Yin & Yang

“He… Kissed me… And it felt so… right.” Umbra whispered to herself as she looked in the bathroom mirror at her own reflection. “Like… it was supposed to happen… Maybe…”

A knock at the bedchamber door startled the mare out of her train of thought. “C-coming!” She called while scrambling to the door, nearly running into it when she got there. She threw it open expecting to see Solaris, but instead there was a huge bouquet of freshly picked flowers of several colors floating in a gold aura of magic. Though most of them darker, the flowers were still cheerful colors.

Umbra gasped as a deep blush warmed her cheeks. She reached out and took them, the magic dispersing as soon as she did. Umbra held them close and smelled them deeply. The smell of the many exotic flowers brought a smile to her face.

“Ah, there it is. That’s what I’ve been looking forward to all morning.” Solaris’ voice said.

Umbra looked up and was surprised to see the prince standing in the doorway, leaning against it. He was dressed sharply as always, though it sort of put her current attire to shame. She smiled anyway. “Well, hello to you too, prince.”

Solaris smiled back. “Please, enough with the formalities. Call me Solaris.”

Umbra giggled. “Sorry.” Why was she feeling so bubbly around him? She couldn’t place the feeling. Though she didn’t mind it in the least. This was the happiest she had been in months. “So you got these for me?”

The prince nodded. “I picked them myself from the garden. I would have picked you some Night Shade flowers, but they only bloom at certain times of the year and only at night.”

“These are fine, Solaris. I love them.”

Solaris blushed and looked at his hooves. “I just thought I would do that for you since, you know… I kissed you.”

“I loved that too.”

Solaris looked up and blushed. “Did you? Well would you like to do it again?”

Umbra blushed deeply and her heart skipped a beat. “I-I… Umm… I…”

Solaris burst into laughter. “I’m kidding! I'm kidding!"

Umbra was slightly disappointed, but she didn't show it. She enjoyed seeing the stallion she had feelings for smile and laugh. It made her feel warm, like a ray of sunshine was shining down upon her.

"Well, anyway... I came to ask you if you would like to join me in the garden tonight for a meal I helped Spices make."

Umbra's eyes widened. "Wait, y-you're not going to court me?"

Solaris looked confused. "Why would I do that? I hate courting. I also hate being nice to snobs." He smiled at her. “I would much rather show you everything about myself. Actions speak louder than words, do they not?”

Umbra took a moment to process what he had just said. Had he just said that he blatantly goes against tradition of many years of kingdoms? She felt an unusual spike in her attraction toward him at the simple thought and it made her blush slightly.

“So, are you going to join me? I acquired a nice bottle of cider wine just for the occasion.”

The questioned mare slowly nodded. “Y-yes…” She cleared her throat and repeated more firmly. “Yes, I-I… I would.”

“Great!” Solaris quickly leant in and gave Umrba a quick embrace, before running off.

Umbra was left in a blushing and dazed state. Her heart felt like it was running faster than a speeding cart. She was about to have a romantic meal in the gardens tonight. With the stallion that saved her from loneliness. She was beyond nervous and excited.

She ran back into her chambers and made straight for her wardrobe, throwing it open to search through the dresses that were kept there. She rummaged through them for a moment, but didn’t find a single dress that caught her eyes. Right when she was about to give up, a flash of red caught her attention. She moved a dark grey dress out of her way and exposed a long red silk dress.

Umbra pulled it out and looked it over. The silk seemed to have never been worn, like the original owner thought it was too priceless to even wear. The left side of the dress had a long black silk sleeve with a ring attached to it for her middle finger to slip through. The right side had nothing to cover her arm, leaving it completely strapless.

Umbra was shocked at her find. “How was this forgotten?” She asked herself as she held it up to herself to find that it was very close to her size. “I doubt anypony would mind if I wore this…”

She ran and hid the dress somewhere she would remember it for tonight, so nopony could see what she was planning to wear. The last thing Umbra wanted was to be scolded for breaking tradition with the prince. She then stripped out of her night gown and threw on her traditional ornamental armor, the same armor she had arrived in, before leaving to find the dining hall for breakfast.

Umbra eventually found herself lost in the labyrinth of a castle after only a few moments of walking. The many halls criss-crossing confused her, but at least it was quiet. The Crystal halls were never this quiet for her. It gave her a sense of calm, despite being lost. She eventually bumped into somepony after turning down a corridor.

The figure was blacked out by a shadow, but Umbra could definitely tell it was a stallion. “Thou should leave. Thy presence disturbs the sacred trust between our family.”

Umbra narrowed her eyes. “It’s not your decision whether I should leave or not. It’s Solaris’.”

“Our brother is blind to what thou hath caused!” The stallion stepped out, exposing Lunar to the light. He was gritting his teeth and clenching his fists in anger. “Our mother and father hath feuded over thee! Our mother is left with nothing, thanks to father siding with Solaris!”

“That is none of my concern…” Umbra growled. “It would only be my concern if Solaris viewed it as an issue. Now unless you are going to tell me how to locate the dining hall, we have nothing left to say to each other.”

Lunar took a threatening step toward Umbra, before jabbing his finger to the right. “Down the corridor, take a left. End of that corridor, across from the kitchens.”

Umbra was confused by the sudden display. She hesitated.

“Thy food grows cold. If thou doth not hurry, thy morsel shall be thrown out.”

This snapped Umbra out of her shocked frozen state. She growled up at Lunar. “Do not treat me as a mere underling, prince.” She spat. “I’m a princess, rightful inheritant of the Crystal Empire. You would do well to treat me with respect, just so I see it worth treating you with respect as well.” Umbra turned and stormed off, but her mischievous magic was left behind hidden in Lunar’s shadow.

Lunar glared at her as she walked away from him. “Our brother is a fool…” He said under his breath.

Umbra seethed with anger as she stormed to the dining hall and threw open the door to find Solaris already there with who seemed to be his father.

“Ah! Speak of the devil!” Solaris exclaimed happily. He waved her over to the table. “Father, this is princess Umbra. The sweet, timid mare I told you about.”

The mare blushed deeply, her anger melting away almost instantly as she shyly approached the table. A servant pulled out her chair to allow her to sit and pushed her in toward the table once she had. A butler then placed a hot tray in front of her, before lifting the lid, revealing a plate of freshly steamed vegetables of several kinds and a bowl of fruit on ice.

Sombra immediately set to eating the meal in front of her, ignoring the two royals for the time being until she was done. She then looked first to Solaris, then to his father and his kind eyes.

“I... can see where Solaris gets his attractive looks from.” Umbra said without thinking. It took her all of three seconds to figure out what she said, thanks to Star Flare’s chuckle. She gasped and blushed deeper. “I-I-I mean…”

Star Flare held up a hand for her to stop. “It’s quite alright… Umbra. You’re the first mare he hasn’t complained about in four years. In fact… He has told me enough about you for me to have already figured out what he thinks of you.” He smiled and leaned over the table toward her. “He kissed you, didn’t he?”

Umbra squeaked and hid her face, blushing madly.

“Father! Don’t embarrass the poor mare!” Solaris scolded his father.

Star burst into laughter and sat back in his chair. “You naughty young stallion you! You went and kissed her without her anypony knowing! I’m telling your cousins.”

“Don’t you dare.”

Star sat forward and rested his head on his elbows. “I will…”

Solaris crossed his arms. “Then maybe I should tell Umbra here about your fetish.”

The king’s smile deflated. “You would not…”

The prince smirked. “I would.”

“My lord, if you please. I wish to speak to you of something.” Umbra interrupted.

Star Flare broke eye contact with his son and looked at Umbra with curiosity. “Whatever do you wish to speak to me for? Is it about your empire?”

Umbra shook her head and looked away. “Sense it is that I have nopony to give me away… I request that you allow me a chance to…” She hesitated as her heart rate picked up speed and her breathing shallowed. “... to be with Solaris.”

Solaris’ jaw dropped.

Star smiled. “Ah… A brave one she is.” He looked back to his son with the same smile. “How do you feel about her, Solaris? What do you think I should say?”

Solaris opened and closed his mouth a few times, attempting to form the words he was thinking. He had to take a sip of his water and clear his throat before he could speak again. “I… We… I-I think you should give us a chance.”

“Then so be it.”

Umbra gasped. “Just… l-like that?”

Star nodded. “Just like that.”

“But… I…” The mare stumbled over her words.

“Would you rather me say no?”

Umbra threw her hands up in a helpless attempt to stop him. “N-no no. That’s not what I meant at all. It’s just…” She ran her hands through her mane nervously. “a lot to take in.”

Star chuckled. “I can tell you were not prepared for a yes to your proposal. It is fine, Umbra. I was tired of trying to give my son to rich princess’ with bad attitudes. Thank the Gods he found you.”

Umbra blinked. Not only was she not prepared, but she was completely lost. At first her being there had caused a problem. Now it’s suddenly a good thing. It was all tugging on her mind like a dirty game of tug-war. There was just one question on her mind now.

“What about the younger one?” She asked boldly.

Star Flare sighed and stroked his red beard. “His mother has had too much of an influence on him. I see it becoming worse every time I look him in the eye. There’s darkness in that boy… and I am afraid for him.”

Umbra suddenly regretted asking. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. It’s just I had a confrontation with him on the way here. He said I ruined the sacred trust of your family.”

“There was never truely any trust coming from that mare my mother forced me to marry. I kept things together for a few thousand years, but it does get tiring after a while.”

“But…”

“It would be best left alone for the time, my dear. For now, do enjoy whatever you want. I have given you full reign of a princess of my kingdom. Just keep out of trouble.” Star said, before standing. “I must now return to my duties. Letters will not write themselves, now will they?” The king chuckled as he bid the two young royals farewell and left the room, leaving them alone in silence, besides the servants still left in the room.

Solaris and Umbra were quiet for some time. The only sound came from the servants as they cleaned the table, being careful not to break any glasses or scratch the surface of the table. Soon even they were gone.

Solaris was the first to finally break the silence. “So… ahem… This doesn’t change anything about tonight, does it?”

Umbra adjusted her breast plate and sat up. “Well… I don’t know. Do you want it to change?”

The prince scratched the back of his head nervously. “No… No, not really… I still wanted to have dinner with you.”

“Well…” Umbra vanished in a puff of black magic and appeared sitting in Solaris’ lap. “Then nothing’s changed.”

Solaris blushed. “E-excellent.”

Umbra vanished again, leaving Solaris alone in the dining hall.

The prince sighed and leaned back into his chair. “I… think I’m in love…”

Umbra paced back and forth nervously in her borrowed bed chamber. Ever since that morning she had been having auto-fashion attacks every hour, freaking out over how she looked and if Solaris would like her in the red dress. She had tried the silk on several times and had looked herself over twice as many times, finding nothing to be off. Umbra still couldn’t help but worry about it.

It was about the stallion she had pretty much wooed into a love struck trance after all.

Umbra was now simply staring at herself in the gold trim mirror as she sat in a chair in front of it. The dress was nearly a perfect fit, only the sleeve was slightly longer than her arm. The red silk was a perfect match to her eyes and horn tip and the black sleeve was in just the right place to make the setup ambitious, but perfect.

She sighed. “This is the tenth time you’ve looked yourself over, Umbra… There’s nothing wrong. Get a hold of yourself.” She whispered under her breath. Umbra was so preoccupied with fretting over her nerves that when a knock sounded at the door, she squeaked in shock and fell out of her seat in front of her mirror, landing on her face. “Ouch…”

Solaris burst through the door and ran to Umbra’s side. “Umbra! What happened?”

Umbra sat up and looked up at Solaris, before blushing deeply and looking away. “I-I… was just startled… That’s all…” She admitted shyly.

Solaris was about to reply when his eyes made contact with the red dress. His words died in his throat. “Umbra… Where did you get this?”

The mare shrunk away from the prince. “I-I found it… P-please don’t be upset.”

“What are you talking about? You look amazing. Whoever this belonged to can kiss my royal posterior. Its yours now.”

Umbra made a move to argue, but Solaris put up his hand to stop her.

“I said its yours.” Solaris smiled and held out his hand to help her up. “Now… Are you ready for our little… get together?”

Umbra smiled and took his hand, using his strength to help her stand back to her hooves. She was then surprised when she was met soon after with a kiss on the lips. Like the last time, she froze up, but relaxed into it after a moment. She wrapped her arms around Solaris and closed her eyes.

Solaris gently caressed her back as they kissed, attempting to lull her further into the caring embrace. But Umbra broke the kiss before it progressed any further.

“You know… You really aren’t supposed to be kissing me as of yet, prince Solaris. We haven’t even known each other for more than two days. You don’t think you could be getting too hasty, do you?”

Solaris blushed and looked away. “I can’t help it… I can almost see what you want me to do in your eyes… Even if you don’t...”

It was her turn to blush again. “W-what?”

“Father says it’s a trait his family line share… A trait only I inherited from him. Lunar doesn’t have it.” The stallion replied. “Father says it’s how he rules with kindness so easily.”

“Oh… Well, um… S-shouldn’t we be going?”

“Huh? Oh! O-of course!” Solaris took Umbra by the hand and led her out of her chambers.