The hooves of fate have not been kind to me. They've allowed a group of delusional, self-entitled mares to destroy everything I spent years building, crumbling like a foal’s block tower. But if there's something I was prepared for, it was failure. All this time, as I smiled, watching my philosophy spread, a treacherous thought remained at the back of my mind. Eating me alive some nights, I could hear it whispering, It will fail. This town will fail.
I just wish it hadn't come like this.
I trudge down these steps worn into the stone by waters long forgotten, and I disregard the biting chill of the outside, ever-fading. I ignore my hunger for the food my town used to produce, and my thirst for the sparkling waters in the nearby river. I set my mind on my anger towards the ones responsible for this discomfort; this desperation, the pending disappointment of my longest acquaintance. My frustration boils within me. Perhaps I am ready to enter these doors, as I did so many moons ago.
I look up at the stone structures, plain to the common eye, but revealing their intricacy to the refined pair. The cracks form beautiful designs, the chips become keyholes, the moss becomes a garden of secrets. I set my eyes to the ground and push them open.
"Mother?" I call into the darkness.
Slowly, the shadows recede to the corners of the cavern as the luminous object within the center gradually attains a weak glow. The object in question is a magnificent boulder, whose warmth radiates from a brilliant core.
"Yes, Starlight?" she answers. I feel a chill run down my spine. I have forgotten how it feels to talk to Mother.
"Mother, you look… tired," I hesitantly reply, reluctant to bring up the events of the last days.
"Yes… I am. A couple days ago, I felt as though the cutie marks were–" she stops, her light flickering. I rush forward, concerned for her safety. Her light returns, albeit fainter than before.
"Starlight, please sit," Mother's feminine, sing-song voice commands.
I do as she says. "I don't want to tell her this," I scream within my mind.
"Tell me, Starlight, what happened?"
My mind wishes only to tell Mother the truth, but it hurts so much! The tears I barely keep concealed rush forth now, splashing against the hard floor of the cavern.
"I-I'm sorry!" I choke between sobs. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" I raise my head to look at mother. "I lost the village! Six self-proclaimed "enlightened" brats came and confused everyone. They all rushed the cave and took back their cutie marks!" Mother remains silent as I lowered my head to the floor, draining the last of my tears.
After what seems like an eternity, Mother finally spoke. I clench my jaw, awaiting her condemnation.
"Starlight, my child, do you still want to be my daughter?"
"What? Of course! Why would you ask such a thing?" I can't believe she would ask that! I would never forsake her!
"You need not lie to me, Starlight. I have only brought pain and grief to your life.”
I shake my head at the statement. "You have brought joy to my life, Mother, and given me hope for Equestria's future."
Mother, sounding a bit more certain in herself, asked, "Daughter, do you remember my song?" Her voice comes tentatively,as if unsure if she is saying the right words.
I crack a smile. "As clear as day."
The cavern darks a bit more, and a beautiful melody becomes audible. My eyes relax as we both sing the song ingrained in our minds.
"Let me welcome you, dear child,
To new life.
Together we can find the truth
Amidst the havoc.
The outside's dark and scary.
Come into my light.
Why solve the problems facing you
When you can be joined by
Your equals?
The time draws near,
Your mark held dear.
Tread wearily now."
As the memories of the alluring song flow back, Mother regains her normal voice. "You were a little filly then. You were crying about your parents. You had somehow gotten yourself lost in these caverns, and found me." I gaze intently at Mother, interested in my past.
"At that time, I relied on draining the cutie marks of the fools who made their way down here. But you… you were different. You weren't the inept teenager, or the headstrong athlete. You were an innocent foal." A smile tugged at the corners of my lips as faded shadows of this time returned.
"I said to you, 'Why are you here, little filly?' You looked up at me, and said 'My parents are gone. They… left.'" At that moment, looking down on that little orphaned foal, tears streaming down her cheeks, I first felt compassion, a sense of whimsy, I might venture. And answered–
"Do you want me to be your mother?" I interject, remembering the day well. "I will never forget what came next," I think.
"Yes, and you stood up, dried your tears, and responded,"
"Yes, I would," we say in unison.
The cavern remains silent for a while, Mother's light flickering now and again. We didn't mind the pause. We didn't need words.
"It was always a question for me whether your decision was made because of my song or because of your desperation," Mother spoke softly. "Tell me, Starlight, which was it?"
With only a moment's hesitation, I reply, "I don't know. But it doesn't matter what happened back then. What matters is what I think now. And I can say, without a shadow of a doubt, that I do not regret my decision." I move closer to her warmth and relax.
It is in this moment, in light of her forgiveness, I am reminded of Mother's sheer power. She is a made purely of energy, all condensed into a small space within the boulder. I've often wondered how much raw energy she really had, but I've never voiced my question. It just didn't seem polite. I readjust my position against her. I am happy with Mother.
A few moments pass until Mother speaks again. "Starlight," she begins slowly, "without the cutie marks to keep me alive, I will expire soon."
"Mother, I think it's time," I respond, with barely any hesitation.
"Time for what, my dearest?" Mother sounds genuinely concerned.
"Time for me to become what my fallen sisters forsook." I stand up, revealing my true cutie mark. "Mother, take my cutie mark from me."
"I won't take my daughter's cutie mark!" she cries in despair.
"Please, just do it," I sob. "You and I both know the energy from my cutie mark will feed you for years on end." I look up at Mother, silently begging her to remove my curse.
"Starlight, what of our philosophy?"
"Our philosophy means nothing when compared to you!" I counter. "If restarting our village means losing you, than it's not worth it!"
Mother and I stare at each other, I offering something necessary, she refusing to take something loved. She sighs, and answers, "There is another solution." I perk my ears, intrigued. "If I were to give you my remaining power, you would have powers only contested by the Princess of the Night herself."
"I'm not giving up on–"
"You won't lose me. I will always be with you on your journey."
I stare at my mother, unable to comprehend what she is suggesting. "You'll be with me?" I whisper.
"Always, my daughter."
I smile, and concede. "I will do it. For you, Mother."
The light from Mother's core begins to move, pushing against its immaterial bonds. It separates into strands, each trailing through the transparent stone. They all reach the outside of the boulder at the same time, leaving behind a wondrous trail of light. They pause for a moment, seeming to taste the air. Then, all at once, they burst forth, conjoining to form a single, massive beam of light, striking me square in the chest. I stumble back half a step, screaming as I am overcome by this force. I cannot recall what happened after that.
I awake to find my hooves and body replaced with light; luminous trails of a fog-like substance. My face feels different, somehow. Flatter. I hesitate for half a moment, and call, "Mother?"
"Yes, my darling?” Her voice seems to be emanating from inside… whatever I am.
"What is… this?" I gesture to my new body.
"This is what I look like; what I am: pure energy and terror."
I grin at the sweet sound of her voice, as she utters the words I so longed to hear. My grin turns to a smile, and my smile to a laugh, filling the cavern, echoing off the walls, and reaching through the entrance to the caves.
"Yes! This body is perfect!" I laugh harder as a new, longer horn forms upon my head, and wings stretch from my sides.
"Now, my dear Starlight! Make use of this gift, and destroy your oppressors! Do this quickly!"
My mind becomes linear, the sheer potential this transformation has overwhelming me. So much power at my disposal! So much newfound freedom to do with as I wish! So many new ponies I can enlighten!
My non-physical body rushes through the caves, flying through the night, whisking past the countryside, searching the land for my prey. I soar above the clouds, roaming Equestria for a city that would house such ponies with my enemies' accent. My eyes narrow as I spot a small villageI slow to a halt, gazing over a hill at a farmhouse. I stare through a window at a little yellow filly being tucked to bed by one of the runts who destroyed my life. The elder one seems to be singing her sibling a lullaby about her cutie mark. How fitting.
"Your strength is only matched by Celestia herself, and your power rivaled only by her sister. You are the true enlightened one! Make them see!"
"Yes! Today, I become the darkness of nightmares." My lips contort into an even greater smile. "This world will fear me, and my followers."
