A mare unicorn pony lies unconscious on The Crystal Castle hallway floors just in front of the restrooms, Miss Maresbury. The clopping of hooves can be heard coming around the corner as one of the crystal guards spots the unconscious Librarian as they do their patrol.

“Hey, are you okay?!”, the guardspony yells before they run to Miss Maresbury’s aid, the guard uses their left hoof to nudge Maresbury awake. “Hey come on, stay with me now.”, the guard’s attempts were rewarded as the mare began to come to.

“Ugh, where am I?”, Miss Maresbury asked.

“You’re on the Crystal Castles floor ma’am, are you ok?. Here, let me help you up.”, the guard says as they lean their body against Miss Maresbury’s acting as support to get the mare onto her feet. “Do you remember anything ma’am?.”, the guard asks with concern. Miss Maresbury begins to rub her head.

“Sweet Celestia my head, the last thing I remembered was leaving Sombra to use the restroom then I think I might’ve blacked out.” Maresbury says as she continues to rub her temple.

“Oh dear, are you ok?”, another guard says as they happen to be leaving the mares restroom.

“She was already unconscious when I found her.”, the guard who discovered the mare replies.

“I think I’m ok now, I guess I worked harder in the library than I thought.”, Maresbury replied nervously as she puts her right hoof behind her head. The guard who just left the restroom then turns to the guard who discovered Maresbury.

“You there, escort Miss Maresbury to an infirmary.”, they ordered.

“Yes, right away!.”, the guard then turns to Miss Maresbury. “Miss Maresbury, could you come with me please.”, the guard who found the librarian asks.

“I appreciate it dearie, it might be a good idea to get checked up. Thank you both very much, Sombra will be ok in the library for a bit longer.”, the librarian says as both she and the guard who found her nods before taking their leave. The guard who had lust left the restroom starts to walk down the hallway in the opposite direction as a flash of green energy becomes present in their pupils for a moment.

Luna, Starfire, Valerica and Sombasi are all eating in the dining room for lunch. The room is remarkably large big enough to throw a banquet if the mood ever struck Valerica. The Queen had ordered some of the chefs to prepare this lunch for the group as they continue their conversation regarding Sombasi being taught by Luna. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were laid before the group along with various beverages that each pony had requested when the chefs took their orders.

“We shall agree to teach Sombasi on the two conditions, the first is that his lessons must take place within our night.”, Luna declares with her right hoof in the air.

“I’d be fine with that but what about school?.” Starfire raindrop asks with concern.

“Fret not Starfire for we have assigned a tutor from Ponyville, who will be arriving to Canterlot later today, and has agreed to teach Sombasi academics as we teach our student magic. Tis would be far more effective for us to teach him under the beautiful blanket of our night stars and beloved moon.”, Luna answers.

“Wait, are you willing to travel to The Empire every night just to teach him?.”, Starfire asks with a hoof to her chin.

“That is our second condition dear Starfire, our student shall come to Canterlot with us.”, The night Princess decreed.

“Oh ok, just be sure to have him back by-”, Starfire says moments before she is cut off from a hoof that Luna had raised to interrupt her.

“Thou misunderstands, our student would be staying in Canterlot with us until we feel thy son are ready to return to thy loving presence. It would be thou visiting him not the other way around dear friend.”, Luna bluntly declares. Starfire began to feel a bit nervous at the thought of one of her sons leaving her for a while however she did understand that it comes with age and she’d have to deal with this one day. Plus, she knew this is what Sombasi wanted a chance to become stronger for the greater good. Both The Princess Of The Night and Starfire Raindrop turn to Sombasi who was taking everything in and listening contently. Starfire speaks to her son.

“Sombasi, is this what you want son?.”, Starfire asks her son, the mother figure then takes on a saddened expression. “I’m not gonna lie son, your father and I would miss you greatly not to mention your brother.”, Strafire takes a breath as a smile and a happier expression takes form on her face. “That said, you are a young stallion who will have to shape your own destiny one day, do you accept this offer son?.”, Sombasi pondered on this for a few moments however he began to form a smile and took on a rather confident look.

“I’m glad that you offered to teach me Princess Luna and I’m grateful to you, to everypony here but I thi-’‘. Sombasi was cut off as the doors to the dining room began to open along with the clopping of hooves. This caused everypony in the room to perk up their ears and turn to the entrance.

“Hello everypony, my apologies for being late.”, Sombra says with a smile along with a slight bow, he also happens to have a leather brown bag wrapped around his neck. “How are your accommodations going brother?.”

“Brother!, I’m glad you could make it!.”, Sombasi yells with a wave of his right hoof, the other ponies do the same to welcome Sombra.

“Thou shall be happy to know that we will teach thy brother of proper use of magic, he was about to give us an answer before thy made an entrance.”, Luna replies as to Sombra’s inquiry.

“That’s fantastic brother!.”, Sombra says with excitement before he then narrows his eyes with a hint of worry. “Why do you look conflicted?, you wanted a teacher brother and you got the royal princess of the night. Isn’t this satisfactory to you?.”

“Of course it is brother, it’s just the conditions that comes with it that has me conflicted.”, Sombasi replies as his ears drop to the sides of his head.

“What conditions?.”, Sombra asked curiously.

“I... Have to leave The Empire and move to Canterlot in order to truly become Princess Luna’s student.”, Sombasi sighs as he lowers his head, this causes Sombra to put a hoof to his chin in thought. Moments later Sombra snaps to a realization.

“I think I know what troubles you dear brother.”, Sombra’s words gets the attention of everypony in the room. “You fear that I’ll be offended if you leave to achieve your goal don’t you?.”, Sombra’s words made everypony, aside from Sombasi, take upon their faces expressions that could best be described as Oooh. Sombra chuckles a bit before he continues. “Fear not brother, for I know that you seek to improve your power to support me and our future... Endeavors.”, Sombra formed a smirk for a very brief moment upon saying those words, everypony present brushed it off as Sombra being supportful. “Go forth brother, get stronger, and together we will achieve many things. For The Empire of course.”, Sombra’s words causes everypony in the room to form a smile including Sombasi.

“Aw yes, of course!, thou are wise for thy age Sombra.”, Luna excitedly replies with her right hoof in the air as she turns to Sombasi. “If that is truly thy troubles thou shall be happy to know thy sibling approves. So what say ye student?.”, Sombasi couldn’t help but laugh a little at Luna already calling him her student, he technically wasn’t. Sombasi then looks to his brother who nods to him before looking back to Luna.

“Ok then, I’ll do it!.”, Sombasi says with a large smile, everypony begins to clap their hooves for him including Sombra. Luna’s reaction dwarfed them all thanks to her Canterlot voice.

”Most wonderous news my student!.”, Luna exclaims happily as she gets off of her seat and trots over to Sombasi and hugs him. “Thou shall become our greatest prodigy!. Oh we can’t wait to tell our sister.”, the princess of the night is noticeably becoming giddy as she hops in place a few times with a smile. “We shall give thou some time to gather thy effects and meet with us back home. We shall return to Canterlot immediately to prepare thy room in our tower, we shall send words to thee. There’s much for us to do!.”, Luna proclaims as she spreads her wings, lights her horn and disappears seconds later. Her excitement causes everypony to laugh a little before Queen Valerica recovers and speaks.

“I guess we can all say that went well.”, Valerica comments before she starts to giggle. “With that, everything is set. This meeting is adjourned for today.”, everypony gets out of their seats upon Valerica’s announcement, Starfire raindrop heads over to Sombasi.

“I’m so happy and proud of you son.”, Starfire says as she leans in to nuzzle Sombasi. “You’re the student of a royal princess now son!, and Princess Luna no less!. I’ve heard of Celestia taking in students from time to time but Luna?, I never would’ve thought. You may very well be the first student of the princess of the moon which... Might explain why she was so excited.”, the mother figure says as she starts to giggle. Queen Valerica looks to Sombra with a curious expression.

“Sombra, come to think of it why haven’t you ever considered asking for a teacher?.”, Queen Valerica asks.

“I’m not interested, I alone shall improve my power and learn various magic.”, Sombra replied rather bluntly.

“Brother doesn’t mean to offend Queen Valerica, it’s just how he is.”, Sombasi says with a nervous chuckle, Starfire nodding with agreement along with a smile.

“Meh, I can respect that. Now then, how about I show you all something just as cool as my husband’s statue outside?.”, Queen Valerica says with a smile. This instantly gets the attention of the trio before her, Starfire Raindrop in particular seemed to know what Valerica was referring to.

“Wait, Vale... You don’t mean?.”, Starfire questions.

“Oh yes my friend. Follow me everypony.”, The Queen gestures for the group to follow as they all leave the dining room and heads down the hallway greeting various guards.

The group of ponies now stand before a pair of very large double doors similar in mass and design to the doors of the Throne Room however there was one difference, purple magical runes could be seen pulsating and flickering off of the door. It was also guarded by four guardsponies two on either side of the entrance who all bow to the group and Queen Valerica. Valerica then turns to the group and addresses them similar to that of a tour guide.

“Behind these doors lies The Crystal Empire’s greatest treasure and our most powerful artifact, it protects us from the elements and has saved us time and time again including from The Planemeld.”, Valerica then turns to the double door. “Only those with my bloodline or our blessing can open these doors not to mention interact with the artifact within.”, after completing her explanation she taps her lit horn against the doors, this prompts the various runes to begin to fade as purple mist dissipates into the air. “Now, I’d recommend you all cover your eyes everypony.”, following her orders the group all shields their eyes, the guardsponies included, as Valerica opens the doors. An absolutely blinding light leaks from the room as the doors opens almost as if the sun itself was stuffed in the room by Celestia herself.

“Ok everypony, you can open your eyes now.”, Valerica says with a smile. The group opens their eyes only for Sombasi to drop his jaw with amazement, Sombra just stared on with a neutral expression however a small grin appeared briefly. Starfire smiled on as she sees both of her sons excitement, there before them floated a heart shaped object which floated in-between a crystalline stalagmite and stalactite. Valerica sticks out her right hoof to the floating object as she faces the group. “Behold everypony, The Crystal Heart!”

(To be continued in Chapter 10 - The Planemeld Pt: 1)

Author's Note

This chapter was a bit short compared to the last but no worries, this one serves as set up for the next.