Post by Mal on Jul 14, 2016 13:53:36 GMT -5
Stygian could be found seated at the edge of a crystalline pond, staring at it with disdain. The things a pony had to do for survival when he didn't have a palace with creature comforts... like goblets, and a servingpony to get the water. Ugh. Drinking from a glorified puddle was so beneath him. But he was thirsty- needs must, alas. With a resigned sort of sigh he leaned down to drink from the pond. Just as well nopony who knew him was nearby, right?
Lord Sombra still remained in these woods, but he mostly kept out of camp for as long as he needed to. As long as he liked. Hope could spend time with Amore and the old man (and his strange obsession with hats). Sombra would rather be left alone. It was just unfortunate that he didn't have his rooms to lurk in, perhaps with a book or two.. Just these woods, and the filth. Even if he was an umbrum, having a physical body still meant getting dirty, hungry.. sleeping on the ground. An aggravating existence. Little came of Sombra's distraction before, so he wandered, and sought for water as Sombra grew thirsty. There had to be water nearby, but he knew it wouldn't be as clean as he'd like. It'd come to some surprise that somepony would be there already.
Stygian's ears twitched at the sounds of hooves nearby, and he swiftly stood up from the water so as not to be seen doing something so embar- uh, in case they meant him ill! Yep. He was adrift who knows how far from his home, and it just wouldn't do to be caught off-guard by some feral denizen of the woods. Especially not in this weakened, disguised form he'd assumed to elude detection by his enemies. What he had not accounted for, however, was the figure that stepped into view. If he'd been holding anything, he might well have dropped it in shock. Instead, he just stood there looking a little stunned by the appearance of the other. Who... How..? This ticked over in his brain for a long few seconds before the pick hit the ore and understanding dawned. It worked. He'd probably been staring too long to not have attracted the other's attention by then, so the other notably grey horse with a black mane - though curiously without wings? - would have time to speak first, if he was going to.
Lord Sombra thought he'd seen a glimmer of water through the trees, shafts of sunlight coming down through the canopy glinting off what had to be water. It was good enough for him. Sombra strolled towards it, still decked out in all his glory, despite his lack of a kingdom; but he was still a king, and he would present himself as such. Even out in the wilderness, living off of it like some filthy commoner- Sombra snapped out of his thoughts when another pony became apparent in his view, standing there and staring at him. The king was caught by how much this pony looked like... him. Like looking in a mirror. His breath had caught in his throat a moment before he let it out. They couldn't possibly be an imposter, not with those wings; and strange wings, at that. Living in the Crystal Empire all his life made the existence of bat ponies escape his knowing. "Who are you?"
Stygian canted his head to one side briefly at the sheer oddity of hearing what was almost his voice exactly coming out of somepony else's mouth. That was going to take some getting used to... At the question he regained his composure at last, standing in his usual regal stance with his wings flared- even if it was somewhat lessened by his mane and tail not being as impressive as normal. The batpony offered the mirror a smirk. "One might ask the same of thee," he commented, sounding... amused? He stepped toward the other with confidence, intending to circle him with a studious eye if so allowed. "But to ask, would then assume I am equally unknowing of what circumstance led here." He swished his tail in a showy manner and strode to the water again. "Is not your name Sombra? This world is thine... And not mine own." His tone was equally one seeking confirmation as much as stating the facts as he saw them.
Lord Sombra eyed up that change in stance with a quick flicker of those dual-toned eyes, though the green corneas were significantly pale, taking advantage of seeing himself not in a literal mirror. It was interesting to see how he held himself, and walked, if this one was as similar to he as Sombra thought. The voice that rolled out of the other sounded like his own, if perhaps different; but it was difficult for himself to know what he truly sounded like. Sombra lifted his head when his counterpart approached, allowing the study; he studied him in turn. "It is indeed. King Sombra." He was vain and prideful, arrogant enough that he didn't mind a show of title. "World?" Sombra mused with a soft rumble. "A simple word that brings sense to this meeting.." He'd never known of other worlds, but it might explain the double set of memories he'd struggled with ever since leaving the icy north. "How did you come by this one?" Oh he had many questions..
Stygian chuckled at that, if somewhat curtly. "Ah, but of course... King Sombra," he acknowledged, "A title fit for thee, I am sure." The batpony folded his wings back as he sat down and peered up at the sky. To think he was really in another world now... But his original plans had already encountered a stop, with the advent of his other self. This was going to be complicated. Hmm. The question pulled him from his thoughts, where he could only offer a noncommittal roll of his shoulders. "The mage's work is thus; hounding the ability to skip planes on a whim." He looked back down at the pond, and skillfully kicked a pebble to bounce across the surface of it for emphasis. "I must confess, I had thought myself merely translocated until first our paths crossed. To think, success has come at last..."
Lord Sombra moved, turning himself to face his other self and sank down into a sitting position. His ironshod hoof flicked his cape up briefly so it wasn't pressed into the ground while he watched, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth. "A mage with a long beard, I presume?" Sombra asked in a musing tone and shook his head; it wasn't an important question to answer. "I did not think it possible." All of Starswirl's study into neighboring worlds was after his time, and kept silent for a reason. Those red eyes followed the skip of the stone. "You intended to come here, or to cross realms?" Sombra posed that question, despite the possibility it might be obvious. He wanted to confirm it. Truly, another Sombra in this world might complicate his own plans, or.. provide further misdirection.
Stygian turned also, and glanced at the other at the mention of the long beard. Hah. Even in whole other worlds it seemed some things remained the same. "Thy world was not chosen specifically, from what I can gather," he clarified. "At least, not by any from mine own. Perhaps some greater force reasoned we might meet so soon? I can certainly not deny it has raised... ideas." That jackass smirk of his resurfaced briefly. "Not normally would one such as myself form alliances, but to meet one's very reflection is hardly a matter of normal." He shot a piercing look at the other. "Is not thy presence in this humble vale indication that there is power yet to be attained? Our goals may well be aligned."
Lord Sombra caught the look, but he remained quiet on the matter while his counterpart spoke in answer. Greater force.. Fate? He wasn't sure, sometimes, if he even believed in it, though destiny certainly lead him to what he'd become. "I do believe it is possible to form a trustworthy alliance with oneself when no others are as worthy." His smirk faded and his snout wrinkled beneath the metal guard of his crown. "I have many questions to ask of you how your world may work, compared to mine own.. I have power, and had a kingdom which has twice been stolen from me by the damned princesses that rule Equestria." It didn't hurt to reveal such to the other Sombra, for surely he wouldn't be judged as.. a failure. "They think me dead after my last fall, and I have plans I've yet to set in motion in order to regain my empire while they are unawares. What might your goals be?"
Stygian listened well, and made no smart comments regarding being twice bested. He was an arrogant sod himself, but even he understood that the most powerful warrior alive could not avoid defeat forever. That was a matter of common sense. Things happened. If anything, those events had certainly pushed his other self into this backwater region so the two of them could meet. Similarly, had he not volunteered to be the first to try the mage's newly perfected spell then he would not have been the one to meet his other self. Fate worked in funny ways like that. "I had aimed only to expand my influence," he stated truthfully. "The method of which I would now shift to favour thy return to power. It is perhaps far more logical than to assault a foreign plane alone... especially if these 'princesses' are powerful enough to strike us down." What manner of beings could they be to defy what to him seemed the natural order of things?
Lord Sombra's expression was a dark one, anger under the surface at these misfortunes, but the lack of negative response from his other heartened him somewhat. These things happened sometimes, didn't they? Sombra was back, and more experienced than he had been in the past; even his second fall was the cause of error in his haste. Haste from anger spurred on knowing another princess had tried to take the Crystal Empire from him. Sombra would get it back. It was just a matter of time. He listened. "Generous," Sombra remarked with a faint return of his smirk; generous, only to himself, "Indeed. I would appreciate it greatly. I daresay my current... traveling companions would not be so helpful. They might even try to hinder me would they find out, at least.. one of them may." Amore. He snorted. Hope's loyalty was to him, fully. "It would be prudent of me to tell you of my plans, in that case."
Stygian canted his head to one side at the mention of others. "Companions?" he echoed. "Perhaps plans should be laid in the event they become a liability," he offered in the same tone of voice one might use to state that the sky was blue. He held little faith in others, evidently. To the offer of the others' own plans, he was intrigued. "Do tell, my fine self. Then we may establish where my prowess is best utilised to further them."
Lord Sombra dipped his head in a nod. "I'm sure it will be quite easy to deal with them. None could possibly stand against me." There were a variety of ways. Mind control, turning them to crystal as he'd done to Amore, murder. He might not have to go so far as that, though. It'd be easy for him to simply leave them all in the woods here, and sweep for Canterlot. Sombra pulled himself out of this line of thinking at the sound of his counterpart's voice, bidding him to talk. The usage of fine brought an amused smile. "My aim is to head to the royal pony sister's castle, 'neath a carefully crafted disguise that will make me appear normal to them. To pull the strings of their emotions to see what I can find of use to me in this modern age. There are certain.. memories, memories that I now believe to be from another not unlike us, that suggest they might be greatly susceptible to this. This is what I have decided thus far. There are variables, of course, but I am willing to test the waters. Once I have what I need, I can return to the empire to put it to use."
Stygian looked thoughtful as his other self spoke. "'Tis a thing most peculiar that true warrior blood be driven to subterfuge, but if these enemies are truly such an insurmountable threat otherwise, then perhaps 'tis the only option of any avail," he mused. "I may offer my skill in spells to assist the creation of thy disguise. No offense intended, but thy current appearance is hardly well hidden- if such was thy aim." The batpony rose to stand, and moved into a wider space away from the other. He shifted his stance to be more grounded, though lifting one front hoof from the earth, and stretched his wings out as far as they would go. "On the other hoof..." he continued with appropriate theatrics. A swirl of magical light in signature pale green, a far cry from the darkness-infused power they both tended to wield otherwise, enveloped his form in a rapid twister which obscured him from view. It was only a few seconds later that the twister started to spin itself out and break apart, revealing the 'batpony's truth. His height had increased notably, placing him about half a head taller than the other. His wings were larger, but remained in their bat-like style. His pitch-dark mane and tail were significantly longer now, and flowed gently in a display of his magical might. But of course, the most noteworthy shift was the return of that characteristic red-stained curved horn. Unlike the other king, however, he remained unclothed. A personal preference, perhaps. "I have had some practice with this craft in my time," he finished at last, casually, as if that entire show hadn't just separated the two halves of that sentence.
Lord Sombra rumbled his agreement. It wasn't his- their- way to hide, but to be at the top of it all. The true and rightful king, who none should challenge. He inclined his head as the other Sombra spoke further of his.. disguise. What disguise? The king's head turned to follow his counterpart as he moved away with spread wings. He felt a glimmer and saw the whirlwind of magic that surrounded the other, which when it faded, revealed... Sombra was left, surprisingly, speechless though he knew he had something to answer. The display was worth it, for his other revealed himself to be an alicorn. What he was not. Everything he could become. The power in it. "Impressive." Sombra managed once he regained his voice. What was he to tell him? Nothing but the truth, of course. He didn't, wouldn't, lie to himself; not to that face. "I am remiss to reveal I am nothing so grand. A unicorn I am in this life, in appearance; I am but an umbrum. Disguises I can certainly weave, but I've naught but dark magic at my disposal."
Stygian took a while to return his forehoof to the ground, as if he'd forgotten the posture he'd adopted. He finally took a moment to kick out each of his legs and to stretch his wings. Somehow being confined to a more compact form left him feeling oddly... cramped, when he invariably returned to himself. Probably some strange cross-universal law of magic, or some such irritation. The mage would know more about that than he did. The revelation caused a lift of his brow in mild surprise. Huh. "Is that so?" To both the race and magic statements. "Perhaps it is an even greater fortune that we have met, then. Thy enemies will surely not be prepared for such as myself." Having at last settled back into his own body, he moved for the pond again- this time to stride right into it and settle down. His pride seemed a little more relaxed in front of his own self. A castle bathing chamber this was not, but it would do. "It would appear the advantage of information is now thine, dear king. I cannot assess how best to use my power without further knowledge of what we may face. Perhaps thou hast formed of some ideas?" A wordy 'what now', if ever there was.
Lord Sombra nodded as a reply; it was, indeed, so. A pity, that, but he was more than powerful enough even in his current existence. "Indeed." He mused quietly, idly studying the newly revealed aspects of the other Sombra, until most was obscured by the pond's water. Originally he came here to drink, but it was just either habit or inhabiting a close-to-normal body that'd done it. It didn't matter to him. An ironshod hoof was lifted to curl under his chin, rubbing at the underside in thought. Sombra saw paths to take. "Some. Do you know of Celestia and Luna? Princesses, and alicorns, though without wings like yours.. They together managed to banish me to ice for a thousand years. Of course, my curse kept them from having my kingdom, too." He smirked. "If you are here, you might make a wonderful distraction.. should you be found. They will not be expecting another, nor that the Sombra they know is right behind them.." Metaphorically. "Even if you go undiscovered.. I do plan to go on with what I have laid out for you."
Stygian spent some time washing and preening, though he was still attentive to the other's words. He frowned at the mention of these alicorns... their names were yet unknown to him. Whatever niche they occupied in his own world was clearly very different to their place here, as a sizeable threat to the true crown. To know they were of his own kind certainly put into perspective why his unicorn counterpart had not been able to fend them off alone. But now, the playing field was far more even. These usurpers would get what was coming to them. All would be as it was meant to. He adopted a studious expression of his double at the mention of serving as a distraction. Hmm... His horn was at once alight with magic again, then washing over his form like the water he was still resting in; with far less flare and drama this time, it soon filtered away to reveal a unicorn precisely as the other appeared to be. The now much more exact mirror grunted softly, rolling his shoulders as if in discomfort. "I have grown far too attached to the presence of my wings," he confessed. "This will take some getting used to."
Lord Sombra, watching the other Sombra wash himself, was reminded he needed to get his own bath at some point. A proper bath, rather than contenting himself to a puddle.. The pains of traveling like a bitless peasant. He was sure it'd be easy to slip into a bathhouse in the middle of the night to do what he wished. Thoughts of baths aside.. Sombra observed the second change into a form much like his own, minus the cape and armor. "It would, wouldn't it." Sombra mused and idly toed his own chin with a metal boot. "Canterlot is where the sisters live now," assuming the locations of their worlds were the same, or similar, "I plan to travel straight there to begin. The snatches of the memories I've seen have told me enough of what disguise to use.. but I won't make it exact so it does not draw too much suspicion." He didn't know how things turned out in that other world.. just glimpses. This plan, the first phase of it, was little more than a leap of faith. It'd have to do.
Lord Sombra still remained in these woods, but he mostly kept out of camp for as long as he needed to. As long as he liked. Hope could spend time with Amore and the old man (and his strange obsession with hats). Sombra would rather be left alone. It was just unfortunate that he didn't have his rooms to lurk in, perhaps with a book or two.. Just these woods, and the filth. Even if he was an umbrum, having a physical body still meant getting dirty, hungry.. sleeping on the ground. An aggravating existence. Little came of Sombra's distraction before, so he wandered, and sought for water as Sombra grew thirsty. There had to be water nearby, but he knew it wouldn't be as clean as he'd like. It'd come to some surprise that somepony would be there already.
Stygian's ears twitched at the sounds of hooves nearby, and he swiftly stood up from the water so as not to be seen doing something so embar- uh, in case they meant him ill! Yep. He was adrift who knows how far from his home, and it just wouldn't do to be caught off-guard by some feral denizen of the woods. Especially not in this weakened, disguised form he'd assumed to elude detection by his enemies. What he had not accounted for, however, was the figure that stepped into view. If he'd been holding anything, he might well have dropped it in shock. Instead, he just stood there looking a little stunned by the appearance of the other. Who... How..? This ticked over in his brain for a long few seconds before the pick hit the ore and understanding dawned. It worked. He'd probably been staring too long to not have attracted the other's attention by then, so the other notably grey horse with a black mane - though curiously without wings? - would have time to speak first, if he was going to.
Lord Sombra thought he'd seen a glimmer of water through the trees, shafts of sunlight coming down through the canopy glinting off what had to be water. It was good enough for him. Sombra strolled towards it, still decked out in all his glory, despite his lack of a kingdom; but he was still a king, and he would present himself as such. Even out in the wilderness, living off of it like some filthy commoner- Sombra snapped out of his thoughts when another pony became apparent in his view, standing there and staring at him. The king was caught by how much this pony looked like... him. Like looking in a mirror. His breath had caught in his throat a moment before he let it out. They couldn't possibly be an imposter, not with those wings; and strange wings, at that. Living in the Crystal Empire all his life made the existence of bat ponies escape his knowing. "Who are you?"
Stygian canted his head to one side briefly at the sheer oddity of hearing what was almost his voice exactly coming out of somepony else's mouth. That was going to take some getting used to... At the question he regained his composure at last, standing in his usual regal stance with his wings flared- even if it was somewhat lessened by his mane and tail not being as impressive as normal. The batpony offered the mirror a smirk. "One might ask the same of thee," he commented, sounding... amused? He stepped toward the other with confidence, intending to circle him with a studious eye if so allowed. "But to ask, would then assume I am equally unknowing of what circumstance led here." He swished his tail in a showy manner and strode to the water again. "Is not your name Sombra? This world is thine... And not mine own." His tone was equally one seeking confirmation as much as stating the facts as he saw them.
Lord Sombra eyed up that change in stance with a quick flicker of those dual-toned eyes, though the green corneas were significantly pale, taking advantage of seeing himself not in a literal mirror. It was interesting to see how he held himself, and walked, if this one was as similar to he as Sombra thought. The voice that rolled out of the other sounded like his own, if perhaps different; but it was difficult for himself to know what he truly sounded like. Sombra lifted his head when his counterpart approached, allowing the study; he studied him in turn. "It is indeed. King Sombra." He was vain and prideful, arrogant enough that he didn't mind a show of title. "World?" Sombra mused with a soft rumble. "A simple word that brings sense to this meeting.." He'd never known of other worlds, but it might explain the double set of memories he'd struggled with ever since leaving the icy north. "How did you come by this one?" Oh he had many questions..
Stygian chuckled at that, if somewhat curtly. "Ah, but of course... King Sombra," he acknowledged, "A title fit for thee, I am sure." The batpony folded his wings back as he sat down and peered up at the sky. To think he was really in another world now... But his original plans had already encountered a stop, with the advent of his other self. This was going to be complicated. Hmm. The question pulled him from his thoughts, where he could only offer a noncommittal roll of his shoulders. "The mage's work is thus; hounding the ability to skip planes on a whim." He looked back down at the pond, and skillfully kicked a pebble to bounce across the surface of it for emphasis. "I must confess, I had thought myself merely translocated until first our paths crossed. To think, success has come at last..."
Lord Sombra moved, turning himself to face his other self and sank down into a sitting position. His ironshod hoof flicked his cape up briefly so it wasn't pressed into the ground while he watched, a smirk curling the corner of his mouth. "A mage with a long beard, I presume?" Sombra asked in a musing tone and shook his head; it wasn't an important question to answer. "I did not think it possible." All of Starswirl's study into neighboring worlds was after his time, and kept silent for a reason. Those red eyes followed the skip of the stone. "You intended to come here, or to cross realms?" Sombra posed that question, despite the possibility it might be obvious. He wanted to confirm it. Truly, another Sombra in this world might complicate his own plans, or.. provide further misdirection.
Stygian turned also, and glanced at the other at the mention of the long beard. Hah. Even in whole other worlds it seemed some things remained the same. "Thy world was not chosen specifically, from what I can gather," he clarified. "At least, not by any from mine own. Perhaps some greater force reasoned we might meet so soon? I can certainly not deny it has raised... ideas." That jackass smirk of his resurfaced briefly. "Not normally would one such as myself form alliances, but to meet one's very reflection is hardly a matter of normal." He shot a piercing look at the other. "Is not thy presence in this humble vale indication that there is power yet to be attained? Our goals may well be aligned."
Lord Sombra caught the look, but he remained quiet on the matter while his counterpart spoke in answer. Greater force.. Fate? He wasn't sure, sometimes, if he even believed in it, though destiny certainly lead him to what he'd become. "I do believe it is possible to form a trustworthy alliance with oneself when no others are as worthy." His smirk faded and his snout wrinkled beneath the metal guard of his crown. "I have many questions to ask of you how your world may work, compared to mine own.. I have power, and had a kingdom which has twice been stolen from me by the damned princesses that rule Equestria." It didn't hurt to reveal such to the other Sombra, for surely he wouldn't be judged as.. a failure. "They think me dead after my last fall, and I have plans I've yet to set in motion in order to regain my empire while they are unawares. What might your goals be?"
Stygian listened well, and made no smart comments regarding being twice bested. He was an arrogant sod himself, but even he understood that the most powerful warrior alive could not avoid defeat forever. That was a matter of common sense. Things happened. If anything, those events had certainly pushed his other self into this backwater region so the two of them could meet. Similarly, had he not volunteered to be the first to try the mage's newly perfected spell then he would not have been the one to meet his other self. Fate worked in funny ways like that. "I had aimed only to expand my influence," he stated truthfully. "The method of which I would now shift to favour thy return to power. It is perhaps far more logical than to assault a foreign plane alone... especially if these 'princesses' are powerful enough to strike us down." What manner of beings could they be to defy what to him seemed the natural order of things?
Lord Sombra's expression was a dark one, anger under the surface at these misfortunes, but the lack of negative response from his other heartened him somewhat. These things happened sometimes, didn't they? Sombra was back, and more experienced than he had been in the past; even his second fall was the cause of error in his haste. Haste from anger spurred on knowing another princess had tried to take the Crystal Empire from him. Sombra would get it back. It was just a matter of time. He listened. "Generous," Sombra remarked with a faint return of his smirk; generous, only to himself, "Indeed. I would appreciate it greatly. I daresay my current... traveling companions would not be so helpful. They might even try to hinder me would they find out, at least.. one of them may." Amore. He snorted. Hope's loyalty was to him, fully. "It would be prudent of me to tell you of my plans, in that case."
Stygian canted his head to one side at the mention of others. "Companions?" he echoed. "Perhaps plans should be laid in the event they become a liability," he offered in the same tone of voice one might use to state that the sky was blue. He held little faith in others, evidently. To the offer of the others' own plans, he was intrigued. "Do tell, my fine self. Then we may establish where my prowess is best utilised to further them."
Lord Sombra dipped his head in a nod. "I'm sure it will be quite easy to deal with them. None could possibly stand against me." There were a variety of ways. Mind control, turning them to crystal as he'd done to Amore, murder. He might not have to go so far as that, though. It'd be easy for him to simply leave them all in the woods here, and sweep for Canterlot. Sombra pulled himself out of this line of thinking at the sound of his counterpart's voice, bidding him to talk. The usage of fine brought an amused smile. "My aim is to head to the royal pony sister's castle, 'neath a carefully crafted disguise that will make me appear normal to them. To pull the strings of their emotions to see what I can find of use to me in this modern age. There are certain.. memories, memories that I now believe to be from another not unlike us, that suggest they might be greatly susceptible to this. This is what I have decided thus far. There are variables, of course, but I am willing to test the waters. Once I have what I need, I can return to the empire to put it to use."
Stygian looked thoughtful as his other self spoke. "'Tis a thing most peculiar that true warrior blood be driven to subterfuge, but if these enemies are truly such an insurmountable threat otherwise, then perhaps 'tis the only option of any avail," he mused. "I may offer my skill in spells to assist the creation of thy disguise. No offense intended, but thy current appearance is hardly well hidden- if such was thy aim." The batpony rose to stand, and moved into a wider space away from the other. He shifted his stance to be more grounded, though lifting one front hoof from the earth, and stretched his wings out as far as they would go. "On the other hoof..." he continued with appropriate theatrics. A swirl of magical light in signature pale green, a far cry from the darkness-infused power they both tended to wield otherwise, enveloped his form in a rapid twister which obscured him from view. It was only a few seconds later that the twister started to spin itself out and break apart, revealing the 'batpony's truth. His height had increased notably, placing him about half a head taller than the other. His wings were larger, but remained in their bat-like style. His pitch-dark mane and tail were significantly longer now, and flowed gently in a display of his magical might. But of course, the most noteworthy shift was the return of that characteristic red-stained curved horn. Unlike the other king, however, he remained unclothed. A personal preference, perhaps. "I have had some practice with this craft in my time," he finished at last, casually, as if that entire show hadn't just separated the two halves of that sentence.
Lord Sombra rumbled his agreement. It wasn't his- their- way to hide, but to be at the top of it all. The true and rightful king, who none should challenge. He inclined his head as the other Sombra spoke further of his.. disguise. What disguise? The king's head turned to follow his counterpart as he moved away with spread wings. He felt a glimmer and saw the whirlwind of magic that surrounded the other, which when it faded, revealed... Sombra was left, surprisingly, speechless though he knew he had something to answer. The display was worth it, for his other revealed himself to be an alicorn. What he was not. Everything he could become. The power in it. "Impressive." Sombra managed once he regained his voice. What was he to tell him? Nothing but the truth, of course. He didn't, wouldn't, lie to himself; not to that face. "I am remiss to reveal I am nothing so grand. A unicorn I am in this life, in appearance; I am but an umbrum. Disguises I can certainly weave, but I've naught but dark magic at my disposal."
Stygian took a while to return his forehoof to the ground, as if he'd forgotten the posture he'd adopted. He finally took a moment to kick out each of his legs and to stretch his wings. Somehow being confined to a more compact form left him feeling oddly... cramped, when he invariably returned to himself. Probably some strange cross-universal law of magic, or some such irritation. The mage would know more about that than he did. The revelation caused a lift of his brow in mild surprise. Huh. "Is that so?" To both the race and magic statements. "Perhaps it is an even greater fortune that we have met, then. Thy enemies will surely not be prepared for such as myself." Having at last settled back into his own body, he moved for the pond again- this time to stride right into it and settle down. His pride seemed a little more relaxed in front of his own self. A castle bathing chamber this was not, but it would do. "It would appear the advantage of information is now thine, dear king. I cannot assess how best to use my power without further knowledge of what we may face. Perhaps thou hast formed of some ideas?" A wordy 'what now', if ever there was.
Lord Sombra nodded as a reply; it was, indeed, so. A pity, that, but he was more than powerful enough even in his current existence. "Indeed." He mused quietly, idly studying the newly revealed aspects of the other Sombra, until most was obscured by the pond's water. Originally he came here to drink, but it was just either habit or inhabiting a close-to-normal body that'd done it. It didn't matter to him. An ironshod hoof was lifted to curl under his chin, rubbing at the underside in thought. Sombra saw paths to take. "Some. Do you know of Celestia and Luna? Princesses, and alicorns, though without wings like yours.. They together managed to banish me to ice for a thousand years. Of course, my curse kept them from having my kingdom, too." He smirked. "If you are here, you might make a wonderful distraction.. should you be found. They will not be expecting another, nor that the Sombra they know is right behind them.." Metaphorically. "Even if you go undiscovered.. I do plan to go on with what I have laid out for you."
Stygian spent some time washing and preening, though he was still attentive to the other's words. He frowned at the mention of these alicorns... their names were yet unknown to him. Whatever niche they occupied in his own world was clearly very different to their place here, as a sizeable threat to the true crown. To know they were of his own kind certainly put into perspective why his unicorn counterpart had not been able to fend them off alone. But now, the playing field was far more even. These usurpers would get what was coming to them. All would be as it was meant to. He adopted a studious expression of his double at the mention of serving as a distraction. Hmm... His horn was at once alight with magic again, then washing over his form like the water he was still resting in; with far less flare and drama this time, it soon filtered away to reveal a unicorn precisely as the other appeared to be. The now much more exact mirror grunted softly, rolling his shoulders as if in discomfort. "I have grown far too attached to the presence of my wings," he confessed. "This will take some getting used to."
Lord Sombra, watching the other Sombra wash himself, was reminded he needed to get his own bath at some point. A proper bath, rather than contenting himself to a puddle.. The pains of traveling like a bitless peasant. He was sure it'd be easy to slip into a bathhouse in the middle of the night to do what he wished. Thoughts of baths aside.. Sombra observed the second change into a form much like his own, minus the cape and armor. "It would, wouldn't it." Sombra mused and idly toed his own chin with a metal boot. "Canterlot is where the sisters live now," assuming the locations of their worlds were the same, or similar, "I plan to travel straight there to begin. The snatches of the memories I've seen have told me enough of what disguise to use.. but I won't make it exact so it does not draw too much suspicion." He didn't know how things turned out in that other world.. just glimpses. This plan, the first phase of it, was little more than a leap of faith. It'd have to do.
To be continued.