> Diamond Princess 2: A Queen To Be > by Night-Moon-12 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > The Worst First Foster Family > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It had been 10 years since she'd been brought here, to there horrible ponies who' took Carr's of a little lavender alicorn, and the hated for what she was. She had tried to be on their good sides but, it was like these two didn't have any at all just bad sides. "Please..." The little lavender foal begged as her foster mother dragged her across the floor. Her eyes shone with hours worth of tears, black and blue splotches painted over her body as if it were a canvas. She did her best to put as much sadness into her expression as possible, but only succeeded in a deep grimace. With every bump of wood or dip in the floor moldings her bruises would scrape against them, and her body was filled with an indescribable pain. A million tiny infernos raged beneath her skin and threatened to send her back into the dark void of unconsciousness. Her foster mother ignored his every plea and wince. She just stared straight ahead as she dragged her further through the house. The chains that connected each set of hooves and kept her legs bound clinked together the entire way, each time bringing another pained wince as they drew nearer to their destination. Finally, they arrived. It was an old wooden door—chipped wood that had faded to a dull brown that reflected the contents within. Her foster mother stopped and dropped her on the floor, causing another wave of shooting pain and a scream of pain from the small filly. She stared into the all consuming blackness that threatened to swallow her whole and gulped. “Please, Miss… Don’t do this! Why are you doing this to me? I don’t want to go back down there! I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK THERE!” A tiny kick broke her free of her foster mother’s grasp and flopped on her chained legs in a desperate attempt to gain her footing. She slipped and fell face first on to the floor. It was hopeless, and she knew it. The darkness was all that awaited her—her foster mother would not forgive her for this transgression. A sharp tug of her mane brought her out of the daze of slamming into the floor. Her body was now filled with a whole new sort of pain as she was lifted into the air, her foster mother using only her hair to support all of her weight. "Go. Crawl back into the darkness where you belong, you little cretin!" The unicorn mare screamed at the child and struggled to keep a grip on her mane as he twisted and turned like a mad woman. The filly kicked and screamed as she moved her back. She knew what was coming, and she had no idea if she’d be able to handle it with her existing wounds. With one herculean heave, she sent her on a downward tumble head-over-hooves down the steeps steps... The foal tumbled down the steps uncontrollably. Each bump hit an old bruise or created a new one until she came to an abrupt stop at the bottom and rolled over onto her stomach. Tears swelled in her eyes as she watched the cellar door close and the last light fade. All that was left to her violet eyes was darkness. She’d gotten used to it by now. Her eyes glinted in the small beams of light coming through the cracks in the door as they adjusted to the darkness. All around her were iron bars. The cage. Always the cage… she tried the iron bars that had slammed closed after she come to a stop, but they held tight. She wasn't sure what hurt more; was it the physical pain of being thrown down a set of stairs or the emotional pain of being hated by her own foster family? She grunted at her predicament. No kindness. No compassion. Never anything from those ponies… And yet, I’m trapped with them. It didn’t matter what they did to him now. The pain all blended together into a horrid mish mash of unspoken emotions locked away in her heart.. As cough from behind the old door at the top of the stairs drew her attention. Her head swiveled towards it in instinct, and her ears curled forward to hear the sound better. "You know what the meaning of your name is?" her foster mother called from behind the door. "Twilight-a is a derivative of Sight-a, which means Cursed Child. You’re not our daughter, you little beast. Our daughter is gone. You’re just a Cursed Child from once you were sent here. A disappointment. Why don’t you crawl back into the Cursed Shadows and return to where you came from? It’ll be easier for the both of us." The sound of hooves clopping away from the door and slight sniffles echoed in her ears, signifying her foster mother’s departure. Twilight couldn't conjure up any words. Why… I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want this! Luncena, why have you forsaken me? Why must I must subjected to this torture? She banged against the bars of her cage, causing the cage to slam into that same indent in the side of the wall that she’d beaten so many times before. The young alicorn sat in the damp and musty darkness of the cellar. She sobbed uncontrollably as she rocked back and forth. The darkness was everywhere. She might as well had been born blind. "Please... Let me out... Someone, please..." Twilight muttered under her ragged breaths. She called to the darkness for somepony to rescue her from this hell. There was never a response, just darkness. Still… she could feel it watching. Listening. Reacting. It was, in a way, her only true friend in this prison. Twilight knew this darkness all too well. She had been cast aside, ever since she had been brought here, never acknowledged as a living creature with a heart. The shadows wrapped her wounds and filled her with a strange sense of comfort. If she couldn’t see them, then they couldn’t hurt her. That was how it had always worked. The darkness was always there for her, but in the back of her mind, she heard something different. A small voice. Hello, my child. This situation is quite sad, but I can help you. I can set you free… All you have to do is listen and learn. I promise. Then you’ll have the power. Then you’ll be in control. All you have to do is listen, and do whatever I say… Twilight smiled in the darkness. Her eyes glinted brighter in the darkness, as the final lights went out. The stallion walked down the stairs to the basement, keeping his eyes open warily. I only need to get in, grab my hammer, and get out. That’s all. No need to be in here any longer than I need to be. As he touched the ground, the cold floor sent a shiver down his spine. He looked at the cage. There she—no, there it was. Sleeping. Snoozing peacefully. The stallion did his best to tiptoe around the cage and over to his tool bench. Each light knock of his hooves against concrete set his heart racing and brought him to a cold sweat. He did not want to accidentally disturb what unspeakable horror it housed. He shuddered to imagine what might become of him should he be noticed. He fumbled around the tool bench, desperately searching for his hammer while making as little noise as possible. His random hoof movements caused several items to knock together, loud ‘clinks’ echoing every time. Each time, he would stop in his tracks and turn his head slowly to that… demon. The demon that resided in the cage. That demon that hadn’t eaten, drank, or been tended to in 10 years, yet still continued to live and breathe. His hooves eventually came into contact with a small wooden rod and picked it up. Its top-heaviness confirmed that he had found what he needed. Oh, sweet merciful Luncena. Thank you so much. The stallion’s tense shoulders slumped in slight relaxation as he turned to the cage again. Good. Still asleep. As he turned, he could see the faint light making its way through the crack in the bottom of the door. The stallion took one step and heard the sound of metal on glass, followed by a loud crash. As he looked down in terror, he noted the broken glass and nails scattered across the ground like a small blanket. The stallion felt as if a bucket of ice was washed over him. The monster trapped down there with him surely heard the noise. The stallion heard the cage rattle, and the ragged, raspy breathing of the being in the cage. He froze in place, hoping that the darkness would hide his presence in the basement. "Mister?" a soft voice called out from the darkness. The stallion struggled with himself. The voice seemed vulnerable. It seemed sad. It almost seemed… pony-like. Don't look at it. Don't turn around. The frail voice continued to ring in his head. The room was silent except for that same ragged breathing. So shallow. So… empty. As if something else was behind it. "Mister, is that you?" the voice called again. It was begging now. Pleading with him. The stallion did his best to ignore the child and he walked towards the exit. The cage behind him rattled and shook with a righteous fury. A horrible scraping and smashing sound broke the silence as the rusted cage battered an old indentation in the wall beside it. A decade of rust scraped against the floor, the sound of nails against a chalkboard filling the entire room. Don’t listen. Ignore it. It’s not real. He’s not your daughter at all. That thing is not your business. Leave. "Mister? Why did you do this to me? Where are you going? Don't leave me alone!" The banging and rattling increased in intensity. The stallion did his best to keep moving towards the door, looking down and making sure that he wasn’t stepping on any nails. “Father. Please. Don’t leave… It’s dark. I don’t like it…” He stopped in his tracks and turned to face the darkness before him. His voice escaped in a sad, defeated whisper. “You. You’re not my daughter. She never called me father. Don’t you dare.” He sighed heavily as sobs and cries of sorrow and anger echoed throughout the old basement. have stopped. I have to leave. Now. The stallion was about a foot from the door when he heard something else that he’d never heard in decades. The sound of metal chains hitting the floor. Then the sound of decades of rust swinging outwards. The thought of the door opening caused him to freeze up in fear. Who could have possibly opened the door? There's nobody in here except me and her. The sound of another set of hooves clicking against the floor sent another wave of fear down his spine. They were soft and silent. They creeped up next to him and came to a stop. A familiar voice, spoke in a tone that made him freeze up as if was standing encased in ice. "Mister Heart Blade, your under arrest for kidnapping and child abuse." the voice was stallion who took the hammer-holding stallion away. Another set of hooves approached the cage, opening the with magic as well as undoing the child's bounds. A mare spoke softly to the child whome she had seen being yelled, if not beaten by the two ponies who where now in jail for what they had done. "Shh... Shh... It's alright... I'm not going to hurt you, I'm a police officer. My name's Kate Breeze, what's yours little one?" Twilight tried to find her voice but her throat was too dry for such things. She gave a long chain of coughs, giving Miss Breeze the answer that she hadn't been given anything to eat or to drink. Kate bent down and picked up Twilight holding her cradled gently within her grasp, Twilight hurt everywhere but she was now far away for that pair who done so much wrong to her. She was happy and safe, and maybe even have the change to have family who would love her instead. > Answering Questions, A New Family & An Old Face From The Past (Edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kate Breeze walked home with the lavender filly cradled in her forearm of her left leg, Kate only needed three legs to walk on. Her husband heard the front door open and close very quietly, whatever the reason was for that he didn't mind all that much. "Courting Honey, can come out here?" Kate spoke softly trying to wake up the lavender filly up, as she placed the filly on a big pillow with a soft velvet blanket to cover up with and provide warmth. "Hon, why are..." Gentle Courting stop as he saw the little filly sleeping peacefully, her left eye had been blacked from a punch. The right corner of her mouth was swollen, her horn had a branded mark around it's base. "Who is this, Kate?" "The Foster Child of Stolen Care and Heart Blade, as for her name that I do not know." "She's so thin and I can see her ribs... what we're they doing to her, Kate?" "From the looks of it, she hasn't been fed for 9-10 years... Ice Wind and I found her in a cage in the basement of the house, and it looked liked they were going to dispose of her." "Kate... She's waking up..." Twilight moved her legs to stretch only to feel pain shot through every muscle in her body. She felt something soft and fluffy around her holding her in a warm embrace. Her head lifted as if it was a marionette pulled off of a stage, her right eye twitched before slowly opening. Her vision was blurry but that quickly cleared up as she turned her head, when she spotted the couple sitting near her she became frightened and hid under the blanket causing her muscles to ach, burn, and snap in half making Twilight scream in pain and cry in fear. She wanted to be dead right from the agonizing pain and fear running throughout her tired, yet very frale body. Kate tossed to the blanket to floor magic and placed Twilight gently in her hooves through via magic, as Courting flew to the hospital for help. Kate gently rocked Twilight back and forth while humming a little tune before her voice swept over the pained and crying filly. "There were times That I felt alone That nobody cared That nobody loved me But my heart Played a different tone I let you in When you heard its melody Though broken and crippled and faint You made it strong You saw its beauty And suddenly, with no restraint I sang a bit more" Kate took a breath gaining the air she needed to continue her song, as the filly's crying stopped as she became enveloped in Kate's words. "Knowing you has set me free Your truth, it has changed me And helped me to grow Your loyalty broke down My heart made of stone Your smile it fills My soul with glee Nothing will break me Cause I found a friend in you And you found the magic in me" Courting arrived with the doctors just the sing ended, the filly was taken to the hospital and placed in surgery that lasted for almost 36 hours. Gentle Courting nor Kate Breeze couldn't get a wink of sleep to save their lives, they were worried sick of the little filly Kate and Ice had rescued. The head doctor came to the waiting room with a file in his mouth, with a grim look on his face. Kate and her husband wondered if something went wrong during the surgery, what if that filly was dying or worse. The doctor raised a hoof, silencing the pair before the could even open their muzzles. The doctor spoke up when his throat was cleared. "The filly is fine. All her bones are broken, all but her skull. We've been able to mend her bones, but she'll need plenty of rest and will be an orphan if nopony takes her in." Kate's mind raced over everything that had happened, this filly needed parents, Courting and herself wanted children for years. They're a perfect match, and Courting knew what she thinking just by her expression. "We'll take her in." Courting said braking the stillness, causing the doctor to look at him. "Alright, but being parents is a hard job." "We haven't been able to have kids and that filly needs a home. Beside, she can't be sent to an orphanage... I won't allow it." "Okay, calm down Mrs. Breeze. Let's get the paperwork and make you her parents. But I will need her files, although I'll get them later." The next day, Twilight was taken home by her new parents, and she found the little princess knew her life would only get better with the years to come. ------------- 2 Years Later... Twilight sat on the swinging bench on the protch of her home, her mother, Kathleen 'Kate' Breeze, was at work. Her father, Gentle Courting, was making lunch for his 'Little Princess', Twilight loved that nickname but in all truth she really was a Princess. Twilight was happy with her family it was like nothing could go wrong, until when school came around, she was always picked on because of her appearances. The teachers always give her special classes to keep the bullies of her hide, she a couple of years ahead of most students, mostly due to her love of learning and reading. She didn't have any friends at school so she was a freak, an outcast, an egghead, or a bookworm. The name calling didn't bug Twilight much but there was something missing from her life, a very special somepony. She turned her gaze back to her, The History of Alicorns - Chapter 25, Section 1 - An Alicorn's Origin. Page 579, Paragraph 15. 'Well most Alicorns are born through the great Alicorn Kings and Queens, those that are a product of a Wish are not only considered to be rare, but also are to have limitless power, youth, and strength.' Twilight stopped reading, she could more powerful then the Celestial Beings themselves. A sudden gleaming light got Twilight's attention, she turned her head downward to the flower bed the glimmering light was reflecting off of some sort of metal bar. Twilight put a bookmark in her book before closing it, she climbed off the swinging bench onto the protch, and from the protch to the flower bed. She lit her horn trying to pull the metal bar out of the ground, but it wouldn't budge. 'Well... I guess I'll have to dig...' Twilight thought, as she began to move stones out of the way so she wouldn't end up kicking them when she'd start digging. Twilight spent 12 minutes digging that metal bar out of the ground, the metal bar turned out to be the handle of an old, dirty hoof mirror. Twilight placed the mirror on the protch as she buried up the hole she had made, once that was done Twilight's father came out with lunch. "My Little Princess, it's time to wash up for lunch. Please, don't make it get cold before you can eat it again." Courting asked from in the Dining Room. "Okay daddy. I will." Twilight answered, picking up her book and the mirror in her magic. She trotted up the stairs to her room, she entered the massive ceilinged room. She walked over to her half moon shaped bed, sat her book and the mirror on the comforter, went to wash up her hooves that were caked in dirt. Twilight sang a soft tune, "When ten years have passed, my love Please return to me I'll be waiting here for you Our love shall ever be Though your heart belongs to the sea I will still be true I'm here waiting patiently And still in love with you." As the little princess sang a song ment for the one pony she hadn't seen in years, the mirror began to glow with magic that swirled to the center of the glass and a face formed instead of the magic. At first the face resembled Young Twilight's own, but changed to that of her signifigant other's; Prince Sombra Lightwing. > The Letters and The Truth Behind The Darkness > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a warm spring morning in the Southern Diamond Kingdom as Princess Twilight Sparkle woke up from Celestia's sun shining through the balcony window of her quarters, she got out bed with the help of her soon-to-be-sister Solara Star, Prince Sombra's twin. Twilight stretched out her limbs feeling bones pop from being stiff, she let out a sigh as her body relaxed from that deep wave of sleep she had fallen victim to after something exciting happened a few weeks ago. Prince Sombra had purposed the idea of marriage to her about 10 weeks ago, she happily accepted his offer without a second thought for she knew he wouldn't ask for her hoof in marriage unless he loved her as much as he did. Solara had listened to the whole conversation wondering why in the world would her twin want to speak to her lady in private? And when Twilight gave her answer Solara was over the moon she was going to have a sister-in-law, and the was going to be the very pony she happily served. Sombra was about to cry tears of joy as he hugged the mare he loved most, Twilight couldn't help tear up when Prince Sombra had presented her with a ring of bright silver with the center being a rainbow diamond which shimmered and glemmed in sunlight. Princess Twilight smiled at the memory knowing that her fenceé wouldn't leave her, Solara gave a cough to get her Princess's attention. "Princess, would you like me to get you some breakfast?" "Yes, please. Thank you, Solara. You may go now." Twilight said happily, although she knew what she had to do next.... Write three letters one to Canterlot, one to the Crystal Empire, and one to Ponyville. She would have to write all three letters all at once, but Twilight had learned how to write three or more letters at the same time from her real father, Silver Sun. She learned that when she was 12, she had her cutie mark at the time and when she had regained her cutie mark twice it had changed a little bit. First time a diamond with five stars around it, second time her disguised (unicorn) cutie mark, and third time a diamond circlet above her disguised cutie mark. As Twilight wrote the three there was knock at the door, she didn't turn her a gaze away from the scrolls she answered. "Come in." Sombra step in quietly barely making a sounds he snuck up behind his fenceé, and put his hooves blocking her view of the scrolls she was writing. "Guess who~" Sombra said trying give his love a scare, but when she chucked his plan had been blown out of the water. "Sombra, can you please remove your hooves? I'm trying to write out three letters for three specific someponies to know how I'm doing." Twilight acknowledging his entrance and silent hoofsteps. Sombra moved his hooves away from her face only to wrap them lovingly around her neck. "Who are these letters to?" Sombra dared to ask, knowing some personal matters are meant to been handled by two ponies and not one alone. "I did tell you, didn't I? I don't think you need to concern yourself with every little matter in life, my love." Twilight replied sweetly, trying to sound innocent. Sombra wasn't buying the tone she using. "Twilya, you can tell me anything, you know that." "I know, but you shouldn't worry about this matter I have it handled." The Prince leaned up and kissed Twilight's cheek tenderly. She smiled loving glancing down at Sombra with eyes that spoke more then her words could. "My Love, I know you want to know who's receiving these letters, but I can't tell you right now..." Twilight sighed sadly hoping Sombra would fall for the bait. "I only wish I could, my dear." Sombra kissed Twilight's collarbone a few time, hoping to brighten her mood a bit. He hadn't been fooled by his bride-to-be lis as he continued to kiss her neck gently knowing she'd catch on quickly. "Love... you don't have to lie and it won't get you anywhere in your reign you go on like this.... Lying for your own reasons, for nopony to find out the truth..." Sombra wasn't going to sit here and listen to his lover lie to him, it didn't suit her at all unless she was testing him. "Darling, I'm just teasing..." Twilight said sweetly turning her face as Sombra reached her left cheek and planted a soft yet loving kiss upon it. She smiled as she saw he was smarter then she gave him credit for. "Although I really can't tell you who going to get these letters, I'm truly sorry my love." "I see." Sombra said sadly but knew that she didn't want to spoil the surprise that was to come. He gave her one more kiss on the lips before he rested his head on her shoulder again. "But don't think you're going to get away with this... Lying around me, Dear One." Sombra couldn't stand lying and Twilight was testing him. She wasn't going to get away without his judgement, and he had a good idea of one thing would allow him to drop his judgement. "I'm not letting you go until you answer this one question." "Which would be?" "If one of your friends try to hurt me, how far are you willing to go to protect me, my love?" "I'd be willing to fight them if necessary, but I hope it doesn't come to that, darling. Why?" "No reason, love. It's good to know that you have my back." "Just as you have mine." "Very true." ~In Ponyville~ Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and Spike were wondering where Twilight was at. It had been two months and one day since they've seen her and they were ready to go to Canterlot and give Princess Celestia a piece of their minds. Suddenly Spike bleached up a letter sealed with a bright rainbow colored ribbon that had a diamond like look, the girls didn't what to do with it until Fluttershy picked up the letter and opened. As her eyes scanned the page she read what was written. 'My Dearest Friends, I am writing you this letter to let you know I'm fine, I'm safe and I have a surprise for all of you my family and my fellow royalty. I've already sent a letter to Canterlot and the Crystal Empire, so don't worry about relaying this letter anypony else. I've also sent two of my best guards to escort you six to the train station. Oh! Rainbow, and Applejack... Don't chew out Celestia for what she has done, this wasn't her fault but it's mine. I'll explain everything once you're here with me and the others. Your Best Friend, Twilight Amondra Sparkle' Before the mares and dragon could mull over what had been read, two ponies both stallions, a blood red unicorn stallion with a silver mane with the other one, a light purple pegasus stallion with a forest green mane, came into Sugar Cube Corner. Both wore Royal Guard Armor, but the red stallion wore a set of armor that showed that he was a Captain, the other was a Lieutenant. "Are you the Elements of Harmony and Spike the Dragon?" "Yes, we are. But who are you?" Spike asked scooting closer to Fluttershy. The red stallion bowed his head, as he spoke. "I am Dawn Janus Moon, Head Guard of the Diamond Army. And this is Green Heart, my second in command. We've come to escort to the train station, and from there to our home. Please, follow us." The girls followed Dawn to the train station just as the Friendship Express was arriving, Green Heart walked behind the group making sure that nopony was missing or lagging behind. The five mares and one dragon followed Dawn through the until Dawn stopped to turn around to face them. "May I see the letter from my lady sent you?" Dawn asked in a gentle and kind tone, showing the group of five mares and one dragon respect, hoping to earn the same in return. "Why yes we do darling, hold on one moment." Rarity said in the same tone Dawn had used, pulling out the scroll and gave it to Dawn to check. He looked at the signature on the letter, a smile crossed his face as he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to Rarity. "Thank you, Ma'am. The Canterlot royalty are through the door ahead of us, Our lady requested for everypony to stay to together. So please don't try to wander off, thank you." With those words Dawn and Green began to head for the door at the opposite end of the train car. Applejack spoke up, ending the silence. "Ah think we should go da door and join da Princesses." Spike got the door for the girls, the sound of voices reached everyones ears. "Don't worry 'Tia, we'll get there soon." "I know Luna, I know. But why couldn't Twilight come see us? It's not like her to do that..." "Mom, Auntie Luna. Please don't start fighting, not again." "Cousin Glacies is right, there's no need to fight." "Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, Prince Glacies, Prince Blueblood... Are you ok in here?" Fluttershy asked meekly. "Oh... The Elements of Harmony and young Spike, how are you all?" Luna asked with a smile, which was rare to see on the Moon Princess's face. Clearly Princess Luna was happy for some unknown reason. "We're fine, Princess Luna. But Princess Celestia, where is Twilight? Why hasn't she come back for two months? Where is she? Why did she send us letters?" "Rainbow. One question at a time, and for the answers to your questions, Twilight is a place called the Diamond Realm. I don't know why Twilight hasn't come yet, and I hope we find out when we see her. I even don't know why Twilight sent us letters, but only hope Cadence and Shining have more information to give us." The girls and Spike all sat down, and listened to Celestia talk and even tell a couple tales of herself and her family. They didn't even notice the train pulling out Ponyville Station, heading for the Crystal Empire. The Crystal Royals, Princess Cadence, and Prince Shining Armor, who join their friends and family, the couple gave all the information they could. But Cadence could tell by the way her sister wrote her letters, she wrote them at the same time and Cadence nor anyone knew how to do that. A knock from the other side of the door caught everypony's attention. "Everypony?" It was Dawn, the Head Guard. "Yes, Dawn. What is it?" "We're nearing the Southern Kingdom of the Diamond Realm, we will be getting off at the train station soon. I will need you to follow Green and I to the Place to meet Our lady, and Princess." "Thank you, Dawn. Can you please give us a moment to get up?" Luna asked politely with her eyes close, she hadn't thought of how tired she was. "Alright, Princess Luna. Take your time, after all, not all of us are day-loving ponies." As the train pulled into the station, everypony looked at themselves. Their manes, tails, and bodies where the same when at the Crystal Empire, but the only difference was the look of their coats they looked like to be made of diamonds. Dawn entered the cabin, his coat was like those he was escorting. They looked at the highlights in his eyes, they looked like Raity's cutie Mark only white. "Please follow me to the Place, the Princess is waiting." "Where's Green Heart?" "I sent him back the barracks, he deserves a break from all of the hard training he did yesterday, and today's journey has tired him out. May I have your letters, I have to give them to the Princess's closest attendant, and she will give them to the Princess." Once Dawn had been given the scrolls, he lead the group of 12 followed the Head Guard to the Southern Diamond Kingdom. They couldn't help but notice the foals running around, playing, and so on. But one of the many foals, a filly, sat near the path that lead from the train station to the Kingdom, but as they neared the filly they saw she wasn't sitting, she was stuck. Her hind-quarters were stuck in what looked like a rabbit hole, she was trying to get out of trouble but she was stuck pretty bad. "Skies? What happened to you?" Dawn asked recognizing the filly. "I was just walking around, minding my own business. When a Dragon from ClawenScale grabbed me, he asked me where Our Princess was. I didn't say anything, than he dropped down, dug this hole and stuck me halfway in it." The grey filly answered, refusing to show the marks the dragon had left on her hide. "Skies, look at me." The filly shook her head in protest. "Please Skies, let me help you. Skies you did what was right, you wouldn't tell that ClawenScale Idiot where Our lady is, and I am very proud of you." Dawn nuzzled Skies, showing he that he cared for her very much. Skies looked up showing her face and neck, three long hook-like scars, starting from her right eyebrow and ending at the top of her left shoulder. Dawn's face paled a little at the sight Skies' scars, the scars had a sickly, pitch black aura leaking out of them, and Skies suddenly fell violently ill from the aura inside the scars. Skies was so ill that she puked multiple times, her colors faded, and her scars started to get infected. "Skies, hold on. I'll pull you out, then get you the doctors. Ok?" Dawn said, trying to be gentle with the injured, and sick filly. Skies' vomiting finally stopped, she nodded numbly due to her illness. "Here, let me help you, Dawn." Princess Cadence said softly not try scare the filly, gently grabbing Skies around her waist. Dawn let Skies grab onto his tail as his wolf spirit, Light Claw, grabbed onto the extra fur in between Skies' shoulders. "Alright. One... two... Three!" Cadence said with her wings beating hard as the two ponies and one spirit guide pulled the grey filly out of the hole to safety. Skies felt a bit better from her freedom, but still sickly from what had infected her wound. After another round of vomiting the filly passed out, Dawn levitated Skies on Light Claw's back. "Get to the hospital, and take care of her." Dawn said, Claw nodded before running off to the city. "Who where those two?" Glacies asked quite surprised with what he had seen. "That wolf you all saw was my spirit guide, Light Claw. And the filly is Twilight Amondra Skies, One of the Three Saviors that live here in the Southern Diamond Realm. Solara Star, the Princess' head attendant is another Savior, and I am the third Savoir." Dawn explained with a smile, knowing that what he'd done meant more than bits to his fellow ponies. On the up side they now lived their lives in peace. "That sounds like a great honor." Shining Armor stated. “It is.” Dawn simply said. The group walked the rest of the way in silence, a dark shadow passed over the ponies walking, making them look up in surprise. They saw a pony with flying overhead, with an odd feature; Her mane flowed within its own way, the bottom flowed towards her left but as it reached the end the flow reversed itself back to her right, her tail did the same. The pony’s coat was Lavender, with royal attire of sky blue, the cutie mark was hard to see where they stood. The pony’s voice came out with power and passion as she sang. ‘I don't know how I can find, The strength for what I've been assigned My confidence has faded away, Like dusk chased by the ending day I'm between the day and night, Overshadowed by their blinding light The sun and moon; a dazzling pair, How could one like me ever hope to compare? But a voice within me says: "I will be brave, I will be strong Despite those around who tell me I'm wrong, I'll make mistakes I'll take them in stride, For I am here and I've nothing to hide The Twilight will rise, The Twilight will rise" I've done some much to get this far, Crossed every bridge, chased every star I've brought together dark and light, I've witnessed love and all its might Still some believe I do not have, The strength it takes to rise and stand Above to the rest and take my place, To protect and serve those of my race But a voice within me says: "I will be brave, I will be strong Despite those around who tell me I'm wrong, I'll make mistakes I'll take them in stride, For I am here and I've nothing to hide The Twilight will rise, The Twilight will rise" I will be brave, I will be strong Despite those around who tell me I'm wrong, I'll make mistakes All of the these, doubts I will cast them aside I will not bend, I will not break I must be strong now, for my kingdom's sake With help from my friends, Evil will hide And I will stretch out my wings, touch the sky The Twilight will rise, The Twilight will rise.’ Everypony excluding Dawn stared in shock, they knew that voice. They knew only one pony with that light, powerful, and strong voice… Twilight Sparkle. Their Twilight Sparkle, was here and they had seen her flying high above them. Luna spotted Light Claw running back with a scroll in his mouth, a letter no doubt. At the last possible second, Light Claw threw the scroll up into air, where the lavender mare caught it in her mouth. A magenta aura opened the scroll, allowing her to read what was written. She drop the scroll halfway through and flew for the kingdom she ruled. Dawn read the drop scroll and his heart a dead stop, Skies was dying. The young filly had Dark Magic in her system and it was killing her. Skies needed her friends by her side, Dawn ran for the kingdom without a word. Cadence read scroll out loud and felt her heart skip several beats, that filly was in trouble... > The cause of a Cutie Mark > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skies was laying in her hospital bed, breathing weakly her heart rate dropped dramatically when she arrived, now the doctors were doing everything they could for her. but she’s wasn’t going to last the day, and she was clinging to what time she had left to say her last words. Princess Twilight sat next to her holding her hoof in her last moment and softly sang the song of Remembrance* to the filly who happily smiled as her eyes closed and her breathing slowed to a stop. “Thank you princess, for giving me Hope and Life…” Skies whispered, her heart stopping seconds after her breathing did. “Thank you…” Princess Twilight cried her heart out over the filly, whom she care for as a student, a friend, and a daughter. Prince Sombra stood behind her, resting a hoof on her back showing his support, and comfort. Twilight hugged him, her tears staining his fur, wishing and saying something very close to; ‘This shouldn’t have happen. Skies didn’t deserve to die, she deserved to live her life to it’s fullest.’ Princess Cadence and her group ran in finding the dead filly and two royals trying to comfort one another, they stood having a hard time believing what they saw before them. Twilight Skies was dead, they payed their respects in a moment of silence and bowed heads; the guards, the hospital staff, everypony there bow their heads. Solara and Dawn stood nearby their princess, crying silently and holding each other. -In the Celestial Starfield- Skies looked around trying to understand where and why she was her, than she saw... A young stallion walk through the forest with a quiver and hunting bow, a young mare singing and the stallion followed the sound below. It was there he found the maiden who lived in Willow, he called to her as she listened, of a ring of toadstools red. “Come with me my maiden,” he said. “Come from thy willow bed.” She looked at him serenely, and only shook her head. “See me now, a ray of light in the moondance. See me now, I cannot leave this leave this place. Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest. Don’t ask me to follow where you lead.” She had given the stallion a warning, but he didn’t heed her advice. He came back again with a yellow flower in her magic and wore a coat of green, his love had hair like fire and her eyes an emerald sheen. She wrapped herself in beauty, so young and so serene. He stood there under the willow, and he gave her the yellow bloom, “Girl my heart you’ve captured. Oh, I would be your groom.” She said she‘d wed him never. Not near, nor far, nor soon. “See me now, a ray of light in the moondance. See me now, I cannot leave this leave this place. Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest. Don’t ask me to follow where you lead.” She had given the stallion the same warning again, but he still didn’t heed her advice. That night he came back, with an axe as sharp as a knife. He was enraged with her warnings and he vowed, ”I take the green eyed mare, she shall be my wife. With her I’ll raise my children, and I shall live my life.” The maiden wept when she heard him, when he said he’s set her free. He took his axe and used it to bring down her ancient tree. The stallion turned to her as she wept. “Now your willow’s fallen, now you belong to me.” “See me now, a ray of light in the moondance. See me now, I cannot leave this leave this place. Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest. Don’t ask me to follow where you lead.” She had given the stallion one last warning, as he walked with her out of the forest. She followed him out of the forest and collapsed upon the earth. Her hooves had walked but a distance, from the green land of her birth. She faded into a flower that would bloom for one bright eve. He could not take from the forest, what was never meant to leave. Skies watched in bewilderment as the mare turned into a flower, but was soon reborn as a filly as Skies herself. Skies now understand what her purpose was in the Diamond Realm; she was Realm’s Peacekeeper it’s protector. She was meant to show others the meaning of Nature, and forest life. She left herself change and arise as a new pony; her coat was now abstiler white, her mane of fire and her eyes of emerald sheen. She became Willow Life, who she really was before she had died from being taken from her birth home, only to be reborn as the pony she was just moments before. “See me now, a ray of light in the moondance. See me now, I cannot leave this leave this place. Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest. Don’t ask me to follow where you lead.” She said feeling wings of willow leaves emerge from magic back as they spread out wide, she had once lived in a Willow and will live in a Willow once more. -Center Valley of the Diamond Realm- Skies’ body glowed as the morning ponies bowed their heads and vocalized The Willow Maid.** The glow grew intensely as her body rose into the air the changes happened right as those below watched in awe of what was happening above. A Willow Tree grow in the spot where the young filly had been laid to rest… around the tree a forest grew making everypony wonder what was happening. Their question were soon answered by what caused many ponies to part making a path; a vision. A young stallion walk through the forest with a quiver and hunting bow, a young mare singing and the stallion followed the sound below. It was there he found the maiden who lived in Willow, he called to her as she listened, of a ring of toadstools red. “Come with me my maiden,” he said. “Come from thy willow bed.” She looked at him serenely, and only shook her head. “See me now, a ray of light in the moondance. See me now, I cannot leave this leave this place. Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest. Don’t ask me to follow where you lead.” She had given the stallion a warning, but he didn’t heed her advice. He came back again with a yellow flower in her magic and wore a coat of green, his love had hair like fire and her eyes an emerald sheen. She wrapped herself in beauty, so young and so serene. He stood there under the willow, and he gave her the yellow bloom, “Girl my heart you’ve captured. Oh, I would be your groom.” She said she‘d wed him never. Not near, nor far, nor soon. “See me now, a ray of light in the moondance. See me now, I cannot leave this leave this place. Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest. Don’t ask me to follow where you lead.” She had given the stallion the same warning again, but he still didn’t heed her advice. That night he came back, with an axe as sharp as a knife. He was enraged with her warnings and he vowed, ”I take the green eyed mare, she shall be my wife. With her I’ll raise my children, and I shall live my life.” The maiden wept when she heard him, when he said he’s set her free. He took his axe and used it to bring down her ancient tree. The stallion turned to her as she wept. “Now your willow’s fallen, now you belong to me.” “See me now, a ray of light in the moondance. See me now, I cannot leave this leave this place. Hear me now, a strain of song in the forest. Don’t ask me to follow where you lead.” She had given the stallion one last warning, as he walked with her out of the forest. She followed him out of the forest and collapsed upon the earth. Her hooves had walked but a distance, from the green land of her birth. She faded into a flower that would bloom for one bright eve. He could not take from the forest, what was never meant to leave. The ponies watched in great surprise as the mare turned into a flower, but was soon reborn as a filly as Skies herself. A cutie mark of a Willow Branch appeared on the filly’s flank and she was lowered to the ground unconscious. > The Filly of The Willow (edited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Skies felt light and thin as she she moved to her hooves, everything was silent you could tell a pin had dripped. Her eyes opened to be a bright emerald green with a star-like glow. Nopony could understand what happened but the young filly was saved from eternal sleep. Twilight's friends and family couldn't seem to wrap their heads around what they had witnessed., it was confusing as hay. Solara was the only pony who seemed to be stable enough to move. "Skies? What happened to you?" Skies turned herself around and looked at Solara. "Thank you Solara for the support and care you gave to everyone, especially to me. You gave us all hope when we most needed it, you never failed to keep us together as a family of friends."[/b Skies voice was light and held an echo on the wind. Her wings were fanned out wide as a gentle breeze came through the center valley. A loud howling cut the cut calm presence, everypony began to panic. Families tried to round up their foals, guards rushed to protect the frantic ponies. Princess Twilight ordered Solara to get the others to safety, Skies took to the air trying to spot the root of the problem. Artic Icewolves, a close cousin to the Everfree Forest Timberwoldves. The Elements got in position with the other Royals, ready to fight. The Lead Alphas were in the back of the pack, much like the ponies. The pack seemed rather small but the numbers weren't the trouble, it was the attacked and defences that were. Skies saw the first attack and took action. Skies chanted a spell in the Crown Language, the Diamond Realm's beginning language. "*Ah Renat Con Moro Somuru Rena! Backa Tusha Karin!" *Roots and Vines bind these Invaders! Buy Us Time! Vines and roots sprouted from the ground entangling the Wolves, buying the escapees and the army time. Princess Luna couldn't believe any of what had and was happening. > The Battlegrounds Are Set > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The alphas of Artic Icewolves went after Skies by using the rocks off to the side and tackled Skies hard, Luna fired at the pair knocking them back. Cadence was cornered by at least four or five pack members and Shining Armor was with Celestia surrounded by the wolf pack. Twilight and Sombra used fire spells to melt away the on coming enemies. Skies had finally had enough of the distinction and chaos. "ENOUGH!" Skies screamed in rage. These wolves felt the power radiating off of the fire-maned filly, they backed up until they were away from all the battlefielded ponies. They had to surrender or their fates would be sealed differently. "Leave now! Or you all will die where you stand!" The wolves turned and high-tailed it out of the lush green valley, but Skies knew something was amiss with the carnivorous animals as of late. First a Dragon attack, now a Artic Icewolf attack. What could be coming next? If Skies had an idea she'd bet her coin on the Dark Pony Lord, Dark Light. He was the only reason things went wrong before, do why not try again? Twilight helped Sombra carry the wounded back to the Southern Kingdom. The Elements and other Royals got everyone get back safely. Skies came back last after placing a protection spell on the Willow, just in case anything were to happen while she was gone.