Chapter 1

"Sombra, give it back!" Luz exclaimed, leaping up in the air to catch hold of the ball his brother held aloft with his magic. "That's not fair!"

Sombra laughed, "Come on, Luz, you almost have it!" He lowered it by a fraction of an inch, Luz catching it this time. "See?" He smirked at his older brother, ruby red eyes sparkling with laughter.

Luz panted on the ground, his topaz eyes glaring daggers at Sombra. "It's really not fair." He trotted up to Sombra and pointed at his brother's horn. "You have that and I don't." He planted his rump unceremoniously on the ground and pawed at the floor.

Sombra looked away, almost embarrassed. "I...I guess. I've never seen anypony with one either..." he gazed up at their castle. Their father was away on royal business in the distant kingdom of Canterlot, so the two brothers had snuck out to play in the castle's gardens. "But I've heard that ponies with horns like mine live all over Equestria!"

"Who told you that?" Luz scratched his head, the thought of other horned ponies almost overwhelming his young mind. He set the ball on the ground, rolling it around beneath his hoof. "Was it her?" He pointed towards the garden's entrance.

"Nana Anesthesia!" he smiled wide, trotting over to the garden entrance where another pony stood. "How long have you been here?" He threw his hooves around her neck, hugging her tightly. Anesthesia gently returned the young colt's hug and took the time to study the two brothers.

They were both five years old now, their flanks still void of any cutie mark. Luz was a tad bit taller than Sombra at the shoulder give or take a few centimeters. This was always a sore spot for Sombra, who made up for it by playing pranks on his brother with his magic. The two young colts were happy, despite the fact that they never met their mother. King Lucent had remained unmarried since her death, devoting himself to his kingdom and his sons.

"Nana?" Sombra prodded her cheek softly with his hoof, snapping her back from her thoughts.

"Oh! Sorry dear, my mind wandered for a second there. I've actually been following you, as are my orders from His Highness. And I think it is about time we returned home, colts!" Luz and Sombra both groaned. "Now, now don't give me that. Gather your things and let's go."

Luz skulked towards the forgotten ball, grabbing it with his mouth and placing it into his saddlebag. "Hmph! When I'm King, I will decree that it shall be playtime all the time!" Sombra giggled from behind him, and used his magic to pluck a leaf from the trees above them to wave in front of Luz's nose. This caused the paler of the two to sneeze in an undignified manner.

"King Sneezy!" Sombra taunted, dashing behind Anesthesia and sticking his tongue out. She glared at him and he sheepishly slunk away. "Ehehehe...bye!"

"Sombraaaaaa!" Luz chased after his brother, who was already hoofing it back to the castle. Anesthesia rolled her eyes and chuckled at their antics, following them at a much slower pace.

---

"You mentioned one of your sons is a unicorn, King Lucent?" Celestia peered over at the scroll she was reading, setting it upon the table.

"Ah yes, and I'm not sure what to do with him," Lucent said. "Luz is the rightful heir to my throne, but what do I do with Sombra?" He rested his head on the table, poking at an ink well. Scrolls and maps of Equestria were scattered around. The sisters were still struggling to restore peace all over Equestria, and had called forward to all the kingdoms and syndicates for a meeting. Right now they had taken a break after the griffons' ambassador had insulted the Sisters' ideals of Harmony. He continued poking the ink well, watching the ink slosh around, a few droplets sprinkling on to his hoof. He sighed again, "I don't want him to feel like he's second best..."

Luna yawned politely behind a hoof. As caretaker of the night, being awake during the day was taxing. She leaned forward, taking a healthy sip of coffee. "Perhaps you could let Us instruct him? What do you think, Sister?" She set her cup down, her gaze searching Celestia's face for any sign of disapproval.

"Y-you would teach him, Princess Luna?" Lucent's jaw dropped, dumbfounded. He had had trouble obtaining a teacher for Sombra, that being that most of his sovereign was nothing but Earth ponies and the occasional pegasus.

"But of course. You said yourself that you and your people were not used to unicorns. We would like to teach thy son how to use his magic properly."

Celestia stared at her sister for a moment, tapping her sandaled hoof thoughtfully against the table. "What a wonderful idea, Sister." She faced Lucent, smiling. "What do you say, King Lucent? Would you allow Luna to teach your son magic?"

"It...it would be an honor," he said. He took Luna's hoof in his and kissed it. She stared at him in wonder, slowly pulling away. Lucent smiled at this, mirth in his eyes. "I believe it is time I left, I do have my kingdom to look after." Standing up, he waved a hoof, calling one of his own guards forward. "Lieutenant, have the chariot readied by tomorrow." Turning back to face the celestial sisters once more, he gave them a short nod of respect, "Until next time, Your Majesties."

---

"Slow down, you two!" Anesthesia snapped, running as fast as she could after the troublesome twins. Chest heaving, she paused to catch her breath. Not long after the trio had returned to the castle, Luz and Sombra had decided to play 'Catch-Us-If-You-Can' with her. Anesthesia was no spring filly, so it made this so-called game extremely irritating. Planting her hooves firmly on the ground, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The chase had led her to the eastern wing of the castle, where the old dungeons were. Of course they would come here. What healthy young lad doesn't like dungeon-crawling? Especially if it's abandoned? Rolling her eyes, she walked as stealthily as she could to the dungeon's entrance, peaking in through the doorway. Her eyes could only see darkness. Straining her ears, she could just barely make out the snickering of the boys.

"Think we lost her?" that was Sombra.

"Proba- oh coooool! Sombra, there's like..." Anesthesia could hear the scraping sounds of metal on rock, "Jackpot!"

"Put it back before you hurt yourself, Luz," came Sombra's voice. The mare decided that it was time to reveal herself and fully opened the door. The two colts instantly covered their eyes to block out the light. "N-Nana?"

"Yooouuuuu..." she froze, Luz was holding a halberd, or well...half of one. Time had rotted the wood, rust encrusting the blade. "Your Highness, I implore you to drop that at once."

Luz paid her no mind, simply giving the weapon a test swing. "Why? What's it for?" His frowned and prodded the blade with his hoof. He instantly dropped it, small rivulets of blood streaming out of a small wound. "OW!" Anesthesia gasped, but before she could react, Sombra was walking slowly towards his brother.

"I told you to put it back," he snorted, blowing his mane out of his face. He swiped at the halberd, knocking it out of Luz's hooves, the weapon skittering to a stop a few feet away. Before Luz could react, Sombra had the wounded hoof in his grasp, examining it.

"Let go, Sombra!" Luz said, trying to pull away from his brother, but Sombra held strong.

"No."

"As future King, I command it!"

"No."

"Sombraaaaaa!"

"Nana? Do you mind taking a look at it?" Anesthesia blinked, staring at the dark prince whom was looking at her while holding his brother down. She instantly saw the mischievous glint in his eyes and smiled.

"O-of course, dear," she said, leaning closer to see the cut for herself. "Hmm..." She stared harder at it, causing Luz to shiver. "Hmmmm..."

Luz's voice was almost a squeak when he spoke, "N-nana?"

"I'm afraid..." she gave Sombra a secret wink, "that your hoof will have to come off, my Prince." She pretended to saw off her own hoof.

He gasped in horror and wrenched his hoof out of Sombra's grasp, "No! Not my hoof! AAAAAHHHHHH!" he screamed, running for his (hoof's) life.

Sombra snickered, watching his brother go. "That was great, Nana." He continued giggling, not paying attention to the old mare who closed in on him and caught him. "Ack!"

"And now, it's time to get you both into the baths, you ruffians!" she grinned, half puling half dragging Sombra out the door.

"Noooo!" the prince's cries echoed around the castle walls and into the night air. The mare smiled, today had been a good day indeed.