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EDIT: Fanfic updated!

*INCOMING FAN THEORIES*

Like I mentioned in the journal, I have three theories of Sombra, two of which can be linked at will.

1. The Crystal Empire was an isolated place. The royal family line consisted of only (alicorn) crystal ponies. Everything was going great, until Sombra (nameless back then) was born. With a colorless "non-crystally" coat, a dark gray mane and no wings, Sombra's appearance was frowned upon, except for his mother, the current Crystal Queen. His mother was the only reason Sombra got to stay in the castle. Unfortunately, a few years later, the queen became terribly ill and died soon after. Sombra was kicked out of the castle and sold as a slave in the Crystal Empire.

Sombra had many owners, for he was not much help, being raised in a castle and never really had had to work. (Probably a grammar mistake there somewhere.) He also sometimes sneaked (snuck?) out to watch ponies jousting, secretly admiring and envying them. Finally, one day, he was sold to a new owner outside the Empire. He was just as much help as before, so he switched owners pretty quickly. He got to see the world, but from other ponies' back yards. He overheard tales about the world, the ponies there and — most importantly — magic. If he only had enough power, he would be free again.

So he made his mission to study about magical charms, amulets and such in any way possible. Books were stolen and many questions asked, but with minimal results. Ponies apparently thought that he would use the power to get revenge on the ones who had wronged him — on the world that had wronged him. But Sombra wouldn't do that, now would he? He only wanted to be free, maybe make his family finally proud of him in some way, maybe honor his mother who had always loved him despite his looks. But never would he harm anyone. Well, of course the thought of it had sometimes occurred, but Sombra had just shook his head at it and moved on to other thoughts. But only sometimes, quite rarely, to be exact.

Months went by, years went by. Sombra was starting to get desperate. How foolish of him to think that he'd ever be free. After all, he'd been a slave for nearly all his life now. But when he was ready to close the last book, suddenly he struck gold. On the last page. Only a myth, but still available. Only seen a few times and never fully confirmed, but maybe, just maybe…
Sombra waited until his owner had left, ripped the last page off and then with it, ran out the door.
The Badlands weren't far from the Macintosh Hills, and there were only a few easily avoidable towns on the way. The journey was quick. Now the problem was the dragons. Fire-breathing dragons, that had just migrated and were hungry. Sombra hesitated for a while, but soon climber over the last cliff and took a glance at the volcanic valley.
The dragons didn't look nearly as malevolent as he had expected. Still pretty malevolent-looking, but none of them had attacked him yet, so that's a good start, right? Sombra took a few steps carefully, but then decided just to walk normally. That would probably draw less attention to himself.

As the gray unicorn strolled across the steaming ground, most dragons ignored him. Those who didn't just stared at him menacingly, but did nothing else. They were probably too tired from the long flight. Some teenage dragons were roughhousing nearby, and Sombra couldn't help noticing a certain crimson one being the obvious underdog. The stallion felt a little bad for him, but he couldn't interfere. Otherwise he'd be noticed and turned into roast in a matter of seconds.
But the farther he walked, the more guilty he grew. How was this dragon any different from him, anyway? Sombra took another peek at the teens. This time the other dragons had ganged up on the crimson underdog. The pony turned entirely towards the scene. The dragon appeared to be wingless. Guess that was the reason, then. Sombra looked around, wondering if he could help the poor thing somehow.
A round boulder at the edge of the bowl quickly caught his eye, conveniently located above the group. Sombra's magic was weak, but just strong enough to give the moderately big chunk of rock a gentle push. The bullies quickly turned their attention to the stone rolling down the ledges, leaving a dust trail behind itself as it accelerated towards the scene. The dragons rushed out of the boulder's way, the wingless being the last one to throw himself to safety, to the other side than the bullies. The area was filled with thick dust and the reptiles' coughs when the boulder finally landed with a loud thump. But when the dust and dragon smoke had cleared, the bullies' target was nowhere to be found.

"Who are you?! Where are you taking me?!" the dragon shouted between his coughs. No answer. Only the sound of galloping hooves of his carrier. He tried to repeat his questions, but all the dust made it impossible. Only after he was dumped to the ground in what seemed to be a cavern did he get an answer. "Well away, of course" a young, male voice responded. After one last smoke-filled cough, the dragon looked up. He saw a gray unicorn with a dim gray mane, redwood colored eyes and a slightly curved horn. "Well.. thanks, I guess." He stood up. "But who are you?"
The dull-colored colt looked at his hooves. "Uhh… I don't really… have a name."
"What do you mean?"
"Everybody just calls me 'servant' or 'slave'. I don't remember ever being called by an actual name."
"What shall I call you, then?"
"Well, I was supposed to be the Prince of the Crystal Empire. Why don't you just call me Prince. What's your name?"
"I'm Thornes."
The dragon took a better glance at the so-called Prince. No way a royal would come to the Badlands. What business would one have here? There are only dragons and volcanoes here. Unless…
Thornes gasped. "You're not here to slay me, are you?!"
The 'Prince' laughed. "Congratulations. Not a lot of things can make me laugh, but you succeeded." Then his laughter quieted. "I came here for freedom."
Thornes just now realized what the pony had said earlier when the dragon asked for his name.
"So.. you're a slave?" he asked cautiously.
"Yes." Prince sat down. "Pretty much."
The dragon pondered for a moment. "But how could a prince become a slave?"
"Well, just look at me." The unicorn raised his hoof and pointed it at himself. "It's the sparkly all-alicorn royal family line of the Crystal Empire. Last time I checked, gray wasn't one of the rainbow's colors. Can't have an alicorn without wings, either." He then pointed at Thornes's nonexistent wings. "You'd probably know."
Thornes blushed as much as a reptile could. Realizing that he had touched a sore spot, Prince then changed the subject. "Do you know the volcanic caves beneath the Badlands? What I came here for is supposed to be in middle of the deepest chamber."
"Maybe not exactly the deepest chamber, but otherwise — of course. All dragons live there.." Thornes said and added: "But how in Equestria would you be able to survive such heat?"
Prince didn't say anything. He took off his saddlebag — which the dragon just now noticed — and pulled out a small leather bag tied shut with a narrow rope. "What's that?"
"Something from the Crystal Empire. Took a bag just in case before I was sold further." He then put it back and lifted his saddlebag onto his back again. "But I shouldn't waste it, so let's put it away for now. You'll see later."
[to be continued]

Meanwhile, that wall killed my arm. So many layers. Glad that's over now.
MLP: FiM © Hasbro & L. Faust.
Made in Paint Tool SAI.
I have a lot to learn about color theory on backgrounds.
Also, if I lower the resolution any further, I'll be making pixel art soon..

Upvotes at import: 77 | Stars at import: 42
Posted previously at: 2013-02-23T15:59:35