I woke up with a yawn while using my hooves to rub the sleep from my eyes. Slowly pushing myself up from the pillows I headed toward the bathroom to clean myself up for the day. I was running through a list in my head. I was careful not to touch the stitches on my sides too roughly. Wrapping my mane up I moved from the bathroom to the room where my trunk was stored. Opening the trunk I leaned in pulling out some jars filled with different sections of colored crystals. Using my magic I dried off my mane before placing it up into a braided bun. Leaning into the trunk again I pulled out a large cookbook that was old and worn. The spin was worn with use as the pages were brown with age. Creating a small bag I placed the jars and the book inside. Leaning back into the trunk I pulled out a box filled with black and white speckled candy bars. Taking a bite out of one I could taste a wide variety of fruit as the pain in my sides disappeared.
“Now to find the baking supplies” I licked my lips as I placed the box back. Locking up my trunk I headed down to the main floor where I was greeted by a sleeping Twilight. I tilted my head as I noticed she was curled up in a pile of scrolls and spilled ink. Broken quills were scattered around causing me to tiptoe around her. Slipping out of the house gave me some relief. Stretching my legs I moved towards the one place I could think of Sugar Cube corner. The morning was quiet as I moved towards the shop I noticed it was open and operating. Pushing the door open I walked in noticing Pinkie Pie bouncing around.
“Hi, Lily!” I watched her wave her hoof quickly with a smile on her face.
“Hi, Pinkie. Do you think you can help me get some baking supplies? I want to make some treats from my village” walking towards her I noticed her eyes widen.
“Of course silly” her smile widen as she pulled me to the kitchen. It was covered in flour while different spices filled the air. I slowly moved to the counter placing my jars and book out one by one. Slowly opening the book I turned to the page and tapped on it.
“What is it?” I turned and noticed her face.
“It's called a moon pie. I need the plant of marsh to make a marshmallow, then I need to make a yellow cake and then I need cocoa nibs to make chocolate” I watched as she quickly moved around the kitchen placing items in front of me. I looked over the ingredients pulling out a back of fluffy small pillows.
“What is this?”
“These are marshmallows” I turned towards her before opening the bag up. I pulled a pillow out and popped it into my mouth. I ran to the sink spitting it out before sticking my tongue out.
“Too sweet. It won’t work for the moon pie” I rubbed my lips as I watched Pinkie Pie pull more ingredients out. looking them over I noticed a marsh plant causing me to smile “Now this is what I need. If you want you can help. I need a yellow cake with no flavor and a bit dry.” I smiled as I watch her bounce.
“Can we make more of the stuff in here?”
“Yeah. Sweet Drop left this to me when she passed. It has many of her recipes that were used many many years ago. I can teach you how to make invisible cotton candy” I looked over at her watching her bounce with a wide grin on her face. I turned and started to work on the marsh plant while Pinkie worked on the cake. Once the marsh plant was done cooking and turned into a foamy fluff, I grabbed a jar with light purple crystals.
“You can’t put crystals in food silly” I turned and held the jar towards her.
“Smell” I watched her sniff it before her ears went up.
“It smells like lavender!” I placed the jar down before picking up a jar of light red crystals cut into slices. I pulled out a slice and handed it to her.
“Try this” I watched as she took a small bite.
“This taste like an apple! But it's not sweet like rock sugar and it doesn’t crunch like rock candy!” I chuckled a bit as I nodded.
“This is what my village lived on. We grew plants and trees that yield crystals in the shape of fruit and vegetables. You could eat them and they were yummy.” I placed the jar down before picking up the lavender jar.
“Really!”
“Yeah I grow more in my house in Canterlot” I started to crush the lavender before mixing it into the fluff. Placing the bowl of fluff to the side I started to melt the chocolate. I took my time melting the chocolate before placing it to the side. Once I had the ingredients completed and in front of me, I started to assemble with Pinkie watching. I cut the cake into circles before placing some fluff in the middle. I then placed another piece of cake on top then I dipped it all in the chocolate making sure it was coated. I did this till we ran out of ingredients.
“Done” I smiled watching Pinkie pick up one taking a bite. I laughed a bit as she tried to chew the fluff “Milk will help” I smiled as I started to pick up the bowls and pans.
“This is yummy!” I chuckled as I noticed she was looking at the book “Can we make the cotton candy?”
“Of course. We will need sugar, flavoring, and some crystals along with heat” I watched as she gathered the stuff.
“I know how to cook half of this” she waved her hoof as I sighed.
“Be careful how you placed the ingredients. The wrong ingredient at the wrong time could cause an explosion” I turned back to the sink washing the pots and the pans that we used. I was humming along noticing it was quiet till I heard a loud bang. Turning around I could see Pinkie hanging from the ceiling in a web of cotton candy. I gave a light chuckle as I noticed some of her friends running in.
“What is going on?” I heard Rainbow Dash causing me to look at her. Something was different, I looked around and noticed the room was made of dark brown wood with the floor made of stone. Kettle sat on top of a fire, while a white Pegasus with a golden fluffy mane hung upside down.
“Surprise what did I tell you? You need to add the crystals before the sugar starts to boil. Bring the sugar to a boil then the crystals will cause them to explode. The water in them can’t take it” I chuckled as the mare rolled her eyes.
“Are you going to help me down?”
“I think you need to learn your lesson Surprise” I smiled as I heard hooves moving to the doorway. Turning around I noticed an old unicorn with a light lavender coat and a grey mane with a stripe of navy in it.
“Aurora why are you here?” I walked towards her “You know you should be resting. Gem said your body can’t take a lot” I reached out and placed a hoof to her cheek.
“What are you getting at?”
“Aurora your body isn’t like mine. And don’t worry I will help with the cost of everything after you passed” I smiled as I noticed the surroundings change back to the kitchen of sugar cube corner. I had my hoof on Twilight’s face causing me to back up. I turned around and placed the book and the crystals in my bag.
“Twilight you woke up. Run out of ink and quills?” I smiled as she nodded.
“You were also gone. Are you okay?”
“I am old Twilight. I will have some flashbacks of my life and my grandchildren.” I noticed she was staring at me “If it makes you feel better we can go to Canterlot to see RedGem. I also need to stop by and see Luna” turning around I packed up a moon pie before leaving some bits on the counter.
“For any damage” I walked out of the bakery quickly feeling ashamed. Moving to the tree house I ran up to the stairs to place my bag into my trunk. I pulled out a white and silver vest with a moon on one side and a skull and crystal on the other. I also pulled out a black collared button up trying to hide my nerves. Fixing the sleeves I picked up the moon pie and returned to the main floor. I saw Twilight and her friends.
“Why did you run?” Twilight walked up towards me.
“I was embarrassed for what happened” I looked away from them as I let out a sigh.
“So you had a flashback dearie” I looked towards Rarity. I nodded solemnly.
“What is wrong with you?” I looked up and noticed Rainbow staring at me.
“My life is falling apart in front of my eyes” I spoke softly as I noticed the others staring at me.
“What do you mean sug?”
“My name is Silver Crystal, the knight commander to Luna, and the Crystal Cleric to the empress of the crystal empire. I am over two thousand years old. The langue I spoke about is what I was born with. I remember speaking those words to cast spells and to speak. I remember when the earth ponies were called earthen hooves, the Pegasus was called air hooves, while the unicorns were called magic hooves. I remember watching ponies used crystal to build walls and fences. I watched them grow crops. I have this long life from a spell that went wrong the day Discord showed up. I can tell you all the history of Equestria as I saw it change before my eyes. I remember all the lovers I had and all the children. I can tell you all the wars I have been in. The life I had built to keep the princesses at bay to make sure they do not tear them apart is just. I can’t keep it hidden anymore” I was staring at the floor as I moved my hooves around. I could feel the air thicken as I looked up. I noticed they were staring at me with wide eyes.
“Woah. I didn’t” I could Rainbow was shocked.
“I’ve spent so many years trusting only my family and my close friends. I am sorry if I seem rough. It's hard to trust ponies when I have lived so long. It's hard to be close to ponies because all I can do is watch them die. I’ve seen so many of my children and grandchildren die while I stay here. I held my husband and my first wife when they died. My second born was cursed to be eaten by the shadows and she begged me to kill her. I watched my firstborn being trapped on the moon with Luna. I have seen my third work hard at being a guard captain. I have had nobles yelling and fighting me because of our alliance.” I moved some tears in my eyes as I looked over at them. I shook my head as I turned around and walked up to the room I was staying in. I placed the moon pie on the trunk before curling up on the bed. I was no longer in the mood to deal with other ponies.
I had fallen asleep only to wake up in a large water-filled field. I started to walk around noticing the stars above me twinkling. Looking down I noticed I was replaced with a pony with a white fire-type coat and a long black flame mane and tail. My eyes were silver as I had no mouth and nostrils. Lifting my head I could hear nothing but ringing.
“Hello?” I spoke up while looking around. I noticed a tall silver alicorn with a white mane walking toward me. She had no mouth as well but her silver eyes were staring down at me. I felt her wing brush against my mane.
“Hello?” I spoke up as I heard a slight chuckle.
“Hello my little one. It is nice to finally meet you.” I could hear the sadness in her voice as she leaned down.
“Why do you sound so sad?”
“Because you my little one were stolen from me. And I did not get to raise you like my own. And now here you are within reach of me”
“Um…my parents are dead” I tilted my head as I could see her nod softly. I watched as she leaned in and kissed my cheek. I felt the ground swallow me whole.