//------------------------------// // Chapter 13 // Story: The Phoenix Tear // by CartoonNerd12 //------------------------------// At dinner that evening, everything was quiet. Twilight looked over to the seat that Sunset was sitting in from the last two nights. It felt strange not having her here, even though she sat in the same spot without Sunset Shimmer next to her for many years. Flash noticed Twilight kept staring at the empty seat and said, "You miss her, huh?" She replied, "I don't know why, but a part of me really hates that she had to leave. I don't understand it." He suggested, "Maybe it's just the stress you're dealing with at the moment." "It's possible… but… I can't help but feel it's a little more than that…" "What else could it be?" "I don't know, but whatever it is, it's important. I just know it…" Suddenly, the trumpets blared interrupting her thoughts, and quickly, a guard burst into the room. He bowed before the extended royal family and addressed them. "Your Highnesses, forgive me for intruding, but you have visitors who request they see you at once." "Visitors? At this hour?" questioned Rarity. "Well, might as well send them in," said Applejack. "Wouldn't you think so, Twi?" Twilight turned to the guard, facing him, "Is it vital we meet with them?" "Very. They insisted to meet with the family at no exception." "Then send them in." She gave the command. "At once." He ran back out. Minutes later, he came back and cleared his throat, "Announcing the King and Queen of Marendelle!" The family's eyes lit up in shock as a couple dressed in royal robes and wore crowns upon their heads trotted in. "Sweetie Belle?!" Rarity gaped. Sweetie just smiled and gave her husband a loving glance, which he returned. Button finally had his royal coronation a couple months ago. It was spectacular affair when kingdoms from all over Equestria came to the grand event. Of course, Canterlot had the most guests, given the fact that the new queen of Marendelle had relations within its royal family. Then the guard announced, "Princess Apple Bloom and Prince Pip!" The couple walked in with smiles on their faces. The guard then announced, "Princess Scootaloo and Prince Rumble!" The last couple came in, giving small waves. The three pair turned their heads to see the kids' heads popping at the side of the door as each of them got called in by the guard. "Prince Roller Blade and Princess Skater, royal twins of Princess Scootaloo and Prince Rumble!" The twins-who had the same coat color as their mother but Skater, had jet black mane like her dad, and Roller Blade had purple hair like his mom-went to their parents' side. "Princess Snow Pea, daughter of King Button Mash and Queen Sweetie Belle and heir to the Marendelle throne!" The young filly had a snowy white coat like her mother and had a horn, too. She resembled her mother the most except her eyes were her father's and she timidly went across the room to her father's side. "Princess Apple Butter, daughter of Princess Apple Bloom and Prince Pip!" A filly that resembled Apple Bloom but had a spot over her left eye like her dad went to join her parents. "And Princess Little Button, daughter of the king and queen of Maredelle, and sister to the next queen." A young filly that was an Earth pony like her father also took his red-brown hair, but she also had her mother's snowy coat and her eyes. She was about the age of three as she was hopping up and down when she got closer to her family and hugged her sister. The guard bowed again and left the family reunion. Rarity pointed out, "But darlings, we usually don't see you until the day before the Summer Sun Celebration!" "Yeah, why be here a few days earlier?" asked Rainbow Dash. "We wanted to surprise you," answered Apple Bloom. "Mom and Dad sent us a message about Twilight's coronation happening after her birthday." Scootaloo took over, "So we decided to go ahead to come early and spend time with everyone before the big event." Twilight smiled, "Well, it certainly was a wonderful surprise, and I am astonished at how the children have grown since we last saw them." The kids giggled. Starling then asked her mother, "Mommy, do you think maybe we can go play with our cousins?" The rest of the cousins at the dinner table excitedly agreed and were hoping they could. Twilight exchanged glances with her sisters as they silently went into agreement. She nodded, "You may." There was loud cheering as the large group of children stampeded out the door, leaving the adults to have their own gathering. Conversation happened as every pony exchanged notes on what'd been happening. Twilight looked over to Button and Sweetie. She knew if anyone was going to know what she was going through recently, they would know. She went to them, "Um, Sweetie, Button? Can we talk?" The couple was confused, but Sweetie replied, "Of course, Twilight." "Great, follow me." She started leading them to a balcony and had her husband come with them. She figured he needed to hear what the two would say. Once they were alone on the balcony, she directly said, "I have to ask: what's it like? Being a king and queen? How do you handle the duties given before you? Because I am frightened of what is to come. I don't know if I can be a good queen or not. How do you do it?" The royal couple stood there taking it all in. They blinked a few times and suddenly, they both started laughing. Flash and Twilight exchanged perplexed looks as to why the two were laughing in this situation. Sweetie finally calmed down, taking a breath, "I'm… I'm sorry, Twilight. I didn't mean to laugh at your question. You have every good reason to feel this way. I just can't believe that I'm the one giving you advice! You were always the one who knew what to say, but only for the tables to turn…" "Well, I'm not exactly in a condition to give out guidance. More than ever, I need it now." Button nodded his head, "I've been there… I felt lost the day my mother told me that the crown would be passed on to me much sooner than I originally thought… Had it not been for Sweetie Belle… I wouldn't be able to handle the job right now let alone try to rule my kingdom. The only reason we laughed is because even though we are Marendelle's rulers, we still face those questions you asked from day to day." Flash noted, "So what you're saying is it doesn't go away? The weight of leadership isn't lifted no matter what?" "Pretty much." said Sweetie. "All you really can do is to do your best." said Button. "But even if I do, how do I know my best is good enough?" They both shrugged, stating, "You don't." She sighed, stared up to Aunt Luna's night sky, and saw the moon and stars, but it seemed one star was brighter than the others. She was back to square one. Why was it so difficult for her to see than from what others could clearly see? She felt so locked up inside that she wasn't sure she was ever going to escape… Sunset didn't know if she was going to be able to escape her tower, not when Starlight had cast a spell around the tower that prevented her from breaking out. She gave up trying to go through the door and window and her throat was sore from shouting. Knowing that no one would come to set her free, she laid on her bed to wallow in misery. She ended up staring out the window to see the night sky and found a star shining brighter than the rest. For some reason, this star gave her a feeling of hope. Then, she suddenly heard a hooting sound. She recognized who that was and called out. "Owlowicious? Is that you?" The owl appeared at the window and gave another hoot. "I almost forgot that you were with me! I take it you know what my guardian has done to me, I suppose?" The bird hooted to confirm her reasoning. "I know I'm supposed to wait for Twilight's letter first, but this is an emergency! Can I count on you?" The owl hooted and nodded. She smiled, "Thank you…" She quickly got out a quill and paper and said as she wrote, "'Twilight, I am in desperate need of your help. My guardian, the one I told you about, has discovered that I've been gone for a while. To make certain this didn't happen again, I have been locked in my tower room and I don't know how long until she releases me, but I have a bad feeling that'll be never. Please, take my friends and me away from here. Like me, they have suffered under her direction. We'll never be safe until we are far away from her. We are afraid to get away from her since she is far more powerful than the rest us and would surely find some way to make us pay. I know I'm asking a lot, but I don't have anyone else to turn to. I will be forever grateful if you do this. Your friend, Sunset Shimmer…'" She rolled up the paper and used her magic to toss the scroll. It went through the window and Owlowicious caught it. The owl gave a hoot goodbye and set out into the night. The darkness consumed him and Sunset could no longer see him. She looked up into the sky to find the bright star once more and thought, Twilight… You're my only hope… She went to her nightstand, where she opened the music box she found and let it play its sweet tune. It gave her comfort in the space that she was trapped in. Twilight ended up waking up in the middle of night. She looked over to see her husband resting peacefully next to her. Being careful not to wake him, she softly kissed his cheek, quietly crawled out the bed and sneaked out the room. She went to check in the other adjoining rooms where her children were sleeping and gave a small smile. She then went straight to the balcony and felt the cool night air gently breezing on her face. She could hardly sleep, with what Sweetie Belle and Button told her at dinner. She was unsure if she was going to be able to handle it. She thought of those who looked up to her, not just the subjects of the kingdom, but her family and friends. She started to sing, "There are few who deny at what I do I am the best, for my talents are renowned far and wide… When it comes to surprises in the moonlit night, I excel without ever even trying… With the slightest little effort of regal charms, I've pulled off the most dangerous moves. With a glow of my horn and well-placed spell, I have swept vile villains off their hooves! Yet, year after year, it's the same routine and I grow so weary of the sound of cheers… And though I'm the future queen, I've grown so tired of the same old thing… Oh, somewhere deep inside my soul… an emptiness began to grow… There's something out there far from my home… A longing that I've never known… I have mastered magic and the hardest of tricks, and from the critics, I've had recants… To the Queen of the Changelings, she's likely regretting… And I'm known throughout Cloudesdale and Prance… And since I have wings, I can take off flying to recite Meadowbrook's incantations…No animal or horse are like me, of course, with the fury of my recitations… But who here would ever understand… That the future queen with the magenta star would tire of her crown? If they only understood… She'd give it all up, if she only could… Oh, there's an empty place in my soul that calls out for something unknown… The fame and praise come year after year does nothing for these empty tears…"