16 years later

Outside the castle, the sun shone brightly, birds sang and even a nice breeze was blowing, but inside was a bit different.

Solstice Crescent sat in her bedroom, nose looking down to a book that she was bearly reading. Her horn shone with the almost golden aura of her magic, turning the page. With the sudden slight vibration of her horn with the glow of her mother’s magic, she groaned, rubbing her face with her forehooves. “What could she possibly want now?” She asked herself.

Solstice got up from her stool, walking twords her door and opening it with her magic and closing it behind her. She nodded to a few guards as she made her way down the long hallways, and down to the throne room. She walked in seeing both her mothers standing on the other side of the map.

“What’s up?” Solstice asked.

“We have some great news.” Twilight said with a smile. Starlight, on the other hoof, looked sad.

“She has good news.” Starlight mumbled.
Solstice cocked her head, her bright red hair falling to one side. “Whats going on?”

“Ive found you a price to marry.” Twilight said.

Solstice’s mouth fell open, and her amber eyes went wide. “WHAT?!”

“I told you she wouldn’t like this.” Starlight said.

“Of course I don’t like it! You said that tradition died when Luna stopped it thousands of years ago!” Solstice yelled.

“It did, but I want to bring it back. Youll need a stallion to rule beside you one day.” Twilight said, sitting down.

“You and mom ruke just fine and your both mares?!” Solstice said, turning in a small circle, her eyes watering. “I cant believe this.” She almost whispered.

Solstice closed her eyes tight and ran out of the throne room.

“Solstice!” Starlight yelled as she started to run after her.

“Let her go, Star. She needs some time.” Twilight said.

Solstice ran out of the castle and twords the outside of ponyville. Her wings where flapping but she was going no where, she had ne strength to fly, her tears streaming off of her face as she ran. How could they do this to her? She already had enough to deal with, why did they have to put this extra stress on? What if she didn’t want a stallion?

She ran until she reached a cliff that faced the town, this was her spot to come when she was upset.

Solstice never gained a cutie mark. She was bullied relentlessly for it, even being a princess made it worse. What kind of princess didn’t have a cutie mark? What kind of princess didn’t have a talent? Her mind raced all the time, telling her she would never be good enough, that she would never live up to the expections.

She hung her head, looking down to her hooves, the lines on her fur standing out slightly. She closed her eyes again and looked away, she couldn’t look at the scars anymore.

Solstice’s ears perked up when she heard light hoofsteps behind her. She turned her head, seeing a light pink colored unicorn, with a short orange maine and tail.

“Excuse me for intruding, I can leave.” The pony said.

Solstice shuck her head. “No, you don’t have to.”

The unicorn walked up and sat down beside Solstice. “Im Aura Ember, but everyone calls me Aura”

“Im Solstice Crescent, but everyone calls me Solstice.” Solstice said with a small laugh.
Aura looked Solstice over, seeing her wings and no cutie mark. Solstice quickly covered her flank with her tail, looking away.

“You don’t have to hide it from me. I don’t mind, Princess.” Aura said.

Solstice rolled her eyes a bit. “Please, don’t use my title. This isn’t anything formal, plus I hate it.”
“Noted.” Aura said.

Solstice looked over at Aura, her cutie mark was a heart surrounded by what looked like a magical aura.

“It means I can feel what others feel. I thought my talent would be writing, but I guess this is more important.” Aura said.

“How did you know I wanted to know?” Solstice asked.

“I saw you looking.” Aura said with a smile and a small laugh.
Solstice rolled her eyes and giggled a little.

“It’s going to be sunset soon.” Aura said.

“And?” Solstice asked.

“You don’t have anywhere to be?” Aura asked.

“No where I want to be anyway.” Solstice said, her ears folding back onto her head.
Aura looked down, and then jumped to her hooves, using her teal colored magic to pull Solstice to hers. “Then come on. I know we don’t know each other, but I know a really cool place.”

Solstice jumped at the feel of the tingly magic, swinging her hooves around until she touched the ground again. “Where are we going?”

“Just come on, Princess.” Aura said with a wink and took off at a trot.

“I told you not to call me that!” Solstice yelled as she took off after Aura.

The two walked for hours, finally reaching a cave in the back of the forrest.
“Its in here.” Aura said, moving a few rocks out of the way.

“yeah, bring me out there no one will hear me, cause this is safe.” Solstice said.

“Just hush will ya, damn.” Aura said, walking to the cave, lighting her horn. “Come on.”

Solstice rolled her eyes and followed the pink unicorn. Walking through the cave was a bit hard. Water everywhere, rocks falling. “Im going to die. This is how it ends for me.”

Aura rolled her eyes and kept walking. “You could have said no.”

“But then I would miss this cave.” Solstice laughed.

“Its past the cave. Just trust me.” Aura sighed.

“Trust you? I hardly know you!” Solstice said.

Aura kept walking, out to a wall of vines, she moved it to the side, showing the cavern behind the cave. Solstice walked through it, her eyes widening. Inside the cavern was a huge lake, it was open at the top, so the sunset sky shone through, lighting the water in all colors of reds and oranges.The water dripping off the rocks was the only sound.

“See?” Aura said. “I like to come here to think.”

“Its beautiful.” Solstice said, sitting down on her haunches.

“It is.” Aura said, sitting down beside her.

“Ya know, I think this is the start of something beautiful.” Aura smiled.

“Ya, me to, Aura. Thank you for bringing me here, I really needed it.” Solstice smiled, looking over to Aura.

“Of course.” Aura smiled as she leaned over onto Solstice. Solstice jumped at first, her eyes widening a bit, but her muscles relaxed and she felt herself lift her wing and drap it over Aura’s side, pulling the mare close to her.

Author's Note

so here is the first chapter! hope you all like it!