Crystal Note finds a way to explore her lost memories in hopes to find out who she really is and how she became a crystal unicorn. In doing so, she receives help from an unexpected source.
After vanishing from a curse for more than 1000 years, little is known about the Crystal Empire and its inhabitants. Especially the final years of King Sombra's rule remain shrouded by mystery. Even to the crystal ponies themselves as their memories remain effected by the tyrant King's dark magic.
Now the Crystal Empire has returned and King Sombra has been defeated, but the aftermaths of his cruelty still linger within his former subjects.
One crystal pony begins travelling through Equestria to learn about her past and finds friends along the way. Will revealing her past help her understand more of herself and find a place in this new future?
During her visit to the Crystal Empire, Crystal Note not only revealed herself to the other crystal ponies but also faced the judgment of the crystal heart itself. While this helped unlock her burried memories, it also left her more in doubt of her true identy than ever. When she returns to Ponyville to recover from what happened at the Crystal Empire, she is offered help from an unexpected source.
Princess Luna took a sharp dive out of the evening sky towards the small town of Ponyville. Unconcerned she watched the ground coming closer and closer before she caught herself with a single flap of her dark blue wings and landed softly in front of a large tree house. This was the Golden Oak Library and the home of Equestria's newest Princess, Twilight Sparkle. Luna had been here before, visiting her sister's student when she was still a unicorn, she was familiar with the surroundings and the ponies whose attention she caught.
It was late in the evening and only a few citizens were on the streets watching her. Luna had come without an escort and didn't even wear any of royal regalia, but still ponies bowed when they saw her. With a nod of her head and a wave of her hoof she acknowledged their greeting and asked them to get up again. They did and went on with their usual routine when Luna remained silent. Those who stood close noticed a focused, if concerned expression on their Princess' face. Luna gave herself another moment to gather the calmness she would need tonight, then she took the last step and knocked on the door.
Twilight Sparkle opened the door and they greeted each other like friends, then Luna was led into the main room. A few improvised beds had been set up, blankets spread out in front of the flickering fireplace and even some snacks provided by Ponyville's local party pony. It would have been a charming slumber party if it weren't for the sombre mood that filled the library. On the far end of the room, near the stairs going up, Luna could see four ponies and a young dragon standing together. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were engaged in a whispered discussion while Rarity seemed to be reading a letter, her eyes bloodshot and telling Luna she'd done little else for a while now. Spike was nervously pacing up an down and Applejack just sat at the bottom of the stairs and looked up.
Luna followed Applejack's gaze and saw the dim light coming from the bedroom. Twilight sighed and nodded "Fluttershy is with her right now. We didn't want to crowd her, she's been quite nervous ever since she arrived last night." Luna nodded at looked concerned "Understandably so, considering what she experienced in the Crystal Empire. It’s still hard to believe for myself, despite all the powerful magic I’ve seen all my life. I can only imagine how Crystal Note must feel.” She recalled the words of Princess Cadence’ letter clearly. Her sister had called for her as soon as it arrived and they’d spent hours discussing over the meaning of the events it described.
Of course both Celestia and herself had encountered King Sombra’s crystal unicorns during the final siege of the Crystal Empire. They had been little more than mindless weapons and their magic had only been destructive and dark. Despite their undeniable power, they barely stood a chance against the unicorn soldiers of Canterlot, since they were incapable of even performing a shield spell. A simple disruption spell and they stood helpless, at least as helpless as any soldier of King Sombra could be. Luna repressed a shudder when she remembered the armies of the dark king, brainwashed and tortured to the point the felt nothing but rage and bloodthirst. Neither pain, nor fear, nor doubt getting in the way of them and their goal to kill as many ponies as they could before dying themselves.
That was of course also the reason none of the crystal unicorns survived the final battle. They could simply not surrender even when there was no possible hope of winning the battle anymore. Luna and her troops had been forced to end them all as they proved too dangerous to be held captive. She knew Celestia’s forces had no other way of dealing with them either. It had been when the last of Sombra’s artificial unicorns had fallen that the dark king retreated into his castle, leaving his troops to themselves in the midst of battle. Inside the castle, he invoked his final curse.
Luna and Celestia had been in the air at that point, joining their troops for the last attack, when the bright flash of forbidden light filled the space around them, blinding even the aspect of the sun momentarily. When they could see again, it was the lack of things to see that deeply disturbed them and everypony present. The Empire had simply vanished from the surface of this world. And with it all of its inhabitants. Even the ones who had surrendered or had been held captive had simply disappeared into thin air. The only thing that had remained were the ones fallen, now scattered around in the tundra that had replaced the once glorious Empire of the north.
They had spent days of searching but only could confirm one thing: The Empire was gone, and with it the crystal ponies. They best mages in all of Equestria had then been called and analysed the lingering traces of magic. What they found out was barely satisfying for Luna back then. They concluded that a curse had been cast and by the magnitude of its effects, they doubted it was possible for King Sombra to survive the backlash of such a powerful curse. A few of the mages indicated their doubts that a curse like this could be permanent and dared to hope that the Empire might return at some point. When or how, nopony could tell.
Now, more than a millennium later, the mages had been proven correct. The Empire had returned and with it the crystal ponies. The last traces of King Sombra had been extinguished by Princess Cadence and the powerful crystal heart. Nopony, not even the crystal ponies themselves, remembered the unicorns King Sombra had once created for his war. Nopony except Celestia and Luna who chose this knowledge best be forgotten.
And then, this pony had appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Crystal Note as she called herself had been seen in Canterlot and later in Ponyville. It had taken a while for the rumours to reach the Royal Palace of Canterlot and the two ruling princesses. It became clear to them that Twilight Sparkle, the newest princess and youngest of the alicorns, had met Crystal Note almost as soon as she arrived in Ponyville. To say that Celestia had been devastated to learn that Twilight Sparkle, her most faithful student, had kept secrets from her would be an understatement. For her own peace of mind and her own sanity’s sake, her sister had settled on the conviction that Twilight must have some knowledge beyond her own and therefore a good reason to not inform her old teacher yet. To her great relief, a letter from the young princess, minutes after Cadence’s letter, had confirmed as such. A promise had been made to not tell anypony of Crystal Note’s nature until the mare was ready or severe circumstances asked for it. Sadly, the latter had happened.
Luna, while believing in Twilight Sparkle as much as her sister, had not been able to settle solely on trust though. The images of the war had been too fresh in her mind still and the horror of crystal unicorns threatening her subjects had forced her to investigate. In the shadow of the night, she had taken the chance to get a look at Crystal Note without being seen. The pony she had found wasn’t even close to the creatures she had gotten to know as crystal unicorns. Her magic was weak inside her, not more than a unicorn filly would possess. Her mind was bare of any trace of dark magic and none of Sombra’s dark influence was to be found. She had opted to forcibly enter the mare’s dream at some point but after seeing the mare with her own eyes, she rejected the idea. Her oaths towards her duties in the realm of dreams in the end had been stronger than any fear could become and she did not break her vow to ever enter the dream of an unwilling pony.
So Luna and Celestia waited and talked, made plans and shared ideas on how to react to the appearance of a new kind of crystal unicorn. Days passed and turned to weeks and no message was received. The daily routine of ruling and duties had replaced their worries mostly. The mare Crystal Note didn’t pull much of attention and kept her nature concealed to the citizens of Ponyville, with a few exceptions.
Then, the letter from the Crystal Empire came. Crystal Note had revealed her identity by advice of Cadence. The crystal ponies had remembered. Crystal Note had faced the crystal heart and had been accepted by it. But something unexpected had happened as well. By the power of the curse or the unclear nature of her transformation, the mare’s mind had suffered severely. Princess Cadence had tried to snap her subject out of confusion by showing her compassion and acceptance. Now Princess Twilight tried the same with companionship and knowledge, to no success as far.
Celestia and Luna had always been willing to offer their assistance, and now that they saw the reasoning behind the two younger alicorns any hard feelings had been vanquished. Their discussion had been quick and decisive. The depth of the mind had always been connected to the realm of dreams and Celestia had been the one to name her sister as the best pony to offer help. With some pride but also determination, Luna had lost no time to make her leave towards Ponyville.
Luna’s reminiscence was stopped by the voice of Spike, the young dragon “Princess Luna! What are you doing here? I thought you’d be in Canterlot raising the moon soon.” A small smile made it to her lips when she saw the remain of ponies turn towards her as well with happy expressions but also hope in their eyes “My sister will perform my duties for me tonight. Your letter sounded urgent, Twilight Sparkle, as did the letter of Princess Cadenza. We agreed that immediate action would be appropriate.” The ponies nodded affirmatively and Applejack, who had shown the deepest concern for Crystal Note so far, asked “Will you be able to help her, Princess?” Luna met the gaze of the green eyes and nodded “I will do my most, dear Applejack, to achieve as such.”
With everything said, Luna made her way past the ponies up the stairs. She was only followed by Twilight Sparkle. When they reached the room, she was to enter first and inform the crystal pony of the new visitor. Luna waited for Twilight and Fluttershy to exit, giving both mares a grateful nod. She took one last calming breath, then stepped into the room.
The room was dimly lit by a few candles spread around the bed and the last rays of the evening sun falling in through the mostly covered window. Luna took the steps inside and closed the door behind her. She remained standing there and waiting for the pony getting up to invite her further inside.
Crystal Note stared at her from spot next to the bed and even in the narrow light, Luna noticed the signs of distress on the crystal pony. Her face featured bloodshot eyes and a nervous expression, her mane hung down in dishevelled strands of brownish yellow. Her coat was dull and grey at the moment and Luna knew this was caused by the state of emotional turmoil the crystal pony found herself in.
Shyly, Crystal Note stepped past the bed and towards Luna. She bowed her head too deep to for greeting a friend but not deep enough for greeting royalty. Her whole posture, the nervous flick of her tail, her low hanging ears, her constantly moving eyes, they all spoke of the insecurity Crystal Note suffered. Luna offered a nod of understanding, it was a difficult situation to be in for both of them. The crystal unicorn found herself muzzle to muzzle with a pony she only knew of stories, good and bad, and who was also a ruler to the entire nation.
Luna on the other hand faced a pony she barely knew anything past the few pieces of information offered by Cadance and Twilight Sparkle. However, the help she could offer to her demanded a strong foundation of trust from both of them. Luna was well aware that trust, while easily lost, needed a lot of effort and time to build. Right now, the only basis of trust the two of them had was a mutual friendship to Twilight and Cadance. For Crystal Note's sake, she hoped it would suffice.
Finally, Crystal Note managed to speak in a meek voice "Princess Luna... I'm honoured you'd make your way from Canterlot here just for me. I don't deserve any of this..." Luna shook her head and tried with a smile "I can name at least six ponies who think you deserve far more, Crystal Note." Crystal Note looked up for a moment, but with a frown her eyes returned gazing towards the wooden floor "Have you ever heard of a pony who had three princesses running to her aid?" Luna wouldn't let her confusion about such a question take hold of her features, so she just stated in a neutral tone "I have not." "Me neither. It sounds too good to be true, right? So how could I believe it's really happening to me right now?"
Luna frowned annoyed “You perhaps wish I’d take my leave then? Twilight Sparkle and Cadenza asked for our assistance, but if you feel we are not suited for such task, perhaps we should…” “NO!” Luna closed her mouth at the sudden outburst that even seemed to surprise Crystal Note herself. The mare blushed and averted her gaze as she returned to her meek whispering “I don’t want you to leave. It’s just… why? I don’t understand. You don’t know me. Twilight doesn’t know much. Cadance knows a little more now, but…” Luna’s frown faded and her eyes closed “But why would ponies reach out for you in such a moment? There are secrets in your past you can barely grasp yourself, but your history is dark enough to expect the worst. Nonetheless, these ponies, these strangers in your eyes, they make an effort. They offer help for you although they have nothing to gain from it. Most likely, they’ll be disappointed when they find their assistance won’t be any helpful either. At worst, they’ll start to fear you and shun you for what you have been, but even then could you blame them? You know what lays in your past, can you really expect them to believe you’re able to change when you can’t believe it yourself?”
A heavy silence filled the room once Luna had finished talking. Her voice had been filled with emotion, but her features showed nothing. Crystal Note stared at the moon princess with wide eyes and her whispers broke the silence once again “How do you know all that?” Luna refocused her attention on the crystal unicorn in front of her, in her blue eyes compassion and guilt seemed to battle for dominance “I know because I still have trouble believing it myself. When I returned, my darkness was evident. Yet it was to be overcome by the Elements of Harmony and the magic of friendship. I regained my past appearance and I was presented with my sister’s forgiveness. Not only hers, but the forgiveness of countless other ponies, including those who had seen my darkness. And still most nights I lay awake and ask myself ‘Why? What reason could there be?’”
Crystal Note said nothing and her gaze fell back on the floor, but Luna demanded her attention back with a stomp of her hoof “Doubt is clouding your mind, born out of confusion and guilt. It’s clear to see. You said so yourself, but there is more to it. Everypony has their own darkness, their demons they need to battle. Some more than others, but that is not what makes the difference. Every day, ponies overcome their fears, their confusion and their guilt. And they receive help in doing such. So here you are, Crystal Note, finding yourself in that position, yet you refuse the help offered to you. You rely on kind words to do so or you try with silence, but you push ponies away from you.”
Crystal Note stared at Luna, not daring to look away again. The blue eyes bore into gem-shaped ones, demanding a response, so the crystal pony complied “I don’t want to become a burden. All those new friendships are so… new. I don’t want to risk to losing them. I haven’t told them all I learned in the Crystal Empire and if they find out…” “They might abandon you?” Luna gave a laugh at the blush she called forth on the crystal pony “We are well aware of Sombra’s crystal unicorns, still sister and I did not hesitate to help. Why else would I stand here before you now?”
Crystal Note’s eyes opened wide once more, then her hoof flew to her forehead “Of course, you were there. How could I forget that?” Luna laughed softly with a nod of understanding “Confusion and doubts, as stated earlier. Yes, I saw them with my own eyes, as clear as I see you. And I fully agree with my niece, to answer your next question.” The pony blinked once and tilted her head to her left “Your niece?” Another nod, this time accompanied with a loving smile “My sister took the title of Cadenza’s aunt when she arrived in Canterlot. I was happy to adopt the same title after my return.” Crystal Note’s head tilted to the other side as she tried to make sense to all, then a smile of relief brightened her features “So you don’t think… you mean I’m different from… them?” A final nod, quick and determined, followed by a sigh of relief. “Nothing you show speaks of Sombra’s presence to me.”
Crystal Note all but collapsed at those words, sinking to the ground as her body lost its tension, part of the unhealthy glow around her eyes dissolving like morning fog under the rays of sister’s sun. Luna gave the pony her moment of relief, then decided it’d be time to press on “You heard such words from other ponies before, yet you refused to believe. You could have realized the truth yourself, but you did not allow yourself to see clearly.” Crystal Note’s head sunk into her forehooves with a weak nod, but this time her eyes rose up again to meet Luna “I know you’re right. But it’s so easy to get lost in my own head right now. It’s like every clear thought I have is drowned out by three others that make no sense and it all blurs together…”
Luna nodded, impressed by the precise description that summed up how she saw the pony’s mind at the moment “I know how you must feel right now. The inner workings of the mind are clearer to me than most other ponies, hence why sister and I decided it’d be me to offer help to you. That is, if you agree, Crystal Note.” The pony looked up at her own name, unsure how to react. Luna could read every thought going through her mind on her features at the moment. Insecurity whether Luna would really understand her. Doubt that she was not worth such help as offered. Guilt for having to ask another princess to fix those things she believed she failed on. Fear of the unknown truth that lay inside her, buried under mountains of confusion. Luna remained silent and waited. She knew this was the moment for Crystal Note to decide if Luna was worthy of her trust. She’d opened herself and showed her own struggle, her own emotion to a degree far passing of what she let most ponies see. She’d show as compassion as she was able to, along with understanding, may it be more analytical and sharp than what her niece or her sister would offer. Minutes passed before the decision came with a single nod, slow and uncertain, but an agreement nonetheless.
Luna bowed her head in a grateful nod and only now took the steps inside the room and closer to the crystal unicorn. She sat down on the floor in front of her and waited with her eyes staying on those gem-shaped orbs of Crystal Note. The crystal pony looked into those blue eyes as if for the first time or maybe she just really saw them clearly for the first time, without fear or intimidation for once. In a soft voice, she whispered “Are you going to cast a spell to fix me?” Luna rose a brow and shook her head “I will not. I could try such, but I doubt it would succeed.” Crystal Note blushed and nodded with sudden sadness that surprised Luna, so she added “The mind is complex, Crystal Note. There is no easy way to just ‘fix you’ as you call it. I wish to give you the help you truly need, not just patch you up into a representable state and then take my leave.”
The crystal pony nodded again with the same sadness Luna now began to identify as guilt. Crystal Note did not deem herself worthy of receiving such help as offered. It was worrying she'd think so little of herself that even accepting the help of a willing pony seemed too much. Thinking for a moment, Luna tried for a different approach “Think of it as our way to contribute to the protection of Equestria.” Crystal Note blinked back into awareness and stared at the now grinning princess “If we search through your diffused memory, we might find hints on Sombra’s past deeds. To find such hints would mean a great deal, should it be necessary to prepare for the dark king’s return. Therefore it is essential we put utmost care and attention on healing your troubles, Crystal Note.” Luna let go of the faux regal voice she’d been using and winked. Crystal Note’s head tilted towards the other side, then a small smile crept onto her lips. She quickly rose to her hooves and performed a deep bow, her forehead and the tip of her horn touching the floor in front of Luna and her voice matching Luna’s royal behaviour “At your command, your Highness.”
Luna stood up as well, tall and regal and ordered Crystal Note to rise with a motion of her hoof, then chuckled at their silliness. The melodious laugh she received as response showed her it’d served its cause though, another wave of relaxation easing the crystal pony.
Luna saw Crystal Note take a deep, cleansing breath, just as she had upon entering, then focus back on her. She did not speak but the question she wanted to ask was clear in her eyes to see for Luna “When you’re ready, we will begin by relaxing.” Crystal Note blinked surprised and blushed as she mumbled “I’m not sure I get what you mean…” Luna nodded and motioned for the bed “That is part of the problem. Questions cloud your mind and make you worry. You need to learn not to let them overwhelm you. If they do, you won’t get the rest your body and your mind desperately need. Also sleep tends to elude you if all you know is tension and worry, which is not considered healthy at all.”
Crystal Note climbed onto the bed but remained sitting upright, unsure of how to proceed “So you want to put me asleep and take a look at my memories while I’m sleeping?” “No. None of such. Your mind, anypony’s mind, is sacred to me. I will never intrude or spy, unless there is great danger or I receive allowance from said pony.” Crystal Note stared at her, sensing the deep severity of the words and accepting them as truth with a nod. Luna, once sure the crystal pony understood, continued “Think of it as breathing exercises, designed to help you achieve some peace of mind. If you fall asleep during those, it will be perfectly fine. Once you manage to relax, you will also find that the ‘other voices’ you mentioned lose much of their strength. Clarity will help you break the grip confusion has over your thoughts at this moment. These are my goals, the things I want to help you learn and understand, as your health and well-being will profit greatly from those. Anything further than that, we will decide together once you’re ready.”
Crystal Note nodded and lay down on the bed, shifting her legs into a comfortable position. Luna nodded affirmatively and stepped next to the bed “Are you ready to begin?” The pony nodded and Luna took a deep breath which Crystal Note mimicked momentarily. Luna started to talk, putting as much calmness into her voice as she could “Try taking slow and deep breaths from now on. Focus on the way your body moves with each breath and try to let go of distractions. Close your eyes if it helps.” Crystal Note nodded and let her eyes close and her head sank down on the bed. The next few breaths came forcibly slow but after half a dozen breaths, Luna saw the pony’s shoulders sag down a little when she exhaled, so she continued “I’m going to mention some parts of your body and if you can you shall try to focus on those parts along breathing. Know that while relaxing, you might lose track of the words I use. Do not feel alarmed if such happens, it’s fine, expected even.”
Crystal Note nodded slightly again, trying to keep her body to hold still, but her ears stayed perked up and turned towards Luna’s direction. The princess slowed down as she talked “First, notice how your body moves when you inhale. Feel your muscles tense up each time you draw in air from around you. It’s only a slight increase of tension, but once you focus on it, you can feel it clearly at every single inhaling.
When you exhale, the air flows out of you and as it does, notice the tensed muscles relax again. Notice how you can increase this relaxation with each breath as each time you exhale, you let the air flow out of you very slowly. Just as slowly as your muscles loosen up.”
Luna kept close watch as the breathing slowed down further and further, then continued in her calm voice “Realize that parts of your body are more ready to relax, coming more at ease with each breath. Your chest only tenses up ever so slightly when you inhale, but relaxes immensely when you exhale, making the relaxation grow further and further as you breathe. Feel the relaxation spread from your chest down your body, into your rump. Down each of your legs, passing your shoulders, your flanks. Like your chest, you notice the tension only slightly each time you inhale, but your muscles relaxing more and more as you exhale.”
As she talked, Luna saw Crystal Notes shoulders sink down onto the bed, her legs stretching out a little as she rolled slightly to her side “And as your body keeps on relaxing, feel the air flow into your body with each breath, the tension almost gone now, each breath slow and deep, without any effort at all. Notice now how your body transforms the air inside you, creating a source of warmth in your chest. Each breath you take adds a little more warmth to you, gently and slowly. And as you exhale and your body relaxes, feel the warmth spread out as slowly. The warmth follows the trail of your muscles and helps them relax further. Let it flow down your body, into your legs, helping you relax more and more. It’s easy to just breathe and relax, you barely have to think about it anymore. You can focus on the warmth instead and how it spreads and relaxes you. Each time you breathe in, you feel warm. Each time you exhale, you relax. Warmth and relaxation, blending into each other, your warm muscles easy to relax further, your relaxed limps readily accepting the warmth.”
A smile entered Luna’s features when she heard a small but happy sigh from the pony on the bed. Encouraged, she kept going gently “As your body grows relaxed and pleasantly warm, even the tension in your neck melts away. The warmth follows and flows up, to your head. Feel as your neck, your throat and soon after all the muscles in your face relax. The bed beneath you is soft, let yourself sink down as the warmth spreads out all over your body now. With each breath, the warmth washes over your body, from the tip of your horn all the way to the sole of your hooves.”
Luna watched the crystal pony as she sprawled out on the bed and kept silent for a few minutes. Crystal Note was not yet asleep, but the pony had entered a meditative state of deep relaxation and a smile was permanent on her features. As Luna had expected, the crystal mare had carried far too much stress and tension inside her for the better of three days now. Hence why the mare accepted each of her words and suggestions so readily, her body was simply aching to relax. So far, so good. Now, they would reach the hard part.
Luna granted her a few more minutes of silent relaxation before she started to speak again “You’re doing very well, Crystal Note. Keep taking these slow and deep breaths and let your body relax even further. You deserve this relaxation and warmth, you’re allowed to enjoy them to the fullest. With your body relaxed, it’s now your mind that wishes to follow. Take a deep breath and slowly focus on your mind now.” The deep breath came, but it turned into a gasp and a shiver running over the pony's body. Luna had anticipated something like this and carefully put her hoof on Crystal Note's shoulder "There is nothing to fear. You're safe and your friends are near to come to your aid. Keep breathing and relaxing like you learned to do."
After a few more shuddering breaths, Crystal Note calmed back down visibly and returned to the slow and even rhythm of breathing. Luna kept her hoof on her shoulder with a gentle pressure and went on "As you breathe, feel the warmth spread out further. Your body all relaxed now, let it seep into your mind as well, just a little with each breath." Again Luna waited for a couple more breaths, then continued talking to the crystal pony in her soft voice.
Crystal Note was floating on a cloud. It was strange since she wasn't a pegasus, but Luna's voice told her it was fine so she didn't mind. It had been so long since she felt this safe. It felt good to be here, she didn't want to leave. Then Luna told her to look and everything changed.
She peeked open her eyes and saw she was surrounded by a thick, grey smoke, unable to see through. Her head turned but there was no way out, only more grey. The wisps of smoke trailed closer and they almost locked out the light and the warmth and the voice all together. Crystal Note shivered and curled up, fear rising up inside her and paralysing her. Breathe. A single word made through the fog and Crystal Note trusted the voice. She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She felt the warmth come back to her, so she did again. Then, the fog pulled back. She smiled and kept breathing like she learned.
She let her breath flow out slowly and another wisp of smoke vanished. Then another and another. A little bit more fog blown away with each breath. The voice was back but the words didn't reach her. She was not concerned, she felt warm again and the voice meant she was safe. The fog cleared out more and more and Crystal Note started to see shapes behind it.
She didn't really care how long she stood there just breathing and clearing out the fog. She saw a nice field of soft grass around her. It would feel nice to lie down here for a nap, but she didn't feel that tired. She looked up and saw the prettiest sky of stars she'd ever seen. She couldn't see the moon which made her sad. Why was it missing?
Then she heard something other than the voice. She heard it very clearly all around her. It was music, beautiful music played by an entire orchestra it seemed. She looked around but didn’t see anypony beside herself. The music was wonderful, so pretty and very soothing in a way she never heard before. Out of instinct, she hummed along and smiled. Somehow it felt right to do so. The music grew into a wonderful symphony and soon she sang with all her voice. The music had no words for her voice to follow but still she found the right notes to sing, almost like the music was made for her.
With the music, the world surrounding her seemed to grow as well. She could soon see trees in some distance, maybe a forest. Flowers sprouted out of the grassy field and added a sweet and soothing scent to the scenery. She felt a nice breeze blowing through the nightly fields and setting the grass into a lazy sway. It was almost perfect. She looked back up at the sky and added a few notes to the song. Finally, the full moon appeared in the sky of stars. With the biggest smile she had in a long time, Crystal Note sat down in the soft grass and sung the song around her once more.
Luna smiled pleased at the dreamscape she was able to call forth with the assistance of Crystal Note. In all honesty, she was surprised how easy it had actually happened. The level of trust of the crystal unicorn had proven profound and resulted in a very quick disentangling of her confusion. While not gone entirely, Luna and Crystal Note were able to reach the core of the mare's mind and mute most of the noisy distraction which had been polluting her thoughts. In essence, the goals set earlier had been reached.
Luna initially decided to give Crystal Note some time to rest now that her mind and body were back in tune and mutually relaxed. However, as soon as the dreamscape was stable, Luna had felt the familiar pull of an invitation into the mare's dream. Her eyes closed as she let herself slip into the other plane and entered the dreamscape. As soon as she saw inside, her eyes opened wide and her ears perked up surprised. She was welcomed by a very much more detailed version of the dreamscape that she had thought of. Naturally, since they were technically inside Crystal Note's mind at least to some degree, Luna had expected a few personal influences, however she did not assume for the crystal pony to have such control of this creation.
Following her invitation, she materialized herself in some distance of the mare and now also had a chance to appreciate the song of Crystal Note. Luna had heard about the mare's affinity to music, yet now that she could witness her voice with her own ears, she found the words of both young princesses failing to describe it properly. The singing that welcomed her was beyond pleasant. The song struck a cord deep inside her and seemed to resonated through her entire being. She simply felt good listening without being able to point out why exactly. To Luna, it seemed the music was entirely created solely to delight her.
Luna made the short distance to the songstress who upon noticing her gave a beaming smile. The song finally faded but Luna wouldn't let her mood get dampened by it "It is good to see you smiling again, Crystal Note. How do you feel?" "Much better. Thank you so much Princess Luna!" Luna smiled and shook her head "All I did was show you the way. Everything else you achieved by your own effort." Crystal Note looked around, taking in the details of her surroundings "Is this a dream?" "No. At least, not entirely. It's not easy to explain, this place is very in between. Passage might be an appropriate term to describe." Crystal Note looked back at Luna, a little hopeful "So, I won't just wake up and be back like I was before?" At this, Luna rose her brow "Like you were before? That's not easy to answer, Crystal Note. Hopefully, your anxiety and fear will be lessened. But you'll still be a crystal unicorn upon awakening and mysteries will shroud your past as long as you not face your memories."
Crystal Note turned her eyes back to the sky, watching the stars and the moon. Luna waited in silence for a decision, then the crystal unicorn stared back at her "You'd help me explore those memories?" Luna nodded "As I said I would." "Even if..." Crystal Note wouldn't finish her question but Luna nodded anyways "Even if you'd turn out to be a villain." Crystal Note shuddered at the thought and her coat took an darker tone of grey, but she nodded and got on her hooves "Could we do it now? If we keep waiting, I fear I'll just back out again..."
Instead of answering Luna stomped her hoof on the ground once. In front of them, seemingly out of nowhere, a wooden door appeared. Crystal Note stared at it with a mixture of fear and curiosity, but then reached out for the handle "A word of warning, Crystal Note. This is not the realm of dreams, but a manifestation of your own mind. I cannot dispel a painful memory like I could with a nightmare. I will do my most to prevent it, but there might be some moments of fear and pain." Crystal Note hesitated, but only for a few beats, before she pushed open the door "It can't hurt more than seeing my sister back away because she's afraid of me." Luna nodded, and together they stepped through the door.
The world around them changed as soon as their hooves touched the ground again. The nightly field of grass and flowers vanished, as did the sky and the stars and any lights Crystal Note blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the sudden darkness, but Luna walked on unconcerned. They walked slowly through what seemed like a long hallway but it was too dark to see any details. Their hooves barely made any sound as they touched the floor. Crystal Note could make out more and more details with each step. For some reason, this hallways didn't have any walls, but there was still only one direction to go.
After a while she saw something glowing faintly in the distance. Luna had seen it far earlier and headed directly towards it. The faint glow turned out to be a smallish ball of light that floated around the edges of the hallway. Curious and fascinated, Crystal Note only managed to whisper "What is this?" Luna took a moment to answer, finding the right words to explain without worrying the mare "We are travelling through your mind, as stated. This is the oldest part of your mind, your early foalhood. And those lights you see are events your memories of this part of your life." The mare nodded and looked around the hallways, dark except those distance lights "But... there's barely anything." Luna just nodded but remained silent. Crystal Note noticed and whispered "This is not normal, right? You're worried." Luna sighed and shook her head "It's not unusual to forget memories of your earliest years. However, I've never witnessed it to this degree. Whether this is caused naturally or by magic, I'm not able to tell yet." Crystal Note frowned at this and returned her gaze to ball of light, now almost in her reach "What kind of memory is this?" "Only you can tell this. When you're ready, just touch it and we shall see." Crystal Note stared through the darkness around her once again, before she reached out with her hoof. As soon as she touched the ball, the light glowed brighter until it filled all their vision for a moment, just to fade and allow them to see.
When the light faded Luna was welcomed by a familiar sight, the city of Canterlot. She recognized it more clearly than when she had returned from her banishment. The city she saw was the city of Canterlot from more than a thousand years ago, before Nightmare Moon and even before the war with Sombra. The memory grew more clear and Luna found herself standing in White Chapel Hills, the place of rest for those passed away. She was standing in front of an ordinary grave between many, the only difference was a fresh bouquet of flowers and a flickering candle on it.
She turned her head and saw two ponies standing in front of said grave, a sky blue pegasus mare with a lilac mane and tail, next to her a small earth pony filly. The filly could not have been older than three or four years and had a spring green coat with a bright orange mane woven into a short pigtail. The filly sat close to the pegasus with a pained look on her face, leaning against the mare's hoof. The pegasus radiated out a practiced calmness and had her eyes closed. Luna now noticed the was singing and as she paid attention to the words, she recognized the old song. She bowed her head in respect as the mare sung the finishing words
Just like the stars that shine above May this small flame light up your path To guide you home, safe and secure Into the sacred fields of green.
And like the flame in darkest night your light shines on, inside my heart So I may never walk astray Guided by you through night and day.
The tiny filly was staring intensely at the tombstone, but when Luna checked it there was no inscription to be seen. It was surprising since the memory was very detailed otherwise, though the name that should have been there was gone. If this was either the influence of a spell or simply a natural flaw in the memory, Luna could not tell.
The two ponies stood up and after a gentle nudge from the pegasus started walking back towards town. The tiny filly kept her eyes on the ground but whispered "Why did Mommy leave?" The pegasus sighed and replied in a calm voice "I don't know, sweetie. It happened so suddenly, not even the doctors noticed before it was too late." The tiny filly sniffled and Luna could tell she was struggling with tears "Daddy says it's my fault she's gone." Before the mare could interfere, the tears won and the filly curled up on the ground weeping "Why would she leave when she had daddy and me?" The mare's calmness shattered at those words and she sat next to the filly, circling her larger body around the tiny pony who just kept on crying desperately. Eventually, words tumbled out of the filly's mouth "Didn't she love me?"
At that, the look on the pegasus face was flooded with motherly concern and she scooped the tiny filly into her hooves, pressing her against her heart. Her wings unfurled from her flanks and wrapped all around the tiny filly who just buried her muzzle into the pegasus coat and kept crying. Luna felt a tug of sadness inside herself as she watched the blue pegasus hold and cradle the filly like she was her own, with the love of a mother. Should she even be fortunate enough to receive a foal of her own, Luna knew this would be the way she'd hug her child everyday.
The filly kept crying for a while until the mare spoke up with a voice brimmed with emotion "Sweetie, listen to me. Your mommy loved you more than anypony else. If anything, she loved you too much. And she still loves you, every day." The filly clung on the mare and her words but her tears wouldn't stop running "Then why am I always sad when I think of her?" The mare kept the filly close and gently nuzzled her head "Of course you're sad, sweetie. I know you miss her so much. But there's more to it than that. You see, when there's too much love inside your heart, that love finds other places to stay with you. Sometimes, it feels like a knot in your chest. Or a lump in your throat. And sometimes, it fills up your eyes like tears. But that's not sadness. That's all the love your mommy sends to you." The tiny filly looked up and her voice wavered between sadness and hope "Really?" "I promise. As long as you keep her in your heart, you mommy will always love you." The filly clung onto that hope and buried herself back against the mare. She sniffled and whispered "I'll never forget my Mommy. I promise."
The memory changed unexpectedly quick and Luna stood inside a house. She was peeking through a door into a study and from the angle she could tell that this time, she was seeing things through the eyes of the filly. Inside the room, she saw the pegasus mare from before, standing in the middle of the room with the same calm demeanour she showed earlier. She could also see a unicorn stallion pacing up and down the room. Although his coat was a slightly darker green, his bright orange mane made it easy to identify the stallion as the father of the filly.
The unicorn looked angry and annoyed as he paced through the room and picked up things with his magic and stored them into boxes. Luna got a view on his face and his cutie mark at some point and blinked surprised, but she decided to focus on the conversation that went on instead "Sir, please reconsider your decision. Your daughter still suffers from her loss and ripping her out of her familiar surrounding won't do her any good." The stallion glared at the pegasus and continued packing things "There are more important things than that. This is a chance of a lifetime and I'm not going to waste it. It'll be impossible to raise in the favour of the Princesses, but in the Crystal Empire, I'll be a royal advisor and at the top of society." The pegasus mare took a step forward to stand in his way, forcing him to look at her "Sir, please. Just forget your social rank for a single minute and think about your daughter. I'm begging you." The stallion only grew more angry, his horn flared up and his voice grew so loud it hurt the filly's ears. "I'm only thinking of my daughter. Because of my daughter, the other nobles begin to doubt the purity of my blood line. Because of her it's impossible for me to achieve anything in Canterlot because of all the rumours about my marriage. I can't stop thinking about my daughter who took my wife from me. My daughter who is nothing but a mud kicker!"
He spat out those last words and the pegasus mare backed away, shocked to her core. Luna felt a dangerous anger boil up inside her. 'Mud kicker' was one of the most disparaging expressions for any earth pony, but sadly it had been far too common within the tight knitted unicorn society, especially in Canterlot. Those unicorns who thought of themselves as better because of their 'pure blood' or 'old blood' and their demands for important positions within the society of Canterlot had always angered Luna. But hearing a father speak in such a insulting way of his own daughter was almost too much for her.
She missed the response of the pegasus mare while she tried to calm herself again, but the loud yell from the unicorn reached her again "That won't be any more of your concern. You're no longer working for me. You have half an hour to gather your things and leave. By the end of the week, I will be in the Crystal Empire and Harmony will leave with me. Now get out of my sight!"
The memory faded and Luna was back in the dark hallway. She heard a sobbing next to her, but instead of the mare she had lead here, a small filly sat on the ground crying. Luna was aware that accessing early memories could sometimes regress the mind back into a younger state, but it was very rare for a pony to actually change their appearance accordingly as well. Since Crystal Note was a musician, an artist, with a vivid imagination, maybe she shouldn't have been surprised though.
She sat down next to the grey filly and carefully wrapped her wing around the tiny body. Crystal Note began to speak between sobs "I can't remember their names. And I don't even know what my mommy looked like. I forgot all about it. I've lost them, and I lost their love forever." Luna flexed her wing to gently pull Crystal Note closer to her "I disagree. Love like this cannot be lost. Neither the love of your mother, nor your caretaker. You still carry it inside you and it shines through in the way you treat the ponies around you." Crystal Note looked up at her with a puzzled expression, so Luna continued "From what I've heard and seen, you treat everypony with respect and kindness. Even those who wronged you at first. As your caretaker said, love finds other places to be when needed. Like a smile you give a sad filly so she'll be happy again. Or a song you sing for your people so they don't have to be afraid anymore."
Luna closed her eyes and summoned a familiar face into her mind "My sister's love reached me even when I was trapped inside the moon. I've also forgotten about it for a while. But when I returned, it was still there. Her love is what keeps me sane during dark days of doubt and guilt."
The grey crystal filly looked back at the floor but Luna could see she was trying to comprehend. She stood up and turned towards the hallway "It will become clearer to you, given time. Meanwhile, there are more memories to explore when you're ready." The filly nodded and rose back to her hooves. As she did, she regained her adult form again. Together, Luna and Crystal Note walked further down the hallway towards the next set of lights.
Crystal Note looked around and saw small wisps of light flittering just out of her reach. Some were bright and colourful, but most only glowed faintly and seemed almost grey. Luna followed the mare's gaze and nodded "These are fragments of memories. Single thoughts or impressions that lasted only for moments in the past. Normally they fade away quickly, but sometimes they linger in the depths of your subconscious." "There's so many of them?" Luna let her gaze wander around and nodded once more "Even if you don't remember them consciously, these fragments will have an influence on you."
Crystal Note kept watching the wisps as they passed by, but soon they reached some larger balls of light again. Unlike before, these memories seemed to be connected in some way, probably because they weren't as old as the first one she'd seen. After a nod from Luna, she found one that seemed to stand out from the rest. She reached out with her hoof and another flash of light filled her vision.
It was late afternoon and the sun was beginning to set. Luna took a look around and recognized barely anything. While clearly she was in the Crystal Empire, little reminded her of the vibrant capital she visited once eons ago. Neither did this place look like the battlefield she lay siege on years later with run down streets and destroyed buildings. However, the once gleaming colours of the crystal structures were dimmed down. Occasionally Luna saw the banner of Sombra in black and red colours adorning a building. If she had to guess, she would assume that the dark unicorn had taken over not long ago, but his true vileness had not completely surfaced yet.
Luna's attention was drawn into a small street of what she realized had to be the residential part of the city with small houses built for a family or two rowing next to each other. In the dead end of one street, a group of fillies were playing a game of catch with a bright red ball and their happy laughter filled the small courtyard. Luna also saw a mare sitting on a bench in front of one of the houses. The dark rose coated mare was busy with some sewing while looking up from time to time to check on the fillies. All of them were crystal ponies except one filly with a spring green coat and bright orange mane and tail. Luna approached the group and had to guess that the fillies were maybe six or seven years old, only one of them had her cutie mark already.
Crystal Note, or Harmony as the earth filly was called back then, seemed more than a little out of place in the group of crystal fillies. She was easily a few inches taller than the others and next to her the young crystal ponies looked very slender, almost fragile. That did not prevent them from having fun with each other though, as another wave of laughter filled the air. Luna stood next to the mare and watched, she was merely an observer in this memory. The mare worked on the garment with nimble hooves but Luna frowned when she realized she was doing the finishing touch on a soldier's uniform.
Meanwhile, a group of colts entered the small courtyard and approached the group of fillies. They were older, perhaps nine or ten years, and apparently up for some mischief. Crystal Note had the ball and kicked it towards another filly with a pink mane, but the filly was too slow and missed it. The biggest of them, a colt with a dark blue coat, caught the ball instead with a smirk "Thanks for the ball. We were starting to get bored anyways, right guys?" The other colts nodded but the pink filly ran over trying to get the ball back "Hey! That's ours, and we were playing!" She jumped at the ball but the colt held it high above his head so the filly wouldn't get it "Your ball? I don't see your name on it anywhere." The small pink filly looked like she was about to start crying, but by now the other three fillies had reached her as well. Harmony stood next to her friend and glared at the colt who was just as tall as her "That just proves you can't read! It's still our ball, give it back!"
The colt's smirk grew and he threw the ball to one of his friends, then stood muzzle to muzzle with the earth filly "Give it back or what? You think I'm scared of a handful fillies calling for mommy?" Harmony grinned and pushed back against the colt with confidence "Never underestimate us fillies!" Luna noticed the mare look up at the sudden lack of laughter. She only needed a glance to take in the scene and then resumed her work unconcerned. Apparently, events like this weren't out of the usual.
The colt and the earth filly were by now circling each other, both tensed up and their tails lashing behind them. The other foals had backed away to give their respective leaders some space, the group of fillies looked very scared, especially the pink maned filly. The colts on the other side watched amused and smirked in amusement. The blue colt jumped forward with his forehooves aiming towards Harmony, but the earth filly dodged easily. They went back into circling and the scene repeated, again the colt would not reach the far quicker earth filly. Harmony gave him a taunting smirk and the colt lunged towards her once more. This time, the filly dove under his hooves with her head held low. She rushed forward and thrusted her head against his barrel. The colt was caught off guard by this and lost his balance, with another poke of her whole body, the sturdy earth filly had him falling on his back with a thud. He tried to get up but the earth filly was quickly on top of him, her forehooves pinning his own to the ground. He tried to wiggle and squirm out but the filly was in a superior position and was clearly at least as strong as himself and far quicker.
She smirked down at him and after a minute, he ceased his struggles and looked away in defeat. Harmony let go of him and walked over to the other colts. She took the offered ball and threw it back to her friends, then passed the colt once again. With a confident grin she repeated "Never underestimate us fillies!" The group of fillies giggled at that and returned to their game as the colts regrouped at the edge of the courtyard. They watched for a few minutes, then the four colts approached them again. As soon as Harmony noticed this, she stood in front of her friends again with the pink filly almost hiding behind her. One of the other colts took a step forward with a sheepish smiles "You know, if we all build teams we could make a real game." The fillies shared a glance, then giggled "But we better make it mixed teams, so it's not unfair for you colts!" The foals laughed and quickly formed teams and engaged into a ball game. Neither Luna nor the crystal mare hid their smiles.
The hours passed and the sun wandered lower. At some time, the mare put away her sewing and stood up. She called out to the foals "Okay dearies, it's almost curfew! Time to go home, you can play again tomorrow." The foals looked disappointed but quickly left into different directions, Harmony and the pink maned filled approached the mare "Harmony, your father is not home yet, so you're coming with us. You and Rose Quartz go and wash up before dinner." "Okay!" Both fillies giggled together and went into the house, Harmony making a game of it to balance the ball on top of her head as she moved. Luna was about to follow them inside when the filly's head turned towards the street. The ball dropped off her head and her expression darkened.
Luna followed her gaze and saw a group of crystal ponies approaching. They were walking single filed in a long line, surrounded by armed soldiers in Sombra's colours who watched them warily. The crystal ponies were covered in dust and grime from the mines and most of them could barely lift their hooves to keep going. If they slowed down however, a soldier was by their side to push them forwards, so the exhausted ponies kept limping on towards the houses. They reached the houses and a few ponies left the line after being allowed by a soldier. A stallion made his way to the house and was joined by the mare. They shared a hug and a nuzzle before they walked into the house after the fillies.
Luna had spent some time watching the happy family pass the evening. If it hadn't been for the mare's words from earlier, she'd believed the earth filly Harmony was born into their family. They shared some happy banter at dinner, which consisted mostly of dry bread and few berries. Luna couldn't help but think of the feasts she and her sister probably shared at the same time in Canterlot. This was yet another side of war most history books did not manage to capture. Even if it would be years before the first battle, these ponies already suffered greatly from Sombra's preparations of war. Working themselves to the bone in mines and forges with little to no food each day and locked in their own homes by Sombra's growing army.
Luna noticed the little signs Harmony saw as a filly but wouldn't understand until years later. She saw the limping in her foster mother's step and the pain she tried to suppress whenever she moved too fast. She recognized the fatigue in the stallion's eyes whenever he thought nopony was watching him, a fatigue that went far beyond the mere lack of rest and sleep. They went on anyways, for the sake of those lively fillies sharing their happiness with them and in doing so showed greater bravery than Luna would find on the battlefield.
The hours passed before the door was thrown open by and unseen force. Luna looked up and of course noticed the use of magic, unlike the filly whose memories she was watching right now. The unicorn with the bright orange mane stepped into the home. Harmony's father glanced over the humble but tidy home with barely hidden disgust, an expression that would not change as he finally turned his attention to the ponies inside. Luna noticed how the crystal filly Rose Quartz would hide behind Harmony like she had before. The earth filly's face froze into an obviously forced smile. The stallion bowed his head towards the intruder but the mare stepped forward with a smile, greeting him like an honoured guest "Welcome home, Sir. I hope your day was a pleasant one." She bowed down while the unicorn barely indicated a nod. His eyes locked on his daughter and Harmony took a step forward and actually bowed as well "Good evening, father." Only now did he give a somewhat satisfied nod and turn his attention back to the mare "Did she cause any troubles today?" "Oh no, Sir. She's been a darling like always, she's such a well behaved filly." The mare spoke with sincerity not even the rude unicorn could deny, so he nodded and motioned for his daughter without even looking at her. The earth filly slowly walked towards the door, her father spoke up while turning away from the crystal ponies "I will be working on a very important project for the next few weeks. I will stay at the palace so she'll be your responsibility in the meantime. I expect you to not fail this, nursemaid." The mare bowed down despite the unicorn already walking towards the door again "Of course not, Sir. Thank you for your trust in this matter. I will take good care of Harmony. However..." The unicorn stopped in mid step and his horn flared up which made the mare gasp and little but whisper out her next words "However, if I wish to provide adequate meals for your daughter, I would be deeply thankful for your contribution." The unicorn stood motionless for a few moments with his magic still ready to unleash, but then he just sighed "Crystal peasants. Worse than the mud kickers back in Canterlot." From his belt, a small pouch was engulfed by his blue magic and flew towards the mare. The scared pony did not react fast enough and the pouch dropped on the floor. Luna saw a few coin-like tokens fall out which were quickly gathered by the mare "You better not waste any of this." The mare instinctively pressed her head back on the floor and whispered in a voice a shivery as her whole body "Of course not, Sir. Thank you kindly, Sir." She stayed in this position until Harmony and her father had left and the door was slammed shut by magic once more.
The next thing Luna saw lay a few months further in the future, as Harmony had grown a few inches again. Her mane and coat were dishevelled when she stood in front of her father and as she looked closer, Luna noticed a few bruises as well. Her father stared down at her with less interest but more annoyance. If he was concerned about his daughter's state, he did not show. The earth filly stared up at him with some defiance in her eyes "I still don't understand why you won't let me go to school with Rose Quartz, father." The unicorn rose his brow and turned away, towards a desk with some scrolls on it "Are you running out of crystal scum to beat up on the streets? Sending you there is just asking for trouble." The filly's posture remained calm but her eyes were boiling with anger "I didn't start it." "How many ones was it this time?" "Two..." Again, the brow rose "Just two?" "They were way older than me." "But you won anyways." It was a statement, not a question. The young filly bit her lip and tried again "If they saw me at school, they'd see I'm normal. That I'm just like them." "Bollocks!"
The filly flinched a took a step backwards as her father turned around again "You are not like them. You are not normal by their standards. And you never will be. How many crystal ponies can take on two almost adult colts and get away only with a scratch?" Harmony's gaze fell to the floor "None, father." "But you can. You're stronger. You're faster. You can take a hit while they crumble." The filly nodded at each statement and mumbled "Yes, father. But it's not like I want this." "Then you're more of a fool than I thought." Harmony looked up to meet her father's angry glare once again "You are better than them in any regards. You are superior. And the sooner you accept this, the sooner you can take advantage of them." Harmony's eyes went wide and her mouth went agape "Father..?" The stallion just laughed manically and his horn glowed "Don't you see? They are worthless, they are weak. They are the first pawns to be sacrificed in my King's great game. That's how the world works. You sacrifice the useless pieces to beat the more powerful ones, than you sacrifice those again to beat the enemy king. Or rather, the Princess." The unicorn stallion laughed more at the terrified expression that took over his daughter "But father, they are my friends!" "Bollocks! Friends? Family? Altogether worthless! Only power matters! The pony who has all the power will rule them all!" His manic expression turned into disgust "Then again, how could a mud kicker understand such things? You might be superior to the crystal scum, but against a unicorn like me YOU ARE NOTHING!" Before the filly could answer, the unicorn's horn flared up again and she was sent flying through the room. She hit the wall hard with a whimper but quickly scrambled back on her hooves. She kept her head low but Luna could still see tears raining down on the floor.
That sight seemed to sober the stallion up. He blinked and his magic died down again. He turned back to his desk and focused on a scroll "You will not go to school. You'll only learn the lies my King feeds to the crystal scum there anyways. If you must, you may read the tomes of the library. Hopefully they will teach you something valuable. Go to your room now."
The tiny filly limped out of the room towards a stairway, desperately trying and failing to keep her tears in check. As she passed through the doorway, she took one last look at the unicorn who was supposed to be her father but found him absorbed by his scrolls already. She left the room and the memory fade to black.
Luna was back in the hallway of Crystal Note's memories. The crystal unicorn was staring at the cluster of lights they had just seen. While Luna boiled with anger and disgust about the scene she just witnessed, Crystal Note seemed worryingly calm, almost apathetic. Luna stepped between her and the lights and finally she blinked and showed some reaction, even if it was just a sigh "I think that was the last time we actually talked with each other. As in really listening what the other had to say and responding to it." Luna's eyes went wide and she glared daggers at the memories that floated behind the crystal mare as if they were to blame. Crystal Note's voice stayed unnaturally calm and even "I kind of hoped those memories would turn out to be wrong, but I guess..." Luna shook her head and pushed away her anger "I am beginning to see why your mind preferred to have been born a crystal pony in the Empire. And the origin of your dislike for magic."
Crystal Note's eyes finally found Luna's and some emotion returned to her features, mostly confusion and regret "I can't shake off the feeling he was just trying to teach me something but I couldn't understand it. Maybe if I had tried harder..." "I fail to see any flaws in your behaviour. Your creator has shown that he didn't deserve to be called a father to his own."
Crystal Note sighed again and stared back at the lights, her body sinking down into a sitting position. Luna stepped beside her and sat back on her haunches and saw the images that flashed through Crystal Note's mind right now as clearly as her own thoughts. She saw her filly self being shunned by her own father on multiple occasions. She saw his magic frightening her every time he used it, sometimes against her. Luna watched and noticed this profound fear taking root in the young pony's heart from an early age. She could barely grasp the idea of waking up one day and suddenly possessing the power you've not only learned to hate, but to fear.
But there was more in this memory than just anger and fear that Luna had seen. There was a family who cared about the lonely filly. Calling forth the words Crystal Note had used earlier, Luna began to query in this direction "The filly with the pink mane, Rose Quartz. She's the sister you mentioned upon entering?" Crystal Note nodded and a smile came to her face "She is. She lived next door with her father and mother. When they noticed I was on my own most of the time, they took me into their home. They didn't ask for anything in return at first, but when father found out, he insisted upon paying them. I think he didn't want to owe anything to a crystal pony since he was an important stallion and all."
Luna noticed apathy returning to Crystal Note's voice as soon as she mentioned that stallion and her smile faded once more. She went back into staring, this time into the unnatural darkness that still surrounded them almost entirely. In an attempt to pull the mare out of her withdrawal, Luna decided to push forward once more "It would be understandable for you to hate your father. As far as I've seen, there's been nothing but malintent and selfishness in all his deeds. I deem him beyond redemption. Rarely I've found somepony as despicable as your father." Crystal Note flinched at the harshness of those words and the hard tone Luna's voice had taken. Luna could almost see the gears of her mind beginning to move again, no longer frozen by apathy and regret.
Soon Crystal Note's eyes widened in realization and Luna allowed herself a smile, only to have it frozen by the mare's next words "I don't hate my father." Luna slightly tilted her head, expecting a further explanation. Crystal Note just stared at her as if processing what she just said herself, but when she did a genuine smile graced her features "I don't hate my father, but this stallion is not him. He's not my family" Both turned their heads when a bright orb of light emerged from the small cluster of memories, far bigger than the ones they had been observing so far. Without thinking, Crystal Note reached out and images appeared around them.
They saw both fillies held and hugged by the adult ponies after a day of play and fun. They watched them sharing what little food they had with each other, helping each other whenever they needed. “How could I forget about this? I met them as Harmony, but… I became Crystal Note with them. They are my family and I love them and they loved me. Like a real family should.” The light from the ball glowed and as the light spread out, more and more memories reappeared, branching out and spreading all over the former void darkness. Just realizing about her family unlocked the part of Crystal Note that lay dormant for so long.
Luna watched the dark rose mare embracing the earth filly after another fight and tending her bruises. When Rose Quartz was at school, the two of them would read together, or the mare told stories and legends to Harmony, as well as teach her songs. Together they rediscovered the mother’s violin and practiced playing. The mare was the first to hug Crystal Note the moment she received her cutie mark of the trio of musical notes. When the mare’s illness got worse, Crystal Note took care of her with utmost dedication, as did the rest of their family. Far too soon, the mare lost the fight though, after giving as much love as she could to both her daughters.
Rose Quartz and first Harmony, then Crystal Note got closer with each hour they spent together. Luna watched Crystal Note defend her like a big sister, and Rose Quartz comfort her in a way only a sister could. Crystal Note played her violin to cheer up Rose Quartz after a bad day at school, and the love she put into her music called forth a cutie mark for the earth filly. Rose Quartz quenched Crystal Note’s thirst for knowledge by teaching her the things she learned at the school. They lay in each other’s hooves on the day their mother passed away, helped the other to go on and find their way back into life after being consumed by sadness.
Rose Quartz turned more and more into the big sister, taking care of Crystal Note and dampening her youthful recklessness. When their father became weaker from his own sadness as much as the hard work in the mines, it was Rose Quartz who held the family together.
Their father struggled from the loss of his wife, but he kept going for the sake of both his daughters. He offered them an ear to listen whenever they needed and despite not being old, he carried a deep wisdom within, born equally from his own experiences and the lessons he had learned from his own ancestors. He shared it as much as he could and watched with pride as his daughters grew up into strong and responsible mares. Just like he always had his home and heart opened for the ponies around him, his daughters carried on this tradition, each contributing to the close community of the crystal ponies in their own special ways.
The images and memories flashed and flickered around them, Luna still managed to receive most information and emotion they carried but they didn’t draw her in like the first ones had. Crystal Note on the other hand literally relived her own childhood in bare moments, processing years of memories in a blink of an eye. At one moment, a beautiful smile brightened up her face, then trails of tears run down her cheeks at the next moment.
Luna was there to support the crystal unicorn when her body slumped down at some point, exhausted by her intense experience. The result however drew another smile to Crystal Note’s lips. The darkness of the hallway of memories was almost entirely gone, the void filled with orbs of memories, each of them connected to others. Gone were the former grey wisps and remains of lost impressions, instead a tight knitted network of emotion, knowledge and reminiscence trailed as far as their eyes could reach.
Crystal Note looked expectantly at Luna and the princess nodded “Well done, Crystal Note. Recovering your true family achieved what you hoped most for. Secrets still linger inside you and not all questions will be answered right away, but no longer should you have to fear confusion or insecurity as before. You rediscovered your identity.”
Crystal Note smiled gratefully and let her eyes roam over the orb and lights of so many different colours and even distinct shapes. Her heart fell as she took in the more dark and sombre colours, reminding her of sad or unpleasant memories. Luna noticed this and nodded with a sympathetic smile “We all have good and bad in our past. It is both that defines what pony we are and will become. You’ve taken the first steps but there is much you still have to face and process. Memory is never free, Crystal Note. It comes at a cost, but take comfort in knowing that each of them will help you grow further.” Crystal Note nodded with a thoughtful expression "There are things I'm not very proud of. Some things I'm not sure everypony would understand why I did them. It seemed right back then, but now..."
Luna gently touched Crystal Note's shoulder with her hoof "In hindsight, wisdom is always easier to declare. In youth however, action is by far more compelling than waiting and thinking everything through. A wise pony once said 'It's the duty of the youth to be reckless and driving, while the old have to worry and frown upon them'. Don't be too harsh on yourself while reconsidering the events of your youth, Crystal Note."
Crystal Note sat silently for a while, a thoughtful expression on her face. Luna noticed one of the more moderately coloured orbs leaving the network of memories. Without realizing it, Crystal Note reached out and once more, a flash of light flooded the hallways and replaced it with another scene from the past.
The market place of the Crystal Empire was busy with ponies, as always. However, the number of soldiers that patrolled the stands had increased greatly, outnumbering the merchants by far and making sure to give every pony out trading menacing glares. The red and black colour of their uniforms stood out harshly against the otherwise softly coloured coats of the crystal ponies passing through.
A group of young ponies watched from the shadow of an alley. Given today's standards, Luna would call them fillies and colts, but she could see in their eyes that they had lost most of the carefree and foalish happiness. The shadow of war had fallen on them and their families, forcing them to grow up so fast, well before their years. They tensed up when a group of soldiers cleared a path for some barrows loaded with food. Luna could see boxes with bread, baskets of vegetables and some barrels on them, making their way towards the palace with a group of five soldiers in front and behind the barrows.
The young ponies exchanged a glance and a nod, then left the alley one by one to get in position. Only two remained hidden, a colt with a brownish coat and a hammer and an anvil for a cutie mark and the earth filly Harmony. Both of them stood on the edge of the alley, their eyes fixed on the barrows and waiting for a signal. Luna's attention was drawn back to the market place when she heard angry yelling. Somewhere a market stand had been almost broken down, the wares scattering over the ground and crystal ponies shouting as two of the young colts ran deeper into the market. The front group of soldiers went after them, at least they tried, but the crystal ponies blocked their paths, involuntary or not, so the colts vanished out of sight between the next row of stands. At the same time, two fillies approached the other soldiers with panicked expressions and started bombarding them with questions in frightened voices, one of them even crying and wailing at the surprised soldiers.
With both groups of guards distracted, the last three youngsters approached the last of the barrows. The stallion pulling it gave an almost invisible nod and pushed into the one standing before him in such a way that both barrows fells over, the goods flinging through the air and rolling over the ground. The crowd acted immediately. All of the crystal pony civilians had far less to eat during the latest time, so when they saw the food unguarded, most of the immediately lunged towards it. The other two barrows where thrown over in the commotion as the ponies tried to get as much as they could before the soldiers even knew what was happening. At some point, one of the soldiers barked orders and called for backup, but at this time the three youngsters had already been loaded with some boxes and baskets. The adult ponies of the crowd channelled them behind themselves back to the alley and used their own bodies to block them out of sight of the soldiers who now shouted angrily at the ponies. Weapons were drawn and the peaceful, if hungry and desperate civilians now backed away in fear, trying to hide the food they had stolen.
At this point, Harmony and the colt shot out of the alley with a loud yell and ran towards the goods on the ground. All of the soldiers immediately turned to stare as the two ponies slipped between them as quick as lightning and grabbed what they could. Harmony managed to pick up three baskets with her mouth, while her companion now carried one of the smaller boxes on his back. Their prize obtained, they then ran away. Compared to what the other ponies had gathered, this was a negligible amount of loot, but the soldiers screamed in mindless anger and ran after them, deeper into the market.
Luna could see the look in the soldier's eyes and suddenly understood. She'd seen the exact same look on the battlefields against Sombra's army. The unicorn king preferred obedience in his troops above anything else, therefore he had gone to expose each of his soldiers to various enchantments afflicting their minds. While Sombra could be sure his orders were followed to the spell, his soldiers lost most of their reason and autonomy. If Luna had to guess, she would say they had orders to escort the barrows and take care of all troublemakers. While any clear mind would focus on securing the leftover goods or getting the crowd under control, the fogged thoughts of the soldiers clung onto the most obvious threat, in this case two young ponies who gave away their positions and intentions with loud calls.
Luna could see the efficiency of such a tactic. The ponies of the crowd would be safe, most of the food was collected and hidden in the crowd and even if there would be an investigation, the soldiers had been distracted in a way that made it impossible for them to identify any of the culprits. There was, however, one fatal flaw: All the attention of the soldiers now rested solely on the two young ponies and if captured, they would suffer their wrath at least, if not punishment by the king himself.
Luna spread her wings and rose into the air and followed the two young ponies. They made it to the centre of the marketplace, then spread into different directions. Luna decided to follow Crystal Note, as did most of the soldiers since the filly would cause great commotion on her way. A pang of worry passed through Luna before she saw what was happening. The young earth filly, even loaded with baskets, was by far more nimble than any of the soldiers. Furthermore she seemed to know every nook and cranny of the market, whenever any of the soldiers got close she'd evade with a sharp turn or a quick dash. When she reached the edge of the marketplace, she broke through the loose line of soldiers with a powerful jump. As soon as she was out of the market and had space, her hooves fell into a dazing canter. The soldiers ran after her, but they stood no chance to the earth filly's superior speed and stamina. As soon as she had enough of an advance, she vanished into a sideway and was gone.
Luna watched the soldiers slow down and stare after the filly, before they turned around and trotted towards the market once more, her expressions as blank as before the ambush. Luna dived into the labyrinth of alleys and found Crystal Note again. The filly avoided the big streets with patrols of soldiers and slipped from alley to alley into the residential district Luna already knew. Instead of heading home, Crystal Note made her way to a larger house. She knocked on the door and was quickly ushered in by a crystal mare.
Luna shifted inside the building and saw about twenty crystal ponies gathered in a large room. The filly was lead in and collapsed on the floor, panting from her long run as well as the danger she just narrowly avoided. The baskets were picked up by the ponies and their content quickly shared between them. From the looks of it, most of the ponies were older, probably too old to work at the mines, although there were a few ponies with bandages as well. It seemed to be a shelter for the sick ponies, a hospital and a hideout at the same time.
Another door opened and two of the colts from before walked in with more food. They sat down next to Crystal Note and the mare from before brought them cups of water which they greedily drank. From a stairway in the back, a few younger colts and fillies climbed down and soon everypony had a small share of food and the room was mostly silent. The three young ponies were soon joined by the mare from the door "Did everything go well?" One of the colts nodded but he like the others remained in a rather sombre mood "Well enough I guess. A few ponies got bruises during the panic and the soldiers almost attacked, if Harmony wouldn't have been there in time." The filly shook her head "I just stuck to the plan, that's all. Did Anvil get out as well?" The colt nodded once more, followed by a sigh of relief. It was short lived though when her attention turned back to the old mare "How is Daisy Blossom doing?" The mare's eyes closed down and a frown appeared on all their faces.
They sat in silence for a moment longer, then Crystal Note got back on her hooves and approached the stairs. She only stopped to get some fruit and bread from one of the boxes before she climbed upstairs. Luna followed as she went towards a door and knocked softly. She didn't wait for an invitation but instead carefully pushed the door open and stepped inside. In the room, Luna could see a mare sitting on the edge of a bed. Her coat was a dark brown, almost black in the dim light of the room and her mane hung down in messy strands. Luna could see she'd probably not slept nor eaten in a while. As soon as she stepped closer, she could also see why. On the bed and covered in blankets lay a filly of maybe nine years. She was shivering despite the blankets and stirred in an uneasy slumber. Her face lit up for a few moments when her mother dapped her face with a cloth and Luna could see she would be a very beautiful filly if not for the fever and sickness that took hold of her. Crystal Note carefully approached the mare who gave her a weak smile when she noticed the earth filly.
Crystal Note handed her some of the food she brought but the mare just set it aside, completely focused on her foal. Crystal Note sighed and pushed a small bread towards her again "You need to eat something. It's not helping her if you use up all your strength." Luna noticed the strained tone of Crystal Note's voice, indicating that they had this talk before with the same result. The mare just kept her eyes on her daughter "She's so weak, Harmony. She might not last much longer." "No, she just needs something to eat and..." "She woke up last night and she barely even recognized me. If she wakes up again, it might be the last time." "Stop saying that!" Crystal Note called out angry and desperate, so loud that the filly began to stir again. Luna could see the pain in the mother's eyes and the sorrow in her heart, but she could also see that hope was lost. Over the decades and centuries of her life, Luna had witnessed the death of ponies many times and she could feel its presence hovering around the unconscious filly. The earth filly was too young to notice, too young to realize that the mother had already accepted the inevitable and that it had broken her heart irreparably. No words would reach her, no gesture would console her, but as long as she was still able she'd do everything to put her foal at ease.
Whether by the loud words or the call of her mother's heart, the filly slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze found her mother and she smiled, weak and strained but happy and filled with love, just like her mother smiled back at her. Luna shivered when she saw the otherworldly shine in the filly's eyes. She knew there was only little time left. The filly summoned the last of her strength to push away the blankets and reached out for her mother who leaned down and embraced her like only a mother could. The filly pressed her thin body into the warmth of the mare's heart and her head rested against chest. In a voice barely above a sigh, a single word made it passed her lips "Mommy..." The mare sobbed and held her even closer, running her hoof through her mane and whispering soft words to her daughter. The filly basked in the maternal love for a minute before she became aware of the other presence in the room. Her eyes peeked open again and she gave another smile to the earth pony. Crystal Note now saw the glow in her eyes as well and Luna realized the filly remembered from the mare who had become her own mother, even if just for a little while. She forced the bravest smile she could muster on her face and whispered in a voice that nearly fell apart from grief "Hey Daisy-Do..." The filly smiled at those words and croaked out words of her own "Hey Crissy..." The three of them laughed a little at the exchange of silly nicknames, but Daisy's laughter ended in a small coughing fit. Her mother held her close until it passed, but Crystal Note just broke apart. Tears started running down her cheeks as she picked up the fruit she brought up, holding it out for the filly "You need to eat something! So you'll get well again! Please!" Daisy shook her head before she slumped back against her mother "Not hungry..." "But you have to eat! We'll get you more medicine, anything! Please don't give up!"
The filly closed her eyes again and her mother pressed her to her heart with her hooves. She looked at Crystal Note, into her eyes and pleaded to the earth pony. She knew, her daughter knew as well, and Crystal Note broke down sobbing. Daisy opened her eyes again and mumbled "Hey Crissy? 'Member that song we always sung..?" Crystal Note couldn't hide her tears, but she put on her brave smile once more for the filly "Sure do. Wanna sing it again?" "Uh-huh..." Crystal Note looked at the mother who cradled her foal to her heart and nodded. The earth filly closed her eyes and forced her tears back down before she started to sing softly, although she couldn't banish the sadness out of her voice
You keep on walking on the other side Other side, other side. You keep on walking on the other side Other side, other side
Wherever you go, Whatever you do, shouldn't you know, I'm bound to follow Whatever you say, Whatever you do, I give you clue, I'm gonna follow...
Wherever you go, I'm going for you You know that I'm truly born to follow Like fire and wood Like paper and glue only a few are born to follow...
The filly smiled and nuzzled into her mother's warmth and the both of them joined Crystal Note when she reached the chorus of the song
And the stars will show, Where the waters flow Where the gardens grow That's where I'll meet you.
And the sun will glow, Melting all the snow, Knowing all I know That's when I'm with you.
Crystal Note stopped when she noticed the filly's voice dropping out. Daisy Blossom was nuzzled against her mother, her eyes closed and peaceful smile on her face. She was still breathing but just barely so. Her mother cradled her and clung tightly on her, whispering the same words over and over. Crystal Note closed her eyes tightly but she couldn't hold back the tears running down her muzzle. She started to sing the song once again, but didn't get far. Her own sobbing stopped her before she even reached the chorus again. She kept her eyes closed until she heard somepony else crying.
When she looked up, she saw Daisy's mother collapsed on the bed, burying the small filly under her shivering body. Crystal Note didn't need to see, she could hear from the mare's wailing that it was too late. Luna watched the earth filly take a hesitant step towards the bed, but then she turned around and ran out of the room. Luna followed as she stumbled down the stairs, ignoring the voices calling her name and rushing past her friends towards the door. Once outside, she fell into a furious canter the other crystal ponies couldn't keep up with. Luna followed with the help of her wings, but it didn't seem Crystal Note had a clear destination in mind. At some point, they reached a backside alley and the filly simply collapsed on the ground. Unable to move further, Crystal Note finally succumbed to her grief and curled up wailing.
Luna blinked and was back in the hallway. Crystal Note stood next to her with her eyes closed. Luna remained silent for a few more minutes before she tried to address the young mare beside her “I wish I had known of this. If sister and I had realized there was resistance inside the Empire, we would have intervened far sooner. We knew of King Sombra’s rising, but to us it seemed to be out of the will of the ponies. We went for diplomacy when action would have been necessary. I was blind and fell for the obvious lies.”
Crystal Note’s eyes shot open and she stared at the princess “There was no resistance, only a hoofful of ponies trying what they could to survive. And failing miserably. I couldn’t save Daisy Blossom or her mother. I should have done something, anything, but they died. And not just them. I failed them all.” Luna shook her head with a bitter laugh “Is this the young, reckless filly talking to me? The one who charged a troop of soldiers and led them on a wild goose chase? Or are you really so naïve to think you could carry such burden on yourself? Think clearly, Crystal Note. A sole filly could not have prevented a war or stopped an insane unicorn king. My sister and I needed armies to storm his city and even in defeat, it took all crystal ponies, Princess Cadance, Shining Armor, the Elements of Harmony and the dragon Spike who is now called ‘Brave and Glorious’ by your people to banish the lingering traces of the dark king.”
Crystal Note’s eyes fell back on the floor and Luna gently put her hoof on the mare’s shoulder “I say this not to belittle your efforts, Crystal Note. Far from it, I admire the courage and wit you’ve shown. I’ve seen enough of your memories to know this was only one occasion on which you’ve risked your own life to help the crystal ponies in their needs.” The crystal unicorn blushed from those words and shook her head “I could never help them when it really counted. Daisy Blossom died with me standing next to her.” “And as such, her death, while deplorable and tragic, was a gentle one. Daisy Blossom passed on surrounded by love and beauty. Despite all you had to witness as a filly, you’re too young to realize how important such things are. For her mother, it meant the world to see a smile on her daughter’s face during the last few moments.”
Crystal Note sighed deeply and a small smiled made its way to her face “Mom was smiling as well, when she… she held Rose Quartz and me so close and then she smiled. I know she was in pain from her illness nearly all the time, but she smiled anyways. Is that what you mean?” Luna nodded and removed her hoof from Crystal Note’s shoulder “Indeed it is. Ever since we looked at your memories, you’ve focused nearly exclusively on the happenings with an unfortunate result, most of them were even out of your control for that. Not only is such behaviour unhealthy, it is also not purposeful. While it is recommendable that you try to learn from the past and any mistakes you made, you need to accept the good that you did as well.”
Luna looked up at the glowing orbs of memories again and her horn glowed up brightly. Several of the orbs reacted and images appeared in front of the two ponies. A group of ponies happily sharing some food provided by Crystal Note and her friends. Rose Quartz and Crystal Note sneaking through the city at night to collect crystal berries from the bushes outside of town. The colts and fillies from earlier helping a few injured ponies reach the hideout, Crystal Note carrying one of them on her back. A group of foals in a dark room, hiding from soldiers and Crystal Note driving their fears away with a soothing song. A young stallion with a dark blue colt, bringing medicine to Crystal Note and Rose Quartz when their father was sick. Crystal Note distracting a soldier long enough so a group of ponies can run away, narrowly avoiding a hit from a spear. A group of crystal ponies, mourning the loss of a loved one, Crystal Note in the middle of them.
When the images started to fade, Luna nodded proudly at the crystal unicorn next to her “Those are but a few occasions that show who you are. A strong friend for those in need. A light of hope even in dark hours. A part of the community, despite being different. You’ve learned what your parents thought you well, Crystal Note. You show the same kindness and wit your mother possessed, as you act with wisdom and loyalty to your fellow ponies as had your father. And born from those, you have the courage to withstand danger for the sake of others, even to this day. We’ve heard the story of how you saved the filly Apple Bloom even at the expense of being injured. Do not deny these things, Crystal Note, not even out of humility. You have every right to be proud of the good deeds you have done and still do.”
Crystal Note blushed but the smile from earlier returned and grew this time. She looked at the last image of the group of crystal ponies that had gathered around her to console her. A dark thought passed through her mind and the smile faded down as another memory appeared, a far newer one, still painfully clear in her mind.
Rose Quartz backing away from her in fear, other ponies staring at her and even the ponies of the crystal guard deeply afraid and pointing their weapons at her.
Crystal Note sighed deeply and closed her eyes “It’s so strange. The crystal ponies accepted me after a while, even though I wasn’t one of them. Now, I’ve become a crystal pony myself like I wished so many times, and I’m more distant to them than ever before.”
Luna nodded and dispelled the image with a glow of her horn “Change is always something that can disturb ponies, no matter what tribe they come from. It takes time for everypony to accept and adept. It took you weeks to accept your magic enough to share its existence with anypony, and even longer to find the courage to start using it. The last thing your creator said was that you were different from the crystal ponies because you were an earth pony, stronger and sturdier. He claimed you were superior and that they were weak. You’ve learned this lesson, false as it may be, but you turned it into something good. You were stronger than a crystal pony, but you didn’t use it to rise above the other. Instead you contributed your strength to their community. What you did was of good heart, and they saw it and were grateful, so much that they accepted the earth filly Harmony to be one of them.”
Luna turned to face Crystal Note once more and gave an encouraging smile “Give them time to learn and accept you once more, Crystal Note. You’ve not lost what you learned as a filly any longer. Show them your magic is used of the same good intend and they shall realize you’ve never stopped being one of them. All it will take is some time.”
Crystal Note almost nodded, but then a deep frown appeared on her face. From behind her, a dark orb of memory, almost black by comparison, floated towards her “Unless… I give them reasons to doubt me. Like I have before.” Before Luna could intervene, the black memory crashed into Crystal Note. Immediately, her coat lost all sparkle and her colours changed to a dark grey. Luna could hear a soft whimper, then the light surrounded them again as they dived into another memory.
The night was cold and dark and the streets were empty, except for some patrolling guards in the distance. Crystal Note walked down the main streets in a sharp trot, unconcerned if she was seen or not. She had to be about fifteen years by now and her expression was strained by worry that made Luna no longer see her as a filly, but a young mare. At the same time, there was determination burning inside her eyes, along with desperation. A dangerous mixture as Luna was well aware.
Crystal Note made her way to some kind of shop, the only one that still had lights burning inside. She threw open the door and stormed inside without even bothering to knock. She looked around and her eyes fixed on a stallion with a dark blue coat. He was maybe two years older than Crystal Note was and his cutie mark was three berries of different colours, green, yellow and red. Crystal Note didn’t bother with a greeting and instead called out a demand at him “I need food, as much as you can give me. And fever medicine. Quick!” The stallion didn’t move and glanced nervously to the still open door, his ears perked up when he heard the sound of soldiers from the outside “Harmony, it’s past curfew already. You’ll get us all into trouble.” Crystal Note glared and shouted at him with more force, no longer a demand but an order instead “I need food and I need medicine, and you’re going to give it to me NOW!” She kicked out with her hind legs and threw the door shut with a loud smash.
From the back room, an old stallion walked in with a fearful expression. He took in the sight of the angered mare and his son glaring at each other “What’s going on here?” Crystal Note turned towards him and the old stallion backed away as the force of her glare hit him. He could tell from the sound of her voice that she was barely able to restrain herself when she repeated her order for the third time. The shopkeeper’s son stepped between Crystal Note and his father and shouted at her “You can’t just come here past curfew and demand things from us. Besides, we don’t have any medicine left to give away, especially for somepony who…” “Son! Quiet now.” The stallion interrupted his son before he’d loose himself in anger as well and with a deep sigh addressed the young mare again “Unfortunately, Sour Berry is right. I’m sorry Crystal Note. We can’t give away supplies anymore, as much as I want to. I’m under investigation from the King himself, I need to lay low for a while or we’ll all be in danger. I hope you understand.”
Luna watched Crystal Note closely and saw her anger grow out of her desperation. She took one step towards the shop owner and stomped her hoof on the ground. Her posture was aggressive and her tail lashed behind her in anger, although her voice was dangerously calm “I won’t leave until you give me what I asked for.” The shop owner sighed again and his ears sunk down. Luna saw how much it pained him to be unable to help, but neither Crystal Note nor his own son would notice this in their angry state “I’m sorry. There is nothing I can do.” “Nothing you can do? How about you just GIVE ME SOMETHING TO EAT, NOW!” Crystal Note cried out at the top of her voice. Luna could notice tears gleaming in the corners of her eyes, but the shop owner was too busy looking at the door to notice. “Please, you need to calm down. I don’t want to draw any attention of the guards.”
Suddenly, Crystal Note grinned in what Luna could only describe as a wicked smile “That’s a wonderful idea. Why don’t we call the guards and ask them what they think about you disobeying direct orders. My father is a royal advisor, when he needs food it’s as if King Sombra demanded it himself. What do you think they will do to a pony who refuses to follow King Sombra’s commands?” Both the shop owner and his son grew pale at the mention of King Sombra and even more at the dangerous threat of calling the guards “You wouldn’t dare that.” Crystal Note’s sly smile froze and her brows furrowed in anger once more “I suggest you better not test me, shop owner.”
At this Sour Berry stepped between Crystal Note and his father again, this time he was so close they almost stood muzzle to muzzle. He tried to push her away with his hoof but as soon as he touched her, whatever control Crystal Note still had over her anger fell apart. She turned towards the young stallion and struck her hoof down in one swift motion. Sour Berry didn’t even see it coming until the blow hit his face and he stumbled a step backwards. With an angry shout, Crystal Note pressed on and shoved against him with the full force of her strength. The crystal stallion stood helpless against the power of the angry earth pony and flew backwards. With a sharp gasp, he hit the closest wall and slumped on the floor.
He tried to climb back on his hooves but Crystal Note already stood above him, taller than him and with pure rage in her eyes “You struggled against me when we were foals. But today you don’t even stand a chance anymore, crystal pony.” Sour Berry flinched from the hatred in those words and Luna frowned as she watched. She knew she could not intervene and change what would happen, but she tried to find a reason in Crystal Note’s behaviour.
The shop owner jumped in front of his son, now panic and fear in his eyes where moments before had been pity and pain “Stop! Don’t hurt him. I’ll get you what I can spare, but you need to stop.” Crystal Note turned around deliberately slow and walked back to the counter. She turned her head to look behind her at the two crystal ponies “You better not stress my patience any longer.” Both stallions flinched and the shop owner headed into the back room while his son stumbled back on his hooves. He didn’t move away from the wall but he glared daggers at Crystal Note “The only food he could spare is our own. You’re forcing us to go hungry so you and your father can have a feast.” Crystal Note ignored him and kept her eyes on the door, waiting for the stallion to return. Sour Berry huffed in frustration “I hope you’re proud of yourself.” Crystal Note closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Sour Berry was too far away but Luna stood close enough to hear her mumble under breath “Of course you wouldn’t understand.”
The shop owner returned with a few parcels which Crystal Note quickly stuffed into her saddle bags. She frowned when she noticed there was no medicine, but this time she didn’t push on and just went back to the front door. When she was almost out, Luna heard the shop owner calling after her “I hope your father gets better soon.” Crystal Note froze in the door for a moment, then she slammed the door shut and started running.
Luna followed her to the street she already knew, still trying to make sense of what she just saw. It made no sense to her why Crystal Note would ever act in such a way, but she could see how desperate she was at this moment. Luna blinked surprised when the mare passed her home and instead headed to the house next door. Before she could knock, Rose Quartz opened the door and Luna gasped out in shock. The crystal mare was thin, her cheeks hollow and her eyes bloodshot. Her pink mane hung down in messy strands and she tried to smile for her sister but it never reached her eyes.
Crystal Note felt tears building up in her eyes but she swallowed them down and gently pushed Rose Quartz back inside. As soon as the door was locked, she pulled out the parcels of food and handed them to her sister. Rose Quartz gasped in relief and quickly unwrapped some of the food, almost crying when she took a big bite of bread. While she was gobbling down some food, Luna noticed Crystal Note’s posture slump down in utter defeat. No trace was left of the angry mare who threatened two ponies to get what she wanted, instead Luna now saw a helpless filly who was desperate to help the ponies she loved but unable to do so.
Rose Quartz swallowed the last bite and then took the other parcels of food to the next room. Inside was a bed with their father in it. He wasn’t sleeping, in fact his body was coiled up in pain and like Rose Quartz, he showed signs of hunger and malnourishment. Luna remembered that he was working in the mines and slowly the pieces of the puzzle slipped into places. Sick as he was, there was no way for him to do the heavy work of a miner. No work meant no food for him and his family. Luna knew well enough that his wife had also long passed at this point, leaving him to care for his two daughters by himself.
Crystal Note watched as he picked up some food as well and started chewing slowly and Luna saw the painful expression on her face. From what she’d seen so far, she knew that Crystal Note and her friends had been able to ‘liberate’ some food from King Sombra to spread around those who needed it most. But by now, the inevitable war was fast approaching, the number of soldiers had grown and the King was more wary of the sparks of resistance in his Empire. Just like the shop owner was under investigation, Crystal Note and Rose Quartz would struggle to go unnoticed with their operations against the King and his army.
Crystal Note let out a deep sigh that seemed to sum up all frustration, anger and helplessness. Luna frowned and sighed as well. She couldn’t approve to how Crystal Note had acted in the shop, but she knew how it felt to be so desperate that the only way out seemed to be the most drastic approach. Rose Quartz looked up at the sigh and walked over to nuzzle her sister “You’re not hurt, are you?” Crystal Note shook her head and closed her eyes, not trusting herself to find the right words to ease her family’s worries. “You’ll feel better if you eat something, Crissy.” Again she shook her head “I’ve already had something. You two go ahead.” Rose Quartz frowned, as did her father. The lie was obvious but in the end, their gnawing hunger won and they split the food between themselves. The sick stallion made sure his daughter would get the better share of what was left. Luna remember what Cadance had told her in her letter and realized that it wouldn’t be long before the two sisters would be confronted with the loss of a loved one once more.
Luna took one last look at the family as the memory faded back into darkness.
When Luna’s awareness returned to the mindscape, she found herself staring a dark grey version of Crystal Note, tears running down her muzzle. Luna could see clearly that these tears were different from the ones the crystal unicorn had shed before. When before sadness and loss seemed prominent, now there was only shame and guilt shrouding Crystal Note's thoughts and colouring her coat in dark colours.
Luna did not have the right words at this moment, so she just remained silent. She did, however, close the distance and sit next to the crying mare. Eventually, Crystal Note took a shaky breath and words tumbled out "I'm just like him. Worse than him. I just stole food from them and treated them miserably. I…” “Enough.” Luna’s sharp word cut into Crystal Note’s rambling and a stomp of her hoof on the floor prevented any more words from the distraught mare “You cannot and you will not take the blame your creator brought on himself. I will not allow you to wallow in self-inflicted pain.” Crystal Note openly stared at Luna who just stared ahead and tried to calm her breath. This outburst had been far more emotional than she wished for it. Carefully choosing her words, Luna continued “What you did was wrong. Condemnable? Perhaps, but I don’t know for certain. But, I know your actions were born out of desperation. Those usually lack the wisdom necessary to see clearly. In a moment when you felt helpless, you fell to methods and behaviour you’ve never once shown before, in vain hope it’d help you achieve any improvement. I cannot look you in the eye and say it would not matter. However, I want you to understand, however you hurt those ponies and caused their hunger, you could have fallen far worse.”
Crystal Note had been silent during Luna’s speech but her tears kept running down her muzzle and her ears flopped down even further “How could I have done any worse? I attacked innocent ponies, belittled them and intimidated them so they’d give me what I want. Just like my father did all the time. I turned into the pony I never wanted to be.” Luna sighed deeply “Again, I disagree. You acted like your creator, yes. But there still is a distinct difference between that stallion and you. Even in your lowest, you acted to save your family. Yes, choosing the ones you love to be fed over others is self-centred. Yes, Sour Berry and the shop owner were victims to your anger and rage. But you still put down your father’s needs over your own. You did not attack the shop owner when he refused. You did not strike the stallion Sour Berry when he was down, even though I could see in your eyes you wanted to. You did not send the guards after them. You did not find any satisfaction in what you did.”
Crystal Note nodded slowly, her tears had stopped by now but her whole posture stayed cowered down in defeat and her dark grey colours refused to fade. She whispered in a pained and weak voice “But I still did all of it. I can’t make it undone. I can’t take back what I said.” Luna’s frustration grew as the mare once more refused to see any redemption for her own mind and instead tunnelled exclusively on the mistakes she did. As much as she wanted to shout at Crystal Note right now, Luna forced out calm and collected words “You refused to have a share of the food you stole. Why?” “I didn’t deserve any.” “Why?” Luna had expected Crystal Note’s immediate answer. Crystal Note however did not expect for her obvious reason to be questioned “Because… because it was wrong to steal the food in the first place. And because Rose Quartz and Dad needed that food more than me.”
Luna allowed herself a sly grin “Oh? Remorse and regretting your wrongful actions? And then compassion for others? Are you telling me that’s exactly what you felt?” Crystal Note’s cheeks darkened from a blush but she nodded, confused and utterly lost how Luna could find anything other than despise at what she had done. The princess went on with yet another question that cut into the core “Has your creator ever shown remorse for abusing his power? Has he, only once, apologized for throwing you around with his magic?” Crystal Note opened her mouth to answer but words wouldn’t make it out for a while. With her eyes locked on the floor in front of her hooves, she shook her head “No. No to both. But…” Before Crystal Note could say anything, Luna pushed further ahead “Did your creator ever help anypony beside himself?” Crystal Note shook her head and felt a hoof pushing up her chin. She gasped as she found Princess Luna staring intensely into her eyes, the blue orbs of the alicorn almost glowing in the dark and penetrating her thoughts with their image. In a voice that, combined with such a stare, demanded nothing but sincerest truth, Luna called out one final question “Did you turn into such a pony?” Crystal Note stared as Luna’s eyes held her captive and urged out a single word within a beat of her heart “No.”
Luna’s smile returned and the intensity of her stare faded. The glow changed from force to compassion when she saw Crystal Note’s eyes widen in realization. She collapsed and blinked with fresh tears in her eyes. Any self-pity that had been in her was flushed away in a wave of remorse and guilt. Crystal Note felt bad for what she had done, even if it was a millennium too late, it sent bitter tears running down her face. Luna was there to catch her and guide her head against the taller alicorn’s shoulder as sobs shuddered through her throat “I never meant to do it. I never meant those things I said. I’m sorry. I’m sorry!”
Luna’s wings unfurled from her flanks and carefully wrapped around the shivering mare “I know you are, Crystal Note. I know how you feel. It is no excuse for your behaviour, but you were desperate enough to try anything. But that desperation did not take hold of you. It did not change you from the pony you are. It’s a lesson best learned the hard way, Crystal Note. We cannot make things undone, no matter how much we regret them. But as long as we do not give up on ourselves, we can still strive to correct our mistakes. And even if we can’t, we at least try to make up for it, if only for learning our errors and preventing them from ever happening again. As long as we don’t give up hope, there will always be another way.”
Crystal Note buried her muzzle into Luna’s shoulder, but the Princess could feel her nod “I’ll find them. And I’ll apologize. I’ll do all I can. I promise.” Luna nodded and tightened her embrace for a couple of moments. When she pulled back again, Crystal Note was still coloured in a dull grey, but some of the shine had returned to her eyes. Luna gave another nod of appreciation and acceptance.
With a sigh of relief, Crystal Note’s closed eyes for a moment. When they reopened, a wave of water seemed to run down her body, washing away the grey and dull colours and turning them back into the silvery-white that reflected the light of the memory orbs glowing and glittering all around her. Despite having regained her emotional balance, worry was prominent on Crystal Note’s face “I’ll feel desperate again, won't I?” "Yes. Undoubtedly so. Maybe not for such reasons as you did before, but it's unlikely you'll never again feel helpless or hopeless as long as you live."
Crystal Note took a shaky breath and turned to Luna, like a school filly would stare at her teacher “How can I make sure I won’t hurt others again when it happens?” Luna sighed deeply and her eyes closed down. That question in particular was what caused the princess many hours of lost sleep “I don’t know. I’ve thought long and hard about this, and in the end an easy answer eludes me. I’m beginning to doubt it even exists.” Luna felt a soft touch, Crystal Note reached out with her hoof when she heard the doubts in the Luna’s voice that seemed to go far deeper “Princess..?”
Luna’s eyes snapped open again and turned to lock on the gem-shaped ones. This time they held no force to them, the wisdom and calmness from before replaced by the slightest hesitation for just a moment. Then, Luna got hold of her conflicted emotions again and forced her posture into a confident one. Crystal Note’s eyes gave her no indication if she had seen this emotional stumble, but for the sake of helping the crystal unicorn, Luna pushed away any doubts from her voice “I believe you need to find an answer to this for yourself. Whatever I can tell you, it will not be anything but a starting step of a long and windy road you need to travel on. How far or how long, I cannot say. What I can say is this: You cannot give up looking for such an answer. Your past is where you find clues, but nothing more. Don’t dismiss these hints, but do focus on your presence as well.”
Luna frowned, unsatisfied with herself as she could only offer vague idioms instead of hard, reliable facts. She started walking along the brightly illuminated hallway of the mindscape again, her hooves restless. Crystal Note walked next to her, silently and lost in thought of what she had been told.
She looked up again when her surroundings suddenly grew dark again. What she saw made her gasp in fear, a feeling Luna well understood considering what she could see in front of her.
In the hallway that represented the crystal unicorn’s mind, there was a sudden end. Even the light of the memory orbs couldn’t penetrate the dark abyss that opened in front of her, everything just ended abruptly in less than a few feet of where she was standing. The edges of the nothingness were rough, uneven. The fabric of the world seemed to be just ripped apart by a forceful, unclean cut. Crystal Note’s eyes opened wide when she realized what she was looking at and a nod from Luna confirmed her right. What she saw was a wound. A scar, in the middle of her own mind.
Luna stepped forward until she was almost touching the very edge of it, Crystal Note didn’t dare getting closer herself. There was a constant shiver in her form right now and she couldn’t find any words appropriate of this situation. Luna didn’t need to be asked and offered the mare an explanation “Magic caused this, dark and powerful. But also uncontrolled, wielded by a pony with no practice of what he was doing. The magic is long gone, but it left behind a mark, as any dark magic would. It always comes at a cost, but this time it was the victim who had to pay.”
Crystal Note’s shivering increased as she grasped the meaning of Luna’s words. The only pony who could have cast a dark curse on her was King Sombra himself. Not only did he manage to curse her, the dark king also made sure she had suffer the consequences instead of him as well. Her voice trembled when she finally uttered out the first thoughts that came to her mind “Can it be healed?”
Luna closed her eyes and her body tensed up as she tried to find words that would soften the blow “Without understanding what caused this, I cannot say. Even if I learned the nature of the curse being cast, the damage may be beyond repair.” After a moment of silence, she added “I’m sorry, Crystal Note. There is nothing I can do.”
Luna expected to hear crying. Maybe angry words or desperate pleas. However, Crystal Note managed to throw her out of balance with just four words “You’re sorry? For what?” Now it was Luna’s turn to open her eyes in disbelieve as she turned around to find a soft smile grace Crystal Note’s features “Princess Luna… you’ve already done so much for me! You pulled me out of this dark place. You helped my find my family again, my sister. Whatever this is…” she pointed a hoof towards the dark abyss “…it’s nothing compared to that. If that’s the price I have to pay to remember, I’ll do it.”
Luna tilted her head to one side, stupefied and surprised. The mare had been in tears just minutes before over a mistake she’d done in the past, during a moment of weakness. Now she was able to smile while facing such an abomination of darkness, inside herself. Luna noticed Crystal Note take a deep breath, just as she had learned earlier this night when confronted with overwhelming worry and fear. She had seen the consequences and now fought hard not to lose herself in such desperation again.
Crystal Note took a step closer towards the darkness. It was a shaky and small step admittedly, but Luna could see and only find praise for the mare who took the first step to face maybe her greatest fear. When Crystal Note spoke, her voice was calm even if it was just a whisper “It’s like you said, Princess. I can’t give up hope. I’m scared of this thing, but it’s past. I can’t let it take over the present. I’ll have to keep looking, find a way to make it work.” Luna smiled, hearing some of her own words, the lessons she had offered during their journey, summed up. Some of them had seemed unrefined and vague even to herself, but it seemed that the crystal unicorn found what she needed in those words.
Behind Crystal Note, a few of the memories reacted and glowed brightly. Images appeared behind her, outside of her sight as the gem shaped orbs remained locked on the blackness. Luna however could see them clearly. Right behind her stood her family, her mother with a loving smile, her father with pride in his eyes. Between them, so close that the image almost touched Crystal Note, stood an older version of the filly Rose Quartz, probably born from a recent memory. While she had trails of tears on her cheeks, her expression was happy relief as she had found her sister again.
Other images from older memories flickered in and out of view, only some who Luna could recognize. The pegasus caretaker from Canterlot was one of them, a few crystal ponies she’d seen in other memories, including a young version of Sour Berry, the stallion from the last memory they’d visited together.
Another deep breath of the crystal unicorn ended her reminiscence and the images gently faded away. Crystal Note finally pulled her eyes away from the scar and instead looked back at the princess. Luna could still see doubt and worry, fear and insecurity linger in the mare’s thoughts, but compared to where they had started at sunset, there were worlds between. “You’ve learned, faster than I dared to hope and more than to be expected in only one night. Well done, Crystal Note. There is still a long road ahead of you, but I have no doubts that your journey will be successful in the end.” Luna held the mare’s eyes for a moment to make sure Crystal Note would not easily dismiss her praising words. The lack of confidence and self-worth Luna had seen before made the mare blush, but the nod she received told her that these bumps in the road would be overcome as well, in time.
The moment passed, and both mares turned to observe the dark wound once more “There is still one more secret to be unveiled, Crystal Note.” The crystal unicorn took a deep breath and nodded “I’m ready.” Luna’s horn glowed as she channelled her magic. Unlike the memories before, this one had to be almost cracked open to gain access, not unlike a nightmare that sometimes held a pony tightly in its grasp. A doorway appeared in front of them. It was not the wooden one Luna preferred to summon, but a large double-winged door made of black crystal.
Crystal Note froze up momentarily, until Luna stepped close next to her and touched her back with her wings. With a gulp and a shaky hoof, she reached out and touched the door. As soon as she made contact, Luna felt a violent force. Before she could react, Crystal Note was sucked into the dark, along with her.
Luna ran for her life. The hoofsteps behind her got closer again and she changed directions. She knew the labyrinth of alleys and streets like the back of her hoof, if she could lose her pursuers in there, she’d be safe. The buildings around her were dark but she could still make out the way. She ran as fast as she could, faster than any guard or soldier she knew. She could just make it.
A new set of hoofsteps came from her left and forced her to take another alley than she wanted. She reached the end, but more hooves clacked on the crystal ground. They weren’t just chasing her, she realized. They were driving her away from the market, out of the city. But why?
Luna couldn’t waste energy on thinking, she just had to run faster. Out of town, she could hide and then sneak back in. Back to find her sister. Realizing that the guards were closing in from multiple directions, Luna knew she only had one chance. She’d have to leave the narrow alleys and get into the open so she could outrace them. She dashed into the wide main street and forced her legs into a wild canter. In the bright moonlight, for everypony to see, Luna ran for her life.
As soon as the light of her moon reached her, Luna snapped back into awareness. Where was she and how did she know the way? Why was she running and not flying? Why wouldn’t she face the guards?
Luna heard a panting in a voice that was not her own and she felt the motions of a furious canter in legs that didn’t belong to her. Then she suddenly understood and remembered. They memory had been locked more tightly that she had expected. Once she pushed in, an enormous wave of strong emotions had taken hold of her. This would be different from before. Instead of being an observer, she was bound to Crystal Note to relive the events as they happened to her. Bracing herself, Luna focused back on what was happening around her, trying her best to not be overwhelmed again.
Crystal Note felt the stinging in her legs that told her she needed to slow down soon, but she ignored it. She could already see the outer borders and she hoped the soldiers wouldn’t dare to follow her past them. Even with her mind locked on running, she couldn’t help but noticed how strange this was. She’d been spotted by guards before, but they had never been this persistent. They cut her paths multiple times, which was clever, but weird. They never acted clever because King Sombra didn’t want them to be clever. They just had to function, like everypony else. So why now, after all that time, did they suddenly almost manage to catch her?
Crystal Note wasn’t dumb, even though she hadn’t been to school. She knew of her strengths and how to use them. She knew she was fast, so she’d always been a runner, a decoy or a distraction. Most of the plans the crystal ponies and she had come up with relied heavily on that, and the fact that the guards usually weren’t that clever. While they weren’t, King Sombra was. She had to admit this, even if it gave her the creeps.
She didn’t have time to think this through now. In the distance, she saw a few bushes already. She’d slip into the berry fields and hide in the shrubbery. Then she’d slip back into town. Pinky was safe, hiding in the plaza. She’d get back there and then they’d leave together. No matter where they’d end up, Crystal Note was sure it’d be better than staying here even a day longer.
She couldn’t hear the hoofsteps anymore. She slowed down into a trot and panted, her legs burning and with stings in her sides. She had to take a breather before she could dive right into danger.
“Well, well. Who have we here? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I admit this makes things a lot more interesting.” Crystal Note jumped with a shriek when she suddenly heard a voice right behind her. There had been nopony just a second ago, who…? Her brain froze along with the rest of her body when she stared at the pony who had managed to sneak up on her and every thought turned into cold fear. She was staring at King Sombra.
The dark king grinned at her with an evil smirk, his sharp teeth looking more like they belonged to a predator than anything else. His eyes glowed in the dark and his red horn gleamed like a dagger in the light of the moon.
RUN!
A single though made it through and her body reacted instantly. Her legs moved as she threw her body around and started to run, any direction, just away from the dark unicorn. Before she made a single step though, her body froze again, but this time not by its own violation. Her hooves lost touch to the ground and she was turned around to face the king again, hovering a few feet in the air. Of course she struggled, all her muscles twitching and squirming to get free but deep down she knew it was useless.
There was a sickly green glow around King Sombra’s horn and his magic held her in an iron grip. He was still grinning and the grip grew even more firm, causing the young mare to whimper in pain, much to the king’s delight “Well Harmony, is that the way to treat your beloved king?” His voice was thick with malicious glee “I’m sure your father thought you better than this, Harmony. Go ahead. Bow to your king!” The last words ended in a shout and Crystal Note was slammed down by the magic. Her body was pressed against the ground and she could taste dirt in her slightly ajar mouth.
With a guttural laugh, the magic grip faded and Crystal Note scrambled back on her hooves. The king gave her a taunting smirk, like a cat that enjoyed playing with its food. Crystal Note dug her hooves into the ground and stared back at the king. Her angry expression was betrayed by the shiver of her body, but she’d not give the king the satisfaction of backing away.
The king sighed, almost disappointed “Ah well, just like that, the fun is over. You’re not as entertaining as I hoped, Harmony.” Her ears twitched when he said her old name again, the one her not-father had given her. It only helped her get more angry so her voice didn’t waver when she called out boldly “If you hurt me or do anything, my father won’t help you anymore!”
This was her only out, the only ace she ever had in a situation like this. The world fell apart around her when the king’s smirk returned “Oh, please. Your father stopped being useful after the first month. I only keep him around because it is amusing to see him try so hard, struggle so much and fail so utterly each and every time.”
Crystal Note cowered down in fear when the glow around the horn returned. Even as an earth pony, she could feel that this kind of magic was wrong, sick and twisted. “Since there’s no fun to be had with you, let’s cut down to business, shall we?”
The king’s voice changed, from taunting to velvety and charming. Crystal Note’s eyes opened wide, shameful and confused. How could she be afraid or, stars forbid, even be angry? This was King Sombra, wonderful, kind and benevolent King Sombra. He ruled over the Empire with wisdom and whatever she was asked, she would do anything for her beloved king “You cannot lie to me.” Crystal Note nodded and she smiled. Of course she would not lie, never lie to her king. She felt ecstatic to agree and she replied with a dreamy voice “Yes, your Highness. I cannot lie.” The king nodded and Crystal Note squealed in delight. She had pleased her king and it made her feel so good! “Do you know about the rebellion in the Empire?” Oh, that was an easy one! She would make her king happy again and not lie “Yes your Highness!” A grin on King Sombra’s lips and a joyful giggle from Crystal Note. She watched the king excited, eager for the next question “Are you a part of the rebellion, Harmony?” Crystal Note blinked surprised. Why her old name? Should she tell the king about her new one? No, that was not important! She had to answer all his questions, first “Yes your Highness.” The horn glowed brighter but all Crystal Note could see was the smile on her beloved king’s face “Daddy will be so disappointed. What is the next thing the rebellion is planning?” Daddy… Crystal Note’s whole body tensed up. That word. She couldn’t take it. She saw images in her mind’s eye of her daddy, her real daddy. The crystal pony next door who’d taken her in when she was all alone, who had treated her like his own, who had shared his home and food, his family and his heart with her. Her daddy who had been beaten to death by King Sombra’s soldiers, just mere days ago.
Her mind snapped into pieces under the pressure of her emotional turmoil and forbidden magic. A part, a small part of her grew aware again. She saw the evil king for what he really was. She saw the magic horn that played her mind like a lute. She realized a big part still stood under the evil spell. She couldn’t stop herself as she answered the king’s last question “I don’t know, your Highness. I’m sorry.”
She was sorry, most of her was. Only the small fragment of her sighed in relief that she was truly unaware of any further plans. She could feel the disappointment in her mind and realized it was the king’s disappointment really. He was influencing her from the outside, but part of her was still in and free from him again.
“Oh, you will be. Tell me who else is part of the rebellion.” There was an edge in the enchanting voice now. A flaw in the spell it had over her. She pushed against that flaw and whatever the other part wanted to say, she could stop it. She tried to push out words, a name that didn’t exist, but she could not. She could not lie. The king tilted his head when no immediate answer came “A name, Harmony. Tell me a name.”
The other part would answer truthfully, she couldn’t hold it back much longer. She couldn’t tell anything to the king, he’d torture and kill anypony like her daddy. But she couldn’t lie. She needed to say a name, but which one? In the last second before she could not hold the spell back any longer, a desperate thought came to her and she just hoped and went with it “Crystal Note!”
The king grinned, satisfied that his spell hadn’t failed. The entranced part of her mind clung on that smile with a sickening cheerfulness, but the part that was free kept on struggling to keep the magic out. The next words of the king wrapped around her mind like silk as he poured more magic into his enchantment “Ah, that’s a name I keep hearing in the gossips. Do you know this Crystal Note personally?” “Yes, your Highness.” Not a lie! Part of her wanted to cry out ‘It’s me!’ but she managed to weasel her way out of this one “Lead me to Crystal Note, now.” There was power behind this command and Crystal Note felt compelled to obey. The entranced mind clung on every word and smiled. She was already there, so she didn’t even need to stand up fulfil the king’s orders. The resistant part neglected to tell this to the king, after all she hadn’t been ordered to say anything.
When the mare in front of him didn’t move, King Sombra quickly lost his patience “Well? What are you waiting for?” “Nothing, your Highness.” The edge in his voice grew sharper and instead of silk running through her mind, the voice suddenly felt like sandpaper. The perfect image of the king crumbled as the king grew more angry and annoyed and lost the finer control of his spell “Are you mocking me, Harmony?” “No your Highness.” Not a lie! She wasn’t Harmony, she was Crystal Note. She clung desperately on that reason as the enchanted part of her mind started to see the angry face, the eyes that glared like daggers, the vile glow of the blood red horn. Her fear returned when she felt the pressure of the magic, sharp like needles and so wrong, she could feel her stomach turn over from it. Why would her king be angry at her when she obeyed all his orders? How would he react to somepony who wouldn’t obey? What if he ever found Rose Quartz?
With that last thought, the spell broke apart like a vase that got smashed by a hammer.
King Sombra recognized this of course, but he was already so lost in anger that he didn’t waste time finding out why his spell broke “You want to fight your king? You try to resist my almighty magic? So be it!”
His words dripped in hatred and venom and his horn glowed brightly. There was no more subtleness, not more finesse or seduction. This was pure darkness and force, packed into a spell designed to break a mind. Crystal Note whimpered when it drilled into her skull “Who sent you here?” The words burnt through her mind, infused with dark magic and beckoned words out of her mouth she could not stop “Nopony. I wanted to run away. Please, make it stop.”
The king laughed and made the blood freeze in her veins. That was not the voice of a pony anymore. She screamed in pain as more magic surged into her head “The more you struggle, the more it hurts. And forget about lying to me.” Her legs caved in under her and her forehooves grabbed her head as she squirmed in pain. “Next question then. Who is leading this rebellion?”
Pain pulsed through her veins and made her head feel like it had to burst any second. A part of her body begged her to speak, to just say everything she knew, but a small part of her found the strength to resist. She would not betray the ponies who took her in. She screamed at the top of her voice when the magic intensified.
Then suddenly, the world came to a stop. The pain was gone. The magic was gone. The king was gone. She couldn’t move. Not even to breathe. Was she dead? No, it didn’t feel like that. Her eyes were still open. Maybe she could see something. The world around her was blurry, like she was looking through fog. No, more like she was trying to see through a dirty window. There were shapes and some colours. She found a few spots she could see clearly.
Fear returned to her, stronger than before when one of the shapes turned out to be King Sombra. He was furious, seething anger radiated off him. His horn flared brightly and his eyes had an evil, devilish green glow around them and wisps of purple smoke as if they were burning with unholy fire. The king stared right at her and she could hear his voice, although dampened by whatever it was that surrounded her “You! How can you still resist me! I’ve taken all your magic, I’ve enslaved your precious crystal ponies. There is no more light in them to feed you. Submit to my power!”
Crystal Note would have blinked if she could move any muscle. The words made no sense to her whatsoever. She didn’t understand what was happening around her. The king shot a blast of magic at her, but nothing seemed to happen. She expected pain like before, but instead the magic seemed to be absorbed. In the light of the magic, she could finally see clearly. Her whole body was encased in crystal. She thought she should be scared, or worried. She felt none of that in the least. Instead she felt safe, protected. Something she hadn’t felt in a very long time. The crystal around her felt warm, almost alive and even though she could not breathe, she knew deep inside that she was completely safe in here.
The king screamed in frustration when his magic was blocked by the crystal “This changes nothing! I will have your power, sooner or later. This pony proved to be useless like her father, but still she will serve one final purpose to me. There is a curse I’ve been eager to test.” With that, his horn glowed up brightly and pointed at her.
Crystal Note felt the crystal compress around her. To her, it felt like an embrace. All her senses dulled down until they faded completely. The last she felt was a blinding light that engulfed her before she became oblivious.
Crystal Note gasped and summoned all her strength to get back on her hooves. Her head trashed around and her eyes rolled in every direction. She did not know where she was or how she had gotten here. She didn’t know why she felt so scared.
Her eyes found something to look at and her body froze in fear. She saw a city made out of crystal. Buildings made of dull, greyish spires that reached into the sky. They were covered by smaller, deep black crystals. Like a rash or an infection, they spread out all over the city.
Panic burned through her guts like acid. She couldn’t look at this any longer. Her body moved and she ran. Away from the black crystals and the sickening feeling she had when she saw them. She just ran, towards some mountains in the distance.
She’d been running for hours when she heard a voice, barely even a whisper, inside her head Why are you running? I need to get away, I can’t stay any second longer. What are you afraid of? Black, it’s everywhere. I can’t let it get me. I’m scared. Breathe. Relax. You’re safe. I can’t stop running. I have to get away. I can’t!
The winds were icy and biting. She didn’t care. She just kept running. She stopped listening, she stopped thinking. She just ran, for hours without rest. Until she passed out.
"And then what happened?" "Eventually she made it to the train tracks. It was a lucky coincidence that at the same time, a train stood there, blocked by a hefty snowfall. She managed to sneak in and get out of the cold. When she woke up again, she was already in Canterlot ." "When did she realize her body had changed?" "Shortly after. The same fear that drove her away from the Crystal Empire took over again, she was unable to reason with it. So she opted for hiding." "That's when she started wearing a bandana over her horn." "Indeed."
Luna gratefully accepted the cup of tea from Twilight Sparkle and took a sip of the steaming beverage. Sister’s sun was already up and shining into the public rooms of the library. Upstairs was dark, curtains blocked out the light from the private rooms and the bedroom where the crystal unicorn was sleeping at the moment.
Usually Luna would join her in slumber at this time of the day. When she had resurfaced from the mindscape she had created with Crystal Note, she’d felt restless. A feeling that had not stopped yet.
Crystal Note was safe, deeply exhausted in body and mind, but otherwise well. Applejack and Fluttershy insisted on checking up on the crystal unicorn. Satisfied by seeing their friend curled up peacefully on the bed, the five friends thanked Luna, each in her own way but all of them from the bottom of their hearts. Now they had left and only Twilight Sparkle remained. The fellow alicorn had sensed the inner turmoil in Luna and offered tea to calm her as well as an open ear. Luna could see curiosity in her eyes, but concern of her friend was stronger by far.
Once Luna had been given the chance to recover and rest for some time, she had started talking, explaining. She left out the details of Crystal Note’s past. Those were for the crystal mare to share with whomever she deemed worthy to know. Luna did however make sure to inform the princess of the tragedy that she discovered, of pain and fear, entwined with courage and love of a family.
The Princess of Friendship and Element of Magic listened attentively. She had seen but echoes of King Sombra’s dark magic, but she had seen the magic of the Crystal Heart at its peak. When Luna explained the last things she saw before the dreamscape fell apart, thoughtful silence filled the room as both alicorns tried to make sense of it all.
Twilight Sparkle was the first to speak after minutes of silent contemplation “I guess the last act of loyalty from Crystal Note gave enough power to the Heart to intervene. It saved her from Sombra’s wrath, but it couldn’t stop him when he cast the curse.” Luna nodded, staring into her empty cup “I come to the same conclusion. It explains why Crystal Note had vanished before the curse hit the Empire. It maybe even explains why she reappeared as a crystal pony instead of her born form. However, there is still no explanation of how and why she had received a horn and magical abilities during such transformation.”
Twilight frowned and got up from her seat. She started pacing up and down the room, a nervous habit Celestia told her sister about, something that Twilight Sparkle had been doing since she was a unicorn filly and first became her sister’s student.
“Maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen. You said the crystal absorbed the magic Sombra fired at her.” Luna nodded once “That is what Crystal Note has seen. She was an earth pony back then, though. She might not have seen everything and without access to magic, she might have misunderstood what really happened.”
Twilight Sparkle sighed deeply and frowned “So, we still don’t know where the magic came from in the end. It could be Sombra’s magic that was absorbed into the crystal and ended up in Crystal Note instead. It might be because both her parents were unicorns and the transformation just accidentally unlocked her genetic potential. Or, the Crystal Heart did all of it on purpose and we just don’t know why.” Twilight had been talking faster as her theories ran wild, but she ended in a sad sigh once more “That means we still don’t know how to reverse the transformation, should Crystal Note ask for it.” “I doubt she will ask for this. From what I learned, she’s proud to be a crystal pony. In her heart, she’s been one of them years before she was transformed.”
Twilight Sparkle nodded and bit her lower lip “When we first met, she told me she’d give anything to get rid of her horn. After hearing all this, I wonder how she feels about it now.” Luna closed her eyes and tilted her head to the side. The things she saw past night still were clear and fresh in her mind’s eye “Conflicted, most likely. She’s seen and felt magic abused for the sake of gaining power over other ponies. But she has also proven that she’s willing and able to use power for the benefit of those around her. She’d done as such with her earth pony strength, I am convinced she will strive for the same with unicorn magic now as well.”
Twilight Sparkle involuntarily flexed her wings into a soft ruffle. She knew how it felt to receive new blessings mostly unprepared. That moment passed quickly and when she looked back at Luna, the elder Princess found the same compassion she felt mirrored in purple eyes “Whatever she does next, she’ll have friends at her side.” Luna smiled and set down her empty cup on the small table “I have no doubt of that. She will benefit greatly from having such support.”
Twilight returned the smile and her ears perked up when Luna stood and stretched her legs and wings, preparing to leave “If you want I can have Spike set up the guest room for you.” Luna shook her head and slowly made her way towards the door “I appreciate your offer, but I shall pass. It’s time for me to return to Canterlot, now that I have done all I could to help. I’m leaving Crystal Note in your capable hooves, Twilight Sparkle. I know you’re best suited for the tasks ahead.”
The young princess blushed at Luna’s praise but nodded with determination, the same Luna had seen whenever Twilight faced a new task from her sister. “Please give her my best once she awakens. And tell her that my sister and I would love to welcome her in Canterlot soon, when she feels up for it. Celestia will be thrilled to have somepony who can reminisce of the old days with her, besides me.” Twilight and Luna shared a hug before the latter unfolded her wings and propelled herself into the air. She flew a loop over the town while Twilight waved goodbye, then turned towards Canterlot, back home.
On her bed in the library, Crystal Note rolled over to her side with a soft smile on her face.