Twinkle Star and her mother

Ruki stared at the night sky. The clouds had gone. The darkness had left. But nothing had been solved, now that the stars were fading… She could not help but wonder why no one else noticed it. The little inn she had slept in had not offered her the comfort she had hoped for. The uneasy feeling did not leave her. The stars were fading… and what would happen if no one stopped them?

She had searched for so long now. An answer to her question. Why had she seen a pony with such large wings? There was no mention of any pony with wings anywhere. Every library she had searched, every person she had talked to… none of them knew anything. She had thought of returning to that place, where she had seen that pony… but she would not be there anymore. Why would a pony like that linger in such a place? And she did not know where she would go now. Going back into the west… she could not do that. She could not face her family, not now. But now that the stars were fading… what choice did she have?

Ruki wrapped her cloak tighter around her body. The wind was making the air feel like tiny razors cutting her. The soft snow on the ground was lifted and slammed against the closed doors along the road. Why had she chosen this fateful night to leave? She had not wanted to be seen, but would she not draw  more attention to herself by going out on a night like this? And she did not even know where she would go.

But maybe… there were more things in the west that she did not know about. The answers she was searching… The east did not have them. The snow made crunching sounds as she walked on, saying goodbye to the little village in the north. Across the breach… there was more than her fathers little country. Places she had heard of but never visited, and of which she had thought she would never visit. But as there was no other place she could go to… Maybe the west would hold the answers.

The stone had been in his hands… When Hikary told her that the day before, Twinkle Star had not yet really realized what that meant. Why was he interested in the stone? Was it connected to the heavens somehow, then? After all, that was what he was after all that time. But what was she to do? Hikary did not know where the stone was, and she was pretty sure Taira would not know, either.

She watched as Câlin searched another bit of ground for anything alive. She had loved the flowers and plants near the river so much, and now they were all gone. It saddened her even more, and the poor girl already felt so bad. What was worse, ponies seemed to ignore her even more than usual. It was well known these days that Câlin had left to see Aras on her own. But who would not want to meet their father?

A sound made her look up and she saw Taira approach her from the castle.
“Good morning, Twinkle Star, Câlin.”  Taira greeted them.
“Good morning, Taira. What brings you here on this fine day?”
“I was just… looking for you. How are you doing? And how is little Câlin today?” Taira asked.

“I am doing fine, I guess… At least I’m no longer tired or anything. Câlin is… still sad and upset, I’m afraid. I can’t get through to her. She keeps insisting that it was her fault and that she should have stopped him, and the stares she gets from everyone isn’t making it any better. I wish they would treat her a bit more like you and Hikary… like a victim of Aras. But she is his daughter and he never sealed her…”

“She never did anything, Twinkle Star. Never forget that. I was there. He used her to get his will. Sealing was not his only way of achieving his goals. Câlin is a victim just like everyone.” Taira comforted Twinkle Star.
“I know, Taira, and thank you for your kind words. I just wish… everyone else knew.”
Twinkle Star sighed. Her poor little girl… She had already been through so much in her short life. She saw both her mother and her father die right before her eyes. How could one ever recover from something so horrible?

“Twinkle Star… The queen… well, mother requested that you visit her, alone. As soon as possible.” Taira said, a little doubtful.
“Oh? But where do I leave Câlin, then? I really don’t want her to be alone and I can’t see that there would be anything that she should not hear.” Twinkle Star replied surprised.
“I do not know what it is about, Twinkle Star, I am sorry. I just brought you the message she had for you. But if it’s okay with you, I will watch over Câlin.” Taira proposed while she looked at the girl who was still busy looking for anything alive near the river. Fortunately, she had not seen the dead fish further on yet.

Could she trust Taira with her girl? Twinkle Star recognised her feelings of doubt. After all, this pony… but, no. She had personally removed Taira’s seal. Taira could be trusted, she was sure of it. Now that her seal had been removed… Taira was the true heir to the throne, she would not dare to hurt Câlin.
“Thank you, Taira.” Twinkle Star smiled. “I will go, then. I promise I will be back for Câlin as soon as possible.”

“Oh, do take all the time you need. I have some things to think over, anyway, and this is a great place for that. Câlin and I will be here when you get back.” Taira promised.
“Okay, great, thank you. Oh, and do make sure she does not see those fish over there, will you?” Twinkle Star asked, and Taira agreed, laughing.
Twinkle Star walked to Câlin to say goodbye and to tell Taira would be watching over her. Câlin agreed without objecting, so Twinkle Star went on her way towards the castle.

Taira watched as she saw Twinkle Star take off. Her great wings… Taira was sure only she could see them. Not even Hikary had commented on them. Did Twinkle Star even know about it herself? And where did they come from? Yet she had not dared to ask, because she had not wanted to frighten her.

As she looked at Câlin, she saw the small butterfly shaped wings resting on her back. She, too… But they seemed so small and insignificant compared to those of Twinkle Star. Was it only because she was younger, or was there something else about this girl that made her wings smaller? And that did not even answer the question of why these two had wings, and why only she was able to see them. Was it because she was connected to the crown, because she was the heir? But would that not mean her mother should see them, too? After all, they were both aware of the situation of the stars while no one else seemed to be.

Or was it because she was somehow special, even though she did not like to think of herself that way? After all, her birth was foretold in a prophecy made by her great grandmother, who was known for her ability to make true prophecies. But wasn’t that only because she was supposed to save ponies from the eruption, something in which she failed because of Aras?

She sighed and shook her head furiously as she walked towards the river bank to remove the dead fish before Câlin would see them. The poor little girl… She could not help but feel very sorry for her. After Aline had made her request yesterday… The queen had not made a decision right away, but she had when Taira had entered the throne room this morning. Regina had looked as if she had not slept at all. She had not told what her decision was, she only asked if Taira could call Twinkle Star for her. Yet from the tone in Regina’s voice Taira was quite sure what Regina’s decision would be.

Twinkle Star walked through the corridor towards the throne room, and she was surprised to find the door shut. She knocked, and a moment later her mother’s voice allowed her to go in. Her heart began to beat harder when she saw her mother sitting on the throne. She looked so official, so… queen-like, not at all the way she usually looked when she received one of her daughters. What was going on?

“Mother… Taira told me you wished to see me?” She asked uncertainly.
“Yes…” Her mother answered after a little while, and she seemed not at all happy to do so, “I asked her to get you for me. I… there is something we need to discuss, Twinkle Star.”
“There is? May I ask what it is?” Twinkle Star asked, feeling rather uncertain by now. What could possibly be so serious that her mother had to act this way?

“It is Câlin, Twinkle Star. I fear… there are some problems surrounding her.” Twinkle Star could not feel more relieved. Her mother finally acknowledged her problems. Maybe now they could work towards a resolution.
“Ah, yes, mother. Thank you so much for acknowledging this. She is… very sad. She has lost both her mother and her father right in front of her eyes, and even though she knew there was no other choice, especially with her father, she is still saddened by this. And what’s more, she blames herself for Junai’s death, even though both Hikary and Taira have already explained she did not do anything out of her free will and she could not have avoided it. But still…”

“Twinkle Star.” Regina interrupted her, “That is not what I wish to discuss.” Twinkle Star felt confused. How could that not be it? There was no other problem surrounding Câlin, right?
“Then what, I mean, I don’t understand…”
“Twinkle Star. You know I have always defended Câlin’s place here. She was under your protection after Illuvia died and even though many did not like to see her here, I allowed her to stay.

But now, Twinkle Star, things have changed. I do not deny anything you just said and I know Hikary and Taira will agree that she did not kill Junai. But there are some facts that I cannot deny. She is, after all, Aras’ daughter. Illuvia’s daughter. And both of them have caused so much grief and despair. Illuvia killed your sister, Aras killed Junai, Marana, and if we had not been able to stop him, who knows what else he would have done.

And Câlin went to him on her own free will. He has not sealed her, he has not forced her, and yet she came. What’s more, she brought him the crown. She stole it and brought it to him. This single fact made him able to restore his body and to do the things he did. Had he not gotten the crown, none of this would have happened. And I am not saying that Câlin wanted things to happen the way they did, but many in the kingdom do feel she is responsible at least partially for this.”

“But… she is not, mother! You must know she never intended any of this to happen! Do you have any idea how she already feels without these accusations?”
“Yes, Twinkle Star. I know she never intended anything but you cannot deny that she did what she did. But I have the welfare of this country to think of. I have noticed these feelings before, but yesterday… lady Aline came to me with an official request. She wants to see Câlin punished for what she did. I simply cannot deny this request, and I know that if I will only more will come.”

“But…”
“Hush, Twinkle Star. Let me speak first.” Regina interrupted Twinkle Star once more.
“I will not forget that Câlin is only a little child and has been through much in her life. But she cannot stay here, Twinkle Star. She has done too much things that I cannot ignore, no matter what her intentions were. I will not punish her, but I will not allow her to stay here, either. Twinkle Star, I want Câlin to go back where she came from. Bring her back to Chifre.”