Novo’s Dilemma
Dear Skystar,
My friends and I just had a wild field trip today!! Headmare Starlight took us to see the northern lights for Hearth’s Warming Eve and it was awesome! Did you know that they have special guided tours ONLY on the night they are visible? Every other day, they are closed! Well, I’ll tell you what we did.
So Gallus and I shared a kiss underneath the lights and it was just magical. I think everycreature knows we’re in love by this point, but come on! It’s not like it was a secret or anything. We made it very obvious. Sandbar tried to show Yona how ice skates worked, but…it failed spectacularly. No near death experience this time, I promise. Smolder and Ocellus went dogsledding and Ocellus actually transformed into a wolf at one point to get those lazy bums to work and nearly got us kicked out of the place for it. Luckily Headmare Starlight and Counselor Trixie got us back in through bribing the management with our connection to Princess Twilight! That’s not illegal, right?
Anyway, I sure wish you could be there with me. We have so much fun and I think of you everyday of the week. How’s Princess Training treating you? I know things have been rough since last incident, but I thought Aunt Novo would’ve come around by now. Just know that if you ever need to chat, we got our meetup in just a few months. I love you, my favorite cousin.
Sincerely,
Silverstream.
Princess Skystar stood on the shorelines of the ocean that connected the two kingdoms of Hippogriffia with a massive smile on her face. The waves splashed against her claws and the wind blew through her mane as she held the letter close to her chest. This was the fourth letter she had received the whole week, the most ever in a long while, and she could not wait to hear from Silverstream again.
Since the Storm King had been defeated, the decision to move the hippogriffs back up to Mount Aris had seen more economic and social growth than ever in the history of the realm. Friendship and cooperation had been extended from Equestria to the hippogriffs and close relations only increased with the ascension of Princess Twilight Sparkle to the throne. Visits were common and Skystar now had more friends than she could ever ask for!
Yet, something just felt off and she couldn’t exactly put her claws or fins on it. Everything from the optimistic future to the close allies they now had seemed like a perfect world to live in. Yet she felt strangely empty. How could this be? She didn’t know. For some reason, the only thing she looked forward to in the entire world was hearing from Silverstream, her favorite cousin, who was currently studying abroad in Equestria.
She looked up to the sky, feeling the warm rays of the Sun beam down on her and watching the clouds drift by her in a sea of calmness. Her world seemed so perfect, yet it was sorely lacking one thing, one small thing that kept her up at night, and she didn’t know what. That’s when the missing ingredient hit her, the one small thing she was missing in order to truly feel content and at ease, and that one troublesome matter that kept her incomplete.
Love.
It wasn’t like Queen Novo didn’t love her. The brave and majestic leader of the hippogriffs certainly did a whole lot, but she didn’t have a whole lot of time to show it. Being Queen of two entire functioning kingdoms was no easy task, and the monarch took it to heart with all the grace as a ruler should, carrying all the responsibilities and duties on her shoulders almost effortlessly. However, being that good at ruling meant there was barely any time for mother-daughter bonding. Whenever Skystar wanted to hang out, play, or even talk with her, Novo was far too busy and often dismissed her.
Now she was old enough to understand the responsibilities of a Queen, that much was certain, and she would never dare ask her mother to forsake the heavy weight for trifle entertainment. But because of that, Skystar had almost no one to talk to aside from the hippogriffs she hung out with and the seaponies that would sometimes take pity on her and partake in her games despite their better judgement. She didn’t want pity though. She wanted true affection from someone, ANYONE.
When Princess Twilight and her friends had come down searching for the hippogriffs, Skystar saw her chance to finally have true friends that would love her for who she was. It didn’t last of course, but before the School of Friendship was ever a thing, she and Silverstream hung out regularly and they were the closest of cousins, having grown up together. When Twilight was looking for her first batch of students though, Silverstream was selected to go and Skystar remembered sobbing for weeks on end, refusing to eat or even speak with any of her personal servants. She remembered how heartbroken and betrayed she felt, how she desperately wanted to go as well, but Novo was firm, and there would be no further discussion.
Happiness was simple, but the thing about it was that it didn’t last.
After about three months, she had more or less gotten over the heartbreak, but the pain still lingered, gnawing away at her like termites on wood. She needed to get this off her chest and as she now thought about all the fun Silverstream and her friends were most likely having without her, the old feelings of loneliness and despair came rushing back like a tsunami and she felt like crying all over again, asking, no, BEGGING the heavens to just let her be truly happy…just once.
Only…she wasn’t going to do that this time. No, she had to talk to Queen Novo about this whether she wanted to or not. She HAD to go to that school and learn with her cousin. There was no other solution, princess duties be darned. She didn’t have a plan nor a method of convincing her mother, but she was going to try anyway.
Putting the letter in her waterproof blue saddlebag, she transformed into a seapony and dove beneath the waves.
———————————————————————————————————————————————
The sea could be considered a world in itself to all who beheld it, and that was not any less true today. All kinds of life lived down in this hidden world, from the majestic coral reefs to the diverse marine life that inhabited it the shallow and deep areas. It was truly an anomaly to most creatures how life could exist all the way down in the deepest and darkest depths and still survive.
The ocean did not need an explanation though. It simply was, and the seaponies understood that. The fish didn’t need to explain how they could live in various temperatures, how their unique adaptations, mutations, and evolutions allowed them to survive. They simply did. It was a tale that weaved all the way back to the dawn of time itself. After all, the seaponies always spoke about how the way of water had no beginning and no end as the story was infinite. The sea lived around you and in you, for it was your home, before your birth, and after your death. The sea gave when it needed to, and took when it needed to. Water connected all things, life to death, and darkness to light.
Skystar swam through her aquatic surroundings, waving to the massive grey whales and the orange fish that swam by her. She giggled as an octopus swam up to her and waved back at her with its tentacles, parting to let her pass by. The Sun shone its brilliant rays down, illuminating all in its path with heavenly light as the coral reefs swished back and forth rhythmically. As she swam along further, a large sea turtle rubbed her cheek affectionately, sensing her troubles, silently telling her that everything was going to be okay. She nodded slowly, thanking the turtle for its concern and it let her continue on her mission.
It took a while of swimming, but eventually she reached the shining lights of Seaquestria, the village of pink houses cluttered together in an ensemble greeting her warmly. She smiled as she looked upon her home. It was their greatest achievement. It told the story of an indigenous species hunted to near extinction by outside forces and how they were able to rise again from the ashes of defeat and humiliation, stronger and prouder than ever before.
She continued on to the large castle on top, waving to any seaponies she passed. Finally, she reached her home and swam underneath the opening, emerging on the other side into the place she called home.
She looked all around for Queen Novo, finally finding her mother in her usual spot, taking a long nap on her throne. She swam up to her, apprehensive of what was going to happen.
“Mother! Mother!” Skystar prodded Novo with her fins, “Wake up! Wake up! Can we talk?”
“Mmm…” the majestic queen mumbled in her sleep, “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ocean Flow…you know Mother hates pickles…”
“Pickles?” Skystar was confused now.
“Huh?” Finally, Queen Novo began to wake, stretching as her beauty sleep ended with the constant prodding of her daughter. She sat up, at first puzzled until her eyes focused on Skystar and she became fully lucid. “Ah, Skystar, there you are. What do you need, sweet pea? ‘Just dreaming of that one failed prank your aunt and I pulled on my Mom as kids. Let me tell you, we were so GROUNDED.”
“You replaced the Pearl with a pickle, didn’t you?”
“Exactly,” Novo confirmed, “Come to think of it, I’ve told you this story before, haven’t I? Let it be known, that is why we have the alarm system. What do you need?”
“Well,” Skystar took a deep breath and spilled the beans in a tumble of words, “I got another letter from Silverstream today and I was just thinking you know after a while of seeing me so lonely you’d finally relent and let me go enroll at the School of Friendship so I can be with my cousin Silverstream who is the only one I know will have actual time to spend with me sooooooooo…yes?”
The two guards below them looked at each other in complete and total bewilderment, not understanding a single thing their princess had just said.
Queen Novo understood though as her relaxed demeanor faded instantly. “Skystar, we’ve talked about this, I need you here-“
“I know!” Skystar said, “But you’re just so busy! And I know I can’t ask you to drop everything to spend time with me, so I just want to be with someone who can!”
“There are more important things in the world than leisure time,” Novo stated a matter-of-factly, “I don’t know why this is suddenly being brought up again. You haven’t talked about it in a long time and now suddenly it’s an issue again?”
“Please!” Skystar implored her, “I know the real reason why you don’t want me to go. Whenever I want to go anywhere else, even diplomatic summits, you let me. Yet when it’s something about Twilight, you…you say no. This is about her trying to steal the Pearl, isn’t it?”
Queen Novo sighed deeply. “Yes. Yes, I’m afraid it is. I didn’t want to tell you the truth as that would make me sound like a complete hypocrite for wanting you to get over things, but…it’s true.”
“You’re still mad at her about that?” Skystar asked, “Why?”
“Because she nearly took the only thing protecting us from the Storm King!!” Queen Novo yelled. “I don’t care what her reasoning was. We offered our hospitality to those demons and they almost left us completely vulnerable!! Can you imagine what would’ve happened if our Pearl was actually stolen?! And to top it all off, you want to go to a school run by the very same pony who tried to destroy our way of life?! I want nothing to do with her, this discussion is CLOSED!!”
“Except it isn’t!!” Skystar shot back. “I wouldn’t’ve asked this in the first place if you had just spent a little bit of time with me!!!” She gasped as soon as she blurted it out, tears forming on the corners of her eyes.
Queen Novo was stunned into silence. The temperature seemed to grow colder around them, the warm feeling that was present now gone.
“What are you saying, sweetie?” Novo asked her.
“You never spend any time with me anymore!!” Skystar cried. “You know why I occupy all my time with shells?! Because they can’t leave!! I’ve been stuck underwater for most of my life with barely anyone to talk to, you’re so busy with your duties that you practically ignore me, the first visitors that come in years you chase out for a misunderstanding, Silverstream gets chosen to represent us and I now don’t even have her to play with anymore, what do I have?! I’ll tell you what. Nothing!!”
“Skystar-“
“Silverstream and I used to play together all the time!! We would swim up to the surface, laugh and tell each other stories, share everything together…now she’s gone!! You and General Seaspray made this decision behind my back without telling me and I didn’t even get to say goodbye!! And you told me to get over it!! The only time I see her is during the Three Days of Freedom Celebration and I didn’t even get to see her this year because they were off on a field trip!!!!”
Queen Novo hung her head low in regret. “Skystar, I’m really sorry. Believe me, I wanted to tell you. I would’ve rather not send anyone there considering my feelings still haven’t changed on her, but Celestia was very persuasive. What could I say in response? Our reintegration policy was just starting out and I had no idea how to navigate this changed world. I still don’t.”
“You could’ve told me beforehand…”
“You’re right, I could’ve. There was nothing stopping me from doing so, yet I chose to hurt your feelings instead…”
“And another thing,” Skystar added. “The whole thing you’re mad at Twilight and her friends about was a misunderstanding. They needed that Pearl, Mom. I know you’re still mad at her, but can you blame her?! Her entire kingdom was going to fall to ruin! Just like ours. And unlike us, they couldn’t escape underwater to hide and rebuild.”
“It still doesn’t excuse stealing the Pearl!” Novo replied firmly, “I don’t want you learning the wrong lessons from that Princess. Stealing is never okay under any circumstance, especially the very thing we needed to survive!! Celestia should’ve taught her better.”
“Taught her better?! Mom, imagine if we were in that situation!!” Skystar shouted back, “Would you have done that to save us?! Imagine if we were the ones on the run and we found Equestria underwater.”
“That doesn’t-“
“Would you have tried to steal the Pearl in that situation to protect us…protect me…?!” Skystar’s voice was full of emotion and anguish as she let out all her feelings to her mother in that moment, everything she had tried to repress, attempted to conceal…it all came spilling out. Tears streamed down her cheeks, being lost in the water around them. She didn’t care if she was going to be grounded or anything worse. She wanted to let her mother know how much she had been hurting.
Novo stared into the eyes of her daughter, knowing full well that she was right. If she were in that very same scenario, she would’ve done that and more to protect her subjects. So who cared if Twilight said no in that situation? Her subjects, her people, her family…they meant more to her than anything in the world.
“I would’ve…” Novo admitted. “You’re right…you mean more to me than anything in the entire world. If someone was threatening you…morals be darned…I would’ve done all of that. I would’ve done all of that and so much more. I know I haven’t been the best mother to you, Skystar. My responsibilities took precedent over your life and mental health…”
“Mother…”
“I’m so sorry, Skystar…” Novo apologized. Tears were now leaking out of her eyes as well as she spoke, “I was so focused on protecting our people that I lost sight of why we left in the first place, why we swam all the way down here. I wanted to give you a great future, Skystar, free from a life of slavery and bondage. Little did I know, I only made things so much worse…I let you become isolated and ignored you when you wanted to spend time with me. I never should’ve pushed you away…”
“It’s okay, Mother. I understand why you did it,” Skystar told her, “I mean…I don’t blame you. Ruling two kingdoms is a big deal and I can’t imagine what you must go through on a daily basis. What I must eventually do…I don’t envy your duties as Queen and if I had it my way, I wouldn’t take it up at all…but I know I have to, and I can’t ask you to step away from the big job, so…can’t I have fun before I must take the throne?”
Novo took a deep breath. “You do deserve a better life than this kingdom can give you, that I can give you. I remember how close you and Silverstream were. And now your only forms of communication are through letters and one holiday visit. I can’t imagine feeling what you must be going through on a daily basis…it shall be so.”
Skystar gasped, not daring to believe what she had just heard. “Really?”
“Yes,” Novo told her. “I know I cannot give you the life you deserve, the life you need. But being surrounded by teachers and students who will love and support you may do the trick.” She stood up in a regal manner, addressing the guards present. “Help Princess Skystar pack her belongings. We shall have another representative for us in the School of Friendship!”
Skystar could not believe what was happening. This was it! She was going!!! She vowed to write to Silverstream as soon as she could and tell her the exciting news. But there was still one more thing left to do. Quick as a flash, she swam up and enveloped Novo in a big warm hug. Novo’s eyes went wide in surprise for a moment, but she closed her eyes and returned. They held each other in that embrace, all the love that Novo had kept locked beneath the stoic exterior coming out in one gesture. The nightmare was over. Skystar deserved to live her life the way she wanted it. Even she deserved to live a better life.
“Thank you, Mom! Thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!!” Skystar thanked her profusely. “How can I ever repay you?”
Novo laughed as tears of joy came down her cheeks. “Visit often. I promise that whenever you come back, I will give you all the mother’s love and warmth to last several lifetimes…”
The guards were all stunned by what they were seeing. This was their Queen Novo, the usually stoic and resolute leader? She actually showed emotion? She was laughing?! It was unfathomable to them to comprehend, yet here it was. The entire exchange had showed a new side to them both.
Finally, they released each other and Novo was beaming from ear to ear like she used to when she was Skystar’s age. Skystar smiled back, finally feeling like she belonged. All the pain she had built up was now washing away in a grand flood. This was the time to rebuild their relationship, rebuild their lives, and they weren’t going to waste it.
“Race you to the surface!” Skystar called, swimming away as fast as her fins could take her, out of the castle, and back into the world.
Novo grinned mischievously. “Oh you are so ON!”
With that, she swam after her daughter, the two of them laughing and shouting as they swam after each other. Novo was a queen and Skystar was a princess, but at the end of the day, they were mother and daughter.
They were family.
———————————————————————————————————————————————
One month later…
Princess Twilight and Queen Novo sat on the beach overlooking the shore, in the exact spot where Skystar had been one month prior. This was their first time talking non royal matters in years, the last time being that fateful encounter.
“So…” Twilight began awkwardly, “We gonna talk about what I did, or…”
“Save the explanation,” Novo assured her, “Skystar already worded it beautifully. What you did was wrong for sure, but I don’t fault you for it in the slightest anymore. In fact I commend you for risking everything for your future subjects…”
“You did too,” Twilight reminded her, “I mean, evacuating your entire kingdom to go underwater? That must’ve been super serious. We shared a common enemy in the Storm King. I just wished we could’ve talked it out civilly.”
“You tried to, but I wouldn’t hear it. If we’re being honest, I brought the situation on myself.”
“Really?”
“Mhm. My foolish pride drove you away, drove her away. I hope she’s happy at the School right now. Any updates?”
“Oh I don’t keep up with the curriculum nowadays. Too much Princess stuff going on. But Starlight did tell me that Skystar’s met a lot of new friends. She even goes without her shells now, which is a big surprise. I’m impressed. She’s really thriving!”
“Good,” Novo relaxed on the sand. “I’m glad that she’s happy. She’s had a rough upbringing and all I want her do now is use her new chance at life to the fullest. You were right the whole time, Twilight. Just know that.”
Twilight lay down as well. “I’m surprised to hear you say that, but…thank you. I guess it all worked out in the end, even if I lashed out at my friends, got captured by Tempest, got my magic stolen, battled for the Staff of Sacanas, and almost died several times, all things that could’ve been avoided with the Pearl. But it still all worked out just peachy!”
Novo blinked. “What?”
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Terramar.
11463946
Hey, you’re right! Thanks for catching that! Fixed it.
Twilight lay down as well. “I’m surprised to hear you say that, but…thank you. I guess it all worked out in the end, even if I lashed out at my friends, got captured by Tempest, got my magic stolen, battled for the Staff of Sacanas, and almost died several times, all things that could’ve been avoided with the Pearl. But it still all worked out just peachy!”
Novo: "...Oh WOW I didn't even have a tenth of the story..."
I actually had a hard time getting through this story. Not because it was bad or anything, it was because I was afraid of this argument. At first, I completely agreed with Novo and her reasoning, but as the story went, Skystar completely won me over. And she's right. Her joining The School of Friendship was probably the best thing for both of them. Now Novo can dedicate all her time for her kingdom and Skystar will have company. Overall, a very satisfying read. Well done!
Yay the shipping fuel I love it and dang these kids get themselves in trouble lol
Ohh still a lack of trust huh I mean again two wrongs doesn't make it right
Wait a minute that's just jump into conclusion she would never do it anything like that I mean yes she needs the pearl but she would never ever do something like that
It's a long story and it was crazy I can tell you that
Wow that was some emotional roller coaster here so skystar felt lonely for the past few months after silver stream left and she's been really thinking about this whole situation why her mother never really pays attention to her so now she has to figure out and she did talk to her mother and things got really heavy that skystar admitted how much she was so lonely that her mother Queen Novo never really pay attention and even couldn't forgive Twilight for what happened at that event of the movie which Sky Star had to say that what if that's the same thing would you do the same thing what Twilight would do and she would and she felt even more a shame about that and she really don't want skystar to feel lonely anymore so she decided to let her go to the school of friendship which I think it's a neat idea and it looks like things are getting much better between these two later in the month it looks like Twilight and queen Novo had to talk to each other and even buried a hatchet after that event which I guess it's a start between them at least hopefully things will go very well for them