Author's Note

A chapter that's more so meant to be a 'set up' for the next chapter. A special thank you again to Bronynxy for proofreading and adding some parts to it.

Chapter 8 - The sun's dark side (Revised)

Crown Princess Twilight and Crown Prince Zephyr Soleil smiled as they entered the Crystal Manor, Zephyr's foal-hood home and former bachelor pad. The lilac alicorn smiled at her daughter, Princess Skylar, as she dragged herself into the manor house, annoyed that she had to have said goodbye to her good friend, Lady Royal Blue Fancy-Belle, and equally annoyed that she had to spend a night in the manor house.

It wasn't like she didn't enjoy it, but the house felt daunting and intimidating to her. Sometimes she felt very small in it and sometimes she felt too big in it; sometimes Skylar could even swear that the house had a mind of its own. As the family of three finally made their way into the dining room, Twilight pulled Zephyr to the side, making sure Skylar was distracted.

"I think we should make the decision right now" Twilight suggested. "Sky's obviously bored for most of the day; she needs to get out of the house and start making friends with other young mares of her age, ones that aren't just her cousins" Twilight stated, looking sympathetically towards her daughter.

The deep blue stallion sighed and looked over at their daughter, who was now walking on the table. "You’re right Twilight, but I think she should start next term. To start right now would be a little too much for her, I think" he added quickly.

"The longer we put it off, the more badly behaved Sky will be. Please Zephyr, let's make the decision now. For her sake and for ours" the alicorn confessed. "I want her to start in a couple of days, while we are still in Canterlot, so we can quickly arrange the press to come to Sky's first day of school" she added.

"Twilight, you know how much I despise these social events. I felt like I was dying out there today" the pegasus shot back. “We both know I've gotten better over the years, but, I'm not ready for something on that scale" the Crown Prince added quietly.

"I'll be with you through it all. It will be fine" she smiled as she trotted over to her daughter. "Sky, come with me" she smiled.

The mother and daughter came to a halt just inside one of the spare guest rooms of the manor house. Twilight sighed deeply as she tucked a single strand of Skylar's golden and deep purple mane back into its place. "You were very well behaved today, my Sky" Twilight cooed to the alicorn, "But, I think it’s time we have a chat. Remember how earlier we were talking about different schools?" The young mare quickly nodded as she sat down on the floor, expecting this to be a long 'chat'.

Twilight continued as she bit her lip slightly, just enough to be seen. "Well, would you like to go to Royal's school or my school, or even Aunt Celestia's school?" Twilight asked Skylar, who tilted her head in response.

"I would like to go with Ro" the young Princess answered. "But, don't you two want me to go to Aunt Celestia's school?" the light purple mare asked. “You and father do talk about it a lot" she added.

"Yes, but that was before. Now ... now we want you to make your own decision. I've sent your father to go and unpack, so he won't be trying to persuade you to do what he wants" the Crown Princess added quietly, as she puffed a string of her purple mane out of her face,

"I would really like to go to school with Ro,” said Skylar, “But, what about Wanda?"

Twilight raised an eyebrow.

"What are you talking about, Sky?" the lilac mare asked, very unsure about what her daughter was talking about. "Wanda's my student, so she can't really go with you," Twilight said, putting the pieces together for the young mare as best she could.

"That's what I meant" Skylar stated.

"Oh, okay ... then, did that solve your question?" Twilight asked.

The young alicorn shook her head and puffed up her cheeks. "No, not really ... it's just when I went to her room this morning, she wasn't there. I was just going to ask her if she wanted to come, since she hasn't met Ro yet" Skylar stated, looking up at her mother.

"Err, what do you mean she wasn't there?" Twilight asked as her eyes widened.

"She wasn't in her room, so I just thought she had gone to a lesson," Skylar said.

Twilight smiled weakly. "Alright, it's getting late. Come on, I'll tuck you in" Twilight said as she and Skylar walked away.

. . .

Hours had passed since Twilight and Skylar had spoken. It was early in the morning now; Twilight was sure of this, she could just feel it, yet the lilac alicorn found herself unable to rest or sleep for that matter. Huffing and rolling her eyes, Twilight rolled over to face the back of Zephyr, who made not so much as a sound. Sitting up, Twilight shook the dark blue pegasus' shoulder, receiving a small groan in response.

"Zephyr?" Twilight hissed quietly.

"Sky … go back to sleep" said Zephyr, half asleep and rolling over to face Twilight.

"Zephyr!" Twilight hissed more loudly this time, causing him to wake up and grab her, a habit from his from his days in the Equestrian military.

"Tw-Twilight?" He studied her worried face. "What's wrong?" he managed to ask, releasing her from his grip.

She peered up to face him, still unsure if anything was, in fact, wrong or not. "Can I ask you something?" she winced.

"Err, Yes, of course," the pegasus rolled over and turned on the bedside light his side. "Tell me whatever it is. You have been acting strangely ever since we got back from my school" he paused as he scrunched up his face.

Her face went blank, trying to think of what to say. "Skylar told me something," she said. "And, well, it's not 'settled' with me" she added as her eyebrow dropped down.

"What did she tell you? She has been known to over exaggerate in the past" he said, letting his eyes roll.

"I don't think she was doing anything like that" Twilight sighed, "She told me that when she went to see Wanda, she wasn't there. She presumed I had asked somepony to look after her, but I'm just confused now." Twilight looked to the white stallion who wore a puzzled look on his face.

"So ...?" Zephyr asked, still half asleep.

"Well, before we left, I didn't leave Wanda any work, or anypony to look after her" Twilight stated, her eyes telling a different story to her calm face.

"Nopony?"

"Nopony."

Twilight's mouth turned into a tight line and her eyes glanced up, only to fall back down again.

"Twilight, if you're really so concerned about this, maybe we should go back a day early?" Zephyr faked a smile, but he really did not want to leave Canterlot so soon.

"But, you were so looking forward to staying in Canterlot and playing polo with all your old friends." Her eyes closed.

"I ... I do want to stay, but, you can go back" he smiled.

"But, what if this is nothing?" the alicorn said, "Just Sky's imagination?" Twilight questioned her eyebrows knitting.

"If you really do feel like something's very wrong, then go Twilight. I'll stay here with Sky and do everything we were going to do together" Zephyr said. "It's already seven in the morning. If you hurry, you might be able to fly there" he said as Twilight got out of the bed and trotted over to the balcony to her left.

. . .

Many hours before the small family had left Ponyville, Ivory Wand had sat on her small, white bed. She huffed and looked back down at the small picture she held in hooves. She breathed in deeply, feeling her whole body shake. She managed to look back down at the picture. It was of her and her mother, Trixie Lulamoon, sitting next to each other, happily smiling and laughing. One of the few truly happy times she and her mother shared together.

Suddenly, and without any warning, a blast of bright crimson light flooded into the small room. Ivory quickly covered her eyes and jumped down to hide under her bed, peeking out just as a golden-shoed hoof touched the ground. Ivory gasped as she rushed forward and bowed, her nose touching the ground.

"Q-Queen Celestia!" she gasped, surprised that the white alicorn mare would come to see her of all ponies.

The Sun Queen looked down at the mare and scowled. How could Twilight have chosen this thing? She kicked the same question around in her mind for the one-hundredth time. The Sun Queen began to walk around the room, like she was stalking something, leaving the light blue unicorn still with her nose touching the ground. "Tell me, Miss Lulamoon" the Sun Queen spoke suddenly. "What have you learned so far?" she questioned as she turned around to face the unicorn.

Ivory's eyes danced up to look at the white mare. "So far?" Wanda repeated back.

The alicorn nodded. "Yes, or have you not learned anything yet?" Celestia replied coldly.

"N-no! I have learned something ..." the unicorn cried as she looked up.

The Sun Queen's eyes focused on the unicorn. "I didn't give you permission to rise, Miss Lulamoon," she said bitterly. Ivory dropped back down and glued her face to the floor. The Sun Queen rolled her eyes as she continued, "So, you have learned very few things then?" Ivory nodded. "You know, Miss Lulamoon, when Twilight, my former student was your age, she was already using magic meant for an adult unicorn?" Celestia asked as she looked down at the unicorn.

"No ..." the unicorn trailed off.

Celestia nodded. "And did you also know that her daughter is on her way to be just as powerful as her mother? Perhaps even more powerful?" the white alicorn added.

"Sky is ... strong, Your Majesty" Ivory replied quietly.

"And what have you learned, Miss Lulamoon?" Celestia forced Wanda to look at her using her hoof. "The answer: nothing" Celestia hissed. Ivory whimpered as she fought back tears. "Twilight deserves so much more, can you understand that?" Celestia confronted the unicorn. "She has access to some of the most promising unicorns in all of Equestria! And now, look at yourself! Do you honestly think you look like the student of a Princess?" Ivory shivered and shook her head.

"Oh, of course, you don't. You lack everything a student requires, and you know it! Twilight knows it too" the Sun Queen sneered. "But" Celestia continued, "Miss Lulamoon, I am willing to give you an alternative plan, a way to make a clean slate" Celestia's tone shifted quickly, sounding more comforting now.

"A clean slate?" Ivory said and tilted her head.

"Yes, this is the Phantasia Pendant" Celestia explained, holding out the hauntingly beautiful necklace to Ivory. "This will help you will move around as if you were nothing but a phantom, hence its name" Celestia stated. "If I give this to you, you must think of where you would want to be at this very moment." The Sun Queen levitated the pendant over to the unicorn. "Take it" she demanded. "Go and take it, just be gone." The Sun Queen levitated it downwards.

Ivory shook her head as she looked back up at the alicorn Queen. "But, what about Skylar? Won't she be unhappy to see me gone?" Ivory questioned.

"No, if anything she will be relieved" Celestia lied. "So, go on, Miss Lulamoon ... don't you want Skylar to be happy? Or Twilight, or Zephyr?" The Queen of the sun mocked. "Don't you want to go back to your mother and see what’s become of her? If she's even still there at all? No doubt ashamed her daughter has abandoned her without so much as a second thought?" the white alicorn mare taunted.

Ivory huffed and looked back up at the Sun Queen. "I'll do it."