Today was a nice afternoon for Hanna. Aurora sat down next to her, wondering more about her mother. “Mother, how did you get your cutie mark?” Aurora asked me while I took a drink of the tea one of the servants prepared for us. I was hesitant to tell my daughter about the hardships I went through, but it had to come to light sooner or later. “Aurora you know about the horrible things that Celestia and Luna did to you? I was faced with a lot during my youth. I will tell you my past now that you are of age.”
“I was abused and hurt by my father growing up. My sister wasn’t targeted as much as I was; I didn’t allow him to lay a hoof on her.” Aurora took a swig of whiskey and hugged her. “Mother please go on with the story; you like books, yet I have never seen a book like that at all.” Hanna hoped to put those thoughts to rest as she went into her bedroom and opened the chest that held a colorful prism.
Hanna took the book and held it close. She went back to Aurora and opened the book. “Aurora, that book holds all my memories. It is the book I wrote in and enchanted; the sentimental value that this book holds to me was how I acquired my cutie mark. It represents magic and the love of knowledge.” Hanna looked at Aurora.
“I may be good at magic, but I need a cause to use it; I know several lethal spells, but I hope I never have to use any of them.” Hanna looked back on her decisions in life; her thoughts came to a stop as Mitzi came in and delivered a glass of fine wine. Sighing, she put the book back in her chest and went back to Aurora.
“Some of the time I wish I could have turned back time to change my cutie mark; that may sound foolish of me. I am glad to have earned my cutie mark in magic and love. Books have also given me a meaning to live. There was even a period in my life where I wanted to die! I had lost so much and the pain was intolerable and I wanted to see my family again.” Hanna took a sip of the fruity drink. “The guilt of killing my own sister and watching my mother die burned me inside. Day in and day out I would have reoccurring nightmares of my sister and mother dying. I drank heavily to try and cope with the pain.” Hanna began to shake, trying not to burst into tears. Aurora put her wing over her in an attempt to comfort her.
“I was once told that knowledge is power. Somepony important to me told me of a school that started up; I was curious about this school and went to take classes there. It was then that I met Soaking Wet and her coltfriend Nine Tails; those two showed me that there is more to life. I still drank, but it lessoned over time. I also met somepony we both know and my husband, the Angel of Darkness. I tamed the monster inside him and we fell in love.” Hanna blushed. “That is such a sweet story.” Aurora said as Hanna blushed heavier.
Looking outside, Hanna watched as the crimson sun bid her last farewell to the world as the moon to glow dully in her place. Aurora was the first to break the somber silence. She got up and went off to her bedroom to sleep. Hanna sat there, relieved that she got her past behind her. She wondered about her daughter’s past, since she had spent most of her life trying to find her. At least now Hanna could rest easy, knowing her daughter was safe.
“I should get to sleep and worry about Aurora later.” Hanna slowly walked the corridors of the castle, flames flickering along the long corridors, displaying paintings of past rulers and various battles that Hanna heard about in storybooks. “Good evening Queen Hanna. Admiring the paintings, I see?” Hanna jumped trying to punch whatever was there only for him to sidestep the blow. “You need to stop scaring me like that Crimson Star! Do you know any of these battles? I mean, you are a guard so I would assume you fought in one.”
Hanna was curious how one of her guards knew about these wars; of course she is forgetting she is the youngest ruler there seeing how everypony is in their thousands baffles her. “My queen, I have fought in only one of these wars. It was the time that this nation fell, but I am not up for retelling the events.” Crimson saluted Hanna and continued her patrols in the castle.
After getting through all the rooms, she entered her bedroom which was surprisingly clean; there was something different about her room. She saw a note lying on her bed. “I wonder who put this here. The only ones allowed in my chambers is Aurora and Angel.” She uncurled the note and read it aloud to herself.
Dear Hanna,
Please try and be strong for me; I am close to repaying off the debt that I needed to pay. I watch you every day from above and you are being hard on my death. One of these days will be waiting for you in the garden and you will know that time.
Your Husband, Angel of Darkness
P.S I left you a gift on the bedside and it will serve you well as Queen.
Hanna read the note over and over again to see if it was real. It made her heart soar to hear that her husband was finally coming back. “This better be real, otherwise somepony is playing a cruel joke on me and will suffer a cruel punishment!”
Finally content knowing he is out there Hanna placed the letter by her bedside, noticing armor neatly placed on a stand. The armor appeared to be made of both metal and cloth, silk; it was adorned with petals and feathers and was ornately designed for her body frame.
There was a sword that was as beautiful as the rest of the armor set; at first it appeared translucent like a glass or crystalline replica but as Hanna held it she felt the power flow through her and the glyphs on the side lit up. “If this sword is enchanted than the armor must be as well.” the mare thought to herself.
She put the chest piece on first. It hugged her body; the cape on the back swirled with an otherworldly aura. “Thank you Angel, I will take care of this armor as well as the sword you have given me.” She was interrupted as a pendent floated out of her chest and onto her arm. I should be getting to bed if I want to stay awake for the council meeting.” Hanna drowsily removed her armor and collapsed on the bed, smiling for the first time in weeks.
Author's Note
what happened to Aurora after Hanna found her? find out in the next chapter of Memories of the past!
I plan on adding six other characters into the story for separate chapters.