Crystal's Embrace

1000 years ago...

The howling winds, the painful snow, the horrible chill. All these factors meant nothing to the child. He trudged onwards as the snow pelted him from all sides along with the winds that howled their horrible song in his ears. This child was no more than four years old and yet he traveled as if he were oblivious to the cold.

His eyes glossed over, void of any soul that he may have once had in a day long past. His mind a blank slate wondering of the time in which he was once warm and the world was yet but a sunny day. He was lost and alone, wondering if he’d ever see someone ever again.

His only memories were of a beach on a warm summer’s day, playing in the sand with...his family. All their faces blurred and forgotten, their voices melded into the sound of the breaking waves and gulls screeching above. Quickly he was dragged back into the blizzard from his distant memory.

Who am I? He kept asking repeatedly in his mind, his name never once surfacing to the forefront of his thoughts. He had no identity, and for all he knew currently he was unwanted by the people in the blurred memory. Cast aside like a forgotten toy, left in the middle of the store aisle when a mother would drag their kid hastily from the aisle, ignoring the desperate cries of the child to return to them the toy they had lost.

The world’s cruelty extended its unwelcome hand to the child and he unfortunately grasped it thinking it a friendly hold.

The bitter cold was no longer breaking his thoughts as a strong warmth overcame the child. His body reaching the peak of hypothermia. All that was left, was to keep walking while he slowly died.

Soon enough, the child fell face first into the snow allowing sleep to overcome him, but not without the hallucination of a figure approaching him through the snow.

Monday, December 23rd, 1000 A.F. 8:27 P.M.

Crystal Spire, Crystal Empire, Frozen North

“May it be that he shall rest till he arises himself, lest you choose to wake him now and risk losing him.” King Sombra statedly flatly as the doors to his private quarters closed with a soft thud behind him.

“But sire, his kind hasn’t been seen for-” the servant was cut off by King Sombra reaching out with his telekinesis and wrapping it around their neck.

“I know very well about his kind, do not make the mistake that I know nothing for you are but a servant to the crown. Dare speak down to me again and I will see to it that you spend eternity rotting in the dungeon.” Sombra growled as he released the servant from his grasp. The servant nodded his head fervently as he bowed deeply. “Good, now go tell the kitchen to make some tea and deliver it to my quarters promptly.” Sombra demanded.

The servant nodded one last time before hastily making his retreat from the room, leaving King Sombra to stand in silence. Sombra walked slowly over to his bed and sat next to it, watching the creature that now slept in it. Why did I spare you? I should have killed you just as any other creature that would trespass upon my lands. Could it be that you remind me of myself on a day long past? Or that I could not bring myself to end a young one's life such as yours?

A King of Darkness with but a glint of light in his heart. This child is more than just a distant echo of whom he once was as a young colt, but the memory of the life he lost when he decided he had enough. This child was his reflection from many moons ago, a day long gone and a world long lost.

Sombra sat alone at his bedside, watching over the child as he slept with only the sound of the crackling fire from the fireplace on the wall across from the end of the bed. The fire provided warmth for him, as well as a night light for the boy. Sombra knew the boy would likely not awaken again until tomorrow, but felt obligated to stay at his side till he had awoken.

A soft knock came from the bedroom door. Must be the tea. He thought quietly as he stood and walked over to the doors and opened them. “Be quiet when placing it down, may it be in your best interest to not awaken the boy.” He said grimly as they carried the tea into the room and sat it down on the coffee table in front of the fireplace.

Sombra smiled and gave a sigh of relief when he realized this was one of the servants of the castle he treated like family. As the servant started out the door to leave he grasped her by the foreleg and pulled her back in, her trembling in fear. “Worry not, you know I would hardly touch you unless the situation demanded it in front of other servants.” He gave a smile to the servant who nodded and walked back into the room.

He proceeded to motion the servant over towards the fireplace as he started to pour the tea into two cups. “Star, you know you're of the few I consider family that are my servants. Correct?” Sombra asked as the last drop of tea fell into the cup.

“Yes your majesty.” She said barely audible.

“Come now Star, formalities are not needed now. Please sit.” He motioned to the chair in front of him.

Bleak Star abided and sat down upon the luxurious maroon chair in front of King Sombra. “S-Sombra.” She looked up to her king with worry as she addressed him casually to make sure he wasn’t mad. He kept looking onto her with the same warm look he had shown her the various times before.

“W-why am I family to you?” Star finally asked, almost waiting for him to grasp her with telekinesis as he had done many times before. Sombra simply sipped his tea and looked into the fire.

After about 5 minutes of silence Sombra finally spoke. “I suppose it’s because I trust you. Maybe its because you remind me of the family I had a long time ago. Once upon a time I did not control the Crystal Empire, but my father had.” His mood had become solemn and his expression grim.

“When I was a foal, I had befriended the many servants that roamed these halls. I did not treat them with contempt nor did I hurt them for disobeying me. I was kind and gentle, just as the touch of nature. When my father passed away and I had to take the throne, I suppose something inside me snapped.”

“Do not take what I say the wrong way, I do not regret the path I’ve chosen. We’d have died many moons ago had I not done what I did. Not only would our kingdom be but ruins, but the entire world would have become ruins for a new world to start again. I digress Star, but to answer your question. You and the few others are the only family I’ve left.” Sombra finished with a sigh as he took another sip of his tea.

“I-I never knew…” Star whispered quietly. She looked over to the child laying in her majestys bed to see him stirring slightly. “Your majesty, I believe he is waking up!” She exclaimed softly.

Sombra’s expression went back to the stoic one he had before Star had come to the room. “Come Bleak Star, we’ve a child to speak to.” He stated flatly as he placed his cup back on its saucer and stood from his chair, proceeding to walk over to the child's bedside.

The child's eyes fluttered open, taking in the world before him. The first sight he saw was the visage of King Sombra. His fur a deep gray, his eyes a deep red, his mane pitch black, and his horn that went from a deep gray at the bottom to a bright red at the tip. “Hello young one.” The unicorn spoke with a deep voice that reverberated through the childs head.

The child was obviously scared as his eyes grew wide and he visibly started to shake. He slowly backed up underneath the covers, reaching the edge of the bed fast. Instead of falling off, he ran into Bleak Star. He slowly looked up above him to find Star staring down at him. He tried to scream but found nothing was coming out.

“Stop your worry young one, we wish you no harm. Be calm.” Star cooed as she rubbed his hair with her hoof, soothing him fast. She soon found the child buried deep into her chest, crying.

“It seems that he has taken a liking to you Bleak Star.” Sombra said as he made his way over to her side of the bed.

“It seems so my lord.” Bleak said as she continued to comfort the child. Sombra sighed and walked over to the fireplace and stared into it.

“Bleak Star, I wish to ask you something. Would you be his caretaker?” He was met with the crackling of the flames and soft sobs of the child.

“I shall lord.” He heard Bleak Star say as he turned to her with a smile on his face.

“Good, from here and out you are no longer a servant to the throne but of family. You shall be the caretaker for the child till you should breath your last or him his.” King Sombra stated formally now walking over to the mare with a necklace, placing it over her neck.

“B-but I can’t possibly accept that my lord!” She protested as he shook his head.

“Bleak Star, you have been serving me since you were a filly. You have gone long serving me as you have not ever protested my demands nor have you any contempt towards me. The child will need a caretaker as I will not be able to care for him all the time. You are but of the few I would trust with such a task.” He said smiling wholeheartedly for the first time in many years.

“I-I don’t know what to say…” Bleak Star muttered as she held the pendant in her hoof. Her other hoof still holding the now silent child on her chest as he breathed softly.

“It seems the child has fallen back into his dreams. You will sleep here for the night Bleak Star.” She was about to protest before Sombra held a hoof up. “Do not argue Bleak Star. This is your first task as caretaker to the child. Get a good nights rest so that tomorrow we may see whom this child is.” He stated as he walked to the bedroom door.

“I will be sleeping in the guest room right down the hall for tonight Bleak Star. Sleep well.” He smiled back at her, and her at him. When the door closed she walked to the other side of the bed and climbed in next to the young child, pulling him close to keep him warm.