Only Celestia was at Canterlot, Luna was at a meeting in Baltimare.

  It took a lot of explaining to Princess Celestia to clarify why Sombra shouldn’t be banished. She even refused to mention him by name. After she heard me explain everything but the secret Sombra revealed; Celestia explained she would not knight him, after all the role of knight in Equestria comes with significant power. Instead Celestia grudgingly proposed the take-it-or-leave-it offer of making him a realmless duke.

“Like Blueblood?”

“No,” Celestia said calmly “Blueblood has an estate to his name.”

Sombra, who had been reduced to standing behind me, cleared his throat loudly.

“What is it?” Celestia asked tonelessly, contrary to the look in her eyes which resembled burning coals shooting sparks at Sombra.

“Can I leave?”

She raised an eyebrow.

“I can’t just have you wander around the castle, where will you go?”

He snorted a bit.

“How about away from you, O Eternally Irritating One?”

Celestia drew an angry breath but maintained much composure. “Guards, if you please escort this stallion to another room.”

Three days later…

I was nervous.

  Canterlot Hall was filled with well-dressed ponies both intrigued and worried at the same time. Twilight, who was beside Princess Luna on the platform, waved to her friends among the front rows of attendees. I was all decked out as Crystal Princess. I waved to Shining Armor, who unlike our kingdom was not instantly healed with the restoration of the Heart, thus he couldn’t climb the platform. Princess Luna stood off to the far left and looked as nervous as I was. After all, leave it to Celestia to be the only pony comfortable in an immense hall filled with ponies.

  Center stage was Sombra, who was still sporting an overgrown mane and tail along with his singed cloak. The sword that I let him keep was sheathed at his side. Sombra was shooting a downright murderous look at Blueblood, who unfortunately was standing next to me.

  Princess Celestia cleared her throat signaling the beginning of the ceremony.

“I, Princess Celestia of the Two Sisters, do hereby grant the affix of Boundless Duke upon this pony. You may have completed a task of great merit with the aide of the Crystal Princess; but alone you have committed greater, almost overshadowing crimes. Do not think that they will be forgotten. Now, to the oaths.”

We were all quiet as she began yet Celestia's now disdainful gaze still seared, boring down on Sombra, who was only about the same height as Luna, maybe an inch or two shorter.

“Do you, Sombra of NO INHERITANCE OR HERITAGE,” she began eloquently, “swear to uphold the laws of Equestria, its vassals, allies, and states?”

“Yes,” he grumbled, although his tone made it sound like he would have rather said 'maybe'.

In the audience Rarity almost fainted at his lack of formality towards the princess, whereas Celestia seemed to coolly let his curtness slide.

“Do you, Sombra of Unknown Parentage, swear to protect Equestria, her rulers, subjects, allies, vassals, and states; as if they were your own?”

“I do,” Sombra stated “swear to protect Equestria, its rulers, subjects, allies, states, and vassals from harm and-” his gaze met Celestia's.

“-from tyrants.”

The crowds were dismissed and Princess Celestia shot me a we'll-talk-later-look.

I nodded and trotted over to Shiny, whose leg was in a cast. My crystalline coat was still in effect and my thoughts drifted over to Sombra.

  Something told me this wouldn’t be his last adventure, if any pony could change Equestria it was my friend: Sombra, Duke of Nowhere and Nothing.