The next significant event was one which not only concerned Angel Wing, but her entire family as well.
Two things happened to Angel this day. The first was a simple stroke of good news. Her husband wasn't home. She had sent him on a mission to ensure that Sarah would return intact and unharmed, a task of which she was not about to let him shirk on. Roll and Quick were up their usual shenanigans, often resulting in a crying Roll and Quick being sent to his room. Emerald had lately engaged herself with unusual intensity in jewel making. And Angel… at the moment an older unicorn was with her. A red cross was his cutie mark and he sported a good beard. Dr Heart, was dependable as day and night, and had been her colleague in Canterlot hospital. His glowing horn stroked along her belly, which, at first glance, showed no sign of anything out of the ordinary. Eventually he was satisfied and nodded. "You are pregnant, twins. Congratulations Angel. They're both healthy, and yes, they both show signs of being one of the three pony kind. Would you like to know or do you want to be surprised in a year?" An unopened letter from Silver lay on her table.
Angel normally would have been bouncing, but a shadow had crossed over her usual excitement. Family life had been rough lately. Emerald was in the process of moving on, Quick didn't need her constant attention anymore, and soon enough Roll wouldn't either. She looked over at the doctor with a warm smile. She wished Silver could be here for this. "I think I'll be surprised this time, thank you." She said. Angel waited until the doctor had left before opening the letter, all the while giving a stern warning to the boys, who were trying to fly without her supervision. Something that happened more and more often, lately. "Rolling Wave! You get DOWN out of that tree this instant!" She yelled.
"But I can hover mommy, lookit! Look! Look mom! Hey! Look! ...mom you didn't look..." He complained as she turned to the letter. It was the usual format, and Silver's slightly clumsy writing was apparent. "Hello Angel, sweetie. Don't go on a rampage, but I think bringing our daughter back home is going to take a bit of doing. Her mission has begun and she is determined. She's a big girl now, and I could drag her home by her hind legs, but I don't want that and you don't either. I've told her get home as soon as the most basic fulfillment of the goals have been completed. However that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. Since its going to be a while before I'm home, I was thinking that you could take the boys and maybe Emerald on a journey together. There's a puzzle about you Angel, one that I've wondered about for as long as I've known you. I wanted to solve it completely, and hand you the answer, but the last two bits are outside of my reach. I think you can piece the answer together. Its about your past.. who you are, where you came from and why you are an alicorn. I know the story you've told me, because its the exact story almost word for word that Novaria tells me, and which is printed in the books. It always came off as deceptive, or rather not the whole story. I found two witnesses who were there on that day. The first is General Swift, who used to be a guard. He was with Novaria soon after you appeared. The other is an old royal wizard. Both practically refuse to deal with anyone outside of Evodian royalty. I'll disclose both their addresses. Take the kids with you, a good train ride and a boat trip, or if you want the teleporter is currently set for the Evodian capital. With love, your hubby, who misses you so much." His smell was on the paper, their bed had stopped giving off his scent. He was hardly in it anymore.
Angel sighed. She was worried, and if she hadn't been an alicorn, her mane would have started going grey by now. She tucked the letter away, and the first thing she did was set up a projection spell. It was simple enough, the Equestrian version of Skype. A call to a mare she had only talked to once or twice in the last couple years. In front of her was projected a static square, which would link to a sort of video screen if her mother answered. She was angry at Sarah, angry at Silver, angry at her mother. Angel didn't like this new side of her, before all this she was never upset about anything.
It took a while, and she had time to comfort a Roll who in his overconfidence had tried to jump/fly over over the hedge, and in stead had taken a good tumble, with a resulting bruise. Eventually the floating square had cleared and she saw her mother's regal appearance. As sombre as she remembered the mare to be. It was night outside where she was. "Good evening daughter, I didn't expect you to call. It is as always good to see and hear from you."
Angel gave a sharp whistle, which the kids knew meant she wanted them. Angels gaze softened, and although for years she had not backed down a single inch in regards to Novaria's requests, today, her mother would gain some ground, as Angel finally showed that spot of weakness that she had always so stubbornly denied. "Mom... I need to come home for a while." She admitted. "Is there a place for us?"
Seeing the two eager pegasi gather around her, and Emerald who approached with no small measure of curiosity, and growing awe as she realized who Angel was talking to, caused the ageless regal alicorn some surprise. She raised a hoof to her chest. "Greetings my grandchildren." "Grandma Nova!" Roll and Quick yelled in unison. "G-g-greetings Queen Novaria." Emerald managed to stammer looking uncomfortable and exited quickly. Novaria smiled. "Of course." She hesitated. "Do you want a room in a hotel in the city? Or we have plenty of room in the palace."
Angel had told her children vast stories of her grandmother, all of them making her sound regal and important. She didn't want to shed her mother in a negative light, not over a few disagreements. "The palace should be fine. I'll need access to the library, and I do mean all of the library," she added. "The children have never seen Evodia, I'm sure they'll find more than enough to keep them busy providing myself or a guard watches them. Roll likes to climb and jump off of things." She gave him a disapproving, yet loving look.
"You may not be wearing a crown, or take part in the royal duties." Apparently Novaria didn't mind stinging her a little about this, even when her children were watching, but there didn't seem to be the same anger in her eyes as there had been. "You're still counted as a princess of Evodia, you'll be able to go and talk to whom you please. I think your old room is still in a good state, but Emerald is such a big girl that she needs her own room." Emerald gave off a small whimper, her hooves kneading the floor. "We will put up beds for Roll and Quick in yours."
Angel narrowed her eyes. "I said I wanted access to the library, not a coronation." She countered bitterly. Angel paused a moment, and looked at the boys. She knew Roll was at that conflicted state of childhood, where he wanted his mother for everything, but also wanted to be treated like a grownup. "I think the boys are old enough to have their own rooms. They all are." She smiled a bit. "On the same floor, can you do that? And nowhere near the kitchen. The boys eat like timberwolves."
"That can be arranged as well. There's a big suite for Emerald, and two smaller guest rooms for your sons. I think if you arrive soon, you can avoid most of the press coverage. They certainly won't be able to follow into the palace grounds. Please brief your children on what to expect." She was about to leave. "Angel, I didn't mean to say that I wanted you crowned when you came home. I've come to understand that you don't see eye to eye with me on this. I was only reminding you that you'll always be a princess to the ponies of Evodia, and to me." Emerald had caught the tension and looked to her mother supportingly.
"Maybe we can talk about this later." Angel offered. "Not fighting like we always do, but... talk. Like we used to. I miss that." It wasn't an admission of defeat, but she was giving her mother a chance, and it was clear it had been bothering her for years. "You won't always be around, and there's no feeling more bitter than missed opportunities." She sighed and broke the connection. Novaria was likely stunned, Angel had never come to her before. Not like this. "Children, pack your things. We'll leave for Evodia tonight. The media will be looking for us, I'm sure, so let's have a little fun with it, shall we?" She nudged the young ones off to their rooms, then opened another communication feed. This one to a pair of well known disguise and makeup artists in Canterlot whom she had befriended. "Gluon, it's Angel. Up for a challenge?"
***
Evodia was a nation of a different style than Canterlot. Its countryside was full of tall cliffs, and a rugged breed of earth pony had managed to beat life into it. Covering terraces with fields of grain and rice. What they had in common with Canterlot was a love of spires. Reflecting in their city, and in the great palace which hugged the center of the harbor. Tall spires amidst gardens, with a large structure in the center. A unicorn family had been let in through the gate. Two little green filly pegasi that both looked cute as a button (but not too happy about it). Emerald had been given an earthy reddish color, and had her horn rubbed away with invisibility paint, and given fake wings of her own. Likewise Angel's horn was currently not visible. Emerald was awestruck as they approached the large palace passing through the garden. "This is much bigger than the Canterlot castle... its... I'm speechless." Roll and Quick were arguing among themselves, mostly because they had been disguised as fillies as punishment for their frequent misbehavior.
"No you sound like a girl." "
"No you sound like a girl!" Gluon had been tight lipped about the recipe for her voice changing potion. It worked like magic, as long as you didn't try to sing. From Angel's perspective the place had hardly changed, except the garden had been redecorate. She had some flashbacks of playing around with some friends as a filly, and of course endless parades of soldiers who had come to see her and whom she had given courage simple by being.
"You... grew up here?" Emerald could hardly believe it, and was desperately trying to see everything at once.
"Of course." Angel said. She tried not to give off too much pride, but couldn't help it. It was only now she was realizing how much she missed this place. "I've been trying so hard to separate myself from it, but it might not be as easy as I thought it was." She frowned. "Come, I'll show you the crown jewel of the garden, a gift from Celestia herself." She led them into a small hedge maze. It was designed mostly for the youngsters, so it was brain dumbingly easy. Only a couple of dead ends, almost completely linear. At the center of the maze was a large, empty stone pedestal, roped off on all sides. A friendly sign simply said Please do not touch.
The boys, still disguised as fillies, had gotten themselves lost anyhow, the pure unadulterated joy of running around in a maze being what they sought. Emerald in pegasus disguise followed her mother to the pedestal. "What is this?" She asked, looking around.
"A relic from what almost became the Second Great War." She said solemnly. "A reminder, to all ponies, that even when faced with our darkest fears, there is always room for redemption." She looked at it for a moment, before calling for the boys. "Come, we can use the back entrance to the palace. The main entrance is likely being watched. If we're lucky we'll be just in time for breakfast." The group had been up all day and all night, packing and traveling. The children had slept on the boat, Angel had not.
The guards greeted and saluted her all the way in, and the head matron quickly showed them their rooms. There were running hot baths ready for all of them. Roll and Quick were more than eager to get out of their makeup, and even Emerald was happy to see get her horn back. However, when she emerged from her own room, there was rapture in her eyes as well. "Its everything I dreamed of." A servant had dressed her in a simple summer dress. Not the gaudy stuff for formal occasions, and had done her hair. The servants at her beck and call, none that she could remember, but they were as friendly and courteous as usual. Exiting her own room she had seen a guard clicking his hooves and saluted her, Roll and Quick had copied his behavior standing on either side of him. He had chuckled.
"Sergeant Brill, I'll take care of these two your highness. Have two little brothers as home as well, its no problem." They looked up to him with, beaming. Things were looking good so far. "Breakfast is served, but your mother wants to have a private conversation with you in the garden. Food will be brought out for the two of you."
Perhaps the guard had expected her to turn it down or protest, but instead Angel just nodded. "Alright." She said simply. The children were in good hooves, and Emerald would be overcome for a while with wanting to explore everything. "I'll be back soon. Boys, behave yourselves, as I know you do." She said gently, and exited to the garden. She hadn't seen her mother in a long time, and a brief pang of guilt rippled through her.
There was a small secluded pavilion, where Novaria stood. A table with various small delectibles present. A small river running over round stones gave a comfortable gurgling sound. The way they had redecorated the garden was nothing short of brilliant. Angel's memories of the garden was off the huge wall that girdled the palace, visible almost everywhere. Now the garden had been filled with hills and trees, and she really couldn't see it anymore. Her mother wore none of her regalia except her yoke and crown. She smiled weakly. "Its good to see you again Angel." It was as simple as she said it, and she meant it.
Angel tried to hold herself back, but so many years of defiance and ignorance were hard to carry. Although she had no intention of changing her mind about royalty, she did break into tears, rushing forward to nuzzle into her mothers neck, as she hadn't done since she was a filly. "The palace hasn't changed a bit." She said. "And was that little Storm Wind as a member of the guard? The last time I saw him he was hiding in the pantries of the kitchen trying to get extra desserts."
Her large neck enfolded Angel's. Holding her in a soft embrace. "Many things changed, and others stayed the same. I've got grandchildren, and yet the two of us have hardly aged a day. And yes that, I think, is Storm Wind you were referring to. My grandchildren couldn't be in safer or kinder hooves." Still holding her in the embrace, she nuzzled Angel between her wings, as a mother pegasus would nuzzle her fledgling. Instinctive, and not as formal as she had used to be. "Angel... I've missed you something terrible."
Eventually releasing from her mothers grip, Angel sat herslf upon her haunches. She still had the posture of a princess, straight and proud, not slouched like she used to be. "You summoned me out here for a reason, mother. What is it?" She asked, rather curious. "Is something wrong?"
She didn't sigh, but broke gently from her embrace with Angel, and proceeded to table taking a few bites. Taking a her time. "Angel, I would love to know that you've come simple to see me, just to be with me, showing me my grandchildren, even if only for a visit. But I sensed that you'd come for something else, am I far off?"
That stung her more than anything, and Angel even recoiled slightly. She hadn't realized how much Novaria was hurting, they both hid their pain during their disagreements. "I did come for something, but I'm afraid I can't tell you. I'm afraid that if I tell you, you wouldn't tell me, or may even take further measures to hide what Im looking for." She paused. "I think I need to do this one on my own." She said.
The feathers on Novaria's wings rose a bit and then her wings settled back down again. In a measured fashion she took a few more bites. "I'll give you a measure of faith this time. The doors won't be closed and no one will follow you around. Whether you want to carry the crown stuffed inside the vault anymore, the ponies of Evodia still count you as a princess." Novaria sighed. "And this time... lets not let that sour our meeting. We are daughter and mother reunited. Lets just talk as we used to. Silver... is he treating you well?"
"Aside from apparently working together with you to put my daughter in deadly danger, oh, he treats me just fine." She said bitterly, then instantly looked as if she regretted it. "I apologize." She gave a weak smile. "I suppose watching my tongue was one of the training courses I missed out on." She looked at her mother. "I do love you, very much. You know that."
"I get reports on your daughter from time to time. She's done... impressively well. I can take a sting out between you and your husband, as soon as he learned that Sarah was in the project he asked me to pull her out." A cup with a strong tea levitated up to Novaria's lips, and she sipped the hot beverage. "And another officer on that project pleaded Sarah's case to keep her in. Both made good arguments, and Sarah, she spoke her own case, though not to me directly. If I hear bad news, I'll order her home, but she's an old to no longer be a filly. If you had her near you Angel, do you think you could have persuaded her to come home?" Novaria asked, offering Angel a cup.
Angel was quiet for a long time. "She was always so independent. I could get her to come home, but it would require a coronation and formally issuing royal orders." She laughed a bit. "I want her to pursue her calling, but I don't like being lied to. And lately it seems like everyone is keeping secrets from me. That HURTS, mother! I don't keep secrets! Not from anypony, so why is it I'm suddenly not good enough to be informed of my own damn daughter?" At her raised voice, a guard had come running, but a flick of her hoof pushed him away.
"It was wrong Angel, to have kept that Sarah was involved in the project from you for so long. But you'll have to understand that we never expected that she would complete her training. I hoped that she would simply fail, and be sent home with altered memories. And that would have been that. Would you like to have kept a secret from Sarah, that she had failed a special training exercise? Secrets tend to multiply, I have a habit of not spreading them around."
Angel lowered her gaze. "No." She said. "I don't like secrets. Especially ones that involve the safety of my family. I just want Sarah to come home safe." She sighed. "But I have to trust Silver knows what he's doing, I have no choice at this point. I can make him sleep on the couch all I want, but it won't bring Sarah back." She looked up. "May I ask you something, if you promise not to get all worked up over it?"
Angel fidgeted. "I'm not changing my mind, first of all, so don't get any ideas. But, maybe, while I'm here, I could attempt some of the courses that I dropped out of." She offered. "If for no other reason than to wipe some of the Incompletes off my record." She offered a weak grin. "I could at least meet you halfway instead of always pushing you away, right?"
Novaria looked a bit surprised. "I was expecting the old question of whether I could make you a regular pony." Of which she had learned, much to her own dismay, that even Celestia herself couldn't make her not be an alicorn. "But.. yes.. you had a course left on diplomatics, and gryphon politics. And some of defense and strategy. Hmmm... tit for tat then. I can grant you this, if you will put on your crown again. Not the coronation crown, but the one you used to wear. It can be requested from the vault."
"But I won't be a princess, right? The crown is just for... effect?" She asked.
"I can't ask the ponies to treat you as not a princess, but yes the crown will simple indicate that you're my family, and an alicorn. Nothing more and nothing less. It has no authority, except what you've always had, and no responsibility. It is not much to ask, and its not a heavy crown... not the one I thought you'd wear eventually." She said. "And of course, I don't expect you to wear it around the clock, even I take off this yoke and crown when I'm in bed, but whenever you present yourself to ponies outside of the palace, in training, or in visit, wear it."
Angel nodded. "Deal." She said. A little bit too easily, but she had other motives for wanting a bit more eased access around the palace. It would be easier to get information, for one, to find out the answers to the questions she had. "I think the kids would like to see you more often, maybe we could make our meetings more frequent." She said, a hint of a smile on her lips. "I miss you."
"You are all welcomed, any time of the year, for as long as you want." She replied in kind. It was hard to remember what sort of crown she had worn, all she could really remember was the gaudy and hefty coronation crown she was asked eventually to put on. It was around then that she had realized that after all she had goen through, she had wanted out of that kind of life. "Take your daughter Emerald with you, I'm sure she'd love to see the vault."
***
Emerald was having the time of her life. The Canterlot manners were barely contained, when she had gushed about her room, and the breakfast and that the guards were being well mannered to her, how friendly the other royals had been even though she had felt out of place, the fact that the plates were set beautifully and with the proper amount of forks and knives. "Mom, I'm not sure I'll be able to repay this. I'm having the time of my life." She wore a light and simple dress that accented her green fur.
Angel looked somewhat surprised. "Who said anything about repayment?" She asked. In truth she was only here to find out more about what Sarah was involved in, as well as seeking out answers about her her own past. But she didn't tell the children that, they didn't need to know. "I fully anticipated that you would enjoy yourself, this is exactly the type of environment that you love being around," Angel said. "I'm only sorry that we didn't come out here sooner. My own stubborn fault for that, I'm afraid. Have you seen the library yet?"
"I think I'm just getting into that age where you realize that you're being given things, and you start to feel a little guilty about it... don't let that stop you, I love this... and no I haven't seen the library yet. If it weren't for the guards, I wouldn't even have meet up with you, I was lost." She admitted, but the place was a lot bigger than it appeared, and many of the rooms in the palace weren't even in use. Large sections were unoccupied. A good place to hide if you were a sullen princess, wanting to be alone for a little bit. "I almost can't believe you grew up here mom. You've always liked small cozy houses.. and didn't you talk about living in Ponyville for a bit? I guess.. all this wasn't as enchanting to you as it is to me?" She asked sagely.
"Oh it was, Emerald. It really was. It was all this and more." She said wistfully. "But you have to understand, I didn't have the freedom to wander that you have. When I wasn't in classes, I was in training. When I wasn't in training, I was studying. When I did have time to myself I was always followed by guards. It was awful." She shook her head. "I guess after a while, the magic of it just went away for me, and I didn't want to have anything to do with it anymore."
More guards appeared in this area as they got into the heart of the palace. Twenty five years it had been since she had been in the vault. The last parts of her stint as upcoming co-ruler of Evodia, had been a series of formalia, culminating with handing in her regalia and packing something simple. But the vault had not changed its appearance. A huge metallic door stood before them. A guard approached, unicorn. "Excuse me princess, we check everyone now a days." Changelings; New precautions. A flap of her wings would have been enough in the past. He blasted her and Emerald with a small white flash, and when they both appeared unchanged, he gave the sign and the huge door swung open. An old grey looking unicorn, the vault inspector led them inside. In glass boxes were ornaments and regalia, relics and jewelry from over a millenia of crafting. Gems, jewels, crystals, gold and silver were pilled up. The head vault keeper led the two to a small glass box. "Your crown princess Angel." It wasn't the coronation crown, which was the only one she could remember for some reason. This was the one she had worn since she had been a filly. Back when being an alicorn meant that she brought hope and joy to ponies. It was thin and light, not a tiara, more like a wreath, wrought in silver and studded with a few stones. If she put it on her head she probably wouldn't notice it. The coronation crown in comparison had weighed two pounds, at least. When had she gotten it? She honestly couldn't remember, she had had even when she had been a little filly. On occasion it had been modified to fit her as she grew. The box would only open by her prodding. Emerald was silent, in complete awe of the place they were in. Her love of all things jewelry crafting in full bloom, and yet she regarded the crown with an odd look, a raised eyebrow. In fact she looked a little bit scared of it.
"Stay close, Emerald." Angel warned. At the first mention of being called princess, she merely gave the guard a look that could have melted ice. At the second mention, she looked offended. "Call me Princess one more time and I'll find a new place to put your horn," she warned. She wasn't about to have any of that. She turned to Emerald first, and placed the crown on her daughters head. Nothing significant, she just wanted Emerald to wear it first, since the young mare was looking at it so fondly. "What do you think? Acceptable quality?" She smiled.
Emerald smirked seeing the crown put on her. "Its not especially magical." Which was what her talent was. Making magical jewelry. With her horn glowing she levitated it off her head and turned in every which way. "I like the design, simple and light. I think it fits your head shape better than mine, it pinched me above my ear." She floated it onto Angel's head, and it slid gracefully and hugged the skull gently.. and then it barely seemed noticable. Except of course to ponies looking at her. "Its a little odd.." Emerald began but decided not to continue. "Uh.. I mean not that it looks odd mom, it fits its a really beautiful headdress." She smiled.
"That's exactly what it is. A ceremonial decoration. Not a crown or anything else." Angel insisted. She worried slightly that she was making a decision she'd regret later, but for now she was sticking with it. "I never thought I'd even see this old thing again, let alone wear it." She looked down at Emerald. There was sadness in Angel's eyes, but she didn't explain why.
"Mom, there's no reason to be sad, I can't be a princess because I'm not one. I'm a jewel maker." Emerald said, misinterpreting the fleeting look of sadness in Angel's eyes, putting a hoof against her mothers chest. "Besides coming here is more than enough. And as you said, princesshood comes with duties, and I wouldn't exactly be free to make jewelry if I had to do all that."
"Hey! I didn't say anything about princesshood!" Angel protested. "I just feel I at least owe it to my mother to finish the courses I dropped out of. Having incompletes on my record makes me look bad, and it makes her look bad." She said. "I never said anything about becoming a princess, I just want to finish school." She had graduated from medical school, yes, but had until now never admitted to having dropped out of training to her children.
Emerald rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright, you just want to finish your studies and complete some diplomas. Now a lady never pry's... but she does infer. With some occasional meetings with grandmother, working out the animosity the two of you have built up from a time before I was born. In two months you'll be done with those studies. You'll get a letter from Canterlot hospital informing you that they would love you back.." Emerald smiled. "I've learned something, mother, and that is that the big decisions you never really doubt, but you can spend a time settling down with that. I don't know what you've decided... but I do think you already have, you're just having trouble coming to terms with it."
Angel sat on her haunches. She was looking at Emerald with reverance and awe, and then simply said mysteriously, "And with that... it's gone forever." She sighed. "I'm proud of you, Emerald."
Emerald looked a little surprised seeing her mother sit down like that, and shine respect on her all of the sudden. "What's forever gone?" She asked. "Mom... you're acting strangely."
"You, Emerald." Angel said. "When we came down here, there was still a little bit of filly left in you. A little bit of innocence I'd hoped I could hold onto a while longer." She was crying now, tears trickling down her cheeks. "But it's gone. I see that now. There's a beautiful young mare in front of me, a mare I could not possibly be any more proud of. A mare with the whole world in front of her, nowhere she can't go, nothing she can't do."
Emerald blushed. "A mare.. I hadn't thought about it mother. I thought being grown up felt more.. somber." She said looking a bit uneasy on her feet, smiling. Seeing her mother gush her heart out, she put her head against Angel's. Basking in her mothers love. "I love you mom, that doesn't change just because I've grown up." It took a while, just feeling the moment. She broke. "Mom... as a grown up mare. I'm making my first adult decision right now. I'm staying here. I'll ask Novaria of course, but I don't think she'll mind having one of her grandchildren living here. There's opportunities to mingle with important ponies and ply my craft."
Angel seemed almost relieved to hear this. "You know, I would've actually been surprised had you decided anything else. I saw the way you've been looking at everything, the love for Evodia in your eyes. In fact... I have a present for you. In preparation of exactly this announcement." She winked a bit, and led Emerald back out of the vault, through the winding streets, and back into the room in which they were staying. Emerald of course demanded to know what Angel was up to, but didn't get so much of a single word as a hint.
Emerald felt liberated. She could set her own time from now on and go wherever she wanted to go. Her own mare. Hoping that some of Angel's grace had rubbed off on her, and a little anxious about how things would turn out from now on. It felt like an adventure, and of course... she would be living here if all went well. In the heart of Evodia. For once she had no idea what her mom was up to.
Angel's horn glowed as she opened the closet door, and a large metal box floated down between them. It was appeared to be made of silver, and shone with unequaled brilliance. "For you." Angel said, beaming with pride. It was locked, but only by a couple of latches which could easily be lifted up.
Emerald was wondering what treasure her mom had stored away for her. And undid the latches with graceful flicks of magic, opening it up without touching the box.
The material it was made from was symbolic, the silver was easy enough to remind her of her father, while the gold leafed paper covering the contents of the box was similar to Angels mane. Inside were four objects. A small hammer, a chisel, a magnifier, and a brush. Each was decorated with small inset emeralds around the handles. It was too perfect to have been a spontaneous gesture, this had been set aside a long time ago.
Emerald had a similar set, and of course many smaller specialized tools. These were from the heart, that she'd use more than the others. Her hooves flew to her mouth, and she shivered. For once she had no elegant words, or good manners to guide her. She wept happily at the gesture.
A smile graced her mothers lips as she watched Emerald open and close her mouth, but no words would come out. "I take it that means you like them?" She asked.
She nodded and dried her eyes with her hooves. "I... I wish dad was here to see this as well. I can't wait to talk to him when he gets home. They're beautiful mother, I'll put them to great use." Her speech was half choked. Emerald had been touched, moved and swept off her feet. It wasn't the implements in themselves. It was what they represented, that she was ready to start her own journey on her own terms. "Thank you mom."
"Silver and I have special gifts for every child upon finding their true destiny. One a cutie mark is earned, Silver and I start planning." She felt truly guilty about not getting one for Sarah, but she and Silver had not reached a compromise on that yet. "I love you, honey." She said, and nuzzled Emeralds neck.