My daughter’s spirit

Slowly, Twinkle Star opened her eyes. Who was yelling so loud? Her entire head ached and she was sure it was about to burst soon. Even though she tried, she could hardly get on her hoofs. Her entire coat was soaked with water and mud, and she was so very cold. The clouds above them were already dissolving, but there were so many of them, it would take forever for them to disappear completely.

But the strongest light was not coming from above. Beside her, the yellow pony stood, facing the black one, her entire yellow body glowing with golden royal powers. They were the same indeed, but different somehow. Strong, yes, powerful also, but no longer terrible and dark. In fact, the darkness seemed to have made place for even more strength.

“Taira…” She whispered. Had she succeeded? Had she actually broken the seal placed upon her?
“Stay back! I will defeat him no matter what!” Taira told her.
Twinkle Star immediately felt that Taira meant what she was saying, so she stepped back a bit. She felt Câlin’s presence not far away, and she headed in that direction. Yes, she had indeed succeeded. It had cost her so much of her own strength, but she had succeeded. Taira was free of him now, and obviously at least against him.

She noticed her mother was standing again, too, wearing Illuvia’s crown. Had the yellow pony given it to her? She seemed to have recovered at least a bit of her strength. She noticed Hikary was standing right behind Regina. Her powers were out freely now, too. Well, she could understand that… if she wanted to protect them from the black pony.

She felt so helpless, unable to do a thing because her powers had all left her when she freed Taira.
“Don’t feel like that.” Câlin’s thoughts entered her mind.
 “She will save us. If anyone will… it will be her.”  Such blind confidence that only a child could have… How could they be sure Taira would not turn herself against them all?

“I believe in you, my daughter…” Regina whispered. D
daughter? What had she missed while she was unconscious? While Twinkle Star still tried to figure it out, Taira suddenly charged at the black pony. He instantly flapped his wings and flew up high in the sky. Still, that did not stop Taira from hitting him with her powers. She did not fire a blast at him like Twinkle Star and Hikary had done. Instead, she simply opened the gate to her powers and released an enormous wave that even he could not push away.

The black pony crashed back into the ground. He had not been able to remain in flight while the wave hit him. But he was far from defeated, and he was almost instantly back on his feat.
“You think that alone will defeat me?” He roared.
Yet Twinkle Star was not deaf for the fear in his voice. He knew she could defeat him… and that it probably was only a matter of time before she would.

Hikary’s heart was beating fast, so fast… an excitement she had not felt for so very long. Her sister… would she finally be able to free them from the darkness? She watched at Taira deflected another blast from the black pony by only releasing her powers. She was so much stronger than she was showing just now… Was she testing him? Or was she trying to wear him out before she would deal her final blow?

She saw Twinkle Star was back on her hoofs. She was slowly heading towards where the little girl was hiding. She was still very weak… And yet Hikary saw that Twinkle Star wanted to be with the girl more than anything else. Well, Aras would not kill her, he would not dare to do such a thing… but Twinkle Star still had to be careful. She used so much of her strength…

“Don’t you run away from me!” Taira yelled, chasing the black pony who had once again flown up into the sky.
She released her powers once more but this time he was better prepared. Aras was able to create a shield that was actually able to keep Taira’s attack away from him. Hikary could hear him laugh, satisfied that he was at least able to defend himself… this time.

Still, Hikary did not want to stand by and watch. Taira would not appreciate her interfering, but there was at least one thing she could do. She summoned her clouds once more and she was relieved to find they still answered her. She focussed all her attention on the air above the battle. If only she could make the sun come through, it would be able to aid Taira.

Indeed, it was working. Soon, everyone was blinded by the sun that was able to break through the clouds. Taira immediately took advantage of this by using the sun to blind Aras. He screamed, not able to endure such light. Taira hit him again, with even more strength this time. Still, it was once again not enough. He was soon back into the air. His ability to fly gave him more of an advantage than Hikary had thought at first. Taira would be so much stronger if she focussed her powers, but if she did that he would be able to dodge it.

When Aras fired another blast directed at Taira, Hikary noticed something. The queen’s crown on his head… it was lighting up. He was using the power of the queen’s crown still. Did he need it, or was it simply enhancing his power?
“Queen…” She whispered to the pony standing in front of her. Taira had called her mother… But Hikary did not even want to think of that right now.

The queen looked back, and Hikary was shocked to see the tears in the queen’s eyes. What was it she was so sad about?
“Are you… alright?” Hikary asked.
“Yes… I am. It’s just… I guess I’m a bit in a shock right now. It’s all so overwhelming…” Well, that it was, Hikary had to agree. Yet the queen’s expression was not at all unfamiliar to her. In pain, but still so happy… Was it, her first memory?

“My queen…” Hikary could not suppress the urge to bow a little, “The Queen’s crown Aras is wearing… I think he is using it to enhance his powers.”
“I know he is.” The queen sighed. “I can even feel it. The power of the crown… every queen or future queen is connected to it. I can feel when he is using it. But as Taira is… my oldest daughter. She will not be able to defeat him while he is wearing that crown. It’s ancient magic, you know. The queen… is unable to defeat something that is also a part of her. She needs that crown to beat him.”

“So… she has to take that crown from him first? She’ll never get close enough!” Hikary panicked.
Was it all going to fall apart now, in the end?
“Not on her own, Hikary. Not on her own.”
The queen’s tone made it crystal clear what she meant. It was her job, her part in this story, to aid her sister. But to get so close… What if he saw a chance to seal her again?

No, neither she nor her sister could do this alone. But if they worked together… If Taira held him for those few moments that she needed to take the crown… Then maybe they had a small chance. She hesitated for one moment longer, afraid of facing the darkness so close, afraid that it would suck her in once more… but then she decided there was no other choice.

“Taira!” She yelled as she jumped forward. Taira looked around, and she was not happy at all that Hikary had decided to help.
“Stay back, Rain! I will do this by myself!”
“I know you will, but you cannot unless I help you. Can you keep him close to the ground, can you keep him still for only a few moments?” Rain begged.

Taira seemed to understand what she was planning to do. Or maybe she did not, but she decided to trust her sister. Aras seemed confused and Taira immediately used that moment to lock him and drag him to the ground. She had indeed been able to capture him, but he immediately fought back. Indeed, at least as long as he still had the crown, Taira would not be able to keep him on the ground for much longer.

Hikary ran as fast as she had never run before, completely afraid that she would not make it in time and that their chances of getting the crown were gone now that he saw through what they wanted to do. But he slowly got closer and with one last jump she was able to grab the crown. She had to pull hard as the crown seemed to refuse to leave his head, but it had to give in at the end.

She did not stop to catch her breath but ran on immediately towards Taira who was still struggling to keep him confined. A loud bang made Hikary aware that Taira had failed to keep him confined any longer. She saw her sister falling back and she knew everything was up to her now. Would she be able to reach Taira in time or not? She heard his roar and his wings flap behind her. He was coming after her.

Taira seemed to recover quick and she began to run towards her. The black pony was up in the air now and moving a lot faster than either of them on the ground. He was close, so close now… but Taira was, too. When she was sure she could make it, Hikary flung the crown into the air.
“CATCH!” She yelled to Taira, who immediately jumped into the air to catch the crown.

Aras, however, had been faster than Hikary had suspected. When his shadow appeared above her she thought for one horrible moment that she had been too quick with throwing the crown, and that he would catch it instead of Taira. But Taira was faster, and as she caught the crown she knocked Aras on the ground.

“Put it on!” She heard Regina shout from the other side.
 Taira did as she was told and immediately the entire valley was lit up with a red glow. The crown was purified immediately, all the darkness that it held seemed to flow out of it and it shone brighter then ever. Aras stared at Taira in horror. Hikary had never thought she would see something of fear in his eyes, but he was honestly afraid now. Yet, she did not pity him. He would get what he deserved.

Twinkle Star had watched the events in horror. She had not understood what Hikary was about to do until she saw the blue pony grab the crown. Yes, maybe that was the best choice, to steal the crown… But what would they do with it? Would it help them, because it made him weaker? But when Hikary threw the crown towards Taira, Twinkle Star realized they were planning to use it, instead of only take it away.

Everything seemed to go into slow motion the moment Taira caught the crown. She lifted it, and the moment it touched her head, the entire valley shone bright red. She had seen the crown light up before, when her mother had worn it, and she even remembered her grandmother wearing it, but it had never, ever shone this bright. Even the sunlight seemed to fade while the crown lit up.

The light of the crown was enhanced with the light that still came from Taira’s body. They matched, somehow, they belonged together, more than anything in the world. More than male and female, more than air and water, more than birth and death, Taira and the crown were connected. Twinkle Star’s heart leapt when she realized what this meant, who Taira actually was.
The true heir to the throne.