//------------------------------// // The Crystal Heart // Story: The Misery of Scarlett Twinkle // by cottoncandycat12 //------------------------------// For days, Scarlett and her mother hid in their home, fearful that King Sombra would break through the shield that their new princess had put up. Several ponies from a town far away came and had tried to ask around for information, but nopony was really willing to talk ill about King Sombra. Also, many ponies memories were starting to vanish only to be replaced with images of King Sombra's anger and magic. When they came to Scarlett's house, Sparkle wanted to help, but the same thing began happening to her. Every time she tried to think about some information on King Sombra, fear would flood her mind and she would get a major headache. Scarlett, on the other hoof, did not have this happen to her, but being to young to really understand what had been going on with King Sombra, she wasn't much help. Scarlett got antsy from being locked in her home for several days, but Sparkle was too fearful now, too scared that King Sombra would be back and take her baby away. After they had woken up and all the drama with the Sombra shadow, Sparkle and Scarlett had gone to look for Blaze. They searched and searched for him, but they couldn't find him. Even when asking around, still Blaze was no where to be found, as were any of the ponies who had made up King Sombra's royal guard. Eventually, they had to give up and accept that he didn't come back with the rest of them from wherever they went for 1000 years. One day, while Sparkle was sleeping, Scarlett snuck out of the house, desperate to stretch her legs outside. When she got out there, though, she was surprised to find the streets had been decorated and there were stalls filled with an assortment of random things. She was speechless as she began to walk the streets. Several other curious crystal ponies had also begun to explore and they soon found out that this was a festival. "Scarlett! Scarlett Twinkle, where are you?!" Scarlett stopped and turned to see Sparkle running around frantically. "I'm over here mother, don't worry." She shouted, getting Sparkle's attention. Sparkle came trotting up, a scowl on her face. "Why did you sneak off from the house like that? You never know when King Sombra will..." "Mother look around you! Doesn't this all seem interesting instead?" Scarlett waved her hooves around. Sparkle took a look around and her eyes widened. "This looks like a Crystal Festival! They stopped having them when King Sombra came into power!" She began to look around, going from stall to stall. Scarlett followed along, enjoying everything that was going on. Delicious food, fun crafts, and a hilarious jester, Scarlett had never had this much fun in her entire life. "Ladies and Gentlecolts! The joust will be starting in 5 minutes! Please make your way to the stands if you wish to watch!" Sparkle was basically a little kid at these words and begged her child to come with her to watch. "Jousting is a great sport! Such strength and agility! You will love it!" Scarlett agreed reluctantly leaving the petting pen with cute fluffy ewes. They took their seats in the front row and waited excitedly. Scarlett noticed it first, but all of the crystal ponies' coats were shining like they used to. A roar from the crowd signified that the jousters had come out and were getting ready to go. A bright blue pegasus with rainbow colored hair and a light yellow one with long pink hair were one opposite sides of the fence, holding their jousting sticks at the ready. The yellow pegasus looked unsure, but a whistle blew and the blue one took off. The yellow did as well, but not as fast and when they connected, she was blasted way over the bleachers. Ponies were cheering and stomping their hooves on the bleachers while the blue pegasus bowed. "I'm gonna go get something to eat, mama." Sparkle only nodded as she continued cheering. The yellow pegasus was back and getting ready for another joust. Scarlett got up and moved past several ponies before coming to the edge of the bleachers. She jumped down and trotted back over to the stall with crystal berry pies. When she got there, though, she found several other ponies who were disappointed to find that there were no more. Saddened a little, Scarlett moved on, wandering around some more. She went to the courtyard in front of the crystal castle where a pedestal was standing under a sheet. An orange earth pony was hanging around it, obviously not a crystal pony since her coat did not shine like theirs did. She had three apples as her cutiemark and she wore a strange hat that Scarlett had never seen before in her life. What she was really curious about was what was under the sheet. It seemed to be some sort of statue or crystal positioned at the top of the pedestal. She went up the the orange pony, determined to figure out what she was hiding. "Hey there lil' filly! You enjoyin' the festival so far?" The pony asked when she noticed Scarlett sneaking up on her. She moved in between the pedestal and Scarlett, blocking it from her view. "Oh yes. It has been the most exciting day of my life, ma'am. What's under that sheet?" "A-ah, this sheet? Don't you worry 'bout that. It will be revealed soon, I promise." Her eyes betrayed her to Scarlett and she wasn't convinced. "I won't tell anyone if you let me have a little peek." She begged, putting on the best puppy-dog face she could image. The orange pony laughed. "Now you look like my little sister back at home when she wants somethin'. Don't worry.....?" "Scarlett Twinkle." "Ah Scarlett Twinkle, cute name for a cute filly! Don't worry Scarlett, you will be the first to know what's under here when we reveal it, alright? Now run along little filly! Enjoy yourself." She shooed her away and Scarlett had no choice but to go. She walked with her head down, trying to figure out what could be under that sheet. It was then that she felt a shudder in the ground. She looked up at the sky which looked clear and nice, but she new better. It was an illusion made by the shield around them, but as she stared at the sky, it faltered, showing the real terrain around the empire. It flickered for a moment, then went down completely. Scarlett felt fear race down her spine as she saw the shadow of King Sombra. He raced in, his dark crystal popping up in the shadows wake. As he moved, his body formed into a solid pony shape and he was racing towards the tallest tower on the castle. Ponies were running in fear, but Scarlett's gaze was fixed on the castle. Up at the top, she swore she could see a small figure jumping down the evil crystals popping up. King Sombra noticed it as well and darted towards it. On the balcony below the tower, she saw the princess and a white stallion with a blue mane grabbed the princess and launch her towards the figure and King Sombra. Her wings spread out and she flew so fast that even King Sombra had to stop. She grabbed the figure, who Scarlett saw was now holding a crystal and flew down to the courtyard. Scarlett was shocked to see that it was a little dragon holding a crystal shaped like a heart. The sheet had been pulled off the pedestal and a stone that was cut like a heart sat on top. The princess knocked it off and the dragon stuck the crystal one on it. The crystal ponies that were around it began bowing and Scarlett ran up and did the same, not that she knew why. The crystal began to spin and suddenly a burst of powerful magic was released from the crystal. Scarlett watched as it hit King Sombra and his body was shattered and vanished along with his dark crystals. All the ponies began cheering and Scarlett joined in. It looked like King Sombra wouldn't be coming back! "Scarlett! Oh please, where are you?!" Once again, Sparkle was crying out for her daughter. Scarlett ran to her mother, launching herself at her. "Oh mother it was amazing! A little dragon had this crystal and when he put it on that pedestal, and then everypony bowed then a burst of magic popped out of the heart and bam! King Sombra was annihilated!" Sparkle looked over to the courtyard and saw the crystal heart spinning. "Oh my gosh. That's the Crystal Heart! It's what protects the Crystal Empire from dangers! When King Sombra came around, he hid it away from us! We used festivals to power the heart with good feelings! Oh, I am so glad they found it!" Sparkle explained. Scarlett's eyes twinkled as she listened to her mothers. Everypony's coat was shinning brighter than she had ever seen them shine before. This was the beginning of a new life for Scarlett Twinkle and Sparkle.