The most gentle of love can lead to the fearest of tragedies, to break the strongest of walls to cripple the best of kings...

The grand halls of the Crystal Castle was a thing of unquestionable beauty. Just its very presence outweighed any high-nosed noble back in Castilla yet it seemed so humble somehow, it took a moment of awe-stricken pause for Sombra to regain some sense. Nevermind the rest of the company, his ears listening to their comments on the shiny glint of the carved crystal or the rich parchment that hung along the walls that gave the allegiances of the kingdom’s noble houses. Each crystal was as intimately different than the last. The guards stood under each banner, disciplined and true to their duty. It was hard to tell what was armour and what was their glittering crystalline pelts with a few.

Sombra felt unworthy to even step even more forward, but he forced himself on. Strong shouldered and broad in practiced step, one hand casually resting on the scarlet-wrapped hilt of his arming sword while his fur-mounted cloak flowed behind him to a soft wind. Silver Cleft and Frix at his flank, the rest of the Iron Hooves marching in their typical formation. Eyes were watching their every move but none of the guards moved to intercept them; they are expected.

“So who do thou think that colt was?” Frix asked with a whisper to Sombra, a violet eye glancing from under his fringes but the Iron Hoof Captain didn’t answer yet. He was trying to figure it out himself and honestly hoping it wasn’t what he thought it was. “Considering we’re invited to the castle…” Sombra finally spoke hoarsely, swallowing a quickly drying mouth. “It could only really be one possible way.”

Their eyes staring at the great brazen door marked by a massive rosy-pink crystal heart, pushed by the standing sentinels to reveal the expected truth. The royal court was a sizeable room, large enough to hold a small company’s worth. Spacious and pleasant, the royal heralds hanging either side with ten individually carved chairs for ten sitting nobles holding their inquisitive stares to the new arrivals. A couple sneered at the appearance of these sellsword rabbles, almost offended in a way. Others were mixed of welcome and curious wonder to these outsiders.

Further ahead sat two; an older stallion - a unicorn that looked young as any of them, yet there was hard-earned wisdom etched his gentle eyes and weight to his mantled shoulders. Regalia resting on his head and neck, studded in a multitude of arcane-focusing gems and subtly etched of spellwork that Sombra could taste from his distance. Rich violet and earthly gold robes wrapped him warmly, matching his glittering gem-brown pelt and darker mane edged by blonde.

A complete contrast to the other sitting by him in a small but just magnificent crystalline throne. Bolero. Prince Bolero of this kingdom. This pegasus was truly an alicorn! His horn jutting from his brow lined by crystal threads that kept his own regalia flawless and edged of rainbow-fitting gems, glittering off his beautiful rose eyes. Their eyes met and Sombra was frozen once more. The way the prince smiled took the commander’s breath and hand clenched and unclenched. It was so fine, showing a little of white-clean teeth and cheeks sweet. His almost fragile-looking frame draped of ruby-red robes with gilded lining. Those big avian wings folded and dragged along the throne arms like feathery capes that could easily be mistaken for just another decoration of royal tastes.

Bolero presented himself with perfection; the fair-necked rise of regal presentation, a boyish experience that sparkled brighter than anything in this room, a feminine grace that melded with his masculine strength that bordered to ungendered wonder. He was above such a thing, he was truly an divine to Sombra and it took himself to stride forward. Strong and powerful before this court till he stood at the center and be the first to bow onto one knee and weapon’s arm cross his chest. The Iron Hooves doing the same in their company’s saluting pledge.

The king’s warm smile flinched a little before gesturing with a fatherly chortle, “Please rise, Ser Sombra. My son has told me of thy upmost valor and chivalry, please you are welcome to stand. Your brave company of Iron Hooves as well!”

“Thou kindness is a blessing to hear, milord.” Sombra said with the thickness of his homeland’s dialect flowing before gracefully rising. “And thy son’s confidence in sharing these deeds as well.”

Bolero quirked a mischievous brow and faint color to his cheeks. “I am nothing honest in my sharings. The court has been divulged of thy siege to the Black Stag’s long-elusive fortress. What our military leaders have failed in a decade-” He gestured purposely to a few of the armoured stallions and mares present. The obvious chastise not missed and caused a uncomfortable wiggle from a couple, their doubt to the prince’s effort now returned with his, “Thou’ve done so in a night’s end.”

“What armies cannot do, a small company of adventurers can, your highness. Thou long battle against that terror aided in our success.” Sombra replied with a subtle grin. There was nothing like allowing the praises to come for the freelanced and guilds. Many militaries disdained them for obvious reasons, but their place in the world is well-given. Many heroes come from their breed and soldiers hate them all the more for it. So have villains. “However, I’m more than happy that thee returned safely to humble home.”

“Thou hast seen my use of a blade.” Bolero answered with a cross of his leg over the other. “I can handle myself, can I not?”

“I recall thy blade and magic slaying five of the Black Stag’s warriors and from the grove’s evidence,thou’st very capable,” Sombra replied. Behind him, the twins glanced at each other with a mirroring grin, seeing what was obvious to everyone else. Inhaling, the Iron Hoof Captain spoke with less familiarity while letting the victorious prince beam in self-confidence as the king smiled in pride to hear his son was a capable individual. “However, what do thee desire of us, milords? We were given thy payment for the quest asked of us, but thee wanted us for another?”

The King spoke simply, “Yes. This is a special occasion that demands a celebration. Long has the Black Stag plagued our countryside with this deviancy and bandits, with his evil gone and thugs scattered, we can rest at least a little easier. We are having a festival and we would like ye to stay for it, if it is not too much trouble.”

Sombra resisted the need to blink. This was the first time someone asked this, the Iron Hooves weren’t a company to stay for such things, they took what they needed and stayed in the inns, then march on. However, something urged the break of this tradition. They’ve wandered far. As Sombra glanced back to his stallions and mares, all capable adventurers of their many talents. Twelve friends and siblings of unity and merit. Then forward as he nodded, “We can, ser.”

This brought a majority of smiles and a few contempt sneers.

Sombra moved with sudden backs and steps to Solar Blaze’s sword, angling his body to each swipe and arc. Swinging too hard, the unicorn danced away. Swing light and intentional, purposely showing the flexes and intentions for the commander to react. He returned the same, his leather-wrapped longsword swept and struck with steps pushing his fellow Unicorn back. The red-and-blonde mane, cut short and flaying in a sweeping wing’s grace around the armoured horn, swayed while the intense-faced Equestrian stallion was static and used his wide broadsword or buckle to defend him.

Trading blows to and fro, feeling the power in each other’s strikes vibrating through their hard arms. The soft musk of their training - the gentle sweat building on bare chests from the v of their loose tunics, the debris of kicked dirt and cleaning oils, the kingdom’s natural scents - melding into a comfortable cocktail while a number of the other Iron Hooves and some guards watched.

When their blades met and locking arms, the two drew closer. The spark of their friendship sparking at each other. “So, thou’st speaking to the prince today, Captain?” Solar asks with a huff, answered with a low grunt from the darker unicorn. “Perhaps, to see if their kingdom needs anything else of our specialties.” When the answer came to, the Equestrian snorted with a grin, “Is that really all?”

This brought a questioning brow. “Don’t act like that, Captain. Thou have an audience.”

Bring an ear’s perk of curiosity, Sombra glanced over to the others and then up at the castle’s wall. He saw it for a brief second. The flash of pink feathers. This brought the unicorn’s head higher and squints over the Equestrian, “Thou’st troublesome, Solar Blaze.” This brought a grin to his comrade’s face as he leaned on his sword a bit as he shrugs in full coltish guilt, “It gives our colts the time they need. It’s my occupation.”

“Mhm,” Sombra notes, looking to another of their company, “Kamal.”

This catches the attention of the white-and-blue Kirin, the large equine warrior made a fluid vault over with the flow of his exotic surcoat-skirt flowing with the scalemail wrapped at his chest and shoulders. When Kamal took his naginata, the rest of the company ‘ooohs’ at the obvious trouble that Solar got himself into and the one-horned Kamal grins.

“H-hey, come now, Captain. We can speakth now on my grievances.” The Equestrian titters and Sombra grins, “You may speakth...to Kamal. I have errands.” With that, Sombra retrieved his jerkin and cloak as he strode away. Leaving poor Solar smiling nervously at Kamal as he wrapped his blade’s end, his far eastern dialect oozing tease,

“Speak thou words with blade, ge ge.” As the rougher fighter of the combat, the Equestrian paladin swallowed and prepared his sword.

Sombra could hear Solar Blaze's yelps and half-amused waves of laughter as the duel commence, he almost hated missing his comrade's fair beating. Instead, he was more concentrated on his day's errand. The Crystal Guard greeted him with that melancholy discipline that was almost traditional - stoic, straight, and to the point when on duty. The Prince was awaiting him in the higher spire of the castle. The kingdom capital itself rested on the face of a vast mountain that stretched as a near crescent-shaped spine of frozen peaks and deep caverns that dwelled of dark creatures and glittering crystals. Encrusting the mountain like pimples, the crystalline houses of nobility rested at either side of the near mirror-like castle and below for the stretching bastion that protected the ponies inside, homes of lesser quality served for the peasantry. If Sombra didn't know any better, it probably looked like a grand mirror-sheening crown to pegasi for the mountain facing to the growing power of Equestria.

A realm he has heard that have been only a near century old but already claiming its merit by the twin-rulership of Alicorn sisters who controlled the celestial bodies of the Sun and Moon itself after the Chaotic Realm was brought into some reality again. Such rumors were unattended by the nobility of other powers but Sombra in his time at home thought it to be true. Castilla wasn't ruled by Alicorns, instead it was ruled by a powerful and well-studied Unicorn of deep Faustian faith like most of the kingdom. It was life and law, anything else was damned...hence why he dwells outside its zealous laws. The only person he'll miss would be his mother and maybe a couple cousins anyway.

Anyway, as the dark unicorn was escorted through the castle and walking its many stairways spiraling skyward until they came to the true jewel of the kingdom - the open alcove of the Crystal Heart itself. This magical gem hovered between the pin-points of containment seals to keep it safe from harm and thievery. Just its very appearance looked to be of the finest cut diamond that Sombra dared to look upon and it glown with potent power that made his body clench like see the most beautiful creature before his very eyes.

Certainly, it couldn't be...Him.

Prince Bolero stood there, looking at the crystal with a mixture of soft wonder and evident kinship that Sombra wondered if he was connected to it somehow. The company remained silent before Bolero's ear flicked and head glanced back only slightly, trying to keep an air of elegance. "Thank you, Sergeant Dolly Cleave. You may leave us." He said, cupping his hands to one another with the robes' sleeves sliding over. There was a moment of hesitation from the senior guardstallion, glancing over at the larger unicorn - in fact, Sombra stood taller than many unicorns and rivaled Earth ponies who were bred for war by their blood-lines. If it wasn't for his horn and tail, he would have been. Perhaps the only thing worth from his father's precious line.

"Yes, your Highness." Dolly Cleave finally said with a beat of his breastplate and bow to the royal alicorn before making an about-face, marching back down to where they came with the other two guards. Once more, Sombra and Bolero remained in gentle silence beside the mountainous wind and distant sound of the city below. "You may approach, Ser Sombra. You are welcome in my presence." Bolero indulged, never bringing his attention on the Crystal Heart.

"Do you know of this, Captain?" He asks while Sombra approached with a careful berth in obvious awareness of regal demand. 'Your Crystal Heart? I've heard of it a couple times in my studies. It's...a fulcrum of thou kingdom's love source and many Changelings has tried to steal it in thy history." Bolero's beautiful face smiled softly - it was the only way to describe it, handsome sounded too rough and gorgeous sounded too soft. Beautiful was celestial. "In the barest way, thou'st are correct. It is, in many ways, the heart of our kingdom. It is a focus and reflection of my home. It is warm and welcoming, yet so cold and stone-like outside. Folk used to come from all around to gaze upon its reflection because it is said to see thee's innermost desires...sometimes more." The Prince said, his every word was graceful and spoke of storyteller's experience sung for the finest musician.

It took a lot for Sombra to keep concentrated, coming to see this so-called reflection's seer. He saw himself standing next to Bolero. The prince was staring intently at the heart, the rose quartzes that he called eyes flicked once to the captain in curiosity. For Sombra stared as well, seeing nothing at first. Complete darkness, stepping forward by instinct to peer beyond. His horn glowing, hoping. He never thought of what he wanted, he never grabbed anything more than he already had - a life free of judgment and bravery on stories that he grew up on, with people he could depend upon when he needed them and they to him.

Then he saw - him holding someone's hands. They were little compared to his. He could only imagine the pony who had them. The crystal didn't give color well. It was an oily mirror. A soft chorus of voices whispering in the winds as visions passed and faded like pale ghosts hard to make out, "Sombra de Castilia. Sombra de Umbra. Sombra el Amando. Sombra el Condenado..." He flattened his ears, withdrawing his hand that he was unaware of actually reaching. He almost thought he...no, Sombra never wanted to look into a seer's glass. Their foresight was of doom and twisting truths sounding of misleading hopes. He did not want to know. Instead, the mercenary captain turned to Bolero and looked upon him - fully, for the first time.

If he was doomed, then he will do it by his own hand.

Prince Bolero stared up at him with big wondering eyes staring at him. "So, what have thou seen?" He asks in genuine curiosity. Sombra looked back with his crimson reds and his stoic face turned into a soft, surrendering smile. Long has he hid, but he saw in those eyes something powerful and yearning. A hand took the Prince's small hand by index and thumb. "I saw but what could be but, most of all and perhaps most importantly, I has'th seen you and I." Sombra answered, not a lie but not full of truth. Bolero didn't know it, far too of taken breath at this boldness. His face flushed of full rose's color with a barely controlled flare of his feathers on his neck and wings. "I-I...uh...o-oh my - Captain."

The prince stumbled of words and all of that divine grace that he wielded was broken. Since their first meeting in the Black Stag's forest, Sombra once more saw just a pony. A beautiful pony that was worthy of a prince's title and like a knight, regardless of allegiance or origin, Sombra kissed upon Prince Bolero's knuckles with a bow.

"I shalt be your Knight, if thine seekth one worthy of warmth..."

"...Yes, Ser Sombra."

Author's Note

This story has been a long, long time coming. Its outline has been collecting dust and mostly done but never explored. I give this start for this new year. Let us try and see how far I can go in this tragedy of King Sombra.