Cupid Arrow stood at the bank of the small lake and suddenly her bright blue eyes turned magenta. The pretty Pegasus took a deep breath and put one of her hooves out in front of her. It touched the water’s surface and the rest of them followed. She was walking on water. She looked around her with a sad look in her eyes. She gazed at her two companions and tears welled in her eyes. Twilight looked at her and gasped. All of the sudden Cupid’s eyes turned blue again and she fell into the water. Twilight screamed but Pine just smiled. The lavender alicorn ran up to the bank and looked into the lake. She was greeted to a white pony spinning in the water right at her face. She backed up just in time as Cupid leaped from the water like a happy fish. She landed softly on the ground in front of her two friends and shook the extra water from her now shimmering white coat. She smiled to let them know she was alright, and that she was ready to continue.
The three of them walked down a winding path. They came to a long set of stairs. Cupid looked on either side of her and saw long row of abandoned market stalls. She started to go faster. She tripped on her hooves and fell down the rest of stairs. Twilight and pine looked at each other. Celestia had told them not to go all the way down. Pine just shrugged and started running down the stairs. When they got to the bottom they saw cupid sitting, staring around apparently unfazed by the cuts and bruises forming on her skin. Her eyes had turned magenta again. Twilight looked around too and saw the ruins of a small fishing town.
The white Pegasus turned to look at her friends and said softly “I remember everything.” Then Twilight started panicking. Celestia had told her that cupid could not be allowed to remember her past. Twilight just assumed that cupid had been some sort of villain in her past. Twilight was about to start screaming when cupids eyes got big and she ran into a nearby house. The other two ponies followed her. When they got to the hut they saw Cupid on the floor sobbing. She looked up at Pine.
“Are they…”
“No, as far as I know.” Cupid sighed and let her head fall to the ground. Twilight was still very confused.
“Who? What? Huh?” she said. Cupid sighed again, sat up, dried her eyes, and looked at Twilight.
“Twi, do you know why Celestia had my memories erased?” Twilight just shook her head. “Do you know what happened in this village?” she again shook her head. “Then I’ll tell you, it all happened about two years ago….”
TWO YEARS EARLIER
Cupid sat up in bed and looked out the window. She saw bright orange flames eliminating the darkness and screams piercing the normally silent night. She slipped out of bed trying not to wake her husband, to no avail. He sat up and blinked. “What’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” She said. She heard someone crying from the next room over. “Pine would you go and comfort the children please?” He got out of bed and walked to their foal’s room. Cupid went to the front room and looked out of the window. She saw a mystic white alicorn ordering the hundred or so soldiers to search the village. Her multicolored mane shining in the fire light. It was princess Celestia. And Cupid knew why she was here. She was looking for her. Cupid stepped out the front door just in time to hear Celestia say
“Do not rest until you find her.”
“No need, I’m right here.” She said to the sun goddess.
“Well, well, well, we meet again.” Said Tia, sounding like a really bad TV Show character. Cupid couldn’t keep herself from giggling.
“Wow Tia, that’s the best you could do?” Celestia just gritted her teeth and got into a battle stance. Cupid did the same. Soon there where brightly colored sparks flying around.
“Find the children, bring them to me!” Celestia barked at the soldiers.
“Cupid!” someone shouted. Cupid turned, that was a mistake. When she turned Celestia took advantage of her distraction by hitting her in the chest with a power drainage spell. Cupid collapsed to the ground breathing hard. Pine ran to her side and started stroking her mane. He glared at Celestia. Celestia turned and saw the Pegasus guards she had sent after the children returning empty hoofed. Celestia looked like she would spit fire.
“I said bring me the children, you ignorant morons!” She screamed. Pine looked horrified.
“But why? They’re just foals.” He said to Celestia.
“They might have inherited her powers.” She she spat at the green stallion. Cupid sat up and looked at Celestia with pleading eyes.
“Please, do what you want with me but don’t hurt my husband or children.”
“No need to fear for evergreen’s life. He does not have your dangerous gift. But I’m afraid I cannot spare your children.”
“Why? They are just kids!” Cupid cried. Evergreen forced his wife to lay back down. He leaned over and whispered something in her ear, it seemed to relax the distraught alicorn.
“But,” continued Celestia, oblivious to the couple’s actions “I will have them soon!”
“That’s where you’re wrong Tia.” Said Cupid from Evergreens lap. “We have hidden them where neither you nor your guards will find them!” Celestia’s eyes widened and she gritted her teeth.
“Never mind that! I can still punish you!” The livid alicorns horn glowed gold and her mane turned into a cloud of fire. She opened her eyes to reveal them to be glowing white with raw power. A bright flash of light and everything went dark.
