As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Spike could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots.
The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Morning Shine would be playing in her first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the house championship.
Hardly anyone had seen Shine play because Wood had decided that, as their secret weapon, Morning Shine should be kept, well, secret. Speaking of secrets, something else was being hidden from everyone in school. But that is something for a later time. Back to Morning Shine. But the news that she was playing Seeker had leaked out somehow, and Morning Shine didn't know which was worse - people telling her she'd be brilliant or people telling her they'd be running around underneath her holding a mattress.
It was really lucky that Morning Shine had Sparkling Radiance as an adoptive sister. She didn't know how she'd have gotten through all her homework without her, what with all the last-minute Quidditch practice Wood was making them do. She had also lent her Quidditch Through the Ages, which turned out to be a very interesting read.
Morning learned that there were seven hundred ways of committing a Quidditch foul and that all of them had happened during a World Cup match in 1473; that Seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players, and that most serious Quidditch accidents seemed to happen to them; that although people rarely died playing Quidditch, referees had been known to vanish and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert.
Radiance had become a bit more relaxed about breaking rules since Queen Chrysalis had returned, and the plan involved breaking the rules. The day before Morning Shine's first Quidditch match the three of them were out in the freezing courtyard during break, and Radiance, with help from Eclipse had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar. They were standing with their backs to it, getting warm, when Lulamoon crossed the yard.
"What's that you've got there, Glimmer?"
It was Quidditch Through the Ages. Morning showed her.
"Library books are not to be taken outside the school," said Lulamoon. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor,"
"She's just made that rule up," Morning shine muttered angrily as Lulamoon walked away.
The Gryffindor common room was very noisy that evening. Morning Shine, Eclipse, and Radiance sat together next to a window. Radiance was checking Shine and Eclipse's Charms homework for them. She would never let them copy, but by asking her to read it through, they got the right answers anyway.
Morning Shine felt restless. She wanted Quidditch Through the Ages back, to take her mind off her nerves about tomorrow. Why should she be afraid of Lulamoon? Getting up, she told Eclipse and Radiance she was going to ask Lulamoon if she could have it back.
"Better you than me," they said together, but Morning Shine had an idea that Lulamoon wouldn't refuse if there were other teachers listening.
She made his way down to the staff room and knocked. There was no answer. She knocked again. Nothing.
Perhaps Lulamoon had left the book in there? It was worth a try. She pushed the door ajar and peered inside.
Professor Lulamoon was sitting there talking to Leech.
"Lulamoon doesn’t know what Lulamoon’s going to do, Leach," Lulamoon was saying. "How is Lulamoon supposed to tell two children that Lulamoon knew their mother, and is responsible for her death?"
Morning Shine was too flustered with thoughts to think, she tried to shut the door quietly, but -
"GLIMMER!"
Morning's face was twisted with fury as she stood up quickly too shoo the young filly out. Morning Shine gulped.
"I just wondered if I could have my book back," Morning Shine quickly.
"GET OUT! OUT!" screeched Lulamoon.
Morning Shine left, before Lulamoon could take any more points from Gryffindor. She galloped back upstairs.
"Did you get it?" Eclipse asked as Shine joined them. "What's the matter?"
In a low whisper, Morning Shine told them what she'd seen.
"But it doesn't make any sense!" she finished. “Queen Chrysalis killed Mom and Dad, why would Lulamoon be taking the blame?”
Radiance's eyes were wide.
"What if Lulamoon is Chrysalis or another changeling?”, she said. "I know she’s not found of us but, being the Queen or an unreformed changeling would explain so much!"
"You make a good point, but what unreformed changeling would ‘know’ my mom personally?" questioned Eclipse. "I'm with Morning Shine though, Lulamoon wouldn’t take the blame if she didn’t do it herself. Plus, Princess Celestia and Princess luna would have known,"
“But the Princesses didn’t know when Queen Chrysalis disguised herself as Aunt Cadence, did they?” Radiance reminded them.
“You are right about that,” Morning Shine remarked. “But we won’t know for sure until we get more information,”
Morning Shine went to bed with her head buzzing with the same question. Nettle was snoring loudly, so you could hear him from the other dorm, but Shine couldn't sleep. She tried to empty her mind - she needed to sleep, she had to, she had her first Quidditch match in a few hours - but the expression on Lulamoon's face when Morning Shine had overheard her conversation was hard to forget.
The next morning dawned very bright and cold. The Great Hall was full of the delicious smell of fried sausages and the cheerful chatter of everyone looking forward to a good Quidditch match.
"You've got to eat some breakfast,” said Radiance
“I don't want anything," Morning Shine stated
"Just a bit of toast," wheedled Radiance.
"I'm not hungry,” Morning Shine pressed.
Morning Shine felt terrible. In an hour's time she'd be walking onto the field.
"Morning, you need your strength," said Cherry Lightning. "Seekers are always the ones who get clobbered by the other team,”
"Thanks, Cherry," said Morning Shine, watching Cherry pile cherries on his pancakes.
By eleven o'clock the whole school seemed to be out in the stands around the Quidditch pitch. Many students had binoculars. The seats might be raised high in the air, but it was still difficult to see what was going on sometimes.
Eclipse and Radiance joined Nettle, Cherry, and Afternoon Ash the West Ham fan up in the top row. As a surprise for Morning Shine, they had painted a large banner on one of the sheets Scabbers had ruined. It said Morning Shine for Princess, and Afternoon, who was good at drawing, had done a large Gryffindor lion underneath. Then Radiance had performed a tricky little charm so that the paint flashed different colors.
Meanwhile, in the locker room, Morning Shine and the rest of the team were changing into their scarlet Quidditch robes.
Wood cleared his throat for silence.
"Okay, colts," he said.
"And fillies," said Chaser Solstice Twinkle.
"And fillies," Wood agreed. "This is it,”
"The big one," said Farrier Weasel.
"The one we've all been waiting for," said Gallop.
"We know Oak’s speech by heart," Farrier told Morning Shine, "we were on the team last year,”
"Shut up, you two," said Wood. "This is the best team Gryffindor's had in years. We're going to win. I know it,"
He glared at them all as if to say, "Or else,"
"Right. It's time. Good luck, all of you,” Wood said.
Morning Shine followed Farrier and Gallop out of the locker room and, hoping her knees weren't going to give way, walked onto the field to loud cheers.
Madam Hoops was refereeing. She stood in the middle of the field waiting for the two teams, her broom in her hand.
"Now, I want a nice fair game, all of you," she said, once they were all gathered around her.
Morning Shine noticed that she seemed to be speaking particularly to the Slytherin Captain, Pepper Ember, a sixth year. Morning thought Ember looked as if he had some griffin blood in him. Out of the corner of her eye he saw the fluttering banner high above, flashing Morning Shine for Princess over the crowd. Her heart skipped. She felt braver.
"Mount your brooms, please," Madam Hoops instructed.
Morning clambered onto her Nimbus Two Thousand.
Madam Hoops gave a loud blast on her silver whistle.
Fifteen brooms rose up, high, high into the air. They were off.
"And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Solstice Twinkle of Gryffindor - what an excellent Chaser that filly is, and rather attractive, too-"
Leaf Shoot started to comment
"SHOOT!" Princess Luna scolded.
"Sorry, Princess,” Leaf apologized.
The Weasel twins' friend, Leaf Shoot, was doing the commentary for the match, closely watched by Princess Luna.
"And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Honey Flower, a good find of Oak Wood's, last year only a reserve - back to Twinkle and - no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Pepper Ember gains the Quaffle and off he goes - Ember flying like an eagle up there - he's going to sc - no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Wood and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle - that's Chaser Spring Belle of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Ember, off up the field and - OUCH -that must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger - Quaffle taken by the Slytherins - that's Silver Glider speeding off toward the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger - sent his way by Farrier or Gallop Weasel, can't tell which - nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Twinkle back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead and off she goes - she's really flying - dodges a speeding Bludger - the goal posts are ahead - come on, now, Solstice - Keeper Skies dives - misses - GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"
Gryffindor cheers filled the cold air, with howls and moans from the Slytherins.
"Budge up there, move along,"
Spike said, being followed by Rarity,”
"Spike! Rarity!” Eclipse and Radiance cheered.
Eclipse and Radiance squeezed together to give Spike and Rarity enough space to join them.
"We’ve been watching from the cottage,” said Spike, patting a large pair of binoculars around his neck, "But it isn't the same as being in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet?"
"Nope," said Eclipse. “Shine hasn't had much to do yet,"
"Well, she’s doing a fine job of staying out of trouble, darlings,” said Rarity, levitating her opera glasses and peering skyward at the speck that was Morning Shine.
Way up above them, Morning Shine was gliding over the game, squinting about for some sign of the Snitch. This was part of her and Wood's game plan.
“Keep out of the way until you catch sight of the Snitch," Wood had said. "We don't want you attacked before you have to be,"
When Solstice had scored, Morning Shine had done a couple of loop-the-loops to let off her feelings. Now she was back to staring around for the Snitch. Once she caught sight of a flash of gold, but it was just a reflection from one of the Weasels’ wristwatches, and once a Bludger decided to come pelting her way, more like a cannonball than anything, but Morning dodged it and Farrier Weasel came chasing after it.
"All right there, Morning?" he had time to yell, as he beat the Bludger furiously toward Pepper Ember.
"Slytherin in possession," Leaf Shoot was saying, "Chaser Glider ducks two Bludgers, two Weasels, and Chaser Belle, and speeds toward the - wait a moment - was that the Snitch?"
A murmur ran through the crowd as Silver Glider dropped the Quaffle, too busy looking over his shoulder at the flash of gold that had passed his left ear.
Shine saw it. In a great rush of excitement she dived downward after the streak of gold. Slytherin Seeker Amber Walnut had seen it, too. Neck and neck they hurtled toward the Snitch - all the Chasers seemed to have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing as they hung in midair to watch.
Morning Shine was faster than Walnut - she could see the little round ball, wings fluttering, darting up ahead - she put on an extra spurt of speed -
WHAM! A roar of rage echoed from the Gryffindors below - Pepper Ember had blocked Morning Shine on purpose, and Morning’s broom spun off course, she was holding on for dear life.
"Foul!" screamed the Gryffindors.
Madam Hoops spoke angrily to Ember and then ordered a free shot at the goal posts for Gryffindor. But in all the confusion, of course, the Golden Snitch had disappeared from sight again.
Down in the stands, Afternoon Ash was yelling, "Send him off, ref! Red card!"
"What are you talking about, Ash?" said Eclipse.
"Red card!" said Ash furiously. "In soccer you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!"
"But this isn't soccer, Ash," Radiance reminded him.
Spike, however, was on Ash’s side.
"They ought to change the rules. Ember could have knocked Morning Shine the air,”
Leaf Shoot was finding it difficult not to take sides.
“So - after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating-"
"Shoot!" growled Princess Luna.
"I mean, after that open and revolting foul..."
"Shoot, I'm warning you--"
"All right, all right. Ember nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinner, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue play, Gryffindor still in possession,"
It was as Morning Shine dodged another Bludger, which went spinning dangerously past her head, that it happened. The bludger came whizzing back and nearly hit Morning Shine. For a split second, she thought he was going to fall. She gripped the broom tightly with all four hooves. She’d never felt anything like that.
It happened again. It was as though the Bludger was only trying to hit her. But Bludgers did not suddenly decide to go after one individual player. Morning Shine tried to turn back toward the Gryffindor goal-posts - she had half a mind to ask Wood to call time-out - and then she realized that the Bludger was completely out of control. She didn’t have time to fly out of the way. The Weasel twins couldn’t reach her in time. It was zigzagging through the air, right towards her.
Morning Shine, without thinking, ignited her horn. And grabbed hold of the Bludger, the Bludger made her broom jerk left and right. It wasn’t going to stop. When suddenly another one came whizzing past. And Morning grabbed the other Bludger and held it tight, the strength of the Bludgers straining her magic.
Lee was still commentating.
"Slytherin in possession - Ember with the Quaffle - passes Flower -passes Belle - hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his muzzle - only joking, Professor - Slytherins score - A no..."
The Slytherins were cheering. No one seemed to have noticed that Morning Shine and her Bludger problem. I was getting harder and harder to keep hold of the Bludgers, making her broom jerk back and for as shelf on for dear life.
“I don’t know what Morning Shine is doing," Spike mumbled. He stared through his binoculars. "If I didn' know better, I'd say the Bludgers lost control but they couldn’t have..."
Suddenly, people were pointing up at Morning Shine all over the stands. The Bludgers made her broom jerk with all its might, with Shine only just managing to hold on. Then the whole crowd gasped. The Bludgers has broken free from Shine’s aura and the sudden motion had Morning Shine slip from her broom. She was now dangling from it, holding on with only hoof.
"Did something happen to it when Ember blocked her?" Cherry whispered.
"Impossible," Rarity said, her voice shaking. "Nothing interfere with a broomstick except powerful Dark magic - no foal could do that to a Nimbus Two Thousand! Oh, this is the worst, possible thing!!”
At these words, Radiance seized Spike’s binoculars, but instead of looking up at Morning Shine, she started looking frantically at the crowd.
"What are you doing?" moaned Eclipse, gray-faced.
"I knew it," Radiance gasped, "Lulamoon - look!"
Eclipse grabbed the binoculars. Lulamoon was in the middle of the stands opposite them. She had her eyes fixed on Morning and her horn was barely ignited, muttering nonstop under her breath.
"She’s doing something - jinxing the Bludgers," said Radiance.
"What should we do?" Eclipse muttered.
"Leave it to me,” Radiance reassured him.
Before Eclipse could say another word, Radiance had disappeared. Eclipse turned the binoculars back on Morning Shine, she was struggling to get back on her broom, her horn was strained from holding on to the Bludgers for so long. It was almost impossible for her to hang on much longer. The whole crowd was on its hooves, watching, terrified, as the Weasels flew up to try and pull Morning Shine safely onto one of their brooms, but it was no good - every time they got near her, the Bludgers would come flying at them still. They dropped lower and circled beneath her, obviously hoping to catch her if she fell. Pepper Ember seized the Quaffle and scored five times without anyone noticing.
"Come on, Sparkling Radiance," Eclipse muttered desperately.
Radiance had fought her way across to the stand where Lulamoon stood, and was now racing along the row behind her; she didn't even stop to say sorry as she knocked Professor Mistral headfirst into the row in front. Reaching Lulamoon, she crouched down, ignited her horn, and whispered a few, well-chosen words. Bright blue flames shot from her horn onto the hem of Lulamoon's robes.
It took perhaps thirty seconds for Lulamoon to realize that she was on fire. A sudden yelp told her she had done her job. Scooping the fire off her into a little jar in her pocket, Radiance scrambled back along the row - Lulamoon would never know what had happened.
It was enough. Up in the air, Morning Shine was able to get on her broom. When a final bludger came hurtling towards her. With the last bit of magic she had left she grabbed hold of the bludger and made burst into a bright, shining orb. There were oo’s and aw’s from the crowd below. But nopony noticed the small flash of light from under Shine’s robes; or the glinting of the snitch in the orbs light, except for Morning Shine.
"Nettle, you can look!" Eclipse said awestruck. Nettle had been sobbing into Spike's arms for the last five minutes.
Morning Shine was speeding toward the ground when the crowd saw her clap her hoof to her mouth as though she was about to be sick - she hit the field on all fours - coughed - and something gold fell into her hoof.
"I've got the Snitch!" she shouted, waving it above her head with her strained, and the game ended in complete confusion.
"She didn't catch it, she nearly swallowed it," Ember was still howling twenty minutes later, but it made no difference - Morning hadn't broken any rules and Leaf Shoot was still happily shouting the results - Gryffindor had won by one hundred and seventy points to sixty. Morning Shine heard none of this, though. She was being made a cup of strong tea back in Spike and Rarity's cottage, with Eclipse and Sparkling Radiance.
"It was Lulamoon," Eclipse was explaining, "Radiance and I saw her. She was cursing the bludgers, muttering, she wouldn't take her eyes off you,"
"Rubbish," said Rarity, who hadn't heard a word of what had gone on next to her in the stands. "Why would Lulamoon do something like that? Sure she hates all of us, but really had soft spot for your moth- oops..."
Morning Shine, Eclipse, and Radiance looked at one another, unable to say anything.
“Real smooth Rares,” Spike quipped.
“I should not have said that! I should not have said that!” Rarity muttered to herself furiously.
“What do you mean?” Morning Shine asked, her brows furrowing.
“Hey what’s that underneath your robe?” Spike questioned.
“Spike don’t change the subject! I-” Morning Shine started as she lifted up her robe to see a mark, a cutie mark. “-don’t have… anything? … I GOT MY CUTIE MARK!!!”
Morning shine started bouncing up and down like a foal on Hearths Warming. She bounced around so much that she made Rarity drop the teapot.
“Oops,” Morning Shine muttered.
“Nothing to worry about Darling,” Rarity said cleaning up the mess. “I’m so happy for you,”
“But what is it exactly? Eclipse wondered aloud.
Morning Shine looked at her mark closely. It was a shining light around an orb. To be honest she had no idea what it meant.
“I think it’s when you made the bludger turn into shining orb,” Radiance stated. “But I’m not entirely sure what the talent behind it is. Maybe Quidditch or light magic?”
“Well one thing's for certain,” Spike said, “Your parents would have been proud,”
Morning Shined smiled softly, and sighed knowing that they couldn’t see her right now. Neither could Aunt Twilight and Uncle Flash.
“Hey, I just realized something. You got your cutie mark before Malfoal!” Eclipse exclaimed.
That thought left a smirk on Morning Shine’s face. Wait until Malfoal saw her tomorrow. Boy, would he be jealous!