Marina had known for quite some time that Prince Sombra had eyes for her and he adored her dearly, but she never expected for him to send for her as his wife! What's even worse is that her parents don't even seem to be fighting against this "invitation" for involuntary matrimony. Toted off against her will, Marina begrudgingly takes residence in the Crystal Castle, believed by all the crystal pony subjects to be Sombra's beloved princess. Behind closed doors, she makes it clear to him that she never wanted any parts of this arrangement, and that if he thought a forced marriage was the way to win her heart then he would never have it. However, as her time in the grand castle passes, she finds that Sombra may not be the cold-hearted mastermind she thought him to be.

There is somepony higher in power than he and she is nothing more than a pawn in the plan, a pawn who finds that the very stallion she swore to shun may be her only solace from the real threat that's looming over the glittering empire.