The life of a prince of the Crystal Empire is hard. You’re expected to act a certain way, talk to certain ponies, and even eat certain foods. But this life is harder when you’re a bastard, and not in a jackass kind of way. Bastard as in illegitimate son of the king. On top of that I wasn’t even first born. My eldest brother was completely legitimate, perfect, and father’s favorite. And then he had to go off and die in a battle against thieving dragons when I was about ten. Mother died in the birthing of me, so it was just daddy and me for the next nine years.
My name is Sombra, and welcome to my life as bastard prince of the Crystal Empire, the wealthiest pony nation on Equestria.
“Sombra how dare you laugh at the horses from Saddle Arabia?!” Sombra’s father shouted at the top of his longs.
Sombra stared at him with disinterest. “Well I can’t help it if I thought his hat was funny looking. If he wanted to be serious, he shouldn’t have worn a hat so ridiculous.” He replied in a calm even tone.
His father snorted in detest, the old stallion had no control over his son. “Do you know how important this meeting was? If you hadn’t walked in unannounced and insulted the Arabians our Empire could have formed a treaty that would have secured us as the most powerful nation in not just on Equestria, but the whole world! And you completely ruined it! You fool! I should have you drug out of this palace and stoned; you’re just about as useful as dragon shit.”
Sombra rolled his eyes, his father wouldn’t do that though, he was bound by the words of his late mother who requested Sombra to be looked after as though he were the King’s own. But it didn’t stop him from treating Sombra like shit within the Palace walls, away from the prying eyes of their subjects.
Sombra shuffled his gray hooves, “father, you realize the most valuable allies now would be the rulers of the Kingdom of Canterlot. The Princesses of the kingdom have more power than all of the rest of the nations inhabiting the continent of Equestria. That includes our northern Empire, father.” He replied very matter-of-factly. “Um I’m going to a ball so I’ll be back at the palace later, that’s all I wanted to tell you.” Sombra turned and walked away from his father, he really didn’t want all of the old stallion’s pessimism to rub off on him. He had to catch a good filly tonight… maybe a few.
“Sombra! Get back here!” His father yelled as the young gray prince trotted out.
Sombra wasn’t like his father. He wasn’t like other crystal ponies at all. Because he wasn’t one. His mother was, apparently she was the most beautiful of mares in the Empire. She and the old King apparently hit it off immediately and soon got married. At one point they went to visit the neighboring kingdom of Canterlot, met with the alicorn princesses. It was there that his mother had met a gray unicorn stallion that was very wealthy. The King thinks that is who his mother had an affair with and even when as far as to trying to track this stallion down without success. He retained his real father’s gray coat and horn but had burgundy eyes. The only nice thing that the King had said to him was regarding his eyes, commenting on the likeness of them to his mother’s.
Sombra, even though his whole life being told that he was a failure and that he shouldn’t even be alive, was always optimistic. He was always looking for some new fun thing to do. And one of the things he longed to do was see the whole of Equestria, and then the world. His late brother told him he was going to be swallowed up by a dragon… looks like he was the one who was swallowed up.
It was a few days since the Arabian hat incident, and Sombra was called into his father’s study. “What now?” He muttered as he practically dragged his hooves to the study.
“Son,” His father started as Sombra stepped into the room, his ears pricked. The old King never called him ‘son’. “I need you to travel to the Kingdom of Equestria.”
“But we live on the continent of Equestria.” Sombra said, slightly confused.
His father’s eye twitched, something that happened when Sombra had annoyed him. “The Kingdom of Equestria is the new title of the old Kingdom of Canterlot. That aside, I need you to travel south to this nation and attend the Grand Galloping Gala, a new event they are putting on for anypony who is anypony will be at; Arabians from Saddle Arabia, Pegasi, Unicorns and Earthponies. Celestia, the eldest princess has requested we attend but as you know my health is failing and I do not wish to travel south. Will you for once be an obedient little pony and go there and behave and gain favor for the Crystal Empire?”
Sombra was completely floored by his father’s request. He couldn’t believe the stallion would trust him with this responsibility. A genuine smile spread across the young prince’s face. “Of course! Of Course I’ll go!” He practically shouted, prancing in place. He was so excited. His messy forelock bounced back and forth in front of his face and his tail flicked back and forth in excitement.
“Good. And you MUST apologize to the Arabians. And you also much wear your crown and slick your mane back, as is custom.” He said in an annoyed voice.
“Of course! Anything! Oh thank you father! Thank you so much! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” He said over and over again, the feeling of glee bursting out of him. The young prince couldn’t wait. And for once felt like a prince, a prince with responsibility, and at that, responsibility to go to a party!
