A Princess's Fate
This story begins within the walls of a great castle. It was a castle of great beauty, one that worked with great harmony. Perhaps it was the most grand of castles that had ever existed to its day. Within its walls, a princess had been crowned to rule over all of the land of Equestria. From the day of her birth, she was taught to live in peace and harmony with all of her subjects. And so she did; and in time her loyal ponies grew to love the princess that cared for them so.
“It is a sad day in Equestria.” A guard remarked. He was a knight to the princess, among those few who were most close to her.
“I’m afraid, guard. What plagues the princess on this day?” A unicorn of blue replied. She was a small pony, her frame only measuring half to that of the guard. Her mane was filled with nothing but curls of blue, her coat and eyes wearing the same majesty.
“There’s no time. The princess has summoned you. She requests your presence at once.” The guard then stepped aside, allowing the unicorn entry through the large castle doors. The guard on the opposite side remained in watchful silence, observing the small unicorn’s movements as she entered the castle.
The insides of the tower were not as the mare recalled. Instead, the long hallways were filled with dark shadows and gloomy color, filling the unicorn’s heart with bottomless dread. Continuing on, she observed the bright glass windows of the castle walls as ventured, reciting past events of trial and victory. Her steps echoed as she went, approaching where her princess patiently awaited her arrival. Finally the unicorn arrived upon a pair of doors climbing high to the castle ceiling, towering far over the small mare's head. The door was marked with almost infinite carvings of vines and flowers, painted a bright green to present a vision of nature. Before marching in, the mare took in a swift breath of air and pushed her way into the room that presented itself behind.
This room was remarkably dim as well, hiding much of the view to what it held inside. A shadowed image of a large bed fit for a ruler held the center of the room, a large body tucked away beneath its sheets. The unicorn could see enough of the shapes in the room to suspect furnishings, along with dark shades of green that wrapped itself in most of the many possessions inside.
“Princess…?” Her small voice called, carrying many of the worries that had whelmed up inside of her.
“Petal, is that you? Please, come closer to me…” The body called, a cough thrown up from her lungs. The unicorn did as her princess requested, approaching the side of the bed so that the other pony could see her. The princess herself was an alicorn of many greens, not unlike the unicorn. Her face was pale, her mane of magical energy flowing limply beside her on the bed. The goddess that lie there looked into the unicorn with her dull blue eyes, seemingly awaiting her subject’s many unavoidable questions.
“ Princess, what happened to you?” Ask the unicorn.
“Petal, my time is almost gone. I am dying.”
“What? No, princess you can’t die-“
“My magic is fading, and soon I will be gone.”
“No! Princess, I can save you. Just tell me what I need to do. I’ll do anything you ask. Just-“
“Listen, my little pony. There is nothing you can do. I cannot live forever, even as a princess. It is what the fates have decided. Whether it be a thousand years- one hundred, or even twenty- I may only live as long as I am needed.”
“But we do need you. You are the ruler of all of Equestria. There is no pony more important than you. How will we continue on without you?”
“Everything has its time. My time has come.”
“…How long do you have left?”
“I do not know. But I do know that by the time you return to my chamber, I will no longer be here.”
For once, fear seemed to show on the unicorn’s face. For a moment or more, the room seemed to reflect the silent sadness that the blue mare was feeling. Nothing was said in those short moments; it was as if time had slowed for her.
“Petal Blast, my most faithful student. I do have one more thing to ask of you. There is no pony in all of Equestria I give my faith in as much as I do in you. It is why I have summoned you here.”
Petal then bowed her head before the princess, a sign of respect in her request.
“Yes princess. Anything you ask of me- I vow to fulfill.”
“Petal, there is a great evil that will rise over Equestria after I am gone. The fates have shown this to me. I must ask that you will seek out this evil and destroy it before it possesses the power that I once did. You cannot fail.” The princess paused to cough again, her voice trembling as she continued.
“You must leave the safety of this castle by nightfall and venture out into places even I cannot see. I have already told my servants to prepare for your journey. Outside, I have sent for one of my guards to escort you on your quest. He goes by the name of Crimson Art, and he is the strongest of my castle guards. He has sworn his faith to me, and he will protect you against all odds.”
“Yes Princess. I will do as you ask of me.”
“Go now. He awaits your presence outside.”
“Farwell, my Princess."
The blue unicorn then turned to leave her beloved Princess, whom had with her wisdom guided Petal all of her life. She had known nothing different than that of the beautiful castle that she had dwelled in all the days before. Now she was alas, alone in this world.
