Equestria's Purge

The ruler of Equestria, Queen Faust, was asleep in her bed. She was sleeping peacefully, content for the while, until she was woken up by crying. Her eyes opened, "Celestia and Luna..." She muttered, a worried expression on her muzzle, as she got out of her bed and galloped to her foal's bedchambers, only to find that they were sound asleep.

Queen Faust came up to her young and had a puzzled look; they weren't crying... So who is? She then admired her daughters, looking down at them fondly. She kissed them both before leaving. She looked around. The crying continued. The queen quickly began to follow the noise and began searching the castle for the source of crying. I wonder who it could be... A lost foal? She thought, hurrying her pace.

As she approached the entrance to the castle, the crying grew louder. She pushed open the doors and the cool night breeze blew in and brushed against her face.

She looked around for anypony to be crying, she looked down and saw a basket with a note attached to it. She quietly made her way closer and peered inside to see a small baby. "His name is Zinc Brightstar. Please, take care of him." is what the note read. She saw that it was a baby. Not a foal... a human... A human baby. She bit the handle and carried it inside, filled with guilt.

Zinc kept crying, wondering who this creature was and where his mother was. His bright blue eyes were filled with tears that streaked down his cheeks. The queen stowed the note away before bringing Zinc inside. She smiled down at him. It was a soft, sweet, smile, "Hush now, little one, I promise to take care of you." She said to the baby, her voice soft and motherly.

Zinc started to calm down when he heard the soothing voice of the creature. He stopped crying and started looking at the creature curiously. He reached out trying to grab some of the bright colored hair that hung over him. Queen Faust smiled and lowered her head down a bit for the child to grab hold of her mane. Zinc grabbed a small handful of the creature's hair. He made a gurgling sound, feeling how soft it was. He let a small laugh of happiness.

Queen Faust smiled. Her eyes studied his face as she did so, "He's so small and innocent...” She thought to herself. The sight started to bring tears to her eyes. "Okay, my dear. It's time to go to bed. It's late." She said softly to the child as she walked back to her bedchamber.  Zinc let out a small yawn as he felt time's hold on him pulling his eyelids down. Queen Faust chuckled and nuzzled his cheeks. She then pulled back carefully and began to rock the basket slowly with a hoof. The Alicorn sang quietly, fondly gazing down at Zinc. The queen carefully began to take him to the bedchambers. She kissed his forehead, "Sweet dreams, little one...” She whispered, gently taking him out of the basket and climbing into her bed and fell asleep with him in her arms. Queen Faust fell to sleep after a couple moments of staring at the ceiling. For the first time after the execution, she slept peacefully.

In the morning, Queen Faust awoke to the sounds of commotion. She yawned and rubbed her eyes before quietly walking to the door. She overheard some patrolling guards... she could pick out a few sentences; "... they found him in the Queen’s bedchambers."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Now they're going to dispatch the lil' one...”

Queen Faust's eyes widened a little; this "lil' one" had to be Zinc. She burst through the doors, knocking over the guards. She sprinted towards the execution room. The queen skidded to a stop, having arrived. She stepped in, nostrils flaring, "What is the meaning of this?" Queen Faust demanded, standing between them and Zinc.

All the guards in the room froze, "Q-Queen Faust!" They said as they all knelled at her presence, "We're just following your orders and exterminating the human child..." One of the guards said to her.

Zinc was laying on an execution table, tied down, his mouth gagged to reduce the sound of crying. There were some small bruises on his face. Queen Faust glanced at the table, her voice sharpened, "By killing a defenseless child..?" She looked at them, "One whose mother left him in my care?" She asked, eyes narrowed, the Alicorn's horn began to glow; Zinc's restraints beginning to unwind.

"Q-Queen Faust! What are you doing?! That child is dangerous!" One of the guards said, trying to stop Queen Faust.

She gently touched one of the bruises, then looked back at the guard, "Dangerous how? He's much too young... This child is defenseless." The queen said, taking the rag out of Zinc's mouth.

"That thing tried to eat me! It put my hoof in its mouth." The guard told Queen Faust, "That creature needs to be killed!"

Zinc's cried filled the room once Queen Faust removed the rag from his mouth.

The queen nuzzled Zinc, "Hush, sweetie. I'm here, now." She cooed, and then looked to the guard, "Eat you...?" She motioned to Zinc's gaping mouth.

"There are no teeth. And he's much too small to eat a hoof or a pony in that case." Queen Faust said, ears twitching. Then, before they could say anymore, "I will hear no more. As far as I'm concerned, he is within my care and I will allow no pony to harm him. He is now to be treated as my daughters, Luna and Celestia," Queen Faust said, "Did I make myself clear?"

The guards all nodded, "Y-Yes Queen Faust..." They said, hoping that she wouldn't punish them.

Zinc began to gently chew on one of Queen Faust's hooves, much like a toothless alligator would.

"S-See! It's trying to eat you!" The guard said to her.

She sighed, and then looked a bit surprised. She looked down. There was little to absolutely no pain. It tickled a little. She sat back on her haunches and held him towards the guards, He's probably hungry. She thought to herself, "You think he would actually eat me..? He can't even walk. Say, do we have any milk left?" She asked suddenly.

The guard looked puzzled, "Uh... I'm pretty sure we do your highness." He said, "Wait, you're not really going to feed that... thing, are you?"

"I am." She said, holding Zinc close, "I demand that milk. Now, please." Queen Faust said.

"Y-Yes Ma'am!" The guard said as he quickly left the room to go find the milk. He came back a few minutes later with a bottle of milk, "H-Here you go..." He said passing the bottle to her.

Zinc eyed the bottle of milk with a hunger that could've been interpreted as greed if not for the innocence of his youth.

"Thank you." She propped Zinc up and helped him with the milk. Queen Faust smiled tenderly, watching him, "You may leave, now." She told the guards.

The guards nodded and quickly fled the chambers, leaving only Queen Faust and Zinc in the room.

Zinc began to hastily guzzle down the milk. He began to drift to sleep, only to be woken up again by the sounds of two foals. Queen Faust seemed to still be asleep. A purple foal was stumbling around on the floor; her eyes stared down at her hooves. She walked into the queen's side. The queen didn't seem to notice as the foal backed up, falling onto her back. She whined, unable to get up. Another foal came over curiously and caught sight of Zinc. She made a small noise, and tripped forward, now on her belly.

Zinc giggled at the creature that fell on its belly. He let out a squeal of happiness.

Both foals looked at him with curious looks. The purple foal seemed to be stuck, like a turtle. The other foal crawled up to Zinc and sat up, "Hi!" She remembered the greeting... but that was one of the only few words she new besides Mommy, Woona, and a couple other simple words like hungry and thirsty.. Queen Faust stirred a little. When the foal tried to look up at her mother, she too fell onto her back and squeaked in surprise.

Zinc let out another squeal of laughter, this time followed by him flailing his arms, trying to clap.

The foal smiled and managed rolled over. She stood in front of Zinc and fell back again. The purple foal watched and got up, mimicking her sister. They laughed as well. Queen Faust awoke and looked down at them, "Mommy! ~" Both foals snuggled close to their mother.

"Hello, darlings. ~" Queen Faust hugged all three of them gently.

Zinc looked up at Queen Faust as if to ask who the two others were.

Queen Faust looked down at them one of a time, then, "Luna, Celestia, you two have a brother now. ~"

"Brodder?"

"Mhmm. Brother." She gently stroked Zinc's hair, "His name is Zinc." Queen Faust smiled.

"Zinc, this is Luna --" The purple foal's tiny wings flapped, "And this is Celestia." The older foal nuzzled his belly curiously, then proceeded to give him a kiss on the nose, "Hai, Zinc~"

Zinc giggled when Celestia kissed him on the nose, "Webia! Woona!" He said happily.

The queen looked very happy. Luna and Celestia squeaked in delight. Luna gave him a kiss on the cheek, Suddenly, Celestia's stomach growled, "Looks like its lunch time, huh?" Queen Faust chuckled.

"Hungry~~" Luna said, and then began to chant the word, hopping about excitedly. Celestia followed, her small wings flapped a couple times.

Zinc giggled at the sight of Celestia and Luna jumping around. He saw Celestia's wings and tried to grab at them. Celestia soon stopped and sat by Zinc. Her wings twitched a couple times as she watched Luna continue to hop around tirelessly.

Zinc eventually was able to grab them and hold onto them. Celestia turned her head to look at Zinc. She tilted her head, unsure how to react. Her feathers were very soft and warm.

"Sowft..." Zinc said as he let go of Celestia's wings.

Celestia turned around, "Has wings?" She asked and went behind him and looked surprised. It just occurred to her that he wasn't very pony-like. Celestia circled him a few times, "Has hooves?" She nosed his little hands and feet curiously.

Zinc closed his hand around Celestia's nose when she was poking his hands with her nose. Celestia snorted, "Has hornn?" Her voice was slightly muffled as her gaze shifted to his forehead. Zinc looked back at Celestia; he didn't know what any of those terms meant.

Celestia pointed to her Alicorn features with a hoof, "Is a pony?" She asked, gently poking him. Zinc looked at Celestia, confusion plastered on his face.

Celestia crawled away for a few seconds. She came back with a picture book and showed Zinc a few pictures of the different types of ponies, "Horn-pony... wing-pony...” She continued, "Mommy-pony." She pointed to the picture of an Alicorn.

Queen Faust smiled, watching them, "Alicorn." She said, "Horn-pony with wings." The Queen explained.

Zinc pointed at a pony that had no horn or wings, wondering what it was. "Horsey-pony." Celestia said simply, ear flicking. Zinc pointed at himself and then back at the picture.

Celestia seemed to pause, and then nodded, "Zinc a horsey-pony. ~" She chimed. Zinc began to clap his hands and laugh happily.

Celestia laughed with him, and then yawned. She snuggled close to Zinc, "Sleepy...” Zinc yawned and fell asleep against Celestia, his head against her wings. Luna eventually came over, nibbling on a strawberry.

"Let them sleep, Luna." Queen Faust said quietly. The purple foal swallowed what was left of the strawberry, "Kay'." She whispered.

~~~Years later~~~

"Try and catch me! I bet you can't do it!" A small white Alicorn filly said as she soared around the room. Zinc sat on the ground, frustrated by the white Alicorn filly, "No fair Tia! You know I can't fly..." He said to her. "Well, you need to try harder!" She said as she flew circles above the boy.

A smaller, blue Alicorn filly trotted over. "Sissy, you're being a meanie." She scolded.

"Oh come on Lulu, it's all in good fun..." Celestia said. Then she saw tears rolling down the young boy's face.

"See! You made him cry big sis..." Luna said as she cuddled against the boy.

Celestia dropped down onto the ground and her head hung in shame. "I-I'm sorry… I-I didn't mean to hurt your feelings…"

"I-It's fine, apology accepted..." He said to her, "Besides, I'd rather stay on the ground anyway. Trying to fly is hard on my arms..." He told her, cracking a smile. The three of them fell backwards, laughing at the joke he made.

From the castle throne room, Queen Faust looked at the scene as a smile grew upon her face.

Zinc stood up wiping the tears from his face, "Okay... So what do you two want to do?" He asked his Alicorn siblings. "I don't know...” Luna said.

"Eat cake!" Celestia said happily.

"That's your answer for everything." Luna muttered.

"Well, at least it's something. Let's get it over with before we have to go to--" Zinc said as one of the guards came over to them.

"Princess Celestia, Princess Luna... Zinc... Time to report to your history lessons." He said to them.

Zinc sighed and looked at them, "Class..."

The two fillies groaned. "But I don't wannaaaa!" They whined.

Celestia unfolded her wings and flew into the castle throne room. "Mommy, do I have to go to classes?" She asked.

"Yes, Celestia. Now go." Queen Faust said. "You to Luna!"

There was another whine that came from the other room.

Zinc looked over at them, "Come on... let's go..." He said.

The guard began to trot off towards the classroom with Zinc behind him.

Luna followed on hoof while Celestia flew overhead. She was hanging in the air, giving her a strange flying position.

Zinc sighed as they walked, "Man... I hate class... I think the teachers don't like me..." He told Luna. "I don't think they like either of us, since they give us assignments to do." Luna said.

"Yeah, but I always seem to get the harder assignments." Zinc said almost in a whining tone.

"It's only because they expect more from you because you're not royalty or pony for that fact..." The guard mumbled.

"Well that's unfair! I'm going to tell my mommy on the teachers!" Celestia shouted.

"Yeah!" Luna chimed in.

Zinc looked over at them, "But every time I've told mom, the teachers deny it all..." He said sighing.

The guard rolled his eyes, "Ever heard of lying..." He thought.

"Didn't Mommy tell you to treat him the same way you treat us?" Luna asked.

"Hey, yeah! And you've never treated us like that! You're mean! I hate you! Meanie!" Celestia said. She stopped following after them and stayed put in the air. "I'm not going to class if the teacher's going to be mean!" Then she turned and flew off to her bedchamber.

Luna stopped and watched Celestia fly away. She started to consider following.

Zinc looked over at Luna as if to say, "Don't leave me here... If you go, you've got to bring me with you..."

"Come on then." Luna said. She started to trot after Celestia, going slow so Zinc could catch up.

Zinc backed away slowly and then ran to catch up with Luna, the Guard never the wiser.

Celestia was in her room, under her covers by the time Luna and Zinc walked in. "They aren't fair... this isn't fair..." Celestia popped up from the covers. "They're breaking a direct order from Mommy!" She shouted.

Luna nodded. "They're in big, big trouble."

Zinc agreed, "Yeah... It's not really fair... You two get assignments on coloring and I get assignments on trying to change dirt into living creatures using magic I don't have..."

"I'm telling Mommy right now!" Celestia said as she flew out the door and soared to the throne room. Luna walked in a few seconds after.

"Celestia, Luna! Why aren't you two in class?" Queen Faust asked.

"Mommy, the teachers are big meanie-heads!" Celestia said.

Zinc made his way towards the throne room, "Yeah... They're giving me assignments on changing things with magic while Tia and Lulu get to color..." He said to Queen Faust.

"What?" Queen Faust said. Her horn glow a light blue and all the teacher ponies appeared in the throne room. "Are you not treating Zinc the same way you treat my fillies? Like I had told you to?" She asked.

"No, your highness. We all treat Zinc just like Celestia and Luna." One of the teachers said.

Celestia and Luna's ears fell back and tears started to form in their big eyes. Then they started to sob and cry. In unison. "They're lying!!" They shouted as they cried.

Zinc hid behind Queen Faust, "You give me all the tough assignments..." He said, "I'm three weeks behind on all my work because of that. I even have the assignments in my room to prove it."

Over the fillies sobbing, the teachers tried to deny the accusation.

"Zinc, I want to see their assignments." Queen Faust said.

Zinc nodded and ran off to get them. When he brought them back and showed her the assignments, most of them could only be completed by an Alicorn Colt or Mare.

Queen Faust took the stack of assignments and looked at them, using her magic. "This is outrageous!" She said.

The teachers sunk down and looked guilty.

"You better stop giving Zinc these assignments and give him the ones you give Celestia and Luna." Queen Faust ordered with a serious tone. "And if he comes to me with another assignment like this, so help me, I will send you to the moon! Is that clear?!" She shouted, starting to use the Royal Canterlot voice slightly.