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// Chapter 1: The Hooves Of Bone 
// Story: How to Live as a Cyborg Pony 
// by Ame Shine 
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Everypony has their luck in everything…

It was raining, not too hard, but hard enough for Princess Celestia to cover the basket under a wing. She or her knights were expecting rain when they came to visit the Shine unicorns because of the little foal. The little purple sleeping bundle was probably a few weeks old, Celestia didn’t know where she came from, who the parents were and why they put her on the steps.  All she knew is that the Shines couldn’t have a child of their own, and were glad that the princess had a solution to their problem. 
Rainbow Shine always wanted a baby, but she had an accident that prevented her from having one. She didn’t care that the child was a Pegasus, but they looked closely related anyways. They both had purple hides, and Rusty Shine had a light red mane and tail. Rainbow was a good worker; she loved fashion and kept a red ribbon in her hair all the time. Rusty, even though he was from the mines, his knowledge of gems and his works of pocket watches got him to where he is now. 
Princess Celestia looked at the moon slightly paranoid, if she didn’t get the foal to the Shines soon, the little one might get a cold. She heard a little yawn and the basket under her wing move. The princess smiled at the little Pegasus and looked at the Shine’s home. She was happy that a family was willing to adopt the little mare. The princess wondered what kind of part she will take in the word as they got closer to the home.
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“Mama?” Ame Shine squealed and raised her hooves in the air to her adopted mother, “Mama!”  She squealed happily as Rainbow Shine hugged her little bundle of joy. 
The little foal was now a year old with even brighter pink hair and her eyes blue. Shine was restless but she was careful on what she did. Any chance she got, she tried to go outside and go explore. It only happened once and the Shines were looking for her for a few hours only to find her playing in a bush in front of their house. They were relieved that it wasn’t anywhere closer to the street where the carriages could get to her. 
“Hello, my little shine, how are you today?” Rainbow cooed as she tried a red ribbon into her daughter’s pink hair. “We get to see the Princess today, so you be a good little pony alright?”
“Yes mama!” She giggled as Rainbow liked Ame’s cheek. She licked her mother back with her little tongue. “Mama smells pretty.”
Rainbow smiled and helped Shine into the carriage as they waited for Rusty to lock the house. Once they were off, Ame Shine had flash backs of a giant white wing and rain. She was confused, but wasn’t fearful, more like intrigued. She looked at the scenery as they moved on from the city grounds to the castle grounds. Shine never knew there could be so much grass in one spot, and the smell was so fresh, she giggled and smiled.
Ame Shine didn’t remember the Alicorn, but she heard of how she came to her parents. Ame Shine believed that Princess Celestia delivered foals to their parents, which also explained why she was so busy. It made sense to the foal in a lot of ways. Her thoughts drifted to some reasons why the Princess wanted them to visit. 
“Welcome my friends!” A booming, polite voice echoed through the garden, making Ame Shine jump and hide in her mother’s tail. “I’m glad you can make it.”
The proud parents bowed before the princess as Ame Shine shook in Rainbow’s tail. She watched the Alicorn walk up to them with her head held high and her crown glistening. She spread her white wings and tucked one in to bow back politely. 
“I’m sorry, Princess Celestia,” Rainbow Shine stuttered, “I should’ve taught Am…”
“It’s alright, Rainbow Shine,” The princess smiled. “Come out, little one, do not be afraid. Nothing on these grounds will hurt you, I promise.”
“… Pinkie swears?” Ame Shine squeaked in panic. 
“Pinkie swear.” Princess Celestia moved next to the shaking toddler and waited for Rainbow to trot carefully away. “Do you remember me at all? Remember how we met?”
“I… I remember your wing.” Shine pointed her little hoof the huge, white wings. 
“I’m glad,” Princess nudged her to stand gently with her horn. “You know what species you are, little Shine?”
“Pe-Pegasus?” Ame Shine squeaked again, but started to relax with every question. “I dunno how to fly yet, but I will soon! Maybe…”
“Oh, we’ve been looking for an instructor from Cloudsdale,” Rainbow Shine sighed, “They say she’s not old enough. Another year and she’ll be flying to shelves by herself.”
“Hum… By now she should’ve started flying.” Princess Celestia looked at her parents, worried. “She may need to get out more. If she still doesn’t fly on her own, then come to me after the year is done and I will try to get somepony to help.” Princess Celestia smiled weakly and looked at the toddler, “Promise me you’ll try and fly?”
“Yesh ma’am!” Ame Shine toppled over trying to bow to the white mare too hard. 
“Let’s get some tea,” The Princess offered, “I would like to catch up on what’s going on!”
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“That was the princess!?” Ame Shine exclaimed while she tried not to hop around in the carriage.
“Yes,” Rusty said proudly, “She is the one who raises the moon and the sun each day! But some say it wasn’t always like that!”
“Oh dear, I think it’s a bit early for story time,” Rainbow rubbed her head against his.
“Why is mama and dada unicorns and little Shine is not?” Ame Shine frowned and looked at them.
They both looked at each other; both expected this to be later, possibly when she was older. Now who was going to explain that she was adopted? Rainbow Shine looked at her foal expectantly.
“Now, don’t fret my dear, Mama and Dada still love you,” Rainbow started as the carriage started getting bumpy, “But hun, Princess Celestia brought you to us. You were just weeks old and she knew I’ve always wanted a foal. You’re-!”
The carriage slipped sideways and down the three of them went onto the cobblestone road. Rainbow and Rusty just had noticed this before it happened, but it still didn’t prevent the little purple Pegasus to fly and skitter across the road. Nor did it prevent the blood curdling noise that followed behind it.
“Nooo!” Rainbow screamed in agony as she saw the blood pool in front of her.