Blooming Days

Firelight...

My father...

Dad had always treated me well. He wasn't around all the time like Mom, -- I guess a demanding career as one of the more prominent philosophers in the field of spell research and development will do that -- but when he was, he made sure Mom and I knew he loved us with all of his heart. Even though our relationship was a little different than mine and Mom's, I loved him too.

Honestly, I might've gotten my skill and fascination with magic from him. I hadn't gotten my obsession from Mom, that's for sure. Anyway, we generally got along really well. The only time we had ever really butted heads was when I realized something peculiar about spellcrafting in general.

Given a sufficient mana capacity and enough talent, there was no need to research or develop spells. That idea went against everything he stood for, but thankfully, it didn't create a wedge between us. At least, not coming from his end it didn't. I 'd always thought his time would be better spent expanding his mana pool and increasing his skill. Regardless of our disagreements, neither of us were specialists when it came to the medical field so he sought outside help.

...

Each and every "expert" he was able to bring to our home had told him the exact same thing.

"I'm just not certain what could be causing it. I'm sorry."

It was an endless cycle of fruitless repetition. Their apologies were worthless. They were worthless. How some of the greatest minds in Equestria could be so utterly... useless when it came to their area of expertise was beyond me.

When Mom's health degraded to the point of losing her mobility, Dad absolutely lost it. He couldn't really see much else after that, I think. Before she became bedridden, he'd held onto a semblance of hope. He'd even try to cheer me up when I was losing to the despair, though I'm fairly certain it was more projection for him than anything else. After her condition grew worse, his focus became her recovery and nothing else. Not even me.

Honestly, I never held that against him. He just loved Mom that much. I think I really admired him for that. To be so endlessly devoted to someone you loved... To prioritize them over anything and everything else in your life? It was something I could never let go of. It was something that I...

...

Anyway, Dad's last resort was to travel to Canterlot himself. If there wasn't a medical specialist in all of Equestria who could help Mom, then surely a goddess could. That was the logic he decided to employ, at least.

It wasn't the worst plan he could have come up with. Every creature in Equestria was aware of the Princess of the Sun's magical prowess. It was even said by some that her ability was so impressive she could perform miracles.

That particular rumor had never sounded correct to me. Magic could do lots of things, sure. Move a creature from one side of Equestria to the other in an instant? No problem. Blow up an entire city? Oh yeah. Turn a chair into a castle? Why not? Bring the dead back to life, though? Doubtful.

Thankfully, Mom wasn't that far gone yet.

Magic could do almost anything. But stuff like resurrection? I might believe it if I ever got a chance to see it happen with my own eyes.

I never got that chance.

When Dad left for Canterlot, all we could really do was wait for him to return.

So that's what we did.

We waited.

We waited and waited.

...

He never came back.

I never found out what happened to him either. I did have a theory, though. I figured once he got to Canterlot, Celestia probably told him the truth. There was nothing she could do either. So... he went elsewhere looking for a solution.

I'd never confirmed or debunked that theory. For all I knew, he was still somewhere out there, trying to find someone to help.

Or running away... just like I had.

Either way, I didn't have time to mourn losing him. With that hope dashed, I was too busy trying to find my own way to fix things. That's where my uncle came in. He'd been fascinated by my abilities since he first found out how talented I was. What started as him helping me to slowly hone my skills turned into a full-fledged attempt at turning me into my mother's savior. Her illness was the only problem I'd ever been confronted with that I couldn't solve.

He had complete and total faith in me. Gradually, that level of trust convinced me I could save her, too. At some point, there was no doubt left in my mind.

I think it was around the time he started bringing me those books.

If the constant failures of the physicians had taught me anything, it was that normal magical theory wasn't going to cut it. Uncle Silver had no qualms about looking into more... questionable methods of magic.

I did. At first. But when you have no other choices, even bad ideas are options.

Maybe that's where we went wrong.

Maybe we shouldn't have delved into the darkness so recklessly.

Maybe... maybe I should have just allowed her to pass peacefully...

But I couldn't just sit by and do nothing for her. If there was even an iota of a chance of saving her, I'd do whatever it took to take that chance. Even if it meant I had to risk my own life... and my innocence.

I'd tried countless spells, -- After making sure they were safe. Obviously. -- but not even dark magic seemed to have any effect on her ailment. Whatever the problem was, it wasn't going away no matter what we tried.

There was one spell, though. It was incredibly complex and not exactly clear on what its exact use was. It was especially difficult to be sure because it had been written in a language neither me or my uncle were familiar with. From what little I could discern, it did something like "cleanse" the soul of a creature. That sounded like nonsense to me, and I chalked it up to a misinterpretation on my part, but still. It was intriguing. That spell stayed on my mind from the moment I'd first seen the ancient runes that compiled it.

When things finally came to a head, I became desperate... and that's when everything fell apart.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"STARLIGHT!" the panicked scream yanked me right out of my research. I didn't hesitate. I surged my mana, teleporting directly to my mom's side within her room.

What's...

The horrific scene that met my gaze stunned me into a terrified silence. Uncle Silver was covered in blood, a look of utter horror on his face. He was supposed to be watching over her. Something had clearly gone terribly wrong.

M-mom? I couldn't hold back the tremor that ripped through my small body.

It was hers. Her face was caked in it. Her breathing was coming out in hoarse waves. It was ragged and chaotic. She was leaning off the bed, a puddle of the liquid covering the floor below her mouth. She coughed several times before another mess of it cascaded and joined the pool on the floor.

WHAT HAPPENED!? I sent more mana into my horn, trying my best to assist her with her breathing. If I didn't do anything, she'd surely suffocate in a matter of seconds.

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! I don't- She was fine a second ago! I swear! She just-" He lifted his forelegs in her direction and then lowered them when he realized he had nothing to do with them. I'm surprised he'd even managed to say anything else, considering his current state.

It's okay... It's okay! We just have t-

She vomited.

...

It was all blood.

"STARLIGHT! DO SOMETHING!" I could barely hear him. Seeing her in such a condition sent me into a stupor. I had to steel myself, my legs nearly giving out from beneath me. If I faltered even a bit, I'd lose her.

I-I can't-

Suddenly, the vomiting stopped, her body going limp.

...

She was lying there, lifeless, yet neither of us -- Silver nor myself -- could move an inch. Her head was nearly touching the floor. An icy frigidness swirled through me, making it even harder for me to act.

"She's not-" he roughly shoved me out of the way, my flank hitting the floor. "I can still..." He lifted her back onto the bed, placing her carefully onto her side, her head resting on the pillow. He lifted his forelegs high into the air before slamming them into her ribs, just below her forelegs.

...

...

...

Nothing happened.

"Come on... COME ON!"

Mom... please... please don't...

I could do nothing save watch and despair.

He did it again, hitting her harder this time.

...

...

Nothing. He was shaking now, too.

"GOLDEN!"

Again. He hit her much harder this time.

...

Nothing.

...

...

...

"Gold... you can't..." the sorrow in him was palpable as his forelegs dropped to the ground. He nuzzled into her cheek, his tears flowing freely as more of her blood moved to him.

...

"I'm sorry... we..."

He sobbed.

I watched, unable to properly process any of what was happening.

...

He went rigid, his tears coming to an end as he stiffly backed away from the bed.

It was cold.

So very, very cold.

"No... It wasn't me. It was you." He turned to me. He was broken. Utterly destroyed by the all too painful twist of fate. "You failed."

Failed? I... did?

...

I didn't-

"She's gone, Starlight... She's gone, and it's because you couldn't save her." His tone hadn't changed. Neither had his expression. It felt almost as if I was being rebuked by a corpse. "Do you know why? It's because you're pathetic, Starlight."

Because I'm...

"I did everything I could to help you. You weren't ready. " Still, he remained stoic. His brutal honesty struck a nerve. "I never could have prepared such a worthless filly."

I...

I had never failed before.

I wasn't planning to start anytime soon. Especially not her. My mind -- and my heart -- broke. I think I finally understood how my dad felt. Right now, there was nothing else. There was no one else. There was no good and evil. I had to save her.

No matter what.

My horn vibrated with jade energy that quickly shifted to an oily black and then back again. Using it made me feel sick, but I ignored the horrible nausea bubbling in my stomach.

I was no longer "safe". I was no longer "cautious". Watching someone I loved with all of my heart dying right before my eyes was something my mind would not allow.

To Tartarus with the consequences.

Death could find someone else to torment.

I let go.

I casted the spell.

...

The room was instantly filled with a dense darkness. It almost felt as if it were making a mold of my body, and I assumed it was doing the same to my mother and her brother.

It was... concerning, to say the least, but it was over before I could do anything about it anyway. Everything remained black, but the pressure left. I couldn't even see my hoof in front of my face. Not even my sparkling horn could break through the gunk. Then, without any indication it was about to happen, the foreign spell vanished.

Mom!?

She was... fine, slumbering quietly on her bed. There were no signs she'd ever been in distress, not even a single drop of her blood anywhere to be seen. It was a miracle. Everything was-

An eerie gurgling sound coming from right behind me obliterated my relief. I turned to face whatever it was.

"What... what happened?" he looked directly at me, his eyes filled to the brim with shock. "S-Starlight?" He held his neck with a hoof, terror shaking his body.

S-Silver...?

My body wobbled as I took a cautious step towards his prone form. He looked even worse than Mom had a few seconds ago. Crimson liquid gushed out from under his trembling hoof.

"P-please... h-help... me... Starlight." He lifted his other hoof my way, forcing me back a step.

...

"Starlight... What did you do?"

My heart froze as I whirled around.

MOM!?

She was doing no better, blood covering her entire body as if the spell had accomplished nothing at all. Nothing except...

"Please, Starlight?"

I had no idea what to do. My mom might be hopeless, but Silver? I rushed to his side. I poured mana into my horn. It was still jade and black.

Disgusting.

I ignored it and moved his hoof away to assess the injury. I nearly vomited at the sight of the wound. If Mom had been a completely hopeless situation, then her brother was pretty much already six feet under.

What... What happened!?

I couldn't understand.

He must have noticed my expression because he suddenly did his best to comfort me.

"Everything will be okay, Starlight," his smile was a weak one. His face was becoming even more pallor, though it was hard to tell due to all the red covering it. "You just have to... to..."

...

He went limp.

...

...

...

"You killed him, Starlight."

The declaration made my vision blur, the tears flowing freely. I poured more mana into my horn.

"You killed your family."

I turned to look at Mom.

She was gone.

"You killed them all."

My horn blazed with the dark mana, an explosive migraine forcing me onto the floor in agony as my spell unintentionally exploded.

"You did this."

Everything became black as I lost consciousness.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I reached for my glass. As soon as I noticed my hoof trembling, I withdrew my foreleg, covering it with the other. I was trying my best to hide just how rattled I was, but I'm sure Raven noticed.

"I don't know what you mean," I averted my eyes. I wasn't lying to her, but that didn't mean I was still comfortable. "Why, what?"

...

"I know it's probably none of my business, but I can't just..." she looked around, her annoyance festering until she was a shadow of her former self. "We're not going to get anywhere with these parasites around."

My ears pricked up at that. I had to look at her, her sudden rage interesting me.

"How about we finish up here and go somewhere with a little more... privacy?" she winked at me, though I wasn't sure what her true intentions were. Still, I was curious.

"U-uhm... sure," I nodded.

"Great!" she clopped her hooves together. "Then let's just try to enjoy the rest of our meal."

Del returned to us, our entrees held on large trays.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"I've gotta be honest, Rave..." I stared up at the mammoth sized building before us. It wasn't as big as the castle, but it was sure trying to be. "When you said somewhere more private... I reeeeally wasn't expecting this."

I read the glowing cursive letters emblazoned above the entrance, a fierce blush coming to my cheeks.

Hotel de l'Amour

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"She will need much stronger motivation than this... we can give it to her."

"Can't we just-"

"We can NOT!"

...

"We are on the same side, are we not? Are you planning on betraying us once again for these insignificant... cretins?"

"I..."

...

"I'm on your side."

...

"Good. Make sure she gets what she wants."

"I will."