"If you need anything. Don't be afraid to call."
"Thanks, I will keep that in mind. Goodnight," I close the door to my room. It was a simple room with two beds and a desk. Slowly I move through the darkness before lighting a candle on a desk by the window. It's been a week since we have last seen Chrysalis. It was hard to believe that she would turn herself in so that we had a chance to getaway. Even though I was there, I still can't believe she did it. I guess what they say is true; not everyone was born evil. I can only hope that that the Princess has given her a fair trial.
Right now, me and Melody are at a remote village stay in for tonight. From what I can get from the townspeople, Starlight had a bit of history with them. They were hoping that she would come back to become their mayor. Not wanting to take a chance of them telling Starling that we were here, I kept my relationship with her secret. To which I feel my heart harden. I miss her. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye. I can only hope that we find Sombra's Tomb before everyone starts to worry. I'm writing a letter to the crystal empire to let them know that something urgent has come up, and I'm going to be off the radar for a bit. I can only imagine the earful I'm going to get once I come back.
I looked to my left to see Melody sleeping soundly in one of the beds. Try as she might, it appears that her father's magic is something she can't seem to get ahold of. But then again, she is only a filly. And not every pony can be like Twilight Sparkles. I can only hope that I can help her understand how to use her father's magic to help guide us to him with some guidance and teachings. She only gets a feeling at the moment, but I don't want to travel across Equestria with just a feeling. Her lessons will begin again in the morning. However, a more pressing matter comes to my attention. I'm running low on bits. I will have to see if the local town's ponies here can help us out before we head out again. I have been going over some of the maps and from what I have been getting from Melody. It looks like we are going to heading northwest towards the Crystal Empire. But I have doubts that we will be going there.
Looking at my saddlebags, I pull out the book that Crystal gave me. I run my hoof over the cover. It turns out that this is Sombra's journal. His last entry mentions making a last stand at Fort Ambre north of the Empire against the Umbra. I must have gone over my notes of Sombra's research a dozen times, but I haven't found any mention of a Fort Ambre anywhere. It's not on any maps, and I don't remember finding anything in the Crystal Library either. Not to mention that the notes say that the Fort is north of the Empire. But the only thing north of the Empire is the Frozen North. I remember something about an ancient citadel, but hopefully, we won't have to go that far. I am not sure if we can do this alone, but I can't ignore Chrysalis' warning. As much as I don't want to admit it, she is right. The princesses would not hesitate to remove the magic inside Melody.
So far, her father's magic hasn't shown any signs of endangering Melody's life. But to be on the safe side, I have cast a spell to monitor Melody's magic for any signs of admiralties. It is not the best, but it gets the job done. I know that this is going to be a difficult journey for just the two of us. But I have no choice. Shining Armor would remove the magic from Melody before I blink. Queen Twilight would do the same. Thorax is too busy looking after the hive and his family. I lost track of Trixie long before this happened. I have no idea how to contact Discord. Starlight would…
I reach down in my saddlebag and pull out a picture of Starlight. I track the edge of the image with my hoof. She would have come along. She would drop what she was doing and help us. But I can't do that. It's not that I doubt her abilities or anything. It's just that ever since we parted with Chrysalis and started this journey. I haven't been able to shake this feeling that we aren't coming back. If anything were to happen to her…
"Sunburst?"
I turn around to find that Melody is awake, looking at me with sleepy eyes, "Yes?"
"Are you okay?"
"I am fine. I just remembered somepony,"
"Who?"
"A dear friend of mine. I got to see her at Pony Ville before we fought that Umbra. But I didn't get a chance to say goodbye."
"Is she pretty?"
"A… well yes. She is."
"Is she your special somepony?"
"No, I never got the chance to ask her,"
"Do you love her?"
I couldn't help but blush as I answered her, "Something like that. But this stays between us, okay."
"Okay. Why don't you write her a letter, telling her how you feel."?
"It's not that easy."
"Whenever Daddy had to leave to fight for the Empire. He would write a letter to Mommy and me every day telling us that he loves us very much and can't wait to see us again. And whenever he came home, he would give her Mommy a big kiss, and he would play with me and tell me bedtime stories and always find a way for us to laugh together. Then when I asked him why he must leave us behind in the Empire. Daddy told me that he fights so that bad guys won't get to us." She looks away sad, "Then one day he didn't come back home." She looks back with determination in her eyes, "But I knew that one day would find him again. Nothing can take down Papa."
I move toward her bedside, smiling gently at her, "Sounds like your daddy was a very good stallion."
"He is the best. I know that the Empire didn't like him when he became king. During his reign, he hid me away in the castle, away from everypony. He was very mean and didn't smile as much as he did before. But that was because of the Umbra inside of him. I knew that he was still my daddy in there. We just need to find him."
"Get some rest, Melody. We got a long day ahead of us."
"Goodnight, Sunburst."
"Goodnight, Melody,"
I tuck her in bed and move to my bed but stop and look at her sleeping form. Such a brave and smart filly. Even after she lost her father to the Umbra, she still believed that he was still good. I don't know what became of her mother, but I can only fear the worst with what the Umbra said in the mindscape. After a moment, I moved toward my desk and began to write a letter,
"Dear Starlight,"
Somewhere in Las Pegasus,
A lone mare walks down the street of Las Pegasus. She is not in a hurry, but she can't help looking around her. So many lights, some many ponies are going about their day. Some familiar faces, but she never got their name. Then again, she never tried. She stops as a stallion tries to hits' on her, but she ignores him. He has been trying to get her attention for a while now. But she was not looking for a date. No matter how many bits he says he has or what he had done. She is not interested. She waits patiently as he goes through his routine before waiting for her answer, which is the same as every other day. Nothing. She moves around him and continues her way as he calls out to her.
She enters Station Wagon Park, where her home awaits. It was a little worn down and broken with a need of a little T.L.C., but it is home. Her Wagon. As she moves to enter her home, one of her neighbors calls out to her. He was a red Pegasus with a bright orange mane. He has been nothing but kind to her ever since she came here. To be honest, she can always look forward to seeing him.
"Hay Trixie. How are you doing?"
"Trixie is fine Red Comet."
"Rough day?"
"Nothing that Trixie can't handle," she moves to enters her wagon when he calls out to her,
"Hay Trixie," she looks at him, "I was wondering if you are going to be busy this Friday?" she tilts her head, "It's just that I got some tickets for an amusement park nearby. And I was wondering-"
"Trixie appreciates the offer, but Trixie will be busy for the foreseeable future," She lied,
"Oh," he looks down dejected, "Maybe next time?" he asks hopeful,
She doesn't say anything as she enters the wagon. She closes the door and quietly moves to the window. Looking outside, she could see Comet kicking an imaginary rock before entering his wagon. Trixie lets out a sigh. Before jumping in her hammock, sighing into her pillow. "Trixie is sorry, Comet. You seem like a good stallion, but Trixie is not ready to date. Trixie is still hurting." As she lays there until a knock comes on her door. She ignores it, thinking it was Comet but the voice that follows it wasn't Comet's
"Hello, Excuse me. I am looking for a Trixie Lunamoon. I was told that I could find her here."
Confused, She moves to the door cracking it open. A pony in a dark red cloak greets her, "How can Trixie help you?"
She can't see his face clearly, but she is taken back when he smiles back at her, "What is it that you desire?"