“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T GET HER?!?!.” Mother roared at me when I told her.
Standing before her in the Main Hall, I told her of the child’s location and who has it and why I didn’t have her with me.
“Like I told you, Mother. The faire is today. I won’t be able to get remotely close to her without the Heart tearing me apart.”
“And she’s in the hooves of your...old friend, no less.” She hissed at me.
I shook my head. “Hope is nothing to be of concern. I do have a plan on taking the child from her and bringing it back.” I stated. “It will take some time though, so be patient.
“Even if it means going against her? Will you be able to strike the pony down to complete your task at hoof?”
I nodded. “There’s nothing more important than finishing the mission.”
“Good…” Mother lowly said before waving me out.
I turned and left the Hall. My mind was already planning to retrieve the child. It should be easy considering hope was never much for a fighter. She may be a powerful healer, but she never fights. Despite her vivid imagination of her being a knight, she could never harm a fly.
Still…
Facing Hope… for my sake, I hope the ghost of my past, my lesser being doesn’t come for me.
The moment Umbré woke up, she woke with a smile on her face.
She sat up with a yawn, stretching her tiny arms over her head. Umbré then flickered the bow with her hooves and giggles. She really, really liked it.
Umbré giggled softly before looking up and seeing Hope’s face. Sleeping peacefully.
“Hopey,” Umbré happily said, but Hope continued to sleep. Her hooves were over the baby’s body in a loving embrace.
Umbré tilts her head to the side. This feeling swirling inside her, it wasn’t fear nor anger writhing inside like she felt towards the monsters.
This feeling towards Hope, it was different, she liked it.
Umbré made happy noise before turning around. The bedroom was small. There was only a dresser filled with clothes, a single picture in a red shiny frame. Books were stacked high all around the room. It made it very small.
Though, Umbré couldn’t keep her eyes off of the shiny frame. Hope was asleep and the bed was high enough to where Umbré would get hurt if she were to fall off.
So, magic would have to be suffice.
Umbré concentrated as hard as she could. She lifted things last night, she could do this. Her horn sparked blue, the frame became engulfed in its aura and starts levitating up. The infant giggled as she takes the picture and brought it over to her. Cooing in triumphant, she starts nomming on one of the corners.
The frame quickly became coaxed in her drool.
Run! Run before the dragon gets you! He’s right behind us!
Umbré stopped nomming on it. She thought she heard Hope’s voice and turned around to face her.
She found out that Hope was still asleep. She hasn’t moved an inch. Confused, Umbré turned back to the photo. And now really looked at the picture instead of the shiny frame. It had two young foals. One looked like young Hope was running and laughing. Following behind her…
Was a young colt. He had dark grey coat and shiny black wavy mane and bright emerald green eyes that were full of laughter and happiness. He was playing whatever game Hope was playing.
Umbré started to hear the same voice again coming out of the photo, but this time, she starts hearing the colt talking as well. HAH! A dragon could never defeat me! I’ll take him on!
His voice… it sounded familiar. Then again, Umbré didn’t know who he was. Still, voice coming from the pictures? The memory of the past capturing the final moments before getting caught in this slip of glossy colorful paper. Ghost of the past was talking to her.
“Oh? And what do you have there?”
Umbré tilts her head up and saw Hope looking down at her and smiled.
Hope took the photo away from the baby and looked at it and sighed. “Sweet Celestia… I forgot about this one.”
Umbré frowned slightly, she saw this subtle sad look on her face.
Hope looks at the photo and then look back at the baby. “This is me.” She points at her younger self. Then she slides it to the colt. “This...this is Sombra. He was an orphan too. He was my best friend.”
Sombra? Why does that name sound familiar?
“He’s gone… he gave into the darkness and I lost him.” Hope placed it on her nightstand. “Let’s hope I don’t lose you, Filla.”
Umbré made a face. Seriously? Filla?
“What? Filla is a cute name.”
Umbré shook her head no.
“Hmmm, Gemstone Waterfall?” Hope asks.
Umbré stuck her tongue out on that one. Nope!
“Ruby Deathstroke?”
Umbré made an X motion with her arms and blew her tongue.
Hope then spits out more name that might be good enough to use for the baby’s name. Umbré tossed all of them out. Declining each and every one Hope threw at her.
She sighed. “Okay, Miss Smartypants. If those names don’t feel like you, do you have an idea?”
Umbré already had a name. Though the Queen named her, it was still her name nonetheless. And oddly enough, it sounded more interesting than the others.
Hope looked at the baby as she tried to sound her name out.
“U...Umbré.” though Umbré pronounced it with an Om as in Ombré
“Umbré?” Hope asks, even pronouncing it the same as the foal. Her eyes then sparkled before picking her up and hugging Umbré. “At least your folks gave you a cute name! Umbré, Umbré, Umbré!”
The way Hope said it was full of warmth and joy.
“Well then, Umbré, nice to finally meet you.” Hope giggled, booping the infant’s muzzle. Umbré babbles happily, grabbing her hoof in hers and cooed lovely.
After she was fed and handled the other main baby duties, the two played for a while, enjoying each other’s time. The tiny cottage was filled with laughter and squeals of joy coming from both parties.
But slowly as the day progressed, Umbré starts getting this strange feeling. This feeling slowly creeping up to her every few moments. Every so often, Umbré would look out towards the door. There was something outside attracting her.
Around lunch time, Umbré waddled up to the door. She starts banging against it with her tiny hooves, wanting to get out.
“Umbré?” Hope asks, seeing her with a raised brow. “What’s wrong, sweetie?” She approached the foal.
Umbré kept beating on the door. She couldn’t reach for the handle so she began using her magic and turned the knob before walking out.
Hope used her magic to stop Umbré and brought her up to her face. “What’s gotten in you? Why do you want to head outside?”
Umbré babbles loudly, trying to walk outside while trapped in this golden magical aura bubble. Something was beckoning her.
More importantly, towards the Crystal Empire.
Hope looked out, casting a look towards the Empire as well. “The Crystal Faire is today.” she chirped in realizing. “One of my favorite memories from when I was your age was the time my parents took me to the faire! Last I went, they didn’t have enough flugelhorns….” She then sighed softly. “Time sure goes by fast… even if it’s been a thousand years since I last went. It’s still the most magical time of the year… Hearth’s Warming being second.”
Umbré looked like she was still walking in the magic.
Hope began to smile, an idea began forming in her head. She turns to Umbré and gotten her attention. “Do you like to go see the Crystal Faire?”
Umbré looked to Hope and curiously babbles.
Hope giggled before grabbing her saddle bag. “To the Faire we go!”
“Hopey!” Umbré cheered and soon the two were off.
****
The faire was compact full of crystal ponies and tourists from all over Equestria and beyond. Lively games and music echoing loudly through the shiny city. Food and booths were out on display as they all get ready for the main event.
Hope waltz around the streets with Umbré riding on top of her head. Since Hope’s mane was soft, it was hard for her to get down. She didn’t mind.
“While we’re here, we should do some shopping. You do need some toys and a bed.” Hope said as they moved. “Though after last night, i don’t mind the evening snuggles.”
Umbré emphasises with a hug of her head.
A flash of light startles her then. Umbré’s horn lit up and a shout later, Hope gasps.
“HEY!” The two of them looked down and saw a little piglet with a pony’s face and a camera attached to it. “What’s the big idea?!”
“Oh sweet Celestia, i’m so sorry!” Hope quickly said before using a spell to reverse the change. The young colt faced before them. “She’s still getting used to her magic. You scared her.”
Umbré looked at the pony and babbles softly.
“I should’ve asked, but you two just look so cute, I couldn’t help it.” He giggled. The photo pops out of his camera. “Here,” he said, hoofing it over to them.
Hope takes it with her magic and giggled when looking at it. “Wow, you’re right, we do look cute.” She said before showing it to Umbré.
She took it from the mare and looked at the picture. Like earlier back at the cabin, she could hear the voices prior to the photo taken.
Right down to hearing herself happily hugging Hope. She then took the picture and put it in her mouth and tears a corner piece of it off.
Hope quickly took it away from her. “No no, no nonononono! That’s not for eating!” she took it and placed it back in her saddle bag. “Not for eating.”
Umbré let out a whine before it was gone quickly by a bottle of milk and drinks it down happily.
Up in the Crystal Castle, baby Flurry Heart was being pampered and getting ready for the Faire.
“Oh my gosh! Your first Crystal Faire, this is most exciting!” one of the mares brushing her mane said.
“This is even more Exciting than her Crystaling and her birth!” the other mare said, picking a dress out for her.
“Hopefully not as exciting as her crystaling.” Princess Cadence came into the room and giggled.
Flurry cooed excitedly upon seeing her mother. Her wings flapped in happiness. She the flew out of the mare’s hold and came up to Cadence and hugged her. She babbles happily.
Cadence chuckles and hugged her back. “Do you think you can behave today?”
Flurry Heart cooed as if she was answering.
“And how are my two favorite fillies doing?” Shining Armor trotted in, adjusting his guard uniform.
“Just getting Flurry ready.” cadenced smiled at her husband. The two shared a sweet kiss before kissing the cheeks of their daughter.
Flurry squeals in delight.
The got Flurry ready and soon left to the fair below. Ever Since Sunburst stabilized her magic, Flurry wanted to have some fun. After hearing about the faire for months, she was excited.
Even if it means getting into trouble.
But….
As soon as they stepped outside, the crystal ponies quickly gather around them. Wanting to hug and hold Flurry,. Saying how cute and pretty the baby alicorn was.
As much as Flurry Heart adored the praising...she didn’t want to just sit around everypony else. She wanted to play the games the faire was hosting.
She tried to fly away but her parents kept her as they addressed the ponies.
The baby grunted as she sat on her daddy’s back with her arms crossed.
“Don’t worry, honey,” Shining said to Flurry. “We’ll get to the faire. Just give us a moment.”
Then, a pony comes running, her green and brown mane sizzling. “Help, help! There are some ruffians destroying the faire!”
“I got her.” Cadence said as she took Flurry in her magic and held her.
“I won’t be long.” Shining said before walking to the pony. “Okay, show me where.” he said before following the mare out.
The two saw the prince consort leave before Cadence turned back to her subjects. She tried to push them back but they seem to keep coming.
Flurry grunted loudly before shaking her head.
She wants to enjoy the fair, not just sit there and let these guys crowd around her.
Flurry Heart sighed, before - in her own way - says screw this and takes things into her own hooves and teleports off.
“Flurry?!” Cadence immediately took noticed and looked around. “Oh no...not again!” She groaned.
Hope and Umbré were walking around. Sharing a rather large thing of crystal cotton candy. Umbré’s face was covered in specks of the sugary sweetness.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Hope asked with a giggle.
“Hopey, Hopey, Hopey!!” Umbré cheered.
Then, Hope felt something stirring in her belling. “Ooh…I gotta go.” she said, trotting the nearest stall and sat the infant down in the ground.
“Umbré, I’m only gonna be in there for a minute. Hang tight okay?” Hope said before giving Umbré the rest of the cotton candy and went inside of the stall to use the restroom.
As Umbré happily ate the rest of it, she looks up to the sky and saw this colorful creature flying across the skies. She raised a brow out of curiosity. It was tiny, just like her.
Umbré cooed softly before using her magic. She wanted to go to the tiny flying thing. At first, her magic started hurting her head, but pretty soon, her body was covered in her blue aura and was levitated up in the air. She giggles in triumph and took off flying after it.
Hope soon came out of the stall with a sigh. “I think that candy was bah-baby Umbré!?” Hope gasped loudly. “Oh no! Where did you go?!” She looked around before taking off down the streets. “Umbré! Where did you go?! Umbré!? Umbré!!”
[Now entering Rugrat Umbré and Flurry <3]
Flurry landed ontop of a roof, she looked down at the faire below.
“Now, what to do first?” Flurry asked herself, scanning the ponies below. “Eat some candy? Play some games? Scare daddy?” Flurry giggled evilly, rubbing her hooves together. “That’s always fun.”
“What’s fun?”
“EEK!!” Flurry jumped by that voice and turned around.
Umbré stood behind her with a smile. “Ello!”
“You scared me!!” flurry puffed her cheeks. “And how did you get up here?”
Umbré shrugged. “I dunno.” She then looked at Flurry with a raised brow. “What are you?”
“Huh?” Flurry looked at the pony as if she had two heads. “What I am? You don’t know who I am?”
“Should I?” Umbré asked. “Well, you look like me. We’re babies, we have horns...but you have wings.” she circled around the tiny little princess. “Very pretty.”
Flurry giggled, watching Umbré circling her. “You’re funny. I’m Flurry Heart.”
“Umbré.” Umbré giggled back. She hovers her cotton candy over to Flurry. “Want some? It’s really good!”
Flurry takes it with her magic and tears a piece of it and ate it. “Yum! This is good!”
“Hopey bought it for me. She’s really, really nice.”
“Hopey? Is she your mommy or sister?” Flurry asked.
“Mommy?” Umbré asked confused. “What a mommy?” Umbré thought to the queen at the dark place, calling herself “Mother,”.
“Mommy? Oh, she’s a pony who loves us and takes care of us unconditionally, no matter what we do.” Flurry said, looking down to see Cadence running with her guards to try and find the baby princess. “A Mommy gives birth to us.”
Umbré didn’t hear that last bit as she looked down below and saw Hope running through the streets as well, lifting various things trying to find her.
Umbré sighed happily. “Hpey…”
Flurry then tapped her shoulder. “Since you have magic like me, wanna blow stuff up?”
Umbré squealed loudly. “WOULD I!”
The two foals giggled loudly before taking off
*TEN MINUTES LATER*
Ponies were running all over the streets. All of them screaming as beams of magic energy were being blasted all around. Being done by two magical foals who were laughing their tiny butts off
“NOT AGAIN!!!” one pony screamed.
“This is fun!” Flurry laughed as they flew around, causing mayhem.
“This is! But…” Umbré looked to her. “Would other ponies get hurt because of this?”
Flurry shrugged. “From what I heard, something always happens during this time. No pony is getting hurt.”
“Ow! My leg!” a pony in the distance cried out.
Both of the foals frowned.
“Yeah, you’re right.” flurry said. “Wanna see something?”
“Sure!”
The two took off to the base of the Crystal palace. On its pedestal was the jewel of the Empire.
The Crystal Heart.
“Oooooooooh!: Umbré awed at it. She floated towards it.
“It is. I was named after it.” Flurry explained. “Something about….shattering it and the snow….or something.” She shrugged.
“Hmm.” Umbré said.
This heart. It was shiny, pretty blue… She lifted a tiny hoof up. “Can I touch it?”
“Sure.” Flurry shrugged. “Just be careful. It’s breakable.”
Umbré placed a hoof on the Heart. The Heart started to flash pure white. Soon, everything was covered in this blinding white light.
“WHOA!” Flurry covered her eyes with her hooves and wings to block the light. It lasted only a minute before the light just vanished.
“That was...owie…” Flurry groaned, rubbing her eyes before unfurling her wings and opened her eyes.
The Heart was still there, still shiny and blue…
But… Umbré was gone.
“Umbré? Where did you go!?” Flurry whines loudly.