The White Shadow Chronicles

White Shadow had awoken to the sounds of the morning hymns outside her hut. The young unicorn was only a filly, but she already knew the language of Latin. Her father had coached her since she began to talk. He had taught her all the basic terms and roots, then upgraded to the real simple words. She was able to say “Hello,” “Goodbye” and “I love you,” now. Aster had never felt this proud in his life. He continued to coach her through her early years. He taught her language, literature, and mathematics and sciences. Her mother had taught her religion, music, and magic. White Shadow grew to love and respect both her parents even more than she already did. By her eighth birthday, she could destroy a tree within seconds while singing a lullaby in Latin. Her parents praised her and continued to teach her.

Aster knew it was a matter of time before White Shadow would become independent, when she became an adolescent mare. He prayed she wouldn’t go down the same religious-stricken path as her ditsy mother. Of course, he tried to spend as much time with her. He stopped continuing his studies to help her with hers. He ignored improving his own magic to help her practice hers. He abandoned his closest friends and family, just to spend time with his daughter.

Soon, Star Struck had stopped making sacrifices for her child. Rather, she’d push White Shadow out of her way and make it so she couldn’t fit time with her in her schedule. Aster was beginning to despise his own wife.

She had become moody, constantly yelling at poor ponies nearby, criticizing them for any flaws they had, major or minor; even her own child and husband. When White Shadow became ten, she had stopped spending time with her mother and spent all of her time with her father. He told her he dreamed of a great future for her, whatever she wanted to be, but she declared, “If there’s one thing I refuse to be, and that’s a bloody witch!” Her father looked stunned by this. “Why is that, Shady?” he had asked. She had looked him in the eyes, and said, “This place bores me, Papa. I dream of exploring the world beyond what our sanctuary holds.  I want to be like you-a rebel who‘s willing to run off and start a family. This whole ‘Nyx’ stuff bores the Tartarus out of me.”

Hope had  flared through Aster’s body. “That’s my girl!” She wrapped her arms around him and they embraced. Aster kissed her head and nuzzled her, keeping her as close to him as possible. His daughter was the only thing that mattered right now, not his reputation, not his life, not even Star Struck.  Aster felt his heart burst with eternal love from his daughter. He loved and ached for her safety; determined to keep her safe and alive until the two of them went to their graves.

Tensions grew between him and his wife, however. Star Struck had completely lost her mind. She babbled so much anything she said was completely incomprehensible. She threw things, screaming angry Latin words that frankly should have been censored even if no-pony understood. She became a conspiracy theorist, suggesting things out in the outside world could taint her faith. Witches grew nervous of her. White Shadow would run away at the first sight of her mother.

Aster was more concerned about his wife than angry. He told Shady to stay far away from her mother as possible. Soon enough, he kept himself and her in his private study miles away from where Star lived and worked. Star’s behavior only began to grow worse.

Shady saw what was happening, but said or did nothing about it. She was only ten. What could she do?

Aster kept them secluded for three months. By the third month, Shady felt misery and loneliness. As for Aster, he himself ached for freedom. However, he needed to keep Shady safe and under a good caring parent. He wanted her to awaken to her life of possibilities, and only he could support her decisions.  He made the two of them some soup, but neither one felt hungry. Soon, Aster and shady just spent that day huddled in a blanket on a small, hay-filled mattress.

There was a small knock at the door. Aster frowned. He didn’t expect any-pony to come by his secret study. Maybe it was his sister. Maybe it was an old friend or his old mentor. He opened the door and peeped out. The door thrust open, and an angry Star Struck burst in. She looked over at her terrified husband and child malevolently.

“Salve, fili mi vir.”