Chapter One
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Plaitinum's Misery

Chapter One

Princess Platinum

Chapter 1

The filly's eyes became waterfalls, tears fell to the floor with audible splashes. Her newly purchased black garment shone in the light of the golden sun. She could hardly believe it, he was there one minute and the next, gone like that. The doctors said their was nothing they could do to save him, they didn't even try. She couldn't believe same thing as small as a fever could have lead to this. The vicar plodded up to the altar, head down, silently morning the passing of one of the greatest stallions ever known to pony-kind.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, lords and ladies. We are gathered here today to commemorate the passing of King Silvia of the Unicorn Realm. He will be sorely missed by many, for both his generosity and loyalty to his people. In the king's honour, we will know recite the national anthem."

All of the glamorous nobles and lords arose from the uncomfortable pews of the cathedral. Princess Platinum did not join in the nation at anthem, she was to busy morning to care about that.

Princess Platinum started recalling her memories of her sire. Her father had been a great stallion, despite having a lot of official work to do he always found time for his daughter, he became her tutor as he was wiser than any paid nanny could ever be, during the time that he spent with his daughter his advisor would take his place. The princess's mind then began to wander, into darker thoughts.

Platinum was now an orphan, her mother, Princess Diamanté had passed when she was just a yearling, all that she remembered of her mother was her dazzling blue eyes looking down onto her while she was in her crib. She had often asked her father about her, he usually welled up with tears and didn't reply. However on day her father was particularly stressed and angry, the earth-ponies were short on food and there was not enough for his people, who had begun to protest outside the castle. Platinum was nine years old when she finally got the truth about her mother.

**********

King Silvia stomped into the room in a rage, his nostrils flared, his teeth were clenched, his eyes were narrowed.

"PLATINUM! Did you acknowledged me when I entered the room!?"

"No daddy, sorry daddy." the filly said quickly.

"Well you had better next time or it's the cane, understood?

"Yes daddy."

Her father leaned over his daughter to see a picture she had drawn, at first glance he thought she had made a self portrait but then he saw them, the eyes, blue as the sky and the smile so sweet. The King forgot his rage for a moment before finding a new reason to be angry. He started mourning his dead wife.

"Platinum your mother, you remember her?"

The princess nodded, tears were forming in he eyes as she realised why her daddy was so angry and upset, she had made him think of her mother and the stallion could not get the gory image out of his mind.

"Platinum, I think it's time you learned the truth about your mother, follow me."

Platinum did as her father said, they traveled together down a long series of stone stairs and passages it took a good half hour to get to where they wanted to be. It was deep underground, you could easily get lost in all the dark chasms. Her father carried a large stick, set alight with fire, so he could see where he was going. Platinum was silent for most of the journey, only talking when she had to take off her expensive robe so it wouldn't get wet in a particularly damp area of the passage, her and her father folded their robes and Platinum held them with her magic as her father was already carrying the torch, the pair walked on through the darkness.

"Platinum, we're here. The royal catacombs. Every member of the unicorn royal family since the dawn of creation is buried here," the stallion paused, " including your mother. That is why I have brought you here."

"Is is scary in there daddy?"

"Why don't you close your eyes? And open them when your ready? Hop onto my back." the princess did so, she leapt on her father's back. Catacombs sounded really scary, Platinum slowly closed her eyes.

"Their are lots of coffins in here, but don't be afraid Plati' it's safe. I'll tell you when to open your pretty little eyes."

Creak The door to the catacombs slowly opened. All Platinum could her was the Clip, clop of her daddy's hooves.

"We're almost there Plati', not long now."

King Sylvia was walking a hall that never seamed to finish. He walked past many coffins, made of the most precious ores and gemstones. As the most recently deceased member of the royal family, Princess Diamanté was at the end of the passage. The King saw a lose rock on the floor, using his magical aurora, he threw it into the darkness. After a three seconds he heard a Click is it hit the wall, yes, they were nearly there.

"Daddy, what was that?"

"Oh, nothing darling."

The stallion kept moving, after what seemed like hours of walking they pair had finally reached their destination. What the stallion saw brought tears to his eyes, a coffin, made of diamanté.

"Platinum, we're here!" His voice echoed throughout the chamber. Platinum fell off her fathers back in fright, dropping the robes in the process.

"Offf" She began rubbing her back,"that hurt"

"Sorry cherub" He began walking towards the wall."let's get these torch sconces lit." The muscular stallion lit the torches attached to the wall around the Diamanté coffin, the inscription on the coffin could know be read.

"Platinum. Come and look at this." The purple filly staggered over to the coffin. "Can you read it?"

"Here lies the body of Princess Diamanté IV, may her soul gallop to the great beyond. She will be missed by all."

"Plati, it's time I told you about how your mother passed..." He let a deep breath out then began." It was midnight, the cathedral clock had just struck, you were asleep in your crib, your mother and I were in a bed together. I woke to the sound of screaming, it was your mother. She had been stabbed in the back." The stallion began to cry, the princess's eyes were watering,"Your mother collapsed, I leapt out of bed and found a pegasus stallion about to fly out the window. Thinking fast, I grabbed him with my magic, before calling for the royal guard. To this day nopony knows how the stallion infiltrated the royal castle or why he did it, but they do know why he dangled from a rope..."

**********

Interrupting the princess's flashback, a hoof dragged her back down to her cold pew. It was that of her closest friend and her future adviser, Clover.

"Thanks Clover" the princess whispered.

"No problem."

The vicar wiped his eyes with a handkerchief before continuing,

"We will now have the speeches starting with Velvet the vigilant, the king's loyal advisor."

Velvet was Clover's aunt, however they bore next to no resemblance to one another, accept their clothes, brown plain and dirty cloth, with a hood tied on with rope. Velvet was a kind mare, always stopping to say hello to the Princess before going to the throne room to take her position, she had always liked to put on a tough exterior towards everypony, this made her gaunt face extremely hard to read.

The funeral went on for hours, sad ponies one by one plodding up to the altar to make a long depressing speech. Platinum broke into tears on many occasions throughout the dreadful event. When every pony was done lamenting over the dead body of the king, the flawless lid of the Silver Coffin was closed and sealed, never to be opened again. A few royal guard began the long journey down to the catacombs to but the body to rest.

"The next few years are going to be the hardest ones in your life." Platinum thought to herself, without her dad as her tutor, who would carry on with her education? She would have to spend more time with Clover, that was a no-brainer. Hopefully Velvet would spend more time with her and Clover now she wasn't fretting about the King?

All Platinum wanted to do was forget about the funeral, but that would be impossible...