You Are Beautiful In Every Single Way...
The wind swiftly flew past her colorful, flowing mane. Her purple eyes glowed in the starry night. Her white fur were softly flowing with the rhythm of the wind.
It was a beautiful night, but not as beautiful when Luna raised the moon.
Princess Celestia took the time to gaze upon the bright, twinkling stars above her. The moon was glowing, and the spots of a mare was visible to be seen. It always reminded her of Luna.
She would always regret that mistake. The one mistake she made: ignoring Luna for her own pride. She shook her thoughts away and still felt guilty over the past years.
"I missed you, Luna," Celestia sighed deeply. She knew that Nightmare Moon would come back anytime soon, and that the Elements weren't in touch with her anymore. She couldn't control or feel the connection.
Her eyes twinkled as a shooting star shot through the sky. "I...I wish you were here...again..." Celestia whispered mournfully.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She smelled the wonderful roses that were planted in the garden and the fresh air that were blowing against her.
Celestia exhaled, opening her eyes and slowly trotting to the stony paths. Wherever it leads her to, she wouldn't care a less about it. She knew this garden very well for she had studied the secret passage ways a thousand years ago.
She heard a soft whimper out of nowhere and decided to follow the sounds. It lead her to Luna's favorite place to go: the oak tree.
Luna would hide in there whenever they're playing 'Hide and Seek'. But sadly, it only lasted for a year.
The sounds drifted off as she saw a pink mare with purple mane and a little of pink dye on it. She doesn't have her cutie mark yet, and she had some kind of headset around her neck. Celestia wondered why she was crying.
The mare didn't notice Celestia standing in front of her, for she buried her face in her hooves. Celestia laid a hoof on the mare's shoulder, startling her. Celestia smiled and spoke softly,
"Are you alright, my little pony?"
The mare looked up, her eyes filled with tears. She gasped a bit when she found out the pony who was in front of her was really Princess Celestia!
She would've answered 'Yes', but then she would be lying to the Princess! So she sniffed, "N-no...W-why would y-you even care? I'm j-just an earth pony with a r-regular l-life..."
Celestia laid on her stomach beside the mare, "I do care for my subjects. It hurts me to see them in pain."
The mare sobbed a bit, "B-but you're the p-princess..."
"I am just a regular pony like you," Celestia nuzzled her gently.
The mare stared at her in disbelief, her light purple eyes widening. Then, she looked away in embarassment. She didn't want to look bad in front of Princess Celestia. Heck, she was even crying like a foal in front of her!
"I-I'm sorry," she whimpered, burying her face again.
"What are you so sorry about?" Celestia questioned, draping a wing over the mare. "There's nothing to be sorry about."
"I...cried like a-a f-foal," she softly whispered, trying her best not to cry again.
"That's nothing to be ashamed of," Celestia smiled. "Everypony needs to cry now and then."
The mare looked up to her, "E-even you?"
Celestia gave out a light laugh and nodded, "Even me."
Celestia and the mare turned their heads to the night sky, admiring every inch of it. "Beautiful night, isn't it?" Celestia asked, smiling down at her.
The mare nodded a bit, feeling a bit better. Celestia pulled her closer, "Why are you so upset? What are you upset of?"
The mare's ears lowered in shame, "Y-you wouldn't u-understand..."
"Understand?" Celestia perked her eyebrow up, "Why wouldn't I understand?"
"I...just..."The mare gave out a heavy sigh. "You see...it's about my cutie mark."
"Ah," Celestia nodded, "You are being called 'Blank Flank', aren't you?"
The mare stared at the princess, shocked that she might actually know the situation, "Y-yes...that's it..."
"Well, what's the problem then?" Celestia inquired, "Is it because your cutie mark never appeared until you're a teenager? Is it because you were being teased? Is it because you're ashamed of who you are?"
The mare was dumbstruck, "Y-yes, that's it..." The mare looked down, her cheeks heating up in humiliation. "How do you know?"
Celestia gave a kind-hearted smile, "Two thousand years ago, when my sister and I became rulers of Equestria, we didn't have any cutie marks."
The pony's eyes widened, "When you were about my age?"
Celestia chuckled, "Older than you."
"But you got your cutie marks, right?" The mare asked in curiosity.
"Of course!" Celestia gave out a warm laugh. Then she made a small smile at the mare, nudging her slightly, "Never give up on what you're doing. You must believe on what you will achieve. Even if you don't have a cutie mark, that doesn't mean you're not special. You are beautiful in ever single way."
The mare listened to her carefully, taking Celestia's advice close to her heart. Princess Celestia was the last pony she would ever meet. Especially her parents."T-thank you..."
She made a tearful smile as she embraced Celestia, "Thank you..."
Celestia smiled tenderly, "Remember that. Words can't bring you down. You're always beautiful no matter what they say."
"Thank you," she sobbed. She thanked her over and over, "Thank you..."
Celestia patted her back, squeezing her for a moment, and letting her go. Celestia wiped the mare's tears with her hoof."Good luck."
"Thank you," the mare sniffed.
"I haven't got your name yet," Celestia murmured.
"Oh, sorry," the mare smiled, a tear escaping her eye. "Soundwave Rhythms. Call me Sound or Wave, Princess."
Celestia smiled, "And call me Celestia. You should get back home; your parents must be worried about you!"
Wave's smile dropped instantly as she looked down, "Oh, uh, I live in the garden..."
Celestia's eyes widened, "What?"
"Y-yeah," Soundwave nodded. "I managed to get to school for free...I-I'm an..."
She nearly choked on the last word, but Celestia hushed her, "Say no more." Celestia pushed her gently with her large wing, "You can stay with me."
"R-really?" She asked tearfully, ready to cry anytime.
"Really," Celestia nodded as they both head back to the castle silently.
Soundwave's eyelids began to drop in tiredness. She mumbled, "T-thank you...m-mom..."
Celestia heard the last word and smiled, "Good night, my little one." Celestia lifted her up with her wing and looked up to the moon, "I won't let you down, Luna...I won't..."
She trotted inside the castle, being greeted by her guards and servants. Little did she know, Luna softly whispered in the moon, "Good night, Sister. I know you won't..."
Celestia sat on the cushion, accompanied by her guards and sister. They were in an opera house,
watching Soundwave Rhythms sing. Celestia made sure that she was wearing her best dress she could ever find in her wardrobe!
Celestia felt like a filly again. She tried to contain her jumping excitement and only succeeded a little bit.
"You must have missed her terribly," Luna observed her excited face.
Celestia grinned like an idiot, "Yes, I was looking forward to it. It has been ten years since I seen her."
Luna returned the smile, "She must be great, sister. You were lucky to find her."
Celestia turned her head at the stage. The crowd clapped their hooves as the hall grew dark. Suddenly, a spotlight was on. It glowed on the purple mare with curly pinkish-purple mane.
She bowed gracefully, her diamond shaped necklace dangling. Celestia looked tearfully at her. Rhythms was wearing the necklace Celestia gave to her at her birthday.
"This is for my mother," Soundwave announced, flashing a smile at Celestia. Celestia waved at her, blowing her a kiss.
Soundwave beamed and blushed as she sat and play the white grand piano. She revealed her pretty, blooming smile before singing.
Celestia was filled with pride as Soundwave's voice filled the cold air. "That's my girl," she whispered, a tear leaking out of her eye.
Luna smiled at her sister.
Her voice was so calm, independent, soft, and graceful. Celestia couldn't have done any better. Her cutie mark was a light pink rose that was blooming.
Celestia assumed that it was about Soundwave being confident and singing her talent more and more as if she was a flower blooming. All those years they were together was never forgotten.
"You've outdone yourself, Sister," Luna whispered in her ear. "You raised her well even if she's not a princess. She is a full-grown mare."
Celestia smiled as the audience clapped their hooves as Soundwave finished singing. Soundwave begun singing another song, "Indeed, Sister, indeed...she is one full-grown mare indeed..."
Beep...Beep...Beep...
SLAM!
The door fell to the ground, revealing Celestia with her hoof on the door. She galloped in, her face mixed with fear and worry.
She was told that Soundwave was found beaten in her own house. She got to the hospital as fast as she could. She let out a gasp as she put a hoof to her mouth, her eyes beginning to fill with tears.
Soundwave lay on the bed, her forehead bandaged. Scars were visible to be seen all over her body. Her hoof was connected with tubes, and her mouth has an oxygen mask.
Celestia could tell that she was fighting for her life.
She collasped on the ground beside her precious daughter. She sniffed mournfully, "Oh, Soundwave, why did he do this to you?"
Soundwave's eyes flickered open at the sound of her mother's voice, "Mom...you're here..."
Celestia muttered, "Of course, my precious..." It broke her heart in seeing her daughter being broken down by some coltfriend. She always wanted the best for her daughter like every mother should.
She smiled sadly, "I was a fool falling for him."
"Don't say that, my pretty one," Celestia murmured, stroking her mane softly. "It's not your fault. He fooled us all."
Soundwave croaked out weakly, "A-am I...g-going to d-d-die?"
It was a pain for Celestia to see her on the bed. She had done nothing wrong. She was innocent! Why did that monster do this to her?
"I..." She stuttered. She would've lied, but she knew her daughter wasn't naive. "I don't know..."
It was half the lie. She knew she would die, but she didn't know if that was true. Soundwave gave a heavy sigh, "I can't believe my coltfriend would do this..."
Celestia started to feel her eyes welling up in tears again, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, baby."
"Mom..."
"I'm so sorry," she shook her head. "I...failed you...I failed Luna...I...failed myself..."
She let out a cry as she wept, clutching Soundwave's hoof as if the world was coming to the end. Actually, Soundwave's world is coming to an end. Soundwave begun to cry softly too as she buried her face in Celestia's soft fur.
"I'm so sorry," Celestia whimpered as she hugged her, careful not to touch her wounds. "I'm so so sorry..."
"It's not your fault," Soundwave murmured in her mother's ear.
"But it is!" Celestia cried out in despair. "I promised you and Luna to always protect you!"
She spoke softly in regret and hurt, "I promise myself that I would never hurt you."
"And you didn't," Soundwave exhaled lowly. "You didn't hurt me. My coltfriend did. It was my fault I didn't pay attention."
Celestia stifled a sob, "I'm your mother. I am supposed to know if he was terrible."
"Even if you did, then I wouldn't have listened to you," Soundwave said admittingly. "Do not blame yourself, Mother. It was all my fault. I deserved it."
"No! Don't say that!" Celestia shouted, startling Soundwave. "You didn't deserve this pain. You deserved my love. You deserved my care. You needed me! I needed you! You were the one who comforted me in the times of need."
Soundwave set her eyes on Celestia, unable to say anything. She choked out, "I...thank you..."
Celestia gave her a kiss on her bandaged forehead and stroked her mane again, "I love you, my blooming rose."
Soundwave was crying so hard that one can hardly talk or breathe, "I love you too, Mom!"
They wrapped their arms around each other, choking, sobbing, and lamenting. The empty room was filled with their sobs. Outside, Luna and the others heard her. Luna felt sorry for her. No pony dared to look inside the room.
Celestia's cries touched their hearts, and they began to cry too.
It was Soundwave that comforted Celestia when Luna was absent. Luna wished that she would do something to make her feel better.
She outstretched her wings and flew out of the hospital to her target. When she found him, she gave the colt a strong slap.
The colt was awestruck for a moment as he felt his cheek stinging. Luna's eyes glowed white as she yelled, "That is for hurting my sister's daughter!"
Before the colt could recover, she kicked him in his stomach. She felt tears stinging in her eyes, "That is for breaking my sister's heart!"
"Luna! Stop!"
She ignored her Captain's shout as she punched his face and yelled in the Royal Canterlot voice, "THAT IS FOR MAKING SOUNDWAVE LEAVE US!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH, PRINCESS!"
Luna stood on the ground, smoke flaring out of her nostrils. The colt fell to the ground before he whispered,"You're a monster."
Then he fell unconcious as her thestral guard flew down beside her. She froze in horror when she heard the colt's statement, trying to process of what had happened.
"No, no, no," she repeated, her eyes widened in fear. "I...I...I'm not...a-a-a...monster..."
When she did, she collasped on the ground, sobbing. She had never intended to hurt anypony.
"Shadow," she whispered sadly, "I didn't know what was I thinking. I...hurt somepony..."
"I understand," Shadow Wings nodded, putting his batwing over her and glancing at the colt with his only one eye. "I would've done the same."
Luna felt his hooves wrapping around her. She blushed a bit before tears streamed down her face. She had admired her personal guard for a long time and always needed him in times of need. When he did, she felt like they have a connection.
Luna bit her lip to hold herself from crying, but Shadow whispered, "Just let it all out...let it out..."
Luna tried to stop herself, but she let out an angry scream before bawling her eyes out. Shadow also felt the tears in his eye. "It's okay...it's okay..."
Back in the hospital, Soundwave broke their hug and fell to her bed in tiredness.
"M-mom," she breathed out. It was nearly time. "R-remember...I'm...always there for you...even when we c-can't see each o-other..."
5 more minutes...
Celestia's lips quivered, "I know...I just don't want you to leave..."
4 more minutes...
Soundwave smiled faintly as she sang in a hushed whisper..
3 more minutes...
She felt Celestia's flowing mane with her hoof. She moved her hoof to Celestia's cheek. Celestia made a small smile as she touched her daughter's hoof.
2 more minutes...
Tears fell from her cheeks.
1 more minute...
Her voice was straining as she slowly slipped into unconciousness...forever...
....BEEP....
Celestia gritted her teeth as tears streamed down from her eyes. Soundwave looked so peaceful. Her eyes were closed, her mouth was curled up into a smile, her hoof was still on Celestia's hoof.
The nurses came in and took off the tubes off of Soundwave's body. They looked at Celestia sadly as they covered Soundwave's body with a white sheet. Celestia raised a hoof, stopping them. The yellow aura lifted the white sheet.
Celestia pulled the sheet from Soundwave's legs to her neck.
"I'm sorry," her sister said. Celestia didn't even notice Luna entering. All she cared about is her one daughter. Luna's eyes were red from her mourning. She had returned just in time to see Soundwave die.
Luna laid a hoof on Celestia's shoulder, "I'm so sorry..."
Celestia sniffed as she kissed her daughter once more. The nurses tried hard not cry from the sad moment. Then, she nodded tearfully at the nurses. The nurses looked at each other before covering Soundwave's head with the sheet.
"My condolences," they whispered as they slowly went out of the room.
Celestia could only stare at the covered body. She will miss her daughter dearly.
"Here lies Soundwave Rhythms, loved by Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and all of Equestria," the frail stallion announced, pushing his glasses to his nose several times.
They were in the graveyard, watching Soundwave to be buried. Celestia was wearing a black gown, her eyes red from sobbing.
Celestia stepped forward to the coffin as she placed a pink rose on Soundwave's mane. Her daughter was wearing her birthday dress along with the purple diamond necklace.
Celestia stared at her, closed her eyes, and let a tear drop from her eye. The mourns of the ponies were heard. Soundwave was known not just for her talented voice, but also her help to the orphans. She helped every orphan in Equestria, sending charity to them, giving them a better place to be, and most of all: giving them care and happiness.
Soundwave always told Celestia that the very thing she learned in her life was sharing their love and happiness.
"I'm proud of you, my daughter," Celestia smiled weepingly. "Goodbye, my dearest."
She leaned closer to Soundwave's lifeless body and kissed her forehead once more.
"May the sorrows of the songs leave you in peace..."
The wind blew against them as they slowly left the graveyard. Celestia took her time to look inside what used to be Soundwave's room. She solemnly walked to the desk. A golden letter caught her eye. Celestia levitated the letter to her and opened it,
Dear Mom,
I know that I'm probably gone by the time you read this, and I just wanted to say thank you...for all the things you had given me.
I was just a filly with no pony to share my love with. I've spent years waiting for the right one to come along, but no one came back to get me. I always thought I was weak, worthless, and a loser.
But I never thought that you came into my life and took me under your wing. You showed me how precious life is, how precious I am. I love you, mom. Don't forget that.
Thank you for all the things you have caused. You made my life worthed. I will always be watching you from above, and someday we'll meet each other again.
With all my heart,
Soundwave
Author's Note
The picture is not mine, belongs to the rightful artist. Hope you enjoyed it!
