Lost Tales of a Princess

The lights were so bright.

The day felt so long and nights rolled by, one by one and all were nothing but boring to me.

I looked at the shining tiara on my head, it gleamed in the soft candle light. I shifted my eyes to look down at me, my tawny coat and deep pink mane. My eyes were a deep green as mother called it, I looked at my particularly small horn, I stood in front of the tall mirror, staring at my reflection while a unicorn was hemming my illustrious ballgown, who knows how much the fabric costed. It was a pearl pink and the silk was so soft, it had golden lace and, from the looks of it, had holes cut out for my wings.

The unicorn looked up at me, her baggy, blue eyes searching my face. I looked back at her, giving a small smile, "Ama, why are we having this ball again?" I asked the experienced mare, the corners of her mouth lifting and her wrinkled lips managed to make a smile. "Well dear... This ball is for you.. and so you can meet your future husband," she ceased her smile and looked upon me with sad eyes. "You grow up so fast.. Soon, you'll be a beautiful mare... Trotting down the aisle in a big, poofy white dress." She trotted around me to my rear and fluffed the tail of my dress, she chattered what little she had of teeth and licked her lips. She had become slower these passed days, I fear that mother will have to let her go.

I've known her my entire life and I grew up with her as my motherly image. She has aged in those six and a half years. I remember the picture she showed me of her as a filly, her mane was blue and her coat was a soft yellow. One thing for sure that never changed were her eyes, her forever searching eyes... Ama had always set her blue eyes to have a very lost gaze when she looked at you. I guess that's why why your special somepony asks you for a map when they're lost in your eyes, Ama needs a whole ton of maps to get her eyes in gear!

She looked at me and forced another smile, "Aw... Why the sour face on the pretty princess of mine?" She nuzzled me and I nuzzled up against her and hugged her, "Ama?" The unicorn smiled, "Yes dear?" I tried fighting back the tears in my eyes, "I love you..." I felt a tear roll down my cheek, she softly put a hoof on my cheek and wiped it away, "Oh sweetheart... Don't cry..." Her voice quivered as she spoke, her eyes welled in tears. "I love you Sojourner." She kissed my cheek and hugged me,I hugged her tightly and nuzzled her shoulder only to be stopped by the sound of my father's hoofsteps. Ama pulled herself away, quickly collecting her supplies and bows to me, she turns to see my father, Rising Sun, as his large shadow casted down upon Ama. His black, flowing mane against his pure white coat, he was so very tall and his wings were spread as they always were, never folded. I gulped as he looked sternly at her, "Ms. Spool, I see you have, say, ENJOYED your work today!" His voice boomed and Ama cringed back, cowering with her ears folded back. "Y-your highness!" He stamped a hoof which quickly silenced Ama, I intercepted, "Father, I can assure you she was comforting my nerves."

Rising Sun turned his cold stare at me, trotting to me and craned his head down to me, I quickly shut up. "Tell me again, daughter, WHO is the king of this castle?!" My ears fold back and I look at him, eyes widened and my legs trembled a bit as I choked on my words. He stood erect and cleared his throat. "I thought so, wouldn't expect a FOOLISH filly to answer MY questions." He turned and trotted away, Ama's searching eyes followed him as she was still cowered. He stopped in front of her, not looking at her, "Ama, you are discharged of your position. The gaurds will escort you out." Her jaw dropped as he trotted out the door. "NO!" I screamed and he stopped, his tail still in the room. Ama looked at me and shoke her head, "Princess... no..." Rising Sun walked back in and he looked at me, "Excuse me?.. WHAT did you say?" I looked at him, my ears fold back but I... I didn't cringe... I didn't stand back.. I just looked at my father straight into his eyes. "I.. I said no."

He seemed a bit alarmed, his glare softened up to a more, calm and understanding gaze as his eyes aimlessly looked at the ground. I held my ground, he looked at me and the next thing I knew, I felt his heavy hoof smack me across my face. The force throwing me back a bit and I hit the wall, Ama had managed to reach me before I hit the ground. She held me in her arms and shook me softly, whispering in her sobs, "Sojourner?! SOJOURNER?!" Rising Sun trotted out of the room and I was left with Ama, she held me close and I cried in her arms. I hugged her tight and she kissed my forehead, mumbling inaudible words. I trembled and she looked at my cheek, "It's okay. You're okay. You're fine, Sojourner." She took my face in her hooves and looked me straight in her eyes, for once, her forever searching eyes were certain. She looked in them and I stared back, "You were never meant to suffer, you are an amazing little filly... And.. I know in my heart.... There is somepony out there..... Somepony that will take you away from this pain and suffering...." She looked away for a moment and I nuzzled her, "Ama.. That somepony is you... Y-you'll take me away from all of this right?...." She glanced at me, her eyes welled with tears, she gave no response. I felt something in me break inside me, I felt so..... so.... alone.

-LATER THAT EVENING-

Trumpets blared and a deep voiced stallion announced, "Ladies and gentlestallions! The League of Coronal Powers and the Republic of Rising Forces proudly present her Majesty, Princess Sojourner!" The ponies stomped their hooves on the ground, Ama had fixed me up. I put on a smile and she kissed my cheek, my smile grew and I gracefully trotted to the top step of the large, marble staircase. I looked upon all my loyal subjects, smiling because they all.... Loved....... me.. I took a deep breath, slowly exhaled and my eye caught something, a glimmer in my eye as I stared eye to eye with a young colt, his black mane was slicked back and his coat was a brilliant white. He bared a small crown on his head and his scarlet vest had a shiny, little medal on it. I looked at him and he smiled, my heart melted. I felt something.. warm.. inside me.. Was he the somepony Ama was talking about? Could he possibly be the one pony to take me away from everything?!

I slowly descended the stairs and he watched me, approaching the final steps and held a hoof out to me. I felt my cheeks blush as I took it softly, he chuckled and held it until I finally stepped off the final step. "Hello, Princess. My, you look awfully beautiful tonight." He pulled my hoof up to his lips and kissed it softly, my face got hot and he chuckled. "Princess, I am Dorian Silvernote." I smiled at him, "A-are you the Prince I'm supposed to meet tonight?...." Oh! why did I say that?! He only chuckled modestly and set my hoof down softly, his pale hazel eyes looked at the ground and then back at me. "Princess, I'm only the entertainment." .......................WHAT?!?!! "E-entertainment?...." My eye twitched. How could this be, he was so.. gorgeous. I know from what my storybooks tell me, love at first sight is real but this is just too extreme even for my six year old mentality. He just nodded, smiling charmingly, "Yes, Princess. I'm here with my family, we traveled here from quite a distance and we, well I, came to sing for you royal highness tonight." He bowed and I am still very disappointed, "If you aren't my Prince.... then why did you receive me?" He continued to smile, "Well your highness, I received you because well.... no offense your highness but... your Prince is.. well.. see for yourself." He stepped aside and I saw a Unicorn with a blonde mane and a white coat, he had blue eyes and he looked at me, looking me up and down with a mildly disgusted look.

Oh great..... I had to get stuck with Sir Pick-a-lot. I turned to look at Dorian, "You sure you're not a Prince, Dorian?" His cheeks flushed a pale pink as he chuckled, his wing covering his smile, "Oh Princess.. If I were a Prince, I'd kiss your cheek for such a nice compliment. But, since I am not, me accompanying you would be a blotch on the face of perfection." My cheeks flushed red, I looked at him and smiled; he smiled back at me. I wouldn't mind that at all~ "Dorian, how old are you exactly?" He cleared his throat, "I'm twelve your highness." My heart sunk, I nodded, "Oh.." He nodded, "Well, I should take you to your... betrothed husband......" I shuddered at the sound, "He'll be a royal pain.." I giggled and Dorian tried not to chuckle. He escorted me to the unicorn, "Hello." The unicorn rolled his eyes, I glared and watched as Dorian walked away. I sighed, wishing he were the Prince I was betrothed to. He glanced back and then flew up to the stage, he  tapped the microphone and cleared his throat. Everypony stopped and silenced, Dorian begin to sing as the quartet begin to play, "This song is for Princess Sojourner." He glanced at me and winked, I blushed and he began to sing softly, his sweet voice made a beautiful melody that made the guests grab their partners and happily waltzed on the dance floor, I smiled as they  enjoyed themselves. I ditched my "fiancee" and swayed, Dorian kept singing and Ama came from behind and grabbed me, "Dance! Rejoice my sweet filly!"

I giggled and danced, soon, other ponies asked to dance with me. I enjoyed each and every one of them, they had interesting stories and I smiled throughout the night. The singing was over for a while but I hadn't noticed until a hoof tapped my dance partner's shoulder, "Excuse me but, may I dance with the Princess?" I smiled and the young stallion nodded and hoofed me to Dorian, I blushed as he stood us on our hind legs, he smiled and spun me, "Princess?" I stopped and he held my hoof, "Yes, Dorian?" He leaned his face in towards mine, "Do you ever get out, you know, from the castle?" I thought, realizing that I never do get out. "Why no, of course not. Why do you ask?" He just nodded, "Just asking," I looked at him and then at the ground, he nuzzled his head against my neck, I blushed a fiery red. "D-Dorian!" He stopped and looked up at me, "Yes, your highness?" He saw my blushing and chuckled, "How cute."

I blushed more and Rising Sun approached behind Dorian, he glared down at him. Dorian looked at me and then at the long shadow behind me, he turned to see my father, "Getting cuddly with the Princess are we, player?" Dorian let go of me and bowed his head, "Your highness! I can assure you that's not what happened!" "So what DID happen?!" Dorian cringed at the sound of my father's booming voice. I stared at Rising Sun, I stood in front of Dorian as he cringed and trembled, "Father, I can assure you that Dorian was doing nothing wrong." Rising sun stared at me and I stared back, a white coated mare with a gold mane approach, "What is going on now?" "Father is attacking my new friend." Dorian stopped trembling and looked at me, he was in shock, the guests had all stopped and watched, "Oh Sojourner," mother said. "New friend? Haha! You'll never be 'friends' with the likes of a ruffian, uneducated schoolcolt such as this Silvernote." Dorian gasped and growled a bit. "Well no offense your majesty," I curtsy quickly. "But, he has a much more likable personality and attitude than my betrothed husband." I heard some chatter of voices and Rising Sun cleared his throat, "He is your kinsman and you are going to marry him." More chatter, "I'm related to him? That's gross."  Some gasping was heard, my mother also gasped.

I wasn't sure why I suddenly became so.. outspoken but this was only the spark that ignited the fire