Forgath relaxed in his study. It was a surprisingly simple room, just off the common area of his apartments and lined with shelves of books. A fire blazed merrily in the hearth - the typical kind, rather than the balefire of the pillar - and the faint wisps of smoke that evaded the flue filled the room with a fond and earthy smell. Forgath himself sat in one of the tall-backed chairs. He was free of his armor (excepting his customary chain shirt) and paging slowly through an old arcane tome. He'd read this one a few times already, but he was hoping to find some inspiration in the imported work; the ponies of Equestria had a different approach to magic theory, and he found it invigorating.
Somewhere just shy of the halfway mark, a little knock on the door drew his attention away from the runic description of a shield spell. He placed the book's ribbon marker and closed it, calling out, "Come in."
The door was pushed open slightly and Shady poked her head in. While still a little foal, she had recently had her eighth birthday and was growing more and more each day. She'd begun her primary education - "first grade", as it was now called - and had made several friends among her new classmates. Forgath had expected as much; she'd been happy and outgoing well before she had learned to talk. The Shady that presently peeked into the study, however, seemed nervous, almost shy, and that was enough for Forgath to set aside his book entirely. He gave her a gentle smile and opened his hands. "Come here, Shady."
Not one to turn down a hug, the batty filly broke into a big smile of her own, dashing across the carpet and hopping up into his lap, where she was promptly drawn in against the fine mesh of chain over his chest. Forgath ran a hand lightly through her mane, smiling down at her as he held her close. Father and daughter just sat for a few moments, enjoying the comfort of the embrace, but Forgath knew there was something to discuss. "Is something wrong, sweetheart?"
"Well..." The young filly looked up at him, before glancing to one side, her ears leaning backward. "...there's something I wanted to ask you."
"I see. Does this have anything to do with foals?"
"Huh? Um...no?"
"So the gods know mercy after all."
"What?" A little batty snoot scrunched up in confusion.
"Nothing. Go ahead and ask, Shady; I won't be mad."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Well I...I wanted to ask...who was my mother?"
Forgath paused his hand mid-stroke. He nodded slowly down at her, his head tilting slightly after. "I see. Well, I knew you'd want to know someday. Guess it's finally time."
"So you'll tell me?"
"Of course. Your mother was a mare named Tranquil Stand."
"What did she look like?"
"Oh, she looked a little like you, and a little like your sister. Would you like to see a picture?"
"Yeah!"
Forgath chuckled softly, rising from his seat and cradling his foal in his arms as he headed for his bedroom. "Alright, off we go!"
Shady giggled as she was carried along, hugging her hooves around his neck. In no time they were inside, and she'd been set down upon Forgath's bed. The dark lord moved to his cluttered desk, brushing a few stacks this way and that until he'd found a picture frame, which he brought over to show to the curious thestral.
"This is her."
Shady scooched closer, so intent on taking in the image that she nearly pressed her little snoot up against it. There in living color was a crystal mare in her prime, her rich, sapphire-blue coat offset by a light blond mane. She wore the armor of Ironforge's Tower Guard, a light ornamental plate that covered chest, barrel, and forelegs in black metal and gold runes. An accompanying helmet sat on the ground next to her as she posed in a seated position, smiling warmly towards the viewer. More than anything else, it was her eyes that drew Shady's attention; while faceted rather than slit, they were the same shade of violet she saw in the mirror each day.
Forgath waited patiently as his foal took in the sight of her mother. He could see the excitement gathering as questions began to bounce around her head. Soon enough, one managed to find its way to the exit.
"She was a guard?"
"She was. This was taken shortly after her last promotion; she had fulfilled her duties admirably, and became one of my Lieutenants."
"Is that good?"
"It is; she was recognized by her peers and earned the command of the Tower Guard."
"Was she strong?"
"Very. She was one of the most gifted warriors I have ever known, and learned the art of magic purely to counter it. She was no mage, but she was a powerful spellbreaker."
"... can I meet her?" Shady's eyes held a reserved sort of hope.
Forgath drew a slow breath. Some part of him was impressed; he had not met a new kind of pain in decades, yet here it was. "Maybe one day. But she is not with us any longer."
"She's not? Why did she leave us?"
"She did not have a choice. During a dangerous mission, she contracted a magical illness, a curse of sorts. She endured it for years, with the help of myself and the magi, but in the end she could not be cured. However, she was strong enough to bring us you."
"Me?"
"Mmmhm. You are her last gift and her final wish."
Shady was quiet for a few moments, her gaze falling back to the picture, to the smiling mare in the proud armor. She scooted in, leaning her side against her father, who held her gently.
"Do...you miss her?"
Forgath nodded. "Every day."
Shady wiggled, turning so she could put her little hooves as far around Forgath's middle as she could. He smiled, leaving his hand upon her back. He didn't expect to be the one being comforted, nor how successful the attempt would be. "Don't worry. I miss her always, but I'm not sad. I still have you and your sister, after all." Bringing his other hand over, he gently poked her nose, making her scrunch and giggle in objection.
"No! No boops!" She looked up at him indignantly, trying to hide the smile that betrayed her fondness.
"Just three more?" Forgath bargained.
"No! No more!"
"Just one more?"
"No! No more!"
"Too bad." He brought his finger down, slowly. Shady squeaked and hid her nose behind her hooves. Forgath took the opportunity to tip her backward and tickle her belly; he was rapidly rewarded by more giggles and the flailing of hooves.
After he stopped tickling and she stopped giggling, he drew her close once more, lifting the picture into view. "Your mother was very special to me, and so are you."
She nodded, smiling as she leaned against him. "I can still miss her, right? Even though I don't remember her?"
"Of course. But you should know that she loved you very much, and would be very proud of you, just like I am."
"You're proud of me?" Shady perked up, smiling big. This wasn't the first time her father had told her as much, but she really liked hearing it - and it showed.
Forgath smiled warmly in turn, if with a little mischief in his eyes. "Of course. You are my best little tomato."
"I'm not a tomato!" The little thestral wasted no time before giving him a good pout.
Forgath chuckled. "But you're turning red."
"Am not!" She was.
"But yes, I'm very proud of you. You're a bright filly, and I know you'll do well in whatever you set your mind to."
She beamed at that, little wings fluttering. After a moment or two though, a thoughtful expression crossed her muzzle. "Wait..."
"Yes?"
"So, me and Tourmaline -"
"Tourmaline and I."
"Yeah, Tourmaline and I - we look how we do because it's how our mom looked?"
"Yes?"
"Why don't we look like you?"
...Clever girl indeed. "You mean you don't see the resemblance?"
Forgath received a look so flat it included her ears. "No."
"What about when I had that cold?"
"...huh?"
"I was a little horse."
Shady groaned. "Daaaaaaad, c'mon; I'm s-" her mouth snapped shut, eyes wide. She caught herself before it was too late - but Forgath was grinning anyway. He knew she heard the joke in her head.
"Seriously. Why don't we look like you?"
"I...think that's a story for when you're older."
Shady had never liked that excuse. In fact, Forgath doubted any child ever did. He tried to avoid it where possible, regardless of how adorably Shady fluttered her wings when frustrated. Still, this was a talk that he didn't want to have with her quite yet. Let her stay innocent a little longer.
He might be getting old, he reflected; protecting innocence was awfully sentimental. He shook off the thought.
"The important thing isn't that we look the same, it's the love. Your mother loved you very much, even if she didn't know you for long. And I would cover the lands of your enemies in dark flame - if you had any worth the effort, that is."
Shady giggled. "You would?"
"Oh yes. Their holdings would turn to ash and their rivers would run red with blood."
"Gross!" More childish giggles followed.
He smiled warmly down at her. "Is there anything else you wanted to know?"
"Hmmmm...oh! Does she have a stone?"
"She does."
"...can we visit some time? We could bring her cookies?"
"I don't think cookies are quite appropriate, but...yes, we can visit, when you're sure you're ready."
Shady nodded. "What was her talent?"
"Ah. You can't see it in the picture, but her mark -"
"Cutie Mark!" Shady grinned. She knew he tried to avoid the term.
"Yes, that. It was a spell glyph representing 'pain' that was split down the middle; it represented both her talent for spellbreaking and her ability to overcome great pain itself."
"...Did she have to do that a lot?"
"Spellbreaking?"
"No."
"Ah. Sometimes, yes. She was a very brave pony, and she had the sense and skill to make that worth something. But her talent wasn't just about her own pain. She also soothed those around her."
"By magic?"
"Only a little; she dabbled in potion-making. Mostly she was just..."
A little blue head tilted to the side. "...juuuust?"
Forgath shrugged helplessly. "Nice, perhaps? She could talk to you and make you feel better."
"Ooooh! That's neat!"
"Indeed, and all too rare. Good morale is very important."
"Mmmhm! You can beat an enemy by beating their will!"
"You remembered; good girl." Forgath ran a hand through her mane again, and she leaned into it.
"Oh! How did you two first meet?"
"Ah, I think that story will have to wait."
"Awww, but why?"
"Because your sister is going to be home soon, and she'd hate to miss it."