7/16/16; Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

[Mal]

If Sombra had been any other, Celestia's mention of his terrifying reign would've instilled a sense of smugness in him.. but he had no pride in him for how 'evil' he was. He was just cruel. A monster. A word that lingered ever since the day he'd seen the face of his future in the Crystal Heart, and discovered the truth about himself by the red crystal. No, he felt no smugness about his reign, although he did know he'd done something quite well with the Crystal Empire. His intent was to put the fear of umbrum in those snooty crystal ponies, for all their slights against him and Radiant Hope. The bullying.

Sombra didn't place too much of his attention upon Celestia as he approached the next stained glass window. Was there anything else of note since Princess Celestia banished her own sister to her moon? It seemed there was. He halted in front of one displaying six ponies, centered around the six differently colored gems again. How odd that they kept cropping up. The king almost opened his mouth to ask about them when he realized it was deathly silent, and as his green gaze landed on Celestia he saw that murderous look on her face. Sombra wasn't sure whether to be impressed there was so much rage in the alicorn, or a little intimidated.

Why, he'd managed to nettle her quite a bit by his claim at a jest, didn't he? Was his 'evil' showing again? The thoughts of the odd 'nightmare' from the Everfree was cast from his mind. He was, perhaps, a little inwardly pleased that he'd managed to touch on such a sore spot in her, and yet at the same.. apologetic. Did he just see a flicker of fire around that colorful mane? Sombra couldn't be sure, and his gaze was quick to turn back upon her face. Her angry face.

A hoof was lifted to his chest and he dipped his head towards her, aiming to look apologetic. "Forgive me, I did not know of that. The memories.. they're rather fractured, and sometimes proves difficult to sift through. Of what I remember of Luna was of this.." world? Ever since running into the other, alicorn version of himself out in the woods some time before they reached the Everfree Forest, it confirmed his suspicions about the old mage. Starswirl the Bearded had been alive in his time, and unless the esteemed wizard managed to find some fountain of youth to stay alive forever (even if he didn't look particularly youthful), it had to be a Starswirl from another world. Perhaps the other's world, yet Starswirl had shown no recognition of him. "This world." He finished the thought with a shake of his head that he intended to come off as confused.

Sombra was going to step carefully, aim for the right heartstrings to play, but he would be sure not to go so far as to get himself tossed out. It wouldn't do to have that happen. The room felt.. oddly, too warm, and the king knew it wasn't coming from his own body. His gaze shifted curiously to Discord as he continued to keep up his idle nettling.

"Banished beneath the ice of the Frozen North. I've missed quite a lot that's happened since, and I extend my apologies." He took a different tactic, rather than rising to Discord's game. Sometimes, it was better to do so. "If you'll allow me to ask.." Sombra moved his hoof to gesture at the stained glass windows.

[Deleted]

Celestia’s brow twitched briefly as Sombra just wandered along and looked at windows. Then he’d looked his way and she might have seen a conflicted glint ever so briefly. She was really good at reading ponies. She turned her curious gaze to Discord as a limb draped over her shoulder and she tried to hold back a bit of a mirthful snort at his comment about tact.

Alas the unicorn’s upset melted within moments.

She let out a sigh and inclined her head to the dark unicorn, as hesitant as she was to return the gesture. “I.. apologize as well.” she let out a sigh as she raised a fore-hoof herself and placed it on the bridge of her muzzle as she let the irritation flow off of her body. Anger solved nothing… Her anger just created more problems for everypony.

Celestia opened her eyes and removed her hoof to offer the Sombra before her a small frown. “That must be.. disorienting. If you wish I could inform you of the events in the other world as I know them. It might help you organize your memories.” She might as well offer.

She followed to his gaze to the window and hummed. “Those are the elements of harmony… My student and her friends. They are some of Equestria’s greatest heroes.” she let a small smile alight on her muzzle. That was all that she offered up, however. While that information was just publicly known she wasn't about to give him more... intel as it could be.

[Deleted]

Chaos was not something one simply sensed or categorized. It was like air, or water. It was a shapeless existence that was sometimes invisible, sometimes visible, and it was essential, even life giving. The bitter reality was that, even if he sometimes seemed an unnecessary cog in the clockwork: removing just one of his vices sent a flow the destruction of the delicate time keeping devicd. It was something he could spot quite easily. The unnatural spike of magic had caused his feathers to bristle and amusement to paint his face. There was a certain imbalance that tickled him pink. Others turned him into a noodle, and the brand Tia and Lulu wield gave him quite the delight! Why if he was the sort to wear pants!

Discord would likely excuse himself if they were going to go on with a history lesson. He was here for the sass, and stayed for the watermelon. Though we're he truthful with himself he stayed for Celestia. But he wasn't today. He liked to think he was just stalking her. As he stood on his hind legs he would seat himself back like a meerkat and focus on the thoughts that tumbled about. While Sombra choked down his humble pie Discord was no fool.

A wonderful thought came to his mind before he stepped onto all fours and walked up to stand at Celestia's left side. "Containing chaos is akin to catching wind. The sheer impossibility boggles the mind." While the comment seemed off-hoof it was done so with reason.

Though goofy he was a dangerous creature kept in line by the sole fact he was a terrible creature. No amount of kindness could compel good nature out of him. It seemed contrary, but while Discord has reformed in his acts, his nature was sullied. He knows acting with disregard for mortal law gets him what he wants. If he wanted he could turn Sombrero into a Mariachi Duck. He did not deserve to be a chicken!

If he was so driven he could turn on them. "Tiaaaa, so boooring!" He wailed, dramatically flopping his head over her back, holding out his wrists. "You may as well quarter me. It would be more fun stitching myself together than hear these stories, again." He complained.

Dangerous being... spoilt lover.

They wouldn't be happy, nor would his friends, if he'd adhere to his fiercer behaviors.

[Mal]

He had to agree with Celestia on that: disorienting was right. Sombra didn't know which or who he was half the time, not since he'd first laid eyes on the princess since entering the throne room. It was hard, not to lose himself. His true self.. or which of him was the true one? The umbrum, the good king, the alicorn version of himself in the woods?

Sombra shook his head, taking a breath and nodding to accept Celestia's offer. "If you would, please." If not for his own sanity, his curiosity, and a hope that he could tame these memories.

His gaze shifted to the draconequus as Discord moved again, onto all fours, to state something.. odd. At first it sounded utterly out of the blue, but-

Was it?

Was Discord just being his usual self, trying to cause confusion? He certainly had back in the throneroom with that strange, contrary way of speaking. Sombra frowned, placing his held up hoof back against the ground to focus on Celestia with a bit of effort. She'd calmed, he noted. "The Elements of Harmony." Sombra repeated. He never heard of them before. His gaze returned to those colored gems on the stained glass window he gazed upon, and the king stepped back to look at the earlier windows. Heroes. They were depicted being used by the royal sisters turning Discord to stone. Being used by Celestia to banish Nightmare Moon to her heavenly body. It.. spoke of something, some sort of power, from what his sharp mind could gather thus far.

Sombra turned back to move to the next window, faltering at that whine from Discord. Distracting. The king frowned and pushed on to the next window, which showed those same six ponies and Nightmare Moon. Further down he could see something of a similar depiction, but with Discord instead; a bit uncreative on the artist's part, he thought.

"Did they.. bring your sister back?"

[Deleted]

Celestia turned her gaze to look upon Discord with a note of amusement. He likely would throw a fit if she launched in on a history lesson. “I will explain later.” She waved a hoof and let out a last chuckle. Discord knew what he was doing she supposed. Alas when she heard what Discord said about containing chaos before she’d had naught choice but to lean and give the alicorn a gentle nudge. “Chaos need not be contained…” She had been putting a lot of effort into getting him to see the benefits of ‘positive chaos’.

Alas she found her attention turning back to Sombra and she slowly followed him to the next window and nodded. “Indeed… My student met her friends and succeeded in harnessing the power of the elements to restore my sister.” she’d say with a somewhat shaky smile. It had been a plan centuries in the making and… she’d hated that she’d been unable to play more of a part.

She left so much to foresight and chance… So much she was uncomfortable with it in general.

She took so many risks, how many until she or the rest of her ponies were burned by it?…. Hopefully not this time…

[Deleted]

Discord was glad the elements were far away. If he could help it he would have destroyed them. Noo! He leveled them up. Whoops! They certainly were a pain in his tail. When the alicorn leaned in to marw's attempt to console him. He would steal a quick kiss from the side of her muzzle before smirking most evilly! He was not consoled, but kiss stolen! Buahaha. Oof! When Tia moved he tumbled backwards.

Vanishing he reappeared floating over them both, forelimbs crossed over his chest. His hindlegs crossed as he stared at the stained glass. The mosaic version of himself moved within the confines of it'd artful prison and spat its tongue out at Sombra. Rude!

Discord arched a brow and reache'd into his feathers with his paw. Out came a sack full of fsmiliar, black, seeds. He began the casually munch on them above the truffle and rainbow cotton candy fluff. His tail's tuft reached into the bag for a single seen which he tried to flick into Sombra'a mane, but missed. He made a face, cheeks stuffed with seeds, as he leered at the unicorn. Honestly, did he not learn.

Even Discord was wary on the subject.

He lowered himself close to the pair, his red tail draping over the mare most rudely, but he was providing her comfort through contact. "Heroes are always problematic. You never expect them to aerive, and yet there's always a prophecy warning of their arrival." Go figure that. "Makes me wonder if it wasn't being used as a really bad plot device."

Breaking that fourth wall.

[Mal]

King Sombra supposed he'd have to hold Celestia to it, to tell him later. Preferably away from the ever-so-distracting Discord. He averted his eyes from the pair to the stained glass windows as he strode down further at a leisurely pace, casting the one of Discord a slight glare, hidden from view. He knew the spirit was.. somehow.. making the figure in the glass move around and stick its tongue out. Sombra turned away from it to look upon Princess Celestia's face again at her answer. Restored.

The sunbringer need not tell him every detail about the Elements of Harmony, but rather the small tidbits she was dropping along the way was beginning to paint him a picture. They were used to deal with ponies such as Discord, Nightmare Moon. They banished, but apparently they also restored. If they restored Nightmare Moon back to Princess Luna, what would they do to him? Destroy him? Sombra was fairly sure the sisters hadn't been sporting anything when they came to seal him beneath the ice and snow.. but his memory on that moment was hazy at best. A bright glare of light. It'd been a quick fight, for he'd been inexperienced.

Sombra felt something small brush past a strand of his mane and shook his head, looking up. Discord had a bag of something that he was munching away on; he could hear the crunching noises from here, in the silence of this hall. His attention returned to the stained glass windows, casting the one with Discord another curious look.

"If they returned your sister to you," he'd learned it was a sore spot of Celestia's, but if he stepped carefully, he could avoid her wrath unless he wanted to provoke a reaction, "what of him?" Sombra gestured back up at Discord, halting in front of the next window. This one depicted two, very familiar figures. A white unicorn with a blue mane, curled towards a pink alicorn who mirrored his pose. A glance told him, from the next window, that she was depicted there as well.. as was the baby dragon. He felt a flash of anger upon seeing that dragon. The whelp delivered the heart to the princess, which had resulted in his second defeat at their hooves.. Was this a moment to ask?

His green gaze returning to the mare and the stallion, Sombra lifted a hoof to point at her. "I.. remember her. Who is she?" Small steps.. If there was any other detail on the next stained glass window with the baby dragon, he missed it, as his eyes had been higher up on the window with the alicorn and the crystal ponies around her.

[Deleted]

Celestia found her kiss being stolen! Hey! Her muzzle twitched as she held back her amusement at the chaos spirit's antics and she shook her head. She was wholly unaware just what the seeds were that the draconequus were munching on. She hadn't exactly paid all that much attention to the plunder seeds in their seed states. The cotton candy was a rather odd decision though... Seeds and Cotton Candy... Not a combination she would ever go with but then again he was Discord.

She looked at Sombra as he began to speak, and soon found her gaze once again turning to the very draconequus in question. "Well.. He's actually a special case. He escaped his own imprisonment a couple years ago." she began and shot Discord a look. "However he was defeated, though he hates to admit it, and re-imprisoned. However I... thought it might be possible for my student and her friends to 'reform' him. Alas it is a 'work in progress'." she shot a somewhat 'smug' grin Discord's way.

Then the dark unicorn's attention had taken to examining others. Ones depicting Cadance, Shining Armor, and Spike. She caught a flash of anger appearing briefly in his eye as he gazed upon the window with little Spike. "She is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. My niece, and the current Ruler of the Crystal Empire along with her husband. Her love was just what the Crystal Empire needed when it re-emerged. The ponies there are quite happy and prosperous." Was that a jab? Probably....

[Deleted]

Continued to casually snack on the dangerous, magical artifacts like they were a Sunday afternoon snack. Which they were. He did like snacking on them with a spot of afternoon tea. It was a question where he had even obtained the items from, but knowing his travels through time and, perhaps even space. He had the most peculiar items collected in Chaosville. These were his favorite. Due to the fact he could manipulate them and they only needed a dose of magic to sprout and grow. He was hoping to drop one in the fool's mane and grow it in there. That puff of fluff looked like it could support an environment or two. Discord did not have mane envy. He simply disliked Sombra because he made Celestia cry. Vindictive? Very. Foalish? Absolutely.

But playing with a pony's mind seemed what he did best.

Who would, who could, take serious a 'god' of chaos who threw tantrums and lazed about eating snack foods all day? Watermelon? Cotton candy, seeds of doom?! Well hat was very well the point. False senses of security made the game all the more fun. Twisting and turning a pony until they could no longer tell whether you were insane, or they had gone insane. He found Sombra's interest in anything of theirs suspect. From what the spirit gathered he had his rumpus krumpus'd by the sister's straw whip. While his tail rest on the mare she made a rather sly, snarky comment. His brow arched a brow and looked down to her. He continued to chew as he looked away and grumbled. 

Discord rolled his eyes. "Stretching your influence rather far my dear..." Sneaking a pony to rule in the empire under her influence.

It did make Discord rather curious about just what sort of authority was placed on them, as alicorn. Ponies seemed far too dependent on a pair of bobble heads. He knew them quite well. Celestia was a nerd while Luna was a dork. His nerd and dork, but he would make note to ask Celestia later, in detail... humm. Discord also took note of Sombra's gaze. Hmm.... interesting. He continued to have such wonderfully terrible ideas for Sombrero! 

[Mal]

He might've slipped up, just a bit, to have allowed his anger to briefly show on his face; or if not his face, in his eyes. There was little idea in his mind that they had noticed at all, and so for that he couldn't adjust for it. It might've been understandable, from a certain standpoint, to see the cause of one's defeat immortalized in colorful stained glass. Would Discord understand? Who knew!

Sombra turned his head to the solar deity and her strange, mismatched companion when she answered him. The words such as 'defeat' and 'reformed' were ones he latched on to, specifically that latter one. Reformed. It meant the royal pony sisters possibly had the god of chaos himself under their hoof. Discord was on a leash. He was whipped! It cheered the king, inwardly, to know it. He cast a glance up towards Discord, and though he kept his face carefully neutral, was there a knowing look in his eyes that said it all.. ? Perhaps there was, if one looked closely.

The period of time, though it told him some, it didn't give him a good understanding of how long it'd been since the Crystal Heart blasted his body apart. It could've been those two years, a year and a half.. or perhaps even longer than that. He pondered these things, while trying to be as calm and wondering as possible. There was so little he knew of Equestria, and this was a learning experience. Speaking of..

King Sombra looked to Celestia again at the tone carried heavy in her words. The name she gave him was a mouthful, for sure, and to know the Crystal ponies were 'quite happy and prosperous,' it made him secretly desire to take it all away simply for the black joy of it and to spite Princess Celestia herself for that tone. It was his kingdom, and he was the true and rightful king of it. "I heard from Hope that she was your niece." So the white unicorn who tried to stop him from catching up to that group of mares was her husband? Interesting, indeed. He was just a mere unicorn. Would Sombra be able to use him as leverage? If this Princess Mi Amore- Amore? his mind latched onto that- Cadenza cared about him so deeply as to marry him, would she bend to his will if she saw him in trouble?

There was much he was learning just from this..

The king's eyes were back upon the stained glass window while he pondered this, trying not to look at the dragon whelp below the depiction of the Crystal Heart itself. Sombra moved on just to look at the next window, which was far more simpler and showed the likeness of a violet alicorn. He'd never seen Twilight Sparkle up close in the Crystal Empire to know this was her. A new princess it seemed! Briefly he thought of Hope, a thought that started with Why wasn't she- before he recalled that Hope set aside her chance at becoming a princess for him. It was.. touching, in a way.

Sombra made a quiet noise in his throat and turned back to the pair, having seen all that the 'wall of shame' had to show him thus far. On the opposite wall, also bedecked with stained glass windows, were just vague designs. Not important.

"Her name.. it had the name 'Amore' in it," well duh, "if she is the successor to Princess Amore's throne, are they in any way related? They share something of a likeness. The same magic." For it was what kept him out of the Empire. The windows weren't big on life-like details, but there was enough to reaffirm with his memory of her flight past him and down by the crystal ponies, to see something in it. "I should bring her here. We've been living out on the road for quite a while, and she ought to have somewhere to stay comfortably." More truth, save for the latter which he cared little for one way or another. Even after this long, he hadn't forgotten waking up to her petting his mane like a concerned mother. Sombra's gaze switched between Princess Celestia and Discord, curiously, judging their expressions.

[Deleted]

The white alicorn let out a long sigh and turned her eyes upon Discord. “The Crystal Empire is its own sovereign nation. It would have been a disservice to Amore’s memory to simply annex it.” There were other socio-political and economical reasons that she would likely not voice aloud. She had done much in her efforts to aid the ailing nation, however for the good of her own ponies the Crystal Empire had needed to stand on its own legs again.

Plus there was the fact that the other nations would likely have become uncomfortable should equestrian have truly annexed the empire.

The princess took a few steps towards the window depicting her niece and her husband. From there she looked back at the dark king with a somewhat sad smile. “I suppose I saw a lot of Amore in Cadence… They are rather similar in several ways ~ not only by name.” she began only to find that smile turning into a frown once again as her eyes bore unto the dark king.

The smallest part of her heart wanted to trust that perhaps Sombra had changed when he gained the memories of ‘her’ Sombra. Why not give him a chance much like she did Discord? This Sombra may be, by no means, a friend however he deserved a second chance like most ponies, no?

“I do not know if there is truly any relation between Cadence and Amore, but she was found in a small village. Yet it would please me if she and Amore would be to meet in the future.” If it was Amore of course…. She still was not entirely convinced of much that she had seen.

“I will of course be sending word to Cadence of the events transpiring here.” And of course she’d be sending suggestions for counter-measures as well as sending several to oversee protection upon her ‘kin’. She was not about to make such a mistake while endangering her niece’s life! Nor that of her former captain.

[Deleted]

Discord was carefully reading the 'king'. His jabs and jokes were calculated measures of force to test the limits of Sombra's patience. When he had found it he began to calculate his next course of action. So far he tried to remain the apple in Celestia's eye, but thus far it has proven a struggle. Celestia's patience was only exemplified by her continued stonewalling of his prodding questions. Discord viewed his curiosity as rather invasive, suspicious. While there was a natural curiosity that arose with a nation as old as Equestria: it was not as old as one may think. Once a kingdom fell to an enemy, there was a great deal of catching up one had to do to find place again.

In his time ruling: the great kingdom of Equestria had lost so much in such a short time. Though, there were many scholars that believe during the spirit's reign of terror time had violently distorted creating a plethora of alternative realities, many of which succumbed to a magical instability and collapsed. But only the spirit truly knew what occurred than. A small field of distorted energy, pure chaos, remained staining the open wastes, East of the Leota Forest. It was quarantined to this day. It was no easy task reeling in the spirit and, even when, the sisters were left with two alternatives. They were too soft and had instead sealed him.

He was reluctant to admit that, in the end, it was their friendship that kept the Elements of Harmony from doing far worse. Destroying the natural balance of a world, to put a foalhood friend on a long time out, rather than destroy him and have another replace him, was a bit selfish on their part. With his time sealed kingdoms like Equestria and the Crystal Empire were allowed peace, for a time…

This little bastard of a truffle wasn't going to bring down what had been a thousand years in the making. It was his kingdom to ruin. The spirit was reluctant to simply hand it over. He had already lost their trust. It was not something he could earn after what he did with Tirek. There was a natural temptation to create chaos, to live by his natural order. He was a liability… and the sisters the Mane… he would never be able to restore it, short of sacrificing himself. He was an arrogant, egoist. He would never give his life for another. There would always be a small space where there sat room for doubt. It made him extra vigilant.

He eyed Celestia's carefully, paw reaching up to rub at his beard thoughtfully. He suspected something. Tia was smart, too smart for her own sometimes. He rolled his eyes at Celestia, surprised she was even going to let him go on. He was feeling a strong dislike for the male. Maybe because he flirted with his partner, or because he held aloft the title he wished to carry. He twirled his beard for a bit, collecting his thoughts into a small box, which manifested over his crossed knees. He held the pouch of seeds to the sode, releasing them so they hovered beside him.

He opened the small box, taking from it what appeared to be a stone that looked similar to the one in the glass. "I will idly protest your presence, Sombrerro, but I will vouch to the fact that there are times when one's actions are remorseful, misunderstood. Perhaps it is just the envious feeling being in the presence if a kiiing~," he hissed, "…but I feel that there is something important about you, something magnificent." There were no lies out of Discord's muzzle, but the scorn that bled between his sassing remarks was unsettling. Did he know somethong, or did he want to know something? "Tell me Sombra, honestly, as you seem the sort to prefer coffee, yet drink tea: do you really forgive Tia for defeating you? If so, I must say I am envious of how easily you get over such hate. How do you do it? How are you so… reapectable?" You charming bastard.

What was Discord playing at?

"…why do you care what Celestia thinks about you?" He looked to Tia, rather accusingly in a way. "…you know fighting them is fruitless," he looked away from Celestia. "So her defense on the matter is bordering on paranoid." He tucked his forelimbs to his chest, the stone and box vanishing. "You are eager to gain her approval. Did you …" break her heart? "…take her cake?"

He couldn't. He couldn't say it aloud. It choked him. Lowering to stand on his hind legs he tsk'd Sombra. "It is probably best you apologize. " he'd waggle his claw, hurt jabbing at his heart. "Besides Tia, scowling over a bit of cake." He chuckled, winking at the mare gently.

He turned his predatory gaze to the Umbrum, forelimbs tucked behind his back. Discord smiled as he moved to stand at Celestia's left side. "I think we should have a spot of tea, sit down and relax." He pressed his paw to his feathery chest. "I mean we are civil adults, no?" Not him, he was going to whoopie cushion the shit out of the truffle.

[Mal]

Those green eyes solely settled on the solar deity when she spoke of the Crystal Empire, of letting it exist on its own despite having her own niece ruling it. There was so little Sombra knew about the pink alicorn to be much of a judge on her, or if she fit her new rule by some stroke of fate to replace Princess Amore. Whether or not this Cadance was descended from her or not.. Sombra supposed it didn't matter, and it certainly didn't to him; he was still the Crystal Empire's true king. In time, he would deal with the usurper.

"Indeed." Sombra agreed quietly. Their love magic, for one. Who else commanded it, but Amore and Cadance? "They might, given a chance to. I believe Amore would love to see the Crystal Empire, flourishing again, and this new crystal princess."

The moment Celestia spoke of sending word to Princess Cadance, a name he found better in that it wasn't so much of a mouthful, he felt.. dismay. Sombra did factor it in to the risk of coming here, of revealing himself to the royal pony sisters, but to know she was still going through with it would ruin his hopeful element of surprise. It would be a shame if something were to happen to those letters...

Alas. For every move Princess Celestia made, he would be able to counter it. He was nothing if not clever and sly. It was almost like a game of chess, this, that even despite his outward attempts, they still danced through these steps. Sombra's eyes drifted up to the floating spirit, catching movement and the materialization of some sort of box. A stone. The king couldn't tell what it was from here, but it was gone before he had any chance to scrutinize it. Magnificent? Were it not for Discord's tone, Sombra would've thought he was complimenting him. Would he have taken such ego stroking from a beast such as he? It was debatable.

"Forgive?" King Sombra repeated, most of his attention now on Discord. The spirit was rooting around for something, judging from what he was saying and what he asked. The unicorn appeared to think about it. "I'm not sure if I'm at that point yet, given the events despite the confusion in me. There is much to talk of, and much of my history to dig up and give to you so that you may see what my motives were, and why I did what I did. Forgiveness takes time, and a strength that I may not yet possess." Truth, because Sombra wouldn't forgive them or Amore. He had too much anger, too much hate in him, to consider bowing his head to these princesses. Discord could protest his presence as much as he wanted, Sombra intended to stay for as long as it was required to work the royal sisters over until he had their trust and confidence. How lovely it would be to get to crush it, later. For fighting them, perhaps, if they had such a weapon as these Elements of Harmony as they did, if it might damage him as the Crystal Heart could. Sombra didn't bother to answer this thought aloud. Instead, his lips parted in an expression that might've been confusion, or some attempt to answer. Everything he did was deliberate, knowing what to do and how it might come off to them.

"I'm not sure. Shunted out of the Crystal Empire, the only home I have known, has left me at quite a loss with what to do now. I am aimless. I can only come to ask for help.. and I do not believe I have ever taken her cake." Some confusion did lilt this latter, but he felt it was just Discord acting the fool's part again. What cake? "It would be nice to sit down and relax."

[Deleted]

Celestia wouldn't have been able to help but snort some and give Discord a bit of a raised eyebrow as he asked his spoke. On the other hoof she had the ghost of a smile as he said his part about fighting them being fruitless. ~ Fruitless for anypony but him of course. There were few creatures who would likely have any chance of that.

~Just ask the griffon empire... wait, that hasn't been around for hundreds of years now.

Sombra likely still thought of her as being nigh as weak as she had been back then and she had no intention of changing that fact until the dark king played his own hoof. She'd played this game of thrones before. She'd grown out of her naivete a long time ago.

And even as she stood there Discord seemed to at first charm the king, but then he began to bring up points that could be potentially thought of as suspicious. That was typical Discordian fashion. Perhaps she could just let him run court some days. See what happens with the nobles trying to coerce the Draconequus into anything. Of course then somepony would need to convince him it would be fun. And then somepony would need to make sure he didnt do anything to the ponies.

On second thought that was a terrible idea. Let's not ever....*smack*

Celestia's hoof was resting on her muzzle where she'd just face-hooved as Discord asked if Sombra took her cake. "Discord. Sombra did not take my cake. You do that well enough." she sent back that little jibe only to turn her eye upon Sombra. He must take her for a fool... Then again most creatures did, and that gave her an advantage in some cases.

She needed to get that letter sent tonight... Amongst other things. There was such little time. With Sombra showing his face he lost the element of surprise; something she had every intention of taking advantage of. Not openly, of course. For all she knew, she could (ironically) be jumping at shadows.

Prepare for the worst, but hope for the best....

Her gaze fell upon Sombra and she showed nothing of the thoughts she was having. "I believe I should have a guard show you to you an your companions' rooms." He could take her hoofing him to a guard to care for as he would. Court would be cancelled today. She had work to do.

[Tempest]

Meanwhile, in the city below...









( ooc: I just really wanted to draw this part ^^; )