Change of Heart

Senior year, the year he was always waited for. Sterling was sitting in his seat at the back of homeroom, grinning to himself. Easy work, slacking off, parties, and spending as much time as he could with his special somepony, Crystal. Only one year left and he can get on with his life, though he wasn’t sure what he’d do afterwards. He could always go to college. His grades weren’t the best, but they were still good enough to get into a decent college; plus he knew it would make his mother happy. It’d be a reprieve on her heart from all the hardship they had to deal with in the past. Sterling’s smile started to falter when thinking about it. He remembered the promise he made to his mother about keeping his special talent under check around most ponies, but there were times he slipped up. Most times it was just to have some from with his friends but a few times it was out of revenge with older ponies that tried to tell him what to do, but he never did it to his mother again.

One time though was what started the whole ordeal. It was during the Grand Galloping Gala ten years ago. He and his mother was invited guest of his grandfather, and he was the happiest colt ever. He felt like he was a full grown stallion being allowed to congregate with all the other adults. He got to dance the four-step, drink the fabled delicious punch, and enjoy the music from the royal orchestra. All was going great, that is, until a pompous stallion tried to get fresh with Sterling’s mother. The poor excuse of a gentlecolt kept trying to nuzzle his muzzle across Pearl’s neck and trying to force her to dance with him. Sterling could tell that Pearl was feeling uneasy, but she was still trying to be civil and politely telling him to leave. The stallion started to walk away with an angered, but defeated look on his face. Sterling was just going to let it go until he saw the grin smear across that stallions face and watched him smack Pearl right on her flank. Pearl’s face went wide-eyed and she threw a disgusted glare at the brute…and that was it. Sterling was not going to stand for that.

He walked to a secluded area of the ballroom and sat and thought of who he could change into to strike the most fear into that bastard. He first thought of the guards, but to double someone or make one up that wasn’t assigned to the area might give him away in an instant. After a couple moments he thought of the perfect one, one he could use and be out of there without anyone knowing, with still striking the fear into the creep. He will become Princess Celestia. He focused all his energy into the transformation, and in a green burst of flames became the Princess of the Sun. He gave himself a look in the nearest window to check if everything was fine, and then walked out from the dark corner. He was making his way to the stallion when he realized one thing he overlooked. Upon sight, every pony turned to him, gasped, and bowed their heads in respect. He wasn’t sure how to react at first, but he remembered visits from the princess and bowed back to them. “Rise fair subjects, please continue with the festivities,” Sterling said in his best Princess Celestia voice. After the guest went back to their fun, but still keeping an admiring gaze on him, Sterling walked up to his primary objective. “Dear stallion, might I have your name?”

The stallion was in shock, amazed that the princess would grace his presence. “My name is Silky Smooth your highness,” he bowed as he said.

“Well Mr. Smooth, are you aware I do not tolerate improper conduct in my kingdom?”

Silky Smooth put an innocent look on his face trying to hide the things he has done throughout the night, “Whatever do you mean your highness?”

“You know very well what I mean you fiend!” Sterling walked up to Pearl, “I saw you harass this mare here; I cannot stand for such acts. I believe your welcome here has run out, and if I ever see you doing this again, let’s just say my sister can always use the company.”

The stallion looked around for anyone to defend him. When he found none, he dipped his head in his defeat. “As you wi-,” the Stallion started to say until he looked up past Sterling. Sterling was about to continue by calling him out on this until he started to hear gasps and ponies looking behind him. He turned around and his heart sank. There, standing in the main archway, was the real Princess Celestia. She had a look of confusion mixed with a small amount of apprehension.

“Sterling, you didn't?” Sterling looked down from where the voice came from and saw his mother staring up at him with a hurt expression on her face. He knew he had done something he told her he’d never do again. He used his talent in front of the wrong people, at the wrong time, and disappointed his mother. In a flash of green flame he turned back into his normal self and gasps came from around the room.

“How dare the likes of you ruin this gathering and endanger my subjects,” Celestia said in a menacing voice. She had seen the flames before and what was capable of doing the things Sterling just did. Celestia spread her hooves to brace herself and her horn began to glow.

Sterling looked at this in horror. He did not know what was about to come but he knew it was not going to be good. Maybe he might be the one to give Nightmare Moon the company he just threatened the stallion with.

“STOP. PLEASE DON’T!” Sterling looked up and saw his mother placing herself in between him and the princess. Is she crazy Sterling thought. Celestia’s actions and words were absolute and his mother was giving HER orders. “Please don’t,” Pearl pleaded again. “He’s is not what you think. This colt is my son. A pony just like me…just like you.”

Celestia’s horn stopped glowing and she stood up straight with a more contained look, but you could tell she was still set to snap back in attack at a moment’s notice. “I am not sure what you mean by that,” the princess questioned, “but if you and your son accompany me back to my chambers, I will give you a chance to help me understand this more.”

Sterling and Pearl started to follow the princess, Sterling still hiding behind the back legs of his mother, and entered the princess’s chambers. The princess walked up to her throne and took her seat while the two other ponies stood in front as close as the guard would let them. “Please, Ms…I’m sorry, what is your name again?”

“Gem, Pearl Gem your highness.”

“Ms. Gem, please help me understand why your son resembles the actions of a changeling.”

Pearl took a deep breath trying to find the strength to recall the nightmare. “My father owns the largest bank in Canterlot. This made him a target of people wanting to rob him. A changeling gang had fillynapped me and before the guards found me I was raped. I thought about an abortion, but I became so attached to the idea of being a mother that I couldn’t fault my son for the sins of another.”

Celestia looked at Pearl with a pensive face. “Yes, I remember that incident. You’re Greenback’s daughter.”

“Yes your highness.”

Celestia looked at Sterling, now with kindness rather than malice, “And what is your name sir.”

Sterling still stayed behind Pearl and mumbled, “Sterling Slick.”

“Don’t be rude Sterling,” Pearl said. She walked behind him and pushed him front and center.

Sterling stood a little straighter with shaking knees, “My name is Sterling Slick your highness.” Sterling bowed to the ground almost kissing the rug at his feet.

“It’s nice to meet you Mr. Slick. That is a unique talent you have there, and you did me very well if I might add. Can you do anypony?”

Sterling was a bit confused. He thought for sure he was in trouble and was to be sent to a jail cell, to the moon, or some lab to be studied. “Yes your highness.”

“Please, just call me Celesetia.”

“Yes yo-Celestia. I can change into any pony that I have seen, real or in pictures. Voices, however, I need to hear or I just make one up that might fit the pony in question. I can also mix and match to create a pony of my own, but it’s much easier to mimic.”

“Show me,” said Celestia with a hint of excitement.

Sterling looked at his mother, which she nodded her heard allowing him to do this. Sterling looked at the guard to his right, “Sir, can you say something; anything will do.” The guard looked at him with a raised eyebrow and decided to announce himself and ask if that was good enough. “Yes, thank you,” said Sterling. Sterling closed his eyes and focused on what needed to be change and became the guard through a green blaze. He walked up to the guard and stared into his face, “You! Imposter! How dare you enter the highness’s chambers!” Sterling announced in the voice of the guard.

A snicker came from the throne and Sterling looked up to see Celestia covering her face with her hooves. “Again, do another one,” Celestia exclaimed almost as if she had become a filly again.

This relaxed Sterling. This is something he loved to do and now he gets to perform for the princess herself. He flipped through different ponies he could do that he thought she would remember. The first one was the stallion that started this whole mess, then he changed into Fancy Pants, and then into the draconious that matched the one in the garden. His last one, however, may have been a bad choice but he was having too much fun to realize. He transformed into a tall jet back alicorn with blue armor and a smoky blue mane. He thought of something to exclaim to add to the performance but remembered he had only seen this pony in stories and never seen or heard in real life, so he wasn’t sure what voice to pick. He also then realized that the laughing had stopped and the room became eerily quiet. He looked at his audience and was met with wide eyes and mouths big enough to stick their hooves in. That’s when he realized Nightmare Moon may have been a “no go” zone. He flashed back into his real form and instantly lost his confidence, “I’m sorry you high- I mean Celestia. I was just having fun and lost track of who I was turning into.”

“It is alright Mr. Slick. Though surprising, it actually felt kind of nice.” Everyone looked at Celestia in confusion trying to figure out why seeing such a bad memory was “nice”. “Nightmare Moon may have been an evil tyrant, but deep inside she is still my sister and I do miss her after all these years. Thank you Sterling.”

Sterling bowed his head again, thankful that it went better than he thought it was going to go.

Celestia got up from her throne and made her way down the stairs, “Now I believe it is time for all of us to head back to the party.”

“But what about the other guest,” Pearl asked. “They don’t know the whole story and may not take the news as forgiving as you did.”

Celestia turned back to Pearl with a smile and said, “Well, then I guess I’ll just have to make them understand,”

The rest of the party went along without a hitch, though there were still murmurs of disapproval of Sterling and Pearl. The Gala, however, was where the acceptance ended. They were harassed by ponies, both anonymously and plainly announced. The residents of Canterlot did not make life there easy for either of them. Even some of the ponies using Greenback’s bank withdrew their accounts and took their business elsewhere.

“Forget them,” Greenback assured Pearl. “If they don’t want to use my bank, there is nothing saying they have to.”

Pearl’s home was vandalized, Sterling was picked on at school (more than before when his only problem was being a blank flank), and Pearl was soon fired from her job. They seeked help from Celestia, but even with all her help it could not deter the hatred directed to them. They had only one option now and that was to move and change their names. Pearl sold her home and found a modest loft in Manehatten and changed her last name to White and Sterling’s to Silver. Sterling decided to help with this by using his talent to alter his blank flank. To be this old and not have a cutie mark is not only disheartening, but also the thing that would give him away. His flank now emblazed with shining bar of silver. Half of him wished he had thought of this earlier when he was being teased, but the other half thought it disheartening he had to hide who he was. He realized quickly that it was difficult to concentrate on keeping the cutie mark visible at all times, so he was going to have to work on that, but until then he would only show it when he left the house or if they had guest. It wasn’t hard for him to adjust since he wasn’t leaving the house much in Canterlot. He never really had any friends and usually kept to himself. That changed during his first day in school at Manehatten. He made many friends and was quite the charmer with the fillies in class. This would continue through the rest of elementary, then junior high, and even high school. And as much as he was having fun growing up, he couldn’t help but see the hardships his mother had to go through. He may not have had friends back home, but she did. The job she got in Manehatten after moving was still nice and paid the bills plus some, but it wasn’t as glamorous as the one she had in Canterlot. There were times he even caught her crying in her sleep. Pearl always would tell him she was just having a bad nightmare, but he knew that was a lie. He knew she missed her life back in Canterlot. Sometime around his 16th birthday, he made a vow to himself that he would find a way to get his mother back to Canterlot, even if it meant him staying behind for her sake.

“Silver!” A voice broke his train a thought. He looked up and could see a pink mare staring down at him. “Welcome back to Equestria, Silver,” Crystal said smiling.

“Oh if only I could wake up to you smiling over me all the time I’d be a happy pony,” Sterling said.

Crystal giggled. “Maybe one day, but for now homeroom is over. I know you hate math, but Ms. Lavender isn’t fond enough with you to let you ditch her class.”

Sterling got up in protest and headed to math class with Crystal at his side.

“So, do you have any plans for your final year in school,” Crystal asked Sterling.

“To pass,” he responded.

Crystal gave an irritated look at Sterling, “Gee, I have high hopes for your future, Silver.”

“I aim for the stars. What about you?”

“Well, unlike you, I plan on doing something with my final year. I plan on running for the student council.”

“Why? That’s just too much work.”

“Maybe for lazy ponies like you, but for me it is very rewarding. I have plans to make this school better than what was left for me. Plus, if I do well, I might be able to continue it in college.”

“Seems fine to me, though it could use a new coat of paint,” Sterling started to peel chips of paint off the wall.

“Well, if you elect me, I shall help make that wish come true.”

“Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”

“First lady gets special privileges,” Crystal said jokingly while squishing Sterling’s face with her hooves.

“Gee, fanks,” Sterling said with pursed lips.

They got to their desks in class with still time to spare. Crystal spun around and started to give Sterling some suggestions.

“What about sports?”

“No.”

“Band?”

“No.”

“Shop?”

“No. Hey, how about cheerleading, they’re always looking for stallions,” Sterling said sarcastically.

“No.”

Sterling just continued to smile and Crystal turned back around to face forward when she came to the conclusion he wasn’t going to take this seriously. In all honesty, Sterling has already thought of what to do for his senior year, and that was as little as possible. Clubs and sports would just take his time away from his friends and Crystal, although the Student Council will take her time away but he was ok with that. It made her happy. He tapped her on her shoulder and she still had that brooding look she always gave him that he always found cute. “If it means anything, you have my vote,” said Sterling. This made Crystal smile but she quickly wiped it away and went back to her playful disapproval towards him.

This continued for a couple more months of crystal trying to get Sterling to do something. She tried nearly every tactic in the book: dragging him to club meet and greats, having him meet with coaches, even to a job fair for a part time job. She got into the Student Council and she dragged him to those as well hoping he might want to volunteer. It wasn’t until the colleges showed up that she didn’t have to force him to go. In fact, she stumbled upon him already filling out a name tag.

“Of all the things I thought you’d participate in, college is not one I’d see you head to first,” Crystal said.

“What, you don’t think it’s something I could or would want to do,” Sterling jested with a false sense of hurt pride. He stood up straight and cleared his thought, “x times the square root of a tringle divided by four scores and seven years equals to think therefore I am sublimating.”

Crystal began to sarcastically slow clap while the volunteers at the sign-in table just stared in total shock from what they just heard. “Sir,” said one of the volunteers. Sterling turned his attention to the pony sitting behind the table. “If you plan on going to college, be sure to learn something more intelligent to say.” Sterling blushed and smiled forgetting other people were there when he said that while Crystal was now on the floor laughing. When she regained her composure, Crystal walked up to the table and got a name tag of her own.

There was a horde of different colleges from all over Equestria. You had Oxford which was a university for agriculture, EIT (Equestria Institute of Technology) for your smarter ponies, and Equestria Undergraduate University or EUU, or as some like to call it Ew. It’s not like the last one was bad, it’s just not a cream of the crop college. Something mixed in the booths of colleges was something that caught Sterling’s eyes. It wasn’t a booth for any normal college, but the Royal Guard Academy. He didn’t know why but Sterling seemed to be gravitating to it.

“Well hello there son, might you be interested in joining the Royal Guard Academy?” bellowed the recruiter.

“I’m not sure,” said Sterling. “What is it all about?”

“Well it’s a fantastic opportunity to join the Royal Guard and give a service to your country while still obtaining your college education. Then when you are all done with college you will go in as an officer.”

“Any restriction?”

“Just no medical problems, drug problems, or problems with the law. If you are cleared in that, then we’d be happy to welcome you aboard.”

Sterling picked up one of the pamphlets and stared at it. He flipped through the different tabs showing what can be in store for him.

“You’re not honestly thinking about joining are you,” Crystal asked.

“Well, why not,” Sterling gave in rebuttal.

“Because for as long as I’ve known you you’ve wanted to get through life doing the least amount of work as possible, and not only are you thinking about joining a service that work is almost in their definition, but you want to be the leader of that work?”

“This might be what I need to jump start my work ethic; besides, they’ll pay for college. Isn’t that right, uh…Captain,” he finally saw the two gold bars on the guard’s uniform.

“That is correct. Full ride scholarship till you get your four year degree, and you even have the chance to let us pay for a graduate degree during or after your service. And don’t worry about this stallion little lady,” he turned to Crystal, “Some of our best Generals were lazy mules until the service whipped them into shape.”

“See,” Sterling gesture toward the guard while looking at Crystal. “You heard it right from the horse’s mouth, and it’s not like they would ever lie just to get a check on their roster sheet.”

“Of course not,” the recruiter said while nervously clearing his throat. “The Royal Guard frowns upon lying to others.”

Crystal gave a skeptical look at both the recruiter and Sterling. Her father served in the guard in the same way, so she knew most of what the recruiter was saying was true, but she had also heard the bad that the recruiter was fudging or leaving out altogether. She knew the recruiter was right about the change that comes from “whipping them into shape”, but it was not always a good change. She sighed seeing the near excitement on Sterling’s face, “Just promise me that you’ll give this some thought before you sign anything, maybe even talk to my father over this.”

“Don’t worry Crystal,” Sterling reassured her. “I may be rash in some things, but not when it concerns major life decisions.”

“Says the pony that spent his entire birthday money at the tracks on a ‘sure thing’?”

“That’s different, that’s financial not life altering,” Sterling said with a sly grin on his face. He looked at Crystal and saw that just made her concern more pronounced. “I’m just kidding, I’ll be sure to make research the highest priority.” He turned back to the recruiter, “Thanks for the information, I’ll give it some thought and talk with some ponies before I make a decision.”

“Wise decision sir,” the recruiter said. “If and when you do decide to take up this opportunity, just get in contact with me. Here is my card.” The captain grabbed a business card off the table and handed it to Sterling.

“Will do Captain,” Sterling saluted to the captain, partially out of fun and partially feeling that’s what he should do. The captain returned it with a very loose salute followed by a smile and a wave off.

Sterling and Crystal left the academy booth and continued to look around at the different colleges that were present. They picked up some pamphlets, chatted with some of the coordinators, even starting a little collection of the free promotional items. Out of all the schools, they only matched on one, Manehatten University. They mainly chose it as a fall back school if their primaries fell through. It was decent, but it wasn’t a top ten school, plus it was close to home so a plus meant they could save on room and board. They were well aware that they were never going to go to the same school. They had different dreams that took them different directions in life, but they did tell each other they would continue to make their relationship work no matter what the distance.

They both walked out of the school to head back to their homes for the day. Crystal talked about her dreams while attending college, all the classes she’d take, and even talked about looking into a popular sorority at her number one pick. Sterling was listening, but not at 100 percent. He was still going through the idea of the academy and how to talk about it with his mother. He didn’t think she would be completely against the idea, but he knew, like all mothers, would have her doubts on the sheer fact of his safety joining the Royal Guard. You would never know just looking at the guards at the palace, but every now and then you hear of ponies giving all in foreign lands to maintain that inner city peace. Sterling just shrugged it off thinking he’ll deal with it when he gets to that point.

“Well, I guess this is where we part,” Crystal said.

Sterling looked up at the intersection, “So it is; till tomorrow my dear.”

They gave each other a quick kiss and started walking in different directions. Crystal took a few steps and stopped. “Sterling?”

Sterling turned around and saw a serious look on Crystal’s face he doesn’t see too often. “What,” he asked quizzically.

“I know ever since we left, that academy has been running through your mind. If it’s what you want I’ll support you fully, just please do as I say and give it some serious thought.”

Sterling gave her a small smile, “You worry about me too much. I promise that I will not jump into any rash decisions.”

This put a small, but somewhat forced smile on Crystal’s face. She knew he’d keep to his word, but she knew Sterling had a reckless past and is prone to jumping without thinking. It was the best she was going to get and she just turned back towards her house went on her way.

Sterling wished there was a way he could reassure her more, but couldn’t think of any better way because that was just how he was. He turned and headed down his path as well. His house was just a couple blocks away, but it was still enough time to figure out a good way to maturely discuss this with his mother. It may not be set in stone but it was still a big decision that also needed the ok from his mother.

“I’m home mom,” Sterling announced from the door.

“Welcome home dear,” Pearl said from the kitchen. She was baking a cake for an order that was placed last week. She had taken up baking a couple years ago and now bakes every chance she gets. Sterling didn’t know if it was just because she loved doing it, or it she just fell into the habit of doing so since it’s the only way she can make money since the job she had went belly up and let her go. Bills got paid, even if some were late, but it was still hard. Sterling even learned how to bake just to help his mother out on the orders. Though this made life a constant battle at home, it did give them something that most families always strive for but never maintain. It made their bonds strong and kept them close. Sure there were arguments, what family with a teenager didn’t, but a nice batch of brownies always mended the breaks. This time, Pearl was making a triple layer wedding cake: vanilla cake, vanilla frosting, strawberry frosting for the trimming, and…

“Are those gold flakes on the side of the cakes? Who would order gold flakes on a cake,” Sterling said with a puzzled look on his face.

“Who do you think?”

His puzzled face turned to a small smirk and in unison they said, “Filthy Rich.” They’ve come to know Mr. Rich through the new department store that opened up a mile away. He may not live in the area, but you’d think he did with the amount of time he makes his presence known at the store. He announced his engagement to some up and coming actress and it wasn’t long that he was knocking at our door asking my mother to make a cake for their wedding.

“I’m surprised he didn’t ask for the whole thing to be covered in gold or sprinkled in edible diamond flakes,” Sterling joked. He stopped chuckling when he realized his mother was remaining silent. He looked at her as she looked the other way while giving a I-know-nothing whistle. “He did, didn’t he?”

“You also forgot the lettering he wanted in rubies,” Pearl added.

Sterling facehoofed and let out a big sigh, “So how did you talk him out of it?”

“I told him that even though that sounded like a good idea, maybe toning it down a bit would make it taste all the much sweeter.”

“So that line works on adults too?” Sterling remembered his mother saying the same thing when a filly came in with her mother wanting a cake of nothing but frosting and whipped cream for her 5th birthday. “Let me put away my books and I’ll give you a hand with that. It’ll give me a chance to talk to you about something.” Sterling walked to his room, set his books down, grabbed an apron he kept hanging on the back of the door, and went back to the kitchen.

“So, what is it that you’d like to talk to me about,” Pearl asked.

“Well, today at school they had a college fair. Me and Crystal…”

“Crystal and I,” Pearl interrupted him.

“Yes, Crystal and I,” Sterling said sarcastically, “Walked around and found some colleges that interest us, and I found one that would be really good for me.”

“And which one is that dear?”

Sterling took a deep breath, “The Royal Guard Academy.”

It looked as if Pearl was struck with the same fate as the famous Discord sitting in the royal gardens. Neither she nor the frosting was moving.

“Now, I know what you are thinking,” Sterling quickly interjected. “You’re worried I might get into something I can’t handle and how it might throw me in an unsafe area, but you have to look at the opportunities involved. They’ll pay for my college, room and board would be paid for, plus I get training to be in the Royal Guard and come out as a leader.” Sterling stopped talking and looked at his mother for a response. The whole time she had not moved from the position from when she first heard him mention the academy. “Mom?”

Finally she moved, setting the frosting applicator on the counter and turning to Sterling. “Are you sure that is what you want,” Pearl asked. “It’s not just a college you go into, get a degree, and just go do something else. It’s a full commitment. I should know, you’re grandfather attended that academy.”

“Grandpa attended the Royal Guard Academy? I know he served in the Royal Guard for a few years, but I always thought he just enlisted or something.”

“No, he went through the academy; highest in his class actually. I do suggest you talk to him about this idea.”

“Maybe there’s more to this than I thought. Crystal said the same thing about talking to her father because he attended as well.” He looked to the side thinking there was more he wanted to say and then remembered, “Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I was reading the pamphlet I got and found out it could work out for the both of us.”

Pearl raised an eyebrow in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“Well, after the academy, I could put in for working at the castle and it would allow me to work something out where we could both go back to living in Canterlot.”

Pearl tensed up at hearing this. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, we could go back to living the life we had to leave. I know how much you miss it there and I promised myself I would find a way to get us, or at least you, back to that life since it was essentially my fault we had to leave. Wouldn’t it be just gr-“

Pearl cleared the distance between them in a flash and smacked Sterling across the muzzle with serious force. Sterling was knocked to the floor and his face burned from the stinging pain. “Don’t ever say that again,” Pearl said with poison in her voice.

Sterling wasn’t sure if he should be angry at the hit or confused on what his mother meant. “Say what again.”

“Never blame yourself for us having to move.”

“But, it…,” Sterling cut himself off when Pearl raised her hoof for another strike.

Pearl had never struck Sterling in his life minus the occasional spanking when he was a little colt. She couldn’t believe what she was doing, but she was angered by the words that just came out of Sterling’s mouth. But after thinking about it, she realized she wasn’t mad at Sterling; she was mad at herself for ever letting Sterling think it was his fault for the life they were living now. “I’m…I’m sorry Sterling.” She put her hoof down and hung her head. Tears were beginning to stream down her face, “I’m sorry if I ever made you think it was your fault.”

“You never made me think it was my fault,” Sterling reassured as he stood up. “I just remember the way other ponies treated us because of the fear they had in my abilities and you having to leave your life because of me.”

“I DIDN’T LEAVE MY LIFE, I BROUGHT IT WITH ME BECAUSE YOU ARE MY LIFE,” Pearl yelled with tears now coming down in buckets. “I don’t care if we lived the high life in Canterlot or a broken down barn in the middle of nowhere, as long as I had you, my life could never be bad. You’re all I have and all I’ll ever need.”

Sterling walked over to his mother and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry, I just thought I could repay you for all you’ve given me.”

“Just living a decent life is all the repayment I need.” Pearl returned the hug and stepped back to wipe the tears from her eyes. “If you want to join the academy, I am all for it; but do it because you want to and not for others.”

Sterling nodded, “Yes mother, I will. This is something I want to do.”

“Besides, with how popular my delectables are becoming, I could soon be working as the royal baker and I could make some brownies you can share with your little guard buddies,” Pearl said while squishing Sterling’s face. Pearl smiled and turned back to the cake. She stumbled on the second step and grabbed the counter to steady herself.

“Are you alright mother,” said a concerned Sterling.

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m just a little tired because I’ve been working so long on this cake.” Pearl let go of the counter, took another step, and collapsed to the floor.

“MOTHER!”