In Ponyville there lived three wizards.
Well there were certainly far more than that, like Rarity, Lyra Heartstrings, Trixie, Gallus, Starlight Glimmer…
A veritable banquet of magic and wizards Ponyville was, but only three are important at this moment.
The first was Dusk Shine, Alicorn Prince of Friendship and Magic, Recently Crowned Prince of Equestria, Raiser of the Sun and Moon, Ponyville Quiz Bowl Champion three years running, One Time Ponyville Library Employee of the Month, Savior of Equestria 11 years running… and so on. A truly prolific stallion whose magical knowledge and ability ran circles around most other ponies.
The second, not quite as prolific, was Sombra. Self-proclaimed Prince of Darkness, The Nightmare Tyrant, , The Umbrum King, The Stallion Who Ruled the Crystal Empire with an Iron Hoof. Formerly, he swears. Formerly. Now just Sombra, Stallion Who Promises to do Better. Sombra, The Dark Yet Simpering. Despite this, his knowledge still lingers in the darker sides of magic whether they be shadowed or corruptive.
And lastly was Sunburst. Just Sunburst. No fancy titles, just a common unicorn stallion trying his best to work with the cards he was dealt. Not much magical power to speak of, but a magical knowledge and memory more vast than even Dusk’s at points.
But it was in attempting to grow that knowledge that ‘problems’ began to arise.
All three stallions were currently in the Castle of Friendship’s library, huddled together in one of the various Reading Corners and enjoying the comfortable beanbag chairs provided. While all three had dark tomes of magic and mystery in front of them…
“As I’ve said before,” Sombra grumbled in his deep, baritone voice as he lazily lay across his own beanbag, “Sunburst’s cutest feature is those ears of his. Floppy and expressive, and very fun to nibble upon.” He brought his head towards the stallion on his left, bringing his muzzle in close to Sunburst’s ear with a devious smirk. No nibbling was performed, but the intent was still there.
Dusk Shine giggled softly, then brought a hoof up to his chin to think on it for a moment. He then flopped over onto the stallion on his right, nuzzling his muzzle lightly against Sunburst’s own. “Nope, it’s definitely this cute goatee of his.” Bringing a hoof to said goatee, he brushed through it gently. “It’s so soft and super fun to play with.”
With a laugh of his own, though deeper and more refined as a chuckle, Sombra raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And is that why you’ve been trying to grow one of your own?” He reached a hoof across Sunburst for a moment, scratching Dusk’s fuzzy chin with a smirk. “It was quite the patchy little thing for a while, but it’s certainly growing on me.”
Dusk gleefully leaned into the scritches for a moment before playfully batting Sombra’s hoof away. “Noooo, it’s still too patchy!” He pulled away with a blush, hiding his fluffy chin with his hooves. “It’ll never be as cute as Sunburst’s! No matter how hard I try!”
Sombra again reached over with a hoof, this time cupping it along Dusk Shine’s cheek. “While I agree that there is nothing cuter than our favorite Sunburst, you’re very cute in your own right, my little prince.” He leaned over Sunburst, giving Dusk’s cheek a very gentle and chaste smooch. “Don’t let anyone tell you any different.”
The two had been at this for hours at this point, flirting and nuzzling and being very very cute towards each other. Flirty, cute, and very very distracting to the studious orange stallion in between them.
To Sunburst’s credit, he was trying so very hard to study despite the constant… distractions. The tome in front of him, a thick and dusty spellbook straight from Stygian’s library was, in truth, a very interesting and engaging read. Something that Sunburst had not only wanted to read for a long time, but also something that would prove useful in many occasions.
And so he kept his head down and kept his eyes on the pages, and not the stallions clearly vying for his attention. Despite their constant nuzzling and canoodling, he would not be distracted.
But the hot red blush that crossed his face and ears, and the way he’d been reading the same page for quite some time now belied the fact that his focus was indeed elsewhere.
No, as much fun as uncovering the magical mysteries of the natural world seemed to him, it was a fruitless endeavor with a stallion on either side of him. Two large stallions with their loving gazes and roaming hooves. It was impossible to focus.
For Sunburst, at least. Sombra and Dusk seemed to have no problems in canoodling and reading at the same time. It was absolutely unfair, in Sunburst’s opinion, and something had to be done about it.
“Ugh.” Sunburst grumbled, splaying out on his beanbag chair as he finally decided reading wouldn’t be getting done today. “I get it! I’m cute! Amazingly so, even. But do we really have to keep going on about it?”
Sombra and Dusk quickly shared a look between themselves.
“Yes.” Dusk confirmed.
“Absolutely.” Sombra said with a nod, reaching over to ruffle Sunburst’s mane with a large hoof. “What seems to be the problem, Sundew? You seem very off today.”
Another grumble from Sunburst. “It’s just so hard to focus with the two of you being so… distracting today.” Pursing his lips, he let out a soft sigh as he leaned in to nuzzle Sombra. “Not that I mind it, of course, but I just… How can the both of you focus on reading and flirting?”
Dusk’s head popped up and he gave a soft chuckle, a sound like a gently ringing bell, as he closed his book. “Oh, I’m not really doing much reading. Just spell checking Trixie’s newest spellbook.” He tapped a hoof on the cover, drawing Sunburst’s attention to the title.
‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’s Great and Powerful Grimoire (and pictures of Her Great and Powerful honeymoon in Prance)’
Also interested in the book, Sombra brushed a hoof along its cover. It was, of course, definitely not just a way to hold Dusk’s dainty, princely hoof.
“Ah, I seem to recall you mentioning this before.” Sombra hummed softly. “And is it any good this time around, or another to add onto the ‘Not Safe for Publish’ pile?”
“Well…” Dusk trailed off briefly, reopening the book and skimming through a few of the pages. “This time it only includes three ways to conjure napalm, which is a plus, but she replaced the twelve from before with swearing. So I think I’ll kick it back again.” Tracing through a few more pages, he sighed as he flipped to the end. “The pictures are nice, though. She’ll have to keep these in.”
All stallions took a moment to look at one of the pictures indicated. Trixie and Starlight Glimmer stood in front of the Equus Tower, both with matching golden rings adorning their horns. Both mares looked gleeful, ecstatic even, as they embraced each other and stared into the camera with beaming grins.
Such ecstatic and loving looks that one may fail to notice the strange centering of the photo, nor the shred of an orange and white dappled hoof to Trixie’s left.
Sunburst let out yet another grumble, covering his face with his hooves.
Ignoring this for a moment, Sombra sighed wistfully. “Ah, Prance. The city of love. I’ve always wanted to visit, but sadly…”
“You’re not allowed to travel outside of Ponyville, Canterlot, and The Crystal Empire.” Sunburst finished as Sombra trailed off, his voice only slightly muffled by his hooves.
“Yes. That.” Sombra said bluntly, pursing his lips briefly. After which he turned to Dusk with an accusatory look. “Now, if only one of my lovely boyfriends was able to fix this problem for us all.”
Immediately defensive, Dusk lifted his hooves and shook his head. “Ooooh no. Sadly, that’s a level of bureaucracy that even I can’t touch.”
Rolling his eyes, Sombra turned his attention to Sunburst. “Ah yes. Our Prince and Defender of Equestria can beat the likes of Tirek, but cannot handle a few bargain-bin politicians.”
“I can tell you that Tirek has nothing on Blueblood with a live audience of ponies who think just like him.” Dusk let out a soft, sighing laugh as he returned to his book. “That stallion could stage a coup if he could get out of his own way. And thank Celestia he refuses to.”
“Oh, just let me have a crack at him.” Sombra suggested, a malicious and fang-bearing smirk crossing his face. “If I can deal with his ancestors, then I can most assuredly take him on as well.”
At this, Dusk made a face, but attempted to bury it within his book.
“What, do you think I won’t?” Sombra leaned in to question Dusk, his eyes narrowing a bit.
Now inadvertently squished between the two stallions, though not entirely uncomfortably so, Sunburst pushed back against Sombra. “No, you big lug, Dusk is probably worried you’ll just eat the stallion.” Sighing softly, he pressed his glasses up the bridge of his muzzle. “Nooot that I’d be particularly against seeing that myself.”
And Sombra paused, as if briefly considering the idea, then shook his head with a small smirk. “Perhaps if it came to it, but I believe those days are over. You stallions have made a strict vegetarian out of myself.” He quickly stole a glance between both Dusk and Sunburst, his eyes narrowing again as his smirk grew a touch more lurid and fang-forward. “With exceptions, of course.”
Both Sunburst and Dusk blushed at once, each nervously looking away as they scratched matching markings on their necks. Pleased with himself, Sombra chuckled as he returned to his book.
A small silence fell between the three of them, two a bit too embarrassed to talk for the moment while the third simply enjoyed their company. Dusk and Sombra were quick to return to their tasks while still remaining as comfy and cozy as they could. Nuzzles and smooches were shared as usual, but not to the same intensity as before.
And yet…
Sunburst still couldn’t focus. As much as he stared at the pages in front of him, at each individual word written in this book even, he just couldn’t manage to do much more than just stare.
So he groaned again, letting out the most annoyed grumble as he flopped languidly atop his comfy beanbag chair. He truly was in a state.
Dusk and Sombra again shared a look.
Nudging Sunburst gently with his shoulder, Dusk leaned in softly to the orange stallion to his right. “Sunny, what’s the real problem? Usually there’s nothing that can distract you from one of Stygian’s old tomes.”
Sunburst hesitated for a moment, staring down at the book in front of him before letting out a deep sigh. “I don’t know. It feels like I should really be into this, but I’m just sort of not.” He let a hoof trace across the pages for a moment, then closed the book to stare at its cover.
Dusk’s hoof quickly joined Sunburst’s as he leaned in closer, nuzzling his cheek gently. “You know you don’t have to read if you don’t want to. We’re happy to just be able to spend some time with you.”
“Oh yes.” Sunburst snarked, rolling his eyes with a bit of a scoff before speaking in a much softer tone. “And let myself fall further behind? No thank you.”
As Sunburst reopened his book, another more uncomfortable silence fell between the three.
“Fall behind?” Dusk asked after a moment, his voice almost as soft as Sunburst’s.
Sunburst flinched, his head shooting up and his face relighting with a large red blush. He looked between Sombra and Dusk, stammering a bit as he did so. “O-oh, I, um, said that out loud didn’t I?”
“You did indeed.” Sombra sighed. He drew in closer to Sunburst, pressing his muzzle against his cheek. “Now, what seems to be bothering you, love?”
At first, Sunburst dismissed it with a hoof. “It’s- It’s nothing. It’s…” He trailed off, staring down at his hooves with a frown.
Slowly, his forehooves were taken by a hoof each, one a royal purple and the other ebony black.
Feeling a sudden swell of confidence in his chest, Sunburst let out a loud, heavy sigh. “You two are just so spectacular.” He admitted, then gave Dusk Shine’s hoof a squeeze. “I mean, I have the literal Prince of Equestria, Alicorn Prince of Magic, and leader of the Elements of Harmony on one side,” he gave Sombra’s hoof a squeeze next. “And on the other side, not a Prince but an entire King of Nightmares. A literal living legend. And a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge on every spell dark or corruptive at that.”
Still looking down at his hooves, he released the squeeze on both stallions’. “And, you know, in the middle is just… me. I’m just a guy. A titleless nobody. In the presence of two of the most powerful stallions in Equestria, it can feel a bit overwhelming. So I have to keep working hard to not keep being left behind.” He let out a soft, dark laugh as he shook his head. “Otherwise, I mean, what good am I?”
Sombra and Dusk shared a look.
Sombra was quick to take the lead, gripping Sunburst’s hoof in his own and placing his other atop it. “Sundew, love of my life, you are good for far more than just your spellweaving and impressive magical knowledge." Moving a hoof, he cupped it under Sunburst's chin and stroked gently. “You are a strong and beautiful stallion, and I would in no way be the stallion I am today if I hadn’t met you.”
“Well, I for sure wouldn’t be.” Dusk Shine added with a snicker, leaning in to nuzzle against Sunburst’s cheek. “You’re a special breed of stallion, Sunny. So sweet, charming, and deeply caring. It’s not a fluke that us ‘powerful stallions’ fell for you so hard.” With a brief pause, Dusk gave Sunburst a gentle peck on the cheek. “You’re not a nobody to us, Sunburst, and you never will be."
Letting the statement sit for only a moment, Dusk shrugged and leaned against his orange coltfriend. "And if you want a title or two, I'm definitely the pony to ask. All official titles have to go through the Prince of Equestria, after all."
"Oh?" Sombra asked, quirking an eyebrow. "And is that why Rainbow Dash signs all her letters with 'Chancellor of Awesome' now?"
A deep red blush crossed Dusk Shine's face, one he tried and failed to hide as he covered it with his hooves. "I lost a bet, and she just wouldn't let me drop it." He groaned. "She never even wrote letters before!"
Leaning against Sunburst, brushing a hoof through his mane, Sombra gave the stallion a nuzzle. "How does 'Slayer of Darkness' sound to you? I feel like it has quite the ring to it."
"More like ‘Layer of Darkness’.” Dusk snickered, attempting to keep his voice down.
Seeing both stallions now staring at him, it was clear that his attempts were ineffective. A blush yet again crossed his face.
“I’ll definitely consider at least one of those.” Sunburst said softly after a few moments of consideration. “But maybe something a bit more understated to start? Something like, I don’t know, ‘Sunburst, Keeper of Many Tomes’?”
“Entirely too many, if you ask me.” Sombra sighed, but flashed Sunburst a soft smile. “But our lovely prince can surely get that sorted for you.”
“Oh, of course.” Dusk nodded, brushing away the notion of difficulty with a flippant hoof. “I have to head over to Canterlot tomorrow anyway, so I can get that paperwork started.”
Sombra’s smile grew wider, his eyes bearing into Dusk. “And, of course, if you end up running into Duke Blueblood in any form…”
Dusk sighed loudly as Sombra trailed off, but he did it with a wide and loving grin on his face. He rolled his eyes despite this. “I may have a bit of ‘leverage’ to use against him. I was hoping to save it for a rainy day, but I guess there’s not a day rainier than when my boyfriend is sad.”
“Yes! Blackmail! I knew you had it in you!” Sombra cheered, pumping his hoof with excitement. Even after, he maintained a soft wiggle of excitement as he looked down towards Sunburst, a very uncharacteristically gleeful grin on his face. “Sundew, I cannot tell you how excited I am. I promised myself that, one day, I would see the Bastille in person. And now, finally…”
And Sunburst laughed, a soft and warm sound that drew both Dusk Shine and Sombra in towards him. Wrapping a foreleg around each stallion, he devolved into a gleeful fit of chuckles for a few moments before finally steadying himself.
“Oh I love you both so much.”