New Lulamoon
From the outside, black Stygian obsidian covered everything visible - inside Lulamoon manor, from the exquisite decor of the overly stocked kitchens to the alicorn sized bathtubs, they were crafted with the finest carrara and skyros marble plated with Imperial platinum for foundation; at least that’s what Twilight observed them to be. Built like a fortified monument; meant to last for centuries before any hint of age start to show, yet was cozy and warm enough to live in.
One bathtub was occupied as two sisters playfully wasted time with their first bath together. Fun: it was a word that Twilight only knew because she read it in a dictionary; now she knew exactly what it meant to have fun.
Steaming water, naturally heated by the ametrine underneath, splashed and spilled because of the bellyflop done by the an excited filly for her first dive. The scented candles that had been used to dimly light the room were extinguished, leaving only a black sapphire glowing with the crystalloluminescence that Twilight easily recognized as she writhed in pain from her burning underside. Laughs were shot at her along with a valuable lesson.
“How was the belly flop Twilight?” giggled Trixie, as she watched the other filly from a safe distance away. She only got bubbles in return as her sister resurfaced, face reddened with pain and embarrassment.
The hurt filly frowned and scowled at her sister. “Remind me never to try that again.” She delicately rubbed her belly to force away the pain, wincing and bit back the tears.
A bar of soap that had fallen from a shelf above gently floated by as Twilight remembered her responsibilities and the reason why she was there in the first place. She quickly stepped out, dripping with water and cold, her horn the only other light source to illuminate her way. A fuchsia aura grabbed the roaming soap and her sister, who flailed instinctively to free herself.
The entrapped filly struggled mildly in the air as she was levitated to the center of the tub. “Twilight?! What are you doing?!” asked Trixie as she drew nearer.
“Giving you a cleaning. I almost forgot that the faster we clean ourselves, the sooner I can get my hooves on the Daring Do books one through seven and maybe catch some Lord of the Horseshoes later.” Said Twilight excitedly, clapping her hooves together.
Twilight stopped in her tracks as she glanced over to the door that was ajar - and immediately considered herself the unluckiest pony that ever lived. The only entrance to the bathhouse swung open with the silhouette of a unicorn clearly behind it. The pony stepped forth as the filly nearly set the record for youngest foal to have a stroke.
Twilight considered it the worst situation to be in: she was standing on the edge of the bathtub, with her magic closely holding her sister and hovering her above steaming water. The telekinesis dissipated - Twilight hid herself by running into a pile of fallen towels, as Moonlight slowly approached. Trixie splashed down, face first, mimicking the same mistake Twilight had made earlier.
“Don’t even think about it, Mother!” spluttered Trixie before Moonlight could take any harmful actions towards her innocent sister. The mare stopped and stood there, unamused and an impassive look on her face. Her head turned slightly to adjust her vision to the shivering filly on the floor, sinking lower and lower to hide herself.
“If you’re going to drown my daughter, at least have the decency to invite me first,” said Moonlight. Whether it was the seriousness in her voice or the fact that she remained emotionally constant Twilight couldn’t help but actually believe her.
“Y-you’re joking, right?” asked Twilight sheepishly.
“Ha ha, very funny, Mother. What you do want?” laughed Trixie sarcastically. The filly managed to get herself out of the tub quickly in case Moonlight really did intend to drown her. She returned her birth daughter’s disrespect with a cold glare, the first reaction Twilight had seen her mother shown since she walked in.
“Dry yourselves and get ready for dinner, the both of you. This is family time and I expect happy faces on you when it starts. Understood?” ordered Moonlight. Twilight followed her mother’s orders to the letter, quickly drying herself with the towels comfortably shielding her as Trixie rebelled.
“Make me,” the birth daughter said.
Twilight staggered back in fright as Moonlight did exactly that. It was tough love at best and, at worst, soft hate. She hid under a mountain of towels again - this time only a pair of amethyst eyes can be seen like she was a monster lurking in the shadows - watching closely as Moonlight nearly strangled her daughter with a clean rag, cleaning behind the ears and hindquarters. No matter how much Trixie struggled, her mother’s magic grip held on. Friction burns were harshly enforced upon Trixie’s coat as her normal skin color turned a bright pink, with the assault continuing.
“Let go! That hurts!” whined Trixie. Her wish was a delayed one, but was eventually granted as she was released with a fuzzy coat and mane, static electricity puffing them out. Twilight burst into laughter, unraveling her fortress of softness, seeing her sister as a soft fluffy thing. The filly’s giggles died as Moonlight shot her a glare that could kill.
“Trixie, your father wants to see you, now. I want a few words alone with Twilight before we have dinner as a family,” said Moonlight.
“If you think-”
“I’m afraid you don’t have much choice in this matter, daughter,” smirked Moonlight. A misty aura consumed the air and wrapped itself tightly around Trixie, who was flailing wildly to free herself. A tiny Poof and her birth daughter was gone - Moonlight’s vision returned to the lone filly, who shrunk to nothing more than a puddle of sweat and fear. “And don’t think I forgot about you.”
Twilight’s eyes frantically darted to the closing door, pushed silently shut by Moonlight’s telekinesis, watching helplessly as her only chance of escape disappeared. The locks clicked together and the drowned candles reignited. The blue flames shone on a darker side of Moonlight, one that Twilight quickly wished she had never seen.
The filly found her voice, though it was barely above a whisper and stuttering, “Y-you w-wanted to t-talk to me?”
“Twilight, what you do next will determine your worth in this family, got it? I want honesty from you, not fear. Do we understand each other?” questioned Moonlight.
Twilight gulped and gave a weak nod in return. Her entire future was going to be tested whether she was prepared for it or not. ‘Fail this test Twilight, fail it! She’ll kick you out if you fail it!’ mused the shaking filly.
“Walk with me, I have several hundred years of family history to teach you and then some,” ordered Moonlight. Her magic lit again, unlocking the door and cleaned the terrible mess both fillies caused.
She obediently followed her mother and stepped out into the hallways. The older unicorn effortlessly walked with a confident and steady step, back poised and straight, head held high, while Twilight struggled behind trying to match her pace and look of elegance.
For once her in life she didn’t want to learn something new - especially if it meant learning it from Moonlight. Her wild imagination was her worst enemy as it ran immediately to a worst case scenario: the scary unicorn would lock her in the dungeon like she said she would.
Moonlight looked back at the filly closely following and wobbling with uneasy steps, “Stop your shaking, foal. In this family, fear and hesitation are not options, nor are they tolerated. As your matriarch, it is my duty to secure the bloodline’s continuation, meaning you’ll have to be groomed into a proper noble.”
“But... isn’t that Trixie’s role?” questioned Twilight, a single eyebrow raising and confused.
“Indeed it is, sadly, no matter how much I try to force it upon that stubborn foal. Hmph, she clearly doesn’t want her fortune.”
“Wait, Trixie doesn’t want any of this?” asked Twilight. She looked around at the diamond and sapphire embedded hallway, with inscriptions and paintings of what she assumed to be past Lulamoons.
“I have yet to find a proper successor for the family’s fortune and treasures with the necessary level of intelligence and magic capability to inherit our most protected heirloom.”
Curiosity sparked as Twilight eyed the unicorn in a new light, “and you are telling me this, why?”
“Do you honestly think anything goes on inside this house without me knowing about it? Playing dumb will get you nowhere, either, nor does it suit you. Don’t act like there wasn’t a fluctuation of magic recently.”
Twilight bit her lip again, knowing exactly what her mother was referring to. “I’m sorry,” the filly mumbled.
“No need to apologize, Twilight. Trixie got what was coming to her,” snickered Moonlight as she reached a pair of onyx doors. They creeped open without any screech of old age. With another flicker of telekinesis, Twilight was gently forced inside, screaming and wailing as she struggled in vain.
“Let me go! Please!” begged Twilight, body on edge and eyes twitching from the unicorn to the room.
Moonlight simply ignored her pleas and continued on, a fighting Twilight still in her grasp. The elegant dress left her piece by piece and was moved to a large nightstand, revealing her luxurious and stunning oxford coat. Hidden closely and securely around her neck was a sparkling silver crescent moon locket.
There was not a single trace of age or rust, as it was quickly ripped from her and given to the frightened filly. The magic dissipated on Twilight as she was dropped, thankfully on her hooves. The precious item was gently lowered around the filly’s neck as the gleaming noose magically sealed itself.
“Guard this amulet with your life, my daughter. I am entrusting you with the very nature of the Lulamoons. Do not disappoint me like Trixie has,” grieved Moonlight.
Once more, a disappointed look was on the elder unicorn’s face, but not because of Twilight. The filly’s eyes widened at the shiny celestial charm, as did her mind as to why it was so important like her mother said. ‘Did she call me her daughter?’ mused the filly.
“But... why me?” questioned Twilight.
“You have potential, a lot of potential. You’re barely, what? Three? Four years old? I sensed a teleport made within this castle and the only one capable of it was you. Raw magic talent isn’t a bad thing to have when you claim the heritage of the Lulamoon.”
Praise: it was the last thing that Twilight thought the unicorn would ever give her in a million years. “Does that mean I can call you M-mom?”
She waited patiently for the anger to come, watching Moonlight’s features closely and attentively for any signs that she might show more resentment towards the filly. It was the scariest thing Twilight ever saw. The monster she thought she knew smiled. A rare occasion would never describe how often she thought the her mother really showed any real affection.
A soft giggle escaped Moonlight, leaving Twilight more fearful than ever. The only reason she would ever laugh was because someone was suffering. It was the only way the filly thought anyone could get any emotion out of the mean unicorn.
Moonlight’s voice calmed to a gentle whisper, “Yes you may. But do not get any ideas, for the comforts of the home shall be the few you shall know. Tomorrow your studies will begin.”
“Studies?” asked Twilight excited.
“Yes,” said Moonlight levitating the filly’s luggage out from beside her nightstand. Locks were easily unsealed and opened as Twilight’s heart skipped a beat, then stopped entirely. Her other most beloved possession was at the mercy of her mother. Moonlight eyed the book close, returning it to the small filly, untouched and unharmed.
“Thanks...” mumbled Twilight as she pressed the hard cover against her bare chest, sniffing its age-scented pages and ink. She felt safe again knowing her most precious and only book was nearby.
“At the crack of dawn tomorrow, report to the library, decently presentable. You will need to be tutored in the ways of magic and etiquette. We have years of subjects to catch up on since we didn’t start at your birth. Tardiness will result in punishment, as in no supper, understood?” asked Moonlight, regaining her seriousness.
Twilight swallowed the lump that unknowingly formed in her dry throat. Losing food for tardiness wasn’t going to be problem for her, but just the prospect left her shaking again. She had always wanted to be learning advanced subjects like the rich and noble foals did, but not under these circumstances.
“W-who’s going to be my teacher?” asked Twilight. She couldn’t hold it anymore, she had to know before the suspicion killed her.
“Me, of course,” the smirking unicorn answered. Moonlight watched her daughter drop back into sadness, ears down, features clearly showing her woe, eyes watering, and mouth gaping open. Her telekinesis almost choked the air out of the distressed filly, as she once again held her in a deathly grasp, offsetting Twilight’s balance and turning her topsy turvy.
“Come, you need a proper cleaning. I do not trust yourself with who knows how long you spent at that filthy rat’s nest,” said Moonlight, walking into her personal washroom. Several dozen faucets turned and filled the olympic sized bathtub inside the expensive washhouse.
Another belly flop, her face burned deeply as did her anger towards her mother for throwing her into the bathtub. Resurfacing for air was met with an assault of shampoo, brushes, conditioners, and rough handling. Her eyes teared from the cleaning liquids that were forced onto her without mercy. A cry of helplessness escaped her, as did terrified screams with the start of more intense scrubbing from her mother looming above.
Twilight could have sworn her very back was being peeled away slowly, inch by inch, each stroke of the brush ripping her fur from her coat like she was being skinned. Her mane, in a calamitous mess, felt like it was being ripped strand for strand from her scalp. With just a single swipe of the brush, strands of tangled mane were pulled off, messily clinging to it. No area on her was left unchecked, unscrubbed, and unabused.
“AHHH! Stop please! You’re gonna rip my coat off!”
“No,” answered Moonlight bluntly. She strictly followed a pattern of scrubbing and rinsing, nearly drowning her daughter every time. Screams and wails lasted an eternity for the bruising filly. Struggles and resistance were met with hurtful tugs by the brush and punishment from the downlooking unicorn. Twilight’s yelps were taken pity upon as her mother was on the last cleaning cycle before she was held up into the air, gasping for breath.
Without any hesitation, Twilight was tossed across the room into a rack of towels - she was lucky to have her impact cushioned. Her back acked miserably and she was beaten black and blue, with searing, crimson swollen cheeks. Her hooves fumbled erratically to get herself back up and away from Moonlight. The ruthless unicorn continued her steady pace towards the tortured filly and did what she always did, frown with disappointment. She shook her head and gave a Tsk Tsk noise to her new daughter.
The elder unicorn’s cold voice was barely a mumble in Twilight’s pounding head, “Get up.” Her mind barely functioned, the rest of her body responded with searing pain but she ignored it and struggled to get back on her hooves.
“If you wish to lay there, then think again. Dinner is within the hour and I expect not a second of tardiness from anyone in this family, including you,” scowled Moonlight, voice coated in the same venom that ran in her veins, “I will not hesitate to beat you like the animal you are.”
“W-why are you doing this to me?” whimpered Twilight as she wince at the words.
“You wanted to be my daughter didn’t you? You have done nothing more than just gain a title, trust and kindness from me must be earned through actions. Show me that you are worth the trouble of going all the way to that filthy, rundown orphanage to adopt. Show me that you aren’t just a waste of space. Heck, just for my entertainment show me that you can even stand. Stand up and face me, now!”
Twilight didn’t care what the terrible unicorn said to her, all she wanted now was to disappear. Just to get away from it all. Life wasn’t worth living if she had to deal with the monster she call her mother. Her body was already shutting itself down, so why not just let her mind as well? It would be as simple as falling asleep and never waking up again.
Consciousness was on the brink of vanishing, the filly’s eyes looked to her mother, the monster that would no doubt beat her awake if she passed out. Her life had barely begun and it was already a personal hell, so why should she live it?
Her blood red eyes, in near black vision, had tears pouring out of them. To have it all end, the torture and the beating, she would have done anything for that. All she could do now was struggle and whimper helplessly as Moonlight continued her assault.
‘So is this how it ends? Beaten by my new mom? Do I even get to see my next birthday? Will I ever see Bluecross again? Will I even read another book again? Do I even get to play with my sister?’
“That’s right, lay there and die for all I care,” said Moonlight staring down her trembling daughter, “that’s all you will ever amount to anyways. You are a useless, pathetic, and undeserving cur. Lay down and die quietly, that’s the best you could ever do for this family. You’re a worthless piece of trash, nothing more, so die quietly for me won’t you? Be the good little bastard you are and-”
“S-shut up! Shut that pompous mouth of yours!” screamed Twilight, she was overflowing with confidence, “If you want to kill me, fine! Go ahead, death would be better than spending even another minute with you! You are not my mother, you don’t act like a mother and you will never know what love from a daughter means!” yelled Twilight straight into Moonlight’s unchanging face.
The injured filly stood on shaky legs, threatening to topple over at any second. Twilight had manage to stabilize herself though, with anger and hatred fueling her need to stand up against the terrible mother she never asked for. Her rebellion barely managed to catch the looming unicorn off guard, but she was gaining ground, and Twilight wasn’t going to let Moonlight punish her again.
“You don’t deserve to be my mother! You're a-a meanie! You wouldn’t know what love and care is if it smacked you right in the face! You’re supposed to be my mother, not some disciplinary that beats a foal just for being adopted! Your love and care was supposed to be unconditional the moment I stepped out the doors of the orphanage! I abandoned the closest pony I had to a mother and for whom?! YOU?!
The filly took a step forward, nearly falling over, but she managed to catch herself. Freezing water dripped from her freshly scrubbed coat, but it didn’t deter the hatred that boiled inside. Twilight made the biggest frown she could and returned a deadly glare, perfectly identical to Moonlight’s own.
“You’re a monster. You take no shame in beating me and instead take pleasure in it. It’s sickening when a foal is a afraid of their own mother. From the first moment I met you till now, I have tried. I tried everything, I obeyed you and even tried changing myself so you would give me a chance. One chance! That’s all I ever wanted from you when I saw that disappointing look on your face,” Twilight hesitantly downcast her eyes and continued, “I tried to please you, my mother. The same mother who punished and beat me just because she didn’t like me.”
The anger within the small filly died, no matter how much she hated her new mother, there wasn’t a single thing she could do about it. Moonlight was a monster who beats her own foals, there were no possible way of changing that fact. Twilight’s eyes met Moonlight’s downcast ones, and for a moment she thought she saw herself, just older and looking straight back at her.
“Trixie is your birth daughter, and yet, you treat her like you do me. If it weren’t for the fact that Dad looked out for her, you would beat her unconscious every night. You talk like family is important to you, but it’s just finding someone to pass it to after you’re gone. Trixie may seem like a failure in your blind eyes, but she is doing everything a normal foal would if she had a mother like you. She will grow up to resent you for the rest of her life.”
Twilight could have happily died knowing she got her final words across to her mother, to know that she would be the one to wipe that smug look from Moonlights unchanging face. She got the exact opposite in return.
Slow and light applause came from the beaming unicorn above as she politely approached her daughter. “Good work, Twilight, you pass,” said Moonlight, still with a wild smirk on her face. “The test was to see if you would stand up for yourself, and you did. It would have been quite disappointing to see you lay there and die. Congratulations, you pass with flying colors and exceed all my expectations for you!”
The filly’s nostrils flared, with short breaths coming and going, “What?!”
“You may keep the necklace, though I doubt you will be able to take it off now,” said Moonlight. Her misty magic wrapped around the injured filly as she backed away, fearful of the unicorn’s intentions.
Wound by wound, from light bruises to blackened ones, they healed themselves and disappeared from sight. “Why are you healing me? So the others won’t see that you beat me?”
“Yes,” answered Moonlight, “and I can’t have my daughter running around beaten.”
“You don’t have the right to call yourself my mother!”
“No I do not, but as long as you live under my roof, you will follow my rules. Address me properly, my daughter,” ordered Moonlight.
Twilight grinded her teeth and took shallow breaths, she was tired and frustrated. Twilight talked with her mouth nearly clamped shut and with clear malice in her voice, “Yes, mom.”
“Good, now what is your name?”
“Twilight...” a stern look from the unicorn told the filly to continue, “...Lulamoon.” She took one look at the evil unicorn before complete blackness consumed her vision. Everything about Moonlight filled Twilight with disgust and anguish. The last thing she saw was her mother’s cutie mark, a diadem and peacock feather.
“Welcome to the family.”
~~~
Starshine patiently waited on his rocking chair, reading the newspaper, listening attentively to the screams and wails of a frightened foal. His ears twitched and folded down as his suspicions were confirmed and daughter came running straight at him.
“Starshine, you have to come quick! Mom took Twilight and-”
“I know Trixie. Calm down and don’t worry. I told her to.”
A frown formed on top of Trixie’s horror filled eyes, “You told her to?!”
“Yes, I did. They needed to sort some things out. It took quite a convincing and talking to for your mother to agree.”
Trixie eyed the pony that looked identical to her father. The pony she knew would never set someone as terrible as Moonlight on anyone, especially not a filly. “Starshine, why?! Mom will kill her!”
“No she won’t,” said the calm unicorn, “I took precautions to ensure that Twilight will live to see the morrow’s light.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Starshine?!” The filly backed away from the mysterious stranger impersonating her father.
“Trixie calm down,” said the unicorn putting his newspaper down, “Don’t worry, I made your mother make an unbreakable vow that she won’t kill Twilight. They just needed time with each other, and that’s all I allowed her, time with Twilight.”
“Why?! Mom lies and knowing her, Twilight is probably drowning right now!”
Starshine’s voice took a stern locking and serious manner, “Give your mother some credit, Trixie. I did not marry a liar and have her bear my foal. Just hear me out alright?” asked the tired unicorn. His gentle magic lit and telekinesis took his frightened daughter onto his armchair. “Getting a little bit big there, Trixie.”
“But-”
“Let me explain first will you?” interrupted Starshine and his daughter gave a subtle nod, “I know, Moonlight can be harsh sometimes, but she is only doing what is best for the family. Trust me on this, alright? She knows what she is doing and I trust her absolutely and completely with both our lives.”
“You’re avoiding my question,” noticed Trixie.
“I know, now let me finish. Twilight needs a responsible adult figure in her life right now, and Moonlight is the only one willing to push her in the right direction-”
“Push her down a cliff is more like it,” snickered Trixie.
“As I was saying, your mother knows what she’s doing. She’s likely grooming Twilight into a proper noble-”
“What if Twilight doesn’t want to be one?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have much of a say in this matter, Trixie, for it is the responsibility of the matriarch of each family to properly groom their successor-”
“Wait... successor?” interrupted Trixie again.
“Yes, successor, as in you won’t have to be tutored everyday now. All lessons planned for you will be canceled and given to Twilight for the time being as we decide what to do with her.”
“So, mom choose to have Twilight be the successor? Can she do that?”
“Yes she can, I’m afraid. It is the mares in this family that chooses who the successor is, so that siblings don’t get privileges just because they were born first. It’s an old law and tradition that has been passed down every generation, commanded by Her Majesty. Do you understand me so far?”
“Yea, I just lost my fortune and future.”
Starshine’s gentle smile turned sour and then a slight scowl, “Don’t think like that Trixie. Moonlight is likely forcing this upon poor Twilight, who I believe wants nothing more than a warm home and family. I cannot do anything about this, but I can tell you that the fortune is shared between the two of you. Even if it is rightfully passed onto your adopted sister, only the family’s heirloom will be given to Twilight alone, everything else you two will share.”
“But... why did mom have to choose Twilight?”
Starshine’s frown turned into a forced smile, as he avoided his daughter’s gaze, and looked to an interesting speck of dust. Trixie never saw it before, but her father’s stress lines were now clearly showing, even with his silver hair, grey was starting to appear.
“I don’t know Trixie. I honestly don’t know,” answered the wary father, as he delicately rubbing his temples and gave a gentle tossle of his daughter’s beautifully groomed mane. “Who your mother chooses to be the success is her business and her decision alone. Just get ready for dinner alright?” He gave her a forced smile and returned to her pleading eyes, “They should be down shortly, and she’ll explain better than I can.”
The upset filly let her head drop and avoided the gaze of the pony that used to be her father. She reluctantly let out a sigh and got off his reading chair, eyes glued to the floor and walking pace slow. All her possessions would soon either be given to or shared with her new sister. A tiny spark of jealousy burned inside, to know that her birth mother would rather choose an orphan than her own daughter.
‘I couldn’t care less about who mom picks as a successor,’ attempted Trixie. ‘Besides, now that mom is off my back, Twilight is gonna get the brunt of the punishments and lessons.’
The envy turned to pity, with the prospect of learning from the crack of dawn to the darkened dusk. She would never be able to sit in a chair for half that long, let alone learn and do magic at the same time.
Trixie remembered the rigorous first week she had with Moonlight as a teacher. Nothing was learned with each lesson ending in fights and tantrums. Books were ripped, burned and thrown throughout the manor and windows. She refused to learn as long as Moonlight was the one teaching. Several dozen scholars from, beyond, and around Equestria was written to and paid soon after.
Thud
The filly walked straight into a wall, deep in thought. Her face brightened with pain as her nose wrinkled and twitched. “Alfred!” the filly shouted.
A stoic grey earth pony with a near balding mane popped his head from a set of swinging doors. He had a black and white suit specially tailored, well kept and ironed on as he closed the distance between the kitchen doors and wall where Trixie had bumped into. “Yes, Miss Lulamoon? Are you alright Miss Lulamoon?” answered the butler.
“Yea, just peachy, help me into the kitchen, will ya?” answered the filly.
“Of course Miss Lulamoon. What would you like tonight Miss Lulamoon?” asked ‘Alfred’. His mood and features were exactly like Moonlight’s, passive, since he would never show any emotion whatsoever, but at least with him, the butler only talked when addressed.
“Give me my usual,” said Trixie. She was gently lead into a huge kitchen, where several dozen chefs and assistants were at work. The filly learned more from her own staff than she did from all the lessons her mother had previously taught combined.
“I’m sorry Miss Lulamoon, but I am under strict orders from your mother not to spoil your appetite before dinner. My apologies.” said ‘Alfred’. Even with a loud kitchen staff, his voice could still be easily recognized.
“Who are you going to listen to, me or my mother?”
“I listen to the one who signs my paychecks, Miss Lulamoon,” said ‘Alfred’. “Now, would you like anything else besides a chocolate pie?”
Trixie sighed in frustration. “Fine, give me a celery soup then, light on the garlic.”
“Very good, Miss Lulamoon. Your father shall be joining you shortly,” said the butler.
He gently pushed open two doors into a large dining room, decorated with moonbeams shining delicately onto the velvet blue cloth that covered a small rectangular table. Four chairs were securely pushed into the table as well as another plate ready for the new house guest.
Midnight blue curtains hung loose around massive glass windows, decorated with the Lunar Princess’s most stunning achievements, perfectly captured and along with her stunning beauty, with each wall containing five of them. Snowflake obsidian and celestites crystal dimly lit themselves on the large amethyst chandelier hanging securely above, complementing the transparent ceiling as it gently let in the moon’s light.
The scent of freshly steamed vegetables and cooked stew loomed in the air: fresh steaming tomatoes, sweet potatoes, diced lettuce, with a hint of cream spinach and mushroom soup. A lousy lunch caused the filly’s stomach to rumble loudly as her butler left the room and returned to the kitchens.
Even with hunger clouding her thoughts, it couldn’t draw her attention away from the cold truth. Her mother chose an orphan over her own birth daughter as the successor of the family. She couldn’t say it hurt because she didn’t care, right? A hint of jealousy loomed overhead as her mind became corrupted by the being she swore never to become. ‘Come on Trixie, why would you even care?’
“Miss Lulamoon,” addressed ‘Alfred’ drawing her attention away, “your celery soup.” It was steaming hot, smelling delightful as always, and mouth wateringly tasty. Somehow, not even that was not enough to take her mind from the choice her mother had made.
“Something wrong, Miss Lulamoon?” asked the attentive butler.
The filly tore her gaze from the needed soup to her listening servant, face still of a monotone. A depressed sigh left as did the frustration she tried to hide, “I don’t know Alfred, it’s this whole getting a new sister thing. I guess it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. And it looks like I just lost my fortune and heirloom, since it’s up to my mom to decide whom the family successor is.”
“I am sorry to hear that Miss Lulamoon. I did not know that.”
“Yea, well neither did I. So guess who’s second rate? I just got outdone by a filly whose barely younger than me as well as an orphan. Twilight has knowledge I wish I had, magic more powerful than Starshine, and is as sweet and innocent as anyone can get,” said Trixie, never thinking she would get caught in sibling rivalry.
“Your new sister sounds like what every parents wishes from their child.”
“Your point, Alfred?” returned the filly, fully frowning at his attempt at encouraging words.
“No point, Miss Lulamoon, just an observation. With the way you describe her, Miss Twilight doesn’t sound like she is the type to even want the riches you possess.”
The filly eyed the confusing earth pony curiously and voiced her turmoil, “What are you talking about Alfred? I mean, who doesn’t want to be rich enough to buy Equestria?”
“If I may be so bold, Miss Twilight is one of the few left in this world who value something more than money. From what I have heard, she has suffered through a rough ordeal and wants nothing more than what would have rightfully been given to her.”
“Mind elaborating?”
“Permission to speak freely then, Miss Lulamoon?”
“Granted.”
“Thank you, Miss Lulamoon. Have you stopped to think that maybe it’s just a simple life that Miss Twilight seeks?”
“Sure, maybe all she wants is to read a few books, go to school, and spend some time with a family, but how can she not want my fortune?”
“Because she doesn’t need it. If knowledge and a loving family is all she seeks, I doubt your fortune was ever at risk in the first place. I believe this is one of the exceptions where money cannot buy happiness. Is there anything else you would like to discuss?” ‘Alfred’ asked, still seeing the frustration on the filly’s features.
“I guess maybe that’s not what’s entirely bother me. It’s the fact that my own birth mother chose Twilight over me. I usually would never care about what she does, but... I guess I’m just a little bit jealous?”
“Well, I cannot say I wouldn’t feel the same way you do if I were in your position, but consider this from your sister’s point of view. What do you think Miss Twilight will do with all the privileges she had been granted?”
“I don’t know, buy a scroll? Book? Library? Archive? A private study? Treasury of books? Something smart related.”
“Do you see the point I am trying to make yet?”
The filly spent her entire life with the butler and for the first time, she detected a subtle change in his ever monotone voice. His face might have been able to hide it, but the butler’s own emotions betrayed him.
“Do I detect envy, Alfred?” questioned Trixie. If the earth pony noticed his change, he didn’t show it.
“I do not think I may be so bold as to envy someone as high status as you Miss Lulamoon. But might I ask that you talk to Miss Twilight about this? Seek her thoughts on this matter before you rush to a hasty decision. After all, you’re not just gonna drop her back at the orphanage and think it would solve your problems. That’s something Madam Lulamoon would do.”
“Thanks for the talk Alfred, kinda wish I listened to Starshine the first time he told me,” admitted the filly.
“Do you require anything else this fine evening, Miss Lulamoon?”
“No thanks, Alfred. I’ll call if I need ya. Do you really think Twilight is feeling the same about this whole thing?” asked Trixie.
“I wouldn’t know, I’m not her sister. Just something to think about, Miss Lulamoon,” said the earth pony. He quietly took his leave, returning behind the kitchen doors, with Trixie contemplating his words.
‘Guess I’ll just have to talk to Twilight tonight,’ thought Trixie. She quickly ate her soup, slurping it to the last drop with her spoon, and wiped away any messiness that it could have caused.
On cue, the stroke of six, the filly’s other family members walked into the large dining area. Her father arrived first, in a casual t-shirt. His wrinkle lines were gone, as well as the grey hair she thought she had seen earlier.
Moonlight quietly crept in without any of her usual high class attire, surprisingly, and was followed closely by her violet filly - Twilight had a grimace on her face, an obvious limp she was trying to hide, while her back was perfectly straight, her eyes were stuck to the uninteresting floor.
The unexpected part was that she now looked well cleaned, groomed, and styled. The rat’s nest that was Twilight’s mane curled around her neck and hung loosely down on her left side, tied down with a silky blue bow - while her tail was done in a similar manner. The healthy coating of earth that used to cover her from top to bottom was exterminated. The natural violet color of her coat now sparkled with tiny stars, no doubt enhanced by Moonlight, as the old hue brightened to an orchid lavender.
From the looks of it, Twilight was a natural born noble, with the exact same stride that Moonlight walked with as well as the confidence and arrogance that the older mare had. The filly had been well assimilated into high class society, imprinted and branded by her new mother.
Twilight had mastered elegance in a single afternoon with Moonlight, the drawback - she was stripped of herself in the process. Her new sister was void of all her energetic personality she had seen earlier and the feeling of desolation dripping off her unsteady body.
Uncomfortable silence was in the air as well as tension, as each one took their appropriate seats. Twilight sat on the opposite side of her sister, closely next to Moonlight. Trixie frowned and cautioned herself for the truth.
“What happened to Twilight?” demanded Trixie. “What did you do to her?” She got the answers she expected to have, it just came from the wrong pony.
“Mom didn’t do anything, we just had a talk,” murmured Twilight, as if she was in a daze. Her mood was still in the gutters, gloomy as she kept her vision glued to the ground like she was stuck in limbo.
“That’s my Twilight,” purred Moonlight as she gently folded the filly into a loving caress, smiling like a foal on Hearth's Warming Day.
“Y-you crucified Twilight?!”
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yes! new chapter!
Great chapter!
Oh boy, crucifiction
Must resist...urge to kill...Moonlight with...a rake...aww fuck it
i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm260/jonacko_2008/196308_dfsfwefrsf.jpg
Ok, first my guess to Moonlight's cuite mark. The diadem and peacock feathers are symbols of Hera, the mother figure of the Pantheon. Now, the writing style for this story is superb, I would be rather upset if it were to change much.
Wait, what?
This seems way too eloquent and perceptive for a 3ish year old orphan (who was adopted earlier that day, assuming I didn't confuse the time frame here).
Aside from that, so far so good.
1797543 I can explain this now. This isn't a normal Twilight, with a simple mind of a foal. This is a super genius Twilight that is very observant of her surroundings. It'll be explained later why in a way later chapter. I swear, you seem really familiar. Are you someone's editor?
1797573 SteampunkBrony, Gyvon, OrphiusOlyandra, PonyBlue. If you're reading something by any of them, there's a good chance I'm the editor on it.
1797585 Anything else you see about the writing? You know, constructive criticism. I desperately need it right now.
Thanks for the update, can't wait for more!
1797595 Aside from that (and the very flagrant abuse of 'azure mare,' 'lavender mare,' etc. from the first chapter, assuming you didn't change it), the only thing that really stood out to me was chronology. There have been a few times in this story where I've had to stop and think about where something is in relation to everything else (for example, I was a bit confused about how much time passed between this chapter's opening and the end scene at the dinner table), but nothing that couldn't be easily changed by adding in a sentence or two occasionally.
I know this isn't that kind of story, and I know this is needed for the plot...
But I wouldn't mind if something happened to Moonlight. I'm not sayin', I'm just saying.
Very interesting
Moonlight is the tigeriest tiger mom to ever birth a kitten!
I have a few guesses about Moonlight ...
1) Moonlight's mom was sooo much worse than Moonlight that she makes Moony look like Mother Theresa.
2) Moonlight was pretty quick to pass on the Lulamoon legacy to Twilight ... I bet there is a prophecy at work (kinda like the original show) ....
"The stars will save and redeem the Moon when the final servants of the moon yadda yadda child not of their own blood yadda yadda Ponyville WINNING!"
3) Moonlight is the replacement for Celestia as Twilight's teacher. Hopefully Twilight will be able to resist at least some of the lessons on how to be a bitch...
“Who are you and what have you don’t with Starshine?!” The filly backed away from the mysterious stranger impersonating her father.
Who are you, and what have you DONE with Starshine.
After a bit of research on the mares cutie mark I think i've finally come up with what her cutie mark would mean. in essence she is the queen of immortal vanity. she is vain beyond all hope and is unchangeable in her Ideals of how royalty should act and behave. She will dominate those that do not stand up and defend themselves like a true member of the nobility. She is in that way innoble as in she is cruel unlike a noble knight in shining armor who will defend those who deserve it under the light of his kind heart. however to say she has no heart would be a lie because she cares deeply about certain subjects or things however she is cruel beyond belief to those who have not proven themselves to her or met her expectations. She believes heavily upon the foundation of her past and family history and is willing to pass up her birth daughter in order to make sure her line remains both powerful and respectable.
I can't believe I wrote that pile of manure. anyway if their some semblence of that I got the cutie mark right i'll be tickled pink.
cheers
Damn, I wonder if Moonlight has been possessed by the spirit of Nightmare Moon or something.
That ending...
1797781 that explains so much... but not my desire to see her thrown off canterlot tower and end up working for the diamond dogs...
1798066i'm really not surprised. cheers to that action actually coming to fruition.
hmmmm... somehow the phrase "no pain, no gain" comes to mind....
Twilight is still young in this story, so i'm sure she can adapt to the hard changes
in her life. Still, if the tide doesn't change, over time Twi mind will break......
Trixie better do something drastic if she is to save her new little sister!
dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Rainbow_dealwithit.png : Hey! Were trying to watch here! So shut your hay hole, You sis-con what do be!!!
dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Trixie_lolface_1.png : It is true my little admirer, Trixies does wish to be a sis-con!!!!
Everypony: ....................................................................................................................................................................
Heh.... Hope to read more of your work soon!!!
and i'm off to do more reading......
beautiful, methinks moonlight is evil more because she was raised such not because she wishes to be?
with anger and hated fueling her need
All her possession would soon either
1. Hatred.
2. Possessions.
Aaaand... How am I suposed to act for someones mother who's like... I don't even... My structures of sentences are falling apart!!!
Loved the chapter, Moonlight is a great character even if she's like the devil.
Poor Twilight
I KINDA LIKE MOONLIGHT IN AN 'IMDRUNKANDLEATHERPANTSCONFUSESMYBRAININATREEFLAVOUREDCUPCAKE' KINDA WAY
Yeah, I still wish to kill Moonlight in a slow and spectacularly painful way.
great chapter!
moonlight is evil
I just looked a bit closer at the tags... And a question was raised in my mind. Why is this marked as random?
Hmm, The fact that in the first chapter trixie and twilight are
1:Living in a small house sleeping in the same bed
2:Trixie is saving up money
3: Twilight goes to a public library
4: Trixie is Making twilight socks
Shows that something goes wrong, My guess is that moonlight disowns both of them or has another kid.
I'm going to uppercunt moonlight
1797413 Thats fucking awesome
1798201no its too awsome to be deleted also i agree with rodavure about the cutie mark
1800060 my guess dorms.
1710494 she was originally supposed to be a pegasus
Her cutie mark has to do with Hera. Or Juno, depending on Greek or Roman. But, perchance she is a mother figure but only for the perfect family. Otherwise, idk.
Also: crucification. oh joy.
crucification?
Moonlight is EVIL!
crucified
Starshine did your brain just leave for the weekend? Moonlight is a pathetic excuse of a mare.
If i was their i would have beaten the hell out of him and i would have cut Moonlights horn off.