"Alone"
Such a strange word, and yet it describes my life. I am alone in a futile quest. A quest that has caused me great joy in the past, and great sorrow now.
This single word describes how my life has become over the years. My people have suffered. My country, destroyed. My home...gone.
Right now, and forever, I am "Alone".
It's funny...earlier I was saying that these memories I'm letting through would cause me great pain. They still are, but now they're the only things that are keeping me from getting "Bored".
Huh..."Bored" and "Alone".
Welcome to my life.
***
"...and you're SURE I have to do this?"
"Positive."
"Will I always have to wear this...THING on my head?"
"It's tradition to wear THAT during THIS event! Besides...I think you look cute in it!"
Valiant blushed, embarassed by his fiances' words. Twinkle, however, just smiled away like it was no big deal. She frowned though when she saw his expression.
"Is something wrong?" She asked. Valiant looked away, not sure what to say on the matter. He trudged over to the mirror in his room and gazed at himself. Though it had been two years since that night, he could hardly recognize himself as a prince, nor could he believe how beautiful Twinkle looked in her new royal robes. His own were colored Blue and white, while the large crown on his head made him look...look like...
"I look like vanilla ice cream with a large, golden cherry on top." He finally said.
"Is that all? You're worried for nothing! That and..." She came up behind him wrapped one of her light brown wings across his back. A mischievous look played across her face as she said, "I LIKE vanilla ice cream..." Valiant still didn't look happy, and Twinkle noticed.
"That's not what you're worried about is it?"
"I'm not worried...I'm just..." Valiant turned away again. His eyes fell once more on the pictures on his table. He left Twinkle's side and gazed at them.
They were pictures of the recent years. Moments in his rapidly changing life, forever captured in tiny squares. Almost like windows into the past. Some were of different parts of the castle, from the main tower being built ever higher, to long hallways full of painters. Others were of his and Twinkle's various friends. More than a few of them had Dreaden in them, though he would always protest before the photo was even taken. Valiant grew sad when he saw them though. Even in these moments in time, he could tell his old friend was drifting away. He had tried for years, practically from the day he came to the castle, to win over Twinkle's heart. He just didn't know that he had already beaten him, even before he had formed those three words...right here in his own bedroom!
The rest of the photos on the table were, of course, of him and Twinkle. From watching the stars from their favorite tower, to walking through the hallways, seemingly oblivious to everything. Various servants had taken these photos, either because they had the opportunity, or because he had asked them to. Twinkle never understood why he did this. For the longest time, she had thought he was just getting into scrap booking. Well...she was partially right...
Twinkle soon joined him there, staring at all the photos. Neither of them spoke as they reminisced in past memories. Eventually, they both ended up staring at the same photo. It was a lot older than the other ones by far, partially because it was taken four years ago, a year after the King had contracted his strange sickness.
In this photo, there was her and Valiant, standing side by side with Dreaden to the right. Not only that, but the King himself was also there, happily smiling at the camera. Even in this picture though, one could tell that there was something wrong with the King. He seemed to be dispirited somehow, the usual happiness that surrounded his eyes were long gone, replaced by a settle pain. Not only that, but his coat looked matted, his mane graying. Something interesting about him though was not his facial features, but the almost crystallized look to some parts of his body. Partly because his body really WAS crystallizing, and that wasn't the half of it. The most significant part of the photo was that each and every one of them looked dazzling in bright, almost clear coats. It was an interesting side effect of the strange sickness.
"You miss him...don't you..." Twinkle quietly said. Valiant didn't say anything, giving her his answer.
"I wish he could have seen these...they were for him after all..."
"And I'm sure dad would have loved them."
"Are you sure?" Valiant asked, still worried.
"Positive." Twinkle replied. She folded up her wings again and walked over to a long, purple royal cape of some sort. Valiant levitated it up in the air and clicked it around her neck, completing her look for the coming ceremony. "And besides," she continued, "Even if he did see them, what would you have done then?"
"Take more photos?" Valiant asked.
"You would have, yes, but then what? You would have kept on taking photos to show him of past events. And don't look at me like that! You know that's what would have happened!" Valiant rolled his eyes before letting her continue.
"Val...I miss him just as much as you do, but let's face it...he didn't have long anyway. It would have happened whether we liked it or not, and it did." Twinkle walked up to the grey unicorn and placed her hoof on his shoulder. She stared deep into his eyes before saying, "The past is the past. The present is NOW."
"And of the future?"
"The future hasn't happened yet. So let us create a bright one for our home and for our subjects." Twinkle stepped back and was relieved when she saw his smile.
"You DO know that I can't really be king until the wedding right?" He asked, his usual smirk playing across his face once more.
"Of course, but you still need to greet the public in that get up of yours. It's tradition!"
"Wha-Get up! I thought you liked it!"
"I said you looked cute in it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."
Valiant was about to protest again when there was a soft knocking on the door. A servant poked his head in moments later.
"Are you ready?"
"Of course," Twinkle replied, "We'll be there shortly."
"Yes, my lady." He turned towards Valiant and dipped his head while saying, "My lord," and he closed the door. Valiant groaned from the gesture.
"Get used to it," Twinkle said before going into the bathroom, presumably to check on her make up. Valiant groaned again. He sat on a chair and stared once more at the photos, trying to get lost in his memories. He found himself looking at a picture of Dreaden again and sighed. He wanted so much to make up with him somehow, but how can he when he's marrying the girl he loves? The prince sighed again and thought of when he first met him five year ago.
At that first dinner, he and him didn't really talk that much, but they soon formed a close bond. He would talk of his interests and of Twinkle while Valiant would talk of life in the castle. They also liked to hang out with Twinkle together and play pranks on the nobles, and sometimes each other. The two of them would also converse in each other on their interests from time to time. Dreaden seemed to always be on the hunt for some information to an interesting gem or crystal with strange powers. Always with the crystals. Except for Twinkle, he had a one track mind set on finding crystals. Once, Valiant had caught him in one of his "trances" and the first word he blurted out was, in fact, "Crystal!".
"If only the King hadn't gotten sick, we could have hung out more..." Valiant mumbled.
Around the same time, five years ago, the King contracted the sickness that would eventually turn him into a crystal. He hid his disease at first, but Twinkle had found out somehow. The King was immediately sent to the sick ward within the castle. Since then, he stayed within the castle, only coming out when he had to. Soon, he had to stay in his bed, but he still ran the country. Sometimes, he would even sneak out, just so he could speak with Twinkle. A dedicated father till the very end.
In his final moments, Valiant finally convinced him to see Twinkle. It wasn't a pretty sight. One could see through him clear to the other side of the wall. His broken face only made it worse too, though he never explained how it had happened. Twinkle cried, of course, and so did Valiant. The King had raised him when he lost his own mother. He didn't even know his father, so he soon came to think of the King as actual family.
Five years ago he had met a new friend. Five years ago, he learned his dad would die. A lot can happen in five years.
"Huh..." Valiant mumbled to himself as he thought that over.
"What's huh?"
Valiant turned towards the bathroom and saw Twinkle walk out. He nearly lost his breath from her beauty.
"Er...nothing important." He told her when he caught his breath. She smiled warmly and trotted towards the door.
"Shall we greet the public my vanilla treat?"
"Of course my dear." Valiant replied. He trotted up next to her and took her hoof in his, "Let's go and embarrass ourselves in front of thousands of our subjects! I mean...what's the worst that can happen?"
***
KRACKOOOOOOOOM!
The sound of thousands of raindrops pounded against the castle roof. The dark clouds rolled across the sky, drenching the entire country in a wet blanket of water. Most ponies were staying inside during the long bout, with the occasional straggler running out for one last errand.
Normally, this would be the perfect time to get a good book and a loved one, perhaps even a nice snack, and curl up by a warm fire with a large blanket. The King, however, didn't seem to like this plan.
At that moment, he was standing at a window over looking the city below. His royal duties were done for the day, there weren't any meetings to attend to and his wife was in the other room, putting away their recent chess game. He had lost, of course, but he wasn't upset about that. There was another matter troubling him this night.
"Dreary...isn't it?" a low voice suddenly asked. The unicorn King turned around to see who had spoken. A blue earth pony was standing at the door. He was wearing a small satchel.
"Dreaden." said the King, "I didn't hear you come in. How are you?"
"Fine..." He replied, "You didn't answer my question."
The King chuckled before replying, "No...I guess I didn't. You always were one to expect an immediate response. To answer your question though...yes. It is VERY dreary. What gave it away?"
The pony named Dreaden didn't look amused. He just smirked a little before closing the door behind him.
"Never could take a joke either..." The King pointed out, his usual smile still upon his face, "Why have you come?"
"Two things really," He responded. Dreaden trotted up next to the King and gazed out the window as well, "The first being to wish you congratulations..."
"Yes...Twinkle told me a few days ago, but it seems that the entire country already knows of it!"
"So it seems. How..."
"She's fine. In fact, she's in the other room now..." The King trailed off and glanced back out the window. The rain was obscuring the glass, but one could still see the lights of the city. His smile dropped a little at the sight.
"You're worried." Dreaden said. It wasn't a question. The King nodded his head slumped his shoulders, revealing how he really felt at that moment.
"It's just...I don't know if I'm ready..." He glumly said. Dreaden rolled his eyes and shot him a glare.
"Really?" He asked, not even bothering to hide his annoyance.
"What?"
"You rule an entire empire alongside one of the most beautiful mares in perhaps the whole world of Terra, and you don't know if you're ready to be a father?" The King thought about that for a moment before his smile began to return to his face.
"That DOES seem a bit silly now doesn't it?"
"It is for a King." Dreaden said. He sat back on his haunches and crossed his fore arms before saying, "Look Valiant, I know you. If any stallion is going to be a good father, it's you." Valiant nodded his head in understanding of his friend's remark and pulled him back to his hooves. Dreaden rolled his eyes again and went to lean against a wall. The was a small clacking noise from the other room, but it remained silent all the same. The King's friend listened for a moment before he came to a small conclusion in his head.
Dreaden smiled before asking, "Did you two play chess?"
"Erm...perhaps...." The King mumbled.
"You lost again...didn't you?"
Valiant gave an exaggerated sigh before nodding his head with a slight frown. Dreaden chuckled to himself at his old friend's expense.
"Have you EVER won a game against her?"
"Can we just change the subject?" Valiant asked. He turned around and looked at the door that Twinkle, the Queen, was still in.
"Of course....still didn't answer my-"
"Not one. Happy now?"
"Very,"
"What was that other matter you wanted to ask?" The King then asked, hoping to derail this conversation to something else.
"Ah yes...the other matter...here. This book will help." Dreaden pulled out two books. One was large and black, an old tome from the library archives by the look of the label. It was in the ancient language of the empire. The other book was much smaller in comparison and was red.
Dreaden hoofed over the small red one and placed the black tome on a nearby chair. The unicorn King floated the book up to his face in his grey aura. It was filled with notes and sketches of various types of gems and crystals.
"Um....Dread? What is this?"
"That, King Valiant, is one of my research journals. Flip to the latest page." The earth pony was obviously excited about whatever was on that page. Valiant rolled his eyes and flipped the pages until he got to the last entry in the book. On it was a bunch of mumbo jumbo that Valiant didn't understand, but the sketch gave him enough info to get the gist of it.
It was, again, another crystal, except this one seemed to be radiating something from it. A doodle of a pony was next to the gem. It appeared to be absorbing whatever it was giving off. The King furled his eyebrows in confusion.
"Explain," Valiant said.
"Explain what?" Twinkle asked as she came in through the other door. Her light brown wings were dangling at her sides while she had on a relaxed smile. She came over to the two stallions and placed herself next to Valiant.
"Twinkle..." Dreaden acknowledged, "You look...good."
"Thank you Dread," She replied, "You don't look half bad yourself." She glanced at the little red journal still in Valiant's magic, "So what's this about?"
"This is my discovery of the properties of a unique crystal found here in the mines..." Valiant and Twinkle each raised an eyebrow, confused. Dreaden sighed and reached again into his satchel and drew out a small, pink crystal, similar to the ones that were scattered throughout the empire. It also seemed to be the very one that was sketched inside the book.
"Valiant, if you could direct some of your feelings into this please." Dreaden asked.
"My....what?" The King asked back.
"Your feelings. Can you do that?"
"Dread. I don't think that's possible." Twinkle said, "I know this, and I'm a pegasus."
"Actually," Valiant said, "It is. I just don't know what you mean by 'directing my feelings into that'. " He put on an amused smile as his friend slapped his face, making Twinkle snicker. Dreaden was getting annoyed. He always seemed to have a short fuse these days.
"Look," he said, "It's simple, just think of some emotion, and project it into this gem. Can you do that? Or are you going to attempt another bad joke?" Twinkle snickered again, but Valiant finally complied with his friend's wishes. Since he was having so much fun with teasing the blue pony, Valiant focused on that feeling. He then summoned his magic and shot a tiny beam of grey light at the gem in Dreaden's hoof.
The moment the light hit the gem, it erupted in a strange glow and lifted itself off of the pony's hoof. Dreaden and Twinkle immediately started to laugh. The King didn't know what was so funny, but he laughed along with them. He and Twinkle were having so much fun just then, that they almost didn't hear Dreaden yell above their laughter.
"Stop!" He proclaimed between his nearly uncontrollable mirth. Valiant released the magic, and the gem fell back into Dreaden's hoof. Twinkle kept on giggling, but Dreaden just put on his signature frown once more.
"How'd you do that?" The King asked, "Why did I feel so....happy?"
"The crystal was projecting your happiness from earlier into us." He responded like this was the most obvious thing. Twinkle stared at the gem in fascination.
"How can such a tiny gem cause all of that?" She asked.
"I don't know, but that's what I want to find out..." Dreaden replaced the gem and looked back at Valiant, an expectant look in his eyes. The King understood at once.
"And you need our permission to conduct experiments."
"Exactly."
"Well, I think looking further into this is a wonderful idea!" Twinkle exclaimed, "I mean....think of what this could mean!"
"Yes..." Dreaden said, looking at the Queen, "The possibilities are endless..."
"The sick could be given hope again..."
"The poor could be given new purpose..."
"The old could be revived with the happiest thought!"
"And armies could be wiped clean with despair," Valiant said, narrowing his eyes at Dreaden. Twinkle shot him a surprised look.
"Wha...Val! Why would yo-"
"Dreaden's thinking the same thing." Valiant said. Twinkle glanced at Dreaden hoping her husband was wrong, but he didn't deny nor approve of the claim.
"You catch on fast...." Dreaden said. He narrowed his eyes as well. Twinkle stepped back from him, more than a little startled by his change of mood.
"Dread...." Valiant said, "I won't allow that."
"Are you sure?" He replied, "Think of how we can use this! We can help those less fortunate...."
"Or it could be used as a weapon. I shall not tolerate that kind of thing in this empire." The King stood tall and glared at the Earth Pony, but Dreaden just stood up himself, determined not to back down.
"Think of the possibilities though!" He said while taking a step forward, "We could be unstoppable!"
"We could run ourselves into the ground!" Valiant retaliated.
"Or we can rise above our wildest dreams!" Dreaden yelled back. He kept on advancing on the King, a determined look on his face.
"That thing MUST be destroyed!" Valiant said, still holding his ground.
"Even if you do, there are others just like it! This is the CRYSTAL Empire is it not?" Dreaden was nearly face to face with Valiant at that moment.
"Such a thing shouldn't even exist!"
"But it does! How can you expect us NOT to use it?"
"I EXPECT you to-"
"STOP IT!" A brown blur leaped between the stallions and shoved them away from each other. Twinkle was flapping her wings between them, a few feet off the ground.
"Just...stop fighting!" She continued, still floating in the air, "This gem is powerful true...but why debate how it can be used when we don't know it's true strengths yet?" The Queen landed and folded her wings. She turned towards Valiant and said, "It's disturbing to think of those possibilities, but such dark emotions can't be used right away. Not even in a war."
"But-" The King tried to say, but she was already speaking with Dreaden.
"Not to mention the fact that these crystals are quite common here. You really think that you're the only one to discover this?" Dreaden looked away, not wanting to give an answer. Twinkle turned her back on them, stepped out from between them, spun around, and looked at them both.
"Why don't we gather together those who know of this gem so we can work together to figure out what to do with this discovery?" For a while, nopony spoke. The thudding of the rain outside was the only sound. Eventually though, Valiant spoke up.
"That seems to be the best course of action for this," he said while glancing at Dreaden. He slowly nodded his head, so Valiant continued.
"I'll send out a bulletin asking for those who are knowledgeable with crystals and gems. Until we figure out the properties of the gems, we shall attempt to keep this a secret."
"Agreed," Dreaden said, "We don't want some poor schmuck accidentally starting a war now do we?" Twinkle and Valiant rolled their eyes, the tension in the room slowly lifting. Dreaden tapped his hoof though, waiting for an answer.
"Oh..." Valiant finally said, "I thought you were being sarcastic there." Twinkle laughed at that. Dreaden had to smile too when he heard her simple laughter. She soon sighed and sat down on her haunches. Valiant and Dreaden stared raptly at her beauty.
Twinkle placed her hoof on her belly and smiled.
"I'm getting tired from all this drama," she said, "So I'll just go to bed." And with that, she stood up again and left the room. The two stallions looked after her for a while before turning back to each other, each a tad embarrassed. Neither of them said a thing. Valiant placed a hoof on the back of his head while Dreaden just kicked the air in front of him. They glanced at each other and smiled.
Or tried to.
The King thought about his friend across from him, wondering how the rift in their friendship could possibly get any bigger. They used to act better than that. Speaking of their interests, playing pranks on some noble, even just taking a stroll with Twinkle, the two of them seemed to be the best of friends. Now though....they only fought.
Dreaden dropped his attempt of a smile and turned his back on the King. He didn't say a single word as he left the room, his red journal and that strange gem tucked away in his satchel. Valiant sighed and turned to look out the window again. He thought of some of the most recent rumors floating about the castle. Rumors of another Diamond Dog uprising in the more distant north. Such a thing was unheard of in these times.
When they had first rebelled in Dreaden's old province, it had been because they were running out of land to live out from the cold, and the ponies weren't sharing. Twinkle had made a truce with them long ago, but now that truce was on the verge of breaking. The gem promised an easy victory if war should break out, but the King refused to use such a weapon. He instead would propose another peace treaty.
Satisfied with his decision, he turned around to leave the room, when he spotted something on a chair. It was Dreaden's black tome from earlier. He had forgotten it.
Curious, the King picked up the book in his magic and floated it over to him. He never could understand the ancient language, but he didn't have too. It appeared to be a modern translator to today's speech. A few of the pages were marked with tabs.
The King opened up the book to a random tab and gazed at the pages. A few words had been underlined here and there, but it didn't look very important. Just a book with notes in it from a deranged friend. He went to close the book again, but his eyes caught sight of another tab.
It was red with a bold "S" on it. Valiant opened up to the page and saw a single underlined word.
Sombra
According to the book, it meant "Power".
Valiant closed the book and returned it to the chair. Dreaden could retrieve it later once he realized he didn't have it. The King then strode out of the room and left for a long awaited rest with his wife.
Words. They have proved time and again to be weapons of war. Harmless little sounds that may influence even the greatest of warriors to fall. Seemingly irrelevant noises can rally the troops for battle, or end it in an instant. Words can even make an old broken soul rise up from the ashes to fight again.
Then why is it that the most influential words of all are only a few letters long? Words like Hope?
And Help.
Love.
Hate.
Words like these usually don't have much meaning, but to some, they can make all the difference. Even to somepony who has it all can learn to keep these words close to their hearts.
Ponies like me.
I won't lie to you here. Words like these never gave me such emotions as they do now. As they did then. Even saying them here wakes up memories of old that I know will haunt me for years to come. Huh..."haunt" is such a drab "word". These memories don't just haunt me. They plague my self conscious for days at a time.
"Plague" is a much better "word" don't you think?
Yeah...I thought as much...
And the memories...they won't ever leave me alone...been so long since I even let them come to me as a complete memory...maybe now is a good time as any to do just that....
***
"LEAVE ME ALONE!"
"but...son..."
"DON'T CALL ME THAT! YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER!"
The aging unicorn opened his mouth to say something else, but he could tell that the tiny filly would hear nothing of it. He lowered his head and left the child's room once more. He would try again tomorrow to win the young colt's heart, and he would try again the day after that. It was a futile battle though. The filly would hear nothing of the stallion, whom he had blamed for the death of his mother.
He would stay in this state for weeks, perhaps even months, and yet the stallion still tried. The young filly stood where he had been when confronting the stallion, tears threatening his eyes once more, but he again forced them back. He had learned that if he had started to cry too soon, then the servants would come to try to make him feel better, but they would always make it worse despite their efforts.
The filly stayed where he was until he was sure that he was alone. He then walked over to his massive bed, one that was far too big for such a little colt, and he flopped onto its covers. Only then did he let out his tears. Only then did he open up his heart.
The filly cried into the bed for a long time, being careful to muffle his sobs. He didn't move from that spot on his bed until he heard the faintest of hoof steps in the hall outside.
She was coming.
The little filly immediately jumped off of the covers and dived beneath the bed. He didn't want to be caught by her again. The last time she did that, she had tried to comfort him. Of course she made it worse, like the others, by trying to get him to "Open up". He didn't like that. Not at all.
The door to the bedroom silently swung open, and she came in. The little colt didn't know what she was doing this time, but he didn't dare take a peak in case she spotted him. Tiny hooves came into view and slowly walked across the room. He could tell that she had something balanced on her back, but he again resisted to take a look. He hoped she wouldn't find him, he hoped she would leave soon. The young colt usually hid inside the closet when she came, but she had come early this time. He hadn't been prepared.
She was half way across the room when she stumbled. A white cup fell off her back and clattered to the ground. It rolled straight under the bed.
Well...there goes THAT hope.
"Oops..." squeaked a small voice. She then set whatever else she had brought and set it on the bed. A little light brown hoof appeared under the bed. It prodded the ground around it, and when it didn't find the cup, it reached farther under the bed, and then her face appeared.
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
She jumped back from the bed and behind a table, her tiny wings quivering. The little colt stayed where he was, thinking she would leave, but he was wrong. She looked closer under the bed after a while and recognized him, and, instead of apologizing to him for intruding, she yelled at him. Loudly.
"WHAT are you DOING under there?! You nearly gave me a HEART ATTACK!" she yelled at him. The colt was at first shocked to hear this, but then he just grew mad. He crawled out from under the bed and puffed out his chest.
"I don't have to explain myself," he shot back, "Yet I should be asking the same of you! I thought I told the servants to keep you out!"
"But why would they do THAT?"
"Because I'm the prince!"
"Oh you ARE? Gee, I didn't know that. I also didn't know you had such a BIG HEAD!"
"WHAT?!" The small colt was getting angry now. He didn't know who this girl thought she was, but he knew one thing. He didn't like her. The colt looked her over, like he had done the first time, and watched in amusement at her discomfort. He saw her light brown body shift away from him in disgust while her wings flared open. Her eyes were a faint orange among her dark mane that had fallen in front of her face, yet they seemed to be furious with him.
"You heard me!" she said after a while, "You have a big head! What does the prince want? For me to leave? Well that just doesn't happen! Not everypony will just bow down to you and willingly do whatever you say you know! You'd better get it through that thick skull of yours that being a prince doesn't mean you'll-"
"I NEVER ASKED FOR THIS!" yelled the colt, his blue eyes giving away his true emotions. He blushed, realizing what he was doing, and looked down, strands of sky blue hair dangling to the sides of his vision. The colt saw his grey hooves slightly shaking, and he was pretty sure that he couldn't stop it, even with a little magic from the horn atop his head.
He spun around, not wanting to look at the little pegasus that was still staring at him. It was then that he spotted what she had brought with her today. Normally, she might bring a wooden toy or a small book. But today she had brought something different.
It was a small jug of some steaming drink on a platter. Curious, the colt came up to it and popped the top. A wonderful aroma of hot chocolate drenched his nose. The colt stared into the brown drink, and noticed a piece of paper on the platter as well. He picked it up and quickly read it. It wasn't much. Only two words.
This'll help
Not sure what to make of this, he turned around to question the young pegasus, only to find that she was darting out the door.
"Hey!" He said, dropping the note and chasing after her, "Wait!"
She wouldn't do this though, nor did she seem to care. The colt chased after her throughout the expansive castle. Around corners, through halls, even past a few startled servants, and yet he still chased her, all the while hollering, "Wait!"
It wasn't until he had chased her into the thrown room that they were both stopped with a single resounding, "HALT!"
At this word, they both did as they were ordered and turned towards the voice, only to find themselves face to face with the same stallion that had been in the colt's room earlier that day. He seemed to be signing paperwork in his thrown, his dark brown coat slightly hidden in his royal cape. He set down the quill that was in his mouth and rubbed his blank forehead at this new disturbance, a faint smile appearing on his mug. An earth pony King should not have to deal with such disruptions, but it was always interesting when he did.
Startled at this new development, the children did the only thing a filly would do in this situation. They blamed each other.
"She snuck into my room!"
"He scared me!"
"She called me big headed!"
"He wouldn't listen!"
"No, YOU wouldn't listen!"
"No, YOU WOU-"
"Enough!" ordered the King. The fillies both stopped yelling, yet they still stood there glaring at each other. The King gave a slight chuckle before getting off his thrown and going towards the children. The colt thought that she would get in trouble now because of him and felt a little bad. Needless to say he was startled when he saw him stand behind the girl.
"Valiant," he said, "I do believe you just met my daughter, Twinkle."
The colt named Valiant dropped his jaw and stared at the now embarrassed princess. The King gave another chuckle.
"I thought I would introduce you two once you...got more used to me...but I see that won't happen now..." The King placed a thoughtful hoof to his chin before a smile crept across his face, "Actually..." before either of the children knew what was happening, the King was pushing his pegasus daughter towards the unicorn prince. When they were once again face to face, the King stood to the side and said, in an exaggerated royal voice, "Prince Valiant, I would like for you to meet my daughter, Princess Twinkle."
When the fillies didn't do anything, as shocked as they were, the King raised their hooves for them and soon got them to shake. Seeing the King do something as silly as this, some of the servants started to giggle. Their laughing got a bit contagious, for the two fillies, and even the King, began to laugh themselves.
So mirthful was their laughter, that what happened next COMPLETELY caught them off guard. I mean, REALLY how could it not! This next part was so startling, so unexpected, SO RIVETING, that there isn't a SINGLE word to describe just how SHOCKED everypony would be that even DRAGONS would shiver and quake at the mere mention of-
"OK! Hold it RIGHT THERE bucko!"
***
"Bucko? Did you REALLY just call me-"
"Only way to stop you from doing..... whatever it was you were doing."
"I was telling the climax of an endearing tale between a prince and a princess!" The light brown pegasus rolled her orange eyes and made a stupid face at her childhood friend, her dark mane blowing in the wind. The grey unicorn stared innocently at her with blue eyes, his own sky blue hair held tightly to his head with his tiny crown.
"Oh whatever! I don't care how you put it, being grounded for interrupting my dad's work isn't RIVETING as you were trying to put it."
"Well HE didn't ground us! It was some of servants that were supposed to keep an eye on us. They weren't doing a good enough job then, just like now!" Valiant said with a slight smirk. He sat back and leaned his head against the roof that the two ponies were on. Twinkle did the same, opening her wings to let the sun warm them. "Wow...did we get in trouble or what!" Valiant suddenly said, looking over at Twinkle.
"Yeah...but that didn't stop us from sneaking out to talk again." she replied. A smile appeared on her face, only to vanish as soon as it had come. She prayed that he didn't see it.
"Yep!" Valiant agreed, oblivious to her unease. He didn't speak for a while after that, and Twinkle didn't respond. They simply watched the warm sun slowly lower towards the west. The two of them were atop one of the highest towers in the palace, a tower that was rarely used, if at all. Behind the spire of the tower's roof that they were laying on was the highest part of the castle that only the King knew how to get to on hoof.
"I..." Valiant tried to say, but he changed his mind and closed his mouth. Twinkle, however, turned her head towards him with a questionable look. Valiant sighed and continued, his earlier smile now replaced with a thoughtful frown.
"I can't believe it's been eight years..."
"Eight years since what Val?" Twinkle asked, using her nickname of her friend.
"Eight years since we 'met' Twinky," he responded, using his own nickname of her.
"Has it really been that long? Only feels like yesterday that we were trying to prank one of the nobles..."
"Yeah...." Valiant replied, but then he smiled again and looked at Twinkle with sparkling eyes, "Wait...we WERE doing that yesterday."
"OH YEAH!" Twinkle exclaimed in a hearty response that was considered unbecoming of a princess. The two friends laughed for a while at that, but soon stopped when their stomachs began to growl in hunger. They regretfully stood up from their perch and went to the roof's hatch to get back to the balcony below. Once there, they wordlessly replaced their royal robes, Twinkle replacing her tiara, and went down the halls to dine with the King.
After walking for a bit, Valiant started to shift around in discomfort over something. Twinkle saw this and patiently waited for him to speak his mind.
"So..." he finally said, "Whatever happened to that...date of yours....the other night..." This had obviously been bothering him for a while. Twinkle slowed her pace and put on an annoyed look.
"Oh same ol' same ol' I guess...what do you think?" She impatiently replied.
"I think it went badly?" Valiant replied back.
"Exactly! This guy had to be one of the most sucker-upish stallions I had ever met! I mean, he wouldn't shut up about my mane!" She sat on her haunches and placed her forehooves to her face in mock admiration.
"OOh PRINCESS!" She started to say in an exaggerated voice, "Your MANE is so BEAUTIFUL this evening! The way it FLOWS in the wind, is perfect. How it dazzles in the sun is RADIANT! And don't get me STARTED on how it shines in the moonlight tonight!" She slammed her hooves down and stuck her tongue out in disgust. Valiant couldn't hold in his laughter anymore. He fell over laughing, and kicked his robes out of the way to reveal his cutie mark of a shield that was colored like a magical barrier like the ones that he was so adept at making.
Twinkle saw how her act had made her friend laugh and started to giggle along with him. Eventually, Valiant caught his breath and was helped up by Twinkle. He caught sight of her own cutie mark of golden sparkles. She claimed this meant that she loved her subjects, but Valiant always teased her about it meaning that she just liked fireworks. Which was true. Twinkle simply adored fireworks of all kinds. She said that they reminded her of her mother.
"In all seriousness though," Valiant said with a concerned face after they continued to walk towards the dining hall, "Why did you have to go on a date with that guy again?"
"Dad wants me to go out and meet more stallions....this was one of his attempts to get me more interested...I don't know why he bothers though...."
"OK I get that, but why HIM?"
"Oh...well he won a jousting competition and that date was apparently his prize. Or something like that."
"You're not sure?"
"I don't really care."
"Twinkle...you're...WE'RE almost eighteen! You'll have to choose someday...."
"And what if I don't want to!" She exclaimed, rounding on her friend, "I still don't even know why YOU can't just be the next King!" Valiant stumbled, shocked by what she had said, but he regained it and stared into Twinkle's eyes.
"I can't because I'm not even related to you or ....the King..."
"And can't you just call him dad already?! He DID raise you!"
"He's not my dad. He's YOURS. I never even knew my own father! And my mother...well you know..." Valiant broke eye contact and stared at the ground. Twinkle knew she had made a mistake by bringing up family then, but she forged on.
"Val...what happened to your mother was...IS unfair. And you're very fortunate to have been taken in by my father, the KING no less, and to take care of you for all these years. And if it's any consolation...I never knew my mother either...she died before I even met her...."
The two friends stared hard into each other's eyes for a time. Another loud grumble from Valiant's stomach brought them back to reality though.
"Come on...let's go eat," Twinkle said with an amused smile. Valiant smiled too and led the way once more towards the dining hall. The tensions from earlier trickling away, like it never happened in the first place.
"I have to ask though," Valiant said when the dining hall came into view, "Has there ever been a guy you actually liked?"
"Well...there was that ONE guy..." Twinkle said with another smile.
"Really? Who?"
"Oh just some stallion from another land. He was the son of some important Duke in Dad's court. I had fun speaking with him though. He had to leave after our first date though. Something about an uprising I think."
"An uprising? Weird. What was this land called?"
"It was a separate province from us. I forget it's name though....hey, what's going-"
"Announcing Princess Twinkle and Prince Valiant!" Trumpets blared in an authoritative way. Several nobles bowed to the two shocked ponies, several sighing with relief. Apparently, they had been waiting for them.
"Wha-what's this about?" Valiant asked.
"This..." Spoke a loud voice from the table, "Is dinner. With guests. Where have you two been?"
"Father...what-" Twinkle stopped her question short when she saw who the guests were. Next to the aging King sat three ponies. Two of them were clearly as old as him, but the third was a much younger stallion. He was a blue earth pony and had a small crown on his head, similar to the ones that Twinkle and Valiant had on.
He was a prince. Well...he was dressed like one at least.
"Dreaden? Is that you?" Twinkle asked. Not waiting for a reply, she raced down the steps and nearly tackled the blue prince to the ground. Valiant quickly followed.
"I take it that THIS is the guy you were talking about?" He asked once he got there. Twinkle stood away from her embrace of the startled Dreaden and happily nodded her head. The King walked up next to Valiant and explained that a Diamond Dog uprising in their province had made it impossible for the duke's family to live there anymore. He had heard about their plight for years and would always offer to send them troops and supplies, but they would refuse. Now though, they chose to accept his offer of help.
"They will live here until the uprising has been quelled." The King finished while polishing off a piece of bread. The six of them had begun to eat by that time. Valiant was sitting to his right while Twinkle sat to his left next to Dreaden. His parents sat next to him, leaving Valiant to be alone on his side of the table with only the King to talk to. He had been explaining the reasons behind this sudden turn of events to Valiant.
"I see..." Valiant said. He glanced up at Twinkle and saw her listening at Dreaden, who was telling her of his home. She noticed Valiant's stare and smiled to him in reassurance and turned back to the other stallion, "Dreaden...such an interesting name..."
"It's supposed to be a name of great power." The King told him, "Even so, he's a fine lad."
"For his home or for Twinkle?" Valiant asked. He didn't like the feeling he was getting in his gut.
"Why Valiant...do you have a crush on my daughter?" The King asked in a stern voice.
"WHAT? N-NO! I don't like Twinky like-like that at-"
"Whoa there son...I was only joking!" The King said in his usual mirthful tone, "Although...Having those kind of feelings isn't-"
"My King! Twinkle is like my sister! I couldn't-well I could, but-" The King chuckled at this and lay a hoof on Valiant's shoulder.
"I know this is a hard topic for you, but you two aren't really related. It would be strange, true, but it wouldn't be wrong."
"I...er..." The grey unicorn prince thought about his and the princess's earlier conversation and smiled, "Whatever you say... Dad," The King's eyes widened at this, but he didn't say anything. He just smiled more warmly and turned back to his meal. Valiant looked up at Twinkle and thought about his feelings for her. He knew he liked her as a friend and would protect her with his life if he needed to, but could he really love her?
He shook his head and continued eating, but one thought edged its way into his head before he could.
Would she even love him back?
***
"Would you just marry him already?"
"Val. I keep telling you, I can't."
"And yet you never explain why..."
"I have my reasons."
The Prince and the Princess of the Crystal Empire were standing around the prince's room. It was late in the evening and it was after dinner, so neither of them were in any royal clothing. They weren't even wearing their head pieces.
"Twinky, it's been three years. You've been seeing him off and on again like it wasn't even an issue. And believe me, he complains. A lot. ESPECIALLY to me."
"Oh you exagerater you...I'm sure he's fine. Not like we're to be wed anytime soon."
"You're twenty one years old!"
"So?"
"He can't even go home anymore! Not only that, but I DON'T want to be stuck listening to him complain for the rest of my life."
"Can we just change the subject now?" Twinkle was getting annoyed at her friend. Her wings were drawn open and she was shooting her eyes at Valiant like daggers.
Valiant summoned a magic barrier in the shape of a shield and pointed it at the enraged princess.
"OK OK! Cool it with those things. I mean sheesh! If looks could kill!" Twinkle couldn't help but smile at this and snapped her wings shut again. The hairs on her light brown coat laying down again.
"Fine...It's just...I don't know if I'm ready for something like that..." Valiant lowered the shield and frowned at her.
"Dad would want you to rule the empire with a king rather than without one. I'm sure of it."
"....how....how is he?"
"Last I checked, he was fine..."
"Val. You're my...my best friend. I know when you're lying." Valiant flinched when she said 'Friend', but at least he was her best.
"Are you sure you want to know?"
"Positive. He's our father after all."
"....if you're sure..." Valiant turned around and went to the bedside table. From within it, he drew out a sealed scroll and levitated it to Twinkle. She wore a confused look on her face.
"He said to give you this a few days ago...but you were upset at the time from...Him."
"Wha-It's not your business to keep letters from me! And I wasn't upset!"
"You were crying in your room. Don't you dare deny it either! And I think I know why..."
"It's not-"
"Dreaden tried to propose to you again, didn't he..." Tears were welling up in her eyes at this, giving Val his answer. He didn't know why she did this, only that she only did when he tried to win her heart again.
"He can't go back home you know. His whole castle was blown up. I'm not saying I particularly like the guy either, but still..."
"Just...give me the letter..."
"Now I'm not too sure..."
"Give me the letter,"
"You're upset though. Maybe I-"
"GIVE ME MY LETTER!" Valiant dropped it in front of her without another comment. Twinkle brushed aside her dark mane before popping the seal and reading the letter. As time went on, her eyes got wider and wider. She put a hoof to her mouth as a single tear rolled down her cheek. Valiant waited for her to tell him what was in the letter, but she instead rolled it up again and went over to the window.
Not sure what else to do, Valiant walked to her side and stared outside with her. The crystal like houses that expanded before them sparkled in the twilight of the evening. Regular ponies of all three races wandered about below, either to get home or to run an errand, neither of them knew, but they did know that the sight before them was breathtaking. Maybe Twinkle's cutie mark actually made sense after all.
"He's dying...." Twinkle muttered.
"It's...not THAT bad..."
"Oh shut it. You know it's true! You've seen him! I'm not even allowed in the same room as him!" More tears appeared in Twinkle's eyes.
"His sickness is...unique...and he doesn't want to scare you..."
"Oh, like a broken face will scare me! I want to see my father!" She screamed at Valiant, making him stumble backwards and trip over a chair. Twinkle advanced on him.
"But-"
"But WHAT! My father is dying and you knew it! Why didn't you tell me!"
"Dad wanted to tell you himself,"
"So why didn't he!"
"It was his wish that you didn't see him like...he is. A letter was the only way to-"
"Only way to WHAT?! To break my heart?! I WANT TO SEE HIM!"
"BUT YOU CAN'T!" Valiant jumped up and took hold of her shoulders.
"His sickness started three years ago. Since then, his body has been slowly turning to crystal. Any strain he gets might cause his body to break apart. Don't you see Twinkle? If you go and see him now, it might be the end for him! He'll DIE!"
Twinkle stared at her friend for a long time. Neither of them moved.
"I don't want to see you get hurt like that. I don't want to see you fall apart like I once did. Seeing one's parent die right in front of them is a TERRIBLE ordeal. You're my best friend, and aside from Dreaden, my ONLY friend! I need you to keep your head, not only for your country, but because....... I LOVE YOU!"
Valiant suddenly blushed at that. He hadn't meant to say that. The heat of the moment was too much. He let go of Twinkle and turned his back to her. He didn't know what to say.
"You...love me?"
"Er...I guess...I always have...."
"Val..."
Valiant walked to his bed. The covers were a complete mess, the pillows were everywhere and he was pretty sure that there was a bowl of chips on the floor. He started to wonder whether or not he should have cleaned up before Twinkle came.
"Val?"
"Forget it."
"Val I-"
"Could you just forget it? I....I didn't know what...."
"I love you too."
"I...wait what?" Valiant turned around and looked right at Twinkle. Her face was just as red as his was.
"I...love you..." she said again. The embarrassed princess showed him the letter then. Valiant hesitantly levitated it towards him and read it.
"Erm...could you...read that out loud?"
"Um...sure..." Valiant cleared his throat and began to read.
To my daughter,
Twinkle, by the time that you're reading this, then I am either dying or already dead. I pray that Valiant has given you this letter, though I'm pretty sure he will.
My daughter...my illness...it has a very peculiar way of working. It began deep inside of me, slowly turning my insides to crystal. Now, it has spread to most of my body. I am now quite fragile, even my face has been broken. I'm not sure how I got it but the doctors assure me that it is not contagious. Even so, I don't want you to see me in this state. At least not yet.
Please understand that I am not long for this world. YOU must take the thrown next. If you do not, then THEY will...
I wish for you to find a husband. This may sound hard, but there is a certain stallion, and a prince at that, that will always be there for you. To protect you. He has been there for you for years and he will stand by you, no matter your decision.
Valiant, my son, if you are hearing this, then please take care of my daughter. If this may seem impossible, then protect our land, our home, from danger.
I wish you both to be happy, no matter what the future may bring.
Valiant finished the letter with tears in his eyes. Parts of the letter didn't make any sense, but the rest rang true to his heart. He looked at Twinkle and saw her crying, like him.
The prince dropped the letter and pulled the princess close to him in a warm embrace. Neither of them spoke for a long time.
"We'll get through this...I promise..." Valiant said.
"I know we will..." Twinkle replied back.
"I love you, you know that?"
"I love you too..."
They stayed in their embrace for a long time. The sun outside slowly lowered itself beyond the mountains, making the room dark. Neither the prince nor the princess cared, nor did they hear the low grunt from just outside.
Off in the hall, a silent figure stepped away from the door. He had wanted to speak with the princess, but he knew he couldn't now. He knew he couldn't win over her heart.
The figure slowly crept away, a dark feeling rising in his chest.
"I hate you Valiant..." He muttered when he turned down some stairs. He stalked into a dark room and slammed his hoof into the ground.
"I HATE YOU!"
Author's Note
Wrote this forever ago and chapter 2 is giving me trouble.
Leave a comment of what you think of it so far. If enough of you like it, I may be determined enough to finish the next chapter.
~TLSpark (NOT a parody of "Twilight Sparkle" mind you. I've been pestered enough about that already)
