Chapters Darkness surrounded Crystal, she laid silently as she heard the harsh wind beat against the small rooftop window. A flash a lightning spooked her and she charged out of her bed in seconds. Her heart pounding in her chest she looked over at her sleeping sister. Best not to wake her she thought Moonlight gem is a very grumpy pony if woken. Crystal Light made her way down the long steps from the attic where her and her younger sister Moonlight slept. Crystal slowly made it down to the kitchen where she grabbed herself a glass of milk. She sat at the table, gazing at the family portrait that hung over the fireplace in the living room. It reminded her of when mom was around, the glory days or so she called it. Her mother was a unicorn like her and Moonlight, Their father was a hard working earth pony with many different jobs just to keep themselves alive after mom left with most of the cash they had. Crystal didn't hate her mother for leaving she understood why she did leave, father was a horrible stallion a greedy one at that. He constantly complained about the country life and always hit Mom in some way. Crystal wanted a good image of her mother so she hated her father, so much she couldn't look into his eyes which were exactly like hers. Crystal gazed a bit longer before she heard hoof steps coming down the stairs, a small dark blue mare stepped into the light of the kitchen. Crystal stared at her for a second before smiling, “ you couldn't sleep could ya.” Moonlight nodded her head and Crystal made room for her on the bench. Moonlight graciously hopped next to Crystal, “ you want me to make ya a sandwich,” Moonlight nodded once more as Crystal got up and took out the bread.
“Your growing to old for me to take care of ya sis, I know you're only a filly but you need to at least speak to me.” Crystal took out the jar of peanut butter and spread it on two slices of bread, Moonlight gulped nervously, “The thunder scared me.” Crystal smiled at her sister, finishing the sandwiches she handed one to Moonlight. Moonlight took it and wolfed it down in a flash. Crystal ate hers as she watched her sister gaze up at the portrait. “Why did mama have to leave Crystal?” Crystal hesitated at first, she got up off the bench and placed the dirty dishes in the sink. “She left because daddy wasn't a good stallion. He didn't love her like we did and it stayed that way for years.” She looked into her sister’s emerald eyes, they were her mother’s eyes. Every time Crystal looked at them she saw her mom and not her little sister. “Daddy is not a bad man Crystal,” her eyes filled with tears, “he just didn't love mommy the way we did. I hate her for leaving us.” Crystal shot up a stared into Moonlight’s eyes, “Do you know where you got those eyes Moonlight? You got them from mom and only her. Don’t you ever say that ever again you hear me? Never again. Moonlight Gem so help me if ya do, I will make sure you don’t forget her.” Her face got red, her body filled with anger, her innocent little sister saying she hated her own mother. Crystal looked up at the staircase and saw another shadowy figure descending. This time she would regret what she had said.
Crystal’s father stood in the doorway of the kitchen, his fiery red eyes glued on Crystal Light and nothing else. Moonlight hid behind the tall massive stallion as her only known defense. Crystal stood defenseless, her body shaking with fear as she stared into his bloodshot eyes. For once in her life Crystal thought she could curse him or something. Her horn glowed a sickly green, she was ready to strike at him with a crystal curse. (a curse that would slowly turn you into a crystal statue, that was only temporary of course.) Crystal had studied magic years before and it was her special talent, well crystal magic was her special talent. Her father took a step back and held up his hoof and reached it out gently to reach the tip of her horn. Crystal stopped her horn and lowered her head in submission. I am so dead she thought as he stared at her. But something was calm yet unsettling about his glare. It wasn't harsh nor was it gentle, it was a cold stare, one that could pierce it’s way into a pony's mind and never leave. Crystal waited and waited but nothing happened. Soon her father turned to face Moonlight who was shaking nervously behind him. He gave a side smile her way and turned back to Crystal with a more gentle glare. “What am I going to do with you child. I can’t keep ya from talkin about your ma can I? Guess not if ya go blabbering to your sister like that. Ya’ll should be ashamed of yourself, sayin I’m a horrible stallion when your mother was the one who left. I loved more that any of ya’ll could and I want to make that clear. Don’t be tellin lies to your sister Crystal Light. If I hear any talk of your ma you’ll regret it.” With those last words he went back up to his bedroom. Crystal stared at her shaking sister and gingerly placed a hoof on her shoulder.
“Come along little sis, we should be asleep about now.” Moonlight nodded and they went back up to the attic. Crystal got settled into her bed at the same time Moonlight did, and within seconds both girls were fast asleep. What seemed like only minutes were hours passing and soon Crystal awoke to the sound of her father cooking. From what she smelled it was pancakes, fluffy, delicious pancakes right off of the oven just the way she liked them. Crystal put on her slippers and charged down the steps, her hooves stopping at the base of the steps when she heard an all too familiar sound. The sound of tears striking the floor as the cries of pain echoed through the empty house they called home.Peeking her head in the doorway (that had no door) she saw the familiar sight of her father crying by the stove. Crystal slowly approached her father and hesitantly put her hoof on his shoulder. She never understood why he usually cried like this, it would only happen once a week or more often than that.Her father looked over at her with tears in his eyes. Crystal smiled, but instead of her father smiling back like always his frown twisted and changed into a devilish grin. Crystal backed up quickly, cold fear flooding her body as her limbs became numb. Crystal attempted to move but it felt like her hooves were glued to the floor, she tugged harder trying to break away her hooves from the ground. Her father approached her, his smiling and the way he moved was off putting to her. Crystal called out for Moonlight but no words escaped her mouth, all that was heard was a small whisper that quickly vanished in the air. Her father soon began to change shape, his once light green coat began to darken into a black coal color. His eyes turned pure red instead of the comforting heat that radiated from his dark red eyes. His dark blue mane began to fall out, leaving behind only small pieces of hair on his neck and head.
When he finally reached Crystal he was nothing but a black mass with red eyes. Crystal couldn't look into them, it was not the same as before. The creature laughed at her refusal to look at him and reached out a shadowy hoof towards her. Crystal yanked her head away from his hoof and soon she looked right into his eyes. Within seconds, Crystal felt her soul leave her body. Her senses numb and her body seemed to fall as her soul was sucked from it. A flash of light surrounded Crystal and she was flung back against the wall. When she did open her eyes something amazing happened,a beautiful alicorn mare stood before the creature. Her blue coat complimented her mane which seemed to shimmer like the night sky. Crystal tried to get a closer look of the mare but she remained in her place as the mare blasted away what was left of the beast, leaving nothing behind. “Are you alright little one?” The mare turned around to approach Crystal Light. Crystal nodded her head, “yeah, I’m fine.” The mare helped her to her hooves,”you show signs of fear, come along child. I will bring you to a safer place.” With those words they were teleported to a very strange place. “The celestial plain?” Crystal tilted her head towards the mare. She knew this place and recognized it as soon as she saw it. “Yes child, the realm that exists between reality and imagination.” The mare turned around to face Crystal, “Of course I shouldn't have to introduce myself since you may know me already,” “Of course I do Princess Luna.” Luna nodded and smiled at her. Crystal looked around the plain, nothing but what seemed to be the night and day mixed together was present. A single starry path was visible but Luna seemed not to follow it. Crystal followed Luna to a portal that leaded them to Crystal’s tree-house Moonlight and she used to play in all the time.
Luna’s horn glowed a brilliant blue and it lit the darkened single room of the tree-house. Crystal looked into Luna’s blue eyes but didn't say a word. She lowered her head in submission to the princess but Luna lifted Crystal’s head with a frown on her face. “ Why do you show weakness to me Crystal Light?” The sound of her name spoken by the princess sent her heart racing. “I just want to be respectful princess,” Crystal lowered her head again but immediately rose up again as Luna spoke, “there is no need Crystal, I shall not require your signs of submission or weakness as an order of respect. What I do see as respect is when ponies show me strength. So raise yourself high child.” Crystal rose all the way up, her horn poised high in the air. “Very good. Now, it is time you understand the truth about your fears.” Crystal dropped her ears at the word “fear”. She didn't like that word and never shall. Luna saw her reaction and stopped herself from continuing. “I am sorry, I didn't mean to upset you.” “ It’s ok princess.” “Call me Luna, it’s the least you could do for me.” Crystal lowered her gaze down to the rugged wood flooring. “Of course, Luna.” Luna raised her horn high, her wings fully stretched out, with a look a regality Princess Luna looked down towards Crystal, “tell me what you fear child.” Crystal spoke clearly but fearful, “I fear nothing at all Luna. “How can you be so certain of that when you can’t look me or your father in the eye.” Crystal’s eyes filled with tears and Luna reached out a hoof to comfort her. “I am sorry. I know not what upsets you but I do know what troubles you.” Luna looked into Crystal’s eyes, “you're afraid of him.” Crystal finally realized her true fear, and at that moment she finally broke out of her protective nature and she cried. Luna smiled and held Crystal close, “you understand my words, and you take them to heart. This is a good sign Crystal Light. You're ready.” Crystal looked up to Luna, tears streaming down her face, “what do you mean by ready?” Luna’s smile faded, “I’ll explain later my dear child. But now you need to awaken to face your true fear.”
Crystal awoke with a start. Sweat ran down her face and her mane was a lot messier than it usually was. She looked over to where her sister slept and saw that her bed was empty. Making her way downstairs she found her father and her sister enjoying some pancakes. Crystal yawned purposefully to make herself known before sitting next to her sister on the bench. "Good morning daddy;" she said with a smile on her face. Her father didn't look up from his newspaper, instead he kept reading and sipping his coffee. Crystal looked over at Moonlight who was pouring loads of syrup on her pancakes. Crystal ate in complete silence until her father looked up for a second at her. "You were havin a nightmare last night," he said in a more calm tone than last night. Crystal nodded her head and continued to eye him as she ate. "What were ya dreamin about?" He brought his head up waiting for a reply, "Nothing," she said in a tone of certainty. Her father looked back down at his paper but he wouldn't let the matter go. "I heard ya screamin, a shouting no in ya sleep. Ya sure it was nothin?" "I'm certain. Just drop it ok." Crystal lowered her head and dropped her ears, which gave the clear message something was upsetting her. "I'm sorry bout how I acted last night. I just don't like it when ya talk about your ma like that, like she was the best mare that was on the face of this planet. She wasn't, nowhere close. In all the ponies of Equestria she was probably the worst." Crystal couldn't stand it any longer, she rose up and shouted at her father, "You didn't know her like I did! She was kind and loving! Somethin you seem to lack!" With those final words Crystal shot up out of her seat and trotted up the steps angrily. She slammed the door to the attic and immediately she began to cry. "You didn't know her like I did daddy, you never did love her." A few minutes later Crystal heard the massive hoof steps of her father coming up the stairs. "Leave me alone, I don't want to speak to you." "I did love her Crystal, if I didn't then... then how do you exist?" Crystal thought for a second until she peeked out her head into the small hallway. Her father had to crouch because the roof was so low, but he still seemed to be standing up as best as he could with a sense of dignity. "I can't argue with that," Crystal said with a big smile on her face. She ran up and hugged her father, "but if you did love her. Why did you let her go?" "Have you ever heard the old sayin if you love something set it free?" Crystal nodded, "yeah, that's what you did with mom. "Exactly, She was miserable, so I gave her a choice and she left." Crystal smiled and hugged her father. Never had she heard the truth about her mother leaving.
Crystal continued her daily routine with a higher appreciation of her father. Never had she heard the truth, only what she didn't know was that it wasn't the full truth. Crystal walked through Ponyville market to get a few things for her dad. Something caught her attention as she walked the long line of different booths. She walked over to what seemed to be a fortune teller, an elderly pony emerged to the surprise of Crystal. "Welcome child, would you spare an old pony a few bits in exchange for a glimpse into your future?" Crystal thought about what daddy said, "don't go spending bits on useless stuff you hear?" Crystal thought harder, ok maybe this once I can use some bits, this isn't that useless. Crystal handed the pony 5 bits which came to the delight of the pony. "Now, see your future open itself to you." The crystal ball shook and glowed, Crystal looked at it closely and what she saw would haunt her dreams and her life forever. The real truth about her world was going to change that day.
Crystal ran back home after getting what she needed to. She burst open the front door, placed her saddlebags on the ground in the kitchen and ran upstairs as quickly as she could. The thought of what she saw raced through her mind in a swarm of fearful memories. The cold truth blinded her and sent her body in mind into a state of panic. She laid on her bed in thought, what was that thing, it was black with the eyes of mother, but not at the same time. The thought scared her and soon she collected her thoughts after what seemed like hours. A knock on the door told her it was dinner time. Crystal got up and gazed at the door before gaining the courage to face her family again. She descended, her mind still a massive storm of thoughts that raced around like a twister. She finally made it to the kitchen where her father had prepared a small meal of tomato soup and cheesy bread. Crystal ate quickly, not daring to look at anyone. She finished and put her plate in the sink before returning to her room. Almost an hour passed before her sister came up to get ready for bed. Crystal got up and took a hot shower before returning to the room. She watched Moonlight play with some of her stuffed animals, how innocent the young filly was. She was as harmless as a butterfly, but Crystal saw beyond her lovable nature. Crystal saw a soul of darkness that would soon be awoken one she reached the right age, the same way it did it to Crystal. The day your innocence leaves only to leave behind an empty shell waiting to be filled with life and personality. Crystal turned out to be a smart young mare, solving any problems she came across. She wasn't very good at friend making, but this didn't bother her. Crystal laid back in her bed and not long after she heard the familiar squeak of her sister's bed as she made her way onto it. Crystal felt secure knowing her sister was by her side. Moonlight yawned and reached to turn off her lamp. Crystal did the same and soon the girls were in nothing but a vast darkness that spread throughout the large space of the attic. Before Crystal realized it, she was fast asleep. And prepared for another visit from Luna.
Crystal slept for a good long while until visions of the creature from the night before came into view. The long legs, its massive alicorn wings, the long scraggly horn, and it's pure red eyes. The shadowy beast would forever remain in her mind and it showed it's worst this night. Crystal woke up in a dream once again. The pitch black attic didn't give any comfort to her so she went down into the living room where she knew some comfy chairs would be. She sat on the large fluffy sofa and looked around at the darkened house. Nothing but darkness surrounded her and it would stay that way for a while. She was alone with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company. She heard a noise coming from the fireplace that was off putting and out of place. The noise sounded like a snake trying to creep in through the fireplace. But nothing was there, until Crystal turned and saw another one of the horrible beasts she saw the night before and in the crystal ball. She froze with fear until she noticed the same glowing as before. The blue aura surrounding the beast, blasting it to pieces. Crystal saw the shadow of Princess Luna in the back entrance. Luna approached her and they were teleported back to the Celestial plain. Luna looked at Crystal with a smile, the warmth of her smile seemed to fill Crystal with relief and joy. "Thank you Luna." "What do you thank me for dear child?" "For saving me, duh. The way you killed that beast." Luna turned her head and her horn lit up. "Crystal, it is my duty to kill those beasts. I deserve no thanks for killing them when I'm the reason they exist." Crystal was puzzled at first but soon realized that Luna wasn't joking. "But, I don't understand. What are they? why did I see one in the crystal ball? Why do they keep coming after me?" Luna held up a hoof to shush Crystal, "all your questions shall soon be answered child, but for now I will tell you what I told you before. Don't let your fears control you." Luna flew into the air."Wait, princess. Please tell me." "I have no right nor do I have a reason, all answers will come to you soon Crystal Light." After Luna finished she vanished. Crystal thought,what is she talking about? What are those things, and why are they coming after me? Crystal paced in thought but nothing logical came to her. Soon the realm around her vanished and she found herself wide awake in the vast darkness once again. She looked and saw Moonlight fast asleep. Crystal smiled and tried going to sleep again, but the questions she wanted answered would not leave her mind and they wouldn't until the very next night. The night that would change Crystal Light, forever.
The next morning wasn't any better. Crystal woke up that morning after a night of tossing and turning. Bags under her eyes she went downstairs to prepare breakfast since her father was at work that day. She made toast for her ad Moonlight and they both ate in silence. As Crystal washed the dishes, Moonlight sat in the living room and played around with levitating some of her stuffed animals. Crystal smiled and watched her, before thinking she walked over and started to help her sister with levitation. Moonlight tried to copy Crystal but soon got frustrated and threw her favorite stuffed bunny on the ground. Crystal picked it up and dusted it off. "You'll learn one day little sis, magic doesn't come easily." Moonlight pouted and crossed her hooves. "Easy for you to say, your special talent is magic," "Yes it is, but how do you think I earned my special talent?" Crystal stared at Moonlight before continuing, "how do you think I got my cutie mark?" Moonlight shrugged. Crystal smiled, "then it's about time I told you.
Crystal went into full detail explaining the story of how she got her cutie mark, the whole time Moonlight listening with great interest. "...and then this appeared on my flank" she said, pointing to the two finely cut emeralds that shined brilliantly on her flank. Moonlight gazed at her blank flank and her expression saddened. "But when will I get mine big sis?" Crystal couldn't say anything at that moment because she didn't know, but as sly as a fox she made her reasoning, "It will come when you discover your gift, a cutie mark happens when it chooses to." "But what is my gift? How do I know what it is?" "Your special gift is something you must discover for yourself." These words hit Moonlight in a cold way, she didn't want to hear those words. She wanted to hear what her gift was. But clearly even Crystal didn't know. Moonlight sat beside Crystal before jumping down and heading outside to play with her friends. Crystal watched her little sister run off with her friends. Crystal sighed as she thought about the one friend she did have long ago. Odessa was a bat pony mare who was greedy at times, but always put Crystal's needs before her own. Crystal liked Odessa, but their friendship was short because Odessa had to leave Equestria due to committing a serious crime. Crystal remembered being in the court room when the judge ruled that Odessa shall live in exile for the rest of her life. Not being able to live in Equestria. Crystal cried like she never had before that day. Of course Crystal got over it and tried making new friends but to no avail. No one liked Crystal, and this was a stone hard fact that lived with her throughout all of her days.
Crystal spent the rest of her day alone, mostly traveling around Ponyville and saying hello to ponies she passed by. Finally she reached the castle of Princess Twilight. The large daunting castle which seemed to be made entirely of gems. This was usually the point where she turned back but this time was different. This time she just stared at the castle with a sense of fascination and wonder. Never had she noticed the many different gems that made up the walls and the large structure above that it supported. Crystal gazed until a familiar mare approached her. "Howdy there Crystal Light!" Crystal looked over at Glimmer who was anything but ordinary. The mare didn't sleep! Crystal highly disliked the fact this mare was like a plant. She didn't need sleep, nor did she need food to stay alive. All this mare seemed to need was air and nothing else. "Hi Glimmer..." Crystal spoke with a uncertainty in her voice. "Pleasure to see you here, observin the castle an all." Crystal stared at the light red mare with a puzzled expression. Why and how does this mare stay alive, she's a few, no, many apples short of a bushel. And there ain't no denying it. "Pretty ain't it, thing popped out of the ground an been here ever since." Where the heck does this pony get her information from? Nothing like that could just pop out of the ground she thought, but as soon as Crystal thought it, Glimmer seemed to read her mind like it was an open book. "I ain't lyin, all of what I said is true." "Ok, whatever you say Glimmer." Glimmer smiled and bounced away. Crystal gazed at her for a second. The mare is a unicorn, yet how is she so dumb? Nothing would ever make sense again after that, especially when Glimmer would reveal who she truly was.
The night routine was the same thing it always was. Moonlight went to sleep the same time Crystal did. Crystal was glad to be in her bed again, except she wasn't prepared for what fate had in store for her that night.