Monsterby King_AgainChaptersPrologueChapter 1: Wooden SwordChapter 2: Out In The WoodsChapter 3: Wake Up, Feels of GuiltPrologueMonster Skyward My name is Skyward. I’m the son of Princess Celestia and Sombra. Most didn’t think my parents would even think about being with each other, but I’ll tell you a secret. They’ve always placed an act on, sorta like to keep the relationship a total secret about each other. They were happy, ’till they ended up divorcing each other and my dad went away. Claiming, he didn’t wish to spend his time doing royalty things when he could be doing better things. Mom didn’t like how he spoke and banished him into exile. But, that’s okay. I’m fine with it. Dad and I never got along anyways. I have a cousin. His name is Orion. Prince Orion, son of Princess Luna and Discord. Night and Chaos. It’s weird to think about it because I’ve seen Uncle Discord get along pretty well with Aunt Fluttershy, but she knows about how weird I think it is and explained everything. She used to have feelings for him, and as did Uncle Discord, but... Aunt Fluttershy met this other stallion. His name is Dumb-Bell. They’re happy, and Orion loves playing with Dumb-Bell. When Orion was born, Discord allowed Fluttershy to help name his son. Aunt Luna was sleeping at the time to recover from birth, and so Orion was named while she slept. Thankfully, she loved the name when she awoke to hear what her husband and friend had come up with. Orion looks different from everypony else. He’s got one full black leg that vanishes into his usual coat color of a very light purple-bluish color. His mane holds a white color with some features of Aunt Luna’s mane at the bangs and back, and there’s one stripped black and blue section. His two hind legs are spotted with Zebra colors. One of his hind legs is a paw with claws. He’s got chest fur that’s more fluffy like Uncle Discord but it’s gray. His tail is the same like mine though, but only, purple and blue and it waves. He even has horns on the side of his head! Even one of his ears is colored with spots of black and white underneath. His eyes are pretty! Like Aunt Luna’s. I’m stuck just looking my plain old father. My fur is dark gray but a tad lighter, my mane is black with a few streaks of color from my mom, and my eyes have this weird eye smoke, and it’s all light black. However, I’m lucky because I got my mother’s eyes. To be honest, I wish to be like Orion. He looks very cool, and everypony has this weird desire to be like him. Cousin Flurry Heart, has told me this herself once. She’s our oldest cousin, and we have another one. Aunt Twilight’s colt, Lapis Spirit. Today, right now, is Orion’s birthday. He is now four years old, and he’s taking after his father a lot. He has this endless energy like I do, and he always wants to get up so early in the morning to see the sun rise, and mother doesn’t complain, she loves her nephew a lot just like she loves me. Orion, right now, is sleeping while we’re getting ready to surprise him. I’m helping with Flurry Heart, the big old seven year old, and Lapis Spirit, the six year old. I am five. They don’t get Orion like I do. They always comment on how Orion could do something and want to continue on doing so without getting bored of it. Lapis can get bored easily, and Flurry just wants to be with her friend. Nothing new in my family. “Do we have everything? This needs to be special!” I hear Uncle Discord say while he floats into the room, Aunt Luna trailing behind him. He looks at everything, and clicks his tongue, moving over to where a guard was standing. “Oh, that armor will not do!” He snaps his fingers and the guard stands in shock when he realizes Discord changed his armor into something silly. “Better, my son will love it.” “This is... this will only be for the day right, sire?” The guard asks, shifting in place, feeling ashamed to be wearing the armor. “Of course!” Discord answered. “Only for the day... sure. Go with that, if you will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on everything up and make everything good.” He vanishes from sight after that, and my eyes only stay on the guard before moving back to finish up my work. Flurry is rolling her eyes at Discord, and I know why. She doesn’t have a liking to him, and calls him something she cannot say. I always thought that sort of thing would come into teenage years... not colt hood. Lapis is trying to make everything perfect like Twilight does, commenting Orion would like everything to be neat and tidy. I think he even got Orion a book, and I knew Orion would like something much better than that. Something he could use to practice his skills with. A toy sword is what I got him, and I even got him a pretend enemy! We’re going to be playing all day long with that, and sadly, but thankfully, Lapis couldn’t join in because he’s not interested to be doing that sort of thing. So, it’s just me and Orion. “Thank you, you three,” Twilight smiled at us as she walked towards us, Lapis stood up straight as his mother nuzzled his head before looking towards us. Admiring our work. “This looks wonderful. Orion will love it, and everyone else will too.” “Mother, can we go and wake Orion now?” Lapis asked, his tone slightly chancing into a whine. Nothing like a prince tone, but he does take after his father almost. With his orangey fur and all. “I do not like waiting for him, and plus, everything is ready to go.” Twilight shakes her head. “You know the rules, honey. You need to wait until Auntie Luna says its okay to go and wake Orion up from his sleep. He stayed up late last night.” “From what?” I asked. This is the first time I heard of this. Orion never stays up too late, always in bed by ten or nine simply because he knows he needs the sleep. “Do you know what he stayed up late from?” “Sadly no. Even Luna and Discord doesn’t know what.” When it did came time to wake Orion just, I jumped to my hoofs and sprinted out of the room, earning a laugh from my mother as I did so. Lapis was forced to stay behind because his mother said one was enough, and he groaned. Flurry only stayed beside her parents. Orion was brought back into the room where we all were after I had woken him up, and he basically raced me towards the door. Of course, considering how he was wanting me to go first, I had to open the door. Once everyone saw me, they didn’t think twice before hiding and Orion jumped over to almost the middle and waited until we yelled at him, he beamed a huge grin before racing to greet his parents. Once he saw the guard, he laughed loudly as did Discord. Twilight’s friend, Rainbow Dash, also laughed when they arrived a little late. Only because they had to take a train and Orion understood, but he never did go near the kids of the elements of Harmony. I knew one reason why; he didn’t like Rainbow Dash’s foals, Fire Dash and Cobalt Strike. The twin boys were always pushing Orion around, and he never liked it. The only reason why they were here was because Orion had to invite them, despite knowing perfectly he didn’t want too. Throughout the main sort of events of the party, like singing to Orion and allowing to eat cake, he stuck with me the entire time. Fire Dash had tried to get close to Orion, but never could make it with me by his side. Cobalt Strike just rolled his eyes and mumbled for his brother to come and join their friends. “Why’d you even invite them if you don’t like ’em?” I asked him, sitting down by Orion. His eyes never left his front hoofs, but I could tell he wasn’t himself anymore. “Cause I gotta be nice.” Orion mumbled. I only rolled my eyes at his answer. Monster Orion was silent as he unwrapped most of his presents. He had opened the ones from Twilight’s friends first, getting it all over with. Most of them were good, and when he opened Rainbow’s present, I heard Fire and Cobalt mumble something under their breath. No-good colts. They should be thankful they’re even here! My cousin didn’t say a word though, only kept his eyes heavily on the gifts. When it came to mine, he stopped everything and tackled me with the play sword, and I grabbed my own I had gotten for my birthday, we began play fighting. Our mothers chuckled while Twilight nearly gasp and moved to stop us. However, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, it was Aunt Cadance who stopped her. Discord moved to place the unwrapped present somewhere else so we wouldn’t ruin them. Orion didn’t pay much attention to anyone else but me. Focusing on his task at hoof and eventually we stopped so he could finish unwrapping the rest. He stopped half way through and looked at the sword. “I wanna go again...” Orion whispered to me, ignoring how everypony else was waiting for him to go on. “This is boring, Skyward, can we stop the present wrapping?” “Maybe, ask your mother.” I whispered back but he went on unwrapping until the final one had been dealt with, and Orion suddenly picked up his wooden sword and grinned at me. I used my magic to hold my own sword. “Bring it on.” Luna stepped in the way before we could go on. “Surely you two want to spend time with the other colts and fillies, right? We cannot have you two just wanting to spend more time together. Go play with Lapis and his friends. Maybe play with Flurry Heart a little, but do not spend all time with each other.” Orion didn’t say much, but he did drop his sword and trot slowly over to the others, and I followed suit. His eyes slowly moved towards the Dash Twins, and then back to AJ’s filly, then to Rarity’s filly, and so on. He came to a stop when he noticed Fire looking at him. Without thinking, I stood beside Orion, and Fire scoffed loudly before gazing back to Candy Cane. Lapis used his magic to bring over the book he had gotten Orion and smiled widely before handing it to him, and not helping it, I gazed over Orion’s shoulder to see what type of book it was. A frown fell on my face. It looked way to boring for both of our liking. Orion didn’t open the book, but he silently promised Lapis he would do it later when everyone went home, and Lapis nodded before moving back to be with his best friend. “Looks boring,” I commented. “Very,” Orion agreed. “How can Lapis read something like this anyways? It makes no sense to me.” Fire Dash rolled his eyes. “Makes sense to no one, freak.” He spat out. His bright eyes landed down on the book, and he scoffed. “Yeah, a book fit for a freak.” “You can say that again.” Cobalt Strike agreed with his twin. “Bet little Orion is gonna go be the freak that he is, and read it to make Lapis all happy because that is what this ‘friendship’ is about. Ain’t that right, Orion? You gonna make Lapis all happy? You gonna give in like you always do?” Ignore them, Orion! They have no clue about what you can do! I thought, Orion spoke anyways. “What if I don’t? You guys going to report me? On my birthday? You’ll get found out because I can admit you’ve been treating me horribly.” He threatened. “You can’t do anything to us.” Fire spat back, his wings twitching. Cobalt nodded in agreement, staying quiet for this moment, but he knew Orion could do it. He saw Orion do things before, and when Orion wanted something done, he could make sure it was done and over with. This threat was no different, but Fire believed differently. “Watch me.” Orion smirked. Then, he turned to speak with his mother, and I watched as Luna trotted over to the twins, and gave them a glare. Both twins shrunk back, and I grinned. Orion was not to be messed with. I nuzzled him happily, and looked at him. “Happy birthday, Orion.” I whispered. “Happy birthday.” “Thanks...Skyward.” He purred back. We were happy. But as you all know, happiness cannot last forever, and that is where our story starts. The start of a happy, carefree, prince turned into something else... something like a monster. Chapter 1: Wooden SwordOrion I woke up like normal. My eyes flickered open as I dragged myself out of bed, passing the unused birthday present I had gotten a few weeks ago from my family and friends, and the only one I truly found myself liking was Skyward’s present he gave me; a wooden sword. Skyward knew me the best out of our family, and friends, mainly because we grew up thinking we owned the world. When we were together, nothing could come into our way and tell us otherwise than what we wanted to believe. No pony could come and say we were too different to be friends. We all came a long way from that sort of thing, at least, it’s what the historians tell us. As much as I knew to always eat before we play, I couldn’t help but pick up my wooden sword and run out of our room. Yeah, me and Skyward shared a room together because it was easier than to have two rooms in use. So, our parents agreed to allow us to share a room before we were even born! Or... before I was born. However, we did have different nurseries. Skyward was up before me, he probably already ate and was out doing something. Dad was out with his friends, mom was busy with Auntie, leaving me alone. Skyward was the only one I could ever trust in this place because the guards didn’t know what to think about me. Claiming I’d do something to them if they were left alone with me. Skyward never got that kind of thing. Well, as far as I know. I snuck past a guard who was patrolling the ground I was in to be able to make it outside where I saw Skyward. He was with someone else, and I felt my stomach turn when I realized exactly who it was. Winter Rose. Winter Rose was a filly who was brought in to be cared for. A noble pony took her in and she basically became the daughter of a noble instead of being the orphan she once was. Winter hated me--just like the Dash Twins--and for her reason I knew why. Every pony knew why Winter hated me. She claimed I was a demon sent from the underground world where the meanest of ponies were sent. All the murders, treason, and whatever you can think of where sent when they died instead of going into heaven like good ponies were sent too. Not only that, but she also thought I’d steal Skyward from her. Yup, she liked my cousin. Which was fine because I didn’t care who liked Skyward as long as they could get past whatever things their parents said about me and my father. Winter Rose did not get past those things because her adoptive father also believed in what she said about me because he was the only who told her about those things. He’s the reason why Winter Rose hates me. I still went towards them though. “So, I was wondering if you...Ah!” Winter Rose jumped when she saw me, and Skyward looked over his shoulder to glance at me. A wide smile forming on his face. Winter, however, pointed her hoof at me with disgust written on her face, and she shook almost. “Mother of Luna! It’s the demon!” “He is no demon.” Skyward defended me. “Orion is harmless, Winter. He cannot hurt a living thing, and he knows how to control the magic his father passed onto him. He is no different from all of us.” Skyward was always the one to speak like his mother. “Yeah, I’m no demon.” I puffed out my chest. “I’m just like you, a normal pony. That looks different, and that’s okay. Being different is good, dad says so. As does mom, and Aunt Celestia.” Winter shook her head, and backed up, her hoof touched Skyward’s shoulder. “We need to get out of here, Skyward. Orion is messing up your mind. Everypony knows it is only a matter of time before he’s murdering us all. Killing us with his dark magic.” I had no dark magic. Nor did I want any to being with. “He’s not evil, Winter. Can you stop saying he is? It’s starting to get on my nerves.” Skyward huffed out, turning towards me and seeing the wooden sword by my leg and his face light up. “Oh! I’ll go get my sword, and we’ll play fight. I’ll be right back!” With that, he left. Leaving me alone with Winter, and I stood there awkwardly. She just gave me a glare, and flicked her tail angrily. I think, if you looked close enough, you could see smoke coming from her nose, and I looked around, trying to avoid her gaze, almost failing as I did so. I heard her give a small growl, and I knew she must’ve learnt it from her father. Who else would she have learnt it from? Her actual parents? No, because they weren’t around anymore. “You are a demon.” “No, I am not.” “What else are you then?” A small smile appeared on my face, and I puffed out my chest in a heroic way. “A prince, and future hero of Equesteria.” She laughed, and my smile vanished. “What is so funny about my dreams? I bet the dreams you got, are not good in anyway shape for form. I bet you do know, you are not going to take up your father’s job, yeah? Your brother will be doing that.” Winter Rose gave me a full blown hiss, and trotted towards me, a firm frown on her face and she thrust her hoof at my chest, poking me with it with every word she said. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you, Orion? Well, allow me to explain something to you. No one likes you. You’ll forever be alone. Understand? Skyward will not stick around with you forever once he realizes what you truly are, and even your parents will regret ever having you.” With that, she turned around and stomped away. Suddenly, I didn’t feel like playing with my wooden sword with my cousin anymore. Monster Skyward didn’t understand when I said I didn’t feel like playing anymore. He just watched as I trailed upwards to our room, and sat down on my bed. Looking at the sword, and feeling like I shouldn’t be touching it until I was feeling much better than what I was feeling now. Dad came by a few times, only to sulk out of the room, muttering how I wasn’t the same when I was down. I knew he was going to get mom, what else would he be doing? Mom knew how to make me smile as did Auntie, so he may try and get her too. Unknown to them, I swore I wouldn’t crack a smile. Not this time. When my mom and aunt did show up, I was facing away, laying down on my bed, staring out the window. Mom’s mane tickled my side, and I held back a laugh. Auntie’s mane was also doing the same, and they knew it. Once, I almost felt mom’s hoof on my side as to tickle me into looking at them. They gave up half way through to move me over so I was facing them, and I could see playfulness in auntie’s eyes, and mom’s eyes only held worry. One of them would attack first, and the other would wait for their turn at the attack until they knew exactly what was going on with me. Auntie attacked me first. Tickling my sides, nuzzling me into laughing more than I wished for, and I eventually gave up after a while, mom’s turn at attack would soon come, when it was time to ask me what was going on, and I knew they would be expecting an answer from me. But how could I give it to them? They would never understand what it was like being hated because of what you look like and who your father was. They wouldn’t understand. Now, came the second attack from my mother. “I heard from daddy you have been upset,” Mom said, her eyes glowing. “Can you tell us what is wrong, Ori?” “Nothing is wrong, mommy. Just thinking.” I answered. Auntie narrowed her eyes, and gave me a look. Her eyes softly trailed towards the sword, and must have remembered seeing Skyward running outside with his own sword. “Out of today, you’ve only touched your prized sword once. You and Skyward are always out at this time, playing away like no one can come and tell you to stop. Why aren’t you out there with him? He’s fighting a tree.” Skyward is... fighting a tree? “Why a tree, auntie?” Celestia laughed and gave a shrug, and mom just shook her head. “He said it was because there was nothing else to fight beside a tree. He was going to fight it until you came back, ready to play fight with him so you both may become stronger together. However, I think he knows there is no way he can become stronger by fighting a tree that does not move like a real enemy.” Celestia explained. “If you were out there, he would be fighting you.” “Oh.” Mom gave me a look and I saw a small smile forming on her face until it was very known she was smiling. There was no way I would not smile back, so I gave her a smile in return. “Are you going to go join him?” “Uh huh!” I happily nodded, picking up my sword. “I am!” “Have fun.” She said before nuzzling me. I ran outside without a second thought through my mind. Monster “Skyward! Stop fighting the tree! You look weird!” Skyward gazed over to me before running towards me with his sword. A moment later and our swords clashed together, there was no sound like there were would be if they were real swords instead of wood. But we didn’t care, and why would we? We could pretend to do anything we wanted because we were allowed. When we took our break, we sat underneath the tree Skyward had been fighting, and I could see little drops of sweat on his forehead, could he really get sweaty from fighting trees? But, then again, maybe I shouldn’t question it, because who knows what Skyward could get himself into. That didn’t stop him from being a total jerk and start speaking about Winter Rose like he was in love with her just like she was with him, and he knows how much I don’t like her, and how she doesn’t like me that well. “She’s just so...! Nice, ya know?” Skyward asked, pointing a hoof to the sky. “She’s almost like how aunt Cadance is for uncle Shining Armor. But with me and her instead of them.” I shifted. “Sounds... nice. But can we stop speaking about her? Please?” “Oh, yeah... sorry.” Skyward rubbed the back of his neck. “I forgot you... kinda hate her.” “I don’t hate her. We just don’t get along. You see how she treats me, exactly like how the Dash Twins treat me. They judge before they get to know me, and you’re the only one besides Flurry and Lapis who doesn’t hate me.” I said back, looking away from him. He shook his head. “Not everyone hates you.” “Tell that to Winter and her words.” I mumbled. “What did Winter say?” His look told me everything. He was wanting to know what his friend said, and this might change the way he looks at her. Which, I hope stays the same because Skyward deserves to be happy with whoever he wanted. “Ori, what did Winter say to you?” I took a breath, and began speaking. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you, Orion? Well, allow me to explain something to you. No one likes you. You’ll forever be alone. Understand? Skyward will not stick around with you forever once he realizes what you truly are, and even your parents will regret ever having you.” “You did... nothing to us. Why did she say something like that? That’s just plain rude!” Skyward hissed, and I knew right away, he didn’t feel the same anymore. This time; I was the reason why. Chapter 2: Out In The WoodsDiscord “This still makes no sense! How could anypony hate him?” I shouted, throwing my hands up into the air. We were in the throne room, trying to figure out exactly why Skyward had told us Winter Rose hated Orion just like that. He was a good colt! He never did anything to make anypony hate him. My wife had other ideas in mind as she casually sat down next to her sister and shrugged. “It is very easy to be hated in this world, Discord. We should know this perfectly judging by our pasts. Orion is just like everypony else when it comes to being hated, he will find a way to change their minds like we had done.” Her tone was so causal to the point where I hated it, but I would never allow it to show to her. “Calm yourself, Discord.” Celestia said to him, her mane was still flowing like always. Her tone was very much like her sister, and this was starting to make me more mad than every. I should just curse Winter Rose for doing this to my son. “Everything is about growing up, and making enemies is one of them. Orion is just going through everything else like everypony is. This is no different from our youth.” I blinked. Did she really just suggest our youth was no different from Skyward and Orion? We barely spoke like they do back then. We had different rules back then than what they do now! Everything about our past is different from our sons. How could she suggest everything is the same when its clearly not? They went on speaking about random things while I snuck out to see my son. I knew he had to be hurting inside, because what else would you do when you found out somepony hated you? There was no way I would allow this to go on, my son would not be hated. I would make sure of that. Skyward was just coming out of their room when I arrived, he looked tired and beat up. The two decided to take a nap, and I guess Skyward had just woken up from his nap and was now heading towards the bathroom. I wanted them to know one in their room, but they wouldn’t allow it so they had to use the bathhouse. Wasn’t actually bad, but I would’ve liked it if they could stay within the castle. Peering the door open, just a smudge, my eyes wondered in to find Orion still sleeping away. Kicking the blanket as he did so, moving his hoofs like he was running and fighting. My throat went tight when I realized he could very well be having a bad dream. Should I get his mother? Tell her a bad dream was going on with Orion, so she could enter and fix it all? No, it wasn’t time for her duties. She had the day off, and worked all night long, it wouldn’t be fair to make her do work on her off time. She and her sister both work hard anyways. Floating over, I shook his shoulder gently and it was enough to get him out of his sleep, and his bright eyes shined up at him before his hoof rubbed the rest of the sleep out of his eyes. I noticed there was a few single tears bubbling up in his eyes, and I couldn’t stop myself from biting my lip. Just what was his dream about? “Dad?” He sounded so innocent when he woke up, but I knew there was more to this story. “What is it?” “I... I came in to check on you, and it looked like you were having a nightmare. Were you?” I asked, my eyes slightly narrowing downwards, and Orion gazed down at his hoofs. Not looking at him. “Orion...” “S-Sorry...” This would take a while for him to explain. Monster Skyward It was Orion who suggested we go out into the woods. Us, along with Lapis, the Dash Twins, Diamond Shine, Apple Crisp, Candy Cane, and Eagle Wing. He suggested we go out into the woods to see what was out there. Being the farm pony she is, Apple Crisp gladly took up the challenge and convinced Diamond Shine to go with her. Candy Cane was all happy to allow it, Eagle Wing shifted on his hoofs before slowly following Orion. I was left at the back in case something happened and Orion was up front. He wanted to be up front in this, not allowing anypony else to take the lead and when he said that, me and Lapis shared a look. We both knew this wasn’t the best thing to do, but Orion wanted this. He wanted to prove to the Dash Twins he was brave like them, wouldn’t allow anything to happen to them. He had magic, he could protect us. His magic was pretty much like his father’s but less powerful. But still, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be a good idea. Fire just scoffed and followed Orion like he owned the place, mumbling to his twin as he went, and Cobalt didn’t speak at all, only nodding. Candy was fastly speaking with Eagle, and Diamond was sticking with Apple. Lapis only gave Orion a look before gazing at me. If anything, this would be turned into something really bad. The woods were quiet as we trailed inwards, the sound of the wind was the only thing we could hear along with our hoofs stepping on leaves that had fallen to the ground, and the trees shaking. The smell was almost horrible from a recent fire which occurred, so we had the smell of burnt wood. My cousin wasn’t backing out like Fire was asking him to do this, turning into a more scared version of himself, and Cobalt didn’t speak. The rest of us were waiting for the signel to run back towards the castle and agree to never speak about this again. Orion never gave the order to move back. “No way,” Orion scoffed, waving his hoof with a slight smirk on his face. “There is no way we are going back to the castle. We gotta be brave like our parents, yeah? You dared me to show you I was brave, Fire, so here ya go. A brave Orion.” He puffed out his chest. “Orion,” Lapis said, rushing to stand beside him and I followed suit. “This is crazy. We are not going to be okay in here. Have you heard about the things that could be rooming this place?” “Yeah, have you?” “You are crazy! This is not safe at all! We need to turn back and go home. Our parents are probably looking for us right now, and we need to make them not worry.” Lapis rubbed his leg. “Besides, my mother is such a worrywart. Dad will fail to make her calm, and in the end, I will be grounded.” Orion rolled his eyes. “Your dad, Flash, is stupid. All he knows is how to be a guard. He’s nothing else, your mom is the Princess of Friendship, yeah? How did a lone guard land somepony like her?” I could tell Lapis didn’t know how to respond. “Oooh!” Cobalt Strike said, rushing to be by Orion. His hoof landed on his back and grinned widely. “He’s got you there, Egghead. That’s the cool way, Orion.” “Thanks.” Orion purred and Fire landed beside his brother. “You know what? You are not so bad after all,” Fire decided. “You and us gotta hang out more. Make fun of ponies and make them know what we’re all about.” Well, a new friendship just happened. Monster Cobalt Orion was okay now. He always was when I thought about it. He was just misjudged by a lot of ponies, and it was time to change that. He would be more notice when he would hang with me and Fire. We could be a trio! Yeah, a trio with a real cool name. But, his cousin, Skyward was just boring! That perfect prince image is all Skyward was to me, and it was boring. Just like how Lapis could find pleasure in reading books for straight hours while the rest of us could barely sit down and enjoy them. He was a total egghead. The forest wasn’t as cool as I originally thought as we went deeper. There was a lot of creepy sounds and Fire was shaking when I looked over to him, the others weren’t so brave like before, yet Orion still looked brave and was ready to do anything, but this was becoming insane. I suddenly realized we shouldn’t be out here. “Skyward,” I whispered to the older prince. “Make Orion change his mind and have everyone go home. This is bad, we cannot be here.” Skyward gulped. “I wish I could. Once Orion has an idea in his mind, there is no way of having him change his mind. So, unless he suddenly decides this is stupid, we’re all stuck here.” There was a time and placed for things like these. This wasn’t the time, nor the place. We should all be at the castle right now, instead of trailing into the woods, hoping to find something we didn’t even know we wanted to find. It was all because Orion wanted to prove something to me and Fire. We’re the ones who made Orion decide this risky choice. We take the blame in the end. As Orion came to a close with the deepest part of the woods, Skyward rushed over and stood in front of him. His breath was more heavy coming, and Orion was frowning at him. But we all agreed this was something that needed to be done, and we wouldn’t allow anything other answer from Orion. However, the prince of the Night and Chaos had a different thought in mind. “Move.” Orion demanded. “Out of my way, Skyward. I need to prove to them, I’m not scared of anything. So move.” “No. Who knows what is beyond this path? Do you really want to find out? What if--” Orion cut him off. “Skyward, everything is fine. Nothing to worry about.” He pushed Skyward aside and stepped closer. The air suddenly turned tense around us. “Lapis has gotten in your head. There is nothing out here that can harm us in anyway shape or form. We all know those are old pony tales.” Lapis shook his head. “You do not know that!” “Do I? Lapis, common, you must understand those books are false. My mother and father have been around a lot longer than your parents have been. They know everything about this place. So you should be taking my word.” Orion scoffed. “You guys just stay put, and I will go check things out.” As Orion moved forward, we stopped when we heard a low growl coming from in front of our dear young prince, and he stood still for a moment. He shook his head, and moved forward. I, for once, could sense his magic forming in case of an attack. He was ready to face whatever was coming his way. Skyward was shifty and his voice made us all jump. “ORION!” He shouted, rushing towards him but he was slower than normal like something was keeping him from going at his full speed. “Look out! Move! Get out of the way of--” All we heard was a slam. A slam of a body slamming onto the ground, and we all felt our jaws hang open when the scene in front of us finally clicked within our heads. The growl was gone. Skyward was shaking. ...And Orion was on the ground, on his shoulder was blood coming out faster than we ever knew. “O...Orion...” Chapter 3: Wake Up, Feels of GuiltSkyward I haven’t been the same since Orion was reward the wound. That long wound that reached from his shoulder down to his back. At first, I couldn’t move. No one could. Then, Fire Dash flew faster than before and reached the castle, bringing back my mother, aunt, and uncle. Even aunt Twilight and her friends. It was the first time I’ve seen aunt Luna so upset and scared, to the point where she didn’t allow anyone to touch Orion but herself and Discord. He had been passed out for a while now. Today marked the second day of being passed out with little signs of waking up, and I feared I may lose him. We all feared we might have to bury a prince. A colt who barely lived. Luna was not happy, Discord wasn’t either and they changed. As for me, I only stayed by Orion’s side. Praying he would wake up and resume like nothing happened to him the day before, like we all just stayed out of the forest. Like he was still normal without a scar that would remain with him for the rest of his life. Like his usual self. But he never did wake up. Orion didn’t show any signs of waking up yet. The doctor who came in said he couldn’t find anything wrong with Orion. No infection, mainly because we gotten to the wound fast enough. We treated the wound regularly, placed new bandages on. Everything we could do to prevent the infection. That changed nothing about how I viewed this, and I knew word would get out faster than they wanted. Everypony would be speaking about Orion’s accident. His scar that would be there for life, everything would be spoken about. He’d be in the shadows of the rumors for the rest of his life. I didn’t want that, and I always mumbled how I could’ve taken his place. I took the blame. Being older, it was natural. But apparently, Twilight and her friends didn’t think so. Saying it wasn’t my fault, and a very rude comment from Rainbow Dash. She said it was Orion’s fault for going into the woods and getting the scar. Bringing us all into this. Aunt Luna snapped at her, and nearly screamed but Uncle Discord managed to calm her down, and hissed at them to go away until Orion woke up, and dared Rainbow Dash to tell his son that when he woke up. Making Orion feel two times worse than he was. He even mentioned the possibility of Orion never waking up. We all got scared, and I remembered the conversation brightly and clearly. “You know, if Orion hadn’t had gone into the woods, dragging our foals with him, none of this would’ve happened. They would all be okay, and not scarred for life. This is Orion’s fault.” Rainbow Dash said after a moment of looking at my sick and wounded cousin. I felt my blood boil. “Are you blaming my son?” Discord challenged, growling. “You have guts to be doing that.” “Rainbow Dash! That is not the right thing to say! We should be focusing on Orion! Not who was to blame for all of this. Maybe it was one of the twins.” Rarity hissed. “You should not be blaming poor Orion.” She ran a hoof through his mane. His soft, mane. “Just saying.” Rainbow shrugged. Aunt Luna held a death glare and growled lowly, it was not much of a surprise. “You have deep, deep, bravery for insulting my son while he is knocked out. I should have you thrown out, and...!” “That’s enough, Luna.” My mother’s voice was all but calm. I could hear the shake, worry, and fear mixed into her tone. She was scared for her nephew. We all were scared for Orion. But the other foals couldn’t see him. They wouldn’t allow them but me to see him. Saying Orion would’ve wanted only me in this case. “When my son wakes up, I dare you to say that to his face. Allowing him to feel two times worse than the wound is causing him. He cannot even wake up! There is a chance he never will!” Discord shouted. “You will have to live with those words for the rest of your life.” I cried. My hoof touching Orion’s. I began silently praying he’d wake up and tell me everything was okay. That nothing was wrong with him. That we could return to play fighting with our wooden swords. I spent so long crafting his’s, I might have said I bought it to my mother, but I had helped. Created it for him. That’s why it said Orion on it. So done with grace, with the symbols he adored. The symbol of the Moon, Chaos, and Spirit. He loved them all. So, I engraved it on his sword. But now, he may never see it again. I wanted him awake and alive, well, and perfectly fine. Perfectly healthy. I wanted my cousin back. I wanted my Ori back, so we could do everything we wanted together. Us against the world. “Please... Ori, wake up.” Monster Rainbow Dash The twins were silent as we went out to eat. They poked at their food instead of digging into the food they ordered. They didn’t speak, and I wonder if this had to do with the Orion situation. But what bothered me was how Sorin’ didn’t think nothing was wrong with them. Like this was normal and I didn’t plan on getting us apple pie for a treat after we finished eating. I worked my butt off to get us the money for this treat! Fire Dash was the one who acted the most off, and my eyes narrowed. The colt who looked like me, but with a flaming red coat and his daddy’s eyes, wasn’t going off about how he was the fastest flyer in his class. He was dead silent, but at least his brother made an attempt to speak. Sorin’ broke the silence. “You two know how Orion is doing?” His tone was soft, and I guessed the twins told him about Orion. “Any sign of him waking up?” He liked Orion. We all knew it. Cobalt shook his head. “No. Skyward says there’s a chance of him never wakin’ up again. Discord told him that it might happen, and if it does come to that, then there’s going to be a big funeral. Everypony is going to be attending. In honor of Orion, and his family.” Sorin’ nodded. “We’ll go.” “And you decided this when?” I asked, a bit too harsh since both twins winced and flinched. “It cost money to go! It will be two times as much because it’s royalty!” “Dash... it’s the twins’ friend who is on the line of death. You’re really thinking about how much money it’s gonna cost? We’ll save up, and head there. I’m sure Orion’s parents will let us in for free since the twins are friends with Orion.” Sorin’ mumbled. Then, Fire shouted at us. “I don’t wanna go! It’ll remind me this whole thing is my fault!” He slammed his hooves down onto the table, and earned a few looks from the other ponies in the restaurant. He had slight tears forming in his eyes and Cobalt choked back a sob. “I dared Orion to go into the woods, and maybe if I--no--if I hadn’t done it, he wouldn’t be in a coma! He wouldn’t have gotten the scar! It’s my fault... ” “Mine too.” Cobalt agreed. “I did too.” Sorin’ nodded, and gave a faint smile. “Thank you for admitting what you have done. You know what is wrong or what is right. You can tell the difference. But, why did you two do it? What made you do it to Orion?” “We... we didn’t like him at first, but we saw differently, but... We feel so bad now, and he might not wake up. It’s all our fault. We just want to say sorry to him, but we can’t.” Fire Dash mumbled under his breath, but it was loud enough for us to hear him. I blamed Orion for all of this, allowed Discord to snap at me with the possibility of Orion never waking up again, and this was becoming so clear. If the twins had told me before, than none of this would’ve happened. I wouldn’t have blamed Orion for the bruises my sons had. I was so blind. This could never be Orion’s fault, and I wouldn’t forgive myself if he never woke up and the last thing I said about him was how this was all of his fault. Never. Monster Twilight Sparkle Lapis was quiet as we ate dinner. Flash knew what was going on because Lapis told us exactly what happened, and now he was barely touching his food. He picked at it with his hoof but never thought to eat it. Flash was becoming angry, and I knew this much because he held this frown on his face. Surely he could be proud of the fact Lapis was worried about his wounded friend? His wounded cousin? Flash would need to open his eyes to be able to see how Lapis was doing so much more than mopping around, not doing anything, when Lapis was still doing his chores and homework for school. He was just quiet is all. Flash slammed his hooves down onto the table, making his son jump, and so did I. “Lapis, I am tired of this silence. You need to speak, do you understand me? You cannot stay quiet forever.” “Yes sir.” Lapis weakly nodded, I knew he was always somewhat afraid of his father. “Flash,” I said in a warning tone, “--be nice. Lapis is just worried about Orion is all. We should be more proud that Lapis is worried about him instead of acting like nothing happened.” Lapis shook. “I-I saw him fall down. So much blood was coming out of his shoulder, I thought a vain was broken. I thought he might bleed out to death. I thought Orion was going to die but then... Eagle Wing saved him. He placed his wing over the wound and tried to stop the bleeding until Luna, Celestia, and Discord arrived with you. Eagle saved Orion.” “Does not matter.” Flash mumbled, and I gaped. How could this not matter? Our foal and his friend saved Orion! Something anypony else would be afraid to do. “You should be more focused on doing what you do best.” “I hate my cutie mark.” Lapis growled. This time, I gasped. “It’s just a shield with a shining Lapis in front of it. I couldn’t protect Orion, how do I deserve my cutie mark in protecting? It makes no sense. I want a different one. I want one I can actually follow. One, that I can always look up to and not feel bad...” Flash was going to say something but he shut his mouth the last second, sensing it wouldn’t be a good time to speak up. He knew exactly what it felt like to hate his cutie mark because he once hated his mark, he told me this during our third date. Going more into explanation during fifth date when I asked him. Both my son and husband hated their cutie marks because they couldn’t protect somepony they loved. Flash couldn’t protect his little brother from death, and Lapis couldn’t protect Orion from being wounded. They hated their marks because of their guilt. For once, I didn’t know what to say, and I believe it was for the best. Before I could open my mouth to say what I had thought of, the door slammed open and in came a rushing guard. He was breathing heavily, but I took no angry from his sudden arrival because they only did this if it was important. So, it must be important for him to come rushing in. “E-excuse me, your highness,” The guard breathed heavily, catching his breath. “But I have news from Princess Celestia, Luna, and Prince-Consort Discord.” “Speak!” I shouted without question, standing up with slightly wide eyes. “Prince Orion has woken up. They wish to have you come to the Castle right away, young lord Lapis can come too. Even Prince-Consort Flash.” He said. “There is a carriage waiting for you outside. There will be no objections from what I have been told.” Lapis jumped from his spot towards the door, looking over his shoulder. “Come on! Orion woke up! I need to see him and tell him I’m sorry I couldn’t protect him!” He was gone a moment later. We followed suit.
PrologueMonster Skyward My name is Skyward. I’m the son of Princess Celestia and Sombra. Most didn’t think my parents would even think about being with each other, but I’ll tell you a secret. They’ve always placed an act on, sorta like to keep the relationship a total secret about each other. They were happy, ’till they ended up divorcing each other and my dad went away. Claiming, he didn’t wish to spend his time doing royalty things when he could be doing better things. Mom didn’t like how he spoke and banished him into exile. But, that’s okay. I’m fine with it. Dad and I never got along anyways. I have a cousin. His name is Orion. Prince Orion, son of Princess Luna and Discord. Night and Chaos. It’s weird to think about it because I’ve seen Uncle Discord get along pretty well with Aunt Fluttershy, but she knows about how weird I think it is and explained everything. She used to have feelings for him, and as did Uncle Discord, but... Aunt Fluttershy met this other stallion. His name is Dumb-Bell. They’re happy, and Orion loves playing with Dumb-Bell. When Orion was born, Discord allowed Fluttershy to help name his son. Aunt Luna was sleeping at the time to recover from birth, and so Orion was named while she slept. Thankfully, she loved the name when she awoke to hear what her husband and friend had come up with. Orion looks different from everypony else. He’s got one full black leg that vanishes into his usual coat color of a very light purple-bluish color. His mane holds a white color with some features of Aunt Luna’s mane at the bangs and back, and there’s one stripped black and blue section. His two hind legs are spotted with Zebra colors. One of his hind legs is a paw with claws. He’s got chest fur that’s more fluffy like Uncle Discord but it’s gray. His tail is the same like mine though, but only, purple and blue and it waves. He even has horns on the side of his head! Even one of his ears is colored with spots of black and white underneath. His eyes are pretty! Like Aunt Luna’s. I’m stuck just looking my plain old father. My fur is dark gray but a tad lighter, my mane is black with a few streaks of color from my mom, and my eyes have this weird eye smoke, and it’s all light black. However, I’m lucky because I got my mother’s eyes. To be honest, I wish to be like Orion. He looks very cool, and everypony has this weird desire to be like him. Cousin Flurry Heart, has told me this herself once. She’s our oldest cousin, and we have another one. Aunt Twilight’s colt, Lapis Spirit. Today, right now, is Orion’s birthday. He is now four years old, and he’s taking after his father a lot. He has this endless energy like I do, and he always wants to get up so early in the morning to see the sun rise, and mother doesn’t complain, she loves her nephew a lot just like she loves me. Orion, right now, is sleeping while we’re getting ready to surprise him. I’m helping with Flurry Heart, the big old seven year old, and Lapis Spirit, the six year old. I am five. They don’t get Orion like I do. They always comment on how Orion could do something and want to continue on doing so without getting bored of it. Lapis can get bored easily, and Flurry just wants to be with her friend. Nothing new in my family. “Do we have everything? This needs to be special!” I hear Uncle Discord say while he floats into the room, Aunt Luna trailing behind him. He looks at everything, and clicks his tongue, moving over to where a guard was standing. “Oh, that armor will not do!” He snaps his fingers and the guard stands in shock when he realizes Discord changed his armor into something silly. “Better, my son will love it.” “This is... this will only be for the day right, sire?” The guard asks, shifting in place, feeling ashamed to be wearing the armor. “Of course!” Discord answered. “Only for the day... sure. Go with that, if you will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go check on everything up and make everything good.” He vanishes from sight after that, and my eyes only stay on the guard before moving back to finish up my work. Flurry is rolling her eyes at Discord, and I know why. She doesn’t have a liking to him, and calls him something she cannot say. I always thought that sort of thing would come into teenage years... not colt hood. Lapis is trying to make everything perfect like Twilight does, commenting Orion would like everything to be neat and tidy. I think he even got Orion a book, and I knew Orion would like something much better than that. Something he could use to practice his skills with. A toy sword is what I got him, and I even got him a pretend enemy! We’re going to be playing all day long with that, and sadly, but thankfully, Lapis couldn’t join in because he’s not interested to be doing that sort of thing. So, it’s just me and Orion. “Thank you, you three,” Twilight smiled at us as she walked towards us, Lapis stood up straight as his mother nuzzled his head before looking towards us. Admiring our work. “This looks wonderful. Orion will love it, and everyone else will too.” “Mother, can we go and wake Orion now?” Lapis asked, his tone slightly chancing into a whine. Nothing like a prince tone, but he does take after his father almost. With his orangey fur and all. “I do not like waiting for him, and plus, everything is ready to go.” Twilight shakes her head. “You know the rules, honey. You need to wait until Auntie Luna says its okay to go and wake Orion up from his sleep. He stayed up late last night.” “From what?” I asked. This is the first time I heard of this. Orion never stays up too late, always in bed by ten or nine simply because he knows he needs the sleep. “Do you know what he stayed up late from?” “Sadly no. Even Luna and Discord doesn’t know what.” When it did came time to wake Orion just, I jumped to my hoofs and sprinted out of the room, earning a laugh from my mother as I did so. Lapis was forced to stay behind because his mother said one was enough, and he groaned. Flurry only stayed beside her parents. Orion was brought back into the room where we all were after I had woken him up, and he basically raced me towards the door. Of course, considering how he was wanting me to go first, I had to open the door. Once everyone saw me, they didn’t think twice before hiding and Orion jumped over to almost the middle and waited until we yelled at him, he beamed a huge grin before racing to greet his parents. Once he saw the guard, he laughed loudly as did Discord. Twilight’s friend, Rainbow Dash, also laughed when they arrived a little late. Only because they had to take a train and Orion understood, but he never did go near the kids of the elements of Harmony. I knew one reason why; he didn’t like Rainbow Dash’s foals, Fire Dash and Cobalt Strike. The twin boys were always pushing Orion around, and he never liked it. The only reason why they were here was because Orion had to invite them, despite knowing perfectly he didn’t want too. Throughout the main sort of events of the party, like singing to Orion and allowing to eat cake, he stuck with me the entire time. Fire Dash had tried to get close to Orion, but never could make it with me by his side. Cobalt Strike just rolled his eyes and mumbled for his brother to come and join their friends. “Why’d you even invite them if you don’t like ’em?” I asked him, sitting down by Orion. His eyes never left his front hoofs, but I could tell he wasn’t himself anymore. “Cause I gotta be nice.” Orion mumbled. I only rolled my eyes at his answer. Monster Orion was silent as he unwrapped most of his presents. He had opened the ones from Twilight’s friends first, getting it all over with. Most of them were good, and when he opened Rainbow’s present, I heard Fire and Cobalt mumble something under their breath. No-good colts. They should be thankful they’re even here! My cousin didn’t say a word though, only kept his eyes heavily on the gifts. When it came to mine, he stopped everything and tackled me with the play sword, and I grabbed my own I had gotten for my birthday, we began play fighting. Our mothers chuckled while Twilight nearly gasp and moved to stop us. However, I noticed out of the corner of my eye, it was Aunt Cadance who stopped her. Discord moved to place the unwrapped present somewhere else so we wouldn’t ruin them. Orion didn’t pay much attention to anyone else but me. Focusing on his task at hoof and eventually we stopped so he could finish unwrapping the rest. He stopped half way through and looked at the sword. “I wanna go again...” Orion whispered to me, ignoring how everypony else was waiting for him to go on. “This is boring, Skyward, can we stop the present wrapping?” “Maybe, ask your mother.” I whispered back but he went on unwrapping until the final one had been dealt with, and Orion suddenly picked up his wooden sword and grinned at me. I used my magic to hold my own sword. “Bring it on.” Luna stepped in the way before we could go on. “Surely you two want to spend time with the other colts and fillies, right? We cannot have you two just wanting to spend more time together. Go play with Lapis and his friends. Maybe play with Flurry Heart a little, but do not spend all time with each other.” Orion didn’t say much, but he did drop his sword and trot slowly over to the others, and I followed suit. His eyes slowly moved towards the Dash Twins, and then back to AJ’s filly, then to Rarity’s filly, and so on. He came to a stop when he noticed Fire looking at him. Without thinking, I stood beside Orion, and Fire scoffed loudly before gazing back to Candy Cane. Lapis used his magic to bring over the book he had gotten Orion and smiled widely before handing it to him, and not helping it, I gazed over Orion’s shoulder to see what type of book it was. A frown fell on my face. It looked way to boring for both of our liking. Orion didn’t open the book, but he silently promised Lapis he would do it later when everyone went home, and Lapis nodded before moving back to be with his best friend. “Looks boring,” I commented. “Very,” Orion agreed. “How can Lapis read something like this anyways? It makes no sense to me.” Fire Dash rolled his eyes. “Makes sense to no one, freak.” He spat out. His bright eyes landed down on the book, and he scoffed. “Yeah, a book fit for a freak.” “You can say that again.” Cobalt Strike agreed with his twin. “Bet little Orion is gonna go be the freak that he is, and read it to make Lapis all happy because that is what this ‘friendship’ is about. Ain’t that right, Orion? You gonna make Lapis all happy? You gonna give in like you always do?” Ignore them, Orion! They have no clue about what you can do! I thought, Orion spoke anyways. “What if I don’t? You guys going to report me? On my birthday? You’ll get found out because I can admit you’ve been treating me horribly.” He threatened. “You can’t do anything to us.” Fire spat back, his wings twitching. Cobalt nodded in agreement, staying quiet for this moment, but he knew Orion could do it. He saw Orion do things before, and when Orion wanted something done, he could make sure it was done and over with. This threat was no different, but Fire believed differently. “Watch me.” Orion smirked. Then, he turned to speak with his mother, and I watched as Luna trotted over to the twins, and gave them a glare. Both twins shrunk back, and I grinned. Orion was not to be messed with. I nuzzled him happily, and looked at him. “Happy birthday, Orion.” I whispered. “Happy birthday.” “Thanks...Skyward.” He purred back. We were happy. But as you all know, happiness cannot last forever, and that is where our story starts. The start of a happy, carefree, prince turned into something else... something like a monster.
Chapter 1: Wooden SwordOrion I woke up like normal. My eyes flickered open as I dragged myself out of bed, passing the unused birthday present I had gotten a few weeks ago from my family and friends, and the only one I truly found myself liking was Skyward’s present he gave me; a wooden sword. Skyward knew me the best out of our family, and friends, mainly because we grew up thinking we owned the world. When we were together, nothing could come into our way and tell us otherwise than what we wanted to believe. No pony could come and say we were too different to be friends. We all came a long way from that sort of thing, at least, it’s what the historians tell us. As much as I knew to always eat before we play, I couldn’t help but pick up my wooden sword and run out of our room. Yeah, me and Skyward shared a room together because it was easier than to have two rooms in use. So, our parents agreed to allow us to share a room before we were even born! Or... before I was born. However, we did have different nurseries. Skyward was up before me, he probably already ate and was out doing something. Dad was out with his friends, mom was busy with Auntie, leaving me alone. Skyward was the only one I could ever trust in this place because the guards didn’t know what to think about me. Claiming I’d do something to them if they were left alone with me. Skyward never got that kind of thing. Well, as far as I know. I snuck past a guard who was patrolling the ground I was in to be able to make it outside where I saw Skyward. He was with someone else, and I felt my stomach turn when I realized exactly who it was. Winter Rose. Winter Rose was a filly who was brought in to be cared for. A noble pony took her in and she basically became the daughter of a noble instead of being the orphan she once was. Winter hated me--just like the Dash Twins--and for her reason I knew why. Every pony knew why Winter hated me. She claimed I was a demon sent from the underground world where the meanest of ponies were sent. All the murders, treason, and whatever you can think of where sent when they died instead of going into heaven like good ponies were sent too. Not only that, but she also thought I’d steal Skyward from her. Yup, she liked my cousin. Which was fine because I didn’t care who liked Skyward as long as they could get past whatever things their parents said about me and my father. Winter Rose did not get past those things because her adoptive father also believed in what she said about me because he was the only who told her about those things. He’s the reason why Winter Rose hates me. I still went towards them though. “So, I was wondering if you...Ah!” Winter Rose jumped when she saw me, and Skyward looked over his shoulder to glance at me. A wide smile forming on his face. Winter, however, pointed her hoof at me with disgust written on her face, and she shook almost. “Mother of Luna! It’s the demon!” “He is no demon.” Skyward defended me. “Orion is harmless, Winter. He cannot hurt a living thing, and he knows how to control the magic his father passed onto him. He is no different from all of us.” Skyward was always the one to speak like his mother. “Yeah, I’m no demon.” I puffed out my chest. “I’m just like you, a normal pony. That looks different, and that’s okay. Being different is good, dad says so. As does mom, and Aunt Celestia.” Winter shook her head, and backed up, her hoof touched Skyward’s shoulder. “We need to get out of here, Skyward. Orion is messing up your mind. Everypony knows it is only a matter of time before he’s murdering us all. Killing us with his dark magic.” I had no dark magic. Nor did I want any to being with. “He’s not evil, Winter. Can you stop saying he is? It’s starting to get on my nerves.” Skyward huffed out, turning towards me and seeing the wooden sword by my leg and his face light up. “Oh! I’ll go get my sword, and we’ll play fight. I’ll be right back!” With that, he left. Leaving me alone with Winter, and I stood there awkwardly. She just gave me a glare, and flicked her tail angrily. I think, if you looked close enough, you could see smoke coming from her nose, and I looked around, trying to avoid her gaze, almost failing as I did so. I heard her give a small growl, and I knew she must’ve learnt it from her father. Who else would she have learnt it from? Her actual parents? No, because they weren’t around anymore. “You are a demon.” “No, I am not.” “What else are you then?” A small smile appeared on my face, and I puffed out my chest in a heroic way. “A prince, and future hero of Equesteria.” She laughed, and my smile vanished. “What is so funny about my dreams? I bet the dreams you got, are not good in anyway shape for form. I bet you do know, you are not going to take up your father’s job, yeah? Your brother will be doing that.” Winter Rose gave me a full blown hiss, and trotted towards me, a firm frown on her face and she thrust her hoof at my chest, poking me with it with every word she said. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you, Orion? Well, allow me to explain something to you. No one likes you. You’ll forever be alone. Understand? Skyward will not stick around with you forever once he realizes what you truly are, and even your parents will regret ever having you.” With that, she turned around and stomped away. Suddenly, I didn’t feel like playing with my wooden sword with my cousin anymore. Monster Skyward didn’t understand when I said I didn’t feel like playing anymore. He just watched as I trailed upwards to our room, and sat down on my bed. Looking at the sword, and feeling like I shouldn’t be touching it until I was feeling much better than what I was feeling now. Dad came by a few times, only to sulk out of the room, muttering how I wasn’t the same when I was down. I knew he was going to get mom, what else would he be doing? Mom knew how to make me smile as did Auntie, so he may try and get her too. Unknown to them, I swore I wouldn’t crack a smile. Not this time. When my mom and aunt did show up, I was facing away, laying down on my bed, staring out the window. Mom’s mane tickled my side, and I held back a laugh. Auntie’s mane was also doing the same, and they knew it. Once, I almost felt mom’s hoof on my side as to tickle me into looking at them. They gave up half way through to move me over so I was facing them, and I could see playfulness in auntie’s eyes, and mom’s eyes only held worry. One of them would attack first, and the other would wait for their turn at the attack until they knew exactly what was going on with me. Auntie attacked me first. Tickling my sides, nuzzling me into laughing more than I wished for, and I eventually gave up after a while, mom’s turn at attack would soon come, when it was time to ask me what was going on, and I knew they would be expecting an answer from me. But how could I give it to them? They would never understand what it was like being hated because of what you look like and who your father was. They wouldn’t understand. Now, came the second attack from my mother. “I heard from daddy you have been upset,” Mom said, her eyes glowing. “Can you tell us what is wrong, Ori?” “Nothing is wrong, mommy. Just thinking.” I answered. Auntie narrowed her eyes, and gave me a look. Her eyes softly trailed towards the sword, and must have remembered seeing Skyward running outside with his own sword. “Out of today, you’ve only touched your prized sword once. You and Skyward are always out at this time, playing away like no one can come and tell you to stop. Why aren’t you out there with him? He’s fighting a tree.” Skyward is... fighting a tree? “Why a tree, auntie?” Celestia laughed and gave a shrug, and mom just shook her head. “He said it was because there was nothing else to fight beside a tree. He was going to fight it until you came back, ready to play fight with him so you both may become stronger together. However, I think he knows there is no way he can become stronger by fighting a tree that does not move like a real enemy.” Celestia explained. “If you were out there, he would be fighting you.” “Oh.” Mom gave me a look and I saw a small smile forming on her face until it was very known she was smiling. There was no way I would not smile back, so I gave her a smile in return. “Are you going to go join him?” “Uh huh!” I happily nodded, picking up my sword. “I am!” “Have fun.” She said before nuzzling me. I ran outside without a second thought through my mind. Monster “Skyward! Stop fighting the tree! You look weird!” Skyward gazed over to me before running towards me with his sword. A moment later and our swords clashed together, there was no sound like there were would be if they were real swords instead of wood. But we didn’t care, and why would we? We could pretend to do anything we wanted because we were allowed. When we took our break, we sat underneath the tree Skyward had been fighting, and I could see little drops of sweat on his forehead, could he really get sweaty from fighting trees? But, then again, maybe I shouldn’t question it, because who knows what Skyward could get himself into. That didn’t stop him from being a total jerk and start speaking about Winter Rose like he was in love with her just like she was with him, and he knows how much I don’t like her, and how she doesn’t like me that well. “She’s just so...! Nice, ya know?” Skyward asked, pointing a hoof to the sky. “She’s almost like how aunt Cadance is for uncle Shining Armor. But with me and her instead of them.” I shifted. “Sounds... nice. But can we stop speaking about her? Please?” “Oh, yeah... sorry.” Skyward rubbed the back of his neck. “I forgot you... kinda hate her.” “I don’t hate her. We just don’t get along. You see how she treats me, exactly like how the Dash Twins treat me. They judge before they get to know me, and you’re the only one besides Flurry and Lapis who doesn’t hate me.” I said back, looking away from him. He shook his head. “Not everyone hates you.” “Tell that to Winter and her words.” I mumbled. “What did Winter say?” His look told me everything. He was wanting to know what his friend said, and this might change the way he looks at her. Which, I hope stays the same because Skyward deserves to be happy with whoever he wanted. “Ori, what did Winter say to you?” I took a breath, and began speaking. “You think you’re so smart, don’t you, Orion? Well, allow me to explain something to you. No one likes you. You’ll forever be alone. Understand? Skyward will not stick around with you forever once he realizes what you truly are, and even your parents will regret ever having you.” “You did... nothing to us. Why did she say something like that? That’s just plain rude!” Skyward hissed, and I knew right away, he didn’t feel the same anymore. This time; I was the reason why.
Chapter 2: Out In The WoodsDiscord “This still makes no sense! How could anypony hate him?” I shouted, throwing my hands up into the air. We were in the throne room, trying to figure out exactly why Skyward had told us Winter Rose hated Orion just like that. He was a good colt! He never did anything to make anypony hate him. My wife had other ideas in mind as she casually sat down next to her sister and shrugged. “It is very easy to be hated in this world, Discord. We should know this perfectly judging by our pasts. Orion is just like everypony else when it comes to being hated, he will find a way to change their minds like we had done.” Her tone was so causal to the point where I hated it, but I would never allow it to show to her. “Calm yourself, Discord.” Celestia said to him, her mane was still flowing like always. Her tone was very much like her sister, and this was starting to make me more mad than every. I should just curse Winter Rose for doing this to my son. “Everything is about growing up, and making enemies is one of them. Orion is just going through everything else like everypony is. This is no different from our youth.” I blinked. Did she really just suggest our youth was no different from Skyward and Orion? We barely spoke like they do back then. We had different rules back then than what they do now! Everything about our past is different from our sons. How could she suggest everything is the same when its clearly not? They went on speaking about random things while I snuck out to see my son. I knew he had to be hurting inside, because what else would you do when you found out somepony hated you? There was no way I would allow this to go on, my son would not be hated. I would make sure of that. Skyward was just coming out of their room when I arrived, he looked tired and beat up. The two decided to take a nap, and I guess Skyward had just woken up from his nap and was now heading towards the bathroom. I wanted them to know one in their room, but they wouldn’t allow it so they had to use the bathhouse. Wasn’t actually bad, but I would’ve liked it if they could stay within the castle. Peering the door open, just a smudge, my eyes wondered in to find Orion still sleeping away. Kicking the blanket as he did so, moving his hoofs like he was running and fighting. My throat went tight when I realized he could very well be having a bad dream. Should I get his mother? Tell her a bad dream was going on with Orion, so she could enter and fix it all? No, it wasn’t time for her duties. She had the day off, and worked all night long, it wouldn’t be fair to make her do work on her off time. She and her sister both work hard anyways. Floating over, I shook his shoulder gently and it was enough to get him out of his sleep, and his bright eyes shined up at him before his hoof rubbed the rest of the sleep out of his eyes. I noticed there was a few single tears bubbling up in his eyes, and I couldn’t stop myself from biting my lip. Just what was his dream about? “Dad?” He sounded so innocent when he woke up, but I knew there was more to this story. “What is it?” “I... I came in to check on you, and it looked like you were having a nightmare. Were you?” I asked, my eyes slightly narrowing downwards, and Orion gazed down at his hoofs. Not looking at him. “Orion...” “S-Sorry...” This would take a while for him to explain. Monster Skyward It was Orion who suggested we go out into the woods. Us, along with Lapis, the Dash Twins, Diamond Shine, Apple Crisp, Candy Cane, and Eagle Wing. He suggested we go out into the woods to see what was out there. Being the farm pony she is, Apple Crisp gladly took up the challenge and convinced Diamond Shine to go with her. Candy Cane was all happy to allow it, Eagle Wing shifted on his hoofs before slowly following Orion. I was left at the back in case something happened and Orion was up front. He wanted to be up front in this, not allowing anypony else to take the lead and when he said that, me and Lapis shared a look. We both knew this wasn’t the best thing to do, but Orion wanted this. He wanted to prove to the Dash Twins he was brave like them, wouldn’t allow anything to happen to them. He had magic, he could protect us. His magic was pretty much like his father’s but less powerful. But still, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be a good idea. Fire just scoffed and followed Orion like he owned the place, mumbling to his twin as he went, and Cobalt didn’t speak at all, only nodding. Candy was fastly speaking with Eagle, and Diamond was sticking with Apple. Lapis only gave Orion a look before gazing at me. If anything, this would be turned into something really bad. The woods were quiet as we trailed inwards, the sound of the wind was the only thing we could hear along with our hoofs stepping on leaves that had fallen to the ground, and the trees shaking. The smell was almost horrible from a recent fire which occurred, so we had the smell of burnt wood. My cousin wasn’t backing out like Fire was asking him to do this, turning into a more scared version of himself, and Cobalt didn’t speak. The rest of us were waiting for the signel to run back towards the castle and agree to never speak about this again. Orion never gave the order to move back. “No way,” Orion scoffed, waving his hoof with a slight smirk on his face. “There is no way we are going back to the castle. We gotta be brave like our parents, yeah? You dared me to show you I was brave, Fire, so here ya go. A brave Orion.” He puffed out his chest. “Orion,” Lapis said, rushing to stand beside him and I followed suit. “This is crazy. We are not going to be okay in here. Have you heard about the things that could be rooming this place?” “Yeah, have you?” “You are crazy! This is not safe at all! We need to turn back and go home. Our parents are probably looking for us right now, and we need to make them not worry.” Lapis rubbed his leg. “Besides, my mother is such a worrywart. Dad will fail to make her calm, and in the end, I will be grounded.” Orion rolled his eyes. “Your dad, Flash, is stupid. All he knows is how to be a guard. He’s nothing else, your mom is the Princess of Friendship, yeah? How did a lone guard land somepony like her?” I could tell Lapis didn’t know how to respond. “Oooh!” Cobalt Strike said, rushing to be by Orion. His hoof landed on his back and grinned widely. “He’s got you there, Egghead. That’s the cool way, Orion.” “Thanks.” Orion purred and Fire landed beside his brother. “You know what? You are not so bad after all,” Fire decided. “You and us gotta hang out more. Make fun of ponies and make them know what we’re all about.” Well, a new friendship just happened. Monster Cobalt Orion was okay now. He always was when I thought about it. He was just misjudged by a lot of ponies, and it was time to change that. He would be more notice when he would hang with me and Fire. We could be a trio! Yeah, a trio with a real cool name. But, his cousin, Skyward was just boring! That perfect prince image is all Skyward was to me, and it was boring. Just like how Lapis could find pleasure in reading books for straight hours while the rest of us could barely sit down and enjoy them. He was a total egghead. The forest wasn’t as cool as I originally thought as we went deeper. There was a lot of creepy sounds and Fire was shaking when I looked over to him, the others weren’t so brave like before, yet Orion still looked brave and was ready to do anything, but this was becoming insane. I suddenly realized we shouldn’t be out here. “Skyward,” I whispered to the older prince. “Make Orion change his mind and have everyone go home. This is bad, we cannot be here.” Skyward gulped. “I wish I could. Once Orion has an idea in his mind, there is no way of having him change his mind. So, unless he suddenly decides this is stupid, we’re all stuck here.” There was a time and placed for things like these. This wasn’t the time, nor the place. We should all be at the castle right now, instead of trailing into the woods, hoping to find something we didn’t even know we wanted to find. It was all because Orion wanted to prove something to me and Fire. We’re the ones who made Orion decide this risky choice. We take the blame in the end. As Orion came to a close with the deepest part of the woods, Skyward rushed over and stood in front of him. His breath was more heavy coming, and Orion was frowning at him. But we all agreed this was something that needed to be done, and we wouldn’t allow anything other answer from Orion. However, the prince of the Night and Chaos had a different thought in mind. “Move.” Orion demanded. “Out of my way, Skyward. I need to prove to them, I’m not scared of anything. So move.” “No. Who knows what is beyond this path? Do you really want to find out? What if--” Orion cut him off. “Skyward, everything is fine. Nothing to worry about.” He pushed Skyward aside and stepped closer. The air suddenly turned tense around us. “Lapis has gotten in your head. There is nothing out here that can harm us in anyway shape or form. We all know those are old pony tales.” Lapis shook his head. “You do not know that!” “Do I? Lapis, common, you must understand those books are false. My mother and father have been around a lot longer than your parents have been. They know everything about this place. So you should be taking my word.” Orion scoffed. “You guys just stay put, and I will go check things out.” As Orion moved forward, we stopped when we heard a low growl coming from in front of our dear young prince, and he stood still for a moment. He shook his head, and moved forward. I, for once, could sense his magic forming in case of an attack. He was ready to face whatever was coming his way. Skyward was shifty and his voice made us all jump. “ORION!” He shouted, rushing towards him but he was slower than normal like something was keeping him from going at his full speed. “Look out! Move! Get out of the way of--” All we heard was a slam. A slam of a body slamming onto the ground, and we all felt our jaws hang open when the scene in front of us finally clicked within our heads. The growl was gone. Skyward was shaking. ...And Orion was on the ground, on his shoulder was blood coming out faster than we ever knew. “O...Orion...”
Chapter 3: Wake Up, Feels of GuiltSkyward I haven’t been the same since Orion was reward the wound. That long wound that reached from his shoulder down to his back. At first, I couldn’t move. No one could. Then, Fire Dash flew faster than before and reached the castle, bringing back my mother, aunt, and uncle. Even aunt Twilight and her friends. It was the first time I’ve seen aunt Luna so upset and scared, to the point where she didn’t allow anyone to touch Orion but herself and Discord. He had been passed out for a while now. Today marked the second day of being passed out with little signs of waking up, and I feared I may lose him. We all feared we might have to bury a prince. A colt who barely lived. Luna was not happy, Discord wasn’t either and they changed. As for me, I only stayed by Orion’s side. Praying he would wake up and resume like nothing happened to him the day before, like we all just stayed out of the forest. Like he was still normal without a scar that would remain with him for the rest of his life. Like his usual self. But he never did wake up. Orion didn’t show any signs of waking up yet. The doctor who came in said he couldn’t find anything wrong with Orion. No infection, mainly because we gotten to the wound fast enough. We treated the wound regularly, placed new bandages on. Everything we could do to prevent the infection. That changed nothing about how I viewed this, and I knew word would get out faster than they wanted. Everypony would be speaking about Orion’s accident. His scar that would be there for life, everything would be spoken about. He’d be in the shadows of the rumors for the rest of his life. I didn’t want that, and I always mumbled how I could’ve taken his place. I took the blame. Being older, it was natural. But apparently, Twilight and her friends didn’t think so. Saying it wasn’t my fault, and a very rude comment from Rainbow Dash. She said it was Orion’s fault for going into the woods and getting the scar. Bringing us all into this. Aunt Luna snapped at her, and nearly screamed but Uncle Discord managed to calm her down, and hissed at them to go away until Orion woke up, and dared Rainbow Dash to tell his son that when he woke up. Making Orion feel two times worse than he was. He even mentioned the possibility of Orion never waking up. We all got scared, and I remembered the conversation brightly and clearly. “You know, if Orion hadn’t had gone into the woods, dragging our foals with him, none of this would’ve happened. They would all be okay, and not scarred for life. This is Orion’s fault.” Rainbow Dash said after a moment of looking at my sick and wounded cousin. I felt my blood boil. “Are you blaming my son?” Discord challenged, growling. “You have guts to be doing that.” “Rainbow Dash! That is not the right thing to say! We should be focusing on Orion! Not who was to blame for all of this. Maybe it was one of the twins.” Rarity hissed. “You should not be blaming poor Orion.” She ran a hoof through his mane. His soft, mane. “Just saying.” Rainbow shrugged. Aunt Luna held a death glare and growled lowly, it was not much of a surprise. “You have deep, deep, bravery for insulting my son while he is knocked out. I should have you thrown out, and...!” “That’s enough, Luna.” My mother’s voice was all but calm. I could hear the shake, worry, and fear mixed into her tone. She was scared for her nephew. We all were scared for Orion. But the other foals couldn’t see him. They wouldn’t allow them but me to see him. Saying Orion would’ve wanted only me in this case. “When my son wakes up, I dare you to say that to his face. Allowing him to feel two times worse than the wound is causing him. He cannot even wake up! There is a chance he never will!” Discord shouted. “You will have to live with those words for the rest of your life.” I cried. My hoof touching Orion’s. I began silently praying he’d wake up and tell me everything was okay. That nothing was wrong with him. That we could return to play fighting with our wooden swords. I spent so long crafting his’s, I might have said I bought it to my mother, but I had helped. Created it for him. That’s why it said Orion on it. So done with grace, with the symbols he adored. The symbol of the Moon, Chaos, and Spirit. He loved them all. So, I engraved it on his sword. But now, he may never see it again. I wanted him awake and alive, well, and perfectly fine. Perfectly healthy. I wanted my cousin back. I wanted my Ori back, so we could do everything we wanted together. Us against the world. “Please... Ori, wake up.” Monster Rainbow Dash The twins were silent as we went out to eat. They poked at their food instead of digging into the food they ordered. They didn’t speak, and I wonder if this had to do with the Orion situation. But what bothered me was how Sorin’ didn’t think nothing was wrong with them. Like this was normal and I didn’t plan on getting us apple pie for a treat after we finished eating. I worked my butt off to get us the money for this treat! Fire Dash was the one who acted the most off, and my eyes narrowed. The colt who looked like me, but with a flaming red coat and his daddy’s eyes, wasn’t going off about how he was the fastest flyer in his class. He was dead silent, but at least his brother made an attempt to speak. Sorin’ broke the silence. “You two know how Orion is doing?” His tone was soft, and I guessed the twins told him about Orion. “Any sign of him waking up?” He liked Orion. We all knew it. Cobalt shook his head. “No. Skyward says there’s a chance of him never wakin’ up again. Discord told him that it might happen, and if it does come to that, then there’s going to be a big funeral. Everypony is going to be attending. In honor of Orion, and his family.” Sorin’ nodded. “We’ll go.” “And you decided this when?” I asked, a bit too harsh since both twins winced and flinched. “It cost money to go! It will be two times as much because it’s royalty!” “Dash... it’s the twins’ friend who is on the line of death. You’re really thinking about how much money it’s gonna cost? We’ll save up, and head there. I’m sure Orion’s parents will let us in for free since the twins are friends with Orion.” Sorin’ mumbled. Then, Fire shouted at us. “I don’t wanna go! It’ll remind me this whole thing is my fault!” He slammed his hooves down onto the table, and earned a few looks from the other ponies in the restaurant. He had slight tears forming in his eyes and Cobalt choked back a sob. “I dared Orion to go into the woods, and maybe if I--no--if I hadn’t done it, he wouldn’t be in a coma! He wouldn’t have gotten the scar! It’s my fault... ” “Mine too.” Cobalt agreed. “I did too.” Sorin’ nodded, and gave a faint smile. “Thank you for admitting what you have done. You know what is wrong or what is right. You can tell the difference. But, why did you two do it? What made you do it to Orion?” “We... we didn’t like him at first, but we saw differently, but... We feel so bad now, and he might not wake up. It’s all our fault. We just want to say sorry to him, but we can’t.” Fire Dash mumbled under his breath, but it was loud enough for us to hear him. I blamed Orion for all of this, allowed Discord to snap at me with the possibility of Orion never waking up again, and this was becoming so clear. If the twins had told me before, than none of this would’ve happened. I wouldn’t have blamed Orion for the bruises my sons had. I was so blind. This could never be Orion’s fault, and I wouldn’t forgive myself if he never woke up and the last thing I said about him was how this was all of his fault. Never. Monster Twilight Sparkle Lapis was quiet as we ate dinner. Flash knew what was going on because Lapis told us exactly what happened, and now he was barely touching his food. He picked at it with his hoof but never thought to eat it. Flash was becoming angry, and I knew this much because he held this frown on his face. Surely he could be proud of the fact Lapis was worried about his wounded friend? His wounded cousin? Flash would need to open his eyes to be able to see how Lapis was doing so much more than mopping around, not doing anything, when Lapis was still doing his chores and homework for school. He was just quiet is all. Flash slammed his hooves down onto the table, making his son jump, and so did I. “Lapis, I am tired of this silence. You need to speak, do you understand me? You cannot stay quiet forever.” “Yes sir.” Lapis weakly nodded, I knew he was always somewhat afraid of his father. “Flash,” I said in a warning tone, “--be nice. Lapis is just worried about Orion is all. We should be more proud that Lapis is worried about him instead of acting like nothing happened.” Lapis shook. “I-I saw him fall down. So much blood was coming out of his shoulder, I thought a vain was broken. I thought he might bleed out to death. I thought Orion was going to die but then... Eagle Wing saved him. He placed his wing over the wound and tried to stop the bleeding until Luna, Celestia, and Discord arrived with you. Eagle saved Orion.” “Does not matter.” Flash mumbled, and I gaped. How could this not matter? Our foal and his friend saved Orion! Something anypony else would be afraid to do. “You should be more focused on doing what you do best.” “I hate my cutie mark.” Lapis growled. This time, I gasped. “It’s just a shield with a shining Lapis in front of it. I couldn’t protect Orion, how do I deserve my cutie mark in protecting? It makes no sense. I want a different one. I want one I can actually follow. One, that I can always look up to and not feel bad...” Flash was going to say something but he shut his mouth the last second, sensing it wouldn’t be a good time to speak up. He knew exactly what it felt like to hate his cutie mark because he once hated his mark, he told me this during our third date. Going more into explanation during fifth date when I asked him. Both my son and husband hated their cutie marks because they couldn’t protect somepony they loved. Flash couldn’t protect his little brother from death, and Lapis couldn’t protect Orion from being wounded. They hated their marks because of their guilt. For once, I didn’t know what to say, and I believe it was for the best. Before I could open my mouth to say what I had thought of, the door slammed open and in came a rushing guard. He was breathing heavily, but I took no angry from his sudden arrival because they only did this if it was important. So, it must be important for him to come rushing in. “E-excuse me, your highness,” The guard breathed heavily, catching his breath. “But I have news from Princess Celestia, Luna, and Prince-Consort Discord.” “Speak!” I shouted without question, standing up with slightly wide eyes. “Prince Orion has woken up. They wish to have you come to the Castle right away, young lord Lapis can come too. Even Prince-Consort Flash.” He said. “There is a carriage waiting for you outside. There will be no objections from what I have been told.” Lapis jumped from his spot towards the door, looking over his shoulder. “Come on! Orion woke up! I need to see him and tell him I’m sorry I couldn’t protect him!” He was gone a moment later. We followed suit.
