Exploring the dense forest that separated the Light Kingdom from Equestria was a unicorn stallion. He had dark grey coat with three green crystals as Cutie Mark, he had a black mane with moderate cobalt blue streaks, black hooves and grayish sap green eyes. The name of this stallion was Sombra.
Sombra liked to explore. It was one of the things he liked the most. After years of living and exploring Equestria, he decided to explore what lay beyond its borders. He decided to start across the south border. It was said that the Light Kingdom was in that area and he left, wanting to meet it. He heard about its beauty, the Generals of Order... and Princess Aurora.
Crossing the dense forest was something very hard to do, since it did not seem to have been made to be crossed on hoof because of the way the plants were all together and how many of them contained thorns.
Finally, after a few days, he managed to reach the other side and became pretty amazed at what he found. Everything radiated light, including animals and plants. Sombra was eager to explore that place and everything it contained.
Suddenly, he heard a small explosion nearby. It seemed to be a kind of a struggle. He advanced to there and then saw that it was really a fight. It were Changelings, who were being led by their own queen, Queen Chrysalis. They were fighting against ponies that Sombra recognized as the Generals of Order. Princess Aurora was salso there. Sombra was impressed with her beauty. He'd never seen such beautiful mare.
The seven fought with great mastery. he'd never seen unicorns as powerful as them. Leaf Mane could use the land itself to overthrow the Changelings, Purple Smoke used his smoke to disorient them to attack then, Melody used supersonic screams extremely strong that even Sombra could feel them, Mirror Coat could defend and counterattack, Heartbeat could overthrow the Changelings with bursts of red light that left them with massive burns and Golden displayed excellent fighting skills both with magic and hoof-to-hoof combat. But Princess Aurora was the most impressive, as she faced Queen Chrysalis alone, and gave her a good fight.
The two ran their horns like swords and Chrysalis asked Aurora:
"Why don't you give up, princess? Why don't you let us get in your kingdom full of light and..." she licked her chops “… love?"
"You can forget that idea, Chrysalis" Aurora said. "I’ll never yield the kingdom that the Lord of Order entrusted me."
"So I'm going to have to do it by force" Chrysalis said, getting back and carrying her horn with magic.
She cast a magical beam that Aurora defended. She then counterattacked, but Chrysalis dodged.
"Aurora, this is useless" the Queen of the Changelings said. "You know perfectly well that we can continue this fight for a long time."
"At least the time of my Generals finish with your Changelings" Aurora said with a smile. "When that happens, they will help me against you."
"That if you're not then defeated and at my mercy" Chrysalis said.
It was then that Sombra noticed two Changelings that were advancing towards Aurora. They were going to attack her from behind. Golden also saw them and tried to stop them, but the Changelings who he was fighting with prevented him from advancing.
"Princess, look out!" he exclaimed.
When Aurora notice the Changelings, it was too late for her to react. The love-sucking creatures prepared to attack. Sombra had to do something to save her. So, getting out of his hiding place, he loaded his horn with his light amber aura and then cast a spell that, upon reaching the two Changelings, petrified them in green crystal. That caught everypony by surprise.
"What?!" Chrysalis asked.
And then Sombra quickly moved ahead of Aurora and said to the Queen of the Changelings:
"If you want to touch Princess Aurora, you have to go through me first."
"It will be a pleasure, your scum" Chrysalis said.
She carried her horn for a new attack, but a magical beam almost hit her, forcing Chrysalis to cease her attack. She turned and saw that the Generals had defeated her Changelings. The attack had come from Golden Paladin.
"No way, Chrysalis" Golden Paladin said. "Not today."
Realizing that, if she didn’t retreat now, she would risk getting caught and sent to Tartarus, Chrysalis said:
"We're not done yet."
And, having said that, she and the Changelings that were still able to stand up, and were helping the others who were too weakened quickly, flied away. Sombra sighed. He was glad that the Generals had managed to get rid of the other Changelings, because he wasn't sure if he could struggle a duel with the Queen of the Changelings.
"Thank you" Aurora thanked Sombra. "If it wasn't for you, I don't know what would have happened."
"Well, it was nothing" Sombra said, blushing slightly. "Luckily, I was close."
"Yes, a coincidence that turned out in our favor" Leaf Mane said.
"On behalf of myself and my siblings, I'd like to thank you for saving Princess Aurora" Golden Paladin said, making a gesture of thank. "Although I have been unable to do so."
"Don't worry, Golden" Aurora said. "There was nothing you could do with all those Changelings."
"In fact, Chrysalis’ methods are becoming increasingly refined" Mirror Coat said.
"Yes, it seems that old Changelings can still learn something" Purple Smoke said.
That made Sombra give a laugh.
"What's your name, stranger?" Aurora asked.
"Sombra, Your Highness" Sombra answered, making her a bow.
"Please, call me Aurora" the princess said. "After saving me from these Changelings, I believe call me your Highness is too formal."
"As you wish" Sombra said.
"Can I ask you the reason why you're in this part of the border?" Golden Paladin asked. "It's a bit unusual to find ponies venturing in the dense forest without being on the road."
"Well, I'm an explorer" Sombra said. "I like to travel and explore new places. And as I had not yet come to the Light Kingdom, I thought I could explore it. Also, as I like to go through difficult paths, I decided to avoid the road."
"Impressive" Leaf Mane said. "It’s not everypony who decides to venture into the forest willingly."
"Yes, even I prefer to use the road when I cross the forest" Melody said.
"Maybe to avoid misalign your dear mane" Purple Smoke answered her provocatively.
"Unfortunately, my dear brother, not everypony has the same metamorphic abilities you have, nor the ability to turn into smoke" Melody replied, returning him the provocation.
"Ignore them, they are always like this" Aurora said to Sombra.
Heartbeat appeared in front of him and sniffed him a bit, saying then:
"You smell good. So, you're not a threat, that's why I like you."
"Ah... thanks" Sombra thanked, who had already heard about the General of Affection’s eccentric and childish behavior.
"Look, if you've come to the Light Kingdom, so let me invite you to stay at the castle" Aurora said.
"No, that's not necessary" Sombra said.
"It's the least I can do for everything that you have done" Aurora said. "You saved the day."
"Well, when you put it that way, it seems I have no choice but to accept" Sombra said.
"Perfect" Aurora said, turning then to her generals. "I hope none of you have no objection."
But they shook their heads, saying they didn't object. Golden was the last one to answer. He wasn't sure it would be a good idea, mainly because they did not know Sombra. But the reason told him it was the best way to thank him for everything he had done for Princess Aurora and that, if he was a threat, Heartbeat would have denounced him. So, he replied:
"But of course he can stay."
"Perfect" Aurora said. "Then we'd better get back to the kingdom."
They returned and Sombra was amazed with the beauty of the Light Kingdom. I had never seen anything like it. In addition to the light that radiated from the buildings, the roads and the light ponies, there was the architecture which used star seeds as ornaments which that was sublime. But what amazed him the most was the castle, the great pride of the citadel of the Light Kingdom, with its two greatest towers that were known as being the largest musical instrument that existed in the Pony World.
Upon arrival to the castle, the Generals began to disperse, having their own business to attend. Aurora then asked to Sombra:
"And what if I took you to your room?"
"It would be an honor, Your..." Sombra said, remembering after what Aurora had said. "I mean... Aurora."
And the two prepared to advance. Golden wanted to follow them, but Aurora said to him:
“Golden, could you check the perimeter of the kingdom? After this attack from Chrysalis, I would feel safer if I knew that there is no more Changelings around."
Although he didn’t want to leave Aurora alone with Sombra, Golden replied:
"Certainly, Your Highness."
And Aurora and Sombra moved away and, sighing, Golden Paladin turned to do what the Princess had told him to do, when he faced Heartbeat who said:
"Well, I never thought I'd see the day."
"What are you talking about, Heartbeat?" Golden Paladin asked, passing by her youngest sister.
"The day when I'd see you jealous" Heartbeat said.
That made Golden stop and turn to her, asking:
"What are you talking about?"
"Please, Goldy, didn't you think I would notice you have a crush on Princess Aurora?" she asked. "After all, I'm an empath."
"You're wrong, I don't have..." Golden Paladin started, lowering of his voice so that nopony but them two could hear. "I don’t have a crush on the princess."
"Of course you do" Heartbeat said. "And I know that since... Well, since suddenly were reduced to six Generals."
Golden realized that Heartbeat was aware of his feelings for Aurora when they intensified when she helped him overcome his depression that the General of Peace had fallen, fearing eventually become like Scale. He then asked:
"Does anypony else know?"
"No, just me" Heartbeat answered. "But this secret will not remain secret if you express your jealousy that way."
"I’m not..." Golden started.
"Of course you are" Heartbeat said. "That's why you hesitated to accept Princess Aurora’s idea in letting Sombra stay here, despite the fact that he saved her life, which is another thing that pisses you off, and I didn't have identified him as a threat."
That was what Golden Paladin didn't like about Heartbeat’s empathy, because it prevented him from keeping secrets from her.
"And what do you think?" he asked. "This jealousy of mine is justified?"
"Well, I managed to detect a certain attraction between them" Heartbeat said. "But this may be because Sombra finds Princess Aurora quite pretty and because Princess Aurora is delighted to Sombra for him having saved her life. It’s still quite early to tell. But, Goldy, try not to make this a drama, okay?"
Golden sighed and said:
"Okay, I will control my jealousy" he said. "I better go watch the surroundings of the kingdom."
And, having said that, he pulled away and, while she saw him moving away, Heartbeat said:
"I don't know why, but I have a bad feeling about all of this."