Love is painful.
That's all love isーpain. Because when one falls in love, one must be prepared for rejection. I made this mistake.
I stare out the carriage window at the clouds above. The trees whip past, and we graze beyond the snow-capped mountains. No one wants me. I'm different, twisted, disgusting. I was left at the orphanage for that very reason. Because I'm unwanted.
So, why should someone have adopted me?
Is it to mock me? Enslave me? Use me? I wonder this now, alone in the large Pegasus-drawn carriage I sit in. The type princesses use. I'm no princess. I'm unwanted. The carriage door has the Crystal Empire's logo engraved onto it, so I presume that's where I'm headed. I've never been outside the Vanhoover Orphanage before, so I don't know anything about the true outside world. I sigh. Well, wherever this Crystal Empire is, it sure is far from Vanhoover.
The carriage jolts to a stop, sending me lunging forward. I hit my head onto the empty seat opposite me, and I rub my forehoof on my head. "Ow. . ." Part of the reason no one wants me is because of my abnormal build. I have a forest-green coat, often mistaken for black. My dark green mane is long, straight, and stringy. The weirdest thing about me is the ends of my mane and tail are shot through with holes. Yesーholes. Same with my hooves and bug-like green transparent wings. Sometimes, my green eyes glow when I get mad, which is why the other orphans made sure to stay away from me. It was pretty lonely.
The carriage door is opened. Standing in the doorway is a sparkling mare with a beautiful coat that looks. . . . crystal-y. I presume this is why they're called Crystal Ponies. I've never seen one in person before, until now. I stay silent, unsure of what they're going to do to me. The mare gives me a kind smile. The smile glows. I stare in astonishment. She giggles.
"Come, filly. Your new little sister, Princess Cadence is waiting for you," she says, with a voice as smooth and beautiful as herself.
I say nothing, deciding to trust this mare and stepping down from the carriage.
As soon as I step out, I am greeted with a large, sparkling crystal tower. I gaze up, my mouth agape. I hear someone clear their throats, not unkindly. I turn my head around to look behind me. The carriage is gone, and is replaced with a large amount of Crystal Ponies in maid and butler uniforms.
"Welcome to the Crystal Empire," they say happily in unison.
I step back in wonder, my eyes glittering. I can't help the smile that creeps onto my face. A Crystal mare approaches me with a warm smile. "Please follow me, Master." At this, I am stunned. No one has ever called me that before. Shocked, I attempt at a bow in curtesy but I instead fall flat on my muzzle. My face turns beet red in embarrassment.
The mare giggles kindly, and I offer a sheepish smile. "Right this way," she says, directing me to a stairwell leading inside the castle.
As we enter the building I am shocked by the interior. Everything in the Crystal Empire seems to sparkle! The mare guides me into a guest suite in the Crystal Castle. I enter the room, and am utterly shocked at what I find. The room is massive and, of course, sparkling with crystals. The mare follows behind me, setting down my baggage. "This will be your room from now on. My name is Crystal Shine. I will be your maid. Please do not hesitate to contact me whenever you need me," she says, indicating a button on the wall beside my bed and pointing to her collar. "This button will activate a notification beep in my collar." She presses the button and small bulb on her collar lights up, simultaneously activating a small beep. I nod, still not saying anything.
After she unpacks my bags and leaves, I climb onto my bed, using my wings to help me boost. I finally reach the top, and I feel like I've just climbed a huge mountain. I flop heavily onto the soft mattress. I gaze up at the vast ceiling, sparkling and engraved with beautiful patterns. The few moments before I fall asleep, I smile. Ah, I tell myself inwardly.
I've learned to smile.
。。。
I wake up, and the first thing I see is the smiling face of a pink-coated filly, a unicorn, with pretty purple eyes and a mane with a spectra of pink, purple, and yellow dyes. I'm startled, and I shoot into upright position, unintentionally head-butting the filly.
She staggers back, holding her forehooves to her forehead, groaning. "Oww. . . . that hurt," she says quietly to herself. As I look at her, I see she isn't a unicorn, but an alicorn, like me. She looks younger than me, only about a year in age difference, despite my rather tall height. I start panicking, not knowing what to do, fearing that if they find out, I'll be sent back.
She starts giggling.
I am shocked. My eyes widen, staring at her. She laughs again, this time, more heartily, and she snorts. She blushes and covers her muzzle with the forehoof, then smiles and laughs again. I can't hold it inーI smile and giggle. I immediately cover my mouth, astonished; I haven't laughed in six years. Now that I think about it. . . .
It's the first time I've ever laughed since I was born.
I can't stop laughing. I laugh some more, and after a moment, so does she. After a good while, we finally stop, and she introduces herself.
"Hi, there," she says with a huge smile. "I'm Cadence. What's your name?"
I stay silent, unsure of what to say. She stares at me with smiling eyes, waiting for my response. After a while she notices that I'm nervous. She pats my shoulder with a reassuring hoof. "It's okay, there's nothing to be scared of! I'm your new sister," she says. Ah, so this must be the princess Crystal Shine mentioned. I gulp.
"I-I'm C-Chrysalis," I say quietly.
Cadence beams. "Well. Nice to meet you Chrysalis! I'm looking forward to being your new sister, so please take care of me!" I smile back softly and reply with a small voice.
"Yeah. Me too."