A Tyrant's Redemption, a Filly's Life

Chapter Two

-Sunny Cove, Three Years Later-

The small beach town of Sunny Cove was a quiet place, often visited by tourist who wished to experience what the beach life was like, and not deal with the crowds. Despite being small, Sunny Cove had quite the attraction, since a Resort Town was about two or three miles down the road, depending on which route you decided to take. Unlike the bigger town, Sunny Cove’s beaches were often less crowded and the shops were not trying to swindle tourists out f their bits. Yes, it was your humble little town that helps one another, and accepts any weary traveler into their diverse community. This is why Delicate Rose loved her new home, especially since her dad lets the pegasus filly help her around the Surf Shop.

Right now, the excitable filly was trotting through the town’s main strip, with a saddle bag placed on to her back, and a shopping list in her wing. “Let’s see… Daddy said we will be needing carrots, onions, peppers, apples, and potatoes.” She listed off, wanting to make sure everything was there for tonight’s cookout. Delicate Rose knew her father had gotten most o the groceries, and gave her this so that she felt like the filly helped out in some way. “Oh! With these, I’ll be able to visit Ms. Dust!”

Remembering that said yellow pegasus mare owned the local produce store, made Delicate Rose move even faster down the street. Angel Dust was the first pony to welcome the odd pair into Sunny Cove, even helped them get more business at the Surf Shop. The filly also liked her, because she would sneak a couple of sweets into Delicate Rose’s saddle bags. But, the filly also knew why Angel Dust came around the shop, besides helping her with homework… All, but Delicate Rose’s father, could tell that the mare had a thing for the single parent shop owner.

When Delicate Rose was just outside “Angel Dust Produce”, she made sure her mane was straight and coat tidy. Far too many time has the mare scolded her for not ‘looking cute as can be’. With a deep breath, she opened the door, a bell informing those inside of her arrival. “Ms. Dust, I’m here to-!”

“Who the heck are you, kid?” A cocky toned mare suddenly blurted out, stopping Delicate Rose in her tracks to see a turquoise pegasus mare, with a two shaded yellow mane, standing right in front of her with a broom. “Don’t you see the closed sign!?”

Delicate Rose looked up at the door, now noticing that the sign had been turned to the “Closed”, despite it being right now being Angel Dust’s normal working hours. “U-Uh… I t-thought-!”

Before the filly knew it, the strange mare was right in front of her, head lowered and hoof pressed into Delicate Rose’s chest. “Are you some kind of thief, here to take advantage of my sister’s soft heart!?”

“I-I-I…”

“Because, if you are?” By this time, Delicate Rose was shaking tremendously, as the mare raised her hoof up. “I’m going to-?”

“Lighting! What in Equestria are you doing to poor Rose!?” A, heavenly, sweet voice called out, making the two look back at the entry way to the store’s housing complex. Standing in the door way, stood a yellow coated pegasus mare, with a long turquoise colored mane styled to be draping down to just past the mare’s shoulders. Her banes clipped back with yellow hair pins. Her magenta eyes were wide, in shock of what had just been witnessed.

“Ms. Dust!” Delicate Rose shouted, before nearly sprinting underneath Angel Dust, hiding behind her forelegs. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were closed! Please, don’t let her hurt me! I won’t do it again!”

Angel Dust looked down at the filly, her eyes softening and a smile finding its way on to her muzzle. “I’m always open for you, sweetheart… And don’t you worry, I will not let her do such a terrible thing.” With that, the mare’ eyes shot up, narrowing on to her sister. “Lightning Dust! What has possessed you enough, to threaten sweet little Rose, like that!? Knowing her, she probably came to pick up a few things for her father’s cookout tonight!”

Lightning Dust stepped back, rubbing the back of her head with a hoof, nervously. “W-Well, Angel, I didn’t know who she was and she did just waltz right in, despite the closed sign-…” Then, her sister’ words suddenly clicked and the turquoise mare was nearly nose to nose with Angel Dust. “Wait, this is that Delicate Rose filly you’ve been going on about? With that hunk of a unicorn stallion for a dad!?”

Angel Dust’s cheeks began to burn, realizing that said filly was right under her. “Yes, and I would like for our private conversations about said stallion to stay private? And not to be mentioned when said stallion’s daughter is present?” Despite her cheeks burning, the mare kept a solid glare on her sister. When Lightning Dust nodded, backing away, Angel Dust looked down at the filly underneath her. “Now, with that settled, what did you need, Rose?”

Delicate Rose, hesitantly, walked out from under Angel Dust, and held the list up with her wing. “D-Daddy said he needed these.” The filly was nervous, Lightning Dust’s aggressiveness doing a number on her.

The mare smiled, taking the list into her own wing and quickly going over it. “Hm… Carrots, onions, peppers, potatoes-OH! I bet your father is making your favorite tonight.” Angel Dust smiled down at Delicate Rose, who gave an excited nod. “Well, that is to be expected, since you are today’s Birthday Filly.”

“You remembered!” Delicate Rose shouted, floating up and hugging the mare’s neck with a giggle.

With a giggle of her own, Angel Dust sat back and returned Delicate Rose’s hug. “Of course I remember! How can I ever forget my favorite silly filly’s birthday?” She asked, before releasing Delicate Rose from her hug, and stood back up. “Though, best get you those vegetables, so your father can have everything ready for tonight.” With that, Angel Dust looked back at her sister. “Lightning? Mind watching Rose, while I father what is on this list?”

Lightning Dust gave a nod. “Of course! Go ahead, I got things covered re.” With a nod, Angel Dust wen to gather what was on Delicate Rose’s list, leaving the two of them in a rather awkward silence. Aftera few moments, it was Lightning Dust who broke the silent, rubbing the back of her head. “Listen, kid, sorry about earlier… I just got into town today, and heard about you… Angel failed to mention what you looked like, kept going on and on about your dad, day dreaming.”

Delicate Rose smiled up at the mare, nodding. “Its fine, I should have looked up to see if Ms. Dust was open or not, before coming in… Daddy says I get a bit complacent sometimes.” The two shared a laugh, before Delicate Rose spoke up again. “So, Ms. Dust likes talking about my dad a lot?”

“Oh, like you will not believe, kid! Everything she says ends up making her say something about him. I swear, she was talking about his mane for an entire hour!” Lightning Dust said, feigning annoyance, before the two giggled.

“Yeah, I think the only pony, in Sunny Cove, that doesn’t know about that… Is my dad!” Delicate Rose giggled, smiling at the thought of her father. “Things like that go right over his head. But, that doesn’t matter, because I know he does his best to make me happy.”

The filly’s words caused Lightning Dust to smile. “This ‘Tidal Wave’ sounds like an awesome dad… You are quite the lucky filly.”

Delicate Rose gave a nod, before frowning. “I am, but h keeps saying that my mommy was far better at parenting than he’ll ever be…”

“Angel told me she passed away sometime before you two arrived here… From what I understand? She was an awesome mom.” Lightning Dust continued to smile, before bringing the filly into a wing hug. “I wonder how my sister could ever compete with her!”

Delicate Rose smiled up at Lightning Dust, giggling still. “I think she does! Ms. Dust is nice, sweet, helps me with my homework, and always knows what to do to make me smile! She would be the perfect mommy!” The two began to laugh, a bit more, before they started to talk about other matters around Sunny Cove… All the while, Angel Dust tried to fight the burning sensation all about her face, the yellow pegasus mare able to hear their every word.

-Tidal Wave’s Surf Shop-

The palm tree lined surf shop had everything a beach goer or surfer would ever need. From collected, and washed, sea shells to long board surf boards! The shop even had beverages and snacks to sell, since it was right on the beach front and even had places for customers to it out front and enjoy their purchased goods. Though, out of all the customers that came, mostly mares showed up at the beach front store. Claiming to either be buying supplies or getting something to drink, but those were just excuses to spy on the shop owner.

At the moment, said dark gray stallion sat at his store’s cash register, upon a rather comfy looking cushioned chair. He was laid back, blue each button up shirt, with yellow flowers, unbuttoned near his collar. The stallion’s black mane was done up into a decently long tail. He even had an angled bear fully around his muzzle, connecting to his sideburns. Currently, the shop owner’s focus, most of his face hidden by a straw hat, was on the newspaper in front of him, gripped within a crimson aura of magic. On the counter, next to his left foreleg, sat a glass of ice cold lemonade, condensation dripping down its frame.

“U-Um, Mister Tidal Wave, sir?” A teen mare, obviously on of the town’s tourists, spoke up.

“Yes? How can I help you, miss?” Tidal Wave asked, from behind his newspaper, and turned the page.

The unicorn mare shifted on her hooves, a bathing suit for ponies within her pink magical aura. “I-I was wondering, in your opinion… W-Would this look cute on me?”

Tidal Wave gave a sigh, and lowered the newspaper, revealing his ruby red eyes. The teen blushed, now looking at the infamous surf shop owner’s full features. While she was distracted by is looks, Tidal Wave eyed the sky blue teen unicorn, and her pure yellow flat mane. With how nervous she was acting, the black glasses, ad how plain she looked; Tidal Wave knew she was one of those bookworm type students from Canterlot, and this being her first real social outing. His gaze then went to the dark purple two-piece bikini, a very popular piece and she probably wanted to look like one of the popular mares.

A smile appeared on his muzzle, before leaning over to whisper. “It is a cute outfit, but the bright pink one piece will bring out your coat a lot more and make you look like the cutest mare on the beach.” His response earned a look of excitement from the young mare, before he continued. “A little advice from this old stallion, dear. Do not do what is popular. Do what is comfortable to you, and everything will be perfect.”

“R-Really, Mr. Wave? E-Even if I put my mane up in a tail?” She asked, sifting on her hooves and fiddling with how the said mane was put into a more popular style. “Despite what my friends say?”

Tidal Wave’s smile grew even more. “Like I tell my daughter all the time, whenever she asks me the same question: Long as it feels right to you, then there is no way for you will go wrong. Now, you can have the one piece, free of charge, if you wear it with confidence and do you own thing.”

The young mare suddenly beamed with happiness, using her magic to put the two piece back and rushing over to take the one piece. “Thank you, Mr. Wave! You are definitely the greatest pony in Sunny Cove!”

He waved, as she went to leave the store. “Happy to be of help, miss.” Tidal Wave sighed, nodding at his good deed, before taking a sip of his beverage. “My good deed for today. Guess this redemption thing isn’t so bad, and I now have quite the adorable daughter.” He thought, picking the newspaper back up.

“Looks like sompony had another satisfied customer.” A familiar, heavenly sweet, voice spoke up.

A smile crept on to Tidal Wave’s muzzle again, as he lowered the newspaper down on to the counter. At the door, stood Angel Dust, with Delicate Rose on her back and a turquoise mare Tidal Wave had never seen before. “Ah, Ms. Dust, always a pleasure to see you… I am starting to get the feeling you are wanting to move in. Because, everytime I send Rose to your store, she comes back with everything, and riding on your back.” He teased, Angel Dust’s entire face turning cherry red, unable to reply as Delicate Rose and the other mare began to giggle.

It took her a couple of moments, but Angel Dust managed to reply. “Y-You kn-know, Tidal… You c-can call me Angel, we’ve known each other since the day you and Rose moved here, long with hangout almost every day.” The mare shifted on her hooves, both Delicate Rose and her sister trying not to explode into laughter.

“Alright, you do have a point there, Angel.” The fact Tidal Wave actually said her first name, made the Mare’s face turn even redder, Delicate Rose swearing she saw smoke pop up from her head. “Now, who might this be? I have never seen you around town before, and you almost remind me of Angel Dust.” His attention was now on Lightning Dust, who blushed at his sly grin.

“L-Lightning Dust… I am Angel’s twin sister.” She answered, the stallion nodding before getting up from his chair.

Tidal Wave made his way over to the two mares, and filly, allowing Lightning Dust to see how tall he is compared to other stallions. He had many beat, making her think that he probably stood at least the same height of Princess Luna. His body’s build also matched that of either a professional Wonderbolt Flyer or a member of the Royal Guard! It honestly made her blush even more, seeing the fabled Tidal Wave, that her sister constantly talked about.

“Lightning Dust? With a name like that, you must be one fast flyer.” Tidal Wave extended his hoof, allowing Lightning Dust to shake it with her own. “Now, with the sun so high in the sky, I best get started on the food. Rose?”

“Yes, Daddy!” She chirped, still on Angel Dust’s back.

“You did make sure Angel got everything we need, right?” He asked, the filly about to answer but stopped herself, both ears lowering into her mane. Tidal Wave knew what that meant, and only smiled. “Thank you, for not lying, Rose. Regardless, I am sure we have what we need.” His gaze went to Angel Dust, the stallion’s smile making her blush hold. “Angel, more than likely, got it all and then some. I know we can trust her with anything.”

“I-I am just helping m-my close friends, is all.” Angel Dust muttered, glancing to the side while shifting on her hooves.

“Nonsense, without your help? We would be where we are today.” Tidal Wave admitted, the compliment swimming around in Angel Dust’ head, while a crimson magical aura lifted Delicate Rose off of the mare’s back and on to his own. “I best close up shop, and get started. What I plan on making could take nearly all day.”

“We can close the shop for you, Tidal Wave! You can focus on getting the food cooked! Angel told me about how fantastic your cooking is.” Lightning Dust said, causing the stallion to stop.

“Are you sure? I mean, the free groceries were a bit much already.” Tidal Wave asked, the two mares shocked at how he knew about Angel Dust not charging them. “I do not need to hold my daughter’s saddlebags to know that not a single bit is missing… You’re almost predictable, Angel.”

“Only you would memories what I do, Tidal…” Angel Dust muttered, smiling a bit more about how Tidal Wave paid that much attention to her. “It is fine, since we are doing it for you.”

Tidal Wave smiled again, nodding. “Alright then, I leave my store in both of your capable hooves.” With that, the stallion left the store front, heading into the kitchen with Delicate Rose.

-Later That Night-

“Happy Birthday, Rose!” A large group cried out, as the filly giggled uncontrollably. Nearly the whole town showed up for Delicate Rose’s birthday party, all wanting to celebrate the filly’s special day. Though, one could imagine the amount of food her father had to prepare and cook, but it was quite obvious he did not care. The smile on Delicate Rose was worth spending nearly all day to prepare for this feast. “Thank you, everypony!!!” She called out, a wide smile permanently on her muzzle.

Tidal Wave just sat back, watching his happy daughter, as he rested from a hard day’s work. The stallion simply wishing to watch his daughter open presents and enjoy the food prepared for this special day. Though, as he watched her, Tidal Wave could not help but be reminded of that day, in Manehatten, three years ago. How far Delicate Rose had come since then, but the stallion could also tell that she missed her mother far more than she’ll admit to anypony. He wanted to try and find some way to mend her pain, as well, but Tidal Wave was not sure exactly how to do such a thing, or if such a route would be wise of him to follow.

Not to mention, many believed he was quite oblivious to Angel Dust’s feelings, but the truth was that the stallion did not know how he should act on those feelings, or if he should. Tidal Wave had not forgotten who he really is, or the lie created for this life. There was no possible way one could forget such a past, and spending three years caring for Delicate Rose… It made him regret everything ever done in his past. Something told him, there was no true redemption for such atrocities committed, but what he is doing now? That was enough to help him realize and understand it all.

In his train of thought, Tidal Wave did not notice a certain pegasus mare walking up next to him. “Seems like you have out done yourself again, Tidal.”
His concentration broken, the stallion looking left and noticing Angel Dust now beside him. “What can I say, for Rose? No feat is too high.” Tidal Wave smiled back at the filly, seeing her play with the other foals.

Angel Dust, on the other hoof, held her smile while looking up at the dark gray stallion. “She is lucky to have such a caring father.”

“I do what I can, but her mother was far better than I could ever be.” He admitted, Angel Dust shaking her head at the thought.

“I would still like to see that letter, the one you told me about?” The mare looked towards Delicate Rose, still smiling. “But, thank Celestia, you came along. I rather not know what would have happened to such a sweet filly, had you not shown up.”

Tidal Wave gave a nod, frowning some. “I still wish to strange that sperm donor with my own two hooves… But, that would do more harm towards her.”
“If you ever let me see that letter, and tell me who it is, I’ll help hide the body.” The two shared a laugh over her sentiment, watching the party go on and said Birthday Filly enjoy her big night of the year.

After the party had ended, the guests saying their goodbyes and wishing Delicate Rose happy birthday one last time, the stallion carried his tired daughter up to her room. The filly was half asleep, nearly wearing herself out from all the fun she had, as he tucked her into bed. “Did you have fun tonight, Rose?” He asked, tucking the last bit of the filly’s blanket under her.
“Mhmmm.” She muttered, yawning right after.

Tidal Wave smiled at her, nodding. “I am happy that you did.” He stood up straight, looking down at the tired Delicate Rose. “Are you ready for daddy’s birthday present, then?” The filly gave a tired nod, as her father lowered his curved, red, horn down to her forehead. “Ok, I want you to think of the best moment with your mother. Focus on what she looked like at the time.” Tidal Wave knew what he was about to do is probably going to be a really bad idea… But he wanted to give Delicate Rose something special. “Got it?”

“Yes, daddy.” Her face was beaming, a wide smile on her muzzle, the filly had brought up her favorite moment.

The stallion’s horn suddenly began to hiss, a dark energy glowing from it, purple mist seeped out of the corners of his eyes. Within seconds, a black crystal started to form into a heart above them, a fin coming out of its back, acting as a stand for it. Slowly, a purple trail of mist went from Delicate Rose’s forehead to her father’s horn, then to the crystal. Once it entered the black crystal’s frame, an image began to appear within it. The spell took only a few moments to complete, the dark energy and mist disappearing after it was completed, allowing Tidal Wave to see what she had thought of.

It showed Polish Star with a bright smile gracing her muzzle, while sitting beneath a tree within some park in Manehatten. Her wings were open, and the mare had both forehooves extended towards the picture’s front in a “come here” motion. Tidal Wave knew a proud look, when he saw one, which meant that Delicate Rose had done something great on her own. The image, alone, gave off a motherly warmth, no words were needed to say how happy Polished Star was… And, judging by the bright yellow light in the background, he could tell that Delicate Rose was rather young when this happened.

Tidal Wave was giving a wide smile of his own at the image, before setting it down on to his daughter’s nightstand. Carefully, the stallion leaned down and kissed Delicate Rose’s forehead. “Goodnight, my little princess.” He whispered.

“Good *yawn* night, daddy.” She mumbled, Tidal Wave turning out the lights, as he left.

-Canterlot Castle, a Few Seconds Earlier-

Celestia’s eyes snapped open, the very second she sensed the dark magic. Her head shot up from her pillow and turned towards the window, a look of pure horror on her face. There was a dark, manevolent, cackling laugh echoing within her mind, as all she could see was some pitch black shadow with glowing green eyes and a curved red horn. She knew exactly who this figure was, along with who the magic belonged to, and feared their return greatly.

“S-Sombra…” Celestia muttered, before her horn began to glow, summoning both a quill and parchment. “I need to get Princess Twilight, and her friends, here immediately.”