King Sombra x Pegasus Reader

Chapter 26

When Sombra returned that night, I felt slightly more at ease knowing I had a new card up my sleeve. As long as he never found out, I could build relations with the ponies I interacted with daily and maybe, eventually, they could help me to escape- 

I still didn't know if I wanted that. Any rational pony wouldn't even need to think about it, but I'm connected with him. I've seen sides of him that nopony else has seen. Felt things for him that nopony else has felt. Heard things from him that nopony else could ever imagine coming from his lips.

I knew he was dangerous now, I did, and yet I still couldn't shake the feeling that I needed him. It was as though even thinking about escape made my throat tighten. 

I awoke the next morning to an empty bed and an expectant mare standing beside me.

"I've been told to bring you food again ma'am." She took the tray from her back and placed it on the bed. My stomach rumbled.

"This morning I think it might be best for you to eat it instead of generously offering it to a pony of no value..."

I looked up at her, raising my eyebrow, to which she started panickily rambling.

"It's not that I'm not grateful for what you did for me yesterday! I am! I am so so grateful for your kindness but I'm only concerned that your- um- your associate may find out and punish me..."

"Oh," I said. "I guess that makes sense." My heart dropped. Maybe these ponies were just too afraid of Sombra to have any real relations with me?

"I'll leave you to your meal, ma'am." The mare began backing away from the bed when I held up my hoof. 

"Wait a second," I mumbled, sitting up. "Are you busy right now?"

She thought for a moment. "Not particularly, no. All I needed to do this morning was bring you breakfast and clean the kitchen counters. Cleaning the counters usually only takes ten minutes or so. Why, may I ask?"

"I just- I want somepony to talk to," I said, pursing my lips at how awkward and needy that sentence sounded.

"Oh. Um- I guess that's fine," she responded, obviously confused at my request. The mare came over and sat by the bed, silently waiting for me to start speaking. 

"I don't want you feeling like you have to be polite, ok? I want this to be a normal conversation, as if we're meeting under regular circumstances and decided to get a drink together, right?"

"I- sure..."

"Ok," I said, smiling at her as I took a bite of toast. "My name's Y/N. What's your name?"

The mare began fidgeting with her maid skirt. "My name is Cocoa Berry."

I looked her over. The name certainly suited her features. Dark chocolatey fur covered by a mid-length pinky-purple mane. She was very attractive and I knew if I'd met her under different circumstances I would have ended up asking her out. She didn't need to know that though. Neither did Sombra.

I extended my hoof for a hoofshake. "It's nice to meet you Cocoa. I'm glad to be your friend."