Velvet Shade walked along the shelves of Starswirl the Bearded’s private library, his best friend and confidant Moonstone doing the same a few shelves down. They were searching for something, anything that could give Velvet clues about his father…and possibly even the means to reunite with him.
 
However, neither he nor Moonstone had found anything new in the past few months. There was nothing left but the same old letters, journals, and photos that they’d already pored over countless times. Somewhere inside Velvet there was the nagging feeling that this might be a lost cause. Until…
 
“Velvet!” Moonstone called from the other side of the room. “I think I found something!”
 
Velvet’s ears perked up. “Really?” He trotted over to where Moonstone sat, holding a mysterious box.
 
“I found this buried under all of these books,” she explained, showing the box to him. “Look, it even has your name on it!”
 
Indeed it did. Velvet took the box and opened it excitedly. Whatever could be inside that was for him? And why had nopony told him about it? Could this be tied to his father?
 
Inside the box was an old projector reel. Velvet hadn’t seen these around since he was a very young colt so he knew it must have been made a long time ago. But what could be on it? There was only one way to find out.
 
“I think Princess Luna has a projector hidden away somewhere,” Moonstone remarked. “Once we find it we should watch this! Who knows, maybe it’ll help you find your father!”
 
And so Velvet and Moonstone snuck off to Luna’s wing of the castle to find her projector. It took awhile to find in the long hallways and expansive rooms, but they eventually found it in the back of Luna’s closet among her…other stuff. They took it to Velvet’s bedchambers and shut the door, all without anypony finding them.
 
“Now let’s watch this movie!” Moonstone set up the projector and sat down next to Velvet as the film started. Both fidgeted in anticipation for what was to come.
 
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The film opened up in a garden of trees…one that neither Velvet nor Moonstone had seen before. Slips of paper hung from the trees as they blew softly in the breeze.
 
The scene faded.
 
Now there was a familiar mare lying under the trees, smiling serenely yet lovingly, writing on her own paper.
 
Velvet’s eyes widened. His mother.
 
“Are you sure you don’t need help, my dear?” A voice asked. Velvet and Moonstone looked at each other knowingly.
 
Celestia looked towards the camera and smirked. “I told you I know how to write!” She laughed.
 
The scene faded.
 
Now Celestia stood tall and regal, but not without a hint of mischief in her eyes.
 
“Princess, tell us about yourself,” the voice quipped.
 
Celestia spread her wings and put on an air of nobility. “I’m a princess, are you a princess too? Let’s fly to the castle!” She and the voice behind the camera broke into a fit of laughter. This was a humorous and jovial side to his mother that Velvet had never seen before.
 
The scene faded.
 
Once again, the trees were blowing softly in the breeze. Celestia stood with her back to the camera, looking up into the branches in the perfect image of serenity.
 
“Isn’t this magnificent? Equestria is full of such wonder, so many hopes and dreams yet to come true,” the voice said. “Everypony has the opportunity to be who they want to be, to do what they most desire…to fullfill their destiny. Our unique talents are celebrated, especially in your mother’s Equestria. I know you will love and care for your subjects as much as she does.”
 
The camera turned to reveal a familiar face. Velvet gasped. His father.
 
“Velvet,” the stallion growed solemn. “Our worlds are in peril. Your mother and I…are causing a rift. We cannot continue seeing each other like this.” He sighed. “One of us will have to make a great sacrifice to protect both worlds. I would rather it be me than her…no harm may come to her.” Smiling, he continued. “But I shall give her one last gift, as a final farewell and a reminder of our promise. That gift will be you, my son. I know you will grow to be a fine stallion.”
 
“Sombra!” Celestia’s voice called out.
 
Sombra looked back into the camera. “Take care of her, Velvet. Her and all of Equestria.”
 
The camera turned around as Sombra walked up to Celestia. He pulled a wrapped box out from under his cloak and presented it to Celestia, who hugged him as the film faded to black…
 
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Velvet and Moonstone looked at each other wordlessly, in awe at what they just watched. Velvet even had tears in his eyes, he was so touched.
 
The door opened behind them as Firefly trotted in. “Yo cuz, Mother wants to know if you’ve seen Moo-” Upon seeing them, she knew something had just happened between the two of them and the projector. She backed up slowly, not wanting to ask any questions.
 
Velvet and Moonstone walked out of the room, hugging a surprised Firefly as the passed her. “What were you DOING in there?”
 
Moonstone walked down the hall and met Luna, who was waiting for her. “My student, would you like me to prepare your chambers for the night?”
 
“Actually,” Moonstone said, “I think I’ll take the train home tonight. I’d like to spend time with my family.”
 
Luna simply nodded and began escorting her student towards the castle exit. Moonstone looked back at Velvet and smiled knowingly. There’s nothing stronger than a father’s love.