All My Tears

Adjusting to palace life was relatively easy, almost too easy. There was much Nova found she could do. She was allowed the library where she read books upon books. She loved to wander the palace gardens seeing as she had too much time in the day. Nova was now 14. It had been six years since both of her parents death. She missed them with her whole heart and often felt lonely. Celestia had noticed this. She sent for Nova one September morning.

“You called, Aunt Tia?” Nova said trotting into the throne room.

“Yes, Nova- Please close the door, dear.”

Nova did as she was told, but wondered what her aunt had needed her for.

“You’re probably wondering why you’re here,” Celestia chuckled as her niece nodded. “I have decided to take you under my wing and teach you personally how to be a princess.”

Nova looked up at Celestia in shock. She stuttered, “B-but I’m a-a half breed. I can’t…” She saw the look on Celestia’s face. “I would be honored if you would teach me.”

Celestia smiled triumphantly and said, “Good! Well, first lesson is knowing how to walk and speak when in front of our subjects.”

It went on like that for hours. By the end of the day Nova could keep up with Celestia with books on her head, stand with correct posture, and use the traditional thou’s and thy’s.

That night before Nova fell asleep, Celestia came in levitating a book towards her.

“Would you mind if I read you a bedtime story?”

“No, not at all!”

Celestia settled in the bed and started. The story was about a brave stallion who discovered the miasma. He learned of it’s nature and how to fend it off. The white alicorn dove into this heroic tale of how he saved his country from the miasma.

“Aunt Tia, what country was this?”

“A great land not so very far away. It was once called Cavalia. Now we go to it when we are in need of shelter. As it said in the story, Strong Heart saved his country by transporting it to a different realm. All the buildings still stand unscathed. The miasma can’t be destroyed all at once, but it can be weakened over time. It was that same miasma that corrupted your mother turning her into Nightmare Moon.”

“But I thought ‘twas the bitterness and anger in heart that finally broke through.”

Celestia pondered this for a moment before answering. “It is true, but the only way for that to happen is through the miasma. You see, it feeds off of whatever emotion your heart feels strongest. It then amplifies it throughout your body. It’s hard to explain.”

There was silence between the two for a while before Nova noticed a single, sparkling tear run down the older mare’s cheek. She could guess why, and could also share in her sorrow.

                                                           *

The sun rose and the sun set. It rose and set yet again. Days passed by in complete boredom for Nova. She learned the proper ways of princess hood, and was given a platinum circlet for her 15th birthday.  It twisted like vines around her head and encased a moon stone in the center, just below her horn. It glowed when the moon shone upon it. There were the occasional visits from Cadence and Shining Armor, the friendship letters from Twilight Sparkle (a lavender coated mare, who was also Celestia’s student), and the days when she could wander Canterlot with Celestia.

On one such day….

“Get yer peaches! Get yer peaches! Nice sweet peaches!” The street venders shouted so loudly that when Nova got close, she had to keep her ears down to block the noise. She followed close behind her aunt. The crowds swelled before her eyes. It made her dizzy.

“I think I care for the quiet of the palace appose to this!”

Celestia chuckled softly to herself before turning to face Nova.

“I need to take care of something. You may wander, but be back for supper.”

“Thank you, I shall!”

Nova tried to pick her way through the crowds, but with no luck. She hated making a spectacle of herself, but rose into the sky to a cloud overhead. She alighted upon it and looked at this vast city. She saw the gardens in the palace courtyard. She went there often to clear her head. She looked more closely and saw a procession of ponies.

She soared through the sky and landed at the entrance. A magenta coated mare was leading a group of ponies Nova’s age through the statue garden. She followed close behind, staying well hidden. She group stopped at a statue she knew well.

“Now, this statue is very special. It’s name has faded from the plaque and those who can remember what it said, are dead. I wish I knew it’s name ‘cause it’s one of my favorites-”

With a rustle in the bushes, Nova stepped out and walked quietly to the statue.

She said, “Your wish is granted.” She turned to the class and told them the story Celestia had told her once before in bed. It turned out the stallion’s name was Sir Strongheart. After the conclusion, Nova turned to walk away.

A young colt named Pipsqueak stepped forward. “If I might ask, who are you?”

Nova stopped dead in her tracks and turned to face this brave colt. Her black coat gleamed in the sun. She smiled softly.

“I am Nova Sitara, daughter of the late Princess Luna. I am sorry to interrupt your class visit. I just couldn’t help but overhear. I’ve never been to school before.”

Pipsqueak along with the rest of the class bowed. Cheerilee, the teacher, walked over to her.

“If you would like, you could listen in on our little field trip Princess.”

“Please, just call me Nova. And that would be wonderful! Thank you.”

                                                      *

The day passed quickly for Nova, who learned much about the castle and it’s grounds. She was amazed at how much she didn’t know about her own home. It wasn’t quite supper time when the class had to return to Ponyville. Nova was sad to see them go. She had never had any real friends before. All except for one stallion. His name was Abendigo, and he was her mother’s most favorited guards. He would listen to her fantasies patiently, give her comfort when she needed it, and tell her jokes and such. Nova flew to town hall to meet Celestia. She found a group of golden robed ponies waiting for something. She looked at them for a moment. One carried a banner that stated:

End the threat to Celestia's rule!

She couldn’t see what this threat was. Her mother was the only one she could think of, and she was dead. She walked a bit closer to survey some of the other signs. One stallion snuck up behind her and bucked her leg. She let out a scream and turned to face not one, but five full grown stallions snickering at her.

“I think we’ve found a way to end the threat,” One said chuckling.

The others nodded and closed in on her. Nova panicked and rose up into the sky. She was immediately followed by a band of pegasi. She raced through the sky at breathtaking speed. She tried to lose them by zigg-zagging. That didn’t work. She didn’t want to attack her subjects, but was left no choice. She zapped them all out cold. She flapped shakily to the ground. Her legs wobbled like jello. She tried to get to the door, but something grabbed her bruised leg. It was a rope of magic. Pain filled her body as she struggled against it. Celestia came out the door talking to the mayor.

She was only aware of the situation when Nova screamed her name.

She looked at the mess and then at her fainting niece. She knew the spell and performed it with ease. Nova’s vision was blurry, and circles were closing in on her. She muttered “thank you”, then fell into darkness.