We waited. For two and a half days, sustained on or provisions we did nothing but wait or perform menial tasks. Sombra sharpened his sword, over and over while I developed a nervous twitch in my right wing. But now I was especially worried because it would no longer twitch, neither of my wings would now that some of the first signs of frostbite began had set in. Our efforts were not in vain however, it was the half day that our battle had begun.

“SIGHTED!” I shrieked, from one of the constructed towers I was perched in.

We can do this…

“Prepare for battle then, Princess Amore!” Sombra called from below, eyeing the churning force emerging from the lesser peaks.

That was our foe.

I braced myself, heart pounding as he teleported us to a close hill. We would make the first strike.

I wasn’t going to fail my kingdom.

The teleportation mist subsided as we stepped out.

  There she was: coat as brown as rock with a curved sickle horn (like Sombra's) tipped in pale green. Her eyes were no more than mist of dark ivy color in heavily lashed sockets. Perhaps the most fearsome parts happened to be her mane and tail which seemed to be made out of churning clouds of green mist and rock debris. Her hips, legs, feather tips, and neck were bound in harsh ice ornaments with a semi-translucent chain flowing from her necklace. The Gaia-corn was as tall as Celestia, her gaze malicious.

  When she spoke her mouth did not move and her voice had a soulless quality. If one looked carefully they could see the aspect of a ghostly filly wavering under the alicorn façade. The filly, Marlise, was bound in rags and the Crystal Heart was entwined in her mane. She shared the same malicious gaze as her ‘other half’, the only difference is while the Gaia-corn façade had no expression, Marlise had a murderous sneer.

“Come, Princess,” It beckoned.

I brandished my weapon in response. She shifted her gaze to a bristling Sombra.

“Care for a battle, Shadow-Beast?”

His mane and tail gained their animate appearance in an instant. Fangs poked their way into his mouth once more followed by eye miasma and a bright red demon iris and pupil. Thin, spectral armor now hovered around him. He waved his sword and shot the monster a maniacal, violent smile that matched the insane look in his eyes.

“Try me.”

There would be no diplomacy.

  I quickly unfroze my wings the best I could before firing a powerful magic blast from my bow and Sombra was terrifying as he clashed with the Northbound Gaia-corn.  My shots pierced her but her laughter rippled as they hit, implying my efforts did no harm. However, Sombra's barbaric swings cut deeply.

But not deep enough.

A spire of earth shot under me, I dodged and glided to another spot.

My book spilled out of my bags and fell open:

Undefeatable am I…

Trying to be courageous I threw my dagger at her with all the dagger-throwing skill I could muster.

…Lest evil acquire what the…

Which wasn’t much; considering it missed, and sailed over my target. Sombra slashed powerfully with his sword, which at the moment was held in his mouth.

…What the vain Lord lacked…

The Gaia-corn briefly shifted her gaze to me while in combat. Sombra deflected her earthen blow.

I charged, ready to use some of the combat magic I knew but suddenly buckled and snapped backward. A ripping sound unlike any other filled the air followed by a powerful yet incredibly brief rush of burning, wet pain. I looked down, face ashen.

An earthen spire was piercing me at a crooked angle, right through my mid-section.

…and speaketh Great Truth.

  Blood was pouring everywhere pooling in the broken tissue and dripping from my left wing, which had been impaled. I felt exceptionally woozy and squeaked a bit.

This was more…more than I could…I could. Mend.

Sombra whipped his head around and transferred his sword back to a magical grip. His eyes flashed back to normal briefly and widened.

Time seemed to slow down.

‘…and speaketh Great Truth.’

‘…evil…what the vain…lacked…’

‘…an individual like him probably had at least one secret…’

‘…thought that you of all ponies would understand…’

It all made sense.

“SOMBRA,” I screamed despite all the pain. And spots.

I got his attention.

I accept that I will die.

Sweet Elysium…take...Me.…Celestia…failed…save. Me?

Time seemed to speed up once more but only for him and me.

My heart was in my throat…or maybe it was blood.

“She can be killed…truth! Your truth! Your secret! I know. Her? Tell…”

Everything appeared to be clicking back now…including the Gaia-corn.

Her face paled at my words.

The pain began to flip-flop and go away.

Some of the nerves must have been wiped out, or died.

“Sombra…I…no secrets…”

Breathing. It hurt.

I slipped a bit.

Strength was vanishing.

Something long and hard broke unleashing another wave of pain. This caused my wings to go berserk and my legs to twitch and spasm.

My spine.

Tears streamed down my face.

The Gaia-corn. She disarmed Sombra. He didn’t seem to care.

I can only…take…so.

Much.

Was he in a stupor?

More blood leaked out and I screamed. Sombra's chest shook as he turned to the enemy.

I saw him gulp.

Dots danced everywhere.

He took a deep breath and screamed. But there were words in his scream and it was as scared as mine.

“I-I'M IN LOVE-”

A bright light followed and a loud explosion stumbled closely behind it, this cancelled out anything else…

He…

Might…

Have…

Said…

Pain blurred. My organs-

Stopped.

I sunk into the dark.

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