12 months later
In a crowded Manehattan train station, a police pony stood in uniform waiting for an old friend to arrive on one of the arriving trains. Shining Armor Sparkle leaned back against a post and folded his forelegs across his chest as he casually scanned his environment for a familiar flash of onyx and teal.
The stallion pulled at his collar feeling a bit constricted by the navy blue uniform he wore signaling his employment. Despite only being a cop for about a year, Shining Armor had already been promoted a time or two. His dedication to the job as well as his special abilities spoke loudly and there was no way Commissioner Blackburn was going to ignore that.
The only reason he wore his dress blues today was because of a last minute award ceremony for a departing member of the force. As a detective, Shining Armor wasn’t required to wear this uniform every day. But because he hadn’t wanted to miss a particular pony’s arrival he hi-tailed it straight to the station after his latest shift. As much as he wanted to see the mare, he wished the circumstances were different. His chest still ached at the news he’d received only a day ago.
He was about to go check the departure boards again when a ghost from his past emerged from the crowd seemingly short-circuiting his mental process for a second or two.
“It’s been a while…” He managed nonchalantly. Blue eyes darkened as Shining Armor took in the standing figure of the polished actress. She gave off the air of an ice nymph despite her dark edgy looks. There was a frostiness that had settled over her since last he’d seen her. It made the stallion both sad and excited.
She’d changed or maybe she still hadn’t forgiven him.
“Yes it has. The uniform looks good on you.” Chrysalis’ lips pulled into a smirk. She still found him every bit as attractive as she did before. Shining Armor blushed at the compliment.
“Uh yeah, thanks. You too.” She raised a brow. “I mean you look good too.”
An awkward silence settled over the two. “So when’s the memorial?” Chrysalis softened at the tragedy that had brought her back to the city.
“Tomorrow…” For a while Shining Armor had been unsuccessful in trying to contact the mare, by the time he’d figured out where she was and how to get in contact with her, things had taken a turn for the worst. For the past six months, Sienna had been having heart complications. One morning she had slipped in a coma and never woke up.
Despite her leaving the city, Chrysalis still stayed in contact with the young pony. Even though, never once had the mare mentioned her medical complications. A fact that had angered her greatly. How could Sienna not tell her? And yet how could she have left the way she had? Her anger was just a front for her guilt and sadness. She nodded. “Her father, how is he?” Apparently Sienna’s mother had died much the same way.
“Not too good.” The stallion looked sad. Sienna had been so young.
“I’d like to see him.”
“Of course.” He always thought she was using Sienna to soften him up towards her, but when she saw her interact with Sienna’s father he knew he had been the arrogant one. He’d seen her in a play or two and her character never seemed genuine. For the longest time, he thought she was like that too, but now he knew better. She had loved Sienna and now Sienna was gone.
From what she had shared with him he realized she didn’t really have any family now.
She left the apartment with her confidence in check and an aloof expression on her striking features. “Thanks for escorting me. I think I can manage from here. You never were fond of my company.”
He flushed in shame at the words as he realized he did initially treat her like an ass when she had lived here. “That’s not true…” He scrambled lamely. “I thought we moved past that.”
She smirked as she brought up the one thing he really needed to assure her against, “How’s Cadance?”
“I wouldn’t know. We don’t talk much nowadays.” Shining Armor was still sour with her even though months had passed since she’d confessed her conversation with the mare.
“Shame. I remember you really ‘liking’ her.”
“Yeah… well she wasn’t who I thought she was.”
“That’s too bad.”
“Neither are you.” Was his bold reply as he took a step towards her.
She sighed. “Goodbye Shining Armor.”
“Chrystal… Stop it… Please.”
“What?” Was her impatient response.
“I didn’t pick her.” His eyes flashed a stormy grey as he thought of the confession Cadance presented to him some months ago. “She had no right to do what she did.”
“What...” The intense emotion gave her a thrill despite the heaviness of her thoughts.
“I just wanted you to know…” He gave a frustrated sigh before locking her in his tumult gaze. “That night…. I didn’t pick her. I wanted it to be you. I realized I wanted it to be you.”
*-3333-*
One the ways she was able to convince her boss to allow her time in Manehattan was setting up their final venue with her latest play in the city’s theatre’s house. Now here she was with her cast mates doing the last show of the season back at her old stomping grounds.
In addition to her circumstance of being here the whole thing was surreal, but that didn’t distract the actress. Seeing her youngest friend so devoid of life, despite her serene expression was heartbreaking. But tonight wasn’t the time to dwell- her ever-changing feelings didn’t belong here right now.
Jezebel was the story of a young mare who spent much of her life struggling and begging. Blessed with great beauty she traded her innocence for power and her life on the streets for a life of luxury. The play was based off the song “Jezebel” by the famous “Sade.”
Chrysalis’ character stared deeply into her vanity mirror tilting her head allowing teal tresses to fall over her shoulders. She traded her tight fitting dark robe for a dress of pristine ivory. She pulled her hair back into an exotic bun and faced the crowd with a faraway expression on her face. Puffing out her chest and taming her mane absently with her hooves, she whispered aloud. “Just like a princess.” And she did look like a princess, but the audience still shook their head, saddened over the price paid for such a delusion.
The stage set door opened and in walked her brother. He let his eyes rake over her body, lingering in shock. His expression darkened at the expensive dress and gold accessories. “Jezebel… How did you get that?”
Chrysalis turned to her brother with a dull expression on her face. She sauntered up to him as a coy expression blossomed on her face whispering in his ear on the way by. “Do you really want to know?” She was on her way out when her brother’s emotive voice stopped her asking her what she purposely chose not to consider.
“It was worth it…” Bright eyes cut to the floor. “If I reach for the top the sun is going to shine... You can’t blame me for my beauty,” her voice cracked ever so slightly. Finn turned to regard his sister with a look of loathing. Chrysalis’ character shook away the slim fingers of regret and squared her shoulders as her mind was already made up. “I want to get what’s mine.” And with that the dark colored mare exited the scene leaving behind a broken sibling, racked with guilt over the life his younger had chosen.
*-3333-*
Backstage, ponies were toasting it up and congratulating each other on a show well done as they went about cleaning themselves up and changing out of their costumes. The dressing rooms were decorated with flowers and trinkets from admirers.
Chrystal set amongst her cast mates with a jubilant expression on her face. It’d been a while since she’d performed in Manehattan. It seemed its denizens missed her more than she thought. The support and love she received was the way she had always hoped for but never believed it to happen. Everyone was on a cloud and the dark haired mare had no qualms about enjoying the fruits of their labor. Besides, there was liquor waiting for her back home.
“Chrystal!” One pony gushed. “You were fantastic tonight- enchanting- whatever!” Her grin split into a full-fledged smile. “You have to come back here! You have to!”
The other’s words hit her full on and only a fraction of her smile dulled. She was about to comment when somepony shoved her a glass of champagne.
“Oh! Thanks!”
“Well are you?”
“I don’-“
“Chrystal!” Somepony else called. The starlet blinked and turned as another co-worker handed her a telegram. There was question in her eyes as she went to open the envelope.
“Not here!” They urged. “Outside.” Chyrsalis’ brow furrowed and at the look on their face, she found herself following their advice.
“Excuse me,” she smiled tightly at her chattering cast mate.
Once outside the dressing room and in the less crowded hall, she opened the note and read its contents.
Green eyes filled with tears as the telegram fell to the floor.
“Chrystal?” Somepony peeked out the door. But Chrystal was gone.
*-3333-*
“Rarity? “ Shining Armor groaned with bleary eyes. It was 2 a.m. and he had a shift later in the day that made sleep a top priority. “What’re you doing here?”
Rarity had shown up at his door with a concerned expression on her features. Rain poured from the sky continuing to soak the already drenched mare.
“It’s Chrystal… I didn’t know who else to talk to! I’m sorry!”
Some of the sleep left him at the mention of the dark mare. “No it’s fine… what’s wrong?””
*-3333-*
"Imaga Black died today."
“The famous lawyer?” The Shining Armor and Chrysalis were sitting in the mare’s living room with nothing but the light from the windows to illuminate the dark space. Rain continued to pour as lightening flashed splitting the heavens and striking the earth. An empty bottled rolled around on the coffee table as the upset mare continued to stare at the morning’s paper.
She nodded with bleary eyes, sniffling. “She’s my mother.”
“That’s your mother?!”
She nodded her head.
“But your family is loaded… with both money and respect.”
“She wanted me to be a lawyer and I wanted to be an actress. Odonata Black is my sister… I went to school with both Luna and Celestia.”
“The Alicorn sisters running for the throne?” Every four years an election took place as the country’s royal families fought for the right to rule the land. The Alicorn sisters of Sol and Moon were one of, if not, the most prestigious families.
“Yea. That’s what my mother wanted for me. When she found out how serious I was about my acting, she refused to speak to me. So I dropped her name and she cut me off. ”
“Oh…” Even on his worst day, his family would never disown him. Shining Armor watched her expression change as she continued to speak.
“The last time we talked… She came to visit me for the first time in years when I was living in Las Pegasus. I was so upset and she ended up leaving. I accused her of never wanting me and I called her a self-righteous wench.” She choked back a sob as she dropped her head in shame. Her slender frame shook with grief as her heart burned with regret. “I remember feeling so justified in my treatment of her. Those were my last words to my mother.”
Shining Armor felt his heart sink for the young mare. He wasn’t sure about the status of her familial relationships, but he had known it was terse at best. “You… were angry when you said those things. You couldn’t have known that would be the last conversation you would have with her.”
She shook her head, resistant to his comforting words. “She was dying that’s why she came but I wouldn’t listen. The papers know more about her condition than I do.” She seethed.
“You can’t keep doing this to yourself…” He tried to appeal to her sense of professionalism. “You’ve worked so hard to get where you are.”
“I deserve it…” She maintained bitterly. “All I do is run… I ran away from my mother… Gods- Sienna… you…” He kissed the top of her head as he pulled her closer only to have her lean away and stare up at him with tearful eyes. “I used to send her tickets to my shows… and she never came! Not to one and I thought she hated me. That she was ashamed of me.”
“Don’t do that.” Shining Armor’s expression was deathly serious. “Being a victim doesn’t suit you,” Harlequin eyes widened at his reprimand.
She burst into tears overwhelmed and exhausted by her situation. He swallowed her shaking frame in a comforting embrace wordlessly encouraging her breakdown.
Hours later, the two lay silently in her king sized bed with his muscular frame shielding hers.
“You really meant what you said earlier,” She murmured half asleep.
He nuzzled her with tired eyes, he didn’t think he’d make it to work today. “Of course. You’re unlike anypony else I know and that’s not a bad thing. I couldn’t see your mother holding something like that against you.”
“But how do you know? How can you say that?”
“Because I know you. You’re… special… I’m sure your mother was aware of that.”
She exhaled with lidded eyes too exhausted to even consider his words. “Don’t leave…” she whispered instead.
“I won’t,” he promised as no more words were spoken.