Chapter 4: The Return of King Sombra
It wasn't until around nine A.M. the next morning that the rest of the human heroes arrived. Ryan, Emily and Patrick walked along the pathway towards the Crystal Empire's castle. These three weren't alone though as there was a fourth human with them. Her name was Zoe, and she is Ryan's girlfriend, and speaking of which, she was holding onto his hand.
"Is that making you feel uncomfortable?" Patrick asked Emily with a whisper.
"No, I'm fine with them holding hands," she whispered back. "Look, our break-up did not involve fighting and saying we can't stand to see the other one ever again. As long as he's happy, then I'm happy for him. Besides, the main reason we're here is to be part of this celebration and to see Matthew again."
"Yeah, I just hope he's okay. After all, I haven't been hearing much from him for a long time."
"Can you blame him with the world blaming him for the two battles in New Liskeard and Toronto?"
"Howdy y'all!" called a familar voice. The four humans looked ahead of them and saw both Rarity and Applejack waiting and waving to them. The four of them almost seemed to run over to their pony friends, "welcome to the Crystal Empire friends."
"Thanks Applejack," smiled Emily.
Rarity looked to her, "I hope it wasn't the battles that we were involved in that caused you and Ryan to break up."
"No, that's not it at all Rarity," she assured the fashion pony, "it was merely the fact that Ryan and I were starting to drift apart, so that's why we broke up, but hey we're still friends."
"Friends, who don't speak that often, in spite of what you say," muttered Patrick. He then groaned as Emily kicked him in the left leg.
"Well guys, you better follow us and we'll take you to the Castle's throne room. Everyone is waiting in there for you," said Applejack. "That and they're talking about what happened last night."
The four humans looked to each other in confusion.
Applejack and Rarity lead them through the streets, but not in a hurry as it gave them a chance to be greeted by the visitors and residants of the empire. It also gave the ponies a chance to meet Zoe, who seemed like a very sweet person.
They soon reached the throne room where they found a orange pegasus pony with a fiery mane talking with Matthew, "now are you sure it was Lightning Dust that you saw?"
"Yes, I am a hundred percent sure that was her. I mean sure she was only seen in one story and never seen again afterwords, but I do know what she looks like."
The pegasus pony sighed and smacked her forehead. Matthew looked to the doorway and saw his friends, "hey guys, long time no see."
"Well you don't come by anymore, so how are we suppose to see you?" Ryan asked.
"Well you know how things are," he said. "But that's not important."
"He should be talking about it, rather than hiding this sort of thing from his closest friends," Starlight Glimmer thought to herself, and remembered the conversation she had with Matthew last night.
"Now, what's this I hear about Lightning Dust?" Emily asked curiously.
Twilight Sparkle explained about the attempted robbery of the Crystal Heart and how Matthew scared her away. Patrick smacked his forehead, "well at least it's not another baddie wishing to destory us all like that Queen Chrysalis."
Spitfire, the orange pegasus pony sat down on a nearby chair, "I was worried she was going to do something stupid, but never did I imagine her doing something like this."
Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow and looked to her boss, "what do you mean by that Spitfire? The last time any of us saw her was when she was thrown out of the academy."
"That might be the last time for you Crash, but not for me. I've run into her a few times after that day. Either at airshows, or while shopping for things around Cloudsdale, I would spot her. At first, it was always just a case of begging to be brought back into the academy, but soon it changed to angry shouts saying that I was stupid for not bringing her back in."
"Little ray of sunshine," muttered Rainbow Dash sarcastically.
"The last time I saw her should've been a warning that she would go down that path, but I didn't see it then..."
It had been a few weeks since Rainbow Dash had been brought in as a full time Wonderbolt. Spitfire was actually pleased with her and figured once she was done with her probition period, she would indeed make out to be a great wonderbolt, just like they had always figured, "only time will tell for sure," she said to herself.
As she was getting ready to leave her office, there came a knock on the door.
"Boss, there's a pony here to see you," came the voice of Soarin', another one of the Wonderbolts on the team. "It's her again, and she seems desperate this time."
Spitfire sighed and called out, "send her in Soarin'!"
The door opened and in walked a tired and scruffy looking Lightning Dust.
"What do you want Dust? It's been a long day and I would like to go home and get some rest."
"I'm sorry for coming in this late in the day, but I can't really keep track of time anymore. I've been kicked out of my home, and I don't have anywhere else to go." She walked over towards the desk, "please Spitfire, please give me one more chance to prove myself. I can work the way you and the Wonderbolts do. Heck, I'll even work with Rainbow Dash, even though I'm still annoyed with her. I just need this job. Please Spitfire."
But Spitfire remained firm, "as I have told you numerous times, you're too reckless and dangerous, and your records from before the academy don't help matters."
"But what about Rainbow Dash? She's just as crazy as I am. Heck, look to your recent show in Ponyville, she made changes to your routines and nearly put ponies in danger."
"It's true that Crash, uh Rainbow Dash has the tendacy to go overboard and think highly of herself. However," Spitfire went on, "the main difference between her and ponies who refuse to change is the fact she can learn from mistakes, not to mention she shows great loyality for others. Unlike you Dust. As I recall, you got Rainbow hurt during a flight, you created a Tornado in the sky and you nearly sent five ponies and one dragon falling to the ground down below, which surprises me considering one of them's been in a situation like this twice before." She shook her head and focused back on Lightning Dust, "I'm sorry, but we cannot have a pony like you on our team. You won't change your ways, you won't think of others and you have an attitude. The answer is no."
Lightning Dust's expression changed to a glare, "one of these days, you'll be sorry you never brought me back on board."
"Is that a threat?"
"I guess so, cause one day I will be the one standing above you, as you lay in ruins."
Spitfire shook her head, "and that Lightning Dust is another reason why I won't let you back into the academy, or join the Wonderbolts. Now get out, or I'll have the other bolts remove you."
Lightning Dust muttered under her breath and walked angerily away, slamming Spitfire's door and breaking the glass in it.
"I never did see her again after that, so I assumed afterwords that she got a job that was just as good as being a Wonderbolt. I never thought she would turn to stealing things," Spitfire concluded.
"Well from what I saw last night, she tried to steal, but failed."
"Yeah, thanks to Matthew here chasing her down," smirked Rainbow Dash. "I think the Canterlot Guards could take some lessons from you. If they did, nopony could steal from Canterlot."
"We've been working to change that," muttered Princess Celestia.
"I'm still surprised she managed to get past our guards last night," said Shining Armor. "But according to them, she looked like a normal visitor, so how were they suppose to know?"
"You do make a good point there Shining," said Twilight. "But now the question is, why would she try to steal the Crystal Heart?"
"For bits I guess," shrugged Rarity.
"What are bits?" Zoe whispered to Ryan.
"That's money here in Equestria," he whispered back. "They are gold coins they use to buy things."
"That could be a reason there Rarity," said Twilight. "However, I think even Lightning Dust would know for a fact that without the Crystal Heart, the Empire could get buried under a mountain of snow, or worse, conquered like it was before."
"Do you think maybe she would want to conquer the empire?" Pinkie Pie asked curiously.
"Don't be silly Pinkie," said Rainbow Dash. "Even if she was successful in stealing the heart, she would have to deal with the guards, not to mention Shining Armor and Cadance, plus there's the rest of us, she'd be outnumbered. I think only King Sombra would have that ability to take over."
"Well thankfully he's gone," said Rarity, "I mean, the sound he makes before he appears, it sends shivers down my spi..."
Without warning, there came a loud low howling sound. One they had all heard before, but not in a long period of time.
"That can't be, can it?" Twilight asked in shock.
"Who are they talking about?" asked Trixie to Starlight Glimmer.
"I think I know, going on the stories I've heard from Twilight Sparkle."
Shining Armor, Twilight and Matthew started making their way out of the castle and down to where the Crystal Heart was. When they got outside, they saw the residants looking worried.
"Not him, not again," many of them cried.
"I really hope this isn't what I think it is," Twilight said nervously.
The loud low howl came again, this time being close to the train station. The crystal ponies and visitors went running to the castle. The station staff had just gotten out when a dark shadow suddenly appeared from behind the station, showing a pair of eyes that belonged to only one monster in Equestrian History.
"It's King Sombra!" cried a Crystal Pony.
A low cackle was heard from the shadow, "my Crystal ponies, my slaves, I have returned."
"Stay calm!" shouted Shining Armor. "We have the Crystal Heart, he can't get to us with it in place!"
The shadowy King Sombra moved forward, turning the train station and buildings nearby into gothic structures best suited for his dark heart. Not wanting to see the empire get overrun, Matthew ran towards him, pulling out paintball gun.
"Matthew, come back!" cried Twilight, "he's too dangerous!"
"What in the hay is he doing?" exclaimed Applejack as she and the others watched on from above. "He can't take on the evil Unicorn king on his own, and certainly not with a paintball gun or bowstall."
"Oh so that's what those things are," said Trixie.
"Not now Trixie," said Starlight. Using her magic, she made herself float off the balcony and down towards Matthew.
Matthew meanwhile pointed his gun down at the ground and fired some shots, making a straight line in between himself and the shadowy King Sombra, "okay you dark monster, this is as far as you go! You will not be getting past me!"
The shadowy King Sombra slowed to a stop, just before the straight line.
"Maybe he can stop that shadow," Trixie said out loud.
Matthew pointed his paintball gun upwards and right in between King Sombra's flaming green eyes, "I knew you hadn't been destoryed the last time, but you made your last mistake today. Now back up, turn the buildings back to normal and never come back. If you don't, then I'll force you to leave, you understand?!"
The Crystal ponies looked on as the human creature they had met the night before stood before King Sombra, defying him his chance to retake their home again.
King Sombra narrowed his eyes as he stared at Matthew.
"Did you not hear me? I said get out of here you monster!"
Starlight landed on the ground, a short distance from Matthew, "don't be a fool Matthew, get out of there! Let the Crystal Heart do it's job."
But Matthew didn't respond to her.
"Matthew, I know you feel guilty for not focusing on your task last year, but you're not going to make up for it by standing there!" shouted Twilight as she flew over to stand beside Starlight.
A low voice came from the shadows, "show me what you can do creature."
"I take it then that you're not leaving. Fine then, you asked for it!" And he pulled the trigger, sending off dozens of paintballs at King Sombra, but like Shining Armor's attack from years before, it merely went through the dark unicorn king. Matthew looked down to his gun, "why didn't I remember that?"
"Get out of there!" cried Starlight, "come on Matthew!"
Matthew started to back up, that was until he heard; "what's the matter, too scared weakling? And they call you a hero! Or do they? Maybe they see you as a freak!"
It was then it happened again. Matthew's eyes went red once more, he grabbed his bow staff and tossed it, while shooting his paintball gun until his gun was empty, but his bow staff and paintballs went through King Sombra and landed elsewhere.
"What's going on with him?" Starlight asked in shock.
King Sombra smirked, "interesting." He then thought to himself, "if he has this much darkness in him, then I wonder about the rest of his race." Surprising all the ponies and visitors to the empire, he turned and left, turning the buildings back to normal.
No sooner was he gone than Matthew's eyes turned back to normal, "ow my throat, that hurt."
Starlight and Twilight ran over towards him, "what were you thinking?" Twilight asked in anger. "You need magic to stop a dark monster like him, and you don't have that!"
"I...I...I don't know what I was thinking, I just didn't want to see him take over this fine kingdom again."
"Well it's nice of you to think of others, it is better to let us handle the situation, okay?"
Matthew nodded. Starlight used her magic and brought back his bow staff, "that was intense yelling you did there Matthew, and all because of a few words. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine, I just need a glass of water, that's all."
"We'll give you one back in the castle, now come on," said Twilight.
As they turned to go back, many of the Crystal ponies ran over towards them, cheering loudly. "That was amazing, you scared King Sombra away!" they said, "you're very brave Matthew!"
Though the Crystal Ponies believed Matthew scared King Sombra away, Starlight Glimmer wasn't enterily sure about that.
And indeed she was right, "they think I ran away from that creature, but I didn't," he said to Lightning Dust, "I only stayed to see if there was anything unique about this creature, and I found what I was looking for."
"And what is that?"
"Well going on what you said, and from my experience, it's clear this creature has alot of darkness in him."
"So?"
"It could be just what I need to power myself up, and allow us to go through with our plans. But I need to know more about him and his kind, and that's where you can come in."
"Uh King Sombra, I don't know if you remember what I said last night, but he tried to attack me."
"I heard you, but I know a way for you to get in and find out all you can about him and his kind." His horn lit up, then he aimed it right at Lightning Dust. Within seconds, Lightning Dust was engulfed in a dark bubble. When she emerged, she had been transformed into a different looking pony, "with this disguise, you'll be able to sneak in and learn all you can about him."
"Okay, I like this, but what did you mean about powering yourself up?"
"I'll explain later my friend, now go and get the answers we need."
Lightning Dust bowed, "as you wish your highness." With her wings hidden by the dark magic of King Sombra, she walked out of the hideout, still not sure what King Sombra was going to do once they had the information they needed.
"Same old Matthew, running in without a plan in the face of danger," grumbled Patrick when Matthew, Starlight, Shining Armor and Twilight returned. "You completly forgot that everything goes through King Sombra, yet you still went in."
"Okay I'm sorry alright, it's a little flaw with me."
"Agmost other things," muttered Starlight under her breath, and thankfully no one heard her.
Twilight walked to the middle of the large group of creatures, including a now present King Thorax and Queen Rose, who came after King Sombra disappeared, "this has to be connected somehow," she said. "First Lightning Dust tries to steal the Crystal Heart, then King Sombra returns and has a stand-off with Matthew, and that's in spite of the fact we have the Crystal Heart. Sombra may be power hungry, but stupid he is not."
"Indeed not," agreed Princess Celestia, "going on what I remember, he was always one step ahead of everypony, before and after the empire."
"So why attack now?" Rarity asked. "I mean, surely he would've been worried about the Crystal Heart being used again."
"And what does Lightning Dust have to do with this?" asked Rainbow Dash. Suddenly, it came to her, "you don't think that pony is working with King Sombra, do you?"
"Considering how desperate she was last time I saw her," said Spitfire, "I would say she probably has gone to work for him."
"Oh Lightning Dust, you are a fool," and Rainbow Dash smacked her forehead.
"That certainly explains that, and maybe he thought she had taken the heart, hence why he tried to attack again," suggested Rarity.
"Maybe, but why didn't he attack Matthew when his own attacks failed to get him?" asked Twilight. "I hate to say this to you Matthew, and your friends, but you don't have what it takes to stop a monster like him."
"Don't worry about offending us," said Patrick, "cause it is the truth, right Matthew?"
Matthew sighed and nodded. He then slapped his forehead, he knew he was never going to hear the end of this.
A thought came to Starlight's head, "What if he wasn't after the Crystal Heart, or the empire?"
"Where are you going with this Starlight?" Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well if Lightning Dust really is working for him, she would've told him that her mission was a failure. Too much time has gone by between the attempt robbery to this attack, so I think he would know. I mean come on, no pony is that stupid." Rainbow Dash muttered under her breath, though Starlight had a feeling she was saying; wanna bet? "So what if instead of the empire, he was after something, or rather someone else."
"You mean Matthew?" Patrick asked.
"Yep, that would explain why he would just stand there without moving, even though Matthew couldn't stop him."
"But why would he want to go face to face with Matthew?" asked Fluttershy.
"I...I actually don't have an answer for that," Starlight admitted, "but it would explain alot."
"Well until we know for sure," said Princess Cadance, "we can't have our citizens or guests get into trouble, so I'm calling for all of us to stay in the empire until a time Sombra and this Lightning Dust have been dealt with."
"No problem," smirked Rainbow Dash, "we usually take baddies down long before breakfast, and given how strong we are now with interdimension friends, we'll be done faster than that."
Trixie rolled her eyes and looked to Starlight Glimmer, "and you say I have a big ego."
"I have never said that to you."
"Really? Then where did I hear that before?"
Starlight shrugged and looked over to Matthew, really concerned for her human friend. First up was last night's conversation, and now this. She wanted some answers about what she saw earlier.
So when nightfall came, she decided to speak with Matthew, and this time, spoke with him within his temporary room. He was merely sitting on his bed and looking at an object, which Starlight could only guess was his phone. Sure enough, it was a phone, one of the latest that could allow him to take pictures and hold them till a time he wanted to get rid of them.
"Are those pictures of your trips?" Starlight asked.
"Yeah, some of them and others are from when I first arrived at that house in New Liskeard." He chuckled and explained, "when I first arrived at that house, there was so much that needed to be done. I needed to replace the water heater, rip up carpets and put down hardwood floors and adding support to the roof in certain parts."
"Must've been worth it though right?"
"I guess."
Unknown to the two of them, a lone pony was standing outside and listening. It was Lightning Dust in disguise, and as guards walked by, they didn't look suspicious.
"It'd be a shame if you were to leave that place and move," she heard Starlight Glimmer say. "And of course, to never visit those places ever again. Am I right, or am I right?"
"Knock it off Starlight, I know what you're trying to do."
"Oh really? Then maybe you can tell me what you think I'm doing."
Lightning Dust strained her ear to overhear them.
"You're trying to convince me not to leave my home in New Liskeard, but it's not going to work."
"Okay you got me there, but what would it really get you? You'll feel homesick, and you'll be wishing a hundred or so times that you could go back and see all the sights there. And maybe taking you away from the things that can help calm you down."
Matthew raised an eyebrow at her, "what are you getting at this time Glimmer?"
Starlight was taken aback by Matthew calling her 'Glimmer'. He hadn't done that since before he started putting his trust into her.
"I'm just concerned, first you tell me this plan to leave Earth and the humans, then just today, you show off some real anger in front of King Sombra. Maybe leaving Earth isn't the best idea."
"As I told you Starlight, I've made up my mind. As for my anger, it's no different from anyone elses, I mean come on, every human has anger that can get out of control when no one expects it. It's just who we are."
Lightning Dust smirked, that was all she needed to know, so she ran off without being looked upon by other creatures, except for King Thorax.
"That's interesting, I wonder what that pony is up to," he said out loud.
Meanwhile back with Matthew and Starlight; "please Starlight, just don't try to convince me to change my mind. I don't want one of my closest friends to say that moving here isn't an option, and staying on Earth is."
Starlight sighed, "okay Matthew, for your sake, I'll stop. But you can't stop a friend from being concerned."
She turned and walked out of the room, leaving Matthew alone with his phone and his thoughts.
