//------------------------------// // Chapter 18 // Story: Crown of Winter // by CartoonNerd12 //------------------------------// The manor was dark and dreary as the three ponies kept a distance from it. Rock Salt asked, "You sure she's in there?" Snow Pea replied, "I'm almost positive. Aunt Sunset had lived here her entire childhood." "Surely, though she would have found some way to escape." LB said, "At one point, she did and met our aunts. But if the timeline is broken, then maybe she couldn't get away…" Her eyes went up to the tower window and there was a light orange mare with a red and yellow fiery mane. "Look! There she is!" They looked up and sure enough, Sunset Shimmer was longingly looking out the window. "Okay…" started Rock Salt, "Now that we know she's here, the question now is how do we get in?" The sisters exchanged unsure looks. The Canterlot Astronomy Tower stood apart from the castle and three ponies were climbing up the steps to get to the entrance. Whirl Wind mentioned, "Man, Aunt Twilight really kept her distance from both the castle and the ground!" Starling said, "According to Cranky and Matilda, when Mother married, she moved out of the castle and into here." "The question is why?" said Fire Spark. "I know she would have not been able to leave Canterlot with her being Grandmother's chosen heir, but for her to live here… it's very odd." Once they had reached the door, they knocked and somepony opened it. But as the door opened more, a purple unicorn with thick black glasses and wearing an upper full bun in her mane stepped out. "Yes?" she asked. "May I help you?" Fire Spark and Starling were in upmost shock while Whirl uttered under his breath, "Whoa." "This is it, the Canterlot Gardens." said Screw Ball as they faced the labyrinth. "You think you will be able to find a mirror shard in there?" Moth Ball asked. "Hopefully." said Gemstone. "I'm more worried about finding my father's statue in there…" Screwy gulped. Gem took her hoof, "It's going to be okay…" "But the timeline is out of whack right now. Even if my dad isn't a statue, he might be out there causing harm to ponies…" "I know my mother is…" voiced Mothy, but he could tell from their expressions it didn't help. He quickly added, "Wherever your father is, I'm sure you'll set him straight, not like me with my mother. No pony could set her straight…" "I believe it…" Screw Ball recalled the brief encounter she had with the Changeling Queen. She wasn't trying to be friendly at all. She taunted her father, Uncle Spike, and Aunt Sunset without mercy. She was rotten to the core. Screwy examined the queen's son and found him to be refreshing compared to his mother. He was polite, sweet, and kind of goofy… Moth Ball… She didn't want to admit it, but the moment he said his name, she was amazed how he had a similar name like hers as her cousins Cotton and Dignity so bluntly pointed out. Seeing him in a whole light now, he was actually… kind of attractive…Sure he resembled his mother, but knowing his personality was nothing like hers, he was quite handsome for a changeling. Moth Ball noticed the look she was giving him and was confused. It wasn't a look of hatred like when she lunged at him when he first opened that door to the hut. Once he had grasped what was happening and saw the pony on top of him, he was taken aback by those swirly eyes of hers. They looked like two lollypops. He was entranced to them. She was so strange. So different. But he himself was different from pony-kind and it was great seeing another being that was different, too. He didn't want to admit out loud, but she was also kind of cute. Gemstone could see the looks the two were exchanging. She knew that exchange all too well because she had given Seam those looks and he gave her the same. She was sad from thinking about him, but she couldn't help but be sad towards her cousin, too. Looking back now, she realized that Screw Ball didn't have many suitors, but Gem was so busy with her own that she didn't bother to look further into it, but now she felt she should have. Oh, Screwy… I should have realized that you would have been hurt… We all should've… But we were so lovesick with our own loves that we were blind to the lack of love you received… But hopefully, I can make up for that by giving you a chance with love right now… When the trio of ponies was still on their way to Marendelle, the ship lost wind and came to a stop. Skater exclaimed, "Seriously?! We don't have time for this!" She and Roller quickly flapped their wings to the sail and the ship slowly moved on. "This is ridiculous!" Dignity mentioned while they were camouflaged as large rocks as they watched the dragons gather to the big dragon. Cotton retorted, "Hey! You're lucky I had these disguises!" Apple Jewel nodded, "Exactly. The last time I was here, I had to hide in a sack while Daddy waited for the summoning to end. The dragons didn't like ponies and I'm pretty sure they don't now with the timeline not right." Dragon Lord Torch bellowed out then, "DRAGONS! I CALL UPON YOU TO HELP ME WITH THE REBELS THAT DARE GO AGAINST OUR WAY OF LIFE!" Garble spoke up, "But isn't one of those rebels your daughter?" "SILENCE! IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THE LEADER IS MY TRAITOROUS DAUGHTER!" Apple Jewel whispered in shock, "What…?" Once Torch held the scepter up, the glowing stopped, much to Jewel's relief. She was set to leave, but she had to learn more about Ember being a traitor. "Ever since I was forced to banish her to Dragon Town, she managed to rally the defective clans living there and now will battle us. ANY OF YOU UNWILLING TO COOPERATE WILL BE PUNISHED!" Cotton muttered, "Sheesh… Not given them much of a choice…" "The Dragon Lord has control over all dragons… They don't have a choice…" Jewel motioned. Dignity said, "May I suggest we pick up this conversation later? The longer we stay, the risk of us being found out becomes greater." Jewel nodded, "Come on, we have to get to Dragon Town." Fire Spark, Starling, and Whirl stood there gawking as the unicorn they recognized as Twilight Sparkle stepped out. "Are you alright?" she asked. Star finally shook out of it and said, "Forgive us. We are weary travelers and we have been through quite a lot." Whirl thought, More than you can imagine… "I'm sorry to hear that. Please, come inside." She escorted them into the tower as they took in the sight. Lots of books were piled up next to a stand. She kept speaking, "I've sent my husband on an errand, so he won't be back for a while." She then muttered, "Thank goodness…" Fire Spark knew he would regret asking, but they had to know if there were children that his mother had to have for heirs. "So, do you have any children?" "No. I don't…" she sadly said. He and Star exchanged confused glances. "I couldn't go through with it. I was already forced to marry someone I hardly knew. It was even more stressful to try to produce an heir." Star pointed, "But… You're the queen's heir. You have to have heirs to the throne as well." "I'm aware." Twilight stated. "But this is something I never asked for." The three exchanged knowing glances as if saying, And yet you wanted us to marry and have heirs… "So what are your names?" Fire started, "Oh, sorry about that. My name is Fire Spark and this is my sister Starling and our cousin Whirl Wind." "Pleased to meet you. Where are you traveling from?" "Uh…" they were unsure how to respond to that. Whirl gestured, "Let's just say we've come from a place far from here." Fire added, "Way far…" Starling asked, "What is it you do all day, Your Highness?" It was strange calling her mother that, but since she didn't exist in this world and her mother wouldn't remember her, so what else could she address her as? "I study. It's the only thing that keeps me happy these days…" Then remembering the ponies were strangers, she apologized, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't say things like that to you." Fire motioned, "Sometimes, you need a stranger to listen to your problems." Twilight's eyes widened as she magically grabbed a book and found the saying in there. "You know Star Swirl's sayings?" Fire smiled, "By heart." Star smiled as well, "So do I." Twilight then tested the siblings' knowledge and was quite impressed by the results. They're like little me's! I… I never considered having an apprentice before, but maybe now I should and have these two as my pupils. And maybe eventually I can adopt them and… The thought brought tears to her eyes, They can be like the children I never had… Star noticed the tears, "Are you alright?" "Oh," she wiped the liquid away. "I was just thinking about something…" Whirl questioned, "This something wouldn't happen to be about my mo- I mean, Princess Rainbow Dash going rogue, would it?" Twilight's face turned serious, "I wish every pony would stop saying that…" She sighed, "The day before our wedding, we were set on running away… Unthinkable, I know. But we couldn't go through with the wedding. We had a plan to get away and Rainbow managed to get out first, but a guard spotted us. Since Rainbow was the only one fast enough to get away, she didn't want to leave us, but we told her to go. Even if we couldn't escape from a loveless marriage, at least we were able to help our sister get away… I don't regret it. I miss her, but at least she's free." Fire pointed, "But a bounty was placed on her head. How is that freedom if she's forced to live in exile?" "We told the Duke to leave her alone, but he wouldn't listen…" Star inquired, "So, after the wedding, you decided to live here?" "Yes. The moment my sisters were taken to different parts of Equestria, I couldn't bear to live in the castle and face my mother… I keep correspondence with her, regarding politic matters and my studies, but that's about it. I haven't seen her in twenty-five years…" Star covered her mouth while the boys gawked. Starling then realized that her mother didn't have wings, so that meant she didn't gain true love's kiss with her father. She asked, "Have you ever met Flash Sentry?" "Who?" Twilight was genuinely confused about who that was. Fire replied, "He was a castle guard." "I don't remember a guard named Flash Sentry. I remember Captain Shining Armor, but I know nothing of a Flash Sentry." Whirl questioned, "What about Spike? Or Cheese Sandwich? Soarin'? Fancy Pants? Discord?" "Spike? Cheese Sandwich? Soarin'? Fancy Pants? I don't know who any of those ponies are. And Discord is the spirit of chaos and disharmony, but he is just a myth, thank goodness. The last thing Equestria needs is chaos roaming around." The three exchanged surprised glances. The kids knew the stories of how their parents met. They remembered every detail of those first meetings. If Twilight never met her husband, then that meant that the other girls never met their husbands as well. That was the connection. They quickly huddled together. "So that's what the tornado did. It somehow made sure our parents met." said Fire Spark. "But how?" said Star, "How is that possible? How can a tornado make our parents meet?" "We find the shards and we'll find the answer." said Whirl.