Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony; Friendship Is Magic
Title: The Gem That Shone Brightest Amongst The Clouds
Summary: Amethyst Gem, a batpony born only a few years after the end of Discord's reign, tries to have her dream of touching the stars be realized in the only way she knows how- by creating the first maps of the stars. Princess Luna, mystified and intrigued by her designs, grants her a place to call home after a long journey with little rest, and, as she slowly loses herself, the favor must be repaid.
...
Her first memory was of darkness, pressing in around her even after she slowly cracked open her eyes. It squeezed in around her like a noose, and no matter how hard she tried to escape it, she couldn't get away.
Her mother nuzzled her. "Welcome to the world, my daughter. May the stars shine only for you."
Amethyst blinked and curled closer to her side, body trembling. Her mother's brow furrowed.
"What's wrong, my little one?"
"It's so dark..." She whimpered. Crow hushed her and pulled her close.
"Sh sh sh. Don't be afraid, my daughter. Those who fear the darkness fear themselves."
She stood, leaving her alone on the cold ground as she trotted across the room. "We are ponies built just for the shadows, my beautiful Amethyst. To be afraid of the darkness is to be afraid of the sun. Get to your hooves, Amethyst, and I will show you there is nothing to fear."
Amethyst, while afraid, trusted her mother and slowly tested the waters. She shifted her back hooves so they were under her and patted at the rocks with her front, deciding on the best way to make that first step.
"Do not hesitate. Hesitation will only cause you more pain." Crow said. "We all fall, my daughter. You are strong; you will not break."
Stumbling to her hooves, she skittered across the smooth stone of the cave. Crow held out a hoof to steady her, a proud smile on her face.
"Come, my little one. Let me show you our world."
Crow, as beautiful as the bird she was named after, almost seemed to glow with energy as she led her filly through the caves they called their home. The ceiling towered above them, so high even for the grown ponies, and the walls shined with the odd gem sticking out of the carefully carved pathways. They used those glowing gems as lanterns with which to find their way. Other batponies smiled and nodded at them as they passed. Amethyst didn't spot any other fillies around her age.
The first blast of the fresh breeze in her pelt had her shivering, but it soon evaporated as she gazed at the scenery in wonder.
A forest, larger and more bountiful than what her naked eye could distinguish- be it the beginning or the end- lay sprawled out before her. On the horizon a group of hills rose and fell like little bumps, obscuring the world beyond the caves and the forest.
Crow took to her wings, gently floating in the air. She looked like a dancer, gracefully moving through the steps of a dance she knew purely by instinct.
"You've walked, my dear Amethyst. Now it is time for you to fly."
She hesitated a moment, but then, emboldened by the beauty around her and her mother's unwavering support, Amethyst charged forward and leapt into the air.
She didn't fly right away, obviously, but Crow helped her correct her form and spread her wings properly. Then, when the hours were small and her form a lot less shaky, Crow let go.
"This forest was created by wandering batponies. At first, their seed planting was careless, but over time they realized what they could accomplish and perfected their aim, turning something as simple as spitting some seeds into an art. This is the result."
"It's so big."
Crow chuckled. "I assure you, it's actually rather small, but it's more than enough to feed our colony, so I am content." She stretched mid-air. "This is our way of life, my little Amethyst Gem. So we have been, so shall we be."
And, for that small, precious, moment, Amethyst wasn't afraid of the dark.
Author's Note: This is more to establish the characters than anything else. Amethyst, her mother Crow, and the colony of batponies they live with.
At this period of time, batponies were more common, but rather secluded. They lived in small caves, apart from villages and towns. Amethyst's colony lives in a group of caves built by a friendly herd of diamond dogs, who threw in the glowing gems as a finishing touch.