//------------------------------//
// A Rumor in Canterlot [Amethyst Star] 
// Story: Per Speculum in Aenigmate 
// by Shrouded Lunes 
//------------------------------//

"I swear! My sister's a maid in the palace. She says she saw it with her own eyes!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure. Some long-lost princess has returned to us to herald the return of Daybreaker herself. You really need to get a handle on your conspiracy theories, Shadow."

Even though the two ponies were keeping their voices hushed in the corner of the restaurant, I could still clearly make out what they were saying. A long-lost princess? Unless the Lineage of Amore had been found, there's only one other missing Princess. I steadied my breathing and tried to, as quietly as possibly, sneak closer to the two arguing ponies.

"Come on, Orion. We've both know the Old Mare's Tale. It's the thousandth year of the Regency. The Midwinter Moon Festival is -"

"Of no consequence to us that last year's Midwinter Moon Festival. I know you want to make a name for yourself, but this is not the way. Ponies are going to start asking if that broken horn is because of a broken brain if you keep this up."

"AMETHYST! GET YOUR FLANK OVER HERE ALREADY!"

I jumped a little at the bellowing sound, turning around the see the stout form of Mama Grand, the tan-colored, earth pony mare who owned this establishment as well as my current boss. "C-Coming Mama."

Sighing at the missed chance to get closer to the two ponies talking about whatever was going on inside the palace right now, I rushed over to collect a new tray of food within my aura as I felt the glare from my fellow server, the grey earth pony daughter of Mama Grand. Even if it didn't bother Mama Grand, her daughter Seared Flowers always hated it when I would use my magic in front of her. There was no question in my mind that if, Luna forbid, something happened to Mama Grand, I would be out of a job faster than you could say "Please" for the simple fact that I was a unicorn. 

'Not that it would matter soon...'

I suddenly found myself tumbling forward, tripping over my own two feet. I lost my magical hold on the tray, sending it launching towards the customers that had come in for a few drinks after a long night shift, not a shower of alcohol and oats. Even worse, my necklace came loose and skidded along the floor, coming to a rest as the hoof of a Night Guard bat pony sergeant. My face twisted in fear as I noticed the sharp teeth show through her smile.

"Well well, would you get a load of this. Sugarcoat, Tart, it seems like we stumbled upon another Bright Light."

"Zap... Not now..."

"P-Please... Ma'am, it... it's just a family heirloom... The... The last thing I have from my mother."

The sergeant got up and walked over towards me, holding the sun pendant in her hoof with a grin.

"You do realize I can have you imprisoned for Sun Worship, right Miss..."

"A-Amethyst Star, ma'am. B-But, I swear, I'm not a Sun worshiper! I... I just miss my mother..."

"Come on, Zap. We're off duty, and I really don't want to go back to the castle right now to fill out paperwork." The unicorn's voice dropped to a barely audible mumble. "Not while that Celestia-cursed 'Sunset' is being given quarter."

I watched out of the corner of my eye as the earth pony in the group smacked the unicorn, before giving the universal sign for "Silence, foal". However, my attention quickly returned to the bat pony as she dropped the pendant to the floor. When I went to reach for it, however, she stomped onto it. Hard.

"Oops."

I gathered up the shards, silently crying and promising them I would return with fresh drinks on me.





An hour had passed since the incident with the Night Guard. I stepped into the back alleyway, a heavy bag of trash destined for the dumpster, when I heard a pegasus land behind me.

"I hope, for your sake, that summoning me at this time of day was for something important and not because Seared Flowers was being mean again."

I dropped the bag in the dumpster, not even bothering to turn around as I softly spoke, just barely reigning in my disgust. "You think I'd let a bat pony put their filthy hooves on my mother's pendant if it wasn't important? Sunset is in the royal castle."

"Are you certain, Amethyst? We CANNOT risk tipping our hand now. Not when we're so close..."

"Rumors of a long lost princess circulating from siblings of castle staff as well as hushed mumbles from the Night Guard," I whispered as I made my way back towards the kitchen door. "My debt was paid with my mother's pendant, Knight. She was the Sun Worshiper, not I. Go and welcome your Herald of the Apocalypse."





As Amethyst Star returned to the kitchen of her workplace, and the white-robed pegasus took flight for parts unknown, neither seemed to notice a certain giggling pink pony bouncing away from the alleyway.