“Come on, it’ll be starting soon.” Sombra waited at the top of the stairs as the two slowly made it to the top, and collapsed. Their parents smiled gently as they passed, and walked over to join the Prince, and the King. Luna glowered at Sombra, who was holding a book in his magic, a energetic glint to his eye.
“They’re letting me participate today because I’m a magical prodigy.” Sombra stood up straight and pointed to himself, closing and beaming with pride. The fact they had allowed him to learn the spell, let alone participate today, just showed how much his teachers believed in his skill. Luna rolled her eyes to Celestia, or Tia as she was known by them.
“Oh be quiet Sombrero, your inflated ego is showing.” Tia glared irritably at Sombra as he chuckled and held out a hoof, smiling mockingly.
“Need a hand, Milady?” Sombra’s smile only widened as Tia slapped his hoof away, and marched toward the three cushions set down near the rulers, and plopped her royal flank down on the white one. Luna giggled, and picked out a dark blue one, leaving Sombra to sit on the pink one as silent revenge, on account of him being a big dummy head.
“This is so cool! I’m going to be raising the Sun!” Sombra beamed to the others, and they smiled, nodding and letting his excitement rub off. Tia looked to the night sky and at all the stars, wondering if he would be also creating the lovely night. No matter what bedtime her parents set, she refused to sleep until she got one glance of the night, even on her very first day in the world.
“Hey, can we see the spell?” Tia pointed to the book that Sombra had plopped down in front of them, and he paused. Nopony had told him he couldn’t, and it wasn’t as if they were going to raise it themselves. Sombra nodded, but opened his mouth in warning.
“Okay, but promise me you won’t teach it to anypony.” Sombra smiled warmly as both swore, and levitated the book open to the page, showing the spell and raising his head as the unicorns that would be casting it began to file in. Sombra waved to his mentor, who gave a tired old smile and waved back.
“Mnnnn,” groaned Tia as she tried to cast the spell, catching the two’s attention. Sombra opened his mouth, sighing in irritation.
“You can’t cast it silly, a team of unicorns is needed for that much po-” A collective gasp cut Sombra off as the sky began to lighten, Tia not even noticing as her eyes closed, another layer of magic emerging on her horn. As the rays began to peek over the horizon, a beautiful array of colors washed over the sky, awning everypony who had come to see the sun rise.
“RRrr-pah-hah.” Tia felt the spell cut off, and opened her eyes, sweat beading on her forehead as she gasped for breath. Blinking, she realised everyone was looking to her, and more specifically to her flank, where a sun symbol could be seen. Tia turned to her sister, and beamed.
“You try sis!” Tia watched as Luna concentrated, but was unable to reach the same level of magic as her sister, being slightly younger. Tia smiled and brought her horn into contact with her sister’s, sending some magic along to help. Both quickly groaned under the strain, and slowly the sun began to set, and the moon rose over a starless night. Gasping for breath, both collapsed once more.
“Moon,” stuttered Sombra, looking at the cutie mark emblazoned on Luna’s flank. Both turned to look around to the shocked face, and beamed in immense pride. The unicorns began to stamp their hooves, clapping the two young fillies. Sombra congratulated the two as well, feeling his body turn to ice when he saw the look his father and brother sent him.
“Sorry, I gotta go, be right back.” Sombra quickly excused himself, knowing Tia and Luna were so caught up in being the center of attention to give him more than a passing glance. Picking up the book, he slowly followed his father and brother inside a private building after they quietly bowed to the parents of the two Alicorns. Once alone, Sombra was quick to speak.
“Father I’m sorry I-” Sombra cried out, but quickly silenced himself as his magic dropped the book and he was sent sliding across the floor on his side. The Prince loomed over his brother, eyes burning with hatred.
“Do you realise what you have done!?” The Prince picked up Sombra roughly and glared as Sombra shrunk, and tried to open his mouth to speak. The Prince tossed Sombra to the side, and began pacing in disgust. The King stepped in front of the Prince, disapproval in his eyes. Wincing, the Prince looked over to Sombra, as he slowly got to his shaky feet. The King turned, looming over Sombra but only his cold voice and calculated eyes attacked Sombra, who found himself unable to look away.
“Raising the Sun and Moon was our best deterrent against invaders of a non-Gryphonian race, and without it, a lot more ponies are going to have to be called out to fight in battles. You have doomed thousands of ponies to their deaths son, congratulations.” The King turned, and left the room. The Prince glared once at Sombra as he left, but quickly covered it behind his stoic mask.
“I-I,” was all Sombra could speak, before he fell to the ground, looking ahead in silent horror, remembering the all too vivid memory of his first experience with war. Tears streamed down his face as the dying screams of ponies slammed into his head, and the image of his mother, all silently accusing him.
Sombra closed his eyes, scrunching his face, and stood up, breathing in and out slowly as he waited. Eventually, the images faded, and the tears vanished. Concentrating, the colt cast a spell he had picked up from Luna, one which removed all traces of crying from a face. Bloodshot eyes, stained cheeks, all were quickly wiped from his face.
“You are stronger than this,” he told himself, nodding, and breathing in once more, steeling himself. Pulling a smile over his face, eyes sparkling, he left the room, walking over to congratulate his friends. Their parents were beaming, proud of their children.
Sombra ignored the two pointed glares occasionally sent his way when no one was looking.