There Once Lived

by Discombobulated Soul

First published October 18th, 2024 06:00

Some years after Twilight became ruler, tragedy struck the royal family. Now Crystal Empress at an unprecedented age, Flurry Heart must push through her grief and rule with the clarity her subjects deserve.

She finds her own--somewhat odd--ways to mourn, behind closed doors.

My entry to the Pony Poetry Contest.

Chapters

The Foolish Filly
-- Dear Flurry Heart --
The Empty Empress
-- Dear Empress --
The Asinine Assassin
-- I Miss You --
The Poet

The Foolish Filly
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There Once Lived

The Foolish Filly

In a far-away land there once lived a filly
Her coat was plain, her family poor, her life simple
She dreamed, some nights, of distant stars
A great quest called, ignored her exterior.

One day, that filly rose off her posterior
'One day', she thought, 'they'll write memoirs'
'My deeds will fill novels, I'll be a symbol!'
And so she went, chasing dreams that seemed silly.

The night was chilly
The darkness tranquil
As that little filly
Climbed up a large hill
She shivered as she
Felt deep in her bones
A horrid sensation:
Regret, dull as stone.

'How foolish was I!'
Her cry pierced the night
'I know that my leaving extinguished a light!'

So primal the grief, the knowledge, the sin
She could do nothing but falter, give in

Flashes of violence, of slaughter, of red
O'erwhelmed every space inside of her head
That filly fell, her heart burned and bled
She knew that her poor dear old parents were

-- Dear Flurry Heart --
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There Once Lived

-- Dear Flurry Heart --

Flurry,

I can't begin to imagine how you're feeling right now.
When the news came, I found it such a struggle to believe.
Unto you I give but this one solemn vow:

I know you're still young, you're unlearned, naive
And as Friendship still holds fast my heart
I'll allow all the time you need just to grieve.

Us rulers mustn't let this event force us apart.
I can wait, but know that soon you must start...

No, this draft is simply ineligible
*Scribbles render the rest illegible*

Empress Flurry Heart,

I, Twilight Sparkle, approach with utmost diplomacy
Know that you'll be offered every leniency you may require
You have my support in this time of such travesty.

Financial aid won't be swift to expire
And trade routes will, of course, remain open
Worry not as you settle, there will be no fire

There is much to get used to, more than I can write with pen
Should you need any help, don't hesitate to ask
We are eager to assist, so please, let us in

Preparations have been made for a nations-wide funeral
Your attendance is expected, so...

Ugh, I'll never even find the right word!
*Again, the rest cannot be deciphered*

Flurry, I...

Flurry, We know you are up to the task

Flurry...

My vision's so blurry.
*The rest is a slurry*

Dear Niece,

I'm so sorry.

--Twilight

The Empty Empress
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There Once Lived

The Empty Empress

There once lived an Empress, a fortress, a bluff
She lived her life in luxury.
On the inside, however, she wasn't so tough
Her strength concealed an injury.

Though her subjects saw regality only
Inside she was exceedingly lonely
This poor mare had suffered so great a loss
Her rule and position had come at a cost

Within, guilt festered.
Within, rage lied.
Safely sequestered,
Stifled, stuffed, tied.

Though she knew this great tragedy she couldn't prevent
The Empress' soul still cried out its lament
And she knew in her heart that she could not repent
Indeed, every last drop had been spent.

"I borrow the sorrow as morrow stretches on.
"In this night there's no light, my plight presses on.
"As I bleed, I feel a need, I feel a greed that passes on.
"This Empress holds sweet misery."

The ruler was young
Experience had she none
Too soon had this mantle
Been placed upon her brow.

This Empress was strong
--so said the locals--
She'd come from blood royal
And would soon learn how.

This Empress was strong
--she told herself at night--
She could handle this mantle
She could handle this plow
She could weather the storm
If she only knew how.

If she only knew how.
How, how to live on.
When all those around her were gone.
And there seemed to be no more dawn.
And her place in life became that of a pawn.
"This Empress holds sweet misery."

Time, that treacherous, conniving, loathsome thing
Moves forward.
The Empress, still unused to her title and held on frail wings
Was forced along.
Daily life continued as she practiced and progressed.
But never forgot.
And behind the mask she built there was nothing but stress.
"This Empress holds sweet misery."

"This Empress holds sweet misery."
She's naught but a container.
"This Empress holds sweet misery."
She could not be any saner
"This Empress holds sweet misery,"
And one day I will find
That past this stony bind
There's nothing left inside
There's nothing left inside
When will you realize
There's nothing left inside.

This Empress holds nothing.
This Empress is empty.
This Empress is empty.
This Empress...

knows she can't let herself fall apart.
is going to pull herself together.
will fight, tooth and claw, for a new start.
can live and thrive in any weather.

Now if only she could believe
These things she can achieve.

-- Dear Empress --
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There Once Lived

-- Dear Empress --

I know, Great Ruler, it is hardly my place
To intrude so boldly into this space
I pray, dear Empress, that you take no offense
as of your behavior I attempt to make sense.

Two nights ago, on one troubled eve
You stumbled--though gracefully--and tore up my sleeve
Now Empress, rest assured, I could not care less
Whether my appearance is rendered a mess
But your mumbled goodbye
And the tears in your eye
Have caused such concern I can't help but stop by.

This note I have wrote, and left on your desk
Now quotes a friend with story grotesque:

'A fortnight ago, I was blessed with the presence
'Of our dear Empress with face luminescent
'She bid us glad tidings throughout her visit
'Yet I could not help but notice things inexplicit

'The Empress, it seemed, had on a large mask
'It covered her body throughout her task
'A sadness, so hidden I could scarcely detect
'It was pain, plain and simple, though I could not inspect

'My friend, it seems to me our dear ruler is mourning
'I urge you to action; we may get no further warning'.

Now Empress, your subjects could never blame you for lying
For each one of us all, these new times have been trying.
Yet still, you surely will not resist
My efforts to help, my attempt to insist.

Empress, your servants endeavor to support
It's my wish for us to build a solid rapport
You're not alone in your grief; it's affecting us all
Only together can we make it through this pall
Dear Empress, I plead, please with us stand tall
Do not hide behind such a wall.

My concerns I've kept private, only a close-knit group
Knows of your sorrows and attempts to recoup
As further incentive, perhaps consolation
I supply you with gossip that's spread through the nation:

Rumors have begun to circulate
That there's been laid sufficient bait
The murderer may soon be revealed
Then he can be brought to yield

With utmost love and devotion this vessel I close
--and one more apology, for I have imposed--
I hope to be your solemn friend
I hope that from this we may mend

--Your humble servant, Ruby Day.

The Asinine Assassin
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There Once Lived

The Asinine Assassin

Once

There once lived

At one point in time there was a

filly

...

I can't do this anymore.

This crown is such a chore.

Once upon a time, there were two adult ponies.
They were beautiful and underappreciated and kind and generous and never deserved to be

...

In a dirty, dim cell there once dwelt a traitor
Sniveling, scavenging, scrounging for pity
He'd committed a sin, one that couldn't be greater
And now faced contempt from an entire city

This creature, so wicked and indescribably vile
Had been found, captured, chained, then put on trial
The blood on his hooves hadn't even been dried
His crime was apparent, one I couldn't abide

I found the stallion who murdered my parents.
I brought justice, sweet justice, as well as assurance.

To all but myself, it would seem.
Why can't I rest?
Where is my closure?
I completed the test!
I'm still losing composure.
I've uncovered the scheme
Yet I somehow can't glean
What would release this great pressure.

-- I Miss You --
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There Once Lived

-- I Miss You --

Dear Mom and Dad,

Things have been hard without you.
I'm holding on, but just barely.
I'm trying to be the good filly you raised me to be.
I'm holding on, but just barely.
I'm trying to stay true to myself.
I'm holding...

Was this castle always so empty?
(I miss you)
So long-gone are times of plenty.
(I miss you)
Dad, your laugh, and Mom, your grin
(I miss them)
Faust, where do I begin?

...

That filly who lived so long ago
(I miss her)
So far away, no one could know
(I miss her)
I regret leaving her behind me
(I had to)
If I still had her, where would I be?
(better off)

I've failed in staying true
I must begin anew

...

That Empress who's been so strong
(So empty, she didn't belong)
Of her you would be proud
(no feeling was allowed)
Her performance has been great
(don't you see what's at stake?)
But internally her head is bowed
(This Empress holds sweet misery)

I've failed in staying true
I must begin anew

...

I've been dabbling in poetry
As far as works, I've authored three
It's helped me focus my many thoughts
And kept me from being lost

But Mom, I know what you would say
(And Dad, her words you'd soon relay)
Myself I simply can't betray
And as I've failed in staying true
So must I begin anew.

...

I miss you both, my heart confesses
I'll fix things now, no second-guesses.

--Flurry Heart

The Poet
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There Once Lived

The Poet

There once lived a poet.
She was new to her craft
She sometimes was daft
But she loved her work

There once lived a poet.
One who was sad
And long had felt bad
One whose duties she'd shirk

There once lived a poet
She had been many things
Yet only now had her loosed heartstrings
Come together.

"Come together,"
Called the poet, inside of her head
"Let us talk and new ground we shall tread."
But they said
"let us be,
"You have had no use for us,
"And now your false words we shall no longer trust."

...

There once lived a Filly
In a far-away land
One who'd gotten quite lost
Her adventure unplanned
Had had a great cost
And now she was left.
Dead, long forgotten
rotten
bereft

This Filly, stranded by her own choice
Froze as she heard, somewhere close, a strange voice
'How curious,' thought she, wond'ring how this could be
Then realized she now had cause to rejoice

She'd follow this stranger
And get out of danger
Really, this was quite the game-changer!

So she went.

...

There once lived an Empress
Alone in this part
Though her servants had tried
To give a new start
She'd refused every help, all thoughtful assistance
She'd stubbornly maintained all possible distance
This mare was sad
And had long felt bad
For her heart was clad
In iron.

This Empress, so fixed, so firm in her ways
Was one wintry morning outside for a graze
When a small little filly
At once cute and silly
Came rushing right out of the haze!

"Was it you?" asked the child
as she skid to a stop
"Who with voice so mild,"
She started to hop
"called me from out of the cold and the sleet?
"Tell me, are you just the one I should greet?"

The Empress, e'en though she wasn't much older
Reached out and patted the foal on her shoulder
"'tis not me," she replied, "you have the wrong pony,"
"I could not say yes; else I'd be a phony."

But then, before she could offer retort
Both ponies' breath at once became short
"It's her," said the foal, a helpful exhort
A nod from the mare, there was no doubt what sort
Of pony was approaching.

...

There once lived a Poet.
She'd called them together.
She just wanted to talk.

...

There once lived a Poet
who strode into sight
walked into the light
said "let us not fight
"for so long has this slight come between us
"Let's use reason
"Let's use sense
"Let kinship commence
"Please, my sisters, can we not just discuss?
"Must there really be such a big fuss?"

With reluctance, the three sat down all together
As around them the snow soon dispersed
And above slowly cleared all of the bad weather
All three then prepared for the worst.

"I'm sorry," said the Poet.
The Filly nodded back.

...

There once lived a Poet
Who'd abandoned herself
She'd had to grow older
She'd had to leave
the Filly
behind
all alone

...

"I'm sorry," said the Empress.
And the Poet nodded.

...

There once lived an Empress
Who'd abandoned herself
She'd spat on her passion
turned callous
emotionless
empty

...

"I'm so sorry," said the Filly
"For the thing that I did."
And trembling, she hid
'till two hooves on her withers
bid her look hither
and see the forgiveness
Adorning the faces
Of those above her.

...

There once lived a Filly.
She'd made a mistake
But it had never been
her fault.

...

"It wasn't your fault."
"It was not your fault."
"It... wasn't my fault."

Right there and then, arrived a new change
An expression so old to all three it was strange
But all this to say that it was not a while
Before they as one formed great, happy smiles.

...

There once lived

A Filly

An Empress

A Poet

A love

A duty

A passion

Youth

Strength

Growth

So began this bright new start.
So ends this tale of Flurry Heart.