“My name is Æclypse, last son of the Ultima bloodline, the exiled and forgotten prince of Thule. And this is my story.
A very long time ago, my home was the great northern kingdom of Thule. West of the Crystal mountains and nestled in the Misty Mountain range, Thule is the ancient homeland of the unicorn tribe. Is was from here that one of the founders of the southern land of Equestria, Princess Platinum of the Merovingian bloodline and her noble aide Clover the Clever set out to find a new home for their kin during the Great Winter brought on by the Windigos.
Now however, I have not seen the place of my birth for many days and nights. Now I have no home, tensions between myself and the Equestrian arc-ruler, and the actions of my mad brother led to my exile.
Forced to wander the world aimlessly, my story is long and varied. I’ve encountered many strange and wonderful ponies, seen things that no normal stallion could hope to witness in a single lifetime.
I have no family left, but my memories of them are vivid. My beautiful and gracious mother, my wise and stoic father, my mentor, even my cousin who was my best friend. But most thoughts of my family concern my brother, ßombra.
In the last days I knew him, he had become something else, a monster. But that was only a short few days, and not to be understood as the totality of his life. I remember him as my little brother, whom I would go on mock adventures with, sneaking into forbidden rooms in the castle and giving all kinds of grief to the guards.
In retrospect, that creature of shadow and smoke was not my brother. It was a creation of those dark crystals that grew in the depths of the Crystal Mountains. Whatever King ßombra was, it had killed my brother.
“Father is meeting with the Crystal Queen today.” He said to me one day. At the time we were colts, still yet to be granted our icons. I had come upon him in the library after breakfast sitting on a bench, and saw that he was studying a book opened on the table before him.
“Apparently she requires his counsel regarding some border dispute with the Yaks.”
Years before we would earn our armor or royal robes, we went about as the gods made us. I would have liked to let my mane be wild, but mother insisted I put bands on to keep them contained. ßombra was more vain and kept his well groomed, he was rarely caught without his brush close by. He often acted spoiled and proud, but I knew him best, and saw past his façade to a sharp and methodical mind.
“I know the Yaks say that the Empire has hindered their trade routes to the east. Even siphoned off their favorite spice merchant.”
I approached to see what book he was reading, but he closed it and turned it so that the spine faced away from me.
“It seems the Yaks consider the routes a part of their territory. Not an illogical claim. They make a lot of noise, but they’ve been tamed ever since our great-grandfather brought them to heel.”
Looking around the library, at the shelves filled with tomes and scrolls, and the artwork placed by generations past, I recalled the legend of Thalamar’s victory over the mighty Yaks. The version told to me by my mentor Wiglaf was full of heroic imagery and passionate admiration. ßombra’s tutor, Iambic Pentameter, told more of the details and the strategy involved, something for us to learn from about winning battles.
“I heard she’s really nice.” I said, “Queen Amore, I bet she smells like fresh flowers.”
I had heard a few things about our neighboring monarch, all of them that she was kind and caring to all of her subjects.
ßombra rolled his eyes, “Yes, I imagine she smells quite pleasant.”
He eyed me curiously, thinking something over in his head.
“With father out of the city, I was wondering if you would join me on a little mission.”
“What kind of mission?” I knew full well that he wanted to do something that father would not approve, he often sought to subvert the rules of the house.
“Nothing dangerous, I assure you.” ßombra jumped down from the bench, and started in the direction of the stairs to the next floor. “Father’s errand got me thinking, and I wonder just what kind of plans he might have in case we had to war with the Yaks again.”
“You’re thinking he has battle plans in his chambers? I’m not sure that’s where they store them.” I followed him out and up the flight of steps.
“That’s exactly where I’d keep secret battle plans.” He said, pausing to look back at me. “That or in the dungeon, behind an enchanted door.”
“An enchanted door?” I asked him.
“Yeah, and down a, no, up a really long flight of stairs.”
“Seems like an awful lot of work to hide something.” reaching the top, I watched him peek around the corner, to make sure no guards were going to catch us.
“Well if somepony wants to get at my valuables, I want them to work for it.” He galloped across the hall and I right behind him. Our parents private chamber lay just a few doors down.
While I was older and a bit bigger, he was always the more crafty. And despite my advantages I was usually the one following his lead. Looking back on it, I see that the makings of a truly great unicorn were manifesting even so young. I lament where his talents ultimately led him.
“Do you think Thule will ever have to go to war in our lives Sombra?” Walking past a suit of armor, I tried to imagine myself large and old enough to wear such heavy attire and being able to fight in it.
“Most likely not.” ßombra said, he sounded disappointed. “The Yaks have been put in their place, and certainly seem to enjoy feasting more than mortal combat. The Agoge provides them with all the fighting they have the stomach for.
And who besides them is there to fight? The empire has no army to boast of, and the southerners are but farmers and simple villagers.”
We approached the door to the bedroom, where it stood imposing to our small frames.
“The best army on the continent,” he continued. “and no-pony to use it against.”
“What about the Griffins?” I asked with a bit of wonder. Of course neither of us had ever seen a griffin in real life, only from old tales did we learn of them. There had been a series of battles long ago between the Griffins and the Pegasus, a war of attrition over aerial territory. Eventually, the typically proud Pegasus had asked for our aid, and together our forces finally defeated them and drove them away.
“Or dragons?” ßombra responded with even more speculative awe.
“Raawww!” He reared up and clawed at the air in my direction like a roaring beast.
We shared a chuckle, mostly because such fantastic creatures existed only in our imaginations. Glancing back to the door, ßombra used his magic to pull on the latch, he strained, so I helped with my own. When we had drawn it open enough, we slipped in and used our shoulders to close it behind us. The room to us was gigantic, tall enough that I nearly stumbled over as I craned my neck to look at the ceiling. The centerpiece was the bed, large, with crimson blankets and curtains, corner posts that supported a canopy.
On the walls were a few portraits, one of the eastern horizon, another portraying the journey of Platinum and Clover, and a third that immortalized the victory of King Thalamar the Great.
Our parents room had always intimidated me, for I knew it was very old and contained items of great value. The tables had been passed down from our ancestors, the full length mirror had once belonged to Princess Platinum herself. On our mother’s side was a wooden model on which hung her royal gown. She hardly cared to wear it for comfort’s sake, but she respected the necessity to keep it maintained for her role. Beside that was her jewelry chest, and a cabinet table where she kept small portraits of her family and other miscellaneous items.
On father’s side was his personal library, a model that wore his armor, and a table with an ornate clock that had been gifted to his father during his reign. He kept his belongings spartan. Years later he would show me that his drawers were acutely organized by memory so that he could retrieve something without having to look.
On the wall above the headboard, was a family portrait that we had sat for a few months prior, dressed in our finest for our descendants to admire.
“Where do you think father keeps his secret papers?” I asked Sombra as I marveled at the room.
He hummed as he thought, glancing about. “He’s a meticulous organizer, and likes to group by type. If he were to hide battle plans…”
Finally he fixated on the armor. “Æclypse, help me onto the bookcase.”
I took a position in front of it, and allowed ßombra to jump into my back, and reach up to the top. He hefted himself over the ledge, his back legs scrambling to keep him up. I used my magic to push him higher until he at last made it atop. He turned and looked down to me,
“I’d bet he hides something in the armor. Who besides him would dare touch it?”
“I don’t think this is a good idea ßombra, father will know we were in here if he finds his things misplaced.”
My brother dismissed my concern with a wave of his hoof. “That’s why I must pay very close attention to detail, so that I can put things back exactly where he left them.”
Standing on the edge of the bookcase, I watched him concentrate on the helm. With his tongue sticking out and curled around his upper lip, he started to levitate it off the model. It took him a few tries, but slowly and surely, he managed to lift it and guide it over next to him.
The helmet was big enough that either of us might wear it on our back, and ßombra stuck his head inside to inspect for any secrets within.
“You see anything?” I called out, unable to tell if he had discovered anything or not.
“I’ll tell you what I see.”
The voice from behind me, gentle as it was, startled me and sent a thrill of fear through my chest. I spun around to see our mother, Queen Eras, leaning her head in through the doorway. Her raven dark mane contrasted the gleaming white of her fur, and offset the piercing blue of her eyes. She stared down at us, more observant than displeased that we had entered their room without permission.
Behind me I heard my brother scurry to free himself from the helm in a hurry, hitting his head on the way out.
I felt guilty that I had violated her order, for she had always been loving with us, and did not deserve disobedience from us. I became wracked with guilt and felt on the verge of tears.
“I see a pair of little colts who have ventured where they are not permitted.”
She entered the room without a sound, and I tripped over my own legs as I backed away from her. I fell on my rump, and felt the embrace of her red magic surround me and lift me into the air. She set me down on the bed, and put ßombra next to me. He too seemed regretful in the face of our mother.
“Now my sons,” She began, her voice soothing and firm. “Speak to me truly, what were you doing in my chambers? Thou knowist you are not allowed to come in here absent your father or I.”
At first we did not answer, for we were condemned already for trespassing, and did not want to compound our punishment.
“Well?” She cast her gaze to ßombra, who shrunk his head into his shoulders. “ßombra, has your curiosity led you and your brother astray?”
This was far from the first time my brother had gotten in trouble for doing things he was not supposed to. He always desired to learn more, push the boundaries of what he could do. I knew that he would face some unpleasant punishment once father returned.
“It as my idea mother.” I said, puffing my chest in an effort to square myself to her judgment. “It was at my ushering that we entered without your blessing.” I looked sidelong to ßombra, where he gazed at me with a mix of confusion, woe, and admiration.
Mother scrutinized me and I knew she could tell I was lying to save my brother from chastisement. Her pursed lips altered with a small curl before she spoke again.
“Æclypse, you know better.” The scolding voice was soft, which seemed to make it all the worse. “And what’s more you have led thy brother into misbehavior.”
“Yes mother.” I said guiltily, lowering my eyes to the blanket. “I wanted to put on Father’s helm, to see what it would be like.”
“And so you shall one day my son. But for now you are much to little for it. So what shall your punishment be then? Hmm?” She walked around to the side of the bed and laid herself down behind us.
“Shall I make you recite from my book of poetry with my noble-mare friends in audience? Shall I have Wiglaf instruct you on how to polish a suit of armor until it gleams?”
Reaching out with her hoof, she took us into embrace against her breast. I heard a slight sigh escape her, not one of frustration, but of satisfaction.
“I could count all the bricks in the castle.” I suggested.
She laughed it off with a warm chuckle, “That would take far too long Æclypse, and no doubt get you in everypony else’s way.”
Mother ran a hoof over our manes, “No, rather I think I shall have you assist me in the garden.”
The royal garden was a beautiful place. Protected within a round room of windows overlooking the south, it was filled with flowers and small berry plants that had been cared for ever since our bloodline ascended to the throne. It was her favorite place to relax and tend to her hobbies, where she would sooth father whenever he was disturbed or wroth, and where I liked to play at adventurer.
She lifted both of us from the bed and carried us to the door, placing us down in the hallway. Crossing the threshold, she closed the door behind her.
“ßombra, you are not without fault here. I want you to go back down to the library, and read a book on how castles are built. I know there are a few. When you are finished, come to me, and tell me what you learned.”
Mother leaned down, and kissed the top of his head, ßombra blushed.
“Hm-hm.” She mused, then used her snout to usher him along his way.
“Come Æclypse, I have chores for you.”
I watched her round the corner and took a few steps to follow, but stopped to look back at ßombra, who lingered at the top of the stairs.
“Thank you brother.” He said to me after a moment with the same reverence I had seen in his eyes.
I nodded in return, it was all the thanks needed, for I was merely protecting my little brother.
In time, it was my protectiveness of him that doomed us all.