Chapter 17:
Stargazing
Later at nighttime, when all the stars are shining and twinkling, Dusk and Ocellus were lying on a small hill on their backs looking up at all the pictures the stars made. The two Alicorns giggled as Dusk noticed some stars creating a constellation of an animal.
"Hey, Ocellus, look. There's one that is shaped like a baby rabbit. See the fluffy tail?" Dusk said, pointing to the constellation of the baby rabbit.
"Yeah, oh hey, look, Dusk. There's a constellation of two Alicorns fighting each other in the air!" Ocellus chuckled with a smile, pointing to the constellation of two Alicorns fighting each other.
That kind of disturbed Dusk, for he always saw peaceful things, but he still enjoyed showing Ocellus this activity.
"You know, I have never done this before," Ocellus confessed with a smile as Dusk turned to her, feeling quite surprised that Ocellus has never looked up at the stars before.
"Really? You know my mother and I used to do this all the time when I was little," Dusk said, looking up at the stars and then at Ocellus, recalling how he and his mother used to look up at the stars together. They hadn't done that in a while, but it was still one of his best memories about growing up.
"Yeah?" Ocellus asked as she turned, quite surprised to hear that Dusk and his mother used to watch the stars. Her father never did anything like that with her.
"Yeah, my mother also told me something that my grandparents told her," Dusk replied.
"What did she say?" Ocellus asked, wanting to know what it is that Twilight told Dusk about the stars. She never thought she would have such a time with an Equestrian.
"She said to look at the stars. The Great Kings and Queens Of The Past are up there, watching over us from those stars…," Dusk started as he and Ocellus looked back up at the stars.
"Really?" Ocellus asked, looking up at the stars in awe.
"Yeah, and whenever I feel alone, I'll always remember that my ancestors will always be there to guide me…so will my mother," Dusk continued as they keep looking up at the stars.
"Do you think Chrysalis is up there, Dusk?" Ocellus asked suddenly, looking up at the stars to see if Chrysalis is up there too.
Dusk turned to her, feeling quite surprised to hear her ask that question. Ocellus turned to Dusk too, she couldn't believe that she asked that question either. So the Outsider got up and moved away a bit as Dusk stood up and saw her sitting with her head down in sadness.
"Ocellus, are you okay?" Dusk asked, feeling concerned for the mare.
"I'm fine. It's just…Chrysalis wasn't my mother but she was still…part of me," Ocellus replied with a sad and hurt sigh.
Dusk got up and walked up to the depressed Outsider to help her. He could sense that Ocellus is struggling with something inside of her that was probably inside Chrysalis that brought her to her demise.
"You know, Ocellus. My mother told me that there was a darkness inside of Chrysalis that she couldn't even escape," Dusk said, recalling how his mother told him the story of Chrysalis and the darkness in her heart.
"Maybe there's a darkness in me too," Ocellus whispered sadly, almost sounding like she was going to cry. She was actually beginning to regret the part she had in Stone Heart's plan.
Dusk then begin to nuzzle her to comfort her as Ocellus returned the embrace, starting to feel better.
While the two Alicorns nuzzled, Twilight was watching them from the distance at the top of a hill. Twilight was conflicted, she doesn't know if she should trust Ocellus and accept her or banish her after giving her judgment. Wanting to know what to do, Twilight turned to the stars, aka, 'The Great Kings And Queens Of The Past' for answers.
"Mother, Father, I'm lost. Ocellus is one of them. Chrysalis's heir. How will I accept her?" Twilight asked, praying to her parents and her ancestors to give her answers on what to do with Ocellus.
"Twilight? What are you doing up?" A voice asked as Twilight turned to see her husband, Flash, walking up to her and sitting next to her with a smile.
"I was seeking council from my ancestors," Twilight explained.
"Well, did they help?" Flash asked.
"Silent as stars. My parents would never-," Twilight said, starting to have doubt again.
"Twilight, you want so much to walk the path expected of you. But perhaps Ocellus does not," Flash said as Twilight had a look of shock and surprise from what he said.
"What?! Flash, how do you know what-?" Twilight tried to ask, wanting to know how her husband know what Ocellus want.
"Hmmm, I could see them down there just as easily as you can, Twilight. Get to know Ocellus and see." Flash said with a light chuckle as he then heads off, leaving Twilight to her thoughts.
Twilight thought about what Flash has said and maybe he was right. Twilight has been doing a lot of judging than getting to know Ocellus because she feared that the Outsider would turn out to be like Chrysalis and might follow in her hoofprints. But so far, Twilight doesn't know if that'll happen or not. She could very well be a good and misunderstood mare, especially considering her upbringing. So getting up, Twilight walked down the hill back to the Castle, wondering what she should do.