//------------------------------// // Fourteen Years Later // Story: Child of the Dark // by Ocean Heart //------------------------------// The warm morning sun shone brightly though the woods, birds singing happily and grass still wet with dew, the tall trees stood closely knit and the canopy only let rays of light spot the forest floor. A colt dashed though the dense woods, kicking off trees to turn sharply and sliding under branches. The colt's legs burned and his breathing was rapid, pushing himself harder and harder with a big grin on his face. Dusk ran in the woods, laughing to himself and digging his hooves in the ground. Picking up the pace until everything was a green blur, his purple eyes squinting against the wind; blowing past a group of hovering birds like a shadow. Light beams from the tree tops helping guide his sprint until he found an open area, leaping over the stream and landing on the other side flawlessly. Dusk's smoky black fur wet with sweat and silver mane matted over his face. Dusk panted and shook his head to send his long mane back over his head, horn parting it down the middle. The peace of the meadow was calming, it was his reward for such a hard run; more and more he found that running put him in a state of pure peace...body and mind focusing on just putting one hoof down and getting the next one out. Now though, the race was over...wind blowing into his mane and causing a ripple though the grass of the clearing. "HA! Once again, Dusk Armor wins the championship!" Walking as he monologues...much like his show stopping aunt. "His daring moves nearly costed him his life today with that close brush with the dragons.." A few birds might still have argue that he was the danger to them... "But they were no match for his cunning and his pure speed, this truly is a day in hisTORY?!" His fun cut short by a stray root; the colt tripping and face planting on the ground, thankfully soft from the morning dew. "Duuuuusty?" A mare called out from a distance, her call echoing in the maze of trees. The colt rubbed his head and got back up, looking at the source of the call. "Ugh...My names not Dusty, Mom!" he said with the irritation of a smart mouthed teen. "It is, and if you don't come back home this instant, the only thing you'll be called is dead!" Dusty yelped, speeding off without another thought and not bothering to jump over the stream, his hooves getting a good coating of mud and a refreshing splash of water on his blank flank. Getting a smack the face by a stray branch was the least of his worries with his mother still waiting...but after some more running he comes out in the bright sunlight covered in mud, leaves hanging in his mane with water soaking his thick coat. "S-sorry..I'm...back..." Panting between words, the purple alicorn standing and eyes widening at the mess her colt was in. "Oh my Celestia...I'm guessing you had fun on your adventure?" She said with a soft laugh. They started walking back to Ponyville together, Dusty was a bit more busy picking leaves out of his mane than paying attention to Twilight lecture him on not throwing himself into dangerous situations. Odd that she considered a run though the woods "dangerous". Twilight herself had gotten taller in the years, her mane longer but not yet quiet flowing like her teachers or her sister; she looked down at the young colt...eyes beaming with the curiosity and excitement from moments ago still, she was glad he had so many memories in his looks alone. The silver mane reminded Twilight of her mother's white coat, and the bright purple eyes shone with life she remembered when she was just a filly...of course it took time to adjust to his more obvious feature. The dull black coat that took her back to the King of Shadows and to a darker moment in her life; but when she heard his voice, saw her child play and learn magic just like her, she knew that a faded memory was nothing to a mothers love. All the way back he recounted his adventure, the sneak attack that tried to stop him, and dragons that dared stand in his path...more and more she laughed at the colt's imagination, catching view of her castle and interrupting him. "Alright alright, it sounds like you had a blast. Now when we get in you need to shower and get dressed, Princess Celestia and Luna are coming down to have dinner tonight." She said with a slight stern tone to make sure Dusty would listen...but also to try and make Dusty think on what she said.. Dusty looked up at her skeptically, it was never his mothers style to suddenly announce something; more often she would make about three lists weeks prior, pester the guards and make his life miserable. The guards clad in gold ended their conversation when Twilight came in view, quickly returning to attention and saluting. In her time raising Dusty Armor and managing the chaos of being a princess, she became accustomed to the benefits that came with being royalty, getting a little jitter of pride when others treated her more like a princess than she thought necessary. Nodding to the guards in gold, telling them to relax while they dropped back to attention, the large door swinging open for her. Dusty was the first to run in, the confusion changing to pure excitement when he realized what the 'dinner' was; heading straight for his room to get ready. Twilight let out another soft laugh when Dusty completely failed to notice the tell tale trail of Pinkie Pie's mess. Twilight heard her friends in the great hall all talking boisterously, streamers and colorful confetti littered the massive room. Balloons tied to tables, and some bounced against the ceiling. "Pinkie, is everything almost ready?" Twilight said, just containing her own excitement... "You can't rush art, Twilight! This is a careful process involving many procedures...One crossed streamer, one pinch of sugar, one twitch! And-" The pink pony blasted back a few feet when her party cannon exploded streamers and random party favors across the hall. Fevered giggling coming from her, while the rest of her friends tried to organize plates and other fun looking things...not just blast at random. "Okay, so let's do a quick check. Rarity, you took care of the invitations?" "All of them signed and dated beautifully and every one of them returned, yes!" Rarity bounced happily, decorating the tables with her hoof made cloth, the design perfect for the event and still just like her normal work, beautiful. "Good, Applejack, hows the food coming?" She threw a crate off her back as Big Mac brought in another. Each box no doubt filled with treats and delights fresh from the farm. "Its commin'!" She huffed in anger, the heavy crate causing her to work up a sweat. It didn't help that a wheel had to break on the cart today, of all days! causing much more delay. "Don't worry, we still have plenty of time so don't tire yourself out before the fun." Twilight said with a chipper tone and warm smile. Applejack smirked in return and trotted back to her cart outside. "Fluttershy, how are the decorations?" Fluttershy lowered down as her wings beat slowly. A few birds lowered down as well, with two sets of floral decorations, Fluttershy thought and picked the brightly orange and red flower arrangement. "I hope I'm doing good...I don't want to ruin the party..." Twilight smiled and picked up another arrangement in glass with her magic, setting it down on a table. "I think they look lovely, I'm sure they'll add even more to life of the party." Fluttershy smiled happily, flying off to help her animals set the tables with Rarity, leaving just one- "Awww yea! This party is going to be the greatest one yet, I've been working on a new move for Dusk, it's going to blow his mind!" The ever so humble Rainbow Dash flew around the room, helping where needed. Lifting more boxes of food and setting them out on tables while nearly dodging another blast of the party cannon. Twilight beamed proudly, the room nearly ready and the party still a few hours away. Checking the last item off her list and leaving the room to her friends. Walking through the wide halls slowly, taking the moment in...her son was fourteen years old today, and he nearly forgot from just a run through the woods. The stage set and all she had to do was distract Dusty until it was noon...without letting him risk a sprained hoof with another run. Climbing a few floors and walking deeper into the castle she called out. "Dusty?" A muffled shout answered her back, a patrolling guard glancing back until he noticed Twilight look back a little embarrassed, turning forward quickly and continuing back down the stairs as to not linger inappropriately. "Holy crap, Mom! Give me longer than ten minuets to shower!" She sighed, standing outside his room. The door was always unlocked but she didn't go in. Tilting her head and listening....the water running but no sounds of anypony occupying it.. "If you're sitting in there playing video games-" The sound of something being thrown on the ground with a quick burst of running and sure enough, she started to actually hear cleaning. Smiling to herself and walking back down the stairs. Still beaming proudly and thinking of just how fun this day was going to be. "I see you're still doing very well, my faithful student." Twilight's eyes widened, running down the stairs and gasping when Princess Celestia was standing in to foyer with a small white colored package, bright blue bow on top and everything. "Princess Celestia! I wasn't expecting anypony until at least ten!" The pure white alicorn smiled brightly, lifting the box in the air and offering it out. "I wanted to be early, this is a big day for him after all." The sun goddess said with a small smile. Twilight wrapped it in a purple swirl; bringing it close to examine it... "And...I wish to speak with you in private." The guards caught the hint and cleared the room, Twilight looked up curiously, unable to read Celestia even after all this time with her. "I know it has been quite some time since we last got to speak without business taking the conversation away; and this can't wait any longer. I have to take a few moments...About Sombra." Twilight felt her heart skip a beat...putting the package down and focusing entirely on the Princess, wondering just what she could want to talk about if it involved him. "This year Dusty Armor is fourteen; he will earn his cutie mark soon and find out sooner or later who his father is-" Twilight felt the bitter rage that once was cold sadness...no matter what everypony told her, she believed that for one fleeting moment...she truly loved the King of Shadows; and she felt deep down he loved her back. Though after time she realized that he still would never change, using her emotions against her friends was the fact she relied on when she had rouge thoughts of longing during deep and empty nights... "No, he wont know the monster who...I don't want him to feel like an outsider for the rest of his life." This wasn't a debate, Twilight was dead set on keeping Sombra a secret. Though it was more for her sake than for Dusty's. Celestia could see that in the shaking in her student's arm and glare in her eyes. "Twilight; I only want to offer advice and a choice. After many years of study and cleansing. I wish for Dusty Armor to have the crown." Twilight nearly kicked the box away and disintegrated it on the spot but restrained herself. Taking a calming breath and glaring down at the gift in cold contempt...Celestia in truth, wished to solve a problem before it even became an issue. After failing to be there for her most faithful student, she couldn't help but see the worst possible outcome for Dusty being kept in the dark...so this was her subtle way of helping. "I never brought you Nightmare Moons armor...or Discords horn..." Twilight didn't need to look up to see the hurt in Celestia's eyes; the remark cut deep, but it was the last thing she wanted for her only son...the only thing she could take from that horrible time and turn it into a ray of sunshine...and destroy his whole world... "I know this is hard, that is why I wanted to tell you before. So you would have the choice to do it yourself, or let him find out later..." Twilight looked back up, remembering that all her mentor wants is to help her and her son; she gave a comforting smile and picked the gift up, letting it hover in the air behind her. Thinking about what Celestia meant when she said 'cleansing'. "Are you sure its safe then? The second it even falls on the ground funny, I obliterate it." Celestia smiled, laughing shortly and nodding. Looking up behind Twilight and smiling even brighter... "Dusty Armor...You've grown so much since I last saw you." Twilight turned around to catch Dusty rolling his eyes..grumbling. Thankfully he had indeed finished cleaning up, silver mane hanging over part of his face while the rest hung on his neck, thick coat fluffed a little from the shower. Twilight recalled a statement earlier about only getting a ten minuet shower. "I know you prefer Dusk; but this is a day to take pride in who you are, not sulk over something as important and meaningful as your name." Dusty looked up, eyes full of wonder for the sun goddess. Celestia climbed the stairs quickly and gracefully thanks to her size, sitting next to Dusty and putting a warm wing around him, he smiled and looked up at her waiting.. "Your name isn't just who you are, it's who you become and who you were, it is everything that means you. When you were born, your mother..." She nodded up at Twilight, the purple alicorn smiling but wondering just what detail she would use to impart wisdom...hoping it wasn't something she might regret.. "When your mother held you for the first time...the stress she put herself through with the lists and planning for you, the crib,the books, the preparation...I was worried for her for a time; but the little you from so long ago, all you did was open your eyes and she broke down crying..." Twilight felt a piece of herself actually die of embarrassment....Dusty even laughed a little. Though in the back of her mind, she knew the memory was more of a bitter-sweet one...her worry focused entirely on just what could she expect from a child born of him... "Her brother heard the crying and ran into the room-" "You mean Shining Armor?" Dusty said quickly. "That's right, he was the only thing that stood between you and mental trauma of seeing an alicorn have a stress induced breakdown, in truth this was not her first ..." Dusty snickered and looked down at his mother with this new information. That gleam in his eyes when he felt like the balance of power was tipping his way. "So when she got herself back under control, she named you partly after her brother...and your father. Poor Shining Armor spent an hour and a half holding you and comforting you so your mothers fit wouldn't spread to you. Thus you were aptly named, Dusty Armor; for your strength just like your uncle and willpower greater than your father." Twilight interjected, glad to see the new knowledge sinking in, and even a little new pride showing on his face. Even if it was at her expense.. "And you have my courage, every day you run out into the world not caring what danger there might be; only wanting to learn whats out there." Dusty broke free of the wing, shaking a white feather off his head and heading back up to his room. Stopping just before he turned for the east wing of the castle and his room, turning around to give Celestia wide eyes and slight but hesitant smile. "Thanks...I guess Dusty Armor isn't such a lame name....but if you could still call me Dusk...?" You little...my son just used The Look on one of the oldest and wisest alicorns in Equestria...I don't know if I should laugh or be upset... Smiling warmly, Celestia laughed quietly and nodded, Twilight sighing when even her teacher would egg him on now. Dusty grinned excitedly, trotting in place at the top of the side stairs before bolting off to his room. And he made it work!? ....In fairness..I pulled of The Look once or twice on Celestia when I was a filly. Dusty yelled back in pure excitement, the kind that Pinkie Pie would undoubtedly hear and get all the more giddy for the party... "I'm going to get dressed! This is going to be the best birthday ever!"