RCG-001 "A Love Letter"


                                            RCG-001 is the designation for a Type-C# Engram (Crystaline subtrate, read-only, multiple partions, single sapient) originating from the Mid-Diarch Era. It is made up of two (2) partitions.


                                            Partition 1: An audio recording from "Sombra Lightbringer" addressed to Princess Celestia. Full transcripts in Addendum 001-A


                                            Partition 2: Mental copy of Sombra Lightbringer. Due to thaumic engineering limitations at the time of its creations, it is capable of operation for only ~14 hours at a time, after which it requires a full system reset. Each reset causes the engram to revert to the mental state (memories included) of Sombra Lightbringer at the time of its creation.


                                            >Sombra looked at the love of his life and gave her a sad smile.

                                            >"I'll be back, I promise. But if I don't-"

                                            "You'll make it. I know you will."

                                            >He gave her a peck on the lips.

                                            >"If I don't make make it, I've made an engram. It's a copy of me. Couldn't get the memory right, but it's the best I could on such short notice."

                                            >"Damned brave fool", Celestia thought to herself.

                                            >Then again, that was what made her fall in love with him in the first place.


                                            >"You look like shit. I assume I'm dead then?"

                                            >Celestia took some time to compose an answer.

                                            "Something like that. It doesn't feel right, using your engram. Like I'm violating you for my own pleasure."

                                            >Sombra smirked. "It's my choice. Sooner or later, I would die. This way, I can at least make you happy, for a while, until you move on. Promise me you'll move on."

                                            >Celestia nodded, her first lie of the day.

                                            >"Good. Now, tell me about your day."

                                            "Well, apart from holding court, there was this incident with my sister..."


                                            A thousand years later

                                            >Sombra opened his eyes again. He held out his hooves in front of himself. Everything felt weird. His body had changed.

                                            >That's extremely weird. He should either be inside an engram or waking up in bed, ready for his mission to cleanse the Dark Shard.

                                            >He looked up to see Celestia. Bigger than he remembered.

                                            >Much more tired looking too.

                                            "So. You going to give me an explaination, or are you just *that* impressed by my handsome mug?"

                                            >She laughed. Like she hadn't laughed in years.

                                            >Sombra smirked. He loved to see her happy. Loved to see that beautiful smile.

                                            >Her face once again grew somber.

                                            >"You were corrupted by the Dark Shard. I - I hunted you - *it* down, but it took me a thousand years. Overlaid your engram over the body."

                                            >Sombra thought for a moment.

                                            "I know what that thing can do. I'm sure you did what had to be done."

                                            >She looked away. He knew her well enough to know she was feeling guilty over something.

                                            "I'd love to see what you've done with the world in the mean time."

                                            >Celestia smiled again.

                                            >"You'll love it, I'm certain."


                                            >Celestia had taken many lovers over the course of her long life.

                                            >She knows what it looks like when somepony's heart breaks in front of her.

                                            >Even when they tried to hide it.

                                            >The more Sombra saw, the sadder he got.

                                            >He liked riding the Ferris Wheel for some reason though, and they did it together for hours.

                                            >When she closed her eyes, she could almost pretend that everything was perfect. She was with her lost lover, who had held her heart for thousands of years.

                                            >Almost.

                                            >He turned to her.

                                            >"Why?"

                                            "I thought you would be proud. Remember all those times we talked about changing the world for the better? No war, no poverty, no violence. What's so wrong with it?"

                                            >He turned to her with a look of vague disgust and confusion.

                                            >"And no choice. You had a thousand years to know me, and you thought *this* is what I wanted?"

                                            >Celestia felt tears flowing down her muzzle.

                                            >The light of Canterlot started appearing over the horizon and the Ferris Wheel lifted the two lovers into the air.

                                            >Sombra flinched. He wasn't mad. It wasn't even about disappointment. He just felt old, sad and out of place.

                                            >Just like Celestia.

                                            >"For what it's worth, I'll always love you."

                                            >A minute of silence as the two thought about every choice they'd made that had led up to this moment.

                                            >Then he walked out of the car and out of her life.

                                            >Celestia wept.


                                            To My Dearest Celestia,


                                            I wish words can express my love for you. Fortunately, they don't need to.

                                            I know that sounds pretty cheesy, and I'm not the best writer, but I'm completely serious.

                                            If things go right, this will just be a forgotten letter we'll dust off in a decade and laugh at.

                                            But. But things might not go well.

                                            Words can't express how much I love you, but I hope they can help you remember.

                                            Remember all those moments we spent together. The laughter joy and the tears.

                                            When the good times start to fade, I hope this helps you remember.

                                            Remember me. The part of me I left in here can't lay down long-term memories, so you'll have to do the remembering for both of us.

                                            And when you're ready to let go, don't feel too bad about forgetting me.

                                            I always knew that one day, it'll happen. I wish so damn much that I can spend eternity with you.

                                            Don't feel bad. If you want to remember one thing to keep with you always, it's that I want you to smile.


                                            Love always,

                                            Sombra Lightbringer


                                            That's why he fell to the darkness, Celestia would one day realize. It promised him eternity. Eternity with her.


                                            Date: 1351-01-14


                                            >Sombra leaned his body against Celestia as she wrapped a wing around his barrel.

                                            >He wasn't used to her being so much bigger than him, nor to having a golem for a body, but these things can be adjusted to.

                                            >He was happy, because he had the one thing he always wanted.

                                            >Forever, with Her.

                                            "You know, this new world of yours wasn't what I expected. But I think I can grow to like it. As long as you're by my side."

                                            >Celestia wept tears of joy, and he politely ignored them.

                                            "I just have one question."

                                            >"Oh? What might that be?"

                                            "Why?"

                                            >She looked shocked.

                                            >"P-pardon?"

                                            "When I made this engram, I inserted a secret enchantment. It would let me know if it were ever tampered with or copied."

                                            >"Ah, well, did you not trust me?" She stuttered.

                                            >Sombra looked at her sadly. He knew she was lying by omission about something important, even if he didn't know what it was.

                                            "I don't know. Was I right not to?"

                                            >A glow from Celestia's horn, and the dream world faded away.

                                            >Sombra felt nothing as his consciousness was reset once again.

                                            >"Almost. Almost had it." Celestia said, as a lone tear made its way down her face.

                                            >"Just a few more tries. And I'll have everything perfect."