//------------------------------// // The Journal // Story: Never Forgiven // by DragonassasslnGR //------------------------------// Luna was looking out the window to the morning sky. The sun was coming out and it was time for Cassius and her to sleep. After Cassius and Sereen were reborn as her children she soon realized that Sereen was still a day pony. So she was to be raised by Celestia and it was fitting in its own way, She did love Sereen as a daughter, but letting her sister raise her only felt right. The two were always the best of friends and now they could be like mother and daughter. Luna looked over her blanket and saw Cassius holding an old journal with his cutie mark on it. She had told him it was a story book made just for him by an old friend of hers and he believed her. After being born again, both Sereen and Cassius had lost their memories as the guardians of the balance and the princesses of night and day. Luna wasn't sure it that was a good thing or not, but she didn't question her mothers decisions. "So, will you go to sleep without a story today?" Luna asked as she pulled the covers over her hips. "Nope." Cassius quickly replied as he shook his head from side to side. "Fine then, bring the book here and get comfortable." she said patting a spot on the bed with a hoof. Cassius quickly hurried to his mothers side and snuggled into the covers next to her. Luna lifted the book and found a page that had a similar date as today's. She began reading from it and found this was an entry on one of the many pranks he played on his sister with Luna. This one was when they cast a spell on her that made her paranoid for a day. She thought the chief was going to poison her with a spoon. After that day the spell was put on the forbidden list. It was worth it in her mind. She also noticed the same spell was in the journal. He was making notes on what they used. Luna decided to leave it in the book as she looked over to see Cassius was half awake. "Looks like somepony played too hare today. Come now Cassius it’s time to rest your body and the continue teaching you how to interact with the dream realm." Luna said as she used her magic to close the blinds. The two drifted into the realm of dreams for his practice on using his natural gifts with it. **************************************************** A yellow unicorn chamber maid with a silver and blue mane and tail walked into Luna and Cassius's room. Her cutie mark was covered by her uniform, but it was a musical note floating in a cloud. She stepped over several toys that laid scattered in the room. Nopony was to disturb any of the royals as they slept and if they were caught they would be removed from the castle grounds for the day all the way to banishment, depending on their excuse and/or actions for being in the rooms without permission. She began to pick up the toys and place them in the trunk they belonged in. She looked over to see Cassius snuggled next to Luna. She had a hoof laying over him as they slept. A smile cracked on her muzzle at the sight. She blinked and saw Cassius's multi colored eyes looking right at her. She jumped out of fear and fell on her back. In a tired voice the young unicorn asked. "Why are you in here? You will get in trouble if mommy sees you." "I'm sorry Prince Cassius. I was just cleaning." The maid said nervously. "Thank you, but can you call me Cassius." he asked. "If that is what you prefer, then yes." She replied while getting up. "Prefer?" parroted the sleepy colt. "It means: like better?" replied the maid. "Well I prefer this over like better. What is your name?" he asked. "I am Constance." She replied. "That is a nice name. Good day Constance." he said with a yawn before rejoining Luna in the dream realm. "Good day, young Cassius." She said as she grabbed the journal with her magic and walked out. She turned to leave but bumped muzzle to muzzle with Prince Shining Armor. "What are you doing with that book?" He asked calmly. Constance looked to it and replied, "I'm putting it back in the library your highness." "That particular book actually is a journal Constance. You know it is Cassius's favorite book." He said. "Wait! This is that journal?" she asked letting it go. Before it hit the ground Shining Armor caught it with his magic. The journal levitated back into the room and landed on the end table it belonged on. He closed the door to Luna's chambers and nodded. Constance was just placed on the staff to clean any messes Cassius and Sereen made and act as a nanny if need be. She was still getting used to the whole thing. "Come on I think Sereen wants you to sing to her again." Shining Armor said as he began to walk down the hall with a smile. *********************************************** Sereen was sneaking around the castle halls. She was trying to find Cassius without being seen by anypony. She was going to give him some cake from the banquet and see if he wanted to play a game of tag in the maze garden. Thankfully the piece of cake was from the backup provided by Sugar Cube Corner in Ponyville. The new owner Pinkie Pie was more than happy to bake a new on one such short notice. Ever since the Cakes retired, Pinkie Pie became the owner with Pumpkin and Pound Cake worked with her as her assistance. Be that they just earned their cutie marks for baking also helped in her recent success in it. Sereen found the door to Luna and Cassius's room. The door was too big for her small frame to open alone, so she tried to use her very unstable magic. To her joy she opened the door without it exploding into splinters like the last time she tried to open one in the castle. It creaked open just enough for her to squeeze inside. She levitated the slice of cake in the room and saw Cassius asleep. She huffed in frustration, Cassius was always asleep when she wanted to play with him. The only time they had to actually have fun together was around dinner and until she fell asleep. Sereen trotted over and placed the slice on the end table when she noticed a book with his cutie mark on it. Sereen's muzzle gave way to a mischievous grin as she took the book and trotted out the door. Even though she was so young, Sereen had learned to read at Celestia's level. It wouldn't be a problem to find something she could use to get her brother to play with her. She galloped straight down the hall to a play room that was made of Cassius and her. The room still had found use as a study now more than a playroom since both of them were a little older and were learning to use their magic and their natural abilities. She had found a spot under a desk and levitated a blanket to cover up the opening so she would be undisturbed. When she was sure no pony would disturb her she opened to journal. She stayed under the desk for hours reading what she thought was her brother having an overactive imagination. This thought was quickly dashed however, she read the dates on each page and found that the first started over a millennium ago. She could feel the immense magic coming from the pages. She quickly turned to the last few entries and found one that was dated six years ago. It read: "I do however regret my actions with Twilight during my awakening. I never wanted to hurt her, but I let go and she paid for it. I hope she can forgive me when this is all over. If not then I will carry on in silence. As for the war effort, the ones that have come to support me have decided to call us The Lost Night. I will let them have it. I... I still try to fight the control that Chaos has over me, but its like the balance has given me all the power and is putting me in the mind set to weld it. I don't know if after all this is done and I have killed Celestia if anypony can forgive me." There was a gap and another entry appeared but in different hoof writing, "I do forgive you, but we will stop you and save everypony. Even you Cassius." "Did Princess Twilight write this?" Sereen asked herself. She continued, "Faithful? Did I hear you or did I imagine your words? I must be so gone now. You wouldn't just forgive me after what I did to you. I only pray Luna can forgive me now. She is all I have left to care for. If I hurt her I don't know what I would do. Old friend, Its almost time that I see Celestia's Solar Empire for myself." As she read the entry it began to scare her. This was her brothers hoof writing no doubt. She looked to the final entry in the book. It was shorter than all the rest and was addressed to their mother. "Luna, I am glad you have forgiven me for what I did to everypony. Sereen has even hugged me despite me snapping her neck and killed her." - Sereen rubbed her neck with a hoof. -" Mother Mare has told me she is willing to send us both back, but she won’t say how. She has this smile on her face and it's creeping me out. Anyway, we will be coming back sooner than expected, but apparently we will have no memory of what happened. Luna please, hide my journal so when I do come back to you, I can read it and remember all of the good times. I forgot once, I don't want to forget again. I love you." Suddenly the blanket covering the opening under the desk flew up and Constance was looking to Sereen. "Sereen why are you reading that under here?" she asked. "I..I was reading a.... story." she said as a blank look formed on her muzzle. "Well its time for your studies with your Aunt Celestia." Constance replied as she grabbed the book and slipped it into a satchel she had without looking at the cover. She helped Sereen out from under the desk and hurried her out the door and to the Royal Canterlot Library. ******************************************************** It only took a few minutes to get to the library from the Castle. Twilight was waiting outside for them. "Hi! Constance, Sereen it's good to see you." She called waving a hoof. Sereen ran over to her and latched on to her leg with a death hug. She squeezed as hard as she could being no bigger than an elementary school foal. "Well somepony missed you princess." Constance said with a smile. Twilight looked to her and replied, "I can tell. She won't let go of my leg." - Twilight lifted her leg into the air with Sereen attached to it and playfully shook it.- "Well Constance I will take it from here. Why don't you head to Ponyville and pick up some cupcakes from Sugar Cube Corner and take a break? You earn it." Constance gave a half bow and said, "Thank you princess. I will be back in the morning." Twilight smiled, "Don't be late. Your next shift is at 5pm tomorrow." Constance gave a nod and headed to the balloons. There the only way for flightless ponies to get from Canterlot to Ponyville without using the train. *************************************************** Ponyville was a buzz during the night. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had purchased the building next to Sugar Cube Corner. The founders Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle held parties whenever a new member found their special talent. Tonight they held a party for the Sixth Annual Libra Banquet and Constance had attended. Being one of Canterlots best singers they had hired her for entertainment. All night she sang of songs inspired by that faithful night. She hated some of them but sang anyway. Eventually she sat down next to her satchel and saw the edge of the book. She had forgotten to return it to Twilight back at the library. She pulled out the book and to her horror it was the Journal. Panic quickly set in and she shoved it back in the bag. She sat there trying to figure out how she was to get it back to Luna's chambers without being caught. Using magic would leave a traceable essence around the object so that was out of the question. A stallion walked over to her and tapped the table. Constance looked over to see a unicorn with a fire red coat and a long blue mane and tail that flowed like living fire. He sat next to her and just looked into her yellow and gold eyes. She looked back into his brown eyes before sneaking a peek at his flank. His cutie mark was two swords striking against each other inside a ring of flames. "Can I help you?" She asked unable to break away from his gaze. "Actually you can."- He shifted to reveal a sword strapped around his back. -"I would like you to come with me. Its about that book you have there." He said in a low but stern tome. Constance gulped thinking she was about to get banished to the moon or even the sun. She grabbed the satchel and followed him out the doors and into the ally of the two buildings. "Hoof over the journal." He said as he stood on his hind legs pulling the sword off his back and lamping a special handle to it. Constance quickly pulled it out and set it in the ground backing away slowly. "Why are you threatening me if you are just going to take it back to Canterlot?" she asked. The stallion picked it up with his magic and smiled. "What makes you think I will return this." His horn glowed with a small ball of fire that formed at it's tip. Constance narrowed her eyes and charged the unicorn. He jumped back and slashed her with his sword. Constance foreleg had only been scratched before it burst into flames. She quickly used a spell to snuff them out but not before receiving second degree burns. The stallion then released a small ball of fire that barreled right for Constance. She closed her eyes and waited for the impact. It never came. She opened them to see Pinkie Pie on her hind legs with a metal pot lid strapped around her left hoof that was melting and a sword with the same attachments as the red unicorn on her right hoof. She let the tip rest barely on the ground. Pinkie's mane was down and she had a scowl across her muzzle. She threw the half melted lid to the side and raised her sword. It burst into shadows when she pointed it at him. "Leave! Now!" She demanded. "Well, well you don't see that every day." he remarked. "I will not ask again." She said in a low grumble. The stallion looked her over then sheathed his sword. Deciding that she wasn't worth the trouble of blowing his cover he placed the book in a bag. "Pleasure doing business with you." he said just before teleporting away. Pinkamina walked past Constance, letting the sword drag for a few feet before removing it and holding it in her mouth. She walked into Sugar Cube Corner and reemerged a few moments later. She was back to normal, or at least for Pinkie Pie as she bounced back to Constance. Constance limped over and asked, "Pinkie Pie what was that? Where did you get that sword?" The pink party pony looked at her as if she didn't know that she was talking about. "Oh my, Constance you leg! we need to get you to the hospital!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she ran inside the Crusader HQ. A few more moment later she came out with a few other ponies and the escorted her to the Ponyville hospital. She spent the night in fear of what Princess Luna would do to her if....when she found out Cassius favorite book was stolen. She was doomed the second Luna visited her in the hospital. She started wishing Pinkie Pie hadn't saved her back in the alley.