Chapter 7:
The Great Alicorns Of The Past
As the sun sets, due to Celestia's magic, nighttime was approaching and stars are appearing in the sky. Cobalt, Aurora, Cadance, Shining Armor, Twilight, Flash, and the Guardians were walking through the meadow with the King and Queen leading the way angrily as the sunset begins to disappear. Twilight and Flash were walking in the center with their heads down in shame as Flash looked over at Twilight while Cadance and Shining Armor walked next to them.
The guardians looked back at the younger four in concern until Cobalt and Aurora stopped and the King spoke sternly "Cliffbore! Gaia! Stormheart! Blaze! Marina!".
The 5 jumped at their names being called and trotted over to them quickly and got in front of them.
"Yes, Your Majesties?" Gaia asked, nervously.
"You 5 take Flash, Cadance, and Shining Armor home. We've got to teach our daughter a lesson," Aurora said sternly as she and Cobalt turned a narrow gaze back at the younger alicorns and unicorn behind them, more specifically their daughter.
As soon as she heard that, Twilight crouches lower into the grass as if she was trying to hide as Flash, Cadance, and Shining Armor simply turned to her. Blaze-Horn feeling a little brave gave the King and Queen a small grin.
"Come on, you and Cobalt try and take it easy on the little dudette, Aurora," He said as he thought back to another time, "You know I remember some time ago, another young filly got herself into more than her fair share of sticky situations, don't you?" Blaze-Horn asked.
Aurora just gave him an unamused glance as the red stallion just smiled nervously before Stormheart elbowed him.
Storm Heart then cleared her throat, "We'll leave you to it then?" She asked as the King and Queen nodded. Following their order, the guardians headed back to the four young ponies as they nodded to them, which they understood.
"Flash, Cadance, Shining Armor come along you three. We're taking you home," Cliffbore said as Flash bowed his head sadly and Cadance and Shining Armor simply nodded. While Marina kneeled down to Twilight.
"Twilight…*Sigh*...Good luck my dear," Marina said as she placed her right hoof on Twilight's shoulder, giving out a sigh. She then stood up as she and the others left.
Twilight just watched as Flash, Cadance, Shining Armor, and Guardians left while the former 3 looked over their shoulders sadly, concerned or assuredly at Twilight as she gave them a worried look in return.
"TWILIGHT!" Cobalt called out to Twilight sternly.
Twilight flinched at her father's voice before she turned and moved towards her parents. But as she continues to walk, Twilight's hoof lands in one of her mother's hoofprints as the young princess looked down and saw the giant hoofprint. Seeing how much smaller her own hoof was compared to her mother's, Twilight could see that she has some big shoes to fill someday and is now realizing how much smaller and weaker she was compared to her or her father.
Looking back up, Twilight continues walking towards her parents and sitting in between them as she nervously looks up at her parents. Cobalt and Aurora thought silently for a moment without looking at their daughter. Then Cobalt and Aurora turned to their daughter as the Queen spoke.
"Twilight, we're very disappointed in you," Aurora said with a stern gaze.
"I know," Twilight replied quietly and sadly.
"You could've been killed! you've deliberately disobeyed us! and what's worse? You put Flash in danger," Cobalt said, scolding her.
"Twilight, do you understand what's at stake? You've jeopardized the future of our kingdom," Aurora said.
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to show you that I could do it. That I can be brave and powerful as you guys," Twilight said, being very close to crying.
"We're only brave when we have to be, Twilight," Cobalt said, being more calm.
"Your father's right. See, Twilight, being brave doesn't mean you go looking for trouble, it means standing up for what's right even though you are scared," Aurora said.
"But you two aren't scared of anything," Twilight said.
"We were today," Cobalt admitted, keeping a stoic gaze on the sunset.
"You were?" Twilight asked in disbelief.
"Yes, we thought we might lose you," Aurora said, wrapping her wing around Twilight.
"Oh, I guess even Kings and Queens get scared, huh?" Twilight said, relaxing a bit.
"More than you could've ever known," Cobalt replied as Aurora nodded with agreement.
"But you know what?" Twilight whispered.
"What, sweetie?" Aurora asked, also in a whisper.
"I think those Diamond Dogs were even scareder of you daddy," Twilight replied with a grin, looking up at her father.
Cobalt and Aurora laughed in response as Cobalt leaned down with an almost predator-like gaze, "Cause nopony messes with the king! Come here you two!".
Then Cobalt grabbed his daughter and wife as he gave them a ruff surprise nuzzle.
"Ah! Why you little! Stop that!" Aurora pleaded playfully, laughing at her husband's antics.
"Oh, no! No! Aaarrrgh! Errrgggghhhh!" Twilight said in distress simultaneously to her mother, as the two finally got loose and tackled the king playfully to the ground.
Cobalt got up and ran in laughter with Aurora and Twilight chasing him as the Queen and Princess leaped at the King, bringing him to the ground again. They were all in laughter as Twilight playfully tugs on her father's mane and Cobalt playfully passes Twilight to Aurora.
Twilight rested on her mother's neck and head while Aurora rested her head on Cobalt's neck, as the two older alicorns rested on the ground.
Once they eased down, Twilight asked her parents, "Mommy, Daddy?".
"Hmmm?" Aurora and Cobalt asked in unison.
"We're a team, right?" Twilight asked.
"Right," Cobalt replied with a chuckle.
"And we'll always be together, right?" Twilight asked.
"Twilight. Let me and your father tell you something that our parents once told us," Aurora said as she and Cobalt started sitting up a little.
"Look at the stars, The Great Alicorns Of The Past, look down on us from those stars," Cobalt started, explaining as they all look up into the stars.
"Really?" Twilight asked, looking at the stars in awe.
"Yes, Twilight. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that our ancestors will always be there to guide you…And so will we," Aurora said.
"But I can't see them up there," Twilight said, still looking at the stars.
"Keep looking, sweetie, keep looking," Cobalt said.
And the three Alicorns continued looking at the starry night sky for a little while longer.