“Do you have any last words?”
“Father please! I’ve been framed! Please listen to your daughter”
“You were never my daughter” Shining said as he stared at her with his usually cold glare.
Skyla suddenly barges in shouting, “Father wait!”
You might be wondering what is going on here. Who am I? What did I do? Well, we have to rewind a bit in order to get my side of the story.
I am Flurry Crisalide Heart, the daughter of Emperor Shining Armor and the late Empress Mi Amore Cadenza. You would think that I have a wonderful and splendid life since I am the great Crystal Kingdom’s princess, the daughter of the emperor right? Well, you thought wrong.
My mother died when she gave birth to me and my father was heart broken. He became cold and cruel afterwards. I’m presuming that he hates me as he blames me for mother’s death so he was never a part of my life.
It was when I turned eight was when I first met him. It was a rule that I wasn’t allowed to leave my Suite but, I decided to be adventurous and sneak off. I found myself in the Crystal Gardens where I finally met face to face with him. When he finally saw me hiding behind a tree, he only gave me a cold glare. I was scared as I could see the hatred in his eyes.
He left a few seconds afterwards, ignoring me, while I wondered why a father would ever look at his daughter that way.
Due to my father’s hatred for me, I was never treated like a princess. Every staff in the palace looked down on me. The only staff that cared for me was my nanny, Starlight Glimmer. She would take care of me, console me, and be there for me.
But even with Starlight’s love, I would still feel lonely in the palace. I would cry at night, asking, why does he hate me. I never did anything wrong. And at the end, I gave up, I have been left to be the Lowly Princess. Knowing I would never receive my father’s love. Knowing the Emperor was never meant to be a father.
I was wrong about that last statement though, when she arrived.
It was the night of the Debutante Ball, a ball that is hosted every year to introduce the new young grown nobility into society. I was walking around the ballroom, receiving weird glares and hearing whispers about me. I didn’t mind though, I was used to it.
Everypony suddenly turned to a side of the ballroom, where the Emperor was sitting on his throne. It wasn’t just the Emperor that caught the spotlight but, there were others in front of him. I walked through the crowd, trying to listen to what was going on.
Once I got closer, I saw two ponies. One was a stallion, Marquis Zephyr Breeze. I didn’t know the young pegasus next to him, I presumed she is just entering society.
“My daughter you say?”, the Emperor said.
I froze. Daughter? I felt utterly confused.
The Emperor got up from his throne and continued, “We can continue this discussion in the Audience Room”. And he walked out of the ballroom.
Whispers started to emerge as Marquis Zephyr and the unknown mare followed the Emperor out of the ballroom.
“A new princess? Where did she come from?”
“This is interesting”
“Now that I look at her, she looks similar to the late Empress Cadance”
“Look how pale she is”.
“I wonder what will happen next”
“Stop tormenting the poor thing”.
“Emperor Shining Armor doesn’t even acknowledge Princess Flurry Heart, why would he acknowledge that young mare?”
I didn’t know how to feel. A sister? I thought I was father’s only child.
I started feeling a little dizzy so I ran out of the ballroom. I didn’t look ahead while I was running, and I suddenly bumped into somepony.
“I-I’m sorry”, I said.
I looked up and recognize the pony.
“Whoa, are you okay Princess?”, Pound Cake said.
Pound Cake is the only pony I consider a friend. I met him when I was around thirteen, when he came to the palace as a knight in training. Not including Starlight, he is the only pony in the palace that didn’t look down on me. Throughout the years, he was there for me as well.
When our eyes met, his face grew concerned. He came closer to me and I felt my face warming up. He wiped my tears. I didn’t even know I was crying.
He smiled and said, “Sorry, there was something on your face”. He helped me up and asked, “Shall I’ll escort you back to your suite m’lady?”.
I shyly nodded at him while looking down, not wanting to make eye contact.
I was confused. Why didn’t he ask me what was going on?
I looked up and we made eye contact. I can feel my face turning even warmer. His assuring eyes tell me everything. I smile and go to him.
It has been a few days after the Debutante Ball. The gossip of a new princess has livened up the palace, even at my place. I appreciate Starlight trying to tone down the rumors for me but it wasn’t necessary.
After these few days, I was able to clear my head and realized something.
I have a sister. A sister that is probably having trouble with this new life. The same trouble that I have been dealing with my whole life. A sister with the same cold father and with staff that don’t respect her. A sister that . . . I don’t even know her name.
So I decided to find her.
I walked around the Crystal Palace while trying not to be seen. Father didn’t like me anywhere but inside my suite but, I knew the nooks and crannies of the place so I would sneak off from time to time.
I heard hoofsteps ahead of the hallways so I hide at the nearest corner. The hoofsteps became louder and it became clear the pony was running. I leaned myself near the corner and heard crying. And then suddenly, this stranger turned the corner and bumped into me.
It only it a few seconds to regain consciousness and I could recognize who it is. It’s her.
“I-I’m sorry”
When she finally looked up at me, my eyes widened. During the Debutante, I never got the chance to look at her close but now that I do, her eyes are just like father’s. The same Crystal eyes that the Crystonian royals are born with.
And shes’s crying.
The pegasus gasped as she finally recognized who I was and got up. “I am very sorry your highness! I didn’t know it was you. Are you alright?!”
I got up and gave her a concerned look, “I should be the one that is asking you that. Are you fine?”
The pegasus looked away from me, not wanting to show her tears. I knew it. I knew she was having the same problems like me. I should have realized sooner.
“Why don’t you come to my suite and we can talk?”, I offered.
She looked back at me in shock. “Do you really mean that your highness?”
I chuckled. She sounds like a puppy wanting attention. Just like me.
I nodded and gestured her to follow me. I can feel her mood change. It makes me happy I can finally relate to someone.
Once we made it back to my Suite, we sat around a table. I pour her a cup of tea. I didn’t know what else to do. Should I start talking? I don’t even know what to say.
“I can’t believe I get the chance to spend time with you”, the pegasus quietly says.
My eyes widen to the comment.
The pegasus blushes and looks down, “I’m sorry, I did not mean to say that out loud. I just feel so happy from meeting my sister”
I feel distraught. The loving warmth she gives out every time she talks can melt a mountain. Every time she gazes at me, I can see sun rays from behind, blinding me. Where have you been all my life?
“Even with all this commotion, I never got your name.”
The pegasus gasps and said, “Oh my! I’m sorry I did not introduce myself!”
The pegasus got up and bowed to me, “My name is Skyla, your highness”
“O-oh no, you don’t have to do that. Please, sit back down. We aresisters”
Skyla nodded and followed my command. As she did, I continued, “Are we sister?”. Skyla flinched.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to say it in that way. I do know that you are my sister. News travels by quickly but, not all of the information gets by here”
“Of course princess. I should have known.”
“Well, since you are here, why don’t you tell me everything about yourself”
Skyla brightened up. “I don’t even know where to begin your highness”
“Please, Flurry is fine.”
Skyla nodded. “Well F-Flurry”, she said as she blushed. She cleared her throat and continued, “My mother is Fluttershy, she was a personal maid of your mother’s”.
I flinched. Father cheated on mother with her maid? I don’t know how to feel about this.
I regained my focus, and see Skyla is waiting for my approval to continue. “Please go on”
“Mother and I lived in a tiny cottage in a tiny village, tending to ourselves in our average life. But when I was eight, mother suddenly died from an illness. I was then taken away by mother’s brother, who is apparently a Marquis. He took me here, to the capital, where he told me everything”
I interrupted her, “How did he figure out you are the Emperor’s daughter?”
“Mother left a will to Uncle. That’s how Uncle figured out about me and that I am Emperor Shining Armor’s daughter.”
“But if he figured it out a few years ago, why didn’t he present you back then?”
Skyla shrugged, “I still don’t fully understand Uncle’s actions. He always kept me inside the Shy Estate, I was never really allowed outside into the public. But I trust Uncle, he is selfless and good. I believe he was trying to do the best for me”
Not letting Skyla hear it, I quietly scoffed.
My poor sweet sister. She is too innocent to see her Uncle’s true intentions. Marquis Zephyr is exactly the opposite of selfless and good. Most of the nobles know of the Marquis as a sly fox, and they still be deceived by him somehow.
The Marquis is clearly using innocent Skyla to get into the good graces of the Emperor. I would praise the Marquis if it would actually work. Too bad the Emperor does not have a heart.
“I am very happy I get to meet you, sister”
Skyla’s gloomy look from telling her story turned cheerful once I said that. Her goodness will kill me one day.
“I feel the same! Thank you for cheering me up”
“If you don’t mind me asking, why were you crying?”
“Oh”, Skyla said. At least she doesn’t look sad anymore.
“During my royal etiquette lessons, I realized the pressure of being a princess is awful. And I feel alone. I was just living a normal life in a tiny cottage awhile back. Then I had to move to the capital and now, I have to be a princess. I never asked for any of this”. Skyla planted her face on the table.
I chuckled. She’s just like me. I gently stoke her head, “You do not have to feel alone anymore. I can help you”
Her faces lifts up while her chin is still on the table, “You will?”
I nod. “And the first thing I can tell you is that should not put your head on the table”
Skyla quickly lifts her head up.
Her reaction made me laugh. Skyla felt embarrassed but quickly laugh it off with me.
After our laugh, I wanted to give her advice on dealing with our father. “And also, don’t mind the Emperor. You know he is cold and cruel so it would be best to ignore him and stay in the background in order to avoid his wrath.”
Skyla looked confused. “What do you mean by Father is cold and cruel?”
Before I could ask, I heard the door open. Usually, ponies would knock before entering, especially in front of royalty, but this is the Lowly Princess treatment.
A maid came walking in saying, “She is here m’lady. I knew I saw her go here”
I heard a mare shout, “Skyla!”, following behind the maid.
Skyla turned around and said, “Auntie?”
The mare who walked in was Lady Suri Polomare, Marquis Zephyr’s wife. “Why did you run away from your lessons and go to this dump?”
I rolled my eyes.
Skyla goes to Lady Polomare and kindly says, “I’m sorry Auntie, I just wanted a break and meet my sister. Please don’t get mad.”
Lady Polomare scoffs. “You wanted to meet the Lowly Princess?”
Skyla didn’t say anything, she just looked down.
“You are funny. my dear Skyla”. She lifts Skyla’s head up and continues, “But there is no time to joke. We need to go, there’s many things to do”
“Yes Auntie”, Skyla says quietly. She turned to me and quickly waved bye before the maid stopped her in doing so and took her away.
Before leaving, Lady Polomare turn back to me and says, “I apologize dear Lowly Princess but Princess Skyla needs to go back to the Amethyst Suite and finish her lessons”
I flinched in shock as she left.
It felt like Lady Polomare stabbed me with what she just said. If you didn’t catch on, I’ll tell you. And no, it wasn’t the Lowly Princess comment. It was actually Amethyst Suite.
In the Crystal Palace, there are different types of Suites. These Suites aren’t like rooms but more like a mini palace. Every Suite in the Crystal Palace is different, from their size to aesthetics. Suites are only for royalty and high nobles and the higher the rank, the better the Suite.
Ever since I was young, I heard about the glorious Amethyst Suite, the biggest and fanciest of them all. The princesses before me were able to live there. The pony that is lucky enough to live there has to be the Emperor’s favorite. Obviously, I am not.
I live in the Agate Suite, the smallest palace. You can’t even consider calling it a palace.
Usually Suites are taken care of, even if there isn’t an owner but, Agate was left cold and dirty on purpose. The message is that the Agate Suite is where the leftovers live.
But I don’t understand, why is Skyla in the Amethyst Suite? Only the favored live there. She just met the Emperor a few days ago.
What did she do in those few days that I couldn’t do my entire life to make him like me?