Shadows of My Past

Chapters

~Part 1: A King, a Queen, a beloved Princess, and a lost Prince~
~Part 2: Wizards and Secrets~
~Part 3: A Duel~
~Part 4: Banishment~
~Part 5: A Royal Visit~
~Part 6: Escapes and Conquers~
~Part 7: Battles~
~Part 8: The Love of a Mother~
~Part 9: Change~
~Part 10: The Truth~
~Part 11: Endings~

~Part 1: A King, a Queen, a beloved Princess, and a lost Prince~

Many moons ago, long before the time of Starswirl the Bearded, a beautiful kingdom shone with love in the north. The Crystal Empire was, at the time, a true empire. They dominated most of the lands in the north, but their core city was the true jewel in its crown. From there, the Empire was ruled by a wise and noble alicorn. King Galaxite ruled boldly but with a kind heart, holding on to the far reaches of his realm. He loved his kingdom and his citizens, all the crystal ponies of the core city of the Empire adored their king along with their other pony kinds in the Empire.

However, the king was lonely. He had ruled for many years and he was very much alone. He had tried to seek out a wife, but could find nopony who loved him for him and not his title. If they could look past his status, they then looked to his looks. He was handsome with an ebony coat, mane, and tail, gold streaks and specks dotting his mane and tail. His wings were tipped with gold, and gold wound its way up his horn. All of this ebony and gold were contrasted by his forest green eyes. His build was lean and his face was handsome, even his eyes were gentle. Alas, nopony could seem to look beyond these things. So, he spent his days longing for a companion.

One day, a pegasus pony he had never seen before entered his throne room while he was signing papers. She came cantering in at an angry pace. Her purple mane was windblown, her amethyst eyes flared with annoyance, and her rose pink wings were stiff from the cold. She wore a white cloak that only covered her shoulders, her cutie mark was that of a heart with wings. Before she could reach the king, two guards blocked her way.

“It’s all right,” King Galaxite assured them, smiling kindly at the pegasus. “How can I help you?”

“We sent letters three days ago requesting aid!” She half yelled. “Yak Yakistan is threatening invasion upon Pegatopia!”

“I’m sorry, we never received them. Armour, send troops to Pegatopia immediately.”

“Yes, King Galaxite!” Captain Armour replied, racing off to gather some troops.

The king set aside his paperwork and trotted down to the pink pegasus.

“I am afraid I did not catch your name?” he said kindly.

“Amorette,” she breathed, her eyes dropping. She realized that that may not have been the most proper way to act, especially not in front of her king.

“Would you like to stay and recuperate, Amorette?”

“I-I…”

Before Amorette could finish, her legs gave way and she gave into the exhaustion. Galaxite caught her with his strong body, lifting her gently with his magic and carrying her to a room. He tucked her under warm blankets and then trotted out, leaving her to rest.

The next morning, Amorette awoke slightly disoriented and confused. It took her a while to recall the previous night's events, and mere seconds to piece together what happened after she collapsed. She had flown through one of the worst blizzards of the year, her body was still aching. She trotted out, unsure of where to go. A guard directed her to the dining hall.

“I see you’re awake,” the king observed. “Sleep well?”

“Um, yes your majesty,” she said in a small voice, gingerly taking a seat at the small round table. “I-I’m sorry for yelling at you…”

“Don’t worry about it, you were worried about your home and frustrated. I’m just glad you got here as quickly as you did.”

“I suppose I’ll be heading back now.”

“Not until you’ve eaten and been looked at by a doctor.”

“Really, your highness, I’m alright.”

“I don’t want to hear any of that, eat up and then you’ll see a doctor.”

Amorette ended up having to remain at the palace for the next few weeks, her wings having multiple bruises and sprains. During her time there, she spent much of her time with Galaxite. He enjoyed the mares company as a nice change, and she enjoyed telling him more about life as a commoner. They may have only spent a few weeks together, but that mild fondness turned into love.

“Well, thank you for allowing me to rest here,” Amorette said, trying her best to hide her sadness as she prepared to leave. “Goodbye, Galaxite.”
He stood there and watched as she stretched her wings, until finally a “Wait!” escaped his lips.

“Yes?”

“Don’t go! Please! I know I hardly even know you, but I love you!”

“You do?”

“I do. I don’t know how you feel, but I had to tell you.”

“I-I love you too.”

“Then what are we doing? Marry me!”

“Really?!”

“Yes, if you’ll be my wife?”

“Of course!”

By the end of the month, the two were promised to each other. The Empire rejoiced at having a queen, that meant the promise of an heir.
However, the couple was more focused on getting to know each other than beginning a family. They both desired one, but wanted to have a strong and steady relationship first. So, they spent their time learning how to be a couple.

Many moons later, Amorette found herself with pressing news for her husband. However, the king was on business and wouldn’t be back until nightfall. She spent the day wrapping her brain around this and thinking of how she would tell him. She didn’t even notice the movement of the sun until she heard him trotting inside.

“Good evening, dear,” he greeted, gently kissing her.

“Galaxite, you’re home,” Amorette replied nervously.

“Yes, I do believe I am. Is something the matter?”

“No, I’m alright. Just lost in thought.”

“Oh, if you say so.”

“How was your trip?”

“Fine, no storm today so-”

“I’m pregnant!” The news just sprang out of her and she quickly clamped her mouth shut.

“What?!” he asked, taken aback.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

There was a moment of silence that hung firmly in the air. Amorette held her breath in anticipation.

“This is wonderful!” Galaxite finally breathed.

“You really think so?” Amorette whispered.

“Yes, I can not wait to become a father.”

The news quickly spread and with that the guard increased. They knew that if the news got to the wrong ears, the king and queen’s unborn child would be in grave danger. However, the love and joy the kingdom was feeling provided plenty of magical protection thanks to the Crystal Heart; the most treasured artifact of the Crystal ponies.

One day in late October, a blizzard raged just outside of the city. The citizens in the city were mostly staying inside. Despite their city being protected from the weather, they all took the bad weather beyond as an excuse to have a day inside. All was peaceful beyond the castle walls.
Inside the castle, shouts and yells seemed to be coming from every corner. However, they could all be traced to a single room. And it wasn’t long before a new sound entered the chaos, a foal’s cries.

The following morning, King Galaxite and Queen Amorette presented the foal to the kingdom. They all gathered and celebrated the arrival of an heir, throwing a grand fair in the foal’s honor. Bugle horns sounded as they stepped onto the balcony.

“Presenting,” Captain Armour’s voice spread loud and clear over the anxious crowd, “Princess Stella Della Speranza.” They all cheered at the announcement of their princess and heir. “And,” they all hushed at this word, whispering quietly to their neighbors, “Prince Cristallo Ombra.”
A moment of silence and then an outburst of joy. The ponies couldn’t believe it, twins!

Stella Della Speranza (or Stella as they would come to call her) had a dark pink coat with a jet black mane and tail, glittering with gold. A tiny horn sat on her head, her eyes were an evening green. Cristallo Ombra (fondly called Ombra) had a grey coat, jet black mane and tail with a lavender streak, a tiny horn, and the same evening green eyes as his elder twin.

The two grew up together, being taught magic by their father and proper manners by their mother. On top of that, Stella was being taught how to rule such a vastly expanded empire. Over time, Ombra grew jealous of Stella. She was a magical prodigy and heir to their father’s throne, he had to work extra hard to learn even the basic spells and was not as well known as his sister; despite only being seconds younger. Stella tried to reach out to her brother countless times, assuring him that he was special in his own way. It always ended with him storming off to his room to cool down until one of their parents went to him. However, things will change in life.

“Ombra you are going to do something wonderful,” Stella tried to explain, exasperatedly, one night after supper.

“No I’m not! There’s nothing special about me!” Ombra countered.

“Ombra, you are special. We are all unique, just like-”

“Our cutiemarks? Please, mine is a group of jagged black crystals, not too different from fathers! While you have a purple crystal star surrounded by a gold tiara!”

“Ombra, we are all destined for different things. Mine may seem more glamorous, but that doesn’t make yours any less important.”

“Oh please, nopony even knows who I am! They only know their precious little princess heir!”

“Cristallo that’s not true!”

“You know it is! I can’t take this anymore, I’m out of here!”

Ombra stormed out of the palace, their mother flying to catch him.

“Cristallo Ombra, wait!” Amorette panted, trying to keep up with him.

“I’m sorry, mother,” Ombra growled, disappearing in a flash.

“Amorette!” Galaxite exclaimed, flying down to his sobbing wife.

“He’s gone!” she sobbed into his shoulder.

“He’ll be back, my love. He’ll be back.”

Ombra had teleported farther south than he had planned, so far that he was no longer even in the Crystal Empire. He wasn’t sure where he was, it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. Icy wind sliced at him, chilling him to the bone and causing him to squint his eyes. Despite the unforgiving cold and the fact that his mane and tail were frozen stiff, he pushed on through the blizzard.

In the mix of fog, blinding snow, and his hazy vision, he spotted a cottage. At first, it was just a dim light, then the shadowy outline began to form. He stumbled through the cold and, by some miracle, reached the door. He softly kicked the door as his legs gave out and Ombra collapsed on the snow. The last thing he remembered was hearing the creaking of a door and the whisper of a single word escaping his lips, “Help…”

Author's Note

Thoughts and opinions are always appreciated :twilightsmile:

~Part 2: Wizards and Secrets~

When Ombra awoke, he found himself lying beside a warm fire. He could still hear the howling wind despite the crackling flames. His mane laid around him wildly, but at least he was dry. He lifted his head to take in the small room, trying his hardest to rise to his feet. The only things in the room were a couple of couches, a quilt, a rug, and several shelves filled with books. He wasn’t sure how many days he had spent trekking in the storm, but it was long enough.

“Easy there,” a deep voice said, “that storm did a number on you.”

A gray unicorn came into his line of sight. He was a tad aged, but wisdom stood behind his hazel eyes. His hoofs were as white as the snow raging outside, matching his beard, mane, and tail. Ombra didn’t say anything, he didn’t know what to say.

“I bet you’re thirsty?” the unicorn asked, Ombra merely nodded. “Hungry too, I suppose?” Ombra nodded once more. “Alrighty then, let’s go.”

Ombra followed the grey pony shakily, his legs still weak from his journey in the blizzard, to a small kitchen. The unicorn soon set some water and food in front of him, Ombra wasn’t sure what to do. He knew from traveling around the Empire that there were many different customs. However, he had no clue where he was. He didn’t know this ponys customs or culture, he wasn’t sure if he should say something, let the stranger eat first, eat in silence, etc. etc.

“What are you waiting for?” the unicorn asked, narrowing his eyes. “Eat.”

Ombra ate quietly, still unsure of how exactly he was supposed to act. He wanted to thank the unicorn, he had a million questions. But, he was also nervous about having to explain where he came from and who he was.

“What’s your name?” the unicorn asked.

“Cristallo Ombra,” Ombra answered, his voice cracking a little from not being used for so long.

“Cristallo?” the unicorn raised his bushy white eyebrows.

“Most ponies call me Ombra.”

“I’m Starswirl. How’d you end up out here?”

“I-I’m just a little lost.” When Ombra said it, he realized how true it was. He was lost in more ways than one.

“What do you mean, lost?”

“I just don’t know my purpose.”

“You’ve got a horn, clearly you must know some magic. If a unicorns special talent doesn’t relate to something specific, magic is the clear path. Anypony taught you how to use it?”

“I’ve tried, but I am struggling with my magic. I have ever since I was colt.”

“How about I give you a few lessons?”

“Really?”

“I know a thing or two about magic.”

It wasn’t long before Starswirl became fond of the young unicorn, he enjoyed teaching him how to properly use his magical gifts. However, Ombra wanted more. He wanted to be better at magic than his sister, than his father. He wanted to prove that he was the greatest unicorn to have ever lived. Starswirl knew nothing of this, in fact, he knew little to nothing of Ombra's past. And Ombra didn't know much about Starswirl's. The two stallions liked it that way.

One day, when Starswirl was away on one of his many travels, Ombra was studying in the library. He poured over every tome he could find, trying his hardest to increase his magical abilities. Whilst in the library, he stumbled upon a secret. He was skimming through some spell books when he noticed that Starswirl had a duplicate book on the shelf. Curious, he pulled on the two and found the shelf pushing back and sliding open.

Ombra wasn’t sure he should continue on into the room, but curiosity ultimately won over. There were several books set out on pedestals lining the hall. Each one was locked and needed a specific key to be opened. Then, he reached the end of the hall. A black, soft leather bound book sat, seemingly, waiting for him. Red curls wrapped all around the book, they felt alive. An iron chain lay broken, it looked as if it had been...burned?

Ombra opened the book and read over the pages, it was filled with spells and magical tips. What he didn’t know as he read and practiced these things was the magic he was using. Dark magic. He was merely utilizing dark magic, but it hadn’t overtaken him.

He didn’t tell his mentor that he discovered the room. He wasn’t sure why, he just felt like he shouldn’t. Whenever Starswirl was out for the day, Ombra snuck in there to read the book. All the while the dark spirit living within its pages began corrupting his mind.

While Ombra was studying the positive magic with Starswirl and the dark magic on his own, his family remained in their home. They sent out countless search parties, all three of them often went. Alas, they found no trace of him. Amorette grieved, believing that her son froze to death in the blizzard. Stella believed in her heart that her brother was alive, she just didn’t know where he could be. Galaxite missed his son, he truly did, but he was also angry with him. Angry for the pain he was causing his mother and sister, for just leaving without thinking, and mostly for letting him down. Galaxite believed his son was capable of better things.

Around the time Ombra began using dark magic, Amorette became pregnant. This seemed to lift her spirits a bit, along with Stella’s. And not too long later, the Crystal Empire had a new princess. Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. A beautiful soft pink pegasus, like her mother. In fact, she was practically a splitting image of her mother. Except for her mane and tail. Which were lavender, pink, and blonde.

Not long after Mi Amore (as she came to be called) was born, word reached Starswirl. Who casually passed the information onto Ombra, not knowing of the unicorns past and figuring that someday Ombra might actually appreciate the news of, perhaps, his home. Ombra passed it off casually, but inside he was fuming. The next morning, Starswirl left on business. Ombra tried to practice his magic in the hidden room, but couldn’t focus.

“How could they?!” he grumbled; his mind was foggy from the dark energy corrupting him. “They all just replaced me with some little princess?! What about me?! Weren’t they worried about me?!”

“Teach them a lesson,” a deep and almost gravelly voice whispered.

“Who are you?” Ombra asked, looking around the room but finding himself to be alone.

“I’m the only one who cares about you anymore. They just let you go, not caring if you lived or died. Now, they are just moving on and replacing you?! You must teach them a lesson.”

“Fine, I’ll go and show them what I can do.”

“You could, or you could do something else.”

“Wh-what could I do?”

“Just let me in, let me help you. Together, we will show your family how wonderful you are. Then, they will want you as the ruler. You will be adored by all!”

“All I have to do is let you in?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, help me.”

The voice laughed as it penetrated not Ombra’s mind or magic, but his soul. He yelled out as he felt himself being twisted to the mystery creatures will. His previously gold hooves turned to shadow black and his teeth sharpened to points, but that was just the beginning. The purple streak drained out of his mane and tail, leaving behind a dark cloud of ink. His evening green eyes brightened and drained into the whites of his eyes, turning blood red as his pupils contorted. The most painful part was his horn. He cried out in pain as it was smoothed and curved, causing tears to pool in his eyes. As the transformation was completed, the tears turned violet and became a trail of smoke. His cries of pain turned to cruel laughter.

~Part 3: A Duel~

Stella and her father were busy at work, finishing the final preparations for meeting with delegates from neighboring nations. Amorette came in, carrying a sleeping Mi Amore in a baby sling. Stella fawned over her baby sister, so glad to have her in her life. Galaxite smiled gently, looking at his little family with a deep fondness and love.

“Your highnesses!” Captain Armour yelled, galloping in.

“What’s going on?” Galaxite asked.

“I-you need to see this.”

The royal family cantered to the balcony, shocked at the scene before them. Ombra, though transformed and contorted, stood before them. He couldn’t have been more fifteen feet away, standing on a tower of black crystal.

“Ombra?” Amorette cried out to him.

“Oh, so you remember my name, mother?” his voice was hard to describe, it just felt evil.

“Son, where have you been?” Galaxite asked. “What happened to you?”

“I’ve been enlightened!” the unicorn laughed madly. “Now, I am here to rule this kingdom! Say goodnight!”

Galaxite shot forth a shield, pushing Ombra away from the palace and breaking his crystal tower.

“The Crystal Heart?” Galaxite asked Armour.

“Frozen in that dark crystal, I’ll need time to get it free,” Armour explained.

“Be quick about it,” Galaxite ordered. “Stella, take your mother and sister inside.”

“What about you?” Stella asked.

“Don’t worry about me!” Galaxite ushered them in with his wings.

“Galaxite…” Amorette trailed off.

“Whatever happens, I love you all,” he promised, giving them each one final kiss.

What they didn’t see as he flew over the city was the spell that he slipped onto Mi Amore; knowing that she needed some sort of defense more than anypony.

Many of the guards followed him, surrounding the castle and city. Galaxite raced out to meet his son. He used his shields to force him beyond the city limits and into the cold. The two ponies fought in the icy cold, growing razor sharp crystals or cages around one another. Galaxite’s alicorn magic was powerful, but there was one problem. Dark magic is fueled by anger and hatred, Ombra was filled to the brim with it. His magic was overflowing. The battle raged on, both stallions panting heavily from the use of so much energy.

“Why?” Galaxite breathed.

“Why?!” Ombra demanded. “WHY?! How about because you all just forgot about me when I left?! Or just decided to replace me?!”

“We never forgot, we thought you perished in the storm. Mi Amore isn’t a replacement, she’s just another member of the family. Just like you and Stella are. We love you, I love you.”

“Liar!”

Ombra was fueled by new anger, this gave him a burst of magical energy. Before Galaxite could react, he was gone.

The guard stood, frozen in fear. Their king was...dead. Amorette didn’t need anypony to tell her, she felt it in her heart. Even baby Mi Amore began to wail, feeling the loss of her father deep inside. Amorette tried to comfort her foal, but found it so hard to do with a broken heart.

“No,” Stella whispered, staring out at the field of battle.

Author's Note

Yeah, yeah, it's short. The next one will be longer.

~Part 4: Banishment~

Ombra charged towards the palace, launching himself into the room. Stella teleported her mother and sister to the family room down the hall.

“How could you?!” Stella cried out furiously.

“Please, sister, he never loved us,” Ombra said, shaking his inky black mane. “And I never loved him.”

Stella began to battle her twin, the two fighting furiously with each other. Ombra still held the advantage, he hated his sister. Whereas Stella still couldn’t hate her brother. She just felt a deep sadness. This didn’t aid her in battle.

Stella shot a spell the same time as Ombra, their magic raging against each other. Ombra’s pushed against hers until she was thrown into a wall across the room. He laughed maniacally, turning his sights to the rest of the palace.

Poor Amorette was brokenhearted and weak, she couldn’t even find the strength to fly away. When Ombra came trotting in, she tried her best to block Mi Amore from his view.

“Ombra, why?” she sobbed.

“Oh please, you never loved me,” he growled. “You only loved the rest of them, I was a disappointment.”

“I was never disappointed in you, ever. Not until today, when I see the path you chose.”

“You never wanted me, that’s why you had that little brat!”

“Please, Ombra, she’s just a baby. She hasn’t done anything to you.”

“Her existence is good enough!”

His horn glowed crimson and he sent a spell right at Mi Amore Cadenza, but it was stopped. A black and gold glittered shield wrapped around Mi Amore and Amorette; Galaxite’s protection spell. With a flash of gold, they were gone.

“What? WHAT?!” Ombra exclaimed, teleporting to his twin sister who was barely conscious. “Where are they?!”

“Wh-who?” she moaned, dazed.

“Mother and that brat!”

“Wha-what are you talking about?”

Ombra yelled and his horn glowed once more. He was prepared to strike her down right then and there. Ready to grow a double edge crystal and pierce her heart, just as he had to their father.

“Ombra!” a familiar voice yelled.

“Starswirl?” Ombra turned to see his mentor.

Starswirl stood tall, horn aglow and prepared. His bell accented blue wizard hat sat atop his head, the matching cloak wrapped over him.

“What have you done to this poor family?” Starswirl demanded.

“I’m only showing MY family the same kindness they’ve shown me!” Ombra spat.

“What?”

“That’s right, this is MY FAMILY! I left moons ago because I was a disappointment!”

“N-no, you weren’t,” Stella mumbled.

“QUIET!” Ombra growled fiercely, turning his attention back to his mentor. “Don’t make me fight you.”

“Surrender, now,” Starswirl ordered.

“Never!”

“Then you will pay the price!”

This time, it was Ombra who was at the disadvantage. He hated his father, his entire family. He hated this empire and the ponies who lived in it. But, not Starswirl. He took him in even though he didn’t have to. He cared for him and taught him magic, always encouraging him. He was the greatest unicorn of all time, yet he spent most of his free time helping Ombra. Ombra just couldn’t hate him.

For trying to stand against someone he actually cared for, he soon found himself on the losing side. Starswirl wrapped him in magic and just pinched him away. Banishing him to a powerful (but sadly temporary) prison in the depths of Tartarus. Leaving Stella Della Speranza to lead a broken kingdom, without a single member of her family left.

Author's Note

I only said it would be longer :raritywink:
Thoughts are appreciated.

~Part 5: A Royal Visit~

Starswirl helped Stella repair her kingdom, explaining to her where Ombra had been and how he had no clue he was practicing dark magic. Stella mourned the loss of her family, nopony - not even Starswirl - were sure what happened to her loving mother and innocent baby sister. All she knew was that she was alone. She took over as queen, but never even tried to seek out a companion. She couldn’t stand the idea of starting a family with the possibility of losing them.

Stella held the Empire together. Never expanding it, but never allowing it to shrink. The lands to the south soon began to flourish with ponies. A new kingdom rose up called Equestria, but they didn’t seem interested in trying to invade the Empire so Stella didn’t pay much attention to them. Starswirl, knowing that Stella was the only one left to rule, made sure that she would be able to rule over her kingdom. Thus, he created an age preservation spell and placed it on her. The spell used up so much magical energy, he knew it would be too dangerous to try it again or allow others to cast. Because of this, the spell was destroyed soon after.

Stella saw much rise and fall over her years as queen. The world began to change, in more ways than one. The crystal pony race still remained in the core city, but more and more of the other three races began to mingle with each other. Learning how to work together rather than just existing alongside each other.

Stella ruled her empire quietly, not really keeping touch with any neighboring kingdoms. She didn’t even know who came to rule Equestria until she received a letter asking to visit. Stella wasn’t sure why, but she accepted. And soon, the princesses arrived.

They were both, to Stella’s surprise, alicorns. The taller one, whom she assumed to be the older one, was as white as snow. Her mane and tail flowed down her, the petal pink bringing out her lilac eyes. She noted her cutie mark, a shining sun. The shorter one was an evening sky blue with a morning blue mane that framed her face, her tail curling like a cloud. Her cutie mark was of a navy blue cloud with a white crescent moon,. The sisters were so different. Neither adorned the jewels like herself, they only wore a crown each.

“Welcome to the Crystal Empire,” Stella greeted them. “I am Queen Stella Della Speranza.”

“It is an honor to meet you,” the white alicorn said, she had a gentle and sweet voice. “I am Princess Celestia, and this is Princess Luna.”

“We are honored to be welcomed into thy kingdom,” the blue alicorn said, her tone was much stronger but also had an underlying elegance.

“Why did you request an audience with me?” Stella asked.

“We are your neighbor to the south,” Celestia began.

“And we would appreciate the knowledge that thou will be a friendly neighbor,” Luna finished.

“Do not worry, stay out of my lands and I will stay out of yours,” Stella explained.

The three royals worked together to write up a peace treaty, and Stella actually found herself mildly enjoying their company. She couldn’t help but laugh at their occasional bantering, remembering what it was like when she was just a filly. She teared up a little at the memory of her wise father and loving mother, of her sweet little infant sister, and of a time when her twin still had love in his heart.

“Is something the matter?” Luna asked, perplexed at the pool of tears forming in the unicorn's eyes.

“I-I am sorry,” Stella apologized, brushing away the tears from her shining green eyes. “You just reminded me of when I was a filly.”

“How so?” Celestia asked; the queen noticed that her smaller sister seemed to have an older speech pattern.

“Well,” Stella thought for a moment, not sure how to word it, “I suppose you just remind me of a happier time. It’s been so long since I can remember what it was like to be a filly.”

“Doth thine have no family?” Luna tilted her head a little in wonder as Stella turned her back on the pair.

“Not anymore,” Stella whispered.

Luna followed the saddened unicorns gaze to a portrait on the wall. It was a family, a mother, a father, two young unicorns (one being Stella), and a pegasus foal. Celestia dropped her head in understanding, thinking on how to comfort the saddened unicorn. Luna, on the other hoof, moved to her side on instinct. She wrapped her wing around her back in a sign of kindness.

“We are sorry,” Luna said quietly to her. “We understand the pain of loss.”

“But you’re not alone,” Celestia reminded her, moving to her side. “If you ever need us, we’re just a letter away.”

After a few moments of somber silence, Stella decided it was time they finished up so she could get back to work. The three remained in touch, coming to consider one another friends because they all understood the demands of royal life. They wrote to each other often, and visited when they could. They rather enjoyed having tea together. And while they came to knew each other almost as closely as sisters, they never spoke of their pasts.

Author's Note

Any thoughts? I'd love to hear them.

~Part 6: Escapes and Conquers~

While Stella continued to quietly rule her beloved empire, Ombra was living a much different life. In the darkening depths of Tartarus he constantly paced his cage. Day after day, night after night. Kicking and blasting every spell he could at his barred prison. Only to have it be magically absorbed by the metal barriers.

Ombra finally yelled out in frustration and plopped down in his cell, lying on his side and staring at the endless void. His thoughts drifted to Starswirl and his family. To every time he had felt wronged by them, to every time he wished he could go back and change what happened.

“Hello there,” a voice spoke into the darkness. It was feminine and yet alluring, there was a powerful darkness to it, but also a certain elegance only heard in royalty.

“What do you want?” Ombra spat.

“A favor.”

“I can’t do much right now.”

“How about this: I get you out of there, and you promise to do whatever I ask?”

“Can you really get me out of here?”

“Promise to do something for me in return, whatever I may ask.”

“Can you or-”

“PROMISE!” the authority of the voice was powerful and commanding, a voice that would make those who followed them cower.

“Aleight, alright, I promise,” Ombra insisted. “Yesh.”

“Do you promise on your life that you will not betray me?”

“I promise on my life I will not betray you.” Ombra’s tone was clearly annoyed and a tad lifeless as he repeated her words.

“Good.”

He saw a bright green flash from the darkness, then Starswirl the Bearded stepped out of the shadows.

“What are you doing here?!” Ombra yelled, throwing himself against the cage.

“Silence,” ‘Starswirl’ ordered.

He lifted his hoof to the lock and Ombra listened as the lock clicked open. There was a flash of green fire and suddenly a strange creature of alicorn qualities stood before him.

The story of the Crystal King and the Changeling Queen is for another time. But know that once Ombra repaid his debt, he immediately returned to face his sister.

Stella met her brother at the edge of the core city, prepared to fight until the very end.

“Ombra, stop what you are doing,” Stella ordered.

“Never!” Ombra snapped, he now adorned silver armor and a red cloak lined with fur. “Give me this kingdom or I will take it by force!”

“I will never bow to you.”

“Then let us fight, sister.”

“You are no brother of mine!”

With those harsh words, the battle began. Protecting her subjects had been her top priority, so she had met him on the outskirts of the city.

Their battle raged in the snow, horns aglow and eyes flaring with rage. They grew crystals and shot spells at one another, trying to gain an edge over the other. There was one issue for them both, they knew each other's moves. Having practiced magic all their lives together, they knew each other’s tells.

For example, Stella knew that whenever Ombra picked up and dropped his right hoof, he was going to grow a crystal cage. In the same way Ombra knew that when Stella tensed her shoulders she was going to shoot a beam of magic. Because of knowing these little signs, they could practically predict the others move.

The only problem, Stella was tiring. Ombra was fueled by anger and hatred, and he was bubbling over with these emotions. Stella needed love and a desire to protect, yet she was wrestling with every emotion known. And Ombra knew this, he watched as his sister slowed. He inwardly laughed maniacally and began a roused slow with her. Just as she believed him to be weakening, he struck her with all of his power.

Stella fell to the snow as the light began to drain from her eyes, her brother stood over her. He laughed, priding himself on his doings. He had finally won! The kingdom was his at last!

“Ombra, why…?” Stella breathed weakly.

“I am no longer Cristallo Ombra!” he whispered menacingly. “I am now King Sombra!”

“You will always be Cristallo Ombra,” her voice was hoarse and fading as tears pooled in the snow beside her, freezing in the harsh cold. “You will always be the lost prince, my brother…”

Sombra turned his nose to the air, dismissing her and walking over her towards his prize. The guard and citizens tried to stop him, but he overpowered them with ease. In mere minutes, he had everypony in shackles. He walked proudly through the city, having overpowered everypony with his nightmare magic. Then he spotted the ultimate prize, the Crystal Heart. The symbol of hope for them, their final resort had they been able to find love in their hearts while he battled their queen. He snatched it away and took it into the palace, prepared to seal it so deeply in darkness that only a fool would seek it out. He had finally done it, he had finally conquered the Crystal Empire.

Author's Note

You are all so very quiet, no need to be shy. I do not bite, I promise. Maybe...

~Part 7: Battles~

It wasn’t long before word reached Celestia and Luna. When they heard of Stella’s death, it felt as if their hearts had been shattered into a million pieces. They just couldn’t believe that she was gone. Outraged at this Sombra pony, whomever he was, proclaiming himself king, the two sisters sent forces in to take the Empire from him. However, the guards either never returned or barely escaped with their lives.

The princesses argued for weeks over what to do, while Sombra enjoyed his new lavish lifestyle. He had no guard and he had no need for one. His dark magic was more than enough to overpower their minds. His reach extended beyond the core city to the rest of the Crystal Empire, reaching the borders of the other lands beyond. It was then that the sisters of night and day reached a conclusion, they had to face him.

They prepared for the battle, dressing in armor for added protection. They talked strategy on the journey to the core city, knowing he would be a difficult foe. Though she hid it well, Luna was scared. For he used dark magic, and she could feel a darkness growing within her. She couldn’t allow herself to go down the same path as him, she couldn’t do that to her sister.

When they reached the city, they stopped and looked on in horror. Black, jagged crystals circled the city like a wall, casting wicked shadows on all things good and light. A red tint seemed to rest around the city, adding a tone of fear to the air. They watched the ponies shuffle on in their shackles, forced to mine the crystals or be haunted by the nightmares. A dullness laid on them all, their crystal coats drab and toned down. They held no hope in their hearts, only sadness and fear.

The scene angered and saddened the princesses, giving them more determination than ever to bring about the end of his reign. Spreading their wings, they soared into the city. The citizens looked up at the two and hope began to spark in their hearts. They watched as the alicorns entered the palace with confidence and power.

“Where is he?” Luna whispered aloud, looking around the throne room.

“Keep looking,” Celestia insisted.

The pair trotted into a circular room, devoid of anything or anyone.

“Well, well, well,” a dark voice said, melting out of the shadows.

“Sombra!” Luna growled, horn aglow.

“I see you’ve found your way to the city,” Sombra was calm and relaxed as he spoke, unfazed by the presence of not one but two alicorns.

“Step down and release everypony!” Celestia ordered.

“Why would I do that?” Sombra scoffed.

“To keep thine hide safe,” Luna stated bluntly.

“I think you should take your own advice,” Sombra taunted.

“Surrender, immediately,” Celestia said quickly, preventing her sister from feeding into his taunt.

“I think I’ll just expand my empire some more,” Sombra shrugged.

“Than thou shall pay the price!” Luna exclaimed.

The battle began to rage, magic flying everywhere. They all shot and dodged, trying their utmost hardest to strike their opponent down. Sombra knew that he would have to take them down from the inside, so he attacked them with his nightmare spells. Knowing that if he could hit one, that would provide him the time and distraction needed to take down the other. He was hoping to hit the blue mare. She seemed more prepared to stop him with whatever means necessary, she seemed a larger threat. Whereas the white one seemed to want to reform him more than stop him. Still, he was just hoping to get one good shot. And, alas, he did.

Celestia collapsed to the floor, trembling with fear. Her eyes were glassed over, tears began to drip down her cheeks. Nopony could see the nightmares she saw, so many nightmares that haunted her darkest dreams. Some were contorted works of fiction, others were memories from long, long ago.

Luna was outraged and knew she had to protect her sister. Feeling an equal amount of light and dark emotions led something dangerous to happen. A chill entered the air, a chill that made even Sombra wish to cower. Luna’s pupils constricted as her mane became crazed, a dark laughter escaped her lips.

“Wh-who are you?” Sombra asked, trying his best to not cower.

“You think you are soooo powerful,” Luna laughed, her voice was dark but also carried a lightness and love. “Do you have any idea the powers you are meddling with?”

“Meddling? I am a master over them!”

“No, you are just a colt goofing around with some new spells! The same powers you absorbed and now utilize, those are powers I was born with.”

“What are you talking about? Who are you?”

“I am the Night. The Night is not like the Day, filled with warmth. Nor is the Night like the Shadows, only darkness. The Night is both. I am darkness and light, I control both good and evil. The powers you utilize are a mere fraction of my own.”

“You can’t stop me!”

“Oh, can’t I?”

Luna’s horn glowed and she began to trap him in a dark crystal, Sombra was unable to break her enchantment. Her magic was like nothing he had ever witnessed, it was as if he were battling a force of nature. Luna blinked and her pupils released, her mane fell back to it’s short cut, and her voice returned. Even her speech pattern was resumed. She touched her horn to Celestia’s forehead, breaking her out of the nightmares.

“Sister?” Luna said gently, nuzzling her warmly.

“Luna!” Celestia gasped, taking in the scene. “How did you…?”

“I held luck on my side. We must dispose of him, quickly.”

“Right.”

The sisters touched their horns together. Now that Sombra could not run, they had a clear shot. Their powers glowed and swirled together, wrapping around Sombra as he was exiled by the overwhelming magic of the forces of time and space. They weren’t sure where he would be exiled to, but they had no other choice but to use this spell.

What they didn’t know, was that he tied himself to the city. So as he vanished in a flash of white light, the magic amplified out. The entire city was wrapped in the light and then vanished. Leaving the sisters standing in the snow.

But they were changed. During the spell, they had tapped into new levels of magic. Celestia’s mane and tail gained a sea foam green, lilac, and celeste blue coloring. Along with that, she grew much taller; her wings and horn grew as well. Luna’s mane and tail became ethereal like her sisters, a rich blue that glittered with white stars and all of it outlined with an opaque lavender. She too increased in height, along with her horn and wings, but not so much as her sister. Luna’s coat even darkened a bit, the navy blue cloud of her cutie mark changing to black.

“B-but how…?” Celestia asked, looking around in confusion.

“Perhaps, Tia, this is the work of his dark magic,” Luna suggested. “Come now, we have a world to repair.”

Celestia nodded sadly as they flew off. They couldn’t believe it, all those innocent ponies were just gone. They couldn’t bring them back and they had no way to track them. They had made Stella a promise so many moons ago, a promise to help her protect her ponies. And now, they had broken that promise.

~Part 8: The Love of a Mother~

The spell did do one good thing, however. Amorette and Mi Amore were at long last revealed. Galaxite’s spell, which had kept the mother and daughter safe for centuries, finally came to an end. As the wind cut through the otherwise still air, snow was forced to move on and lie somewhere else. It revealed a large black and gold crystal statue in the snow. A figure of a pegasus. Her wings were wrapped around something that she cradled with her hoof, hidden by a cloth around her neck. Her head was bowed and a tear was frozen on her cheek, her eyes closed for more moons than she could count. She appeared to be cowering, frightened by a long gone villain.

With Sombra banished, Galaxite’s spell was releasing. He had intended for somepony to be there to release his wife and foal, but he could not have predicted what had happened to his realm. Nor had he intended for them to be trapped away in limbo for so long, but the darkness Sombra set into the veins of the city interfered. Thus, Amorette and Mi Amore were frozen in time and place.

Years and years passed. The rise and fall of chaos came and went, the bringer of chaos becoming just another piece of art. The rise of the nightmare and her dawn of night, along with the sudden disappearance of the Princess of the Night; until she turned to legend. Until the erosion finally won out over the magic, shattering the crystal and releasing the pair.

Mi Amore began to wail as they fell into the snow, her cries drowned out by the roaring wind. Amorette collapsed in the snow, crying. She laid down and wrapped her wings around the pink pegasus babe, laying her head over Mi Amore. She began to gently sing a lullaby,

“Sunshine, filters through the clouds.
Ladybugs awake and take flight.
Spread out your wings,
Lift your hooves from the ground.
Shake off the sorrow,
Feel the wind all around.
And fly- up into the sky,
Never fear, for I am always here.”

As her dream like voice surrounded Cadenza, the little foal faded into the land of dreams. Amorette took in the world around her. She didn’t know where she was, how much time had passed, or what happened in that time. But, she knew two things. Firstly, she couldn’t sit around and wait. Second, she had to head south if they were to survive.

Slowly, shakily, she rose to her hooves. Flying would have shortened the trip, yes, but she knew it would be better to walk. Her energy was divided. Part of it was going into keeping her walking. The other part, a magic deep within her that she had little control over, was going into keeping her delicate baby alive. Mi Amore Cadenza was so small, so young, she needed her mother’s magical energy to sustain her life.

So, Amorette walked. And walked. She pushed through the cold ice, snow, and wind. Her focus was solely on the bundle she carried. Mi Amore slept for the most part, her body preserving her energy for the trek ahead. When she did cry, her mother did what she could to care for her. She had nothing with her, so there was little she could do to warm her or quiet the wind.

Amorette stayed on a steady path southward. She knew that if she walked long enough, she would escape the cold. Her sole focus throughout it all, was ensuring Mi Amore’s survival. After what felt like an eternity of icy blizzards and dark days, the temperature began to shift upwards. Patches of grass and even flowers began to pop up. Hope began to rise in Amorette’s heart, though her life was waning.

The sun set and began to paint the sky in an array of watercolors, flooding a small pear farm in its golden light. A stallion bucked down shinning green pears from a tree, listening to them fall and thud into the basket. He didn’t quite understand why they never bruised despite the fall, but he figured it had something to do with magic. He was young with a strong build, his coat as green as the pears he bucked. His mane and tail were a short and messy brown, the same brown as his eyes. His cutie mark was half of a pear, showing his special talent of farming pears.

As he carried the buckets up to the barn, he saw his wife walking down the path. The two had been married less than a year, but they felt like they had lived a thousand lifetimes together. She was a petite pony and, to be frank, was a bit of a weakling. Still, the unicorn was an excellent nurse at the local hospital. Her petal pink coat looked vibrant in the sun's rays, an orange mane and tail practically blending into the orange colored horizon. The most shocking thing about her were her eyes, an incredible cyan that grabbed the attention of all she passed. Her cutie mark showcased a red heart with a bandage, truly defining the kind hearted mare.

The earth pony met his wife at the entrance to their home, she nuzzled him lovingly. She saw good things and bad things in her line of work, coming home to him every night made the bad days a little easier on her heart. She followed him into their warm home and the pair were about to head into the kitchen. However, she stopped at the entrance.

“Is something the matter, Cora?” the stallion asked, studying his wife.

“Actually, Pear Slice, there is,” Cora answered, staring down at her hooves worriedly.

“What is it, Cora?”

“Pear, I know we haven’t been married long, but…”

“But?”

“I kind of want to, you know, start a family.”

“You want to start a family?”

“Yes.” Cora’s voice came out in a squeak of worry.

“I was wondering how long it would be before you asked.” Pear chuckled a bit, lifting his wife’s head up by nuzzling her neck. “I want to start a family too.”

“Y-you do?”

Before more could be said, they heard a knock at the door. Cora moved to answer it while Pear went to prepare their dinner. Her horn glowed as she opened the door to find quite the site on her doorstep.

A pink mare, weak and clearly having traveled from the frosty lands less than a day's gallop north, stood shakily. She wore signs of high class and royalty, clear by the crown on her head and jewel on her neck. With her wings, she was supporting a small bundle of fabric. Cora let out a tiny gasp of shock at the sight, seeing the pegasus pleading with her eyes for help and trying to not collapse.

Despite being in the other room and already pulling out pots and pans, Pear Slice heard his wife’s gasp and went to investigate, freezing at the sight before him. Cora’s nurse instincts kicked into gear and her clouded thoughts were cleared.

“Pear, help her to the couch,” Cora ordered; wishing she could have said bed but they had none on the ground floor, and she didn’t want to make the poor mare go all the way up. Once she retrieved her aid bag, she returned to the mare. “My name is Cora, what’s yours?”

She spoke to the mare quietly, calmly, and with much practice. She knew it was best to keep them talking in emergency situations. Cora worked to check her over, desiring to get a full assessment on her health and produce a solution. However, the pegasus pushed her equipment away. Amorette didn’t need a doctor to tell her what she already knew.

“Please, don’t, there’s no hope,” Amorette said weakly.

“There is always hope,” Cora insisted. Pear stood back awkwardly, not knowing how to be useful.

“Not for me, but maybe for this little one.”

“What?”

Amorette pulled back the fabric to reveal a sleeping foal. Cora’s eyes widened in shock, amazed that the babe still lived. Soon, the little foal began to cry as she felt her mother fading from her.

“Shhhh,” Amorette whispered. She began to sing, her voice weak and cracking, but still comforting:
“Sunshine, filters through the clouds.
Ladybugs awake and take flight.
Spread out your wings,
Lift your hooves from the ground.
Shake off the sorrow,
Feel the wind all around.
And fly- up into the sky,
Never fear, for I am always here.”

“I-I don’t-” Cora began.

“Take her,” Amorette insisted. “Her name is Mi Amore Cadenza.”

“I-I-I can help you.”

“No, my life force is nearly gone now. Please, care for her as if she were your own; you are all she has now. Promise me this?”

“I-I… I promise.”

Amorette kissed Mi Amore one final time, a tear slipping onto the foal's mane. As she put her baby girl into the kind strangers welcoming forelegs, she felt the last of her life force fade away. Her last thoughts of her family. The daughter she would never get to see learn to fly, say her first words, make new friends, or get married. A husband whom she loved more than words could ever express, and she’d lost in horrid battle. And the daughter whom she wished she hadn’t left alone with a land to run. And lastly, for the son who fell to darkness.

Author's Note

I literally just noticed that I wrote 'sun' instead of 'son' in the last paragraph. If you notice any horrid typos like that, please let me know.

~Part 9: Change~

After giving the mare a proper farewell, the two sat at their kitchen table. Mi Amore slept in a basket after being fed and changed. They didn’t look at each other or anything beyond their mahogany table. Both were alone with their thoughts.

Cora wanted to keep and raise the little foal as she had promised, but she didn’t know how Pear felt. If it came down to a choice, how could she choose? She had made a promise and she desired a family, but she also loved her husband. What should she say to him? What was he thinking?

“Well,” Pear Slice finally broke the deafening silence, “I guess we’ll go and pick up some stuff to take care of this little foal in the morning.”

“Huh?” Cora’s eyes shot up, shocked he was so on board. “You really want to raise her?”

“You made a promise and this poor baby needs somepony right now.”

Cora looked at her husband with love filled eyes. She truly was the luckiest mare alive. Then, she thought of one more thing.

“Pear, what should we call her?” Cora asked, smiling down at the pink foal. “Mi Amore Cadenza sounds so different, it’s going to raise questions. Something happened to her parents, and I think we should try to keep her identity hidden in order to keep her safe.”

“Yeah, nopony around here has any fancy name like that,” Pear agreed. “What’s her name mean?”

“My love Cadence.”

“Let’s call her Cadence, than.”

“Alright, Cadence.”

***

Time seemed to fly by for the young couple. In no time at all Cadence was talking, writing, and discovering her special talent.

Despite being a pegasus and not a unicorn, Cadence seemed to be able to spread magic wherever she went. She brought love and kindness to everyone in the small village of Reinville, often helping arguing ponies work out their differences. She was known throughout Reinville for her love and advice skills, so it was no surprise to anypony when a beautiful heart appeared on her flank.

There were so many ponies who loved her, she was such a sweet and innocent mare who believed that everyone was good and kind. Of course, we must all learn eye opening lessons some day.

It happened one day that Cadence went to visit her mom at work.

“Cadence, what are you doing here?” Cora said as her daughter trotted in.

“Well, I thought I’d bring you a special treat,” Cadence smiled. “Pear tarts, I just made them!”

“Oh, you’re such a wonderful daughter. Never stop being so loving and kind, promise?”

“Don’t worry, mother. Why would I stop when I live in such a wonderful place?”

As Cadence trotted home, she spotted a mare she had never seen before. She was tall, lean, and walked with a certain elegance. Her coat was a shimmering blue, her mane and tail a black to white ombre, and her eyes were bright pink. Her cutie mark was a pen drawing a wave.

“Hello there, I’m Cadence,” the pink pegasus smiled, introducing herself to the newcomer.

“Oh, hi!” the mare replied. “I’m Summer Penn!”

“It’s nice to meet you, are you moving here or passing by?”

“Just passing through, I’m on my way to meet up with a friend. However, I’m going to stay here and rest for a few days.”

“If you like, I could show you around. Maybe afterwards we can head back to my place, I’ve just baked some pear tarts and I’ve got plenty of extras.”

“Sure, you like pears a lot?”

“My parents own a pear orchard.”

“Oh.”

Cadence showed Summer all around Reinville, having fun with a new friend. Summer was kind and honestly had fun with Cadence. What Cadence didn’t know, is what Summer was hiding from everypony. Summer’s family had just died and, in reality, she was moving across Equestria because she couldn’t stand to stay where she lost everypony she loved. While spending time with Cadence, she had begun to grow jealous. Cadence had this wonderful, perfect life; and she had lost everything.

Cadence didn’t really notice that Summer was hiding anything from her, and she never pried into her personal life. As she had been taught not to. However, the truth always comes out.

“Hey, Summer, I know you’re supposed to leave today bu-” Cadence stopped short.

When she had knocked on the door, it opened. Cadence thought it was just because she was getting ready to head out, but the room she looked in on caused fear to echo through her.

The entire room was cloaked in darkness. Furniture was tossed and tipped over, linens were laying sporadically around the room. It looked as if a tornado had blown through the room and left it an unkempt chaos. Summer sat with her back to Cadence. Her mane and tail were unevenly sliced short, wild and matted all the same. Her coat was a mess, she shook as she breathed.

“Summer?” Cadence spoke tentatively.

“What?” the mare snapped in a dark tone.

“A-a-are you al-alright?”

“Am I ALRIGHT?!” Cadence sank into the shadows as Summer began to rant. “NO! BECAUSE NOT EVERYPONY LIVES THE PERFECT LIFE! NOT EVERYPONY HAS A FAMILY TO GO HOME TO! NOT EVERYPONY IS LOVED AND ADORED BY ALL SHE MEETS!”

“I-I-I-”

“DO YOU THINK EVERYPONY LIVES THIS PERFECT LIFE LIKE YOU?! WE DON’T! OUR LIVES ARE HARD! WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH PONIES WHO DON’T LIKE US, WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH SADNESS AND SORROW!”

“Su-Summer, I-”

“GO AWAY! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!”

Cadence fled, tears rushing down her cheeks and limbs shaking. She spread her purple tipped wings and began to fly off towards the farm. Nopony took particular notice of Cadence and kept about their business. As Cadence landed silently at her beloved home, she galloped up to her room and darted under her covers. The pink mare buried her face in her pillow, hot tears began to soak the cotton.

What did I do? Cadence thought desperately. Why did she yell at me like that? She said that not everypony has a family to go to, did something happen to hers? Why wouldn’t she just talk to me? Why? What did I ever do wrong?

Though Summer did feel bad for what happened between her and Cadence, she never sought her out. Instead, she merely moved on towards her destination; wherever that would end up being. That moment, the moment Summer screamed at Cadence - who innocently took the harsh words - for things the pegasus did not understand, it changed her for the worst.

Cadence became distant and very quiet, not daring to approach anypony or even speak to them unless they spoke first. Cora and Pear tried to find out what was wrong, but she refused to talk about it and shut them out. They didn’t know what to do. They tried seeking out a professional to assist them, but they all told her that they could do nothing unless Cadence wanted the help.

She refused to leave her room. Her parents brought her meals to her and she nibbled at them. Never eating more than a third of the food her mother brought her, even if it was her favorite food. She remained in this broken, lost state for weeks.

***

“Oh, Pear Slice, what are we supposed to do?” Cora cried softly late one night.

“She’ll come around,” Pear promised, hugging her warmly.

“She’s been like this for nearly a month! I just wish I knew what was wrong…”

“Does anyone in town know?”

“No, nopony knows anything about what could have happened to make her act like this.”

“I’m sure we’ll figure it out soon enough, Cora.”

The following morning Cora headed off to work, as per usual. However, Pear didn’t head out to the orchard to work. Instead, he walk calmly up the stairs to Cadence’s bedroom door. He gently tapped his hoof against the wooden door, hearing the sound resound through halls.

“Cadence?” he said, no reply. “Cadence, please open the door.” More silence. “I’m coming in regardless.” Still nothing.

Pear Slice sighed as he slid the key into the keyhole, listening to the click as it successfully unlocked. Pear turned the handle and walked in, taking in his daughter's room for the first time in weeks (as Cora had been the one to bring her her food).

Everything was exactly where it always was. The books were organized by how much she enjoyed reading them, her various nick-nacks hadn’t moved (but had collected a fine layer of dust), her vanity had everything exactly as it had always been, and her curtains were pulled back as they always were. The only difference was that her bed remained a mess. And, well, she was a mess. Her mane and tail were knotted and frizzy, her coat had lost its shine, and even her eyes seemed dull. She laid on her bed, staring out her window. She looked so lost, so confused.

“Yes?” Cadence said.

“Cadence, this is ridiculous,” Pear said blatantly. “You’ve been in here for far too long without coming out. What is going on?”

Cadence was quiet for a moment. Her amethyst eyes seemed to be searching for something.She ruffled her ombre wings and turned her head to face her father.

“Am I a bad pony?” Cadence asked quietly.

“What?” Pear Slice replied, taken aback.

“Am I a bad pony?”

“No, what would ever make you think that?”

“I think I am…”

“Cadence, what in Equestria are you talking about?”

Cadence silently stepped down from her bed and walked over to her book shelf. She began just staring at the collection of stories. Without looking at her father, she told him of what happened between her and Summer Penn.

“Cadence, that doesn’t make you a bad pony,” Pear said, putting a hoof on her shoulder.

“But it does,” Cadence insisted, turning to face him. “Not in the sense of a criminal, but in the sense of my ignorance. I have been so caught up in my life, in my perfect little life. I have everything I could ever ask for, and what have I done for other ponies? Nothing. I’ve never even thought about how others must feel, not having what I have. Summer lost everypony she holds dear, and I just left her in her pain. I never even thought to ask her about her family, not even why she never brought them up.”

“Cadence, you are a wonderful and sweet pony,” Pear Slice insisted, hugging his daughter tightly.

“Thanks, Dad, but I want to be more than just sweet. I want to help ponies, and I’m going to. I am going to help in some way, whatever way I can.”

“Does that mean you’ll come out of your room?”

“Yes. I finally feel like I know who I am.”

Cadence kept her word. Soon she was helping ponies with anything and everything she could. Foal sitting, painting, gardening, and even resumed giving advice.

Author's Note

So, I decided to give Cadence this little lesson on life appreciation and helping the less fortunate. Mostly because Cadence has always seemed to have a perfect life that I wanted to show that she truly does appreciate all that she has. And even though she used to help by giving advice and is generally nice, I wanted to show that Cadence wanted to do more than just the minimum. I wanted to show that she was ready to be a princess.

~Part 10: The Truth~

It was late in the evening, Cadence had just finished baking cupcakes for the bake sale fundraiser for the school the next day. She was heading out to the orchard to see what was taking her father so long when she came face to face with a familiar mare.

“Summer?” Cadence stammered out after staring at her in shock for nearly thirty seconds.

“Uhm, hi?” Summer replied.

“What-how-why?”

“I-I just wanted to apologize. I never should have acted the way I did. I… Let’s just say I was in a bad place.”

“Why? Is it because of something I did? Something I said?”

“I lost everyone I loved, my entire family.” Tears began to fall from her round eyes, darkening her blue coat. “I felt hurt and lost, then I didn’t know what to do with those feelings. I shouldn’t have taken them out on you, and I’m sorry.”

“Y-your entire family? To what?” Cadence cringed, immediately regretting the latter question.

“Yes. To a fire, a horrid fire.” Summer’s legs shook and she laid on the soft grass before her knees could give out. She touched her forehead to the green blades as tears raced down her cheeks.

Cadence’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed. She couldn’t imagine losing her parents. She felt her eyes pool with tears, an overwhelming flood of empathy and sympathy came crashing down on her. She laid beside the blue mare, wrapping her with her abnormally large wings in an embrace. Cadence hugged her tightly.

“I forgive you,” Cadence whispered. “And I’m sorry. Not just for your family, but for not being more understanding. For not trying to listen or talk with you. For just running off and worrying over myself and not what might be wrong with you. I’m so sorry.”

Cadence took in a small breath suddenly as a light began to glow. She stood, staring down at herself. The light was coming from her. Summer stared, eyes wide, as Cadence glowed brighter and brighter. Disappearing in a flash of white glitter.

Cadence found herself in a vast space of cloudy blues and teals, with glittering white orbs floating all around her. This was all she could see, stretching on for miles and miles.

“Hello?” she called out. “Is anypony there?”

“Hello, Cadence,” a strong yet gentle voice said.

“Where are you?”

“Right here.”

Cadence stood, wide eyed and flabbergasted, as a beautiful alicorn appeared before her. She was the purest white with an ethereal mane and tail, both four-toned of celeste blue, sea foam green, lilac, and sunrise pink. A golden necklace, crown, and shoes adorned her, deep purple jewels set into her crown and necklace. Her magenta eyes looked down at the pink pegasus lovingly, a kind smile on her face. While Cadence had never met the princess, she had seen many paintings and photos of her.

“Princess Celestia?!” Cadence gasped, bowing to her princess.

“Hello, Cadence,” Celestia said, bending down and nudging the young mare to stand.

“Y-you know my name?”

“Of course. Come with me.”

Cadence followed her through the unending space, as images appeared of...her. All of them were Cadence from when she was a foal to a young mare. Cadence looked at each one as she walked beside the Sun Princess, her purple eyes were wide with amazement. Why would the princess know who she was?

“Cadence, you are no ordinary pony,” Celestia said, keeping her gaze ahead.

“I’m not?” Cadence asked, looking up at the princess.

“No. I knew that from the moment I saw you when you were just a foal.”

“You saw...me?”

“Yes. I visited Reinville a long time ago, and I spotted you amongst the other ponies.”

“How did you know I was special?”

“It’s quite the story. Which I will explain in due time. First, you need to know something.”

“What’s that?”

“Like all ponies, you are destined for something truly amazing, you are going to change the world.”

“Really?”

“Yes. And your future also holds something very unexpected.”

“What is that?”

“You’ll see.”

Celestia stopped walking and looked on at an image of a beautiful castle made completely of crystal. Cadence stared at it in amazement. She soon felt a strong magical presence within her. She looked down and saw a crystal blue swirl of magic float in front of her, circling her as she was lifted into the air. She was encased in a cocoon of crystal light as she felt herself being magically transformed.

“Well, where did she go?” Cora demanded, having arrived home to find her husband and a young mare frantically searching for Cadence.

“She just vanished, right in front of me!” Summer cried.

The trio looked around in the house and then searched the orchard, when a bright, crystal blue heart appeared in the sky. The three ran towards it as it lowered to the ground, the silhouette of a pony appearing as it faded down. The light soon vanished and in it’s place laid Cadence. But she was, different. It was made obvious as she stood, being clearly a few inches taller. Most prominent was her long, pink horn protruding from her forehead.

“Ca-Cadence?” Cora whispered shakily.

“Mom?” Cadence replied. “What happened?”

In response, her father grabbed a metal bucket sitting nearby and showed Cadence her reflection. Cadence gasped and stared at the mare in the reflection, her reflection. She couldn’t believe that she had a horn! Suddenly, she felt it. A cone through which her magic could flow through. While still feeling her wings resting on her sides. She was an alicorn!

“I-I don’t understand,” Cadence gasped.

“Perhaps I could help you with that,” a voice said as Princess Celestia appeared in a flash of light. All four of the ponies immediately bowed to their princess. “No need for that, might I come in for some tea?”

“I-I don’t understand,” Cadence whispered after Celestia had explained everything to her. “I’m not a princess, I’m just a simple pony. I-I can’t be adopted, you guys are my parents!”

“Cadence, I’m afraid you are,” Cora said gently, tears silently falling.

“Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“We always meant to, we just weren’t sure how or when. Not to mention the fact that you seemed to be in danger and running from something, we were trying to protect you from whatever could have possibly wanted to hurt you. We wanted a family so badly, And you were our chance to finally have one! I know you’re angry with us, but I hope you know that we never wanted to hurt you.”

“What happened to my birth parents?” Cadence looked to the princess now.

“I’m afraid that your father died a long time ago,” Celestia said. “As for your mother, she died shortly after she brought you here. To be raised by your parents.”

“So you’re saying everything about me is a lie? I’m not the pony I think I am and I never was, my whole life has been a lie!”

“No, it hasn’t. Your mother brought you here because she knew you needed ponies to love and care for you. Blood does not make you a family.”

“Is Cadence even my real name?” Cadence whipped her head around to Cora.

“In a manner,” Cora replied. “Your given name is Mi Amore Cadenza, it means My Love Cadence.”

“At least you kept one thing kind of close.”

“Cadence, listen, you need to come to Canterlot with me,” Celestia explained. “At least for a few hours a day, pretty soon your magic will start to flare off randomly, you need to learn control. You can use a chariot to take you to and from, pretty soon you’ll learn teleportation, which will make travel much easier.”

It was silent. Cadence stared at the floor, anger boiling inside of her. She felt like she was a fraud, just some toy for her ‘parents’ to play house with. As if her entire existence were a lie, a giant scheme that everypony else helped put together as one grand, cruel prank. And after all these years someone finally decided to jump out from behind the couch and yell “Gotcha!”

“I’ll learn from you,” Cadence said softly. “I’ll move to Canterlot with you.”

Gentle gasps escaped from everypony's lips, even Celestia’s.

“Cadence, that’s not-” she began.

“I don’t want to stay here anymore,” Cadence cut her off.

Before more could be said, she flew up to her room and quickly began packing. She could hear the muffled voices of the princess and her ‘parents’ coming up through the floorboards. Celestia apologizing, Cora insisting it’s not the princesses fault through heartbroken sobs, Pear trying to comfort his wife. Cadence could hear soft hoofsteps coming up the stairs.

“Cadence?” Summer’s voice came from the doorway to her room.

“Sorry you’re mixed up in all of this,” the new alicorn quickly apologized.

“Oh, it’s fine. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Summer, they lied to me. My entire existence is a lie.”

“Cadence, they’re your parents.”

“No, they adopted me.”

“That doesn’t mean they aren’t your parents.”

“You just don’t understand, I don’t even know who I am.”

“You are not your parents, you are you. It doesn’t matter who raised you, you would still be you.”

“Look, Summer, I just can’t stay here and act as if they haven’t been lying to me.”

“They lied for your own safety, You heard your mom, someone seemed to want to find you; and not for positive reasons.”

“They could have at the very least told me I was adopted.”

“So they made a mistake, they apologized. Now you need to forgive them so the three of you can work to amend your relationship. Besides, isn’t that what you did with me?”

“That’s different.”

“I don’t see how.”

“Summer, just leave it alone.”

“Fine, all I’m saying is that I would give anything to have at least one family. You have two, and one is still here to love and care for you. Good bye, Cadence.”

Cadence didn’t reply, she just let Summer walk away. She knew that Summer was right, but she didn’t want to admit to being wrong. So, she convinced herself that she was right. She pulled her bag and suitcase out of her room and down the stairs.

“I’m ready,’ Cadence said in a rather cold tone to the princess.

“I’ll let you say goodbye,” Celestia said, tears stinging the edges of her eyes.

“Cadence, I-” Cora began.

“Bye, I’ll see you guys later,” Cadence cut her off in a monotone voice.

Pear pulled her into a hug and whispered a tear filled farewell to his daughter, Cora gave her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. They both told her to be careful, they loved her, and they were always there for her. She merely said goodbye and walked out. Leaving Cora crying softly into Pear Slice’s shoulder.

“Let’s go,”Cadence said to the princess, who nodded sadly.

Celestia’s horn lit in a brilliant pink and soon they were gone. Whisked into the wind on the breeze, feeling as if their entire matter was composed of nothing but a billion specks of glitter. Until they were reassembled on Princess Celestia’s balcony.

Cadence looked over the big city, hundreds of ponies (perhaps even thousands) sound asleep in their beds. For a moment, she thought on Summer Penn’s words, but she quickly pushed them away.

~Part 11: Endings~

Over the next couple of weeks, Celestia was busy planning a coronation for the new princess. She was trying to push it off though, for a few reasons. 1) She wanted Cadence to make up with her parents first. 2) Cadence wasn’t even trying to make friends, she needed to live life like the young mare she was. She wasn’t even a full grown mare yet, just an adolescent. She needed to spend some time beyond the castle walls. Then, Celestia got an idea to deal with the second reason.

“Cadence, could we talk?” Celestia said, knocking softly on her door.

“Of course,” Cadence said, magically opening her door. She had been advancing very well in her studies.

“I need to ask a favor.”

“What is it?” Cadence slipped her mane into a ponytail, replacing her hairbrush on her vanity. The room was fully furnished and had a cyan and purple theme to it. However, Cadence had no personal decor.

“I don’t know if you’ve heard, but I recently took on a new prodigy.”

“Yes, a filly named Twilight Sparkle.”

“Precisely, she has a lot of magic and needs to be supervised. Her brother used to watch her, but now he’s entering training to be a royal guard. I need somepony I can trust to watch her, will you?”

“B-but I’m still learning magic myself.”

“I know you are, but I also know that you’re great with fillies. Please, I need somepony who isn’t in it just to try and get close to me. Would you please at least go in for an interview with them? She is really very sweet.”

Cadence silently thought on it. She used to love foal sitting back home in Reinville, she was starting to miss it. And Celestia needed somepony she trusted, this meant that she trusted her.

“Alright,” she answered.

When Cadence went in for the interview, Twilight Velvet and Night Light really liked her. She had prior experience and Celestia’s approval.

“We’d love for you to watch her,” Twilight Velvet said.

“However, it’s ultimately up to Twilight,” Night Light added.

Twilight Velvet retrieved her daughter from the next room. The young unicorn was tightly hugging a Starswirl the Bearded spell book. Her purple eyes looked up at Cadence with deep curiosity. She gently set down the book with a levitation spell and walked up to the couch the pink alicorn sat on.

“Hello, I’m Cadence,” Cadence smiled gently at the small filly.

Twilight climbed up the couch, pulling one leg up at a time. Cadence was about to help when Night Light motioned not to. Her parents knew all too well that it was better to let her do it on her own. Twilight caught her breath once she was up on the couch, she couldn't have been more than five or six.

“My name is Twilight Sparkle,” she said in a matter of fact tone. “I require someone to look after and care for me when Mommy, Daddy, and Shiny are out. What makes you a good candidate?”

“Well,” Cadence thought for a moment, taken aback by the filly. Most of the young ponies she cared for just wanted somepony to play with. “I have lots of experience and I promise to always listen to your thoughts and opinions.”

“Do you follow all the rules?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Will you ground me if the need arises?”

“I don’t see how it ever could, and I wouldn’t want to, but I suppose if I had to… Yes.”

Twilight looked over to her parents and smiled, “She’s perfect.”

One evening on her way back from foal sitting, a messenger flew up to her and passed her an envelope. She waited until she got back to the castle to read it.

Cadence,

I know you’re mad at us, and you have every right to be. But your mother is sick, and she isn’t getting better. I don’t know how much longer before- Listen, just please come home. If nothing else, to say goodbye.
-Dad

Cadence read it over, though it was a bit hard with the teardrop stains and ink marks. Her mother, no. Not her mother. Cora, the mare who raised her, was sick. She considered leaving, but she couldn't. She had to look after Twilight. Twilight needed her.

Cadence crumbled it up as she walked down the hall, when Celestia suddenly opened her door.

“Cadence, what is that?” Celestia asked.

“Nothing,” she lied.

“How is Twilight?”

“She is doing great, we had a picnic today.”

“That’s good, yesterday she came to me because, well, some bullies had been picking on her again. I felt so bad, I was hoping she would be feeling better today.”

“Celestia,” Cadence paused for a moment in thought, “do you really care for Twilight?”

“Of course I do.”

“But, she’s not your daughter…”

“That doesn’t mean I love the young filly any less.”

Cadence, not sure what to say, tossed the crumpled message into a nearby waste basket and continued to her room. What she didn’t see was Celestia pull it out and read it.

The next day, when Cadence arrived at Twilight’s house, she was surprised to find Princess Celestia there. Sitting in the kitchen having tea with Twilight, Smartypants, Twilight’s Clover the Clever plushie, and Sir Snuggles.

“Princess?” Cadence gaped.

“Cadence, I’ll be watching Twilight today,” Celestia said.

“B-but I-” she began.

“It’s okay, Cadence,” Twilight said. “Go visit your parents.”

Cadence shot Celestia a look. And Celestia shot back a look that could level a field of enemies.

“But first,” Twilight lowered herself from her chair and trotted up to her. “Sunshine, sunshine-Cadence!”

“Sorry,” she quickly apologized, breaking away from her silent argument with the princess.

“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” The two greeted each other. Cadence wasn’t sure where the rhyme came from, it was lodged from something in her distant memories. The ones she couldn’t quite make out.

Cadence started rattling off instructions to the princess on how to care for the filly.

“Cadence, I am perfectly capable of looking after Twilight,” Celestia reminded her. “Go.”

Cadence flew over Equestria as fast as she could. She didn’t know why, but something in her heart was telling her she didn’t have much time. She hit a storm going past Neighagra Falls, spraining her wing in the process. Landing on the puddled ground she took a deep breath. Focusing all of her strength and energy, she tried a teleportation spell. She hadn’t gone very far yet, only a couple feet, but she had to get to Reinville.

She closed her eyes, felt herself being swept away in the rain, and then nothing but warm air on her cheek. She stood outside of her home. She quietly went inside and upstairs to her parents old room.

As she silently looked in, it was like every grudge she was holding slipped away.

Pear Slice was fast asleep, his face pressed into the comforter as he leaned on the bed. Cora was also asleep, but hers was a dangerous kind of peaceful sleep. She was pale and her breathing was weak. Coming in short, uneven breaths. She looked thin, too thin. Her mane lay unkempt behind her and Cora appeared as if she had no strength.

Cadence silently walked up to her bedside and crumpled, holding her mother's hoof and sobbing. A tear fell from her cheek and onto Cora’s hoof. It glittered softly and Cadence’s horn began to spark with magic. An opaque, broken, pink hued heart soon floated out of her horn. Gliding through the air towards her mother, it glowed with a vibrant crystal color. Repairing itself to be whole once more and falling onto Cora’s chest.

Cora’s eyes fluttered open gently, the dull blue turning bright when she saw her sweet little Cadence.

“Cadence?” she breathed.

“Mom!” Cadence hugged her, sobbing quietly. “I’m so sorry for how I’ve been acting! You didn’t deserve all the pain I’ve caused you! Please, please don’t leave me!’

“Shhh, shhh,” Cora stroked her daughter's mane softly, attempting to comfort her. “It’s alright, I’m right here.”

Cadence and her parents worked to repair their relationship over the next week. Cadence sent word to Celestia, apologizing, but insisting that she was needed at home for now. It wasn’t long before Cora was back to her old self. Her broken heart had finally been healed.

Cadence spent a lot of time talking with her parents about life in Canterlot, about Twilight, and about what Celestia had told her of her past. She spent a lot of time explaining that.

“You can’t tell anypony,” Cadence explained. “Nopony can know of the Crystal Empire, or Sombra.”

“We understand,” Cora smiled.

“Does this mean you’re coming home?” Pear asked.

“No,” Cadence sighed. “It’s not because I’m mad, I’m not mad anymore. It's just, I’m loving living in Canterlot. I love foalsitting Twilight, and I really need to work on my magic. But I’ll visit as often as I can, and you can come visit me. Do you understand?”

“We always knew you’d move out one day,” Pear answered.

“And we know it wouldn’t be easy,” Cora said.

In just a week, Cadence was officially coronated. The event was gorgeous, as roses were everywhere. Cadence wore a crystal dress and was given a crown, which she was glad was much smaller than Equestria’s rulers was. Her parents were there, Summer was there, and even Twilight was there. With her older brother, a handsome young Stallion named Shining Armor.

Cadence gave a speech and was congratulated by her loved ones. After the coronation, that evening, she sat on her balcony. From so high up, she could see all the way to the crystal mountains.

“I will reclaim my kingdom,” Cadence whispered into the wind. “For my family.”

Still unknown to everypony that the pony who tore it down, was Mi Amore Cadenza’s own brother.

Author's Note

Yeah, I know a broken heart sounds cheesy. But, hey, it's a real thing, so it's not that cheesy. Right?