The End

The Year Of Our Princess 1536 AD, The 23rd day of Spring

I ran today. I ran and I didn't stop. Not just from my abusive father, not just from my home, but from Cloudsdale. From my life and my problems. I never want to go back. Never! I may just be 8 years old, but I can take care of myself....not like I haven;t been doing it for years now anyways..ever since mom died. NO! I'm not going to think of her! She left me with that monster of a dad!

I'm not sure where I am, at some lake, that's pretty obvious. But it's a new moon tonight, and not even the stars can light my way. I wish I could have made it to Canterlot before nightfall...but that's just my luck I suppose.

What should I put in this journal thing? Maybe I should start with a name. Skyward Glory. Cheesy name right? Thank my mom for that. She was the high priestess of the Cloudsdale Alicornic Church...'was' being the keyword. Like I said earlier, she died when I was little. After she passed, my dad started drinking his Sweet Apple Hard Cider, not caring who he hurt in his drunken rampages...and by 'who', i mean me. he always used to tell me that I look her..My deep magenta mane, and my hard yellow coat. I truly was a spitting image of my mother. not that it warranted the beatings he used to give me...nothing warranted that.

As of right now, though. That life is behind me! I will no longer be a filly that goes to school with absurd explanations of her  bruises, I will no longer be a filly that cowers in her room at the sounds of her father's drunken rampages. I will be something more awesome than that! But for now, even a future awesome filly such as myself must sleep.

The Year Of Our Princess 1536 AD, The 24th day of spring

Well, I made it to Canterlot's gates today. I had to walk along along the railroad tracks though, it's the only way up the blasted mountain. I think I can make it a bit further today....I know I can. I'll make it to the Church, then they'll give me a better home.

Well, that failed miserably. So, get this, I go to the church. First off: the church. That place was HUGE! It had these big stained glass windows! Bigger than the ones on Cloudsdale's church at least. The building was made of dark gray stone. The one in Cloudsdale had been made of Cumulus Marble, as were all important buildings in my old home. But this one, no matter how big and intimidating it looked, it still made me feel calm. Mostly because I spent my foalhood in a church.

Anyways, I knocked on the big wooden doors, sure, It was dark outside, but the lanterns were lit, so I knew somepony would be inside. After a few brief moments of a frightening silence, i heard tired, uneven hoofsteps. The door opened and a burly stallion with a gray coat, beady black eyes, and a black mane. But..even though he looked like a weightlifter, his voice was really soft and kind, he even smiled down upon me.

"Peace be with you child, what brings you unto this doorstep at this hour?"

I knew how to talk around these church-y types, I was one after all. Thanks to his kind voice and soft demeanor, I wasn't scared to talk to him either. "Peace be with you, also, Priest." The stallion smiled a bit wider, probably surprised I knew proper manners. I couldn't blame him. I must have looked like a wraith with my rough appearance. "I was wondering if you had a place for me to stay tonight." At this, the priest frowned.

"Come in, my child. The Alicornic Church welcomes all who need help." He stepped out of the way and opened the door, allowing me to trot into the church.

The inside looked even bigger than the outside! Rows and rows of cushioned prayer mats lined the massive room. On the ceiling were the magnificent frescoes of Celestia giving knowledge unto ponykind, along with other significant moments in the religious history of the kingdom. I had seen them all in my books, they were painted by the painter Naychelangelo over 1000 years ago.

"Now tell me, blessed young one, why do you seek shelter?" I dreaded answering it. I was unsure of how he would react...I hate being unsure.

"I-I ran away from home.." The stallion stepped closer to me, his curiosity clearly piqued.

"Oh?" I simply nodded. "What is your name, child?"

"Skyward Glory" I immediately regretted it. I knew he would recognize my name.

"A biblical name? You are a divined filly then?" Being a 'divined child' was a big deal in the church. It meant that your family was a descendant of one of the Princesses' apostles. For only those families were allowed to use biblical names. He already knew, so I couldn't back-track. So I nodded. "Why would such a child run from their home?"

"I don't like my dad..." I said absentmindedly while kicking my hoof against the stone floor.

"Tell me child, what does Starswirl 7:19 say about the father?" He was asking for a passage from the King Rordian Testament. I knew the passage well. My mom used to make me recite it when I threw temper tantrums a small filly.

"Obey the father, for only he has his mind opened to the true way of the universe." It was the old way of saying 'Father Knows Best.' In a world full of mares, the holy book focused on giving colts more power in families.

The priest nodded. "Tell me, where are you from?"

Just as I was about to tell him, a small voice came from the very front of the church, near the pulpit. "Daddy...?" It was a filly, a few years younger than me no doubt. She was stone gray, the same color as her father, and the stone church. her mane, from what I could see, was brown.

"Yes, Octavia?" Octavia. Another biblical name. In legend, she was the first musician to the Alicorns. The Octavia standing in the room, started walking up the aisle to me and her father.

"Daddy, who is that?"

"Her name is Skyward Glory, Octavia." The little filly scrunched up her nose and stared at me.

"Isn't that the name of that filly that ponies are searching for? Is she the one that ran away?" At this, my eyes went wide. I didn't expect anypony to be looking for her.

"Octy. Room. Now." The little gray filly, knowing she was in trouble, but not quite why, she cantered off back up the aisle.

"I...they're looking for me..?" I all of a sudden felt a lot smaller underneath the stallion's gaze.

"Your father misses you dearly, child. He wishes that you return home." The very thought made my blood run cold. I got in trouble for forgetting chores, what would my father do to me for running away?

"No! I'm not going back!" The stallion gave a stern glaze.

"Young filly, I will notify your father by scroll tonight. You will sleep here. You will go home tomorrow." He moved closer to me. I know he just wanted my safety, but he still looked intimidating as of then. So I did the only thing I could think of at the moment. I ran.