Character Contest: Rhodochrosite

Character Name: Inca Rose

Character History:

I promise you I'm not broken, I promise you there's moreMore to come, more to reach for, more to hurl at the door

Kuntur was born into an uncommon family of the Crystal Empire- Once, in earlier chapters of history, a family of immigrants- perhaps even a family born from but a single pony, trapped far from home when the world rose in wild revolt. The original story was long lost, replaced by a history both proud and cruel, a history of noble unicorns, struggling to keep their bloodline pure within a land which doomed them to a fate of assimilation that they took, screaming and kicking all along the way.

After all, they needs must mingle eventually, and long since they had- selectively, with much bias, but they had, and for most of the foals born… Well, Kuntur was not unusual for his generation. A proud young colt, handsome and perfect, with none of the crystal blemish carried by his mother. All the better for him- inanimate should remain that way, and he was the apple of his father’s eye for the better part of his youth, glad to soak up the attention lavished upon him in the beautiful city he was born to.

Ignorance is the bliss of young fools, and Kuntur was dazzled by the light that danced from snow and crystal. His mother was his world, the sweet, soft spoken pony that shone like the sun and smelled as sweet as roses- he never noticed his father’s family looked at her any differently than he himself did, not even when his attachment to her garnered scorn and disapproval. But there were no members of his family his age, and his family was loathe to let him out at all- for most of his life, he had no idea why… It wasn’t until his father began to grow unfortunately similar to his mother that he learned the drive behind his family’s protectiveness.

He was too soft- too close to the gentle nature of the Crystal Empire, entirely lacking in the drive and focus of a proper Equestrian unicorn. What colt trotted after his mother’s fetlocks, shadowing her every move like a little filly? What colt spent his days prancing about in the arts, when there were more suitable, scholarly pursuits of education- Why, he should be with his father, learning all about the means of managing a household properly, especially in such disastrous times, when the family dwindled so small in the face of calamity… Clearly, if the Crystal Empire was led by a proper pony, then they would not be slowly succumbing to such calamity, and Kuntur’s father soon swept his son away from his mother’s side. The family was right, after all, and if he was going to be a proper stallion and keep their family safe in such dark days, something simply had to be done.

Goodbye to all my darkness, there's nothing here but lightAdieu to all the faceless things that sleep with me at night

Life changed drastically in Kuntur’s teen years, and he struggled in ways he couldn’t quite explain, isolated from the half of his family he’d bonded so close to, and thrust into the attention of the half that he hardly knew- aside from his father, there were barely any left, a grandmother whose health was fading, and an uncle who shared little interest but for what his mother ordered about. It was then he learned shame, shame for half of his being, shame for his heiritage and shame for everything he was, disappointment of a colt that he, apparently, had become.

He tried his best- truly, he did, but war strategies and swordplay were not his strong point, and neither was the strict, traditional education expected of a canterlot unicorn. It was the source of much frustration to his family, particularly grandmother, who had hoped that removing the ‘problem’ of his mother from his side that he would grow proper, a hope that was quickly dashing into the night. A particularly common gripe of his grandmother, who never left an oppurtunity to remind him of that disappointment, in hopes that the constant reminders would encourage proper growth.

Perhaps one day, Kuntur may find regret in that he never stood up for himself- he simply stood, simply tried. In vain, perhaps, but he did so with ferver even so, trying to earn that spot of love that a family was meant to have, to repair that broken estate that was so cold, to earn again his right to his mother, whom he only saw in passing now, never long enough to speak, to hug, to love in any proper way the young pony craved.

The beginning of the end began with a betrothal- to a proper young mare, his father said, though Kuntur never knew her. Only saw her from afar, in quiet meetings between their parents where neither could truly speak- he couldn’t help but wonder if she felt as trapped as he, projecting a kinship of suffered silence between them, though he’d never found an attraction- how could he, with such a forced distance?

…. Her brother, however, was a different story. He never knew how that story would end- never dared to indulge himself, though his face grew hot and his chest light in the few interactions he was allowed with his future in law, indulged as future brothers, though he was crystal and Kuntur was not. Appearances were everything, after all, and certain things permitted from necessity. Kuntur’s secret heart was not the only thing the young stallion indulged- finding, for but a moment, that he was able to enjoy the culture he once had with his mother, familiar habits and traditions that the rest of his family had strictly forbidden.

It was the inspiration of yearning, the seed of rebellion that had been planted deep within Kuntur’s heart, and he wanted more. He thirsted for it as though he’d been stuck in a desert for the past several years, and with his new friend, he began to sneak out to meet with his betrothed behind the family’s backs- what began as a well meaning attempt from a brother to make sure his sister at least knew and liked her future husband soon grew into a strange little friendship, bound by shared secrets and duties.

But it was never meant to last- the longer the time they spent together, the shorter their time grew, and the greater Kuntur’s shame and conflict became, for he realized his heart was split in different ways- love for what he shared with the siblings, the roots his family wanted so badly to destroy, the tender warmth that grew for his betrothed’s brother, and the strange kinship that grew with his betrothed, herself- he owed a great deal to her, though love that one should share with a fiance and wife never grew.

She showed him what his heart always knew- they were as sisters, though his family had done so much to squash what they’d seen growing in him, what truth his mother had gently embraced and watched grow, something he should have found within himself a long time ago… Who knew what great loves could grow from such a short, but supportive friendship, borne from necessity and fears.

It was something Kuntur wanted to cherish- if only there were time to delve into this newly discovered secret self, before tragedy. Alas… His parents found themselves stricken with infection of a crystalline kind, and immediately, betrothals were broken and estate doors shuttered- leaving Kuntur alone with his family, alone again, isolated from necessity and fear both. Once again, life changed as swiftly and silently as the wind, leaving him more lost and alone than he had ever felt.

Suddenly, there was time. And freedom- Kuntur was free to care for both of his parents, to slowly rebuild the lost relationship with his mother, and to watch his father slip into silent dispair as crystal slowly encased them both. It was more apparent on his father, but quicker for his mother- be that nothing but how fortune fell, or the price of respective biologies, Kuntur did not know…. Nor did he care.

He spent what little time he had left with his mother opening up to her- exploring the parts of himself that his family had tried to hard to squash, and his own truth. He became her- finding herself with her mother’s guidance and support, though she never told her father. Both parents were succumbing- and while it hurt not to know if she would ever have the unconditional support of her father…. She still loved him, for all that he never stood to his family. She could make his last days as comfortable as she could, it was little enough price to pay, and besides- she had too much time to make up for to dwell in anger.

It wasn’t until both of her parents stood still and silent that the infection began to take her, as well. She didn’t mind it- she’d taken the time to care for her parents, helping them find the placement in which each wanted to be immortalized, where she could- and still did- visit and speak to their silent selves. Her father, posed forever quiet and proud at the head of the stairs of their great hall, silently standing in judgement of any who entered- and her mother, laying among the beloved flowers of the garden she’d so lovingly tended in life. Still, she couldn’t find disgust in the crystals that grew from her skin, not how so many others had found them. They grew like roses, like the ones her mother so loved, and turned her skin to crystal… Finally showing the split between two worlds she’d always known in a physical manifestation.

When the ponies from equestria appeared, Inca Rose could hardly believe it- when they provided aid in finding a cure, she was certain she was dreaming. She never, and still didn’t, wish to be cured herself… But their efforts were inspirational, reminding her once more that there was a world outside her manor, silent and fearful though it was, and she should do her part as well- for herself, and for those who wished freedom. There should always be a choice, where one’s path led.

This here is not makeup, it's a porcelain tombAnd this here is not singing, I'm just screaming in tune

Other Character Information: Inca Rose is a proud transmare, and has a soft spot for other young ponies still learning their truth, whatever it may be- her goal is to open a home for those who don’t fit in their born home, to give them an option to live and learn who they want to be without expectation.

A big inspiration behind Inca Rose was, of course, The Amazing Devil- particularly their song “Farewell Wanderlust”, which gave the lyrics used in the personality/history blurb. I can see the back and forth, weirdly, between the mare she is and her history, the stallion she may have been forced to be.

Character Name : Rose Quartz Blossom

Character History : Rose was born just a few years before Equestria was finally able to reconnect with the Empire and learn what was happening. Orphaned at a young age due to his parents being infected and later completely crystallized by their different infection rates, Rose has spent most of his time quarantined with other infected children and longing to be able to leave. Due to the situation in the Empire he has yet to find his cutie mark and often spends a lot of time staring at the older ponies who do have them despite him still being young and having a long time to find his own calling. Most days he spitefully believes his infection should cover up his blank flank instead. Eventually he’ll get fed up with spending most of his childhood locked away, and what better timing for Equestria to come to their aid. Maybe if he’s lucky, he may or may not escape to be found later on. Only time will tell.

Other Character Information : If I do manage to get the pretty baby, he’ll eventually be found and adopted by Pale Blossom, taking on her second name and being hidden away as much as possible to avoid him being taken away by authorities. He’ll definitely have a knack for finding things he probably shouldn’t as well.