How do the Stars twinkle?

Spitfire wasn't easily scared, at least not as much as other ponies. But to her the prospect of a lost Princess that was truly terrifying, and she wasn't sure how she was going to tell her team. But beneath all this fear was a spark of happiness her daughter was talking to her again, if only to ask a favor, but seeing her daughter fly circles around her was a beautiful. Her little flame was one of the best flyers she had ever seen and it filled Spitfire with pride, only if she didn't vow to only use it in emergencies, she could surpass Rainbow Dash.

But Fluttershy was too kind for that, she let her mellow nature take control, but she knew Firesky was still there. When Firesky saw her Father Flusterkind fall through the cloud when the spell keeping him up failed, she was horror struck. Spitfire smiled fondly at the memory of her husband, Flusterkind was the nicest earth stallion she ever meant although easily flustered, he was the pony who cheered the loudest for her first performance. Much like her daughter did for her friend Rainbow, but don't get Firesky and Fluttershy mixed up they in fact have the exact same mane, same coat, same soft voice, same eyes, even the same body.

But there one difference, Firesky saw her father die, Fluttershy didn't. Spitfire hasn't seen Firesky in a long time but today she saw a small sliver of Firesky peeking out from behind that curtain of pink mane, her stronger flying was one of the clearer signs that Fluttershy let Firesky take the reins. Even so there was this haunted look to her face, almost as if she saw a ghost. Almost as if she had to relive her father’s death. Gasping in air Spitfire landed on the cloud next to Fluttershy (or was she Fireshy?), the yellow pony leaned on her as a sign of comfort.

This was defiantly Firesky, as she was much more like her mother, touchy, speedy, and no respect of personal space. While Fluttershy had more of Flusterkind, sweet, shy, innocent, and that sense of selflessness that would make Celestia feel selfish. "She fell" Firesky whispered in Spitfire's ear catching the Wonderbolt off guard, "Dusk was riding on a ponies back and she, fell off" she choked tears gathering in her eyes.

Spitfire turned to her daughter and nuzzled her neck "I know it must hurt, but I believe in you and you must stay strong for her.” Firesky scrubbed her eyes in a vain attempted to hide her tears, but she smiled. Never took much to motivate her. Spitfire stood up offering a wing to Firesky, who took it sheepishly.

“SPITFIRE!” Soarin cried crashing through several clouds breathing heavy “We-we-we got a message from Griffinstone, an alleged princess was found” he said pushing his googles up his forehead.

Spitfire smiled “Soarin im going to take a day off, tell the rest of the team” Firesky briefly nuzzled Spitfire’s neck before diving off the cloud, a speechless Soarin watched as the Pegasus reached Wonderbolt speed, then some.

“I thought Dash told me she wasn’t this fast. And why did she nuzzle you?” He asked cocking his head to the side slightly,

“Oh that’s right” Spitfire said putting her goggles on “I never told you about Firesky and Fluttershy have i?”

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Gasping for air Dusk peaked around the corner of the building, she lost her sighing relief she sat down and caught her breath. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Gilda it was just that she was… scary was the best word. Looking out into the street she saw a sea of griffins, at this rate she was never going to get home. Then Dusk noticed a large pony, his long thick coat was brown with black wisps of fur that seemed to move. A long tangled pine green mane nearly touched the pathway as he moved along in, his long strides making it hard to keep up. “Excuse me” Dusk said weaving her way through the griffins, the large pony stopped and looked down at the small princess.

“Hello there young one” his voice rumbled like an earthquake.

Dusk smiled “can we go somewhere to talk?” she asked nudging his legs with her wings, he chuckled another earthquake shook his frame. He held out his dinner plate sized hoof and Dusk hopped on he dropped her on his head and walked rather quickly into a library, he walked through another door and held his head low enough for Dusk to hop off.

“So young Dusk what brings you here?” he asked his voice sounded more female inside, softer like snow.

“I came to ask fo- wait. How do you know my name?” she asked he had no wings or horn, just a large earth pony.

He chuckled “Well Twilight writes about you, and Luna is quite proud of you.” He said brushing a lock of green hair away from his grey eyes, sparking with a teasing nature.

Dusk huffed and looked the pony in the eye “What’s your name mister? And how do you know Twilight and Luna?” she asked fluttering her wings trying to get to his eye level. Lowering his head he blew on the filly, she squeaked and landed glaring daggers at the pony.

He chuckled but it was softer than outside, “I am not a mister, I am a mare. Name’s OakPen little one, sorry for the misconception. And I know Twilight and your mother because I’m one of the best editors in Equestria, they both send me stories regularly. And they both speak of you.” OakPen said eyes flicking upwards briefly before settling on the filly again.

Dusk made a weird face that turned to confusion “OakPen how are you so big if you’re a mare, no offense. But I only heard of large stallions that weren’t princesses” OakPen chuckled and blew on the filly again, earning a soft giggle.

“Well Dusk I’m what’s known as a Mountain Pony, we grow to be very large. In fact I am still growing, I’m only 14 just like SweetieBelle and her friends. Although I am large for my age, young Dusk, I am just going to continue to grow as I continue. I might even grow to Celestia’s size, but not much past that.” She said standing up she held up out her hoof “now what did you want to discuss?” Dusk hopped on the offered hoof and then OakPen’s head,

“I need a ride home OakPen, and I don’t know where I am” she said watching the world beneath her pass in long strides.

OakPen chuckled it was softer like a small avalanche, “Well Dusk we are in Griffinstone, and I would be happy to give you a ride home. I’m guessing you live in ponyville right now?” she said ducking under several door frames, Dusk shifted her body forwards and backwards to mimic a nod. “Just as I thought I live there too, so we may become friends.” Dusk shifted her body to lean to the right as if to cock her head, “Hmm? You’re wonder why I’m alone?” Dusk mimicked a nod again. OakPen chuckled “Well young Dusk, a Mountain Pony is kicked out at 12 to start their own life, get a job, a home and decent income. And if they have a love, get married. Now before you ask ‘how come you’re the first mountain pony I’ve heard of?’, I am the only mountain pony to leave the Frost Mountains for a very long time.” OakPen kneeled on the floor to let Dusk off on her bed.

“Why?” Dusk asked shifting in the sheets. OakPen sighed and nuzzled Dusk gently “Well Dusk, I loved editing that’s what I got my cutie mark for. But I couldn’t fulfill that dream in the Frost Mountains, so I left with my servant and traveled many places. I learned many things and made many friends, one of my favorites had to be Star Caverns, where I met your mother. It’s a beautiful place where Luna seeked solitude, but that’s the thing with a guilty pony, solitude is the last thing they need. And mountain ponies and Luna go way back”

Dusk cocked her head

“How far? Very far Dusk, we used to be nocturnal creatures, our long coats made it hard to stay in the sunlight. So we slept by day and worked by night, and Luna was very pleased by this. To have some of her subjects bask in her glorious night, to breath it in and embrace its beauty. But other ponies saw us as outsiders, saw us as monsters because we couldn’t stand the sun, or because we we’re so large. And Luna was… unhappy to say the least, but because she loved us she took us to the Frost Mountains where we could stay and live without torment. We have many celebrations about her especially for her final gift, a spell that would allow us to walk in sunlight without the heat. She gave us the ability to change our coats thickness, to filter out the sun if you will.”

Dusk rolled onto her side and smiled blowing on OakPen, she chuckled and nuzzled her. “O-Oaky?” A soft voice stuttered walking into the bedroom, a grey unicorn mare with a cold blue mane and icy eyes walked in.

OakPen smiled “Hello Pinefrost, have you met Dusk yet? Dusk this is my marefriend Pinefrost.”