Conception

Chapter edited by Outcast98 and Princess Galxi

Chapter 2: History Locked in Tragedy

“It was all a freaking dream?! Everything?! And I was actually with Vinyl… or… had a CHANCE with her!” Alica screamed furiously, after coming to her conclusion. “-And I met with Twilight! Who offered to help me! UGH! And NOW I need to go through that whole club again, as if it wasn’t boring enough in THE DREAM!”

A voice called out from downstairs, “Alica?! What is the matter now?!” Footsteps were heard as she started up the stairs.

“-When that brown pony said something big was coming, HE… WASN’T… KIDDING! A BIG disappointment is what it was alright!” Alica continued her ramble, and as she heard her sister start to open the door, she decided to prepare a pillow to launch in her direction.

As it swung open, the pillow hit the wall seven feet from the door. Morning stared at where it had landed. “Okay, wow, and this time I was expecting it to hit me.”

Alica grumbled, “but I always miss…”

“Well, obviously not yesterday,” said Morning in her defense, chuckling.

“Yeah…. I guess you do have a point… wait, what?!” Alica jumped up in shock for a moment as she started to ponder this new information.

“Remember, it hit me on the horn? We laughed? I do hope that my memory of us laughing was real…” Morning chucked a bit at the memory, but Alica remained to have a shocked expression upon her face.

She started to think out loud, “so if you remembered what you thought was yesterday, then that must mean that what I just thought to be a dream… was…” She thought about it for a bit longer, making sure it was indeed real. She then sequentially blurted out, “OH MY GOSH! Then it wasn’t a dream!”

Morning laughed, and realized why Alica was so upset before.  “Well, even if it was a dream, you should be happy to have one. It is funny how one morning, you get mad for not having dreams, and then the next morning you get mad for having one.”

Alica then blurted out, “nope! It is from waking up that upsets me! …but I guess you’re right, I should look to the bright side. I’m telling you, I really do try!” Alica smiled brightly, and at the same time, felt relieved to find that everything was just as she had thought it to be.

Morning responded, “I believe you, don’t worry. It is hard to fight negative feelings sometimes, but sometimes you might have no choice but to experience it. But hey, at least it makes a pony wiser! …in the end at least.” She smiled sadly at Alica, then, walking over, hugged her tightly.

Startled a bit, Alica still embraced the hug. She’s not normally like this… what’s happening? She thought.

“Um…” Alica started slowly. “Is everything okay, big sis?”

Morning, who had broken from the hug, obviously trying to hide tears, replied. “Oh, y-yes, nothing is wrong.” She smiled sadly again, still having hid something deeper.

Alica decided to break the ice. “What are you hiding?”

Morning, freezing for a moment, answered. “Nothing, or at least… until breakfast. How about I explain everything at the table? I promised you yesterday I would tell you about… well… you know what I mean, so let’s just go down before the food gets cold.”

Alica bounced up. “Oh! Are they your signature Morning Pancakes?! I love those!”

Morning giggled. “Yes indeed! After a night like last night for you, I knew we had to have something special.” Getting up, she headed downstairs with Alica bouncing behind her.

“Yippie! It’s been so long! All of that yummy sticky sauce!”

“Syrup,” Morning corrected.

“Whatever, you get the point!” Alica beamed, squee-ing softly in excitement.

Upon arriving at the table, Alica looked down at the delicious meal ahead of her. Immediately, she sprang into her chair. Morning sat down as well, but not with as much enthusiasm. Then, something came to mind for Alica. “Wait… this will probably drive me crazy if I don’t ask this. How exactly did I get home last night? Last thing I remember, I was working really hard as usual…”

Morning chucked a bit, preparing to take a bite of her meal, but before doing so, she answered quickly, “well, that was probably why you fell asleep. You worked for so many hours...”

Alica responded, “hehe…. I guess you’re right… but that doesn’t really answer my question.”

After finishing chewing, Morning continued. “I was getting to that, I just couldn't resist tasting what I have made.”

Alica, face full of food now, tried to respond again. She only managed to open her mouth and get a piece of mush to fall out onto her plate. She blushed brightly, and simply nodded for Morning to continue.

Morning laughed lightly, and continued on. “Well, back onto what I was saying, the DJ came to the door with you on her back-“

Alica spit out her food in shock of what she had heard. At this point, everything on her plate didn’t at all resemble a pancake. “You mean Vinyl Scratch?! THE DJPon3?!”

Morning replied, “yeah, I think… I’m not too familiar with DJs, but I think that was her name.”

Alica thought shortly about Vinyl carrying her home. As the image came up in her head, she immediately pushed it back from whence it came to hide her blush.  “But… how did she get my address?”

“Maybe the boss? I don’t know, you would have to ask her.” Morning guessed.

Just then a realization hit Alica. “Oh no… The boss is going to be so mad at me…”

“Hey, don’t worry, you cannot change the past. And who knows, maybe this stress all turns out to be all in your head.” Morning took another bite, smiling at Alica, trying to cheer her up.

“Well… I guess you’re right. Heheh, thanks for helping there.” Alica smiled back.

There was silence for a moment as the two ate a bit more. Eventually, Alica began, “so, you said you would talk about…. The thing?”

Morning finished chewing the last of her food, then spoke at last. “That is right… and I have had the time to think.” She looked sadly again to Alica. “Promise me, though, that you will keep looking to the bright side, no matter what you hear.”

Alica thought for a moment, and then responded, “Okay, I promise.”

“I am serious, Alica. Promise from the bottom of your heart,” Morning demanded.

Startled slightly by her tone, Alica said again, nodding, “I promise, from my heart, no matter how bad the truth might be, that I will look to the good side.”

Looking at her intently, Morning finally decided to continue. “Okay, now whatever happens, you will never break that promise… Or at least just try your best. I just hope you try to stay happy, that is all. Sometimes knowing the truth can make it all harder to live than just being oblivious…”

“Yes, but you said before that bad things make ponies wiser,” Alica said happily.

“only if you can pick yourself up. Trust me, you get nowhere until you do something to help yourself… that’s why I made you promise.” Morning smiled sadly once more.

“Right.” Alica smiled encouragingly. “Go on, I’m ready.”

Morning looked down. “Okay, I’m sorry to keep you waiting… it really was for the best, but now is the time you must know. Okay, okay, so it all started all the way back to when I was four years old…”

•      -     -

It was a dark night at the Underthought’s house. The rain had stopped, and everypony was fast asleep. A knock had then come to the door, one that would change the fate of the universe itself. A tiny filly sat in a basket as the door opened about a minute after. To the filly in the basket, she saw a beautiful and caring mare, who would have been called 'mother.'

There was a letter; the mare read it aloud to the stallion next to her, who would have been called 'father' to this newborn filly. The letter read, "Dear Starheart and Greathoof Underthought, all tests will show that this newborn, Alica, belongs to you. Take good care of her, for she is yours now. Treat her as a part of the family. Destiny is not to be misled. Sincerely, The Wanderer.”

There was a silence, for no words could come out of the parents’ mouths. A single look of confusion but care stood upon Starheart's face, and a single look of wonder yet acknowledgement stood upon Greathoof’s. Starheart carefully went to pick up the precious basket, and went inside as the night continued forth.

As morning came, Morning came to see this new sister of hers. A connection sat in, and the two sisters were eternally bonded till the end of time.

Time had passed, and over a course of a few years, Alica had one day started to obliviously look around. She saw two wonderful parents, and a beautiful older sister. The front door had opened, and as the tiny filly remained in one of her small beds in the front room, she saw that her mom and dad were talking to a certain pony.

This pony had a curly, pink and purple mane, along with a light-pink coat to compliment it. A strangely-shaped, twisted cube stood upon her flank, symbolizing an unknown destiny. She looked energetic, but yet somehow depressed by a tragedy of the past. She said a few words, and then said her name.  The parents looked at each other and then to the strange pony. They urged her inside quickly.

As this pony walked closer to Alica, she had a wonderful look of hope directed to her. Alica saw her face closely, then, and saw also a face of sorrow, but of loving at the same time nevertheless. A time had come for destiny to be made as she stroked the filly’s mane gently, this ruffled little mane of hers.

The parents then followed the mare into a room, and as Morning asked to come with them, the strange mare shook her head.

The day passed and all was quiet. The strange mare had left, and the mom and dad came to Morning with a feeling of utter desperation to tell her something before bed. Alica was in the same room as her sister, in her main bed wrapped up in her little blankets, half-awake, subconsciously absorbing information.

“Mommy! Daddy!” Morning jumped up onto her parents, who were trying to hide a look of gloom to their faces, simply trying to smile.

“Mommy… Daddy… are you okay? You look sad…” Morning looked up at them, trying to cheer them up by poking their muzzles and beaming happily.

Because of Morning’s silliness, Starheart managed to smile at her little filly without faking, yet still sad. “Morning, dear…” Her voice said quietly, “We’ve got to tell you something…”

Morning looked confused, and simply tilted her head in response.

“Don’t you worry, let’s sit down, okay?” Greathoof asked the little filly, who wasn’t as little as she used to be. She sat down on her bed as her parents came synchronously with her as they talked.

Starheart started. “Things have come up, and we… we might not see you… um… for a while.” Morning listened intently as her mother continued with what she was saying, “listen, please, we… we... l-love you so much.- “

As tears started to form in Starheart’s eyes, Greathoof continued on for her in a strong voice. “Point is, we want you to know that whatever happens, no matter how bad, you must be able to keep going. Your grandma will take care of you in the meantime, but don’t give up, okay?” He looked down at her strictly, and in response, she nodded her head.

Before she could ask any questions, Starheart began again. “Be strong my little filly, like we know you are. And if anything really does happen, take care of Alica. She is our hope to us, so let her be yours. Let her grow, and if you need to, protect her with your life. Please… we…. We love you two so much-“

Greathoof interjected before his wife broke down again. “-And we always will for your whole life.” He smiled down at her, and so did his wife.

No other words were said, and before Morning could ask anything again, Starheart abruptly hugged her. “I wish we could tell you more. Morning, dear Morning, please look to the bright side.” The loving mom hugged her tighter, warming her up more. “And help Alica see it as well, when she grows up more. She has a big future ahead of her…”

They hugged for a while longer, and finally Morning got a chance to speak.

“But… where are you going?”

“We will always be here, just don’t worry about us.” Greathoof responded to his daughter, helping her to feel better. “You and Alica will grow up to be amazing mares, trust me.”

They both got up, as Morning bounced up, hugging them tightly. “Mommy, Daddy, I love you so much. I don’t want you to ever leave me.”

“And neither do we. Stay strong for us. I know you are capable of great things, Morning. Keep your feelings strong.” Greathoof hugged with her and his wife, and when they separated, they walked over to the door.

As Morning got back into bed, the dad smiled, after looking back, and continued out the door. The mom looked at her two fillies, and before she turned off the light, she made sure to say one last thing.

“Please, have the sweetest of dreams.”

She smiled very sadly yet hopeful, and in response, the snuggled-in filly said back, “you too Mommy, goodnight!”

“Goodnight… I love you two so much.-“ Before more tears could come, she turned off the light and started closing the door softly. She looked at her daughters one last time, smiling again, and with a remaining great hope, she clicked close the door.

The next day, all was dead-silent. A few days after that, a funeral was planned for two ponies. One was a caring mother, and the other was a strong father. They had two beautiful fillies left alone with a single grandparent who attended the service with everypony else.

The day after the funeral, all was slow. Alica lied in her bed that night; yet still oblivious to this chain of events, she remained safe from the very feelings Morning was feeling that night. Morning had changed inside, and with that, she had decided to go out into the market to buy something.

After coming back, that very night, Morning came up to little Alica, who was struggling to get to sleep for some reason. On the tiny desk, beside the tiny bed, Morning placed a small brown music box atop it. She wound it up, and as it played, it played the most beautiful yet sad melody to be heard.

It was a feeling of hope.

With that, she told Alica, who was now getting drowsy, “Alie…. Have the… t-the sweetest of dreams.”

She continued to watch her little sister, and with time, she started to get drowsy herself. Refusing to leave her precious sister, she eventually went to the music box, twisting it once more, and curled up on the floor next to her. As she whimpered softly, the music box stopped, and Morning was fast asleep.

Morning came, as the night ended that night. Upon Alica’s flank rested the image of a music box.

Destiny is not to be misled.

-      -     -

At the table, all was silent. Alica’s plate of mush sat cold as she stared silently at it. No tears came, only silence. Then, finishing up, Morning said sadly, “so…. I guess now you know… You have also been wondering what your cutie mark story was too, so there that is too. You were so very young…

Alica remained silent.

“Come on, Alie, you should be at least a bit excited to know your cutie mark story, finally. You have... have been so bouncy to be able to know...”

There was only mere silence as Alica sat, looking downward in deep thought, not knowing what to think.

“…I knew it was a bad idea telling you all this… I am so sorry, Alica.” She, too, looked down at her cold plate, unable to know what to say to cheer her little sister up.

“No,” Alica said abruptly, still looking down.

Morning looked up on the verge of tears. “Wait… huh?...”

Alica then got up to hug Morning tightly, trying to comfort her. “No, no, I’m… I’m happy that you shared this with me, I really am.” She pulled back and smiled weakly at her older sister. “I… I think I understand now… kinda.”

“Huh? Kinda?” Morning asked. “Did I leave something out?”

Frantically, she started thinking, but Alica interrupted, “no, it’s just that I’ve… seen visions of that pink pony you’ve just told me before… the one you described. I just don’t understand who she is… and sometimes… sometimes in my visions it’s like she was trying to speak with me. I just… don’t understand the universe, Morning, why does it have to be this way?! You said too that you don’t know what happened to our parents exactly… and who that pony is. Why is everything so hard to think about….” She looked down, and then back into Morning’s eyes with emotion starting to build up.

Morning then spoke up, gaining back her strength after a second. “Well, I guess that is something we might never know, or may know in time.” She smiled at Alica. “You know, I guess that is what makes life special, not knowing things.”

Alica giggled ever-so-slightly. “Yeah, I guess that’s what, like scientists live for. Remember our old teacher Mr. Light Spark?”

Morning giggled along with her. “I sure do, and I suppose it can also apply to us… that is what he lectured on, after all. I cannot believe I remember it… It was so long ago.”

Alica smiled a little bit more. “Hehe, well, I’m glad we remember. We are really getting deep into all of this… you know, emotions and all. I guess the world is just so mysterious, whether we like it or not… Funny emotions, not going to trick me to being sad this time!”

Slightly, Morning chuckled. “Well… don’t look now, but I think you have a little smile stuck to your face! I don’t think it is coming off anytime soon.”

“Of course not! I love feeling like this! I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world!” Alica exclaimed proudly.

Morning chuckled again, and said to her, “I love seeing you like this, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world either.”

They both began eating again, and despite how cold it was now, they still enjoyed it. Then, Morning spoke up as they continued. “So… tell me more about this ‘Vinyl’ who carried you home. It was like you two were really good friends or something, the way she held you it seemed.”

“I- Um…. You see-“ She was starting to blush bright-red hot now. “It’s not what you think!” Darn thoughts! She thought, and instinctively, very inappropriate images popped up in her head she’d rather not think about at the table. She blushed even hotter.

Morning laughed slightly, confused. “What? I did not mean anything from it, I was just saying that because not ‘just’ anypony cares to take the time to carry another home simply to help out. That is the sign of a really good friendship, to me.” She ruffled her mane with a hoof playfully, but then stopped and tried to fix it, forgetting still that Alica didn’t like her mane messed with. “Oops… I should probably stop doing that…”

“Eheh… don’t worry…” Alica blushed only slightly, now, having calmed down her blood-rush. Still trying to get the images out of her head, she stuffed her face with the rest of her food.

“Jeez! No need to scarf your food down like that! You are like a dragon gone without food for months!” Morning laughed a bit at how abrupt Alica was at eating.

Alica, in response, tried humming a few inaudible words.

Morning shook her head. “I have no idea what you are saying…”

After a minute, Alica swallowed the last bit of food she had in her mouth. “I was saying, ‘but it’s so good!’ And at least I didn’t talk with my mouth open this time.” She stuck out her tongue in a silly manner.

Morning chuckled. “Okay, sounds okay to me, then.” She continued to eat her food, but obviously was slower than Alica, who was now already done. At that time, Alica got up from her seat and hugged Morning tightly. Morning’s face was wide open about to take another bite of food, seeing her sister abruptly put her hooves around her.

“I love you, Morning. You are the best sister a sister could have.”

She looked to Alica, and hugged back warmly. “Thank-you, and same to you.”

After a minute of hugging, Morning interjected, “um... so I should finish my meal before it gets even soggier from the syrup.”

“Of course, that makes sense.” She pulled away from Morning. As they smiled together, Alica said to her, “I’ll just be in my room. I have… things to think about.”

“Ok, I don’t blame you… It is a lot to hear in one day, what I told you about your past,” Morning said back understandingly.

Replying, Alica waved to her, heading off. “See ya later, I guess!”

“Bye-bye, Alie. And you know that we are still going to be in the same house, right? …well, until I go to work at the marketplace in about three hours.”

“Of course, I’m just saying bye in case I get really caught up in something… or something. Yeah.” Alica justified quickly.

Morning replied, lastly, “okay, then, bye-byes to you.” She smiled brightly, and as did Alica.

“Bye.”

= = =

Falling into her bed, Alica sighed heavily. Too many thoughts were racing through her conscious mind. Her parents, her cutie mark, the strange pony, and pure mystery as all of it was.

I just don’t understand… why… why did my parents leave me? My sister? Having us to go on by ourselves? It could have been that pink mare… but… it’s not like she did anything to them. They already knew something would happen to them, so it must have been something deeper… Alica pondered and pondered evermore until she gave out another sigh. She looked around her room, then out the window by her bed. Outside, she saw many fillies and colts running about, happily playing tag. Oh how much fun they are having without problems… Alica thought as she continued to see the world outside in a different light. I guess sometimes not knowing there are problems in the world can be a good thing, maybe… She turned over, feeling heavy and tired. While she was at it, doing nothing but think, she glanced at her music box, then to her flank. Both look exactly the same… that’s for sure… but what does it mean? She shook her head, unknowing. I don’t… I don’t understand…

As she felt her eye-lids drooping, she felt an urge to wind up the music box to hear that beautiful tune again. As she did so, she let the melody put her into a trance, soothing every muscle in her body. The world started to fade, and with that, Alica thought to herself, I… I want to dream. She could feel her consciousness starting to slip away. Please… I just… just want to be asleep to… wake up. Flashes of color filled her vision as a sleep cycle was starting with her body so suddenly relaxing. She knew she would soon be forced unconscious, as usual. Somehow, it seemed that she was already asleep, with all of the events of the day and how tired she was in the first place.

Mommy… D-Daddy… maybe I can see you in my dreams… I… I KNOW it must be possible…. Somehow… I-I know it… Her thoughts centered on them, and them alone before falling asleep. Their beautiful faces looked at her lovingly. I… I just want to say… I love you.

For that split second before she fell unconscious, she saw the smiles of her parents. They would have been proud to see how much she’s grown. More-over, they would have wished to say 'I love you' back to her with twice as much love just then, with the deepest sincere in their hearts.

~     ~     ~

Alica stood in a field of grass, seeing fillies dancing around her playing some abstract game by whacking a little rock around with sticks. There were mountains trailing high in the distance, and to the opposite side, there was an ocean expanding out endlessly. The white, puffy clouds opened up, and from up above, there was an endless space. So many stars stood out there, in so many colors, and perhaps even so many different worlds never to be seen by many. Infinity remained large, appearing everywhere in every direction, expanding the idea of reality itself continuously.

Just then, the stars started to align, and Alica looked down to where the fillies once were. There were none. It was dark, despite it being light a minute ago, yet she could still see clearly. Instantly, the clouds of the stars spiraled downward, and eventually engulfed Alica.

It brought her higher into the sky, and thus, higher into the endless space. The clouds warmed her body as she ascended, despite how bitter and freezing everything should have been this high up.

She started to twist upside-down, and looked up to see the ground from another perspective. Below her, she saw the clouds open up onto a flat surface of fluffy, white material. Closing her eyes, now, she continued to float down towards it, upward into the sky. Once her hooves planted firmly on the soft surface, she took in further detail of her surroundings. The distant landscape above panned out of sight, giving a magnificent view of the mountains and horizon. The clouds stretched out onto the horizon as well, seeming to shine a bright white light along in the distance and beneath her. Only one thing stood out, for there was a big red button on a pedestal a few ten yards away.

Looking around subconsciously to see if anypony was in sight, she proceeded to the button. With not a single soul in her range of view, she quickly thought on whether or not to press it. Deciding to not let it remain a mystery on what it does, she pressed hard down on it, closing her eyes.

Nothing happened.

She opened her eyes and looked down at this button, and then around her once more. “Well… that was anticlimactic-“ A pink face scrolled right into her vision. “-Ah!” Immediately, Alica jumped back in surprise. “Who are you? Nopony was around here, how di-“ Just then, she got a closer look at her. “Wait a minute….” She looked back at Alica, the pink pony, sticking out her tongue out of silliness. “Wait a minute…” Alica said once more. “You… can’t be… are you?”

“Assuming you mean The Wanderer? Why yup! You’ve caught me!” She said brightly, still waiting for Alica to let things settle in.

“But… you-… It just can’t be…” She decided to sit down to do a reality check. Like it’s going to work… Nothing happened, as usual, but then she realized something. She was sitting on a cloud, which could only mean one of two things. One: that she was using a spell to walk on clouds. Or two: that this was something else… She then looked up at the ridiculous expanse above of her.

It was surely the latter conclusion that was to be made.

“So, whatcha thinkin’?” The pink pony with the pink and purple-streaked mane asked.

“I’m… I’m…” Alica looked to her, beaming the brightest she’s ever beamed before. She could feel the beautiful feeling around her, in another world, at last. “-I’M DREAMING!”