//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Beauty(s) and the beast // by 79snowbell //------------------------------// Many years later... In a small cottage close to a small town yet closer to a wild and untamed forest was an earth pony mare with an ivory coat and light violet eyes to compliment her wavy pink mane named Sunny Day. She lived with her two daughters: Cadence and Sparkling Butterfly. Cadence was a pegasus with a light pink coat and a mane that was lilac, pink and cream coloured along with the same coloured eyes as her mother. And Sparkling Butterfly who was also a pegasus that had a purple coat and a light pink mane that included natural violet and magenta streaks and teal eyes. The sisters were so close since they were little, they were inseparable and do different things, such as Cadence who went to social outings while Butterfly stayed to either settle down with a good book or care for the little animals that come by the cottage every now and then. It all started one early morning... Sparkling Butterfly yawned as she got out of bed, making sure she doesn't wake up her sister in the second bed nearby. She started to gently flap her her wings so that she would fly quietly through the cottage and towards the front door. The sun was just rising as she came out. All the animals were still asleep as she grabbed their meals and poured it into their dishes and troughs. When that was finished, she decided to go to Ponyville to check out a few things, since there were a few stores that were often open this early. As Butterfly approached Ponyville, she debated on where to go first: the library or the vet clinic. She always chose one or the other, and either way, she would stay there until most of the citizens were out and about because she doesn't like to be with so many ponies aside from her mom and sister. Butterfly finally decided to visit the library for a little bit then the clinic. She soon reached the library which was assumed to be built in a tree. It was said that the library was destroyed during a fight between the legendary alicorn sisters, but when it was over, the youngest was banished to the moon and the eldest mysteriously disappeared, but before she did, the eldest was said to have come upon two seeds: an oak tree seed and a mysterious crystal one, so she planted the oak and kept the crystal. It was Butterfly's aside from the legend of the mare in the moon. As she opened the door and walked into the tree, she was greeted by the librarian who had her muzzle in a book. "Morning Sparkling." The librarian, Moondancer greeted without looking up from her book. Butterfly jumped slightly for she wasn't aware of the golden unicorn sitting to the side. "Oh, good morning Moondancer. I'm afraid I didn't see you there." Moondancer simply shrugged. "I get used to it." Butterfly looked around before asking the unicorn, "do you happen to have any new books?" "Nope." The unicorn finally put a book mark in her book to face the lilac pegasus with a small smile. "But since you come here more often, I'm allowing you to take a few books for yourself; no fee required." Butterfly's eyes widened in surprise. "That's too kind of you, but I don't want to intrude..." Before she could continue, Moondancer raised her hoof to stop the pegasus. "It's fine, Sparkling. Besides, the only ones I'm interested in are the books on spells and magic theory, like Haycartes!" She was speechless, but Butterfly accepted Moondancer's offer and started to lightly fly around the library, and within a minute, Butterfly had three books in her hooves: a folk lore and legends, a map of Equestria, and a book about mythical creatures. She thought she had all the books she needed but one book caught her eye. Curious, Butterfly pulled the book off the shelf before turning to Moondancer, who was reading her book again. "Um...Moondancer? What's this one about?" Moondancer looked up to the book Sparkling Butterfly was looking at. "That one is about the ancient kingdom of Draconia. They say that the last heir fell for a princess and became possessive over her and that the princess ran away, either because he was scary or she was betrothed to another at the time. Who knows? Anyways, after the princess ran off, the prince tried to find her but found out that she was already married to another, then something about running away somewhere else and getting cursed by some enchantress."Moondancer paused when she saw Butterfly's confused face. "What? I've read it, but I didn't like it when I finished it." Butterfly opened the book that Moondancer apparently summarized for her, then scanned the index of chapters. It just so happened that the kingdom of Draconia had many eras and was built before Canterlot was founded. "Moondancer, I think I have all the books I'd like." Butterfly spoke as she flew towards the unicorn. Moondancer took the books in her magic so she could see which books wouldn't be in the library anymore. When she came across Draconian history, she raised a thick brow to Butterfly, who smiled sheepishly. "You made it sound interesting." "Uh-huh." Was all that came from Moondancer. Using her magic, Moondancer grabbed a quill and paper, writing on the top, books we don't have anymore When she wrote all the titles, she turned to the pegasus. "Want me to get you a bag for these?" Butterfly shook her head. "I'll manage. Thank you Moondancer!" Butterfly called as she got out of the library. A few ponies were already out in the dirt streets, challenging Butterfly to get home quickly. A rooster gave his wake up call when Sparkling Butterfly returned home, the animals were up and feasting on their food that she prepped earlier. She took a deep breath before entering the cottage. After she left the library, she tried to avoid the other ponies, and she did recall that somepony called her name, but she squeaked and ran off. She turned her gaze to the books she was carrying, then her eyes widened in horror. She's missing the Draconian history book! Did she drop it while she was running? Did she drop it when someone called out to her? Her mind was flooding with questions un til it was broken by a voice. "Hey! Sparkling Butterfly! Hey! You dropped something!" A grey pegasus with a wall-eyed look shouted as she waved a familiar book around. "Derpy?" The grey pegasus stopped flailing the book around and turned in the direction of Butterfly's voice, a smile on her walled-face. "I noticed you dropped this, so I tried to get your attention, but you ran off." Butterfly felt slightly embarassed as she took the book back in her hooves, giving a 'thank you' in the process. "You're welcome!" Derpy called as she took her leave, not seeing the tree in her path until she made impact, but she quickly recovered and confirmed it by calling out, "I'm okay!" Sparkling Butterfly watched Derpy with concern for another moment before entering the cottage. Upon enter, Butterfly was greeted to the scent of warm pancakes with fresh berries, a sign that her mother and sister were awake. The two pegasi and earth pony were finishing up their breakfast when Sunny Day's eyes fell upon the books to the side, so she went over and picked up the myths and legends, opened it and started reading. "So you've gone to Golden Oaks today?" Cadence asked with a small smile for she knew her sister very well. Butterfly nodded before adding, "I was originally planning to take a look for a few minutes, then go visit the animals at the clinic. But I guess I had a change in plans, plus Moondancer gave me a few books to keep since I was her only customer." Butterfly turned and was about to continue, but soon noticed the fear and worry etched in her mother's face for one second before it turned into a neutral expression. "See that one on top?" Butterfly spoke as she gestured to the book on Draconian history. "I apparently dropped it on the way home, luckily Derpy was there to give it back." From the corner of her eye, Butterfly saw her mom pick up the book she mentioned and opened it while putting the myths and legends on the table wide open to tales in the Crystal Empire. Cadence's smile became genuine. "It's good to know that you're talking with a few other ponies!" "Do animals not count? Because I prefer them over the ponies in this town." Cadence giggled at Butterfly's remark before replying, " that's because you can communicate with animals!" "Maybe she gets it more from her father than her mother." Sunny Day sighed as she set the book beside the other, seeming like she's ready to reveal something to her daughters. Sunny took a deep breath, using her hoof to push the myths and legends to the pegasi. "I'm afraid I kept secrets from the two of you, mainly you Sparkling Butterfly." Their morning was going to change forever.