Chapter 9:
Outcasts
It seemed as if an hour had passed before Apple Bloom decided to continue the tour of Ponyville with Aurora. Having finished her Apple Turnover, the mare paid for her treat before calling out to Aurora, who was still chatting with Pumpkin and Pound Cake.
"Aurora. Time to go."
Hearing those three words caused the three preteens to groan.
"Aww."
Then Pumpkin spoke up after the unified groan.
"Can't Aurora stay a little longer, Miss Apple Bloom?"
The Earth Pony shook her head as she answered with an amused grin
"Sorry, Sugar Cube. But I promised that Aurora would get to see the whole town before dinner tonight. It's already lunch right now and Sugarcube Corner was the first stop on the tour."
The trio groaned sadly as the bid their farewells until Pound got an idea.
"How about we hang out tomorrow? Our parents are out of town for business and Aunt Pinkie has to mind the shop anyway."
Pumpkin understood her brother's idea and proceeded to answer alongside him.
"We can explore Ponyville together! Like an adventure."
Aurora blinked in interest. She loved to explore. In fact, it is one of her favorite (yet dangerous) hobbies. She looked to Apple Bloom for guidance.
"Can I, Miss Apple Bloom?"
Hearing this, Apple Bloom beamed.
"I don't see why not. We'll let Applejack know and ya can come here in the morning."
The trio of youths smiled at this as they laughed.
"Sound like a plan." The Pegasus colt exclaimed in delight.
With the plan set, Aurora stood up and joined Apple Bloom at the door.
"See you guys tomorrow." She called to the foals.
The twins waved back at her.
"See you tomorrow, Aurora." They responded simultaneously.
As the traveling pair left, they were shortly joined by Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo.
"Wait a minute, you two." Sweetie Bell called out, causing the two to stop.
Turning around, it was Apple Bloom who spoke.
"Yeah, girls?"
After slowing down to a stop, the unicorn spoke again.
"I've almost forgot. Rarity wants Aurora to come to the boutique for a fitting. She's been working on some clothes since this morning."
The Apple mare and the hybrid looked at each other with raised eyebrows before smiling at the unicorn.
"Sure thing. We'll go to the boutique, pick up the clothes, and return to Sweet Apple Acres." Apple Bloom announced.
The unicorn smiled.
"Sounds like a plan."
She then turned Scootaloo, who had been silent.
"What about you, Scootaloo? Got any plans?"
Scootaloo shook her head as she answered the unicorn's questions.
"Not really. Other than aerial acrobatics, I've got nothing to do today. So you guys don't mind if I join you for the day?"
The mares shook their heads as they started off, leading the hybrid to another part of town, stopping at the gazebo-styled boutique. As they were several feet away from the building, Scootaloo sensed something and turned around. She smiled as she noticed two familiar mares approaching them.
Nudging Apple Bloom, Scootaloo whispered to the Earth Pony.
"We've got company." Apple Bloom looked up and had an equally happy-surprise looked on her face.
Turning a corner towards the boutique were two Earth Pony mares that the former CMC knew very well. Once was grey with white/silver hair tied down in a fancy braid and had blue glasses on her face. She had a decorative spoon with a heart on the handle for a Cutie Mark.
The second mare was pale magenta with light violet and grey mane and tail. She had a tiara on both her head and on her flank. Her cornflower eyes sent of a friendly glance as they approached the Pegasus and Apple pony.
They were Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, once the CMC's childhood bullies, now their good friends.
Years ago, the Cutie Mark Crusaders changed Diamond Tiara's heart after they witnessed her nasty mother at work, giving them an understanding of the expectations Diamond Tiara had to put up with. It was after helping Diamond Tiara discover the true symbolism of her Cutie Mark that the Crusaders were finally able to receive theirs. Now, the two mares had changed their ways and became friends with the rest of their class.
The two mares waited for Aurora and Sweetie Bell to be inside before waving them down.
"Diamond Tiara! Silver Spoon!" Scootaloo called out to the pair.
Heeding her call, the mares approached the pair and engaged in conversation.
"Hey, Apple Bloom. Hey, Scootaloo. What's going on?" Diamond Tiara asked.
Apple Bloom answered her. "We're showing Aurora around a bit before heading back to Sweet Apple Acres."
Hearing the name 'Aurora,' Silver Spoon took a chance at speaking out of curiosity.
"'Aurora?' Is that the filly we've heard about this morning? You know, the daughter of Twilight Sparkle."
The two CMC members nodded as Scootaloo spoke.
"Yeah. She's staying at Sweet Apple Acres for a while. You've heard what's happened to Twilight, right?"
The new mares nodded as saddened looks befell their faces.
"We've heard. I can't image how she is feeling about that. Although I do wish whatever took Twilight took MY mother instead."
"DIAMOND TIARA!" A new voice called out in a snobbish fashion.
The lavender mare groaned as she muttered to her friends.
"Speak of the..."
But she could not finish her sentence as a pig-pink mare with an indigo-purple mane and tail walked over to her. She was dressed in the latest in rich fashion and jewelry. The snobbish look on her face made her look like a pig to some ponies. (And storytelling dragons. ;-) -Dream Dragoness) This was Spoiled Rich, wife of Filthy Rich, mother of Diamond Tiara. The high-class pony approached her daughter with a disapproving look in her eyes.
"Diamond Tiara! How many times do I have to tell you not to associate with the riffraff?"
Diamond Tiara narrowed her eyes at her mother as she spoke in rebellion.
"Mother! What have I told you about carrying an attitude like that around other ponies? Especially my friends."
Spoiled Rich pointed a hoof at her daughter as she spoke in her usual hoity-toity manner.
"A Rich should not consort with those beneath them, Diamond. I have told you that."
"And you've forgotten that nopony's better than anypony. And let's not forget that were it not for the Apple Family, we wouldn't be rich in the first place." Diamond Tiara spoke in defiance.
On the sidelines, Silver Spoon, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo were enjoying the banter between mother and daughter. Spoiled may be the most rotten pony in Ponyville, but they were glad that Diamond didn't and refused to become like her. They've watched the verbal tennis match for a while until Spoiled Rich asked a question.
"Why are you here anyway?"
In the midst of her growing pride, Diamond Tiara made a mistake.
"Silver Spoon and I are here to properly greet the new filly that came into town this morning. Her name is Aurora. And she's the daughter of Twilight Sparkle."
It was then that Diamond Tiara realized she made a mistake. She had given her mother something new to criticize. Hearing Aurora's name, Spoiled Rich raised an eyebrow before speaking.
"I have heard the rumors, but I thought they were just stories. Have you even met it?"
Diamond Tiara's eyes narrowed again as she spoke.
"She's not an it, Mother. She's just a filly."
"And yet you do not question of how it came into existence?"
"How does that even matter?" Diamond protested.
Unfortunately, Spoiled Rich had a full arsenal of insults at the ready.
"You know of Twilight's personality, right? How she was a hypocrite when it came to science and magic? She denies the supernatural when she herself possess magic. And you do remember that little incident where she cursed a raggedy doll and caused chaos in Ponyville?"
"What does any of that have to do with Aurora, Mother?" Diamond Tiara spoke, she and the other newly-grown mares getting angrier at the older mare.
Not even taking acknowledgement at their anger, Spoiled Rich continued.
"If Twilight Sparkle is alive, how do we know that...thing isn't some experiment of hers? Or if she gave herself willingly to whatever male she had contact with in order to create it? For all we know, that thing is either a filthy lab rat, or a filthy bastard child of a-!"
That did it. All four young mares stormed up to the older mare, catching her by surprise. Diamond Tiara was the first to speak as she pointed a hoof at her mother.
"Don't you DARE finish that sentence, Mother! I have heard pretty awful things from you, but this takes the cake! I have never heard anything so rude, vulgar, and cruel in my entire life!"
Silver Spoon spoke up next, pushing her glasses back up the bridge of her snout.
"Mrs. Rich. While I respected you as a member of my family, I cannot believe that you would stoop so low just because of somepony's origin. We haven't met Aurora yet, but I do know that she has done absolutely NOTHING to deserve such slander!"
Scootaloo spook next, struggling to keep herself from attempting to strangle Spoiled Rich.
"They're right! I've just met Aurora and while she may be different, she is NONE of those things you've called her! And let's not forget that her maternal aunt and uncle are the Prince and Princess of the Crystal Empire. In a way, you've insulted Princess Cadence and Shining Armor by insulting both Twilight Sparkle and Aurora!"
Spoiled Rich gulped at Scootaloo's last statement. In her attempt to set her daughter straight, she had forgotten that the creature they were talking about was related to royalty. Apple Bloom then held up a hoof and pointed at Spoiled Rich's pig-nose.
"I've spent an entire day with Aurora and learned about her from my sister. She has gone through a traumatic experience, discovered her missing mother is a unicorn and found herself as part pony, struggled with learning how to walk, gone through enough anxiety to fill the entire town, had no choice but to leave her birth home possibly forever, and yet remains strong. If anything, you should respect her. Not torment her! She's trying to find a place where she belongs and unlike you, WE'RE willing to accept her. Whether she is part pony or a whole pony!"
Apple Bloom then got dangerously close to Spoiled Rich, her glare not leaving.
"And if you say or do anything like that again, especially if she is in front of you, I can convince my family to end our business relationship with your family. And you know what would happen to your family without the Apple Family."
At a lost, Spoiled Rich turned up her nose and left, muttering something about a 'filthy lab rat' as she left. Once she was gone, Diamond Tiara turned to her friends and spoke.
"I am so sorry about that, girls. I didn't know she was looking for me. Or how she would react."
Her glare having left, Apple Bloom placed a hoof on Diamond Tiara's shoulder and spoke.
"It's ok, Diamond. I just hope she takes what we have said into context. Maybe she'll learn to make herself better."
"Still. How dare she talk about Aurora like that! And did you hear what she said about Twilight?" Scootaloo growled.
Apple Bloom turn to Scootaloo as she spoke.
"I heard. And I'm just as upset as you. But we need to be there for Aurora. I don't know if there's ponies similar to Spoiled Rich, but if there is, we need to nip it when the time comes."
Scootaloo sighed in defeat. Apple Bloom was right. Even though she had only known the girl for a morning, Scootaloo liked the kid. When they were at Sugarcube Corner, both her and Sweetie Bell observed the interaction between Aurora and the Cake Twins and saw how the hybrid was coming out of her shell created by tragedy. The smile Scootaloo had grew wider when she heard that Aurora loved to explore and go on adventures.
But as Scootaloo turned around, Sweetie Bell burst out the front door in a panic.
"We've got a huge problem!" Sweetie Bell cried out.
Curious, Apple Bloom spoke.
"What is it, Sweetie Bell? Rarity being a Drama Queen again?"
Normally, Sweetie Bell would huff at the statement. But the current predicament casted that aside.
"No! It's Aurora!"
She then gulped as the other two members of the CMC, Diamond Tiara, and Silver Spoon stared at her, urging her to continue.
"She missing!"
The mares gawked at the unicorn's announcement. Aurora? Missing? But how?
"What happened?" Scootaloo demanded, setting her former anger aside.
"I don't know. I just turned away to talk to Rarity about possible colors that Aurora could wear for a moment. When I turned around, she was gone!"
Now the mares were getting worried.
"Are ya sure she's not in the boutique? She might've wandered off." Apple Bloom asked, hoping that Aurora hadn't left the building.
Unfortunately, Sweetie Bell shook her head.
"I looked everywhere. And so has Rarity. She's not in the boutique or in the living space."
The conversation was cut short when Scootaloo noticed something.
"Uh…how long was that window open?"
The CMC's eyes shifted to the boutique and, to Apple Bloom's horror, saw that one of the windows was partially opened. Confused, Sweetie Bell spoke.
"Pretty much all morning. I was cleaning earlier and I needed to open some windows to let the fumes out. Why?"
The Earth Pony and Pegasus grimaced as they made a hypothesis.
Aurora had heard the conversation.
With Aurora…
Aurora moped as she walked in a random direction, her arms crossing over her stomach. She had heard the conversation between the CMC and the two new mares, but didn't stay to hear anymore after the magenta pony called her a "lab rat." Normally, she would've retaliated like Scootaloo did. She never took anyone's gaff before. And she had a strong right hook because of it.
But that was when she was human. Or at least, when she thought she was human. But now with her new and true body, Aurora was strongly conflicted. While she wanted to remain true to herself, she remembered that she was, in fact, the only one of her kind. She hadn't met any other pony hybrids and finding another human in Equestria was impossible. She knew she wasn't going to fit in.
But she hadn't exactly thought about how alone she would be.
This was officially the time where she wished her parents were with her. Not just her mother, but her father too. Her mother would help her cope with living in Equestria and her father would be the source of human interaction she needed to make the transition easier.
But fate was strongly against her on that. First, her father died. Then her mother got kidnapped. Now, she was living with strangers in another world, learning that she actually knew less of her mother than she had. While it was nice of the Elements to try and help, support, and comfort her, nothing was going to take away the loneliness.
"Mom…" she managed to mutter, subconsciously hoping that just that one word could reach her mother, wherever she was.
She wanted her mother to again hold her in her arms, or hooves as it was. She knew that despite the unicorn appearance, Twilight was still her mother.
As a preteen, she was starting to desire independence. Often, she would go off to do her own thing until her father passed away. She stayed with her mother and started to recover until her mother started to feel suicidal. And that's what scared Aurora the most. Being left behind by her parents. Suddenly, a thought struck her brain.
"Am I…afraid of being an outcast? Or…am I afraid of being all alone?"
With this thought, Aurora snapped out of her mind and realized something else. She was no longer in the boutique. She was deep in a dark forest. Looking around, Aurora gave a shiver of anxiety. "I should've been paying attention." She took in a breath as she turned around.
"Ok. This is easy. Just walk in the other direction and you be back in town in no time."
She proceeded to turn around and follow her tracks back to Ponyville, only to find the tracks covered by mist. She gave a frustrated groan as she tried to peer through the mist.
"Can this get any worse?"
Suddenly, a low growl reached her elfish ears. Her frustration turned to anxiety as she looked for the source of the sound.
"Please tell me that was my stomach?"
But once again, fate was against Aurora. From the mist, figures came out slowly, causing Aurora to slowly back up. A second passed and Aurora was able to see what the figures were. They were three creatures that resembled wolves, but they were made of branches and brambles. Their eyes glowed an eerie green as they focused on her.
"Ok. I must be going insane. But then again, I don't want to find out this way."
Without another thought, Aurora turned on her back hooves and galloped away, the wooden wolf pack starting to give chase.
Aurora ran and ran, refusing to look back. Her mind was so blank that she'd forgotten that she was getting farther away from Ponyville and her instincts took control in her running, not tripping once. She hoped that her increase in limbs would grant her greater speed then when she had two legs. But the pack was persistent, not letting up. As she ran, another thought crossed her mind.
"I wish I could use my magic. Then I can turn those wolves into firewood. Argh! Stupid…whatever that was that took Mom!"
Suddenly, there was a crash and a yelp behind her. Daring herself to look behind her, Aurora found that two of the wolves were demolished. One was nothing but lifeless sticks, the other was running off as its tail was on fire. This left the largest of the wolves, the Alpha. Aurora then shifted her gaze and saw what got rid of the first two wolves.
The first was a creature Aurora was able to recognize from her old schoolbooks as a griffin. It was small, no doubt just a kid. It's lion half was dark grey and a black tuff at the end of the tail. It's bird half looked like an eagle, but its feathers were a medium shade of grey with a black beak and piercing amber eyes that glared at the alpha and the sticks that it had just crashed onto. It was the eyes that made Aurora suspect that the griffin was male.
The second figure was also a male, but it was a dragon. He was about as tall as her waist. He was lean with ice-blue scales and yellow underscales. He was a young dragon, possibly somewhere between 7 and 12 like the griffin. He has small spikes protruding from the back of his jaw and had a pair of gold horns on his head, though they were also small due to his age. He had a row of yellow spikes down his back and his tail had yellow blade instead of a spade. His wings, though small, were blue with yellow wing membranes. His jade eyes were focused on the alpha wolf as well.
Aurora was surprised and somewhat embarrassed. She was never one to be saved. It was usually her that was doing the saving. That was how she was able to meet the first of her human friends, Millie Gillespie. But now was not the time to think about the past as the two charged at the Alpha.
After seeing his pack-mates chased off by these two runt, the Alpha got angry and deflected the griffin chick before jumping out of the way from the dragon's blue flame. He then charged and rammed into the dragon, knocking him into a tree. But as it happened, the griffin chick charged and latched onto the Alpha's neck. Sensing the small weight, the wolf shook his head and neck violently, eager to get the chick off him.
As Aurora was watching this, her courage from old was coming back. Her brain was able to analyze the situation now that it was calm enough to process a single thought. She took note of the size difference and doubted the sharpness of the new pair's claws and fangs. And with the dragon in a dazed state, Aurora knew that the fight won't end in their favor. She then took notice of her own size and came up with an idea. A reckless one that made her grin.
Looks like the old Aurora was still inside her after all.
Unfreezing, Aurora charged into the fray just as the griffin chick was thrown off. Swiftly, Aurora turn around and, with all her might, bucked the Alpha wolf into a tree, turning it into a pile of sticks. She was caught by surprise when the wolf and its cohort reformed into their old bodies. But much to her relief, the wolves had enough and ran off to join their flaming pack-mate.
Once they were safe, Aurora turned her attention to the pair of would-be saviors and held out her hand to the dragon. No longer dazed and having seen Aurora's contribution to the fight, the dragon took the girl's hand, though he was surprised at her appearance.
"You ok?" She asked him.
Realizing she was talking to him, the dragon managed to reply.
"Y-yeah. Just a bump on the noggin."
Once the dragon was up, they turned their attention to the griffin. Now that he was close enough, Aurora could see that he was similar in stature to the dragon if not a wee bit smaller. He looked to Aurora, looking cross, but eased up as he spoke.
"You know, it's supposed to be us guys who are supposed to do the rescuing."
This caused Aurora to narrow her eyes and frown as she folded her arms.
"Hey. There are girls who can be heroes, too."
The dragon sighed as he sat on a raised tree root.
"That's what I told him. But he's dead set on being a hero that pretty much everything else is blocked on in that thick skull of his."
The statement caused the griffin to narrow his eyes while Aurora let out a giggle.
"At least I didn't get knocked out after one round." He muttered as he casted his gaze to the dragon.
The dragon then held out his claws and spoke.
"My name's Safir. And Mr. Ego over there is Gareth."
The hybrid then proceeded to speak her name.
"I'm Aurora."
It was then that Gareth asked a question as he sat on a nearby rock.
"So…what are you?"
She was about to answer when she went over her story. Scratching her head, Aurora answered the griffin as she leaned against a tree trunk.
"That's…a bit of a long story. I wasn't born like this."
This confused the boys as Safir spoke.
"What do you mean? Are you under a spell?"
Aurora thought for a moment. She could've said 'no' until she remembered the Gate of Sleipnir.
"Well…yes and no. Let me explain."
The boys listened as Aurora told her tale. They first found it disbelieving but were surprised when Aurora became more descriptive, bringing them into the tale. It was mid-afternoon when Aurora finally finished. She waited for a response from them, unsure of what they would think. Eventually, Gareth was able to speak.
"Wow. And I thought I had it rough."
Safir nodded in agreement with the griffin chick.
"And no one knows where your mom went?"
Aurora shook her head sadly.
"No. I'm staying in Ponyville with some of Mom's old friends and getting used to my new body. Once I've adjusted to living in Equestria, I'll go and live with my aunt and uncle in this place called the 'Crystal Empire.' Still…it's a lot for a 10 year-old to go through."
This caught the boys by surprise.
"You're ten?!" they asked simultaneously.
Aurora raised an eyebrow in confusion as she answered them.
"Yeah? Why the surprise?"
Safir was the first to answer.
"We're ten, too."
Gareth then spoke, but gave his own reason.
"Didn't think that you're this tall when you're the same age as us. Think you'll get taller when you grow up?"
Aurora narrowed her eyes at Gareth at first, but realized that the griffin had a point. She was going to get taller, there was no doubt. She wondered then what her body would look like in another ten years. Officially curious, Aurora put her thoughts on the back-burner in her mind as her stomach growled in sync with the boys. Faint blushes appeared on their cheeks as Aurora spoke.
"I guess after what happened in town I forgot about lunch."
Looking at the sky, Gareth spoke.
"I better get home before my Ma has a cow."
He then looked to Safir.
"What about you, Saf? You gonna come to my place for dinner again? Or are you gonna find your own today?"
This caused Aurora to raise an eyebrow again.
"What do mean by that? Do dragons go off on their own at ten?"
Realizing they hadn't told her, Gareth answered for Safir, who was looking towards the ground.
"Safir left his clan, yeah. But he wasn't exactly welcomed there."
Aurora blinked in surprise. Safir answered her mental question.
"I wanted dragons to get along with other races, like ponies and dragons. They thought I was a nut-case and I was teased for that."
Once again, Aurora was surprised.
"I don't think that's crazy. If anyone's crazy, it's those dragons."
This caused Safir to smile as Gareth joined the hybrid.
"That's what I said."
The trio laughed at this as Aurora got an idea.
"Hey, Safir. How about you come back to Ponyville with me. I know a dragon there that I think you'll like."
This caused the boys to raise their eyebrows at the hybrid.
"A dragon? In a pony town?" Gareth asked suspiciously.
Aurora nodded as she spoke.
"His name is Spike. My mom hatched him during a magic exam when she was a kid. So he's been raised by ponies. I'm sure once we explain to him, he can help you."
Hearing this, Safir smiled as he jumped off the root.
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
He then remembered something and turned to Gareth.
"Don't you and your mom live near Ponyville, Gar?"
Gareth nodded at this as he jumped off his rock.
"Yeah. So let's get going."
With that, the trio headed out of the forest, with Gareth using the skies to help them find their way.
Once they were at the edge of town, Gareth turned to the duo.
"I'm going on home. How about the three of us hang out tomorrow?"
Safir smiled at this. It was evident that Gareth took a liking to Aurora like he did. Aurora was about to respond when she remembered something.
"Can the Cake twins join us? We'd promised we'd go explore the town."
The boys nodded as they high-fived her.
"Deal!"
With that, Gareth flew off into the clouds as Aurora and Safir continued to walk. Remembering where Spike went when she arrived in Ponyville, the pair made their way to the town library. After knocking on the door, Aurora opened it and called out.
"Hello?"
"Just a second."
They heard a voice call out. Looking towards the stairs, they saw Spike coming down with a pair of binoculars around his neck. Once he saw Aurora, he made a mad dash and grabbed the girl by the shoulders. Panic and worry in his eyes.
"Aurora! There you are! Where were you, young filly? Everypony's been looking for you since this morning!"
Seeing how Spike was reacting, Aurora scratched her head as she explained.
"Sorry, Spike. Something happened and I lost myself in trying to pull it together. Next thing I knew, I was in a forest…"
She then proceeded to tell Spike about what had happened and introduced Safir. Spike paid attention as Safir explained his predicament. Once he was finished, Safir kept silent as Aurora spoke to the elder dragon again.
"Would it be ok if Safir stays here? At least for a little while?"
Spike took in Aurora's request to mind. However, it took little to give him his answer.
"I suppose he can stay. Can't leave him in the cold alone. And besides, it's nice that I can actually talk to another dragon who is just as different as I am."
With a smile, Spike spoke to Safir.
"I'll show you around the library in the library. But how about we have dinner? I've got a stash of jewels I've been saving you can eat."
Hearing this, Safir's eyes glistened with delight.
"Are there sapphires among them? They're my favorite."
Spike gave a hearty laugh as he nodded.
"I do have them. More than I could eat in a single sitting."
Safir gave a grin of delight as Spike led him inside, but not before telling Aurora to see to the CMC and the Elements. She did, but she got grounded for the night. But she did hear that the pony who insulted her and her mother got plenty of scoldings from both those associated with Aurora as well as her own family. This made Aurora feel somewhat better.
After getting back to Sweet Apple Acres for dinner, Aurora told her guardian family about what had happened in the forest before she went to bed. Applejack, despite the worry she had gone through that day, couldn't help but smile at how many friends Aurora was able to make in one day.
"Just like her mama."
As Aurora slept, she found herself hearing a soft lullaby in her dreams. The voice was unfamiliar at first, but to her surprise, found that it was Princess Celestia's voice. Unable to see anything but darkness, Aurora continued to listen to the princess' song. As she did, a scene unfolded before her.
As the last word echoed in her mind, Aurora's consciousness fell back into slumber. But she was never going to forget such a sad, yet beautiful lullaby.
Meanwhile, in Canterlot...
Princess Luna's horn ceased it's pale glow as she opened her eyes. Next to her was Celestia, her own horn dimming from a golden light. Looking to Luna, the Princess of the Sun spoke.
"You've heard me sing that long ago, didn't you?"
The Princess of the Night nodded, the image of a sleeping Aurora fading from in front of them.
"I did, sister. And every time you sang that song, I felt better, even as Nightmare Moon. That's why I felt that Aurora should hear your lullaby after what happened to her today. It seems to have done more good than before. Shall we use it everyday when she has another experience like that? To comfort her as you comforted me?"
Celestia nodded in approval, touched, as she embraced her sister in a hug.