Equestria Noir
Side Story
“My Little Princess”
By Jacoboby1 and ShatteredIllusions
The landscape rolled by as I rode the train towards the Crystal Empire for the first time. Twilight and the other girls loved talking about how amazing it was. They were going to help Cadence in welcoming some Equestria Games Inspector. My mom was a big fan of the games and was said to have sworn a blue streak when Manehattan got shunted for Fillydelphia.
Since I was never as into sports as Mom was I'd never really enjoyed the games as much. However, the games would be a big boon to the starting kingdom. Cadence and Shining Armor could really use the tourism and bits that an event such as this would generate.
It was Twilight’s idea that I come along to help out. I was a tiny bit worried that the games inspector might end up dead or something, but that might just me being paranoid about travel.
I ended up having to fork over a gem to Spike in order to watch Luca. Applejack made it very clear to the baby dragon that my wolf was never to go anywhere near Winona. For some reason I think the border collie wasn’t going to make that easy for the poor guy.
The girls were practicing a welcome cheer that Twilight was convinced will win over the inspector. I’ll be the first to admit it looked impressive. From what I heard about the inspector, though, it was going to take a bit more than that.
As the train went on down the tracks, I couldn’t help but get a strange feeling of déjà vu. Slowly the rolling hills and mountains gave way to snowy tundra and forests. I looked up as Twilight entered my car.
“How’s the cheer coming along?” I asked, giving her a small smile.
Twilight wiped her brow and replied, “It’s hard to do it when you’re on a train car. It has to be perfect if we want the Crystal Empire to be picked.”
She noticed my gaze had wandered back to the landscape. She sat beside me, asking, “Private, are you okay?”
I shook my head and answered, “It’s weird, I feel like I’ve been here before.”
“But, nopony has even heard of the Crystal Empire before it came back,” Twilight pointed out.
“That’s what’s got me weirded out,” I explained, staring at the landscape as it slowly gave way to snowy plains. “I feel as if I’ve walked near here.” I lifted one of my hooves and continued, “I can feel the snow on my hooves, it’s like déjà vu times infinity.”
Twilight smiled and put a hoof on my shoulder. “Don’t worry so much, I’m sure it’s just a feeling that’ll pass.”
“You’re right,” I replied with a smile. “Now, you’d best go over that cheer one more time.”
She nodded. “Alright, and thanks for coming, Private. I’m sure Cadence will appreciate any extra sets of hooves she can get.”
“Anything for Shining Armor and Cadence,” I said, leaning back in my seat. “I like those guys, even with Cadence casting her love spell on us every time she sees us together.”
Twilight laughed and asked, “You can’t really blame her. She is the princess of love after all.”
I looked over at Twilight and admitted, “If it wasn’t for Cadence I never would’ve really figured out how I felt about you.”
Twilight laid a kiss on my cheek and said, “I’ll run the cheer again with the girls. I'm sure you'll find some way to help when we get there too.”
Twilight moved back to her car with the girls. I looked back over the landscape as before my very eyes the snow stopped. In it’s place was a lush landscape of hills and towering spires of crystal. I looked out the window and saw the empire coming into view.
This, was going to be interesting.
_____________________________________________________________
I walked off the train and looked around the city. The Crystal Empire was a paradise in the snowy wastes. Green hills covered the landscape for miles around. The entire city looked to have been carved from crystal itself. The buildings were essentially hollowed out crystal that sparkled in the late morning sun.
I saw my technically forth crystal pony as I looked around the station. The crystal ponies resembled regular ponies with some exceptions. Their coats sparkled like their namesakes, their eyes appeared jaded almost and their mane styles were much smoother. Almost like their manes were painted on their heads.
I left the girls to find Cadence and decided to take a look around. This place was amazing! Everything was sparkling! Everything just seemed to glow with a pure li-
I came to the center of the city and saw an interesting sight. There on a strange looking altar under the palace, was the Crystal Heart. It was a light blue color and seemed to glow with a warm light. Crystal ponies occasionally stood beside it and the light seemed to pass into them.
That familiar feeling of déjà vu returned accompanied by a very weird feeling of guilt. Like I'd done something terrible but I couldn’t figure out what it was. I felt a strange urge to reach out and touch the hear-
“Young man!” A female voice snapped. I pulled my hoof back from the artifact and saw an older looking crystal mare glaring at me. She had a blue coat and a short pink mane under what looked like a hat made of crystal. She looked about as old as Granny Smith and her glasses enlarged eyes betrayed her disapproval “The Crystal Heart is the center of our culture! It’s not meant to be touched or played with!”
“Sorry ma'am,” I apologized, putting my hoof back down. “I was just curious about it.”
“Understandable,” she said, walking to stand beside me to look at the heart. “The Heart itself has been around longer than I have. Many do not know of it’s true origins, but they know of it’s importance.”
She then gazed at me and asked, “Pardon me, but have we met before?”
I shook my head. “Probably not, this is my first visit to the Crystal Empire.”
“Yet you found the heart without any guide,” she said, her eyes on me. “I could’ve sworn I’ve seen you somewhere before. I feel as if, you belong here and yet that doesn’t bring me joy, but rather sorrow and guilt.”
The Crystal Ponies were sealed away for a thousand years no thanks to Sombra’s actions. Most of the Crystal Ponies have trouble remembering every detail about what happened. Most, didn’t want to remember for good reasons. Maybe she ran into Nocturne or Eclipse, that seemed the most likely scenario.
“Whatever the case, just be careful from now on," she said, shrugging it off. “Everypony is working very hard to make sure the Games Inspector is impressed.” She smiled at me.
I nodded and assured her, “I’ll keep my hooves off then.”
She nodded curtly. “Such a polite young man,” she muttered, trotting away.
I looked back at the heart. Just what was wrong with me? Ever since I came here I’ve been feeling a sense of déjà vu like nopony would believe.
Maybe I should track down the girls. I should try and help Cadence out. She is going to be my sister in law after all.
___________________________________________________________
“Rarity, are you sure you can do this?” I asked the white mare “I’ve seen college physics problems less complicated than this.”
I was standing in the spa where Cadence was undergoing her makeover for the presentation. I'd missed the girls as they went to greet the Games Inspector. Rarity stayed behind to help Cadence get her mane ready. The process involved several crystals getting tied into the mane and it was the most contrived thing I’ve ever seen.
Rarity levitated a brush over to work at Cadence’s mane. “It is rather difficult darling, but I’m doing my part to ensure everything is perfect for them.”
“Again, I appreciate it, Rarity,” Cadence said from her position on the styling chair. “You girls are working so hard, I just wish there was a way I could repay you all.”
“Don’t think of that, dear Cadence,” Rarity said as she pulled out… a drill? Don’t ask. “What are friends for?”
“Everypony is just working so hard to help,” Cadence said. “I just hope it’ll all work out in the end.”
“Hey,” I said looking at the pink Alicorn, “you've got the Elements of Harmony on your side. I think that outta count for something.”
Cadence smiled and suddenly the door burst open. A Crystal Pony in a messenger uniform ran inside and spoke frantically to Cadence, “Your highness, urgent news!”
“Did the girls find the Games Inspector?” Cadence asked, trying to lift her head before getting it yanked back by Rarity’s brush.
“Yes, strange mare to be honest,” the messenger pony replied, shaking her head, “but that’s not it. Sweetheart, the royal foal sitter, contracted the flu yesterday.”
“Skyla’s foal sitter is sick?” Cadence asked frantically. Then she put a hoof to her chest, took a deep breath and let it out. “Sorry, continue.”
“She wanted to come Your Highness,” the messenger explained. “However, she was afraid the Princess would catch the flu. So she informed us this morning about what happened, and I was so busy running around that I forgot to bring you the message.” She bowed low. “I have failed you, my princess.”
Cadence just smiled gently. “It wasn’t your fault, everypony is busy today.” She put a hoof to her chin and said thoughtfully, “With Sweetheart sick though, nopony can watch Skyla. The guards are not versed in how to handle a filly and the palace servants will be too busy to look after her. Plus Shining and I are going to greet the inspector.”
Maybe I’ve found my way to help. I mean I am used to taking care of Tailspin. How hard could it be? “I can look after her for you,” I offered.
“You would do that, Private?” Cadence asked, her violet eyes shining in delight.
“I've been taking care of Tailspin since he was a foal,” I explained. “Plus I’m CPR certified, know how to change a diaper, and anything else you would need to know about looking after a foal.”
“Oh Private, you’re a lifesaver,” Cadence said with a sigh of relief. Then her horn glowed and suddenly a long list appeared in front of me. “This is everything you need to know about Skyla, what time her nap is, how much formula to put in her bottle, and what to do if she chokes on something…” She went on to explain every single facet about how to take care of her foal.
I looked at the rather extensive list before me. I know Cadence was a foal sitter at one time but I never imagined she’d transform into super mom after having a foal of her own. Guess I was dead on when I thought she’d be a great mom.
I folded the list and slid it into the pocket of my trench coat. “Don’t worry, Cadence, you just focus on taking care of that games inspector.”
“Thank you so much, Private,” Cadence said with a smile. “I’m glad you’d wanna take the time to get to know your future niece.”
“CADENCE!!!” I cried, turning bright red, which caused all mares in the room to giggle. That mare could never resist the urge to tease me and Twilight about our relationship. I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her about the ring I was planning on getting Twilight.
I don’t think I’d ever hear the end of it.
_____________________________________________________________
I was escorted by a pair of Crystal Pony guards inside the Crystal Palace. The interior was certainly impressive. I couldn't imagine how long it must’ve taken to build such a place. For some strange reason, though, I felt at home.
When we arrived at a door the guards stopped, and one of the guards spoke up, “We’ll be outside if you need us, Mr. Eye.”
Then the other said firmly, “We’ll also be ready to contact her Highness, should anything happen.”
“Thanks,” I said with a nod. I used my magic to slowly open the door and stepped inside.
The room was not too different from the other rooms in the palace, in terms of the interior design. White crystal walls, a small window which provided a view of the outside, and rugs covering the rather smooth floor.
However, you could definitely tell this was a foal’s room. Pictures of various animals decorated the walls. There was a small pink changing table, and a toy box practically overflowing with stuffed animals and other toys. The white play pen nearby was filled with even more stuffed animals. A small light pink colored crib contained possibly the most adorable sight I’ve ever seen.
Skyla was a few months old now and she’s gotten bigger. Her coat was a darker shade of pink then her mom’s, she had a gold and periwinkle colored mane that was curly and sparkled in the light seemingly naturally. Sticking out of that mane was a small stub of a horn. Her little wings had the same violet tips her mother's sported, although much more defined. She reached up her little hooves and looked up at me with the same big blue eyes her father had. I tried not to have a heart attack from the sheer cuteness.
She cooed and babbled a she waved her little forelegs at me, trying to tell me she’s here.
I smiled and trotted over to her. “Hi, you remember me, right? I’m Private.”
She smiled and looked up at me wide eyed wonder. I’m guessing she’s wondering what I was doing here.
“I’m gonna look after you for a few hours, okay?” I said, lowering my head so she could get a better look at me.
She giggled and reached her little hooves to hug my muzzle. I couldn’t help but smile at the little princess. She certainly was affectionate and sweet.
“I’m glad to see you too, silly,” I said, then wrapped the filly in my magic. She giggled as I held her in the air. I set the filly down on the floor and she started waddling on her little legs. Most foals can walk from birth but they still needed to learn some of the intricacies as they got older. She laughed cutely as she waddled around before coming back to me and leaning against my leg.
“I gotta filly proof this room, Skyla,” I said, and left her to sit on the floor. I opened up the closet and slipped off my trench coat, hanging it on a hanger. I had way too many things a filly could choke or hurt herself with in that trench coat. I then unslung my gun holster and set the safety on blackbird. Wouldn’t want Skyla to try and play detective with a real gun.
I locked the closet with a key Cadence gave me and turned around. Skyla was sitting in front of me, holding her little forelegs up. “Ub! Ub," she said.
"Oh you want up, huh?" I picked the little filly in my forelegs and lifted her into the air. She flapped her little wings as I moved her about. "And the next contestant for the Wonderbolts is Skyla! Watch as she moves through the air with such grace!" I said in a mock announcer fashion. I moved her gently around as if she really were flying.
She squeed and giggled as I did, holding her little hooves out. She’s going to love it when Cadence really does teach her to fly. I used to do this with Tailspin, he’d always like it better when he was in my magic though. But, Skyla just simply enjoyed whatever attention she got.
I set Skyla on my back and gave her a pony back ride. She giggled happily behind me and held onto my neck with her little hooves. Then, I felt my fedora get pulled off my head. I looked behind me as Skyla had my hat in her little hooves and she climbed down my leg onto the floor.
She gave the hat a curious look before putting it on her head. The hat soon swallowed the filly’s head. She looked around and tilted her head under it. I couldn’t help but smile as she wondered how it got so dark.
“Oh no!” I said in mock worry and looked around “I wonder where the princess went?”
She giggled and lifted the hat so her blue eyes could be seen. I smiled “There you are.” I used my hoof to lower the hat back over her eyes. “Where’s Skyla?” I lifted it. “There she is!”
She let out a squeal of delight and clapped her hooves together. Then she pulled the hat down herself and then lifted it up again. “Oopah!” She cried.
“Yes there you are, silly” I said with a gentle smile.
I took the hat back and set it on my head. Skyla sat on her haunches and began sucking her hoof. I decided now was a good time to read up on Cadence’s Encyclopedia a la Skyla.
I began examining and reading parts of it aloud "Skyla needs to eat around eleven o' clock. She's only three months old so crying isn’t something you need to worry about. Her formula is…"
I felt Skyla yank on my tail and use it to climb up onto my back. Man that filly was strong for one so young. Maybe it just came from being an Alicorn. “Hey! What the?” I said as I felt her reach my shoulders. I looked over to see her nuzzling my back. She babbled, “Eyebet!”
I’m guessing she heard about the formula and wanted to have some. “Hey you don’t have to go this far just to ask for food, Skyla.” I nuzzled her and she hugged my muzzle again.
I walked towards the door, Skyla being a passenger on my back. I knocked on the door and a guard placed the formula in my hoof before closing the door again. Man! Cadence should tip those guys... I looked back at Skyla, levitating the bottle in my magic.
“Ba ba!” she said excitedly, holding her little legs out for it.
I gently took Skyla in my magic and sat down in the chair. I held Skyla in my forelegs and levitated the bottle to her. "Eat up Skyla; this is the best you're going to get for awhile.”
She took the bottle in her mouth and began drinking the milk hungrily. Geez, she’s going to be about as big as her dad if she kept this up. "Uhm num num," she burbled, obviously enjoying the formula.
After a few drinks I took the bottle away and burped Skyla. She giggled whenever she did burp and then went back to drinking the formula. I kept getting flashbacks to when Tailspin was younger. Only he hated it whenever I wasn’t the one to give him the formula. Potso got a few bruises from when he tried to feed my brother. Suffice to say, Tailspin wasn’t easy to feed when he was younger. Skyla however, just seemed to enjoy every little thing in life.
When the formula was done I set it on a dresser and put Skyla down on the ground. I went back to look at Cadence’s encyclopedia. “Okay, that should be it for lunch, now Skyla should get her diaper changed so-“
“Weee!!!”
I looked back in horror at Skyla standing in front of the window…and it was opened! Crap! Skyla could climb anywhere she wanted!
She flapped her little wings and tried to fly a little out the window. I ran towards it and tried to reach her with my hooves but she was already a few feet away. Before I could get there Skyla’s wings gave way and she fell, giggling happily as she plummeted towards the ground!
Okay Private, think fast!!
I saw a blanket in Skyla’s crib and grabbed it with my magic. Using my magic I levitated it quickly down below Skyla as she fell. Skyla hit it and rolled off, landing on the ground outside. Luckily her room wasn’t too high up so she made it out okay.
I’d better hurry and get her back up here before a guard sees her.
I galloped outside, the guards giving me a look as I did but didn’t ask questions. I took the stairs seven at a time before finally coming to where Skyla was on the castle grounds.
She was unhurt, the blanket stopped her fall, but now she was splashing around in a mud pile. She was filthy, but okay overall.
I wiped my brow in relief. "Phew, Cadence would've killed me if anything else had happened." I walked to Skyla and set her on my back. I gave her a look and said firmly, "Don't scare me like that again, you hear?"
She gave me an apologetic look and hugged my neck. I could tell she was sorry; maybe I shouldn’t have encouraged her with that flying bit. Then again, I probably should’ve been more careful by shutting that window. But she was okay, that was all that really mattered.
________________________________________________________
I was directed by a group of guards to a bath where Skyla could be washed in. I filled the tub up to a decent level and set the messy filly into it after disposing of her dirty diaper. She laughed happily as she splashed around in the bubble bath. I gave her a look and said, “You certainly are like your dad sometimes, running around and getting messy”
She set a group of bubbles on her head and babbled a little. "Aww darn it I can't stay mad at you" I smiled and levitated over a rubber ducky and set it floating towards her
She looked at the ducky and bopped it. She giggled and started squeaking it. I could tell that was a favorite thing about bath time to her. I levitated the duck and began singing as I scrubbed the mud off her. "Rubber Ducky, you're the one, you make bath time, lots of fun. Rubber Ducky, I'm awfully fond of you."
After an extensive amount of scrubbing I finally managed to get all the mud off her. "There ya go;" I said, looking at her with a smile "All cleaned up and ready to go." I looked away for a moment to get some towels. I was about to pick Skyla back up when...
Skyla tried to get out of the tub by herself and slipped on the surface. Before I could catch her she hit the floor. I saw that she was holding her head as she began crying loudly. She must’ve hit her head, thankfully she didn’t hurt herself too badly. I should’ve been more watchful!
I lowered my head and looked at her as she cried. “Hey, are you okay Skyla?” I asked.
She sniffed and gestured to her forehead. “Owie…” she whimpered.
“Ooh,” I said and picked the wet filly up. I wrapped her in a towel and pulled her close to me, rocking her gently as she cried. "It's okay, it was only a little owie." I gave a small kiss where she hit herself.
She sniffed a little and looked at me with her blue eyes. I gently held her until she calmed down. I wiped away her last bit of tears with my hoof. “Feel better?”
“Mmm,” she said, and nuzzled my neck.
"That's good, now let's get you dried off." I set Skyla on a bathroom pad and began rubbing her down with the towels, using my magic to move them quickly but gently. She giggled and wiggled around as the towels rubbed her.
I put Skyla in a new diaper and she waddled beside me as we returned to her room. I sat down on my stomach, a little tired from running all over the place for this filly. But, seeing her okay after nearly hurting herself made the whole thing seem worthwhile.
I looked on as Skyla came to sit in front of me. She looked at me with her big blue eyes and then started waddling towards me. She then tucked herself under my head, and curled up in my forelimbs. She let out a huge yawn, and fell asleep.
She certainly liked being around me. I couldn’t explain why but I felt that strange sense of déjà vu again. I smiled and gave the little filly a nuzzle before singing to her softly, "Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed..."
I then heard the door open and saw Twilight smiling at the sight. I blushed a little as she saw me with a filly. “Hey Twilight, what’re you looking at-“I saw Rainbow peek inside and smirked. “Hey guys! Private’s playing mama!”
Soon all six of them were inside looking at me. Rarity was there as well. Cadence must’ve been done with her headdress. I smiled and said quietly, “So how did the games inspector go?”
They all looked at each other nervously. Applejack spoke up, “Let’s just say the Crystal Empire was picked fer…strange reasons.”
Okay, I had to hear the story when we got back. Rainbow hovered over my shoulder to look at the sleeping Skyla. She smirked and laughed a little. “So what? Should we get you an apron too, Private? I’m sure you and Spike would look great together.”
“Now don’t be like that, Rainbow,” Rarity said, shooting a look at her. “I, for one, find it sweet that Private would take the time to look after the little darling.”
Pinkie then appeared in front of me and said excitedly, “We should get her and the cake twins together so we could have one giant foal PART-“ She was cut off when Twilight used her magic to shut Pinkie’s mouth closed. Thank goodness that kept her from waking Skyla up.
Fluttershy looked down at the foal and smiled. “She’s so cute and adorable, maybe I should ask for a turn sometime,” she whispered.
“In all honesty, I think you’d make a better foal sitter,” I said with a bashful smile. I felt like a single dad in the middle of a playground. Flutters just blushed and mumbled something I couldn’t hear. Typical Fluttershy I guess.
Applejack smiled. “Well seems like you’ve been doin' a good job anyway."
“I still say he could use an apron,” Rainbow said with a firm nod.
Skyla, having heard all the noise, opened up her blue eyes and looked around at them all. She saw Twilight and immediately squealed in delight. Twilight bent down to pick up Skyla in her forelegs. “Hey there, Skyla! It’s me, your aunty Twilight!”
“Ubba!” Skyla cooed and nuzzled Twilight affectionately. This caused all the mares to go aww at the sight, except for Rainbow who was trying to remain cool and failing miserably. Twilight held the little filly and tickled her belly. Skyla let out a bunch of giggles at the assault. Twilight eventually relented and simply held her niece.
Pinkie suddenly appeared over Twilight’s shoulder "I'm Pinkie Pie! I think you're really really cute, although would the cake twins get mad if I think that? I mean it would be a little bit of a tie. Then again who am I to judg-" She went on her endless tangent as Skyla blinked at the sight.
“I think you lost her, Pinkie,” Twilight said with a small laugh.
"Oh well, at least the Flugal horn still loves me," Pinkie said, sighing a little and petting a flugal horn she procured out of nowhere.
Do not ask me to explain how, we’d be here all day.
Rainbow then took notice of Skyla’s wings. My rainbow maned friend smiled wide “No way! She’s an Alicorn like her mom? Awesome! Dibs on teaching her flying!”
“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I said, remembering Skyla’s earlier attempts at flying.
“Hey, I taught squirt how to fly,” Rainbow said, folding her forelegs in front of her. “I can teach her,” she looked at Skyla. “How would ya like that, kid?”
Skyla giggled and ran her hoof through Rainbow’s mane. The pegasus chuckled. “Yeah, my mane is pretty awesome, thanks.”
“One of these days you need to tell me how you got it that color,” Rarity said, looking at the mane.
“Sorry, Rares,” Rainbow said, “It’s natural, 'sides I don’t think it’d look good in your style anyway.”
“One can dream, I guess,” Rarity said with a sigh.
Twilight gave Skyla back to me and I held the little filly in my forelegs. “We’d better head out; Spike is waiting for all of us back home. I hope Owloylicious is okay”
“Just so long as Winona stays far away from that wolf of Private’s Ah’m fine,” Applejack said, in her typical stubborn way.
I rolled my eyes and looked at Twilight. “I’ll be along in a bit, I gotta look after your niece until Cadence or Shining Armor comes.”
“Sure,” Twilight said with a nod. “We’ll just tell the train to hold up.”
“Thanks, I don’t wanna let them down,” I said with a smile.
Twilight planted a kiss on my forehead. “Thanks, for doing so much for this family.”
One day Twilight, I hope it’ll be my family too.
“We’d better get going then,” Fluttershy spoke up. “I do hope Angel Bunny got his tail brushed well.”
“Spike’s a responsible one,” Applejack said. “He’ll make sure them critters are well taken care of.”
With that the six girls left. I then looked down as Skyla woke up again. This time she moved out of my forelegs to sit in front of me. “Ory?”
“Ory?” I said, looking at her. “What’re you talking about?”
Skyla then walked to a nearby bookshelf and pointed. “Ory!”
“Oh, you want me to read you a story?” I asked.
Skyla nodded and pulled out a book from the shelf. This must be one Cadence reads her a lot or something. I picked up Skyla in my magic and set her in her crib. It was almost her nap time anyway and it wasn’t long before Cadence would come back. So I guess we’d have time for a story.
I had Skyla lay back and tucked her in with a new blanket I asked the guards to bring over. Skyla looked up at me eagerly.
I looked at the book, it wasn’t that much different from your typical picture books. The picture depicted a crystal pony colored…pink with a mane that was long and tri colored…like Cadence and that one pony I saw when I faced Sombra in the Snowlands for the first time…
Aria…
I shook my head, that same feeling of déjà vu came again. I decided to ignore it and began reading, The First Crystal Pony, by White Cross.
____________________________________________________________
A long time ago, in a place far away from the Crystal Empire, there lived a family of ponies. Two Alicorn parents, and seven children.
Each one of the children worked at different things. Some planted, some made, and some performed great magics.
The elder six siblings all did great things for the world and all played together. The youngest, a grey unicorn colt, wanted to play with them too.
But his siblings were so busy making things they never had time to play with him.
He became very sad and wanted to help them.
But the siblings all said he wasn’t helping, that he was just ruining what they made.
Eventually the other siblings all grew up and forgot about the grey unicorn.
He wanted to prove he could be useful. He wanted to find others like him so they could be his friends.
He traveled far.
He traveled wide.
But no friends ever came to the grey unicorn.
He became very sad, and wondered why he would need to be in this world.
But then one day, he found a new home, the Crystal Valley.
Everywhere were shining and beautiful crystals and caves of crystals. The colt was happy here, he could use the crystals to build.
He built the city all by himself using his magic to carve the crystal into all kinds of different shapes.
But, when he was finished he realized he had nopony to share it with.
The loneliness came back.
So he would not be alone anymore, the colt built a statue of a pony out of the crystal. Although it looked like a pony to an almost startling degree, the colt realized the statue could not play and have fun with him.
“How I wish you were real,” he said, “so that I would have a friend.”
One day, he found a crystal shaped like a heart. The heart glowed and spoke to him saying. “Tell me young unicorn, why are you sad?”
“Because I have no friends in the world,” the unicorn said sadly. “Everypony else has a friend, but I don’t.”
The heart spoke again after a while, “I will be your friend”.
“How can a crystal be a friend?” The unicorn asked astounded.
“Take me to the statue you made,” the heart answered, “and I will give it life.”
The unicorn brought the strange heart to the statue like it asked. He held it before the statue and before his very eyes the heart entered the statue.
The statue grew skin, a pink coat, and a mane that was real. She came to life before his very eyes.
The Crystal Pony came to be because a lonely unicorn wanted a friend. That pony remained by his side for the rest of his days.
Friends are never too far away, sometimes they come from where you least expect it.
_______________________________________________________
I closed the book and looked down at Skyla. She was sound asleep and curled up in her blankets. I smiled and set the book back on the shelf. What a nice story, though… again that feeling of déjà vu set in.
The door opened and I looked to see Shining Armor and Cadence coming in. Shining Armor smiled, “Hey Pri-“
“Shh!!” I shushed, “You’ll wake her.”
Cadence gave her husband a look. Shining Armor just chuckled, “Sorry, got a little excited there.”
Cadence walked over to look at Skyla. “She’s sleeping so well. You read her the book ,didn’t you?”
“The First Crystal Pony?” I asked. “Yeah, I read her that, who’s White Cross?”
“He’s some author who lived in the Crystal Empire a thousand years ago,” Shining Armor answered. “We found the book at the library and Skyla fell in love with it. We checked it out so many times that Cadence convinced the printer to make another copy.”
“It’s a thousand years old?” I looked at the book. I’m guessing the printer used modern language and material to modernize the book. But the story itself was a thousand years old? How weird, I feel like I’ve heard this story before.
“Anyway, thank you so much for looking after her, Private,” Cadence said with a smile. “You have no idea how much of a relief you were.”
Shining Armor slid a foreleg over his wife’s shoulder. “If you’re ever in the neighborhood we’d like to have you again.”
“Maybe when I’m not getting shot at, roasted, toasted or nearly eaten,” I said with a quiet laugh.
The couple joined in the laughter. Cadence said, “Is there any way we can repay you?”
“Just give Tailspin front row seats to the Wonderbolts showing when the games come around,” I said with a smile.
“Done,” Shining Armor said, “you’d better get going if you wanna make the train, Private.”
I opened the closet and pulled out my trench coat and other gear. I slipped it all on and looked at the couple. “I’ll see you two around, good luck getting everything set up for the games.”
I walked of the room, feeling a strange sense of happiness. It was as if, I made up for doing something wrong…
________________________________________________________
Perspective… Aria
Prometheus, I know you came here, at least your descendent.
I miss you, and I know you feel terrible about what you did.
But so do I, I should’ve tried harder to save you…
Like Izanami, I’m not giving up on you.
I don’t care what Izanagi thinks, I think you’ll make up for what you did.
Your descendent will have us meet soon I know it.
Soon we’ll all be together again.
My friend… my love… my king…
My Prometheus….
