
Sombra stepped back, considering his options.
A voice at the back of his mind urged him to find Shining.
Another voice urged him to continue his day plan.
Conflicted, Sombra decided to go to Pony Joe's.
He couldn't make a decision on an empty stomach.

Sombra gulped down donut after donut, and mug after mug of Cocoa.
Normally, he wouldn't be caught dead in a joint like this.
Pony Joe's was a guilty pleasure.
Not even Fluttershy knew.
Sombra's thoughts trailed back to Fluttershy.
The sun was setting.
That dinner party would likely be starting soon.
Scarfing down his last donut unceremoniously, Sombra hurried from the store, into the streets painted gold by the sunset.
It didn't take long for Sombra to make it home.
Fluttershy was already dressed up, waiting in the living room.
She turned as Sombra entered, clearly miffed.

"I don't want to hear it. Your tux is upstairs. Hurry, We're going to be late!"

Sombra struggled to tie his tie.
Why did he even have to wear this accursed thing?
Sombra was about to chew his own lips off in frustration when Fluttershy entered the room.
Sombra glared at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy smiled.

"Need some help?"

Sombra scoffed.

"You're starting to remind me of Gold."

Fluttershy smiled again.

"Is there something wrong with that?"

Sombra swallowed a snarky remark.

"No."

Fluttershy smiled, her eyes filled with gentle love.
She quickly tied Sombra's tie for him, kissing him on the cheek.

"Let's go."

The dinner party was a complete bore.
Of course, Sombra had expected as much.
He trotted about the Canterlot gardens, eyeing the nobleponies cautiously.
A Few young mares giggled at him from a table.
They were quickly silenced by a glare and a snarl.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Fluttershy appeared in front of him.

"Behave!"

Sombra's ears drooped.
This was going to be a long night.

Sombra hovered around the buffet table.
At least the food here seemed to be good.
Braeburn apples.
Braeburn...
Sombra's mind was quickly filled with memories of the slightly bigger golden runt.
Which in turn brought out his memories of his adventures.
Sombra stood in a trance, reflecting on everything that was happened.
He was snapped out of his valuable insight by a tap on the shoulder.
Fancypants smiled, and began making small talk.
Sombra could hardly hear everything over the roaring in his ears.
Wait, roaring?
What was making that noise?
Sombra staggered about, his vision blurring.
He could sense a powerful Ill omen.
He was no psychic, but his intuition was never wrong.
He had to get Fluttershy out of here.
Sombra staggered around, searching for his mare.
He eventually found her.
She eyed him with a worried look.

"Are you okay, Sombra?"

Sombra shook his head.

"We have to get out of here. N-"

Sombra was interrupted by a screech.
Sombra staggered towards the source of the noise.
Sure enough, Fancypants' wife was staggering about in the middle of a huge crowd.
Black sludge swam around her legs.
Fancypants was attempting to heave her out of the black mess.
Sombra trotted towards him quickly, attempting to help him.
Both Sombra and Fancypants heaved with all their might, but to no avail.
The mare was engulfed by the black sludge.
The sludge fell in on itself until there wasn't any trace left.
Fancypants stood there, his mouth agape, tears in his eyes.
Sombra quickly made his way back to Fluttershy,
He noticed his Dizzyness fading as well.
He had an idea why.
And he Didn't like it.

Sombra went straight to sleep after getting home.
How would he be able to face anyone?
He alone was responsible for the goings-on around canterlot.
The Abductions, the threats, they were all his fault.
Because. Sombra alone knew who was conducting the whole thing.

...His brother.