Months had passed since the death of Sombra's mother, and thou it scarred his soul; Sombra had learned to deal with the grief. Most days Sombra could be seen out in forests practicing magic to his hearts content. Sombra had begun his obsession with magic after his mothers' death, he was completely convinced that if he had known the mystical art he would have been able to save his mother. Sadly, he was right. Had Sombra had some knowledge he might have seen the tale tale signs of his fathers' curse.
The spell he was attempting to perform a fire charm spell. If it was successful he would create green fire that would act as a form of security. The fire would patrol the village where he lived in and relay everything seen on a crystal that Sombra stored in his small run down house.
"Okay, one last time." Sombra muttered. He strained his face, forcing himself to concentrate and create the magic fire. Sweat dripped from his fur, pooling at the ground below him. His horn began to glow a deep red, sparking as fire burst from the tip landing at the ground next to his hooves. Sombra knelt down, placeing his snout next to the crackling flames he could feel the warmth the magic provided. He gingerly placed one hoof into the flame, and like the spell book said was safe to handle. It even felt comforting to hold, almost like holding warm flowing silk.
"It's so amazing," Sombra chuckled. "I'm sure this will be of some use to the towns folk." Sombra's horn flashed and the fire was extinguished. He stood with his head high, and his chest puffed out with pride. Sombra trotted towards the town each step he took bringing him closer to the people he loved, and the ones who had helped him thru the hardest times of his life. His home soon came into view. The town was and always will be a small simple pace. Full of kind, loving ponies, good food, and kind smiles. It wasn't long until he felt the familiar crunch of dirt against his hooves as he trotted down the dirt roads, humming in joy. In minutes he entered the town, and was instantly met by happy greetings and warm hellos.
"Prince Sombra!" The baker yelled. "How are you today?" The golden furred stallion stood at the bakery window. Leaning over just so slightly so his snout stuck out over the side into the outside environment.
"Hello, !" The young stallion yelled back. "I have something cool to show you!" The stallion practically did a back flip out of pure excitement.
"Well let's see what you've got." smiled. Sombra, who gladly obliged, strained his face in concentration. His horn began to glow its usual red hue resulting in the green flames he had conjured a short while ago.
"Well now," smiled impressed. "That's very impressive, but what does it do?"
Sombra gladly jumped at the idea of explaining his new trick. "It works like living fire, and it will move around the town and store what it sees in a crystal." Sombra sent the green flames across town. The magic fire sped off in a random direction out of sight of either of the two. Sombra then levitated a small crystal he carried with him. Sombra focused hard and magic slowly began to flow into the crystal and then out; forming a red mist with black silhouettes of ponies living their daily lives.
"That's very impressive," praised him. "but, I hope you are not planning on using it in other ways." The baker warned.
"What other ways?" Sombra tilted his head to the side. "Does it have potential that I don't know of?!" The young colt brightened at the thought of it having a second use. Oblivious to what the older stallion was hinting at. Like , most of the ponies forgot that Sombra was a young colt , and despite his level of intelligence knew nothing of the Gryphons and the Gorgons.
"Uh, never mind." said ; hoping to avoid going into detail of his previous question. "Sombra I almost forgot; There's a visitor waiting for you at your house."
"A visitor! Really!" Sombra sped off galloping so fast the his mane began to flow from the wind resistance. He made his way thru the winding roads and corners, running at such a speed that he almost knocked a few elderly mares off their hooves. He apologized to them and continued his way to his home. His door swung open with enough force to throw it off the hinges. In the middle of the dimly lite shack stood the mare of shadows. Her eyes glowed a silvery white against the darkness, and her starry mane .
"Hello, young shadow." Luna said cheerfully. "We have worried about you, and have decided to see if thou are doing well." Sombra's heart lifted at the sound of Luna's voice. Luna had given him comfort when nopony could. She kept him on the right path, and even though his mothers passing was extremely hard for a colt his age. Sombra recovered well and even begun to excel at his magic studies. Sombra ran over to the princess and rested his head against her in affection. She returned the gesture and the two embraced for a few seconds. Sombra had often considered Luna like an aunt and looked up to her with admiration.
"Now," Luna began. "Let us converse about your time since we last met."
Sombra began to tell Luna about all the events that had happened in the past year. He told her of the parasprite invasion, the time he almost destroyed his house with a failed spell, or when half the ponies caught the cutie pox, and one ended up trying to swim on land. Luna listened with intent about Sombras' life. She showed genuine interest in the ponies that lived in the area.
"It sounds quite interesting, and I hope nopony was hurt during the cutie pox outbreak."
"No, no one was hurt." said Sombra. "Although one pony couldn't move for a week. One of the cutie marks he received was a talent in running. When he finally stopped running he was to sore to move." The two couldn't help but laugh, but not about the ponies misfortune. Sometimes when life becomes challenging the best way to endure was to find the humor life brought with misfortune. Although theat certain pony would be less likely to find it humorous.
"Sombra, why don't you show us around." Luna moved towards the door. "We shall find something to eat." Luna began towards the door of the shack, she stopped to look back towards the small black colt. She motioned her head for him to follow.
Luna walked along the dirt streets of the roads. Sombra trotted along side her, struggling to keep up with her pace. There was a good height difference between Sombra and Luna, and it was apparent when Luna easily outpaced the small colt.
"Miss Luna, I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but why are you here?" Sombra asked as he trotted along side her.
"To be honest young one," Luna admitted. "We are here for two reasons. Today we will spend time with you, but when night falls I must have a talk with your father." Sombra's mood had turned sour at the mention of his father. Luna saw this and nudged him to look at her.
"Do not worry little one," Luna smiled warmly. "We still have an entire day to spend together. Let us go eat!" Luna sprinted off, leaving the colt behind. Sombra's smile widened as he sprinted to try and match her pace. The two raced around the town, spreading dust with each step. Eventually the two made it to the bakery and ordered a large amount of sweet bread. The baker was at a lost for words. After all the princess of the night was eating at his establishment. Although Luna was completely ignored by her subjects in Canterlot; she was revered in the Crystal Kingdom. Though the village was to far from the Castle to see the crystals that the kingdom was founded upon; at night the rays of the moon shone thru the crystals creating an aurora of multi-colored lights. Nothing could be more beautiful, and during the winter months when the air was swarming with crystals of ice the Pegasus littered the sky with. The aurora sparkled like diamonds in a sea of color, darkness, and sparkling dots of light. It was a celebrated event in the Kingdom, and even for the poor village ponies it represented a time of love, peace, and good prosperity. Luna was loved, and she loved them.
And that love was shown by the town's people, the Luna Lights Festival as it had come to be known was the most celebrated festival in all of Equestira. By sheer numbers the event out numbered Celestia's Summer's Sun Celebration by thousands, and the amount of joy was far more abundant. The entire region could be seen even from the moon as tiny lights lite the night in a burning fire of happiness and drunken joy. The celebration would go to such an extent that ponies would litter the streets with mugs of cider spilled over next to them.
Sombra sat next to Luna, each levitating loafs of bread to their mouths and eating a greedy amount. The bread was warm, sweet, and freshly churned butter lay spread on the top soaking into the steaming loaf. Luna sat quietly licking the melted butter from her lips after each bite. Sombra however ate like a savage. Each bite he took he ripped from the loaf like a timber would with its prey. Butter ran down his chin matting his black fur; the butter glistening in the sun light. Luna laughed as she levitated a cloth from the bakery and wiped the drying butter from his chin.
It was a mother and child moment, and while Sombra laughed at first he was soon reminded of his mother. His eyes began to tear up at the thought of her. Luna noticed his sorrow and placed her hoof around his back.
"Its okay little shadow," Luna comforted him. "Life is a horribly cruel thing, but you will see her again one day, and I will always be there when you need me." Sombra thrust his front legs around Luna embracing her as tears ran down his snout matting Luna's fur. She didn't mind, and cried along with him.
It was late at night when Sombra finally calmed down enough for fatigue to set in. Halfway home he passed out from exhaustion. Luna smiled at the sleeping colt as she levitated him onto her back. She placed him on her back and began to trot towards the shack Sombra called home. Along the way Luna had spotted several times a small green light that flashed across the town. It did not seem to cause any harm so Luna decided to leave it alone for now. Sombra was snoring softly when Luna arrived at her destination. She could feel the breath from the colt warm her back each time his chest expanded and deflated. She made her way into the shack. Carefully placing Sombra on the hay bed as not to disturb his peaceful slumber.
"Now, I go to talk to your father." Luna muttered hatefully.