Skysparkle was not always a princess. She was born in a cave three miles underground — where her mother was hiding for her life. Her mother's name was Hope Unquenchable.

Over 1000 years ago, the world was ruled by two monsters named Chaos and Disarray. Back then, unicorns were some of the most despised creatures. Alicorns were considered an absolute abomination. Chaos and Disarray sought to drain the energy of every single unicorn. And many of their subjects were willing minions. Overall, the spirit of friendship was literally pushed underground.

Hope might have spent the rest of her life as a lonely alicorn, afraid for her life. But then a special pony discovered her. He was a ground pony named Seth Appleheart — forced to work in the deepest, hottest mines.

Until he met Hope, Seth had never seen an alicorn. He had seen unicorn prisoners — but he wasn't sure if unicorns with wings ever existed. It had been years since Seth had last seen the sky. Hope could also remember the sky, but her memories were more faded.

When Skysparkle was born, she had never seen the sky. But her hair made her look like the sky. Seth and Hope took it as a sign of hope. Sky also has a twin sister, named Stellanova. Basically, Sky and Nova were named after the promise of a new day. Although they had never seen the sky, Sky and Nova had faith that it existed — and that they might someday reach it.

Hope's own name was given as a reminder never to let the light go out in her heart. She had grown up with no friendship mark — unsure if she was even capable of having one. The moment she conceived her daughters, she finally gained her mark! She lost her family long ago. But she never forgot her name.

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Starponys: Crowns of Friendship / Friends with Unicorn Syndrome © and ™ of M. Wayne Howell ([email protected]), along with all characters therein.

Cutie mark derived from commission by Parcly Taxel.