“Please, sir. I’m a huddled mass of one yearning to be free.”

“I can dig it. Now get in line for poker or volleyball.”

“But I can’t play volleyball.”

“Neither can the sergeant, truth be told.”

Twilight cringed as she made her way along with Princess Celestia and Luna looked over at her, then at their helpful interpreters. Shinedown T. Mare and his adopted son were speaking quite happily with a variety of Chrysalis’s people as they all sat about on benches, chairs and little stools in the refugee camp that the town had erected. A soft, gentle wind comforted the refugees as Chrysalis frowned over at a Wonderbolt that was trying to get one of her kind to join in some festivities by Twilight’s library.

“Changelings don’t do SPORTS.” She remarked with a frown, folding her arms over her chest and “harrumphing”. “And games of chance are punishable by death.”

“Oh. Wow. Really?” Twilight wished to know before Chrysalis smirked. “Oh, you-that’s not funny!” She protested, Chrysalis cackling at the deeply-blushing Twilight. “Ha-ha-ha! So hilarious!”

“Pulling one over on ponies…THAT, however, my species never tires of. Or just me, at any rate.” Chrysalis sniggered with a broad grin, the Princesses turning their heads as their interpreters as the two Changeling-blooded ponies made their way over to the Princesses.

“We’ve been speaking quite heavily to them, and they’re all FAMISHED on a lack of love.” Shinedown admitted.

“It may be hard for you to understand, but unlike the Ghainahm, the Sugnbohn tribe needs emotion in a far, far more physical fashion. It is as…comparing secondhand smoke to actual inhalation of hookah.” Chrysalis intoned with a wave of her hoof, her people beginning to crowd around them. Normally Twilight would be worried, but all of the Changelings here still had those glyphs on…they couldn’t try to break out or fight her or the Princesses, no matter how desperate they were for nourishment. “We need the stronger stuff.”

“We’re desperate. Especially because we’ve long since lost our families.” One Changeling admitted quietly, Shinedown’s expression becoming softer, his eyes brimming with sympathy as he approached the rather gaunt, emaciated (even by Changeling standards) insectoid-esque pony. “My father was all I had…”

“We should learn to be good to one another. The other Changeling refugees were snatched from a time when most other races accepted them. They had a routine to fall back into.” Twilight admitted sympathetically. “They’ve been able to appeal to the masses through their talents. Most of Equestria still views you and the Changelings you had alongside you as an enemy force under our capture, not as refugees.”

“We need your help.” The Changeling murmured as he looked over at them all. “We’ve been on the road for so long. We just…” He hesitated, biting into his lip, pawing slightly at the ground as Shinedown approached him with a few more steps. “We just want to know what its like to be loved.”

Shinedown reached up, holding the Changeling’s cheek, the Princesses looking on in surprise, Chrysalis baffled as Twilight quickly got out her notebook, scribbling notes as Squirt stepped back, watching his adopted father look into the Changeling’s eyes, deep blue into bright yellow…

“We all do.” Shinedown whispered, leaning in, his lips locking with the Changeling. In an instant, a pure, tender burst of pinkish and purple light cascaded over his body and through the Changeling like a beautiful aura, the Changeling shuddering in a mixture of ecstasy and delight as he slightly buckled before Shinedown broke the kiss, smacking his lips. “Hmm. Like brittle dark chocolate.”

“Oh MY.” Chrysalis murmured. “Pure Compassion with a splash of actual Love. I don’t suppose any of your kind are…secretly enamored with Changelings?”

“I’ll have you know some men like curves. Others like rolls. And plenty of ladies like the holes. Just means there’s more to fill, baby!” Squirt remarked as he flexed an arm with an air of braggadocio before realizing he’d just said that in front of two Princesses and a Queen, IMMEDIATELY blushing. “Oh, kill me now.” He groaned.

“You’re ADORABLE.” Chrysalis sniggered as Shinedown gently put an arm around Squirt and led him and the Princesses and Twilight away, into the library as Twilight finished taking notes.

“Clearly we’ll have to find people willing to engage in some PDA with the Changelings. Perhaps a kissing booth?” Twilight mused aloud. “Pinkie would like that...”

“The queen isn’t being honest about everything Sombra did.” Squirt muttered. “Dah and I figured that out from talking to the older Changelings in her group.” He admitted as he reached into the small belt he had around his waist, opening up a pouch and taking out a small notepad full of quickly-scribbled notes, Shinedown nodding in agreement as Princess Luna thoughtfully rubbed her chin.

“I had spoken to Sombra several times, asking for patience as my sister and I attempted to aid him by negotiating with the other nations that were sieging his city.” Luna admitted to Shinedown as Celestia bowed her head ever-so-slightly.

“Indeed…but it did not end well. Every time my sister visited him, he seemed…more unnatural…stressed…frightening.” She informed them. “As the siege continued, his attitude grew more desperate and frazzled. He was being stretched thin.”

…

…

…

… “You…do not look well.” Luna informed Sombra, his body sweaty, his hair practically oily as he brushed himself off, panting and heaving, his form covered in cuts, bruises and fresh wounds.

“The magical spells needed for my…unique brand of magic that protects this city requires blood sacrifice. First it was weekly…now it has become daily.” He admitted, cringing as he rubbed his arm ever-so-slightly, taking in a few deep breaths. “Even in this astral plane you see me upon I can feel the sting.”

“Have thou capture-ed any minotaurs? Sought to have them undermine their people’s attacks upon your city?” Luna asked of him as she raised an eyebrow up, Sombra chuckling coldly.

“Oh, I’m afraid they…don’t live long enough for that. I made a promise to the city to no longer have pony meat served to satisfy the meat cravings of us Changelings. But, well…nothing wrong with a nice steak now and then.” He whispered, licking his lips.

“I sense you’re enjoying more than steak. I can practically taste Chrysalis on you.” Luna added as she waved a hoof in front of her face, the blank white space that was their current astral plane immediately forming into Sombra’s bedroom, Chrysalis’s crooning form lying seductively on the bed, gesturing for Sombra to come close as Sombra actually FLINCHED.

“I…that is…well…” He muttered. “I mean, it’s important. Symbolically, and…and she’s a fine lover, and…well…I mean…”

“Is she asking you to bed her? Telling you what she wants?” Luna inquired, looking a bit worried. “Sombra, Chrysalis of the Changelings is manipulative. I am concerned she doesn’t care about you, only an ideal of you. I’ve visited her dreams, she’s…” She trailed off. “…I’d prefer not to go into detail. But it involves many…many strap-ons.”

Sombra cringed. “Look, it's fine, I don't mind her...how-how goes the negotiations?”

“Not well. The other races are still quite furious with how your father treated their citizens. They had to endure decades of Changeling rule. They’re not interested in speaking with you unless they’re certain you’ll be an improvement on him.” Luna intoned as the scene shifted, Sombra feeling his father’s gaze on the back of his neck as he slightly cringed, rubbing his sore arm, his father’s cape billowing out about him as if seeking to embrace him. “Have you anything to say?”

“Tell them to call off the attack, and I might talk. Until then, this conversation is tabled.” He informed her, waving a hoof in the air as the dreamscape began to fade and he awoke from his slumber, yawning and smacking his lips as he sniffed the air, frowning darkly as he poked his head outside into the fresh night air.

The city was worse off than before. People were milling about, carrying the dead in large wheelbarrows or slung over their shoulders, gnashing their teeth and wailing. Mothers clutched dead children as they sat flopped against grimy alleyways, emaciated bodies being held by near-skeletal arms. The city was enduring what he’d feared most of all…though he could protect it from enemies without, he couldn’t save it from an enemy within…disease was cultivating inside his home.

He needed to speak to Chrysalis and Luza tomorrow. They’d have to try and devise a treatment plan for…whatever it was. Probably should find out what it was, get to work on that, but…wait, how to keep from being infected? He bit into his lip, drawing the curtains back across the window, sliding down the wall as he held his face, shaking his head, a hot, burning sensation rising in him. He already had to look over the weapons stocks, check the orphanages for those who could fight and work again, have the castle prepare the soup for the soup kitchens, help reinforce the barrier shield with more dark magic-

He felt as though he was being tugged at from all ends. It was just too much…too much.

Luza. Some time with Luza would cheer him up…

…

…

…

…Luza nervously approached the small little firefly as it sat on the leaf in the castle’s private garden, a soft, lilting breeze blowing her perfect hair back and forth, she reached out carefully, then brought her hoof back as the firefly lit up, its abdomen glowing brightly. “Oooh.” She murmured, Luza gently reaching out…

She snatched it up, smiling before realizing something awful smelled-

“Ohhh.” She murmured, looking at her cupped hooves and the disgusting mess that was now splashed against her palm. “I’m sorry. I squashed you…” She whispered as she heard her brother approach from behind, Sombra kneeling down by her, looking her palm over.

“Here.” He said softly, turning his eyes at the fireflies, his eyes slightly aglow as he held a hoof aloft, whistling with a quiet, lilting air. The fireflies began to slowly rise through the dark garden, every flower, every leaf becoming alit with soft golden light. He began to whistle, standing up tall, waving his hooves in the air, the fireflies dancing for him as he cheerily looked down at Luza, who’s eyes were wide in surprise and awe.

“Ooooh…” She murmured, the fireflies dancing around her, twirling in a circular pattern, little tiny ballerinas as Sombra continued to whistle, his eyes glowing a bright green as the fireflies finally soared up into the night sky, then scattered across the garden like a glittering ashfall, each one landing on a different flower, Sombra picking Luza up and rubbing her head, smiling tenderly down at her.

“Did you like that?” He asked. “I’ve gotten to be so skilled in this art.”

“You did all that for me?” Luza giggled as he snuggled up against her face with his cheek, cooing tenderly as he lifted her up and put her on his back, carrying her out of the garden as she let out a yawn, a single firefly landing atop her head.

“I’d do anything for you.” Sombra Nyh-Tyaim insisted. “Don’t ever forget that.”

“I won’t.” She mumbled, nuzzling into the back of his neck. “But…how long do you think this war will go on? They have to stop sometime, right?”

“…yes, of course.” Sombra muttered evasively, cringing a little, wishing he could tell her the truth. “…of course it has to.”

…

…

…

… “Since your mother isn’t going to be needing these kimonos anymore, I suggest you have them sold for some food.” Chrysalis requested as she laid the box down in front of Sombra as he sat inside his room, holding a knife in his mouth, about to draw blood across his arm to add to the seal that he’d drawn in chalk beneath him. The protective barrier around the city kept requiring more and more blood every day, it seemed. He didn’t know how long he could keep this up. Still, getting in some candy would be good. There were always some people willing to trade good clothes for some nice little food in the city if you could find the right fence. And if they objected to the trade, well, he was the king, he-

Wait.

WAIT.

“The kimonos weren’t in the living room where we…you went into my mother’s bedroom?!” Sombra growled out, finding a sense of fury beginning to well up in him. She’d gone into his mother’s bedroom when he’d sealed it off and instructed nobody to go inside without his permission?

“Well, I’ve been trading off my things bit by bit. I’m SURE that your mother would be glad if you put them to good use…” Chrysalis said with a calm smile, giving him a knowing nod as Sombra frowned slightly. She HAD a point, but…still…

“Alright. I’ll…go find a fence in town to trade with.” He muttered as he took the box that held his mother’s kimonos, carrying them out of the room past Luza, seeing her cringing as she stared at the box. “…Luza, it’s just-”

“I heard. I understand. I’m…I’m not gonna get upset. It’s…it’s just THINGS, right? Things can be replaced.” She said softly. “Mom would…she’d want us to get food, right?”

“…yes, she’d want that.” Sombra insisted to her…and to himself, heading down the hall, past portrait after portrait of his father and his mother as they stood side by side, their eyes seeming to follow him the entire time as he inwardly cringed. He knew it was the right thing, and yet…he didn’t feel right doing this, nor did it feel right knowing Chrysalis had just popped into his mother’s room. Had she done it before?

It wasn’t long before he was out in the city, a scarf wrapped around his lower face to shield himself from inhaling a disgusting haze that had fallen over the lower west shopping district. He’d been a little bit too reserved in how much blood he used for the seal and a catapult shot had knocked through a part of the shield, burning rubble making shops, scattered corpses and piles of refuse instantly catch light. Until the unicorns of the city got it under control, everyone was just going to have to hold their breath as best they could until…say…Tuesday.

“I’d like to trade these. My family has no more use for such things in this time. We wish to trade for food-”

“Of course! Yes, ah…not an issue, we’ll, um…my friends and I will get you some rice and dumplings and the butcher can have them made into a nice blanket!” The fence remarked with a nervous gulp.

“Really? Rice AND dumplings?” Sombra inquired, clear and obvious nervousness filling the fence’s skinny face as he took the box from Sombra, looking the kimonos over as Sombra’s eyes slightly narrowed. “…you’re…certain they’re worth dumplings?”

“Of COURSE, anything for you, absolutely!” The fence quickly muttered. “I assure you, we haven’t been killing off orphans at ALL to make this meat for the dumplings, no sir! All reserve stocks! We know you’d skin us alive and eat us with dim sun for dinner if we tried!”

Sombra frowned, the fence leading him down the street through the sickening haze, adjusting his scarf slightly. He wanted to object to that but…truth be told, it WOULD be tempting to have pony meat with some nice dim sun on the side. Still…he had a reputation to uphold.

One which, evidently…was changing somehow.

…

…

…

… “You’re in luck that this stove can be so easily repaired by my magic hooves, sir. A stove like this is hard to find nowadays.” The repairmare insisted, pulling up her belt, adjusting the goggles atop her head as she let loose a sigh of relief, dark black hair matted with sweat as she pulled herself away from the kitchen stove, Sombra looking at the busted, almost utterly smoking wreck of the kitchen stove. All he wanted to do was cook rice. Was that so hard?

“How much?” He asked, reaching into his belt pouch to pay her.

“I know better than to ask you for money, sir.” She admitted with a nervous nod, Sombra blinking slightly at the repairwoman as she turned back to the stove, the new king frowining inwardly as he made his way out of the kitchen, Luza following after as he heard Chrysalis speaking to some of the servants, her voice carried all the way from-

…upstairs…down the hall, to the right, on…no. No, she wasn’t…

He put a hoof to his lips, shushing Luza as they snuck up the stairs, Sombra’s eyes narrowing as he listened intently…Chrysalis’s voice coming from his mother’s room. She was inside. And…having the servants do her hooves?!

“Really, with all the raids, the constant barrage on the city, it’s a miracle I can just relax at all.” Chrysalis admitted as she sighed, flicking her long hair slightly back. “Not to mention Luza will NOT shut up in her sleep. She keeps whimpering.”

Sombra growled slightly. So? Luza had trouble sleeping. Everybody was having issues…

“Sombra should tell Luza to start helping with putting out the fires that keep springing up on the outskirts of the barrier. They eat away at the shield. Any unicorn who can do any magic at all is supposed to help!” Chrysalis went on, continuing to talk loudly and proudly, Sombra feeling a ringing noise rising in his ears. “Besides, it would make the people feel as though he’s actually doing something. I’m out on the streets, I hear them talking. I know how frightened they are of him. The reclusive king…never out of his castle. Always locked away, high above us all. My soldiers are on the front lines, I understand their pain far better than he does. I think I’ve earned a little relaxation.”

Sombra. Was. Mad. He wanted to snap her neck. He wanted to throw her out the window. He could feel the blood rising in his veins, his form shaking with a fury, he-

They were really…talking about him like that? No wonder that repairmare had been…

He looked down at Luza as she nervously looked up at him, and a horrible, ugly thought popped into his head.

What if it was true?

…

…

…

…it wasn’t too hard to change his appearance. A little caked-on mud, some raggy clothes, contacts…he looked like a different stallion.

Coughing slightly into his hoof, Sombra slid down the alleyway, past a few fallen forms that lay flopped against the side of the wall, curled up in a ball, barely able to move. A horrid stench filled the air from a mixture of feces and trash that now caked their bodies, people clustered around barrels filled with fire as they tried to stay warm. The faint, greenish hue of the shield spell was the only light in the sky, glistening in the air like a giant dome that surrounded the city as some of the citizens glanced up at it, a few scattered arrows dissolving against the shield.

Heh. Stupid minotaurs, Sombra mused.

“They always try and always fail. But it doesn’t matter…” One mare muttered, hacking and coughing into her hoof, struggling not to fall to the ground, her form wrapped in blankets as a child nearby dug into the earth. “How long can the shield stay up? Our fearless leader can’t keep it going forever.”

“He’s said it requires blood. How long before he decides to start ordering others sacrificed to keep it going?” Another mare wanted to know, their voices a low, conspiratorial whisper as Sombra inwardly frowned. Were they serious?! They couldn’t be serious, they-

“How long until our rations run out, mah?” The first mare’s daughter nervously asked, tugging at the blankets as the little one gazed up in expectation.

“You…shouldn’t worry about things like that.” The woman muttered, Sombra nervously edging away from them, turning to the young stallion digging at the ground.

“What’re you doing?” He asked, wincing as the familiar fire that was his cut-open wounds for the shield burnt through his chest…the stallion’s head turning away as Sombra SAW what he was doing.

Digging a grave for a large collection of fireflies that had evidently simply dropped dead from disease.

“I found a bunch of them all fallen on the ground by a strawberry patch.” The young colt muttered.

The bodies almost impossible to look at…a Foul cold iron stench ripped through them…blood oozing out and staining the bandages from beneath like a modern art painting, lips burnt off, eye sockets sizzled, pupils never to see another sight again…

“Dad said…mom’s in a grave like this. We had to build it fast because she got really sick.”

The MAGGOTS…these filthy carrion crawlers were slinking all over the bodies…squirming and slithering…a hundred maggots to every body…you couldn’t take one step without stomping down on them…

Sombra could not stop the tears that began to well in his eyes as he finally ran off, sobbing, slamming himself into the side of an alleyway wall, barely holding himself up with one hoof, the other covering his face as the tears fell freely.

“Maaaaaaamaaaaa…” He finally managed to gurgle out. “Why do people have to die at all?” He whispered. “…all it does is take away something beautiful from the world. Why can’t things just stay perfect…unchanging…” He whispered.

It was just too much…too much.

“…if we stay here we’ll die.” He realized aloud, the tears plopping down onto the cold ground one after another, his voice low…solemn. Final. “…we’ll die. We can’t survive here. Nobody can.”

He had to get out of there. And take Luza with him.

…

…

…

…Chrysalis awoke to find a scroll on the door, nailed in there for her to see as she blinked her eyes in confusion. Rising from what had been Mina Nyh-Tyaim’s bed, she yawned, taking the scroll off and looking it over, frowning a bit as she read through the scroll’s contents…

Meanwhile, Sombra and Luza were already on their way down the forest road, quickly hurrying towards the back exit, a long tunnelway at the end of the little forest in their palace courtyard. The tunnelway led straight out of the city, and if they left now, they’d arrive outside the city in the cover of darkness, able to slip away in deepest night.

We’re taking our leave. Luza and I won’t trouble you anymore.

If you desire the shield to stay up, you’ll have to contribute your own blood to the seal. Otherwise…you’d best work on an evacuation plan for the city, or terms of surrender. It’s up to you.

Chrysalis began to growl, a low heat rising in her body as she scrunched up the scroll. Putting her on the hot spot, was he? After all she’d done for him. Well…he’d come crawling back. She could handle this. When he saw how well she would rule this city, he’d realize how stupid his pride was and come back to her…

The air of the tunnel was damp and cool, Luza wrapping her arms around Sombra’s neck, burying her face in the nape as he kept trotting through the long tunnelway, a single firefly floating around them as they began to approach the exit. Soft wind made it clear they would soon be home free as Sombra pushed the doorway open, sighing in relief. Sure enough…no catapult platoons or minotaur soldiers around. He sniffed at the air, getting a good read before quickly bolting off, heading for the Western woods, following the river.

Bullfrogs belched in the night as fireflies danced upon the surface of the water, Sombra and Luza barreling down the road. The wind fluttered through Sombra’s hair as he slightly panted, a large rucksack slung across his back for Luza to rest on, Luza carrying a few bags of her own along with a belt full of pouches loaded with little candies as Sombra halted for a moment, looking up at the sky. The moon was casting down gentle rays upon the two, illuminating the river’s surface with an almost unearthly glow as he breathed in deep, taking in the fresh air…enjoying a peaceful, calm moment. In this instant, there were only him and Luza and the open road.

They would, at least, be free. They just had to follow the forest trail and they’d eventually hit a city they could blend in to. Settling down by the river, Sombra tenderly laid Luza onto the rupsack he brought, lying down by her side on the soft grass as she scrunched up against the rucksack, one arm wrapped around it. Sombra tenderly brushed some hair off her cheek, his sister’s soft murmurs rising out from her tiny lips as Sombra smiled, kissing her atop her head.

“Sleep tight, nightlight.” He cooed. “…we’ve got a big day ahead of us.”