CHAPTER 11
Hey everypony. I'm back, I guess. Finally got chapter eleven written. I'm gonna try to get this thing done as quickly as possible, mainly cause I wanna get it done for you all like I said I would. But before I begin the chapter, I want to take the time to speak to you, all of my readers on a personal level. Some of you have followed this series from the very beginning. You have seen Drake through the best and the worst of his life, and in a way, you have shared in his joy, his pain, his hope and his fear through it all. You were there when he lost it all following the massacre. You were there with him when he fell in love, and when he adopted Budder and became truly happy. You have seen his darkest secrets and his deepest emotions...
Drake is very much me. The things he has been through, I have been through. Some details have been changed, of course, but everything Drake has felt and experienced are drawn from my own life, and the things that have changed me, hurt me, driven me and given me hope. You have all gotten to know ME so well over the past 10 months...
Drake has always said that his friends were his family. Being there with Drake through all of this, you have become HIS family in a way, and inasmuch, you are all my friends. Thank you all so much for reading Drake's story. It's been a hell of a ride, and now it looks like it may finally be over...and I just want to say that it has been my greatest honor to share Drake's story with all of you. Now me and my little girl get our wish. Drake and Budder will live forever. Thank you all. Now on to the chapter...
"Alright..." I began, standing before the two tied-up unicorns. Daring had out-planned me, and brought a few rings designed for just this occasion, and after slipping them onto the horns of the unicorns, they were no longer able to use their magical advantage. I looked between the two. "You know, I have some stuff that's been really eatin' at me lately...and maybe you two can help me out."
"You...you come to stop our king from returning to his rightful place as ruler of..." The entire time the leader went on with his predictable and lengthy monologue about his lord returning and enslaving the world, I simply stood there and wagged my lips mockingly. "...and you expect me to cooperate with such pitiful half-ponies?! Begone and prepare to humble yourself before..."
"OKAY!" I shouted, shutting him up. "Can you stop with the whole 'Sombra, bringer of doom' thing? You can cut the shit, cause I'm not impressed." He stared at me blankly. "I'm having a really shitty day, and all I want are a few answers out of you two. You help me out, I might be inclined to let you go...scot free, no questions asked. You screw with me...Luna help me, as big of a turn as this day's been, I'm liable to turn your face inside out." The two unicorns stared at me a moment, as if unsure what to do.
"He'll do it too..." Dash added. "I mean, the whole turning your face inside out thing. The whole letting you go thing...that's like the best deal you two are gonna get. I'd say you go for it." They hesitated a moment, then the leader sighed.
"Well, what do you want to know?" He asked coldly.
"Y'all were doing a ritual to bring Sombra back." I stated. "And it required giving him a vessel to enter so that his spirit could have a physical form. I already know all this and more, just so you don't try to do something stupid like lie to me." I gave them a second to process that. "One thing I want to know is...how is the vessel chosen?"
"We prepared several possible vessels every generation." The leader spoke. "Drawn from adversity and abandoned at birth. The vessel must be physically strong, of a good mind and constitution, and be in every way an acceptable proxy form for our Lord Sombra." Why did those requirements sound so terribly familiar?
"You choose the vessel, but Sombra is really the one to pick the one he wants." I pressed.
"Yes. That is correct." The unicorn answered.
"And once Sombra picks his body, is there any way to get him out?" I asked, getting to the point I really wanted to know. The leader of the unicorns cocked his head slowly, as if thinking deeply on my question as he stared at me intently. A small smile appeared on his face.
"I see." He returned. "One of you then...Lord Sombra had chosen one of you to be his vessel...very interesting..."
"Answer my question." I growled angrily. "Is there a way to get him out of the vessel before he takes over...yes...or no?"
"Of course there is." He answered jovially. "One way, and it is very simple."
"What is it?" I asked curiously, trying hard not to betray that it was me that harbored the spirit of their king.
"If the vessel is killed before Sombra fully assimilates them, our lord's essence must return to his horn to await his reawakening yet again, and another vessel worthy of his patronage."
"The vessel has to die?" I repeated. My heart rate increased, and I felt a little light headed. The leader smiled again.
"Oh, I am sorry..." He said sarcastically. "Doesn't leave you many choices, does it? I assume then...that you are the Vessel of King Sombra? I can see how this news doesn't sit well with you, being a nonbeliever...at least your life will be worth something, bringing back the rightful King of all ponies..." The next thing I knew, my muzzle was an inch from his. I felt my face growing hot, and my head was throbbing with pain.
"My...life?!" I huffed. "That...is my family over there. THAT is my life, and that is why I'm worth something, you son of a bitch!" I'd had about enough of this idiot. "I want Sombra out of my body, now! You hear me?! You're gonna work whatever voodoo you have to, but you're gonna do it, you hear me?!"
"It is not my choice." He answered calmly. "King Sombra chose you, and I will not interfere with the will of my king...even if I could." I felt a darkness growing, taking over my vision, and clouding my thoughts. He leaned forward, even closer to me. "I see him in you..." The unicorn stallion whispered. His lips turned up in an evil sneer. "Long...live...the king..."
The next thing I remember, I heard my sister scream. It was like being awakened from a dream, and as my vision cleared, I realized that I was still standing before the cult leader. My double-edged dagger was sticking out of his throat as he lay back against the wall of the cave, a pool of blood around his lifeless body. I stepped back and tried to piece together what had happened. I turned to my family and Daring Do, confused and scared. To make things worse, they looked every bit as frightened as I was. I stepped toward Dash and Budder, and they took a step back.
"Drake?" Dashie asked. "Is that you?"
"Dash...wha...what happened?" I questioned. "I'm me...I just don't know what happened...did I..."
"You killed that pony." Daring stated, answering my question. "Or...I guess Sombra killed him, but yeah..."
"Fuck..." I muttered.
"And that ain't all." Daring spoke again. "Right before you knifed that guy...you said something..."
"What...what did I say?" I asked nervously.
"It wasn't you talking..." Dash said. "It wasn't your voice, Drake."
"Sombra..." I concluded.
"You said..." Daring began. "Unworthy servant. You will pay for your insolence."
"I guess the fucker didn't like the way his little cabana-boy was talking to me." I sighed.
"You okay now?" Daring asked, and I noticed for the first time that she had her curved Arabian knife in her right hoof. That was a little disconcerting, but I understood her motives, and respected her intent. If I'd gone full-on Sombra, she wasn't gonna let me hurt my family.
"I'm alright." I replied, then gave her a dutiful nod. "And thanks." I added solemnly.
"I'm glad you are." She returned.
"Bubby...don't let him win." My sister said meekly, walking up to me slowly. "Please."
"I don't plan on it, angel..." I whispered.
"You can't...I need you."
"I know...
"What do we do, Drake?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"I don't know." I answered stoically.
"Drake, he said you have to die to get Sombra out of you!"
"I know." I said for the millionth time.
"Maybe there's another way." Daring offered, stating the obvious. My gaze immediately jerked to the other unicorn, still tied up beside his dead comrade. I was quickly in front of him, and the younger stallion looked up at me with fear in his eyes.
"There has to be another way to stop this!" I said, making it sound like an order. "And you're gonna tell me!" He cringed like a beaten dog.
"No, I swear!" He exclaimed. "He was tellin' the truth! You have to die to release yourself!"
"Explain that, huh?!" I shot back.
"If...if your heart stops beating, it severs the l...link between your life force and King Sombra's...that's how it works! You're n...not gonna k...kill me, are you?!"
"Well, that depends..." I answered. "Right now, I don't feel like your master is taking over my mind, so I think you're safe." I paused a moment. "Unless you lied to me..."
"NO! I DIDN'T, I SWEAR!" He exclaimed. I drew my saber.
"Drake?!" Dashie called out fearfully. I slashed out with my saber, cutting the ropes that bound his forehooves. Now free, he sat there a moment, staring at me in confusion.
"Get the hell out of here." I stated. "Go on...before Sombra comes back and kills you too." He nodded, stood and backed away slowly. Then he turned and cut out in a dead-gallop in the direction he'd come. I turned to my family and Daring, and let out a sigh. "No more blood on my hooves." I muttered with a nod.
"I love you, Drake." Rainbow Dash said. "You ain't nothing like Sombra."
"And I plan on keeping it that way." I stated.
Hopefully, there will be more to come. I'll try to get the next chapter up soon, my friends. -Drake