A Jester's Hat

A Jester Hat

Prologue

It had been 50 years since Taz Darkstripe had died and come back to life, with his 2 nieces as well. All that time he'd stayed in Canterlot, visiting Luna on occasion but mostly spending time with Celestia. Taz knew that Luna liked to be alone, so he respected her preferences. But, every once in a while, she would send a letter asking for company. Taz was always happy to oblige and would leave immediately. Whenever he visited Luna in her castle, they would just sit together and talk. Luna would tell him how she'd been, and Taz would tell her how he and Celestia had been. Taz always enjoyed those visits. Although he never admitted it, Luna had always been his favourite. Even though she'd become evil once, Taz still loved her with half his heart, and loved Celestia with the  other half. But Luna was closest to him. When she was still a filly, she would have nightmares, and Taz would listen to her and hold her when she described them. They were always close, and Taz had been very upset when she'd been banished to the moon. And when she'd died just 50 years ago...

Now, Taz was flying back to Canterlot. He'd been keeping Luna company for a few days, and they'd had a great time. Luna had been having nightmares again, so taz had done what he always did; listened to her and held her when she cried. Luna cried a lot, but Taz never held that against her. She was a sweet girl and he knew it. They both were and Taz loved them both equally. As he landed in Canterlot, he made his way back up to the castle. He saw that Shining Armour was on duty and gave him a mock salute. He smirked at me and saluted back. When they had first met, Taz Darkstripe and Shining Armour had not gotten along. Shining had actually hated Taz. But, over the years, Shining Armour began to warm to the big, scarred alicorn, and the two had become great friends as of late. Taz walked past his friend and into the castle where more guards waved to him. He waved back, smiling at each of them. They knew who he was, and they knew that he hated royal attention. Taz made his way up the stairs and went to his older nieces room. He knocked lightly.

"Who is it?" Celestia called.

"Your uncle," Taz replied. The door opened and Celestia hugged her uncle.

"I've missed you," She says. Taz laughs as he always did when he came back from Luna's.

"Why, it's only been a few days,"

"I know, but you're the only family I have left besides Luna, and she only ever comes to Canterlot when I'm asleep," Celestia walks over to her cushion in front of the fireplace and sits down. "I've never forgotten what it's like to die," She whispers. Taz walks over and sits beside her, holding her close.

"I know, darling," he says. "I know." Celestia looks up at him. She strokes the scar across his neck where he cut his own throat.

"You have a lot of heart, uncle," She says. "Any other pony would never have killed themselves for a kingdom."

"Well, other ponies aren't me," He replied. He smiled at Celestia. "And none will ever take you or Luny away from me." Taz kisses Celestia's forehead. She smiles and they sit like that for a long time, talking and looking into the fire.

That night, Taz has another nightmare. This time, he's wearing a jester hat, and he's standing over Celestia, who's crying. He's laughing, and he falls on her, ripping her throat out with his bare teeth. As the blood enters his mouth, he laughs some more and begins to gut Celestia, driving his dagger into her stomach and  ripping her insides out. As her liver comes into contact with his mouth, Taz wakes up screaming, dagger drawn and looking around frantically. He's in his chambers in Canterlot. he sighs with relief and falls back onto the pillows, rubbing his eyes. Eventually he realises he's not getting back to sleep, so he goes to his bathroom and splashes cold water on his face. When he looks in the mirror, his eyes widen and he steps backwards against the opposite wall. His mane... it looks like a jester hat. How the hell did it get like that? His mane was almost always the same style, spiked and facing backwards. Never had it come into this style before. He quickly got his hooves wet and flattened it back until it was smooth. He breathed heavily. He thought he'd killed all the Jesters... no, no he couldn't think like that. He had killed them all. they'd all died when he killed himself, eliminating the original. Taz shook his head and went over to his dresser. he didn't use it, but he liked to just sit and think at it. Now, he sat at it and took a picture out of a drawer. The picture was one he'd had for a long time, ever since the day before his brother, Lightning, and sister-in-law, Lucy, had been brutally killed. The picture was very faded, but Taz never threw it away. It was of Taz, Lightning and Lucy with two fillies who would grow up to become Taz's nieces today. They are all smiling, even Luna who was only 6 days old at the time. Taz had fewer scars back then, and his mane was more vibrant in colour. Celestia was very small and had just learned to walk, and Luna was still on her plot, but smiling at the camera. Lightning had his arm around Lucy, and she was resting her head against his shoulder. Taz was just standing with a big smile on his face. A tear splattered on the picture as Taz remembered that day. Back then he thought the 5 of them would be together forever, but his brother and sister had been snatched away. 50 years ago, he had a chance to spend forever with them again, but had turned them down. Why? Taz was still looking for an answer. He stared at the picture for a long time. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. He quickly put the picture back into the drawer and walks over to the door. He opens it a crack to see Celestia outside. Taz opens the door fully and invites her in. Celestia walks in and places something on the bed. It's a box, black in colour, and has a red ribbon on it.

"What's this?" Taz asks.

"Happy birthday, uncle," Celestia says, kissing Taz on the cheek. Taz smiles. He'd completely forgotten his birthday was today! He opens the box, and inside is a metal ore. It's a bright green in colour, and shimmers to blue when he moves it around in his hooves.

"What is this?" He asks, shocked at this. His nieces knew he loved to make weapons and armour, but he'd never seen n ore quite like this.

"My guards found it on a scouting mission," Celestia explains. "I thought you would like it, seeing as you spend so much time in the forge." Taz looks at Celestia and smiles.

"I can't wait to make it into something special," He says. He hugs Celestia. Suddenly, somepony else knocks on the door. "Come in!" Taz calls, and Luna walks in shyly.

"Happy birthday, uncle!" She says and jumps on me. I laugh and hug her. She gives me a small box wrapped in dark blue paper. "I thought I'd get you a little something," She says.

"Oh, Luny," Taz says, ruffling her mane lightly. He opens the box and inside is a dagger. The hilt is made of moonstone, and the blade is forged from a black metal that could only be Chimera Steel. "Thank you," He said, and hugged Luna tight.

"It's enchanted with endurance," Luna says. "It will last you at least 1,000 years," Taz looks at both Luna and Celestia. Suddenly, Celestia looks at Taz's mane, and her eyes widen. Her mouth quivers and tears come to her eyes. Taz looks at Luna, and she's slowly backing away. Taz frowns and feels his mane. It's spiky. He goes to the bathroom  mirror and looks at his reflection. The jester hat is back.