//------------------------------// // Aurora // Story: Winter Aria // by Arcanum -Phantasy //------------------------------// Being Captain of the Crystal Guard was not an easy job. Being detached from time stinted the Empire's advancement in many things such as technology and certain magical practices as well as certain social elements. As a result, The Crystal Guard still used the same training conditions that were in effect under Sombra's rule. The end result was a fighting force that most modern forces thought thrice about before attacking the crystal oasis. As the Captain of such a force, Onyx Star was no weakling by any stretch of the imagination. He survived countless battles with nothing but his skills and magic to keep him alive under the rule of The Empire's tyrannical leader. He stared death in the face more times then anypony in the whole kingdom combined and walked away with a smile. As ruthless as Sombra was, he was nothing compared to the new pair of forces he had to face. As bad as Sombra was, at least he wasn't a parent. May The Heart give me strength, he thought with a sigh as he walked the near deserted streets of The Crystal Empire's Residential District, the shadows of early evening blanketing everything in sight. Staggering at his side was an equally drained Sunburst, his glasses crooked and sitting on the edge of his muzzle. The poor stallion was so tired he couldn't even dredge up enough energy to correct them, as he walked like a zombie towards his home. "Your mare has spirits at home, right?" Onyx asked, lips pulled into a weak smile. He nodded, then said, "Wine mostly. We don't usually drink the hard stuff." The Captain was silent for a moment, then shrugged and said, "I'll take what I can get." A weak laugh slipped past Sunburst's muzzle at that as they walked. "The Empress sure put you through the ringer," Onyx sighed. "Is she really that obsessed with Flurry's love life?" "More than you know," Sunburst groaned, finally finding the strength to push up his glasses. "If Emperor Shining Armor is anything to go by, I think I can get an idea." Both stallions laughed at that, the sources of their own strains from the day coming back to mind. As they staggered through the streets, salvation in the form of Sunburst's home came into view. Both stallions gained their second wind at the sight as they forced their trembling legs to move forward. The second they were within forelegs reach, they slammed a hoof against the front door. A few seconds later, Starlight opened the door with an annoyed glare that quickly turned into concern when she saw the states of the two stallions. "What happened to you two?" she asked, quickly getting out of the way and using her magic to help keep them on their hooves. "You guys look like to went a couple rounds with Tirek!" "Coffee table," Onyx groaned as he moved towards the living room. "And bring the strongest brew you've got. Believe me when I say we've earned it this time." "How so?" she asked skeptically with a raised brow. "Flurry may or may not have a coltfriend," Sunburst groaned as he slumped onto the couch. "I'll be right back," she said quickly as she almost ran to the liquor cabinet in the kitchen. Onyx laughed at the mare's antics as he took a seat next to Sunburst with a groan as pain and relief flooded through him. "Do you think this will be the last time we deal with this insanity?" the gray Unicorn sighed. "Unless this mystery colt puts a ring on her horn, I doubt it," Sunburst chuckled. As he said that, Starlight entered the living room with a bottle and three shot glasses hovering next to her. "So, what's the news?" she asked, loading and distributing the glasses to the two stallions and herself. Both stallions grabbed their shots and threw them back before giving each other questioning looks. After a couple seconds, Onyx broke the stare down and smiled. "Fine, fine, I'll go first. My story's a bit more exciting anyways." "Sword fights usually are," Sunburst chuckled. "Sword fight?" Starlight asked, nursing her shot. A roughish smile graced his lips as he gave his account of his day. *** Shining and Onyx stared each other down, panting heavily as they held a training sword and shield with their magic. The two of them had been fighting for hours, both having their own reasons to cross blades that day. Onyx smiled as he pointed his blade at his leader. "You'll need to try a little harder than that to if you want to know what I know." "I intend to," Shinning growled from behind his shield. "Get ready!" "Bring it," he said, smile turning predatory. Shining let out a battle cry as he charged, shield leveled just below his line of sight as he prepared to thrust with his sword. Onyx saw the strike coming and parried as he sidestepped his attacker. Shining shifted his momentum and made a sharp turn to shield-ram his opponent in the side. Onyx brought up his own shield and countered with a ram of his own at the last second. The two stallions stood in a deadlock as they each tried to push the other over. Both were very well built by Unicorn standards and had a stubborn streak to match, a pair of facts that made the situation they stood in a real nail-bitter for everypony watching the dual. Seeing an opening, Shining swung his sword at Onyx's neck, only for the attack to be blocked by the gray Unicorn's own blade. As they pressed against each other, they swung their swords at each other in a wild frenzy in a desperate attempt to shatter their opponent's focus. For hours, the training room was filled with strained grunting and the clanging of metal as a battle of wills was waged. Eventually, their bodies did what their spirits refused to do and yielded as they both fell to the floor like a limp sack of potatoes. The clattering of weapons was fallowed quickly by the sounds of gasping wheezes as the two stallions rolled onto their backs across from each other. "T-T-Tell...me....what you.....know!" Shining gasped, staring at the ceiling. "F-Fine," he wheezed. "I'll tell you." They laid panting for a few seconds, then Shining forced himself to look at Onyx "W-W-Well? Wh-Who is Flurry dating?" A shark-like smile spread across Onyx's face as he said, "I have no bucking clue." *** Starlight nearly spat her drink when she heard what Onyx told Shining Armor, a fact that made the Guard Captain's grin only grow as he studied her reaction. While this wasn't the first time the Guard Captain pulled a stunt like that, it never ceased to amaze her how he could be so by the book one minute and burn said book the next. It was one of many things that made her wonder why Sombra didn't kill the stallion when he had the chance. "I can't believe you actually told him that," Sunburst sighed over his shot. "Hey, he asked what I knew and I told him," he shrugged. "Maybe now I can get back to doing my job instead of getting interrogated every couple of hours." "I wish I was that lucky," Sunburst groaned. "What do you mean?" Starlight asked, refilling drinks. "Princess Cadence asked to see me after Flurry's lessons today," he sighed. "That doesn't seem so bad," she smiled. "Doesn't she do that at least once a week anyway?" "Yes, but usually its about her studies," he grumbled, staring into his drink. "This time was different." *** Sunburst smiled as he put his books into his saddlebags, another day's hard work completed as his God-Daughter's tutor. While he was happy to teach the young Alicorn everything he knew, he still liked to get back home to spend time with Starlight. A sentiment they both shared as she stated one night after an especially draining day at Crystal Academy. The job of a teacher is never an easy one. The door to the private study room squeaked as somepony let themselves in. Startled, Sunburst quickly looked over his shoulder, only for a nervous smile to grace his muzzle as he turned and bowed. "Good afternoon your highness." Cadence smiled softly as she took a step towards the kneeling stallion. "You don't need to do that," she giggled. "You're practically family, remember?" "O-Oh! Right," he laughed awkwardly as he pulled out of the bow. "Now, how has Flurry been doing lately?" "Excellent," he smiled. "She's excelling in everything I'm throwing at her. At the rate things are going, I'll be able to move her to my more advanced courses. She really does take after her Aunt." "That's my girl," Cadence beamed, pride radiating off of her. A sly smile grew on her muzzle as she said, "By the way, has she met anypony new recently?" "Not that I know of," he stated, blinking in confusion at his ruler. "Are you sure?" she asked, leaning slightly towards him. "She hasn't mentioned meeting anypony, a colt perhaps?" "No," he gulped. "Nopony comes to mind." "Then maybe some other boy? Maybe a Griffin?" "No," he frowned. "She hasn't mentioned coming across any boys recently." "Oh, come on Sunburst," she giggled. "I have my ways of knowing these things. I just want a name is all." "B-But I'm serious!" he stammered. "She hasn't told me anything!" Cadence sighed, then asked, "Has she been acting strange lately?" Sunburst thought for a few seconds, then said, "Well, she has taken an interest in Windagos and Sirens lately, but that's all." "Are you sure?" she asked. "Well," he frowned, not comfortable with the intensity in the Alicorn's eyes as she smiled down at him. "Now that I think about it, she did ask for tips on teaching somepony how to read earlier this week." "At what day?" she asked frantically, a wide smile gracing her lips. "Uh... Wednesday?" The Princess let out a happy squeal at that as she cantered in place. "I knew it! Oh, my baby is tutoring somepony in secret! It's just like how I met Shining!" "Uh, I see," Sunburst gulped as his instincts demanded he run from this situation as fast as his legs could take him as he moved towards the door. "Well, I'll just be heading home then." The sound of the door locking echoed through the room with the finality of a judge's gavel. Sunburst gulped as he locked eyes with a smiling Cadence. "Not yet," she beamed. "I want to see just how much more you know." *** Everypony in the room shivered at that. "Welp, I guess I really am the lucky one," Onyx sighed, downing his shot. "How long did she have you?" "Three hours," he sighed, finally downing his own drink with a grimace. "By the end, she was asking me if there was a way for a pony and a Changeling to make foals together." Starlight gawked at that. "Wait," she blinked. "She thinks Flurry's dating a Changeling?" "I guess so," he shrugged, refilling his shot. "By that point I was just telling her what she wanted to hear." Onyx and Starlight stared at him, dumfounded. "What? I was tired and just wanted to get home." "It's true," Onyx chuckled. "The poor stallion looked like he ran a marathon." Sunburst let out a tired chuckle at that as he leaned back in his seat. "I don't get it," she frowned. "Why don't they just talk to Flurry directly?" Both stallions looked at her for a few seconds, then frowned as unpleasant memories came to mind. "D-Don't you remember what happened the last time they got between her and a colt," Sunburst asked, struggling to maintain his composure. "Just that it didn't end well," she said, a hint of unease coloring her tone. "Quite the mild assessment," Onyx replied with a somber frown as he refilled his shot. "Well," Sunburst started. "When Flurry was five, a colt got lost on the castle grounds. Flurry ran into him and they became fast friends from what I heard. Then Prince Shining Armor found out and started watching the two of them like a hawk." "That...must've been awkward," Starlight cringed. "The colt certainly thought so," Onyx sighed. "I was doing my rounds when the Emperor scared the poor boy off. Apparently, his constant hovering reminded the colt of Sombra and started giving him nightmares. When he told Flurry that he couldn't be her friend anymore, it destroyed her." "It got even worse when she found out why," Sunburst added, a pained frown coloring his face. "She yelled at Shining with tears in her eyes, telling him that she hated him and that she was never going to talk to him again." A hint of recognition crossed Starlight's face at that as she asked, "Is that why she didn't talk to him for a year?" Both stallions nodded. "Since then," Onyx continued. "Both Emperor Shining Armor and Empress Cadence promised to stay out of their daughter's social affairs unless directly asked by her or I tell them that something is wrong." "Hence, today's insanity," Sunburst sighed as he downed his shot. "I just hope that if it's true, this mystery colt can handle himself. "Seconded," Onyx sighed, clanking his glass against his friend's and downing it. "I don't think i could stand to see her so shattered again." "Yeah," Starlight said, staring into her drink. A peaceful silence filled the room as the two stallions tried to catch their breath while Starlight tried to process what she was told. Flurry would often come to her when things got to be too much for her at home. She knew that the teen filly had a lot of things that she needed to sort through and was more than happy to help her along the way. While the idea of her God-Daughter finding a coltfriend was a welcome one, it still put her a little on edge. No point in making a big deal out of nothing, she thought with a sigh as she took a sip of her drink. There isn't enough evidence to know for sure if she has her eye on somepony yet. And if she does, well, we'll cross that road when we get to it. In the mean time though. An impish smirk grew on her muzzle as she asked a question that earned her a pair of sharp glares. "So, does she have a coltfriend?" *** Flurry glowered at her bedroom ceiling, plush blanket covering her lower half as she laid in her queen-sized bed. She let out a frustrated growl as she rolled to her side and pulled her stuffed snail to her chest as she digested what she witnessed a couple short hours ago. After another day of teaching Alto how to read, she came home to find that her parents had been sticking their muzzles into her social life again. Not as openly as they had with Diamond Shard, but just as blatantly. It took everything she had not to snap at her father when she saw how tired Onyx was after he was done with him, and seeing her God-father so drained broke her heart. But what really riled her up was the apparent reason why her parents interrogated her honorary family members. "I don't have a coltfriend," she grimaced, squeezing Whammy. "I'm probably never going to have a coltfriend. Who the hay is going to want to date somepony like me? Who the hay could?" Frustrated tears started to fall as a returning enemy reared its head; a desire for normalcy. She wished she was a normal pony. She wished she could go to normal school like her friends. She wished she could grow up like a normal pony and become a Princess later like her aunt and mother. She wished she was normal so bad it hurt. Stop it Flurry, she thought, taking a shaky breath. There's no point in crying about all this. You've got friends. You've got your family. You've got your extended family. You've got ponies that love and support you. You've got this. She took a deep breath and stared at the distant wall and smiled. Hanging by the door was the painting Ruby gave her so many years ago. As she stared at it, happy memories started to ease to the forefront of her mind. Time spent playing with her friends. Spending time with her aunt in her library when she was little. Venting to her God-Mother when things got too difficult for her. Her lessons with her God-father and how he tried to make even the most boring topics fun. Her sparring sessions with Onyx when he had the time to spare. Crawling in bed with her parents when she had a bad dream when she was little. All of them eased the storm of loneliness in her heart as she stared at the painting. A light giggle made it past her muzzle as more recent memories surfaced. Her time in the caves were quickly becoming her favorite memories as she recounted all her time spent with her new friend. Every time she spent time with him, she learned something new and unexpected. Chief among them being how somepony so strong could be so timid among ponies. I wonder how he would react to coming to The Empire? she thought, only to shake her head with a frown. No, he'd be terrified! This is the home of the pony that killed his mom after all! But still... As she let that thought linger, other images started to float around in side her head. She could see herself and Alto taking lessons from Sunburst and spending time around the castle together. She saw Alto sitting across from her at the dinner table with her parents as they talked about random points of interest from that day. Trips through the city with Ruby and Sapphire came to mind as they window shopped or had lunch at a small restaurant together. An image of the two of them walking through the castle halls at night together came to her, both leaning close together as they enjoyed each other's company. Her eyes went wide at that last thought as her face started to heat up. She let out a squeak as she pulled the covers over her head. No! Bad Flurry! she thought, her blush starting to spread to her ears. It isn't like that! We're just friends! Besides, he'd never want to come here in the first place! "But," she mumbled, head just peaking out from her blanket. "Maybe...that'll change. Someday."