Once more unto the Breach

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!" a mare was shouting in pain while giving birth to a filly.
"Push Honey, PUSH!" shouted a stallion whom was likely her husband.
Suddenly a high pitched whine was heard. The stallion held a purple unicorn filly.
"She's beautiful, and she's ours." spoke the mare. Her mane was frizzed, she appeared as though she had not slept for days.
"What are we going to name her?" the stallion asked her
"She's beautiful, so maybe Twilight?" she suggested
"That's a nice name, Twilight Sparkle." he said holding the infant. They sat in silence for hours, simply smiling at each other, and handing each other the foal. The stallion looked at Twilight, "You're destined for greatness, sweetie."

10 years later...

Twilight had grown older and made a friend in another unicorn from town, Rarity. They walked through town looking around, they eventually got a ball and played catch with it. Talking all the while. "So how are things?" Twi asked
"Fine, my parents are trying to have another foal." Rarity replied
"Are you hoping for a little brother or sister? I'm glad I have my older brother." Twi asked
"I suppose so. Times like this, food is expensive, and we're having enough trouble to cope." Rarity said involuntarily dropping her ears
"Well everything is expensive lately, even water. Let's hope things look up soon." they bounced the ball around for a little while.
"Twily, time for dinner." her mother called out
"Gotta go, bye Rarity." she hugged her and ran towards her estate. Rarity waved goodbye, and walked off to do something else

3 years later

"It's okay Twilight, just make a spark." her magic tutor spoke smiling
"I don't know..." she was unsure about it
"It's okay, nothing bad will happen." he said smiling at her
She began to attempt the spell, but a large roar belted out. She flinched and what was supposed to be a small spark turned into a large fireball. It flew into the wall igniting the entire room. She screamed as her tutor ran out of the room leaving her behind. Her father ran in and picked her up.
He carried her into the main room, after getting her mother. An ember popped and a flaming beam fell onto her parents. She tried to lift it, but was too weak.
"Go Twily!" her mother said
She continued to lift, ignoring her mother. Shining Armor came in and tried to lift the beam, even he wasn't strong enough.
"Shining, take her, and keep her safe, no matter what..." his father told him
Shining was going to object, but he simply nodded and grabbed her. He ran through the heat and charged through the door. Twilight struggled and reached for their parents. They were outside, as the entire town showed up to see what was happening. Twilight watched with horror as the flames engulf the estate. "It's all my fault..." she thought and began to sob.

5 years later

The events of that day reflected on her even then. She had found it difficult to make friends, especially after they moved to Canterlot, the capital of Equestria, which even as the capital, was run rampant with crimes and gangs. Her brother was working in the guard now, Twi had practiced her magic all the time, and was quite great at it, practicing so that what happened with her parents would never happen again, she was still severely depressed about that accident, but things would get better after a a large surprise.
There was a knock on the door, Twilight opened it to see none other than Rarity. "Hi neighbor." she hugged Twi, almost tackling her. They took some time to catch up, and Rarity had moved in right across the street. Twi smiled lightly, at the fact that she would'nt be so alone anymore. She almost forgot her worries, by the time they were home it was dark. They said their goodbyes and went seperate ways, she walked up to her room, and gently drifted off to sleep, worry free for a short time.

She woke up the next morning and went out to shop with Rarity, things had gotten worse, and things were even more expensive than before, they could barely afford bread. They browsed all day, at sunset they started home. A shadowy pony came out of an alley with two daggers.
"Hand over your bits, or I'll cut your legs off." he said putting the dagger to Rarity's throat.
"We don't have any bits!" Rarity said with great fear in her voice.
"Well, guess who just lost their legs?" he said with a satanic smile
Twilight panicked and blasted him with a snowstorm spell, after it cleared, the mugger was frozen solid.
"What have I done?" she said with of fear and hatred.
"It's okay Twily, he was going to kill us, even if we had the bits..." Rarity said rubbing her throat, their was a clear choke bruise from where he had held her throat. She hugged Twi tightly as they waited for the guards, or any other help to arrive.
Twi rocked back and forth, obviously traumatized from the entire fiasco.

The next day she had spent with with Rarity and the guards, explaining the situation. They understood, observing the area, and the bruise, they decided that it was the truth. They had even seen that the mugger was wanted in multiple sections of the Canterlot area, Twi was given 500 bits for the body. She didn't want to but she needed the money so she took it. She walked towards home. A bystander came up, seeing how depressed she looked.
"You know, most ponies would be glad t be able to defend themselves, especially with the new duchess and her tax laws. They say that food is going to have a 50% price increase, I'd kill to be able to protect myself in these times." the bystander said and trotted away.
Twi went home and thought about what the bystander had said, "Maybe I should embrace my power." she thought. These thoughts rattled in her mind for so long she eventually lost track of time, and simply walked out the door.