Chapter 24- Down Among the Dead

(Celestia)

"Oh Johnny, one day you'll be the death of me." I said to myself silently, as I took flight in my chariot, my spare following closely behind me.

Minutes before I received an urgent message from Ori, frantically requesting that I meet them outside Whinnyappleous as quickly as possible. It seems Johnny had done it once again. Not only had he found the missing Babs, but Ori's long lost sister as well.

On top of all that he apparently uncovered a major conspiracy centered around Night Industries. The very company on the forefront of Luna's plans for the city.

I shook my head in wonder. I was going to have to reward that pony somehow. Even though it would surely go to his head.

Suddenly I felt a tug, a strong one. A tiny fraction of my power detached itself and flung itself skyward in the direction I was traveling. I knew immediately what had happened. Some pony activated their 'Omega Rune'. This saddened me greatly. So far no pony that had done so had survived more than a week afterword. Ponies just couldn't survive the loss of Godhood that such power bestowed.

A moment later a soul link was forged. This was something I never told my agents about. It was a safety I had included with the use of the Omega. Whomever activated it would form a soul link with me for the rest of their lives. This way I could monitor what they did with my power, and I could take steps to stop them if they ever tried to misuse it. The pony in question would never even know it was there despite what they considered their new found omnipotence. They were lucky. If they knew what true omnipotence was, it would shatter their minds.

It took less than a moment for the soul link to form. As I peered into the mind of my agent I was saddened once more to find that it was Johnny who had used the rune. Oh Johnny, I was going to lose you wasn't I? Tears formed on my cheeks and were whisked away by the cool night wind. This was a loss I was not yet prepared for. As I watched him step out of time, I did so as well, my mind working at a feverous pace, trying to find a way to save him. But Johnny was already ahead of me. He deduced what was happening to his body, understood what happened to the others, and all on his own, decided to give up his power and try to live with it's loss. Amazing! Such force of will. I watched proudly as he destroyed his enemies with but a thought, and then send his godhood back to me with the next.

I was so proud of him. Such selflessness. Oh yes, I would indeed reward him. Perhaps even raise him to an alicorn. He certainly has proven- wait! What was that? What was this pain?

I returned myself to Johnny once more. He was holding a hoof up before his face. It was covered in blood. His chest, there were holes. Someone had shot him, several times. NO! NO, NO, NO! He was dying! I was too far away, I couldn't reach him. I felt the last of his life draining away. I screamed one word, it echoed off the mountains and sped it's way down the link with such force that it ended up being the last word Johnny ever said.

"WHY!"

(Dr. Double Helix)

Finally, the last of the damage that annoying unicorn did to me has healed. My perfection is complete once more. If only the damage he has done to my operation could be as easily repaired.

That fool Brass Buttons has scurried back to his lab on the floor below. I grow so weary of his constant criticisms, of his useless toys and even more useless chatter. Still, as distasteful as I find his presence, he had at least voiced valid concerns.

Apparently Mr. Appleseed, with the help of ponies unknown, have managed to free Dr. Brass, and worse yet, free all of my precious specimens. It could takes months if not longer to locate such prime genetic material as closely linked to Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Add to that their families will be on their guard, making it that much harder to capture any close relatives. Fortunately my stock of their genetic material wont be depleted for at least another hundred experiments yet. It may possible that I will crack the alicorn code before then. But even if I don't, it will still add numbers to either my minions, or meat for the Butcher's table.

However, the escape of Dr. Brass will cause a more immediate concern I suppose. I had hoped to have more time before we enacted our plan to seize control of the city, but this will mean pushing that timetable up dramatically.

Wait, what was that? That flare of light from outside. And did the sky just… shatter? No, not the sky, that was Luna's spell of eternal night. Just what in Equestria is going on out there? There, another flash of light. It seems to be coming from the direction of Victor's Park. Could this have anything to do with that pesky private detective? It's been more than long enough for the hundred or so minions I dispatched to have run him to ground. And where is Ebon Shard? He should have reported back by now.

Almost as if summoned, I heard the crack of displaced air as a unicorn teleports into my chambers. It is the prodigal pony himself, Ebon Shard, his sniper rifle hanging from his back. He sees me and makes his way over to deliver his report.

"Well, what happened?" I ask impatiently.

(Ebon Shard)

Not for the first time I think to myself that I have made a horrible mistake. I was a washout as a guard for Celestia, and barely qualified as a security pony for Night Industries. If it wasn't for Brass Buttons influence I would have never made it into the Night Watch. I shouldn't have let him talk me into it. He's had a hold on me ever since.

Then there was Dr. Double Helix. His offer sounded almost too good to be true. He could fix me, make me stronger, better, perfect, like he was. And like a fool, I fell for that as well.

Months and months of being painfully experimented on. Sure I'm a stronger unicorn now, and my speed and reflexes have improved, but I've yet to see the wings I was promised. I'm yet to ascend to become an alicorn. And then there was tonight.

I was sent to kill a pony. A very slippery pony that I thought I had already taken care of. I tracked him to Victor's Park, and watched what I thought would be a slaughter as Helix's creations had him surrounded. It was a slaughter all right, but not in the way I had expected.

What I saw next was almost too much to witness. This pony, this average little unicorn called down the power of the sun! He transformed into some kind of fire god! It was incredible, magnificent! The most beautiful thing I ever saw. His cry smote the moon! He laid waste to Helix's creatures with barely a thought. Then... he cast his power aside! He gave it up, and changed back into his frail weak body. Unbelievable! Why?

Without even knowing, I had raised my sniper rifle. No, what was I doing? I had to speak to him, I had to know how he did what he did. But I couldn't stop myself. My body was moving on it's own. I watched myself sight him through the scope, and pull the trigger, over and over. I killed the closest thing to perfection outside of Celestia. It was then that I understood what must have had happened. Helix had got me inside his machine at some point. He programmed my mind to obey him, and to forget. I had no way of knowing what memories were real, and what he wanted me to believe.

Without conscious thought I found myself making my way back to his lab. I had to report on my mission. I had to tell my 'master' that I had done as he requested. That I had killed God.

This whole thing was a horrible mistake. I followed a false god, and now I had fallen. My body, which I had hoped to make perfect, wasn't even my own anymore. I was no better than a trotting dead pony.

(Moonlight Shadow)

Tears. How long has it been since I've shed so many useless tears? How long has it been since I have let myself feel what I feel for this pony?

He's so light. Even without a mane, tail, or hair on his body, I would have though he would be heavier. I'm moving through the shadows as fast as I can without jostling him. I don't know why I bother. Even though he's still warm, he's already dead.

What I'm doing is foolish. Pure emotional foolishness. But I have to try, I have to be sure. I look down at the pony in my hooves. Streetlights glint off of the melted remains of his runes, still seared into his flesh. They glisten off of the blood which has stopped flowing from his chest after his heart stopped beating. I want to stop. To cry out in anguish. But I force myself onward. To a hope that isn't even a hope at all. Just confirmation of what I already know.

Finally I arrive at my destination. It seemed to have taken an eternity, but Johnny's corpse is still warm, so it couldn't have been more than minutes.

I rush through the fetid hallways as fast as I can, and kick open the door to the 'office' of Doc Suture. His nurse leaps up in surprise, beginning to lift a crudely made weapon. I rip it from her grasp, and fling it through the wall, causing plaster to rain across the unswept floor. I step toward her, lifting her off the floor with my magic.

"Get the Doctor NOW! Save this pony's life!" I yell, before dropping her onto the floor.

She rises to her hooves, and for a moment I think she is going to attack me, then she gets a look at who I am carrying.

"Johnny?" she says in a whisper of shock. "Oh sweet Celestia!" Then she bolts into the inner office.

It was only a matter of moments before Johnny was laid out on the doctor's table. Doctor Suture was lightning fast as he examined him. Then suddenly he stopped, and his shoulders slumped.

He turned to face me slowly. "He's dead." he said, his eyes drooping and his tired voice filled with regret. Then he looked me right in the eye, and I could tell that anger was replacing his sorrow. "What in Tartarus happened to him?"

(Johnny?)

I opened my eyes… I think. I mean, I used the normal mental process for opening my eyes, but not only didn't I feel the normal semi-wet feeling of my eyelids retracting from my eyeballs, but I could not see anything. All that seemed to be before me was blackness absolute.

I tried to speak, and much as before, although I used the right commands, I could neither feel the thrumming of my vocal cords as sound emitted from them, nor could I hear anything. Nothing at all. Well, that is until a voice cut across the void. A dark deep, and raspy sounding voice, sounding almost distracted and yet still somewhat disdainful.

"A new arrival? And just when I was finally beginning to enjoy my solitude once more. Typical. And, judging by your reactions this must be your first time,{sigh}, an even greater delight. Please, quit your pathetic barking," the voice says lethargically, "you sound like a dog. Your problem is that your mentality hasn't fully adjusted to your new state of being. Be still for a few moments, you'll soon find your sight and other faculties restored."

I took the advice of the scary sounding being, mainly because there was literally nothing else for me to do. Thankfully, he was right. After a few moments my vision returned, and I was able to take my bearings. Before me I saw a pony and not much else.

The pony had a dark gray coat, and a long black mane and tail. He wore a cape and some type of armor. He also had a long curved horn. The horn, and the fact that his eyes were glowing were pretty good indicators that this was no normal pony. In fact, he seemed to be vaguely familiar somehow. Trouble was, without my photographic memory rune, I couldn't quite remember why. Fortunately he cleared up that little mystery for me.

"I suppose you'll have questions. Yes, they always have questions. My name is Sombra, Ruler of the Crystal Empire. This place we are currently residing is Limbo. Call it the thin line between what we were, and what we will become. I'd imagine your next question will probably be something like 'how did I get here?' Although I am not privy to the exact set of circumstances which led to your arrival, I can at least answer the 'how' of it with some certainty. You are here young soul, because you are dead."

Suddenly, my last memories came rushing back. The battle, Godhood, frailty, being shot… a lot. Death. I was dead. I was dead, and my sole companion in this formless Limbo was one of the most vile, evil villains in all of Equestria's history.

"Oh Tartarus", I say aloud.

"Very likely," my companion replies almost absently.

(Doc Suture)

"So let me get this straight, Johnny somehow, someway, channeled the power of the sun goddess, and transformed into some sort of fire pony. Then he destroyed Luna's spell of darkness, disfigured the moon itself, then laid waste to Victor's Park and some sort of army of pony monsters. The he returned to normal, and was shot to death by some shadowy assassin pony who disappeared into the night. Miss have you happened to ingest any illicit substances in the last twenty four hours? I'm not judging mind you, but as a doctor I feel compelled to point out how dangerous and potentially fatal such things can be."

"The only potentially fatal thing in this room at the moment is myself!" The night black pony fired back. "I assure you doctor, everything occurred EXACTLY as I described. An as soon as poor Johnny is seen to I plan to track that pony down and rend him asunder! His remains won't even fill a spittoon. I'll strip the flesh from his still living body, then I'll cover him in brine. Then while he ferments in pain I'll have a custom made set of branding irons commissioned. The largest of which I will personally shove-"

"Yes, yes, hot fiery vengeance," I interrupt, before she becomes more graphic. "But what I need you to be certain about is this, you say Johnny was channeling the power of Celestia. The goddess herself. Are you SURE about that?"

"What? Yes, of course I'm sure. I've seen Celestia use her magic up close. I'd recognize her unique magical signature anywhere. For a few moments it was like Johnny was a miniature version of her."

Nurse Cane gives me a look. She's been with me for years. Long enough to know how my mind works. Long enough to know that I can sometimes, just sometimes, go a little too far in my personal pursuits. I can't help the near manic grin that spreads across my muzzle.

She, of course, sees it. "No Doctor, you can't! It's not right! He's dead! He's dead and that's the end of it!"

"Well… MOSTLY dead." I say, leaving the room and then quickly gathering up some equipment from the closet.

"What do you mean MOSTLY dead?" The pony that calls herself Moonlight Shadow asks me.

"He's dead!" Nurse Cane shouts. "I know what you are thinking, and I want no part of it. I'm leaving Doctor. For good this time! You'll rot in Tartarus for your dark perversions, but you'll do it alone!" She says as she storms out, rattling the door on it's hinges.

"Meh, don't worry about her." I say dismissively. She does this at least once a week. She'll be back after she cools off. In the meantime, I'm going to need your help. We haven't much time, so you'll have to follow my instructions quickly, and to the letter."

"My help? She asks in confusion. "With what?"

"Oh nothing too stressful. You are just going to help me bring back the dead." I try to hold it in, but a chuckle still escapes my muzzle. Even to my own ears it sounds somewhat manic. That's fine. If I succeed, I plan to allow myself a full blown cackle. No other doctor would even dare to attempt what I'm planning. Sure it's a stone's throw away from necromancy. And yes, there is a decent chance that if it all goes wrong we may be facing some horribly twisted zombie pony. A soulless monstrosity been on destroying all life. Ah, but on the OTHER hoof…

(Johnny?)

After a period of time, I managed to calm down. How long that was I have no way of knowing. I was floating in a limitless void. It may have had color, it may not. Sometimes it seemed white, other times gray, other times a pastel yellow. When I mentioned this, my companion absently said that it was all based on perception. That in this realm, everything was only as real as you wanted it to be. I also didn't seem to have a body. Just a formless white misty cloud of being. I assume this is what they call a soul. This I also questioned the pony known as Sombra about. His reply was that I could take the form of anything I wished. I just had to concentrate hard enough. Easy enough for him to say considering my brain, (or lack thereof), is still scrambled from my arrival to this non-place.

I suppose I should say a little more about him, after all he was quite famous. He was currently floating on a large elaborate throne. The cushions were red velvet, the wood dark, almost black. It was quite ornate, with the figures of ponies and dragons and gargoyles and griffins adorning every inch of it. I couldn't quite call it garish, more old world regal. The pony on the throne by contrast sat with his head propped up on his hoof. His gaze was thoughtful, introspective, and totally not focused on me. It was like I was some bothersome fly buzzing around him as he was trying to concentrate on some vast intellectual puzzle. Or at least that was how it appeared to me.

He would respond if I spoke to him, but when I ceased to speak, so did he. It seemed I was a distraction that he did not want or need. For some reason, deep down I was a bit fearful of what would happen if I ever truly got his undivided attention. It was as if some inner instinct was warning me against doing so. This caused me to curb my normally smarmy nature and only ask him brief questions that I felt were too important not to.

"So. What's the alcohol situation here?"

(Moonlight Shadow)

"So you've done this kind of thing before? Successfully?" I ask, watching the doctor put together what looks like a larger and more powerful version of his healing apparatus.

"Well, I suppose that depends on your definition of success," he replies absently. "I mean, despite minimal damage to my office, and a great deal of cleaning due to splatter, I survived, and so did Archimedes," he says gesturing toward his pigeon which was perched on the edge of the ceiling light shade. "So from my perspective, I'd call that a success."

"I feel like I should be arresting you." I say, suddenly becoming alarmed.

He cackles to himself. "No, no I don't think you want to do that."

"I'm pretty sure I do," I reply, taking a hoofstep toward him.

He stops everything he is doing, and looks me in the eyes for the first time. "Miss 'Shadow'. What exactly do you know about magic?"

The question catches me off guard, and before I can reply he continues.

"Never mind. You'll just offer some some foolish diatribe about spells and their usage. What I asked Miss Shadow is what do you know about magic itself. What it essentially is!" He begins to pace on his side of the table as he warms to the topic, still fiddling with his machine as he does so. "Magic, Miss Shadow, are tiny little miracles of probability alteration. If I were to teleport an orange from on side of a table to the other, what I am in fact doing is lowering the probability of the orange existing on one side of the table to zero, and raising the probability that the orange exists on the other side of the table to one hundred percent. A unicorn has the ability to use a constantly replenishing source of special energy that occurs inside their bodies. This energy directly affects the nature of probability. Literally anything is possible for a unicorn to learn how to do as long as they have enough knowledge and energy to do so. Those are the only two limits. Knowledge of the subject, and how big their own personal energy pool is."

I interrupt. "Wait, so you're saying that with this device to help you, you can bring Johnny back to life by changing the probability of him being dead to zero, and to him being alive to one hundred? You can actually DO that?" I say in shock.

"Oh no, no. Not a hope in Tartarus. Between the amount of damage, how long he's been dead, and various other factors, the odds of him becoming whole and hale are so ridiculously large I'd never have a hope of bringing him back." He says, before returning to his machine.

Despair crashes down on me once more. "Then what in Tartarus are you doing?" I say, my voice choking with emotion.

He stops once more, his face softening with compassion. "Oh my dear, I only said that I could not bring him back. Not by myself, with this device alone. But think, think about it! Johnny was, for a few brief moments, just like Celestia. An alicorn is infinitely more powerful than a simple unicorn. Every cell of his body was saturated with god-like power. And even though he sent it all back to Celestia, a residue of that power still remains within him. Probably forever.

What I am proposing we do is to use my device to tap into that residue of goddessness. That near limitless potential that is saturating his very being. That power should be more than enough to restore Johnny. Providing of course that there is still even the tiniest spark of life remaining. Hence what I said about needing to work fast. Ah, finished. Yes, this looks like it could work."

"Then by the Sky Stallion just do it already!" I yell, my mind reeling between despair and hope.

He looks at me blankly. "Oh no Miss Shadow. I can't do this. Why do you think I said I needed YOUR help."

"W-what do you mean?" I ask, as he moves forward and presses the horn cap in my hooves.

"Why, you yourself said it. Celestia, just like every pony else, has her own unique magical signature. I'd never be able to activate the remains of her magic. Perhaps Johnny could, since it is fused to his body, but for obvious reasons that isn't going to happen. No, the only other pony that could possibly have even a chance of activating another pony's magic would be a relative. And a close relative at that. Say, for example, a sister?" His knowing look scythes across the table in my direction.

"I have know idea what you are implying." I say back evenly. "To the best of my knowledge Celestia only has one sister, and that would be Luna. The nearest closest relative after her would be Candace. But if Luna is who you need, give me just a few moments and I will summon her from the castle. She would be more than willing to help if it meant a chance to save Johnny's life." I say, turning toward the door.

Doctor Suture grabs my hoof. "No, No, there's no time for that. If Johnny is to have a chance, we need to take it now. I SUPPOSE if Luna isn't available to help us, then we will just have to rely on you anyway. Your magical abilities are far stronger than mine. Yes, I'd say if any pony in Whinnyappleous has a chance of awakening the remnants of Celestia's magic, that it could only be you."

I start to protest what he is implying once more, but he cuts me off.

"Stop, just stop. I don't care. Just put this on your horn, and let me power up the machine. We are only going to have one shot at this, so be prepared to give it everything you have."

I try to quell my uncertainty and fear. Ponies lives have depended on me before, but not like this. I have to find my resolve, my self assurance. Johnny needs me. I'm the only one that can save him.

"Systems are ready, power is on. Alright Miss Shadow, here's what I want you to do..."

(Sombra)

There is somepony else here.

I think.

Hmm, POTENTIALLY there is somepony else here. Providing of course that I didn't imagine him up myself subconsciously. On the other hoof, if I were to imagine a companion for myself I'm sure I could do a better job of it than this blathering idiot. Hmm, on the other other hoof if I were to subconsciously summon up a companion then perhaps it WOULD be someone like him. Someone so vastly different from myself as to make for a contrasting dialog. On the other other other hoof, it is just barely possible that he is, in fact, real. And if THAT is the case perhaps I can use him as a means of escape. Interesting.

Well, I suppose that since I am out of hooves, that it would be best to find out one way or another.

"All right, I've made up my mind." I say sitting upright on my throne, startling the potential pony before me out of his inane chatter of useless questions.

"Y-you have?" he manages to stammer out, without a bit of respect or regard to the fact that he floats before a King.

Potential proof number one that he isn't real. For what pony living or dead would fail to fawn before King Sombra?

Unless…

Unless somehow this pathetic excuse for a pony's soul is also royalty? Is that possible? He sounds so, so… ordinary. Of course I have no way of knowing just how long I have been in this place. And he IS the first other being I have encountered here. Perhaps this is the section of Limbo has become reserved for royalty. That would explain the decided lack of other ponies here recently.

I suppose it would be best to simply ask.

"You there, chattering spirit. Are you a King?"

(Johnny)

King? Did he really just ask me that? He went from being lethargic and all but unresponsive to suddenly becoming animated and giving me his undivided attention. And he asks me if I am a king.

Okay Duskwind, don't be stupid here. Think a moment before you respond. On the one hoof, if I tell him the truth, given my knowledge of his reign over the empire, he'd probably decide I wasn't worth his notice. Or worse yet, he might try to make me into one of his slaves. Bound to serve him eternally in the afterlife. {Shudder}

On the OTHER hoof, do I really have the balls to try and put one over on one of the most evil beings ever known? Knowing that the moment he discovers I've been lying to him I will probably face a tortuous and very slow punishment?

Ah, who am I kidding. OF COURSE I'm going to lie to him. When am I ever going to have another opportunity like THIS come along?

"King? Don't be foalish! No king reins while Celestia draws breath. I am the royal Prince, next in line to the throne, were something to ever happen to her or our my beloved aunt Luna. But why would you even have to ask such a thing? Doth not mine regal bearing, and royal inflection make it glaringly obvious?" I say with all the disdain I can muster. "Shall I be forced into the tedious process of listing my linage? I assure you it traces it's way all the way back to Princess Platinum herself!"

"Indeed?" Sombra replies with a raised eyebrow. "Remarkable! To think my cousin's proud line has diluted itself all the way down to the spirit I see floating before me. By the Sky Stallion! How much time must have past since my last demise… It only goes to show that strict breeding simply must be maintained. Upon my next resurrection, I shall be sure to implement harsh breeding policies to insure a strong stock, both for the royal line, and for my slaves"

Well, if nothing else, I've managed to get his undivided attention. I might as well play this out.

"I would be insulted sir, had those words been spoken by a pony of worth, as opposed to the mere cast off branch of the family tree. A long dead branch I might add."

"Hahahahaaa. Well spoken. At the very least Platinum's line has still maintained their sharpness of wit. Well, then scion of Platinum, name yourself, and manifest your physical form. It's only a matter of will, surely a pony such as you purport yourself to be isn't lacking in willpower."

Uh-oh. This could be a problem. But then again, Sombra did say that everything here is shaped by a ponies will. I suppose I don't have any choice but to try at this point.

I focused my mind on an image. An image of a unicorn of noble linage and regal bearing. Then I began to feel something about me begin to warp and shift. It was working! I concentrated on that image as hard as I could even as I spoke the words out loud.

"Prince Blueblood, at your service." I say as the form of Celestia's hated nephew coalesces around me.

I execute a formal bow. Low enough to acknowledge that the pony before me bears regarding, but not quite low enough to signify the respect due to a king.

"Prince Blueblood eh? Sombra says, floating over to me, inspecting my borrowed looks. "Yes, yes, I DO see the vestiges of Platinum's line in you." He says raising my chin up in his hoof to examine me.

I slap his hoof away absently, as if swatting a fly.

"One does not paw a Prince of Canterlot," I say with a full measure of disdain in my voice. "Were we in the palace, the severed remains of that hoof would even now be on it's way to the royal taxidermist to be stuffed and mounted as an example to others.

A flicker of immeasurable rage passes across Sombra's muzzle, but he masters it. I'd wager that aside from when he was destroyed, no pony would even consider standing up to him as an equal, let alone actually striking him.

I'm putting all my eggs in one basket with this play. It all hinges on him considering me an equal. And to do that I can't let myself be seen being frightened or intimidated. Fortunately, if ever there was a pony that could match Sombra's arrogance, it is the likeness I am using now. Prince Blueblood is practically a legend around Canterlot. His nose is stuck so far into the air that pegasi use it to navigate by. And I've been forced to endure his company enough times at court to be able to mimic him well enough to fool at least the likes of Sombra, who has never even met him before now.

"Interesting. You certainly comport yourself like royalty. But not so much like the last dregs of nobility I was forced to endure before I conquered my empire. There's a fire in you Blueblood. You lack the softness of the pampered. Yes, yes indeed. I am no fool Blueblood. You seek to deceive me with your words!"

Oh sweet Zacherle, he's on to me. Crap, crap, crap…

"Yes, how presumptuous of you, to seek to fool me. You say no king can rein while Celestia and Luna sit upon their thrones. You think to mislead me away from your obvious ambitions."

"Ambitions?" I say, confused.

Drop the pretense Blueblood, I see through your weak playacting. You seek the dual thrones for yourself! Admit it!"

Waah?! O-Okay, I can work with this.

"It seems I have underestimated the keenness of his Majesty's insight." I say, bowing once more, lower this time. "You have found me out."

"Of course I have. Your inane babble when you first arrived had me thinking you were some peasant. But then you couldn't resist me calling you out when I deduced that you were actually royalty. And your reaction to being touched without permission. Those soft whimpering fools I used to deal with would not have dared to strike me so, royalty or not.

Time has not dulled the keenness of my eye, or the sharpness of my whit, no, no indeed. So you seek the diarcy do you?"

Okay, round two. Time to dance.

"It shall be mine! Too long have we been forced to endure Celestia's wasteful ways. Ponies have grown soft and weak under her rule. And she herself has grown complacent. Mighty weapons have been found and forged since your reign King Sombra, but what has been done with them? Have we expanded our borders? Have we conquered new territory? Does the hooves of our armies strike fear into the hearts of the lesser races when we stride forth into battle? No, no, and no again!

Peace, and love and friendship. That is the core of the religion she espouses! And how long will it be before every other race in Equestria sees us as weak, and soft, and ripe for conquest!

Only I can see clearly through the shroud of pink and white covering Canterlot. Only I understand what MUST be done! And once I have overthrown my dear aunts, then it will be I KING Blueblood, that shall lead Equestria into a new age of pony rule!"

By the Sky Stallion that was overblown. Hopefully though, Sombra is old school enough to actually believe me. I stole most of it from one of the speeches from the main villain from that Batmare ponaudio serial they play every Sunday firstnight. What was her name? The Jester?

"Yes, Yes! You DO understand! For far too long have the pony tribes been led by weak minded fools! Only I had dared to forge and empire based on strength and fear! Had those treacherous alicrons not bested me in the past, by now my empire would have spanned the globe!

Join me Blueblood! Join my cause! Sooner or later one of us will have the chance to return. When that days comes let us pledge to find the means to resurrect the other and usher in a new age of conquest! Quickly now prince, what say you, will you join with me?"

I pretend to consider his words, trying not to show my revulsion at his almost manic gaze.

Suddenly something happens. A point of red and black appears above me. Even as I watch it begins to expand itself. Now it is a whirlpool, a vortex of ebony and scarlet. It swirls above me, and I can feel the force of it. It's tugging at me, pulling me inside, and I can no more fight it than I could try to fight the might of the ocean.

"Blueblood, this must be it! Something is trying to pull you back! Quickly, swear to me, swear that you will see me restored! Swear this Blueblood and your reward will be great! The very world will be ours!"

I look back at the diminishing form of Sombra, as I am drawn into the maelstrom. Dang it! I just can't resist.

"Actually, now that I think about it, it's probably best if I leave you here for right now. More world for ME to conquer don't you know. But don't worry, once I have taken over the world, I'll be sure to bring you back to life. After all, every king needs a good court jester!"

Oh THAT did it. Now he's REALLY mad.

"A thousand curses upon you Blueblood! This isn't the end of this, mark my words! I WILL return to the land of the living! And when I do, so help me, the first thing I do will be to hunt you down!

And rest assured, once I get my hooves on you, the agonies I inflict upon your wretched and broken body will make you beg for the release of death once more! Do you hear me Blueblood? I will k-"

Then his voice was lost to me in the roar of the vortex. I honestly have no idea what is going on, or where this thing is pulling me to, but one thing's for sure, it has to be better than where I just was.

(Moonlight Shadow)

By the Sky Stallion! How much longer? I had been pouring everything I had into Suture's stupid contraption for nearly thirty minutes, and so far nothing has changed.

Johnny is still lying there, cold and still. No. No! He CAN'T be dead. There must be something left, just one tiny spark… anything. I grit my teeth and bear down, straining myself well past my limits. I don't care if I burn myself out, I don't care if it kills me, I won't let him go! I won't!

My eyes blur from my tears. They fall down onto Johnny's unmoving form, spattering on his face. By all the true gods, there must be something, some way! How can I just let him go? How can I go on without the pony I L-

"Sheesh Moonlight, knock it off. Are you trying to give me a bath?"

Johnny?!

Author's Notes:

Okay first off, sorry this took so long. I blame it on three things. Firstly Sombra did not want to be written as I wanted him to be. My original take on him was one of a distant and absent minded Sombra who had been in the void for too long. But no, that just wasn't how his personality played out. To that end, I feel really bad for Prince Blueblood if Sombra ever manages to get free.

The second two things were health related. I went to one doctor to get my eyes checked. (Yes I had to get glasses). But then had to go to another doctor because my bp was insanely high. (This scared de heck out of me because it was never like that before). The second doctor says it may have been caused by the medicine my other, other, doctor had been giving me for the pain of my fractured spine. So he took me off of my pain meds, and put me on bp meds. And told me to up the protein and get rid of carbs and sugars. (No more potatoes and rice?! Waaaah!)

So anyway, lot of personal junk. Sorry bout all of that. I'll try to get the next chapter out faster.