Starfall found himself in the dining hall, sitting next to Luna and Cadence. "Cadence? I thought you.-" The prince stopped talking to the princess of love as he realized that he wore odd clothes he had never seen before and he noticed that his arm was a different skin color to his light beige skin, these were beige brown.."Another vision?" He asked himself, knowing it was true.
Starfall's jaw dropped as he saw another human in the room with brown skin and sitting next to Celestia. "Dawn Fury!?" He asked out loud? "Uncle Dawn Fury?" He asked again, hoping he would reply to the prince's plea. But he ignored him as he didn't exist.
Starfall's Aunt Celestia, started to clap her hooves gently to signal a servant to enter. The door swung open and there he stood. A gray gryphon who the prince recognized right away as Gustav the cook and the prince's close friend.
Gustav cleared his throat before speaking, "My omnivorous brothers. By the request of Princess Celestia, I've been tasked to cook this wonderful meal for you two. I present to you two, Filet de porc!" Starfall's eyes widened as the gryphon spoke. The words meant Pork loin...In other words, Pig meat. The gryphon raised the silver plate and Starfall was disgusted by the sight of the grilled animal. Starfall could barely eat chicken meat without feeling too guilty..But he had never even considered eating another animal. Starfall wanted to throw up, but this was a mere dream and he could do but watch and listen.
"Thank you Jesus!" Dawn Fury yelled out with his hand together like he was begging to the Lightbringer...
Starfall took notice of the cries of joy from his uncle, especially at the mention of this Jesus...Is this Jesus just like grandmother? "FUCK YES MEAT!" The voice came from his fathers body. Starfall also took notion of the word, Fuck...Did it have similar meaning as buck? he thought to himself. Gustav placed the plates in front of the hungry and very anticipatory humans. "Celestia Baby, how did you know that the fastest way through a mans heart is through his stomach?" The voice of his father came again." He saw his cheeks dimmed his eyesight, most likely smiling."Thank you...-?" His voice came out towards the gray gryphon.
"-Gustav!" He answered with a bow. "Gustav Legrand. Enjoy your meal my friends." Starfall's disgust was slightly eased as he felt a friend's memory through his blood. He bowed one more time and made his way out of the room.
Starfall's sight was forced away from the door and he looked towards Shining armor and Princess Cadence who were trying to keep their breakfast from come back out. "Princess that is disgusting! How can you allow these savages to sit in this table and devour the flesh of an animal?" Shining armor protested out.
Starfall's sight was slightly blocked as his father gave the captain a killing stare and he saw that his uncle was doing the same thing but his face was quickly relaxed. "Its either This or I could throw the pleasant librarian of Ponyville on a barbeque!"
Starfall gaped in disbelief at his father’s notion of eating his Aunt, but his concerns were quickly diminished as he started to laugh maniacally. Starfall took a revealing deep breath as he realized he was only joking..But he still thought it was in bad taste.
"Ugh!" He groaned and stepped away from the table. "I've lost my appetite!" He said and made his way towards the door.
Starfall stood up from his chair against his will and turned towards Shining Armor. "Did you ever thank your wife for saving you?" His father's voice echoed throughout the room. Shining armor stopped walking and his horn charged and he turned towards Starfall with flaring fury in his eyes. He shot the spell which made Starfall flinch, but he saw that nothing happened and he saw that Shining armor was charging towards him...
Starfall calmly opened his eyes, Frosthowl was still asleep right next to his master's bed. He sighed as he knew the visions were trying to tell him something. He slowly removed the covers and shook Frosthowl's chest.
Frosthowl growled, He wanted to sleep inn. "Fine then!" Starfall said, still a bit drowsy from waking up. He stood up from his bed and started to put on his common castle wear for the day.
Starfall made his way towards the kitchen where he would visit his friend Gustav and to grab something to eat of course. He opened the medium sized doors to the kitchen and saw the gryphon working hard as ever to prepare the prince's dinner. "Bonne soirée Gustav!" Starfall snapped the stressed gryphon off his work.
"Good evening to you too Starfall!" The gryphon said happy to see his friend awake. "The usual or specialty?" He asked the young prince.
Starfall rubbed his chin, he was still disgusted from the grilled steak from his dream. "Today I'm going with the usual. Would you be as kind to make it for me?"
Gustav smiled at the humble prince. "Very well, A bowl of fruit salad. And your highness, you know that you don't have to ask me to do anything, You don't have to ask me anything." He said whilst chopping up cabbages and several other fruits and vegetables at a impressive speed.
Starfall smiled. "And you know I've asked you several times not to call me Your highness." He replied to the cook.
Gustav chuckled. "Touché"
The prince finished eating his dinner and still felt like he had a empty stomach and Gustav took notice to this. "Its not easy is it?" He asked the prince about being a vegetarian.
Starfall shook his "Gustav, I've always respected you and honored our friendship, so I mean no offense when I say. I don't know how gryphons and my father could be full fledged omnivores." Gustav stopped his chopping at the mentioning of the prince's father.
Gustav put the knife down on the table before speaking. "Ponies frown upon us gryphons for eating meat, You and I know how delicious the taste of flesh is. I know it's harder for you to enjoy it because you are half pony...But you are also still half human."
Starfall sighed in despair. "I suppose you can't tell me more than simply what I already know?" he asked rhetorically.
Gustav nodded with a frown. "You know that your mother took every precaution, she has ordered any of your fathers friends or acquaintances to keep silent about your kin or your father before the day you were even born...I'm sorry Starfall. I can't imagine what you are going through..." the gray gryphon sympathized with the prince.
The prince sighed again "It's alright" he jumped off his chair and made his way back to his room. "au revoir Gustav, vous voyez plus tard demain."
Starfall was sitting with his legs crossed whilst looking over the sunset that was slowly descending down towards the horizon. The tree's had shifted their beautiful emerald green foliage to pumpkin orange. This magnificent sight always did help the prince think about. The prince also saw how all the birds were soaring in the sky, "Freedom..A luxury I may never know.." He said to himself. His mind had been barraged with thought of what happened between him and Skyla at the grand galloping gala. He didn't understand, the guards that had been assigned to deliver her presents and letters, told him that she received it.
A sudden flashback of all his encounters with Skyla's father flashed in front of his mind. His voice echoed throughout Starfall's mind.
Stay away from my daughter...
Princess, how can you allow these savages sit next to you...
Abomination...
"I can't believe that I didn't notice something that was completely obvious...My visions..My dreams...and my history all points towards one obvious answer...And I am ashamed that I didn't notice it before. Shining armor..." He said in a cold voice. "But without proof...there is no point...She would obviously believe her father over me.." Starfall was just about to give up and let Shining armor win..But his despaired was cleansed quickly as he started to tremble with anger. Starfall felt like every fiber of his body was pushing him to not give up. Like it was in his blood.
"What am I talking about!? I am Prince Starfall. Sovereign prince of all of Equestria, and I will show that...That..-" He stopped for a second to pick a word that could describe the disgraced captain. "That fucking dickhead!" Starfall frustratingly spoke out loud. After he had picked the words that his father had taught him, He felt exhilarated from the words alone..Like it took the edge off.
“I will show him…” He whispered under his breath.
The prince had just completed his preparation for his plan. Frosthowl had his saddle on his back and now all that was left was for the prince and the wolf to sneak out.
"You ready?" He asked Frosthowl before leaving his room. He responded with a assertive nod.
Starfall wasn't going to sneak out of the castle. He was going to sneak inside the mountain. He made his way casually towards the Starswirl the bearded wing without being hindered or stopped by any guards. He approached the gate to the library and used his magic to unlock the gate. He and Frosthowl entered still unhindered any guards or his mother.
"Hm..Too easy.." He said quietly. "Oh well." He shrugged. He made his way towards a specific location he had read about the library. He was searching for the forbidden section, where all the dark and forbidden magical secrets are. But his goal wasn't to study, so he kept focused on his goal.
Frosthowl didn't bother his master or get in his way, he trusted Starfall's cunningness. "Here we are, The Forbidden Section..." The gate had a powerful magical seal that nopony could break. "This gate is sealed with the blood of Celestia. Some of that blood flows in my veins and might work to unseal it." He said turning his attention towards Frosthowl.
He took out a small sharp knife and cut his index finger and very small drops of blood started to pump out of the wound. He put his finger on the lock. "Please let this work!" He begged to his grandmother. A red flash cracked the lock and unlocked the gate. "Success!" He said with a overjoyed grin.
The prince slowly opened the creaking gate and felt a disturbing evil surrounding him. Starfall felt his spine shivering slightly from the dark section. He stepped closer to Frosthowl who noticed the prince's fear. "Sorry, these books radiate with black magic and forbidden knowledge." He spoke uncomfortably.
As he walked past the books that were mostly wrapped in red and black cover, some that were older than a thousand years and some that looked only a century old. Starfall felt as the books were crying out for him to unveil their secrets. But Starfall ignored their ghostly cries. Surprisingly Frosthowl didn't hear or feel any different towards being in the forbidden section. But that worried the prince even more, was it just his mind playing games on him...Or was something really calling Him.
His mind was distracted as he finally reached the brick wall that harbors the secret passageway. No words needed to be said and the prince started to knock on the wall, trying to find soft spot that would indicate that its not completely blocked off behind the wall. He eventually found it and started looking for some sort of push in brick. "Come on! You can't hide from me." One of the bricks slowly nudged backwards and the wall sunk down beneath the ground, revealing the big opening and stone staircase into the mountain. "At last! Now there is but one obstacle left..." He and Frosthowl slowly descended down the staircase and the wall went back to its rightful place.
Starfall and Frosthowl had been walking through the cave for a few minutes now. the cave was littered with crystals, diamonds and gems. There were small glittering pools of cave water and far off the sound of a unending stream of water falling down the mountain. He had of course heard rumors of about the mines beneath Canterlot that drove the miners to insanity and irrational greed. Starfall was doing his best to fight the fears that he felt just a few moments ago, But despite his fears he was determined to reach the crystal empire.
As the duo reached waterfall Frosthowl was the one to show signs of doubt and fear. He started yelping to no end.
Starfall comforted him by stroking the giant wolfs furry neck. "I know you don't like water or heights, but you need to trust me that I will catch you...I need you to trust me." Frosthowl looked down on his master, still yelping in fear. But as the words sunk in his head. He felt a bit assured by his words and took his proud and fearless stance to satisfy his master. "Good Boy!" Starfall scratched Frosthowl's chin which Assured him even more. "Lets do this!" Starfall took a glance at the steep fall down to the lake. "Lightbringer watch over me." With those final words he jumped...
Starfall's falling speed was accelerated more and more until he unfurled his wings which made his fall at a slower speed down towards the lake. He could feel his heart racing as he felt no ground under his feet and hoping that it wouldn't resolve in him getting crushed by the water surface. Starfall hit the water with a measurable amount of force but he survived and the ice cold water was already doing its best to freeze Starfall's body. He swam towards the nearby shore of the lake and looked up to see Frosthowl still not sure if he is ready to do this.
For a second Starfall was suspecting that he might not do it and he went back inside the cave. But his doubts over his companion vanished as he saw Frosthowl leaping through the air and with his high pitch yelping on the way down he was absolutely terrified. Starfall absorbed the glow of the moon to gather his magical powers. A silver aura surrounded the falling wolf and his fall speed was greatly reduced as he fell down towards the lake and got his fur completely soaked in water.
Starfall took a relieved breath as it all the obstacles had ben removed and from here on out it was a forward race before sunset. Frosthowl dog paddled towards his master and started to shake off all the water and pounce his master with a hug. "I'm so proud of you Frosthowl!" Frosthowl licked Starfall's face with his giant flat tongue. "Eew..You smell like a...- Errr never mind." He chuckled sheepishly. Frosthowl stepped off his master and let him stand up again. A cold wind hit the duo but Starfall was more affected than his companion. "Brrrr!" He shivered from the cold that his soaked cloths gave off. He was prepared for this as well and used a spell to dry out his cloths. "There!...I never thought I would use one of aunty Rarity's spells..." He shrugged and looked towards the horizon to the north. "From here on out its a wayward path to the Crystal Empire." Frosthowl dropped down on his stomach and Starfall jumped up on the saddle. "Lets see how fast you are, Go Frosthowl, show me the meaning of haste!" Frosthowl ran with a speed that made the prince lose his balance and the ground quaked under the giant wolf's paws.
“My dreams?” Starfall asked curiously, towards his aunt. “I don't have bad dr-” He was cut off before he could finish.
“-Frosthowl brought it to our attention...” Celestia said, nonchalantly.
At first, Starfall was about to start yelling out from his friends action but remember quickly that he had promised to talk to his mother about his day terrors. “Oh...Wait how did he tell you anything!?” Starfall asked confused as he usually had to guess.
Celestia gave her famous teasing smile “Frosthowl didn't tell me anything as I cannot understand him...But your mother on the other hand-”
“-Can talk to the creatures of the night...” Starfall wanted to hit himself in the face, he had promised to tell his mother about his dreams, but not when. “So I guess you know about my...-” Starfall couldn’t bring himself to finish as he looked with shame down on the floor. He was terrified to what his mother had seen and what she was thinking of him.
“Yes...” Celestia replied, with sympathy towards the young human. “As usual, if anyone was in desperate need of Her assistance, your mother took a closer look to as what is bothering you.
Starfall’s breath started to quicken as he was dreading words like “You are evil” or “You are just like Sombra.” It was a heavy burden for Him to bear with in his conscious. that the only other half human was an evil prince...His cousin and Her son. “Does she think I am a monster...?” Starfall said as he felt his throat closing and head pounding.
Celestia for a moment didn't know how to respond to Her nephew’s shockingly sudden question. But She quickly remembered that He had seen horrible visions of his fathers life and maybe even Alexander. Celestia’s jaw felt a quiver sadness towards her innocent nephew and quickly embraced him with a hug. “Of course not! Don’t you ever think that!” She felt like crying on his shoulder but quickly debunked that thought, She had to be strong for Him. “Your mother loves you with all her heart!” Celestia felt her nephews arms around her back as he was embracing her as well. “You are not a monster Starfall, you are the beautiful Prince of Equestria.”
Starfall felt his aunt’s sadness conveying over to him as he was sobbing in her shoulder. “Bu- But why am I like I am? Why do I have these evil day terrors!” He struggled against the tears and sniffled.
Celestia broke the hug and guided his ashamed eyes up towards her. “Because they are not dreams...” Starfall stopped for a moment as She spoke. “Me and your mother have come to the conclusion that its your-” Celestia paused for a second before continuing. “-Your Father’s memories...” Starfall’s mouth opened in disbelief as His aunt spoke.
“My...My father’s?” His eyes gazed into Celestia’s before quickly shaking out of it. “It...It can't be true...That's impossible! My father was a hero and…-” Starfall felt like his whole existence was turned upside down. His breath quickened as he could hear His own heartbeat and everything going completely mute. But was quickly snapped out of it by Celestia putting her wing on his shoulder.
“Let me finish, me and your mother believe that your day terrors are related to you death five years ago...In other words, when you met your father in the spirit world, a part of him must have rubbed off on you...It could be possible that your dreams are half-truths.”
Starfall was slightly calmed down by this new revelation. “Half-truths? You mean like they are only partially true?”
Celestia nodded. “Some of your dreams were events that never happened, it would be understandable if some of your terrors were a mix between your fears and your fathers memories. But you dont need to worry about your father Starfall, Him and His brother in arms are heroes of Equestria, if not for him…-” Celestia didnt want to cotninue to the dark topic. “You need to be patient, your birthday is only four months away. All of your Questions will be answered then.”
Starfall rode on the exotic wolf through the relentless north wind, The night sky were emanating beautiful multi colored ley lines that were emanating from the crystal spire that was in the horizon.
“We’re here… But I can't have you following me!” Starfall dismounted from Frosthowl and put his feet deep in the arctic snow. Frosthowl yelped to help his master. “I’m sorry but I need to sneak in there quickly and I can’t do it with a 6 foot wolf behind me.” Starfall nuzzled the white wolfs neck. “I promise I’ll be fine.” He gently whispered and hugged his best friend. Frosthowl nodded and left his master to go alone in the winter night.
Starfall had to be careful not to be seen by any crystal pony or guards that could reveal his arrival, or else the whole town would be chasing to catch a glimpse of their king. The crystal streets were empty and lifeless with only a guard at every block patrolling. Starfall snuck carefully through the dark corners of the streets that had flickering lights that were aiding their kings path. A master of sneaking through the dark, Starfall had little to no issue reaching the crystal castle and preparing himself for the route to his objective. Slowly and silently walking up the stairs. He knew that there would be guards at the entrance and was correct, two purple crystal stallions were stationed with their swords ready to cleave any who wasn't authorized to come inside.
The prince knew he could approach them in several different ways, one was that he could simply order them as crystal king to look the other way...Or he could shadow step to a shadowy corner.
He decided that he couldn’t trust the guards and decided to shadow step. Starfall focused his meager blinking skills, in an instant he disappeared from sight and reappeared from the corner in the hallway. He looked back and saw that the guards hadn’t noticed him yet and quickly moved on. He eventually reached the final hallway, and was standing literarlly infront of the two guards guarding the door, but they could not see him.
Starfall put his hand inside his pocket and took out two platinum coins. He quickly glanced at the coin with a amethyst gem encrusted on the middle. Lets see if they are as badly trained as Vigile claim they are? Starfall threw the coins to the side and let them roll into the light and down the hallway, away from the door.
“Who goes there!?” The guards asked out loud sternly to whatever had caused the noise. Their eyes caught the attention of the rolling platinum coins. “Hurricane, look!” They both followed the coins and left their position to pick up the platinum coins down the hall but before they could return to their position, Starfall was already inside...
Wow… I can’t believe that it was that easy… Shining armor is a horrible captain… No wonder he despises Vigile.
He snapped out of his thoughts and started to take in the girly decorated room, full with pink cuddly plushies, several other things you would find in a filly’s room. But today She Wasn't a filly anymore. Starfall stepped closer to the bed and saw the sleeping Pink alicorn and looked at how she was free from his curse of constant frightful dreams and gently breathing through the silent night. He carefully sat down on the bottom corner of the bed and waited for her to wake up...
The prince saw that the daylight slowly approaching and he know that his powers had once again left him a mere human. Starfall was nervous to how Skyla was going to react to his Entrence He merely hoped that she wouldn't foil his plan by screaming for the guards when the time came.
The pink alicorn started to move around a bit, which caught the attention of Starfall and immediately looked at the mare who was slowly opening up her eyes. Skyla’s sight and mind were slowly adjusting to the daylight and saw a white clothed figure sitting on her bed which caused her to open her eyes in panic. “WHA!-” Starfall quickly interrupted her by putting his hand on her muzzle hindering her from yelling out.
“Don’t scream, I snuck out and left Canterlot to talk to you.” Her eyes narrowed with hatred towards the prince but was curious to hear what would have brought Starfall all the way to the crystal empire. Starfall slowly removed his hand and hoped that she wouldn't take the opportunity.
“What do you want!? What would bring the all mighty and kind Human to my room?” She said with a voice that was filled with so much malice.
“Skyla, I know that you hate me, But you need to give me an honest chance, as your friend.
Skyla’s demeanor wasn't changed and she in fact looked more angry than before. “Oh really!? And here I remember you saying that we were never gonna be friends again..Ever!” She wanted to yell louder, but she knew herself that if the guards would hear her, they would interrupt whatever had brought Starfall here. “When did we become friends again all of a sudden? When I revealed you as the awful pony that you are?”
Starfall sighed, sadly. “No...It was the moment before I…-..-Before I died…” Skyla’s angry frown was half way removed as Starfall spoke.
“Died? What do you mean Died? When did this happen?” She asked thinking it might be a lie.
Starfall remember in detail what happened that horrible night, the first time he killed something, the first time he let someone die, when he was supposed to save Her And before he fell on the icy snow, he remember seeing his life flashing in front of him, one of them was the smile that Skyla wore on her face the day he gave her the Sky necklace. He glanced at her neck and saw that she wasn’t wearing it anymore. “Almost six years ago...I was in ponyville to start my studies with Twilight...I had started earlier than we had agreed on and therforth I was in ponyville during my birthday.”
Starfall looked glanced at Skyla’s face and continued as she didn't interrupt him. “I had just left celebrating my birthday with aunty Fluttershy, when I heard a monstrous terrifying roar and a...High pitched wolf howl.” Skyla started to put a few of the pieces together as he mentioned the now fully grown wolf. “I let my curiosity get the best of me and as I ran to the forest I saw that there were two wolf protecting their cub against a nightmarish chimera...They...They didn't make it…” He wrapped up the details of the battle. “I tried to save the mother. She was in a horrible condition and I was...Scarred from my battle with the chimera.”
Skyla’s hatred in her eyes were gone now and filled with anticipating grief. “I tried to get help...I tried to save Her...But I wasn’t strong enough...My wound had taken its toll on me and before I fell...I saw my life flashing before my entire life…” Skyla’s eyes were tearing up as Starfall continued to speak. “And in my last moments I saw only your happy smile as I gave you your birthday present...After that...Everything went black.”
“Oh...My...Goodness...Thats why Mom had to leave? You died!?” She raised her voice with an vast amount of guilt trapped in her throat.
Starfall nodded. “Fortunately...My family...Our family was there to save me when I needed them the most. And after I decided to adopt Frosthowl as my familiar.” Starfall tried to hide his grief of what happened that day. But Skyla’s tears were already flowing down her cheeks. “I didn't forget what happened the night before...I got a second chance at life and I would not waste it. I told my mother to send you a letter that I had wrote and I promised I would send one every month...But eventually I never got a response and I thought you hated me.” Starfall sighed as he finished telling Skyla the truth.
Starfall was suddenly gripped by two hooves which pulled him closer to his friend. “I'm so sorry Starfall!” She cried into his shoulder. “I’m so SO sorry!” She squeezed tighter and Starfall hugged her back compassionately. “How...How could I have thought that you had forgotten about me.” they both recovered from the hug and Starfall could hear a small commotion outside which Skyla also took notice off.
“You deserve the whole truth, I will never lie to you Skyla.” Starfall stood up from the bed and motioned Skyla to follow as he made his way towards the door. “The truth is literally behind this door.” Starfall slightly opened the wooden door to reveal a Canterlotian crystal pegasus with a package under his hooves.
“Under the orders of Prince Starfall I was told to deliver this package to the crystal empire at sunrise, and only give it directly to Princess Skyla. I have my orders and his word is law. As the guards were about to let the pegasus guard pass through the door, a voice came from the hall, stopping him from entering.
“Stop right there!” A loud commanding voice that Skyla recognized immediately as her father’s rang out. “Your Prince isn’t here now, and I am the one in charge, if you dare to take as much as another step I will blast you to ash before you can even touch the door.” Skyla gasped at how brutal her father was towards a pegasus who was only doing his job. “Give me the package and fly back to your prince!” He said with a strong resentment in his voice.
The pegasus sighed and dropped the package on the floor before slowly walking past the former Captain of the Royal Guard. Shining Armor glanced back as he saw his two crystal guards looking worryingly at him. “Sir, won't he report back to the prince?” One of the guards asked their captain.
Shining Armor snorted. “Major Day Song has been keeping these couriers from telling the truth for years now. He won't be a problem.” He said smugly as he revealed the traitor inside the castle guard. Starfall’s eyes were burning with new found rage and hatred. He had seen enough.
“I beg to differ!” Starfall said out loud and opened the wooden door revealing skyla Behind the prince.
“Starfall!?- But..- How did you-?” Shining Armor was stumped and the guards were witnessing the whole thing.
“YOU TWO!” Starfall pointed towards the two guards “As The Crystal King I order you to leave my sight immediately before I send you to the dungeons to rot for all eternity!” The prince said furiously. The guards glanced at Shining armor before quickly doing as they were told. the white unicorn wasn't prepare from his guards sudden desertion. “He is all your Skyla.” Starfall said as he stepped to the side and let the pink alicorn confront her father.
“HOW COULD YOU! I thought you were my Best father friend forever! You lied to me all these years and you filled my heart with hatred towards someone who obviously cared for me more than you did! ...I...I can’t believe it...Even if it happened right in front of me, I still can’t believe that my own father would do such a thing against me and my Best and only friend!” Skyla mouthed out with the same fury that she had dropped on Starfall a couple of months ago. Shining armor still didn't know how to react at this and just kept his mouth open in disbelief. “I Never want to see you again-” Before Skyla could finish, Starfall intervened and went between them.
“-Skyla wait!.” Skyla stopped her flaring glare towards her father and looked surprised at the prince. “Shining armor could you give us a second? Unless you want me to let her continue?” He said knowingly that he wanted to avoid getting yelled out more by his daughter. He glanced at Starfall with anger in his eyes before pulling himself to turn around and walk towards the dining hall.
“Why did you stop me? You saw how he was the one responsible for all my years of misery because of him!” Skyla pointed towards the dining hall still steaming with rage.
“Be careful with the words you chose, I learned it the hard way… I don't want you to disown your father...I want you to find forgiveness.”
Skyla’s anger was completely shaken off as she couldn’t understand how Starfall could stand up for her father even tho he was responsible for their long separation. “I don’t understand, how can you ask me to forgive him? He is a horrible father… He lied to me for years FOR PONIES SAKE!” She stomped the ground as she vented out her anger.
Starfall sighed from her outburst. “I am not as fortunate as you to have a father… I plead my wish to the stars every day for my father. I never had someone who could teach me how to be a human, how I am supposed to live with myself when eating meat, what my talents are as a human and a friend who will never, no matter what, leave me… But everytime I wake up from my dreams, I find myself alone in the darkness with tears im wiping off on my pillow, Grieving for something that will never happen… I don’t want you to lose your father because of me… But I couldn’t let you live a lie, So it is up to you, if you want to forgive your father.”
Skyla didn’t know how to feel… She hated what her father did...But did she hate her father? She sighed as she decided she didn’t. During their time together he always did do his best to spend as much time with her as possible… Reading bedtime stories, taking her to the beach, letting her build a fort of jewels with the treasure. a tear fell on the floor. “Fine… I forgive him…” She slowly spoke and sniffled.
Starfall directed Skyla’s gaze towards his kind eyes. “There there, Skyla.” He hugged her. “Tell you what, Make your way towards the edge of the Crystal Empire, there is someone who really wants to meet you.” Starfall said with a warm smile, as he broke the hug. “And when you get there...Its time for you to see what I’ve got you for your birthday.” He started to give a cheesy smile before chuckling.
It felt like the presence around the whole empire had changed as Skyla smiled happily at her best friend. “Okay then, But promise me that you’ll hurry?”
Starfall rolled his eyes with a smile. “Pinkie promise.”
Starfall headed towards the dining hall to talk to Shining armor. He opened the doors and saw that Shining armor was angrily waiting at him. “What did you tell her!?” He asked stepping closer threateningly.
“I told her to forgive her.” He replied nonchalantly.
“YOU WHA-...You what?” He asked completely dumbstruck.
“I told her that no matter what her father did, he still loves her and everyone makes mistakes...Tho yours came at the price of your daughters happiness.
Shining armor couldn’t believe what he was hearing… “You…-...Why would you do that? I thought you would tell her to hate me forever or something?” He asked the prince in disbelief.
Starfall stepped slowly closer. “Because I am not my father… I know of your differences with mine… I know what you and he did. But I will not be the herald of your schwabl, I don’t want to spend my life hating and scheming towards a rival. I just want to make my mother proud and make sure all of Equestria, is peaceful and harmonies.” Starfall confronted Shining armor who he was slightly taller. He extended his hand to the former captain. “It is time that you put your differences with my father aside and stop filling your heart with so much hatred.” Shining armor was hesitant, he wasn't sure if he could completely trust the human. “What has your hatred towards me and my father brought you?” Shining armor remember then what happened during the Grand Galloping Gala. When he committed his biggest mistake in his whole life, worse than the wedding fiasco.
He sighed, before grabbing the prince’s hand and shook it. “I can't believe I’m saying this but… You’re right, Its time for our vendetta to come to an end.” Starfall made his way towards the door as he was finished her. But before he could make his way out of the room he was stopped by Shining calling him. “Hey Starfall?” He turned around and gave his attention to the white unicorn one final time. “Your right, you aren't like your father...Your better then him.” He said with a genuine smile.
Starfall was walking in the field of grass towards the pair of alicorns and giant white wolf that they were patting on the stomach. “I see you’ve kiss and made up?” Starfall asked jokingly as he approached the alicorns.
Cadence gave the young prince a big smile before her attention was redirected towards what he was carrying. “What do you got there?” she pointed curiously towards wrapped box with a bow.
Skyla stopped patting Frosthowl and turned her attention towards Starfall. “With my birthday coming up soon and my choice to rule the Crystal Empire will be given to me on that day, I have come to the decision that I want you to rule the Crystal Empire when you reach of age.”
Skyla and Cadence gasped at the same time as they knew what he was trying to say. “But...I am as of this day an adult… Does this mean-? Skyla and her mother were waiting for Starfall to finish her guess.
“Correct!” He went down on one knee and offered the present for Skyla. Her mother closely watched as Skyla opened the present. As the she removed the wrapping, she saw it held a medium sized plastic case, and as she opened it, both alicorns were lost for words and gasped in disbelief.
A flash of light appeared by Skyla’s flank and a image of a crown that resembled the crystal spire was born…
Two days later…
Starfall was sitting on his mother's throne waiting for a particular guard to enter. The doors opened and revealed a white unicorn with blond hair and golden armor. “What can I be off service your majesty?” The guard bowed down before his prince and kept his gaze towards the ground as he took of his helmet.
Starfall signaled the guards the step closer. “Major Day song, I am going to ask you only once!” He said with a very stern voice. Day song’s posture was slightly changed as he was fearing that he had been on to him. “Did you help Shining Armor by threatening the couriers I sent with a dishonorable discharge?”
The armored unicorn stood up from shock. “Of course not, your majesty! I am loyal to the throne!” Starfall sighed as he lied to him.
“I would have shown you mercy if you had told me the truth, but you force my hand.” Behind the throne appeared the same pegasus that had delivered the package to the Crystal Empire two days ago. “I believe you two have already met?” He said rhetorically. “Tell me what happened when you came back to the castle?” Starfall asked the nameless pegasus.
“I had just returned from Canterlot, so, as protocol dictates, I reported to my superior officer to inform him of where I had been, as, for some reason, any pegasi that arrive in the Crystal Empire are to be directed to Major Day Song immediately.” Day Song was beginning to sweat and fidget. “He told me that if I mentioned that Shining Armor received your delivery, he was going to throw me in the dungeon for ten years.” The pegasus’ voice had noticeable traces of anger at the end.
Starfall nodded. “What gave you the courage to report this treason to me?”
The pegasus rose his head proud and strong from his previous stance. “I am loyal to the throne, even at the cost of my life!” He responded with pride in his voice.
Starfall smiled. turning his attention back to Day song, He cleared his throat before speaking. “Major Day song, you are hereby Discharged from the royal guard for acts of treason and disorderly conduct. You will have five years to reflect on your actions in the dungeons. TAKE HIM AWAY!” Starfall ordered the guards to place a magic disruptor on Day Song’s horn and shackle his hooves, and they escorted him out of the throne room as Starfall turned towards the window.
He sighed before he spoke to no visible pony. “Well, how did I do?” He asked the invisible alicorns that revealed themselves after he spoke.
Luna smiled with liquid pride forming around her eyes. “A fair and just punishment. I am so proud of you!” She removed the tears from her eyes and Starfall turned his attention back to the pegasus from earlier.
“What is your name, guard?”
“Sir, First Sergeant Zenith, Sir!” He replied, saluting.
“Well then, Colonel Zenith, I thank you for your loyalty towards the throne!” Starfall said, putting his hand on Zenith’s shoulder. “You were ready to sacrifice your freedom and name for what is right and such a pony is always a needed in my guard!”
“Thank you, your highness!” He lifted his head and chest with pride from his recent promotion.
End of Act 2