Fourteen Years Ago
Brimstone loved the gardens, even if his daddy made him dress up in that stupid, hot cape and armor. It was all too heavy, and it constricted his wings, but at least he and daddy matched. Brimstone bounced on his hooves until he caught a sideways glance from Sombra, at which point he puffed out his chest, just like he was supposed to, and tilted his head up, just like he was supposed to. He cast a glance back, and he saw his daddy smile warmly. "Much better," Sombra rumbled.
A servant opened the door, and the two rulers marched proudly out into the gardens. Beautiful flowers, half of them made of carved crystal, lined the sides of the pathway. With a stoic expression, Sombra slowly turned his head to survey the garden, and Brimstone did the same, albeit with a few quick checks to match his father's pace. With a nod, Sombra walked along the path with Brimstone a half-step behind.
Brimstone felt butterflies in his stomach and his legs, but he checked his urge to run around in the flowers. His daddy had told him that today was important, and he was determined not to let him down. He reminded himself to be regal, royal, and… some other word that he couldn't remember. He matched his father step for step, and as long as Sombra wasn't sneering at him, Brimstone knew he was doing a good job.
The walk was slow and pleasant, and Brimstone was starting to understand how acting big could be almost as much fun as running around. Almost.
At the edges of his vision, several gardeners tended to the flowers. They pruned the live ones and sculpted new ones out of crystal, but they never met the prince's eyes. Brimstone knew they weren't supposed to, but he wondered why they never wanted to wave or anything.
Above him, Brimstone heard Sombra whisper, "Eyes forward, Brimstone."
Brimstone sucked in a quick breath and looked ahead.
Sombra spoke evenly and in a hushed tone. "Remember, son. They are below us. They rely on us to guide them, like a shepherd would his flock." His voice took on a darker tone. "And when they are out of line, then need to be punished. You understand."
Brimstone shrunk. "I…" He wasn't sure he understood at all. He'd wanted somepony else to play with, but his father had always forbidden mingling with the commoners. "Uh…"
Sombra barked, "What are you doing?"
Brimstone snapped up, and his father's voice said in his mind, 'Show no weakness.' Brimstone said, "I understand, Your Majesty."
"Good." Sombra looked down the path. "You must understand. Today is–" His mouth hung open for just a moment. Brimstone felt a chill run up his spine. It was unusual for daddy to pause. "Today, you must show me that you understand."
They walked, and Brimstone enjoyed the sights and the smells, until they came across a pink crystal pony with a teal-and-saffron mane. She visibly shook as she trimmed a crystal flower with a small, black blade. As soon as they approached her, she set down her tool, bowed, and greeted them. "Good morning, Your Majesties."
"Observe, son," Sombra said in a calm tone. Lifting his head high, he looked down at the gardener pony and boomed, "Servant, you know better than to be in our way. Explain your unsightly presence."
The crystal pony's eyes went wide, and she bowed lower. "I-I'm sorry, Your Majesty. You asked me to continue working while you and the young prince toured the garden, and I didn't want to disobey."
Sombra yelled, "That betrays my rules, servant!"
The pony quaked, "But, Your Majesty–"
"But what? You dare speak back to me?" He leaned forward, and purple haze billowed from his fierce eyes. "You are nothing, servant! Count your breaths, and thank your stars you have any left at all." He turned and said to Brimstone, "This pony has spoken out of line, son. Do you know what we must do?"
Brimstone cocked his head to the side. "She needs to be punished?"
Sombra beamed. "Excellent." He whipped his head towards the gardener and flicked a serpentine tongue. "She must pay for her hubris."
The pony shuddered and whimpered.
Sombra held his head high and called, "Guards! This underling has dared–"
"But…" Brimstone said.
Sombra tensed, then slowly looked at his son. "But what?"
"But… you told her to be here. It's not fair if you said that–"
"Brimstone!" Sombra snarled. "These cretins are worthless! Fairness does not apply to them! They are below us!" His voice cracked just slightly. "She must be punished."
Brimstone frowned. "Why? She did what you asked."
Sombra's eyes softened, and his expression collapsed. "Son, you must understand. Just today." The smoke stopped billowing from his eyes. "Show me. Show me that you can learn your place, son." His eyes stopped smoking entirely, which Brimstone knew was against the rules when in public. "Just once. You must."
Brimstone froze.
The corners of Sombra's eyes turned downward. "Please."
Brimstone's jaw opened. He had never heard daddy use that word with anypony before. He'd been told so many times that, as emperor, he didn't need to ask anything. He needed only demand it. But here daddy was, asking him – him! His son! – for something. Brimstone furrowed his brows and said, "She… was just following orders."
Sombra sucked in a breath and stared at Brimstone. Brimstone thought he saw a glint in his father's eye, but Sombra quickly stood up and looked into the distance, eyes unfocused. "I see," he whispered.
The guards rushed up. "Sire! Has this servant harmed you?" Their voices rattled in their metal helmets.
Sombra spoke softly and in quick phrases. "No. She has done nothing. It matters not." He took a shuddering sigh. "Spare her."
The other guard said, "Sire?"
Sombra spoke in clipped words. "Take my son inside. It's… nearly time for his nap."
Brimstone whined, "But daddy, we just came outside."
Sombra didn't acknowledge him. He stood like a statue, staring at nothing. "You will watch over him carefully. Tell the steward to prepare him some hot cocoa. Make it with–" He choked up slightly, then sighed. "Tell him: extra nutmeg."
Brimstone's tail thrashed behind him. "You're not mad, da–, er, Your Highness? Thank you!" He wheeled around in front of his father and looked up, but Sombra didn't meet his stare. "Daddy?"
Sombra didn't move.
Brimstone cocked his head to the side, and his tail continued to wag. "Okay, I'll see you tonight." Brimstone regained his composure and marched away with the guards, leaving Sombra behind.
As he walked away, he heard his father whisper, "…a disappointment."