//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Life of Cinder // by SandStorms //------------------------------// It was a chilly night on the outskirts of Canterlot, homes were lit as the families all settled down for supper. One home in particular was no exception. It wasn’t a very big home, it didn’t have the nicest furniture like the high ranking pony homes had. Never the less it was cozy all the same. The home belonged to the Star family. The Star family was a middle class family that made its living has a hobby shop. It is here were our story begins. ~~~ “Crystal, honey come to the table darling it’s time for supper,” a stallions voice called from the kitchen of the small two story home. The stallion walked from the kitchen with two plates and set them on the table. He was a dark red earth pony, much like the red of a late sunset when the sun has passed the horizon, with a black mane and tail the resembled the darkest of nights. He looked to the stairs with his bright yellow eyes as he tried to locate his wife. “Be right down darling,” he heard a voice call from the second floor. It was a mares voice and was a smooth as silk. Sounds of shuffling sounded through the house as some pony got up and was shuffling towards the stairs. A minute later a mare, heavy with a foal shuffled towards the table. She was a snow white pony with bright blue mane and eyes bright like the summers day. The stallion’s eyes shone like the sun as he saw his wife and his unborn foal. The stallion moved towards her to help her sit at the table. “Thank you Shining, our little foal is giving me a harder and harder time every day!” she exclaimed, “I just can’t wait until we are a family.” Crystal said as she sat at the table. Shining walked around to his seat and sat down, “We are already a family,” he said with a smile. Crystal smiled at his comment, “You all ways know what to say to make me happy.” They ate in silence for a while just enjoying each other’s company. They finished their meals and Shining offered to do the dishes. “I’ll help; you have been doing them all this month.” Crystal said with a smile. “No, you just sit there and rest.” Shining said. “We can’t have you overworking yourself.” Shining did the dishes and cleaned everything up and walked from the kitchen. He helped his wife from the table and they both went and sat on the old worn sofa in the front of the house. They sat for a while there in silence thinking of what their lives were going to become in the near future. The silence, however, was broken by Shining with a load sigh. Crystal looked over to him with a look of worry seeing her husband with a frown looking at the floor deep in thought. “What’s wrong dear, you have been like this all this past week.” Crystal said, worry deep in her voice. “And before you say anything do not tell me it’s nothing, I know nothing and this is not it.” Shining looked at her with unsure eyes thinking of his words, finally after sometime he said, “I guess I am just worried about our foal.” “What about it? The doctor says I am healthy and the pregnancy is going perfectly normal.” “I’m not really worried about the foal as I am worried about me being its father; I mean I have no experience raising a kid. My father left my mother and me the day after I was born. I’ve only known my mother. What if I don’t do a good job raising our kid? What if he gets into trouble?” Crystal giggled, silencing Shining and causing him the stare at his wife in confusion. “You know I was having a serious moment here and you’re laughing at me.” Crystal finally finished laughing and said with a smile, “It’s just that it’s always the mother that worries about her kid being a criminal being locked up by the guard, not the father.” She laughed again, causing Shining to smile. It was one of the reasons he loved Crystal, she was always was able to find the good in any pony even if they couldn’t find it within themselves. “Trust me when I say you will make out to be a great father.” With that she leaned in and gave him a kiss. ~~~ One Week Later ~~~ “They’re taking far too long in there!” Shining was pacing now. “I should be with her!” Shining was pacing out in the waiting room desperately awaiting the news. There was a Pegasus couple with him, they were the neighbors and a great family friend to the Star family. They also had a child on the way though was due month later. “Calm down Shining, you’re going to worry yourself sick!” The stallion said. “And stop pacing you’re putting a grove in the floor,” he joked, then said more seriously, “Maybe they would of let you stay if you hadn’t started to panic and question everything the doctor was doing.” “I know I am just so worried tha−,” he paused and snapped his head towards the sound of an opening door. The doctor stepped out of the room and looked at Shining with a straight face with sent a tremor of worry down Shining’s back, but then smiled and gave him a nod, “Come say hello to your new child.” Shining walked into the room so silently, as if he made any noise the building might collapse. He saw his wife holding a bundle of blankets. She looked up and waved him in. She said while rotating the bundle, “Say hello to your new born son.” As gently as he possibly could he took his son into his arms. The colt was a dark red earth pony like him with a blue mane and eyes like his mother. He was absolutely perfect in Shining’s eyes. “A son,” Shining said with a smile. It seemed like forever that they sat there with their newborn. Shining broke the silence, “What are we going to name him?” Crystal thought for a moment, “I think we should name him after your grandfather.” Shining smiled, “Cinder, it’s perfect, welcome to the world Cinder Star.” Crystal said after watching her husband a while, “Like I said, you are going to make a great father.”