The hunt for his sister was a bit long but he found her at the apple bobbing stall, playing with other foals her age. She was laughing along with them as she tried her best to get the apple. He smiled fondly and stayed back to watch her. This is what he always wanted for her, to be happy and play with others her age. Not what his family had in store for her. He bit his lower lip and frowned. The two knew they would become Shards, however at the time they didn't understand what that truly meant. However when Solano got his cutie mark and showed his power he was thrust into training almost immediately. The training is hard, ruthless really. His high spirit was pretty much shattered by it, only a little of it clung to him thanks to his sister. He paced a bit away from the crowd. How on earth could he get his sister out of this fate?
Then a cry from the crowd caught the young prince by surprise. Solano ran quickly through the crowd thinking it was his sister. Instead, a young colt held his cheek as he sat on the ground and glared at his assailant, the young princess. Orange Blossom held the princess at bay as Argante shouted at the boy.
"Don't you dare say that! My brother is the best magic wielder ever!!!" she screamed and thrashed against the old mare holding her back, her purple eyes filled with pure fury. Her brother looked at this young filly, he had never seen his sister angry, let alone to actually go out of her way to hurt someone. "He will be the best protector ever! Just you wait, and once I get my cutie mark you will see!!!" tears started to stream down her face as she continued. Onlookers looked to and fro at each other, they didn't know how to react, their princess had never shown this side of her ever before. Solano sighed and stepped forward, a hush had fallen over the crowd as he walked to his little sister. The moment she saw him she stopped, her breathing labored as she looked away ashamed. He turned from her motioning for her to follow him with his tail. She nodded, her head hung low as she followed obediently.
They made their way to the main castle and into its main hall. Solano thought that it might be best to hash it out in a private room and not where onlookers and gossipers could see. He walked up staircases, wound around halls and finally came to stop at the small parlor that his father used to write documents and other such things. He knocked on the door, just in case. When he waited long enough with no answer he opened the door and let his sister in first, her sour mood was apparent all across her body and he shook his head. At this very important time he had to steel himself. He had to be firm and a big brother. He stepped in behind her and closed the door. He looked to his sister who looked like she was about to cry all over again. Well at least she understood that she definitely was in the wrong. He sighed and sat in front of her.
"Alright then, lets start off with how did this happen to begin with hm?" he quirked an eyebrow at his sister waiting for her response.
She looked up at him and forced her tears back as she answered him. "T-that boy said that y-you were a fraud and weren't strong at all. That his b-brother could do better magic than you could any day, w-when I called him out on it he said..." she paused and bit her lip, the tears she was keeping in check spilling over, and she swallowed hard. "H-he called me a blank flank!" she cried and crumpled to the floor crying into her hooves.
He sighed and gritted his teeth. He should have known that was what made her snap. As much as Argante never wanted to admit it, she hated that she was a blank flank, always trying new magic all the time to get her cutie mark so she could start her training as a Shard. He ran a hoof over the back of his head and tugged at his braid softly, thinking about what he could say to his sister.
"Listen, Argante...I know what that boy said was mean, and you didn't wish to hear it, but hoofing him in the face was not something a princess should do." he spoke softly to her and as she rose her head to protest to him, he rose a hoof and cut her off. "I don't want excuses this time sister. You did something bad to somepony. No matter what that pony did you should never do something bad to get even. If you wanted to prove him wrong you should get better, train, everything you can to prove that colt wrong." he stomped his hoof and she jumped a little at the loud bang. He sighed and then looked up at the ceiling. His mother and father were most likely going to hear about the incident, they might push whatever punishment they would plan for his sister till later after the ceremony. 'Wait...ceremony?' Solano thought and then jumped around frantic. "Oh no its almost time for the ceremony!!" he shouted and bust the door open. "Come on we have to go, NOW!"
The two booked it through the halls. His sister couldn't quite keep up though, her small body quite the disadvantage. He groaned and threw her onto his back. "Hold on Argante!" he yelled as he opened his wings and started to fly through the hallways. As he flew outside he flew as fast as he could to the Great Tree. They had to be adorned before the ceremony started, and it was quite a process to do so. As he approached the cavern he skidded to a halt, his father and mother looking at the siblings with thoughtful eyes.
"You were almost late children." Harth solemnly said, he walked to his children and towered over them, he then quickly grabbed his son and put him in a headlock, giving him a noogie for the ages. "Do you know how close you have cut your time!! I know we said enjoy the festival but you know you should never EVER be late!!" he yelled to his children. His mate dressing up Argante.
Argante was now in a new pale blue dress that shimmered like the Great Tree itself, her mane had small gems woven into it much like their mothers, the only difference was that their mother had her hair in the traditional braid where as Argante's was down. She gave a small circle around and giggled. Harth took his son quickly, putting him in a similar outfit to his own. White blouse and armor along his forarms, gems also woven into his own braid of mane. The parents looked over their children and nodded, proud of their handy work. The walked to the stage that was in front of the cavern and stood on it motioning their children to follow.
"Now then when will start the ceremony, you will have to be quite until it is your turn, Argante, you will say the following when we get to you, 'With the element of magic I give you my power.' Then you will put a little bit of magic into the crystal okay?" Monalla continued to mess with Argante's mane trying to get it to behave as she nodded to her mother.
"And when we go to you Solano you will take the Crystal to the tree and say.." Harth was about to finish when his son cut him off.
"With this crystal we offer a prayer that we continue to live in the Harmony you give us o' Great Tree. Then I will place it onto one of the branches." Solano beamed with pride and puffed his chest out a bit, hoping he impressed his father. He only nodded at his son and then turned. Solano was a bit taken aback by the cold shoulder, his ears going down with the dejection.
He didnt have much time to think about it as ponies started to file in to watch the ceremony, he stood tall and looked around, looking at the familiar and not so familiar faces blend together. His nerves were starting to get to him a bit but he held still that was till he saw the Equestria royalty take seat near the back on a raised dais. Welp that was it, his nerves got to him, he started to shake, the armor on him making a small bit of noise. Argante, the kind soul she is, stepped over and nudged his back leg, when he looked toward him she offered the biggest smile she could muster. He smiled weakly back, his thoughts brought back at the sound of drums. The ceremony was starting.