Weight of a crown

***Chapter 2

Surprise at Carousel Boutique***

    A white form is carrying me. I’m at a familiar house. The door opens. A marshmallow white violet blur gasps. It picks me up. I’m in a crib. I hear a voice. My name.

Buzz~

    “You’re on next, Belle. Break a leg.” I pull on my hat and gown. It smells like my sister. I walk onto the stage. The lights momentarily blind me. A large crowd cheers, shouting my name. Among them is a white unicorn with a violet mane. I clear my throat and inhale the air. It smells of salad, spaghetti, and fine wines. A sweet melody begins. My stomach does flip flops. Praying I won’t mess up, I begin.

“ White clouds of the sky

Won’t you take me up high.

Star’s of the night

Illuminating my fright

Wish wish, upon the stars

Flying with the clouds

Soaring with you.

All we need

is the bird’s melodies

And together we will be.

You and me.

The Skies are clear.

The Night is here.

The sun always shine,

when we are alive.

When we are together.

When we are.

You and me.

You and Me.

You and Me...”

Hooves clap together, as the sound of acceptance fills my ears. Flowers fall at my feet, and cheers roar loudly. In the middle of it all, is a crying unicorn.

“Sweetie Belle! Sweetie Belle! Sweetie Belle! Sweetie Belle!”

“That was amazing Sweetie!” The white unicorn make’s a left turn.

    “Oh BUCK!.... Sorry, not quite used to cars... I remember when we used our hooves and carts,.” the white mare joked with her sister. The mare, up close, had stray grays. Her coat was dull and wrinkled, her eyes fading into an icy gray blue.

    “Yes, I was there to...” A younger, white unicorn looked at the older mare. She had curly pink and purple hair, and green eyes. Her voice cracked from overuse. The two were in Manehattan, on there way to a small town called Ponyville.

“I know, I keep forgetting... Oh don’t look at me! I look absolutely horrid! Just look at these wrinkles! There so... old.” The word rolled in her mouth bitterly. She dreaded the word, but now she was living it.

    “Compared to you, I look like I could be Granny Smith back from the grave!” Sweetie Belle knew what was coming next. She missed being a filly. Searching for her special talent. She missed the feeling she got that day. Like she was on top of the world. She was the first of her friends to get their Cutie Mark. Slowly, she began to drift apart from them. Several days before the disappearance of Princess Luna, Scootaloo had earned hers. Last week, when Apple Bloom earned hers, they broke the bond. She hadn’t heard from them since. She missed the days they were friends. She wanted her friends...

    “But I wouldn’t trade it for the world.” There it was. What she had heard so many times. How could Rarity, say that. This is RARITY! Rarity, who spent years trying to hide evidence of her age. Rarity, who hid from the world after giving up. Rarity, who cried days on end about how she looked.

The car parked, and Sweetie Belle exited.

“Goodnight.”

    “Nig-” The door slammed shut as Rarity finished. A knowing smile spread across her face. Shaking her head she backed up. As Sweetie Belle entered her house, she heard a loud crash. Turning her head, she saw the car backing up from the fallen mailbox.

    “Oh Rarity...” she chuckled as she entered Carousel Boutique. Ever since Rarity moved into the Library, Sweetie Belle was responsible for the Boutique during after hours. Levitating her hat and dress down to the basement, she hummed a little tune. Swiftly, she trotted up the stairs. Passing by the mirror halfway up, she had to back up.

“BUCK!”

Canterlot, two week’s ago.

I will find her. A lavender alicorn burst into her brother’s office. The white unicorn was sitting in a chair reading document’s, searching for a clue on why Celestia died. The sudden entrance of the youngest, newest princess startled him, breaking his concentration.

“How long have you known? Did she ever say she had a daughter? Why did she die? Who’s the father?” The typhoon of questions continued to shoot at him, rolling from her vocal cords.

“Twilly, please calm down, I don’t know anything...”

“Did you do anything about Nightmare Moon’s child? She could be a threat! Did you know Luna would disappear?”

“I wasn’t even part of the Royal Guard yet, I didn’t know about it even once I was in the guard, much less Captian. Now could you please calm down Twilight?”

“Did you know your wife had a sister? Or do you not care about why she never got a chance with her parents?”

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” The lavender alicorn jumped at the volume of his voice. It was the first time he had used such a volume, and she didn’t like it.

“What in Equestria are you TALKING about?” His voice matched his questioning face. Tears streamed down her face. Her vision blurred, and her throat burned. The gravity of the situation pulled her into a deep abyss.

“I’m sorry... I’m so, so sorry... I miss her so much...” Her brother stood up and went over to her. Standing on his hind hooves, her wrapped the front two around his sister. He stroked her mane with one hoof, and kept his balance with the other.

“Shhh... It’s alright. You’re just really stressed out. I shouldn’t have yelled at you... It’s okay, everything’s gonna be alright...” Truthfully, he didn’t think it would be alright. The princess of the moon had disappeared not long after the announcement of Celestia’s sickness. Everything went wrong from there.

“No. Everything’s NOT going to be alright... Celestia’s dead, Luna’s gone and Celestia gave me a mission. I don’t think I can handle it... I’ve failed her...” The two stood there, one comforting the other, while the other cried. It was hour’s before the flow of tears stopped.

“Want me to help you on this mission?” Shining Armor looked questioningly at his sister. The latter, nodded. The went over to his desk and set to work.

“Here’s a list of 13 year olds...”

“That’s perfect.”