Shade continued to project Sombra's memories into the wee hours of the morning. Most of it was just daily routine. Celestia seemed to grow bored as time went on. Luna was fixated on every image. When Sombra decided to give everyone a break, Celestia spoke up.
"I know you want- Um...does he hear me if I just talk to you, Shade?"
Shade nodded.
"We're sort of the same pony right now."
Celestia nodded and continued.
"I know you want us to hear your story, but do you plan on doing a recap of every day?"
Shade was silent for a moment. Then he nodded.
"Ok. That might be easier."
He closed his eyes in concentration. His horn began to glow. After several seconds, he opened his eyes again. Luna gasped as she saw the crimson eyes of Sombra in place of Shade's normal changeling-esque pupils. The eyes found her and a smile grew on Shade's face.
"Bet you weren't expecting that."
Luna approached the stallion tentatively.
"Is it you?"
"For the moment. I just thought it would be easier for Shade not to be the messenger."
He turned to Celestia and bowed his head.
"Celestia."
She gave the stallion a curt nod.
"Sombra."
"I do apologize if I've been boring you. I just wanted everypony to see a bit of what my life was like before...everything. If you'd like, we'll skip forward a few years."
"Only a few years?"
"To just after my 22nd birthday in fact. When a princess came to visit my mother."
He glanced at Luna, who was holding her breath.
"That day..."
"That day."
Celestia was fighting between curiosity and nausea. Why was her sister acting so...juvenile? And over a stallion that wasn't even technically alive anymore.
"Ok! You've got me interested."
The stallion smiled.
"I figured. You never bothered learning much about us, did you?"
Celestia shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
"We were dealing with a lot back then. We were still fairly new to being rulers."
Luna cleared her throat.
*cough*Fifty years*cough*
Celestia glared at her.
"Even so, we were still maturing. We might as well have been the same age as you were Sombra."
He smiled and nodded.
"That would explain your own feelings as much as Luna's"
If she had still been in control of the Sun, Celestia would have had a mind to drop it on him in that moment. But she didn't want to crush poor Shade as well.
"Are we going to start or not?"
The stallion began to blink and the crimson disappeared, replaced by Shade's normal pupils once more. He took a drink of water and then focused up for another memory.
The crystal shimmered as another image formed...
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Sombra made his way through the halls towards his mother. He knew she'd want to know if he had any intention of heading out. He rounded the corner and found two guards at the door to her study. Equestrian guards.
Sombra approached the door and the guards spread their wings.
"Halt."
Sombra wondered if they were joking, but quickly realized that wasn't the case.
"You don't order me in my own home. I am Prince Sombra and you will let me pass to see my mother."
The guards glanced at each other, unsure what to do. Sombra rolled his eyes.
"Look, I'm just giving her a message. I'll be in and out in thirty seconds. But if you'd rather explain to Princess Amore why she can't find her son..."
The guards' eyes widened. The one on the right responded.
"No need Sir! we're just here on orders. Princess Luna is speaking with Princess Amore."
Sombra arched his brow.
"Princess Luna? I think I remember her. She's the...blue one, yes?"
The guard on the left nodded.
"Yes Sir. Princess Luna, Guardian of the Moon, younger sister of Celestia."
Sombra nodded and walked past the guards. He pushed the door open gently and entered the study.
"Mother? I'm sorry to interrupt."
Amore was sitting in her favorite chair. She smiled as she saw him.
"It's fine Sombra. Was there something you needed? Oh! I don't know if you two have ever had a proper introduction!"
Amore stood up and motioned to the chair across from her. Sombra couldn't see its occupant from where he stood, but that changed quickly as his mother's guest stood up. A slender blue mare appeared from the chair. Sombra's eyes took everything in at once. She was slender, yet muscular. Her coloring was a dark blue like the night sky. Her mane sparkled with starlight. Her eyes were shades of aqua, like the sea. She was far younger-looking than he'd expected.
"Umm...hello. My name is Sombra."
The mare bowed her head.
"We remember you well, young prince. Thy mother speaks fondly of you."
Sombra fought the urge to laugh.
"You Equestrians speak very formally, don't you?"
Her eyes widened. A split second later, she lowered her gaze.
"We- I apologize. My sister says I need to work on addressing the public properly."
Amore giggled.
"You're not in public, Luna. It's just myself and Sombra."
Luna smiled at her friend, grateful for the gesture, and turned back to Sombra.
"I'm princess Luna of Equestria."
She held out a hoof, which Sombra took.
"Prince Sombra of the Crystal Empire. A pleasure."
He leaned down and kissed her hoof. When he looked back up at her face, he could have sworn there was the slightest hint of red in her cheeks. He smiled at her and let go of her hoof.
"It's a pleasure to meet you officially."
Luna took a breath and smiled back.
"The last time I saw you was when Amore told us she'd adopted you. You were a newborn then."
"Well then it was rather rude of me not to recognize you then, wasn't it?"
That elicited a giggle from the princess.
"That must make me sound incredibly old."
"Not at all! I understand that alicorns are quite different from the average pony. You've been in power as long as anypony can remember, yes?"
"Fifty years is hardly that long. Your mother is far more experienced in my opinion."
Amore playfully scolded her peer.
"Don't sell yourself short like that Luna. You've been successfully ruling the largest kingdom in the land. That doesn't sound 'inexperienced' to me."
Sombra watched as Luna looked down at the floor. She was rather shy. Soft-spoken even. He tried to recall anything he'd heard about her but could only recall ever hearing about her sister, Celestia. She was rather mysterious in that capacity. And rather attractive as well...
"Sombra?"
Sombra was jolted back to reality and looked at his mother.
"Hmm?"
"Wasn't there something you wanted to tell me?"
"Something...oh! It's nothing actually."
Sombra saw the slightest smile forming on her lips. It wasn't exactly friendly. In fact...his mother seemed to be looking a little mischievous at the moment. Her eyes darted between Luna and him. His eyes widened as he realized her game.
"So!"
He had shouted, causing both mares to jump slightly. A nervous chuckle followed.
"What...brings you up to the Empire, Princess Luna?"
"Just Luna, thank you. And I just...came to talk with Amore. I've been touring my kingdom and I was far enough North that I figured I'd stop by."
"How fortunate for us. Will you be staying long?"
"I wish I could. I really love this place, but I have to get back to Canterlot. My sister is expecting me back tomorrow."
Sombra felt his hopes collapse, but kept his composure.
"Oh. What a shame."
Amore stepped forward.
"Nonsense! You're staying for dinner. I won't take no for an answer. And if Celestia wants to make a fuss, she can talk to me."
Luna looked at Amore in surprise.
"Oh no! I wouldn't want to be a pest!"
"You're anything but, my dear. Sombra? Why don't you show Luna our latest additions to the gardens? I'm sure she'll love them."
Before either pony could object, Amore was pushing them out of her study. The door shut behind them, leaving the two ponies alone. Well...besides the guards.
It took Sombra a moment to connect that his mother had pushed him and Luna physically together. He could feel the warmth of her flank against his own. It seemed Luna realized this at the same moment, stepping away from him. He noticed her cheeks were turning red again. Not wanting to embarrass her, Sombra cleared his throat.
"Umm...shall we head to the gardens?"
"Yes. That sounds lovely."
They began to walk down the hall. The sound of armor behind them made Sombra pause. He glanced at Luna and whispered.
"Do we have to have chaperones?"
Luna giggled.
"You two can take the evening off. I'll be fine with the Prince here."
The guards bowed before turning around and walking away. Sombra let out a sigh of relief.
"Do you always have them following you?"
"It was my sister's idea. I would have brought my own guard, but bat-ponies can get rather cranky if they have to be out during daylight too much. I'd rather not listen to the whining."
Sombra started to laugh.
"Sounds like a good choice on your part."
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She noticed after a few seconds and looked at him curiously.
"What?"
"Well...I just didn't expect...that you'd look so young."
"What? You thought I'd actually look my age?"
"Of course not! I know alicorns are immortal and all. I just thought you'd look...well...closer to my mother's age."
Luna nodded.
"It throws a lot of ponies off when we start giving commands. Celestia and I don't look much older than twenty. Would you listen to someone so young?"
"Unlikely. I don't even listen to my own advice sometimes."
That made her giggle. Sombra couldn't help but grin.
They rounded a corner coming to an exit. Sombra opened the doors to reveal the palace gardens. He watched as Luna's eyes grew.
"It's all changed so much!"
She trotted outside with Sombra following right behind. He found it hard not to chuckle at this princess who was acting like a young filly.
"When was the last time you were here?"
She pointed toward the center.
"When that tree was planted."
Sombra looked up at the tree in the center of the gardens.
"Are you serious?!"
Luna nodded.
"Amore planted it in honor of your birth. Celestia and I were so happy for her. She'd always wanted her own family, but never had the chance with ruling the Empire."
Sombra stared up at the tree.
"I don't think I ever knew that..."
"It was a small sapling. How time flies..."
Sombra turned to Luna. She seemed to get embarrassed and turned toward a flower bed.
"I must sound ancient with how I'm carrying on."
Sombra stepped up next to her, not taking his eyes off her.
"Not really. Plenty of ponies think back on memories like that."
He felt a lump forming in his throat.
"I know I'll always look back on...our meeting...as fondly as you recalled that tree."
He saw her smile return, which was enough for him. He looked up at the setting Sun.
"It looks like your sister is at work."
Luna looked up at the sky.
"Horsefeathers! I almost forgot!"
Sombra barely had time to react as Luna shot up into the sky. He watched as she flew up as high as the tree and pause. Her horn began to glow. What came next was amazing to say the least. Sombra saw the Moon, large and full, come over the mountains. As the last rays of sunlight faded, the Moon hit its peak. The stars began to blink into existence as Luna lowered herself to the ground. He couldn't take his eyes off the night sky even as he felt Luna nudge him.
"Is something wrong?"
He slowly shook his head.
"No...I've just...never really looked. Everypony always loves a sunny day. But this...this is magical..."
He turned to Luna and found her crying.
"Oh no! Did I say something wrong?"
Luna wiped the tears away and shook her head.
"No. That's just...the nicest thing anypony has said to me in a while."
Sombra smiled, barely noticing that the entrance to the gardens was opening again. A Crystal pony emerged.
"Dinner is ready Prince Sombra, Princess Luna."
Sombra took a step towards the palace.
"I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
Luna fell into step beside him and nodded.
"Me too."
They walked back into the palace together, their flanks brushing every so often.
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Shade opened his eyes to find Luna crying.
"What's wrong sis?"
Luna wiped her tears.
"I was there because I was feeling so...useless. Nopony paid attention to the night. Not when they could laugh and play under the Sun. I just wanted to assurance from Amore that everything would be alright. Sombra didn't even know that. And yet...his words made me want to keep going."
Celestia stood up, crossing over to her sister.
"You never told me..."
She pulled Luna into a hug.
"I never thought you were useless. Not ever."
"I know. But there was so much going on back then. You never seemed to notice. But...He did."
Shade smiled as a now-too-familiar voice chimed in.
I never knew that was why she visited. I was truly in awe of her ability.
I can understand that.
I just wish...there had been more memories like this one...
Shade's smile slowly faded. This wasn't going to get any easier.