Music in the Skiesby Lightningstorm8991ChaptersChapter 1: SorrowChapter 2: PainChapter 3: New BeginingsChapter 1: SorrowYear 1 Day 1 Hi! I'm Sky Note and I'm making this journal to relay my time as the personal protege of Princess Twilight! She said that this was a good idea so I could remember all my adventures and stuff like Princess Twilight had under the apprenticeship of Queen Celestia. Oh! I should probably put a date here! It is year 2390 QCA(Queen Celestian Age). If you don't know your history, QCA went into effect after we lost Princess Lunae(known in her time as only Princess Luna) in the Griffianic Wars(the first of what I think to be many wars with the griffins). After her sister's death, Celestia appointed herself as the Solar Queen, the one true ruler of the Equestrian Empire, and Twilight took over the moon(but she can't really control it). Since then, Queen Celestia and Princess Twilight have been looking for Lunae's replacement in order to restore order to the Empire. That's why I'm here ************* "Sky! How many times must I tell you to concentrate?!", shouted a very tired, very snippy sounding Twilight. "It's not MY fault! YOU won't let me play my music or take a bucking break!", Sky Note shouted back, malice rising in her voice. Her blue fading to orange mane fell across her face, unkempt and dark in the dimly lit room. The moon's light filtered slowly into the room's small window and shone across Sky's equally unkempt and fading blue to orange pelt. Twilight looked worse, her mane and tail in wild curls and pelt in a huge mess. She hadn't slept for days and Queen Celestia seemed to ignore her more and more lately. She looked neglected and tired but Sky only felt a sense of dread in their upcoming fight for the night. "That music is LOUD and VERY annoying. You and your mother both! I mean, you came HERE to ME to learn, if you want music, go back to you mother, the DJ, that can barely afford the meager fees we require for you to stay here! And NEVER, EVER use that language with ME again!" That got Sky and she felt a pang of guilt and sorrow,"I-I." "I would like to think that Vinyl would raise a better child. We'll try again tomorrow. DISMISSED!" Sky looked at Twilight, stunned. Twilight gave her a murderous look and Sky quickly ran out of the room and nearly knocked over a guard as she bolted for her own room. She was on the verge of tears and didn't want any palace folk see her cry. She burst through the giant, crescent moon doors. It was about 3 in the morning and Sky was tired but her heart hurt to much to sleep. It had been like this for years. Twilight shouting to her like that. She wouldn't be ready for guard training at 6, but she had things to do. She plopped onto her magical bed that reflected the night sky above her, although she couldn't see it through her ceiling that reflected the moon's surface. Everything was moon themed in this room. Always hinting at the possible goal, right? Over 2000 years since Lunae's death and still nopony to take over the moon. "Twilight was just pressuing me to do better, she really thinks I'm the one. So does Shining and everyone else...", Sky mumbled, hot tears running down her face, dapening her pelt and covers. She levitated over her star shaped pillow and took out her journal and quill. She began to write: Year 5 Day 165 Twilight REALLY needs to sleep. Just because she's immortal, doesn't mean she's immune to sleep deprivation! I'm not bitter but she sure is. She's so snippy and rude lately. She tried to get me to raise the goddamn moon tonight! That's the bucking final exam, not some "assessment"! I could have done it though. I just needed some time and my music. Mom would be happy with me then. She likes that I have taken to music though. Well, I guess I should sleep. Good night... Sky Note put away the journal away and looked up at her ceiling. She felt a fresh wave of tears come and curled to the side. She heard the door creak open but didn't move. Memories of her mom and dad rose fresh in her mind. Bringing back Twilight's insult to her mother more pain in her sinking heart. "Sky? Did Twilight hurt your feelings again?", called Shining Armor from the door. Sky grunted and shuddered slightly. Shining sighed. He sat on her bed and looked at the little unicorn. "I'm sure she didn't mean it..." "Do you see her in here?" Shining sighed," I see you point." Sky grunted and Shining chuckled. Sky turned to face him, her eyes reflecting her mane's colors like a dawning morning,"Why are you laughing?" Shining looked into her eyes and smiled which made Sky relax a little," I just remember when our parents used to punish Twilight and she'd always pin it on me. Now she's a princess and I'm the captain of the Royal Guard. We all grow up Sky. You just need to learn to face life with a smile and a kick in your trot." Sky smiled a little and Shining smiled right back down. Ever since her father died while she was in her third year of training there, Shining took up the fatherly role and it was great. He treated her with a warriors respect and a father's love. Not that Sky ever knew her father. He abandoned her and her mom before she was born. Sky never knew what a father truly was until Shining. She also never knew her mother's love. Seeing that Vinyl gave her up as soon as she turned 6. She lay back down and Shining levitated the covers up to her. He then sat down and they looked up at the moon's surface together for a while. "One day, I'm gonna see that in real life. And I'm gonna raise it and let it fall. Mom will be happy and so will Twilight and everypony else", said Sky as she fell asleep. Shining kissed her forehead and left the room, shutting the door silently behind her. ************** "If you plan to beat her records, you should really get to training on time more often", commented Shining Armor as Sky slipped through the door to the outdoor training yard. Sky only grunted with sleep still slowing her as she grabbed her training sword and headed to the running line. She waited among the other guard, accustomed to her presence as she strapped on her sword's sheath. Shining snorted and trotted over to them. He soon blew a whistle and they all took off, headed to the outer wall of the castle. Shining came up next to her, staring. She looked straight ahead, but acknowledge his presence. "Her records and yours are getting close. You might beat her one day." "Today, Shining. Today I will beat her and her records", Sky cut off. Shining looked ahead as Sky sped forward, soldiers parting for her as she ran forward. Shining didn't follow and was quite impressed as she took out her sword as soon as they left the city gates, her horn glowing a brilliant shade of blue, like the sky above her. Shining gazed as he took the lead of the pack and she sped ahead, sword in mouth. Then he saw it, that one rouge dragon, waiting to attack the city as it had done for years on end. Sky jumped forward and disappeared just as the dragon saw her. The other guard all stood frozen as the dragon looked at where she just was. She suddenly reappeared on the dragons muzzle and slashed it's eye. It roared in pain and swiped at her but she was already gone. She reappeared on the base of the dragons neck, their one true weak spot and the one they guarded most with their small arms. She plunged the sword into its neck, its metal gleaming in the sunlight. The dragon reared back and spread its wings but she was gone again. She appeared on its back where she sliced off both wings in a single swipe. The dragon fell and she teleported upwards. She fell, sword in perfect position over the beast's head. She teleported, leaving the sword to plunge through the dragon as she landed safely on the ground. She fell over, some blood pooling around her from scrapes and wounds nonfatal-looking but still enough, seeing as they were done with dragon's claws, which were tipped with poison in certain cases. Her magic was shot. She could barely move from exhaustion. Shining bolted to her and examined her wounds. "Why did you attack?!" Sky looked up at him and gave a bloody grimace and spoke in a horace (no pun intended) tone," I saw into it's heart. It killed for fun, not food or disturbance, he loved the sickening crack and final breaths of pony's bones breaking and their lives ending. I killed him because it was right." Shining looked her, surprised that she not only saved ponies lives and took down a dragon, but saw into the hearts of creatures. Something only a true leader could do, or a powerful unicorn... "You're getting a new job. Starting tomorrow." Author's Note Sorry about my old story guys. I didn't want to cancel it but I've lost interest and took the story too fast. I might pick it back up but it'll be a while. Now, I thought of this story on vacation and wanted to make it. Here is my new story! Hope you enjoy it!!!! I'm gonna need a cover art for this and I'm dreadful at art so if you're interested in it, PM me. Chapter 2: PainSky woke slowly, only hearing the works of ponies slowly drift to her ears in hushed tones. "She is still alive-" "I collected some-" "Little fighter she-" "Yes, I ran the tests-" "She's waking up!" Sky felt pain everywhere. Her senses returning as a snail's pace. She opened her eyes and only saw blurry objects, her eyes still adjusting to the light. She made a groan and her throat felt like sandpaper. Shining fell into focus slowly," How you feeling?" "Like the moon fell on me, then the sun" She tasted dry blood on her lips and her throat felt like she swallowed a desert. She coughed and cracked a painful smile. One of the nurses, Nurse Redheart if she recalled, came to focus with some water. Sky drank some and coughed a little more and slowly sat up. Pain shot up her spine and she let out a wince. Shining placed a hoof at her back but she swatted it away, leaning forward with a grunt. "You can start back at training tomorrow, today you rest", Nurse Redheart said. Sky nodded and blacked out. She woke in her bed. Her neck felt sore but she didn't feel any other pain when she sat up. She scanned the room to see Twilight sitting in her favorite bean bag chair. It was dark blue and was the only thing in the room that didn't have stars or moons printed all over it. Twilight stared at her with intent. She coughed,"Yes Princess Twilight?" Twilight shook her head as if stirred from sleep and looked at her,"She awakens", she chuckled. Sky coughed again and levitated over a glass of water by her bed. Twilight didn't waste time,"I want you in my quarters in an hour, no questions." Sky coughed from surprise, water spraying her bed,"W-wait, I'm supposed to rest today. Nurse Redheart-" "Said it was alright. I said no questions. My quarters. One hour." With that Twilight left, the crescent doors shutting soundlessly behind her. Sky looked at her cup. A silver star seemingly frozen in glass looked back at her from it's bottom. She got dressed and headed to Twilight's room. The guards looked at her with a pitiful gaze as she approached. She sighed,"Be prepared." They nodded and she went inside. Twilight looked worse in the poor light of her bedroom. Dark circles under her eyes looked darker. She looked at the foot of her bed and almost gasped. The bed of her former, now long dead assistant, Spike, was destroyed and was in smoldering shreds. This was BAD. Twilight on the other hand was sitting at her table that had her cutie mark on it, sipping tea nonchalantly. Sky knew this was gonna be bad. Twilight's horn glowed and the doors behind Sky shut and locked with a simple click. Sky was breathing hard. She didn't know what was happening when Twilight arose and Sky lifted into the air. Sky screamed but her voice didn't carry as an orb of Twilight's magic surrounded her. Her magic grew dark and the bright violet turned a Royal Purple as Twilight slowly walked towards her. "You think you can replace me, don't you little filly?", Twilight said but her voice wasn't hers, it was deep and dark, with malice she had never heard before. The orb changed to shackles and Sky was slammed to the floor. A band of magic pinned her on every leg and even her muzzle down to the black granite floor. Twilight's eyes flowed deep purple and mist of the same color radiated from them. Sky twisted and turned to no avail. "Fight all you want Sky Note. You cannot win." Then, the door busted open and Shining Armor ran into the room and froze. Everything froze. Time froze. Not-Twilight looked annoyed as she released Sky and picked up her knife at the table. Shining stood frozen, unaware of his sister. the air was still as Sky got up and backed into the corner of the room. Twilight slammed a hoof onto her neck and Sky couldn't breathe. Twilight took the knife and slowly reopened Sky's wounds with it's deadly edge. Blood ran down Sky's legs as she screamed silently. When Twilight was finished, she forced Sky into the air with her magic and slammed her down with the snapping of two ribs back to where she lay before. The then pinned Sky there with her dark magic as she cleaned the blood on the floor and her knife. She replaced the knife on the table and cleaned the rag she used off. She dried it and placed it back on the table as well. Then something changed. Her eyes went back to normal, the mist went away and so did the magic pinning Sky down. Time unfroze as Twilight looked at her as if for the first time. Shining skidded to a halt and looked at Sky. "What happened?!", shouted Shining. Sky couldn't speak, her neck still in pain from when Twilight slammed it. "I don't know! Sky, you reopened your wounds!", Twilight shouted, concern in her voice, unknowing of what she just did. Sky made a strangled wheeze as Shining picked her up. "I'll take her to the infirmary. Twilight, tell the rest of the guard that it's okay." Twilight nodded, surveying the room for the first time as if she didn't know what happened. Sky blacked out. ********************** Sky felt even worse this time than last. Shining stared at her. He saw something in her eyes. Fear? Pain? Anger? Sorrow? This confirmed a suspicion he had. Sky didn't reopen her wounds, she was attacked. Sky stared at Shining with her morning light eyes. He saw much pain in them. "You are a royal guard now", he said almost casually. Sky stared back at him with blank eyes. "W-what?", she croaked. "I said", Shining repeated, levitating over a glass of water to her,"You are a royal guard. You showed valor and strength with that dragon. But don't worry, your shifts are at the same times we hold practice so the don't interfere with training." Sky took the glass and coughed a little to clear her throat. "Twilight did it." "I know. I see it in your eyes." Hot tears streaked Sky's face and her body shook. Shining sat on her little hospital bed and curled her up in his arms. She sobbed into them and he felt her pain. ************************ Year 7 Day 123 Queen Celestia is dead. Sky looked at the words on the page with new fear. Twilight was Queen. She was dead. Shining was dead too. Not actually dead but they both were gonna be. Twilight had maimed Sky countless times since that fateful night, all with the same dark magic. Shining was planning, or she hoped he was planning to leave. Celestia was murdered by a rebel group of ponies that were through with the famine that Celestia brought upon the land and yet she never was hungry, nor was Twilight. The guard suffered without food, that also meant Sky went without as well. Sky put away her journal in the same place it had been for all her years here. She got up and crossed the room to one of the corners. She levitated over a violin and approached a turntable. She felt pain and sorrow in her heart, but also the vigor of happiness and belonging when she played. The violin was a gift on her fifth birthday from her mother's coworker, Octavia. The turntable was another birthday gift from Queen Celestia on her seventh. The first birthday among many spent here. She felt her emotions flow out into song as she played a song that her mother and Octavia made together, Crystallize. *************** Music, slow and sorrowful at first but picking up in speed and intensity. Shining Armor knew the song from an old album of Vinyl Scratch's. He sighed. The song meant that Sky was upset. He trotted over the familiar crescent moon doors and listened. The music was beautiful and the other guard in the hallway stopped to listen. It was truly beautiful in its power and sound. Shining Armor sat down and rested his head on Sky's door. He felt something like a cool winter night wash over him and he closed his eyes happily. Sky always felt happier as she played. The music picked up more into more of her mother's style than Octavia's. The music felt like warm fire in a hearth, curled up beside Cadence on their couch. His thoughts turned sour then because he remembered that Cadence was dead. He opened his eyes and sighed. He then heard a scream and a crash, the music abruptly stopping inside and jumped back. He burst into the room to see Sky with burn marks and wounds all over her body. She stood with wide eyes, frozen in fear. Dark purple mist clung to the air before dissipating. Shining ran forward. The turntable he knew to be there was in shreds: Records shattered, some embedded into the wall and some in Sky's pelt; the actual setup looked like a giant, Pinkie-Pie sized hammer was brought down upon it; the speakers making a mix of electrical zapping and a low humming/buzzing sound. Even the solid, black granite was chipped and broken. Sky was still holding a broken and smoldering violin, splintered wood was also embedded into her pelt. He looked closer and saw red blood slowly dripping out of not only the embedded objects in her pelt, but also from deep burns that would leave permanent scars. He could barely see the true colors of her fur over the dark, black ash. "T-t.....", Sky spoke through trembling lips. "Shh....I know it was her. We'll get out of here soon. I'm taking you to the infirmary. They'll fix you up. I'm gonna have a little chat with my sister...", Shining cut off. Sky nodded shakily. ****************** "Just what the HELL do you think you're doing Twilight Magenta Sparkle?!", Shining shouted as he entered Twilight's room and slammed the previously thought as unable to be slammed doors. Twilight looked up suddenly from where she sat, drinking tea in her room's small chair and table, never having heard her full name used in such a tone before. She smiled a cruel smile. "Whatever do you mean darling brother?", she replied. "I think you very well know what I mean" The smile deepened in malice,"Oh, the traitor! I almost forgot." Shining's face was a wall,"Why?" "Why? I dont know why. I feel like it? Oh yes, I almost forgot. BECAUSE SHE'S GONNA REPLACE ME!" "Twi-" "No, don't Twily, me, Shiny", she said with more malice and hatred than he'd have though possible as she paced the room," I am QUEEN of the Equestrian Empire." "You sound like Chrysalis." Twilight whipped around and snarled at Shining,"I bet Cadence would hate for me to sound like her. Oh, wait, she's-" Shining hit her in her jaw with such force that she fell back into the tea table, hot tea flinging up into the air and spattering her with its scalding heat. She roared and stood, deep purple magic matching the tea stains on her once beautiful lavender pelt. He heard the door lock. She staggered over to her brother and whispered through gritted teeth, cool breath like ice tickling his ear,"You shouldn't have done that. Watch. Your. Back. Brother." Shining felt chills run down his spine as the words hit his heart. Twilight stepped back with a face that looked more like a wolf's than her own. He was promptly thrown out of the dark and cold room by his own sister's magic. The doors closed in eerie silence and locked once more. Chapter 3: New BeginingsYear 7 Day 124 We're running away. Sky looked at the words, feeling them to be similar to her last entry. Was she forever cursed to write simple sentences in her journal? Surely not. ******************* "Come on. It's your training day", Shining called from the door. Sky nodded and waved him away as she put up her journal, not writing down anything. She followed him into the courtyard. The cobblestone glistened as she trotted to the guard, sword across her back. "Around the city, boys!", Shining called. The run was long. The day was cold. The sun was surprisingly up for the moment. It had risen and fallen 7 times already today. The group approached two mares fighting, looking like they were about to tackle each other. Shining and Sky came up to them and caught a piece of the conversation: "You think you're so special just because you give free food to to the homeless?" "I think I'm kind unlike you!" "I need this food for my child!" "You have a bag full of bits right there! Pay for it then!" "I-I need this for something else." Shining coughed into his hoof and both mares turned. Sky was still bandaged but stood strong beside his side. "C-captain! I-I didn't expect you here", mare folding the bits said. "What's going on?", Shining asked sternly. "Captain Armor. This mare, a rival of mine in the grocery business, has taken food and refuses to pay for it." "Is this true?", he asked the other mare. The mare nodded,"But, I need this for my son and the money is for my ex-husband, it's part of our divorce agreement." "I'm sure he'd understand since it is for your son." The mare flinched and Sky saw in her heart a life of torture. Her ex-husband abused her and her son. The little filly was always sick. She started the business to get money and fought hard to keep it going, often loosing profits. Some ponies beat her and stole from her. Sky saw that she was in the rebels. They provided some money, but it is only as much as they could spare, not enough to live by. Images and memories flashed by of early childhood and Sky blinked and shook her head. "What is it?", Shining inquired. Sky didn't answer. She reached into a pocket of her training gear and removed a small bag of bits. She dropped it on the other mare's fruit stand. She nodded to the poor mare and she smiled with gratitude. "I hope that settles it?",Sky asked. "Y-yes... I-it does.", said the grocer. "Then be on your way." The grocer nodded and took her stand away. The sun was setting again as Sky approached the mare. "I'm Sky Note ma'am. Lunar Princess in training and I'd like for you to meet us tomorrow at the edge of town, headed toward the rebel camp." The mare looked stunned and the other guard were standing idly by, just out of ear-shot of Shining and Sky. Shining smiled to Sky and she winked. "We've been trying to leave for a long time." *************** Rough Edge sat outside his queen's rooms in silence. He felt the door vibrate as Queen Twilight stepped out. She locked eyes with him. "Come, I need some help in here",she purred to him. Rough Edge was known among the guard to have a huge crush on the Queen so this excited him. He got up and went inside. Night fell. Another guard passed by his queen's rooms and saw a carcass by the door. He ran forward and saw it was the husk of Rough Edge. It seemed to be only his pelt. It had no bones, eyes, any internal organs, just the pelt. The guard ran away. ***************** Shining looked at the clothes on his bed. Black suit from his wedding. Rouge clothes, yes he had them, and a hooded cloak along with his cloak with the family crest on it. He put it all in a bag and sighed. He wrote a note to his "darling" sister, if only Rarity could see her now, telling her that he was gone and that he was officially leaving the family, Sparkle. Shining Armor Sparkle was no longer her brother and he wished never to see her again. He looked at his own words and at a picture of his parents, Twilight, him and Cadence all together, smiling and happy. It was right after Twilight became a princess. He could see the other 5 of the Elements of Harmony in the background too. He smiled at the picture and felt hot tears run down his face. Immortality, gifted by Twilight, sucked. Never did he think he would outlive his own wife. ***************** Sky looked at her journal. Her latest entry stunned her by its plainness. She looked up as a bloodshot-eyed Shining came in. She put it in her bag on her bed and sighed. "I know how you feel." "No, you don't." "You're right, I don't, but it was a good try." Sky gave a halfhearted chuckle, it was more of a snort actually. Shining got up and motioned for her to do so as well. She was dressed in Princess Lunae's old armor. Modified to her body. Shining remained in his Captain's armor. She slid on her pack that held the insignia of the Crescent moon and a music not over it. It seemed fitting and Sky wished it was her cutie mark. Still and forever seeming blank flank. Maybe she had bat pony in her. They don't usually get cutie marks. The two left the castle and headed out to the outskirts of town. As promised, the mare stood there. After closer inspection, Sky realized she looked a lot like Princess Lunae. Same misnight blue pelt, a black spotted cutie mark. Her mane was short and similar to Lunae's when she was younger, only the mare's was pure black. Her cutie mark held no stars nor a moon like Lunae's did. Sky and Shining looked at her. She blinked and smiled, even their eyes were the same. "I'm guessing you somehow found out I'm a rebel. I just need to know something." "Ask away", Shining said. "Why did you leave?" Sky coughed and the mare turned to her,"Well?" Sky looked with her morning dawn eyes and answered in a firm voice,"Twilight nearly killed both of us." The mare's eyes widened,"Sh-she did?!" The two nodded. This began to draw attention and she nodded to the two of them,"Lets go." She led them into the forest and down a path. All three lit their horns and headed down the small winding road. "I'm Empty Night", the mare called back. "Cool", Sky replied. They came into a clearing filled with tents and ponies. Empty Night turned to them,"This is the camp, it's become too dangerous to live in the city now." A familiar mare walked towards Empty Night. "Ma'am, their tent is ready", the mare said in a silky voice. "Octavia!", shouted Sky and she went and hugged the mare. Octavia laughed as Sky buried her face in her jacket, crying. "Now why are you crying my little Bass Clef?", asked Octavia. "I-I", sniffed Sky,"I missed you so much." Octavia removed the little unicorn mare and smiled,"I missed you as well. I'm glad you finally found us." As she said this, she glanced at Empty Night who was standing idly by with a small, almost invisible smile. Empty Night cleared her throat, smile gone and all business. "I'll show you the area you'll be staying in." Shining nodded and Sky motioned for Octavia to come too. They went through the camp and ponies looked at them as they passed, taking in the fact that not only was there two guard, one was dressed in the Princess' armor. "There's the infirmary if you need to get there at some point", said Empty Night as they passed by a white tent with a red roof. Shining looked as they passed and shuddered at the sight of the many ponies, broken and bloody, on the small cots. Sky continued to talk happily with Octavia about the current events of her work. "Over there is the dining tent", spoke Empty Night, startling Shining from his thoughts. She motioned to a deep green tent with open, metallic-looking tent flaps that reflected the ground below them and the sky above. Sky looked ahead and saw a wide tent at the end of the small trail that led them to the other various tents. It was a mettalic gold color. It was dark on the inside and on the tent flap was a crescent moon and shining sun, the symbol of the two sisters, balance. Beside it was a smaller tent, silver in color, but it was bigger than the regular tents. On it's flap was the symbol of Lunae, a crescent moon. Empty Night stopped in front of the gold tent. She showed the faintest hint of a smile and motioned for them to go inside. They all headed in and saw a surprisingly brightly lit interior. "This", Empty Night said,"Is where you shall be sleeping. It is the tent dedicated to the sisters." She choked up a little saying 'sisters'. It apparently hurt her. 'Maybe these rebels are really set against the Queen', thought Sky. "I-i", stumbled Empty Night, still recovering,"sleep in the next tent over." With that, she left. In a hurry too. "Did I upset her?", asked Sky. "No", replied Shining, leaving the room just as suddenly. Sky sighed. She sat down on one of the two beds in the room. Ironically the one with the moon on it. Octavia sat down beside her and giggled. "I know I ask this a lot to grown-ups, but why are you laughing?" Octavia smiled,"Because you are young, and still growing and I appreciate what Shining's done." "What has he done?" "He cared for you." "Oh..." "He loves you like his own daughter." "But he never had one..." "Yes, but you never had a father either." Sky looked down. "Yeah, I know that didn't help..." "Ya think?" Octavia laughed. Sky smiled and hugged her. "I missed you, Tavi." "I missed you too, Bass Clef." They sat like that for a while and Octavia slowly hummed a song. Sky began to cry but Octavia continued to hug her and hold her close. Eventually Sky stopped and Octavia let her go. Sky lied down and Octavia stood. It was night now and Shining wasn't back still. "Where are you going?" Octavia laughed,"To bed, sweetie, I'm tired." "Oh, ok." "Goodnight." "'Night." Sky looked up at the tent roof when Octavia left. It was a light shade of blue, like the sky. Sky didn't concentrate on it, though. She was thinking about her fight with the dragon... *************** Sky stared up the the dragon. It's scales glistened with a yellowish hue. It turned its giant head and snarled. It's teeth had dried blood on them and it's eyes were thin and red. Sky felt something tug in her heart and she blinked. Suddenly she saw so much. Visions floated around the dragon. She stared into one and saw a pony die in a crunch between it's massive claws. Her heart soared with delight as she tasted it's blood on her tongue. She looked away and at another. She saw houses burning and laughed, her voice roaring. Ponies screamed underneath her and scrambled away. She shook her head and the dragon looked at her and felt her disgust. She ran forward but felt his heart shift. She saw his claws move away from his throat and she knew he was releasing his spirit to her. She bowed her head as she landed on the ground again. She felt the dragon's body fall behind her and she let herself drop.
Chapter 1: SorrowYear 1 Day 1 Hi! I'm Sky Note and I'm making this journal to relay my time as the personal protege of Princess Twilight! She said that this was a good idea so I could remember all my adventures and stuff like Princess Twilight had under the apprenticeship of Queen Celestia. Oh! I should probably put a date here! It is year 2390 QCA(Queen Celestian Age). If you don't know your history, QCA went into effect after we lost Princess Lunae(known in her time as only Princess Luna) in the Griffianic Wars(the first of what I think to be many wars with the griffins). After her sister's death, Celestia appointed herself as the Solar Queen, the one true ruler of the Equestrian Empire, and Twilight took over the moon(but she can't really control it). Since then, Queen Celestia and Princess Twilight have been looking for Lunae's replacement in order to restore order to the Empire. That's why I'm here ************* "Sky! How many times must I tell you to concentrate?!", shouted a very tired, very snippy sounding Twilight. "It's not MY fault! YOU won't let me play my music or take a bucking break!", Sky Note shouted back, malice rising in her voice. Her blue fading to orange mane fell across her face, unkempt and dark in the dimly lit room. The moon's light filtered slowly into the room's small window and shone across Sky's equally unkempt and fading blue to orange pelt. Twilight looked worse, her mane and tail in wild curls and pelt in a huge mess. She hadn't slept for days and Queen Celestia seemed to ignore her more and more lately. She looked neglected and tired but Sky only felt a sense of dread in their upcoming fight for the night. "That music is LOUD and VERY annoying. You and your mother both! I mean, you came HERE to ME to learn, if you want music, go back to you mother, the DJ, that can barely afford the meager fees we require for you to stay here! And NEVER, EVER use that language with ME again!" That got Sky and she felt a pang of guilt and sorrow,"I-I." "I would like to think that Vinyl would raise a better child. We'll try again tomorrow. DISMISSED!" Sky looked at Twilight, stunned. Twilight gave her a murderous look and Sky quickly ran out of the room and nearly knocked over a guard as she bolted for her own room. She was on the verge of tears and didn't want any palace folk see her cry. She burst through the giant, crescent moon doors. It was about 3 in the morning and Sky was tired but her heart hurt to much to sleep. It had been like this for years. Twilight shouting to her like that. She wouldn't be ready for guard training at 6, but she had things to do. She plopped onto her magical bed that reflected the night sky above her, although she couldn't see it through her ceiling that reflected the moon's surface. Everything was moon themed in this room. Always hinting at the possible goal, right? Over 2000 years since Lunae's death and still nopony to take over the moon. "Twilight was just pressuing me to do better, she really thinks I'm the one. So does Shining and everyone else...", Sky mumbled, hot tears running down her face, dapening her pelt and covers. She levitated over her star shaped pillow and took out her journal and quill. She began to write: Year 5 Day 165 Twilight REALLY needs to sleep. Just because she's immortal, doesn't mean she's immune to sleep deprivation! I'm not bitter but she sure is. She's so snippy and rude lately. She tried to get me to raise the goddamn moon tonight! That's the bucking final exam, not some "assessment"! I could have done it though. I just needed some time and my music. Mom would be happy with me then. She likes that I have taken to music though. Well, I guess I should sleep. Good night... Sky Note put away the journal away and looked up at her ceiling. She felt a fresh wave of tears come and curled to the side. She heard the door creak open but didn't move. Memories of her mom and dad rose fresh in her mind. Bringing back Twilight's insult to her mother more pain in her sinking heart. "Sky? Did Twilight hurt your feelings again?", called Shining Armor from the door. Sky grunted and shuddered slightly. Shining sighed. He sat on her bed and looked at the little unicorn. "I'm sure she didn't mean it..." "Do you see her in here?" Shining sighed," I see you point." Sky grunted and Shining chuckled. Sky turned to face him, her eyes reflecting her mane's colors like a dawning morning,"Why are you laughing?" Shining looked into her eyes and smiled which made Sky relax a little," I just remember when our parents used to punish Twilight and she'd always pin it on me. Now she's a princess and I'm the captain of the Royal Guard. We all grow up Sky. You just need to learn to face life with a smile and a kick in your trot." Sky smiled a little and Shining smiled right back down. Ever since her father died while she was in her third year of training there, Shining took up the fatherly role and it was great. He treated her with a warriors respect and a father's love. Not that Sky ever knew her father. He abandoned her and her mom before she was born. Sky never knew what a father truly was until Shining. She also never knew her mother's love. Seeing that Vinyl gave her up as soon as she turned 6. She lay back down and Shining levitated the covers up to her. He then sat down and they looked up at the moon's surface together for a while. "One day, I'm gonna see that in real life. And I'm gonna raise it and let it fall. Mom will be happy and so will Twilight and everypony else", said Sky as she fell asleep. Shining kissed her forehead and left the room, shutting the door silently behind her. ************** "If you plan to beat her records, you should really get to training on time more often", commented Shining Armor as Sky slipped through the door to the outdoor training yard. Sky only grunted with sleep still slowing her as she grabbed her training sword and headed to the running line. She waited among the other guard, accustomed to her presence as she strapped on her sword's sheath. Shining snorted and trotted over to them. He soon blew a whistle and they all took off, headed to the outer wall of the castle. Shining came up next to her, staring. She looked straight ahead, but acknowledge his presence. "Her records and yours are getting close. You might beat her one day." "Today, Shining. Today I will beat her and her records", Sky cut off. Shining looked ahead as Sky sped forward, soldiers parting for her as she ran forward. Shining didn't follow and was quite impressed as she took out her sword as soon as they left the city gates, her horn glowing a brilliant shade of blue, like the sky above her. Shining gazed as he took the lead of the pack and she sped ahead, sword in mouth. Then he saw it, that one rouge dragon, waiting to attack the city as it had done for years on end. Sky jumped forward and disappeared just as the dragon saw her. The other guard all stood frozen as the dragon looked at where she just was. She suddenly reappeared on the dragons muzzle and slashed it's eye. It roared in pain and swiped at her but she was already gone. She reappeared on the base of the dragons neck, their one true weak spot and the one they guarded most with their small arms. She plunged the sword into its neck, its metal gleaming in the sunlight. The dragon reared back and spread its wings but she was gone again. She appeared on its back where she sliced off both wings in a single swipe. The dragon fell and she teleported upwards. She fell, sword in perfect position over the beast's head. She teleported, leaving the sword to plunge through the dragon as she landed safely on the ground. She fell over, some blood pooling around her from scrapes and wounds nonfatal-looking but still enough, seeing as they were done with dragon's claws, which were tipped with poison in certain cases. Her magic was shot. She could barely move from exhaustion. Shining bolted to her and examined her wounds. "Why did you attack?!" Sky looked up at him and gave a bloody grimace and spoke in a horace (no pun intended) tone," I saw into it's heart. It killed for fun, not food or disturbance, he loved the sickening crack and final breaths of pony's bones breaking and their lives ending. I killed him because it was right." Shining looked her, surprised that she not only saved ponies lives and took down a dragon, but saw into the hearts of creatures. Something only a true leader could do, or a powerful unicorn... "You're getting a new job. Starting tomorrow." Author's Note Sorry about my old story guys. I didn't want to cancel it but I've lost interest and took the story too fast. I might pick it back up but it'll be a while. Now, I thought of this story on vacation and wanted to make it. Here is my new story! Hope you enjoy it!!!! I'm gonna need a cover art for this and I'm dreadful at art so if you're interested in it, PM me.
Chapter 2: PainSky woke slowly, only hearing the works of ponies slowly drift to her ears in hushed tones. "She is still alive-" "I collected some-" "Little fighter she-" "Yes, I ran the tests-" "She's waking up!" Sky felt pain everywhere. Her senses returning as a snail's pace. She opened her eyes and only saw blurry objects, her eyes still adjusting to the light. She made a groan and her throat felt like sandpaper. Shining fell into focus slowly," How you feeling?" "Like the moon fell on me, then the sun" She tasted dry blood on her lips and her throat felt like she swallowed a desert. She coughed and cracked a painful smile. One of the nurses, Nurse Redheart if she recalled, came to focus with some water. Sky drank some and coughed a little more and slowly sat up. Pain shot up her spine and she let out a wince. Shining placed a hoof at her back but she swatted it away, leaning forward with a grunt. "You can start back at training tomorrow, today you rest", Nurse Redheart said. Sky nodded and blacked out. She woke in her bed. Her neck felt sore but she didn't feel any other pain when she sat up. She scanned the room to see Twilight sitting in her favorite bean bag chair. It was dark blue and was the only thing in the room that didn't have stars or moons printed all over it. Twilight stared at her with intent. She coughed,"Yes Princess Twilight?" Twilight shook her head as if stirred from sleep and looked at her,"She awakens", she chuckled. Sky coughed again and levitated over a glass of water by her bed. Twilight didn't waste time,"I want you in my quarters in an hour, no questions." Sky coughed from surprise, water spraying her bed,"W-wait, I'm supposed to rest today. Nurse Redheart-" "Said it was alright. I said no questions. My quarters. One hour." With that Twilight left, the crescent doors shutting soundlessly behind her. Sky looked at her cup. A silver star seemingly frozen in glass looked back at her from it's bottom. She got dressed and headed to Twilight's room. The guards looked at her with a pitiful gaze as she approached. She sighed,"Be prepared." They nodded and she went inside. Twilight looked worse in the poor light of her bedroom. Dark circles under her eyes looked darker. She looked at the foot of her bed and almost gasped. The bed of her former, now long dead assistant, Spike, was destroyed and was in smoldering shreds. This was BAD. Twilight on the other hand was sitting at her table that had her cutie mark on it, sipping tea nonchalantly. Sky knew this was gonna be bad. Twilight's horn glowed and the doors behind Sky shut and locked with a simple click. Sky was breathing hard. She didn't know what was happening when Twilight arose and Sky lifted into the air. Sky screamed but her voice didn't carry as an orb of Twilight's magic surrounded her. Her magic grew dark and the bright violet turned a Royal Purple as Twilight slowly walked towards her. "You think you can replace me, don't you little filly?", Twilight said but her voice wasn't hers, it was deep and dark, with malice she had never heard before. The orb changed to shackles and Sky was slammed to the floor. A band of magic pinned her on every leg and even her muzzle down to the black granite floor. Twilight's eyes flowed deep purple and mist of the same color radiated from them. Sky twisted and turned to no avail. "Fight all you want Sky Note. You cannot win." Then, the door busted open and Shining Armor ran into the room and froze. Everything froze. Time froze. Not-Twilight looked annoyed as she released Sky and picked up her knife at the table. Shining stood frozen, unaware of his sister. the air was still as Sky got up and backed into the corner of the room. Twilight slammed a hoof onto her neck and Sky couldn't breathe. Twilight took the knife and slowly reopened Sky's wounds with it's deadly edge. Blood ran down Sky's legs as she screamed silently. When Twilight was finished, she forced Sky into the air with her magic and slammed her down with the snapping of two ribs back to where she lay before. The then pinned Sky there with her dark magic as she cleaned the blood on the floor and her knife. She replaced the knife on the table and cleaned the rag she used off. She dried it and placed it back on the table as well. Then something changed. Her eyes went back to normal, the mist went away and so did the magic pinning Sky down. Time unfroze as Twilight looked at her as if for the first time. Shining skidded to a halt and looked at Sky. "What happened?!", shouted Shining. Sky couldn't speak, her neck still in pain from when Twilight slammed it. "I don't know! Sky, you reopened your wounds!", Twilight shouted, concern in her voice, unknowing of what she just did. Sky made a strangled wheeze as Shining picked her up. "I'll take her to the infirmary. Twilight, tell the rest of the guard that it's okay." Twilight nodded, surveying the room for the first time as if she didn't know what happened. Sky blacked out. ********************** Sky felt even worse this time than last. Shining stared at her. He saw something in her eyes. Fear? Pain? Anger? Sorrow? This confirmed a suspicion he had. Sky didn't reopen her wounds, she was attacked. Sky stared at Shining with her morning light eyes. He saw much pain in them. "You are a royal guard now", he said almost casually. Sky stared back at him with blank eyes. "W-what?", she croaked. "I said", Shining repeated, levitating over a glass of water to her,"You are a royal guard. You showed valor and strength with that dragon. But don't worry, your shifts are at the same times we hold practice so the don't interfere with training." Sky took the glass and coughed a little to clear her throat. "Twilight did it." "I know. I see it in your eyes." Hot tears streaked Sky's face and her body shook. Shining sat on her little hospital bed and curled her up in his arms. She sobbed into them and he felt her pain. ************************ Year 7 Day 123 Queen Celestia is dead. Sky looked at the words on the page with new fear. Twilight was Queen. She was dead. Shining was dead too. Not actually dead but they both were gonna be. Twilight had maimed Sky countless times since that fateful night, all with the same dark magic. Shining was planning, or she hoped he was planning to leave. Celestia was murdered by a rebel group of ponies that were through with the famine that Celestia brought upon the land and yet she never was hungry, nor was Twilight. The guard suffered without food, that also meant Sky went without as well. Sky put away her journal in the same place it had been for all her years here. She got up and crossed the room to one of the corners. She levitated over a violin and approached a turntable. She felt pain and sorrow in her heart, but also the vigor of happiness and belonging when she played. The violin was a gift on her fifth birthday from her mother's coworker, Octavia. The turntable was another birthday gift from Queen Celestia on her seventh. The first birthday among many spent here. She felt her emotions flow out into song as she played a song that her mother and Octavia made together, Crystallize. *************** Music, slow and sorrowful at first but picking up in speed and intensity. Shining Armor knew the song from an old album of Vinyl Scratch's. He sighed. The song meant that Sky was upset. He trotted over the familiar crescent moon doors and listened. The music was beautiful and the other guard in the hallway stopped to listen. It was truly beautiful in its power and sound. Shining Armor sat down and rested his head on Sky's door. He felt something like a cool winter night wash over him and he closed his eyes happily. Sky always felt happier as she played. The music picked up more into more of her mother's style than Octavia's. The music felt like warm fire in a hearth, curled up beside Cadence on their couch. His thoughts turned sour then because he remembered that Cadence was dead. He opened his eyes and sighed. He then heard a scream and a crash, the music abruptly stopping inside and jumped back. He burst into the room to see Sky with burn marks and wounds all over her body. She stood with wide eyes, frozen in fear. Dark purple mist clung to the air before dissipating. Shining ran forward. The turntable he knew to be there was in shreds: Records shattered, some embedded into the wall and some in Sky's pelt; the actual setup looked like a giant, Pinkie-Pie sized hammer was brought down upon it; the speakers making a mix of electrical zapping and a low humming/buzzing sound. Even the solid, black granite was chipped and broken. Sky was still holding a broken and smoldering violin, splintered wood was also embedded into her pelt. He looked closer and saw red blood slowly dripping out of not only the embedded objects in her pelt, but also from deep burns that would leave permanent scars. He could barely see the true colors of her fur over the dark, black ash. "T-t.....", Sky spoke through trembling lips. "Shh....I know it was her. We'll get out of here soon. I'm taking you to the infirmary. They'll fix you up. I'm gonna have a little chat with my sister...", Shining cut off. Sky nodded shakily. ****************** "Just what the HELL do you think you're doing Twilight Magenta Sparkle?!", Shining shouted as he entered Twilight's room and slammed the previously thought as unable to be slammed doors. Twilight looked up suddenly from where she sat, drinking tea in her room's small chair and table, never having heard her full name used in such a tone before. She smiled a cruel smile. "Whatever do you mean darling brother?", she replied. "I think you very well know what I mean" The smile deepened in malice,"Oh, the traitor! I almost forgot." Shining's face was a wall,"Why?" "Why? I dont know why. I feel like it? Oh yes, I almost forgot. BECAUSE SHE'S GONNA REPLACE ME!" "Twi-" "No, don't Twily, me, Shiny", she said with more malice and hatred than he'd have though possible as she paced the room," I am QUEEN of the Equestrian Empire." "You sound like Chrysalis." Twilight whipped around and snarled at Shining,"I bet Cadence would hate for me to sound like her. Oh, wait, she's-" Shining hit her in her jaw with such force that she fell back into the tea table, hot tea flinging up into the air and spattering her with its scalding heat. She roared and stood, deep purple magic matching the tea stains on her once beautiful lavender pelt. He heard the door lock. She staggered over to her brother and whispered through gritted teeth, cool breath like ice tickling his ear,"You shouldn't have done that. Watch. Your. Back. Brother." Shining felt chills run down his spine as the words hit his heart. Twilight stepped back with a face that looked more like a wolf's than her own. He was promptly thrown out of the dark and cold room by his own sister's magic. The doors closed in eerie silence and locked once more.
Chapter 3: New BeginingsYear 7 Day 124 We're running away. Sky looked at the words, feeling them to be similar to her last entry. Was she forever cursed to write simple sentences in her journal? Surely not. ******************* "Come on. It's your training day", Shining called from the door. Sky nodded and waved him away as she put up her journal, not writing down anything. She followed him into the courtyard. The cobblestone glistened as she trotted to the guard, sword across her back. "Around the city, boys!", Shining called. The run was long. The day was cold. The sun was surprisingly up for the moment. It had risen and fallen 7 times already today. The group approached two mares fighting, looking like they were about to tackle each other. Shining and Sky came up to them and caught a piece of the conversation: "You think you're so special just because you give free food to to the homeless?" "I think I'm kind unlike you!" "I need this food for my child!" "You have a bag full of bits right there! Pay for it then!" "I-I need this for something else." Shining coughed into his hoof and both mares turned. Sky was still bandaged but stood strong beside his side. "C-captain! I-I didn't expect you here", mare folding the bits said. "What's going on?", Shining asked sternly. "Captain Armor. This mare, a rival of mine in the grocery business, has taken food and refuses to pay for it." "Is this true?", he asked the other mare. The mare nodded,"But, I need this for my son and the money is for my ex-husband, it's part of our divorce agreement." "I'm sure he'd understand since it is for your son." The mare flinched and Sky saw in her heart a life of torture. Her ex-husband abused her and her son. The little filly was always sick. She started the business to get money and fought hard to keep it going, often loosing profits. Some ponies beat her and stole from her. Sky saw that she was in the rebels. They provided some money, but it is only as much as they could spare, not enough to live by. Images and memories flashed by of early childhood and Sky blinked and shook her head. "What is it?", Shining inquired. Sky didn't answer. She reached into a pocket of her training gear and removed a small bag of bits. She dropped it on the other mare's fruit stand. She nodded to the poor mare and she smiled with gratitude. "I hope that settles it?",Sky asked. "Y-yes... I-it does.", said the grocer. "Then be on your way." The grocer nodded and took her stand away. The sun was setting again as Sky approached the mare. "I'm Sky Note ma'am. Lunar Princess in training and I'd like for you to meet us tomorrow at the edge of town, headed toward the rebel camp." The mare looked stunned and the other guard were standing idly by, just out of ear-shot of Shining and Sky. Shining smiled to Sky and she winked. "We've been trying to leave for a long time." *************** Rough Edge sat outside his queen's rooms in silence. He felt the door vibrate as Queen Twilight stepped out. She locked eyes with him. "Come, I need some help in here",she purred to him. Rough Edge was known among the guard to have a huge crush on the Queen so this excited him. He got up and went inside. Night fell. Another guard passed by his queen's rooms and saw a carcass by the door. He ran forward and saw it was the husk of Rough Edge. It seemed to be only his pelt. It had no bones, eyes, any internal organs, just the pelt. The guard ran away. ***************** Shining looked at the clothes on his bed. Black suit from his wedding. Rouge clothes, yes he had them, and a hooded cloak along with his cloak with the family crest on it. He put it all in a bag and sighed. He wrote a note to his "darling" sister, if only Rarity could see her now, telling her that he was gone and that he was officially leaving the family, Sparkle. Shining Armor Sparkle was no longer her brother and he wished never to see her again. He looked at his own words and at a picture of his parents, Twilight, him and Cadence all together, smiling and happy. It was right after Twilight became a princess. He could see the other 5 of the Elements of Harmony in the background too. He smiled at the picture and felt hot tears run down his face. Immortality, gifted by Twilight, sucked. Never did he think he would outlive his own wife. ***************** Sky looked at her journal. Her latest entry stunned her by its plainness. She looked up as a bloodshot-eyed Shining came in. She put it in her bag on her bed and sighed. "I know how you feel." "No, you don't." "You're right, I don't, but it was a good try." Sky gave a halfhearted chuckle, it was more of a snort actually. Shining got up and motioned for her to do so as well. She was dressed in Princess Lunae's old armor. Modified to her body. Shining remained in his Captain's armor. She slid on her pack that held the insignia of the Crescent moon and a music not over it. It seemed fitting and Sky wished it was her cutie mark. Still and forever seeming blank flank. Maybe she had bat pony in her. They don't usually get cutie marks. The two left the castle and headed out to the outskirts of town. As promised, the mare stood there. After closer inspection, Sky realized she looked a lot like Princess Lunae. Same misnight blue pelt, a black spotted cutie mark. Her mane was short and similar to Lunae's when she was younger, only the mare's was pure black. Her cutie mark held no stars nor a moon like Lunae's did. Sky and Shining looked at her. She blinked and smiled, even their eyes were the same. "I'm guessing you somehow found out I'm a rebel. I just need to know something." "Ask away", Shining said. "Why did you leave?" Sky coughed and the mare turned to her,"Well?" Sky looked with her morning dawn eyes and answered in a firm voice,"Twilight nearly killed both of us." The mare's eyes widened,"Sh-she did?!" The two nodded. This began to draw attention and she nodded to the two of them,"Lets go." She led them into the forest and down a path. All three lit their horns and headed down the small winding road. "I'm Empty Night", the mare called back. "Cool", Sky replied. They came into a clearing filled with tents and ponies. Empty Night turned to them,"This is the camp, it's become too dangerous to live in the city now." A familiar mare walked towards Empty Night. "Ma'am, their tent is ready", the mare said in a silky voice. "Octavia!", shouted Sky and she went and hugged the mare. Octavia laughed as Sky buried her face in her jacket, crying. "Now why are you crying my little Bass Clef?", asked Octavia. "I-I", sniffed Sky,"I missed you so much." Octavia removed the little unicorn mare and smiled,"I missed you as well. I'm glad you finally found us." As she said this, she glanced at Empty Night who was standing idly by with a small, almost invisible smile. Empty Night cleared her throat, smile gone and all business. "I'll show you the area you'll be staying in." Shining nodded and Sky motioned for Octavia to come too. They went through the camp and ponies looked at them as they passed, taking in the fact that not only was there two guard, one was dressed in the Princess' armor. "There's the infirmary if you need to get there at some point", said Empty Night as they passed by a white tent with a red roof. Shining looked as they passed and shuddered at the sight of the many ponies, broken and bloody, on the small cots. Sky continued to talk happily with Octavia about the current events of her work. "Over there is the dining tent", spoke Empty Night, startling Shining from his thoughts. She motioned to a deep green tent with open, metallic-looking tent flaps that reflected the ground below them and the sky above. Sky looked ahead and saw a wide tent at the end of the small trail that led them to the other various tents. It was a mettalic gold color. It was dark on the inside and on the tent flap was a crescent moon and shining sun, the symbol of the two sisters, balance. Beside it was a smaller tent, silver in color, but it was bigger than the regular tents. On it's flap was the symbol of Lunae, a crescent moon. Empty Night stopped in front of the gold tent. She showed the faintest hint of a smile and motioned for them to go inside. They all headed in and saw a surprisingly brightly lit interior. "This", Empty Night said,"Is where you shall be sleeping. It is the tent dedicated to the sisters." She choked up a little saying 'sisters'. It apparently hurt her. 'Maybe these rebels are really set against the Queen', thought Sky. "I-i", stumbled Empty Night, still recovering,"sleep in the next tent over." With that, she left. In a hurry too. "Did I upset her?", asked Sky. "No", replied Shining, leaving the room just as suddenly. Sky sighed. She sat down on one of the two beds in the room. Ironically the one with the moon on it. Octavia sat down beside her and giggled. "I know I ask this a lot to grown-ups, but why are you laughing?" Octavia smiled,"Because you are young, and still growing and I appreciate what Shining's done." "What has he done?" "He cared for you." "Oh..." "He loves you like his own daughter." "But he never had one..." "Yes, but you never had a father either." Sky looked down. "Yeah, I know that didn't help..." "Ya think?" Octavia laughed. Sky smiled and hugged her. "I missed you, Tavi." "I missed you too, Bass Clef." They sat like that for a while and Octavia slowly hummed a song. Sky began to cry but Octavia continued to hug her and hold her close. Eventually Sky stopped and Octavia let her go. Sky lied down and Octavia stood. It was night now and Shining wasn't back still. "Where are you going?" Octavia laughed,"To bed, sweetie, I'm tired." "Oh, ok." "Goodnight." "'Night." Sky looked up at the tent roof when Octavia left. It was a light shade of blue, like the sky. Sky didn't concentrate on it, though. She was thinking about her fight with the dragon... *************** Sky stared up the the dragon. It's scales glistened with a yellowish hue. It turned its giant head and snarled. It's teeth had dried blood on them and it's eyes were thin and red. Sky felt something tug in her heart and she blinked. Suddenly she saw so much. Visions floated around the dragon. She stared into one and saw a pony die in a crunch between it's massive claws. Her heart soared with delight as she tasted it's blood on her tongue. She looked away and at another. She saw houses burning and laughed, her voice roaring. Ponies screamed underneath her and scrambled away. She shook her head and the dragon looked at her and felt her disgust. She ran forward but felt his heart shift. She saw his claws move away from his throat and she knew he was releasing his spirit to her. She bowed her head as she landed on the ground again. She felt the dragon's body fall behind her and she let herself drop.
