"Pull!" exclaimed a young, refined voice as a clay bird launched into the sky. Just as the object reaches the peak of its arc, a purple blast of magic shattered it into pieces.
"That's seven perfect shots in a row, Master Shadow Drop." responded a middle-aged earth pony.
"Thank you, Clear. It was yet another good suggestion on your part to go shooting today." exclaimed the light-gray coated, black maned unicorn, Shadow Drop.
"You do not need give thanks to one such as me. It is my duty to serve those of the royal line with my utmost hardship," Clear responded.
"Even so, you do your job well and that should be respected. Now, what do I have on my schedule today?" Shadow asked as the two began making their way into the castle.
"Well, yourclasses have been put off due to the preparations for the seasonal council meeting this coming week. The blacksmith was asking for you to help him today in the forge if you were free. Oh! I had almost forgotten, your mother wanted me to remind you to see her in the courtroom around noon to look at more candidates," Clear listed off as they made a turn into the residential wing.
"Ugh, when shall mother learn that I'm simply not interested in partnership right now?" Shadow sighed.
"Young master, I don't mean to side against you, but your mother, the queen has good reason to insist. You're going on twenty-six and it does not befit a prince such as yourself to forgo such interactions. Do not worry, I promise you, your mother only has your best wishes in mind," Clear finished as they stopped in front of a room.
"I know, I know. I just wish she would let up a bit. Day after day, she calls me into the courtroom to meet the many mares from royal houses both in and outside of the province. There was even a Zebrican once! A smart miss I'll admit but not my cup of tea. Anyways, send word to the blacksmith and notify him of my arrival in a half hours time," Ended Shadow as he turned into his room, closing the door behind him.
"Of course, my master." said Clear as hurried onto the smithies.
Shadow looked about his sparse chambers, his dark purple velvet bed looking extremely inviting, his armour rack currently holding his ceremonial suit of silver armor, and his mahogany armoire. Making his way across the room to thewindow, he drew open the drapes and allowed light to flood the room.
"Such a lovely day. If I'm going to be working in the forge for the morning might as well bring my sword down for a sharpening," Shadow muttered with a smile.
After grabbing his trusty sword out of the armoire, Shadow quickly exited his room and made his way down to the smithies in the back of the castle grounds. As he made his approach, the sound of a hammer slamming against metal rang throughout courtyard. There standingnext to an anvil was a darkened stallion covered in soot hammering away at a white-hot axe.
"Volcanous, is that you, you old giant?" Shadow yelled.
"Of course it's me, who else would it be, boy?" Volcanous,a tall, thick, red earth pony, said as he stopped hammering.
"Considering how much soot you have on you, one might assume you to be a demon's steed!" Shadow remarked as he put on one of the leather aprons and a pair of goggles.
"Maybe so, but unlike you, I could back up the claim!" Volcanous laughed.
"And you would send nightmares to children of all lands. Now, what is it you are working that you decided to ask for my assistance?" Shadow asked as he took a spot next to the forge.
"As you know, with the Provincial Council meeting coming up, all the royal houses in our territory will be staying in the castle. The king has asked me to create a gift for our guests to present during the banquet. Considering you've recently started up your art lessons with Professor Scrib, I've thought I could call upon your insight for inspiration on what to make,” Volcanous said with a grin.
"What are you up to?" Shadow asked worryingly.
"Nothing I swear. I just felt this would be a good test of your creative insight,” Volcanous responded.
"Well... considering the council is supposed to keep all united, how about we chain together each of the lands gem in one big sphere?" Shadow suggested.
"A unity orb? A traditional choice, but a good one at that. I agree, you go get the gems and I'll go grab the metal," Volcanous ordered, retreating the pile of assorted metals behind the forge, as Shadow made his way toward a locked chest upon a shelf.
After sending a bit of magic into the lock it popped open, revealing the contents of the chest to be filled with a spectrum of crystals. With some shuffling around the seven gems he was looking for had been collected. Shadow walked back with his gems in a satchel to find Volcanous flattening and rolling a bar of gold into a thin string.
"There you are, boy, keep those gems ready while I begin twisting the metal," ordered Volcanous.
With the thin string of hot gold, Volcanous began making a series of repetitivecircles where at every fourth length Shadow inserted one of the gems he had gotten. After the first four gems were in place, the two ends of the circle were melded together. Two more golden chains were connected to the second gem with the fourth, first and third. The next two gems were placed at the top and bottom ends of the near-completed golden orb.
"Now, this is where you take over as this needs a magically precise aim," Volcanous responded, taking the orb into his huge hooves to keep it steady.
"Understood," Shadow muttered as beads of sweat collected on his brow, from the intense heat of the forge. Concentrating heavily, he picked up the seventh gem with his telekinetic grip and eased it into the center orb. All he had to do was place it on six tips that jutted out the back of the other gems. Slowly he settled the gem in and once he had gotten it into position Volcanous melted the tips just enough to hold the gem in place for good.
"Good job, young master, you certainly take after your mother when it comes to the artistic precision. Now all that's left is to test it in the sun. I tell you, I was sweating a storm at the end there," Volcanous chuckles.
"You weren't the only one," Shadow agreed.
The young prince and blacksmith made their way outside into the noontime sunlight with their large package on a hammock held between the two. As the rays shone upon the orb various gems began to glow and reflect kaleidoscopic light onto the sides of the two. Before the orb began shining rainbows everywhere Volcanous wrapped another cloth over the top.
"And now why did you go and do that? It was a very entertaining show," Shadow asked.
"Yes it was, and we don't want anyone to have their show spoiled before needed now do we? Now I'll take this back into the forge for some polishing while you go see what your butler is rushing over here for," Volcanous responded as he turned back towards the forge.
"Young master...do you know...what time it is?" Clear panted out of breath.
"Considering how high the sun is in the sky, I would say it is a little past noon time, why?" Shadow asks.
"You realize your mother has been waiting for you in the courtroom for over half an hour now correct?" Clear points out.
As realization dawns on Shadow he throws his gear onto Clear as he rushes towards the courtroom. As he nears the entrance he see a congregation of lords and ladies and their daughters. As he can't take the front entrance he goes through a side entrance only to run into his mother.
"Shadow, pray tell why I shouldn't tan that grey hide of yours redder than the sun for making me and our guests wait for so long?" the queen asked as she glared at Shadow.
"Uhhh, I was helping Volcanous with the gift dad set him up to make," Shadow said with a sheepish grin.
"Fine, you pass, but hurry up! Our guests won't appreciate being forced to wait any longer," The Queen said as the two made their way up to the three thrones. The Queen sat on the middle throne as Shadow took his spot to her left.
"Clear, if you would, please tell our guests that we are now beginning with the interviews and bring in the first candidate," Queen Shard ordered.
"Of course, Queen Night Shard," Clear responded as he slipped out into the hall. A few seconds later, a well dressed stallion stepped in followed by a slim bodied lime-green earth pony.
"Good afternoon, my fair queen, I'm glad you allow me and my fair daughter into your court this fine day," The stallion and mare bow.
“Rise my subject. I am simply glad you have put up with my son's...delinquency in this event," Queen Shard responded with a smile.
"Even when we mean well sometimes our children still decide to oppose us. But then we do need to let them make their own choices sometimes," the stallion said knowingly.
"And who do you present to us today?" Queen Shard asked.
“This is my eldest daughter of twenty-six years of age, Cherry Feather, she is skilled in the arts of both music and cooking. She is wonderfully tempered and rightfully aged for marriage," the stallion introduced while stepping to the side of his daughter. The fair mare looked to the side while her hair fell to the ground.
"She is definitely a pretty young flower is she not? What do you think Shadow?" Queen Shard asked.
"I will not lie, your daughter is certainly that of the fairer choice out of the batch so far, but not enough so to make me wish to marry, I'm sorry." Shadow responded turning to stare out the window.
"I-I appreciate you telling us this and apologize for wasting your time Prince Shadow. Come Cherry let us make our way back home now," The stallion stammered as his daughter was on the verge of tears.
As the two left the room the next pair came in and the process repeated. The father or mother would introduce their child, make them sound as pleasing as possible, Shadow would find some way to pass the candidate off as convincing as possible and the family would leave destroyed at not getting their chance to join the higher ranks. On and on this would go until the night would roll in.
"And that was the last candidate. None of which you even seemed to consider. Really Shadow are you this against being with other ponies that you'll turn away the most beautiful mares in the province who are practically throwing themselves at your hooves, without a single glance?" Queen Shard asked his son.
"It's not that. It's just that none of these have been "the one". Call me a romantic but I don't think I'll find her if you keep trying to force mares unto me with these courtroom dates every day. Now if you'll excuse me mother, it is late and I wish to go to bed," Shadow said as he rose from his haunches, stretching out his legs.
"I guess you'll be glad to know that you will not be having anymore "courtroom dates" until after the Provincial Council than," Queen Shard replied as she got up to head to her own room tonight.
"Good night mother," Said Shadow sleepily.
"And you, my young prince, Finished Queen Shard, watching the lonesome, arrogant stallion slowly exit the barren halls.
