Ponyvile…

Selene was standing on the train station’s platform watching the sun slowly rise above the horizon. Her two guards were sipping on some hot coffee and a few doughnuts Pinkie had brought with her. Shining Armor had them up early and packing as he had poor Spike running to get the elements as well. Applejack seemed annoyed but a bit more happier since Pinkie brought coffee. Rainbow Dash was leaning up against Applejack trying to stay awake. Fluttershy and Rarity seemed to be doing fine as well as Pinkie Pie. Twilight was still getting an ear full from her brother as she carried Spike on her back. Selene noticed she was paying for a train car before the conductor would let them on.

Selene chose the back car since it had fewer seats allowing her to stretch out. She placed her head into her hooves as Pinkie and Fluttershy sat around watching the fish in her mane swim around. Shining Armor gave Spike a note to send out as Twilight chose a seat allowing her to look at Selene. Ra picked up a seat next to Applejack and Rainbow Dash talking about a bet he wants Shining Armor to pay up on. He wanted to know if they were interested in coming with him and Za. Rainbow Dash nodded as Za rolled her eyes as she picked up an empty seat as she pulled out a book. Rarity pulled out a sketchbook as she started drawing ideas of different dresses. Spike sat next to her holding her items.

The train started to fill up with ponies as the sun fully moved into the sky causing Twilight to sigh a bit. She was watching Selene as she allowed Rarity to move her mane a bit as she adjusted some details on her sketches. Twilight let out a sigh as she leaned into her seat. “Did I agree to something out of pity last night?” Twilight glanced down towards the floor of the train sighing again. Za heard the second sigh causing her to glance over at the purple unicorn. “Am I just going to stay with her till the curse takes over?” Twilight glanced back up at Selene missing the point when Za moved over to her.

“Are you okay?” she spoke up causing Twilight to jump a bit.

“Yes, I was just thinking about something” Twilight leaned into her seat as Za looked her over.

“Let me guess Star been teasing you again” Za smiled as Twilight glanced over at the merpony.

“No, she was doing that to Selene last night. She made Selene tell me she had a crush on me.” Twilight crossed her hooved as Za closed her book.

“Really I’m shocked” Za leaned up against the seat she was in as the train started to move.

“How so?”

“You didn’t go screaming out of the treehouse last night” Za snickered as Twilight rolled her eyes.

“I’m not shallow as the other ponies she told me about Za” Twilight felt annoyed as Za shook her head.

“Well, I wasn’t talking about the curse Twilight. However, you seemed bothered by the fact Star forced her to tell you” Za kept her eyes on the unicorn as she closed her eyes shaking her head.

“I’m not sure Za. I just met you and Selene and then this happens. I mean it was nice getting complimented about my magic from others, I just can’t place my hoof on the other thing” Twilight grumbled as Za looked her over.

“Well tell me what you are thinking?”

“Am I just with her to make her happy till Star takes her?” Twilight just softly spoke what was on her mind her eyes widening. She turned her head towards Za noticing one of her fins had poked her side. Za was smiling as she giggled a bit.

“Sorry I needed to know what you were thinking. Now that I know I can tell you this. Do you think you can cure her? knowing what you know about Star and everything do you?” Za removed her fin as Twilight moved a bit as she huffed.

“I know I can cure her Za.” Twilight looked at her with a saddened face.

“Then do you want to stay with her? Or do you feel sorry for her because the curse can never be broken?” Za was placing some thoughts into her head as Twilight blinked a bit.

“I don’t know. I never said yes to a date or not. I do wish to know her more” Twilight leaned on the armrest of the seat huffing as she watched Selene glancing out a window.

“Well, I think you have your answer” Za giggled as she opened up her book.

“But Za why me? She met the princesses first and the sailors as well. She meet the guards and my friends” Twilight noticed Za shutting her book.

“ Well tell me what did you do when you two meet?” Za leaned back against the window watching the unicorn.

“I had picked up her trident but placed it down when she asked nicely. I asked her why she was here and I told her a simple greeting” Twilight looked down as Za shook her head in confusion.

“Twilight you were nice to her. Yes, you didn’t know about Star then. Selene latched on to you because you were nice to her. you have been nice to her even after finding out about Star. Yes your magic may blow her away since all she knows is what her father or mother taught her but you being kind is what started it” Za smiled as she placed her hoof on her cheek.

“Really?” Twilight leaned into her seat as she glanced down towards the floor again.

“Twilight if your unsure about everything then tell Star you can’t cure her. Selene will understand that you can’t cure her and then sit her down and talk to her about your feelings.” Za kept the smile on her face.

“Star won’t be happy. She told me she doesn’t want Selene to come to her early because of a broken heart” she huffed as Za shook her head.

“Twilight you won’t break Selene’s heart. Not if you sit her down and talk” Twilight glanced up at Za.

“Do you like her?” Twilight spoke up as Za jumped a bit in surprise of the question.

“Oh by the seas no. I’m married to Ra my dear, however. Me and Ra are both over two hundred years old and we both wanted to start a family together. However, our species will not allow us to have one. We had many fights about it and we always thought about adoption. It created more fights so we both dropped it. Once I thought we were past it the king asked us to guard his only daughter. To us, Twilight Selene is like a daughter and we want nothing but her happiness” she smiled as Twilight sat there having a lot of thoughts running through her head.

During the train ride, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie sat around Applejack and Rainbow Dash getting in a hoof wrestling competition with Ra as Shining Armor was sitting at the door watching them all. Selene stayed in the back noticing Rarity getting into her sketches. Her ears twitch a bit as she could hear Twilight’s and Za’s conversation. She bit her lower lip as she looked out a window watching the scenery move past them. “Do I like her because she was the first nice pony to me?” she kept her eyes on the scenery as she noticed Star moving in the back of her head

“Selene your overthinking things”

“Star what if she and Za are talking about” Selene glanced down at the seal of the window.

“Just wait and see Selene. You told her how you felt now just wait okay” Selene felt Star withdraw a bit as she pressed her face up against the glass. She saw a large white castle with some gold and purple coming into view as guards were lined up on the train station.

“That is a lot of guards” Selene spoke up as Twilight and the other ponies looked towards the windows noticing Princess Celestia, Luna and Cadence were waiting for them on the train station. Selene started to get nervous as she saw the crowd of ponies standing behind the guards. She shivered as she moved to the other side of the car.

“Oh am I in trouble?” she spoke up as Ra and Za shook their heads. Both of them cut their spells as they pulled their bags from a nearby seat. Twilight and her friends did the same as Za walked over to Selene.

“We will go first okay” she smiled as Selene nodded. She took a deep breath as she lined up behind Ra and Za as the train came to a stop. Shining Armor was the first one off the train bowing to the princesses. Twilight and her friends were the second to come off the train bowing to the princesses. Selene noticed some of the ponies had left as soon as they saw Twilight. She let out a quick sigh of relief. As Ra and Za walked out they bowed to the princess before clearing their throats.

“Princesses of Equestria may we introduce our princess Selene of the Maremuda” the bowed as Selene turned her self into a liquid form allowing her to exit the train. Once she was out of the train she changed her form back to normal bowing a bit to them as she smiled nervously. Celestia blinked before leaning down to her student.

“Twilight what spell did you use on the young princess?” she whispered to Twilight. Twilight turned towards her teacher but was cut short.

“She didn’t use one Princess Celesta. I wasn’t wearing my crown at the time you meet me. This is how I look with it on” she smiled as Celestia stood up straight as she gave a simple nod.

“Well welcome to Canterlot Princess Selene we hope you enjoy your stay” She and the others bowed causing Selene to blush as she shook her head.

“Oh please you don’t half to bow to me” she was starting to get nervous as she looked around for a place to hide.

“You are not running off Princess” Za spoke up as Selene nodded. She followed the other princesses up to the large white and gold castle. She noticed that the purple she saw earlier was from a different section of the castle. Some of the roof upfront was purple but it was mostly gold and white. Once she entered the castle it looked just like her father’s castle but without all the twist and turns the pillars had. It wasn’t as open as she was used to but the low hanging chandeliers were the same. They were made from gold with gems hanging from the metal curves. Her eyes drifted over to the stained glass noticing some of the pictures were of Twilight and her friends. She moved in front of them slowly her eyes drifting from pane to pane. She curled up in front of one of them where is shows Twilight and her friends saving Princess Luna.

“She did all these great things and what have I done?” Selene looked away as she closed her eyes a bit.

“Princess?” she opened her eyes and noticed Ra standing beside her.

“Just thinking” she smiled as she followed them into the throne room. As they entered the throne room Selene stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed her parents were standing in the middle of the throne room with her older brother Saluki. Her eye twitched as she could feel Star moving to the surface but staying hidden. Twilight glanced back at Selene feeling the heat from her necklace. Selene quickly went and hid behind a pillar making sure she stayed within the shadows. She watched as the others turned towards the visitors in the room.

“Triton I did not expect to see you this early” Celestia looked towards the king in shock.

“Well, my wife wanted to come with me this time.” He held his hoof out towards Aroura as she smiled at them “And I thought it would be a good idea to see how my daughter is doing” he had a grin on his face.

“Well, your daughter is just doing fine.” Celestia smiled as Triton looked towards her in shock.

“I didn’t think my daughter made it to Canterlot that fast”

“She crashed in the storeroom on the ship I was on with my sister and my student” Celestia had a smile as Aroura glanced around the room.

“Speaking of my daughter where is she? I thought she would be here since her guards are” She kept looking around as Selene tried to stay hidden. Celestia looked around causing them to walk around the throne room. Selene noticed the worry on her mother’s face causing her to move from behind the pillar.

“I’m right here mother” She sat on her tail as she looked down towards the floor.

“My daughter got her crown” she squealed as Selene leaned down looking at her mother.

“Mother I’ve had my crown now for years. I never told you and dad” she looked away as she felt her mother nuzzling her.

“You should have told us, dear. we would have celebrated” she smiled as Selene shook her head.

“That’s okay mother” Selene looked towards her as she heard a huff coming from her brother.

“What’s wrong Saluki? Aren’t you happy that your little sister got her crown?” Aurora glared at his son causing him to smile.

“I’m a happy mother. But she also has a gem on her back. Plus dad is handing me the throne so why would she get one?” he crossed his hooves as Selene looked away from him.

“You know I can get a crown as well” she huffed as Saluki sighed.

“Right” his voice was cold and heartless causing her ears to flatten against her head. Selene looked towards Twilight as she sat up “Jellyfish, Koi or legs?” she asked abruptly as Twilight was taken back from the question.

“Wait you can do magic without your trident?” her mother stared at her as Selene nodded. She moved back as she changed back into a jellyfish bowing at her mother before changing into a koi fish. She used her magic one last time changing her tail into a pair of legs. She was just a bit taller than Twilight this time as her mane was left unbraided. She looked back towards her legs noticing she had patches of her scales on her legs and along her back.

“Oh my baby is growing up” her mother pulled her into a hug as Selene smiled a bit. She, however, noticed Star leaning up against a pillar staying behind Twilight. Her eyes were glaring towards her brother. Her mother let her go as she moved towards Triton smiling.

“We will throw a party once we get home” he smiled as Selene looked towards her parents.

“Mother, Father can I bring my friends?” she spoke up as her mother’s face split into a grin.

“Of course my baby has friends” she giggled as she jumped up and down. Selene was feeling a bit embarrassed as she turned towards Twilight and her friends.

“Would you all like to see my home?” she had a smile on her face as Twilight’s eyes lit up.

“Of course I would” she nodded as the others started to agree with her.

“Count me in sug” Applejack smiled.

“Party under the sea!” Pinkie Pie bounced as Fluttershy simply nodded. Rarity was giddy “Think of all the dresses I can make!” her eyes were sparkling as Selene clapped her hooves together.

“It’s settled you are all coming with me” she giggled as she earned another huff from her brother.

“What is wrong Saluki?” Selene looked towards her brother as he glared at her with a cold stare.

“What’s wrong? Oh, nothing dear sister” he hissed as Selene stuck her tongue out at him. He looked at her with a shocked expression as he walked over towards her.

“You want to know what’s wrong. I will tell you then. You are no sister of mine, you are a freak. You will hold the throne and I bet you stole your crown from one of your brothers” he hissed as Selene’s ears flattened against her head.

“This is why none of you spend any time with me?” she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

“Why would any of us spend time with a freak of a merpony” he glared at her as Star pushed her way past Twilight causing the unicorn to freeze in place. Star tapped Saluki on the shoulder before punching him in the face knocking him down to the ground. Selene looked at the cursed pony as she shook her hoof in the air.

“This is why I like when your around surface ponies. They have better manners” she hissed as she moved towards Saluki grinning at him with her fangs showing “I’m only letting two ponies make Selene cry. One is me and the other is none of your damn business” she kept her smile up as Selene walked towards her.

“Star we need to go” Selene pulled the cursed pony off of her brother. She huffed as she walked towards Twilight.

“I knew you were a freak. You're hanging out with the Red Queen” the hissed as Selene turned her head.

“Star please, let's go walk around” Selene pulled her away as she disappeared into the shadows. Selene took the opening and left the throne room with her head hanging low.

“Twilight” Celestia spoke up breaking the awkward silence.

“Yes, princess?”

“That was”

“Yes Princess that was Star and she has kept her promise.” Twilight turned and walked out of the room as Triton picked his son up from the floor before knocking him in the head with his trident.

“Boy, what did I tell you and your brothers” Triton glared at his son.

“Never to make fun of her. But father she is a freak”

“I think it’s time I tell you the truth about your sister. And it starts with she is cursed to die soon” Triton noticed the shock expression on his face as he turned to his father. The other alicorns all gathered in expect for Celestia.

“Celestia are you not going to listen?” Triton looked up at the solar alicorn.

“I had the pleasure of meeting Star. It was somewhat pleasant” she raised her brown before turning towards a door pulling a few maids together as she had a gala to plan.