//------------------------------// // Part 18 // Story: Son of Sombra // by BubblePuff //------------------------------// A few weeks had passed since the crystaling. North Star had been told by Cadence and and Shining exactly what had happened, and that his sister now had a name, Flurry Heart. “It’s not fair.” North Star thought to himself as he sat on floor and played with his toys. “I defend my family by lighting a bully’s butt on fire and get grounded, but Flurry Heart destroys the crystal heart and almost destroys the Crystal Empire, and she gets no punishment at all! I don’t care if mom says that she’s only a foal and doesn’t know any better. There is no justice in this world.” North Star also poked at the magic suppression ring that was around his horn. He hated wearing it, but Shining and Cadence it was for his own good. “Flurry Heart should be the one wearing this stupid thing. She’s the real trouble maker.” No sooner had North Star finished his thought, Flurry Heart crawled over to him. North Star looked over at her and sighed. “What do you want?” The little foal pointed at North Star’s Mr. Smartypants plushie, uttering foal gibberish. “No, you can’t have Mr. Smartypants. He’s my special toy.” North Star with an irritated voice. “Go play with your own toys.” Flurry Heart then snatched up Mr. Smartypants with her magic and held him tight. “Hey, give him back!” North Star yelled. He lunged at Flurry Heart, but she just flew into the air and giggled. “Come back here!” Flurry Heart flew away and North Star gave chase. He followed her through the halls, rooms, and just about everywhere else in the crystal palace. North Star eventually got close enough to make a leap at Flurry Heart, grabbing Mr. Smartypants and bringing his sister to the ground. Flurry Heart however, refused to let go. North Star and Flurry Heart engaged in a tug of war over the plushie. “Let him go!” North Star demanded. Flurry Heart responded with more foal gibberish. Both ponies pulled as hard as they could when suddenly Mr. Smartypants was torn in half. Stuffing flew everywhere. North Star was in complete shock. Mr. Smartypants, his favorite toy since he was a foal, a gift from his aunt Twilight Sparkle, was destroyed. Tears welled up in his eyes. North Star then looked at Flurry Heart, who was watching the still falling stuffing with awe. North Star snapped. With all of his rage, he slapped Flurry Heart across the face as hard as he could, leaving a big bruise. Flurry Heart of course began to cry and let out one of her defining screams. It did not take long for Shining and Cadence to find the two. “What’s going on here?!” Shining demanded. He then saw the bruise on Flurry Heart’s face. “North Star, what did you do?” “Flurry took away Mr. Smartypants, and then she tore him apart!” Cadence’s eyes went wide. She ran over and scooped up Flurry Heart. “My poor baby! North Star! You should be ashamed of yourself!” “But she destroyed my favorite toy!” “That is no excuse to hit your sister!” Shining said with a stern voice. “Now go to your room! We will deal with you later.” North Star stood up. “This isn’t fair! Flurry Heart nearly plunged the entire Crystal Empire into an ice age, steals and ruins Mr. Smartypants, and I get punished?!” “North Star, watch your tone.” Shining demanded. “No! And by the way, Flurry Heart IS NOT MY SISTER!” North Star Ran to his room and slammed the door. He buried his face in a pillow and cried. After what felt like hours, Butch walked over and nuzzled him. North Star got up from his bed and stroked Butch. “At least you still care about me.” North Star then had an idea. “Come on Butch, we’re getting out of here.” North Star tied his bedsheets together to make rope. He then opened his window, held Butch with one leg, and climbed down from his room. Butch followed close behind North Star as they snuck past the guards, then ran away from the palace. After getting Flurry Heart to calm down, Shining and Cadence put a bandage on her face and put her in her crib. Cadence turned to Shining. “Honey, I feel bad about yelling at North Star.” “So do I. We have been ignoring him since Flurry Heart came along. We should just give him some attention, spend some quality time together to let him know we haven’t forgotten about him.” Cadence nodded in agreement. She walked over to North Star’s room and knocked on the door. “North Star, can we talk?” When there was no reply, Cadence opened the door and looked into the room. She then turned towards Shining, a look of panic on her face. “Shining, North Star is gone!” North Star and Butch walked across the Crystal Empire, being careful not to be seen by any guards. They eventually reached their destination, the one place North Star knew where he had a friend: Summer Haze’s house. North Star threw pebbles at her bedroom window. “Psst, hey Summer!” Summer opened her window and looked out to see North Star. “North Star? What are you doing here?” “It’s complicated. Can you come down and talk with me?” “Sure thing.” Summer flew down from her room and landed next to North Star. “So, what’s up?” North Star explained everything that had happened since the crystaling. “I just really needed somepony to talk to. You and I have been friends for so long that you’re the one I trust the most right now.” “Wow, that sounds really tough.” Summer said as she placed a reassuring hoof on North Star’s shoulder. “But do you think that running away was really the best option?” North Star rubbed Butch’s head. “It just feels like that I don’t belong there lately. Ever since I found out that I was adopted I’ve been wondering who my real parents are.” “I know how you feel.” Summer said. “For years I would ask mommy about daddy, but she would only give me vague hints. It wasn’t until recently that I got to meet him for the first time.” “At least you got to meet your father. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to meet mine.” “North Star, I know that things may be tough for you right now, but you have to stay strong.” Summer moved closer to North Star. “Shining and Cadence may not be your real parents, but I’m sure that they still care about you. Besides, I know one pony that really cares about you.” North Star gave Summer a puzzled look. “Who?” Summer then gave North Star a quick kiss on the cheek. North Star’s ears shot straight up and his cheeks turned bright red. For a minute he was utterly speechless. Summer waved her hoof in front of his face. “Hello? Earth to North Star.” A goofy smile appeared on North Star’s face. “That was...nice.” Summer covered her mouth and giggled. One of the royal guard suddenly appeared behind North Star and Summer, causing the two to jump and scream in unison. “Prince North Star, thank Celestia I’ve found you!” The guard said. “Your parents are very worried. They’ve sent out search parties all over the Crystal Empire to find you.” “Looks like you have to go. See you later!” Summer said with a wink and a smile. She then flew back into her house. “What was that all about?” The guard asked. “Oh, nothing.” North Star said with a smirk. He and Butch followed the guard back to the crystal palace. As soon as North Star entered the crystal palace, Cadence ran up and embraced him in a tight hug. “North Star, I’m so glad you’re safe!” She said with tears running down her face. “You shouldn’t run off like that.” Shining said. “You had us worried sick!” North Star lowered his head. “I know. I’m sorry.” Cadence Smiled. “It’s ok, we forgive you. We also have something for you.” Cadence used her magic to bring over Mr. Smartypants, who was all stitched up. “Mr. Smartypants!” North Star grabbed the plushie and hugged it tightly.”Thank you, thank you, thank you!” “One more thing.” Cadence walked out of the room and came back holding Flurry Heart. “I want you and your sister to make up.” North Star gave Flurry Heart a nasty look. “I’m sorry” He mumbled. Shining moved over to North Star. “A little louder, please.” “I’m sorry.” Flurry Heart giggled and booped North Star on the nose. “See? Your sister is sorry too.” Cadence said. “Now go wash up and get ready for dinner.” “I’m not sorry.” North Star thought to himself as he walked away. “And she’s not my sister.”