Flurry Heart couldn't have been in a happier mood. Her Aunt Twilight was visiting and she brought her kids, Midnight Shine and her daughter, Amethyst Sparkle. Amethyst was a very rambunctious kid. She loved to practice new spells and test them (not always getting them right). She loved her cousin Flurry Heart very much, they played all the time. She had a straight mane and bangs just like her mom, but it was blue like her father's and had two streaks in it, one light blue and one purple. Her fur was lavender like her mom's and she had her eyes (she was also a unicorn).
"Amethyst, calm down," Twilight told her daughter, as she was talking to Cadence and drinking some tea. "I'm trying to talk to your Aunt Cadence."
Amethyst was running up and down the hallway chasing Flurry and her brother, Midnight. She had suggested that they play tag. "It's okay Aunt Twilight," Flurry said, trying to defend her cousin. "She's only seven."
"I appreciate that, Flurry," Twilight said with a calm tone. "But she knows better than to be that loud when we're inside."
"I was just playing mommy," Amethyst told her mother innocently. "But I'm sorry it won't happen again."
"Thank you, Amethyst." Twilight told her daughter, but then she had just remembered something. "Oh Flurry, I forgot to ask, how was your first day of the new school year."
Her aunt always asked this every year and Flurry appreciated it. She was actually very eager to tell her this time, because of everything that had happened. "It was great! I made some new friends and stood up to some old ones." When she finished Twilight had a puzzled look on her face, wondering what she had meant. Cadence seemed to notice her expression and answered her.
"Flurry stood up to some fillies who were pushing her around and pretending to be her friends." Cadence smiled. "I'm very proud of her."
"That's great Flurry!" Twilight said with a bright smile. "I'm also proud of you. Just out of curiosity, what were their names?" She asked before taking a sip of tea.
"They were three sisters," Flurry stated before she answered her aunt's question. "There names were Aria, Sonata, and Adagio, she was kinda like the leader."
When she finished Twilight's eyes widened and she accidentally spit out some of her tea as she shouted, "WHAT!?" This made Cadence jump a little bit, as she was so close to her.
"What's wrong?" Cadence asked in concern.
"I'm not sure yet," Twilight answered truthfully. "It's just, the way you described them and said their names, they sound exactly like the sirens!"
Flurry looked at her aunt, confusion on her face. She had never heard of the sirens from her aunt, but Cadence had. "How could they be the sirens you told me about?" She had confusion on her face as well but also worry. "I thought you said they lost their power?"
"They did, but I don't know how they're here now." Twilight had gotten off the chair she was sitting in and began pacing. "There must be some reasonable explanation..." suddenly an idea formed in her head, like it should have been there all along. "Of course! I bet the library has information that can tell us why they're here." With that she stopped pacing and headed for the library.
"There must be something in one of these books," Twilight said while flipping through the pages of one.
"I think I found something!" Cadence exclaimed, while giving Twilight the book with her magic. "History of Magical Creatures?"
"I think this is it!" She said while looking at the book. She continued to read until she came across something. "Of course! I know why they're here!"
"You do?" Cadence asked as she walked closer.
"I still can't believe that those girls we're sirens the whole time, and I didn't notice," Flurry said, rubbing her forehead with her hoof.
"It's not your fault," Twilight told her, briefly looking up from the book. "I didn't tell you about them, but the reason they're here is because when Starswirl banished them, it was to get rid of their magic. Since that world didn't have magic, it worked, but when I went to Canterlot High, my friends and I stopped them from taking over that world. They lost their magic in the process."
"So how did they end up here?" Flurry questioned, still unsure.
"When they lost their magic," Twilight continued. "They were sent back to Equestria because they could no longer harm anyone, and the reason their younger is so they could start new, but by what you told me, they haven't changed much. The reason they're ponies however, I'm not sure. It may be because the loss of their magic, but we can't know for certain, but we do know that they're not a threat."
"That's good," said Cadence walking next to Flurry. "Right sweetie?"
"Yeah, we're safe," she said, slowly backing away. "I'll be right back."
"Oh okay," said Cadence, slightly confused because it was so sudden. "Where are you going?" But it was to late. Flurry had already left.
Flurry wanted to warn Shadow about the sirens (or the Dazzlings). Even though she knew they were not a threat magically, they weren't that nice as ponies either. She approached the same place they met last time. She figured that was best place to find him. When she started calling his name she quickly stopped, realizing that to keep him a secret from everypony because her parents still thought he was Sombra, she shouldn't shout his name. So Flurry continued searching for him quietly. When she came across a giant crystal rock she noticed it was different, it had been hollowed out. This must be it! She thought to herself as she slowly stepped inside.
When Shadow herd hoofsteps he assumed his father had come back with lunch and quickly went to go help him. He had been drawing a picture of Flurry Heart so he would be able to give it to her before he became part of the royal guard. When he saw that it wasn't his father, but Flurry Heart, he mentally panicked. Oh no! What am I going to tell her?! I can't tell her the truth! Ugh, I'll just make something up. He approached her slowly as he said, "Flurry? What are you doing here?" He was no longer in his royal guard disguise, his father showed him how to undo it. They had not yet moved along with the plans, so he figured that he didn't have to wear it yet.
"I wanted to tell you something," she said, but she was slightly confused as to why he didn't seem his usual self. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, yeah... I'm fine," he fibbed. "But you can't stay here for long, my father will be returning soon."
"Oh okay, well I wanted to warn you about these three fillies called the sirens..." before Flurry could finish her sentence, Shadow quickly cut her off, unintentionally. "The sirens? Weren't they banished, and I thought they were fish-like ponies, not fillies?" Flurry stared at him, a bit surprised he knew all that. Shadow quickly realized that he had interrupted her and apologized for it. "Oh I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you."
"It's fine," she said smiling. "I'm just surprised you knew that."
"I wouldn't have known that if it weren't for my books," he said laughing at bit. "Honestly, I probably wouldn't know anything if it weren't for those books."
"Oh I'm sure that's not true," she said blushing slightly. "You're very smart."
"Thanks," he said, also blushing. "You're really smart too."
There was a few seconds of peaceful silence until Flurry Heart remembered what she was there for. "Anyway, like I was saying, you're right the sirens were banished, but they've returned."
"How's that possible?" He asked curiously.
"My aunt thinks that when they lost their magic a long time ago, they came back to Equestria because they were no longer a threat. Why they're fillies, we're not entirely sure, but even though they're not a threat magically, they're not very nice as ponies either. So I'm just letting you know you should probably avoid them."
Shadow processed everything for a moment and then said, "okay, I understand."
"Okay great, I'm glad I could tell you. Now I really need to get home." As she was turning around to leave, Shadow put a hoof on her shoulder, "Wait! There's... something I... need to tell you."
Seeing his hoof on her shoulder made her blush, but she didn't know why. Ugh! Why do I blush so much around him. She thought to herself. She noticed the tone in his voice as he said this and had a feeling whatever it was he needed to tell her, it wasn't going to be good.
"O-Okay, what is it?" She asked quietly, not sure if she wanted to know.
"I won't be able to see you again for a while," he had said it so quietly, she barely made out what it was, but perhaps it was better that way because she didn't like what she heard.
"W-What do you mean?" She asked quietly. She also scrunched up her nose for a split second, then returned it back to normal. He realized she did that whenever she was upset or mad about something, and he thought it was adorable. She probably didn't know she did it and if he were to tell her she did it, she would probably deny it.
"I can't tell you everything," he explained to her. "But my dad and I will very busy for a while. I won't be able to a break."
He wasn't completely lying to her, but he also wasn't telling her the truth. He was actually going to see her almost everyday day and he knew it, but she didn't, and for her own safety he wasn't going to tell her. Suddenly an idea struck him, but he would have to get back to it later, because her voice brought him back to the present.
"Busy doing what?"
"Uhh..." he rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "That's part of what I can't tell you."
"Why not?" She asked, there seemed to be some upsetness in her voice now. Shadow noticed this and tried to distract her.
"But here," he said, while picking up his picture of her with his magic. "I wanted to give you this."
Flurry stared at it curiously, before he gave it to her. When she held it with her magic and fully saw it, she gasped. She had never seen such beautiful art before. It had amazing smooth lines, precise size, and it looked exactly like her. It was truly amazing, nothing like anything she could do. It had its own unique style to it that she loved and would never forget.
She continued to stare at it. "I never knew you were such a good artist," she said with a smile.
Shadow blushed slightly. "Probably not as good as some. I just do it in my free time."
"Still, this is amazing."
"Thanks," he said smiling. "I want you to keep it."
"What!?" She said in shock. "I couldn't, it's too nice and..." She was cut off by Shadow once again, this time on purpose.
"It's fine Flurry. I really want you to keep it."
"Are you sure?" She said, looking at him and then back at the picture.
"Positive."
She could tell there was no doubt in his voice, "okay... if you're sure. Thank you."
"You're welcome." He said with a slight smile.
Before Flurry left she gave him a warm comforting hug and said, "bye Shadow. Hopefully I'll see you sooner then you think."
Shadow mentally laughed a little as he thought, trust me, you will. You just won't know it's me. Then after he broke the hug he said, "bye Flurry, I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too,... but it's funny, just when we thought we'd be able to see each other more since you moved here, we'll be seeing each other less."
"Yeah," said Shadow, with a sad laugh. "Funny."
"Well, bye," Flurry said holding up the drawing. "And thank you again for the picture. You really do know how to make things beautiful." And with that, she left.
Before Shadow had the chance to answer her, he felt this tingling throughout his entire body and then he saw this light flash across his flank. Before he knew it there was a bright light blue and white crystal in replace of the flashing light. He had gotten his cutie mark.
He stared at it in disbelief, "m-my... cutie mark? I don't understand, what did I...?" Then he thought about the last thing Flurry Heart told him. "You really do know how to make things beautiful"
He thought about this for a little bit. He had always loved beautiful things, but rarely got to see them because of his father, who would love to destroy things. He also always loved to make things beautiful, he just didn't realize it. Flurry had just helped with that.
He stared outside where she had just left, "thanks Flurry, I would never have known if it weren't for you."
But he wouldn't be able to tell her.
When Flurry returned home she noticed her mom didn't look happy but worried. She was correct, when her mom rushed to her and hugged her.
"Flurry! Where have you been?" She asked, releasing the hug. "You were gone for hours."
Really, had it been hours? It seemed to have passed by so quickly, granted the trip there and back was probably a half hour total and she was with Shadow, who distracted her easily...
She quickly remembered where she was and who she was in front of so Flurry made a quick excuse as to why she was gone so long.
"I... uh...walked around for a little bit," she quickly made up. She wasn't lying either, she had walked around the town on her way back. "I took a walk through the Crystal Empire. It was just so pretty today, that's all."
Her mom stared at her for a little while, clearly trying to figure out whether or not to believe her daughter. After a lot of hesitation she finally said, "okay, I believe you, but next time you need to tell me where you're going, ok?"
Her mom had said this very sternly, but she was right. Flurry hadn't told her where she was going. Her mom didn't usually get this mad at her, it was very rare, but when she did it was no joke.
"I will also be telling daddy about this," Cadence said with her stern voice still. "And you will be grounded for a week."
"But..." Flurry quickly tried to argue, but realized there was no point. "Okay."
"Now next time you'll know not to go running off somewhere without telling me," her mom said, softening her voice a little. "I worry about you and so does everyone else."
"I understand," Flurry said giving her mom a hug as she quickly realized somepony wasn't there. "Hey, where's aunt Twilight and the cousins?" She said looking around.
"Oh they had to go. They told me to tell you bye. I had asked Twilight to tell me if she saw you on her way out."
"Oh,"Flurry realized she didn't get to say goodbye. "Well I'm just gonna be in my room."
"Okay honey, I'll be down here if you need me."
When Flurry got to her room she took out the picture Shadow gave her from her mane ( sometimes it's nice to have big curly hair, she thought to herself). She looked at the picture lovingly. It truly was beautiful. She would cherish it forever.
"Thank you, Shadow."
When Sombra got back Shadow quickly changed into his disguise. He didn't want his father finding out about us cutie mark. For one thing he didn't think his father would like his cutie mark being about him making beautiful things and for another thing, his cutie mark was the exact opposite of his father's. His father's was a black and grey dark crystal and his was a white and light blue light crystal. When in his disguise, he had a typical royal guard cutie mark, not that it mattered, he would be covered in armor.
Sombra didn't seem to notice anything unusual as he simply said, "sorry I'm late, but you will have to skip lunch. I'm getting you into the royal guard now."
Shadow Hunter's eyes widened and he blinked. "Wait, right now?"
"Yes Shadow Hunter, right now. What did you think I meant?"
"Uh..."
"Well nevermind, it's not important. We need to go."
Shadow was really nervous about being part of the royal guard, but also excited about seeing Flurry, I guess you could say he was nervosited ;-). So all he could manage to say was, "okay."
When they got near the castle, but not close enough for anypony to see them, Sombra suddenly stopped. Shadow looked at him curiously.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"From here you go on alone." His father stated.
"What!?" Shadow Hunter began panicking. "But I won't know what to do, I'll get caught, they'll find out who I am, and then lock me in a dungeon!" He shouted.
Sombra merely rolled his eyes, "we don't have time for this Shadow," he stated. "In a few minutes they will be lining up here outside and that's your only chance to sneak in. I already managed to put your name on files and believe me that was not an easy task."
"Okay, I understand," Shadow said meekly.
"Good," said Sombra who suddenly turned around at the sound of voices. "They're coming, now go!" Before Shadow could say anything Sombra left.
This was his chance to prove himself to his father, it was his chance to see Flurry, and it was his chance to help ponies, but he was terrified.
As soon as he saw them coming he didn't hesitate. He quickly jumped in the line they were marching in, thankfully since it had started raining nobody noticed. Unfortunately however, they quickly stopped after a few minutes of him joining the march, thankfully it was not because of him, but because they were doing roll call for the guards on night watch. In Canterlot the bat ponies usually did the night shift, but because this wasn't Canterlot and it was the Crystal Empire they had normal guards on watch. It actually never occurred to Shadow which shift he would be doing, but he would get to that later. Although, he had remembered what his father had told him about putting his name in the files and if his father wanted him to come to this time specific time, that must mean he was in this one.
He listened carefully as the head guard called out names, "Lightning Burst!," he semi shouted. "Here sir!" The stallion answered. He continued calling out names, but Shadow only heard some. He noticed that the head guard looked different from the others. He figured the guards in high position didn't where the disguise."Spearhead!" Was another one he heard, until finally the moment he dreaded where the guard called his name (or his fake name at least).
"Hunter Woods!" The guard called, but Shadow didn't respond immediately, he was still unfamiliar with the fake name. When he realized that was supposed to be him he quickly answered. "O-Oh here sir!" He called out, hoping the delay of his answer didn't change anything. When he saw the guard approach him he panicked, Oh no! He's going to find out who I am. I'll be arrested and never be able to see Flurry Heart again!
He was quickly snapped out of his thoughts as the guard was in front of him and looked at the paper and back at him. "Are you new here?" The guard simply asked. Shadow wondered if he should tell him the truth or not. If he said yes, he was new, then he could probably have it easier and not have to act like he knows everything they're talking about, but if he said he wasn't new then they most likely wouldn't question him as much.
He chose what he thought was the safest one and said, "yes, I am new." He waited for the guard's response, but the stallion simply just smiled for a brief moment and said...
"Welcome to the royal guard."