//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: The Past of an Empire 
// Story: Regrets of the Past 
// by Brightfireprior 
//------------------------------//

                   SEVEN YEARS LATER

Seven years of my life has passed, much like lightning. Just one blinding flash with thunder in tow. I am now twelve. My sisters and I are have been attending a private school for alicorns, hosted by my daddy. As promised by my selfless mother Dreya attended the school with us. He was treated like he was part of the family now. He had a room next to my mine, across from Tia's and Luna's room. The castle seems different ever since my fifth birthday. The oddest day ever! Well not really, I've had some pretty other weird days that I probably shouldn't mention right now.
Anyways! If I really think about it, my life hasn't been that much exciting ever since that day. Except for the boring school work and lectures of how we will rule equestria one day. Dreya on the other hoof joined Aroure flight team which they go to competitions and win medals and scholarships and that interesting stuff.
I sigh as I glance out one of the many windows in the throne room just in time to see Dreya zoom past supposedly training for an upcoming meet.
I hear my daddy lecturing us about some disease and how it relates to some fallen empire in the background.
"This disease can not be cured and is much like cancer. It always leads to death. If a pony has this disease then he or she will never earn their cutie mark." Some of my classmates gasp at the idea of not ever knowing what makes them special. Not having a purpose in life. It's just horrible thinking about it.
"Only seven and a half years ago the Byzantine Empire was destroyed by an unknown source, these ponies that lived there before their great fall were born without cutie marks."
"That has to be his fastest yet!" I ponder while shaking my head feeling a hint of jealousy and that tingling rising. Dreya got to do he more fun classes while I got stuck with the future leaders courses.
"Brightfire!" I hear a sudden booming voice roar. I already know that it's my father.
I regretfully turn my head to meet his cold dark eyes set with a death glare. I cower down covering my head. I nearly cry when I notice snickers that can only belong to Tia, Luna, and the rest of the class. He steps down from his throne and stomps over to me.
"This is the fifteenth time this week! And you are just getting worse." he glares.
"I'm sorry Daddy," I stare at my hooves.
"Thats all you ever say!"
"Oh yeah! W-well I never asked to be a part of this stupid prophecy anyways!" I snap regretting it as soon as the words left my mouth.
My fathers eyes go wide. And instead of the look of anger that was there merely seconds before, a look of pure horror and shock spread across his aged face. But not for long.
"Get out," He commands too low to hear.
"What was that your majesty?" The nearest guard steps forward.
"I SAID," He growls towering over the guard "GET OUT ALL OF YOU!"
All the ponies give quick curtsies and bolt out of the room like their lives depend on it. But I know that they will be eavesdropping on him as soon as the doors close. I stand follow the others out but am stopped by my father. "Except for you,"
"Daddy i'm sorry i snapped at you, it was an accident! I didn't meant." I cower.
"OF COARSE YOU DIDN'T!" He spat.
I cried and started to back away. Daddy isn't supposed to curse. I see Tia and Luna giving him a horrified look as they trot out of the room. Tia has her wing around Luna because she was shaking so hard.
"Daddy i'm-"
"Don't you start with that i'm sorry crap because sorry isn't going to get you out of this!" He talks in a hushed voice which only makes him seem scarier.
"Please daddy-"
"And don't you think you are going to get away with this that easily!" He scolds me. I jump when the door slams shut and look in his eyes to see the pupils narrowing. "But how?" I think to myself.
He laughs evilly and smiles enough to display his once flat white teeth are now needle pointed and red stained. He struts to his throne 
and picks up his gold and red dagger along with the rock he uses to sharpen it.
"I've waited a very long time to find you," a pained look appears on his face as if he were fighting something.
"F-f-father?" I stutter.
"You will never win, or take my family!" He screams.
"After i'm done there won't be a family to worry about! and then i will rule equestria."
"No!" He dashes over to me and holds me in a tight embrace. "I love you no matter what! but time is running out."
He looks me dead in the eyes. "remember all of our days together?"
I nod.
"You know that i love you right? I love all three of you equally,"
"I love you too daddy, but what is going on here!"
"It's time that you took your powers back and can you protect mine too?"
"What?"
His face scrunches up and he groans falling backwards. He then jumps up and his red aroure on his horn shines blindingly, growing bigger and bigger until it is half the size of him. And he whispers "I'm sorry sweetie."
Unexpectedly a ray of it hurtles towards me and strikes me before I can even dodge out of the way. All I can feel is pain all over my body as i am lifted from the ground and surrounded in a red bubble like glow. I screamed an ear splitting scream but I was in so much pain that I can only manage to open my mouth. I felt like I was on fire. I prayed for it to end but it seemed that the bubble only grew bigger and brighter. More pain followed. I was about to pass out when abruptly the bubble disappeared into my heart and I hit the marble floor with a huge thump. When my vision cleared and my ears stopped ringing i saw my father holding me whispering "It's over darling, it's over."
That was the last thing I heard before I lost consciousness.
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I awoke to the sound of my mother's and father's hushed voices somewhere near me.
"What were you thinking!"
"I did what was right,"
"So nearly killing her is the right thing huh?"
I hear hoof steps coming near me and stopping.
"Listen to me!"
"Why should I,"
There was a long pause and I heard a sigh.
"That thing came back and almost caused me to,"
Another pause.
The hoof steps went back to their original spot.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want you to worry, especially with somepony in your condition!"
"Don't you blame it on my Disease! She could have gone in shock and died because of your selfishness.
I hear a heavier set of hooves stomp to what must be the door.
"I'm not selfish! I tried to save this kingdom and my family without trying to lose my wife too!"
Right after the door is slammed I hear a soft sob and some heavy coughs as my mother walks quietly out of the room. This was a whole lot to take in. My father did something to me that nearly killed me, and my mother is sick.
I open my eyes and sit up. I ignore the aching sore all over my body and look around. I was at home in my room.
"Well then, I think i'm going to go get a sandwich!" I think to myself and chuckle. I jump down of of my bed and open the door when out of the blue I felt that something was watching me. Observing around i step forwards and walk right into Dreya the tingling starts like a fire.
"Uh hey, Heard you were sick!" He greets with a confused look.
"Yeah I was, but i'm much better now," I blush. "I was just going to get a sandwich wanna come?"
"I was going to also! and yeah sure," He bounces. We start to walk down the hall after I close my door.
"So how's your day been?" He tilts his head and looks at me. He looks so handsome at that moment that I smile foolishly and then sigh. "I just realized that my live just got stressful again,"