Illusion smiled as his girlfriend leaned into his caressing hoof, "Mmm, I love you, Crystal Clarity ..."
Crystal Clarity sighed. She treasured every moment she spent with her Draconquues-Alicorn hybrid of a boyfriend, "*Dreamy sigh* I love you, too, Illusion. With all of my heart!"
He fidgeted as he turned away from Clarity.
Claire's face dropped and she couldn't help, but try to think of different and insane reasons of why her best boyfriend and friends since forever was turning her away.
She got her answer when he turned again, a purple velvet case perfectly balanced on his hoof and paw; sitting down in an almost-begging-like position. "Crystal Clarity?" he sniffled out, "Will you do me the pleasure of being mine forever by marrying me?" A big, toothy grin on his white-coated face; fangs and all. When he got no response he added, "Please?"
Claire looked on in shock as the opened case presented a beautifully crafted tiara; two holes where her horns would go through. The gorgeous array of gems from sapphires and rubies to diamonds and pearls; all held together by a melded gold and silver frame that curled in just the perfect places, but not too much to look overdone. "I-I ...don't ..."
"Listen--I know this is all so much to take in, but if you just give me a chance, I know we'll--" Illusion was abruptly cut off as Claire threw herself at him; locking their lips in a passionate kiss of love.
"Of course we'll work it out, Lulu. And yes. Yes, I will marry you! I've always wanted to get married and have little foals. Oh, mom is going to be so-o excited. I love you, Illusion. And marrying you would be the best thing that could ever happen to me!"
Illusion slid the tiara on her horns and smiled his sauve smile again. "I love you, too."
~~~~
Claire shot up in cold sweat, her mane matted down to her forehead and her breathing ragged. She looked around to see her old room; the one she grew up in as a baby and so on. What with Hearth's Warming Eve tomorrow, she decided to stay with her mom and dad instead of going from her house to theirs for the holidays.
Seeing no ring, no Illusion, and no engagement she flopped back down onto the bed and blew out a puff of air which puffed out her cheeks. Her bed was huge and she couldn't even share out it's openness with her Illusion. Thanks, a lot, Dad ... Claire took a look from under her claws out her window and groaned as the moon taunted her with it's gleaming light. "Two hours of sleep down, eight more to go," flipping on her stomach, she closed her eyes; bottom lip puckered out. "Hopefully, no more nightmares," she tossed and turned that night; showing what her dreams were probably about.
~~~~
"CRYSTAL!!!! I made breakfast!" Rarity sung as pots and pans clattered into the sink.
Claire smiled softly. The smell of pancakes, egg whites, omelets, cereal, orange juice, toast, gem and cheese sandwiches, quesadillas, yogurt and bananas, butter and crackers, iced tea, sweet tea, regular tea, regular waffles, Pongian waffles, conolies, hay fries, daffodil sandwiches, and hot cocoa filled the air.
"COMING, MOM!!!!" She grabbed her brush with her magic and styled her disaster of a mane down to its regular form. She picked up her tulip-smelling perfume and sprayed some on her neck, dabbing it on her chest, as well.
Before exiting her humble quarter, she peaked once more at her dresser mirror. Her ears flattened. Her claws, her fangs, her scales and spines, the slits in her eyes, and her double-horns! Everything not-pony. And I hate it!
"CRYSTAL CLARITY-Y-Y-Y!!!! GET YOUR FLANK DOWN HERE, THIS MINUTE!!!! AND DO NOT KEEP US WAITING ANY LONGER!!! YOUR BROTHER IS GNAWING ON THE UTENSILS AGAIN!!"
And, so, that is exactly what she did.
"So, then, I said, 'I think you look great!'" Anthea, Turquoise's fiancee and best friend, told.
Spike's hot chocolate spewed from his mouth in a single, straight stream. He spit with laughter and banged on the table with joy. "Hahahahahaha! 'You look'! Get it?! Because she--?! And--! Get it?! You don't get it?!" The only sign of a response was the hot-chocolate-covered Rarity's furious glare. "Welp! I think that, you, Annie, are the best mare I have ever met in Ponyville! I mean, they're all nice, but, Turquoise, I see why you asked her to marry ya'!" Spike jabbed his son in the side and gave him a side-wink.
"Actually, Mr. Spike. Every time Turquoise tried to ask me it just came out a jumbled mess. So, I ...helped him a bit," Annie giggled. She covered her mouth with her hoof as she chewed on her daffodil sandwich.
Spike stopped chewing his gem and cheese sandwich as he slowly turned toward his son. "Is that true?" he asked hesitantly.
A small nod from the green dragon-pony hybrid. "Eyup?"
Spike got up from his seat and walked to Anthea. He grabbed her hoof to make sure she knew he was in front of her. The dragon then hugged her and chuckled. "Oh, thank you, Anthea. You've made him grow up so much! You're like the pony daughter I never had!"
"Ooh! We're doing the hugging thing. Okay!" Annie threw her hooves around Spike's thick-scaled neck and squealed. "It's fine, Mr. Spike!"
"Please, please. To you, I'm Dad," he went back to his seat and continued reaching for another four pounds of breakfast. He broke into another smile as he saw his daughter standing in the doorway. "Hey, Clarity! Come get some breakfast! I saved you a whole pitcher of orange juice, but I could only snatch three quesadillas away from Turquoise! With some butter, of course! I know how my daughter loves her food!" He held up her plate piled high with food.
Claire put on a fake smile as she tried to forget seeing her father call her brother's fiancee the pony daughter he had always wanted. "Thanks, Dad! I could always count on you to keep me happy," she pulled out a seat and took her plate.
Although, not really in the mood to eat, she, regardless, licked her lips and dug in.
Claire burped rather loudly; she sucked, one by one, on each of her claws. This was the only time she was a total slob, but no one really scolded her about it. Except her mom.
Illusion had arrived earlier. Her overprotective father, of course, made the whole floor wet with nervous sweat. After her boyfriend, was Candy and her family, and Del and his family, Prism, and Starburst and the Royal Family; including Princess Celestia and Luna!
"Hey, kitty-cat. Haven't seen you in a while," Illusion held Claire from behind, tracing a tiny claw around the radius of her left horn.
Claire shuddered with delight and felt her anger melt. She turned and caught her boyfriend in a cute, teasing, litte kiss. "Mm, I missed you, too."
"Hey, we don't open any gifts until, like, three hours from now. Wanna' go for a walk around the 'Ville for a bit? Just ...talk--or something?" He grazed her ears down to her cheeks.
Claire thought about it for a minute. Well, what else would I do besides getting stuffed with food by my dad who wants a pony daughter and not a dragon-pony? Eh, what have I got to lose? Besides my sanity? "Sure, Prince. Let us stroll through the town! We go!"
~~~~
Claire and Prince Illusion strode down the snow-plowed road of Ponyville; walking with each other, almost instinctively, so.
Claire began to worry as she saw the looks they were getting; or rather, she was getting. Everywhere they turned: ponies would give a confused, shocked, or disgusted look. She began to lower her head and flatten her ears.
Unbeknownst to Illusion, Claire hid her shame by trying to pull back her claws, push her spines down, or whatever else she could do to hide her insecurities. "Um, could we maybe hurry up this walk?" She grabbed Illusion's wing, wrapping herself in it.
"Oh, okay. You wanna' be alone and talk, huh? 'Kay. I know a great spot!"
"This gazebo was where my mom and dad had their very first thirtieth argument. And then, they went home and wanted me. So, here I am! All for you, too," The Prince laid himself down on the paint-chipening bench and stared at his fair lady. "What is it you wish to speak about?!" he looked at his claws jokingly-uninterested.
Claire laid down on him; her face on his shoulder and body lined up with his. "I don't know ..." she picked her head up to stare at his face. "I-I ...I'm just scared."
Illusion immediately knew this was not going to be an easy conversation. He put on his best serious-face and wrapped his girlfriend in a big hug. "Scared? What for? You're a big, strong dragon-pony! I'll always be here. Starburst would beat up anypony who gives any of her friends even a dirty look. And all of our friends and the Princesses love you! Can't say the same about me, but, Claire, what could you possibly be afraid of? Besides marriage?"
She was stumped, I know what he's saying is true, but ... "I know all that. And it's just what you said. But, you guys are my best friends, and probably my only ones at that, too. Ponies do not want to be friends with a freak like me--"
"You are not a frea--" Illusion cut in.
"Yes! Yes, I am! I've heard mares, stallions, even colts and fillies who talk about me behind my back! But, you never hear because I don't want you to! I do not want you to have the burden of knowing your girlfriend is getting bullied by some--some toddlers! And, besides, everypony loves you, and hates me! At first, the only reason I had fake friends was because they knew they could get close to you!" Claire had screamed into his face; her claws distending. "See," she held up her hand to his face, "even when I get angry or sad I turn more dragon than pony. I-I'm scared of what other ponies would think of me! Think of what I am! There! I said it! Okay?!" she got up and sat down in the middle of the cold, wooden floor of the aging gazebo.
Illusion followed and just held her in his embrace; not saying anything, just trying to comfort her.
After about ten minutes, Claire suggested, "We should go back to the party. There going to open presents in about twenty minutes." Illusion, not wanting to argue any further, agreed.
~~~~
"Okay, Spike! It's your turn, now! Open your gift," Rarity levitated a rather large misshapen gift to the dragon, in which he took hold of.
"Ooh, I wonder what it is!" he shook up and down, but couldn't make out what it was. He tore the wrapping paper off and gasped as his dream came true. "A massage chair?!" he squealed with delight, then coughed a bit. "Uh, I mean, thanks, Twilight! Now, open my gift!"
Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, smiled lightly and opened the slightly worn green and purple box. "Wow! A turbo-carbon-titanium-up-to-1000-times-magnification-magical-portable-compound microscope! This is the best present you have ever given me Spike! No offense to your paper weight, of course!"
"Eh, it was nothing," Spike's eyes widened as he saw his wife burning a hole through him. "Nothing me and Rarity couldn't handle! But, the real gift from me ...is deeper inside the box.
Twilight placed the microscope down on the box's side and took out the pink tissue paper. She gasped with joy, "*Gasp*! Spike! A photo album of when we were all younger!" she flipped through the pages and began tearing up from the old memories. When Spike was first born to her first and even last friendship lesson. She laughed at how furious she looked when battling Tirek. "That was a fun fight, uh, battle."
"Whoah! Mom, I didn't know you fought Tirek! He's, like, the baddest, evilest, bad guy ever! Did you win?!" Starburst shouted at her mom, now a bit more intimidated, though.
"Well, how do think I got my castle?" That's all she said to her daughter before Starburst passed out. Her brother, Night Light, sighed as he dragged her to the nearest couch.
"Thank you, Spike. None of this, our family would be here without you," Twilight hugged him. "Number one assistant; always."
Illusion and Claire had just walked in when Claire's name was called.
"CRYSTAL?! Come over here and open my present for you!" Rarity held a nearly wrapped blue present with white stars and a perfectly tied, light pink bow. "I think you'll like it."
Claire looked at Illusion who stared back with a look of encouragement; she sucked it up and broke into her fake smile again. "Oh, I wonder what it could be!" She sat next to her mom and hugged her. She took the box with her magic and carefully and slowly opened the box. "*Gasp*! Wow, mom! Leg socks! Designer, too!" I love socks! They make me feel like a cat, plus, they're so comfy! she hugged her mother again and pulled the fabrics up her fore and hind legs. Crystal Clarity noticed the three holes where her claws would extend out and frowned. "Claw holes ..." she tested them out, "Comfy ..."
Rarity mirrored her daughter's expression. "Do you not like it? I sowed them myself. Even remembered to put the openings, so they wouldn't tear like the last ones," Rarity put her arms around her daughter's form. "Crystal ...?"
The offspring was quiet. Her face covered by the fact that she was facing downwards.
Splat! Splat!
"A-are you alright, dear?" Rarity asked, coming closer.
"*Sniffle, sniffle *" was Claire's response.
"Darling? Are you crying? What's wrong?" Rarity pried.
Finally, the dragon-pony looked up at her mother; tears had welled up in her eyes. "No! I'm fine, mom! I'm perfectly okay! I'm fine with the idea that everypony thinks I'm a freak show, including my own parents!" she jumped off the couch and fled upstairs to her room. Quiet sobs were heard all the way.
Claire kicked the door to her bedroom shut as softly as she could, but still ended up slamming it into the frame. Grawwwrrr!! She turned around and blew a fireball at the offending door, burning the middle to a crisp. "I hate this! I hate myself! I hate my life! I wish-- ...*Sigh*" The dragon-pony slumped over to her bedroom window and rested he head on the windowsill. She blew out a puff of smoke.
Twinkle
She looked up to see a very bright star twinkling in the distance. I wonder... "Starlight, star bright,"
Knock, knock! "Uh, Clarity? It's
Spike, it's Dad. Your mom wanted me to talk to you; she's, uh, a little torn up," he knocked again. "Crystal Clarity? I know you're in there, I can see the singed door frame from out here."
Claire did not deter from her poem, "the first start I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might,"
"Wait, you're not saying that poem, are you?" Spike put his ear to the door to listen to his daughter.
"have the wish I wish tonight:"
Spike ran into the door headfirst as hard as he could. "NO! CLAIRE! STOP! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!"
Claire's eyes were the size of saucers as she finished, "I wish I was born completely pony!"
BANG! Spike had finally managed to bust open the door; he had fallen on the floor. He gasped with shock as he witnessed his daughter being encased in a blue aura. "CRYSTAL CLARITY?! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?!" Spike was grasped by the same aura, but lifted into the air.
He looked at his hands and claws to see them becoming translucent. He saw right through them and his daughter was what he saw. "CRYSTAL! CRYSTAL! No matter what happens, I will always love you!"
Claire's face was one of confusion, horror, and fear; her father was disappearing in front of her very eyes! "DAD?! WHA--,"
BOOM!!
~~~~
Claire shot up in cold sweat, her mane matted down to her forehead and her breathing ragged. "Whew!" she rubbed of some of the wetness with her hoof. "Wait ..." she did a double-take. Claire ran to her bedroom mirror and screamed with all her might. "WHAT?!" She looked herself over; from horns, er, horn to tail. Her mane was, instead of a spiky mess of style, was smooth, and flowing freely and long. There was a long strip of blue highlight in it that also caught her eye. She had only one horn; well sized, too. Her eyes were the same, except there were no dragon slits. No fangs, no Dragon Breath, no spines, no claws, her tail was like her mane, long and silky; not a huge appendage, but actual hair. And her flank! "I have a Cutie Mark?!" Indeed, she did. It was of two knitting diamond needles making a violet and tulip beanie hat.
Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
Claire's door slammed open and a very familiar stallion was in the door. "Crystal?! What's wrong?! I heard you scream!"
Claire screamed, "FANCY PANTS?!"
Spirit of Hearth's Warming Eve?
Fancy Pants stood up straight and huffed jokingly. "That's 'Dad' to you, missy."
Crystal again screamed, "DAD?!"
"Yes, and don't forget it, young mare!" he said stiffly. "Oh, I jest! Now, hurry up before your mother gets mad. She made your favorite meal!" Fancy Pants left as he told his daughter the message.
Crystal on the other hand--hoof was trying to prevent herself from cardiac arrest, followed by a panic attack. Then, realized something, "Wait, a minute ..." she looked around her room to see that everything was the same; nothing was different at all, except for her, of course. "This is all a ploy! A trick to scare me into saying I was wrong and I should have never tried to wish to be a pony! Ha!" she got up and skipped around the room. "I'm not going to give in that easy! Whoever is doing this! Illusion! This better not be one of your tricks, or so, help me I'll--" Everything froze, turning gray.
"You'll do what?" A bright blue Prince Illusion was laid out on the mare's bed, picking at his claws. He looked up at Crystal and smiled that suave smile of.
"I knew you were behind this, you ruffian! Why are you blue? You know what? I don't care! Change me back so, I can mawl you," she stalked him like prey when he floated off the bed.
"Oh, calm down, you silly filly," he bopped her on the nose and giggled when flames shot out of her eyes. "I'm here to show you the consequences of your wish!" he was wrapped around her neck like a scarf.
"My wish?" Memories from her dream resurfaced. "My wish! I-I wished I was born completely pony! And then ...DAD!" she untangled herself and rushed downstairs. "DAD! Da-a-a-d?!?! Are you alright?! Are you okay?! What happened yesterday?! Are you--?" Crystal skidded to a stop. Everything was different.
There were no finished or even unfinished dresses or suits on any pony models. There weren't any pony models! Two cubicles with brown, mundane business desks. Papers were strewn about all over the place in one while the other was the definition of organization.
"Crystal Thread! Why are you shouting for your father like a maniac?!" An almost-posh voice asked.
Crystal looked over to where the voice had come from and took a step back. "FLEUR DIS LEE?!"
Fleur held her head as her face screwed up in a grimace. "Yes, and I'm getting a migraine from you screaming. So, please, if you will?" Fleur walked over to the more organized cubicle. "However, if you are looking for your father, he's heating up the breakfast I made for you." she pointed a hoof towards a room that was probably the kitchen. With her other hoof leafing through some paperwork and stamping some, but leaving others blank.
Now, hurry up before your mother gets mad. She made your favorite meal! "You're my mother?" Crystal asked Fleur, completely disregarding the fact that her name had changed. I'll focus on that later ...
Fleur stopped her labeling and looked at Crystal with an expression holding nothing less than sympathy. "Yes ...of course, Crystal. I am your step-mother and I know that I could never replace your real mother; I appreciate you finally consider me a mother figure," Fleur rose from her silk, seat pillow and her horn lit up.
Crystal couldn't see what Fleur was doing with her magic until she felt something wrap around her neck. She looked down to see an azure and navy blue Winter scarf. "Oh, thank you, Fleur, but you said, 'step-mother'? What happened to my mother? Rarity?"
Fleur gulped and smiled nervously. "I-I think your father wants you!" she held her hoof up and pretended to be listening to an imaginary voice. "Mmhmm! Yes! Crystal! She'll be right there, hon!" Fleur shooed Crystal away and wiped her eyes; quietly sniffling to herself.
Okay, so everything down here has changed. That's not so bad! And, I guess my name is Crystal Thread. Why any pony would ever want to name a foal that, I have no idea. But ...what happened to Mom? I must find out! Crystal Thread made her way to the kitchen; the smell of--of. "What did Fleur make for me?" she whispered to herself. There was a clattering of metal on metal and Fancy Pants let out a wail of pain.
"Oh! Haysticks! All these pots and pans and all we make is oats and cereal! I do not understand this at all!"
Crystal rushed into the room to find a scene of an overturned Fancy Pants covered in pots and pans. He levitated a rather large cooking pot off his head and picked himself up. "Ah! Crystal! Your food is on the table!" he pointed toward the small table which had one lonely dish placed neatly next to a tiny glass of water.
She walked over to table and raised a brow when she looked inside the plate. "Ooh, a pile of oats," she picked at it a hoof. "I hope I don't over-indulge!"
"Don't tell your mother, but I put some granola bits in it to make it a bit sweeter," he whispered to her with a wink.
"Oh, you spoil me so!" Crystal said with a roll of her eyes. She caught on to what he said. "Um, Fanc--Da-a-d?"
"Ye-e-e-s? Why are you speaking like that?" Fancy Pants brushed himself off and fluffed up his coiffure.
"I don't mean to be a bother, but ...what happened to mom? My real mom? Not Fleur, although, albeit she would be a great mother; kudos to Cremé." she muttered the last part to herself.
Fancy stopped immediately. He magically pulled out a pillow and sat down. "Crystal ...I know you were but a filly, but I thought you understood what happened to her. You were going to ask for the details sooner or later, but still ...I should have explained." he rubbed his snout and wiped away a few stray tears. "You should sit down ..."
Crystal sat down, but held her tongue for fear of unintentional breakdowns.
Mr. Pants gazed off behind Crystal; his eyes glazing over. "After your mother and I got married we both became dreadfully busy. I had more paperwork and clients. I managed; rushed everything to keep from falling over the schedules, the rules, the contracts, the business and things began to slow a bit. Your mother on the other hoof ...Orders just kept piling in; faster, more than she could count, 'more intricate', 'something unique', they said. I-I should have helped! I should have calmed her down! Split the work, half-and-half! Every time I saw her ...she looked worse and worse. Then ...one night ...on the final order she had before she could finish ...it happened," he looked into Crystal's eyes and slowly blinked.
"What--what happened?" Crystal dared to ask.
As if it were too much, he breathed out in a tiny voice, "She fell."
Crystal gasped as she understood what he--her father ...had said. Mom ...y-your--you "No! She can't be! She couldn't! My mother was a strong mare!" she doubled-over as an onslaught of tears and sobs overwhelmed her. She held herself, trying to comfort the pain of her mother gone. "T!" her ears perked up as she recalled the little brother in which she had not seen all morning. "Where's T?! He'll know what happened if I don't!" she rushed to the main foyer, blowing paperwork all about the place. Crystal zoomed up the spiral steps leading to her and her brother's room. "Turquoise! Are you--?" When she threw open the door to his bedroom she couldn't think. Boxes of signed papers and picture frames; old clothes and tools lingered in stacks that filled the room. A storage room. "No ..." she whispered out. Crystal ran out the room and looked over the banister that separated the floor from her. Fancy Pants and Fleur had trotted over to the bottom of the steps, their expressions that of fear and confusion.
"Crystal? Who is this Turquoise? And a 'he'?" Mr. Pants pressed.
"Are you alright, dear? Why would you go into storage?" Fleur inquisited; she walked up a step and pouted.
This--this--this--this h-has to be done terrible dream ...nightmare's more like it! "T? Turquoise? My brother--my younger brother?!" Crystal shouted, looking more and more frazzled as she heard and saw everything that had become.
The spouses shared a look before Mr. Pants explained, "Dear ...you don't have a brother. After your mother's--well, Fleur and I decided to not have anymore foals. You are the only foal we ever had." he said it so delicately. He and Fleur shared another concerned look when Crystal let out a bout of hysterical laughter.
"Hahahuh--kay!" Without another word she backed up into a wall and felt her way to her room.
The two elder ponies shrugged and continued with their work. But, Fancy Pants couldn't help but be a bit more worried than Fleur.
~~~~
Crystal sighed as her head fell back into the bedroom door she had slammed shut. "T ...I better wake up soon or--" the tick-tock of her clock froze as her purple walls faded to grey.
"'Or I'll go mad from this uncanny nonsense'! Blah, blah, blah ...you just realized you made your brother never born and you are still thinking about yourself? Talk about narcissistic!" a taunting, yet smooth, sauve, yet annoying, cool, yet smug tone of voice echoed throughout the room.
Crystal jumped as the voice vibrated in her head. She gazed down when her scarf began to circle her neck. "Illusion! I almost forgot about you. Now, tell me what is going on or else I'll claw out your pelt," she tried to emphasize by holding up her hoof to shoot out her claws, but whimpered when the appendage just stood there.
"No need to get cat-ty, besides, you can't!" Illusion chuckled. He swam through the air like it was a swimming pool.
"Yes, I can't. But, you can fix that. Illusion, turn everything back to normal ...now," a dark shadow cast upon her face, making her much more menacing than usual.
"Pssh! As if! And 'Illusion'? I am not an illusion. 'Illusion' this and 'Illusion' that! Is he a colt?!" the apparition squeed like a schoolfilly who heard her best friend's crush.
"No-o-o. You are Illusion. And, yes, he--you are my boyfriend. Why are you acting like you've no idea what I'm talking about?" she inspected her 'boyfriend' closely while she spoke, stalking closer and closer.
"Beca-a-u-u-s-s-s-s-e ...I'm. Not. Illusion!" he closed the gap between them by bopping her on the nose again and madly giggling.
"Well, Mr. ...Whoever-you-are," Crystal wi ped her nose for the entity had left a smudge of blue dust upon it. "You look like him," she gestured to not-Illusion's flaccid body. "You speak like him and most obviously, you act like him. So, if you are not him, which I think is not true, who are you and how would you prove it otherwise?" she finally caught the being against a wall, pinning him with her hoof and purring challenging-ly.
"I am called by many names. Guide, ghost, apparition, entity, being ...thing. But, I prefer, mostly, Spirit of Hearth's Warming Eve! You get it? 'Cause I come at Hearth's Warming?" he grinned from his joke.
"Spirit of Hearth's Warming Eve? Believable. But, you still haven't proved it, yet. Call it quits?" Crystal matched his grin as she knew she had caught his bluff.
The Spirit kept his face, but based his teeth as well. He dove forward and caught the mare in a deep kiss. When the two parted he laughed out, "Never." He snapped his fingers, then--
SPOOSH!!!!
