Constellation turned her head. Damn, her jaw hurt. Why did ponies have to be so mean sometimes?
She coughed up a few drops of blood. Struggling to get up, she bonked her head against a floating hoof. Pain flashed through her mind and she dropped back down. Her head landed with a thunk.
“You don't have your daddy to protect you, Constell. What'll you do now, filly?” The high-born was still there, hovering over her.
“Use your own actions to show everyone how much of a violent motherfucker you really are,” she replied.
He smacked her again. “How dare you say that about me? You little piece of-” The punches kept coming. And coming. He stomped on her gut, bitch-slapped her, and slammed down on her forelegs. Through her blurred sight, Constellation could see her mother being held back by her adversary’s buddies. In fact, his “friends” were keeping a circle around them.
Through it all, she didn't fight back. She wasn't the type to resort to violence. She just took the hits until a loud masculine voice called out: “Junior!”
At that moment, all activity stopped. Everyone stared at the stallion who'd yelled. It was the high-born’s father, Dusky Goldwings IV. Mr. Dusky was from a long line of wealthy thestrals who assisted Princess Luna in most ways, shapes, and forms. His unusually golden wings were a symbol of pride among his family; they were the only thestrals to ever have gold wings, and they could be quite snobby about it. “What gives you the authority to beat the life out of a mare two-thirds your size?”
“She called me violent and a bastard, Father.”
“And by doing that, she hurt your pride?”
“Yes, Father.”
He actually burst out laughing in spite of his status. “Son, that is one of the most ridiculous excuses I have ever heard in my life! Violent? Look at just now. A bastard? The history books say you are, but I'm not so sure. It's been years. So, she is effectively correct. Why beat what you want out of someone when what they have is right.” He addressed the crowd: “I apologize for my son's rash and uncalled for behavior. I'm afraid our strong affinity towards the truth as thestrals has not quite sunk in yet.” Keeping his formal composure, he practically dragged Dusky Goldwings V. away.
Constellation felt her head being raised. She pulled her left eye open to see her mother holding her in her hooves. “Oh, my night sky…”
“I'll be fine, Mother.” Constellation tried to stand but her left foreleg gave out and she tumbled to the brick road. Her injured mind was bouncing all over the place - literally. It hurt too much to even move her head at reasonable speed.
Her mother half-carried her back to their home. She placed Constellation on the springy dark green couch and went into the kitchen. “Your father may get the credit for protecting Princess Luna, but I still have a medicinal edge. I've always been able to heal his occasionally grisly wounds, so yours should be a cakewalk.” She began spreading a herbal paste on her daughter’s cuts and bruises. “This has been used in our family for generations, made from plants found only in the crystal mines below the city.”
“Where in the mines, Mother?”
“These plants will only grow in complete darkness aside from light emitted from the crystals down there. Even then, you must be miles below the surface. And once a decade, I travel down there to gather more during their blooming day.”
“They bloom once every ten years?”
“Yes. It is also during this time that the plants are visible even to the trained eye. Now lie still so I can put it on your face.” Constellation complied, and her mother wiped it all over her jaw and rubbed it into her scalp. The mare almost jerked back when it stung her jaw, but remembered her mother’s orders and resisted the temptation. “Exactly what does it do, Mother? The paste.”
“It absorbs magic from the crystals and when applied to a wound, re-emits it as a healing agent that rivals healing spells in both speed and effectiveness. Mr. Goldwings has tried to buy the recipe from me for years so he can get richer off it, but I still own the rights to make it.” She finished applying the salve. “Now get some rest. It works best when you sleep.”
Constellation nodded and closed her eyes. If she ever left Canterlot on a trip, she’d have to remember to bring some.