//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2: The Spirited Prince 
// Story: A Gem in the Sunlight 
// by Lunar Sheild 
//------------------------------//

	Once again, dawn broke over the city of Canterlot. Though this time the commotion was not in the streets but rather palace. A loud scream of frustration could be heard echoing throughout the halls, and it was a female scream. All the gold clad guards could tell it was going to be one "those" days again.

King Galaxus, a large midnight blue-coated alicorn with a shadow purple mane & tail, royal purple eyes, and a galaxy star cutie, make stood alone in the throne room looking out one of the many stain glass widows. He looked to his right over at the doors of the throne room. He could hear the sound of heavy hoof steps and angry muttering in a female voice. Galaxus knew where had happened and prepared his mind for the worst. 

A moment later, the doors swung open to reveal the source of the commotion. It was Duchess Lightning Dust. Though she was looking different from before. She was wearing the same dress from the day before, though covered in dirt, and her mane was in a mess. And she was looking at the King with a scowl on her face. She stomped up to him before stopping a few feet away.

Suspecting what was wrong, Galaxus asked "Miss Lightning Dust, what is the matter?".

Lightning Dust continued to scowl as she replied "'WHAT'S THE MATTER?' you say." in a loud tone. "I'll tell you what's wrong. Your Son!" she continued. "I have never been so insulted in my entire life. Him and that oversized cat. I'm leaving this instant!" she finishes.

With that, Lightning Dust turned around and started to stomp out of the throne room. As she walked, Galaxus saw there was a hole torn along rear flank of her dress, revealing the white and heart dotted bloomers underneath. He put a hoof over his mouth to muffle the chuckling as the noble mare walked away. When she was out of the room, Lightning Dust spread out her wings and, with one powerful flap, created a gust of wind with a draft that slammed the doors behind her. 
When the stomps had faded from echoing, Galaxus started to think to himself. He knew this meant that his son had turned down another suitor. So, of course, the king would have to go talk to him.
With that, the King started to walk toward the doors and lit his horn. A blue and purple aura appeared around the doors, forcing them open. As the doors opened into the elongated hallway, the king could see the rows of guards line up on either side. With their king in sight, the guards saluted him then assumed their professional position. Galaxus walked through the doors and down the hall. Making his way through the many passages of the palace, his destination was the garden. He knew his son was there, because that's where the screaming had started.
As he walked, Galaxus started to think about his sons' upbringing. He had a much easier time raising them when the Queen had been around. She had been an amazing mare who gave their sons all the love and support they needed from a mother. But ever since she passed away from illness, Galaxus had been left to guide his boys into adulthood himself.
After a few minutes of walking, the King came to doors leading out into the garden. Lighting his horn again, the doors enveloped with a blue and purple glow that forced them open. He walked out onto the balcony overlooking the property, with a set of stairs on both sides.
Looking over the garden, Galaxus saw whom he was looking for, Prince Solaris.
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The Royal Gardens were one of the largest gardens in all of Equestria. Filled with exotic animals from all over the kingdom and beyond. Its sheer size and number of plant plants made it look like its own small forest. But at its center, the main path leading to it, there was a fountain of great architechure. At this time of day, there was someone sitting by the fountain on one of the benches around it. It was an alicorn stallion with a flowing red and crimson mane and tail, white coat, and a red sun cutie mark. On this stallion's head sat a crown that looked like a helmet sporting a plume, with a ruby at is center. And around his neck was a solid gold amulet with a single large ruby at the front. This stallion was none other than the high spirited Prince Solaris. He sat on a bench, facing toward the fountain, while levitating a book in front of his face.(A "Daring Do" book, specificly) 
And in front of the fountain itself rested a large fury mass. It was a great male lion with streaks of red through it's mane. This was Solaris' pet fire lion, Regulus. And at this time he was chewing on a big peice of orange cloth.(torn from Lightning Dust's dress)
Solaris was in the middle of reading the latest installment of the Daring Do books. When his ears suddenly perked upon hearing the sound of hoof steps getting louder. Solaris looked up from his book to see the familiar face of his father approaching from the path to the palace. Closing the book and siting it on the bench, he stood up. Galaxus walked toward Solaris until he was only a few feet away from him. With the stoic look on the king's face, the prince could tell this was going to another lecture.

With a serious tone, the king said "Solaris! We need to talk!".

Putting on his own serious face, Solaris replied "Yes, Father. What is the matter?".

"Don't play dumb! You know why I'm here. Why did you treat the Duchess so poorly?" asked the king.

"Oh, but father, I didn't. Regulus was just playing with her. Right Regy!" said the prince.

"Sure! What you said. But she wasn't in the mood. At least this fabric makes a good chew toy." growled the fire lion. Solaris had the natural ability to understand animals, and Galaxus had lived long enough to know how they spoke by now. So both royals knew what Regulus was saying. 

Galaxus was not amused however. He said" Son, how many times have we had this talk? You know you are expected to find a bride by your by the end of the year, which is coming soon.".

"But why am I expected to do so? I am a grown adult! Should it not be up to me when I marry." shouted Solaris.

"Because, son, it is custom for the heir to the throne to have a spouse before their coronation. Which means you have to choose a bride before you can be named Crown Prince, the next King." explained Galaxus.

Solaris responded "But that's the thing, father! I don't feel that I am ready for that responsibility. I still want see and learn everything about Equestria that I can, so that I can actually know our ponies. Marriage is a commitment where I would have to be there for my wife, and it wouldn't be fair to her if I only wanted to travel.".

Galaxus knew his son was right. The only parts of Equestria, beside Canterlot, that Solaris had seen were  the places he went for political meetings and public appearances. Other than that, Solaris sent most of his time seeing to daily affairs at the palace. But, at least, he knew what would be expected of him in a marriage.

Not being finished, Solaris continued "And why is I cant just go see more of our land? My brother, Artimis, gets to go to both city and country areas alike, all the time.".

"It's part of your brother's duty to go where problems happen on a nightly basis. It's why he is away right now. Your duties are to take care of the everyday matters in running the kingdom." answered Galaxus.

"Please forgive me if I don't agree with that arrangement, father." said Solaris.

Galaxus knew he was getting nowhere at this time. He said "We will continue this discussion later, son.".

With that, Galaxus turned away from his son and started to walk back on that path toward the palace. As soon as his father was out of sight, Solaris walked over to Regulus. While the big cat was still chewing on the cloth, Solaris started to pet him on the red blazon mane. Sensing some thing wrong, Regy stopped chewing, sat up on his hind legs, and looked at his pony friend.

"Solaris, I have known you to long. What's the matter?" asked the lion.

With a serious look on his face, Solaris said " Why can't He understand? I need to see more!".

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Later that day, King Galaxus was back in the throne room, look at a stain glass window. This window showed two alicorns, a stallion and mare, crossing horns. This image was Galaxus and his wife. The window had been made shortly after they wedding. He couldn't help but wonder what advise she could have given him on this suitor business. She had always known how their sons thought.

While deep in thought, Galaxus perked up his ears at the sound of faint hoof steps. Turning his head, he saw the source of sound. In the corner of the throne room by the doors, draped in shadows, stood the figure of a pony. Upon looking closer, Galaxus could tell it was someone he knew.

Leering into the corner, The King said "Sombra! Are you hiding in the shadows again?".

Stepping out into the light shining through one of the windows, He replied "Sorry your highness. I entered and could tell you were thinking to yourself. I didn't want to interrupt.".

"That's fine, no worries." said The King. But then a thought crossed his mind. "Sombra! You are my most successful advisor, are you not?".

Sombra thought for a moment the replied "Of course, sire. I have always done my best in your service.".

"That's good. Because I have request for you. I need you to look through the law and custom books, and see what must be done if Solaris doesn't choose a bride by the end of the year." Said Galaxus.

As Galaxus was speaking to Sombra, the grey unicorn was watching something out of the corner of his eye. A smoky shadow figure came out of Sombra's own shadow and climbed the wall up to ceiling. It flew across the room and slid down the wall over the throne, stopping at a display stand with a crystal on it. A clawed paw reached out from the shadow and grabbed the crystal, pulling into the blackness. A moment later, the same clawed paw came out and replaced the object with an identical copy, before retracting into the shadow. The smoke figure then shot up the wall, across the ceiling, and back into Sombra's shadow. And all without the king noticing.

With that, Sombra said "Of course, your Highness. I shall start this very evening.".

The King smiled and said "Thank you.".

With the request made, Sombra turned around toward the door and started to walk. Lighting his horn, a red aura enveloped the doors, forcing them open. Sombra walked out of the throne room, closing the doors behind him. He continued to walk through the halls of the palace until he came to the door to his room. He entered into his room, closing and locking the door behind him. Sombra was now alone, surrounded by the book shelves along every wall, with a desk in the middle of the room and a plain looking  bed in the corner.

Sombra called out loud "You can come out now!".

At that call, a figure started to rise from Sombra's shadow on the floor. The red scaly form of a dragon wearing a shoulder bag came into light.

Grinning, Garble said "Nice trick making me into a shadow, old timer. Now what do we do with this thing?". He asked his question as he reach into the bag and pulled out the stolen crystal.

Taking the crystal in his magic, Sombra said "We will use it's 'special' properties to find our 'Gem in the Sunlight'".

With that, Sombra broke out into a evil laugh. He was soon followed by his dragon accomplice. 

This went on for a few seconds until Garble asked "Why are we laughing?".
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That night, out in the far end of the garden by the palace wall, somepony walked alone. A large stallion wearing a grey hooded robe, with a horn sticking out, walked toward the wall. As soon as He was a few meters from the wall, He stopped. Looking up at the top of the structure, the stallions face was revealed in the moonlight. He had a flat red mane and thin beard, with turquoise eyes. A sudden gust of night wind blew up the robe, revealing a set of large white wings and a red sun cutie mark. 

A familiar voice called out to the stallion "Going somewhere, Solaris?".

Solaris turned around while taking off the hood. From the look of it, you almost couldn't tell it was the prince. His mane and tail did not flow or glow like usual. And He seemed slightly shorter as well. Solaris had suppressed his alicorn magic to hide his identity.

Seeing the voice came from Regulus, Solaris said "Yes, my friend. I need to see more of our kingdom. Maybe then I can at least surpress my urge to roam.".

"Did you ever consider that you want to roam because your looking for something, or someone?" ask the lion.

Knowing what Regulus meant, Solaris said "I guess I won't know until I go looking.".

Regulus replied "Then I wish you luck.".

Giving a nod of thanks, Solaris then pulled the hood back over his head. He then once again looked up to the wall. Spreading out his wings, He lifted into the air. Solaris continued rise until he over the top of the wall. He then flew off into the city of Canterlot, flying to his destiny.