In The Shadow Of Your Heart
Duty and responsibility were things Sunburst was deeply familiar with.
Even as a young colt, he had never been particularly rebellious or adventurous. Doing everything that he was told with little complaint and being praised for it, each lesson and task preparing him for his future as King of Annular, just like his father before him.
“I’m grateful that you seem to have a better head on your shoulders than me, my son,” his father would say whenever he showed him a perfectly scored exam. “Hot-headedness runs in our family, which has led many of our ancestors to make regrettable choices, but it seems that Celestia has blessed us with a prince of even temper. Indeed, a King of fair and clear mind is needed to guide his people and his kingdom into prosperity.”
Sunburst took his father’s words to heart and strove to be just that.
He rarely let himself feel anger or any other emotion that might cloud his judgment, turning him into a quiet colt with a serious face and judging eyes. He didn’t cry when he held his father’s hand as he lay dying from illness, he didn’t show fear as the heavy burden of leadership fell upon his shoulders at the age of sixteen, and when the time came for him to marry he let his mind guide him, not his heart.
And thus that’s how he found a suitable bride in the Kingdom of Saros.
The young King sat on his throne, waiting, watching the wooden double doors for a moment before he looked away, dropping his head with a quiet exhale. He clenched his hands around the armrest for a moment as a wave of nerves washed over him.
Mind over heart and body. He said to himself, and his hands stopped shaking.
On his right, the Captain of his guard, Shining Armor, pulled out a pocket watch. “They should be at the city gates by now.”
Sunburst stood up from his throne and headed to the window, taking a moment to look down at his city. From there the houses looked like toys and the citizens like colorful ants, making their way through the cobbled streets of Annular, but as much as he liked to watch his people going about their day without their knowledge, his attention was drawn to West gate.
He held out his hand and the Captain placed a small telescope on his open palm. “I trust that their journey was peaceful?”
“Lieutenant Double Diamond reported nothing unusual,” Shining Armor said, “thanks to you investing on outposts and roads from here to Saros, the most they had to worry about was the weather.”
Sunburst’s face remained impassive. “It can’t be helped, summer rains are unpredictable.”
The Captain chuckled. “I don’t think the Lady would mind a little rain, seeing that Saros is close to the sea.”
It was true, the ponies of Saros made their lives at sea, but Sunburst wondered how much the daughter of a rich noble would know about seafaring. Saros was the last major port on the West Luna Ocean, on the borders of the Hippogriff Kingdom and the Changeling Forest, and traded heavily with their neighbors, making it prosperous enough that despite the port’s small size it made for a powerful ally.
He watched as the city gates opened wide enough for a carriage and its escorts to walk through with his telescope. A pair of pegasi flew ahead, diverting traffic and crowds away from the carriage so as not to be delayed. Small groups of onlookers formed on the streets, watching the rich carriage ride by, their curiosity palpable even from his vantage point.
Annular was bigger in both size and population in comparison to Saros, nestled comfortably at the feet of the Crystal Mountains, close to the territories of the Yaks and the Griffons. The Yaks were nomads and lived most of their lives high up in the mountains, but would come every summer during the Summer Solstice Festival to trade their wool and weave work. The Griffons, on the other hand, were proud and reclusive, looking down on the other tribes and believing themselves to be superior; it wouldn’t have been such an issue if they also weren’t aggressive with their neighbors.
But if his sources were correct, then this marriage would finally give him the upper hand against the violent griffons.
The carriage entered the castle’s grounds and parked at the entrance. Sunburst saw one of the guards opening the door and offering a hand to the passenger inside. From where he was, he could not see her face, all he could make of her was the purple and green colors of her dress; as she walked up the stairs into the castle, escorted by his guard dressed in golden armor, she looked like a lavender flower blooming in a field of wheat.
Sunburst folded the telescope and handed it back to his captain. “Is everything ready?”
One of the maids, Lotus Blossom, stepped forward and curtsied. “Yes, Your Majesty, the Lady’s room has been prepared according to your directions, as well as food, refreshments, and anything else the Lady might require.”
“See to the Lady’s needs once our meeting is over,” Sunburst said.
The maid nodded and stepped back into her place by the wall, where a group of maids was also standing in wait for the arrival of their new mistress. Sunburst went back to his throne, taking a seat and resuming his vigil of the double doors.
“Is she beautiful, my lord?” Shining Armor asked, taking his place by the King’s side.
Sunburst sighed through his nose. Only Shining Armor, skirt chaser extraordinaire, would ask that. It was only thanks to his good manners that he did not roll his eyes. “Does it matter?” He answered a little tersely.
“I’m simply curious,” he said, rolling his armored shoulders. “Wanting to know the face of the future Queen is perfectly reasonable...though it would be nice if she was pleasant to look at.”
Sunburst remained silent, and his Captain was wise enough to drop the subject. The beauty of a mare was not something Sunburst pondered often; in a world where magic and makeup existed, he found the point to be rather moot. Beauty would not protect his kingdom or feed his people, it did not matter what his future bride looked like, what glamour and paints she put on her face, only what she brought to this marriage. Which in his case, were means for finally putting the Griffon threat to rest.
According to his sources, the Griffons were struggling. The last few winters had not been kind to them, and famine was ravaging their tribes, reducing the once prideful creatures to resort to petty thievery and needless destruction of farms and smaller villages close to their territory. While some members of his council suggested letting the Griffons die out or use this chance to wipe them off the map entirely, Sunburst saw an opportunity to end this peacefully, without any bloodshed from either side.
They would offer them aid, in exchange for peace.
His council had revolted, but Sunburst appealed to their pragmatic and greedy side. He did this by showing his council a griffon knife. Griffon weaponry was second to none in Equestria, their shields impenetrable and their swords the sharpest ever created, if the Griffons were to die then their craftsmanship would die with them. This was an opportunity to finally have the aggressive nation, driven desperate by hunger, yield to their demands and trade their weapons with them.
But then came the question from his most skeptical advisor, how did he propose to feed the Griffons while also feeding their own? There simply wasn’t enough food to feed Annular and Griffonstone at the same time, besides, the Griffons were carnivores, they would not be interested in the food they had to offer.
Sunburst agreed, it wouldn’t be possible to produce enough food to feed both nations, that was why they would have to import it. And while they were carnivorous, they preferred fish and poultry over other meats, something that the Port of Saros was famous for.
Of course, this was but a summary of weeks of debate and meetings between him and his council, but the fact that Sunburst was sitting there, waiting for his bride, meant that his plan for the Griffons’ peaceful surrender was finally underway.
The doors opened and Sunburst straightened his posture. His guards walked in in rows of two, escorting his bride into the room. She kept her head low, her long, loose hair falling in waves around her face and veiling it from view.
He turned his attention to one of his knights as they stepped forward. He took off his helmet, revealing an earth pony with icy blue eyes and white mane, his fur as white as the snow that crowned the mountains. He bowed at the waist, to which Sunburst nodded in acknowledgment, and he stepped aside, motioning towards the female in the shadows.
“My Lord, King Sunburst Zenith of Annular, I present to you Lady Starlight Glimmer of Saros.”
The mare, Lady Glimmer stepped forward into the sunlight pouring from the window. Sunburst rose to meet her, acutely aware that all the eyes in the room were on them and how deadly silent it had become. all he could hear was the tapping of his boots against the marble floor, the whisper of her skirts as she approached, and his nervous heartbeat in his ears.
Mind over heart and body. He said to himself as he studied his future queen.
Her dress, he noted, was long, flowing, and composed of many layers, with loose sleeves that nearly brushed the ground. So unlike the tight corsets and the form-fitting sleeves favored by the ladies of his court. Sunburst was not a fashion connoisseur by any stretch of the imagination, but he found that he preferred this style, it made her looked like she was gliding towards him instead of walking.
She was a unicorn, just like him, he realized belatedly, he hadn’t even asked what she was when he sent his proposal to Saros...because it hadn’t mattered, he told himself, as long as she was the daughter of the Duke he would marry her. She raised her face to meet his eyes briefly. The sunlight hit her eyes and made him realize that her eyes weren’t black, but a dark blue like the ocean at night. Dark lashes framed those eyes and they fluttered slightly when she looked down, her dark purple hair grazing the soft lavender of her cheeks and neck as she curtsied as low as she could. Sunburst vowed in kind, but not as low as the lady.
“Welcome to Annular, Lady Glimmer.”
“It’s an honor to be here, Your Grace.” She spoke in a low tone and there was a slight accent to her words, but he found her voice to be as pleasant as their owner.
Lady Glimmer rose, her hands folded in front of her politely and she kept her eyes low. Sunburst wondered if she avoided his gaze out of respect or out of disdain for him. For ponies of their status, this kind of arrangement wasn’t unheard of, it was almost expected from them, but Sunburst had the rare luxury to choose his bride—since his parents hadn’t arranged it for him before they passed—and he wondered if he would have looked the same way if his family had suddenly dumped a bride at his feet and called it a day.
Sunburst sighed quietly through his nose and pushed aside those thoughts. There was no use in thinking of such things.
“You must be tired from your journey, a room has been prepared for you to rest in, anything you need don’t hesitate to ask Miss Lotus Blossom for it,” he turned his attention to the maids. “Escort the Lady to her rooms.”
Lady Glimmer curtsied again and followed the maid out of the room, leaving the King with his Guards. He watched her go despite himself, the way the waves of her hair bounced as she walked and the way her tail flick behind her with every step, noting the hints of turquoise hidden in the lavender hair, and he wondered if it was as soft as it looked.
Now that the need for formality was over, his four most trusted Guards gathered around him while the rest excused themselves. They took off their helmets with relieved sighs as they approached. Sunburst smiled at the familiar faces and turned to the white pony.
“Was the journey difficult, Double Diamond?”
Double Diamond shook his head. “No, my lord, it was rather...peaceful.”
Behind him, Flash Sentry snorted. “What he means is that it was boring as sin.”
“And I think that’s a good thing,” Maud Pie said, talking in her usual monotone, placing a hand over the pegasus head and ruffling it, much to his dismay. “At least I could keep these hotheads in line so they didn’t bother the Lady too much.”
Sunburst perked at the mention of his new bride. “How did she fare? Was she too much trouble?”
“It was as though we were escorting a statue,” answered Lightning Dust, leaning against the wall as she looked out the window. “She hardly said a word during the trip, I thought she was mute until I heard her speak just now, probably thinks she’s too good to talk to lowly knights.”
“Lightning,” Shining said, a hint of a warning in his tone. “That’s the future queen you’re talking about, speak with a little more respect.”
“Oh, so you can comment on her face and body without even seeing her, but I who had to bring her all the way here can’t talk about her attitude?”
“Enough,” Sunburst said, his voice hard, and the two fell silent. “I let this go on for too long, but now that she’s here I won’t take any more slander against the Lady—in front of me or behind my back—from any of you,” he addressed his Knights but gave a pointed glare at Shining and Lightning. “Have I made myself clear?”
His knights fell in line, placing their right fists over their hearts as they bowed low. “Yes, my lord.”
“Good, let this be the last time I hear of this,” Sunburst said, letting some of the tension bleed from him as he spoke. “Go and rest, we have a wedding to prepare for tomorrow.”
The Knights left him with a final bow. Once he was alone, he sighed and glanced at the throne behind him. Tomorrow, a new one would be placed beside it, and a week later, a new Queen would sit on it for the first time in twenty-four years.
A wave of nerves hit him, twisting his stomach uncomfortably. He was marrying a stranger the day after tomorrow, and he had no one to blame but himself. What if his plans fell through? What if the Griffons revolted anyway and he was forced to kill them all? With what face would he confront his people as they send their children to war—?
Mind over heart and body.
He closed his eyes and turned away, taking a deep breath. No, it will work, he will make sure of that. Once the marriage was official and the commercial ties finalized, he would have all he needed to convince the Griffons into a peaceful surrender. With this marriage, no one would have to die.
He walked away from the throne with his head held high, his expression impassive.
Mind over heart and body.
Overnight the streets of the city of Annular were covered in colorful flowers, banners, and ribbons fluttering merrily in the breeze. Its citizens were dressed in their best clothing for the occasion, dancing to the music that seemed to play from every corner or snacking on the food that could be found on multiple stalls.
All the roads were closed except for one, the one that led from the castle to the Temple of the Sun, where their patron Goddess, Celestia, was enshrined. The day was bright and warm, leading some to comment that the Goddess was smiling down at them, but if she was showing her approval for the union or simply curious of today’s events, only She knew for sure.
Sunburst sighed through his nose, the fake smile he plastered on his face beginning to hurt as he waved at the crowd from his roofless carriage. He didn’t want the wedding ceremony to be this elaborate, but his council had insisted since he had refused to do a celebration the day he was crowned King. He agreed only after it was decided that it would be two ceremonies rolled into one: the wedding and the Lady’s coronation, using this chance to present her to his people as their Queen.
The carriage came to a stop in front of the Temple and Sunburst entered it as quickly as he could, all while smiling and waving at the crowds that gathered outside. His smile dropped once he was inside and the door closed behind him, his ears ringing with the cheers and the music that followed him all the way here.
The inside of the Temple was quieter, but still as crowded, with nobles and other rich guests occupying the temple’s numerous decorated seats. Despite the sunlight pouring through the stained glass windows, candles and incense had been lit for the occasion, which mixed with the potent perfume of the flowers that seemed to litter every possible corner and surface.
He stood at the altar next to the priest, waiting, dressed in the most formal clothing he had ever put on in his life, and it was decidedly uncomfortable. The white jacket was tight, preventing him from slouching like he usually did, and the black pants and boots were much too warm to wear in this summer heat, and Sunburst silently cursed the tradition that called for such formal wear. But the worst offender was the cape on his shoulders. It was long enough to sweep the ground behind him for several feet, and heavy, made of green velvet with his family’s crest stitched with a golden thread on the back with white fur lining the edges. It was so unlike the usual capes he wore, which were shorter, made of a lighter and more comfortable material, and served other purposes than just being fashionable.
He studied the golden buttons on his jacket instead of looking into the crowd. There was no one present that he was personally familiar with. His guards, his true and only friends, were on duty for this occasion. The only ones who might have shown him any encouragement were his parents, and they were long gone. He was alone in this.
Mind over heart and body. Came his usual mantra, but the words lack their usual comfort.
The organ started the play, followed by the choir, and his heart slammed into his throat as the double doors opened. The sunlight poured from the opening, along with a much-needed fresh breeze that rushed to him as he stood by the altar. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the breeze ruffle his face and goatee, taking a deep breath and his heart settled at the smell of fresh pines and lavender.
The young King looked up towards the now open double doors. It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust to the bright sunlight, and once they did, they centered towards the figure approaching him.
The whole congregation turned towards her, but if she was bothered by the attention it didn’t show. Her steps never faltered, the breeze made the veil on her face sway gently, and for a moment Sunburst thought he was marrying a spirit, coming down from the heavens dressed in white with a veil made out of sunlight.
Then she stepped out of the light and into the altar, the harsh sunlight slipping from her form like a soft caress, looking like a simple mortal again, and yet his heart refused to settle as she approached. He discreetly wiped his clammy hand against his trousers before he offered it to her (silently proud that his fingers weren’t shaking) and she took it.
He held her gloved hand gently as she climbed the last few steps to the altar, picking her skirts slightly so as not to trip on the top of the podium, and Sunburst realized that this was the first time they ever touched. He looked at their joined hands for a moment, her fingers delicate and soft when laid on top of his rough and clumsy hand, more used to handling papers and quills than holding another pony’s hand.
His fingers squeezed hers briefly when they both kneeled at the altar, in front of the priest and his massive book of scriptures, and he let her go as they settled.
The priest was a severe-looking pegasus with grey mane and fur, the wrinkles on his face betraying his age as he began the ceremony:
“Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…”
Sunburst zoned out as the cleric recited his duties as King and Husband, and Lady Glimmer’s duty as Queen and Wife, and warned against those ponies that entered into the sanctity of marriage without reason as foolish creatures. It was all very repetitive to him, especially since he studied those scriptures when he ascended to the throne all those years ago. He only paid attention again when the preacher asked the congregation if someone had a reason to oppose this marriage. When no one did, Sunburst let out a quiet sigh of relief.
The priest read out the rules of marriage to them. “As husband and wife, you must be loyal to one another, be kind to one another, be honest in times of doubt, treat each other with generosity and affection, and be each other’s pillar of support during times of hardship as well as laughter.” He turned to Sunburst. “The rings, your Majesties.”
Sunburst pulled out the ring from his coat pocket, Lady Glimmer pulled hers from the blue drawstring bag wrapped around her wrist. She took off her glove and offered her left hand to him, and he took it, somewhat surprised to see her cutie mark engraved on her hand, as well as the slight callouses he could feel underneath his fingers.
The priest continued. “Do you, King Sunburst Zenith of Annular, solemnly swear to abide by these rules as they were given unto us by the Divine Sisters at the beginning of time?”
“I do,” Sunburst said, slipping the ring on the Lady’s finger, his voice surprisingly firm.
The reverend then turned to Lady Glimmer and asked the same question. She took his hand and looked at Sunburst squarely in the eye as she slipped the ring on his finger. “I do.”
Their fates were sealed now.
On the outskirts of the city, a villa had been prepared for the royal couple to spend their week-long honeymoon. He had a lovely view of the Crystal Mountains and the Everfree Lake below from his study, reflecting the mountain range and the twilight sky like a mirror. He stared at the window as the sun disappeared behind the mountains, casting his room in long shadows and golden light before darkness consumed the valley.
The pair had arrived yesterday evening after a long day of celebrations and they each retired to separate rooms for the night. They had managed to postpone tradition for the day, but now that they were rested the excuses had run out. Sunburst stayed in his study for as long as he could, looking over his paperwork by candlelight, trying to give his wife time to prepare, and him as well.
When he waited for as long as he could, he stood up and left his study, his feet carried him to her room and he froze, his nerves getting the best of him. What if she was asleep? Should he wait until morning? What if she wasn’t ready? What if…?
Mind over heart and body. His hand stopped shaking and he balled it into a loose fist as he wrapped his knuckles on the oak, loud enough for her to hear.
“Enter.” She said after a short pause.
He opened the door slowly and found her sitting by the fireplace, with a book on her lap and a surprised expression on her face. She had not been expecting him.
“Milord,” she said as she stood hastily, brushing her long hair from her face and nervously twisting the strands in her hand. “Good evening.”
Heat rushed to his face as he took her in. Her hair, free of any ornament or product, was long—long enough to reach the curve of her lower back, where her tail was, creating the illusion that her hair reached the floor in waves of amethyst and turquoise. She was dressed in a simple white nightgown, which clung to her curves and looked almost translucent in the firelight.
Now that they were alone, he could finally admit to himself that she was beautiful.
He stepped closer and cleared his throat. “Are you well rested Lady Glimmer?”
She cocked her head to the side. “Yes, I am, but why…?” She stopped, her dark blue eyes widened as realization dawned on her. She straightened her posture, her expression serious despite the light blush on her cheeks. “Yes, I’m rested...and prepared.”
He got closer until he was standing in front of her, but he didn’t touch her. She lowered her gaze, but he stopped her by placing his fingers gently underneath her chin. Standing this close, he was mesmerized by the color of her eyes, he had never seen such a deep blue before, much less on a living creature. And he could tell that she was scared, despite the brave face she was trying to hide behind.
His hand cradled her cheek, his thumb caressing her cheekbone gently as he watched her. She seemed surprised by the gesture, and slowly she reached out and rested her hands on his chest. He could feel them trembling as they grasped the fabric of his shirt.
He didn’t want that, he didn’t want her to look at him in fear, but he didn’t know what to do to help her. He sighed. “Don’t be afraid.” He whispered gently.
She dropped her gaze, frowning slightly. “I know I shouldn’t be,” she answered, her voice low and shy. “I was told by the matrons of my family about what to expect, I read books, I know the theory but...I can’t help it,” she swallowed nervously. “I can’t help but be scared.”
Her voice was beautiful, despite the tremor he could hear in her words. And though it broke his heart to see her in this way, he knew that he couldn’t let her back away from this. They would only have a week to themselves before duty and courtly life got in the way, if they didn’t consummate the marriage now it could spell trouble for them in the future.
“We’ll go slow,” he said instead, trying to sound soothing.
She took a deep breath and nodded. She stepped back and raised her hands to her shoulders, where the straps of her nightgown hung, but Sunburst placed his larger hands over her small ones, stopping her. She raised her eyes to his, confusion wrinkling her brow.
He stepped back and turned away, allowing her privacy. In the meantime, he undressed, undoing the buttons of his shirt slowly to give her time, draping the garment over the lounge chair by the fire before he took off his boots. When he was only in his pants, he dared to look towards the bed.
The Lady’s nightgown laid on the floor by the foot of the bed in a circle of white fabric. Lady Glimmer had slipped under the covers, using the sheets to cover her naked body as she sat against the pillows, waiting, her gaze lowered to her lap.
Sunburst approached the bed from the other side and slipped his pants off, letting it fall to the carpet floor with a muffled whisper of fabric before he climbed into the bed. She sat motionless as he approached her, her long hair falling like a curtain over her face and she clutched the blanket to her chest for dear life.
He leaned down by her ear and whispered. “Forgive me.”
And he gently pulled the sheet away.
Author's Note
So it begins.
I like to call this my-self-indulgent-comfort-shipfic, something that was written for fun and nothing else, but then again, isn't this what fanfiction truly is? Not sure when I'll update this, I have some chapters written out already and I have an idea of the plot, so we'll see.
In The Shadow Of Your Heart
Starlight Glimmer was well acquainted with things like duty and responsibility. But it didn’t mean she liked them.
Ever since she was a little girl, she had trouble getting up in the mornings. Her nursemaids had to practically pull her out of the bed to get her ready for the day, something that didn’t change even as she grew older. However, nowadays, someone other than a maid took it upon themselves to get the Queen out of bed in the mornings.
The slight rattle of the doorknob rose her from her dreams, she had always been a light sleeper and the sound of her door opening was all the warning she needed. She laid still, opening her bleary eyes as she glanced around her darkened bedroom, listening as the door creaked opened and the patter of small feet approached her bed. Starlight hid her smile on her pillow and closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep as the intruder climbed her bed, approaching her from behind.
The intruder was so small that she hardly made a dent in the mattress, and would have been successful in sneaking up on her if she bothered to be quiet about it. However, Starlight could forgive her lack of finesse, after all, she was only three years old.
Starlight waited until the shuffling got closer before she pounced.
“Got you!” The Queen said, hugging the little intruder to her chest and blowing a raspberry to her cheek.
“Mama!” Her daughter squealed in her arms, trying to get away. “Get up!”
“But I don’t want to,” Starlight said, lying on her side and holding her squirming daughter close. “I want to sleep some more.”
“But the sun is up! Papa says that when the sun is up it’s time to get up!”
Starlight groaned playfully. “Alright, alright,” she rolled over and let her daughter go. “I’ll get up.”
“Yay!”
Luster Dawn jumped out of bed with surprising dexterity and ran up to the window, pulling the heavy curtain aside and letting the sunshine in. This time, Starlight groaned for real as she sat up on the bed, rubbing her tired eyes. Her daughter grinned back, golden eyes wide and awake, despite her tousled blonde hair and her slightly mused pink fur. Her nightgown fluttered around her ankles as she climbed back to bed and into her arms.
“Where’s Miss Cheerilee?”
Luster bit her lip, her ears folding against her messy yellow curls, making her look sheepish and Starlight knew that she had given the governess the slip yet again.
Starlight sighed, shaking her head. “Luster, we talked about this.”
“But mama,” the little filly pouted, hiding her face in her mother’s bosom, “...I had that bad dream again.”
Her voice was so small and sad that it immediately wiped the smile from Starlight’s face. “The one with the fire?”
Luster nodded and Starlight hugged her tighter, smoothing her daughter’s hair lovingly. It was the third time this week she had complained about her dreams and the worry she had been holding back came through stronger than ever. Deep down, she had hoped that her family’s gift would skip a generation or several, or at least appear after Luster earned her cutie mark, but never had she expected it to manifest in her at such a young age.
Clairvoyance. It was a mysterious talent passed down from mother to daughter for countless generations in her family, and it never manifested in the same way; in her grandmother, for example, it had given her the talent to find missing objects or ponies, while Starlight’s mother had the gift of telepathy. As for Starlight herself, it had come in the rarest and the most powerful form of all...
She looked down at the hand currently petting Luster’s mane, where the glimmering star (her cutie mark) was forever etched onto her skin. The eight-point star rested on her palm, leaving behind two tails of turquoise color wrap around her wrist to her elbow. Even after all this time, she could never tell if the star was falling or rising.
Starlight shook her head and put on a smile, catching her daughter’s attention with a pat on her back. “Do you know what time it is?”
Luster shook her head, her brow wrinkling with confusion.
Starlight’s grin widened and she wiggled her fingers. “Tickle time!”
The little filly squealed when Starlight attacked her sides, and the laughter chased away the gloomy expression from the little one’s face, which was exactly what Starlight wanted. She was only three years old, she shouldn’t have to bear the weight of the terrible power that was Clairvoyance until much later in life when she was ready. Not if she, as her mother, had anything to say about it.
“Now,” Starlight said, lifting her hands from her daughter once she was satisfied. “Do you promise not to run away from Miss Cheerilee again?”
Luster nodded wild curls bouncing around her face as she did so, but stopped when she heard the door being pushed open. Lotus Blossom and her twin sister, Aloe, stepped in, followed by a slightly flustered Miss Cheerilee, and the three vowed to the Queen and the Princess. “Good morning, your Highness.”
“Your Highness, please forgive me,” Miss Cheerilee said, stepping forward before Starlight could return the greeting. “I swore that I would keep an eye on her, but the moment I turned away she just…”
“It’s alright,” Starlight interrupted and nodded towards her daughter, “I think the little lady here has something to say.”
Luster stood on the bed, her hands clasped behind her back and her head bowed, looking very much like the image of penitence. “I’m sorry Miss Cheerilee, for running away and for making you worry.”
“And?”
“...I won’t do it again, promise.”
All the mares present severely doubted the validity of such a promise, but Miss Cheerilee smiled anyway.
“Oh, alright,” Cheerilee said and motioned for Luster to come to her. “No harm was done, now let’s go to your room to get you ready for the day.”
Luster jumped from the bed and took her governess hand, waving the other mares goodbye as she left the room. Starlight dropped her smile the moment they were out the door, and she laid down on her mattress again with a sigh, throwing an arm over her eyes.
“Rough night, your majesty?”
“Just the usual,” she mumbled, listening as Lotus and Aloe moved around the room. “But last night was maddening, I was so close to getting a clear vision, but the moment I thought I had it, the dream fell apart in the end.”
The mares nodded sympathetically but said nothing, not that Starlight was expecting them to. Clairvoyance was a rare talent, even among unicorns, Starlight herself had a hard time understanding it even with all her training.
Trying to predict the future was like floating in a stormy sea, tugged in different directions by the currents while trying to keep her head above the water. While some currents were stronger than others, there was only so much Starlight could do to see them, and it was at times better to let the visions come to her, let the currents take her where they wanted, instead of fighting the fates.
But lately, she felt like she was trapped in a vortex, the visions strong and foreboding but confusing all the same. Whatever was coming it was big enough to even awaken her daughter’s talent before time, and Starlight would be lying if she said she wasn’t worried.
She left the bed with heavy reluctance and sat in front of the mirror, letting Lotus brush her messy mane and prepare her for the day. The sisters chattered amicably as they dressed their lady, Starlight too worried about her visions to listen or contribute besides an absentminded nod or a noncommittal hum.
Aloe was putting the final touches on her dress when she asked. “My lady, have you told his Highness about this?”
Her maid’s gentle words gave her a pause, but she got over it with a shake of her head. “I don’t want to alarm him with vague notions of the future that even I don’t understand.”
It wasn’t that Starlight went out of her way to keep her talent hidden, her cutie mark was visible to all, but her mother warned her early on not to flaunt it either. Clairvoyance was a misunderstood talent at best, and a hated one at worst; many mares in her family suffered terrible fates when they abused their gifts or were used by others when their talent was discovered.
She only told Aloe and Lotus after they accidentally woke her from one of her visions and she nearly hurt them in her panic, and even then she never told them the full extent of her powers. She was happy to learn that the sisters were good at keeping secrets and no one in the palace was none the wiser, not even her husband knew what her special talent was, and she wanted to keep it that way.
“My Lady, if I may add,” Lotus continued for her sister, “his Highness knows a great deal about magic, he could help you if you asked. I heard that he was one of the best students that the Academy had seen in a long time. He probably would have earned the title of Grand Wizard if he had stayed longer and his father hadn’t passed away, the only one I can think of that could match him in knowledge is Mr. Horwitz—”
“That 's it!”
The two mares jumped away when Starlight suddenly turned around with a wide grin. “Lotus, has Mr. Horwitz returned from his trip to Yakyakistan?”
“I think so, yes, but—”
“Tell him to meet me after lunch in his office,” she turned to Aloe, “and tell Miss Cheerilee to bring Luster to me after her lessons are over.”
The sisters shared a quick look but nodded anyway. They recognized the determined glint in their lady’s eyes and knew well enough by now to step out of the way.
“Shall we continue, Sire?”
Sunburst blinked, looking away from the window and down to his papers. “Yes, please continue Double Diamond.”
The stallion nodded, his face set in a grim frown as he sighed, and pulled out a scroll from his coat before handing it to Sunburst. “They have struck again.”
Sunburst’s council consisted of twelve ponies from different backgrounds and ages, carefully selected for their knowledge of the land and its citizens. He always believed that having a diverse council was crucial to running his kingdom, even if they didn’t always see eye-to-eye, every opinion mattered and was deserved to be heard.
This time, however, was the first time in his life he had seen them all agreeing on something. They were all equally outraged.
“And you bring this up just now?!” Neighsay said, one of the oldest and most stubborn members of his council, followed by a chorus of outcries from the rest.
“Everyone, settle down.” Maud Pie calmed the room without even having to raise her voice. Everyone present knew better than to cross the earth mare, even Neighsay. “We just received the news this morning, and the damage so far has only been material in nature, no pony was hurt during the raid.”
Sunburst sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“These ‘vandals are getting bolder and bolder,” Flash Sentry said, pulling out a notebook to check his notes. “This is the third time this week they have attacked this close to the city, it’s only a matter of time before someone is injured.”
“They have been attacking the countryside for longer than that!” Lighting Dust slammed her fist to the table. “The citizens are restless and I’m with them! We can’t just sit here and do nothing!”
“Calm yourself, Lightning,” Shining Armor said, cutting through the din of voices that agreed with her. “Attacking head-on without a strategy is a sure way for us to lose, and until we have more information on this group our hands are tied.”
All the members of the council looked at each other, all at a loss for words and unsure of what to think. Sunburst would have laughed if the situation weren’t so dire, his council was rarely silent about anything.
It was Double Diamond that broke the silence. “If I may say, these attacks are remarkably similar to those from four years ago.”
“You are not suggesting that the Griffons are behind this?”
Double Diamond shrugged. “Or we are dealing with a copycat...a very meticulous one at that.”
Neighsay rolled his eyes. “Those greedy bastards, after everything we have done for them, and they repay us like this.”
Worried murmurs broke around the room. The white knight had been the only one to voice everyone’s suspicion: that the griffons were quietly rebelling, or at least a small group of them, probably the part of the tribe that had refused to accept their help four years ago, and resented those that did fell in line with Annular’s demands.
“That’s what we get for showing kindness when we should have shown them strength,” Neighsay said while giving a pointed look at his King.
But Sunburst ignored him and raised his hand to bring order back into the room. “Members of the council, we could sit here all day arguing and not get any closer to the truth, until the perpetrators are found or we have more relevant information about them, we must do what we can to protect ourselves.”
He squared his shoulders and issued his orders. “Shining Armor and Double Diamond, increase security at the gates and the number of patrols in the streets at all times of the day and night. Maud and Lighting will be in charge of the investigation of the newest burning site, don’t overlook anything, even the smallest detail could be the key to solve this mystery. Flash, prepare yourself for a trip to the Griffon lands, find out if there is any discontent or rumors about a rebel group, I’ll see if I can arrange a meeting with the Griffon leader, hopefully, he will tell us something. As for the rest of you, keep your ears and eyes open for any information. Meeting adjourned.”
With that everyone stood up and left the room, but Sunburst stayed behind a little longer, gathering his papers slowly, giving himself time to think before moving on to his next task of the day, a very long list of things that would occupy him well into the night. The King sighed and took off his glasses, rubbing his tired eyes.
“Yeah, I’m with you, today was a rough meeting.” Flash Sentry hadn’t moved from his chair, leaning back with his legs propped on the table and his arms cushioning his head. “When Neighsay and his club of yeasayers get going it is impossible to shut them up.”
Sunburst smiled and put on his glasses. “I don’t know, this meeting was remarkably short compared to last week’s.”
“Because you were surprisingly quiet today,” Flash said, dropping his legs from the table as he pinned his friend with a serious look. “What’s the matter? It’s not like you to keep your thoughts to yourself.”
The unicorn glanced around the room, making sure that the doors were closed and the windows shut before answering. “Despite the evidence...I don’t think that the Griffons were involved.”
The teasing glint in the pegasus' eyes disappeared entirely as he pulled his chair closer to him. “Neither do I, but most of the council thinks so, or are willing to believe it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, if we are guided by our prejudices then the real culprit will get away with this. Hopefully, Maud and Lighting will find something, nothing can escape those two,” Sunburst walked up to the window, looking out at the clear sunny day with a grim expression. “We have to stop this before it escalates.”
If Sunburst had been averse to fighting before, he was much more against it now than ever before. He was no fighter and war was a waste of resources and lives in his eyes, but now there was a more personal reason for him to avoid conflict. He had a family now, and the thought of leaving them behind was such a painful possibility that he rarely contemplated it, for the sake of his heart and sanity.
“If the griffons are behind this, they would have let us know a long time ago,” Flash stated, standing up. “They’re a loud and proud bunch, especially in battle, sneaking around like this is not their way.”
“What did I say about prejudices?” Sunburst chided, but it had been exactly what he had been thinking about during the whole meeting, and even way before, when the attacks had started.
They should have known the name of the group by now, or their demands at least, but they didn’t even have that.
“Well, best get packing, Griffinstone is—Woah!”
The moment Flash pulled the door open, he jumped out of the way as a streak of pink and yellow raced into the room and straight into the King’s arms.
“Papa!”
Sunburst picked Luster Dawn up easily, using the momentum to spin her around. She squealed and raised her arms as they spun, making him smile before he settled her on his hip.
“Looks like a bumblebee has lost her way.” He teased, gently flicking her nose. “Aren’t you supposed to be in your lessons with Miss Cheerilee?”
“Nuh-huh,” she said, shaking her head and messing her curls. “It’s lunchtime!”
“Already?” Sunburst was genuinely surprised, his meetings usually ended after lunch.
A familiar voice stopped his daughter from answering. “Luster! How many times have I told you—oh.”
He looked up just in time to see Starlight enter the room, her eyes widening slightly when they met his. He found himself staring at her, just like he always did. She was a beautiful creature (something that now he was willing to admit, but knew from the moment they first met) that managed to take his breath away even after three years of marriage. Her long purple hair was tied back in a half ponytail, the strands falling behind her back in loose curls, dressed in a fine pale green gown that complemented her fur. The only other finery was the silver circlet on her head, indicating her status, but she still commanded attention with her presence alone even without it.
Starlight was in the middle of a council meeting of her own, judging by the group of ponies that followed her, peering curiously from behind their lady’s back. Soon after they were married, Starlight took over management of the castle and the staff, much to the relief of the servants, since he was rather clueless when it came to organizing parties and deciding what should be served for dinner.
Starlight bowed to him. “Forgive me, milord, am I interrupting anything?”
“No,” he said, a little too quickly, and he cleared his throat before he continued. “No, the meeting was adjourned a while ago, Sir Flash and I were just talking.”
“Ah, yes, we saw Lady Maud and Lady Lighting walking by, that’s how the little lady knew that her papa was free.”
She smiled and his heart somersaulted in his ribcage. Luster squirmed in his arms and he adjusted his grip on her, grateful for the distraction. “Running in the halls again, aren’t we?” Luster yawned and hid her face on his shoulder, clinging to him with chubby little hands. Her behavior gave him a pause, his little girl was usually energetic and cheerful, seeing her so quiet was unusual. “Luster?”
Starlight was instantly by his side, checking on Luster, after a moment she sighed with relief and stepped back. “She’s just sleeping.”
“Are you sure?” He asked, brushing his daughter's bangs from her face, he relaxed when he saw her peaceful expression. “All that running tired her out, huh?”
Starlight simply smiled and took Luster from his arms. “You could say…”
They stood there for an awkward moment, suddenly aware of where they were and their audience, and they stepped back from the other. Starlight vowed hastily and left the room, joining her group as she retreated down the hallway and out of sight.
Flash raised an eyebrow. “Well, that’s the longest conversation I’ve seen you two have.”
Sunburst scoffed, walking out the door in the direction of his study, but the knight wasn’t far behind. “We talk all the time.”
“Aha, and I’m a monkey’s uncle,” Flash rolled his eyes. “Look, I grew up on a cloud farm so I don’t how marriage works for ponies like you, but from what I know, a wife and a husband should be comfortable enough to talk and see each other every day, not avoid each other like children that still believe in cooties.”
“We are running a kingdom, not a farm, our schedules don’t align most of the time,” Sunburst said. “If she needs me she knows where to find me.”
The knight looked like he wanted to say more, but changed his mind at the last second, sighing instead and shaking his head dismissively. “Alright, I won't butt in, I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
Flash walked ahead, leaving Sunburst alone at the entrance of his study; they knew each other long enough that formality wasn’t needed when it was just the two of them. He stood in front of the door, his hand hovering over the doorknob, but he turned away instead, walking towards an area of the castle he didn't visit often.
There was a rather large sitting room not far from his study that was rarely used. He heard stories of how it was used for hosting large parties and other social events, but since his mother’s passing, it had remained unused. He made sure to keep it cleaned and aired despite its lack of use, just like any room in the castle; so when the king stepped in, he was greeted by a clean but empty room, but even with the cheerful sunlight and clean furniture, he felt the ghosts of the past lingering in the room.
The walls were bare except for three portraits, all three of them depicting couples. The three couples that had ruled over Annular so far.
The first one was of his grandmother and grandfather, a battle-scarred unicorn and a petite pegasus with wings that seemed to be far too large for her body. Despite the fierceness in the unicorn’s expression, the hand draping over the mare’s shoulder wasn’t possessive or harsh, it was protective, almost loving, and the mare leaned on him with the utmost ease, making it clear that she trusted him and the two were close.
Which would explain why his grandfather went mad when she died.
The next portrait was of his mother and father. While his mother was bright-eyed and happy, his father’s smile was strained, with dark circles under his violet eyes as he looked down at Sunburst. He looked how Sunburst felt most of the time—tired but determined to push through to get things done—despite the fact that his father’s reign had been more chaotic than Sunburst’s so far. His father had inherited a broken kingdom, torn by war and his grandfather’s need for revenge, and hadn’t had much time to spare for Sunburst, opting for sending him to Magic School the moment he was of age.
Sunburst could count with his hand the number of conversations he had with his father, but all of them had been meaningful in some way, and shaped him to he was today.
He still didn’t know how to feel about the last portrait. It was well made, but the pair posing for the frame was the most distant one by far. Starlight sat on a red chair, dressed in a dark green dress, looking at the viewer with a neutral expression while Sunburst stood behind her, his hand clutching the back of the chair as he too looked in the same direction. While his grandparents looked passionate and his parents looked loving, he and Starlight looked...awkward.
Despite the slight pang of hurt in his heart as he gazed at the awkward portrait of his marriage, he couldn’t help but think it was better this way. His grandfather had lost himself when his grandmother was killed, his father turned withdrawn and sadden when his mother passed, if he got attached to Starlight and something were to happen to her…
Yes, it was better this way, for the both of them.
Author's Note
It's going to be a slow one, that's for sure. It's been a while since I have undertaken a multichapter story so I'm a little rusty but please bear with me.
Feedback is love guys 
