Chapter 2
It took a week to receive a response. This came as a surprise since the last correspondence Sombra had with the King took three weeks. Yet by the time the letter arrived it would have left him a day to prepare a presentation. But he knew his request was something that would be difficult to ignore and had prepared everything to ensure the King would be swayed into allowing him to continue his research.
The next morning, he dressed in his finest suit and took to the streets to find a carriage to take him to the castle. It was another unbearably bright day; the sun’s rays allowed the crystal buildings and the resident crystal ponies to give off a radiant shimmer.
Yet he only managed to get a few steps outside of the apartment when the unbearably loud noise of the townsfolk reminded him what he had forgotten. The preparations for the festival celebrating the peace treaty between The Crystal Empire and Canterlot had begun today. Ponies from all walks of life flooded the sidewalk and carriages rushed by as residents and visitors prepared for the festivities. Meaning getting to the castle was going to take much longer than he expected. Sombra scowled and stood as close to the street edge as he safely could and raised his hoof to hail a carriage. He cursed his stupidity for forgetting such an occasion but there was nothing he could do about it now.
After the fifth carriage passed him by, Sombra decided to cut his losses and make a run for it. Even he was not foolish enough to leave royalty waiting for him.
He tore through town as quickly as he could, dodging ponies that crossed his path. By the time he reached the entrance to the palace he was exhausted. He had never run such a distance in his life! Thankfully his saddlebag was able to withstand the unexpected turbulence.
Some of the ponies nearby glanced at him strangely and whispered but he paid them no heed. Using a nearby crystal he fixed his mane and rumpled clothing then joined the small crowd heading toward the castle doors.
Compared to the cottages that surrounded it, the castle was truly a beacon of perfection, and in the center sat the Crystal Heart. The magical embodiment of the pony’s dedication to their King and Queen. It was something Sombra longed to study; how did the magic work, was it connected to the hearts of the townsfolk or was there a deeper magic at work? All questions that he would never know the answer to. To even suggest studying the Crystal Heart is grounds for banishment if the King and Queen were feeling merciful. Sombra kept his gaze forward to resist the urge to be drawn into the Crystal Heart’s allure.
There was a mixture of every class and species; scholars and peasants walked amongst nobles. Unicorn, Pegasi, and Earth pony. It was as if the Crystal empire was showing unity by having everyone enter and exit through the same doors.
“No no no, dang it!” Gasped a mare a few paces in front of him.
There was a loud thud as the box of scrolls and what seemed to be party supplied spilled everywhere. She appeared to be a normal earth pony; her coat was a soft pink with a dark pink mane pulled together in a messy bun and wore a simple brown dress. Yet the ponies around her continued to trot pass and completely ignore her.
Sombra considered for a moment doing the same, he had barely managed to make it to the castle, and he did not want to risk angering the King for his tardiness. But when continued along until he came up beside her and saw her beginning to cry he decided it wouldn’t hurt to assist her.
Kneeling down he carefully grasped some of the scrolls in his mouth and dropped them in the basket. The mare stared at him, almost like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, then quickly began gathering the dropped items once more. Between the two of them they were able to gather everything very quickly.
“Thank you, I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t-”
But Sombra had left before she could finish her sentence.
Fortunately, Sombra’s slight detour did not cause him to be late but from the way the King and Queen stared him down as he approached he might as well have been. King Onyx’s blue eyes burned into him with unspoken fury, his pitch-black coat held the same radiance of crystal as the ones surrounding him, and his silver armor only added to his menacing aura. It seemed one step out of line would cause King Onyx to use his unicorn magic to reduce Sombra to ash.
Queen Psyche was the polar opposite; her emotions were clear across her face that she was upset but was intrigued and wished to take a gentler approach. Her soft pink coat shimmered with the sunlight coming through the stain glass window and wore a silk dress with holes cut out for her wings was colored with soft pastel purples and blues.
“You’re request intrigues us. Tell me Sombra, why should we allow you to use the Anemone flower.” King Onyx bellowed.
Sombra rose from his respectful bow but did not dare to look the King or the Queen in the eyes just yet. He had to retain every sense of decorum to ensure his request was approved. Even if it went against every fiber of his being to act respectful to those who held none for him.
“Your majesty, if I may.” He paused until the King gestured for him to continue. “My research into the flower’s properties is purely for educational purposes. However, if my calculations are correct, I will be able to allow us to harness the flowers magical properties to assist ponies who suffer from injuries once thought to be incurable. These findings would not only ensure the peace treaty remains intact due to their intentions being for the wellbeing of others but could strengthen the bond between our Kingdom and the kingdoms we have an alliance, with your permission of course.”
His words were not a complete lie, the magic the flowers could grant could strengthen healing capabilities. But Sombra was not foolish enough to confess his true intentions for his research. It was a risk he was unwilling to take.
“Do you have any idea what you are suggesting?” the King hissed, his horn glowed with magic. “We are about to host the festivities for the peace treaty between our Kingdom and Canterlot and you want to put that at risk by-”
Queen Psyche let out a gentle cough causing King Onyx to pause and look toward his wife.
“Darling please, allow him to present his research first. While his timing is… questionable it appears to come with noble intentions.” She placed her hoof on King Onyx’s who snorted in frustration but did not continue his rant. Queen Psyche turned to Sombra, “Continue.”
Without wasting a beat Sombra pulled out his research and presented it to the guard to brought it to the King and Queen once it had been thoroughly checked.
“If we act right away and my research yields the desired results, we can present the findings to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of Canterlot the day they arrive for the festivities. It would show an act of good faith to Canterlot who will in turn back our findings amongst kingdoms they have alliances with that we have not formed yet.”
King Onyx eyed the document warily, when he finished he handed the documents over to his wife who held them in her wings. With each line she read she seemed to grow more interested.
“The Anemone flower is said to only strengthen a Unicorn’s magic and stamina. How do you know this will have any effect on a Pegasus or an Earth Pony such as yourself?” the King seemed smug at this question.
It was like a cat playing with a mouse. The King didn’t want to upset his wife by outright denying Sombra’s request. But Sombra was not going to back down that easily.
“Due to the flower’s magical properties, it may not need to rely on the magical core of the individual but on the flower’s own abilities. I am willing to test it on myself to ensure no pony is harmed during my research.” Sombra replied.
The room was silent. If looks could kill Sombra was certain the King would have ensured he was never born.
“I find your research to be very sound and your sacrifice noble, I shall grant your request.” Queen Psyche announced. “We shall inform the staff at the Sanctuary of your research and allow you to harvest the petals.”
Sombra wanted to sigh in relief, but he kept his composure and bowed deeply.
“You have until the end of the month when Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of Canterlot arrive.” King Onyx cut in.
Sombra’s head shot up in surprise. Till the end of the month? That was practically impossible!
“Darling!” Gasped Queen Psyche.
“If I find your research does not yield results we shall discuss if you should be allowed to continue your research.” King Onyx continued; he waved his hoof to motion the guard still standing nearby to gather up Sombra’s research and return it to him.
All Sombra could do was nod his head solemnly and the guard handed him his research. He didn’t even have time to place them back in his saddle bag, Sombra carried them out awkwardly with his right front hoof clutching them to his chest. It wasn’t until the doors into the palace slammed behind him that he grabbed the papers and placed them back into his saddle bags.
The festivities began at the beginning of the month. He had four and a half weeks to prove his findings were sound. Sombra rushed down the street as quickly as he could toward his apartment. He needed his supplies to harvest the flower petals, a notebook, a fresh well of ink, and much more if he wanted to finish on time.