A pair of deep red eyes traced the horizon of Canterlot's rooftops, glazed over as their owner lost himself in thought. His jet black mane flowed in the wind like a grand cloak across his back, his grey coat standing rigid like a statue of dignity. The stallion found himself contemplating as such often lately, lost in grand schemes and excitement for the future. His life was coming to an apex, the peak of his studies, wherein he would realize the full extent of his potential.
This distant train of thought, however, was to be abruptly interrupted. "You! I knew I would find you here... you scoundrel! You fiend!" The grey stallion turned about to the face of another young unicorn, his warm golden coat topped with a gleaming white mane that was slicked back behind his ears. "It is only fitting that the very portrait of conceit would perch himself atop the high towers of Canterlot like a child peering onto an anthill! For what else is there to say of the true nature of Somber Shades than his arrogance, his malice, and his ill-will towards all living creatures! And how necessary it is that I gaze upon such a wretched, contemptible creature," He stepped closer as he spoke, placing a hoof on Somber's shoulder, "for only the worst will do, that I may call my brother."
"Ah, my friend, Starswirl the Bright, the only pony in all of Equestria who could know me so well," Somber Shades replied with a chuckle.
"Indeed! And let it be known that I am Starswirl the Bright no longer! From this day henceforth, I am Starswirl the Bearded!"
"The Bearded? You can hardly earn such a title while you still have but a bit of stubble on your snout!"
Starswirl was taken aback by his friend's comment. "Such biting words! I'll have you know that I'll be the very image of maturity in no time at all! And then even the most chaste mares will be taken in by my charming good looks, and not simply my already overwhelming intellect." Starswirl held his head up triumphantly, stroking the few strands of growing hair from his chin with one hoof.
Somber gave a wry smile as he stepped down from his perch. "Oh, I'm sure they will. After all, what mare in her right mind would be able to resist the allures of a bleating, bearded goat?"
The lighter stallion placed a hoof across his chest in mock pain. "Ah, you wound me, brother. You should know by now that we are not all so naturally fortunate with the opposite sex as yourself. Some of us lowly vermin have to work to maintain our appeal."
Somber's smile lightened a bit, more sincere now than sarcastic. "Oh, you are right. You're undeserving of my poor humor, good friend. Besides, I suppose a respectable beard would bequeath you well. And 'Starswirl the Bearded' does have a certain... sagely ring to it." The two of them began to walk together into the tower behind them as they talked. "So, brother, how went your expedition into Everfree?"
"Quite well, if I do say so myself! It was quite the exciting study, as well! I mean... Azure Skies did suffer from a few, minor... spinal ruptures... and Soul Gem will have to live with one stone leg for at least a few weeks... but, the important thing is that we did in fact learn about magic!" Starswirl did his best to maintain his composure as he went over the events of his study in his head.
"Oh, and what is that?" Somber Shades' tone was half-genuine, half-apathetic.
"That basilisks do in fact have it! A lot, actually. The very... painful kind." He trailed off for a moment, trying to validate his work once more. "But, this is still very important work, my friend! It completely blows the lid off of what were thought to be firmly established facts about magic! If the supernatural tendencies of Everfree's inhabitants are in fact magical in nature, then magic can't be based on intellect, can it? Hm? No, it has to be something more basic, something a mere beast can access! Why, did you know that timberwolves are almost two hundred percent more likely to regenerate if surrounded by living members of their pack when they're broken?"
This certainly wasn't the first time that Starswirl was apt to ramble about his studies like this, and Somber Shades was one of the few ponies who was really at all tolerant of it. Starswirl would go on like this for quite some time, while his friend tuned in and out of the conversation, his thoughts drifting to his own ambitions and goals. This train of thought was broken, however, when Starswirl suddenly changed the subject.
"So, Somber, how've you been lately? How is dear Crystal?"
A warm glow filled Somber's dim grey cheeks as his thoughts trailed off to that of his beloved. "She is quite well. We both look forward to my meeting her family during my studies in the crystal empire."
"Look forward? Try not to let your usual fortune get to your head, brother! What stallion in his right mind looks forward to meeting his marefriend's parents?"
Somber kept his serious tone in spite of his friend's playfulness, "Her mother must be a wonderful pony to have raised her the way she is today, and the king sounds like a great and honorable stallion. So yes, my friend, I am indeed excited for the occasion."
Starswirl shook his head as he placed a hoof on his friend's shoulder. "You're a braver pony than I, my friend. That I may one day have such courage as you have displayed here today is but a distant dream of mine in the face of your greatness, once again," his voice carried a hint of smugness as he spoke.
"Ah, you're too hard on yourself. Were I somepony's father, I'd be honored to have such a keen, earnest and honorable stallion such as yourself as my son-in-law. That is, assuming your dates are more lacking in 'minor spinal ruptures' than your other sources for recreation," both ponies threw their heads back in laughter.
The merriment was cut short, however, as the two exited the building and were met by a mob of protesters, forming around the senate hall. Picket signs exclaiming "Dreams are sanct!" and "My mind is my own!" could be seen among the shouting, riled mob. A group of golden-plated royal guards formed a living wall, holding back the protesters despite their most violent efforts to get in.
"I don't understand this," Somber sighed, shaking his head. "How can these ponies be so ungrateful? And over something so trivial, so free as dreams? Is it not a small price to pay to ensure the moon is there to shine our way in the darkness, and to ensure it sets to make way for the sun?"
"It is not so simple, brother. For some, the mind is the only safe haven left in the world. Their dreams are the only place they can find refuge, so to invite some sort of governmental intervention into their slumber is practically unthinkable. I too welcome our fair Princess' visits, but I know all to well the sanctity of the mind." Starswirl's expression was the most grim it had been that day when he turned to face his friend, "Reality is not as kind to all ponies as it has been to you."
Somber Shades felt a small pit in his heart as he looked into his friend's eyes. These days, as members of the College of Magic, both friends did very well, but Somber knew it was not always so. During their youth, Starswirls unusual mannerisms and focus on intellect were very much frowned upon by their peers, and it was often Somber would find him cooped up in his room, buried deep in his books. Even though Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns was a better place than most for him, he was still regarded as an oddity by the other children. Somber himself was not initially welcomed either, having grown up an orphan, but he well practiced at blending in, and his charisma was usually enough to get him well enough by.
"I understand, brother, but I still believe it is unfair to our Princess to protest this. While Celestia rules by day, Luna commands a silent kingdom. The land of dreams is the only domain where her toils can be properly rewarded, and she has even publicly vowed to step lightly and treat the dreams' of others with respect. There must always be consequences for our privileges, brother. Even our most basic fortunes come at a cost, and I fear that if these protests continue, Equestria will realize the consequences of their actions far too late."
***
The tall halls of the College of Magic echoed with the hushed chatter of it's students studying their art, almost giving the impression that the walls themselves were whispering arcane secrets to those passing through.
"So tell me," Somber inquired, "what is all this you discovered about basilisks and magic?" The two were seated at the end of a long table, which was already strewn with various research books drawn from the various shelves around the library.
"Not just basilisks, brother, many of the animals in the natural world are capable of magical production and emmission. It would appear the multiple elements produced in the lungs of a chimera, or a hydra's regeneration abilities aren't the product of natural evolution, but of an innate sort of spellcasting! Magic doesn't come from the mind, brother, it comes from the heart!" Starswirl scratched his chin in contemplation for a moment before amending his statement. "Well, not from the actual heart. I don't mean to say that magic is a cardiovascular function.... though I suppose it could be, now! Anything is possible with this new information!"
Somber nearly jumped in alarm as he suddnely felt the touch of another pony around his shoulders. "I figured I would find you two in here." The soft pink pegasus cooed as she wrapped her hooves around his neck. Somber Skies turned to face his love before the two embraced in a welcoming kiss.
"Buenos noches, mi amore," Somber whispered as their lips parted.
"Wrapped in your studies as always, I see," Crystal giggled in response. She turned to Starswirl with a smile, "Starswirl, it's good to see you back. How have you been?"
Starswirl returned the smile, "Delightful as ever, dear Crystal."
Somber turned back to his books, stroking Crystal's foreleg with a hoof as he returned his attention to his studies. Her skin was soft to the touch, despite appearing to be made of living amethyst, and glowed brightly as it refracted the light from the windows. Her very presence made his heart soften, the world around him growing quieter and calmer. She was his anchor to reality, his gateway to peace. Without her, he would have probably succumbed to fear and anxiety long ago, and lived a life he couldn't even imagine.
Crystal frowned as she looked over his shoulder, inspecting the covers of the closed books around him. "Oh, Somber, why must you study something so depressing?"
Somber Shade's head perked up, almost as if in surprise, though this was far from the first time they had this discussion. "Crystal, the properties of dark magic are something that are so mysterious because ponies throughout history have had that very attitude. I'm not looking to hurt anypony; think of the benefits this could bring! The medicinal qualities of helping traumatized ponies tackle their fears head-on, or the uses for transportation or defense! You should know by now there's no such thing as 'evil' magic, it's all how you use it."
"I know, dearest," she replied with a sigh, "I guess I'm just worried that if you spend so much time in the darkness, eventually you'll be consumed by it."
Somber turned to face his lover, placing a hoof below her chin. "I'll never have to fear the darkness so long as I have my guiding light beside me."
Crystal smiled and blushed before the two kissed again. "I'll leave you two to your studies, then," she said as she began to backpedal. "Goodbye, Starswirl," Crystal gave a smile to their friend before turning away.
"Farewell, Princess," he replied with a wave. Still, Starswirl could see his friend's demeanor was wounded by his fiance's doubts.
"You don't believe this line of study will corrupt me, do you, brother? That they will blacken my soul?"
Starswirl placed a hoof on Somber's shoulder, giving him a sympathetic look. "In the hooves of a lesser pony, such things could lead to a darkness that one could never escape. But never before have I known a gentler, more caring pony than you. No, Somber, I do not think that mere knowledge is something that could blacken such a bright and genuine soul. In fact," Starswirl leaned back to stand upright, one back hoof raised on the bench and with one forehoof placed on his chest, "let it be known that Somber Shades shall never use his power to bring harm to another pony, not in a thousand years!"
Somber couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's display. "Be seated you buffoon! This a library, not a drinking hall!"
The two laughed together until a pony dressed in stark white dress uniform of the royal guard approached them. "Are you two Somber Skies and Starswirl the Bright?"
Starswirl scrambled back to his seat, now planted firmly on his haunches. "Oh dear, we'll be silent, I swear! You won't hear a peep from the eith-"
"The princesses request your presence in the Hall of Harmony," the pony curtly interrupted.
"Why yes... yes, of course... heh..."
***
Despite not having the same grand size as the Canterlot library, the Hall of Harmony felt much taller, simply due to the vast amounts of empty space. As the pair trotted down the long red carpet, Somber's eyes traced the various stained glass windows dotting the walls. The most prominent chronicled Luna and Celestia's triumph over the fiendish Discord, the day when this very hall was no longer the Trail of Chaos and instead reformed by the power of the Elements of Harmony. Some windows' tales were more cryptic, while others contained only normal glass, yet to be filled with the exploits of the princesses and their elements. Pictures of epic feats by ponies that were nameless to Somber, and the elements of harmony.
At the end of the hall, the majestic, constantly flowing manes of the two princesses were easily visible even from a distance, and the sight of them set a pit in both stallions' stomachs as they realized the gravity of this moment. Celestia and Luna were very public rulers, taking care to be actively involved with the ponies they ruled, but a private audience with them was still almost unheard of.
As they approached, Princess Celestia greeted them with a smile, and for a moment, both stallions cringed as they braced themselves for the boisterous volume of her formal royal Canterlot voice.
"Ease yourselves, my little ponies," Celestia chuckled, "There is no reason for us to use our royal canterlot voice at this proximity." Both sisters smiled as the two stallions eased their shoulders back slowly. "Now, do you know why we have brought you here?" Both stallions shook their heads before she continued, "Can either of you tell us what tomorrow is?"
Starswirl scratched his growing stubble as he wracked his brain for all the coming events. "The beginning of the summer season? The fifteenth day of the fifth lunar cycle? The rise of the constellatio-"
"The day of harmony," Somber replied sternly.
Princess Luna nodded in response. "Correct. Tomorrow is the anniversary of the day we, and our sister, defeated the fiend Discord and brought harmony to Equestria. As such, it is tradition that we each select a protege once a generation, to carry on the tradition of peace and harmony."
"Starswirl the Bright, your exploits in the study of magic have shown that yours is a fertile and capable mind, but more than that, it is your consideration and loyalty that have garnered our attention. You have proven yourself to be a pony of empathy and trust, willing to make sacrifices for the sake of those close to you. This is why you have been chosen to be our personal student," Celestia's tone was warm, but still very formal.
"Somber Shades, your early years were filled with strife and abandonment, but despite this, you have proven yourself to be a pony capable of not only dignity, poise, and prowess, but compassion rarely seen. Where others are cruel, you are caring, where others show apathy, you show love. This is why you have been chosen to be our personal student." Luna's tone was much colder, though the words she spoke were enough to reach Somber's heart.
"You two are the pride of Canterlot, and we have some special tasks for the each of you. Starswirl, please come with us so that we can provide you with the next stage of your training. Somber, you will go with our sister for your instructions." Somber followed Luna up a spiral staircase to their left, leading into a private, but decadent, library.
"Your studies on the properties of dark magic are commendable, Somber Shades. Your approach to them even more so." Luna's horn glowed a dim blue hue as she levitated several books off the shelves, each darkly colored and adorned in foreboding imagery. "Dark magic is much like the night itself; many ponies fail to understand it, and so they treat it with fear. Even the most esteemed tomes in this collection regard it as something to be avoided and mistrusted. Your view, Somber Shades, is wholly unique, and so I want you to continue your studies on dark magic in the Crystal Empire." Somber couldn't help but wonder how the princesses knew so much about them, and for a moment the thought graced his mind that they were somehow omniscient. "You have our blessing to continue your studies there, and our sanction to access the many tomes and secrets about dark magic without hindrance."
"Thank you, Princess," Somber said with a bow. "I am beyond honored."
"Of course," Luna replied coldly. "Now go. And be wary during your time in the Crystal Empire; though it's shining towers appear translucent, they still manage to hide many lies and secrets."
With another bow, Somber Shades departed, confidence in his chest and pride in his heart.
Somber Shades smiled gently as he watched his good friend, strewn across the seat in front of him, snoring loudly with his luggage laid haphazardly around him. Starwirl had expected to stay in Canterlot, however his in his meeting with Princess Celestia, her instructions to join Somber in his studies at the Crystal Empire had caught him by surprise, so he had spent the night preparing his things instead of getting a good night's rest. Of course, for Starswirl the Bright, "preparing his things" consisted largely of digging through his belongings, stumbling across an old book or artifact, and spending the next hour or so trying to discover something new about the old trinket, so what should have been a relatively short process instead left him completely without sleep.
Somber himself had not slept as he should, either, kept awake into the early hours of the morning by both anticipation and anxiety. Not only was he to meet the family of his beloved, the esteemed nobles of the Crystal Empire, but he was to do so with the personal sanction of Princess Luna. Suddenly his quest was not only one of personal knowledge, but a journey to benefit the whole of Equestria. Much was now riding on his shoulders, but Somber knew if anypony was capable of this task, it was he.
"Excuse me, can you please get him to be a little more quiet?" the pony sitting behind Starswirl leaned over her seat and shot him a a cold glare as she spoke. Jolted back to reality, Somber briefly looked around the train car to see nearly all the passengers giving the cacophonous sleeping stallion the same bemused glare.
Somber merely chuckled before replying. "Of course, I'm sorry he was bothering you." He figured it was about time for the two of them to get ready anyways, the Crystal Kingdom was nearly in view.
As the light of the setting sun struck the rising crystal towers of the city, a dozen intricate patterns of color emblazoned the countryside. The lower the sun fell, the farther the lights spread, until the entire city was covered in a twilight of dancing lights. How the crystal ponies managed to fashion their entire city out of such glamorous material was nothing less than a feat of wonder to him, a feat which puzzled his mind and captivated his heart.
Somber nudged his sleeping partner to wake him, magically grabbing their bags from the compartment above as he did. "Come, brother, we're nearly there," he said with a smile. Starswirl awoke gracelessly with a jolt and a snort, lazily tracing his eyes around the cabin as his awareness crawled back to him. He shot up as it came to him, hastily trying to save face for his earlier behavior.
As the train came to a halt, the two of them slowly stepped down onto the platform, their eyes fixed on the city before them, glowing in the low sunlight. Their mutual trance was broken as a crowd of less patient ponies forcefully moved past them, and it was then that a well-dressed crystal pony approaching them caught Somber's eye.
"You two are Somber Skies and Starswirl the Bright, are you not?" the stallion asked with an almost annoyed tone.
Starswirl puffed out his chest and smiled coyly at being addressed by what was obviously the representative of some very important ponies, though Somber knew his friend well enough to know that behind his confident pose the studious unicorn was both nervous and enthralled to his core. "Indeed we are! And who might you be?" he replied with a tone bordering on conciet.
"I represent the Imperial royal family. If the both of you would be so kind to accompany me?" He gestured toward the sprawling tower in the center of the city before heading in that direction, each of them in tow.
As they walked down the streets, both unicorns spent every precious second taking in the bizarre and beautiful sights of the Crystal Kingdom. The majesty of the towering structures that lined the city made Somber feel small in a way Canterlot never could, producing a sense of mystique and power, as though some sort of mysterious power flowed through every building and every pony in the kingdom. Crystal had told him many stories of her home before, but seeing it with his own eyes was a humbling experience still.
The crystal escort led them to a tower with four entrances at it's base. A group of servant ponies retrieved the pair's bags and retreated into one doorway while the escort led them into another. As they traveled the towering halls of the structure, their size and descriptions rang familiar to Somber from the stories his dear Crystal had told. This grand palace was the home she grew up in, and though he had never seen such a place before, it already felt like home to Somber Shades from all her anecdotes. Finally, they were led to a huge, crystalline door leading into the throne room. "His majesty awaits the both of you behind this door, sirs," the escort said apathetically with a bow as he slinked away.
As the massive doors slowly pulled open to reveal a sturdy red crystal stallion sitting at the throne, a strong, regal mare at his side. Beside the throne were seven younger stallions, each dressed up in an elegant, noble uniform. The red stallion was speaking to a slew of advisers when the unicorn pair entered, but the sound of the door immediately drew his attention to them as a wide smile spread across his face.
"Come in, come in! The princesses already sent word of your arrival!" he bade them happily as he waved a hoof inward. "As I'm sure you know, I am King Carnelian, this is my lovely wife Amethyst, and these are my wonderful sons and kin!" He turned to Starswirl first, looking him over with a broad smile. "I take it you are are Celestia's protege, Starswirl the Bright, if I am not mistaken!" Starswirl simply nodded and bowed in response, trying his best to appear confident and comfortable. "And you, of course you must be Somber Shades! Princess Luna's personal protege, and, more importantly, my future son-in-law!" he pulled Somber in for an over-the-shoulder hug as he spoke, laughing heartily.
"Yes, well, I wouldn't want to impose such an important role in your family until we are properly wed, your majesty." Somber replied nervously, unprepared by the sudden embrace.
"Nonsense! My dear Crystal has told me so much about you in her letters I feel as though we're already family!" He gave Somber a heavy pat on the back as he laughed. "That child is the jewel of my life, you know. My only daughter, and the heart and soul of my empire. This entire kingdom will breathe life because of her one day, just you wait and see."
Somber smiled softly, his gaze slowly lost in a sea of memories. "I would not doubt it for a second, your majesty. She is truly something special, and I only hope I can prove worthy of her heart."
"Don't you worry, my boy," the king's tone became more serious, but still positive, "if you are half the stallion she has told me you are, then I would not place my trust in anypony more." The king laughed again, returning to his earlier jovial tone. "And please, enough of this 'your majesty' business. Call me Carnelian, both of you. Or, better yet ,you can start calling me 'father' if you are so inclined!" The king laughed so hard at his own comment Somber was nearly sure he would burst into a coughing fit.
A deliberate cough from one of the younger stallions brought Carnelian's attention back to reality, however. "Oh, how could I have been so rude! As I stated earlier these fine young lads are my honorable family! These four are my sons, Malachite, Jasper, Kyan, and Obsidian," the king gestured to the four stallions closest to him as he spoke. "The other three are my nephews, Onyx and Agate, and my niece Topaz." The king raised an eyebrow as he looked over the members of his family. "As you can see, the gender distribution is a bit different than that of the Equestrian monarchy." He turned back to the two unicorns, "anyways, the two of you will be staying here, in the palace. I've already instructed the servants to unpack your bags in your respective rooms."
Starswirl perked up at this, raising his hoof almost nervously in protest. "Um, your majesty, er... Carnelian, sir, would it be possible for me to take residence in the city library instead?" he sputtered out.
"In the... library? Ha! I like the sense of humor this one has! Come, we were just about to have dinner! What say the two of you join us, get the chance to meet these strapping young kin of mine better?" the king laughed as he gave Starswirl a heavy pat on the back. "Besides, the both of you look like you haven't been properly fed in days! So, come, let me treat you!" Both of their stomachs gave out an involuntary groan as he mentioned food, and they decided to, somewhat reluctantly, follow the royal ponies as they headed toward the dining hall.
"Why are we doing this, again?" Starswirl harshly whispered to his friend as they made their way over. "I understand your enthusiasm, but I am not getting married to any of the royal family!"
"I am focused on my duties as a representative of the Equestrian monarchy first and foremost, brother. A role you share, if you remember," Somber whispered back. "Besides, I do believe I spied that Topaz giving you a most wanting look," he snickered.
"Oh, if only such fortune truly befell me," Starswirl sighed. "Oh well, I suppose you are right. We have a duty to preform, and I will do so to the best of my ability. Besides, I must admit a royal banquet sounds delightful to my aching belly right now."
Their mental image of a "royal banquet" hardly compared to the feast that laid before them as the dining hall's doors opened, however, and each had to keep himself from salivating openly. The long table in the center of the room seated far more ponies than were present, but the king made his way to sit at the far end nonetheless, his wife at his side and his four sons seated in a row beside her. The young stallions' cousins sat across from them, leaving two vacancies next to the king clearly meant for Somber and Starswirl. The duo awkwardly made their way to their reserved seats, trying their best to look proper in such an overwhelming environment.
"Well, then, what say that each of you introduce yourselves to these keen young stallions!" the king said as he turned to his immediate family. "I do believe that we will be enjoying their company for some time, after all."
"I am queen Amethyst, as my husband has told you, and it is a very good pleasure to meet you both," the queen's tone was curt, but gentle, like the purr of a lioness. She bowed her head to each of them before turning to her sons, inviting them to speak up.
The first one to speak was the pony the farthest from them, a deep green stallion with his chin held confidently. "I am Malachite, and I look forward to getting to know you better."
"Malachite is my oldest, and a spitting image of what it means to be part of the royal family, if I do say so myself," the king chuckled. "I believe you will get along quite well."
The next farthest was deep blue, a relaxed, charming smirk across his face as he looked over both the newcomers. "I am Kyan, and I am honored to introduce myself to the representatives of the Equestrian government."
"Be careful of this one, his tongue is more silver than my shining blade!" Malachite chuckled, nudging his brother. "Obsidian, why don't you introduce yourself?"
The third stallion down the row was a deep, almost red shade of black, darker and less translucent than his father. "Yes, well, as my brother told you, my name is Obsidian." He said curtly with a bow of his head. "Tell me, do either of you consider yourselves tacticians?"
As Starswirl scratched his chin, trying to decide if critical thinking skills would be related to tactics, Somber spoke up in reply. "I'm not sure in which manner you mean, but I've been told I'm something of a strategist in the way I approach problems, yes."
Obsidian nodded, smirking, his eyes studying Somber carefully. "Well, I suppose we shall see in due time."
The last of the sons, a small, light purple stallion, let out a barely audible squeak as he looked around nervously, realizing it was his turn to introduce himself. "My n-name is Jasper... I'm pleased to make your a-acquaintance." His voice was more audible than a mumble, but still very soft and shy. He turned to his mother, seated next to him, almost immediately after speaking, as if to ask for some sort of comfort.
"And these fine ponies," the king nearly interrupted his son to add, "are my brother's children." He gestured a hoof to the three ponies seated next to Somber.
"Greetings," the pony directly next to somber spoke, his coat a translucent off-white and his mane a dark grey, "I am Onyx, and these are my siblings, Agate and Topaz." An orange stallion and turquoise mare leaned forward to wave to their guests as he introduced them. "It's a pleasure to meet you both."
"Indeed it is!" the king's voice boomed happily. "So as I understand it you are both here on scholarly business, are you not? Tell me, what is it you have come to my kingdom to study?"
Finally the conversation had shifted into Starswirl's court, and his usual charm and energy returned to him as he took to answering it. "Well, since you ask, I have actually been studying the core of magic itself! As you know, it is a very core aspect to our society, and though we have a great understanding of it on a functional level, very little is known about how it works or where it comes from!" Starswirl's enthusiasm caused him to eat more intensly as well, as though he had suddenly detected a defecit of energy in his body.
Despite Starswirl's sudden change in behaivor, however, the king appeared unmoved by his energy. "So then, what about my kingdom brought you here to study such a thing?"
The young unicorn suddenly froze, as though he had never considered the question. "I don't... know, actually. All I am certain of is that Princess Celestia told me I would find my answers here."
Hoping to break the king's piercing gaze on the bookish unicorn, Malachite spoke up first. "Hm, yes, well I hope you find them, truly." Malachite knew his father's pride in his kingdom often came off as aggressive to those unused to him. "How about you, Somber, what sort of material brings you here? If I remember correctly it was your intention to come to the Crystal Kingdom even before instructed by your princess."
"Well, my studies are a somewhat controversial thing, but I have been researching the properties of dark magic." Almost immediately, a heavy and abrupt silence filled most of the room, followed by the awkward shuffling of eating utensils and ponies in their seats, as everypony tried to quell the silence. "I know that sounds dangerous, but I'm trying to rectify the bad image given to the dark arts by revealing it's beneficial properties. The kind of magic isn't important, it's how you use it."
Of all the ponies in the room, Obsidian seemed to be the most genuinely interested. "Really? And in what ways can the dark arts be used for the good of ponykind?"
"It's simply about perspective," Somber replied. "For example, there are spells in tomes of dark magic that immobilize the target and subject them to their worst fear. Now, while the negative use of such a spell is obvious, spells like this could be used in therapeutic ways as well, presenting patients with phobias to exposure therapy in a manner that they cannot be harmed or harm themselves. There are spells that are intended to unnaturally extend one's life, as well, but these can be repurposed to be applied in a medical setting, regenerating lost tissue while more conventional healing methods are being figured out."
"And for what reason did you decide to pursue this line of study here?" the king's voice was stoic, almost demanding, as he interrogated his guest.
"Well, as you know, the crystals found here have amplifying reactions to magic, but what caught my attention was how they respond to dark magic specifically. When I experimented with some souvenirs Crystal had brought to Canterlot, I discovered that these crystals not only enhance the properties of dark magic, but it alters the crystal itself entirely to channel dark magic more easily. I believe this can be used to allow those who cannot use magic, or are uncomfortable with dark magic, to apply it's positive uses."
It was Onyx who broke the silence that followed this time. "That's a very interesting perspective, Somber Skies. I must admit I'm quite curious to see how these studies of yours turn out."
"As am I," Carnelian added coldly, as everypony returned to their food for the duration of the meal.
***
The chilly evening air blew through Somber Shade's mane as he leaned over the balcony outcropping from the palace.The rooftops of the city glimmered in the moonlight, glowing in the darkness and casting a dazzling pattern onto the sky. He was so lost in thought, he didn't even notice the glimmering green pony walk beside him.
"Beautiful at night, isn't it?" Malachite rested his forehooves over the railing as he too gazed down on the city. "Somber, please pay my father's suspicions no mind. I can tell he has great faith in you, and you seem like the kind of pony capable of what you plan to use this knowledge for. I'm sure my father will come around to believing that in time, and, for what it's worth, you have impressed me greatly already." He turned to Somber and placed a hoof on his shoulder before continuing, "I also wish to extend my personal thanks to you."
Somber shot him a confused look. "Thank me? For what?"
"For taking care of my sister. Father isn't the only one who cares about her; she's precious to all of us. Since we were young, the four of us were always protecting her, showering her in love and making sure she is happy, and from the letters she has sent us, I can tell she is very happy with you. It's meant the world to me to know that." Malachite turned back to the city. "As the oldest I am next in line for the throne, but I too know she is the one who will make a difference in this empire forever. So, thank you again for bringing her true happiness. And please, no matter what happens, continue to take care of my dear sister. I don't know what we would do if anything happened to her."
