Chapter 43

                                    

                                          
Sombra laid his eyes on his final victim. In a swift flourish, Cocoa Berry had been untied from her pole and moved to one in the centre of the stage. Her splayed out frame was in full view of everyone. 
With horror etched onto my face, I watched as Sombra slowly ripped into Cocoa Berry's stomach. Blood ran down his hooves and I could see crystal clear as he licked his lips, a crude smirk beginning to show itself. Beside Cocoa lay two familiar mauled corpses, blood pooling around them. Cocoa let out one final earth-shattering cry before her neck was violently snapped from her body. My throat constricted as the stallion I chose mounted my friends bloodied and bruised head on a spike. He turned to the onlookers.
"These three ponies are your example of the fate you will receive should you rebel in any way. Remember this day, and don't fuck it up."
The crowd dispersed quickly after a nod from Sombra, who immediately turned to me as the crystal encasing my body melted away into the ground. I crumbled, my hooves shaking so much it felt like an earthquake. Without another word, he pulled me onto his back and made his way into the castle, the doors slamming behind us. 
"I'll deal with you later," he muttered to the guards as they left his bedroom.
Fuck.
Another door slammed and I was slipped from Sombra's back to the bed. I watched from the corner of my eye as he began removing his armour. My eyes averted their gaze as he finished and walked over to me. 
"It was foolish of you to think that this would be a normal relationship. I am not a stallion that can be changed," he said nonchalantly, pulling the bedcovers back.
I bit my lip to stop tears from spilling out of my eyes. I knew he wasn't going to change easily but this just cast my hopes from my mind entirely.
"Somehow this bond of our souls has reignited something within me, but don't mistake it for anything but Y/N centred. I cannot fathom feeling anything for the empires ponies that I do for you. And I assumed you knew that when you chose me. I assumed you knew that you were choosing a life with a stallion who loves you but no one else. It seems I was wrong. You chose a fantasy." Sombra pushed me gently onto the mattress where I lay, unmoving, staring straight ahead with my mind blank. He got in beside me but made no effort to touch me. Something deep inside me was relieved.
"For your sake and the ponies who see you as their route to freedom, I hope you understand your role in my empire by morning. If not- so help me Celestia." He sighed, going silent. 
It seems all I've done lately is think. Think about what stupid choices I've made and the stupid reasons I've made them. Every time I think I'm making a good choice, something goes horribly horribly wrong. 
Maybe I should just let someone else choose for me.