The Struggles of Radiance
Chapter Two
My father will be coming to visit again this week. I can hardly wait. My father comes every other friday and leaves on monday. I wish he could stay longer, but he has his duties in the Crystal Empire which keeps him from staying for more than a few days. Every time he comes over he brings me some rock candy and a small gem from the Crystal Empire. I put the gems in a chest in my room, and the rock candy (Which is literally the best rock candy you can eat anywhere ever) gets put in my candy jar (Dad brings enough to last me two weeks if I have two pieces a day). I wish dad could stay for longer… I know he is very busy with his job, but I still miss him… Mom tells me that he shouldn't bring me all of the stuff he does, but I know she secretly likes how excited I get when dad brings me stuff.
When dad comes to see me, he takes me to the theater, where we see all the latest performances. He also is teaching me the different magic that the guards use, like shields and lightning. I know Aunty Twilight doesn't want me to use dangerous spells like lightning and fireball, but dad says I need to know how to defend myself if I need to. With what he is teaching me, I can cast a shield spell that can cover the house in less than two seconds, and I can cast the 'combat magic' that he has taught me in less than half a second with most of the spells, although the really powerful ones take more energy. Aunt Twilight is afraid I would use some of those spells on other ponies, but dad told me that I am not allowed to use them unless he is there to supervise or if somepony's life depends on it. I wanted to be a guard when I get older, but mom told me how most of being a guard is standing motionless all day. I do not want to be a boring guard.
Mom got a new job the other day, she is going to be teaching a class about changelings for ponies who want to know more about them. She teaches it every sunday at town hall. Ponies come from all sorts of places to learn about changelings. Sadly some ponies are not very nice and yelled at mom for being a changeling. She didn't attack them, surprisingly, but she did tell them that if they were going to be ignorant plot heads, they should take the class to learn more about changelings.
Anyways, I need to go to bed, the other crusaders will be coming over to pick me up for scuba diving.
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I had to use my combat magic today, somepony cornered me on the way home from school with a knife. I zapped him with a lightning bolt. It hit him in the flank and he started acting all dizzy and stuff. When the guard arrived, I told him how the guy came out from the alley with the knife pointed at me. The pony who attacked me was taken to the hospital for lightning burns on his flanks. Mom was afraid about what happened, but then I told her how I zapped the guy right on his cutie mark with lightning, and she took me to Sugarcube Corner for milkshakes… I want to hire a psychologist to find out why she wants celebratory milkshakes all the time…
Scootaloo has started learning how to focus her pegasi magic after I told her about the Gale King style that I read about. She told me she might try to find a trainer if she wants to learn it. I decided not to tell her that the last pony to practice that style died over a hundred years ago.
Sweetie Belle is going to mom's classes, to learn more about changelings. She wants to know more about mom and other changelings. I wonder if it has something to do with that new colt in school, Sudden Change. Ehh, when I am around Sweetie, it feels like she is infatuated with him. I told her how I thought she had a crush on him, but she denied it.
Apple Bloom built a new shed near the Crusader Clubhouse to store all of our crusader stuff that we make. I still want to know how she was able to build a class six freestanding structure (That is the same classification as a standard Ponyville house) that was up to code in less than a day…
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Dad came to visit today. He heard about the guy that attacked me and brought a necklace that has a shielding ward on it. The shielding ward apparently is powered by a gem that recharges in the sun. I wear it everywhere now, and when I am at home I hang it by the window so it can charge.
Tomorrow dad and I are going to see 'The Phantom of the Clopra' at the Ponyville Theater. I heard it is quite the piece from Rarity. Afterwards we will be going to Waffle Shack for brinner, they make the best loaded hash-browns. I wish mom would come too, but mom and dad don't get along very well… Dad says it is because of what happened in Canterlot, mom says it is because dad is insufferable. I think they are both out of their gourds. At least Aunty Twilight has no problems with mom or dad, although she does sometimes feel a little fear when mom gets into her moods, but then again, who doesn't.
Dad is about to read me a bedtime story, so I have to put my journal away for the night.
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Dad had to go back to the Crystal Empire early… He said something about something that he needed to do that his lieutenant can't. He wasn't too open about it, but I have a feeling that it might be dangerous. I snuck onto the train so I can help him if he needs it. The luggage car is not particularly comfortable, but it is better than being thrown off the train (Not that dad would let them). I just hope that dad isn't too mad at me for following him.
I left a note telling mom that I am going to follow dad since he might need my help, I will probably be grounded for a year when I get back, but dad needs me.
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"Dad, I am sorry for sneaking on the train. I thought you might need my help when you said you had to leave early for some kind of crysis."
"Radiance, when we get to the Crystal Empire, we are going to sit down and have a long discussion over what you did."
"Awww…"
"I know you don't like being lectured about what you did wrong, but you know that I have to do it."
"I know… But mom is probably beyond furious at me…"
"I know Chrysalis has a temper on her, but she is still your mother. As long as she doesn't hit you or anything like that."
"Why would she hit me? I know she has anger issues, but she loves me."
"Forget I said anything sweetie… Also, when we get to the palace, I am going to have to call your mother on the scrying orb, so be ready for that."
"Dad, can you at least show me around the empire before mom tears me a new one?"
"Radiance, you know I don't want anypony to yell at you, but your mother is probably worried sick, you left on short notice with nothing but a note telling where you went. I wouldn't be surprised if your mother decided to invade the empire to get you."
"That sounds like something mom would do, I hope she doesn't though."
"That is why we need to call her before she gets too panicky."
"Okay dad… I can't wait to meet Cadence. I heard she is the, and I quote 'Best foalsitter ever', from Aunty Twilight"
"Did Twily teach you the dance?"
"Yes… She taught me the dance so much that I would need a class seven memory spell just to forget it."
"That is so Twilight. I wouldn't be surprised if she taught the dance to everypony she tells about Cady."
"Yeah, Aunty Twilight is a tad obsessive over things… Dad, I am tired, wake me up when we get there please."
"Would you like me to tell you a story to help you get to sleep?"
"No dad, I… am tired… enough…"