The Unicorn and the Syrc

Three Years Later

“Lumi! Lumi! LUMI!” Rocky yelled, running through the Palace gates and into the courtyard. Luminescence was balancing books on her head, walking around and trying to keep them on top of eachother. At the sound of Rocky’s voice she turned sharply and smiled, oblivious to the books toppling off her head and to the ground. She paid considerably more attention to them when they were engulfed in indigo magic, and placed in a neat pile beside her.

“Hey, Rocky.” She smiled, Rocky grinned back, the purple glow around his horn fading.

“Guess what, guess what, guess what!” Rocky said, bouncing on the spot, Luminescence laughed,

“What?” she asked, smiling.

In response, Rocky turned proudly to the side, displaying a handsome red-covered book, with a golden book mark, on his moderate-sapphire-blue coat. Luminescence’s jaw dropped, but soon she was grinning again. “You lucky thing!” she said, “What’s your talent?”

Rocky looked at her, “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked,

“To an extent.” She replied, “I know it has nothing to do with skydiving.” She added dryly.

“It’s for reading.” Rocky told her, “It’s a librarian cutie mark.”

“It’s amazing!” she said, “It’s a lot more interesting than mine.” She displayed her own flank, which had an image of a crown-shaped crystal. Obviously, she was destined to become Queen of the Empire one day.

“Yours is beautiful,” Rocky said, “And at least it’s obvious.”

Luminescence laughed, “I suppose, but there is always a little fun in mystery.”

Rocky considered this, “I guess.” He said, “Anyway, do you wanna come to the library with me? I’m going to try and get a job as junior librarian.”

Luminescence’s face fell, “Oh, I’d love to, Rocky.” She said, “But I have to continue my lessons.” She twisted the word with contempt, “When am I going to need to balance books on my head when I’m Queen?”

“I don’t know, maybe in an adaptation of egg-and-spoon race?” Rocky joked. Luminescence managed a small smile,

“At any rate, good luck.” She said, before trying to get the books back on her head. She looked at Rocky, “A little help?” she asked, Rocky bowed low,

“Of course, you highness, my services are always at your disposal.” He said pompously. The two of them grinned whilst Rock placed the books back on her head, “See you later, Lumi.” He called as he ran out of the gardens and down to the Crystal library.

Luminescence hoped that Rocky would indeed get a job. His dedication to his mother was absolute, and she knew that he would not rest until his mother had a decent life. Little did Rocky know, but Luminescence had a part in this plan as well. Rocky had never been good at maths, and over the years had not seen enough of his mother’s financial details to know that, if they only had the bakery as a means of making money, they would have been homeless a long time ago. Ever since she had earned her cutie mark, and gone round to show Rocky, she had known...

“Oh, your Majesty!” Rocky’s mother exclaimed, “It’s beautiful.” She gazed at Luminescence’s cutie mark, and smiled “Very regal too.”

Luminescence laughed, “Thank you, Mrs Spirit.” She said, “But please, call me Luminescence.”

“Only if you call me Opal.” Replied Rocky’s mother, “’Mrs Spirit’ makes me sound old,” she added, “I’ve plenty of life in me yet.” Luminescence smiled as Opal left the room, presumably to fetch a tray of cakes.

Rocky, meanwhile, was rummaging around his room, looking for his golden ball, which had rolled under his bed. Luminescence, thinking that the door Opal had just left through was the door to the kitchen, followed Opal. She pushed open the door gently to find Opal staring, slack jawed and white faced, at an ‘overdue’ bill. One of many that littered the floor around her.

"What's that?" Luminescence asked, before she could stop herself. Opal looked up and saw Luminescence standing there, shocked and worried. Expected her to be angry, Luminescence hung her head, but the only words that escaped Opal’s mouth were “Please don’t tell Rocky." she took a shaky breath, "I couldn;t bear to let him know how much trouble we're really in, he worries too much as it is."

Luminescence nodded, Rocky did indeed worry far too much for a colt of his age, “On one condition,” she said, feeling bold, Opal looked up,

“And what might that be?” Opal asked,

“You let me help you.”

And so, once a month when the bills were due, Luminescence paid a visit to Opal’s house and gave her some money to help pay the bills. As a result, there was a strong, careful friendship between the two mares, and a silent agreement not to tell Rocky anything about it.

Rocky entered the library carefully. There were a few ponies who were sat reading, and they paid no attention to him as he walked over to the large mahogany desk and ring the bell.

An elderly mare, with a lilac coat and pale rose mane, stepped forward. She had a large pair of spectacles on, and her eyes were a modest violet. Her name was Agatha.

“How may I help you?” she said, then she looked at him, “Oh, hello, Rocky.” She smiled. Agatha was one of Rocky’s few friends in the Empire, she was always friendly, and loved that there was a pony who loved books as much as her.

“Good morning, Agatha.” Rocky replied, and he turned to the side, showing her his new cutie mark, Agatha smiled,

"It's lovely, Rocky." she said, and then resumed her professionalism, "What can I do for you today?"

Rocky smiled at her, “I was wondering if I could get a job here.”

Agatha’s smile slipped off her face like a mask, “Oh...” she said, “Well...er...I’m afraid there are no openings at the moment.”

Rocky’s face hardened, he'd seen this before, countless times. When applying for a paper round. When offering to work in a shop. He was always refused, and it was always the same reason. They were afraid his presence would damage their business. “You mean you don’t want to give me one.” He said,

Agatha sighed, “Rocky, you have only just gotten your cutie mark, how can you expect to be employed straight after? Perhaps when you’re older.”

Rocky sighed, he knew it was a lie “Right.” He said bitterly, and he walked out without saying goodbye.

Rocky’s thoughts were dark and bitter as he walked home. I should have known, he thought, however nice anypony pretends to be, they all don’t want to be seen with me...perhaps with the exception of Mum and Lumi. He sighed. He didn’t want a huge job, just something that would get him paid, so he could help his mother. But he supposed that was just too much to ask if he was a Unicorn.

Rocky never returned to the library, at least not for employment purposes. In his spare time, he began to write little stories, and create characters. Almost always these stories were about a pony who, though first shunned by his fellow ponies, was celebrated, as his diversity saved them from a great monster. Especially since he had earned his cutie mark, which meant he did not need to continue his education any further. He also spent several afternoons in library, reading about Crystal lore, the history of Equestria, and the Sehsi Wfolat Syrc, which he was fascinated by.

But as the years went by, his dreams of finding the Syrc faded to childhood memories, and remained simply a dream...

Two Years Later

As Rocky grew up and neared adulthood, he began to help his mother in her bakery. He poured his heart into making her cakes, and whilst they tasted delicious, he swore they never tasted quite the same as when his mother made them. They lacked that oh-so-subtle spark of a pony who was born to make them. But he found that other ponies who bought the pastries (who were few and far between) noticed no difference. He still searched for a better paying job, he must have applied for nearly every job in the Empire, but nopony would hire him.

He was also still friends with Luminescence, but he began to see her less and less, perhaps managing to talk to her for a few hours each Saturday. But she was reaching the age of betrothal, and Queen Glisten seemed determined to make sure that Luminescence’s chosen suitor was not a Unicorn, but a Crystal stallion. There was talk about the town of a competition to held, so the stallions of the Empire could compete for the Princess’ hoof in marriage, and, once Queen Glisten was dead and gone, the title of King of the Crystal Empire. The old King had died many years ago, shortly after Luminescence’s birth, so the arrangements for betrothal rested squarely on Glisten’s shoulders.

As a result, she was even less pleased that her daughter insisted on seeing Rocky each weekend. But she knew that to refuse would only result in Luminescence wanting to see Rocky more. So she permitted, albeit grudgingly, for Luminescence to meet up with Rocky on Saturdays. But she still didn’t like it. And she still didn’t like Rocky.

The financial arrangement with Opal Spirit had worked quite well, in Luminescence’s opinion, and was still working absolutely swimmingly. So much so that she didn’t have to visit every month anymore. Opal took only what she needed to get by, only what she needed to buy her ingredients, and pay the bills for heating and water and so on. As soon as she had was properly back on her own four hooves, she had asked that Luminescence visit less frequently (at least with money - Opal was always welcome to a house guest).

What wasn’t working so well was Queen Glisten’s repeated insistence of Luminescence’s meeting with the upper class Crystal ponies, and (in her mother’s own words) “getting friendly” with their sons. That wasn’t a euphemism, it was just her mother trying another under-hoofed technique to get Luminescence to come along via the use of teen slang (it wasn’t working).

The only thing that Luminescence really enjoyed these days were Saturdays with Rocky. They were getting a bit old for ball games, but they she still looked forward to spending time with him each weekend. After all, as a wise pony once said, it’s not about how much time you have, it’s about who you spend it with, and what you do with it. They often spent a few hours at the library, poring over history books, story books, whatever they could get their hooves on.

Of course, Luminescence knew full well that in order to rule the Empire, she must get married or her mother had to die - whichever came first and, frankly, she favoured the former.

But that didn’t mean she liked it.

As she grew up, Luminescence was starting to get very rebellious, and on the odd occasion where her mother had dragged her along to meet some eligible stallions, Luminescence point blank refused to open her mouth even to drink water. Granted, she had found some of them quite attractive and pleasant, but she was making a point to her mother: she would pick a husband when she wanted to, and not a second before. However, she did notice that, even with her mouth shut, several of the rich-and-eligible young stallions still found her enamouring, whether that was because of her status or not she didn't know.

It is probably worth noting that Queen Glisten wanted her daughter to have a husband who loved her for her, and so made sure that everypony thought Luminescence was not coming, even when she was. Luminescence's dresses always covered her cutie mark, so nopony could tell who she was. So all these stallions found her enamoring to her.

However, it is very much a good thing that she refused to get to know any of them, or the course of history could have changed dramatically. And almost certainly for the worse.

Rocky himself was learning to deal with his life. In retrospect, it wasn’t that bad. The Crystal ponies were slowly accepting him and his mother - albeit just a little - but long story short, his mother’s bakery hadn’t been broken into, or vandalised, in two years. He still wasn’t employed, but the Crystal ponies’ taste buds had finally won the battle against their prejudice, and though business wasn’t booming, they were making enough to get by on their own (not the Rocky knew that, he had always been under the impression that he and his mother had gotten by on their own). In short, life was good. Not great, but good.

Sadly, that was all about to change...