Flora Belle, now a fourteen year old fawn, watched the sunrise. She loved the feeling of warmth and a new day. She got lost into the sunlight. She galloped through a big grassy field. She then encountered three small fillies resembling the sky. Clouds, sun, and stars. She played with them and then fell into the grass. Not knowing, the grass turned into a dark hole. She fell through colors and sparks of memories of the past.

“Flora Belle! Please come down for breakfast!”

Belle then perked up. She must have been day dreaming again. She had been to the doctor before about these dreams, as they believed they have been hallucinations. She trotted off of her balcony. She out on some slippers and went out of her bedroom on to the wide staircase. After that she went into the dining room to find her dad and her stepmom.

“Good morning sweet girl! Come sit!” said the slim doe. She had long pastel pink hair and a body similar to the color of Flora Belle’s. Belle then pulled out a chair that was across from her stepmom. The chair’s cushion sunk as she sat down. The room smelled like warm bread and citrus.
“How was your night of sleep?” asked King Blomin.

“It was fine. I guess.”

“Why were you late to come down stairs again?”

“I just decided to sleep in.” Belle said trying not to try to sound like she was lying.

“You need to start waking up earlier, your country will be depending on you here soon.”

“Dad, the coronation isn’t for a week. I want to get as much sleep as I can before that.”

Meanwhile Ophelia Eve (Belle’s step mom) was staring off into the distance. She was only queen for a couple years. Whenever Blomin would bring up the coronation, small sparks of anger would emerge inside of her. She was listening to their conversation, but her thoughts were more prevalent. Suddenly her focus was on the food that was put in front of her. She watched in disgust as Flora Belle scarfed down her food. She obviously was not ready to become queen. More and more blueberry pancakes came out of the kitchen. Along with orange juice and a fresh baguette. As it was an odd combination of food, the kitchen was already rushed with food from the planned ball that night. A couple minutes after food was out Ivory Beam came to join the meal.

“Oh hello Ivory, glad you came to join our breakfast. Did you take care of the protection spell this morning like I asked?” said King Blomin.

“Yes sir, I did.”

“Thank you. Now please come and enjoy something to eat.”

“Thank you sir.”

Ivory then came and sat next to Flora Belle. Belle looked up at Ivory with syrup all over her mouth.

“Hey Ivory! How are you doing?” she said excitedly. She had always looked up to him.

“I’m just fine. I am really hungry, I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon.”

Flora Belle then noticed the sweat running down his forehead under his armour.

“What have you been doing to become so sweaty?”

“I have been running around the castle all day Belle, now can I just eat please?”
“Geez. I guess you can.” she said back in a slightly annoyed voice. Ivory was acting strange. But she knew he could be like that sometimes. Belle continued to eat. About 30 minutes later the janitorial staff started to clean the dining hall. Belle stood up then went back to her room to get ready for the day ahead. She sat at her vanity and put her hair up into a messy bun. She then set out her hair brush and her amulet and then went into her bathroom to take a shower. In the shower she used rose scented body wash. She wanted to smell good as the Quarterly Lochgate Ball was going on that night. When she got out she dried herself then went in her room to brush her wet hair and put on her amulet. As soon as she put on her amulet she went into another “daydream” She looked around as she was where she was where the last one ended. She continued to fall though colors, it seemed as it was a kaleidoscope. She finally hit hard onto the floor. In real life and in the dream. She then perked up. Blinked a couple times and stood up in her bedroom. She then trotted out to find that her door led to a white void. She then shut her door and started to breathe heavily.

“Flora Belle! For the last time! Please come down stairs!” Yelled her mother.

“Coming!” she screamed back. Belle needed to sit, she was dizzy, but she knew she would get in trouble if she didn’t go immediately. She then trotted down the stairs and met Ophelia in her parents room. As she entered she found Ophelia doing her makeup and hair. Ophelia then looked a bit to the side in the mirror to meet eyes with belle.

“Oh hi sweetie! I need you to go tend the garden for me while I do my hair.”

“But isn’t that the garden keepers job?”

“It was until I told them that you agreed to do it instead.”

“What?” Belle said shocked.

“Yes, as queen you need to be able to do things for yourself! I thought it would be a nice thing for you to do.”

“Ugh! Fine,” Belle said because she knew if she said no she would get in trouble. “But before you go telling ponies that I agree with something could you ask me first?”

Ophelia didn’t answer. Belle then angrily walked out of the room. She hated her so much. She wished she had her old mom back. The mom she never knew, but she still needed her. ‘Why have they never found her? It’s been nearly fourteen years since the search started. Has my dad been lying to me? Have they stopped looking?’ Belle thought. She then went to the garden with a full watercan in her magic. Flowers nearly bordered the entire castle. How could she do this all herself? She looked around and started her job. While she started to make around the first corner she noticed Ivory Beam talking to another member of the Lochgate guard. Belle then stopped and backed around the corner a bit. She then used a spell to listen in on what they were saying.

“But how are we supposed to do that?”

“We just need to not say a word until the time is right.” said Ivory

“And when exactly is that?”

“Exactly two weeks from now at twilight.”

“Ok. Got it sir. I will get the force ready until then.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem sir.”

‘What are they talking about?’ thought Belle.

Ivory Beam then looked straight at Belle with an intense stare. Belle then quickly backed around the castle wall with her back and front legs up against the wall. Ivory Beam then came trotting in her direction. While Belle’s heart was beating out of her chest, Ivory looked right past her and then trotted away. Belle sighed a sigh of relief, she didn’t want Ivory knowing she was eavesdropping. She then sprinted off to the entrance that led into the castle dining hall. There, she ran into her dad.

“Oh hi dad.”

“What are you up to?”

“Oh, I was just tending the garden.”

“Good. Now please go back to your room and pick out a dress for the ball.”

“Ok.”

Belle then carefully walked around him and trotted up the stairs and into her bedroom.

Belle then carefully walked around him and trotted up the stairs and into her bedroom. She went to her closet and picked up the new dress she had gotten the week before. It had a turquoise blue top with a tulle sparkly gold skirt. After that she went to her vanity to put on her favored flower crown with bright pink roses, peonies, and carnations. Her mother's favorite flower. The flower crown had golden floss intertwined in the base. She then took her hair and tucked it into the back of the flower crown. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Her amulet seemed to sparkle in the light just perfectly. She then looked down at her amulet. And when she looked back up in the mirror she saw Ivory standing in the background. Flora Belle then turned around. Her heart seemed to beat faster.

“Hi Ivory, what do you want?”

Ivory then trotted forwards her. Belle then noticed that his eyes were bloodshot.

“What’s wrong with you Ivory?” Belle then said in a more worried tone.

“Oh, nothing. Just came in to ask..”

“What.”

“Nothing… nothing.”

“Then can you please leave? I am trying to get ready.”

“Oh sure…”

“Why did you even come in here anyways?”

And before Flora Belle knew it Ivory was out the door.

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Ivory galloped as fast as he could through the castle. Winding through the corridors and through the rushed ponies and deer trying to prepare for the ball. Sweat was dripping down his face, as he was nervous. He then ran to the entrance of the castle and out the gates. He then went towards the outlying forest that surrounded the castle. He reached a giant oak tree, the trunk was about the same width as his body. Slowly and he carefully placed his hoof onto a slight opening in the tree. A needle then pierced his hoof. He winced in pain. Then he removed his hoof then entered the door embedded in the bark. He then closed the door and went down the winding stair well.

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“FLORA BELLE!!! ARE YOU READY YET??” screamed Ophelia Eve up the stairs to the upper floor of the castle.

“NOT YET!!” Belle screamed back. ‘Boy, how much I hate her.’ Belle then thought to herself.

“PLEASE BE DOWN IN 10 MINUTES! THE GUESTS ARE ABOUT TO ARRIVE!”
Belle then looked at her clock. “Crap!” she whispered to herself.

“BE DOWN THERE IN A MINUTE!” she screamed.

Belle then ran to her bathroom to quickly put on some glitter around her body then sprayed some floral perfume on. Her favorite scent was rose, as it was an old pony scent, she loved it anyways. She then placed some gold flats on her hoofs then trotted out of her room and down the wide steps.

“FLORA BELLE!!! COME DOWN THIS INSTANT!!!” screamed Ophelia with a rumble in her voice. Ophelia had on a beautiful maroon dress with the just right amount of sparkle. She also had some diamond earrings in her ears and perfect cat eye makeup.

“I’m right here.” Belle said annoyed. She then rolled her eyes.

“Oh my darling! You look beautiful! But may I note one thing?”

“What is it?”

“Can you please change your dress?”

“WHAT?!”

“Ahh yes, I wanted you to wear the one that I picked out.” Ophelia then pulled out a neon pink dress with extravagant bling and an extremely poofy skirt.

“Uhhhhhh….” Belle said with her jaw dropped.

“Now please go put it on.” Ophelia then dropped the dress on belle's back and trotted away.

“Ahh ahhh I’m not wearing this dress.” Said belle loudly in an astonished tone.

“Oh yes you are. And if you don’t, I guess I’ll have to lock you in your room.”

Belle rolled her eyes then went to find her dad. She found him talking to Ivory.

“Ivory! Why do you have a bandage around your face and hoof! You can’t greet others like this! Please explain!”

“Uhhh, I tripped and fell and hurt my eye and hoof.”

“Then you should go see the medics.”

“Already did, your medics wrapped me up.”

“Ok, but i’ll have to hire somepony else.”

They conversed a bit more then Ivory walked away.

“Hey dad.”

“Yes Belle?”

“Do I have to wear this dress?” Belle said in an annoyed yet innocent voice, then lifted the dress on her back with her magic.

“Where in the name of Equestria did you get that?”

“Ophelia gave it to me.”

“Wear it if you’d like, but you look beautiful the way you are.”

“Thanks dad!”

“No problem, but do you mind being the pony to greet everypony when they walk in?”

‘What?”

“Ivory is all beaten and I don’t want our first impression to be that.”

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Thank you Belle.”

King Blomin then kissed Flora Belle on the head then trotted off. Belle then trotted outside and threw the horrendous dress into a bush then went back into the castle. Five minutes later guests started to arrive. Most came in magnificent carriages with gold trimming and a shiny white body. Six to seven pegasi led each carriage to the road in front of the castle. First to arrive was one of Belle’s best friends Shimmering Soprano. They’ve known each other since they were fillies.

“Shimso!” yelled Belle excitedly. Shimso was a nickname she gave her.

“Belle!”

Shimso came running up to her in a pastel pink dress with silver trimming. Her hair was beautifully pulled up into a bun and she had silver accents in her hair.
“I am so excited for the ball!” said Shimmering Soprano

“Me too! But I have to greet everypony before I can join.”

“Oh.”

“So if you don’t mind waiting, I’ll meet you in my room in about 40 minutes.”

“Ok, see you then!”

“Bye!”

“Bye!”

Shimmering Soprano then went trotting in as well as greeting King Blomin and Ophelia Eve. As the evening went on Belle shook hooves and welcomed everypony in. All the mares wore extravagant dresses while all the colts wore suits with bowties that matched the mare’s dress. Belle greeted around 200 ponies before being allowed to join in on the festivities. Belle knew she was about to have the night of her life, until a depressing feeling and thought rushed through her body.

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As the night went on and the gigantuan dinner was over, Flora Belle was feeling particularly tired. She had felt sad all night and angry because she wished her mom was there. She was finally feeling the loss and the anger from Ophelia. This ball and her upcoming coronation could have been so much better with her there. Why was she killed so terribly? Who killed her? Why didn’t her father look enough for the killer? Why did he give up? Why was he such a liar? Anger and hatred rushed through her body. While these thoughts were happening, she was dancing with Shimso, trying to fake a smile, with the tears hiding behind her eyes. Suddenly Belle broke loose. Tears ran down her face like waterfalls

“What’s wrong?” screamed Shimso over the loud music.

Belle then scowled and clenced her face. Her teeth grasped the bottom of her lip and then her mouth opened a giant cry came out.

“Belle!” Shimso screamed again.

Belle then sprinted towards the door of the castle. She wanted to find the killer of her mom. She wanted her mom back. She ignored the thoughts about “What will you eat?” “How will you get to where you’re going?” Belle kept running until somepony blocked her way at the large castle gate.
“Ivory? What are you doing here?” Belle said all choked up. Her eye makeup was running down her cheeks.

“No, what are you doing to get out of the castle?”

“I just need a breath of fresh air.”

“With all those tears? No i dont think you need that. Why don’t you just go to your room?”

“Ivory, I don’t need this right now! Just let me through and I’ll leave you alone!”

“I’ll let you through as soon as you tell me why!” his tone had risen in anger.

“I just need some air!” screamed Belle. She needed to know the killer, she just had to. She had been to so many castle events where her mom wasn’t there. She was tired of her fahter telling her that they searched the entire kingdom. She needed to know now.

“Tell me why you’re leaving and i’ll let you go!” yelled Ivory Beam back.

“What is up with you? You have changed so much!” Belle then shoved Ivory aside with brute force then ran through the gate.

“FLORA BELLE! COME BACK NOW!”

Tears ran down Belles face. She kept running. Until a sharp pain punctured her neck and she fell to the ground.

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Author's Note

Hello! I am not done with this chapter yet, but i will update soon.

Sorry if it is not perfect now, but as soon as i finish my story I will go and revise the entire thing. Thank you for waiting!

Follow me on Instagram at @bellanoel.art for updates and more!

Tysm!