//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: A Parent's Role // Story: Luster Dawn: New Days of the Magic of Friendship // by SamSwordsman123 //------------------------------// Starlight and Sunburst had both their hooves and horns full for the next few years. They had been responsible for running the Castle and School of Friendship after Twilight went back to Canterlot to assume her position as ruler of Equestria. Their job was to teach the ways of harmony to every creature and keep the races of the land united in friendship. They also had to oversee the Cutie Map for friendship problems. Now they had another big responsibility as well. They were parents. The first couple years were spent changing diapers and cleaning up messes Luster innocently created with her magic. It was a busy life for the family. Starlight had to temporarily let Sunburst take on the role of full Headstallion. She sat in a rocking chair, holding her daughter and smiling down at her. She could look at those cute chubby cheeks all day. “Oh Luster, you are just the most adorable thing,” Starlight said. “What did I ever do to deserve to become a mother to a filly like you? Oh, who am I kidding? I’ve done lots of good things, right?” It was true. She had done a lot of good thanks to being redeemed and turned away from the villainous path she’d walked. Still, the memory of what she’d done haunted her and caused her to worry again. Ever since she’d found out she’d been pregnant with Luster, there was a new fear in Starlight along with the joy of being a mother. She thought back to her past misdeeds which she’d committed out of hatred for cutie marks. What if something happened to make her little Luster turn bad? Even worse than she’d been? Or what if Luster ever got in danger? Equestria had many dangers; Starlight knew that all too well. Queen Chrysalis, her worst enemy, though frozen in stone, still haunted her. Starlight saw her face every so often in her sleep. She shivered at the memory of a nightmare that had haunted her recently. Sunburst entered the room with Luster sleeping in her crib. He approached the baby, and grinned evilly before turning into Chrysalis. “The daughter of Starlight Glimmer! This is the perfect chance to get my revenge! I’ll destroy her, and Starlight shall feel the worst pain of all! The loss of a child!” Chrysalis charged up her horn to prepare a fatal spell. But then her wicked smile faded and turned to a thoughtful one. “But wait! I have a better idea! I shall take Starlight’s foal away, and raise her as my own! I shall turn her foal against her like she turned my hive against me!” Chrysalis laughed and took Luster in her holed hooves before flying out the window. Starlight took a breath. “That’s not going to happen, Starlight,” she told herself. “Chrysalis will never return. She’s trapped in stone forever. She’s not going to take Luster away.” At that moment, a foul smell entered Starlight’s nostrils. Covering her nose with a hoof, Starlight levitated Luster and removed her dirty diaper before putting on a fresh one. “PU!” Starlight said. “Your sister, Phyliss never got stinkies like this. But then she was my plant baby after all.” Still, Starlight smiled down at her daughter again. “You are never gonna become a stinker like I was though. I’m going to make sure of that. You are going to be a good filly and mare.” Things got easier when Luster didn’t require diapers anymore and learned to talk. Starlight returned to her position as Headmare with Sunburst. Husband and wife came into the castle’s dining room prepared to make breakfast. Today was the first day of summer, school was out, and Luster was nearly five. “Hey, Sunburst. I’ve been thinking,” Starlight told her husband as she poured milk into the pancake mixture. Sunburst looked up from the book he was reading. "About what?" “About Luster. It’s about time for us to send her off to school someplace. Don’t you think?” Starlight asked. “Hmm. Yeah, I guess you’re right. You think she should go to the School of Friendship or Cheerilee’s school?” Sunburst asked before gasping. “Or maybe we could enroll her in Twilight’s School for Gifted Unicorns?" Starlight chuckled. “You mean Celestia’s School. Twilight hasn’t renamed it after herself you know.” Sunburst blushed. “Right. Well, what do you think?” Starlight smiled. “Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, we haven’t even started teaching Luster to use her magic yet.” “Maybe we should,” a voice said as the door to the dining room opened again. Trixie Lulamoon entered the room. "Between our great and powerful trio of skill, wit, and tricks we’re bound to make a great prospective student for the School of Gifted Unicorns!” “Morning Trixie,” Starlight said as she went back to making the pancakes. Trixie scoffed as she watched Starlight working. “You know, you could probably ask for some servants around here since we’re living in a castle. Twilight should have had those around when she was princess here.” “You know Twilight, she was never one to take her royal status with too much luxury. Heh, even Celestia made food herself. She made me a very creative pile of pancakes with fruit faces when I went to Canterlot to help her and Luna with their friendship problem,” Starlight smiled fondly at the memory of the late Princess. “I don’t mind making food myself. It would take all the fun out of it if I had somepony doing everything for me.” Trixie scoffed. “Well… I wouldn’t mind having somepony do all my meals and other things for me. If I’d been the Princess here, I would have had it filled with servants and a royal guard as well. Maybe that would have prevented Chrysalis from abducting Twilight and the others so we wouldn’t have had to save them," Trixie smiled. "But then we wouldn’t get those medals! Seriously, why didn’t she ever have her own guard in the castle at least?” “She just wanted to be an ordinary pony for the most part. But she can’t be that anymore since she’s ruler of Equestria now. Plus, she and her friends were the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. They were probably equal to her own guard,” Starlight said. “Now, would you mind going to wake Luster, please? I wouldn’t want her to miss breakfast.” “Sure thing! One great and powerful wake up from the best Godmare in Equestria coming up!” Trixie trotted off to get Luster. Starlight continued to make pancakes while Sunburst sat quietly at the table continuing to read The Widems Guide to Magical Arcana. Starlight put the pancakes on a platter and began to carry them to the table. Then a loud noise suddenly sounded, like an explosion. Starlight jumped and dropped the pancakes, Sunburst likewise dropped the book. “What was that? Are we under attack?” Sunburst asked, worriedly. “Is there a new villain here to abduct us?” “I don’t know!” Starlight gulped. “But that sounded like it came from-“ “Luster’s room!” they said together. Both parents galloped out of the dining hall and toward their daughter’s room. They found Luster shaking in her bed with Trixie holding her. “I’m sorry little Luster! Sorry!” Trixie said. “What’s going on?” Starlight demanded. “We heard something like an explosion!” “Uh-“ Trixie blushed as she looked up. “I kinda… uh… used a little magic boom as an alarm clock!” “You what?” Sunburst asked. “Trixie! That could have been dangerous!” “We wanted you to wake her up! Not scare her!” Starlight snapped as she levitated her daughter into her hooves. “I thought you’d make a responsible Godmare!” “Sorry!” Trixie said. Starlight hissed and let out a scream of fury. A powerful beam of magic shot out of her horn and flew above Trixie who fell on her stomach in a cowering manner. If not for how close a friend Trixie was to Starlight, she probably would have received more than a scare back. “Well, come on. Let’s go have breakfast… after I make fresh pancakes. You can clean up the mess I dropped." Trixie sighed. "Fine—" “With your hooves!” "B-but," Trixie started, but Starlight's glare shut her up a second later. She knew better. Starlight smirked. "I'm glad we understand each other." Trixie cleaned up the mess while Starlight got another batch going. “We’ll need more flour…” Starlight noted as she poured the last of what was in the bag out. “I think it would be good to go shopping today.” “Okay, we can go into Ponyville after we’re done eating,” Sunburst said as he was reading his book with Luster on his lap. "And that’s the Cerebration Transmarkification Effect.” “Cool!” Luster said as she listened to her father tell her about the magical theory. “Am I going to be able to learn magic soon?” Sunburst chuckled. “We were just discussing that before you woke up. Yes, Luster. It’s time to begin your magic training.” Luster beamed. Over the rest of the day after shopping, Starlight, Sunburst, and Trixie all helped Luster understand the basics of magic. “Focus, gather the magic to your horn with your mind. Now with your eyes, look at the object you want to pick up.” Luster did so. A gold aura surrounded her horn, she focused on a cup and surrounded it in her aura. The cup moved a teeny bit into the air, before the gold aura on her horn faded, causing the cup to fall back onto the table. “It’s okay, you just need to practice. Not everypony gets it right away. Just keep trying, I’m sure you’ll get it sooner or later.” Luster narrowed her eyes at the teacup, focusing with all her might, her horn glowed gold once again and surrounded the cup. It rose into the air. Starlight smiled, as did Sunburst. Trixie, meanwhile, clapped her hooves. “I have one Great and Powerful Goddaughter!” Sunburst grinned. “She might make it into Celestia’s school after all!” “Well… it’s still too soon to say.” Starlight replied. “Let’s…. wait until summer is almost over before we make a decision.” Over the next two months, Luster performed simple but extraordinary feats with magic. She did seem to have the gift, so Starlight conceded. A month before summer was out, Starlight reluctantly drafted a letter to Twilight asking if Luster could be allowed to attend the school for Gifted Unicorns. The ruler of Equestria’s reply came in the morning. Dear Starlight, My faithful former student and stewardess to my former castle. I’m happy to hear Luster is becoming good at magic. I would be happy to allow her to attend The School for Gifted Unicorns. She just needs to take the entrance exam. Love, Twilight. “Yes! Yes!” Sunburst began bouncing around. “Luster’s going to be attending the school!” “She still has to take an entrance exam,” Starlight reminded her husband. Sunburst scoffed. “Entrance exam? Please, that’s only to get a measurement of magic power. I had to take that myself back in the day. Celestia gave all of us a chance to hatch a dragon egg, but no one could… not until Twilight that is. Your magic has to be at a good enough level is all.” Starlight sighed. “What’s the matter, Starlight? Aren’t you excited?” Sunburst asked. “Our daughter is going to get enrolled in the most prestigious magic school in Equestria!” “Look, I know you’re excited because you think Luster is getting a chance to get what you never could. But I’m just worried. What if the power goes to her head?” Starlight asked. "Yes! The great and powerful Luster Dawn!" Starlight arched her eyes at Trixie as she said that. "What? I always wanted an apprentice!" “Trixie, I'm serious... what if she becomes really gifted and then turns….bad?” Starlight asked. “I don’t want that to happen.” “Oh, come on, Starlight. Luster is a hardworking filly who takes her studies seriously. She pays attention, is polite, and we’ve never had to give her a time out.” Starlight took a breath. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’m worrying too much. Doing some Starlighting you know?” “Taking a page from Twilight’s book. Like mentor, like student. I bet I know what will help clear your mind,” Trixie said. “A day out with your husband! When was the last time you had that?” “Um…” Starlight put a hoof to her chin. “I-don’t know! It’s been so busy being a headmare, stewardess and parent.” “Well, you are in need of one!” Trixie insisted. “Alright. Sunburst, how about we go to the café? Let’s get Luster and-” “Oh no! You need to lay off your responsibilities for a while!” Trixie said. “Leave Luster in my hooves!” Starlight frowned. She was still a little upset at Trixie for scaring Luster on the first day of summer. “I don’t know.” “Hey, you named me her Godmare. That means I would watch her when you couldn’t. You’ve never let me do that in all these years. I know you take your responsibility as a mother seriously, just like you did for Guidance Counselor and Headmare. But you’ve been taking it too seriously these past few years! It’s time for you to take a break and let me do my responsibility as Godmare.” Starlight hesitated, then sighed. “Okay, but if you let her get hurt or scare her again, I won’t be as forgiving.” Trixie gave a nervous chuckle. “Note to self, beware of the scary and strong Mama Starlight!” So, Starlight and Sunburst went out into town for lunch and relaxation. They waited at a table in front of the Hayburger silently. Sunburst looked at his wife in concern. “You know, Starlight. You might have gone a little far there with threatening Trixie like that. I think you might be getting a little overprotective.” Starlight sighed. “Well everypony has to make sure their children are safe. I worry about Luster… that’s my job.” “You’re worrying too much! Luster is going to grow up to be a very gifted unicorn. I know it!” Sunburst said. “With how successfully you, Trixie, and me have been in teaching her magic I have no doubt she’ll become one of the greatest spell casters of her generation. Just like you.” He put a hoof on her. “Then who knows? Maybe she’ll become a hero of Equestria as well?” That last bit didn’t have the effect he’d hoped for. Instead of thrilling Starlight, it only caused her to worry more as she thought of what could happen if Luster were to go on dangerous adventures and battle villains of Equestria like she had. True she could make a name for herself, do great things, but- “I don’t know if I want that,” Starlight said. “Being a great spell caster would be fine with me, but I don’t think she needs to become a hero. We haven’t had any villain attacks since Chrysalis and the others were defeated. Personally, I wouldn’t mind it if peace lasted." “But if Luster were to someday face off against a villain, she could become a great hero!” Sunburst said. “Or she could get hurt badly!” Starlight exclaimed. “Not every hero has a happy story, you know! All those times Twilight and her friends saved Equestria they were lucky none of them lost their lives. We always seem to be lucky whenever a villain pops up, but who knows how long that luck lasts? Eventually somepony may die, you know!” “Starlight, calm down!” Sunburst said. “Calm down?” she repeated. “How can I calm down when the future of my daughter could be filled with danger! That’s it, she’s not going to the School for Gifted Unicorns!” “What? No, you’re going too far! This is what Luster was born to do!” Sunburst shouted, now becoming angry as well. “Oh, I see what this is about! You want her to succeed where you failed!” Starlight pointed a hoof at her husband. “You couldn’t pull through with magic school so now you think you’re getting a second chance through your daughter!” Sunburst looked at his wife with an open mouth. “I just want what’s best for her!” “So do I!” Starlight snapped. “And I think it would be best for her to remain here in Ponyville where we can watch her and keep her out of danger!” “I think you’re denying her the chance of a lifetime!” Sunburst said. Suddenly a waiter appeared holding a pair of hayburgers in his hooves. He set them down at their table. “Your food Sir, Ma’am.” The couple didn’t say another word as they ate their meal. Starlight had a half a mind to take her food and teleport back to the castle as she thought of Luster being with Trixie. … Trixie sat on the sofa with her goddaughter on her lap. Luster listened with an eager smile as Trixie told her a “Great and Powerful” story of how she and Starlight had taken on the army of Changelings to rescue Princess Twilight Sparkle and the others from Queen Chrysalis. “The changelings were everywhere! Buzzing, buzzing! Ready to descend upon us! But I used a smoke bomb to help us escape! Then the foolish Discord got himself captured while he tried to distract more of them as we got closer to the throne room! A changeling disguised himself as Discord, but your mother and I saw right through that disguise thanks to our ingenious code word!” “Code word?” Luster asked. “Oh course! We knew that if we got separated, we needed to be sure that we were who we said we were. Changelings can take on the form of anypony, or creature. So one of us would say Klutzy and the one who rejoined us when we were separated would say Draconequus. It was my way to make fun of Discord then,” Trixie chuckled. “So what happened after the changeling disguised himself as Discord?” “He tried to lead us into a trap. But I restrained him so Starlight and Thorax, the one good changeling at the time… could move on to the throne room and face Chrysalis!” Trixie said. “Eventually I was captured and brought there as well, it took an entire tunnel full of changelings to take your Godmare down!” “Oh, you’re so great, Aunt Trixie!” Luster said. Trixie smiled. “Not as great as your mother though. She and Thorax found Chrysalis who had an entire army waiting for them! And—" "Oh, oh! Did she blast them? Beat them? Squeeze them with magic?!" Luster asked. "Uh… no actually she talked them out of it with words." "Pf… that's boring…” Luster said. “I was expecting my mother would beat them all!” Trixie chuckled. “Your mommy is powerful, you know. I bet if she were to do it right now, she could have beaten them all! But with her words she turned the changelings against Chrysalis and now ponies and changelings are friends! For Equestria, that’s much better!” Luster shrugged. “My Mom sounds like a real hero! I want to be just like her when I grow up!!” “Someday you might be! Come on, I think it’s nap time! You want to be a hero, you need your rest to grow!” She took her goddaughter in her hooves and carried her to her room. Luster lay on the bed without complaint and knelt her head down. Trixie then yawned. “Time for my nap as well,” she said lazily before heading off to her room in the castle. … Luster waited until Trixie’s hoofsteps faded into the distance before jumping back down onto the crystal floor of the castle. She crept out into the hallway, to the front door and opened it with her magic. She saw the town of Ponyville ahead, the sun was warm on her coat as she headed not in the direction of town… but for the endless amounts of trees surrounding it, the Everfree forest. “I’m going to find a monster in there and defeat it. Be a hero like my mother,” Luster said as she trotted off with a confident smile. … Sunburst and Starlight walked home to the castle silently with narrowed eyes, refusing to look at each other directly. Sunburst just couldn’t believe how overprotective Starlight was! Their daughter had such potential at such a young age! She could accomplish so much with the right knowledge, and Starlight wanted to keep her from doing that. Sunburst huffed under his breath, not bothering to talk to his wife. He could only hope that once they got back to the castle, Trixie would be able to do her role as a guidance counselor for Starlight and make her see sense. “Trixie!” Starlight called out. “We’re back!” The shout echoed through the castle halls. But there was no reply. Starlight sighed. Her horn lit up as she activated a locator spell in order to find Trixie. It led her to Trixie’s room, the first place she would have thought to look. Sunburst followed behind, watching his wife as her horn glowed brighter, meaning they were getting close. Starlight opened the door with her magic. “Trixie?” Looking past her, Sunburst saw that Trixie was there on her bed napping. He brought a hoof to his face. There was no way this day could get any worse. Boy, was he wrong. “Trixie!” Starlight yelled. The guidance counselor woke with a start. “What are you doing sleeping?!” Starlight demanded. “You’re supposed to be watching Luster.” “Oh, calm down Starlight,” Trixie said. “Luster’s asleep in her room. I put her down for a nap.” Starlight frowned. She turned back the other way and walked to Luster’s room down the hall. Sunburst reluctantly followed, expecting everything to be alright. Luster would be in her bed sleeping soundly. But when Starlight opened the door to the filly’s room, his mouth dropped open as he saw an empty bed. “She’s gone!” Starlight exclaimed. “Hey, relax. Maybe she just woke up to use the bathroom?” Sunburst suggested. Starlight scanned the castle with the locator spell, but it came up empty. ‘She’s not in the castle!” Starlight screamed. “What?” Sunburst was now concerned as well. The couple ran outside along with Trixie. Starlight pointed her horn in all directions, a look of desperation on her face as she hoped to get even the smallest spark to lead her. Sunburst felt relief when there was a slight glow… they sprinted toward Ponyville. But Luster was not in town, Starlight’s horn lead them all the way to- “The Everfree Forest!” Sunburst said. “Why would Luster go in there?” Starlight turned a glare at Trixie. “What happened while we were gone?” Trixie gave a nervous expression. “I was telling her about that time we took on the changelings. Then she said she wanted to be a big hero like you.” Starlight looked at the forest. “No! She went looking for monsters! That silly little filly!” “Come on! We’ve got to get her!” Sunburst yelled as he galloped off. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for this to happen!” Trixie stated as she and Starlight trailed behind him. “I know,” Sunburst said. Starlight didn’t say anything, she kept her eyes focused as she ran. Sunburst allowed her to get in front of him as she was the one with the locator spell activated. Their argument was now in the back of Sunburst’s memory. All that mattered now was his daughter’s safety, they had to find her and get her back before it was too late. … Luster Dawn walked through the shadowy grounds of the Everfree Forest. She’d started out confidently, shouting out in the hopes of attracting a monster to her. But now, she had no idea where she was. She didn’t know how to get back home, the forest was like a huge maze. The sun began to set as Luster wandered around. The confidence and determination she’d had in the beginning was now gone, replaced with worry. Luster wanted to be back home with her mother, father, and godmare. What if she never saw them again? What if she was going to be lost out here forever? Luster finally snapped and began to cry at that thought. “Mommy! Daddy! Come find me!” she sobbed. *CRUNCH!* Luster shivered at the sound behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw a huge Timberwolf, a creature resembling a wolf made of wood. It growled. Fear gripped her as she began to back away. All thoughts of bravado and being a famous hero like her mother were now now. Her heart filled with the desire to run, to get away from this scary thing. She turned around to run. Only to encounter another wooden wolf creature blocking her way. Luster tried right and left, but both were blocked by more of the creatures as well. She was completely trapped by four of them! Luster cringed as the creatures neared her with hungry mouths made of wood filled with sharp splintery teeth. “Luster!” a familiar voice called. Trixie appeared on a nearby hill, gazing down at the Timberwolves surrounding her goddaughter. She leapt from the hill and ran to Luster’s rescue, sending out a wave of magical energy which blew all of them to pieces. Trixie turned to Luster. “You okay?” The filly nodded slowly. “Yes, thanks Aunt Trixie. I thought those Timberwolves had me for sure.” “Well, Auntie Trixie has taken care of them. Come on, let’s get you home!” Trixie said with a smile, unaware of what was happening behind her. Luster shivered at the sight. The twigs that had fallen to the ground from the wolves were now beginning to reassemble themselves. “Aunt Trixie!” she pointed. The guidance counselor looked behind her and saw the regenerated wolves. “Uh oh. Got to get out of here!!” Trixie shouted as she levitated her goddaughter onto her back and took off in a gallop as the body parts came together. Luster held onto her godmother’s neck as Trixie sprinted through the forest in a direction Luster hoped led back home. If it were Starlight she could have teleported them instantly. Luster looked over her shoulder and saw the timberwolves fully recovered and coming after them. They were coming fast, their long legs covering more ground than Trixie’s shorter ones. Then Trixie tripped. A rock caught her hoof and she fell over. Luster slid off her godmother’s back and fell a few feet away. The Timberwolves descended upon them. One placed its paw on Trixie and breathed into her face which formed a mixed expression of disgust and fear. Luster could also smell the stink of their breath, it was so terrible! A growl sounded above her as she looked up and saw another Timberwolf looking down at her. Luster closed her eyes, not wanting to watch. There was a sound. But not the crunch of teeth sinking into flesh. A snap, like the sound of magic. Luster opened her eyes a bit and saw the Timberwolf look in another direction. Luster looked as well and saw her mother and father. “Get away from my daughter!” Starlight screamed in a rage, her horn glowing bright red instead her usual blue from her anger. The enraged unicorn mother released a barrage of powerful spells at the Timberwolves and they were again reduced to rubble which proceeded to reassemble again. Starlight growled, looking at them as they reformed. They looked at her rage filled face and instead of attacking retreated with scared yelps. Starlight’s anger faded and she took several deep breaths before looking at her daughter. “Oh Luster!” she said as tears of relief appeared in her eyes and she wrapped her forelegs around her filly. “I was so worried about you!” “I’m sorry, Momma,” Luster said. “What were you thinking running off like that!?" “I just… wanted to be like you and Aunt Trixie,” Luster said. “Like a hero.” “Luster. Being a hero doesn’t mean you go looking for trouble,” Starlight said. “You could have been eaten. I’ve told you to stay away from the Everfree Forest!” “It was my fault,” Trixie said. “I told her that story and it made her do this. Starlight, I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to disown me as Godmare.” Starlight shook her head. “This was Luster’s doing, not yours Trixie. You had no way of knowing she would run off like this. But if you hadn’t come along and saved Luster just now, I might feel differently. Just make sure you watch her when you put her to a nap from now on.” “I will,” Trixie promised. “No more sleeping on the job.” “Hey, Starlight. I’m sorry about earlier. Maybe I wasn’t thinking about Luster’s safety as much as I should have,” Sunburst said. Starlight sighed. “I’m sorry too. It’s a parent’s role to protect their child, but I do want Luster to succeed as well, and… we won’t always be here to protect her. She needs to learn to do that herself. Today was a good example of that. Besides, if there is one pony I know who can guide her on the right path… it’s Twilight.” “So, you think it would be best for her to go after all?” Sunburst asked eagerly. Starlight nodded. “We got lucky today, like we always seem to. No pony loses their lives. But who knows how long until that luck runs out?” … Far to the north, on the outskirts of the Crystal Empire, luck was about to run out for another family. Shining Armor, Cadance, and Flurry Heart were running for their lives. Behind them thundered an enormous beast resembling a red rhinoceros. “I crush you! I crush you ponies!” the creature said. He was gaining on them, Shining Armor knew they weren’t going to make it… unless somepony served as a distraction. He closed his eyes, knowing what he had to do. “Cadance, Flurry, fly!” he said. “I’ll catch up!” But he knew he wouldn’t as he turned to face the Rhinoceros. Cadance looked back at her husband and knew what he was thinking. Her survival instincts were overridden as she saw her Shining Armor, her knight, her protector, risking his life for her and their filly Flurry. She had to try and help. This wasn’t a battle he could win alone! “Shining no! Flurry, get out of here, I have to help your daddy!” said Cadance. The preteen natural born alicorn flapped her large wings and took off toward the city where her parents ruled. “Cadance! You keep going! Let me deal with this! It’s my job to protect you both!” “No! I’m not leaving you!” Cadance snapped. “Come on! We have to get out of here!” She flew up over him and tried to lift him with her hooves. She’d managed to carry Rarity once, but Shining Armor was quite a bit heavier. Even though she was an alicorn with a larger body than most ponies, she’d never been the athletic type like Rainbow Dash. If she had, it might have allowed her to lift him. She only managed to get him off the ground a bit before her strength failed and she dropped him. “Get out of here, Cadance!” Shining repeated. “I’ll hold him off! “No!” Cadance yelled before letting out a blue beam at their pursuer. The thick hide of the red rhino was strong. Cadance’s magic caused him no harm, not even slowing him down. He laughed. “What is that supposed to do, hurt me?” He then jumped mid charge and hit Cadance with his head. The Princess of Love lost her flight and fell to the ground, landing on her left wing. She grunted in pain as she felt the bone break. She managed to look up and saw Shining Armor get in front of her protectively. He growled and shot his own lavender beam that was just like his sister’s. It hit the rhino’s skin and caused no damage at first, but he maintained it. The rhino’s skin was thick, but after a moment he began to feel the burn. “Arrgh!” The monster turned to Shining Armor who kept his focus on the beam. The rhino charged the stallion, Shining held his ground, aiming his beam at one of his foe’s front legs. If he could burn one of those enough, it might give Cadance and him a change to escape. “I trample you, pony!” Shining Armor’s magic suddenly failed. He’d used up all he could in one beam. The rhino came upon him, he felt the strength of its weight land on him. Then it was over. Cadance’s eyes teared as she saw her husband’s body fly. “Shining!” she screamed. “No!” The Princess of Love managed to rise to her hooves and walk to her stallion’s side. She took him in her hooves and put her head to his chest hoping for a heartbeat. There was none. “Shining no! Please don’t leave me!” she cried. “Oh, don’t worry, you’ll be with him soon enough,” The rhino said. He charged again. Unable to fly, her magic not powerful enough to combat this monster’s thick skin, Cadance was helpless as he charged and ended her life.