Blood and Diamonds

Chapter 1
A Dark Past

Everypony has dark secrets, some worse then others. Snow is one such pony. Day after day he patrolled the great halls of Canterlot Castle. But he felt there was more to his life than just this. Like he was missing something. Snow looked out the window and saw fellow soldiers in combat drills. Snow's mind took him to a dark place in his past during the start of the rebellion strikes on Canterlot.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

One late night in the Castle, Celestia and Luna were sleeping peacefully in their chambers. There had been talk of rebels in Canterlot, but Celestia paid little attention to rumors. Besides, what could get past her elite guard? What she didn't know that night, was that something tragic would happen.

Unseen by the guards, a lone figure crept through the castle all but invisible. The shrouded figure made its way to the Sister's chamber. Once into the chambers, the figure surveyed the scene. Princess Luna laid closest, in her bed, Celestia on the other end of the room. The figure slowly crept up to Luna, who was fast asleep. Without a word it took out a razor sharp dagger, and plunged it into the young sisters heart. Luna startled from her slumber, not able to make a sound for the blood had risen into her throat. Slowly she could feel the life drained from her body. Then she was no more. The shrouded figure left as easily as it came.

The next day Celestia woke to a horrific sight. Her sister lay slaughtered in her bed, a message written in Luna's blood upon the wall read:

"SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS"

Celestia, driven mad by grief, ordered a strike on the rumored rebellion hideout. Ordering that none be spared. The guard was mobilized immediately, and among them Pvt. Snow.

"You heard the orders, not one is to remain alive!" ordered a white stallion with a blue mane.

"Yes, Shining Armor, sir!" Snow screamed, his heart like ice.

Everywhere Snow looked he could see the grizzly sight. Soldiers cutting down mare and colt alike. Age did not matter here, nor did gender. For a sword is not biased, it takes the life of everypony it touches. Snow could see mares and colts being dragged out of there houses only to be cut down in the streets, and why shouldn't they be. An attack on royalty will not go unpunished. A filly darted past him, only to have an arrow pierce her heart. As Snow looked up, he could just catch the flip of a yellow tail enter an ally. Snow sprinted after the tail and found a mare desperately trying to escape. She saw him and fear took hold of her like a prisoner awaiting the axe. The mare was gray with a yellow mane. She also had bubbles as her cutie mark. It appeared to Snow, as he looked at her longer, that her eyes were not aligned. Snow stared at the mare as she stared back at him, longing for a chance at life in her eyes. To be shown mercy in this dark time. These animals would never receive it, for they took his parents from him.

"Betrayal can never be forgiven," Snow snarled, as he drove his blade deep into her heart.

Blood spilled out of the young mare's body. Snow removed his sword and watched as the mare fell to the ground, chilled by the icy hand of death. Snow watched as the blood slowly surrounded the mare like a stream of water. Spitting on her corpse he turned to find more prey.

"Mommy?" a small voice said.

Startled, he turned to see who spoke. There before him stood a small gray unicorn with a yellow mane. Confused, Snow stared at the filly. He had taken this young filly's mother from her, like the rebels had taken his parents from him. What had he turned into, what made him different from the monsters that took his parents.

"Mommy, wake up. Mommy why won't you hold me?" the small filly started to cry.

His convictions melted like fire melting ice. Snow looked back at what he had done. The young filly had wriggled her way between her mothers limp arms, her tears mixing with her mother's blood. No, Snow knew this could never be forgiven, as he had never forgiven those who took his own mother's life.

"Look out!" screamed a voice.

Snow turned, but it was too late. He felt a burning pain all over his body like a thousand needles piercing his skin. Throat beginning to swell up, not able to speak. Lungs burning for air that was not present. Body convulsing to remove the foreign substance. Snow's eyes widened in fear, for he new he had been engulfed in gas. Then everything went black.

Snow awoke in what appeared to be a hospital. He looked down at his coat. Where it had once been pure ivory was now a dark dull gray. Forever tainted, an eternal mark on his soul.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

"Lt. Snow!" a voice startled him out of his thoughts. "Lieutenant. you're needed in the throne room."

"Yes of coarse," Snow said in a stern tone.

As Snow trotted to the throne room, he could only imagine why. It was not common for him to be asked to the throne room. Usually it was Shining Armor along with some of the generals. As Snow trotted to the throne room he heard what sounded like muffled sobbing from Celestia's chambers. Snow crept to the door to see Princess Celestia in tears on the balcony. Luna's side of the room was as she had left it, not a single thing out of place. Everything clean to the point of obsession. Like an embalmer beautifies a corpse. Celestia's side, on the other hand, looked as though no one had cleaned it in weeks. Books scattered on the floor, Snow also noticed that Celestia's mirror was fractured. Snow, feeling awkward at the sight of his Monarch in tears, moved on to the throne room. Never had Celestia seemed so vulnerable.

Snow arrived at the throne room, a brilliantly lit court with stain glass windows of several different periods of history. Across the court Snow could see Shining Armor.

"Lt. Snow," Shining Armor yelled to him.

"Yes sir, you wanted to see me," Snow responded.

"I've sent for you, because I have a task," began Shining Armor "Princess Celestia has suspected the rebels base of operation is centered in Ponyville. She is sending her pupil to ascertain the truth. I want you to make sure she is kept safe on her mission. Do you understand?" questioned Shining Armor.

"Yes, sir. I will do everything in my power to make sure she is kept safe," answered Snow.

"See that you do. Now follow me, ordered Shining Armor.

Shining Armor led Snow out of the throne room and down a hall. They came to a room Snow recognized as the Castle Library. As they entered the room Snow saw a purple unicorn sitting on the ground with several books around her. Just then his mind took him to a small happy part of his past.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Snow had met a unicorn in the city of Canterlot after the raid on the suspected rebel outpost. She was a white unicorn and when he saw her for the first time, his heart raced and it felt like a thousand butterflies where in his stomach. Snow had always been shy when it came to talking to the mares of Equestria, she sat outside of the cafe sipping some tea and reading a book. Snow sat on a bench across from the cafe. He continued to steal glances at her. She would look up, then he would look away. This game continued for quite some time. Then he looked up as she looked at him. Their eyes met. Snow felt extremely embarrassed. He immediately dropped his gave to the ground, blood rushing to his face. But it was too late, she had seen him. She then did something he did not expect, she proceeded to get out of her chair and walk toward him. Snow could feel his face burning red. Then he saw her hooves in front of him.

"O, how are you? Are you ok?" she inquired.

"I... um, what," Snow sputtered in confusion.

"O that's right, you probably don't remember me. I'm the one that treated your burns," she said with a smile.

"May I ask you what your name is?" Snow asked.

"My name is White Velvet, but just call me Velvet," she answered.

"Ok Velvet, and as a thank you, how about this," Snow proposed, "I take you out for dinner."

"I would love to go with you," she responded "When and where were you thinking?"

"Well I just happened to have two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala," Snow said with a smile.

Velvet's eyes lit up like stars. She had always dreamed of going to the Gala, as did every mare. She was so excited she kissed Snow on the cheek. Snow dazed and blushing didn't know how to respond to this.

"O look at the time, I have to be down at the hospital soon," she said concerned. "Come to the hospital at ten O'clock. That's when my shift ends."

"Wonderful! I'll see you then," replied Snow gleefully.

* * * * * * * * * * * *[

"Who is this?" a voice startled Snow out of his thoughts.

"This is Lt. Snow. He will be accompanying you to Ponyville on the task Princess Celestia mentioned," Shining Armor answered.

Irritated, Twilight said, "Why do I need an escort? I'm perfectly capable of handling things on my own."

"Because that's what Princess Celestia ordered," retorted Shining Armor.

"But I don't need him," Twilight began.

"Twilight that's enough," Shining Armor yelled.

"Lieutenant, you know your orders. Make sure my sister is safe," Shining Armor commanded.

Shocked at the news that Princess Celestia's pupil was his Captain's sister, Snow regained his composure and answered, "I will do everything in my power to keep her safe, sir."

"That's what I like to hear," Shining Armor said, as he left the library.