Silence.
Well, more specifically a lack of talking. There was always the background noise of Canterlot citizens bustling about. Even this late at night there were still ponies around whispering to each other after a hard day's work or enjoying the decent night life that Canterlot had to offer.
However, such was not the case with the occupants of the private covered chariot of Princess Celestia and Luna, nor their shivering charge.
The two had been as gentle as they could have been with the seven year old Joyous Blossom. The daughter of Sweetie Belle had not taken the arrest and incarceration of her mother very well and it was not hard to see why. She had been convicted of the brutal double murders of two of Blossom's classmates and now the filly was wondering if her mother would ever see the light of day again. Indeed, that was the worst part about all of this: she likely wouldn't.
Blossom continued shivering, despite the fact that she was wrapped up in a few warm blankets and Celestia was magically heating the chariot. Of course, the filly's reactions were not of temperature, but of fear. It was fear that coursed through her body, shaking it to its core. Would she ever get to see her friends again? Would Aunt Applejack and Aunt Apple Bloom come by with Apple Seed? Would Aunt Scootaloo and Aunt Rainbow Dash take time out of their schedules to drop in and give her comfort? Would her grandparents hold her tight assuring her that everything would be alright?
More than likely not. At least, that's what the filly surmised.
No, her days would be filled with two goddesses trying to make her feel at home. Yes, they had been telling her about it during the first leg of the trip to Canterlot. She'd have a large room, servants to fulfill her every desire and she would even be accepted into Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns provided she passed the entrance exam. Of course, the two of them had assured her that she would pass with flying colors.
But Blossom didn't want that. She didn't want a big room in the castle away from everypony. She loved her room at Carousel Boutique with her toys and small trinkets that helped her pass the hours of boredom away. She had a Wonderbolts poster in her room signed by not just Aunt Scootaloo and Aunt Rainbow Dash, but the whole team! Still, the signatures of her aunts were the only two that she liked. Would the Princesses let her obtain these sentimental items from her room? They hadn't mentioned it when they began their journey and she had been too scared to ask. After all, they had been the ones who took her mommy away so if she made them mad with pointless requests then maybe they'd take her horn away too and then she would never see anypony ever again!
Blossom gathered enough bravery that she managed to glance up at Princess Celestia. To her horror the Princess of the Sun noticed and flashed her a warm smile. Blossom supposed that she was trying to comfort her, to show her that the world hadn't ended and that there were still ponies who cared about her even now.
Blossom sunk further into her blankets. No, the world had ended. She would never get to see her mother again. She was lying in a cage in some crazy house with no horn and no child to embrace. She would never be able to hug her again, to tell her that everything would be alright. Nothing would be alright again.
She had heard Princess Celestia tell Miss Twilight that she would want for nothing. Well she wanted her mother. But she couldn't have her mother it seemed. She had to go away so that the doctors could make her mind better. They thought that she was sick because she had hurt Golden Necklace and Fire Ruby so bad that they died.
No.
Her mother hadn't done that, she had.
She had hurt them so bad that they died. She had sad feelings like Aunt Rarity did. Golden Necklace and Fire Ruby were right; she was crazy and she was a bad pony. She had hurt them and they were dead and it was all her fault!
So why did her mommy want her to lie? Why did her mother have to suffer for bad things that she did? Her mother had always told her to tell the truth no matter what; so why was it okay this time?
Well, her mother had told her why. The Princesses would execute her if they ever found out that she had killed her classmates. They would chop off her horn and give her a shot that would make her dead like the foals she killed. Would she go to Tartarus where everypony said that Aunt Rarity had gone? She supposed so since she had murdered other ponies.
But the Princesses could never find that out, could they? If she never told them and lied like her mother had told them to then she wouldn't have to have that happen to her. In truth she didn't know if that made her relieved or terrified her even more. As long as she was free her mother was not.
Eventually the chariot stopped and two of Princess Celestia's servants opened the door so that they could get out. Princess Celestia smiled at her charge and levitated her onto her back so that she could take her up to her room. It was really dark now; way past her bedtime at home.
The two princesses were escorted inside by a bunch of scary ponies who didn't smile and who were wearing armor. They looked mad all the time and that scared Blossom. If she was living in the palace with Princess Celestia then she would have to see them a lot and she would undoubtedly do something that made them mad at her.
Thankfully they didn't seem mad at her right now, just really stern. Blossom figured that it was probably because they were tired from staying up all night waiting for the princesses. Blossom knew that a lot of ponies, herself included, got cranky when they hadn't had much sleep.
Eventually the group of ponies reached a pair of doors that were soon opened by Princess Luna. Curious, Blossom poked more of her head out of her blankets and looked inside the room.
Wow.
She had to admit, it was a very pretty room. The bed looked extremely comfortable and there were several toys scattered around the room. Still, it was nothing compared to her simple room back home. No, this room was cold, it was unfriendly and it seemed too nice. It didn't have the warm embrace that her old room back home had had. She immediately decided that she didn't like this room.
When they reached the bed, Princess Celestia gently levitated Blossom onto the bed and pulled back a few sheets so she could tuck her in. The sheets were very warm, but given the situation they seemed more constrictive than loving.
She looked up and saw Princess Celestia looking down at her and smiling. Somehow she seemed bigger, more imposing than she had been in the police station. The smile was nothing compared to her mother's.
"Goodnight, Blossom," said Princess Celestia. "If you need anything, anything at all, all you need to do is press this button here and Luna or myself will attend to it immediately." Princess Celestia stroked her mane and her eyes scanned the room. "This was Miss Twilight's room when she was a filly. She liked it quite a bit and I know you will too. She was very happy with it."
Ah, that's why it was alien to her; it was somepony else's room. Even if it was Miss Twilight's that still made it not hers even if Miss Twilight's room was in the library now.
Princess Celestia leaned in and kissed Blossom on the head. "My sister and I must go now. Remember what I said about the button. If you need anything at all do not hesitate to ask."
"Yes, your majesty," whispered Blossom. She figured that she might as well be polite, but for some reason Princess Celestia frowned.
"No need for that, Blossom," she said. "Princess Celestia is fine. The other is... well, I like that one better."
"Okay," she muttered.
Princess Celestia smiled once more and the two princesses walked out of the room, closing the door behind them.
The second they were gone, Blossom wiggled out of the sheets and grabbed the one that Miss Twilight had materialized for her in her mouth. She looked over at the room and spotted a small corner. Yes, it would be perfect.
She hopped off of the bed and deposited the blanket in the corner. She then grabbed a large pillow off of the bed and did the same.
With that done, she looked across the room. She knew that she had seen it when she came in but... ah ha! There it was.
She trotted over to a large stuffed pony. It would have to do. It was a simple thing, a large gray pony with a poofy blue mane and a scroll for a cutie mark. Blossom grabbed a foreleg in her mouth and dragged it to the center of the room where the moonbeams shone brightest and turned back to the pony.
Miss Twilight had taught her this spell, it was meant to change colors on something simple. She had mastered it after a few weeks of study. Her mother had been so proud of her that day. Hopefully she could do it now.
Taking a deep breath, she envisioned the color she wanted to use. The color filled her mind and her horn fired up, Yes. She just needed to breathe in and out; just like Miss Twilight showed her and it would work.
Figuring that it had worked, she opened her eyes and squealed in delight. The formerly gray pony was now snow white and as an added bonus, she had successfully changed the cutie mark to one of a bell with a musical note. The mane was still a problem but with another effort, it was the pink and purple of her mother's.
She allowed herself another smile at her success. It almost looked like her mother.
Grabbing the foreleg in her mouth once more, she dragged the pony to the corner and placed it lying down with its back to the wall. She then placed the pillow on the floor and laid down on top of it, pulling the blanket over her for warmth. With a simple spell, the foreleg of the pony was wrapped over her shoulder as if holding her in a loving embrace. It held none of the warmth of her mother's hugs, but it... it would have to do for now.
Blossom curled into a ball and nuzzled the stuffed foreleg.
"Goodnight, Mommy," she whispered.
Chapter one of Broken Blossom. I have such sights to show you. I think more than once your jaw will hit the floor. Or that could be me over hyping it. You never know.
Second.
Owch, right in the feels. Poor Blossom. I knew this feel growing up more than once. But, I'm of the opinion that those more broken when they grow shine brightest. Here's hoping that Blossom will be the same.
I'm quite looking forward to this one. Keep up the good work!
I COMMENT ON AWESOME CHAPTER! YAY!
I have high hopes for this story.
I want more now!
You're not allowed to make me this sad in so few paragraphs. It's just not allowed.
Also, I too want more.
I'll be needing another box of tissues for when the next chapter comes...
It is rare that a story gets faved before reading in my case.
INSTANT fav!
Damn... poor Blossom! She needs her mommy! Sadly, it seems that fate remains cruel, and she will be denied the love she is in need of.
The feels
I think we're going to find out if Princesses can feel guilt. They must realize what they're putting her through, and I'm interested to see how they all cope with it. The ending of this chapter was great: warm in her own corner with her mother and rejecting the bed. Rebel against Celestia! Viva la revolucion!
Damnit, you and your iron grip on my feels! Faved!
Wow... already one chapter in and I'm emotionally distraught (though didn't cry... much, at least due to the chapter itself). Of course, that's probably cause unlike when I started The Public Life of Sweetie Belle, I read the prequel to this one fully and am aware of events as they transpired. Hopefully, if Celestia or Luna sees the sight in the next chapter, it'll tug at their heartstrings like Kaidan said.
Curious to see if the other ponies'll visit while Joyous Blossom is being 'held' by Celestia and Luna, though not sure why had it written from her POV at one point that wouldn't see her mother again, but I'm guessing they didn't tell Blossom yet about possible (even though sure it's going to be guaranteed, even if you seemed to imply won't get one such scene, but not sure why Sweetie Belle's tagged then, same with the Mane 6 if won't get a visit from Rarity again) visiting rights, those meanies. Also curious to see how she'll act in coming chapters, if she'll have an anger fit like some ponies have done throughout the course of this series (or at least, the prequel to this one). And what goes through her mind as well, even if may be more or less the same as here, possibly and will focus more on what stuff happens while she's in Canterlot. Anyway, tracking heck of a lot sooner than the prequel () and somewhat looking forward to the next chapter currently.
D'aaaw
Blossom aunt rarity is so sad for you *Kill the princesses, blossom. Kill...*
The doll is gonna start talking to Blossom. That's how these things work, right?
You.. You made me feel feelings.
Welp, faved your other two, might as well fave this one, right?
2073544 Sounds logical to me.
2073189
Isn't that a bit early to be feeling feelings? I mean, this is more or less a starter/prologue chapter, and there wasn't anything especially heartbreaking here.
2073689 Except for her transforming the doll into an image of her mother so she could pretend her mother was holding her instead of facing the fact that she was alone.
This is so sweet! Well, it's incredibly depressing and short, but the part with her stuffed mother; no, that sounds bad. The stuffed animal is cute.
Feel ALL the feels!
Anyways, off to a great start. Loved the first 2, can't wait for more of the threequel.
So sad I hope Blossom gets to see her mom soon (And leave those horrible princesses)
Bloody brilliant! I still believe there is no bad story you can write.
awhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. moar... but not in the feels plz
2073689
I've known the fear of losing a mother, so it might just be me. Either way, keep up the good work!
The fact that the only tag for this story is "Tragedy" speaks volumes. I look forward to reading more of this, but I know that ultimately it will not end well for Blossom. I can only hope that every pony learns their lessons, and that would include the Princesses as well.
2072798 Celestia? Feel guilt? In this story, she's a total fucking whore. I hope she dies to be honest.
2077720 er... why do you think that?
2077723 Because she's essentially stealing a child. If I were Twilight, I would've bitch-slapped her
2077729 Well you gotta keep in mind that in the entire history of Equestria, this situation has come along exactly zero times. They also still vaguely suspect that Blossom might have a hoof in the murders so they're keeping an eye on her. Remember, they said that the most likely course of action is that they'll keep her for a short time and then give her to Twilight or the Apples. It's more of an M1 hold than stealing her.
2077736 Still, Celestia is always a bitch, even if she isn't
There is one word I can say to this first chapter.
Feels.
That is all.
I gotta say, your ability to depict the thought process of young'uns has definitely improved since the original.
I loved Secret Life and Public Life, I can't wait to see how this turns out.
Oh, there's the cute mark.
This chapter made me cry a little. Not an easy thing to do, but i have been through a similar situation, so it hit me harder than anything you hhave done yet.
Ow.
Feels.
They hurt.
THE FEELS AT THE END OF THIS CHAPTER. THE FEELS.
FEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLSSSSSSSS EVERYWHERE but I loved the chapter
Poor Blossom.
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brianandrew.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/dawww1.jpg
I would an image for feels, but I have no idea how to do that. So I'll just spam a bunch of emoticons.
Awwwww she's going psychotic I feel bad but it's end ing is so psychoticly*?* cute! Yes I do believe I'm crazy. It's wrong to think that's cute but I do.
I...I'm just so broken with rage.
But I'm doomed to read on. For Bloom. For Sweetie.
This is it. The final chapter.
The final story in the trilogy.
Chapter... One.
A Letter to the Author
Dear Author,
I hate you.
This story made me cry and right now I feel more like a six-year-old with an imprisoned mother.
I love you.
It's played out so well and I struggled to hold in tears at many parts. Being tired and having already been upset today as well as being an passionate, emotional person doesn't help.
I hate you.
This story is topping off all of the others in the trilogy. It's like a nightmare and a fabulous dream at the same time.
I love you.
I've frankly confused myself so I think I'll drop the quill now.
Love, hate and admiration always,
~Kitty
Dude, that was a low blow! You got me right in the feels!
Haha!! Yes! I have finally found you! I read the first two stories on Fanfiction, and I have been looking for this one for ages and now I've found it!!
And now I want to cry again.....
fantastic beginning I must say I am looking forward to reading this
Story, I thought we talked about this.
I must admit, this is the chapter out of three stories that hit me the hardest, when Blossom is cuddling with the doll. I remember when I first read that part I started sobbing, it was just so sad and touching at the same time and made me so melancholy. You truly are a wonderful author.