Shining Feather

Twilight was up earlier then usual looking over an old tome. It was a gift the old terrasects left her. The book had secrets that was never meant for even a princess to know. But they told her that she could contact them through this book. She opened a page with a large magic circle drawn onto it. She looked at the spell and focused her magic to cast it.

Her eyes glowed a pure neon white as her consciousness left her and appeared in a dark room. She looked around and saw only black. “Hello?”

“Purple one..you have need of our council?” A voice came into her mind as a glow appeared in front of her.

“All I want to know. Is what have you done to my friends!?” Twilight ordered the answers. “They changed and it's not normal. Only you could have done something to them!”

“We have done nothing to your companions. You come seeking answers yet you have the wrong questions” The voice spoke heavily in her mind.

“What do you mean? If it wasn't you..then who or..maybe what did it?” Twilight asked more confused then ever.

“The Crystal land has awoken a terrible evil. An evil even we thought lost to the will of time” The voice said and an image of a dark figure appeared in her mind. She recognized parts of him mainly the twisted red horn. “Is that Sombra?”

“You speak of the twisted king of the crystal land. We were there when he took over. We remember his evil act...the murder of many and the banishment of a mother, her child still lives” The voice said with a raspy tone.

“Banishment? Mother? Her child? What do you mean? What does this have to do with anything?” Twilight asked.

“You know the daughter. The crystal blue child was taken away from her mother and made to believe she died so she wouldn't even think about the outside world. She is to be his vessel of death, the one who brings your kingdom to it's ruin” The voice spoke as if it pulsed in her head.

Twilight was finally putting two and two together. It made sense now. At least some of it, Shining Star was the child that was taken away. But she didn't understand why Sombra would steal a child to act as a vessel. “Okay..so what your saying is Shining Star was being groomed to be...what exactly? Why lie to her and say her mother was dead? Why force her to be all alone all these years?”

“The crystal king knew he was going to die. He planed for a body to take after his was gone. This child is strong in magic and the mind. With no earthly attachments her will is weak making her the best chance for his revival” The voice explained.

“Sombra's....revival...” Twilight felt like she was hit with a sack of brinks. “Is that why my friends have been acting so strange?”

“Perhaps, we do not know how your minds work. But something that evil will effect those around it” The voice claimed. “Your friends each share your feelings. They believe you have changed as well”

“Me? I haven't changed. I've just been really busy” Twilight pointed out.

“To understand one's true feelings you must walk a mile in their shoes. Or so we have heard once before” The voice said as a hand mirror appeared in front of her. “Use this to become one with their hearts and see how they see”

Twilight took the mirror and nodded. “Thank you..I think I understand what's really going on here now”

“Good luck princess. You'll need all the help you can get for the coming days” The voice spoke one last time before Twilight was sent back to her body and opening her eyes.

Twilight realized the hand mirror they gave her was in her hands now. “Become one with their hearts...”

Twilight went over to her bed and sat down looking it over. She wasn't sure if she should use it. It was after all given to her by giant insect like brains. She looked into the mirror waiting for something to happen, but felt silly when nothing did.

“How does this thing work?” Twilight asked herself. She sighed and her thoughts went to her friends. Mainly Rainbow Dash. She felt horrible that she couldn't do anything to help her. As she was thinking about Rainbow Dash the mirror glowed gently and her reflection changed to a darker looking Rainbow Dash with glowing eyes and darkness flowing out of her.

“Huh?” Twilight looked at the mirror in shock. It was as if she could see Sombra's corruption inside of her. “What is this?”

“Twilight?” She heard her mother calling from one of the guest rooms. “Could I get some help?”

Twilight shock her head and turned away for a second. “Sure mom. Give me a second!”

Twilight turned back to the mirror and saw only herself again. “I forgot that the Terrasect's had such powerful and magical artifacts. This mirror...I doubt even I'll be able to unlock it's full power”

She then put the mirror down on her table and walked out to go help her mother. She went to the guest room where her mother was staying and smiled when she saw her. “Hey mom. What do you need?”

“Oh just a little unpacking. Yesterday was a big day so I didn't have time to do any. And after this I need to tell your brother about what happened” Velvet explained moving her things out of her cases.

“What exactly did happen?” Twilight asked. “Dad cheated on you but is that really all that happened? I thought love could conquer all blocks like that”

“Love is a fickle thing Twilight. Your body keeps changing everyday there is something different about how you feel about your loved ones. Even if you can't notice it” Velvet spoke after a sigh. “I once had many people go after me you know?”

“Really?” Twilight asked. She didn't really know her mother as well as she thought she did. “Can you tell me about it?”

“Well when I was your age I was quite attractive. So many men would turn their heads I swear some of them broke their necks” Velvet said with a laugh. “I had men in the palm of my hands”

“Then how did you choose?” Twilight asked as she moved some things around for her mom.

“It wasn't easy. But one day my heart made the decision for me. I couldn't stop thinking about him and my heart was fluttering like nothing I ever felt in my life. That was your father” Velvet explained. “Well it was your father anyway”

“Your heart made the decision?” Twilight stopped and thought about it. “So I just have to listen to my heart huh?”

“It's not as simple, but basically” Velvet said. “Once you meet the right guy you'll know”

Twilight nodded and went back to helping her mom. Velvet could tell she was confused and over thinking things about love. But that was her daughter. Always over thinking things. “Do you have someone your thinking about?”

“Well no...not really” Twilight said. “I'm just exploring my options right now”

“Good. That's always a good idea” Velvet smiled at this. “There is a lot of men out there”

“What about you? Are you going to go back with dad or are you going back on the dating seen?” Twilight asked.

“I don't think I'll be going back to that cheater” Velvet said annoyed.

“Dad isn't the kind of guy to cheat on you though...this doesn't make sense” Twilight knew something was wrong. Everyone she knew was acting strange. Her friends. Her family. It didn't make sense.

“I know. It was a huge shock to me as well” Velvet said.

Twilight began to believe there was a connection between everyone's actions. It was too strange for everyone she knew to be acting like who they weren't. “I'll have to look into this”

Meanwhile at the Canterlot castle Celestia knocked on the spare room that Shining Star was using as a lab. “Shining Star? Are you awake?”

She heard a bit of noise and a few seconds later Shining Star answered the door. Her hair was a mess and her outfit was barely on her showing some cleavage but nothing too dirty. “Celestia?” when she spoke she sounded out of breath.

“Are you alright? You wouldn't have happened to see my sister Luna have you? She wasn't in her room” Celestia asked worried.

“I uh...no I haven't seen her” Shining Star said trying to avoid the question. “But yes I'm fine”

“Well since your alone could I speak with you for a moment?” Celestia continued her questions.

“Of course” Shining Star stepped out of the room and closed the door. “What do you need?”

“Well it's about your magic technology I would like to discuss how you plan to use it. Maybe offer you some help?” Celestia said happily. “You wouldn't know by looking at me. But I know a thing or two about this sort of thing”

“Really? Well okay then” Shining Star nodded.

“May I enter?” Celestia looked at her curiously.

“Oh! uh..it's really not safe in there. Let's go to the balcony to talk” Shining Star said suddenly.

“Well if you wish” Celestia said before they walked away from her spare room. “I know the lands around Equestria well. If you wish to start building I know of a few spots as to where you can set up”

“Actually...I've been building anti-gravity machines. I was thinking, why build a kingdom when I could build a country? That way I wouldn't intrude in your rule” Shining Star explained.

“You don't have to do that. Your welcome here” Celestia said.

“And I'm very grateful but I wasn't born in this kingdom. It wouldn't feel right” Shining Star said.

“So with this I take it you've decided to become a princess?” Celestia asked with a smile.

Shining Star blushed and nodded. “If..if that's okay...”

“It's more then okay. It's your royal duty as an alicorn” Celestia pointed out.

“Thank you Celestia...I don't think I'll be a very open princess...but I'm glad for the chance” Shining Star walked up beside her. “You know Celestia...you uh..”

“Yes?” Celestia looked over to her. Shining Star wanted to speak but her mouth shut itself as if it had a mind of it's own. She shook her head and lowered her gaze. She still had a hard time talking. She had a lot to say but no voice in her to say it. “Are you okay?”

Shining Star nodded and they went to the balcony. “So are you feeling ready to be known to the public?”

Shining Star shook her head as her answer. She didn't understand why she was so withdrawn. All the princess's were so kind to her, treated her like one of the family and it wasn't like she hadn't spoken to them before.

Celestia only smiled at this. She knew what it was like to be shy, not at this sort of level but she hoped she could help all the same. “I see your still adjusting to being a free girl. Would you like some calming tea?”

Shining Star shook her head. “To be....honest...”

“What?” Celestia asked. “Could you speak up?”

“Well...sometimes....sometimes I...when I close my eyes...I think I'll wake up back in that room...like this is all a dream” Shining Star said. “It...it terrifies me to get close to anyone..because this could all be fake...like some sort of sick joke my mind is playing on me...”

Celestia knew that Shining Star was having a hard time. But she didn't think it was this bad. Then again she was trapped in a room all her life with only herself for over one thousand years. She wondered if Luna felt like this as well from being banished. She didn't know what to do. For once she was stumped, what could she do?

“I am sorry” Celestia spoke calmly. “You must be so hurt...and we have been acting as if everything is normal”

Shining Star cupped her face with her delicate hands and turned away from her. She didn't want her to see her tears. The shock and trauma sunk in slowly but it finally caught up with her, only a day or so ago she was the only living being in the world as far as she knew. She didn't want to wake up and realize this was all just in her head, she liked her new friends.

“Do you wish to be alone?” Celestia asked.

“No!” Shining Star shouted suddenly. “I hate being alone! You have no idea what it's like. I hate it!”

Celestia realized this could have been Luna. The shaking scared of everything little girl that just wanted to not disappear. Was she no better then the monster that sealed Shining Star in her room for so long? “Your right...I don't know what it's like”

“I don't want to wake up...I like it here...I don't want to disappear...” Shining Star said almost choking on her own tears.

Celestia grabbed her from behind and wrapped her arms around her giving the scared girl a hug. “It's okay Shining Star...I'm real aren't I? You'll never have to be alone again”

Shining Star looked up towards her and leaned back against the princess. She felt safe in her arms, almost like a mother's hold. She never felt so warm before. She calmed down right away. She needed it more then she realized. “Honest?”

“Of course” Celestia said with a smile. “Do you feel better?”

“A lot actually” Shining Star said smiling back. “Now I see why your the ruler of this kingdom”

“Oh I don't do anything special” Celestia pointed out. “I'm just a woman after all”

Celestia gently let her go and Luna walked up to them. “Good morning to you both”

“Ah Luna. I was wondering where you were. We have much to discuss. I'll make us some tea” Celestia said before walking off to the kitchen.

“Greetings Shining Star” Luna said wit ha smirk. “How as your night last night?”

“Oh uh...” Shining Star blushed knowing what she meant. “I...I had a lot of fun”

“As did I” Luna said quietly. “You have a knack for control with those tentacles. I had never had so much fun like that before”

Celestia shortly came back with some tea and set some cups down. “Let's drink shall we?”

“Is there a reason we even have servants dear sister?” Luna asked as Celestia poured the tea into the cups. “With you throwing our royal image out the window how do you expect to gain respect?”

“I like making my own tea” Celestia simply said. “We shouldn't depend on others for something so simple”

“Yes and while we are at it. Let's give the commoners our crowns. Our possessions and why stop there? Let's give them our kingdom and move away to live a simple life with no worries” Luna said rather annoyed. She hated how Celestia wasn't acting like a princess, but as a commoner. Even back then she was weird now it was just heart breaking.

“I didn't say that. It's just tea Luna” Celestia said looked concerned now. “Is something the matter?”

Luna stopped for a second as a voice came into her head. It sounded like a darkness she had tried to forget about in the past. “Oh you poor unfortunate soul, you work so hard. You even forgave the unforgivable, with how she banished you for just wanting attention. She was so busy going on adventures without you. Ignoring you. Your very own sister left you to ROT on the moon and now she's making fun of your birthright!”

All time seemed to stop. Celestia and Shining Star were still there but they were frozen. “Who is there? Show yourself!” Luna asked walking over to them and waving her hand in front of their faces.

“Who I am isn't important. Who you were however is” The dark voice spoke.

Luna growled at this. “If you are trying to turn me against my sister. It shall not work!”

“Your mother worked so hard to raise you both as a royal family and what does you Celestia do? She spits in her eye and refuses to act like a princess. She's scared”

“My sister...scared? Of what?” Luna asked confused. “She is the bravest girl I know”

“She turned her back on the royal family when you DARED to speak out against her. She betrayed you, not the other way around” The voice continued to speak into her mind. “She's scared that she's too different from others. She was born for great things but she feared her royal duties would hurt others, she is weak. Not fit to rule over a hill let alone a kingdom!”

“How dare you! She works as hard as anyone, she's strong of heart and better then...” Luna stopped and tried not to say what she was about to. “She's better then I'll ever be...always so perfect...always got away with everything when we were kids...I was ignored and treated like I meant nothing to my own mother...but she had it all...”

“You say she works hard. But she was given everything, did she work for her rule? NO! Did she work to save the cities when it was in danger? NO! She made her own student do all the work. Did she even care when you came back? NO! She let Twilight Sparkle deal with you. When Discord appeared again. She stopped you from helping the girls and forced them to deal with it. At Cadance's wedding she was so weak from her lack of actually doing her duties she had to let the lovers do the fighting. Face it. Without you or the other princess's she is nothing” The voice whispered in her ear like it was her darker half.

“But she's my sister. I love her and nothing will change that! Even if she does look down on me...” Luna didn't know what else to do or say. She had to admit the voice was right, but she couldn't stay mad at her sister. They said one thousand years ago that Celestia was born lucky. But when Luna was born they said she was lucky to be born. “I just want things to go back to the way things were”

“How they were?” The voice almost laughed. “You mean with how they hated you. Thought you were a curse in the family. Your own sister ignored you. Your mother's love was always for Celestia and never to you. Your father wanted nothing to do with you. Is that what you want to go back to!?”

“I...no...I just want to be accepted!” Luna said holding her ears trying to block the voice out. “Leave me alone!”

Then a black shadow appeared before her and red eyes opened from it as well as an evil grin. “It's too late for you now princess”

“No...you can't be alive...” Luna backed up. “How are you here!?”

“Did you really think I didn't have a backup plan for when you and your sister sealed my body and soul away?” Sombra's dark shadow stepped into the light as he spoke.

“Sombra...your behind this!? How is that even possible?!” Luna asked angry.

“It was a simple matter really” Sombra said. “You know some of it already from the girl's dreams. But the truth is much more cruel then that”

“What have you done to that child!?” Luna demanded answers.

“Oh it was quite the plan, her mother was amazingly beautiful...for a commoner, she was the fairest girl in the kingdom. Sweet and innocent, always doing the right thing and helping others when she could. It was sicking. So I had my guards capture her and brought back to me. She was so beautiful I decided to give her a chance. If she became my queen I would let her free of all charges against my kingdom” Sombra explained knowing she couldn't do anything to him at this point.

“Does that mean your her real father!?” Luna asked in shock. “She was your queen!?”

“Oh no. she refused me. She actually spat in my face. So I taught her a lesson..by removing one of her eyes and throwing her in the dungeon for years” Sombra said almost proud of himself.

“Your sick!” Luna backed away.

“Oh how I enjoyed watching her fight against me. She never gave up. Even after I had raped her, she was still fighting me” Sombra said licking his lips from the memories. “Of course she had no idea I infused forbidden magic into her prison food when she was pregnant. I created a pure. No the purest Alicorn”

“You not only raped that poor girl but poisoned her...for what gain?” Luna asked. “Your a sick monster!”

“Simple. I knew you and your sister were coming for me. I was no match for the elements of harmony so when the child was born I cut any ties she would have with her mother by banishing her away and I kept the child in a room where I could freeze time as well as feed her magic. Then I would have a new body that never aged. Something that could last me forever” Sombra said with a grin.

“You mean to tell me you raped her mother to build a vessel in the future for when you returned? Is that all your own flesh and blood means to you? A spare body!” Luna was much more then angry at this point. If this wasn't in her head she was kill him right there.

“I have no other uses for a child. Soon I'll be coming for what's mine” Sombra said before he vanished from the shadows. “I'll see you again princess”

Time returned to normal and both Shining Star and Celestia were looking at Luna confused. “Are you okay sister?”

“I uh...can I speak with you alone dear sister?” Luna asked suddenly. “I have something important to discuss with you”

“Of course” Celestia then walked inside leaving Shining Star alone. Shining Star was left there completely lost.

They walked inside and Celestia turned to Luna. “Is something the matter? Your acting strange”

“I was...and I am sorry, but I believe Sombra has come back to life” Luna said turning to face her.

“That can't be. We sealed him away and then Twilight with her friends banished her soul” Celestia pointed out.

“But that's the thing. He knew he was going to die. He put this plan in motion before we stopped him the first time. He is Shining Star's true father!” Luna said crossing her arms.

“....” Celestia looked at her in shock. “That...that can't be true..”

“Shining Star believes her mother died when she was little and that the man who sealed her away wasn't her father. But that's only half right. The man he sealed her away was one of Sombra's men to act like her father until she was sealed away for safe keeping. He kept her in that room to make sure she was just a tool for him to use later on. Her mother was actually banished and not killed ether” Luna explained.

“Then everything Shining Star knows...is a lie. She's been alone and living in a lie all her life..” Celestia didn't understand all of it. But she knew Luna wouldn't lie to her. “How do you know this?”

“Sombra tried to influence me with his dark magic, and it almost worked” Luna said.

“Shouldn't we tell her then?” Celestia asked.

“If we tell her the truth...she might freak out and what if that's the trigger for Sombra to take her body?” Luna pointed out.

She had a point. But Shining Star had a right know about her origins, no matter how bad it was. “Are you sure? This is big, we can't keep this from her”

“Are you willing to tell her that she was born from a rape? How she is the daughter of one of the greatest evils the world has ever known? All this news is bad...it would break the remaining sanity she has been holding onto for years, if we tell her that everything she knew as a lie and it's worse from what she thinks it is. She could snap and mentally breakdown” Luna pointed out again.

“Your right...but if we keep this from her it'll hurt her even more the longer we wait” Celestia countered with her own argument on the matter.

“You girls seem to be having fun” They heard a voice from behind them. They turned around to see Discord grinning upside down. “I love watching this drama. It's like that show I used to watch, oh what was it? Oh that's right “Who's the father?” that was truly a comedy. Best one at the time if you ask me”

“Discord, this doesn't concern you” Celestia said annoyed.

“Oh I just wanted to visit my old friend's kid. She's lucky to have her mother's looks” Discord said with a bit of a laugh.

“You knew who she was all this time!?” Luna asked angry. “Why didn't you say something!?”

He puffed himself next to her and shrugged. “Well for starters you never asked”

“We don't have time for you Discord. We have to deal with this problem carefully” Celestia said crossing her arms.

“What's the big deal? Just tell her the truth. Isn't that what you taught Twilight to do?” Discord asked. “Just got up to her and tell her the harsh reality of her origins. She is naturally evil after all it's in her blood”

“I...no she's already been through enough. If she learns of this it'll damage her in many ways” Luna said. “She can never know this!”

“We have to tell her. Just gently” Celestia said. “It's wrong for us to keep this from her”

“Uh, you two don't know ANYTHING about kids do you? She'll handle it just fine” Discord pointed out. “Ether that or she'll go mad and kill us all, what's the harm in trying?”

“Please sister don't tell her. She isn't ready to know this” Luna begged. “Please?”

Celestia sighed and thought about their options. Discord and Luna both had good points, she couldn't believe a child such as her would be naturally evil. She was sweet and kind, nothing at all like Sombra. “I wish to do it...I'll talk to her alone”

“No! Sister please you can't!” Luna begged. She was more afraid of the aftermath. She didn't want to hurt Shining Star and this could bring her down for life.

“Well fine. I wanted to visit with her though. She's a fun one. Although a bit brainy. She'll never find a date with only smarts” Discord pointed out for no reason at all.

Celestia ignored Discord and went back to the balcony to talk with Shining Star. “Shining? Can I speak with you?”

“Sure...” Shining Star looked away towards the view. She was still very shy.

“Your...um...your parents...how do you feel about them?” Celestia asked making Shining Star confused by the sudden question.

“Well my mother died when I was born and my father sealed me away for one thousand years...so I'm not to fond of them I guess” Shining Star said looking down at her tea. “I can't really say I hate them..I didn't know them well enough...maybe they really did think I'm a freak. I mean what kind of...freak am I? I always believed that everyone had tentacles...but then Luna told me I'm the only one..maybe they were right to cast me away....maybe I'm the reason my mom died...if I wasn't born...maybe she'd be alive...”

Celestia couldn't handle it anymore. The pain of seeing this young alicorn suffer was too much. “Shining Star...I...I wanted to tell you something”

“What?” Shining Star asked still looking at her tea.

Celestia grabbed her in a hug. “I'm going to adopt you!”

“Huh!?” Shining Star looked at her shocked and confused. She actually had no idea what that meant. “What do you mean!? Are you going to hurt me?”

“No silly it means I'm making you my daughter. I'm going to be your new mother!” Celestia said happily. “Well...you want that is, it's up to you”

“You...as my mom?” Shining Star was in a state of shock at this idea. It wasn't a bad idea, in fact it was a great idea. She did feel a motherly connection with her after all. But she wasn't sure if she was ready for that.

Luna and Discord were watching from inside and Discord's jaw was on the floor. “That's not telling her!”

Luna let out a sigh of relief, she didn't expect this. But she was happy all the same. “Thank you dear sister...”

“Can I...think about it for a bit? This is really sudden” Shining Star asked.

“Of course. You give it some time” Celestia said. “And about your real parents...I'd like to talk about later. But only after your ready deal?”

“Okay...deal” Shining Star said smiling now. Celestia enjoyed seeing her smile, it was something that lacked in the castle.

Discord puffed himself out of there disappointed and Luna walked over to them. “I'm glad to see you smile Shining Star. It suits you”

“Now how about that tea?” Celestia asked as she picked up her cup.

“I'd love some” Luna said sitting with them.

Shining Star hadn't felt a reason to smile in a long time. But thanks to all the other princess's she had a reason. And it felt good, although she couldn't shake the feeling that they were hiding something from her. She brushed it off and enjoyed her tea.