Several weeks had passed since Sombra had first been found in the palace dungeon. In that time, he had recovered quite well. He was no longer quill-thin and had almost fully recovered his motor functions. In that time, he and Celestia had been spending more and more time with one another. Mostly, it involved 'reforming' him. This, more often than not, evolved into talking about various subjects or reading, but neither of them seemed to mind.

This day, the two of them, along with the two Pryhan soldiers watching Sombra, were out in the Canterlot gardens, on a terrace overlooking one of the yards that had been converted into additional drill space. While he had regained more-or-less full control of his limbs, his legs had atrophied a large amount, leaving walking difficult. So, as demeaning as he considered it, she was helping him re-learn to walk.

"You can do it!", she encouraged, watching him walk on shaky legs like a new-born foal.

Seeming to catch onto her idea, he said, "Stop acting like I am a foal! I was the king of the Crystal Empire! A scion of fear!"

"And that was a long time ago", Celestia reminded him. "Now, things have changed. And one of those things is that you need help. Now, swallow your pride and come here!"

He grumbled under his breath, but stumbled forward nonetheless. His legs wobbled, threatening to buckle under him. He moved forward slowly, straining with effort. The three sets of eyes on him put added pressure onto him. After a solid two minutes, he finally reached Celestia, before falling to the grass in front of her.

"You did it!", Celestia said, a warm, motherly smile on her face.

"I took several minutes to walk a distance that would take a five-year-old foal ten seconds", he groused. "Remind me how this is something worth celebrating?"

"According to the doctor, you couldn't walk at all a few weeks ago", another voice interjected.

Exiting a door in front of them, Princess Luna and Tribune Diodiece came up to them. The Pryhan soldiers said, "Ave, Tribune!"

After returning the salute, Diodiece said, "So, he is making progress, no?"

"I am doing well", Sombra said.

"Right. My apologies, Sombra", Luna said. "How are you doing?"

"I am fine. Still not walking as well as I would like, but better than nothing", he said.

"Good", Luna said. "Hopefully, you can fully regain your mobility, or at least most of it, before the end of the week."

Celestia asked, "Why the end of the week?"

"That is when the Gala is."

Celestia's eyes widened as she remembered. Hoping to restore faith in the Canterlot elites about the state of Equestria, Luna was hosting the first Grand Galloping Gala in several years. Celestia picked up on a detail about Luna's statement, and she asked, "Are you inviting Sombra to the Gala?"

"I would've figured you'd try to invite him yourself," Luna said, smirking a bit.

"Another thing", Diodiece said. "Due to the need for extra manpower for the upcoming event, as well as you portraying good progress, I will be redrawing my troops, effective tomorrow."

Sombra nodded, saying, "I appreciate the show of trust."

"Just don't make me regret it", Diodiece said.

"That is enough", Luna said. "Now, I must be going. I was on my way to an inspection, and I saw you and the perfect opportunity. Goodbye, sister. Sombra." The two of them left the gardens, leaving Sombra, Celestia, and the pair of Pryhan soldiers alone.

"Let's try this again", Celestia said. "If you want to be ready for the Gala, we should continue."

++++~++++

Several days later, and the Gala was in full swing. Inside the palace ballroom, several tables had been set up and piled high with food. An orchestra played sweet music, which filtered out from the room into the gardens. Ponies of all sorts milled about, chatting and eating food.

Celestia herself had just entered the room, Sombra by her side. She was wearing a pale pink and gold-laced dress along with her regalia, while Sombra wore a black suit and a white shirt and a tie. Sombra said, "Well, this is new."

"You've never been to an event like this?", Celestia asked.

Sombra replied, "No. I was only in power for about two years, and I spent a large part of that time securing my rule. This is something I am not used to."

"Well, stick with me, and you'll be fine", Celestia said, pressing one of her wings against his side.

He smirked at her, his eyes seeming to gleam. "Lead the way, Princess."

The two of them made their way towards one of the tables laden with food. Celestia took note of a few of the aristocrats looking distastefully at Sombra, whom she noted acted like he couldn't see them even though she knew he could. Following his example, the two of them arrived at the table without incident.

Sombra examined the spread with the hungry eyes of a predator. He grabbed an onion skewer, eating the whole thing in one bite before reaching for another one. As he dug in, Celestia heard a voice behind her say, "Princess!"

Turning around, she saw her former-student come up to her. She couldn't help but internally cringe at the sight of her student's hind legs, which were bound in a wheel-chair. She said, "Greetings, Twilight. How are you?"

"Fine", Twilight said. "Wheelchairs been a bit of a pain to get used to, but things could be worse. Gives me an excuse to make a few renovations to Golden Oaks." She looked past Celestia, watching as Sombra devoured another one of the set-out Hors d'eouvres. "He's got quite the appetite, doesn't he?"

"If you'd been starved for several years, you'd develop one too", Sombra said, the remains of several platters of crackers and skewers sticking to his lips and around his mouth.

"Oh," Twilight said. "Hello, Sombra."

"Hello, Miss Sparkle," he said, bowing his head. "I'd, I'd like to apologize as to what happened in the Crystal Empire."

"W-well. It's, uh, it's water under the bridge", Twilight said, before chuckling nervously. "Eh, Princess? Can I talk to you for a bit?"

"What about, Twilight?", Celestia asked.

"Just an idea I had in mind. Something I think could be of great benefit for the Ponyville area", Twilight replied.

"Of course, Twilight", Celestia said, before looking at Sombra. "Sombra, you may do as you wish. Just, don't try to harm anypony."

"Fear not, Princess. I feel I have a good deal of self-control. Go do, whatever it is you're doing."

The teacher and student left the table, a destination not in mind. After a few seconds of silence, Twilight asked, "So, what is Sombra like?"

Celestia took a moment to consider the question. She replied, "Well, he's interesting."

"Interesting?," Twilight asked. "What do you mean?"

"Well, he's much different from my first, and admittedly, only other encounter with him. He's not as arrogant, yet at the same time he's still not like the typical high-born of today."

"For the better? Because you know that would be a breath of fresh air", Twilight said, snorting.

"Yes. He has a certain... fire, to the way he conducts himself. A properly placed sense of pride. More akin to the Pryhan or Griffonian version than the one of, say, Blueblood. Like he knows he's deserving of being prideful; that he earned the right to be so." Celestia sighed, before adding, "You'd really have to spend time with him to fully understand what I'm talking about."

"Well, you're certainly affectionate of him", Twilight said, smirking.

"I have spent more time with him than anypony else, save perhaps the guards Diodiece assigned to watch him", Celestia said. "Now, enough of Sombra. What was it you wanted to ask me about?"

Twilight beamed. "Well, it has to do with the education system in the area around Ponyville..."

++++~++++

As Celestia and her protege walked off, Sombra resumed his mini feast. He had to admit, food had greatly improved over the past twelve hundred years, among other things.

As he ate, he heard a voice behind him say, "Greetings, Sombra." Turning his head, he saw Princess Luna come up behind him, levitating a cheese-covered cracker into her mouth. "How are you enjoying yourself?"

"I have only really interacted with the food", he admitted. "But, it seems like a perfectly acceptable social gathering. The kind I one day hoped to attend, before I... did what I did. Still, I am not exactly inclined to interact with anypony here."

"I can see that. I didn't attend the first gala when I returned for almost that exact same reason. But, perhaps there is another reason that you only spent time with Celestia?", Luna said, smirking.

Sombra, as savvy as he was when it came to politics, was confused. "What are you insinuating?", he asked.

"Oh, come on," she said. "You know what I am talking about."

Sombra cocked an eyebrow at her comment, thinking over what she said. He gave it some thought, thinking over what he thought about Celestia and what her sister could be talking about. Sure, he had felt close to Celestia as his only real connection to the modern-day. She was kind to him, even though she had no reason. He thought of her like Hope, his former... fiance. That must've been what she was talking about. "I... She is not that to me!"

"Than what is she to you?", Luna asked.

Sombra growled, before snorting and looking away. He said, "Why do you care how I feel?"

"Because she is my sister. Even after all that has happened and all the mistakes that we have made, we still both love each other", Luna said, using a hoof to make him look at her. "I have a feeling that she reciprocates your feelings. She's done nothing but talk of you whenever she gets the chance."

Sombra looked away from Luna, and his gaze fell on Celestia. She was still talking with her former student, watching her laugh. She had a wonderful laugh. He sighed, and his gaze fell to the floor. "If, that is the case, then how do I talk to her?"

Luna chuckled. "It's not like it's delivering a speech or the like. Just, talk to her about it."

Sombra said, "I'll do that. Now, I'm going to go get a drink."

He left the table, heading over towards a large punch bowl on another table. As he did, he noticed several of the Equestrians look at him. They wore looks of fear or of hatred; exactly as he expected. When he arrived at the punch bowl, he found Diodiece also getting a drink.

"Salve, Sombra", he said as he finished pouring a glass.

Sombra replied, "Salve. How good is the Punch?"

As Sombra fumbled with his hooves pouring a cup for himself, Diodiece said, "Alright. Unusually sweet, but better than nothing. So, is this what Equestrian parties are like?"

"I wouldn't know. I've lived most of my life in the Crystal Empire or your empire, but I suppose so." Sombra took a sip, before looking at Diodiece's paw. He spotted what he thought it was; A wedding ring. "Diodiece", he said. "You're married, yes?"

"Yes."

"Do you love your wife?", Sombra asked.

"Husband, actually", Diodiece replied, chuckling. "But, yes. I love him greatly."

Sombra asked, "How did you know? T-that you loved him?"

Diodiece looked at him curiously, but elaborated. "Well, it just, clicked. My family wasn't all that wealthy, and, well... it just clicked, like I said. We met, we were friends for a while, and eventually, he asked me on a date. From there, it pressed on, smoothly and healthily. Before I knew, we were saying our vows. Like I said, it just felt right."

Sombra mumbled to himself, partially angry at what the Pryhan said. Diodiece noticed, and asked, "Why? Do you have..." His eyes widened, before looking over to where Sombra's gaze had subconsciously drifted: To Celestia. "Ah. I see."

Sombra faced the floor, sucking breath in through his mouth. He said, "Like you said. I feel it... clicks."

"Then give it a try", he said, patting the former tyrant on the back.

"You are the second to tell me that", Sombra growled. "That doesn't tell me how. I don't want to ruin this chance."

Diodiece blew air out of his beak, before using his hindleg to kick Sombra in one of his rear knees. As Sombra hissed at the sudden agony, Diodiece said, "From what I've read in History class, you were ambitious and a brilliant tactician. And you are second-guessing yourself because you want to ask out a mare?"

"A mare who moves the sun and beat me to a sniveling, bleeding mess before", Sombra deadpanned.

Diodiece said, "Even if that's the case, I suggest that you give it a shot. If you don't, then you may never work up the courage." Before Sombra could reply, the music stopped and the orchestra began shuffling around their sheet music. "See? I suggest you go try. This is literally the perfect opportunity."

Sombra growled, but nodded. He set down his cup and began to trot over towards Celestia, swallowing nervously. He arrived just in time to hear the tail end of their conversation. Celestia was saying, "...I'm sure I can talk to Luna about this."

"Why can't you just do it yourself?", Twilight said. "You abdicated but you can still have political power. Right?"

"I suppose", Celestia said, before noticing Sombra come up to the two mares. "Oh, Sombra. Can I help you?"

Sombra once again swallowed, before bowing slightly and asking her, "Celestia. May I have this dance?"

Celestia's eyes widened and she looked over at Twilight. She nodded encouragingly, and Celestia sighed. Looking Sombra in the eye, she said, "Very well. I accept." The two of them grabbed the others forehoof, walking together into the center of the room with the other couples. Almost as soon as they reached the center of the room, the music started again.

(Boreas by Todd Parrish)

The two of them began to move together, holding onto each other's forelegs. At first, they nearly stumbled over one another, through a mix of rustiness and difference in how each of them was taught. However, after a few attempts and almost falling over twice, they finally managed to get into it. They still moved rather stiffly, but they were still able to keep up with the other couples on the dance floor. Celestia snuck a look over Sombra's shoulder, spying her sister and Diodiece encouraging her with a wave and a toasted glass respectively.

"I didn't know you knew how to waltz", Celestia commentated.

Sombra said, "Me and Hope tried our hoofs at it once or twice. We were both miserable at it, but I felt I got the basics of it down."

Celestia giggled, and the two remained silent, only moving with the beat of the music after that. After another several minutes of the music, it came to an end. The dancers, including Sombra and Celestia, stopped dancing to applaud the orchestra. The two former monarchs then left the dance floor before the next song could begin, heading for the gardens.

As if on instinct, they knew what the other was thinking, and arrived together on a terrace overlooking the city. Below them stretched the whole of Canterlot. Since the invasion, it had been completely rebuilt and was now lit by lights coming from the various houses, making the city look like a giant honeycomb. Beyond that, an inky void took the place of the lights in the valley below Mount Canterhorn.

"Magnificent", Sombra said.

Celestia remarked, "Indeed. I always loved looking at a city at night. Like each house is it's own miniature sun, lighting up the world around it." An awkward pause ensued, with Sombra silently working up the courage to say what was on his mind. Celestia, however, noticed Sombra's odd behavior. "Is something wrong?"

Sombra balked in mild panic. "W-what do you mean?"

"You seem... skittish", she said. "Like you're having a silent breakdown. Trust me, I've tutored Twilight Sparkle enough to know what that looks like."

Sombra let out a joyless chuckle, his gaze falling to the ground. He said, "Celestia, ever since you found me, you've been nothing but kind to me. You helped me recover, taught me of the modern world; everything I could ever need to survive on my own. And, well, I wish to try and repay you."

"Sombra, that is not necessary", Celestia said.

"I feel you misunderstand me", Sombra said, looking up to meet her gaze. "Celestia, may I court you?"

Celestia once again giggled, and Sombra nearly had a panic attack. Had he done something wrong? Before he could respond, Celestia said, "Another lesson on the modern-day. Ponies don't say 'Court' anymore. They say 'Date'".

Sombra smiled, internally relieved. "Very well then. May I date you?"

Celestia sighed, before saying, "You may." Before he could reply in kind, she lowered her head to his level and kissed him. Not knowing what to properly do, Sombra simply returned it.

Author's Note

And, that's the first arc finished! If you have any suggestions for a future arc, please leave your idea in my Blog Post 'Pikeverse Anthologies'.

(PS: I suck at writing romance. So, please don't tear me to shreds.)