Applebloom, Tiara, and Crown were having quite a lively time in Ponyville, much to Crown's surprise cause she expected it to be BORING, being a town in the middle of nowhere. So imagine her surprise when it turned out to be fun and lively. She also spent a lot of time with her aunt Applejack and Twilight, getting to know the most famous people in her family. She was told that she had some big names in her family, but not ponies as big as Celestia, Luna, and Cadence! Now she has something to lord over her future friends when she goes to Preschool.

One of the reasons Applebloom came was because she wanted Crown to meet her cousins; Starlight, Goldie, Peppy, Glade, Woona, Marian, Filigree, and Fire Ruby. But they weren't here.

The reason why was something they didn't expect.

Two weeks ago, Starlight ran away. She found out that Halo isn't her real father and attacked him. After that, she ran away to find her real dad. Glade went after her to bring her home, and a couple days after, Goldie, Filigree, and the rest of Starlight's friends and family went after her as well to actually help her.

it had been a couple of weeks since they all left and Twilight has been down for quite a bit. Maybe the coming celebration will help cheer her up.

The celebration was to celebrate the end of the Winter War 18 years ago. It was mostly placed in Ponyville and has the townsfolk remembering those lost in the war, such as Rainbow's half-brother Soarin'. While it is a wake, they don't focus on that part for long as they have games and booths and lots of fun.

"Auntie Twilight! Come on! I want to read the book!" Crown whined, trying to get at the book Twilight was keeping out of her reach.

"Not a chance, Crown. You are far too young to read a book of this caliber." And she's right. By pure chance, she found a book called the Ponay Sutra and figured it to be a picture book. These aren't the pictures a filly like her should see until she's older.... and married.

Crown pouted and walked off in defeat. at that moment, Applebloom walked in. "Come on, Twi. gotta get ready for the festivities, right?"

Twi sighed as she put the book away. "I don't know, Applebloom. I mean... it's just been hard since Starlight left. Pinkie's party last week was a good chance to cheer me up but... it didn't work."

Applebloom sighed. "Auntie... isn't there anything that can cheer you up?"

"No.... i just can't... not with Starlight gone. Even seeing you after 3 years didn't help." Applebloom whimpered, lowering her ears. "By the way, Diamond Tiara? I thought the two of you hated each other."

"When we were fillies, Twi. Ponies change over time. You know that better then anyone with Halo and Trixie and eTu`nes and--"

"I get it, i get it. but still, marriage and a daughter... that's something."

"Yeah. and you can imagine Tiara's and Crown's surprise when i told them who they were related to. they freaked out completely, in a happy way."

That made Twi and Bloom laugh. that's the first time since Starlight ran away that she actually laughed, and she needed it. "Thanks, Applebloom. i needed that."

"Te Nada." Twi lifted a eyebrown in confusion. "That's a thing from Rise. Not sure where she got it from." Twi exclaimed in understandment then went back to being depressed. Applebloom tried to cheer her up again. "Hey, come on Auntie. This is Starlight we're talking about. She's a Alicorn with power over time. I'm pretty sure she can keep out of trouble. And she also has all her friends and family with her. She'll be fine."

Twi looked at her niece with worried eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Positive."

Twi's known the Apple Family for years and knows they never lie, especially Applejack and, recently, Applebloom. "If you say so."

"Please... i know so! Trust me, i've never steered anyone wrong... except for Cannon when i went on his first carriage drive and gave him the wrong directions." That made Twilight laugh again.

As the night of the Winter War Remembrance drew near, Crown was busy playing peek-a-boo with the new babies Ditzy and Oscurita, Dinky's and Pip's kids that they had just 2 days ago.

"And you're saying that Crown is half-Gryphon, with her father being a pure sadist?" Dinky asked Tiara, who sat at a table with her

"Yeah. and she doesn't show it. And i like that. Green Star was a bad person to be around with and i am so glad he's at that mental institute in Baltimare."

Dinky whistled passively. "If you say so, Tiara. i'm not judging you. After all, you were pretty mean yourself."

Tiara lowered her head in shame. "Don't remind me. that's a part of my life i wish i could forget." Dinky sighed in agreement. She wishes that too. "Right now, i'm wondering when she'll get her Gryphon attributes, if at all."

"Gryphon Attributes? Like a beak or a lion tail?"

"I'm thinking more along the lines of wings. like you."

Dinky looked back to her draconic wings courtesy of eTu`nes, a dragon, being her dad. "Remember that i was going on 8 when these came in! And it hurt like Holy Tartarus when they ripped out."

Tiara mouthed 'wow'. She had no idea. "But we can both agree that Foalbirth is much, MUCH more painful then that, right?"

Dinky replied instantly, "Oh, yeah."

Pip walked around a corner, carrying some boxes on his back. "Come on, Dinks. we gotta get ready for the Remembrance."

"Yeah yeah." Dinky got up and headed to grab Ditzy and Oscurita. "See you in a couple of hours Tiara, Crown."

"See you in a couple of hours too." Tiara replied.

Tiara is glad that Applebloom's old friends have taken a liking to her, even if it took longer then expected. She also found out a lot of other things about her new friends. Dinky ran off with her aunt Daring Do, who turns out to not be a book character as it turned out, and became a adventure with her, Pip, and Daring's Gryphon husband Silverbolt.

Scootaloo went on to be a reporter in the Gryphon Kingdom with her hubbo Feather Weight, who became her camera man.

and Sweetie Belle... just walk into a record store and you'll hear one of her huge hit singles playing. She's so famous, she can barely go anywhere without being swarmed. Thank goodness everyone in Ponyville just remembers her as Sweetie Belle and not the new Queen of Pop.

"Good for them. They're making something of their lives. Wish i did something like that." But she doesn't care. as long as she has Applebloom and Silver Crown, she's happy. Besides, with Applebloom being a famous vet back home and Crown showing exceptional mental prowess, she has a feeling she'll be known.

The hours quickly passed and the Winter War Remembrance began. After a wake remembering all those who perished in the war, they all went on to party. They all expected the Princess' and their special someones to come. They didn't expect the Changeling Queen Chrysalis, her right hand man Leon, and her left hand woman Friction to come. It was quite the surprise.

For their close-knit group, the party drew to a close when Spike received a letter via his magic fire.

A letter... from Starlight.

The lights at the library came on as Twilight quickly walked in. she had gotten the envelope open and pulled out the letter just as her friends followed her in, most of them wondering what got her in such a frenzy. Twi threw the envelope onto a table and started to look at the letter when, “what did she say?” Vinyl asked.

“Give her a moment, Vinyl.” Zilver said. “It’s her daughter.”

Applebloom and Tiara came in last, Crown standing on Bloom's back. "What's going on, Mommy?" She quietly asked.

"I don't know." Bloom replied. She honestly doesn't know.

With a heavy and worried heart, Twi opened it up and read it out loud.

“hey, Mom. It’s me… Starlight…

“hehe… I’m not sure what to write here. I left things on such bad terms with you that I was worried I wouldn’t write to you again. But… I worked up the courage so… here goes.

“first off, Goldie. She’s alive and unaffected by Nightmare Moon. We found someone who exorcised Nightmare out of Goldie and the Alicorn Amulet and took her out of existence fully. Unless she was able to find a way to hide a part of herself in other objects, Nightmare Moon is gone completely. Goldie is better as well… except her wings are broken beyond repair. Is it possible for Shadow to make a special device for her to help her fly? I know he makes them for adults but, if he can make one for Goldie, it would help ease that part of Marians soul.

“Oh, and about Marian, she still feels bad about what happened but is slowly getting past it, thanks to her new marefriend Windancer. That’s right, Trixie, Luna, eTu`nes, and Derpy, your daughters shacked up. And it wasn’t just them. Glade fell in love with the pony who helped him find me, Screw Loose. It was gradual, though, and I don’t think they’re at ‘that point’ yet, but they did hook up. And I think I see a romance blossoming between Season’s Edge and Filigree. They’ve been giving each other googliy eyes across the room. They think we don’t see it but we see it.

“now to the more… somber stuff. Mom… thanks for sending me that letter. I really needed that. Knowing that Halo loved me… it helped me out a lot. Halo… Dad… if you’re the one reading this, I’m sorry for what I did to you. I never expected for that to happen and I apologize. But it’s nice to know who your family is.

“speaking of family… I found him, mom. I found my real dad. And he’s not… who I expected him to be.

“that Necromancer I went to search for to help me point in his direction? He IS my father. We didn’t believe it at first but… his eyes. We have the same eyes. You know that thing that happens every time I get mad; when they go red and green with purple fire out the sides? He does it too. And it’s genetic only in his family. There’s no question about it. He’s my father.

“his name is Sombra and he’s been living out in this castle for Faust knows how many years. His special talent is in the manipulation of shadows and though some bad instances, he had to make himself scarce for fear that Aunt Celestia might kill him. And he only leaves whenever ‘the call of nature’ kicks in… which lead to the… incident in Feather Top that… lead to my conception. He doesn’t know why I’m a Alicorn myself or why I have power over time but… better some answers then no answers, right?

“I sent a picture of him with this letter. I wish you could see him in person. He has this certain… aura that I can’t describe. He’s just someone you have to meet to know.

“he’s allowed us to stay for as long as we like but, for reasons I explained, I’m afraid this’ll be the last letter we send. He has a barrier that prevents any magical from leaving or entering his residence. I don’t blame him. Aunt Celestia can be scary at times. And I just met him. I don’t want him to die.

“and Mom… I miss you. And Halo. I miss you both.

“Love…

Starlight Sparkle Sombra.

“P.S.. tell Rainbow Dash that we have a surprise for her. I don’t want to spoil it but it’s something she’ll like.”

“She did it…” Twilight gasped. She dropped the letter as she looked on in shock. “She found her real father.” Halo walked over and comforted her.

Cadence took the letter away from her distrat and shocked sister-in-law. “Sombra… quite a scary name.”

Very. And Starlight’s description of him… that made the Changeling’s nervous. “Didn’t she say she sent a picture?” Armor said.

“Oh, right. She did.” Halo went to grab it.

Shadow walked over to Twi and patted her on the back. “I’ll do what I can for Goldie but don’t expect much. The design just wouldn’t work for colts and fillies.”

Twi looked to him with somber eyes and sighed. “Yeah. I know. But try your best, Shadow. Please?”

“I will.”

Dash chuckled and rubbed her hooves together. “I wonder what surprise they got me.” she chuckled. “maybe it’s a cool rug, or a new Daring Do book. OH! Maybe that Sombra fella has a book with aerial moves that haven’t been seen in years!”

Tiara rolled her eyes. Dash just doesn't deal with somber moments, does she?

Halo grabbed the envelope and shook the picture out. He grabbed it and whistled. “Guy looks scary. Hard to believe Starlight came from him.” he gave the picture to Twilight.

She took it and gave a good long look at it. Very foreboding looking. And scary. “Well… don’t keep us in the dark.” Trixie said. “Who is he?” Twilight memorized the picture and used her magic to create a 3D projection of the pony in the picture.

Curious to who he was, Chrysalis grabbed the picture and looked at it. What she saw made her gasp in fear. “no… it can’t be him…”

“Huh?” Marble asked.

“it’s him!”

“Him who!?” Luna added. Crown and Tiara exchanged odd glances.

Twilight finished making the image so the Changelings and everyone could see it.

Begin Song:

The Key - Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep OST

The image of a large, black, foreboding Unicorn appeared in front of them. The Changelings know who it was to heart. Tiara gasped in shock. That's the same stallion she saw back at her wedding, the Unicorn who's cape turned into wings.

“IT’S HIM!” the Changelings exclaimed.

“Who!?” the ponies all yelled.

“He’s the one who forced us to invade Equestria both times!” Chrysalis said, looking as angry and as scary as Dark Chrysalis. “he’s the one who corrupted out kingdom and nearly wiped us all out!” her horn glowed. “or did you forget?”

Using her magic, Chrysalis summoned up the history of the Changeling Empire as a large 3D projection. Sure enough, that dark Unicorn was there, corrupting their land and spreading chaos and war.

“It is him!” the ponies all exclaimed.

Chrysalis stopped playing it and brought up the image of the pony in her projection and put it next to Twilight’s. they are an exact match.

“the manipulation of shadows…” Celestia muttered. She gasped when she figured it out. “of course!”

“of course what, my sister?” Luna asked.

Applebloom, Tiara, and Crown have completely lost track of what's going on but by the sounds of their tones, it wasn't pleasant.

“Long before you came back, I was asked by a small village located near the outskirts to rout out a madman. Apparently, he had the ability to use shadows. He had built up a army made out of shadows and nearly destroyed the place. By the time I arrived, I saw who it was.” she turned her attention to the projections. “A black Unicorn who’s heart was as black as the night, spreading destruction as pleasure. But… at the time, he was no more then 5. When he saw me, he fled into the mountains. It took me weeks but I couldn’t find him. I figured he’d gone into hiding.”

“and not long after that, he attacked my kingdom…” Chrysalis muttered. “Sending this whole motion of events into action that lead to the Winter War!”

Twilight couldn't believe this. The father of her daughter was a madman who could use shadows for evil intent. There must be some mistake. There’s just no way. Applebloom can only imagine what she's going though now.

Fluttershy gasped out of fear. “our children are with him.”

They are. They forgot that. Knowing she would be stepping out of her bounds, Celestia turned to the Changelings. “Leon. Friction. Starlight’s first letter said she was heading north. Go after her and warn her and her friends about Sombra.”

The two of them stood still because this was a pony and not their queen.

“Do it!” Chrysalis ordered. Fearing her response, the two of them nodded.

“Hold on.” Derpy said. She grabbed a pen and paper. “My sister Daring Do is in Baltimare with her husband Silverbolt.” she quickly wrote down the situation and gave it to Friction. “they should be investigating the Wyrm Pass located near there. They should be of help; Daring is a decent marital artist and Bolt’s a Gryphon.” the two Changelings nodded and flew out the door.

“we should at least try to send them a warning!” Marble said.

“Didn’t you hear? Sombra’s residence has a magical barrier around it, preventing any magic going in and coming out.” Octavia said.

The group looked to the two images of the evil unicorn; one showing him as a regal ruler, another as a genocidal madman. As much as they hate to hate it, their children are on their own with him.

“Starlight…” Twilight said with worry. How can this monster be her father? Why? “please be safe…”

Crown's head hurt, making her hold it. "Mommy... i don't feel so good.'' She fainted and fell off Applebloom's back.

"Crown!" Tiara caught her. Suddenly, she started to feel bad.

"Ugh... i don't feel so hot either..." Derpy groaned.

It wasn't just Crown, Tiara, and Derpy. Dinky, Rainbow Dash, Lyra, Octavia, and even Chrysalis were feeling crummy. As well as countless other Ponies, Gryphons, Dragons, and Diamond Dogs around the world.

To make matters more confusing and mysterious, glyphs started to appear on their foreheads.

"What in Equestria is going on?!" Applejack exclaimed.

Lightning fell outside from suddenly appearing clouds, cutting the party short and making everyone take cover indoors. Off in the great, GREAT distance, a beam of light shot into the air and tore a hole in the air itself.

"I don't know, Applejack." Celestia replied. "But what i do know... is that Equestria- no, the world... is facing one of it's worse crises yet." She looked to the projection of Sombra. "And he's the cause of it."

Applebloom looked at her wife and daughter in deep worry. "What's going on..." She worriedly whimpered in silence.

Far Away, in a dark and forbidding castle, deep within it's basement, Sombra was getting ready to make his move. Behind him, a machine sparked to life; a tower with many levels and a glass ball on top big enough to house a Alicorn.

"The time has come for the univese to change..."

He glanced down at the unconscious Starlight at his hooves. "And you shall the one lead the way, my greatest creation. And soon, all of our kin will come and join us as we set out with our compatriots to eradicate these beings of light. Starting..."

He turned the machine on to full strength, sending the beam up into the air.

"With the death of Princess Celestia..."

To be concluded... in Starlight, Starbright.

Author's Note

Out of nowhere? Yes. Unneeded? Definitely. Shameless tie-in to another story? You betcha.

Applebloom's and Tiara's story ended back at their wedding. the last two chapters was to tie it into another.