Blast blast blast! Meddlesome fools, interfering with my recovery process, I just got back for foal's sake!

Sombra scowled as he made his way towards the black forest, his tiny hooves carrying him as fast as he could with practically the whole Lunar Guard in pursuit of him. And as he ran, he could feel himself getting winded the longer this pursuit carried on, and his expression sunk as he realized this. This was so troublesome, when was the last time he had to run anyway? Usually he could just become one with the very shadows or he had his slaves, but now, everything had become so physical.

Princess Luna watched from afar, and as she took notice of Sombra's drastic change and newfound vulnerability, she winced as she herself began to trot forward. But she was in no rush, she simply began to head in their direction at her own pace. Her confidence was exuberant in the fact she didn't even feel the need to become immediately involved, she took this time to take everything in, to think about what her preferred course of action would be. But she was certain of one thing, the former tyrant would be captured, and pretty soon at that. His freedom would be short lived.

Sombra halted in his tracks, lowering his head and plopping down straight onto the grass of the black forest. He was covered in shadow but then graced by the light of the moon. Meddlesome Luna! Stop ruining everything! But he was more annoyed with the entire situation itself, he was tired of this utter nonsense! He was the king of darkness yet here he was, retreating. He didn't retreat, others retreated from him!

Yet he was here in this predicament, on the grass, out of breath, in fear of being captured.

Fear, something he hadn't felt it since he saw the crystal ponies standing up to him alongside their new ruler, fear, it was such an irking word. He hated everything about it, what it implied, the sound of it, and what it meant. Fear meant weakness, it was a choice, and he was choosing to be afraid, to dwell on the hopeless outcomes that would result from this scenario. As Sombra laid on the grass, he slowly became infuriated, a fiery rage overcoming him as he slammed his tiny hoof onto the grass. "GRAAAAH!!!!" He stood and turned to face the oncoming swarm of midnight defenders, proclaiming. "I DO NOT RUN!!!"

The lunar guards all paused as the tiny figure snapped at them.

Sombra stomped a hoof, in proclamation of his limitless power. "I am King Sombra! Lord of Darkness, slaver of ponies, ruler of the crystal empire, destroyer of gak! You would do well to cower and flee mortal fools!"

The lunar guards all just continued to peer down at him as one snickered, nudging his buddy.

"Haha this kid's a riot!"

Sombra roared. "SILENCE!" As his horn started to glow and he lowered his frame preparing for the assault. A dark whip rose from the shadows of the trees as the guards actually decided to take it seriously. As the whip lashed, knocking some of the ponies off their hooves and others into the air, Sombra sneered as he raised a brow. "Who's the riot now little fools?" He leaned his head back, raising one of his forehooves a little as he stated. "You're all but children to me! You think I need to be at full strength to best you? Then come! Let me show you just how wrong you are!" His shadowy whip then began to take on a more menacing form, shaping into what appeared to be a giant axe as it loomed over the guards, as sharp as any blade if not sharper.

The guards now looked up in dread, as many raised their lances and spears in preparation for the attack.

Sombra snarled. "Now perish!"

SNAP!

"W-What!?" Sombra muttered in shock of the sighting. His manifested shadow axe dissipating before him, as he felt his body getting wobbly with fatigue. His expression sunk, as for a fleeting moment the former tyrant looked to be without hope once more. His eyes widened as his pupils dilated, and he just peered ahead, in panic, snarling in irritation. Has my body become this limited, this weak!? This is nonsense! There's no way the drawback could've been this great! He leaped back as he rose to his hind legs and got in a fighting stance, stating in a hesitant tone. "F-Fine! Then it seems I'll have to get physical then. Come fools, I will show you all the experience that made me king."

The guards after witnessing such a display, were all now highly concentrated as they regarded the colt. They couldn't kill him however, it was Princess Luna's orders that he be captured, not killed, so capture him they would. He was just a colt from the looks of it anyway, and not even he had the power to use his masterful dark magic, so if it was a physical fight he wanted, they weren't complaining. The guards tossed away their spears and lances as they lowered their frames, their mission, apprehend the colt. "Let's get him!"

Sombra smirked, like lambs to the slaughter. And he waited patiently as he let the guards come to him, and come they did. One by one they trotted forward, and swung at him although he was but a colt, and Sombra maneuvered and dodged their incoming blows with ease, swiftly sidestepping their bucks and swings as he ducked and dashed between them. It was ironic, when it came to magic his smaller body made him much weaker, yet it also made it easier to handle physical hoof to hoof confrontations. But his stamina was another issue, and the colt realized this when he'd attempted to parry one of the guard's bucks.

Sombra raised his forehooves, crossing them like an X in order to parry a buck from one of the anonymous lunar guards, which when it made contact, sent him flying and skidding across the grass and slamming into the trunk of a tree. He groaned as he immediately realized that it wouldn't matter how experienced he was if he didn't even house enough strength to be able to harm any of the guards. But an idea sprung to mind at that moment, their spears, although they couldn't use theirs against him, he could certainly use them. How fortunate, he sneered, rising to all four hooves before glancing down at one of the spears. "Hmph! Leaving their weapons, what fools." He then attempted to pick one up,....but to no avail. "W-What?...Just! G-Give me a second here!"

The guards looked at the colt attempting to pick up one of their heavy spears, struggling just to get the stick off the ground. Even stallions had to shoulder the things just to keep them lifted majority of the time.

Sombra gasped as he fell to the grass, wheezing tremendously. "Y-You've gotta be kidding me...." Then he smiled, raising a hoof in realization, before smirking once more. "Graaaah, but of course! Watch closely fools!" As his horn started to glow once again, lifting the spear for him. Heh, even with such a weak body, I should be able to accomplish this much at least! But as he found out, not even this would be as easy as he'd expected. He couldn't lift the spear not even with telekinesis, at least, not with the sharp end on the side.

He sighed and lowered his head, followed by a pout "Graaaaaah..." And he turned crimson once more as he was forced to remove the sharp end and place it on the ground for all the guards to see. This was so humiliating! He should've just died. He then shook his head, regaining his composure before standing on his hind legs once again, and spinning the free stick with his telekinetic powers. "Now then fools, shall we?"

"Stand aside everypony, I shall take it from here," came an all too familiar voice, graced with the accent of royalty. Princess Luna was now finally going to get intimately involved it seemed, and as she took a few trots forward, her guards immediately stepped out of her path, saluting her as they did so. Princess Luna looked to the little colt with a contemplative look, skeptical, hesitant, unsure. "Sombra," she said plainly, and with a hint of curiosity, "You survived?"

Sombra was breathing heavily, starved for food and exhausted, as well as being drained from attempting to use the full extent of his magical powers which obviously took it's toll on him. But he smiled nonetheless, trying to bare some confidence in the face of his defeat, he knew there was no way he could best Luna, not like this at least. But he wouldn't go down pathetically like last time, no, he'd go out fighting if need be.

But he couldn't deny he enjoyed the chance to talk with her again. "Yes Princess Luna, as you can see, that much is obvious. Although my methods have....." He paused to glance down at himself. "Backfired, on my end." He looked back to her. "But I must give you praise, you move quite fast to have found me here already."

Princess Luna remained silent.

Sombra continued, sneering as he took a few trots back. "Graaaah, isn't it fitting princess? It's just like old times, I must say-" The colt winced at her as he then charged, his makeshift staff still levitated with his magic as he shouted. "I wouldn't have it any other way!" As he attempted to strike her.

Princess Luna simply dodged each of his blows with minimum effort, observing all of his actions as she did so. And as she watched the colt Sombra attacking her wildly, she saw the skill he possessed in his movements, each and every strike and attempted blow was just like back then, back when he'd impressed her the first time. "Good, good. You still remember."

Sombra snarled, obviously offended. "Shutup wench!"

And as he attempted to strike again he was held in place by powerful telekinetic magic. "Irk!...."

Princess Luna lowered her frame to look him in the eyes. "Stand down Sombra."

Sombra's eyes snapped wide, as the past scene flashed through his mind once again.

Princess Luna stood in the rain and yelled at him in desperation. "I said stand down Sombra!"

Sombra gritted his teeth once more, showing a hint of hesitation. "Hah! In your dreams!"

Princess Luna launched him backwards with a powerful telekinetic push, as the colt caught his footing once again after tumbling through the grass some.

Sombra was frustrated of course, "Curse her,...curse this! Who were those pathetic ponies you sent after me anyway hm? Too much of a coward to have finished the job yourself Luna?"

Princess Luna's expression didn't change. "I would have dealt with you, but I owe sister my trust. But now that I've been given this second chance, perhaps it is time to do things differently."

Sombra raised a brow, squinting a bit as he attempted to catch his breath. "Differently?"

Princess Luna nodded. "Yes, differently." And with that, Princess Luna levitated the colt, before flinging him violently against the side of a tree trunk, knocking him out cold as he slumped to the ground afterwords, motionless.

Princess Luna's expression at that moment changed, saddening somewhat as she glanced to the lower right. "For I to fell to the corruption of my own feelings, my own magic. And for a unicorn such as yourself Sombra, to have fallen so far into shadow, is not surprising. I should've been more careful. But perhaps, this is a sign." Princess Luna then levitated him once more before handing him off to once of the guards. "Come my faithful guards, we must return to Canterlot."

They nodded as the guard holding Sombra placed the miniature king on his back.

And without saying much of anything else, they spread their wings and departed from the small town of Hollow Shades.

The townsfolk could only stare in wonder at what'd just occurred, as the princess departed back to Canterlot.

It felt like seconds since he'd been knocked out, and as Sombra slowly batted his eyelids open, he couldn't really pertain what exactly he was seeing. Was he dead again? Maybe in banishment? It'd make sense. But he'd actually preferred to be dead, how unfortunate, maybe he could finally see his stairs again in the afterlife, perhaps have some nice crystals. Oh no, what happens if he was forced into a world of eternal punishment? Forced to hear gak gak gak over and over again, he still had nightmares of those times, the gak.

But as he steadily opened his eyes, focusing on what was in front of him, he saw something really quite peculiar. It looked quite nice actually. It was a ceiling, decorated with golden painted swirls stretching across the large marble plating. Where was he? The tiny king leaned up immediately as he gasped! "Graah!...Huff, huff, huff." And as he got a good look at where he was, he noticed that he was in a kitchen. "Hm?" His puffy black mane was ruffled and he'd obviously slept uncomfortably, but managed to get some sleep nonetheless, but why was he in a kitchen?

He attempted to remove himself from this position, but soon immediately found out he was shackled to this marble chair, his forehooves tied around his back. "Eh!?" He struggled to free himself, but as expected to no avail. Sigh, so Princess Luna had taken him prisoner, this wouldn't be fun. What'd they have in store for him? A long lecture by Princess Celestia before being banished to the furthest reaches of the galaxy? Maybe they'd turn him into a porky pine or something. Sombra snickered at the thought, why did the princesses always come up with these strange elaborate ways of punishing villains? Back when he was king, he simply locked ponies away in the dungeons, easy, simple, effective.

"Don't think you're getting any special treatment." Stated Princess Luna from behind as she made her way to his side, looking down at him with a sigh.

"Grah, Canterlot, a sad excuse for a kingdom. Where are all your stairs?" Stated Sombra disappointingly.

Princess Luna winced before making her way over to the sink, turning the faucet and watching the running water.

As Sombra just continued to sit there, observing Princess Luna from the table, his eyes widened a bit in surprise as he noticed the light of the sun coming from the kitchen window. "Graaaah....now I see..."

Princess Luna remained silent, as the moment he'd said that, another had entered the kitchen with them.

It was none other than Princess Celestia herself, as she was wearing a bathroom robe and had some deep crescent bags beneath her eyes. She was levitating a coffee mug as she noticed Luna standing near the kitchen sink with a worried expression. She regarded her sister with a caring smile as she made her way over to her, and filled the coffee pot with water before speaking up. "Ah, sweet little sister, good morning." She raised a brow at her. "What troubles you?"

Princess Luna took in a deep breath, before sighing heavily. "I found something last night sister. Something I believe you'll want to take a look at yourself."

Princess Celestia now seemed a little more concerned. "Found something?"

Sombra remained in his seat, a horribly amused look plastered on his face. Oh, this'll be interesting.

Princess Luna nodded before repeating herself. "Y-Yes, I found something. It's...uhm...at the table..."

Princess Celestia turned to look at the table, and noticed the sitting colt with a amused look.

They just stared at one another in silence.

Princess Celestia turned back to the coffee pot, pouring some into her mug with a sigh. "Dear little sister, I know where you're coming from but we're far too busy to be taking in children, we built those orphanages for a reason."

Princess Luna's eyes widened as she blushed. "W-What!? No sister, that's not it!"

Princess Celestia raised her mug and began sipping her delicious hot coffee from it with her eyes closed.

Princess Luna continued. "T-That colt...he's...uhm...he's..." She paused.

Princess Celestia just continued to sip.

Princess Luna's expression distorted a bit as she cringed. "He's actually,..King Sombra...."

Princess Celestia's eyes snapped wide as she spit out her coffee and her mug fell to the floor shattering. She stood there for a brief moment as her brow just twitched. "What?....."

And she'd actually used her Canterlot voice.

"KING SOMBRA!?"

Princess Celestia turned immediately to get a good look at the colt who indeed resembled Sombra a great deal, and there was that sense of instant recognition. She rushed to him, eyeing him up and down, observantly, curiously, brow raised as she seemed almost psychotic in her inspection. She looked back to Luna. "You're pranking me sister. This is a prank, it shall not work, not this time."

Princess Luna shook her head raising a hoof. "N-No sister, I swear it's definitely-"

Princess Celestia interrupted, chuckling softly and closing her eyes, placing a hoof on her chest. "You may have gotten me with the Twilight regression trick, but not this time little sister! Your playful antics have run dry!" And Princess Celestia put on a confident smirk before manifesting a bucket of water over Sombra's head, decking the little colt with ice cold water in order to wash off his deceitful disguise, which......failed to come off?

Princess Celestia sighed with relief. "As you can see sister, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice-" She looked back at the colt, lowering her frame and getting in his face. "-Not going to......." She stared.

Sombra now drenched, glared at Celestia with a look of disbelief at the fact she'd actually done that.

"Happen?..." She remained silent for a moment before muttering. "Sombra?....."

Sombra snapped. "YES YOU PITIFUL PRINCESS! IT IS I KING SOMBRA!!! IS IT THAT SURPRISING!? GRAAAAH!!!"

Princess Celestia took a few trots back, eyeing him up and down once again before raising a brow with that puzzled look she'd often give when confused. She glanced back at Luna. "He's....a little small..."

Princess Luna raised a hoof to her mouth, unable to hold back a light. "Pft!"

Sombra gritted his teeth, his face turning a seething red as his brow twitched and pupils dilated.

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!" Next Chapter: Chapter 3: Influences Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 23 Minutes