MLP:FIM: Crystal Curse

Every year, the guard-ponies of Canterlot assemble within the main hall of the palace to be inspected by the princesses and Shining Armor: The commander in chief of the royal guard. They are divided into two groups: those that follow Celestia and the others that protect Luna. Understandably, there are more guards under Luna's "command" than before due to last year's events. Underneath the princesses and the commander in chief in the chain of command are two captains, one for each group. There was Duskshy: Captain of Luna's royal guard and the other, Opal Beam: Leading captain of Celestia's guards. Each is assigned to make sure that the will of their leaders have been carried out with near perfection.

Underneath those two are the guardponies themselves, the ones who carry out their duties without hesitation and of course there are the recruits: ponies, unicorns and pegasi who have yet to prove themselves in royal duties and unto themselves and they are placed in a seperate group at the royal inspection led by a young corporal named Cloud Rain. Not only does the young pegasi lead the recruits, he also helps clear the skies of clouds or otherwise and on this occasion... he was late.

Duskshy continued through the streets of Canterlot Town while trying to avoid the numerous guard and work-ponies as they tried to fix up the town for the upcoming celebrations. As he ducked and weaved throughout the whole mess, he apologized whenever he almost came close to ruining a guard-ponies' hard work.  "Captain, watch where you are going will you?" Implored one of them as Dusk narrowly avoided knocking him off the ladder he was on to try and fix one of the signs that had become unhinged. "Sorry, can't stop now, I need to be at the castle for an inspection" Replied Dusk as he carried on running. "I-Inspection?" breathed the guard pony before falling off the ladder anyway in exasperation.

As he continued ducking and diving through the preparations he was not watching where he was going and bumped into a work pony while he was carrying a crate full of pottery and knocked him over. As they both fell to the ground, the crate landed on Dusk's head dropping all the pottery and smashing them around them. The work-pony was flustered over the loss of the pottery and his face had become a bright red with rage. "Why don't you watch where you are going you klutz!!" Yelled the fuming work-pony. "My apologies sir, I was only just..." Dusk began. The work-pony was still ranting and did not hear Dusk's apology. "Thanks to you, my workload is shattered, it will take a massive amount of funds to get more of these, they are very valuable!!" continued the work-pony.

"But I just apologized for..." continued Dusk as he backed off a couple of steps. "Well, that's coming out of your paycheck from the royals you royal mess-up". Duskshy, now getting annoyed, lashed out at the work-pony who had ignored his attempts at apologizing numerous times "Look, I said I was sorry okay, can't you listen for once" he replied. "Sorry, SORRY?!" replied the work-pony, now even more enraged than ever. "Listen here buddy, sorry just won't cut it, you are paying for these and that is final!!" continued the work-pony. By then every pony around the two had gathered to listen to the argument between the two until finally a tall figure wearing a rainbow colored cloak stepped out of the crowd to address the two of them.

"What is going on here?" Inquired the figure as she looked at Duskshy and the flustered work-pony. The cloak the figure wore was quite long, long enough to cover most of her body including most of her face barring the eyes and unicorn horn. Both the work-pony and Dusk turned to look at the cloaked figure. "Oh my various ponies, what do you want Life Like?" sighed the slightly annoyed work-pony. "Is that how you treat all guests?" responded the cloaked unicorn now known as Life Like "Or maybe perhaps you misheard me, yes?". The work-pony widened his eyes and turned down his attitude with quick succession. "Um, well you see, this little klutz has just destroyed valuable pottery that I was supposed to carry up to the castle and he thinks he can just apologize for it"

"Is that so, well he has apologized has he not, perhaps that should warrant some calm between the two of you?" Inquired Life Like. "Uh, well now that you mention it..." Began the now slightly embarrassed work-pony. Life Like walked towards him while continuing to interrogate him, causing the work-pony to step back a fair bit, his cheeks now a bright rosy pink and his tail under his hindquarters. "And if I am not mistaken, it seems you weren't watching where you were going either" continued Life Like. The work-pony was now very embarrassed by his actions. "Uh, oh alright, I admit it and... I am sorry, but still, what about the pottery I need to replace, they cost a fortune" Inquired the work-pony.

Life Like rolled her eyes at the work-pony and used her magic to conjure up a paintbrush, pallet and artist's board and picked them up with her unicorn horn which was glowing a gentle yellow color. Duskshy looked puzzled at the mysterious unicorn's answer to the work-pony but decided not to say anything and looked on in admiration. Putting the paintbrush to the canvas, she painted an exact replica of the pottery that now lay shattered on the floor and then put her paintbrush away. Without a second glance she dropped her canvas onto the floor and focused her magic on the painting which was now glowing with all colors of the rainbow.

Before their eyes, the painting dropped off the canvas and took physical form. In front of them was an exact physical replica of the broken pottery. Life Like picked up the pottery and handed them to the workpony who picked them up without delay. With satisfaction, the workpony nodded to Life Like. "Thank you so much, you've saved my hindquarters" breathed the workpony who was now content with the new collection of pottery and moved away from the two ponies. All the others who had gathered round clapped their hooves in amazement at the mysterious unicorn's talents.

Life Like moved towards Duskshy who was still overcome with amazement that he had just witnessed magic that was nearly impossible to any ordinary unicorn. "Are you alright darling" asked Life Like to the stunned guardpony. Dusk shook his head and snapped out of his trance. "Uh, yes i'm fine Miss Life Like" Responded Dusk. Life Like giggled at the young pony and rolled her eyes. "Please, call me Life Like" she responded. "Come with me, lets get you cleaned up" commanded Life Like. Dusk stood up, nodded and followed her towards a small house on one of the streets and followed her in. The entire home was full of portraits and pictures created by Life Like.

The interior was decorated in bright rainbow colors and the floor was too, strewn across the floor were various painting materials and canvases. Dusk looked around in awe at the stunning visuals within the house and found a seat around the large table situated in the center. Life Like continued into the next room to look for grooming supplies for her esteemed guest. "You like this place don't you, this is my art studio and also my living quarters during my stay here in Equestria" mused Life Like to the captain. "I like what you have done with the place" responded Duskshy still looking around with grace.

"Ah here we go" continued Life Like as she came back into the room with her grooming kit. Using her magic, she lifted up an automatic blow-dryer and switched it on. She then put it over Duskshy and started to dry the captain's still wet skin. "It seems you already know who I am now, yes" Inquired Life Like as she continued to dry him off. "I am lady Life Like, I come from a kingdom further away from Equestria, I am the official painter for the royal family there" she continued. "Another kingdom, well what are you doing here then?" Inquired the bewildered captain as he was being dried. Life Like sighed and looked out of her window while letting her magic hold the blow-dryer.

"Everyday i'm asked by the royals of the other kingdom to create more and more portraits of themselves, its good practice but I long for something new, something to test my natural talent and that is why I came here to Cantalot and to Equestria itself, the change of scenery here is perfect and it allows me to try something new" She explained. Life Like turned off the blow-dryer and put it back into her grooming kit and produced a small comb for Dusk's mane. Using her magic, she also produced another canvas from the room, picked up one of the paintbrushes lying across the floor and started to paint another picture.

"I must say, this kingdom has not disappointed me thus far, the raw beauty of this place and its inhabitants have given me plenty to go off on" continued Life Like as she continued to comb Dusk's hair and paint at the same time. As dusk looked around, he noticed an empty portrait in the middle of one of the portrait covered walls, surrounded by bright, beautiful pictures of landscape and other ponies. Underneath the picture was a plaque with the words: Spirit of Love written across it. "Spirit of Love, what's that?" asked Duskshy to Life Like. Life Like looked at the portrait and smiled behind her cloak."

"The spirit of love is the supposed spirit that brings many warm feelings unto the world, not just Equestria but everywhere. According to folklore, the spirit of love is the reason we have love in the world, it would arrive with other spirits, carrying with it equipment used for painting. It would create paintings featuring two ponies who were destined to become soul mates for life and put a heart between the two drawings, thus creating in the ponies in question a bond that can only be broken by the spirit itself if it so wishes leading to the immortalized saying: I bring love unto this world, for I have awoken, but for some however, their hearts will forever be broken"

Duskshy listened in wonder to the serenity in Life Like's voice oblivious to the comb that was going through his mane listening intently to a fascinating story. "That is a wonderful story" Breathed Dusk. "You're probably wondering why the portrait is without a painting, the reason being that the spirit of love is a mysterious being and no pony know what it looks like".

Life Like put down the comb and put it back in her grooming kit. Looking at the now clean and tidied captain, she smiled gently at him and put down her paintbrush. "Looking beautiful there, you'll have no problem with today" mused Life Like to Dusk.

"As I was saying, because of this folklore, it is why I have taken up painting as my natural talent so that one day I may meet this elusive spirit and be satisfied". Life Like put her canvas to one side and looked at Dusk with enthusiasm. "Now then, you have somewhere to be, don't you?" Inquired Life Like. "Yes, I have the inspection this morning, i'm not quite looking forward to it, i'm always nervous on these occasions" confided Dusk. Life Like smiled again and patted Dusk on his helmet covered head. "I'm sure you will be fine sweety, now run along and join your fellow guardponies... oh, I almost forgot, take this with you" continued Life Like as she produced yet another canvas and started to paint on that one.

She drew a vase full of flowers and showed it to her guest and without hesitation, she focused the magic on the painting giving the painting physical form. She then gave one of the flowers to the captain who gladly accepted it and bowed his head  in grace. "Thank you very much" mused Dusk and walked out of the house. Life Like turned to her other portrait resting against the table and grabbed it with her magic, hanging it up on the wall closest to her and smiled. The painting had two ponies on either side of the canvas. "Ah, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor: A match made in heaven, best of luck to the pair of you" giggled Life Like as she left the picture to dry.