08-19-2015, 07:44 AM
Chapter 13: Love, Breakfast, & Dark Happenings
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I was warm. It was the first thing my steadily awakening mind realized. I felt warm and safe. Alive. Loved. I exhaled deeply, my face nestled into soft, black fur. "Nightmare...," I whispered her name mentally, pulling her closer to me. It felt so natural to hold her close in my embrace, to feel and hear her breathing softly beside me, to go to sleep knowing she would be there when I opened my eyes again. Everything felt different, elation lingered in my chest to a point where I felt like my soul was ascending to something greater. It was like something had fallen into place. It was meaningful. Like it transcended all else in the universe.
With these thoughts I opened my eyes to see her. Her. Nightmare Rarity. My love. She was still asleep, her mane a bit messy but still gorgeous, her expression...happy. The trace of a smile on her lips, the memory of kissing her making me smile and my cheeks heat up. Her eyes opened, instantly meeting mine as though it had always been that way.
"Hi," she whispered, smiling, a lock of her mane drifting over her face slightly. Glinting with little star like sparkles.
"Hi," I replied, and somehow I felt I pulled her closer, despite us already being so close together. A slight laugh escaped me, my movement causing the blanket to slip off our shoulders somewhat, exposing me to the chilled room. However I felt warm in her grasp as she looked at me still. "Figures, we say 'Hi.' The most cliche thing a...couple," I almost tasted the word on my tongue as I said it, "can say to one another when they wake up face to face."
"Hmm," she grinned, moving her face closer to mine, "it's still wonderful either way."
I grunted as I stretched my limbs, attempting to drag myself out of bed, only to find she was playfully refusing to let go of me. Smiling devilishly.
"Ah ah ah, your Queen has not given you permission to leave," she stated matter of factly, pulling closer to her once more. The desire to stay with her increased at the feeling of warm body and soft fur, the gentle rise and fall of her ribs, but then my stomach let out a massive gurgle. "Way to disrupt the mood," I mentally scolded my gut, but I remembered I hadn't eaten any actual food in...well, a long time. Nightmare Rarity raised an eyebrow in amusement at my obviously self conscious expression.
"Well...breakfast together isn't so bad either."
------
Sombra sneered in disdain as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, however he quickly calmed himself with the notion he would not have to hide like a criminal and a vagabond much longer. His eyes glowed despite the bright sunlight as he activated the power within himself, his body becoming an amorphous inky looking shadow that melded with the ground perfectly. He progressed through the Crystal Empire perfectly unnoticed as nothing but a shadow, sliding along the ground and walls of buildings, passing the shining crystal ponies. Occasionally one would shudder and gasp as his presence passed them by, knowing a familiar feeling of dread washed over them in a few brief seconds before he passed them by.
For the moment he planned on hiding out in the mountains, he had a number of followers from his days as their king, and it was time to alert them his presence...
------
Making our way through Ponyville wasn't as pleasant as I had been hoping for, most of the ponies gawked at us in some form or another or I felt the flicker of a stare on my back. I had my arm wrapped around her shoulders, her body pressed against mine as we searched for a place to eat together.
"You know I think this is the first time in months I've actually been awake for breakfast," I said with a suppressed laugh, causing her to raise an eyebrow.
"Late to rise?"
"Yeah...I stay awake most of the night."
I saw a glint of teasing amusement enter her sapphire eyes before she replied, "Awake most of the night, shun the day. We're going to get along better than I thought," she chuckled as we approached one of the restaurants...only for the door to slam shut with a "CLOSED" sign pinned up to the window. I glowered, feeling anger bubbling up in my stomach, traveling to my chest. I knew it was most likely because of her. I had half a mind to throw a good sized rock through one of their windows followed up with a great loud-
"Come, let's find another place," Nightmare Rarity said, a hint of annoyance in her voice but I think she could tell I was getting angry and brushed her shoulder against my body purposefully, the anger subsiding almost immediately. We turned to find several ponies scrambling and running away from us. They'd been staring. I hated that feeling, it made me hold Nightmare a bit closer, her soft black fur soothing me further.
"Not fond of being looked at?" She asked as we resumed walking. Most of the buildings were simple and small. Pleasant, even. Some ponies carried out their business as usual, not even acknowledging us. The grass was green and must have been freshly cut because I could smell it strongly.
"No. Hell I walk into the break room at work and get nervous when I see too many people in it," I replied, feeling a pony stare at me as we passed, though out of the corner of my eye I saw the pony shrug and go about her way.
"If it helps they're probably staring more at me than you," Nightmare said, gesturing with her head towards a restaurant that had slammed its doors shut. I kept expecting it to happen but it never did, thankfully, so we entered. It was a nice place, several tables out in the center and booths off to the sides along the walls, secluded yet inviting. Purple leather adorning the seats, a waitress mare remaining professional and taking us to one of the booths, though the look of fear that flashed in her eyes did not go unnoticed by either Nightmare or myself. We took our seats, sitting across from each other, colorful menus waiting for each of us.
Eagerly I opened it...but quickly found myself wondering if I'd actually be able to eat anything here at all. Hayburgers...hay fries...stuff involving daffodils and daisies.
"I assume meat is out of the question?" I chuckled.
"For the average pony, yes, sadly," Nightmare replied, still looking over her menu.
"'Average pony?'" I repeated, looking at her.
"What? You don't think these teeth are just for show?" She flashed me a smile, revealing sharp teeth. She chuckled at my wide eyed look.
"Sorry," I said, shaking my head to snap myself back into the present, "kinda hard to imagine a pony eating meat." I felt relief when I saw, at the very least they had pancakes and eggs available.
"Guess I'll be having pancakes and eggs then," I said.
"I suppose I'll have the same, never had it before."
"The best part is the syrup...also I need new clothes. Been wearing the same stuff for like, three days now."
"Well, I doubt Rarity would make clothes for you, but I'll see what I can do."
"What's your...connection with her anyway?" I asked, carefully choosing my words.
"Long story."
"We've got time."
"That we do."
------
Sombra exhaled as he made his way down the secret passage in the old cave on the outskirts of the Empire. His eyes glowing malevolently in the darkness as he proceeded down the steps, his breaths coming out as great puffs of white clouds, water dripped and trickled from the rocks above. The cave didn't smell too pleasant either. His curved red horn glowed to provide the light he needed, his old hideout suddenly brightened at his command, a crystal embedded in the ceiling overhead acting as a light bulb of sorts. Ancient yet beautiful, it hadn't aged a day. It cast its white light on the cave, illuminating all in sight. He grinned broadly.
From here he would spread the word to his followers who had patiently waited in the shadows, soon it would be time to retake the Crystal Empire...and and all of Equestria would soon follow. He could already imagine the fear his return would cause and the glory of his conquest...he could all but taste it.
"All in due time," he spoke aloud to himself. "All in due time."
-----
I was warm. It was the first thing my steadily awakening mind realized. I felt warm and safe. Alive. Loved. I exhaled deeply, my face nestled into soft, black fur. "Nightmare...," I whispered her name mentally, pulling her closer to me. It felt so natural to hold her close in my embrace, to feel and hear her breathing softly beside me, to go to sleep knowing she would be there when I opened my eyes again. Everything felt different, elation lingered in my chest to a point where I felt like my soul was ascending to something greater. It was like something had fallen into place. It was meaningful. Like it transcended all else in the universe.
With these thoughts I opened my eyes to see her. Her. Nightmare Rarity. My love. She was still asleep, her mane a bit messy but still gorgeous, her expression...happy. The trace of a smile on her lips, the memory of kissing her making me smile and my cheeks heat up. Her eyes opened, instantly meeting mine as though it had always been that way.
"Hi," she whispered, smiling, a lock of her mane drifting over her face slightly. Glinting with little star like sparkles.
"Hi," I replied, and somehow I felt I pulled her closer, despite us already being so close together. A slight laugh escaped me, my movement causing the blanket to slip off our shoulders somewhat, exposing me to the chilled room. However I felt warm in her grasp as she looked at me still. "Figures, we say 'Hi.' The most cliche thing a...couple," I almost tasted the word on my tongue as I said it, "can say to one another when they wake up face to face."
"Hmm," she grinned, moving her face closer to mine, "it's still wonderful either way."
I grunted as I stretched my limbs, attempting to drag myself out of bed, only to find she was playfully refusing to let go of me. Smiling devilishly.
"Ah ah ah, your Queen has not given you permission to leave," she stated matter of factly, pulling closer to her once more. The desire to stay with her increased at the feeling of warm body and soft fur, the gentle rise and fall of her ribs, but then my stomach let out a massive gurgle. "Way to disrupt the mood," I mentally scolded my gut, but I remembered I hadn't eaten any actual food in...well, a long time. Nightmare Rarity raised an eyebrow in amusement at my obviously self conscious expression.
"Well...breakfast together isn't so bad either."
------
Sombra sneered in disdain as he pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, however he quickly calmed himself with the notion he would not have to hide like a criminal and a vagabond much longer. His eyes glowed despite the bright sunlight as he activated the power within himself, his body becoming an amorphous inky looking shadow that melded with the ground perfectly. He progressed through the Crystal Empire perfectly unnoticed as nothing but a shadow, sliding along the ground and walls of buildings, passing the shining crystal ponies. Occasionally one would shudder and gasp as his presence passed them by, knowing a familiar feeling of dread washed over them in a few brief seconds before he passed them by.
For the moment he planned on hiding out in the mountains, he had a number of followers from his days as their king, and it was time to alert them his presence...
------
Making our way through Ponyville wasn't as pleasant as I had been hoping for, most of the ponies gawked at us in some form or another or I felt the flicker of a stare on my back. I had my arm wrapped around her shoulders, her body pressed against mine as we searched for a place to eat together.
"You know I think this is the first time in months I've actually been awake for breakfast," I said with a suppressed laugh, causing her to raise an eyebrow.
"Late to rise?"
"Yeah...I stay awake most of the night."
I saw a glint of teasing amusement enter her sapphire eyes before she replied, "Awake most of the night, shun the day. We're going to get along better than I thought," she chuckled as we approached one of the restaurants...only for the door to slam shut with a "CLOSED" sign pinned up to the window. I glowered, feeling anger bubbling up in my stomach, traveling to my chest. I knew it was most likely because of her. I had half a mind to throw a good sized rock through one of their windows followed up with a great loud-
"Come, let's find another place," Nightmare Rarity said, a hint of annoyance in her voice but I think she could tell I was getting angry and brushed her shoulder against my body purposefully, the anger subsiding almost immediately. We turned to find several ponies scrambling and running away from us. They'd been staring. I hated that feeling, it made me hold Nightmare a bit closer, her soft black fur soothing me further.
"Not fond of being looked at?" She asked as we resumed walking. Most of the buildings were simple and small. Pleasant, even. Some ponies carried out their business as usual, not even acknowledging us. The grass was green and must have been freshly cut because I could smell it strongly.
"No. Hell I walk into the break room at work and get nervous when I see too many people in it," I replied, feeling a pony stare at me as we passed, though out of the corner of my eye I saw the pony shrug and go about her way.
"If it helps they're probably staring more at me than you," Nightmare said, gesturing with her head towards a restaurant that had slammed its doors shut. I kept expecting it to happen but it never did, thankfully, so we entered. It was a nice place, several tables out in the center and booths off to the sides along the walls, secluded yet inviting. Purple leather adorning the seats, a waitress mare remaining professional and taking us to one of the booths, though the look of fear that flashed in her eyes did not go unnoticed by either Nightmare or myself. We took our seats, sitting across from each other, colorful menus waiting for each of us.
Eagerly I opened it...but quickly found myself wondering if I'd actually be able to eat anything here at all. Hayburgers...hay fries...stuff involving daffodils and daisies.
"I assume meat is out of the question?" I chuckled.
"For the average pony, yes, sadly," Nightmare replied, still looking over her menu.
"'Average pony?'" I repeated, looking at her.
"What? You don't think these teeth are just for show?" She flashed me a smile, revealing sharp teeth. She chuckled at my wide eyed look.
"Sorry," I said, shaking my head to snap myself back into the present, "kinda hard to imagine a pony eating meat." I felt relief when I saw, at the very least they had pancakes and eggs available.
"Guess I'll be having pancakes and eggs then," I said.
"I suppose I'll have the same, never had it before."
"The best part is the syrup...also I need new clothes. Been wearing the same stuff for like, three days now."
"Well, I doubt Rarity would make clothes for you, but I'll see what I can do."
"What's your...connection with her anyway?" I asked, carefully choosing my words.
"Long story."
"We've got time."
"That we do."
------
Sombra exhaled as he made his way down the secret passage in the old cave on the outskirts of the Empire. His eyes glowing malevolently in the darkness as he proceeded down the steps, his breaths coming out as great puffs of white clouds, water dripped and trickled from the rocks above. The cave didn't smell too pleasant either. His curved red horn glowed to provide the light he needed, his old hideout suddenly brightened at his command, a crystal embedded in the ceiling overhead acting as a light bulb of sorts. Ancient yet beautiful, it hadn't aged a day. It cast its white light on the cave, illuminating all in sight. He grinned broadly.
From here he would spread the word to his followers who had patiently waited in the shadows, soon it would be time to retake the Crystal Empire...and and all of Equestria would soon follow. He could already imagine the fear his return would cause and the glory of his conquest...he could all but taste it.
"All in due time," he spoke aloud to himself. "All in due time."