Sombra's Sorrow
The story starts when Grogar brought the villains together, and is explaining his plans for them.
Prologue
Sombra was only half listening to Grogar. His attention was being drawn to a feeling deep inside him. It was familiar, yet strange; painful, yet comforting; and it was slowly growing bigger.
"Sombra." Grogar said. "Are you going to join us?"
After a moment, he answered with, "No."
"And why not?"
He looked at the ancient and powerful goat. "Things are sturring, Grogar. Things even you don't know about." He began backing away from the group. "Things even you would not be able to understand." And with that, he dissappeared in a puff of smoke.
"What did he mean by that?" Cozy Glow asked.
"I'm not sure, but it doesn't matter. My plans can work with just you three."
Chapter One
It was a beautiful day in the Crystal Empire, and the crystal ponies were all out enjoying it. They knew nothing could ruin this day; untill a large cloud of smoke revealed their former king and tyrant. They all began panicing and running away, expecting him to start mind-controling them. But when he didn't, they all stopped and stared at him. Why is he just standing there? was the thought on everyone's mind.
At this time, the royal guards apeared. They were ready for a fight, but instead Sombra just said, "Take me to the Royals."
The guards hesitated, but escorted him to the throne room. When they arived, Princess Cadence and Prince Shining Armor were very surprised to see the former King.
"How is this posible?" Cadence asked. "You were defeated long ago. You're suposed to be dead."
"I know." was all he said.
"Well, however you're back, I'm sure the reason is to take back the Empire." Shining Armor said.
"No, actually."
"Then why are you here?"
The feeling inside him was stronger than ever. It was begging him to say it. He sighed and looked Cadence straight in the eyes. Then he said, "I need your help."
Cadence didn't answer imediately. Does he really expect me to belive him? she thought. This has to be a trick, right? But as she looked at him, she began to see the genuine look in her enemy's eyes. Slowly, she asked, "Help with what?"
Sombra expressed a look of shock, and this triggered something else inside him. It sent a sharp pain through his body, causing him to let out a cry. The world went red, and he began attack mercilessly; laughing maniacly. He almost defeated them, until he saw the young princess Flurry Heart. He stared at her. She was smiling at him with wide eyes full of wonder. Those eyes; they're just like...
There was another sharp pain, another cry, then silence. Cadence ran over to her daughter and picked her up. She turned to Sombra, feeling foolish that she had trusted him. But what she saw made her feel complete and utter shock. Sombra was crying!
He looked at her and said softly, "Please, help me." then colapsed from exaustion and pain.
She looked at her husband, hoping he would have an answer on what to do.
"We'll put him in a secure cell, then send Twilight and her freinds a message that we need their help." He looked at the unconcious Sombra. "I just hope this isn't a huge mistake."
Chapter Two
Twilight and her friends were talking in the map room when they got the message. She opened it and began to read aloud;
"Twilight, we have a situation here that we can't handle on our own. We need you and your freinds. Bring the Elements of Harmony, and please hurry. Sighned, Shining Armor. That's all it says."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Rainbow-Dash said. "Let's get going!"
"Right!" they all said.
They went to the Tree of Harmony, got the Elements, then headed for the Crystal Empire.
When they arived at the palace, they were greeted by Shining Armor.
"Shining!" Twilight said, happy to see her brother.
"Twily!" He said as they hugged.
"So, what's going on?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you. So, come see for yourself."
He led them down to the dungon, to a cell guarded by Cadence and two royal guards.
Seeing them, they stepped aside so they could see who was in the cell. Looking in, they all gasped.
"Hello." sad a familiar voice.
"Sombra!" they all exclaimed.
"That's right. Suprised to see me?"
"How?!" Twilight asked.
"We don't know." Cadence said. "He just told us a name; Grogar."
"The Grogar?"
"Yes." Sombra said. "He brought me back, though I know not how. But unknown to him, he also brought back...something else."
"What?"
Sombra looked to Cadence. Understanding, she told the others what he could not.
"The real Sombra. The essence of who he was before the darkness corrupted him. It's inside of him now, but it's slowly slipping away."
"Why didn't he tell us?"
"Because every time he tries, the shadow inside takes over completely. It took him five tries just to tell us that much. Each time he got a few words out, he'd go into a rage and try to attack anyone and everyone."
"But if the true Sombra is slipping away because of that, we can't risk him trying to tell us more."
"Then how do we find out what to do?" Rarity asked.
a few moments passed, then Pinkie-Pie yelled out, "I know!" When everyone was looking at her, she explained her idea: "Remember when Discord's seeds took over the Tree of Harmony and kidnapped Celestia and Luna?"
"Yeah."
"Well, do you also remember the potion Zecora gave Twilight?"
"The potion let me see the past!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Exactly."
"Pinkie, you're a genius! I can use it to see what happened to Sombra and find a way to save him!"
Smiles went all around, even to Sombra. He dared not say thank you, for it would intice the shaddow, but he gave Twilight a look she never thought those evil eyes could convey; gratitude.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." she told them. "I just hope Zecora still has it." In a flash of magic, she was gone.
Cadence then turned to Sombra and asked, "Are you ok? Is there aything I can get you?"
Touched by her consern for him, he said, "I'm fine." then swallowed hard.
Knowing he was trying not to sound weak so as not to anger the shadow, she smiled and told one of the guards, "Please bring me a glass of water."
Nodding his thanks, he could feel his true essence ever so slightly grow bigger.
Chapter Three
When Twilight arived at Zecora's, she called for her zebra friend.
"Twilight, you come to me in a flurry," she answered. "But what is the cause of your hurry?"
"It's kind of a long story, but I need the alicorn potion. Do you have some?"
Zecora walked over to a shelf crowded with potions and elixers. "You are in luck my friend, but the vial is almost at it's end." She grabbed the vial and placed it on the table.
"I don't think that's enough," twilight said worriedly. "Can you make more?"
"Alas, I don't have what I need, and it is hard to find graylend seed. But if you know what it is you seek to see, you can do it almost potion free."
"How?"
"If a pony who was there sips the potion also, you both will see without it getting too low."
"We do have someone! Thank you!" Twilight hugged her friend, grabbed the potion, then teliported away.
Back at the Crystal Empire, everyone was waiting. It was quiet, the only sounds the breathing of each pony. Sombra had his eyes closed, but you could still see the smoke coming from them. Cadence never really studdied his features, but she thought she knew them well. However, she never noticed how skinny he was untill now. Her thoughts were interupted by a flash of light and the return of Twilight.
"I got it!" she said.
"Wonderful!" Cadence said. "Now you can see what happened."
Twilight walked over to Sombra and held out the potion. "Drink."
Too tired to ask why, he sipped half of the liquid. when his horn began to glow white, Twilight drank the rest. as her horn began to glow, a thin white strand of magic flowed between them, then their eyes flashed open, glowing brightly.
As they waited, the others, (as suggested by Pinkie), began to guess what might have happened.
Twilight opened her eyes to see she was standing in front of a small house in the Crystal Empire. It was a bit run down, but looked cosy. She glanced to her right and saw Sombra staring at the house. Before she could say anything, the front door burst open to reveal a young gray crystal stallion with a black mane and tail, green eyes, and a green crystal cutie-mark. In his mouth he held an old scrap of parchment. He ran down the street to a bigger, nicer house.
"Is that...you?" she asked when Sombra came to stand beside her.
He nodded. "I was not always as you see me now. I was...normal."
The front door to the other house opened to reveal a young white crystal mare with a light green mane and tail, light opal eyes, and a green flower cutie-mark. She smiled at seeing the young stallion in front of her.
"Who is that?" Twilight asked.
"Cryssie."
She turned her gaze and saw Sombra's eyes filled with remembrance and regret.
"She was so beautiful. I fell for her the moment I first met her." he looked down and sighed. "Crystal Lilly was the only one I ever loved. But it was not to be."
"Why not?"
The world flashed and they were standing in a cave. It was night, and the moon shone brightly.
"This...is where it happened."
They watched as young Sombra found the alicorn amulet, put it on, and be consumed by smoke. He cried out in pain, but it slowly started turning into maniacal laughter. He managed to get the amulet off, but it was too late; he was already transforming into the evil conquorrer he was in the presant.
"I should never have followed that map."
"The parchment you carried earlier?"
He nodded. "It was a map to a priceless artifact. I thought if I found it, Cryssie's father would let me propose to her."
Twilight felt a small pang of sympathy for her enemy as the world changed back to the dungon where her friends waited.
Everyone bombarded Twilight with questions, each one drawing closer for an aswer.
"Silence!" Sombra yelled. "Let the princess speak."
All obeyed, and Twilight told them of what she had seen. When she finished, everyone looked over at Sombra, who only stared back with pleading eyes.
"So how do we proceed?" Cadence asked.
"I'm not sure." Twilight answered. "Maybe we should start by bringing the alicorn amulet here, and see what happens?"
When all her friends nodded, she teleported to the castle in Canterlot. She raced down halls and corredors to a highly secure vault that only a princess could open. Stepping inside, she saw the amulet on a pedestal in the middle of the room. Supressing the desire to put it on, she grabbed it and went back to the dungon.
As soon as she held it out to Sombra, his face changed to an evil smile, and the smoke from his eyes turned red. "You fool!" he yelled in a much deeper voice. "You've brought it right to me! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Twilight quickly took the amulet to the other end of the room, hiding it under her wing. Slowly, he returned to the way he was, asking what happened. When Cadence told him, he sighed.
"As you know, not all of the amulet's magic transfered over to me. If it had, I would have wings as well as a horn. It is desporate to be whole once more, but the magic in me will not transfer back as easily as the other way around."
"Don't worry," Twilight assured him. "I will gather the most powerful and knollagable ponies in Equestria and we will find a way."
At that, everyone except the two guards left the dungeon and went to the throne room.
Chapter four
Twilight began issuing out tasks at once. "Pinkie, you and fluttershy go find Sunburst. Rainbow-dash, you and Applejack stay here with Shining incase of trouble. Cadence, you go to Canterlot and get Celestia and Luna. I'll go back to Ponyville and get Starlight. Rarity, you look after Flurry Heart while we're gone." Everyone nodded, and started their appointed tasks.
Down in the dungeon, Sombra could sence the amulet calling to him. It would be so easy to just let go; stop fighting. Just let me take control. the shadow said in his mind. Why delay the innevitable? He was close to giving in, but a voice he hadden't heard in so long told him to hold out; to not give up. He smiled, knowing his true self was still there.
After about an hour, everyone was in the the throne room. Luna, who had expereance with dark magic, began to speak.
"Though the Elements of Harmony were able to restore me to my true self, I am afraid they will not be sufficient for this. Nightmare Moon's evil magic was of my own making, and Sombra's is not of his."
"What if we also use the Crystal Heart?" Cadence suggested.
"Perhaps." Sunburst said. "The Elements could strengthen the Heart's magic tenfold. That combined with a transferance spell could do the trick."
"We'll also need a protection spell so the shadow won't consume any of us." Starlight added. "We don't want to have to do this more than once."
"It apears we have all we need." Celestia said. "Except one thing; love."
"That's right." Cadence agreed. "Without someone who loves Sombra, the heart will be useless to us."
Twilight smiled. "Then it's a good thing there's a special somepony in Sombra's life!" she exclaimed as she rushed off to the house she had seen in her vision.
As she came to the door of the house, her heart beat fast, hoping the mare she sought still lived there. She tapped her hoof on the door, and a moment later a graying green and red stalion opened it with a smile.
"Why hello Princess!" he said cheerfuly. "What brings you by our humble home?"
"Hello sir. I was wondering if a young mare named Crystal Lily lived here?"
"Yes indeed! That's my daughter." He turned slightly and called out, "Hey Lily! There's someone here to see you!"
After what seemed an eternity to Twilight, a young, beautiful white and green mare walked up to her and smiled. "Oh my!" she exclaimed. "The Princess of friendship! what an honor to meet you!" She bowed slightly, then asked, "What can I do for you you're Highness?"
"Just Twilight is fine."
"Ok then; Twilight."
The Princess smiled. "Crystal Lily, it's very important that you come with me to the castle."
"What for princess?" her father asked.
"It's a bit to complicated to explain now, sir. And we must go at once."
"Very well." he turned to his daughter. "Go on then, Lily. You do whatever is asked of you, and mind your manners." He kissed her forhead and gave her a small scootch out the door.
"Yes sir." she replied as she followed the princess.
As the two entered the castle, Crystal Lily couldn't help but stop and stare. "Wow! The craftsmanship in the sculpting of these crystals is amazing! I've read about them in the library, but to see it..." she stopped her gazing when she noticed the inquisitive look on Twilight's face. Blushing, she said, "I'm a crystal designer. I can make pretty much anything out of any kind of crystal out there."
Twilight smiled. "Come on. There's someone you need to see." She led her through many coridores and down a long flight of stairs. At the bottom, she stopped and turned to the now nervous mare. "Just past here are two royal guards. tell them I sent you, and that I want them to leave you and...the pony they're watching alone for a moment."
Confused and scared, Crystal lily nodded and slowly went past the Princess, down the hall, and up to the guards. She told them what she was told to say, then stood alone as they walked away...or so she thought.
Chapter 5
Sombra, exhausted, had been laying in the darkest corner of his cell asleep. Until faint vioces touched his ears. His slumber disturbed, he scrunched his eyes tight trying to stay asleep. When one of the voices came closer, his brows furrowed; not in anger, but in thought. The voice was familiar to him. It was soft and sweet; kind and gentle; tender and loving.
"Hello? Is anyone here?"
His eyes flashed open, their unnatural glow shining in the darkness. What he saw nearly stopped his blackened heart. Standing slowly, his mouth could only form one word; "Cryssie?"
Crystal Lily jumped at the sudden flash of light, then nearly fainted at the sound of her old nickname. "S..S..Sombra?" she stammered. "Y...You're back? Again?"
The former king could only nod, for his mind couldn't find any words to say to his former love.
"I thought you were dead." she stated bluntly. "I watched as Princess Cadence destroyed you."
Finally able to form some words, Sombra stammered out, "You watched that?"
"Well, yes. The whole empire did. It was..." Searching for the right word, her face slowly turned sollomn. "In all honesty, it was hard for me to see that happen to you. Even though I knew you deserved it. After all, you enslaved us remember?" Her face quickly changed to anger. "How could you do that! I thought I knew you! I even thought I loved you! Then you go and start calling yourself King Sombra and doing all those horible things! Do you have any idea how much you hurt me?"
He listened to her until he couldn't take any more. "It wasn't my fault!" he yelled. Then more quietly he added, "And yes I do know how much I hurt you, for it hurt me just as much."
Taken aback, she narrowed her eyes and said, "What do you mean it wasn't your fault?"
Her question was answered with a deep and omonous laugh as he shut his eyes. When they opened, the purple smoke turned red and an unrecognisable voice said, "It was mine. As is this!" He shot out a surge of dark magic, enough to permanately injure her.
She screeched in fear, but it didn't hit her. A purple energy field shielded her from the blast.
"Alright Sombra." Twilight said as she emerged from the shadows. "That's enough talking. Come on Lily, let's go."
The two guards returned to their posts as the two mares left, but before they were out of earshot they heard a loud, "You can't save him Princess! Not even with her! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
At the top of the stairs, the two were met by Starlight.
"Twilight, we have a problem." she said. "In order for our plan to work, Crystal Lily will have to..." she paused and looked to the scared young pony of whom she spoke. "Have to be consumed by the Crystal Heart's power."
Twilight gasped. "But only an alicorn could survive that since the Elements are supercharging it."
"I know. It would be fine if there was more than one pony, but there's no-one else willing to give love to Sombra."
"No-one?"
Starlight shook her head, then said "I know what your thinking Twilight, but none of us can do it. We all need to help with the spells."
It was then that Crystal Lily spoke. "I'll do it by myself. I realize now how much Sombra has had to go through, and I have to help him; no matter the cost."
Twilight turned to her and asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes; I am."
Chapter 6
As Twilight and Crystal Lily were in the dungon, the others worked out a plan for saving Sombra.
"Ok everyone," Starlight said. "We all need to do our part to make this work. Applejack, Rainbow-Dash, Rarity, Pinkie-Pie, and Fluttershy, you guys and Twilight will focus all of the Elements' power into the Crystal Heart." They all nodded.
"Celestia and Luna, you're in charge of the protection spell. We don't want anyone to be corrupted by the amulet's power." The sisters nodded.
"Cadence, you're in charge of the containment spell. With the Heart's power being supercharged, if it got out of cotrol it could destroy the castle; or even the whole Empire." She nodded.
"Sunburst, you and I will be doing the transferance spell so the shadow will leave Sombra and trasfer into the amulet." He nodded.
"Is there anything that you need me to do?" asked Shining Armor.
Starlight nodded. "You will gather everypony in the Empire at the train station. If something goes wrong, you are to evacuate them on the train to Ponyville."
He nodded, then turned to his wife. "I will keep Flurry Heart and our kingdom's ponies safe. You just make sure they have an Empire...and a Princess...to come back to." They shared a loving kiss before he left to do as Starlight said.
As they all prepared for their roles, Sunburst and Cadence began to descuss the most crutial part of their plan; love.
"With all that power going into the heart, it will need a lot of love in order to work." Cadence said.
"But with all of us doing our jobs, we won't be able to give any." Sunburst said with worry. "And there's only one crystal pony who's willing." Pausing, he looked at his princess with deep sadness. "She will have to give all the love inside her."
"But to do so, she will have to be consumed by the Heart's power. She'd never be able to withstand all that energy inside her."
Starlight, who had been looking over the spells, overheard the conversation and frowned. Walking over, she asked them, "Are you sure?" When they nodded, she said, "Not a word of this to Sombra. If he new, the worry would quickly turn to anger and he would go out of control."
Chapter 7
As sombra was led to the Heart, he felt something strange, and it grew as he got closer. Realizing what it was, he smiled. You're afraid, aren't you? He thought. You fear their plan will succeed. You fear going back into that amulet, don't you? His smile grew when the shadow didn't answer, but dissapeared when it suddenly said, She will die, and it will be your fault.
When he arrived at the heart, he saw everyone in a circle around it. Crystal Lily smiled at him, then walked over. "We're going to save you, Sombra. I promise." At that, they walked into the circle.
Twilight and her friends set the plan in motion when they came together in the air as the Elements beamed their power into the Heart. As it began to spin, Cadence preformed the containment spell, a wall of magic appearing around them. Next, Celestia and Luna preformed the protection spell, yellow and blue auras appearing on each pony.
And then it was time for the transference spell. Starlight and Sunburst put all their magic into the heart, the beams from their horns twisting together to create one beam.
As Sombra watched, he was mystified by the effort put in to save him. His gaze moved to Cryssie, and she smiled her loving smile. She stopped however, when Starlight yelled out, "Crystal Lily, now!" She walked over to the Heart, and yelled out as loud as she could; "I LOVE SOMBRA!"
Sombra was horrified to see a large beam of energy flow from the Heart onto Cryssie, pulling the love out of her. He tried to run to her, to stop everything, but he couldn't move. The transference spell had already started, and he was lifted into the air.
Sombra began to cry out in pain as a red stream of light began flowing from him into the amulet. Slowly, the smoke frome his eyes disipated, and his horn dissapeared. His coat began to change color, as well as his eyes. When the pain lessened, his cries stopped, and his eyes closed. When the transference was complete, he was lowered to the ground as everyone stopped their spells.
When all magic had gone, he opened his eyes to see everyone exhausted but with smiles on their faces. Looking into a reflective crystal pillar, he saw a regular crystal pony looking back.
"I...I'm me again." he said smiling. When he saw Cryssie's reflection apear, he turned to her and said, "I'm back."
She nodded and said, "I'm so glad we were able to bring you back." She hesitated saying the next thing, but his smile convinced her. "I love you, Sombra."
Chuckling, he said, "I know. You yelled that out earlier, remember?"
Blushing, She looked away and quietly said, "Oh, right."
Sombra took her face in his hoof and turned it to face him again. "Thank you, Cryssie, for loving me." She smiled, though it was smaller than he expected. He also noticed her eyes starting to close. "Cryssie, are you ok?"
"Yes." she said quietly. "You're back, and that's all I need. I'm...happy..."
Her body went limp, and Sombra's eyes widened with worry. "Cryssie? What's wrong? Cryssie?!" Looking back to the others, his pleading eyes aked them what was happening.
They all gave him sollumn looks and Cadence simply said, "This was her choice. It's what she wanted."
Fear gripped Sombra's heart. "No. No, this can't be happening. She can't leave me after I just got back. I can't lose her! Cryssie! Cryssie please! Don't leave me!"
Tears flowed down his face as he gently shook her still form, trying desperately to wake her up. Everyone else had tears falling also, unable to contain their sadness.
"Cryssie! I need you! Please wake up! Please." He stopped shaking her and calling out. His tears flowing like a river, he closed his eyes and let out a yell so full of grief it broke the others' hearts.
Leaning down, Sombra hugged the love of his life, and said, "I love you, Cryssie."
After he spoke those words, the Crystal Heart glowed brightly. A beam of light flashed onto her, causing her body to glow. It grew brighter and brighter, and then suddenly vannished. Hope entered their hearts as they watched for something to happen.
Growing impatient and worried, Sombra once again gently shook her and asked, "Cryssie, can you hear me?"
After a moment, she opened her eyes and said, "Yes, I can." With Sombra's help, she stood up and smiled. "I guess I scared you, didn't I?"
Wiping the tears from his face, he said "Yes you did. And don't you ever do it again!"
"I won't; I promise."
"Cryssie, I love you." He was startled by lips pressing against his. when they pulled away, she said "I know." Her lips pressed against his again, and this time he embraced them by pressing back. their kiss was long and pationate, only ending when they needed to breathe.
Chapter 8
When Shining Armor led his subjects back to the castle, they were all astonished to see a normal Sombra standing with Crystal Lily in front of the heart.
"Everyone, may I have your attention." Cadence said. "I am happy to announce our plan worked! Now, I know it will be a bit strange for a while, but I want you all to treat Sombra like you would any other pony."
To set an example, Shining Armor walked up to Sombra and held out his hoof. Sombra shook it, both smiling genuine smiles.
Moving to stand before everyone, Sombra spoke. "I know that in the past I did aweful things to you all, and I won't blame you if you never forgive me. But I promise I will do everything I can to make things right. Starting with this."
He took the amulet and held it high for all to see. He then gave it to Celestia and said, "Hide this in a place where no-one will ever be able to find it."
"I will." she replied. "And if we can, we will find a way to destroy this artifact of evil for good."
Turning back to the crowd, Sombra said, "I have one more thing to say." He motioned Cryssie to stand beside him. "None of this would have been posible with out you, Cryssie. I don't deserve your love, but I do share it. I love you more than anything or anyone, and I want to dedicate the rest of my life to you." He took her hoof in his and said, "Crystal Lily, will you mary me?"
Before she could answer, her father yelled out, "Wait!" He walked up to them and said in a stern voice, "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Blushing, Sombra turned and asked, "May I marry your daughter, sir?"
"Only if you'll forgive me for refusing you before. If I had accepted you, you wouldn't have gone off to find that amulet to prove yourself worthy."
Sombra nodded. "I forgave you long ago."
Smiling, her father said, "You have my blessing."
Turning back to Cryssie, Sombra again took her hoof in his and asked, "Crystal Lily, will you mary me?"
Cheeks bright pink with joy, she yelled out her answer. "YES!"
Cheers rang out as the entire empire was happy that things were finally over. No more King Sombra, no more dark magic. Just love, light, and joy for all to share.